PO Box 1005 Nappanee, IN 46550 800-289-8787 Ext. 3005 or 3664
|
|
||||
|
Area Covered: |
Minnesota | |||
| Contact: | JACK JONAS (7948)
|
|||
North Star Streamers members who attended the September 11-13 rally in the southern Minnesota community of Faribault discovered four of the city's unique treasures. The rally, hosted by Dave and Diana Hering, included tours of Sellner Manufacturing Company, Shattuck-St. Mary's School, the Minnesota State Academy for the Deaf, and a visit to the Faribault Farmers Market. Sellner Manufacturing Company is best-known for its Tilt-A-Whirl amusement ride, the first ride made by Faribault native Herb Sellner in 1926. One thousand Tilt-A-Whirls have been made in Faribault since then; today, the company remains family-owned and takes pride in the quality of its rides and customer service. Erin Sellner, company president and great-granddaughter of Herb Sellner, and Tovah Sellner, Erin's mother and Sellner CEO, gave us a delightful tour! They explained that the company offered its first spin-ride (examples include Spin the Apple and Berry Go Round) in 1987 and invented its first swing ride, Funnel Force, in 2005. Sellner's has gradually diversified to include Sellner Staging (mobile stages, accessories, lecterns), Sellner Sign Factory (banners, large multi-dimensional, and other styles), and Sellner Stitch and Screen (embroidered and screen-printed clothing and accessories) and has 45 employees. Shattuck-St. Mary's School is a private school community on Faribault's east side that is in its 151st year and has its highest enrollment in history: four hundred thirty-seven students in grades 6 - 12 hail from 36 states and 20 countries. Most of the students board, but Shattuck also offers a day school option. Our tour guide was Minnesota senior Julianna, who was recruited as a freshman because of her soccer ability. The school features an average class size of 15 students and a 7:1 student/faculty ratio, a rigorous academic program, visual and performing arts, interscholastic sports, and its premiere programs of soccer, figure skating, and hockey. We toured much of the campus, which features stone buildings of late Gothic architecture, and got a real feel for what student life at Shattuck is like. A visit to Shattuck-St. Mary's is guaranteed to "wow" anyone who passes through its classic stone Whitney Arch! Adjacent to Shattuck-St. Mary's is the Minnesota State Academy for the Deaf, a 40-acre, circular campus of beautiful limestone buildings. The school opened in 1863 and today offers residential and day programs for approximately 140 deaf and hard of hearing students from birth to 12th grade. Small classes with instruction in American Sign Language and English, athletic/activity programs, and collaboration with families and school districts create a comprehensive learning and signing community in a residential environment. We really enjoyed our tour of Tate Hall and some of the residential areas within. The Faribault Farmers Market in Central Park includes many vendors with homegrown produce, baked goods, jams, maple syrup, salsa, cut flowers, furniture accent pieces, woven rugs, aprons and fabric handbags, and unique decorations. Many of our members enjoyed samples of the new University of Minnesota apple, SweeTango, and some were brave enough to try a chocolate-covered jalapeno pepper! Camp Faribo RV Resort and Campground, one mile southwest of Faribault, was our headquarters. We enjoyed the heated outdoor pool, large recreation hall (where many of us watched the Minnesota Gophers debut football game in the new outdoor stadium), and plenty of outdoor space for fellowship, delicious potluck meals, and a friendly bocce ball competition. We also enjoyed the company of Les and Jean Potteiger, who joined us following their Alaska caravan. We learned that Les loves to eat walleye and did so at every area restaurant we attended! Of our three 2009 rallies, this was by far our best weather-- sunny days and cool nights, ideal for premium socializing, evening campfires, and s'mores! Submitted by Diana Hering 14228
|
||||
Copyright © 2008 Gulf Stream Coach, Inc and Gulf Stream RV Club, All Rights Reserved.