The various O’Neal families on Ocracoke are the big winners of the “Island Celebration” holiday house decorating contest, which was judged on Wednesday night.
“Best Theme” winner is Bobby O’Neal on O’Neal Drive, Oyster Creek, with a Christmas mouse and Santa theme. “Most Traditional” is the home of Ronnie Van and Martha O’Neal, along Back Road, and “Most Original” is Kathy and David O’Neal along Lighthouse Road. Best Business is The Island Ragpicker.
The contest was revived last year by Teresa O’Neal, who also happens to own the Island Ragpicker, although the judges— four vacationers picked at random—did not know that as the group started out driving around the island looking at the lights.
The contest is sponsored by the Ocracoke Civic and Business Association, and each winner received a sign at their homes and will also receive a certificate.
As the group cruised the island with Albert O’Neal at the helm, Albert knew the names of all the decorated homes. Out of more than 40 homes and 10 businesses viewed, nine were by O’Neals.
Each time he announced another O’Neal name, the group laughed.
“The O’Neals are well represented,” noted Angela Stong, of Blue Bell, Pa., who with her husband, Joel, is renting a house on Cedar Lane with Wendy Sclafani, of Charlottesville, Va., another of the judges, and her husband Bill.
Albert related that years ago there used to be a “decorating war” on Cedar Lane, but that was not in evidence Wednesday night.
“We’ll have to decorate the rental next year,” Sclafani said.
The other two judges were Jennifer Green and Snaebjorn Gunnsteinsson, both of Washington, D.C.
“I stalked them on the road,” Teresa said as to how she recruited the judges, who all had been riding bikes in the village.
In fact, Teresa met Green and Gunnsteinsson right after Gunnsteinsson had proposed to Green. It is their first visit to Ocracoke. Sclafani and Stong and their husbands are long-time visitors to the island and had read about the contest on Island Free Press before their arrival.
“I wanted to strategically place myself to get picked for the judging,” Stong admitted, adding that she and Sclafani were wearing Santa hats while riding bikes when Teresa stopped them. “We had a really great time doing this judging. It was so cool.”
Although only three awards are given, the judges suggested Theresa add another category—The Griswold Category—in honor of the family in “National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation,” who had a huge quantity of lights and decorations.
That may or may not be added next year, but as the group arrived at the Community Square to view the decorated skipjack Wilma Lee, Theresa noted that she’d like to someday revive the Christmas boat parade.
“This was so much fun,” Sclafani said. “I’m really impressed and glad you all are getting back into this tradition.”
The contest had been originally done by the late Linda Lyons. Last year, Teresa, stepped in to organize the contest after a couple of years of dormancy following Lyons’ death.
The signs noting the awards will be up in the yards of the winners until sometime after the New Year.
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