Community Tree Lighting Celebration: a Sensational Start to the Season

December 18, 2003 -- More than a thousand area residents, City officials, Bayonne Medical Center (BMC) employees, Board members, volunteers, and physicians gathered on BMC's front lawn on Wednesday, December 3rd, to celebrate the arrival of the holiday season. Bayonne Medical Center, in conjunction with the City of Bayonne, presenting sponsor, Corporate Express, and with the generous support of many other sponsors, hosted the community for the 2nd annual Community Tree Lighting Celebration.

With cups of hot cocoa to keep the 30-degree weather at bay, everyone mingled while listening to the soothing sounds of an all-girl a cappella group, Sweet Harmony, from Bayonne High School. The anticipation mounted when Ernie the Elf, a.k.a. Santa's biggest helper, announced the arrival of Santa's sleigh at Newark Airport. Soloist, Natasha Torres of Bayonne High School, sang "Here Comes Santa Claus," and in record time, a horse-drawn carriage overflowing with waving toy soldiers, jolly elves, and of course, Santa, could be seen approaching the medical center from avenue E.

The appreciative crowd took Santa's cue, "Are you READY?" and started the countdown. Their efforts were rewarded when more than 6,500 white lights illuminated the 55' Norwegian Spruce causing faces everywhere to beam with delight.

For many younger members of the community, the best was yet to come. Toy soldiers painted snowflakes, snowmen, and holiday trees on children's faces, in preparation for their one-on-one session with Santa in his workshop. While seated on Santa's lap, they seized the opportunity to negotiate the contents of their holiday stockings. The evening ended with many small hands proudly clutching Polaroid evidence of their audience with Santa.

Bayonne Medical Center and the City of Bayonne wish to thank the following generous sponsors for warming the hearts and spirits of our community during this year's Community Tree Lighting Celebration: Presenting Sponsor: Corporate Express; Silver Bells Sponsor: The Jersey Journal; Winter Wonderland Sponsors: DBCC Architects, PC, Regional Pathologists, PC, Robert H. Evans and children, and The Provident Bank; The Holly and the Ivy Sponsors: Aramark, Cortel Business Solutions, Four Star Color, and Nacirema Industries, Inc.; Up on the Housetop Sponsors: Bayonne Emergency Associates, Bayonne Imaging Associates, LLC, BMC Medical Staff, Creative Counsel, Hammerhead Advertising, Info Highway Communications Corp., Lindabury, McCormick & Estabrook, P.C., Pride Bakery and The Port Authority of NY & NJ; Here Comes Santa Claus Sponsors: ABC Rental, Accents by James Thomas, Al Richards Chocolate, D & W Communications, Four Star Color, MTM Information Technologies, Nextel Communications, PSE&G, and Triangle Copy Center; Jingle Bells Sponsors: American Limo, Bayonne Community Bank, C.J. Murphy, Inc., Gormley, LoRe, Murphy Insurance Agency, In-Line Air Conditioning, Inc., Liberty House Restaurant, The Bay Ridge Companies, and Valley National Bank; and Let it Snow Sponsors: Fort Nassau Graphics, Ken's Marine Service, and PR Plus; Community Celebration Sponsor: Party King Entertainment. We'd also like to take this opportunity to thank the Bayonne High School Choir, Sweet Harmony, for sharing their talents.

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