Columnist Susan Snyder: His spirit remains illuminated

Saturday, Dec. 9, 2000 | 2:06 a.m.

Susan Snyder's column appears Sundays, Tuesdays and Fridays in Accent. Reach her at snyder@vegas.com or 259-4082.

Mike Dibenedetto is among 1,000 Fiesta workers who are facing layoffs in the wake of a buyout by Station Casinos Inc.

Similar to some of his co-workers, Dibenedetto was there Dec. 1 when North Las Vegas City Council members approved the gaming and liquor licenses that sealed Station's $185 million deal and the fate of many Fiesta workers. They may re-apply for their jobs, but many won't be rehired.

"I heard people's stories, and it got to me," Dibenedetto said. "I thought, 'What can I offer?' I don't have money. I'm not a millionaire casino owner. But I can give them this."

"This" is an outdoor Christmas lights display that makes his family's modest Sunrise Manor home look like a float in a Disney parade. It's his Christmas card to the families of casino workers across the valley who are facing layoffs or furloughs because of closings or slumps.

"We're all neighbors," he said. "It's not just the Fiesta. The Desert Inn, the Regent, the Santa Fe -- all of them have had layoffs. All these people are out of work."

Dibenedetto speaks without rancor. He has interviewed for a job at the "new" Fiesta and hopes to be rehired. He might be one of the lucky ones. He might not.

But he says it's no reason to spoil the holiday for his wife and their two daughters, ages 3 and 8.

"My oldest daughter came to me and said, 'Daddy are we going to have a Christmas?' That broke my heart," he said. "There are always layoffs. That's the nature of the business. But we've got too many people in this town out of work. This valley needs to pull together as a family."

So he hung up last year's decorations and then bought more. He put up those and bought more still.

"We've spent a couple thousand (dollars), not knowing if I have any money to come," he said. "We've been eating spaghetti a lot."

And they haven't seen the power bill.

"I'm afraid of that," he added.

Lights hang from the eaves, wrap around the fence and outline the driveway and front yard.

There are eight Santa Clauses -- actually, nine counting the one in the sleigh on the roof -- and lighted stars dangling from the front yard's lone tree, a lighted angel statue, a glowing "Noel" candle, three lighted reindeer, two illuminated toy soldiers and a lighted nativity scene.

"It blew out my circuit breakers on the side of the house. I had to pull the breakers out and change them from 15-amp to 20," Dibenedetto said.

He made the change on the recommendation of a friend who is an electrician. A good electrician, we hope.

"I've reset the clocks. I've reset the VCR. I've reset the TV. I got zapped," Dibenedetto said. "I'm learning this the hard way, but it's worth it."

Yes, he has insurance.

The Dibenedetto family lives at 2922 Kensington St. Use that little map inside the phone book and go for a drive some night this month.

The display may not be the valley's biggest, brightest or most elaborate.

But you'd be hard-pressed to find one more sincere.

"We need to help each other," Dibenedetto said. "Everybody stick together. When people's spirits are down, you need to lift them up."