River Valley Woman April 2019

License #BC225623

BY EILEEN MADSEN Editor

economics class at the beginning of a test and the teacher would say, “eyes on your own paper, do your own work…begin.” And as you gaze at the questions in a fog of panicked nausea, there were always those few who seemed to dive into it with superior glee. “Hrrumph,” I would think, “I’ll get you in art class!” But now I say, thank goodness for those math whizzes! Without them, who would be engineers? Or investment, tax and bank professionals? Or bookkeepers and accountants? Who would run the money side of things in business while we run, say, the art side?

Women such as our cover feature, MD Wealth Advisors’ Robyn James, in Mankato, that’s who! She is one of those whizzes to whom we should all be thankful for doing what the rest of us can’t, won’t, don’t, or gives us dry heaves. Regardless of her zeal for math, and commitment to customers, Robyn feels that success isn’t calculated by how much dough you have, but rather by being happy doing what you’re doing. And I for one, am glad she’s doing it. Also figuring into the equation this month is financial advisor Cate Grinney of Ed Jones in Faribault. After considering journalism,

medicine, and law as possible career choices, she realized her true passion was in helping others. What better way than ensuring we not go belly up? Sometimes hearing about our finances is a tough pill to swallow, but Cate’s personal approach, interviewing skills, and abilities to judge peoples’ lifestyles and needs help that medicine go down. Perhaps she did take up those other careers after all.

Money seems to be the driving force in not only our lives but musicians put a lot of stock in it as well. Have you ever noticed the amount of songs there are about loot? Money, Money, Money… Rich Girl (if only), Money for Nothing…Take the Money and Run… and the one that describes us women quite well— She Works Hard for the Money. We also tend to refer to our bucks in a variety of culinary terms, such as cabbage, bread, dough, clams, and of course bacon—which we know makes everything better. As can money. Although greenbacks might not be able to buy you love, it can buy peace of mind. And bacon.

We’ve all heard about people discovering treasures in their own back yard. Citizens Bank Minnesota in New Ulm did just that. With several staff retirements on the horizon, they realized they would be needing qualified and skilled replacements. Banking on their own employees, they developed a unique training program called Citizens Leadership Academy. Workin’ hard for the money are the first three graduates Lisa Reinarts, Melissa Bergeman, and Jenn Wendorff. The program allows exposure to current management, informational give and take and job shadowing.

You can also cash in on a stash of valuable information in this issue’s columns from local experts. If that sounds like music to your ears, then bring it home (along with some lettuce and tomatoes). And eyes on your own magazine.

Apologies for omitting the photographer credit for the Becker family photo in our March SPACES feature. The photo was by Abby Murphy of Murphy Photography Design in Eagle Lake.

By MARIE ZIMMERMAN PHOTOS BY RHONDA MILBRETT PHOTOGRAPHY

Growing up in a house with four sisters in Mankato, Robyn James had a passion for helping people and always wanted to be a nurse. Somehow, she ended up in finance.

“To this day, I still don’t know when I ever made the conscious decision to be an accountant. I guess it was just something that came naturally, growing up watching my dad,” James said.

Her father, Randy Milbrett, is the principal owner of MD Advisors Group in downtown Mankato and has been with the firm since 1978. Robyn has worked alongside him for 15 years, ever since she graduated with an associate degree in accounting from Rasmussen College.

“There are lots of times where we’ll be in a meeting and I’ll be listening to him, or reading a letter he composed for a client, and I’ll have a little light bulb go off, thinking, ‘He really is smart,’ or ‘That’s a really good point,’” James said. “I think I learn something from him almost every day.”

In her role as an accountant, James works with small to mid-size businesses on bookkeeping, day-to-day operations, reconciling bank accounts, payroll processing, sales tax returns, and 1099 and other information returns at the end of the year. She’s also the firm manager for MD Advisors Group, and shares her strong background in administration to benefit clients.

“It’s amazing how much administration skills you need to be in finance or to own your own business. I advise clients on how to organize and stay on top of things, how to do proper record keeping. If you’re organized and do things routinely, everything else will fall into place,” James said. “I’d say my biggest tip for anyone—whether it’s personal or business— is organization.”

Smart money

If James won a million dollars, her accountant training would kick in pretty quickly.

“I would probably do the smart thing, pay off all my finances, and then travel,” she said. “If you ever win the lottery, hire a financial advisor. I think you can have everything you want, but you have to be smart about it—have a savings plan, a nest egg for the future. Once you have those boxes checked off, then have fun. The biggest thing is to live within your means.”

It seems like simple advice to follow, but James said money feeds into people’s natural desire for instant gratification, which can cause problematic spending as they trade in money for that rush of getting what they want.

According to the National Endowment for Financial Education’s annual survey on consumer expectations,  a majority of adults (51 percent) feel the current quality of 

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What was your favorite subject in school?

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What was your first job? Pizza maker at Godfathers Pizza

What’s one thing you’re excited about that’s coming up in 2019? Vacation to the Bahamas over Christmas

When you’re not working, how do you like to spend your time? Doing puzzles

What are you reading currently? Girl, Wash Your Face, by Rachel Hollis

Where do you most hope to visit? Ireland

If you had to eat one thing for every meal going forward, what would you eat? Salads

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 their financial life is about what they expect it to be, and 21 percent say it’s better than expected. However, 28 percent of U.S. adults say the current quality of their financial life is worse than they expected.

While James’ career revolves around money, it’s not how she defines success or measures wellbeing.

“To me, success is really about happiness. I think you can have the most money in the world or have the least money in the world, the most friends in the world or the least friends, the best job or the worst. If you’re happy, that’s really all that matters. I think you have to have fulfillment in anything you’re doing,” James said.

When James—who truly loves her work—describes the part of her job that keeps her coming back every day, the answer is a little surprising. “For me, it is the stress and the deadlines and the pressure. I operate at my finest when I am under pressure. When I have stress, when I have deadlines. Somehow I pull it

all together, and the rush of adrenaline is what keeps me going and what’s exciting.”

In addition to her work with the firm, James recently took on another job as chief financial officer for Twin Cities Summer Jam presented by Mystic Lake, a new outdoor music festival coming to Shakopee.

Event organizer Jerry Braam is Robyn’s friend and knew how good she is with numbers, so he asked her to be part of the new venture. While she’s never been a big concert-goer, she was interested in learning something new.

“This is going to be a huge event, so I quickly grew in the role. It’s a lot like my work at the office in that I’m a jack-of-all-trades. There’s  a lot of administration, working with independent contractors and staff, accounting, coordinating on tax returns,” James said. “I’ve found a new appreciation for the artists and for the backstage team and for everything that goes into putting on a concert. It’s amazing how a career in finance can take you into so many different avenues.” 

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 After hours

At the end of a stressful day at work, James likes to retreat to the North Mankato home she shares with Matt, her husband of nearly 15 years, and their two kids. What she really enjoys is putting puzzles together with her daughter. Since November, the pair has completed nearly 20 of them.

“Puzzles are a way I turn my brain off on the end of the day. It’s really important to have something like that when you’re in finance, to just shut your mind off and not continue to think about the work you have sitting on your desk,” James said.

The family also loves traveling. James’ favorite destination so far is Disney World. This year they’ll fly to the Bahamas, which will be a first for the kids.

“They’ve never been on an airplane because we always drove. Half the fun is getting there,” Robyn said.

Raising her son and daughter in the same community she was born in has been fun. Between soccer and work and church activities and other school activities, their lives are busy.

“But any mom can relate,” she said. Robyn also puts in many hours volunteering in Mankato.

Her volunteer experience includes Greater Mankato Area United Way and the Mankato Sertoma Club. She’s a past member of the Greater Mankato Growth Cavaliers and the Tuesday morning Business Connectors BNI chapter.

James was recognized for her dedication and contribution to the community as the 2008 Sertoman of the Year and the 2009 Greater Mankato Growth Young Professional of the year.

“I just have a real passion for helping other people. I’m very blessed and very fortunate in my life. I just feel I have talents to give to the community to help other people,” she said. “And one of the main reasons to be involved is to teach our kids how to be a good citizens, to put others first and to pay it forward.” RVW

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By RUTH KLOSSNER

With “the handwriting on the wall,” Citizens Bank Minnesota, New Ulm, has opted to be proactive rather than reactive.

“Quite a few of our senior management personnel will retire in the coming years,” consultant Jean Geistfeld said. “It’s hard to hire talented people— but we realized we have so many bright individuals working right here.”

Bank president Lou Geistfeld concurred. “Looking at our senior staff, their ages, and retirement plans, we know we’ll have to replace a lot of people in the next few years. It’s difficult to find quality people. There are successes and failures of hiring outside. The light went on—we have people with the desire and aptitude here. Why not train them?”

The bank is now developing its future leaders within its own ranks.

Now in it’s third year, Citizens Leadership Academy has already graduated its first class of three amazing leaders—with two more classes in training.

President Geistfeld admitted that he got “funny looks” from the bank’s board of directors when he first presented the idea—but those looks have long since vanished.

Citizens Leadership Academy is in its third year, with Lisa Reinarts, Melissa Bergeman, and Jenn Wendorff the first to complete the program. Ten additional women are now taking part—six in the second-year senior class and four in the first-year junior class.

“Men can apply, it’s just how it’s worked out so far,” Jean Geistfeld said of the all-female classes.

Prospective participants apply, submit a resume, and write a letter explaining why they want to be in the program. An interview committee selects participants. The first class had 13 applications, from which the three were chosen.

“We really have a strong base of employees. It’s humbling to see them buy into this concept,” Jean said.

Each year of CLA is an intensive 12-month program that includes mentor lunches with senior management, mentor lunches with departments, attendance at officer meetings, book club, attendance at banking schools, personality analysis, and more.

Bank president Lou Geistfeld with Citizens Leadership Academy participants in the newly remodeled break room. From left: Jenn Wendorff, consultant Jean Geistfeld, Lisa Reinarts, and Melissa Bergeman.

The first-year monthly lunches with senior management gave participants a chance to talk about their career paths.

“The lunches gave us more exposure. We learned how the managers got there. It was open dialog. You don’t get those opportunities very often. It was great exposure to get us started,” Melissa Bergeman said. “They learned about us and we built relationships.”

The second-year lunches were with departments—auditing, compliance, IT, financial, etc.

“Class members also attended all the meetings that the officers do— strategic planning, watch list, technology, asset liabilities. They got a high level view of all the committees that drive the bank. Afterwards, they were debriefed by senior managers,” Jean explained. “They also did job shadowing in all the departments.”

Lisa Reinarts said, “It helped us understand all the parts of the bank, how all the pieces work together.”

A book club was led by senior management in which class members read

and discussed a variety of books with emotional intelligence, leadership, the power of positive thinking, and delegation among the topics. Conferences included the Minnesota Bankers Association’s Principles of Banking School and the LEAD Conference put on by Independent Community Bankers, both held in the Twin Cities.

Jean also worked with class members on a “pile of personality stuff” to help them understand who they are, where their strengths are, and where they’ll find the most success.

At the end of the two-year program, participants took part in a leadership retreat where they sat down with senior management to consider where they see themselves in five or ten years—and where they might need more help.

“That was awesome,” Jenn Wendorff said.

“We were empowered. We can see the big picture—where we can fill positions now and in the future. We have the resources. I think we all have ideas of where we want to go—hopefully to fill leadership roles upon 

 retirement of senior employees,” Bergeman said. “We have already helped with leadership needs at the bank, helping train employees at the February Culture Training Day.”

Citizens Leadership Academy is a locally developed program, built to meet the needs of the bank.

“We built the program from the ground up,” Lou Geistfeld said. “There are other programs out there, but they aren’t tuned into how we do things. This was internally generated. Instead of giving our people a canned deal, we made it personal. This is how Citizens does it.”

Bergeman commented, “This program exceeded all our expectations. I was excited to take on the challenge. It was done at a perfect pace, with perfect resources. It was mutually beneficial to management and to us. I kept all the materials and go back and look at them. I use it with my department, as well as my family.”

Reinarts agreed, “The tools and resources in the program will stick with us throughout our careers, not just now.”

With many senior mangers set to retire over the next 10 years, the bank will continue to groom employees to fill those positions. The CLA program will likely evolve as new needs are determined.

“We don’t always have to go outside to fill those spots. We can use our own talent to develop leaders,” Bergeman said.

Lou stated, “As we study succession planning—who’s handling what roles, which are the critical roles, who’s on deck—we see gaps, but we gained experience with these three women. They’ve moved up on the chart. It’s very beneficial for senior management to get the right people in the right spots.”

