Christmas Spirit

First a bike lane on Glenoaks Boulevard and now the sharrows on Grandview Avenue! How lovely it is to be in a town that recognizes the future (“Avenue becomes bike-friendly,” Dec. 17). As a car-free cyclist, I never have to pay for gas, I never sit in traffic, and I always get the best parking space. When I rode over to the mall this past weekend, I passed lines of idling cars with miserable face after miserable face inside, but I assure you: I was smiling.

Yes, there is a Santa Claus. He is there in the spirit of giving. He is the mind-set that gives us the opportunity to think of others first and practice empathy more frequently. What would Grandma want? What would the grandkids want? How can we make others happier and safer? Sometimes in our own pursuit to keep a roof over our head, food on the table and gas in our cars, we forget to think of others. That is why Christmas lists were invented. Before the PDAs with the electronic reminders and memory in the giga-whatever, we put pen to paper.

NORTHEAST GLENDALE — Every year, Glendale city officials come out with strings of thousands of lights and bulbous ornaments to decorate the city's Christmas tree. It has been a tradition in the city, coupled with the city's annual tree lighting, which this year takes place on Wednesday. But after an arson fire last year destroyed all ornaments and garnishing, decorators face a new challenge — rebuilding from the ground up. "This year we started from scratch because of the arson," Operation Supervisor Lisa Nolan said.

The California State Supreme Court was apparently not in the Christmas spirit in late December, as the court ruled that a man firing a single bullet into a car carrying a mother and her baby can be convicted of the attempted murder of both. I am glad to see that this ruling was not unanimous, because it is a bad decision. There was one bullet yet convictions pertaining to two potential victims. The State Supreme Court ruled against the shooter, Jarmaal Laronde Smith, by a 5 to 2 vote.

GAINS HOLIDAY DONATIONS With Christmas came a flurry of holiday gift-giving. For some, it meant shopping for loved ones and gifts piled high under the Christmas tree. For others, those presents came only because of the thought- fulness of residents and community groups, as well as city employees and local stores. Families like Rosemary Rodriguez's opened their doors to find Whole Foods and Glendale Police workers with boxes of presents and food for them -- donated by others in the Glendale community.

Robert Shaffer GLENDALE -- Leslie Francis once bought a CD online, but she isn't doing any of her Christmas shopping on the Internet this year. The advantages provided in shopping from home cannot make up for the intangibles, she said. "I don't like the parking and the lines, but the decorations and Christmas spirit are what makes it," she said at the Galleria on Monday. While experts and businesses themselves are reporting an increased use of shopping by computer this holiday season, all agree the Internet will not put malls out of business any time soon.

Officials suspect arson in blaze on Friday.GLENDALE -- Police and fire officials suspect an arsonist may be responsible for the fire that burned down the 30-foot tall holiday tree at City Hall on Friday. Officers on the fourth floor of the neighboring police department headquarters reported the blaze in Parcher Plaza behind City Hall to the Glendale Fire Department at about 9:45 p.m. Friday, said police Sgt. Tom Lorenz. The tree was engulfed in flames when the firefighters arrived, Lorenz said.

SOUTHWEST GLENDALE — The Christmas spirit was cooked up, unwrapped and served in healthy portions Thursday at PATH Achieve, where dozens celebrated the holiday with a warm meal amid personal turmoil. Volunteers and staff members inside the main room of Glendale’s largest homeless services provider flipped French toast, poured hot chocolate with marshmallows and dined with more than a dozen of the center’s clients, such as Herbert Barnes. Barnes, 39, has been a client at PATH Achieve for three years and reveled at the chance to take a break from the hectic din of everyday pressures.

Festival supports local programs Guests tried their luck on winning festively decorated items at the Assistance League of Glendale's 27th annual Festival of Trees on Dec 8 at the Hilton Universal City. President Marcie Haug welcomed 661 guests to the annual benefit. The room was transformed into a winter wonderland as members had decorated 29 trees, wreathes and special treasures in different themes. Those attending purchased tickets and dropped them into respective boxes for a chance to take home the spectacular creations.