WALTON - The Walton Chamber of Commerce is teaming with members of the Walton community to fundraise to replace current Christmas lights lining Delaware Street in Walton.
The current lights and decorations are old and some no longer light, due to their age and the number of times they have been repaired.
Walton’s first Christmas lights were purchased by the Chamber of Commerce in 1929. In the 1980s, Margaret Jackson Gladstone Bailey was instrumental in the purchase of the lights currently in use when she was Walton Chamber President. Older Waltonians will remember the “NOEL” banners that graced each end of the village for many years.
Deb and Neil Bartlett, from the Walton Historical Society, and Debby Valentine, chairperson of the new committee, researched the history of the lights and information and pictures will be on the Walton Chamber of Commerce Facebook page. The committee invites others to contribute photos if they have them, too.
The community has always been an important part in the decorating. Bob Vitti, Dan Hodges, Kevin Armstrong, Kevin O’Brien, the late Keath Davis, and other volunteers have been hanging the decorations for many years. The committee members hope that same community spirit can continue for the next chapter.
In the off season, the decorations are stored in a shed, and they sustained heavy damage from flood waters in June 2006. Vitti and the Walton Chamber have repaired, refurbished and salvaged the lights as much as possible, but in trying to replace the original incandescent bulbs with LED, the lack of heat caused condensation in the lamps and burned out the circuits. At this point, there are no other options - they need to be replaced, so it’s time to make a change.
The committee has set a goal to raise $10,000 by March 3 so new pole lanterns can be ordered at a discount from distributors. If the fundraising exceeds $10,000, the extra money may be used for decorations for other entrances to the village or seasonal banners to use along Delaware Street for other holidays. The initial goal is what will be needed to replace the 12 lighted decorations on Delaware Street.
The community can donate via a “GoFundMe” account accessible on the Walton Chamber of Commerce Facebook page or website, or the PayPal account on the Walton Chamber of Commerce website - www.waltonchamber.com.
Those that prefer can send a check or money order to Walton Chamber of Commerce, with “Holiday Lights” noted on the memo line. Send to Walton Chamber of Commerce, c/o Debra Valentine, 169 Prospect Ave., Walton, NY 13856.
Several businesses have expressed an interest in helping, and the committee has proposed sponsoring individual pole lights with donations of $500 per light, or $250 to sponsor with another business.
There will be a fundraising barometer on the Chamber’s message board near McDonald’s so everyone can watch the progress. Contributors will be acknowledged on social media on the Walton Chamber Facebook page. Every donation will help reach the goal - thank you in advance for your consideration.
Those with questions or those wishing more information can contact Debby Valentine at dzalevalentine@yahoo.com, Patty Wood at pwood2@frontier.com, Tara Vitti at tara@waltonchamber.com , or Beth O’Brien at bethobrien@howardhanna.com.
