If someone wanted to marvel at the winning residential and business entries in this year's Christmas in Merrifield lighting contest, they wouldn't have to travel far.
The winners for Best Decorated House and Best Decorated Business received $100 each ... and are located less than 500 feet apart in the community of 140 residents north of Brainerd.
"We get a lot of compliments on our lights-contest or no contest," said Virgie Heath, who, along with Gerdes and Sons Property Maintenance LLC, finished first in the holiday contest.
The 57-year-old works as a cook manager at the Lincoln Education Center, part of Brainerd Public Schools, and her 63-year-old husband, Dan, works for North Star Plating in Brainerd.
"We do it because it always seems we have Christmas at our house, and my kids have always enjoyed the lights, so we just enjoy putting up the display for everyone to drive by," she said.
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"I thought our house was going to be dark this year as my husband had open heart surgery just before Thanksgiving. We had our Thanksgiving dinner in the hospital."
Virgie Heath said they have been putting up a Christmas light display for more than two decades because her husband has always enjoyed doing it. She said he probably spends between two and three days putting it up, weather permitting.
"Our family started making some homemade wooden cutout displays when our children were younger, so they could help paint them," she said.
The Heaths' holiday decorations include soldiers, a Nativity scene, cartoon characters in a sleigh with a Tasmanian devil pulling them, a snowman waving, Santa climbing on to the garage roof with little elves holding him up, reindeer and an angel that appears to be flying because of her animated wings.
Heath said of her husband's recovery, "He is doing great now. But, being he could only lift 10 pounds, I asked some family and friends if they would help decorate our house this year. We couldn't have done what we did without them!"
Part of spreading the holiday cheer is Karl Eckardt, owner of Affordable Auto Repair in Merrifield. He said he entered his business in last year's lighting contest, but this year he instead co-sponsored the Dec. 14 community event.
"It's good for the community, it brings the community together," Eckardt said.
The lighting contest for businesses and houses was sponsored entirely by the Merrifield Lions Club, while Merrifield Marathons, Sather Concrete Products, Clow Stamping Co., Brainerd Lakes Detail and Dive Guys sponsored the $500 cash grand prize drawing for those who visited those retailers.
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Casandra Castillo owns Uptown Griddle, which hosted the Christmas in Merrifield business-related event and this year's associated lighting contest for businesses and residents.
"What people did was they came up to the area, they got a Christmas in Merrifield card ... and they went to the local sponsors and went into the businesses, played a game or did an activity, and received their stamp," Castillo said.
Harpo's, Andy's Bar & Grill, The Woods, Valeri Ann's Family Foods, Uptown Griddle, Northland Construction, Alder Creek Custom Cabinets, Gerdes and Sons Property Maintenance, Community Church of the Nazarene and Galbreath Small Engine Repair were the businesses.
"My biggest thing was trying to get people indoors of our small businesses up here, so I hosted, created and planned this whole thing ... because it's surprising how many businesses are actually in the Merrifield area that a lot of people don't know about," Castillo said.
Fully stamped cards turned in at the Uptown Griddle by the $500 cash grand prize drawing deadline included spaces to vote for the best decorated home and the best decorated business.
"What a great time was had by all! The businesses all did a great job putting together fun games to do," Heath said.
"Hopefully this won't be the only lighting contest Merrifield has. We hope to see everyone next year."
And as for the $100 prize she and her husband received this year for receiving the most votes for the best decorated house in Merrifield?
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"It will probably pay the electric bill," she said.
