Boy Scout Troop 8 held a bonfire at Moose Brook Park in Hancock Saturday night, burning the Christmas trees and wreaths they had brought in from their annual community tree-collection event.

Committee chair Sue Whitaker said they collected 55 trees and 12 wreaths this year. People could sign up to have the Scouts pick up their leftover trees, and the Scouts received about $900 in donations through the event, which Whitaker said will be used to buy gear, awards, merit badge handbooks and other materials.

The event was mainly attended by Scouts and their families. Music played over a speaker while people took turns tossing trees into the bonfire and chatting with each other until all the trees were burned.

Whitaker said a “goal for next year would be to look into coordinating with some local goat farms so that we can offer the option to pick up trees and deliver them to the goats.” She said several people have expressed interest in doing that.

Troop 8 currently has 12 active Scouts, and Whitaker also hopes to grow that number in the coming year.

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