OCEAN PINES—It’s not too late for homeowners to combine their landscaping decorating talent with their holiday spirit for the annual “Light Up the Pines” outdoor holiday display contest, but the deadline to register is Friday, Dec. 13 at 5 p.m.
Sixteen homeowners participated in the event last year. The homeowners who register for the competition will be judged in four categories: “Top-Notch All-Around,” “Most Creative,” “Most Lights” and “People’s Choice,” which will be awarded to the home receiving the most votes from residents.
Teresa Travatello, director of Marketing & Public Relations, said ballots for the People’s Choice Award would be sent out to subscribers by e-blast and posted to a link on the Ocean Pines Association’s new Web site on Friday at 5p.m., just after deadline for signing up.
“That will give the judges a week to get out and vote and it will give the voters for people’s choice a chance to vote,” she said. They can also vote by text message to 443-397-0585, by e-mail to info@oceanpines.org, or on the OPA’s Facebook page.
According to the Ocean Pines Association, entering the contest is as easy as submitting a name, address and phone number by e-mail to info@oceanpines.org, by fax to 410-641-5581, by phone to 410-641-7717, or to the Ocean Pines Association in person or mail at 239 Ocean Pkwy., Ocean Pines, MD, 21811.
A basket full of goodies, along with a $50 gift card that can be used at any Ocean Pines amenities or gift shop, await the winner of each category, according to contest organizers. They said the winners will be contacted and announced after the judges have reviewed the houses during the week of Dec. 16.
The 2012 contest winners were Top Notch: Bert Witt at 181 Sandyhook Rd.; Most Lights: Lee and Barb Phillips at 76 Ocean Parkway; Most Creative: Mr. and Mrs. Timothy Long at 3 Watertown; and People’s Choice: John and Nancy Grunewald at 741 Ocean Parkway. 2012 was the first year the People’s Choice category was offered.
Lee Phillips said he and his wife usually win either the second or third prize, and credits their good fortune to the illuminated 25 foot candy cane that takes three people to set up and wrap around a tree in the yard, the light display of Santa and his reindeer displayed on the roof, and a homemade manger scene in the yard.
“We’ve being doing this for a long time,” he said. “It is just a tradition,” he said. The couple has been participating since the contest began in 2000. They usually donate their winnings to a local Easter Egg Hunt for children, he said.
“We just enjoy it,” Phillips said, noting that the interior of the home gets decorated as ornately as the outside, before the pair move on to help decorate the nearby St. John Neumann Church, on Beauchamp Road, as well.
The yard displays attract sightseers every year and Phillips recalled one year when a little girl stopped by with a “two big chocolate chip cookies” as a gesture of thanks for the pretty holiday decorations.
The Phillip’s were merely continuing a tradition they practiced when they previously lived in Baltimore where there was no contest. They just liked decorating. Phillips said they had a three story house and the eaves were always lit up for the holidays.
The search is apparently still on for judges. So, if you have discerning artistic tastes and a festive spirit, call 410-641-7717 ext. 3014 to volunteer.
“This is my third year organizing the contest and it seems to grow in interest each year,” Travatello said. “I think people still enjoy driving around looking at Christmas lights a fun and traditional way to celebrate the holidays,” she added. “The contestants really take pride in what they do to help us light up the pines.”
For more information, contact Travatello, director of Marketing & Public Relations, at (410) 641-7717 ext. 3006.
Sixteen homeowners participated in the event last year. The homeowners who register for the competition will be judged in four categories: “Top-Notch All-Around,” “Most Creative,” “Most Lights” and “People’s Choice,” which will be awarded to the home receiving the most votes from residents.
Teresa Travatello, director of Marketing & Public Relations, said ballots for the People’s Choice Award would be sent out to subscribers by e-blast and posted to a link on the Ocean Pines Association’s new Web site on Friday at 5p.m., just after deadline for signing up.
“That will give the judges a week to get out and vote and it will give the voters for people’s choice a chance to vote,” she said. They can also vote by text message to 443-397-0585, by e-mail to info@oceanpines.org, or on the OPA’s Facebook page.
According to the Ocean Pines Association, entering the contest is as easy as submitting a name, address and phone number by e-mail to info@oceanpines.org, by fax to 410-641-5581, by phone to 410-641-7717, or to the Ocean Pines Association in person or mail at 239 Ocean Pkwy., Ocean Pines, MD, 21811.
A basket full of goodies, along with a $50 gift card that can be used at any Ocean Pines amenities or gift shop, await the winner of each category, according to contest organizers. They said the winners will be contacted and announced after the judges have reviewed the houses during the week of Dec. 16.
The 2012 contest winners were Top Notch: Bert Witt at 181 Sandyhook Rd.; Most Lights: Lee and Barb Phillips at 76 Ocean Parkway; Most Creative: Mr. and Mrs. Timothy Long at 3 Watertown; and People’s Choice: John and Nancy Grunewald at 741 Ocean Parkway. 2012 was the first year the People’s Choice category was offered.
Lee Phillips said he and his wife usually win either the second or third prize, and credits their good fortune to the illuminated 25 foot candy cane that takes three people to set up and wrap around a tree in the yard, the light display of Santa and his reindeer displayed on the roof, and a homemade manger scene in the yard.
“We’ve being doing this for a long time,” he said. “It is just a tradition,” he said. The couple has been participating since the contest began in 2000. They usually donate their winnings to a local Easter Egg Hunt for children, he said.
“We just enjoy it,” Phillips said, noting that the interior of the home gets decorated as ornately as the outside, before the pair move on to help decorate the nearby St. John Neumann Church, on Beauchamp Road, as well.
The yard displays attract sightseers every year and Phillips recalled one year when a little girl stopped by with a “two big chocolate chip cookies” as a gesture of thanks for the pretty holiday decorations.
The Phillip’s were merely continuing a tradition they practiced when they previously lived in Baltimore where there was no contest. They just liked decorating. Phillips said they had a three story house and the eaves were always lit up for the holidays.
The search is apparently still on for judges. So, if you have discerning artistic tastes and a festive spirit, call 410-641-7717 ext. 3014 to volunteer.
“This is my third year organizing the contest and it seems to grow in interest each year,” Travatello said. “I think people still enjoy driving around looking at Christmas lights a fun and traditional way to celebrate the holidays,” she added. “The contestants really take pride in what they do to help us light up the pines.”
For more information, contact Travatello, director of Marketing & Public Relations, at (410) 641-7717 ext. 3006.