By Rick Wright

Staff Writer  

Browsing for the perfect Christmas tree at the South Portland-Cape Elizabeth Rotary Club lot last week brought back many memories for Tim Mitchell of Cape Elizabeth. 

As a young boy growing up in South Portland, Mitchell’s parents took him every year to Mill Creek Park to buy the family’s tree from the Rotary.

“That’s when you really knew it was ’tis the season,” Mitchell said. “Now I don’t have my dad to carry the tree, I have to carry it.”

Mitchell is trying to pass his childhood tradition on to his own family, which includes his son Andrew and his daughter Alissa.  

“This is where we come every Christmas. This is kind of our tradition. I’ve been getting my tree here for 45 years. This is how we start our holiday season,” Mitchell said. “Christmas is all about the kids. It’s fun to think there’s still a little bit of magic in the world,” he said.

The club has sold Christmas trees in the park since  1962. This year’s sale started the day after Thanksgiving and will continue until all trees have been sold. On average, the Rotary sells 2,200 trees per year.

“We have a lot of regular customers that like to come the day after Thanksgiving,” said John LoBosco of Cape Elizabeth. “It’s part of their Christmas tradition.”

As president-elect of the Rotary club, LoBosco is responsible for organizing this year’s sale. It’s a big job, but LoBosco said his task is made easier because more than 40 club members volunteer to work at least four, three-hour shifts.

“It runs like clockwork. We have a lot of experienced and hard-working guys and ladies in the club,” he said.

As the Rotary’s major fundraising event, all proceeds are donated to local charities. The Bug Light Restoration project, the Museum at Portland Head Light, and school playgrounds are among beneficiaries of this program, which raises more than $30,000 per year, according to LoBosco.

All the trees are Maine-grown balsam firs. They were provided by G & S Tree Sales Co of Bangor.  They range in height from 2 to higher than 8 feet. Club member David Lourie has been working at the lot for 15 years. He always looks forward to his annual shifts.

“Everyone participates one way or the other. Everybody works,” said Lourie. “It’s really fun dealing with these people and it gets me into the spirit of Christmas. If we could get paid for doing this, it would be the perfect job.”

“It’s a labor of love,” said LoBosco. “It’s something we have here that’s just magical.”

Rick Wright can be reached at 282-4337, ext. 237, or news@inthesentry.com.