About thirty years ago, Sandy Wooderson and a friend planted a blue spruce seedling near the home where she and her husband John lived next to their Selah apple orchard.\u00a0 Sandy named the tree \u201cClyde\u201d in honor of her friend who had given Sandy a hand in helping the seedling get off to a good start.<\/p>\n
Over the decades, Clyde the blue spruce would grow strong and tall.\u00a0 The tree also grew to hold a special place in the Wooderson\u2019s hearts.\u00a0 The strong connection the Woodersons had to the tree next to the apple orchard became even more meaningful when Clyde, Sandy\u2019s friend who had helped plant the blue spruce seedling, died several years ago.\u00a0 In August 2012, Sandy also passed away.<\/p>\n
A few weeks ago, an idea occurred to John that a fitting tribute to his wife, her friend Clyde, and the blue spruce that meant so much to Sandy and the rest of the Wooderson family would be to offer the tree, now standing more than three stories high, to serve as the official 2013 Yakima Community Christmas Tree.<\/p>\n
Out of the more than 25 trees from around the area that were nominated by their owners to be this year\u2019s Yakima Community Christmas Tree, Clyde the blue spruce was chosen.\u00a0 The tree has officially been donated by the Wooderson family and the Crazy Horse Motorcycle Riding Club, which John is an active member of.<\/p>\n
On Tuesday, November 26th<\/sup> at 10:00 am (weather permitting), the Wooderson\u2019s tree will be cut down by staff from Yakima Parks & Recreation and then hoisted onto a Haney Trucking flatbed by crews from Russell Crane.\u00a0 Both Haney Trucking and Russell Crane are donating their services.\u00a0 Clyde the blue spruce will then make a six-mile journey from its home next to the apple orchard to the Millennium Plaza in Downtown Yakima where the tree will be installed and will serve as the centerpiece of the community\u2019s holiday festivities, which will kick off with a new family-friendly, free Light Up the Plaza <\/i>celebration on Friday, December 6th<\/sup>.<\/p>\n The Light Up the Plaza <\/i>event will start at 5:30 pm at the Millennium Plaza and will feature performances by popular local artists Blake Noble, Planes on Paper, and Cody Beebe and the Crooks.\u00a0 At 7:30 pm, Clyde the blue spruce will spring to life as the 2013 Yakima Community Christmas Tree during a special lighting ceremony hosted by Mayor Micah Cawley.<\/p>\n \u201cWe are taking the Downtown Yakima holiday festivities up a notch this year, and we are honored to have Clyde the blue spruce play a key role in making our celebration truly enjoyable,\u201d said Yakima Economic Development Manager Sean Hawkins.<\/p>\n On Sunday, December 8th<\/sup>, the 14th<\/sup> Annual Yakima Holiday Light Parade<\/i> will fill downtown streets with cheer.\u00a0 At 6:00 pm that day, the parade will follow a route from 6th<\/sup> \u00a0 Avenue to the Millennium Plaza.\u00a0 An awards ceremony, which will take place near the 2013 Community Christmas Tree, will follow.\u00a0 More information can be found about the parade on the Yakima Sunfair Parade website at http:\/\/yakimasunfairparade.com\/christmas\/<\/a>.<\/p>\n – end –<\/p>\n