A "holly, jolly Christmas" often means many preparations, including dressing trees in lights. As they do each year, a Public Works Department crew spent time in Sandy Hook Center this week, unfurling last year's strands of lights and sending one person up in a bucket truck to put the lights back onto two trees.

Jeff Thomas was up in the bucket truck on November 28. He strung bulbs on the evergreen on the corner of Washington Avenue and Riverside Road, which shines in green and white light. Across the street is Sandy Hook Center's traditional tree, covered in rainbow-colored lights.

Feeding Mr Thomas fresh lights as he worked his way around the evergreen on Tuesday were Andy DeWolfe, Brian Engelke, and Harry Leddy.

Public Works employees annually dress the trees just in time for a weekend of holiday celebration.Friday, December 1, at Ram Pasture, on the corner of Elm Drive and Hawley Lane. The 33rd annual tree lighting will open with entertainment begins at 6:30 pm, and the tree is lit at 7 pm. Caroling, visits with Santa and Mrs Claus, and light refreshments continue the event.

Tree lightings in town will begin

The 17th annual Sandy Hook Tree Lighting is Saturday, December 2, from 4 to 7 pm, in Sandy Hook Center. The public is invited to meet Santa, who will be arriving by way of a Sandy Hook Fire & Rescue truck at 5 pm. Karaoke will be ongoing for an hour, with the tree lighting at 6.

Those who bring with them a donation for FAITH Food Pantry will be entered into a raffle to light one of the two trees.

On Sunday, December 3, is the 8th Annual Hawleyville Tree Lighting & Toy Drive, beginning at 5:30 pm in Barnabas Plaza, 23 Barnabas Road. The one-hour event will begin with Santa and Mrs Claus arriving by way of a Hawleyville Fire Company truck, continues with singing and dancing, a toy collection for The Newtown Fund, and lighting a tree near the shopping plaza