My Facebook page was filled with wonderful photos of the Downtown Open House celebration that was held on Friday, November 28th. The tree lighting ceremony was one of the first events I attended when I arrived in Minot on November 7th of 1976. Yep, that was a long time ago.

That year they used a “real” tree that was donated by a local citizen. It seems like the tree was at least 40 feet tall. I remember wondering how in the world they got the lights to the very top of that tree. As it does today, Downtown Minot seemed to have a magical Christmas feel to it that year. For a young guy like me living alone in a small 1-bedroom apartment the lighting of the downtown Christmas tree made me smile and think about heading home for Christmas to my hometown of Maddock, North Dakota.

I don’t think I have missed many of these tree lighting ceremonies over the years. Sometimes the weather has been downright balmy, where even wearing a jacket was an option. And well, sometimes like last year, it was so darned cold! Minus 17 degrees with an even more bitter wind chill. Still, people crowd the street to get a view of the lighting of the tree, and this year a spectacular fireworks display. The cold air made the colors of the tree lights and the fireworks more vibrant. The sounds of the fireworks exploding filled the main street area, and there were several loud cheers as some of the more spectacular fireworks exploded high overhead. It was an absolute perfect beginning to the Christmas season.

One of the recent highlights of the Open House Tree lighting ceremony has been the special guests we have on stage. Each year, for at least the past 10 years, we have sent an invitation to the Command teams of the 5th Bomb Wing and the 91st Missile Wing, and their families, to join emcee Margie Bolton on stage. This year the stage was pretty much packed as both Col Lamarand and Col Schlabach were able to attend and give a warm welcome from the Minot Air Force Base. The unique relationship between the community of Minot and the Minot Air Force base is so very important, especially on a night like the Holiday Open House.

As I looked through the crowd I wondered how many young Airmen were in attendance seeing the tree lighting and the fireworks for the very first time. For some the weather on Friday evening could have been a bit of a challenge. But we hope the warmth that was extended by the hundreds in attendance made some of that challenge go away. Next year they will have endured a North Dakota winter and will probably laugh at folks who suggest that 18 degrees ABOVE zero is cold.

Of the thank you messages on Facebook was a message from Monica Schlabach and Lisa Sharp. Monica is the spouse of 91st Wing Commander Jimmy Schlabach, and Lisa Sharp is the wife of Chief Master Sergeant Wayne Sharp, Command Chief of the 5th Bomb Wing. Besides the many, many photos they posted of the Minot AFB team in Downtown Minot, there was a small notation on the page…Last Tree Lighting in Minot. Oh my! How reality starts to set in. Yes indeed, this will be the last Tree Lighting for Col Schlabach and his Command Chief Becky Thomas. And of course, the last Tree Lighting for Col Lamarand and Chief Master Sargeant Sharp. OK, I won’t teer up quite yet, but when you think about it last year was their first year at the Tree Lighting in Minot, and this year is their last. Well unless the memories and allure of this special evening will entice them to return. They may not be on stage, but we want them to know how special it is for them to take time to be part of this special event. For any event to host these special VIP’s is really truly something very unique. The Downtown Business and Professional Association certainly reaches out to each and every one of you and says, “Thank You!”
It’s not cliché at all, the quote that stands right beside an oft used motto “Only the Best Come North.” That quote is, and we mean it with all of our hearts; To every one of you who serve us so well, “We Can’t Say Thank You…Enough!”

On Your Calendar
I will still give a shout out the Minot Chamber Chorale Renaissance Feast. As of this writing there are still tickets left for this great event. Check for tickets on minotchamberchorale.org.

Today’s Chuckle
A diamond is nothing but a lump of coal that stuck to the job.