Tree Lighting Tradition Revived at Les Cheneaux

A group of Cedarville and Hessel residents (from left) Katie Eberts, Adam Boike, Seth Haske, and Phil and Sonnet Quinn sang Christmas songs during the tree lighting ceremony at the Les Cheneaux Welcome Center in Cedarville Wednesday night, December 6. The group was later joined by Bradley Haske (not pictured) in singing one of the numbers.

Area residents braved subzero temperatures to see the revival of the Les Cheneaux community Christmas tree lighting Wednesday night, December 6.

The event recalls similar tree lightings held in downtown Cedarville, which Tom Haske said served as the inspiration for the Chamber of Commerce to bring the event back. He recalled

the event from when he was younger, and as a member of the Chamber, supported the idea of hosting a tree in front of the Les Cheneaux Welcome Center.

Students at Les Cheneaux Community Schools made edible ornaments for birds, led by elementary art teacher Mary Lindberg. The Les Cheneaux Elementary Student Council paid for supplies such as seeds and peanut butter, and Jill McLeod, a teacher and owner of The Ice Cream Shoppe, donated ice cream cones for the ornaments. Cedarville Foods donated suet.

Each grade made different ornaments, including peanut-butter covered pine cones studded with birdseed, popcorn and cranberry garland, orange slice and cranberry danglers, seed and suet filled cones, and bread dough shapes with sunflower seeds.

Students, families, and the community were invited to decorate the tree with the ornaments, then watch the tree lighting, while Adam Boike, Katie Eberts, Bradley and Seth Haske, and Phil and Sonnet Quinn led Christmas caroling under the glow of a hand-held workshop light.

Before lighting the tree, Mr. Haske thanked everyone involved, and asked the crowd to take a moment of silence to reflect on people who cannot be home during the holidays, as they are serving in the military and in the war in Iraq.

Warm beverages and homemade cookies were served after the lighting at the Welcome Center.