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COMMUNITY JOINS TO CREATE A Woodland Wonderland By Cindy Graves This Christmas saw our most spectacularly decorated Lodge yet, and much thanks goes out to the members of our community who helped make it happen. It started last January when we realized that our original Christmas tree, donated by K. Hovnanian Homes, had worn out its last strand of pre-lit lights. The inside of the wired branches were also looking frayed, so we decided to see if there was an organization in Beaumont to which the HOA could donate the tree. The San Gorgonio Hospital was looking for such a donation and they had staff who knew how to ���x the fray. The Board of Directors then appointed Terry Fears, one of Four Seasons��� most recognized holiday designers, to consult on the purchase of a new tree and the creation of a holiday theme for the Lodge facilities. Terry gladly got on board with the project and generously donated his time and creativity, He even donated stacks of wreaths to add pizzazz throughout the Lodge rooms and entrance as well as the Potrero and Crooked Creek gates. Terry decided on a ���Woodland Wonderland��� theme, bringing some of our Four Seasons wildlife indoors, emphasizing a ���lodgy look��� and giving a festive but holiday neutral ambiance. One of the ���rst items Terry decided on was a large majestic grey owl. He found the owl at a Home Goods store and then went to all of the Home Goods stores in Riverside County to ���nd enough owls to make the impact he wanted. I had the privilege of going with him to a design center in Orange County which specializes in holiday accoutrements. There, we loaded up cart after cart of natural items like the gorgeous and adorable squirrels and the myriad of sparkling baubles and ���oral pieces. The week before the Holiday Extravaganza and Tree Lighting Ceremony, the decorating work began. We started our grand tree decorating project on that Wednesday at 8 pm, allowing Terry���s 12 FOUR SEASONS BREEZE | JANUARY 2013 | COMMUNITY NEWS design to take shape without the well meaning direction from resident passers by. Helping to unwrap all of the decorations was the Social Committee���s Chairman, Melody Seewoster. Anita Worthen stopped by to discuss some Wine Club issues and she stayed to help for an hour. Then came John Noonan who had been given approval by the BOD to donate a nativity scene to the Lodge decorations. He decided to drop it off around 8:15 pm that night. John also decided to stay well into the night to help. As the decorating proceeded, Willis Fagan, who was playing billiards, checked on us and determined that he needed to help steady the 15��� ladder for Terry. Willis ended up staying until nearly midnight. Finally, around 2 am, the tree was completed. The next night, the mantel and large pine arrangements were completed. Friday evening was the dress rehearsal for the Holiday Variety Show. While I was helping with the rehearsal and trying to get the Ballroom trees decorated, Janet McAdamis and several other decorating angels descended to help. At this time, all 24 wreaths were under construction. Renee Watkins, our Facilities Coordinator, helped with those and Terry Fears helped with beautiful gold bows. Early Saturday morning, the decorating ���nishing frenzy began. The stack of wreaths were ready to hang, but none of the command hooks were working. Claudette Harsney came to the rescue! Claudette is an amazing Four Seasons Designer in her own right, and a fast action, solution ���nding, public servant besides. She saw the quandary, and immediately threw her expertise into high gear. She came up with the clever idea of hanging the wreaths over the wrought iron signs in the Lodge. She also directed wreath placement on the Crooked Creek pedestrian gates and over the light at the Lodge and Potrero Gate entrances (no command hooks necessary). Claudette worked tirelessly with me from 9 am until 3 pm that Saturday��� what an amazing woman! In the midst of the frenzy, Loren DuChesne saw that Claudette and I were in need of a bit of assistance with the garland outside the Ballroom, so he ���ew home to get much needed nails and hammers. Betty Ann James saw that she might also be of assistance, so she put the lights on the little potted pine trees by the Lodge doors. She also came up with a solution for the strong Beaumont breeze threatening to knock over our newly purchased poinsettias. She zipped home and loaded her car with bricks to brace the poinsettia pots. This Lodge decorating story is really more than just a lengthy rendition of how the Lodge was decorated. It���s yet another telling of the character, the community spirit, and the self-sacri���ce that makes this Four Seasons neighborhood the wonderful place that it is. These terri���c people, giving of their time, talents and treasures, are just some of many who do much to make this place a little more beautiful. As usual, it���s more than a pleasure to have the opportunity to work with folks of your caliber. As I���ve said before, you all are the true decorations of the Lodge. COMMUNITY NEWS | FOUR SEASONS BREEZE | JANUARY 2013 13

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