Weren't the Christmas decorations especially beautiful this year? It seemed that a lot of Mercer homeowners did an enormous amount of work to make their houses and lawns attractive.

Now we have to figure out where to store all that stuff!

This week's wandering brought me to the Sundance Arena just a little ways from Mercer at 310 Fredonia Road in Fredonia. This is a wonderful new facility that had its grand opening last Oct. 5. The arena is owned by David and Margaret Dersham. This facility is available for all types of equine events including barrel racing, team penning, rodeos and team roping.

The first pro rodeo will be held at 7 p.m. Jan. 25 at the arena. There is an advance sale discount, which is $10 for adults, $8 for seniors 62 and older and children 12 and under. At the door, prices will be $12 for adults and $10 for seniors and children 12 and under.

This is the real thing in the world of rodeo. It is sanctioned by the Oklahoma-based International Professional Rodeo Association for world championship points. This is a serious competition featuring some of the best competitors in North America.

Contestants are free agents who choose the rodeos they want to enter. They are responsible for their entry fees and personal expenses and won't be paid anything unless they win prize money.

Sanctioned contests include bareback bronc riding, steer wrestling, saddle bronc riding, cowgirls barrel racing, calf roping, team roping and bull riding.

Tickets are available at Mercer Hardware or by calling (724) 475-3276 or (724) 263-8628.

This really sounds like a great evening's entertainment and the Dershams have more rodeos planned for Feb. 22 and March 22.

Mercer Chamber of Commerce kicks off the new year with a meeting at noon Wednesday at the Old Homestead Inn. This is a luncheon meeting and members will be asked to vote on the bylaws. President Dave Shipton has reported that the Festival of Trees was a success and Louise Hockenberry won the quilt raffle.

The chamber executive board meeting at K. of C. Hall is scheduled for 5:30 p.m. Thursday. The chamber has welcomed some new members. Shirley Rains is an insurance consultant. Walter and Karlann Bock have a bed and breakfast called Angel Inn Country Bed and Breakfast at 1267 Mercer-Grove City Road in Mercer. Heather Wiederstein was also welcomed as a new addition.

Mercer Garden Club will meet at 7 p.m. Monday at Mercer United Methodist Church. The program will consist of a slide talk on landscaping by Shannon McConnell from Cottage Gardens. She works as a landscape designer for them. The new slate of officers is: president, Christy Hunter Hall; vice president, Nancy Ollinger; recording and corresponding secretary, Mary Ellen Russell; treasurer and newsletter editor, Everett Bostrom; and program committee, Jack Hausser.

Gannon University Small Business Development Center is holding a tax seminar at Howard Johnson at Route 19 and I-80 from 1-3:30 p.m. Jan. 14. This should be helpful for all small business owners whether you are a sole proprietorship, partnership or corporation. Plan now and save headaches later! Call toll-free at (877) 258-6648. Cost is $35 per person. The program will be presented by McGill, Power, Bell and Associates.

Mercer High School's speech team is holding a spaghetti dinner in the high school cafeteria from 4:30-7 p.m. Jan. 31. Advance tickets may be purchased and are $6 per adult and $4 per student (preschool children are free). You can buy tickets from any speech team member or parent or by calling (724) 662-5104. I was told the tickets are slightly more if you buy at the door.

If the mid-winter blahs threaten to overcome you and your get-up-and-go seems about to be gone, then you need to get out and dance! Yes, that's right -- dance. Immaculate Heart of Mary Church is holding an adult dance from 8-11 p.m. Jan. 18 in Father Gallagher Social Hall. Tickets are $5 for a single and $9 for a couple. A concession stand will be available. Proceeds from the dance will go to support social outreach projects for the needy in our area.

The Forensic Invitational at Mercer High School is scheduled from 9 a.m. to 3:45 p.m. Jan. 18. Awards will be presented. Mercer Rotary Club is sponsoring the speech team. Watch for the winner and comments in the next column.

Chamber of commerce board of directors and committee meeting is scheduled for 5:30 p.m. Jan 21 in K. of C. Hall. Budgets must be submitted.

Feb. 15-16 are the dates for Penn's Woods West. Mark your calendars for this arts and crafts festival at the high school. There will be country crafts, hand-made furniture, Victorian floral arrangements, home-cooked food, dolls of every kind, demonstrations, live performances, quilts show and more. Hours are 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Feb. 15 and noon to 5 p.m. Feb. 16.

Admission is $4 ($3.50 for seniors) and is good for both days. Children under 12 are free. Proceeds benefit Mercer Area School District and Mercer Chamber of Commerce. For more information, contact the chamber at 132 S. Pitt St. Hours are 8 a.m. to noon Monday through Friday; phone number is (724) 662-4185, fax is (724) 662-0211. Co-directors are Deborah A. Plant and Sue Carter Barner.

I would like to thank the people who have taken the time to e-mail and call with their comments regarding this column. After I wrote about some volunteers in our community and their good works, I received a letter from a physician in San Francisco. He had received The Herald article and in turn sent me one about his mother.

Sarah Romeo, a volunteer at St. Vincent's Health Center in Erie, knits six or seven caps a week for the newborns as well as answering phones and helping staff members with odd jobs.

This woman, the doctor's mother, is 92 years old. I remember seeing her when I worked at the Erie medical center. And most of us think we have no time for extra good deeds. Shame on us!

Contact Connie Cousins with Mercer area news at (724) 662-9296 or e-mail her at: