The 45-foot tree was brought in on flatbed truck.
By Nancy Peckenham
The city of Newburgh Christmas tree found its home on lower Broadway Tuesday morning, a ritual that this year sparked memories about people no longer here. The process started earlier that morning at Calvary Cemetery in New Windsor, where the 45-foot tall blue spruce had graced the entranceway for decades.
Father Bill Scalfidi blessed the tree before it was removed from this spot in Calvary Cemetery.
Harry Coolidge, the superintendent of Calvary Cemetery, said the tree was slated to be taken down to make more space, and he thought of donating it to the City of Newburgh because it is going through tough times. Father Bill Scalfidi blessed the tree before it was removed by a team of workers from the city department of public works led by DPW superintendent George Garrison, along with Hector Iglesias, Paul Taylor, Leon Williams, John Jefferson, Mike Rauchet, Jim Humphrey, Joe Smith, Sr., and Tom Cinnante. Michael Bigg, Jr., Inc. of Quality Autobody in Vails Gate, once again donated a crane to lift the two-ton tree and crane operator John Ammirati offered his expertise for the 9th year in a row.
Missing from this year’s tree operation was Jake Olsen, who had decorated the tree annually until his death exactly one year ago. As he prepared to trim the lower branch of the tree, DPW employee Rand Sheehan said the crew was dedicating this year’s tree to Olsen’s memory.
Michael Mazzariello talked about his feelings about the city's Christmas tree.
The symbolism of the tree also struck Michael Mazzariello, whose law office faces the Christmas tree. Mazzariello said that his mother had passed away on November 30 seven years ago and he went to visit her grave at Calvary Cemetery Tuesday morning where he noticed that the tree was gone. “”The tree always greeted me. It was magnificent,” he said as he stood outside his office watching the tree being placed upright in the middle of Broadway. “It is ironic that it is ending up in front of my office. It blew my mind.”
The tree will be lit in a ceremony on December 9th.
This year’s towering tree will be lit be lit with the help of Santa Claus, on Thursday, Dec. 9 at 5 p.m. Following the tree lighting, there will be gifts from Santa, and books donated by the Friends of the Newburgh Free Library, and refreshments afterwards at the Karpeles Museum, 94 Broadway. All are invited. For more information, call City Hall at 569-7301 or 569-7354.
Loading...
Funny the Mazz didn’t mention the rest of the story in the cemetery- or was he lying? He somehow managed to be there when Regina Angelo was there picking out the tree. He approached her and suggested she congratulate him. When she said, “For what?”, he told her because he was going to be the new city manager. To which she replied, “Says who?”. He replied, “Nicky. He says he has the votes.” To which she replied, “Over my dead body.” – in the cemetery, hahahaha! This story came from both parties to different sources.