READING, Pa. — A maligned public Christmas tree is getting the Charlie Brown treatment.
Officials say the spindly branches will be decorated with a single red bulb — just like the scrawny tree in the beloved ‘‘Peanuts’’ holiday tale. Officials say they hope the symbol will remind people of the deeper meaning of the season.
Residents complained that the puny pine was ugly when it was first erected and topped with a lighted pretzel. Leaders then arranged for a better tree, and workers removed decorations from the original. But the logistics became complicated, and Reading ended up keeping the unattractive tree.