Elks: Community Effort Brings Back Community Christmas Tree
Transplanted. (Steven McDole)
CLEARFIELD – A tradition from years past has been brought back in the form of the Community Christmas Tree.
Clearfield Borough Operations Manger Leslie Stott approached Community Christmas Parade Chairperson, Karen Potts, asking if the Elks would bring back the tradition of the Community Christmas Tree. Now, 10 months later, two, 20 foot Douglas firs have been planted in the yard next to the Land & Mapping office; which is directly across the street from the Clearfield Elks.
So many people and organizations came together to help make this a reality they all deserve thanks: Dave and Jean Gallaher of Clover Hill, generously donated the trees; Jim Pahel of “Land & Mapping Services” has graciously allowed the Elks to plant the trees on their property; site preparation has been done by Terry MacTavish Contracting, Full Throttle Signs & Bowman Masonry; shrub trimming will be done by Sons of the Legion, John Lewis Shade Post Number 6 and members of the Clearfield Elks Lodge 540; Reverend David Letscher of St. Johns Lutheran Church who did the blessing of the trees and also thanked to the Sons of Italy who made a generous donation and everyone else who participated in the fundraisers and donated time and/or money.
Potts said, “This is a wonderful example of how a community works together. A childhood memory had fallen by the wayside, has been brought back at a perfect time. We, as Elks, are proud to have been given this opportunity; it works wonderfully with our Community Christmas celebration. We tentatively plan on decorating the trees the week before Thanksgiving so the visiting family members can see the beauty that our town has to offer.”
Karen Potts and the soon-to-be transplanted Douglas fir. (Steven McDole)
The trees will be decorated by local youth. The Girl Scouts & Boy Scouts will decorate one of the trees, and elementary school students will decorate the other.
The Christmas celebration activities have been scheduled for Saturday & Sunday Dec. 4 and 5. The Volunteer Firemen will host “Breakfast with Santa” Saturday morning at the Driving Park; Santa will then arrive at West Market Street by train at 11:45 a.m. Santa’s Parade will begin at noon and commence at the Elks’ Lodge at 301 North Second Street where he will greet all of the children and they will each receive food, refreshments and a Christmas Stocking. On Sunday there will be a family Christmas Movie at the Ritz Theater at 2 p.m.; admission is free.
Clearfield Elks Lodge #540 is a subordinate Lodge of the Benevolent & Protective Order of Elks of the United States of America. It is a charitable organization with strong roots in the community.
Anyone wishing to donate to the Elks’ Christmas activities please call Karen Potts at 765-0915.
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Houses are decorated with green colored Christmas trees. These trees are decorated with different kinds of ornaments, like angel, stars and bell figurines which are hung on their branches, and on top of the tree a big star is placed, as the symbol of the star which appeared in the sky, the night Jesus Christ was born. The tree is then placed in the living room, under which all the gifts are kept.