Snow enhances the season

Publisher’s Notebook

Stephen Woody

That Tuesday/Wednesday snowfall is the buzz, here around Montrose.

Natives and newcomers alike agree the big storm was the largest dump in memory. We received almost 12 inches of snow at the Daily Press building, north. Our house, south of town, received nine.

  • The white stuff will no doubt make Saturday night’s annual ‘Holiday of Lights Parade’ a bit more “Christmasy.” Don’t see any big temperature warm-up in the next couple of days.

    It’s going to be a big holiday weekend:

  • Main in Motion will be from 10-3 Saturday, as a warm-up to the 5:30 parade. (Music, exhibits, dowtown Montrose.)

  • Jack’s Antique Auction at Friendship Hall during the weekend.

  • A ‘Holiday Home Tour’ which benefits Voices for Children is on tap from 12 to 4, with refreshments at the Elk’s Club. Info: Annie Smith, 249-0337.

  • More for your money. At 9 a.m. Friday, at Centennial Plaza, and at WestStar Bank, you can redeem cash for MAMA Bucks to spend locally. $100 in cash, begets $125 in MAMA Bucks. This is a popular program, for obvious reasons. Last year, MAMA bucks were “sold out” in an hour. Patrons will have until Dec. 24 to spend the MAMA bucks.

  • The jolly old guy himself, Santa, will be in his Centennial Plaza cabin starting at 11 a.m. (Dear Santa: My list includes Peace on Earth, but don’t tell the neighbors.)

  • Montrose High School will present ‘Suessical, the Musical’ at the Magic Circle Theatre, opening tonight with three performances.

  • The Valley Symphony will be in concert, with Christmas songs, at 3 p.m. Sunday at the Montrose Pavilion. It will be under the direction of Michael Kern. A feature will be Vivaldi’s ‘Gloria.’ Soloists: Demeris York, Katie Davis, Bethany Ward, Charlotte Heath. The concert will close with the ‘Hallelujah Chorus’ from Handel’s ‘The Messiah.’ Tix: Homer Sims Agency on East Main.

    Whew! ‘Tis the season.

  • Shop Montrose!

  • Much of the holiday fun listed above falls at the feet of Juli Messenger, the ever-dynamic executive director of the Montrose Area Merchants Association.

    There are also contests, ‘Mystery Shoppers,’ free movies for the kids, thanks to Fox Theatre.

    The MAMA board of directors who provide leadership and ideas: Audrey Cook, NAPA Auto Parts, Greg Fishering, High Mesa Communications, Susan Hansen, Carson Cole Associates, Bradley Gottshalk, Vectra Bank, Dave Laursen (chair), Lauren Repairs & Beyond, Carol Mabry, Partner, Ken Miller, Sears, Patti Wrench, Mz. Kitty’s Emporium.

  • From the This-Sounds-Like-An-Ad, file……

    I was talking with my old friend, Bobby Allsbrook, the other day. Bobby’s company, Aunt Ruby’s Peanuts/A&B Milling, is in Enfield, N.C. They are the best peanuts around. Period. I’ve given a bunch of them away locally, and sent them to pals throughout the U.S.

    Aunt Ruby (Allsbrook) really exists, and she turns 90 in January. It’s a four-generation family company which started small with some local samples, advertised, and then caught onto a national audience. Aunt Ruby’s peanut products are sold is in 50 states. The chocolate clusters are curative, actually, from life’s troubles they’re so good.

    Info: 1-800-PEANUTS. Web site: www.auntrubyspeanuts.com

    (Tell Bobby hello from Montrose.)

  • Without any paperwork, Grandpa started getting a $500 check every month. Grandpa and Grandma started cashing them, and using the money.

    One day, a notice comes and it’s from the government. It’s all been a mistake, said the government. The checks were intended for another person with the same name.

    A week or two goes by and Grandpa gets another notice from the government, which orders him to pay back the $5,000 he had received in error. Visibly upset, he complained to his grandson.

    His grandson asked, “Grandpa, didn’t you wonder why you were receiving checks for doing absolutely nothing?”

    “I just assumed,” Grandpa replied, “it was because the Democrats were back in power.”

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