RANIER – Sunsets over Rainy Lake will could include a rise in economic opportunity beginning next week in Ranier.
With the approval from the Ranier City Council Monday, resident Mary Ann Kasich will launch June 28 and 29 “Ranier Rainy Lake Sunsets” on the waterfront with the intent to bring in vendors, entertainment and a sense of community.
“I imagine it’ll start small, but I’m really hoping to see this grow,” Kasich said of the project that will run Friday and Saturday nights through Labor Day on the Spruce Street dock.
The inspiration for the idea came after several vacations Kasich took with her husband, Wayne, to Key West, Fla. The couple stayed next to Mallory Square, which is dubbed the center of Key West’s waterfront, and features shopping, a sculpture garden and a nightly sunset celebration.
“The entire atmosphere in Mallory Square creates a wonderful feeling for the community and the tourists,” Kasich said. “I thought, ‘Why can’t we do that in Ranier?’”
The Mallory Square celebration is located at the southern-most point in the United States to view a sunset, and Kasich is confident Ranier can include its northern location – with a view of Canada – to support the effort.
“It might not be the northern-most point, but it’s a beautiful sunset and that can’t be argued,” she said. “It seems natural, so simple to appreciate and benefit a beautiful sunset.”
The two-night event each week will run one hour before and one hour after sunset each night, Kasich said. Adjacent businesses to the Spruce Street dock have given her “overwhelming” support, and she said she believes they could benefit from the effort, too.
“Tara (Nelson) at the ice cream shop said she’ll adjust her hours to be open during the event and Woody’s (Pub and Resort) will be involved, too,” she said. “And I have cottages for people to stay in.”
Kasich added that with Boise Inc.’s May 2 announcement to eliminate 265 at the local mill, “this may be an opportunity for talented, creative people to make up some losses.”
“I just want to appreciate the resources we have in Ranier,” she said. “This is a great way to move our area forward.”
Kasich said there isn’t a budget for the project, but Mayor Dennis Wagner encouraged her to research the possibility to secure grant funding.
“There has been a lot of money put forth to promote tourism this year by the state,” he said. “Those grants are real accessible right now...especially for something like this.”
Kasich launched a Facebook page to generate ideas and encourage discussion on the idea. The page, which can be found by searching “Ranier Rainy Lake Sunsets” has accumulated more than 300 likes in less than one week.
“I really want this idea to be Internet-based,” Kasich said. “Using Facebook to pass ideas around seemed to be one of the best options to me. I need people who are interested in being a vendor or providing entertainment to contact me.”
However, for those who don’t have access to Facebook, Kasich said she can be contacted via email, mawk@frontiernet.net, or if needed, a message can be left at 286-4034.
