Wanted: Giant Christmas Tree For Downtown Evanston
(CBS) -- A Christmas conundrum could dampen spirits in north suburban Evanston.
CBS 2's Vince Gerasole reports the city is branching out to solve the problem.
It's beginning to look a lot like Christmas in Evanston, but in the town square something's missing.
"It's a little odd," Evanston City Manager Wally Bobkiewicz says. "I don't have a Christmas tree for Fountain Square."
For 40 years, that is the spot where the city has decorated a towering evergreen for their holiday celebrations.
This year, there has been no luck in securing a donated tree, for a variety of reasons. In some cases, potential trees have been hemmed in by buildings or power lines.
City leaders have the bright idea of expanding their search to communities within five miles of Evanston.
The city is looking for a tree that's at least 20 feet tall and is full on all sides, Bobkiewicz says.
If you think you have the perfect tree to donate, Evanston takes care of chopping it down and its transport. Crews even grind away the stump.
But time's ticking. The city hopes to select a tree by Nov. 30 and have it in place for the Dec. 9 tree-lighting ceremony.