Brick ushers in holiday
season at tree lighting
Local children line up to get a word with Santa Claus at Windward Beach Park.
BY DANIELLE MEDINA
Correspondent
Santa Claus blew into Brick Township on Saturday.
Some 200 people braved brisk winds of almost 30 mph to witness Santa’s arrival and the annual Christmas tree lighting at Windward Beach Park, Princeton Avenue.
PHOTOS BY CHRIS KELLY staff Brick’s William Marrero, 3, imitates a gingerbread man while waiting for Santa to arrive.
Led by the Funny Factory Productions Clown Band and Brick Township High School Marching Dragons, Santa rode in on a horse-drawn sleigh accompanied by Mayor Joseph Scarpelli.
Township officials considered canceling the day’s activities because of the bitter cold and whipping wind, but decided to go ahead with a condensed version of the festivities.
"We had to do this because it’s the start of the holiday season," Scarpelli said. "This season brings family and friends together."
With the help Councilwoman Kathy Russell and councilpersons-elect Tony Matthews, Ruthanne Scaturro and Michael Thulen, Scarpelli led the onlookers in the countdown to the tree lighting.
Nicholas Wainwright, 7, of Brick gets an audience with Santa during the tree-lighting celebration.
"We know it’s not dark enough, but we have to move this along," Scarpelli said.
The tree, which sits to the right of the park’s band shell, was donated by a township family about five years ago, according to Scarpelli.
Decorated with 4,000 multicolored lights, the tree is the biggest one at Windward Beach Park and its location makes it visible from both the water and the top of the hill in the park.
"It brings the land and sea together," Scarpelli said of the tree.
Festive lighting adorned Windward Beach Park, Princeton Avenue, during Saturday’s annual tree-lighting ceremony.
Once the tree was lit, the children in attendance were given the opportunity to visit with Santa, who sat on the band shell stage in front of a faux fireplace decorated with toy soldiers.
Anthony Brando, 6, who also happened to ride with Santa on his sleigh, said he asked for G.I. Joe characters and a Hess truck from the man in red. But his brother, Christian, 3, decided to watch the scene from the comfort of his stroller.
"He’s petrified of Santa," said the boys’ mother, Karen.
As she rushed back to the warmth of her car, attendee Bunnie Delancey explained why she withstood the cold.
"At least the kids had fun," she said.