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Celebrate Ely celebrates worthy award winners, delivers optimism
Ely continues to face economic challenges and problems that vex many rural communities.
Population is declining, school enrollment is falling and a lack of affordable, available housing and ready and accessible child care are but some of the obstacles we face.
And for those who are able to work here, many need more than one job just to make it, as high-paying jobs are at a premium.
Those challenges aren’t going away anytime soon and Ely continues to face many hurdles just to hold its own during these difficult times.
Yet it’s not all doom-and-gloom here at the End of the Road.
We look no farther than last Thursday at the Grand Ely Lodge as Exhibit A.
That’s when the Ely Chamber of Commerce held its annual Celebrate Ely night.
An offshoot of the old “Smile You’re in Ely,” celebrations, Celebrate Ely brought business owners, some of their employees and civic leaders together.
While “Safari Guy” Steve Fredlund delivered a timely, at-time stirring and often funny keynote address, one that packed home important messages during his hour-plus in front of the group, the real highlight of the night came earlier.
That’s when the Chamber saluted several winners of the organization’s annual awards.
Bob Hendrickson, who has been behind the bar at the Grand Ely Lodge since it opened as a Holiday Inn Sunspree resort back in 1996, was recognized with the Chamber’s Excellence in Customer Service Award.
If anyone has earned that award, it’s Bob. A fixture inside the Antlers’ Lounge, he has served drinks and dinner to regular local customers, and the thousands who have passed through the GEL either for brief stops in Ely or annual vacation visits.
In an era when many of our restaurants and bars are dealing with a revolving door of employees, Bob has been synonymous with the GEL and excellence for three decades.
The Chamber also recognized other worthy winners. Tony Rechichi has volunteered his time in the community and particularly for veteran-related causes, and was saluted for all he has given to Ely.
Thanks also to the Ely Veterinary Clinic - this year’s Ely Good Neighbor Business. Thanks to Dr. Chip Hanson and all of the Vet Clinic staff, our pets have high quality and compassionate care- right here in town.
The late Jackpine Bob Cary was a champion of Ely for all seasons - particularly winter - and hats off to the Ely Winter Festival for winning the Chamber award bestowed in Cary’s honor.
Since the 1990s, the Ely Winter Festival pumps life and excitement into the community when folks might otherwise be tempted to stay home and stay warm. The snow sculptures, ArtWalk and associated events bring vibrancy to winter and people to our community.
It’s also fitting that the Chamber chooses to hold Celebrate Ely each spring, as the town picks up energy in advance of another summer season.
Soon more snowbirds will arrive, and fishing season in May serves as an unofficial kickoff to summer and more traffic in town and on the lakes.
The pages of the Echo will soon include our annual Progress Edition and be filled with photos and stories about businesses investing in our community and reopening, remodeling, renovating or starting from scratch.
While there are no megaprojects or magic pills that are a quick fix to some of the troubling declines, there’s still plenty of life here in Ely.
We’re excited to see what the next 12 months will bring and certain that Celebrate Ely will have cause to recognize others in our midst in 2025.
