Vancouver lights up the holidays at Esther Short Park

Rotary Club of Vancouver hosts Community Tree Lighting, and the city also celebrates the restoration of the Salmon Run Bell Tower as raises the city’s new official flag

Paul Valencia
Clark County Today

The City of Vancouver celebrated Thanksgiving a day after, celebrated Christmas early, and celebrated its heritage with a new flag and the return of iconic sounds atop a tower.

The Rotary Club of Vancouver presented the Community Tree Lighting just after 6 p.m. Friday evening at Esther Short Park. That came a few hours after the City of Vancouver raised its new flag, and also recognized the return of the Salmon Run Bell Tower’s bells.

Esther Short Park looked, and sounded, a lot like Christmas. Christmas and winter music, featuring the songs from Frozen, entertained the thousands of people who made it out to downtown Vancouver.

“This is the best crowd we’ve ever had. Wow. I love it,” said Randy Bauder, president of the Rotary Club of Vancouver. “We’re excited to celebrate this magnificent afternoon with you all.”

“This is what makes Vancouver absolutely amazing,” added Bart Hansen, city council member.

Santa and Mrs. Claus showed up and walked to the stage through the large crowd. They were there when the countdown started to light up the tree.

… 5 … 4 … 3 … 2 … 1 … magic.

Earlier in the day, Mayor Anne McEnerney-Ogle recognized the two people who were instrumental in the new city flag.

“We have all been on this journey. With 138 entries, we were able to narrow it down to one flag,” the mayor said just before Brooke Nugent and Nathan Hunter and other invited guests raised the flag at City Hall, across the street from Esther Short Park.

Some 45 minutes later, at the stage in the park, the mayor presented Nugent and Hunter with their own flags and keys to the city.

Interestingly, Nugent and Hunter had never met each other before the contest to design the city’s new flag. It turned out that committee members appreciated both of their entries, and combined their ideas, along with other suggestions.

“To be part of this symbol that the community helped us create, I just think it’s super cool,” Nugent said.
“It’s nice to feel like I’m integrated into the community,” said Hunter, who moved to Vancouver a couple of years ago. 

Hunter, a software engineer, has now helped create something for his new home.

Nugent is a multi-media designer but had no experience in flag design until this project.

“I think it’s cool that it’s not just a flag designed by one person, and not even two people,” she said. “The community added their input. It’s cool that it’s a flag made by the community.”

After showcasing the flag, the mayor directed everyone’s attention to the Salmon Run Bell Tower.

The original tower was built in 2002 and has become a “cherished place where we come together as a community,” McEnerney-Ogle said. 

The bells have been out of commission as of late, though, during a restoration project. Now, the bells are back and the tower is, “restored to its formal glory,” the mayor added.

The activities surrounding the lighting ceremony also included studios set up for pictures of The Grinch and the cast of Frozen and other holiday decor. There were plenty of businesses selling food and drinks. Folks could take a ride on a carriage pulled by horses or take a ride on a big red train.

Natalie Worthy, Miss Greater Vancouver, and others from the Miss Clark County Organization, also were at the park for meet-and-greets. Youngsters looked at Worthy in awe.

“It’s so much fun. Being a role model for young girls is something that is so necessary today,” Worthy said, adding that she and her colleagues are ambassadors for the communities they serve. “To have someone like myself or Miss Clark County or any of our other title holders be able to be a role model for service, success, sisterhood, and really something that’s bigger than oneself, it’s so special. To have those little moments, it’s so heartwarming.”