OUR TOWN: Chamber shines a spotlight on local holiday decor

Ormond Beach Observer
Business

The chamber awarded businesses and residents for their holiday decorations.

BY EMILY BLACKWOOD

Ormond Beach residents and businesses had more of a reason to decorate for the holidays this year, when the Ormond Beach Chamber of Commerce recently announced the new holiday portion of its quarterly beautification awards. The winners are as follows:

Mark and Jill Gillespy, Best Residential Holiday Decorations
Charles and Margo Dupree, Beautification Award
Larry and Kay Ford, Best Residential Christmas Decorations
JC’s Clock and Jewelry, Best Business Holiday Decorations

Jim Beauchaine said that he and his wife, Cindy, who own JC's Clock and Jewelry, were pleased to be recognized for their efforts to keep their business looking nice. Their daughter's boyfriend, Taylor Lewis, did the decorating for them.

"We always wanted to put lights up but, being as busy as we are, we don't have time," Jim Beauchaine said. "We were kinda thinking that if we put lights up, other people would start putting lights up and decorating for Christmas. It just gets everybody in the mood for Christmas."

This was Trace Pendry's first year as a part of the Beautification Committee, a group that spotlights organizations and individuals that make visual upgrades to their properties. He is currently also the director of Florida Hospital Memorial Foundation, as well the vice president of its community development.

"City Hall was nice just because of the diversity in the display," Pendry said. "For me personally, seeing a city building that still had a nativity was very impactful."

He also made note of the decorations on some of the homes on Beach Street.

"We have great citizens in Ormond Beach, and I think its just a way for them to show the community that you care about not only your own home but our community," Pendry said. "You want to put your best foot forward, and I think it's a great extension of these individual families."