As you may have heard, Claremore is welcoming a 50-foot tree home for the holidays and to be the centerpiece of West Bend Winterland, a new holiday festival.
The tree was chosen by City Manager Jim Thomas at Dutchman Tree Farms in Manton, Michigan. He witnessed the cutting of the tree last week and watched as it was prepared for transport. The next question was, “How do we get this huge tree all the way to Claremore?”
As a presenting sponsor, Pelco Structural was quick to step in. A truck and drivers were sent north to fetch the tree and bring it to the West Bend Green. It is scheduled to arrive on Thursday, November 16. Pelco absorbed the costs for transport, but in the words of Jim Thomas, “It’s priceless.”
Pelco is active in the community in other ways, most notably as a Partner in Education for Catalayah Elementary. Each year, CIEDA and Pelco sponsor the Catalayah 5th graders’ trip to Junior Achievement BizTown experience. The students also take a field trip to Pelco, where they learn how important education is and how it translates to finding a good job as an adult. The tour is a good opportunity for the students to learn that Claremore has plenty of work available at solid companies like Pelco.
The students were excited about the giant tree and to hold the banner that will adorn the truck as the tree arrives in Claremore on Thursday.
The official tree lighting for West Bend Winterland will be held on December 4 at 6p. The community is invited to watch and then enjoy complimentary cocoa and skating on the new skating rink until 8p. (Skates provided.)
West Bend Winterland opens on December 9 after the Claremore Christmas Parade and will be open each weekend through New Year’s Eve. Follow West Bend Winterland on Facebook for the latest!
