O Christmas Tree… Sold By The Dozen At The Homesteads

By Shannon Hicks

Shoppers who skipped the silent auction of Christmas trees at The Homesteads at Newtown last week missed out on some great bargains.

Three-foot-tall artificial trees that had been fully decorated by individuals, organizations, and even a few local businesses had been on the silent auction block for nearly a week. Bidding for the 4th Annual Taste of Christmas and Wonderland of Trees closed at 6:30 on Thursday, December 15, and shortly thereafter the winners of some lovely trees were notified.

The decorative themes ranged from color (one tree was covered with blue ribbon, blue ornaments, and a blue topper), children’s crafts (a paper chain and a tree skirt that had been decorated with glitter and handprints of children from Wesley Learning Center was sold to a Homesteads resident, who asked that the tree be left in the building’s pub so that everyone could still enjoy it during the holiday season), and ornaments. One tree was filled with Santas, and another was covered with angel ornaments of different shapes, sizes, and styles.

Many of the winners were residents of The Homesteads, but a few trees were sold to outside bidders. More than a few of the trees that sold went out with price tags of $25 and under, although one church in Newtown promised the highest asking price for two of the trees.

The full proceeds of the silent auction were donated to Newtown Volunteer Ambulance Corps, and this year the occasion raised just over $700. Not all of the trees that had been put up for bidding sold by Thursday night, however, so that number may increase.

The entire event — the preview and silent bidding that had led up to the evening of December 15 and the refreshments that were offered during Thursday’s closing hours — was open to the public.

Kerry Cardinal, the resident services coordinator at The Homesteads, said that the trees that did not meet a minimum bid last Thursday would be left up as decoration for residents. Anyone interested in seeing the trees and perhaps placing a bid on one is welcome to call The Homesteads (426-8118) to make arrangements for a visit.