OWEN O’ROURKE / ITEM PHOTO
Saugus Town Manager Scott Crabtree, left, receives a $6,000 donation for the Saugus Christmas tree lighting from Peter Kendrigan, the new plant manager at Wheelabrator.
By BRIDGET TURCOTTE
SAUGUS — Wheelabrator Technologies presented a check to help make the holidays jolly with its annual contribution to the town’s Christmas Tree Lighting and Festivities Wednesday afternoon.
This year’s festivities, which were held on Dec. 4, may have been the largest the town has ever seen with close to 4,000 people in attendance, said Town Manager Scott Crabtree.
“This year we enhanced the event,” said Crabtree. “We enhanced and beautified the 50-foot main tree in Saugus by using cool white LED lights and elegant large red bows with gold trim.”
A new trackless train and holiday-themed inflatables were also added to the festivities. Also popular this year was a gingerbread house making contest, DJ Anthony Arone, and Santa Claus coming from the direction of Iron Works to Town Hall on his horse drawn sleigh, Crabtree said.
Regional Vice-President of Wheelabrator Saugus Peter Kendrigan presented a $6,000 check to Crabtree Wednesday afternoon. The sponsorship is one of the larger ones that the town receives for the event, he said.
Sponsors also include Doctors Express, Hammersmith, Hannafords, Home Depot, Harrows, TrueVine Church, Walmart, Friends of Breakheart, School PTOs, Tony’s Tree Service, Keith’s Tree Service, Saugus Garden Club and Lakeshore Learning.
“The Tree Lighting and Festivities is a tremendous community event that brings people and families together to enjoy the holiday season,” Crabtree said. “I’m thankful to all that put their time and efforts into planning and organizing this event. It’s no easy task.
“I would also thank the sponsors, financial and otherwise, that helped make this event possible,” he said. “Without them it wouldn’t be such a wonderful evening.”
Crabtree said Wheelabrator has been helping to sponsor the event since 2012, when he became town manager and the event expanded.
“Wheelabrator is committed to being a good corporate citizen,” said Kendrigan.
Kendrigan said the company makes a donation for the event every year “in addition to numerous other things it does for the town.”
“We’re just trying to give back to the community we operate in,” he said.
