Issuu

FALL 2019 â€˘ ISSUE 4

Northfield

now L I V E / W O R K / P L AY Northfield grad is promoted to Navy Lt. Cmdr. Lisa Emery creates a career from her passion Tech entrepreneur brings small-town sensibility to big-screen entertainment

Into the Northfield and surrounding area craft beer boom

$2.00

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contents 6 Climbing the ranks – Northfield grad is promoted to Navy Lt. Cmdr. 11 One stitch at a time – Lisa Emery making a career of her passion. 16 Tech entrepreneur brings small-town

sensibility to big-screen entertainment.

20 Photo Gallery: Brown brings unique passion for photography.

26 Tapping into local craft brewers. 32 Northfield artist connects with earth

and community.

35 Football games busy task for workers,

volunteers.

on the cover:

Assistant brewer Jared Allerson, foreground, and head brewer Justin Holden stand on the brew deck at Imminent Brewing. Imminent Brewing produces beer on a weekly basis. (Nick Gerhardt)

Northfield Photographer Dale Brown captures a sunset along northern Minnesota’s Gunflint Trail. (Photo courtesy of Dale Brown)

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“Little Shop of Horrors” Northfield High School presents “Little Shop of Horrors” at 7:30 p.m. Fridays and Saturdays Nov. 1, 2, 8 and 9 and 2 p.m. Nov. 10. Tickets are $8 for adults and $6 for students and seniors. Tickets are available in the Northfield High School office or at the door. The play, described as a “Broadway and Hollywood sci-fi smash musical,” includes meek floral assistant Seymour Krelborn stumbling across a new breed of plant he names after his coworker crush. The R&B-singing carnivore promises unending fame and fortune to the disadvantaged. Over time, Seymour discovers the carnivore’s origins and intent to dominate the world.

Veterans Day 9 a.m. Monday, Nov. 11, Bridgewater Elementary School

by her family and school, and helps her teacher to reclaim her life. The musical is based on the famous young people’s novel of the same name by Roald Dahl. It won five Tony awards in 2013 (including Best Book of a Musical) and seven Olivier Awards in 2011 (including Best New Musical). The play is directed by Rachel Haider. Music is directed by Liz Shepley, and choreography is done by Jana Hirsch.

St. Olaf Christmas Festival Dec. 5 to Dec. 8, Skoglund Center, St. Olaf College For generations, the celebration of the AdventChristmas-Epiphany season begins with the annual St. Olaf Christmas Festival, a century-old tradition of the college. The first festival

was a musical program for the college community, planned and directed by the founder of the St. Olaf Music Department. Tickets have not yet gone on sale.

Winter Walk 5 to 9 p.m. Thursday, Dec. 12, downtown Northfield When is downtown Northfield more beautiful than during Winter Walk? Come celebrate the kick off to the holidays with friends and neighbors with a ride in a horse-drawn wagon, songs and performances by local groups, an ornament hunt and the much anticipated tree-lighting ceremony. Division Street will be bathed in candlelight as shops throughout the district open their doors to celebrate the community — and the season.

Nov. 22 and Nov. 29 shows begin at 7:30 p.m. Nov. 23, 24, 30 and Dec. 1 events begin at 2 p.m. “Matilda” celebrates a precocious, young girl who loves to read. Through the gift of telekinesis, she overcomes atrocious obstacles caused

416 Grastvedt Ln. • 507-664-1416 M - F 11-5 • Sa 10-5 • Sun 12-4

now L I V E / W O R K / P L AY publisher: CHAD HJELLMING

Nov. 22 to Nov. 24 and Nov. 29 to Dec. 1, Northfield Arts Guild Theater, 411 Third St. W.

Upstairs behind Hogan Brothers off the municipal parking lot.

Northfield

The school holds its 22nd Annual Veterans Day Assembly in the gym. The program includes songs, poems, readings, slideshows and other performances dedicated to honor the nation’s veterans.

Roald Dahl’s ‘Matilda, the Musical’

• Vintage • Upcycled • New

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northfield now calendar

managing editor: Sam wilmes Regional Director of Sales: mark nelson advertising manager: JAY PETSCHE designer: Kate Townsend-Noet Send story ideas to: Sam Wilmes at Northfield NOW swilmes@northfieldnews.com Volume 2, Issue 4

Northfield NOW Published Fall 2019 by: Northfield News / 115 W Fifth Street, Northfield, MN 55057 / northfieldnews.com ©

All advertising contained herein is the responsibility of the advertisers. This publication is copyrighted by the Northfield News and no content can be reproduced without permission.

This issue of Northfield NOW is delivered to all subscribers of Northfield News for the low cost of $1.00 per issue, deducted upon delivery from your account balance. If you decide it’s not for you, you can opt out of future issues by contacting customer service at 507-645-5615 or kmorrison@northfieldnews.com. Non-subscribers can purchase copies of Northfield News for $2.00 each.

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Climbing the ranks

NHS grad promoted to Navy Lt. Cmdr. 6

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Northfield native Shannon McKownEvans receives her shoulder blades for her promotion to lieutenant commander from her cousin and grandparent, Cary Larson, Sept. 7 during a ceremony at the Northfield VFW. (Sam Wilmes/Northfield News)

Story By SAM WILMES swilmes@northfieldnews.com

section of the Northfield VFW was packed on Sept. 7 during the Defeat of Jesse James Days for the promotion ceremony of a Northfield High School alumnus who has achieved lieutenant commander status in the U.S. Navy. The person being recognized at this event filled with friends and family is 2004 Northfield High School graduate Shannon McKown-Evans, a woman who has worked herself up the military ranks as a nurse. “It was amazing,” she said. “It just meant a lot to me. … I keep a part of their lives still. It was a great turnout, and I was so happy that everyone came.” McKown-Evans, 33, a Maryland native, moved to Northfield when she was in second grade. A 2004 NHS graduate, she attended college at Bethel University, where she earned her nursing degree. It was during that time she said she felt called to join the military. Between her junior and senior years she lived with her sister and brotherin-law in Hawaii and fell in love with the culture. When she returned stateside, she found a recruiter and expressed her desire to join the military. She then entered officer development school in fall 2009 and spent five weeks in Rhode Island. “You just learn how to be an officer in the Navy,” McKown-Evans said of her time in development school. McKown-Evans attended officer school for five weeks in Rhode Island, and her first duty station was in Bethesda, Maryland, at the National Naval Medical Center, where she was stationed for three years. Her next station was at a small clinic in Cherry Point, CONTINUED ON PAGE 8

