ContraCostaTimes.com | 12/03/2006 | Web page = highlights holiday sites

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Sunday, Dec 03, 2006

Posted on Sun, Dec. 03, 2006

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AROUND LIVERMORE: MARK TARTE

Web page highlights holiday sites

IT'S THAT TIME OF YEAR AGAIN when it gets increasing cold, the skies = darken=20 earlier ... and it's still very bright at night.

Yes, it's Christmastime, and colorful lights are going up on homes = around=20 town to celebrate the holiday season. Most homes, like ours, have a few = strings=20 up, and they look nice, but they are not very labor intensive. Others, = like some=20 energetic neighbors of mine, seem to have wrapped their entire homes in=20 Christmas lights and decorations. Every year, people make local = pilgrimages to=20 those homes where the owners have pulled out all the stops to decorate = and=20 illuminate for the holidays.

For eight years now, Alex Dourov with his http://www.lightsofthevalley.c= om/=20 Web site has brought homes with unique or bright displays of Christmas = lights to=20 the Internet and thereby to the entire world. His first year, in 1999, = there=20 were about 9,400 visitors to his then-new site from as far away as the = United=20 Kingdom, Sweden and Japan, looking at homes that struck Alex and his = family's=20 fancy in and around Livermore and Pleasanton. By 2005, there were tens = of=20 thousands of visits to his site from around the world and more than 20 = cities=20 listed.

For 2006, 26 cities are listed, with dozens of ornate, whimsical or = spiritual=20 displays for people to enjoy from the comfort of their homes.

Alex noted in his e-mail and on his Web page of the fun and joy he = gets out=20 of doing the Web page strictly as a community service. Alex wrote, "As a = side=20 note, I have truly enjoyed myself these past eight years by putting = together=20 this site. I am overwhelmed at the kind comments that I have received = from many=20 people telling me how much this site has helped them, or how it even = helps=20 "shut-ins" be able to get a virtual tour of the Bay Area's best = Christmas light=20 displays."

Alex, I know my family and I enjoy looking at your site and picking = out the=20 areas around the valley we want to go see, so from the Tartes, thank you = for a=20 kind and wonderful Christmas tradition!

CASA DEL POMBA: Speaking of holiday lights, this past Friday, = Christmastime=20 in Livermore became official once again with the lighting of Deacon Dave = Rezendes' "Casa Del Pomba," or "House of the Dove" on Hillcrest Avenue. = Every=20 year for 24 years, Deacon Dave's home has been a must see on anyone's = Christmas=20 display trips. This year is no different.

Casa Del Pomba is located at 352 Hillcrest Ave. and is open Sunday = through=20 Thursday evenings from 6 to 9:30 p.m. and Friday and Saturday nights = from 6 to=20 10:30 p.m. On Christmas night, it will close at 9:30 p.m. and it will = run=20 through New Year's Day night, when it closes for the season.

A CHRISTMAS CHALLENGE: I received an e-mail from the Lucky Buck Poker = Room=20 about their employees' efforts to raise money for Christmas donations. = The Poker=20 Room and its employees are raising money for local servicemen and = servicewomen=20 and donating it to the Tri-Valley Adopt-A-Unit.

The employees are asking other small-business employees to think = about=20 donating to Adopt-A-Unit, which will see to it that gifts get to those = men and=20 women who are serving overseas. If you would like, contact Marilyn = Carter, the=20 program's coordinator, at 925-447-6221 or visit its Web page at http://www.adoptaunittrivall= ey.org/.

ANOTHER WORTHY CAUSE: There is an "Angel Hotline" in town that = matches donors=20 with needy families. If you would like to help adopt a local family in = need=20 during the holiday season, call the Angel Hotline at 925-960-4595 and = ask for=20 Fran Pickett, who is coordinating the adoption efforts. While we live in = a nice=20 area that is somewhat affluent, many people and families every year = struggle to=20 make ends meet, especially now. Give them a call if you can.

REMEMBRANCE: This coming Thursday is the 65th anniversary of the = attack on=20 Pearl Harbor. The light atop Mount Diablo will be lit at dusk to = commemorate and=20 remember those who gave their last full measure of devotion that day and = throughout WWII.

Take a moment to remember their sacrifice for, and devotion to our=20 nation.

Until next week, be alert, be safe and God bless America.

Reach Mark Tarte c/o the Times, P.O. Box 607, Pleasanton, CA 94566 or = by=20 e-mail: aroundliv@comcast.net