Holiday getaway Lights Contest winners awarded for producing vibrant winter wonderlands

Winners of the Ramona Sentinel’s second yearly Getaway Lights Contest who went all-out to deck their homes with Xmas decorations had been honored with money prizes and some significantly-deserved focus.

Jaime Rico, whose five kids adorned their dwelling at 611 16th St., gained 1st area and a $300 prize.

Relatives customers who labored to established up lights and components ranged from 4-yr-aged Paisley Rico, a Ramona Lutheran Church and School preschooler, to 18-year-old Henry Garcia, a 2020 Ramona High University graduate. In among have been Hanson Elementary University 1st-grader Jesse Rico, 7 Ramona Higher sophomore Julie Garcia, 15 and Ramona Substantial senior Molly Garcia, 17.

“I just can’t acquire any credit for the outdoors, they did all of it,” Jaime Rico mentioned of her little ones. “I’m likely to enable the kids spend the prize income. I’ll split it up in between them and they’ll figure out what to shell out it on.”

The spouse and children has been decorating each Christmas for the earlier 15 many years, but only the past 4 yrs at their 16th Road residence considering the fact that transferring from Poway. Rico explained they normally pull collectively a regular Xmas-themed property working with the exact decorations with a few new increase-ons just about every calendar year. This year’s special addition was a “ginormous” 20-foot inflatable Santa Claus.

“The youngsters wished to do one thing big and different for 2020 since it is been these types of a difficult 12 months,” claimed Rico, who entered the contest for the initial time right after viewing a Fb announcement about it. “People did think we were being crazy simply because Santa is about twice the size of our home, it is truly tall.”

Santa was accompanied by an inflatable reindeer and gingerbread gentleman and the more youthful young children obtained in on the act by environment up 9 plush dogs that mild up.

The eldest, Henry Garcia, climbed to the rooftop to incorporate multicolored lights that were also draped in excess of the bushes. His beloved areas of decorating are encouraging out with the family members, operating alongside one another and earning other people today content, he said.

“It just genuinely pops and you can notify that area is really adorned,” he mentioned. “We like earning individuals satisfied. I really like seeing the smiles.”

As an animal lover who performs in the hay section of Kahoots Feed and Pet shop in Ramona, Henry Garcia stated the loved ones may well decide to donate some of their Holiday getaway Lights Contest winnings to a community animal rescue.

The family expects to retain their Christmas decorations up until Jan. 6. Then in a quick although they’ll start out decorating all more than once more for Valentine’s Working day with hearts and teddy bears.

Second-place winners of the $200 prize ended up Veronica Brewster’s spouse and children, who adorned their home at 24257 Del Amo Street.

Next location winners are, from left, James and Veronica Brewster and Chris Santos.

(Susan McCormick)

Brewster said lighted candy canes spruce up their property and remind them of checking out Candy Cane Lane in Poway. Her spouse, James Brewster, likes “Star Wars” so some of the items have a house theme. She likes “A Charlie Brown Christmas” so other accents consist of Peanuts characters Charlie Brown and Snoopy holding Woodstock.

The holiday scene also consists of an inflatable manger, Santa, snowman, and a indicator that says “Merry Xmas.” A particular addition this year is a modest Santa mailbox where neighbors could ship letters composed to Santa and acquire a reply.

Every single 12 months the Brewsters and their son Chris Santos, 13, an Olive Peirce Middle School eighth-grader, include a very little far more to the screen.

“This calendar year we set up our lights early for the reason that we wanted to unfold a lot more of the Christmas spirit for the reason that of COVID,” reported Veronica Brewster. “Maybe a person year all of our neighbors will get jointly and we’ll have a Candy Cane Lane like they do in Poway.”

The household ideas to preserve their decorations up right up until Jan. 12 if the homeowners association lets them. Up coming year’s decorations will be even superior given that they’ll use their prize income to buy a lot more holiday break decor, she stated.

Third position $100 prize winners Brian and Janet Manna included character into their winter season wonderland at 25362 Kerri Lane. The scene of multiple rivers, bridge and a attractive waterfall is dotted with 20 reindeer and getaway lights galore. Nutcrackers also stand guard at the front columns in close proximity to the entrance walkway and lollipop lights line the relaxation of the path.

Third place winners are Brian and Janet Manna.

(Susan McCormick)

The Mannas have been decorating their household for 26 years, together with the past 16 yrs at their San Diego Place Estates dwelling. The pair also go significant on decorating their property for Halloween with a lot of spooky decorations and a haunted property out front.

“One 12 months following we did the Xmas lights there were presents remaining on the front patio and thank-you cards,” Brian Manna mentioned. “We do it for the neighborhood.”

The to start with, 2nd and 3rd position prizes are sponsored by Karen Domnitz of Century 21 Award. Supplemental contest sponsors are Luann Pollett of 4 Percent Real Estate, Kamps Propane, VCA Adobe Animal Healthcare facility and the Ramona Chamber of Commerce.