Holiday Lights Contest Editor's Choice Winner: Northwest suburbs
Ray Aviles, who lives at 3708 Rywick Drive in Rolling Meadows, is the Editor's Choice winner for the Northwest suburbs in the Daily Herald's annual holiday lights contest, presented by Treetime Christmas Creations of Lake Barrington.
Voting ran Dec. 10-14, with the grand prize winner receiving a $750 Treetime Christmas Creations gift card and a $20 gift certificate from Schaumburg-based Ala Carte Entertainment. Four Editor's Choice winners (representing DuPage County, the Fox Valley, Lake County and the Northwest suburbs) received a $25 Treetime Christmas Creations gift card and a $10 Ala Carte Entertainment gift certificate.
The Daily Herald asked Aviles a few questions about his holiday decorations.
Q: How long have you been decorating your house like this?
Aviles: Five years.
Q: What inspired you to go all out with your decorations?
Aviles: I used to visit my grandmother in Puerto Rico and everyone there decorates and I saw how much everyone enjoyed it. I told myself when I got a home I would do the same for my kids and the neighborhood. It's beautiful. Candy canes are on the decorations for all the kids to take. We also are asking for donations for the food pantries.
Q: How many hours does it take to put up the display?
Aviles: About 40 hours. The hardest thing to do is the arches of lights.
Q: How many strings of lights are involved?
Aviles: Several thousand lights, especially on the roof.
Q: How much does your electric bill spike in December?
Aviles: It increases about $100.
Visit www.dailyherald.com to see the grand prize winner and the other Editor's Choice winners.