Nose for News, By Sarah Stultz

I notice it a couple of times a year. Sometimes I’m with a group of friends or acquaintances or online on various community social media pages, and then all of a sudden the complaining begins.

Sometimes the complaints are about street repairs; other times, they’re about jobs or growth in the community. Most recently, it was about Christmas lights.

A group of people posted photographs of downtown Albert Lea during Christmastime in the past versus photos of downtown Albert Lea at present.

People voiced their concerns, asking things like, “What happened to our Christmas spirit?” or blaming a lack of lights on one person or another.

I first moved to Albert Lea a little over 11 years ago — before the renovations on Broadway took place and before the city purchased new Christmas lights.

There were lights that stretched across the street at the intersection of Broadway and William Street, if I recall, and lights that lined the tops of the downtown buildings.

I remember hearing from one store owner whose husband had worked diligently to replace burnt-out lights on the buildings. Talk about a lot of work!

A few years ago, Broadway was renovated, and new downtown holiday decorations were purchased through a collaboration of multiple organizations.

I remember taking a photo on a chilly day at the end of November in 2014 of representatives of the organizations, who had raised $4,500 for new decorative banners and blue and silver garland pole wraps. Looking back at that article, the money was raised through ITC Midwest, the Albert Lea Chamber Foundation, Destination Albert Lea, the Downtown Association and the Albert B. Cuppage Foundation. The decorations are installed each year thanks to city workers.

At that time, City Manager Chad Adams said the former decorations had been used since 2000 and were to the point that they were beyond spending money for repair.

Even at that time, former Albert Lea-Freeborn County Chamber of Commerce Executive Director Randy Kehr said if people were interested in expanding lights the next year, they could send donations to the Chamber Foundation.

I do not disagree with the statement that Albert Lea needs more Christmas lights, and I would like to encourage people who agree with this to do as Kehr suggested three years ago: Get involved.

Call the city. Start a fundraising campaign.

I’m not sure how much it would cost to get some new lights to incorporate downtown, but if the chamber and KATE Radio can raise more than $16,000 in one day each year for the fireworks, and a small group of residents can raise $150,000 for a splash pad in a one-year time frame, I think the community could easily raise funds in a short span for Christmas lights.

If you’re interested in being a part of the effort, give me a call. We can organize a group and meet with city leaders to get the job done.

Sarah Stultz is the managing editor of the Tribune. Her column appears every Tuesday.