Local residents gathered around the Christmas tree on the court green on Friday evening for the annual Mathews Community Tree Lighting. The program included music from Lynda Smith and David Shuber, as well as the Salem United Methodist Church Children’s Choir, under the direction of Amy Shaw. Some of the children performing included, front row from left: Anna Foster, Morgan Sterne, McKinley Wiatt, Lettie Hughes, Colten Sadler; second row, Hannah Davis, Sam Tomcany, Thomas Foster, Michael Alexander Wiatt; back row, Seth James, John Stephen Shaw, Andrew Greve and Ray Hudgins. The theme of this year’s tree was “Art Through the Ages … With a Holiday Twist,” with Mathews High School art students providing specially made ornaments. ...