Gannett grant funds downtown holiday decoration project

LA NCASTER – Stephannie Ross said she will remember her day helping decorate trees on Main Street every time she goes downtown.

"I can take my kids around, and they'll love to see all the lights," she said Saturday. "I think it's awesome."

Ross was one of more than 50 volunteers who helped string 264 strands of holiday lights on downtown trees and plant daffodil bulbs in the tree wells along Main, Broad and Columbus streets. The event was in conjunction with Gannett's national Make A Difference Day and Destination Downtown Lancaster's plan to upgrade the city's holiday decorations.

Gannett is The Eagle-Gazette's parent company and donated $5,000 to the project for the lights and flower bulbs.

The Fairfield County Foundation also donated $5,000 so DDL could buy pole-topper Christmas decorations. The Lancaster Sherman Rotary Club raised about $4,000 to buy additional holiday decorations.

"It's great to see so many people turn out," Eagle-Gazette Managing Editor Jim Sabin said. "It just shows the pride that people have in our community and our downtown. And The Eagle-Gazette is certainly part of that, and we share that pride in our downtown."

Volunteer Leah Daniels also shared in that pride.

"I just wanted to be a part of the community in Lancaster," she said. "It's a beautiful day. It's a great day to put up Christmas lights and start getting into the holiday season. I was wondering if we were going to be out here rain or shine, but I didn't have to worry about it."

Mayor David Smith said the number of volunteers was twice as many as he expected.

"We have a cross-section of people," he said. "We've got business owners down here, we've got building owners, and we have some citizens that heard about it volunteered. It's great."

Lancaster-Fairfield County Chamber of Commerce board Chairman Ken Mogle said the attendance was probably helped by the fact the Ohio State game against Penn State was at night and not during the day.

"This is a festive time of year," he said. "And it's really great to make the downtown look festive and inviting. When people drive through they see how nice it looks. It's like old-time village stuff. It's really great."

Last year, Gannett donated money and employees to paint the inside of the Lutheran Social Services homeless shelter.

jbarron@lancastereaglegazette.com

740-681-4340

Twitter: @JeffDBarron