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Article Last Updated: Saturday, December 21, 2002 - 3:43:48 AM MST

OTHER ARTICLES IN THIS SECTION 2/10/2003 - Fine feathered ends - The language of flowers - This week in your garden - For the birds - Up for the count? - Back yard oasis Make your place inviting to wildlife. - Far from a monastic existence - Showcase House feast revival - Flower of the Week: Primrose - Take a little off the top and sides... - Safe arbor - What to remember when planting a tree - This week in your garden - Homework: Try the DIY exercise - Move? Never, they exclaim - Wine cellars are COOL - This week in your garden - Home Do-It - Don't let energy sockets sap your money - The wonders of white vinegar - Super bowls - Plant of the week: Camellia - This week in your garden - Living within a budget - A $500 shopping list - This week in your garden - Bob Mackie brings it all back home - Predictions for a decorative new year - Rose queens blooming all around town - Beauty restored - This week in your garden - Do it yourself ... with a partner - Gardening pointers - Throw better parties and wash fewer glasses - Your place - This week in your garden - Promises to keep for 2003 - ShowWatch: Pause to reflect with suiseki - Discover the natural beauty of suiseki - The light fantastic - Palace of the Empire: The Sue Austin Home - Palace of the Empire: The Carnegie Library Building - This week in your garden - Redecorate on the cheap - 20 great gifts for the home and garden - This week in your garden - Your Place for the Holidays - Simply stylish - Holiday haute and not - Spruce up your space - Magic winter blooms - Garden Clubs: West San Gabriel Valley - This week in your garden - The holiday personalities of our gardens - Tours boast rooms and blooms - Fun comes with crafts, candles, culture and cottages - Parkway planting, gardening with heart Christmas competition By Addison Pate It's Christmastime again, and with it comes the joyous tradition of decorating the home. Stringing lights from gutter to gutter, placing either a Nativity or Santa scene in the yard or maybe hanging a wreath on the door. For most people, this season comes with a few simple, minor decorations that help lift spirits and share a little holiday cheer with the neighborhood. However, others throughout the area are compelled to turn their quiet little homes into beacons of Christmas joy visible from the sky. For two neighbors in Burbank such decorating has become an annual competition. "I started doing this in 1970,' says Dick Norton of Burbank, "but I guess you could say it has some family history to it.' Norton's love for decorating at Christmas started with his father. Every year, Norton and his family would pile into the car for a trip out into the desert in search of tumbleweeds. "We would get a couple different sizes, spray paint them white and turn them into snowmen,' says Norton. But it wasn't until 1988 that his traditions became stories of lore. It began when Keith LaPrath, a neighborhood child and friend of the Nortons, decided to decorate his house in a similar fashion. "It's sort of a friendly competition,' says Norton. LaPrath, a businessman from Burbank, laughs when thinking about where the decorations all started. LaPrath started the contest when he was 9 years old. It began with a few yard displays -- a wooden Christmas tree and a quaint snowman family. Today, LaPrath boasts about the 70 amps of electricity required to animate the different parts of the yard. "He got me inspired,' LaPrath says of Norton. "We kind of play around with who can outdo the other each year.' Together, the homes make North Florence Street in Burbank into a winter wonderland. The Norton home features an 8-foot moving Ferris wheel, a revolving merry-go-round with operating horses and a train with a working smokestack, moving wheels and sound effects. Those are just the three biggest items in the yard. Also featured are Snoopy in his Red Baron biplane, Mickey Mouse waving from the train station, a lifelike reindeer and Santa-in-a-box popping out to say hello. LaPrath maintains strong competition with a fully functional train of his own as well as ice skaters, Santa's elves loading the sleigh, carolers that sing and an animated snowman family that waves to the onlookers who drive by. Not to mention the many thousands of lights that adorn both homes. When asked what the other neighbors think about these two dueling neighbors, LaPrath responds, "They love it.' Norton quips, "People say that they can find our houses by the glow in the sky.' And