Neighborhood Christmas Displays Light the Season

Holiday lights can help set the tone for a joyful season and with the holidays now upon us, there are displays at homes on Lovley Drive and Strawberry Lane which will certainly bring a smile to local residents and their families.

Howard and Bonnie Burke live in a small residential neighborhood but their Lovley Drive home provides a full multimedia display for those who make the trip by the house. Howard Burke has programmed every light to blink and swirl to Trans-Siberian Orchestra tunes that are heard approaching the neighborhood.

"We've kind of gotten used to our driveway being blocked, but it's always fun," Burke said.

Burke, who works in the computer software industry, said he started decorating three years ago after people challenged him to top his extravagant Halloween decor.

"People kept asking us, 'well what are your Christmas decorations going to look like?' and from then on we've been decorating more and more," he said. "My son is in college now, and he actually helps me with it. My daughter is in high school, and she gets a kick out off it."

For those who want a little more than music and streaming lights, Burke provides that too with a comedic interlude between songs.

Along Strawberry lane, homeowner Dean Woodruff proves a tight economy cannot hinder the Christmas spirit as every inch of the roof, siding, lawn and plant life is lit up.

Cheri Woodruff, Dean's wife, said they "started decorating over ten years ago … and slowly every year Dean added more and more lights."

"The electric bill definitely goes up in December, but it's worth it," she said.

Both families said they keep their decorations up until New Years.