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Display A 'Permanent Winner' For Decades

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By FELIX L. MARTINEZ, The Tampa Tribune

Published: December 22, 2007

Dominic Mancuso and wife, Pauline, Brandon residents since 1965, wait all year for the holiday season so they can create a Christmas wonderland right outside their door. They have been decorating their home for Christmas, inside and out, for the past 47 years. Some of their neighbors followed their lead and now create spectacular holiday decorations, too. Here are some details about how the tradition evolved.

Q. How did all this decorating start?

A. I took second prize in a Brandon contest in 1965, first prize in 1966, 1967 and again in 1968. The following year, I received a plaque that read "Permanent Winner." I could not enter any contest after that.

Q. Are other members of the family involved?

A. My wife, Pauline, decorates the inside of the house. We have a village in the house. And my daughter, Donna, and her husband, Mike Fultz, decorate their own home. They live next door.

Q. How many homes are decorated in the neighborhood?

A. Not many. A lot of the neighbors are older and they can't get out there, but they come by and enjoy the decorations.

Q. Does it get more elaborate each year?

A. I add something new every year. It is getting harder to decorate.

Q. Do you accept donations, and if so, where does the money go?

A. No donations. That's not what I do. I'm here for the kids. If I couldn't afford to do this, I wouldn't do it.

Q. How much is your electric bill during the month of December?

A. My electric bill is around $300. I turn the lights on between 5:30-6 p.m. and turn them off before midnight. The outside music gets turned down around 10 p.m. One night I forgot to turn down the music and it made one of my neighbors very angry. We didn't talk for five years.

Q. What is your favorite decoration?

A. The nativity scene. I built it myself out of plywood. Previous years, I built it out of cypress wood. I also like the life-size skaters and skiers. It puts a little winter in the scene.

Q. How much time does it take to decorate your home?

A. I start after Thanksgiving. I install all the lights first. This year, I reconstructed the ski slope and added glitter.

Q. What does this annual effort do for the neighborhood?

A. The neighbors enjoy looking out their windows. I told my neighbor that I would be happy to decorate their home. My neighbor says, "Are you going to pay my electric bill, too?"

News Clerk Felix L. Martinez can be reached at (813) 657-4531 or fmartinez@tampatrib .com.

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