Norwood Banishes ‘Grinch’

Tradition of Crèche on Town Green Will Continue

By Jennifer Payer
December 2001

At a time when many are questioning the possibility of happy endings, the Norwood Town Selectmen have restored the notion that they do still exist.

For as long as most citizens can remember (some say 60 years, while others put it at 80 years), the Town of Norwood has displayed two holiday crèches on town property.

One has been displayed in South Norwood at the Balch School. The other has been tucked away in an alcove at the Town Hall. They have always been a small part of the town’s holiday decorations, not the focus.

Thanks to the Board of Selectmen, the tradition will continue. The only change will be a technical one.

Grinch Comes to Town

However, in the best of holiday traditions, there has been a “Grinch” on the scene.

This past fall, the sallow, carping, miscreant lawyers at the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) threatened legal action against the town if they continue the tradition.

No such action has been instituted, but the demand from the Grinch/ACLU has sparked fevered debate in this small community.

Chairman Lee responded to the threats from the Grinch by stating, “The ACLU is not a government-sanctioned entity. People walk around like the ACLU is a court of higher authority. It is a political action committee that is contributed to by its donors and pushes the agendas of its donors. The ACLU is not a government entity.” Lee also remarked that he didn’t take kindly to those threats and he did not want to be bullied by the Grinch on this holiday.

Rally Against Grinch

Private citizens also rallied against the Grinch. The Norwood Christmas Crèche Committee was formed by local citizens, Sandy and Dennis Drummey, to represent the majority of citizens in the town who are in favor of the traditional holiday display.

The Committee submitted a letter to the Selectmen on October 21, 2001 to petition for the right to display the crèches as a private group, thus assuming responsibility for the crèche displays and “freeing the town from any litigation or liability.”

According to Drummey, the committee gathered, in only nine days, the signatures of 1121 Norwood citizens who support the traditional displays.

Citizens responded in enthusiastic numbers, spilling into the hallways and stairwells of the Town Hall, while straining to hear the outcome of the October 30 Selectmen’s meeting. In fact, it was remarked that such meetings rarely ever attract this type of attention or this abundant number of spectators. The overwhelming majority in attendance were in fervent support of the Crèche Committee and the holiday displays.

Selectman Timothy McDonough made a motion to declare the town-owned crèches as surplus to be donated to four local, tax-exempt charities. The four local churches named in the motion agreed to assume responsibility for the crèches and assist any private citizen groups in displaying them. During the debate over the McDonough motion, Chairman Lee stated, “It seems for years the tide has been to take God and religion out of our public places, out of our buildings and out of our society. Thank God I see that finally stopping. I see the tide is slowly turning.” He continued by stating, “It’s okay to acknowledge God in our society. It’s okay to petition God in our time of crisis.”

Selectman Ryan, a proud veteran, remarked: “Once we got out of respecting the flag of the United States and also not respecting all religions, this country started to deteriorate. Thank God the country is getting back to the way it used to be.”

The board passed the motion unanimously. The crèches are to be turned over to the four churches. Selectman Plesko then motioned for the board to accept a permit application filed by the Norwood Christmas Crèche Committee to place the crèche on the Town Common. Again, the board passed the motion unanimously.

It was made clear by both the Board of Selectmen and Mr. Drummey that all groups are welcome to participate in the holiday displays on the town common. Anyone is free to submit a permit and place their own holiday symbols in the town. According to Selectman Donohue, “Norwood is inclusive rather than exclusive. We had all faiths represented at the Candlelight Ceremony on the common, all kinds of religions and that is what we strive for in Norwood, a respect for each other’s beliefs.”

To which everyone replied in the words of Tiny Tim, “God bless us everyone.”