LUMINARIA: Harmony of Light was held last month on Saturday December 10, 2005 as a way to bring together the community and to celebrate the holiday in Over-the-Rhine?s Washington Park. Cincinnati?s new Mayor Mark Mallory and Vice Mayor Jim Tarbell along with 300 people from Over-the-Rhine and surrounding communities of Cincinnati gathered together to rejoice in celebration of the holiday spirit! LUMINARIA displayed an array of spiritual symbols to embrace diverse spiritual practices such as Manures for Hanukah, oranges for Kwanza, and a Christmas tree for Christianity donated by Hans Brinker Christmas Trees. Folks enjoyed hot chocolate from Kaldi?s Coffeehouse; hot spiced cider from Wild Oats and cookies from Take the Cake while enjoying the sounds of Ghost Productions and watching performances by New Prospect Baptist Church Gospel Choir; Jim Tarbell?s classic harmonica playing; Nast Trinity?s minister Sherry Gail singing solo ?Silent Night? along with artists dancing in character as the mother Mary celebrating her baby Jesus. We also enjoyed entertainment from New Thought Unity Center?s rapper Kim Gerhold. Community groups and businesses such as the Drop Inn Center, The Over-the-Rhine Chamber of Commerce, The Over-the-Rhine Foundation, St. Anthony Village, 3CDC, Washington Park Community Partners, Comey & Shephard, Maui Jim and Imago showed their support of iRhine and LUMINARIA. Metaphor Studio designed the poster and printed by Digital Xpress; flyers and programs printed by Copy Cats; Candle-Lite Factory Direct donated 2,000 candles; Duro Bags donated 2,000 bags; Hill Top Concrete donated one ton of sand; and Western & Southern Financial Group donated lights on the trees! The greatest part of it all was witnessing the diverse groups who pulled together for one common cause?LUMINARIA: Harmony of Light! Photos by: Joe Wessels, Freelance Journalist and Photographer Participating Organizations: iRhine.com The City of Cincinnati Parks Department The Over-the-Rhine Foundation The Drop Inn Center The Urbanists Contacts: To volunteer or to sponsor LUMINARIA: Harmony of Light 2006 please contact: Lydia Stec iRhine Development Director 513-921-2199 lydia@irhine.com For more information about Over-the-Rhine Foundation, its mission and initiatives: Marge Hammelrath, Director, OTR Foundation 513-721-1317, otrfoundation@aol.com