This week we celebrate Mrs. Audrey Benedix Rinna as our 2023 Valley Home Christmas Parade Grand Marshal. This Saturday evening, December 9th, we are all invited to our Valley Home Community Lighted Christmas Parade. This is a very special evening in Valley Home. Our little hometown lighted Christmas Parade will begin at 6 pm near the park and school. No sign-ups are necessary … bring your lighted parade entry (must be safe and in good taste) and be in line before 6 pm. The parade will start at 6pm and will go three times around the block and back to the park. Then please gather at our beautiful community Christmas Tree. Our 2023 Grand Marshal will then light our community Christmas tree. We will sing two Christmas carols together around the Christmas tree. We will have a very special manger scene remembering that long ago night in Bethlehem with Joseph, Mary and Baby Jesus. After the Christmas carols, we will enjoy Christmas hot cocoa, compliments of the Barretto and Mattos Family. For those who would like to participate in our annual Cookie Exchange, we will once again honor the memory of our sweet Bonnie, with a delicious Christmas cookie exchange. Bring a dozen, take a dozen in Bonnie’s memory.

For those of you who are not able to bring cookies … no worries … there will be plenty of extra for you to enjoy, and take some home.

Our 2023 Grand Marshal, Mrs. Audrey Benedix Rinna, is a lifelong resident of Valley Home. She has lived within one square mile her entire life. Starting life in the triangle on Michigan Avenue, then to Freelove Avenue, then up the road to Pioneer. Upon her marriage, she finally settled back in the triangle on Lone Tree Road. It was on Lone Tree Road that she would raise her family. She was baptized, and later married in Saint John’s Lutheran Church. Audrey is a lifetime member of Saint John’s. She is a Valley Home School alumni graduating in 1959. Audrey was a member of the Valley Home Parents Club and helped on the infamous Valley Home cookbook, which is still much sought after today. She was the relief postmaster when Leroy Aker was out of town. She played a supportive role in all things Valley Home. Audrey was a very special woman in her hometown … loved and trusted by all; she held the extra keys, the safe combinations and also kept the town’s secrets.

Her memory of events and people related to Valley Home is incredible and as a family, many good times are spent reminiscing about growing up in such a magical place. Audrey grew up during a very special era. She has many very special memories. When asked about her young life in town, she says it was a simple and uncomplicated life, at least for the kids. She said: “I was surrounded by cousins and friends who helped make my life very special. We had a lot of freedom. My bicycle was very important to me. I still have it. There was no social media, no cell phones. There were not the kind of worries that parents face today. Seeing it through the eyes of a young person, it was a wonderful time to grow up, especially in a small town surrounded by loving family and friends.”

Not only was Audrey’s childhood special, the period of time while raising her children proved to be equally as special for her. Audrey formed many important friendships, always making new friends while cherishing the old; the very close friendships with those she held so dear. All that knew her, knew that she was a friend they could always count on. Many of those friendships are still her closest friends, even now. Her grandsons James and Eli now live in her childhood home on Freelove Avenue and so, the Valley Home legacy continues.

Our community is proud to have Mrs. Audrey Benedix Rinna as our 2023 Valley Home Lighted Christmas Parade Grand Marshal. Thank you, Audrey, for your lifetime of service to our Valley Home community.

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Please remember … Children who would like to write letters to Santa may drop their letters off at the North Pole, Santa’s Red Mail Box at 13205 Minnesota, across from the park. Letters must be dropped off by December 16th in order for Santa to answer.

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Also a reminder, Thursday, December 7th is our Fire Department’s monthly board meeting. This month the meeting will be at our Valley Home Fire Station at 10am. All are welcome and encouraged to attend this important meeting.

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If you have any items of interest to share, you may reach me by telephone at 209-985-5233. Merry Christmas to All!