Downtown Middlesboro businesses host Christmas angels

December 17, 2012, Middlesboro, Ky. – Since December 1, downtown businesses have been hosts to a multitude of angels. These Christmas angels greet shoppers and those passing by with a quiet holiday message of peace on earth, good will toward men. Among them are the four-foot wooden angels decorated by Middlesboro students, businesses, churches and Middlesboro ARH Hospital staff.

“The Discover Downtown Middlesboro (DDM) group chose the theme ‘Angels Among Us’ for the 2012 Christmas parade and holiday season, and after meeting with DDM representatives, several of our hospital staff wanted to participate by creating large wooden angels to display downtown,” said Michael Slusher, Middlesboro Community CEO.

According to Slusher, once the angels were made and bases created by hospital carpenter Eddie Allen, Middlesboro ARH staff worked with DDM to find local interest in decorating the angels. Students at West End Primary School, East End Intermediate School, Middlesboro Middle School and Middlesboro High School decorated several angels. Old Yellow Creek Baptist Church, Shawanee Baptist Church, Southside Baptist Church, St. Mary’s Episcopal Church decorated angels. Middlesboro City Clerk’s Office, Discover Downtown Middlesboro, Christopher’s Creations, First State Financial, Mikel’s Pharmacy, Shades of Brown and World Wide Gap decorated angels as well as Middlesboro ARH staff.

“We are thrilled with the interest and creativity of those who decorated the wooden angels,” shared DDM President Keith Nagle. “We invite the public to join us in showing our appreciation by voting for your favorite angel.”

According to Nagle the DDM website, www.discoverdowntownmiddlesboro.org, will have all the information for voting for your favorite angel.

“The DDM website has angel photos and downtown locations of all the wooden angels,” stated Nagle. “We also have easy-to-follow instructions on how to vote via Survey Monkey for your favorite angel.”

Voting is open and will end on January 5. The angel with the most votes will be named the Middlesboro Angel of Light. The individual or group who decorated the winning angel will receive a plaque and prizes. The winning angel and the name(s) of the decorators will be announced on January 10 on the DDM website and the Middlesboro ARH website, www.arh.org.

If possible before you vote, go downtown and visit these locations for a close up view of the beautifully decorated wooden angels. A GoogleMap with the location of all of the angels is available here.  A list of locations where angels are located follows: A. D. Campbell, 2031 Cumberland Avenue; ARH Middlesboro HomeCare Store, 1916 Cumberland Avenue; ARH Dr. Rogelio Uy Clinic, 2032 Cumberland Avenue; ARH Women’s Health Center, APEX Building, 2004 Cumberland Avenue; Buttery’s Floor Covering, 1817 Cumberland Avenue; Cardwell’s Furniture, 1929 Cumberland Avenue (Fountain Square); Christopher’s Creations, 2028 Cumberland Avenue; City Hall, 111 Lothbury Avenue; First State Financial, 1810 Cumberland Avenue, KFC Business Office, 1910 Cumberland Avenue; Middlesboro ARH Hospital, 3600 Cumberland Avenue; Nagle Law Office, 1914 Cumberland Avenue; Mikel’s Pharmacy, 1928 Cumberland Avenue; Shades of Brown, 2119 Cumberland Avenue; World Wide Gap, 2002 Cumberland Avenue and WRIL-FM, 1930 Cumberland Avenue.

For more information, visit www.discoverdowntownmiddlesboro.org.

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Middlesboro ARH Hospital is among the hospitals recognized as the nation’s Top Performers on Key Quality Measures by The Joint Commission, the leading accreditor of health care organizations in America.

Middlesboro ARH Hospital is a member of the Appalachian Regional Healthcare (ARH) system. ARH is a not-for-profit health system serving 350,000 residents across Eastern Kentucky and Southern West Virginia. Operating 10 hospitals, multi-specialty physician practices, home health agencies, HomeCare Stores and retail pharmacies, ARH is the largest provider of care and single largest employer in southeastern Kentucky and the third largest private employer in southern West Virginia.

Contact Information:

Elaine L. Smith       

Community and Patient Advocate                                     

Middlesboro ARH Hospital

3600 West Cumberland Avenue

Middlesboro, KY 40965

606-242-1103

2012 Middlesboro Christmas Parade - Award Winners

Discover Downtown Middlesboro wishes to thank the over sixty churches, organizations, and businesses that participated in the successful and enjoyable 2012 Christmas Parade on December 1, 2012. While there were not enough awards to go around to everyone, we'd especially like to recognize these award-winning marching groups and floats.

