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.
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.
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.
Thursday, March 27th Liann, Deirdre and Helen headed to Cooperstown for a tourism conference but I was to tired to go with them. They came back talking about everything they learned and how great the food was. Liann kept talking about something called geocaching and maybe having free classes on using a GPS systems.
Well, Wally decided to learn to Blog with a few other new bloggers. Had a good time and with the help of Mike finally got the hang of Blogging. Fun and Food with all my friends.
CELEBRATION! Horizons Study Circle and Leadership Plenty participates celebrated their success with a free Party in the Park before starting Community Visioning. Action Plan Committees gave an update on what they had completed to date and shared their short and long term goals. Everyone agreed that Study Circles and Leadership Plenty was a lot of hard work, very worth while and all would do it again. A “community family” working and sharing together what a Great Accomplishment!
Action Plan Committee “Welcome to Walhalla” meet several times, each member meet with different area businesses and collected gifts, coupons, gift certificates etc…The group than ordered canvas totes that were imprinted by Ink Impressions a local business. The tote reads “Welcome to Walhalla “Heart” of the Rendezvous Region. Totes are given to new members of the community. The committee has done a wonderful job developing partnerships with local business and making every new family feel Welcome to Walhalla. Shirely a member of the Welcome to Walhalla Action Committee is presenting Wally Moose with his welcome tote.
High school sweethearts, and families stood in line and waited as the doors opened to the Walla Theatre in 1950, to enjoy cinema at it’s finest. If the walls of the Walla Theatre could talk, the secrets of first dates, kisses and proposals would make the headlines. The smell of popcorn filled the theater until 1982 when the Walla Theater closed. Since 1982 the community has had the vision and goal to revitalize the Theatre, in 2006 the owners have donated the building to the community. The communities’ plans are to renovate the theater into a performing arts’ theater and cinema. Providing the arts in a rural community contributes to a well round education, cultural experience and family entertainment we want to offer our residents, especially the youth. Plans are to host year round events encompassing visual, fine, and performing arts, and cinemas.
The Walhalla Public School does not have a stage, making it difficult for the school to host performing arts’ events and lyceums. The renovation of the Theatre will give the school and community this opportunity.
Renovations consist of repairing the roof, expanding the stage area to accommodate large productions, add dressing rooms, update the plumbing, electrical, sound, and cosmetic improvements. Dr. Tom Isern from the North Dakota State University has partnered with NDSU Extension Center for Community Vitatity and will help with the project and prepare the application for the Walla Theatre to be placed on the National Register of Historical Places. This project will benefit all area residents.
The Gorge Arts and Heritage Council have taken the leadership in this project, and will continue to update the community on the progress. If anyone would like to make a donation to the Walla Theatre Renovation Fund contact the Walhalla Area Chamber of Commerce.
Walhalla never had cell service before December 5, 2007. Community motto ”Visit Walhalla and Take a Cell Phone Vacation”A Horizons Action Plan Committee “Cell Service” went on a mission. The committee developed partnerships with members of the ambulance and fire departments, the Pembina County Emergency Management, and decided it was time to take action and contacted Alltel and Verizon. The City of Walhalla kept in contact with both companies and for several years both companies made verbal commitments that they would be coming to the area soon, but nothing concrete ever happened. The Horizons Action Committee and partners starting calling the companies and Alltel made a commitment to have service in the area before in the end of 2007. Walhalla residents were so excited it was like watching children in a “candy” store. Leadership and Partnerships prove to be successful.
