Annual Tree Lighting Warms the Night in Maplewood

Maplewood's annual tree lighting was held Saturday evening in Ricalton Square on a clear, crisp evening. The festivities began with 'celebrity readers' — Chief Joseph Richardella of the Maplewood Fire Department and Chief Robert Cimino of the Maplewood Police Department — reading a collection of Christmas stories, including "A Christmas Tree" by Katherine Tegin Books and "Dream Snow" by Eric Carle.

Rosetta Weiser and Ellen Davenport who organized the day's activities introduced "The Collectives" a local band of South Orange/Maplewood students made up of Sam Gomberg, Jack Goldberg and Zack Heinze who performed a jazzy set of Christmas tunes with special guest vocalist Lara Phillips.

The Strollers entertained along side the tree with six holiday tunes.

As darkness fell, there was the traditonal reading of "The Night Before Christmas" — this year by Vice Mayor Kathy Leventhal — as children gathered around to listen. At 4:45, as darkness overtook the square, the tree was lit welcoming the holiday season.