By ANN WERTMAN

Special to The Press

Charlie Brown and gang have come to visit the New Tripoli area as the theme for a totally new display along Route 100, Lowhill Township.

The larger-than-life array is nurtured by the loving hands of Phil Rossetto and Greg Snider, the community’s seasonal purveyors of roadside fun and beauty for the last decade.

Although the highly anticipated Christmas display is in place, all will sadly miss the brilliantly lit 10 trees lining the entrance and driveway this year as “lighting engineer” Snider recently suffered a shoulder injury and was not be able to add this glow to compliment Rossetto’s artistry.

The display is based on the animated special “A Charlie Brown Christmas,” which first aired in 1965, and is now considered a classic beloved by the many generations who annually gather to honor this childhood custom every Christmas Season.

“It was a bit of a struggle reproducing this final scene of “A Charlie Brown Christmas,” Rossetto explained. “In doing so, I reaffirmed my opinion that Charles Schultz was a genius.

“If a line is drawn incorrectly, a nose is not in the right place, or eyes are ‘off,’ the character looks nothing like the original.

“An example would be Pigpen. Moving around the 4-foot by 8-foot sheet of Masonite was no easy task as most of the painting had to be in the studio because of temperature fluctuations.

“I was so convinced that the display would be finished in a week, however, it took over a month to accomplish.”

While viewing the enjoyable Charlie Brown and gang, why not add a sing-along of these lyrics, still so very timely after these 55-plus years.

Christmas Time Is Here

Christmas time is here

Happiness and cheer

Fun for all that children call

Their favorite time of the year

Snowflakes in the air

Carols everywhere

Olden times and ancient rhymes

Of love and dreams to share

Sleigh bells in the air

Beauty everywhere

Yuletide by the fireside

And joyful memories there

Christmas time is here

We’ll be drawing near

Oh, that we could always see

Such spirit through the year

Oh, that we could always see

Sarah McLachlan