By Mary O’KEEFE

is the season for tree lighting ceremonies. The Americana had its ceremony, the Montrose Shopping Park will have its on White Friday, Nov. 27 and although there are many trees in La Crescenta there has never been an official tree to light – that is, until now.

On Dec. 4, the sycamore tree in front of the La Crescenta Library will become the official La Crescenta Christmas Tree.

Crescenta Valley Town Council President Robbyn Battles had the idea for the decorated tree and reached out to the office of Supervisor Michael Antonovich of the Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors.

“I was talking to Sussy [Nemer from the supervisor’s office] and told her I was surprised La Crescenta didn’t have its own tradition,” Battles said. “And she asked what we wanted to do.”

Battles suggested the sycamore tree in front of the library be designated as the official holiday tree, then put in a request and it was approved.

“We were given a little bit of funding from the supervisor’s office to purchase some decorations and then the community donated [decorations],” Battles said.

“One of the nice things is some of the [donated] ornaments were made in the memory of someone, and some were handmade crocheted snowflakes,” said Leslie Dickson, CVTC recording secretary.

Battles, Dickson and Lisa Griffin, CVTC member, decorated the tree yesterday, Wednesday, with the help of the L.A. County Parks and Recreation bucket truck.

The tree lighting ceremony will begin on Dec. 4 at 5:30 p.m. with a Friends of the Library fundraiser.

“There will be two sizes of votives that [people] can decorate. They sell for $8 and $10,” Battles said.

The votive decorating will take place at the library’s community room. The library will also have a puppet show for the kids.

The ceremony program is filled with local talent including the Rosemont Middle School advanced string orchestra performing at 6:15 p.m. Two children’s choirs will perform from Valley View Elementary and the Verdugo Ward of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.

Supervisor Antonovich will be on hand to help light the tree and then at 7:30 p.m. everyone will be invited to go into the library’s community room where SupervisorAntonovich will read “Snowmen at Night” by Caralyn Buehner, illustrated by Mark Buehner.

“We are going to have a nice big chair for the supervisor to sit in and read to [the kids],” Battles said.

The La Crescenta Christmas tree lights will be on a timer and will be on from 4:30 p.m. to 7 a.m. through the second week of January.

“This will become an [annual] tradition and it is something I will continue to work on after I am off council,” Battles said.

Battles decided not to run for another term for CVTC. Her present term will end in December.

The library is located at 2809 Foothill Blvd. in La Crescenta.

  Mary Okeefe