Volunteers are reason for season

MOSES LAKE — 'Twas the morn of elections and all through the city, crews worked feverishly to ensure everything looked holidayish and pretty.

Starting at 6:30 a.m. Tuesday morning, about 10 volunteers were out hanging an estimated 75 Christmas wreathes and "Season's Greetings" banners throughout downtown. They were done just before 9:30 a.m.

As they have in years previous, Qwest and Northland Cable donated their bucket trucks to the cause, led by Moses Lake Business Association.

Qwest worker Dennis Olson said his company has done it every year.

"It just gets the holiday season rolling," Olson said.

Northland Cable worker Pat Haughton said he'd seen a lot of people waving while putting up the decorations.

"We appreciate their patience while we're blocking their street," Haughton said.

"We have very community spirit-minded businesses," MLBA executive director Sally Goodwin said.

During last year's decorating, Goodwin said she occasionally hears from people who are irritated at how early the holiday markers go up.

"It has to be up before Holiday Open House, which is the weekend before Thanksgiving, and then when you get a crew, you do it," she said Tuesday morning. "This day worked out for Qwest, Northland Cable and for MLBA volunteers, so we did it."

Goodwin noted that Tuesday was not the only time the wreathes were handled before they went up. The decorations were moved out of storage last week by a team of seven people, and five people went through the wreaths, checking and replacing lights and "fluffing" them, she said.

Goodwin added that if anyone sees a wreath or a banner that is loose or askew, they should alert the MLBA.