NEW YORK: Officials from the Greater Connellsville Chamber of Commerce present a check for $1,500 to the New Haven Hose Co. for the Christmas Decoration Fund. From left are Michael Bowman,chamber vice president; Dennis Martin, chamber president; Joseph Mancuso, New Haven Hose president; Charlie Matthews, New Haven Hose chairman of the Christmas committee;, and Bryan Kisiel, chamber treasurer.
The Greater Connellsville Chamber of Commerce is issuing a challenge to residents.
This week the chamber presented New Haven Hose Company with a check for $1,500 to go toward its Christmas lighting fund.
Chamber President Dennis Martin said the donation is in the form of a challenge to Connellsville residents and business people to at least match the amount.
Charlie Matthews, New Haven’s Christmas Lighting Fund chairman, said the money will be used to fix problems with the Christmas decorations.
“That money is used for new bulbs, sockets, wiring and any problems on the poles,” said Matthews. “The money is in a separate account, the Christmas light fund. All that money is used for is the lights and to pay the electric bill.”
Matthews said it is too late in the year to consider buying lights, although new ones will be needed soon. He estimated new lights will cost between $60,000 and $75,000.
This year, New Haven will hold light-up night festivities on Dec. 5, instead of the week before Thanksgiving as in the past. That will be the same time as New Haven’s annual Christmas parade.
The parade and light-up festivities will coincide with Downtown Connellsville’s “It’s A Connellsville Christmas.” All events will be held Dec. 5.
The chamber is selling holiday street banners, according to Brooke Deason, chamber manager. The banners were almost sold out.
