El Cerrito sustains Christmas tradition [The Oakland Tribune, Calif.]
By Chris Treadway, The Oakland Tribune, Calif. | |
McClatchy-Tribune Information Services |
Community volunteers, led by the
"It's a good turnout. I am so appreciative," said Soroptimist member
Installing the all the pieces -- there are 57 sheep alone, all counted nightly -- is a big undertaking. But so is coordinating the whole project each year. Since the Soroptimist chapter took possession of the figures after Shadi's death in 2002, that task has largely belonged to
Both are former
It looks like two community members,
Both are lifelong residents who were once classmates at
"Mark and I talked about it. He said, If you do it, I'll do it," Jawad said
Saturday. "This is a historical tradition."
Canepa is an artist with a long history of community involvement that includes guiding designs of homecoming floats and grad night decorations at
Jawad and her family have also been volunteered with the schools and community events and she hopes to harness that spirit and involve others who visited the display each year growing up.
"There's a lot of us still around
Jawad was already thinking of ideas for doing some of the restoration work needed on the pieces.
"Jane said we should try to get different groups involved," she said. "Maybe we can have a weekend where we all sit there at the high school and paint (the figures)."
The biblical-themed display originated at the open hillside lot Shadi owned next to his home on
Shadi, a master gardener who was also well-known for his elaborate floral displays on the lot, considered the annual display depicting
At its site on
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