Snowflakes light up another season

Dave Brooks

A cold front has blown through Huntington Beach, but no one expected

it to bring so many snowflakes.

Dozens of large, lighted snowflakes adorn city light fixtures on

Main Street and along the pier, giving off a bit of holiday glow when

the sun sets.

The decorations may seem innocuous to the ordinary passerby, but

like any public art display, they are the product of many hours of

planning, labor, and in this year’s case, a little arm twisting.

For the last eight years, about seven dozen snowflakes -- 48 for

the pier and 36 for Main Street -- are used by the nonprofit arm of

the city’s Youth Shelter for fundraising. The public is asked to

sponsor a snowflake with the proceeds going toward the shelter, which

in the past has been managed by the Christian organization,

Volunteers of America.

Recently Volunteers of America lost a portion of its federal

funding and had to pull out of its commitment to host the shelter,

leaving it temporarily closed. That left city volunteers scrambling

to take possession of the snowflakes and figure out a way to

coordinate their installation.

That effort went off without a hitch Sunday, during a breezy

beachfront Light a Light of Love ceremony at Pier Plaza. After a

brief procession featuring Mr. and Mrs. Claus on a city fire engine

down Main Street, the famous holiday couple joined Mayor Cathy Green

to kick off the lighting ceremony.

“Our city is a place of joy where we can come together and

celebrate our love,� she said before powering up the snowflake

display.

With that, the snowflakes radiated light and rock band the Sleigh

Dawgs celebrated with a hip version of Jingle Bells.

“I think they look brilliant,� Surf City resident Sandy Sampson

said. “This is the beginning of the holiday season for Huntington

Beach. When you see the snowflakes, you know its Christmas time.�

The snowflakes will stay up for six weeks, although their future

with the city remains unclear. Huntington Beach is negotiating the

fate of the shelter, including the snowflakes, with the Christian

organization.

When the Volunteers of America decided to pull out of their

dealings with the shelter, they had intended to take the snowflakes

with them, leaving the city without any holiday decorations, Green

said.

Shelter volunteer Mary Lou Shattuck negotiated with Volunteers of

America to give the snowflakes back to the city.

“They were very gracious about the entire situation and agreed to

let us use the snowflakes� she said.

Proceeds for this year’s fundraiser will go to the YMCA and the

Youth Shelter. For information on donating call (714) 847-9622.

* DAVE BROOKS covers City Hall. He can be reached at (714)

966-4609 or by e-mail at [email protected].