OTISFIELD — The holiday spirit will be in full swing this Saturday when Santa Claus arrives at the Town Office at 7:15 p.m. for the annual Christmas tree lighting and visit with children.

The event will be preceded by a public supper at the Otisfield Elementary School on Powhatan Road from 4:30 to 6:30 p.m.

“It’s a lot of fun,” Administrative Assistant Marianne Izzo-Morin said. She and other town office staffers help decorate the office annex where Santa greets children and poses for pictures.

Refreshments and cocoa will be served. Anyone who would like to donate baked goods or would like more information should contact Izzo-Morin at 539-9101.

Santa and Mrs. Claus will arrive in his musical sleigh. He will light the Lisa Bean Thurston Memorial Tree to the right of the Town Office on Route 121. The tree was a gift of the Grover/Bean family in 1992 in honor of Lisa Bean Thurston, who died in childbirth at the age of 25.

“It was her favorite time of year,” Izzo-Morin said. Light bulbs are sold for $2.50 each and placed on a wooden Christmas tree made by Lisa’s brother, Richard Bean Jr. The wooden tree is placed in the annex for Santa’s visit.

Izzo-Morin said the money from bulb sales goes to a scholarship fund. For years, Lisa’s two children came to the Christmas tree lighting with their grandmother, Donna Bean.

The tree was planted when it was only a few feet tall but over the years, salt from plowing has damaged the bottom of the tree. Izzo-Morin said town officials are trying to revive it.

ldixon@sunjournal.com

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