| Ethnic Cookbook Reprinted by Lorainne Clark The Ely Renaissance Society ethnic cookbook was a very popular item at last year’s Reunion. The cookbook has been reprinted and will be available at this year’s Reunion at the Spanish house or from the website at www.elyrenaissance. com. All proceeds benefit the ERS mural projects and Renaissance Village. The cookbook contains recipes that have been handed down through local families. Ethnic favorites are included to provide a taste of White Pine traditional favorites. The cookbook was compiled by alumni Lenora Lujan Leibold and Renaissance volunteers. . Internet Connects WP www.elyrenaissance.com This new website gives information about the Ely Renaissance and offers readers a chance to purchase products that support the Renaissance. Looking for information on WP County? Want to check the Calendar of Events? Need links to local businesses? All that is available at: www.whitepinechamber.com. The local newspaper, the Ely Times, is available at www.elynews.com. and by subscription. The Ely Times is now published on Wednesday. |
Ely Renaissance Society Ready for 2008 by Lorraine Clark Eight years after start-up, the Renaissance Society is proud to have financed over twenty outdoor murals and sculptures which tell the story of out rich heritage in our 11 block downtown area. Artists from all over the world were brought in to create images of out history using a variety of different art styles. Once shabby boarded up buildings are filing with new businesses and the appearance is attractive to both visitors and residents. Although a vastly improved appearance is important, the real success has been in the pride of the local citizens have in their community and the area’s rich history told through art. When the community healing began, the Renaissance Society expanded its focus to recruiting and supporting “Home Grown Business”, particularly businesses that focus on the arts. These are the businesses that have been filling up the downtown. These include an art gallery, a dance studio, an Indian crafts and jewelry business, a publishing company and the community owned Garnet Mercantile clothing store. The Renaissance Society has no paid staff, and no government funding. It finances the projects through fund raisers such as the All Class Reunion for which the E. L. Cord Foundation made grants, auctions, dinners, the sale of donated property and occasional business grants. As the project progressed, it became evident that there is a need for classes and venues for the development and the support of local artists, writers, actors, and musicians. When the need to facilitate artistic endeavors by local artists became more evident, the Renaissance Society was presented with an opportunity to purchase nine contiguous lots with eleven 100 year old structures on them situated near the downtown. The houses once belonged to early shopkeepers, railroad workers, and miners. Purchasing the property brought the Renaissance into Phase II and plans were formed to turn this little complex into an art village that continues the theme of “Where the World Met and Became One”. Artists will be encouraged to use the houses for studios, hold art classes, drama and musical productions and the “Village” will hoist events to support our artists. The Renaissance Society closed escrow on this property January of 2005. Volunteers began the arduous task of cleaning and sorting through the piles of rubble to determine an action plan. With the help from the local minimum security camp work crews, which are paid $300.00 per day, and the White Pine High School Honor Society which adopted the village as a community service project, much progress has been made at the Village. In order to raise funds for the crew and materials needed for repairs, the Renaissance Society opened the Village during the 4th of July All Class Reunion so visitors could explore the Village houses. Each of the completed houses has been decorated by volunteers to represent a different ethnic group that migrated to work in White Pine County in the early 1900’s. Visitors rode the ping pong train to the Village and met artists selling their art, bought ethnic products, enjoyed performances, White Pine Ale and food. An auction of antiques found in the houses and carefully revived by Renaissance volunteers provided more money to make another payment for the property |
| What to do in Ely... Art Trail by Lorainne Clark The Art Trail includes all murals, sculptures, White Pine County Court House, Veterans War Memorial, Museums, and Labyrinth walks. Enjoy our local downtown shops, soda fountains, pubs, and art gallery. For recreation you can golf, drive Success Loop, ride the Nevada Northern Railroad Steam Ghost Train, bowl at Sunset Lanes, play poker, enjoy horseshoes, visit our beautiful Great Basin National Park (with Lehman Caves) and our wonderful Cave Lake and The Ward Charcoal Ovens State Parks. |
