‘City of Lights' winners named

Petaluma's lights shine brightly this month with numerous homes and business decking the halls in good-spirited competition for the City of Lights 2009 Business and Home Decorating Contests sponsored by the Petaluma Visitors Program.

Winners named in the 2009 contests were hailed by judges for creativity and spirit using individual themes or the citywide “Stuff Your Stockings with Holiday Cheer” theme.

The Business Decorating contest had 25 entries in four categories: Window Display, Lobby Display, Painted Window and Outdoor Display.

The first-place Window Display winner is Sacks Hospice of Petaluma Thrift Store. The judges split second-place honors between Marisa's Fantasia and Paperwhite. Third place went to Gallery One.

Winner of first place for Lobby is Sunrise Assisted Living of Petaluma. The second-place winner is Quality Inn and third place goes to Petaluma Post-Acute Rehab.

In the Outdoor Display category, ADR/Architectural Design & Restoration takes first place. Second place goes to Petalumen's Lighting Co., while Sky Hill Institute School of Wholistic Healing Arts earned third-place honors.

First place in the Painted Window category was awarded to McNear's Restaurant & Bar. Second place was given to Extreme Pizza. There were only two entries in this category this year.

Entries in the Home Decorating Contest totaled 15. First-, second- and third-place winners were judged in the following categories: Best Use of Declared Theme, Uniqueness and Overall Impression. Many contestants incorporated the citywide “Stuff Your Stockings with Local Cheer” theme into their decorations, while others created their own themes. In addition to the first-, second- and third-place winners, the “Spirit of Christmas” award is given to the home awarded the most points by the judges for capturing the spirit of family and community.

The first-place winner in the Home Decorating Contest is Chad Dunbar, whose family's home at 1623 Cabernet Court includes a light show and music that visitors can listen to on FM radio.

The Petnic family's home at 511 D St. took second place, while Leonard and Joanne Harker's home at 87 Wilmington Drive and Rachele Compigli's home at 1100 S. McDowell Blvd. tied for third place.

The “Spirit of Christmas” award this year went to the Rapoport family at 917 Claret Court.

The Best Use of Annual Theme honor was awarded to Carol and Robb Guempel at 1728 Capella Court.

Due to an early deadline this year, many of the regular home- decorating entrants did not get applications in on time for the tour map. Some homes, such as those at 1792 Northstar Drive, 1602 Perseus Court and 1607 Colombard Drive, are decorated for the holidays, even though they didn't make it on the map.

Residents may view all the contest entries (and some previous winners, including Phil and Bobby Gervasi's home at 1074 Santa Clara Lane, which is now retired to the City of Lights Hall of Fame) by downloading a City of Lights tour map available at www.visitpetaluma.com, or pick up a map at the Petaluma Visitor Center, 210 Lakeville St.

Those interested in participating in the contest next year may call the PVC at 769-0429 for more information.