Trees and music light up Mingo Junction
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MINGO JUNCTION -- Village officials and longtime residents can't recall exactly when Mingo Junction began its tree-lighting tradition for Christmas, but the tradition has stood the test of time, with this year's Light-Up Night on Monday night.
"Since I've been mayor for eight years, Memorial Day and Christmas Light-up Night have been the best -- I look forward to them," said Mingo Junction Mayor Ed Fithen during the tree-lighting ceremony.
Fithen thanked all those who came to support the event, as well as those who contributed to making the event possible: village employees, local businesses and the Mingo Junction service, fire and police departments.
Preceding Fithen in the ceremony was the Pledge of Allegiance. Afterward was a performance of "The Star-Spangled Banner" sung by Bobby Pizzoferrato, local volunteer and bassist for the band Wild Cherry, and accompanied by the Indian Creek High School Marching Band.
The Rev. Sam Davis, pastor of Harmony Church, led an opening prayer, remarking, "I always try to remind (people) why we are celebrating Christmas. It's because our lord and savior Jesus Christ came and was born, and we are celebrating that birth."
Village Administrator Bob Smith was the master of ceremonies for the night. He and Fithen will be ending their official tenure with the village come January.
Smith reflected on the past eight years of his time as village administrator, saying, "I love this town, (and) I think we've done quite a bit." Smith encouraged all youth in attendance to be nice to each other, especially in light of "hatred" present on social media.
The Hills Elementary School Choir, decked in festive headgear, performed holiday musical selections, including "Frosty the Snowman," "Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer," "Up on the Housetop" and "We Wish You a Merry Christmas."
The Indian Creek band -- referred to by Fithen as "the best band in Buckeye Land" -- performed musical selections. Members wore stocking caps, and some had their instruments wrapped in tinsel or Christmas lights.
Following a rendition of "Christmas (Baby Please Come Home)" by Pizzoferrato, Dr. William Johns lit the tree after a countdown. Johns, a local physician who has served the village for 46 years, thanked God, his wife and those in attendance for the "privilege" to light the tree.
A 1963 Mingo Junction High School graduate, Johns said later that the village's tree-lighting tradition has been going on for as long as he can remember, a sentiment shared by Fithen. The tree-lighting ceremony used to occur farther down Commercial Street, Fithen said, but was moved to the green space next to the municipal building around eight years ago.
The ceremony closed with a fireworks display sponsored by Schuetz Funeral Home. All the while, Santa Claus walked amid the crowd and interacted with kids.
Visitors to the ceremony could grab cookies and doughnuts from a table provided by Schuetz Funeral Home or hot chocolate from the Bay Six Project. Inside the municipal building, members of the St. Agnes Women's Club gave away free salt dough ornaments to kids.
Four-year-old Charlie Givens, daughter of a village firefighter, said her favorite part of Light Up Night was the songs. A Hills Elementary student, Givens said she would like to sing with the school choir someday. Givens was accompanied by her grandmother, Penny Moore, who said she enjoyed the fireworks the most.