Monday, May 12, 2008

Wright – Cromwell News

05/12/2008

Wright – Cromwell News by Jennie K. Hanson May 12, 2008

It’s “Poppy Time” again!  Take the time to support our Veterans by buying a poppy from one of “Poppy Collection Cans” that are in numerous businesses in Wright and Cromwell.  For a small contribution, you can help support programs for those that fought to protect your freedom! Your gift will be used by the American Legion Auxiliary unit in the Cromwell-Wright area.

Wear your poppy with pride to pay tribute to all veterans.  Let Freedom Ring!

Also, the American Legion Auxiliary of Cromwell-Wright will be hosting a BAKE SALE on Saturday morning, the 17th of May. Locations will be at BJ’s Gas station in Wright, and at Hometown Family Foods in Cromwell.  Please help us support our veterans.

The Cromwell Methodist Church is looking for a gently used laptop computer with `Windows XP and a 17” screen.  Other software is not required as it will be used for record keeping purposes.  If you have any leads on available laptops, please call Carolyn Krogh at 218-310-8357 or 218-644-3670.  Thanks for your help!

A pancake breakfast was held at St. John’s Lutheran Church in Wright, MN on Saturday, May 10th, 2008 from 8-11 AM in honor of the Minnesota opening fishing weekend.  50 people were served during the three-hour event.  $581.00 was brought in through free-will donations from attendees.  A bake sale was held in conjunction with the breakfast.  Over $100 of the total amount brought in was from the bake sale.  Church members volunteered nearly 200 hours in preparation for, during, and after the event.  Funds raised will be used for church repairs.  Supplemental funds were applied for through Thrivent Financial.

Cromwell had a great performance on May 4th put on by Dancin’ Stars and Shooting Stars Dance Program.  Instructor Angela Sandoval-Luna, a former graduate of Cromwell High School, taught the ballet, tap, and jazz lessons in Cromwell from January to May.  Angela said that it was really fun to get back to teaching.  Angela taught dance lessons in Cromwell and other surrounding towns for 9 years or so before moving to Colorado to teach elementary school in 2001.  She has just returned this year with her husband Eddy, and two boys: Mateo, age 2 and Adan, age 1.  She wasn’t planning on resuming the lessons in Cromwell but was convinced to do it and was really glad she said yes. “It’s really great exercise for me as well as the kids.  The kids also practice flexibility, rhythm, listening, and coordination.  It’s great.” There were 25 kids (5 preschoolers, 7 kindergarteners, 7 first graders, 1 second grader. 3 third graders, 1 fourth grader, and 1 fifth grader.  Does that equal 25???) who took lessons.  Each dancer learned and performed 5 dances in the recital and put on a terrific show.  Angela’s sister, Suzy Goodin also had her dance competition group from Cloquet come to help out and perform a jazz dance towards the end of the show.  Angela says that she’s sad to see the lessons end and is already working on songs and ideas for next year.  Floodwood Community Ed. has also recruited Angela to teach dance lessons.  She will teach at both schools next year.  It looks like a lot of kids will get the opportunity to learn a new skill next year.

The 3rd – 6th Graders at Bethlehem Lutheran in Wright received their Bibles on Sunday, May 11, 2008.  Those receiving their Bibles were Milyssa and Tim Aho, Jake and Presley Sleyster, Olivia and Eli Warpula, Chloe Larson Samantha Hansen, Hannah Line and Kiiera Anderson. The whole Sunday School also sang for the congregation and enjoyed a couple of Children’s Sermons.  May 18th will be the last day of SS at Bethany.

The 2008 Senior Class of Cromwell – Wright School were honored and giving a blessing at Baccalaureate on Sunday, May 11, 2008 at Bethany Lutheran in Cromwell.  Mary Rose Varo sang a special song to them about letting your candle shine and light the life of others, too.  It was a beautiful and meaningful service.

Mason Hansen became a Daddy.  Augustus Allan Hansen was born Wednesday, May 7th, 2008, weighing 7# 15oz. and 22 inches long in Charleston, SC.  Besides having a broken clavicle (which is common) both Gus and his Mom Stephanie are doing great.  If Gus would have arrived one hour and 33 minutes sooner he would have been born on his grandparents, Janet and Reese Hansen’s 30th Anniversary, but I guess he wanted his own special day.

