Holidays come early at the Chamber

Even though it's March, the Middlesex County Chamber of Commerce spent Tuesday night ringing the bells of Holiday Cheer and asking everyone to imagine twinkling lights on decorated trees, carols sung to candlelight, and tiny tots with their eyes all aglow.

That's because Tuesday night's Chamber Auction is the primary fundraiser for the Holiday on Main celebration which the Chamber hosts every weekend from Thanksgiving to Christmas. With the funds raised (typically in the $10,000 range), the Chamber coordinates hayrides, a sidewalk train, photos with your favorite red-suited, white-bearded holiday elf, and the big tree-lighting and carol-sing on the South Green which opens the season. The events, which are liberally promoted in the media, are a draw to holiday shoppers and help Main Street compete with the mall.

This year's Chamber Auction was standing-room-only in the old Sons of Italy hall on Court Street, with a dozen or so local restaurants providing the nosh, and hundreds of donated items up for the silent and live auction. Unless I missed something, the top selling item was a tie between a weekend on Harbour Island, RI, and going to a baseball game with Chamber President Larry McHugh -- each went for $700.

By the way, if you know anyone who is new in town who wants to make new friends quick, joining the Chamber's Holiday on Main committee is a sure thing. This energetic group always seems to be having a lot of fun while producing one of the biggest downtown events of the year. The top photo shows committee member Daniel Ostrow of Tat Wong Kung Fu (left) showcasing an auction item which promises lunch with Fire Chief Gary Ouellette (right).