Clearwater Man Doing the Best He Can with Holiday Decorations this Year

Doug Quirtles, a Clearwater man who has developed a reputation over the years for his elaborate displays of holiday decorations is having to scale back this year due to his property being damaged during Hurricane Milton.

‘Usually I have synchronized lights, inflatable snowmen, lasers and a fog machine. I lost all that stuff when my house flooded” he said. “So this year I have a pile of yard waste.”

“It breaks my heart that I can’t put up something spectacular this time,” he said. “It’s something I look forward to all year.”

He has festooned the debris that’s been awaiting pick-up by sanitation workers for over two months with a handful of ornaments and a couple of strings of colored lights.

“They don’t even blink,” he said glumly.

His neighbors at least appreciate his commitment and the effort he puts into it every year, especially this one.

“I know he feels bad but I wish he didn’t,” said Margo Klopps, who lives across the street. “Every year, Doug goes all out and puts up an amazing display. If he’s limited in what he can do this year because of that damn storm, that’s okay. We understand. He’s still trying.”

“And to be honest, it’ll be kind of nice not having a bunch of rubberneckers driving through every night for a change,” she added.