​Granite Falls hosted the statewide meeting of the University of Minnesota Regional Sustainable Partnerships this past week.  The group began at Memorial Park with a planned picnic, music and boat rides on the river.  Patrick Moore presented Minnesota River history and Audrey Arner introduced the "water blessing event." However, the weather moved most of the evening into the Legion where the group enjoyed a dinner and entertainment by Jerry Ostensoe.  The main event on Wednesday at the American Legion started with a welcome by Granite Falls Mayor, Dave Smiglewski as well as Mary Gillespie, Chamber Director and David Fluegel, head of the Southwest division.  Lunch featured local foods and was catered by Donna Grieger, the fantastic cook at the Legion.  A lunchtime visit to the Farmer's Market right outside the Legion was included in the schedule.

Every year, this meeting is in a different section of the state and features the projects the partnership has been working on in that area.  The southwest area had a variety of interesting projects including  Fairmont Market Square design, Clean Energy Projects, Sustainable Agriculture Case Study Research and website, Deep Winter Greenhouses and explanation of how the Center for Small Towns in Morris operates.  

​Milan's micronesian population was the focus of a housing project and the topic of a project by Vincente Diaz, a Filipino-Phnpeian scholar and writer from Guam.  He explained the long history of navigation by Micronesian people using outrigger canoes.  The project is to celebrate the Micronesian population in Milan using this history of the outriggers with the addition of Viking and Native American canoes on the Minnesota River. 

​Another highlight was a performance by Unspoken Voices - Social Justine Art Troupe.  This volunteer theater group visits schools and colleges to increase awareness of bullying, sex violence and other social problems.  

​The meeting ended with a tour of the new Pioneer Public TV building.  The University of Minnesota's Regional Sustainable Development Partnerships and the Center for Small Towns in Morris are programs that are available to organizations, businesses and local governments.  It was very informative to see examples of the work they do and learn more about their programs - great ideas to help our rural economy.  

Arts and Culture is a large topic and I got a large dose of creativity, ideas and rural pride at last week's Rural Art and Culture Summit in Morris.  This conference is held every two years hosted by the Springboard for the Arts , Forum of Regional Arts Councils and Center for Small Towns with sponsors such as the Bush Foundation, the McKnight Foundation and others. This year's conference was sold out with a waiting list and included an even wider geographic area.  It brings together individual artists, arts organizations and small town representatives to discuss how to use the arts to develop the rural economy and create a better life for rural residents.   One specific example from an Iowa town that I'd love to see happen here is using an empty downtown building to host an artist residency.  The artist was allowed to use the building free, just paying the utilities.  This gave the artist an opportunity to sell his work and offered more visibility and a place for people to stop in and watch him work.  Another great panel discussion involved racial diversity in small rural areas, how the arts can overcome some of these problems and increase understanding among diverse groups.  All the main sessions are online at http://www.ruralartsandculturesummit.com.

Another topic that came up many times is how lucky we are to be in Minnesota where the Legacy amendment provides funding for the arts.  Our own Riverside Market and Muse and my trip to the Summit were both funded through the Southwest Minnesota Arts Council using Legacy dollars.  Minnesota is the top funded state in the country for the arts. 

I also had a great visit on Friday, June 9 with Erik Takeshita from the Bush Foundation who I met at the conference.  He wanted to visit small towns that are involved with the arts and get ideas for community projects and I'm helping to develop a proposal for funding a small project in Granite Falls. 
The creative ideas continued back in Granite Falls at the Sod House Theater workshops that happened Thursday through Saturday June 8- 10.  Public Transformation's  bus was again in Granite Falls with Ashley Hanson and Brian Laidlaw who are creating the music part of the play.  If you would like to participate in either the acting or music, spots are still available.  Contact the chamber office at 320-564-4039. 

It was great to host these professional actors and musicians in preparation for "An Enemy of the People" which will have performances on August 18, 19 and 20.   After visiting our town locations again, it was decided the play will have three acts, the first in Rice Park, the second near the Popcorn Stand and the third in the American Legion.  You can purchase advance tickets online at BrownPaperTickets.com  and they will be available by July 1 at the chamber office and Legion.  

