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LET IT GLOW, LET IT GLOW, LET IT GLOW; FAMILIES CONSIDER MEGAWATT DISPLAYS THEIR GIFT TO PASSERS-BY.


Byline: Andrea Hescheles Daily News Staff Writer

Casey Kerr of Winnetka works 360 days a year. The other five he spends decorating his home for the holidays.

It takes a while to set up 3,000 lights, a snowman, Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs IBM's early competitors in the mainframe business: Burroughs, CDC, GE, Honeywell, NCR, RCA and Univac.

Seven Dwarfs

Doc, Happy, Sleepy, Sneezy, Bashful, Grumpy, Dopey. [Am.
, Santa Claus Santa Claus: see Nicholas, Saint.

Santa Claus

jolly, gift-giving figure who visits children on Christmas Eve. [Christian Tradition: NCE, 1937]

See : Christmas


Santa Claus
 and his reindeer, and Raggedy Ann Raggedy Ann

good-natured despite misadventures; doll with perpetual smile. [Children’s Lit.: Raggedy Ann Stories]

See : Cheerfulness
 and Andy.

For six years, he's been putting on his show of lights, and every year it's the same thing. ``It's packed. I can easily walk outside and there are five to six cars out front,'' said Kerr, who owns a hot-rod shop. ``I average two accidents a year from people rubbernecking and they run into something.''

For the Stuart family of Agoura Hills, every Nov. 1 marks the beginning of a 75-hour project. The whole family participates in putting up the massive display that adds $700 to the electric bill and draws sightseers to their cul-de-sac. The highlight of this display? The merry molar family, which adorns the garage door. ``There are five molars in holiday garb, wishing everyone a Happy Holiday season but admonishing ad·mon·ish  
tr.v. ad·mon·ished, ad·mon·ish·ing, ad·mon·ish·es
1. To reprove gently but earnestly.

2. To counsel (another) against something to be avoided; caution.

3.
 them to keep on brushing,'' said Charles Stuart Noun 1. Charles Stuart - son of James I who was King of England and Scotland and Ireland; was deposed and executed by Oliver Cromwell (1600-1649)
Charles I, Charles
, a dentist.

The Nortons of Burbank have been celebrating the holidays with an elaborate display since the early '70s and call it their ``gift of love to the public in the form of an elaborate display.'' Working nights and weekends starting in mid-November, their ``gift'' takes a month to finish. ``When you see it, you understand why,'' said Dick Norton.

Large-scale, animated features in the display include a Ferris wheel Ferris wheel, amusement park ride. It consists of a power-operated wheel that is about 50 ft (15 m) in diameter. It has two rims that are parallel to and equidistant from the shaft about which the wheel rotates. , a merry-go-round and a chugging train complete with a steam-blowing whistle.

``Young boys are fascinated by it and will sit and stare for quite a while,'' says Norton. ``Kids think it's like Magic Mountain - they want to ride.''

For liability reasons, viewers have to keep off the equipment, but they are welcome to leave their mark in Santa's log book on the podium next to the train station. Visitors have been known to leave not only their name but questions, too, and the Nortons have provided answers to the most common ones on a sign posted in front of the display.

The attraction never fails to pack the streets. ``On Christmas evening, the street is like Universal CityWalk Universal CityWalk is a part of Universal Studios Hollywood, Universal Orlando Resort and Universal Studios Japan originating from Universal's first park, Universal Studios Hollywood. ,'' Norton said.

Once, even a crew of Department of Water and Power workers stopped to check out the display that adds $300 to the Nortons' monthly power bill. ``I pay your bonuses every year,'' Norton teased.

Yes, it's expensive. Yes, it's time-consuming. But Norton said he enjoys every moment of it. ``What I love the most is the large number of people who come by and say how much they love it. For some of them, that's it, the only Christmas they get, and it means so much to them. So many people look forward to seeing it that it makes it all worthwhile.''

Here are some of the spectacular light displays in the San Fernando Valley San Fernando Valley

Valley, southern California, U.S. Northwest of central Los Angeles, the valley is bounded by the San Gabriel, Santa Susana, and Santa Monica mountains and the Simi Hills.
.

Christmas lights

Agoura Hills

The Stewart family, 28925 Burleson St.

Highlights: Thousands of lights surrounding hand-painted figurines; Mr. and Mrs. Snowmen; Santa and his reindeer; Santa Bear; toyland express train; wooden soldiers; and five molars in holiday garb.

When: The display can be viewed from 5:30 to 9 p.m. daily.

Major intersection: Kanan Road and Fountainwood Street.

Burbank

The Resh family, 1919 N. Fairview St.

Highlights: Light display; train and passenger car with crossing arm; moving cowboy on horse; Santa with sleigh sleigh: see sled.  and moving reindeer; penguins rotating around North Pole North Pole, northern end of the earth's axis, lat. 90°N. It is distinguished from the north magnetic pole. U.S. explorer Robert E. Peary is traditionally credited as being the first to reach (1909) the North Pole. In 1926, Richard E. .

When: The display can be viewed from 6 to 10 p.m. daily.

