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Our OB-GYN team specializes in women’s health — caring for you during all stages of life. From Pap testing and contraceptive counseling to pregnancy care and menopausal concerns, you can get exactly the care you need right in Faribault, Mankato and Owatonna.
Our OB-GYN team specializes in women’s health — caring for you during all stages of life. From Pap testing and contraceptive counseling to pregnancy care and menopausal concerns, you can get exactly the care you need right in Faribault, Mankato and Owatonna.
Call to schedule an appointment.
Call to schedule an appointment.
Faribault: 507-339-4145
Faribault: 507-339-4145
Mankato: 507-246-2248
Mankato: 507-246-2248
Owatonna: 507-774-5174
Owatonna: 507-774-5174
mayoclinichealthsystem.org
mayoclinichealthsystem.org
as we celebrate those who shine in their own unique way through art, performance, music and writing.
Giving River Valley Woman celeb cred to our cover is actress, model, veteran, mother, and playwright (whew!), Freda Steffl. She’s got confidence with a capital C. Nigerian born and raised through her youth, Freda arrived in New York City to attend college and then made her way to Minnesota, the land of snow and opportunity. And the rest, as they say, is history…or rather HERstory. Her feature film Alexandra, which she wrote as well as stars in, along with Vivica Fox, has been released in a variety of countries and can be viewed online.
Have you ever found yourself channel surfing, slack-jawed on a Sunday morning…Cupcake Wars marathon—ick…Face the Nation —I’d rather not… televangelists—holy cow no… when, waaaait a minute… Bandwagon — YES! There is just something compelling about this show. Maybe it’s the simplicity, or the familiarity. Perhaps it’s the fun of scanning the dancers to see if there is anyone I know whirling, twirling and whooping. Or could it be the old timey music?
Whatever it is, Tania Cordes is breathing new life into it all, as she has done for the Kato Ballroom where the show takes place. Formerly owned by her in-laws, Tania saw an opportunity to buy the oldest entertainment center in the area and make it new again, by taking over as Bandwagon host, upgrading the ballroom, and bringing in fresh entertainment and events offerings. The huge undertaking is paying off as the Kato has dusted itself off and is starting all over again.
Things are swingin’ for jazz singer and performer Dallas Musselman. Following in her musician mother’s footsteps, Dallas started singing as a toddler and never stopped.
All the world became a stage for her once her kids were grown and you can find her in the spotlight in a variety of community theater performances along with her band gigs. A star on stage and off, “retired” Dallas also volunteers her time to a variety of good works. Claps! For artist June Newberg, her notoriety is on canvas. In June’s case success is both what she knows and who she knows. For nearly 50 years this self-taught, award-winning, artist has been telling the stories of her life and the people in it though her paintings. One can find her art throughout the U.S. as well as Europe.
My own dream ever since before I started grade school was to be an artist. Being halfway good at drawing and painting made me at least feel less of a failure in math class, and sketching people sitting around me has saved my brain during many a boring meeting. Having a knack for graphic design and the artistic arrangement of words has served me pretty well as a career. But during college I was often met with the skeptical question
“What are you gonna DO with an art degree?” Oh don’t get me started! Practically everything you see starts or ends with an artist—from the chair you’re sitting in to the very magazine you are holding. I married an artist as well, just to really drive people nuts.
“What are you gonna DO with a husband with an art degree?”
Seems as if there’s a pattern when it comes to people in the creative arts field—they are born that way. Poet and artist Dr. Gwen Westerman was three years old when she declared that she was a writer. One of eight Native American poets to have her work featured at Harvard University, she is also well-known on campus at Minnesota State University, Mankato as a Distinguished Faculty Scholar, professor and director of humanities, as well as a published author. According to Dr. Westerman her role as educator, artist and poet all influence each other. Life is art is life.
Some stars prefer to play a role behind the scenes. Such is the case with “lemon drop lady” Gwen Mack. The cheerfully patterned bags she creates are filled with corn which can be heated to warm you or chilled to soothe, and are sold to raise money to purchase lemon drops that Mack donates to area hospital cancer wards. The bags are also donated to patients. So when life hands you lemons, look to this lady.
The hills are alive with the sound of music. You won’t hear Julie Andrews “doe-a-deering” but you will hear music therapist Kristin Ziemke asking her choir if they are ready to sing. To which they eagerly respond that they are indeed ready! The Singing Hills Chorus was created specifically for people with dementia. While she plays the leading role, the singers are the co-stars. Music affects our entire brains in a special way stimulating cognitive processes. So in other words it keeps us sharp…not flat.
So we close the curtain on 2018 with an issue that’s so star-studded it just might need its own agent. To our many enthusiastic and loyal advertisers who support our efforts to bring the women (and men) of the river valley front and center, we applaud you! To those we featured over the year, take a bow! So what will we do for an encore? Get in line for our 2019 season.
By KELLY DEVRIENDT
PHOTOS BY RHONDA MILBRETT PHOTOGRAPHY
Freda Steffl doesn’t wait for lights or the camera before she takes action. Reflecting on her past, present, and future accomplishments, Steffl portrays her role confidently. She consistently puts one foot in front of the other— walking patiently, yet resolved, towards her goals. Her script contains a cast of characters who offer support and inspiration within a plot that weaves its way through her Nigerian upbringing to college in the U.S., a stint in the military, motherhood and movie making.
Twenty-nine-year-old Steffl was born and spent her youth in Nigeria. She describes her childhood in a single word as fun and reminisces about playing tricks on her parents with five siblings. She began to develop her love of entertaining by participating in church plays, singing in the choir, and dancing. Her father, Daniel—a calm, but firm disciplinarian—kept her grounded. ”He always has the right words to say at the right time,” Steffl said. In fact, she stated that her most poignant memory came at the age of 14 when her father was teaching her how to drive. “This is like life,” he said. “Be observant. Pay attention. There are learning opportunities everywhere.” Steffl says she has taken this lesson to heart and her awareness of her surroundings continues to help her navigate her journey.
Steffl’s navigation skills were put to the test when, at the end of 2009, she
moved to the United States to attend college. Her mother was worried about Freda being all alone and asked who would be there for her if something happened. Steffl simply replied, “I will just call 911.”
“I knew this from American TV shows,” Steffl said. So, with a flawless safety plan in place, she arrived in New York City.
That night, she saw snow for the first time. “I fell in love with the snow,” Freda said. However, snow would have to wait as Steffl found herself initially heading south for school. It was here that she began to understand how sensitive the United States is to race issues. “That was a surprise,” she said, “We don’t have that heightened level of awareness of one’s race in Nigeria.”
Steffl continued to learn the intricacies of United States living and still, snow beckoned her. She began researching colder states and what she found was that Minnesota overall had the best reviews, including lower crime and friendly cities. “That’s my state,” she said. Steffl didn’t want the hustle of the big city, so with a reputation of being accepting to visitors and good place to raise a family, Steffl set her sights on Mankato.
It was here she revisited her childhood dream of becoming part of the United States military. “When I was young, I told my dad I wanted to be in the U.S. military,” Freda said, “It is the strongest and biggest and I wanted to be a part of that.” Her dad, as always, knew what to say, “I believe in you,”
"Don't let anything hold you back."
he told her. Steffl enlisted in the U.S. Army. This led her to the pathway of citizenship. She returned to college in Mankato and received a Bachelor of Arts degree in theater in 2014.
With some already impressive accomplishments under her belt, Steffl’s biggest roles were still to come. Steffl stated that she always knew she wanted to find the love of her life and have a beautiful family. She met her future husband by pure chance when she agreed to give her friend a ride. Jeremy was there.
“We locked eyes and we have been together ever since,” she said, “I know it sounds crazy, but it’s true.”
Freda and Jeremy were married in 2015. Soon after, Steffl took on the role of motherhood to three boys—Jaden, who is now five; Julian, who is almost three; and Jaxon who is eight months.
Steffl’s real life starring role is very different from the starring role she would later play on the big screen. Her movie, Alexandra tells the story of a Nigerian woman (Steffl) who finds her future spouse online and moves to the United States to be with him. Instead of a happy-ever-after though, she suffers abuse at the hands of her new husband.
“My sister came up with the idea after hearing a real life story with a similar synopsis,” she said, “But we wanted to change the ending; to give the woman the victory.”
They worked with a professional screenwriter to create a lead character who exuded strength and women empowerment. With her husband helping with executive production duties (Steffl Films), the film—which also stars Vivica A. Fox—began shooting in 2017.
The idea that if you do what you love, it doesn’t feel like work,
certainly rang true for Steffl. “Filming was like being on vacation for me,” she said, “I loved it. It felt like I was playing, but I also got to make money while I was playing.”
The film was released in Nigeria and screened in Atlanta earlier this year. It is now being distributed in Europe and can be viewed presently on Google play, Amazon, and iTunes.
Starring in these two major life roles requires lots of support, which Freda feels she has from both family and the community.
“It is difficult to be away,’ she said, “My mother-in-law stays with the boys while I travel, so I know they are in excellent hands.”
Steffl also appreciates the encouragement that came from her community. “I was so excited to hear from the Free Press and the Big Hot Radio Show,” she said, “Also, so many local gas stations and restaurants let me hang up movie posters.”
Steffl is pleased with the outcome of her first major movie project. “Some movies never get made,” she said, “This one did and the message that I was trying to get across— to empower women—was completed.”
The Next Act
“I want to do something as big as Tyler Perry,” Steffl said, “I would love to get Mankato on the map.”
Steffl feels that Mankato has a lot to show the world and hopes to get a reality show started. She has two ideas for premises, both of which are kept under wraps for now.
Regardless of what comes next, Freda will jump into action. “I want to find the good in every situation I am in and to empower other women to do the same,” she said, “Don’t let anything hold you back.” RVW
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“I want to do something as big as Tyler Perry,” Steffl said, “I would love to get Mankato on the map.”
With the holiday season upon us, it’s easy to get caught up in the stress and chaos that accompany this time of the year. Our already demanding lives become even more hectic, as additional shopping, cooking, and spending combine to add even more anxiety. Often— for the majority of us—the end result can be overwhelming.
However, what if there was a way you could plan ahead in order to counter the stress? Unfortunately, the stress is coming in spite of our best desire to avoid it. Nevertheless, reduction of harm from that stress is possible. Instead of planning to de-stress from the inevitable, try to embrace the hectic holidays by prepping for a busy holiday season. Here are some helpful tips to make this holiday season the most relaxing and enjoyable yet.
Practice holiday resilience by asking yourself the following:
What resources do you need to feel confident about facing the upcoming fall/winter season?
What do you want to be thinking about when you face the upcoming season(s)?
What would you like to remember about this season after it’s done?
If you knew this was your last fall/winter season, what would you prioritize?
How can you use this to focus your efforts?
What barriers to joy and happiness will you face during the upcoming months?
What options do you have for overcoming these barriers?
Learn how to stay ahead of holiday stress and see it as a challenge rather than a threat.
Consider this a marathon and not a sprint. Practice slow and steady movements to approximate your desired behaviors and thoughts
over time. Along the way, expect the unexpected as life rarely goes as planned. Allowing yourself flexibility in thinking and planning can go a long way towards fostering good health and well-being.
Try to view upcoming challenges as manageable based on the resources you have rather than a threat that must be changed or avoided. This builds up emotional and cognitive resources to assist you in facing those challenges.
Over time and with practice, you can strengthen your emotional muscle and find that challenges do get easier. Remember to think positive. For instance, if you tell yourself today is going to be a bad day, you’re more likely to experience a negative mood and feel overwhelmed. Instead, tell yourself that today is going to be a hard day, but you’ve tackled problems bigger than this in the past. Small changes matter and allow you to better prepare for the upcoming challenges of the holiday season.
The Alpha Fuzion Sauna Spa Capsule is the world’s most versatile multi-purpose spa machine. As your own personal sanctuary of wellness and relaxation, the Alpha Fuzion Spa Capsule, includes a dry heat air sauna, adjustable massage vibrations, aromatherapy, a contour bed, soothing back heat, ionized face air, and a sound system.
• Increases Metabolism
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A detox foot soak makes joint movement easier in the knees and elbows. Detoxification also promotes weight loss, as it rids your body of crippling chemicals and raises your metabolism to higher levels.
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• Improves Sleep
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• Strengthen Immune System
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Maybe it was the school shootings…
Maybe it was the #MeToo movement…
Maybe it was the lack of representation…
Female futurists of southern Minnesota came out in droves this year— surpassing all records of women on our ballots ever before. And oh what beautiful ballots they were!
I’m writing this on the eve of the Midterm Elections, and thinking about the courage and tenacity of the women (many of whom I call friends and neighbors) who put their voices on the line for our community. So many of
us sit idly by and proclaim, “We don’t participate in politics,” or groan, “I’m just so sick of the advertising and negativity…” but the truth is, we owe it to those who do run.
We owe it to our sisters hitting the campaign trail to represent our point of view as women. Our representatives need to be just that—representative of our experiences, our viewpoints, and our demographic. We the women of greater Mankato were lucky to have so many of us step up and step out of comfort zones for a chance at a seat at the table.
These courageous women are making sacrifices for us and nudging themselves up to the proverbial table because our community and futures matter to them. They are blazing trails while they blaze through bedtime routines with their children. They are pushing public policy while pushing strollers through grocery stores. They are not giving up their daily lives and passions, but adding our values and concerns to their laundry list of responsibilities.
Empowered women empower women. We’ve all heard it, and after speaking with a few of our female running mates—it sounds like it
“As a woman, I think I received extra praise from other women for stepping up and doing something that is uncomfortable for a lot of people. I believe it’s harder as a mother, and “mom guilt” is real. All the time away from my kids to try and get to everyone’s houses and meet them was a sacrifice I
“It was a unique experience and opportunity to be surrounded by women candidates throughout the campaign because when women run alongside each other, it’s a different kind of campaign altogether. Times are changing, and seeing more female candidates made it so that gender wasn’t a determining factor during the race for Blue Earth County Commissioner, District One.” –Katie Boone
Whatever it was this past June that ignited women to run for office… we are grateful for you. We are grateful for you who stood up and raised your voice for so many of us. We at YWCA Mankato know you are inspiring so many more and hope to see more women work up the courage to run in the future.
Thank you to Katie Boone, Karen Foreman, Jessica Hatanpa, Fardousa Jama, Stefanie Jaquette, Colleen Landkamer, Lucy Lowry, Najwa Massad, Diane Norland, Sandra Oachs, and Angel Uribe.
This list of candidates was taken from greatermankato.com/candidates. We know there are more of you. Thank you to all.
