Cando, ND

Once again, Horizons has met a need in Cando.  When the Community Library was new (1999), the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation donated a computer, server and printer to us.  It has been updated, and 3 others added, but it was time to replace our first NEW computer.  How could we afford this?

 The answer came through Horizons and its committees.  The computer and printer awarded for doing the required blogging has been donated to the Library!  Today the initial part of the installing was done AND many books from the NDSU Extension Service Center for Community Vitality Horizon Program were donated to the Library.  Come in and see the help we’ve been given!

A special thanks to Gail Getty for doing all the background work: arranging to get the computer and books, and now delivering all of these good things.  We are hoping to get this new computer networked with the computer at the main desk so that anyone can access our “card catalog” (Concourse Opac), something we have not had for a long time.

THANKS again for the many things that have been done to keep the Library open and improvements added!

Where has the month gone?  Into history!  And what have we accomplished?  I like the thought that it’s not always what we have done, but what we’ve been that counts.

The positive response re: the Library was appreciated!  We are SO GLAD to know that there is support and our doors can remain open.  Another plus was over 80 hardcover books donated from the Bisbee School Library when they closed, and we were able to get a great buy on some children’s paperback books that we didn’t have.  Some shelves were also purchased; now to decide how to fit them into our Library!!

A special little thing happened last week at the Library: the 6 weeks of the Summer Reading Program was completed so we didn’t have a Story Time.  Two young girls (11 years old?) came and asked if they could do Story Time for 2 or 3 weeks!!  That’s leadership developing! and we are grateful.

Another note of interest for the summer is that the attendance at Farmers Market has been very good THE FIRST HOUR! and then, we wait!!!  Hours have been adjusted twice since the beginning of the Market to see if we can find a time that is best.  Maybe just being open 1 hour is the answer for our small community??    Any suggestions?

Here we are, at the end of a road that began many months ago. On this road we have traveled, we saw improvments, change, and community pride.
This program has been an amazing trip for me. I have learn so many things about poverty. Hoping some day it will help me save the world, hahaha!
It has been great working with all of you, and you all have done a great job! One Day At A Time! Tracy

 Horizon’s has kept us busy for 18 months and there were times when the end didnt seem in sight and now today,  the 18 months are done.  And now we have to look back and see all that we have done.   We will see that there were things that we wanted to do and they didnt get done, and there are many things that we did get done.  So they weren’t big things, big projects etc. but we did do a lot of ‘things’.  And if all we did was to keep a positive attitude and work together and encourage each other and the town, well, that was something that cant be measured.   I know that I learned a lot, I attended a lot of events, I know that I benefited from all these 18 months of activities.  And I know there were others who did also.  So, let’s celebrate, and then let’s keep on doing what we can for our town and community.  Thanks Horizons for all that you did and gave our community of Cando. 

This evening we finished transplanting 2 acres of cabbages (at Johnstons).  It has been more drawn out with the rains we’ve had, but rain is better than drought!  Also several kinds of squash were transplanted, both slicer and pickling cucumbers; even a few watermelon and cantelope.  Now, we hope some of that will be ready before tooo long.  Mike Parker’s cabbages will be ready to transplant next week, weather permitting!

The Farmers Market here in Cando, at the City Park, is to start the first Thursday after the 4th of July; that would be July 10.  It was decided at a meeting the last part of April by vendors who could be there that we would change the hours from 5-7 PM so that those who work until 5 would have a better chance to get what they want.  No sales will be made before 5.  Another change is that a person can have half a table for $5.oo; a full table is $10.oo and those who don’t have many products felt they lost all their profit with a full table.

According to Market Manager Joleen Johnston, we will abide by ALL market standards (this excludes the sale of pickles, eggs, processed meat, salsas and a few other things), and prices are to be fairly even.  Jams, baked items, and hand crafted articles are acceptable.  The last Market Day (Sept 25)will be more like a flea market, allowing “home-party type products or individual consultant items”.