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“I get to go travel the world. I have a husband and two kids who love traveling with me, who’ve had great experiences as well. I have nothing but amazing things to say about joining the military, raising a family, being a mother in the military.” - Shannon McKown-Evans CONTINUED FROM PAGE 7

North Carolina, before she went to Yokosuka, Japan, where she was a pediatric clinic nurse for three years. She has been in Millington, Tennessee, for the last year and works at a Navy recruiting command on-base a few times a month. She manages students who want to apply for medical, nursing and dental school. Military service runs in McKown-Evans’s family. Both of her brothers-in-law are in the military, and a few of her uncles have served in the Army and Navy. She met her husband, Devin Evans, at her first duty station. Devin was deployed to Afghanistan for nine months during the couple’s first year of marriage in 2010. Devin has since adjusted to being a civilian nurse. “He definitely shares my passion for the military, but he’s also my greatest supporter,” she said. The couple have two children together: Eli, 5, and Esther, 7.

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“I get to go travel the world,” Shannon said. “I have a husband and two kids who love traveling with me, who’ve had great experiences as well. I have nothing but amazing things to say about joining the military, raising a family, being a mother in the military.” “It just shows that I have been very successful in the military, I have done great things, and I was promoted to the next rank.” The Rev. Cary Larson, a retired Navy commander who spent five years in active service and 15 in reserves, placed the shoulder boards on McKown-Evans’s shoulder during a ceremony in early September at the Northfield VFW commemorating her advancement attended by family and friends. “I’m very proud of her,” he said. “It’s a great honor. I really appreciated Shannon bringing this event home.” McKown-Evans’s mother is a retired nurse, and her daughter decided she wanted to use that same interest to benefit her country.

Larson completes the ceremonial process by placing the marking on McKown-Evans’s shirt. (Sam Wilmes/ Northfield News)

“Other than being proud, it’s just really neat that she has taken her interest in nursing and put it to her service of the country,” Larson said. McKown-Evans’s promotion comes in a competitive atmosphere that only becomes more so the higher you rise in the ranks. “For her to be promoted to lieutenant, it’s not just automatic,” Larson said. “She earned it.” Shannon plans to achieve commander status before she retires from the military. Her Northfield upbringing provided McKown-Evans with roots and the morals of where she stands today. She also credits Larson with helping her make her career choice. “He would always set a great example for me,” she said. McKown-Evans is a part of the ever-increasing representation of women in the U.S. Military. According to the Council on Foreign Relations, when the draft ended in 1973, women represented an estimated 2 percent of the enlisted forces and 8 percent of the officer corps. Today, those numbers are 16 percent and 18 percent respectively. According to the Council, the Air Force has traditionally had the highest percentage of enlisted and officer women, but by 2016, the Navy had nearly caught up. In both services, approximately one in five enlisted members and officers are women. The Defense Department lifted all restrictions on the roles women can perform in the military in 2016. Nurses in the Navy have many responsibilities and places where they practice. Nursing unit members practice at military CONTINUED ON PAGE 10 PREVIOUS PAGE: Larson is seen in this picture explaining the importance of serving the U.S. and McKown-Evans’s military career. (Sam Wilmes/Northfield News)

McKown-Evans is seen in this picture receiving a Navy and Marine Corps achievement medal from a fellow military nurse. (Photo courtesy of Shannon McKown)

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CONTINUED FROM PAGE 9

McKown-Evans and her husband, Devin, pose in their military uniforms. The couple met while they were serving in the U.S. Navy. (Photo courtesy of Shannon McKown)

McKown-Evans is seen in this picture standing in front of a statute in her military uniform. (Photo courtesy of Shannon McKown)

Residential

treatment facilities around the world, during deployments and humanitarian aid missions, which could include taking part in humanitarian relief efforts like administering infant vaccinations in developing countries, or providing emergency care to natural disaster victims. McKown-Evans lives her life with a Christian belief and is raising her two children with morals she says come from the faith. Her father, Thomas McKown, is well-known in Northfield for putting together the Rock ‘N’ Roll Revival and has since moved to Florida. Shannon’s brother, Patrick, spoke highly of his sister’s career. “I’m extremely proud of her … Shannon has worked very hard in the Navy and she’s worked herself up very quickly,” he said. “So we are extremely proud of her. We are really, we’re all spread out now throughout the United States, so we’re really happy to come home and do this event here in Northfield.” Shannon has incorporated her passion for helping people with a desire to serve the country. “Everyone has a different calling in life, and my definite calling was to join the military,” she said. “So if they feel a strong calling to join the military, I definitely think that joining the military is an amazing experience.” Reach Associate Editor Sam Wilmes at 507-645-1115.

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Story & Photos By SAM WILMES swilmes@northfieldnews.com

is making a career out of her passion

itting in her Northfield alterations business on a Friday morning in September, Lisa Emery sits down for an interview while the customers quickly come in and out. Emery, who has sewed for at least 50 years, is using her talent to fill sometimes spontaneous customer needs while making a career out of it. Days for her are never the same. Sometimes there is a constant stream of customers, on others the pace is slower. In her position, Emery is allowed to do something many only dream of: Doing something she loves while getting paid.

♥

Emery’s business, Lisa’s Alterations, began 18 years ago in her own home. After spending approximately nine years there, she moved her operation to the Weichert Realtors building, renting space in the back. Two years ago, she opened her own space at 507 S. Water St. She runs her own operation out of the building, working on alterations on bridesmaid dresses, mother of the bride gowns, suit alterations and pant hems and zipper repairs. Emery also offers specialty hems. Her business hems formal wear, excluding wedding gowns, and men’s suits. Lisa’s Alteration partners with Jim’s Formalwear to offer tuxedos CONTINUED ON PAGE 12

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________ ____________

Emery works on a piece of clothing on a recent morning at her business. She works on alterations on bridesmaid dresses, mother of the bride gowns, suit alterations and paint hems, zipper repairs and take-ins. CONTINUED FROM PAGE 11

Emery assists a customer in the fitting process. In her position, Emery strikes a balance between accepting customer requests and operating her business in a sustainable way to ensure she can remain in operation.

