Austin Living • May–June 2016

EDITORS’ NOTES

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ith spring in full bloom and summer not far behind, Austin has finally shed the yoke of winter. That means it’s time to get outside, enjoy the nice weather and savor everything Austin has to offer.

And that often means enjoying the unique flavors of our many locally-owned, locally-centered restaurants. While we have many great restaurants around town — both chains and local-only eateries — Austin Living will highlight those specific to Austin and the flavors you can only savor here in a series we’re calling Austin Eats.

For our inaugural run across the taste Co-Editors Jason Schoonover and Eric Johnson buds, we line up staple dishes to serve as the three meals of the day at three Austin establishments, and we offer up a few desserts to quench the sweet tooth.

For breakfast, we load on a stacked dish with the Everything Hashbrowns at Kenny’s Oak Grill (Page 36), for lunch we chow down on a burger or the chili cheeseburger with a malt at The Tendermaid (Page 38), and for dinner we head to Piggy Blues BBQ for a Po’ Boy sandwich and gelato (Page 40).

But our trip across the taste buds doesn’t end there. When you’re ready to fire up the grill, you can head over to Jim’s Super Fresh, the small-town supermarket that offers up a variety of unique flavors. Along with highlighting its sales of Nick’s Meats and Thousand Hills Grass Fed Beef, we show you the tasty bakery items, snacks, craft sodas and farm fresh eggs for sale up in Austin (Page 26).

Once the grill is fired up, it’s likely time to reach for a cold, frosty beer. That’s why we caught up with several breweries at this year’s Brew, Beards and B.S. craft beer tasting in March at the Holiday Inn Austin Conference Center to highlight Minnesota beers you can enjoy, most of which are available at local liquor stores and bars (Page 16).

So look inside this issue to get the taste buds dancing before you take in some sun rays and tasty local flavors.

– Jason Schoonover

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ach night when it’s clear, I take a look up at the stars. To me, few things are more inspiring and filled with mystery than the night sky and what it has to offer. From constellations to planets and even nebulas and galaxies, the night can unfold like story.

Austin offers a great opportunity to get even closer to the night with the Sola Fide Observatory, located south of Austin. The 16-inch telescope can pick out galaxies like our nearest neighbor, Andromeda, as well as the rings of Saturn and moons of Jupiter, not to mention our own lunar neighbor.

In this issue of Austin Living (Page 12) we feature a look at what Sola Fide offers as well as the times the public is invited to join the viewing. We have also included a handy story to go with it that will direct skywatchers to some of the sights the summer nights will offer this year.

But that’s only one item we have in this magazine that will get you in the mood to get outside. Hy-Vee chef Kristine Wolner will guide you through the ins and outs of planting and maintaining your own herb garden (Page 28), and we talked with Riverland Community College baseball coach Scott Koenigs on how his players train, complete with a short list of pointers for younger players eager to get on the diamond (Page 20).

This is only a taste of what we have in store for this issue of Austin Living, sure to put a little spring into your step.

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– Eric Johnson

PUBLISHER Jana Gray EDITORIAL Co-Editors Jason Schoonover Eric Johnson Contributing Writers Jason Schoonover Jenae Hackensmith Jordan Gerard Eric Johnson Rocky Hulne Photographer Eric Johnson ART Art Director Colby Hansen Graphic Designers Susan Downey Colby Hansen Eric Johnson Kathy Johnson Kim Ehrich SALES & PROMOTION Advertising Manager Heather Ryks Sales Representatives LeAnn Fischer Brenda Landherr Merry Petersen MAY–JUNE 2016 Volume 4, Number 3 EDITORIAL CORRESPONDENCE: Editors, Austin Living 310 2nd Street NE Austin, MN 55912 All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reprinted or reproduced without written permission.

For comments, suggestions or story ideas call 507-434-2235.

To purchase advertising, call 507-434-2220 © A Minnesota Publishers Inc. publication

CONNECT WITH US ON FACEBOOK! VISIT WWW.FACEBOOK.COM/ AUSTINLIVINGMAGAZINE

May–June 2016 | Austin Living | 3

WHAT’S INSIDE MAY – JUNE 2016

features AUSTIN EATS

The first round in a series that highlights some of Austin’s favorite foods.

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A SWEET ADVENTURE

Maple syruping takes on a small town, family feel for a man and his business partner.

42

AN EYE INTO THE PAST

The Mower County Historical Society offers a great way for people to research the past.

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SEEN 6 HIGH SCHOOL BASKETBALL PLAYOFFS

The action was in the crowd as much as on the court.

8 FOODIE THROWDOWN

Chefs and food tasters were out for this annual event.

10 BREW, BEARDS AND B.S.

The second year of this event featured even more of the three B’s.

OUT & ABOUT

WHAT’S IN STORE

12 EYES ON THE COSMOS

26 SMALL-TOWN SUPERMARKET SUSTENANCE Discover some of the local favorites

The Sola Fide Observatory lets visitors become closer to the stars.

16 BREW UP A TASTE OF MINNESOTA

Just a small sampling of the state’s beers at Brew, Beards and B.S.

20 COMMITTING TO THE GAME

Riverland College baseball players make a full commitment to the game.

22 GROWTH BEYOND BRICKS AND MORTAR

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The Hormel Institute grows both as a building and in personnel.

supplied at Jim’s Super Fresh here in Austin.

HOME & HEARTH 28 SPICING UP SUMMER

It’s a simple thing to grow your own, fresh herbs.

32 REUSE AT THE RESTORE

Austin’s ReStore offers a place with cheap wares for a Do-It-Yourselfer.

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20

26 52

TRAVEL 52 COME FOR THE BEER,

STAY FOR THE SOCIAL

Jennie Knoebel and her dad, Scott, travel Minnesota and neighboring states for a cold brew.

LOOKING BACK 56 INTERIOR SCENES OF THE

OLD COUNTY COURTHOUSE

A look back at the Mower County Courthouse.

extras

46 58 AUSTIN LIVING MARKETPLACE 60 AREA HAPPENINGS

The biggest upcoming events in Austin.

62 BOOK REVIEW

“Because of Winn-Dixie”

by Katie DiCamillo.

64 WHY I LOVE AUSTIN

From Pacelli to Grinders, great people make Austin.

May–June 2016 | Austin Living | 5

SEEN | High School Basketball Playoffs There was plenty of action on the hardcourt this basketball season, but it wasn’t the only place. The action could be seen on the sidelines and the spirit in the crowd as fans traveled down the postseason trail with their teams. The Packer fans again traveled the road well as well as Lyle-Pacelli supporting its teams in Rochester. Hayfield and Southland fans were loud and often times brightly colored, and that’s not even mentioning all the teams in our area that support their friends and classmates throughout the season.

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(1) Packer boys fans get fired up before the Packers’ Section 1AAA semifinal game against Northfield at Mayo Civic Center. (2) The Austin boys basketball team breaks the huddle prior to the Section 1AAA semifinal game with Northfield.

(3) Lyle-Pacelli girls basketball coach Justin Morris on the sidelines during the Athletics’ Section 1A West Division championship game against Goodhue at Mayo Civic Center. (4) Hayfield’s Rachael Ausrud hugs Dover-Eyota’s Megan Hintz after the team’s Section 1AA semifinal game at Mayo Civic Center in Rochester. (5) The Hayfield girls basketball team reacts from the bench to a made freethrow in the team’s Section 1AA semifinal match up against Dover-Eyota.

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(6) Lyle-Pacelli girls basketball fans hold up signs during the girls’ Section 1A West Division championship game. (7) LylePacelli’s Braden Kocer celebrates with teammates after an overtime win in the first round of the Section 1A West Division tournament against Randolph. (8) The Southland student body erupts after a three-pointer by the Rebels in their Section 1A West semifinal matchup against Grand Meadow. (9) Hayfield girls basketball coach Fred Kindschy gets clarification on a call from an official during the Vikings’ Section 1AA semifinal game against Dover-Eyota. (10) Austin girls basketball fans try to distract a Byron freethrow shooter during their opening-round game in the Section 1AAA Tournament in Ove Berven Gym. May–June 2016 | Austin Living | 7

SEEN | Foodie Throwdown The area’s best chefs flaunted their skills for another year during the Foodie Throwdown held at the Hormel Historic Home, and the public was there to get a taste of all the great foods offered. It was another fun, successful night as Gareth Hataye and Alan Rasell won for the main entree, and Amy Riley from 3B Eatery in Lyle won for her dessert.

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(1) Ann Houck prepares desserts during the annual Foodie Throwdown in February at the Hormel Historic Home.

(2) Montana Riley carries food through the kitchen at the Hormel Historic Home. (3) Amanda Barber and Luke Harrington of the Hormel Historic Home check in guests. (4) People socialize before the Foodie Throwdown.

(5) Reminisce performs during this year’s event. (6) Chef Wade Kolander prepares his food in the kitchen of the Hormel Historic Home. (7) Alaina Hataye helps tie her husband Gareth Hataye’s bowtie during the event. (8) Food is prepared Saturday during the annual Foodie Throwdown at the Hormel Historic Home.

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SEEN | Brew, Beard and B.S. Brew, Beards and B.S. came together for a second year at the Holiday Inn Austin Convention Center in March. The night featured beers from several Minnesota breweries, along with plenty of facial hair and some bacon. People were encouraged to pass from display to display, tasting what the state has to offer in all kinds of styles.

Not only were the three B’s on full display, but music was supplied by the popular Minneapolis band 4onthefloor. All together, it proved to be another night all based around some of the favorite things today’s society enjoys.

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(1) Andy Johnson stops by the Indeed Beer display during the Brew, Beards and B.S. at the Holiday Inn Austin Conference Center. (2) Ben Race and Bob and Tina Laury, all of Austin. (3) Leif Borg of Bixby and Rick Shaw of Waltham. (4) Courtney Springborg and Cali Christensen, both of Albert Lea. (5) Doug Menuey, Justin Steinbach, Jeremy Pedersen and Jeremy Busker.

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(6) Ryan Anhorn of Bahas Brew Labs helps with the booth as Brew, Beards and B.S. fills up the room in the Holiday Inn Austin Conference Center. (7) Jacob Staneart of Cedar Rapids, Tashina Stweart of Adams, Sky Kanne of Cedar Rapids and Kasey Snater of Austin. (8) Adam Wradislavsky and Alex Keefe, both of Austin. (9) Tina and Scott Miller and Maria Wilson, all of Austin (10) Jimmy Olson, Mandi Tweet, Brady Crabtree, all of Austin, and Adam Ruhter of Brownsdale.

May–June 2016 | Austin Living | 11

OUT & ABOUT

Eyes on The

Cosmos

Sola Fide Observatory offers a view of the heavens a short drive from Austin Story

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and photos by

Eric Johnson

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arly in March, a small group huddled inside the the Sola Fide Observatory just south of Austin, hoping for a break — both in terms of clouds and seeing what lay behind.

Though the skies never did clear, volunteer and star-watching hobbyist Keith Snyder still made sure those there were given the experience of what the telescope offers: a look at those twinkling lights that make up our observable universe.

“People ooh and ah, especially when the moon is out, because they can see that and relate to that,” Snyder said.

Not everything in the night sky is easily relatable. To most, who find a dark backroad, the stars are simply lights moving slowly across our skies. Sure, there are things that are easily seen, including the moon, the scar of the Milky Way and select planets.

Where Sola Fide, like a number of other small observatories around the state really shines is the availability to the public.

Sola Fide, a 16-inch reflecting telescope, is just a short mile-and-a-half drive south on County Road 29 to 180th Street, where skywatchers take a right and head west until they see the metal dome.

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“People ooh and ah, especially when the moon is out, because they can see that and relate to that.”

— Keith Snyder

Kaleb Katzenmeyer gets a close-up view of the 16-inch telescope at the Sola Fide Observatory.

May–June 2016 | Austin Living | 13

Continued from Page 13

Sola Fide Observatory 2016 Viewing

There, skywatchers will see the skies opened before them.

Objects are found using a pair of tools — a computer that helps guide Snyder as he looks for objects to view and the Telrad, a laser tool mounted on the telescope itself with three concentric rings that acts as a visual targeting method.

“Once you find something, you’re good for the night,” Snyder said, using the computer in an adjoining room. “You can watch it move [on screen] as you move the telescope around.”

For Snyder, star watching was a hobby that caught hold of him about 30 years ago.

“It’s a hobby,” he said. “I’ve been doing it for 30 years ever since a brother-in-law let me borrow [his telescope] for the weekend.”

Snyder became so involved that he built an 8-inch telescope of his own.

