"VISITING WITH HUELL HOWSER" IS NAID POSSIBLE THROUGH A GENEROUS GRANT FROM THE FROM THE RALPH M. PARSON'S FOUNDATION.

>> Huell: WELL HELLO EVERYONE I'M HUELL HOWSER, GET READY FOR A ROLLER COASTER EXPERIENCE BECAUSE THE STORY WE'RE GETTING READY TO DEVELOP TRULY IS A ROLLER COASTER OF HISTORY, A ROLLER COASTER OF EMOTIONS.

IT HAS EVERYTHING ON IT.

HIGHS AND LOWS, EXCITEMENT AND DISAPPOINTMENTS.

LAUGHTER AND TEARS, BUT MORE THAN ANYTHING THIS IS A STORY OF HOPE AND A PERSEVERANCE.

AND WE'RE STARTING THIS STORY, THIS IS CHAPTER ONE RIGHT HERE.

INTRODUCE YOURSELF TO EVERYONE.

>> I'M JOE.

>> I'M JOYCE.

>> Huell: YOU'RE THE FIRST CHAPTER, YOU HEARD HOW I SET UP THIS ROLLER COASTER.

LET'S TALK ABOUT WHY YOU'RE THE FIRST CHAPTER.

WE'RE STANDING RIGHT HERE IN THE FOOTHILLS IN UPLAND.

AND THIS SPOT GOES WAY BACK AS YOUR RELATIONSHIP.

>> RIGHT, WHEN WE WERE IN COLLEGE, WE USE TO HIKE UP HERE AND GEORGE TOLD ME, HE WANTED TO BUILD A HOUSE.

>> Huell: DID YOU BELIEVE HIM.

OR DID YOU THINK HE WAS JUST TALKING.

>> I THOUGHT HE WAS JUST TALKING.

>> Huell: BUT YOU GOT MARRIED AND YOU BUILT THIS HOUSE.

WHY DID YOU CHOOSE THIS SPOT TO BUILD YOUR DREAM HOUSE?

>> WE JUST LOVE THE VIEW.

WE CAN SEE ALL THE THE WAY FROM CATALINA TO SAN JACINTO MOUNTAINS.

WE CAN SEE ABOUT 20 CITIES.

>> Huell: NOW DID YOU BUILD THIS HOUSE, LITERALLY YOURSELF?

>> I BUILT IT WITH MY OWN HANDS.

>> Huell: THIS IS SOMETHING THE TWO OF YOU JUST DID TOGETHER.

>> WE DESIGNED IT AND BUILD IT.

WHAT WAS IT LIKE TO LIVE UP HERE?

YOU WERE PERCHED UP IN THIS MOUNTAIN.

>> WE WERE ALMOST ALONE.

WE HAD ONE OR TWO NEIGHBORS AND WE LIKED THAT.

AND OUR KIDS COULD RUN AROUND AND PLAY IN THE MOUNTAINS.

>> Huell: SO YOUR KIDS AGREE UP GREW UP HERE?

>> YES.

>> Huell: AND YOU LIVED HERE FOR HOW LONG?

>> ABOUT 25 YEARS.

>> Huell: LET'S TALK ABOUT THE TRADITION AND THAT STARTED FROM THE VERY BEGINNING?

>> YES, WHEN WE LOOKED OUT HERE, WE LOOKED INTO THE VALLEY AND WE WERE JUST AMAZED AT THE BEAUTY OF THE LIGHTS.

AND I SAID TO JOYCE, WE NEED TO RECIPROCATE WITH ALL THOSE PEOPLE.

I SAID I'M GOING TO PUT UP A BIG STAR SO THEY HAVE SOMETHING TO LOOK AT.

>> Huell: A HOLIDAY STAR?

>> YES, A CHRISTMAS STAR.

>> Huell: WHEN WHEN YOU SAY PUT UP A BIG STAR, YOU MEANT A BIG STAR.

>> WELL, I PUT UP ONE THAT WAS ABOUT 25 FEET TALL LIKE THE LIGHTS.

AND I DROVE DOWN TWO OR THREE MILES AND I COULDN'T SEE IT.

AND I THOUGHT THAT'S NOT GOING TO DO IT.

AND MOTHER NATURE CAME OUT.

>> Huell: SO YOU WENT OUT TO BIGGER AND BIGGER THINGS.

