Residents cheered as the Christmas tree was lighted on Dec. 5 at the community center. The crowd was in the hundreds.
Deptford police officers ‘arrested’ the Grinch after he attempted to steal Christmas in the township. The moment went viral online.
Deptford officially ushered in the holiday season with its annual tree lighting at the recreation center on Dec. 5.
As hundreds of kids, adults and families confronted the cold, they counted down in unison and celebrated as the tree was set aglow by township leaders and Mr. and Mrs. Claus.
“It was so exciting,” Mayor Paul Medany said at the scene. “The kids loved it. The Deptford school choir is here and doing a fantastic job right now. Having Mr. and Mrs. Santa Claus come in was just very exciting. We gotta thank the police and fire department.”
The choir consisted of students from all of the township’s schools. The Clauses received an escort to the stage from both the fire and police department as children watched in anticipation. Buddy the Elf and the Grinch also were on hand.
In a moment that went viral on social media, the Grinch attempted to “steal” Santa’s bag of presents, only to be tackled to the ground and apprehended by officer Rickey Rodgers, a former high-school and college football player. The video also featured a live shot of several children reacting to the scene, including a small boy.
It has garnered 3,000 likes on Facebook.
“Okay, 2-year-old self would have freaked,” said Jennifer Coppola, a resident of Lindenwold. “But as a mom at 49 now, so cool. And that kid is absolutely precious.”
“Didn’t know Rickey could tackle like that – was clean, too,” observed township resident JC Pacis of Rodgers. “But hell of a kicker back in high school.”
The event also featured wagon rides in the fields surrounding the recreation center, a nativity scene with live animals, a fire pit to stay warm in the cold, a movie shown inside the center itself, light food and drinks and the chance to take photos with the Clauses.
“It’s just fantastic for the township council and the community,” Medany enthused. “It’s a community event; it brings in everybody. There’s hundreds of people here enjoying the Christmas. It’s the opening to the Christmas season, to the holiday season.”
