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'I guess this is what Christmas miracles are all about'

LANGLEY - It's a leap of faith, but Barb Sharp says the Christmas lights will be switched on in Williams Park."We're going to run with it," said Sharp, president of the Christmas in Williams Park society.The lights will be turned on Thursday, Dec. 11. The event will run until Dec. 21, allowing visitors a couple of weekends to drive through the park and check out the displays, which will be open from 5 to 9 p.m. each night at the park, located at 6596 238th St., Langley.The long-running, volunteer-driven light display was cancelled last month after thieves stole about $10,000 worth of lights and extension cords from a storage unit.It was the second year in a row that thieves have stolen lights, and police told organizers they would not likely be found. It is suspected that thousands of dollars worth of lights were being stripped for copper wire and sold for a few hundred dollars as scrap.Yet once news of the cancellation got out, people in the community began organizing and trying to help, in any way they can."I guess this is what Christmas miracles are all about," Sharp said.Last week, Langley's Canadian Tire donated $1,000 in lights and extension cords.Donations didn't just come from big companies; nineyear-old Sara Walmsley of Walnut Grove began a drive at her school to collect LED lights.Local businesses like Kore Irrigation and Lighting and the Langley Advance acted as drop-off points for lights as well. Residents began contacting the Christmas in Williams Park Society offering money, volunteer help and storage space.



Matthew Claxton

About the Author: Matthew Claxton

Raised in Langley, as a journalist today I focus on local politics, crime and homelessness.
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