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Congratulations, New York Mills!
After 18 months of planning, organizing, great conversations, and hard work, your work plan is complete! Click the link below to find details of the Horizons Team organizational plans, focus areas, and projects.
It has been wonderful to see the projects evolve. I don’t know about you, but I sure have been enjoying my jams and other treats from the Farmer’s market. Great work!
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The New York Mills Horizons Community Celebration held on June 18th at the Farmers Market, was attended by some 60+ people. It was a marvelous afternoon with plenty of camaraderie and high spirits as we met to celebrate the success of the Horizons Program in New York Mills. This informal affair was complete with hot dogs, chips, lemonade and face painting!
Due to the rainy/windy weather we have today–the Horizons Celebration has been rescheduled to next Wednesday, June 18. Same time, same place. Hope to see you there!
Horizons will officially come to an end soon (even though many of the activities will continue), so in celebration of completion of the grant program there is a celebration on Wednesday, June 11, that you are all invited to. Please join us for lunch at the Farmer’s Market in the Sculpture Park, 11:30 am to 1:00 pm. There will be a short program at 12:00 noon.
If you have any questions, please contact Julie Adams jadams@newyorkmills.lib.mn.us or Todd Cameron tcameron@nymills.k12.mn.us.
Hope to see all of you at the Community Celebration Wednesday, June 11, 11:30 am-1:00 pm!
Submitted by Heather Cassidy
The Arts Retreat is a program sponsored by the Jerome Foundation and The New York Mills Regional Cultural Center. Artists from all over the country and world apply to the program, since it offers a stipend, room and board, and use of the cultural center for creative endeavors. The handful of artists that are awarded Artist retreats are selected by a jury of (mostly local) artists. When they arrive in New York MIlls, they are free to work on their artwork without distractions. The only requirement we have of them is that they enrich the lives of the local community through classes, workshops or performances. It is a wonderful way to expand our horizons right here in New York Mills!
Zondie Zinke is our new Visiting Artist to the Arts Retreat Program here at the New York Mills Regional Cultural Center. She is a writer of gripping, raw short stories. One cool community outreach project she is doing is the FORBIDDEN POETRY CLASS. Adults and teens 7th grade and over are invited to write poems about familliar objects or activities, with the most obvious descriptor words being forbidden.
What a super way to think outside the box, to expand your vocabulary, and have fun! So invite everyone you know to come and meet Zondie and write some stunning poetry. It is free, so no excuses!
Forbidden Poetry Workshop
JUNE 10th, 2008 10 AM- 12 NOON
New York Mills School ROOM #409
FREE!
If you have any questions contact Heather Cassidy at the New York Mills Regional Cultural Center 218-385-2229
Shawn and I took 6 youth council members to Fertile, MN for Youth Council Development Training Saturday 6-7-08. The council members who attended were Adam, Asante, Marlo, May, Myrone, and Whitnei. The two hour ride (each way) gave us an opportunity to bond! I have to take my hat off to all of these youths. Getting up and out of the door by 7 AM on a Saturday!!! That is dedication to the movement!
We had a wonderful time meeting the Fertile Youth Council and working with Deborah the trainer. The discussion was lively and inspired. All of us left with ideas and motivation to be the change we want to see! The individual leadership traits that we have to bring to this council is astounding! We have decided that together we can definitely accomplish our goals.
Next step. Some strategic planning and community mapping! If you are in the presence of one of the council members who attended this session, please ask them about it. You will be in awe of the intelligence and thoughtfulness they will express. Stay tuned!
We would appreciate your joining us if you have the opportunity - next scheduled activity is June 13 Pickup for Pledges. We will meet at 4:15 under the gazebo in Central Park.
We cancelled today’s litter pickup due to the unstable weather!! But we will make up for it on July 11th. We plan to pickup this Friday 6-13 weather permitting!
The Youth Council met on 5-31-08 see notes (nym-yc-meeting-notes-5-31-08.doc) to finalize plans for the Pickup for pledges campaign. So far, we have $150 in pledges! We are excited with the amount of support that we are receiving for our efforts.
People are willing to show support when you are doing something proactive and not just putting your hand out. The NYM Youth Council is filled with bright and enthusiastic entrepreneurs and we are getting ready to make an impact!
Please show your support by joining us Fridays in June at Central Park. We will begin to pickup litter promptly at 4:30 pm. Consider making a financial contribution to this fundraising cleanup effort! $.50 a minute is what we are asking (pickup-for-pledges_pledge-form.pdf).
Showing our youth that we support them will encourage them to stay engaged in community issues enabling NYM to continue to be a thriving community where community members of all ages feel that their needs are met. Supporting youth now will go a long way towards ensuring that NYM will continue to grow and prosper.
May 7, 2008Dear community group members,
I am writing to ask if you would like to be part of our Farmers’ market as a fundraiser for your group. One Group will be selected for each week of the market. During that week they will be able to rent a canopy for 8 dollars, where they will be able to sell their products.
