Cando, ND

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.

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!

Was I ever surprised to get a new bike from my daughter and son-in law for Mother’s Day!  It is a retro-style one, you know the big tires and you pedal forward to go forward and you pedal backward to stop!  It’s a GRANDMA bike!! And that is fitting because I am a grandmother of 7.  And just think of all the gas money I will save, pedaling all around town this summer.  Gas was $3.69 today here, the lowest price in the state and we have a gas wholesaler to thank for that and we need to be grateful as that too, brings more people to our town.  I am posting this under skills and mobilizing as that is what I will be needing!

Spring is trying to be here, there will not be any tulips for May day in my yard but the spring birds are coming, new ones each day.  And I got my first compost container put together and now will start the composting.  Tonight was the first of the Farmer’s Market meetings and so we are thinking bout gardening again and the work of growing organic products to sell in the local park come July.  Actually I think things will be ready before then as I have some things planted already.  Just another way to support the local community with fresh and organic garden products.  Is it a money maker for me,,, no,,, so why do I work so hard for those few dollars??? Because I enjoy gardening!!! 

So, here’s waiting for those first peas, lettuce and spinach and swiss chard….and I want to see if I can have the first ripe tomatoes this year…. something that I have never done before, seems mine are always a week or two behind the neighbors. I’ll see if I can get the cherry tomatoes ripe first!!!

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.