>> AND OUR HOUSE WAS DESIGNED THAT OUR LOWEST FLOOR WAS ABOUT 20 FEET OFF THE GROUND AND OUR HIGHEST ROOF WAS ABOUT 25 FEET.

>> Huell: A 45-FOOT STAR?

>> YEAH.

AND IT WAS LIT WITH AROCADESNT STAR.

>> WE DROVE TEN MILES AND WE COULD SEE IT WELL.

AND WE HAD REPORTS THAT PEOPLE CAN SEE IT BIGGER.

>> AND THIS BECAME -- THIS BIG AREA CAN SEE IT.

THE LIGHTING OF YOUR STAR?

>> WELL THAT'S TRUE.

AND WE HAVE LETTERS THAT WE GOT FROM CHILDREN.

WE HAD A PILOT CALL US FROM THE AIRPORT.

THEY ASKED TO SEE WHO DOES IT.

>> Huell: WE HAVE A LETTER THAT YOU HAD LAMINATED.

READ THAT FOR US.

>> ALL RIGHT.

IT SAYS DEAR MR. HOSSTELLAR.

CHRISTMAS IS NOT CHRISTMAS WITHOUT YOUR STAR.

IT REMINDS ME OF BETHLEHEM STAR.

I'M EIGHT YEARS OLD.

IT'S THE ONLY BRIGHT THING IN UPLAND THIS YEAR.

THANK YOU FOR PUTTING IT UP AND KAY LUBEY.

AND THAT WAS THE YEAR THAT WE HAD TO WATCH OUR LIGHTS.

>> ENERGY CRISIS.

>> WE TURNED OUR FURNACE OFF AND LIT THE STAR.

AND A LOT OF PEOPLE AFFIRMED US, THAT THEY PREACHED HAVING ONE CHRISTMAS DECLARATION.

>> Huell: SO THAT STAR REALLY DID BECOME PART OF THE HOLIDAY SPIRIT?

THE HOLIDAY SEASON IN THIS PART OF SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA?

>> YEAH.

>> Huell: THAT WENLT ON FOR HOW HOW MANY YEARS THAT YOU LIVED IN THE HOUSE?

>> WELL WE MOVED AWAY.

>> Huell: AND WHEN YOU MOVED AWAY, YOU SOLD THE HOUSE BUT YOU SOLD IT WITH THE STIPULATION.

>> WE SAID WE WANTED THE NEW OWNER TO PUT THE STAR.

AND HE SAID, I'VE TALKED TO MY FRIENDS AND THEY SAID IT WAS EITHER THE STAR OR CROSS.

BECAUSE IF YOU DON'T PUT IT, WE'LL CRUCIFY YOU.

>> Huell: YOU WERE STAYING IN THE NEIGHBORHOOD AND YOUR STAR WAS STAYING?

>> YES.

>> Huell: ALL RIGHT, THAT'S THE FIRST CHAPTER AND A GOOD CHAPTER IT WAS.

THANK YOU VERY MUCH.

THIS WAS THE VERY POSITIVE UP BEAT WONDERFUL PART OF THE STORY.

>> YEAH.

>> Huell: A PART THAT HAS TO DO WITH DREAMS AND WITH THE EARLY HISTORY OF THE HOLIDAY STAR IN UPLAND.

CHAPTER TWO OF THE HOLIDAY STAR STORY.

ACTUALLY THIS IS CHAPTER FOUR.

INTRODUCE YOURSELF.

>> KEN PETSKHAU.

>> Huell: YOU'RE THE 4th OWNER OF THE HOUSE THAT GEORGE AND JOYCE BUILT BACK IN THE MID-60s.

>> THAT'S RIGHT.

>> Huell: BUT BY THE TIME YOU GOT IT, THIS STAR TRADITION HAD NEVER CEASED TO EXIST?

>> NO IT DID NOT.

EVER SINCE I WAS A SMALL BOY, I LIVED IN PASADENA, AND WE HAD A GREAT TRADITION WHERE EVERYBODY DECORATED THEIR HOUSE.

AND THAT WAS KIND OF OUR SYMBOL THAT CHRISTMAS HAD STARTED.

AND WE WOULD DRIVE AROUND LOOKING AT THE LIGHTS.