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and suits for rental as well as special occasion suits for purchase. “This is my forever location until I retire,” she said. “I love it here. It’s a much better spot. It’s open. It’s bright. Great parking, great visibility. It’s perfect.” One of Emery’s biggest jobs is absolving her customers of their wardrobe guilt over a garment that just doesn’t work for them. “Sometimes I just wave my hands and say, ‘You’re absolved,’ she said. “‘Go take it to Goodwill.’” She also has to strike a balance between jobs she wants to take on and tasks she can take. “If I want to be here for very long, I have to say no,” she said. “Because there’s plenty of lucrative stuff to do.” Emery has taken a winding path to where she is today. A Fargo/ Moorhead area native, Emery originally went to school for fashion/ merchandising for one year. She had a tailoring job at a menswear shop and advertised art for a time. From there, she went to school for one year in Detroit Lakes for sign-painting and then moved to Faribault, where she briefly worked, married her husband, Steven,

________ ____________

_ _ __

_ __

and became a stay-at-home mother for 18 years while her children Ariel, Phillip, Megan and Mairin were growing up. During that time, she fulfilled her passion for sewing, sometimes doing so for weddings, zip covers and side covers to make extra money. “I love being able to make something,” she said. “It’s sort of like sculpting when you’re making it fit people. I love that part. I love all the little operations that you can sew something up and it turn into something. I guess I just have always loved that. It’s like engineering or sculpting. You’re making something that’s flat into something that’s not flat, and that’s exciting.” There are challenging parts of Emery’s job, including when she works with zippers or bridesmaid dresses. “Everyone is different,” she said. “You gotta reinvent it every time sometimes, so it’s hard.” There have also been slight alterations to what people wear during her career. She is noticing more knit pants, which has required her to change her machine use. Most adjustments Emery undertakes take between 10 and 90 minutes. Her prices are within industry norms, and in a typical day she usually works on a half dozen bridesmaid dresses. During prom season she sometimes fits 50 tuxedos and 50 prom dresses in 45 days. Despite decades of experience, Emery is still learning. An 18-year-old assistant recently helped her learn how to tie a thread in a new way. “You’re always learning,” she said. “I’m still learning.” Emery’s initial dream job centered around sewing but did not include alterations. “It was my fallback, because I wanted to do dressmaking,” she said. “I wanted to make stuff from scratch, but I realized early on this was where the money is. For me, it works for me.”

_ __

Emery uses string and other products to complete her work, as shown in this picture.

The positive feedback she receives is constant. “They are thrilled most of the time,” Emery said of customer reactions to her work. “And I hear probably a half dozen times a week ‘I am so glad you’re here. We’re so lucky to have you here.’ There’s just a lot of good feedback in this business.” Emery hopes to retire in a few years but wants to ensure she can pass

CONTINUED ON PAGE 14

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____________________

Northfielder Lisa Emery has made a career out of altering dresses and tuxedos. She has moved into her own location, 507 Water St., in the last couple of years, where she has expanded her clientele.

CONTINUED FROM PAGE 13

__ BY THE NUMBERS:

2002: The year Emery’s business began out of her own home 50: The number of years Emery has been sewing 507 Water St.: The address of Emery’s business, Lisa’s Alterations Four: The number of children Emery has: Ariel, Phillip, Megan and Mairin

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on the business to someone. Steven has seen the passion his wife has shown for alteration work. He also believes the city’s welcoming environment for small businesses makes it a prime location for her establishment. “It’s something that she’s always liked and done since she was very young, and because of that, once our kids were old enough, that allowed her to start the business at home,” he said. He described the evolution of the business, which he said blossomed from word-of-mouth from friends and customers who appreciated the quality of her work. After building her clientele, she established the brick-and-mortar location and became aware that she could sustain the business. “That visibility has also added to her clientele and has been quite helpful in having her business name out in front of the public,” Steven said. To him, his wife has the skill, talent and will to successfully run the business. “It’s all on her as far as what she has done,” he said. “It’s been all her effort. She wanted to do it, had the skill to do it. Put the effort in to do it. It’s her business. All the credit goes to her for what she’s built.”

Reach Associate Editor Sam Wilmes at 507-645-1115.

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tech entrepreneur brings small-town sensibility to big-screen entertainment

â€œHow can you turn a flat website into something interactive? How can you make a unique brand story, infusing a new energy and life into the entertainment industry?â€? - Larissa Lowthorp 16

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A Story By ANNE KOPAS Northfield News

Northfield-born entrepreneur Larissa Lowthorp is bringing her big ideas to movie screens through her new company, TimeJump Media, which aims to leverage her experience in web design and technology to market and develop films and more. (Photo by John Wagner/Hair and makeup by Jansel Hutton)

s a girl, Larissa Lowthorp was drawn—as many children were—into the realm of imagination and fantasy. As an adult, it’s not something she’s interested in giving up. These days, the Northfield-raised Lowthorp is embracing her taste for the whimsical, turning it into a business concept that refuses to think outside the box as much as Lowthorp herself. The fledgling company, TimeJump Media — based in Toronto, Los Angeles and the Twin Cities — aims to rethink entertainment, marketing and web design through an innovative approach to technology and creativity. Looking back, Lowthorp can see the seeds of her entrepreneurial ideas planted at a young age, when she began writing stories, making films and performing onstage while growing up with her family in Northfield. She described a sense of delight and wonder with the world, accompanied by a sense of isolation that drove her to continually look for new ways to create. By the time she hit her teenage years, however, Lowthorp’s teachers pushed her to prepare for high school and later college, urging her toward more practical pursuits like many of her classmates. So she followed that path instead after graduation from Faribault High School, eventually dropping out of college in her 20s when family obligations required her to seek a steady income in web design and information technology. But the corporate world wasn’t for Lowthorp. She knew she needed to revive her creative side, so she quit her corporate job in 2015 to focus on filmmaking — the same year her short film “Lacuna” screened out of competition at the world-renowned Cannes Film Festival in France. The film, which focuses on the aftermath of a sexual assault, earned critical praise for its gripping depiction of posttraumatic stress disorder. From there, Lowthorp’s creative endeavors started to take off. Her website now includes an extensive list of roles, from author to fashion designer to Larissa Lowthorp has spent the last few years filmmaker. splitting her time between Los Angeles and “My creativity felt like it was Northfield, but she hasn’t forgotten her roots— she’s even written a script for a planned film set blossoming again,” she said. “I’d during Defeat of Jesse James Days. (Photo by promised myself that I’m never John Wagner/Hair and makeup by Jansel Hutton) going to lose that in my life.” CONTINUED ON PAGE 18

