Franklin County voter serenades Chambersburg polling place

Polling places during local elections in Franklin County sort of feel like libraries.

A few visitors at a time work with their heads down in semi-private booths while low-paid workers and volunteers ensure rules are followed. And it's whisper quiet.

But Chambersburg Precinct 3-1 at the Eugene C. Clarke Jr. Community Center was less a library and more of a stage on Tuesday evening as the clock ticked toward the end of Election Day.

A self-identified "crooner," Tom Fornerette stood before an audience of poll workers, belting out a 1952 tune made famous by Nat King Cole.

Pretend you're happy when you're blue

It isn't very hard to do

And you'll find happiness without an end

Whenever you pretend...

After casting his ballot for various countywide offices and borough-level positions, Fornerette, 77, decided to dig into his repertoire of 20th century ballads and give the voting precinct a show it's never seen before.

"They're kind enough to indulge me," he said of the poll workers. "It's my gift to them for their hard work on behalf of our community."

He followed up Nat King Cole's "Pretend" with "The Twelfth of Never," a Johnny Mathis song about a forever romance, and Simon & Garfunkle's "Bridge Over Troubled Water." Fornerette still had the attention of poll workers when it was time for this reporter to move on to another polling place.

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A native of New Orleans, Fornerette described himself as naturally talented as a child.

"Mom used to say, boy, you'd better do something with that voice," he said.

In addition to being a member of many choirs over the years, he spent 10 years taking voice lessons with a curmudgeonly mentor whose "godforsaken exercises" helped Fornerette open up his voice and improve his skills as a tenor.

Fornerette lived in several states during his career with Connecticut General Life Insurance Co. before ultimately landing in Chambersburg in 1979. His company intended to send him to Philadelphia, but they ended up assigning him to the York/Adams/Lancaster territory.

"Which is a blessing. God's country, right?" he said.

Amber South can be reached at asouth@publicopinionnews.com.

This article originally appeared on Chambersburg Public Opinion: Pennsylvania voter belts out ballads at Franklin County polling place