Riverside’s Beautification Council is improving on its annual community event — a spaghetti dinner — to improve its ability to beautify the city.

This year, the spaghetti dinner will be combined with the Christmas tree lighting in hopes of making the family-oriented event bigger and better.

The spaghetti dinner will be held Friday from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m. at the Riverside Storm Shelter, and the tree lighting will be held that evening at 6.

It is an opportunity to bring the community together for fellowship and to get into the Christmas spirit, and it also is a chance to raise money for beautification projects.

Landscaping around Town Hall was the result of the 2008 spaghetti dinner, and organizers are planning other projects, possibly in the area of the town’s marina or a new Welcome to Riverside sign.

Their work is vital to the beautification of Riverside, and we encourage one and all to support the dinner and tree lighting.