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Reminder Assistant Editor WESTFIELD Last Tuesday downtown buildings were emblazoned with white twinkle lights, the walls echoing the cheerful melodies of holiday carolers as over 200 people lined The Green for this year's Lanternlight Parade and Mayor's Green Lighting Ceremony. This kickoff to a month-long series of holiday Dickens Days activities occurred with the help of city officials, the Westfield High School choir, Santa, Mrs. Claus, Queen Victoria, Ebenezer Scrooge and other Dickens' characters. Bob Plasse, chairperson of Dickens Days and president of Westfield on Weekends (WoW), appeared in full costume as the jubilant Spirit of Christmas Present as he circled The Green with many other Victorian likenesses in the Lanternlight Parade, leading up to acting-mayor Charlie Medeiros' Green Lighting Ceremony. Plasse said he was pleased with the large turnout, adding that it "symbolizes the spirit of the community and that's what Scrooge was looking for. We have enough events [during Dickens Days] to make even Ebenezer [Scrooge] smile." Prior to the Green Lighting, Medeiros and mayor-elect Michael Boulanger thanked the community for their support and praised WoW for their diligent efforts to create quality activities for Westfield residents. Boulanger said that as mayor he will be able to help facilitate connections between various non-profit organizations that will contribute to the growth of community-wide celebrations and activities. He added that festivals such as Dickens Days are "really what Westfield needs to happen more often." "We need to bring more people together in this city and work as a team to make Westfield a greater place to live," Boulanger said. Kathryn Fletcher, who participated in the festivities as Queen Victoria with her three ladies-in-waiting closely in tow, said her willingness to contribute to Dickens Days was an overwhelming feeling of community spirit and "stepping outside of the box." "[Dickens Days] is a fun way to spend the holidays. It's not about the stores," she said. Rebecca Horta, a Westfield resident and proud mother of Teresa Horta, who sung in the Westfield High School choir that night, and Antonio Horta, who was busy asking for Santa's autograph rather than what he wanted for Christmas, said the Green Lighting ceremony is an annual event for her family that helps to bring them together in the spirit of the holidays. Lisa McMahon, executive director of the Westfield Business Improvement District (BID), said she was not surprised by the large crowd or the community's eagerness to embrace a livelier downtown. She added that her organization has been working in conjunction with WoW to enhance the appearance of downtown during Dickens Days through increased holiday lighting and local artists decoration of vacant storefronts. McMahon said information about "Windows of Westfield" is available on the BID's Web site at www.thedistrictwestfield.com For a complete list of Dickens Days events throughout the month of December go to their Web site at www.westfieldonweekends.org. | ||||||
