Progress family

PRogREss ALBERT LEA TRiBunE

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CommuniTy PAssion

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FEBRuARy 28, 2016

Family & Home

A preschool on wheels kindergarten readiness a top priority Photos by Colleen Harrison Story by Kelly Wassenberg

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hildren race to the door to see what is brought to them today.

No, Grandma or Grandpa is not visiting; Mom or Dad isn’t coming back from a business trip.

The children are excited because the Preschool on Wheels teacher has just arrived at their day care with a tote of early learning lessons and art projects.

See SCHOOL Page 2

What’s inside this section:

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A walk down memory lane

Why Albert Lea?

A passionate mother

Can you match present-day photos of the Tribune staff with their baby photos?

Out-of-town developers explain why they choose to own or build property in the city.

A local mother of four is getting the word out through social media about her hometown.

Page 2 | AlbertleAtribune.com | Progress 2016 | family & home | sundAy, FebruAry 28, 2016

School Continued from Front Page

Through the Preschool on Wheels program, licensed teacher Jessie Bolinger visits 10 day cares and the Adult Basic Education child care room for 30 minutes each week to guide preschool-aged children through lessons geared toward kindergarten readiness. Skills taught include identifying shapes and colors, classifying animals and letter and number recognition.

Debbie Baas is one of the local providers who utilizes the program.

Baas said while many day care providers also work on these skills themselves, she thinks it’s important to strengthen these skills at every possible opportunity.

The children thoroughly enjoy the program, she said.

Baas said no one at her day care has to be prodded to take part in the lessons. The 3- to 5-year-olds do so enthusiastically, and younger children often follow suit.

No one is excluded from participating based on his or her age. Younger children merely receive more guidance from the day care provider.

The program, which is in its eighth year, is funded through the Early childhood Family Education program with Albert lea Area Schools, with a yearly fee paid by participating day care providers.

“To be very honest, it is a program that is not self-sufficient,” said Jenny hanson, director of early learning with the school district.

“We’ve always gone into the red running the program, but we feel it’s a very important piece of outreach and promotion.”

The program is offered to all licensed day cares in Albert lea. In addition to being able to offer their children the added benefit of Preschool on Wheels, day care providers can earn hours toward their licensure recertification through the program.

Preschool-aged children who are potty-trained also have the opportunity to participate in center days. Six days a year, they are picked up by a bus at their day care

By the numbers 10 Day cares that utilize the Preschool on Wheels program, along with the Adult Basic Education child care room

3 to 5 Ages of children the program targets and brought to the preschool room for a longer 1 1/2-hour day to help ease them into the transition from day care learning to learning in a classroom setting. hanson said the program fills another niche in the community by bringing early childhood and kindergarten readiness skills to children, making it easier for families to have their children participate in an early learning experience without having to worry about how to get their child to an actual preschool facility.

Bolinger said she couldn’t be happier to be part of the program. Following her graduation from St. cloud State University, she returned home to Alden where she worked in a day care. It was there she received a call from hanson, offering her the position of Preschool on Wheels teacher.

“I never actually thought I’d be working in Albert lea as a teacher,” Bolinger said, noting the position is perfect for her because she loves the little ones. “I didn’t know if I would actually be able to find a job as a teacher.”

It’s a position that hanson can see Bolinger staying in.

“I just see her growing in what she has been able to bring to the day cares,” hanson said.

Through the Preschool on Wheels program, licensed teacher Jessie Bolinger visits 10 day cares and the Adult Basic Education child care room for 30 minutes each week to guide preschool-aged children through lessons geared towards kindergarten readiness. colleen HArrison/Albert leA tribune

Why does Bolinger choose to work in Albert Lea? Bolinger was grateful to find a teaching position so close to her hometown of Alden but knew she wanted to continue to live in a small town.

Children in Bolinger’s Preschool on Wheels program do art Students in Bolinger’s Preschool on Wheels program at projects each week.

Debbie Baas’ day care match nuts and bolts together.

