By Nancy K. Crevier

Several hundred feet behind the renovated 1824 Mt Nebo farmhouse where Wayne and Bernadette Addessi and their children, Meghan, Kate, and Thomas, live, a stand of pine trees had to be razed to accommodate future building plans. The Addessis began taking down the trees early last spring, but when they read in The Bee that the Ram Pasture Christmas tree had blown down, Mr Addessi asked the tree workers to spare a 35-foot white spruce slated for removal. He was very pleased when the Christmas Tree Committee accepted his offer to use the tree as the new Ram Pasture holiday icon, and began planning with the committee for moving it from his property. While the tree itself came at no cost to the committee, the costs of moving, planting, and associated costs would run into the thousands of dollars, the committee realized.

On Monday, August 11, Mr Addessi and his family, members of the Christmas Tree Committee, and Sean and Barbara Patrick, and their children, Colin, Ryan, and Madeline, gathered beneath the limbs of the Christmas-tree-to-be on the Addessi property, in celebration of a gift of $5,000 from The Joseph Patrick Foundation to support the new Ram Pasture Christmas tree.

The foundation was established in the 1950s in honor of his grandfather, Joseph Patrick, said Sean Patrick on Monday. "We look for good causes to support, and this seemed like one we thought was worthy," said Mr Patrick.

"We feel that the tree lighting is the fabric of Newtown life," added Barbara Patrick. "We have been to every tree lighting since moving here in 1995. It's a special event for our family. We want to continue that, and we want to energize others to donate," she said.

Christmas Tree Committee members Janet Woycik and Diana Johnson thanked the Patrick and Addessi families profusely. "Without you, we wouldn't have a tree for this coming December," said Ms Woycik.

Originally scheduled to be moved and replanted in Ram Pasture this past July, the tentative moving date is now September 16, said the tree committee members. "We think it will be much better for the tree's health to wait until cooler weather, and the Addessi family was able to accommodate us in that respect," said Ms Johnson.

In addition to the costs of moving and caring for the tree, and new lights to replace those destroyed when the original tree fell last March, extensive new electrical work, and a hydration system that will ensure the tree's survival are necessary and costly items that go hand-in-hand with the moving of the huge tree, said Ms Woycik. "We will probably need additional funding of about $8,000 more," she said. The committee is hopeful that town residents will once again show their trademark generosity and support this cause.

Donations may be sent to Newtown Savings Bank, The Christmas Tree Fund, 39 Main Street, Newtown CT 06470. For additional information, contact Janet Woycik at 426-4533.