HOLIDAY SPIRIT

It was beginning to look like Christmas in Thompson Falls last week as the annual Christmas on Main Street events inspired holiday spirit throughout town.

The Thompson Falls Chamber of Commerce hosted a Holiday Stroll on Thursday evening. Businesses stayed open as families strolled Main Street. Three craft stations were set up as nonprofit organizations and businesses had kids create ornaments for the community Christmas tree, which was lit at the end of the evening. Christmas on Main Street also included the annual gingerbread contest at the Old Jail Museum, sponsored by the Sanders County Historical Society, and the annual parade down Main Street on Saturday evening.

Project ASCENT, which provides outdoor opportunities for kids with summer camps, as well as activities throughout the year, had a project at Two Rivers Grille. Kids stuffed white or green pompoms in clear ornaments to make a Grinch or snowman decoration. "It's just another way to give back," said Project ASCENT founder Rob Christensen. "The community gives so much to us, we couldn't do what we do without the support of the community."

More information about Project ASCENT is available on Facebook or at their website, projectascent.org.

At The Sanders County Ledger, the Be Like Bill Foundation had kids color necktie ornaments. The ornaments were created by the Thompson Falls High School shop class out of wood and engraved with the Be Like Bill logo. The Be Like Bill Foundation was formed in honor of Bill Cain, the former Thompson Falls Superintendent who passed away earlier this year. Annie Wooden founded the Be Like Bill Foundation and is a member of the Chamber of Commerce board, which organized the Christmas on Main Street events.

"It's great to provide a fun, safe event for the community," Wooden said of the Holiday Stroll. "We all need some holiday spirit right now." Find out more about Be Like Bill at http://www.belikebillfoundation.org or on Facebook.

At The Rex Theater, Specialized Cleaning of Thompson Falls had kids make snowmen out of plastic drink containers. Specialized Cleaning is a mobile cleaning service owned by Casey Helvey. His business cleans after fire, water damage, mold, carpet cleaning, and more. He has been doing restoration work for over 10 years. The Thompson Falls Film and Theater Foundation is a nonprofit connected with The Rex Theater that provides scholarships to local students interested in the arts. According to the organization secretary, Debbie Wilson, the little old theater used to be a center point in the community, and locals would like to see that day come again. "Every little town needs a theater," Wilson said. Currently the theater has three main fundraisers throughout the year and is trying to raise the money to pay off loans on the building and to update the facility technology so that it can get a modern projector for modern films. The organization has more information on their website, rextheaterproject.org.

At the end of the stroll, community members gathered in front of Two Rivers Grille and placed their ornaments on the tree. As "It's Beginning to Look a Lot Like Christmas" and other carols were sung, the tree was lit.

The theme of It's Beginning to Look Like Christmas carried into the annual gingerbread contest at the Old Jail Museum, sponsored by the Sanders County Historical Society.

On Saturday, the Men's Prayer Breakfast group served cocoa and hot dogs to community members prior to the parade, helping keep the community warm with the free treats on the chilly parade evening. The parade was led by grand marshal Diane Hedahl, secretary at Thompson Falls Elementary. Parade entries included Reflections Academy students performing dance routines, people on horses, floats with myriad lights and even carols playing.