Judy Evans, right, Evans Agency owner, and Angela McClellan, customer service representative, are ready to take part in the Christmas Bucks fun. Evans Agency has been meeting Fulton County residents’ insurance needs for nearly 19 years, specializing in home, auto, business, health and Medicare, which is currently in the enrollment period. Pay them a visit at 115 E. Seventh St. in Rochester. Photo by David Hazledine.

By David Hazledine
InkFreeNews

FULTON COUNTY — With Thanksgiving and the start of the holiday season just a month away, the staff at the Shopping Guide News of Fulton County is ready to help you with Christmas shopping plans as we prepare for our ninth annual Christmas Bucks promotion.

Once again, the Shopping Guide is teaming up with local merchants to bring extra holiday cheer to the community through the Christmas Bucks contest. The giveaway has now become a much anticipated, annual favorite in Fulton County, offering Christmas spending scrip to stretch your gift-giving budget.

Beginning with this edition of the Shopping Guide, the promotion will run for three consecutive weeks. Entry forms will be found in the Oct. 26, Nov. 2, and Nov. 9 issues. Cut out the entry forms, fill out the slips and deposit them in the Christmas bucks boxes located in businesses sponsoring the promotion, as printed on each individual entry form. Entry forms are also available at participating merchants. Forms must be placed in the stores’ Christmas Bucks boxes no later than 5 p.m. Tuesday, Nov. 15. No purchase is necessary and you do not need to be present to win. However, you must be at least 16 years old to enter.

You can enter each time you visit the store, but only one coupon is allowed per visit. Ballot stuffers will be disqualified. No mail-in entries will be accepted. Employees of each business are not eligible to enter at their place of business.

A total of $2,000 in Christmas Bucks will be given away by the Shopping Guide and the sponsoring merchants. The first place prize is $500, second place is $250, third place is $150, fourth and fifth place prizes are $50 each. All prizes are awarded in Christmas Bucks scrip that can be spent at any of the businesses participating in the contest. The Christmas Bucks must be redeemed by Friday, Dec. 31. Winners will be announced in the Dec. 7 edition of the Shopping Guide News.

Winners will be chosen at a drawing on Monday, Nov. 21. Also selected at that time will be two merchant winners from the participating advertisers who will each win a prize of $500.

When you drop off your entries, be sure to thank the merchant for being a sponsor of this fun and easy way to potentially pay for much of your holiday needs.

Merchants participating in this year’s Christmas Bucks are:

Clay’s Flooring and Furniture

Ace Hardware, Winamac

Craft Crossing

Evans Agency

Flirt Boutique

Harvest Moon Deli & Market

Lilly Pad Boutique

Petunia’s Antiques & Treasures

Refined — A Resale Boutique

Rensberger & Phil’s

Automotive Repair

Richie’s Men’s Wear

Rochester Meats & Deli

RTC Fiber Communications

Schmack Em’ Bait & Tackle

Smith Sawyer Smith Agency

Webb’s Pharmacy Rochester & Akron

Wilson Fertilizer and Grain

Lilly Pad Boutique owner Keitha Kunkle is gearing up for not only the holiday season, but also the one-year anniversary of the store’s opening on Wednesday, Nov. 2. To celebrate, the boutique’s holiday sales begin Thursday, Nov. 3. Overlooking Lake Manitou at 2317 E. SR 14 in Rochester, Lilly Pad Boutique has a wide variety of women’s clothing, accessories and home furnishings, including Lake Manitou-themed signs, t-shirts and sweatshirts. InkFreeNews Photo by David Hazledine.