Issue link: https://newsleader.uberflip.com/i/233139
Sarasota News Leader December 27, 2013 Page 92 Siesta Seen On the night of Dec. 18, a group of us invited by the Siesta Key Condominium Council had the pleasure of touring condo complexes from the north end of the island to its southern reaches to judge the entries in the 2013 Christmas Lighting Contest. The number of participants this year represented an increase of four over the 2012 list. trolley driver Geoff van Deusen. Erne had new forms for us to use this year, asking us to consider four factors in ranking each entry from 1 to 10 (10 being the best). Those factors were "Uniqueness" (design and colors); "Seasonal" (tells the Christmas story); "Colorful" (illumination and displays); and the "Wow Factor" (breath-taking). With Daiquiri Deck co-owner Russell Matthes having made the Siesta Trolley available once again (as he generously has in the past), we gathered at Davidson Plaza and then set out to see the sights. Helen Clifford, Diane Erne and Al Holpp represented the Condo Council — with Helen serving as the tour guide for The judging panel consisted of County Commissioner Nora Patterson; Mark Smith, past chairman of the Siesta Key Chamber of Commerce and past president of the Siesta Key Village Association (SKVA); Matthes, also a past SKVA president; Alana Tomasso, the chamber's chairwoman-elect, who is Peppertree Bay wowed the judges this year, taking first place in the category for the largest condominium complexes. Photo by Rachel Hackney