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Sunday, February 28, 2016 | family & home | ProgreSS 2016 | albertleatribune.com | Page 3

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What did the tribune StaFF look like When they Were younger? See iF you can match their childhood PhotoS With What they look like today.

See PiCTUReS on Page 4

Page 4 | AlbertleAtribune.com | Progress 2016 | family & home | sundAy, FebruAry 28, 2016

Why DeVeloP PRoPeRty iN alBeRt lea?

out-oF-town develoPers shAre whAt AttrActed them to A.l.

By Sam Wilmes

sam.wilmes@albertleatribune.com

Albert Lea city administration has made the community a positive place for development, according to the owner of a Janesville-based construction company. tsB construction has already constructed 18 units of housing on Wedgewood road and plans to construct 12 more. “there’s a strong commitment from the city’s staff to serve the people,” said owner troy schrom. schrom credited city Manager chad Adams in assisting with construction development and conducting due diligence in preparation for the project.

He cited a housing study the city conducted in 2014 that showed a need for market rate rental housing, and said it had been more than 30 years since a market rate housing development had been built in Albert Lea. “We saw an opportunity in which we agreed with the administration for a need for quality workforce market rate housing,” schrom said.

He said he is open to building more market rate housing in Albert Lea if the market allows it. tsB owns land to the northeast of the current development. schrom estimated that once completed, the entire development will be a $3.5 million project. it is estimated Freeborn county will need 80 to 100 new rental units in the next 10 years, of which at least half would be higher amenity rental housing that rents for over $1,000 per month, according to the housing study. the Albert Lea city council in January approved a resolution supporting an

Newly constructed market rate housing near Wedgewood Cove Golf Club is assisting the community in filling its need of workforce housing. sAm wilmes/Albert leA tribune

Why do you develop in Albert Lea? “We saw an opportunity in which we agreed with the administration for a need for quality workforce market rate housing.

There’s a strong commitment from the city’s staff to serve the people.”

— Troy Schrom, owner of a new housing development near Wedgewood Cove Golf Club. application to the Minnesota Department of employment and economic Development for $100,000 in funding to assist in the development of the new units. it is estimated the homes will average around $150 for gas and electric per month. the rent will range from $1,050 to $1,100.

John chadwick, owner of the Don Apartments on Park Avenue across the street from Mayo clinic Health system in Albert Lea, said he enjoys

TSB Construction Project Manager Corey Cowdin surveys a newly-constructed townhome on Wedgewood Road in January. renting property in Albert re-modeled and surfaces Lea. He noted he was in- were re-painted.

The Don Apartments, across the street from Mayo Clinic terested in property in the rent at his units runs Health System in Albert Lea, have undergone extensive city because of a lack of from $725 to $750 a month. remodeling since their inception in 1927. competition for housing due to the area’s relatively low wages.

His property is a single, nine-unit apartment complex that was built in 1927 and has undergone extenEstimated new rental Years since Albert Lea Year The Don Apartsive rehabilitation. units needed in Freeborn last had a market rate ments were constructed.

On-site laundry has County over the next 10 housing development been added, new boilyears. before the new Wedgeers have been installed, wood Road complex. kitchens have been

By the numbers

80 to 100

More than 30

1927

michelle DaVeiga

Kim ehrich

lisa foley

Pictures Continued from Page 3

Kelly Besco Advertising Executive

Jessica glassel Advertising Executive

Crystal miller Publisher

michele Beyer Advertising Executive

Renee Citsay Advertising Executive

melissa goodwin Colleen harrison Circulation Manager

Rich mirelli Mailroom

Photo Editor

Classified Representative

angie hoffman Retail Advertising Manager

marsha Rafdal

Sarah Stultz

Accounting Assistant

Managing Editor

Graphic Designer

Carla Johnson Customer Service Representative

Kelly Wassenberg News Clerk

Business Manager

Kathy Johnson Creative Director

Sam Wilmes Reporter See aNSWeRS on Page 5

Sunday, February 28, 2016 | fAmiLy & home | ProgreSS 2016 | albertleatribune.com | PAge 5

Woman takes passion for Albert Lea online By the numbers

By Sarah Stultz

sarah.stultz@albertleatribune.com

On top of her life as a busy mother and a homeschool teacher, one Albert Lea woman has made it her mission to promote her hometown.

