Approximately 300 children visited the annual Granite Falls Chamber Trunk-N-Treat event held on 8th Avenue off Prentice Street downtown Saturday afternoon. Businesses and organizations decorated their vehicles and handed out candy, also participating in a contest for best costume/display. The contest was won by Down on the Korner for their “IT” themed display and costumes.
Last Friday evening, the Advocate Tribune, Montevideo-American News, Tri-County News, and Bluenose Gopher Public House co-hosted the Minnesota Cook-Off event featuring the best of Minnesota-style recipes from contestants. At the event, the late Howard Mohr’s wife Jody Mohr presented a copy of “How to Talk Minnesotan”, and a reading of “The Long Goodbye” was done by Editor Jessica Stölen-Jacobson. Tasters brought donations for the Food Shelf in the form of canned goods and cash, and voted on their favorites. Winners were: Hotdish - Jessica Stölen-Jacobson, Jell-O - Betsy Pardick, Bars - Cynthia Christians. Jody Mohr is pictured with the winners.
The Granite Falls Riverfront Revitalization held a meeting at Falls Café and Canoe on the evening of Wednesday, October 26th. There were 10 people present, including the group’s board members. Currently the treasurer’s position is open on the board, and they are looking to fill it. If anyone is interested, you can contact the GFRR group on Facebook by searching Granite Falls Riverfront Revitalization. They’ve also got a brand-new website that can be found at www. granitefallsriverfrontrevitalization. weebly.com. The group spoke about trying to organize a few events, one of which is singing Christmas carols by the river near the footbridge on the Winter Solstice, which is on Wednesday, December 21st. Another event they are trying to coordinate with is Ole’ and Lena Days. Possibly a lefse fling and some Smooshing. What is Smooshing? It’s a team event in which there are four people that have strapped themselves to 2x4’s and the goal is to be the fastest team to complete the course. There is some serious coordination involved with successfully completing a Smoosh game - for example, everyone needs to move together as one unit. A gentleman at the meeting explained to everyone that years ago there was a lefse fling, Smooshing, and bed races that were all held during Ole’ and Lena Days. GFRR is interested in bringing some of those activities back.
The Granite Falls Historical Society and Granite Area Arts Council collaborated with a Murder Mystery Dinner Theater Fundraiser: Murder on the Yellowstone Trail this Friday and Saturday at the Rock. Area residents came in droves to take part in the interactive performance, engaging to vote on the potential return of Prohibition in Granite Falls while also determining each evening’s murderer.
The Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA) program of United Community Action Partnership has been awarded a community impact grant from the United Way of Southwest Minnesota (UWSWMN) for $12,000. The VITA program works to connect trained and certified volunteers with low to moderate income individuals and families to ensure they claim important tax credits and deductions that they qualify for. This work aligns with UWSWMN’s financial stability priority area.
Lee Mar Ranch held a trick-or-treat event on Sunday, October 30th with a vendor show happening at the same time in the indoor arena. The horse stalls were decorated with different Halloween décor that kids, and the adults, were able to stop at for candy and light conversation. Shrek and princess Leona were even there (Gracie Kleven and Chris Kleven). Some of the young kiddos were scared of the duo who were decked out in full Shrek garb including their green skin.
My confirmation class is beginning to gather personal beliefs for writing their faith statements. I’m not sure when we started having confirmands put into words what their faith means to them, but the practice itself has been around for thousands of years.
At this year’s Granite Falls Area Community Foundation’s Annual Awards Event, Louis Thomas Williams IV has been chosen to be the speaker. Williams’s speech will likely be remembered for awhile, not just for what he says, but because he plans to incorporate backflips into the program.
The Clarkfield Prairie Cardinals held a festive Halloween parade on Saturday, October 29th. The parade started at 3 pm and lasted about 40 minutes. Several businesses were in the line up that made up the parade, handing out candy to all the costumed spectators. The parade started at the Lutheran church and ended at Lynner funeral home.
Last Tuesday, Minnesota’s Department of Education Commissioner Dr. Heather Mueller visited students at Yellow Medicine East High School. The students visiting with Commissioner Mueller are a part of a class taught in partnership with Minnesota West, with Instructor Adam Savariego, titled Introduction to Indigenous Nations and Dakota Studies. Through a State Statute, the State Departments such as the Department of Education are required to do consultations with Tribal Nations. When Commissioner Mueller and her staff met with the Upper Sioux Community Board of Trustees earlier this fall, and learned of the partnership between YME and Minnesota West for the Introduction to Indigenous Nations and Dakota Studies class, she expressed an interest in visiting with the class.