APPALACHIAN ALUMNI INVITED TO WHITE HOUSE WHERE TWO CHRISTMAS TREES ARE ADORNED WITH HANDCRAFTED ORNAMENTS FROM LOCAL ARTISANS
US Fed News Service, Including US State News December 1, 2006 Appalachian State University issued the following press release:
Three Appalachian State University graduates were invited to the White House yesterday to preview two White House Christmas trees which are adorned with ornaments crafted by Western North Carolina artisans.
The invitation was issued by First Lady Laura Bush to Gloria Houston, Shirley Hise and Patti Jensen, all representatives from the Spruce Pine-based Home of the Perfect Christmas Tree project.
In 2003, Houston gave the rights to her award-winning book children’s book “The Year of the Perfect Christmas Tree” to Mitchell County. Two years later, the Mitchell County Development Foundation leased and renovated a retail facility in downtown Spruce Pine to serve as the Home of the Perfect Christmas Tree store to help address the areas economic challenges that resulted after losing more than 2,500 textile, furniture and other manufacturing sector jobs to outsourcing. website christmas tree store
The store sells handcrafted products that are licensed as Home of the Perfect Christmas Tree merchandise. The Home of the Perfect Christmas Tree collection now features more than 300 high quality products by 30 product makers from the mountain counties of Mitchell, Yancey, McDowell, Avery and Buncombe.
In addition, a portion of royalties received from product sales are used to fund a scholarship program designed to combat low student retention rate at Mitchell High School.
UNC-TV will broadcast a 30-minute special on the project Dec. 25 at 7:30 p.m.
Houston is a 1962 graduate of Appalachian. Hise is executive director of the Mitchell County Chamber of Commerce. She earned a master’s degree from Appalachian in 1985. Jensen is director of travel and tourism for the chamber and project manager of the Home of the Perfect Christmas Tree project. She earned a bachelor’s degree from Appalachian in 1987.
Congressman Patrick McHenry contacted Mrs. Bush’s office in July to recommend the Home of the Perfect Christmas Tree project be a part of the White House’s 2006 Christmas celebration. The First Lady’s office notified the congressman and Hise in August to inform them that the Home of the Perfect Christmas Tree was selected to participate. this web site christmas tree store
“Mrs. Bush’s invitation to the White House and public recognition of this project shows – on an unprecedented scale – that Western North Carolina is blessed with innovative and dedicated people who are fighting to improve our region,” McHenry said.
Home of the Perfect Christmas Tree project representatives attended a decorators’ reception at the White House Nov. 30 hosted by Mrs. Bush. Two White House Christmas trees are decorated with 135 hand-blown red glass balls and 115 Carolina Snowflakes, courtesy of the Home of the Perfect Christmas Tree collection.
“This is a once in a lifetime chance for a small community such as Spruce Pine and Mitchell County,” Hise said. “Our county and town have experienced devastating losses over the past several years, having lost one-third of our manufacturing jobs in furniture and in textiles. However, our Home of the Perfect Christmas Tree project is a story of hope and courage in the life of a community that is trying to rebuild for the future.” Hise added that, “Being featured in the White House Christmas for 2006 has brought excitement to our community. This is only something one dreams, and for us, it is a dream come true.”
