Hkg4108886 Summer just ended, but it’s already beginning to look a lot like Christmas in Bellflower. Not in the commercialized way—there aren’t enough stores still open along downtown Bellflower Blvd. to commercialize Christmas … or unfortunately, any other time of year.

No, the way in which Bellflower is beginning to look a lot like Christmas is spiritual—as in, The Gift of the Magi or God Bless Us Everyone or How Really Bob-Hope-Special It’s Been These Past Eight Years Since That Jerk Died.

What this story is finally getting to is that Bellflower was facing a Christmas with no downtown decorations and a traditional tree-lighting ceremony that really couldn’t be justified—until two City Council members suddenly stepped forward and volunteered to split the $5,500 cost.

That’s right, Mayor Pro Tem Dan Koops and Councilman Ray Dunton will be paying for the Dec. 2 lighting of the Christmas tree in Friendship Square out of their own pockets.

How’s that for a couple of real Santas? Hmmm. Well, when viewed from certain angles, yeah, it can be said that Koops and Dunton do bear some physical resemblance to St. Nick. Ultimately, it comes down to whether you can accept your Santa with a crew cut—or under a toupee.