Wrigley Area Neighborhood Alliance (WANA)

WANA SAVES TRADITION

HOW & WHY WANA CAME TO BE . . .

Wrigley’s Daisy Avenue Christmas Tree Lane

The decorating of Daisy Avenue from PCH to Hill Street began many, many
years ago – fifty-four to be exact. Gertrude Whittle lived on Daisy and
brought joy to the Wrigley neighborhood when thousands of visitors, near and
far, would come to the Lane to see the beautiful decorations. She started
the tradition that has been kept up all these years. In 1989, Maria
Norvell, Wrigley Association Board Member and CTL Chair, took on the task of
organizing the decorations and raising money for the event and has been
doing so every year since then.

However, in 2007, some members of the Wrigley Association felt that we were
spending too much time and energy on Christmas Tree Lane. These members
held a majority on the Board of Directors. Tragically, they voted to
separate Christmas Tree Lane from the Wrigley Association.

On March 19, 2007, the Board of Director’s for the Wrigley Association
passed a motion (6 Yes – David Carlton, Alan Tolkoff, Annie
Greenfield-Wisner, Gavin McKiernan, Kelly Haas, and Chris Graeber; 5 No –
Jill Hill, Joan Greenwood, Maria Norvell, Nancy Risch, and Danny Amat) at
their monthly board meeting that stated:

“The Wrigley association will separate itself from Christmas Tree Lane. CTL
can form itself into whatever organizational format it deems best for
itself, all monies controlled by Daisy CTL committee would go to the new CTL
organization. The two organizations, in recognition of the historic
connection would agree to work closely together but as legally separate
entities.”

The May 17, 2007 issue of the Wrigley Association Bulletin on Page 2 stated
the same motion.

At the May 21, 2007 Wrigley Association Board of Director’s meeting, once
again, the same motion was reaffirmed (7 Yes – David Carlton, Alan Tolkoff,
Annie Greenfield-Wisner, Colleen McDonald, Gavin McKiernan, Chris Graeber,
and Danny Amat; 3 No – Maria Norvell, Jill Hill, and Nancy Risch).

And at the General Membership Meeting on July 2, 2007, yet another motion
passed that stated:

“That the membership affirm the action of the Board from March which
approved separation of Daisy Christmas Tree Lane from the Wrigley
Association.”

In part, it was because of this tragedy that we started WANA, the Wrigley
Area Neighborhood Alliance, Inc. (WANA), the New Home of Daisy Avenue
Christmas Tree Lane with Maria Norvell continuing as Chairperson.

If you support Christmas Tree Lane, please join WANA. Joan Greenwood, Maria
Norvell, Jill Hill, Nancy Risch, Timothy Risch, Joan Pizzato, and Jim Trout
and many others are all part of WANA. Please do not forget that we are the
ones who voted FOR Christmas Tree Lane! We believe that you can never spend
too much time or too much effort for this wonderful and joyous celebration.

Fundraising efforts started late. But it isn’t too late to help with some
of the expense for lighting the trees. Help “Light Up the Lane” by sending
your federal and state tax-deductible donations to:

Friends of WANA
P.O. Box 6370
Long Beach, CA 90806

HOW & WHY WANA SAVED CHRISTMAS

DAISY AVENUE CHRISTMAS TREE LANE