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50 °F Forecast | Road Cams Thursday, November 25, 2004 Today's News | Classifieds | Autos | Homes | Jobs | Tempo | Health | Community | Home Delivery SECTIONS Home Page Local News Sports Business Obituaries Life Opinion - Politics Tempo AP News Weather Classified Archives Site Map SPECIAL SECTIONS Since We Asked Outdoor Journal Menu Guide How To Guide Wellness Connection Readers' Choice Real Estate Showcase Joy Magazine Homelife Magazine Wedding Guide Passport to the Rogue Valley EXTRA Newspaper in Education Personals Movie Times TV Times E The People MARKETPLACE Find a Car Find a Home Find a Job Classifieds 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 Oregon Road Conditions & Cams Email Story to a Friend November 20, 2004 Fifteen-month-old Brennan Hackett coos �Ball,� reaching out for a mirrored ornament from the comfort of mom Kelley Hackett�s arms Friday night following downtown Medford�s tree- lighting ceremony in Vogel Plaza. Mail Tribune / Jim Craven Trees and treats Winter Light Festival warms hearts (and stomachs) in downtown Medford By MEG LANDERS Mail Tribune The downtown crowd cheered when the 40-foot tall Christmas tree lit up the clear night Friday. Twice. The Christmas tree lighting was the grand finale to what may be the last annual Winter Light Festival in downtown Medford. The event almost went off without a hitch: the PA system was on the blink for Mrs. Claus, a.k.a. Mayor Lindsay Berryman, and the crowd had to count down watching her fingers. Then when the Christmas tree lights went on, the Vogel Plaza tree lights went out; a minute later the Christmas tree lights went dark. But it all just gave the crowd a second chance to cheer, and this time louder, when the tree lights came back on and stayed on. The tree lighting followed two hours of festivities in Hawthorne Park. The event began at 4 p.m. with hot chili, roasted chestnuts, hot chocolate, marshmallow toasting, singing choirs and a candy cane hunt in the grass field. Organizers estimated 1,500 people attended the park portion, and many more milled about Vogel Plaza. Advertisement For many, the highlight was the candy cane hunt, or more like scramble. "I got four: one, two, three, four!" said 4-year-old Jacob Gilliland as he ran up to his mother, Corie Gilliland, to show off his treasure. The annual celebration needs volunteers to step forward because it’s losing several organizers after this year, including Genivieve Rasmussen. Rasmussen was pleased to see the crowd. "This is great, a fantastic turnout," she said. It was the first year the event was held in Hawthorne Park and she said the location made it easier for everyone to relax and spread out. "To have this many people in the downtown you’ve got to block off the streets," she said. Jennifer Sizemore, watching her 17-month-old daughter, Alyssa, zipping around in the park, agreed. "It’s nice to be able to come out and let the kids run around and enjoy themselves," she said. "I hope they keep doing it," she said. "I didn’t know it was all volunteer based; they don’t advertise for it." For some the highlight appeared to be toasting marshmallows, such as Diana Fung, who had her fingers full of the warm white goo from helping her children, Madison, Zachary and Austin — 5- year-old triplets. Mayor-elect Gary Wheeler attended the tree-lighting ceremony and joked that half of Medford was there. City Manager Mike Dyal said he appreciated the crisp, dry weather. "We like it when it’s nippy," he said. He was optimistic about community involvement to keep the tradition alive, and as for next year, he believes the essentials will at least be attended to. "I think there will be a tree," he said. Anyone interested in volunteering for next year’s event is asked to contact the city manager’s office at 774-2000. 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 © 1997-2004 Mail Tribune. All rights reserved. Privacy Policy | Terms & Conditions Website Feedback ADVERTISERS A D V E R T I S E R S SPECIAL SECTIONS Auto Finder Job Finder Home Finder Joy Magazine Homelife Magazine Tempo Readers' Choice Real Estate Showcase Since We Asked Outdoor Journal Moving to Southern Oregon? Volunteer Opportunities