Sacramento ( A 60-foot white fir tree from Camino (El
Dorado County) will be put on display on the west lawn of the State Capitol this week to mark
the beginning of the Capitol holiday season. Governor Gray Davis' Department of General
Services (DGS) will receive the donated tree from the U.S. Forest Service Pacific Southwest
Research Station Institute of Forest Genetics on Tuesday, November 21, 2000.

 

The tree will be transported by the California Department of Forestry and set up by DGS'
Building and Property Management Branch at the Capitol Wednesday, November 22, 2000.
When decorated, the tree will feature more than 5,000 lights and ornaments in preparation for the
annual tree-lighting ceremony. In keeping with tradition, many of the ornaments to be placed on
the tree have been specially handcrafted by children and adults in the State's centers for the
developmentally disabled. The Department of Developmental Services (DDS) has gathered these
special ornaments for display.

 

DGS staff will decorate the Capitol Rotunda in Victorian holiday style for the annual tree
lighting ceremony scheduled for December 5 at approximately 5 P.M.

 

Note to News Media: The tree is due to
arrive at the Capitol west lawn at approximately 10 A.M. on Wednesday, November 22nd, 2000.

 

Contacts: Tree Delivery, Jim DeJournett, DGS, (916) 324-1229. Tree Ornaments, Paul
Verke, DDS, (916) 654-1820.