Special Guests Help Rossi Light West Haven Christmas Tree

WEST HAVEN, CT — Santa and Mrs. Claus accompanied Mayor Nancy R. Rossi and a trio of special guests to light the Christmas tree on the Green at the city’s annual holiday kickoff Saturday, Nov. 26.

After arriving in the West Haven Fire Department’s 1935 Mack pump firetruck, Santa and Mrs. Claus were escorted to a portable stage on the Main Street side of the Green by the West Haven Seahawks cheerleading team to the sound of applause and shouts of glee from several hundred merrymakers.

Before the lighting, radio personality Brian Smith, the master of ceremonies, thanked and praised the guest trio — a Notre Dame High School executive, a University of New Haven staff member and a UNH senior political science major — as the all-ages crowd clapped and cheered.

Rossi then wished people a merry Christmas and helped Smith lead them in a countdown to set the tree — and the Green — aglow.

The guests recognized onstage were longtime city resident and Notre Dame Executive Vice President Kathy Wielk and UNH Assistant Director of Residential Life Kaitlyn Burras and Undergraduate Student Government Association President Saniyah Brinney.

The four-hour festival opened with the national anthem sung by Donna Travis and followed with performances by the West Haven High School dance team and Top Hat Dance Academy, the latter directed by Sharon Minnix.

It featured performances by the Indonesian Angklung Community led by Dabar Ratupenu. More than a dozen members of the musical group each played part of a holiday classic on an angklung, an Indonesian instrument made of a varying number of bamboo tubes attached to a bamboo frame, with each musician playing a single note.

The annual event was presented by the city, ArtsWest CT, the First Congregational Church and West Haven United, an organization aimed at bringing the city’s volunteer groups together.

DJ Sonya played holiday-themed music while costumed Christmas characters and Victorian-clad carolers entertained families around the downtown park.

The Yuletide festivities included an inflatable Santa’s village and craft stations on the 5-acre Green, where children decorated wooden ornaments, wrote letters to Santa, and made cards for U.S. troops overseas and those at the West Haven VA Medical Center.

The Christmas tree and a smaller evergreen tree were adorned with fluorescent-colored lights and ornaments made by the Bailey Middle School Interact Club and the UNH Rotaract Club. The trees were decorated by the Bailey and West Haven High interact clubs.

Garland adorned with white lights decorated The John C. Ireland Bandstand, and Victorian lampposts bedecked with angels blowing on trumpets illuminated the walkways.

The decorated park also included inflatable attractions that youngsters went in and had pictures taken.

Before their long sleigh ride back to the North Pole, Santa and Mrs. Claus greeted children and posed for snapshots.

Just steps from Santa’s workshop, boys and girls dropped off wish lists at St. Nick’s official U.S. Postal Service mailbox.

West Haven United held a paper chain contest and awarded prizes. Shoreline Wellness Center gave out informational materials.

Along with hayrides, kids rode in a vintage West Shore firetruck provided by Baybrook Remodelers Inc.

People brought nonperishable items for the West Haven Emergency Assistance Task Force, which provides food for residents in need.

Volunteers from First Church sold chicken tenders, french fries, hot dogs, coffee and cookies, and volunteers from West Haven United sold hot chocolate, water and prepackaged snacks.

— MICHAEL P. WALSH, Public Relations Information Coordinator

West Haven Mayor Nancy R. Rossi, right, leads Santa and Mrs. Claus in a countdown to light the Christmas tree on the Green as Rossi’s special guests prepare to flip an electric switch at the city’s annual holiday kickoff Saturday, Nov. 26. The guests are, from left, Kaitlyn Burras, the University of New Haven’s assistant director of residential life; UNH senior Saniyah Brinney, the president of the Undergraduate Student Government Association; and West Haven resident Kathy Wielk, Notre Dame High School’s executive vice president. (City Photo/Michael P. Walsh)

With the flip of the switch, the West Haven Green is transformed into a holiday wonderland. (City Photo/Ryan Walsh)

The glowing Christmas trees. (City Photo/Ryan Walsh)

The festive John C. Ireland Bandstand. (City Photo/Ryan Walsh)

DJ Sonya plays “Santa Claus Is Comin’ to Town” as radio personality Brian Smith, the master of ceremonies, announces the arrival of Santa and Mrs. Claus. (City Photo/Michael P. Walsh)

Logan McCauley, 7, of Milford, is all smiles with Santa and Mrs. Claus in their workshop on the Green. (City Photo/Ryan Walsh)

Members of the Indonesian Angklung Community, led by Dabar Ratupenu, left, each play part of a holiday classic on an angklung, an Indonesian instrument made of a varying number of bamboo tubes attached to a bamboo frame, with each musician playing a single note. (City Photo/Michael P. Walsh)

Victorian-clad carolers lead a singalong. (City Photo/Michael P. Walsh)

Amelia Gomez, 6, of West Haven, gets a snowflake painted on her face by Laura Feist-Roche, the owner of Happy Daze Costumes of West Haven. (City Photo/Michael P. Walsh)

Emily Thomas, 7, of West Haven, makes a card for service members on the mend at the West Haven VA Medical Center. (City Photo/Michael P. Walsh)

Sisters Ana Howery, 6, and Micaela Howery, 4, of West Haven, decorate wooden ornaments. (City Photo/Michael P. Walsh)

Members of Top Hat Dance Academy perform a holiday favorite. (City Photo/Michael P. Walsh)

Children and parents ride in a vintage West Shore firetruck provided by Baybrook Remodelers Inc. of West Haven. (City Photo/Ryan Walsh)

Families enjoy a hayride around the 5-acre Green. (City Photo/Ryan Walsh)

This press release was produced by the City of West Haven. The views expressed here are the author’s own.