Secaucus residents take the holidays seriously. They’ve gotten into full swing this year by trying to out-decorate one another in order to win the mayor and Town Council’s second annual special holiday lights exterior illumination contest.
The contest will be judged by PBA local 48 and the Secaucus Kiwanis Club. The town will give awards to winners in these categories: “Martha Stewart,” “Clark Griswold” (the main character in “National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation” who drowns his house in lights), and “Best Block.” The town will also recognize the best decorated floors at the senior buildings.
An annual tradition
Caroline Tomasso, 83, has lived in the Impreveduto Towers for 13 years. She said it took her a couple of weeks to decorate the hallway and the common area. She filled the first-floor hallway with lights from beginning to end, put up a Christmas tree, and adorned the space with holiday decorations.
“We try to [decorate] every year,” said Tomasso.
“It is just my thing,” said Marie Trobiano, 77, a resident of the Elms Senior Building. Trobiano said she decorates the common area for every holiday.
Elves, toy soldiers, and snowmen
Take a drive through town and you’ll notice homes bathed in white, green, and red lights, lawns filled with elves and toy soldiers and inflatable snowmen, and Santas. Residents have taken creativity to another level.
On Pandalfi Avenue is a spinning Ferris wheel with light and music. Further down the block, an automated Tigger pulls Winnie the Pooh out of a jar of honey after he falls in.
Toy soldiers line up on a lawn on Stonewall Lane next door to a house with a giant candycane entrance and an inflatable snowman.
Count the many Santas
Santa can be seen throughout town in various shapes and sizes, from miniature to 8 feet tall on a swing or on a sled. On First Street, Santa landed on the front terrace in a giant hot air balloon.
Take a walk or drive in a winter wonderland of lights and get a good dose of the holiday cheer.
The contest runs from Dec. 10 to 22.
For more information, contact Town Hall: (201) 330-2000.
Adriana Rambay Fernández may be reached at afernandez@hudsonreporter.com.