Newtown Starts The Holiday Season

With Soft Light And A Driving Storm

By Shannon Hicks

The annual tree lighting ceremony at Ram Pasture started calmly but eventually escalated into something a little closer to chaos than serenity and a peaceful welcome of the holiday season last Friday evening. Most who attended the tree lighting seemed to be having fun, however. A lot of people were bundled up and dealing with the weather through smiles –– and frozen lips.

Volunteers were seen late Friday afternoon setting out and then lighting the luminaria that had been distributed to the families and businesses on Elm Drive, Sugar Street, Main Street, Main Street South, and Queen Street within the immediate vicinity of Ram Pasture. With the threat of an impending snowstorm hanging over the heads of those volunteers, and the dozens of people who had organized the tree lighting ceremony, Newtown had decided to go forward with the event.

A soft snow started moments after 5 pm, and a light wind began blowing drifts gracefully across Hawley Pond. A thin crust of ice on the pond added to the perfect setting of the early evening.

Within an hour, however, the storm kicked into high gear, with winds picking up and the rate of snowfall escalating significantly.

Parking restrictions implemented this year banned automobile traffic on Elm Drive between Hawley Lane and Sugar Street, so those attending the event were able to walk without fear down the center of Elm Drive toward the tree. The wide walkway added to the festivity of the event, as strangers greeted each other like friends and many parents were seen pulling children behind them on sleds.

Chorus and band members from Newtown High School offered holiday music as residents of all ages gathered around the tall evergreen in the south corner of Ram Pasture.

Shortly after 6:30 –– and much earlier than the traditional 7 pm tree lighting –– the decision was made to light the trees. The weather was quickly worsening, and the high school students were having increasing trouble playing on key. Even with mittens and gloves on most hands, a round of applause rang out.

Janet Woycik led the countdown for a smaller tree, a young pine next to the base of the town’s Christmas tree that was planted a few years ago. The young tree will eventually grow into the role of being the town’s official holiday tree. This year the small tree is remaining lit all season for the first time, right along with the full-grown tree. In previous years the junior tree was lit only on the night of the tree lighting ceremony and then extinguished.

Next it was time for the big tree.

The honor of lighting the town’s official tree was given this year to Joanne Zang, the Newtown resident who started C.H. Booth Library’s Book Sale 28 years ago, setting up just a few coffee tables on the front lawn of the library on the day of the town’s Labor Day Parade. The sale has since grown to a Labor Day Weekend-long presentation that has volunteers working year-round to organize and prepare for each new sale. The 2003 sale offered more than 160,000 books, LPs, and even computer programs in 75 categories and raised more than $113,000.

Attendees were also treated to apple cider and donuts on Friday. Union Savings Bank had purchased dozens of donuts for Friday, which were set out for everyone to enjoy once the delivery made its way to Ram Pasture.

Youngsters who attended the event didn’t seem to mind the snow. Children of all ages were tossing snowballs back and forth, and younger attendees took advantage of some of the pasture’s slight slopes to test out the durability of their ski pants and snowsuits as they sat down to slide on the snow.

The children may have been a little disappointed that Santa and Mrs Claus were initially nowhere to be found, but even the Clauses made it to Ram Pasture. The pair showed up shortly after the tree had been lit, and quickly took their place of honor in the sleigh that will remain at Ram Pasture until after the holiday season.

“The sled was a little tougher to drive and the reindeer had a little trouble tonight, but we made it,” Mrs Claus told children who were excitedly crowding around the holiday’s favorite couple. Under the glow of the town’s Christmas tree, the Clauses handed out dozens of candy canes, sat with children for countless photos, and heard many urgently whispered Christmas wishes.

The holiday season has officially started in Newtown.