A "hope" sign and a few of the luminaries that lined a
mile-long stretch of Route 10 in
Posted: Saturday, November 10, 2012 8:56 pm
Laurie
Rich Salerno
This is the church in which the
Petit family was active, before three of them were killed in a 2007 home
invasion. And though the lighting event was created eight years ago in one
neighborhood to help various charities, it has now expanded and become
identified with the Petit family. A portion of the
proceeds go to the family’s foundation.
“That’s why we continue to do it — to remember the
family,” said Kim Erickson, who organized the church’s effort this year. She was
standing in the middle of a large heart with a cross in it formed by luminaries
on the green in front of the church on
The church is not far from the mile-long stretch of
Route 10 that on Saturday night was lined with luminaries, flickering candles in
paper bags, lighting the way for a caravan of cars driving slowly to take in the
spectacle.
This year, about 200 volunteers spent the afternoon
setting up and lighting more than 13,000 candles residents and others had
purchased for a $10 or $12 donation each, according to Don Walsh, who created
the event with his wife Jennifer and runs it each year. The event started at
noon at Cheshire High School with entertainment, refreshments and luminary
sales, and the official kick-off started at 2 p.m. Candles, most placed earlier
in the day, were nearly all lit between 4 and 5 p.m.
This year Lights of Hope donated $11,000 each to the
Cheshire Community Food Pantry, Cheshire Youth and Social Services and the Petit
Family Foundation, which acts as a grant maker for various local and national
organizations as well as academic awards in the memory of Jennifer Hawke-Petit
and Hayley and Michaela Petit.
Lights of Hope also awarded its yearly $2,500
scholarship to Michael Thomas, who was raised in
“He went above and beyond what most people do,” Walsh
said. “He’s a great kid.”
Overall, Walsh said, he was pleased with the turnout
this year.
“More young people participated in this year than ever
before,” Walsh said, “That’s what we’re shooting for.”
Evan Cohen, who was surrounded by children helping to
light the candles on the front of Temple Beth David on Route 10, said the
synagogue was participating for its second year, donating enough for 250
candles. Next year the goal is 300, he said. Last year there were
200.
“We definitely had more turnout
this year — I hope that this continues for years to come,” Cohen said. “It’s
absolutely beautiful. I can’t wait to drive down Route
10.”
Erickson said she’d come back late at night when the
crowds had left, as the candles will often burn past
midnight.
“It’s just so peaceful,” she said.
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