THE MONTANA STANDARD, FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 26, 2010 C1
Anaconda Stroll Edition GEORGE PLAVEN / THE MONTANA STANDARD
TERRY BLAZ, county electrician, hangs Christmas garland over Park Avenue at Hickory Street from his perch atop a cherry picker. Blaz, 52, has helped put up town decorations for the past five years.
Christmas decorations installed Christmas 2010
BY GEORGE PLAVEN of The Montana Standard
ANACONDA — The cherry picker let out a mechanical hum as it lifted Terry Blaz high above Park Avenue. Battling a chilly breeze on a recent Monday afternoon, the Anaconda-Deer Lodge County electrician carefully hung strands of green garland as a festive reminder: Christmas is coming. Blaz, along with Parks and Recreation foreman John Leo Sladich and roads laborer Eric Anderson, are the men responsible for holiday decorations across town. The trio also worked early last week to string lights around the Kennedy Common tree, which will emit its first glow Nov. 26 during the annual Anaconda Christmas Stroll. Blaz, 52, has had a hand in putting up decorations for the past five years. The job comes with its rewards, he said.
See DECORATIONS, Page C3
2010 Christmas Stroll GEORGE PLAVEN / THE MONTANA STANDARD
ELIZABETH MILLER, 14, right, and friend Michelle Courtney, 14, practice their “Night Before Christmas” live mannequin pose on the couch at Miller’s home in Anaconda. The girls will participate in the contest as part of the annual Anaconda Christmas Stroll, Nov. 26, with 18 total children in nine downtown store windows. Judges select the winner, who will receive Anaconda Bucks from the Chamber of Commerce.
Freeze! Live mannequins back for Christmas Stroll BY GEORGE PLAVEN
A
of The Montana Standard
NACONDA — ElizaBeth Miller is not normally this still. As the annual Anaconda Christmas Stroll approaches, the 14-year-old Fred Moodry Middle School eighth-grader slows to a winter freeze for the live mannequin contest. The pairing is somewhat ironic, jokes her mother, Jana Roe. “She doesn’t even sit that still in her sleep,” Roe said with a smile. Miller and friend Michelle Courtney, also a 14-year-old eighth-grader at FMMS, will work together this year to create a motionless lookin based on “The Night Before Christmas.” The list of “no’s” is exhausting, like their exhausted muscles after holding a long pose: no smiling, no laughing, no sneezing, no talking and no scratching, among others. Friends and passers-by don’t make it any easier, Miller said. “It’s tough when people I know come up and ask questions, or just do other stupid stuff,” she said.
See MANNEQUINS, Page C2
●●●
Locations Nine Anaconda businesses will host live mannequins this year. They are: ■ Anaconda Florist, 209 E. Park Ave. ■ Beyond Necessity Gifts, 301 E. Park Ave. ■ Hardware Hank, 216 W. Park Ave. ■ Hoyal Jewelry, 116 E. Park Ave. ■ Lutey’s Furniture & Appliance, 221 E. Park Ave. ■ Midtown Variety, 222 W. Park Ave. ■ Pad N Pencil, 210 E. Park Ave. ■ Park Avenue Flooring, 121 E. Park Ave. ■ Thrifty Drug Store, 201 E. Park Ave. Organizer Jana Roe said that, while making faces is part of the game, they discourage people from hitting the windows or touching any of the mannequins.
& Tree Lighting Friday, November 26 th Kennedy Common Emcee, Jim Morley, will begin the Festivities at 6pm. Followed by an Invocation by the Reverend John Toles, a welcome from Becky Guay and the count down to the Tree Lighting. After the Tree Lighting, at 6:15pm, drawings will be done for the Christmas Cash Giveaway. 4 $25.00 gift certificates will be given away. Make sure to have your stroll buttons! At 6:30pm the Parade to downtown shops will begin. Live mannequins will be in shop windows from 6:45pm - 7:30pm. Santa Claus will be at the Anaconda Chamber for photos and there will be treats for the kids.
