Julanne Wysocki Hogan and Chaz Balogh, of Gibson Avenue in Kingston, were honored Tuesday night as the 38th recipients of the Kingston Holiday Water Heater.
Bill O’Boyle | Times Leader
Click here to subscribe today or Login.
Julanne Wysocki Hogan and Chaz Balogh were honored Tuesday night as the 38th recipients of the Kingston Holiday Water Heater.
Bill O’Boyle | Times Leader
Julanne Wysocki Hogan and Chaz Balogh, of Gibson Avenue in Kingston, were honored Tuesday night as the 38th recipients of the Kingston Holiday Water Heater.
Bill O’Boyle | Times Leader
This was the scene Tuesday night soon after Chaz Balogh and Julanne Wysocki Hogan were honored as the 38th recipients of the Kingston Holiday Water Heater.
Bill O’Boyle | Times Leader
KINGSTON — Some 12 days before Christmas, his hometown gave to Chaz Balogh — a decorated water heater on his front lawn.
Balogh and his fiance, Julanne Wysocki Hogan, were nestled all snug in their home on Gibson Avenue, Kingston, Tuesday night, when out on their lawn their arose such a clatter.
And what to their wondering eyes should appear, but a brightly decorated water heater and about 30 well-meaning elves, who arrived in trucks, SUVs and cars, and not in a sleigh pulled by reindeer.
Once again, on a chilly Tuesday evening, a t around 8:30 p.m., a Kingston tradition continued with the much anticipated delivery of the cherished Kingston Holiday Water Heater.
Balogh and Wysocki Hogan were honored as the 38th recipients of the Kingston Holiday Water Heater.
As the presenting crew, which included several past recipients, gathered around and sang “We Wish You a Merry Christmas,” Wysocki Hogan gave her acceptance speech on behalf of herself and Balogh.
“As much as I really didn’t want it, I’m really proud to have it.”
That drew applause, laughter and more singing from the group.
And as per the rules, the water heater must remain on the recipient’s front lawn through the holiday season and must be lit up every evening, or else it will remain with them for another year. Records show that nobody has violated the rules to date.
“Can we keep it lit up 24/7? Wysocki Hogan asked, drawing an even louder response of approval from the crowd.
Balogh assured the group that he will comply with the rules.
“Oh, we will comply with the rules for sure and keep it lit,” said Balogh, who is a county detective.
Tom Paratore, spokesman for the Elite Members of the Kingston Water Heater, said the group is dedicated for keeping the tradition alive in their town.
“It’s a time-honored holiday tradition in Kingston,” said Paratore. “We want to keep it going.”
The group, as always, held a clandestine meeting at an undisclosed location to discuss who would be worthy of the water heater. After much deliberation, the group piled into their vehicles and paraded around Kingston, with the water heater in tow.
The water heater comes completely decorated with Christmas lights and ornaments.
The tradition began in 1984, when plumber John McGlynn replaced a water heater for the late Tom Lahart on Loveland Avenue. When Lahart didn’t pay a $10 fee to remove the old one, McGlynn decided to leave it on Lahart’s lawn. He would later have some friends go back and decorate it as a Christmas joke, and a local legend was born.
“We really are proud to have been selected as this year’s recipients of the Kingston Holiday Water Heater,” Balogh said. “We are honored to be added to this prestigious list.”
Past recipients
1984: John McGlynn
1985: Kevin Boylan
1986: Jim Clarke
1987: Charles Burns
1988: Gordon Dussinger
1989: Barry Blannet
1990: Paul Roberts
1991: Barney O’Donnell
1992: Terry McGinley
1993: Frank “Bunky” Sorochak
1994: Frank Hill
1995: Ned Delaney
1996: Dan Beky
1997: Nick Volpetti
1998: Tom O’Connor
1999: No recipient
2000: Al ‘Shorty’ Cuba
2001: Doug Rush
2002: Tom Leary
2003: Charlie Dugan
2004: Jack Coslett
2005: Stan Motyka
2006: Sterling Rush
2007: Bill Mericle
2008: John Sromovsky
2009: Tom Paratore
2010: Mike Connolly
2011: Jeff Coslett
2012: Gary Michak
2013: Rich Stefanides
2014: Betty Lahart
2015: Bob Guyette
2016: Maurice Grimes
2017: Richard Pries
2018: Anthony Dicton
2019: Corey Pries
2020: Dr. Fred Lombardo
2021: John Romanoski
2022: Chaz Balogh
