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CHRISTMAS DECORATING CONTEST LIGHTS UP MANCHESTER FOR THE HOLIDAYS
By Bill McLaughlin
 | | Mayor Michael Fressola honored the winners of this year’s Christmas decorating contest at town hall earlier this week. |
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If Mayor Michael Fressola had his way, there would be a tie for first place among the dozens of entrants in the seventh annual Manchester Christmas home decoration contest.
That’s why the mayor delegates judging the contest to township director of recreation Geri Teutsch, who announced the winners Monday along with the mayor.
Mary Ford, of 81 Cherry Street in Whiting, finished in first place this year, after placing third a year ago. Ford said her son, David, better known as “Crocky,” did all the work in stringing lights on the roof and other high places.
“We worked on this for about three weeks, on and off,” Ford said after the ceremony on the front steps of town hall. “I have no idea how many lights we used. A considerable number, let’s say.”
Entries by Rob Becker, 2389 Holly Hill Road, Holly Oaks, and Theresa Hughes, 1901 Route 539, Whiting, tied for second. The family of Gregory Kmak, 721 12th Avenue, Pine Lake Park, won the third place prize.
Fressola said he wanted to thank everyone who decorated their homes this season because it brightens the holidays for each and every resident.
“It’s a source of pride for our town,” he said. “A lot of hard work is involved.”
“It really is hard to pick one out of so many great ideas,” Teutsch said in making the announcements. “I specifically write down addresses and not names when I’m going out to look at entries. I don’t want to know who’s who.”
Teutsch said her choices are based on established criteria, including creativity and originality, specific themes, quality of the workmanship, visual effect and the impact on the audience.
“Manchester is one of the prettiest towns decorated (for the season) because of the contest,” Teutsch said. “Mary’s entry had such a beautiful mix of colors. It drew a great response from the people in the 10 cars waiting before me.”
Ford finished third last year and said it was no sure thing she would actively defend her title next year.
“I don’t know if I’ll enter. Let’s give someone else a chance,” she told Fressola. “There are so many beautiful homes all decorated for the holidays, people should get out and see them.”
Ford said while she may not enter the contest, her home will be lit up for the season. She used a gingerbread theme in a kaleidoscopic array of colors using about 11,000 lights – nearly 9,000 on the roof alone.
“I get a kick out of doing it,” she said. “I don’t have children living with me anymore, but it wouldn’t feel right without decorations.”
Ford said she lives in the house where she was born and returned a few years ago after raising a family in Virginia.
“When my husband, Norman,
passed seven years ago, I decided
to keep up the tradition,” she said. “I don’t have little children I’m getting (presents) for, so I want to put up the lights to show my spirit.”
Ford said she sometimes forgets to turn on her display at sundown, but she gets gentle reminders from neighbors or people just passing through.
“Sometimes, people will knock
on the door and ask if I’d turn on
the lights,” she says with a smile. “I’m happy to. I’m glad somebody else likes the looks as much as I do.”
Ford won a cash prize of $100, the Beckers and Hugheses both won $75 and the Kmaks $50.
Teutsch told the winners how difficult the choices were, that she made sure to get a different perspective of every contestant’s home.
“I really wanted to look at the displays in more than one way,” she said. “I like to get a view from the side or back to see another view of the artistry. That’s what makes the choices so hard to make. So much effort is put into it. The creativity is breathtaking.”
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