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CONTINUED FROM PAGE 17

A new name in entertainment Since then, Lowthorp has taken her expertise to Hollywood, where she set her sights on big-screen writing, marketing and filmmaking. She’s working to develop a feature-length animated screenplay, and what she calls “guerilla marketing” strategies attracted the attention of Fox, Universal Studios and others, leading to marketing work for films including “Water for Elephants,” “Dreamgirls” and “Cowboys and Aliens.” In addition to off-camera work, Lowthorp has also dabbled in acting, dance and modeling. She’s been interviewed for both on- and offline news outlets including the Wall Street Journal [url: https://www. wsj.com/articles/do-you-resist-new-tech-at-the-office-11560159001], Forbes [url: https://www.forbes.com/sites/christopherelliott/2019/05/13/why-we-need-anational-road-trip-day/#4800a16e6de5] and Medium [url: https://medium.com/ authority-magazine/the-social-impact-heroes-of-social-media-listen-to-yourintuition-ed7523be613f]. Around the time that Lowthorp left her corporate career, she began moving forward with a concept she’d carried in the back of her mind for years: TimeJump Media. The name came from a conversation with friend and mentor Gino McKoy, who simply asked Lowthorp to name something that interested her about space (time warp) and her favorite animal (kangaroo). It also represents the leap of faith required to start a business. The company’s interests are as broad as Lowthorp’s, working on various aspects of the entertainment business, from music video production to film marketing to social media, brand development, web design and other creative services. At its core, TimeJump reflects Lowthorp’s interest in the intersections between technology and entertainment. From her experience with film festivals, Lowthorp noted that the industry could, counterintuitively, be still focused on the analog. She noticed that one festival, for example, was filled with creative minds yet struggled to disseminate its basic information online. It’s these types of mismatches that Lowthorp wants to target. But Lowthorp doesn’t want to stop there. Though the company is still in a “long launch” stage, Lowthorp already has business partners ready to go. And she’s already looking beyond basic marketing to new frontiers in technology and web design.

“It’s uncharted territory ... But it felt like, just when I would get to a corner with the lights turned out, my path illuminates. Everything is falling into place.” - Larissa Lowthorp “How can you turn a flat website into something interactive?” she said. “How can you make a unique brand story, infusing a new energy and life into the entertainment industry?” The path forward for TimeJump has been neither straight nor easy. Lowthorp has hit a few bumps in the road, like her dad’s serious illness and the struggle to brand and define a company with such a broad focus. “It’s an interesting path because it hasn’t been done before. ... On one hand, I always have these big crazy ideas that I want to do, but on the other hand, I’m always looking for a roadmap. But maybe there isn’t one.” McKoy’s help was also instrumental, Lowthorp said. In a business where connections are vital, McKoy’s insider Hollywood knowledge as a musician and actor gave her a much-needed boost. When the two first met, McKoy would have described Lowthorp as an introvert — but throughout her work, he said, she’s

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Larissa Lowthorp walks the red carpet at a film premiere. In 2015, Lowthorp’s short film, “Lacuna,” screened out of competition at the internationally known Cannes Film Festival in France. (Photo courtesy of Larissa Lowthorp)

grown more comfortable with coming out of her shell and advocating for herself and her business. “I see her going very high in the film industry,” McKoy said. “She’ll put in the time, and she’s critical of her work. She won’t settle.”

Expanding theater access While much of Lowthorp’s work currently focuses on other people’s projects, Lowthorp hasn’t forgotten her own personal creative endeavors. She’s developing the script for a festival-bound film set in Northfield during Defeat of Jesse James Days; other projects in the pipeline include three animated movies, a dark comedy and a sci-fi film. The animated film projects in particular have captured Lowthorp’s attention as a pathway to a new kind of theater-going experience she hopes TimeJump can pursue in the coming years. Drawing from her experience in IT and a background in early childhood education, Lowthorp is in the research and development phase of designing a sensory-accessible theater chain for audiences that may struggle in traditional theaters—like viewers who are blind, deaf or on the autism spectrum. Many of these projects, said Lowthorp, “are centered around my personal love of and interest in young adult fantasy fiction and scifi, exploring the limits and playing with the medium of animation

and taking that in new directions, as far as 3D and wholly immersive theatrical experiences.”

Fem(me)Power The challenges of entrepreneurship drove Lowthorp to yet another project: Fem(me) Power, a new organization seeking to empower female business owners worldwide, especially in poverty-stricken areas or within communities struggling to support survivors of human trafficking. Fem(me)Power aims to help these women develop and grow their businesses through free or low-cost in-person and online education, as well as financing tools and access to mentorship and workshops. Like TimeJump, the organization is still in the early stages. For Lowthorp, it’s the beginning of realizing a lifelong goal to enact change through fellow women around the globe. “I’ve long dreamed of creating a charity or organization that could make a genuine positive difference in people’s lives, but my hope was for it to do so in a way that filled a gap, a space with a real unmet need, as there are many wonderful organizations working to better people’s lives and make a positive impact on the world,” Lowthorp said.

Between two worlds No matter where she ends up, said Lowthorp, it was the Northfield community that instilled in her the love for innovation and imagination that informs her work. “You meet some people that come out of Hollywood who forgot where they came from,” McKoy said. “But she grew up [in Northfield] and she respects that.” For now, Lowthorp said she often feels split between the two worlds, drawn to the bustling city while remaining rooted to the small town where she was raised. She pointed to organizations like the Northfield Arts Guild, as well as the schools’ strong arts programs, as markers of a creative community that’s alive and well. “I’ll always have a home in Northfield,” Lowthorp said. “It’s such a tremendous home for the creative community. If you tell someone in Northfield an idea, they’ll help you make it the best it can be.” As far as what’s next, Lowthorp will continue to expand and develop TimeJump Media, taking on projects and challenges in whatever form they appear. “It’s uncharted territory ...” she said. “But it felt like, just when I would get to a corner with the lights turned out, my path illuminates. Everything is falling into place.” Reach Associate Editor Sam Wilmes at 507-645-1115.

As a female entrepreneur, Larissa Lowthorp was inspired to found Fem(me)Power, an organization designed to provide support, education and funding to underprivileged women to aid in starting their own businesses.

FIND LOWTHORP ONLINE Follow Larissa Lowthorp’s work online at larissalowthorp.com. Visit TimeJump Media at timejumpconsulting. com.

