The Christmas season has officially arrived in Brookhaven aftersome hard work by local volunteers – much like the holiday becomesofficial in homes when the tree is put up.

Kenny Goza said organizers were extremely pleased with thedecorating turnout. He helped orchestrate Saturday’s effort todeocrate the downtown area and bring volunteers out to add holidayspice to the city.

“We really appreciated everyone turning out,” said Goza. “We had alot of fun, and they did a great job.”

Between 15-20 volunteers showed up at 8 a.m. Saturday to put lightson trees in the planters downtown, decorate Railroad Park and deckthe halls at the Chamber of Commerce.

“It all went great,” said Goza. “We had a great turnout ofvolunteers and because of that, in an hour and a half we werealmost done.”

Vernell Hooker, of Brookhaven, was one of a group of severalvolunteers who worked their way through downtown, using zip ties toattach strands of lights to trees in the planters.

“I was asked to come do this by a friend, but I’ve been in the moodfor Christmas since Nov. 1,” he said.

Goza said the volunteers were from all areas of the community. EvenChristmas Parade Grand Marshal Homer Richardson was in a group ofvolunteers stringing lights along Cherokee Street.

“This is just great, because so many people dedicate so much timeto getting the city ready for Christmas,” he said.

And those people dedicate the time, Goza said, not only becauseChristmas is a time of giving, but because last year’s decorationsinstilled a feeling of community pride in Brookhaven residents.

“I think it’s community spirit, because they see how great it waslast year and they want to be a part of the effort this year,” hesaid. “I think everyone realized the effort the mayor and cityboard has put into improving the community’s Christmas spirit.After last year was so well done people wanted to be a part ofit.”

This year was the first year citizens were invited to volunteer tohelp. Brookhaven’s J.J. Henderson said while the decorations reallyboosted her holiday mood, it was also a neat time to interact withother area residents.

“We were talking to Mr. Homer (Richardson), and he was telling usbrief histories on the different areas where we were as we weredoing the lights,” she said. “That’s part of what’s great aboutBrookhaven, everyone knows everyone and you can have a good timejust working with other people from here.”

Goza said the fun might not be over, either. For anyone who wantedto help with the decorating, plans might be in the works tocontinue the efforts once the season is over.

“We were talking, and we will probably have a volunteer day to takedown everything, too,” he said. “Just a day of cleaning and puttingeverything back up.”

And he said the numbers and enthusiasm of the group who turned outfor Saturday’s decorating extravaganza show the community spiritthat makes Brookhaven special.

“It speaks volumes for our community that volunteers turn out likethat,” he said. “There’s just a really strong community spirithere.”