Sola Fide has a schedule that spans the entire year with two Saturdays a month — one to view a moonless sky and the other to take in the full moon. But some nights weather can get in the way, so Snyder suggests checking the forecast before coming out.

But for most nights, Snyder is at the observatory.

While the telescope can zoom in clearly on the moon, objects further out aren’t as easy to see, but that doesn’t mean it’s not worth the trip. Though fuzzy, the rings of Saturn are still visible as well as the clouds on Jupiter.

The observatory also offers outdoor seating for those who just want to sit back and take in the skies.

But like in years past, the moon still holds sway over the skies.

“I think people really like looking at the moon,” Snyder said simply.

May 7 — 9 p.m.

May 21 — 9 p.m. (Moon)

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June 11 — 9 p.m. (Moon) June 25 — 9 p.m.

July 16 — 9 p.m. (Moon) July 30 — 9 p.m.

Aug. 13 — 9 p.m. (Moon) Aug. 27 — 9 p.m.

Sept. 10 — 9 p.m. (Moon) Sept. 24 — 9 p.m.

Oct. 8 — 8 p.m. (Moon) Oct. 22 — 8 p.m.

Nov. 5 — 8 p.m.

Nov. 12 — 8 p.m. (Moon) Dec. 10 — 8 p.m. (Moon)

How to get there •From Interstate 90, take Highway 218 south two and a half miles south to County Road 28.

•Turn right and go one mile to stop sign, turn left on County Road 29 for one and a half miles to 180th Street.

•Turn right and go west for a quarter mile.

Keith Snyder, volunteer at the Sola Fide Observatory, points out how a computer program helps guide the star watching.

Check out the lights of summer Whether you’re making use of a large observatory, a smaller observatory like the Sola Fide Observatory near Austin or simply a blanket skywatcher, the skies of spring, summer and fall will give you plenty to look at.

According to Deane Morrison, a science writer and editor for the University of Minnesota, the sky is full of wonders — many of which don’t even need telescopes.

This April, a trio of easily found sites are beginning their trek across the sky.

“Right now you have the constellation Scorpius, which is a summer constellation, in the morning sky,” Morrison said. “In spring and summer, it comes up earlier as time goes by.”

Along with Scorpius come both Mars and Saturn that hover very close to the scorpion.

“Both are great to look at with the naked eye,” Morrison said.

Mars is currently slightly west of the main body of Scorpius and getting brighter, according to Morrison, with Saturn on the other side.

“The whole group will start rising before midnight in late April,” Morrison said. “It will gain about two hours every month.”

Mars in particular will be at its most visible on May 22, rising around sunset and setting at sunrise. It will be highest in the sky at around 1 p.m.

Scorpius itself contains its own bright spot — literally. The Heart of the Scorpion, otherwise known as Antares, is a gigantic red star. In ancient times, viewers thought Antares was a partner to Mars. Antares means Rival of Mars. The star itself is 10,000 times brighter than our own sun and forms a triangle with Saturn and Mars.

“It’s a great time to compare star to planet in midMay and early June,” Morrison said Also during that time both Mars and the rings of Saturn will be favorably visible with a telescope, as will the Galilean moons: Io, Europa, Ganymede and Callisto.

Morris hopes that that all these sights, along with recent discoveries and developments like Pluto, will push more people to view the night skies.

“To me it’s very important,” she said. “It’s just amazing to get your star chart and then you go out and see where they are. You get our there and see stars are different colors and different brightnesses. It’s always a thrill to see something you always read about.”

May–June 2016 | Austin Living | 15

E T S A T A P U W BRE A T O S E N N I M OF

OUT & ABOUT

ORS V A L F E H T P I S E TO M I T E H T S I R E ERS E SUMM B E U Q I N U Y N J MA E ’S E T •P A T S E S H T J B F O y as on

ch oo no ve r

ho to s by

ri c oh ns on

NORTHGATE BREWING

BADGER HILL BREWING

This Northeast Minneapolis brewery is offering up tours every Saturday of its new, expanded location.

H Wall’s End: This northern English brown ale brings a roasty, dark fruit flavor with nuttiness from the malt.

In Badger Hill Brewing’s Shakopee location, people can get tours at 2 p.m. every Saturday and check out a taproom with a large window that lets people look into the brewery.

“You can see them making the beer while you drink it,” Joel Hergott said.

H Parapet ESB: Along with being Northgate’s flagships, this balanced English pale ale is one of its strongest, most hops-forward beers. The English hops make for a more floral, earthy flavor.

H Traitor IPA: Badger Hill’s West Coast IPA packs a balanced, hoppy flavor for a “dastardly ale,” as its tagline goes.

H Stronghold Porter: Northgate’s porter is robust with some roasted, chocolate malt flavorings that makes for a good winter beer.

H High Road Everyday Ale: With light, citrusy flavors, High Road makes a great everyday beer. Its hops flavors are complex, yet approachable from hints of tropical fruit and notes of citrus.

H Get Together: This American-style session IPA features a strong hops flavors with citrus and grapefruit and a hint of lemon.

H Foundation Stout: This fall/winter seasonal is a sweet, malty roast that features hints of coffee, caramel and chocolate that takes inspiration from old English and Irish stouts.

783 Harding St. NE, Minneapolis

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4571 Valley Industrial Boulevard S. No. 500, Shakopee

Summer is brewing in Austin and across Minnesota. That makes for a prime time to light up the grill, gather outside and sip some cold drinks.

Often in Minnesota, that means trying out one of the numerous beers crafted at breweries across the state. At this year’s second Brew, Beards and B.S. craft beer tasting event at the Holiday Inn Austin Conference Center, Austin Living caught up with some of the Minnesota breweries on display to give Austin a sampling of the flavors available this summer and beyond.

Many of these brews are available at liquor stores or bars across Austin, and people can also travel up to the breweries for a more intimate look at the beermaking process and more unique flavors.

Claire Gillick of Indeed Brewing Co., out of northeast Minneapolis, poors a Day Tripper at the Brew, Beards, and B.S. event at the Holiday Inn Austin Conference Center.

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INDEED BREWING CO. 711 15th Ave. NE, Minneapolis

Indeed Brewing Co. wears its tagline, “We are thirsty creatures indeed,” on its sleeve, as each can comes with an image of a creature designed by Twin Cities artist Chuck U. The brewery, which was one of the first in Northeast Minneapolis after a law change, opened in August 2012 in the Solar Arts Building. Free tours are available on Saturdays and will soon expand to Sundays. People can find rare beers at the tap room and can sign up for tours online at www. indeedbrewing.com.

“It’s a pretty impressive selection, and it’s fun,” said Kelly Moritz, marketing and communications manager.

H The Day Tripper Pale Ale: One of Indeed’s flagship beers, along with Midnight Rider, a Black IPA, and Dandy Lager, this pale ale lager is hop-heavy with hints of grapefruit from the hop blend with citrusy flavors and a hint of malt sweetness to go with a strong floral and citrus aroma.

H The Let It Ride / Let It Roll IPA: Let It Ride is sold for the first six months of the year and Let It Roll takes the second six months. They’re two styles, with Let It Ride featuring a more bright, tropical fruit taste, while Let It Roll takes a more floral taste.

H Mexican Honey Imperial Lager: This specialty, imperial lager packs a punch with an 8 percent alcohol content and it comes in 16-ounce tall boy cans, but taproom worker Sarah Horning says it doesn’t taste strong due to the orange blossom honey flavoring. “Sweet and smooth, it’s a great lager,” said Claire Gillick said.

May–June 2016 | Austin Living | 17

THIRD STREET BREWHOUSE

BRAU BROTHERS BREWING CO.

Guided tours are available of the Third Street Brewhouse in Cold Spring on the hour from noon to 3 p.m. on Saturdays.

“Very diverse, something for everybody,” said Mike Feldhege, Third Street’s manager.

Brau Brothers Brewing Co. packs a small town feel into its brewery, right down to a 1956 fire engine that’s been converted into a tap at the center of its facility. Tours are given on Saturdays at noon, and there’s also a restaurant with local food.

“Always some fun stuff going,” Lynn Richason said.

219 Red River Ave. N, Cold Spring

H Lost Trout Brown Ale: This true brown ale features a nice, malty flavor with some caramel flavoring from the malts little hop flavoring.

H Three Way Pale Ale: With a calypso hop leading three different hops, this beer brings a hoppy flavor up front but finishes very clean. With medium maltiness, it also features hints of grapefruit and pear.

H Hop Lift IPA: This bold, hoppy IPA debuted this spring with a new hop out of New Zealand and features a unique citrus hop with hints of passion fruit.

H Minnesota Gold Lager: Minnesota Gold is a premium American lager brewed with various yeasts for a smooth, light finish.

18 | Austin Living | May–June 2016

1010 E Southview Drive, Marshall

H Sheephead American Bitter Ale: Sheephead brew toes the line between malty amber and an IPA with caramel malt flavors and hints of chocolate. It mixes spices up front with herbal citrus and grassy flavorings on the back end from American hops. The beer gets its name from the sheepshead card game, a favorite of the Brau family.

H RingNeck Braun Ale: Brau Brothers’ first seasonal dates back to 2006 and gets its name from a group of pheasant hunters who visited the brewery. Toasted oats provide a biscuit-malt flavor that blends with hints of raspberry and cocoa nuttiness.

H MooJoos Oatmeal Milk Stout: Brau Brothers’ flagship beer is one of its most popular. Lactose sugar gives this oatmeal milk stout a creamy edge. It pours dark but tastes lighter as it boasts a complex flavor of dark fruit, milk-sugar and dark chocolate and coffee notes.

BIG WOOD BREWERY 2222 Fourth St., White Bear Lake

Since 2009, beer-lovers have been able to get plenty of unique flavors at Big Wood Brewery in White Bear Lake, which rotates in about 10 of its roughly 60 recipes with many one-off brews and other unique, fun twists on their beers.

“We strive to have something new on tap every time you’re there,” DJ Lafontsee said.

H Morning Wood: Big Wood Brewery’s flagship beer is a coffee stout with exclusive Dunn Brothers-roasted coffee beans that makes for a creamy stout with a lighter body and hints of chocolate and oatmeal.

H Bark Bite India Pale Ale: Big Wood calls this a gateway IPA, because it’s mild and not super bitter. It features juicy, citrusy flavors from the hops that makes it great for summer.

H Jack Savage American Pale Ale: This malt-foward pale ale is an everyday beer that’s smooth and balanced. “It goes down super easy; it’s all about balance, balance with this,” he said.

H Fine!: This new West Coast IPA is Big Wood’s first bomber release.

This hand-bottled beer features flavors of mango and papaya for a tropical flavor.

May–June 2016 | Austin Living | 19

OUT & ABOUT

ulne on ns cky H

By Rboy Eric Joh

Photo

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College baseball players have to step up both on the field and in the weight room to stay on top Koenigs said he was able to condense some of the time in The Riverland Community College baseball team has the weight room, based on what some professional teams do. had plenty of success over the past few years and it’s been no “After talking with and looking through some info from coincidence the team has had players cracking down on its professional teams, something that I thought was really conditioning program in that stretch. interesting was the short time needed for the daily The Blue Devils have won at least 20 games lifting routine,” he said. “Stretching is also in the last seven seasons, have played in really important with professional daily two NJCAA World Series and won five workouts.” conference titles over that stretch.

The pitchers do a lot of leg RCC head coach Scott Koenigs RCC head coach Scott lifting to give them strength in their has coached the Blue Devils for Koenigs has some training tips for youth baseball players wind-up, but they stay away from 13 years and he figured out his heavy upper-body lifting. Position training program when he was a • Work on fundamentals.

That is the most important thing. players will lift more with their graduate assistant baseball coach • Lift smart by lifting for a purpose. upper body, and all players stretch at the University of Kansas. He did • Have fun when you are training. after lifting. a 100-page research project called • Work on hitting line drives, RCC sophomore Zach “Building a Successful Baseball not home runs. Trying to hit home runs will ruin a swing.

Schwieters, who was an All-American Program” and he’s followed it at RCC. • Do lots of T-work to try to as a freshman, bulked up about 15 The program is so intense that perfect the swing. pounds of muscle since coming to RCC Koenigs said it’s pretty easy to tell the • Don’t allow young and he said that the program is an intense smaller freshman players from the more kids to throw curve balls. one. bulky sophomores on the team.

“It’s way different than high school. They “We lift with a program that’s designed for gave us guides this year and made it mandatory,” baseball players,” Koenigs said. “It’s not meant to add Schwieters said. “You can see a lot of the guys getting bigger a bunch of bulk. It’s purpose is to strengthen, add muscle tone and it shows up on the field.” and increase flexibility. It’s a lot of leg work for our pitchers.”