You can never leave footprints that last if you are always walking on tiptoe. —Leymah Gbowee
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DECEMBER 8 at 1pm & 5pm New Ulm at State Street Theater tickets: www.statestreetnewulm.org
DECEMBER 13 AND 14 at 7pm
DECEMBER 13 AND 14 at 7pm
Mankato at MSU Theatre tickets: www.msutheatre.com
Mankato at MSU Theatre tickets: www.msutheatre.com
DECEMBER 15 AND16 at 1pm & 5pm
Mankato at MSU Theatre tickets: www.msutheatre.com
If you are, or will be, a caregiver for elderly parents or another close family member living with Alzheimer’s disease, you may experience some emotional stress – but you also need to be aware of the financial issues involved and what actions you can take to help address them.
You will find few “off the rack” solutions for dealing with the financial challenges associated with Alzheimer’s. For one thing, family situations can vary greatly, both in terms of the financial resources available and in the availability and capabilities of potential caregivers. Furthermore, depending on the stage of the disease, people living with Alzheimer’s may
have a range of cognitive abilities, which will affect the level of care needed.
Here are some general suggestions that may be useful to you in your role as caregiver:
• Consult with family members and close friends. It’s extremely hard to be a solo caregiver. By consulting with other family members or close friends, you may find that some of them have the time and ability to help.
• Consider obtaining durable power of attorney. If you possess a durable power of attorney for finances, you can make financial decisions for the person with Alzheimer’s when he or she is no longer able. With this authority, you can help the individual living with the disease – and your entire family – avoid court actions that can take away control of financial affairs. And on a short-term basis, having durable power of attorney can help you take additional steps if needed. You’ll find it much easier to acquire durable power of attorney when the individual living with Alzheimer’s is still in the early stage of the disease and can willingly and knowingly grant you this authority.
• Gather all necessary documents. You’ll be in a better position to help the individual living with Alzheimer’s if you have all the important financial documents – bank statements, insurance policies, wills, Social Security payment information, deeds, etc. – in one place.
• Get professional help. You may want to consult with an attorney, who can advise you on establishing appropriate arrangements, such as a living trust, which provides instructions about the estate of the person for whom you’re providing care and names a trustee to hold title to property and funds for the beneficiaries. You also might want to meet with a financial advisor, who can help identify potential resources and money-saving services. And a tax professional may be able to help you find tax deductions connected to your role as caregiver.
Finally, use your experience as a caregiver to remind yourself of the importance of planning for your own needs. For example, a financial professional can suggest ways of preparing for the potentially huge costs of long-term care, such as those arising from an extended stay in a nursing home.
Caring for an individual living with Alzheimer’s has its challenges. But by taking the appropriate steps, you can reduce uncertainties – and possibly give yourself and your family members a greater sense of security and control.
Can’t forget those Red Lips!
Offsetting with another color is always a great idea!
Sota Clothing Hat & Socks! Fun Statement pieces perfect for keeping it casual this holiday season!
Handmade Fashionable Farm Girl
One of the greatest things about the Christmas season is the excitement of being able to incorporate buffalo plaid into just about everything!
Finding a Midi Length Black dress this holiday season with a contrast in texture is a great way to eliminate the constant worry of finding the perfect dress! Wear it once, wear it twice, as long as you wear it with confidence no one will know.
Statement
Accents well with the high neckline dress.
BY ASHLEIGH MOELTER The Refinery
earrings.
Walk in to your upcoming event and Sparkle! Let your outfit be the conversation starter!
Cozy Cable Knit sweater and the perfect denim! Perfect outfit for a casual Christmas gathering!
Little black dress!
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Gals get ready to "deck the halls" this Holiday Season with chic accent cabinets.
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Mankato’s PEO Home for the Holidays walking tour was held Sunday, November 11. Over 400 people attended the walk, touring four beautifully decorated homes on Trail Drive while raising financial support for PEO’s local scholarship program.
Area decorators and designers partnered with PEO and homeowners to create a unique, one-of-a-kind look at each of the four homes.
Nordaas Homes of Minnesota Lake transformed the home at 51 Trail Drive, blending traditional greenery with buffalo plaid wrapped candles, poinsettias, and bows. Red sleds were filled with glittery packages, gnomes, and frosted greenery. Interspersed throughout the home were etched glass globes and trees of varying sizes—lit from the inside—and small white woodland and arctic animals. Polar bears graced the fireplace hearth and penguins perched on a sofa table. In place of a traditional Christmas tree, Nordaas surprised guests with a coupling of stark white-lighted branch trees nestled in the corner. Red pillows, three-foot red wooden ornaments hung from the roping gracing the staircase, and a red sign “Joy” sign completed the overall look.
Neutral Grounds chose to decorate the home at 31 Trail Drive in the non-traditional colors of silver and blue. This beautiful contemporary home featured a floor-to-ceiling fireplace in the living room. On it hung a massive wreath, replete with bows and balls of silver and blue. A seven-foot tree adorned the corner of the living room where snowmen of varying sizes kept watch. This home was unique in that the owner is a prolific artist and she greeted guests with her beautiful works on display and available for purchase. Upon their exit, attendees were gifted tiny cupcakes, courtesy of Diamond Dust Bakery of St. Peter.
Ticket holders could not wait to see what Whimsy and Weathered—in partnership with Pond Road Market—created at the home located at 40 Trail Drive. They were not disappointed. Sophisticated and contemporary decorations were unexpectedly and beautifully paired with traditional and whimsical elements inside and out. The main floor of this home features a small office just off the massive, open kitchen. White walls and white woodwork is set off by a deep hot pink/purple colored ceiling. The off-white love seat featured a scattering of jewel tone holiday pillows. The dining table—just outside the tiny office and adjacent to the sunken living room—was set with a soft pink and gold dinnerware,
Outdoor and indoor decorations at 4 Trail Drive were provided by four local vendors. The long walk to the main entrance was graced with two beautiful arrangements of greens, balls, and birch branches created by Flowers by Jeanie. The porch was decorated with additional sprays of greens and bows provided by Hens and Chicks, a local group of women who offer their annual sale of holiday creations each November.
Contents of St. Peter showcased their flair for the holiday season by featuring tiny wooden trees of orange, teal, and lime green throughout the main floor of the home. A large pewter bowl featured glass ornaments of the same colors, interspersed with large white snowflakes. The homeowner decorated her own massive nine-foot tree with gold, silver, and copper ornaments anchored by a gold tree skirt.
The kitchen of this home features a large Cambria island upon which Contents created a breathtaking centerpiece. White, furry, glittery trees nestled trays of cookies freshly baked by Friesen’s. The treats were appreciated by all ticket holders.
Swedish Kontur, also based in St. Peter, decorated the lower level of this home with its traditional Scandinavian ornaments and gnomes. The colors of red and white were used throughout the family room—bringing out the family’s red stockings carefully hung above the fireplace and the white tree fully decorated in red and silver top to bottom. A white table runner and the traditional white wooden figurines so beloved by Norwegians and Swedes graced the bar area of this home where Chankaska representatives poured tastings of their signature wines.
The Homes for the Holidays Walking Tour grossed approximately $12,000. Net income, yet to be finalized, will provide $2,000 scholarships to deserving graduating senior girls planning to further their education. The highly competitive scholarships will be awarded this spring. Applications are currently available at the counselor’s offices at all Mankato high schools. RVW
The beauty of art is that it captures a moment, memory, idea, or place and immortalizes it. Art creates meaning and connection for both artist and viewer. While some artists prefer painting abstract imagery or bold statements, New Ulm artist June Edleman Newburg uses her own style of detail and realism to simply share stories—hers and those of others—and of places near and far.
“I paint what I know. Most of my paintings are places I know, people I’ve met,” Newburg said. “I find if somebody gives me a picture of someone they want me to paint—and I haven’t met that person—it just doesn’t turn out right. You have to know your subjects.”
Born and raised on the plains of South Dakota, June grew up drawing. She started an art major at South Dakota State College (now University), but left after a year, figuring she’d never earn a living painting pictures. She became an elementary teacher and met Huon, whom she married in 1968.
When they welcomed their first child, Nichole, in 1972, Huon encouraged June to join an art club in Glenwood, where they lived at the time. She has been ”practicing” her art since—nearly 50 years—and what started as a hobby has developed into a full-time career, including award-winning pieces of art.
Completely self-taught, June has spent a lifetime honing her craft. From an antique postcard to a windswept field, from a rugged cowboy to an Italian statue, June’s subjects are familiar, beautiful, and intriguing. She paints from the soul for herself and for the process, not to make a political statement or to please an audience. Although skilled in graphite and colored pencil, she prefers
working with oils to create subtle colors and has experimented with impressionist themes on recycled Masonite boards.
Like many forms of creativity, art happens, it cannot be forced. June’s creative process may take a few hours or days, but her realist oil paintings—from concept to completion—may take up to a year.
“Most of my paintings have a reason why I painted them, but sometimes I just need to sit down and put paint on the canvas,” Newburg said.
What’s most important to June is fully experiencing the process of creation and working with her subjects, focusing on quality, not quantity. A painting is not finished until June feels she’s captured the essence of her subjects.
Such was the process for one of June’s more recent oil paintings, “Postcard from Tena.” June wanted to catch a glimpse into the life of a beloved relative, Tena. After mulling over the idea for a while, she gathered possible subjects for a photo session that were arranged, rearranged, added and removed, while Huon played with light and captured the various compositions on camera. For “Postcard,” Huon snapped more than 150 photos for June to study before selecting the final arrangement to paint.
June’s family members have been the inspiration for many of her paintings and, through her art, she strives to create a family legacy. Her most recent still life oil painting, “Four Generations at Edleman Ranch,” features well-worn cowboy boots, each pair leaning on the next. The first generation is her late father, Elmer Edleman, with the
second generation being her late brother, Myron. The third generation is Marshall Edleman, Myron’s son and June’s nephew. Marshall’s sons, Drew and Jake Edleman, represent the fourth generation. The boots, according to June, were worn by tough South Dakota cattlemen doing what they do best and what they love best—a generational love and legacy that spans the years. Her family has been instrumental in June’s career, with her South Dakota relatives being so willing to be photographed so she could document their way of life.
“South Dakota is that feeling of freedom. You can see forever,” said Newburg, who captures the feeling of her home state in the landscapes she paints.
While June has done portraits of her daughters and their husbands—as well as her grandchildren—her brother, Myron, has been her main model, with paintings of him from Rio de Janeiro, Brazil to Ontario, Canada and many points in between.
“Probably the piece that is my favorite is the painting of my brother where he’s carrying a saddle over his shoulder. It’s called ‘Headin’ Home,’” Newburg said.
The light in the painting is fading into a golden dusk, and Myron expression, half hidden under a cowboy hat, looks tired, but satisfied. Myron died in April; the original painting was displayed at his funeral.
“He had told me not to sell this one because it says it all—That’s the way life is,” June said. “’A Love Song’ is another of my favorite pieces. It was one of the first still life paintings that I did. It just turned out right. Sometimes paintings just happen, and this one just happened.”
June keeps detailed records of purchases each numbered print or original work and—if it was sold through a gallery—which gallery sold it. Her paintings hang in many European countries with quite a few in Italy where June and Huon love to visit friends they’ve made. She has paintings throughout the United States, from California to New York.
June also shares her love of painting through art classes. She recently taught “Painting with a Palette Knife” at the Grand Center for Arts and Culture in New Ulm. There participants learned how to paint birch trees with oils, a palette knife, and canvas. Participants also had the opportunity to visit June’s gallery and see where her process begins. Sprinkled throughout her gallery are inspirational quotes. One of her favorites is from Leo Buscaglia—“Your talent is God’s gift to you. What you do with it is your give back to God.”
Artists are visual history writers. Some seek to preserve pieces of themselves and moments in time for others to enjoy. June’s stories in still life ensure that the people, places, and events captured on canvas will not be forgotten. RVW
Music has been a lifelong love for Dallas Musselman, vocalist for the Faribault jazz group “Jivin’ Ivan and the Kings of Swing.” Finding joy through performing and helping others is second nature for Musselman, a woman of many talents.
Musselman began singing with the group in 2005, a year after Ivan Whillock started Jivin’ Ivan and the Kings of Swing.
“When we perform I smile so much that my face hurts by the end of the night—it’s just so much fun,” she said. “People love to listen and many people come to dance. The guys in the group are such great musicians.” Group members include Ivan Whillock on guitar, trombone, and vocals; Michael Hildebrandt, violin, tenor guitar, banjo, and mandolin; Paul Ousley, bass; Mark Whillock, drums; Doug Madow, keyboard; and Musselman, vocals.
From January through November, the group performs in the dining room at the Signature Bar and Grill in downtown Faribault. Each December, the group does a benefit event at a local venue to help a cause chosen for the year.
Whillock determines the set list for each gig. “We mix it up depending on the crowd,” Musselman said. The band plays a variety of music from the Golden Era and the play list is extensive.
When asked about rehearsals, Musselman said, “We don’t often rehearse anymore because we know the music so well. If it’s slow at the end of the night, we’ll wiggle a new song through and see what happens!”
Dallas’ mother was a singer. Through her influence, music played a large role in her daughter’s life. Musselman remembers turning to a favorite page in a nursery rhyme songbook and singing the song at age two. Her mother enjoyed showing her off. ”I also remember, as a teenager, sunbathing on the roof with friends and listening to Ella Fitzgerald and thinking she was just the best,” Dallas said. “I thought— that’s who I’d want to be if I ever could.”
The music of Barbra Streisand also resonated with Dallas. “I would listen to Barbra records many days after school, and—of course—sing along.”
Not long after moving to Faribault In 1980, Musselman became involved with local community theater. “Back then it was love me, love my kids!” she said. “Whatever I was involved in, my children, Caleb and Abigail, went along.”
After her children were grown, Dallas’ options widened. “I have had the opportunity to perform in some wonderful shows and have been privileged to play some great characters, she said. “I have performed as M’Lynn in Steele Magnolias, Mama Rose in Gypsy, Fraulein Schneider in Cabaret, and the Witch in Into the Woods—a great role and a great show.” Several of these roles were on her ‘bucket list’ of must do’s. Musselman currently does not have a role on the horizon. “There are not as many roles for older women,” she said. “I am selective with roles and only go for those that really appeal to me. Theater takes commitment, time, and effort.”
Musselman’s love for the arts was also her vocation for 20 years as arts coordinator at Shattuck-St. Mary’s School in Faribault. Her responsibilities included costume design and set dressing for the SSM Dramatic Association’s theater productions. She also worked with the SSM FeslerLampert and Acoustic Roots Performing Arts Series, and coordinated and led overseas cultural enrichment tours for SSM students.
“These tours were a delightful and expanding component of my career,” she said. “I have many fond memories of sharing performances and cultural experiences with the students of SSM.”
Travel is a must for Musselman. She recently spent time in St. Petersburg, Russia with a Russian friend she met there many years ago. While there, she had the opportunity to perform with jazz musicians. “Musicians everywhere speak the same language,” she said.
