Page 48 December 2012 “Would you mind fi lming me proposing?’ ” That man came, as he said he would, on a busy Friday night. He tapped Sepanek on the shoulder and handed him the camera. Sepanek excused himself from the people he was talking to and went to, discreetly, fi lm the young couple. “All the people followed me, but she didn’t notice. So they’re walking along. She turned around and the guy got down on one knee. She looked back and said, ‘What are you doing?’ The next thing you know he got the ring out and she just fl ipped out.” And for those wondering, she said yes. That was one of multiple proposals to occur at the Phoenix winter wonderland. Lee and Patricia have also had the opportunity to see some kids grow up over three generations of putting up lights. Parents started bringing their kids every year until it became a tradition in many families. The Sepanek family doesn’t just put up the lights and then hide inside every night. They interact with the people who visit them every single night the lights are up. “A few weeks ago the doorbell rang at about 8 p.m. and I opened the door to fi nd a little boy standing there. And he looks at me and asks, ‘When are you going to turn the lights on?’ ” Sepanek said. “Christmas for some people isn’t Christmas until they show up here. They’re not just lights.” Sepanek said it also isn’t Christmas until someone’s child falls into the duck pond. “Once a year a kid fl ops into the pond,” he said. “It’s usually the little boys who try to jump across and before they know it they’re up to their knees in water and muck, and I know when it’s happened because I see the wet footprints all over the place.” And even though Lee and Patricia have children of their own, the kids who visit still manage to baf fl e him. “I put up a snow-making machine and a bubble blowing machine that blows bubbles over the driveway. Those kids will run up to it and dance in that driveway forever. And I just look at the parents and say, ‘You know, I put up 50,000 lights and thousands of animated characters and I put up a bubble machine and that’s all they care about.’ ” But despite all the joy the lights bring the family and those who visit, there are a few downfalls to the display. “Once the lights are on you can’t use the microwave in the kitchen,” Sepanek said. “You can’t use the toaster or certain electronics because there’s already too much electricity being drawn.” It also takes weeks to check and replace all of the burnt out lights, and with as Continued on page 49 Lights Continued from page 42 NMLS# 179446 / BK0902429 / NOVA NMLS 3087 Over the last few years the real estate industry has experienced its fair share of change. Now more than ever your lender plays an integral part in your real estate transaction. I trust Tom and his team at NOVA Home Loans. With a wide array of products and an open and honest communication style, they will go out of their way to ensure you have a great experience. ~ Hillary Gurley, REALTOR and Arcadia Resident / Russ Lyon Sotheby’s International Realty Senior Loan Officer 602.791.5861 www.asktomross.com W Wh hy y T To op p p p A A Age en nts I In n n O Ou ur r M M Mar rk ket t T T Tr ru us st t U Us: Arizona Eye SPECIALISTS 5620 W. Thunderbird Rd., #H-3 Glendale, Arizona 85306 602.547.2002 4915 E. Baseline Rd., Suite 114 Gilbert, Arizona 85234 480.830.0120 13555 W. McDowell Rd., Suite 102 Goodyear, Arizona 85395 623.209.0020 300 East Osborn Road, Suite 100 Phoenix, Arizona 85012 602.254.7255 (Optical Shop) 7245 East Osborn Rd., #4 Scottsdale, Arizona 85251 480.994.5012 (Optical Shop) To schedule an appointment call 480.994.5012 Or visit our website at www.azeyemd.com Vision Correction Surgery – Cataracts – Oculoplastics & Cornea Ocular Allergies – Glaucoma – Macular Degeneration Diabetic Retinopathy Dry Eyes – Routine Exam – Contact Lenses

