Holiday spirit alive and wall on the island

Holiday spirit alive and wall on the island

There is an old proverb that says, "Better a neighbor nearby than a brother far away."

Last Friday my family experienced an early Christmas blessing when our neighbors opened up their hearts and supported our efforts to host a Christmas party for the special people served by Villa Esperanza.

Living on the island is sometimes akin to being planted in the midst of a construction zone. Parking is severely limited and exasperated by the presence of constant contractor activity.

Thus, when we circulated a letter requesting the construction workers from Hanover Construction, who are in the midst of a major remodel right across the street from our home, not to park in the immediate area to allow the special-needs folks attending our event better accessibility, we weren’t sure how they would react.

Friday morning came and there was not one truck within 50 yards of our house. Some of the workers parked two blocks away just to honor our request and our very special guests.

We also circulated a note to our neighbors with the same request. Not only did they comply, we received notes offering both the fronts of their homes and driveways for our special guests. One neighbor went so far as to offer their home as a staging area for Santa to "refuel" his sleigh while they were gone. In addition, the guards who man island security escorted our special guests to and from our home.

We wish to thank our dear, caring island neighbors and Hanover Construction for their support, sensitivity and welcoming spirit. Most importantly, we thank the incredibly special clients and dedicated staff of Villa Esperanza for blessing our family with their presence. Having them in our community, working diligently to employ mentally-handicapped adults, giving them an opportunity to have hope for a better life, enriches us immensely and is yet another reason to be grateful to live here in this amazing Conejo Valley.

Jim Bruno and family

Westlake Village

Bruno is a city councilman in Westlake Village.