Ed Dart, the owner of Dart's Tree Farm in Southold, re-installed a lighted comet structure last weekend on the tree farm to honor his friend John Romanelli, a respected community leader and family man who died tragically on Jan. 3 at his oil company, Burt's Reliable.

Dart wrote this letter to Burt's Reliable about his "Comet for John":

Dear Friends at Burts Reliable,

Many local residents and passers-by will recall the lighted comet that I built and erected high in the air over the dark fields of my Christmas tree farm on Bayview Road five years ago.  It shown proudly in the winter sky and lit up the darkness in a very peaceful and friendly way..  I was very proud of it and pleased that it brought  a few moments of enjoyment to most who drove past. One of those frequent passers-by who commented on it on numerous occasions was our dear friend John.

Weather eventually took its toll on the comet causing most of the lights to fail.  This year’s Hurricane Irene gave it the final blow and sent it crashing to the ground. I was going to call that an end to what had been a nice thing.

I have decided to rebuild and re-erect the comet in memory of our friend John so that it may bring beautiful light to the night sky again in the same way that John’s smile would bring light and happiness to any room he would enter.

If you wish to pass by, I plan to keep it lit for several weeks.

Sincerely yours,

Edward Dart