Chase Gable, 8, led his family past the upside-down Wizard of Oz-themed Christmas tree with Dorothy’s swirling house atop the wicked witch’s black-and-white striped legs, feet still stuffed into ruby slippers.
They walked by a giant tree made of basketballs decorated by the LeBron James Family Foundation and beyond a white Star Trek tree topped with an illuminated Spock flashing the Vulcan salute.
“This is it, this is it,” Chase said Saturday, heading toward the tree his second-grade class made for the Akron Children’s Hospital Holiday Tree Festival at the John S. Knight Center downtown.
A telescope on a tripod pointed to the top of the tree where a motorized solar system revolved.
Space is the theme this year in Mrs. Sue Bott’s classroom at Sacred Heart of Jesus School in Wadsworth, and students stitched spaceships and painted glass planets to decorate the “Out of this World Christmas Tree.” Parents donated the money for the project, which included the tree, telescope, space-themed Legos and a slew of astronomy books, all to be sold for $375 to benefit the hospital.
It was among more than 200 wildly creative trees at the 35th annual Holiday Tree Festival. Hundreds more wreaths and holiday gifts were also donated and all are sold to raise money for Children’s Hospital.
Some of the trees were bittersweet.
The Mothers of Down Syndrome group created a black, white and silver tree surrounded by an enormous black, feathered swan at least 7 feet high and 5 feet wide. The swan, a framed sign said, symbolizes a surprise phenomenon that has a major effect. The group dedicated the tree to families confronting “the ‘Black Swan’ that is heroin addiction.”
A row away, another tree was decorated with a gold life preserver, rope and anchors. It was dedicated to Jody Smith, a Children’s Hospital contractor who died unexpectedly from a heart attack in the spring. Smith lived in Portage Lakes and also tended bar at Dano’s Lakeside Pub for 20 years until it burned last year.
Smith’s family initially asked Nicci Avalon, who worked alongside Smith with the Children’s Miracle network, whether there would be a plaque to remember her. Avalon told them there would be a tree since Smith worked alongside Avalon and others for years creating trees for the festival.
“Jody would have loved this,” Avalon said Saturday.
Not all trees, however, were sentimental.
Lori Reilly of Reilly’s Originals created a metallic decorator showpiece, a tree that shimmered with glittery branches and crystals that looked like melting ice and glowed with bubbling water-filled lights. Waist-high deer, one wearing a fur collar, stood on either side of the tree.
“When I turned the corner, I knew that was Lori’s,” said Susan Yingling, a retired art teacher at Miller South School for the Visual and Performing Arts, who has visited the tree fest for more than 25 years. Yingling said she never goes looking for Reilly’s trees, but always finds them because Reilly — whose tree took a best in show award this year — pays attention to texture, color and sparkle.
“They’re always so beautiful, every year, no matter what she does,” Yingling said.
Back at Sacred Heart of Jesus School’s space-themed tree, Chase Gable explained to a stranger how he made Saturn into an ornament. “Saturn is my favorite planet,” Chase said, ticking off the names of his six other favorite planets.
Holidays have turned into a giving time for Chase. Last year, after Chase’s parents — Erin and Ryan Gable — explained that not all children were fortunate enough to receive presents, Chase asked his class to help. The Medina County Gazette reported Chase, then 7, gathered enough donations to present 123 toys to the local Toys for Tots.
Chase didn’t mention toys Saturday, but did say what he wants to be when he grows up.
“A scientist who works at NASA and works on a lot of amazing things,” Chase said. “And a comedian, which is like a clown without makeup.”
Then he told a joke he made up: “What do you call a bee wearing makeup? Bee-utiful.”
Amanda Garrett can be reached at 330-996-3725 or agarrett@thebeaconjournal.com.