Let there be Lights!
Nothing lifts a neighborhood's communal spirit more than festively-decorated homes. This year, gift your neighbors and guests with a lighting display that energizes spirits and inspires smiles. Let the pros do the dangerous ladder climbing; just relax and take in the (bright) sights.

There's lights, and then there's LIGHTS. Landscape Pros (510-8865), a Brite Ideas certified distributor, has the newest LED light options that burn much brighter, and with truer colors. Plus, the unique lighting designs offer attractive and creative alternatives to ho-hum home improvement store strands. You've gotta see for yourself how beautiful these displays can be. Check out www.sayitwithlights.com and www.holidaybrightlights.com. Minimum installations/take down charge is $175. Call now - last year's overstock has had prices slashed 50 percent, but it'll be gone fast.

"I see a trend heading back to a more traditional Christmas," says holiday light guru Darell Lee (297-7013), who's had his work featured on "Monk," "Bedtime Stories," and K-ABC7 News. "The lighting styles for this year lean toward the traditional big bulbs in clear or red and clear, for that 'candy cane color look.' Icicles are also popular once again, as well as the wrapping of trees with the mini lights." Lee's popular Santa Clarita-based service, 10 years strong, starts at $350.

Gather 'round the Tree
Permanent trees can be used from year to year. New manufacturing technologies have added lifelike realism to artificial trees. For more than 30 years, the Barcana family has brought the very best in permanent Christmas trees to the marketplace. Barcana is dedicated to establishing and maintaining the highest standard of excellence in all of its products.
Green Thumb (259-1072) has, in stock, more than 30 sizes and styles of Barcana trees to choose from. They offer all tree sizes and styles pre-lit, including the new light changer tree that changes from clear to multi-color lights - and steady burn to twinkle - all with the touch of a remote control.

Live trees offer the textures and scents of a country Christmas. Mountain View Nursery (284-1200), Santa Clarita's newest nursery, invites you to visit their live Christmas tree lot opening Thanksgiving weekend. Select your favorite live tree, gather tree trimmings, purchase quality Christmas lights, and choose from festive wreaths, holly, poinsettias and holiday flowers. Noble Firs start at just $54.95 for a 6-to-7-foot tree; Douglas Firs of the same size are just $39.95. Turn to the front inside cover of this magazine for a $10-off coupon for your tree purchase.