Holiday Lighting Contest is back

       People who put up outside Christmas displays have a chance to win in the second annual Holiday Lighting Contest by the Organization of Westside Neighbors (OWN).
       The competition is open to people living in the city-defined OWN “strategy area” - west of I-25; north of Moreno Avenue and Lower Gold Camp Road; east of Columbia Road, 31st Street (north to Uintah) and 30th Street; and south of King (from 30th to 19th) and Uintah Street (19th to I-25).
       To be eligible, displays should be up by Dec. 17. The categories are Residential and Commercial/Institutional. “We're also looking for the longest string of lighted and decorated adjacent properties,” said OWN organizer Bunny Blaha.
       Addresses that are nominated will be considered by the judges, which this year will be the members of the West Middle School Student Council. But there is also a chance the judges will notice unnominated addresses, according to Blaha.
       To enter, write OWN at P.O. Box 6651, Colorado Springs CO 80934-6651, or e-mail info@westsideneighbors.org by Tuesday, Dec. 16.
       In a recent interview, some West Student Council members offered thoughts on what they will be looking for in the contest. President Dylan Roche said he likes displays with movement, such as waving Santas, and that have “themes, not just a bunch of random colors.” A similar view (“flashy but organized”) was expressed by Treasurer Jeffrey Reinsch.
       Vice President Zach Tomek likes variety, and is not a big fan of “just white lights.” He thought the event would be fun to do, but he also likes the idea of “going out into the Westside instead of just staying at the school.”
       Kaycee Grimm and Hannah McCullough, secretary and council member, respectively, both like original, colorful displays. “It can't be too busy, but should shape the house,” Grimm said. McCullough also put in a pitch for displays that use LED lights, which she described as brighter and more energy efficient.

Westside Pioneer article