‘Christmas Light Fight’ includes local couple’s tragic story

A Vallejo family that turned a personal tragedy into a tribute that brings joy to Northern Californians will see their story told Dec. 15 in the nationally televised ABC program, “The Great Christmas Light Fight.”

Bob and Linda Taylor began decorating their home at 817 Glen Cove Road after their daughter, Debbie Satarri, died in a plane crash in Little Rock, Ark., in 1999. Debbie was taking her first airplane flight to see relatives, and one sister, a flight attendant, had upgraded her seat to first class.

The mother of the Taylors’ grandson, Joey, 18, was among 11 who died in the crash.

The family took the loss hard, and for solace turned to decorating their home for the Christmas holidays, starting with a manger scene. With each passing year, Debbie’s surviving sisters, Denise and Donna, contributed more to the display.

And the additions kept on coming. A neighbor gave them a four-horse merry-go-round and a 12-foot-tall Ferris wheel that had been built 50 years ago by Vallejo firefighters, back when firehouses, rather than private homes, were decorated extensively for the holidays.

The Taylors lovingly restored the structures. Denise repainted the horses and added details, and the family put teddy bears on the four mounts. They seated dolls into the Ferris wheel.

From the entrance tunnel next to the manger scene and Santa’s station — where the couple gives out candy canes to children — to the glittering archway, the display has plenty of lights. Bob, a retired electrician, maintains the extensive light system.

As the years went by, the display grew. The family acquired fiberglass cartoon characters from the Philippines — Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs, Bugs Bunny, Donald and Daisy Duck, Sylvester, Sponge Bob and others. Each has been fitted with an individual stand that rotates every 30 seconds.

It might sound confusing, but there’s order amid the chaos. For one thing, “We have a path,” Bob said. Visitors who flock to the display each year begin at the tunnel, where they also see Santa’s station, Mrs. Santa Claus and a company of elves and where families can photograph themselves with the holiday celebrities.

“Everybody has a cell phone camera to take their own pictures,” Bob said. But Santa’s elves volunteer to help those who want a family shot.

The looping path moves amid the lights and moving objects, statuesque reindeer and giant Santas, eventually taking visitors full circle.

The home’s decorations have become so popular that each year the Taylors borrow a lot across the street that they cover in gravel and illuminate to give parking spaces for 25 vehicles.

People from throughout Northern California have flocked to see the house, the Taylors said. Through the years, they’ve watched children grow up; some have brought children of their own to see the decorated house they enjoyed when they were younger.

The family doesn’t count how many people stop by to see their lighted home, but last year, in celebration of their 14th year of decorating, they bought 16,000 candy canes — and for the first time, they ran out. This year they’ve bought 18,000 candy canes, and are limiting them to children, so they don’t run out again. Bob gives them out during the week, and Santa Claus stops by to hand them out from his station on weekends.

The Taylors learned last year about “The Great Christmas Light Fight” competition on ABC, and saw a notice on the Bay Area network affiliate, KGO on channel 7. Viewers who thought their home displays were competition-worthy were asked to submit photographs for consideration.

That’s what the Taylors did.

They were contacted about entering, and became one of only 24 homes nationwide to participate in the second season of the televised competition.

Normally, the family takes its time to set everything up and assure everything works, and does all the decorating themselves.

But this year, Linda said, they needed to start early so the array could be photographed for the show.

The first time the cameras came out was Oct. 7, to film the house before any decorating began. But the Taylors were under the gun. “We had 24 days to put it up,” Linda said.

“We had work parties every day,” Bob said.

During that time, two cameras made time-elapsed recordings of the family, neighbors and other volunteers, including members of Vallejo Fire Department, who pitched in to help the Taylors meet such a tight deadline.

“On the 24th day, they saw we were ready,” Bob said.

Both ends of Glen Cove were blocked off so television crews could film additional footage of the display, and for celebrity judges to examine the home’s decorations.

The Taylors’ home is being featured on the second season’s premiere episode, at 8 p.m. Dec. 15 on KGO, channel 7. Their display will be up against three others in the hour-long show. As the season continues, all 24 homes from across the country will be put into the spotlight.

The Taylors have no information on their competition; they don’t even know in what state the others are situated. They’ll find out the same as everyone else — by watching the show.

“I hope it’s not us versus some rich people,” Bob said. He knows that some elaborate displays have computerized synchronization of lights and music. “We’re an old-fashioned display,” he said.

But no matter the outcome of the show, Bob said, “We’re already winners. We’re on national TV!”