Tanning business launches a holiday window contest

Friday, Dec. 11, 2009

There's nothing like a little brightening up for the holidays to get customers in the door, and a business on Great Mills Road has gotten into the spirit with a window-display competition.

The business receiving the most votes cast through today on the Web site of Endless Summer Tanning or at this weekend's Winter Wonderland Festival at the Bay District firehouse will receive a $500 prize from the Lexington Park Business and Community Association.

Dawn Stauffer, a tanning facilitator at the business, said the idea is intended to help entice holiday shoppers to return to what was once St. Mary's primary retail area.

"We were just sitting around talking," Stauffer said, and decided upon the contest intended to address the nationwide economic downturn that has compounded the recent decline of Great Mills Road as a retail center. "We were trying to get people back into Lexington Park," she said.

Contestants listed on the tanning business' Web site at lexingtonparktanning.blogspot.com include Hair in the Square, Sake Japanese Restaurant, Grapevine Antique and Collectibles, Linda's Café, The Lexington Restaurant and Lounge, The Mattress Corner, P.J.'s Auto Body, Raley's Home Furnishings, Donut Connection and Hope Place of Walden.

Stauffer said additional businesses can take part and receive votes tomorrow, Saturday, at the Winter Wonderland event being held from 5:30 to 9 p.m. at the Co. 3 firehouse on South Shangri-La Drive in Lexington Park.

Endless Summer Tanning is not on the list of contestants. The tanning salon disqualified itself from winning. For more information, call 301-737-6050.

Flea market coming to fairgrounds

St. Mary's County Fair Association is having a mega indoor flea market from 8 a.m. to noon tomorrow, Saturday, at the fairgrounds just south of Leonardtown. All vendors and crafters are welcome. An 8-by-10 space with one table may be rented for $20. To reserve a space, call 301-475-9543.

Sotterley plans pre-holiday sale

The Sotterley Plantation's museum shop in Hollywood will hold a pre-holiday "Sale of the Season" from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. tomorrow, Saturday, featuring shelves stocked with new and special merchandise. Shoppers will also receive up to 60 percent off some items. Further discounts are extended to Sotterley members and volunteers. Call 301-373-2280 or 800-681-0850, or go online to www.sotterley.org.

Lighthouse begins holiday exhibit

The Piney Point Lighthouse Museum & Historic Park kicks off its presentation tomorrow, Saturday, of special holiday exhibit inside the Keeper's Quarters themed "I'll Be Home for Christmas," with a focus on earlier eras of Christmases that took place at the lighthouse. Visitors also can enjoy tours of the museum and maritime exhibit, and climb to the top of the lighthouse tower.

The schedule for tours of the holiday exhibit includes tomorrow and Sunday, followed by Dec. 19 and 20, and then daily from Dec. 26 through Jan. 3. The museum is open from noon to 4 p.m. Call 301-994-1471 or see www.stmarysmd.com/recreate/museums.

Hollywood church to host cookie sale

Hollywood United Methodist Church will hold its 10th annual home-baked Christmas cookie sale on Saturday, Dec. 19, at the church hall. Doors will open at 9 a.m., and close when all the cookies are sold. The cost will be $10 per container. Call 301-373-2500.

Christmas concert planned for Dec. 19

The Sanford Concert Series' annual Christmas concert featuring four members of the Washington National Opera will be held at 7:30 p.m. on Saturday, Dec. 19, at St. Andrew's Episcopal Church, located at 44078 St. Andrew's Church Road in California. The concert of songs of Christmas and the winter season will include traditional carols, and the audience is invited to sing along. For more information, call 301-862-9541 or go online to www.sanfordconcertseries.com.

Church plans New Year's Eve dance

A New Year's Eve dance will be held on Dec. 31 at Immaculate Conception Parish Hall in Mechanicsville. The dance will be held from 8 p.m. to 12:30 a.m., with door prizes and a 50-50 raffle. Music will be provided by Master Man. There will be a free breakfast at midnight.

Tickets cost $25 a person, or $50 a couple. Call 301-884-2517 or 301-884-3123, or e-mail daadams@md.metrocast.net.

jwharton@somdnews.com