BOYERTOWN — For the seventh year, volunteers decorated a community-sponsored Unity Tree bringing the Boyertown community together to celebrate the holidays.
Set up in the center of town at Donnie Ellixson’s Gardens, this year’s tree is a 20-foot-tall Douglas fir donated by Mar-Jo Farms in Colebrookdale Township. Volunteers donated countless hours raising, transporting and finally decorating the tree.
With more than 30 different organizations and individuals contributing to its success each year, a committee works on this project beginning in September of each year and ending mid-January when the tree is taken down. They meet to discuss how to make it even better for next year.
“When I moved to the Boyertown community in 2014, I was in disbelief that such an endearing little town didn’t have a Christmas tree,” Amy Muzopappa of Muzopappa Media Productions said in a statement.
Over the course of the next few years, as Muzopappa began developing friendships with some of the community “do-ers,” the idea of having a community tree developed into the Unity Tree.
“The idea of Unity in Community resonated with me, as a newcomer to the town and really feeling welcomed. I wanted everyone to feel that same sense of welcome. The intent behind the tree is to bring the community together,” said Muzopappa.
In 2017, Amy Muzopappa recruited Donnie Ellixson of Ellixson’s Tae Kwon Do Academy, Judy Wetzel of Magical Wonders Vacations and Marlo Weidenbaugh of Mar-Jo Farms to brainstorm how they could make a community Christmas tree happen.
“Judy and I dug around in the cellar at Zuber Realty and retrieved the Christmas balls that were once used on a tree at Borough Hall. She and I repainted and re-wired them to make them work for the first few years, since we each dedicated our own funds, time and talents to the project. The tree is raised on Donnie’s property, as it sits in the center of town. Marlo donates the tree each year,” said Muzopappa.
“Now, seven years later and it is still the same core four making it happen, but there are many others who devote time and energy into the project,” she added.
A Bigger Tree
Organizers said the event grows each year, bringing hundreds of people together to celebrate the season and the theme of unity.
“As the event grew, so did the tree and then the need for additional ornaments, lights and support grew,” said Muzopappa.
The committee was able to purchase new ornaments through sponsorship by Zuber Realty and Matt Robb from Thrivent Financial. Lights were provided by Denney Electric. A banner to advertise was provided by Everything Printing. Refreshments were provided by The Wetzel and Cascino families.
The tree is raised via crane by Tony Boyd of Berks-Mont Towing. Members of Boyertown Area Fire & Rescue and Boyertown Community Ambulance assist with raising and decorating, as well as participating in the lighting event.
“Dallas Tree Service got involved when the tree got bigger than our ladders would reach. Dave Parish and his crew bring their bucket truck to help us reach the highest places with lights and ornaments and, of course, the tree topper which was created by Wilcox Farm,” said Muzopappa.
The Ellixson’s Pay-It-Forward program has volunteer martial arts students assisting with everything from unpacking ornaments to carrying ladders, chairs and bleachers for the lighting event.
A Growing Event
The tree lighting event occurs on the first Friday of December each year and kicks off the holidays in Boyertown. This event also marks the beginning of the Holiday Lights Tour which continues throughout December, when prizes are awarded based on votes from the public. The day after the lighting is Chillin’ on Main, a well-attended community event sponsored by Building a Better Boyertown.
“The holidays really bring Boyertown to life, with many other December events happening as well,” she said.
The tree lighting draws between 300 to 400 people.
“In keeping with the charm of a small town, candlelight caroling is a staple of the event, but we have jazzed it up a bit in recent years with live music and this year we even had some children performing a fire-twirling routine,” said Muzopappa.
Events are added each year.
This year’s event kicked off with musical jams from Funky Frets and their ukulele group. A children’s chorus helped this year with the caroling. Candles and song sheets were handed out to community members to join in singing carols.
Boyertown Community Ambulance and Boyertown Are Fire & Rescue were also on-site to meet and greet with the kids.
Magical Wonders Vacations provided a popcorn stand, and hotdogs were served by the Cascino family.
The Boyertown Legionettes performed before the tree lighting.
The grand finale of the ceremony was the countdown to light the tree. Boyertown community mascot Bearianne, sponsored by Building a Better Boyertown, leads the countdown along with Santa and his special helpers.
“It is truly a special event that brings people together,” said Muzopappa.
Donnie Ellixson of Ellixson’s Tae Kwon Do Academy and Boyertown’s community mascot Bearianne enjoyed the festivities at Boyertown’s Unity Tree lighting ceremony on Dec. 6. (Photo courtesy of Muzopappa Media Productions)That night’s celebration also offered several holiday-themed events, including Santa’s Secret Hideout, a fundraiser with proceeds supporting a youth mission trip. For a $10 donation, children could get a photo with Santa and a letter.
Twenty-six participating businesses along Philadelphia and Reading avenues were open throughout the evening with some extra special merriment as part of the Boyertown Business Holiday Tour Stroll.
Event sponsors included Berks-Mont Towing, Boyertown Area Fire & Rescue, Boyertown Community Ambulance Service, Boyertown Legionettes, Building a Better Boyertown, Dallas Tree Service, Deal Me In Games, Denney Electric, Designs by Heidi, Donnie Ellixson’s Gardens of Boyertown, Ellixson’s After-School, Ellixson’s Tae Kwon Do Academy, Everything Printing, Funky Frets, Keystone Water Rescue, Magical Wonders Vacations, Mar-Jo Farms, Matthew Robb of Thrivent, Muzo Media Productions, St. John’s Lutheran Church, The Cascino Family, Tractor Supply of Boyertown and Zuber Realty.
For more information visit https://muzomediaproductions.com/community/ and the Unity Tree Facebook Page at https://www.facebook.com/UnityTreeBoyertown.
Source: Berkshire mont
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