A Beautiful Tree Lighting in Pleasant Ridge
(Kurt Metzger, Mayor and Thomas Treuter, photographer, Dec. 5, 2017)
Pleasant Ridge, MI – On an especially lovely December 4 evening, more than 300 Pleasant Ridge residents came out to help Santa Claus light the PR Christmas Tree.
Attendees fueled themselves with over 610 cookies and 210 cups of hot chocolate.
Santa arrived by police vehicle, driven by Chief Kevin Nowak. He was met by Pleasant Ridge’s head elf, Scott Pietrzak, dressed in a lovely Christmas-themed suit, and brought to the podium, after first stopping to pet Rudolf who had flown in for the occasion.
The lovely sounds of the Ferndale Middle School Jazz Choir, under the direction of Kim Schroeder, accompanied his arrival. After Mayor Kurt Metzger greeted him and presented him with the Key to the City, Santa asked the children to wave their wands and help him light the tree. Thanks to last minute light repairs earlier in the day, the lighting was a Beautiful sight and went off without a hitch.
With the sound of Christmas carols in the background, Santa proceeded to his special chair to greet the children, hear their Christmas wishes, and have pictures taken. I can report that elf Scott took 86 photos in all.
I want to thank the Pleasant Ridge administrative staff – especially Scott Pietrzak – and our wonderful Police for making another a Pleasant Ridge event so very special. You make my job so much fun!