Out with old and in with the new...well out with the sort of old. While carolers serenaded those inside the State House rotunda, chain saws roared as what was left of the state Christmas tree was cut down and hauled away. It was replaced by a smaller but much healthier tree donated by West Greenwich tree farmer Big John Leyden. The State House tree became a source of unwanted , negative publicity when it's needles started to fall off so fast that it left the bottom branches bare. As the upper branches began to follow suit, Governor Raimondo decided to replace the tree over the weekend. Tim Leyden, president of Leyden's Tree Farm replaced the tree with a 12 foot fir saying it was the largest tree he could provide on such quick notice. He says the new tree has a great aroma and stong "needle retention." Raimondo spokesperson David Ortiz says people were actually calling the fire marshal. Unfortunately, the whole fiasco gave the state a black eye with the NY POST calling it "THE ADDEST STATE CHRISTMAS TREE" and newtork news picking up on it over the past two days. Maybe next year, just hit LOWE'S and go artificial.