Page 8 - Mid Valley Times 12-5-19 E-edition

Thursday, December 5, 2019 |
A8 |
Mid Valley TiMes
Photo Courtesty /Sierra View Homes
Georgia Linscheid, 92, of Reedley died Nov. 14.
Danny Jimenez / Photo Contributed
Children from St. La Salle sang a few Christmas songs for the audience during the tree lighting ceremony.
Danny Jimenez / Photo Contributed
Erik Valencia, the executive director for the Greater Reedley Chamber of Commerce addressed the crowd just before the tree lighting.
TREE
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Valencia estimated that nearly 300 people attended the tree lighting ceremony and said this year’s 40 ft. tree came from Camp Edison near Shaver Lake.
He said it took volun- teers nearly four hours of traversing through rough terrain to select just the right tree for downtown.
“This is a difficult task because the trees come from nature and not a tree farm,” said Valencia.
“You can find a tree that looks great on one side, but if other trees are growing close to it the tree will have a bare side.”
Valencia said with re- cent wildfires and bark beetle infestations, pick- ings are slim, and the tree must also be acces- sible for harvest.
“So even if you find the perfect tree,” he said. “It must be near a road so a truck can access it and the crane can reach it to lift it.”
All the hard work however, proved to be a success for attendees like Enrique Ott. “My wife, our daughter, and some friends, are all here tonight,” said Ott. “This was very refreshing, my family and I try to attend the tree lighting ceremo- ny every year.”
There were perfor- mances by St. La Salle
Students, the Mennonite Brethren Church Bell Choir, the Reedley High School Madrigals, as well as a special appearance by Santa Claus and Reed- ley’s mascot, “Ribberto.”
Valencia said it took a combined effort from several local business to harvest the tree and de- liver it into downtown.
“Camp Edison do- nated the tree,” he said. “Reedley College Forest- ry Department assisted with scouting trees and cuting down the tree. The Koerper Construc- tion place the tree on the delivery truck,.
"Clay Miranda Truck- ing hauled the tree from Shaver to Reedley, Jor- genson Pump unloaded and positioned tree in place at 11th and G street in Reedley, and finally, The City of Reedley as- sisted in the set up, light- ing, and decorating.”
Valencia said the en- tire process is not only a continued tradition, but a labor of love for the resi- dents of Reedley.
“There really is a spe- cial feeling of commu- nity standing out there with your neighbors,” he said. “Watching the tree light up and realizing the whole experience is about more than just a tree.”
More photos are in- cluded on page A11 and display a historic look at previous Christmas trees in downtown Reedley.
COLUMN
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Georgia was pleasant, intelligent and well spo- ken. I began to admire her take charge attitude. I hadn’t met many wom- en like her.
About six months af- ter that story went to print, I covered a series of town hall meetings in Reedley.
Sitting front and center at the meetings was Georgia. She was involved in the commu- nity and made her voice known.
According to informa- tion from Sierra View Homes, Georgia was the last living member of Si- erra View Homes' found- ing board of directors.
The statement also in- cluded that, sixty years
ago, Georgia worked with other members of the First Mennonite Church of Reedley to help establish Sierra View Homes as "a place to provide compassion- ate care for the church's older members."
Throughout her life she volunteered and supported Sierra View, including fundraising and helping start their Auxiliary.
It didn't surprise me that Georgia had ac- complished so much in her life. I knew when I first met her she was someone who not only inspired others to be bet- ter but made some piv- otal changes in the com- munity of Reedley and beyond.
Georgia you will be missed.
Juanita Adame / Mid Valley Times
Reedley High School's Madrigals sang Christmas carols during the event.
CHRISTMAS
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