Lighting up RVC for the holidays

Each year on Nov. 1, longtime Rockville Centre resident Rich McQuillan and his son, Richie, begin transforming their Cedar Ave. home into a Christmas lights spectacular. They spent two hours every night, putting up over 300,000 bulbs and dozens of displays in preparation for its debut on Thanksgiving.

The exhibit gets bigger and bigger each year and brings joy and holiday cheer to the community. But in the spirit of the season, the McQuillans use this time to raise cancer awareness while giving to the needy.

The family set up a toy drive box at the end of the driveway, where people can give unwrapped toys to Sunrise Day Camp, a facility that gives children with cancer and their siblings a free summer camp experience.

“We realized that we can make an impact,” said McQuillan, a real estate agent with Exit Links Realty. “We did it last year and it was great.”

The giving became twofold. Recently, some of the decorations near the front of the house were vandalized and McQuillan said it took about four hours to repair and replace everything. But the community pitched in by donating items and offering to help restore what was damaged.

“It was unbelievable,” McQuillan said. “They were saying how much (the house) lights up their children.”

The house’s impact has even gone beyond the Nassau County border. One day, McQuillan noticed a couple from Brooklyn leaning against their car while gazing at the lights. Upon talking to them, McQuillan learned that their son was killed in Fallujah, Iraq, during the war.

“They said the joy of the lights helps them get through what they’ve been through,” McQuillan said. “They heard about my house and they came to check it out.”

Bursts of light and color appear from every part of the house when it’s turned on and visitors can sing along to the Christmas carols being played.

Over a dozen toy soldiers stand guard up the walkway. On the right is a full nativity scene, complete with sheep and the three wise men. Lurking behind are snowmen, candy canes and a long purple light rope running up a flag pole. Reindeer are scattered around a sleigh at the left of the walkway, accompanied by a lit tree with presents in the far left corner. There are white lights on the grass on both sides to mimic snow.

The rest of the house is adorned with snowflakes, icicle lights, colorful squares and rectangles around the window frames and lit bushes, trees and wreaths.

To get all of the lights on the roof, Baldwin Tool Rental let McQuillan borrow a man lift for free. It had a hoist with a bucket that easily allowed him to spread the lights on top of the house.

The newest addition was a driveway arch with lampposts, a ribbon, a big candy cane, hanging red bulbs and lights on the fence. The driveway leads to a glowing garage. Santa and his reindeer are seen flying over the arch.

“Everybody says it’s tastefully done,” McQuillan said of the finished project. “My son and I are very meticulous and don’t just throw things together.”

To keep the display fresh each Christmas, McQuillan said he will switch displays and add new items in the coming years.

McQuillan’s house isn’t the only one in Rockville Centre that is getting people into the holiday spirit.

A home on Hillside Avenue has bright white trees and numerous multi-colored bushes that can be easily seen from afar. Icicle lights, a spotlighted wreath near the top of the house and singing angels in the window complete the display.

Fans of “Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer” should visit a house near the intersection of Driscoll and Woods Avenues, where a display of the animated show’s characters adorn the lawn along with brightly-lit trees and bushes.

A house on McGann Avenue would satisfy those who prefer an all-white scenery over color. The trees and windows are brightly lit and provide a beautiful contrast with the property’s greenery and garland. Children would enjoy a snowman and Santa’s construction truck.