Monday, March 24, 2008

Wright - Cromwell News

03/24/2008

Wright - Cromwell News by Jennie K. Hanson March 25, 2008

Easter is over for this year, and I’m sure most of you realized this was one of the earliest Easter’s in history.  As some of you know, Easter falls on the first Sunday after the first full moon after the spring Equinox which was just last week or on the same day as the Spring Equinox.  This will not happen again for at least 100 years, so Easters will be later in the next years.  Did you have special plans or guests for Easter?  Please let me know so I can put it in the news.

Last week I heard on TV some of the most unusual baby names that are being used.  It seems that parents are trying to out do each other with weird and unusual names, so I thought I’d look up some of these names and also the most commonly used names of 2007.  So the Top 10 names for boys in 2007 were: Aiden, Ethan, Jacob, Jayden, Caden, Noah, Jackson, Jack, Logan, and Matthew.  The Top 10 for girls were Sophia, Isabella, Emma, Madison, Ava, Addison, Hailey, Emily, Kaitlyn, and Olivia.

The top 10 boys names from 1990-1999 were Michael, Christopher, Matthew, Joshua, Jacob, Andrew, Daniel, Nicholas, Tyler, and Joseph.  The top 10 Girls names for 1990 – 1999 were Ashley, Jessica, Emily, Sarah, Samantha, Brittany, Amanda, Elizabeth, Taylor, and Megan.

Names were quite different in the early 1900’s.  Top 10 names for girls in 1900 – 1909 were Mary, Helen, Margaret, Anna, Ruth, Elizabeth, Dorothy, Marie, Mildred, and Alice.  The top 10 boys names in 1900 – 1909 were John, William, James, George, Joseph, Charles, Robert, Frank, Edward, and Henry.

But what about those unusual names I wrote about?  Here are some of them.

Agus, Blessita, Chardonnay, Daxen, Chartreuse, Dresdin, Dunagan, Graeden, Hardock, Izaiack, Freiya, Juton, Jara, Locadio, Keela, Matthais, Pharrell, Roshunda, Phinnaeus, Shasmeen, Wednesday, Zamari, and Zaylie.  Do you know anyone with these names?  The closest ones I know of are the children of Pete Smith.  Zevus, Zayde and Zion Smith.  These sure are great names for such a common last name.

I guess you grow into your name whatever it is and it seems like the right name for you.  I usually watch the baby names in the birth announcements in the newspapers and the most unusual one I have very seen was “Bowen Arro”.  Also a person’s initials can be unusual, too.  My sister and brother both have the initials: MAD.  Wonder what my mom was thinking about?  I also know a guy named Anthony Scott Smith.  Here’s a little Limerick that I wrote for this occasion:

So when giving your child a name

Be sure it isn’t the same,

So many names will come and go

Some are very good and some are low,

But in the end it’s only a name game.

“ The Tamarack River Watershed Team will meet on the first Monday of each month, at 7:00 p.m. in the Cromwell Pavilion.  As always, all are welcome.”

Valerie, Butch and Amy Dahl helped their mom, Barb Dahl celebrate her 60th birthday recently.
Rick and Sue Olesiak flew to Georgia and then rented a car and drove to North Caroline to visit their two sons Landon and Danny.  The boys both work there. They also did some sight seeing.

Community Education ~ Beginners Quilters Class - Will be held at the Cromwell-Wright School on April 3rd; April 17th and May 1st from 7:00 p.m. to 8:30 p.m.  Classes will be held in the After School Program Room.  Cost is $10, plus a $2 registration fee.  Contact the school office to register and pay in advance.  If you have any questions, please contact Linda Larson at 644-3484 or Carolyn Krogh at 644-3670.

An In House Cribbage Tournament will be held at the Cromwell Municipal on Sunday, march 30th starting at 1 PM.  This is a partner’s tournament so bring a partner or wait and see if someone shows up without one.  The cost is $10.00 per person or $20.00 per team.  8 games will be played with all proceeds being returned to players. You can sign up at the Municipal or call 644-03440 to be added to the list.

