Celebrate the holidays in Santa-point, Idaho-ho-ho

SANTA-POINT — You better watch out … Sandpoint is now Santa-point, Idaho-ho-ho — and it even has a theme song.

Mayor Ray Miller signed a proclamation Tuesday morning that was sure to put him on the top of Santa's list.

A handful of Sandpoint merchants posed behind Miller as he put his signature to the Santa-Point proclamation in his office.

"In recognition of all who make Sandpoint such a special place all year round but especially during the holiday season, I hereby declare that every year, from the day after Thanksgiving to Christmas Day, Sandpoint shall be designated with the honorary name of Santa-Point, Idaho-ho-ho," the mayor wrote.

"And may everyone who lives in or visits Santa-Point during the holiday season be imbued with a special holiday spirit of good cheer and peace toward all."

After the brief signing ceremony, Miller and a handful of business leaders — some wearing Santa hats and reindeer antlers — tried out the official Santa-Point song.

The song goes like this:

"Dashing through the snow to Santa-Point, Idaho-ho-ho;

"Over the Long Bridge we go — laughing all the way — Idaho-ho-ho.

"Bells on sidewalks ring, shop from store to store — all the shops and restaurants, make us holler more!

"Oh, Santa-Point, Santa-Point, Santa-Point, Idaho-ho-ho. Oh what fun it is to stop and shop in Santa-Point, Idaho-ho-ho."

Bee publisher David Keyes coined the term "Santa-Point, Idaho, ho, ho" a few years ago in an editorial.

Keyes challenged two Bee designers to come up with a look to match the "Santa-Point, Idaho-ho-ho" theme earlier this year.

Patti Fulton and Mindy Pelton-Kelley met the challenge with an outstanding design and lyrics to a truly, unique song about a place we all love, Keyes said.

The Bee and downtown merchants started selling the postcards today. The cost is one dollar and all the proceeds from the sale of the postcards goes back to a fund to make signage for future Santa-Point celebrations.

Fewer than 1,000 postcards were printed.

"We hope to put Santa-Point, Idaho, on the map from Thanksgiving to Christmas as a special place where memories are made," Keyes said. "Santa-Point has all the makings of becoming an annual event and an opportunity for all of us to bring back the kid-like wonder of Christmas."

Postcards are available today at the Daily Bee, Belwood's, Eve's Leaves, Bearweare Graphics and Northwest Handmade Furniture.

The postcards will be available at more stores and they will be listed in the Bee in the future.