33rd Annual Tree of Lights
Watchung Rescue Squad
The Watchung Rescue Squad hosted its 33rd annual Tree of Lights celebration on December 2nd, 2023. Residents, friends, and families gathered together on the Village Green to honor the Heroes of the Watchung Little League. Alice Olejar was not present at the ceremony but was honored for her hard work in 1975 when she worked to revive the Little League program. The 2023 Little League Board, led by President and Watchung Councilmember Curt Dahl, were present and were honored for their dedication to reviving the Little League for this year and to allow for the legacy to continue on for years to come.
Many local businesses, including Brandywine Living at Mountain Ridge, Buffalo Wild Wings, Chick-Fil-A, M Square Real Estate, POURtuga, and the Watchung PBA Local 193 were present at the event and handed out various food and beverage items as well as other goodies for all attendees. The ceremony concluded with the lighting of the tree and a fireworks display by Garden State Fireworks that lit up the winter night sky.
The Tree of Lights ceremony is traditionally held on the first Saturday in December and the tree is lit in honor and remembrance of the lives lost at Pearl Harbor. This event is one of the Watchung Rescue Squad’s biggest fundraisers, as well. Individuals make a tax deductible donation and can dedicate a light on the tree in honor or remembrance of a loved one.
Below is the list of dedications for the 2023 year.
In honor of All Who Serve
- Anton Cardinal 3 Liam Karpa
- Arthur, William & Annette
- Berkoben, Craig
- Berkoben, Louise & Richard
- Bisignano Family
- Bitenas Family
- Blackadar, Joan, Phyllis & Jeffrey
- Braukle Family
- Buccarelli Family
- Burner Family
- Cicala, Pat, Ella & Family
- Ciuffreda Family
- Clemens Family
- Clemente, Dr. Joseph
- Cocchiara Family
- Connell Family
- Da Silva Family
- DaSilva, Sal & Family
- Delvento Family
- Demirgil Family
- Egan Family
- Ellis, Fran
- Fernandez-McDonald Family
- Fetchner Family
- Fliet, Sara Vander
- Franklin Canine Family
- Frippery Thrift Shop Volunteers
- Ginter Family
- Hallock, Agatha & Joanna
- Hartman Family
- Haywood, Linda
- Heim Family
- Jubin Family
- Juette Family
- Kania, Michael & Anne
- Kirpan Family
- Lubin Family
- Markowska Family
- McCumber Grandchildren
- Motta Family
- O’Donnell, Tom & Gail
- O’Keefe, David F.
- Ovarian Cancer Survivors
- Panzarella Family
- Plasner, Joan
- Pote Family
- Pote, Stephen & Family
- Santaniello Family
- Schlotterbeck Family
- Schuman Family
- Speeney Family
- Tavares Family
- Watson Family
- Weingarten Family
- Wells, Trudy
Business Honor
- A&C Crab Seafood Distribution Inc.
- Artist
- Brandywine Living
- Buffalo Wild Wings
- Chick-fil-A
- Gerard’s Disposal LLC
- JPS Collision INC
- M Square, Real Estate
- Pourtuga Coffee House
- Rich Tree Service
- Tramz Hotel Group
- Watchung Borough Hall
- Watchung Fire Department
- Watchung PBA
- Watchung Police Department
- Watchung Public Works
In Memory
- Addario, Cody, Sam & Sugar
- Addario, Mayor Anthony
- Ard, Mary Elizabeth
- Aylward, Eileen
- Backowski, Chet M.
- Barrett, Ralph & Ruth
- Bisignano, Albert & Anna
- Biviano, Richard
- Blumberg, Sandra
- Bodnar, Adam & Lucia
- Bordino, Margaret
- Bori, Anna
- Brunskill, Trevor & Angela
- Buccarelli, Sally
- Burke, Charles R.
- Carlough, William W.
- Cavanaugh, Mary
- Cesavz, Katarina, Joseph & Ursula
- Chalker, David
- Cole, Jane
- Cooper, Reginald
- Corcoran, Dot & Jim
- Curiazza, Marion
- Daly, Tom & Mary
- Danberry, Edward
- Danberry, Susan
- Dean, William
- Diem, Fred E.
- DiNardi, Alfred
- DiNardi, Rina
- Doyle, Simon
- Duran, Jaume
- Dworak, Winnie
- Egan, Cheryl
- Escano, Elizabeth
- Falanga, Mom
- Fernandes, Sabina P.
- Fogel, Mark & Rose
- Freshwater, Jean
- Gerus, Barbara
- Gerus, Harry
- Greves, Nancy
- Hanlon, Helene & Kenneth
- Harris, Lawrence
- Hartman, June
- Herstein, Shirley
- Hess, Barbara
- Hillman, Chris & Richard
- Huska, Martin C.
- Ianniello, Paul & Debra
- Jolly, Lillian
- Kauffman, Arthur & Linda
- Kavanagh, Jack
- Kriznansky, Elaine
- Kriznansky, Martha & Milan
- Llanas, Joan
- Lubeck, Richard J.
- McCumber, Dr. Bruce D
- Monetti, Donald Sr.
- Monetti, Dorothy
- Novello, Ernest & Esterina
- Nunn, Robert & Carrol
- Our Veterans
- Paul Flood Family
- Pedersen, Michael
- Pennett Family
- Price, Alfred & Isabel
- Puleo, Salvatore
- Raftery, Thomas L
- Rodrigues, Anthony
- Romano, Irene
- Romano, Marie & Charles
- Ruckriegel, Helen J.
- Schaa, Fred
- Schaa, Paul E.
- Shapiro, Clarence
- Shuster, Joan Wesley
- Shuster, John & Hazel
- Smith, David & Mildred
- Smith, Virginia L.
- Spingler, Rick
- Stahl, Bruno & Barbara
- Stein, Michael
- Stout, Jim
- Tafaro, Florence
- Titus, Bill
- Townsend, Jim & Anne
- Weber, Max Sr.
- Weiss, Jack & Elaine
- Wess Family
- Wheeler, Dit & Wink
- White, Lynda
- Whitting, Philip & Geddes, Mabel
- Wolford, Mildred & Harry
- Zink, Georgine R.