A YOUTHFUL APPROACH

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Riverland coach Scott Koenigs holds a team meeting before a practice to discuss committment, a major part of getting a team ready.

RCC sophomore pitcher Mitch Kelly was an All-American as a freshman as well and he said the workouts have been helpful for him. Kelly has the accuracy he needs as a pitcher, but getting in the weight room helps him increase his velocity.

“I think it’s a pretty intense workout and we usually have to do it every day,” Kelly said. “I’m trying to do it to get stronger so I can reach that 90-mile-per-hour club.”

The program that Koenigs gives his players is much more demanding than what most of them experienced in high school.

Koenigs demands a big commitment from his team so they can remain competitive and they will have better chances to play for four-year schools after RCC. “It’s a real eye-opener when you come here for baseball.

We’re year-round,” Koenigs said. “There’s captain’s practices, there’s weight lifting and that’s kind of why our program is where it is right now. We put a lot of emphasis on the offseason workout. If they work hard and get after it, there’s a lot of building they can do.”

But the game of baseball isn’t all strength and conditioning.

Much of it is getting back on the field and taking the reps.

The Blue Devil’s offseason program concentrates on basic fundamental drills, footwork drills, soft hand drills, head down drills and drills using batting tees. During the season, the team turns its focuses on fielding grounders, game simulations and batting practice.

Riverland pitcher Mitch Kelly does squats in the RCC weight room.

Pitchers work more on the lower bodies as that is key for a pitcher’s delivery.

May–June 2016 | Austin Living | 21

OUT & ABOUT

By The Hormel Institute • Photos Provided

Growth beyond bricks and mortar As The Hormel Institute, University of Minnesota expands its footprint in northeast Austin, it’s not just about bricks and mortar.

The Institute is nearing completion on a project to double its size and add 150 new employees, but the science of The Institute is expanding as well with many exciting opportunities.

The new east building houses new translational cancer research rooms — patient/physician rooms used for firststage clinical trials. This space will allow The Institute to expand beyond basic research, and the onsite patient trials will facilitate faster access to data in their quest to prevent, detect and treat cancer.

In addition, more state of the art technology is in place to strengthen the research. The Hormel Institute will soon unveil the acquisition of one of the world’s most cuttingedge microscopes — technology not found elsewhere in the

Midwest and, in fact, featured only at a few cancer centers in the United States.

With discoveries come the potential for commercialization and The Hormel Institute is working closely with the Development Corporation of Austin and University of Minnesota’s Office of Technology and Commercialization to ensure economic opportunities are not missed for local benefit. The investment to establish and promote business opportunities at the research center is spearheaded by The Hormel Foundation with a vision to strengthen The Hormel Institute and benefit the community with new businesses and new jobs.

Worldwide collaborations will accelerate and expand through high-tech video conferencing and broadcasting technology housed in the new education and communications center called the “Live Learning Center.”

Harlan Johnsrud donated his drone photography talents to capture overhead construction views of The Hormel Institute’s expansion. His work will be featured throughout the Grand Opening ceremony and summer open houses to show the building growth and construction progress. Picture courtesy of Harlan L. Johnsrud.

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The Hormel Institute transformation reaches beyond new construction “Progress in cancer research doesn’t happen without scientific collaborations and the sharing of information worldwide,” said Dr. Zigang Dong, Executive Director of The Hormel Institute. “This new Live Learning Center will greatly enhance and ease the ability of our world-class researchers to broadcast their findings to a global audience and learn from other scientists. It also will be a highquality venue for bringing top researchers here for symposiums on the latest projects in the fight against cancer.”

The world-renowned cancer research center is transforming the area with an everexpanding footprint, employee count and new groundbreaking scientific arenas.

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v 140,000 square feet:

• 75,000 SF existing building • 65,000 SF new building expansion • 10,000 SF Live Learning Center

v 130 new jobs v 20 new labs v $31.5 million expansion

including $4.5 million Live Learning Center May–June 2016 | Austin Living | 23

Dr. Rebecca Morris, section leader of the Stem Cells & Cancer research lab.

Continued from Page 23 In 2008, The Institute reinvented itself with an expansion that tripled lab space with 20 new labs and a major renovation of the 1960 building. That expansion doubled the number of Institute faculty and staff and tripled the number of cancer research sections.

Just eight years later, work is nearing completion on The Institute’s second major expansion. The Hormel Institute will again double in size, with 15 new research labs and several innovative research support spaces.

The new building footprint is 140,000 square feet, growing from just 75,000 square feet two years ago.

The added labs will accommodate more scientists, research support spaces and new cutting edge technologies. In the next few years, 130 new faculty and staff jobs will to be added, growing The Hormel Institute to about 250 employees overall.

As summer approaches, the public can look forward to opportunities 24 | Austin Living | May–June 2016

to tour the expansion. The Hormel Institute will offer three open houses this summer. Free tours will take visitors through the new labs and Live Learning Center — including views of the new state-of-the-art auditorium

and technology — to get an inside look at the tools used to accelerate cancer research. Open houses will take place from 1 p.m. to 4 p.m. on June 4, 12 p.m. to 3 p.m. on July 29, and 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. on July 30.

Dr. Xiuhong Zhai, works in the Membrane Biochemistry research section led by Dr. Rhoderick Brown.

May–June 2016 | Austin Living | 25

WHAT’S IN STORE

Small-town supermarket sustenance

By Jenae Hackensmith • Photos

by

Pansies

Eric Johnson

Small-town supermarkets are a great resource to get those local foods and unique products you crave. Jim’s Super Fresh, located at 2101 Fourth Street NW in Austin and owned by Jim Stiles and his wife, Merlene, since 1980, is full of options for meals, snacks and food products coming from all over Minnesota, along with gardening supplies and hand-crafted lawn products coming from as far away as Mexico.

“We really enjoy offering local items to the community,” Stiles said. “It’s what we’ve always supported and what we’ve always done.”

From fresh-baked doughnuts to metal lawn-chickens, there’s a little bit of everything at the store. Prices and availability can vary.

Step out of the kitchen and into the garden with some fresh pansies, good for those last chilly days and transitioning into summer. Stiles said pansies can start the garden center season, with beautiful colors and a tolerance for cold. Don’t forget to water and feed these beauties, though. Pansies are about $2 for a pack of four.

Craft Sodas In the mood for some of that good old fashioned soda that’s not sold in today’s retail stores? Jim’s carries more than 100 varieties of craft sodas throughout the year from all over.

Flavors vary from root beer to orange soda and more in a variety of brands. Older and younger brands like Dad’s or Frosty’s, and more, can be found both freezer fresh and shelf temperature.

Stiles said the sodas are popular and cost anywhere from $1.50 to $2 per bottle. Brands vary on season and availability.

Hope Creamery’s Hope Butter Made in Hope, Minnesota, this butter goes great in — and on — everything. Stiles said once people try the butter, made at a small plant with natural enzymes, they fall in love with it. He said, “If you taste this butter with any other butter, it’s off the charts.” He said people bring the butter with them all over the United States to give as gifts. The butter is $6.59 per pound.

26 | Austin Living | May–June 2016

Maple Nook Farm eggs These farm-fresh, brown eggs from an Amish farmer near Northwood, Iowa, have a wonderful flavor and “beautiful, orange yokes” according to Stiles. The farmer raises the freerange hens naturally.

Stiles said the eggs are a popular item, and sell for $2.99 a dozen.

Nick’s Meats from Nick’s Country Store Out of Hayward, Minnesota, this brand features high quality bacon, sausage, summer sausage and ring bologna. The store has been around for decades, and as Stiles put it, “It’s the way [meat] used to be made.” Stiles said people of all ages appreciate the quality of Nick’s Meats, and he noted there are not many fillers in the meat which is processed fresh at the store in Hayward. Prices can vary depending on the type of meat, but Stiles said it is a bit more expensive than other brands.

Bakery items Looking for a big, tasty donut to start the morning out right? Jim’s Super Fresh makes fresh donuts Tuesday through Saturday with homemade frosting. Other bakery items include pies, scones, cookies and muffins, all made from scratch with natural ingredients. Bushaw Bakery recipes — a bakery that closed about 18 years ago and partnered with Jim’s Super Fresh — combined with Jim’s Super Fresh recipes to make greattasting bakery goods. Stiles said local, in-season items are used as well, such as rhubarb or pumpkin. Prices can range from $1.50 to $11.

Thousand Hills Grass Fed Beef Straight from Cannon Falls, Minnesota, this beef was 100 percent grass fed with no additives, hormones or chemicals.

Stiles has heard people say there isn’t much extra water or grease when the meat is cooked, and it’s high quality. The brand offers ground beef, hamburgers, steaks, hot dogs and more. “Their hot dogs, we sell them, they’re to die for,” Stiles said. “You’ve never had a hot dog till you’ve had a Thousand Hills hot dog.” The brand ranges around $8.99 per pound and varies depending on the cut of meat.

Whole Grain Milling tortilla chips From Welcome, Minnesota, these tortilla chips are made with organic corn, organic safflower, sea salt and a trace of lime. The chips are made right in Welcome. Stiles said he’s had doctors tell him these are some of the healthiest chips they have ever had. The chips are also offered in blue corn and cost about $4.99.

Chickens “There’s not a chicken ordinance in Austin but you could have chickens in your front yard,” Stiles pointed out, referring to the metal lawn ornaments in the shape of chickens that he sells at the store.

He picked these up at garden sales or from suppliers in Texas. Metal lawn ornaments range from $20 to $600.

May–June 2016 | Austin Living | 27

HOME & HEARTH

SPICING UP SUMMER HERB GARDENS CAN ADD BIG FLAVOR WITH A LITTLE SPACE Story

and

Photos By Eric Johnson

Fresh is always better, and that includes fresh herbs and seasoning on a good steak or crisp salad.

The best way to achieve the fresh taste is to grow it yourself. A regular, backyard garden is a good place to grow those herbs, but an herb garden can be convenient and simple.

“It’s as fresh as it’s going to be,” said Hy-Vee chef Kristine Wolner. “It’s really cheap as compared to buying them.”

What makes an herb garden even more accessible is you don’t have to be an experienced gardener to create and maintain an herb garden, which is made even more convenient knowing minimal space is required.

It’s an effort that requires some time and a good sun spot.

“It is pretty simple and you don’t need a lot of knowledge,” Wolner said. “I recommend four to six hours of sunlight a day so a good window place, you’re pretty safe.”

Wolner does caution a slow start if you’re a beginner.

While the basic idea suggests an easy start-up and 28 | Austin Living | May–June 2016

maintenance, it’s best to take a steady approach.

“If you are a beginner, starting with a couple herbs in a pot is the way to go,” Wolner said.

Wolner said both basil and parsley are good herbs to start out with along with thyme, rosemary and sage.

The idea of an herb garden, however, goes a little bit further than simply growing your own herbs. It can affect the entire dining experience.

“When you’re taking in the different flavors of basil and parsley, you should always stay open minded,” Wolner said. “Letting your palate change encourages new flavors.”

It can also be about getting outside and using the time as a chance to recharge and relax.

“Just the freshness,” Wolner said. “Taking an afternoon stroll after work, picking your herbs — the accomplishment is a good feeling. It’s more of a culture in your own home.

And if all that isn’t enough to get you started, then there is this added benefit: Herbs like lemon thyme, lavender, lemon balm, basil, lemongrass, catnip, rosemary and garlic are good mosquito repellents.

Continues on Page 30

Hy-Vee chef Kristine Wolner arranges herbs inside the store.

Wolner is very supportive of the idea of people growing their own herbs at home.

May–June 2016 | Austin Living | 29

HERBS ARE A GREAT WAY TO HEIGHTEN YOUR DINING EXPERIENCE AND THERE IS NOTHING BETTER THAN GROWING YOUR OWN FRESH HERBS.

Continued from Page 28

GETTING STARTED

Below are some tips provided by Wolner in starting your herb garden.

•If you are a beginner, use small pots that are able to drain. Herbs have short roots so you can get away with using a small shallow pot. If going big, make sure the container can drain any excess water or you will have issues. This pertains more to rosemary, basil, oregano and thyme. Herbs such as parsley, chives, marjoram and mint can be placed in a draining pot, but also thrive in a self-watering pot, or a pot with no drainage which can make these particular herbs easier to care for — no watering every single day.

•Always fill pots full and tight together and remember the more you trim the more they will grow. Keeping them trimmed, especially when bunching herbs together, will keep them from overcrowding each other.

