Hopwood holds yearly Light-up Night
The traditional Christmas tree lighting along National Pike on Route 40 launched the 9th annual Light-up festivities in Hopwood Friday as children lined up in the Hopwood Center parking area to sit on Santa’s lap and tell him what was on their wish lists before getting a treat from Mrs. Claus. Favorable temperatures drew a large crowd that gathered to watch the Laurel Highlands High School Jazz Band perform holiday music before Santa (Tom Douglass) and Mrs. Claus (Barbara Salitrik) arrived in a horse-drawn wagon driven by Randy Breakiron.
The Hopwood Village Project once again sponsored this year’s event with some help from its committee members and supervisors in North Union and South Union townships.
“We put a lot of effort into making Hopwood what it is,” said Jim Tobal, committee member.
Julie Hildock, committee chairwoman, said she was surprised at the number that turned out.
Ben Archibald, a fifth-grade student at Hutchinson Elementary School in the Laurel Highlands School District, was selected by his teacher to light the tree adorned with ornaments made by students in art teacher Amanda Barber’s class.
Archibald, the son of Jim and Holly Archibald, said he felt confident he could do the job and planned to ask Santa for a cell phone, basketball and football jerseys of his favorite NBA and NHL players and collector cards for both sports.
Raymond Jackson of Uniontown, 8, son of Elizabeth Jackson, was hoping Santa would arrive by air, but was glad he was able to see him for the second day in a row after watching the man in the red suit sit on top of a fire truck on Thursday evening during Uniontown’s Light-up Night.
Jackson told Santa he wanted a Wii while his sister, Juliana, 6, wanted a Nintendo DS.
According to Santa, video gaming systems, cell phones, MP 3 players and other electronic gadgets were rated as the most popular requests followed by pets.
Santa said the most unique request was from a boy that asked for his uncle to be safe in Iraq, a new car for his mother and a better job for his dad.
Mrs. Claus, who also took requests, said one girl whispered in her ear that she hoped everyone would have a wonderful time with their families on Christmas.
“She didn’t ask for anything for herself,” said Mrs. Claus.
This was the first year resident’s Tim and Alexis Sutton brought their children Evan, 3 and Kalyn, 2, to light up night.
The couple moved to Hopwood from the Bulter area four years ago and said they developed close friendships with their neighbors.
“We would have come out even if it was cold,” said Alexis Sutton.
Carol and Lee Bero, who have resided in Hopwood the last 41 years, said they enjoy coming out to gather with friends they only get to see a few times a year.
The Bero’s were also looking forward to seeing their two sons and daughter and their families, including seven grandchildren, that will be visiting them over the holidays from out-of-state.
“That’s what this is, a community thing,” said Tobal.