Stephen Spear, mayor protem and longtime resident of Excelsior Springs, shared his holiday traditions and the ways in which the community embodies the Christmas Spirit, as well as what’s to come in the future. Spear said this time of year is his favorite. He remembers growing up as a child and sharing the holiday with family through his early years of marriage. Although he noted Christmas can represent a sad time in people’s lives for some, he explained personally he never comprehended that aspect. “Until someone loses a parent or the people around you, such as loved ones, you start to grasp what it means,” he said. “It doesn’t change the overall meaning and it’s still about family.” Regardless of what family means to others, Spear said Christmas is about taking time, despite the distance, to spend time with one another and appreciate who they are. His family has even shifted gears for the holiday season and has made it a point to get away from the traditional gift-giving aspect…