CityView Magazine

12 | October 2020 FAMILY MATTERS This Youngster Rocks the Neighborhood By Claire Mullen M ost times of year, if you should find yourself traversing the Forest Lakes neighborhood, you would likely pass 306 Sylvan Road without a second glance. e stately two-story home is situated on a corner lot of a residential intersection and is mostly hidden from street view behind lovely old magnolias and pines. Easy to miss if you're in a hurry. But neighbors and folks familiar with the five residents of that house know that as soon as there's a chill in the air, what can be seen on the lawn of 306 Sylvan is well worth a stop along the way, taking the long route home, or even a special trip. In the weeks leading up to both Halloween and Christmas each year, e Kells family's yard becomes a veritable holiday wonderland of dozens of seasonal inflatables complete with a light show synchronized to spooky songs or Christmas carols that can be broadcast from your car's FM radio. Decorations cover just about every square inch of the expanse of grass, and a few even dangle from the treetops. e display is truly something to behold and an obvious great undertaking by someone who truly loves the process. e creative genius behind these complex, fantastic displays? An 8-year-old boy with an adorable grin, the occasional cowlick and a sprinkling of freckles across his nose. John Palmer Kells' fascination with all things inflatable began at just 3 years old, when his godfather gied him a blow-up owl with a Santa hat atop its head. at was the very first in a collection that would, over the next five years, grow to over 50 holiday inflatables. at same Christmas, his parents drove him by what they came to refer to as "e Singing Light House" on Mirror Lake Drive in Vanstory Hills. According to his mother Lacy, their toddler was so utterly mesmerized by this holiday musical light show that they dedicated an hour every night that Christmas season to parking on Mirror Lake and simply letting John Palmer watch in wonder. When Christmastime rolled around again, John Palmer began begging his parents to erect a display in their own yard, which at that time was on Valley Road. Lacy admits that she initially stood in strong opposition to the idea of replacing her tasteful, grownup decorations with a yard full of inflatables, but the persistence of a preschooler is a powerful thing. Much to John Palmer's delight, his mama eventually relented, under one condition: John Palmer, with a little help from his dad John, would oversee the operation from start to finish. Today, Lacy Kells marvels at the evolution of her son's holiday displays and says with a laugh, "Honestly, I just assumed it was a phase." On the contrary, with every passing year, e John Palmer Kells Halloween and Christmas displays have grown bigger and better, and as word of the extravaganzas continues to spread, more cars line their street each holiday. John Palmer constantly pursues new ways to expand his knowledge and skills. In fact, he was recently featured on the local news in Daytona Beach, Florida, for being the youngest ever to attend their Christmas Expo to take classes on electrical wiring. And what does the third-grader think of this publicity and mounting attention around town? "Well, it's In the weeks leading up to both Halloween and Christmas each year, e Kells family's yard becomes a veritable holiday wonderland of dozens of seasonal inflatables complete with a light show synchronized to spooky songs or Christmas carols that can be broadcast from your car's FM radio. John Palmer Kells prepares to light up the neighborhood

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