One talented Mason fifth-grade student helped the 2018 Mason Citizen of the Year Dennis Howe give the order to light Mason’s Big Tree in front of the Ingham County Courthouse during the Mason Holidays Celebration on Friday, November 23, 2018.
Adellyn Miller from Shelby Pierce’s fifth grade class at Steele Elementary School was chosen as the winner of the Tree Lighting Poster Contest and was awarded a major role in kicking off the holiday season in Mason.
The Mason Area Chamber of Commerce’s fifth annual Tree Lighting Poster Contest Committee asked fifth grade students at Alaiedon, North Aurelius, and Steele elementary schools to create posters of lighting a Christmas tree. Mason area homeschoolers were also invited.
Votes for the poster contest were collected through monetary contributions from people throughout the Mason community. Posters entered in the contest were displayed in local businesses throughout Mason. Adellyn’s poster was displayed at Bestsellers Books & Coffeee Company.
Along with winning the poster contest, Adellyn had the honor of helping to light the Big Tree with 2018 Mason Citizen of the Year Dennis Howe at 6:15 p.m. in front of the Ingham County Courthouse. Following the ceremony, the eighteenth annual Mason Holiday Celebration lighted parade kicked off at Bond Park and made its way around the downtown. Over 40 units participated, and the crowd attending was one of the largest ever.
The poster contest raised over $670 in contributions that, along with proceeds of the annual MACC Raffles, will go toward the cost of Christmas lights and decorations and to putting lights on the tree in November and taking them down in January. Getting the lights on and off the tree is done by MACC member Express Tree Services.
The Mason Area Chamber of Commerce’s Holidays Celebration committee is made up of many community volunteers. “We would like to thank all of our sponsors, volunteers, partners, participants, and the Mason community as a whole for making our Mason Holidays Celebration not only a success, but a very special event,” said MACC program assistant Emily Fenger.
“Special thanks go to the presenting sponsor Dart Container Corporation, members of the American Legion Post 148 and VFW Post 7309, and our event sponsors CP Federal Credit Union and Sheridan Realty & Action Service. We also thank our partners: Ingham County Facilities, Mason Area Historical Society, Mason A&W Restaurant, Mason First United Methodist Church, Mason Firefighters Association, Mason Girl Scouts, Mason Optimist Club, Supreme Rental, Granger, and the City of Mason’s police, fire, public works, and administration departments.”
“We also want to thank the 2018 Mason Citizen of the Year Dennis Howe, City of Mason Mayor Russ Whipple, and especially the Mason High School Santa Band directed by Beth Bousfield,” Fenger added.
Participants in the eighteenth annual lighted parade included the following Mason Chamber members not already mentioned above: ServiceMaster Absolute, Dart Bank, EXIT Realty, Independent Bank, Kona Ice, Lansing Community College, Vision Real Estate, Ingham County Road Department, Benedict Auto Body, Avery Oil & Propane, Capital Area District Libraries, Mason Masonic Lodge, Two Men and a Truck, Mason Rotary Club, and Mason Public Schools Transportation.
The Mason Holidays Celebration committee is looking for help in planning the 2019 Mason Holidays Celebration that will be held on Friday, November 29, 2019. Call the Chamber office at 517-676-1046 or email the Chamber at masonchamber@masonchamber.org to sign up and volunteer.
Source: Press Release
