Shaler ‘Lite Up Night’ canceled for covid-19 concerns

Tawnya Panizzi | Tuesday, November 17, 2020 12:23 p.m.

A photo of the Shaler tree during 2019 Lite-Up Night.

Shaler “Lite Up Night” is canceled, township officials announced Tuesday.

A post on the township website said the decision was made after consideration of covid-19 concerns and feedback from residents. According to the announcement, the cancellation was a difficult but necessary decision.

“We were hopeful that with extra distancing measures in place, including spacing out staging areas and reserving skating times at the ice-skating rinks, this would be a safe and fun event,” the post said.

Originally scheduled for Saturday, the event was pegged as a “lite” version to accommodate social distancing.

In the planning stages, special attention had been paid to keeping people at least 6 feet apart. Activities were going to be hosted in the parking lots between Shaler North Hills Library and the Shaler Area Middle School. Two ice skating rinks were expected to minimize lines and crowds. Santa was going to parade along Mt. Royal Boulevard although he was not going to visit face-to-face with children.

Commissioners, however, agreed that the rising numbers of virus cases in Allegheny County over the past two weeks were cause to reconsider.

They decided to “put the safety of the community first,” according to the post.

Still, Santa is looking forward to hearing from residents. Children of all ages are welcome to write a letter and drop it in the Santa mailbox at the municipal building or at the library. Or, email him at santa@shaler.org.

Include an email address in the letter and Santa might even write back.