when asked when this competition might end, neither seemed certain that it ever would. Says Norton, "Keith's been the real inspiration for me to keep doing this. Just when I wonder if this might be the year to quit, he comes over, and I'm ready to do it again.' BURBANK Nancy LaPrath, 529 N. Florence St. Polyester snow, toy train with sounds and lights, a nativity scene, ice skaters, waving snowmen and more. Web site: www.wintersnowland.com Dick and Pam Norton, 513 N. Florence St. Moving Ferris wheel, flying swings, a train that smokes and whistles, featuring a delightful cast of characters. Web site: www.nortonswinterwonderland.com CANOGA PARK K.C. Kerr, 21202 Hart St. 50,000 lights, a giant nutcracker, carton characters galore, music played from the rooftop. ENCINO Newcastle Lane, 5437 Newcastle Ave. New display with more than 15,000 lights, lawn and window decorations, music and much more. GRANADA HILLS Don and Jan Cosby, 11321 Encino Ave. A Christmas display with lots of animals. Caroline East, 11150 Jellico Ave. A dazzling display of lights and figures that lines the street. Jim Howard, 11300 Lasaine Ave. Decorated in red lights, this humorous holiday house has Santa slipping off the roof and other hilarious displays. Sally Kolstad, 11300 Andasol Ave. A merry winter wonderland full of Christmas characters and beautiful lights. Connie and Bruce Walsh, 17559 Lahey St. A patriotic flag covers the whole roof with lights on the cypress reaching nearly 40 feet high. Terry and Carol Winger, 17556 Ludlow St. Lights, lights and even more lights, totaling more than 125,000 from top to bottom. NORTH HILLS The Carlsons, 16451 Tupper St. White lights, lighted sleigh, reindeer, angel, Clauses kissing, gingerbread house and people, bows and trees. NORTH HOLLYWOOD The Loudermilks, 11646 Morrison St. Angels on the roof, a lake with ice skating, Mickey and Minnie, polar bears, penguins and more than 20,000 lights. Redston Apartments, 5754 Fair Ave. A spectacular display of Christmas lights covering courtyard, foliage, pool area and all 28 apartments. NORTHRIDGE Tim and Cindy Begley, 18530 Entrada Court "Candy Cane Lane.' Mike and Darlene Kline, 19100 Ludlow St. Lights all around the house, picket fence and driveway. Santa and sleigh, candy canes and more. RESEDA Michael and Kerry Alvord, 7426 Belmar Ave. Icicles, colored lights and snowflakes hang from this wintry home where candy canes, trees and reindeer are there to greet you. SAUGUS Kim Pape,22546 Lemon St. Ferris wheel, swing, teeter-totter and lots more. Kelly and Doreen Palmer, 28240 N. Kenton Lane 10,000 lights, handmade decorations and a picture-window Christmas scene. SHERMAN OAKS Tom Pardoe and Patrick Rush, 13601 Morrison St. Twelve-foot-tall gingerbread house, 20 lighted Christmas blow-mold sculptures and much more. SIMI VALLEY The Goelzes, 2965 Flanagan Drive Covered in lights from head to toe; just follow the glow when you enter the neighborhood. SUN VALLEY Larry and Sandra Reinink, 8350 Glenoaks Blvd. Nativity scene, Santa and sleigh, snowmen, reindeer, Christmas trees, icicles and an American flag. SYLMAR Cindy and Benny, 13941 Graber Ave. Gingerbread house. VALENCIA 27400 block of Weathersfield Drive, at Blueridge Drive Toy soldiers, teddy bears, Santa, snowmen, clowns, lighted candy cane, palm trees, lights and more can be seen throughout this holiday-decorated neighborhood. VAN NUYS Peggy Alpaugh, 15406 Lull St. Two-story house lit from top to bottom, eight reindeer on the lawn and Santa on the basketball rim making a slam-dunk. Betty Rand, 14312 Collins St. Front yard with lighted and moving Christmas figurines. Rachel and Angelo Hernandez, 15158 Sylvan St. Christmas wonderland full of lights, red bows, snowmen, reindeer, carolers, penguins and Santa. 14900-15000 block of Hartland Street Hundreds of lights, motion figurines, candy canes, snowmen and other holiday treats. WEST HILLS The Connellys, 7930 Bobbyboyar Ave. Lots of lights, reindeer, sleighs, Santa and candy canes. Kevin and Norette Gilbert, 7728 Atron Ave. Candy cane-lined driveway, prancing reindeer, glistening icicles and Santa's sleigh. William Shanahan, 7840 Ponce Ave. Moving, lighted reindeer and Santa Claus. Mark Wine, 7362 Asman Ave. Christmas and Hanukkah light display, surfing Santa, tin soldiers, snowmen, menorahs and star of David. Gayla Parks, 23321 Schoolcraft St. Santa's mailbox and much more. WOODLAND HILLS Candy Cane Lane, between Oxnard and Martha streets, on the four blocks east of Winnetka Avenue and north of the Ventura Freeway.

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