“We have shining examples in our first three graduates—how much they’ve grown in their jobs. Everything we’ve given them, they’ve done a great job on. It’s refreshing to have some new ideas,” he continued. “All three are destined for bigger positions in the bank. The members of our first class were clearly our guinea pigs but—thankfully—we had three people who were not afraid to speak up. I gave them a project to do—to remodel the bank’s break room. It didn’t necessarily relate to banking, but it gave us a chance to see how they’d work together.”

Jean Geistfeld explained how that project came about. “Citizens does a yearly employee culture training for employees. We asked for employee input on what would make their day better and a better break/lunch room with areas to rest, browse the Internet, and of course, eat their lunch, came up.”

Reinarts, Bergeman, and Wendorff took on the project of changing that “so 1970s” break room into an inviting place for staff to relax.

“I gave them an unlimited budget and they went over it,” Lou said with a laugh.

The three studied the situation, drew up plans, ordered supplies and contractors, dealt with obstacles, and chose accessories for the kitchenette and main room. They also transformed the old bathroom into a lactation room for new moms returning to work.

The new break room is very inviting and is well used—and is a testament to the success of the first CLA class. RVW

The first class of Citizens Leadership Academy. From left: Melissa Bergeman, Lisa Reinarts, and Jenn Wendorff.

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If you’re a gardener, your busy season is at hand, as April has been designated National Garden Month. But could the skills you deploy at gardening be transferred to other areas of your life – such as investing?

Here are a few ideas for doing just that:

• Establish a timeline. As a gardener, you typically follow a well-defined timeline. You need to get the soil ready a few months before you want to

plant, and you need to plant at different times, depending on what plants you choose. You even need to set up a schedule for watering, feeding, weeding and other garden care. As an investor, you may also need to observe a timeline. During the early and middle stages of your career, you probably need to invest primarily for growth, so you can build resources for a comfortable retirement. Then, as you near retirement, you may want to lower your risk level by shifting some – though certainly not all – of your investment dollars from growth-oriented vehicles into more incomeproducing ones. And once you do retire, your focus will shift to preserving your money, so one of your key decisions will center on how much you can afford to withdraw each year from your investment portfolio.

• Choose “healthy” investments. Gardeners like to choose plants they know will really last. That’s why they look for things such as green leaves, as opposed to brown or yellow ones, and thick stems, which usually indicate a plant is strong, healthy and capable of surviving a transition from the pot to the ground. And when you invest, you, too, should look for signs of health in the investments you choose. For example, when picking stocks, look for companies with solid fundamentals, such as experienced management, strong earnings and the demonstrated ability to produce products and services attractive to consumers. Or, when considering bonds, consider those that independent rating agencies have awarded the highest grades, in terms of the financial strength of the issuer.

• Feed your investments properly. Things like fertilizer and plant food can be valuable, but the most important element in plant nutrition is water. Under-watered plants will not survive, but overwatering your plants can certainly damage them severely. When you invest, you also need to know the right amount of “food,” or “nutrients,” to apply. If you don’t put enough money into investments, they may not grow as much as you’d like. On the other hand, it is possible to “overwater” certain investments. For example, if you constantly put money into just one or two investments, they could end up crowding out others in your portfolio, causing you to lose the value of diversification. And if these particular investments are already growthoriented vehicles, highly subject to market risk, they could take a big hit during a market downturn. Ultimately, seek a balance in how you distribute your investment dollars.

Year after year, successful gardeners reap the rewards of their labors. And following some of their habits can help you work toward a long-lasting and fruitful investment garden, too.

CATE GRINNEY CFP ® Financial Advisor Edward Jones

This article was written by Edward Jones for use by your local Edward Jones Financial Advisor.

CONFIDENCE AND CONNECTIONS

LAURA STEVENS Interim Executive Director

I first became acquainted with YWCA Mankato as part of the inaugural Elizabeth Kearney Women’s Leadership Program in 2007. Having been a stay at home mom for seven years, I was looking forward to re-entering the workforce but lacked confidence and connections. The program helped me gain both and I’ll always be grateful for everything I learned that year and the wonderful people I met in the program and at the YWCA.

After being part of the Women’s Leadership Program, volunteering for the YWCA’s Women’s Leadership Conference was a natural transition. As an extension of the Women’s Leadership Program, the conference further enhanced my own leadership skills and I was excited to be part of something that empowered so many women in our community. I have loved watching the conference grow over the years.

Last fall, I broadened my horizons with YWCA Mankato and participated in Racial Justice Facilitator training and volunteered as a facilitator during It’s Time to Talk in December. Going through the training opened my eyes to how much more I have to learn on my racial justice journey. Since the training, I’ve tried to grow by using the list of resources (books, podcasts, and movies) provided by YWCA Mankato’s Racial Justice web page.

Volunteering at YWCA Mankato and other non-profit organizations in our community has been an important part of my life for nearly 20 years. By volunteering, I am able to give back, especially in a place like the Greater Mankato area where one person really can help to make things happen.

Volunteering has introduced me to new people, taught me new skills, and allowed me to take leadership positions that I hadn’t yet had in the workforce.

Having worked at non-profit organizations over the years has also taught me a great deal about the importance of volunteers. Most non-profit organizations are understaffed but have lofty and important missions. Without volunteers, most nonprofits wouldn’t have a chance of making the positive change they hope to make. Volunteers provide necessary help to get the job done. In addition, volunteers can advocate for the organization and help to spread the word and gain support from their circle of friends and acquaintances.

When I joined the YWCA Mankato team as Interim Executive Director this January, the importance of volunteers became even more evident. Being in this position has opened my eyes to the great amount of work that still needs to be done in pursuit of our mission of empowering women and eliminating racism. YWCA USA has been at the forefront of the biggest issues of the day for 160 years: from voting rights to civil rights, from affordable housing to pay equity and from violence prevention to health care reform. To advance YWCA USA’s mission, local YWCAs like ours throughout the country offer services and programs in three key areas: racial justice and civil rights, empowerment and economic advancement of women and girls, and health and safety of women and girls.

YWCA Mankato is excited to carry on this long tradition of social action and advocacy to advance our mission in our community, but we can’t do it on our own. This mission is huge and the work we do is critical. It will take volunteers, donors, mentors, advocates, community members: people like you, to advance the work. We hope you will join us on our mission to eliminate racism, empower women, and promote peace, justice, freedom and dignity for all.

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By GRACE WEBB

When Cate Grinney was attending classes at the University of Minnesota, she didn’t know exactly what she wanted to do once she graduated. She had a declared major—journalism. In fact, she was good enough in that field that she had been named “High School Journalist of the Year” and earned a scholarship to continue pursuing it.

But, she realized that it wasn’t exactly her passion.

She considered medical school and law school. She thought about her strengths and what she had learned watching her father in his career. And she came to realize that what was truly important to her was helping other people.

Grinney didn’t become a journalist, or a doctor, or a lawyer. Instead, she joined Edward Jones as a financial advisor. While it’s a far cry from what she studied in college, Cate knows she made the right choice. Her career has given her so many opportunities to help others.

“More than anything, that’s what drives me,” she said. “That’s my ‘why.’ That’s what I love to do—helping people make better choices and have a more comfortable lifestyle. It’s just trying to make people better—

AN IMPRESSIVE TRACK RECORD

financially speaking—and hopefully, personally speaking, as well.”

Family values

Grinney credits her father, Michael Grinney, with many of the lessons she learned while growing up. Michael Grinney built a lasting reputation as a funeral home director before switching careers to become a financial advisor at Edward Jones when Cate and her siblings were still at home.

“He really took a big leap of faith to come into the business,” Grinney said. “That really taught me a lot about being bold, to follow your passion and follow your dreams. To step out and start your own thing was kind of incredible. For him, failure wasn’t an option, and I grew up feeling that way, too. From time to time, you might trip on different obstacles, but you don’t let them stop you.”

As Grinney considered careers while still at college, she remembered all the times she heard about her father helping his clients and the impact he had made throughout his own career. His passion inspired her own.

“He really had a passion for his clients and what he did,” Cate said. “I loved the impact my dad has on people. I loved the idea of helping people.”

For the last four years, Grinney has attend Barron’s Top Women Advisors Summit, which represents the nation’s top female financial advisors (the top 40 women from Edward Jones are invited). She was also invited to Edward Jones’ Managing Partners Conference, which whittled down 15,000 applicants to the 400 top producers of the firm. Grinney’s invitation meant she was in the top two percent of Edward Jones’ advisors. She has attended that conference for three years and was invited to participate again later this year. In addition, she has attended Edward Jones’ annual Women’s Conference, which celebrates the top 200 female advisors in the firm.

Once she graduated from the University of Minnesota, Grinney started working with Securities America in Omaha. There, she learned about the inner workings of a financial firm as she worked in back office support. However, she couldn’t stay away from Minnesota forever. Her father asked her if she’d be interested in joining Edward Jones at his office, and eventually, in 1999, she decided to take the plunge. Michael Grinney continued to work at Edward Jones for another 12 years before retiring, and Cate said that time working with her father was invaluable.

“One of my favorite things he ever told me was, ‘If you don’t worry about the commissions, you’ll never have to worry about the commissions,’” she said, explaining, “If you’re doing the right thing for your clients, you’re not going to starve. The money will come. The referrals will come. People will want to do business with you if you’re doing the right thing by them. That was something that has always stuck with me. So I didn’t worry about, ‘Am I making enough this month?’ It wasn’t chasing the dollar; it was really about making sure I was doing the right thing for people.”

Building relationships

In the 20 years Grinney has been at Edward Jones, she has become an expert in several areas of financial planning. Her personal favorites revolve around “complex issues” that have a lasting impact on her clients. Right now, she works with about 460 households, and her clients come from all backgrounds, ages, and careers. Some have families, some are single. Some are just starting out, while others are already far into retirement.

INVESTMENT CHALLENGES

Grinney noted that some of the more difficult scenarios she’s dealt with include figuring out when the best time is for her clients to retire and working within family dynamics, especially with blended families or multiple generations. In addition, when it comes to retirement specifically, people are living much longer than they used to, which greatly affects the planning process.

“Longevity is a huge issue right now,” she said, pointing out that when Social Security was created, the average life expectancy was only 67. “People are relying on their income sources a lot longer. My oldest client was 104. That’s a long retirement. You’ve got to have funds that stretch out for at least 25 yrs. Retirement’s not the end goal—getting through retirement is the end goal.”

Another challenge is encouraging people to stay invested in the market when things are looking down. When Cate began working at Edward Jones in 1999, the U.S. market was finishing up a 20-year bull run that had gotten people used to receiving 15-20 percent returns on investments. But, within 10 months, the tech bubble burst and markets dropped 47 percent over the next two-and-a-half years. Then the market doubled, heading into 2007, only to drop another 57 percent during the Great Recession.

“It’s really the challenge to keep people invested and doing things they don’t want to do,” she said. “Emotion tends to trump logic, [and] money is very emotional. Down markets are very challenging.”

“This is a people business,” Grinney said. “It’s not a sales business. Yes, we’re selling investments and so forth, but it’s really about relationship building.”

For this, Grinney said her background in journalism comes in handy, since she has learned how to interview people and learn about their lives.

“You get the ability to dive in deeper with clients,” she said. “It’s about being able to ask open-ended questions and try to learn a lot more about them—as a person and as a family—as opposed to just trying to figure out, ‘What’s the best investment portfolio for you?’ We really try to personalize every strategy for people, because there are so many different situations. You’ve

got to personalize it for everyone’s individual

situations.”

Grinney sometimes works with other Edward Jones advisors, and she also relies on three office aids to help organize her workload. In addition, she also works with her clients’ CPAs and attorneys to make sure every angle is covered.

“I love building a team with their attorneys and CPAs, because we all work very closely together to make sure that we do have clients who stay on track and meet their goals,” she said.

A female perspective

When it comes to gender diversity in the industry, Grinney said the field is still overwhelmingly male—but Edward Jones and other financial firms have made quite a few strides since she started working. When she joined the firm in 1999, she was the second woman in the southern Minnesota region. Now, women account for 20.3 percent of Edward Jones’ financial 

“We’re really looking more holistically than we were before, and that’s a trend that’s really changed a lot in the last 20 years.”—Cate Grinney

LESSONS FROM THE LAST 20 YEARS

In the 20 years that Grinney has worked at Edward Jones, she has learned some valuable lessons that she continues to use today. One is about the importance of being flexible.

“Change is inevitable,” she said. “You have to embrace it. If you can’t get out of it, get really into it. We don’t have a lot of control over the stock market or financial regulations. You have to look at it as an opportunity instead of an obstacle.” Another lesson—be prepared.