There will be door prizes each week, one name drawn from the list of those attending.    For more information, see the article Joleen is putting in the Towner Count Record Herald soon.  If you want to be a part of this activity contact her (Joleen Johnston) at 701-968-3035 or e-mail her at jmjohnston@gondtc.com

Children from our community went to bible camp at the Cando Lutheran church on May 27th to 30th. About 30 children enjoyed games, snacks, crafts, songs. The bible stories they learned were about serving your family and friends, serving your community, and serving Jesus.
On the last day of camp, Parents, friends grandparents joined the children for a celebration. The children sang songs about what they learned. It was one of the best times, I had with my children. They had a blast! My children, ask me just the other day, when can we do that again? There were many volunteers, that help with the event. Thank you and good job!

Cando has to  have the most beautiful welcoming view of any town in spring!  All along the west side of town, along highway 281, from one end of the town, north/south, the highway is lined with the beautiful blooming white snow crabapple trees!  They are as white as snow!  These were planted years ago by the Cando shade tree committee  volunteers.

The Shade tree committee continues to work to beautify Cando.  A block long row of old evergreens had to be removed as they were old and diseased, and now the Shade tree committee volunteers are working at clearing away the old roots and preparing the way for over 40 new trees to be planted.  It’s a fun group of people who like trees and aren’t afraid to put in some time and work, knowing that the trees planted will grow in beauty in the years to come.  We have only to look at that long street of Snow crabs.  What a sight!

A thriving, vibrant community is like a good cupcake recipe that has been handed down for generations.  A variety of people with different opinions and experiences are like the eggs, flour, sugar and flavorings. Community committees, organizations and councils that work together well are like the cupcake ingredients all mixed up and baked at the right temperature for the correct amount of time. A successful communty event is like a mouthwatering cupcake eaten right out of the oven.  But just as it takes a yummy, creamy, flavorful frosting to make a truly unforgettable cupcake, it takes willing and dedicated volunteers to make a community truly viable, valuable and unforgettable.  Shelly Lord (pictured) is just one of the many Cando volunteers who help this community bake up beautifully!  Yesterday Shelley and Rebecca Kingsley (not pictured) donated their day to judge the 4-H Communication Arts contest held in Langdon, helping 4-Her’s become better public speakers and demonstrators.  Thanks to all the many volunteers who give of their time and talents towards making Cando the Cream of the Crop!

Thursday was a big day at the Cando Community Library: the count was 82, and 35 of these were children signing up for the Summer Reading Program: “Catch the Reading Bug”.  Some of the new books with Bugs as the subject, and others with popular authors, will be paid for with City Sales Tax reserved for the Youth of Cando.  There are also 65 new books from the Libri Foundation in Oregon.  This is a grant we can apply for every 3 years.  We sent $350 from the Friends of the Library (a fund-raiser in December called Season’s Readings), and the Libri Foundation let us choose books from their list.  The bill would have been $1060 if we purchased them in a store; a GREAT deal!!

The Kick-Off party for the summer program was: riddles by the Librarian, an interaction story about Anasi with Connie Elsperger reading very expressively to the group, and a fun Mad-Lib story with which Becky Kingsley entertained the group.   Then snacks and bug juice! and the kids went home ready to read books they chose, new and old.   The total number of books checked out this one day (by adults as well as children) was almost 150!

Have you caught the Reading Bug yet?  It’s contagious!! and “a Picnic” as the sign on the front window of the Library says.

This past month I have been working for the Soil Conservation district planting trees and  today we finished planting. Now, a few days selling the left over trees at low prices to the town and surrounding area.  Just one more way to beautify our town and area.  Planting trees is a real investment in the future.  Some trees have about a 100 year life expectance and so will be around a long time.  Older people come in and buy trees, some wanting a tree that will grow fast so they can see it mature and others are looking to leave something behind when they are gone.  For whatever reason, planting trees is a good idea. Those who see beauty in nature, see beauty in about everything and trees can be so beautiful.  Three more tree selling days and we are done for another year.