Wednesday, November 23, 2011

THANKSGIVING 2011 GREETING & COMMISSIONER UPDATE

It is ‘all about’ the turkey, trimmings and family as we arrive together at another Thanksgiving Celebration. To each of you and your families and friends - from our family - let me extend a sincere wish for an enjoyable and fulfilling (in every way) Thanksgiving celebration and holiday weekend.

For those planning early Black Friday shopping excursions ‘good luck’, and for the hundreds of friends and families headed downtown Friday evening for the annual lighting of the Courthouse (details below), we look forward to seeing you for the 63rd annual Christmas Lighting of the local landmark and the arrival of Santa. This promises to be a fun weekend!

The Christmas Season Officially Begins Friday Evening with the Annual Courthouse Lighting and Santa Arrival

The Licking County Courthouse Lighting Committee is announcing they have exceeded their 2011 community goal of $18,850. A generous gift of $2,000 from Newark Elks Lodge #391 is credited with putting the campaign over the top. This means, for the 63rd consecutive year, the historic County Courthouse and grounds will be fully decorated for the Christmas season.

The community is invited to attend the Lighting Ceremony and the official start of the Christmas Season, in Licking County, this Friday evening, November 25th. The evening will feature the annual holiday music program, the excitement of Santa’s arrival, and lighting of the local landmark and decorations on the Courthouse lawn.

Festivities begin at 6:00pm on this the night after Thanksgiving. The holiday music program will feature longtime master of ceremonies Dave Lehman with his bag of tricks. Joining Dave will be recording artist Shawna Corder and well know local performer Hugh Price. Also, featured on stage will be Doug Moran and ‘The Heisey Brass’, playing a variety of holiday favorites. Returning with a special Christmas music performance for the sixth consecutive year will be the Blessed Sacrament School Combined Chorus under the direction of Tammy Witham.

During the ceremony the Courthouse Lighting Committee will salute the Newark Rodders Car Club for organizing the ‘2011 Lite the Nite Car Show’ in September. Proceeds from ‘Lite the Nite’ go to support Courthouse Lighting, and club members will be on hand Friday evening with a contribution.

The arrival of Santa in downtown Newark is anticipated around 7:00pm. The ‘Jolly Old Elf’ will extend his best wishes to the community and with the help of the children magically ‘light’ the colorful Courthouse decorations to officially begin the Christmas season in Licking County.

The Elves in Action will be downtown on the Square that evening to kick-off their annual holiday food drive. Volunteers will be located on the east side of the Square each evening until Christmas. All food collected will be donated to and distributed by the Licking County Food Pantry Network.

The Vineyard Church of Licking County will be serving free hot chocolate and popcorn, and again will stage a ‘live nativity’ Friday evening on the southwest corner of the Square.

Following the ‘Lighting Ceremony’ Santa and his elves will be in the lobby of Fiberglas Federal Credit Union, on the Square, for those who would like their children to meet Saint Nick.


Thanksgiving/Christmas Holiday Mentions…

* The twelfth annual "Country Holiday Home Tour" sponsored by the West Licking Historical Society in Pataskala and surrounding area, including Etna, Harrison, and Jersey Townships.

For information call: 740-927-9212 or 740-927-4807.

The tour is Sunday, December 4th from 1:00- 6:00 p.m.

Tickets: $10/person or $15/family

Available now at Bremen Banking Center in Pataskala

Pataskala and Kirkersville branches of Park National Bank

All branches of the Pataskala Banking Company

Available on day of tour at Bruce J. Baird Realty, 325 W. Broad St., Pataskala

and all tour sites as follows:

Old Etna Township House, 9363 Hazelton-Etna Road, old Etna

Mills home, 28 Dellenbaugh Loop, Cumberland Trail

Mullins home, 8991 Creek Road, Harrison Township

Sterling Theatre, 430 S. Main Street, Pataskala

Perkins home, 181 Apple Blossom Road, Hillside Farms,

off S. R. 310 n. of S. R. 16

Faith Bible Church (Historic Jersey Church), 12239 Morse Road

Emswilers' Tractors, 13167 Morse Road, w. of Jersey

Triplett home, 650 Keltonhurst Drive, Brooksedge Subdivision,


Christmas Parades…

* Saturday, December 3rd at 7:00pm -- Pataskala’s annual Lighted Christmas Parade.

