TOWER- If the enthusiasm shown at this year’s annual Midsummer fundraiser is any indication, raising the remaining funds needed to finish the restoration of the former St. Mary’s Episcopal Church into the Lake Vermilion Cultural Center (LVCC) will happen sooner rather than later. The project has taken longer than expected due to the costly logistics of updating the more-than-century-old church into a modern building capable of serving as a cultural center for the region. Yet, the cultural center board is hoping to complete the interior of the building by the end of next year.
“This means a lot for the city,” said Mayor Dave Setterberg. “It will draw people in for educational programs and cultural programs. This is not just for the city of Tower. This adds to our city and makes it a place where people want to live.”
St. Louis County Commissioner Mike Jugovich, from Chisholm, spoke about the importance of the area’s culture. This year’s Midsummer hit close to home for him because it celebrated the culture of the southern Slavic region, where his own family originated.
“When we talk about culture, we are talking about who we are,” he said. “We are here to help preserve it…We need to make sure our kids understand our traditions.”
The dinner, catered by LVCC President Mary Batinich’s husband Mike Skorich and family, included roast lamb, sarmas (cabbage rolls), kupus (coleslaw), Chuspice (a potato and broccoli dish), and a dessert of potica and strudel. About 175 attendees dined inside the Herb Lamppa Civic Center, then walked across the street to the LVCC for the evening’s entertainment. The silent auction and live auction raised funds for the ongoing project to complete the interior of the new building.
Auctioneer Steve Solkela kept the live auction action moving, and also brought along his accordion as part of the evening’s entertainment.
Midsummer favorite Debbie Prutsman, from California and sporting an amazing dress and hat, opened up the show with reworked lyrics to the tune “Hello Dolly,” renamed as “Hello Rangers,” which included talk of strudel, potica, and dancing the Kolo Mika. Barb Baldrica and Mike Indihar took turns leading the audience in Slovenian hymns and songs.