N.J. councilwoman resigns over ‘exclusionary’ Christmas tree lighting

ROSELLE PARK, N.J. (AP) — A New Jersey city council’s decision to add the word “Christmas” to the name of its tree-lighting ceremony prompted one council member to step down because it “turned it from a non-religious event to a religious one”. She later submitted her letter of resignation to the municipal clerk’s office.

Storey stated she regretted having to resign still referred to as the difficulty a matter of precept.

Storey, who grew up Catholic but now considers herself a “non-believer”, said the four people who voted to change the name are Christians active in their churches.

Hokanson says each municipality can pick its own title.

Roselle Park News reports that Storey is receiving backlash for her views, but the former councilwoman explained that it has nothing to do with being politically correct, but more so to do with the city excluding others.

According to NJ.com (http://bit.ly/1PLxONo ), Mayor Carl Hokanson reached out to Storey.

Storey and Hokanson said a misunderstanding between them before this week’s council meeting led to each feeling blindsided at the session.

“So I find it hard to accept that to them, a “Christmas” tree is a secular tree”, she wrote. The official name of the ceremony taking place was a “holiday tree” lighting ceremony – that is what it has been called for the last 20 years.

Wayne Henson, advertising manager at Holdridge Home and Garden Showplace in Ledyard, said he is expecting a good Christmas tree season for both fresh-cut and live trees.

The body voted 4-2 Thursday night to change the name of the town’s tree unveiling ceremony from “Annual Holiday Tree Lighting” to “Annual Christmas Tree Lighting”. “For 64 years of my life, it was a Christmas tree”.

Although the new coffee cup design was meant to keep the holiday season pure and simple, former pastor Joshua Feuerstein took offense to the plain cups and accused Starbucks of removing “Christmas from their cups because they hate Jesus”.