Last year Musselman spent two months in India visiting friends, and helping at a clinic in Hyderabad. The clinic and its doctor, Nasreen Hussain, are near and dear to her heart.
Musselman has been a board member of India Health Foundation since 2003. The U.S. board helps raise money for the clinic and facilitates communication about the vision and function of Shaktishifa Health Foundation in Hyderabad. A second board in India advises clinic decisions and management. The staff includes a clinic manager, doctor, nurse, lab technician, and more than 15 on-call specialists. The clinic cares primarily for an underserved population, but people from all walks of life use it.
“I have been able to visit there four times and always appreciate the colorful and complex life of India,” she said.
There are many other interests in Musselman’s life. She values time with her family—“Lifetime Husband” Delon; son Caleb and his wife Anneke, who live in St. Paul; daughter Abigail who lives in Minneapolis; grandsons Tate and Quentin; and two grey cats, Lewis and Vivian. She also enjoys reading, attending performances, time with friends, volunteer reading once a week, self care, health and wellness, working at Ruf Acres Health Food Store one day a week, watching for a good role, and starting pottery classes again after 30 years. “Retirement is grand,” she said.
Sharing joy through her talents in the arts and in helping others spreads the warm welcome Musselman brings as her gift to the world.
To learn more about Jivin’ Ivan and the Kings of Swing go to jivinivanandthekingsofswing.com.
What is your favorite music to listen to? I am a variety girl and I tend to change it up but right now I am into gypsy jazz.
What is your favorite recreational/leisure activity? Travel with a capital T. I love to see new places and meet new people. To be exposed to the history, natural beauty, architecture, cuisine, and culture of a land. Bring it on!
Your favorite role? It is so hard to make a decision. I have had some rewarding roles and they are all different. Mama Rose was a bucket list role for me but playing the Witch in Into The Woods was challenging and powerful.
If you could magically obtain a skill you don’t have what would it be? Hands down I would want to be a polyglot (someone who knows and is able to use several languages.)
Is Dallas a given name or an acquired one? I am actually named after my maternal grandmother, Alice with an added “D” and an altered spelling.
After it spent a little over three years living under various beds and in various closets, in 2009, my wife Wendy dusted off her bassoon, and began playing with the Cannon Valley Regional Orchestra. She’s performed with the group, off and on, since then—and while classical and/or orchestral music is not something I gravitate towards for my own personal listening, I gladly attend her concerts, raptly sitting in the audience.
I go because part of me believes taking in a handful of orchestra performances a year will provide me with a little culture, but mostly, I go because I want to be what I refer to as a “supportive orchestra husband.”
In 2012, Wendy made her area theatrical debut on the Northfield Arts Guild stage with a small role in a production of White Christmas—a Broadway musical loosely based on the film of the same name. This was the first time she had acted since high school, and it served as her introduction to the theatre community in this area. Roles in Meet Me in St. Louis, Crimes of The Heart, and The Little Mermaid, among others, followed.
A little known fact about me is I have a B.A. in theatre from a small, Midwestern liberal arts college—a degree I don’t exactly use every day, but it’s the kind of background that makes it a challenge to attend a play and simply enjoy it for what it is. Whether a professional production in the Twin Cities, or something staged locally by a community theatre group, I have an awful tendency to pick everything apart—from the acting or directorial choices, even down to subtle lighting cues.
Also, I really don’t like musicals.
Despite this, when my wife has been cast in a show—and usually, they are musicals—I will be there on opening night, in an effort to be a “supportive theatre husband,” watching with awe as she dazzles the stage.
With this renewed interest in performing (in mostly musicals), Wendy began taking adult dance classes—ballet and tap. Being a “supportive dance husband” is not all that difficult. It means in the spring, I attend a
three-plus hour recital in an auditorium full of squirrely children and easily agitated parents, waiting through routines featuring young dancers who either a) don’t really know their act and just kind of stand in place and flounce, or b) suddenly become self-aware while on stage and start to sob. I sit through all of that in order to see the two performances Wendy is featured in.
It was near the end of 2014, or the beginning of 2015, when my wife became very interested in films—both watching what are widely considered to be ‘the classics,’ but also in filmmaking itself. She opted to read a lot about filmmaking for, like, roughly a year before picking up a camera and stepping behind it—eventually working throughout the course of two years to create the six-part web series Lady Parts
Being a “supportive film husband,” entails helping out behind the scenes as I am able to—learning how to steady the camera’s tripod and walk backwards in order to film Wendy and her co-star Birch as they went on one of many “walk and talks” written into the script, or testing the threshold of my upper body strength while hoisting a boom microphone—sometimes it’s a microphone taped to a broom stick, sometimes it’s a real boom pole—above my head.
Why, exactly, is my wife involved in so many different artistic endeavors?
“Well, I legitimately have a lot of interests,” she told me, adding that, for a majority of her life, she’s been searching for that one thing she felt she was meant to do.
Being a supportive husband to the wife involved with myriad art forms means more than just holding a broomstick with a microphone on it above my head, or sitting intently while trying to follow the low notes of the bassoon in the orchestra. It also means providing continual encouragement for her to simply keep going.
“I drag my feet about the process, but then I’m very unfulfilled if I’m not
being as creative as possible,” Wendy told me. “The truth of the matter is a lot of people choose to stay home and watch TV—and I kind of want to do that, too. I see the value in that because the world is hard sometimes and you just need to check out. But then a part of me is not happy.”
Nobody said being involved in “the arts” was easy; there have been countless times when I’ve sat down to write something—either my column for The Next Ten Words, or an album review for my own website— and nothing may come out. I may stare blankly at the cursor continuing to blink in an empty Word document.
Sometimes it’s difficult for her to always have the enthusiasm for going to rehearsal—for either a play or the orchestra—but those provide an immediate reaction of laughter or applause, that, as Wendy puts it, give you “some notice that what you are doing is worthwhile.”
Filmmaking, for her, has been the toughest endeavor, and has been the artistic avenue she’s found difficult to continue working through.
Often, after a short day of shooting scene, Wendy will sigh and ask, “Should I even continue being a film maker?”
I, of course, tell her yes, and offer other words of encouragement, but the reason she continues to second guess the film making process is that it is simply so arduous—even a two or three hour shoot takes a lot out of her, between the work to prepare for it in advance, along with the work that goes into an actual day of shooting.
“You have to be constantly problem solving, and looking like you know what you are doing,” Wendy said, adding that making a film is “never ending.”
“It’s a long process that you just have to keep on trucking through, blindly hoping it is going to work out,” she continued. “And it might not! But you’ll learn something, and you’ll make a better film next time. That is all true—it just sucks when you are living through it.”
For my part, the encouragement and support are welcomed, but are not always necessary—the fact that, for the last nine years, I’ve continued to attend orchestra concerts, or plays, is appreciated, but Wendy laughed
and said, “I do so many things that I don’t expect you to come to all of them.”
However, we both agreed that it’s nice for me to actually get to see what she’s been working on (and what has kept her away for evening rehearsals), and get the full scope of something, rather than just hearing one instrument practicing in the office, or one side of dialogue from a scene.
One of the main reasons Wendy wanted to make films—specifically starting with the web series Lady Parts, was because, at the time, she and her cast mates all agreed there was a lack of performance opportunities for women who didn’t fit into an ingénue role—hence, one of the meanings behind the name “Lady Parts.”
For other artistic women out there, Wendy reflected that when you see a success, you don’t get to see a journey. “And it’s a long, awful journey to get to a success,” she added.
“One thing I’ve always been disappointed in myself in is I felt like I never focused on anything and really slogged through the awfulness,” she continued. “But I’m starting to come around with me having tried all these different things—it’s been really helpful for filmmaking. You need to be versed in a lot of different art forms to pull it all together.”
“Everyone is going to have their own thing,” she concluded. “You’re not born to do any one thing—follow your interests and try to stick with something. Also, enjoy the awful times, because if you can’t enjoy the process, then what’s the point?”
For more information about my artistic wife Wendy, and the web series Lady Parts , please visit wendyplacko.com, or follow ‘Lady Parts Series’ on Facebook.
Since 2013, Kevin Krein has operated the award winning music blog Anhedonic Headphones. He currently contributes the regular “Column of Disquiet” to The Next Ten Words, and his work has also been featured in The Wagazine, and on Bearded Gentlemen Music. He tweets often, sometimes about his wife’s artistic endeavors: @KevEFly. RVW
The Lady Parts ladies, Birch Carlson, Wendy, Anne Skonieczny
As we cozy up with family and admire our decor, we notice hanging stockings and wrapped-up gifts galore. Our eyes do linger longest on our drapery before we remember how we loved it, when we bought from Blinds & More.
his baby brother. I got to the end of the story and we rocked quietly for a few moments. Then he asked me to tell him another.
My grandson doesn’t know this, but when I share family stories with him, he is getting a boost in self-esteem and a good start to becoming a resilient teenager and adult. Researchers Marshall P. Duke and Robyn Fivush at Emory University have found that children and adolescents who know more of their family stories have increased feelings of well being, fewer behavior problems, and increased social competence. Another researcher, Robert Brooks, describes this effect as a gathering of strength. To understand the reason for this, we must look to neuroscience. Stories, especially stories that have a component of distress in them, open up our minds to other people’s worlds and stimulate empathy. This empathy is what allows us to find and understand the importance of our own place in our family and deepens our relationships.
Your family is probably already engaging in storytelling—in the car, at the dinner table, and in your everyday conversation. Gatherings during the holidays are prime times for sharing stories.
The Emory researchers have given us the Do You Know Scale as a tool to help us stimulate family storytelling. Use of this tool can take storytelling into new areas of your family history, and also might inspire you to gather more stories from older generations still living. Here are a few examples of the questions:
• Do you know where your parents met?
• Do you know the source of your name?
• Do you know some things that happened to your mom or dad when they were at school?
My mother has always said that the sweetest time with babies is first thing in the morning, and I came to agree with her when I became a grandma. One of the things that I have done for my daughter, when she had a newborn at home, was to send her back to bed and take over with feeding and rocking so that she could get a few more hours of sleep. As her first-born grew into a toddler and preschooler, the sweetness of the morning shift has not declined, nor has my daughter’s need for more sleep when she can get it.
My second grandson was just a few days old when I took the morning shift on a cold December day. Rocking this precious newborn by the light of the Christmas tree, we were just starting to get to know each other. I was taking in his baby scent and sounds when in walked his three-year-old brother, Corran.
Before baby brother arrived, Corran and I would spend a very long time rocking and reading books while everyone else in the house was sleeping, but this day he looked at me and didn’t quite know what to do. I invited him to climb up on my lap, showing him that there was still room for him.
I rocked with one arm around Corran and my other arm holding baby Harrison to my shoulder. Knowing that there was no way to keep Corran there for long without a book, I started to tell him a story. I told him about the first time that I saw him, when he was little and new like
The catalysts for family stories during the holidays are everywhere— decorations, foods, memories of holidays in the past. I don’t know how many times my husband and I have retold the story of driving to Minnesota from Colorado at Christmas time. One year we had car trouble in the bitter cold and a gracious trucker came to our rescue. Ages four and two at the time, our children don’t remember this exact day, but through our telling they know that when our family was in trouble, God sent someone to help.
Don’t neglect to share your faith through your personal stories at the holidays or any time of the year. It’s the most powerful way to pass on your beliefs to the next generation because it shows your children the impact, or the result, that your faith has had in your life.
After we started sharing stories together, Corran has asked for more. He wants to hear the stories about himself again and again, but he also wants stories about the people close to him—his mama and daddy, his grandma and grandpa, his aunt and uncle.
I find myself thinking ahead of time about what story I might share when we’re next in a rocking chair or I’m lying down beside him before he goes to sleep at night. I think I know something that the researchers don’t. It’s not just in the stories that our children gather our strength. It’s in the act of sharing.
LORI CREIGHTON Marketing Consultant Homestead Media LLCRIVERFRONT
410 S. Riverfront Dr. Mankato, MN 507-625-1107
HILLTOP
2010 Adams St. Mankato, MN 507-625-9070
Stress is a normal part of life. But too much stress can lead to emotional, psychological, and even physical problems -- including heart disease, high blood pressure, chest pains, or irregular heartbeats. Concerned about your blood pressure numbers? Stop in and talk to your friendly Hy-Vee Pharmacist for a free blood pressure screening today!
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It’s that time of year again filled with festivities, holiday parties, and groaning tables loaded with mismatched casserole dishes. No matter if you are hosting or bringing a dish to share, holiday fare should be delicious, special, and most of all simple!
Ask the experts for charcuterie and cheese recommendations. Putting together an amazing charcuterie tray is simple when you remember the Rule of 3. Aim for 3 meats, 3 cheeses, 3 extras (such as olives, dried fruit, or spreads) and 3 starches (crackers, pitas, bread) for variety of flavor, texture, and color.
Use convenience products to speed things up. Shortcuts pre-chopped fruits and vegetables are a secret ingredient of many busy chefs. And don’t forget about the myriad of salad kits available from Southwestern to Caesar, Blue Cheese to Pomegranate. Mix up and place in a pretty bowl. No one will know the difference.
A loaf of artisan bread paired with infused oil or flavored butter is both delicious and deceptively simple.
Planning a dish that can withstand the rigors of time can be challenging, but these Easy Garlic Green Beans have just a few ingredients, and cook up in the slow cooker.
Try our Easy Garlic Green Bean recipe featured to the right
Remember the slow cooker is your friend. A hot soup is simple to put together, hearty on a cold, winter day, easy on your budget, and a great way to increase your servings of vegetables.
Try our 8-Vegetable Chicken Soup recipe featured to the right
Purchasing a pre-made pie is a quick and easy solution. But a fan-favorite is an ice cream bar! Single-serve cups remove the mess of dishing up bowls. Gather together some of your favorite toppings (chocolate syrup, berries, peanuts, pineapple) and dessert is done!
ALL YOU NEED
2 lbs. fresh green beans, trimmed
¼ c. water
8 cloves garlic, peeled and quartered lengthwise
½ tsp. Hy-Vee crushed red pepper flakes
2 tbsp. Hy-Vee unsalted butter, cut into pieces
1 tsp. Hy-Vee kosher salt
ALL YOU DO
Place beans and water in 2-1/2-quart slow cooker. Stir in garlic and red pepper flakes. Top with butter. Cover and cook on HIGH for 2-1/2 to 3 hours or until beans and garlic are tender. Sprinkle salt over cooked beans; stir to combine.
Nutrition Facts per Serving: 50 calories per serving, 2.5g Total Fat, 1.5g Saturated Fat, 0g Trans Fat, 5mg Cholesterol, 210mg Sodium, 7g Total Carbohydrates, 3g Dietary Fiber, 3g Total Sugars, 2g Protein.
