Town Tree-Lighting Will Carry On

A 16-Year Tradition

The Newtown Chamber of Commerce is once again inviting residents to help support the annual tree lighting in The Ram Pasture by “donating” a bulb or luminaria in honor or memory of a loved one.

In a tradition begun two years ago, donations to the tree-lighting fund in honor of someone to be remembered will be noted in a weekly listing in The Bee.

“Now every citizen can feel personally involved by donating a bulb or candle and know that on that magical night the spirits or memories of loved ones are illuminated in this very special way,” explained Diana Johnson.

Seventeen years ago the Newtown Chamber of Commerce began the now annual tradition of a Christmas tree-lighting ceremony, despite warnings by many residents that it was bound to fail.

“There was a lot of skepticism at the time, because of vandalism,” Ms Johnson recalled. “The Chamber had participated in a townwide tree lighting, but that ceased by the early 80s because there had been so much vandalism.”

But Sam Eisenbach, who was president of the Chamber in 1985, was eager to try. He enlisted the help of Diana Johnson, who was then the chamber’s administrative assistant, and Janet Woycik, director of the Booth Library. Soon the committee also included an electrician, Stan Perrone; an arborist, Dan Dalton; Barbara Kasbarian of Newtown Parks and Recreation; and Mary Jane and Brian Healey.

“The Chamber didn’t want the event to be commercial, so choosing the right site was important,” Mrs Johnson said. “A perfect tree was located in The Ram Pasture, and the Newtown Cemetery Association granted permission for its use.”

Janet Woycik said her favorite remembrance concerns a letter written by a mother whose child is buried in Hawley Cemetery across the street from the tree. “She thanked us for allowing her family to celebrate the holidays with her child once again because of this tree shining near his grave. Our committee is pleased and humbled that we had touched this family and others in Newtown. We hope to continue this wonderful tradition for many years to come.”

Two years after the first tree-lighting, Janet Woycik enlisted the help of the Newtown Tennis Association in getting people to distribute luminaria and to help screw new bulbs into the strings, a task that must be done each year. Now luminaria extend from the monument at the top of Main Street all the way to The Ram Pasture and around it.

Each year the celebration requires about 1,500 bulbs and about the same number of luminaria. Some of the large commercial strings of lights also must be replaced each year.

Mail-in coupons will be published in The Bee each week; the names of the donors and the persons that are honored will be published. The tree lighting ceremony is Friday, November 30, at 6:30 pm.