“Prepare for the unexpected,” she said. “That applies to me, but also to my clients. We don’t have the crystal ball for the stock market. We don’t know what it’s going to do in the next hour, let alone the next week or the next year. So just [make] sure that you properly prepare for that.”

Finally, one big lesson Grinney learned is about the importance of looking beyond just the business at hand.

“Take some time to really invest in yourself and the team,” she said. “My staff and I try to get out of the office at least on a quarterly basis to just do something fun. Then we get to know each other a bit better [and] can trust each other more. It used to be that I was pretty business-focused. I didn’t have a reputation of being very fun. I think I’ve done a better job incorporating that along the way and celebrating the successes with my staff.”

 advisors, and the firm continues to work to attract even more. One resource for Edward Jones’ female advisors in Minnesota is a women’s conference the firm puts on every year. When Grinney first attended it, she said there were only about a dozen women. Now, the number has grown to about 100.

“Jones has had a lot of resources to make sure we look to hire women and support women,” she said, pointing out that the firm just implemented a four-month maternity leave. “We still have a long way to go, [but] we really are working on the women presence a lot.”

Grinney said that—in spite of women being underrepresented in financial planning—she believes they bring unique strengths to the field.

“Quite frankly, I think this industry is very well tailored to women,” she said. “I think women tend to build trust a little faster than men, just generally speaking.”

She added that female advisors sometimes are better at including both spouses in conversations and putting people at ease. For this reason, she’s noticed that many women want to work with women.

“I want to make sure both husband and wife are very involved in their financial decisions,” she said.

While Grinney has helped countless people retire and has a solid plan for her own retirement, she says that day is still a long ways off.

“I really enjoy what I do, so I can’t see myself walking away from it anytime soon,” she explained. “I have that need to be productive. I want to have impact. I want to give people financial security and be that bridge to that.

It’s really about whether I feel like I’m still being impactful. If I ever get to the point that I don’t like it, that’s when I’ll quit. But I don’t think that’ll happen any time soon.”

From: Red Wing

Lives in: Faribault

Family: Husband, four kids, two dogs

Hobbies: Traveling, reading, watching and playing sports, participating in triathlons, playing with her two dogs.

Fun fact: Grinney visited her seventh continent in December 2017 when she and her father visited Antarctica.

Next on the list: Climbing Mt. Whitney in California with a friend this May.

Top of the bucket list: Visiting the Galapagos

Favorite type of book: Nonfiction. “I always find it more interesting to find stories that are crazy incredible, that are really real-life stories. I just love that.”

Last book she read: Alive: The Story of the Andes Survivors by Nando Parrado RVW

““I was very pleased and pleasantly surprised at the advertising area coverage via River Valley Woman magazine. Many, many clients and non-clients commented on the ads. RVW is definitely worth my advertising dollars!”

— JENNIFER L.J. GILK Gilk Legacy Law PLLC

“My business has grown steadily ever since I began advertising in River Valley Woman! I am so proud to be associated with a magazine of such high quality and my clients appreciate it, also! I myself have patronized many of the other advertisers businesses and am happy to promote them just because I know the quality of River Valley Woman.”

— HEIDI NELSON OLMA Life Coaching

“Love it! Just gotta say! This magazine sits on my desk and then it’s gone! People love it! I run out all the time! Thanks for the abundance of them every month!”

— LAURIE DANBERRY Heintz Toyota

“Gari Jo Testimonial: I am so impressed with the quality and creativity that you gals at River Valley Woman consistently deliver each month. I’ve been advertising in RVW for over 5 years now and I completely trust your marketing and design team to create that perfect marketing piece! Thanks for continuously putting your magazine to work for Body Concepts!

— GARI JO JORDAN Body Concepts

Manager

Get a leg up on summer with relief for varicose veins

Spring is just around the corner. With warmer weather comes the desire to wear shorts and show off your legs. At this time every year we see an increase in visits for people who are finally fed up with their painful and unsightly varicose veins.

More than a cosmetic problem

Varicose veins are common and affect up to 50 percent of adults. When

present, this condition affects more than just the appearance of the leg. These tortuous, abnormal veins often lead to painfully swollen, aching, and tired legs that get worse with even a minimal amount of exercise or standing. At worst, they can be indicative of a progressive disease process called chronic venous insufficiency which causes poor wound healing, ulcers, and—in severe cases—lead to amputations.

Symptoms of varicose veins

Varicose veins form when internal valves break down and allow blood to flow in the wrong direction down the leg and pool within the veins. This causes the vein to stretch and dilate, leading to swelling, aching, and pain.

To make matters worse, veins can often bulge out more and more to hold the increasing amount of blood, which results in even more persistent discomfort. Compression stockings may offer temporary relief by holding the veins in place. However, they’re not a permanent solution to fix the veins or stop the disease from progressing. Spider veins, a mild form of varicose veins, occur within the skin layer instead of under it as with varicose veins. Spider veins are usually harmless, though they can sometimes cause aching, burning, or pain, especially when you’ve been standing for long periods.

Fortunately, modern medicine has been very active in the diagnosis and treatment of this common disorder. With a simple office visit and painless ultrasound, we’re able to diagnose the condition and offer multiple treatment options. With the latest minimally invasive techniques, we can treat the disease by closing the broken veins in place and literally turn off the faucet causing the abnormal filling.

Treatment for varicose veins

Most treatments for varicose veins are now conducted with local numbing medicine and one or two tiny needle pokes. Treatment options include closing the broken veins to halt abnormal blood flow, removal of bulging, painful veins through tiny punctures or pinpoint injections to close the smallest veins in place. There is no cutting, no sutures and no long recovery. In fact, in many cases a patient can drive themselves to and from the treatment, returning to work the very next day.

Ultimately, the initial step is to decide that you want to end this problem once and for all. If you’re suffering from bulging, unsightly veins and have issues with leg pain, swelling, redness, restlessness, ulcers, or wounds, make an appointment to see your health care provider today. Relief from your varicose veins is just a few easy steps away.

GREGORY SNYDER, M.D. AND ANDREW CHOW, M.D. Vascular Interventional Radiologists Mayo Clinic Health System in Mankato

Dr. Angela Schuck Dr. Keith Flack

Real estate transactions can be stressful, and the paperwork mind-boggling. It doesn’t have to be.

Our staff is professional, knowledgeable and committed to serving you, whether it’s for closing and title services or tax-deferred exchanges. Our dedicated customer service and competitive closing costs allow you to rest easy knowing it’s getting done and getting done right.

Qualified Intermediary for tax deferred §1031 exchanges

Howard Haugh, Licensed Attorney since 1966

Connie Froehlich, Licensed Closer and Title Insurance Agent

Kelsey Goettlicher, info@StAndrewsTitle.com

507.385.4459

300 Saint Andrews Drive Suite 210, Mankato, MN StAndrewsTitleAndExchange.com

WE BUILD TRUST SO YOU CAN BUILD YOUR TOMORROW.

Every day it’s our duty to earn our customers’ trust. That’s why we’re always looking ahead — and looking out for better ways to serve your interests. Trust in Tomorrow.®

Mankato | Amboy | Vernon Center

cimankato.com

Howard Haugh Connie Froehlich

Kelsey Goettlicher Cassie Winters Located in the Community Bank Building

Dave Paterson

Natalie Sadaka

According to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, over 100,000 lives could be saved each year if everyone in the United States received recommended clinical preventive care.

Preventive care includes cancer screenings, check-ups, counseling to prevent health conditions, vaccinations, and blood tests for diabetes and cholesterol. When cancer and conditions such as heart disease are caught early, treatment is likely to work best.

The CDC says Americans use preventive services at about half the recommended rate. Here’s a quick guide to help keep you and your families healthy.

Women

Schedule a “well woman” visit every year. Your visit includes a physical exam and screenings for cervical cancer and other diseases. We also like to discuss your health, recommend vitamins, set health goals, and answer your questions. We often talk about birth control and menopause.

Beginning at age 40, we recommend annual mammograms.

At age 65, it’s time for a bone density test that tells if you have normal bone density, low bone density (osteopenia), or osteoporosis. Mild bone loss can be treated with weight-bearing exercise like walking, vitamin D and calcium.

Children

Children three to 18 years and older should have annual “well child” visits. We want to make sure your children and teens are meeting growth and developmental milestones. The check-ups give us a chance to complete a physical exam and address emotional or social concerns.

Some vaccines and boosters are recommended for older children. Kids age 11 to 12 should receive two doses of the HPV vaccine spaced six months apart. This vaccine protects children against the human papillomavirus. At

the same time, they can get vaccine to protect them from meningitis. It’s also time for the Tdap booster to ward off tetanus, diphtheria and pertussis (whooping cough). Data shows whooping cough is making a comeback so this is a very important booster.

Men

Men tend to be reluctant to visit a doctor. Men are encouraged to schedule an annual check-up that includes a physical exam. Annual exams also help men establish rapport with a primary care provider. It’s important for men to get their blood pressure checked every three to five years from age 18 to 40 and every year after age 40. High blood pressure increases the risk for stroke and heart attack. At age 50, talk with your primary care provider about prostate cancer screening, earlier if you are African-American or have a family history.

All adults

Adults should get their cholesterol tested every five years. The American Heart Association recommends testing should begin at age 20. High cholesterol puts us at risk for heart disease and stroke. If your cholesterol is high, you can take steps to lower it by eating lean proteins, fruits and vegetables, increasing physical activity or taking medicine.

If you’re 50, it’s time for a colonoscopy. From age 50 to 75, the U.S. Preventive Task Force recommends colonoscopies every 10 years or sooner with a family history of colon cancer. This is the only screening that can prevent colorectal cancer by removing pre-cancerous polyps.

If you smoke or used to smoke and are age 55-77, you qualify for a lowdose lung CT scan to screen for lung cancer. Men who have smoked qualify for an abdominal aortic aneurysm screening after age 55.

The good news is health plans cover many preventive health care services with no co-pays or deductibles. Call the number on your insurance card to learn more. Then call your clinic to make an appointment.

SAGAN DOBIE, PA-C Mankato Clinic North Mankato Family Medicine

The name of my business, Tidy Tightwads, is a combination of two of my core values—being tidy, neat, and organized, as well as saving money. I am a self-proclaimed tightwad and I enjoy bringing my frugal nature to others. I love helping people save money at every opportunity. Here are a few of my tips to saving more money.

1. Pair manufacturer coupons with in-store coupons and sales for maximum savings.

2. Saving five dollar bills works well for many people. Each time you have a $5 bill, set it aside in an envelope to use at Christmas, vacation fund, etc.

3. When is the last time you really read your bills? Look for odd charges, accidental double charges, over charges, or things you thought you canceled.

4. Be sure to get a donation receipt when donating items. While it’s not cash-in-hand now, it’s money saved later.

5. Make a double batch and freeze when making meals. The more you cook and eat at home, the more you save by avoiding convenience foods and eating out.

6. If something is on sale really cheap and isn’t something you’d use, it’s costing you money.

7. Ask for a discount if paying in full or early. Many places like healthcare facilities will offer this. If you’re “self-pay” there may be different rates.

8. Meal planning is an incredible way to save money and avoid impulse eating out.

BY CINDY HAUGLAND tidytightwads.com

9. If you plan on buying a newspaper for the coupons, check the Saturday edition. It often has the same coupons and costs less. Buy multiple newspapers if the coupons are really good.

10. Call your phone, cable, Internet, and credit card company and ask for a lower rate.

11. Weigh the value of your time. If something is going to take you the better part of a day because you really don’t know what you’re doing, you are better off spending the $25 to have a professional do it right the first time. Use those hours in a more beneficial way.

12. Have a small amount automatically deducted from your paycheck and put into a savings or investment account.

13. Check into volunteer opportunities in exchange for free admittance to things like concerts, in exchange for working a shift.

14. Check for rebates at the utility company, city, county, cooperative, or state level before and after every appliance purchase or home improvement project.

15. Can you designate one day a week or a month as a “no spend” day?

16. Be mindful of memberships. If nobody is eating any of the pies from the “Pie of the Month Club,” save yourself some major money and end that membership. Same goes for magazines, savings cards, gym memberships, pool passes, etc.

17. If you’re shopping for a new vehicle, start shopping by October as dealerships will be motivated to get rid of current-year inventory before the end of the year.

18. Look into employer-matched Simple IRA or 401K accounts and take advantage of as much as possible.

19. Don’t skip those routine physicals and dental check-ups. Preventative care is cheaper than reactive care later.

20. Make organization and decluttering a priority. The more you can find what you need, the less you re-purchase what you already have.

