Spirit of Community: many events during the year
By Ryan Gueningsman
Delano Herald Journal Managing Editor
Folks in Delano wanting to celebrate the spirit of community need not look far, as there are many events and occasions to do just that.
Annually, there are many gatherings for people to come together and enjoy fellowship, fun, and in several cases – food.
Delano’s best food offerings are brought to one place at the Taste of Delano, which takes place annually at Central Park in early August. The Taste of Delano grew from an idea of the Delano Area Chamber of Commerce Task Force, which was created to help businesses through Highway 12 construction in 2008 and again in 2009.
Hailed as offering “food from around the world, along with family-friendly fun,” the event has been solidly growing its first two years in existence. The 2010 Taste of Delano will be Wednesday, Aug. 4.
For one low cost, people are able to participate in all of the food tasting and activities at the event, once admission is paid. There has been no cost for activities or food during the event.
Along with food from a majority of Delano’s restaurants, there has been face painting, a moon walk, balloon animals, hair and nails, cotton candy, snow cones, a clown, popcorn, and booths with food and wine sponsored by local businesses.
Other features at the 2009 event included a massage chair from White Birch Therapeutic Massage, pony rides provided by Mount Olive Lutheran Church, and caricatures by Rollie Starry at the Delano Herald Journal booth.
Proceeds from the event fund future efforts of the Highway 12 task force, which, to date, has spent more than $10,000 promoting Delano businesses during construction.
The task force created the “Delano: Open for Business” campaign, providing directional signs, maps, restaurant guides, and other activities.
“I think it’s complimentary of what we’re doing to support our businesses,” said co-organizer John Tackaberry before last year’s event. “It’s about supporting all businesses in Delano – and we can’t do it without you. The only reason businesses survive is because of the people.”
A sample of food offered at the past two taste events includes: from the Delano American Legion – ribs, soup, brownies; from El Cazador – chips and salsa, ground beef, guacamole; from Chun Mee – egg rolls, chicken wings, fried rice; from Applebee’s – dessert poppers; from JukeBox – artichoke dip; from B’s on the River – hog roast; from Subway – subs and cookies; from Apple Jack Orchard – apple crisp; from Three Crows – Sebastian Joe’s Ice Cream; from Coborn’s – cheese with wine pairings, bratwurst, salad; from Dave’s Town Club – mini burgers, homestyle pizza; from Pizza Ranch – Alfredo sauce pizza with chicken and broccoli; and also offerings from Edie Mae’s Eatery and Peppermint Twist Drive In, with wine tasting by Delano Wine and Spirits and Woodland Hill Winery.
Music in the Park Concert Series
Also annually, the General Federated Women’s Club of Delano presents a music in the park series during the summer months. Performances take place at the gazebo in Delano’s Central Park, and begin at 6:30 p.m. unless otherwise noted. The 2010 lineup includes:
Wednesday, July 14 – The Jars
The popular house band at Three Crows in Delano, The Jars perform a very eclectic mix of folk, blues, blue grass, country and pop music.
Wednesday, July 21 – Dan Newton’s Café Accordion Orchestra
“Berets and Bongos” describes the Café Accordion experience – a loungy, eclectic mix, full of French flare, Latin heat and Bohemian attitude.
Wednesday, July 28 – treVeld
An acoustic music trio based in the Twin Cities, treVeld inspires audiences to drink in the beauty and spirit of the music, with original works inspired by the folk music of America, Europe and beyond.
Wednesday, Aug. 4 – Open Eye Figure Theater
Great fun for kids and adults alike – Join us at “Taste of Delano” for a delightful puppet theater program. The show will be presented at two different times, to be announced.
Wednesday, Aug. 11 – Singleton Street
Come enjoy Singleton Street’s lively blend of bluegrass/gospel, old-time Irish, even folk music.
Wednesday, Aug. 18 – Mariachi Flor y Canto
Infectiously happy mariachi music!
Wednesday, Aug. 25 – St. Anthony Brass
One will be amazed as St. Anthony Brass performs some of the most challenging brass quintet music, from Renaissance to contemporary. Enjoy a varied and sometimes surprising mix of sounds.
This concert series is funded, in part, by the Minnesota Arts and Cultural Heritage Fund through a grant from the CMAB as appropriated by the Minnesota State Legislature with money from the vote of the people of Minnesota Nov. 4, 2008.
Relay for Life in Delano
From: Brea Atkinson
American Cancer Society Wright County representative
Participants at the fifth annual American Cancer Society Relay For Life in Delano walked on a Friday night in August 2009 to raise funds for cancer research, cancer education and patient services.
Relay For Life, the society’s signature event, is a life-changing experience that helps us celebrate the lives of those who have battled cancer, remember loved ones lost, and to fight back against a disease that takes too much.
This unforgettable event raises awareness and funds to save lives, help those touched by cancer, and empower people to fight back against this disease.
However, the 2009 relay proved to truly show the commitment to fighting cancer in Delano.
During the opening ceremony at 7 p.m., our committee began to grow wary of the dark clouds headed our way. However, we told our audience that we would continue to walk, rain or shine.
