Last night Janice Buchholz & I went to an informational Horizon’s meeting in McClusky. We gave a power point presentation on what we had done in Anamoose under the Horizon’s program. Patti Patrie also presented what Bowden had done. McClusky did decide to join the new Horizon’s session that starts this fall.
The July 15, 2008, McHenry County Homemakers Tour was planned by the Ideal Homemakers Club of Anamoose and 27 participants enjoyed the many points of interest after coffee, juice and homemade muffins at our new fire hall.
The first stop was at the Otto Geigle Farm, formerly know as Moorhead Farm #2. Otto moved to the farm in 1973. The huge milking barn and the rock walls were very impressive as was the history that Otto shared with us.
Our second stop was at Pete’s Tractor Salvage where everyone took a great interest in “Pete’s Toy Shed”. Everyone knows he has the part your looking for and he sends them all over the world!!! We didn’t get to see Pete as he was fishing but his daughter took good care of us.
The Premium Gold Flax Processing Plant was our next stop out at the farm of Randy and Debbie Miller. A gift of “DashO’Flax” (pre-ground Golden Flax Seed) was given as token of appreciation for coming to their fine business as well as fresh lemonade & cookies made with their products. They were delicious. Many of us made onsite purchases and we heard about the many benefits of flax in our diets from Debbie. We were able to see the many processing machines and how they get everything together before shipment to many countries and states. They plan to have Flax Cookies for sale sometime in October - we can’t wait for them to come out!!!
From there we returned to the Anamoose Bakery/Cafe for a delicious buffet dinner made by Connie Rudnick and her staff. Everyone left there feeling VERY satisfied and full - it was an excellent meal!!
Then it was back to the Anamoose School bus driven by our very experienced driver - Lisa Ponzer. 
Our first afternoon stop was at the Lonetree Wildlife Management Area Office, where Scott Peterson gave us an overview what they are all about and what they do to preserve the wildlife and vegetation in the area.
The “After Thoughts Gallery”, where Dora Heil paints and shows her remarkable artistry in a “1923″ church was our first stop in Harvey. Many purchases were made by the tour group. 
From there we went to the Dakota Prairie Organic Flour Co. The expansion project going on right now is remarkable as they acquire many more customers from all over the world. We were given a fine tour and explanation of the whole process from the grains down to the shipping of the finished product of flour. We all felt really cute in those capes we had to wear!
The Tour Group then proceeded to Rue 54 for some wine and chocolate tasting as well as shopping. Sorry no pictures taken as the photographer was to busy tasting and forgot!
We also shopped the Que’ Sers’ and “Sew Wild and Woody” while in Harvey. The bus then returned to Anamoose with some tired passengers as that was really a FULL and FUN day of activities. Everyone received a package of homemade egg noodles from the Anamoose Farmers market and made by Alma Rau. Many door prizes were given out throughout the day and we heard allot of interesting answers to Phyllis Zimmerman’s ND Trivia questions.
Thanks goes out to the planning committee it was a great tour! 
We have many volunteers in Anamoose. I will show just a few. 1. Janice Buchholz planting 4 barrels of petunias on Main St. 2. Wayne Vanette goes to Granville to get commodities from the McHenry Co Food Pantry during his 6 months in ND 3. Pam Heim painting in the park 4. Phyllis Zimmerman organizes the annual Blood Drive. 5. Myself & Angie Kesler were helpers for the Blood Drive. 6. Mardell Helm gives monthly craft lessons at the Senior Center. 7. Community Foundation Fund thermometer painted by Pam Heim & Phyllis & Dennis Zimmerman keep it current.
Some other examples of volunteerism are: workers at Monday night bingo, taking care of flowers & shrubs by Anamoose sign, delivering Monday meals to shut ins, cutting grass for others, changing the marque, senior quilters, and the list goes on & on.
