Country Night has been rescheduled to Saturday, April 4th, same time, same location. Unfortunately, many of our neighbors are still having problems from the flooding and electricity outages. I hope you can be there on the 4th!
We are also rescheduling the woodcut exhibit and class but will have to wait to hear from the artist on a future date.
Our planning committee is well on the way to presenting numerous exhibits and activities as preludes to the traveling exhibit, “Journey Stories,” coming from DC to Ellendale January 25 to March 14, 2010.
We are looking for volunteers and people with interest in any of these areas to help us with our activities. Please let me know if you would like to participate. I will keep updating this site as we finalize events.
Ellendale Smithsonian Institution Traveling Exhibit, Journey Stories, preliminary events list
April events - Lincoln exhibit from state, Lincoln movie, reenactor
May events -
June events - railroad group and display from Aberdeen, railroad songfest/storytelling, reading event
July events - Dickey County Fair booth, melodrama, food fundraiser, Do & Discover, old-fashioned camping event
August events – Homesteading book event, display of Homestead Act, musical entertainment, tours to area homesteads
September events - Applefest parade & activities, Fullerton Threshing Bee, Whitestone events
October events - Quilting and fabric events, scrapbooking weekend
November events - “Animals” exhibit from NDMOA, military interviews and display, book discussion
December events - Christmas on the Prairie, parade of lights entry, book event
January events - exhibition opening gala and show begins
February – March - exhibit
Additional events not yet scheduled: walking and driving tours (recorded for download and on paper brochures) of cemeteries, homestead sites, historic buildings; sing-a-longs and food fests from each country represented - German, Scandinavian, Finnish (include Frederick Finn Fest in June); transportation event; car show and songs; college “Journey Stories” day; docent training; geocaching event; student re-enactors telling homesteading stories; travel diaries
The second annual world art show is planned. This unique opportunity was very well attended last year and expectations are once again high. If you have pieces of art that has been acquired from abroad and would like to share it with the public, give Marilyn a call at 349-3178. This is a great opportunity to see a world class art exhibit right in your own back yard.
Join in the fun on February 13th and go back in time and celebrate the events that took place in the 50’s and 60’s. This is a second of many celebrations to come to honor the 100th anniversary of the legendary Ellendale Opera House. Sock hop to begin at 5PM with Sloppy Joes and rootbeer floats at 5:30 -6:30. A pageant highlighting “The Early Years” begins at 7pm. All this for the cost of only $10.00. So fire up the hula hoop and plan to burn a whole in your bobby socks. I’ll see YOU at the Opera House! Be there or be square!
Ellendale now has an approved Renaissance Zone. I will put the brochure and map of the zone on this blog site. The city is hoping for investment in the businesses and homes that are located within the zone and has offered property tax incentives to encourage this improvement. In addition, businesses and individuals who invest in approved projects receive ND income tax incentives against income earned while living/operating a business within the zone.
Ellendale’s city council election is again approaching, scheduled for Tuesday, June 10. Two of the current councilmembers are circulating petitions and intend to run for re-election. An additional seat is open, perhaps waiting for you to get your name on the ballot. Becoming a city councilmember enables you to help make the decisions that affect Ellendale’s present and future. If you’re a qualified voter within the city who has not been convicted of “malfeasance, bribery or other corrupt practice or crime,” you may run for city council. Getting your name on the ballot is simple. Pick up a nominating petition from city hall, obtain the signatures and addresses of 35 qualified electors and then return the completed petition to city hall by 4 p.m. on April 11. If you can’t make this deadline, you still have the option of running as a write-in candidate.
I think that city council meetings, particularly in a small town, really show basic government in action. Discussion brings out varying opinions and points of view. Thoughtful questions can lead to in-depth examination of the pros and cons of proposed actions. Visitors are welcome at city council meetings. Drop in and watch our elected representatives at work the first Monday of each month.
Good afternoon,
The newly-formed Ellendale Area Arts Council is seeking input on future programming. The board would like to know what our residents would like to see happening in our region and what you would be most likely to attend. Arts council volunteers have presented things like the world art show and dessert buffet, a quilt show and a poetry gathering along with the monthly Artists’ Showcase that features the works of local artists and crafters.
The group will hold a general meeting on Saturday morning, March 8, at 9 am in the library. If you can’t make it, leave a message for the council members either at the library or at the civic/economic development office.
Good afternoon, Ellendale,
I want to talk about things going on in Ellendale. I rely for much of my information on the bulletin board in the bank lobby. Those flyers keep my attention for a good 10 minutes when I’m there. I can read about this weekend’s play, who’s having a garage sale or auction, the newly-opened day care centers and everything else that matters. Today I learned that you can buy a prom dress and party supplies at the Treasure Vine.
I also devour our local paper. I read it twice: once for the articles and then a second time to examine the advertising. And then there’s likely to be an article in the Aberdeen or Jamestown paper, too, about some event or activity going on in Ellendale.
I will be attending this weekend’s play. I heard that Becky and Jolene will be hilarious. And I heard that they’ll be serving those marvelous Hawaiian bars that have become such a hit all over town.
Anyway, I hope you will all join me in contributing to this blog. I’m told that we will be able to put up pix and even videos - how exciting!
Due to the high water around Ellendale, we are postponing this exhibit and class. After we reschedule with Nathan, I will post the new schedule. I hope to see you then.