Dazzling Christmas lights have been shining at the Children’s Museum at James Monroe Elementary School, adding to the city’s traditional holiday glitter.
Just as they have for the past 15 years, museum founder, retired teacher Ed Gwartney, and his co-director, 6th grade teacher Sandra Carter, organized another lighting ceremony, which officially launched the school museum’s holiday season.
They were joined last week for the lighting countdown by 400 guests, including Madera City Councilman Brett Frazier, Madera Unified board president Ricardo Arredondo, MUSD trustee Robert Garibay, and Chief Academic Officer Robert Chavez.
Principal Tom Chagoya welcomed the crowd, after which Gwartney introduced Santa and put him in the traditional chair of honor...