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Season of Lights

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TIMES STAFF WRITER

Neighborhood Christmas displays are lighting up the holidays as decorators plug in high-wattage spectaculars, despite a power shortage that has threatened Californians with rolling blackouts. Here are some of Los Angeles County’s best-dressed neighborhoods. All displays are lighted through Jan. 1, unless otherwise noted.

Altadena

For the record:

12:00 a.m. Dec. 23, 2000 For the Record
Los Angeles Times Saturday December 23, 2000 Home Edition Metro Part B Page 4 Metro Desk 2 inches; 38 words Type of Material: Correction
Christmas lights--In a Friday listing of neighborhood holiday decorations, a home at 276 S. Windsor Blvd. was incorrectly listed as being in Hancock Park. It is in Windsor Square. Also, the home at 301 Rimpau Blvd. in Hancock Park does not have a holiday display this year.

* 1960 Mendocino Lane

The 1922 Mediterranean-style mansion owned by ice cream magnate George Balian, at the fork of Mendocino Lane and Glenview Terrace, is aglow with thousands of lights, drawing busloads of visitors, pushcart vendors and strolling carolers. Lights out Dec. 31.

* Christmas Tree Lane, a one-mile stretch of Santa Rosa Avenue between Woodbury Road and Altadena Drive

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Thousands of cars with headlights off drive through what looks like an electrically enchanted forest of 100-foot cedars that are more than a century old. Residents of the area say it will be lights out next year, unless they raise thousands of dollars for an electrical upgrade.

Burbank

Winners of the 18th annual holiday outdoor decorating contest:

* Youth winners: 824 Bethany Road and 825 E. Cornell Drive.

* Residential winners: 3500 Viewcrest Drive, 430 N. Bel Aire Drive, 1142 N. Catalina St., 3033 Trudi Lane and 251 N. Orchard Drive.

* Commercial winner: 609 N. Glenoaks Blvd.

Covina

* 923 E. Edgecomb St.

For 23 years, John Paisley has put together animated Christmas displays here and in Alhambra, complete with Snoopy, Mickey and Minnie Mouse, Santa’s workshop, animals, reindeer, sleighs, airplanes and two outdoor train sets, one of which runs under and around all the attractions. Visitors often leave their cars to photograph the dazzling display or simply gaze and listen to strolling carolers. Lights on from 6:30 to 9:30 p.m.

Glendora

* 1400 block of South Glendora Avenue

Sightseers will find a mini-Whoville and cows pulling Santa’s sleigh in the neighborhood’s annual holiday decorating contest, on display in the area of Renwick Road, Glencroft Road, Payson Street and Wabash Avenue.

Hawthorne

* 4117 W. 138th St.

Gary and Dottie Williams are back, after taking last year off for remodeling, with a new revolving 7-foot Ferris wheel, a 5-foot merry-go-round with four horses, a train, a 6-foot Santa and his workshop and a 22-foot Christmas tree atop their two-story garage. More than 25,000 lights are on from 5:30 to 10 p.m. each night.

Inglewood

* 3rd, 4th and 5th avenues and Hardy Street

Twenty arches of metal and plastic piping, decorated with red and silver garlands entwined with lights, span South 5th Avenue between Century Boulevard and Arbor Vitae Street. Most residents have sprayed their yards with fake snow and put up decorations, including Nativity scenes and life-sized Santas and reindeer.

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Long Beach

* Daisy Avenue

Christmas Tree Lane, a four-block stretch between 20th Street and Pacific Coast Highway in the Wrigley district, features scenes erected between stately cedar trees wreathed in Christmas lights.

* Bay Shore Walk, Naples

Waterfront homes are elaborately decorated, and Christmas trees formed by strands of lights shimmer on waterborne platforms.

Los Angeles

* Griffith Park

The Festival of Lights, a mile-long kaleidoscope of color, sound and lights along Crystal Springs Drive, can be seen by car or on foot, but expect heavy traffic. Lighted between 5 and 10 p.m. until Dec. 26.

* Hancock Park

At 276 Windsor Blvd., 20-foot carousel animals dominate larger-than-life figures of children, dogs, deer and rabbits.

At 301 Rimpau Blvd., it’s a traffic-stopper as sightseers admire giant rooftop Santas, candy canes, carolers and snowmen.

* 2600 block of Armstrong Avenue (between West Silver Lake Drive and Lakewood Avenue)

When neighbors put their bulbs together, it begins to look a lot like Christmas. A director/writer/producer/part-time carpenter spotlights handmade 9-foot wooden soldiers and carousel ponies set in a yard with thousands of twinkling lights. Across the street at Lloyd and Joyce Peyton’s house, a 20-foot, 60-year-old cactus is decorated with white lights and large felt bows. Nineteen street light poles are wrapped with aluminum foil and spirals of ribbon and topped off with bows. Civil War buffs who are members of a 12-piece brass band drop by from time to time, performing tunes ranging from “Noel” to “Marching Through Georgia.”

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Monrovia

* 12 Hidden Valley Road

Home-decorating contest winners Jim and Joanie Maines took the Best in Show category in Monrovia’s “2000 Holiday Home Happenings.” Thirty-seven residences were entered in the city-sponsored contest.

Pasadena

* Upper Hastings Ranch

For half a century, residents have adorned their houses and yards with showy displays, competing for prizes awarded by the neighborhood association. Hundreds of homes in a 44-block area north of Sierra Madre Boulevard and west of Michillinda Avenue participate.

* 1770 block of Monte Vista Street

The Courvilles have a 40-year tradition of holiday magic in their frontyard, with thousands of lights and lavish decorations.

San Marino

* St. Albans Road

Massive evergreens festooned with lights line the street.

Torrance

* Doris Way, Robert and Reese roads, Carol and Linda drives and Sharynne Lane

The Sleepy Hollow area is bounded by Pacific Coast Highway, Calle Mayor, Anza Avenue and Sepulveda and Palos Verdes boulevards. Enter Robert Road from Pacific Coast Highway in Torrance for the most dramatic view.

Woodland Hills

* Oakdale, Lubao, Penfield and Jumilla avenues

Candy Cane Lane, a four-block neighborhood of ranch-style homes, has been a holiday attraction for almost half a century. Its dazzling decorations are within the boundaries of Oxnard Street, Corbin and Winnetka avenues and the Ventura Freeway.

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