BROWNSTOWN — As Brownstown Ewing Main Street planned decorating the county seat for Christmas, a discussion arose about involving local students.

Board member Arann Banks said a teacher talked to Margie Strange at Schneider Nursery about kids decorating trees.

“In our meeting, she brought it up and said, ‘That would be a really good idea if we could get the elementary school kids to give us some ornaments for the trees,’” Banks said. “The idea pretty much was every single downtown window would have a tree in it.”

She said that’s not easy when some of the buildings aren’t occupied, so she opened it up to any businesses around town.

“I wanted to keep it to businesses where the kids could go in and see them,” Banks said. “It’s more retail and restaurants so that the kids can come in and see them.”

All each place had to do was provide a Christmas tree that’s at least 6 feet tall so it would hold ornaments. Then Banks would supply the handmade ornaments.

“Some of them are glass balls they decorated. Some of them are wood. Some of them are paper,” she said of the ornaments made by students at Brownstown Elementary School, Lutheran Central School and St. John’s Sauers Lutheran School. “They are really cool ornaments.”

The participants are Ryan Kemp Edward Jones, Kay’s Kafe, Brownstown Hardware, Blondie’s Pizzeria & Pub, Lucas-Ackerman Supply Co., Integrity Mortgage Group, The Peoples Bank, Hanner’s Barber Shop, Brownstown Town Hall, Brownstown Greenhouse & Gifts, McDonald’s, JCBank, Kayla Stice State Farm, Stuckwisch Appliances and Anytime Florals & Gifts.

A sign is placed near each tree to let people know who made the ornaments.

“I like the idea of the kids coming downtown and seeing their ornaments and seeing that they are part of our community,” Banks said. “It kind of links them to the community, like they have this thing and they are investing going in that place. It also shows the businesses are invested in our kids. I just think it’s a healthy relationship. It’s one more partnership we can build, and it’s great we can build it with our kids.”

Christmas decorations at Heritage Park and on the lawn of the Jackson County Courthouse were turned on Nov. 22, and the trees at the various locations just add to Brownstown Ewing Main Street’s efforts this holiday season.

The nonprofit organization also hosted its annual Hometown Christmas event Dec. 7 at the courthouse in partnership with Jackson County REMC. Santa Claus arrived on an illuminated lineman truck and then went into the courthouse to hear kids’ Christmas wishes and pose for pictures. The free event also featured reindeer, hot chocolate and cookies.