Spirit of Granby Tree Lighting in Granby Center

Granby residents come together to celebrate the start of the 2010 holiday season.

By Jeff Brush
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December 4, 2010

Mike Caruso of Granby and his daughter Abby, 5, listen as Abby's older sister Arianna, 10, sings along with the Kelly Lane 5-6 Grade Chorus Friday evening during the Spirit of Granby Town-wide Tree Lighting.

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Kelly Lane Elementary School Music Instructor Nicole Lucas leads the Kelly Lane 5-6 Grade Chorus in singing a carol during the first annual Town-Wide Tree Lighting friday evening in Granby center.

Credit Jeff Brush

Approximately 100 people gathered around a well-lit tree on Merchants Way in Granby Center Friday evening.

Credit Jeff Brush

Jake Hoffman, a Senior at Granby High School plays drums on a cold December evening with the High School Jazz Ensemble led by Bill Morgan friday at the first annual Town-Wide Tree Lighting in Granby center.

Credit Jeff Brush

Brandon Woodford, 13, of Granby coordinates with people on the phone and places cones at the same time while helping his grandmother Kay Woodford get ready for the first Town-Wide Tree Lighting on Merchants Way friday evening.

Credit Jeff Brush

Madeline and Jim Christensen of Granby watch with their daughter Allison, 6, as the Kelly Lane 5-6 Grade Chorus warms up at the start of the Town-Wide Tree Lighting.

Credit Jeff Brush

Mike Caruso of Granby and his daughter Abby, 5, listen as Abby's older sister Arianna, 10, sings along with the Kelly Lane 5-6 Grade Chorus Friday evening during the Spirit of Granby Town-wide Tree Lighting.

Credit Jeff Brush

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A small crowd of Granby residents gathered around a tall pine tree donated from Otis Adam's property by his daughter Cynthia Adams Johnson. Carols were sung and festive jazz was played.

The first annual Spirit of Granby Town-Wide Tree Lighting went off without a hitch Friday evening on Merchants Way in Granby center.

To help celebrate the start of the 2010 holiday season the Kelly Lane Elementary School Fifth- and Sixth-Grade Chorus sang carols under the direction of Nicole Lucas the Music Instructor for the school.

"They're very, very excited," Lucas said as she gathered her students close to the tree. "It was a bit strange when we started singing Christmas songs before it was even Halloween," Lucas explained, "but its been fun."

Bill Morgan led the Granby High School Jazz Ensemble through a chilly set while families gathered to watch the lighting of the tree.

Meanwhile Kay Woodford buzzed about making sure everything was in place. "We're playing with logistics at this point," Woodford said as she quickly set up a speaker stand, "but I think its coming together."

"Hopefully this will be an annual event," said First Selectman John Adams as he assisted Woodford in setting up sound equipment.

The Granby Chamber of Commerce was collecting toys and food for its annual Toy Drive friday evening. "We're hoping to fill the truck," chamber President Scott Wendt said of the toy drive, which is accepting donations through Dec.22. A full list of drop-off locations can be found on the chamber website at www.granbycoc.org.

The Spirit of Granby celebration was organized by Granby Recreation & Leisure Services, Granby Chamber of Commerce and the Granby Lions Club. This is the first year for this type of celebration in Granby but by the looks of the turnout it may not be the last.

"I think its a nice way to open the season," Woodford said. "We're hoping that a lot of the businesses here will stay open and that people will stay and shop."

Supporting local business was a strong point made by many throughout the evening. "Please buy local and cut down on your carbon footprint," First Selectman Adams said.

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