PITTSTON – For the first time in Pittston City’s history, a Christmas Ambassador has been selected for the 2019 holiday season by the city through the Downtown Pittston Partnership.
Fourteen-year old Mikey Ash, who was born with Rubinstein Taybi Syndrome – a rare genetic disease — has been named the inaugural 2019 Christmas Ambassador.
Ambassador Ash will be responsible for lighting the city’s official Christmas tree on Saturday, Nov. 30 following Pittston’s Toy Truck Parade.
“When I took the job as the Main Street coordinator, part of my vision was bringing back the community and the downtown businesses working together because I believe you can’t have one without the other,” Mary Kroptavich said. “With the city purchasing the new Christmas tree through Community Bank, we thought it would be a great idea to start a new tradition and have a Christmas Ambassador.”
Mikey’s dad Brian and mother Nikki, a Pittston native, are thrilled about their son being named Ambassador.
“We are so honored to take this position and represent Pittston,” Nikki Ash said. “Mikey just knows he gets to be BFFs with Santa and is so excited to count down the tree.”
“I’ve come to know Mikey and Mikey is everything that embraces Christmas,” Kroptavich said. “He’s filled with love; he’s extremely passionate about Christmas and adores Santa. I truly believe he’s everything that stands for Christmas.”
“He’s what Christmas should be,” Nikki said of her son. “Not just because he’s my son, but everyone should be a child at Christmas time because it’s magical. It’s true believing and he believes with his whole heart and he keeps the magic for everyone around us.”
The Pittston Toy Truck Parade will begin at 5 p.m. stepping off from the former Cooper’s Restaurant parking, lot traveling south on Kennedy Blvd. before turning left onto Main Street and concluding at the Tomato Festival lower lot where Ambassador Mikey will light the tree.
“He’s already practicing the songs and counting down,” Nikki added. “He feels like Mr. VIP. We are so humbled in Mikey being chosen the first Christmas Ambassador.”
