First – a huge thank you to all our Burnt Store Isles residents who have so beautifully lighted up the neighborhood this year.  It is a delight to drive the streets and admire the lovely, decorated homes and canal fronts.   However, this did not make for an easy task for the Christmas elves, who drove the streets this past week judging winners.    Nonetheless, judges, Kathy Kruth, Brenda Townsend, Sandy Armstrong and Theresa Murtha finally did reach a consensus on the official winners.

The Official Winners are:

*Best All-Around: 818 Monaco Drive, Art & Carol Hiatt – gorgeous front yard lights, Santa Claus, beautiful canal decorations and view of interior Christmas trees. Click HERE for picture. 

*Most-Creative: 3955 San Pietro Court, The Rolands colorfully lighted canary-island palm and brightly lighted house display including two magnificent angels can be seen from blocks away.  Click HERE for picture. 

Best Front Yard: 3519 Tripoli Blvd., Albert and Anne Teichmiller have outdone themselves this year with Santa’s decorated car in the driveway, a gorgeous decorated doorway and mailbox and more.  Click HERE for picture. 

Best Canal Front: 3932 Madrid Court, Jim and Judy DuMez, with an elegant display of white lights, which can be best viewed from the vacant lot at the cul-de-sac on Marseilles Court.   

Best Grouping: 506, 512, and 518 Monaco with their green and white-lighted palm trees. Click HERE for picture. 

Best Condo:  3530 Mondavi Court, entire building, very elegantly lighted condominium display in front, and on the waterfront, an awesome light display that can be seen from 41.  Click HERE for picture. 

Best Cul-de-Sac:  End of Macedonia

Other Winning Mentions

Best Canal Views: Monaco Canal, along Monaco and onto Madrid, around to St. Girons, and the end of Pt. Bendres.  View from corners of Madrid and Monaco and Madrid and St. Girons.  Also, the Antalya Canal.   Also liked Noel sign with tilting “L” on the canal front of 3706 Candia, which can be seen from the cul-de-sac on Brindisi Ct.

Most Innovative: the Light and Motion Display at 635 Madrid, Bob and Donna Spaulding’s musical light show.  

Most Colorful: 3903 San Rocco, the corner of San Rocco and Madrid. 

Best Driveway:  523 St. Girons Court,  Carroll & Grace DeWeese, for the charming toy soldiers lining their drive. 

Best Tall Display: 3432 Tripoli Blvd., Ed & Dot Minzer’s wonderfully white-lighted sailboat, best seen in its fully glory from the vacant lots at the cul-de-sac of Kassandra Dr.

Most Beautiful and Fun: 340 Segovia Dr., Ed and Sue Sleight.. just wow… Click HERE for picture. 

Most Elegant: 842 Monaco Drive, Anne Scheiermann.   There were many elegantly lighted houses this year too numerous to mention….here’s a few of them:

3248 Tripoli Blvd., George & Sandra Catandella
3806 St. Girons Dr., Bill & Frances Kirkley
3700 Candia Dr., Helen Marcinkowski

Best of Animal Planet and More:  3426 Tripoli, Nolan & Lavonne Wehmueller with a great collection of fauna and a fabulous light display

Other Impressive Street Locations Noted: (mea culpa if I missed any):

Kassandra Drive – especially 3612, 3620 and 3630
South Crete Drive – especially 3611 and corner of La Sila 435
Madrid (Golf-Course side) especially 349
Segovia from the corner of Monaco up the street
Candia Drive cul-de-sac

*Winners of a free one-year membership in the Burnt Store Association