Several city residents gathered together at the future home of Katie & Zach Fitzgerald and children, to plant a garden as a surprise, when they arrive in Anamoose in July. Katie loves gardening but just had a baby girl in Jamestown recently (in fact after the garden was planted). Seeds and labor were donated by these caring people of Anamoose. I’ve been waiting for pictures of the actual action but have not received them to date - (they will be added if I get them as I didn’t have my camera with me). The picture is of the planted plot waiting for the little seeds to sprout.
It’s a little early yet with this cold weather for garden vegetables. But we had some vendors at our Farmer”s Market Monday evening. We hold it Monday evenings as the VFW has Bingo at 8pm.
I found a great idea when I visited the Gackle blog site. Gackle, ND will be adding a Summer Arts Program “Capture the Coteau” to their Farmer’s Market. They will “look at all the wild life and Flora which surrounds Gackle, study it, draw it, sculpt it, photograph it, and then use it to adorn banners, planters, benches, or what ever we can think of to help us beautify the town”. Go to gackle.communityblogs.us to learn more about this program and the grant they received.
Usually when I go to Minot I am lucky if I see a couple of people that I know, but yesterday at the annual Verendrye meeting there were many people from Anamoose and other area communities. Maybe the free meal and a chance to win $3000 attracts us! I didn’t win the money, and nobody won the $3000 either.
They had many interesting vendors, with four from our Anamoose area, and one from McHenry County. This is a good way to promote our small businesses & our county. Booths pictured are: 1. Deb Reinowski-Park Lane jewelry 2. Keith Reinowski-Midwest Graphics & Signs. Also Angie Mack, Brenda Kenney, & Kristin Reinowski. 3. Jackie Fix & Brad Mincher-Sage Hill Bed & Breakfast 4. Mabel Forschen-Home made gifts & Watkins. 5. Maria Effertz Hanson-McHenry County Also there were people there like Shirley & Bill Nitz who were there just to enjoy the food, etc.
The first night of the Farmer’s Market brought vendors and customers to the Anamoose park shelter. A wide variety of items were for sale: fresh eggs, homemade noodles, cookies, handicrafts, painted mailboxes, jewelry, canned fruits and vegetables and fresh rhubarb to name a few items. I left with arms full and a promise to be back next week! Vendors present this week were: Rosemary Vollmer, Wayne Vanette, Gertie and Alma Rau, Mabel Forschen and Gladys Schnase. It will be held every Monday from 6 PM to 8 PM - come out and get something fresh, homemade and home grown. Contact Farmers Market Chairman - Bonnie Docktor @ 465-3088 for information.
Another of our Horizon goals has come about. Woody and Kathy Selzler purchased land next to them that was called “the stockyards”. They have been getting rid of old buildings and trees, and put part of the land into a community garden. Anamoose area residents can put in a garden at no cost. USDA is offering free seeds for a study on new varieties. If anyone is interested please contact Bonnie Dockter at 465-3088.
Saturday evening 5/17/08, Anamoose High School celebrated their commencement with 8 graduates. As usual, it was a beautiful ceremony. It has been a tradition for many years that the graduating class invites the 50 year graduates. Eleven members ( and some of the spouses) of the class of 1958 participated. They gathered at the senior center for reacquainting, remembering and conversation, had a delicious meal at the Anamoose Cafe prepared by Connie Rudnick, and then on to graduation. After the ceremony all alumni were invited back to the senior center for cake, coffee and punch.
Thank you graduating seniors for remembering us ( I, too, have been there and done that) on your special night. It also brings back and gives us memories we will forever cherish.
Pictured below are sitting from left to right, Dorothy Berndt Leier, Rose Hornbacher, Frances Lemer Lageson, Gilbert Gienger and Ramona Buxa Bender. Standing are, Eileen Wick, James Essig, Vernon Wick, Dalton Kohlman, Terry Roe and Harold Spletto.
