BY GREGORY HATTON
BARRYVILLE, NY – It wasn’t the usual tree lighting. Thirty people, all socially distant, gathered around the tree. Others parked across the street at Gibson McKean Real Estate, Clancy’s and Clobr and listened to the celebrations on their car radios. Others stayed home and watched the 15th Annual Tree Lights on the Greater Barryville Chamber of Commerce Facebook page. The celebrations took place on Saturday, Nov.
The focus was on the 35-foot fir tree planted in 2005 in the cul-de-sac near the Barryville River access area. Co-sponsored WJFF Radio Catskill, the region’s public NPR radio station, streamed the event on air.
Rev. Charles Perez, pastor of the Barryville Methodist Church, and his family filled the air with sounds of joy, hope, and brotherhood. Broadway stars Erin West and Kyle Dean Massey MC hosted the event and sang duets. Brett Shaggy Travis belted out rocking Christmas carols for those seeking relief from an urgent but necessary need for social distancing this winter.
“We wanted to make sure we could bring safe vacation joy to our community. I contacted WJFF with the idea of a driveway, virtual tree lighting, and they were very supportive and enthusiastic. Roswel Hamrick, the president of the Greater Barryville Chamber of Commerce and head of all areas of beautification and decoration, replaced all white lights with colored lights to make it a little more vibrant and cheerful. Kyle and Erin, along with Shaggy and Pastor Charles, were more than happy to host and perform. It was really so wonderful and took a village – or really a hamlet, “said Johnny Pizzolato, who serves on the board of the Chamber.
If you missed the event, the pandemic means you can always repeat it.
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