‘Lights in the Night’ in Wintersville benefits American Cancer Society

Luminarias available now for $5 donation and will be lit Nov. 27

WINTERSVILLE -- Joel John has channeled second-year disappointment into first-year hope.

And the Wintersville businessman, the owner of Exquisite Creations by Joel at 735 Main St., is collaborating with a likely ally in Mary Decker, owner of Valley Wine Cellar at 825 Main St.

The two worked to make Wednesdays in Wintersville a monthly community event this year from May through October and are setting their sights on making Small Business Saturday something extra special.

Now they're behind "Lights Up the Night," which was John's idea to raise money for the American Cancer Society since he was unable to organize his annual Homes for Hope Tour for a second year, due to COVID-19 precautions. The Christmas season tour of local homes and businesses decorated for the holiday generated proceeds for the ACS in memory of his grandfather, the late Mike Hornyak, who died of cancer in 2016.

"Unfortunately, we will not be doing the home tour again this year," John said of the self-guided event held in 2017 for the first year and 2019 most recently.

"However, partially inspired by the community gathering together for Wednesdays in Wintersville and a continuing desire to support the American Cancer Society, Mary Decker of Valley Wine Cellar and I have partnered together for another event that allows people to safely gather and support a worthy cause," John explained.

"We will be selling luminarias that will be lit Nov. 27 from 6 p.m. until 9 p.m. along Main Street in front of our businesses. This is part of our Small Business Saturday endeavor," John said. "We appreciate all of the support our customers gave us throughout the year. This display of luminarias is a way to give back and beautify the community as well as unite over a common cause to fight cancer," he said.

"Any other business or establishments in the area that would like to participate are more than welcome -- we would love to see this project grow throughout all of Wintersville along Main Street," he added.

The luminarias are available to anyone for a $5 donation and can be purchased at any time during normal business hours from now until 4 p.m. on Nov. 27.

The business hours at Exquisite Creations are Monday through Friday from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. and Saturday from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Valley Wine Cellar hours are Monday through Wednesday from 10:30 a.m. to 7 p.m. and Thursday, Friday and Saturday from 10:30 a.m. to 10 p.m.

"We're asking that only one name be on each bag in memory or in honor of someone important in your life," John explained, emphasizing that while all proceeds will benefit the ACS, the names of people on the luminarias don't have to be cancer-related.

John said as many as half sold to date are by people just remembering a loved one. Period.

"I've had people come in and ask if I'm doing the home tour this year, and I had to tell them no, and I felt so bad," John said of a decision to err on the side of caution and to not put anyone at risk.

"It was definitely disappointing and being the second year I had to do that, I figured one year I had to be off, but I didn't want to do nothing two years in a row," he said in explaining how the luminaria idea took root.

"Hopefully this will take off well enough that it will be a fundraiser that everybody in town can collaborate with. We can all unite together to have a big donation," added John, who envisions the home tour ultimately will make a return during healthier times.

"I couldn't do the homes, so I'm thinking in the back of my head that the community was so responsive to Wednesdays in Wintersville coming out, wouldn't it be nice to do something that the community could continue to come out even in like a winter month, and it is Small Business Saturday. Mary and I are small business owners, and because we collaborated before very well, I think it just kind of sparked the idea," John said.

Decker liked the idea and the cause supported as cancer has touched her life as well with the disease impacting family and friends.

Purchasing a luminaria in advance is preferred so the two can gauge how many will be needed.

"We need to fill them with sand and candles, and we need volunteers for that, so we need to figure that all out," Decker commented. Anyone interested in volunteering that day can contact her at (740) 264-5100.

For general information, contact John at (740) 275-4380.

"Putting luminarias all the way down Main Street from one end to another -- it would be awesome," Decker commented.

The luminarias are intended to line Main Street from Canton Road to Fernwood Road.

"It's something for the community to come together just like the Wednesdays in Wintersville," Decker said of what's also an opportunity to visit and support Wintersville businesses.

"The point of Small Business Saturday is to promote small businesses, not big box stores," John said.

"They have Black Friday, we have Small Business Saturday, and for the most part in the past, we have had wonderful support, so this is just another addition to that day and also to beautify the community," he added.

"In time I definitely see this growing where this could go from one end of Wintersville to the other on both sides of the street and have entertainment and other vendors."

Small Business Saturday puts the emphasis on shopping at locally owned businesses, according to the two who noted their stores will have specials and extended hours as part of the observance.