Signs along Belmont Road lead the way and point visitors to Santa's Village in the Lincoln Park Clubhouse. Inside, there are more than 30 Christmas trees decorated in different themes. There is, for instance, a UND Fighting Sioux Christmas tree, decorated in green and white. There's also a red, white and blue tree.
Lynne Roche and her co-workers at the Grand Forks Park District turned their imaginations loose when they came up with the idea of Santa's Village four years ago. This year, the display seems more beautiful than ever. Maybe it's because as you sit inside Santa's Village sipping cider, you look out on the newly fallen snow that sparkles in the trees.
This weekend and next weekend, on Saturday and Sunday afternoons, there will be sleigh rides for children. Groups have been making appointments by calling (701) 746-2750.
Also open in the evenings is the sixth annual Christmas in the Park sponsored by the Lions Clubs. You reach the starting point right inside Lincoln Drive Park off 13th Avenue South.
Pearl Harbor Day
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The weekend arrives on a somber note since this is Dec. 7. Those who were alive on this date in 1941 will have their own set of memories of the day when Pearl Harbor was bombed by the Japanese.
The USS Arizona sunk in nine minutes, taking 1,177 sailors and Marines to their deaths. And President Franklin Delano Roosevelt went on radio to address the nation. He called it a day that would live in infamy.
Green out
This day marks the opening of a big sports weekend at UND with the University of Minnesota Golden Gophers here to play hockey against the Sioux. The games will be surrounded by hoopla.
Before tonight's game, former Minnesota coach Doug Woog and former UND coach Dean Blais will try to outwit each other in a game of bubble hockey, whatever that is.
And this, for Sioux fans, is the day for the wearing of the green and waving green pompoms that will be given out at the game. With enough green, the plan is for the sell-out crowd to turn the Ralph green. And the idea is for everyone to wear white to Saturday night's game and wave white pompoms.
Sioux basketball teams will be in action tonight and Saturday, too, with the women playing Glenville State from West Virginia tonight and Dakota State from Madison, S.D., on Saturday afternoon. The Sioux men will meet Minot State here Saturday afternoon.
All this and women's hockey, too. Sioux women are hosting Wisconsin in two hockey games this weekend. The women will be introduced during the first period of the game tonight and will sign autographs in the lobby at the Ralph after the second period.
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The inside stories will be heard straight from the mouths of the coaches when Sioux fans meet at noon today on the concourse of the Alerus Center.
What else is up?
River Cinema in East Grand Forks gave members of the Chamber a preview of its facilities Thursday evening. . . . And the Widman family is carrying on its tradition of making ribbon candy for the holidays. . . . Dance Etc. recitals begin Sunday at Empire Arts Center . . . And the Barbershoppers Show is set for Sunday afternoon at South Middle School as a food pantry benefit . . . Central High School continues "Long Christmas Dinner" and "History of Andy Landy Clan" tonight and Saturday. . . .
Ask Marilyn
What will you do if you don't have anything white to wear to the game Saturday?
Maybe you could jump into a pillowcase or wrap up in a sheet.
Did God put mice on Noah's ark?
No, they just sneaked on. Same way they sneak into garages around here when it gets cold.
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What are the best license plates spotted this week?
INSUL 8 on a contractor's pick-up and HOM AGN, which may belong to someone who went away and came back.
Good cheer
Cheerful people of the week: Mike Hergert, Cynthia Prom. Runners up: Gary Mitchell, Mark Aubol.
Reach Hagerty at mhagerty@gra.midco.net or (701) 772-1055.
