LIGHTING UP THE NIGHT
Las Vegan Liz Allan, who decorates her Summerlin home and yard every year for the holiday season, chose a special theme this year when she learned that her 21-year-old son is coming home from Iraq for the holidays. Allan's son, Senior Airman Nicholas Roble, is on his second deployment to Iraq.
In honor of Roble's visit, the house and yard are decorated with characters, colors and images from Dr. Seuss' "How the Grinch Stole Christmas."
"He likes the movie," Allan explains, adding that her son looks forward to celebrating Christmas with family and friends. In fact, he plans to bring Staff Sgt. Brandon Taylor to Las Vegas for a visit before Taylor returns home to Ohio.
The pride of the decorating team -- which included Allan's fiance, Brian Young; her 11-year-old son, Trent; her niece, Liz Sutton; Sutton's daughter, Isabella; her two sisters; and a godson, among others -- is the garage, which features a picture on vinyl of the Grinch looking down upon the town of Whoville.
"It took four people to hang it," Allan says. "We painted the garage one year and it was hard to get it off."
Allan's home can be viewed at 1220 Enderly Lane, near Town Center Drive and Summerlin Parkway in the northwest part of the valley, from 4 p.m. to midnight daily.
Some of the other decorations include a "Welcome to Whoville" sign; a large Grinch in a sleigh with Max the dog and presents; swirly lights around the windows; lights spelling out "Merry Grinchmas" on the second-story roof; wreaths on the windows in Dr. Seuss colors of lime green and pink; and Christmas music synchronized with the sleigh and flashing lights on 10 Christmas trees.
Like Allan, several homeowners listed this year have synchronized their lights to holiday music and a few are using the energy-saving LED lights, including Jerry Creed.
This is his second year of displaying the lights because Creed says they use a fraction of the electricity of conventional lights.
"To put it in perspective, on every string of conventional lights it says not to connect more than three strings of lights together, but with LED you can put together 600 strings," says Creed, who has the LED lights strung on mini-Christmas trees, around his house, bushes and the entrance walkway. The lights are controlled by a computer and synchronized to Christmas music. A sign posted in the yard lists the frequency visitors can tune their car radio to for the music.
So far, the music is the weak link, Creed says. "The reception is sometimes so-so," and he has ordered an antenna to help fix the problem
In addition to the lights, Creed has 16 3-foot Christmas trees, an igloo with Santa and Frosty, a North Pole with a Star of Bethlehem, a snowman and net lights on the ground to look like snow.
Creed's lights can be seen from 5 p.m. to midnight daily until New Year's Eve, when the lights will be turned off shortly after 10 p.m. in remembrance of his late cousin, Mike Walker. Walker, a lieutenant with the California Highway Patrol, was killed in the line of duty on New Year's Eve 2005. A donation can will be displayed at the home to benefit the CHP 11-99 Foundation, which aids the families of law enforcement officers killed in the line of duty.
The Review-Journal Holiday Home Tour is divided into four sections -- Northwest, Northeast, Southwest and Southeast -- by using Sahara Avenue to divide north from south and Interstate 15 to divide east from west.
NORTHWEST
Address: 5904 Oakton St., near Tropical Parkway and Jones Boulevard
Residents: Charles, Anne and Aaron Cook
Description: LED lights, Santa Claus, snowman, train, polar bear, icicles, holographic Santa on a train, nine candy canes, candles and red bows
Hours: 6-11:30 p.m.
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Address: 2708 Golfside Drive, near Del Webb and Rampart boulevards
Resident: Ugene Guss
Description: Santa Claus, elves, 6-foot toy soldier, Santa train, North Pole sign that changes designs, 3-foot rocking snowman, three reindeer, lighted candy cane, dancing snowmen that sing "Frosty the Snowman," multicolored icicles and lights on all yard plants.
Hours: 4:30-10 p.m.
