Christmas trees with lights are all over the place. Among the first to appear in public were the fundraising trees of the three local Altrusa organizations. The first tree event—sponsored by the nighttime Altrusa at the Elks Club in November—attracted more than 700 people (mostly women who bought fistfuls of raffle tickets).
Then, like clockwork, two more sets of Altrusa raffle trees—laden with lights and gifts underneath—appeared on the second floor of the Town Center West mall.
On Friday night, Dec. 4, the city’s community tree at City Hall was lit.
And on that same evening, a huge magnolia tree on Palm Court, festooned with 3,300 colored lights, was the center of a tree lighting ceremony and mini-gala at the home of Robert and Sandra Dickerson.
This tree is a wonder to behold. Particularly if there is a breeze and the branches sway ever so slightly, waving in the darkness.
The Dickersons have established a holiday tradition. For the past 11 or so years (“We missed one year,” Sandra told me), the couple has decorated their front lawn in a most splendiferous fashion.
Lights, lights, and more lights. Two trees and three topiaries are lit. There are lit-up “packages” under the trees and a bevy of decorations strewn (really, carefully placed) about.
Inside the house, holiday décor was also in abundance. A giant 6-foot Santa, reindeer galore, a train, and ornaments created the “It’s beginning to look a lot like Christmas” scene.
The Dickersons invited 70 friends and neighbors to enjoy white sangria punch with cranberries and chopped apples floating on top (so festive, don’t you think?), holiday rum punch, and an exquisite spread of gourmet foods: beef tenderloin, the universally beloved artichoke dip, brie with cranberries and candied pecans en croute (which is French for enclosed in a mouth-watering pastry), pesto sauce, little appetizers topped with divine apricot chutney, and more.
A new songbird around town, Amy Curti played keyboard and sang Christmas carols as background entertainment. She also led us in group singing outside as we awaited the magic moment when the tree lights—shazam!—went on and filled us all with awe.
Jim McGinty, who is a professional tree trimmer, decorated the tree over a five-day period. The job, of course, required renting a lift—the kind of equipment that utilities employees use to work on traffic lights and the like.
During the tree decorating, the Dickersons’ neighbor, Lynne Fernbaugh, accepted an invitation to go to the top with McGinty. Yes, she went up, up, up on the lift. Pardon the terrible pun but she got a high from this and enjoyed sharing the experience with party-goers. Obviously this girl doesn’t suffer from acrophobia.
For several years running, the Dickersons’ Christmas display won them awards like “Best in Show” for Lights, Sights, and Holiday Nights, the city’s holiday decoration competition. Finally, in 2014, they were awarded a lifetime achievement award, which means that they are no longer eligible to compete.
Among the folks at the party were Lisa Hall, neighbor Cyrina Brogolitti, Bob and Bonnie Royster, Jay and Vikki Connor, and Mike and Jan Kirkwood.
John and Mayor Alice Patino, Jay Hardy, Gillian Cole-Andrews, Karen Cordary, Nancy Stewart, and Butch Kuhl were also among the guests.
If you want to hobnob with Helen, you may contact her at helenthom232@yahoo.com.
This article appears in Dec 10-17, 2015.
