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HEADLINES FOR MAY 9, 2008 |
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| History celebrated with exhibits, activities, music |
Pastor from Finland (Feature) |
History celebrated with exhibits, activities, music
The washerwoman in front of the log cabin at the Heritage Center is Toni Koch
of Buffalo. She said she would love to live in a cabin like this one up north
in the woods by a lake. Several people dressed in period costumes for the
Sesquicentennial event. (Photos by Ed DuBois.)
The U.S. and Sesquicentennial flags were blown hard by the wind during the
Heritage Center event.
Approximately 400-500 people turned out for a Minnesota Sesquicentennial event at the Wright County Heritage Center last Saturday, May 3. Wright County, which celebrated its own 150th anniversary three years ago, is one of the first to celebrate the state sesquicentennial, said Sally Macnab, Heritage Center business manager.
A highlight of the weekend event was a gathering of over 45 children with state and national parks troubadour Charlie Maguire, who taught the children how to play mouth harps. Some of the children performed with Maguire during a show at the Buffalo High School Performing Arts Center that evening.
Macnab said around 100 people attended the concert and were treated to wonderful music by Marienne Kreitlow and Friends, followed by Maguire, who was appreciated with two standing ovations.
Many families with long roots in Wright County were among the visitors at the Heritage Center. Ruben Bonk, event chairman, wore a top hat like Abraham Lincoln as he welcomed everyone during an opening program. Some of the dignitaries on hand included State Senator Amy Koch, Buffalo Mayor Fred Naaktgeboren and Buffalo Police Chief Mitch Weinzetl. Koch had helped obtain funds for the event from the State Sesquicentennial Grant Commission.
Bonk talked briefly about local history, saying the first 50 years involved settlers seeking a new life and a new country. People of many languages brought their skills, trades and ambitions to form new communities. The next 50 years included some hard times as drought and economic depression were sandwiched between two world wars.
The industrial might of America was brought forth during World War II, and then the machinery age moved aside as the technology age produced moon landings and computers, the Internet and cell phones during a time of economic gain.
Bonk commented that America has a relatively short history, during which much has been accomplished. He represents only the third generation out of Germany in his family, he mentioned.
Meanwhile, history continues to be made.
“There is no end to history,” Bonk said.
Following the opening program, everyone was invited to see exhibits both inside and outside the Heritage Center. Leander Wetter and his sons John and Paul showed early 1900s steam engine tractors. The engines were running, and smoke was flying in a stiff wind.
People in period costumes greeted visitors under a sunny sky in the log cabin and the country school just outside the Heritage Center.
Macnab said a lunch organized by the Lions and Lioness Clubs raised $400 for the Wright County Historical Society.
By Lori Seppala
Buffalo Mayor Fred Naaktgeboren began the May 5 Buffalo City Council meeting by extending sympathy to the Lachermeier family, informing that Teri’s (Council Member Teri Lachermeier) sister passed away last week.
OPEN FORUM
Mr. Lancaster conveyed condolences from people at the Senior Center to Ms. Lachermeier. Mr. Lancaster spoke about the no parking sign that he would like placed on the avenue going out to 3rd, as well as the problem with traffic back-up with the new lights when a train is going through, and that he is in favor of a smoking ban in the city parks.
MEETING WITH BHM BOARD
Buffalo, Hanover, Montrose School Board Chair Patti Pokorney stated that, on behalf of the school board and citizens, she would like to thank the council for working together with them on such projects as a wind turbine, fiber optics and ball fields. Ms. Pokorney suggested that a workshop meeting with the council and school board be held. The date set for this meeting is June 30 at 5:30 p.m. in the Buffalo City Center.
SETBACK VARIANCE
Assistant City Administrator Laureen Bodin reported that Tom Wesely is proposing to construct a two-story home at 811 1st Ave. S. and is requesting a side-yard setback variance. City code calls for a 15-foot side-yard setback, and Mr. Wesely proposes to place the structure 12 feet from the north side. The lot is 52.5 feet in width, and Ms. Bodin reported that Mr. Wesely has now modified the plans and reduced it to a 13-foot setback. Staff is recommending approv-al of the minor variance because this is such a narrow lot.
The council approved the minor variance of up to 3 feet.
