The holidays are over and now for the most important part of the season - looking back and the thank you's.

Christmas is the time for giving and Main Street Monroe was truly blessed with contributions towards Christmas on the Square this past year. In October, Pastor Matt Spoonhour and I started working on raising $1,500 to light up the Christmas tree on the Courthouse lawn. Pam Christopher and the Monroe Chamber of Commerce helped us raise the funds in a short period of time. For the official lighting of the tree, to do the honors was Monroe native Emily Guerin, Miss Wisconsin-USA, followed by Mrs. Bennet and members of the Monroe High School Music Department leading us in Christmas carols.

A special treat this year was chestnuts roasting over an open fire, with thanks to organizers Dr. Dan and Dr. Annette Stormont and Bill Wyss.

We would like to thank all the participants of the lighted Christmas parade and the House/Business Lighting contest. They were great.

This year in front of the library, we had a decorated Santa's Workshop for kids to visit Santa in and a gingerbread house. We would like to thank all that donated material, time, and talent to make Santa Land possible. Santa and kids of all ages enjoyed them.

We had special appearances this Christmas season by Scott Schmidt, Donna Douglas, Dean Braund, Josh Boll, Jeff Ditzenberger, and Dave Gissing.

All of this would not have been possible without the rest of the Main Street Christmas committee consisting of Marilyn Pfarr, Robin Nafzger, and Melissa Schmidt. Thank you.

As always, a big thank you goes out to The Monroe Times and Big Radio for helping to spread the word about the events on the Square.

All of this would not have been possible without the numerous people and businesses of Monroe working together to make it happen. Thank you, thank you, thank you.

Start making your plans for Main Street Monroe's Christmas 2012 celebration of "Dickens Christmas on the Square'. The parade will be Friday, Dec. 7.

Hope everyone had a very Merry Christmas and have a prosperous, safe, and happy New Year.

See you on the Square in 2012. Enjoy the Concerts on the Square and watch out for pirates.

Thank you.