Festival of Trees and Lights begins Thursday

Barton Foundation’s fourth annual Festival of Trees and Lights will begin this Thursday, Nov. 29 and run through Sunday, Dec. 2 at Montbleu Resort Casino and Spa, Convention Center.

Throughout the last three-years, Barton Foundation has dedicated funds raised from The Festival to Barton Health’s Community Clinic expansion and renovation. A Level III trauma center, located in Barton Memorial Hospital’s Emergency Department (E.D.), is this year’s fundraising initiative.

“Barton Memorial Hospital sees nearly 20,000 patients a year in our emergency department,” Chief Medical Officer, Dr. Clint Purvance said. “Many of our patients have experienced blunt-force trauma as a result of snow sports, car accidents and falls. As with most emergencies minutes count and transporting patients to the right facility to care for their needs is crucial.”

Since Barton Memorial is a rural hospital, located in an alpine environment, many of the injuries that come through the E.D. are trauma related. According to the New England Journal of Medicine, “the overall risk of death is 25% lower when care is provided at a trauma center.” The Level III trauma center designation will allow Barton Memorial’s trauma team to evaluate, assess and treat more trauma patient’s right here in the basin.

“We already have the expertise on staff – the surgeons, orthopedists, emergency physicians and nurses. Now we need the designation as verified by El Dorado County and the American College of Surgeons, the “gold standard” in Trauma Center verification,” Dr. Purvance said.

The cost of the staff’s extensive training, new equipment and an entire remodel of the E.D. is more than $200,000 and the proceeds from this year’s Festival events will go toward the trauma center initiative.

Festival events:
Thursday, November 29
Senior Stroll & entertainment: 10 to 11 a.m. (Free for seniors 55+)
Designer tree “public” viewing & entertainment: 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.

Friday, November 30
Designer tree “public” viewing & entertainment: 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.
Family Night: 5 to 9 p.m.

Saturday, December 1
Teddy Bear Breakfast: 8:30 to 9:30 a.m.
Designer tree “public” viewing & entertainment: 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.

Sunday, December 2
Designer tree “public” viewing & entertainment: 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.
Family movie showing, “The Polar Express:” 3 p.m.

Public viewing ($5 for adults; $3 for senior citizens (55+); $3 for children (ages 3-12); Children 2 and under are free); Family Night tickets ($35 for a family of 6); Teddy Bear Breakfast ($15 for children ages 8 and under/$20 adults ages 9 and up); Polar Express “movie” ($10 per person).
Tickets and additional information on all of the events can be found *on-line at www.FestivalofTreesLakeTahoe.com until Wednesday, November 28 at 5 p.m.
Please note: *After Wednesday, November 28 at 5 p.m., tickets will be available at the Montbleu Convention Center box office during Festival hours.