Amador County – The Amador-El Dorado Unit of the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection announced Monday that it will be supplying the annual Christmas tree for the California State Capitol this year with a 60-foot Douglas fir from El Dorado County.
Unit Chief Kelly Keenan said: “We at Cal-Fire are very proud to be able to participate … in this annual event of delivering the Christmas tree to our State Capitol. It is a great privilege which highlights the agriculture and splendor of the Sierra foothills.”
The Amador-El Dorado CDF unit, in cooperation with the Department of General Services Building and Property Management Division for the Sate Capitol, will be transporting the tree on Tuesday, Nov. 15.
CDF said the tree will be transported through downtown Placerville on Highway 50 by CDF crews from El Dorado Station 43, with a California Highway Patrol escort at approximately 8 a.m. and it was scheduled to arrive at the State Capitol Grounds at approximately 9:30 a.m.
Keenan said “over the years this event has drawn attention to both the beauty and diversity of the forested landscapes found in El Dorado County” and the Mother Lode.
Gov. Gerry Brown announced Monday that the 80th Annual Capitol Christmas Tree Lighting Ceremony will be held 4:45 p.m., Wednesday, Dec. 7 on the West Steps of the State Capitol. The white fir tree was donated by the U.S. Forest Service’s Institute of Forest Genetics in Camino, El Dorado County.
The Governor’s release said the “tree will be decorated with 900 hand-crafted ornaments created by children and adults with developmental disabilities who receive services and support from the state’s development centers and 21 nonprofit regional centers. It will be illuminated by 10,000 ultra-low wattage LED lights.”
The lighting is open to the public and attendees are encouraged to donate non-perishable food items to benefit the California Emergency Foodlink.
Story by Jim Reece This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
