Page 7 - TR What Women Want Nov 2016

Sunday, November 20, 2016 • An Advertising Supplement to the Three Rivers Edition • What Women Want • 7SS
“I just love Christmas. I love to see kids’ bright, shiny eyes. ... Three little grandchildren of my neighbor think
that Santa lives next
door because of the virtual Santa.”
PATTI MULLINS
NEWPORT
in what we’re doing,” Plegge said. “According to Patti, we’re just getting started.”
Three years ago, the committee took on the task of lighting up Newport Lake. Volunteers built 121 Christmas trees made of red, green and white lights, which they used to line the shore. In addition, Ballard, the superintendent of Jacksonport State Park, helps install floating trees and a floating White River Monster on the lake itself.
“It looks absolutely beautiful,” Mullins said.
The following year, the committee added even more trees, which can now be found throughout the town at the fire sta- tion, municipal building, courthouse, depot and mall.
“Several areas around town have these Christmas trees, and as time goes on, more and more people want them, so we build them,” she said.
She added that she is grateful to Sandra Massey, the wife of Ward Massey and chancellor of Arkansas State University- Newport, for providing a team of volunteers from the university who pitch in to help set up the trees each year.
“If we didn’t have ASU-Newport men to do that, we would be in big trouble — big trouble,” Mullins said.
It takes a lot of time and energy to spread the spirit of Christmas throughout the town, and Mullins said she usually starts working on her home in September or late August. The committee begins decorating the town on Nov. 1 each year in hopes that all the adornments will be lit by Thanksgiving. Then, on Jan. 1, volunteers take down all the decorations and store them until the next holiday season.
This year, committee members will take on yet another project when they bedeck the town’s new veterans park. The committee has purchased two 21-foot Christmas trees in red,
FESTIVE finds Shining spirit
It has often been difficult to find new, exciting home decor, but not anymore. With these light-up holiday prints, your home will look festive and can have others begging to know where you shop. The prints contain a button that activates the lights to appear on the design. These are available in various seasonal selections. TO BUY: Corner Florist, Searcy
Snowy and serene
Every year, Patti Mullins and a committee of volunteers decorate the Jackson County Courthouse for the Christmas season. Mullins said she hopes the lights throughout downtown will attract tourists to Newport during the holidays.
white and blue, as well as a seven-piece marching band made of lights, which will illuminate the park, Mullins said.
“For the future, I want more and more,” she added. “I’m determined we will have that.”
The decoration efforts are funded by contributors throughout Newport and Jackson County, including the city of Newport, which provides $1,000 each year, and area businesses, she said.
“The people of Jackson County are so generous, because we raised the money for all these things. We have no other way of getting money,” she added. “The people are so generous and nice, and they give money to make our city beautiful, and hopefully, it will bring tourism into Newport also.”
She added that tourism is one of the driving forces behind the town’s holiday ornamentation.
“Anytime you can bring tourists into your community, it helps your community,” she said. “They see how wonderful your community is. It brings income into the community. It supports the restaurants [and] gas stations. It helps everybody in the long term.”
Another, more personal, motivation behind Mullins’ efforts is to help others have a merry Christmas, especially families
FRANK PLEGGE/SUBMITTED PHOTOS
During the holidays, children are drawn to the decorations that adorn Mullins’ home. In addition to the lights wrapped around her house and trees, the Christmas landscape includes a miniature train, Santa Claus and his sled, and a virtual Santa that waves at visitors from an upstairs window in an abode across the street, which houses decorations during the offseason.
that might not be able to afford expensive presents and other seasonal trappings.
“I want it to possibly bring families closer together at Christ- mas. I want all the kids to be happy, and I want [the] children to have some enjoyment in their lives,” she said. “If I can bring some joy and excitement to those families, it makes me happy.”
Nothing says happy holidays like a light-up church with Christmas lights casting a glow from the inside. The snow-topped roof of the church gives that extra winter feel when guests walk into your home. Houses and lamp posts are also available to accent the church.
TO BUY: Corner Florist, Searcy
Seasonal ceramics
Bring the spirit of Christmas home this holiday with Vietri’s Old St. Nick line of ceramic dishware, which features images of Santa Claus. These dishes are handcrafted using Italian designs, and each piece could become an heirloom that families can gather around for many Christmases to come. TO BUY: Purdy’s Flowers & Gifts, Newport
Winter wonderland
Help set the mood at your next holiday party with these whimsical plates and platter. They are dishwasher and microwave safe and are great for serving up a holiday treat or simply being used for decoration.
TO BUY: The Boutique, Searcy
Plush pals
Created in a hooked design, these seasonal pillows feature winter scenes depicting a snowman and cozy cardinals. These pillows will add a touch of winter cheer to any room in the home. TO BUY: The Boutique, Searcy