Santa made his annual visit to the Mt. Laurel Community Center last Thursday to the delight of residents young and old. A crowd gathered outside of the center ahead of the event in anticipation for Santa to arrive riding shotgun aboard one of the Mt. Laurel Fire Department’s trucks.
The Sun was on site to capture some of the sights and sounds of the local tradition and polled residents about what they look forward to most during the holiday season.
One of the first faces visitors saw greeting them warmly as they shuffled in from the cold was resident Mary Ellen, dressed as Mrs. Claus and grinning from ear to ear. Playing the part at the event is something she looks forward to every year; it was her fifth greeting residents as Mrs. Clause.
“I live for this,” Ellen said as she welcomed visitors.
At home, she keeps a tree up year round and decorates according to each season. Ellen really comes alive during the holidays and strives to keep the Christmas spirit going as well in memory of her brother, who passed away at just 9 years old during Christmas. She has taken a tragic part of her past and turned it into a reason to rejoice.
“I celebrate life, and I help celebrate his life. It sounds crazy but it’s my tradition,” Ellen explained. “If we can be happy, why not be happy all year?”
Township Manager Meredith Tomczyk looks forward to celebrating her first Christmas as a mother, and as always, to attending holiday events that bring residents together.
“It’s an opportunity for not only family to come together, but friends to come out together,” she said.
Residents Jason and Angelica Burwell brought their son Jason Jr. and newborn daughter Angelica Jr. out to meet Santa, fill up on candies and treats and partake of holiday arts and crafts for children.
According to Jason, they look forward to spending quality time with the family around the holidays. They have come to the community center as a family every year since Jason Jr. was born and everyone gets together to decorate their tree at home.
“It’s a lot of family,” Jason said.
Having hosted Christmas at their house last year, they are also looking forward to Angelica’s mother taking a turn hosting the festivities.
Resident Michelle Savino brought her twin daughters Lily and Kacey and her son Braydon, who really look forward to the holiday crafts each year. In addition to the community center event, they have made it a tradition to go to Johnson’s Farm and Sesame Place for their annual Christmas attractions.
Like the Burwells, Savino looks forward to family time most during the holidays and will also be leaving hosting responsibilities to her mother.
“We go to my mom’s,” she said with a laugh. “It’s too much work.”
