© Stuart CahillSeason's Gnawings: Braintree Mayor Joseph Sullivan is determined that the town’s Christmas tree light show will go on despite the efforts of squirrels who have been chewing through wires of lights strung through trees on the town hall mall.
The yuletide buzz-killers managed to chew through wires on lights strung on four of the eight trees on the town hall mall.
But fear not, Braintree, said a defiant Mayor Joseph Sullivan: "We will have Christmas lights on the town hall mall, despite the squirrels' desire to thwart Christmas lights in Braintree."
The ceremony was supposed to take place tomorrow, but when the lights were tested earlier this week, town officials learned the wires had been gnawed and some of the bulbs would not work.
Installed last year, the lights had been left on the trees all year to save money. But Sullivan said he won't make that mistake again.
The lights will be taken down after the holidays this year, he said. Replacement lights, which will cost a couple thousand dollars, have been ordered and are expected to arrive next week.
The lighting has been rescheduled for 4 p.m. Dec. 12.
"We're not going to let the squirrels ruin our Christmas," he said.
Gnaw...