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Highlands Today

Power Upgrade To Boost Carousel Of Lights

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By MARC VALERO

Highlands Today

Published: July 30, 2008

SEBRING - More is better.

With Christmas lights and decorations it's also "the more the merrier."

The Christmas Carousel of Lights display will shine brighter this holiday season with the Sebring Community Redevelopment Agency Board of Commissioners approving a major electrical power upgrade for the downtown Circle.

"There's going to be a significant increase out there in the amount of lights this year," Jon Spiegel said Tuesday. "We will probably start setting up even a week earlier," in the middle of November.

Spiegel, who contracts with the city to set up the display, said this will be the 15th year for the Carousel of Lights. The display officially lights up in conjunction with the city Christmas parade on the first Friday in December, which is Dec. 5 this year.

During the past few holiday seasons people have asked Spiegel "what's new this year?"

With the display already drawing more power than the Circle's electrical circuits can handle, Spiegel had to respond that nothing new has been added.

"Because we were so maxed out on electricity we said we needed to start relocating some of the stuff to take the load off," Spiegel said.

That resulted in the live production part of the display - puppet show, Santa and the concession stand - to be moved off the Circle two years ago.

Some people liked Santa on the Circle within the hub of activity, Speigel said. On the positive side, the reduced foot traffic cut the wear and tear on the Circle's grass.

Spiegel told the CRA board Monday that he had to strictly follow a layout plan showing which electrical outlets to use to keep the number of tripped circuit breakers to a minimum. Once overheated, a breaker cannot be reset for 30 minutes, he said.

Currently the Circle is served by two separate systems, a 100-amp service and a 200-amp service.

A 600-amp service will be added. The total estimated cost of the project is about $25,000, which includes underground directional boring to relocate existing electric service and to add new lines. The project will require going out to bid to select a firm to do the work.

CRA Commissioner James McCollum said to Spiegel: "you and your people do an incredible job of what you do at Christmas time. It just amazes me how lovely that is."

The city used to do it, but you do a much better job for what is probably a lot less money, McCollum added.

Spiegel had already sent his plans to the manufacturer for new custom-made display pieces.

Also, the CRA board approved spending $5,269 for a new and larger sound system for the Circle, which would include a waterproof traffic signal control cabinet to replace the aging brick box that houses the electronics.

Spiegel said the current system is not adequate for larger events such as Heartland Idol, the Saturday night cruises and the Christmas parade.

The existing system, which was designed for minimal volume within the Circle, would remain for smaller events. A flick of a switch would activate the new system, which would include four speakers mounted on light poles.

Marc Valero can be reached at mvalero@highlandstoday.com or 863-386-5826

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