Earthbox Motel & Spa won the San Juan Island Chamber of Commerce’s 2010 Holiday Decorating Contest, Dec. 3.
“We had 16 entries — that was more than last year,” Chamber President Julie Corey wrote in e-mailed results. “We would like to have everyone participate next year.”
Earthbox received the grand prize of $100 and gets its name on a trophy that it gets to display for a year.
“Earthbox — wow, lights! Wow, display! The chamber heard that some Santa helpers hand-painted all of those characters,” Corey wrote. “Way to go, Laura and Cindy and friends.”
The other winners, with comments from Corey:
Large
—First: Islanders Bank, $75. “Inside and out, love the talking Santa and snow on trees!”
— Second: Village at the Harbor, $50. “Go look inside and out. Warm, cozy Christmas feeling.”
— Third: Inter Island Medical Center, $25 gift certificate donated by Home Port Flooring & Design. “Very creative Christmas chickens! Go see!”
Small
—First: Roy’s Coffee and Deli, $75. “Make sure you drive through or you will miss the salmon display!”
— Second: San Juan Islands Agricultural Guild, $50. “Awesome gingerbread house!”
— Third: Merle’s Masonry, $25 gift certificate donated by Home Port Flooring & Design. “Inside and out, biggest candy kisses we ever saw!”
The Holiday Decorating Contest was part of the Island Lights Festival, and included the annual tree-lighting ceremony at Memorial Park. More than 140 people sang carols, enjoyed cocoa and coffee, made ornaments and had their pictures taken with Santa.
Corey expressed thanks to the following:
— “Did you see Frosty the Snowman (Diane H.), Rudolph, the Christmas Tree and a VERY BIG Gingerbread Boy?”
— Valmark: “Thank you for giving the Chamber the money we needed to light up the trees! We are so lucky to have your continued support for the community and Chamber events.”
— CenturyLink: “Bill H and his crew — Thank you for years of getting those snowflakes up.”
— Town of Friday Harbor: “We are so grateful to David Smith and everyone. Your help with the streets and the elm tree lights is so appreciated. Thank you.”
— San Juan County Sheriff’s Department: “Thank you for keeping all of us safe on the streets.”
— OPALCO: “Bobby and Russ, thank you for hanging lights and snowflakes on the elm trees. You made the trees look so beautiful this year.”
— Windjammer Cable: Thank you for getting those banners up! They look great!”
— Port of Friday Harbor: Tammy and crew, thank you for the use of the clock tower for Santa pictures. It was fun.”
— Music director Angel Michaels, Island Chordsmen, and Singing Sound Vibrations: “You really know how to have a big singalong. You all sound so beautiful! You made it feel like Christmas town!”
— Island Rec: “Sally and ladies! You did a wonderful job making holiday ornaments will all ages. Having you there makes this night a very fun event.”
— Kiwanis Club: “President Tammy told me they gave out 200 free hot dogs and a lot of hot cocoa. The K-Boose looked so festive.”
— Soroptimist’s International: “Lovely ladies with such wonderful coffee! They handed out free coffee and cookies with lots of holiday wishes to us all. Cookie bakers, you know who you are. Thank you!”
— Santa and elves Mark G and Ruth O: “This amazing group took 67 pictures and collected over 100 cans of food and $125 cash for the Food Bank. Amazing! Thank you!”
— Dollars For Scholars: “Two young ladies that volunteered to help — thank you.”
— Chamber staff and board members: “Kerry and Kent and Tom. You guys are wonderful! Thank you for all of your help.”
