By Clyde Noel

Town Crier Correspondent

Bring in 200 elementary school students, 100 parents with cameras and camcorders taking pictures of their children singing, and you have a crowded and successful holiday tree-lighting ceremony at the Community Plaza Friday in downtown Los Altos.

“I look forward to lighting the Rotary tree every year,” said Kathleen Byrne, executive director of the Los Altos Village Association, event organizers. “Get a look at the size of the tree ornaments this year. They’re huge. This is the traditional community event that kicks off our holiday season.”

Almond School students, dressed in their red school colors and led by Linda Webster Williams, sang “These Are My Favorite Things” and “Feliz Navidad.”

“An event like this takes a lot of planning,” said Michael Morris, music coordinator for the tree-lighting ceremony. “Every year we get more requests to sing and little things happen. With lots of kids and parents involved, it still comes out great.”

Morris, music director of the Los Altos United Methodist Seasonal Adult Caroling Group, put the crowd in a joyous mood by singing, “I’m Dreaming of a White Christmas,” and then asking the crowded Community Plaza to join in.

Soprano Kay DeVries, soloed “O Holy Night” and then led Mountain View’s Huff elementary school students singing “On a Starlight Night’ and “Silent Night.”

Gina Ibarak, Mountain View resident, came to see her grandchild sing in the Huff chorus. “I’m impressed,” she said. “This is a very entertaining performance. The city should be proud doing it.”

The Village Association coordinates the tree lighting ceremony each year with the help of the city of Los Altos. Cynthia Eberhardt, president of the association, provided the countdown to zero in absence of new Los Altos Mayor Francis La Poll.

With leaves, instead of snow, falling from trees surrounding the plaza, the ceremony closed with everybody singing “Rudolph the Red Nosed Reindeer.”