8 Budget Friendly Kitchen Ideas REFRESH! 6

The kitchen is one of the most important rooms in your home. From cooking and eating to spending time with your family, most kitchens are well lived in and loved. But when it comes time for an upgrade, the kitchen is also one of the most expensive rooms to remodel.

A full kitchen remodel can take months to complete, and the cost can add up quickly. The good news is there are plenty of budgetfriendly fixes to help you rejuvenate your space without a total overhaul. Here are some top tips:

Choose customizable features

What if your kitchen sink could perfectly match your counter or backsplash? Customizable features like Kohler’s Tailor Customizable Farmhouse Sink allow you to choose your own material for the apron front to match your existing countertop or backsplash or choose one of Kohler’s designed inserts. Easily change up the look of your kitchen simply by switching out the material in the apron of your sink.

Update your cabinet hardware

One of the easiest ways to refresh your kitchen cabinets and drawers is to switch up the hardware. Warm up your space with brass finishes or opt for another on-trend finish and shape.

Add open shelving

Adding shelves is the perfect solution for a large blank wall. Once the shelves are installed, use them to display your glassware collection, beautiful china or colorful cookbooks. Shelves add storage and style to your kitchen.

Upgrade your fixtures

Bring out your inner chef by selecting fixtures like Kohler’s SemiProfessional Kitchen Sink Faucet, which features a pull-down sprayhead with functions for rinsing, cleaning and fast filling of

pitchers. Simply upgrading your kitchen faucet takes your kitchen to the next level. New fixtures enhance the style of your space while you enjoy the latest innovative features like water temperature memory.

Splurge on a new appliance

5 6 7 8

If you’re really looking to spruce up your kitchen, choose your most outdated appliance and spring for a new one. A new stainless-steel refrigerator or sleek black cooktop might be all you need to revamp a dull space. If you’re on a tight budget, keep an eye out for sales throughout the year.

Paint the cabinets or walls

Never underestimate the power of a fresh coat of paint. A new color always feels like a huge change; and with very little supplies needed, painting is one of the most cost-effective ways to improve your kitchen space.

Buy fresh flowers

It may sound simple, but fresh flowers bring life and a pop of color into an otherwise dreary room. Make it part of your weekly routine to pick up fresh flowers to brighten your kitchen and your mood.

Play with lighting

Lighting plays a big role in how your kitchen feels. Warm lighting will make your kitchen appear brighter and more welcoming. You can easily shop around for new light fixtures and light switches at most home improvement stores and compare prices online to get the best deal.

You may have visions of your dream kitchen, but a full-fledged renovation isn’t always in the budget. Follow these tips to satisfy your urge to upgrade.

(BPT)

By Tania Wieseler, Pharm D, Pharmacy Manager at Mankato Riverfront Hy-Vee

Sea for Yourself

Cooking seafood at home isn’t nearly as tricky as you might think. People always tell me they’re intimidated by cooking seafood, and I understand where they’re coming from. They worry that the fish will fall apart when they flip it or fill the house with an offputting smell.

I’m here to tell you that it’s actually really easy to cook. It’s just a question of timing. You can cook a piece of fish in less than fifteen minutes; the trick is to believe how fast it cooks and not do what many people do, which is think, “Maybe I’ll give it a little longer, just in case.” Do that, and you’ll be disappointed with the chewy, dry result. Fish is done when the color turns from translucent to opaque (white) or has reached 140°F to 145°F internal temperature.

If you buy fresh seafood, use it the same day or freeze within two days. If frozen, thaw in the refrigerator overnight. Rinse in cold water, drain and pat dry.

To get you started, try one of these three cooking methods that eliminate the guesswork:

1. BAKE

• Heat oven to 425°F.

• Spray a baking sheet or shallow baking dish with nonstick cooking spray.

• Place fish on baking sheet in a single layer; season as desired.

• Bake uncovered, 10 minutes per inch of thickness or until fish is done.

2.

SAUTÉ OR PAN FRY

This technique results in food that’s crisply tender. Seafood best suited to this technique includes fish fillets, shrimp, bay scallops and slipper tails. Firm fish, such as cod or halibut, may also be cut into strips and stir-fried.

• Heat 1/4-inch oil or butter in a nonstick skillet over medium to medium-high heat.

• Fish may be dipped in milk or beaten egg and then breaded.

• Cook fish 4 to 5 minutes per side (per inch of thickness) or until done.

3. MICROWAVE

Almost any boneless fish fillet or steak is suitable for microwaving.

• Spray a microwave-safe dish with nonstick cooking spray.

• Cut fish in half and arrange in dish so thick center portions are to outside of dish. Place in a single layer with a small amount of liquid.

• Cover with plastic wrap. Cut a few vent holes in the wrap.

• Cook fish 3 minutes per pound on high power, turning fish once during cooking.

• Season after cooking.

There are so many reasons to eat fish. Seafood is a lean source of protein, full of omega-3s and low in fat. The USDA’s new My Plate nutrition guidelines recommend making fish or shellfish the main protein on your plate at least twice a week. It’s often pretty inexpensive. And most important, it’s delicious once you know what to do with it. Luckily, now you do.

BALSAMIC-GLAZED SALMON FILLETS

MAKES 4 SERVINGS

ALL YOU NEED:

1/4 c. Hy-Vee Select balsamic vinegar

1 tbsp. packed Hy-Vee brown sugar

1 tsp. Hy-Vee reduced-sodium soy sauce

1 tsp. Hy-Vee dry mustard

Hy-Vee salt & Hy-Vee black pepper, to taste

4 (5 oz) salmon fillets

ALL YOU DO:

1. Preheat oven to 425 degrees.

2. Combine vinegar, brown sugar, soy sauce, dry mustard, salt and black pepper.

3. Place salmon fillets in a greased 8-by-8-inch baking dish.

4. Pour vinegar mixture evenly over each salmon fillet. Bake 10 to 15 minutes or until salmon flakes easily with a fork.

Nutrition Facts per Serving: 270 calories, 15g total fat (3.5g saturated fat, 0g trans fat), 60mg cholesterol, 115mg sodium, 6g total carbohydrates (0g dietary fiber, 6g total sugars), 24g protein.

Holly Ellison, RD, LD Riverfront Hy-Vee Dietitian 507.625.1107 | HEllison@hy-vee.com

You see it all over —“support local” or “buy local.” But, for a lot of us who live and breathe small business, buying local goes to the core of our values in our business model and how we use our purchasing power.

Buying local is more than the latest trend—it actually helps our community. Buying local helps support new employment and job opportunities, and can create more stable, recession-resistant local economies. Buying local also keeps dollars circulating in the community. Local coalitions, like Roots, Shoots and Boots have all the facts and figures. More squishy to prove with numbers is the feeling that you get from a community where small business and innovation are supported. There is nothing like the spirit of a vibrant walkable neighborhood with cool shops, food establishments, and experiences.

Investing in your local food economy is one way to harness the spirit of supporting local, although there is no definition of what that means. For many multi-national companies, “local” can mean any product that is within 500 miles. The fluidity of the term allows for a lot of flexibility to be inclusive, like it has allowed in our local food movement. And it can create confusion, especially when some definitions include very large businesses.

Many restaurants, big or small, want to support building a more resilient local food economy. At the same time, it can be hard to navigate for small restaurants that don’t have a specific staff person who is committed to figuring out who is selling, for how much and when. Sometimes it is easier to purchase from one or two big food providers. Developing relationships with local producers is very rewarding, but can take time, which often our most valuable asset.

Even when you find those amazing producers, sometimes it takes extra time to process the food. It may take longer to peel the potatoes because they are smaller and not perfectly smooth. And quantities could vary throughout the seasons, such as when cold weather limits access to your farm-fresh eggs. While locally-sourced items are better in quality,

TRY THIS Recipe

HARD COOKED EGGS IN THE OVEN

Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C).

Put 1 egg in each of 12 muffin cups.

Bake in preheated oven for 30 minutes.

Plunge baked eggs in a large bowl filled with ice water until cooled completely, about 10 minutes.

they can be more expensive, because our global food system has set it up to be that way.

But, it is worth it. Local producers are small business owners, and are doing amazing work to make our community vibrant and sustainable for future generations. It is deeply satisfying to use purchasing power, however small that is, to put dollars back into the local economy and support other folks who are working their tails off.

It’s a good idea to support local, whether you’re a business owner or not. There are a variety of ways to do this. Sign up for a CSA share, go to the farmer’s market or buy local producer products from local retailers. Then, support the farmer’s social media efforts. Like them on Facebook, Instagram and other social media platforms. And say thank you to those who are doing amazing work to support our local food economy. Support restaurants who buy from local producers and other local businesses. If you want to know what products the restaurants use that are local, just ask. Again, if you see things that you like, then leave a good review or tell them you appreciate the service they provide.

Buy a product or experience from small businesses in your community. Our streets are full of cool things to buy and to do, created by thoughtful, hard-working, creative small businesses.

Use your power and privilege to amplify the voices of small businesses, like local producers and small shops. Small business teams are often busy making ends meet, putting out fires or pivoting their business model to meet local demands. If you see a small business call to action, respond and support them by going to your governmental officials, writing letters to media outlets and using social media platforms to share their efforts.

There are so many ways to support the local economy and keep the dollars and talent in our region. We are worth the investment.

EVERYTHING DEVILED EGGS

INGREDIENTS

1 tsp.  minced Garlic

1 tsp.  minced Onions

1 tsp.  sesame Seeds

1 tsp.  poppy Seeds

6 large eggs, hard boiled

2 tbsp. mayonnaise

1 tbsp. fresh lemon juice

2 tbsp. cream cheese, room temperature

2 oz. smoked salmon, sliced into 12 strips

Dill weed, for garnish

DIRECTIONS

In a small pan over medium-low heat, add the first four ingredients. Cook, swirling pan constantly, until everything starts to look and smell toasty, about 2-3 minutes. Set aside to cool, reserving one teaspoon for garnish.

Slice eggs in half and carefully scoop out yolks into a large bowl. To yolks, add mayonnaise, lemon juice, and cream cheese and mix until creamy and thoroughly combined. Stir in toasted spices. Transfer mixture to a large, re-sealable plastic bag and snip a hole in the corner.

Fill egg whites with yolk mixture. Garnish each with a rolled up piece of smoked salmon, a sprinkle of dill weed, and remaining spices.

NATASHA FROST, OWNER Wooden Spoon Restaurant in Mankato

Creating a financial strategy for your future.

Financial Analysis and Review

Retirement Strategies

Wealth Management

Financial Protection

Business Owners

through Securian Financial Services, Inc., Member FINRA/SIPC. Securian Advisors MidAmerica is independently owned and operated. 124 East Walnut, Suite 340, Mankato, MN 56001. Neither Securian Financial Services, Inc. nor Securian Advisors MidAmerica are affiliated with Pioneer Bank. The Securian Financial name and logo are trademarks of Securian Financial Group, Inc., and have been licensed for use by Securian Advisors MidAmerica. Securi�es are not FDIC insured, not deposits or other obliga�ons of, or guaranteed by Pioneer Bank. Securi�es are subject to investment risk and may lose value, including loss of the invested principal. ADTRAX 2410229 DOFU 02/2019

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You know spring is here when your favorite white denim pants make an appearance from the back of your closet! Keep it simple and casual by pairing a graphic tee with a light weight cardigan and slides. Adding some fun accessories to your everyday look will help you stay on trend all season long.

Bold Prints are a must-have this season! Check out this adorable floral skirt that has the perfect pop of color that you’re looking for. Throw on your favorite red heels and a statement necklace to bring this graphic tee to a whole new level.

chic BOLD RIVER VALLEY WOMAN | april • 2019 44

break style

This outfit screams Spring Break 2019! A lightweight floral kimono will be your best friend this year by pairing it with white skinnies, denim shorts, or even your favorite sundress. Grab your tassel earrings and a floppy hat to get a completely upgraded look.

Going business casual with a graphic tee is something that everyone needs to try this year. Adding a bright and bold blazer, chunky necklace, and fun heels will bring a whole new meaning to business casual. And of course… we can’t get enough of the leopard print this season!

BY ASHLEIGH MOELTER The Refinery

SPRING casual 45 RIVER VALLEY WOMAN | april • 2019

BY DAYNA COMNICK Stylist, Estichecian, Lash Artist Fréy Salon and Spa

Some like subtle, some like luscious, some prefer natural and others want banging! Whatever the case there is the right lash look for you.

