An Old-Fashioned Christmas

Alecia Foster

MONTROSE -- Eleven-year-old Cora Gullett almost guessedthere were 17

wrapped gifts in Santa’s bag, sitting in a Montrose storefront window.

But something changed her mind.

“I just had that little feeling that said, ‘16,’ ” she said.

Her final guess was right on and with it came the honor of becoming

the Montrose Christmas Parade’s Jr. Grand Marshal.

The grand marshal contest was just one of the many events that drew

hundreds of residents to Honolulu Avenue on Friday evening for the annual

Montrose Christmas Tree Lighting.

The event was begun by the Montrose Shopping Park Assn. four years ago

as a way to bring old-fashioned holiday spirit to the area.

While guest singers and the Rosemont Middle School Band entertained

onlookers, a number of other local residents walked around, admiring the

brightly lit trees that lined the street.

“We love to see the lights,” said Glendale resident Laura Hipke, who

brought her children Dustin, Katie and Tintin.

“It makes it seem like a little village in the middle of the big

city,” she said.

After the Jr. Grand Marshal winner was announced, Glendale Mayor Dave

Weaver did the honors of lighting Montrose’s official Christmas tree,

which sits at the corner of Ocean View Boulevard and Honolulu Avenue.

Three-thousand small white lights were used to decorate the tree, said

Honor Haase, a member of the shopping park association’s event committee.

Montrose holiday activities will continue Dec. 2 when the Christmas

parade comes to town, in which Cora Gullett will ride in a red

convertable.

This was the fourth year that a girl has won the contest, Haase said.

“Maybe they’re just better at guessing,” Haase said, jokingly.