By Mary Ellen Day, Special Writer
Christmas trees and grave blankets are being sold to benefit the Special Children’s Committee at the Manville Hillsborough Elks Lodge 2119 on Brook Boulevard. The sale is in its 24th year goes directly to help with expenses for the special children at the Somerset Treatment Center in Bridgewater and to help send local children to Elks Camp Moore, in Haskell, for a week during the summer.
Tom Cronin, who has been the chairman of the sale for the past 24 years, says there is another member making the grave blankets this year.
"Ed Leib when he first started making them they were coming out all different sizes but now he has become such an artist that they look wonderful and he has gotten quite good at it."
There is a new tree that Mr. Cronin is pleased to add the Canaan Fir tree which is 6-7 feet. "The needle retention is excellent and they are only $40," said Mr. Cronin. They still have the Fraser firs and the Douglas Firs and Serbian spruce.
The stand was only open one day and on Saturday after being set up they sold 11 trees and some grave blankets. "It was unbelievable" Mr. Cronin said.
The Manville Hillsborough Elks Lodge is located at 1500 Brooks Blvd. in Hillsborough. Trees will be sold Monday-Friday from 5 to 9 p.m. and Saturdays and Sundays from 9 a.m.-9 p.m. The sale will go until Dec. 24 or until all of the trees are sold. Last year every tree was sold by Dec. 21. Prices start at $35-$55.
For information, call 908-966-0027.

