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www.driftlessjournal.com | news@driftlessjournal.com | 563-382-4221 | Tuesday, March 5, 2024 | Vol. 6 Issue 10
Sale of Harmony business pending Public hearing March 6 to consider a conditional use permit for a retail variety store on the property
Volunteers of all ages took part in a river clean up on Mississippi River Pool 9 near Lansing. (submitted)
By Charlie Warner “This has been an incredibly difficult and painful decision. We’ve been so fortunate to have had the support of so many great customers and we look forward to continuing to serve them into this summer.” That’s the way Andrew Kingsley of Harmony Gardens and Floral replied last week when asked about the possible sale of the sprawling greenhouse located along Highway 52 on the north end of Harmony, Minn. News had spread through this Fillmore County community that the local greenhouse was sold to a business/real estate developer, and that a Dollar General retail store would be located at 625 Main Ave. North. “Originally, we put the business up for sale a couple of years ago after we switched to homeschooling our children and saw the need to make some lifestyle changes that would restore some sanity to our family life,” Kingsley said. “We listed it on the open market for a full 12 months but received no offers or serious interest. Since then, I’ve always been transparent that we’d be willing to sell. “When we received an offer from this developer last year, we offered the business to multiple individuals familiar with the business for significantly
The Harmony Garden and Floral gift shop is located on Highway 52 on the north edge of Harmony, Minn. (Driftless Multimedia photos by Charlie Warner) less money than we felt our business was worth,” Kingsley said. He went on to say that he and his wife Lisa and their family would have preferred to see the current business continue to operate as a greenhouse/floral and gift shop. But no one was interested. “This was essentially the last thing we wanted to have happen. But we definitely can’t afford to own it and not operate it,” Kingsley said. “My parents (Kerry and Jane Kingsley) approached us about possibly helping them reduce their workload at their store, as they are getting older.” Kerry and Jane Kingsley own and operate Kingsley Mercantile, which is one of busiest hardware and appliance stores in the area. “That’s why when this devel-
oper made us an offer, it felt like maybe God was clearing a path forward for us and them,” Andrew said. The offer was quite low for the business and property that the Kingsleys had developed over the past eight years, “but was a fair offer for just the real estate,” said Andrew. “We decided after much deliberation that the choice was clear, all things considered. Mom and Dad have an awesome team at the Mercantile and I’m excited to join them.” He added that the business transaction hasn’t been finalized yet. But, it does appear to be moving forward. A public hearing has been scheduled to
Harmony business
continued on page 5
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Friends of Pool 9 to celebrate 100 years March 9 By Jennifer Bissell For 100 years, friends and neighbors of the Mississippi River near Lansing have donated their time and talents to ensure generations to come have access to the river along the Mississippi River Refuge. This year, local non-profit organization the Friends of Pool 9 – Mississippi River Refuge, will celebrate the 100-year anniversary of the nationally-recognized refuge. To kick off its centennial year of existence, the group is holding a special event on Saturday, March 9, at TJ Hunters Banquet Hall in Lansing. The educational program and concert are open to the public at no charge. Upcoming celebration To commemorate the 100year celebration, Friends of Pool 9 Founding Board Member Ric Zarwell said the group decided to do something that would celebrate the storied history of the refuge. The event will kick off at 2 p.m., March 9, at TJ Hunters Banquet Hall, with a performance by Steven Marking. A local performer, Marking will perform as Will Dilg, an iconic individual who helped establish the 261-mile fish and wildlife refuge. At 7 p.m., local musicians Jon “Hawk” Stravers and his band Big Blue Sky will take the stage, performing their original folk-rock songs. Throughout the day, TJ Hunters will offer lunch, dinner and a cash bar. Background on the refuge While the Friends of Pool 9 was established in 2003, the actual refuge the group helps preserve was established 100 years ago. Will Dilg, an avid fisherman from Chicago, often traveled
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Friends of Pool 9 Clean Up Crew. (submitted)
worked together to establish a group to work with the National Fish and Wildlife Service on preserving the river and its resources. “The head of the whole refuge at the office in Winona came and talked to us in the gym. Because we’re so close to the river and it means so much to have the river, we had lots of people attend,” said Zarwell. “We wanted to have a voice in the decision made for managing the refuge. We established a 501(c)(3) non-profit corporation and with a strong love of the river and committed local leaders, quickly got to work. This was recognized in just our third year of existence, when the Friends of Pool 9 received the National Friends Group of the Year Award for Enhancing the National Wildlife Refuge System, out of 252 refuge friends groups across the nation at that time.” With over 800 members in 30 states and three countries, the group maintains one of the most heavily used federal properties in the nation behind Yellowstone, the Great Smoky Mountains and the Grand Canyon. The Friends of Pool 9 pursues their mission through two primary goals: informing the public about the benefits of Pool 9 of the refuge; and providing opportunities for volunteers to help conserve the natural habitats found within Pool 9, and the wildlife and fish populations that depend on those habitats. Some of those volunteer service projects include putting fire rings on the beaches, coordinating placement of port-apotties in heavily trafficked areas near boat landings, hosting educational programs like the
Pool 9 continued on page 4