Major intersection: Victory Boulevard Victory Boulevard is a major thoroughfare on Staten Island, measuring approximately 8.0 miles (12.87 km) and stretching from the west shore community of Travis to the upper east shore communities of St. George and Tompkinsville.  and Hollywood Way.

The Norton family, 513 N. Florence St.

Highlights: Thousands of lights; merry-go-round; Ferris wheel; train with revolving wheels; kids on a teeter-totter; Snoopy Snoopy

world’s most famous beagle. [Comics: “Peanuts” in Horn, 542]

See : Dogs


Snoopy

imaginative dog. [Comics: “Peanuts” in Horn, 542–543]

See : Illusion
 in a biplane biplane, aircraft, typically of early design, having two sets of wings fixed at different levels, especially in a vertical stack with the fuselage included between them. See airplane. ; jack-in-the-box Santa Claus; moving elves and more.

When: The display can be viewed from 6 to 9 p.m. daily.

Major intersection: Verdugo Street and Magnolia Avenue.

The Pape family, 1142 N. Catalina St.

Highlights: Lights; a Ferris wheel; flying Santa The Flying Santa is the name given to a tradition that dates to Christmas Day of 1929, when packages of gifts were dropped from a plane to lighthouse keepers and their families along the New England coast.  Claus hanging on a wire; Santa's workshop Santa's workshop may refer to
  • Santa's Workshop (film), an 1932 animated short by Disney.
  • Santa Claus workshop.
 with elves; teeter-totter; carousel; plastic figures and moving animation.

When: The display can be viewed 6 to 10 p.m. daily.

Major intersections Hollywood Way and Buena Vista Street.

Canoga Park

Joyce Branson, 21828 Michale St.

Highlights: 5,200 icicle lights; handmade wreaths; Nativity scene A nativity scene, also called a crib or crèche (meaning "crib" or "manger" in French) generally refers to any depiction of the birth or birthplace of Jesus. In Italy it is known as presepe ; singing angels; and a Star of David on the roof.

When: The display can be viewed from 6 to 10 p.m. daily.

Major intersection: Topanga Canyon Boulevard and Chase Street.

The Spooners, 21838 Michale St.

Highlights: Lots of lights and seven snow fairies.

When: The display can be viewed from 6 to 10 p.m. daily.

Major intersection: Topanga Canyon Boulevard and Chase Street.

Chatsworth

The Thompsons, 21025 Lassen St.

Highlights: Lots of lights; decorated swimming pool.

When: The display can be viewed from 6 to 9 p.m. daily.

Major intersection: De Soto de So·to   , Hernando or Fernando 1496?-1542.

Spanish explorer who landed in Florida in 1539 with 600 men and set out to search for the fabled riches of the north.
 Avenue and Lassen Street.

Granada Hills

The Winger family, 17556 Ludlow St.

Highlights: 115,000 different lights; a variety of Christmas lawn sculptures; Mr. and Mrs. Santa Claus
For the folk character, see Mrs. Claus.


Mrs. Santa Claus is a 1996 television musical starring Angela Lansbury as the wife of Santa Claus. The musical score for Mrs.
 in a motor home.

When: The display can be viewed from 5 to 10:30 p.m. daily.

Major intersection: White Oak Avenue and San Fernando San Fernando, city, Argentina
San Fernando (săn fərnăn`dō), city (1991 pop. 144,761), Buenos Aires prov., E Argentina. It is a district administrative center in the Greater Buenos Aires area.
 Mission Boulevard The following roads are named Mission Boulevard:
  • Mission Boulevard (East Bay, California) in the San Francisco Bay Area
  • Mission Boulevard (Southern California)
.

Mission Hills

The Tapia and Hernandez families, 10920 Bartee Ave.

Highlights: Hundreds of lights; child Nativity scene; life-size Nativity scene with over 35 sheep; motion-activated talking Santa Claus; moving train; angels; choir boys Choir Boys can refer to:
  • the plural of Choir boy, i.e. singers in a boys - or mixed choir (especially church - and/or school choirs)
  • Boy soprano
  • The Choirboys (boyband)
 and girls; light sculptures; African-American figures; elves.

When: The display can be viewed from 5 to 9 p.m. daily through New Year's Eve.

Major intersection: Chatsworth Street and Arleta Avenue.

Northridge

The Monroes, 10122 Hadley Ave.

Highlights: Lots of lights; Santa Claus; snowmen; and a lighted tree.

When: The display can be seen evenings.

Major intersection: Tampa Avenue and Devonshire Street.

Reseda

The Wilson family, 19204 Lanark St.

Highlights: Thousands of lights.

When: The display can be viewed from 5:30 to 10 p.m. daily.

Major intersection: Tampa Avenue and Roscoe Boulevard.

Saugus

Terry Windberg, 21879 Alamogordo Road.

Highlights: More than 12,000 lights; Santa Claus in a 1968 Camaro; and a 10-foot Christmas tree Christmas tree

Evergreen tree, usually decorated with lights and ornaments, to celebrate the Christmas season. The use of evergreen trees, wreaths, and garlands as symbols of eternal life was common among the ancient Egyptians, Chinese, and Hebrews.
. Santa Claus will be handing out candy canes.

