Despite heavy rains, tree lighting a success

By Jamie Biesiada

The wrong kind of precipitation fell upon Wall Township last Wednesday.

A blanket of snow would have been more appropriate for the 2010 Wall Township Holiday Tree Lighting, but rain it was — but the weather did not dampen the spirits of the residents who attended the event and kicked off the holiday season.

Recreation Director Edward Grill said the tree lighting was able to occur, outdoors, without a hitch, “in spite of the monsoon earlier in the day.”

The event began at 6 p.m., and narrowly escaped being victim to the weather.

“Fortunately,” Mayor George Newberry said, “the skies cleared enough for us to have the event outside.”

In addition to the event’s main purpose — lighting a holiday tree and menorah — the Girl Scouts of the Jersey Shore provided a festive soundtrack of caroling, as well as refreshments. They also collected donations for the Manasquan Food Pantry.

Dance Theatre Project provided entertainment in the lower level of the Municipal Complex.

Holiday merriment was on tap, and Mayor Newberry said he encouraged those in attendance not to forget about the men and women serving overseas in the military this holiday season.

Though the event’s usual crowd was kept away by the earlier rainstorm, “everything went well,” Mr. Grill said.

The holiday season began in Wall with a bang, he added, when “Santa came in on a fire truck.”

Despite the weather, Mr. Grill said, “it was nice to have people come out.”

The mayor agreed with Mr. Grill’s assessment of the evening.

“It was a great time for Wall Township to be together,” Mayor Newberry said.

Those who missed the annual tree lighting need not despair, as the Wall Township Recreation Department has more holiday cheer planned for this month.

Lunch with Santa [with a $5 fee], for Wall Township residents, will occur on Tuesday, Dec. 14. Pizza and juice will be enjoyed with the big guy himself on the lower level of the Municipal Building at one of two seatings — either 11 to 11:45 a.m. or 12:15 to 1 p.m.

For more information, contact the recreation department at 732-449-8444, ext. 250 or 251, or visit www.wallnj.com.