Wright/Cromwell News

09/24/2007

Wright/Cromwell News By Jennie K. Hanson September 23, 2007

What a beautiful weekend!  The leaves on the trees were so colorful.  We can only wish they would last longer, but then I wonder if we would enjoy them as much if they lasted for months instead of weeks?

The exchange students that live with us and about 15 others scattered around the area spent Saturday on the beach on Park Point taking part in the National “Clean Sweep” the Beach Day.  We covered a couple of miles picking up liter left by careless beach goers.  I was surprised at the little amount of garbage, though.  It was pretty clean and if you didn’t actually look closely, you may have thought it was really clean.  The most commonly found items were cigarette butts, screw top plastic bottle caps and small pieces of plastic.  No valuable items were found, but one group did find a pair of shorts and some other clothing items.  There were also many tourists out on the beach enjoying the beautiful scenery.

Our exchange son, Gwang Ho, just celebrated Chuseok.  Chuseok is one of the year’s most important traditional holidays in Korea. It is celebrated on the 15th day of the 8th lunar month.  Chuseok is often referred to as Korean Thanksgiving Day.  It’s a celebration of the autumn harvest and a thanksgiving for the bounty of the earth.

Family members come from all parts of the country to visit their ancestral homes.  In short, Chu-Suk is a very big holiday to meet family and give thanks to ancestors.  They wear traditional clothes called “Han-Bok”, because they want to remember their ancestors.  Songpaen is one main food they prepare and Korean wrestling, swinging, jumping seesaw and other folk games used to be played.

Theresa and Bert Korpi want to thank everyone for the cards, gifts, money, phone calls and especially all the prayers for their infant son, Tucker.  Tucker has been suffering with Bacterial Meningitis since he was 7 weeks old.  Tucker is home now, but is still being treated in Rochester, Mn until he totally recovers.  Keep him in your prayers for a full recovery.

Our sympathy is extended to Bob and Sandy Howard on the death of his dad, 90 year old Wilfred J. Howard at St. Luke’s Hospital in Duluth.  He died on September 22, 2007 and his funeral was held in Duluth on September 26, 2007.  It is never easy to lose a parent even if they lived to be 90 years old.

Bob Howard is up and walking around with a leg brace and crutches after successful knee surgery.  Keep healing, Bob!

There will be a Pork Supper at Bethlehem Lutheran Church on this Friday, September 28th starting at 4:30 PM – 7:oo PM.  This is a Thrivent Matching Funds event.

Are you struggling with bills and debt?  If so, attend the Financial Peace University program at Bethany Lutheran Church in Cromwell on Sunday, September 30th.  Call Scott and Melissa Lind at 644-3208 for more information.  I’ve heard a lot of good things about it.

A little girl was born in Cromwell, Mn on September 1, 1902 and she died 105 years and 4 days later on September 5, 2007.  Who was this little girl?  Well she was Johanna “Joan K.” Kokkonen.  She is related to Ben and Laura Keskitalo from this area.  A private funeral was held and her final resting place will be at Eagle Lake Cemetery south of Cromwell.  What a life she must have lived, going from the horse and buggy days with little or no public communication to jet planes and cell phones. 

Another old timer, Walter Heikkila, 97, died on September 3, 2007 in Moose Lake, Mn.  He out lived his wife Margaret; his parents; two sons, Donald and Lyle; and four brothers, Emil, Jonas, Eino and an infant brother; three sisters, Senia Lundeen, Marie Engel, and Sylvia Carlson.

Walter is survived by two sons, Leslie and Linda Heikkila, and Wayne Heikkila; two brothers, Edward and Lil Heikkila and Waino and Lydia Heikkila; one sister, Ellen and Franklin Maki; 7 grandchildren, and many great grandchildren and nieces and nephews.

Don’t forget to attend the Florian Chmielewski Appreciation Day in Moose Lake on Saturday, September 29th from 1 – 4 PM.

Sunday, September 23, 2007, was a very special day at Bethlehem Lutheran Church as that was the day they dedicated “The Rock”.  Everyone at church went out side to surround the rock which was donated and placed on the church lawn by Art and Mary Aho as a reminder that Christ is Our Solid Rock.  Pastor Janeva Stromberg read a story about the song “On Christ The Sold Rock I Stand” which was also sung by the congregation.  Prayers were said and all in all it was a great event.  Sandy and Tom Nistler with help from Irene Bjorkland served a lunch afterwards.  Stop by to see the rock and the plaque.

Our Football team is sure doing well again this year.  It’s also great to see all the community support of all our high school athletes.

The Area Clothing Depot in the old school in Wright has some very important announcements.

First, the Depot will be starting a Pilot Program.  It will also be open on Thursdays from 10 AM – 3 PM starting on October 4, 2007. This will give them more time to get items out on the shelves and racks and also an extra day for people to donate to the depot.

Second:  The Depot will hold their annual coat and sweater give-away on October 16th, 20th, 23rd, 27th, and 29th.  Remember 2 coats and 5 sweaters per customer, per visit will be given away FREE!

Third and this is really new:  The Clothing Depot has established a new “Hauling Service” for our community.  So if you are moving, cleaning out your house, or just have some items you want to donate, you can call 644-3582 and your items will be picked up by our volunteers.  Items need to be in good condition, household, home décor, dishes, good clothing, etc.  NO COMPUTERS OR ELECTRONIC ITEMS, PLEASE!

The Clothing Depot holds their regular board meetings on the 3rd Tuesday of the month, and visitors are always welcome.  At the last board meeting it was decided NOT TO RAISE PRICES!  Prices will remain at $3.00 a bag except on the first Saturday, Tuesday and now Thursday; which will be $1.50 a bag.  Want a deal!!

Please pick up your dishes left over from the Harvest Fest Smorgasbord at the Pavilion in Cromwell.  Call Kay Smith at 644-3908 to arrange a time.

That’s all the news from Lake Cometothesupperandgotothegame and Hello to all our area Exchange Students!