Rehoboth couple donates Christmas tree; lighting festivities set Nov. 24

Christmas is coming and to put people in the holiday mood, Rehoboth Beach has selected a tree for the annual Christmas tree-lighting ceremony.

This year’s tree was donated by Bill Graff and Jeff Schuck of Rehoboth. The tree will be cut down at 8 a.m., Thursday, Nov. 16, and will be moved downtown in time for the tree-lighting ceremony on Friday, Nov. 24.

Schuck said they had tried to donate the tree last year, but the city chose another tree. When the city began looking for a tree for this year, Schuck called city communications specialist Krys Johnson and asked to be reconsidered. After brief deliberation, Graff and Schuck’s 30-foot pine tree was selected.

The tree was on the property when in 2005 Graff and Schuck bought their house on White Oak Road.  They had planned on taking it down because of safety concerns.

“There was another one in this island where our perennials are that blew over during Hurricane Sandy,” Schuck said.

“So we thought before this one had some damage to it, we may as well give it some good use downtown as the Christmas tree,” Graff said.

As he has for many years, Reds Dolson with JL Briggs will cut down the tree. Johnson said Greg Plummer of George Plummer & Son will move the tree into town under police escort. The estimated time of arrival at the Bandstand is 10 a.m., Johnson said.  

Graff and Schuck said they have been invited to the tree-lighting ceremony and plan to attend.

“It’s exciting,” Graff said. “It gives us a good feeling to know it didn’t get cut down and destroyed at that point. It has some purpose and everybody else can enjoy it.”