‘Norris Shines’ needs donations, volunteers
The Norris tradition of lighting the town brightly for the Christmas season will continue this year as the annual “Norris Shines” display gears up again.
To help with the effort, which is coordinated by the Norris Recreation Commission, the Norris Shines organizers are now seeking donations of holiday lights and some people willing to volunteer a few hours of their time to make it happen for 2024.
One concern the Norris Shines group has this year is getting the Town Center adorned with plenty of lights even though most of the Town Center is empty of tenants this year.
“Right now, the downtown is in a transition,” Norris Shines committee member Bonnie Peacock said in an announcement. “Most of the stores are closed.
“With few or no lights, the downtown area could really put a damper on the holidays,” she said. “Norris Shines is not going to let this happen.
“We plan to put numerous new sparkling icicle lights on all of the Town Center buildings, making them prettier than ever and making our downtown area cheery and bright.”
Peacock said the Norris Shines organization needs donations to buy more lights and some volunteers to help put them up.
Besides the downtown gazebo, across West Norris Road from the Town Center, the group each year puts up thousands of lights at both main entrances into Norris, along with encouraging residents and businesses to light up their properties, too.
Peacock said the group had about 16 volunteers last year to hang the lights in public places, and each one usually spends three to four hours in the effort.
“Putting the lights up really gets you in the Christmas spirit,” she said.
“It is a lot of fun working with other Norris citizens in making our town beautiful during the most wonderful time of the year,” she said.
Donations may be sent by check or cash to Norris Shines, P.O Box 515, Norris, TN 37828.
To join the “Light Brigade” to help put up the lights, contact Peacock at 865 388-0788.
In addition to Peacock, the Norris Shines leadership committee consists of Mike Robinson, Cynthia Edrington, Susan Batchelor, Ann Lesar and Brianne Kibler.