Western Fest is almost here!  This year's Kiddie Carnival on Wednesday, June 21 at Rice Park will be bigger and better with more activities added for older children.  It will be open from 4:30 to 7:30 and all proceeds go to the Western Fest Royalty Committee. 

So plan a family night out with a meal at the Ambulance Squad's Burger and Brats stand, the Western Fest Kiddie Parade and a trip across the footbridge to the Kiddie Carnival.  Enjoy great deals all day during Cowboy Crazy Daze in Granite Falls shops.

I'd love to see more participation in the Kiddie Parade which takes place on June 21, 6 PM on Prentice St.  This year we're offering separate prizes for a float and individuals to encourage more kids to use their imagination and get in the parade!  Subject matter is open.  The winner in each category gets $100 in chamber bucks to spend anywhere in Granite Falls as long as the business is a chamber member.  There will be two runner up prizes of $25 in each category.  So let's see what wonderful ideas we can come up with for the parade!  To register, call the chamber office at 320-564-4039 so we can announce your entry correctly. 

Employee recruitment for our manufacturing, healthcare and other sectors is becoming a big problem in Southwest Minnesota.  On May 23th,  Hennepin/Carver Workforce Center in Minneapolis and Pioneer Public TV brought 55 job seekers to Montevideo and Granite Falls.  Cathy Anderson, Granite Falls EDA  Director and myself went along on the tour and directed the bus tours of Granite Falls, announcing the highlights of our town as we drove through.

The tour ended at Fagen Fighter's WWII Museum where the group was met by Mayor Dave Smiglewski and representatives from Granite Falls Health, Project Turnabout and Exit Realty.  They described job, lifestyle and housing opportunities.  The job seekers were a variety of backgrounds, ages and educational levels.  A group photo was taken and they all left with a goodie bag with gifts, Granite Falls Guides and area information.  Move here for a job and you get small town friendliness, river activities, great schools, reasonable housing and a great place to raise a family!

The Governor's Fishing Opener this year takes place on a river, the Mississippi River in St. Cloud.  This has been done in the past but on Lake Pepin, a wider lake on the Mississippi.  Our rivers deserve the same attention as our many lakes!

The fishing right in our backyard on the Minnesota River has improved since the Xcel dam was removed a few years ago. 

Check out this video from Pioneer Public TV 's Prairie Sportsman about fishing in the Minnesota River near Renville - https://www.facebook.com/1753263851366715/prairiesportsman/videos/

You can rent a canoe or kayak at Upper Sioux Agency State Park but it's also popular to fish along the bank at the riverside campground and other park locations.  Memorial Park is another great spot to try some shore fishing.  Both of these Minnesota River parks have campgrounds and you can even stay in a tipi at Upper Sioux!

Granite True Value has a great selection of camping and fishing supplies. Get your fishing license and bait at a Granite Falls institution, Willie's Korner Store.  Everything you need for a picnic lunch is also available here, as well as some great seafood if you don't succeed on your fishing trip!  Plan your next fishing trip in Granite Falls!

June Workshops
Sod House Theater will offer a series of free music and acting workshops led by professional theater artists and directors Luverne Seifert & Darcey Engen, and musicians Brian Laidlaw & Ashley Hanson in Granite Falls on June 8-10th. They will also hold an information session and call for performers & volunteers to participate in their August performance of Enemy of the People - a site-specific performance that will take place in Granite Falls August 18-20. The play will be presented at the American Legion, 60 6th St. with the first act outside (weather permitting) and the second act in the Legion's upper floor.  Tickets will include a hot dog or hamburger, chips and a drink.  Bar service will be available.
Friday, August 18 at 7:00pm
Saturday, August 19 at 7:00pm
Sunday, August 20 at 1:00pm
Tickets will be available starting June 1 at the chamber office, Legion and online at https://www.brownpapertickets.com/  Prices are Tickets:  $18 Adults $15 for Seniors(free city bus included) and $12 for Children (17 and under)
 
 
Thursday, June 8th from 6:30-8pm
Hometown Ballad Songwriting Workshop - In this workshop, you will share stories about your community, discuss the craft songwriting, and start to turn stories shared into original songs. Open to all ages and levels of experience; singers, musicians, and writers encouraged to attend; instruments are invited, but not required. 
 