Garnet Mercantile Update by Lorainne Clark If you haven’t been to the Garnet Mercantile, formerly JC Penney, in awhile you may be a little surprised at what’s going on there. The community owned Garnet Mercantile, opened November 2004 following the end of 90 years of service by JC Penney. In the midst of its 3 year in of operation the store is going strong. New is the word at the Garnet as more products come in on a regular basis and new faces greet you at the door. Farewell was given to Dan Leoni in February 2007 as he retired. Mr. Leoni, who managed the local Penney’s store for about 10 years before it closed, agreed to come back to the Garnet as general manager to get it started. He was replaced the first of March by Robin Bartlett, WPHS alumnus. Specials run on a regular basis including sidewalk sales. Jewelry is one of a few new items in the store as it was carried sparingly in the past. This year the Garnet has already seen success, exceeding not only sales from the first quarter last year, but sales goals set by the board of directors at the first of the year. An annual meeting will be held in Ely over Memorial Weekend giving shareholders a chance to hear updates on the previous year. The Garnet Mercantile welcomes all White Pine alumni and looks forward to continuing service to the community for many years to come. |
| Focus on Ely Renaissance Society Projects by Lorainne Clark The Ely Renaissance Society has recently received publicity from several sources. In March 2007, a writer, Najda Laroussi, from petit fute, a travel guide book published in France toured the murals and Village. She was updating travel information in Nevada and wanted to include information about Ely. She was quite impressed by the murals and the concept of telling our history through art, but what really got her attention was a walk through the French house at the Village. She exclaimed as she stepped into the parlor, “It’s just like my Grandmother’s house in Bourdeaux”. She pointed to the mirror and other furnishings and said her Grandmother had one just like it and it all made Najda feel very much at home. Thanks go to our decorators Jody Horton and Dee Christiansen, both WPHS alumni, for their hard work in putting together the French House. The Winter issue of Journal of the West features an article by Tom Straka entitled “On Joe Pachak’s ‘Living Well Because of Mother’”. This quarterly journal is devoted to Western History and Culture. The article is an in depth explanation of the importance of pine nuts to the Native American diet. Tom Straka explains the gathering process for the nuts and how the pine nuts are incorporated into ceremonies and Native recipes to this day. You can view the article at www. journalofthewest.com Public Art Review magazine is doing an article on Ely’s murals that will be featured in an upcoming issue. When we get notice of the publication, we will pass this on. Two tour operators toured the Village the end of March. They were very impressed with what was available to see. They are looking for new areas to bring tours to. A film crew from the United Kingdom will be here filming our murals and downtown in June for an upcoming series on British television Skye network. This broadcast will feature art and architecture in the United States. Information on this project can be found at www.artlandusa.tv. All this promotion and interest is exciting and will bring economic rewards to the area. Thanks to everyone who has worked so hard. |
| Ely Renaissance Society 2008 Schedule of Events Saturdays Mid June through September Village Open July 3 - 5th Village July 4th Celebration WPHS Reunion Western Auction August 2 Book Festival Village August 9 Mayor’s Croquet Tournament Ice Cream Social Sculpture Park August 30 - Sept. 27 Farmers Market at the Village November 28 & 29 Holiday Village Open House December 6 Holiday Village Artist Showcase |
| The Ely Renaissance Society is organizing a 2008 Farmers' Market to be held at the Renaissance Village. Plans are to open the market on Saturdays starting in late August and continuing through October 2008 All gardeners, or anyone who has access to fresh fruits and vegetables or other farm products are welcome to participate. A greater variety of products will assure a successful market and result in a day of fun for both buyers and sellers. For more information contact Phil Leibold at txphil@aol.com or call Virginia Terry at 775-235-7417 Click Here |
| CONGRATULATIONS! Jack Smith awarded the Nevada Governor's 2008 Points of Light ! Mr. Smith was nominated by the Ely Renaissance Society for all of his unwavering help and support given in countless projects which allow our community to flourish and remain representative of our people. |