Cando, ND

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?

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

There is someone new in town this spring!!! And not everything wants it here… it’s a turkey vulture!  Now, not everyone wants to see a turkey vulture but some people do. Two years ago, I heard there were vultures at a town over 50 miles away and I wanted to go there and see it.  Now, I hear that unpleasant ‘noise’ that it makes as it flys over town, often escorted by smaller birds, trying to drive it away, I know that the ‘old buzzard’ is flying over again.  Not all birds are cute little song birds but having a buzzard in town is something new for Cando.  We are working on getting a birder group going again and getting on a birding trail, all these work to bring interest into our Cando.  I was hoping that we could come up with a unique bird,,, never thinking we would get a buzzard.

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!

There was good attendance at the organizational meeting this month. Topics that where discussed was coming up with a name of the club and area birding sites. Both are are going to be on the agenda at the upcoming meeting Wednesday June 18th, at 6:30 pm the the City Park. Field trip to follow so bring your bird books and binoculars. Hope to see you there.

I have recently been trying to clean up the trailer court. Not that it is dirty but the trees and shrubs are getting overgrown and it will take a little bit to get everything in order again.  It is possible that we will try to have some spots in the trailer court available for travel trailers. With a few changes with electrical posts and sewer links maybe we can host more traveling people in our community.  Time will tell when or if this happens but I will keep working toward the beautification of the property.  And a big thanks to the people who reside in the trailer court for doing a fantastic job on their lots - they look great.

I have been working for the soil conservation tree planting crew this past month, guess it is the 4th year that I have done this.  Now, with the Horizon’s training-learning etc, I am more aware of seeing just what people are doing, in all the little ways in dealing with the ‘poverties’ in their lives.  I am meeting new people in the area, ones who have moved here to live on acreages, old farmsites, places that they have found on the internet and now they are planting trees, fruit trees, etc (that is how I am meeting them,,, selling the trees) but I would guess they are planting gardens etc. also.  And they are coming here because th ey can do their work on computers and they can enjoy the peace and quiet life that we have to offer here.  They have such a positive and good outlook on life here, course I have no idea where they came from, maybe they say what state they came from but just what made them take that big step of adventure to move to North Dakota and to a quieter time.

I know they are interesting p eople, 2 are artists, they can do their work on computers, designing art, from anywhere and here they are in Cando. One is a biologist, now that is interesting.   Maybe if we listen, we would realize that everyone is interesting!!! Anyways, it is fun to learn that we have people moving into our community..We are trying to make it inviting for new comers

Several from Cando (also Rock Lake, Rolette and other towns in Horizons) attended the session: Grantwriting, Getting the Results You Want in Devils Lake on April 23.  The presenter, Dr. Lynette Krenelka from the UND was a lively lady who took us through all the steps of Grantwriting, a very involved process.  Of the four phases: Planning, Seeking Funding Source, Development and Follow-up, 80% of the time spent in writing a grant is in the first two phases.

Besides Dr. Krenelka’s lecture and answering questions, we spent time in the computer lab at LR College, looking into grants available, according to our various interests and concerns.  One of the sites is www.grants.gov

We were served a lovely noon meal at the College Cafeteria, free of charge.  Great!  and snacks throughout the day.

If you want more info about this seminar, come to the Cando Community Library and I will share more of what we learned.

Yes, it’s the library lady, again!  First of all, the response to the fund-raiser: becoming a Friend of the Library, has been WONDERFUL! And if you haven’t had a part in this, it’s not too late!!  Some have asked why we don’t charge the patrons IN Cando to use the Library. If we did this, we would lose state aid.  It’s just one of the laws/rules that if we are receiving any mill levy from the City, we can’t charge. The “way around this” or to give financial help is to donate to the Friends of the Library, according to what you are able to do.

The 4 mill levy from City taxes covers some of the expenses to keep the Library operating.  When the City wasn’t able to include us in the 2008 budget to pay salaries, we entered into the Poverty area!  The Library Board has met several times, talked to the State, to lawyers, to the City Council, and it seems that the only way to keep the Library open will be to add more mill levy (and probably raise out-of-town membership fees).  This is to be on the ballot in June.

Are you interested/concerned??  There is to be a a Public Meeting at the Cando Community Library May 6 at 7:30 P. M.  We sincerely hope that many will come to learn more about the proposed mill levy increase and library funding.  See you there….. we need the library and we need YOU.

There are many ways we can recycle, for a better way of life.
1: Recycle used furniture= repair used furniture or donate it to organizations that work with the needy.
2: Make shopping bags out of non- toxic materials, to save on many pounds of plastic going to our land fills.
3: Clothes= You can repair and reused clothing for many projects, like quilts, doll clothes, art projects and more.
Recycling ideas are endless! You will be making a difference by recycling!