By –Helen Klein
Three Canarsie homes were singled out for their holiday finery as part of United Canarsie South Civic Association’s annual Best-Dressed House contest. The winners were the Swaby family, on East 82nd Street, whose house was awarded first prize for its Christmas decorations; the Williams family on Seaview Court, whose house was awarded second prize for its Christmas display; and Lenny Fogel, the vice president of UCSCA, who took the prize for best menorah. There is a dual purpose to the competition, stressed Neal Duncan, UCSCA’s president. For one thing, because officers from the 69th Precinct do the judging, holding the competition brings an increased police presence into the area at holiday time, when, as Duncan remarked, “Crooks try to target homes and cars, and try to break in, because they know the gifts are there.” In addition, noted Duncan, the competition helps instill a sense of community pride in area residents. “We try to uplift the neighborhood,” Duncan told members of the organization gathered at the Hebrew Educational Society (HES), 9602 Seaview Avenue, for the group’s January meeting. “We like to see people taking pride in their homes,” emphasized Duncan. Such efforts, he went on, help, “Maintain property values. For anyone driving through, they will judge the area on their first impression. Over the years,” he added, the competition has, “grown and grown.” Leroy Swaby, who attended the meeting with wife Carolyn and daughter Samantha, recalled, “When we bought the house, it was one of the worst on the block. To get best-dressed is really uplifting. I feel really good about it.” “It’s really quite an honor,” added Ewart Williams, who noted that his wife Thelma and daughter Vonetta, who could not attend the meeting, had shared the effort and deserved to share the kudos.
