LAKEHURST – The holiday season got a bit brighter when the borough officially lit up their Christmas tree in front of the town community center.
The event could not be held last year due to the COVID-19 pandemic but this year the crowds came out. The honor of lighting the tree went to Jerry Nieuwenhuizen, a long-time resident of Lakehurst who recently received the key and title as this year’s Citizen of the Year.
Nieuwenhuizen takes pride in what the town looks like, an is often seen cleaning up debris and trash in the street. That earned him his place as Citizen of the Year during a recent council meeting. During that meeting Mayor Harry Robbins presented him a shiny gold key as a symbol to his being a key citizen of the community.
“I walk around the back of the Public Works (building) and walked around Division Street – stuff like that – and people throw their garbage out there. I get tired of seeing it. I walked down the street a couple of weeks ago with my dog and people just toss out their beer bottles,” Nieuwenhuizen said. He was happy to have had the honor of lighting up the Christmas tree and at first glance, with his long white beard and twinkle in his eye, he could have been mistaken for another attendee at the event.
Borough Clerk Mary Anne Capasso coordinated the event once again this year. “I organized Santa, the fire department and Reverend Owen Alston from Harmony Ministries who gave a little prayer and Mr. Nieuwenhuizen as our citizen of the year. The mayor couldn’t be here as he was conducting a marriage but Council President Oglesby was here to open up the ceremony.”
Councilman Brian DiMeo and Councilwoman Patricia Hodges were also present for the ceremony. DiMeo said a decorating creation event was held several days prior to the tree lighting. That activity was coordinated by the Youth and Recreation committee.
“We had a few kids and it was great. Everyone had a great time. We hope to get more people for this next year,” DiMeo said.
Those environmentally friendly decorations were hung on the tree with lights that were placed by members of the borough’s Department of Public Works. Fire trucks were also on hand to help light up the sky during the night as well with their flashing lights.
Families were happy that the festive occasion returned this year. Megan and William Seibert joined their children William Jr. 5, Cameron, 3 who sported a Santa shirt for the occasion, their 2-year-old niece Raegan, and their 1-year-old son Daniel. Each enjoyed the cookies, hot chocolate and meeting Santa Claus who arrived off the borough fire truck before entering the community center.
“We’ve lived here our whole life, 31 years, my brother lives here, my other brother and my mom and dad live here. This is a tradition for us,” Megan Seibert said.
