Dec 7, 2003 By Christine Haines 3 min read

CARMICHAELS – Families, extended families and generations of families gathered Saturday evening in the town square for the arrival of Santa and the lighting of the borough’s Christmas tree. Christmas music filled the air, thanks to the volunteer services of Carmichaels disc jockey Dave Batis, the Carmichaels Elementary School choir and the Carmichaels Area High School band. The band escorted the Carmichaels-Cumberland Township fire truck that carried Santa into the square, where treats were handed out to the children and Santa listened to their requests.

Larry and Ruth Macera were among the area residents who brought family members to the event.

“We’ve come since the kids were little, and now we bring the grandkids,” Ruth Macera said.

Their daughter, Rebecca Macera, was there with her 4-year-old daughter, Bethany. Their grandson, Noah, 5, was also with them. Noah’s father is stationed with the military in Kosovo.

“For a small town to do this, I think it’s nice, Macera said. “There are a lot of people here for the cold and the snow.”

Denise Shoaf was there with one of her twin sons to hear her daughter perform with the choir. The event has become a tradition for the Shoaf family, even when a family member isn’t performing.

“We’ve been coming since they were about 2, and my daughter will be 12,” Shoaf said.

Despite a temperature hovering around the freezing mark and intermittent snow flurries, the crowd was estimated at 500. The Carmichaels Area Chamber of Commerce, which sponsored the event, handed out about 400 treat bags and candy-filled candy canes. Helping to hand out the candy was this year’s Pennsylvania Bituminous Coal Queen, Mary Hawkins of Jefferson-Morgan School District. It was the first time Hawkins had attended the Carmichaels Light-Up Night.

“It’s really something. It’s nice to see a community get together like this every year,” Hawkins said.

Chamber member and Cumberland Township Supervisor Bill Groves served as the emcee of the event, as he has for 15 to 20 years.

“This is our community. If you’re asked to do something for your community and you can, you should,” Groves said.

That spirit was seen throughout the preparations for the event, with the community Christmas tree donated by Marion Haligowski and trimmed by Dan Sapic, who also hung the street decorations.

Groves encouraged the audience to consider the local stores as they do their Christmas shopping, noting that the local businesses make the Light-Up Night possible each year. The borough council is offering free parking in the town from Dec. 22 through Jan. 2.

In addition to hosting the Light-Up Night activities, the chamber will deliver fruit baskets to area personal care homes.