By Amy Batista, Special Writer
HIGHTSTOWN — The borough is looking festive as local art students recently decorated business storefront windows for the holiday season.
Hightstown’s downtown became a winter wonderland as students from Hightstown High School and The Peddie School picked up their brushes and painted holiday art on business storefront windows during the past several weeks, just in time for the holiday season.
The 7th annual Holiday Storefront and Window Decorating Contest is sponsored by Downtown Hightstown Inc. and voting for the best design began on Dec. 5. Voting is open until Dec. 18 at 5 p.m. on the Downtown Hightstown website.
"The theme this year was winter wonderland," said Hilary Swanson in an email on Nov. 27, Downtown Hightstown member and organizer of the contest.
Students who painted the top three windows will receive gift certificates to Michael’s to further their artistic talents. First place will receive a $100 gift card, second place a $50 gift card and third place a $25 gift card, according to its website.
She said that the inspiration behind the event is to "engage students and their families in our downtown district and to promote a festive holiday spirit while also promoting art and community participation."
Students began painting storefronts on Nov. 15 and ended on Dec. 3.
"It is exciting to see the local high school artists ‘enthusiasm and talent as well as the business owner’s sincere desire to participate," she said. "It is a coming together event that helps accentuate the special place that Hightstown is and can be."
Elyse Zilocchi, 17, of East Windsor, participated in the contest and painted a scene with her partner, Samantha Scully, 16, of East Windsor on local business Taco Rite located on Mercer Street.
"We painted a snowman with a sombrero next to his cactus Christmas tree with snowflakes all around," said Elyse. "We chose to paint this scene because it matches the "Winter Wonderland" theme and also promotes the theme of the restaurant. "
She said we thought it would be cute to incorporate both themes in the painting.
It took the pair about five hours to complete the painting over the course of two days, she said.
Christina Lee, 16, of Hightstown and her partner, Nancy Razk, 17, of Hightstown, got involved after their art teacher recommending participating in the project and teamed up together in what they are calling their piece "The Red Moon" which they painted at Joseph Varo Hairstylist.
"We started Monday and came every day after school," Christina said, adding that they came around 2 p.m. or 2:30 p.m. and would work until around 6 p.m. and participated for the first time in the contest.
It was a lot more work than I thought, she added.
"We plan on finishing it today," said Nancy on Nov. 22.
Christina said it has "been very fun but tiring at times. It’s a good experience."
"We thought this would be something fun to do," Nancy said. "It’s a good feeling like after the day’s end when we have people coming into the telling us you did a really good job and it really makes us feel happy and really good about our work."
The girls hung their original drawing of the design up next to them as they painted.
"We looked up winter wonderland (on the internet) since the theme is winter wonderland and we looked up all the pretty things and we said we could totally make it magical but the blue sky wasn’t enough so we starting adding more shapes," Christina said.
The girls created more like a mosaic piece out of the shapes.
"I kind of want other people to join this too because it’s a fun experience," Nancy said. "It doesn’t matter if you can’t paint. It’s about the idea and the feeling you put into your work."
Christina said it’s about seeing your work come together.
The event really shows off the student’s creativity and the business owner’s spirit and pride, Ms. Stults said.
This year, eight Peddie students participated. It was unknown as of press time how many Hightstown High students participated.
"We’ve been participating in the project for the past five years," said Visual Arts Teacher at Peddie School Andrew Harrison in an email on Dec. 1.
He said that students would spend a class period generating ideas and then spend three to four hours painting on the windows.
"The students’ work is often confined to the walls of the art building," he said. "For the students it is a unique opportunity to work on-site, with a tight-deadline, and have their work appreciated by a larger audience."
He said that often students have stories of their interactions with the various business owners.
"They walk away from the project with a deeper connection to their community and feel that they have contributed to the cultural vibrancy of Hightstown," he said.
The 13 businesses are participating in the contest include GSI Bath Showplace, Hightstown Diner, Walt’s Hair Cutting, Morgan’s Island Grill, Pretty Nails, Joseph Varo Hairstylists, Cranbury Design Center LLC, Mannino’s 4 Pizzeria & Trattoria, 1st Constitution Bank, Legends Barber Shop, Rise Greater Goods, and Taco Rito.
Dolly Patterson, owner of Joseph Varo Hairstylists, said she was worried what they were going to do because of the existing window tint in order to paint for the contest.
"I think they are the best," said Ms. Patterson. "When she came in with that picture I saw that’s got my name on it."
She said she is making sure she tells everybody to take a look.
"It’s hard work," she said.
She encourages everyone to go through town and take a look at the windows.
"I love it. I wish I had more windows for them to do. It gives the whole town a more festive spirit," she said. "I think more of us should be doing it."

