Employees make workplaces jolly

The year 2015 may be missing the 1950s’ bustling city sidewalks and silver bells on every corner, but many restaurants, workplaces, doctors’ offices and other businesses dress up for the holidays to make spirits bright all over town during December.

“I think it brings some cheer,” said Cherie Wenderott-Shields, senior employment director for Senior Services, who gets so excited about Christmas that she risks co-worker backlash by starting to decorate right after Halloween.

“We have a lot of people who come in at the end of the year who don’t have a lot of money for gifts, and they are looking for some temp work so they can get a little money for gifts,” said Wenderott-Shields, dressed in a (pretty) Christmas sweater. One of the things she brings into the office at 200 S. Walnut in Delano is a singing Bing Crosby dressed in a Santa outfit who croons with the Andrews Sisters when someone pushes the button.

“I think it cheers up not only the job-seekers but the staff members. … Also the public comes into our office because they don’t know where to go, so they see our goodies before we point them to another department.”

Christmas decorations help lighten the atmosphere at the Cancer Center of Kansas-MAT Office at 3243 E. Murdock, said Brenda Longwell, reception/medical records team leader for the office. She and Natalia Padilla decorate at their own expense to cheer patients and because they love the holidays.

Upstairs from their offices in the Medical Arts Building behind Wesley Medical Center is David Rosen Pediatric Oncology and Hematology, which is full of snowmen, Santa, stockings, trees, lights and elves.

“Christmas is our thing here. We try to make it fun for the kids when they come in for their chemotherapy,” said Kim Rosen, office nurse.

“We do this for every holiday,” Rosen said. And even outside of holidays, “it doesn’t look like a doctor’s office.”

Christmas decorations at the Omni Business Center spread good tidings to the tenants who have offices there as well as to their guests, said Alyssa Schoenwald, marketing director for the three buildings west of Towne East Drive.

“Christmas is our favorite time of the year,” she said.

The Omni buildings were built by Roger Farrow, and decorating them continues to be his family’s tradition since his death last year, said his son Buff, president of Omni.

“This is our second holiday without him. It’s part of the reason to keep carrying it on,” Buff Farrow said. His mother, Nancy, owner of Green Elephant home decor shop at 505 N. Lorraine, heads up the clan in their decorating efforts. They pulled in 1,200 pounds of pumpkins for Halloween to decorate Omni, Buff Farrow said.

“Some of the tenants have been here 20 years. It kind of keeps the building fresh by decorating it seasonally,” Farrow said. “Christmas is kind of the highlight. Their clients enjoy it because it’s a little bit different.”

Here is a sampling of other workers and businesses who told us about their holiday decor.

In the holiday spirit

At Shelter Insurance Companies in Haysville, every year we decorate the office inside and out. We get into the holiday spirit here, and even the bathroom and break room are decorated! The big wreath is up on the front of the office, and we also put lights on the building.

Dana Haislett

Decorated-door contest

Not only is our lobby at Mid American Credit Union at 8404 W. Kellogg Drive festively decorated, but we are having a decorate-a-door contest with our staff which includes our 10 branches (Ark City, Topeka, Overland Park, Lawrence, Larned and five locations in Wichita). We love to show our members holiday cheer.

Dana Hasenkamp

Lighted displays

Senseney Music is located in the old Boulevard State Bank building at Lincoln and George Washington Boulevard. There is a circular area inside that houses vaults and office space. Every year we decorate the area above the circle with several lighted displays. You can see them particularly well at night when you drive by. We also have a ukulele tree!

Lori Supinie

This story was originally published December 10, 2015 at 8:12 PM with the headline "Employees make workplaces jolly."