ANACONDA CHAMBER OF COMMERCE 306 E Park Ave., Anaconda •563-2400
●●●
C2 THE MONTANA STANDARD, FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 26, 2010
Anaconda Stroll
May Your Days Be Merry & Bright
BUTTON BOOSTER
Business owner cranks out holiday tradition, one by one BY GEORGE PLAVEN
Drawings for ‘bucks’
of The Montana Standard 307 E. Park Anaconda, MT 563-5203 Member FDIC
A Safe and Happy Holiday Season From Our Family to Yours!
Enjoy the Stroll! 1200 E. Commercial • Anaconda • 563-5225 www.deemotors.com
Start Your Stroll Off At:
Thompson’ Thompson’ss Bar Bar Stroll Special All Hot Drinks
ICE TO GO
LIVE KENO
213 Main Anaconda • 563-9921
Jordan Contracting would like to wish Anaconda a happy holiday season!
A
NACONDA — For one week every year, Jim Killoy accepts a second full-time job. The seasonal work is tedious, repetitive and precise. But, when finished, it packs a holiday boost to the pockets of residents and local businesses alike. Since 1995, Killoy is the man behind each handcrafted Anaconda Christmas Stroll button that adds cheer to every sweater and extra spending money to a few lucky wallets. Individually numbered buttons are eligible to win “Anaconda Bucks” over four raffle drawings beginning Stroll night on Nov. 26. Killoy, already partowner of Mother Lode Gifts with his wife, Barbara, accounts for every individual number: 2,750 this year, adding up to 40 hours at the grind. And that’s with an automatic machine, he said. “It’s probably a week’s worth of work,” Killoy said. “You set yourself a goal, and you’d like to get at least a couple hundred done per day.” Until 1998, Killoy pressed batches of buttons with a manual device that took quadruple the time, he said. “We figured there had to be a better way,” he said. The Anaconda Chamber of Commerce helped buy the new
There are four button drawings to win “Anaconda Bucks,” valid at participating local businesses. 6 p.m. Nov. 26 — Stroll night at the Kennedy Common, drawing for $700 in “Anaconda Bucks” and $200 in gift certificates 2 p.m. Dec. 5 — Good Neighbor Day, Anaconda Chamber of Commerce drawing for $500 in “Anaconda Bucks” and $200 in gift certificates 2 p.m. Dec. 12 — Chamber of Commerce drawing for $500 in “Anaconda Bucks” and $200 in gift certificates 2 p.m. Dec. 19 — Chamber of Commerce drawing for $500 in “Anaconda Bucks” and any remaining gift certificates GEORGE PLAVEN / THE MONTANA STANDARD
JIM KILLOY holds one of his stroll buttons next to the automatic button-making machine.
equipment, since Killoy had volunteered when its promotion committee needed a hand. Barbara Killoy, a longtime member on the committee, first thought they could chip away at the buttons during store hours. When that wasn’t possible, Jim spread out the operation at home. “I did it to help out the Chamber and my wife,” he said. The Chamber pays for about $600 in supplies, while the Anaconda Leader prints the winning
design. It all gets to Killoy by August, and he has until early November to turn in the finished product. “You just have to keep yourself focused,” he said. “I turn the music on, and away I go.” Stroll buttons sell for $2 each at participating stores, including Mother Lode Gifts. Businesses can also hold button drawings of their own to promote merchandise and attract customers. “It’s a way of getting people in to see what you
can offer them,” Killoy said. “People are looking for different things for Christmas, and this is when they start shopping. I feel I’m giving my part to help (businesses) promote.” In addition, Killoy said it’s all about getting people into the Christmas season. “They look forward to this,” he said. “It’s neat to see how many people this brings out.” Reporter George Plaven may be reached via e-mail at george.plaven@lee.net.
JOR DAN CONTRACTING, INC.