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Address: 5820 Half Moon Way, near Jones Boulevard and Gowan Road
Residents: Kathy Haas and Terry Jones
Description: Carousel with reindeer; 7-foot-high motorized Ferris wheel with Santa, elves and stuffed animals; full-size gingerbread house; wildlife area with animated deer, moose and polar bears; Snoopy and his doghouse; snowman tipping his hat to those who pass; Arctic community with animated seal and penguins; rocking horse; lighted presents; ski slope with a bear skiing down; patriotic Santa Claus and snowman standing by a "United We Stand" sign with a lighted American flag; snowman skating on small pond; candy cane lane; lights that simulate snow; and a Christmas music machine.
Hours: 5-11 p.m.
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Address: 8080 Red Coach Ave., near Craig and Cimarron roads
Residents: Craig and Laura Haven
Description: Animated light displays synchronized to music; more than 46,000 Christmas lights that dance, twinkle and fade to music. Visitors can tune their car radio to 94.9 FM to listen to the music while watching the light displays.
Hours: 6-10 p.m.
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Address: 1820 Giant Pine Ave., North Las Vegas, near Ann Road and Clayton Street
Residents: Julie and Chris Horner
Description: More than 50,000 LED, rope and conventional Christmas lights; skiing polar bear; ice cube snowmen; snowmen walkway; deer; and a pond of lights for ice skating figures. Neighboring houses also are decorated with light displays.
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Address: 4524 Amherst Lane, near Alta Drive and Decatur Boulevard
Residents: Jim and Louise Lauber
Description: A snow globe with falling snow and snowmen; a snow globe with Santa and his sleigh; and many lights on the house, fence and a tree.
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Address: 3940 Rhine Way, near Alexander Road and Rainbow Boulevard
Residents: William and Mryne Lenzen
Description: More than 15,000 lights, dancing Santas, 17 reindeer and other items.
Hours: 4:30-10 p.m.
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Address: 7322 Hollywood Park Ave., near Alexander Road and Tenaya Way
Resident: Robert Lopez
Description: About 4,000 lights; gingerbread house decorations; candy light strands across the top of the house with icing; the front yard is decorated like a pond.
Hours: Dusk to dawn
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Address: 5900 Fannine Way, near Ann Road and Rainbow Boulevard
Residents: Steve Raeder
Description: Candy canes, Santas and many lights.
Hours: 5-9 p.m.
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Address: 4052 Perfect Lure St., near Tenaya Way and Alexander Road
Residents: The Robinson family
Description: More than 60,000 lights, a Nativity scene, a train going around a tree, polar bears, deer, angels, gift-wrapped front door, Christmas music and other items.
Hours: 5 p.m.-5 a.m.
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Address: 4600 Charger Ave., near Decatur Boulevard and Lone Mountain Road
Residents: Tiger Louie and Karlotta Sanchez
Description: Multicolored light displays, snowflakes, 7-foot snowman, waving 7-foot Santa on the roof, candy canes, Christmas trees, a carousel, animated deer, Santa and reindeer, a large Christmas card and other items.
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Address: 7581 Prancing Pony Court, near Jones Boulevard and Farm Road
Residents: Bill and Betty Seymore
Description: Many white-colored Christmas lights decorating trees and bushes.
Hours: 5 p.m.-midnight
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NORTHEAST
Address: 3508 and 3512 Taylor Ave., near Pecos Road and Lake Mead Boulevard
Residents: The Dunk families
Description: Christmas music accompanies about 8,000 lights in both yards, Nativity scenes, Santa and Mrs. Claus, candy canes, snowmen, toy soldiers, Christmas trees, reindeer, wooden figures with lights and a U.S. flag with 2,000 Christmas lights.
Hours: 6-9 p.m.
