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Chesapeake Beach awards best and brightest
Elaborate decorations outshine the snow
Friday, Dec. 25, 2009
 Click here to enlarge this photo Staff photo by DARWIN WEIGEL
Paula Caulk poses with her son Dylan, 8, and daughter Morgan, 6, at their Chesapeake Beach home Tuesday. The Caulks earned the Best Decorated category in the annual Chesapeake Beach holiday lights contest. The light and figurine display, mostly out of commission from the snowstorm, was designed and built by Dylan who started work in October in the garage.
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The town holds its own Christmas light contest every year and the results of the Brightest Beacon on the Bay 2009 were announced at last Thursday's Chesapeake Beach Town Council meeting.
Chesapeake Beach Mayor Bruce Wahl said that for the award ceremony's 21st year it was only fitting to bring in "Mother Christmas" — who was actually former council member Barbara Jo Finch — to do the presenting.
Finch, who was decked out in a cardigan adorned with snowmen, first announced that she was sorry to say that there were no boat entries this year.
"What's the matter with the boat people," she joked.
There were, however, a total of 10 winners with three each in the categories of best decorated business, townhouse and house and one grand prize winner for Brightest Beacon on the Bay.
Connie O'Dell took home the big win for her home's elaborate decorations but said that her husband, Bucky, was the one who deserved all the credit.
"I'm sorry my husband isn't here to see this because I had nothing to do with it," she laughed as she collected her prize.
Wahl specifically praised the O'Dells' home, telling the meeting's audience to "drive by slowly and roll down your windows because it looks great."
"I think it's a really special thing that we make the town look as wonderful as it does this time every year," Wahl said.
The first place in the best decorated house category went to Paula Caulk, who did most of her decorating with her 8-year-old son Dylan.
She said Tuesday that unfortunately some of it did not survive last weekend's blizzard.
Caulk's nativity scene, however, was able to be saved.
"At least we got that dug out; we said that's the most important," said Caulk, who added that her daughter Morgan, 6, was more of an observer in the decorating process and occasionally created some havoc.
"She'll go through and pull the plug and Dylan's like ‘aahh,'" Caulk chuckled.
The snow did lead to one new addition to the Caulk's decorations: a Washington Redskins adorned snowman on their front yard.
The snowman may in fact last longer than its Redskins attire as Caulk said, "After we lost to the [New York] Giants, Dylan said … ‘we need to take the Redskins stuff off.'
"We're still diehard fans," she smiled.
