After sitting out the holiday season last year, the town Christmas tree on The Square is back ablaze, now with 3,000 colored lights.
The comeback was the work of local businesses and friends of former Barnes Lumber Company owner Carroll Conley, who is ill, and who had spearheaded the planting of the tree, a Norway Spruce, in 2005. It replaced a venerable hemlock that had served for many years but expired.
Now 22-feet tall, the tree was pruned slightly to remove cowlick branches by Arborlife Tree Care workers and 12 strands of lights were lavishly attached and secured to hold up against Crozet winds.
Conley threw the switch to brighten up the spirit of the town Friday evening. It will be lit from 5 to 10 p.m. every night.
Arborlife owner Roger Lee Baber assured Conley that the tree will be cared for in the future and it will be lit for Christmas.
“I’m very proud to live in this community,” said Conley. “The people here . . . .” He was forced to pause. “This tree is beautiful.”
The project to get the tree back in shape was accomplished in short order. On hand for the lighting were Rick Ruscher of Crozet Hardware, Chuck Kennedy of Kennedy Electric, Carroll Conley, Andy Powley, Roger Baber of Arborlife, and David Wyant. Not shown, but joining in the cause were Billy James of Basic Builders, Greg Shifflett of Greg’s Painting, as well as Parkway Pharmacy, Fardowners and Georgetown West salon.
