An $8 million rehab
Santa’s arrival and traditional tree lighting ceremony in Central Park moved online
The landmark Courtland Arms building in downtown New Britain is reopening this winter after more than two decades of abandonment followed by an $8 million renovation. The nonprofit Chrysalis Center spent nearly a year and a half restoring the historic building, which will be home to two dozen individuals, couples and sets of roommates, along with low-income veterans who need housing.
The towering Christmas tree in New Britain’s Central Park was abruptly ablaze with holiday lights Tuesday night, but for the first time in years there were no crowds cheering nor lines of children waiting to see Santa.
Instead, the city’s traditional inauguration of the holiday season was moved online for this year, with parents and children watching on Facebook Live instead of huddling downtown.
Despite some technical glitches causing muted audio at the start, Mayor Erin Stewart and Alderman Robert Smedley hosted a half-hour program of entertainment and live video from the park where Santa arrivedonafireenginearound6p.m.
“Since COVID is here, we know we can’t be downtown celebrating with everybody,” Stewart told the audience. “Typically this is a wonderful celebration that we have with Santa Claus downtown where he gets to talk to all the
kids, give them a little gift. We have to do things a little differently (this year).”
Smedley and Stewart hosted the showfrombehind a decorated table at the park,
and appeared to shiver only occasionally during the breezy evening with temperatures in the mid-40s.
After cutting away to a camera showing Engine 10 cruising downMainStreetto deliver Santa, Stewartwalked to a 6-foot-tall switch set up at the park. She was accom
panied by two local children — Andrew Glowicki, 7, and Elianna Vasquez, 6 — who flipped the switch to illuminate the 40-foot-high tree.
The show got mostly positive reviews judging by the nearly 260 Facebook comments posted by 7 p.m.
“Thankyouguysfortrying
to make the best of this,” wrote Jennese Birritteri.
“Thatwassuperawesome, made the best of a real tough situation. Merry Christmas,” wrote Peter Alden.
Stewart said she hopes to resume the traditional in-person festivities next year.