Friday, June 9th from 6:30-8pm
The Power of Your Voice: Developing Your Voice for the Stage - This workshop will introduce and encourage performers to develop the components of vocal production such as projection, dynamics, pitch, rate, resonance, variety, articulation as well as relaxation and breathing.  This workshop will help the performer increase vocal energy, strength, range, flexibility, and clarity and apply it directly into their performance.  No preparation is necessary. Dress to move comfortably.
 
Saturday, June 10th - Workshops During Market & Muse
10:00-11:30am - Kick in the Pants: Physical Comedy Routines - This workshop will introduce stage techniques of physical comedy; slaps, kicks, trips, falls, fixed points and awkward timing decisions.  Participants will develop a 1-2 minute comedy routine that they will develop and perform.  No preparation necessary. Dress to move comfortably.
 
12:00-1:00pm - Bag Lunch Information Session / Call for Performers & Volunteers - Bring your lunch and join the directors of Sod House Theater to learn more about the opportunity to be involved in a professional site-specific, musical theater adaptation of Ibsen's Enemy of the People that will be performed in Granite Falls this August. Open to all ages, abilities, and levels of experience! 
 
2:00-3:00pm - Music, Movement, and Muse
This playful workshop will incorporate elements of movement and improvisation mixed with live and pre-recorded music. Using physical theater and creative movement, participants will improvise scenarios based on the tempo, rhythm, and feel of the music. No preparation necessary. Dress to move comfortably.
 
4:00-5:30pm - Original Music Jam Session 
Local musicians are welcome to bring their original finished, half-finished, or barely started songs to experiment with arrangements in this open jam session. Recording equipment will be on hand to capture the magic. Open to all ages and levels of experience; singers and musicians workshops will be facilitated by professional musicians and songwriters Brian Laidlaw & Ashley Hanson.encouraged to attend; instruments are invited, but not required.

All workshops are free and open to the public. Granite Falls has a history of outdoor, "walking theater" and this will be an exciting addition to our history of productions.  Below is rehearsals from one of the productions that took place on and below the footbridge.

It’s exciting to see another store opening up downtown!  The Falls Boutique in the old Frozen in Time location, 709 Prentice St., is now open with a fun interior and a great selection of home decor, clothing and other unique items.  I love that old theater building and it’s great to see some of the original features like the deco light fixtures preserved and the space open to the public with a new boutique.  Visit their facebook page for more details –https://www.facebook.com/Falls-Boutique

In my job as chamber director, I’ve also spoken to two other possible business owners who want to open here, a tattoo studio and artisan cheese maker.  Everyone benefits from the addition of these unique businesses, the more locations we have to browse, the more people will be attracted to our beautiful town.  Keep your money here in town and shop local. The chamber is working on creating more places where you can shop.

The first Riverside Market and Muse event is May 13.  Join Tamara Isfeld for a free Raku pottery class.  The June 10 event is a great opportunity to learn music and acting skills from professionals who will return in August for the play," An Enemy of the People".  Vendors can set up for free along our downtown plazas, only home based businesses need to register so there are no duplicates.   I encourage the downtown shops to use these dates as an opportunity for a monthly sidewalk sale.  Together we can get our downtown full of people during these monthly events.  Live music near the Berge Building, so mark your calendars!

Members of the State of Minnesota Unemployment Office will be visiting Granite Falls and they want to hear from you.
Attending will be :
Jim Hegman, Deputy UI Division Director 
Michael Vaughn, UI Outreach Manager
Lynne Batzli, UI Outreach Specialist

They will give a very brief presentation about the Unemployment Insurance Program. The main purpose of the visit, however, is to listen and learn about what is going on in our community. They look forward to hearing about your experiences and impressions with UI.  Lunch is included.

Please RSVP so we have an idea of the numbers for lunch, 320-564-4039 or e-mail gfchamber@mvtvwireless.com