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SANDY -- The sights and sounds of the holiday season are on full display right now at the South Towne Expo Center for the annual Festival of Trees.
In addition to the hundreds of trees on display, dozens of performers will fill the holiday stage over the next couple of days.
Wednesday, the third-grade classes from Heritage Elementary in Layton entertained the crowds, but they were singing to one special audience member in particular. The person on their minds and on their shirts was fellow classmate Aumberlee Davis.
Aumberlee was diagnosed with leukemia in February. Heavy rounds of chemo have kept her from attending class this school year, but the third-graders have not forgotten their cute classmate. For months, the class worked to create ornaments that now hang on Aumberlee's very own "Pink Puppy" tree.
She saw the tree today for the very first time.
"It's awesome. Puppy power!" she said.
Sharie Bryson, a third-grade teacher at Heritage Elementary, said, "We had so much fun. The kids have been so cute and the parents have been so cute to help us raise money for the tree. And they just want her to get better and come back to school. That's what we are waiting for."
Aumberlee's favorite detail is the spotted Dalmatian she says reminds her of her own dog, named Shadow.
Aumberlee's tree is just one of the 800 trees on display. Each tree is for sale to raise money for Primary Children's Medical Center.
The festival opened to the public Wednesday. It runs through Saturday.
E-mail: bwalker@ksl.com