Kay Smith informs me that Dollars for Scholars is looking for donations for the Scholarships given out to this year’s seniors.  Please send donations to DFS Attn: Brenda Soderbloom, Treas., 5087 Hwy 210 Cromwell, MN, 55726.  Any and all donations are greatly appreciated.

Applications for these scholarships need to be turned in by April 4th, 2008 by LAST BELL!

Kindergarten Round – Up will be on April 9, from 8:30 – 10:30 PM at the school. If you know of anyone who did not get the information packet, please call the school at 644-3737 Ext 1000 or 1001.

Over 50 pounds of food was collected at Aina Larson, 90th Birthday Party.  She wants to thank everyone for the cards, gifts and these generous donations to the local Food Shelf.  Aina said it was great to see so many of her older friends again.  Also, “A Big Thanks to her family for making the party happen.  Life is Great!”

Our sympathy to Norma Maki Haro and family on the recent accidental death of her grandson in a skiing accident.

Ken Peterson will be presented the Farmer’s Emeritus Award from the Minnesota Sustainable Farmers on Wednesday, April 16th from 1 – 3 PM at Bethlehem Lutheran Church in Wright, Mn.  Everyone is invited to attend. 

There will be a Grief Support gathering at Bethany in Cromwell on April 10th, from 2 – 3:30 PM.  Everyone is welcome to attend.  Sharry Waldriff with be the facilitator.

The Cromwell-Wright School will be holding a Book Fair on March 31st – April 4th, 2008.  This will also be open during Conferences on the evening of April 3rd, too.

The next Carlton County Retired Educators will be meeting on April 8th – Details to be announced later.

Firearms Safety Classes will begin on April 12th – May 1st.  Students must be 12 years old by November 1st to sign up. There is a sign-up sheet at the school office or call Pat Messer at 644-3216.

Bill and Marcia Pocernich will be facilitating Financial Peace University at Bethany Lutheran church beginning April 6 from 4 – 6 PM.  Call Bill or Marcia at 644-3660 for more information.

Spring must really be here as I hear Gordy’s is now open!

Do you have your taxes done yet?  I have my appointment soon.  I better, or it will be too late.

That’s all the news from Lake Remembertofileyourtaxes and Hello to all the Friends of Animals. 

Monday, March 17, 2008

Wright/Cromwell News

03/17/2008

Wright/Cromwell News by Jennie K. Hanson March 17, 2008

As I sit down to type this week’s news, it’s St. Patrick’s Day.  Not being Irish, it doesn’t mean as much to me as the Irish, but I’m sure many are celebrating this special day.

St. Patrick is believed to have driven the snakes from Ireland. Once a pagan himself, St. Patrick is one of Christianity’s most widely known figures.

The modern secular holiday is based on the original Christian saint’s feast day also thought to be the date of the saint’s death. In 1737, Irish immigrants to the United States began observing the holiday publicly in Boston and held the first St. Patrick’s Day Parade in New York City in 1766.

Today, the tradition continues with people from all walks and heritages by wearing green, eating Irish food, and attending parades. St. Patrick’s Day is bursting with folklore; from the shamrock to the leprechaun and to pinching those that are not wearing green.

And then, yesterday, was St. Urho’s Day and here is what I found out about this holiday for the Finns.  The legend of St. Urho originated in Northern Minnesota in the 1950s. However, there are differing opinions as to whether it began with the fables created by Sulo Havumaki of Bemidji, or the tongue-in-cheek tales told by Richard Mattson of Virginia. Either way, the legend has grown among North Americans of Finnish descent to the point where St. Urho is known and celebrated across the United States and Canada, and even in Finland.

St. Urho’s Day is celebrated on March 16th, the day prior to the better known feast of some minor saint from Ireland, who was alleged to have driven the snakes from that island.

