Page 6 - Christmas Tab 2017 e-edition

6 Christmas 2016 December 6 & 7, 2017 Christmas Tree City knows how to celebrate
Mike Nemeth / Mid Valley Publishing
Jennifer Champ, manager of Alec’s Treasures & Clothing, said her store features a huge selection of Christmas goods, one that locals have discovered. Sanger is known as the Nation’s Christmas Tree City.
died defending their country. e event is a heartfelt tribute that many say must be experienced rst-hand. e Chamber charters buses that leave this year early on Dec. 10.
By Mike Nemeth
Wolfe sent out a message this year to explain some of the General Grant’s history and connection to her town. “Its nickname as the nation’s Christmas tree came about when a little girl visiting the trees with her father asked if it would take a lot of lights to make it their Christmas Tree. R.J. Senior of Sanger overheard this and later mentioned the possibility of making the General Grant Sanger’s Christmas Tree.
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A 1929 Model A in mint condition shares the streets of downtown Sanger with Princess Leia and a half dozen custom-painted low riders.
Council members walk along greeting voters. People stack ve and six deep in some places along Seventh Street, looking as if the entire town showed up.
It’s another holiday season in Sanger, the Nation’s Christmas Tree City. And its peak is the Toyland Parade where candy is shared, Santa is one of the main events and memories are made. is year’s will be the 70th parade.
Crowds during the parade indeed turn Sanger quite festive. In Brehler Square, city o cials have been known to haul in a dump truck load of snow for kids — the little and big varieties — to play in. Over the years, many snow balls have been tossed. And nobody gets hurt. Many have su ered from huge smiles.
Tammy Wolfe, Sanger Chamber of Commerce president, said Sanger is the perfect Christmas community because of it’s historic link to the General Grant sequoia just up the road in Kings Canyon National Park. e chamber sponsors the annual Trek to the Tree. is year is the 92nd time citizens of Sanger and elsewhere will have joined members of the Park Service for a Christmas celebration at the foot of the General Grant.
Choirs sing, people pray and all remember those who
“Charles E. Lee of Sanger’s Chamber of Commerce further suggested that it be made the nation’s Christmas tree. After vigorous promotion of the idea, the U.S. Department of the Interior formally dedicated the tree as the Nation’s Christmas tree on April 28, 1926.”
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e tree was o cially made a National Shrine by an act of Congress. It is meant to honor veterans.
e General Grant stands about 267 feet and measures 33 feet in diameter at the base. It is more than 3,500 years old and stands in a grove of equally magni cent trees.
And Sanger’s economy appears to be on the upswing. e city’s highly rated school district has helped fuel a boom in new housing and growth in the retail sector. While still working to nd its stride, a somewhat resurgent downtown continues to move slowly forward.
And because of the tenacity of its residents, the community also showed up for a Sanger version of Black Friday this year.
Ernest Gonzales stopped into Abed Elzaatari’s clothing, boot and tuxedo rental shop at the height
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