I would like to thank all the people who came out despite the threat from Mother Nature to the 30th annual Concord Christmas Tree Lighting held at the State House. I would like to recognize Concord Imaging Center for once again being the major corporate sponsor. Larry Close and the staff at the Concord Imaging Center have helped us so much with their major Platinum donation. This has saved us so much. I would like to recognize Kevin Tucker and David Hatch and Penacook Rescue for the stage construction, design, lights for the Brian Waldron concert. They also provided smaller tents for refreshments served by several organizations for people to enjoy. A special recognition to AutoServ of Tilton and Dennis Gaudette for 15 years of being a Platinum donor and supporter, which has been so appreciated. The Rowley Insurance Agency continued valued support and the Concord Business Center which sent us a Platinum donation. Gold Sponsors included Foxfire Management/Steve Duprey, Joe King Shoe Shop, Granite State Candy donation in kind, Unitil, the New Hampshire Automobile Association, New Hampshire Federal Credit Union who made a Gold donation to purchase more lights for the Concord Heights tree located at the corner of Loudon and Airport road.
The Silver donors include the Concord Police Officers Association and the Newell Post Restaurant. Patron donors include Makris Lobster and Steak House Restaurant, Merrimack County Savings Bank and Banks Chevrolet.
I would like to thank NH-1 for its sponsorship of the Skip Houle Memorial fireworks display. The fireworks were submitted by Atlas Pyrotechnics. I would like to thank the staff of the Insider for all the publicity they printed promoting this event; the same with the West and East Side town criers for the Monitor.
This has been a great community event, which is not sponsored by the city. Concord Grange 322 provides the organizing of it while Concord Knights of Columbus and Concord Grange coordinate the Creche. I can remember when I was a child that the beautiful lights, Creche, and the tree were all lighted the day after Thanksgiving. The Christmas tree lighting has never been a commercial event. It is an event for people of all ages to come and listen to Brian Waldron, enjoy a ride on the horse-drawn wagon rides by Bruce Loce of Pittsfield, enjoy a pony ride and visit the petting zoo, and see Santa Claus arrive with the Concord Fire Department.
Thank you to Tom Cusano, Mark Samanski, Bruce Shampney, Kevin Tucker, David Hatch and all volunteers who came to help. If I have forgotten someone, it was not intentional. I will be send in a second thank you for the assistance after the theft.
Dick Patten, organizer
Concord