Pequea Valley townlively.com
DECEMBER 18, 2024
SERVING THE LOCAL COMMUNITIES SINCE 1954
VOL LX • NO 52
A love for the Lord, buildings, and trains BY ANN MEAD ASH
The LanChester Chorus
LanChester Chorus to present holiday concert ceremony at the Pennsylvania State Capitol in Harrisburg and at the open house at the governor’s mansion. T he chor us has sung the national anthem numerous times for the Philadelphia Phillies and Lancaster Stormers. In the summer, the group performed evening concerts at the Convention Hall in Cape May, N.J., and for many years it presented Saturday evening concerts at the Music Pier in Ocean City, N.J. The chorus also sings at local retirement communities and the Christmas concert ever y December at the Christiana Fire Company. “We do this annually as our Christmas gift to the community,” said Joan Esworthy, who has been a member of the chorus for more than 20 years. Next year, the group will celebrate its 75th anniversary, and it is planning special events. “For the 75th anniversar y, previous members will come See LanChester Chorus pg 4
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Glenn Ritter (left) of Honey Brook, and his wife, Lin.
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oliday tunes like “Silver Bells” and “ Winter Wonderland,” as well as religious hymns, including “Mary, How Could You Have Known?” and “While Shepherds Watched Their Flocks” will be featured at a Christmas concert to be presented by the LanChester Chorus on Sunday, Dec. 22, at 3 p.m. at the Christiana Fire Company, 214 S. Bridge St., Christiana. The chorus, which gets its name from the fact that its members are from both Lancaster and Chester counties, will be led by director Kimberly Kusnersyk. The accompanist will be Christine Smith. Light refreshments, including cookies and punch, will be served after the concert. There is no admission fee, but a freewill offering will be received. For the concert, the fire hall’s banquet room will be festively
decorated by members of the According to a history of the chorus with poinsettias and chorus, the group has been meetgreens. Members will dress ing in Christiana for the past 74 formally for the occasion. “The years. The group was founded in men wear dark suits and red ties, 1950 by Martha Jean Moffett and and the ladies wear black with Richard Wright. Wright served red scarves,” noted Kusnersyk. as accompanist and business “It’s a mixed choral group - alto, manager for the chorus from soprano, bass and tenor - and a 1950 through 2008. In addition mixture of ages. to Mo f fe t t , t h e They sing ver y directors over the “We do this well. Most of them years have included have sung in their Sally Breuninger, annually as our church choirs or Jim Zwally, Donald Christmas gift other choirs. They Trostle, Elliott Block, h a v e a m u s i c a l to the community.” C l i f f B e h r e n d t , background.” Earl Pickel and Bill In addition to the Young. songs already mentioned, music Over the years, the chorus will include “Have Yourself a Merry has presented concerts at local Little Christmas,” “Jolly Old St. venues, including Longwood Nicholas,” and “Ding Dong Merrily Gardens and the Brandywine on High.” “We do a mixture of reli- River Museum. The group has gious and sacred music - familiar performed several times at the songs and some that are not quite White House during its Christas familiar. It’s always nice to hear mas tours and at the Kennedy something new,” said Kusnersyk. Center. The chorus performed “We will also do a Grinch medley.” at the Christmas tree-lighting
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BY FRANCINE FULTON
In 1947, when Glenn Ritter of Honey Brook was 6 years old, his parents bought him a new set of Lionel trains. Each year, the train cars ran under the family Christmas tree. Glenn’s aunt and uncle owned a model train store in New Jersey, so he grew up collecting and running model trains. By the time he was 9 years old, Glenn knew he wanted to be an architect, and at the age of 11, he accepted Jesus as his Savior. Glenn recalled that after finishing his homework on Oct. 22, 1952, he opened his Bible and was confronted with God’s truth. Glenn prayed to receive Jesus and immediately experienced a warmth and a feeling of peace. The memory still brings tears of joy to his eyes. In 1961, he attended a Billy Graham crusade, where he rededicated his life to Christ. Raised on a farm in Worcester Township, Montgomery County, Glenn lost his father at the age of 15. After graduating from