With a growing audience, Robin Russell is spreading news about the good here through social media.

“I want to create a community that my kids don’t want to run away from — where if my kids do go away and experience the world, they want to say ‘I want to go home,’” Russell said.

Her efforts started as a family blog online in 2009.

Called “Russell’s Adventures,” it was used as a means to keep her and her husband’s family updated on the happenings with the family.

Since then, and particularly in the last year, the blog has grown to where she has had more than 3,000 views on some of her posts.

While she writes about the adventures with her family and homeschooling, she also writes about the happenings in Albert Lea and the things she loves about the small-town community. She contacts businesses in Albert Lea and throughout the state to write about them, as well.

She also writes reviews for professional blogger Donna Hup. One of Russell’s blog posts, titled “Revival of a Small Town,” was her first indication that people liked reading about Albert Lea and the many amenities the city has here.

Some of the things she likes about Albert Lea are the downtown, the beauty of the city and the many things available to do for young families.

“It feels like it’s causing people to remember that they loved living here,” she said of the blog. “It’s that small-town feel with the big-city opportunities.”

She said she hopes her effort, along with the

2009 Year Russell started her blog

5 to 20

Average views Russell’s blog posts received a year ago

3,000 Most views one of Russell’s blog posts has had

could apply for grant dollars for a community project and a social media breakfast.

In addition to their family and faith, they said they are passionate about homeschooling.

Russell’s husband, Mark, has a business titled RusRobin Russell and her husband, Mark, play Legos with their children, from left, Naomi, Maddie and Titus. Not pictured sell’s Creative Ventures. is Timothy, 1. Sarah Stultz/albert lea tribune

Why Albert Lea? “We love the small-town feel, and we love all that there is to do here. We love how family-friendly our community is.”

— Robin Russell impact of others, will help attract others looking to move to the community.

“If someone loves their community, if someone loves what’s going on, I want to check it out,” Russell said. “That’s what’s going to grow Albert Lea.” She has plans in the future for posts about local entrepreneurs and why they choose to be in Albert Lea.

Committed to the Albert Lea community

Russell was born and raised in Albert Lea and graduated from Albert Lea High School.

She completed a year and a half at Riverland Community College before realizing

that the college life wasn’t for her. She then asked her parents if she could take a year off and found a camp to work at in Colorado.

That one year turned into several, and it was there she met her husband, Mark. She said after they got married, they planned to come back to Albert Lea — but only for a couple years.

“We didn’t know where we were going, but we weren’t going to stay,” she said. “Then we had our oldest daughter.”

That daughter, Maddie, is now 9, and they have since had three more children: Naomi, 6; Titus, 6; and Timothy, 1.

“Up until this last year, we were always in the mindset of moving,” she said. “The year we had our twins was when Mark said, ‘This is why we’re here.’”

Since that time, the couple said they committed themselves to Albert Lea and have been involved in several efforts, including the Idea Splash, an event where people

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The Russell family includes father, Mark; mother, Robin; and children Maddie, Naomi, Titus and Timothy. Photo courteSy JeSSica PhelPS

ANSWERS Continued from Page 4

1. Angie Hoffman 2. Carla Johnson 3. Jessica Glassel 4. Colleen Harrison

5. Sarah Stultz 6. Crystal Miller 7. Sam Wilmes 8. Kathy Johnson 9. Rich Mirelli 10. Kelly Besco 11. Renee Citsay 12. Kim Ehrich

13. Lisa Foley 14. Melissa Goodwin 15. Michele Beyer 16. Marsha Rafdal 17. Kelly Wassenberg 18. Michelle DaVeiga (Not pictured: Terry Thissen, Bo David)

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Page 6 | AlbertleAtribune.com | Progress 2016 | family & home | sundAy, FebruAry 28, 2016

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