WORKING TOGETHER — On Saturday morning, Ciara DiFonzo and her father, John, and several other members of the DiFonzo family unloaded figures that are part of the nativity they have set up each Christmas in front of the Millsop Community Center. -- Warren Scott

With the Christmas season drawing near, a family with ties to Weirton and two community groups based in Wellsburg volunteered their time Saturday morning to give their communities a festive, holiday look.

Several members of the DiFonzo family carried on a 47-year tradition by assembling a nativity in front of the Millsop Community Center.

Brothers Bob, a Steubenville resident, and John, who lives in Dover, worked together to assemble the wooden structure around which 20 life-size figures were placed.

They and other family members of various ages had carried the figures onto the site from a truck supplied by the Hancock County Laundry.

“We’re thankful to them for transporting everything and to Starvaggi Industries for storing it,” said Bob.

A FAMILY TRADITION — Members of the DiFonzo family have been bringing Christmas to life in Weirton for 47 years by setting up and maintaining the life-size nativity scene that stands in front of the Weirton Millsop Community Center on Main Street throughout the Christmas season. Those on hand for the setup of the display on Saturday were from left: Michaela and Cole Corbin and their, son Liam; Rhonda and Bob DiFonzo; Aiden Mills, Matt DiFonzo, John DiFonzo and Ciara DiFonzo. -- Contributed

He noted with this year, four generations of the family are involved.

They included Bob’s son, Matt; John’s daughter, Ciara; their nephew, Aiden Mills; and Cole Corbin, their niece’s husband.

Bob’s wife, Rhonda, arrived with doughnuts, coffee and cocoa to help warm everyone.

Bob added through the years the family has been aided by many friends, including Jim Watts, whose battle with cancer kept him from taking part this year.

“I’ve been doing this since I was 12,” said Bob, who noted his father, also named Bob, was serving as president of the Full Gospel Businessmen’s Association when he was approached to set up the nativity by the Weirton Jaycees, who had purchased it.

SETTING UP — Standing on ladders, John DiFonzo, left, and his brother, Bob, assembled the manger for the nativity the family places each Christmas in front of the Millsop Community Center while their nephew, Aiden Mills, and John’s daughter, Ciara, stand by to hand them any tools they need. They were among several members of the DiFonzo family involved with the task on Saturday. -- Warren Scott

He said since then each figure has been replaced thanks to donations from local businesses and city officials.

The family also has fine-tuned the project, marking the manger’s wooden sections to guide them in its assembly and attaching double-plated three-fourth-inch plywood bases to each figure to secure them against the elements.

Bob said about 25 years ago, the strong winds of a severe storm blew down the manger, but it wasn’t damaged.

He confirmed the figures of Mary, Joseph and other participants in the first Christmas are more than 5 feet tall, but some of the animal figures are heavier.

“The camels are definitely the heaviest, about 50 to 60 pounds,” he said.

A TEAM EFFORT — Gary Kerns, standing, and Carl Nixon, kneeling, set up a snowman decoration at Wellsburg’s Central Park with help from Kerns’ sons, Noah, left, and Lucas. They were among many volunteers with the Brooke County Family Support Center and Cub Scout Pack 1553. -- Warren Scott

Towering above the nativity is a new holiday feature outside the community center: A 31-foot artificial Christmas tree that with its star, stands just shy of 40 feet.

City Parks Director Coty Shingle said the tree’s 10 three-foot sections were assembled under the direction of Public Works Director Allen Hess, and 5,000 LED lights, 800 Christmas bulbs and a few hundred artificial poinsettias were applied, with about another 150 decorations to be added.

Shingle said the star, comprised of many light bulbs, was created by city electrician Scott Marshall.

“The public works department is vital to this,” said Brandy Brock, assistant to Mayor Harold Miller.

She noted city crews also put together the 23-foot Christmas tree at the center of the light-up ceremony held recently at the city’s north end.

Brock said the trees were purchased through a $75,000 allocation by City Council that also will support inflatable attractions, mini train rides and other free activities for children to be held during the Weirton Christmas on Main event from noon to 7 p.m. Saturday.

“Mayor Miller and council didn’t want families to have to pay for any of the activities,” said Brock.

The event will include the lighting of the new tree by the community center.

Shingle said city crews soon will be adding another familiar decoration near the community center: The 20-foot-tall Santa Claus that has helped the city to welcome in the Christmas season.

He said in the past, the immense figure has been lifted into place by a crane supplied by James White Construction.

But he said in more recent years, city crews have been able to employ a high-lift, backhoe and bucket truck to perform the task without having to close part of Main Street.

Shingle expressed thanks to the DiFonzos for their role in decorating the city for the holiday.

About the same time in Wellsburg, Christmas lights were being strung around several trees at Central Park by members of Cub Scout Pack 1553 and Boy Scout Troop 737 and families recruited by the Brooke County Family Support Center.

Located in the former Wellsburg Middle School and operated by the Brooke-Hancock Family Resource Network, the center offers various activities and informational programs for families.

Brittany Kuhn, its interim director, said Mayor Dan Dudley asked if she could arrange for volunteers to decorate the park.

“He really wanted to get the kids involved,” she said, adding about 20 families answered her call for help.

“All of the lights went up pretty fast,” she said of the effort, which also involved placing a few other Christmas decorations around the park and its brick-paved center, which includes a handful of benches.

“We would love to make this a holiday tradition,” said Kuhn.

The volunteers were treated to doughnuts and cocoa for their efforts.