* Saturday, December 10th at 3:00 pm -- the 16th Annual Outville Christmas Parade leaves from the Harrison Township Community Complex, 6750 Outville Road. After the parade enjoy the famous Outville Beans and Cornbread Dinner, plus a visit from Saint Nick himself. The day will conclude with an auction.


A few others events to note…

* Downtown Newark this Friday, November 25th, prior to Courthouse Lighting, a family event for those who would like to make a family ‘day of it’ downtown. Holiday Traditions at The Works “A Civil War Christmas” will be featured from 11:00am till 3:00pm.

The Works is located at 55 South First Street just a block off the downtown Square. Museum hours of operation coincide with the Holiday Traditions event this Friday. For more information visit www.attheworks.org or call The Works at 740-349-9277.

* Saturday, December 3rd from 1:00pm – 9:00pm – Granville’s annual Candlelight Walking Tour.

* Thursday, December 1st -- Christmas and the movie ‘White Christmas’ at Pataskala’s renovated Sterling Theatre, preceded by a dinner at the Pataskala United Methodist Church. Information and tickets at The Nutcracker Restaurant.

* Downtown Newark Holiday Open House and Cookie Walk --

Hundreds of luminaries will light the streets of downtown Newark during the Holiday Open & Cookie Walk, Friday December 2nd from 4:00 - 8:00 pm. Shops & galleries will be open late & their will be entertainment and a roving Santa.

New this year is the Cookie Walk. 100 tickets will be sold for $10.00 each. Tickets holders will receive dozens of cookies from participating businesses and be entered in a drawing for a door prize.

Tickets are available at Buckeye Winery, Barclay Photography, H.L. Art Jewelers, Matilda Charlottes, Myers & Pugh Jewelers and Newark Family Shoes/Cyndi's Treasures. Other participating businesses include Christy's Pizza, Cornell's Clothing, Gallery of Dreams/White Cottage, Goumas Candy, La Paloma, Licking County Arts, Midland Theatre, Newark Monument, Rent a Center & Sutton Law Office.

For more information visit the web site www.downtownnewarkoh.com or email memorylane37@windstream.net .


* The Dawes Arboretum will delight visitors from 5:30pm – 8:00pm Friday, December 2nd with some 15-hundred luminaries lighting their way along the North End Auto Tour. The Dawes Luminary Tour is free, yet gifts of cash or canned goods will be accepted and donated to the County Food Pantry. After the tour stop by the Dawes Visitors Center for a cup of hot cocoa, a holiday treat and activities for all ages. Dawes Arboretum is located 5-miles of south of Newark on State Route 13. Call for information (740) 323-2355.


* Victorian Christmas at Davis-Shai House in Heath. This FREE event is Saturday, December 10th from 4:00pm till 9:00pm. Davis-Shai is at 301 Central Parkway in Heath – call (740) 788-8942 for information.


(Disclaimer – the above mentions are a just a snapshot of holiday events in Licking County and I am certain there are a hundred more not mentioned. The above is a list events that the readers of Update asked me to include, to help get the word out. I am glad to do so. For many more events check the holiday listings in the Advocate, local weekly papers, The Dispatch, and the Greater Licking County Convention and Visitors Bureau website)

Feel free to forward this e-mail in any direction you would like, and let me know the e-mail address of anyone who would like to be included on my Update Newsletter list.

Also, visit my website … TimBubb.com, where I post updates on my personal blog.

I can also be e-mailed at tbubb@lcounty.com, and my desk phone number at the Commissioner’s Office is 740-670-5118.


Best Regards…Commissioner Tim Bubb

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