Sandy Stoddard was impressed with the community-wide gathering at the Tree Lighting Ceremony Monday in Ripon.

The Director of Marketing & Development for the Hospice of San Joaquin noticed folks bundled up on this brisk evening – 45 degrees, according to the local forecast – from the porch of the Ripon Historical Society Veterans Museum.

“At least it didn’t rain,” said Stoddard prior to the 14th annual event that was also made possible by the City of Ripon, the Ripon Chamber of Commerce, PG&E, and, of course, the Hospice of San Joaquin.

According to Lisa Blanco Jimenez, who is a board member for the Hospice of SJ, each light strung together on the large Christmas tree at the corner of First Street and South Locust Avenue represented someone special.

“It honored the memory of a loved one,” she said, adding the Tree Lighting Ceremony is about “hope, love, and the remembrance.”

The event also kicked the holiday season with the Ripon High choir and RHS band performing Christmas carols.

“It’s awesome to see the (large) attendance at this event,” said Mayor Daniel de Graaf.

Chamber CEO and President Kelly Donohue added that the Tree Lighting Ceremony brings out the “Ripon spirit.”

With that, Miss Ripon Emme Wibur had the honor of pulling the switch to brighten up the large Christmas tree.

The Hospice of SJ will continue its eight-city stop Wednesday in Manteca.

The 32nd annual Tree of Lights Ceremony will once again be held at Doctors Hospital of Manteca beginning at 5:30 p.m. in front the towering evergreen at the corner of Cottage Avenue and East North Street.