A very special young man helped Duquesne Light Co. flip the giant switch on its Three Rivers Tree at Point State Park this year.
Jimmy Spagnolo, 14, of Shaler, formed a bond with some of the utility company’s employees as they worked in his neighborhood this summer. He watched them from his treehouse, asking questions about their work. In return, DLC crews gave him some lineworker gear, including a hard hat and a safety vest.
Jimmy is also a cancer survivor, diagnosed with a glioma or brain tumor at 4 months old, according to a WPXI report, not expected to live to see his first birthday. He endured six rounds of chemotherapy, and national media covered his story and celebration dance at 6 when he rang the UPMC Children’s Hospital of Pittsburgh bell to mark the last round. His tumor has been stable, according to his Facebook page, and he has some side effects from the ongoing treatments and the tumor. Jimmy is a freshman at Shaler Area High School.
Wednesday’s storms delayed the lighting ceremony one day, to Friday. With the “severe weather that brought wind gusts exceeding 60 mph, we unfortunately had to delay the final installation of the Three Rivers Tree to ensure the safety of our team and partners,” a DLC public relations representative wrote in an email.
DLC introduced the new modernized tree last year, according to a news release. It boasts various sustainability features, including more than 22,000 LED pixel lights, and uses water ballasts as its foundation to protect the park grounds. The design also incorporates vibrant colors and images that symbolize the winter and holiday season.
The PUP is the publication of the striking workers at the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette.