•When trimming herbs, do not cut them all the way down. Pinch them. Take what you need and don’t forget the more you pinch the better it is for them.

•If you are going to put herbs in the same pot, make sure they have the same requirements. Some prefer it dry and warm while others need to be moistened on a daily basis.

Depending on what you wish to grow, research may have to be done to determine what herbs will pot well with others.

30 | Austin Living | May–June 2016

•It is great and convenient to combine more than one herb in a pot, depending on how much you use the herbs.

If you don’t use a lot of different herbs, combine them so you don’t have 50 pots around your home.

FILLING YOUR GARDEN

•If you are looking to grow mass amounts for winter dry stock, gardening herbs is your best option.

•The downfall to gardening herbs is mainly all herbs need six or more hours of sunlight and watering may be different.

•If you are in a warm area where temperatures get to 90 degrees or more for a long period of time, this will make the plants suffer so try to find a spot that has morning sun and afternoon shade for best results.

•Spacing is important so make sure to read what is suggested on the instructions.

•When preparing soil, there are two things to remember: Make sure the ground is nice and loose. Make this happen by using a tool such as a pitchfork to really turn up the soil for good drainage. Make sure if you are going to use compost, place just under the first layer of soil.

•Harvesting is the same as potting plants. Pinch off chunks, with the benefits of larger plants you are able to take more off for hanging.

May–June 2016 | Austin Living | 31

HOME & HEARTH

Reuse at the

By Jordan Gerard • Photo

by

Eric Johnson

Habitat for Humanity ReStores can be a hidden gem for people looking for Do-It-Yourself (DIY) projects or looking for that one piece of furniture to complete a room.

The Freeborn/Mower County ReStore moved in December 2014 to the Sterling Shopping Center, which increased the number and variety of donations it receives.

“We were in a warehouse [by Packer Arena], we didn’t have a lot of those things,” ReStore manager Lynn Nuckolls said. “Now we’re in a part of town where a lot of people know about us.”

ReStore got its start because Habitat for Humanity would receive a lot of gifts, such as manufacturers donating unwanted doors, as well as other excess materials donated by people, so they started selling the items, Nuckolls said.

Once Habitat for Humanity saw it was becoming a trend, they decided to brand it with the ReStore name and start a support group for other stores.

The support group is the “brain power” finding out which methods work best and then relaying them to the other stores.

Individual stores send in reports on how they’re doing and the support group compiles them together and then guides the stores through the best ways to market. They even have ready-made templates so all stores need to do is insert their name and location.

“Any question you have, they’ll find an answer,” Nuckolls said.

Donations

Everything in the ReStore is donated and generally comes in gently used or new condition. “Everything” can be defined as furniture, such as couches, chairs and dining tables, household goods and accessories like decorations or plates, building materials, appliances and most items in between.

“Every ReStore is very different because every ReStore sells what’s donated to them,” Nuckolls said. “You go to one ReStore and it’s nothing but building supplies. We’ve learned from year to year what people are going to buy and what they 32 | Austin Living | May–June 2016

ReStore manager Lynn Nuckolls stands at the front of the ReStore which takes in items from the community and sells them at reduced prices.

aren’t going to buy.”

The most unique item donated to them was a World War II-era black out candle used in England during the Blitzkrieg.

Nuckolls said they try their hardest not to throw anything away unless absolutely necessary, meaning it’s either broken and can’t be fixed or isn’t selling.

“We have stuff out there that’s been free, but no one has bought it, so we have to throw it away and we hate that,” Nuckolls said. “If we can’t sell it, we have no alternative because our floor space is very valuable to us.”

For the DIY-er, things such as cabinet doors, wood trim and wooden furniture can be used for refinishing, painting projects and glassware can be used for bird feeders.

The most unique project Nuckolls has seen is an old brass chandelier repurposed with solar in mind. The buyer replaced the wiring and bulbs with solar lights and displayed it in their garden.

Another popular project is putting chalkboards in cabinet doors, like the one hanging in Nuckoll’s office.

“Everything in the store you could use,” Nuckolls said.

What the ReStore has more than the big box stores are reduced prices, Nuckolls said.

“We typically try to price things at about 30 to 50 percent of what they’re worth in another market,” she said. “If I have an appliance, sometimes I’ll go to Sears and see what their price is on something.”

It also depends on the quality of the donated item. If it’s a bit rusty, Nuckolls says she’ll take more than 30 percent off, but if it’s exceptional or antique, the price will be a little bit less than 30 percent.

Not only do ReStores sell products to customers at lower rates, they also support Habitat for Humanity’s mission to build homes. Before a family officially owns a home, they must put in 500 hours of sweat equity to help build the house.

Volunteers

Nuckolls said the store relies on a tremendous force of volunteers and is in need of more. They currently have at least six people who are at the store every week.

“If we could get 10 to 20 volunteers that will work one day a week for four hours … that is what we need,” Nuckolls said.

“If you’ve got a talent, I can probably use it here.”

Nuckolls said they mostly just clean the item up and sell it in as-is condition, but there are a few volunteers who get items

ready to be displayed and sold.

One of their volunteers, Smoky, salvages the items they received.

Another volunteer is a master electrician who tests everything before it goes on the sales floor. If he can fix it without spending too much money on it, then it gets fixed and made ready to be sold.

They also have a volunteer who is terrific with woodworking and can fix things such as a broken table leg before it gets sold.

Volunteers help with pick-ups, run the register, pricing, moving items and much more.

“They do everything here, everything that we do,” Nuckolls said. “And we do everything they do too.”

Hours for donation drop offs:

Tuesday through Saturday, 10 to 4 p.m. Ring the doorbell in the back and somebody will help you get things out of your car.

Applications:

Applications for volunteers are available at the store or online at http://www.habitatfreebornmower.org/volunteer.

May–June 2016 | Austin Living | 33

34 | Austin Living | May–June 2016

Take in local flavors with a trip across the tastebuds with

Austin Eats

By Jason Schoonover• Photos

by

Eric Johnson

Not only does Kenny’s Oak Grill’s Everything Hashbrowns come with a heaping helping of just about everything, but it also can come complete with sides.

36 | Austin Living | May–June 2016

Austin Living is offering up a serving of Austin flavors.

Over the next several issues, we’ll be featuring some of the dishes, desserts and meals you can only taste in Austin. While some of these foods are based on dishes that are staples at restaurants across the country, we’ll look at the unique spins on dishes that can only hit the tastebuds at Austin-owned restaurants. In this debut offering of Austin Eats, we traverse the traditional three meals of the day with breakfast at Kenny’s Oak Grill, lunch at The Tendermaid and dinner at Piggy Blues BBQ. Continues through Page 41

Kenny Knutson, owner of Kenny’s Oak Grill sits with a heaping plate of the restaurant’s Everything Hashbrowns, complete with coffee and toast.

Break fast Kenny’s Oak Grill Meal: Everything Hashbrowns

A

little more than 20 years ago, Kenny Knutson and his staff at Kenny’s Oak Grill, 307 W. Oakland Ave., noticed a trend with one of their staple items: their made-from-scratch hashbrowns. People often ordered them smothered in cheese or with onions, peppers and other additions mixed in.

That sparked an idea.

“We decided to put a little bigger dish together,” said Knutson, the owner of Kenny’s.

To Knutson, coming up with the dish was easy since people already ordered hashbrowns with something on them.

“We just thought, well, maybe that’s a good item to upscale a little bit,” Knutson said.

Out of that came the Everything Hashbrowns, a dish that blends a little bit of everything with the hashbrowns — peppers, onions, mushrooms, cheese, an option of taco meat or ham, and

sausage gravy or Hollandaise sauce on top. It’s often served with a side of toast, pancakes or French toast.

“It’s been a real popular item,” Knutson said. “I suppose most of the other restaurants have something like it now, but we were the first to do that in town.”

The Everything Hashbrowns have been on the menu at Kenny’s for about half of its 50 years, but the diner was known for its fried up potatoes long before that.

“We’ve always been kind of noted for the hashbrowns,” he said.

Kenny’s hashbrowns are made entirely from scratch, which Knutson says makes for a better quality dish. The staff boils potatoes, peels them, cools them and shreds them before frying them and serving them to Austin’s patrons.

Another mainstay on the Kenny’s menu is the popular beerbattered fish, which they also make with their own recipe.

Knutson said they often try new items and different flavors on the menus.

One was a beer-battered bacon and egg burger — an over easy egg on a burger.

A hot beef dish at noon on Thursday is another hot item that almost always sells out.

May–June 2016 | Austin Living | 37

Tendermaid owners Gary and Sara White have several different burgers on the menu, including their chili cheeseburger and basic cheeseburger along with their thick malts.

Lunch The Tendermaid Meal: Chili cheeseburger or basic cheeseburger/ hamburger Dessert: Shakes and malts For nearly 80 years, an Austin staple has served up steam-cooked burgers and tasty desserts for its patrons.

The Tendermaid, 217 Fourth Ave. NE, has been steaming up its unique Austin flavors with loose-meat style burgers, shakes and malts since it opened in 1938, and owners Gary and Sara White have kept the traditional hamburger and cheeseburger at the heart of The Tendermaid’s menu.

“If it ain’t broke, don’t fix it,” Sara said.

But the Whites bolstered their menu by adding specialty burgers like the chili cheese, bacon ranch, western, tender island, bacon cheese, and pizza burgers to the menu in 2006 and those have quickly became mainstays, and with a Tenderdog that features a Hormel Foods Corp. all-beef hotdog with The Tendermaid’s loose-meat burger and 38 | Austin Living | May–June 2016

Hormel bacon on top.

But one burger heaps above the rest in sheer volume: the chili cheeseburger, which features an original burger, topped with meat, chili, nacho cheese, onions, jalapenos and a bun, but people can add or subtract as they wish.

“It’s been a good addition,” Sara said.

The chili cheeseburger doesn’t have as much spice if customers leave off the jalapeño, as Sara said their chili is sweet. But customers can still get additional spices with the western burger’s barbecue sauce, pepper jack cheese and an option for tabasco.

At the heart of all The Tendermaid’s sandwiches is its loose-meat.

“It’s not a patty,” Sara said. “It’s loose meat, it’s very easy to eat. It’s one of the healthiest ways to eat beef because it’s all steamed in there.”

She pointed to her cooker, which sits at the center of the restaurant’s two rows of bar-stool seating. The base also provides a counter where the Whites and their workers serve up their sandwiches. The cooker, which has been a staple since the shop opened, was built on a slant so it keeps cooking and draining, and it also seasons the meat.

“It is near and dear to a lot of hearts,” Sara said.

The Tendermaid has maintained an old school vibe with its burgers served in white and red checkered wrappers with Tootsie Rolls on the side, and many patrons prefer a cold drink to wash down their burgers. That’s where the shop’s 10 flavors of malts and shakes come in.

The shakes and malts were added early on, but the Whites remember past owners also offering many baked goods and pies for several years, which are no longer available.

“It used to be more of a coffee, pie, burger [place] when it first opened,” Gary said, noting there were nearby soda joints in the early years.

Today, the shop serves up mint, strawberry, vanilla, black raspberry, chocolate, banana, pineapple, cherry, butterscotch, and root beer shakes and malts, but the flavors can be mixed for a unique taste.

The shakes feature ice cream, flavoring and milk, while

“We’re unique, we’re mom and pop, and people will drive five to 10 miles off their destination path.”

-Gary White malts adds a malted, liquorice-like flavoring. In terms of the malts, a big part is starting with hard-packed ice cream.

“That’s the key to a good malt is the hard-packed ice cream,” Sara said. “It takes a lot more work to make it, but it’s so well worth it.”

The Tendermaid isn’t just a community staple. The Tendermaid has made several statewide best-of lists, including “Best Burger Spots” in Minnesota by www.thrillist. com, “9 restaurants you have to visit in Minnesota before you die” by wwww.onlyinyourstate.com, and several others by the likes of Minnesota Monthly, Trip Advisor and Yelp.

“We’re known kind of far and wide,” Sara said.

Gary noted travelers often hear about The Tendermaid on these lists, and they’ll travel off Interstate 90 and their normal route to find them.

“We’re unique, we’re mom and pop, and people will drive five to 10 miles off their destination path,” Gary said.

The shop is near and dear to Gary too, who is proud to note five generations of his family have eaten at his shop, from his grandfather to his grandson.

The Tendermaid’s malts are always thick with flavor.

Top: The Tendermaid’s chili cheeseburger is heaped with ingredients.

