Have you purchased your ticket yet for the Anamoose Area Community Foundation cash raffle?  For $10 you have 20 chances to win between $50 and $250.  There are only 500 tickets printed.

The drawing will be Sunday, December 7th at the Anamoose Senior Center Brunch.

You can purchase your ticket from any of the committee members: Norma Martin, Phyllis Zimmerman, Shirley Nitz, Joe & Rose Weninger, Dick Hauser, Bill Goodwin & Alyce Heer.  Tickets can also be purchased at Heringer Lumber Yard, 1st State Bank-Anamoose & KB’s Bar.

PS–I goofed!  The prizes range from $50 to $550-not $250 as I previously stated.  Sorry about that.

Halloween isn’t just a time for kids to wear masks.  Friday evening was a time to show off a few “masks” at the Anamoose Senior Center.  Pictured are Norma Martin, Phyllis Zimmerman, Alyce Heer and Stan Martin.

Members enjoyed chili, bread sticks, and desserts, and finished off the evening playing cards and dominos.

On Wednesday, November 12th the Drake Anamoose Drama Club traveled to Minot State University for the Region 8 One-Act Competition.  The group performed ” How to Kiss a Girl”.  At competition, Drake Anamoose faced ten other talented drama departments including Glenburn, Velva, Sawyer, Surrey, Bishop Ryan, Lewis and Clark, MLS Towner, Westhope, and Bottineau.  In the end, Drake Anamoose took home the Region 8 Championship.  Along with 1st place, they also received the following:  Gavin Kite, Cordell Volson, Samantha Martin, Lee Reinowski, Levi Lemer, Syndey Seehafer, and Keksie Kite all received an Ensemble Superior Acting award, Garrett Uhlich received an  Honorable Mention Acting Award, and Elizabeth Rotherham was awarded an Outstanding Technician awards.

back row: Cordell Volson, Gavin Kite, Levi Lemer, Garrett Uhlich, Lee Reinowski Front row: Elizabeth Rotherham, Sydney Seehafer, Samantha, Martin, Kelsie Kite

Back row: Kelsie Kite, Kenzie Volochenko, Gavin Kite, Amber Windish, Kassidy Kite, Bobbie Jo Kuntz, Director: Kim Meckle Front row: Elizabeth Rotherham, Cordell Volson, Lee Reinowski, Sydney Seehafer, Hannah Lemer, Samantha Martin, Kailey Lemer, Garrett Uhlich, Levi Lemer

Mom(Kenzie Volochenko) is trying to help her son access dating device through a SmartPhone and is not impressed with the Disco Guy (Cordell Volson) that appears.

A community performance was held November 14th with knephla souop, sandwiches, and dessert being served.

The group will now travel to State one Act Competition in Jamestown on November 24-25th.

Thanks to Kim Meckle for the above article.

This Christmas  is more festive than usual.  The Civic Club purchased Christmas decorations this year, so in addition to Main Street there are decorations on Ave H which is north of the school and 3rd St. which is west of the school.  Maurie Becker, Mike Schmaltz and Lydell Martin put up the decorations.

Many Anamoose residents have decorated their yards and homes.  One that I really enjoy when I walk in the morning is the large evergreen tree on the lot south of Joe and Rose Weninger.  I followed the cord till it disappeared in the snow.  After talking to Joe and Rose I learned they planned this tree lighting way back in the fall and threaded the cord through the culvert before it snowed and covered it up.

There were a few people who said “Darn, I didn’t win again!”, but there were also many  excited winners after we drew the winners of the AACF Cash Raffle on Sunday, December 7th at the Anamoose Senior Brunch.  The total amount awarded was $2500 with 500 tickets sold.

The following names were drawn:

From Anamoose:  Pat Sieg-$200; Barb Martin-$100; Gerald Koble-$100; Brent Weninger-$50; Jerry Schnase-$50; Dennis Zimmerman-$50

From Harvey: Eveline Heitman-$250; Jordan Grossman-$250; Jeff Lien-$100; Dale Ophdahl-$100; Larry Martin-$50; Karen Olson-$50; Buffy Edinger-$50; Elaine Reimche-$50

Doug Helm (left) accepting his $550 check from Joe Weninger

From Martin: Doug Helm-$550; Bob Martin-150; Gary Weltz-$50

From Fessenden: Jill Stevens-$100;Dean Johnson-$50

From Granville:  Rhonda Nelson-$150

The AACF originated  in 2008 by a group of Anamoose area citizens interested in establishing a source   money to non-profit organizations in the Anamoose area.  Since that time, over $27,000 has been awarded.  In 2014 $7400 was granted out to area non-profit organizations including the Anamoose Park Boar, Anamoose Housing Corporation, City of Anamoose, MainSteams and Tri-County Senior Meals and Services.

