Susan Staron Sanders, who lights up Monongah for Christmas

Fund-raiser June 4 to add Monongah Christmas lights

Susan Staron Sanders, Class of 1971, an administrative assistant at Personnel, isn’t satisfied with lighting up Monongah for Christmas in 2015.

She’s whipping up fundraisers to buy even more Christmas lights to make Monongah sparkle even more during the holidays. If she has her way, astronauts in space will be able to see Monongah’s Christmas lights.

Susan’s latest venture is a Huge Multi-Family Yard Sale 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday, June 4.

Let Susan explain it:

“Just a reminder to everyone about the Huge Multi-Family yard sale Saturday June 4th 8:00 am to 2:00 pm to help us raise money for more Christmas Lights.

“Tables are going fast. Anyone interested, please let me know. $10 a table, $5 bring your own.

“There will be hot dogs, macaroni salad, chips, and drinks. We will be selling deserts trays.

“And have a drawling for a Fathers Day Basket.

“Anyone wanting to donate cakes, pies, cookies, etc. all are welcome.

“Vendors wanted. Please call me at 304-365-2074.

“Please help us make our wonderful town shine.

“God Bless,

“Susan Sanders”

Last December Susan headed another fundraiser in the Town Hall. That one came after the original fund-raiser to get the lights installed in the first place.

Valerie Vandetta Aldridge, Class of 1973; Teena Field Ailstock, 1984 North Marion grad; and Mareca Savonarola have been Susan’s lieutenants in this drive to light up Monongah brighter and brighter for the holidays.

Susan and husband Ron Sanders live on Thomas Street, next door to Mayor Greg Vandetta and his wife, Janice Manzo Vandetta.

Thomas Street is famous (in my mind) for being the childhood home of John Olesky, Class of 1950, once he left the Walnut Street home of his grandparents, where he was born.

I got to freeze my butt off every Winter when I visited the two-holer outhouse at the end of our Thomas Street rental, where the alley and the garages were located. Ours was the first house off Church Street.

Susan and Ron’s son, Tommy Sanders, is a WVU computer engineering graduate.

Ron is a Vietnam veteran. Susan’s brother, Bob Staron, Class of 1967 (deceased), fought in Vietnam.

Susan grew up with Becky Urish Anderson, who today lives in Clarksburg, and went to Monongah High with Becky. They are both Class of 1971.

Last year the town of Whitehall donated seven lights it had to the town of Monongah when Whitehall got new Christmas street lights. After a successful fund drive to pay for the brackets to install the lights, decorations were put up in time for Christmas.

Other Starons at Monongah High and near Monongah include Diane Minardi Staron, Class of 1967; Dorothy Staron Saunders, Class of 1971; Thomas Staron, Class of 1965; Zana Kay Sanders Nesselrotte, widow of Roger Lee “Butch” Nesselrotte, who lives on Swisher Hill; Timothy “Tim” Sanders and wife Janet, who live on Plum Run; Shirley Sanders, who lives in Number Nine; and the late Harold Eugene “Gene” Sanders, Sr., Ann Christie “Chris” Harley Sanders, Elva Ann Sanders Cox, Richard L. Cox, and Harold Eugene “Skip” Sanders, Jr.