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 Each tree was decorated in a unique theme chosen by
the sponsoring businesses, organizations or individuals.
Along the walk, business owners, families, friends and those just
there to see the amazing sight gathered and talked, laughed,
visited, and anxiously awaited the moment when all 40 trees would be
lit simultaneously.
The weather leading up to the lighting had been less
than helpful as many who had decorated their trees early in the week
found themselves back out on the courthouse lawn on Thanksgiving Day
and Friday morning repairing the damage done by high winds and heavy
rains that passed through the area on Tuesday and Wednesday. But by
lighting time all the trees were picture perfect once again.
The Winter Wonderland tree project was the brainchild
of downtown business owner Kathie Williams. On Friday evening
Williams addressed the crowd briefly before doing the countdown to
the lighting.
She noted first of all that there had been a lot of rather quick
planning to put the project together and there were a number of
people who needed to be thanked for their hard work and support of
the project.
Williams first thanked the Logan County Board. She had taken the
idea to the board, seeking permission to place the trees on the
courthouse lawn. Earlier this month she noted that she had no idea
what would be involved in getting the project off the ground. The
board had to give their permission, and thankfully they had done so.
She thanked the board for supporting an idea that meant a great deal
to her.
Williams also noted that the Logan County Tourism
Bureau and its director, Morgan Gleason, had been very supportive.
She singled out Gleason saying that the two had talked almost daily
about what was going on with the trees. She said at the end of every
conversation Gleason would assure Williams that she was there to
help and all Williams needed to do was let her know what to do.
Also on the list of people to thank were the students of the Land of
Lincoln CEO who helped stake the trees. The kids had come out on
Saturday, November 23rd and worked to get the trees mounted on
T-posts so even Mother Nature couldn’t blow them away.
Williams went on to thank Big R in Lincoln and RP
Lumber for helping with some of the materials needed to get the
trees placed and lit. She also thanked the Up in Smoke committee for
their help.
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As she began to wind down, she remembered her own
family. Williams said she had devoted a lot of time to planning the
trees and her family had helped fill in the gaps at her store, Small
Town Creations, while Williams was working on the project. She also
remembered her husband Jim who had been there all through the
process. She said he was always supportive and there to help with
the details as well as implementing the plan.
Also speaking Friday evening was Lincoln Mayor Seth
Goodman. When handed the microphone he noted first of all that the
one person not on Williams’ thank you list was Williams. He said he
wanted everyone to give her a big round of applause for not only
having the vision for the community, but also successfully
implementing it in a short amount of time.
Goodman said that when Williams brought him the idea, he thought it
was great, but he wasn’t sure there would be enough time to get
forty tree sponsors on board, but Williams had a lot of
determination, and the idea was so well received by the community
that it turned out very well.
When Goodman was finished, he turned the microphone back over to
Williams to start the countdown. She noted that the trees were a
community project and that the community needed to be a part of the
lighting. She called on everyone to assist with the countdown and as
all shouted ‘three – two – one – light!’ The lights were turned on.
After large cheers and applause, guests spent the next little while
walking around the courthouse lawn and looking at the trees close
up. Among them were many whose tree was put up in memory of a loved
one.
There were times of joy, tears, and lots of photos
taken around those trees. Others were trees put up by local
businesses and the signs at the feet of the trees offered holiday
greetings and also words of appreciation to loyal customers.
The Friday night event was stage one of a great weekend in Lincoln.
Small Business Saturday was hugely successful this year, with
downtown shops bustling with customers.
LDN will have more from Small Business Saturday and the many special
activities that went along with it in the Tuesday edition.
[Nila Smith] |
