Main Street Will Light Up Our Lives Once Again

Main Street will be lit up again for the holiday season, according to Leanne Peterson, executive director of Main Street Martinez.

Last year’s Parade of Lights parade was held largely without lights, because the strings of lights in the trees were vandalized, malfunctioned or just burned out. Keeping the lights lit was growing too costly.

“Unfortunately, the tree lights are expensive to maintain,” Peterson said.

Many Main Street merchants were upset because they felt the lights added an important ambience to the primary shopping season.

This year, Shell Martinez Refinery will chip in and provide funding and brand new lights, this time not in the trees, but on the light poles. That should prevent most of the maintenance problems that were indemic to the tree lights, she said.

The $16,000 cost of the new lights will be shared by Shell and Main Street Martinez. Shell will also provide labor to install the lights, with the help of the city.

“The new lights are referred to as ‘Festival Lights,’” Peterson said, “and consist of larger LED bulbs strung parallel to the street between the light posts. The LED lights use very little energy and are expected to be more cost-effective to maintain than tree lights.”

“We are excited to partner with Main Street Martinez and the City of Martinez on this project,” said Steve Lesher, Public Affairs Manager for Shell Martinez. “Our employees participate in many volunteer projects in the community throughout the year and we are happy to be able to help with the lights along Main Street.”

The new lights will be installed beginning next week, and should take two or three days. The official unveiling of the lights will take place Dec. 2 during the Holiday Frolic and Snow Park at 6 p.m.

Peterson said the new lights will be up all year to lend a festive atmosphere to downtown.