E Valley Photo
Derby’s tree lighting in 2004 was organized by volunteers on the city’s cultural commission, according to a post on The Electronic Valley.
DERBY — The city’s off-again/on-again Christmas tree lighting ceremony is now scheduled for 6 p.m. Friday, Dec. 3.
Technically it’s a re-lighting, as the tree on the Derby Green was illuminated without fanfare earlier this month.
The annual tree lighting had been scheduled for Nov. 26, but the city canceled it three days prior, citing COVID-19.
After a few local media reports and some negative social media posts, Mayor Rich Dziekan’s office issued a statement Friday night (Nov. 26) saying the event hadn’t been canceled, but postponed.
The new, Friday tree lighting was recently added to the city’s events calendar.
Traditionally in Derby, the city’s cultural commission — a group of volunteers — plays a key role in organizing events such as the annual tree lighting. But the cultural commission does not have as many active members as it did 10 years ago. On the city’s website, there’s no record of the group meeting since February. COVID-19 is also impacting the group.
This Friday’s ceremony is being arranged by the mayor’s office and Marc Garofalo, the city/town clerk.
Dziekan was quoted in The Connecticut Post as saying the decision to hold the event was made after he saw that other communities were holding tree-lighting ceremonies.
The Derby event is outdoors. In general, the CDC recommends wearing masks in situations such as crowded outdoor events where COVID-19 cases are high, or at crowded outdoor events with a lot of unvaccinated people. Click here for more info.
The most recent Derby tree lightings were lightly attended.
Derby’s had 40 positive COVID-19 cases between Nov. 7 and Nov. 20, according to the weekly report from the state. That gives Derby a per capita rate of 23.2, which puts it, along with the entire Naugatuck Valley except for Beacon Falls, in the state’s red zone.
At that level of transmission, people are encouraged to wear masks indoors and to avoid close contact while attending outdoor events.
Derby’s per capita rate is up from August, when the rate was 15.6.
According to info from the state, 88 percent of Derby’s population has received at least one COVID-19 vaccination shot. That is the highest percentage in the Naugatuck Valley.
Griffin Health offers a vaccination center at 10 Progress Drive in Shelton. No appointments are needed. It is open from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. on weekdays and on Saturday from 7 a.m. to 12 p.m.
The same location offers COVID-19 shots for kids ( ages 5 to 11) Mondays and Wednesdays from 4 p.m. to 7 p.m., and at the Griffin Health Occupational Medicine Center (also at 10 Progress Drive in Shelton) on Saturdays from 9 a.m. until 12 p.m.
