The Crested Butte News Serving the Gunnison Valley since 1999
Local businesses stepping up…
By Mark Reaman
While noting that the council had received more letters and public comment over the town council’s position on holiday lighting than it had received on the Whetstone community housing project, Crested Butte mayor Ian Billick returned to the holiday lighting issue at the November 18 meeting. He said he was open to allocating some money for increased town holiday lighting, but he did not get much council support.
The council had briefly discussed a request on November 4 by citizen and business owner Kim Raines and Chamber of Commerce executive director Heather Leonard for the town to expand its holiday lighting participation. Raines and Leonard cited all the benefits of holiday lighting and decorations in the darkest time of the year during a festive holiday season and asked the town to invest more in the 2025 budget. It was quickly evident that at least four councilmembers were not on board with the request, so the idea seemed to wither into the dark night.
But after receiving a lot of public comment the last few weeks, Billick said he could support some sort of matching opportunity, say $5,000, to expand the holiday lights in town in conjunction with the local business community. Only councilmember Gabi Prochaska expressed any support for the idea.
“We need to be clear that the council isn’t prohibiting any of this. Every person and business can put up holiday lights,” said councilmember Mallika Magner.
“I feel like it was blown out of proportion. It wasn’t just about the desire for dark skies. I feel like we’re doing something,” said councilmember Jason MacMillan.
“The feedback came before we put up anything,” added councilmember Beth Goldstone. “We are doing the appropriate amount and the Chamber and the businesses are doing more. It looks good.”
Town manager Dara MacDonald said that CB State of Mind will be wrapping the Elk Avenue light poles in green lights and the Chamber is encouraging holiday window displays.
Parks, Recreation, Open Space and Trails director Janna Hansen informed the council in a memo the town will put up wreaths on Elk Avenue lamp posts, the lights have been put up on the trees at the Four-way Stop, new lights have been put up in the garden bed between the tennis courts and Sixth Street, and there are lights on the entrance park sign.
“We have not lit the entrance park trees in a few years due to their size,’ she wrote. “Our lift cannot reach the tops and the trees have grown together limiting our ability to string lights on individual trees. In general, we are limited to lighting trees near a power source.”
Hansen also noted that most trees along Elk Avenue are on private property and so have to be lit up by property owners and not the town.
It’s about the spirit
Raines said she sees the town challenges and understands private property can do what they want with lighting, but she was looking for the town to increase spending on holiday lights in the public right of way, “because the community sees the importance of lighting this time of year.”
Raines continued, “Town is ‘allowing’ us to light the poles up and CB State of Mind is stepping up with that, but I want to see the town do this. They put in plugs years ago for this. I can get volunteers out there, but since they are already paying employees to hang wreaths, it wouldn’t be much more to wrap and light the poles versus making the community do it.”
“My goal is more trees at the Four-way and the entrance to town — more lights on town properties! But I also really want to see businesses come together to light up what they can so town and council will continue to see that the people who live, work and run businesses here, care,” she said.
Raines also pointed out Decorate CB lit the tree by the Bruhaus and it is spectacular and photos are already being shared widely over social media.
Raines and Jesse Ebner, along with Leonard from the Chamber have created the WinterGlow event.
WinterGlow is continuing to “evolve” and will happen December 7. It includes the tree lighting at 6 p.m. along with a visit by Santa to the CB Museum between 4 and 6 p.m. Butte Bucks will be sold at the event and those provide a 20% discount on some local goods and services. CB State of Mind will also be selling luminarias. Leonard said the Chamber is also hoping to get a visit from Santa Paws.
“We’ll have music, carolers and maybe some fire dancers,” she said. “We’re hoping businesses open their doors and find unique ways to connect with the community and shoppers. We’re also running a people’s choice holiday window decorating contest.”
Leonard said the best way for businesses and people to get involved is to light up their own space, then check in on their neighbors and see if they need help lighting up their space.
“I look forward to seeing the beautiful displays by the businesses,” said Prochaska at the council meeting. “Some are up already and look really pretty.”
“I also am looking forward to the tree lighting,” said Magner. “I think it will be beautiful.”