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Address: 1643 Arthur St., North Las Vegas, near Eastern and Owens avenues
Resident: John Dunn
Description: Animated and stationary displays, more than 15,000 lights, 22 artificial trees, 10 small wooden trees, six deer, five bears fishing, three Santas, four teddy bear trees, a town scene with the Grinch on the roof, snowman family, Christmas music, a candy cane painted driveway and other items.
Hours: 5-10 p.m. Mondays, Tuesdays, and Thursdays through Saturdays; 5-6:30 p.m. Sundays and Wednesdays.
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Address: 4295 E. Wyoming Ave., near Lamb Boulevard
Residents: Donald and Adelaide Schuman
Description: Winter wonderland with more than 15,000 lights; Santas; deer; elves; reindeer; white icicles on the house; multicolored lights decorate the bushes, trees, carport and front, sides and back of house.
Hours: dusk to 10 p.m.
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SOUTHWEST
Address: 7040 Darby Ave., near Desert Inn Road and Rainbow Boulevard
Residents: The Bohannon family
Description: Stationary and animated displays; computerized light displays, with some lights timed to flash with Christmas music; flying Sopwith Camel Airplane with Snoopy; Santa Claus with a sleigh and nine reindeer; polar bears; penguins; pink flamingos and a lighted pond; a carousel; lighted U.S. flag on the roof; candy canes; elves; snowman; toy soldiers; drummers; a Nativity scene; and Santa Claus making random appearances to pass out candy canes.
Hours: 5-10 p.m.
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Address: 9673 Brooks Lake Ave., near Sunset and Fort Apache roads
Residents: Lida and Gregg Brown
Description: Gingerbread house theme; house made of candy including candy canes, gumdrops and lollipops, gingerbread men and lights.
Hours: 5:30-11 p.m.
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Address: 4424 Flowerdale Court, near Rainbow Boulevard and Spring Valley Parkway
Resident: Jerry Davis
Description: North Pole with Santa, elves, polar bears; South Pole with penguins; characters from "Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer"; sea monster on the roof; lights displays on trees synchronized to music; more lights on house, tree and yard.
Hours: 5-10 p.m.
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Address: 3433 Costa Verde St., near Spring Mountain Road and Rainbow Boulevard
Resident: Rick Hanna Jr.
Description: Lights decorate the home and rooftop; Santa Claus and reindeer near the chimney; a neon "Seasons Greetings" sign; upstairs window features a teddy bear in a nightgown with a candle; carolers in another window; animated Santa and Mrs. Claus and a baby fawn in bay window; animated Mickey Mouse and Minnie Mouse; large Nativity scene; lighted trees; a lighted oil well; Frosty; a train; a decorated wishing well; poinsettia plants; holiday music; colored wreaths decorating the house; and many animals of varying sizes.
Hours: 5-11 p.m. through Jan. 1.
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Address: 3308 Surfline Drive, near Desert Inn and Fort Apache roads
Resident: Walt Patalina
Description: A sleigh and reindeer on the roof with Santa going down the chimney; a horse-drawn carriage with presents; two toy soldiers with geese; icicles hanging on the house; a "Santa Stop Here" sign; racing train on the house; and multicolored lights around the yard and on the house.
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Address: 3115 Mann St., near Desert Inn Road and Torrey Pines Drive
Residents: Chris and Sue Vavrik and Trudy and Marion Szpyrka
Description: Animated and stationary displays; four inflatables, including a Santa house, Santa's workshop, igloo and carousel; Ferris wheel; bears ice skating on pond; Cinderella with her coach; North Pole Laundromat; Disney characters; wooden figures; a NASCAR Santa; Elvis Santa; the Grinch with Cindy Lou Who and Max the dog; 94 candy canes with lights.
Hours: 5-10 p.m.
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SOUTHEAST
Address: 8662 Heatherstone St., Henderson, near Eastern Avenue and Wigwam Parkway
Resident: John Alksnis
Description: A large snow globe, a Ferris wheel, deer drinking from pond, penguins, Santa Claus and reindeer.