The Anamoose City Park Board sponsored a Christmas tree trimming event in the City Park this past Friday afternoon. The Anamoose-Drake elementary school children took time out from their school day to come to the park to decorate the Christmas tree with

Trimming tree, hot chocolate & cookies

ornaments they had spent time during the week creating for the event. The children arrived in a horse drawn wagon provided and driven by Bob Bartz of Anamoose. The Park Board provided hot chocolate and home baked cookies along with a gift from Santa’s helper (Judy Schmaltz). The gifts were provided by Velva Farmers Union – Anamoose Branch and gift bags were provided by the Anamoose Civic Club.
They decorated, they sang, they built a snowman and they all made a joyous noise for the season! Fun was had by all kids and grown-up helpers alike! As I stood by observing this jolly scene, I heard so many kids and adults say to Park Board members as they were leaving the park after the chocolate and tree trimming, a very big thank you! It was very clear that this event was much appreciated by those in attendance. Hope to see this event continue to spread good cheer in future Christmas’! The tree stands proudly and brightly lit in the center of the City Park, during the day showing off the ornaments placed there by the children and at night twinkling for all to see.

Santa’s Helper, Judy Schmaltz

Park Board Members:  Lorie Schmaltz, pres; Tami Mertz, Kim Meckle, Monica Schmidt, Torie Dosch, Karissa Gahner

Sharon Miiller is our latest new resident and came to us from Bismarck about 3 months ago. She chose Anamoose for it’s available, reasonable housing, small town atmosphere and being close to her new job at Cenex in Drake. Sharon has 3 children and 5 Grandchildren. She currently has no hobbies and is busy painting and settling into her new home.

Mike Schmaltz

With the temperature hovering around 0 degrees it finally  got cold enough that Mike Schmaltz and Tom Sieg were able to flood the Skating Rink.  Mike said they flooded the rink last week with many loads of water and it just kept soaking away.

As I was leaving the rink two kids came carrying their skates, but found they will have to wait for it to freeze over.

Thanks to Mike and Tom for flooding the skating rink and to Rural Water for supplying the water.

Saturday evening, January 10th, a nice crowd of people came together at the Anamoose Senior Center to enjoy some good food and support a good cause. The Anamoose City Park Board sponsored a Chili Feed and an Ice Fishing Raffle to raise funds towards new playground equipment for the City Park. The chili with all the fixins’ was great and the dessert table was just plain awesome. The Park Board members greeted everyone at the door, manned the kitchen, served the beverages, executed the drawings and were gracious hosts throughout the evening. During the evening door prizes were given out to those lucky enough to be drawn prior to the main raffle event with great results for the names drawn. Lots of visiting, catching up after the holidays and support for a very worthy cause. A great combination for fun! And the best part is the goal is getting closer! The Park Board reports there is now $30,000.00 dollars to go towards the much needed playground equipment. Getting closer to the goal!

Now I suppose you are wondering, “where are the pictures and the winning names?” of the evening. Well I am going to blame it all on a Senior Moment on the part of this reporter! I fully intended to take pictures and as I swept out the door headed to the event I left my camera on the counter, where I put it so I wouldn’t forget it! As for names of winners, I have an incomplete list and thought, you all know who you are, tell your family and friends. Spread the good news!  ;-)

A Thank You to all of you who came out to support this effort and to the Anamoose Park Board members: Lori Schmaltz, Pres. Tami Mertz, Kim Meckle, Torie Dosch, Karissa Gahner.

The warm weather, with a temp of 40, may have been one of the factors to make the Anamoose Blood Drive a success.  On Tuesday, January 27th 38 units of blood were donated.

When I stopped by at 4:30pm the line was moving along smoothly.  I was impressed that some of the interview is now started on a computer & then completed by one of the 4 Blood Service Team members.

Pictured is Kathy Selzler as she gets her arm bandaged up.

Janice Buchholz (pictured) was chairman for the drive.  Kathy Rademacher, Phyllis Zimmerman and Mardell Helm served lunch for the donors.

Sorry about the pictures, but I finally give up trying to clear them up!