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Brown brings

unique passion for photography By ANDREW DEZIEL adeziel@faribault.com

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W ABOVE: A timelapse photo taken over a course of 30 minutes. ABOVE RIGHT: Vivid shot of the Northern Lights.

hether it’s through sculpted glass or photography, Northfield’s Dale Brown has long had a passion for sharing his artistic talents with the community. He’s also one of those unique and fortunate people whose passion and hobbies have lined up almost perfectly with his line of work. For the last 15 years, Brown has taught glass sculpting, photography and printing as a studio assistant at Bloomington’s Normandale Community College. Few things bring him more satisfaction than helping a student to painstakingly craft a beautiful piece of artwork and then photograph it, utilizing professional techniques. Brown grew up on a Rice County farm and initially planned on going to college to become an engineer. At the invitation of a close friend, Brown made a fateful decision to take a photography class. Almost immediately, Brown was taken with the art of photography. He added a photography major to his engineering courses and has since managed to make a career out of his passion. Even as the years have passed, Brown has never lost his fascination with photography. He remains in awe of how a simple photo can highlight otherwise unseen beauty in daily life. “I like that it forces you to slow down, look at scenes,” Brown said. Normally you’re just walking by and you don’t pay atten-

tion to a scene.” Starting with black and white, Brown has gotten the chance to experiment with dozens of photography techniques and approaches. He’s constantly learning, refining techniques and always looking for new styles of photography to try. Several years ago, Brown added a night photography class

Dale Brown’s love for art extends not only to photography but to printmaking and glassmaking as well. In this 2018 file photo, he holds some of the handcrafted glass pieces he sells under the name, “Dale’s Funky Glass.” (Daily News File Photo) CONTINUED ON PAGE 22 NorthIeld

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to his already busy schedule because he couldn’t pass up the chance to learn about how to effectively take time exposure and night shots. Very quickly, these techniques became favored parts of his portfolio. Ever the Minnesotan, he’s become particularly fascinated with the beauty of the Northern Lights and winter scenes in general. He joined a winter photographers group and began researching with great care for when and where he could catch the Northern Lights. This fall, Brown will attend a photography class in northern Minnesota. At the class, Brown will learn how split density

filters can add even more artistry to his photography. Whether it’s on the scale of a grandiose mountain shot or a photo of a tiny leaf, few things are more near and dear to Brown’s heart than capturing the beauty of nature. And with its rich landscape, northern Minnesota is one of Brown’s favorite natural locations to do a photoshoot. Brown hopes that while he’s in northern Minnesota, he’ll get a chance to catch some of the beautiful, cold nights he loves to capture so much — along with one of his favorite natural formations. “Hopefully I get a chance to see (the Northern Lights) while I’m up there,” he said.

TOP: The “Big Boy” steam engine train. LEFT: A shot of the Northfield welcome sign.

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Brown’s glassmaking and printmaking arts have remained largely untouched by technological transformation, although he’s been able to mix things up by learning new techniques. By contrast, the art of photography has changed massively over the last 20-25 years. In the pre-computer era, photos were processed and edited through chemical processes in a “darkroom.” Over time, traditional photography gave way to increasingly digital photographs. Today, chemical based photography is not as big and there is more of an emphasis on Photoshop. “It’s super quick to take the picture digitally, but instead of doing a chemical darkroom, you’re basically doing your dark room digitally,” Brown said. Brown said that digitization has made certain things easier while creating other opportunities and changes. Perhaps most of all, digitization has made it more important and difficult than ever to slow down and focus on the beauty of a simple scene. Brown sells some of his photography at art shows CONTINUED ON PAGE 24 TOP: Sunrise along a frozen lake. RIGHT: A shot of northern Minnesota’s Split Rock Lighthouse on a cold winter day. NorthIeld

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Hidden Falls at Nerstrand Big Woods State Park.

A zoomed shot of a tree frog sitting on a white flower. A shot of a reenactor firing a gun during the Defeat of Jesse James Days in Northfield.

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throughout the area, along with his handcrafted glasswork, known as “Dale’s Funky Glass.” Other photos he does by commission, including senior portraits. Over the last few years, Brown has begun sell-

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ing his photography and visiting art fairs across the area. Some of his photos are on display at Faribault’s Paradise Center for the Arts. Whether it’s a shot of a city skyline, a newborn baby or a frozen lake, Brown’s experience lends a professional crispness to each photo. As word of mouth has spread, he’s begun to

get more and more requests for commissioned photos. Even if he isn’t familiar with a particular technique of photography, he’s hardly one to shy away from trying it out upon request. “It’s a fun thing to do,” he said. Reach Reporter Andrew Deziel at 507-333-3129 or follow him on Twitter @FDNandrew.

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hop through the world of small business ownership

Story & Photos By NICK GERHARDT editor@northfieldnews.com

he craft brewing kegs have been tapped and the beer’s pouring out because it’s not going back in. Almost from the nascence of the craft brewing boom in Minnesota, people have waited to hear of its decline. Well, it’s not happening.

Chapel Brewing co-owner Brad Magerkuth likens it to the coffee industry. Once people decide they like something with more flavor, they’re not likely to change their tastes. “Now you can get a mocha at McDonalds,” Magerkurth said. “Once people start drinking that, they do not go back. They just don’t go back. They don’t change their habits.” The numbers seem to reflect that as there are more than 175 breweries in Minnesota now. Craft brewing sales grew nearly 4 percent by

ABOVE: Tanzenwald Brewing Company owners Steve and Jenaveve Bell Pittman sit on the patio of their business. The couple opened business more than two years ago and have learned many lessons about small business ownership.

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volume in 2018 and made up $27.6 billion in sales, a 7 percent increase, nationally. Magerkurth is known as “Brad the Beer Guy” and has spent most of his career selling beer across the country. He’s sold beer in 38 of 50 states, worked for Miller-Pepsi and Johnson Brothers as a wholesaler and has handled some of the biggest craft brewing accounts in Minnesota. He started brewing for himself in 1988 in California. “In the country, the largest concentration of craft brewing is in Oregon and in Portland, almost 30 percent of the taps are some sort of craft,” Magerkurth said. “In Minnesota, we’re at like 17-18 CONTINUED ON PAGE 28

TOP: Assistant brewer Jared Allerson, foreground, and head brewer Justin Holden stand on the brew deck at Imminent Brewing. Imminent Brewing produces beer on a weekly basis. RIGHT: Tanzenwald Brewing Company owner Steve Pittman stands beside brewing vessels. Tanzenwald has four vessels for fermenting beer and each is named after a member of the James Gang. NorthIeld

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Imminent Brewing brewmaster Justin Holden measures the pH level of water to be used to brew beer. Holden has worked at the brewery since its opening and recently became the head brewer after serving as the assistant brewer.

