It's Christmas Time In The City
 
By Public Information Officer Douglas Medley
November 22, 2014
 

Saturday the 22nd of November started off as bitter cold but the volunteers of station 3 and 9 had work to do and that was to put up our community Christmas tree. This has become a tradition here with Bay District and it goes along with our Winter Wonderland that we will have on November 29th where we have games, face painting, pictures with Santa, fire truck rides and one hi-light is we light our beautiful tree.

Now we all meet at our favorite feeding place (Linda’s Café) to both wake up and second have a good breakfast before we headed over to the front of station 3 to get to work. Our long time treasurer Bruce Theden was in charge of the working party and we were all ready to get it done. First thing we had to do was get all of the tree stuff out of the shed in the rear of the station and that in its self is no easy job. Once all the tubs of stuff were loaded in the trailer it was off.

Now did I say it was cold (22 degrees) and the wind was howling. It was too late to quit so we just bundled up and got started. Now this is like putting an erector set together and you have to put the pieces in just the right spot or it won’t fit. After a lot of playing around with one another we got it done and it only took about 6 hours. Standing back and taking a look I think we did a pretty good job. Can’t wait until we throw the switch on the 29th and light it up. Hope the bulbs work…LOL Would hate to try and trace that down.

So to everybody who reads this story come on down to our tree lighting and bring the kids for a lot of good stuff. Don’t forget to stop by our hot dog stand and tell me “Hi” and buy one of our world famous all beef hot dogs. Happy Thanksgiving to all from the members of Bay District.
 
Units: Tower 9, Utility 9, Utility 3
 
Bruce Theden takes a close look to make sure we have the top piece.
Bruce Theden takes a close look to make sure we have the top piece.
O.K. I'm waiting for the top.
O.K. I'm waiting for the top.
 
Tubs and tubs of branches and bulbs and such.
Tubs and tubs of branches and bulbs and such.
O.K. ladies that is the top.
O.K. ladies that is the top.
 
Associate's Jamie Olson and Christy Bixby. We would have been lost without them.
Associate's Jamie Olson and Christy Bixby. We would have been lost without them.
Got the frame up. Now what?
Got the frame up. Now what?
 
Firefighter Chris trying to see if he can fit inside the tree.
Firefighter Chris trying to see if he can fit inside the tree.
Engineer Pat Stanley keeping an eye on things.
Engineer Pat Stanley keeping an eye on things.
 
I think this goes right here.
I think this goes right here.
Now we got it.
Now we got it.
 
I think.
I think.
Now to make sure just how it goes up there.
Now to make sure just how it goes up there.
 
Driver Emory Taylor providing his assistance.
Driver Emory Taylor providing his assistance.
Now it's time for the guys in the tower to hoist it up.
Now it's time for the guys in the tower to hoist it up.
 
You got it?
You got it?
We got it.
We got it.
 
Chris and Bruce waiting on the tree.
Chris and Bruce waiting on the tree.
Easy does it.
Easy does it.
 
It's all yours.
It's all yours.
Now that is my size tree.
Now that is my size tree.
 
The crowning touch. The star.
The crowning touch. The star.
Up it goes.
Up it goes.
 
Looks nice up there.
Looks nice up there.
Starting to take shape.
Starting to take shape.
 
Captain Burroughs trying to find the plug.
Captain Burroughs trying to find the plug.
I know it's in there somewhere.
I know it's in there somewhere.
 
Still looking for that plug.
Still looking for that plug.
Firefighter Ricco Thompson telling Captain Burroughts the plug is over there. LOL
Firefighter Ricco Thompson telling Captain Burroughts the plug is over there. LOL
 
Got it....
Got it....
Pass it down to me.
Pass it down to me.
 
Got it.....
Got it.....
Engiineer Stanley keeping a watchful eye on the bucket crew.
Engiineer Stanley keeping a watchful eye on the bucket crew.
 
O.K. Let's move on the rest of this thing. Did I say how cold it was? You can see the wind blowing but check out the flags in the background.
O.K. Let's move on the rest of this thing. Did I say how cold it was? You can see the wind blowing but check out the flags in the background.
Associate Jamie Olson fluffing up each section of branches. And there was a lot of them.
Associate Jamie Olson fluffing up each section of branches. And there was a lot of them.
 
Emery and Christy doing their fluffing.
Emery and Christy doing their fluffing.
Come on Emery you can do it.
Come on Emery you can do it.
 
Working our way down. Starting to look like a tree.
Working our way down. Starting to look like a tree.
Chris was the go to guy doing all the climbing.
Chris was the go to guy doing all the climbing.
 
Now this was a working party.
Now this was a working party.
Jamie telling me get busy and hand out some of those bulbs.
Jamie telling me get busy and hand out some of those bulbs.
 
Almost done.
Almost done.
Last couple to put on...
Last couple to put on...
 
Now Ricco and Jamie telling me to hurry up.
Now Ricco and Jamie telling me to hurry up.
Putting bulbs on the last branches.
Putting bulbs on the last branches.
 
Good thing I had that tub to lean on.
Good thing I had that tub to lean on.
I think we are done.
I think we are done.
 
The Christmas tree crew. Emery, Ricco, Christy, Jamie, Pat, Me, Chris and Bruce. We got her done.
The Christmas tree crew. Emery, Ricco, Christy, Jamie, Pat, Me, Chris and Bruce. We got her done.
Look at this close and see if you can find the expensive bulb we had on the tree.
Look at this close and see if you can find the expensive bulb we had on the tree.
 
All done. .....I think it looks good....
All done. .....I think it looks good....