Already have medium to long lashes? Just looking for a lift and separation? A lash lift and tint may be the perfect fit. With less maintenance then extensions, you can ditch eyelash curlers and receive a lift and tint. This does not necessarily replace mascara but will curl, lift separate and include a lash tint. A lash lift is good for six to eight weeks depending on lash health.

If you are looking to ditch mascara completely and are ready to take your natural lashes to the next level, our lash extensions might be the right choice for you. Great for all lash types this adds volume and/or length and has a variety of options including CLASSIC: for a more natural look, BLENDED: includes classic and some volume lashes and FULL VOLUME: constructed of handmade lash fans (2 to 6 lashes per 1 natural lash) for a more voluminous, dramatic look.

While reducing your morning routine, extensions will include two to four week fills for maintenance. The eyes have it with lift or lash extensions!

‘An Owed To The Tax Code’

The time has come my American friends

Tis horrid tax season again.

I work hard to pay down my mortgage all day But ye ol’ treasury takes it away!

So gather receipts, get forms correct Sharpen up pencil, stab self in the neck. Paperwork is a pain, and estate tax is crummy

Who the hell is FICA, and why’s he taking my money?

Don’t get me wrong, I love our nation But didn’t we start it to end needless taxation?

So since congress causes me such malcontent

I’ll go ahead and claim them all my dependent!

No “The Art of the Deal” won’t score me a refund

Perchance my new dependents will share some of their hedge funds! Coming up with exemptions might drive me insane Which box do I check to get capital gains?

These old student loans give me taxing emotions And boy it’s expensive keeping up with the Joneses. And just when I had the tax code down pat Everything was replaced with a new load of crap!

So I guess I will pay the IRS this year Likewise will so many others I fear.

But as Hoover said to his peers; “Don’t you fret,” It’s our kids who’ll inherit the national debt.

BY LORI MATHIOWETZ

What Can You Do With Your Tax Refund?

We’re getting close to the tax-filing deadline. For many of us, this means it’s that time of year when we get our biggest financial windfall – a tax refund. If you have recently received a refund, or are expecting to get one in the next few weeks, what should you do with it?

Of course, you could just spend the money on something you want, but if you’d like to maximize the financial benefits from your refund, you might want to consider other options, including the following:

• Invest the money. In 2018, the average tax refund was about $2,700. For this year, it might be somewhat lower, due to changes in the tax laws and the failure of taxpayers to adjust their withholdings in response. However, if you were to receive in the neighborhood of $2,700, you’d be almost halfway to the annual IRA contribution limit, which, in 2019, is $6,000. (If you’re 50 or older, you can put in up to $7,000). If you have already “maxed out” on your IRA, you could use your refund to fill in gaps you may have in other parts of your investment portfolio.

• Pay insurance premiums. Let’s face it – nobody really likes paying insurance premiums. Yet, if you have anyone depending on you, you will certainly need life insurance, and possibly disability insurance as well. And if you want to help protect your financial resources later in life from threats such as an extended – and hugely expensive – stay in a nursing home, you also may want to consider long-term care insurance. Your tax refund could help pay for some of these premiums, boosting your cash flow during the months you would normally be making these payments.

• Contribute to a college fund. It’s never too soon to begin saving for college, which has grown increasingly expensive over the last several years. So, if you have young children, you may want to think about investing some or all of your refund into a college-savings account, such as a taxadvantaged 529 plan.

• Pay off debts. You might be able to use your refund to pay down some debts – or perhaps even pay off some of your smaller ones. The lower your monthly debt load, the more money you will have available to invest for the future. Keep in mind, though, that you might not want to look at all debts in the same way. For example, putting extra money toward your mortgage might help you pay it off faster, but you’ll also be funding an asset – namely, your house – that might not provide you with the same liquidity as you can get from investments such as stocks and bonds.

• Help build an emergency fund. By building an emergency fund containing six to 12 months’ worth of living expenses, you can help yourself avoid dipping into your long-term investments to pay for large, unplanned-for bills, such as a major car repair or an expensive dental procedure. Your tax refund could help build such a fund, with the money ideally being placed in low-risk, liquid vehicles.

Clearly, you can help yourself make progress toward a number of your financial goals with your tax refund – so put it to good use.

MIKE BENZ CFP ® Financial Advisor Edward Jones

This article was written by Edward Jones for use by your local Edward Jones Financial Advisor.

According to the Altarum, a nonprofit research and consulting organization, Americans spent $360 billion on prescription drugs in 2018, constituting almost 10 percent of healthcare spending. Based on a 2019 Kaiser Family Foundation poll, 24 percent of people reported experiencing difficulty affording their medications.

Whether you are struggling to pay for your medications, or just looking to stretch your budget, there are some options to help control the costs of medications.

Is there another drug that would work for my condition that is available at a lower cost?

While some health systems have software that helps prescribers know the costs of patients’ medications, the best resource to answer this question is likely your insurance company. Prescription drug costs covered by insurance are dependent on many unique factors. Your insurance company would best be able to answer that question based on your specific prescription drug plan. Your pharmacist may also have suggestions for

For Sale!

The Prescription for Saving Money on Medication

LESLIE

lower cost alternatives. You will then need to discuss these options with your doctor to determine if they would be appropriate for you.

Can I save money by getting a 90-day supply or by using a mail-order pharmacy?

Some prescription insurance companies offer savings when you use their mail order pharmacy to send your medications directly to your home. A pharmacist is available to answer questions by phone if you receive your medications this way. If you prefer to get your medications at your local pharmacy, ask if your insurer provides a discount for receiving a 90-day supply. You may save money on your prescription, as well as saving time with fewer trips to the pharmacy.

Is the cash price of my medication cheaper than my insurance co-pay?

Ask your pharmacist if paying the full cash price of your medication is less than your co-pay.

Am I eligible for a prescription assistance program?

Some brand-name drug manufacturers offer assistance programs for people who cannot afford their co-pays or who do not have prescription drug insurance. The eligibility requirements vary by company. Often patients who receive Medicare or Medicaid benefits are not eligible. You will need to compile and provide information on your income and assets; your doctor will also need to provide information to the drug company about your medications. Check the drug company’s website or consult a patient assistance website such as www.pparx.org, www.goodrx.com or www.needymeds.org to search for patient assistance programs. As part of the assistance program, the company may have patient advocates to help you complete the application.

The Minnesota Board on Aging and Senior LinkAge Line helps Minnesotans of all ages find patient assistance programs and provides assistance with completing applications. Senior LinkAge Line can be reached at 800-333-2433.

Does my medication have a co-pay card?

Similar to patient assistance programs, many manufacturers offer copay assistance that can reduce or even eliminate your portion of your monthly medication cost. As with patient assistance programs, the eligibility varies and there may be limits on the discount. Check with your pharmacy, the manufacturer’s website for your medication, or consult the patient assistance resources above to search for savings cards.

Am I eligible for a Low Income Subsidy though Medicare?

Patients with Medicare are often ineligible for assistance programs or co-pay cards. The Social Security Administration and the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services have a Medicare Extra Help Program to help eligible patients receive extra help with prescription drug costs. To determine if you are eligible for this program, visit www.ssa.gov/ benefits/medicare/prescriptionhelp/ or call 1-800-772-1213 Monday through Friday from 7:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m.

This is by no means an all-inclusive list—your pharmacist is a great source of additional information. Many patients reduce or skip doses in order to save money, which can result in negative health consequences. It is important to be open with your health care team about your financial concerns, allowing you to work together to find solutions.

Spring is on the horizon—finally! With warmer weather approaching and the days getting longer, we are able to come out of hibernation and take the family dog for a walk. Every owner has a vision of themselves walking with a well-behaved dog that ignores all his surroundings. When in fact, people are often met with frustration and embarrassment when their dog is lunging, growling, and barking at other people or dogs. This may be behavior that your dog has shown before, or it may be very surprising. Although this behavior is not normal it is, unfortunately, very common.

Too precious not to protect.

Dogs are extremely smart and they learn from past experiences. Your dog may do great off leash interacting with strangers or other dogs but—when the leash is attached—they may act the exact opposite. Many obedience classes teach us that we need to have total control of our dogs at all times. We often forget they are not robots and they have their own feelings. When we apply a prong collar or choke chain to our dogs, and correct them for looking at other dogs or people in class, by jerking the leash we are making a negative association for your dog. When they see someone or another dog, they learn that pain or discomfort is inflicted in the presence of the new thing. Often times, not being able to say hello will cause your dog to become very frustrated—and frustration can quickly turn into anger.

It’s kind of like when you put money in a vending machine for a bag of chips. If the chips get stuck this can cause us a lot of frustration as we expected the chips. For some of us, we can dismiss this and move on with our day, while others may let this fester and may become angry. Besides the interaction being frustrating, we also teach our pets—with corrections—to not look at anything on a walk. This can cause the dog anxiety, as it knows if it looks it will get a correction—but it really wants to look.

Dogs are also great at communicating with body language, which we as humans are not. Because dogs are so good at reading us, they learn to recognize when we are feeling nervous or anxious. When our dog has been reactive in the past, we train ourselves to “reel” the leash in when we see something that could cause our dogs distress.

We have now alerted our dog that something is “off” and it makes us look out of control. When we look out of control, our dogs feel the need to take the initiative. Dogs, along with many other species, will often times become defensive in order to get someone to leave them alone. The idea is the bigger and badder you look, the more likely someone will leave you alone. When in fact, 90 percent of aggression is due to fear.

The best way to go about working with a reactive dog is to change the way it feels about the situation. It will not help to just “correct” the behavior, as it does not change the way the dog feels. The best approach is to help it learn that those strangers or other dogs will not cause him discomfort. Replace your prong collar or choke chain and use a gentle leader or a front-loading harness. When your dog first acknowledges a scary thing, feed him plenty of small treats. This not only distracts him, but also builds an association that these interactions make food fall from the sky. It is also helpful to put distance between you and the scary situation.

If you feel like your dog is too reactive and you can’t distract him, please call your veterinarian. A walk should be something you enjoy together, not something you dread.

NICOLE LUECK Minnesota Valley Pet Hospital

Q: What do you suggest to a patient who is too embarrassed to ask their healthcare provider certain questions about their health?

A: The human body is a beautiful machine and—like any other machine— can have some interesting quirks. Parts can bleed, leak fluid, wear out, dry out, smell, itch, become disfigured, and make plenty of fun noises. While these experiences are perfectly normal, they don’t often become topics of polite dinner conversation. Broaching these topics with your healthcare

provider can be difficult or embarrassing, resulting in a lot of virtual visits to “Doctor Google” to investigate “butt pain” only to find out that you probably have Ebola. (Dr. Google is a pessimist).

Here are a few tips to make this conversation a bit easier.

1. This isn’t a job interview.

Home Holidays!

Classic Comfort

You will not be judged for making steady eye contact, using proper terminology, or for the content of your presentation. Focus more on making sure your concerns are addressed, and less on the impression you think you might be making. Your healthcare provider is on YOUR team, and has a shared interest in optimizing your health.

2. Healthcare providers are not clairvoyant.

If you have a concern about your health, but do not share all of the information regarding your symptoms, it is difficult for your provider to put the pieces of the puzzle together and help find a solution. While sharing some of these details can make one feel vulnerable, it is necessary to disclose this information in order to better characterize your symptoms; i.e., what could be a benign issue, or rather, something more serious. Trust that your provider has a lot of experience with discussions on sensitive topics, and they are not there to judge you.

3. Consider healthcare providers as “mechanics” for the body. When your engine starts making weird noises, do you feel shame when having a mechanic check under the hood? Probably not, as you don’t have any control over what is happening to your engine. The same is true when it comes to the noises your body is making. The sounds coming from your engine help the mechanic troubleshoot and focus repair efforts appropriately. Similarly, the noises coming from your body help your provider locate where “the work” may need to be done, if at all. If we could always control our bodily functions, we would be missing out on a lot of fart jokes and middle school would not be nearly as exciting.

4. Your time is important.

Make the most of your time with your provider. Write down your questions beforehand and make sure they are all addressed before you leave. It is perfectly acceptable to pass a written list of questions to your provider rather than stating your sensitive issues out loud. If you don’t feel comfortable with your provider, find another one. It is important to have your healthcare team work for you.

Be well and have a beautiful day!

Featuring : Southern Motion, Ashley, Marshfield & Best Chair Furniture. Shaw, Mohawk & Congoleum Floorcovering. Mid America & Corsicana Bedding.

