Monday, June 16, 2008

Wright/Cromwell News

06/16/2008

Wright/Cromwell News by Jennie K. Hanson June 16, 2008

Our sympathy goes out to the family of Dorothy Hakala, 68, on the death of their mother. Dorothy’s, memorial service was held at Bethany Lutheran Church in Cromwell, MN on Monday, June 16, 2008.  She is survived by her loving children, Lola, Nancy, Bill, Jill and Tom.  brother Jack, and sister Kathy, 13 grand children, 6 great –grandchildren and special loved ones.

My long time friend and resident at the Villa Vista, Wanda Woolums died on June 10th, 2008 at the Villa Vista.  Wanda was one great gal and was also a great Foster Grandparent to many 4th graders over the past 12 years since she moved to the Villa.  I will miss her smile and grace when I visit the others at the Villa now.  Thanks for being my friend, Wanda!

The Midsummer Celebration at Suomalainen Kirkko will be on Sunday, June 22 at 1:00, potluck dinner, maypole, bonfire, silent auction- donations are welcome for this fun event. Music will be by The Moose Lake Community Band, Jarvenpaa Singers and Kantteleen Soittajat. For more info call Janice Gran 273-4828.

The next Senior dance will be held at the Cromwell Park Pavilion on June 26th from 1 – 4 PM Music will be provided by Virginia Shogren.

A Pueblo, Colorado man was killed on I-25, south of Pueblo.  Gary Dennis Aho, 44, died on May 15, 2008.  He is survived by his wife, Kathy Aho; Mother, Evelyn (Heikkila) Aho, brothers Dane (Susie), and Jeff.  Also survived by his uncle, Wesley (Ann) Heikkila from Wright, MN.  Gary was born on December 24, 1963 in Cloquet, Mn.  He owned and operated Gary Aho Trucking.  He also was an avid hunter, and Harley rider.  Gary was blessed with the waters of baptism, embraced in tender love, now welcomed to where he will enjoy peace and joy in God’s presence forever “On Eagles Wings”!

WOW! What a wonderful convention! The Women of the ELCA held their 21st Annual Convention on the campus of the University of Minnesota in Duluth, MN on June 6th and 7th, 2008.  Over 250 women from the North East MN Synodical Women’s Organization were in attendance for this annual event.  Everyone was inspired by the keynote speakers, Mary Sam, who spoke on racism and justice issues and Inez Torres Davis spoke on becoming on anti-racist organization.

Sunny Johnson, President, Immanuel Lutheran Church in Crosby, presided over the Convention. They conduct business, elect their leaders and collect items such as quilts, school kits and sewing kits for Lutheran World Relief.  Items for street outreach, offerings and Beanie Babies for Honduras were also collected.  Offerings taken included $8604 for the Penny offering. This is used for women and children in need.  The Silent Auction $1794 will be used to help fund the Women attending the Triennial Meeting in Salt Lake City in July.  $5,312.02 was raised for Project Comfort to ship in kind quilts and kits.

This year’s theme verse was “And this is the boldness we have in Him, that if we ask anything according to His will, He hears us.” 1John 5:15

Here are just some of the comments found on the evaluations of the convention: “Wow- what a wonderful convention! Thanks to each and everyone for your contributions! Together you planned an awesome, inspiring, uplifting meeting, best convention, very well organized, great speakers, wonderful music, liked the Chaplain, loved the worship services, the keynote speakers were terrific, - no complaints on housing, or food etc., friendly registration, loved the Bulletin of Reports, etc., etc.” So you can tell why so many women go to convention and then continue to return year after year.

The whole convention was a special event in the life of the Women of the ELCA.  So if you want to know more about convention, please try to attend the first Friday and Saturday of June - 2009!

The Cromwell Harvest Fest Committee is having a Steak Fry on Friday, June 20, 2008 at 4:30 – 7 PM at the Pavilion.  Prices are $10.00 for the steak dinner and $3.00 for the Hot Dog dinner and Ice Cream for dessert.  They also need volunteers to help so please call Kay Smith at 644-3908 if you can help out.

The Northview Bank in Cromwell will have a picnic on Wednesday June 25th from 11 AM – 2 PM in the park near the bank.  These picnics are for all members of Northview Bank so come on out and enjoy a picnic meal and fellowship with each other.

