The Place To Be

by Cecilia Rolando

As a resident of Ely - born, raised, and educated here – I find the Ely Folk School a tremendous addition to our community. It has given citizens and visitors endless new opportunities – to take unique classes,  to share their knowledge with others by teaching, to socialize with new folks, to sell their wares in the  store – the list of possibilities grows daily. 

The beauty of the Ely Folk School is that since its inception it has had constant forward movement. Besides a perfect downtown location, a kitchen area was added, a ceramic studio. and a forge  building. The board is obviously very active in that these additions would be impossible without such  support. The knowledgeable and warm staff grows. Their talents allow the Folk School to function smoothly. They are eager to work with everyone as well as other community organizations, building community. 

Personally, I have become a regular at the Folk School. Being retired, it has offered me a place to meet  the new generation of young people coming into our town, to take classes and teach topics of interest  to me, to sell my various creations in the consignment store, to design art to benefit the operation, to  socialize at holiday celebrations, and outdoor events. This is quite a lot! I continue to grow because of  my association with the Ely Folk School operation.

I highly recommend support with attendance, involvement, and monetary donation. Through these, the Folk School can sustain and grow, while life in Ely is greatly enhanced. A friend’s comment, “It is a  nice mixing pot of people, all ages and backgrounds.”