Saturday July 5th the Gorge Arts & Heritage Council held their Rendezvous Art & Heritage Festival in Riverside Park. There was a full day of events with visitors like Antoine Gingras and Pierre Bottineau who talked about the history in Walhalla. There was a blacksmith, baton twirlers, fiddlers, a wood carver and good food. This event was free and lasted until everyone set by the bonfire at dusk.
Friday evening during the 4th of July Extravaganza weekend, Chamber Director Liann Zeller orchestrated a Musical entitled Tribute to Country music. Minnie Pearl was the MC while the singers included Boxcar Willy, Dolly Parton, Loretta Lynn, Patsy Cline and Martina McBride. There were two comedians called 2×4 and Stick. All of the performers were local people who love to sing and act. This event was free and held in the park. Everyone seemed to enjoy the show, maybe it will be done again in the future.
The third annual ribfest got going dispite the windy, cold weather on Saturday June 28th. There were six rib cooking teams. Young and Old, everyone had a great time sampling all the ribs and goodies made by the teams. The Fighting Sioux Goodribs team won Rib King honors and the BS BBQ Rib Queens won the Peoples Choice Award.
Monday night May 12th the Walhalla Chamber of Commerce sponsored a meet and Greet the candidates running for city council and park board. The food was great and the evening was very informal but informative. There are 11 candidates running for city council and 4 candidates running for park board. 5 candidates were there out of 11 for city council and 3 out of the 4 for park board. Dorothy Robinson explained how to vote in Pembina County this year. I guess we have to send our votes in by mail I wonder if I get to vote?? Mr. Harvey Hope and his family were there, Mr Hope is running for State Senator in the 10th District. Kathy Stremick was also on hand, she is running for State Representative in the 10th District. Liann was the MC for the evening talking to all the candidates and Mayor Harvey Clark.
The 37th annual Brush Bunch Art Show was held Sunday May 4th at the American Legion in Walhalla. It was a beautiful day to get out and see the art. I have met a lot of people that were displaying art that day but I didn’t know I would meet Deirdre’s bird in the beautiful garden display, I don’t think he liked me very well. There is so much artistic talent in Walhalla someday it will be an art destination.
Friday May 2nd Jackson’s bar held the grand opening of their new building on Main Street. There was a ribbon cutting ceremony by Dale Jackson while brothers Dean and Don looked on. Here is a picture with Dale, Don, Chris, Dean, Scott and me of course. Many old friends turned out to see the new bar. Chris Jackson, manager showed me the bar area. Everyone had a great time and plenty to eat.
Wednesday morning came very early but off we went again, this time to Devils Lake to a grant writing class sponsored by North Dakota State University Center for Community Vitality. Helen, Deirdre, Shirley and Liann all went to the class with hopes of helping to learn to write grants for various organizations. Dr. Lynette Krenelka was a wonderful teacher with a great sense of humor. Lots of information was passed around among the people attending. I got to see Alyce Heer from Anamoose who said that Joe was getting married in June, I just might have to go. Do you think there might be shorter lady moose there for me? It was fun seeing friends from the Horizons program and meeting newfriends. Here are some pictures from the class.
The first beautification meeting of the year was held in March even though there was still snow on the ground its time to think about what to plant in the barrels. I got to go to the meeting and the ladies even let me dig in a barrel. Maybe next month it will be warm
enough to think about plants. The beautification group is also looking at banners for main street and events to do in the park this summer.If anyone wants to join the group they meet the first Tuesday on every month at 6:30 pm.
Sunday was a very big day in Walhalla, beside the ambulance breakfast, the American Legion held their birthday party in the afternoon. There were three men in suits and I found out that they were World 
War II veterans so I had to have my picture taken with them. The food was great and I met lots of people, I finished my long day with my very own birthday cupcake.
