Share your story in the 'Why I Love Osakis' essay contest

Here's your chance to profess your love for the beautiful, cozy, close-knit community of Osakis.

As part of the Osakis Festival line up of events, the Osakis Review is again hosting an essay contest asking people to write about "Why I Love Osakis."

Is it the lovely landscape or the compassionate citizens?

Is it because you've lived here your whole life or you retired to this town?

Anyone, of any age is welcome to enter the essay contest!

Here are the rules:

•_Essay must be 300 words or fewer.

•_Essay must be typed or written legibly.

•_Essay must be e-mailed, mailed or dropped off in the Review box or office by noon on Thursday, June 14.

The winning essay will be printed in the June 20 issue of the Osakis Review.

The essays are sure to make the community proud, and the Review staff believes the winning write up will add to the festive atmosphere kicking off the 44th annual Osakis Festival coming up June 21-24.

The winner of the "Why I Love Osakis" essay contest will receive several prizes, including a gift basket and a guest of honor seat at the Osakis Review's salad luncheon table on June 21.

Plus, the winner will be the guest of honor on the Osakis Review's float in the Grand Parade on Sunday, June 24.

So put your pen to paper or start typing out your thoughts - remember the deadline is June 14!

If you have any questions, call Review editor Amy Chaffins at (320) 859-2143 or e-mail achaffins@theosakis

review.com.

Essays may be:

•_E-mailed to achaffins

@theosakisreview.com

•_Mailed to: Why I Love Osakis, c/o Osakis Review, PO Box 5, Alexandria, MN 56308

•_Dropped off in the Review box located at the south door of the Osakis Information Center

•_Dropped off at the Echo Press office, located at 225 7th Avenue East in Alexandria.

Amy Chaffins

After working as a journalist in the Alexandria area for the last 10 years, Amy Chaffins made the move to work as managing editor of the Osakis Review newspaper in December of 2010. She reports on school and city government, any Osakis-related news and writes feature stories as well. Amy also reports for the Review’s sister publication, the Echo Press. This is the quote you’ll find above her desk at work: “Your work is going to fill a large part of your life, and the only way to be truly satisfied is to do what you believe is great work. And the only way to do great work is to love what you do.” ~Steve Jobs 1955-2011 Amy is a member of the Society of Professional Journalists, a Minnesota Newspaper Association award winner and admires the writing style of the late Charles Kuralt. Amy and her husband, Brandon, live in Alexandria and have two dogs and a cat to keep track of. Follow Osakis Review Managing Editor Amy Chaffins on Twitter at @AmyReview.

Tags: local news, news, essay, contest, festival