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There’s something about a fresh Christmas tree that warms the heart.
That was apparent by the big smile on the face of Larry Steketee, who made a last-minute purchase of a 10-foot-tall Christmas tree on Wednesday at Big Wave Dave’s tree lot.
It almost never happened. Steketee quickly walked the barren aisles of the Christmas tree stand, set up in the parking lot at La Cumbre Plaza, and then shuffled back to his car.
Dave Lidrem, showing the signs of a veteran tree seller of more than 40 years, raced from the stand to shout at Steketee, who was driving away in his car:
“Anything I can help you with?”
“I was looking for a 10-footer,” Steketee replied.
Lidrem told him he had a few of those left. Steketee said they were a bit out of his price range.
“Come back,” Lidrem shouted. “We can work something out.”
A few minutes later, Steketee was driving away with a 10-foot tall tree strapped to the top of his Nissan Versa.
The tree wasn’t even for him. It was for Friendship Manor, the retirement home in Isla Vista with 200 residents.
Steketee does night security at that home, and occasionally dresses up as Santa Claus.
He decided to buy the $120 tree as a last-minute gift for the residents.
“I decorate the place,” Steketee said. “I have it with lights all over the place, inside and out, and this was just my way to decorate it up a little bit more, bring a bit more Christmas cheer.”
Despite the COVID-19 pandemic, Christmas tree sales locally were strong, perhaps even enhanced by the current situation.
“People just want to get out,” Lidrem said. “They want to get going on life. Our Christmas tree sales were off the chart.”
Lidrem sold thousands of Christmas Trees at his stands in Santa Barbara, Ventura, Camarillo and Moorpark. Sales were up everywhere.
Lidrem said he got a special surprise this year when Prince Harry and Meghan Markle showed up at his stand to buy a 10-footer.
The highlight, Lidrem said, was when a boy asked Prince Harry if he worked at the stand. Harry, Lidrem said, took it in stride and was a good spirit about it.
“They didn’t want to come before or after hours,” Lidrem said. “They wanted to come when everyone else was here. They enjoyed themselves. They were probably here for a good 30 minutes or so. They picked out a nice tree and off they went. I gave them a couple of Big Wave Dave hats.”
Over at the iconic Anthony’s Christmas Tree at Earl Warren Showgrounds, sales also boomed.
“The season was extremely good,” said owner Ed Miller. “We had record setting days, weekends, everything. It was a good year for Christmas tree sales.”
Miller said he knew this year was different from the beginning.
“The day after Thanksgiving the sales were double, right out of the gate,” Miller said.
He said his sales were nearly 30 percent higher than the year before. Many customers told him it was the first time they bought a Christmas tree.
“People just wanted to celebrate, regardless of whatever was going on,” Miller said.
Malesky Opens Investment Firm
Santa Barbara resident Kimberly S. Malesky has opened a new financial planning and investment firm, Harmony Investment Management.
Malesky brings over a dozen years of experience overseeing the delivery and implementation of financial plans for high-net-worth clients, and has an extensive background working with academic professionals, engineers, widows and divorcees, according to a news release.
“I spend time getting to know my clients so that I can produce a well-thought-out, customized plan and investment strategy to support their goals,” Malesky said. “It’s a privilege to have the opportunity to guide my clients on their financial journey.”
Malesky graduated with a business degree in financial services and human resource management, holds a master’s in business administration, and is a certified financial planner. She has volunteered with dozens of local nonprofits, including CASA of Santa Barbara, according to a news release.
The firm serves clients along the Central Coast, from Santa Maria to Agoura Hills.
Michael Jackson’s Former Ranch Sells
Michael Jackson’s Neverland Ranch has a new owner.
Billionaire Ron Burkle purchased the infamous Neverland Ranch Los Olivos property for $22 million — down from the $100 million it was listed for in 2015.
Mansion Global reported that sale of the 2,700-acre property, which includes about 22 structures, including a 12,000-square-foot Normandy-style mansion.
The property also contains several guesthouses, a swimming pool with a cabana, a basketball court, a tennis court, and a 50-seat movie theater, The Wall Street Journal reported when the property came on the market.
Mansion Global also reported that the park’s several rides have been removed and the property was recast as “Sycamore Valley Ranch.”
— Noozhawk staff writer Joshua Molina can be reached at jmolina@noozhawk.com. Follow Noozhawk on Twitter: @noozhawk, @NoozhawkNews and @NoozhawkBiz. Connect with Noozhawk on Facebook.