May–June 2016 | Austin Living | 39

Dinner Piggy Blues BBQ Meal: Po’ Boy sandwich and Jackass Sauce Dessert: Gelato Restaurants from sit-down venues to fast-food joints offer no shortage of barbecue dishes, but some foods are best left to the experts.

Piggy Blues BBQ co-owner Josh Diaz is confident his restaurant’s food trumps the pre-done barbecue items.

“There’s a lot of stuff out there, but being that we’re the only actual barbecue place — that’s what we specialize in,” Diaz said. “We can do some different things that might be ahead of what they can do.”

That’s because Piggy Blues, 323 N. Main St., brines, smokes, cooks, mixes and caramelizes many of its meats and makes its sauces, dressings and its frozen desserts in house.

At a barbecue joint, that of course starts with the meats, many of which are brined first — some for up to 24 hours — before they’re smoked and ready to serve.

“It takes a little planning,” Diaz said.

Piggy Blues also cooks up small batches of eight to 10 varieties of sauces everyday.

“We’ve always tried to do things better all the time,” he said. “So if we find a way to improve something that we’re making or whatever it will be, we’ll do that.”

When it comes to one of Piggy Blues BBQ’s most popular

Piggy Blues’ Po’ Boys come in a variety of versions and can be paired with its famed Jackass sauce.

40 | Austin Living | May–June 2016

sandwiches, the barbecue joint likes to go big. Piggy Blues’ Po’ Boy sandwiches take a unique spin on a traditional, wellknown dish, and Diaz said they aimed to make it a bit bigger and more out there.

On the menu for about 15 years, Piggy Blues’ Po’ Boy starts with half a loaf of toasted Italian bread.

The Pig Pen Po’ Boy features shredded pork, homemade thousand island dressing, lettuce, onions, pickles, tomatoes, beer-battered French fries, and homemade coleslaw.

They offer other variations, with a Spam Po’ Boy that Diaz expects to be popular with the Spam Museum’s move downtown, while other variations are off and on the menu, including a shrimp and catfish Po’ Boy. When it comes to topping those sandwiches, many patrons reach for a bottle of Piggy Blues’ Jackass Sauce, which has won four awards.

Out of the eight to 10 sauces at Piggy Blues, the Jackass Sauce is the signature.

“It’s actually become our most popular sauce,” Diaz said.

When making the sauce, owners Ron and Mary Meyer and Josh and Andrea Diaz tried out different temperatures and times for cooking, along with differing amounts of sugar to get the caramelization right. They also taste-tested different blends of peppers until they got the right amount of heat to sweet ratio for the sauce.

“It’s sweet with a little kick,” Diaz said.

When it comes time for dessert, Piggy Blues has patrons covered with another unique treat fresh from its kitchen: its Italian gelato. Around 2007, Diaz and others at Piggy Blues

Piggy Blues owner Josh Diaz with a po-boy, a dish of gelato and the restaurant’s famous Jackass sauce.

to get the proportions and consistency right. Piggy Blues’ learned to make gelato through a food show in the Twin limoncello gelato features just lemons, sugar, water and cold.

Cities. By the end of the session, the teacher told Diaz and “You just need to get the right mixture of ingredients his partner they could have taught the class. to have it freeze the right “It’s a really fun way consistency,” Diaz said. to just create different Cook times for gelato flavors and new things,” can vary. Sometimes it can Diaz said. take an hour, while the Gelato is a bit more limoncello can take much dense and it typically has longer, because it requires less fat than traditional staff to zest lemons, cook ice cream. the zest, let it cool, cook The machine freeze sugar and then combine whips less air into it them to sit overnight. while churning than it They typically try to would with traditional ice offer a few flavors per day cream. and rotate the flavors out, When Piggy Blues though they’ll always try added gelato, it was still new things. With kids, the a bit new, so it took some Piggy Blues offers more than barbecue. It also has the sweet treat cake batter is a popular convincing to get some gelato with flavors like butterscotch, chocolate hazelnut, choice. people to try it. They still banana creme and cake batter.

“Gotta have the cake do a lot of sampling, first batter, almost all the time,” Diaz said. to get people to try something new, now just because it’s fun.

A classic Italian flavor is chocolate hazelnut, while Diaz “We have people who come here just for the gelato,” loves the limoncello.

Diaz said.

“It’s a real clean, refreshing flavor,” he said.

Gelato features relatively simple ingredients; the key is May–June 2016 | Austin Living | 41

A

Sweet

dventure

By Jenae Hackensmith Photos by Eric Johnson

42 | Austin Living | May–June 2016

Local men take on the maple syrup world

K

evin Sathre and Josh Loecher weren’t satisfied with the 1,500 bags collecting maple sap in 2015, so they decided to expand in 2016 — with a seven-mile pipeline.

Sathre and Loecher put up the blue pipeline in a grove of maples north of Adams to expand their maple syrup collections.

“It’s addicting, in all reality it’s a work in progress,” he said.

“You’ll hear a lot of sugar-bushers say it’s a work in progress ‘cause there’s always something you can improve on, there’s always the next step, it’s endless.”

With roughly 2,300 taps on the pipeline, operations have boosted, as Sathre explained the line collects about three times the yield compared to just bags.

“Mother Nature kind of obviously pushed us a little harder than we expected,” Sathre said, referring to the early warm weather in March. “We had a lot of snow cover but we didn’t have the frost that we needed at the beginning.”

Fortunately for them, the cold weather returned for a while to slow things down and give maple collectors another chance at getting sap. Sathre explained the best thing for collecting sap is frost. As the weather warms up, the trees push sap from the roots to the buds on the branches. When frost hits overnight, the sap goes back to the roots and the process repeats the next day. This offers more chances to collect the sap.

Continues on Page 44 May–June 2016 | Austin Living | 43

Continued from Page 43 Sathre noted tapping trees isn’t harmful if done right, only cutting about five years off the lifespan of a 100-year-old tree.

The pipeline has three main tubes — two wet/dry and one just dry — and acts as a vacuum, providing air from the larger pipe — the dry pipe — to the two smaller pipes —the wet/dry pipes — helping the sap get to the pump house.

After bringing the sap to the farm, it is put through a cooking system. The sap runs through a reverse osmosis, or RO machine, which takes more than half of the water out of the sap before it cooks and takes much of the work out of cooking the sap down, according to Sathre. He bought the RO last year when he expanded the sap-collecting.

“We’re saving the concentrate off it, which is the opposite of what you’d normally do,” Sathre said. “What comes off of it is basically distilled water, which is called permeate. And you save that water to clean this reverse osmosis.”

Sathre said it takes about 35 gallons of sap to make one gallon of maple syrup, because the water content is so high.

“Thirty-thousand gallons of sap seems like a lot but it’s really not considering how much it takes to get one gallon [of syrup],” Sathre said.

When the sap runs through the RO, it goes from about 2 percent sugar to 12 percent sugar, getting rid of much of the water. It then runs to a tank where it stays until it runs to the cooker. After cooking at about 220 degrees, the sap is then filtered to ensure purity, put into a barrel and sold to a larger

company — Hering’s Maple Syrup located near Waterville — to be bottled and sold, either on shelves or to other places around the United States or around the globe.

Sathre, 35, bought the grove in June 2015 and it took them nine days to put the entire pipeline up this February, which winds between trees and allows the sap to run right to the pump house. Here, it collects into a big tank and waits to be loaded onto the grain truck and brought back to AddyBeau Farms,

“We love the outdoors, it’s just another reason to get out And do something outdoors.”

— Kevin Sathre Sathre’s farm where he farms for a living raising hogs and doing other jobs. The farm is named after Sathre’s two children, Addy, 5, and Beau, 7.

Even with the pipeline, the duo still hung more than 800 bags on the trees this year to keep up with the sap flow, which they then collected by hand.

Beau Sathre, son of Kevin and Jill Sathre, stands among the maple trees and criss-crossing plastic piping in a small grove north of Adams.

44 | Austin Living | May–June 2016

Sathre didn’t buy the grove just for the maple trees, though that was a big part of it.

“We love the outdoors, it’s just another reason to get out and do something outdoors,” he said. “So I really can’t say I’m doing it all for the money, but it turned from a hobby into a job.”

Sathre started collecting sap about three years ago when a friend came over and asked to tap some maple trees on his farm property.

He said the work has a way of running their lives during sap time, which goes on about five weeks depending on the weather that season, but he doesn’t mind.

“It is a lot of work, but it’s also rewarding what you get out of it,” he said.

Sathre and his wife, Jill — who helps during the season — also hope Addy and Beau take away a lot from growing up with making maple syrup, including a strong work ethic.

“The main reason I got into it was because a buddy came over and said he was gonna tap some maple trees, and I said ‘Well that’d be fun, that’d be interesting,’” Sathre said. “And I’m a wildlife guy; I like being outdoors, and it’s just another reason to be out in the woods.”

Sathre, along with the help of his family, started with about 100 buckets the first year, expanded to about 250 buckets the second year, and expanded to about 1,500 bags last year. With the recent expansion last year, Sathre asked Loecher, 24, to join him in 2015.

“He just asked me one day, like, ‘You want to go out and [collect sap]?’ and I was like, ‘Yeah, I’ll do that,’” Loecher said.

Loecher works in St. Ansgar, Iowa, at Spaceage Tool, and Sathre works as a farmer just outside of Adams.

“It is [a lot of work] but it’s fun,” Loecher said. “There’s never a dull moment, there’s always something to do.”

With their seven miles of pipeline and over 800 bags in about 18 acres of maple trees, Sathre and Loecher’s mapletapping operation is growing fast and shows no signs of slowing.

Sathre started by collecting 2,500 gallons of sap in 2014. He and Loecher collected 8,000 gallons over six weeks in 2015.

This year, they surpassed 8,000 gallons in just over three days and had already taken in 31,250 gallons by April 6.

Sathre said the time and work involved is worth it.

He’s learned a lot, including the dedication needed to make maple syrup.

“If they can do this, they’ll be able to do anything,” he said. “… You’ve got to be very dedicated, and if they can be dedicated to this, they can be dedicated to anything in the future.”

“Me and my wife look at it, it brings AddyBeau farms into — it actually makes me tear up — it brings AddyBeau farms into another aspect of farming,” he added.

Jill echoed her husband and hoped her children enjoy the adventure, possibly continuing the process when they get older.

“I think it’s excellent, it’s a good adventure, it’s very fun, it’s good work ethic for our children,” she said. “[I hope they learn] that you can get great organic products from Mother Nature, and to appreciate what comes from our land,” she added.

Sathre plans to continue the syrup operation in the future, and he hopes to eventually get certified to bottle and sell his own maple syrup instead of selling it to a larger company.

“I foresee it in the near future to grow, this is just the beginning,” Sathre said.

Top left: Kevin Sathre describes the method in which maple sap is collected in a small maple grove north of Adams.

Top right: Sap flows into a collection area from maple trees, which will ultimately be transported to Kevin Sathre’s farm.

Josh Loecher puts kosher defoamer in the cooking sap to prevent it from foaming as it cooks down.

May–June 2016 | Austin Living | 45

46 | Austin Living | May–June 2016

Historical society records can help dig into family stories

By Jenae Hackensmith • Photos These days, it seems like society is always looking to the future, trying to create the newest technologies and find out what’s coming next. But many people still look to the past for answers.

When looking for answers about personality traits or talents, location or skin color, and more, many people turn to their genealogy. Many mysteries have been solved, and some uncovered, while digging through birth and death records, newspapers and more. At the Mower County Historical Society, Research and Archives Manager Sue Doocy digs up and solves mysteries every day.

“First you start with what you know about your family — your mom, your dad, cousins, grandparents,” Doocy said. “And even talk to them. Get the basics from them — where’d they come from, what the birthdays are, when they died, marriages, what they know, who they married — and then you can branch out from there.”

She said visiting the historical society is a good place to start, but people also start at libraries, newspaper offices

by

Eric Johnson

and even in history books. If those fail to produce results, she recommended searching court house records, and birth and death records which may be stored at the county treasurer’s and auditors office, or the recorder’s office depending on the government center. Churches often kept baptism records, and some birth records as well, and cemetery or mortuary records can also be helpful.

The MCHS has close to 130 birth and death record books from 1870 to the 1950s, depending on the area.

More current birth and death records are available at the Mower County Government Center. Doocy said many of them are records the county turned over to the historical society for safekeeping and preservation. Doocy explained in Minnesota, it became mandatory to keep records in 1874, but she warned that doesn’t mean everyone can be easily found. Some births were never recorded, some adoption records can be sealed for 100 years or until a judge decides to release them.

