Christmas in July
Chamber helps raise money for projectBy CRAIG HOWELL, City editor
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The Weirton Area Chamber of Commerce began its Christmas celebration a few months early, on Wednesday, and helped to raise money for some new holiday decorations for the community.
The chamber's second annual Christmas in July was held Wednesday at the Holiday Inn of Weirton, with food provided by Undo's.
Weirton Area Chamber of Commerce President Brenda Mull explained the goal for this year's event was to help raise money for holiday decorations along Penco Road, as well as to help bring awareness to the chamber's other holiday programs.
"We had such a good time last year, we thought we would do it again this year," Mull said.
The event was initially developed from an idea put forward by Chamber Office Manager Amber Donahue, who had worked with Chamber member Joe Stankiewicz to bring last year's event together.
From the 2007 Christmas in July, the chamber was able to purchase several new holiday lights, which were installed along Main Street, including angel lights placed in front of several churches in town.
This year, money is being raised for new decorations along Penco Road, which Chamber and city officials hope will help complement the ongoing redevelopment efforts of the roadway.
"Penco Road has always been a focal point," Mull said.
The goal is to be able to purchase 23 new light poles, measuring 16 feet tall along Penco Road. As part of the holiday decorations, the poles will be wrapped with garland and have a banner hanging from them.
"We think it's going to look great," Mull said, explaining poles can be sponsored with a purchase of $120.
Ward 3 Councilman Fred Marsh was on hand to announce some other projects planned for Penco Road, including the idea of putting a new park with a gazebo near the corner of Penco Road and Pennsylvania Avenue.
"We want to make that corner the focal point of economic development," Marsh said.
Marsh explained residents interested in helping with the project can sponsor a panel on the gazebo for $500.
Anyone interested in any of the projects may get more information by contacting the chamber.
Marsh also helped to kick off the effort for the holiday decorations by donating $500 from his business, Marsh Hardware. Other donations for the light poles came from Holiday Inn, Robinson & Sons, J.T. Sauer and Associates, the Red Hats Sexy over Sixty from the Greater Weirton Senior Center, Baymont Inn, First Class Tours, Del. Jack Yost, Irene Mindzak, Dave Mackey, Dr. J.K. and Dolly Luthra and Jo Jo's Jukebox.
Other contributions came from Ed and Hazel Powell, who donated in memory of their son Kevin, and June Puskarich, who donated in memory of her husband Rudy.
All told, enough funding was raised Wednesday to purchase 17 out of the 23 light poles planned for the project.
Mull also went over some of the other holiday projects planned by the chamber this year, including new efforts to get increased participation in the Weirton Christmas Parade, which is sponsored by the chamber.
Mull said part of this effort was inspired by photographs of parades in Weirton from the 1940s, which showed many large floats participating.
"You would be amazed," Mull said.
"I was when I saw them."
Part of the effort includes a new sponsorship program in cooperation with WTOV in which, for $3,000, individuals and businesses may help sponsor the parade and get television advertising for the parade and three other chamber events.
The chamber also is asking Weirton residents to help select this year's grand marshal for the parade, which will have a theme of "'WEIR' Having a Merry Christmas." Applications will be accepted through Sept. 25 and a selection will be announced Oct. 8.
For more information, contact the chamber at (304) 748-7212.
(Howell can be contacted at chowell@weirtondailytimes.com)