Little Gus’ maternal grandparents are Steve and Robin Schmidt of Tennessee and Great Grandparents are Lincoln and Jeanne Hansen of Wright and Steph’s grandparents, too.

Gwang Ho Lee and Muksud “Sonet” Chowdhury were surprised and honored at church on Sunday when they each were given a hand made quilt by the Bethlehem Quilters.  They were wished a wonderful life and these quilts will remind them of their year in Cromwell and Wright.  They return to their home countries in early June, so if you see these guys wish them the best in the future.

The men of Bethlehem Lutheran served Strawberry Shortcake in honor of Mother’s Day on May 11th.  Scott and Kim Thudin also gave all the ladies a beautiful red carnation corsage as a special gift.  Thank you all!

The Villa Vista will be holding an Official Ground Breaking on Monday, May 19th at 1 PM.  Please feel free to attend this very special event.

Margaret Olson Webster will show her books and prints on March 18th at Tweed Art Gallery on the campus of the University of Minnesota after being nominated for a Northeastern Book Award.

Sunday, May 18th will be Confirmation at both Bethany and Bethlehem churches at the regular worship services.

The Senior Class of Cromwell-Wright School honored their parents and teachers at a catered dinner at the Pavilion on Wednesday, May 7th.  Eric Arnold, son of Marsha Walli gave an appreciation thank you speech and here are a few quotes from that speech. 

“I have been selected to express our thanks and sincerest appreciation to all the parents and teachers sitting here today, and also to those who were unable to make it.  This dinner is for you, in recognition of all the little and not-so-little things you’ve done for us.  Throughout the last 18 years, you have always been there for us, even sometimes when you had better things to be doing, which I’d imagine was quite a bit.  God only knows how you put up with us all these years but we’re glad you did.  And because you did, we are who we are today.  I think our class will agree that the people of Cromwell and Wright are some of the nicest, and most decent people of this country.  It’s because of your selfless devotion to our often-unappreciative well being that has turned our senior class into all the wonderful people I know.”

“Now we have the opportunity, with this humble dinner, to do something for you.  It’s not even close to enough to even begin to thank you, but we would like you to know that we do remember all the things you’ve done for us, and we understand that it wasn’t always easy.  You’ve raised us to be honest, generous, hard working, loyal, kind and compassionate people, and we like to think we get all that from you.  You’ve taught us all to read, write, add and subtract, and you even struggled through fractions, but most importantly you’ve taught us right from wrong, and that is the one thing that we are going to take with us into our fast approaching new lives.  For all this and for so much more, Thank You so much and enjoy your dinner!”

So on behalf of the teachers and parents, we want to thank the senior class for this dinner and for being such a fine class.  We will miss you next year!

There was a full church for the Annual Bethlehem Mother Daughter Tea on Saturday the 10th.  Diane Hansen led in singing “Amazing Grace” and she was accompanied by the “Amazing” Grace Krogh, age 94!  Grace also played of the other music.  Eileen Keen also gave a very neat message for mothers and daughters of all ages.

Our Sympathy to the family of Vi Koivisto Lahti, age 85, of Cromwell who died on May 10, 2008.  Her funeral will be held on May 14, 2008 at Bethany Lutheran in Cromwell.  So to her son, Kenny and wife Sue Koivisto, and daughter-in-law, Judy Koivisto and all family and friends, our sympathy is with you all.

I’ll never forget a time when Bob and I were on a trip through Yellowstone Park and we were passed up by a car with a bumper sticker that said: “Where the heck is Cromwell?” so we followed that car till it stopped and then jumped out to see who was in the car and low and behold it was Vi and Dauno!  We had a connection with them ever since that time.  Whenever we would meet, we would talk about that chance meeting in Wyoming.

And one last item.  Minnesota celebrated its 150th Birthday on Sunday, May 11th.  Did anyone even notice?  If you’re interested this birthday is called the Sesquicentennial.  Now that’s a new word to learn to spell! 

Every week when I sit down to write the news, I think there isn’t much to write about and then it seems to grow and grow!  I hope you enjoy some of my long winded articles, and some weeks will be much shorter, too.

That’s all the news from Lake Congratulationstoallseniors and Hello to all their parents and families!