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Light 'em up

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By TONY HOLT, Hernando Today

Published: November 25, 2007

SPRING HILL - The crowd kept getting larger, but that could only be determined by the sounds that grew louder.

The area surrounding the Spring Hill Fire Rescue station at Bob Hartung Court was nearly pitch black. The only light came from Friday night's full moon.

By 6:30 p.m., there was a flicker and the crowd awed. Then came the countdown.

Once the counting stopped, the thousands of lights were turned on for good. White and colored bulbs decorated both the station and the administrative building. There were nothing but smiles and cheers among the hundreds who attended the lighting ceremony.

A star hung on a 65-foot tower and every shrub and tree was wrapped with bulbs. The decorations seem to stretch further and further year after year.

"We look forward to this 364 days a year," said Troy Hagar, president of the Professional Firefighters of Spring Hill Local 2794, which sponsors the annual ceremony. "This is our event."

The union chooses different firefighters every year to organize the lighting ceremony. This year, the project was given to Capt. Daniel Papa and firefighter James Santella.

Papa said he and Santella wanted more white lights this year. They also put the ladder truck to use when they hung the star on the six-story tower.

"That's why we mix it up year after year," Hagar said. "We want to give it a new look each time."

Santa Claus rode in on the front bumper of a fire engine, strolled up the entrance to the station and sat in the chair waiting for him.

A line made up of more than 100 anxious kids and their parents had begun forming long before Santa arrived. He gave away candy canes and cotton candy to those children who sat on his lap.

Representatives from the Kiwanis Club of Spring Hill were present and a Toys for Tots drop-off box was available for people to make donations.

Brenda Lee, Burl Ives and Alvin the Chipmunk were among those filling the air with Christmas carols during the night.

Among those in attendance were fire commissioners Charles Raborn, George Biro and Gene Panozzo and Chief J.J. Morrison.

Firefighters, who paid for the decorations, began putting up the lights and wreaths during their off hours three weeks ago, Papa said.

Flyers were sent to local schools to encourage more children to attend and meet Santa Claus.

Reporter Tony Holt can be reached at 352-544-5283 or wholt@hernandotoday.com.

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