Bennington will produce the focal point of next year's Capitol Lighting Ceremony.

Saturday, December 9
BENNINGTON — The 2006 Capital Christmas Tree Lighting Ceremony in Washington D.C. took place in front of the Capitol Building on Wednesday, and there were at least two Bennington representatives on hand.

Joann Erenhouse and Lindy Lynch were at the tree lighting ceremony to take notes for next year's celebration, which will be produced by Bennington - a fourth-time honor for the city. Previous years include 1967, 1980 and 1994.

Erenhouse said the city will provide the 60-foot tall main tree, along with companion trees. The main tree will come from the Green Mountain National Forest - which is celebrating its 75th anniversary next year — and groups from across the state will be helping out with the event.

"Lindy and I have been going to the 2007 capitol tree meetings with the Forest Service," Erenhouse said. "We're trying to get people from across the state to have a vested interest in sending the tree."

This year's tree came from Washington state, and Erenhouse said the whole production was done very well. While in Washington D.C., Erenhouse and Lynch attended the tree-lighting ceremony in front of the Capitol Building, the reception afterwards in the botanical gardens, and took a tour of the city courtesy of Vermont Sen. Patrick Leahy's office.

"It was really good for us to see first-hand what's involved," Erenhouse said. "It was a terrific trip."

During the

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reception, Erenhouse had an opportunity to speak with a representative from Washington state to get a few pointers. According to Erenhouse, the representative didn't try to sugarcoat how much work is involved.

"She said 'we worked around the clock for six months,'" Erenhouse said. "I have to say that Washington did a fabulous job."

Erenhouse and Lynch were invited to the ceremony because they are involved with the 2007 U.S. Capitol Christmas Tree Committee here in Bennington. The group already has details for the celebration in the works, including organizing the antique Mack trucks that will be used to haul the trees, getting community members and students to create ornaments for the trees and organizing the reception and other events.

"We plan to do it real Vermont-style," Erenhouse said. "We're looking to bring the flavor of Vermont to the nation."

The Bennington committee consists of several community members, some of whom were involved in the last Vermont-led celebration in 1994. The committee estimates the whole production will cost approximately $90,000. That cost includes gas, lodging, food for volunteers and other costs such as creating memorabilia.

"We're all excited and trying to get all the pieces together; neither Lindy or I have done this before," Erenhouse said. "Making this is truly a gift from our state to the entire nation."

The main tree for next year's celebration is located somewhere in Bennington County - representatives will only say it's located in the Green Mountain National Forest. The tree's location will be kept a secret until its cut down next November.

Erenhouse said there will be plenty of fanfare leading up to the cutting date, and Bennington residents should keep their eyes open for fun events around town during the next year.

"The people of Bennington should look forward to lots of activities in town over the next year," Erenhouse said.

"If I have half as much fun at our reception as I had at this one, we'll be doing all right."