Document text
M/CLOUDY Temp: 41 °F Wind: CLM at 0 mph Saturday, December 21, 2002 SECTIONS Home Page Local News Sports Business Obituaries Life Opinion - Politics AP News Weather Classified Archives Site Map EXTRA HomeLife Magazine W3 Magazine Jobs @ Mail Tribune Tempo A & E Oregon CarZone Wellness Connection Real Estate Newspaper in Education Prime Times Outdoor Journal Personals Movie Times TV Times E The People CLASSIFIEDS Find a Car Find a Home Find a Job Find Everything E SOUTHERN OREGON Automotive Communities Entertainment Publications Recreation Calendar ABOUT US FAQ What's New Advertise Home Delivery Classified Ad Contact Us Media Kit Email Story to a Friend December 4, 2002 Amanda Keith, left, and Sarah Shull, both 17, of the South Medford High School choir, can see their breath as they sing holiday music during the downtown Medford tree-lighting celebration Tuesday evening. Mail Tribune / Jim Craven Holiday Tradition Tree-lighting brings out choirs, a parade, hot chestnuts and a festive crowd By MEG LANDERS Mail Tribune The key to tasty chestnuts is making sure the open fire on which they’re roasted is hot, around 400 degrees. "If you leave them too long on low heat, they dry out," said Philip Yates, who was selling hot roasted American chestnuts on Medford’s Main Street Tuesday night. Cut Xs in the shell, put a touch of oil in a cast iron skillet, and roast them for five minutes or so, said Yates, of Talent. His son Ian Yates, 13, and Ian’s friend Terran Ahern, 13, helped serve up a holiday tradition to the festive crowd for Medford’s annual downtown Christmas tree lighting ceremony. From street vendors and high school choirs to Santa’s procession down Main Street and the tree lighting at Vogel Plaza, the event was well-attended by jolly faces of all ages, including many parents carrying toddlers on their shoulders. The city of Medford and the Medford Urban Renewal Agency, as well as more than 40 individuals, businesses and organizations, have contributed about $16,000 for downtown holiday decorations and entertainment this season. The procession included Dean Levie as Santa Claus and Mayor Lindsay Berryman as Mrs. Claus, waving to revelers while riding down Main Street in the bucket on a fire engine ladder. Melissa Durham, 6-year-old Little Miss Medford, charmed the crowd with her Shirley Temple-like performance of "Santa Claus is Coming to Town." During the instrumental, she threw candy canes to the crowd, and people rushed up to collect them. "She’s been singing since she was two," said her mother, Anne Marie Durham of Medford. Melissa loves to sing, she said. The time arrived to turn on the Christmas tree lights and Mayor Berryman led the crowd in a countdown from 10. Despite a 20-second breath-taking delay, the 35-foot tree lit up like magic. "It’s the most beautiful tree we’ve ever had," said Berryman. She recalled that last year’s tree was 40-feet tall and would sway in the wind. She said this tree was the perfect size for Vogel Plaza. Many said the evening was a huge success. "It has been really fun," said organizer Shirley Bewley. "There’s talent that has come forth that I didn’t even know existed." Even though there had been glitches along the way, such as the new street banners which have yet to arrive, everything has gone well, she said. Even the Vogel Plaza chess player statue wore a Santa hat. Reach reporter Meg Landers at 776-4481 or e-mail [email protected] . Downtown this month Medford events at Vogel Plaza Saturday Dec. 7, 10 a.m.-4 p.m., Children’s Day: reindeer, bicycle stunts, magic show, singing, handbell choir, bagpipes, Santa, winners of window dressing contest announced. Thursday, Dec. 12, 5-6 p.m., Old Time Fiddlers. Friday, Dec. 13, noon-5 p.m., school choirs and American Indian program. Saturday, Dec. 14, 2 p.m., Crossing Jordan, Christian rock music. Monday, Dec. 16, 5 p.m., Los Kings (Hispanic music). Thursday, Dec. 19, 4 p.m., Gospel Outreach Choir. Friday, Dec. 20, 5 p.m., Kyle Nesbitt. Saturday, Dec. 21, 2 p.m., Crossing Jordan, Christian rock music. For more information call Shirley Bewley with Heart of Medford at 245-3673 or see the Mail Tribune’s Tempo for details. Printer Friendly Version Email Story to a Friend Subscribe Archive: Click to Search Mail Tribune Home Local News | Sports | Business | Obituaries | Life Opinion - Politics | AP News | Archives | Site Map E Southern Oregon | Classified Copyright 1997-2002 Mail Tribune. All rights reserved. Privacy Policy webmaster feedback A D V E R T I S E R S