NEWS

Mason fifth grader wins tree lighting poster contest

MASON – Who was that lucky Mason fifth grade student who helped light the big Christmas tree with Mason 2014 Citizen of the Year Norm Austin ?

That was Lauren Bliesener of Ms. Cecil’s class at Steele Street Elementary School.

The Mason Area Chamber of Commerce’s first annual Tree Lighting Poster Contest asked fifth grade students at Alaiedon, North Aurelius and Steele Street elementary schools to create posters of lighting the Big Tree.

The tree lighting took place Nov. 24.

Posters were collected at the schools Nov. 10 through 12. With the assistance of chamber leaders and volunteers from Independent Bank, posters were displayed in local businesses in Mason from Nov. 14 through Nov. 23. They were voted on by the public through collection of money contribution “votes.”

The poster winner Lauren Bliesener was notified on Nov. 25. She then had the honor of helping to light the Big Tree with Mason 2014 Citizen of the Year Norm Austin at 6:20 p.m. in front of the Ingham County Courthouse on Nov. 28.

The ceremony was immediately prior to the fourteenth annual Mason Holidays Celebration lighted parade, featuring over 40 units.

The poster contest raised $353 in contributions that, along with the proceeds of the annual MACC Raffle, go toward the cost of putting lights on the tree and taking them down in January. Getting the lights on and off the tree is an activity sponsored by Mason Chamber members BlueGrass Lawn & Landscape and Express Tree Service.

The chamber’s Mason Holidays Celebration committee was chaired by Aleasha Wood of Inspired Events and was made up of many community volunteers.

“We would like to thank all our sponsors, volunteers, partners, participants and all those involved in making our Mason Holiday’s Celebration on Friday, Nov. 28 a success,” said Aleasha Wood.

“Special thanks go to the presenting sponsor Dart Container Corporation, parade marshals American Legion Browne/Cavender Post 148 members and our event sponsors Ware’s Pharmacy and Wendy’s of Mason. We thank our partners: the Mason Area Historical Society, Mason A&W Restaurant, Mason Optimist Club, Supreme Rental, Mason Girl Scouts, Ingham County Fairgrounds, Mason First United Methodist Church, Ingham County Fair Foundation, Granger, Ingham County Facilities, and the City of Mason’s police, fire and public works departments.”

Aleasha Wood added, “Thanks also go for the great assistance of the Mason High School Santa Band directed by Beth Bousfield, City of Mason Mayor Leon Clark and especially Citizen of the Year Norm Austin during the Christmas tree lighting.”

Participants in the 14th annual lighted parade included the following Mason Chamber members not already mentioned above: Ingham County Animal Shelter, Two Men and A Truck, CP Federal Credit Union, Mason Rotary Club, ServiceMaster Absolute, Adventures Aloft — Kerr Hardware, Capital Area Career Center, Capital Area District Libraries Mason Library, Mason Auto Body Repair, Mason Elevator Company, Masonic Lodge No. 70 F&AM, Mason Public Schools, Showtime Rentals, TomCo Asphalt and the VFW 7309 Men’s Auxiliary.

The Mason Holidays Celebration committee is looking for help in planning the 2015 Sesquicentennial Mason Holidays Celebration that will be held on Friday, Nov. 27, 2015. Call the chamber office at (517) 676-1046 or e-mail the chamber at masonareachamber@masonchamber.org to volunteer.

— From the Mason Area Chamber of Commerce