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Christmas Tree Seller Uprooted

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By LAURA FRAZIER

lfrazier@tampatrib.com

Published: December 10, 2008

VALRICO - Apryl Willis carefully weeded through bills and junk mail the week before Thanksgiving, eager to find a postcard from Bill Trice.

Like many locals, Willis makes it a point to purchase her Christmas tree from Trice. The North Carolina tree farmer announces his annual arrival in Brandon by sending postcards to people who prefer to patronize his lot.

During the past 25 years, he has hauled thousands of Carolina conifers to Brandon, where plenty of patrons say they make an annual pilgrimage to his lot for the freshly-cut Fraser firs, reasonable prices and friendly service.

Willis began to worry last week when Trice was a no-show at his most recent digs - the county-owned Little League park on Bloomingdale Avenue at Lithia-Pinecrest Road.

"We didn't get a postcard like we always do, and when we drove by the lot, it was still empty," she said.

Contacted Dec. 1 at his home in Newland, N.C., Trice said he was advised in October by the Hillsborough County Department of Parks, Recreation and Conservation that he could no longer operate at the park.

"I was surprised because I've been set up there for six years and there never was a problem before," Trice said. He said he scheduled an arrival date with the county each year, donated a portion of his proceeds to Bloomingdale Little League - about $1,500 a year - and kept his own liability insurance in excess of a $1 million.

Trice tried to find an alternate site, but when Thanksgiving weekend loomed just days away, he made the difficult decision to sell all his trees to a wholesaler and send out postcards to let his customers know he wouldn't be in Brandon this year.

Parks spokesman John Brill could not explain why Trice was previously allowed to operate at the park. He said the county ordinance that prohibits the use of public property for private gain is nothing new.

The ordinance allows for exceptions to the rule - with prior approval from the Board of County Commissioners and parks department heads. But Trice said he believes in time he will find an alternate spot that makes everyone happy.

He plans to come to Brandon in August to look for a locale with enough space, parking, visibility and access to water and electricity.

Buying a tree from Trice is a 20-years-standing family tradition for Willis, who hopes next year's postcard will bring happier greetings.

"Bill has seen our kids grow up," she said. "He remembers us, and we look forward to visiting him and buying a beautiful tree."

Residents with suggestions for set-up spots can write to Bill Trice at Stover Ridge Nursery, 421 Stover Ridge Rd., Newland, NC 28657, or call (828) 733-0614.

Reporter Laura Frazier can be reached at (813) 657-4523.

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