PLUMSTED – Despite a slight chill in the air, there was plenty of warmth in front of the township municipal complex on the evening of Dec. 2 when more than 100 residents came out for the community’s annual Christmas tree lighting ceremony, known as “An Olde Fashioned Christmas Tree Lighting.”
The event featured caroling by local Girl Scouts and Boy Scouts, refreshments provided by the township Drug and Alcohol Alliance and the New Egypt Volunteer Fire Company’s big red fire engine served to transport the star of the evening, Santa Claus himself.
Santa arrived just moments after the Christmas tree, located in front of the municipal complex, was lit to full brightness. As per tradition, residents were able to provide their own special touch to the ceremony by bringing their own ornament to hang on the tree.
Parents were able to have their children’s photo taken with Santa for free inside Town Hall. Inside the lobby was a bin for non-perishable food items as part of a collection for the Plumsted Business Merchants Association’s annual food drive.
Another popular activity of the festive event included the Plumsted Township Council for the Arts’ gingerbread house contest. The winners of this year’s contest included Frank Cuozzo, 11, and his sister Olivia, 10, who built a delicious holiday house.
“We worked on it a few hours a day for about four or five days,” Frank Cuozzo said. They took home a $25 Amazon gift card. Residents Josh Martinez and Kara Jonsson won the family category while Shaunna O’Brien won the adult category.
“This is a wonderful tradition for Plumsted and we want to thank everyone involved in making it such a special event in our community each year,” Plumsted Deputy Mayor Eric Sorchik said.
