COUNTY LIFE
Bowie News launches Yard of the Month

Spring has sprung and it’s time for The Bowie News Yard of the Month contest, as we encourage and recognize beautification efforts by local citizens.
Sponsored by The Bowie News and Beautify Our Bowie, the contest winner gets bragging rights for a month with the brightly colored Yard of the Month sign posted in their yard. A photo also will be published in the Bowie News of the winner placing the sign in their yard.
A winner will be named for April, May and June, the prime growing months.
Deadline for nominations is April 21. Call the Bowie News office at 940-872-2247 or email it to [email protected]. Please include the address and name of the resident if you know it or a contact phone number for the nominee. Throughout the contest, the winner will be featured in the last Bowie News of the month.
Nominations will be opened each month and you can submit the same name more than once if they are not a winner. Winners from last season will not be considered to allow for others to have an opportunity to participate.
Experienced gardeners have volunteered their time to visit all the nominees and select a winner.
This contest will recognize a beautiful yard that is not necessarily the fanciest or most elaborate, but one that shows care and upkeep in their neighborhood. The goal is to encourage all Bowie residents to keep their properties clean and looking nice for everyone to enjoy.
Criteria for judging will include ongoing maintenance of the yard and landscaping. The yard needs to be clean and free of trash, junk or other unsightly objects. Grass and shrubs need to be maintained at reasonable levels.
Landscaping also will be considered, but homeowners are encouraged to include not only annuals for the season, but permanent items such as shrubs, vines or hardscapes, as well as decorative structures like a gazebo or benches
COUNTY LIFE
Santa letter deadline extended to Dec. 6

The Bowie News invites all the kids to write their letters to Santa Claus and they will be published in our Dec. 20 holiday edition.
The deadline is extended to Dec. 6. Santa letter forms are available at the News office at 200 Walnut, at bowienewsonline.com Youngsters are welcome to submit their own letter it does not have to be on the form.
Drop them off in Santa’s mailbox outside the front lobby of The Bowie News offices.
COUNTY LIFE
It’s time to winterize your home, water well

As North Texas finally transitions towards cooler temperatures, community water needs change as well. Preparing your home for freezing temperature scan save time and money, especially with meteorologists expecting El Nino to bring wintry weather to the Southwest United States.
Use these tips from the Upper Trinity Groundwater Conservation District to winterize your house and well, all while saving a few gallons. Now is the time to check fixtures in your home for leaks or moisture loss. To identify leaks in your system, consider a non-toxic dye tablet.
Changing appliance water colors from clear to blue or green reveals issues before they cause damage. For individuals with hard water (water with elevated dissolved solids) faucets and fixtures can be soaked in a vinegar or mild acid solution to break down commonly occurring calcium carbonate build-up.
Read the full story in the weekend Bowie News.
COUNTY LIFE
Christmas Festival comes to Bowie this weekend

Bowie will be filled with holiday cheer this week as the 32nd annual Fantasy of Lights Christmas Festival comes to town to herald the start of the holidays Dec. 1-3.
This festival was one of the first in North Texas to feature a lighted Christmas parade and the activities have only grown through the years. Across three days there are activities to be enjoyed by the entire family. This year’s theme is “Sweet Tidings of Gingerbread.”
Sip & Stroll
The Gingerbread Sip & Stroll With Me will feature more than 40 downtown participating locations from 5-8 p.m. on Dec. 1. There also will be a storefront decorating contest following a gingerbread theme.
Open house
The Bowie Economic Development Open House from 4 to 6 p.m. on Dec. 1 with light refreshments.
Festival Saturday
Enjoy Pancakes with Santa from 7 a.m. – 10 a.m. at the Bowie Fire Hall, 203 Walnut Street, then visit the Bowie Library for Elf’n Magic, crafts and stories for kids and families.
The parade is at 7 p.m. There will be live music onstage downtown starting at 5 p.m. and the tree lighting at 6:45 p.m.
The Christmas Tour of Homes will be on Sunday from 2-5 p.m. Tickets are $20 and available at the Bowie Chamber office, Walters Surveying, Swaim Surveying, any Amity member at at a home.
Read the full story on the schedule in your mid-week Bowie News.
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