Wind Brought Down Power Lines But Not the Christmas Spirit

Dec. 2, 2011 - PRLog -- Los Angeles - The  20th Annual Atwater Village Tree Lighting holiday ceremony presented by Atwater Village Chamber of Commerce and Atwater Neighborhood Council was nearly canceled due to a wind advisory. A windstorm  on November 30, 2011 knocked down trees, power lines and left areas of Los Angeles in the dark. A good portion of Atwater Village also suffered from the blackout. Community leaders scaled back the event to one with simple caroling, hot chocolate and neighbors in the darkened Wells Fargo Bank parking lot (3250 Glendale Boulevard, 90039). The star of the event is located in the middle of the bustling business corridor of Glendale Boulevard. The majestic 50 year-old California Redwood Tree that towers 80 feet in the air was left unscathed by the winds. The tree adorned with strings of holiday light and ornaments served as a beacon of community pride. The wind had left the decorations intact.

A warm round of applause occurred when the tree was lit. The darkened street proved a perfect backdrop for the eco-friendly LED lit tree. Hundreds of residents attended. They sang carols, drank hot chocolate and remembered fondly of the first tree lighting in 1991. The tradition was initiated by the Atwater Village Chamber of Commerce  but has expanded with the active involvement of the Atwater Village Neighborhood Council as well as community groups, businesses, religious institutions, individual volunteers and the City of Los Angeles. This year the community embraced the humble roots of the tree lighting with laughter, warmth and Christmas Spirit.