Town’s ugly Christmas tree to get single red bulb

In this photo taken on Friday, Nov. 21, 2014, residents look on duing the Christmass the tree lighting in Reading, Pa. Reading's spindly 50-foot spruce drew the ire of residents who said it was ruining their holiday spirit. Now a group led by the city council president is raising money to buy and decorate a more impressive replacement. (AP Photo/Reading Eagle, Ben Hasty)

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ASSOCIATED PRESS

November 27, 2014 - 5:14 pm

READING, Pa. — A much-maligned public Christmas tree in Pennsylvania is getting the Charlie Brown treatment.

Officials in Reading say the spindly branches will be decorated with a single red ornamental bulb — just like the scrawny tree in the beloved “Peanuts” holiday tale.

Officials say they hope the symbol will remind people of the deeper meaning of the season.

Residents of the small city complained the puny pine was ugly when it was first erected and topped with a lighted pretzel. Leaders then made arrangements for a better tree, and workers removed decorations from the original.

But the logistics became complicated, and Reading ended up keeping the unattractive tree.

On Wednesday, the city issued a statement saying the 50-foot Norwegian pine would get one ornament during a rededication ceremony Dec. 6.