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I was at the lighting of the Ashland Plaza's Christmas lights, and I have to say it was pretty impressive. I can’t for the life of me figure out how Santa turned all the lights on at one time. There’s no way that switch did the trick. What gives, Since You Asked Central? Got the straight skinny for me on this one? — Catherine, Medford You know, Catherine, you’re kind of treading into some of karma’s deep water, risking dissing Da Man and all his Christmas splendor by suggesting the 26-year-old tradition of Ashland Plaza’s lighting by Santa Claus is nothing more than electronic synchronicity. Lucky for you, at least someone involved in the plaza lighting is sticking up for Saint Nick. “Of course, what I’d have to say is it’s Santa’s magic,” says Kelsey Frantz, the projects and special events coordinator for the Ashland Chamber of Commerce. Spoiler alert! “It’s way not magic, I tell you,” says Mike Cook, the city electrician who is the proverbial man behind the curtain making the surreal appear real. Santa’s switch is a dummy. A fake. A prop that would make the Ashland Shakespeare Festival proud. The real answer is that there are three light switches that turn on all the city-run lights. One is operated by Cook’s wife. The other by Cook’s mom. Cook’s on the third. They all watch Santa. When he hits the fake switch, the Cook trio hit the real switches and voila! Lights on, kids marvel. Been that way for more than 20 years. “Over time, I’ve got it pretty well wired,” Cook deadpans. “It’s a wonderful thing.” End spoiler alert! The lights have been going on this way for years, Frantz says. “So it really is Santa. ... And he has elves all over town,” Frantz says. Send questions to “Since You Asked,” Mail Tribune Newsroom, P.O. Box 1108, Medford, OR 97501; by fax to 541-776-4376; or by email to [email protected] . We’re sorry, but the volume of questions received prevents us from answering all of them.