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The building was decorated for the holidays and there was plenty of food and beverage last Wednesday at the Dodgeville Farmers Savings Bank location for a Dodgeville Chamber of Commerce "Business After 5" celebration.
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I popped out to the Santa's Secret Shop Saturday as it was the final day it would be open for the youngsters to do their shopping. I guess they had a record crowd for the second Saturday of the event. It was held at Hill's Pub (formerly Thym's) and it turned out to be a nice setup for the event with the youngsters shopping downstairs and the "oldsters" shopping upstairs where there were vendors set up.
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We received a note from Elyse H. Portwine of Avoca the other day with her newspaper renewal. She said: "Please send me another year subscription of the Dodgeville Chronicle. I know my subscription doesn't run out until 1-14-13, 'But' wouldn't want to miss out on a single copy - so I have enclosed my personal check for $42.00 for another year. Merry Christmas to everyone who works so hard to put out the Dodgeville Chronicle each week with all the news around and good stories. It's a real joy to read. Thank you very much."
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Now, there's a woman who can sure write - maybe we should hire her!
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We had snow in the forecast for Friday night into Saturday that didn't happen, but during the early morning Sunday hours it started coming. My State Journal got a little wet since it probably hadn't started snowing when it was delivered early in the a.m. By the time it pretty much quit - in mid afternoon - we had gotten around 3" would be my estimate. I know shoveling it, the snow was pretty wet and heavy. Rain (mist) followed the snow into the evening. I had shoveled at home around 8:30 in the morning and found it quite a bit heavier that evening when I went home from the office!
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My first Sunday with "Photos with Santa" went OK with several families stopping in to visit with Santa, have a photo or two taken, visit with the people at the Senior Center and enjoy some punch and cookies. Me, I had coffee! Anyway, I'll be there one more time - this coming Sunday (the 16th). Remember, any proceeds will go to the food pantry and/or the humane society!
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Gee, the following Sunday I'd better start thinking about Christmas shopping! We have a Friday noon deadline for our AD-VISOR and then we work the next day the Saturday before (22nd) Christmas to do our 27th paper so everyone can shop on the 24th (like me!) That will mean one newspaper on the 20th and then 2 days later the next will be done- hopefully!
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I was outside of the back door at the Chronicle office Saturday morning when the sun was out and it wasn't very cold washing out our plastic garbage inside dumpster. A couple of people walked thorough the parking lot and made a comment to me, but didn't offer to help. Then I heard a horn honk at the Police Department corner (Montgomery Street) and saw one of my "late buddy's" (Crubaugh) daughters-in-law turning the corner to head downtown. She gave me a huge smile and wave. A little later - while I was still slaving away - her husband Chris came to that same corner and honked the horn on his truck. His gesture to me wasn't quite as nice - it was his late dad's famous "one fingered wave" - and it came twice instead of once! I wonder if I'm on the "Naughty" or "Nice" list that is posted at the bakery?