The event built anticipation for the arrival of a new bus for residents, which was delivered to the facility Thursday morning.

The summer fundraiser featured live music by the New Ulm Municipal Band, a variety of different food and ice cream flavors, and family activities including a bounce house, face painting, balloon art and mini-golf.

Staff said the new bus will expand opportunities for residents. Izzy Wittbrodt, director of operations, explained current limitations with the existing vehicle.

“Right now, we’re kind of confined to just in town because they’re too worried to bring the bus anywhere,” she said. “Now we can go further more comfortably.”

Residents and visitors relaxed in lawn chairs on the grounds of Oak Hills Living Center as the band played a mix of show tunes, waltzes, and marches.(Photo by Amy Zents)

The new bus will include working air conditioning and four wheelchair tie-downs, up from two on the current vehicle.

“That’ll be a big one,” Wittbrodt said of the air conditioning. The additional tie-downs will allow more residents using wheelchairs to participate in group outings.

Rachal Becker, recreation director at Oak Hills, outlined planned improvements.

“With a new bus, I envision being able to take more trips, going to look at Christmas lights, going on fall leaf tours, taking people shopping or even out to eat,” she said. “It just gives us the freedom to help people get to where they want to go. It’s important.”

The bus will seat 14 passengers plus the driver. It includes a lift for wheelchair users who cannot transfer out of their chairs. 

Elizabeth Weidl, 14, (right) twists balloon animals at her stand during the social. She took over the balloon animal business when her older sister Clare, who began the business, went to college. (Photo by Amy Zents)

Volunteer drivers, including Joseph Eckstein, Pat Guggisberg and Greg Peterson, have supported transportation needs in recent years and will continue to do so.

Becker said she is one of several staff members who will be driving the new bus. 

Because of the size of the bus, a special commercial license is not necessary, but not everyone feels comfortable operating a vehicle that large.

“It is more about a comfort level than a legal requirement,” Becker said. “I personally feel comfortable driving it because I trained for my driver’s license learning to drive in a conversion van.”

Becker said she is scheduled to drive the new bus for the first time on Friday.

Executive Director Candas Schouvieller stands with a fundraising thermometer at the Oak Hills Ice Cream Social. The event helped raise funds toward the new resident bus, which arrived Thursday morning. (Photo by Amy Zents)

Jess Haycraft, head of catering and a dietitian at Oak Hills, led food preparation with her team.

Residents and visitors enjoyed the food and lively atmosphere, including 95-year-old Doris Hoffmann and her daughter Sue Portner.

“The music is so great,” Hoffmann said. “They are a very good group.”

Portner saidthe food and ice cream were delicious. Her mother chose Moose Tracks while she had strawberry cheesecake.

Rich-Nes Alpacas brought two 10-month-old Huacaya alpacas named Princess Leia and Princess Lucia. 

The aunt-and-niece pair, born a day apart in August, attracted attention from a shady spot near the bounce house.

Owner Pat Wildt described the animals as “teddy bear” alpacas due to their fluffy fur.

“These are actually Huacaya alpacas,” Wildt said. “There’s also a Suri alpaca. The only real difference is the fleece on a Suri is more like dreadlocks.”

The farm name Rich-Nes combines parts of her parents’ names, Richard and Agnes. The family has raised alpacas for about 40 years.

Fourteen-year-old Elizabeth Weidl operated a balloon stand, continuing the business her older sister Clare started. 

With help from friend Brynn Wiedl, she created balloon animals for children, including a balloon dog for 7-year-old Cooper, son of social worker Rhiannon Kuenzel.

The social served as a fundraiser to help cover remaining costs for the new bus. Approximately $13,000 was still needed at the time of the event.

Board members assisted with the event, including Judy Nelson, Ben Pieser and Nick Peterson manning the ice cream stand.

The New Ulm Municipal Band performed a variety of music, including show tunes, waltzes and marches, as the audience relaxed in lawn chairs throughout the grounds.

The ice cream social has been held for about 25 years. Becker said this year’s gathering reflected strong community support for Oak Hills programs and residents.

Executive Director Candas Schouvieller described the evening as a success.

 “The music is great, the alpacas are so cute, and the food is wonderful,” she said. “The staff is phenomenal.”

Schouvieller confirmed the new bus arrived Thursday morning, marking the successful culmination of the community’s efforts. 

She added that a final tally of the funds raised during the social will be shared with the public once all event expenses are calculated. 

A separate photo opportunity will be scheduled soon to formally thank the community for their generous support in making the new vehicle a reality.