AND WHEN WE MOVED TO UPLAND, THERE WAS NOTHING QUITE LIKE IT.

AND THE ONLY THING THAT WE HAD THAT EVEN REMOTELY RESEMBLED THE THING, WAS TO DRIVE UP TO THIS STAR THAT WAS BASICALLY JUST A WOODEN STRUCTURE WITH A STRING OF CHRISTMAS LIGHTS ON IT -- >> Huell: AND THEN YOU ENDED UP INHERITING THE STAR.

>> I KNEW THE OWNERS OF THE HOUSE, I WENT TO SCHOOL WITH THEIR SON AND ALWAYS LOVED THE HOUSE AND LOVED THE WAY IT LOOKED.

AND OF COURSE THE STAR WAS PART OF THAT.

>> Huell: SO WHEN YOU BOUGHT THE HOUSE AS THE 4th OWNER, WHAT YEAR WAS THAT?

>> THAT WAS 1996, I GUESS IT WAS.

>> Huell: AND COME HOLIDAY TIME AND CHRISTMAS TIME, UP GOES THE STAR.

>> UP GOES THE STAR.

THERE IS A LITTLE PIECE IN BETWEEN THERE THAT THE HOUSE WAS IN FORECLOSURE AND IT WAS TWO YEARS WHERE NOBODY LIVED IN THE HOUSE.

AND THE SAN ANTONIO HEIGHTS ASSOCIATION TOOK IT UPON THEMSELVES TO PUT THE STAR UP.

>> Huell: EVEN THOUGH NO ONE LIVED IN THE HOUSE?

>> YES.

>> AND AT FIRST THEY MET RESISTANCE.

SAYING THAT THERE WAS NO ELECTRICITY.

SO MYSELF AND THE HEIGHTS ASSOCIATION THAT I WAS A MEMBER OF THEN, TOOK IT UPON OURSELVES TO GET PERMISSION FROM THE COMPANY AND RENT SCAFFOLDING AND REERECT THE STAR.

>> Huell: THIS TAKES A LOT OF WORK.

GEORGE SAYS IT WAS A 45-FOOT STAR.

>> I THINK HE TOLD ME IT WAS 35 OR 45 FEET AND IT WAS MADE BY TWO BY FOURS.

AND THE SANTA ANA WINDS WOULD GET A HOLD OF IT AND SOMETHING WOULD FAIL.

AND IT WOULD CAUSE THE STAR TO COME DOWN.

EVERY YEAR.

>> Huell: WHEN YOU GOT IT, WHAT WAS IT MADE OF?

>> WOOD, STILL WOOD.

>> Huell: WOOD?

>> YES, AND IT WAS SOMETHING WE HAD TO REERECT.

>> Huell: SO WHAT HAPPENED TO THE STAR WHEN IT WAS NOT UP FOR CHRISTMAS?

>> IT WAS USUALLY TAKEN DOWN AND STORED IN AN ANOTHER AREA.

AND IT SAT THERE THROUGHOUT THE YEAR.

AND IN SEPTEMBER, IT WAS USUALLY THEN -- THE PROCESS WOULD START TO REERECT IT.

>> Huell: AND IF YOU KNOWN AS THE GUY WHO LIVED IN THE HOUSE WITH THE STAR?

>> NOT REALLY.

>> Huell: DID PEOPLE CONNECT YOU TO THE STAR?

>> NOT UNTIL I BUILT THE NEW ONE.

LIKE I SAID IT WAS WOOD AND KEPT BREAKING.

SO I WENT AROUND AND I'M A PILOT BY TRADE AND KIND OF AN ENGINEER ON THE SIDE AND THERE IS A LOCAL PLACE THAT I LIE LOCAL PARTS FROM.

AND THEY DONATED WING STAR.

AND DFS MADE OUT OF ALUMINUM WHICH IS VERY STRONG DURABLE MATERIAL.

HI TO LEARN HOW TO WELD IT AND I WELD IT ALTOGETHER.

>> Huell: SO YOU BUILT A NEW HUGE STAR.

CHL >> I BUILT A NEW HUGE STAR.

>> Huell: AND NOW FOR THE NEXT CHAPTER.

REVEAL WHERE WE'RE BECAUSE THIS IS THE SAD CHAPTER, THE TRAGIC CHAPTER OF THE HOLIDAY STAR.

