The arrival of the Christmas season was heralded in East Norwich on Sunday, Dec. 3. The annual Tree Lighting ceremony was presented by the Committee for the Beautification of East Norwich (CBEN). This is the first year that a group of committee members helped put the lights on the three trees. In previous years Matthew Meng, East Norwich Civic Association president performed the task himself.

A generous donation from Nina Batra made possible the purchase of the lights. Additionally the committee members decorated the signs and Ms. Batra also paid for the decorations of those signs. Those responsible for decorating the trees and four East Norwich signs this year were: Paul Moreno, Nick DeSantis, Bob and Barbara Schmidt, Matthew Meng, Jack Scheich, Eileen Aliani and Tom Kearny.

The Boy Scouts and Girl Scouts played under the leadership of Stephen Walker, Oyster Bay High School band teacher. After singing carols, the trees were lit. The CBEN President Jack Scheich helped Grace Rappuhn to light the trees. Her husband, Henry "Bud" Rappuhn, recently deceased, was expected to light the trees in honor of his long service to the community, and she was asked to light them in his stead.

Mr. Meng thanked Diglio Electric, which has been responsible for putting the switch box in place so the trees could be lit this year as well as for all previous years.

The Nassau County Police Officers arrived in time to lead people across Route 106 for the crèche lighting which took place on the green beside the Chas. Rothmann's Steak House. Grace Rappuhn lit the crèche this year.

Barbara Singer sang a beautiful Ave Maria. Barbara is there every year with Richard Bock to help lead the sing-along. There must have been around 50 or more present. Grace was accompanied by her son Steve, his fiancée Heather Evans, her daughter Susan Rappuhn Olsen, Bud's sister Mrs. Gloria Webel of Maine, and her daughter Glo of Vermont. Grace and her family appeared very happy and really enjoyed the event. Grace was smiling. It was a nice warm community gathering, of simple everyday people who came to be a part of the yearly lighting.