Senior Connections January / February 2024
Note from the editor
BY ANDREW MEULENERS
Managing Editor
The theme for this edition is winter traditions . The traditions found in Minnesota are as varied as the different types of people we have living here .
Winter itself this year is a little different than it has been in the past . The unseasonably warm weather has put on hold some of the winter traditions people in our region have enjoyed for years , like getting outside and enjoying the snow , ice skating , and skiing .
The warmer weather has allowed people who normally would want to be hibernating this time of year to enjoy some Christmas parades , community festivals , and holiday light displays .
How the winter has been going reminds me of my favorite Christmas movie , White Christmas , when Bob Wallace was talking to the innkeeper , Alice , about the snow .
“ Bob Wallace : We came up here for the snow . Where ’ re you keepin ’ it ? Emma Allen : Well , we take it in during the day !”
Never fear my hardy Minnesota brethren . I am sure we will soon be up to our ears in snow , like General Waverly in White Christmas . I am not relying on the forecast , just intuition .
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Old-Fashioned Christmas continues to delight Delano in its 15th year
Weather , llamas create ‘ gold star ’ year of holiday memories
BY ROBERT HOPWOOD
Delano Herald Journal Editor
Delano Herald Journal Editor Thousands of people streamed into downtown Delano the first Saturday of December to enjoy an Old-Fashioned Christmas , a holiday celebration in the western suburbs for the past 15 years .
The Delano Area Council for Arts and Culture , which sponsored the event , got permission from the city to close the intersection of Bridge Avenue East and 2nd Street North , which they did on Saturday .
The council turned it into a town square where residents gathered to people watch , meet Santa Claus , buy crafts from local vendors , eat s ’ mores , enjoy a Christmas parade , and much more . People not only gathered
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PHOTO BY ROBERT HOPWOOD Kris Kringle waves to the crowd Saturday , Dec . 2 , during the Deladazzle parade in downtown Delano . For more photos of Old-Fashioned Christmas , turn to the back page .
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also had plenty of indoor events to enjoy . Venues included City Hall , the Senior Center , the Fire Department , the Community Education Building , the library , and the Heritage Center .
“ The whole city came together for it ,” Community Enrichment Director Nick Neaton said . He sat on the Old-Fashioned Christmas Committee as the city ’ s liaison for the event .
The weather cooperated , delivering a perfect late-fall day . It was sunny , with only a few clouds and a high in the mid- to upper-30s .
Mark Lee of Delano said he and his wife brought their children downtown to enjoy the holiday fun .
“ It ’ s just such a fun thing to do with the kids ; we love seeing the llamas , and it ’ s a relatively warm day in December , and it ’ s just a fun community event ,” he said .
The llamas were new this year , Neaton said . They replaced the reindeer from previous years .
Amanda Clark and her husband , Alex , also spent the day downtown with their children .
“ I think it ’ s wonderful ,” Amanda said . “ It ’ s so fun to see , see everybody just coming together . We ’ ve seen a lot of friends here .”
She said the llamas were her favorite part of this
More OLD-FASHIONED CHRISTMAS on Pg 3
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Senior Connections January / February 2024
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