We would like to extend an invitation to all to join us for a Community Picnic on July 5th (Saturday) from 11 – 3 at the Cromwell Park Pavilion.  We are planning to have a family fun day and it will be an alcohol-free and pet-free event.  If you would like to come to the planning meetings (each Sunday night at 6:30 p.m. at the Pavilion) or are available to help us put this event together, please don’t hesitate to call Jeanne Weimer 218-343-5059 or Carolyn Krogh 218-644-3670 or Linda Larson 218-644-3484.

We got an email from Gwang Ho Lee and he arrived home safely after about 21 hours.  His mother did not recognize him has he deplaned.  I guess he was taller and his hair was much lighter and longer and then almost everyone getting off the plane was Korean.  He had to tell her who he was!  He writes: “I’m feeling not that strange except I’m not going to school for a while.  Anyway, I’m little beat busy for preparing about high school.  Oh well, it was time for dinner, I’m hungry, Jennie.” Gwang stayed in his room a lot, but when he would come out he would announce: “I’m Hungry!” So, we gave him the nickname: “Hungry!”

Anyway, it’s pretty quiet here without the boys, but also good to have the quiet, too.  Sort of like when the grandkids come and stay a week or more and then when they leave it’s good, too.

Here’s a tribute to Dads as I forgot to wish them a Happy Father’s Day last week.
My Father

When I was ...

Four years old: My daddy can do anything. 

Five years old: My daddy knows a whole lot.

Six years old: My dad is smarter than your dad.

Eight years old: My dad doesn’t know exactly everything.

Ten years old: In the olden days, when my dad grew up, things were sure different.

Twelve years old: Oh, well, naturally, Dad doesn’t know anything about that. He is too old to remember

his childhood.

Fourteen years old: Don’t pay any attention to my dad. He is so old-fashioned.

Twenty-one years old: Him? My Lord, he’s hopelessly out of date.

Twenty-five years old: Dad knows about it, but then he should, because he has been around so long.

Thirty years old: Maybe we should ask Dad what he thinks. After all, he’s had a lot of experience.

Thirty-five years old: I’m not doing a single thing until I talk to Dad.

Forty years old: I wonder how Dad would have handled it. He was so wise.

Fifty years old: I’d give anything if Dad were here now so I could talk this over with him. Too bad I

didn’t appreciate how smart he was. I could have learned a lot from him. Author Unknown

That’s all the news from Lake Howhighwillgasgo? And Hello to all of Dorothy Hakala’s family. 

Monday, June 09, 2008

Wright/Cromwell News

06/09/2008

Wright/Cromwell News by Jennie K. Hanson June 9, 2008

Welcome Summer!  Yes, we’ve had a lot of rain and foggy days, but we sure do enjoy the beautiful days we do get.

It was a day like that we said our final farewell to our host son, Sonet Chowdhury.  He flew from Duluth to Washington, DC on Sunday, June 8th and flies back home on the 13th.  He was very reluctant to leave our home and the USA.  He goes back to the most corrupt government in the world.  His chances of making it in life in Bangladesh aren’t good, but we tried to encourage him to do his best and never give up trying to make a difference in his country and for his family.  He would love to come back to the USA and make Minnesota his home, but there will be a lot of things to do to make that happen.  Getting a Visa is difficult in his country as there are so many Government Officials to convince.

His advice for our students is to take advantage of all the opportunities you have here as there are so many young people all over the world that don’t have these same opportunities.  There are 150 million people in Bangladesh so good jobs are hard to find and most do not find any jobs.  Oh, Bangladesh is about the size of Wisconsin, so it is a very crowded country.

Gwang Ho Lee, our other host son, flew back to South Korea on June 4th.  It took him 21 hours to get home and when he arrived, his mother didn’t recognize him at the airport.  He had grown 2 – 3 inches taller and his hair was longer and lighter so he had to tell her who he was.  He was happy to be home and ready to continue his education there.  He will go to regular school for a year, then the military for 1½ year and then study for 3 years at a school that is 18 hours a day for 6 days a week.  He has to do this to be able to get into college, which is very important to him. It will be fun to follow his accomplishments in the next few years.

Gwang Ho and Sonet want to thank you all so much for all the ways you made their stay in Minnesota so memorable. Thanks from Bob and me too! You were all great!

