• strict warning: Non-static method view::load() should not be called statically in /home/glencoenews/www/www/sites/all/modules/views/views.module on line 906.
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  • strict warning: Declaration of views_handler_filter::options_validate() should be compatible with views_handler::options_validate($form, &$form_state) in /home/glencoenews/www/www/sites/all/modules/views/handlers/views_handler_filter.inc on line 0.
  • strict warning: Declaration of views_handler_filter::options_submit() should be compatible with views_handler::options_submit($form, &$form_state) in /home/glencoenews/www/www/sites/all/modules/views/handlers/views_handler_filter.inc on line 0.
  • strict warning: Declaration of views_handler_filter_node_status::operator_form() should be compatible with views_handler_filter::operator_form(&$form, &$form_state) in /home/glencoenews/www/www/sites/all/modules/views/modules/node/views_handler_filter_node_status.inc on line 0.
  • strict warning: Non-static method view::load() should not be called statically in /home/glencoenews/www/www/sites/all/modules/views/views.module on line 906.
  • strict warning: Non-static method view::load() should not be called statically in /home/glencoenews/www/www/sites/all/modules/views/views.module on line 906.
  • strict warning: Non-static method view::load() should not be called statically in /home/glencoenews/www/www/sites/all/modules/views/views.module on line 906.
  • strict warning: Non-static method view::load() should not be called statically in /home/glencoenews/www/www/sites/all/modules/views/views.module on line 906.
  • strict warning: Non-static method view::load() should not be called statically in /home/glencoenews/www/www/sites/all/modules/views/views.module on line 906.
  • strict warning: Non-static method view::load() should not be called statically in /home/glencoenews/www/www/sites/all/modules/views/views.module on line 906.
  • strict warning: Non-static method view::load() should not be called statically in /home/glencoenews/www/www/sites/all/modules/views/views.module on line 906.
  • strict warning: Non-static method view::load() should not be called statically in /home/glencoenews/www/www/sites/all/modules/views/views.module on line 906.

Glencoe Days – Our view: Celebrate your hometown

Summers in Minnesota are a time when small communities like Glencoe, Silver Lake, Brownton and New Auburn celebrate what makes them special places to live, raise a family, work and play. Community festivals are one of the many summertime events adding to the quality of life in Glencoe.
For about a year, about a dozen volunteers have worked to make the annual Glencoe Days an event worth attending. They have logged tons of hours planning and creating ways to keep the festival a fun, family-oriented event that is, thanks to sponsors, self-sustaining. This is the 50th anniversary of Glencoe Days this week.
This weekend, dozens of volunteers – almost 100 people overall – will give their time to staff booths and stands during the festival. Those volunteers make Glencoe Days possible. They make Glencoe better.
The economics of running a celebration like Glencoe Days has changed over the years. The cost of doing business has risen dramatically. The city waived plenty of fees associated with allowing Glencoe Days to operate. The city is donating hours of police officers and public works staff to putting Glencoe Days on for the enjoyment of residents. The planning committee has done what it can to keep the festival as friendly as possible for your pocketbook.
The group has added events this year in recognition of the 50th anniversary of Glencoe Days. It has brought back the Miss Glencoe Days event. It has added human foosball and other events in an effort to make this year’s event even more special. We hope you appreciate the effort.
Sure, the parade was moved, but that was seemingly unavoidable. Running the parade through a section of Glencoe fraught with street construction or challenged by the railroad tracks makes a tough situation all the worse. We applaud the planning committee for moving the parade to an area where it can be properly staged.
The city has a nice resource in Oak Leaf Park. It’s a good place to host Glencoe Days. Returning some of the events of Glencoe Days to downtown Glencoe has been suggested in the name of downtown renewal. The idea is worthy of consideration. Yes, there are logistical issues to work around. Declining to consider the proposal is like complaining about the list of attractions without offering a potential solution.
A wise man once advised his son he’s either part of the problem or part of the solution. If you see a problem this weekend, don’t just kvetch about it. Be part of the solution. Before you decide something’s not logistically right, perhaps ask some of the festival organizers why they made the decisions they did. Chances are, committee members thought about circumstances and levels of detail the rest of us never contemplated.
Check out the schedule of events in this week’s print edition of The Chronicle. There’s a wealth of activities intended for your children and adults alike. If you don’t like what you see, feel free to volunteer some time to help make Glencoe Days 2020 better.
We hope you will enjoy Glencoe Days. We’re hoping for mild weather and a good time for one and all. If you see a member of the planning committee or people working to make Glencoe Days better, please offer them sincere thanks. It’s the least any of us can do.
­-jm