STRUTHERS — For years, Joe Martin of Struthers has been decorating his house for Christmas.

This year is a little extra special, as he’s one of many city residents participating in the Struthers Holiday Lights Contest.

“It’s a little work” but it’s worth it, he said.

Originally using blowup decorations, Martin’s yard now has various lights, some of which coincide with music.

This year a few pieces were sidelined due to technical issues, but Martin hopes that next year he can grow his collection.

“It takes us a total of maybe 10 hours, me and my buddies,” he said.

First they place everything to get an idea where it should all go, then they secure the decorations.

The retired produce manager, 79, was unable to decorate his yard for two seasons due to a surgery, and the neighborhood missed Martin’s lights.

“Two little girls down the street sent me a card, asking if I was sick,” he said.

BRAINSTORMING

The idea for a citywide light contest came after brainstorming ideas on how to safely get the community into the holiday spirit — while also keeping the pandemic in mind, Mayor Catherine Cercone Miller said.

That’s when Amber Bonilla, a teacher at Struthers Middle School, reached out to her.

“An hour later, she sends me details, the directions, the Google docs, everything done,” Miller said.

Bonilla drew inspiration from events in larger cities.

“I was thinking when you go to those cities that have all the lights you drive through, we can make our own,” Bonilla said. It’s something for families to do together, she added.

In their spare time, Miller and her secretary, Michelle Hokanson-Ray, assist Bonilla going through entries.

There are secret judges, Miller said, who have been driving around, judging the houses for nine categories.

The contest will be held with judging through Dec. 13, with winners receiving trophies.

Miller said that judges, along with anyone wanting to get out of the house with their family, can enjoy the holiday lights throughout the neighborhoods.

“This will be a nice couple of hours to just drive around and look at lights,” Miller said.

Keeping the contest a true community event, Bonilla said students at Struthers High School will edit snippets of the displays together to make a video.

The video will be distributed to local nursing homes so residents can see the lights.

“A lot of the people in the nursing homes have been part of our city for a very long time and might see their old homes on the video,” Bonilla said.

“It’s another way to make everybody truly part of the community, involved,” Bonilla said.

For anyone in Struthers wishing to enter in time for judging, they should contact the Struthers Holiday Lights Contest page or contact the mayor’s office at city hall if there is no access to a computer.