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percent. The question is how much are we going to grow. Are we going to be like Portland and Denver? We’re going to grow further but how much further are we going to grow?” Nationally, craft brewing isn’t shrinking. The Brewers Association reported that 90 brew pubs closed nationally in 2018, an uptick from 77 the previous year. Openings were down by eight from the LEFT: Imminent Brewing’s head brewer Justin Holden works to find the right pH level for the water that will be used to brew beer. Imminent Brewing creates its own water profile by modifying the water that comes through the city.

peak of the industry in the previous year as well. The number of micro breweries follow the same trend. There are 7,450 breweries total in the U.S. so the closings make up just one percent of the industry. Since the passage of the “Surly Bill” in 2011, the number of breweries in Minnesota has more than doubled. When the state passed the “Surly Bill” in 2011, it CONTINUED ON PAGE 30

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“It’s always fun to create new beers and I look forward to new things. It’s still exciting batch to batch.” - Justin Holden not only allowed Surly Brewing Co. to serve beer at its brewery, it allowed breweries that produce less than 250,000 barrels a year to sell their beer on site if cities allow. Those pointing to a quick demise following the boom have few cases to point to in Minnesota. Just three Minnesota breweries have closed. 12welve Eyes Brewing in St. Paul closed in June. Great Waters Brewery in St. Paul closed last November. Minneapolis’ NorthGate closed in March 2018.

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“The industry is just going to continue to grow,” Magerkurth said. “The only thing that I see that will hurt it is if we see another thing a la 2010 which would probably take off 15 percent. Beer is their real luxury and they drink it in good times and bad.” But the brewery owners in Northfield and Dundas are finding the beer business is just like any other small business and are facing some of the same issues small business owners have long faced. Staffing and catering to their clientele rank high on the list. Tanzenwald Brewing has learned both lessons as owners Steve and Jenaveve Bell Pittman can attest. Tanzenwald is the only brewery to include a kitchen and they say it’s like running two businesses at once. “They’re almost like two seperate businesses,” Steve said. “It makes it more challenging.” The Pittmans have responded to customers’ tastes by overhauling both the beer and food menus to better cater to customers. “They have to work together,” Steve said. “It’s hard to know the tastes and what works well with the beer. The menu is much different. The beer is different. When you’re in the business of selling beer you have to listen to your

customers.” Business has remained steady for them and they’ve slowly built up a wholesale business to where they sell beer to Reunion and Armory Square, as well as the Lakeville Brewing Company. But it’s been tough to find a work-life balance at times and delegate tasks to staff. “We created a flowchart of to go to for things,” said Jenaveve, who manages the restaurant. “You can’t get distracted by different departments.” Sometimes the easiest part is just brewing the beer.

Brewing beer Brewing beer might seem like a complicated process and it can be, but it’s often grain, hops, water and yeast. It starts with milling the grains and then adding water. Imminent adds another step to the process by building its own water profile to create the taste it wants with its beer. Imminent adds calcium and salt to get a water profile they want instead of just using city water. They

LEFT: Tanzenwald Brewing Company’s brewing control panel displays temperatures of different brewing vessels throughout the process. Tanzenwald is one of three local breweries that have opened during the craft brewing boom. RIGHT: The brewing vessel at Tanzenwald Brewing Company includes machinery to create a whirlpool effect during brewing to separate liquid from the grains.

shoot for a particular pH level, according to Holden. The grain and water sets for an hour before the mix moves to the boil kettle. The mix boils for 90 minutes and hops get added during the boil to balance some of the sweetness. The pH levels are monitored throughout the boil and can be adjusted with lactic acid. Once the boil is complete, the mixture, called wort, moves through a heat exchanger to cool it to room temperature. Once it runs through the heat exchange, it moves to a vessel for fermentation. Yeast gets added in the fermentation vessel and fermentation typically takes between five to seven days, Holden said. Beer moves into conditioning tanks after about 10 days. “From brewing to packing it’s roughly a three-week time period,” Holden said. Brewers at Imminent mash in at around 164 degrees Fahrenheit and watch flow meters to check the volume of mash. The brew kettle will run at 212 degrees Fahrenheit. And while other breweries, like Tanzenwald have machinery built in the brew kettle to spin the mash, Imminent brewers manually stir the mash in their 10-barrel brewing system. A typical brewing session will produce around nine or 9 ½ barrels

or about 18 kegs of beer. Once the beer enters the fermentor vessel water circulates to keep it cool so the yeast will activate.

Getting into the brewing business After 13 years in the world of human resources, Holden felt like he needed a change and craft brewing provided the outlet. He discovered Dakota County Technical College offered a brewing and beer steward technology program and he enrolled. The school started the program in 2015 and is a five-course program that takes 32 weeks to complete. It also includes a 128-hour internship. Holden did his internship at Badger Hill Brewing Company in Shakopee while he started working at Imminent Brewing at the same time. “It’s always fun to create new beers and I look forward to new things,” Holden said. “It’s still exciting batch to batch.”

Changes for all three Each brewery has seen major changes in personnel since they’ve opened. Tanzenwald has seen turnover in kitchen managers while Imminent saw original co-owners Randy and Tonja Clay step away in August. Chapel had head brewmaster Andrew Burns move from the business as well recently. But all three report business remains strong through the ups and downs. “We knew the first five years were going to be backbreaking,” Jenaveve said. Bell Pittman spent more than a decade in the restaurant business while Steve spent six years at Lagunitas Brewing Company in California and became a certified master brewer prior to venturing into their own business venture. “We came in with a lot of experience but there’s so much you don’t know as a business owner,” Steve said. “We’re past those unknowns.” Nick Gerhardt is a freelance reporter based in Northfield.

