Stony Hill Kicks Off The Holidays With Food Drive, Tree Lighting

BETHEL, Conn. – The Stony Hill neighborhood in Bethel kicked off the Christmas holiday season with an act of kindness and a celebration of lights.

Santa and Mrs. Claus meet with kids at the Stony Hill tree lighting.
Photo Credit: *Nicole Kasseris*

A youngster enjoys the tree lighting at the Big Y in the Stony Hill neighborhood of Bethel.
Photo Credit: *Nicole Kasseris*

Santa arrives via fire truck at the Stony Hill tree lighting in Bethel.
Photo Credit: *Nicole Kasseris*

Dancers kick up their feet at the Stony Hill tree lighting in Bethel.
Photo Credit: *Nicole Kasseris*

Bethel town officials turn out for the tree lighting in Stony Hill.
Photo Credit: *Nicole Kasseris*

by Nicole Kasseris

11/30/2015 5:30 a.m.

The events began with a daylong food drive at the Big Y grocery store. To cap off the day, Santa Claus arrived via fire truck for the lighting of a Christmas tree in the parking lot.

Many area residents, along with the Stony Hill Four Corners Association and the Bethel selectmen, turned out to participate in the recent event.

The food drive was a result of the “cooperative effort of the Stony Hill Four Corners Association, the Stony Hill Fire Department in Bethel, and the Hawleyville Fire Department in Newtown,” Stony Hill Fire Chief Thomas Galliford said.

This is the eighth year for the Stony Hill event. The food collected in the drive goes directly to the Brotherhood in Action pantry to refill its shelves for Christmas. In total, the event collected about 4,000 pounds of food.

At the tree lighting, the Stony Hill Rockettes kicked up their feet and danced to Christmas songs. Then Santa and Mrs. Claus arrived by fire truck to greet all the guests.

Hot chocolate was provided by Dunkin Donuts, and Starbucks served up coffee. Apple cider came from the nearby Blue Jay Orchards. Kids and their parents were able to get their pictures taken with Santa and Mrs. Claus.

Another tree lighting for the Stony Hill Four Corners Association will be held Dec. 6, from 5:30 to 6:30 p.m. at 23 Barnabas Road in Newtown. There will be snacks, hot drinks, singing, dancing, holiday music, visit with Santa and Mrs. Claus, along with a toy drive for the Newtown Fund.

The Stony Hill Four Corners Association is a venture of the Stony Hill and Hawleyville Business Association. Its purpose is to create a greater awareness of what the businesses in the area have to offer, while also creating ways for those businesses to give back to the community.

Brotherhood In Action of Bethel is an all-volunteer, federally recognized nonprofit organization. Since 1980, it has provided food, rent and utilities assistance, as well as other forms of financial assistance, to those in need in Bethel.

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