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Published on 10/23/1995 All articles from this issue

Let there be light: 'Opening Night in the Village'

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By Matthew Tom / Town Crier Staff Writer

"The idea came from Marion Jackston," said Jane Reed, former executive director of the Los Altos Village Association. "(Jackston) said, 'Pier 39 does it and so does Union Square in San Francisco - we should do something.'"

And they did.

Reed said, "We didn't want to make it a religious thing, but just a lighting ceremony."

This year the half-hour tree lighting ceremony will lead off a downtown family event called Opening Night in the Village. Activities will start at 6 p.m. in the Community Plaza. Organizers hope to have train rides for kids; ornament and arts and crafts-making; choir singing and music; and a treat giveaway.

The event is sponsored by KBAY radio and the Town Crier, said Sandy Grisedale, executive director of LAVA.

"Stores will stay open until 9 p.m.," Grisedale said.

The money for the tree lighting ceremony and the twinkle lighting that will line the trees along Main and States streets will come from the Summer Art and Wine Festival which was held in July.

It will cost between $10,000 and $12,000 to line the twinkle lights on the more than 50 trees, Reed said.

The twinkle lights have been done since the late 1960s.