World’s tallest tree one of the slower

-- S.J. Cahn

NEWPORT BEACH -- Fashion Island’s Christmas tree, which is expected to be

the nation’s tallest, will arrive a little later than originally planned.

Scheduled to be here this morning, delivery of the shopping center’s

110-foot tall white fir has been delayed a day.

The tree should arrive at about 5 a.m. Wednesday. The cranes and

forklifts required to set up the tree will begin their festive work about

8 a.m. By 11 a.m., the tree should be in its full, upright position.

The 110-foot tree is expected to be about 20 feet taller than the famous

tree in Rockefeller Center. It should dwarf the National Tree in

Washington, D.C., which will likely be about 78 feet high.

The official tree-lighting ceremony is scheduled for 6 p.m., Friday, Dec.

19. A menorah lighting ceremony will take place at 4 p.m., Sunday, Dec.

5.