KEN REVEAL WHERE WE ARE AND WHAT HAPPENED?

>> WE'RE IN SAN ANTONIO HEIGHTS ALONG THE FOOT HILLS OF UPLAND.

AND UNFORTUNATELY, THE STAR AND MY HOME WERE LOCATED IN THE PATH OF THE FIRE WHICH OCCUR OCTOBER 25th.

>> Huell: OKAY, YOU WERE HERE WHEN THE FIRE CAME?

>> I WAS HERE.

>> Huell: THAT'S YOUR HOME HERE?

>> AT MY HOME.

>> Huell: AND TELL US WHAT THAT WAS LIKE?

>> WELL IT WAS A MATTER OF EVACUATION AND PREPARATION AND TRYING TO GATHER ALL THINGS.

THEY SAID DO NOT TAKE ANYTHING THAT YOU CAN GO TO THE STORE AND BUY TOMORROW.

CONCENTRATE ON THINGS THAT YOU CANNOT REPLACE.

TAKE YOUR PHOTOS, IMPORTANT PAPERS, FAKE JEWELRY THAT YOU CANNOT REPLACE.

HAIR HEIR LOOMS.

>> Huell: WELL OBVIOUSLY YOU COULD NOT TAKE THE STAR.

THE STAR WAS ALREADY UP?

>> THE STAR WAS UP AND READY TO GO FOR THE HOLIDAY SEASON.

I HAD ALREADY WIRED IT UP AND INSTALLED IT AGAIN AND GAVE IT ITS TEST AND IT WAS READY TO GO FOR THE HOLIDAY SEASON.

AND AS THE FIRE BEGAN TO APPROACH AT ABOUT 5:00 O'CLOCK JUST AS DUSK FELL IN THE AREA, I TURNED THE STAR ON AS A LAST MINUTE ACT OF DEFIANCE TO THE FIRE AS IT WAS APPROACHING.

AND AS I TURNED IT ON, THE ENTIRE NEIGHBORHOOD, ALL YELLED OUT.

YOU KNOW, YAY LOOK THE STAR IS LIT.

AND IT BECAME A RALLYING POINT FOR THE FIRE PERSONNEL AND THE LOCAL PEOPLE FELT THAT IF THIS HOUSE STOOD THEY HAD A GOOD CHANCE FOR THEIRS TO STAND.

>> Huell: WELL YOUR HOUSE DID NOT SURVIVE AND NEITHER DID THE STAR.

WE'RE STANDING NEXT WHAT IS LEFT.

CAN WE PICK SOME OF THIS UP?

THIS LITERALLY JUST MELTED AWAY.

>> WELL THE STAR WAS UP IN THE AREA, IT WAS 65 FEET UP IN THE AIR.

AND THE HEAT WAS SO INTENSE AND THE HEAT CAME IN CONTACT WITH THE STAR, IT BEGAN TO MELT.

AND AS IT MELTED, THE ALUMINUM MELTED DOWN TO THE SOIL BELOW.

AND IT ACTUALLY MADE THIS KIND OF UNUSUAL LOOKING BLOB OF ALUMINUM AND IT WAS ALL OVER THE HILLSIDE.

SO ALL THE ALUMINUM THAT THE STAR WAS CONSTRUCTED OF.

>> Huell: HERE IS SOME OF THE SUPPORTS OF THE STAR.

>> IT NEEDED TO GET TO A MUCH HIGHER PLACE.

THIS PARTICULAR PIECE WAS THE VERY VERY TOP TOP PIECE OF THE STAR AND AS THE HOUSE BURNED, IT FELL FORWARD AND AS IT FELL FORWARD IT CLEARED THE FIRE AND THE HEAT AND THAT'S WHY THAT PEACE SURVIVED.

>> Huell: HERE IS THE NEXT CHAPTER OF THE HOLIDAY STORY.

WE'VE COME FROM THE TRAGIC CHAPTER AND NOW WE COME TO THE REAL PAYOFF.

THE CHAPTER THAT SORES AND LIFTS AND REAFFIRMS.

LET'S TALK ABOUT WHERE WE ARE AND WHAT IS GOING ON AROUND US?

>> WE'RE IN THE SLAB OF THE BURNED OUT HOUSE.

