Shop Small Saturday

The Fortuna Business Improvement District and Fortuna Chamber teamed up to distribute bags of free marketing materials from American Express in celebration of Shop Small Saturday. Here are just a few of our member businesses that we visited.

Kimberly Silva, Clendenen’s Cider Works, and Renee Lindsay, Chamber CEO Hoppy’s FroYo

Cindy Daetwiler, owner of Ferndale Jewelers, pictured with Fortuna Chamber Ambassador Chair and FBID Board Liasion Laura Morris (Coast Central Credit Union Member Services Branch Manager).

Strehl’s Family Shoes

Jonny Jordan and Cody Collings from Wyckoff ’s Plumbing.

Eel Valley Appliance

Clockwise from above:

The tree’s arrival at the River Lodge Conference Center.

Woodsy Owl says, “Give a Hoot! Don’t Pollute!” LeRoy Cyr, US Forest Service District Fish Biologist and US Capitol Christmas Tree Events Lead, addresses the California Conservation Corpsmember volunteers. Photo credit: James Edward Mills

Commemorative ornaments and pins were available for purchase. Photo credit: Jenn Brown

On Saturday, October 30, the US Capitol Christmas Tree made a “whistle stop” at the River Lodge. As part of the 51-year USDA Forest Service tradition, Six Rivers National Forest provided the 2021 U.S. Capitol Christmas Tree, which will grace the West Lawn of the U.S. Capitol for the holiday season.

The tradition of the U.S. Capitol Christmas Tree, or “The People’s Tree,” began in 1964 when Speaker of the U.S. House of Representatives John W. McCormack (D-MA) placed a live Christmas tree on the Capitol lawn. This tree lived three years before succumbing to wind and root damage. In 1970, the Capitol Architect asked the U.S. Forest Service to provide a Christmas tree. Since then, a diff erent national forest has been chosen each year to provide “The People’s Tree,” which includes a public engagement campaign to create connections and celebrate our national forests.

The process of providing the U.S. Capitol Christmas tree is a year-long undertaking. Among other things, it includes the selection of the main tree, providing 70 companion trees for offi ces throughout Washington, D.C., partnership with local