Caroling caravan to hit Brewer streets

BREWER – He admits he can’t carry a tune, but Mayor Michael Celli said Tuesday that’s not stopping him from donning a red hat with a white pom-pom end and hitting the streets Thursday to sing Christmas carols.

“I thought, ‘Why not do some old-fashioned caroling and get the holiday spirit back into the town,'” Celli said Tuesday. “It’s something that’s easy to get into, and it’s a way to get” community members involved.

The Christmas caroling is actually the first of many events planned for the next year as part of a program called Developing Avenues for Social Health, or DASH. Celli announced the program in November.

During that address, Celli challenged residents to become involved in the community through volunteering and reaching out to neighbors. He has since presented the program at a National League of Cities conference.

“I wanted something general … so other communities could latch onto this and use it to get people more involved in their communities,” he said.

The caroling caravan will start at the Brewer Auditorium at 6 p.m. Thursday. It will travel to an undisclosed number of locations within the city. The Ellen M. Leach Memorial Home will probably be one stop, and a van service will be available to transport carolers around, Celli said. Others can follow in their own vehicles.

The caroling will end around 9 p.m.

Residents from all over the region are invited to attend and are asked to call Celli at 989-4720 so he can have enough hot chocolate available for participants.

The list of selected songs includes “Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer,” “Santa Claus is Coming to Town,” “We Wish You a Merry Christmas” and others, Celli said.

The mayor said he will lead the caroling caravan dressed all in red, wearing his red holiday hat.

“The ability to sing is definitely not a requirement,” he said, adding, “I really hope this is an annual event.”