Continues on Page 48

Sue Doocy, Mower County Historical Society research and archives manager, flips through a book of death certificates.

Opposite page: Doocy shows off a journal that documents the people of Austin, one of the many at the MCHS.

May–June 2016 | Austin Living | 47

Aside from written histories, the Mower County Historical Society also has pictures on file.

Continued from Page 47 ago an environmental study group accidentally digging up a Many babies were not named right away, and records will gravestone in Austin, a plot near the Hardy Geranium. Trying simply say “Baby Johnson” or “Baby Doe” and possibly list the to find the family of the woman who’s name was on the stone line of birth along with them. was difficult, as it was a popular name — Mary Johnson — and Doocy said while some people can find almost everything they didn’t know if she was married or not. Eventually, they they want to know, some people find almost nothing. found she died in 1880 in her 20s from an illness, and was “Some go back to the 1600s, some go back just four buried in Oakwood Cemetery. The gravestone was an extra, generations,” she said. “It just as her husband had one made depends on who they are.” for the both of them together, Doocy said some people and the family was told to just search for decades and can’t mark the stone with an X and find the person they are bury it, which was common looking for, as though the practice at the time. person just dropped off the Doocy explained many face of the earth. people look up their genealogy “And if you know the to connect with the past, old outlaw stories, they do find family members they a crime here in Minnesota never knew about and figure and then go west and change out mysteries, however big their name,” she said. “So that or small, such as why their Mower County Historical Society research and archives manager makes it difficult. Did they sibling has a certain talent and use their first name? Or did they have a different one. they use their middle name as their first name? Did they use “And then of course there’s those mysteries where for their initials? It gets complicated.” whatever reason a person just disappears,” she said.

Other obstacles may include people changing their She told of one man whose father passed away shortly after birthdays or numbers getting transposed wrong, or even the man was born, and now in his 80s he is still trying to find women who were married. Doocy recalled about eight years out information about him and that side of the family. Though

“It’s good to know where you come from so you can relate to events of today”

– Sue Doocy

48 | Austin Living | May–June 2016

A thick book of birth certificates awaits those who are looking to research their families at the Mower County Historical Society. Below: Sue Doocy, research and archives manager for the Mower County Historical Society, flips through a book in the archives, one of many tools available to people looking to research their family.

he found a census saying where his father was born, he can’t find any other information.

Another man who was recorded as living near Brownsdale simply vanished from the records, with stories that he may have traveled west after an affair or changed his name.

“There’s a whole world of stories out there, and it’s like we’re scrap-bookers in a sense, because we’re pulling the stories and saving them for people who don’t know the stories,” Doocy said.

One man told Doocy of his father from Austin who happened to be in the Marines serving in World War II, and after his tour of duty his troop was on the sands of Iwo Jima while a movie was being shot with John Wayne.

“It’s like, a person from Mower County in the movies with John Wayne; this is so cool,” Doocy said.

The Historical Society has many newspapers from all over Mower County, along with history books, year books, plot maps, and shelves of other resources. Doocy advised anyone coming to look something up to make sure they have enough time, as a half-an-hour may not be enough time for some of the more in-depth searches. She also advised people to have fun.

The MCHS gets anywhere from one or two people a week to 10 people a week coming in to look up the past. Doocy said the majority of people find what they are looking for, and some who don’t expect to find anything walk out the door with big smiles on their faces excited to show what they found to their family.

“It’s good to know where you come from so you can relate to events of today,” she said. “Knowing where I come from, who I can connect with, it just helps complete your story and it helps you connect with other family and friends. And it’s just a good pastime. There’s always some mystery to be solved.”

May–June 2016 | Austin Living | 49

50 | Austin Living | May–June 2016

May–June 2016 | Austin Living | 51

Jennie Knoebel and her dad, Scott, share a beer at Dusty’s.

The pair have traveled to several breweries around both Minnesota and Wisconsin.

TRAVEL

COME FOR THE BEER

STAY FOR THE SOCIAL

By Jordan Gerard • Photos

by

Eric Johnson & Submitted

by J ennie

Knoebel

ALONG WITH THE UNIQUE FLAVORS, BREWERIES TRIPS OFFER MUCH MORE THAN BEER

The first time Jennie Knoebel visited a brewery was to the Capital Brewery in Middleton, Wisconsin, when she was about six years old.

Her family had been visiting their grandparent’s house in Madison and Capital Brewery, just a six-mile drive from Madison. It was “an opportunity to get out of the house,” Scott Knoebel, Jennie’s father, said.

The second brewery they visited was on a family trip when they stopped at the old Hamm’s Brewery in St. Paul, when it was owned by Stroh’s which is where Flat Earth Brewery is currently located.

And thus started a long history and great love of visiting breweries.

“We just enjoy sampling the different flavors,” Scott said. “Plus the other

52 | Austin Living | May–June 2016

enjoyment is just to look and see the different venues.”

When Jennie and her brother, Pete, were young, it was always fun to find out the different types of pop they made at the breweries.

“Sprecher [Brewery] has a really good variety of soda,” Jennie said. “But now of course I realize the greater joy of beer tasting.”

A lot of times, they combine the trips with bike rides. Last year they rode from Austin to Montgomery, Minnesota, to check out Montgomery Brewing, a trip of about 80 miles and six and a half hours.

This year, they plan to ride from Hinckley to Duluth, which is about the same distance.

“It’s a fun thing to do,” Scott said. “It

ends the day.”

They take about two to three trips a year.

“When we do it, it’s maybe because we have a weekend off, we’re not doing anything and hey, it’s something to do more than anything else,” he added.

BEER SAMPLING

Scott said the uniqueness of the beers is what really sets the breweries apart.

Part of visiting breweries is the intrigue of sampling.

“For example, if you would sample an IPA (India Pale Ale), [you would find] how different it tastes and the quality of it, comparably so between each individual tap room,” Scott said.

“And some have extremely … very good

unique flavors where other ones are very much Webster Dictionary, as in, ‘Yes that’s an IPA but there’s nothing special about it. It’s just an IPA.’” One of their favorite brewers, Valkyrie Brewing Co., out of Dallas, Wisconsin, brews “really bizarre flavored beers,” Jennie said.

Brewers keep their beer consistent by staying with the same strain of yeast, but owner Randy Lee doesn’t do that, Jennie said.

“He’ll use the same style of yeast but he doesn’t keep actual pieces of it the same strain to use beer after beer, so every beer he brews is slightly different,” Jennie explained.

And though breweries may share a few things in common, none of them are “cookie-cutter operations.”

“They’re all different because all of these places have retrofitted it for their taprooms,” Scott said.

The tap rooms are where beer and people come together to socialize.

TAP ROOM SOCIAL

Scott and Jennie say it’s not so much about the beer tasting as it is the socialization.

“Two weekends ago, we visited two new ones up in the city, Able Seedhouse [and Brewery] and Lake Monster tap rooms and both of them are extremely different,” Scott said.

At Able Seedhouse and Brewery in Minneapolis, Scott said it is extremely family orientated and people are allowed to bring their dogs in. They’ll even provide water and treats for the four-legged brewery goers, according to their website.

They also provide snacks and games to children, as long as the children leave by 9 p.m. per Minnesota law.

Whereas, Lake Monster Brewing was right off the green line in St. Paul and saw many visitors ride their bikes to the taproom.

“So … they’re all kind of different and unique,” Scott said.

“It’s encouraging and intriguing the number of people that are there on a Saturday afternoon, as a vehicle of socialization more than anything else.”

Continues on Page 54 May–June 2016 | Austin Living | 53

Continued from Page 53 “It seems like they become like the neighborhood hang out, a lot of the taverns in northeast Minneapolis, especially,” Jennie added.

Scott said in a 10-mile radius in northeast Minneapolis, there’s at least a dozen taprooms, and to each their own uniqueness. Just as the process of brewing is not found in a dictionary, neither are the taprooms.

“At Insight Brewery, the guy has his bicycle hung up in the brewery as a symbol of all the biking he did working in Europe and in China, building up his brewing skills,” Scott said. “They’re all different because a lot of these places have taken over an existing building and they’ve retrofitted it for their taproom.”

While visiting Able Seedhouse and Brewery, people were setting up for a birthday party.

“They got the snacks on the table, they got the cake out,” Scott said.

“And again, it’s a place people use for socialization, it’s just a great example of that. It’s a fun opportunity to meet different people.”

“You get to hear their story and share a beer,” Jennie added.

Tasting beers at Lake Monster Brewing in St. Paul.

TOP 5 FAVORITES JENNIE’S SCOTT’S TOP 5 TOP 5

Scott said he could list about 98 percent of the breweries they’ve visited.

• Big Wood • Harriet • Dave’s Brew Farm • Sprecher Brewery • Lakefront • Big Wood • Harriet • Dangerous Man • Tin Whiskers • Sprecher Brewery

Jennie, right, with cousin Lesley Knoebel, and Al Myers at Harriet Brewing Co. in Minneapolis.

54 | Austin Living | May–June 2016

Jennie Knoebel at a Minnesota State Fair beer tasting

PLANNING FOR A BREWERY TRIP

Planning to take a trip really depends on what the discerning beer lover is interested in. Visiting breweries and taprooms are more about socializing and sampling, rather than tasting to get drunk, but a designated driver or staying in a hotel is always a good idea, Scott said. His wife, Mary Lynn, is usually the designated driver.

If you want to sample beers, the Twin Cities area is a good place to start and Jennie said the best way to experience them is to ride a bike.

Breweries and taprooms are open year-round, but Jennie said summertime is becoming more popular because taprooms are opening patios to enjoy Minnesota weather when possible.

There are a few breweries in Minnesota that do tours of the brewing process but Jennie said the best bets would be Summit Brewing Co. and Schell’s Brewing. Surly Brewing, based

in Brooklyn Center, Minnesota, also does tours, but they fill up quickly, she added.

If you’re more interested in the process of brewing, Wisconsin-based breweries, primarily in the Milwaukee area, are the places to go.

“The cool thing about Milwaukee breweries versus Minnesota breweries is if you go to a brewery in Milwaukee, they’ll always give you a coupon to go to some other bar that’s serving their beer and you get free tastings,” Jennie said. “So it’s like the entertainment continues on. It’s a great way for you to go experience a bar that you might not have normally gone to.”

They received a coupon for Wolski’s Tavern in Milwaukee and that particular bar has bumper stickers that say “I closed Wolski’s” that people take and put all over the world, Jennie said.

You’ll also get that special aroma of hops and malts because Wisconsin breweries make more and you go into the actual brewery, she added.

LARGEST

BREWERY VISITED:

Miller Brewing Company, Milwaukee, Wisconsin

SMALLEST

BREWERY VISITED:

Dave’s Brew Farm in Wilson, Wisconsin. The brewer uses his basement and is only open four days a month, or two weekends a month, usually from 3 to 7 p.m. People can bring food to grill, have supper and play frisbee.

“That is probably one of the most unique ones we’ve ever went to and he’s another one that produces a lot of very unique styles of beer,” Scott said.

May–June 2016 | Austin Living | 55

LOOKING BACK

The Register of Deeds Office, before 1918, with Assistant J. Solon Wood seated and the Register of Deeds Eugene Wood standing with his back to the camera. Notice all the fine woodwork lining the room.

Interior scenes of the old County Courthouse

By Jaimie Timm, Mower County Historical Society Photos courtesy of the Mower County Historical Society Fondly remembered by Mower County residents, the old courthouse building was one of the most photographed buildings in the county.

Although not as widely recognized, the interior was just as lovely. On March 20, 1884, the Austin Register described the inside, “The courtroom is the largest and most tastefully decorated of any public room in the state. The auditor’s room … is the largest of all the offices. The office has the largest vault in the building, constructed to withstand [any] conflagrations or other calamities which are liable to happen to records. The vault is arched and sufficiently large to suffice Mower County for a decade. The treasurer’s office … has cut and stained glass counter protectors with metallic ribbed cash holes and railings.

There is a coal grate and marble mantel in each room of the building. The offices are also heated with hard-coal burners.”

A different article described the woodwork as “oiled oak, which is [the] most expensive and substantial material used 56 | Austin Living | May–June 2016

in modern construction. Desks and other office furniture is of clear-grained red cherry, the appearance of which is decidedly fine.”

Completed in 1884, the building was celebrated as the largest and “most commodious structure in the state and, for that matter, west of Milwaukee.”

