Monday, January 01, 2007

Wright News

01/01/2007

Welcome 2007.  Yes, it’s 8 years into the 21st Century.  How can you say 8 years when it’s only 2007?  Well, you have to count the year 2000 as the 1st year in the 21st century and also since it’s the 2000’s, we are into the 21st century.  That always used to be confusing to me, but now I think I understand.  And for most of us, we can talk about the nineteen hundreds as we lived in those years.  I imagine that the young people who were born in the late 1900’s can tell their grandchildren some day about growing up in the 1900’s.  I used to think my grandmother was so old because she would talk about the 1800’s, but she was born in 1884 so of course she remembered the 1800’s.  Now I can do the same thing, especially to those kids born on or after 2000.  Sometimes I get a funny look from people when I mention something that happened before the year 2000 and say that was back in the 1900’s.  I guess they just don’t think of the 1900’s as being that recent.

Enough of that, so, on to the real news.  Did anyone catch my mistake (“Wrong News”) about the excess levy vote results?  There were only “5” NO VOTES, not 50 as my articles said.  I made the mistake, not the newspapers. I was in a hurry to email the news in, and just missed the error.

Despite the terrible snowy weather, over 150 brave people came out to Lindsay Lally’s Retirement Party at the Cromwell Park Pavilion in Cromwell on Sunday, December 31, 2006.  It really looked bad at first and there weren’t very many people, but they kept coming and coming.  I guess they just had to travel more slowly than expected, but they kept coming.  Peggy Olson and her daughter Laura had prepared a wonderful Turkey Dinner that was enjoyed by all.  A program was held with many guest speakers.  Mayor Dick Huhta presented Lindsay with a plaque proclaiming December 31, 2006 as LINDSAY LALLY DAY.  Herb Hilinski spoke about the “Precious” Teacher Lindsay has been all these past years.  Next, JoAn Bloemendaal-Gruette gave her thanks and read an original poem for Lindsay.  Shari Hutar thanked Lindsay on behalf of the School Board and then Lindsay’s sisters (Cherie, Julie, Mary Jo) really roasted her.  There are so many “Lindsay” stories to tell, and they told most of them.  The crowd was in stitches most of the time. Daughters, Annie and Megan gave heartfelt tributes to their mom and said that she was the “best teacher” they had had.  Even Ray Lally was able to get up and thank everyone for coming and told a few good ones on Lindsay. Ebba Hedin, Lindsay’s mom also was able to add to the fun with some stories of her own.  Several others got up and gave tributes and the program ended with a poem by me.  It was titled: You Taught Me!  Sort of a take-off from the poem written by Jenna Koenig that was published last week.  Here it is:

YOU TAUGHT ME PART II by Jennie K. Hanson December 31, 2006 Dedicated to Lindsay Lally

I did not know how to shop, shop, shop, But you taught me!

I did not know how to come late to almost everything, But you taught me!

I did not know how to lose $50.00 in the rear end of a Chicken Purse, But you taught me!

I did not know to scratch all the windows on my brand new car with a paint scraper to the remove the snow and ice, But you taught me!

I did not know how to lose my grade book for over 3 months and blame Bill Hoppe for taking it, But you taught me!

I did not know who “George Who?” was, But you taught me!

I did not know you could come to school wearing two different shoes, more than once, But you taught me!

I did not know one person could collect over 1,000 Apple things, But you taught me!

I did not know you could view over 1,000 wedding dresses on the internet and not have your daughter Annie pick even one of them, But you taught me!

I did not know you could put all your grades on the report cards on the computer and then lose them all, But you taught me!

I did not know you could buy 3 couches in one day and return 2 of them, But you taught me!

I did not know what a real friend was until I met you Lindsay Lally, BUT YOU TAUGHT ME!!

The program ended with a heartfelt speech from the Lindsay.  She told a few more stories on herself and then thanked everyone for coming and for all the help and support over the years.  She is truly grateful for having spent 31 years in the 3rd Grade!  And now looks forward to a happy and healthy retirement.

Our sympathy goes out to the family of Steve Lukanen, 63, who died on December 16, 2006 in his home in Cromwell, MN.  A memorial service will be held for him at Bethany Lutheran Church in Cromwell, MN on January 10, 2007 at 11:00 AM.

Judy Von De Linde’s 92 year old aunt, Marion Harp Ganz of Western Springs, Ill. died recently.  She grew up in Wright on the Lyman Harp farm and is sister to Evelyn and Vernon.  She used to walk from Vernon Harp’s old farm to Hogan Hall for dances in those early days and most of the time got a ride home with other dance goers.

Don’t forget Cribbage every other Friday night, at 7 PM, starting on January 5th and 19th at Lakeside Clubhouse south of hwy 210 about 3 miles west of Wright.  New players are always welcome. Did you know that McGregor has a new bank?  Well, actually it’s the same bank, just a name change.  The McGregor State Bank is now Grand Timber Bank, but you can use either name for a while.

Are you on the DO NOT CALL LIST for tele-marketers?  You do need to renew that option and the phone number to call to get your name and telephone number off the calling list is 1-888-382-1222 or go to http://www.donotcall.gov to register.  I did and it only takes a few minutes to register. The Annual Vintage Sno-mobile run in Tamarack will be in January.  I think it’s the 27th, but if you have more info, please let me know.  At least now, it looks like we will have plenty of snow!

I did get several of those Christmas letters and wanted to share a few facts with you.

Jim and Julie Gronbeck are still in Battle Lake, MN and their oldest son, Matthew just turned 21 years old.  He is interning at IBM in Rochester, MN and also majoring in computer engineering at NDSU.  Andrea graduated in May and she is going to college at Southwest MN State U in Marshall, MN majoring in Elementary Ed.  Kristen is a 10th grader at Battle Lake HS.  She enjoys lots of extra-curricular activities.  Julie continues to work in the Title I program at the school and Jim enjoys his ministry at Zion.  They wish you all a very merry Christmas and Happy New Year.

Nicole Suhonen finds herself in Orlando, Florida working for Campus Crusade for Christ.  She is working on the JESUS Project.  That’s a 2 - hour film on the life of Jesus.  It has now been recorded in over 900 languages.  She sends her best to us in snowy Minnesota.

The Sunday School program was at St. John’s on December 17th.  There is no Sunday School until the January 7th.  Elijah (son of John & Jenn Swanson) ((John is Bunny’s son)) and Jenn Swanson were baptized on December 17th at St. John’s.  His sponsors were Kim & Jolene Swanson along with, Scott & Bunny Hanson.  John, Jenn & Elijah came home for Christmas from Anchorage, Alaska.

Bible Verse for the week:  Luke 11:2-4 Look it up, you’ll be surprised. Household Hint:  Don’t go to bed with dirty dishes in the sink. That’s all the news from Lake Don’tforgettosavethosemilkcaps and Hello to all the Lally’s and their relatives and friends.