Important Days
Yesterday was Veteran’s Day, a national holiday, as it should be. The Monticello News, along with several sponsors, again salute our veterans with a special section inside today’s paper.
Yes, I know it’s day late. But, the logistics were such that it was the best time to do it. So, please take time to peruse the section, look at the photographs of veterans still with us and those who have passed on, and if you see them in the coming days, say thank you.
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Today, Nov. 12, is Georgia Gives Day. The Georgia Center for Non-Profits is offering incentives to people who give to registered non-profits on this day.
Locally, the Mentor Program has six sponsors who will give shoppers discounts if they give today. Just print off your receipt and visit The Vanilla Bean, Dairy Queen, the Snap’n Turtle, Crazy Daisy’s, and NAPA and reap the benefits.
There are special power hours and random drawings that could benefit the non-profit of your choice, too. Go to GAgives.org and make your donation.
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Well, it’s over. The 49th annual Deer Festival has come and gone.
What I find so interesting is the look of downtown. Although the Monticello-Jasper County Chamber of Commerce, sponsor of the event, works all year on the festival, the visual outcome isn’t apparent until the days before the actual festival.
That’s when sawhorses, cones, signs, and such start appearing around town. Then, the day before, or so, the Square gets painted with vendor numbers and eventually it is blocked off for the biggest event in the city each year.
On Saturday it is buzzing with activity. There’s the stage blocking North Warren Street, traffic is diverted; there are tents and people everywhere, tables and chairs, you name it. It’s a veritable hubbub of activity.
After the day of fun, replete with children’s activities, food, and lots of crafts; a venison cook-off, and don’t forget the road race, it’s over.
All the trappings come down. It is so interesting to see the Square on Sunday morning. The people are gone; the booths are gone; the trash is gone (thanks to the sheriff’s office), and the Square is back to its natural, beautiful self. It’s just amazing to me how quickly it all comes down. Sunday morning it’s just a sedate, quiet Square.
But never fear, even though there are, hopefully, no more visible signs of the festival, the COC has begun work on next year’s, which promises to be bigger and better than ever for the 50th annual.
The COC will meet November 19 to go over what went well, what didn’t go so well…what needs to change and what needs to stay the same. Your feedback is appreciated. Call me, Kathy Mudd, COC chair, 706-318-7396, or the COC office, 706-468-8994 and tell us what you think.
And remember, we can’t control the weather, even though I, for one, am counting on absolutely beautiful weather for the golden anniversary of the celebration of the whitetail deer.