April Graff, MS, RD, LD - Hilltop Dietitian 507.625.9070 | AGraff@hy-vee.com
ALL YOU NEED
2 c. chopped cabbage
1 (14.5 oz) can Hy-Vee diced tomatoes, undrained
1 medium onion, chopped
1 c. chopped carrots
1 c. chopped celery
½ c. pearl barley
1 Hy-Vee bay leaf
1 ½ tsp. fresh thyme or ½ tsp Hy-Vee dried thyme
1 tsp. Hy-Vee salt
½ tsp. Hy-Vee black pepper
2 Hy-Vee Cool Chicken boneless, skinless chicken breasts (about 1-1/4 pounds total)
6 c. Hy-Vee reduced-sodium chicken broth
1 c. frozen edamame
1 c. frozen Hy-Vee cut green beans
1 c. chopped zucchini
Baking Stone Shepherd’s Bread, optional
ALL YOU DO
1. In a 4-or-5-quart slow-cooker, combine cabbage, tomatoes, onion, carrots, celery, barley, bay leaf, thyme, salt and black pepper. Place chicken breasts on top of vegetables. Pour in broth.
2. Cover and cook on HIGH for 4 to 5 hours or LOW for 8 to 9 hours.
3. Remove chicken; stir in edamame, green beans and zucchini.
4. Use 2 forks to shred chicken into bite-size pieces. Return chicken to slow-cooker. Cover and cook on HIGH heat for 20 to 30 minutes or until frozen vegetables are tender. Remove bay leaf.
Nutrition Facts per Serving: 150 calories per serving, 2.5g Total Fat, 0g Saturated Fat, 0g Trans Fat, 35mg Cholesterol, 750mg Sodium, 16g Total Carbohydrates, 4g Dietary Fiber, 5g Total Sugars, 16g Protein.
The skin is the largest organ in your body, but we often take it for granted. The good news is it’s never too late to start taking care of your skin. Your skin routine can be simple yet effective.
As we age, gravity, hormone loss, and sun can take their toll on our skin—causing wrinkles, sagging, and sun spots. Collagen production also diminishes. Collagen, a protein in our body, helps give structure and elasticity to our skin and gets the credit for a healthy glow.
Here are some ways to slow and reduce the effects of aging skin.
Face & neck—Treat your face, neck, and décolletage as one when you apply moisturizers and sunscreen.
Sunscreen—Sunscreen is the least expensive and most effective product on the market for anti-aging. Sunscreen should be applied all year round on your face, neck, and décolletage (if not covered). Sunscreen in your makeup or moisturizer does not offer the same protection. Apply your sunscreen before you apply your makeup. Remember, wearing sunscreen doesn’t give you a license to bake in the sun.
Cleanse —Wash your face morning and night with a good cleanser. If you only wash your face once a day, do so at night so you are not sleeping with makeup, dirt, and oil in your pores. Apply a moisturizer and eye cream before bed. Skip toners because they tend to contain alcohol, which is drying to the skin. For a deeper clean, try Clarisonic face brushes which remove six times the dirt, oil, and makeup. Your pores also look smaller and products can better penetrate into your skin.
Water —Drink water, eat fresh fruits and veggies, and cut down on sugar and processed foods. Refined grains and sugar can encourage the loss of
collagen and elastin in your skin. What you put in your body shows on the outside.
Stop smoking—Smoking causes premature skin aging, fine lines, wrinkles, and a gray tint to the skin tone.
Purge —Creams, sunscreens, and makeup have a shelf life. If you haven’t used the product in a while, get rid of it. To stop the cycle, ask for samples. We offer samples of our professional products at Skin Essentials. While you will not receive the full benefits from a sample, you will know if you like the product.
Botox & dermal fillers —Botox is used from the bridge of the nose up to relax the skin and smooth crow’s feet and forehead wrinkles. The 11s— those vertical lines between your brows—are best targeted with Botox. Botox effects last four to six months. Dermal fillers are injectable gels of naturally occurring hyaluronic acid that plump and lift cheeks, lips, and jowls while stimulating collagen growth. Effects of JUVÉDERM —a filler available at Skin Essentials—can last up to one year.
Botox and dermal fillers are safe when injected by a medical professional in a clinic environment. When it comes to these treatments, my philosophy is less is more for a natural look.
Dermalinfusion —As we age, our skin cells don’t turn over as fast. One of our newest treatments—a three-in-one skin treatment called Dermalinfusion—exfoliates cells, extracts dirt and infuses skin with condition-specific serums simultaneously. This 30-minute spa service is relaxing and women see results.
By caring for your skin, you can be the best version of you!
Professional chef and wine sommelier, Edy Cucurullo grew up near the Amalfi Coast in Italy. As a youngster he was exposed to a rich culture of family and food making. After many years working in the culinary and restaurant field in Europe, he moved to Mankato with his wife. He offers his culinary skills and flair to HyVee, grilling in the meat department, offering his expertise in the deli and wine and spirits departments as well as hosting many events in the dining area. Here, Chef Edy, shares some of his favorite recipes for you to try at home.
PESTO
1 cup of shelled walnuts
1 bunch of fresh asparagus
¾ cup crushed ice
4 oz. of Swiss gruyere shredded
1 oz. fresh basil
3 garlic cloves
2 tbsp. extra virgin olive oil
Salt and black pepper to taste
SHRIMP
1 lb of peeled and deveined shrimp
½ cup of sherry cooking wine
15 cherry tomatoes
Salt and pepper to taste
1. Wash and cut the fresh produce. Dice the garlic, cut the asparagus, chop the shrimp and shred the gruyere.
2. Fill a sauce pan 3/4 full with warm water add 1 oz. of sea salt and bring to a boil over medium-high heat. Add the fusilli to the boiling water and cook the pasta according to the directions on the box.
3. Put the walnuts in a pan and toast for 3 minutes on medium heat, chop and set aside.
4. Preheat the oven to 425 degrees. Place the asparagus on a cookie sheet and drizzle with olive oil. Sprinkle with salt and pepper. Cook the asparagus until tender. Set aside and cool 5 minutes. Once cooled chop asparagus into small pieces.
5. Make the pesto. Start by blending 2 tbsp. of extra virgin olive oil and 1 1/2 cloves of diced garlic together for 1 minute. Add chopped asparagus and crushed ice. Blend for 2 minutes. Add walnuts, basil and shredded gruyere. Salt and pepper to taste. Set aside.
6. In a large pan add 1 tbsp. of olive oil and 1 1/2 cloves of diced garlic and cook on medium heat for one minute. Add chopped shrimp and cherry tomatoes, cook 2 minutes. Increase heat to medium-high, add sherry wine and allow the sherry wine to steam and cook until the shrimp all have the same color on both sides. Add the fusilli and about 4 oz. of water and pesto to the pan and cook until water steams. Makes 4 servings.
4 heads of broccoli
4 cloves garlic
Salt*
1 lb. orecchiette pasta
Olive oil*
2 tbsp. fennel seed
1 tsp. red pepper flakes (to taste)
1½ pound pork sausage
2 oz. Parmigiano Reggiano
4 oz. Pecorino Romano
Bruschetta: 1 loaf Tuscan bread, 8 oz. cherry tomatoes, 1 oz. fresh basil, olive oil, balsamic vinegar glaze.
Prepare the ingredients. Wash the broccoli and remove stems. Cut the broccoli head into medium-sized pieces. Peel and dice the garlic. Cook the broccoli. Bring a large saucepan of water to a boil over high heat. Add the broccoli and salt and cook for 15 minutes. Drain the broccoli and save the broccoli cooking water. Cut the broccoli into smaller pieces.
Cook the pasta. Bring broccoli water to boiling over high heat; add some warm water if needed. Add orecchiette pasta and cook according to package directions.
Cook the sausage. While the pasta cooks, heat olive oil in a large pan over medium heat. Add the diced garlic, fennel seed and chili pepper flakes and cook for one minute. Break the sausage into small pieces and add to the pan, along with the broccoli.
Combine the pasta. When the pasta is ready, drain and save ½ cup of the cooking water. Add the pasta to the pan with sausage and broccoli. Add 1 cup of the pasta cooking water and cook until the water steams.
Plate your dish. Divide pasta between two plates and top with grated Parmigiano Reggiano cheese.
Suggested Wine: Vino Primotivo
Gwen Mack thinks that when life hands you lemons, you hand out lemon drops. When witnessing what cancer and subsequent treatments can do to loved ones and strangers alike, it inspired her to create comforting corn bags. These bags can be heated or frozen to use for warmth and/or pain relief. All proceeds from the sale of the bags go toward the purchase of lemon drops for cancer patients—who often suffer from dry mouth due to medical treatments.
Gwen answered our questions about the bags and getting started with the project.
What are corn bags?
The bags are 100% cotton material sacks filled with field corn (or soybeans). The corn is the same bagged corn you could buy for corn burners to heat your home. Each handmade bag has a fun or pretty pattern, such as farm scenes, wildlife, nature, and more. I always prep the corn prior to filling the bags by sifting it through a wire strainer to get rid of the dust that naturally comes with corn.
What do people do with them?
One can heat them in the microwave for about two minutes for warmth, or store them in the freezer to use as cold packs.
What are they good for?
When heated you can take them to bed, put them on your lap at home or work to warm you when you’re chilled; warm your feet and hands; or use them for earaches, menstrual cramps, bursitis, fibromyalgia, arthritis, sore joints and muscles. When stored in the freezer, they can be uses for toothaches, headaches, burns, bruises, sports injuries, tendonitis, heatstroke, nose bleeds, or to reduce swelling and fever.
What motivated you to do this?
Many of us know someone who has had cancer, or perhaps have experienced it ourselves. When going through treatment, cancer patients tend to be chilled more than normal, as their immune system is not as strong. The corn/soybean bag helps to keep them warm and more comfortable.
My nephew made one for a school project many years ago and gave family members one to try. We always had them in my home. I have always had an interest in sewing so I started to make the bags and donate them to patients at the New Ulm Medical Center. It took off from making a few bags with scrap material to making 400 pounds worth—approximately 110 bags—and displaying them at craft shows. Once I paid myself back for the material and corn purchased, I was coming out ahead with the donations I received. I decided to let it grow and donate the proceeds toward something useful to anyone taking treatments—paying it forward, so someone could smile when a smile is needed, even if it came from a total stranger.
What do you do with the funds raised?
I purchase lemon drops for the patients taking treatments. Chemo treatments give you a dry mouth and these lemon drops are actually used in other oncology offices. I was recently asked to purchase ginger drops for
nausea so I am currently checking into that as an addition to the lemon drops. I make weekly visits to the New Ulm facility and fill their baskets. I guess they call me the “Lemon Drop Lady” because I am in and out with no name left behind.
What are your fund-raising goals?
My goal is $1,200 a year. In 2017, I raised that amount, plus just enough to pay myself back for materials and corn. I will be able to spend $100 every month to keep the hospital fully stocked with drops. I plan to supply the Mankato hospital with lemon drops as well, as long as the money raised allows me to do so.
How long have you been doing this?
I have been making the bags and delivering them to the New Ulm oncology unit for the past four years. In 2017, I started selling the bags and donating all the proceeds. In the past I was just buying material at rummage sales and getting pails of corn at a local co-op to make and deliver bags to the oncology department for anyone to take. Over the last few years, local (New Ulm) corn/soybean supplier, Greg Brandt with Federal Hybrids, has donated many bags of corn. He continues to do so. Recently Bryan and Mindy Berkner of Sleepy Eye have offered to donate soybeans for 2019. The material is purchased from Thimble Box in New Ulm. Storeowner Brenda Seidl has been a huge help, giving me a discount on all supplies and donating some materials. Plus, she takes the time to cut up the many yards of materials into the proper size strips needed for the bags. This is a huge timesaver for me.
Where can people find them?
I attend local craft shows where people can purchase them. Or, people can get them simply by word of mouth through family, friends, and Facebook. Call Gwen at 507-276-6699.
Do you plan to do this each year?
Most definitely. I plan to keep creating these bags each and every year. I love to spend time doing things for others and if a warm five dollar corn bag can bring a smile to someone’s face, it is worth a million bucks! RVW
It’s a good thing that Tania Cordes is a self-described high-energy person. She needed to be to breath new life in Mankato’s oldest entertainment center, the Kato Ballroom.
“I always need to be doing something,” Cordes stated.
For the last four years, that “something” has been “having to be here early and stay late” at virtually every event at the ballroom. Now, in her fifth year as owner, Cordes says she’s finally learning that she can leave. Imagine buying a business—a ballroom at that—after having seen it only once, for maybe 10 minutes. And moving halfway across the country to take ownership and run it?
That’s exactly what Tania Cordes did when—after hearing from her in-laws that they had put the Kato Ballroom on the market.
David and Mary Jo Cordes owned the ballroom as silent partners with his sister, Janet Sell, who operated it from her home in the Twin Cities.
“As we talked about it one Thanksgiving, I said, ‘Take it off the market, I’ll take-over the ballroom.’ My mother-in-law thought I was crazy. My fatherin-law loved the idea,” Tania explained.
It all seemed natural for Tania who said, “I had been on a lot of boards, loved to cook, entertain, and party plan.”
Cordes was met with some surprises when they first came to Mankato. The family couldn’t find a house to rent in the college town, and Tania still remembers walking into the ballroom in the summer of 2013.
“I didn’t realize how bad a shape it was in. I remember crying halfway through my visit…there was no place to rent and the ballroom was a mess.”
While trying to figure out what to do, she talked to friends back east. Two flew in Labor Day weekend and the three worked 80 hours straight, painting, landscaping, decorating etc.
“We had a ball. I can’t believe the things we got done,” Cordes recalled. “We re-did the interior, we got rid of the smell, the garbage and the clutter.”
Along with the physical changes, Cordes worked hard to improve the ballroom’s reputation.
“I always felt there was a place for it in this town. It’s very unique and quite historic,” she said. “We improved the quality of the food. We had some turnover in staff but we found a group of women with enthusiasm for it— glass half-full kind of people.”
Things began to change through word of mouth, and the Kato gained back customers and garnered new ones.”
She continued, “When I took over, my vision of the ballroom was one of an elegant place. I was quite taken back in the beginning, but I have worked hard to make my vision a reality.”
Tania is hands-on, doing everything from dishes, serving at the buffet, clearing tables, and more. She expects her employees to do the same.
“ We had to do a lot of repair on our reputation,” she said. “We always ask people, ‘What should we change to make things better?’ My motto is, you can’t fix things if you don’t know about them.”
Even with all that’s now happening at the ballroom, there are only two full time employees—Cordes and Larry Bowers.
“Larry has been here about 35 years—since some time in the 1980s. We joke that he came with the ballroom,” Tania said.
Tania calls on 20 to 25 part-time employees, as there is need. Most have full-time jobs and work at The Kato when there’s an event.
