Eighty-three days and counting until those visions of sugarplums give way and the frenzy of holiday shopping, wrapping and partying comes to a magical — and hopefully satisfying — end.
    To launch the “official” start of the holiday season — department store decorators notwithstanding — the Second Annual Festival of Trees (only 46 days away) will light up the Santa Clarita Valley with holiday cheer Nov. 18-20 at the Santa Clarita Sports Complex…

The event raised more than $100,000 last year for the SCV Boys and Girls Club. It will feature nearly 100 full-size decorated trees on display, wreaths, tabletop trees, gingerbread houses, children’s crafts and activities and boutique.
    A kick-off party held Wednesday evening at the offices of Newhall Land and Farming Co. attracted a large crowd of sponsors and volunteers.
    Many were new volunteers like Sally Coss, Betty Moeller and Joanne Redmond of the Our Lady of Perpetual Help Teabags who plan to sponsor a “tea tree” at the event.
    “We came last year and we didn’t see anything like a Tea Tree, so we decided it would be fun to create one,” Coss said. “We’ve come up with some really cute ideas, cups and saucers and such.”
    The OLPH Teabags host a fund-raising tea each year. “We ask the public to support our tea, so we thought it would be nice to give back to the community,” Coss said.
    Volunteer Olga Joseau of Newhall said last year was the first time she had ever constructed a gingerbread house.

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