Taste of the Dells and stuff

Although the tourist season – referred to in Wisconsin Dells as The Season – begins Memorial Day weekend, the first big blowout of The Season occurred this weekend. It used to be called Heritage Days, but in the last few years it has become Taste of the Dells. Admittedly this is not an original idea, but it seems trendier than Heritage Days, which may imply that all you can celebrate is your past. The festival takes place downtown and features over twenty local restaurants serving a variety of foods.

Riverfest, the main fundraiser for the Stewards of the Dells of the Wisconsin River – okay, try saying that in one breath – has piggybacked on the Taste weekend this year. It used to be held in early April, but too often it was still beastly cold for the sorts of activities involved. The idea is to get people to take advantage of the River itself and there is kayaking, a Triathlon, and other such physical activities.

The library also piggybacks on the Taste by having the first of our three annual book sales. I worked in the library yesterday and then helped with the cleanup. It looks like they did a bang up business. The Friends of the Library organize and run this activity, and proceeds go to special projects, such as purchasing equipment that we would otherwise not be able to get. Before I started work at the library, I was part of the Friends and I will probably get involved again after I retire.

Speaking of retirement, I made the front page of the local news. Well, the very, very, very bottom of the front page at the end on an article on the book sale and the Library Board meeting. To quote: “In other action, the board accepted the resignation of staff member Michael Dodd with regrets and thanks for his service. Dodd will retire June 30.” I am going to assume that they accepted the news with regrets and thanked me for my service, not that they accepted it with regrets AND thanks. Reminds me of a fortune cookie I got once: “Your talents will be suitably rewarded.” That can cut both ways!

There is also a crafts fair as part of all this, and Tom and I went over there this morning to look around before the afternoon heat.  [Weather digression: Sunny and high of 90 (32.2 C) today, 85 (29.4 C) with thunderstorms tomorrow, sunny and high of 72 (22.2 C) on Tuesday.] This was a pretty spare fair, if I may put it that way. We have noticed in the six years we have been living here that the various arts and crafts fairs in the area have been steadily shrinking in size. Not that we ever found stuff that we liked all that much, but it is a relaxing way to spend a morning or afternoon, strolling around, talking to people, bumping into neighbors. It is sad to see the disappearing fairs as another sign of the hard times.