Winner chosen in store front contest

Bee Tree Folk School, located at 30 E. Idaho St., has been chosen as the winner of the Weiser Signal American’s Best Dressed Business store window decorating contest.
 Owners Dennis and Sandy Cooper included in their design a Christmas tree, Santa Claus, old-fashioned streetlamp, train set, a variety of colorful lights, and a Nativity scene.
 “We are just thrilled,” Sandy told WSA on Monday. “We had a lot of Christmas stuff and we decided to use it all; we just threw all the ammo we had at it. We also thought it would be nice to have at least one window in town that had something to do with Christ – you know, the reason for the season.”
 The Nativity scene was one of the distinguishing features separating the Coopers’ display from the other entries, prompting WSA judges to choose Bee Tree as the winner.
 “The deciding factor was that they really took the time to create that whole vintage look with the train, the Nativity scene, and how well they lit up their window,” said WSA Advertising Director Sheri Smit. 
 In an effort to bring back some of the nostalgia of Christmas past, the contest challenged participating businesses to dress up their store fronts as they commonly appeared at a time when window shopping was more prevalent, especially during the Christmas season. 
 Participants included Jim Pike and Co., Sassy Women Boutique and Styles Hair Salon, Peoples Furniture, Station Thirty, Weiser Classic Candy, MTE, The Metropole, Idaho Custom Designs and Rustic River Decor and More, CaseyGirl Designs, Cook Shack on 7th, Artful Bon’s, Mistletoe Manor Christmas Tree Farm, The Cobbler, and Magically Made, K Hardware, Pickers Paradise and the Weiser Public Library.
 “I remember seeing all of the windows when I was growing up and people would drive around looking at them,” Sandy said. “I remember the merchants doing that and it was very nice. We looked forward to seeing them every year.”
 Putting the display together, however, wasn’t easy.
 “It took us a while because Dennis just had cataract surgery and all of our Christmas decorations were stored up there,” Sandy said, pointing to a perch located 10 feet above an interior room of their shop.
 “We had to get our 12-foot ladder, which was in storage, but we waited until our son Clayton came into town and had the kid do it,” Dennis chuckled.
 The winner not only received the Best Dressed Business title, but also received a $1,200 WSA ad package to be donated to the local nonprofit of their choice. The Coopers chose ROSE Advocates in Weiser as the recipient.
 “I love the idea of being able to give back. It’s really nice because it gives you the opportunity to help out a nonprofit and most nonprofits are woefully underfunded,” Sandy said. “It was tough to decide because we have so many good nonprofits – like Love INC and Angel Wings – that do great things in the community, but we felt like ROSE Advocates could use the extra publicity.”
 ROSE Advocates provides an extensive list of support services for victims of sexual and domestic abuse.
 “How exciting; that is so awesome!” exclaimed ROSE Advocates Executive Director Veronica Vasquez upon hearing the news. “We are so excited! We need to get back out there and let people know that we are here for everyone and providing our services, and this will help. We so appreciate that Sandy and Dennis chose us.”

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Signal American

18 E. Idaho St.
Weiser, ID 83672
PH: (208) 549-1717
FAX: (208) 549-1718
 

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