Candlelight Christmas' luminaries make downtown bright
BUCYRUS - Tin cans, paper bags, milk jugs and even blocks of ice became luminaries during Candlelight Christmas on Thursday evening in the city's downtown.
Wednesday's balmy temperatures were replaced by a chilly wind as Ethan Suter worked to keep the flames going outside his mom's store, 2 Begin Again Boutique on West Charles Street. The cold temperatures made hot chocolate the drink of choice for the night and that's what was offered by FC Bank's south branch employees at a table in front of the shop. Inside, Ally Suter offered guests cookies and candies as they perused the clothing, jewelry and other items she stocks.
The entrepreneur said she and Bucyrus Tourism and Visitors Bureau manager Trish Ratliff “brainstorm a lot together” and had come up with the idea for the tin cans with nail holes punched in a decorative design. Suter noted that she sells not only her own pieces, but other wares from local people. “I'm all about small business,” she said.
Mary Hart was walking down South Sandusky Avenue with 8-year-old Joslyn Lykins and her mother, Sherry Lykins. “Good” was Joslyn's one-word description of the hot chocolate she had scored from one of the many tables along the way. A Barbie house, Hatchable and Baby Alive were among the gifts Joslyn told Santa that she would like. The trio couldn't dawdle, as they had to get to Joslyn's school program.
More hot chocolate and ornaments bearing details on the Bucyrus United Methodist Church Christmas program were free at a table manned by Joan Lipscomb and Rachel Wion of the church's Public Awareness Committee. Woodlawn United Methodist Church members Deb Teets, Marlene Malone, Barb Spaid and Phyllis Crall made 415 gingerbread men over three days. Spaid said the baked goods were “our gift to the community.” Crall called them “blessings from Woodlawn.”
North of Washing Square, Barb Ley Davidson had refreshments and a 25 percent discount to offer shoppers at Ley's Jewelry. “I've done it every year,” the store owner said of the annual event.
Tyler Jacobs was joined by his wife and family for his first Candlelight Christmas as head of the Bucyrus Area Chamber of Commerce. He noted that Midwest Furniture owner Doug Godwin made arrangements to get a load of sand for the luminaries for the more than 200 paper bags, and others helped make it a true community event.
In his job for about a month, Jacobs reported that things were going well. “We're looking forward to new and exciting things for the future,” he said.