Anamoose citizens have fitness in mind.  Since 2010  seniors have been holding chair exercise classes at the Anamoose Senior Center.  These classes were started through RSVP Bone Builders-a program on osteoporosis heart health.  Mardell Helm, Janice Buchholz and Phyllis Zimmerman have been the instructors. These classes are held every Monday and Thursday at 9:30AM.  They conclude with a 1 or 2 mile walk to a video. (Sorry, but my camera that I have used since 2008 quit working, so picture was fuzzy)

Since 2009 a group called Happy Feet have been meeting in Barb Martin’s garage every Thursday morning at 8:30AM.  They weigh in each time and a lesson is given by one of the members.  Members get advice and support on weight loss and nutritional health.  At present they have about 12 members.

Pictured above are some of the member’s colorful socks that Barb Martin gave to them.

This January Kim Meckle organized a group called the Anamoose/Drake Fitness Club.  They meet at 5:30PM every Tuesday and Thursday at the Anamoose Fire Hall.  They exercise to videos such as “The Biggest Loser Workout-Cardio Max Weight Loss”.

Zumba classes have been started at the school at 7PM on Monday and Wednesday.  The classes are taught by Annette Leier.  The cost for Zumba is: Special 1st time drop in fee-$5, Regular drop in fee-$7, Punch card 5 classes for $25.

Not knowing what Zumba is, I looked it up on the Internet.  Zumba is a dance fitness program that involves dance and aerobic elements. ” The choreography incorporated hip-hop, soca, samba, merengue and mambo.”  Sounds like fun and hard work!

I knew had to go get my camera as soon as a saw the colorful Valentine display on the chalk board in the lunch room at the Anamoose Grade School.  Barbie Martin started her holiday decorating at Christmas time.  She next decorated for New Year’s Eve, Johnny Appleseed Day, Valentine’s Day, and plans to do St. Patrick’s Day next.

Barbie started out with white chalk, but the 5th  grade teacher, Doreen Hilzendeger, brought her some colored chalk which really makes a colorful scene.  She started the Valentine Day project with one set of “love birds”, and kept adding new pairs each day.  She finished Friday with the last bumble bee.  She said the kids came in each morning for breakfast anxious to see what she had added.

Besides cooking at the school, Barbie also makes banners, decorates wedding cakes, & entered the Art Show at Harvey.  She sketches at home & teaches her kids to draw.   This is the first project where Barbie has used chalk.

I started thinking of all the  advantages we have as seniors in Anamoose. We have a Senior Citizen’s Center where we have monthly meetings the first Monday of each month as well as socials the third Friday.  These are some pictures from the Valentine Cake Walk last night.

Playing Pinocle after Cake Walk

Some of the cakes for the Cake Walk

During the week we can eat at the Anamoose café, but on Monday’s when the café is closed we can eat at the senior center.  The café and senior center will deliver meals to  home bound seniors.

We can get foot care from the McHenry County Nurse when she comes to Drake every other month, or Colleen Voeller, RN, will come to our homes for foot care, BP check, etc.

At the Anamoose Housing the tenents get together every Saturday for coffee and visiting.

Mardell Helm and Janice Buccholz visit Catholic homebound elderly and take them communion.  Mardell, as a Parish Nurse, checks their medical condition.

Exercises through the RSVP Senior Program are held every Monday and Thursday at 9:30AM. at the senior center.

There are several programs where seniors can work.  Esther Doubek works for the Senior Companions where she visits elderly shut-ins.  Kathy Selzler works for ND Human Services.  She assists seniors with things such as laundry, shopping, meal preparation and personal cares so they can live alone and not have to go to a Nursing Home.

Barb Martin is a Foster Grandparent at the Elementary School, and Lois Rott was a Grandparent till she passed away January 13th.

A Souris Basin Transportation Bus will take passengers to Minot on Thursday for appointments, or wherever they want to go.

So you can see there are many small town advantages for seniors in Anamoose.

We all need to listen to a motivational speaker every so often, as I did yesterday at the 21st Annual Farm Credit Service Women’s Forum in Minot.  Sue Hamilton did such an excellent job of presenting that I would like to share some of her message of “Encourager at Heart”.

If someone asks you “How are you”, what do you reply-  “Fine”, “Good”, “Partly cloudy”, “What’s it to you”?  You can usually tell by someone’s expression how they feel. 

You have choices in how you feel.  If you have a negative attitude “Shake it off”.  An example Sue gave was where you wake up and lay in bed planning your perfect day.  You get all dressed up.  And then your husband asks you to pull anhydrous tanks!  What do you do?  Keep a positive attitude or do the crabbies come out?  You have a choice.  Catch yourself, get out of the negative mood, talk to yourself-it doesn’t mean you are crazy.  Smile, look like you’re having fun.  Attitudes can make or break a family!  It is hard to stay positive though.  Think of a positive person that you know.

