New York Mills, MN

– Submitted by Emily Blomberg, Adam Creek & Asante Creek.

12 NYM Youth Council members worked a combined 770 minutes on Fridays in June and July picking up trash in our community.

“Our city is pretty clean but the amount of cigarette butts was disturbing. We also found an overdue library book – which we returned, four shoes, and a lighter,” Emily Blomberg.

We did our litter pickup on 3 days instead of four for 40-45 minutes a day because we were rained out two of the four Fridays in June. We raised $220 dollars for the Youth Council Fund. We will use these and other funds that we raise for youth activities in NYM. 

We want to thank the following individuals and businesses for providing their support for our Pick Up for Pledges campaign: Al and Jana Berube, Ed Buerkle, Victoria Creek, Jean Lillis, Farmers & Merchants State Bank, Cenex Co-Op, Dean’s Country Market, New York Mills Horizons Volunteer & Leadership Squad and Otter Tail-Wadena Community Action Council. 

Thank you for your support!  The New York Mills Youth Council

Wanted: 4-6 volunteers (youth, families, retired, individual or groups) to stuff school supplies into backpacks for OTWCAC’s Stuff the Bus Campaign!  Friday Aug 15 or Monday Aug 18. 

Donations for the Stuff the Bus campaign are welcomed!

Applications for school supplies are being accepted until Friday Aug 8th. 

Contact Lynn Nesland at (lmnesland@otwcac.org) or 218/385-2900 to apply, donate or volunteer!

My mom said I should put this on the blog, because I might be able to get more support. This letter (adam-creek_jrnylc-fundraising-letter_6-3-08.doc) has gone out to many friends, family and neighbors…

I am Adam Creek.   My 6th grade teacher, Mrs. Koehler, nominated me for Jr National Young Leader Conference this fall in Washington DC. I was honored by the fact that she thought enough of me and my leadership potential to take the time to fill out the nomination form.

I have been pretty active in the community since we moved here. I have participated on the Mediation Team at school. This spring, my sister and I raised $45 for the food shelf and organized a dodge-ball tournament for elementary youth. I am a founding member of the NYM Youth Council.

I am happy to accept the nomination, and now the challenge is to cover the costs to attend what I believe will be a life changing conference in a historic setting. Registration is $1840. My mom and dad are very supportive and will provide transportation and half of the registration fee $920. They feel and I agree that I need to take an active role in getting there.

That is why I am coming to you. I have been raising money since June. So far I have earned or collected a total $315 towards my half of the registration fee. If you were given this type of opportunity when you were younger wouldn’t you hate to miss out on it for lack of money!

If you would like to help me get to my goal of $920 by August 1, please consider making a donation to support my continued development as a young leader in NYM. Your support will assist me in developing my leadership potential that will last me a lifetime benefiting me, my family and our community!

Make Checks Payable to JrNYLC reference my student ID 326897-1975480

Donations can be delivered to my mom at OTWCAC or mailed to

Adam Creek
105 Wendy Woods Ln #202
NYM MN 56567

Thank you!
Adam Creek

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!

New York Mills Work Plans

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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

heather@kulcher.org

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!