Optimist Club lights up Westminster Park

November 21, 2012November 21, 2012 Editor featured

4812-optimist1 — With the assistance of Optimist Club leader Mike Peltz, Santa uses the magic canes to light up Westminster Park with decorated trees. The event kicks off the holiday season in Rogers City.

With the flip of a switch and the touching of magic candy canes, Santa Claus brought light to Westminster Park in Rogers City Wednesday.

Aided by Optimist Club leader Mike Peltz, the jolly one lit the more than 130 trees in the park sponsored by many individuals and businesses. The tree decorating is a major fundraising event for the club, which uses the money to support many worth causes aimed at children in the community.

Mayor Beach Hall welcomed people to the park, saying the warmth of the night might have something to do with how early Thanksgiving fell on the calendar this year. With Thanksgiving day on Nov. 22, the mayor said it is unlikely he would still be in office some 40 years from now when it next came this early on the calendar.

Many milled about in the park enjoying the warmer than usual temperatures while listening to carols sung by Peace Lutheran Church choir. The choir was joined by Miss Rogers City Hope Pauly and her court along with Presque Isle County Fair queen Korynn Hincka and her court.