A negative person will be crabby looking, say icky things, and complain a lot.  They will not be the first on your list to call.

Three characteristics of a positive person:

•  Open-minded.  Visit with a lot of people.  Have good listening skills. 
• Confidence
• Integrity.  This means doing what you said you would do.  When asked to do something, don’t be afraid to say no. Be a woman of your word and do it or say no.  You do not need to give a long explanation. 

You have a choice to be positive or negative.  Enjoy life as it comes-enjoy pregnancy=young children=teenagers (may be difficult)=early 20s=grandchildren, etc.  It ‘s no fun if you don’t enjoy the journey.

“Tina & Lina” added many laughs to the afternoon as the joked, sang, danced and involved the audience in their hilarious presentation.

The annual Land0wners Appreciation Supper was held last night at the VFW Hall.  A swiss steak meal was served for all area landowners, sportsmen, and members of the Anamoose Wild Life Club.

The speaker was Blake Schaan, Wildlife Resource Management Supervisor. He spoke on the Outdoor Heritage initiative that funds game and fish programs and Save the Lakes program that increases the quality of our lakes and restores shore lines.

Blake Schaan

Myron Miller is president of the Anamoose Wildlife Club and Jackie Martin is Secretary/ Treasurer.  The club meets 4 times a year and has about 80-90 members.  They have been a club since 1950-60.  Two of their yearly projects are trap shooting every Monday evening from May to September, and sponsor shooting after hunter safety program.  They had a dock put in at Antelope Lake and are now working on getting a dock at Clear Lake.

Myron Miller

I was lucky to win one of the 3 prizes-a Dewalt Drill/Driver set, a tool set, and a flashlight.

A fun week at the Elementary School was planned to honor the 110th birthday of Dr.Suess, a famous writer of children’s books, and to promote reading.

Monday was Cat in the Hat Day where teachers wore tall round hats, as the character in Dr. Suess’ book did.  Kids wore any kind of hat, and red and white clothes.

Tuesday was My Many Colored Day where each class wore a different color.  They guessed the number of cracker fish in a jar.

Today, Wednesday, was Wacky Wednesday, where students and teachers wear “wacky clothes” as pictures of these girls and Brittany Bromley, 2nd grade teacher, show.

Thursday will be I’m Not Getting Up Today where pajamas will be worn.

This picture shows a survey of students that picked “Green Eggs & Ham” as their favorite Dr. Suess book, with “The Lorax” second.  I can remember reading “Green Eggs & Ham” with my kids, so it is OLD and stood the test of time.

The new Civic Club Anamoose sign went up this afternoon.  The sign was made by Midwest Graphics; Keith Reinowski, owner, and designed by Angie Mack.  It is 8 x 16 and is made of aluma-corr, an aluminum faced and backed sign substrate.

Keith & Scott. Angie also helped with sign.

Old Anamoose sign- taken in 2012

Keith, Angie and Scott Mack, and I were trying to remember the history of the sign.  The original sign was made by Jim Kapfer.  I called him in Minot.  Jim and his wife Sharon figure that it was made about 20 years ago .  It featured the railroad since all the towns were built along the railroad.  We thought Joe Moose was added about 2005 and Ana was added when we finished our Horizons program in 2008 and we had the wedding of Joe and AnaMoose.  Let me know if you have  any more history of the sign.

Keith started his business in 2001 and has made over a thousand signs.

We all hope that if we live to be 90 that we will be as active as Ruth Ammon.  I attended her birthday party Saturday evening at the VFW Hall.  Her family had a meal of ham and all the trimmings.  The Hall was decorated for St. Patrick’s Day and guests were encouraged to wear green.

https://www.facebook.com/video.php?v=850254485030193

The entertainment was great with a DJ and Ruth’s granddaughter Katie’s husband, Brian Knowles, doing a series of dances with Leprekin puppets.  Katie’s parents, Connie and Mike Rudnick made the puppets.  Connie saw it on the Internet and decided that they could make it.

Alan Martin teaching class

A free 14 hour course on Hunter Safety & Education is being held at the Anamoose Fire Hall from March 14-18th.  Students who are 11 years & older in 2015 can attend.

The Anamoose teachers are:  Mark, Corinne & Kaya Engen; Dorian Anderson; LJ Dusek; Steve Heim; Jeff Lemer; Jackie Martin; & Alan Martin.  Alan has been teaching for 30 years!

Jeff Lemer teaching gun safety.

A home study course is also available.  The ND Game & Fish web site  http://www.gf.nd.gov/ has information on this.

Come to Anamoose and join in the fun!