William Floyd School District: WFMS Teacher's "LI Lights Map" Still Brightening The Holidays

Press release from the William Floyd School District:

2021-12-20

Grab a cup of hot chocolate, hop in your car, turn up the radio with the “sounds of the season” and check out the lights!

To help spread holiday cheer and encourage families to enjoy the Christmas lights that only come around this time of year, William Floyd Middle School general music teacher Jonathan Dignam has compiled a list of the locations of the best decorated homes in Nassau and Suffolk counties on an easy-to-use Google map available on his LI Lights Map Facebook page and here for non-Facebook users. The map, which launched about five years ago and what has become Mr. Dignam’s “winter hobby,” lists the locations of nearly 500 homes that are festively decorated for the holiday season. The map also extends into New York City.

WFMS general music teacher Jonathan Dignam in front of one of the 500 houses featured in his “LI Lights Map."

“I started this map in 2015 because I could not remember where the awesome houses were and would have to bring the newspaper or print out addresses from online,” said Mr. Dignam, who usually checks out the lights with his daughter. So the LI Lights Map was born – first as a tool of convenience and now something that has brought joy to many. His lights map has nearly 2 million views since its inception and the Facebook page has amassed more than 11,500 likes and nearly 12,500 followers.

This spreadsheet has the addresses organized by town. "It also lists which houses have been verified (to be decorated) for this year and which houses have a light show," said Mr. Dignam.

Link to LI Lights Map: (When it opens click on a green bulb. If you are using a phone swipe up to see a pic or two. if you want to go to that house just click directions and your nav app will take you there.)

Link to LI Lights Map Scavenger Hunt

Link to "Elf on the Shelf" Scavenger Hunt

Mr. Dignam’s comprehensive list has been compiled from a variety of sources including newspaper articles, social media groups and online forums, as well as the old-fashioned “just driving around looking for lights” method. He also relies on tips from his Facebook followers and fellow map users who send him messages of new addresses or “duds” that get removed.

If you would like your home added to the map or know a good one that hasn’t been included yet, you can message him through the LI Lights Map Facebook page or email him at jonmtme@yahoo.com.

*Note: This story was featured over the past few years and updated to reflect the latest stats, information and links.

This press release was produced by the William Floyd School District. The views expressed here are the author’s own.