The Alternative Press

LIVINGSTON, NJ – If the holiday lights twinkling merrily at the first Winter Festival look comfortingly familiar, it’s because they have been a part of the holiday season in Livingston for years.

The Camuso Holiday Decorations Committee and Livingston’s Business Improvement District have announced the opening of the Camuso Holiday Display.

“On December 3, 2011 the Camuso Holiday Display makes its return to Livingston as part of Livingston’s first ever Winter Festival,” announced Councilman Steve Santola, who is the committee co-chair.

The Camuso display will be one of a number of events at the gazebo area of the Oval across from Town Hall, beginning Dec.3 and running through Jan.2.

The Camuso holiday decorations, erected for years at the Camuso home on Burnett Hill Road, were donated to the community by the family following Ernie Camuso’s recent passing.

The town formed a committee consisting of some 20 local residents, Baranbas Medical Center and the BID. Beginning last January, the committee set about raising funds, finding permanent storage, cleaning and improving the figures, and planning a location for the display.

“The BID is pleased to be a big part of restoring Livingston history,” said Beth Lippman, executive director of the Livingston Business Improvement District (BID). “I think most families in town, and in the state for that matter, made at least one trip to the Camuso home on Burnett Hill Road.  Beginning this year, we welcome all of those visitors back and encourage them to shop and dine in Livingston as part the experience.”

The opening on Dec. 3 will include a live performance by the Livingston High School chorus, horse drawn carriage rides sponsored by the Livingston Area Chamber of Commerce as well as a “throw the switch” ceremony to begin the holiday season.

Thereafter, the display will be open every night through New Year’s. The Winter Festival will include various special events including an evening with the Livingston AARP Chapter Chorus, performances by local youth groups and the annual UNICO sponsored Evening with Santa.   
 
Last May, committee co-chair and former Mayor Ellie Cohen advised the community that the committee had selected the Gazebo area of the Oval for the display.

“Choosing an area was not easy,” Cohen said. “Several criteria were established, and number one was that the display had to be located within the Business Improvement District.”

Other considerations included traffic circulation, parking, adequate electric supply, off-hour security, handicap access and minimizing any residential disturbance. A number of sites along Livingston Avenue and Northfield Avenue were considered before the committee unanimously selected the gazebo area of the Oval.

According to Fund Raising Chairman Gina Goldman, the committee has raised more than $12,000 from local residents and businesses.

“Every dollar raised will go toward the preservation of the display and funding of the Winter Festival,” Goldman said. “We have been amazed at the generosity the community has shown when it comes to this local treasure.”

Santola said the committee’s mission for the display is to “build community pride and spirit, and to promote local retailers and restaurants.”  

“While we are very appreciative of the assistance provided by the township while the committee got its bearings, beginning in January the committee will become an independent conservancy operating in partnership with the Business Improvement District and local volunteers,” Santola said. “In this age of austerity, the committee believes it is important to run the Winter Festival and erect the Camuso Display with as little public assistance as possible.”

Cohen also reported that in order to locate the collection on town property and comply with federal law, the Camusos donated all overtly religious objects such as the crèche (nativity scene) and the crucifix to a local church.

The family’s bequest came with three requests:

1) Keep the collection together in one place

2) Locate the collection in a confined area with trees as a back drop

3) Accept donations at the display for the Barnabas Burn Center.

The committee believes that the gazebo area meets all of these criteria as well as those set by the committee. Adding to the benefits of the gazebo location is that the display can be monitored by existing video cameras on the new police station.