Town officials: 'Lights On Johnsburg to be brighter than ever'

NORTH CREEK | Despite the event cancellations across the region due to the pandemic, the "Lights On Johnsburg" holiday celebration will not only be going forward, but it will be ramped up, its organizers said this week. "This year, we're asking people to go 'all-out' with lighting and decorating their homes and businesses," Johnsburg Town Board member and business owner Laurie Arnheiter said. "We believe this is an amazing community, and we can keep citizens' spirits up by everyone doing an exceptional job in lighting up their homes and businesses." For decades, the decorations for Lights On Johnsburg have been primarily white or clear lights, big red bows, and lots of greenery - and people are encouraged to follow that theme. Residents are asked to do their decorating as soon as possible and to boost their lighting efforts from prior years. "We plan on extending our lights heavenward," Arnheiter said. This town-wide celebration of seasonal spirit is to be held from Friday, Dec. 4, through Sunday, Dec. 6 — but most of the lighting displays will go up sooner and stay in place through the holiday season. Images of the lighting displays are to be featured in a "skycam" video, to be shared online. The traditional lighting of the town Christmas tree is to occur at 5:30 p.m. Friday, Dec. 4. Instead of local residents singing carols, they will be humming the songs this year, Arnheiter said. Other traditional activities are to occur with alterations — including Santa cruising down Main Street, but without additional floats. Instead of children having individual up-close sessions with Santa, children are asked to submit letters to the jolly elf, and these written messages will be read aloud by Santa in a YouTube video that families can watch online. Arnheiter urged that anyone with additional ideas to promote holiday cheer should contact her at her enterprise, Hudson River Trading Co., at 518-251-4461. Also, local families should note that fresh Christmas trees will be available in North Creek this year. Cash prizes offered for decorated homes, storefronts As an incentive for residents throughout Johnsburg to decorate the exterior of their homes and businesses, a contest has been set up with cash prizes. See the following information provided by Johnsburg town Supervisor Andrea Hogan. Johnsburg Town officials are sponsoring a home and business decorating contest to enhance the annual Lights On! celebration. The prize money was provided by an anonymous donor who said its mission is to bring joy to people during this holiday season. Judging the contest will be Susan Goodspeed, Joyce Vanselow, and former town supervisors Bill Thomas, Sterling Goodspeed, and Ron Vanselow. Three $300 prizes are to be awarded — for the best-decorated residence, commercial business, and not-for-profit organization. Entrants must register with Town Hall via telephone at 518-251-2421 ext. 2, or with Joann Morehouse at secretary@johnsburgny.com. All displays must be available for viewing each day of the contest, and entrants must be willing to have a sign placed on their property to help the judges identify them. If the display is not visible from their street, entrants must be willing to allow access to their property for public viewing. Entries will be depicted on an online map that will be accessible through the town's website. Entrants should confirm registration by checking the map at the beginning of the contest on Dec. 4. All entrants must be within town of Johnsburg — any location in town. Displays outside the town can be added to the map, but will not be eligible for prizes. Displays may be photographed, and the images may be shared online. The contest will run until Dec. 15, and winners will be announced at the Dec. 15 Town Board meeting, Hogan said. "Let's bring light and creativity to Johnsburg this holiday season," Hogan said, noting that local resident Jack McArdle deserves credit for suggesting the contest.

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Town officials: 'Lights On Johnsburg to be brighter than ever'

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