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Lights and Hearts Aglow this Holiday Season — Illumination in the Neighborhood

Tangle Brush Drive, Cape Chestnut Drive and Amara Court light up The Woodlands’ winter skies with wonderful holiday decorations in their front yards that bring smiles to people of all ages.

Each year during the weekend following Thanksgiving, homeowners Miki, Homer and Chris Holmes with help from their neighbors, MJ and Kevin Currey, Bobby and Gabby Nilland and Devon and Holly Todd of the Creek Pines subdivision, in the Village of Panther Creek, coordinate their beloved annual illumination spectacle for hundreds of area residents to enjoy.

Behind what is affectionately known as “The Tangle Brush Lights” is a tribute to Creek Pines’ departed neighbor, Cort Martin, who passed away in 2000 in a car accident while a senior at The Woodlands High School. That year, as the holidays approached, Cort’s grieving family was comforted by neighbors who decided to expand their holiday decorations as a tribute to Cort who loved Christmas lights.

Although the Martin family has since moved away, the spirit of what it means to be neighbors and bring joy to others still glows brighter than all the Creek Pines subdivision light power combined.

So, this year, as you roll down your car windows to experience the fun Christmas spirit on display in Creek Pines, give a friendly wave to the homeowners (often seen in their driveways gathered around firepits) as they send up their yearly merry and bright salutation to their old friend Cort Martin.

To celebrate this 18-year run of community heart and spirit, award winning local photographer Joan Tilton shares a fresh lens on the Creek Pines Holiday Lights.

“The Cort Martin Memorial Scholarship” at The Montgomery County Community Foundation helps fund college scholarships for area teens and gladly accepts donations at https://www.mccfoundation.org/(attention Julie Martineau).