ACristmas Eve effort by the Grinch to dampen the holiday spirits of Healdsburg residents fell flat on Tuesday, despite the cynical efforts of the mountain-dwelling elf to topple the city’s 51-foot Christmas tree in its Plaza and extinguish its colorful lights for the rest of the year.
The damage was putatively caused by an overnight storm, according to city officials, but quick thinking by police and public works professionals kept the damage in control as they responded quickly to the looming catastrophe.
The green beast attempted two incidents of mayhem, the first when a large oak crashed on to parked cars at the corner of University and Lincoln streets. Healdsburg Police Chief Matt Jenkins said, “Motorists and pedestrians are advised to avoid the area and use alternate routes, while damage is assessed and the tree is removed.”
During the same nocturnal assault, a large branch failed on an oak tree in the southwest area of the Plaza and sent the leaf-laden branch tumbling to the park’s grassy field, causing damage to the City’s decorated holiday tree and two of the gift boxes that lay beneath it. (The boxes were unopened by the disaster, and their contents were not revealed.)
Initial fears of a more substantial disaster proved unfounded. “Since the holiday tree lighting is interconnected, the lighting is not salvageable and will not be relighted this season,” reported the new spokesman for the City, Ray Holley, at the time. While he added reassuringly that the holiday tree was not in danger of falling and will remain in place, cautious sightseers kept a safe distance from the ceremonial white pine, which had been roped off to protect public safety.
The Grinch is thought to have experienced momentary if partial satisfaction when a professional tree service called to the site delivered their initial assessment, saying that the damaged oak might need to be removed on the Plaza Friday morning.
However, later on Wednesday, said Holley, city staff worked to successfully repair the damage to the holiday tree and it will be lit again after all. “Thank you to Rich, Eric, Diego and Carlos for their help making sure our Plaza shines bright for the holidays!”
Other reported downed trees include the corner of Chablis and Chiquita. To report flooding, downed trees that are not blocking a roadway, or power outages, please call the City’s 24/7/365 Emergency Utility Hotline at (707) 431-7000. For emergencies that threaten life or property, always call 9-1-1.
Efforts to contact the Grinch for comment at his snow cave on Fitch Mountain were unsuccessful.