That’s what we need to get our Anamoose Area Foundation Fund moving. The Foundation concept is simple-to create a fund where gifts from many people are pooled together and professionally handled through the ND Community Foundation. Each year the income will be used to fund projects in the community. Through a matching grant program in the ND Community Foundation we need to collect $25,000 in the first year, and the ND Community Foundation adds $5,000. In subsequent years, the ND Foundation will match dollar for dollar up to $10,000, with a bonus if we can raise $25,000.
To start, we are using the $10,000 that we will receive at the end of June for our 18 month committment to the Horizons Leadership program. We have received over $7,000 from businesses and individuals, so we have less than $8,000 to go to reach our goal for the year. We have mailed out letters to Anamoose area people and businesses, and made some personal contacts. This week we are mailing out letters to all alumni that graduated before 1971.
Dennis Zimmerman and Bill Goodwin will be putting up a thermometer on Main St. that will keep track of our Foundation Fund. Pam Heim is our artist for the project. .
A small group of crafters met at the Anamoose Senior Citizens Center today for the April Craft’s Class. The ladies made a photo display using 6 of their personal photos and hanging them on fishing line and chipboard from a 7″ wire ornament hanger. Participants this month were: Leela Springer, Marlene Whitaker and Kathy Rademacher. Instructor was Mardi Helm. Classes are open to everyone and are held monthly.
The city of Anamoose is happy to announce the wedding of Ana and Joe on June 28th, 2008 at 3:00 p.m. at the city park. Ana is at last joining Joe on the welcoming billboard as you come into town. A program is planned with speakers, music, poetry, pictures in the park, mock wedding and a free catered supper. Shirts and buttons will be sold and the proceeds will go to the Anamoose endowment fund. We certainly hope that you will mark this day on your calendar and help us celebrate this great event.
EVERYONE WELCOME!!!!!
Donna Anderson, our facilitator for the Horizons program, met with us yesterday. We went through our Strategic Plan (again !) from start to finish, which is 18 pages of projects.
We have accomplished many things, such as: more meals on Sundays, a Welcome package for people moving into Anamoose, a Farmer’s Market planned to start in June, empty lots and homes identified and listed, a blog site set us and Anamoose web site continued, 12 people took an Excel Computer class, people informed of happenings in Anamoose by a monthly calendar, Christmas letter sent out that promoted Anamoose, Ana-Day planned for Saturday, June 28th, Blood Pressure Clinics being held once month at the Anamoose Senior Center, Home Rule Charter set up ready for voting on in June, and an Anamoose Foundation Fund started with our money from Horizons. We are working on many more projects that hopefully I will be able to blog on in the future.
Pictured are Mardell Helm, Donna Anderson, Dennis Zimmerman, Alyce Heer, and Shirley Nitz.
Even though there is still snow on the ground we are thinking of gardening. As a result of the Horizon Program a Farmers Market will be started June 1st. It will be in the Anamoose Park from 6 to 8 pm every Monday evening. So if you are interested in selling homemade crafts, baked goods, or fresh fruit and vegetables contact Bonnie at 465-3088 or email her at bonniedockter@yahoo.com Or you can plan to come to buy a little of everything and visit with friends. Let the kids play at the playground while you shop. We hope to make this a fun evening out for everyone.
The birthday club met at my home (Phyllis Zimmerman) this month. You get to be the hostess the month of your birthday. Six of us play hand and foot (card game), visit and have dessert and beverages. Sometimes we meet in the afternoon and sometimes in the evening. It is an enjoyable gathering, and of course, it is always fun to be a winner in cards. Pictured 
are Phyllis Zimmerman, Lauretta Schilling, Angie Kesler, Dorothy Thomssen, Marion Thomssen and Kathy Rademacher.
Heather Fried, Blue Cross Blue Shield representative, talked at the Senior Center today on a “Walking Works Program”, as well as a few other healthy hints. We were told to try increase our steps to 10,000 a day or 60 plus minutes a day of walking. A double cheeseburger, extra large fries and a 24 oz drink take 24,000 steps to work it off. Even a small chocolate chip cookie is equal to 1200 steps.