From only having seven weddings on the books the first year, The Kato now hosts about three dozen weddings a year along with at wide variety of other events—dinner theatre, country music shows, Tony & Tina’s wedding,
tribute bands, fundraisers, business meetings and trainings, the Twins Winter Caravan, trade shows, New Year’s Eve and Valentine’s dances, Hispanic events, club banquets, Sudanese/Somalian events, church services, the symphony orchestra’s Pops Night, business parties, a three-day pool tournament, 50s theme dances, and—the first Monday of every month—Bandwagon. The possibilities are endless.
“My father-in-law said that, in its heyday, the ballroom hosted 90 events a year. I thought it couldn’t be but—last year—we had over 100,” Cordes said. “We’ve brought a lot of people in—people hear what’s going on.”
Cordes admitted, “We have an older clientele. We’re working to bring in a younger group. New events, such as the United Way Men’s Event, has helped to expand our reach—but the challenge always remains.”
The main ballroom has a fire code maximum of 1,684 people for dances and easily seats 700+ for a sit-down dinner. A banquet room behind the dance hall has a separate entrance and can handle nearly 200 for business meetings and banquets.
For Cordes, every event is a challenge, as she wants everything to be perfect. In addition to in-house catering, the ballroom offers decorating services.
“My motto in the beginning was ‘Something in the ballroom is better than nothing.’ And that’s still mainly true—except when I then have to be here all the time,” Cordes said.
Tania Cordes grew up in Bannockburn, outside Chicago, where her parents still live. She completed an undergraduate degree “out East”— at Colgate University in upstate New York— before going to work for Morgan Stanley on Wall Street. She next worked for Tambrands Inc., then completed an M.B.A. at Harvard.
Cordes then moved back to Chicago, to work for Bain & Company, a strategic consulting firm. After five years, she moved to Security Capital Group. When a former partner from Bain asked her to join him in starting an internet company, ebDirect. She became vice president of strategy. That business collapsed after the Internet bust in 2000-01. Tania was pregnant with her first child and chose to stay at home from 2002 to 2013, raising the family and serving on charitable nonprofit boards.
Tania’s ex-husband, James, moved the family to Westport Connecticut and it was there that Tania became aware of the ballroom being for sale and the family moved to Mankato.
“I wanted to get back to the Midwest. Mankato is not Chicago, but it’s close enough,” Tania said.
From August through December 2013, Tania worked under ballroom operator Janet Sell before she retired, then took over January 1, 2014.
After first living in North Mankato, Tania and the kids now live in Lake Crystal where they’re having their first experience raising animals—chickens.
“The kids had never had a pet. I got them some betta fish and told them if they didn’t kill them, we’d get something else. The chickens are adorable—they lay eggs, they toddle around the yard and the neighbors enjoy them.”
When she can, Tania likes to golf, cook, and travel.
“I’m a big foodie-wine person,” she said. She also loves the theatre and concerts. The family loves to ski and went out to Vail, Colorado last year.
There’s a lot of history in the poster display that Tania Cordes assembled from old posters found in storage. They tell the story of the ballroom’s musical heritage— from Big Bands and Old Time Polka, to the 50s and 60s, Heavy Metal, and Country. The display also features Mankato bands, as well as some of the new events the ballroom has hosted since Cordes took over.The Kato Ballroom was built in 1946 by the Martinka Family. It burned down in 1949 and was rebuilt the following year. The ballroom was first a concert venue and had the traditional booths common to ballrooms of the day. A kitchen was added during their ownership.
The Martinkas sold the ballroom to the Cordes family in the early 1980s. They added the banquet room, remodeled the bathrooms, and removed the booths.
The Kato likely has the second largest dance floor in the upper Midwest—second only to the Medina Ballroom. Cordes, who is on the board of the Minnesota Ballroom Operator’s Association, noted that only about 10 ballrooms remain in Minnesota.
Nearly 400 bands and individual entertainers have performed at the ballroom over the years—many of them once, with others dozens of times. Johnny Holm has performed the most—111 times. Others with 25 or more appearances are Clem Brau, 104; Whitesidewalls, 75; Elmer Scheid, 73; Henry Charles, 70; Fezz Fritsche, 61; Jolly Lumberjacks, 58; Guy Deleo, 54; Six Fat Dutchmen, 48; Bob White, 45; Sammy Jensen, 29; Babe Wagner, 29; Jolly Brewers, 27; and Whoopie John, 25. Other famous performers have included Buddy Holly, Richie Valence, Bobby Vee and Company, Glenn Miller, and Lawrence Welk.
Cordes found a pile of old dance posters stored above the coatroom and reproduced them to fit in a display in the back entryway. The display provides a walk down memory lane— from the Big Bands and Old Time Polka, to the 50s and 60s, Heavy Metal, and Country. The display also features Mankato bands, as well as some of the new events the ballroom has
Bandwagon is one of the longest running, locally produced, entertainment programs in the history of Minnesota television—and quite possibly the longest-running televised music program in the world. KEYC News 12 first aired the 30-minute show November 21, 1960, live as a celebration of KEYC going on the air. The official name Bandwagon was given to the show March 30, 1961.
Throughout the years, the first Monday of the month program featured local and national polka bands, with audience participation on the dance floor. For many years, the program was taped at KEYC, then later at the Kato Ballroom. The program was first sponsored by John Deere and later by Randall’s Supermarket. Chuck Pasek was the host from 1961 to 1995, followed by Dick Ginn and Tom Goetzinger.
KEYC considered dropping the program entirely about five years ago when it was no longer sponsored and ratings fell. Tapings were reduced to every other month.
After taking over the ballroom, Cordes infused new life into the program—offering to host it each month and book the bands. To make it financially stable, she also began charging admission. Surprisingly, attendance increased and ratings went up. Polka dancing is 6:30 to 9:30 p.m., with food and dinks served for an hour beforehand. Taped shows air the following four weekends.
Being a single mother of four—and living and breathing the ballroom—it’s been hard for Tania to balance work and family, but she’s trying. “The first four years, there wasn’t an event that I wasn’t at. I’m purposely taking more time off.”
Tania’s children—Blake, 18, Hunter, 16, Scarlett, 9, and Parker, 8 have all helped with events at the ballroom. Blake’s favorite thing is to do coatcheck with his friends. The younger ones help with the Twins event and Scarlett loves to hand out programs during the Merely Players dinner theatre.
As she looks back at her first five years at the ballroom, Tania said, “It’s been a blast, it’s been a challenge. I have a whole new appreciation for the complexities of this business—like catering for 500. It’s been rewarding as well, especially when I am thanked by people in the community for keeping the ballroom running. I’ve met a lot of people who say that they met here—or who held their wedding dances here, and now their kids are returning to do the same.”
RVWSince taking over the historic Kato Ballroom January 1, 2014, Tania Cordes has expanded its role in the community.
The Kato Ballroom can easily seat 700 in an elegant setting for a sit-down dinner—or can handle more than 1,500 for a dance.
The theme for this month's issue of RVW is “Stars”—women who make others sit up and take notice through arts, music and performance.
Today I had the opportunity to meet some people who do that without a stage or a microphone. Instead, they use their hearts.
I am writing this article at 11:30 at night in Podensac, France. I traveled for almost a day, had little sleep and then went to a reception held by the city government of Podensac to welcome us. The trip was the brainchild of a wonderful man named Edouard LeGrand who is a part of the city government of Podensac. The people who I traveled with were casual friends, not people who were close friends. It was a natural choice of delegates, the Mayor of Faribault, the direct descendant of one of the soldiers who served in WWI, and the Faribault Area Chamber of Commerce President and myself. We each brought our significant others, except for our mayor. We began the trip as acquaintances, and ended as trusted friends who now share a bond.
Monsieur LeGrand had the idea that because Podensac was protected during the end of WWI by soldiers from Faribault, that our two cities should meet. As the Chamber of Commerce board chairwoman, I was lucky enough to be chosen as one of the people to represent the city of Faribault on this trip. The trip has just begun, but I can tell you that the honor that I feel is overwhelming.
This week I communicated with those who spoke very little English, and yet there was so much shared laughter and joy that it was obvious that the communication was happening at the heart level and not the head level. During dinner one evening, Monsieur LeGrand looked over at me and then looked down to the middle of the long table where our Mayor of Faribault and the Mayor of Podensac were deep in discussion… and he commented that neither of them spoke each other’s language! This
moment was only the beginning of this same thing happening over and over during our visit.
Life is about finding other humans who you can share your heart and mind with. Communication happens at the time when you can understand what someone else feels. The “stars” who we will become friends with this week, will help us to understand that it is not as much about the words that you speak, but the emotion that you convey.
I have always known that the importance of being alive is the human connection, but this week proved it more than I could ever imagine. The real stars of this trip are first the people of Podensac who recognized the importance of this collaboration, and also the soldiers whose service ensured that these people remained Frenchmen.
Podensac is a small village of 3,300 people. They have no need to speak English and yet during our visit, the majority did their best to try and use the little bit of English they had. A simple, “Hello, how are you?” became an accomplishment that radiated from their faces. As Americans we did our best to learn a little French, and somehow we all managed to fully understand the importance of our time together.
There are parts of history that we all wish we could change, but it is important to remember that the history we share is what connects us. Nothing can be taken for granted when we honor our differences as well as our similarities.
I went to France with an open mind and an open heart. The reception we received was nothing like I had expected, and the tears at leaving these people who now feel like family, surpassed my wildest dreams.
The people I spent this week with were true stars. They made me sit up and take notice, and they cast a shining light over me. I am so grateful!
E-mail Ruth Klossner at cowladyruth@gmail.com by the 10th of the month. Listings are generally for events that are free to the public, or are fundraisers. Listings will be published as space allows and at the discretion of the editor.
Now thru Sat., Dec. 8
• Focus on Ministry High School Tip-Off Tournament, Martin Luther College, 1995 Luther Ct, New Ulm. Info: mlcinfo@mlcwels.edu.
Now thru Sun., Dec. 9
• Christmas at Bethany, Trinity Chapel, Luther Drive, Mankato. 5 pm Thurs & Fri, 1 & 5 pm Sat, 3 pm Sun. Info & tickets: 507-3447365.
Now thru Fri., Dec. 28
• Artscape Juried Art Show, Grand Center for Arts and Culture, 210 N Minnesota St, New Ulm. 10 am-4 pm Tues-Fri; 11 am-3 pm Sat. Info: 507-3599222.
Now thru Mon., Dec. 31
• Kiwanis Holiday Lights, Sibley Park, 900 Mound Ave, Mankato. 5-9 pm Sun-Thurs, 5-10 Fri-Sat. Info: 507-385-9129 or kiwanisholidaylights.com.
Now thru Tues., Jan. 1
• Sleepy Eye Holiday Lights in Motion, Sportsmen’s Park, Hwy 4 N, Sleepy Eye, 5-10 pm. Info: 507-794-4731 or sleepyeyeonline.com/holidaylights/.
Fri., Dec. 7
• Home for Christmas 1944, State Street Theater, 1 N State St, New Ulm, 7:30 pm. Info: statestreettheater@gmail.com or 507-359-9990.
• Holiday Delights, Downtown Plaza, Fairmont, 5 pm start. Info: 507-235-5547.
• Jazz in the Courtyard, Courtyard Café, Gustavus Adolphus College, St Peter, 4:30 pm. Info: 507-933-7013.
• Buried Child, Black Box Theatre, Gustavus Adolphus College, St. Peter, 6:30 pm.
• Delta Waterfowl Banquet, American Legion, St. James, 5-10 pm. Info: deltawaterfowl. org/.
Fri.-Sat., Dec. 7-8
• Nativity Pageant, Riverside Park, Springfield, 7 pm. Info: 507-723-3508.
Fri. -Sun., Dec. 7-9
• One-Act Plays—Trifles and Lafayette No 1, Martin Luther College Auditorium, 1995 Luther Ct, New Ulm, 7:30 pm Fri & Sat, 2 pm Sun. Info: 507-3548221x114.
• St. James Winter Carnival, downtown, St. James. Info: 507375-3333.
Fri.-Sun., Dec. 7-9; Thurs.-Sun., Dec. 13-16
• TMP—The Santa Diaries Part Two A Christmas Wedding, 321 Central Ave N, Faribault. 7:30 pm Thurs, Fri, Sat; 2 pm Sun. Info: visitfaribault.com/calendar/.
Sat., Dec. 8
• St. Gregory the Great Catholic Church Cookie Walk, 440 6th St., Lafayette, 9 am-1 pm. Info: 507-276-6941 or 507-228-8676.
• Santa Day, Public Library, Gaylord 9 am. Info: gaylordmnchamber.com.
• The Nutcracker Presented by the Mankato Ballet, State Street Theater, 1 N State St, New Ulm, 1 & 5 pm. Info & tickets: statestreettheater@gmail.com or 507-359-9990.
• Main Street Christmas, Center for the Arts, 15 Franklin St SW & St. John’s Episcopal Church, corner of Hassan St and 2nd Ave, 1-4 pm. Info: 320-234-5652 or jpage@ci.hutchinson.mn.us.
• Hutchinson Holiday Farmers Market, Depot Marketplace, 25
Adams St SE, Hutchinson, 11 am-4 pm.
• Jingle Bell Jam, Middle School, New Ulm, 9 am. Info & registration: nupd.sue.brandes@ co.brown.mn.us.
• Holly Days with Santa, Herbergers Building, N Minnesota St, New Ulm, 11 am-5 pm. Info: nucve.com.
• Bells on Belgrade, Lower North Mankato, 301 Belgrade Ave, No. Mankato, 3-6 pm. Info: 507-3881062.
• Gustavus Woodwind Chamber Ensembles Fall Concert, Bjorling Recital Hall, Gustavus Adolphus College, St. Peter, 1 pm. Info: 507-933-7013.
• Gustavus Percussion Ensemble Fall Concert, Bjorling Recital Hall, Gustavus Adolphus College, St. Peter, 3:30 pm. Info: 507-933-7013.
Sat.-Sun., Dec. 8-9
• Cookie Bake, Church of St. Johns, Searles, 3-7 Sat., 8 amnoon Sun. Ordering info: 507276-3274 or holycrossafc.org.
• Christmas at the Cox House, E. St. Julien Cox House, 500 N. Washington Ave., St. Peter, Sat eve, Sun. Info: 507-934-2160 or cox@nchsmn.org.
Sat., Dec. 8, 15 & 22
• Faribault Winter Farmers’ Market, Paradise Center for the Arts, 321 Central Ave N, Faribault, 1-4 pm. Info: Facebook or Instagram.
Sun., Dec. 9
• Twinkle Gala Music & Meal, United Church of Christ, 301 S Minnesota St, New Ulm, 5 pm. Info: newulmsuzuki.org/ or 507276-392.
• Gustavus Philharmonic Orchestra Fall Concert, Bjorling Recital Hall, Gustavus Adolphus College, St. Peter, 3:30 pm. Info: 507-933-7013.
