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<p>WILKES-BARRE &#8212; A 21-foot Douglas spruce tree took center stage in the Luzerne County Courthouse rotunda Friday evening.</p><p>With more than 100 area residents gathered, the 12,500 lights that adorned the tree were lit in a celebration of the season.</p><p>Luzerne County Council Chairwoman Linda McClosky Houck reminded the crowd that for those of various faiths, the season celebrates light over darkness, joy over fear.</p><p>She said in spite of long nights and short days, the holidays were a time to focus on light from within.</p><p>&#8220;So much of the year, we focus on the conflict and the mud slinging,&#8221; Wilkes-Barre resident Peter Gagliardi said. &#8220;This should be a time to emphasize joy and peace.&#8221;</p><p>He said that the event provided opportunity to bring people together.</p><p>Mark Krakowski, of the Luzerne County Buildings and Grounds Department, made the event possible, decorating the tree, which drew applause from the crowd when lit.</p><p>Krakowski credited Luzerne County Manager Robert Lawton with providing the money to purchase the tree. He remembered a year where there was no money to buy a tree and a smaller, artificial tree had to suffice.</p><p>Sarah Houck and her children &#8212; Calvin, 4 months, and Zoey, 3 &#8212; thoroughly enjoyed the lights, the music and the tree.</p><p>As music, by the Kings&#8217;s College choir, began to fill the rotunda, Calvin, his face framed in a plaid hat, smiled broadly.</p><p>&#8220;They were excited to come,&#8221; said Houck, McClosky Houck&#8217;s daughter.</p><p>The building seemed like the perfect historic backdrop for the event, which Krakowski said has taken place &#8220;for as long as I can remember.&#8221;</p><p>Even the ornaments which covered the tree had special meaning with some of them having been crafted by residents of the now closed Valley Crest Nursing Home.</p><p>McClosky Houck, standing next to the huge tree, called it the &#8220;star attraction,&#8221; thanking various area public officials for attending the event and reminding residents of the importance of coming together as a community and as a county.</p><p>Maura Chappel and Madison Kaminski performed traditional musical favorites to those gathered, including &#8220;Rocking around the Christmas Tree&#8221; and &#8220;White Christmas.&#8221;</p><p>The night seemed unite members of the community in spite difference of opinions and political views.</p><style>
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<div class="neCaption">The Watchilla sisters of Kingston &#8212; Emma, 10, left, and Lily, 5 &#8212; hit the light switch during the Luzerne County Tree Lighting Ceremony inside the courthouse rotunda on Friday. </div></div><div class="metaInfo"><photo0>https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/12/web1_treelighting01.jpg</photo0><caption0>The Watchilla sisters of Kingston &#8212; Emma, 10, left, and Lily, 5 &#8212; hit the light switch during the Luzerne County Tree Lighting Ceremony inside the courthouse rotunda on Friday. </caption0><photoCredit0>Pete G. Wilcox | Times Leader </photoCredit0></div><div class="neFile"><img class="neImage" src="https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/12/web1_treelighting02.jpg">
<div class="neCaption">County Councilman Harry Haas of Kingston and his daughter Kensie, 2, enjoy listening to the King&#8217;s College choir, Cantores Christi Regis, perform Christmas carols inside the rotunda of the Luzerne County Courthouse on Friday. </div></div><div class="metaInfo"><photo1>https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/12/web1_treelighting02.jpg</photo1><caption1>County Councilman Harry Haas of Kingston and his daughter Kensie, 2, enjoy listening to the King&#8217;s College choir, Cantores Christi Regis, perform Christmas carols inside the rotunda of the Luzerne County Courthouse on Friday. </caption1><photoCredit1>Pete G. Wilcox | Times Leader </photoCredit1></div><div class="neFile"><img class="neImage" src="https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/12/web1_treelighting03.jpg">
<div class="neCaption">The King&#8217;s College choir performs Christmas carols inside the rotunda of the Luzerne County Courthouse during the Luzerne County Tree Lighting Ceremony on Friday. </div></div><div class="metaInfo"><photo2>https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/12/web1_treelighting03.jpg</photo2><caption2>The King&#8217;s College choir performs Christmas carols inside the rotunda of the Luzerne County Courthouse during the Luzerne County Tree Lighting Ceremony on Friday. </caption2><photoCredit2>Pete G. Wilcox | Times Leader </photoCredit2></div></div>
<div class="metaInfo"><subheadMeta>Rotunda tree lighting ceremony held</subheadMeta></div><div class="metaInfo"><bylineMeta><p>By Geri Gibbons</p><p>ggibbons@www.timesleader.com</p></bylineMeta></div><div class="metaInfo"><shirttailMeta><p>Reach Geri Gibbons at 570-991-6117 or on Twitter @TLGGibbons</p></shirttailMeta></div>

Luzerne County Tree Lighting Ceremony brings community together