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Cortland hosts Christmas Carols and Cookies

Submitted photo Santa was the special guest at the inaugural Cortland’s Christmas Carols and Cookies event earlier this month.

THOMAS — The inaugural Christmas Carols and Cookies fundraising event to benefit Cortland’s successful music therapy program was a hit with attendees young and old, officials said. The Foundation at Cortland Acres hosted the event on Friday, Dec. 13, and turned the cafe into a make-shift holiday tree farm.
“I wanted residents and guests to feel like they were entering a Christmas tree lot,” said event mastermind and Foundation member Crystal Boone. “I think that feeling was achieved by the 34 lit trees throughout the dining room. The dimmed lights and tree-hugged room provided a lovely ambiance. The red and black buffalo-checked farmhouse theme decorations also helped provide a cozy atmosphere.”
Vendors donated materials and some even their time to help the cause. U.S. Foods donated cookies for the children to decorate and for the complimentary refreshment table. Members of the Odyssey Rehab staff sponsored and were on hand to help with the ornament making and cookie decorating stations. Local vendors Georgy Plaugher of Seven Islands Farm sold live pine wreaths and other goodies while Macy Nestor’s Macy Lou’s Gourmet Apples were available for purchase. Both generously made donations to the music therapy program. A special thank you goes out to all the folks that donated artificial Christmas trees to the event. They created a magical space for everyone to enjoy.
The non-stop holiday music was especially popular, with entertainment provided by local favorite and 2019 Leaf Peeper talent winner Lindsey Hull. Cortland resident Robert Stemple entertained the audience in his first public piano concert, and the Cortland Choir, under the direction of Music Therapist Patty Allison, performed three holiday favorites. Mountain Laurel Learning Cooperative students joined their Cortland “grand friends” for two special tunes, including one using sign language. The evening concluded with traditional carols sung by the Thomas / Davis Girl Scouts Troop 34091 and Canaan Valley resident Kelsey Jeffries singing more beloved holiday tunes.
“We’ve already started planning for the 2020 Cortland Christmas Carols and Cookies event,” explains Boone. “The event next year will be held on December 11th so mark your calendars. There have been requests from those who participated this year to return and we have others already volunteering to provide music. It was truly a wonderful event for those in attendance and brought young and old together to develop meaningful relationships. Above all, it brought joy to so many this holiday season including our residents and members of the community. I would like to thank everyone who came out to support the Cortland Foundation, our music therapy program and of course the many people who serenaded us all.”
The Foundations’ mission is “To secure the resources necessary to enhance the health and well-being of the Cortland community.” A 501(c)3 organization, The Foundation is dedicated to helping Cortland Acres continue to provide and expand quality care and services to the local and surrounding communities. For more information call 304-463-4181 or visit www.cortlandacres.org.
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THOMAS — The inaugural Christmas Carols and Cookies fundraising event to benefit Cortland’s successful music therapy program was a hit with attendees young and old, officials said. The Foundation at Cortland Acres hosted the event on Friday, Dec. 13, and turned the cafe into a make-shift holiday tree farm.

“I wanted residents and guests to feel like they were entering a Christmas tree lot,” said event mastermind and Foundation member Crystal Boone. “I think that feeling was achieved by the 34 lit trees throughout the dining room. The dimmed lights and tree-hugged room provided a lovely ambiance. The red and black buffalo-checked farmhouse theme decorations also helped provide a cozy atmosphere.”

Vendors donated materials and some even their time to help the cause. U.S. Foods donated cookies for the children to decorate and for the complimentary refreshment table. Members of the Odyssey Rehab staff sponsored and were on hand to help with the ornament making and cookie decorating stations. Local vendors Georgy Plaugher of Seven Islands Farm sold live pine wreaths and other goodies while Macy Nestor’s Macy Lou’s Gourmet Apples were available for purchase. Both generously made donations to the music therapy program. A special thank you goes out to all the folks that donated artificial Christmas trees to the event. They created a magical space for everyone to enjoy.

The non-stop holiday music was especially popular, with entertainment provided by local favorite and 2019 Leaf Peeper talent winner Lindsey Hull. Cortland resident Robert Stemple entertained the audience in his first public piano concert, and the Cortland Choir, under the direction of Music Therapist Patty Allison, performed three holiday favorites. Mountain Laurel Learning Cooperative students joined their Cortland “grand friends” for two special tunes, including one using sign language. The evening concluded with traditional carols sung by the Thomas / Davis Girl Scouts Troop 34091 and Canaan Valley resident Kelsey Jeffries singing more beloved holiday tunes.

“We’ve already started planning for the 2020 Cortland Christmas Carols and Cookies event,” explains Boone. “The event next year will be held on December 11th so mark your calendars. There have been requests from those who participated this year to return and we have others already volunteering to provide music. It was truly a wonderful event for those in attendance and brought young and old together to develop meaningful relationships. Above all, it brought joy to so many this holiday season including our residents and members of the community. I would like to thank everyone who came out to support the Cortland Foundation, our music therapy program and of course the many people who serenaded us all.”

The Foundations’ mission is “To secure the resources necessary to enhance the health and well-being of the Cortland community.” A 501(c)3 organization, The Foundation is dedicated to helping Cortland Acres continue to provide and expand quality care and services to the local and surrounding communities. For more information call 304-463-4181 or visit www.cortlandacres.org.

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