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Published on 11/23/1998 All articles from this issue

Tree-lighting ceremony also accompanied by rain

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By Clyde Noel

Special to the Town Crier

Holding one hand on an umbrella and the other hand on a song book, members of the Los Altos Town Choir ushered in the holiday season during last Friday's annual downtown tree-lighting ceremony at the Community Plaza.

Stormy weather didn't dampen the crowd's enthusiasm at the intersection of State and Main streets, although "Singing in the Rain" would have been an appropriate addition to the holiday songbook.

Sponsored by KBAY radio and the Los Altos Town Crier, last Friday night's event represents "Opening Night In The Village." Fred Sischka, president of the Los Altos Village Association, provided a welcome introduction and Los Altos Mayor Lou Becker began the traditional countdown to light the decorated Rotary Tree.

The Los Altos Village Association began the tree-lighting ceremony in 1967 to help create a festive and decorative atmosphere along downtown streets during the holiday season. It costs between $10,000 and $12,000 to line the twinkle lights on more than 200 trees.

"Our tree-lighting ceremony is the most spectacular holiday event on the Peninsula," said Kathleen Byrne, executive director of LAVA.

Money for the tree-lighting ceremony and the twinkle lighting lining the trees along downtown streets comes from the annual Los Altos Arts & Wine Festival held every July.

In addition to the choir, Friday night's entertainment was provided by soloists Kay DeVries and Michael Morris, and a children's group from the Community School Of Music and Arts singing familiar sacred and secular holiday songs.

The Town Choir represents a group of singers from throughout the community singing under the direction of David Stein, music director for Union Presbyterian Church in Los Altos.

While rain kept coming down, local American Legion Post 558 offered free rides on the children's locomotive. The 31-foot mock locomotive rang its bell and blew its muted train whistle going down Main Street, its seats full of parents and children hiding under their umbrellas.