 |
|
|
|
|
WG school to be home of town's Xmas tree
Kiwanis, WGBPA agree to co-sponsor holiday tree lighting
By Jessica Lyons
It's going to take more than children's shiny faces to light up Willow Glen Elementary School this holiday season. It's going to take tree lights--at least a couple thousand.
This December, the elementary school will be the home of Willow Glen's Christmas tree. And although Christmas is still 73 shopping days away, Willow Glen elves have already scouted out the tree, almost.
It will be one of the giant redwoods in front of Willow Glen Elementary, says former Willow Glen Sunrisers president Terri Walint Oropeza, but the exact one has yet to be chosen.
For the first time in what Kiwanis hopes turns into a holiday tradition, the Sunrisers will co-sponsor the annual tree lighting with the Willow Glen Business and Professional Association (WGBPA). It's a win-win situation for everybody, say business owners and Kiwanis club volunteers.
"We both have the same goals, working for the community and making it a better place to live," says Gloria Burns, Sunrisers president and former seven-year Willow Glen Elementary principal.
The holiday tradition quite literally shines the spotlight on Willow Glen Elementary, a school "adopted" by Kiwanis, and it takes some of the holiday pressure off the business owners at an already busy time of year.
"For the Kiwanis, it gives them a service project; it also gives them visibility," says Dot Cohen, the newly elected WGBPA president. "It helps us out at the business association because it's a project we don't have to totally organize."
While the details still need to be hammered out--the co-sponsorship was only agreed upon recently, at last week's WGBPA board meeting--the basics are in place.
"There will be the tree lighting, the flipping of the switch and Christmas caroling," Oropeza says.
Several local schools have already expressed interest in caroling, and the Willow Glen Neighborhood Association and Willow Glen PTA groups want to be a part of the festivities, too, say organizers.
"It brings a core small-town activity to Willow Glen," Oropeza says.
Although this year's festivities will move the tree out of central downtown Willow Glen, Lincoln Avenue businesses can rest assured they won't be lost in the celebration. Some business owners are already brainstorming a Santa's Trail map on Lincoln Avenue, directing the crowds to local businesses offering Christmas cookies, hot drinks or pictures with Santa.
WGBPA business manager Demetri Rizos says he'll encourage local shops to set up open houses to coincide with the tree-lighting ceremony. "We're going to encourage businesses to do something to get people in the door: free cookies, Christmas carols, pictures with Santa. I really like the idea of having a map of Santa's Trail."
Members of Kiwanis are looking for companies or individuals willing to foot the electrical bill for the lights. Corporate sponsors or school, neighborhood or church groups wanting to be part of the Dec. 2 tree-lighting ceremony can email Oropeza at toropeza@goldway.com or call the Willow Glen Sunrisers, 408.999.8010.
|
|
|
|
Willow Glen, California Since 1992