When: The display can be viewed from 5 p.m. to midnight daily through Jan. 1.

Major intersection: Bouquet Canyon Road and Alamogordo Road.

Simi Valley Simi Valley (sē`mē, sĭm`ē), city (1990 pop. 100,217), Ventura co., SW Calif. in an oil, fruit, and farm region; laid out 1887, inc. 1969.  

The Childress family, 3115 Sheri Drive.

Highlights: More than 5,000 lights; lots of candy canes; nativity scene. Please bring a nonperishable food item for Simi Valley Care and Share, a food bank.

When: The display can be viewed from 5 to 10 p.m. daily. Major intersection: Tapo Canyon Road and Township Avenue.

Tarzana

The Whites, 5330 Topeka Drive.

Highlights: More than 10,000 lights; Nativity scene; candy canes decorating the driveway; Santa Claus; and lighted figures.

When: The display can be viewed from 5 to 10 p.m. daily.

Major intersections: Ventura Boulevard and Tampa Avenue.

Van Nuys

The Craven family, 17212 Vose St.

Highlights: Hundreds of lights; Ferris wheel; monorail monorail, railway system that uses cars that run on a single rail. Typically the rail is run overhead and the cars are either suspended from it or run above it. ; Nativity scene; Santa and reindeer.

When: The display can be viewed from 5 to 10 p.m. daily.

Major intersection: Vanowen Street and Balboa Boulevard.

The Forsberg family, 17550 Haynes St.

Highlights: 10,000 lights; 3-foot-tall Disney characters.

When: The display can be seen from 6 to 10 p.m. daily.

Major intersection: White Oak Avenue and Victory Boulevard.

West Hills

The Park family, 23321 Schoolcraft St.

Highlights: 60,000 lights; a snow playhouse; various characters throughout the lawn; and a Santa Claus mailbox where kids can mail letters to Santa Claus. Two days before Christmas, the yard is covered in snow.

When: The display can be viewed from 6 to 10 p.m. daily.

Major intersection: Vanowen Street and Platt Avenue.

Winnetka

The Kerr family, 20212 Hart St.

Highlights: About 3,000 lights; train with Disney characters; Raggedy Ann and Andy; Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs; 10-foot-tall candy canes; Santa and reindeer; elves; and holiday music.

When: The display can be viewed from 6 to 10 p.m. daily.

Major intersection: Winnetka Avenue and Vanowen Street.

The Gibb family, 20236 Londelius St.

Highlights: Hundreds of lights; penguins standing 1 to 3 feet tall throughout the yard; a lighted candy cane fence.

When: The display can be viewed from 5 to 9 p.m. daily.

Major intersection: Winnetka Avenue and Parthenia Street.

Woodland Hills

The DeBonas, 4812 Topanga Canyon Blvd.

Highlights: Lots of lights; four choir-boy figures; a lighted reindeer; a life-size snowman; painting of Santa and Christmas scene.

When: The display can be viewed evenings.

Major intersection: Topanga Canyon Boulevard and Dumetz Road.

The Balians, 23865 Aetna St.

Highlights: Santa Claus and reindeer flying over the roof; Nativity scene; Snoopy and Winnie the Pooh.

When: The display can be viewed from 5 to 11 p.m. daily.

Major intersection: Platt Avenue and Oxnard Street.

The Jones family, 6321 Jumilla Ave.

Highlights: More than 8,000 lights; an operating, lighted windmill; a 6-inch lighted star.

When: The display can be viewed from 5 to 10 p.m. daily.

Major intersection: Corbin Avenue and Friar Street.

The Caplan family, 20619 Oxnard St.

Highlights: Thousands of lights; Santa Claus; a lighted reindeer.

When: The display can be viewed from 5 to 10 p.m. daily.

Major intersection: De Soto Avenue and Oxnard Street.

CAPTION(S):

4 photos, box

PHOTO (1 -- color) John Servi, left, and stepson step·son  
n.
A spouse's son by a previous union.


stepson
Noun

a son of one's husband or wife by an earlier relationship

Noun 1.
 Jerry Tucker placed more than 8,000 lights and a working windmill in front of the Jones family home, 6321 Jumilla Ave., Woodland Hills.

Evan Yee/Daily News

(2 -- 3 -- color) Debbie Norton, 11, and her parents Pam and Dick of Burbank have created a mechanical wonderland. At right, Lisa, Tyler and Casey Kerr welcome visitors to their Winnetka home.

Evan Yee/Daily News

John McCoy/Daily News

(4 -- color) On the cover: Terry Windberg and son Daniel, 8, welcome visitors to their holiday lighting display at 21879 Alamogordo Road, Saugus.

David Crane/ Daily News

Box: Christmas lights
COPYRIGHT 1998 Daily News
No portion of this article can be reproduced without the express written permission from the copyright holder.
Copyright 1998, Gale Group. All rights reserved. Gale Group is a Thomson Corporation Company.

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Title Annotation:L.A. Life
Publication:Daily News (Los Angeles, CA)
Date:Dec 19, 1998
Words:1664
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