>> Huell: LET'S GET TO THE STORY.

INTRODUCE YOURSELF.

>> I'M ROY NICKEL.

>> Huell: HOW DO YOU FIT INTO THIS?

>> I NOTICED THAT HIS HOUSE HAD BURNED DOWN AND COUPLE DAYS LATER, I WAS AT THE OFFICE AND TOLD MY DAUGHTER THAT IF I COULD FIND HIM, I WOULD GIVE HIM ONE OF MY HOMES TO LIVE IN.

>> Huell: THERE WAS A STIPULATION?

>> I TOLD HIM THAT THE STAR NEEDED TO BE BUILT BACK, YES.

SO HE GOT BUILT BACK UP AND NOW WE'RE GOING TO HAVE IT.

>> Huell: WHO ELSE HELPED WITH THE STAR IDEA.

LET'S TALK ABOUT THIS?

>> I GOT CONTACTED BY THE NEWSPAPER ON MONDAY MORNING AND THEY ASKED HOW I WAS DOING AND HOW I WAS DOING.

I SAID WE LOST OUR STAR.

AND SHE SAID WE RECEIVED A LOT OF PHONE CALLS ABOUT THE STAR AND I SAID LET ME MAKE A LOT OF PHONE CALLS AND I SAID -- REBUILD THE STAR CAMPAIGN?

>> Huell: AND HOW DID THAT GO?

>> LOCAL PAPER, WORD OF MOUTH.

A LOT OF PEOPLE CONTACTED THEIR RELATIVES AROUND THE U-STAITSZ.

AND FROM THERE, WE GOT ABOUT $20,000 IN CASH AND KIND DONATIONS.

WE HAD PEOPLE COMING OUT OF THE WOODWORK WANTING TO KNOW, WE'RE AN ELECTRICAL COMPANY.

CAN WE DONATE SOMETHING.

WE'VE GOT ALUMINUM WHAT CAN WE DO TO HELP.

IN FACT WE NEEDED A TEMPORARY POWER POLE AND JOE SAID HEY, I'VE GOT ONE.

IT WAS A COMMUNITY EFFORT TO PULL THIS TOGETHER.

>> Huell: DOES THAT SURPRISE YOU?

BUT OF COURSE THAT'S WHAT YOU HAD THOUGHT.

>> IT SURPRISED ME.

I HAD NO CLUE THAT THIS STAR MEANT TO MANY PEOPLE.

PEOPLE IN SAN ANTONIO HEIGHTS, WE'RE A UNIQUE COMMUNITY AND I EXPECTED THEM.

BUT THE TOWN OF UPLAND, ALTO RA LOMA, CLAREMONT, EVERYBODY DONATED THEIR TIME AND STUFF.

WE HAD A WORK PARTY AND IT WAS ABOUT 50/50, PEOPLE PERCENT FROM THE HEIGHTS AND 50 PERCENT DIDN'T LIVE HERE.

WE NEEDED TO GET THIS SLAP UP.

AS BIG AS THE STAR UP TO GET DONE, IT'S A TINY BLIP ON THE EFFORTS FOR WHAT REALLY NEEDS TO HAPPEN FOR THE BAKERS, FOR EVERYONE THAT WAS AFFECTED BY THIS FIRE.

SO IF WE CAN PUT THIS STAR UP, IT WAS A START AND WHAT BETTER SIGNAL OF COMMODITY AND UNITY AND HOPE AND TO HAVE THAT STAR BACK UP.

>> Huell: WELL IT'S BACK UP AND IT'S GOING TO BE TURNED ON TONIGHT AT 7:00 O'CLOCK TO THE JOY AND AMAZEMENT.

LET'S TAKE A LOOK UP AND LET'S HAVE A ROUND OF EXCITEMENT FROM EVERYONE HERE.

[CHEERS AND APPLAUSE] >> I THINK IT'S NEAT THAT THE COMMUNITY HAS GOTTEN TOGETHER AND PUT IT BACK UP.

IT SIGNIFIES THE AREA, IT'S LIKE A LANDMARK.

AND I THINK IT'S NEAT THAT WE PUT THE LANDMARK UP.

YOU CAN SEE IT FROM THE SKY.

I'M A FLIGHT ATTENDANT AND I POINT IT OUT TO PASSENGERS.

