YOU DON'T HAVE to travel to New York to find window displays and storefronts that lure you into the holiday spirit.

Many windows in Westminster are enticing people of all ages to linger, to dream and, yes, to shop.

Since 1985, the city has awarded the Mayor's Cup to the business whose storefront best incorporates its products and the holiday spirit.

Businesses have rallied for the competition by creating windows that are everything from wacky to grand.

This year's competition was no exception.

Nineteen businesses competed, and the Mayor's Cup went to Davids Jewellers for its "Victorian Holiday Scene."

Every inch of the window offers visual wonder - snow-covered street scenes, a mirrored pond covered in diamonds, an antique train model pulling elegant jewels.

Michael Eastwood and Toni Pomeroy, sales associates at Davids Jewellers who created the window display, proudly pushed some of the diamonds off the mirrored pond to make room for the Mayor's Cup in the window.

"When we learned that we had won, I was so excited. I jumped up and down," Pomeroy said. "The store has been creating windows for years and getting compliments. I think all those beautiful windows, plus this one, helped us finally win."

The Flower Box at 14 W. Main St., Stewart N. Dutterer Flower Shop Inc. at 114 Pennsylvania Ave., and White's Bicycles at 10-12 W. Main St. earned honorable mentions in the contest.

"There's a lot of creativity in the storefronts this year, which made the judging tough but fun," said Stan Ruchlewicz, the city's administrator for economic development.

Ruchlewicz, Ron Schroers, administrator for recreation activities, Mayor Kevin E. Dayhoff, and senior secretary Carol Baublitz coordinated this year's competition.

"It's a great tradition," Dayhoff said. "The displays are an excellent venue for creativity, they contribute to the holiday festivities and they are welcoming to downtown."

Writing award

Amanda Hepler, a senior at Westminster High School, has been selected as one of the winners in the 2002 National Council of Teachers of English Achievement Awards in Writing. She is one of more than 600 students nationwide to be recognized for outstanding writing.

Two judges - a high school teacher and a college professor - read the compositions. To select the winners, the judges looked for writing that demonstrated effective and imaginative use of the English language to inform and move an audience.

A goal of the Achievement Awards in Writing is to recognize some of the best student writers in the nation.

Copies of the booklet naming the 2002 Achievement Award winners will be sent to directors of admissions and freshman studies at about 3,000 two- and four-year colleges.

Living Treasure

Westminster resident Harry Sirinakis honors as this week's Living Treasure Melvin Mills, president of Mills' Communications Inc., a Carroll company that sells wireless communications equipment.

"If I could pick a mentor, it would be Melvin," said Sirinakis, owner of Harry's Main Street Grille. "He has really helped me improve my business. Everyone involved, from my family to people who work at the restaurant, appreciates his help. Whenever I get a chance, I beg him not to retire."