PHILIPSBURG:--- A team of local celebrities voted Imelda Carty's Christmas lighting display the overall winner of the GEBE 2010 Christmas Lighting Competition. The display wowed the judges by capturing the traditional nativity scene in a creative manner while using many LED lights and special effects.
For the competition, local personalities were requested to judge the competitors and give their interpretation of the 5 categories. Participants' displays were judged on creativity, first impression, special effects, traditional/cultural and use of energy saving technology. The judging team consisted of Electra Voltage of Laser 101.1, Fernando Clark, DJ Biggers of SOS Radio and Altagracia William of AVS News.
Mrs. Carty has been participating in the GEBE Christmas Lighting Competition for quite a few years winning third in last year's competition. This year her display outdid her competition. "I do most of the decorations myself," Carty explained, "except the lights on the roof. I don't go up there!"
Instead of second and third prize winners, the best displays in the individual judging categories were determined giving participants more chances to win in the lighting competition. The category winners consisted of Mark Durand for the Best Energy Savings Display, Richard York for the best Traditional/Cultural Display, Julia Peterson for the best Special Effects, Recaldo Groeneveldt for the best First Impression, and Megan Ewing for the most Creative Display. The winner of the popular vote which is determined solely by votes from the community was Aurora Berkel.
GEBE would like to extend its sincere thanks to the judges of the competition and the participants for their support of this community program aimed at lighting up our community and bringing back the tradition of decorating our homes for Christmas.