Month: August 2011

Post Office Closings

On By rutlandramblingsIn Life In General, Rutland businesses1 Comment

Government is at it again trying to find ways to cut costs at the sake of the citizens.  The latest battle round is focusing on rural Post Offices.  On July 26, the US Postal Service released a long-awaited “post office study” of nearly 3700 potential closings in all 50 states and Washington, D.C.  The list was developed based on customer foot traffic and post office employee workload. The US Postmaster General is recommending closing facilities in rural communities which will have little impact on the PO budget but will significantly affect each community.

Last year the US Postal Service had a net loss of $8.5 billion; in 2009 it had a $3.8 billion loss.  The Postal Regulatory Commission has found that maintaining rural post offices only amounts to 0.7 percent of the USPS’s total budget.   The Postal Service has reduced its staff over the past several years, has cut billions from its costs and has asked Congress to cut delivery to five days a week and to reduce its contributions toward future retiree health benefits.

Rutland, Havana and Cayuga stations are on the closing list.  The first step was a Rutland community meeting last week to initiate a call to action by Rutland residents. Over 40 individuals attended the meeting to hear about the proposed closings and to identify steps to take to challenge the closing of the Rutland Post Office.  A petition was started and many residents took copies to obtain signatures of area residents .  Secondly, we are all asked to send letters to our Congressional Delegation:  Congressman Rick Berg, 3170 43rd Street S, Fargo, ND 58104; Senator Kent Conrad, U.S. Federal Building, Room 306, 657 2nd Avenue North, Fargo, ND 58102; and Senator John Hoeven, 1802 32nd Avenue South, Room B, Fargo ND 58103.  Letters should also be sent to our local legislators: Senator Jim Dotzenrod, PO Box 69, Wyndmere ND 58081-0069; Representative Bill Amerman, PO Box 43, Forman ND 58032-0043; and Representative Jerry Kelsh, PO Box 27, Fullerton ND 58441-0027.

Click here for a sample letter that you should modify to make the letter more personal about how the closing will affect you and/or your businesses.  A “Rutland Fact Sheet” is also included for your information.  Don’t forget to mail your letter at the Rutland Post Office!

Ghost Chasers

On By rutlandramblingsIn TheaterLeave a comment

The annual Entertainment Unlimited Children’s Summer Theater production provided another round of very entertaining theater.  “The Great Ghost Chase” was presented August 3, 4 & 5, to rave reviews.

I took the opportunity to attend all three shows this year. For the dress rehearsal, open to Senior Citizens, I was a “backstage Mom.” I got to follow the script and help nudge the kids onstage – we did miss one cue but it was great to see the kids do so well — even with missed lines, only the director and the players could tell.

The second night brought a large crowd of parents, grandparents and other visitors. It seemed the final night had the largest number of audience members in attendance and it was really fun to see them all improvising on the last performance.

“The Great Ghost Chase” was written by Tim Kelly and produced by special arrangement with Pioneer Drama Service Inc. The cast of characters for “The Great Ghost Chase” were: Jayden H. as the Zombie (and the Poltergeist); Tatum W. as Miss Pierce (the nurse); Hailey H. as Harriet Hollyhock; Tia G. as the Cabdriver; Tracy H. as Madam Mysteria; Ethan H. as Dr. Roy; Jacob M. as Sergeant Ruff; Kaleb S. as the Orderly; Emma H. as the Cleaning Woman; Jacob N. as Honcho; Aaliyah G. as Constance Bulonia, the Realtor; Evan H. as Jimmy Valentine; Kael M. as Elmer; Emma G. as Dorothy (and Betty); Josephine N. as Peggy (and Miss Lemming); Emily H. as Joan Carter (the bride); Josephine H. as Joy (the real nurse); Kian M. as Horace; Edwin H. as Wally Allen;  Hannah S. as Pvt Waite; Tyler B. as Pvt. Howard; Kyle M. as Detective Pepperday;  Sabrina H. as Lydia Snoop; and Thomas M. as George. 

Kudos to every one of the performers in the program. My favorite (other than my son), was Tracy Haussler as Madame Mysteria. Her performance will be remembered by everyone for years to come.

This project was supported in part by a grant from the ND Council on the Arts, which receives funding from the state legislature and the NEA.