Two Tree Lightings Give Residents

Twice As Much Holiday Fun

By Nancy K. Crevier

Friday, December 3, and Saturday, December 4, the villages of Newtown and Sandy Hook will gleam with holiday spirit as first the Newtown Chamber of Commerce sponsors the 26th Annual Ram Pasture Tree Lighting, beginning at 6:30 pm, on Friday evening, and then when the community of Sandy Hook gathers for a tree lighting in the Center, at 6:30 pm, on Saturday.

Both events will be sparkling with luminarias, tall, white boxes with decorative cutouts designed and donated by Curtis Packaging and lit from within by plumbers’ candles. “The candles come from Newtown Hardware,” said chamber spokesperson Janet Woycik, “and the candle lighters were donated by Ace Hardware of Newtown.”

On Friday afternoon, staff members of the Parks and Recreation Department will set out luminarias, and light them, all around Ram Pasture. Participating homeowners along Main Street and adjacent streets received luminarias and supplies earlier this month, and have been asked to set out and light those candles at dusk on Friday evening.

This year’s Ram Pasture Tree Lighting will feature additional singers, said Ms Woycik. Along with the Newtown High School Choral Singers, who have lifted their voices to entertain the crowd for several years, preschool children from Merry Hill Children’s Center on Queen Street and an acappella group from Newtown High School will chime in, beginning at 6:30 pm.

Residents are invited to sip cider provided by People’s Bank staff members and nibble on cookies provided by Union Savings Bank prior to the 7 pm flick of the switch — by a surprise, local celebrant — that lights the tree at the edge of Elm Drive.

“Of course,” said Ms Woycik, “Santa and Mrs Claus will be on hand following the tree lighting to listen to holiday hopes and distribute candy canes.”

Police and fire departments will be on hand to ensure safety, said Ms Woycik, and she reminded all that parking is not allowed on Elm Drive or streets adjacent to Ram Pasture beginning at dusk, Friday evening. Bus service, however, will be provided by local bus driver LeReine Frampton, shuttling participants from parking lots at Dickinson Park and Liberty Ball Field on Elm Drive to a drop off point on Hawley Road.

“We’re looking forward to another fun tree lighting,” said Ms Woycik.

For those who cannot get too much of a good thing, festivities get underway at various times beginning at 4 pm, Saturday, December 4, in Sandy Hook Center, said Jill Kerler, who along with husband Mike Kerler of Sandy Hook Wine & Liquor, is organizing this year’s Sandy Hook Tree Lighting.

Luminarias from Curtis Packaging will brighten Church Hill Road in Sandy Hook Center, and property owners will decorate the lampposts for the season.

“Local Sandy Hook businesses will be hosting open houses with refreshments, there’ll be face painting, karaoke under the tree, raffles, and a wine tasting at Sandy Hook Wine & Liquor,” said Ms Kerler, along with specials offered by restaurants in the Center.

Graceful Planet is sponsoring the karaoke, and revelers will find not one, but two places to visit with  Santa. Santa and Rudolph will visit the open house at Sabrina Style on Washington Avenue, and Santa will also appear at PJs Laundromat, located off the parking lot between Katherine’s Kitchen and the Iron Bridge @ 100 Church Hill.

The open houses will be hosted by demitasse café, Genesis Salon, Katherine’s Kitchen, Sandy Hook Hair Co., and the Wishing Well. At Fun Kuts, the open house will be accompanied by face painting, and at Porco’s Karate Academy, festivalgoers can enjoy music, as well as the open house.

Look for a free jewelry raffle at Smokey Topaz, also located down the alley between Katherine’s Kitchen and the Iron Bridge, and a diamond earring raffle at the Iron Bridge @ 100 Church Hill.

Enjoy a meal at the Sandy Hook Diner, open extra hours that Saturday, and pick up a free balloon, or dine at The Villa, where up to two children per adult will dine for free from a special menu during festival hours.

Mr Turtle’s School, down the driveway at 111 Church Hill Road, is entertaining youngsters during the Sandy Hook Festival with crafts and refreshments.

Free 3-D glasses, available at the Toy Tree, will add another layer of fun to viewing the tree lighting. “We are also looking forward to the Newtown Middle School Carolers, under the direction of Jonathan Pope, who will be singing,” said Ms Kerler. The singers will perform after the tree is lit at 6:30, she said, and many businesses will continue their open house activities into the evening. “We certainly hope people won’t leave right after the tree is illuminated,” said Ms Kerler.

Although not officially a part of the organized Sandy Hook Center event, the United Methodist Church monthly spaghetti dinner runs from 5 to 7:30 pm, Saturday, December 4, as well. A coffee house with live entertainment follows, beginning at 7:45 pm, providing the perfect finish to a perfect afternoon. For more information on the dinner, call 203-426-9998.

Firefighters from Sandy Hook Volunteer Fire & Rescue Company has been very involved in the planning, according to Ms Kerler, and is decorating the tree. “They will also be there with their trucks, lights on, for pedestrian safety,” she said.

The fire marshal has requested that all luminarias be extinguished by 10 pm, in order that nothing more than holiday spirits are sparked.