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BUCHANAN, N.Y. A group of more than 300 children and adults counted down with Santa Claus to light the villages outdoor Christmas tree in Buchanans traffic circle in the center of the village.
Its a small village, small town and we get a chance to congregate this time of year and we all know each other, said Ana Lieski, a Buchanan resident who walked to the tree lighting.
For as long as most adults said they could remember, the Village of Buchanan has held a tree lighting ceremony. This year, said Recreation Department Supervisor Nancy Bayer, was special because of the weather mild, with the temperature in the mid-40s.
Cold, frigid, windy, snowy, icy, cold, said Bayer about previous years.
This is great, said her husband Stuart Bayer, assistant chief of the Buchanan Engine Company. This always seems to be the coldest night of the year.
The Trinity Boscobel Church Choir, of Buchanan, sang carols to the audience as they waited for Santa Claus to arrive at the village traffic circle in a fire engine. The Through the Looking Glass preschool also performed three songs. When Santa arrived, the crowd counted down from 10 to light the Christmas tree.
Free raffles were held inside the village hall after the lighting, where residents gathered to drink hot cocoa and tell Santa Claus what they wanted for Christmas. Verplanck also held a tree lighting ceremony Sunday night.
Nancy Bayer reminded residents that Santa will be writing letters back to residents, if they turn their letters into the Buchanan Village Hall by Dec. 16.
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