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Monrovia Weekly Nov 22, 2017
ALDI brings customers the best of their weekly must-haves at prices up to 50 percent less than those at traditional grocery stores. - Courtesy photo
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By Pam Fitzpatrick
As I’m writing this week’s column, everyone is preparing for Thanksgiving and all of the food, family and fun it brings. I suspect my family mirrors that of many of our readers – we’ll have fewer places around the table (in in our case, around the living room with food trays) this year. One short year can bring so many changes…
I’ve been reminded by so many Face Book postings; the holidays bring mixed feelings to many. Memories can be wonderful and sad at the same time, but there is nothing like having folks you love surround you sharing way too much food. And laughter is good – really good. Which brings me to the holiday events that begin in Old Town tomorrow, traditionally called Black Friday (a term I dislike), followed by Small Business Saturday. Everything we do here in Old Town is for all of us – we’re not just about making a few bucks (though that would be nice). We are about community and sharing. So, let’s begin the sharing…
While you’re eating your turkey, remind the kiddies that Santa arrives in Old Town tomorrow at 10 a.m. Santa will be Ho Ho Ho-ing all over Old Town and, he’ll once again be supporting the MFD’s Spark of Love Toy Drive. There will be a big red fire truck in the 400 block loading zone both Friday and Saturday, so bring you unwrapped toys and stuff the truck. And, when you’re giving, remember that there are plenty of older kids and teens who need gifts, too. The Monrovia Chamber of Commerce will be at the NE corner of Myrtle and Lemon on Small Business Saturday with opportunities to win prizes all day – and, at the end of the day there will be a grand prize drawing for a huge gift basket stuffed with gifts from your local Monrovia businesses.
Next up are the yearly Santa Breakfasts. Here’s the schedule for this year (all Saturdays): Jake’s Roadhouse Dec.2, Dec. 9 and Dec.23 at 9 a.m.; Peach Café Dec. 9 and Dec.16 at 8:30 a.m.; Oh Mulberry Bush Dec. 9 at 10 a.m.; Rudy’s Mexican Food Dec. 9 and Dec. 23 at 11 a.m., and the Monrovian Family Restaurant on Dec. 16 at 9 a.m. And, don’t forget the Holiday Parade on Thursday evening, Dec. 7 at 7 p.m. The Tree Lighting Ceremony, as usual, is just before the parade at 6 p.m. at Library Park.
And, yes, the horse drawn wagon rides are back on Sundays (Dec. 3, Dec. 10, and Dec. 17) from 3-6 p.m., and on Thursday evenings Dec. 14 and Dec. 21) from 5-8 p.m. This season, as in past years, Old Town will sponsor the wandering carolers, and Secret Santa also returns on secret dates and times between Dec. 2 and Dec. 23, so make sure you smile at everyone you pass on the street – you may be rewarded with a gift bag from Santa himself!
We all need each other, always, but especially during this joyous season. Let’s make this the best year ever!