Enjoy the Stroll!
HARDWARE HANK 563-7851 216 W. Park
Happy Holidays Unique Christmas Decorations! New Gift Lines & More await you in our holiday store! 201 E. Park • Anaconda, MT
563-8441
Button design winner makes it 2 in a row BY GEORGE PLAVEN of The Montana Standard
ANACONDA — For the second straight year, Anthony Wood’s art will help ring in the Smelter City Christmas season. Wood, a 17-year-old senior at Anaconda High School, is again the winner of the Anaconda Christmas Stroll button design contest for his silhouette of a moose gazing at the stack from a clearing in the pines. His stood out from a crowd of designs submitted by students in Ellie Deeks’ art class. It is the second winning entry in as many tries for Wood. that I drew,” Wood said. “That’s “It’s really cool to walk around probably the best part.” and see someone with 30 buttons
Wood had other design ideas, but said they did not translate well on a button. He resorted back to a silhouette, which he said is a lot easier to draw. “Wildlife animals are always nice,” Wood said. “People also like to see something about their town incorporated into the button.” As a senior, Wood said he is not sure if he will get to submit one more entry before graduating to make a perfect 3-for-3. He will give it a shot if allowed, he said. Wood lives with his parents, Tom and Mary, older brother and two younger sisters. He said he plans to begin studying history next fall at Carroll College in Helena.
SALE OPEN TO THE PUBLIC 2 DAYS ONLY New Items Restocked Throughout Each Day!
COATS As Low As 10 SAVINGS UP TO 80% OFF $
00
• Seconds • Discontinued Items • Salesman Samples • Thousands of Designer Coats to Choose From • Offering More Larger Sizes Than Ever Before!
Montana Clothing Co. 321 W. Galena, Butte, MT
(directly behind the Masonic Temple)
n-Perishable Bring In 3 No The Food Food Item For eive A Bank & Rec
upon 10% OFF Co
Friday, December 3 11:00am-8:00pm Saturday, December 4 10:00am-3:00pm
May the season bring you music and laughter and the warmth of friendship!
Happy Holidays! SKAKLES AND
GALLAGHER AT T O R N E Y S AT L AW
e, Hot Chocolat t Cookies & Ho ed rv Se e Coffe Fri. & Sat.!
Greg J. Skakles Patrick T. Gallagher
117 Main Street Anaconda, MT 563-8409
●●●
Mannequin ... Continued from Page C1 Courtney took part for the first time last year, dressing up inside Subway and taking on the challenge of an hour-long straight face. “I had always been interested,” she said. “It’s just trying to stay still and trying to win.” Roe began helping organize the live mannequins four years ago with Deedra Heffernan. This year is her third since taking over sole responsibility.
Live mannequins have been part of the Christmas Stroll for as long as Roe can remember, she said. “Everybody stops, and they have to check out what the mannequins are doing,” she said. “The kids enjoy it, so that’s why I do it.” The contest has grown over the years to 18 mannequins, typically middle school and high school students, over nine storefront windows downtown. Stores may choose a theme consistent with their business and the season, Roe said. Past themes include ice skating, snowball fights
and “The Nutcracker.” Among the crowd that parades down Park Avenue from the Kennedy Common, three inconspicuous judges gander to see which mannequin best plays the part. “I don’t tell anybody who (the judges) are,” Roe said. “Everybody stops to look, so you never know.” Judges select a first-, second- and third-place winner. First place wins Anaconda Bucks from the Chamber of Commerce, valid at a long list of participating local businesses. Then-seventh-grader Trey Smollack won last
year, bundled up inside Four Star Video. Roe is hoping she can attract even more boys to future competitions, she said. Miller, a two-time winner herself, and Courtney each said they are feeling confident coming up on Stroll night. “I just want to have fun with it,” Courtney said. The 2010 Anaconda Christmas Stroll begins at 6 p.m. Friday, Nov. 26, the day after Thanksgiving. Reporter George Plaven may be reached via e-mail at george.plaven@lee.net.