Barb Hart and her daughter Jody and 3 granddaughters Amy, Kelly, and Kari just returned from a trip to Branson, Missouri. While there they stopped at Lamberts in Ozark, MO the home of the only “Throwed Rolls” restaurant.  For those of you who have been there, it’s quite an experience and for those who haven’t been there, it’s hard to explain except that if you want a hot roll, they throw it to you from across the room and you have to catch it.  Oh, there’s tons of food too.  They also went to 5 shows, the Titanic Museum, and to the newly opened Branson Landing with a lot of stores on the riverside.

The Cromwell Harvest Fest Committee is having a Steak Fry on Friday, June 20, 2008 at 4:30 – 7 PM at the Pavilion.  Prices are $10.00 for the steak dinner and $3.00 for the Hot Dog dinner and Ice Cream for dessert.  They also need volunteers to help so please call Kay Smith at 644-3908 if you can help out.

The Northview Bank in Cromwell and surrounding areas are celebrating their 100th Anniversary this summer.  This means that the Northview Bank in Floodwood will he holding a picnic on Thursday, June 26, 2008 from 4 – 6 PM at Floodwood’s Riverwalk Pavilion and Cromwell will have a picnic on Wednesday June 25th from 11 AM – 2 PM in the park near the bank.  These picnics are for all members of Northview Bank so come on out and enjoy a picnic meal and fellowship with each other.

We would like to extend an invitation to all to join us for a Community Picnic on July 5th (Saturday) from 11 – 3 at the Cromwell Park Pavilion.  You can bring your own lunch or bid on a picnic basket – hot dogs will also be available.  But, there’s more.  We’ll have homemade pies and a pie baking contest and also homemade ice cream.  There will be lots of games for people of all ages and abilities, such as a gunny sack race, 3-legged race, tug-of-war, arm wrestling, checkers, cribbage, Frisbee toss, volleyball, watermelon seed-spitting contest and much, much more.  This event will be held rain or shine so mark your calendars now.  This celebration is put together with the help of the Luminary Committee and representatives from the local cemetery associations in the Cromwell & Wright area.  We are planning to have a family fun day and it will be an alcohol-free and pet-free event.  If you would like to come to the planning meetings (each Sunday night at 6:30 p.m. at the Pavilion) or are available to help us put this event together, please don’t hesitate to call Jeanne Weimer 218-343-5059 or Carolyn Krogh 218-644-3670 or Linda Larson 218-644-3484.

This is a little Old News, but I thought it should be included in the news.

“My name is Missy Parker and I was the Directing Coordinator of the Music Instructors of MN Annual Contest and Festival that was hosted by the Cromwell School on Saturday, April 19th.  This contest began over 15 years ago and I have never had a wonderful venue such as this.  Applicants compete in piano, voice and new this year, guitar.  The entire staff was extremely friendly and helpful, taking that extra step to make sure we were well attended to.  It could not have gone better!  I had many compliments. Everyone seemed to have a good time.  I thank you from the bottom of my heart for all your kindness and support.  Cromwell-Wright School is a “Pot of Gold” on the other side of the rainbow.  Bless you all, Missy Parker.”

Mellisa Lind graduated from Bemidji State College on May 16, 2008 Summa Cum Laude with a Bachelor of Science degree in elementary education.  Husband Scott and children, Ethan, Everett & Macey, as well as Mom & Dad, Rick & Julie Houck are very proud of her.  She’s been a busy girl the last 4 years!

Here’s some news about Bob Silverness’s son Anders.  He is graduating from Proctor High School in the 95th class to do so this June 8th.  He was active in Robotics as a successful grant writer, maintained the web page and went to the nation competition in Florida two years ago.  In athletics, he ran cross-country for 5 years - ending in the 90th anniversary year of that sport in Proctor this year, curled for 5 years winning numerous titles including second place in Chisholm this year - losing to the second rate state team by one point, ran track for 4 years, played summer soccer since first grade, and on the golf team his senior year.  He is an Eagle Scout and a head acolyte at Saint Paul’s Episcopal Church in Duluth.-(Active with Sunday School classes and the nursery as well) Anders was active in both Saint Paul’s Episcopal Church’s and Forbes Methodist -Proctor youth groups.  During his junior and senior years he has earned 22 college credits and is nearing completion of his private pilot’s license.

Anders also has works at Bridgemen’s in Duluth and the Pike Lake Golf Course.

That’s all the news from Lake Quitehouseandemptynestagain.  Hello to all the parents of the recent high school graduates.  You sure did a great job raising your kids and with their grad parties.