The party that almost wasn’t

Amy R. Spurgeon

Everything was ready for the 5 p.m. Christmas tree lighting at

Crystal Cove Sunday. The only thing missing was the guest of honor.

It seems the 25-foot silver-tipped Christmas tree donated by a San Diego

nursery was stuck at the immigration checkpoint in northern San Diego

County for close to an hour.

After the delivery driver was given a fix-it ticket for a leaky oil pan,

the tree was again on its way to the historic cottages nestled alongside

Crystal Cove State Beach.

One little boy couldn’t help but vent his frustration.

“Where is the tree. Where is the tree,” said 7-year-old Nick Hrebien. “No

party. No party.”Up to 45 people turned out for the annual tree lighting

ceremony. The event has brought the local community together in year’s

past, but never quite like this year.

The sense of urgency came to a head in September when the Alliance to

Rescue Crystal Cove was formed to raise awareness of the current

contamination taking place at the parks marine life refuge.

Cottage residents are also faced with the reality the State of California

is working with developers to change the use of beachfront property.

Residents will be given a 30-day notice when the state decides what to do

with the area.

Therefore, this year’s holiday season has really been bringing the

neighborhood together.

“This little piece of history should be preserved,” said 40-year Crystal

Cove resident Laura Davick. “It’s on its way toward becoming a resort and

we don’t need another resort.”

Davick hosted this year’s event with a spread fit for a king. Taquitos,

cranberry bread, ham sandwiches, warm cider, beer and wine were available

for guests. The charming cottages were decorated with holiday lights and

candy canes.

Party-goers greeted the late-arriving tree with a lot of “whooping” and

hollering. Christmas music blared from the speakers as a large crane

lowered the tall tree into the sand.

“Do they need that big of a truck for that little tree,” guest Margie

Howe commented.

And even though cottage residents realize their time at Crystal Cove is

limited, they said they treasure every minute.

Stella Hiatt said if this was her last Christmas at Crystal Cove she

would remember the togetherness shared by the neighbors.

“We are very close down here,” Hiatt said. “We are here with a common

bond.”