To the Editor:

I would like to correct a mistaken belief by The Tidewater News that the Downtown Franklin Association is responsible for the community Christmas parade. While we don’t mind being given credit for good things, we want to give credit where — and to whom — it is due.

Each year a new chairperson is selected to head up the community-based Christmas Parade Committee. This year, Leesa Livesay and Teresa McQuay, both employees of the City of Franklin, are co-chairs. As of today, they have nine community members assisting on the committee.

Dan Howe, executive director of the DFA, is generally front and center for events taking place downtown. This allows him to keep downtown businesses apprised of any goings-on that may affect business hours, parking, etc. The DFA does participate in the parade with a float, just as other community organizations do.

The Elf Parade with Mr. and Mrs. Santa Claus, tree-lighting, and cookies and hot cocoa is, indeed, all ours — and taking credit for that makes us very merry!

Gayle Schmitz
Downtown Business Owner