Vineland woman's tree stars at City Hall

VINELAND - A towering evergreen, which once stood along the 1200 block of West Wheat Road, is ready for a starring role.

After a three-mile journey, the tree is now installed on the City Hall steps ready to stand tall as Vineland's official Christmas tree.

The community is invited to the tree lighting ceremony set for 6 p.m. Sunday, where there will be hot chocolate and entertainment.

Children are invited to bring handmade ornaments to hang on the tree, which once stood in Kris Garrison's front yard.

A few weeks ago, Garrison answered a knock on her front door to find two city workers asking for the evergreen from her yard for festivity purposes.

Initially, Garrison said no.

The tree had sentimental value, she said.

She told The Daily Journal how a small tree caught her attention while she was hiking in the woods behind her home with her young son, Damian Mougakos, and their dog.

Garrison was moved to dig up the tree, which she estimated to be about 3-feet tall at the time. Using her son's red wagon, she carefully moved it to the front yard where it was replanted.

The tree thrived, she said, growing up and growing wide.

So many people told her it was the "perfect Christmas tree."

When she told her son about the city's recent tree offer, Garrison laughed that her son, now 36, didn't recall the tender childhood moment she so treasured.

A day or two after the city's inquiry, Garrison called them back and consented to let them cut the tree. The evergreen was reaching utility lines and Garrison knew it was only a matter of time before crews would come and cut off the tree's top.

On Nov. 17, a municipal team, with a crane and chain saws, arrived to take the tree.

Superintendent of Public Works Mark Guglielmi noted this was the first year he could remember there wasn't a tree lined up. Usually, someone calls the city offering to donate an evergreen.

Guglielmi agreed the Garrison evergreen "is the perfect Christmas tree."

The blue spruce "is one of the nicest we've had," he said. In the past, there were times city's crews had to wire branches to fill bare spots in holiday firs.

Not this year, he said.

Last week, the Vineland Electric Utility crew of Don Hymer and Rob Cris wrapped the tree in strands of holiday lights using a bucket truck to reach the top.

That was just the first step.

There will be bows and Christmas balls to come.

Each year, they said, there are more and more decorations.

"I thought it would be sadder," Garrison said, not missing the tree. She is enjoying an unobstructed view from her front window.

She has plans to visit her evergreen this weekend for the tree lighting ceremony.

Deborah M. Marko; (856) 563-5256; dmarko@gannettnj.com