A Columbus couple hopes visitors will enjoy this year’s official city Christmas tree as much as they have for the past 23 years.
Bob and Judy Ritz, who have lived on Griffa Avenue — on the city’s northeast side — for the past 48 years, donated a 25-feet-tall Norway spruce to be on display during the holiday season at Columbus City Hall.
Residents are asked each year to consider donating a tree to be placed near the City Hall entrance. This year’s tree was selected among seven or eight that were considered, said Bryan Burton, the city’s public works director.
Criteria such as a tree’s overall height and fullness full are considered in making the selection each year, Burton said.
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“It was the best one of the choices we had this year,” Burton said. “We try to keep it around 20 feet or so. But if we have to, we can cut it down.”
Bob Ritz, who spent 41 years working at Cummins Inc. as a machine repairman, contacted the city last year about his wish to donate the tree to the city.
The tree was 3 feet tall when it was first planted, and has been decorated with Christmas lights for the past five years, Ritz said.
But the overall size of the tree made it difficult for the couple to continue putting lights on it during the Christmas season, he said.
“We’ll miss seeing it lit up,” Ritz said.
He stood outside his home, taking photos and he watched crews from Frank’s Tree Service removed the tree, which was lifted by a crane onto the bed of a city truck.
Ritz said he wants this year’s official city Christmas tree to be in honor of military personnel and first responders in an effort to thank them for their service.
“We enjoy it every year, but now everybody will enjoy it,” Ritz said.
The absence of a tree in their front yard will make things different this holiday season, especially since birds often used the tree for shelter in the winter, Ritz said. However, the couple plans to put something else in its place, although they haven’t decided yet what that will be.
The tree was transported to Columbus City Hall, where it was carried up the steps by about 20 people using four wooden planks before being placed in a tree stand.
The city will spend a few days decorating the tree, which will be lit up the day after Thanksgiving, said Mary Ferdon, executive director of administration and community development.
Visitors passing by Columbus City Hall will also see a display of three artificial white deer lit up during the holiday season in place of Christmas present decorations the city has used in the past, she said.
A second Christmas tree will be put up at The Commons in downtown Columbus, site of the Dec. 1 sixth annual Christmas Village, Ferdon said.
Mayor Jim Lienhoop also said he is appreciative of the donation from the Ritzes for the community’s benefit.
“We’re always excited to put up the tree,” Lienhoop said. “It gets everybody in the Christmas spirit.”
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The Christmas tree at Columbus City Hall will be lit up Nov. 23, the day after Thanksgiving.
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