Gilroy residents show off holiday spirit as winners revealed in
Chamber’s Home Decorating Contest
Gilroy – It was the Grinch who stole first prize in the Chamber of Commerce’s Home Decorating Contest, beating out holiday staples Old Saint Nick and the characters of the 12 Days of Christmas for top honors.
There were no blinking lights, no Christmas carols playing in the background. There were no mechanical displays, no trace of Santa Claus – yet the six judges were united in their decision – the house on Falcon Court was best.
“I think that’s the best one I’ve ever seen – that Dr. Seuss house,” said judge Sylvia Myrvold during the deliberation period Wednesday night. “It was tastefully done, not gaudy at all.”
Nineteen houses competed for the title, the most entered since 2001.
Some residents were still making last minute touches to their displays when the judges arrived.
“Come back later,” said Richard Jarosz, as he carried a 6-foot cardboard Coke bottle out to place beside the polar bears congregating on his front lawn.
As the caravan of cars made the rounds through the streets of Gilroy, children waited in the windows for the judges to come in their borrowed Lincoln Navigator sleigh. They stood peering out behind curtains as the group of six jotted down notes and meandered through the displays.
The judges consisted of six women representing the Theater Angels Art League, Out & About Magazine and community members at large. Each had their own opinion of what to look for in the mass of snowmen, elves, polar bears, and penguins decorating the yards.
The home at 6595 Monterey St., left some judges speechless, with its array of red and white lights.
“I’m not going to get out (of the car). I don’t have to – this is great,” said judge Libby Lai from her windowseat. Santa and Mrs. Claus greet passersby from the doorstep and the lights are placed with careful precision.
“This is so beautiful for people coming into our city to see this,” said a smiling judge Barbara Drewitz. “Less is more.”
That is unless you are Larry Pierotti and his band of three neighbors off Orchard Drive who entered into the neighborhood division of the contest.
“My electric bill is $550 to $600 this month,” he said, standing in front of his home, lights ablaze with a plastic Elvis singing Christmas carols from the garage. The glare from the lights in the neighborhood renders street lights unnecessary.
“We do it for the fun, not the money,” Pierotti said.
It’s a good thing, because winning first prize won’t cover the additional $300 he’s spending on electricity. First prize in the competition wins $75, second place collects $50 and third place takes in $25.
On weekends, traffic is usually backed up the block, Pierotti said.
“It’s a lot to look at all in one spot,” he said. “Weather permitting we usually hand out candy canes. One year I think we handed out 1,700 in one month.”
But not even candy canes could sway the judges into giving away third place to none other than Mike Osler’s 12 Days of Christmas display at 731 Lexington Place.
His light display timed within a hundredth of a second with music, and 130 homemade wooden figures drew applause from the judges.
They laughed at the puns on the four calling birds – handpainted wooden birds on the telephone, and six geese a’laying – asleep on the front lawn.
Children hung out of pick up truck windows staring in awe at the house as Osler watched from his driveway.
And Osler isn’t the only one who enjoys watching people’s reactions to his Christmas display.
“Merry Christmas,” boomed Ruben Trujillo from inside his Santa suit at his home on La Sierra Way. “Been good?”
The smell of fresh, buttery popcorn filled the air. Mrs. Claus, otherwise known as Marta Trujillo handed out the treats to the judges as they walked through a mechanical wonderland.
A group of elves played music in a rock band, others fished out of a small pond, while still others rode a Ferris wheel.
“My husband just enjoys it,” she said. “He likes the kids coming over.”
It appeared the Trujillo’s had sealed the deal again, defending their first place title as the judges climbed into their cars.
“Isn’t that impressive?” Myrvold said. “Now that’s going to be hard to beat.”
But somehow it happened. It was the last house on the list and the judges were weary from three hours of traveling.
Maybe it was the handmade sleigh parked outside the Wanslow house at 1455 Falcon Court. Maybe it was the Grinch himself, crawling out of the chimney that did it. Or perhaps it was the hand sewn stockings and ornaments decorating a very Whoville-type fireplace and tree.
“Oh, there’s quite a bit to that,” judge Libby Lai murmured.
Even the neighbors got into the spirit – decorating their windows with sleeping Who’s.
“We spent a while on it, but it was a lot of fun,” explained 11-year-old Kyle Wanslow as he talked to the judges. “My mom (Linda) did most of it.”
The Wanslow house eeked out first place by one point, over the Trujillo’s with a perfect score of 60.
“That was my favorite one,” said judge Arline Silva afterwards. “That one keeps running through my head.”