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Northfield artist connects with

Earth & community

Story By NICK GERHARDT editor@northfieldnews.com

Kelly Connole

eramic work at its essence is humans connecting with Earth and its natural resources. It’s a connection that has held Kelly Connole throughout her career. Connole, a professor of art at Carleton College, has sought to explore the human connection to nature through her work while making statements about the human condition. It has resulted in visually stunning work

and acclaim in the ceramics world. Connole recently received a McKnight Fellowship award of $25,000 for the second time after she submitted her works “Murder No. 2,” “Sins: Seven Deadlies in Clay,” “From Here to There” and “Field Stations #1, #2, and #3.” Connole was one of four Northfield artists to receive a McKnight Fellowship. Carleton colleague Gao Hong, a musician, Mary Greip, a retired St. Olaf art professor and visual artist, and Peter Bonde Becker Nelson, a media artist at St. Olaf, also received the fellowship for 2019. If an artist has already received the fellowship, they cannot win the award again for a five-year

Carleton College professor of art Kelly Connole created “From Here to There” as a reflection on grief following the death of a former student. The piece includes more than 3,000 butterflies surrounding a life-sized zebra. (Photo courtesy of Kelly Connole)

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Artist Kelly Connole created rabbit/human hybrids to depict the seven deadly sins and their corresponding virtues. Connole recently won a McKnight Fellowship of $25,000 for her work. (Photo courtesy of Kelly Connole)

period. Connole is one of just a handful of artists to receive the award twice, said Jill Foote-Hutton, who administers the McKnight Fellowship for the Northern Clay Center, where Connole will have a residency. Applicants are reviewed by a three-member jury and only two are chosen each year. “One of the eligibility requirements is that the work has to have evolved,” Foote-Hutton said. “Kelly is always pushing her work.” Foote-Hutton said Connole was a strong candidate throughout the process. “She was always in the lead because the work was so strong,” Foote-Hutton said. “She swings for the fences when she puts something together. She has a story, there’s a mythology at work. There’s always a humanity, it’s in their postures and expressions. Kelly is a maker who always leaves room for everybody else. She’s incredibly thoughtful, and that shows up in her work.”

“Murder with a Red Nest”. (Photo courtesy of Kelly Connole)

Connole created the piece “From Here to There” during her previous fellowship and is one of those pieces that has a mythology behind it. The piece depicts a life-sized dead zebra with more than 3,000 butterflies floating around it. The piece is a meditation on grief, Connole said. The idea came to her following the death of a former student after they underwent surgery to combat Ehlers-Danlos syndrome, a rare disorder that affects connective tissues. It can mean a person has overly flexible joints and stretchy, fragile skin that often requires stitches for a wound. A vascular type of the disease can mean the walls of blood vessels, intestines or uterus could rupture. Connole chose a zebra for the piece because a rare case is often described by doctors as a zebra. She spent a

“So often we’re drawn to songbirds. There’s something to the immediacy and the calling of a crow that’s really intriguing to me.”

year pinching porcelain into the butterflies. Connole, who will use the fellowship to reduce her teaching load by a course so she can spend more time in her studio, wrote in her artist’s statement that the piece “is a personal meditation on the cycle of life and my deliberate act of seeking profound beauty in the darkness of grief.” Connole’s piece “Murder No. 2” created a similarly stunning visual but in a unique space that gave viewers a unique experience. The work - Kelly Connole occupied an empty elevator shaft in an old building in Northeast Minneapolis at Q.arma Building. She filled it with a murder of crows and butterflies, suspended by red thread. “I kept being drawn to this old elevator shaft,” Connole said. “There’s so much history and the natural light that permeated it. How can we activate this space?” The elevator also made the viewer feel unsettled because the cart could shift or because of the age the viewer felt it could move. Viewers also experienced the sensation of watching and being watched. The red thread drew their eyes to the butterflies, but soon the crows appeared in the background to make the viewer feel as though they were watching them. “So often we’re drawn to songbirds,” Connole said. “There’s something to the immediacy and the calling of a crow that’s really intriguing to me.” CONTINUED ON PAGE 34

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Artist Kelly Connole working on casts that she uses to create her rabbit figures. (Photo courtesy of Kelly Connole) CONTINUED FROM PAGE 33

Connole started creating crows about 15 years ago when the West Nile virus took its toll on birds. She particularly noticed dead crows as she walked through Loring Park. She started researching crows and learned about their intelligence and their rituals around death. Crows often march around a dead crow, Connole said. “Sins: Seven Deadlies in Clay” depicts 14 rabbit/human hybrids to showcase each sin and the corresponding virtue. “At first, I struggled with how

to address the theme of sin in my work,” Connole wrote in her artist’s statement. “As a queer person and one raised in an Irish/Italian Catholic family, my relationship to the word sin and the institution that governs assessment of one’s actions (the Catholic Church) is fraught with deeply problematic contradictions.” “Field Stations #1, #2, and #3” explore the impact of climate change on agricultural lands. Connole experimented with local clays and wood as she considered her own environmental impact as the

A nest of rabbits created by Artist Kelly Connole as part of her work on “Specimens.” (Photo courtesy of Kelly Connole)

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One of Artist Kelly Connole’s pieces from “In Between”. (Photo courtesy of Kelly Connole)

world experiences climate change. Connole grew up in Montana where she connected to nature by exploring the woods with her pony in the Bitterroot Mountains. “Part of the reason that I’m drawn to ceramics is that it’s so tactile,” Connole said. “It accepts the information that you give it. That has everything in common with tending to things in nature. For me, a lot of my connection to clay is its connection to the Earth. It is Earth, one of the most primal materials to create something.” It’s her connection to the Earth that has helped her connect with other humans. One of the ways she has connected both worlds has been through Carleton’s Empty Bowls annual fundraiser. Connole brought the idea to the Carleton campus back in 2005 after learning about the idea that originated with a Michigan high school teacher in 1990 as a way to raise money to fight hunger. Connole’s students and community

members create around 500-700 bowls each year while residents of Carleton’s interest houses cook soup to fill the bowls. There’s a suggested donation of $15 and the proceeds go to the Community Action Center in Northfield. Last spring the event raised around $11,000 and has raised around $91,000 since its inception at Carleton. “To me, it is the most perfect metaphor on how to think about food scarcity,” Connole said. “It’s been so important to my teaching. I wanted empty bowls, that was something grounded in my curriculum.” Students share in the work of creating the bowls. One might throw the clay, one might fire the bowl. Meanwhile, her classes look at the history of ceramics and think about generosity. “Every bowl belongs to all of us and none of us,” Connole said. Nick Gerhardt is a freelance reporter based in Northfield.

