You're a Good Tree, Charlie Brown

The village of Manomet has a tree planted back in the 80s on land of and with permission of Luke’s Liquors. He has served many years as our center’s Christmas tree.  At the time planted, I harassed Dougie Gray, parks department, accusing him of giving us this peaked, scrawny “Charlie Brown” tree.  He responded Charlie was a Douglas fir, I think, a perfectly good and healthy tree, and rest assured, Charlie would grow.  Some 25 years later, Charlie has about a 30’ height, 17’ spread and a base trunk diameter of 15 inches. Dougie was right. I was wrong. Imagine that…  

Now, the state is signalizing the intersection, like Sept. 2, or not too long thereafter. Charlie’s life is at risk. He has sported decorations every year, done “Christmas With Santa”, heard volumes of carols and hosted many a tree lighting. It has not been ideal though. Patrons of Lukes have joined in the caroling from time to time. They sing pretty good but don’t do too well with verse. We villagers regardless have many fond memories of Christmas with Charlie and the children of Manomet Elementary.

We do love Charlie Brown, and we have an opportunity to save him, as the town has given us an acre of land just down the street for a village green.

I have the privileges of chairing the planning board/selectmen appointed Manomet Village Steering Committee and serving as president of The Simes House Foundation, Inc. The Foundation is a non-profit 501c3 created by the MVSC to establish a village green, restore an historic house on the property and provide units on the upper floors to sustain the green and community facilities on the first floor.

MVSC, SHFI and residents’ contributions can together fund a ride to a new home for Charlie Brown. Lukes has also agreed to contribute to the effort. We think Charlie and villagers will be delighted with his new abode, and the intersection will be much safer, as Charlie has gotten just too fat to see around.

-Randy Parker

Manomet resident, chairman of the Manomet Village Steering Committee and president of the Simes House Foundation