Peters Township kicks off holiday season at new location
Harry Funk/The Almanac
Visiting with Santa and Mrs. Claus during the kickoff event are sisters McKenna, left, and Hayley Hindman.
Harry Funk/The Almanac
Marsha Smith certainly is dressed for the occasion.
Harry Funk/The Almanac
From left are Brynn Blystone, Wells Blystone, and sisters Julianna, Sophia and Isabella Mezhinsky.
Harry Funk/The Almanac
Representing Peters Township Public Library are, from left, Linda Esposito, children’s librarian; Shannon Pauley, head of youth services; Lacey Love, library director; and Illyanna Logan, assistant director.
Recreation supervisor Lisa Morris works with her son Aidan on a letter to Santa.
Recreation supervisor Kristen Martin has a smile for guests at the kickoff event.
Greeting guests for participation in activities by Peters Township Fire Department are firefighter Sherri Bayer, left, and friend Amanda Kuss.
Josie Jeglinski works on her letter to Santa.
Sisters Theresa, left, and Elizabeth Kosir are ready to celebrate the holidays.
Brynn Blystone is ready for her first Christmas.
Julianna Mezhinsky is dressed nicely for the holidays.
Luke Barry receives fire extinguisher instruction from paramedic and firefighter Richard Colaizzi.
Deuce Sweeney visits with Santa and Mrs. Claus.
Harry Funk/The Almanac
Cylvia Feigelstein shows her letter to Santa.
Sparky the Fire Dog was created for the National Fire Protection Association in 1951 and has been the organization’s official mascot and spokesdog ever since.
Unlike a certain Nazareth inn a couple of millennia ago, there was plenty of room at the Peters Township Community Recreation Center.
The township’s Holiday Kick-Off Event changed locations this year, switching from the public library and allowing for greater capacity.
“In December of 2020 with the COVID pandemic still in full swing, we wanted to provide something for the community to kick off the holidays,” parks and recreation director Michele Harmel said. “But with restrictions in place, an in-person event just wasn’t possible.”
Instead, her department and the library organized a drive-through event for members of the community to get some goodies, see Santa and Mrs. Claus, and drop off letters bound for the North Pole.
“It was a nice event. But in 2021, with the restrictions lifted, we really wanted to offer an in-person event,” Harmel said. “Because COVID is still a concern, we wanted to do it with less congestion than what our normal tree-lighting event would generate.”
Along with providing sufficient space at the community recreation center, the organizers set up pre-registration for participants to arrive at different times.
“The event provided visits with Santa and Mrs. Clause, games, a craft, a selfie station and refreshments,” Harmel said. “It was a great way for the community to kick-off the holiday season.”
In addition, members of Peters Township Fire Department were on hand to provide various activities to encourage safety during the holidays and throughout the year. Plus library staff members greeted guests with seasonal reading material for youngsters.
And speaking of the library, visitors can see the traditional lit-up tree outside of the building, just as in years past.