OXFORD – The Oxford Holiday Committee held their annual meeting Oct. 28 to make arrangements for this year’s Tree Lighting ceremony. The goal of this nonprofit committee is to encourage Oxford Village businesses to get ‘in the spirit’ of the season by “dressing” their establishments in their “holiday best,” and to decorate LaFayette Park’s Village Green for the holiday season. This has evolved into a spectacular “Festival of Lights”, which the committee and the Oxford community is very proud of.

Meeting in 6 On The Square were Mary El Emerson, Joan Bradley, Linda Bartle, Jen Clark, Marv and Dottie Hamstra, and Jeanie Petersen. The usual topics of discussion covered were: flyers for Oxford Primary school student’s “Friday Folders”; poster distribution (view or print PDF posters here from the OxfordNY.com website: http://www.oxfordny.com/business/pon/index.php ); display plans; contacting Santa Claus (who IS coming to town.); cookies; donation boxes; the sound system; and musical entertainment. Some different ideas were discussed as well.

Plans were confirmed to bring back the tree lighting switch, and two lucky students will be chosen from the Oxford Primary School to handle it. Lighting displays will be rearranged to more evenly distribute the sparkling lights around the park. The printed, souvenir program will be produced again so people know what to expect and when.

Exciting new news: Fred Dankert and Diane Thorne, producers of The Last Doll, a Christmas Musical (parts 1 & 2), have agreed to have their Oxford Civic Theatre cast perform a song at the Tree Lighting as a sneak preview of their new production.

Over the past couple of years, generous donations from the community have enabled the committee to purchase additional lights, a 12’ tree and more. This year it was agreed that, due to the economic times, no formal requests for donations would be made.