Santa Claus arrived in a flurry of snow on Dec. 2, as friends and neighbors gathered in Newport Town Square for what has become an annual tradition to light up this portion of Jersey City. This is the 13th season that business and political leaders have come together to kick off the holiday season and light the Christmas tree and Menorah.
“Two decades ago, this part of the city was a perfect example of urban decay,” said Mayor Steven Fulop, as he stood side by side with members of the LeFrak and Newport families that helped transform the dilapidated waterfront and industrial area into one of the hottest real estate landscapes in the country.
This year, Newport residents selected a child via a raffle to help Santa and the mayor turn the switch that illuminated the park for the holiday.
Victorian carolers sang traditional songs to help get the crowd into the mood, while nearby, Newport’s Morton Williams supermarket supplied hot chocolate and cookies for adults and kids.
“Just because there are high-rises, it doesn’t mean it isn’t a community.” – Candice Osborne
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When Santa asked Aryana what she wanted for Christmas, she said, “I haven’t decided yet.”
‘A real sense of community’
Many kids got the chance to tell Santa what they wanted as he held court nearby with the help of a number of elves.
Like last year, this year’s tree lighting countdown was led by News 12. Olaf from Disney’s Frozen joined Santa and Mrs. Claus to greet the kids.
The tree lighting ceremony included a synchronized light-and-music show across Newport’s Town Square. The event is the culmination of activities for the year sponsored by the Newport Mall. Activities during the summer for kids, mall officials said, have expanded greatly.
Ward E Councilwoman Candice Osborne, who represents Newport, said the sense of community in the area surprised her when she first attended the event last year.
“If you don’t live in Newport, you can’t see the real sense of community that’s there,” she said. “This is showcased during Christmas when all the families come out.”
She said this is refreshing. Although the area is known for its mall and assortment of business buildings, Newport has become defined as a neighborhood in its own right, something that emerged out of the growth of the city’s economic base.
“Just because there are high-rises, it doesn’t mean it isn’t a community,” she said. “One of the reasons I love Jersey City is because every little neighborhood has its own vibe. When I go to neighborhood association meetings, I feel those vibes. And this was nice to experience in Newport.”
She said these neighborhoods are growing in a number of ways, especially as new people get involved. Things like Project Market – which brought a number of farmers markets to Jersey City – and the festivals downtown bring out more people.
“These events engage people who weren’t involved before,” Osborne said. “I see new faces at each of the neighborhood association meetings.”
Al Sullivan may be reached at asullivan@hudsonreporter.com.