A Carthage performer and the Carthage Police Department are teaming up once again to provide a merrier Christmas for hundreds of local children.
On Saturday, Dec. 8, The Duke Mason Band will give its annual Steve Benjamin Memorial Christmas Concert to support the Carthage Police Department’s LaVerne Williams Christmas Party for Kids.
Doors open at 6:30 p.m. at Memorial Hall in Carthage. Admission is a new, unwrapped toy valued at $10 or more, or a cash donation to the Christmas Party for Kids.
Steve Benjamin was the father of Stephanie Mason, Duke’s wife, and he was well known in the community, especially for his extensive collection of large Christmas ornaments and lawn displays.
Some of those will be on display at Saturday’s concert.
According to Mason’s biography on his website, dukemason.com, Mason is “a special performer because of his unique height of only 46 inches. However, his talent and charismatic personality bring a respect and dignity to his singing that only a few are chosen to have. A truly multi-talented and exciting performer, Duke sings, plays guitar, keyboard, bass and drums.”
Saturday’s program will be a mix of holiday favorites, songs by Elvis Presley, and many more.
The band includes Waylon Schultz on lead guitar, Todd McGeorge on drums, Chad DeGonia on lead piano and Matt Hoisington on bass guitar.
Christmas Party
Duke Mason will be back on the Carthage Memorial Hall stage the following Saturday to entertain hundreds of Carthage children at the annual LaVerne Williams Christmas Party for Kids, hosted by the Carthage Police Department.
The party will be held on Saturday morning, Dec. 15.
Volunteers from the Carthage Junior High Leadership Council will join police officers, Carthage firefighters and others to hand out presents to hundreds of elementary age children from families that might not be able to afford much in the way of Christmas presents.
The party is named for long-time Carthage Police Detective LaVerne Williams, who led the planning of the Christmas party for three decades before his death in 2009.
Organizers say they expect to host more than 400 children, “many of whom won’t celebrate Christmas otherwise.”
“With his many years of personal involvement, Carthage Police Detective LaVerne Williams felt strongly that no child should be turned away from this annual event,” organizers of the event said in a letter to the community seeking donations for the party.
“Each child will receive a gift card, refreshments, a book from the Carthage Family Literacy Center and a chance to win gifts,” the letter said. “And, of course, there’s a visit from Santa.”
Organizers say donations can be mailed to or dropped off at the Carthage Police Department or the Carthage Chamber of Commerce. Checks can be made payable to “LaVerne Williams Christmas Party.”
