How about a special LJ Christmas 2007?
Did you know that La Jolla will be 120 years old next year? The Village is already well known for its surfing beaches, for famous institutions, for its unique charisma.
However, sometimes the Village sleeps and I am reminded of the story of another charmed town that slept for a hundred years and then awakened for an unprecedented joyful celebration. In 2007, La Jolla could come to life with a week of Christmas events that could awaken the entire country!
We did make an attempt, about 35 years ago, to make Christmas in the Village special. For one week before Christmas, a block of Girard was cordoned to be used. A large wrought iron Eiffel Tower-type structure covered one intersection. Both materials and labor were largely donated by the community. There were special decorations everywhere. A small barn, housing small farm animals, was tended by Scouts. And there was more! It lasted almost a week and was well attended, but merchants lost business in that block because traffic couldn’t access them easily, and the idea was discarded.
However, if we planned it well and managed it efficiently, it would be a Christmas in La Jolla to be remembered far and wide.
The question of funding arises immediately, but I am proposing that this be done by volunteers and contribution, with no commercialism and nothing for sale!
Some new ideas are below and more are welcome.
An appropriate block on Girard could be chosen for closure with approval of the merchants on that block.
Allow one-way traffic on one side of the street to satisfy merchants.
Ask the banks for use of their parking facilities.
Ask merchants for use of windows for a painting contest.
Arrange music ” canned or local bands and school orchestras.
Ask parents and children in costume to parade in costume through a “wishing” archway with coverage by local papers.
A small stage could be set up for local entertainment: school or church pageants, talent shows.
Photos taken, kids with pets.
Decorations ” donated green pine branches, red and green streamers, bows and balloons.
Tourists might return home talking about shaking hands with the mayor and Town Council wearing top hats.
All religions should be welcome.
Could we do it, La Jolla? If we set our minds to it, you bet we could!
Patricia Weber, La Jolla

Leave history alone
I was shocked upon receiving an e-mail about a citizen visiting the new World War II Memorial in Washington, D.C. He did not live through that war, however, noticed an older couple who were upset because the best part of Roosevelt’s speech, “Yesterday, December 7, l94l, a date which will live in infamy, the United States of America was suddenly and deliberately attacked”¦” The speech ends with “so help us God,” which has been deleted on the memorial.
I agree with the man when he said, “Who gave them the right to change history?”
Since the founding of the USA it has been under God. Isn’t it illegal to misquote a speech given by a famous American? I understand that 14 percent of our country is populated by people who don’t believe in God. Why do the rest of us cater to them?
It is a free country, but history is unchangeable.
Unbelievers may believe what they want, but should leave history alone.
My parents immigrated to America, but I was fortunate enough to be born here and as far as I am concerned, we are a nation “under God, with liberty and justice for all.”
Ada May Powers, Point Loma