• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to footer
Subscribe
Program Guide
Watch Live

CCX Media

Skip NavigationMenu
  • News
    • Close
        • CCX News
          • CCX News Home
          • News Stories
            • CCX Daily Newscast
          • CCX News Special Reports
          • CCX Media Schools
        • Feature Segments

          • Business Matters
          • School Spotlight
          • Standout Student
          • Weekend Showcase
          • Newsmakers
        • News Tip

          Send us a story idea or news tip!
          Facebook Instagram Twitter
          Watch Live
          CCX1 | CCX2 | CCX3
        • Apple News
    • Close
  • Sports
    • Close
        • CCX Sports
          • CCX Sports Home
          • Sports Tips
          • Hall of Fame
          • Upcoming Event Coverage
          • Play of the Week
        • Sports Coverage

          Adapted SportsAdditional SportsBaseballBasketballFootball
          GymnasticsHockeyLacrosseSoccerSoftball
          Swimming & DivingTennisTrack & FieldVolleyballWrestling
        • Social Media

          Facebook Twitter Instagram
          Watch Live
          CCX1 | CCX2 | CCX3
          Shop/Order
    • Close
  • Cities
    • Close
        • CCX Cities
          • CCX Cities Home
          • The Connection
          • In The Community
          • Our Town’s Story
          • Community Resources
          • CCX Media Schools
          • City Meetings
        • Your City

          Brooklyn Center Local News and Events
          Brooklyn Park MN Local News and Events
          Crystal
          Golden Valley
          Maple Grove
          New Hope
          Osseo
          Plymouth
          Robbinsdale
        • Social Media

          Facebook Twitter
          Watch Live
          CCX1 | CCX2 | CCX3
    • Close
  • Create
    • Close
        • CCX Create
          • CCX Create Home
          • Channels
          • Resources
          • Meet The Create Team
          • CCX Create Virtual Tour
        • Get Creative

          • Make Your Own Show
          • Free Classes
          • Contact Us
          • Polka Spotlight
          • Diversity Minute
        • RueShare

          • Member Login
          • Member Guide
        • Social Media

          Facebook Twitter Instagram
          Watch Live
          CCX1 | CCX2 | CCX3
    • Close
  • Subscribe
  • Program guide
  • Watch Live

Golden Valley Church Toasts Oak Tree Before Removal

10:54 AM | Saturday, July 25, 2020

When an old oak tree on the property of Spirit of Hope United Methodist Church in Golden Valley needed to be removed, members gathered to toast the tree one last time. The tree has provided shade for weddings, ice cream socials and more in the last 100 years.

“I love the tree. Look at how beautiful it is. I’ve worked here for 30 years under that old oak tree.,” said Diane Maney, director of childcare at Sunshine Valley Childcare, which is located inside the church. “The children love the tree. They love to come out and rake the leaves under the tree. Have music class under the tree. Go sledding down the hill under the tree and avoid the tree. They learn how to bail out at an early age, when sledding down the hill.”

But this year, the attitude toward the tree changed.

“We believe it was struck by lightning several years ago and you can see that its dying from the top down,” said Rob Alber, chair of the trustees at Spirit of Hope United Methodist Church. “The tree is coming down because the daycare here uses this courtyard. The fact that we wanted to possibly save the tree, however, it is a hazard in that the branches could fall down at any moment. So the council and the trustees decided that it was time to come down.”

But the church plans to salvage the wood and perhaps repurpose it  in some way.

“If we can repurpose those main sections, that main area, we would maybe make a picnic table out of it, or make some alter tables. Or we have communion tables that we would like to use,” said Alber.

A Farewell Toast to the Tree

On the night before the tree was scheduled to come down, church members gathered to toast farewell to the tree. People raised their glasses, read poems and shared memories.

“I’ve heard stories 50-60 years ago they had ice cream socials under here. They’ve had weddings. They’ve had all sorts of things. So this church was built in the 60s and we’re guessing it’s 160 years old. So it’s been here a very long time,” said Alber.

“This thing has seen and heard lots of activity. And if trees could speak so we could understand, it would be an amazing story that we could hear,” said Pastor Jeff Hansen of Spirit of Hope Methodist Church.

The daycare already has plans to use the grassy area where the tree once stood. And now, kids won’t have to swerve to miss the tree either.

 

 

Neil Pursley, reporting

Golden Valley

Related Stories

Hopkins Center for the Arts Hosts Largest Art Exhibit of the Year:  Art enthusiasts have a good reason… Read More
Robbinsdale Academy-Highview Student Becomes School ‘Connector’:  It's not always the… Read More
Honeywell Union Workers in Golden Valley, Plymouth Face Possible Lockout:  Honeywell union workers in… Read More
Golden Valley Plans to Move SEA Playground for Flood Mitigation Project:  Golden Valley officials and… Read More
Legislation Aims to Make it Harder to Sell Stolen Catalytic Converters:  Brooklyn Park police arrested… Read More
Local Business Owner Raises Concerns About Possible Paid Sick Time Mandate:  A new bill is making… Read More

Footer

NAVIGATE

  • CCX Media
  • NEWS
  • SPORTS
  • CITIES
  • CREATE
  • Job Opportunities
  • Meet the CCX Media Team
  • ABOUT CCX MEDIA
  • Annual Programming Reports
  • CABLE COMMISSION

SUBSCRIBE

Get email updates for daily story previews. “Week in Review” video links, and programming previews.

Subscribe Today

CONNECT

HAVE A NEWS TIP? CALL OUR TIPLINE AT:  763-533-1710
Send us story ideas and comments!
Get in touch with us
               
 NEWS   SPORTS
 SHOP/ORDER

LOCATION

CCX Media
6900 Winnetka Avenue North
Brooklyn Park, MN 55428

Main Phone:  763-533-8196

CCX Media serves the northwest suburbs of Minneapolis, Minnesota, including Brooklyn Center, Brooklyn Park, Crystal, Golden Valley, Maple Grove, New Hope, Osseo, Plymouth and Robbinsdale.
Copyright © 2023 CCXMedia | All Rights Reserved. | Privacy Policy | Accessibility Statement
Web Design and Development by CEL Marketing PR Design and BizzyWeb | Log in