City sees positive changes

Dear editor,

Wow! Lately, the aesthetic changes in our fair city have been phenomenal.

I curiously watched as the awkward triangle in front of Albertsons morphed into an inviting, welcoming, beautiful area near one of Mountain Home's main entrance points. The huge rock with "Mountain Home" on it shows that many of us who chose to live here take pride in our town, and we want people to feel welcome as they enter it.

I thought it looked great, and boom! Christmas lights came next. If you haven't driven by it at night, I encourage you to do so. It is truly stunning and a feast for the eyes.

Speaking of night, the Night Light Parade last Friday was wonderful. The theme was from "How the Grinch Stole Christmas" by Dr. Seuss. There were Whos, down in Who-ville, the tall and the small, who were singing (and dancing) without any presents at all.

The parade ended at Carl Miller Park, where the event turned absolutely magical. There were choirs singing, sugar plum fairies dancing, Little Cindy Lou-who's running about and pictures with Santa, Mrs. Claus and even Mister Grinch.

The crowning moment was when the ginormous tree was lit up, after a backward count down from one of the little Who's. As everyone wandered around looking at the twinkly trees, the joy in their faces (especially the children's faces) was apparent. If people got cold, they could take a break and warm themselves by the fires burning in barrels about the park.

Amazing memories were made for hundreds of families that night, and it didn't cost them a thing. And to me, making memories with my family is what it's all about.

I can see the Christmas parade and the Light the Night annual event in the park becoming huge, as individuals and businesses continue to purchase the trees to make the forest grow. I can also see it becoming a destination for others from southern Idaho to attend.

If you haven't been down to the park at night yet, I would like to encourage you to stop by, get out of your car, and go look closely at every individual tree. Some of them look like spun glass!

Also, thank the businesses and individuals for their tree donations the next time you see them. I was there again last night and ended up chatting with another person who was there. I took pictures of her for her to share with her friends and family in front of the stunning trees. It was really nice, and I got to have a great conversation with someone whom I had never met.

I commend each and every person who has made all of this amazing stuff happen here in our great little town. I love living here, and every person who has made it even a more special place (by working on all of these things) must love living here, too. I would like to extend my thanks to each and every one of you.

Merry Christmas!

-- Kenda Schroeder,

Mountain Home