Christmas contest deadline looms

By AMANDA LEHMERT
Special to The Bristol
Press

Wake up Dad, quick! It’s
time to dust off that
plastic statue of Santa
and Rudolph, get out the
special holiday wreaths,
and change the dead bulbs
on the Christmas lights.

Yes, it’s time once again
to get your holiday
displays ready for the
newspaper's second annual
Holiday Lights and Outdoor
Decorations Contest!

The Bristol Press’ teen
page writers, who are
orchestrating the contest,
are ready to help the
merry citizens of Bristol
participate in some good,
clean decoration
competition - and help you
make the Christmas of a
needy child in our
community a little bit
brighter at the same time.


Here are the rules:
Entries can be homes,
businesses, churches,
schools, agencies or
organizations. The display
must be visible from the
road. Entries will be
accepted at the newspaper
office at 99 Main St.
until 6 p.m., Friday, Dec.
20.

Each entry must be
accompanied by at least
one new, unwrapped toy or
book that will, before
Christmas, be given to
poor children in our
community.

Enter yourself! Enter a
friend! Enter somebody you
don’t even know but whose
decorations deserve
notice! Whatever you do,
enter right now! 

No display is too
insignificant. Spirit,
creativity, and innovation
count for a lot when it
comes down to making the
final judging decisions.

Staff members of The
Tattoo, the paper's teen
page, will judge the
displays.

Winners will be listed in
the newspaper before
Christmas, and the best
display overall will be
pictured along with the
story.

Open to Bristol Press
readers, the contest last
year generated more than
70 wonderful gifts. 

With help from the Bristol
Community Organization and
the homeless shelter
operated by the St.
Vincent DePaul Society of
Bristol, the toys helped
make Christmastime better
for the area's needy
children.

The Tattoo hopes to top
that number this year.  

According to BCO director
Thomas Morrow, many local
children will again need
generous donations like
these for Christmas this
year.

But the Tattoo staff can’t
do it without your help,
so put down that glass of
eggnog and pick up a
string of lights. 

Go get your house all
decked out and then bring
your entry form and a toy
or book to the Bristol
Press. 

This year, the Tattoo
staff and its Christmas
spirit is taking over to
make this season’s contest
even better than last. 

Appearing occasionally in
The Bristol Press, The
Tattoo is written
completely by local high
school students under the
direction of Press
reporters Jackie Majerus
and Steve Collins.

What are you waiting for?
The contest is effective
now! It’s time to make
your house and a little
child’s Christmas a whole
lot brighter. 

Happy holidays, and good
luck!