Blue Spruce donation marks beginning of holiday season in Northport Village

A Blue Spruce tree, laid carefully on its side and maneuvered down Main Street this past Wednesday, marked for many the beginning of the holiday season in Northport Village. Donated by Ron Meyer and Randi Gothelf of Artisan House, the tree traveled from the couple’s home on Church Street to the edge of Northport Harbor, where it will spend the holidays. 

Every season, local officials solicit the donation of a tree to serve as the Village’s annual Christmas tree at the foot of Main Street. For years, Northport Village residents have answered the call; on November 12, Meyer and Gothelf parted with their Blue Spruce, which sat large and overgrown on their front lawn, and sent it merrily on its way toward the water.

Professional arborists from Tim-a-Tree removed the tree in the morning; owner Tim Wray Jr. estimated the height of the Spruce to be over 40 feet tall. Tim-a-Tree has been responsible for taking down at least the past 15 Village tree donations. Once the tree was cut, it was secured to a trailer on the back of a Northport Village Highway Department truck and brought downtown. 

“A lot of people, when they see the truck coming, everybody runs out,” Meyer said of the parade of Village vehicles that escort the tree to its holiday location. In years past, he’s taken photos of the pageantry from just outside Artisan House. This year, he and Gothelf joined the parade in their Jeep, while grateful onlookers, including Northport Village Mayor Donna Koch, waved from the sidewalk.  

“This is my favorite day of the year,” said Koch. “I have videos going way back of the tree just coming down Main Street. To me, it’s our Rockefeller Center moment.” The mayor expects the tree will be outfitted with lights and lit by the end of next week. A list of holiday events, including the Village’s annual tree lighting (using another tree in Village Park) and leg lighting, to come soon from the Northport Journal.