Bishop Janes Kicks Off Annual Christmas Tree Sale

For many years, Bishop Janes United Methodist Church in downtown Basking Ridge has held a Christmas tree and wreath sale starting the weekend after Thanksgiving and lasting through Christmas Eve — or until the trees are gone, said Pete Ebbe.

Ebbe, one of the many volunteers who makes the fundraising sale possible, said that last year the sale raised $30,000 that went to local and regional charities.

Ebbee is in charge of ordering trees, and this year he said he ordered two deliveries, and he expects to receive between 825 to 840 trees.

A load of trees had arrived from Pennsylvania right before the sale opened on Saturday, he said — the same day the Basking Ridge Fire Co. put up its own giant holiday tree.

Another load was expected to arrive soon from Canada, he said.

On Saturday, he and some volunteers through the community service program for sophomores at Ridge High School were putting out the trees for display along the sidewalks of South Finley Avenue.