Lifelong Parryville resident and borough Councilman Kevin Greenzweig remembers growing up in town during a time when neighbors knew each other's names and said hello.

Greenzweig said that nostalgia motivated the small group of residents to create the first Parryville community tree lighting to be held at 5 p.m. Saturday."I thought it could get people together and get to know each other," he said.The event will begin at noon on Center Street. Residents will be able to bring ornaments to hang on the tree next to the borough hall.Highlights include a Santa visit, refreshments and holiday music.A sound system will be set up to provide a soundtrack during the decorating in the afternoon.A local singer will lead the crowd in a round of a cappella Christmas carols while awaiting the arrival of Mr. Claus.The idea for the holiday celebration, "came up at the November meeting, but the council shot it down because of the politics and religion thing. So I just decided to do it," Greenzweig said.Community members have volunteered to bring homemade baked goods to the early evening celebration. Coffee, hot chocolate and cider will be on hand to warm the crowd while the Parryville Volunteer Fire Company will have its funnel cake cart on the spot making its sugared confection for the community to purchase."It's just thrown together by a few people. If it's well-attended, we will do another one next year," Greenzweig said.Fedor's Farm donated the evergreen that was raised and covered in more than 1,300 twinkle lights on Sunday. Since this is the first event, decorations for the tree are being made and scraped together by residents.The councilman constructed blank ornaments from PVC for residents to decorate and hang on the community tree."I made 85 and about half are already gone. Anyone can take one to decorate and hang on the tree, or bring their own."The handcrafted bases are free and available to be picked up at the Parryville Post Office before the lighting."I'll make more to have on hand Saturday if they are gone," Greenzweig said.According to Greenzweig, residents are excited for the first town holiday celebration."No one's ever done this before," he said.The Saturday afternoon community get-together will start at noon on Center Street next to the borough hall building.