Museum of Appalachia’s ‘Candlelight Christmas’ parade in Oliver Springs
by G. Chambers Williams III
Archie Liggett shows merchandise at her booth to visitors during last year’s Candlelight Christmas event at the Museum of Appalachia. - G. Chambers Williams III
Holiday events this weekend include the Museum of Appalachia’s Candlelight Christmas on Friday and Saturday, and the Oliver Springs Christmas parade on Saturday evening.
The annual Candlelight Christmas event will take place from 4-9 p.m. on Friday, Dec. 20, and again on Saturday, Dec. 21, at the museum, on Andersonville Highway in Norris.
“Experience the serenity of an Appalachian Christmas at the Museum of Appalachia,” the museum’s website says about this weekend’s event.
“The centerpiece of this holiday event is an evening tour of the Museum’s pioneer village,” it says. “The cabins will be adorned with old-fashioned Christmas decorations and festively lit for the occasion.”
Among activities will be live music, storytelling, interactive activities for kids, and demonstrations of blacksmithing, sorghum making, apple butter churning, and more.
There also will be wagon rides, along with a live Nativity scene.
Tickets are $20 for those ages 18-64, $10 for children/youth ages 6-17, and $18 for seniors (65-up), members of the military and first-responders. A family pass is available for $50 for two adults and up to six dependent children (ages 6-17). Purchase tickets at the museum or online at museumofappalachia.org.
Shoppers enjoy treats, crafts and Santa at Clinton’s Holiday Market and Cookie Crawl
by G. Chambers Williams III
Aniston Pawlowski, 8, visits with Santa as Mrs. Claus looks on during last Saturday’s Holiday Market event in downtown Clinton. - G. Chambers Williams III
Clinton’s Holiday Market and Cookie Crawl drew what some merchants believed to be a record crowd last Saturday as the downtown merchants held their popular Christmas event.
Vendors were lined up along Market Street, which was closed to traffic for the day, and the mild weather with no rain in sight kept a steady stream of people exploring the stores, food trucks and stalls, and crafts booths.
Susan Norman of Powell stopped to check out baked treats at the Crusty Loaf booth on Market Street, and said she’s a regular visitor to downtown Clinton.
“I come over here a lot on Fridays,” she said. “My sister lives in the Clinton area, and we love the shops.”
Jenna Harp sets up her Crusty Loaf table at most downtown Clinton street events, she said.
The Grinch was on hand, in the persona of Jessica Sexton, to greet visitors on the street, along with Blue, a 6-year-old hound.
Senior Advisory Board Chairwoman Jackie Nichols speaks at the dedication of Pat’s Corner, an area of Oak Ridge Senior Center in memory of Pat Gengozian, Oak Ridge’s former senior advisory chair.
The Christmas season is here, a time to celebrate and reflect on the reason for the season: our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.
Bridges’ siblings braved the cold Saturday morning earlier this month to greet customers outside Food City, wearing festive elf hats, a Santa hat and reindeer antlers.
With big smiles, they rang the bell for the Salvation Army, raising awareness of the charity’s need for donations and volunteers.
The Salvation Army and its red kettles have been a symbol of giving for as long as I can remember.
As a small child, I felt excitement and joy when I saw the red kettle and heard the bell ringing.
As I got older, my parents explained the importance of that little red kettle — how even small donations can add up to make a big difference.
They taught me and my siblings important lessons: a little makes a lot, to give with a grateful heart, and that a handful of coins can add up to dollars.
Most importantly, they taught us always to leave a positive impact on others.
The Salvation Army helps countless families and children who need extra support, especially this time of year.
If you’d like to give, you can donate at a red kettle, online, or by scanning the QR code on the sign.
The Clinton Lions Club is holding its annual nut sale, offering a variety of delicious nuts perfect for holiday gifting or personal enjoyment.
All nuts are packaged in one-pound (16-ounce) bags and are available for $12 per bag.
The selection of nuts available this year includes the following choices:
• Plain pecan halves;
• Plain pecan pieces;
• Praline pecans;
• Cashews;
• Mixed nuts (no peanuts);
• Milk chocolate amaretto-covered pecans;
• Chocolate-covered peanuts;
• Chocolate-covered raisins.
Community members can pick up nut purchases at two convenient locations:
• Jones Mortuary, 375 N. Main St., Clinton;
• Southern Bank of Tennessee, 151 East Broad St., Clinton.
Proceeds from the sale will support the Clinton Lions Club’s community service projects, including vision-care assistance, scholarships, and other charitable initiatives.
John and Shirley Walker decorate a tree in their front yard on Deer Ridge Road in Norris in preparation for the Norris Shines holiday lights and decorations event underway throughout the city until Dec. 26. - G. Chambers Williams III
The annual “Norris Shines” nightly holiday lights and decorations event will continue through Dec. 26, with hundreds of homes and businesses festively adorned for Christmas.
Norris Shines also includes a scavenger hunt that is designed to lead people to search all of the participating neighborhoods to find specific items of decoration – such as a home with “50-plus Santas,” “roof covered in colored lights,” “five nativity scenes,” “Santa in a rocket, helicopter,” and “bucks guarding gated drive.”
Information and a scorecard for the scavenger hunt can be found on the Norris Recreation Commission’s Facebook page.
In late August, dozens of volunteers turned out in downtown Norris on a Saturday to begin hanging Christmas lights in the Town Center area in preparation for the annual tradition.
Randy Kurth of the Norris Lions Club helped shepherd the volunteer efforts to string up thousands of holiday lights on the downtown buildings and the city’s gazebo across West Norris Road.
Jimmy Byrge of Grave’s Creek holds a copy of his new children;s book, “The Evergreen Christmas Tree,” which has become a best-seller online in its category since being introduced in late November. - G. Chambers Williams III
New River native Jimmy Byrge has written a children’s book about Christmas that already has become a best-seller, and is destined to be made into an animated film, and perhaps even later a feature film with live actors, he says.
“The Evergreen Christmas Tree,” which he wrote in 2008, was published recently in a children’s book format, complete with colorful illustrations, and is now available to buy on Amazon.
On the book’s website, EvergreenChristmasTree.com, the story line is described as such:
“Frank, Virgie Ann, and their father go on a magical adventure of one of the most fantastic Christmas celebrations ever.
“Going on a rollercoaster journey of their lives to find the right tree, they learn to love, be strong, and look out for others. The Evergreen Christmas Tree is a heartwarming fairytale for children of all ages.”
Amazon’s Kindle online bookstore says this about the story:
“On those snow-covered roads, the children learn the true worth of love and strength amidst their trials and tribulations,” the description continues.
“This wonderful holiday tale will warm readers’ hearts through an amazing narrative with its thought-provoking themes and will remind them of what this great season of Christmas holds within: the power of family, hope, and giving.”
With churches and nonprofits in Anderson and surrounding counties needing furniture for the less-fortunate, one group in Oak Ridge has stepped up.
The Ecumenical Storehouse rents a warehouse in Oak Ridge at 134 East Division Road, but it serves Roane, Morgan, Campbell and Scott counties. Its president, Peggy Terpstra, said all of its workers are volunteers.
“Our volunteers get to know and care about one another pretty well,” she said. “Being around other people who enjoy helping others is its own kind of reward. It’s inspirational. No matter what our individual faith traditions, we know we are all following the same desire to help our neighbors.”
Eleven member churches provide many of the volunteers, but Terpstra said not everyone who volunteers is from one of these churches.
Nonprofits such as Aid to Distressed Families of Appalachian Counties, United Way, and local churches refer clients to the storehouse, which figures out by phone what kinds of items they need.
