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Estancia students rebuild Costa Mesa’s Snoopy House holiday display ahead of city hall lighting
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Summary
Estancia High School BIDTA students partnered with the city of Costa Mesa to restore five to six holiday display structures, including a challenging Santa sleigh. Teacher Ed Jasperson guided the project; students presented the refreshed pieces at the Costa Mesa City Hall lighting.
Unidentified Speaker 1 said, “We’re going to make it happen,” kicking off a student‑led effort to restore damaged pieces of Costa Mesa’s long‑running Snoopy House holiday display.
Estancia teacher Ed Jasperson agreed to lead the project and recruited seniors from the school’s BIDTA program (Building Industry Technology Academy) to rebuild five or six structures the city identified as in disrepair. Students sketched designs, received city‑provided materials and moved into the shop to measure, cut and assemble the new pieces.
The project combined practical skills training with a community service goal. "For the city of Costa Mesa," an instructor told the class as students reviewed photographs and drew plans. Students worked on Snoopy’s doghouse, stacked presents and other decorative houses; several students described deep pride in the work and the chance to display their craftsmanship to the community.
Roslyn Ruiz, an Estancia senior, said she wanted to work on the Santa sleigh from the first day. A selection process among students led to some disappointment when groups vied for the sleigh, but organizers resolved the dispute by drawing names. Building the sleigh presented structural challenges: students and their teacher described shaping the curved front with thin plywood, adding angled supports and fastening pieces so the structure could stand and hold its finish.
A narrator and students praised the collaborative outcome. A retired carpenter‑teacher serving as a mentor said watching students "come alive" while building was rewarding; students thanked him and the program for the opportunity. The team expressed interest in continuing the work next year to refresh remaining display elements.
The restored pieces were shown to the community at the lighting of Costa Mesa City Hall, where the mayor invited residents to the celebration and students beamed at the results. The project highlights a local partnership between municipal staff and a high school vocational program that combined hands‑on learning with civic service.
