From left, Bibi Taylor and her son, LT, stand behind a podium as her husband, East Orange Mayor Lester Taylor, addresses the audience that came out to the city’s annual Holiday Tree-Lighting and Toy Giveaway in City Hall Plaza on Friday, Dec. 9, while they were all waiting for Santa Claus to arrive atop an East Orange fire truck.
EAST ORANGE, NJ — Hundreds of East Orange parents and children braved the freezing wind and cold in City Hall Plaza on Friday, Dec. 9, to participate in the city’s annual Holiday Tree-Lighting and Toy Giveaway.
Once again, the event was sponsored by Mayor Lester Taylor and the East Orange City Council and featured a performance by the Cicely Tyson Elementary School Choir, which proved it was as tough as it was talented by singing a selection of holiday songs a capella since the finger-numbing temperature that literally froze the sound system and eliminated their musical accompaniment.
But the choir lived up to the old show business adage that “the show must go on.” There was also a performance by Messiah Baptist Church Children of Purpose and announcements and speeches from 3rd Ward Councilwoman Quilla Talmadge, who was accompanied by 4th Ward Councilman Casim Gomez, and Taylor along with his wife and son.
The mayor addressed the crowd gathered, advising, “No matter what you get for Christmas, whatever you want, please keep in mind that the material things are not as important as the time you spend with your family and with your loved ones.
”I think I hear a 2016 Santa with a sleigh. I’m not sure. It might be a 1916 Santa, because he’s moving kind of slow.”
This led up to the big event of the night: An appearance by Santa Claus, who rolled up into City Hall Plaza atop one of the East Orange Fire Department’s big red rigs. The crowd went wild with excitement, despite the frigid winter night.
The spectacular was organized by East Orange Recreation Department and Cultural Affairs Director Osner Charles and his staff, as well as other city departments and employees. Charles thanked everyone for bearing with the city and enduring the cold weather to see Santa, receive a free toy and enjoy the city’s annual Tree-Lighting and Toy Giveaway event.
East Orange welcomes Santa to Tree-Lighting and Toy Giveaway added by Chris Sykes on
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