What a difference it makes when you have strong support for the campaign from the Mayor and Council. Forrest and I experienced a receptive and supportive Mayor Ken Lemke. Councillors, and support staff Dana were the best. They provided great hospitality and were prepared for the arrival of Project Porchlight in Stony Plain.

Mayor Lemke spoke pretty much from our Porchlight script about the nature of the campaign and then added some genuine, kind, and motivational words of his own as to why he believes Project Porchlight is a good thing for Stony Plain.

Many Junior Forest Wardens and their parents - although many others were heading out later in the day and were not available for this ceremonial portion of the event - were on hand. Everyone was enthusiastic about the campaign.

Shaw Cable showed up on schedule. Carson Miller from the Stoney Plain Reporter arrived during the Mayor's address. Forrest did a fine job of leading the event, introducing the mayor, and orientation. The Family Feud was fun!

Participants assembled at tables outside council chambers that Dana had set up for us and obtained waivers, bags, and boxes of bulbs and set about preparing for their routes. Dana graciously took on the task of handing out delivery lists since she knows the town best. Dana is one of those people who makes the day because of her support and willingness to lend a hand.

There was lots of coffee, chocolate chaud, and Timbits on hand.

We all headed off in what was a perfect March 1st - the day that announces the end of the cold days of January and February - and the kiss of spring and the promise of warmer days ahead. We could not ask for a better day nor better towns' folk to work with.

We delivered all but a couple of boxes of bulbs that we jammed into the Starsky and Hutch-mobile - the 1980s Chrysler Dynasty.