CORINNE JORDAN, MD, FACS General surgery Physicians Group of New Ulm

AGRICULTURE CONTRIBUTES

$15.3 BILLION

IN SALES ANNUALLY

The face of ag is changing. According to the World Farmers’ Organization, world-wide women make up 43% of the agricultural labor force with increasing numbers in leadership positions. An increase in women in agriculture is not the only change, however. Increasingly, science and technology are invading the farms and fields in ways Grant Wood’s American Gothic couple never even dreamed. Our puzzle below is a word search, courtesy of GreenSeam, with a focus on the Renaissance of Agriculture. We hope it helps you begin to think differently about what makes agriculture the regional powerhouse it is, contributing $15.3 billion in sales annually.

T E M N A I A A

E E E E N R T E R E E D V X F Y Q B J X R I O L D

T H C C W Y M A E R T S N I A M K N U G O I N Y J

C U E H G A D T R K B Q T K L N B X W T K A S A L

U D H T D V B V J V M C G O M O M J Y Y X U O A M

A J I W I G I L X F S B O U V N B Z

It may surprise you that 40 percent of the businesses in the country are owned by women. This means that roughly every other enterprise has a woman at the helm. Our clients at the Small Business Development Center are consistently around 40 percent female, echoing the national trend.

Unlocking the potential of women across the nation—such as the revenue and jobs generated—would have an incredible impact on the economy. Therefore, it is critical to encourage and support women entrepreneurs and business professionals, and provide the tools for them to succeed.

Despite the continuing rise of women entrepreneurs and business owners, women continue to face more hurdles than males:

• Lack of support and confidence

• Lack of access to mentors or networks

• Women are more likely to put in a second shift at night

• Women are more likely to run businesses out of their homes

• Women are still combating gender stereotypes

• Women have more non-linear paths and cultural barriers

• Women are less likely to ask for help

• Women often don’t self-identify as entrepreneurs or leaders, even though they have been applying innovative thinking and developing business management skills

Why women are needed

Diversity—from gender to culture, age, and race—has been shown to foster creativity and innovation. Organizations across industries are seeking to prioritize and benefit from a diverse and inclusive work environment. Collaborating with people who think differently can breed creativity and promote the innovative ideas that push organizations forward.

Women are fueled more by passion—women often start or manage businesses with different motivations than men, being more likely to cite

their passion or expertise. Whether you are passionate about what you’re selling, or you’re just passionate about running a business, passion is powerful fuel toward success.

Women excel at the soft skills needed for business leadership—Soft skills and emotional intelligence are a competitive advantage for women in business. A 2016 study published by the global consulting firm Hay Group found that women outperform men in 11 of 12 key emotional intelligence competencies. These competencies included emotional self-awareness, empathy, conflict management, adaptability, and teamwork—all essential skills for effective leadership in the workplace.

Statistics show that women-led businesses perform better than those led by men. This also holds true for companies with more women leaders on their boards.

How do we move women forward?

Women-only programs, education, and spaces may help women to open up and find the needed support, in a way that is more aligned with the way women work and succeed. A peer group can offer encouragement, constructive advice and a reality check.

Women need to own their own accomplishments and successes. It is okay to say “I” instead of “we” when it is genuine. Confidence is just as critical as competence in today’s environment.

Enlist some male allies. I know—this may sound counterintuitive—but the reality is that men still occupy the majority of positions in power. They can provide access to networks and resources that may otherwise be out of reach.

Finally, if you are running your own company or act as a decision-maker in a business, you have the opportunity to collaborate with and hire other ambitious, like-minded women, fostering a new generation of women in leadership roles. You can play a role in closing the pay gap and helping women rise to leadership positions.

None of this means the transition to equity and balance will be easy. Stay the course, take in all the feedback, filter out the naysayers, educate yourself, build networks, and lift up other women to accelerate the evolution.

JULIE NELSON

Associate Regional Director

Small Business Development Center—South Central Region

Hosted at Minnesota State University, Mankato

I feel passionately that making your life feel fulfilling and exciting is the responsibility of each one of us. If you are living with intention and trying to grow and be fulfilled each day, you cannot help but live an awesome life.

Today you are as young as you’ll ever be, and as old as you’ll ever be. There is no time like the present to start living the life you really want to live. But what do you do if that realization makes you feel huge amounts of anxiety?

Anxiety comes from the unknown, and when you think about your future and feel anxious, it’s probably because you feel afraid or stuck about making a decision about what to do next. This is normal. It is just your brain trying to keep you safe. Let me explain…

Imagine that you are living thousands of years ago. You live in a cozy cave with fire, a clear stream running near the cave, and plenty of food sources.

A pretty good gig for a cave woman. Now, imagine that one day you climb to the top of your cave and in the distance you can see a beautiful green meadow. You think about how much you would love to actually walk in that meadow, and maybe even spend a night or two sleeping in the sweet, soft grass. The problem is that there is not a clear path from your cave to the meadow. In fact, the land between you and the meadow looks like it might be treacherous. So, you climb down off of the cave and resign yourself to staying where you are because the journey to the meadow might be so dangerous that you could die. You would hate to give up the safety you have for the dream of wild flowers and soft ground.

I hate to tell you, but you still have a cavewoman’s brain. The reason that you’re feeling anxious about trying something new is exactly the same reason you never left the cave and explored the meadow. The thing is, you control the way your brain works and what you are willing to accept. Luckily, the ways to change your thoughts are simple and can be used over and over again in almost any situation.

The most important thing to understand is that everything people think, or do, comes from a place of love or fear. And, if you are feeling anxious, that is fear. Realize that you control your thoughts, your thoughts control your feelings, and your feelings control your actions. Not the other way around. You don’t just have thoughts and feelings, you create them. Here’s an example:

“I feel like I am unhappy in my current job, but I’m afraid that if I leave this job and try to start my own company, I won’t make enough money. I might fail, or die of embarrassment.” Your fear of trying is greater than your unhappiness and has led to the action of not making a change.

Let’s reframe this same scenario from a place of courage and love. “I want to start my own business, (aka the meadow). I feel like it might be difficult, but I am capable and I have a lot of people who will help me. I have always had enough to live on and I know that I will continue to have all that I need. If I change my mind, or my business isn’t as successful as I would like it to be, I can always go back to what I was doing before, (aka the cave). I will not have failed, I will have learned something and I will be proud of myself for trying.”

Love yourself enough to have faith in yourself and in the people of the world who want to help you. Don’t allow fear to be a part of this journey.

When you feel the pull of the meadow to be stronger than the safety of the cave, your negative thoughts will become the blueprint that you need in order to make the trek. They will literally tell you what to be planning for, by telling you what you don’t already know.

You can do this. Obviously, someone before you created a path. And I’m certain of that, because I’m not writing this from a cozy cave.

HEIDI ANNE NELSON OLMA Life Coaching One Life Make it Awesome

A DAY IN THE LIFE OF CAR BUYING

Time to buy a new vehicle. How exciting and utterly terrifying at the same time. A vehicle is something nearly everyone needs, and yet many dread going into the dealership.

The biggest question to ask is, “What am I looking for in my next vehicle? Am I looking for additional space? Am I looking for something fuel efficient to get me to and from work? Or am I looking for something to get me through a snow ridden Minnesota winter?”

We start answering those questions by determining if the need is a car, truck, or SUV? It all depends on your needs and driving habits. For me, I need the reliability of four-wheel drive to handle the harsh Minnesota

ANGELA FRANCIS Sales Consultant Lager's of

driving conditions. I don’t necessarily need a lot of space in a vehicle, but I am looking for something reliable.

The most overwhelming part of car shopping can be the seemingly endless amount of information you can find online. Searching for a vehicle can be a daunting task with every manufacturer displaying prices and vehicle information differently. Many people like to do their research online before making the trek into the dealership, while others prefer to get the information directly from the dealership.

I would begin my search by looking at what vehicle types are out there, and what I think would be a good fit for me—such as those with leather and a sunroof. Here is where I search the Internet and compare the models side by side, narrowing it down to exactly what I want.

Next, I would search for dealers near me because I like to buy local. They might not have exactly what I am looking for but, insider’s tip, if it is a new vehicle you are looking for, they are capable of getting exactly what one wants. I’ve narrowed it down to two vehicles with equally great features and options. Now it’s time to make an appointment with a salesperson to test drive the vehicle. If the price is right and I can get a good deal I might be ready to buy.

Walking through the doors of a dealership can be a daunting experience. Take a deep breath and hold your head high—you got this. I meet with my salesperson, and they walk me through both vehicles and explain the differences between trim levels, packages, and additional options. They just opened a whole new world of questions and confusion. Luckily, I have done my research and my salesperson is taking the time to explain the numerous options.

The salesperson brings up the vehicle that we have picked out together, with all the options I am looking for. During the test drive, the salesperson encourages me to try out the new technological features.

I’ve driven both, now I need to make a decision. I’m ready to see numbers but I want to make sure I get the most bang for my buck—all applicable rebates and incentives as well as the most money for my trade. I have a number in mind for my trade and how much I want to spend. I will also need to know about financing and interest rates. Will it be more beneficial for me to finance with the dealership, with my own bank, or to simply pay cash?

My salesperson prepares numbers, presents my trade-in value, and shows me my options on how to make the vehicle affordable. We discussed my options and I have settled on the vehicle I want. It feels good to be confident in my decision and having a salesperson that was looking out for my best interests along the way. I can’t wait to take my new vehicle home!

Mankato

Financial housekeeping—Not so fun, BUT OH SO NECESSARY

KEVIN SANGER Representative and Investment Advisor Representative Securian Advisors MidAmerica, Inc.

As we turn the corner and head into spring, I thought this might be a good time to remind you of a few financial housekeeping chores you may need to complete.

So, be sure to:

1. Review and rebalance your 401k allocations or other retirement plans once a year.

2. Review all life insurance policies.

3. Check for proper ownership of policies.

4. Update premiums, riders, coverage amounts.

5. Ensure all children are covered.

6. Evaluate whether it’s time to convert some term coverage to permanent insurance.

7. Update beneficiary designations, if necessary.

12. Review Long Term Care plans.

13. Myth: Medicare and Medicaid will cover expenses related to a longterm care.

14. Fact: Medicare only covers limited skilled care for specific reasons and for short time periods. Also, to use Medicaid you must meet very specific requirements.

15. Determine if anyone in your family should be considering a Long Term Care or Critical Illness policy.

Organizing your financial information yearly is helpful to you as well as your family. You’re on your own with the real spring cleaning at home, though. I don’t do windows!

Kevin is a Registered Representative and Investment Advisor Representative with Securian Financial Services, Inc. Securities and investment advisory services offered through Securian Financial Services, Inc., Member FINRA/SIPC.  Securian Advisors MidAmerica, Inc. is independently owned and operated.  The Securian Financial name and logo are trademarks of Securian Financial Group, Inc., and have been licensed for use by Securian Advisors MidAmerica. 1735 Commerce Drive, North Mankato, MN 56001. Securities are not FDIC insured, not deposits or other obligations of, or guaranteed by Pioneer Bank. Securities are subject to investment risk and may lose value, including loss of the invested principal. ADTRAX244877 DOFU 03/2019

Located at Pioneer Bank, North Mankato

TO HAVE YOUR EVENT LISTED

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.

Fri., Apr. 5

• Eagles Extravaganza, Event Center, New Ulm, 5-11 pm. Info: info@isd88foundation.org or isd88foundation.org.

• 14th Annual Hammer & Nails Fundraiser, Crow River Golf Club, 915 Colorado St, Hutchinson, 5:30-8:30 pm. Info: 320-587-8868 or Lori@crhfh. org.

• Hunting Heritage Banquet, American Legion, St. James, 5:30-11:30 pm. Info & registration: kkuehl@ frontiernet.net.

• Big Buddies Toss-a-Thon, National Guard Armory, 530 Redwood 101, Redwood Falls 4:30-7:30 pm. Info: 507-6374085.

Fri.-Sat., Apr. 5-6

• Catholic United Financial Matching Grant Rummage Sale, St Raphael School Auditorium, Springfield. 4-7 Fri, 8 am-noon Sat.

Fri. & Sun., Apr. 5 & 7

• Crow River Singers Spring Concerts, New Journey UCC, 31 4th Ave SW, Hutchinson, 7 pm Fri, 2 pm Sun. Info: hutchinsonarts.org or hollymd55@hotmail.com.

Fri.-Sun., Apr. 5-7

• Drinking Habits Comedy, State Street Theater, 1 N State St, New Ulm. 7 pm Fri & Sat, 2 pm Sun. Info: statestreetnewulm. org, 507-359-9990 or statestreettheater@gmail.com

• Mankato Craft & Vendor Market, River Hills Mall, 1850 Adams St, Mankato. 10 am-9 pm Fri & Sat, 11 am-6 pm Sun. Info: riverhillsmall.com.

