St. Regis Holiday Bazaar continues to thrive
Holiday shoppers gathered at the St. Regis Community Center for the Annual St. Regis Community Council bazaar on Saturday, Dec. 2 for find unique and fun gifts. (Kathleen Woodford/Mineral Independent).
11-year-old Brooke Filek sold holiday treats at the bazaar in the St. Regis Community Center to add to her college fund for Montana State University where she wants to study to become a veterinarian. (Kathleen Woodford/Mineral Independent).
Kirk Bruce recently moved into the area and had a table of stones drilled out to be a vase, planter or even a candle holder at the holiday bazaar in St. Regis last Saturday. (Kathleen Woodford/Mineral Independent).
Mary Eldridge (left) made and donated a quilt to be raffled off with funds raised for the St. Regis Senior Center. Mary Burrows, far right, helped to sell tickets at the holiday bazaar. (Kathleen Woodford/Mineral Independent).
With more years than they can remember, Ilene Wolff and Kathy Koepke said the St. Regis Community Council has been putting on the Annual Holiday Bazaar. This year they had more tables than in the past with 38 which is 10 more than last year said Wolff.
The ladies, dress in holiday apparel including Santa hats, welcomed people and took money for raffle tickets. Raffle winners received a laundry list of things including gift baskets, certificates, clothing and much more. Funds raised go to a $1,000 scholarship for anyone who graduated from St. Regis High School regardless of what year they graduated.
There were a couple of other tables gathering donations for raffle tickets as well. The St. Regis Senior Center was raffling off a lovely quilt made by Mary Eldridge. Eldridge belongs to the Cabin Fever Quilt Guild and said she started sewing when she was just five-years-old making clothes for her dolls.
The drawing for the quilt will be held on February 5 at a dinner the Senior Center will be hosting. The Mineral County We Care Foundation was also holding a raffle for 50/50 tickets. Fund raised will be used to provide assistance to families and individuals in need.
There were tables full of a wide-range of items including jewelry, candles, and knitted items. People wandered around the room picking up Christmas gifts and perhaps gifts for themselves. Tyler Cheesman was on-hand making custom t-shirts. Next to Tyler was her mother selling a variety of iron hooks, hangers and home décor. In the summer she runs the small business, Exit 33 Lawn and Garden Décor shop.
Julie Thomas-Buckhouse from St. Regis had a table full of hand carved elk antler jewelry. As well as polished stone necklaces and earrings beautifully wrapped in silver and copper wire. Young entrepreneurs also had tables. Macy Hill, 12, was selling snowmen she had made out of socks filled with rice which she said would make a great door stop. She also had jewelry made from colorful rubber bands and candles. Alongside her was her brother who was selling a tableful of toys.
Eleven-year-old Brooke Filek is already on the road to success as she sold a variety of baked and canned goods including salsa her dad had made. She is raising money for her college fund and wants to attend Montana State University and become a veterinarian.
There was a table of chain maille jewelry by WB Links. Holding up a chain, Ben McFadgen said it can take up to a week to intricately link the tiny round pieces of metal together. Next to him was Kirk Bruce who recently move to St. Regis from Alberton. He had local stones polished and drilled out to be used as a vase, candle holder or a planter.
The bazaar ran from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. and was held at the St. Regis Community Center.