LOTS OF MERRY ON
MAIN PHOTOS BELOW!
By Monty Siekerman
If you saw reindeer in the sky pulling a sleigh on Monday evening, you may have been a little inebriated.

If you saw two reindeer munching hay in the Railroad Depot parking lot, consider yourself sober. The pair of well-behaved reindeer were a big draw, especially with children, during Merry on Main sponsored by the Ada Area Chamber of Commerce.

The Christmas season kicked off downtown on Monday with retail stores open, a well lit display of colorful lights and carolers in the park, a sax player at the United Methodist Church, a trumpeter in front of Streamline Insurance, bagpipers and a drummer in front of the Cask Room, crafts for children to make inside the depot, hot chocolate and cookies at several places, and, of course, Santa.

Due to current Ada Public Library construction, Santa took up residency at the United Methodist Church this year instead of the library.

Rain, oh the burden of rain spoiling the event, as it has several major festivals in town this year, held off, except for a few drops, until Merry on Main was over.

Then came some rain with strong winds. Overall, there was nice attendance and many activities on Monday to usher in the holiday season. The Chamber reminds all to Shop Local.

PHOTO IDS:
• He's known as a teacher of science at AHS, but those attending Merry on Main heard Dave Lusk play the sax in front of the United Methodist Church.

• Carolers doing what they do best...sing carols. This group is made up of United Methodists and several others who joined them in front of the park.

• A partridge in a pear tree, "The Twelve Days of Christmas," how about four bagpipers piping and one drummer drumming? That's what was found in front of the Cask Room on Monday, entertaining the shoppers with Christmas songs that are given an Irish twist. The group of Ada and Findlay gents call themselves The Lion Rampant.

• Children, with a little help from parents, make crafts at the Depot.

• Don Traxler, former mayor and retired professor, is all decked out in the holiday spirit with glasses that blink, a string of ornaments that light up around his neck, a candy cane tie, and an indescribable jacket...oh, and note the reindeer antlers. His job at the Depot? To give ballots and collect the votes for the best window display on Main. Don is an expert at distributing and collecting ballots and counting votes. He has been involved in Hardin County elections for 21 years, first as a precinct worker at the polls then as a member of the county election board for many years. The window display "election" was simpler, no registering ahead of time or showing of IDs.

• Village Administrator Jamie Hall puts the finishing touches on a Christmas tree in Railroad Park. In the background is the refurbished caboose with a lighted wreath.

• Sebastian Johnson plays the trumpet in front of Streamline Insurance. Hot chocolate and cookies awaited those who went inside.