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About The Siuslaw news. (Florence, Lane County, Or.) 1960-current | View Entire Issue (Dec. 14, 2016)
THESIUSLAWNEWS . COM ❘ / SIUSLAWNEWS ❘ @ SIUSLAWNEWS WEDNESDAY EDITION Siuslaw News ❘ DECEMBER 14, 2016 ❘ SECTION B SENIOR NEWS CALENDAR Coast Life O H C HRISTMAS T REE INSIDE — 7B PHOTOS BY MARK BRENNAN/SIUSLAW NEWS Trees — be they Noble, Douglas, Nordman or Grand Fir — line Linda Wilcox’s prop- erty at 37th Street and Highway 101. Wilcox also offers wreaths and fir swags for sale. CYAN MAGENTA YELLOW BLACK Linda Wilcox’s holiday tree tradition turns 20 T here are some holiday traditions that are passed from genera- tion to generation and some that develop over time. The latter is the case with Linda Wilcox and her Christmas tree busi- ness. It started with a few dozen trees transported to Florence in the back of station wagon and sold out of her laun- dromat. These trees sold quickly and the seeds of a successful family business had been sown. Fast forward 20 years later, and the success of that first hum- ble attempt has blossomed into a full- blown holiday extravaganza. Wilcox moved the enterprise from the laundromat to her front and side yards a few years back, and these spaces are now lined with Noble, Douglas, Nordman and Grand Firs. The yard is strung with thousands of lights and 20 or more inflatable holi- day characters bob in the afternoon breeze. Linda Wilcox is a woman of few words when it comes to discussing the amount of time and energy she has invested over the years building her business, but she is happy with the results. “When I first started this, I had no idea how big it would become. I guess I am just really happy that I can bring a little Christmas cheer to my friends and neighbors every year,” she said. When asked how many trees she has distributed over the years she paused, thinking for a moment and calculating. “I have averaged about 350 trees a B Y M ARK B RENNAN Siuslaw News year and this is the twentieth year, so I guess about 7,000 trees,” Wilcox said. High quality trees have always been an important focus for Wilcox. She switches out old trees and replaces them when they start to drop needles and keeps an eye on the droopy trees. “I (received) a fresh shipment of 60 trees on Monday, and I will be open ’til Christmas Eve — or until the trees are gone, whichever comes first,” she said. “I have had people come up and ask if they can get a tree on Christmas morn- ing.” Over the years, wreaths and swags have been added to the inventory avail- able to customers. Wilcox also collects food and cloth- ing for distribution to local charities. “This year we are collecting food for the Kiwanis. Folks can stop by and drop off cans of food and help them- selves to some cookies and hot choco- late,” Wilcox said. “And Santa will be here on Saturday to visit with the kids from 4 to 7 p.m.” The seasonal fun doesn’t end when the sun goes down as there is a roaring campfire going at night to keep visitors warm and dry. There is also a covered porch that has lots of snacks, casserole dishes and coffee and hot cocoa, all for free. Wilcox smiled easily as she sat and looked around at the little Christmas land she has created for the communi- ty. “I started out hoping to bring in some good trees and to make a little money, I never expected it to be such a big hit,” she said. Wilcox’s tree lot is located on the corner of 37th Street and Highway 101 and is open daily from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. Linda Wilcox (above) has been running her tree lot at 37th Street for 20 years. It is now a family tradition as well as a community standard, with fresh trees through Christmas Eve. Bright lights, holiday decora- tions, festive music, an evening bonfire — even a visit from Santa Claus on Saturday, Dec. 17 — are all part of the fun for the whole family. Confectionary construction Siuslaw Public Library hosts annual family gingerbread house party T here’s no place like home for the holidays — especially a tasty ginger- bread house. Siuslaw Public Library Youth Services Librarian Gayle Waiss con- tinued the holiday tradition of inviting community youth to the library Saturday to decorate graham cracker houses with royal icing, marshmallows, chocolates, breakfast cereal, pretzels and candy — tons of candy. Mapleton High School students (right) helped Waiss and library staff con- struct the building materials during a recent field trip. Hundreds of youth and their families attended throughout the day. PHOTOS BY MACKENZIE CLEARY AND CHANTELLE MEYER/SIUSLAW NEWS
