Dogwood Garden Club decks the halls

Nov. 30—Each year the Dogwood Garden Club helps make Palestine festive during the holidays.

"Decorating the courthouse for the yuletide holiday has been one of the club's long term annual projects, adding a Texas and American themed trees at the Anderson County Annex to their holiday decorating list in recent years," said Linda Jean Brown, club member. "This year we also provided trees for Greenbriar Nursing and Rehab Center."

Beyond these trees, the club helps dress and bring attention to our historic downtown with their annual Festival of Trees that will begin this weekend.

"Through the Festival of Trees competition, which began 12 years ago, non-profit organizations, with their 501(c)3 status, are invited to create a theme for a Christmas tree and decorate it in that fashion with the winners receiving cash prizes," Brown said. "We are very appreciative to Andrew Gregory, General Manager of Ben E. Keith Co. Beverage Distributors, who has been the underwriter for the cash prizes since this event's inception."

Brown said there are 12 non-profit organizations participating in the annual event. Trees will be on display businesses downtown throughout the month of December.

Federated in June of 1940, the Palestine Dogwood Garden Club has played an active role in the community through service and involvement for over 80 years. Beyond holiday decorating, the club helps to maintain many of our local parks, including the Dogwood mini-park, and they host several annual school projects, including poster competitions that encourage environmental awareness.