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Photo: What goes up …

Published 1:30 am Wednesday, January 14, 2026

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Sequim Gazette photos by Monica Berkseth
With her years of experience piloting a hot air balloon for her nonprofit organization, Captain Crystal Stout, who has no fear of heights, has been the perfect volunteer to remove Christmas decorations from high atop trees in Sequim.
Volunteers organized by Emily Westcott spent about two hours on Saturday, Jan. 10 taking down Christmas decorations at several locations in Sequim.

The holiday season is officially over in Sequim, although volunteers organized by longtime civic icon Emily Westcott won’t finish taking everything down until this weekend.

A group of what Westcott said was “10 or 12” volunteers worked for two hours on Saturday, Jan. 10. The group included Captain Crystal Stout, whose prowess with hot air balloons have made her a natural when it comes to removing lights and decorations from atop tall trees with the help of a cherry picker.

“She’s kind of the brawn, and I’m the brains,” Westcott remarked dryly.

Westcott has organized efforts to decorate Sequim for the holidays for the past quarter century. The city’s Public Works department also plays a role.