The community tree that is lit every year for Christmas had the lower portion of the lights cut off.

Now, both the school and the parent teacher association are unsure how the Dec. 1 tree lighting celebration will go on.

"We've had vandalism in the past, but nothing like this," said Willow Glen Elementary Principal Dayle D'Anna, referring to an incident last Halloween. A giant pumpkin grown in the school's garden was found smashed across the playground. "It's very disappointing."

At first, it was thought that the gardeners had cut the Christmas lights, which hang from the tree year-round.

"But every connection that runs power to each strand is cut," Mario Meduri, general manager of Meduri Farms, said.

He has been working with the school for four years, selling Christmas trees in the back lot and helping with the tree lighting.

"Somebody just came and started cutting away at the wires that were reachable," Meduri said. "It took time to do what this person did."

The wires can be fixed but will be difficult and time consuming, he said.

"It's going to take an electrician to do the job," he added. "Connecting wires to a plug and finding the right ones, it just might be cheaper to run new lights."

The school put up the new lights last year and does not have the funds to pay for their replacement, said Alexandra Hoppe, president of the Willow Glen Elementary Parent Teacher Association.

"We went out a few days ago to light it in preparation of the tree lighting ceremony on Dec. 1 and found out it was vandalized," Hoppe said. "There were pieces on the ground around the tree and on the sidewalk. It was really hacked up."

When the Willow Glen Resident contacted Kiwanis Club President Michael Rubino about the incident, he was shocked and disappointed.

"To cut Christmas lights, where are these people's brains? Where are their hearts?" Rubino said.

He plans to bring club members to the tree to assess the situation and try to salvage what they can.

"It's frustrating when something like this happens, especially in such a quiet neighborhood like Willow Glen," he said. "These people took advantage of this fun event and tried to ruin it for the little kids."

The tree lighting ceremony has been a longtime Willow Glen tradition. The Kiwanis Club of Willow Glen has been a sponsor of the event for the past five years and has donated the food and beverages for the evening event. The elementary school PTA has also helped fund and maintain the event for the last few years as well.

When vandalism hits the school it feels like a personal attack on everyone who is part of the Willow Glen Elementary School community, D'Anna said

"Why would they do this to us?" she added. "The tree is bigger than us. It represents all of us in Willow Glen."

For more information on how to help restore the lights, contact Alexandra Hoppe at 408.219.5717 or email her at alexandra_hoppe@yahoo.com.