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If you're tempted to buy an artificial Christmas tree this year, you might want to first check out the offerings at the lot run by San Ramon Rotary to benefit the School District. Its trees can be summed up in one word: gorgeous.

"The trees come from Northwest Plantations in Rochester, Wash.," said John Tatum, who heads up the Rotary operation. "They are fabulous trees. It's colder in Washington than Oregon." Northwest Plantations was chosen to provide an 18-foot tree for the White House a few years ago, he noted.

The Rotary Club purchases four truckloads, 1,500 trees, mostly nobles. "They're the best," said Tatum. The trees are put into water immediately to keep them fresh.

Last year the lot took in $170,000, which netted a $51,000 donation to the San Ramon Valley Education Foundation.

"It began in 1992 when the schools had no money. The Rotary needed another fundraiser and I suggested we sell Christmas trees," Tatum said. "We see the same people year after year. We have a very loyal following."

The Christmas tree lot also provides employment for Tatum's employees at Heritage Paper, who work alongside the Rotary volunteers.

"My workers get extra money for Christmas, working on weekends," he said.

Local high schools kids find employment there, too.

"Kids from Cal High and Monte Vista with pickups come, and they deliver and set up the trees," said Tatum.

It's this delivery and set-up service for $29 that brings customers back again and again as well as the quality trees and giving a boost to education.

"When they deliver, they ask the customer to get the stand," Tatum explained. "There's a net on the tree so when they bring it in the house they set it in the stand before they take the net off and the tree opens up. Then they move it around so the customer is happy with it."

"Customers love it because they don't have to mess around with it," he added.

The prices at the lot are the same as last year, with a 5-6 foot Noble selling for $69, and a Douglas Fir, $49.

"The smaller trees come in a little later," said Tatum. "We used to get 10-12 footers but it's mostly 8-9 and 9-10 now." An 8-9 foot Noble sells for $149.

"A lot of people love the smell of real tree, but most people going to smaller trees," he said.

Tatum and his wife were awaiting the delivery of an 8-9 foot tree for their Diablo home Wednesday night, plus a smaller one for the kitchen.

The Rotary lot is located next to Iron Horse Middle School, 12601 Alcosta Blvd. It is open noon-8 p.m. weekdays; and 8 a.m.-8 p.m. weekends. Santa Claus will be at the lot from 11 a.m.-3 p.m. each Sunday.

"This weekend we will sell 500 trees - 300 on Saturday and 200 on Sunday," predicted Tatum.

Next weekend will be busy, too, he added - and then they will be sold out.

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