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Warwick lights its Christmas tree

| 27 Nov 2012 | 09:50
    Chief Schweikart led the crowd with the official countdown and tree lighting. Jacob Bobrzynski, 15 months, has the most comfortable seat in the audience in the arms of his grandmother, Donna Cassanite.
    Chief Schweikart led the crowd with the official countdown and tree lighting. Jacob Bobrzynski, 15 months, has the most comfortable seat in the audience in the arms of his grandmother, Donna Cassanite.
    The Historical Society of the Town of Warwick has helped the Warwick Fire Department continue its long tradition by graciously providing the magnificent evergreen, just outside its Old School Baptist MeetingHouse.
    The Historical Society of the Town of Warwick has helped the Warwick Fire Department continue its long tradition by graciously providing the magnificent evergreen, just outside its Old School Baptist MeetingHouse.
    Before the lighting, members of the Warwick Valley Caroling Choir treated the audience to a selection of traditional Christmas songs.
    Before the lighting, members of the Warwick Valley Caroling Choir treated the audience to a selection of traditional Christmas songs.
    Photos by Roger Gavan Raymond Hose Company Chaplain Barry OíNeil offered a special prayer just before Chief Dan Schweikart led the crowd with the official countdown and tree lighting.
    Photos by Roger Gavan Raymond Hose Company Chaplain Barry OíNeil offered a special prayer just before Chief Dan Schweikart led the crowd with the official countdown and tree lighting.
    As expected, the Big Man in Red drew a crowd of well-wishers.
    As expected, the Big Man in Red drew a crowd of well-wishers.
    Additional photos can be found online at warwickadvertiser.com Santa, traveling in a fire engine, made his usual early surprise visit and handed out goodies to the excited children who lined up to greet him.
    Additional photos can be found online at warwickadvertiser.com Santa, traveling in a fire engine, made his usual early surprise visit and handed out goodies to the excited children who lined up to greet him.

WARWICK — Temperatures on Friday evening, Nov. 23, were unseasonably mild as another large crowd of parents, grandparents and children assembled in Lewis Park to participate in the countdown for Warwick’s official Christmas Tree lighting.

The annual event is sponsored by the Warwick Volunteer Fire Department.

Before the lighting, members of the Warwick Valley Caroling Choir treated the audience to a selection of traditional Christmas songs.

Warwick Fire Department Chief Dan Schweikart welcomed visitors, introduced guest speakers and thanked members of the department who volunteered their time and skills to help communities hardest hit by the recent Hurricane Sandy. He urged everyone to support the fire department’s toy drive for the victims of the storm.

Schweikart introduced Warwick Town Supervisor Michael Sweeton and Mayor Michael Newhard who both thanked the men and women of the fire department for their service throughout the year and especially during Hurricane Sandy.

“We thank you for everyone of those 365 days that you are there for us,” said Sweeton.

The mayor also took the opportunity to praise the Ecumenical Food Pantry for delivering Thanksgiving Day food baskets to the needy and the Warwick Valley Knights of Columbus for its annual free Thanksgiving Day Dinner.

And once again, Santa, traveling in a fire engine, made his usual early surprise visit and handed out goodies to the excited children who lined up to greet him.

In 2003, the Christmas Tree lighting ceremony moved to Lewis Park after years of being held at what was then a privately owned “Railroad Green.” Since that time the Historical Society of the Town of Warwick has helped the Warwick Fire Department continue its long tradition by providing the evergreen, just outside its Old School Baptist MeetingHouse.

- Roger Gavan