Renovations in the early 1940s modernized the courtroom and added more office and vault space for record storage and retention. In 1950, Fire Chief John Tobar inspected the building and declared it unsafe and more storage space was still needed. The county commissioners developed a longrange plan for a new building. An annex was built on the northeast corner of the “courthouse square” during 195152 that was connected to the courthouse with a hallway followed by another annex in 1966 on the southeast corner.

The two annexes were joined by a center building and the old courthouse was finally demolished in 1967.

Above: The Austin City Council on March 2, 1906. Below: Captioned the “Courthouse Gang,” this is most likely the Mower County officers of 1896. Back row, left to right: Probate Judge S. S. Washburn, Auditor R. L. Johnson, Treasurer G. Seebach, Unidentified, Unidentified. Front row, left to right: County Attorney S. D. Catherwood, Clerk of Court, O. J. Simmons, Register of Deeds Eugene Wood, Sheriff John C. Johnson. The two unidentified men in the back row are most likely Surveyor M. N. Clausen and Coroner W. L. Hollister.

May–June 2016 | Austin Living | 57

BRICK FURNITURE: 504 North Main St., Austin, MN (507) 433-8833 www.brickfurnitureaustin.com Locally owned. Specializing in great quality. Low sale prices every day. Top service after the sale. Name brands such as La-Z-Boy, Smith Brothers of Berne, Sealy, and Daniel’s Amish. Lots of wall decor. Many other varieties of decor to choose from!

AUTOMOTIVE DAVE SYVERSON AUTO CENTER: 2310 East Main Street, Albert Lea, MN www.davesyverson.com (507) 373-1438 Experience the difference with Dave Syverson’s non-commissioned sales team. Visit your local Chrysler, Dodge, Ford, Jeep, LINCOLN, Nissan, Volkswagen, Ram dealership serving Albert Lea and surrounding areas. Access the most up-to-date internet car buying tools on their website.

HOLIDAY CARS OF AUSTIN: 2701 West Oakland Ave., Austin, MN www.holidaycarsaustin.net www.holidayford.net (888) 267-1356 Holiday Cars of Austin is proud to be one of the premier dealerships in the area. From the moment you walk into our showroom, you’ll know our commitment to Customer Service is second to none. We strive to make your experience with Holiday Cars a good one – for the life of your vehicle.

Whether you need to purchase, finance, or service a new or pre-owned vehicle, you’ve come to the right place.

KUEHN MOTOR COMPANY: 1508 North Main St., Austin, MN (877) 672-0774 www.kuehnmotors.com Kuehn Motors is one of southern Minnesota’s largest dealers with three locations to serve you in Rochester, Austin and Spring Valley. Always a large selection of Used Cars, Trucks, Vans and Commercial Vehicles to choose from. We also have a great selection of new Featherlite trailers. We have a complete service department and full body shop to take care of all your vehicle needs. We also have a large rental department equiped to rent cars, vans, utility trailers, handicap vans, moving vans, and car haulers.

DENTAL DRS. ELROD, GREEN & HYLAND, DDS: 800 1st Ave. SW, Austin, MN (507) 437-8208 www.yoursmileperfected.com Drs. Elrod, Green & Hyland is a modern, state-of-the-art practice offering patients a full-range of general and cosmetic dental services, from routine check-ups to complete smile makeovers. The doctors practice conservative, proactive dentistry utilizing the latest in dental technology. The first step towards a beautiful smile and a lifetime of good oral health is to schedule an appointment. Our office works with numerous Insurance Carriers. For your convenience, we offer a variety of payment options. Call today to schedule your appointment. We look forward to serving you for years to come!

DINING TORGE’S LIVE: 1701 4th St. NW, Austin, MN (507) 433-1000 www.torgeslive.com Torge’s has the best regional entertainment and the coldest beer in Austin! Enjoy 22 flat screen HDTV’s, a large outdoor patio with fire pit, live music, and daily food and drink specials. Torge’s Live Sports Bar and Grill is Austin Minnesota’s best nightclub!

FINANCIAL BREMER BANK: www.bremer.com Full-service banking, wealth management, investment, trust and insurance for personal or business banking. Online banking anywhere, anytime.

Two locations to serve you better. 805 North Main, Austin, MN (507) 433-8822 and 900 18th Ave NW, Austin, MN (507) 434-4613 FIRST FARMERS & MERCHANTS: 128 N. Main St., Austin, MN (507) 433-3473 www.ffmbank.com First Farmers & Merchants Bank is a financial institution serving a number of southern Minnesota communities. We provide premium banking services, including agricultural and consumer loans, mortgage lending, mobile and online banking, small business banking, and deposit products.

INSURANCE BROKERS OF MINNESOTA: “I don’t want to assume you don’t have the best insurance or you are interested in making any changes. Often people meet with me to review their current plan and compare it to other options available. Since I’m an independent agent and represent multiple options, I can share with you what is available - and you can decide what you would like to do. I invite you to call me to schedule a brief conversation and we can discuss your plan, your goals and what options will make it easier for you to achieve them.” – Wyn Alexander, Owner/Agent, Insurance Brokers of MN, Inc. (507) 437-0035 RBC WEALTH MANAGEMENT – TOM WUERTZ: 329 N. Main St., Suite 104, Austin (507) 433-4690 www.rbcwmfa.com/tom.wuertz Small town service with global resources.

Achieve your financial goals with our intelligent solutions. RBC Wealth Management is your partner to help navigate the complex choices and challenges planning for the future brings.

We’re here to elevate your success into something more.

HEALTH THE HORMEL INSTITUTE: 801 16th Ave. NE, Austin, MN (507) 433-8804 www.hi.umn.edu The Hormel Institute is a world-recognized leader in the scientific field showing that dietary factors prevent and control cancer development. We are accelerating cancer research discoveries to achieve our mission: Improve your health and well-being.

Today’s Research, Tomorrow’s Cures.

HOME IMPROVEMENT AREN’S HEATING: 103 3rd St. SE, Austin, MN www.arensheatingandcooling.com (507) 433-5652 Steve and Penny Arens working hard to make “Our Furnace Company Your Furnace Company” for 32 years since 1983. Selling “Top Rated” Bryant Equipment.

We will service any make or model. 24 HR Emergency Service. Free Estimates.

58 | Austin Living | May–June 2016

BUDGET BLINDS: 310 1st Ave. S., Albert Lea, MN (877) 373-8535 www.budgetblinds.com/AlbertLea We proudly serve the local community by offering high quality and stylish window coverings for any occasion. Our lavish selection of window treatments includes shutters, blinds, draperies, shades and even window film. Call us today to schedule your free in-home consultation. Looking forward to helping you beautify your home!

DOLAN’S LANDSCAPE CENTER INC: 3108 4th St NW, Austin (507) 433-3239 www.dolanslandscapecenter.com Dolan’s Landscape Center specializes in landscape design and landscaping installation. We offer many landscape services including outdoor patios, pergolas, fireplaces, retaining walls, stairs and steps, water feataures, landscape design, and sod. Visit our full landscape center stocked with most anything you may need for those weekend DIY landscape and gardening projects.

FREEBORN LUMBER COMPANY & DESIGN CENTER: 971 Plaza Street West, Albert Lea, MN www.freebornlumber.com (507) 377-4284 A family owned business that began in 1946. Stop in and visit their new facility and design showroom. Freeborn Lumber features quality building materials, new home design, kitchen remodels, cabinet design, agricultural buildings and outdoor living spaces.

GREENMAN HEATING & REFRIGERATION: 1001 4th St. SE, Austin, MN (507) 4376500 www.lennoxdealer.com/greenmanhvac Your local Lennox Premier Dealer staffed with Austin’s finest NATE Certified installers and technicians, ready to assist you with your heating, cooling, fireplace, and ventilation needs. Family owned for over 50 years, our family cares about your family. Voted Best of Mower County. Go Green, Save Green, call Greenman HVAC. SERVICES AUSTIN AEROFLIGHT: 710 21st St NE, Austin, MN (507) 433-1813 www.austinaeroflight.com Austin Aeroflight, Inc. is a full service FBO located at the Austin Municipal Airport. We offer both Jet A and 100LL fuel services. We provide flight training and ground instruction. Along with training, we also offer a complete line of CATS computerized testing. All FAA or FCC written tests can be taken here. Your major or minor aircraft repairs may be completed by our professional maintenance personnel. Austin Aeroflight also has the heated hangar space you need to protect your aircraft in all weather conditions. We’re here to meet all your aviation needs in Southern Minnesota.

AUSTIN PUBLIC LIBRARY: 323 4th Ave NE, Austin (507) 433-2391 www.austinpubliclibrary.org The Austin Public Library houses over 80,000 volumes and serves the surrounding city and Mower County area of approximately 30,000 residents. The library is a member of SELCO (Southeastern Libraries Cooperating) which provides library services to public and school libraries in the southeastern Minnesota region.

THE AUSTIN AREA CHAMBER OF COMMERCE: 329 North Main St., Austin, MN (507) 437-4561 www.austincoc.com The Chamber represents about 400 business members who collectively employ nearly 10,000 people in the Austin and Mower County area. We organize major events that showcase the community, including Freedom Fest and Christmas in the City. We promote our members through programs such as Buy Mower/ Grow Mower. And we serve as a voice for a strong business environment.

CRIME VICTIMS RESOURCE CENTER: 101 14th St NW, Austin (507) 437-6680 www.facebook.com/CVResourcecenter The CVRC provides advocacy and support to crime victims in Mower County, Minnesota. The CVRC is here to serve you and those close to you with support and options and works for changes which will enable all citizens to live in a community free of fear and violence through advocacy, actions and education. The CVRC will help individuals who have been victims of many different types of crime.

GERARD ACADEMY: 1111 28th St. NE, Austin, MN (507) 433-1843 www.nexustreatment.org At Gerard Academy, we believe in strengthening the inherent goodness and potential of every child and family, no matter what challenges they face. Since 1969, we have offered therapeutic care for children, adolescents and their families, providing the foundation for them to re-imagine and rebuild their lives.

NEW DIMENSION ELECTRONICS: (507) 433-2122 Having been in business for over 35 years, providing your home entertainments needs with Dish Network, Directv, Antenna Service, and Home Theater. Visit our website at www..Newdimensionelectronics.net or Come See our showroom located next to Jim’s Super Valu at 209 11th St NE, Austin Mn. SMYTH COMPANIES: 1201 27th Ave. NW, Austin, MN (507) 434-5918 Smyth offers full-service design and prepress services to our commercial clients. From simple two-color flyers to complex layouts for annual reports or product brochures, we can do it all. Eight station presses enable the application of a world of colors along with gloss or matte coatings.

Digital printing is also available for short run and prototype work.

SHOPPING NORTHBRIDGE MALL: 2510 Bridge Ave., Albert Lea, MN (507) 377-3185 www.northbridgemall.com Conveniently located just off the intersection of I-35 and I-90, Northbridge Mall features an arcade, movie theatre, toy stores, and many dining and shopping opportunities. Open Monday-Friday 10am-9pm, Saturday 10am-6pm, Sunday 12pm-5pm. Some business hours may vary.

May–June 2016 | Austin Living | 59

April 21-May 1

‘Young Frankenstein’

When: 7:30-9:30 p.m. on April 21-30, 2-4 p.m. on May 1 Where: Frank W. Bridges Theatre, Riverland Community College, Frederick Frankenstein, grandson of the infamous Victor Frankenstein, inherits his family’s estate in Transylvania. With the help of a hunchbacked sidekick and a leggy lab assistant, Frederick finds himself in the mad scientist shoes of his ancestors as he brings to life a creature to rival his grandfather’s. Eventually, of course, the monster escapes and hilarity continuously abounds. Susan V. Hansen directs, and the musical is recommended for ages 13 and up. Tickets are $16 and may be purchased by going to www.riverland.edu/theatre/tickets or at the box office in person or by phone. For more information or to order tickets, call 507-433-0595.

April 23

Stepping Out for Autism Walk

When: 10 a.m.-1 p.m.

Where: Hormel Historic Home Start at the Hormel Historic Home and walk around the Mill Pond, ending at the HHH with a concert and other activities. Join this annual event to raise awareness of Autism. For more information, call 507-433-4243.

April 24

Forte Milers, 50 Years of Barbershop Harmony

When: 3-5 p.m.

Where: Historic Paramount Theatre The Forte Milers Barbershop Chorus will be joined by the St. Croix Crossing Quartet and Sopha Sisters Quartet -from Cresco, Iowa. Tickets are $12 in advance, $14 at the door, and $5 for students. For more information, call 507-434-0934.

April 26

Autism awareness presentation by Theory of Mind

When: 7-8 p.m.

