SHENANDOAH - The Greater Shenandoah Area Chamber of Commerce recently received an early Christmas present - a $1,000 donation to the holiday lighting fund from the Shenandoah police department.
Most of the February meeting, at which the gift was accepted, dealt with next Christmas season. Members discussed new lighting including expansion of the Girard Park holiday lighting project, which began this past season.
The meeting, held at Shenandoah Manor/Shenandoah Senior Living Community, began with the passing of the gavel by Vice President Louis Truskowsky to the new president, Marie Poppoff. Other chamber officers are Secretary Betty Ann Bugden and Treasurer Mark Bernardyn.
Mayor Andrew Szczyglak and Patrolman Kirk Kirkland attended the meeting to present the donation.
"Every year, the Shenandoah police department solicits funds to purchase candy at Christmastime for the children, when we have the Santa Drop," Szczyglak said. "And every year, that money goes into an account from which we pay for the candy, and any leftover money stays in the account each year. We were recently audited by the state and we were told we have to disband that account because there was too much money in it."
Szczyglak said there was a discussion with the police officers about what should be done with the money.
"They said that the money should be donated back to the community and because it was raised as a Christmas project, it was decided to donate the money to the lighting fund," Szczyglak said. "So, on behalf of myself and the Shenandoah police department, I'd like to present a donation to the lighting fund of $1,000."
In other holiday business, Bugden, co-chairwoman of the Christmas Lighting Committee with Bernardyn and Beth Cataldo, discussed more lighting on North and South Main Street and expanding the Girard Park decorations.
"We were thinking about adding something to the park with the money we have," Bugden said. "We're looking at carolers for in the monument area. We have Santa Claus and then have carolers on the side. We are contemplating an arch or a tree inside the park."
Members discussed buying decorations for next year. The committee was given approval to spend $10,000 on new decorations for the town. The original amount the members voted on was $9,000 but with the donation from the police department, it was raised to $10,000.
The committee will buy an arch for the park with two gingerbread figures, a set of carolers for the monument and 12 lighted wraps for the new lampposts installed last year.
Bugden also suggested a future change in the decoration with replacing the swag that announces "Season Greeting" to visitors entering the borough from the south with a new banner that states "Merry Christmas."
Jackie Butler, administrator of Ridgeview Healthcare & Rehabilitation Center, said if a new swag is bought, non-Christian residents who also celebrate holidays at that time should be considered.
"If we would even make it 'Merry Christmas,' 'Happy Hanukkah,' or something of that nature, I would appreciate it, only because our owner is the one who presented that (lighted menorah decoration) to the community," Butler said. "I would never want anyone to feel offended."
Monsignor Myron Grabowsky agreed, suggesting having swags with other greetings. Bugden said the lack of poles and buildings to attach lighted swags limits where they can be placed.
"We would love to have them at each entrance to the town but we don't have places to attach them to," Bugden said.
Bernardyn said the committee will consider the ideas and the options available.
In other business, Grabowsky, pastor of St. Michael Ukrainian Catholic Church in Shenandoah, spoke of the National Day of Prayer program May 2, which will be held at the Shenandoah Senior Living Center. The event is being organized by the church and details will be announced.
He also provided details on the visit of the Shroud of Turin replica that was at the church from Feb. 24 through Saturday. He thanked Ateeco Inc. for purchasing the banner with information on the visit that was displayed at Main and Centre streets, and thanked Ridgeview Healthcare and Rehabilitation Center and Shenandoah Senior Living Community for printing flyers and circulars for the shroud visit.
The chamber is still looking into obtaining 501(3)c status. Chamber member James Veghte has agreed to help start the process.
Donald Segal reported that the Greater Shenandoah Area Senior Citizens are planning approximately 12 events during 2013.
The next chamber meeting will be held at 8 a.m. March 20 at Ridgeview Healthcare, Shenandoah Heights. Anyone planning to attend needs to register by Friday by calling 570-462-1101 or email to hairlady@shenhgts.net.