Bulbs For The Christmas Season:

Sprucing Up Newtown’s Tree

By Shannon Hicks

The 22nd Annual Tree Lighting Ceremony in Newtown will take place on Friday, December 1. Residents are invited to join in singing Christmas carols while waiting for the countdown to light the town’s tree at Ram Pasture. Hot cocoa and donuts are offered following the tree lighting, and Santa and Mrs Claus also make an appearance.

More than 3,000 bulbs cover the 80-foot tree at the corner of Elm Drive and Hawley Lane, and it takes a lot of effort by volunteers to check each of those bulbs leading into the holiday season every year. An equal number of luminaria are set out along Main Street, Sugar Street, Main Street South, and even Glover Avenue on the night of the tree lighting, giving the center of Newtown a look that is right out of a Norman Rockwell painting.

The Christmas Tree & Luminaria Committee is in charge of replacing every one of the thousands of bulbs that decorate the town Christmas tree in Ram Pasture. They also take responsibility for boxing and delivering 1,650 candles and luminarias to Main Street area residents.

Janet Woycik and Diana Johnson, who have chaired the committee since its inception, have returned as co-chairpersons for the committee this year.

Commercial bulbs are not inexpensive, and in order to offset the cost, memorial bulbs are offered to the public each year for purchase. Each bulb costs $10, and the list of sponsors is published each year in The Bee. There are touching stories that accompany the purchase of the bulbs many times, Mrs Johnson told The Bee last year.

“Sometimes there are tender notes attached on the purchase coupons. Lots of the bulbs [in 2004] were dedicated to those in the military,” she said.

In the past, bulbs and luminaria have been “purchased” to honor relatives and friends who have passed away, to share a message with someone special, or even to honor the community at large. Children’s groups, families, and other collective efforts have made donations to cover the cost of the event in past years.

Sponsorships are also available, at $100.

The tree is lit each year on the Friday preceding the town’s Annual Holiday Festival, and stays lit until early January.

For additional information contact Mrs Johnson at 426-5418.