Page 49 December 2012 many lights as they have plugged in, even the tiniest addition can cause a power outage, but that doesn’t present the biggest challenge. The hardest part is getting the sleigh of reindeer to go across the whole display, from the tallest tree in the back to the tallest in the front. “That’s the most challenging thing because the lift that I get, if I were to rent it, it would cost $1,000 a day. Ross Equipment donates (a crane) to me once a year for a weekend,” Sepanek said. “Without them, that sleigh and reindeer wouldn’t get put up. And people can’t fi nd my house without that. They can see it from 44th Street.” But what that means is the sleigh must be put up in one weekend. And sometimes the crane is not available until after Thanksgiving, the fi rst day the lights are turned on. Some might ask what would possibly inspire a man to go to all of this trouble every year, spending around $10,000 of his own money and hours upon hours putting up lights that take longer to put up than they stay up. “Have you ever seen ‘The Polar Express’?” Sepanek asked. “Remember at the end of the movie about the bell, and how only the kids can hear it? And as the adults get older they lose that emotion? I still have it.” The annual Christmas Pageant at Xavier College Preparatory will be Dec. 9 at 2 p.m. in the Kemper and Ethel Marley Theater in the Virginia G. Piper Performing Arts Center on Xavier’s campus. The pageant is the traditional story of the birth of Christ as told through reverent music and dance, and this year’s theme is The Wondrous Gift: The Story of the Jesus Child . There is no charge for admission. Lights Continued from page 48 l Garden • Arcadia High • Peo op p p p s o o • St. Theresa • Basketball • Ki id d ds i se e eu ums • Softball • Shemer Art • Ch hr r ri r Vo o o ol lleyball • Neighborhood News • Sp po o or N te e e er rtainment • Ingleside • Football • N N N a en n n nt ts • Squaw Peak • Recreation • Dram m m ma a d Da a an nce • Church News • Hopi • Arc ca a a n l lt t th & Fitness • Arts & Entertainme e en n a s s • Hopi • Football • Desert Botani ic c c ca S a ad d d dia High • People • Phoenix Zoo • S S a as s sketball • Kids • Tavan • Museums s h h er A l w w w Peak • Recreation • Drama • Baseb ba a a hu u ur rch News • H i Plan your next date night. Visit Arts & Entertainment at l h h hem em emer er er er A A A A Art rt rt rt rt • • • • Ch Ch Ch Ch Chri ri ri ri rist t st st st L L L Lut ut uth he he her ra ran n • • V Vo V l ghborhood News • Sports • Arts & Ent ngleside • Football • Neighborhood w w Pe Peak ak • • R Re ecr t ti i w Peak • Recr ti hemer Art Ch i orts • A l • Nei V rts & En ghborh h he A l l hemer Art • Christ Lutheran • Vo e d d w w Pe Peak ak • • R Rec ecre reat atio ion • D D l d ARCADIADAILY COM i i i i i i i i ig g g i i i i i i i i i i i ig g g g The annual holiday potluck meeting of Telerana will be at 7 p.m. Dec. 12 and feature Ann Morton’s Unentitled, a fi ber- based art collection. A native Phoenician, Morton is a recent MFA graduate of Arizona State. For more information including the address of the meeting, visit telerana.org. DUI CLASSES ONLINE! 3200 N Hayden Rd ~ Suite 170 - Just South of Osborn Rd 480.429.9044 WOW! WOW! ONLINE DUI ONLINE DUI SERVICES! SERVICES! SCOTTSDALETREATMENT.COM ARIZONA’S FIRST ONLINE DUI SERVICES HOME • OFFICE • TRAVEL ANYWHERE YOU CAN “LOG ON!” ONLINE SERVICES: MVD • SR-22 ALCOHOL SCREENINGS, EDUCATION & TREATMENT ARIZONA’S FIRST ONLINE DUI SERVICES Compare our rates. CALL US LAST! art art ne gallery ne gallery 480.946.5076 . artonegalleryinc.com 4130 n marshall way . scottsdale representing students of american and european universities, local and community colleges, high schools and emerging arizona artists. just roll with it • john babbitt • 48”h x 55”w • mixed media on canvas GET SOME CULTURE GET SOME CULTURE AND AND HAVE SOME FUN! HAVE SOME FUN! thursday night artwalk thursday night artwalk