Good Morning from The Depot!
Last night was a wonderful, uplifting evening in Sylvan Park as we welcomed Biking Around Minnesota (BAM) riders to Lanesboro for its first evening of a four-day ride throughout southeastern Minnesota. About 325 riders set up tents in the park and wandered through town before enjoying an evening concert in the gazebo. I had the pleasure of working with BAM volunteers to answer questions about parking, dining, shopping and other interesting information about Lanesboro. The BAM volunteers took care of the questions about race information, camping locations and registration. I got to meet some very excited riders from all over the Midwest, many of whom had biked through Lanesboro in the past and were eager to be back to enjoy the scenic ride they knew would be coming in the next few days. The group headed out early this morning on bike, so left cars in several area parking lots until Sunday when they return. Some will be staying in Lanesboro Sunday night while others are sure to head home after four days of riding 60 or so miles each day. Thank you to all the businesses who accommodated the riders on Wednesday night and who will welcome them back on Sunday. I received many compliments about our Lanesboro people and the beauty and cleanliness of our town.

I am so excited for my Friday night plans this week. I have a special date with my niece, Katelyn. Five years ago, I visited Katelyn and her husband, Chris, in Rota, Spain, where he was stationed at the Naval base. During my visit, I was treated to a wonderful tour of southern Spain, complete with ocean views, beaches and historic buildings. It was also the time their community celebrated spring with feria - a Spanish fair with carnivals, costumes, dancing, horses and wonderful food and drink. When I saw Lanesboro Arts would be hosting a Flamenco dancing program, I invited Katelyn to join me. I know it will be a fun night filled with lots of memories from her time in Spain and my brief visit. I am also excited to share my love of Lanesboro with her and show her why this community is so special.

We've had a busy few weeks here at the Depot and are enjoying our visits with members as we discuss our Chamber and the services we can provide. Thank you to everyone who has reinvested into our organization and to those who are supporting our visitor guide and map. We have extended the Early Bird deadline for advertising in our promotional material until next Wednesday, Aug. 23. If you have not had an ad in the visitor guide or on the map, please consider doing so this year.

Good luck to the parents and children as they get ready to head back to school and begin sports practices. I am not quite ready to let summer go, but I am comforted by the fact that fall is also a magical time in Lanesboro.

Wishing you day filled with simple pleasures and abundant joy,
Melissa

It's Time to Vote for YOUR Favorites!

It's time to vote for the "Best of Fillmore County." Look, okay, so this one is a bit of a sticky wicket, cause you know, we’re Midwestern and we don’t want to brag, or come off as cocky. But I mean, we all know the truth, right? We’re the best town, with some of the best businesses around and we’ve got the best community of humans doing amazing things that have filled this newsletter all summer long. Go on, brush your shoulders off. We’ll wait.

The thing is, this is also the busiest time of year when the summer is starting to catch up with us, we’re tired and yet there is still the final sprint to Labor Day. (And then another sprint through October). So the fact that the Fillmore County Journal's Reader Choice awards happen in August can put us at a disadvantage — we’re just too dang busy to fill it out! What does it matter anyway? Having customer lines out the door are award enough, right? Well, yes, that’s true, but awards are nice! And our great businesses deserve to be recognized - So let's encourage our customers to acknowledge what we are doing right by asking them to fill out the ballots and the "best of" categories.

Only ballots submitted to or dropped off at the FCJ office will count. There are no online forms, just good, old-fashioned pen and paper. The ballots have been printed in the Fillmore County Journal throughout the last few weeks, but we will also have copies of the ballots at the visitors center and Jonathan will be taking copies to businesses in town. Please, everyone, take a quick minute to fill it out with your favorite Lanesboro (or Fillmore County) establishment. Have all your co-workers, family and friends fill one out as well!

And here’s the best part. Once you fill it out, bring it to the visitors center and we’ll be sure every ballot is mailed to the Journal by the Sept. 1 deadline. No postage required by you. Just take the 5 to 10 minutes of your time and make a trip to the Visitors Center!

Upcoming Community Events

Lanesboro Art Trail kicks off fall studio art series this weekend

Long known for its quaint bed and breakfasts and scenic bike trail, Lanesboro also has a vibrant community of talented studio artists. This weekend is the first of three fall "Art Trail" events, which allow people to visit the artists of Lanesboro on self-guided studio tour. This unique opportunity allows people to visit with the artists, see how they create and shop their available inventory of works.

The Lanesboro Area Art Trail is celebrating a full-blown decade of one of the coolest recurring events in town. This year's participating artists include Delilah Bell, Anna Looney, Joan Finnegan, Cheryl Lamon, Sue Pariseau, Jennifer Wood and the various artists at Lanesboro Arts.

Studios are open from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. daily, Friday and Saturday. In addition to this weekend, Aug. 18-19, plan to visit the studios again in September and October, Sept. 15-16 and Oct. 6-7, to see how their art is progressing! Don't wait to purchase a favorite piece, as it may be snatched up by another art enthusiast!

Welcoming Week is coming up–this is our chance to recognise new residents, business owners and to honor our open and welcoming community. This year we will be hosting a social to celebrate our new neighbors! Welcoming week is an annual, nationwide movement to embrace people from all over the world who come to our country, be it as immigrants or refugees to make a new life for themselves. Lanesboro is a place that strives to create a welcoming, warm, inclusive and nurturing environment for all of our residents. This is our chance to show it. Join us on Thursday September 7 from 5:30-7 pm at Sylvan Brewing to welcome the new to the town.

Click Here to Download the Map

Join us to welcome new businesses, new residents
Welcoming Week is coming up in September and it is a great time to recognize new residents, business owners and to honor our open and welcoming community. This year, the Lanesboro Area Chamber of Commerce and Economic Development Authority will be hosting a social to celebrate our new neighbors! Welcoming week is an annual, nationwide movement to embrace people from all over the world. Lanesboro is a place that strives to create a welcoming, warm, inclusive and nurturing environment for all of our residents. This is our chance to show it. Join us on Thursday, Sept. 7, from 5:30-7 p.m. at Sylvan Brewing for a community social - a time to visit with our neighbors and our business owners.

Click here to Read More Information About Lanesboro Area Chamber of Commerce Depot Delivery - August 17, 2023