Ellis Lake ‘crusade' raises $1,000 to keep some lights on

It's enough to turn on 20 of the 56 lights around Ellis Lake, and Chris Pedigo thinks that's a mighty fine start.

Pedigo, who manages the shoe department at J.C. Penney in the Yuba Sutter Mall, decided to become a community booster when he moved across the river into Marysville a couple of years ago.

The shock of seeing Ellis Lake go lightless — a casualty of the city's financial woes — got him flooding friends' email boxes and knocking on doors for dollars.

"I love this little city," he said. "There is no more magical place than Ellis Lake lit up at night."

On Tuesday, Pedigo, 39, presented city officials with just over $1,000 he raised to have some of the lights turned back on.

"My dream," he told the City Council on Tuesday, "is to raise enough money to turn back on all the lights."

City officials began a year ago to turn off roughly half the streetlights in Marysville as a cost-saving measure. A local Rotary Club chapter pitched in to subsidize the maintenance of lights at Ellis Lake and four local schools since then.

But about a month ago, the club's donation ran out, and the lights were extinguished. Rotary's board has not met since then to decide whether to continue funding for lights.

Pedigo, Councilman Dale Whitmore and the friends and family members of Charles Ford of Yuba City all were active during the spring and summer in cleaning up Ellis Lake and its surroundings.

"Ford and his family were out there every day this summer," Pedigo said.

He refers to Ellis Lake as Marysville's crown jewel and has called his effort to relight it "a little crusade."

Pedigo plans to hold a fundraiser some time in the coming weeks so the remaining lights can be turned back on.

"A dance at the gazebo island would be great, But the rainy season will be here fast," he said.

CONTACT reporter Nancy Pasternack at 749-4781.