photo by: Joselyn King

Bethlehem Mayor Matt Saseen, left, and Melanie Trabert, president of the Bethlehem Elementary PTO, inspect the area around the Bethlehem star, which will be lighted for the holiday season.

BETHLEHEM — For the first time in decades, the star in the “little” town of Bethlehem will shine brightly this holiday season overlooking Interstate 470.

Village leaders came together this year to refurbish the star — which received paint and new modern energy saving bulbs. Electric service was also reinstalled as, for decades, there has been no power to the star.

Many residents may not even be aware there is a star in Bethlehem. It stands 40 feet tall near the water tower just off of Chapel Road overlooking I-470.

It can be seen best by those traveling I-470 West and West Bethlehem Boulevard.

A star-lighting ceremony and a slate of events in the village has been set for 5:30 p.m. to 6:30 p.m. Nov. 29.

Events start at the Bethlehem Elementary School with a cookie decorating contest. Santa is slated to make an appearance, and youngsters will be invited to decorate their own star ornaments.

The traffic pattern is going to leave from the school, and travel Chapel Road past the fire department building. The fire department is going to have its equipment out for the public to view, according to Mayor Matt Saseen.

Somewhere near the Chapel Road Bridge, Saseen plans to set up a stand serving hot cocoa to the public.

After viewing the star, traffic will proceed to Bethlehem Boulevard.

Bethlehem was founded in 1946. Saseen noted he has been researching to find out just when the star was erected, and if anybody remembers it being lit.

Saseen, who is just 32, says he has no memories of the star, and neither do any of the more veteran village employees.

“Everyone seems to say they think it is the late 1980s when it was erected,” he said. “We believe it is roughly around 40 years-old.”

He suspects that after a few years the star stopped working, it was no longer serviced “and was largely forgotten about.”

“It was one of the things I most wanted to see occur, and it wasn’t a very expensive upgrade for the village,” Saseen said.

He noted, however, that it took a labor-intensive effort by the village’s maintenance crew to complete the job. One employee, Scott Himrod, served as lead on the project.

The workers wire-brushed the 40-foot structure with the use of a hydraulic man-lift. One that was completed, it received a coat of black paint and modern-day LED lights were strung.

“Last year, I worked with council to bring electrical service to the site, as well,” Saseen said. “Electric has been abandoned there for years.”

The process of finding a way to get electric to the star “took about six months,” he continued.

He credited Councilman Guy Rayl with helping to secure the electrical service, and thanked council members as a whole for their cooperation on the project.

He also expressed gratitude to Bethlehem Elementary PTO President Melanie Trabert and to Councilwoman Anna Fonner for organizing events surrounding the star lighting.

“In my mindset, it (the star) was just a symbol of unity for the village. It is something we can look at and be proud of,” Saseen said.

“I can’t say I’ve talked to a resident since I’ve been in office who hasn’t said they aren’t thankful and happy they live here. They may be upset if their water is off, but at the end of the day they are pretty happy to be still here on the hilltop.”