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!

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

The word is just in … Tuesday evening after the Primary Election.  The residents of the City of Cando voted to increase the mill levy for the Library from 4 to 12 mill so the Library CAN STAY OPEN!!

THANKS to ALL who support us in ANY way, Horizons group included!!!  It seemed we were looking into the dark hole of Poverty, but have seen hands held out, and we will do what we can to purchase the books, materials people want, making Cando, its residents and those in the surrounding community richer in knowledge and relaxation.

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!

Maybe I should have said, I got a shot but I wanted your attention.  Several times I have been told that I should get a tetenus shot as I garden and work in the soil and do other ‘dangerous’ things.   Cando has a public health office and nurse in the Memorial Building and so it is so convenient to just stop in and get ’shots’.  This is a real money saver as if you go to the clinic, well, you know what the fees, etc are there.  This is where families can take children for the required ’shots’ and the costs are reasonable.    NO, it didn’t hurt and no I didn’t have any discomfort the next day.   I am grateful that Cando has this service available for everyone.   

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.

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.

On May 20th, the Cando fire hall invited children of all ages, to come learn about the safety of riding their bikes. Those who had no helmets, got new ones. Repairs were made on bikes, and they talk about riding tips to the children and parents. A video was shown to the children about bike safety. Prizes and snacks was also given. Thank you to all volunteers who donated time and supplies for this event. The children had a great time!

There are people all over town, working on the preparations for the big 125th birthday party for Cando next 4th of July, 2009.  The beautification committee mailed out about 100 postcards to businesses in town, asking everyone to ‘put on the sparkle’ on the business fronts and properties, etc. so our town will look as good as possible to all the ones coming home to Cando.  And we see and hear of families painting, removing all fences and and planting trees and flowers so we will do all that we can to make everyone proud of our town and hopefully some will want to retire here, in this beautiful quiet town.  You know we have to many things to do here, golf, bowling hunting, fishing, baseball field, softball field, swimming pool, campground, movie theater, library, art center, hockey arena, museum, 5 Churches, and a main street with good businesses.  And we have the Can do attitude!