A week after a $2,000 Christmas tree was put up in Dolores, a violent storm took it out.
“It is pretty well damaged,” said mayor Santiago Lopez. “I guess Mother Nature did not like the artificial tree!”
In an effort to improve Dolores’ annual Christmas celebration, Lopez rallied the community to participate in a festival upgrade.
Added this year, the Dolores School band and choir performed, sheriff’s deputy Tish Strawn brought in Santa on a sleigh pulled by her mini-horses, hay rides were given by the local FFA, and bowls of chili were served. Donations from local businesses and citizens were raised to buy the $1,700 tree and $300 worth of decorations.
“We had more than 300 people at the event and gave out 165 bags of candy to kids, who waited patiently in a long line to see Santa,” Lopez said.
But a few days after the celebration, an unseasonable rainstorm soaked the ground where the guy wires were, then powerful Scrooge-like winds toppled the 18-foot tree in the middle of the night.
Unfortunately, the tree’s base, structure and ornaments were so damaged that it looks unlikely it will be repaired in time to be up by Christmas Day.
Lopez said a fundraiser is being considered to replace the tree, and to build up a fund for putting on the expanded holiday celebration.
Despite the Christmas-tree travesty, the holiday spirit is alive and well in town, Lopez said.
“On behalf of the Town of Dolores, Dolores Chamber, and Galloping Goose Historical Society, we would like to say thanks to all who participated in this festive and magical evening,” he said. “We will continue the tradition, and either get this one fixed or raise money to buy a new one.”
To help, contact the mayor at santiago@townofdolores.com.