• Grackle Days, Winthrop. Info: winthropminnesota. com/chamber-ofcommerce/, 507-647-2627 or chamberwinthropmn@gmail. com

• Lakes FM & KSUM Spring Expo, Martin County Arena, 1300 N

GO. BE. DO. CON NECT.

Bixby Rd, Fairmont. 3-8 pm Fri, 9 am-5 pm Sat, 11 am-3 pm Sun. Info: 507-235-5595.

Fri.-Sun., Apr. 5-7 and Thurs.Sat., Apr. 11-13

• Savannah Sipping Society by The Merlin Players, Paradise Center for the Arts, 321 Central Ave N, Faribault. ThurSat 7:30 pm, Sun 2:30 pm. Info: 507-332-7372 or info@ paradisecenterforthearts.org.

Sat., Apr. 6

• Faribault Winter Farmers’ Market, Paradise Center for the Arts, 321 Central Ave N, Faribault, 1-4 pm. Info: 507-3327372 or Facebook.

• Champagne Brunch & Spring Fashion Show, 210 N Minnesota, New Ulm, 8:3011 am. Info: 507-233-4300 or chamber@newulm.com

• Permit to Carry Course, Searles Bar & Grill, New Ulm, 9 am-1:30 pm. Info & registration: 612-7872264 or carrypermit.net.

• MN Permit to Carry Renewal Class, Flying Dutchmen Motorcycle Club Grounds, New Ulm, 9 am-noon. Info & cost: Rick@RiverValleyTraining.com or 507-381-0930.

• A Letter Writing Social, Treaty Site History Center, 1851 N Minnesota Ave, St Peter, 1-3 pm. Info: 507-934-2160.

• Tiaras & Ties—A FatherDaughter Dance, Minnesota Valley Lutheran High School, 45638 561st Ave, New Ulm, 2-4 pm. Info: kmatzke@mvlhs.org or 507.233.8662.

• Winter Farmer’s Market, The Depot, 25 Adams St SE, Hutchinson, 11 am-3 pm. Info: 320-234-5652.

• Ormsby Fire Dept Chicken Supper, Fire Hall, Ormsby, 4:308 pm. Info: 408-847-7199.

• Gopher Campfire Conservation Club Bluebird Day, Club House, 24718 Co Rd 7, Hutchinson, 12-3 pm. Info: gophercampfire.com or 320-587-5787.

Sat., Apr. 6 & May 4

• New Ulm Bird & Small Animal Swap & Sale Day, Brown Co Fairgrounds, New Ulm, 8 amnoon. Info: 507-375-4716, 507210-5741 or 507-354-6448.

Sun., Apr. 7

• Winthrop Lions Omelet Breakfast, St. Francis de Sales Catholic Church, 501 N Brown St, Winthrop, 9 am-1:00 pm. Info: marymalheim@yahoo. com.

• Bridal Show, Starfire Event Center, 206 2nd Ave SW, Waseca, 11 am-2 pm. Info: Facebook or mindyjohnson@ wasecamac.com.

• Relay for Life Pancake Breakfast, American Legion, St. James, 9 am-1 pm. Info: 507-375-1289 or info@ci.stjames.mn.us

• Mankato Area International Festival, Centennial Student Union, MSU, Mankato, 11 am-3 pm. Info: Facebook.

• Dad’s Belgian Waffles, Chapel of the Good Shepherd, St. John Lutheran Home, Springfield, 8:30 am-12:30 pm. Info: sjlhome.com/dads-belgianwaffles-2/.

• West Central Men’s Chorus Concert, Vineyard Methodist Church, Hutchinson, 2 pm. Info: 612-968-0027 or evelyn. mulder@yahoo.com.

Mon., Apr. 8

• Intro to iPads, High School Media Center, New Ulm, 6-8 pm. Info: 507-233-8307 or cfleck@newulm.k12.mn.us

• Retirement & Estate Strategies, Country Club, New Ulm, 5 or 7 pm. Info: 507-354-4413 or emily. mullenbach@thrivent.com.

Tues., Apr. 9

• Remember the Good Old Days of WCCO Radio Part 2, KingsPath Senior Living, 125 Commerce Dr W, Belle Plaine, 1:30 pm. Info: 952-873-5800 or bjweicherding@tlha.org

• Retirement & Estate Strategies, Immanuel Lutheran Church, 312 5th St, Gaylord, 12 pm. Info: 507-354-4413 or emilymullenbach@gmail.com

• Retirement & Estate Strategies, Event Center, Sleepy Eye, 110 12th Ave NE, Sleepy Eye, 6 pm. Info: 507-354-4413 or emilymullenbach@gmail.com

• Community Blood Drive, American Legion, 715 3rd St, Nicollet, 1-7 pm. Info & sign up: 800-733-2767 or visit RedCrossBlood.org.

• St. Peter Area Women

Celebrating Women, Jackson Campus Center, Gustavus Adolphus College, 5:30-8pm. Info: 507-934-3048 ext. 1 or stpetercommunityedonline.

Wed., Apr. 10

• Barn Quilts, Washington Learning Center Rm 104, New Ulm, 5:30-9:30 pm. Info: 507233-8307 or cfleck@newulm. k12.mn.us.

• Stress Success—Tools for Better Time Management, So Central MnSBDC Regional Center, 424 N Riverfront Dr, Mankato, 8 am. Info: 507-389-8875 or arane. wahlen@mnsu.edu

• Basic Minnesota Sales & Use Tax, So Central MnSBDC Regional Center, 424 N Riverfront Dr, Mankato, 9 am12:30 pm. Info: 507-389-8875 or julie.nelson@mnsu.edu.

• Noon Tunes with Dick Kimmel & Kelly Coyle, Public Library, 17 N Broadway, New Ulm, 12 pm. Info: 507-359-8331 or aide@tds. lib.mn.us.

• Life and Estate Planning Basics, Public Library Auditorium, Hutchinson, 5:30-7:30 pm. Info: 620-662-2905 or erica@ shepherdelderlaw.com.

Thurs., Apr. 11

• Acrylic Pour Painting, Washington Learning Center Rm 104, New Ulm, 6:30-8:30 pm. Info: newulm.k12.mn.us/ community-ed/, 507-233-8307 or cfleck@newulm.k12.mn.us.

• KNUJ Spring Dance, Turner Hall, New Ulm. Info: 507-359-2921 or knuj@knuj.net.

• Curtis & Loretta Show, Princess Theater, St. James, 7 pm. Info: localendar.com/public/ stjameschamber

• North Mankato History

Revealed, Treaty Site History Center, 1851 N Minnesota Ave, St Peter, 7 pm. Info: 507-9342160.

• Trunk Show at Prairie Piecemakers Quilt Guild, St. Paul’s Lutheran Church & School, 201 N State St, New Ulm, 6-8 pm. Info: blueberrybackroads.com.

Thurs.–Sat., Apr. 11-13 & 18-20

• The Hunchback of Notre Dame, MN State Univ, 320 Maywood Ave, Mankato. 7:30 pm; plus 2

pm Apr. 20. Info: 507-389-2118.

Fri., Apr. 12

• Free Friday Flicks—‘Apollo 13,’ Library, St. James, 1 pm. Info: co.watonwan.mn.us/Calendar. aspx?NID=1&FID=224.

Fri.-Sat., Apr. 12-13

• Murder Mystery Dinner Theatre, Red Rock Center for the Arts, 222 E Blue Earth Ave, Fairmont, 6 pm. Info: 507-235-9262 or redrockcenter@frontiernet.net.

Sat., Apr. 13

• Courtland Spring Craft & Vendor Fair, Community Center, 300 Railroad St, Courtland, 10 am2:30 pm. Info: 507-217-7052 or Facebook.

• Chili Supper & Silent Auction Fundraiser for Brown County veterans, American Legion, 13 S Minnesota St, New Ulm, 4-7:30 pm. Info: 507-354-8160.

• Gustavus Wind Orchestra Home Concert, Bjorling Recital Hall, Gustavus Adolphus College, St. Peter, 7:30 pm. Info: 507-9337013.

• Daddy Boot Camp for All Dads, NU Medical Center-Hospital, 1324 5th St N, New Ulm, 8-11 am. Info & registration: 507-359-9800.

• Owatonna Arts Center

Fundraiser ‘The Bad Tangerines,’ Arts Center, 435 Garden View Ln, Owatonna, 7 pm. Info: 507-4510533 or oacarts.org.

• 2nd Annual St. Peter’s Got Talent, High School Auditorium, 2121 Broadway Ave., St. Peter, 7- 9 pm.

• Vineyard’s St. Baldrick’s Event, United Methodist Church, 1395 S Grade Rd SW, Hutchinson, 1-3 pm. Info: 920-369-0193 or jim@ prairiecommunitychurch.net

• 4th Annual Crazy Bingo Fundraiser to Defeat ALS, American Legion, St. James, 2-11 pm.

Sun., Apr. 14

• Evening Choral Service, Christ Chapel, Gustavus Adolphus College, St. Peter, 7:30 pm. Info: 507-933-7013.

• Catholic United Financial Palm Sunday Brunch, St. Raphael School Auditorium, Springfield, 9 am-12:30 pm.

• 124th Fire Department Pancake Breakfast, American Legion, St. James, 9 am-12 pm.

• Voices of Angels, Chapel of Our Lady of Good Counsel, Mankato, 2 pm. Info: 651-225-4340.

• Spring Fling Craft & Vendor Show, American Legion, New Ulm, 12-5 pm. Info: 612-454-9972

or graffixplus@gmail.com.

• KNUJ Spring Dance, Turner Hall, New Ulm. Info: 507-359-2921, 800-444-5685 or knuj@knuj.net.

Mon., Apr. 15

• Start Up Smart Workshop for New Businesses, So Central MnSBDC Regional Center, 424 N Riverfront Dr, Mankato, 6-7:30 pm. Info: 507-389-8875 or julie. nelson@mnsu.edu.

Tues., Apr. 16

• AARP Smart Driver Safety Course, Washington Learning Center, New Ulm, 5:30-9:30 pm. Info: cfleck@newulm.k12.mn.us.

• Are You Smarter than the 5th Graders? Mankato West HS Auditorium, 131 S Riverfront Dr, Mankato, 6 pm. Info: 507-3860279 or info@cmsouthernmn. org

• ‘Lion King’ Free Movie, Ridgewater College, Room 270, 2 Century Ave SE, Hutchinson, 6:30-8:00 pm. Info: student.life@ ridgewater.edu.

Wed., Apr. 17

• MVL Sacred Spring Concert, MN Valley Lutheran High School, 45638 561st Ave, New Ulm, 7 pm. Info: valh@mvlhs.org or mvl.org/ calendar/.

• B.E.S.T Spring Business Summit, Southern Research & Outreach Center, 35838 120th St, Waseca, 8-11:30 am. Info: wasecachamber. com.

• Veterans’ Pension Benefits, Public Library, Hutchinson, 5:307:30 pm. Info: 620-662-2905 or erica@shepherdelderlaw.com.

Thurs., Apr. 18

• Heartsaver CPR/AED First Aid Certification Course, Washington Learning Center Rm 104, New Ulm, 5-8 pm. Info: cfleck@ newulm.k12.mn.us or 507-2338307.

• Rosie Was Right—A workshop for women who believe they can do it, So. Central MnSBDC Regional Center, 424 N Riverfront Dr, Mankato, 8 am-4 pm. Info, cost & registration: 507-3898875.

• Ney Senior Learning Series— Bee Keeping, Ney Nature Center, 28238 Nature Center Ln, Henderson, 12-1:30 pm. Info & registration: 507-357-8580 or info@neycenter.org

• Free ‘Couch to 5K’ Seminar, New Ulm Medical Center, 1324 5th North St, New Ulm, 5 pm. Info: bit.ly/2tISmPT.

• Ney Senior Learning Series— Beekeeping, Ney Nature

Center, 28238 Nature Center Ln, Henderson, 12-1:30 pm. Info & registration: 507-357-8580 or info@neycenter.org.

Thurs., Apr. 18 & May 16

• Searles Senior Club, Bar & Grill, 13014 Main St, Searles, 12 pm. Info: 507-217-7886.

Fri., Apr. 19

• Family Movie Night, Honey I Shrunk the Kids, State Street Theater Co, 1 N State St, New Ulm, 6:30 pm. Info: statestreettheater@gmail.com

• Equine Preventative Care Clinic, KaBoy Up Arena, 24016 Co Rd 12, New Ulm, 10 am-2 pm. Info & services: kaboyuparena.com.

