www.app.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20071206/NEWS01/712060304/1004Annual ceremony brings seasonal spirit to Freehold
As the lights of the Freehold Christmas tree twinkled, a cheer rose from the crowd and the band burst into the opening strains of "O Tannenbaum."
But one person remained unfazed: 4-year-old Kylie Sturm, the Freehold Township resident chosen to stand with county Freeholder William C. Barham to turn on the lights.
"He (Barham) just said press the button," Kylie said, shrugging when asked how she had felt during the lighting.
Her mother, Angela Sturm, was more excited.
"She's a celebrity!" Sturm said.
Kylie was plucked from the crowd of children who gathered Nov. 27 in front of the Hall of Records, at the corner of East Main and Court streets, for the borough's annual tree lighting ceremony, which included a visit from Santa Claus and the unveiling of the downtown's holiday decorations.
"This is a longstanding tradition that everyone looks forward to every year," said Councilman Marc LeVine, who was in attendance with fellow council members Sharon Shutzer and Robert Crawford.
The annual tree lighting ceremony dates back several decades, LeVine believes. The Freehold Center Partnership, an economic development organization, began organizing the event 15 years ago, according to the center's executive director, Jayne Carr.
"(The event) is just celebrating the start of the season," Carr said.
As families gathered around the 30-foot tree ? donated by High Ridge Farms in Upper Freehold Township ? a combined brass band of students from Freehold and Freehold Township high schools and the St. Rose of Lima Handbell Choir performed seasonal music. Many of the roughly 100 people in attendance sipped hot apple cider and hot chocolate donated by the Court Jester restaurant in Freehold.
Santa, meanwhile, could be seen (and heard) riding through downtown in a Freehold Fire Department truck.
Not long after the tree was lit, the truck made one final ride down Main Street, lights flashing and horns blaring. As the crowd watched, the truck stopped alongside the Hall of Records and out stepped the man of the night ? Santa.
After a few waves to the crowd, Santa got down to business, attending to a long line of children waiting for a chance to tell him their Christmas wishes.
One girl in line was 8-year-old Jaslin Davison, who said her favorite parts of the evening were both the lighting ceremony and Santa's visit.
The event was a familiar one for Jaslin ? she has been attending borough events with her grandmother since she was very young.
"We have fun together," said her grandmother, 73-year-old Annabelle Davison of Freehold.
Davison brought her children to the events when they were young, and said she wanted to do the same for her granddaughter.
"To me, it (the borough events) are like a tradition," Davison said.
Another grandmother at the ceremony, Freehold resident Susan Conover, said she came mainly for her 1-year-old grandson to meet Santa Claus, but also so she could see the tree illuminated.
"It's just exciting to see (the tree) lit up," said Conover, 63.
Kim Predham: (732) 308-7752 or kpredham@app.com
