Christmas is finally upon us and as usual people all over Los Banos have prepared for the holiday. Private living rooms are decorated with Christmas trees, nativity sets, nutcrackers and stockings. Office workers are displaying Christmas cards, and have put up wreaths, exchanged cookies and other sweets with their co-workers and maybe even hosted a few office parties. However, some of the most visible displays of the Christmas tradition are carried out by those Los Banos families who put up outdoor decorations and light displays for everyone to enjoy. We like to call these people the "Light Brigade". Are you a member of the "light Brigade"? Well if you have the Christmas spirit and have put up a even a single strand of outdoor lights the answer is - YES!

Those who have taken the time to decorate their homes are appreciated by the many families who pack their kids in the car each year and drive the neighborhoods to view the beautiful displays that their neighbors have put together. There are places in town that are well known for providing people with a lot to see on these cold winter evenings around Christmastime. The College Greens area around DeAnza and Mills is one of those places that sports extravagant displays each year. Another is the area around Whitney Court in the Cresthills area of our town. There are also some wonderful displays in the Ranchwood neighborhoods. And there are many many others spread all over the city. In fact, if you drive around this Christmas you will find dozens of residents all over town that have gone the extra mile to share the Christmas cheer with their neighbors.

Among the many beautifully decorated homes and businesses in Los Banos, three in particular caught our eye this year. The people that put together these wonderful displays together go way beyond the average homeowner in bringing the Christmas spirit to their neighbors. In this edition you will find out a tiny bit about three of them.

John Ciuffo's offering to Los Banos comes in the form of a home decorated with what he estimates at 15 thousand lights that are controlled by three Light-O-Rama boxes that send signals to 48 channels of lights. John is a Maintenance Technician For Comcast and his home flickers with light that is choreographed with one and a half hours of music that he broadcasts on a low power transmitter at 99.5 FM. In order to put together this display John has worked on such things as stringing lights and wrapping arches ever since the first part of October. Though Mr. Ciuffo does most of the work himself he notes that his son-in-law Manuel has helped out as well. When asked why he goes to all this effort John simply says "Cause I love it!" John goes on to joke, "My wife calls it a sickness but I call it a fascination." "I've always been fascinated with light since I was a little kid." he says. John's Christmas gift to Los Banos can be seen (and heard) at the 202 North Santa Clara street right at the corner of Willmont.

Some people who make a stop at the corner of Castellana and Montieri streets to observe the Zaas residence are at a loss for words, others use multiple superlatives to describe what Ken Zaas, a control systems tech for the California Department of Water Resources has done. This Christmas, the Zaas house has been transformed into what can only be termed an extravaganza of light and sound. Words such as 'astounding', 'beautiful', 'cool', and 'amazing' are uttered by some who visit, while one person from the younger generation blurted out, "Woah!!! Thats just SICK!" which apparently is a very high compliment coming from the younger set. What Mr. Zaas has put together really IS quite amazing. Every half hour from 5:30 to 9:30 PM his home becomes a light show timed to music which is broadcast on low power at 94.5 FM. Constructing this extravagant display has taken Mr. Zaas, (along with members of his family and his helper Henry Gutierrez), many months to set up. Thousands upon thousands of lights dance to music selections ranging from the Trans Siberian Orchestra to a tune called "Santa's Got A Hot Rod". There is also a patriotic 'poem' about Santa's Christmas encounter with a US soldier that is quite touching. The wonderful shows can be experienced every 30 minutes at 349 Montieri Street.

Here are some more photos:

Zaas:

Ciuffo:

Glick:

If everyone in Los Banos would just take 1 or 2 hours a month to do something to help their neighborhood or their community we could truly make Los Banos the gem of the valley.

The above is only my personal opinion and I strongly encourage readers to seek out more information from expert sources. Copyright 2009