Out on the town last weekend, my wife and I were amazed to glance inside a window and see someone decorating a Christmas tree.
The Halloween pumpkins are hardly picked up, and here come the lights and tinsel. The march of the season decorations seems to be creeping ever earlier.
Most years, I privately groan and gripe about this phenomenon, but given the state of the economy, weather and people’s expectations and fears, I don’t mind a little cheer.
The holidays are a big deal for businesses. Thanksgiving week brings ‘Black Friday,’ traditionally the day when retailers start making an annual profit. For many enterprises, the fourth quarter is a make-or-break time, when extra traffic allows them to keep things fresh, stock new inventory or simply keep their doors open.
You can’t just blame the locals, either. We’re already seeing holiday-related commercials on television, and holiday movie promotions in the theater.
Given this year’s dismal summer weather and non-stop construction during the Valley’s tourist season, I think residents and businesses could use a little cheer, too.
So I’m cutting folks a break for decorating early. The lights and garlands will help boost attendance at a wealth of holiday activities in local communities, old and new.
Plans are already in motion for a new North Bend tree lighting extravaganza, and Fall City and Snoqualmie are readying their traditions. The Northwest Railway Museum’s Santa Train will roll again, bringing visitors to our Valley for holiday fun.
These activities don’t just warm the heart and help neighbors meet, they also promote our local economy.
The Record already got into the spirit with publication of our Holiday Gift Guide. This month and through December 22, we are publishing special pages on holiday ideas, deals and fun. Please check out these pages and support these local merchants.
There go the poles
It seemed like the rumbling, the traffic delays and the extra time spent searching for parking would never stop. Yet, here we are, on the threshold of the holidays, and the utility poles are coming down in Snoqualmie.
The summer of 2010 should be dubbed the ‘Summer of Construction’ in North Bend and Snoqualmie. North Bend commuters ran a gauntlet of sewer and park-and-ride construction projects for much of this year, often never knowing whether their accustomed traffic route would be open or closed on a given day.
In Snoqualmie, the Town Center Infrastructure Improvement Project ran smoother, though the sidewalk, road and utility projects did affect the lives and movement of downtown dwellers and workers in subtle ways.
The Record’s downtown office gave us a daily vantage point on construction, and appreciation for contractor Sanders General Construction’s skill.
We watched as the urban scene around us changed. From trenches and bulldozers, our Falls Avenue backdrop has become a pedestrian boulevard with plentiful parking. Plus, the new four-way stop slows down those few inconsiderate drivers who turned our block into a speedway.
I’d say the Snoqualmie project, wrapping up on schedule, went better than expected. Now, downtown visitors look out on a whole new landscape, meant to help the local economy.
At long last, the work is done—at least for now. Regardless of whether you see these changes as progress or not, I think we can all appreciate the peace, quiet and ease of travel.
