ENGLEWOOD, N.J.—Christmas time in Englewood is a holiday to behold. The halls are decked, and so are the homes, the stores, the restaurants and all of the streets in downtown.
To highlight the season, the city holds an annual tree lighting in front of City Hall, and this year’s event took place on Saturday, Dec. 7.
The celebration, presided over by Mayor Michael Wildes, began at 7 p.m. as dozens of residents and visitors gathered for hot cocoa provided by Starbucks and cookies from Millers and la Promenade bakeries.
There were numerous community leaders, including Former Mayor Frank Huttle and his wife state Assemblywoman Valerie Vainieri Huttle, state Assemblyman Gordon Johnson, Englewood council members Katharine Glynn, Charles Cobb and Wayne Hamer, Police Chief Lawrence Suffern and Deputy Police Chief Gregory Halstead, Englewood Fire Department Capt. Joe Sorbanelli and Firefighter William Loaiza.
As people stood near the giant fir, they were entertained by a medley of Christmas carols sung by Dwight Morrow High School/Academies@Englewood and director Jalmari Vanamo, St. Paul’s Choir School, directed by Mark Trautman, and students of the Performing Arts School at bergenPAC led by Amelia DeMayo and Glenn Gordon.
Assembled together under the Christmas tree, their collective voices rang out into the night with majestic renditions of “Deck the Halls,” “Feliz Navidad,” “Jingle Bells,” “Joy to the World,” “Silent Night” and other favorite yuletide carols.
Then with a flash of multi-colored lights, an Englewood fire engine pulled up, and out jumped Santa—accompanied by Mayor Wildes and his wife, Amy!
Dozens of delighted children ran over to hug the jolly old soul and pose for pictures with Santa as parents jockeyed into position to snap their cell phone cameras.
Although the night was dark and cold, Mayor Wildes’s remarks were bright and warm.
“It is an honor to participate in the Englewood Tree Lighting and share this great tradition with residents and the general public,” he said. “Both the Tree Lighting and the Menorah Lighting are traditions in Englewood. The Menorah Lighting is Sunday, Dec. 22 at 6 p.m. These two ceremonies symbolize the hope we share, the unity, diversity and the greatness that is Englewood.”
Wildes acknowledged each of the community leaders present, and remarked, “It’s an honor to be with everyone tonight.”
“We also salute our incredible police law enforcement, as well as our firefighters, paramedics, and first responders,” he said. “And let us show our appreciation to the incredible workers at the Department of Public Works. They do such an incredible job in maintaining our beautiful City—the City of Trees.
“I also want to thank a special group of young, wonderful people—the carolers,” he added.
The mayor concluded by saying, “Over the next few weeks, billions of people around the world will celebrate Hanukkah and Christmas with prayer, gratitude and goodwill. Traditions such as this connect us to each other and to our loved ones, wherever they may be. These moments also encourage a sense of fellowship and community. So on behalf of the City of Englewood—as one grateful city—we praise the joy of family, the blessings of freedom, and the miracle of the holidays.”
The mayor and his wife then did the ceremonial honor of lighting the Englewood holiday tree and there was a collective “wow!” as the colored lights sparkled brilliantly.
This year’s Englewood Tree Lighting was an exciting evening for all, filled with memories that will long be remembered in people’s hearts, as well as their cell phones.
The event was hosted by the Englewood Chamber of Commerce, and sponsors were SID (Englewood’s Special Improvement District), the City of Englewood, New Jersey Eye and Ear, Lakeland Bank, Modiani Kitchens, Jaguar and Land Rover Englewood and BMW of Englewood.
Note: As an added bonus for the holiday season and to encourage people to shop downtown Englewood, there will be free metered parking from Friday, Dec. 20 through Tuesday, Dec. 31.
