Rancho Monserate rings in holidays with golf cart parade

FALLBROOK — On Saturday, December 6, residents of Rancho Monserate Country Club retirement community donned their Christmas costumes, decorated their golf carts and paraded through the streets of their lovely little community with music permeating the air from portable DVD players.

The parade actually began in 1974 as a summer event, as Grace Russell and Lonnie Thomas, two of the original participants, recall. The Christmas theme began in 1986.

This year’s chairperson, Brenda Vatnsdal, replaced Sherry Render, Jeanne Humphrey and Lonnie Thomas, who had been the devoted chairpersons for 11 years...