Maryann Raimondi said Harwood Heights’ “Pizza with Santa & Holiday Sing-A-Long with the Clerk” event on Dec. 14 was enjoyable because she attended with her daughter, Nicole Ewalt, and her grandchildren, 3-year-old Tyler and 6-year-old Charlotte Ewalt.
“It’s rewarding and we feel blessed,” she said. “We came last year and it was an awesome time.”
“We’re building a community, we are sharing our facility and our community with the residents,” said Harwood Heights Mayor Arlene Jezierny, who was on hand to welcome attendees at the free event, which included an open house.
The Harwood Heights Youth Commission sponsored the Saturday afternoon pizza party and Santa sing-a-long portion.
“This is for the kids,” the mayor said.
Families could do holiday crafts and cuddle together while singing holiday songs with Santa.
“It’s really amazing,” said Lara Nijmeh of Harwood Heights, who spent time on crafts with her sons Andrew, 5, Leonardo, 1, and Alexander, 3.
Youth Commission Coordinator Mary Pelarenos said the Youth Commission sponsors and hosts the event. She said it’s one of their biggest events of the year.
“We had about 45 people here this year,” she said.
Pizza with Santa & the Holiday Sing-A-Long consisted of pizza, arts and crafts and a coloring contest, all at Village Hall.
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After pizza, the children made their way to the Rec Center, where they were given a songbook. They sang holiday classics such as “We Wish You a Merry Christmas,” “Deck the Halls,” and “Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer.”
After Santa Claus arrived, he read “The Night Before Christmas.” Then, the children in attendance were able to visit with him individually and tell him what they wanted for Christmas.
“Santa had trouble getting here because there isn’t any snow on the ground,” Pelarenos said.
Pelarenos said families come to the Sing-A-Long from year to year, with new people from the village attending.
“Everybody is happy and giving and we try to keep family together,” she noted.
As for Raimondi, she explained that she’s lived in Harwood Heights since 1996. She said the Holiday Sing-A-Long has become a tradition in her family.
“It’s nice to have fun for the holiday,” Raimondi’s daughter Nicole Ewalt said. “We like to spend Christmastime together.”
Ewalt said her son, Tyler, wants magnet tiles for Christmas and her daughter, Charlotte, wants a Descendants doll.
“The kids have a good time,” Raimondi said of her grandchildren.
Anna Wenc of Harwood Heights noted she and her children “love” the event and the holidays mean a lot to them.
“We’re Polish, and we like the tradition and religion that goes along with Christmas,” she said. “We celebrate on Christmas Eve, and on Christmas Day we go to church.”
Wenc’s children, 10-year-old Kayla Wenc and 3-year-old Erik Wenc liked seeing Santa Claus at the Sing-A-Long and they liked the toys they received.
“For Christmas, I want some snow,” Kayla Wenc said.
Harwood Heights trustee Giuseppe Zerillo said the holiday season means a lot to him because of his daughter, 3-year-old Siena Zerillo.
He also feels like the Harwood Heights community is family oriented and like “one big family.” He feels seeing the Harwood Heights neighborhood come together for events like the Sing-A-Long are important.
“This is what the holidays are all about,” he said.