• Bird ID Program, Ney Nature Center, 28238 Nature Center Lane, Henderson, 1 pm. Info & registration: 507-357-8580 or info@neycenter.org.
• Community Christmas SingA-Long, Bernadotte Lutheran Church, 34122 515th Ave, Lafayette, 7 pm.
Mon., Thurs. & Sat, Dec. 10, 13 & 15
• Fresh Tabletop Tree Workshop, A to Zinnia Florals & Gifts, 15 S Broadway, New Ulm. 5:30 pm Mon & Thurs, 10 am & 1 pm Sat. Info & sign-up: 359-9900 or heather@a2zinnia.com.
Mon., Dec. 10 & Jan. 7
• Big Ideas—Introduction to Carpentry: Level 0, High School, New Ulm, 6:30 pm. Info & registration: BigIdeasUSA.org.
Mon. & Wed., Dec. 10, 12, 17 & 19
• Big Ideas—Welding: MIG/Wire Feed, High School, New Ulm, 6:30 pm. Info & registration: BigIdeasUSA.org.
Tues. & Thurs., Dec. 11 & 13; Jan. 8 & 10
• Big Ideas—Carpentry: Level 2, High School, New Ulm, 6:30 pm. Info & registration: BigIdeasUSA.org.
Wed., Dec. 12
• Holly Jolly Christmas Party, KingsPath Senior Living, 125 Commerce Dr W, Belle Plaine, 3:30-5:30 pm. Info: 952-8735800 of eaberger@tlha.
Sat., Dec. 15
• Christmas Market, St. Anastasia School, 400 Lake St SW, Hutchinson, 9 am-1 pm. Info: 320-587-6022 or wallyn@nutelecom.net.
• Elves’ Christmas Village, downtown, Sleepy Eye, 1-8 pm. Info: kathykrenz@gmail.com or 507-227-8044.
• Meghan’s Place 1st Annual Christmas Celebration, 261 3rd
Ave NW, Hutchinson, 3-6 pm. Info: 320-234-6347or facebook. com/MeghansPlaceClub/.
• Christmas Movie, Watonwan County/Madelia Branch Library, 10:30 am. Info: 507-642-3511.
• Big Ideas—Welding: Arc/ Stick, High School, New Ulm, 8 am-noon. Info & registration: BigIdeasUSA.org.
• Local Quality Long-Term Care Choices, Washington Learning Center, New Ulm, 9 am. Info: cfleck@newulm.k12.mn.us or 507-233-8307.
• Minnesota Valley Sweeper Tournament, Concordia Lanes, 416 19th St N, New Ulm, 11 am-3 pm.
• Christmas Bird Count, Ney Nature Center, 28238 Nature Center Lane, Henderson, 8:30 am-4:30 pm. Info: 507-357-8580 or info@ neycenter.org.
Mon., Thurs. & Sat, Dec. 17, 20, 22
• Holiday Centerpiece Workshop, A to Zinnia Florals & Gifts, 15 S Broadway, New Ulm. 5:30 pm Mon & Thurs, 10 am & 1 pm Sat. Info & sign-up: 359-9900 or heather@a2zinnia.com.
Tues., Dec. 18
• Guys Night Out, Inspired, 119 N. Minnesota St, New Ulm, 4-8 pm. Info: 507-233-4350 or Facebook.
• Invasive Species—A Closer Look, Washington Learning Center, New Ulm, 6 pm. Info: 507-2338307 or cfleck@newulm.k12. mn.us.
Thurs., Dec. 20
• Medicare Counseling, Community Center, 600 N. German St, New Ulm, 9 am. Info: 507-354-3212 or newulmseniors.org.
• Ney Senior Learning Series— Aquatic Invasive Species, Ney Nature Center, 28238 Nature Center Lane, Henderson, 12-1:30 pm. Info & registration: 507-3578580 or info@neycenter.org.
• Family Film Night—screening of ‘Elf,’ Public Library, New Ulm, 6 pm. Info: 507-359-8331.
Mon.-Tues., Dec. 24 & 25
• Christmas Luminaries, Schells Brewery Gardens, New Ulm, dusk.
Wed., Dec. 26
• 4-Hr. Driver Safety Refresher Course, Community Center, 600
N. German St, New Ulm, 8:15 am-12:15 pm. Info & sign-up: 507354-3212.
Wed.-Fri., Dec. 26-28
• Winter Explorers Camp, Ney Nature Center, 28238 Nature Center Lane, Henderson, 9 am-4 pm. Info & registration: 507-357-8580 or info@neycenter.org.
Tues., Jan. 1
• First Day Hike, Minneopa State Park, 5 mi W on Hwy 68 & 169, Mankato, 10 am. Info: 507-3848890 or scott.kudelka@state. mn.us.
Sat., Jan. 5
• Snowshoe Adventure Hike, Minneopa State Park, 5 mi W on Hwy 68 & 169, Mankato, 1 pm. Info: 507-384-8890 or scott.kudelka@ state.mn.us.
• Beginner Snowshoe Hike, Ft Ridgely State Park, 72404 Co Rd 30, Fairfax, 10 am. Info: 507-3848890 or scott.kudelka@state. mn.us.
Sat., Jan. 12
• Mankato Craft Beer Expo, Verizon Wireless Center, 1 Civic Center Plaza, Mankato. Info: 507389-3000.
• Family Snowshoeing, Ney Nature Center, 28238 Nature Center Lane, Henderson, 1-2:30 pm. Info & registration: 507-357-8580 or info@neycenter.org.
Sun., Jan. 13
• Lafayette Lions’ Dad’s Belgian Waffle Breakfast, Community Center, Lafayette, 9 am-1 pm. Info: 507-240-0048.
Tues., Jan. 15
• Scott Co. Hist. Soc. presents ‘Prohibition in Scott County,’ KingsPath Senior Living, 125 Commerce Dr W, Belle Plaine, 2 pm. Info: 952-873-5800 or eaberger@tlha.
Wed.-Fri., Jan. 16-18
• Red Cross Bloodmobile, Vogel Arena, New Ulm. 1-7 pm Wed., 12-6 pm Thurs, 8:30 am-1:30 pm Fri.
Thurs., Jan. 17
• Ney Senior Learning Series— Blue Zones, Ney Nature Center, 28238 Nature Center Lane, Henderson, 12-1:30 pm. Info & registration: 507-357-8580 or info@neycenter.org.
SHAWN: Receiving a Cabbage Patch Doll in the 1980s when none could be found anywhere.
LETICIA: When I was in fifth grade and a secret Santa came by our house with gifts for me and my four siblings, all decked out in a suit, along with a red bag. We never knew who it was, but I will always remember his kindness.
SARA: Putting Christmas gift bows on my Grandpa’s head and he’d keep them on the entire gift opening. Miss him!
ASHLEY: Going to the Kiwanis Holiday Lights display. It was the last spot our family took a picture together before my mom passed away.
LEANN: Christmas 1987 after 13 years of testing, surgeries for endometriosis, all procedures for infertility, months of horrible morning sickness, we heard our baby’s heartbeat for the first time, the week before Christmas! She is 30 years old now, best Christmas ever!
TOSHA: On Christmas Eve my siblings and I got to open gifts. We would be celebrating and suddenly hear a loud bang on a door or window. Santa was here! Then he’d jingle his bells and take off. We’d run outside, terrified, but so excited! Santa had left a big bag of gifts and his jingle bells behind. We could see his footprints. He’d even manage to eat most of the cookies and milk. It was true magic. My sister (who played Santa then) now plays it for my daughter. She’s 8 and getting skeptical, but she was convinced last Christmas when he arrived and dropped a bag of presents for her. Such a cherished memory!
TRACY: I was around 8 or 9 years old. Our tradition was on Christmas Eve to have a large supper, do dishes and then open our presents. While we were in the kitchen (back end of the house) we heard the front door open and heard bells. Mom refused to let us get up and see what was happening. When we were finally allowed to go in the living room we discovered “Santa” had left presents! I never knew who Santa was until a few years ago when my mom and I were visiting with her in an assisted living facility, some 40 years later. She died shortly after that but I was so glad I was able to tell her how magic she made that Christmas for me!
AMANDA: Every year my great grandma would have a man dressed up as Santa come over and bring us presents she had given him to deliver on Christmas Eve. We thought it was the best thing ever.
JESSIE: Every year on Christmas day we’d travel to my great grandparents where the whole extended family would get together. Grandma would bake the best cookies and homemade caramels. We’d all sit down together and have dinner. It was never about gifts but about spending it together. Great grandpa always wore his “railroad bibs” and his bear hugs and belly laughs were my absolute favorite. When they passed away and had an auction at their farm, they auctioned off their mailbox and all I could think of was our Christmases together and the letters and cards they sent and received through the years.
More answers can be found on the RVW Facebook page.
JAMIE: Staying up until midnight on Christmas Eve in the back bedroom with all of my cousins at my grandparents’ waiting to hear Santa on the roof so we could come out and see what he left.
BRENDA: Having all the family together. Eating lutefisk and Swedish sausage. Mmmmmm!
LINDA: My son Ryan’s first Christmas. He was the only little one in our family. His great grandparents were just mesmerized by him.
MICHELLE: Going to Christmas Eve church, then to grandparents and coming home late only to find Santa had been there. We were then allowed to stay up even later and open those gifts and then wear the new clothes to the other grandparents for Christmas Day.
JULIE: On Christmas morning we would get up and have breakfast together before we could open presents. We always have odvarke, a Czech fruit soup. We still do this, no matter who is there and cherish the time with our family.
CHRISTINA: Our sibling gift exchange with all 10 of us!
DENISE: Driving home after midnight mass as the snowflakes fell and Christmas lights twinkled in the night.
KATIE: Going to church on Christmas Eve and then driving through town to look at lights on our way to my great grandparents’ house. My grandma made all the best Swedish treats and we would stay up late eating all those goodies. I still go to Christmas Eve services with my grandparents and this will be my 34th Christmas with them.
DEBBIE: My favorite memory is, taking our old sleighs and going down by the corn crib, where we use to get snow drifts as high as the crib itself. My brother and I would climb till we got to the very top and then down we would go all the way down to the very bottom, giggling away, no care in the world, just the two of us, and brisk cold air. We would keep climbing that hill till our tracks would became perfect steps and the track line was gleaming from our sleds. Afterwards we would take our frozen selves into warm house where the wood stove kept the kitchen snuggly warm where a big hot cup of hot cocoa was waiting just for us. The snow doesn’t get that deep anymore, I don’t get to see my brother as often, and no one makes cocoa like mama anymore. Memories, however, will always be there.
MICHELLE: Going to Christmas Eve mass and coming home watching the sky for Santa!
STACEY: Going to church Christmas Eve, then to mom and dad’s where we eat all night, and stay up and play games and cards ’til the sun comes up Christmas morning.
TANYA: Carefully opening presents while my parents were at work and taping them back shut!
It’s a Thursday morning in the basement of the School Sisters of Notre Dame in Mankato, and the atmosphere in the room is one of joy, laughter, and fun. About 25 people sit around tables, snacking on donuts, and chatting together. In the adjoining room, a podium is set up in front of several rows of chairs, with a piano tucked in one corner. As the time draws nearer to 10 a.m., more people arrive, straggling in by ones or twos.
A piano’s commanding notes begin to rise above the murmur, playing a familiar tune. Then Kristin Ziemke strides toward the podium, singing out a question: “Are you ready to sing?”
As if on cue, the rest of the group stands and heads looking toward her, singing back in unison, “We are ready to sing!”
For the next hour and a half, these choir members do indeed sing. But the music isn’t limited to their weekly rehearsals, or even their seasonal concerts—which have consistently sold out every time. For the Singing Hills Chorus, which was created specifically for people with Alzheimer’s or other dementias, the music continues long after the last note ends.
The Singing Hills Chorus is part of ACT on Alzheimer’s, a volunteer-driven nonprofit that has chapters across Minnesota. According to Program Director Sandi Lubrant, members of the ACT group were inspired by a Twin Cities-based choir called the Giving Voice Chorus, which was created to offer people with different dementias—as well as their caregivers—a place to sing and socialize together.
Lubrant said that the Mankato chapter began working on a possible choir for the area in January 2017 and, by March that year, it had received its first grant to start the program, a $13,000 “Building Healthier Communities Award” from Stratus Health. By July, the website was up, concert dates were set, materials had arrived, and a core team was in place—a team that included Janesville native Kristin Ziemke, who acts as the choir’s music director.
“This choir has been just a godsend,” she said. “I love that this choir lets me branch outside of my music therapy [background], but I get to use a lot of my music therapy skills within it.”
For the first informative meeting, only a handful of people showed up. In fact, they had more volunteers than participants. (The choir is structured with a 1-1-1 ratio of participant, caregiver, and volunteer.) But after officially
starting in September 2017, numbers grew. By the first concert—held that December—Ziemke said about 26 people performed (including those affected by dementia, their caregivers, and volunteers), and the numbers have grown for every session since then. The latest concert, held December 1, had 46 participants.
Ziemke noted that the choir has actually had to stop taking volunteers recently—at least for choir spots, people can still volunteer for other roles—because they want to maintain the 1-1-1 ratio. In addition, they’re planning to cap the choir at 50 participants total to ensure it doesn’t outgrow the “community” feel. Kristin added that the group would be interested in starting a second choir, if the demand is there.
“We knew it just needed time to blossom,” she said. “People struggle with feeling confident enough to come experience it, but once they’re in, they’re in.”
The Singing Hills Chorus divides its time between two 14-week sessions in the spring and winter, each culminating in a concert, as well as a more informal “get-together” session in the summer.
The choir’s leadership team meets a few months prior to each concert to brainstorm about music and come up with a theme, with the goal of offering participants a range of music that is both enjoyable and challenging. Part of this is including pieces that have two- or three-part harmony, as well as some songs that most of the choir members are unfamiliar with. There are usually about 14 songs per concert.
“We try to choose music that promotes joy,” Ziemke said. “If there’s one thing that I can say about the choir, it is a joy-giving experience. From the rehearsal to the music we choose, to the social time before and after, it’s about creating a joyful experience that promotes friendships, that stimulates cognitive health and helps (our singers) accomplish something that maybe they thought they couldn’t accomplish.”
Ziemke said the choir has all levels of singers, from people who have never sung in a group to people who have years of experience. They also have all levels of dementia progression. Because of this, Ziemke and her leadership team adapt the music to everyone’s individual needs, whether that’s creating a CD or writing out lyric sheets.
“As the disease progresses, we’re able to progress with them and give them the modifications they need,” she said.
Rehearsals are every Thursday morning in the School Sisters of Notre Dame’s basement, with a social time before and after. Four sisters are currently singing with the choir, along with their four caregivers.
