Local 38 volunteers light up Public Square for the holidays
The calendar and weather screamed fall, but for more than 90 IBEW Local 38 members, their families and friends, it was a winter mindset as they decorated Public Square for Christmas.
On the morning of Oct. 25, the Local 38 volunteers gathered in Public Square with the intent to spread some holiday cheer and enjoy some good union fellowship.
While the fictional character Clark W. Griswold credited his dad for teaching him his exterior illumination skills, the Local 38 members are actually trained to do far more advanced electrical work. Yet, they relish the annual opportunity for “simpler” tasks such as checking bulbs and hanging lights.
Their skillset, coupled with really good weather, allowed them to safely hang thousands of lights in less than five hours.
The Local 38 Brothers and Sisters were joined by their friends, families and retirees who wanted to help brighten up the holidays for the thousands of Northeast Ohio residents who make it a tradition to go downtown during the Christmas season and look at the lights.
For decades, Local 38 members have unselfishly upheld the tradition of volunteering their time to decorate Public Square, making it a cherished part of the Local’s history. “It’s become a tradition for our members to be a part of this event,” said IBEW Local 38 President Mike Muzic. “We have multiple members who have brought their families back year after year.”
For Muzic, one of his favorite aspects of the morning is how all individuals come together to complete the task. “The best part for me is to see them working together for a common goal,” he said. “Also, having a large group of our apprentices that get together for one Saturday morning really helps continue what we started 15 years ago.” Muzic added that there were a large number of new apprentices involved this year, so he paired them with the seasoned veterans, which added to the fun.
While having apprentices take part in lighting Public Square helps refresh the list of volunteers, he acknowledged that some members develop a sense of pride performing this work year after year.
“There are many people who have volunteered for multiple years, and being a part of the IBEW, we want to make sure that we make Public Square the place where all of Northeast Ohio wants to bring their families for the holiday season,” added Muzic.
The IBEW volunteers may not be able to decorate Public Square as fast as Buddy the Elf, but they cover a lot of frount in about five hours. “We installed the lights on the trees, the tunnel and on some of the railings throughout Public Square,” Muzic said. “Probably half the lights in the trees.”
With warm weather Halloween still a few days away, the Local 38 volunteers were not quite ready to belt out Christmas carols, but stringing the lights did help them get into the holiday mode. “You can’t help but feel the holiday spirit when you are installing the lights,” said Muzic. “There might not have been any singing going on, but I know there was a great feeling of camaraderie happening.
“I’m just glad we could continue this great tradition of volunteering going on and make Public Square a place in Cleveland that all families could enjoy.” The hard work of the Local 38 members, their families and friends, were on display for the first time during Winterland, Cleveland’s official Christmas lighting ceremony.
The festivities on Public Square took place on Nov. 29, for a day filled with fun and celebration, followed by an evening of entertainment. Santa and a host of beloved holiday characters will also make special appearances.
Starting at 5:30 p.m. and repeating every half hour until 11 p.m., a dazzling light show took place, which included three original songs by local artists. The 50-foot tree in Public Square sparkled with synchronized lights, complemented by more than 500,000 additional lights around the square.