“Let It Be Christmas” at successful Christmas Fantasy

The 2014 Veterans Memorial Health Care Foundation’s Christmas Fantasy was held last weekend, November 14-17 at the Allamakee County Fairgrounds Pavilion in Waukon, and was a huge success thanks to all of the overwhelming community involvement.

“From the decorators, to the entertainers, to the treat makers, to the auction donors and buyers, I am once again overwhelmed by the community participation, and also the community support by the large numbers of people who attended the events,” states Mike Myers, hospital administrator. “Our Foundation members should be proud of themselves for putting on such a spectacular community event.”

A record number of auction items were donated to this year’s Fantasy by area businesses and individuals. A total of 100 auction items were displayed and auctioned via silent auction bid to the highest bidder Monday night, November 17.

Trees on display during this 23rd annual Foundation Fantasy included 62 full-size Christmas trees. Felicity Arts of Lansing also made a large donation of 100 large, round glass ornaments in a special color for the Fantasy, black, white and orange. These ornaments adorned the large tree at the entrance to the Fantasy and were sold individually. Some of these glass balls still remain and are on sale at the main entrance of the hospital.

Five items were also donated to the Foundation for use in a raffle. A free year membership to the new Waukon Wellness Center was donated by the Wellness Center Board, a beef meat bundle was donated by Fareway, a Terry Redlin framed print was donated by the Foundation board, and two raffle prizes of a half hog each were donated by Welsh Family Organic Farms with processing donated by Jet’s Meats and Wayne and Joan Burk.

The event was planned and sponsored by the Veterans Memorial Health Care Foundation, including Lori Bahr-Stevenson, Wayne Burk, Jane Dietrich, Jackie Halverson, Kevin Hanson, Randy Hesse, Amy Hill, Gloria Krambeer, Craig Lensing, Dennis Lyons, Jody Peterson, Nona Sawyer, Sue Schlitter, Nancy Schoh and Bill Shafer, assisted by Kim Sylvester, Pat Pettingill, Julie Thompson and Karen Swenson.