The Jamesport Fire Department will be lighting a new tree this year — well, three new trees, to be precise.
The tree that stood for years on the lawn outside the Jamesport community center was taken down this week and three 12-foot Norway spruce trees have been planted in a semi-circle on the village green.
All three evergreens will be decked out for the holidays, Riverhead Councilman George Gabrielsen said yesterday, as he and community volunteers planted the new spruce trees.
“The old tree was not in good shape. It was like a telephone pole. It looked terrible,” Gabrielsen said.
The councilman, a farmer who lives and farms in Jamesport, said he reached out to John Sipala of Whitman Nurseries. Sipala readily agreed to donate the three spruces. Landscape contractor and nursery owner Tom Stapon of Jamesport volunteered to plant them, Gabrielsen said.
“The end result — it’s going to look really nice,” he said.
Gabrielsen said he’s seen a three-tree arrangement in other public squares and they really look beautiful.
The Norway spruce is a majestic evergreen that’s native to central and eastern Europe. Its shape and fullness make it perfectly suited for its role as a Christmas tree — a role it often assumes, including in one of the most famous Christmas displays in the world. The tree in Rockefeller Center is usually a Norway spruce. It can grow up to 55 feet tall.
The tree-lighting will take place on Tuesday, Dec. 1 at 6 p.m.
Correction: The story was changed to correct the date of the tree-lighting event, which is Tuesday, Dec. 1.
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