With Thanksgiving now a memory, volunteers are gearing up behind the scenes to present the Marco Island Christmas House and Business Decorating Contest, now in its 15th year.
Preliminary Judging will be done on Monday and Tuesday, Dec. 12 and 13, from 6-10 p.m. each night.
Final Judging is scheduled for Friday, Dec. 16, from 6-10 p.m. Top contenders' addresses will be supplied to the news media so families and visitors may enjoy the beauty and originality of the decorated homes, organizers said.
The top-10 decorated homes are judged by the committee riding on the Marco Island Trolley, a sponsor since the event started. Each of the top 10 receives a plaque. The overall winner receives a cash award of $250, a yard sign plus a larger plaque.
Previous winners display their yard sign annually and continue to decorate in the spirit of the season. But they are not eligible to win again for five years.
The contest began in 1997, when Dave Rice, then the overall Christmas Island Style chairman, asked LCEC to support a new Marco event. Since then, LCEC has annually supported the independent program, Rice said.
Recently LCEC representative Tricia Dorn presented Rice with this year's check for $2,000. Rice serves as decorating contest committee chairman.
"It is our pleasure to continue financial support of this wonderful annual event," said Dorn. "The 1,670 private homes and some 125 businesses that decorated in 2010 are customers of LCEC and we feel that we are not just a sponsoring business, but a real partner in the success of the contest."
The Island is divided into nine areas, with a judging team evaluating every home on every Marco street. The judging teams rotate to a different zone each season.
Committee members include Dottie Weiner, Jeanne Rice, Bob Boland, Donna and Jim Rohrbach, Debbie and Marty Roddy, Paula and Richard Robinson, Judy and Larry Sacher, Dr. Jerry Swiacki, Linda Turner, Diane and Ken Honecker, Susan and Ken Kubat, Nancy and Joe Carrington, Carla and Mike Mickes, Ann and Dick Niess and Liz and Bill Doyle.
"The committee makeup is superb," said Rice. "Since all are long-standing members, their experience and passion to serve, makes the event what it is."
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