CONVEYANCE OF LAND
Ms. Bodin reported that certain parcels have been forfeited to the State of Minnesota for non-payment of taxes and they will go to public auction unless the city conveys for public use. Staff is recommending that Outlot A (this parcel contains a holding pond) of the Greenbriar Estates be conveyed to the City of Buffalo.
Upon recommendation by staff, the council approved the resolution to convey this property to the city for public purpose.
CITY ENGINEER
City Engineer Brad DeWolf gave an update on the 5th St. project. Contractors are starting work now, and a road closure of Soo Lane for about a week is in the future. The goal is to get 5th St. ready for the new railroad crossing scheduled to be completed on June 15.
FIREWORKS DISPLAY
City Administrator Merton Auger reported that Melrose Pyrotechnics has requested a permit for the fireworks display for Buffalo Days on June 13 at about 10 p.m. The application and insurance certificate have been submitted, and the application is being reviewed by the Buffalo Fire Chief and Mr. Auger.
It was noted that this company has provided the fireworks display for several years.
The council approved the permit contingent upon fire chief and staff approval.
FIREWORKS PERMITS
The council approved the following permits on the condition that they meet the inspection requirements of the Buffalo Fire Department: 1. TNT Fireworks at Wal-Mart (June 20) for outside sales; 2. TNT Fireworks at Cub Foods (May 12), at Target (May 6), and Wal-Mart (May 12) for inside sales; 3. Holiday Station Stores (May 16) for inside sales; 4. Menards (May 15) for inside sales.
STREET MAINTENANCE PROJECT
Administrator Auger reported that the annual street assessment has been done as per the capital improvement program and budget. This is a standard line item budget, explained Auger, with $300,000 allocated.
The Council authorized bids for the project as recommended by staff.
OTHER BUSINESS
Auger requested approval to purchase a new dump truck/plow for the Street Department through the state purchasing contract and will be put on a master lease toward the end of the year. The council authorized the administrator to acquire the dump truck/plow through the state contract.
The council approved a request by John Deitering for Club 19 to use the city parking lot along Central Ave. next to the Chamber building for a one day plant sale.
The April council minutes were approved as sent.
Council members Del Haag and Bob Mobley audited the claims, and the council approved claims and payroll.
Matt Gallagher, Ryan Gallagher, and Michael Pyka of the Buffalo Robotics Team attended the Bots Worldwide 2008 Robotics Championship in Miami last week and came away with first-place honors in the national event. The team went 7-0 at the competition and was one of 63 bots competing in the 15-pound division.
Gallagher received the Best Driver Award at the event for his work with Humdinger II, which holds a 38-2 overall record this season.
The team members returned from Miami late Monday night. See next week’s paper for more details on the national competition.
The Buffalo team will compete in the Midwest Robotics League season finale on Saturday in New Hope. The Bison already have the title clinched but will still compete.
Arson allegedly used as diversion by suspects
Arson and burglary arrests have been made in connection with a Howard Lake house fire on 6th Ave., plus crimes at two banks in Cokato, last March.
The Howard Lake Police Department reports suspects allegedly set a house fire on March 16 around 1:10 a.m. in Howard Lake and used the fire as a diversion to burglarize a bank in Cokato and damage another. An alarm activated at about 1:34 a.m. at the First National Bank in Cokato. A video surveillance recording shows two suspects damaging the bank, reports the Wright County Sheriff’s Office. That same night, the State Bank of Cokato drive-up window was damaged.
Three people have been arrested. Michael Gotsch, 21, of Spring Lake Park and Michael Rolla, 20, of Blaine are facing arson and burglary charges. A third person, Jeremy Fuller, 18, of Blaine, faces burglary charges.
The house that was on fire was vacant and for sale at the time.
The investigation continues.
Feature
Pastor from
Finland
Rev. Jouko Haapsaari of Rockford Laestadian
Lutheran Church invites everyone to outreach event in June
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By Ed DuBois
The Wright County area has a fairly significant population of people with Finnish ancestry, so when a minister from Finland, Jouko (sounds like “Yoko”) Haapsaari, was visiting here and was asked if he would like to stay and serve as the pastor of a local church, he felt comfortable enough to give the idea some serious consideration. He now serves as the pastor at the Rockford Laestadian Lutheran Church.
