Rotary and its ‘tree’ light up Waterbury
December 2, 2024 | By Gwenna Peters
Waterbury Rotarians at the 'tree' lighting, left to right: Dan and Patty McKibben, John Malter, Paul and Jane Willard, Al Lewis, Sue and Marty Johansen; not pictured is Sandy Lewis who was at the light switch. Photo by Gwenna Peters
The holiday “tree” behind Brookside Primary School was lit on Sunday to brighten the short days of the winter season in our town.
From a distance, the strings of colored lights attached to the flagpole on what’s known as Wissel Mountain appear to be a Christmas tree visible from Interstate 89 and many points around town.
The Waterbury Rotary Club has been doing the tree lighting for over 55 years, taking lights up and down and keeping the beacon bright that lights the way home for many locals including skiers heading back from the slopes and college students returning home for the holidays. For visitors, it is a welcoming sight.
Likewise, Waterbury Rotary has been a beacon of activity in Waterbury for many years. What would Waterbury be like if our aging Rotary could not continue to provide the community with the multiple events, scholarships, and support they provide for Waterbury?
Longtime Rotarian Paul Willard shared a few words with the volunteers present for the tree lighting. “As a child I always looked forward to my father putting the lights on the Christmas tree. It brought so much more light. And still today I look forward to driving around the neighborhoods and town to look at all of the lights,” he said. “In our community, the Rotary has been the light bearer for all of us bringing many programs throughout the year. This Rotary tree is another example of the light. It is one of the first I look for as I come in from Burlington and it is the first one I see when I get up in the morning. It brings a comforting glow as it pierces the darkness. To me, the lights are a reminder of the One who brought light into our lives. So we light this tree tonight so we can continue to share it with this darkened world!”
Many people may not be aware of the many things the Rotary Club does for the community including fun events like Pie for Breakfast, the Easter Egg Hunt, Not Quite Independence Day, summer concerts in the park, the Hunt for Sunzilla sunflower contest, and Santa in the Park. Rotary does many unheralded activities as well such as caring for Rusty Parker Park and delivering meals to volunteers helping clean up from recent floods.
The club provides an annual scholarship for a Harwood graduating senior and supplies three graduates with new laptop computers. It also offers a leadership program for rising high school juniors and distributes dictionaries to all local third-grade students.
Various community projects benefit from Rotary financial grants each year such as public art projects, the recent refurbishment of Jack’s Alley on Stowe Street and trail improvements on Camel’s Hump.
The Rotary also welcomes new members. Anyone interested in learning more about Rotary can attend a meeting. We are a welcoming group and know that more hands make the work easier and more fun. Waterbury would not be the same community without an active Rotary.
Please join us at 7:15 a.m. (meetings are 7:30-8:30 a.m., but come early for breakfast!) most Tuesdays at the Waterbury Area Senior Center on Stowe Street. No meetings on the second Tuesday of each month as it is just a Rotary board meeting. See the website calendar for information on the fourth Tuesday as they are sometimes held in the evening.
Let's keep Waterbury’s holiday happy and bright. Check out the website waterburyvtrotary.org for more information about upcoming events, projects and activities.
Rotary could use a few more people who want to help bring light to our community.
Rotarian Gwenna Peters is a past president of the Waterbury Rotary Club.