E FRE
VOL 6 | ISSUE 296 | NOVEMBER 27, 2020
Tradition lives on The lasting legacy of the ‘Festival of Trees’ By Beth Blakeman Associate Editor
W
hen Gera ld i ne A r v iso died in August, she left the Gallup community with memories of the ways she touched others. As the head of the Gallup ch a pt er of S oropt i m i s t s International, she was part of the local effort to help women and girls live their dreams — the mission of the organization, by providing such important bridges to independence as a gas card, when it was needed, and a computer for an area woman working to improve her situation. When she organized the Festival of Trees fundraiser, her name became connected with what has now become a family tradition. Mau ra Scha nefelt, her daughter, who is organizing the event in her mother’s memory this year, said her mother’s dedication to this festival has been taken up by her father, sister, grandmother, great aunt and son. This family tradition has grown into part of the annual holiday season for Gallup, being sponsored by other organizations including Rotary and Kiwanis.
FESTIVAL OF TREES | SEE PAGE 20