Dominic Simonetti seemed more interested in dancing than picking out a Christmas tree, but that's probably because this is only his second Christmas. 

Meanwhile Dominic's mom Tara had found a perfectly shaped tree at the Maplewood Rotary Club's Annual Christmas Tree Sale at the Maplewood Community Pool.

While the high-dive platform in the background is somewhat incongruous to the whole Christmas theme, the Maplewood Rotary has done a bang-up job of transforming the Maplewood Community Pool into a winter wonderland every December for the past 27 years.

Lighted snowflakes hung overhead Sunday afternoon and the air was permeated with the smell of pine, as locals came to choose their trees. The trees range in price from $50 to $80 (but bring your $5-off coupon from the News-Record or Matter magazine!) and proceeds benefits dozens of local charities.

The sale runs Mondays through Fridays from 6 to 8 p.m. and Saturdays and Sundays from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m.

Charitable beneficiaries of the Christmas Tree Sale include Camp Merry Heart (a summer camp for children with physical and mental challenges), scholarships for students at Columbia High School, the Food Bank of NJ, and many others.

Frank DeFilippis, contributions chair at the Rotary, has been an active Club member for 22 years, but he helped out with the sale even before then. "How long's the sale been going on?" DeFilippis asked Tyce Palmaffy. "Twenty-seven years," said Palmaffy, who seems to have worked every one. DeFilippis said the sale gets lots of return business year after year. He talked about a father who used to bring his young son and haul their tree home in a wagon. "That kid is probably this big now," DeFilippis said, holding his hand several inches over his own head.