Newspaper Page Text
LOCAL
THURSDAY, JUNE 28 - JULY 4, 2018 • Page 2
‘Christmas
in the Grove’
creator dies
BY CARLA PARKER
carla@dekalbchamp.com
The man known as “The
Christmas Light Guy,” who
lights up Oak Grove Drive in
Decatur every Christmas, has
died.
Anthony Michael
Paradowski, also known as
Tony, died unexpectedly June
15. His family announced
his passing on Christmas in
the Groves Facebook page.
A memorial service for
Paradowski was held June 23.
“In lieu of flowers please
make donations to the ALS
Association in Tony’s name,”
the family announced.
The Paradowskis have
collected donations every year
from visitors of Christmas
in the Grove and have given
the money to their favorite
charity, the ALS Association
of Georgia. Last December,
Paradowski spoke to The
Champion about the large
Christmas lights display he and
his wife Katie first put up in
2010.
The Paradowskis turned
their home into a holiday
attraction for five weeks
with an animated light show
choreographed to popular
Christmas songs. From
Thanksgiving night to New
Year’s Day, thousands of people
visit the home at 1428 Oak
Grove Drive in Decatur each
year to see the magical display
Paradowski
Previously, Paradowski
talked about his seasonal
hobby, saying he has always
put up a lot of Christmas lights
before his display became
famous.
“I’ve [put up lights] all of
my adult life—anywhere I’ve
ever lived I’ve always been
able to put up some sort of
Christmas lights, but not to the
extent that we do now,” he said.
Paradowski, who grew up
in Niagara Falls, N.Y., said a
neighbor from his hometown
inspired him to fully decorate
his home. Forty years later,
Paradowski said he saw
YouTube videos of people with
light displays synchronized to
music. After further research,
he found the company that
makes the equipment which
most people use to synchronize
lights with music.
“I bought the one
controller—we didn’t use
REDUCE
REUSE
RECYCLE
Tony Paradowski and his wife Katie turned their home into a holiday attraction, known as Christmas in the Grove, for five weeks
with its animated light show choreographed to popular Christmas songs
music the first year—I just
wanted to see if I liked it and
what the reception was from
the neighborhood,” the quote
continues. “All of it went well, I
enjoyed doing it, the neighbors
loved it and that’s when I was
bitten by the bug.”
Over the years, the display
has grown bigger as have the
crowds.
The Paradowski display
of nearly 150,000 lights and
about 350 decorations gained
national attention after it
was featured on “The Great
Christmas Light Fight” on
ABC in 2013. The Paradowskis
won the $50,000 prize, beating
out three other contestants.
Since his death, more
than $1,500 has been donated
to The ALS Association in
Paradowskis name. Neighbors
honored Paradowski by
decorating the outside of their
homes with Christmas lights
and turned them on June 23
and 24.
“Let’s show Tony’s family
how much we love him and
how much we appreciate all he
has done for Leafmore through
his love of Christmas,” a
neighborhood flyer stated. “He
will be deeply missed by many”
IMPORTANT ANNOUNCEMENT
DeKalb County Community Development Department will submit
HUD SECTION 108 LOAN GUARNTEE APPLICATION to
The United States Department of Housing and Urban Development
For the Construction of the New District #4 Senior Center
Beginning June 28th until July 27th, 2018 the DeKalb County Community
Development Department will accept public comments on the submission of a HUD
Section 108 Loan Guarantee application in the amount of $7,835,375 to construct the
New District #4 Senior Center with pool.
The proposed center will be located on County owned land at 4875 Elam Road, Stone
Mountain, GA. The area was selected for a center based on a 2016 Comprehensive
Feasibility Study that identified the area as a high priority for senior services. The
proposed 21,000 sq. ft. center will include a modern and functional facility to include:
multipurpose dining room, classrooms, fitness room, and a therapeutic pool with lap
lanes and many other exciting amenities.
Community Meeting
A Community Meeting will be held to discuss the application and proposed New
District #4 Senior Center amenities and programming on:
Date: Wednesday, July 18th
Location: The Sue Kellogg Library Community Room
952 Leon Street
Stone Mountain, GA 30083
Time: 6:30pm - 8:30pm
A copy of the application can be viewed on the DeKalb County website; www.dekalbcountyga.us. For more
information, please join us at the Community meeting or call the Community Development Department at
(404) 371-2727.
COUALHOV9MO
OPPORTUNITY