Penelec Tinsel Team Lights the Way to Prepare Presque Isle Lights to Shine

trucks hanging lights in trees
Penelec line workers enhance the natural beauty of Presque Isle State Park by dressing these mighty oaks with energy-efficient white mini lights.

The Penelec “Tinsel Team” – nearly three dozen employee volunteers strong – recently converged on Presque Isle State Park in Erie, Pa., with bucket trucks and ladders to help light the way to holiday cheer in preparation for the seasonal Presque Isle Lights event that begins December 1.

“More hands go up every year,” said Andy Shannon, manager of human performance, referring to the call for volunteers to join with the Presque Isle Partnership and other community volunteers to hang lights and install illuminated snowflakes and other festive decorations along the drive-thru light display.

“They like to be part of it,” Shannon added. “They drive around with their kids and can say that they put those lights up.”

Conceived in 2020 as a Covid-free holiday celebration where families could remain socially distanced in the safety of their own vehicles for a self-guided tour, Presque Isle Lights is entering its third season. Each year, more lights and new features are added to the original display that started with more than 30,000 energy-sipping LED lights.

Tinsel Team volunteers added fresh details to the Rotary Pavilion, Presque Isle Lighthouse and other park buildings by outlining windows and wrapping pillars with colorful lights. Elsewhere in the park, glowing versions of deer, frogs, owls and other wildlife native to the wooded peninsula are crowd pleasers.     

“Many hands make light work, and the time and generosity given to this project by so many is remarkable,” said Jon DeMarco, executive director of the Presque Isle Partnership, a non-profit organization whose purpose is to work closely with the Pennsylvania Department of Conservation and Natural Resources to implement projects and programs in the park funded by the community. “Presque Isle Lights would not be possible without Penelec stepping up for the community with their employees, equipment and experience. Their team has really taken ownership of the process. They know what to do and how to do it safely and properly.”

Three years ago, Penelec engineers scouted the park’s electrical infrastructure to determine what was feasible when planning the holiday light displays to enhance the park’s natural beauty. They worked closely with contractors to add outlets, transformers and other equipment to our utility poles and distribution facilities to be able to plug in many of the planned lights and displays.

Admission and programs are free, and donations to the Presque Isle Partnership are gladly accepted.

For mor information and the Presque Isle Lights operating schedule, please visit https://www.discoverpi.com/events/presque-isle-lights

Penelec, a subsidiary of FirstEnergy Corp. (NYSE:FE), serves approximately 585,000 customers within 17,600 square miles of northern and central Pennsylvania. Follow Penelec on Twitter  @Penelec and on Facebook at www.facebook.com/PenelecElectric.

The Presque Isle Partnership Presque Isle Partnership, a 501c (3) non-profit organization was founded in 1994 to serve the growing needs of Presque Isle State Park. Follow Presque Isle Partnership on Facebook at www.facebook.com/PresqueIslePartnership and visit the Partnership’s website www.discoverpi.com.

 

 

NEWS CONTACT: Todd Meyers, (724) 838-6650

Last Modified: November 21, 2022