Best in Show - Marching Band
Middlesboro High School Band

Best in Show - JROTC
Middlesboro High School Junior ROTC 

Best in Show - Walking Groups
Gym Magic 

Best in Show - Cheerleaders
Yellow Creek Cheerleaders

Best in Show - Classic Cars
John Deere Tractor 

Best in Show - Scouting Group
Boy Scout Troop 544 

Best in Show - Fire Department
Middlesboro Fire Department 

Best in Show - Float
Girl Scout Troop 1523, Cub Scout Pack 544 

Best Church Float
Southside Baptist Church 

Best Business Float
The Combs Group/Bell County Coal 

Best New Business Float
A Touch of Class  

Best Non-profit Float
Middlesboro Airport 

Most Creative Float
Mountain View Nursing Home 

Most Beautiful Float
Sandra Academy 

Best Exemplifies Parade Theme
The Way of Holiness Church of God 

Best Performance Team
Cumberland Gap Pantherettes 

Most Creative Use of Costumes
T&T Stables/Tri-State 4H Club

If you represent one of these groups and have not gotten your award certificate already, please contact Discover Downtown Middlesboro at 606-248-6155 or downtownmiddlesboro(at)gmail.com.

Local Businesses Help to Make Christmas Merrier in Downtown Middlesboro

Volunteers hanging ornaments on Christmas Tree in Fountain Square. (Photo credit: DDM)

Middlesboro, Kentucky, December 4, 2012 – There almost was not a fully decorated Christmas tree for the Middlesboro Christmas Parade and Tree Lighting last Saturday.

Final preparations kicked into high gear following the Thanksgiving holiday weekend. With the Christmas Parade falling early this year on December 1, there was even less time to get done all the work that was needed. The City of Middlesboro Street Department was diligent getting the Christmas tree set up in Fountain Square. Something was obviously missing though – the decorations.

By Wednesday night it became apparent that decisive action would be needed to get the decorations in their place. Some suggested having someone climb the tree, though this was not practical or realistic. Discover Downtown Middlesboro, Inc. is the non-profit responsible for organizing the parade. Their new Executive Director Isaac Kremer had just been in town since October and was still learning names, much less knowing who to ask for what.

Christmas Tree decoration
underway (Photo: DDM)

“Earlier that day someone mentioned to me how Jim Brown Supply had lifts for rent. I realized we had already called in all our favors but the tree needed to be decorated,” Kremer said. He called the store first thing on Thursday morning around 7am. By 9am they personally delivered a lift to Fountain Square. Subsequently Isaac, his wife Chrissy, and several volunteers worked to decorate the tree in under two hours. This freed up Kremer and others to put the finishing touches on the Christmas Parade and the downtown – helping to ensure a highly successful event this past Saturday.

Upon reflecting about the help that Jim Brown Supply provided, DDM Executive Director Isaac concluded: “This deep commitment to customer service and a willingness to be responsive to the needs of the community are two keys to success of any business. Our experience with Jim Brown Supply especially shows the important supporting role that small businesses provide for our community.”

Discover Downtown Middlesboro also wishes to thank all of our sponsors who supported the Christmas Parade and Tree Lighting. These include: Attorney Keith Nagle; Bell County Animal Clinic; Commercial Bank; Community Trust Bank; First State Financial; International Mobile Homes; Jim Brown Supply; Johnco, Inc.; J.P. Cline III, Attorney at Law; KAT COUNTRY WFXY/WANO & MCTV22; Kentucky Fried Chicken; Middlesboro ARH; Mikel’s Pharmacy; Pace Towing; Pillion Accounting; Three States Printing; and World Wide Gap.

In addition to sponsors, Discover Downtown Middlesboro is incredibly thankful to Middlesboro Independent School District. In particular Mr. Robert Gordon, Mrs. Joy Williams; and Mrs. Lisa Schneider were instrumental in organizing the window painting downtown.

If you have a chance, please thank Jim Brown Supply and all of our sponsors and volunteers for making the downtown look spectacular and for contributing to the success of the Christmas Parade and Tree Lighting this year.

Contact:

Isaac D. Kremer, Executive Director

Discover Downtown Middlesboro

(606) 248-6155

downtownmiddlesboro@gmail.com

www.discoverdowntownmiddlesboro.org

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