●●●
THE MONTANA STANDARD, FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 26, 2010 C3
Anaconda Stroll
Anaconda Christmas Stroll, Good Neighbor Day 2010 Schedule of events
Anaconda Bucks are valid at the following businesses: Ace Hardware (1310 E. Commercial Ave.) Albertsons (1300 E. Park Ave.) Anaconda Building Center (55 N. Main St.) Anaconda Florist (209 E. Park Ave.) Anaconda Leader (121 Main St.) Barclay II Supper Club (1300 E. Commercial Ave.) Beyond Necessity Gifts (301 E. Park Ave.) Chamber of Commerce store (306 E. Park Ave.) Copper City Bowl (1500 E. Park Ave.) CVS Pharmacy (1300 E. Park Ave.) Dee Motor Company (1200 E. Commercial Ave.) Donivan’s (211 E. Park Ave.) Giddy-Up Tack & Feed (624 E. Park Ave.) Hardware Hank (216 W. Park Ave.) Hoyal Jewelry (116 E. Park Ave.) Lutey’s Furniture & Appliance (221 E. Park Ave.) Mother Lode Gifts (822 E. Park Ave.) Midtown Variety (222 W. Park Ave.) Pad N Pencil (210 E. Park Ave.) Park Avenue Flooring (121 E. Park Ave.) Safeway (1525 W. Park Ave.) Thrifty Drug Store (201 E. Park Ave.)
Friday, Nov. 26 — Stroll night, Kennedy Common (portions of Main Street, Park Avenue closed 5 to 8 p.m.) 5:30 p.m. — Santa Claus arrives at the Fire Department. 6 p.m. — Anaconda Chief Executive Becky Guay welcomes the crowd. Invocation by the Rev. John Toles. 6:15 p.m. — Pintler Search & Rescue coordinates the arrival of Santa, lighting of the tree. Christmas Cash Giveaway will award $700 in Anaconda Bucks and eight $25 gift certificates to local businesses. 6:30 p.m. — Parade downtown begins at Kennedy Common, down Main Street and east on Park Avenue to the Chamber of Commerce, 306 E. Park Ave. Pictures with Santa at the Chamber. 6:45 to 7:30 p.m. — Live mannequins in store windows downtown along parade route. Sunday, Dec. 5 — Good Neighbor Day Day honors the “Grumpy Old Men” and Anaconda Enhancement Group. Chamber of Commerce, 306 E. Park Ave., open noon to 4 p.m., with coffee, hot cider and cookies. Live entertainment by the Anaconda High School brass band, local band Short Notice and more. Glacier Bank, 307 E. Park Ave., open noon to 3 p.m., with live entertainment. Copper Village Museum and Art Center, 401 E. Commercial Ave., open 1 to 3 p.m., with refreshments and glass art exhibit, “Flow,” by Barry Hood of Helena. Ice sculptures at First Montana Bank, 123 Main St., and Thrifty Drug Store, 201 E. Park Ave. 2 p.m. — Giveaway $500 in Anaconda Bucks at the Chamber, donated by the Jo Casey family. Giveaway four $25 gift certificates to local businesses.
These businesses also sponsor the 2010 Anaconda Christmas Stroll Glacier Bank (307 E. Park Ave.) Southwest Montana Community Federal Credit Union (1035 W. Park Ave.) Thompson Bar (213 Main St.) Wells Fargo (120 W. Park Ave.)
May the warmth and peace of the holiday seasons be yours today and always!
