News Release
For Release: Immediate
Contact: Frank Baraff 914-469-3775

Mayor Hawkins launches “Home for the Holidays” campaign to encourage holiday shopping and dining in Orange and strengthen local economy.

On Tuesday, November 24th, Orange held its annual Holiday Extravaganza and Tree Lighting at Military Commons on Main Street. The festive event featured performances by the band and chorus of Orange High School as well as dance selections and improvisation by the High Class Theater Group, Orange Middle School Dance Ensemble, and Luna Stage.

At 6:30pm, holiday lights were turned on at Main Street, Central Avenue and Scotland Road stores and on a beautiful 27 foot Christmas tree donated by Dean Farro of PavCon Construction.

This year’s tree lighting was the official launch of “Home for the Holidays,” a campaign to encourage holiday shopping in Orange and the first event in a series of projects designed to strengthen Orange’s shopping districts. The holiday campaign, sponsored by Orange’s Urban Economic Zone (UEZ) features a Sweepstakes with entries available at local restaurants and businesses, senior discounts on Wednesdays and promotion of the 50% savings on sales tax at UEZ merchants and restaurants. The sweepstakes prizes include a 42” home theater system, diamond stud earrings, Xbox and Wii gaming systems, a laptop computer and iPod Touch.

Information about “Home for the Holidays” can be found at www.shoporange.org.

Statement by Mayor Eldridge Hawkins, Jr.

“I am very proud of all the participants in this year’s tree lighting ceremony and I hope that both residents and non-residents of Orange take advantage of our "Home for the Holidays Program" and shop our UEZ areas for this holiday season. In doing so not only will they support our local economy but they will also have the opportunity to enter to win great prizes.

Despite a dismal economy and unprecedented budget pressures, Orange has initiated a bold plan to stimulate economic growth. At a time when other communities are struggling to simply not lose ground, we are implementing a long term plan to attract shoppers back into the business districts and help local businesses survive and grow.

Our plan focuses on five key areas: helping our businesses survive the recession: making the downtown areas more safe, attractive and appealing; making it easier for visitors to find stores and parking; actively recruiting new businesses; and enticing shoppers to visit downtown stores more often,”

Statement by Valerie Jackson, Director of Planning and Development

"I am so excited about our 2nd Annual Holiday Extravaganza and Tree Lighting Ceremony. We had about 200 people that included children, seniors, residents, merchants and developers. The entertainment was amazing. Much thanks to the High Class Theater Group, Luna Stage, Orange High School Band, Orange High School Chorus, Orange Middle School Dance Ensemble, O.R.N.G. Ink, and many more. We all came together to kick off the holiday season.

Despite the worst economic conditions since the great depression, businesses continue to thrive in Orange. New businesses are opening. Our shopping areas are very active and we only have a few vacant stores on Main Street. One of the reasons for our success is strong citizen involvement in working for a better commu­nity including the Orange Main Street Organization working with the City to revitalize our downtown. Our streets are cleaner and our Quality of Life Task Force is making businesses aware of our high standards for maintenance and upkeep.

You can contribute to the revitalization of Orange by shopping downtown. Buy local! When you shop or dine at an Urban Economic Zone, you pay 50% less in sales tax, and all of the remaining sales tax goes to improve our business areas.”