Toledo Mayor Wade Kapszukiewicz today has issued an official proclamation from the City Of Toledo on behalf of what has quickly become known as "The Christmas Weed." The Christmas Weed, located in the median at the intersection of Alexis and Secor, started as a joke but has snowballed into a point of holiday pride for our city.
Mayor Kapszukiewicz says it is his "privilege and responsibility to recognize those causes and events, and, occasionally, those viral sensations ..."
"'Twas a week before Christmas, and along on a walk, a Toledoan spotted a large plant in a rock. And to this Toledoan's wandering eyes it should appear, to be a Christmas miracle, sprouting proudly in the square; and, this resilient, scrappy, weed in the block, resembled the Charlie Brown tree -- just ask Woodstock."
It concludes by urging "all residents to join me in celebrating its lesson of camaraderie and community in the City of Toledo."
Full text of Proclamation below.
Mayor Kapszukiewicz will be on The Scott Sands Show today at 3:45pm with more.
Saturday, 12:00-2:00pm, bring a donation to a food bank or Leading Families Home and get a free 4x6 photo in front of the Toledo Christmas Weed to take home with you, courtesy of Kurt Nielsen Photography and 101.5 The River.
Read coverage in The Washington Post
Troy Emrick and his daughter, Alyssa, are credited with first decorating Toledo's Christmas Weed and creating it's fan page on Facebook. Despite being twice vandalized, people have continued to add pieces and parts to the display this week -- just don't expect it to compete with the Lights Before Christmas at the Toledo Zoo ... yet.
You can find the Toledo Christmas Weed at the corner of Alexis and Secor.