US Capitol Christmas Tree “Whistle Stop” in Fortuna

from Fortuna Chamber Quarterly Newsletter Winter 2021

Shop Small Saturday

Local residents lined up to sign the banner and take pictures. Photo credit: James Edward Mills Offi cer Moore with K9 Offi cer Blitz Photo credit: Jenn Brown

Offi cer Stevens with K9 Offi cer Cain. Photo credit: Jenn Brown Fortuna Police Department volunteer Linda Bergstrom helping fundraise for the Fortuna Police K9 program and CA Cancer Crusher. Photo credit: Jenn Brown

and state groups in the creation of 15,000 ornaments that celebrate the state’s cultural history and people, landscapes, natural resources, and fi sh and wildlife, public events during the transportation of the tree to Washington, D.C., and multiple receptions surrounding the tree lighting in Washington, D.C. in December.

About 600 people stopped by the event to see the tree, sign the banner, and enjoy a walk through the Interpretive Display provided by the USDA Forest Service and created, in part, by local HSU Students. The Fortuna Chamber wants to extend a HUGE thank you to the Fortuna Police Department, Fortuna Parks and Recreation, City of Fortuna staff , Jennifer Lourenzo at the River Lodge, and the following CA Conservation Corpsmembers who volunteered their time: Jonathan Sullivan, Dylon Wilson, Emmanuel Martinez, Danny Yarbrough, Sheyla Canseco, Zoe Burgess, Oliver Metzler-Winslow, Elizabeth Egles, Amelia Tracy, Luis Figueroa, Pierce Kimberling, Alejandro Alfaro, Beau Gulledge, Luz Beltran, Roberto Aguilar, and Bryan Szymanski. We could not have done it without their help.

Attendees could view some of the 15,000 ornaments created by Californians. Photo credit: Jenn Brown

Thank you also to Cornerstone Realty for collecting food donations for Santa’s Sleigh, the Fortuna Kiwanis Club for passing out apples and hot cider, A.M. Baird Engineering & Surveying and the Fortuna Post Offi ce for donating towards our take-home ornament making kits, Wendt Construction Co., Inc., for use of their yard to house the tree overnight, Loncheria Mi Pueblito Food Truck, and to the Forest Service and their partner Choose Outdoors for making a stop in Fortuna even possible! Navigating a 108’ truck is no easy feat!

Thank you to the community for attending. We hope everyone had a great time seeing the tree.