By James Lomuscio

Bob LeRose says that the holiday celebrations set for Thursday evening downtown will mark the first time Westport has has an “official kickoff” to the season.

“We’ve always had a natural end to the holiday season with First Night, but we’ve never had an official kickoff,” said LeRose, president of the Downtown Merchants Association (DMA). “So, we just thought it would be great to have the community gather downtown on Dec. 1.”

The evening is set to begin with a Town Hall Christmas Tree lighting ceremony at 4:30 p.m. followed by hot cocoa at the Westport Historical Society and at 5 p.m., an all out celebration inside and outside the new Great Hall at Christ & Holy Trinity Church on Church Lane.

“We looked at several options, and we thought this would be a great way to welcome that new hall to the downtown,” said LeRose.

Remaining tickets for next month’s 71st annual Candlelight Concerts at Westport’s Staples High School are available for pick up at the school, it was announced today.

The tickets are available for free on a first-come, first-served basis on school days up to 3 p.m. at the welcome/security desk in the lobby.

The concerts are scheduled on Friday, Dec. 9 at 8 p.m. and Saturday, Dec. 10 at 2 p.m. and 8 p.m.

Donations to the school’s Music Department are gratefully accepted.

By James Lomuscio

Westporter Sam Gault said the more than 50 friends and well wishers who gathered for food and cheer at the Saugatuck Center Christmas tree lighting tonight exemplified his vision for the commercial, office and residential development.

The Christmas tree lights went on at the new Saugatuck Center tonight as Santa arrived by boat. (CLICK TO ENLARGE) Helen Klisser During

“The vision has always been to bring people together,” said Gault, president of LH Gault & Son, Inc., a hometown company started in 1863.

“It marks our first Christmas season here and shows that this is a place for the community to gather beyond the season,” he added about the new, two-building, one-acre complex on Riverside Avenue and overlooking the Saugatuck River.

Gault noted that the complex is replete with a public access boardwalk, and that all of the amenities are aimed at bringing back a sense of neighborhood to Westport’s Saugatuck section.

Sam Gault (c) is surrounded by family members and friends at tonight’s Christmas tree lighting ceremony at the new Saugatuck Center. (CLICK TO ENLARGE) Helen Klisser During for WestportNow.com