Chamber preparesfor winter events

The Wahkiakum Chamber of Commerce reviewed plans for winter events and prepared for elections when it met Tuesday in Cathlamet.

The Festival of Trees will start later this month. It features a Christmas Tree decorating contest and the annual Holiday Lighting Festival.

Chamber President Jennifer Hanigan announced that the Festival of Trees will be located in the Scarborough Building this year because the Hotel Cathlamet has closed. In the festival, people are invited to decorate a tree, wreath or similar Christmas holiday decoration. Visitors may view them and vote for their favorite, and the trees and wreaths are auctioned in mid-December.

The Holiday Lighting Festival will be held November 28 at dusk in front of the courthouse. Chamber members and volunteers will decorate the grounds, and the celebration will include caroling and a visit from Santa Claus.

The chamber will hold its annual fundraising crab feed in March. Tickets will go on sale in January, said coordinator Bob Garrett.

The chamber is preparing for election of officers for 2009. There is yet no one nominated for president, but other candidates are Jackie Lea, vice-president, Penny Paulsen, treasurer, and Sandi Benbrook-Rieder, secretary.