Published December 08. 2025 02:45PM
Songs, Santa, hot chocolate and splendidly decorated trees greeted the several hundred people who attended Lansford’s annual Christmas program on Sunday in Kennedy Park.
The crescendo of the evening occurred when Gwyneth Collevechio, treasurer of Lansford Friends of Recreation, pushed a plug into an electric outlet to light 51 decorated Christmas trees at the outer berm of the west end of the park.
Collevechio said she was pleased with the turnout of people, as well as the overall program.
The events began with the arrival — via firetruck — of Santa Claus, who listened to the wish lists of the children and posed for photos. And “Miss Debby” read the timeless “Twas The Night Before Christmas.”
The Panther Valley Ensemble performed several festive seasonal songs. And several songs were sung by the Panther Valley Fourth Grade Chorus. There were also vocal selections by Joe Krushinsky, whose repertoire included several Elvis Presley classics.
A list of the trees purchased was read by Yvonne Stoffey. Many of the trees were memorials.
The Lehighton EMS and Tamaqua Ambulance units combined to decorate a tree. And one tree had photos on it of active military members from the Panther Valley.
The program was sponsored by Lansford Alive and Friends of Recreation.
Carly Romankow, of Lansford, whose son is in the U.S. Navy and stationed in Norfolk, Va., puts finishing touches on her Christmas tree in Lansford’s Kennedy Park. The tree has photos of active Panther Valley military members hanging on it.
Lansford’s tree-lighting program had 51 decorated trees in Kennedy Park. From left, Joe Krushinsky sang several songs in the program; Gwyneth Collevechio, treasurer of the Friends of Recreation in Lansford, flipped the switch to light the trees; and Dave Matsinko was an emcee. RON GOWER/SPECIAL TO THE TIMES NEWS