Tree-lighting ceremony continues to remember Crystal Beach woman

The community will come together on November 30 to ring in the holiday season in Crystal Beach, but to also remember a local woman who has been the focus of an annual event for about 15 years.

Cindy (Sophiee) McCooey-Little died in 2009 and her family has been organizing a tree-lighting ceremony since then, starting with a three-foot blue spruce that was planted at Queen’s Circle and has now grown 30 feet tall, her mother Diane Nowicki told Fort Erie Radio.

Cindy was 50 years old when she died and the annual event brings out about 100 of her friends each year, said Diane.

The event takes place at 5 p.m., and has been a collaboration between the family and Advancing Crystal Beach in recent years.

Karen Dobson, co-president of the non-profit organization said the partnership was formed with Diane and Tom Nowicki under the leadership of former president Orma Bleeks.

It’s become a “great community event” the last few holiday seasons, and will feature carolers from John Brant Public School and free hot chocolate.

Dobson said two young men, Kyle Fisher-King and Jacob Shirley, donated their time with a lift to make sure the tree can be illuminated in full by stringing lights to the top of the 30-foot tree at Queen’s Circle, which hasn’t been the case in recent years.

Non-perishable food items will be collected at the event for Community Outreach Program Erie (COPE), an organization Cindy volunteered with.

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