Tom Silvonek can remember walking out of his home on Third Street as a child and seeing an illuminated star shining over Lehighton.

The star was a tradition begun in the 1950s by Lehighton Orioles Nest No. 183, the social club that overlooks the borough.But for several years, the star didn't shine. So Silvonek and "the crew" from the Orioles got together this year and decided to bring back the tradition. And they did it bigger and better than ever.On Saturday, the volunteers who helped get the star back in its rightful place gathered at the Orioles to check out the results of their work."It was taken down for a number of years," Silvonek said. "Now you can look up there from anywhere in Lehighton and see it."It's safe to say that this star shines a little brighter than the star that Silvonek remembered seeing as a child.The group used some technology that probably wasn't available when the original star was built.Ralph McElvar drew the plans for the frame on a computer, and Robert "Butch" Moyer welded it.Matt Hoats installed LED lights - more than 4,000, so that the light can be seen as far away as the Pennsylvania Turnpike and the Borough of Parryville."I don't even think the City of Bethlehem has LED lights (on their star)," Moyer said.Jim Koch provided a bucket truck.The borough of Lehighton even chipped in on the project, especially Lonnie Armbruster.Silvonek's son, Tommy, and his company, Altoka Tree Surgeon, cleared trees from the top of the hill to make the star shine even brighter."It was a community effort," Silvonek said, "so the community could see the star."