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Article #9 From the: New Prague Times

Sleighbell Saturday brings
festive mood, more shoppers
to New Prague businesses

December 06, 2003

December 06, 2003
By Patrick Fisher

New Prague's Second Annual Sleighbell Saturday was a success, according to the
New Prague Chamber of Commerce and area business owners who participated in the event.

Sleighbell Saturday was organized by the New Prague Chamber of Commerce,
with 16 businesses sponsoring the day's activities. Many of the businesses offered
specials and sponsored events of their own on Saturday, helping bring more people
nto New Prague shops Saturday.

"It went real good. I thought it was real nice," said Lee Marquardt of Marquardt Jewelers.
He expects the event to grow over time. "Next time it's going to get better."

"It was great. It turned out really well," said Dawn Barsness, owner of New Prague Video.
The business, which also celebrated its 20th anniversary Saturday, had a visit from
Santa Claus and characters from the Wizard of Oz, including Dorothy, the Scarecrow,
the Tin Man, the Cowardly Lion, the Wizard and Glinda the Good Witch. "The kids had
a lot of pictures taken with Santa and the Wizard of Oz characters. It was great fun."

"It was very, very busy," said Jean Edel of McMahon's Drug and Gifts. "There were
lines of people and they liked the double punches."

Participating business were offering double punches on cards that, once full, people can
turn in to the chamber for drawings of New Prague Czechs.

"It went fine. It was a little more upbeat than normal," said Kathy Lapic of New Prague
Floral. She said that people came in to take advantage of 10 percent off gift items.

Two events that were well attended were Santa's Workshop, located in the former
Rynda Hardware building, and train rides provided by the Gopher State Railroad Museum.

Kim Gassner, executive director of the Chamber of Commerce, estimated that 150 children
came to Santa's Workshop to paint and decorate Christmas ornaments. Mrs. Claus also
made an appearance at the workshop.

Gassner said decorations in one of the windows at the workshop were set up by members
of the New Prague High School Art Club.

Additional businesses taking part in Sleighbell Saturday activities were Ace Hardware,
Anything Shiny, Bargain Betty's, Casey's General Store, Eyewear Specialists,
Johnson Photography, Patty's Place, Subway and Vintage Market. Other sponsors of
the event were Ambroz Plumbing, Inc., The New Prague Times and Wornson & Goggins.

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