The legend says St. Urho chased the grasshoppers out of ancient Finland, thus saving the grape crop and the jobs of Finnish vineyard workers. He did this by uttering the phrase: “Heinäsirkka, heinäsirkka, mene täältä hiiteen” (roughly translated: “Grasshopper, grasshopper, go away!"). His feast is celebrated by wearing the colors Royal Purple and Nile Green. St. Urho is nearly always represented with grapes and grasshoppers as part of the picture.

This is also Easter Week.  Many area folks will be celebrating the upcoming events.  There will be a Maundy Thursday service and Soup Super at Bethlehem Lutheran in Wright on March 20th with Sharry Waldriff providing the special music.  Then on Friday morning, March 21st, at 8:30 AM in Bethany, Sunrise Service will be hosted by the Villa Vista.  Good Friday Service will be at 7 PM with Karen Adkins playing the harp at Bethany.

Our Sympathy to the family of long-time Wright Area Resident, Vernon Harp.  Vernon has spent the last several years in the Windom, Mn area, but was a life-long resident before that.  Vernon died on March 15th, 2008 just one day shy of his 96th Birthday.  If you want to send your sympathy to his wife Leone, and family, her address is:  312 7th Street, Windom, MN, 56101 So, to his wife Leone, daughters; Lorna and husband Bert, Helen and husband Larry, son; Gale and wife Betty and only surviving sibling; Sister Evelyn and Bill Johnson of McGregor, and grand children and great grand children, please know that our thoughts and prayers are with you during this time of loss.

It was great to see Edna Murto, of Cloquet, in the area on Saturday the 15th as she made a trip to the Area Clothing Depot with her niece.  She wants everyone to know that the Friends of Animals in Carlton County will be holding their Annual Rummage Sale at the Cloquet Armory on Saturday, April 26th.  Friends of Animals is an organization dedicated to the humane treatment of animals in our county. Friends of Animals has been providing shelter for abandoned, stray and unwanted animals since 1985. Until earlier this year, they have relied on the generosity of many foster homes and volunteers. Today they are fortunate to have a 5,000 square foot building, which they purchased in March 2002. Friends of Animals still rely on the generosity of their many volunteers to assist with animal care and shelter maintenance.

They will gladly take help from people who are willing to volunteer in the shelter, walking dogs and cleaning kennels. They are also looking for some more good foster homes. If you would like to make a cash donation, please send it to 1418 Hwy. 33 S., Cloquet, MN 55720. Anything you can give will be greatly appreciated. Thank you to all the people who have volunteered at the shelter, made donations, and/or fostered animals! From Friends Of Animals Humane Society, Phone: (218)879-1655 or Email:

Sue Gran Miller is in need of prayers as she battles cancer again.  Her address is 13948 Alder West, Andover, Mn 55304 if you would like to send a card to cheer her on.  Sue is a 1963 graduate of Cromwell High School and spent her career in teaching.

The Northview Bank in Cromwell sure is looking great.  Shouldn’t be too long now when the remodeling is done and the bank will be back to normal, without the remodeling going on.  The staff sure appreciates all the customers understanding with the remodeling as it is a needed up-dating.  I know the staff has gone over and above to make these changes possible, too.  It’s never easy to live or work in a construction zone!  Thanks, to the staff and owners for investing your time, money and energy into our community!  It is appreciated!  Oh, the construction crew needs to be thanked too as they have had to work around some unusual hours and weekends to get this project finished.

Thanks to Siiri and Carolyn, I have the schedule for the YOT Dances at the Cromwell Park Pavilion for this year.  The next dance will be on March 27th, 1 – 4 PM at the pavilion with Loren Lindevig providing the dance music.

Congratulations to Brooke Aili and Orrie Bergstedt on their up-coming wedding in Esko on May 18, 2008.  Parents are Mr. and Mrs. Philip Aili and Mr. and Mrs. Keith Bergstedt.

That’s all the news from Lake Waitingforspring and Hello to all our friends and readers.  Have a Happy and Blessed Easter!  Remember NO SCHOOL March 24 – 28th in Cromwell.