THE UNIVERSITY DAILY
Inside
The Kansan explores happenings during winter break. Check out this section for information about gifts, travel and upcoming events.
Kansan
Thursday
December 3, 1998
Section:
B
Vol. 109 • No. 72
Inside
Inside
SEE PAGE 2B
See what is happening in Lawrence this weekend and during the month of December, such as the Festival of Trees.
KU Med Center volunteers help offer young patients fun and festivities over the holidays.
SEE PAGE 3B
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Plaza puts twinkle in eyes of sightseers
Holiday triggers shopping bug for consumers
Above: This time exposure of the Plaza in Kansas City, Mo., shows thousands of lights glittering over streets packed with eager shoppers and tourists. Left: The annual lighting ceremony took place Thanksgiving night and drew an estimated crowd of 300,000 spectators. Photo by Matt J. Daugherty/KANSAN
By Elizabeth Holder Special to the Kansan
Duane Rice, Wichita senior, said that The Plaza offered one of the most unique holiday experiences around.
"The lighting ceremony has been a way Kansans celebrate the holidays each year," he said. "It is a way we are united and show the country our unique expression of the season."
It is that time of year again, the time when sales, shops, greenery and millions of decorative lights can be seen at The Plaza in Kansas City.
The annual Plaza Lighting Ceremony began at 7:30 p.m. Nov. 26. With more than 200,000 lights adorning each dome, tower, balcony, courtyard and building, the glow of holiday spirit automatically lights up from 5 p.m. to 3 a.m. daily until Jan. 17.
The ceremony is sponsored by American Century Investors. This year the special guests were Kevin Mahogany, a quintessential jazz vocalist, and Paul Rudd, a native of Kansas City and actor who has stared in movies such as Clueless.
entire plaza was covered with lights."
Anna Keefer, Ottawa junior attended the ceremony with her friends.
"I like to begin my Christmas shopping there, even though I look more than I buy," she said. "The lights show was beautiful. The
Keefer said even though she has watched the show for the past 5 years, the amount of people that come still shocks her.
Margaret White, a Wichita resident, has shopping at The Plaza for the past 11 years. Each year she and her granddaughter travel to The Plaza and pick a hotel they feel has the most seasonal spirit. They stay for 3 nights during the Thanksgiving break.
"Each year The Plaza is full of happiness and the Christmas spirit," she said.
Tim Owens, resident of Kansas City, Kan. said he also enjoyed the atmosphere but there was a another reason it appealed to him.
"The best part is to be able to find every Christmas present that we (she) needs in one trip," he said.
Tom Spencer, a Salina freshman, said he went to The Plaza for the first time the day after Thanksgiving and his favorite part was the weather.
"The temperature was ideal for the induction of the holiday season, he said. The weather tempted a lot of people to come the city. That is why I went."
Decorations light up Lawrence during winter season
Lights and holiday wreaths decorate this home on the 4000 block of Nicklaus Drive in Lawrence. A tradition stretching decades, lights now glitter on nearly every block across the country. Photo by Matt J. Daugherty/KANSAN
Traditional displays around community show festive spirit
By Elizabeth Holder
Special to the Kansas
ranging from a deep emotional gratification for life to creating an orderly display, some Lawrence residents take part in the season through lights, ornaments and greenery.
The University of Kansas will recognize the holidays at 5 p.m. Monday with the annual tree lighting ceremony at Chancellor Robert Hemenway's home, 1532 Lilac Lane.
This year more families are using a professional service to light their houses, said Jim Tutshulte, owner of The Christmas Decor, a local store that sells and hangs lights. Tutshulte owns Christmas Decor with his partner Chad Price.
"We thought it would be appropriate to have the ceremony at my house," Hemenway said. "We invite anyone and everyone for hot cider and cookies and a chance to celebrate the season with us."
Paula Baum, who lives at 4517 Nicklaus Drive, has been married for 20 years and never misses a year of decoration. This is her second year to use the services of
"Last year, we decorated 76 homes," Tutshulte said. "This year we are already well over the hundred mark."
Tutshulte and Price.
"They are so efficient," she said. "I really like the results, and they do a nice job."
Baum said that the decorations reminded her of her childhood Christmas and motivated her to create new ones for her three children.
"The tradition of decorating with lights and ornaments gets me into the Christmas spirit," she said.
The cost to have lights from the Christmas Decor differs for each house depending on the degree of extravagance.
"Our prices are different for each house, ranging from $150 to $1500," Tutshelle said. "We offer a variety of lights such as window lights, stake lights, icicle lights, garland lights, lights on the ridges of homes, and others. This year we are introducing a new blue light."
Each year her home, 1727 Oak, can be spotted driving east on Highway 10, across from the Eudora exit. The family exhibits an enormous display of lights and decoration. The display lights up each Thanksgiving night.
For the House family, holiday decorations are more than just pretty lights. It is a celebration of life. Three years ago on her seven-month wedding anniversary, Rose House, was diagnosed with breast cancer. She has struggled and credits her survival to the holidays.
"I was first diagnosed in May of 1996 and had no idea if I would be able to celebrate another Christmas," she said. "That year Christmas took on a much
more personal reason."
House said her husband, Dave, is the mastermind behind the display.
"I'm real proud of him, he's as much of a kid as the kids are," she said. "He puts in well over a hundred hours working on the lights and is extremely tasteful in what he chooses to do."
Over the years, especially the past
three years, the light display has become recognized by the community.
During the season, almost every night the family can sit in its living room and count 40 to 50 cars turning around in the
"People come up to me at school functions and meetings asking about the lights and when they will be on," she said.
driveway.
"It has become a tradition in our family to drive by the House's home on Christmas Eve," he said. "My kids love it; it says more than just 'Wal-mart.' The display has a purpose that has deeply touched our town."
Daniel Morgan, Eudora resident, said the house illuminated the town and the miracle that occurred.
In order to pay the electric bill, this year the House's are selling Christmas trees, candy canes and hot cider.
"Selling trees is a first for us, the lights have become an obsession. Each year the display grows bigger and bigger," House said. "If you know anyone who needs a tree for the holidays, send them our way."
Students at KU also celebrate the season by decoration. Darren Moll, Olathe sophomore, celebrates Christmas by hanging lights in his room.
"Our lights have a dual function, Moll said. "They serve as room decorations for Christmas, but they remain for the rest of the school year."
Bill Madl, Bonner Springs senior, said he was not aware that decorations were used frequently in Lawrence.
"I have only seen a few examples of decorations in Lawrence in the last three years," Madl said. "The best example is the numerous luminary displays going up and down driveways."