And rain it did. Appreciation goes to the careful consideration of the weather by our committee – our luminaria bags were taken indoors just before the rain began to fall.
As teams and community members fled to their cars and campers for shelter, a few committee members huddled in the grandstand building, while the storm raged, and formulated a plan.
As we had mentioned during the opening ceremony, we would continue to walk, rain or shine. But, storms were another story. The committee was concerned, wondering how many teams stayed, asking one another about the options for cancelling or postponing the relay.
However, to this brave committee, cancelling was never an option. As we watched the radar and estimated the storms’ passing, it was decided at 10:30 p.m. to continue the relay, just a few hours delayed. The silent auction remained open until 11 p.m., the luminaria lighting ceremony was moved to 11 p.m., and a few activities were pushed back to accommodate a flexible schedule.
When the rains let up, the people came back in droves. The parking lot was full of cars, emptying once they saw the candles being lit and people walking once more. One committee member even called her team who had gone home to tell them to come back, “People are still walking,” she said into the phone. “Come, cook some burgers.”
As the nearly 300 people walked the luminaria lap to the sound of bagpipes, we all truly remembered the difficult battles faced by our loved ones through cancer. Just as the Relay For Life symbolizes, we have to walk through the night to see the light. Through rain, wind, and high water, we will walk. Through chemo, radiation, and tears, we will walk.
Cancer is never an easy journey. Just as through the night it may be cold and stormy, and just as through the night we grow weary and fed up, Relay For Life reminds us that those facing cancer do not get a break, although they are cold or weary, fed up with fighting, or facing a storm.
This is why Relay is an overnight event, and the community in Delano truly exemplified how much passion can be found here in the fight against cancer. Three other Relay For Life events in surrounding communities called off their event during the storm, whereas Delano held on strong.
The Relay For Life would not be possible without the incredible dedication of our teams, team captains, sponsors, and committee members. A special appreciation to committee members Ann Hayes, Ann Sheely, Bernie Kittock, Betsy Farrier, Christine Klemp, Heather Green, Heidi Voss, Holly Shrupp, Jamie Pogue, Jeanie Pilarski, Julie Strobl, Kathy Nordling, Laura Hermann, Mary Alston, Mary Erickson, Nancy Larkin, Neva Stoebner, Nicky Schmidt, Rhonda Zappa, Shelli Hess, Tess Heikes, Darlene Hayes, Nancy Ganzel, Sarah Farniok, Shirley Scheuble, and Girl Scout Troop 11695, as well as, to our fearless co-chair Lynn Bartels, who led us through the night, cheering us all on to raise more than $92,000.
Congratulations to our top fundraising team and top spirited team, Will’s Warriors, led by Jamie Pogue, raising more than $11,000 in honor of Will Pogue, our amazing honorary survivor this year.
Anyone interested in getting involved on the committee or as a team for the 2010 Relay For Life can contact the American Cancer Society at (651) 255-8760 or e-mail our committee at Delano.relay@gmail.com.
Other events and celebrations
In its 21st year, the Delano Area Chamber of Commerce Community Expo is set to take place Saturday, April 10 from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. at the Tiger Activity Center at the Delano High School. Nearly 1,000 Delano area residents visit the expo each year.
Major sponsors include Bagy Jo, Star West Chevrolet-Honda Sports, and State Farm Insurance – Lloyd Griep.
The expo serves as a platform for businesses and local organizations to greet neighbors, meet potential customers, generate new contacts, distribute materials, increase recognition, and network with other businesses.
Branches of the chamber of commerce also organize the community’s Fall Harvest Festival in September, and the Christmas tree lighting in downtown Delano Thanksgiving evening.
Of course, there is also Delano’s Fourth of July Celebration, which is dubbed Minnesota’s oldest and largest. See page 51 for additional details on that celebration.
Also, a new event on the Delano scene is the “Old-Fashioned Christmas in Downtown Delano,” sponsored by the newly-created Delano Arts and Culture Council. See more details on this event on page 50 of this guidebook.
A listing of major Delano events can be found in the sidebar of this article. This publication went to press in March 2010, so some event dates had not yet been set.
Major events in Delano during 2010
Saturday, April 10 – Delano Area Chamber of Commerce Community Expo – Tiger Activity Center/Delano High School
Saturday, April 10 –GFWC Citizen of the Year banquet honoring Steve Gilmer – Delano American Legion
Thursday-Sunday, July 1-4 – Fourth of July Celebration
Friday, July 30 – Relay for Life – Central Park
Wednesday nights in summer – GFWC concerts in the park series
Wednesday, Aug. 4 – Taste of Delano – Central Park
Thursday Aug. 12-Saturday, Aug. 14 – Delano citywide garage sale/crazy daze
Saturday in September 2010 – Fall Harvest Festival (in conjunction with Delano High School homecoming)
Thursday, Nov. 25 – Delano Area Chamber of Commerce Christmas tree lighting – downtown Delano
Saturday, Dec. 4 – Old-Fashioned Christmas in Downtown Delano
Please send any errors or omissions to delano@heraldjournal.com.
