By STEPHANIE BRUMFIELD / Staff Writer

VINCENT – Kathy Copeland has been filling windows with elaborate Christmas displays for about 15 years, and this year, she’s brought the tradition to Vincent.

Copeland, the director of governmental and public relations for White Rock Quarries in Vincent, began the tradition at her home in Florida about 15 years ago, where she would fill her living room and dining room windows with Christmas decorations as well as transform her two-car garage into Santa’s workshop.

Now, in Vincent, Copeland has donned her office windows with dancing Santas, vintage decorations, trains and other Christmas decorations she’s collected over the years.

“It’s kind of like my Christmas card to Vincent,” Copeland said of the elaborate Christmas display. “You get a lot of traffic on this road, and it lights up downtown and makes it very festive. It’s really been fun because it’s a way for me to get to see people in town.”

Copeland said she started working on the display right after Halloween and has spent several hours each night after office hours working on getting everything set up.

“This year I’ve had quite a bit of help,” she said. “People have been coming by and will talk to me while I’m working and kind of watch it as it develops. It’s fun. People enjoy it and they want to help.”

Copeland said her office, which is located just down the street from the city’s Christmas tree, will be open every night in December until about 8 p.m. She will also host a reception for city officials and community members Dec. 19 at 5:30 p.m.

“Really, you can’t appreciate it unless you see it at night anyway,” she said. “Now that I’m part of this community, it’s something I enjoy doing, and its fun to watch people smile, especially when they’re looking through the windows.”