‘The Ripon community “looks a lot like Christmas” with its two large lighted trees and its many homes around town displaying a definite Yuletide spirit.

Hospice of San Joaquin has its lights strung on a tree to the rear of the Mistlin Fountain near the Highway 99 on ramp at East Main Street and Second Street where they held their official tree lighting event last week.

The Ripon Chamber of Commerce chose the Veterans Memorial Park in the downtown area this year over the previously used Stouffer Park taking advantage of a fully grown 110-foot tree that took thousands of lights to decorate.  One unsung hero is arborist Dave Murphy who climbed the trunk of the tree some three times two weeks ago to hang the lights despite the fact he was getting sick and volunteering his services and saving the chamber of commerce $3,000.

Former Ripon Mayor Mike Restuccia and his wife Mona have much to be proud of in the decorations of their home at the corner of Topaz and Wells lanes. They have once again placed thousands of colored lights on several large olive trees, the façade of their home and every bush on their property.  The Restuccias are known for creating the best in everything they attempt.

In driving around town to see the lights, it is important to drive down the 400 block of Van Slyke Court to see a yard filled with elves with lighted Christmas trees setting the yard aglow complete with background music heard half way down the block.  For a better appreciation of the holiday songs motorists and their family members need only to turn to 100.7 F.M. on their car radios.  The lights stay in sync with the music played over the radio.

In the 200 block of Santos Avenue there is a stunning image of two angels with trumpets making something of an honor guard on each side of a high key manager scene in front of the home’s front window with “Glory to God” spelled out in bright white lights.

A side fence facing Santos Avenue but actually in the 1600 block of Carl Lane has quite a display from a manger scene to Santa in his sleigh pulled by two of his reindeer.  Then there is an attractive nativity scene in front of a house on Bogarin Drive in the Spring Creek Country Club area.

A display in the 1800 block of Stanley Drive near Weston Elementary School is centered with lighted deer and angels on the front lawn.  There are numerous other homes lighted with Christmas lights including an annual treat offered by the Nutt family on Ruess Road just west of Weston School.