We all received a personal pedometer and were shown how to use them. In the picture 
Deloris Gienger is getting instructions from Heather.
As a result of the Horizon Program a Farmers Market has been set up to begin on Monday, June 2nd. It will be at the park from 6 to 8 pm every Monday night. If you are interested in selling homemade crafts, baked goods, or fresh fruit & vegetables contact Bonnie Dockter at 465-3088 or email her at bonniedockter@yahoo.com
Or you can come to buy a little of everything and visit with friends. Let the kids play at the playground while you shop. We hope to make this a fun night out for everyone.
Its not the residents that are buzzing, but, saws and other equipment being used by Feist Plumbing of Harvey and Ron Bartz Carpentry to replace and repair water lines in most of the apartments. Funding is provided by grant money from the city of Anamoose through Souris Basin Planning Council and the Housing Corporation. Pictured are Ron Bartz in a hallway and Tim Feist and Ron Bartz in a vacant apartment. 
Every year the men from the community serve a Civic Club Appreciation brunch. Us women just take it for granted that the men will plan and serve it.
They served french toast, sausage, juice and coffee to a large crowd on Saturday I was told today. I was out of town so missed the good food, socializing and picture taking.
The majority of the Seniors at the Friday afternoon Valentine Party at the Senior Center had red on, as you can see from the pictures. Esther Doubek, LaDonna Goodwin, and Kathy Selzler quilted while they listened to the program
The program featured Francis Seefeld on his accordion playing old time songs. There was lots of food, followed by cards and dominoes, and more food! Kathy Selzler challenged me if I would put on our blog that her and Esther Doubek beat Vernon and I, so yes–we lost big time!
In our Strategic Plan, one of our many goals was to target social poverty. Friday we made one step forward.
We crammed a lot of planning into one and a half hours when our Steering Committee met yesterday at the cafe. We worked through our Strategic Plan.
Under the category of Improve Business Climate in Anamoose we have 7 strategies. Under the category of Adequate and Affordable Housing we have 4 strategies. With our Communications category we are working on 7 strategies. We just put together a Welcome package (see previous blog by Mardi) Our goal to Promote Tourism has 7 strategies. The biggest projects under tourism are putting together a brochure, and planning for the wedding of Joe and Ana-Moose on Saturday, June 28th. You will hear alot more about the wedding in our future blogs. Developing Future Leaders has 3 strategies for youth and adults alike. The goal of a Clean Anamoose Community includes everything from old buildings, signs, cars, our park, to diseased trees. We couldn’t forget the elderly in our plan where we have 7 strategies. And on the opposite end of the spectrum we want to keep our young people in Anamoose by including them in our plans.
Under the category of Home Rule, we have put together a Home Rule Charter that will be distributed to all households, a public meeting will be held, and a vote will be held in June.
And finally, we are setting up a Community Endowment Foundation that will be started with our $10,000 from the Horizons program.
We have a lot to do yet!
Pictures left to right are: Mardell Helm, Alyce Heer, Dennis Zimmerman, Bill Goodwin, 
Joe Weninger, Bonnie Dockter, and Shirley Nitz.
Walter and Esther Doubek have been visiting shut ins with the Senior Companion 
program since 2002. Their clients are happy to see them come, and take them to lunch/coffee, play cards and visit. Here is Esther and Walter with Helen Nolden having coffee at the Anamoose Cafe.
Who wants to cook on Sunday? Not me, and not a lot of other people who turned out yesterday for the Senior Center brunch of french toast and sausage. Chairman Dennis Zimmerman and Bill Goodwin had lots of help from the women with serving and clean-up.
This was the third Sunday brunch-the second one at the Senior Center, and one last week at the Anamoose Cafe. The churches have helped to advertise the brunches in their bulletins and we also have been advertising on our marque on main street.
Many of the crowd had left before I remembered to take pictures, but some enjoyed sitting around drinking coffee and visiting.
