Volunteers turn out to help brighten Norris Town Center with holiday lights
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Stringing up Christmas lights over the former Sweet Cafe in the Norris Town Center on Saturday afternoon were, from left, Norris Shines volunteers Nathan Irwin, Mike Robin- son and Don Barger. - G. Chambers Williams III
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Norris Shines volunteers put up holiday lights on Saturday (Nov. 2) on the city-owned gazebo across from the Norris Town Center building on West Norris Road. The gazebo traditionally is adorned with about 10,000 lights each Christmas season. - G. Chambers Williams III
Nearly two-dozen volunteers turned out in downtown Norris on Saturday to begin hanging Christmas lights in the Town Center area in preparation for the annual “Norris Shines” tradition, which encourages businesses and residents to do their part to make the season festive.
Volunteers climbed ladders and took to the rooftops to string the lights, which were provided by donors ranging from civic organizations to businesses and individuals.
Randy Kurth of the Norris Lions Club was helping shepherd the volunteer efforts to string up thousands of holiday lights on the downtown buildings and the city’s gazebo across the road.
“We’ve got a pretty good turnout,” Kurth said as he helped with the lights on the front of the former restaurant in the Town Center building that also houses the now-closed Archer’s Market.
Coordinated by the Norris Recreation Commission, the Norris Shines organizers began planning for this year’s event in August, seeking donations of holiday lights and people willing to volunteer some time to make it happen.
One concern was making sure the Town Center is adorned with plenty of lights this season, even though most of the building is nearly empty of tenants.
“Right now, the downtown is in a transition,” Norris Shines committee member Bonnie Peacock said in an announcement earlier. “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.”
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 asking residents and businesses to light up their properties, too.
“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.”
In addition to Peacock, the Norris Shines leadership committee consists of Mike Robinson, Cynthia Edrington, Susan Batchelor, Ann Lesar and Brianne Kibler.