MONTEZUMA #- Much of the year, The Lodge gift shop in the visitors#' center at the Montezuma National Wildlife Refuge is tucked away, drawing in patrons after they have toured the land or attended a presentation or any number of the special events the center hosts throughout the year.

But for the past seven years the shop has had its chance to take center stage for a few days out of the year when it hosts its annual holiday sale.

Starting, like many other sales, on Friday and continuing through Sunday, the gift shop's sale has been fortunate this year during what has been less than ideal economic times for shopping.

“Things are going very good,” George Sanderson, a volunteer manager of the shop, said.

“So far our sales are the same as they were last year, so things are going pretty well for us this year.”

Throughout the year, the shop focuses on offering items that reflect the ideals and character of the Montezuma complex.

From hats and T-shirts emblazoned with the Montezuma logos to handmade items like carved or painted birds and other wildlife scenes, to games, books and toys for children, everything the shop offers is geared toward the wildlife theme of Montezuma.

That helps to draw many customers to make purchases to remember their visit to Montezuma.

“Obviously people that are shopping here are looking for things with a nature theme,” Sanderson said.

“All of our products reflect wildlife and flowers and things like that, that you will find in this area of the country.”

This is a theme that runs right through the sale.

Along with many items from the shop#'s regular inventory, there is a big focus on reflecting the nature theme while making the upcoming holidays a major theme.

From hand carved ornaments of birds and other wildlife creatures to hand-painted glass ornaments for the tree, the sale is replete with pieces for Christmas.

And as always, there is a great emphasis on ensuring that all the items are made locally, with artists from across the Northeast having their work available for purchase.

“We have a little bit of everything,” Sanderson said.

“A lot of these things are all hand crafted by local artists. We have a lot of books written by local authors, even the calendars we have use photos from people that entered our photo contest and all the shots are of animals right here at Montezuma.”

Sanderson said that the gift shop is run by the Friends of the Montezuma Wetlands Complex with the funds raised from the shop going to help support various projects at all the locations, including the wetlands complex and the Audubon site.

After Sunday, the visitors#' center will be closing for the winter, save for a few special events and programs.

This along with the fact that Christmas is not too far off have made for a well-timed sale.

But the sale, like so much of what happens at the refuge is about much more than making money.

“The idea is to offer inventory at less expensive prices,” Sanderson said.

“But even more it is about getting people in here to see and learn more about nature and the environment and all that we have right here in Montezuma.”