LEDs Light up Rams Pasture Tree

Hundreds of people gathered at Ram's Pasture Friday night to sing carols, drink cider, eat cookies and watch as two trees were lit to mark the start of the holiday season.

One difference this year was the addition of LED lights on one of the trees, which came courtesy of the Sustainable Energy Commission, according to Janet Woycik who served as the lighting's master of ceremonies.

Stringing the lights on the trees was more difficult this year simply because bucket trucks were busy with October storm cleanup activities, according to Stan Perrone, of Kesco Electric, who served as the event's electrician.

"They kept on saying how about next Saturday," Perrone said of tree crews, adding that workers from the parks and recreation department eventually were able to step in and help string the lights.

The festivities drew hundreds of residents, the dance team from Newtown High School and the choral group singing Christmas carols.

Marz Abdulrahman, 38, and his children Eamonn, 6, and Leena, 8, were at the tree lighting for the first time in the nine years they have lived in Newtown, he said. Leena's face lit up when she learned the night's festivities would be capped off by the arrival of Santa and Mrs. Claus.

"I can't wait to see Santa," Leena said.

Matt Laughlin, 24, and Becky Trosan, 20, also were at the tree lighting enjoying the festivities of their youth, but this year with their two-month-old baby boy, Nicholas.

"It's still fun," Trosan said of the tree lighting.

Correction:  Marz Abdulrahman's age is 38. It was incorrectly listed in an earlier version of this article.