Plumstead Twp. Welcomes Christmas Season With Annual Tree Lighting

Over 100 Plumstead Township residents welcomed the holiday season at the annual Christmas Tree Lighting ceremony Dec. 3.

Parents and children decorated the tree with ornaments they brought prior to the tree’s illumination. The tree was donated by Big Woods Nursery and Garden Center.

“I want to ask you to remember those that are hurting, especially those in our very own community. As you know the Cantos family recently lost their home in a fire," Township Mayor Jack A. Trotta said at the event. "There are those that are hungry and also those that are facing other hardships such as a major sickness. It is heartwarming to see everyone come together to help others in times of adversity,”

Santa Claus traded his sleigh and flying reindeer for a ride to his destination on a New Egypt Volunteer Fire Company fire engine. Red Barn Antiques loaned out a special chair for Santa to sit in. He received some assistance from elf volunteers in the form of township students and New Egypt Main Street Committee members.

Children took photos with Santa for free and members of the local Girl Scouts and Brownies of sang holiday carols and provided cookies they had baked for the occasion. Hot chocolate provided by the Plumsted Municipal Alliance was also enjoyed after the lighting of the tree.

Non-perishable food items were collected in bins within the lobby of the Town Hall as part of the Plumsted Business Merchants Association’s food collection program.

“The members of the PBMA are very generous throughout the year and I encourage everone to shop locally because without our local businesses, events like this one and our annual fireworks could not occur,” Trotta said.

The PBMA is also sponsoring the snowflake displays on Main Street as part of the annual holiday tour of the business district which started on Dec. 5 and will continue until Jan. 3, 2017.

Judges for from Plumsted Townshp Council for the Arts, who held the 7th Annual Gingerbread House contest, found it a difficult task as there were many eye catching and edible entries this year.

The winners of the three category contest included, Hailey Kramer, 8, who won the 8 to 12 year-old category, Kara Johnson and Amanda Newman won the best group category while Shaunna O’Brien won the adult category for her entry called “Holiday Camper.” Each winner received a gift card to Michael’s craft store.

Adapted from a press release from Plumstead Township

Photos courtesy Plumstead Township