For this week’s Faces of Northeast, we continued our chat with Joseph Florez, the second place winner in the Lykins Neighborhood Association’s Christmas home decorating contest. His winning decorations feature lights wrapped around a huge tree, strands that run from the roof to the sidewalk, with even the birdbath outlined with lights.

Along with his wife and three children (the youngest is pictured with Frosty), Joseph has lived in Lykins, specifically the area of 6th and Van Brunt Boulevard, all his life.

“I lived right down the street with my grandmother, so when this house became available we just moved over here. We have great neighbors,” he told us as the kids rode scooters along the sidewalk.

In addition to entering his decorated home into the contest, Joseph decked out his 1987 Oldsmobile Cutlass Supreme with silver and gold decorations and joined the car parade of judges that stopped by each contest entry.
“I wanted to do it for my kids, just something fun to do, but I had a lot of fun myself,” Joseph said.

He also takes the car, which is all original, to local auto shows. A tile layer by trade, he’s currently working in construction to have a consistent paycheck.

Joseph is excited about all the renovations around Northeast, especially in Lykins. He has his eye on a house he wants to renovate himself, a project for 2021, and he hopes the new year will bring better health and financial situations for everyone.