Snow Sculpture Contest Preparations Begin!

Have you driven by the Monticello Community Center lately?  If so, you will see that the Snow Sculpture Contest Preparations are under way!

We only have a week to prepare, but each day, between now and February 12th, you will see at least two new snow blocks appear.  These pictures show the process in action!

Also, big thanks to Sandra Theros, Christina Johnson, and Angela Schumann and families for creating the first snow sculpture to help promote our event!  We think you did an awesome job!

The Snow Sculpture Contest will be held on Saturday, February 12th, starting at 12 Noon Sharp.  Judging begins at 2:00 PM.  Make sure to stop down to the Monticello Community Center and PRE-REGISTER to enter.  We have a limited number of spots and the winner will receive a three-month family membership to the Monticello Community Center!

Even if you don’t enter, please stop down for the festivities.  We’ll have hot chocolate and a lot of information about the Bertram Chain of Lakes Regional Park on hand.  It would be a great outing for the whole family!

If you’d like to see more events like this one in the future, make sure to let us know in the comments below.

Monticello Middle School Art Club Paints the MCC Windows

Monticello Middle School Art Teacher, Heidi Smith, and some of her Art Club students helped decorate the windows of the Monticello Community Center in an effort to help us promote the Snow Sculpture Contest coming up on February 12th.

Thanks so much for all of your wonderful art work!

Are you planning to attend?  You could win a 3-month family membership to the Monticello Community Center!  Read all about it on the Events Tab of this website.

The Women of the Monticello Community Center

You may have heard the Friends of Bertram Chain of Lakes group is partnering with the Monticello Community Center to host the First Annual Snow Sculpture Contest.  Well, we thought it might be nice idea to give a pat on the back to two of the women a the Monticello Community Center who have helped to make this contest possible – Kitty Baltos and Sara Cahill.

Kitty is the Community Center Director and has been with the city for eleven and half years (even before the community center opened.)  She was in on the ground floor and really had a hand in getting the community center up and running.   Outside of her busy life at the center, Kitty has been married for 33 years and has two grown, married children and three wonderful grandchildren.

Sara is the Programs and Operations Coordinator and has been responsible for a lot of the “behind-the-scenes” arrangements for the Snow Sculpture Contest.  Sara has been with the Community Center since June of 2006 and says the Community Center feels like her second home.    She loves her job and being able to schedule all of the fun programs and classes for all ages.

We thank both of you for all of your hard work in helping to make this Snow Sculpture Contest a success!

The Snow Sculpture Contest is happening on February 12th.  Read all about it on the “events” tab of this website.

Have you registered yet?  Make sure to register to enter the Snow Sculpture Contest at the Monticello Community Center.  You could win a three-month family membership to the Community Center! 

Monticello Mayor, Clint Herbst to Award the Winner!

Did you know you could win a 3-month family membership to the Monticello Community Center by winning the first annual Friends of Bertram Chain of Lakes Snow Sculpture Contest?

The contest starts on Saturday, February 12, 2011 at 12:00 Noon SHARP at the Monticello Community Center.  Judging begins at 2:00 PM and at 2:30, Clint Herbst will announce the winner!

Remember to PRE-REGISTER at the Monticello Community Center. Space is limited and so pre-register to enter. Teams and families are welcome to work together.  Dress warm and bring your own buckets and shovels. 

Even if you’re not entering the contest, stop down for the fun.  On the day of the contest we’ll have hot chocolate, information about Bertram Chain of Lakes, t-shirts, and more! 

We hope you all can join us!

Remember to forward this article and tell your friends!

Announcing our First Annual Snow Sculpture Contest!

We are proud to announce the Friends of Bertram Chain of Lakes is co-sponsoring a snow sculpture contest with the Monticello Community Center!  We’d like to invite you all to participate.  

You could win a 3-month family membership to the Monticello Community Center!!

Here are the details:

When:  Saturday, February 12, 2011 starting at 12:00 Noon SHARP (judging begins at 2:00 PM)

Where:  Monticello Community Center, 505 Walnut Street, Monticello, MN

What to Bring:  Dress warm and bring your own buckets and shovels.  Non-toxic colorants are allowed with approval during pre-registration.

Important Note:  PRE-REGISTER.  Space is limited and so to enter the contest, pre-register at the Monticello Community Center.  Teams and families are welcome to work together.

BONUS:  First prize is a three-month family membership to the Monticello Community Center!

On the day of the contest we’ll have hot chocolate, information about Bertram Chain of Lakes, t-shirts, and more!  We hope you all can join us!

Remember to forward this article and tell your friends!  

Meet the Bertram Chain of Lakes Regional Park Landscape Architect

Graham Sones, Bertram Chain of Lakes Regional Park Landscape Architect stopped by our meeting last month.  Graham has a formidable background in public sector design from parks and recreation to

schools, civic spaces and transportation projects.  His career has also been distinguished by a
directorship position within a nationally recognized architectural firm leading a team of Landscape Architects and Civil Engineers.

In addition to long standing interest and efforts involving historic landscape preservation, Graham also happens to play banjo in a local blue grass band called The Tangled Roots.  There is more about his band at the following website, http://www.tangledrootsbluegrass.com/members.

We’re glad to have you on board with this project, Graham!

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If you know someone who would support this project, make sure to have them visit our page and become a member!  We appreciate all of your help in making this Regional Park a reality!

4-H Kids Pitch In

Nick Neaton of the local 4-H organization met with the Core Committee members of the Friends of Bertram Chain of Lakes on last Friday.  

Nick suggested the kids from the local 4-H Groups would be able to help our group by volunteering at any upcoming events the FOBL will be sponsoring or organizing.  We think it’s a great fit!  

If you’d like to learn more about the 4-H organization, just click this LINK.

Thanks to Nick and to the kids of the 4-H Group!  

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Stay tuned for more information about upcoming events!  Tell us what kind of events you’d like to see in the comment section below . . . 

Thanks to Chris Forslin!

Chris Forslin of http://seenbutnotheard.com spent some time at Bertram Lakes recently and donated a bunch of professional photographs of the land.  One of those photos, the famous YMCA barn, can be see at the left. 

We wanted to thank Chris for her time and expertise.  You will be seeing her beautiful photos on this site over the coming weeks and we’ll be able to use them in promotional material and for the media.   

Thanks so much for your support, Chris!