By Steve Huffman
shuffman@salisburypost.com
SPENCER ó Spencer took on a new look this past holiday season, with lights strewn across buildings and trees and the downtown attracting the type of attention not witnessed in years.
“A lot of the old people said Spencer had never looked better,” said Jim Gobble. “People from all over the county drove over to take a look.”
Members of the Hometown Holidays committee ó of which Gobble and his wife, Maria, are recent additions ó were the driving force behind Spencer’s decorations.
They’re looking to expand this year, hoping, for instance, to light the crape myrtles that flank Salisbury Avenue in front of the N.C. Transportation Museum. They’re also hoping to light any downtown buildings that didn’t get decorated this past year.
To do all that takes money. The decorations that committee members erected this past year cost about $20,000. More money will be needed for this year’s decorations.
Members of the Hometown Holidays committee are staging a raffle, with proceeds going to help offset those expenses. Tickets are $1 each, and some fairly significant prizes are being awarded.
Debbie Barnhardt Jewelry donated a $1,500 diamond ring as one of the prizes. Other prizes include four clothes dryers donated by Queen City Appliances, a $100 gift card from Food Lion, a portable fireplace from Stoudemire Furniture, gas cards from Bobby’s Mobile Service and a print by Spencer artist Cara Reische.
Gobble said 50 prizes have been donated for the raffle. Their total value, he said, is more than $7,000.
Gobble said Hometown Holidays committee members solicited the donations, and most local business owners were happy to contribute.
The raffle will begin at 7 p.m. on April 25 at the Spencer Moose Lodge. Members of the Moose Lodge will also be cooking that night and serving a meal, with proceeds earmarked for decorations.
Raffle tickets can be purchased at Debbie Barnhardt Jewelry at 314 S. Salisbury Ave. or Spencer Home Supply at the corner of South Salisbury Avenue and Fourth Street. Hometown Holidays committee members are also selling tickets, as are members of Forestdale Pool and the Spencer Woman’s Club.
Members of the Spencer Little League are selling tickets. Half of the proceeds from those tickets sold by Little League members will benefit the Little League.