Magic and Mistletoe transforms courthouse
Joel Brewton
Irene J. Early (left) of Dayton and Anita Walters of Uniontown enjoy a horse-drawn carriage ride through the streets of Uniontown during the third annual Magic and Mistletoe held at the Fayette County Courthouse on Saturday.
Elizabeth Thomas, 8, of Uniontown enjoys the free snacks at the third annual Magic and Mistletoe" event at the Fayette County Courthouse on Saturday. This is Thomas' first year attending the event and she says that the sleigh rides are the main reason she came.
Joel Brewton
Members of the Penn State Fayette Choir serenade guests at the third annual Magic and Mistletoe at the Fayette County Courthouse on Saturday. Led by their director (from left) Jason Kendall on keyboard, Breanna Brumely, Angela Simmons, Haley Miller, Adam Gresh and Ashley Knaver performed Christmas carols in the courthouse.
Snowmen and Santas took over the courtrooms at the Fayette County Courthouse Saturday night. It was all for a good cause , helping Fayette County Community Action Inc. provide for families in crisis through the third annual Magic and Mistletoe.
“We’ve been fortunate. The weather’s been nice. We’re having a wonderful turnout. Both staffs have done a tremendous job. Every year it’s growing,” said Jim Stark, executive director of Community Action, who thanked the sponsors, county commissioners, judges and courthouse staff for making Magic and Mistletoe possible.
People who purchased tickets for the event, which took place from 6 to 9 p.m., were able to tour the county’s five courtrooms, decorated by local businesses, organizations and/or individuals, as well as the adjoining hallways. They could also enjoy food, holiday music and carriage rides. Cindy Ekas-Brown, Community Action PR/marketing and community development specialist, said 300 people experienced Magic and Mistletoe in 2010 and the organization hoped to see similar results this year. She reported that 150 tickets had been sold in advance with more people buying tickets throughout the evening.
Stark noted that proceeds are used to help families in crisis with food and shelter. He commended the community for its support of Community Action, including its response to help the county food bank that experienced flooding just before Thanksgiving. The food bank has since reopened.
Officials credit Judge Conrad Capuzzi with idea for Magic and Mistletoe, basing it on a similar program at the Washington County Courthouse. Saturday night, patrons entered the Fayette County Courthouse to find an abundance of evergreens, crafts and candles. The hallways and courtrooms were filled with people who enjoyed the decorations and food. New this year was a tabled filled with gingerbread men that children were allowed to decorate, operated by Fayette County Career and Technical Institute.
Karen Kuhn, court administrator, said, “This is awesome. Every year, it gets bigger and bigger. Everybody has a lot of fun and it’s going for a good cause.”
Ann Pokorny Deshong, a long-time Community Action board members, said, “It brings people out and gives them a feeling of Christmas.”
Frank Lucente, Community Action board chairman, said, “We appreciate the courthouse allowing us to have it here.”
The different courtrooms included:
n Judge John Wagner’s courtroom was sponsored by Kim Hawk and Fayette County Community Action and featured antique toys and Christmas decorations, including many Santas.
n Judge Steve Leskinen’s courtroom was sponsored by Jamie Lee’s Country Store and More and Hartsek Family Catering, and included candles, snowmen and angels.
n Judge Nancy Vernon’s courtroom was sponsored by Sticks’n Stones Craft and Gift Shop and All Sauced Up. It featured an arrangement of colorful stockings, snowmen and candles.
n Judge Gerald Solomon’s courtroom was sponsored by The Christmas Shop, Shair’s Crows Net Country and Primitive Gifts and The Stone House Restaurant and Inn. A variety of snowmen were featured, including a judge and a lady in a fur stole while Santa in an armchair greeted children.
n Judge Ralph Warman’s courtroom was sponsored by The Snowflakes, No Bull Bar-B-Que, Fayette County Career and Technology Institute, Hudson Catering, Jason Kendall and Penn State Fayette, Eberly Campus Student Choir, who performed.
The room featured a Santa as judge as well as a series of Christmas trees and draped cloths in blue, fuchsia, purple and lime.
Kate Thompson, who organized the event for Community Action, said, “So far, everything is better than expected. I hope everybody has a great time.”