The Christmas Spirit Settles in Scottsville

By Chris Cole,
Staff Writer

While there might not be any of that white stuff on the ground, it’s certainly beginning to feel a lot like Christmas here in Scottsville and Allen County.

On Friday, Dec. 6, members of the Kentucky 623rd Field Artillery Regiment, based in Glasgow, did the honors of illuminating the tree that currently stands on the square as the last “First Friday” of the year featured seasonal music performed by the children’s choir Joyful Noise, the Scottsville Brass Choir and The Laborers Few.

The chill that permeated the air was offset by a series of fire pits that allowed passers-by to get warm and kids to make s’mores. Scottsville Baptist Church also gave out cups of hot chocolate which took the edge off a night that dipped into the mid 20s.

Along with the usual holiday happenings of carols being sung and trying to find some respite from the cold, crisp night air, the “Up All Night” event held for AC-SHS seniors was getting several involved in their cake walk. Even Judge Dennis Harper (sporting his customary Pittsburgh Steelers toboggan) partook while “thanking” us at The Citizen-Times for making sure his photo wearing a Cleveland Browns hat made the front page.

What Christmas themed block party would be complete though without Santa Claus making an appearance? Certainly not Scottsville’s! The big man himself could be seen making his way through the crowds with children eager to tell him what it is they want for Christmas.

Additionally, the Grinch was spotted as well. Seeing, however, that Scottsville is not Whoville, he didn’t seem to feel the need to enlist his little dog Max in a scheme to steal everyone’s stuff. Either that or, perhaps, he truly is reformed through his encounter with the Whos in Whoville. Who knows?

The festive mood carried over into the following night, December 7, as Scottsville’s annual Christmas parade made it’s way down its original route, beginning at Dollar General Warehouse parking lot, down Main Street and ending at Walgreen’s.

Featured this year were several floats magnificently decorated with themes of the Christmas season. Numerous local churches offered up various depictions of the birth of Jesus with the float from New Bethel Community Church receiving several positive responses on our Facebook page. Other civic organizations portrayed simple winter scenes such as snowmen, families and friends gathering together and even a float that made its own “snow.”

Many local first responders also took part with several volunteer fire companies represented, both the Scottsville Police and Allen County Sheriffs Department along with the Kentucky State Police and Allen County EMS.

There were also civic and youth groups such as local chapters of the Girl Scouts of America, the AC-S marching band and the Allen County Homemakers. Even Harley-Davidson of Bowling Green had a (loud) presence with several bikers revving their engines in celebration of the season.

As in the previous night the Grinch made his appearance again and showing that his heart had grown three sizes too big. Yet it was once again Santa that closed the parade, riding atop a fire truck.

There was certainly an excitement for this year’s parade as families lined up along the route more than a half-hour prior to the start time. It may have also helped that this year it was milder than it was last year. It was certainly a bit warmer than the previous night and, unlike last year, there was no rain. Not that if there had been it would have dampened spirits all.

Now if you, the reader, will permit this writer to offer up an opinion as part of this article, it seems a bit strange to me to be entering the Christmas season and not seeing snow on the ground. I know folks around here will say it does snow and that might be true in the absolute strictest sense of the word. To me, I see it different.

Growing up in a region where accumulating 120 inches of the “white stuff” was considered normal. We would say if you could sweep some snowflakes off your back porch then it really didn’t snow. If four feet of it fell overnight school might be delayed an hour but it wouldn’t close. It was simply a given that, by the time December came, we’d have already made several runs down the local hills and in town parks on our sleds or laced up some ice skates and headed out to a pond for a game of hockey.

Seeing the kind of green that comes from grass rather than a the needles on an evergreen tree, a wreath or some garland is not what I’m accustomed to. Yet as the Grinch learned, Christmas, the Christmas season and all it represents is so much more than what we can physically hold in our hands. It’s more than the gifts under a tree or the “roast beast” in the oven. It’s certainly more than the perfectly formed snowball you’re about to launch at your best friend in neighborhood combat.

The real spirit of the season is love that celebrates the birth of a Child that brought heaven and earth together. It’s a joy that is expressed among family and friends gathering together. It’s a hope that one day everything will be made right. It’s a peace that words cannot adequately explain but we believe exists.

Merry Christmas, Scottsville!