“We are so honored to be in their home,” Lubrant said. “They have just welcomed us. That’s a really beautiful relationship.”
Ziemke said, in many ways, rehearsals are just like rehearsals at any other choir. She works with members on diction, volume, breath support, and other musical elements. However, she also modifies the way she directs to make it more appropriate for her members, such as doing things at a slower pace or providing moments to pause and really grasp the information.
“We’re working on the same goals as your average choir, but we may pace it a little differently,” she explained.
According to Ziemke, there are countless benefits to a dementia-friendly choir, but one of the biggest ones is simply offering people a chance to form new relationships in a safe space.
“We’ve seen friendships develop,” Kristin said. “We’ve seen people say, ‘I needed to be here this week. I needed to come back because I needed the joy that it brings. I look forward to Thursday. It’s the best day of my week.’”
Cheryl Lamoureux and Kristi Krengel are a mother-daughter team who have been singing with the choir since its first season. Krengel acts as
caregiver to her mother, who is in the early stages of Alzheimer’s. They said they have both found a welcoming community that accepts them for who they are and what they bring.
“There’s a sense of community and freedom in knowing if you make a mistake, it’s okay,” Krengel said. “You don’t have to worry about messing up. It feels safe here.”
“You’re accepted for what you can bring,” Lamoureux agreed. “There’s a feeling here of acceptance, love, and affirmation with this group. I just love it. I look forward to this day every week.”
Lubrant also sings in the choir, though she’s quick to add that she’s not the most confident singer. But that doesn’t prevent her from enjoying every rehearsal, even though it means an hour drive from where she lives near the Twin Cities.
“When I drive up that hill, I’m so excited,” she said. “I just see connection. Instead of losing friends, people are making friends. We’re getting to know each other’s stories. We’re laughing together and eating together. Alzheimer’s disease often changes relationships that people have, so to be in a place that’s so accepting and full of love, it’s really important.”
They’re ready to sing
As the choir members take their places on their chairs, Ziemke instructs them to open up to page 22—“Stand by Me.”
“We’re going to just run through it,” she tells them as accompanist Dale Anderson begins to play the familiar intro.
As the intro swells, the members begin the first verse:
“When the night has come, and the land is dark, and the moon is the only light we’ll see… No, I won’t be afraid, no, I won’t be afraid… Just as long as you stand, stand by me.”
They stand by each other, and they sing.
When: 1:30 p.m. on May 11
Where: School Sisters of Notre Dame
Cost: $10 (kids under 5 are free but still need tickets)
For more information: www.singinghillschorus.org
For more information about joining the choir visit singinghillschorus.org, call 507-519-0626 or email katoactonalz@yahoo.com.
According to Kristin Ziemke, music is unique in the way it affects people’s brains, because it creates activity across all areas and stimulates productive cognitive processes.
“Music activates our brain in a very special way,” she explained. “It’s an opportunity to be silly together, to dance together, and to have fun. (Our choir members) are living with a disease that is constantly causing deterioration. With this choir, you can create friendships and also challenge your mind and keep it as sharp as you possibly can.”
Lubrant added, “Music is stored deeply in the brain, and so are emotions. When people can come together and experience joy and love and music for a morning, it’s just something that carries over for people. Singing Hills Chorus is a really quality program designed for adults that helps people thrive and be surprised by what we can accomplish.”
Singing Hills Music Director Kristin Ziemke has always had a special relationship with music, ever since she started playing piano in second grade.
“I knew rather quickly that playing the piano brought me joy,” she said. “It was hard, but it was also rewarding.”
When she was a teenager, she began working as an activities assistant at a long-term care facility, which is where she really started to see how her music could affect other people. She often visited patients in their rooms, carrying her keyboard with her so that she could play for them. While they didn’t always remember her, they remembered the songs she played and could sing along.
Ziemke planned to be a social worker and started classes at Bethany Lutheran in Mankato but, after two years, her vocal teacher talked to her about music therapy—a concept Ziemke hadn’t heard of before but immediately knew she wanted to pursue. She transferred to the University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire and earned an undergraduate degree in that field, then worked as music therapy director at Monarch Healthcare Management (formerly the Thro Company) for eight years. In 2016, she opened her own music therapy private practice, Avenues Music Therapy, LLC.
According to Ziemke, her time is split pretty evenly between working with an older population and with kids—and she likes it that way.
“I have this huge passion for older adults,” she said. “That’s where it all started. But my schooling has made me very excited to serve children. It’s fun to be challenged in both domains.”
Ziemke is also pursuing a graduate degree in Music Therapy at Colorado State University. She said her program is focused on neurological music therapy— understanding how music affects the brain.
“I decided to go back to school for music therapy because our profession is evolving quickly with research,” she explained. “There are a lot of things to be learned in the world of music therapy.” RVW
It’s exciting to see loved ones delight in the perfect gifts you found for them. When gifts are meaningful, whether homemade or purchased, it is much more memorable. We’ve found that giving the gift of fun and family time together is so much appreciated by our kids and grandkids. Purchasing tickets to an all-day experience that they’ll remember forever is a better investment than trinkets and clutter.
This year we found some great deals on entertaining adventures that we can’t wait to give at Christmas. Some of our ideas include Sea Life Aquarium at the Mall of America, the Reptile and Amphibian Discovery Zoo, Air Maxx, and National Eagle Center. With a little effort, pre-planning, and research, you can find some unique, experience-rich gift ideas and even save a little money. I went through a radio auction and saved $35.00.
BY CINDY HAUGLAND tidytightwads.com
Need some inspiration? Check out these 25 ideas:
1. Indoor Waterpark passes
2. Big Thrill Factory
3. Taekwondo lessons
4. Painting class
5. Snow Tubing
6. Valleyfair tickets
7. Movie passes
8. Concert tickets
9. Monster truck rally
10. Twins, Vikings, Gophers tickets
11. Dance lessons
12. Children’s museum
13. Air Maxx /Sky Zone trampoline park
14. Minnesota Zoo
15. Science or art museum
16. Cooking lesson
17. Paint ball
18. Laser tag
19. High ropes course/climbing wall
20. Mini golf/Round of golf
21. Weekend camping with Grandpa
22. Picnic and splash pad
23. Spa day at Grandma’s
24. Petting zoo/hobby farm
25. Live theatre production
The ideas are endless. If money is tight, there are many free and low cost options. Talk to your friends for recommendations of places they’ve loved visiting. Check with your local Chamber of Commerce and radio stations for ideas and deals. And above all, remember the reason for the season.
I’ve probably confessed this to you before, but it bears repeating: I’m a plant hoarder. Before you think, “Aww, haha, that’s kind of cute. I bet it’s not really a big deal,” you should stop and consider an average-sized (small) urban lot. Then, imagine that someone (it’s me) is essentially curating an arboretum on said lot. Now, imagine that that person (still me) is a professional horticulturist who often removes and replaces plants in other people’s yard, and who grew up with a “Don’t waste perfectly good things” sort of mentality. And, that she loves plants (especially trees) more than anything except books, her dog, and her husband (not necessarily in that order).
I planted eight trees in my tiny yard over the last two years, and five of them are evergreens. I love evergreens because they provide yearlong color and texture. Plus, despite my yard’s petite size, I can plant lots of evergreen trees, because they come in many dwarf and conical varieties. I think I would plant one of every type of evergreen if I could, but that would be crazy, right?
Even though they’re mostly rescued from other people’s yards, my evergreen collection does contain a few rather unique specimens that I loved learning about. So, I wanted to share them with you, followed by an abridged version of my evergreen wish list. We’re definitely getting a white pine next year, and I’m working on a landscape plan for the front yard that will allow for at least three other trees. (Fingers crossed!)
Pinus koraiensis ‘Silveray’
The ‘Silveray’ Korean pine was my very first rescue tree. I brought it home from a client’s house before I owned any property, and it patiently lived in a large pot on my apartment balcony for almost three years before I could give it a “forever home” in my new backyard. This columnar semidwarf pine slowly grows to thirty feet tall by ten feet wide, and its long two-toned needles are delightfully poofy and silvery-blue. It’s a tough and beautiful tree!
Larix decidua ‘Varied Directions’
The ‘Varied Directions’ larch in my yard isn’t a rescue tree. (It’s rare that I spend money on a large plant, so you can assume correctly that this tree is special to me.) ‘Varied Directions’ is a weeping variety of European larch. Larches are deciduous conifers—they look and grow like the classic evergreen tree, but they lose all of their needles each fall, like most classic broadleaf trees. Larch needles are soft to the touch, and the tree has a rambling, airy form. Its branches grow irregularly, though it responds well to shaping and training.
Picea abies ‘Pendula’
The weeping Norway spruce is another tree in my collection with an unpredictable and malleable growth habit. If untrained, it won’t grow taller than three feet high, though it will continue to sprawl and spread wider indefinitely. I’m training mine to grow at least as high as our bathroom window, for a little more privacy. My favorite time to view this tree is in the spring, when its bright new growth contrasts sharply with its existing dark green needles. At maturity, its spilling branches resemble waterfalls.
Tsuga canadensis ‘Summer
As far as evergreens go, hemlocks are touchy. I have a few coworkers who won’t even plant them for clients because they don’t trust that they’ll
grow in our local conditions. Personally, I think that hemlocks are reliable with diligent watering and a little protection from winter sun, which is why I rescued a ‘Summer Snow’ specimen from a client who probably wasn’t caring for it properly. The new growth on this hemlock cultivar is almost pure white, reminiscent of snow-tipped branches. Hemlock needles and cones are small and tidy, and the tree has graceful arching branches.
Abies lasiocarpa ‘Glauca Compacta’
The dwarf blue rocky mountain fir is the newest addition to my evergreen collection. I’m so excited to care for it, mostly because I’m unfamiliar with it—growing new plants is my favorite way to learn about them. As of right now, I know that this tree is a compact dwarf fir with soft bluish needles. One book I have calls it “a perfect little fir tree,” so rescuing it was definitely the right choice. I can’t wait to see how it grows.
Wish list: White pine (Pinus strobus), Serbian spruce (Picea omorika), golden black spruce (Picea mariana ‘Aurea’ ), white fir ( Abies concolor)
One of poet and artist Dr. Gwen Westerman’s earliest memories comes from when she was three years old, sitting on her bedroom floor reading and writing in a study book.
“My mom came in and asked me what I was doing,” Gwen said. “I remember very clearly telling her, ‘I’m writing!’”
“I have been drawing and sewing and writing since I was a child. I can’t remember my life now without art.”
Gwen was recently chosen as one of eight Native American poets to have their work featured at the Harvard University’s Peabody Museum of Archaeology & Ethnology. She recorded her poem “Theory Doesn’t Live Here” which visitors can listen to along with the other chosen poems as they explore the museum’s Native American galleries. These recordings will also be entered into an archive of 20th- and 21st-century American poets at the Woodbury Poetry Room at Harvard.
“Theory Doesn’t Live Here,” as well as five other of her poems, was included in the anthology New Poets of Native Nations, which was the inspiration for the exhibit. Printed in July, the anthology is already in its fourth reprinting.
This high honor is the cherry on top of many distinctions that Gwen has received for her work. Her work also includes being a skilled fiber artist specializing in hand-dying and making quilts. In addition, Gwen is a Distinguished Faculty Scholar, professor, and the Director of the Humanities Program at Minnesota State University, Mankato. She is an enrolled member of the Sisseton Wahpeton Oyate.
“My art and my role as an educator influence each other, and those boundaries are very blurred,” she explained.
With relatives in every Dakota community in Minnesota, as well communities in Nebraska, South Dakota, North Dakota, Montana, and Canada, Gwen’s roots run deep.
“As Dakota people, we share a common history, common stories and common values. My art reflects the values I was raised with. That focuses on family, connection to the land, understanding the importance of stories,” she said.
Born and raised in Wichita, Kansas, she was finishing her Ph.D in English when she was offered a position at MSU.
Before moving to Minnesota she knew little of Mankato. While calling and telling her family members the good news about her new position, she received similar reactions from her father and uncle – silence.
She was then told the history of the massacre that occurred in Mankato as part of the aftermath of the 1862 U.S.-Dakota War. In the largest mass execution to ever take place in the United States, 38 Dakota men were hanged. Before then, Gwen had not known of this dark event. Her family never spoke of it while she was growing up. Her father and uncle were
From These Hands Gwen was asked to create a self-portrait quilt for the Ancient Traders Gallery in Minneapolis. This is her version of this idea. She had her mother and grandmother trace their hands on a piece of paper and their hands are seen in this quilt stitching the woman. Her mother’s hand is on the left and her grandmother’s hand is on the right.River Valley Radio Players Present:
CHRISTMAS CAROL
LIVE Radio Drama on all Alpha Media Radio Stations on
DECEMBER 20TH AT 4:30 PM
The performance will be replayed
DECEMBER 25TH AT NOON
Original Charles Dickens' A Christmas Carol will be broadcast on December 24th at 4pm
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Left: Tree of Life Using the tracings of Gwen’s grandmother, mother, daughter, and her own hands, Gwen created this quilt’s tree. The root hand is her grandmother, the trunk is her mother, the branches are her, and the leaves are her daughter.
Right: Star Quilt This quilt took Gwen five years to complete. While making other star quilts for family members, she would make two extra diamonds. These extra pieces came together to form this star quilt representing the different members of Gwen’s family. There are Swarovski crystals in the shape of Northern Minnesota constellations in between the star points.
My grandparents never talked about theory, decolonization, or post-colonial this or that. They talked about good times and bad times. Their self-determination was not a struggle against colonialism affecting their self-imagination. They worked hard to survive.
They didn’t imagine themselves through story.
They knew themselves through the stories they heard as they sat under the kitchen table listening to the old people talk.
They didn’t need theory to explain where they came from— they lived it.
skeptical of how long Gwen would stay in Mankato because as a Dakota woman, she had a connection to the land and the land remembers.
“I lasted in spite of the history. That was 26 years ago,” Gwen said.
Her first professional recognition for her poetry came in 1999 when she was chosen as an emerging writer for the Native American Inroads program at The Loft Literary Center in Minneapolis.
When Gwen met with her mentor, she was surprised to hear that her mentor wanted her to come back in one year with 30 completed poems.
“Things kind of built from there,” Gwen explained.
In 2008, the roles were reversed and she was chosen to be a mentor for a group of eight writers at The Loft. Through this position she had the opportunity to work with an editor from Graywolf Press, which then led to Gwen’s first solo published collection of poems called Follow the Blackbirds.
“Incorporating Dakota language into my writing is very important to me,” she said.
Both of Gwen’s parents were sent away to boarding schools in Oklahoma and North Dakota and it was in those places that their original languages faded.
“It is a different environment for a Dakota poet, culturally and linguistically,” she explained. “Dakota is on the ‘endangered list.’ So, the first time I used Dakota language in a poem, I was hesitant about the response it might receive. As a language learner, who was I to be writing in Dakota?”
