Silver bells will ringing as CAN DO Community Christmas marks its 25th anniversary. The CAN DO Student Action Committee will host the annual event featuring musical performances from students throughout Greater Hazleton on Wednesday, December 6 from 6-7:30 p.m. at Christ Lutheran Church, located on the corner of Church and Green streets in downtown Hazleton.
The public is invited to attend this free event, which features performances by choral groups, orchestras and jazz bands. This year’s performers include the MMI Preparatory School Chamber Ensemble under the direction of Tina Lizbinski, the McAdoo-Kelayres Elementary/Middle School Mustang Chorus under the direction of Sandra Hoppey, the Hazleton Area High School Chamber Singers under the direction of Kim Sharonoff, the Hazleton Area High School Jazz Ensemble under the direction of Joseph Stefanko and the Heights Terrace Elementary School Third Grade Chorus under the direction of Rachel Brimmer.
In addition to the music, children can make their Christmas lists at the Letters to Santa table and visit with Santa Claus himself at the end of the evening. CAN DO Student Action Committee members will be on hand to greet attendees, serve refreshments and help children craft their letters to Santa. Student Action Committee co-adviser Nancy Stasko said that the Student Action Committee members are looking forward to bringing the community together to celebrate the holiday season.
“The Student Action Committee members are very honored to bring this program to the community for the 25th year. It is an event that everyone looks forward to each year and always helps to bring some holiday cheer to downtown Hazleton,” Stasko said. “This event would not be possible without the school musical groups who generously share their time and talent with us each year. We’d also like to give special thanks to our sponsors, which include Gottstein Corporation, Humboldt Industrial Supply, Keystone Job Corps and WYLN.”
CAN DO Community Christmas is coordinated by co-chairs Corrin Dagostin, of Marian High School, and Jakob Schwabe, of MMI Preparatory School, under the direction of co-advisers Stasko and Charles Burkhardt. Additional Student Action Committee members are: Michael Kulish, Stephanie Mazurek, James “JT” Vozar, and Francine Lamasko of Hazleton Area Academy of Sciences; Alexandra Rentz, Mark Abdelmalek, Angelina Joseph and Vincent Damiano of Hazleton Area High School; Christopher Danishefsky and Saraiha Rossi of Immanuel Christian School; Isabella Schwabe and Grace Mussoline of Marian High School; Morgan Long of MMI Preparatory School; and Jillian Bartel and Nikki Polivka of Weatherly Area High School.
