OCEANSIDE — Oceanside resident Georgeo Kerpani hopes to collect enough money to light up the Oceanside Pier with 5-and-a-half-foot stars and snowflakes during the holidays.
Kerpani is hitting community events, Kiwanis Clubs and Rotary Clubs to help raise $14,000. “The pier is an attractive asset the city is recognized by,” Kerpani said. “We need to take pride in Oceanside.”
If the target amount of $14,000 is collected there will be sufficient funds to light the pier and Pacific Street Bridge, said Kathy Hamman, office manger of MainStreet Oceanside.
If $14,000 is not reached in the first year, the hope is to raise enough funds to illuminate the pier with six holiday shaped lights. Each light coasts about $600 to purchase. The energy efficient LED bulbs in the holiday lights keep electric bills at about $2.88 per light per night Kerpani said.
North County residents have been generous with donations. Carlton and Sandy Lund of Carlsbad donated $1,000 toward the holiday lights. “My parents passed away and I wanted to donate enough to light two stars to remember them,” Carlton Lund said. “It’s something other people might do. There are a lot of generous people in North County.”
Lund is a longtime resident of North County and has always enjoyed walks on the pier. “The pier is a North County treasure,” he said. “So many people enjoy it. It’s the poor man’s cruise ship.”
Lund said decorating the pier with lights is a great way to celebrate the holidays. “It’s great to feel joyful and have a little bit of spirit during the holiday season.”
Lights will need to be ordered in late October, but Kerpani will continue to collect funds through the holidays in order to expand decorations next year.
Donations are tax deductible and can be made to Oceanside MainStreet Foundation.
For more information on the holiday light fundraiser, contact MainStreet Oceanside at (760) 754-4512, or Georgeo Kerpani at (760) 721-1010.
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