Gwen dreams of a time when they can carry on conversations with the few remaining fluent grandparents in their communities.
“Including Dakota language in my writing lets readers know that our language, one of Minnesota’s heritage languages, is a world language with published poetry and prose. I hope that it encourages other people to write in Dakota or in their own heritage language.”
A scholar, poet, artist, with many awards and distinctions, Gwen isn’t on a mission to prove anything. Confident yet humble, and scholarly, yet down to earth, she creates because it is just ingrained in her.
“I’ve always had this internal drive and motivation to tell stories and create. It’s just innate to me,” she said.
Although Gwen had grown up around her grandmother making quilts by hand she didn’t start making her own quilts until she was in her 40s.
“The women in my family have made functional quilts from fabric for at least six generations – my childhood was full of them,” she said. “While many of the quilts I create are utilitarian as well, and I expect them to be used, they also function to tell a story.”
“Most people relate somehow to quilts, fiber, and textiles. It is somehow more approachable, and there is an urge to touch it, to be close to it,” she said.
Her quilts are scattered in museums, private collections, as well as her family members’ homes. Locally, she has a commission piece at the Children’s Museum in Mankato.
“I don’t have a poet hat, an educator hat, an artist hat, a historian hat, a project manager hat, that I change out depending on the task at hand. I just have one hat with all those skills that complement each other jammed together in it,” she said with a smile. RVW
“My art and my role as an educator influence each other, and those boundaries are very blurred.”
Veterinary medicine and animal behavior is a constantly evolving field. We are continuously learning more about species and how to take care of them. In the past we have been taught to believe that we needed to rule our canines with dominance and control. We were told that dogs were evolved wolves and that they needed to constantly defer to an “alpha” pack leader. This popular theory gave rise to the hit television show, The Dog Whisperer, which showed us how having control over our dogs would insure that they would listen, respect, and obey us at all times. It implied that if our dogs were showing any form of aggression, that we were too soft and needed to be more “dominant.” We now know that there is so much more to understanding our fellow canines than being forceful.
Ninety percent of aggression is due to fear, which is usually misunderstood for a dog being dominant. Dominance is not a personality trait and can only be described as a relationship between two individuals of the same species. Dominance can’t be achieved by force, but only by one individual deferring to the other. When you punish or correct an aggressive dog, you will increase its fear and only cause them anxiety.
Current science-based research has proven that the best way to work with these behaviors is to use positive reinforcement to build positive associations. Let’s say that your dog is nervous around men. The dog growls, which is followed by the owner pinning him to the ground and scolding him. This did not make him less fearful, but instead showed him that the presence of men causes him discomfort and possibly even
Nicole Lueck (CVT) Minnesota Valley Pet Hospital
pain. Now he becomes anxious when he sees men, because he knows in the past they have scared him and gotten him in trouble. The dog being corrected when he was already scared will increase its anxiety. If you were afraid of spiders, it would not make you less afraid if you got scolded each time you saw one. However, if you got $20 every time you saw a spider—no interaction needed—you would happily notice them. It’s much more pleasant to make good associations than be corrected when you’re nervous or scared.
Positive reinforcement does not have any side effects, unlike punishment techniques. If you parked your car illegally and it exploded, it would be the perfect punishment and you would never do it again. It would be intense, immediate, and it would happen every time. Punishment techniques are usually done inconsistently, incorrectly, and come with side effects. Dogs perceive things differently than humans do and those perceptions can increase their fears. Positive reinforcement doesn’t just stop them from doing a certain behavior, but it also changes their feelings towards the situation. By rewarding your dog for making a good decision, you are increasing its confidence and strengthening the bond you have with your pet. Your dog learns to look to you when things get a little scary. This is not achieved by being dominant over your dog, but by being a good leader who is his dog’s advocate. Not only is positive reinforcement better for your dog, but owners can also feel great about their interactions.
Scalloped details on the two doors, on the two drawers, and at the base offer cottage style charm to this accent cabinet/console table. Its antiqued white finish and turned legs are the perfect finishing touch. Stay organized in a farmhouse style decor with this storage piece.
Rooms and Rest
Furniture and Mattress
1760 Madison Ave. Mankato, MN 56001 1704 North State St. New Ulm, MN 56073 roomsandrest.com
Our contemporary fireplace Slayton series offers affordable elegance that combines innovation and design with function and efficiency. This linear fireplace offers a sleek modern design that will revolutionize your contemporary design ideas. With a variety of media choices, accent lighting, enamel firebox lining, and dancing flames will make this fireplace a stunning addition to your home.
Glowing Hearth & Home
241 St. Andrews Dr. Mankato, MN 56001 507.345.8084
A YETI Dog Bowl designed to be as dependable and adventurous as your best friend. It holds eight cups of refreshing water and tasty treats, and built with doublewall, non-insulated stainless steel making it incredibly durable, easy to clean, and resistant to rust and roughhousing.
Scheels
River Hills Mall
1850 Adams St. Mankato, MN 56001 507.386.7767 scheels.com
4. Basin Gifts make Great Stocking Stuffers
Basin brings the relaxation of a spa to your home. With a refreshing line of sweetly scented bath bombs, scrubs and soaps that will help relieve your daily stresses. Scents range from Serenity or Electric lemonade and even Florida Sunshine, something to fit every mood. These products make the best stocking stuffers this holiday season.
Hy-Vee Hilltop
2010 Adams St. Mankato, MN 56001 507.625.9070
Hy-Vee Riverfront 410 S. Riverfront Dr. Mankato, MN 56001 507.625.1107
5. Carved Holy Family Nativity
Scene Statue
Embrace the natural, woodsy elements this holiday season with our Carved Holy Family Nativity Scene Statue. Like the rings of a tree trunk, this rustic design will grow with your family for years to come! Stop in today to shop our large selection of must haves for the holiday season.
Nordaas American Homes
10091 State Hwy 22 Minnesota Lake, MN 56068 800-658-7076 nordaashomes.com
6. Minnesota Mom Beanies
Stay cozy for the winter in these customerfavorite ‘Minnesota Mom’ beanies!
Available in multiple colors and styles, these hats are a great gift for the Minnesota Mom in your life! Shop online 24/7 at www. therefinerymn.com or at one of The Refinery Boutique locations in St. Peter, New Prague and Minneapolis. The Refinery Boutique St. Peter, New Prague and Minneapolis, MN 507.934.5981 therefinerymn.com
7. Relax & Detoxify
The Sauna Pod is a modern-day evolution of detoxification and healing in a private, safe and sanitary space. Each Sauna Pod has its own private room. Sweat out toxic particles and feel rejuvenated today!
Body Concepts LLC
1615 N. Riverfront Dr. Mankato, MN 56001 507.381.5467 bodyconceptsmankato. com
8. Our Traveling Showroom
Blinds & More travels to your home or office with custom samples. We offer window coverings and interior design services. Our team will travel within a 60-mile radius of Mankato. Schedule your free consultation today!
Blinds & More Interior Design Group 507.380.5019
9. Nature’s answer to Stress & Insomnia
Experience clarity and a relaxed mind and body. Enjoy double the pleasure for your skin and sleep! Save $5 by purchasing as a set. This set includes the Shea Butter Healing Balm 2 oz. and the Sleep Easy Pillow Mist 4 oz. Daisy Blue Naturals
119 S. Newton Avenue Albert Lea, MN 56007 507.373.0229 daisybluenaturals.com
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10. Toys & Games from C&S Supply
When you are looking for quality toys look no further than C&S Supply in Mankato. We carry an extensive line of high quality toys from names like Melissa & Doug, Lego, Ertl, Radio Flyer, Schleich, and New-Ray. We have farm toys too! These are toys that will last and give your child many years of enjoyment
C&S Supply
1951 N. Riverfront Dr. Mankato, MN 56001 507.387.1171 or 800.879.1938
11. Munch Mitt
The Munch Mitt is the “handiest” teether you’ll ever buy! Perfect for an infant who can’t yet grasp a teether, or to take along in a car or stroller without the worry of it getting dropped. Made with textured food-grade silicone and is machine washable. Visit our second floor for this featured teether and a variety of baby and children’s gifts, clothing, unique toys & books.
119 N Minnesota St. New Ulm, MN 56073 507.233.4350
inspirednewulm.com
12. Holiday Centerpieces
Emphasize the Holiday spirit with beautiful centerpiece arrangements starting at $30 from your local Hy-Vee Florist in New Ulm. With a variety of colors and selections featuring candles, carnations, roses, pine cones, ornaments, and more. You're sure to find the perfect match for your Holiday décor.
HyVee New Ulm
2015 S. Broadway St. New Ulm, MN 56073 507.354.8255
13. Canvas and Fur this Holiday Season
Canvas and Fur are an accessory must-have! Stop in and check out our stunning new Myra Bags. Each unique in fabric, patterns and fur. All leather trimmed. Available at Bella Nova Boutique of Mankato. Bella Nova Boutique
521 N. Riverfront Dr. Mankato, MN 56001
14. Healthy, Vibrant Rejuvenated Skin
Skin Essentials offers DERMALINFUSION®, an advanced skinresurfacing treatment that simultaneously exfoliates, extracts and infuses skin with condition-specific serums for an all-inclusive treatment in one step to improve skin health, function and appearance with no downtime.
Call Skin Essentials and schedule a free consultation to discover if DERMALINFUSION is right for you.
Skin Essentials, Mankato Clinic
1400 Madison Ave.
Suite 400A
Madison East Center Mankato, MN 56001
507.625.6599
skinessentialsmankato. com
15. Expect the Unexpected!
Nickalsson’s isn’t just about athletic wear. Top things off with our new Boxercraft line! Trendy plaids take a fresh twist with a cozy Sherpa vest. Versatility elevates your style without sacrificing warmth.
Nicklasson Athletic
1217 South Broadway, New Ulm, MN 56073
507.354.8586 or 800.228.6425 (NICK)
nicklassonathletic. com
16. Kamado Joe Grills
An ancient, asian-style grill, the kamado is a thick-walled cooker that imparts rich, smoky flavor to meats, fish and vegetables. relatively unchanged for centuries, air flows through the grill’s ceramic body and out its vented dome, chunk charcoal comes to life as smoke and heat. Kamado Joe is proud to draw on that tradition, modernizing the grill’s classic style with unparalleled craftsmanship, innovative accessories and a range of flexible cooking surfaces. simple to configure and cook on and easy to clean, all aspects of these grills were developed to make sure every grilling experience is as fun and rewarding as it can be. DeGrood's Home Store
220 St. Andrews Dr. Mankato, MN 56001
507.388.9391 shopdegroods.com
17. Feet that are off the clock
Legendary Red Wing comfort, craftsmanship and durability isn’t reserved solely for our work boots. Our expanded men’s and women’s slipper selection is purpose built with relaxation in mind. More options, more technology, more styles. More of what you’re looking for. 100% SHEEPSKIN LINING naturally wicks away moisture and keeps feet toasty. Also available in black and tan. Mention this ad and receive 20% off your slippers! Red Wing Shoes
1310 Madison Ave.
It’s that time of the year again. Time for the holiday-that-shall-not-be-named. The one I have relentlessly competed with all my life, striving just once for my birthday not to be overshadowed by the Yuletide commercialism of the month of December. “War is hell,” a wise man once said. (Actually, maybe not so much, but moving on….) While sipping on eggnog last week, I pondered my 30-some-odd-long war with the Noel monster and considered the uncomfortable question—Have I even won a single battle? Yes, in fact, I do drink eggnog. I also eat lefse but only sarcastically. Then I smiled to myself, and remembered December 23, 1996. The year I turned 13. We had just moved to New Ulm, and probably out of a sense of guilt for making me move again, my parents finally agreed to let me have a birthday party despite the busyness of the season. There were even boys there! And the frosting on my figurative cake was that I got to have my party at—hands down— the coolest place to have a birthday party, Izzy Dorry Roller Rink. The party itself was pretty uneventful, but what was important about this particular birthday was that I found “my people” here. And when you move to a new town, it is paramount that you find “your people,” and quickly. The rink offered me pretty much every rite of passage of my pre-teen years. My first hand-holding couple skate, my first kiss, my best friends, all of the things you really need to make it through the most awkward years of your youth occurred for me under the watchful eye of rink owners, Izzy and Bama Faerber. Bama grew up skating, playing stick ball in the streets of New York. It was her dream to open a rollerskating rink, and her husband promised her she would do it one day. All her kids and grandkids grew up skating, Watching them was like watching a professional skate team glide around the floor. They could legitimately polka on skates. No trick was too dangerous for one of them to try. And if one of them alone couldn’t do it, then they would change course and go for a doubles trick, as they did the night my best friend Vanessa’s older brother Vince attempted a carry lift and dropped her square on her head. It was scary in the moment, but it makes for a good story now.
Bama more or less raised a good chunk of the kids growing up in New Ulm. We knew exactly what we could get away with and how much she would take before her 4’5” frame would come out from behind the counter and tower over you to put you in your place. It took a lot to get kicked out—the last thing she wanted was for her rink rats to be out on the hard, cold streets of New Ulm where she couldn’t keep an eye on them. And even if you did manage to get thrown out, she had a third eye, even for outside the building. Anytime we thought we were being sly and could get away with a cigarette or a fight in the parking lot, we were busted before we even got started.
I can’t imagine it happening today, but Bama was so trusted that she actually had lock-ins at the rink. Parents would drop their kids off—slumber party gear in tow—and we would all stay locked inside the rink all night long and binge eat Laffy Taffys and giant pickles. In the morning she made us pancakes and sent us home to our parents—exhausted so that we’d try to sleep in church pews under fluorescent lights.
I never was much of a skater. I tried like hell, but eventually resigned myself to eating jerky in the booths and requesting Spice Girls songs from the DJ. But skater or not, I knew this was where I belonged.
I often wonder what the roller rink for my girls will be. Where will they know for certain they “belong?” They don’t really need to look forward to Friday and Saturday night to finally be able to see their friends again. They can call/text/Facetime/Snapchat them anytime they want. There is community in isolation, and I don’t necessarily criticize that. There are some definite pros to the long list of cons with regard to social interaction happening in an online environment. Maybe my daughter’s multi-player Minecraft world will be her roller rink. I try really hard not to judge too much with regard to the way their world is so different from mine. I wouldn’t want to be one of those parents who wouldn’t let their kids listen to the evil hips of that villainous Elvis character. The only thing that stays the same is that everything is always changing. Perhaps my concern is less, “Where have all the roller rinks gone?” and more, “Where have all the Bamas gone?” I hope they’re still around, because golly we could use them now more than ever.
I still can’t help but be a little sad for the loss of the bowling alleys and roller rinks of our society though.
Especially since mine helped me win the Birthday Battle of ’96.
BY LORI MATHIOWETZ
