Estelline, SD

At Lister Donley Memorial Garden Thursday, July 31st.  Bring weeding equipment and drinking water.    We will be discussing the output of the Donley family planted garden and its relationsip to the Farmers’ Market and Food Pantry about 8 pm at the shelter.  Some harvest is likely — the Pacman variety broccoli is still producing and there is thinning to do in the row crops.  There will be a short presentation on getting red tomato fruit. 

Market as usual on Friday evening 4 to 7 pm at Bandstand Park.  Then activitites move to the ball park; concessions starts before dark and family entertainment (Shrek , animated ghoul  lives an adventursome life with lots of humor for all ages) on the movie screen at dark 9:30 pm.  Enjoy!

Come see the Lister Donley Memorial Community Garden with the accomplished Pumpkin Patch Kids and Minnikins as your hosts to their plots on Friday, July 25th 10 am until 2 pm.  There will be adults working in the greater garden, and  refreshments will be available including light lunch over the noon hour.

Sioux Falls Argus Leader has expressed interest in the Garden and Farmers’ Market and will have photographer and reporter at the sites.

Estelline Journal, our newspaper ‘flagship’ has published lots of great copy, some written and filmed by the children, and we look forward to more coverage there as well.  Thank you,  Archers and Marge too. 

We will be using the bulletin board like space as the scheduling and update site until blog access becomes available to the community.  Please pass the word and put notices on the blog if you have something you want posted from inside the window.  Sign up sheets and other pieces placed outside, please avoid covering the window contents.

As Seth takes a vacation from the lemonade stand, we’ll have a fundraising booth for the Mural in his usual spot offering STRAWBERRY SHORTCAKE.  Have you made your suggestions for the Mural?

Also on July 18th, there will be a fun race for any age contestant making use of the season’s first overgown zucchinis.  Come early to get authorized wheels and your pick of squash — or maybe you want to bring some out of your own garden before you ‘have’ to eat them.  Race at 6:30

Farmers’ Market at the Bandstand Park 4-7pm Fridays

Friday evening Farmers’ Market 4-7pm in the Bandstand Park.  More vendors are welcome!  We will continue to have fresh produce as well as spring chickens freshly dressed, doggy treats by the bag, and decorative guords.  Our lemonade stand may take a break to participate in the Theater….

Missoula Children’s Theater presents “Wiz of the West” a musical play with a huge, well-costumed and dancing cast.  Two adult directors play the lead roles, and with local piano accompaniment the performances Friday and Saturday evening 7:30 to about 8:30 will be a delight.  Tickets at the door — the air conditioned school gym will be open at 7pm.

Meet the Movie Screen  Saturday evening at 9:30 for a showing of  Grease.  Concessions of Popcorn , beverages, and candy bars available.  Bring your own lawn chairs, blankets, and insect control to Bandstand Park. 

There will be handouts soliciting your input for further movie selections and explaining Horizons opportunities.  Look forward to seeing you….

The SDSU crew will be at Estelline’s first Farmers’ Market on Friday, June 20 from 4-7 PM for a celebration at the Band Stand.  Estelline Horizons members are asked to be on hand  in their bright yellow “Can Do” shirts. At that time, Cheryl will present the group with a check and provide cake for all the celebrants.  Other blog incentives may also be presented.  So Horizons group, bring your neighbors and come on down to the Estelline Band Stand and help us celebrate!

The Northwest Area Foundation conference I attended in MN was non-stop education!  Many partners in addressing poverty were there, my favorite speaker about poverty was Tom Vilsack, the former governor of Iowa.  The number one speaker about strategy, Chip Heath (author of the book Make it Stick , which I brought home to share), explained making messages memorable and motivating.   Peter S  from Community Reinvestment Association of North Carolina was most entertaining and effective with programs making financial issues riveting; their TV production Nuevo Barrio could be a great asset locally.

Lots of things I can hardly wait to tell you about, including their endorsements of local foods, and many fund-raising ideas.  The amusing byproduct of registration enmass by SDSU for everyone in SD was that Estelline was hometown on all our nametags…would that this little town had that many interested volunteers……

The following letter was sent to Estelline area businesses and citizens.

Dear Friend,

      The students of the Estelline School District and surrounding community are waiting with excitement for the Missoula Children’s Theatre to come to Estelline the week of July 6^th.    Approximately 60 students in grades 1-12 will be presenting two performances on July 11^th and 12, along with the Children’s Theatre staff.

 This promises to be a fun summer activity for the students and the community, as well.    If you would like to be a sponsor for this summer program, donations will gladly be accepted. All sponsor names and/or businesses will be listed in the program.

We are also in need of housing for one more of the two ladies coming with the Missoula Children’s Theatre.    Evening dinner invitations during the week of July 6^th   would also be welcomed by our guests. 

If you would like further information please contact me at 873-2203 or 873-2699. Donations may be sent to the school at P. O. Box 306, Estelline, 57234.  

Thank you for considering this request on behalf of the young people of the Estelline community.

  Sincerely,

Sharon Delzer

Missoula Children’s Theatre Coordinator

The summer is filling up with lots of activities.  Here are some dates for your calendar.

• May 24 - 10-2 - Children’s Community Garden Presentation  
• June 14 - 9-4 - Rummage Sale at Lake Poinsett - Get items to Cyndi Johnson’s by June 13.  No adult clothes please.
• June 17 - 6:30 - Trails Edge - Monthly Horizons Meeting
• June 20 - First Farmers’ Market and festivities to celebrate check presentation
• June 21 - Estelline Clean Up Day
• July - Work on the Tech Center
• July 8-13 - Missoula Children’s Theater in Estelline with presentations on Friday/Saturday                                                

Congratulations to Mary Buckmiller who has written three grant proposals which have brought in funds for our community garden.  The three grants are for tools from Fiskers, seeds and plans from the Extension Service and funds for the children’s garden from the Master Gardener program.  On May 24, there will be a Children’s Garden Reception from 10-2 to celebrate the grant and inform children about gardening.  The reception will take place at the community garden.