Monday, November 22, 2010

Parade Time

Thanksgiving week has many traditions.  Here in Monroe, one of our traditions is the Holiday Parade.

This is the ninth year for the annual parade, which features entries from area groups, businesses and individuals.  As in previous years, this is an evening parade giving the entrants an opportunity to shine - literally.  One of the traditions is the lighted entries.  Precision Drive & Control is once again providing electric generators for area groups who need a little help lighting up the night.  Many thanks to PDC for making the evening glow, and to Monroe Main Street for organizing the event.

The parade starts at 6 pm on Friday, November 26.  It runs a circle from the middle school parking lot, past Turner Hall, down 17th Avenue to the Square and back to the middle school.  Come early to pick up some hot cocoa or coffee from one of our downtown eateries to warm your hands during the parade.  If you have never been to the Holiday Parade, here is a snippet from last year's parade:


We hope to see you there!

Thursday, November 18, 2010

Property of the Week


This week's featured property is a split-level ranch in Monroe.

Bring the family home! This comfortable split level home located on a quiet street has all you need. 3 bedrooms, main floor laundry, living room with fireplace, family room, refinished wood floors, generous storage area, 2 car attached garage, spacious eat-in kitchen, bright rooms filled with natural lightening. The landscaped yard has plenty of room for kids, grandkids, pets or more gardens.

Tuesday, November 16, 2010

Festival of Trees 2010

One of our favorite local events is coming up in just a few weeks.  The Festival of Trees is a community fundraiser combined with an evening out.  Four area non-profit groups benefit from the evening:  Monroe Theatre Guild Stage Right Youth Theatre, Green County Humane Society, Green Haven Family Advocates or Green County Habitat for Humanity.

Festival of Trees takes place at the Mansion on December 4 this year.  There will be silent auction items, and the proceeds from these go directly to the non-profit group that has put them together.  Many area businesses and individuals contribute items both big and small for the bidding.  Each non-profit group also decorates a few holiday trees, also sponsored by local business.  These trees area auctioned at the end of the evening in an entertaining live auction.

Cocktails start at 6 pm, and dinner is served at 7.  The dinner choices this year will be prime rib, rosemary chicken or your choice of butternut squash or mushroom ravioli with alfredo sauce. If you prefer the vegetarian ravioli option, you should specify that when purchasing tickets.

Tickets are $40 per person, and they can be purchased through any of the non-profit groups above or through the Monroe Chamber of Commerce.

Tuesday, November 2, 2010

Property of the Week

This week's featured property is a 10 acre parcel of land in between Argyle and Blanchardville.



No covenants! This 10 acre lot near Yellowstone State Park and Yellowstone Golf Course will be the perfect place to build your dream. Plan your home to enjoy the long views of the countryside. The lay of the land will accommodate a walk-out if you like, and all utilities are at the road.

Shantytown

On November 13, the Green County Courthouse lawn will be turned into a shantytown for children.

That's not a sentence that we read every day, eh?

This is being done as part of an event sponsored by the Homelessness Prevention Coalition of Green County. There has always been homelessness in Green County, but the statistics have gone up significantly over the last two years. Green County Human Services has seen 143 families that were homeless or near-homeless this year alone; in these households were 139 adults and 137 children. This number is already higher than the 2009 statistics (112 homeless households).

The basic idea for shantytown is a simple one. Youth will bring small tents or large cardboard boxes and set up a shanty-town for one night on the courthouse lawn. November evenings in Wisconsin are cold and uncomfortable, a start demonstration to the participants of what homeless people experience. This is a fundraising event for the coalition, so participants may make "get me out of my shanty" fundraising cell phone calls to raise donations. There will a soup kitchen-style food line and speakers as well. The event will last from 5 to 9 pm.

If you need more information, contact Bridget Mouchon, Family Living Educator at the Green County UW-Extension office, 608-328-9440.

Our neighbors need our help in these difficult economic times. If you receive a call from one of the shantytown participants, please give what you can. If you want to participate, bring a tent or a box and experience the chill for at least part of one evening.