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Suffolk ended 2020 on a bright green note.

Every year, the Pilot Club of Suffolk puts up its Safety Tree as a reminder to the city to be alert and safe while spending extra time on the roads shopping and traveling for the holiday season.

On Dec. 1, the tree was covered in a strand of green bulbs. For every traffic fatality during the month, a Suffolk Police officer replaces one green bulb with a red one. However, this year, the 2020 Safety Tree stayed green all month long.

“We are so glad and thankful it stayed green,” said Cathy Richards, president of the Pilot Club of Suffolk. “With everything being out of the ordinary this year, this was really good news.”

The tree has stayed green all month only a handful of times since it has been displayed in Suffolk for more than 40 years.

On behalf of the Suffolk Pilot Club, Richards thanked the Elks Lodge, The Knights of Columbus Suffolk and the Suffolk Police Department for their partnership to make the Safety Tree possible.

“It’s good news, and we want good news right now,” said Richards.