Posen?s nativity display to be dedicated

A successful effort by local residents in Posen has made it possible to purchase a $3,000 life-size nativity set for the heart of downtown Posen. The figures and stable, which depict the original birthsite of Jesus, along with more than 50 memorial Christmas trees, are already in place and ready for Saturday?s official blessing, but one remaining piece still remains to be added to the display– and of course ? before Christmas: There is no angel. According to Marilyn Kaszubowski, who was elected in early November as Posen village president, when the set was purchased from Bronner?s Christmas Wonderland in Frankenmuth, there was not enough money left to purchase the $780 angel.

KASZUBOWSKI AND Laurie Wozniak spearheaded an effort during the Posen Potato Festival late last summer to raise money to replace the old nativity set, which had been on display near the post office on Michigan Avenue for more than three decades. Several of the figurines were in poor shape and nobody was sure how much longer they would last. Money from the arts and craft show, along with the bake sale and ice cream social at the fire hall netted the $3,000 needed to purchase the set. Dave Kamysiak volunteered his time to build the stable. Verna Kaszubowski and Butch Woloszyk donated the material. The group saved $600 in shipping by picking up the figures in Frankenmuth. To raise the additional money for the angel before Christmas Day, the village is hosting a cookie walk at St. Casimir School, after church services December 17 and 18. They also will be selling Christmas table centerpiece decorations.

FATHER PAUL of St. Casimir Catholic Church and Pastor Jared Ochieng from Church of the Harvest will be blessing the Christmas nativity scene Saturday at 6:15 p.m. Caroling led by choir membe

rs from both churches will follow. A reception will conclude the evening at the Route 65 Diner. The Nativity Scene has been on display for several weeks already and has received favorable comments from local residents. The memorial Christmas tree sales have gone exceptionally well. Kaszubowski was not sure how many trees they would sell when the project started, but it has increased to 52 as of Monday afternoon, with room for more trees on the township-owned lot. Kaszubowski said it has been a group effort, with several members of the community involved in setting up the trees and decorating them. The Posen Cham

ber of Commerce has provided some of the materials. Some of the key people involved in setting up the trees were: Burke and Laurie Wozniak, Tom and Marilyn Kaszubowski, Dave and Collette Purgiel, Lorraine Smigelski, Marcia Urban, Julie Litwinski, Larry Patterson, Ron Romel, Dave Kamysziak, and Dan Kamysziak.