The palm tree adorns the dock. (Photo courtesy of the Ciseck/Glancey families)
By MADDY VITALE
Sea Isle City doesn't disappoint when it comes to holiday spirit, at least judging by the displays by home and business owners who engaged in a bit of friendly competition in the 2020 Holiday Lighting Contest.
The city's Division of Recreation hosts the contest each year, which is judged by members of the Sea Isle City Garden Club.
And this year the team of judges had 20 properties to view before determining who took the top prizes.
“It was very challenging to choose the winners this year because the property owners did an amazing job – we were very impressed,” Garden Club Chairwoman Marie Tighe said in a city news release.
The judges went out on Wednesday, Dec. 10 to view the dazzling lights. Their focus was clear. They had three main categories: Creativity (the amount of originality displayed in the theme); Aesthetic Effect (the beauty of the display); and Endeavor (the amount of energy that went into the production).
“The efforts of the participants made our little town much prettier,” Tighe noted. “We had a lot of fun judging the properties.”
George and Donna Miller, owners of a home at 230 56th Street, took first place. Their home was festively decorated with gingerbread, candy canes, and red and white lights. Even their 20-foot boat was decked out in lights.
Braca Café/Henri’s Bar at 18 JFK Boulevard won second place honors.
The Millers are no strangers to the contest. They won it in 2018.
The longtime Sea Isle residents said they love doing the contest and were so excited to learn that they won first place.
“Since we didn’t do the lights last year we said, 'Oh, let’s do the lights this year,'" Donna Miller said in an interview Tuesday. "So we made it all gingerbread and candy canes and white and red lights."
And, of course, she said with a laugh, her husband insisted they decorate their boat.
“That is his pride and joy, so we had to decorate that,” she said.
This year, like other years in the past, the Millers find joy out of being in the contest.
“We are both retired and we like to decorate,” Donna said. “We were just hanging around the house and making decorations and thought it would be nice.”
But just because they have won twice in recent years doesn’t mean they are going to rest on their laurels.
“I guess we will have to step up our game next year,” Donna said.
And like the parades, contests and other activities in town that have lived on for so long, the Holiday Lighting Contest is one more reason the Millers chose Sea Isle to call home, Donna emphasized.
“We have been in Sea Isle almost all of our lives. We always had a house here," Donna reflected. "I love it and I love every part of it. There is nothing in Sea Isle that disappoints me.”
Second place went to Braca Café/Henri’s Bar, at 18 JFK Boulevard, which was trimmed with thousands of lights, inflatables characters and a variety of other eye-catching decorations.
Lights in the shape of a huge Christmas tree and a well-decorated dock helped the Ciseck-Glancey home at 3800 Sounds Ave. win third place.
And not to be outdone, third place went to the Ciseck/Glancey home at 3800 Sounds Ave.
Ian and Lauren Ciseck and Chris and Amy Glancey decided to decorate their new duplex.
“We are not even finished unpacking,” Ian Ciseck joked.
But yet, the two families, the Cisecks with three kids and the Glanceys with two, decided to participate in the contest.
“It was a rush job,” Ciseck said of putting up the decorations over Thanksgiving weekend. “We are looking forward to next year’s contest. All the kids enjoyed it.”
Lights were strung in the shape of a three-story Christmas tree on the home’s bayside decks and colorful lights stretched the full distance of the property’s dock, accented by an illuminated palm tree overlooking the water.
As is the case each year, prizes were awarded to the top three winners in the competition: First Place was $100 (courtesy of 1st Bank of Sea Isle City); Second Prize was $50 (courtesy of 1st Bank of Sea Isle City); and Third Prize was a floral arrangement (courtesy of Rocky & Fred’s Creative Design Florist).
“We had an impressive turnout of participants this year, said Recreation Program Coordinator Nicole Holt. “People seem to be in the holiday spirit – and all of the participants helped make the season bright for our community.”
“We are very grateful to everyone who participated in this year’s contest, and we are especially thankful to the judges from the Garden Club, 1st Bank of Sea Isle City, and Rocky and Fred’s Creative Design Florist,” added Holt.
To view all of the properties that were entered in Sea Isle City’s 2020 Holiday Lighting Contest, go to www.VISITSICNJ.com and click the “Photo Gallery” link on the home page.
A lighted palm tree adorns the dock at 3800 Sounds Ave. (Photo courtesy of the Ciseck/Glancey families)
