What’s the buzz at Backus? By FAYE WHITBECK, Staff Writer

And there’s plenty of room for more.

“You like broccoli, don’t cha hon?” says Vicky Lucca as she ladles soup into bowls on colorful trays. The sunny cook chats with her diminutive guests as they move past the big window in the all-new kitchen at Backus Community Center. Her question brings a variety of replies, including, “What’s broccoli?”

On this day, kids are not only trying the fresh vegetable but they’re enjoying tortellini soup, beef sandwiches and watermelon — a menu based on school nutrition standards set by the Minnesota Department of Education. That’s the purpose of the state program — to provide healthy eating for kids throughout the summer. The slogan “Food that’s in when school is out” promotes the endeavor.

The program is funded is through the Department of Agriculture, and its local success will be judged by the number of kids who use it. There are no income guidelines or eligibility requirements. The program feeds any child age 1-18.

“We’re looking for wide-spread participation,” said Backus Director Ward Merrill about the non-profit service. “We really need to see kids coming through the door.”

So far, the children who dine include those enrolled in the kids club; those who are having lunch because it looks good; and those who because of tough times, need access to healthy meals.

So the cafeteria window which was silently closed after serving decades of generations of Borderland students — is once again alive with activity. Little feet and merry munching echo in the halls of a now-thriving community center.

Kids and Backus

Upstairs in Room 208, the Backus Kids Club is also new. With open enrollment from 7:30 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday-Friday, the club’s enrichment program is conducted by licensed teachers and teacher aides. Currently, 40 kids of various ages (grades K-6) are regularly participating. Frequency is optional and children may attend everyday or just specific days, or even just parts of days — but pay only for the time attended. The cost is $3 per hour.

“It’s not just a summer place for kids to be while parents are working,” Merrill explained. Backus Kids Club has a schedule each day which may include art projects, academics or a field trip. “Some of the biggest days are swim days on Mondays and Thursdays at the school (Falls High),” said Merrill.

On this particular day inside the vintage classroom, instructors are preparing children for an outing to Voyageurs National Park. Many of the kids have just returned from the dining room where they eat free through the summer meal program.

Others who eat are kids and their parents who are part of the nearly 20 percent of Koochiching County residents living below the poverty line.

“That statistic glares at me,” said Merrill, who received the necessary program training along with Backus business manager Hoa Sobczynski and Lucca, in Walker, Minn. Merrill also attended the Blandin Community Leadership Program last fall where he said the details on poverty and hunger in Koochiching County really hit home. “That added encouragement to get this (free meals) going,” he said.

Free transportation by Arrowhead Transit to and from the South Falls Apartments and West Falls Apartments for both breakfast and lunch is also available (see box for schedule).

The new kitchen

Fruition of the food program was possible only after a complete remodel of the Backus kitchen facilities. The $180,000 project was completed through grants, local contributions, donations and volunteerism. Until its completion in February, previous facilities were basically only those of a domestic kitchen, according to Merrill.

“We needed to become compliant,” he said, explaining that the ongoing success of the center is dependent upon licensed food preparation. “A lot more events have come our way because of the kitchen,” he added. Straight away, the center began providing lunches for St. Thomas School students.

An initial site inspection by the state Department of Education was required to be considered for the Food Service Program, Merrill said. But he noted that Koochiching County’s jarring poverty statistics made the center a good candidate. Backus is now one of very few northern Minnesota’s meal program sites.

Lucca works 35 hours a week. Both she and Sobczynski are certified for food service through ServSafe. The new program also receives heavy support from volunteers. “That’s true for everything we do here, from boiler fixing to waxing floors,” reports Merrill.

It takes a village

Merrill said that a recent state review of the meal program brought a good report and praise for Lucca who was noted for her positive relationship with kids who dine. “Vicky has great rapport,” Merrill said. “She comes across cheerful and upbeat.”

Meal counts tend to fluctuate; on one day recently 57 kids had lunch with 17 of those from the Backus Kids Club. Merrill would like to see the number constant, and encourages the community to spread the word about the meals.

The food service is being promoted through the radio and newspaper, and with posters and flyers through social service agencies, churches, and 4-H. The Falls Hunger Coalition reimburses the center for meals served to parents who eat with children who are food shelf clients or have the need for food shelf services.

E.W. Backus would be proud

Things look positive for the building which bears the name of E.W. Backus, the entrepreneur whose tarnished story was often vindicated during the recent paper mill centennial celebration. The nearly 75-year-old building stands as a monument to the man’s preeminent role in building Borderland.

Merrill, whose parents were of the first class attending the school, heard the Backus name over and over again at the Boise celebration. He reflected on the people who united to save one of only two Minnesota entities (the other the town of Backus north of Brainerd) which bear the lumber baron’s name.

“I give credit to those who had the courage to step into the breach,” Merrill said, adding that many who weren’t in favor of saving the building now appreciate its success. “It would have been a shame to have torn this building down. There would be nothing bearing the Backus name.”

Today, Backus tenants thrive — Northland Counseling Center and Rational Alternatives occupy a renovated third floor accessible with a newly installed elevator. The new kitchen recently allowed the center to host a moose symposium, and serve as many as 300 people who attended the Kootasca Annual Meeting — among many, many other events.

Five part-time teachers, five part-time aides and a cook as well more hours for custodians have been added. Grants from the Northland Foundation and a recent donation from the Rotary Club have fortified faithful support from the community.

Children are coming and going for new programs which conclude Aug. 31 but will continue as after-school programs during the school year.

“Things are going great,” Merrill said. “We have such a tremendous staff, and kids love coming here. He noted that a recent query which sprang from a child in passing made him smile. The question rang in the old tiled halls like a voice from the past: “What’s for lunch today?”