Donations to adopt trees for next month's Christmas in the Park program in Palmerton continue to pour in.

To date, 40 trees have been adopted, said Michele O' Neill, Christmas in the Park Committee chairperson.Of those, 12 have been paid for, while six vendors have paid for, said O'Neill, who expressed how generous the community has been."This asking for a donation is working wonderfully," O'Neill said. "We've had many very generous donations."There will be room for 43 trees 41 five-to-six-foot, one 10-to-12-foot, and one 8-foot, said O'Neill, who added that local tree farms have been extremely helpful.The committee plans to pick up the trees from the various tree farms the week of Nov. 24. They will begin to set up the trees in the park at 9 a.m. Saturday, Nov. 30.O'Neill said Sunday, Dec. 1, is the date to set up and decorate the trees, while Friday, Dec. 6, is the last day to do so.Each tree will be unique, and will have the sponsor noted on the plaque by their tree. The trees will remain in the park up through the new year.The program will be held in the borough park from noon to 5 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 7.It will feature decorated trees from various members of the community that will line the walkways of the park, and be lit and decorated by the sponsor in time for the event.The day will also be filled with local singing groups, horse and wagon rides, and a visit from Santa. Vendors will sell hot soups, bake sales, walking tacos, hot chocolates, and other items.Joe Federanich, Palmerton Holiday Lighting Committee chairman, announced that the committee has received a $3,000 grant from the Horsehead Community Development Fund.The committee is still looking for the oldest person who was born, lived in, or still lives in Palmerton, said Federanich, who added that they are asked to drop off a note for the committee to put on file.That person will be asked to flip the switch and turn on the new lights, Federanich said.The Palmerton Holiday Lighting Committee plans to decorate the park with new lights in time for Christmas.In July, the committee ordered 29 silhouette snowflake lights, as well as colored string lights, that will appear around the park along Third Street, Fourth Street, and Lafayette Avenue.That came after the committee in June sent out a donation form to households, businesses, and organizations within the Palmerton area to solicit community support to help underwrite the cost to purchase new decorations for the borough park in time for Christmas.Mailings were made to Aquashicola, Bowmanstown, Kunkletown, Lehighton, and Palmerton area homes within the Palmerton Area School District.About 1,800 people were expected to get their solicitation as part of their quarterly sewage and water bill from the borough.Additional donation forms available at the three banks in town, the Palmerton Area Library, and the Palmerton Memorial Pool.Anyone who would like to contribute may mail their donations to Holiday Lighting Committee, 410 Delaware Ave. Palmerton, PA 18071.Those who send in a donation will receive a thank-you letter.The lights around the park along Delaware Avenue are expected to be ready by Christmas 2014.At a Palmerton Chamber luncheon in March, Federanich said the borough would like to have new Christmas decorations throughout its downtown by 2014.The town committee was formed to pick the decorations, and help raise money to afford them.Palmerton Area Chamber of Commerce President Peter Kern said the original decorations were put up in the 1990s, and refurbished about 10 years ago.The next meeting of the Christmas in the Park committee will be held at 6 p.m. Wednesday, Nov. 20, at the home of O'Neill.A joint meeting of both committees will be held Dec. 3 at borough hall.