By: Maria Moore

On Sunday evening, December 6, residents will be gathering in the center of town to celebrate the 12th Annual ‘Light New Hartford.’ Did you ever wonder how the 1st ‘Light New Hartford’ got started? In case you haven’t had this conversation with Deb Kuszaj of Blue Sky Foods, this is how it all started:

Deb Kuszaj shopping at the Farmers' Market this past summer

First of all, Deb will tell you: “I don’t like the cold and I don’t like the dark!” So when the days started to get shorter and the temperature began to drop in the fall of 1997, Deb started to feel the blues. And with the holidays approaching, she really wasn’t happy with what she saw driving down Route 44 into the center of town. “The buildings all looked dark, and right there, in the center of town, the old library building was sitting without any lights on.” Deb said. The New Hartford Library, as it was known back then, had just moved into its new building in 1996, leaving its former home in the dark.

Deb imagined all the buildings along Route 44 lit up with holiday lights. “Lighten Up, New Hartford!” She thought, and that’s what she set out to do. That year she approached the New Hartford Business Council with the idea of lighting New Hartford for the holidays, but the council wasn’t interested. Undeterred, Deb got together with Tom and Kathy Hinman and held a small celebration on the Green in Pine Meadow. “Tom planted a little Christmas tree, we put up strings of lights, and then we sang some carols. We just had a lot of fun!” Deb reminisced.

The cover of the songbook for the 1999 Light New Hartford

The next year it was the Business Council that approached Deb about her idea, Deb agreed to take on the project, and ‘Light New Hartford’ was born. With Lee Tangarone, President of the Business Council at that time, out of the country, Deb only had a few weeks to get the event up and running. She remembers coming up with a budget for the event that was over $4,000. “The Business Council almost had a fit!” Deb remembers, but business owners stepped up, and most of what was needed was donated.

Looking back, Deb says everyone involved with the project worked really hard to make it happen, but they also had a lot of fun. She remembers some of the committee going out and hanging lights for those who needed help. “We hung white lights up everywhere that year.” Deb remembers; white lights continue to be the tradition through this year.

And how did it look? “Fabulous!” Our reporter and Deb agreed. Our reporter remembers commuting back into town at that time, and driving through a fairyland, with every building twinkling with holiday lights. And then, of course, on the first Sunday of December, everyone came together, in the center of town, to see the Christmas tree lit, and to sing carols and to share good cheer. “A Community Celebration of Peace, Light and Spirit.” As the cover of the Second Annual Light New Hartford booklet says.

As we all head downtown to celebrate the 12th Annual Light New Hartford tomorrow, Sunday, December 6, let’s all thank Deb Kuszaj for her original idea to lighten up New Hartford for the holidays, and to everyone who has worked so hard over these past 12 years to make this community celebration happen.

To see the events scheduled for December 6: which include Breakfast With Santa at Ann Antolini School, Ziti Dinner at the North Congregational Church, and the Light New Hartford celebration, please see our November 25 article Ring In The Holidays…

Many Thanks: To Deb and Michael Kuszaj for their kindness and goodwill, and for keeping sunshine in New Hartford year-round!

Carolers at Light New Hartford in 2008. Photo: Dawn Whalen