Story & Photos By MICHAEL HUGHES mhughes@northfieldnews.com

he first fire that needs to be put out requires a spark to catch. It’s a little after 4:30 p.m. on Friday, Sept. 27, and Northfield Activities Director Joel Olson is in the midst of one of his most hectic days of the year. Not only will there be a football game kicking off in two and a half hours, but

it’s Homecoming, which brings along its own set of challenges. For one, the game typically draws a larger crowd, meaning every volunteer from the ticket takers to the concessions workers will have to deal with increased traffic. For Olson, who previously served as the activities director at Forest Lake and East Ridge, the game carries greater responsibilities, starting with the pregame tailgate that is set to begin at 5:30 p.m. A little before 5 p.m., a couple cheerleaders volunteer to help with the set up before they’re

joined by members of R.A.L.I.E, a studentrun pep organization, while some fathers of football players and assistant coaches help man the grills. McLane, Family Fare and the Booster Club each donated specific items to the tailgate, which lightened the load for Olson and the school. There’s not a ton of official administrative workers for a typical football game, with Olson CONTINUED ON PAGE 36

Northfield Activities Director Joel Olson stands on the field about 15 minutes before kickoff on Sept. 27. Olson said he’s only able to watch about five minutes of a typical home football game.

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receiving help from Office Specialist Sheryl Docken, Assistant Principal Jeff Eckhoff and Site Supervisor Tony Mathison, but there’s also a number of of willing volunteers to help manage the small stuff. “It’s still a small-town type of atmosphere,” Olson said. “When I was in East Ridge we had radios, police officers stationed around the stadium. When I started here I asked Jeff how many people we had, and he said, ‘Oh I can come and I can have some reserves come.’ It’s just different, and I like that it’s more community.”

Early start The preparation for a typical football game starts Sunday, five days before kickoff, when members of the TOP: Members of R.A.L.I.E. help serve food at the Homecoming tailgate outside of Memorial Field on Sept. 27. LEFT: Volunteers from the Northfield Booster Club and Northfield Retirement Community helped man the concessions booth during a football game on Sept. 27.

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A volunteer helps man the grill during the Homecoming tailgate outside Memorial Field on Sept. 27.

“It’s still a small-town type of atmosphere. When I was in East Ridge we had radios, police officers stationed around the stadium. When I started here I asked Jeff how many people we had, and he said, ‘Oh I can come and I can have some reserves come.’ It’s just different, and I like that it’s more community.” - Joel Olson Booster Club repaint the logos on the 50-yard line and both 35-yard lines. Then, Monday, Olson and Docken start the planning for the week ahead. There’s a little extra when it comes to Homecoming, with activities like Powder Puff football, a boys volleyball tournament and Friday afternoon’s pep rally all on the docket. There’s also coordinating this year’s Hall of Fame inductees to see how many can make it Friday night to be recognized at halftime before Saturday morning’s official ceremony. On Thursday, Tracy Closson does most of the work in preparing the field, although on this particular week the boys soccer team has a home game Thursday night that finishes in the rain before the Powder Puff finals during Friday’s lunch period, so there’s some extra work to be done. Specifically on Friday, Olson is running around throughout the day checking various

details to make sure nothing too major pops up during the game. A little after 5 p.m., that takes him to the press box, where he does a final check on the play clock before unlocking the bathrooms near the front gate and turning on the lights outside the concessions stand. “I’m running all over the place,” Olson said. Then, he turns the stadium lights on before entering what he calls his “lull,” about an hour from 5:30-6:30 p.m. where, assuming all is running smoothly, he can take a breath. During that time, Docken and Eckhoff help set up the ticket-takers and workers in the ticket booth so fans can enter the stadium at 6 p.m. A little while after, the concessions stand is up and running via volunteers from the Booster Club and Northfield Retirement Community. Olson’s reprieve halts around 6:20 p.m., when he needs to locate a table so the girls soccer team can set up to advertise for “Lace for a Cure,” before he retrieves the first-down chains

out of a closet and hauls them onto the field. After that, he’s helping to organize the youth football players that will form the tunnel ushering the varsity team onto the field and the color guard presenting the flag for the national anthem, which will be sung by the school’s choir. “There is no glamour in this whatsoever,” Olson said with a laugh.

Game time If you’re a fan of football, you probably don’t want to be helping out around Memorial Field the night of a game. Those selling or taking tickets remain in their spots (with their backs to the field) through the end of the first half to help any CONTINUED ON PAGE 38

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A ticket-taker provides a thumbs up to a young fan entering the Homecoming football game on Sept. 27. (Michael Hughes/ Northfield News)

HOMECOMING PREGAME SCHEDULE 4:30 p.m. — Concession Stand Open for Workers 4:50 p.m. — Visiting team granted access to locker room

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5:40 p.m. — Teams may be on the field

late-arriving fans. Concessions workers might have the benefit of facing the action, but with the increased crowd accompanying Homecoming, there’s little break to take in much of the game itself. “Five minutes,” Olson said of how much of home games he’s able to watch. “Not much at all. I’ll watch probably the last five minutes of the first half so I can make sure I have all my people in the right spots.” That’s a particularly busy task this Friday night, with the halftime festivities slated to occupy 20 minutes instead of the typical 15 due to Homecoming. It starts with the recognition of the Homecoming Court, followed by this year’s Hall of Fame inductees before a performance from the Northfield Hiliners and a pair of dueling scrimmages from the sixth-grade football teams. “It goes pretty good as far as getting everyone in the right spot,” Olson said. “I’ll have the Hall of Famers set up down on this end, the roy-

6:00 p.m. — Ticket Booth opens 6:00 p.m. — Gates open for spectators 6:15 p.m. — Teams must be on the field 6:30 p.m. — Coin toss 6:45 p.m. — Teams leave the field, Northfield Youth Football teams lineup for tunnel 6:50 p.m. — Teams must be on field and ready for Introductions 6:52 p.m. — Introductions 6:53 p.m. — Sportsmanship announcement 6:54 p.m. — Cross Country team delivers the game ball to the officials 6:55 p.m. — National Anthem 7:00 p.m. — Kick-Off

“Not much at all. I’ll watch probably the last five minutes of the first half so I can make sure I have all my people in the right spots.” - Joel Olson

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alty on the 50-yard line and then I’ll have the dance team on the far end. At least I have them separated, because it can get so congested.” That busy docket doesn’t account for the unexpected. The first game of the year was brought to a screeching halt when a Northfield player was tackled into the first-down marker, which snapped in half, and required around 20 minutes to repair. This gameday runs smoothly, though, before Olson rushes off to help supervise the postHomecoming festivities. “Ever since I’ve been doing this, what amazes me and continues to amaze me is you literally have a small city in here,” Olson said. “All the things that could go wrong and all the little fires we’re putting out — so everyone else can watch and enjoy the game — it’s constantly running around and taking care of stuff. For everything to go well, it amazes me at the end of the night when it’s all done.” Reach Sports Editor Michael Hughes at 645-1106. Follow him on Twitter @NFNSports.

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