Neighbors on Redfield Parkway were up early the day after Thanksgiving, as every year the neighborhood installs stakes and delivers Christmas trees for the whole street to decorate and display. The street in the City of Batavia has kept up with the tradition that was started in 1951 by Harold Gouinlock, a resident on the street, who owned a Christmas tree farm in Attica and supplied the street with trees.
For the first time in 70 years, the Christmas trees could not be delivered to residents as they are stuck in Canada awaiting to be picked up by a trucking company.
Nick Zinni, the organizer of the yearly tradition on Redfield Parkway, received the update from Pudgies on Thursday that the trees are not available.
“The entire tree order for Pudgies, including trees for our street, are on a flatbed trailer in Canada waiting for a driver. The trucking people will not commit to a delivery time, their estimated delivery to Pudgie’s is Friday night or Saturday morning,” Zinni explained in an email to residents.
On Friday morning, the crew of about 10 neighbors, who usually assist with the process, delivered the tree stakes and installed the stakes in each front yard.
UPDATE: According to Pudgies Lawn and Garden Store Manager Tonisha Pilc, the Christmas trees are now on their way from Canada and they hope to receive them later today.
“It’s been like this all year and last year due to shipping and trucking delays, I never know if I’m going to get an order on time.”
Pilc says the delays on some items are usually 3-4 months. She says she just received grass seed that she ordered in the spring. The Christmas trees usually arrive the Monday before Thanksgiving, as of last report Pilc says they should arrive around noon today.
Pudgies Lawn and Garden at 3646 West Main Street road in Batavia will be open until 7:00pm this evening and 9-5 on Saturday.
UPDATE: The trees from Canada arrived at Pudgies in the noon hour on Friday and Redfield Parkway residents were able to distribute about 60 Balsam fir trees.
