The Ridge Will Have a Warm Feeling

In the November/December issue of Yankee Magazine, an article appeared about Westchester, Vermont and the Community Luminaria Display that residents of that town have been putting out on Christmas Eve for the past 20 years. Luminaria Displays consist of bags filled with sand and votive candles. Doug and Chris Rose, after reading the article, thought that a Community Luminaria Display would be something special to do in Berlin.

"I have fond memories of what Worthington Ridge looked like years ago," Chris Rose said. "Doug and I chose Worthington Ridge for the Luminaria Display because it's the Historical District in town."

Doug and Chris made calls to the committee for the Luminaria Display in Westchester, Vermont and someone in Cheshire who was involved in doing the Luminaria Display for the Petit Family. They contacted Illuminations of North Carolina, Inc., where they made arrangements to purchase enough Luminaria kits to line Worthington Ridge on Christmas Eve. Doug and Chris Rose incurred the cost as their contribution to the Luminaria Display.

Chris then went on to write an article in a local weekly newspaper, where she reminded Berlin residents about how Berlin used to be at Christmas. She recalled hearing Christmas Music on the day after Thanksgiving, the smell of Christmas cookies baking, and the slow down of the Christmas Season. She spoke of a simpler time. She then asked if residents would be interested in getting involved in a Luminaria Display that, hopefully, would become a Berlin tradition.

"The response from volunteers was wonderful," Chris Rose said.

The plan has gone forward since then.

Jim Simons of the Berlin Fire Department has offered a fire truck to pull a flat bed trailer. The Berlin Congregational Church has donated their hall to use. On December 21, volunteers will meet at the church at 6 p.m. to get the Luminaria bags ready. Sand will be put in the bag and a votive inserted. The bags will remain in the church until they are set out on Christmas Eve.

Starting at 3 p.m. on Christmas Eve, weather permitting, volunteers will help put the bags on the flat bed truck and follow it along Worthington Ridge, placing the bags curbside approximately 10 feet apart. There is also hope that Santa Clause will pay a visit.

The individuals that Doug and Chris spoke with in Westchester Vermont said that people come from all over to see the display and that some protocol in the viewing is required. Those people who are driving are asked to put on their parking lights and drive slowly. In this manner, everyone will have the opportunity to fully see the wonder of the display. Volunteers will remove the bags from the street early Christmas morning.

Anyone wishing to volunteer is asked to call Chris Rose at (860) 690-8869 so that she has everyone's phone number. In that way she can call them in case of a cancellation due to bad weather.

"We need everyone to pray for good weather," she said.