The Starbuck Chamber of Commerce held its Annual Banquet on Saturday, Jan. 28 at the Starbuck Community Center.  Approximately 80 people attended, including the Miss Minnewaska royalty and their parents.  

Karen Tharaldson, president, gave a welcome and led the Pledge of Allegiance.  Mike Troen, of Shalom Lutheran Church provided the invocation before the meal, which was provided by Lakes Catering, with bar services by the Starbuck VFW Post 4582.  There was a silent auction coordinated by chamber directors Chelsea Hormann, Karen Tharaldson and community member, Mary Baukol.

The fairly brief (a 10-minute miracle) business meeting was called to order by Karen. Minutes from last year’s annual meeting were approved. Tom Beuckens communicated the chamber’s solid financial standing right now and requested volunteers to step up for this year’s Heritage Days events.  The new and returning board members and directors were introduced.  Karen concluded the meeting by asking for ideas and volunteers to take over the Heritage Days event, freeing the chamber up to focus on supporting businesses.  “The chamber would love to support the efforts of one or a group to make this event happen.  Honestly, we have so many ideas about how to support the local businesses and members, but as volunteers with our own businesses to run and families, we end up making sure our events, so important to Starbuck, happen.”  

Speakers this year included Linda Hoffmann who gave a short presentation on the new and exciting BikeShare program we’ve invested in for this coming year!  Watch for 4-6 bikes available for rental via credit card.  These can be used by visitors, residents and hobbyists for transportation where needed or for fun.  We’ve all seen them in other towns, now we’ll have that available in Starbuck, coming in the spring of 23!

City Mayor Gary Swenson gave a talk about this past year and the upcoming year in Starbuck.  Why does a look back seem so impressive and a look forward so full of hope?  He reminded us that 2022 brought the new townhouse development of 8 new homes with the same planned for 2023.  New beach equipment was purchased and made available through the fund raising and hard work by Derek Bluhm and others in the community.  A new marina, the opening of the Tavern restaurant, the new Hall of Fame Lefsa Museum, new bait shop owners, Brock and Nika Douma, and the Glomstad’s; new owners of Water’s Edge.  2023 will bring the opening of our new brewery, Old Firehall Brewing, a new recycling drop site, a seed-industrial store, new siren and generator for the city center.  The city plans to work independently and with others to expand the marina, replace the lighthouse, create pickleball courts where the tennis courts currently are and repair the park’s basketball courts.  There will be the training of 8 new firefighters to become First Responders.  It is the 40th Anniversary of making the world’s largest lefsa, which will be celebrated, and the old band wagon will hopefully be refurbished for some of our summer celebrations. Mayor Swenson mentioned an ongoing need for housing and childcare.

District 12A State Representative Paul Anderson spoke and highlighted the upcoming opportunity the state is going to offer of grant writers to smaller communities.  He also talked a bit about the new clean air mandate, with zero emissions planned by 2040.

Featured speaker this year was Dalen Gosseling of Starbuck Telephone.  His speech included a history of the telephone coming to this area, with a lot of photos, especially of former Starbuck Telephone employees over the years.  He thanked his staff.

The video made and shown on WCCO’s “Finding Minnesota” segment from the Lefsa Hall of Fame was aired. 

Presentations were made about the Heritage Days buttons, the Miss Minnewaska royalty was announced and the chamber presented three annual awards; Swartz Brothers Realty were given the Community Service Award.  The Holly Skogen Volunteer Group was given our Volunteer of the Year Award, and Harvey and Dianne Peterson were awarded this coming year’s Grand Marshalls of the Heritage Days event.