County officials, chorus welcome the holidays
With the flip of a switch and a chorus of beautiful voices, Montgomery County officials welcomed the holiday season.
“I hope that everyone gets just a little bit of down time to spend some wonderful times with their family over these next few weeks,” county commissioners Chairwoman Valerie A. Arkoosh said this week during the annual ceremony at which officials illuminated a tree, a menorah and a kinara outside on the courthouse plaza in observance of Christmas, Hanukkah and Kwanzaa.
“I was sworn in on Jan. 25, and I’ve been waiting for this moment ever since then. I want to wish everyone happy holidays. It’s a wonderful time of the year,” a jubilant Commissioner Kenneth E. Lawrence Jr. said before the three commissioners conducted a 10-second countdown to the tree lighting.
Officials thanked members of the county’s public property department for decorating the Christmas tree and making the courthouse festive. The county also displays a large Christ- mas tree inside the courthouse on the grand staircase off the Swede Street entrance.
“I look forward to this,” added Commissioner Joseph C. Gale as he addressed a crowd of onlookers on the courthouse plaza. “To all of you I wish you a very happy and healthy 2018.”
On Dec. 13, officials welcomed another tradition as the Montgomery County Courthouse Chorus performed on the grand staircase of the courthouse.
“This is one of the highlights of the year. You guys sound fantastic,” Arkoosh gushed as she addressed chorus members. “This is absolutely one of the things that makes our county family so special.”
Lawrence, who was unexpectedly recruited by the chorus to joyously join it for a very animated and funfilled rendition of “The 12 Days of Christmas,” said he had been looking forward to the concert all year.
“It’s probably the coldest day of the year out there right now and there are sad things going on in our county and around the country but I just want to thank the chorus for bringing a little happiness and light to our courthouse,” Lawrence said.
The chorus performed favorites such as “Winter Wonderland” and “O Come All Ye Faithful,” as well as “The Dreidel Song” and “Harambee: A Song for Kwanzaa.”
Soprano Denise Coletta-Neuschwander performed a solo of “Ave Maria” that touched the hearts of many in the audience.
Dr. Regina Gordon directed the chorus and the group was joined by accompanist Pamela Trimbur of Pottstown.
The commissioners used the ceremonies to especially thank county employees who work “to help and protect the most vulnerable citizens in our county.”
“We truly have a family here in Montgomery County and I am so proud to work with each and every one of you. I’m so grateful for the hard work that you do every single day,” Arkoosh said.
“It’s been uplifting for me, as your commissioner, to see the hard work that goes on every day in the departments across the county,” Lawrence said.
“Days like today make us all recognize that we have so much to be thankful for,” Gale added as he addressed spectators at the annual concert.