Updated 12/23/2008 06:52 AM
45,000 Christmas lights draw crowds and donations
TOWN OF MAINE, N.Y. -- When it comes to holiday light displays, you've got the simple and the more ornate and then there's Jeff Folejewski's house
"There's 45,000 lights: 15,000 clear, 15,000 yellow, 15,000 red," said Folejewski.
All those lights dance at once to music controlled by computer. But the display's not just about fun and games, Folejewski asks his dozens of nightly visitors to make a donation to the food bank, CHOW.
"It's a very worthwhile cause, and with the way everything is going, we figure everybody could use a little extra food, and it's been working out great so far," said the father of two.
It's a great cause to be sure, but with eight or nine months of planning and two or three months of set up it must have left some people scratching their heads.
"Actually everybody's been great. Before the light's went up they thought I was crazy and didn't understand it. And once everything gets together and sees it, they love it," said Folejewski.
Thousands of lights, lots of fun, and it's all to help out a great cause. But you still have to wonder, what's his energy bill look like?"
"Two or three times the amount of what it normally is," Folejewski admits. "It might be a little more, but we're not going to talk about that."
Folejewski, a Verizon worker by day, got the idea for his display from the Internet
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And while friends, family and neighbors have been understanding, not too many of his spectators would want to tackle this challenge.
"I don't think I have enough lights or money to pay the electric bill," said Sam Strenos, who brought his wife and daughter from Greene.
"My neighbors would not be cool with this," chuckled Gary Short, who also brought his family from Kirkwood to see the display.
Folejewski got a little help from his eight-year-old Cameron this year, and might need a bit more if he's going to live up to this request from his son: "Dad, I want you to make this the biggest in New York State next year."
And while maybe not the biggest in the state, Folejewski says he's already got more lights and bigger plans for next christmas.
You can check out more about the lights by clicking on mainelights.org.