Candles will cast a soft light over the city's roads on Christmas Eve.
Lana Kemp Smith - with the help of Cathy Larsen and a citizens committee - wants to line Alpine's streets with Christmas candles, or luminarias.Larsen first suggested the luminarias several years ago. She had seen it done in a small Pennsylvania town and thought the luminarias were a good way to unite the community.
"Alpine is a unique community," Smith said. It's a loving, friendly community where people care about each other, and the Christmas candles are an extension of that, she added.
The Christmas tradition of luminarias is an old one, with the candles symbolically lighting the way for Jesus Christ, Smith said.
Alpine's luminaria tradition began last year. The committee ordered 14,960 candles, enough for 500 homes, or half of the homes in Alpine.
For 1993, the committee ordered 30 percent more candles, but on Dec. 1, Smith said they would order an additional 30 percent to take care of the demand.
Paul Mulliner, manager at Day's Alpine Market and the one who orders all the candles, said 25,344 were ordered this year.
"We probably could have used even more," he said.
The luminarias are sold in kits, with each one containing 33 candles and paper lunch bags. After picking up the kits, residents can go to the city shops, where Alpine is donating the sand necessary to keep the candles upright.
Boy Scouts man the sand piles, measuring and distributing the sand. Larsen said two cups per bag works the best.
The bags are designed to be placed 5 feet apart along the front of residents' property lines, Smith said.
Including those who participated last year, 12 Boy Scouts will have earned Eagles from the luminaria project. Scouts contribute time and leadership qualities in organizing and distributing fliers, assembling candles and bags into kits, distributing sand, placing the city's candles and cleaning up after the event, Smith said.
Two girls have used the luminarias to earn their LDS Church Laurel medallion projects. They sat on the committee, made phone calls and posters and helped distribute sand, Smith said.
The line of luminarias will start at the Alpine sign on the Alpine Highway and extend 1.1 miles to the City Hall and City Park. Both locations will be completely surrounded by candles, Smith said.
Alpine purchased 1,735 candles to light city property, which includes City Hall, the park and the cemetery, said Robert Smith, the city councilman who pushed the city's participation in the event.
Smith said that while some opposing residents have thought the luminarias to be a pagan tradition, the overall reaction has been supportive.
Larsen hopes the candles provide a needed respite and spiritual environment to counteract the hustle and bustle of the Christmas season.
Robert Smith said the luminarias have brought families together on Christmas Eve and provided an activity for them.
"It'll probably keep getting bigger and bigger," Mulliner said.
Although most residents preordered, kits are available at Day's Market and the Peppermint Place. Kits are $7.