VALLEY CITY, N.D. (NewsDakota.com) – Saturday at 6:00 our annual “Light Parade” will begin on Central Avenue and at 7:00 the Lighting Ceremony in Veteran’s Park will be held.  Come out and enjoy the fire pits, hot cocoa, a free cup giveaway, the coloring contest kickoff and PHOTOS WITH SANTA!  “See ya there”.

Thanksgiving is this Thursday, a wonderful time for festive, thankful gatherings with family and friends. Record numbers of people traveling are being forecast, be patient, be safe.

Thank you to our team in the police department. During all the construction projects we had this summer, our police department was instrumental in keeping construction zones and nearby traffic patterns safe for all of us.

Saturday the 30th is “Small Business Saturday”.  According to the United State Small Business Administration, small businesses are responsible for about 61% of net new jobs since 1995 and employ around 45% of the employees in our nation’s private sector.  Please support our local small business Saturday, and every day. Thank you.

The Barnes County Salvation Army Red Kettle Campaign begins Monday, November 25, please give what you can, Blessings.  To “ring the bell”, please call 701-840-1357 or 701-541-1418.  If you haven’t rung the bell, visiting with folks around the kettles is a blast, give it a try!

How about an “icebreaker” game to play at your Thanksgiving?  “Give Thanks Fast” is one.  Choose two-person teams and have each team list those things for which they are thankful and take turns sharing each.  The first team to runout, is eliminated. Make it more challenging by having a category — maybe topics could begin with a certain letter or things related to school, etc.

RESPECT, if you aren’t paying rent on a dumpster, it is illegal to use it so please don’t.

“We must find the time to stop and thank the people who make a difference in our lives.”      ~ John F. Kennedy

Blessings, Pray, be Respectful and Grateful, Dave Carlsrud mayor of Valley City.