Lompoc announces holiday decoration contest winners

The Lompoc Beautification and Appearance Commission has announced their 24 th annual holiday decoration contest winners.

Susan Gallecher is one of Lompoc’s four Beauty Commissioners who selects the winners for the holiday decoration contest. Those nominated are recommended by neighbors in the community.

“Once the city receives the nominations then the Commissioners go out and looks at all the ones that were nominated, and chooses the top three, plus a grand prize,” said Gallacher

This year’s grand prize winner was Steve Childs on Rock Rose Lane.

“It’s just fun for me to do it because I enjoy it and I love to see the kids enjoy it,” said Childs.

Childs transforms his home to a winter wonderland and even has snow floating down from a snow machine. He says he starts decorating on November first and is proud to be the grand prize winner for the second year in a row.

First place winner was Eddie Munoz at La Pursima Catholic School Garden on Olive Ave.

” I do it for the kids and for the love of God, for the kids to be able to enjoy this,” said Munoz.

He created a Christmas Village filled with saints, a manger, and even a movie theater playing Christmas classics.

Munoz daughter, Terese Hill, said her father works endless hours to put the Christmas Village up each year.

“He’ll be here at night sometimes until two in the morning, or he’ll wake up at four in the morning and come down,” said Hill.

Munoz and his wife buy most of the supply’s and lights themselves. They started the village three years ago as a tribute to their daughter’s wish to see to a Christmas Village in Lompoc.

“Going to the Christmas Villages when I was younger, I told my dad and he just made that dream come true for me to be able to share it with the families here in town,” said Hill.

Childs received seventy-five dollars for his win, and Munoz won fifty dollars.