435 South Crystal, Suite 400, Butte, MT • ( 4 0 6 ) 4 9 6 - 3 4 0 0
STROLL IN FOR GREAT HOLIDAY SAVINGS AT ANACONDA’S ACE HARDWARE ANACONDA 1310 E. Commercial 406.563.6060
GEORGE PLAVEN / THE MONTANA STANDARD
FROM LEFT, JOHN LEO SLADICH, 68, ERIC ANDERSON, 22, AND TERRY BLAZ, 52, worked several days in early November putting up the Anaconda town Christmas decorations. They also strung lights on the tree at Kennedy Common, where Santa will ring in the season Nov. 26 at the annual Christmas Stroll.
until shortly after New Year’s Day. The lights at Kennedy Common will stay until after the
Decorations ... Continued from Page C1 “It’s just great seeing everybody’s face light up when the lights go on,” Blaz said. “They really get everyone in the spirit.” Garland trees and bells also adorn light poles running downtown, where they will stay
skating rink is melted and dry, Sladich said, usually until April. Sladich, 68, has helped put up lights and decorations since 1996. “There’s an ‘ooh’ and ‘ahh’ that first night,” he said. “Absolutely, these add flair to the town.” Reporter George Plaven may be reached via e-mail at george.plaven@lee.net.
Happy Holidays!
The holidays are just around the corner. Create a space that’s beautiful, functional and comfortable with up to date color and design from Park Avenue Flooring & Design.
Enjoy Anaconda’s
Christmas Stroll
See you at the Anaconda Stroll!
GPS Systems starting at
From our families to yours.
79
$
14mp Digital Camera
Headphoness
79
00 $
00
9
$ 99
Apple
iPods
IMAGES FOR ILLUSTRATION PURPOSES ONLY, ACTUAL PRODUCT MAY VARY.
LUTEY’S DEPARTMENT STORE
563-5333
204 E Commercial, Anaconda • 563-7115
Wishing you
& your family the many blessings of this wonderful season.
400 South Clark St., Butte, 723-2500
●●●
Toast the Seasons with us!
221 EAST PARK AVE ANACONDA, MT 563-3781
May the holidays bring you pleasant memories and much happiness! A Holiday message from the Law Offices of
www.FairmontMontana.com • 800.332.3272 • I-90 Exit #211, 15 miles west of Butte
●●●
C4 THE MONTANA STANDARD, BUTTE, FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 26, 2010
We are proud to be part of the Anaconda Community!
EXCELLENCE IN HEALTH CARE IN OUR OWN COMMUNITY • Recipient of the Quality Achievement Award from the Mountain Pacific Quality Health Foundation in 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009 and 2010. • Recipient of the 2006, 2007 and 2008 Innovation in Health Care Award. • 24-Hour Emergency Department • Convenient Care Hours Daily • Accredited Radiology Department MRI • CT Scan • Ultrasound •Mammography • Physical & Occupational Therapy • Obstetrics • Medical Surgery
• Respiratory Therapy • Medical Laboratory • Hospice Services • Home Health • ADA Recognized Diabetes Self-Management Education Program • Montana’s Only Baby Friendly Designated Hospital • Medical Outreach Clinics • Cardiology • Orthopedics • Opthamology • General Surgery • Urology • Neurology • Eden Designated Long-term Care Facility
COMMUNITY NURSING HOME OF ANACONDA 615 Main St., Anaconda, MT 59711 • 563-8417
PINTLER HOME OPTIONS
108 Oak St, Anaconda MT 59711 • 563-7023
ANACONDA INTERNAL MEDICINE
1102 East Commercial, Anaconda MT 59711 • 563-8600
PINTLER FAMILY MEDICINE
305 West Pennsylvania, Anaconda MT 59711 • 563-8686
ANACONDA PEDIATRICS
200 Main St., Anaconda, MT 59711 • 563-7337
PINTLER SURGICAL SPECIALISTS
General Surgery Dr. Thomas J. McMahon Neuroscience & Spine Dr. Peter Sorini • Dr. Steven Martini 401 West Pennsylvania, Anaconda MT 59711 • 563-8545
401 West Pennsylvania, Anaconda, MT 59711 563-8500 • www.communityhospitalofanaconda.org