The Light Up Litchfield contest is underway and several businesses and other entities around Litchfield have entered. The official contest period is from November 30th to December 15th and people can go around the community, look at the lights and decorations and vote for their favorite.
Monica Schreiber is part of the Light Up Litchfield Committee which has been busy coordinating the decorations for Litchfield’s Central Park. She says they’ve been working with the City to add more decorations each year.
Schreiber says there will be a special event on November 30th in Central Park which is Small Business Saturday with carolers and a visit from Mr. & Mrs. Claus from 3-to-5 p.m. and then the Mayor will speak at 5 o’clock, followed by the lighting of the decorations. She says if anyone is willing to join the Light Up Litchfield Committee, or for more information, call 693-8184.
The Litchfield City Council held two public hearings last night – to consider a cannabis ordinance, and for the sale of public property. The first reading of the cannabis ordinance was approved which regulates locations for retail cannabis businesses in Litchfield. The City will follow Meeker County’s ordinance for cannabis sales.
The public hearing for the sale of public property had to do with the sale of the golf clubhouse at 405 West Pleasure Drive which includes some changes from the original agreement. Parlil Holdings LLC of Kimball will extend its lease from January 1st of 2025 to May 1st of 2025 at which time it will proceed to a contract-for-deed.
The Council will likely schedule a public hearing in January regarding the sale of the Gorman Avenue lot to Gregg Schilling who wishes to construct a housing complex at that site. The Council approved of a deferred loan agreement for a Minnesota Workforce housing grant for the Midtown Lofts project.
The Litchfield City Council approved of setting up remote access for council member Malinda Larson for meetings in the coming year that she may miss due to a family medical crisis. The Council also approved of an airport grant agreement for a rehabilitation project taking place at a building at the municipal airport. Federal funds will cover 90% – or $199,350 – of the project. The state and city will each cover 5% or $11,075 each.
The Litchfield Area Mentorship Program has Turkey Bingo on Friday, November 22nd at 6 p.m. at the Litchfield Eagles Club. Doors will open at 5 p.m. and the Litchfield Kiwanis Club is again sponsoring the event.
Kiwanis member Jared Taber says you will want to get there plenty early to make sure you get a seat and then you can order supper while you wait for the bingo to start. He says the cost is $1 per game or $20 for 20 games and you can purchase tickets for chances to win raffle baskets.
Judy Hulterstrum says there are several baskets that will be raffled including a basket that will contain all of the items to accompany your Thanksgiving dinner, and then hopefully you will win one of the 20 turkeys that will be given away. She says there will also be lots of prizes for children.
Joel McCann says the LAMP Turkey Bingo is just one of several ways that the Litchfield Kiwanis Club supports children in the area. He says some of their fundraising events include the pancake breakfast during the Watercade celebration, a cash raffle drawing, and the collection of aluminum cans in the Kans for Kids project – with proceeds from these events going to youth-related programs.
The Litchfield Visitors Bureau has been busy with the Light Up Litchfield contest, and the Litchfield Chamber of Commerce is promoting the Keep the Cheer Here promotion. The deadline for businesses to enter a lighting contest was this past Friday; and there will be a lighting ceremony coming up in Central Park on November 30th.
Janaye Prieve says Small Business Saturday is on November 30th and there will be business specials that day in Litchfield, and events in Central Park from 3-to-5 p.m. including carolers, candy canes, a visit from Mr. & Mrs. Claus, carriage rides, and then the lighting ceremony at 5:30. She says the lighting contest for participating businesses will continue through December 13th and there will be a QR code on a sign at each business for people to vote, and then the top 3 will receive prizes and a trophy.
Prieve says shoppers will want to take advantage of the Keep the Cheer Here promotion – through December 13th – for a chance to win cash prizes. She says shoppers will receive a bingo card to be stamped at the participating businesses.
Prieve says you can find more details at litchfieldmn.com or on Facebook.