Tree decorating effort brightens downtown
Christmas arrived a little early Saturday in downtown Butler.
Volunteers and members of Butler Downtown gathered in the morning to decorate five trees in Diamond Park on Main Street.
“This is like a Hallmark movie, decorating the tree for the parade,” said Loretta Crawford of Butler.
Crawford came with her family to get into the holiday spirit after spotting a post on the Butler Downtown Facebook page, which was seeking volunteers.
Butler Downtown was in charge of the event and Matthew McCune, the group's vice president, coordinated the effort.
“This is always a fun time,” McCune said, “and it's something we all look forward to.”
This year's centerpiece is a 25-foot tree donated by Bob and Mary Jane Ackerman of Boyers.
“The tree was right next to (the couple's) house,” McCune said, “and it grew to be too big.”
McCune, an attorney with the law firm Conlon Tarker of Butler, made a personal inspection and was more than happy to accept the donation.
“I took one look at it,” he recalled, “and I said, 'This would be perfect.'”Rendering a similar verdict was McCune's father, Butler County Judge Timothy McCune, one of the volunteers decorating Saturday.Matthew McCune and city engineer Joe Gray on Thursday went to the Ackerman home and cut down the tree.In addition to the large tree, four 12- to 14-foot high trees were strung with lights and will be displayed in the park.Butler Downtown board members Lance Calvert and Dean Selfridge also participated in the tree trimming.Event sponsors included Conlon Tarker; Bob Dandoy, past president of Butler Downtown; Butler County Community College; the Lung and Wellness Center; May's Music Shoppe; and Robert Stephens Custom Jewelers.McCune also recognized Kenmac Rentals & Sales for donating the scaffolding and Cummings Candy & Coffee for providing the coffee for the event.He also noted that county maintenance workers helped to bring the trees and other materials to the park.
