Well our Lady Di of Wilton Manors has done it again. Jaclyn St James advocate and local celebrity took the initiative to try and raise funds to overhaul the Christmas tree in downtown Wilton Manors and succeeded. After years of demise the tree started to look a little glum.
This year Jaclyn had to stop the car to realize that almost all of the decorations were to the top right of the tree and that it looked as if the city just took it out of the box in the attic and threw it up. Ms St James contact our Vice Mayor Justin Flippen and was directed to get in touch with Michelle Parks of the Leisure Department of Wilton Manors. After talking with Michelle Parks they came to an agreement that tree needed help. With the Christmas lighting ceremony only weeks away they knew it couldn't be done fast enough. They decided to spruce it up by adding a few decorations and rearranging the tree before the ceremony.
After the meeting it was discussed that they would plan a theme or some way of redecorating the tree for next year. Jaclyn decided to start running a few days before the ceremony and started a GOFUNDME page in order to start drumming up funds for next years decorations. She turned out over 6 different scenarios for the tree, but unfortunately the tree was redecorated with colored lights from the prior year. So going forward they are still working on new decorations and now that Jaclyn St James has gotten the community involved, they are now making it a community effort. Jaclyn wanted to hear the voices of the community and to see what direction to take this tree. She has been calling on the community with different polls in color and theme choices and for volunteers that may want to help.
The GOFUNDME account has made its goal of $1000.00 and being that she doesn't see a whole new theme coming about with the now multi-colored lights unfortunately we still can do something to turn this mess into something. Jaclyn said,"I really was hoping for a complete new look, but I think a much better spruced up tree is in order and with the money we raised and hopefully the city can pitch in, we can make our tree grand again. We are also looking into updating that Jewish Menorah with some gold garland and blue and gold lights!" "It's still ways away, but I don't want to procrastinate and I want to get this done so we don't have to wait to last minute again", Jaclyn said.
Well I for one look forward to congratulating Jaclyn for her efforts to beautify Wilton Manors as she has so well done in the past and now again in the present. Not many know but Jaclyn spear-headed getting our LGBTQ Flag to fly proudly in our city year round with it's own park and she also was able to get the pride banners and flags for the light poles during the large Stonewall Pride Festival in June. So thank you to you Jaclyn St James for making our Island City Great Again! Now if we could only get her to run for office!! You defiantly have our vote Jaclyn!!!!