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49 °F 5 Day Forecast Saturday, November 29, 2003 Today's News | Classifieds | Autos | Homes | Jobs | Tempo | eSouthernOregon | Home Delivery SECTIONS Home Page Local News Sports Business Obituaries Life Opinion - Politics AP News Weather Classified Archives Site Map EXTRA Newspaper in Education Personals Movie Times TV Times E The People CLASSIFIEDS Find a Car Find a Home Find a Job Find a Rental Place an ad eSouthernOregon Automotive Communities Entertainment Publications Recreation Calendar CUSTOMER SERVICE Frequent Questions Advertising Information Home Delivery Employment Contact Us Media Kit Network Affiliate Email Story to a Friend November 18, 2003 Sue Musolf, a volunteer with the Winter Light Festival committee, exhibits the new star-shaped rope lights that will adorn Medford�s Christmas tree this holiday season. Hanging them on the tree is Mark Hill of public works. Mail Tribune / Bob Pennell More lights will twinkle in Medford By MEG LANDERS Mail Tribune Hundreds more lights will twinkle up and down Medford’s Main Street for the holidays, but this year’s Winter Light Festival won’t have a parade, weeks of performances or certain jolly old elves climbing buildings. "The Santas will be missing this year," said Sue Musolf, member of the festival committee. "We just didn’t have the manpower to get that together." The Winter Light Festival takes place Friday in Vogel Plaza downtown. The event kicks off at 5 p.m. with visits with Santa Claus and culminates with a tree lighting at 6:40 p.m. A 45-foot-tall white fir tree, donated by Boise Cascade, arrived Monday from the Butte Falls area. Advertisement "It’s probably about a 30- to 35-year-old tree," said Bob Smith, human resource manager with Boise Cascade. Musolf said the tree and the lights are what she’s focusing on this year, given the shortage of volunteers. "We put a lot of effort this year into building a basic structure," said Musolf. She said there are plans to continue to purchase lights each year, so that illumination downtown can spread to other blocks. Phil Cam of Pacific Diamond Jewelers, across the street from Vogel Plaza, said he enjoys the festivities. "It’s a great time of year," he said. "Most retailers do 25 to 30 percent of their business in 30 days (near Christmas)," he said. Cam said it was all right with him that the decorating was beginning early. Musolf said the committee wanted to have everything ready for the start of the holiday shopping season. "The reason the tree is going up early is we want to have the town lit up for the day after Thanksgiving," Musolf said. Cam, who’s volunteered for the street decorating, said he’s sorry that the whimsical wall-climbing Santas, fashioned after European holiday tableaux, are not coming out. "I’m a little disappointed," he said. "I liked them." Musolf said if the committee gets more volunteer participation, the Santas could return next year. The city of Medford and the Medford Urban Renewal Agency, as well as many individuals, businesses and organizations, have contributed about $24,500 so far for this year’s festival, in addition to donated services. The Winter Light Festival Committee meets the first Tuesday of every month, year-round. For more information, contact Glenda Owens at City Hall, 774-2000. Events begin at 5 p.m. The Winter Light Festival will be Friday at Vogel Plaza, Main Street and Central Avenue, in downtown Medford. 5 p.m. — Santa will hear children’s wishes in front of Tuxedo Junction on the corner of Main Street and Central Avenue. Free candy canes will be passed out, and roasted chestnuts and free hot chocolate also will be available. 6:30 p.m. — Hedrick and McLoughlin middle school choirs will sing carols from around the world. Caroling will culminate with the tree lighting at 6:40 p.m. Main Street from Riverside Avenue to Front Street and Central Avenue from Sixth to Eighth streets will be closed during the event. Reach reporter Meg Landers at 776-4481 or e-mail [email protected] . Mail Tribune Home Local News | Sports | Business | Obituaries | Life Opinion - Politics | AP News | Archives | Site Map E Southern Oregon | Classified Copyright © 1997-2003 Mail Tribune. All rights reserved. Privacy Policy | Terms & Conditions Website Feedback 3 WEEKS FREE! ADVERTISERS SPECIAL SECTIONS Auto Finder Job Finder Home Finder Joy Magazine Homelife Magazine Tempo Real Estate Showcase Food for Thought Hike of the Week Wellness Connection Outdoor Journal Moving to Southern Oregon? Volunteer Openings Prime Times