Every city decorates differently, but during the holiday season, Cortland becomes something special when the lights come on. As the days get shorter and the weather gets colder, it becomes clear that many residents are ready to show their pride for the season.
Houses you pass regularly suddenly turn into bright, colorful displays that make the streets of Cortland feel festive and full of life during this time of year. Bright lights glow, rooftops sparkle, and entire neighborhoods are transformed into winter wonderlands that lift everyone’s spirits.
People who live in Cortland know that each neighborhood is a gamble when it comes to decorations. You never know if you’ll pass a Clark Griswold style house bursting with lights or a simple Charlie Brown Christmas tree sitting proudly in someone’s front yard. The thing about Cortland is that the vast variety is what makes it so fun.
Freshman Leah Toth’s house is especially well known by Cortland residents for their families’ decorations. Most might think that their house would blend like the others, but it definitely does not and no one’s complaining.
Every year, Toth’s father solely puts together a large array of decorations consisting of massive statues, thousands of strands of lights, and even a Christmas countdown in their own front yard.
Their house has become a familiar sight for many families who like to admire the lights of Cortland. With so much attention on the house, Toth had to say, “I love getting compliments on our house and my dad does too. He starts months before and likes to add on over the year, it’s his thing he likes to do.”
While some may do their decorating on their own, help is always appreciated especially as the winter months make climbing up on the roof and stringing lights a little risky. Lakeview graduate of 2023, Luke Canzonetta, has stepped up to make things easier by running his own holiday light decorating business Sleep Tight Technologies LLC.
When speaking on his business, Canzonetta says, “I’ve put a lot of dedication into this and I’m very glad with the responses to my work. It all pays off in the end making the community and the people a part of it happy.” Canzonetta’s work proves how much community effort goes into making Cortland glow with spirit.
When it comes to the spirit of Christmas, there is a teacher who is sure to be full of it. Lakeview teacher Kelly Prokop is someone who loves Christmas, loves wearing festive sweaters around the halls, and someone who loves decorating. Though Prokop does her own light decorating, over the years she found interest in hiring someone to do them for her.
Taking decorations into her own hands or handing them off to another for help, that doesn’t change the feel she has for this season. “While Christmas is my favorite holiday, it’s also the darkest time of the year, so the lights definitely help brighten the season up.” she shared.
Together, Cortland is made a little warmer and a whole lot more magical during this season. Big displays, small decorations, family traditions, local helpers, and even those who do not decorate but still bring joy to the community, thank you for contributing to making the city of Cortland a little brighter this time of year.
