[Durham INC] Dates for neighborhood luminaries

[Tom Miller]

Watts-Hillandale and OWD follow what is called the “Women’s Club Rule.”  This means the event we call Night of Lights is celebrated on the Sunday evening following December 14.  This year, that Sunday is 12/19.

 

Ironically, the Women’s Club no longer puts them out!

 

In Watts-Hillandale, we set up a central sales point (the picnic shelter in Oval Drive Park) and ask people to come get their bags, candles, and sand from us there during specified hours Saturday and Sunday (this year, 12/18 and 12/19).  We should sell makings for about 5,500 lights this way.  We ask people to renew their memberships when they come and we collect donations of canned good and money for Urban Ministries of Durham at the same time.  Our Night of Lights chair works out the times and recruits the volunteers.  People in the neighborhood buy as many or as few lights as they want.  Our event is very free form.

 

The candles, bags and sand are all ordered in advance by the neighborhood association.  If you need that information, I can get it for you.  There is still time to organize it, I think.  The candle vendor ships quickly.  Not just paper can get the bags for you.  We get the sand from the Rock Shop on Hillsborough Road (at least I think we do – I am not in charge of our arrangements for this event).

 

We sell the makings for one light for $.50.  People here normally buy ten  or more.  Many of our lots are narrow and ten will about do it.  Some folks buy more – bigger lots, corner lots, pyromaniacs, gifts for neighbors, etc.  We have done this for many years and have it down to a sloppy science.  It’s not hard.  We usually run out of one of the components and that ends the sales portion of the event.  Volunteering with our Night of Lights group is fun.  The event on the night of is fun.  Delivering the money and food gifts to the Urban Ministries folks is fun.  There is no downside.

 

From: Rochelle Araujo [mailto:rochelle.araujo54 at gmail.com] 
Sent: Thursday, December 02, 2021 10:34 AM
To: Tom Miller
Subject: Dates for neighborhood luminaries

 

Hi Tom -

 

In the past, a few folks in our neighborhood have put out luminaries just on two blocks.  This year, we're thinking of doing a more widespread effort - supported and funded by the neighborhood association. Bobbe Deason - the person who usually does the Vickers blocks - says that you are the grand poobah of luminaries (among other things).

 

Is there a certain date that other neighborhoods do this? 

Any thoughts on what works well, issues to be cognizant of - that we should consider?

 

I know we should have started planning this a while ago. But we are all feeling the need for a little light and joy.

 

Thanks for any input you can provide,

 

--Rochelle

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