Berkley Holiday Spirit Contest Winners Brighten City

The Berkley City Council recognized six residential and business winners of the Holiday Spirit Contest during its meeting Monday at City Hall.

The Beautification Advisory Committee revived the awards this year to encourage residents to decorate and get in the spirit, despite the largely snowless season, as well as to brighten Berkley during the gray days of fall, chairman Dan Mihaescu said.

"It was very difficult to come to a consensus," he said, noting that the committee received more than 30 nominations by the Nov. 30 deadline and struggled to narrow the field.

The top selections were as follows.

Residential category

• First place: Dagenais family
• Second place: Pike family
• Third place: Sinclair family

Business category

• First place: Bagger Dave's
• Second place: Amici's Pizza & Living Room
• Third place: Farina's Banquet Center

"The winners were determined in part based on comprehensive design, the overall effort, the coordination of lights with any other accessories (wreathes, reindeer, etc.), and the incorporation of the inside with the outside lights (example, Christmas Tree)," Mihaescu explained in an e-mail to Patch.

He added that the committee hopes to add a contest that will recognize the participation of entire blocks next year.

All six of the top contestants were recognized during the City Council meeting and the Dagenais family and Bagger Dave's received signs noting their first place finish to add to their displays.

"It's been a long time since we've done this," City Manager Jane Bais-DiSessa said of the Holiday Spirit Contest. "I'm so proud (the Beautification Advisory Committee) is coming together again."

Correction: The Sinclair family took third place in the residential category. Patch was provided with incorrect information that subsequently was updated.