VILLAS – Wayne Gittle of the 100 block Oak Avenue in Villas is not one of Santa’s elves, but he tries to do what he can with just his girlfriend Donna, and his three little helpers at Christmas.
His helpers, Garfield, Shadow, and Tank, are 8-month-old kittens who are lucky to live in a house where joy and good feeling reign.
They also live in a house whose owner has created a 7,000-light Christmas display that grows each year. Gittle’s neighbor, also a lifelong resident of this area, called the Herald because he has seen Gittle adding more and more lights to his display each year. The neighbor, identified only as Dave, sees the display when he takes his evening walk through the neighborhood.
He described Gittle as a “quiet guy” who he thought should get some credit for the effort he makes to bring the holiday spirit to the neighborhood, even though there are larger, more extravagant displays to be found elsewhere.
Gittle, a lifelong resident of Lower Township, has lived in his small bungalow for about 30 years. He worked at the former button factory on Fulling Mill Road for 23 years until it was closed several years ago. Like many other long-time factory employees, he has had to find other work to make ends meet since the closing.
Gittle enjoys seeing cars drive by and pedestrians stop to photograph his Christmas display.
Gittle, a man of few words, said it best when he concluded: “I just want to make people happy; that’s what it’s all about.” As far as his neighbors in the Villas are concerned, he has succeeded.
To contact Jim McCarty, email jmccarty@cmcherald.com.
Cape May County – All the spouting and you didn’t change the world a single bit. Weeek after week year after year. Not a single thing. Please moderator your authority is nonsense and don’t leave a note I don’t want to…
