Local
Christmas decorating contest in Bluford
By RORYE O’CONNOR
rorye.oconnor@register-news.com
BLUFORD — The Bluford Ruritan Club is calling all Christmas light enthusiasts in Webber Township to participate in its Christmas Light Contest.
This will be the second year for the contest, said Ruritan Club member Norma Colwell.
The contest doesn’t have a specific theme, so people who would like to enter their decorated abodes into the contest are not restricted to any particular subject, Colwell said. She said the club hoped to begin choosing themes for the contest next year.
She said she expected a healthy number of people to enter their houses or other’s this year.
“We’ve had several people asking us about it already, so we are expecting more participants than last year,” she said.
Hopefuls must call Colwell at 246-2031, Debbie Sneed at 732-8257 or Barbara Winkleman at 732-6080 by Dec. 15 to enter the contest. First, second and third places will be judged Dec. 16 by “out-of-towners,” Colwell said, and the winners will be announced at 7 p.m. Dec. 17 at the Ruritan meeting.
People may enter their own houses, or if they think someone else’s house is decorated particularly well, they may also enter someone else’s house into the contest, Colwell said.
Winners are invited to attend the Ruritan meeting Dec. 17 to accept their award. Prizes have not been decided, though winners will receive a Christmas poinsettia, Colwelll said.
She said she enjoys driving through Bluford during the holiday season and seeing houses lit up with lights.
“It’s so pretty,” she said. “It seems like when there’s bright lights it really cheers things up.”
Colwell said the Ruritan Club started the lights contest to spread Christmas spirit in their area.
“We want to see families work together and have fun, have a good time and be happy,” Colwell said.
According to information from the Ruritan national Web site, their purpose is to create a better understanding among people and through volunteer community service and make America's communities better places in which to live and work. The slogan of Ruritan is "Fellowship, Goodwill and Community Service."
“Unlike most civic service organizations, Ruritan rarely has national programs,” information states. “Rather, each club surveys its own community as to the needs of that community and then works to meet some of those needs. Nearly all clubs work locally with FFA, 4-H and other organizations serving youth. Nearly one in every three Ruritan clubs sponsors a Boy or Girl Scout unit.”
The Bluford Ruritan Club helps seniors, Girl Scouts and others in the community, Cowell said.
“A lot of good things come out of there,” she said. “Ruritans are some of the most caring and sharing people I’ve met.”
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