Scappoose community groups, city staff push for new snowflake lights and bigger 'Whoville' festival

Scappoose — At a Feb. 18 City Council work session, Public Works Director Dave Soukout and representatives of the community club and historical society outlined plans to expand downtown holiday lighting, replace aging pole decorations with LED snowflake displays and coordinate the growing "Whoville" festival with other city events.

"We wanted to take this opportunity . . . just to follow-up on Christmas while it's still fresh in everybody's mind," Public Works Director Dave Soukout said, summarizing the staff presentation and the goals for longer-term planning.

The discussion centered on replacing the city's decades-old street-pole decorations, many of which no longer light, and expanding park activities during the winter season. Catherine, speaking for the community club, said the club currently maintains roughly 14 displays in Heritage Park and along downtown corridors and is refurbishing items to LED. "This year . . . we're going to have quite a number of new displays," she said, adding the group recently formed a 501(c)(3) called Scappoose Community Connection to accept tax-deductible donations.

Community Connections of Oregon coordinator Angela Wayman,…