Help community "Light the Tree"

On page 3 of the print edition of the Wednesday, Oct. 24 News-TImes is an advertisement for the Light the Tree campaign in preparation for Columbia Countys official Christmas tree lighting.

Its an event that has long been called for on these pages. The event takes place, in part, because of The News-Times involvement, including the donation of space for the promotion of the Light the Tree campaign.

But it isnt just a News-Times project; far from it. Its a community event, funded with community donations, all geared toward a single purpose: erecting a Christmas tree in the Evans town center.

The theme of the tree-lighting ceremony, appropriate to the season and to our times, is Christmas in America, and will feature holiday music and a patriotic motif. Volunteers are still putting the details together, but the time and date are firm: some very special people will throw the switch to light Columbia Countys Christmas tree on Saturday, Dec. 1, at 6 p.m.

It may not feel like its time to get into the Christmas spirit when Halloween pumpkins dot the roadside. But because the funds to purchase the tree and the one-time expense for lights are coming from private citizens, the Light the Tree campaign kicks off today with the form available on Page 3 to give organizers plenty of lead time to get the funding in hand before the event. The News-Times will print the form several more times between now and Nov. 21, the deadline for making a donation.

All donations to the campaign are tax-deductible, with checks payable to Columbia County Arts, Inc., and are a great way to recognize a dear friend or relative, or simply to show community spirit - and Christmas spirit!

For more information, call the News-TImes at 863-6165, or send an e-mail message to cnt@newstimesonline.com