Start your New Year with a clean slate

Each year, as I prepare to save and put away new Christmas and holiday cards I’ve received, I often re-read cards from past years, too, that I’ve saved for sentimental reasons. Among those, I found the following cheerful verse written in a “Happy New Year” card I received a few years back.  This simple message is worthy of contemplation as we say goodbye to 2007 and welcome in 2008!

“Let go of regrets, cares, worries, fears and doubts... and start a brand new- anything is possible new year!”

Congrats to Businesses of the Year
Just as I mentioned last week it was a pleasure for us to congratulate God’s Pantry on being honored by the Fountain Valley Chamber of Commerce as the 2007 Non-Profit Business of the Year, this week we continue in extending our congratulations to the other two business honorees- Aquila, honored as Large Business of the Year and Lion’s Pride, Small Business of the Year.

I have personally worked with various members of the staff at Aquila over the years- from Roger Kort back when the office was on Widefield Drive, to George Peterson who served on the Chamber of Commerce Board at the same time as I did- about the time when Aquila’s offices in Southmoor were first built. Most recently I’ve had the pleasure of working with Shawn Heard, who has served on the Chamber board for several years. The community-mindedness and dedication to excellence, professionalism and more shown by these and other Aquila folks are surely just a few reasons why they earned this honor. I personally am aware of the numerous contributions Aquila has made to many of our non-profits here, too, including the Fountain Valley Chamber, Fountain Downtown Events Association, and most recently their contributed to the new doggie park at Metcalfe Park (not to mention the generous donations of man-hours and supplies staff members have given to assist local residents.)

 The spirit of community these folks continue to exhibit is inspiring and a wonderful example for others to follow... and I’m sure it is with a similar spirit and approach to providing superior customer service and professionalism that Lionel and Veronica Bila of Lion’s Pride were honored, too.
We salute such dedication to rising high above “ordinary” approaches to doing business in this community!

Thanks for letting your lights shine (over the holidays)
The holidays may be over but I couldn’t “leave 2007 behind” without thanking everyone for the beautiful holiday light displays that the rest of us were able to enjoy as we traveled here and there, passing by the many scenic creations!

 Starting with the Fountain Valley Chamber of Commerce’s Tree-Lighting at the Fountain Caboose Park (and the residents at the home adjacent to the Caboose Park, who had a beautiful light display up in time for tree lighting); to the City of Fountain staff who were responsible for once again brightening our road ways in the historic/downtown district with the cheerful holiday light ornaments adorning the historic looking light poles along the roadsides. This special touch adds so much holiday charm to our community, as Harvey Bucholtz recently pointed out during a visit to the News office. Personally, Ray and I were treated to see beautiful light displays each time we drove up our street- starting with the Plowmans pretty snowflakes on the corner of Link and Circle C Road and then on to others including the Palmgrens with their “flying reindeer. ” Thanks to all!

PATTY'S ARCHIVES
4-11-07 | 4-25-07 | 5-2-07 | 5-16-07 | 5-23-07 | 6-6-07 | 6-13-07 | 6-20-07
6-13-07 | 7-4-07 | 7-11-07 | 7-18-07 |7-25-07 | 8-8-07 | 10-24-07 | 11-1-07
| 11-12-07 | 11-26-07 | 11-28-07 | 12-5-07 | 12-12-07 | 12-26-07