Outside Looking In
With most local, state and national events having to be cancelled or scaled back due to the coronavirus pandemic, we've been trying to come up with a way the community can get involved and do something fun for Christmas this year.
Minneota is one of the more supportive communities I've ever been associated with, so I'm hoping we can rally the troops for a little holiday cheer with the Mascot hosting a Christmas Lighting Contest that would include the communities of Minneota, Ghent and Taunton. Both city and rural households, as well as businesses, are eligible for the contest.
Gather the family and start decorating your house, garage, trees, lawn or whatever else you want on your property. Not only will others get to enjoy your display, but you might also win a prize.
When I was growing up in Tracy, the city had a Christmas Lighting Contest every year and many of its homeowners got involved. The art of decorating for Christmas has waned in the last 25 years.
Let's revive that old-fashioned ritual.
You can go "all out" in your decorating or just be conservative. It's entirely up to you. There is no right or wrong way to decorate.
There is no cost in entering the contest and prizes will be given out to the top three decorated houses or businesses.
Register with the Mascot by emailing me at scott@thomabooks.com or call me at 320-894-6007, or stop in the Mascot office during business hours of 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Monday and Tuesday, and 9 a.m. to noon on Wednesday.
Give us your name, address and phone number. We will then make a map of the decorated homes and businesses and print it in the paper, as well as printing posters and placing them around town so community members will know where to go to enjoy the holiday lights.
We haven't decided on the prizes for each winner yet, but some of the local businesses have already expressed a desire to contribute. We may give cash prizes or gifts, or both.
We will also select a number of judges to determine the winner and then notify those registered of a pre-determined date the homes and business will be judged to ensure the lights are left on that evening.
Watch for an ad in an upcoming Mascot, as well as posters at businesses, that will include all the instructions and rules for the lighting/decorating contest.
This will not only give families a chance to do a project together if they desire, but it will also brighten many holiday spirits during a trying year.
Happy decorating. Let's light up Minneota!
Deer photos
We have had a few people recently inquire about running their deer photos in the paper.
If you have a photos of a deer that you or someone you know bagged while hunting, email the photo to me at scott@thomabooks.com or drop it off at the Mascot office. If the office is closed, there is a drop box by the front door.
Please include the name of the person in the photo with the deer, what city he/she is from, and what point the buck is. If the person that bagged the deer is a student, please include his/her age.
If we get some photos, we will begin printing them in next week's paper.
If you have any questions, please call Scott at 320-894-6007.