Volunteers get holiday lights ready to dance
Motorists can tune in at 106.7-FM
By Michele Linckmlinck@siouxcityjournal.com | Posted: Saturday, November 29, 2008
Alex Bertrand, 9, runs an electrical cord to Christmas lights in a South Sioux City, Nebr.city park, Friday morning, Nov. 28, 2008, that sits between Dakota Ave. and First Ave. at 17th Street. (Sioux City Journal/Michele Linck)
SOUTH SIOUX CITY -- Despite Friday's warm sunny weather, volunteers installing lights and decorations at Dakota Park were doing their best to make it look like Christmastime.
They were untangling strings of lights and setting up penguins, snowmen, candy canes, cardinals, Santa's mailbox and other signs of the season.
By Monday night, Patty McGill, the city's communications director, will have a high-tech show ready to run throughout the holiday season. City Hall also will be decked out in lights. The lights in the park will "dance" in sync with five different Christmas tunes, all available at 106.7-FM on the radio.
The park is a triangle of land in front of City Hall, where Dakota and First avenues merge at 17th Street. Its parking lot and on-street parking provide plenty of places for motorists to pull over to see all five shows safely.
"It's gonna be great!" McGill said.
This is the second year for the computerized light show. McGill promises three times more lights and five times more ornaments than in 2007. And a new transmitter means the radio signal will be stronger too, reaching 150 feet from the display. McGill noted Friday that she also had two times more help installing it this year because of the volunteers.
Kelley Bertrand was there with her four children, Marina,13, Monica, 10, Alex, 9, and Tom, 8, all members of the new Cardinal Pride Junior Optimist Club. Jazzmin Morena, 15, came as a member of the Watchful Eye Foundation group. Nick Walsh, 17, of the city's Youth Leadership Council, worked with McGill's friend Scott Giles to string lights on the tallest of the trees. City staffer Danny Bligh was getting the first video for a podcast for the city's home page, which he said will be posted within the week.
"I wanted to help, why not," Morena said. "We don't do much decorating at home." Kelley Bertrand said it kept her from shopping Friday morning.
The lights will dance to: "Carol of the Bells," Trans-Siberian Orchestra's "Wizards in Wintertime" and "Christmas in Sarajevo," the aria from Yanni's "Live at the Acropolis" concert; and Tchaikovsky's "Dance of the Sugarplum Fairies" from the "Nutcracker Suite."
Among McGill's goals when she began the high-tech display was to grow it each year. On tap for next year, to put lights on the library and fire hall, funding available, and to get the merchants all along Dakota Avenue involved in lighting their storefronts. McGill said she may add a separate light display to the riverfront Scenic Park next year, as well.
The city received $1,500 in donations for the lighting this year from both the Chamberettes and the South Sioux City Youth Foundation. She estimated the project will cost about $6,000.
See the lights dance ...
The lights on City Hall, 1615 First Ave., and the Dakota Park display will be turned on about 5:30 p.m. Monday by Mayor Sandra Ehrich immediately following the 5 p.m. meeting of the city's Public Works Committee. Be sure to have your car radio tuned to 106.7-FM.
They were untangling strings of lights and setting up penguins, snowmen, candy canes, cardinals, Santa's mailbox and other signs of the season.
By Monday night, Patty McGill, the city's communications director, will have a high-tech show ready to run throughout the holiday season. City Hall also will be decked out in lights. The lights in the park will "dance" in sync with five different Christmas tunes, all available at 106.7-FM on the radio.
The park is a triangle of land in front of City Hall, where Dakota and First avenues merge at 17th Street. Its parking lot and on-street parking provide plenty of places for motorists to pull over to see all five shows safely.
"It's gonna be great!" McGill said.
This is the second year for the computerized light show. McGill promises three times more lights and five times more ornaments than in 2007. And a new transmitter means the radio signal will be stronger too, reaching 150 feet from the display. McGill noted Friday that she also had two times more help installing it this year because of the volunteers.
Kelley Bertrand was there with her four children, Marina,13, Monica, 10, Alex, 9, and Tom, 8, all members of the new Cardinal Pride Junior Optimist Club. Jazzmin Morena, 15, came as a member of the Watchful Eye Foundation group. Nick Walsh, 17, of the city's Youth Leadership Council, worked with McGill's friend Scott Giles to string lights on the tallest of the trees. City staffer Danny Bligh was getting the first video for a podcast for the city's home page, which he said will be posted within the week.
"I wanted to help, why not," Morena said. "We don't do much decorating at home." Kelley Bertrand said it kept her from shopping Friday morning.
The lights will dance to: "Carol of the Bells," Trans-Siberian Orchestra's "Wizards in Wintertime" and "Christmas in Sarajevo," the aria from Yanni's "Live at the Acropolis" concert; and Tchaikovsky's "Dance of the Sugarplum Fairies" from the "Nutcracker Suite."
Among McGill's goals when she began the high-tech display was to grow it each year. On tap for next year, to put lights on the library and fire hall, funding available, and to get the merchants all along Dakota Avenue involved in lighting their storefronts. McGill said she may add a separate light display to the riverfront Scenic Park next year, as well.
The city received $1,500 in donations for the lighting this year from both the Chamberettes and the South Sioux City Youth Foundation. She estimated the project will cost about $6,000.
See the lights dance ...
The lights on City Hall, 1615 First Ave., and the Dakota Park display will be turned on about 5:30 p.m. Monday by Mayor Sandra Ehrich immediately following the 5 p.m. meeting of the city's Public Works Committee. Be sure to have your car radio tuned to 106.7-FM.
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