DIAMOND POINT — Once a year, Diamond Point residents come together to deck the halls, or rather, deck the road for their Holiday Lane.
On the Saturday before Thanksgiving, Marty “Tall Elf” Hoffman coordinates volunteers inside Diamond Point Fire Station 35 to team up and take bins of ornaments, large candy canes and signs to place along about 4 miles of Diamond Point Road.
Some volunteers bring goodies and good cheer to share with neighbors who hit the road with smiles and totes in tow.
“It’s a true community effort,” said Hoffman, who has led decorating for 14 years since he took over from Beverly and Wallace Teal.
“We’ve done it the same every year.”
Decorations are sorted in bins and boxes and divided among neighbors by numbered sections to place on both sides of the road.
About 40 volunteers donate their time in some capacity, and their output has grown.
New to their decorations in recent years are 15 banners made by George Ehrlich and Tony Gilman that include festive words and phrases such as “Joy,” “Hope,” “Cheer” and “Oh Deer.”
Each sign features light timers that switch on at night, with reflective tape to help illuminate each piece.
Ehrlich said he and his wife Sheri have lived in Diamond Point for about 3½ years, and she grew up visiting her grandma in the area her whole life.
They’ve been involved in the decorating effort since moving, and Ehrlich finds there’s a strong sense of community there.
“It’s fun to do, and it seems to bring a lot of joy to a lot of people,” Ehrlich said.
Their efforts may have inspired other residents too.
“There’s a lot of lights on houses,” Ehrlich said. “Everyone gets lights, and it’s more and more every year.”
Gilman has lived in Diamond Point for five years with his wife Sue and they like storing Santa’s sleigh and the large nutcrackers that go with the “Holiday Lane” sign in their garage.
“It fits in just perfectly,” Gilman said.
“Plus it’s bragging rights to the grandkids.”
During his preparation meeting in the fire station, Hoffman gave pointers, answered questions and clarified one concern.
Why decorate for Christmas before Thanksgiving?
“For Thanksgiving, a lot of people coming here are not here for Christmas,” Hoffman said.
“We’ve also put up (decorations) after Thanksgiving, and we had to put them up in the snow.”
Those who placed decorations also will be tasked to put them away in January, he said.
A few years ago, residents reported theft of handmade lollipop decorations, and over the event’s span, a few snowflakes, bells and candy canes have been stolen. However, organizers said most items have trackers now.
In a previous interview, the Teals said they started Holiday Lane after seeing a similar area “in the middle of nowhere” fully decorated for Christmas in New Mexico.
They wanted to instill that same sense of surprise and awe to their community, they said.
Matt and Maria Freed moved to Diamond Point two years ago. While putting candy canes in a tree, said they like that the area is festive.
“I love going down the lane,” Maria said. “This is just a neat neighborhood.”
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Matthew Nash is a reporter with the Olympic Peninsula News Group, which is composed of Sound Publishing newspapers Peninsula Daily News, Sequim Gazette and Forks Forum. Reach him by email at matthew.nash@sequimgazette.com.
