Wow, What a great turnout!  83 Fessenden people attended an informational meeting at the Legion Hall to discuss the potential for a new cafe to be built in Fessenden.  Gerald Klein, (Jerry) as president of the Fessenden Area Community Betterment Association, described for the audience, plans that this organization has for building a new building that would house a cafe for the community. 

Jerry helped dispel many rumors that have surfaced about the cafe.  He addressed other vacant buildings in town and why they would not be large enough for the cafe.  He also announced that a fitness center would be opening in the “old Checkerboard” building as soon as it is ready to be used.

Funding sources were discussed and a budget was distributed as well as a floor plan of the proposed building.  Otter Tail Power Company, Central Dakota Development, and  North Dakota Telephone Company were three companies already committing from $10,000 to $25,000 each.  Additional grants are being solicited and funding from the private sector of the community will be crucial to the building project.  About $100,000 will need to be raised by private donations and fund raisers.  Do you have an extra $1000 or $10,000?  It would be put to good use and remember as a tax exempt organization, it would be fully tax deductible.  Volunteer labor for parts of the project would also serve to cut down on the costs, so if your money is tight, volunteer your talents.   

The new cafe would be put up ready to be used with kitchen equipment and furnishings.  Someone from the community would pay rent on the building to reduce the loan that will need to be taken out for the cost of the building.  June Schauer has indicated that she would be interested in managing the cafe.  (One of the grant requirements included that the association have a name of someone that would potentially rent the building before the grant would be funded.)  June has loads of waitressing and cooking experience so it should be a successful venture for her.  She also plans to use some of the people that have worked in the Fessenden cafe before so we hope everyone really uses the cafe to keep it running successfully for many years to come.

What is the timeline you say?  Well at the meeting Jerry responded with, “We would like to see it operational by December, 2009.”  Of course all of that depends on the financial situation and the volunteer labor that is available.  So again, I urge you to “Help out wherever you can.”

Contributions made to the Fessenden Area Community Betterment Association, Inc are deductible by donors in computing their taxable income in the manner and to the extent provided in Section 170 of the Internal Revenue Code.  Your contributions can be made to FACBAI and mailed to:  FACBAI at PO Box 24, Fessenden, ND   58438-0024.  Or you may deliver your contribution to one of the following:  Gerald Klein, Gary Risovi, Amy Lamm, Clay Houchin, Ray Klindworth, or Dave Larson.

Great things are happening in and around Fessenden and I urge you to be a part of them!!!

Tents, tents and more tents were erected throughout Fessenden City Park on the night of August 5, 2009. A space for a cyclist and tent to crash for the night. Four hundred and ten people were registered by evening count at the welcome booth. Around 11:00 a.m. cyclists were descending to Fessenden and its City Park. They were welcomed with a reception of people glad to see them and giving them a stick pin to mark the spot on the map where they lived in the United States and Canda. The people in the booth welcomed them with a smile and a colorful head band to Fessenden.

The theme was “The Fifties in Fessenden” and it was noted in the welcome booth and at the Catholic stand where the evening meal was prepared by the St. Augustine Catholic Church and the morning breakfast was prepared by the First Lutheran Church. The woman serving these delicious meals have declined the offer to consider opening a restaurant in Fessenden.

The night was filled with entertainment by Perry Anderson and a young woman singing a variety of songs throughout the evening. Everyone who joined the cyclists in the park seemed to be having a good time visiting and enjoying the lovely evening. The local residents and people from the surrounding area were conversing in the park with many cyclists. It is always fascinating to learn about people and why they love traveling on their bike around the state.

It appears everyone is having a good time relaxing in the park.

 Check where people are from that have visited our blog page for today, by clicking on the words “__ places today”.  Some of the places from the past weeks include:  Fessenden, ND;  Grand Forks, ND;  Bismarck, ND;  Mountain View, CA;  San Francisco, CA;  Butte, MT;  Minnewaukan, ND;  Logan, UT;  Devils Lake, ND;  Tolna, ND;  Cando, ND;  Maddock, ND;  Cathay, ND;  New Rockford, ND;  Harvey, ND; Fargo, ND; Anchorage, AK; Arvada, CO; Sykeston, ND; Berkeley, CA; Minneapolis, MN; Walhalla, ND; Lansford, ND; Vilonia, AR; Victor, NY;  Canandaigua, NY;  Torrance, CA;  Flaxville, MT;  Soro, Denmark; Guatemala City, Guatemala;  Tuscon, AZ;  Raleigh, NC;  New Leipzig, ND;

 Create your own visitor map!

  Click on this link to see the Charts and Comments that Billy Davis designed from the information on the Community Survey.  (You will need to have Adobe Reader 9 on your computer.)  122 people filled out the survey, so that was a great response from the community.  (Some did not answer all of the questions, so you will see some numbers do not add up to 122.)  Thanks to all of you!!

horizons-charts.pdf

horizons-questions.pdf

We will be meeting on Tuesday, August 11 at 5:00pm at 1st Lutheran Church Basement.  We will go over the survey results that Billy Davis so skillfully compiled for us.  The graphs he developed are so nicely presented.  Thank you Billy!  At our meeting we will decide on the Visioning Plan for the community.  Since a Fessenden Community Action Plan was developed in 2006-2008 we will be using much of that plan incorporated into our own plan.  Bowdon’s recently completed plan in 2008 was also a big help for planning.  It should be a great meeting.  Pizza from Rosa’s!!!

Well, it isn’t really a new business in town, Deronda designs has been around for a few years, but I had never been to her shop before, nor had I checked out her wonderful webpage and blog.  A week or so ago, I had some things to drop off for Deronda, and I caught her at work in her shop. 

Was I ever glad I did that.  Deronda makes the most marvelous creations by melting glass.  There I made it sound quite simple, but believe me it is not that easy.  She starts with glass rods and melts them with a welding-like open flame.  She shapes them as she turns the glass, adding colors as desired.

Deronda, who is a self-taught glass bead maker has always had an artistic touch.  The beads that she creates use many color combinations and designs.  She makes little animal beads, leaf beads, and small dishes.  It’s best to just check out her website and see all the creations for yourself.   Deronda has a very unique talent and has developed her own online business very effectively.  Hurrah for you Deronda!!! 

Her website is www.derondadesigns.com   and her blogspot is  www.derondadesigns.blogspot.com  Check them out.  They are well worth your time!!