FINAL PREPARATIONS — Joel John, owner of Exquisite Creations by Joel in Wintersville, along with his 3-year-old mini Australian shepherd toy poodle mix, Bart, are making final preparations for this year’s sixth-annual Homes for Hope Tour. The event will take place from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. Dec. 14. The self-guided tour affords area residents an opportunity to visit paticipating homes, businesses and churches. Visitors will not only see the inspiration and creativity of others’ ideas, putting them in the holiday mood, but more important, will see those who are sharing their love for the holiday and giving back to others. Proceeds raised from ticket sales will go to the Tony Teramana Cancer Center’s TEAR fund for cancer patients in memory of John’s grandfather, who died of cancer in 2016. Tickets are $25 through Dec. 1 and can be purchased at Exquisite Creations by Joel, located on Main Street in Wintersville. -- Julie Stneger

A time for giving gifts — just as three wise men did long ago.

A season when structures suddenly come to life — decorated so as to give others that unique holiday feeling … a feeling unlike any other.

Christmas. A moment that is all about family.

And, to Wintersville resident Joel John, family and Christmas are everything.

SIGHTS TO BEHOLD — Christmas is quickly approaching and residents are preparing to take part in the sixth-annual Homes for Hope Tour, a self-guided tour that was created by Wintersville resident Joel John, owner of Exquisite Creations by Joel on Main Street. Those taking the tour of nine homes, one business and one church this year, will have the opportunity to not only see how others decorate their creative spaces, but see the generosity of those individuals who are helping to raise money for the Tony Termana Cancer Center’s TEAR fund. Homes can be simple and have one tree, or more elaborate, having several trees. The home of John’s grandparents won several lighting competitions throughout the years in Wintersville, a project he helped work on in his younger days. -- Contributed

For him, it is as if the two are intertwined.

John holds past Christmas memories extremely close to his heart, for it is a part of who he is.

Those memories are what first inspired him to begin the Homes for Hope Tour, an event which is now in its sixth year and scheduled to take place from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. Dec. 14.

Perhaps it was the exquisite decorations that were spaced throughout his grandparents’ home as he was growing up, helping them to create their own winter wonderland.

Maybe it was all of the village lighting contests the couple won or at least placed in throughout the years.

FULL OF MEMORIES — Throughout the years, the home of Joel John’s grandparents has won multiple awards during Wintersville Christmas contests. The couple’s love for the holiday and for their family is what inspired John to put together the annual Homes for Hope Tour following the death of his grandfather in 2016. This year’s self-guided tour is set for Dec. 14. Tickets can be purchased at Exquisite Creations by Joel, located at 735 Main St. in Wintersville through Dec. 1. -- Contributed

Or possibly, it was the quality time that was spent decorating the halls with one another.

Whatever the particular reason was for his love of Christmas, John still possesses these reminders and recalls the love his family has for the December holiday.

His greatest memory, however, is how everyone would get together amid the Christmas trees, the presents, the themed-style foods … and simply love one another.

Unfortunately, those remembrances are all he has now of his grandfather, Michael Hornyak, who died of cancer in 2016.

It was an extremely hard loss on the family, he commented.

So, the following year, Hornyak’s grandson decided to do something regarding what used to be. Something special so as to remember the man who so enjoyed the holiday throughout his 79 years.

John was motivated to begin the Homes for Hope Tour in 2017, a tour which affords area residents the opportunity to see how others decorate for Christmas.

A tour which offers the chance to discover the creative details that go into personal displays.

It is about seeing firsthand what local residents do in order to get them into that holiday feeling that is unlike any other.

But most important, the tour is to share one’s love of Christmas with others. It is about their caring for others and giving back when they are able to help those struggling and in need.

John gives the proceeds from the tour to assist those who are battling cancer — the disease which took the life of his grandfather. When the event first began, the money was donated to the American Cancer Society. As the years went on, the proceeds were then given to Trinity Health System’s Tony Teramana Cancer Center and its Trinity Emergency Assistance Relief fund.

Why the change? Because, as John explained, the funding goes directly to the patients — and his grandfather happened to be one of those patients upon his diagnosis.

John commented on how Hornyak received treatment at the center, and how he would convey how impressed he was with the hospital and the knowledge of its staff.

John said that is the reasoning behind wanting to keep the money local and having it be used toward the TEAR fund.

Participants on this year’s self-guided tour will have the opportunity to visit 11 locations, including nine homes, one business and one church.

This year’s business will be Seven Ranges Entertainment, located inside the Fort Steuben Mall. This also will be the site for those on the tour to stop for a special lunch, John noted, saying the event always incorporates a place to eat for participants.

