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The newspaper for the new millennium
510-494-1999
tricityvoice@aol.com
November 20, 2012
www.tricityvoice.com
Vol. 11 No. 73
BY JULIE GRABOWSKI
W
hat lifts spirits, unites the community, and is a staple of the holiday season? If you’re a resident of the Tri-Cities, the answer is most likely the Niles Festival of Lights Parade. A fun and heartwarming launch into Christmas time, the parade marches into its 12th year the day after Thanksgiving, on Friday, November 23. Created by the Niles Merchants Association, the Festival of Lights is strictly a people pleasing affair. “We’re very community, child oriented,” says association Treasurer and Event Coordinator Marie Dear. At the time when the parade began, there was only continued on pag 39
SUBMITTED BY DEBBIE AYRES For the past 14 years, students, staff and parents have participated in the California School for the Deaf (CSD) Physical Education Turkey Trot. During Physical Education classes on Thursday, November 15, students circled the track. Staff joined in during their prep periods or breaks and some parents even came by to do a lap or two. Just prior to a morning session, the CSD Eagle mascot arrived to the delight of participants and urged them on during their circuits. Students “trotted” for 20 minutes, collecting a strip of paper after every lap. When the allotted time had elapsed, they were able to deposit the paper strips in a bowl based on the number of laps completed. Drawings from the bowls were for Thanksgiving/food items to share with their families during the holidays. This year, the high school service learning class also collected non-perishable food items to donate to a family or organization of their choice. Local merchants donating to the CSD Turkey Trot include: Safeway, Whole Foods, Raley’s, Trader Joe’s, Lucky’s, Panera Bread, Boston Market, Erik’s Deli, Peet’s Coffee, Sprout’s, Sport’s Authority, Jamba Juice, McDonald’s, Coldstone, Elephant Bar, Costco.
SUBMITTED BY KAREN KADAJA More than two decades ago, a bunch of train enthusiasts decorated a few of their restored railroad cars and took them out for a holiday train ride. The next year, people were waving them down wanting a ride. Thus was born the Train of Lights, now the oldest continuously running holiday train ride in the nation. Over a quarter of a mile long, covered inside and out with thousands of lights, it is one of the Bay Area’s most beloved holiday celebrations. Decorating a train that size both inside and out is no small task. It is a labor of love by hundreds of volunteers beginning right after Labor Day and ends just before Thanksgiving. Dexter Day, a Caltrain Conductor and Tri-Valley resident, is the mastermind behind the Train of Lights; he is better known as Dr. Christmas. The train is decorated by volunteers from all over the Bay Area, including Eric Child from Santa Cruz and Dave Burla from San Leandro. A large volcontinued on pag 40
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INDEX
Public Notices. . . . . . . . . . . . 30