Magic and Mistletoe deck the halls of the Fayette County Courthouse
Joel Brewton | Herald-Standard
Johnna Purcel, 16, of Farmington serenades visitors to “Good King Wenceslas” during the Magic and Mistletoe event at the Fayette County Courthouse in Uniontown Saturday night. Johnna Purcel’s performance was sponsored by her father Jack Purcel.
Joel Brewton | Herald-Standard
Alivia Andria, 4, of Brownsville, decorates a cookie during the Magic and Mistletoe event at the Fayette County Courthouse in Uniontown Saturday night. The cookie decorating was sponsored by the Fayette County Career and Technical Institute.
Joel Brewton | Herald-Standard
Carson Luick, 2, of Uniontown, meets Judge Santa during the Magic and Mistletoe event at the Fayette County Courthouse in Uniontown Saturday night.
The jingling of sleigh bells on a horse-drawn carriage echoed through the streets and alleys surrounding the Fayette County Courthouse Saturday night, heralding the annual celebration of Magic and Mistletoe inside.
This marks the fourth year Fayette County Community Action Inc. has organized the holiday fundraising event and the first year Columbia Gas of Pennsylvania has served as a title sponsor, donating $10,000 toward the event and the organization’s mission.
“We’re really proud to partner with Community Action,” said Brynnly Mazzie, communications and community relations specialist for Columbia Gas.
“Our goal is that no customer goes without heat,” Mazzie said. At this time of year, she said, Community Action “does a lot to keep the people of Fayette County warm and safe.”
Community Action board chairman Frank Lucente expressed gratitude for the sponsorship.
“It will help so many people who are hungry, cold and homeless in the holiday season,” he said.
Cindy Ekas-Brown, Community Action PR/marketing and community development specialist and volunteer coordinator, said all proceeds from ticket sales will be used to help area families in crisis with emergency food, energy and housing assistance.
Before the event, approximately 75 tickets were sold, she said, and with the addition of people buying tickets at the door, this year’s event included more than 200 guests.
Jim Stark, executive director of Community Action, thanked the Fayette County commissioners, as well as the judges, for once again allowing the agency to use the courthouse to host the event.
He also thanked all the event’s sponsors and the city of Uniontown for police support.
Stark said, “It’s really a team effort over a lot of months.”
The reception area of the courthouse welcomed guests with a fully trimmed tree and the caroling of singers from the Bruderhof communities in Farmington.
Holiday decorations featuring snowmen, sparkles and ribbons lined the hallways of each floor.
Guests were invited to bid in a silent auction, with items from a variety of sponsors on the block, from museums to restaurants to Laurel Highlands tourism destinations.
A crowd favorite of Magic and Mistletoe was the victuals and confections found in each judge’s courtroom, enjoyed by guests as they took in the different decorations arranged around each of the benches.
Judge John Wagner’s courtroom’s decorations were sponsored by Kim Hawk and Community Action. Sandwiches, salads, pumpkin rolls and more were available courtesy of Madeline Sloboda.
In Judge Steve Leskinen’s courtroom, pyansky, or Ukrainian Easter eggs, crafted by Lois Winslow, were on display as part of the “Christmas in the Ukraine” theme.
Eggs of all sizes, featuring intricately detailed patterns, dazzled guests. A table set with traditional holiday fare was arranged for people to learn about the symbols of that culture, and Ukrainian-style nut rolls were available among other treats.
The lights around the bench in Judge Nancy Vernon’s courtroom were dimmed, allowing the lights on the tree and other holiday decorations from Jamie Lee’s Country Store and More to glow peacefully as guests snacked on Santa’s favorite, cookies and milk, provided by Judge Joseph George.
Representatives from Scott’s Pizzeria handed out slices of pie outside Judge Ralph Warman’s courtroom. Inside, it was St. Nick himself behind the bench, not Judge Warman, visiting with children and taking requests.
In president Judge Gerald Solomon’s courtroom, a Santa figure dressed in black judges robes was perched on the bench, presiding over a naughty-or-nice list. That and other festive snowmen and nostalgic toys decorated the room, courtesy of The Christmas Shop and Countree Cupboard and Shair’s Crows Nest Country and Primitive Gifts.
Chef Jeremy Critchfield of the Stone House Restaurant and Inn served smoked barbecue sandwiches and more, while 16-year-old violinist Johnna Purcel of Farmington treated guests to holiday classics.
Students from the Fayette County Career and Technical Institute sponsored cookie-decorating for youngsters. Culinary arts student Alison Black, a senior at Brownsville High School, said this was her second year participating in this event.
She said she really enjoyed helping the children, as they added icing, gum drops, chocolate chips and raisins to gingerbread men.
Ekas-Brown commented, “It’s nice to see the community come out.”
“At this time of year, people are in so much need,” she said, and the support of the community highlights the caring spirit of the holidays.