“I have deep roots in Finland and a large family,” Pastor Haapsaari said. “After my trip here, I went back to Finland, but I kept thinking about the offer to serve as pastor here. Then one day my wife asked, ‘Are we fighting against God?’ That stopped me cold.”
Eventually, the decision was made to move to America.
“God changes hearts,” Haapsaari commented.
Although he does not look old enough to be a grandfather, he said he has ten grandchildren in Finland. He and his wife have 13 children; 5 came with their parents to Minnesota, and 8 grown children stayed in Finland.
Children helped decide
Haapsaari remembers praying for guidance before deciding whether or not to accept the offer to serve as pastor here.
“I prayed and asked God to answer through my children,” he recalled. “They all said, ‘It’s your call. Go!’”
Haapsaari lives in Hanover, and the four youngest children living here (ages 10, 12, 14 and 16) are students in the Buffalo, Hanover, Montrose School District.
Webcam conversations
He stays in touch with his children and grandchildren in Finland by using a laptop computer and a webcam. Conversations via the Internet take place regularly.
Picking up the laptop and webcam and pointing the camera in various directions, he said, “As we talk on the Internet, I can walk with the laptop and show pictures of the church and other things.”
He added that his mother is 90 years old and can no longer see very well.
“I call her on a cell phone,” Haapsaari said.
Technology has made the distance between Minnesota and Finland much shorter.
Four congregations
The Rockford Laestadian Lutheran Church, located in northern Rockford Township just south of CSAH 34 and west of Hanover at 741 Ibarra Ave. N.E., has over 1,000 members, and the congregation has been growing.
The congregation formed in 1992. Three other Laestadian Lutheran Churches are established nearby. One is located in Minneapolis. Cokato is home to another. In Elk River, a new congregation has been forming and making plans to someday construct a church building.
The origins of the Laestadian Lutheran Church go back almost 150 years in Finland. The name of the Church comes from Martin Luther and Lars Levi Laestadius. You may be familiar with Luther. Laestadius was a Lutheran pastor who served in northern Sweden from 1825 to 1861. After 19 years in the ministry, he was part of a revival movement in the Lapland area of Sweden, Finland and Norway. The movement spread beyond Scandinavia with immigrants from that part of the world.
Well established in Cokato
The movement reached North America in the 1860s. Congregations organized at Cokato in 1872 and at Calumet, Mich. in 1873. Today, congregations are established all over in places such as Toronto, Saskatchewan, Arizona, and the State of Washington. The greatest concentrations of Laestadian congregations in North America are reportedly in Minnesota, with the congregation in Cokato being the oldest.
Sometimes in honor of continuing ties with Finland, a Finnish language service, including side by side translation to English, takes place.
St. John’s Services
A special event called the St. John’s Services is planned for Friday, Saturday and Sunday, June 20-22. The Church is reaching out to the community at large and inviting all to attend. A large tent is being set up for overflow attendees and refreshments. Haapsaari will be a featured speaker.
On various occasions, Haapsaari, who enjoys travel, tells gatherings about mission work in places such as Russia, Estonia, Iceland, Hungary, Kenya, Togo, Thailand, and, most recently, Ecuador.
Adjustment period
He seems to enjoy telling about cultural differences, and there are a few cultural differences to which he has adjusted here in Minnesota.
For example, “I don’t have to pay for coffee here (at church),” he said with a laugh.
Another difference involves the number of sermons during a service. In Finland, two sermons, one by the minister and one by a church member, are presented.
Also, a “church” is an “association” or a “meeting house” in Finland. However, Communion takes place at a state church in Finland, not at a meeting house.
Other adjustments for Haapsaari include buying insurance, enrolling his children in school and getting a driver’s license. He found it interesting that he could borrow money to buy a house, but there was a waiting period to build credit before he could establish a cell phone account.
All in all, Haapsaari concluded that, despite the differences between serving a congregation in Finland and serving a congregation in Minnesota, “the spirit is one.”
Feeling at home
Following a period of getting settled in this land of much Finnish ancestry, Haapsaari is beginning to feel right at home. He invites you to meet him and get to know his church on June 20-22 during the St. John’s Services.
