Los Altos to light UP!

December 4th Lighting of the Letters for a 21st Century

Whaley Park Christmas

A mid-century tradition returns this year on December 4th, 2106 to the Los Altos neighborhood adjacient to Whaley Park (North)  with a community lick-off event marking the return of  giant letters spelling out a holiday greeting. 

In the 1950's during the holidays, residents living around the Whaley Park each displayed one giant letter that combined spelled out the holiday message of Merry Christmas and Happy New Year around the perimeter of the park.

Why the tradition was lost and what happened to most of the old letters remains a mystery. However, enough people still remembered the lost tradition as the occasional random letter was found in garages and attics as the Whaley Park homes changed hands over the years, keeping the story alive.

Long time Los Altos resident Bob Sockup with original Whaley Park holiday letter

City Prosecutor Doug Haubert

Fast forward to the 21st Century. In 2015 former LB Airport Commissioner and now Long Beach City Prosecutor Doug Haubert (and a long-time 4th District resident) had Kalitta Charters consent to settle 13 LB Noise Ordinance violations for $54,000. Separate from the first Consent Degree fines that go to the Long Beach Library Foundation, the new Kalitta agreement funds went to the Long Beach Community Foundation to establish and administer two community funds that would directly benefit  the airport impacted neighborhoods in the 8th and 4th Council Districts.  
click on Kalitta settlement

In the 4th District, the fund created is called the Los Altos Charitable Giving Fund (LACGF).  Fourth District Councilman Daryl Supernaw was asked to recommend a committee to plan and oversee LACGF projects. The Los Altos resident committee members, Michele "K" Kreinheder, Bill  Marshall and Joe Mello met and quickly decided to bring back the Whaley Park Christmas Letters tradition.

In 2015, a kick-off  event at Whaley Park took place announcing the plans to bring back the holiday letters. Last year's event included displays of one of the original letters and a prototype of the new letters.

Partnering with the Long Beach Area Council of Boy Scouts to produce the new letters, the LACGF committee has been planning this year's Whaley Park Lighting of the Letters event.  Councilman Supernaw's office has supported the committee's efforts as has the newly formed Greater Los Altos Neighborhood Association (GLANA). For more information click on GLANA

This year's event will have all the new Boy Scout built 21st Century versions of the holiday letters up around the park-complete with solar lighting.  Santa will return as will a bounce house, a table with shared neighbor made treats, holiday music and other family fun.  

 

2016 Whaley Park Holiday letters made by Long Beach Boy Scouts will include solar lighting

A box to collect can and dry food goods for holiday meals for families at the Tucker School Transitional Programs of the California Children's Services will also be available at the Lighting of the Letters event.

The Lighting of the Letters event will begin at 3:00 pm at Whaley Park (North) on Sunday December 4th and continue until the letters light-up at dusk.

The land for Whaley Park was donated and is named for Lloyd Whaley, the East Long Beach developer.

Whaley developed numerous areas around Long Beach including the neighborhoods of Los Altos (originally  Los Altos Village), Park Estates (originally as Los Altos Park), and Country Club Manor.  Whaley built the Los Altos Shopping Center and the famed Galaxy Tower on Ocean Blvd in Bluff Park.  Whaley also donated land for numerous public uses including the Los Altos Public Library, Los Altos Park and Scherer Park.

Other Fourth District Holiday events

In his weekly newsletter, 4th District Councilman Daryl Supernaw announced other holiday events in the 4th District including :

·      Joe Jost's Annual Lighting of the Antlers, December 1st

·      The Community Hospital 22nd Annual Tree of Love, December 1st

·      Long Beach Playhouse Miracle on Anaheim Street benfiting the WomenShelter of Long Beach, December 3rd

For more information on these events and other 4th District news click on SUPERNAW  NEWS