Today is Fat Tuesday, the traditional name for the day before Ash Wednesday — the first day of Lent. It is more commonly known as Mardi Gras, which is simply Fat Tuesday in French. It gets its name from the custom of marking the day with feasting before the fasting season of Lent begins.
New Orleans is probably best known for its Mardi Gras celebrations and hoopla, though other cities also celebrate it as well. If you’ve ever braved the chaos of a New Orleans’ Mardi Gras, I bet you’re still telling stories of your visit.
It’s difficult to believe Lent begins Wednesday already. A couple of other dates to put on your calendar are March 11 when Daylight Saving Time begins and we turn our clocks one hour ahead (yee-ha!) and Easter Sunday, which is April 8.
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So what’s the BigDeal? Every week, the Bureau County Republican offers readers an opportunity to save some cold, hard cash with our BigDeals! This week, you can cash in on some great savings with the following BigDeals!:
• Head on over to Sweeties Caramel Creations Co. in Princeton, where you can get $10 of delicious homemade treats for only $5. (Feel free to stop by the BCR Editorial Department, where we will be glad to help you sample some of these tasty treats! Ask for Terri!)
• Warm up with some absolutely delicious homemade food at The Igloo in Peru. For only $10, you’ll get $20 of some of the best food around.
Hurry! Supplies of these BigDeals! are limited. Get your BigDeal! on our website at www.bcrnews.com.
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Ladies and Gentlemen: Start your engines! Racing season is here! The excitement of the Bud Shootout on Saturday was just the beginning of a great season. Log on to www.bcrnews.com to get in on the action of the Checkered Flag Challenge. Click on the “Contests” tab at the top of the page and be ready for a thrilling ride this season. We have three grand prizes to give away — two for Michigan International Speedway and one for Chicagoland Speedway. And don’t forget the weekly prizes ... they are awesome too.
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Customer Service Kudos: Do you know an individual or business who delivers great customer service? If so, send me an email at tsimon@bcrnews.com, so I can tell other BCR readers about your experience. Following are the Kudos I received this week:
• Matt and Susan said, “I would like to recognize the Roma Italian Restaurant in Princeton. (We) ate there for the first time Feb. 18 for our wedding anniversary, and we both agree we’ve never had such fabulous food, quick and very friendly service, and just an overall very, very impressive dining experience. This place is a huge asset to our local business scene! We even received a fabulous complimentary dessert as an anniversary gift. We will return there many times again. And all this at very reasonable pricing! Very, very impressed!”
• Scott said, “My Kudos go to the Cherry Supper Club. Everybody always seems happy when you walk in the door. Even though the food is great, sometimes the attitude of the employees is just as important.”
• Dorothy said, “The ladies at Brandy’s Hallmark (in Princeton) are so helpful and nice. I use a cane to get around, and somebody always holds the door for me, helps me find what I need and even helps me take my packages to my car. Now that’s customer service!”
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Thought for today: “If you’re going through hell, keep going.” Winston Churchill.
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Like the bird on the front of today’s newspaper, the signs of spring will be popping up all over the place. Longer days, warmer weather, birds returning, tender sprouts poking their heads through the ground ... may we take time to notice the beauty around us. May we cherish every moment of every day of every season.
Thanks for being a part of your hometown newspaper. And remember ... you are important to me and the BCR.
