Strands of green and white decorative LED bulbs sat coiled on the grass at 2 Riverside Road on Wednesday. With several strands already wound through branches of a new 32-foot Norway spruce standing there, Public Works employee Jeff Thomas stepped out in the rain to prep the tree for its second year of casting festive light across Sandy Hook Center. Planted in late May 2013, the tree arrived in time for last year’s annual tree lighting celebration.

Officials had intended for the new spruce to serve as Sandy Hook’s new Christmas tree. Newtown Forest Association (NFA), which owns The Glen, had planned to take its tree down in 2013, which prompted concerns last year that Sandy Hook would lose its much-loved Christmas tree towering over The Glen at 2 Washington Avenue. Some felt the tree had outgrown the location and its health would decline.

Sentiment and the aftermath of 12/14 convinced NFA members and town officials to leave the tree in place for last year’s Sandy Hook Center tree lighting, and with the new tree standing across the intersection, celebrants lit two trees last December. The new spruce shone with white and green strands of light, while The Glen tree threw its traditional rainbow of traditional, multiple colors.

This week, NFA President Bob Eckenrode via e-mail offered an update on The Glen tree.

“We have no plans at this point to take it down as it’s never been healthier,” he wrote. Although last year’s plan was to replace that tree with something more appropriate for the small space, he added, “It seems happy right where it is.”

So for the moment, both trees remain and will shine lights again for the holidays. A tree lighting celebration is scheduled for Saturday evening, December 6, as Sandy Hook Organization for Prosperity (SHOP) presents the 13th Annual Sandy Hook Village Holiday Tree Lighting. The public is invited to enjoy  carolers, Santa Claus, karaoke, refreshments, goodies, and a community celebration.

The event will begin at 4 pm, leading to the lighting of two trees at 6:30, repeating the color patterns of last year. All attendees are encouraged to bring an item for FAITH Food Pantry. Food pantry donations will automatically enroll the family in a raffle drawing to light the holiday trees.

Festivities begin at 4 pm; meet Santa Claus, 5 to 6:30; karaoke, courtesy of The Graceful Planet, 5–6:30; tree lighting at 6:30; and caroling with Jackie Gaudet & Friends, 5:30 to 7 pm.

Green and white LED lights that the town was able to purchase through grant funds will light the new Sandy Hook tree, from Kudo Farm in New Preston, again this year, and also add additional light to Ram Pasture’s holiday tableau.

(See related story about additional tree lightings tonight at Ram Pasture and Sunday night in Hawleyville.)