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Medford celebrates the season Photo by Jim Craven South Medford Choir menbers, clockwise from top left, Amy Jordahl, Natalie Lehnhardt, Heather Smith and Kirsten Stone sing at Medford's "Holiday of the Century" celebration Tuesday night. By PETER WONG Neither threat of rain nor gloom of night discouraged hundreds of people Tuesday from celebrating the lighting of Medford's community Christmas tree in downtown's Vogel Park. Many sipped hot cider, coffee and cocoa -- all welcome on a chilly and cloudy night -- and munched chestnuts and cookies while awaiting the arrival of the North and South Medford high school marching bands, Mayor Lindsay Berryman and Santa Claus. Berryman came in the Medford Fire Department's new truck. Santa finished the short trek in a van. Though the short parade that brought both of them to Vogel Park also featured Santa's sleigh and reindeer, the reindeer stayed a block away on Bartlett Street. It was Santa that many of the kids -- and adults -- wanted to see. Among them was Shirley Collins Dempsey of Medford, who accompanied four grandchildren. "I took them to Ashland's celebration last week, but they did not get to see Santa," Dempsey said. "They will tonight." Santa greeted young and old at the southwest corner of Central Avenue and Main Street, across from the community Christmas tree, while choirs from the high schools sang on a stage in Vogel Park. Then it was Berryman's turn at center stage for her first lighting as mayor. "As we move into the 21st century, we have come together as a community to plan and design what the city of Medford can become," said Berryman, a former downtown merchant and Medford Urban Renewal Agency board member before her election as mayor last year. "Your presence here tonight reaffirms that commitment. Downtown Medford is truly our heart and our history." The tree in Vogel Park is a 32-year-old white fir taken from KOGAP Enterprises land southeast of Medford. It is 50 feet tall and more than 5,000 pounds. It is decorated with 300 feet of garland and 500 feet of lights. It was selected by Leesa Henselman, who with her husband Scott were the coordinators of Tuesday's lighting. "We just wanted to see our tree," said Donnis Lausmann, wife of former Mayor Jerry Lausmann, KOGAP chairman. Scott Henselman said later he was pleased with a turnout that he estimated at 3,500. "The weather cooperated by clearing off in time for the event, so we didn't have any rain," he said. "This event is growing every year. It was a lot of fun with the light show and the bands for the parade, so we were pleased with it." Berryman said the light atop the tree has a special meaning. "To me, it represents love and joy," she said. "My wish would be that we can reach out in love and understanding to our families and friends, reach out in joy and thanksgiving to our neighbors, co-workers and school mates, and reach out in tolerance and respect to all of the differing cultures, religions, ethnic backgrounds and lifestyles. "Now may the light of love shine upon all of us." As her 11-year-old twins Robbie and Ellee were handed small gifts from Toys-R-Us, Rebecca Hounsell paused to reflect on the two-hour celebration. "I live in Medford, and we are so excited that Medford finally got something going that we can be proud of," she said. "We always felt we had to drive to Ashland to get into the spirit." Mail Tribune Copyright � The Mail Tribune 1999, Medford, Oregon USA