In hopes of returning some "normalcy" to the battered Silverton section of Toms River, residents there will celebrate the holiday season with a Christmas tree lighting on Saturday night.
Many homes in the area are uninhabitable or only semi-habitable after flood waters entered homes when Hurricane Sandy struck, according to Township Clerk and historian Mark Mutter. Construction continues "all around" Silverton while others wait for insurance adjusters, he said.
"My neighbors decided we needed some normalcy and have decided to have a Silverton Christmas tree lighting," said Mutter, a life-long Silverton resident whose home was deemed a total loss from the storm and will be demolished after the holiday season.
"Peoples’ lives still not back to normal," he said. "This shall be a Christmas we shall all remember."
The tree, which will be delivered by the Silverton Fire Company and special guest Santa to Crowell Street, will be illuminated at 7 p.m. The fire company, which faces equipment losses and damage to its headquarters from Sandy, is selling trees at its 15 Kettle Creek Rd. location.
"We don't want to upset are community with no trees this year and Santa Claus. Please let the community know Silverton is proud to announce our annual Christmas tree sale ... Hurricane Sandy will never stop the Silverton Fire Company from anything," Lt. Michael Cocco said last week.
The township held its tree lighting ceremony last week in Toms River's downtown. The event was seen by officials as another way for residents to gain a sense of normalcy after the storm, especially after it forced the cancellation of the township's annual and celebrated Halloween and Veterans Day parades.
This is just a story of a neighborhood that has stuck together through some really rough times and want to share in a small neighborly gathering. Again, this is not a put invite or event. Happy Holidays...
The story in the Patch somehow turned into an invitation and not, as intended, a story of inspiration and moving forward.
You don't know our story or any one-else in OUR neighborhood .... so SHUT UP!
Speki this was a private home, we do not know why the patch wrote it in such a way that people thought it was a public event. We did not ask for 3 fire trucks to come or police, we did not even know ourselves that all of them were coming. If you noticed we were not the only tree that night they were dropping off at least 3 other trees were on the truck being dropped off all the same way that ours was. I live in silverton and i do not remember getting a invite to your house last year when your tree was dropped off. The fire dept. is having a public tree lighting for silverton at silver bay school tom. night at 7.
Please be informed before you type. Thanks