Real or artificial? Hellertown Borough Council answered that question Tuesday when it voted unanimously to approve the purchase of a 14-foot tall artificial Christmas tree, which will be used for the annual Light Up Night tree-lighting celebration in Dimmick Park in November.
Last year a real tree was donated by a borough resident for the ceremony, which drew thousands to the park, in part because Einstein the “Snow Camel” was there.
Mayor David Heintzelman told council that the tree will be a panel tree similar to one he annually displays in front of his business, Heintzelman Funeral Home Inc., on Main Street.
He said that the first time it is assembled assembly will take a couple hours, but that after that it usually takes no longer than 30 minutes.
The Christmas tree in the Town Square area of the Promenade Shops at Saucon Valley is also a panel tree.
Atop the tree will be a three-foot star, and the entire tree will have LED lighting.
The tree will be purchased from Rileigh’s in Allentown, at considerable post-holiday savings, council was told.
Since council had just discussed conducting a public survey about when Trick-or-Treat should be held this year, council president Tom Rieger commented that in the middle of January it was a bit ironic that two of council’s biggest agenda issues concerned Halloween and Christmas.
Hellertown Borough Council meetings are normally held on the first and third Monday of each month at 7 p.m. at Hellertown Borough Hall, 685 Main St., Hellertown.
Meetings are open to the public and agendas can be viewed in advance on the borough website under Public Officials > Hellertown Borough Council > Council Agenda & Minutes > 2019 Council Agenda & Minutes.