Where: Hormel Historic Home Theory of Mind is a touring show about a college-bound high school senior on the autism spectrum. This presentation, which focuses on a young man with Asperger’s syndrome, is free and pre-registration is encouraged. For more information, call 507-433-4243.

April 29

Fourth Annual Power of the Palate

When: 5-9 p.m.

Where: Austin Country Club This is a fundraiser to benefit the children of Mower County. This casual evening for men and women will feature sampling area cuisine, a cash bar and a silent auction stocked with incredible items. Tickets are $30 and are available at the United Way of Mower County.

April 29-30

Seventh Annual Taste of Nations and dinner

When: 11:30 a.m., 5:30 p.m.

Where: The former Terp Ballroom, 210 Fourth St. Northeast, Austin Explore and learn about numerous countries and cultures through dancing, fun, food and more. On Friday at 5:30 p.m., the dinner will feature a Greek-themed meal with Greek music and dancing. Pre-bought tickets are $18 for the dinner and are available at the Austin Convention and Visitors Bureau, the Welcome Center and Riverland Community College student affairs office. The event Saturday from 11:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. is free admission for the food samples, entertainment, education and fun. For more information or to volunteer, call Miguel Garate at 507-433-0686, or the Austin CVB at 507-437-4563.

60 | Austin Living | May–June 2016

Get ready for summer as the snow disappears and turns into green grass and leaf-filled trees. With plenty of rummage sales, great food from around the world, bird watching and more, this summer is sure to start off with lots of fun under the sun.

—All dates, times, and locations subject to change

April 30

Richie Lee and the Fabulous ‘50s

When: 7:30-9:30 p.m.

Where: Historic Paramount Theatre Playing rock ’n’ roll music the way it was meant to be. Tickets are $15 in advance or $20 at the door. For tickets or more information, call 507-434-0934.

May 3

Hearth and Home: Raising Kids in Exotic Places When: 10-11 a.m.

Where: Hormel Historic Home This free program will be presented by Peggy Keener. Light refreshments will be served. For more information, call 507-433-4243.

May 5, 10, 12, 17

Spring Bird Watching

When: 6:30-8 a.m.

Where: Jay C. Hormel Nature Center Meet in the Jay C. Hormel Nature Center parking lot with fellow birders for a hike on the Nature Center trails. This is a prime migration period and an excellent time to see a variety of colorful birds. The program is free and open to any interested person.

Binoculars will be provided on request, and this event is co-sponsored by the Austin Audubon Club. For more information, call 507-437-7519 or email info@ hormelnaturecenter.org.

May 6-7

Spring Used Book Sale

When: 10 a.m.-5 p.m.

Where: Austin Public Library This sale is sponsored by AAUW and the Friends of the Austin Public Library.

Donations of gently used books, CDs, DVDs are welcome from April 22 to May 4. The sale to the general public is Friday and Saturday from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. The $5 bag sale is from 3:30 to 4:30 p.m. Saturday. For more information, call 507-433-2391.

May 6

Comedy Night

When: 7:30-9:30 p.m.

Where: Historic Paramount Theatre Come enjoy comedy with friends and neighbors. Tickets are $10 in advance, $15 at the door, and are available at the Austin ArtWorks Center or online at www. austinareaarts.org. For more information, call 507-434-0934.

May 7

Austin Citywide Rummage Sale

When: All day Where: Various locations Austin Hunt for treasures throughout Austin. Maps are available through the Austin Daily Herald.

May 6-7

#300M4FREEDOM Events

When: 7 p.m., 2 p.m.

Where: Holiday Inn Austin Conference Center, The Ville On May 6, support the fight against human trafficking with local athlete Kelly Nesvold at the Holiday Inn Austin Conference Center. Starting at 7 p.m., there will be a fundraiser concert and silent auction, along with live music. Tickets are $10 and can be purchased at Wellness First Chiropractic or the Holiday Inn, or online at www.300m4freedom.com. On May 7, dart players will get a chance to join the fight with a dart tournament at The Ville in Austin. Sign up is at 2 p.m. and the tournament starts at 3 p.m., and will be casino style. There will be door prizes, raffles and drawings.

May 10

History Happy Hour: Musical Tribute to the Civilian Conservation Corps

When: 5:30-7:30 p.m.

Where: Hormel Historic Home Bill Jamerson will present a musical tribute to the Civilian Conservation Corps. Social hour will begin at 5:30 p.m. and the presentation at 6 p.m. A cash bar will be available, and coffee, water and appetizers will be provided. This event is free to members of the Hormel Historic Home, the Mower County Historical Society and Friends of the Library; it costs $5 for non-members. For more information, call 507-433-4243.

May 13-15

Mini-Gaming Tournament, Austi-Con

When: All day Where: Holiday Inn Austin Conference Center Enjoy a weekend of table-top gaming as well as other scheduled events. For more information, visit Facebook at www.facebook.com/events/667274456709496/. The gaming will take place in the Harvest and Roosevelt rooms of the Holiday Inn.

May 14

Austin’s Puzzling Competition

When: 8:30 a.m.-12 p.m.

Where: Holiday Inn Austin Conference Center Two- to four-member teams compete to complete a 1,000 piece puzzle first. This competition is open to the public, so invite friends and family. The cost is $10 per person and includes the puzzle and refreshments for participating teams. Team registration is required by May 6, so stop by or call the Austin Convention and Visitors Bureau for a registration form. For more information call 507-437-4563.

May 21

Annual VFW Classic Car Show When: 10 a.m.-5 p.m.

Where: Austin VFW Post 1216 Come out and see some cars at the annual VFW Classic Car Show. For more information, call 507-4336039.

June 1-3

Cancer Symposium

When: All day Where: The Hormel Institute Join researchers in their fight against cancer. For more information, call 507-437-9601.

June 3

15th Annual Three Rivers Flea Market

When: 8 a.m.-8 p.m., Where: Mower County Fairgrounds This event has free admission and free parking. Friday’s event is setup day, and the market will be held rain or shine with vendors indoor and out. For more information call Tessa at 507-219-9826 or 507-219-9762, or email yllwdrgnfly13@yahoo.com.

June 3-5

Vision 2020 Summer Kickoff Festival

When: 4-8:30 p.m.

Where: Downtown Austin This kickoff is sponsored by Vision 2020 Downtown Austin. With food, vendors, games, music and more, there is fun for everyone. For more information, contact Greg at 507437-3448.

June 13

History Happy Hour: Antique Evaluations

When: 5:30-7:30 p.m.

Where: Hormel Historic Home Take advantage of the opportunity to get antiques appraised by Mark F. Moran. Social hour will begin at 5:30 p.m. and the presentation at 6 p.m. The event is free to members of certain organizations and $5 for non-members. For more information, call 507-4334243.

June 15

Austin Community Band Concert in the Park

When: 7-8 p.m.

Where: Bandshell Community Park Come enjoy this free concert with a blanket or lawn chair for a perfect summer treat.

June 20

‘A Touch of Magic’

When: 1:30-2:30 p.m.

Where: Hormel Historic Home Bring the kids for this free children’s show.

For more information, call 507-433-4243.

June 21-26

‘Shrek the Musical’ by the Summerset Theatre

When: 7:30-9:30 p.m. June 21-5, 2-4 p.m. on June 26 Where: Riverland Community College’s Frank Bridges Theatre Set in a mythical “once upon a time” sort of land, “Shrek the Musical” is the story of a hulking green ogre who, after being mocked and feared his entire life, retreats to an ugly green swamp to exist in happy isolation. But then a group of homeless fairy-tale characters — Pinocchio, Cinderella, the Three Pigs, you name it — raid his sanctuary saying they’ve been evicted by the vertically challenged Lord Farquaad. Shrek strikes a deal: He’ll get their homes back, if they give him his home back. But when Shrek and Farquaad meet, the Lord strikes a deal of his own: He’ll give the fairy-tale characters their homes back, if Shrek rescues Princess Fiona. Shrek obliges, yet finds something appealing–something strange and different–about this pretty princess. He likes her. A lot. But why does she always run off when the sun sets?

June 25

18th annual Shooting Star Bike ride

When: Registration opens at 6:30 a.m., the 100-mile ride starts at 7 a.m., and other rides begin from to 8:30 a.m.

Where: Along the Shooting Star Bike Trail, beginning at the Rose Pedaler in Rose Creek Soak up the sun and get those biking skills back to tip-top shape with this bike ride on the Shooting Star Trail.

May–June 2016 | Austin Living | 61

BOOK REVIEW

All ages can catch a smile from ‘Winn-Dixie’

By Jeannie Kearney, Austin Page Turners “Because of Winn-Dixie” by Kate DiCamillo is cataloged in the juvenile section of libraries but the book actually has something to teach people of all ages.

Ten-year-old India Opal Buloni and her father have recently moved to a new town for her father to become the preacher at the Open Arms Baptist Church. As Opal is running an errand for her father, she rescues a dog in the Winn-Dixie grocery store (which is how the dog got its name). Opal realizes right away that she can tell her new friend anything — even how much she misses her mother, especially since her father never talks about her.

It seems that no one can resist the charms of Winn-Dixie no more than they can resist becoming friends with Opal. The story begins with Opal having no friends in the new town but with Winn-Dixie at her side she is soon spending time with the librarian whose father gave her the library for her birthday, a woman the neighborhood kids think is a witch, an exconvict and a little girl named Sweetie-Pie. Through the course of this short book, Opal finally learns the reasons that her mother left when she was three and that she won’t be coming back. She also learns the girl with a sour face has cause to be sad and that an ex-convict isn’t necessarily a bad person. In the end, Opal brings this eccentric group together for a party that almost ends in disaster. Through it all, Winn-Dixie helps Opal and the Preacher realize that although they have experienced sadness they still have a lot to be thankful for.

This book will keep you smiling throughout and sometimes even cause you to laugh out loud. It is hard for a reader to resist the delightful charms of Opal and Winn-Dixie.

It might even take you back to memories of a much-loved pet from your past.

62 | Austin Living | May–June 2016

Kate DiCamillo, author of “Because of Winn-Dixie”

Photo credit: Candlewich Press

May–June 2016 | Austin Living | 63

Steve and Shelley King with their sons Sam, middle left, and Carter right.

WHY WE LOVE AUSTIN

from pacelli to grinders, great people make austin

By Steve

and

Simply put, we love Austin because of the people who live here and the relationships we have formed with them.

Steve was born and raised in Austin, but lived in Winona, Minneapolis and Lakeville before returning to Austin.

Shelley was raised in Stillwater and lived in several Twin Cities’ communities as well as Bloomington and Indiana before moving to Austin with our family in 2005.

We liked those other places we lived, but we never really knew what we were missing until we moved to Austin.

We discovered that there are good people and good relationships to be found at the most common of places.

The Saturday morning employees at Donut Connection know that one of our sons likes double bacon on his plain bagel, and the other likes plain cream cheese on his plain bagel.

Kyle at the coffee shop anticipates Shelley’s “half caf Americano” order before she even says it. Unless it’s around lunch time — then he’s wondering if she’ll order the BLT wrap or the chicken salad.

Sue, at Grinders, tells Steve, who forgot his wallet, to just take his sandwiches this time and pay for them the next time he comes in.

Deanna, a neighbor and an ER nurse at Mayo Clinic Health System, engages in a nice chat with you while 1. you, 2. your son, or 3. your father has an unexpected health emergency.

Not only do you get updates on her growing family, she also provides impeccable care and much needed peace of mind.

64 | Austin Living | May–June 2016

Shelley King

People actually wonder and ask if everything is OK when you miss the mass you usually attend at St. Augustine.

When you forget to call in and tell Pacelli that your son is home sick, Krista calls you, asks how he’s doing, and makes sure that your other son brings home the make up work.

A certain Kwik Trip manager may have flagged Shelley down while checking out to let her know that Steve, the day before, perhaps forgot to pay for his gas after receiving an indepth tutorial from another employee on how to use those new-fangled coffee machines … at 5:45 a.m. She knows he’s not a morning person. …

And then there are the “pop overs.” Steve swears that Austin was founded on the “pop over” — the unexpected visit from friends or family.

We liked those other places, but after living in Austin, we realized that most of the people in those other places never really got to know us. It’s not their fault — they rarely got the chance to know us. But then again, we rarely got the chance to know them either. Here in town — in Austin — we get those opportunities to know each other every day. And we, as a community, take advantage of that. We get to know each other, we form relationships, and we genuinely care about each other.

Steve is an Austin City Council member for Ward 2 and is the Mower County Corrections director. Shelley is an attorney at Baudler, Maus & Forman. The couple has two sons, Carter and Sam.