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PV Traditional Tree Lighting Ceremony Enhanced with Menorah Lighting and Singing Competition
by Edward Paul Greiff
Adults like Ed Hertzel set the stage for a Putnam Valley life drama to unfold, but it’s the kids that made it come alive with their nonstop energetic joyous performances last Saturday evening.
Ed Hertzel and his sons Steve and Jim, who choreographed this year’s December 9, 2006 annual Christmas tree lighting ceremony at Oregon Corners in Putnam Valley, added enough new touches to the event to make it a mini-winter Town Day celebration where the community could come together and shares the joy of the season. It seems to be working because there was nothing but smiling faces on the 300 to 400 people joining in the festivities.
The community was brought even closer when the Rabbi from Temple Beth Israel recognized the religious freedoms we practice and explained the meaning behind the lighting of the Menorah and the traditions surrounding Chanukah. He then led the group in singing The Dreidel Song, while another person passed out chocolate coins as a symbol of the “Gelt” exchanged amongst players when they spin the dreidel.
In the singing competition between the Boy Scouts and Girl Scouts the girls took first prize. Their voices could be heard in the next town.
Another first this year was the singing competition between the Ambulance Corps and the Fire Department. Here the results were different. The overwhelming strong male voices gave the Fire Department the edge over the well-rehearsed professional sounding voices of the Ambulance Corps.
And yet another first this year was the Darcy School of Dance dancers performing in the street in front of Maria’s Deli. It was definitely a New York City Broadway performance that you wouldn’t be surprised to see in Times Square.
With all this activity, food, hot chocolate, coffee, and cookies the crowd was getting in the mood for the arrival of Santa. It seemed every square inch of space at the “downtown” of Putnam Valley was filled. Singing voices echoed back to Town Hall and then to the tunes of Here Comes Santa Claus the guest of honor arrived on a light-flashing, sound-blaring Putnam Valley Fire Truck. As he made his way to the stage kid’s eyes popped and smiles lit up their faces. Santa mounted the stage and to a crowd-chanting countdown, he lit the tree.
After all the fun and excitement, and after the crowd dispersed, the Menorah and Christmas Tree pooled their light and together added a peaceful and tranquil glow to the evening’s otherwise pitch-black night sky.
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