Photo: Cathy Cresta has her tree.
It didn’t take long for Cathy Cresta to find the right Christmas tree for her house.
Wandering through the rows of evergreens from a farm in Bridgewater, Nova Scotia, Cresta pointed one which turned out to be “just right” and soon it was being carried to her car.
Getting the tree was as easy as knowing where she would buy it: in front of the Lions Club on Royal Road at the entrance of Belmont Center.
“I’ve been coming here my entire life,” said the life-long resident who lives currently on Beech Street. “And I tell everyone at work at McLean Hospital they can not beat the quality of these trees. They’re beautiful.”
Cresta is just one of hundreds of residents and customers from neighboring towns who come to the 52nd annual Christmas tree sale held by the Belmont Lions Club.
And beginning this weekend, the crowds will be coming to find that particular tree for the holiday season.
Kevin Vona said that many of the 50 volunteers – who make up four different teams – will look at the schedule which will be pulling duty during the first two weekends of December “because we know that some shifts we’ll be busy for the entire time we’re here,” he said.
Dan MacAuley, a Lions past president, said the tree sale is the biggest fundraiser the Lions run each year.
The sale is open from noon to 9 p.m. weekdays and 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. on weekends, “until the last tree is gone” which happens about a week before Christmas.
The prices for each tree is according to the height indicated on board next to the wrapping area.
- 4 feet $22
- 5 feet $30
- 6 feet $38
- 7 feet $44
- 8 feet $50
- 9 feet $55
- Special sheared trees are priced as marked.
- Wreaths range from $11 for a small 12-inch plain one to more than $35 for a decorated 24-inch.
While it is a fundraiser, “every penny of this goes to charity. We don’t get a cent from this,” said MacAuley.
The tree sale help supports Mass Eye Research, Lions Club International Foundation, Diabetes Awareness, scholarships for students at Belmont High School, community activities, Lions Clubhouse Historic Preservation and more activities.
And the Lions went the extra mile when they came to the rescue of the truck driver who brought the first of two loads of trees to Belmont. As he was beginning his 14 hour trip up north, the truck’s steering power line broke, said MacAuley.
“Some good people in Belmont including Frankie French put together a repair to get him back to Canada,” he said.
