Dear Editor:

Most people don’t think of a biker bar as a place for family values, but on Dec. 23, the night Los Alamos lines its streets with luminarias, The Ghost Riders Tavern hosted the annual Los Alamos Christmas caroling hayride.

Jerry Gormley, the owner of Ghost Riders and one of our town luminaries, was not only one of the sponsors of the free hayride, but he played his guitar while the hay riding carolers were driven around Los Alamos to entertain the community.

Jerry also replaced liquor with free hot chocolate and marshmallows for anyone who wanted it, so they could stay warm on the hour-long rides.

 

Other Los Alamosans who certainly qualify as luminaries for their donations to this fabulous family event are Jerry Thompson, who donated his truck for the event, and Denny Lewis, of Denny Lewis Farms Hay and Straw, who donated a truckload of fresh straw bales.

Alison, another helpful local who didn’t want her last name mentioned, was the musical director and supplied the sheet music.

The Los Alamos Men’s Club, a large philanthropic group of luminaries, and Tammie Neel, the men’s club vice president, also did an incredible job of donating, passing out, and lighting the luminarias that lined Bell and adjacent streets.

One of the greatest things about this event is the way in which the residents of Los Alamos cared enough to create a memory that will last in the minds of the children and adults who attended.

I left Huntington Beach for its lack of small town values, overpopulation and intense traffic, and can only smile and be proud of who my neighbors are, their history and their constant love for Los Alamos — a spot in the universe where family values grow.

Sincerely,

Jean Naughton, Los Alamos

 

Finally the Christmas cheer has been brought and everyone is gathering for a holly jolly Christmas. 4H members have been busy getting ready for the holidays this past month and are making their present list!

Our club participated in People Helping People’s Toys for Teens toy drive at our meeting in December. Items from toy airplanes to zoo books were collected for the local disadvantaged youth.

Also, lots of people from the Santa Ynez 4H helped in this year’s Solvang Nativity Pageant on Dec. 8 at the outdoor Solvang Festival Theatre by bringing their sheep and goats as the animals for the newborn Jesus. Kristina Jackson brought her lamb, Allie, and Kayla Hutchison brought her breeding ewe, Cindy Lou (not the one from “How the Grinch Stole Christmas”); Olivia and Aidan Rotunno provided their herd of Alpine dairy goats. All the kids were dressed by the pageant as shepherds or goat herders, and everyone had a great time and hopes to be asked back for next year’s production. I was there, too, in the front row, and I have to say it was awesome! Overall, including the caroling, I’d give it an 8.5!  

 

On Dec. 16, club members Izzy Anderegg, Andrew Lennen, Aidan and Olivia Rotunno, Antonio Barret (that’s me!), and their parents raised their voices in song to bring cheer to the residents of Friendship House. The residents sang along, and everyone was glad that they had made a couple of old-timers happy with Holiday songs.

— Antonio Barret