Glenville residents are very much in a holiday spirit: Even if they don’t have Christmas decorations of their own, they get plenty from their neighbors.

Since a tornado ravaged the town two years ago, the Glenville Women of Today have undertaken a project to beautify their town.

Their effort is not a lone one, though. The community is taking part in each project they engage.

&uot;We decided this year that we should do something at Christmas time,&uot; said Charlotte Johnson, who has helped coordinate the beautification process.

The Women of Today, along with the Glenville Boosters, have raised money and decorated their town, with lights on trees in the city, a nativity scene on Main Street and light angels in the park.

The spirit of that project has spread throughout the town.

Johnson said the town had had a Christmas decorations contest in years past, but that the spirit has grown so much that there need be no incentive for decorating.

Nativity sets, light-up elves, Santas, reindeer and snowmen dot the yards of each street. It seems one can’t drive a block without seeing the illuminated red-suited gift giver or a tree wrapped up with colorful strings of lights.

With each row of houses you can see that some neighbors compete; some are unique; some are traditional; almost all are festive.

The most elaborate yard is just northwest of Glenville. Jim and Mary Nelson live on a large lot off of Highway 65. They make great use of it when Christmas comes.

From 65 at night, one can see a giant angel outlined in lights on top of a barn. Twelve feet in height, it’s hard to miss.

A closer look at the Nelson’s yard and a visitor is amazed by the lights, figures and designs fashioned for Christmas.

A carousel with faces of Disney characters rotates with lights on it; a minuature town with a church, school house and general store are all lit up; and the trees, branches and anything else that can be wrapped are equipped with lights.

&uot;It takes me about two weeks to get it all set up,&uot; Nelson said. &uot;We can’t see these lights from the house so well, so this is my project for the community.&uot;

Nelson shares the sentiment of many Glenville residents for building a town holiday spirit. He just takes it to an extreme.

&uot;It gives me something to do,&uot; he said. &uot;It’s kind of fun, but I think I started something I’ll have to die to quit.&uot;

Johnson expects most of the lights in town to be up through early January.