The Sandy Hook Organization for Prosperity (SHOP) is heading into the holiday season with a new ornament and an invitation for local residents to again participate in decorating the business district.

SHOP members Julie Friend and Maribeth Hemingway spent part of the afternoon of November 9 putting hangers onto this year’s pewter ornament and then boxing up the ornaments that are available for purchase.

Ms Friend, who designed last year’s ornament, again designed the 2018 ornament, crafted of pewter and produced at Woodbury Pewter. This year’s ornaments are in the shape of a star and again feature a swirling pattern visible on both sides.

Unlike the inaugural ornament, this year’s ornament is also dated. Each will be sold with a sturdy hook for hanging and in a box perfect for storing and/or gift giving.

The ornaments are $20 each and will be available through SHOP’s website (sandyhookvillage.com). They will be sold during special events in upcoming weeks. They can also be purchased at Nick's Chilled & Distilled, 102 Church Hill Road; Sabrina Style, 4 Washington Avenue; and at the Sandy Hook Volunteer Fire & Rescue main station, 18-20 Riverside Road, during Christmas tree sales.

Also for the second year, SHOP is hoping residents will adopt the lampposts. The fundraiser was successful in its inaugural year, Ms Friend said, with 27 percent of the available locations decorated by local families and other groups.

There are 46 lampposts that line the four streets leading into Sandy Hook Center. While businesses have long taken care of decorating their storefronts and adjacent sidewalks, the public is again invited to decorate a lamppost and oversized gift tag.

A $50 donation will cover the cost of a small lamppost for the 2018 holiday season, while a $100 donation will cover a large lamppost or one of the four boxes atop the bridge over the Pootatuck River on Church Hill Road. SHOP will provide donors with the oversize gift tags in advance if they wish.

“We will arrange for people to pick up their tags in advance to decorate,” Ms Friend said.

The posts will be decorated and tags hung on Sunday, November 25, at 10 am. Donors are invited to participate in that as well.

“We want everyone to participate and become immersed in the holidays,” Ms Hemingway said last week. “We will have basic supplies for decorating that Sunday.”

Ms Friend is looking forward to November 25, saying she and the others who braved the chilly November weather for the decorating session last year “had so much fun that morning.” The decorations will remain in place through the season.

“It is so cool to walk around at night, with all those poles decorated and all of the other decorations down there,” Ms Friend said.

Contact Ms Friend through SHOP’s website or call 203-684-5020.

Sandy Hook Tree Lighting

SHOP will also host a tree lighting event this holiday season.

The 18th Annual Sandy Hook Tree Lighting has been scheduled for Saturday, December 1, with festivities in the center beginning at 4 pm.

Santa Claus will be arriving at 5 pm, and he will be greeting children of all ages for the next hour.

Faith at Newtown will host a live nativity scene at its nearby 4 Riverside Road location.

The Graceful Planet will host karaoke, and many businesses within the district traditionally host open house events.

The two trees in the center will be lit at 6 pm. Those attending the tree lighting are being asked to bring with them a donation for FAITH Food Pantry. One lucky person will be invited to throw the switch to light the trees.

“The trees are lit one right after the other, so one person will be very lucky,” Ms Hemingway said.

Caroling will continue that evening after the trees have been lit.

Additional holiday events are still being scheduled by SHOP, Ms Friend said this week. Details will be announced once they are firm.