What products could your group sell? Some ideas we have are:
Cold lemonade, cider, caramel apples
Ice cream cones (maybe homemade)
BBQ turkey or chicken sandwiches
Fresh baked breads
Grilled brats and beans
Pancake breakfast
home baked pies, fresh donuts, cookies
Pumpkins that you have grown as a group
Other veggies or fruits you have grown as a group
Anything unusual, special, and homemade foods that the customers would enjoy munching on while strolling through the market.
If you haven’t already heard the latest buzz about the New York Mills Farmers’ Market, let me catch you up to speed. The New York Mills Farmers’ Market started on Saturday May 31. It will run on Wednesdays and Saturdays from 9AM to 1PM. We have many interested farmers who will be setting up 10X10′ stalls to sell their fresh fruits, veggies, meats and homemade foodstuffs. There is a great deal of excitement about the Market from the people of the New York Mills area! Since the Market is located at the New York Mills Sculpture Park, we have excellent access to Highway 10 traffic, so we anticipate a large volume of customers.
Take these ideas and discuss them with your group. Then call us to let us know what date your group can be our fundraising guest. The dates will fill up very fast, so call Pat Fredley soon. Her number is 385-2187.
Heather Cassidy
Farmers’ Market Committee
385-2229
By Heather Cassidy
The New York Mills Farmers Market will run Wednesdays and Saturdays from 9AM to 1PM through Summer. It is located at the Sculpture Park on Highway 10 and 67.
Farmers’ Market Day 1 was a success! Children were laughing and playing, neighbors were catching up with each other, there was an aura of excitement in the air, and the weather was beautiful.
Advertising is so important! Thanks to a grant from the Horizons project, and some steadfast volunteers on the Farmers’ Market Board, everyone who came to New York Mills encountered some well built sandwich board signs with stark black and white advertisement for the Farmers’ Market, and eye catching banners waving near the busy highways. In an unscientific poll of the market customers I found out that the articles in the newspaper, free spots on the radio, and signage all helped to create a successful first day for the vendors in attendance.
The farmers’ in attendance included:
Andrea, a local organic pork producer from Menagha,
Norene from Morris, who grew many varieties of tomato plants and peppers in her greenhouse from seed,
Heather, a horticulturist/landscape designer selling little houseplant cuttings and homemade chocolate chip cookies,
Pat Fredley, the cornerstone of the Farmers’ Market Board, sold fudge and daylilies,
Beth Super sold ointments and shea butters, including one that heals poison ivy,
Mary Lee Weaver had a nice selection of tomatoes and bedding plants,
The Jacobsens sold perennial divisions and Watkins products,
Stephanie Goins sold pumpkin seedlings and baked goods,
And Jack from the Creamery brought hot gourmet coffee and muffin tops.
While most vendors will be waiting for our gardens to begin bearing produce, beginning next Wednesday Dallas Flynn and Gary Senske will start harvesting and selling their high-tunnel raised produce, including lettuces, radishes, some cucumbers and tomatoes. (High tunnels are clear hoop houses over the garden that extend the growing season by several weeks in Spring and Fall). Also coming soon is Mike Hamp from Calico Farms near Huntersville. He will soon have 26 varieties of tomatoes for sale, in addition to a huge variety of other berries and vegetables.
The Farmers’ Market Board is looking for fundraiser groups to sell refreshments or produce or plants to benefit your group. You must receive prior authorization from Pat Fredley to conduct your fundraising during the Farmers Market. We are especially interested in a group that would sell fresh grilled Bison burgers or ice cream! What could your group sell to raise money? Call Pat Fredley to reserve your date now, since only 1 fundraiser group will be allowed to participate each day of the market.
Something else the Farmers’ Market Board is working toward is recruiting artists, crafty people, and master gardeners to conduct activities during the market to add ambiance. We want live music playing, and quilting or knitting demonstrations, a master gardener Q and A booth, a pruning seminar, an apple tree expert,……. The possibilities are endless. If you or someone you know would like to add to the “magic of the market” by sharing your unique talent, contact Heather Cassidy 385-2229 (horthelper@lakesplus.com).
Many hours of volunteer work have been put in by the Farmers’ Market board members. A special thanks to Pat Fredley, who has seen this project through since it was only a grand idea!
The Farmers market will benefit the businesses in the area through heavier traffic flow; and the people of New York Mills by making nutritious produce available at a good price without a long drive. The Farmers’ market also increases the sustainability of our town by providing local food producers a venue for their products, helping to keep our food dollars local.
If you or your company would like to support the New York Mills Farmers’ Market, please consider a tax deductible donation to Friends of the New York Mills Farmers. The money will be used to support operating costs of the market. For more information contact Pat Fredley at 385- 2987.
Are you a Farmer, looking to diversify your income stream? Sell your locally grown produce at our highly visible market. We still need: bison, elk, chicken and beef producers, berry growers, more honey, syrup, mushrooms, jams and jellies, any other local food you produce! Call Heather Cassidy to become a member of the Farmers’ Market. The membership fee is affordable.