The church taking part is the First Westminister Presbyterian Church, located at 235 N. Fourth St. in Steubenville. Stops on the tour include residences in Follansbee, Toronto, Mingo Junction, Steubenville and Wintersville.

“I am extremely fortunate that the homes on this tour always have a mix of individuals who come forward, or others who I have personally asked,” John stated. “Some of the homes are ones that I have decorated myself or the homeowner has decorated along with her family. This tour started after years of beautiful Christmas parties that included festive Christmas tree themes and displays throughout my childhood home.”

“I greatly enjoy previewing the homes a few days prior to the tour,” he continued. “It enhances my Christmas spirit by visiting these individuals who unselfishly open their homes for a great cause.”

“One point that I specifically want to emphasize,” he stressed, was, “The point of this tour is not to show off all that you have. The point of this is to share your love of Christmas and your care for others.”

John recalled one of his favorite homes on the tour which still stands out to him. He said one lady had only crocheted ornaments on her Christmas tree. It was simple. It was thoughtful. It was what Christmas meant to her.

“She understood the assignment,” John commented. “She got it. And that’s the part that I love.”

It doesn’t matter whether one displays 20 Christmas trees inside their home or decorates with only one. It doesn’t matter whether one lives in a huge estate or resides in a one-room apartment building.

What matters for the tour is what is important to them. What Christmas means to them.

That is what truly matters, John stated.

“One of my most cherished childhood memories was decorating with my family,” he explained. “My grandparents would win a lighting contest in Wintersville almost every year. They would proudly display the sign that recognized them as a first-, second- or third-place winner. Most years, I would receive part of the prize money as a thank-you for helping decorate. But it wasn’t the cash that I treasured. It was the time spent together.”

There are usually between 10 and 12 stops on the tour, John explained, noting it just depends on who puts in a request to be among those on the circuit.

Once in a while, friends or family members will reach out and nominate someone to be among the tour hosts. Those on the tour have the option of going to as few or all of the addresses on the list.

Homes can be viewed in any order, after which visitors will receive a drawing ticket to be entered for a chance to win a $100 gift certificate to John’s business.

If all 11 are toured, the individual will receive 11 drawing tickets.

John relayed that homeowners on the tour will have their exterior and porch lights turned on throughout the day, as well as a home tour sign in their yard and a purple ribbon representative of the fight against cancer placed outdoors.

The event will take place in any type of weather unless a weather advisory advises not to drive.

He commented those who take the tour are always kind and respectful. He has received several positive comments from those taking the tours, with the most-voiced being about how the event puts them in the holiday spirit.

Comments have included how they have obtained ideas and inspirations to use in their own decorating.

John explained COVID caused the event to be canceled during 2020 and 2021. Because of social distancing, he knew the tour couldn’t go on, but he still wanted to do something for the community during Christmas.

So, with the help of a partner, Mary Decker from Valley Wine Cellar, the two organized an alternative event — “Lights in the Night.”

This luminary sale was put together to raise money for the cancer center and sold approximately 150 during that first year.

Last year, more than 400 were sold, John said.

Today, the luminaries are being sold in addition to the tour, with both events taking place in December.

John explained the luminaries can be purchased for $5 at his business through Dec. 7, which is when the Winter Weekend in Wintersville takes place.

John announced the Winter Weekend is scheduled from noon to 6 p.m. Dec. 7, with craft vendors, musical performances and more taking place in the Wintersville Methodist Church.

The luminaries can be purchased either in honor of or in memory of someone, he stated, adding anyone can purchase one in order to simply donate, too.

The lit bags will be placed along both sides of Main Street, from Fernwood Road to Canton Road at 5 p.m. Dec. 7. They will burn through Dec. 9.

The search is already on for next year’s tour, as John begins preparing during the fall.

The requirements to be among those on the tour is simple. You have to love Christmas.

“In my heart, if my grandfather knew that I was doing all of this work to put the tour together, he would say, ‘You have too many irons in the fire,'” John concluded. “But, I learned from example. I know if the situation were somehow reversed, there is not one thing that he would not have done to make this a success.”

There is always a variety of homes on the tour, he added, saying people celebrate Christmas in different ways. What matters is the heart of Christmas.

The family.

The celebrating.

The togetherness.

Those interested in taking part can purchase a ticket from John’s Wintersville business, Exquisite Creations by Joel, located at 735 Main St., at anytime during business hours through Dec 1.

Hours are from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday and from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday. The business is closed on Sunday.