>> THERE ARE SO MANY HOMES LOFTS, -- LOSTS, THAT IT WAS A SENSE OF LOSS TO KNOW THAT THE STAR HOUSE WENT.

SO FOR THE COMMUNITY TO GET TOGETHER AND PUT IT UP TOGETHER, IS PRETTY REMARKABLE.

>> IT'S A FEELING AND I THINK EVERYBODY HAS THAT FEELING.

WE WERE IN A MEETING AND WE SAID THAT STAR HAS TO GO UP.

IT'S I DON'T KNOW, IT'S HARD TO EXPLAIN.

IT'S LIKE FAITH, YOU HAVE IT OR YOU DON'T HAVE IT.

AND IT'S A FEELING.

THE STAR IS THE BEST.

>> THIS STAR JUST -- WE WERE OVERWHELMED BY THE FACT THAT EVERYBODY FELT THE WAY WE DID ABOUT THE STAR.

THE STAR HAS BEEN PART OF OUR LIFES.

IT'S SOMETHING WHICH SEE EVERY NIGHT WHEN WE COME HOME FROM WORK.

WE'VE APPRECIATED IT AND ENJOYED IT.

BUT WHEN IT WAS GONE, IT LEFT A HOLE.

BUT THERE IS BEEN THIS MAG ANY IF MAGNIFICENT REGROUPING AND OUR COMMUNITY IS REALLY A COMMUNITY.

>> Huell: THE STAR IN A WAY HAS BECOME SYMBOLIC HASN'T IT?

>> IT'S A SYMBOL OF REBUILDING OUT OF AN UNTHINKABLE TRAGEDY.

THAT'S REALLY WHAT IT'S MEANT TO ME.

OUT OF ALL THOSE ASHES ALL THIS GOOD.

[CHEERS AND APPLAUSE] [CHEERS AND APPLAUSE] >>> OUR FATHER GONE HAROLDED IN WITH THE HIS OWN STAR, JESUS.

OUR STAR LEADS PEOPLE TO SAN ANTONIO HEIGHTS.

I HAY OUR STARS BECAUSE THIS STAR HAS BECOME A SYMBOL TO OUR COMMUNITY.

WE HAVE SURVIVED.

WE ARE REBUILDING, WE ARE STARTING OVER.

WE HAVE FOUND IN OUR COMMUNITY PEOPLE ARE COURAGE ENOUGH TO FIGHT A HORRIBLE FIRE.

WITH COMPASSION ENOUGH TO REACH OUT TO THEIR NEIGHBORS A HELPING HAND.

WITH GENEROSITY ENOUGH TO FUND REBUILDING OUR STAR.

TO ME THIS STAR SHOWS THE HOPE OF TOMORROW, IT REMINDS ME THAT WE'RE CALLED TO BE LIGHT TO THIS WORLD.

MATTHEW 5 VERSUS 10 THROUGH 14, TELLS US WE'RE THE LIGHT OF THE WORLD.

A LIGHT ON A HILL CANNOT BE HIDDEN.

INSTEAD THEY PUT IT ON ITS STAND AND IT GIVES LIGHT TO EVERYONE IN THE HOUSE.

IN THIS SAME WAY, LET YOUR LIGHT SHINE BEFORE MAN.

THAT THEY MAY SEE YOUR GOOD DEEDS AND PRAISE YOUR FATHER IN HEAVEN.

THIS IS A DEDICATION WE DEDICATE THIS STAR TO THIS VALLEY.

TO THE PEOPLE WHO SEE IT.

LORD GOD, I PRAY THAT WHEN THEY SEE THIS STAR, WHEN THEY SEE THIS LIGHT FROM THE HILL, THAT THEY HAVE HOPE.

THAT THEY LOOK FORWARD FOR THEIR TOMORROW'S.

THAT THEY FIND THEIR PURPOSE HERE IN THIS WORLD.

SO LORD GOD, BLESS US ALL.

IN JESUS NAME, AMEN.

[CHEERS AND APPLAUSE]CHEERS >>> THANK YOU FOR ALL YOUR SUPPORT.

THANKS FOR COMING.

[♪♪♪] [♪♪♪] "VISITING WITH HUELL HOWSER" MADE POSSIBLE THROUGH A GENEROUS GRANT FROM THE FROM THE RALPH M. PARSON'S