Youth shine at holiday celebration

While the youth of our town may occasionally feel invisible, they shone like beacons on Saturday afternoon at the community centre.
The second annual NOTL Youth Holiday Celebration filled the gym and stage — and hearts of all attending — with music and energy.
As she introduced the event and the Lord Mayor’s Youth Advisory Council, Lord Mayor Betty Disero told the audience of about 60 locals that Bethany Poltl — one of the event’s organizers — had asked her how she would like to be called. “I said she should call me lord mayor, and told her that title is waiting for her one day.”
When it came time for Poltl to speak, she motioned confidently to the other members of the LMYAC and said, “It’s waiting for all of us.”
More than a dozen performances featured close to 40 performers between the ages of three and 18 years old.
The opening act was students from Maple Leaf Montessori School singing Christmas carols. Subsequent performances featured local music teacher Cynthia Konopka and several of her students on violin and piano; members of the LMYAC; and the Niagara Bethany Handbell Choir, among others.
St. Michael Catholic School’s ukulele club closed the show with a rousing rendition of Jingle Bells.
There were approximately 60 people in the enthusiastic audience, including many proud family members with various forms of recording equipment and costumes.
“Feels great, it was a success, the audience enjoyed it and Betty enjoyed it,” says Poltl at the end of the event.
Disero stayed for every performance, and did indeed seem to enjoy herself. The lord mayor also had a conversation with Poltl and the youth council after the show, promising them support and resources through the Town and elsewhere to help their increasing initiatives for the youth of NOTL.