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A word of thanks

Dear Editor,

The North Pole Stroll at the Duck Pond in Downtown Athens would like to take this time to thank all the volunteers, sponsors and decorators who helped in making our second year of the North Pole Stroll a success.

Provided as a holiday gift to the community, our mission is to encourage our residents, their families and our guests to enjoy celebrating the Christmas Holidays together through the entire month of December.

We hope to continue this event each year in Big Springs Memorial Park, and with the community’s help, I’m sure we will be successful. Our goal was to have 40 trees this year, we found sponsors for 26 of the 30 we placed around the park. Tourism decorated the remainder to have a beautiful stroll for everyone to enjoy. Our mission would not have taken off without the generous help and assistance of our Athens Parks and Recreation staff who installed each of the 30 trees. These workers also place bleachers on site for special stroll related events.

Athens-Limestone Tourism took care of overseeing the tree sponsorships and placement, event planning, signage and helped promote the stroll. Tourism Director Teresa Todd and her family did the installation of the spotlights, placing fences, painting and arranging for Santa to come visit with the children.

Keep Athens-Limestone Beautiful and its volunteers created their amazing snowman family made from recycled tires. Spirit of Athens hosted the www.athensnorthpole.stroll website and online donations. The Mayor’s Office assists with promotions and logistics. Santa made time to visit with children at the stroll and scheduled a night to read “Twas The Night Before Christmas.” The News-Courier was instrumental in placing articles and photos about the North Pole Stroll, as well as sponsored a tree.

Organizers of the North Pole Stroll want to acknowledge those in the community who sponsored trees, assisted with the maintenance, volunteered at the event and made this holiday gift to Athens and Limestone County possible.

Tree sponsors are:

• Athens Plus

• Athens-Limestone Animal Shelter (two trees)

• Athens Utilities (for City of Athens Relay for Life Team)

• First United Methodist Church

• Hospice of Limestone County

• Athens State University Athenian Ambassadors

• Athens Dulcimer Club

• The News-Courier (For Team Victory 4 All)

• Eddie Breakfield State Farm Insurance

• Innovative Realty Solutions

• Learn to-Read Council

• Senior Rehab and Recovery Center (For Girl Scout Troop 1922)

• Hamlin Homes

• Smith Infiniti

• Martin and Hubbs

• Whitt’s Barbecue

• Valley Smiles

• First Presbyterian Church

• Dr. Joseph Cannon and Family

• Dealers Auto Auction

• Jimmy Smith Buick GMC

• Friends of the Archives

• Jimmy Smith Parts and Service

• Athens-Limestone Community Association

• A kids tree (donated by Teresa Todd)

Stroll Sponsors

• Mayor Ronnie Marks

• Fowler’s Auction

• Exhibit Sponsor – Keep Athens Limestone Beautiful, Lynne Hart and John Cotten.

Athens City Parks and Recs Dept. Ben Wiley, Mike Robertson, Clint Hatchett, and Tony Clemmons

Tourism Office – Teresa Todd and Cayce Hutchins

• Volunteers – Don Todd, Evan Todd, Melanie Newton, Jennifer White and Suzanne Carter, Athens Optimist Club and Santa (Jim Watson)

Sincerely,

Teresa Todd,

President

Athens-Limestone Tourism Association