Second year of revived tradition brings neighbors together
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By BETH ZUMWALT
Submitted photo
Approximately 750 luminaries lined Monroe Street in Pittsfield last Christmas Eve in a revived tradition from many years ago. Beckie Scranton and Amy Cox are spear heading the project again this year. The luminaries are scheduled to be lit this Christmas Eve at 6 p.m.
Last year, Beckie Scranton and Amy Cox worked hard to revive a tradition that was started years ago by Cox’s grandmother, Patty Smith, lining South Monroe Street with luminaries.
“It was wonderful,” Scranton said. “Every house participated and we had a steady stream of cars all evening.”
The project is very simple. Scranton and Smith along with Sydney Cox, Todd and Leslie Schuman and Lakin,put together kits for the luminaries, which includes the sand to anchor the bag, the bag and a battery powered tea light. The kits are then distributed to the residents of South Monroe to place on the their property bordering the street. Each resident pays $15 to offset the cost of the “kit.” Scranton’s husband’s employer, Louisiana Steel, donates the sand, and the white bags were purchased from Ackles and the tea lights from Amazon.
“That’s the only place we could get 750 tea lights,” Scranton said.
For residents who are unable to get out and place the bags and turn on the tea lights, volunteers offer to assist and neighbors of those residents also help.
Last year, Scranton and Cox tried to organize carolers to patrol the street singing as the cars passed through, but it was so cold, they did’t last.
“No one has stepped forward and asked to sing, so I don’t think we will have carolers this year,” Scranton said.
Anyone who is unable to make the drive Christmas Eve, can try again the next two nights.
“The tea lights are supposed to burn for 100 hours,” Scranton said. “I don’t know if the temperature affects that time or not, but, last year, most of them stayed lit for three days and nights.
