The engines at Longwood and Oxford and Kennett and Po Mar-Lin shone their bright lights, when the people of our towns and neighborhoods gathered by the thousands on this cold winter night.

There came Kennett, and West Grove, and Kenamon of Tough, so too Avondale and Oxford and those from Landenberg still weren’t enough. They arrived beneath the moonlight carrying with them nothing but themselves, to share one winter evening with holiday fairies and Christmas elves. 

Elected leaders, those new and those whose stories have been well-told, came from every borough and hamlet, despite the cold. There was Chrissy and Sappey and Kane and Lawrence and Roe; too came Williams and Comitta and their families in tow, and down from Harrisburg came Governor Shapiro.

Dash away budgets, dash away expenditures and revenues, for it is the time for celebration, down roads and streets and avenues. There went Coleman and Dobbins and Himes, to the sound of choruses and wintry chimes. There came Mayors Black and Susan R and Harris, in concert with every firefighter and emergency medic but wait, who is that jolly soul marching behind them? Could it be Matt Fetick?

Wines poured from Wayvine and food from La Pena Mexicana, Twelves Grill pitched in and so did Taste of Puebla. Taps were tapped from Victory and Two Stones, while revelers fancied in the bells and their tones. Hey, there went Geoff Gamble, Bill Wylie and Peggy Ann Rusell, who arrived in town from the House of Fussel; and what to our wondering eyes did appear, but Leon Spencer behind a slay of reindeer!

There was Ed Herr, carrying snacks galore, while children of all ages clamored for more. Behind him came our area’s quiet leaders, whose contributions can only be measured in meters; there’s Oxford Main, Square Roots Collab, and Kennett Connect, for it’s them who keep our towns correct. Right beside them stood Young Moms and The Garage and hundreds more, for without them for certain we would be minus our core.

So onward Paul Redman, Longwood’s newest conservatory is on our observatory, and all our institutions of learning, may you always capture our youth’s yearning. To our mentors and coaches and moms and dads, may you continue to inspire our children, from Nottingham to Chadds. Here’s to the Oxford Arts Council, our stages and The Kennett Flash, shine those footlights and open the sash. 

To the diversity of our people, let it reign forever; let us throw our arms around them and protect all of us, together. 

It was well past midnight when the crowd dispersed, the end of a spontaneous gathering that went unrehearsed. Against the grain of a difficult world, signs of hope and happiness unfurled; some who are not among us would claim it was merely the spirit of the season, but we know better. It is who are and the essence of our reason.

Happy holidays from all of us at the Chester County Press!