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QlucfifU) flailp (Trlrgrapf) Saturday, October 26. 1996 A-9By JIM TERRYof the Daily Telegraph staffBLUEFIELD - A committee sponsoring the Bluefield Holiday of Lights Festival Friday got an early Christmas gift - a donation of $1,000 from the Bluefield Moose Lodge to help get the new festival off the ground.The committee, in a meeting Friday afternoon at the Bluefield Youth Center on Stadium Drive, received the check and immediately began formulating ways tospend it.A few weeks ago, the festival -planned for the Thanksgiving weekend and continuing throughthe first of the year - got a jump-start with a contribution of $1,000 from the Bluefield Beautification Commission.The committee also put the finishing touches on a letter that will be sent soon to Bluefield taxpayers requesting tax deductible donations to help fund the ambitious project, and decided on the initial scope of the project.The letter will briefly describe the project and say that in order to make the festival a success, “we need everyone’s help.” Those interested in helping are asked to contact Rick Moorefield, who heads the committee, and is the city’s economic and community development specialist.After committee member Rudy Brammer - a member of theBluefield Board of Directors -suggested that the group not “take on too much at one time,” the group decided to concentrateits efforts at city park, downtownand South Bluefield, the East River Mountain Overlook one or two other locations in the city.“Let’s get the plans ready for the park now,” Brammer said. “This is the 25th. Time is running out.”The committee will design and create lighted “snowflakes” to be placed along Stadium Drive leading to city park, create an archway that will be decorated at the park, decorate a huge tree inside the park entrance, decorate a flagpole and railing at the East River Mountain Overlook, a tree at Kmart/Food Lion, the Ridge Runner train and station at city park, an engine and caboose under the auspices of the Pocahontas Chapter of the National Railroad Historic Society, and decorate a windmill and main shelter at the park as well.In the downtown and South Bluefield areas, window displays will be created, and luminaries will be featured as part of the project.The committee decided to beginthe festival this year on Nov. 28 and end it during the first week of January.Some believe such a festival here has a potential similar to the annual Festival of Lights at Ogle-bay Park in Wheeling. That festival attracts hundreds of thousands of tourists and visitors each year.Others on hand for Friday’s meeting included Bluefield Parks and Recreation Director Robin Lefler, Bluefield Main Street Executive Director Beth Andrick. Bluefield City Manager Tom Vid ovich, City Treasurer Charlie Cromer, Julie Long of the Blue-field Beautification Commission, Billy Gibson and Don Gibson.
Newspaper Details
Bluefield Daily Telegraph
Bluefield, West Virginia, US
Sat, Oct 26, 1996
Page 8
Full Page
Clipped by
Becky K.
NA, 07 Dec 2022
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