Residents in Throgs Neck are praising merchants who contribute money for the annual holiday lights on E. Tremont Avenue.

John Cerini, of the Throgs Neck Merchants Association, asked residents on his Facebook page what they thought of the lights. He says he received 400 comments in less than 24 hours about how great the lights are.

The lights cost $24,000 to be put up by a licensed contractor. Cerini says it's an expensive project, and more financial help is needed. He says out of the 300 plus merchants, only a mere 78 contribute to the holiday lights.

Cerini says the association was about $5,000 short for this year's decorations so fundraisers are planned to help make up the shortfall.