On Monday, September 16, a new tree was planted by Holmes Fine Gardens in Sandy Hook Center. The tree is a young white fir, about ten feet tall. White firs are slow-growing trees that can live to be around 300 years old. In February, the Sandy Hook “Christmas Tree” was cut down. According to Dan Holmes, owner of Holmes Fine Gardens, the “Forest Association and the town want to see [the tree] back here ... and that’s why we’re here today.” The tree that was cut only lived to about 30 years.

Newtown Forest Association’s Trent McCann told The Newtown Bee the planting was done now because NFA wanted to make sure the tree was in the ground well before the holidays and the Sandy Hook tree lighting. “We know it’s a special event for the town,” he said.

The tree is not new to the community, however, as it was first featured on the Newtown Forest Association's (NFA) float at the Labor Day Parade on September 2.