History was made in Hamlin on December 9 when Ryan and Erin Moses lit the tree at the town's first annual tree lighting ceremony sponsored by The Friends of the Hamlin Public Library. Ryan, 12, and Erin, 9, won the coveted position that evening in a drawing to determine the lucky tree lighter. While each child in attendance received a chance to light the tree, both brother and sister increased their chances through near daily visits to the Hamlin Public Library. In the weeks prior to the event, every child who checked out a book received an additional ticket for the drawing. Setting sibling rivalry aside for the evening, Ryan and Erin chose to light the tree together.

Activities had begun earlier in the afternoon in the library with the reading of The Polar Express and an ornament making session for children. The tree was then decorated with ornaments donated by local families, businesses, and organizations. Everyone was invited to participate in the decorating of Hamlin's Tree of Names by bringing an ornament with their name on it. All donors were recorded and will be listed in the official Tree of Names registry to be added to with each subsequent year.

The lighting program featured the St. John's Lutheran Church Handbell Choir, readings by local writer Cynthia Brone, popular holiday music from an ensemble group, and soloist Tammy Wright. Santa and Mrs. Claus made a grant entrance arriving by fire truck and led the crowd in a few carols.

But the events of that day are only part of the story. The activities leading up to the tree lighting are a set of stories within a story.

The idea for the tree lighting ceremony originated with the group of graduate students from a SUNY Brockport public relations class who had chosen the Friends of the Hamlin Public Library as the not-for-profit organization they would create a campaign for as its final project. Friends President Nancy Jennejahn and Hamlin Town Supervisor Austin Warner III were enthusiastic about the idea. Warner gave the students the name of a town resident who wanted to donate a tree, a 40-foot blue spruce. John Wortman thought it was a fitting send off for the tree that used to block the front of his house. Ironically, Scott White, who was sent to down it, had planted the tree many years before when he had lived in the house. With less than three weeks to bring the plan to fruition, a truly collaborative effort took place. The graduate students honed the idea, the Friends supplied the legwork, local businesses stepped forward to help, a stage was borrowed from the Town of Parma, and the Hamlin Highway Department - with assistance from crews from the Town of Clarkson and the Village of Brockport - delivered the tree. With teamwork the plan developed and the pieces began to fit together. "It was proof that it was meant to be," commented Jennejahn.

It was a sentiment heard repeatedly among the crowd of approximately 150 gathered for the festivities. As the small group of Friends stood in the aftermath, a realization of their success was best summed up by Friends Secretary Linda DeLaura who said, "We just made history. In fact, we've made history twice this year!" DeLaura was referring to the opening of the library itself.

The tree lighting is the first of many events the Friends hope to implement in upcoming years as they strive to make the Hamlin Public Library live up to its expectations as a community institution and create greater community involvement and unity.