By JESSA PEASE / Staff Writer

PELHAM— Winners of Pelham’s Christmas display contest have been announced after the Beautification Board drove around the entire city looking at decorations.

Winner of the Power Express award was Gary Rose of Stone Hill Circle, the Palacios family of Heather Lane won the residential award and Ballantrae Club Drive won the community/neighborhood award.

This year, Pelham also decided to hold a decoration display for businesses. Iberia Bank won first place and Sarah’s Flowers won second.

“This year we really decided we wanted business participation to jazz up our city,” said Paula Holly, Pelham executive administrative assistant.

Iberia Bank can choose a free night of family skate for its employees at the Pelham Civic Complex or four complimentary rounds of golf at Ballantrae Golf Club. Sarah’s Flowers will receive a free booth at the 2016 Pelham Palooza.

Rose, winner of the Power Express award, said he’s been doing his display for years. He said he has no idea how many strands of lights he puts up, but his motto is: When you run out, you don’t have enough.

Holly explained that the Power Express award is for the houses that could compete with the Griswolds from “Christmas Vacation.” Rose said he doesn’t create his display for the recognition; he does it for the kids.

“I’ve always done it,” Rose said. “I do it for all the kids in the neighborhood. They come by and it starts a line. I didn’t expect (the award), I just do it for the kids. That’s all I do it for.”

One year, a child from the neighborhood left a Christmas card with $5 in Rose’s mailbox. Rose said the card thanked him for putting up the light display, and explained that the money was to help with the electric bill.

For the Palacinoses, decorating the house is all about family and friends.

“This is one of the special seasons of the year when my family and our friends get to come together, and we love it,” William Palacinos said.

This year, the family decided to use mostly clear lights on and around the house, and used color lights near their nativity scene. Palacinos said his family wanted to create a nice environment for visiting friends and so they could take nice pictures.

They’ve been doing their light displays for a couple years now in Pelham, and Palacinos said he was surprised when he was contacted as the residential winner. He said his family was excited and his children couldn’t believe they had won.

He also added that his neighbors have been complimentary of the display. Palacinos said many have thanked them for putting up the display and said they enjoy seeing the lights.

“We like to do this as a family, my wife and my kids,” he said. “That’s what we enjoyed working together and planning the different details.”