CHRISTMAS CHEER — Many volunteers have come together to decorate Main Street in Follansbee with Christmas wreaths they assembled at the Follansbee Community House. The group includes, from left, front: Linda Tomaino, Shelly Smith, Dee Boniey, Susan Barnes, Nancy Gerrard, Iris Ferrell and Paul Boniey; and back: Michele Neff and Bobbi Jean Brady. Led by Tomaino and Darlene “Dee” Boniey, the group solicited local businesses and residents for funds for materials for the wreaths, which were hung from streetlights by city crews. Maribeth Krzys also participated in the effort. -- Warren Scott

FOLLANSBEE — Many local residents, city officials and businesses are coming together to bring some holiday cheer to Main Street.

Nearly a dozen volunteers worked together to assemble the 100 festive wreaths hanging from streetlights along the street, while city officials have announced an event to celebrate the Christmas season’s arrival will be held from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m. Saturday outside the City Building at Main and Penn streets.

City Manager Chris Manack-Stover said the event will include a visit from Santa Claus, music from the Brooke Middle School Band, free cookies and crafts for children and food trucks.

The wreaths were suggested by Linda Tomaino and Darlene “Dee” Boniey, who had sought and received Follansbee Council’s blessing for the endeavor.

Deteriorating wiring for a number of Main Street’s streetlights has left them non-functioning and prevented the city’s traditional star-shaped Christmas decorations from being lighted.

Tomaino, Boniey and others set about soliciting donations from businesses and residents for the wreaths and banners at each end of the city expressing “Seasons’ Greetings” and wishing everyone “Peace, Love and Joy.”

Hoping to raise $4,500 for them, the group received $1,000 above that goal, said Tomaino.

“I’m so proud and so humbled,” she said.

Tomaino said while word of the project was spread through letters and social media, some donations were submitted soon after the couple appeared before council in August while some came from former residents who heard about it secondhand.

The fundraising effort received an unexpected boost from resident Michele Neff, who went door to door selling candy she had purchased, raising $275.

Neff took the same approach earlier to help 4th Ward Councilman Frank Pederson raise funds for a new sign for the city’s Parkview neighborhood.

Nearly a dozen volunteers gathered at the Follansbee Community House to assemble the wreaths, adding a ribbon to each and a total of 600 bulbs, in various colors, to them.

Tomaino and Boniey expressed thanks to city crews who hung them on the poles for the street lights, being careful not to cover the many banners honoring local veterans that are displayed there.

She said a hanger and large plastic bag has been provided for each wreath’s storage, adding she hope they can become a new Christmas tradition for the city.

Also involved with recent efforts to decorate the city for Christmas were Vickie and David Bowen, who refurbished eight figures of the nativity that has been displayed through the years in the area across from the City Building known as the Ray Stoaks Plaza.

Vickie said she walked by them in January, after Christmas had ended, and noticed they were showing their age and decided to offer to help.

“We moved here three years go. I consider it my city now and thought, if I can do something, I should,” she said.

Vickie noted after Follansbee officials accepted her offer, city crews transported the figures to her home, where she repainted them.

She stressed she dabbles in crafts and isn’t a professional painter, but is happy to have been able to bring more color to them.

“It’s a super nice nativity set,” she said, adding she believes it’s more than 50 years old.

The Bowens also have provided bags in which to store the pieces after Christmas and a 7-and-a-half-foot Christmas tree for the plaza.

The same group behind the Christmas wreaths has made plans to decorate the tree.

Vickie said she wasn’t aware of the group doing the wreaths when she offered to refurbish the nativity but is impressed by its efforts.

“The ladies who did the wreaths, they did a great job,” she said.

Of her own project, she said, “It’s just something I wanted to do to make the city look better.”

She added she hopes others will be inspired to perform similar acts.