January 3, 2008 - Thursday

Early Edition

Todays Gazette is brought to you by
= The Fabulous NDSU Concert Choir =
St. John's Parish Tonight 7:30 P.M
Directed by Dr. JoAnn (Brorson) Miller.
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The current temperature is 8 degrees.
Yesterdays H/L temperature was 3/-8
Normal H/L temp for this date is 15/-4
Temperatures toward the end of the week are expected to be 10 to 12
degrees above normal.
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"Profanity makes ignorance audible."
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L O C A L news & stuff,.. mostly stuff.
~~ PLEASE!! PLAN TO ATTEND ~~
The NDSU Concert Choir will present a fabulous concert directed by Dr.
JoAnn (Brorson) Miller. Grafton's own Brendan Schultz who is a
freshman majoring in music at NDSU is a member of the choir.
The concert is FREE and EVERYONE is WELCOME.
JoAnn is the daughter of Norm and Ann Brorson who lived in Grafton for
many years. She was a student in Grafton until about her junior year
when her family moved to Grand Forks. Her brother Lon is married to Jane
Miskavige.
Please keep in mind, the concert IS FREE and EVERYONE is WELCOME.
Peggy Dahl-Bartunek says JoAnn's choir is outstanding!! Anyone that
knows music, knows Peggy Dahl-Bartunek. And, If Peggy says the choir's
performance is outstanding. You can rest assured, IT IS.
Wouldn't it be wonderful to have a large turnout for such a great
event. Who say's fantastic entertainment never come to Grafton. AND,
it's FREE.
TONIGHT Thursday, Jan. 3 at 7:30 PM
ST. JOHN'S PARISH, Grafton, ND.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Our Ohio Fox Hunting Friends walked into Granny's this morning, almost
like they had never left town last winter. Gosh it was great to see them
again. Seven super guys walked into Granny's with smiles from here to
home. They shook hands, sat down for breakfast and exchanged banter,
better than the locals. I did remind them, Cindy, that there was a
fairly good chance they would get the computer. However, a much lesser
chance they would get their full allotment of cookies, from home.
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Plan to attend the NDSU Concert Choir tonight -- 7:30 at St. John's
Church.
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The mention of vandalism in the park, gave Duane Kargel reason to say.
>>>
Subject: Vandalism
Hat's off to Wally; another great community supporter in
Grafton. With all the hunting folk in Grafton, maybe they can round
up a couple of outdoor wildlife cameras that are attached to trees etc.,
to capture photos of game in the area and instead, capture the images of
these fools who "mess with theChristmas spirit." <<< Thanks for
caring and sharing Duane. Something will certainly have to be done
before next year.
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Joe Birkeland was not, just a Band Director. He was, The Leader of the
Band.
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Alice sent this note. >>>
Just to let you know...I religiously watch the Rose Parade each and
every year. When we lived in San Diego we were privileged to attend
it twice when bands from our area were invited to participate. We
camped out beside a church on the boulevard (the pre-parade parade went
on all night long! ... every hopped up motorcycle in So. Cal roared down
that street!) Also it may look nice and warm there, but the wind
whips down from Mt. Baldy and can chill you to the bone. I have
never yet seen any band from anywhere make a military square corner the
way Joe taught us to do, either. It's corny, but a Sousa march can
almost bring tears. I think Joe Birkeland's legacy to us all is that
pride that we were instilled with when representing our town, in the
Rose Parade, the Orange Bowl Parade, or marching down the street in
Grafton or Cavalier, or wherever we went. I hear it in all the
letters you've received from former band members of whatever era. A
<<< Thanks a million for caring and sharing Alice.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Please don't forget to attend the NDSU Choir at St. John's Church
tonight at 7:30 P.M. It'll be fabulous and it'll be FREE.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Loren Lundberg, usually, doesn't say much. However, he did share the
following. >>> Gary:
Please make sure that all of your "correspondents" try to
remind me next June to "Thank" Wally and his wife for continuing to view
the community as "half full" instead of "half empty" - if it was easy,
anybody could do it. The annual return of the "foxers" from Ohio should
somehow reinforce Grafton's message that it is a wonderful place to call
"Home". I've had some outside input to sub-title the block
between 5th and 6th on Hill Avenue as "Birkeland Square" - no postal
problems, etc. and it could serve as a starting point for Joe's
remembrance. On the other hand, one must remember that Grafton also has
a potential for an "embarrassing" # of riches - ie, one does not have to
travel far to recall the name Harold Bliss and the impact he had on
"future scientists" and the generation of "Why DOES that happen?"
questions in a small town in northeastern North Dakota.
Then again, perhaps every small town should have such
"problems". LL <<< Thanks a million for caring and sharing Loren. Your
"Town Square" idea is intriguing to say the least. And, your mention of
Harold Bliss should also insight serious thought and recognition.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Twila wanted to add the following thought to the mix. >>> Just an
idea. During SummerFest, it would be nice if one of the vacant store
fronts could house a display of band uniforms, instruments, music, etc.
from the Joe Birkeland era. <<< Now there's an idea someone should grab
ahold of and run with it. Thanks Twila. It takes the input of a great
many people to make an event great.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Gary,
Just wanted to respond to your last question as to how many
actually marched under Joe.While I was in the band we had the
following majorettes: Avis Brateng, Betty Sondeland, Clara Thompson,
Alice Cox, Norma Lee, Ruth Hove, Nadyne Anderson, Joanne Misialek,
Delores White, Susan Ordahl and myself-making 11. Now you have a
starting point. I'm sure none of us ever heard Joe say the band had
the prettiest majorettes but it's awfully nice to hear all these years
later. Joe watched over us like we were his own daughters. I sure
do hope an appropriate honor can be found and know every band member
will support whatever it is.
Lea Fairbairn <<< Thanks a million for caring and sharing Lea. Actually
Lea, I am "almost" positive I have heard Joe on more than one recording
mention the bands beautiful majorettes. I'm going to guess Tom Kutz
could verify that.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Fore! Did you know that North Dakota has more Golf Courses per capita
than any other state?
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GOTTA GO WORK ON MY DASH
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There must be at a million interesting things we have yet to hear about
Joe Birkeland. Unless someone tells us, we will ever know.


Write if you can, call if you can't, and, tell your loved ones they
are,..... before it's too late.