December 18, 2003

Who needs Willow Glen when Christmas cheer can be found in Almaden?
Don Carlson transforms neighborhood with Christmas spirit

By Justin Petersen

Five Christmases ago, Almaden Firefighter, Don Carlson got tired of driving into someone else’s neighborhood to enjoy the holiday spirit.

“I remember piling my wife and kids into the car and driving all the way across town to look at lights and festivities,” explains Carlson. “I remember driving out to Willow Glen and looking at the Christmas trees in every yard. I thought: why wouldn’t that work here in Almaden?”

Well it has thanks to Carlson. And the trend should continue to grow.

“It’s already become a big operation. I’d love to see the tradition cover the entire Almaden Valley,” says Carlson.

“We just finished passing out 500 fliers which turned into 240 delivered trees,” he continues. “Our first year we had one block and two courts. This year we covered 20 streets and courts combined.”

The neighborhood, north of Meridian, and west of Redmond begins on Montoro Drive.

“We have 100% participation on a couple of streets, but it’s hard to get everybody on the same page,” accounts Carlson.

Headed by block captain Robin Holm, Depalma Street and Depalma Court, boast 100% participation.

“I became a block captain because I thought this was a good way to meet my neighbors and bring the community together. We add new streets every year. It’s a great opportunity to develop a closer community,” says Holm.

It’s not all play for block captains. Carlson designates block captains to oversee the proceedings on each block. Duties include tree delivery, collecting money, finding out who is interested in participating and who is not.

“With the block captains involved, it cuts my work way down,” says Carlson.

Cut down or not, much work remains for Almaden’s own St. Nick. In addition, before delivery, hundreds of Christmas trees sit in Carlson’s garage.

“Personally, I probably spent between twenty and thirty hours on the project,” continues Carlson.

As for the trees in the garage, “that’s the fun part. My kids love coming home to play in their garage forest after school.”

Carlson’s spirit and ambition has spread to residents from other neighborhoods as well. Independent of Carlson, the neighborhood behind Redwood Plaza is sporting uniform Christmas trees for the first time this year.