Maryland Community Newspapers Online
Santa is quite active on one stretch of Route 198 in Burtonsville.
At Scott Myers' house on Spencerville Road, you can find Santa doing it all – golfing, riding a motorcycle and piloting an airplane – in inflatable form. And it all happens because of Myers, an electrician who uses his skills to illuminate each of the 31 decorations on his front yard and roof.
"I just like to see people smile," said Myers, a Burtonsville resident for 15 years. "I put a lot of effort in to it. … [It's] definitely a community thing."
Myers' desire to showcase his work has seen challenges from nature and people – last year, six decorations were slashed and strong winds often force Myers to deflate his decorations.
But the display keeps growing. What started with a few decorations four years ago has swelled to a growing list of holiday characters dotting the yard. A notable item is the animated Santa helicopter pilot on the roof, complete with moving rotary wings.
Kim Bullock, Myers' fiancée, said that while Myers does the work, she delights in seeing the glowing displays.
"He's really got a variety," Bullock said. "It looks like a house is on fire when looking from a distance."
Myers' interest in holiday decorations began when he drove his young son, now 21, to light displays at area houses. He said he thought it he could add his own decorations to give joy to the community, especially children. So he began decorating his house, which he moved to five years ago after living across the street for 10 years.
Myers said he is fascinated by the different types of in holiday inflatables and is currently looking for penguin and polar bear decorations to add to his collection. The best time to buy decorations is right before Christmas or shortly after since they are often on sale, he added.
"I like the innovation and creativity [involved] in creating these inflatables," Myers said.
Now he leaves out one or two decorations for a short time after the holidays at his fiancée's request. But when they're all on display, the soft glow of electronic Santas make it through the house.
"It brightens up your whole day," Myers said.
