Draft Holiday Lighting Plan
Gone are the days of those faded, disintegrating red bells popping up on Grand Forks street lights each December. There have been plenty of complaints about the city's Christmas (or, to be PC, Holiday) decorations for some time now and the city is finally drawing up plans to spruce up its act. A draft plan has been devised which could see an entirely new holiday lighting program put into place in the near future.
According to the plan, the city's goals are to highlight Grand Forks' major commercial areas, develop a consistent theme, focus on high-impact high-efficiency displays, and encourage displays by private businesses.
In addition to the existing downtown lighting program, the plan calls for focusing the city's efforts to major commercial corridors including: Columbia Road from 32nd Avenue to Gateway Drive, Demers from the interstate to downtown, Gateway from the river to 55th Street, Washington from 32nd Avenue to Gateway, and 32nd Avenue from the interstate to Washington. The plan also raises the possibility of future expansion into newer commercial areas such as 42nd Street.
As far as developing a consistent theme, the plan calls for a white-light-based theme throughout the city. This would mimic the theme that already exists downtown and would make the decorations able to be used throughout the winter. The plan also mentions that this theme would make some of the decorations able to be used for other holidays or events throughout the year such as the July 4th celebration or ArtFest. Also, I might point out that white lights are very non-denominational.
The draft plan calls for a smaller number of impressive displays throughout the city instead of a more spread out "ho-hum" display. Such displays could include "intensely" lighted clusters of trees. Whatever type of displays are put up, the city plans to use LEDs in all decorations.
Finally, the plans would encourage private businesses to put up their own displays. The plan mentions the possibility of a one-time give away of light sets to businesses to encourage private displays. The city may also hold a lighting contest as another means to encourage businesses to light up.
As someone who loves Christmas and the whole holiday season, I'm excited to see what the city comes up with here. This plans sounds pretty good to me. What do you think?
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21 comments:
About time! The holiday lighting plan is an excellent idea, exciting. Count me in on loving the holiday season (the ONLY thing I love about winter)and the lights that go along with it.
If you've ever been in Kansas City around Christmastime, you've seen how attractive white lights, abundantly displayed on downtown structures, can be. Grand Forks will be just as beautiful!
Kudos to those that are working towards making GFKS even more attractive!
If t. Bjerky is elected he'll probably find a reason for the city to no longer put up any lights as it ain't governments job to celibrate Christmas.
Surprisingly, the LED lights look pretty good. If you watch just about any news show on NBC or MSNBC, you'll notice the LED lights in trees at Rockefeller Center in the background.
Carole,...Carole...are you over here? Oh stop it you guys, you know you've been instant messaging each other all day. The least you can do is give a girl a break for being a little off-topic sometimes. You're not gay, are you?
Actually, now that I'm here...does anyone know the real name of "I'm not your object anymore"...or something like that? Oh, it doesn't matter anyway, I'd probably keep spelling his name with 2 t's instead of one.
Well, I just want you all to know that I've been to the head shrinker, and I'm getting over myself everyday now, I promise. And with my integrity now fully intact, cowgirl boots spectacularly shined, I might add...
I'm sorry for pretending to be friends with you. But I did NOT fake this guy's post...why in the hell would I ask myself to homeschool my own children? And what's a Rilo?
Put the old decorations in the museum!
GFGuy: It still is ok to say "Christmas"...lets not let a few complainers ruin it for the majority of us.
If one or two don't like decorations celebrating Christmas, they can close their eyes as they are driving on the roads :)
growingupartists, ever heard of my open threads? That's a good place for off-topic, slightly incoherent posts. :)
slightly incoherent posts?
Totally incoherent rants!
sure you didn't fake the post, g.u.a., sure ya didn't ... and I bet you're being eaten by a wolf, too, right?
you would ask yourself to homeschool your own children because you are having major doubts about it being the right path
a Rilo is an Australian-rules football player
coherency's a drag
nice boots
by the way, if any of you tell g.u.a. my real name, I will drive my right foot so far into the ground that it will sink in up to my waist; then in my rage I will seize my left foot with both hands and tear myself in two
Maybe the dingo ate your baby.
so where is the new gay bar?
Where and when is the Firkin English Pub opening??
8th & Walnut?
Oh sure, bait the hook!
I think it's great that GF is finally investing in some new holiday decorations. Hopefully this plan comes to fruition.
Whatever gets us through the winter.
Blah.
Oh I am SOO excited to hear everyone BITCH and MOAN in the Herald mailbag about how the EVIL City is WASTING all your precious tax money on holiday displays when the figures and costs are released.
Hey Plum, blame it on MackNamara, he may be a warmonger, as a correct definition, his bus ran out of gas Sat on Columbia Road. No one will give on air support, see WDAZ interview, all the heavy hitters are supporting Mayor Brown. greenglass4
Considering yourself a 'heavy hitter' now are you, greenass?
REGARDING THE PUBLIC SCHOOL VS. HOMESCHOOL "DEBATE"
FACTS:
-I myself attended public school
-I have many friends who homeschool their children
-I provided childcare at home for 8 years and did some homeschooling at the same time
-My children attend public school
I've personally seen both sides of schooling -- public and home-based. I am a proponent of both, but if I were able to, I would love to homeschool my children.
Both formats are structured and have certain requirements. The differences are the amount of [daily] time that is required to be active in formal education and the staff that monitors students. In a public school, children are with certified teachers all day while in homeschools, monitors (certified teachers) come to the home regularly to monitor testing and check on and confirm a child's progress. While a day in a public school is typically 7 hours for students, homeschooled students are required to have 4 hours of formal education per day. When you really look at a day in public school, you may notice that there is some "wasted" time (i.e. study hall in which students typically chat more than study).
Homeschool presents many opportunities that you don't find in public school. There are many more opportunities for educational outings. There are many more opportunities to socialize with others in various age groups unlike a public school where children are with others their own age throughout the majority of their day.
For those individuals who wonder about the "lack of socialization" for homeschooled children, you need not worry. Because of the typical 4-hour day, there is plenty of time and opportunity for socialization through educational outings, group functions with other homeschooled students, and community service.
I have found that homeschooled children tend to be somewhat more mature than public schooled children. I think this has to do with the fact that children make decisions regarding their education such as in the pace at which they work. Basically, the student decides just how fast they work. I believe that allowing students to make more decisions like this help them to become more mature, responsible individuals.
Homeschooled children are able to work at their own pace. This is not the case in a public school setting. I have a child who excels in most subjects who has been required to remain at the same level as the other students in his class. This has hindered his learning. He has so much more potential than is being catered to. If he were homeschooled, he would not be limited.
I had a great experience at public school. I attended school in a small ND town where the standards were a little higher than at a school in a [larger] city. Thus far, my children have had wonderful experiences in public school as well. As long as things continue on the path they are going, my children will remain in public school. Should things change, you can bet that I'll withdraw them and start homeschooling.
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