Bianca Durrant/Turnagain Times
Gold Digga Dallas shows Moose Pass students how to pan for gold during their recent field trip to the Hope Museum.
By Bianca Durrant
Turnagain Times Hope Correspondent
Oh boy, the time has finally come. True winter is gracing our environment to the joy of almost everyone. In Hope, as elsewhere, the wind-up to the holidays has begun and there are many happy activities coming up to put the” bah humbug” to rest. By the way, what is a humbug?
Library Events
The annual Library sponsored Christmas Bazaar is right around the corner. The Christmas Bazaar will be held at the Hope School Saturday, Nov. 28, from 11 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. Along with the chance to purchase unique, one-of-a-kind Christmas presents, the event will include chili, chili-dogs, soup, and desserts for sale. The foot tapping bluegrass of the Lost Riders will be playing. Volunteers are needed to help with the food sales. Please contact Susan Anderson if you would like to help or if you would like to reserve a $10 table. She can be reached at 782-3311.
The Library Book Club's book for December is “The Great Gatsby” by F. Scott Fitzgerald. This Jazz Age classic chronicles the obsessive love of Jay Gatsby for Daisy Buchanan in an age of decadence and materialism. Pick up a copy now and join in on the discussion at the library on Dec. 8 at 5:30 p.m.
School News
If you hurry up after reading this and call April at the School, then you may be in time to get your order in for the monthly school dinner fundraiser. This month Melanie Bowman is preparing (joy!) enchiladas for take-out. Orders are due by Nov. 20 and the meal will be available for pick-up on Nov. 30.
Seward Public Health Center is sending Nurse Lois Daubney to Hope School on Nov. 23. She will conduct the walk-in clinic from 12:30 p.m. to 2 p.m. If you would like to make special arrangements call the Seward Public Health Center ahead of time at 224-5567.
Cookie Swap Dec. 16
Okay folks, here's how it works. You prepare 3-dozen delicious cookies and wrap each dozen individually. You wrap a thoughtful but not expensive ($10 or less) gift. You go to the School on Dec. 16 at 7 p.m. and trade your 3- dozen cookies and gift with other kindred spirits. Questions? Contact Linda Graham at the post office.
St. Nick in Hope
Plan on attending the annual Community Christmas Potluck at the Social Hall on Dec. 19. The event will commence at 6 p.m. and Santa Claus himself will be making an appearance. It's nice to know that he isn't too busy to come visit lil' ol' Hope during his busy time. For more information about this fantastic event contact Shirley Wisdorf.
Last Chance to Update Community Phone List
Everyone in Hope loves it, everyone in Hope uses it. You need your neighbor's phone number and you reference that handy little list with everyone's digits on it. This doesn't happen by accident folks; Fayrene Sherritt and Linda Graham compile the list annually. They are currently at work putting together the new one. Each year the list is updated to reflect changes or additions of people and phone numbers. If your information is incorrect or you need to be added to the list, please contact Ms. Sherritt or Ms. Graham before the end of November. The new phone list should be available in early December at the Hope Post Office.
School Kids Get a Glimpse of the Past
On Friday the 6th of Nov. two classes of about 17 students from the Moose Pass School visited the Hope & Sunrise Historical Society & Mining Museum along with some Hope School kids. Ann and Billy Miller were their helpful guides. The curious students toured the museum and were very interested in the mule snowshoes as well as the huge brown bear trap. They were led out behind the museum where they toured the first Hope school house and old mining camp buildings such as a barn, blacksmith's shop, and a large bunkhouse that was moved to Hope from the Canyon Creek area. The youth were also intrigued by tales of Ed Estes from Moose Pass who brought the Hope mail by dog team back in the 1920s and continued on into the ‘30s. Hope Happenings tilts its hat to Ann and Billy for taking the time to educate our young people on the procedures of the past. By nurturing an understanding of how things used to be done, one can be grateful for our modern conveniences.
Community Breakfast a Hit
Hope Happenings hears that the weekly church sponsored community breakfast is blueberry-pancake- delectable. Coffee is served every Wednesday at 7:30 a.m. and breakfast begins at 8 a.m. The food pantry is also open on Wednesdays from 10 a.m. to 11 a.m.
Communication is Key
So far, the Hope Happenings email account has been brimming with wonderful ideas and leads. Let's keep up this collaborative effort to bring relevant news and events to the community. As a neighbor recently put it, we are the world. Hope Happenings is waiting to hear from you at hopehappenings@live.com. There will be extra points for the email that answers the humbug question.