Hours: 4:30-10:30 p.m.
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Address: 4855 E. Twain Ave., near Nellis Boulevard
Residents: Robert and Karen Anderson
Description: A Nativity scene with angels and wise men; Santa Claus with reindeer; a train on the roof.
Hours: dusk to 11 p.m.
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Address: 1784 Antelope Valley Ave., Henderson, near Valle Verde Drive and Horizon Ridge Parkway
Resident: Robert Aquino
Description: Two decorated Christmas trees; Santa Claus; and a snowman.
Hours: 5-11 p.m.
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Address: 3520 E. Callahan Ave., near Pecos Road and Patrick Lane
Residents: Susie and Carlos Avecilla
Description: A winter wonderful display featuring snowflakes on the roof, candy canes, Disney characters, Snoopy and the Peanuts Gang, and many lights. Santa Claus and an elf pass out candy canes until 8 p.m.
Hours: 5 p.m.-midnight
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Address: 3671 Cherokee Ave., near Sandhill and Desert Inn roads
Resident: Douglas Bennett
Description: Multicolored lights around the house with blue lights on the roof spelling out "Noel"; two inflatable snowmen on the roof; the Grinch on a sleigh with Max the dog on the roof; a lighted star on top of garage door; inflatable Grinch; lighted trees; a projector lights up "Merry Christmas" on the garage door; and other items.
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Address: 1054 Sierra View Court, Henderson, near Greenway Road and Paradise Hills Drive
Residents: The Clove family and neighbors
Description: A neighborhood effort with 16 houses in the cul-de-sac decorated and connected with lights; some of the characters featured are Santa Claus, reindeer, deer, moose and the Grinch.
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Address: 1054 Desert Olive Court, Henderson, near Greenway Road and Mission Drive
Resident: Doug Hall
Description: Animated computerized light displays featuring more than 36,000 lights synchronized to dance, twinkle and fade to 10 holiday tunes, which can be heard by tuning car radio to 94.9 FM.
Hours: 5-10 p.m. Sundays through Thursdays; 5-11 p.m. Fridays, Saturdays and New Year's Eve.
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Address: 2246 Maple Shade St., Henderson, near Boulder Highway and Wagon Wheel Drive
Residents: The Payne family
Description: Mixture of LED and traditional lights; seven stick trees featuring 800 lights each in a variety of colors; four trees with 800 to 1,000 lights decorated in green, red, gold and white; Santa in a sled with Rudolph; a kissing doe and fawn; LED lights on garage door, bushes and tree trunks.
Hours: 5-9:30 p.m.
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Address: 498 E. Fairway Road, Henderson, near East Horizon Drive and Greenway Road
Resident: Norman Russell
Description: Winter wonderland with Santa; white reindeer jumping over a blue-lighted river; white icicles on the eves and gables; white lights on the palm trees and mesquite tree.
Hours: 4:30-10:30 p.m.
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Address: 210 W. Highland Drive, Henderson, near East Horizon Drive and Pacific Avenue
Residents: Theresa and Tony Valenti
Description: Many lights; 20 decorated mature palm trees; reindeer; bonfire with refreshments available to visitors; and other displays.
Hours: 5 p.m.-midnight
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Address: 4470 Vegas Valley Drive, near Lamb Boulevard and Vegas Valley Drive
Residents: Ray and Gail Waters
Description: More than 5,000 lights, Christmas trees, bells, wreaths, a snow globe with Santa and reindeer, a manger scene, crystal gifts, candy canes, a train, inflated figurines and other items.
Hours: 4:30 p.m.-midnight
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Address: 2138 Point Mallard Drive, Henderson, near West Horizon Ridge Parkway and High Mesa Drive
Resident: Norma Zankoski
Description: More than 5,000 lights; six solid white-lighted bushes and multicolored lights on other bushes; 15-foot pine tree fully decorated.
Hours: Dusk to 11 p.m.
