Citizens National Bank

Christmas on Bruce Street 2017

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Last Saturday morning, I parked behind Sevier County Bank and made my way through the arcade to meet Sheley at Courthouse Donuts for a special event. It was time to get ready for Christmas on Bruce Street, presented by the Sevierville Commons Arts Council. The third annual Christmas on Bruce Street event took place from 10:00 – 4:00 p.m. We ran right on time. Come along with us here…

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I spied this lady taking a picture of her son with the Dolly statue. She said that they were from Greensboro, North Carolina and wanted to catch the parade before they went to Gatlinburg. Love their matching hats!

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Love the festive tree with two Sevierville icons.

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Andrea Wilson, local artist and Sevierville Commons Arts Council board member, is sharing information before the parade begins the journey down Court Avenue.

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I had to stop and admire the greenery here. Nice!

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Kyle Grainger from WVLT Channel 8 was preparing for the parade at his spot at Courthouse Donuts.

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Is this the most beautiful Golden Doodle you have ever seen? So sweet too!

IMG_3802I met Sheley at Courthouse Donuts for coffee. It was very busy before the parade.

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Next, we had a little time so we went a few doors down to Two Coyotes Studio to shop and to talk to artist, Bev Gwinn Jones. There were so many pretty things to consider. I must go back soon!

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We went downstairs to see the parade proceed down Court Avenue. My previous blog covered the parade; however, I include a picture of a tractor here because that turned out to be a favorite thing of Sheley during the event. Who knew?

We stopped by the Arts in Common Gallery on Bruce Street to make a Christmas ornament during their ‘make it and take it’ time. I love mine, pictured above. I could have sat there for hours making more things. Alas, time was moving quickly.

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Next, we visited Charlotte’s Creative and our friend, Charlotte Wear. I bought an ornament for a party on Thursday and I may end up keeping it because it is so pretty.

Charlotte had some delightful holiday treats. I love the green Spritz cookies.

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Local artist, Charlotte Wear, and my friend, Sheley, enjoying the Christmas feeling on Bruce Street.

Artist, Mary Phillips, does pastel silhouettes. Love these! She just adopted that dog from an animal shelter so we got to meet him too.

IMG_3940Next, we headed toward the gazebo and the Holiday Market. On the way, we ran into an old friend. I heard what Sheley asked for Christmas, but cannot tell.

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We enjoyed the music of the Reunited, featuring Steve Laciak and Kate Phillips. Sheley and I admired her blue velvet coat and wanted to know where she got it. It was fabulous! See more of them on their Facebook page. Here is a link: https://www.facebook.com/thereunitedduo/

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I enjoy the things that Ursula Stinnett creates with paper, old hymnals, and more. Incredible keepsakes! In fact, three friends will be receiving a gift tomorrow at brunch that I bought from this Sevierville maker.

So many pretty things!

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It is fun seeing friends at the market. Catherine and Allison were doing some shopping with their Aunt Pat. A mysterious man dressed in red was walking in the background.

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l love shopping with this vendor. Soaps and bath ‘bombs’ with seasonal fragrances are a great gift!

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Beautiful music by the handbell choir from First Baptist Church of Sevierville.

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I loved so many things by this artist. So much beautiful jewelry by Chris and Summer Webb. Check out their Facebook page.   https://www.facebook.com/organicanvil/   

 

Relay For Life of Sevier County was selling an interesting game called Smoky Mountain-opoly. I think this would be a great gift for Lisa Stone and Cathy Sexton because they love to hike the Smokies. The price is right too!

Volunteers from the Sevierville Senior Center were manning a Make It and Take It tent for natural bird feeders. They gave us a pinecone smothered with peanut butter, then we got to roll it in the big box of bird seed, pictured above. It was fun and I ended up taking two home. I put one on a lower planter last night and ‘something’ carried it away in the night. Wonder what that could have been? Hope it was just a raccoon.

I loved this pallet Christmas tree and considered buying it.

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We didn’t wander far when it was time for lunch. This is Sheley’s absolute favorite lunch spot. They also deliver.

The turkey corn chowder is excellent. Sheley likes the cheeseburger grilled as a panini. It looked fabulous!

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The weather was good and the crowds were fine. Sheley and I enjoyed the morning and vowed to come back next year to Christmas on Bruce Street. It is the most festive way to get out and about in Sevierville…

 

Citizens National Bank: Serving the Community

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Imagine that you are working outside in the hot sun for four or five hours. Imagine that you are in non-stop motion and speaking loudly for that entire time. You start feeling the heat, fatigue, a little hoarseness. Then, imagine that someone grills you a sizzling burger right there on site. You can choose a grilled hamburger or hot dog, chips, and a drink. Next, you get to take a break and have an impromptu picnic with co-workers and students.

That visual becomes real every year for us due to the efforts of Citizens National Bank. We have Fun Days (field days) in May at Sevierville Primary. On the first day of the games, Citizens National Bank sends a team to grill lunch for all our students, teachers, staff, and administrators. Over 800 people. I absolutely look forward to this lunch every year!

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(Pictured: Grilling team for Citizens National Bank of Sevierville.)

Jodi Ramsey, Marketing Director, told me that Sevierville Primary was the first school adopted by Citizens National Bank almost 20 years ago. Since then, the bank has adopted 13 more schools in Sevier County. That is 13 days of grilling in May!

Jodi was excited as she told me how the lunch is a way that the bank can offer an ‘end of the year reward’ for the kids. In addition, she explained that it is a way to demonstrate appreciation to the teachers, staff, and school administrators. What a great service to our school.

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Pictured : Grilling team for Citizens National Bank Sevierville.

The grilling team arrives two hours before lunch to make preparations. Next, they cook (in the case of our school) about 400 hot dogs and 480 hamburgers. After everyone receives a lunch then the team works another hour to take everything down, about three hours for the entire event.

Jodi Ramsey described Sevierville Primary School as an ideal setup for the grillers due to the close parking lot, grass, and outdoor classroom with multiple tables to set up everything. Plus, they enjoy seeing children having fun nearby, with the mountains in the background. I agree—it is a perfect setting.

The month of May is over and team may be finished grilling for a while, but I know that about 800 children at my school will always remember the smiling, gracious people from Citizens National Bank who came to see them and cook great burgers and hot dogs. In fact, all the teachers and principals always remember the service with gratitude.

I look forward to this lunch every year! Thanks to Jodi Ramsey and her team from Citizens National Bank! You guys make our Fun Days a special event. Thank you for your service to the community!

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