LIGHTS OUT Florida City Battles to End ‘Extreme’ Lights Display
of the court’s decision. By 2017, “Hyatt Extreme Christmas” was in full swing again, much to their neighbors’ chagrin. Mark Hyatt rode the wave of support for his display all the way to a vacant seat on the Plantation City Council in 2016, but the highs would soon stop there. Plantation news outlets reported in 2018 that Mark Hyatt filed for divorce, effectively ending any hope of another “Hyatt Extreme Christmas.” As the snow has settled, an extravagant lights display has instead become a story of nasty court battles with a sad ending for the Hyatts and their “extreme” Christmas devotees.
There’s nothing quite like the magic of twinkling Christmas lights. But for city officials in Plantation, Florida, Christmas lights are a stark reminder of a prolonged fight, nearly $500,000 in court fees, and continued drama.
potential injury or death to pedestrians due to the traffic. Police officers in Plantation were dispatched to the light display multiple times each season for complaints by neighbors, accidents, and traffic control. After a two-year battle in court, a judge ruled in favor of the Hyatts, claiming the city could not prove the display was dangerous or a nuisance. The city had spent nearly half a million dollars fighting their case.
In 2014, Plantation sued residents Mark and Kathy Hyatt for their “Hyatt Extreme Christmas” lights display, claiming it was a “public nuisance.” Each year, the Hyatts decorated their yard with more than 200,000 lights, snow, a Christmas tree, a Nativity scene, a functioning Ferris wheel, and more. Their creation was featured on two nationally televised programs and attracted flocks of visitors. But, for the Hyatt’s neighbors, extreme didn’t even begin to explain the chaos. Neighbors complained to the city about increased traffic, litter in their yards, and
For the Hyatts, Christmas 2016 was a celebration, though their display was restrained due to the timing
Arroz con Pollo a la Chorrera
Ingredients
Directions
1. In a large bowl, combine chicken thighs, sour orange juice, minced garlic, cumin, and oregano. Season with salt and pepper to taste and mix until well combined. Marinate the chicken for a minimum of 30 minutes up to overnight in the refrigerator. 2. Remove the chicken from the marinade and pat dry. In a large, wide pot, heat the annatto oil over medium heat.Working in batches, add the chicken skin side down and cook, turning once, for 7–8 minutes per side or until golden brown. Remove and set aside. 3. In the same pot, combine the onion, green pepper, and red pepper and cook 5–6 minutes until soft.Add the chopped garlic and cook 1 minute.Add the chopped tomato and white wine and cook 3–4 minutes to cook out the alcohol a bit. Pour in 2 cups of the chicken stock and return the chicken to the pot. Reduce the heat to medium-low and simmer for 10 minutes. 4. Add the rice and saffron and continue to cook 5–7 minutes until most of the liquid is absorbed. Pour in another 2 cups of the stock and continue to cook, stirring occasionally, until most of the liquid has been absorbed, about 7–8 minutes. 5. Add the final 2 cups of the stock and the beer, and cook for 5 more minutes. Add the capers, peas, and roasted red pepper.Turn down the heat, cover, and let sit for 10 minutes.Taste for seasoning and adjust to taste.
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1/2 cup lager-style beer
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3 lbs bone-in, skin-on chicken thighs
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2 tbsp capers in brine
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1/3 cup sour orange juice
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1 10-oz box frozen peas, thawed
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1 tbsp minced garlic
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1 cup roasted red pepper, thinly sliced
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1 tsp ground cumin
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1 tsp dried oregano
ANNATTO OIL Ingredients •
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Salt and pepper, to taste
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1/4 cup annatto oil (see oil recipe)
2 tbsp achiote seeds
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1 cup yellow onion, chopped
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1/2 cup olive oil
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1/2 cup green bell pepper, chopped
Directions 1. In a small saucepan over medium- low heat, combine the achiote seeds and olive oil and cook 5–7 minutes. Remove from heat and let cool. Strain out the seeds and keep the oil in a jar with a tight lid. Annatto oil can be stored for up to a month as a seasoning for yellow rice, meat, and poultry dishes.
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1/2 cup red bell pepper, chopped
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2 cloves fresh garlic, chopped
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1 cup tomato, seeded and chopped
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1/2 cup dry white wine
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6 cups chicken stock
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3 cups medium-grain white rice
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1/4 tsp saffron threads, crumbled
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