A shining example of holiday spirit

Interior Christmas decorations also sold well this season.
By STEPHEN SIFF
VINDICATOR TRUMBULL STAFF
WARREN -- It was beginning to look a lot more like Christmas, at least from the curb.
Neighborhoods that generally twinkle this time of year are ablaze, and even usually plain homes have sprouted strings of lights.
The anecdotal observations of motorists and light bulb sales figures agree: this December, the halls are more bedecked than ever.
"A lot of people have made that observation," said Gordon McLean, the zoning inspector in Howland. "It seems like a lot more people have lit their houses."
It's not easy to quantify an apparent uptick in the Christmas spirit.
First Energy, the parent company of Ohio Edison, reports residential electrical usage up about 3 percent from November to December, but those numbers reflect the changes in temperature more than the number of Christmas lights, said Paul Harkey, an Ohio Edison spokesperson.
Other increases: A more telling sign might be an increase in sales of not only lights, but light-up deer, mechanical glowing saints and angels that flap their wings.
Litehouse Pools has experienced a 20 percent jump in outdoor decorating supplies, said Jim Bowen, president of the 27-store chain with outlets in Niles, Boardman and Hermitage.
He attributes the increase to two factors: the public's reaction to the events of Sept. 11 and the warm weather that made hanging lights from the roof seem like a reasonable venture.
"It was so much more pleasant to do it than usual," said Flo Hutton, co-chairwoman of Cortland's Snowflake Committee.
The committee has hung about 20 percent more lights around the city's parks this year, with the help of about 15 volunteers -- again, more than last year.
"With the community spirit this year with the 9/11 tragedy, people were willing to get out and help," said Sauni Shafer, the other co-chairwoman. "Usually, we do it in a blizzard, and I always freeze."
Interior decorations: Sales of interior decorations have also been strong, as many customers focus on staying inside and pulling family close, said Dan Zippie, manager of Kraynak Nursery and Garden Center in Hermitage.
Christmas knickknacks, at least, seem immune to economic uncertainty.
"If people do one thing, they will get a Christmas tree and they will get lights," Bowen said. "I've been through three recessions, and that has been the case for each one."