Winners named in annual lights competition

Young Chang

NEWPORT HARBOR -- Neighbors thought they were nuts in mid-November as

Christmas lights, fake icicles and patriotic banners swallowed their

Newport Beach homes.

Some of them waited a few weeks before actually switching the lights

on -- out of embarrassment, that is, from passersby who thought it funny

to see Christmas lights twinkling against warm November skies.

But the dozen winners of this year’s Ring of Lights contest, which

kicked off the 2001 Newport Harbor Christmas Boat Parade, don’t feel

embarrassed anymore. Selected by a roaming committee chaired by Duncan

Forgey, 12 houses were marked with banners for being the most festive and

the most well-lighted. Winners will be invited to an awards banquet in

January.

“Basically, we’re just looking for houses that are entertaining and

fun and creative and that show a great amount of effort on the part of

the owners,” said Forgey, a member of the Newport Beach Chamber of

Commerce, which presents the annual Christmas Boat Parade.

James and Peggy Rich were named sweepstakes winners for their

elaborate, patriotic and simultaneously merry Balboa Island home.

“Every inch of the house is covered with beautiful decorations,”

Forgey said.

Gay Wassall-Kelly and her husband, Bill Kelly, won first place in the

category of best lights and animations. James Busby from Little Balboa

won second place in the category.

The Kellys began decorating in November, wearing beaten-up summer

T-shirts and shorts. By the time they finished in mid-December (though

the couple admits they’re still not quite finished), Wassall-Kelly had

dug out her Ring of Lights Sweatshirt from 1997, her long pants, even a

red muffler.

With 200 amps, 5,000 lights on the outside, cutout Santas, “America

the Beautiful” banners and an indoor display just as elaborate (or

perhaps even more so), the six-time winners say they decorate every year

to celebrate for a number of reasons.

“This is one of our favorite holidays, a lot of family was born in

December, and we just love the people’s reaction when they come by,”

Wassall-Kelly said. “They just love it, and we just love it.”

Other categories in the contest include most traditional (Mary and

Phillip Lyons took first place), best patriotic theme, chairman’s choice,

best humor and originality, commercial establishment, and an honorable

mention.

* Sweepstakes winner

Peggy and James Rich

* Best Lights and Animation

Gay Wassall-Kelly and Bill Kelly (first place)

James Busby (second place)

* Most Traditional

Mary and Phillip Lyons (first place)

Raymond Rutter (second place)

Chuck Horning (third place)

* Best Patriotic Theme

Lester Hale (first place)

Donna Dibari (second place)

* Chairman’s Choice

Donna and John Crean

* Best Humor and Originality

Marcy and Robert Cook

* Commercial Establishment

American Legion Hall Post 291

* Honorable Mention

Nancy and Gary Meyers