By Mark Bialczak

LPL Communications Specialist

The displays are brightly ablaze for the vehicles snaking through Onondaga Lake Park for Lights on the Lake nightly, not to mention the throngs of thousands that took to the trail by foot on the opening traditions of the free-admission Stroll and Dog Walk last week, crowding the village of Liverpool streets from the Onondaga Lake Parkway entrance on the east right to Willow Bay at the west.

Turkey and other delicacies of choice get served for families and friends who give thanks this weekend for what the past year has given them and each other.And the cold settles in outside as the holiday season warms our insides.

At the Liverpool Public Library, the Mitten Tree goes up to help spread that comfort. Two Mitten Trees, in fact.

The official start date of the annual drive to place new mittens, gloves, hats and scarves first under one of the pair of holiday trees and then on to families in the community who need them is Thursday, Dec. 1. But usually the assembly of the trees starts the Friday after Thanksgiving, when the library is open and welcomes all.

One goes up in the main room. The Liverpool Community Chorus proudly sponsors the Mitten Tree in the Carman Community Room.

At the end of the drive on Sunday, Dec. 18, all items collected will be donated to St. Joseph the Worker Church’s Food Pantry in Liverpool. Workers there will make sure they go to deserving folks.

Last year set a record for Mitten Tree program donations at the LPL, with 305 items collected: 40 sets of hats, 68 hats, 112 pairs of gloves or mittens, 12 head bands, two pairs of socks and 33 scarves. That’s an admirable and lofty goal for this year.

While in the spirit, by the way, don’t forget that the big, wrapped box by the security desk in the main room is the drop-off point for new, unwrapped toys for the Christmas Bureau Toy Drive organized by the Salvation Army. Gifts for infants through teens are being accepted at the LPL through Thursday, Dec. 8.