Special Holiday editon
Extra
IT’S YOUR PAPER www.claytonpioneer.com
November 28, 2014
925.672.0500 TAMARA STEINER Clayton Pioneer
Jules Bianchi Photo
More than 60,000 lights will combine with the genius and skill of Clayton light meister, Jeffrey Holmes in a dramatic musical light show on his parent’s estate on Pine Lane. Holmes describes ‘A Heart for Christmas’ as original, but inspired by Disney’s ‘Frozen.’ Holmes has been lighting up for the holidays since 2007 when he won the Clayton Pioneer Home Decorating Contest at age 15. Many will remember when the Clayton Community Church glowed with his lighting in 2008 and 09. This year’s show opens Nov. 28. There is no admission, however donations will benefit Clayton transplant patient Katie Grace Groebner and the Children’s Organ Transplant Association. For the full story see page 2.
Clayton teen organizes benefit concert to fight cancer PEGGY SPEAR Clayton Pioneer
Sometimes, a bad thing can lead to good things. And that’s what Haley Morucci realized when, four years ago, a favorite uncle contracted lung cancer. The prognosis wasn’t good, until the family turned to the Lazarex Cancer Foundation, which helped her uncle get alternative treatment in the Philippines. The treatments “helped Uncle Dan tremendously,” Haley says, “and gave him a few more years with us.”
See Concert, page 2
HAILEY AND BRAD MORUCCI
When Jeff Holmes flips the switch on “A Heart for Christmas” Friday night, it will be the largest light show in the Bay Area, bringing together the vision of a teen-aged “tekkie, a decade of training and a burning desire to help a friend. Jeff was only 13 when he saw the now legendary Budweiser commercial with thousands of lights flashing and dancing across the screen in synch with the TransSiberian Orchestra’s “Wizards of Winter.” At that moment, Jeff knew. “I want to do that,” he said. The fire was lit. “No one was doing light shows back then,” he explains. “It was hidden from the world until You Tube.” He nurtured the idea for a couple of years, watching videos, experimenting with his computer and learning what he could. When the Clayton Pioneer home decorating contest rolled around in 2007, Jeff seized the moment and entered the contest. He and his dad rummaged through their basement, dragging out whatever they could find that looked Christmas-sy and had a plug on the end.. “The lights were old and shoddy,” Jeff recalls. “They were unstable, but they worked.” With those lights, a laptop and his dad’s help, Jeff
See Light Show, page 2
Downtown all dressed up and waiting for Santa Last weekend, while many of us were curled up in front of a fire enjoying the first real rain of the season, the CBCA Elves were hard at work readying the town for the holidays. By Sunday night, Santa and the reindeer were flying high over The Grove, red bows and green garland adorned every upright post and flat surface, the street lights will glowed with a warm halo and the tall stately tree in the gazebo glittered in full LED glory. At the other end of Main Street, a menorah waits for the first night of Hanukkah on Dec. 16, the manger scene is ready for Christmas Eve and the official town tree stays dark…waiting for Santa’s arrival. On Dec. 6, the city’s holiday festivities begin at 4:30 with the clip-clop sound of the two horse drawn carriages that will carry merry-makers around town. This will be the fifth year that Realtors Stephanie Lopez and Leigh Klock, the Moresi Family and P2C Foundation have sponsored the carriages. “This is our favorite time of year,” says Stephanie. “We love the rides, the lights and the kids’ faces.” She urges people to line up early. But, they won’t be bored while they wait, she assures. Clayton’s singing group “Vintage” will be on hand to entertain. At 6 p.m. the Tree Lighting party sponsored by the Clayton Business and Community Association, begins at the
Gazebo with seasons greetings from the mayor and the traditional appearance by the Mt. Diablo Elementary School Chorus. Be sure to bring an unwrapped toy for the Toys for Tots barrel. Santa will then lead the short parade down Main Street where he will flip the switch on the city’s tree and the holidays in Clayton officially begin. Then it’s a quick stop at the Clayton Community Church
for hot cider and donuts before heading home. The following Saturday, Dec. 13, the CBCA Elves will again be hard at work when Clayton kids are invited for Dessert with Mrs. Claus and photos with Santa at Endeavor Hall. The event is free for children under 12 (when accompanied by an adult) although donations are appreciated. Later that day, Vintage will celebrate the season with a free
concert at St. Bonaventure’s at 7:30. To learn more about this group, go to www.vintagetrio.com. The CBCA sponsors the Art and Wine Festival in the spring, the Clayton Classic Golf Tournament in June, The Oktoberfest in the fall and the Clayton Bocce Leagues. Funds raised are donated back into the community in the form of gifts, grants and scholarships. For membership information, go to claytoncbca.org.
Rochelle Douglass
Tamara Steiner/Clayton Pioneer
The horse drawn carriages, sponsored by the Dynamic Real Estate Group, the Ed Moresi Family and P2C Foundation start the Tree Lighting festivities off at 4:30 on Dec. 6.
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