Let the Blaze of Lights begin!

The Icon, in cooperation with Shannon Theatre, is happy to launch this year's Blaze on Friday afternoon.

Bluffton Icon sponsors two free showings of "It's a Wonderful Life," the 1946 classic featuring the all-star cast of James Stewart, Donna Reed and Lionel Barrymore at the Shannon Theatre.

The free showings are at 1:30 and 4 p.m. The showings are also part of the Shannon Theatre's Customer Appreciation Weekend.

Win a free Bluffton Icon cap
During the movie showings, persons attending can register for a Bluffton Icon cap giveaway.

Nominate your own Bluffton “George or Georgina Bailey”
Icon viewers have the opportunity to nominate Bluffton’s George or Georgina Bailey during the holiday season.

George, (James Stewart in the movie) had a special gift, according to his guardian angel. In the movie, George gets his wish of wanting to never be born. Then he sees all the things that never happened in his town because he wasn’t there to affect things.

The Icon Invites viewers to nominate Bluffton’s George Bailey, or if a woman, Georgina.

“We want to recognize someone in Bluffton who affected our community in a way that George Bailey affected his community of Bedford Falls,” said Fred Steiner of the Icon.

Viewers may nominate someone who deserves this title. In return, the Icon will donate $100 toward the purchase of books or materials to the Bluffton Public Library in recognition of Bluffton’s George Bailey.

Here’s how to make a nomination
• Email a nomination to [email protected], or mail it to Bluffton Icon, 226 Grove St., Bluffton, OH 45817. Simply explain why your nominee deserves this title. Persons interested in mailing a nomination may use the form attached at the bottom of this story.

• Nomination deadline is 5 p.m., Friday, Dec. 1.

• Nominees should either be a Bluffton school district resident, own a Bluffton business, work in the village or someone who had made a significant contribution to Bluffton