STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. — On Monday, Jan. 5, Councilmember Frank Morano announced the winner of the inaugural 2025 South Shore Best Decorated House Contest, a new holiday initiative created to recognize the effort residents put into making the holiday season jolly on Staten Island’s South Shore.
Staten Island native Rosario Macri was crowned the winner of the contest for the elaborate holiday display at his parents’ home on Hecker Street in Tottenville.
The first South Shore Best Decorated House contest invited residents across the district to vote on which home they felt displayed standout holiday decorations.
Morano said the response was “overwhelming,” with neighbors submitting nominations for displays that helped brighten the festive season. He also thanked residents for participating and helping spread holiday cheer across the Island.
“This contest was created to recognize the incredible effort families put into making the holiday season special, not just for themselves, but for their neighbors and everyone who drives down these streets,” Morano said.
Covered in bright lights, festive tree garlands, life-size nutcrackers, Santa figures and oversized red bow wreaths, the Macri family home on Hecker Street stood out as a festive spectacle for the holidays.
It’s Buon Natale at 280 Hecker St. in Tottenville.Owen Reiter
Although he no longer lives there, Rosario Macri returns year after year to decorate his parents’ home, spending two to three days setting up and adding new touches to keep the display grand while continuing holiday traditions inside and out.
“Ever since I was a kid I had a strong connection to Christmas,” he said. “Christmas holds my heart like no other season – timeless, magical, and full of love. Decorating brings so much enjoyment not only to my family and I but all of the cars and people we see coming by each night.”
Rosario Macri’s festive display featuring lights, nutcrackers and Santa figures at his parents’ Tottenville home won the inaugural South Shore Best Decorated House competition.Owen Reiter
Morano formally presented the South Shore Best Decorated House award to Macri at his parents’ home, recognizing it as the winner of the inaugural 2025 contest.
“There were so many festive displays that it made it difficult to choose just one winner,” Morano noted. “We’re excited to build on this success and make the contest even bigger next year.”