Sat., Apr. 20

• Geocaching Egg Hunt, Ney Nature Center, 28238 Nature Center Ln, Henderson, 1-3 pm. Info & registration: 507-357-8580 or info@neycenter.org.

• St. Peter Easter Egg Hunt, Gorman Park, St. Peter, 10 am. Info: 507-931-0949 or stpeterchamber.com/ easteregghunt.

• 2nd Annual Easter Egg Hunt & Easter Basket Giveaway, Dave’s River Valley Harley-Davidson, 1200 N River Drive, Mankato, 1 pm. Info: drvhd.com.

• Community Easter Egg Hunt, Riverside Church, Hutchinson, 10 am. Info: 320-587-2074 or assembly@riversidehutch.org

• Early Bird Scramble Tournament, Dacotah Ridge Golf Course, 31042 County Hwy 2, Morton, 10 am. Info: 507-697-8050 or dacotahridge.com/.

Sun., Apr. 21

• Easter Breakfast, St. Paul Lutheran, 314 4th Ave NE, Waseca, 7:30-8:45 a.m. Info: stpaulwaseca.org.

Mon., Apr. 22

• Sibley County Community & Business Expo, Sibley East Commons, Gaylord Campus, 4-7 pm. Info: 507-237-7800 or communitydevelopment@ co.sibley.mn.us

• Free Pediatric Developmental Screening, NU Medical Center, 1324 5th North St, New Ulm, 7-11 am. Info & registration: 507-2175648.

• Earth Day Cleanup, Public Library Meeting Room, St. Peter, 1-3 pm. Info & registration: saintpetermn. gov/recreation.

Wed., Apr. 24

• German Supper, St. Paul’s Lutheran Church, 303 N Cass Ave, Springfield, 4:30-6:30 pm. Info: 507-723-5880 or stpaul_ lutheran@hotmail.com.

Wed.-Sat., Apr. 24-27

• Brainpeople, MSU Theatre & Dance, 320 Maywood Ave, Mankato, 7:30 pm. Info: 507-3892118.

Thurs.-Sun., Apr. 25-28 and May 2-5

• Odin Spring Boutique, Craft Mill, Odin. 10 am-7 pm Thurs-Sat, 10 am-5 pm Sun. Info: odincraftmill. com or 507-736-8235.

Fri., Apr. 26

• J.A.M. the Arb, Linnaeus Arboretum, Gustavus Adolphus College, St. Peter, 4:30-6 pm. Info: 507-933-7013.

• Free Community Breakfast, Garnette Gardens, 511 S Dekalb St, Redwood Falls, 7-9 am. Info: Info: 507-644-8500 or vistaprairie.org/garnettegardens/.

• Surrounded By History: A Night at the Speakeasy, The Capitol Room, 419 S. Minnesota Ave, St Peter, 6-9 pm. Info & cost: 507-345-5566 or info@ blueearthcountyhistory.com.

• Special Needs Accessibility

Playtime, 224 Lamm St, Mankato, 4:30-7:30 pm. Info: 507-386-0279. Info: info@cmsouthernmn.org.

• St. Peter Fiesta & Celebration of Culture, Community Center, 600 S 5th St, St. Peter, 4:30-6:30 pm. Info: 507-934-0667 or jenh@ saintpetermn.gov.

• Nicollet High School Pops Concert, Theatre, NHS Public School, 1 Pine St, Nicollet, 7:30 pm. Info: 507-232-3411 or info@ isd507.k12.mn.us.

Fri.-Sat., Apr. 26-27

• S’crafters Retreat, Loyola Catholic School, 145 Good Counsel Dr, Mankato, 5 pm Fri to 8 pm Sat. Info & registration: 507-420-0027 or Dimples1310@yahoo.com.

• Courtland City Wide Garage Sales, throughout town. Info: call or text 507-276-1114.

• Nicollet Citywide Garage Sales. Info: nicollet.org.

• Brown Co Hist Soc Annual Used Book Sale, Museum Annex Bldg, 12 N Broadway, New Ulm, 10 am-6 pm Fri, 10 am-3 pm Sat. Info: 507-233-2616 or programs@ browncountyhistorymn.org.

Fri.-Sun., Apr. 26-28

• Le Sueur County Pioneer Power Swap Meet, 34605 265th Ave, Le Sueur, 6 am-5 pm. Info: 507-934-5841, 507-327-4927 or oldtractor@gmail.com.

• Tonic Sol-fa Minnesota Acappella Ensemble, State Street Theater, New Ulm, 7 pm. Info: statestreettheater@gmail.com or 507-359-9990.

• Spring Fling/Spring Open House, Clay Coyote Gallery, 17614 240th St, Hutchinson. 10 am-5 pm Fri & Sat, 12-4 pm Sun. Info: 320-5872599 or gallery@claycoyote.com.

Fri.-Sun., Apr. 26-28 & May 3-5

• ‘Farce of Habit,’ Little Theatre of Owatonna, 560 Dunnell Dr # A, Owatonna. 7:30 Fri. & Sat., 2 pm Sun. Info: littletheatreofowatonna.org/ farce-of-habit/.

Sat., Apr. 27

• Craft Fair, KingsPath Senior Living, 125 Commerce Dr W, Belle Plaine, 10 am-2 pm. Info: 952-873-5800 or bjweicherding@ tlha.org.

• Bison Ambassador Training, Minneopa State Park, 5 mi W of Mankato off Hwy 68/169, 9 am-12 pm. Info & sign-up: 507-384-8890 or scott.kudelka@state.mn.us

• YWCA Mankato Girls on the Run, Sibley Park, Mankato, 8 am. Info: 507-345-4629.

• Funk Junction Sour Beer Fest,

Starkeller Brewery & Taproom, 2215 N Garden St, New Ulm. Info: 888-463-9856, 507-233-4300 or chamber@newulm.com

• ‘Aretha: Honoring the Queen of Soul,’ Paradise Center for the Arts, 321 Central Ave N, Faribault, 7:30 pm. Info: 507-332-7372 or director@ paradisecenterforthearts.org

• New Ulm Diocesan CCW Convention, St Anastasia Catholic Church, Hutchinson, 7:30 am-3:30 pm. Info: Rufus@ hutchtel.net

• Heart Hop by Lasting Imprint, Commercial Building, McLeod Co Fairgrounds, Hutchinson, 10:30 am-1:30 pm. Info: lastingimprint. org or staceybern@hotmail.com

• Good Samaritan Bowl, Madelia Lanes, Madelia, 9 am-8 pm. Info: 507-375-3286.

Sun., Apr. 28

• Hilltop Happenings, Hilltop Hall, 206 First St N, Montgomery, 4 pm. Info: wendyzaske@yahoo. com

• Waseca Choral Performance, Central Building Auditorium, 501 E Elm Ave, Waseca, 4-6 pm.

• Brassworks, Bjorling Recital Hall, Gustavus Adolphus College, St. Peter, 3:30-4:30 pm. Info: 507933-7013.

Tues., Apr. 30

• Beer & Hymns, Main Street Sports Bar, Hutchinson, 6-8 pm. Info: riverofhopehutchinson. org or office@ riverofhopehutchinson.org.

Tues., Apr. 30 and May 7 & 14

• Youth Birding Club, Ney Nature Center, 28238 Nature Center Ln, Henderson, 4-6 pm. Info & registration: 507-357-8580 or info@neycenter.org.

Thurs., May 2

• Early Edition Rotary Club Wine & Beer Tasting, Michaelson Funeral Home, 1930 Austin Rd, Owatonna, 7:30 pm.

Thurs.-Sat., May 2-4

• Citywide Garage Sale, Fairmont. Info: 507-235-3303.

• Citywide Garage Sales, Springfield. Info: springfieldchamber.org or 50723-3508.

Fri., May 3

• Oak Hills Foundation Frolics Retro TV Shows, Best Western, New Ulm, 5-10 pm. Info: director@oakhillsfoundation. com

• Social Media Breakfast— Photography Tips For Work & Home, Public Library, Redwood

Falls, 8:30-9:30 am. Info: 507-8282956 or rvtechsolutions.com.

Fri.-Sat., May 3-4

• All Years Menagerie Reunion, Country Club, New Ulm. 7 pm-1 am Fri, 1-9 pm Sat. Concert Sat 7 pm at State Street Theatre. Info: angkaysch33@gmail.com

• Night Falls, Ramsey Park, Redwood Falls, 8-11 pm. Info: 425-417-1155.

Fri.-Sun., May 3-5

• Bye Bye Birdie, MVL High School, rural New Ulm, 7 pm Fri & Sat, 2 pm Sun. Info: valh@mvlhs.org.

• Spring Dance Concert, MSU Theatre & Dance, 320 Maywood Ave, Mankato. 7:30 pm Fri, 2 pm Sat & Sun. Info: 507-389-2118.

Sat., May 4

• Foundation Farm Rummage & Bake Sale Fundraiser, Verizon Be Mobile Community Room, 1609 S Broadway, New Ulm, 10 am-3 pm. Info: hisfoundationfarm@ outlook.com or 507-217-9252.

• 5th Annual Spring into Summer Women’s Expo, Event Center, New Ulm, 9 am-2 pm. Info: keith@knuj.net or call 359-2921.

• Dr. Suess’s The Cat in the Hat, MLC Auditorium, New Ulm, 3 & 7:30 pm. Info: mlc-wels.edu/ forum.

• New Prague 1/2 Marathon, 10K, 5K & Kids Fun Run, 400 E Main St, New Prague, 8 am. Info & registration: 952-7584360, info@newprague.com, or runnewprague.com.

• Mai Fest Wine Season Opener, Morgan Creek Vineyards, 23707 478th Ave, New Ulm. Info: 507947-3547 or martimcv@aol.com

• Big Hats & Big Hearts Derby Party/Auction for the Arts, Paradise Center for the Arts, 321 Central Ave N, Faribault, 4-7 pm. Info: 507-332-7372 or director@ paradisecenterforthearts.org.

• Gustavus Jazz Ensemble & Adolphus Jazz Ensemble Spring Concert, Bjorling Recital Hall, Gustavus Adolphus College, St. Peter, 7:30-9 pm. Info: 507-9337013.

• Flowers & Feathers, Ney Nature Center, 28238 Nature Center Ln, Henderson, 9-11 am. Info & registration: 507-357-8580 or info@neycenter.org.

• ‘When there’s Good to be Done’ concert by Curtis & Loretta, Arts Center, 435 Garden View Ln, Owatonna, 2-4 pm. Info: oacarts. org or 507-451-0533.

• Hutchinson Spring City Wide Garage Sale. Info: 320-753-3635,

hutchinsonleader.com or info@ explorehutchinson.com.

Sun., May 5

• Cinco De Mayo Celebration, Plaza Garibaldi Mexican Restaurant, New Ulm, 5:30-8:30 pm. Info: ocampo@newulmtel. net or 507-359-7073.

• Polka Service by St. Peter’s Lutheran Church of Otisco, Waseca American Legion, 700 State St S, Waseca, 10:30 am. Info: Facebook.

• Vocal Jazz Showcase, Bjorling Recital Hall, Gustavus Adolphus College, 1:30-3 pm. Info: 507-9337013.

• Owatonna Bike Blessing, Steele Co Fairgrounds Park, 18th St SE, Owatonna. Info: 507-451-1093 or steve.schroht@co.steele.mn.us.

• Just For Kix New Ulm Spring Show, Garden Street, New Ulm, 12 pm. Info: justforkix.com/ danceclasses/newulm_mn.

Mon., May 6

• Business Leadership Cohort Program for Child Care Providers in Redwood County, County Govt Center, 403 S Mill St, Redwood Falls, 6:30-8:30 pm. Info: jessica@ firstchildrensfinance.org or 320808-7066.

Tues., May 7

• SmartLink Travel Training, KingsPath Senior Living, 125 Commerce Dr W, Belle Plaine, 1:30 pm. Info: 952-873-5800 or bjweicherding@tlha.org

Wed.-Thurs., May 8-9

• Disney’s Aladdin Kids, St. Raphael’s School, Springfield, 1 & 6 pm each day. Info: Facebook.

Fri., May 10

• Cocktails at the Governor’s, Lind House, 622 Center St, New Ulm, 4:30-7 pm. Info: lindhouse@ newulmtel.net.

• Jazz in the Courtyard, Courtyard Café, Gustavus Adolphus College, St. Peter, 4:30-6 pm. Info: 507-933-7013.

• Galaxy-50’s & 60’s band, Red Rock Center for the Arts, 222 E Blue Earth Ave, Fairmont, 7 pm. Info: 507-235-9262 or redrockcenter@frontiernet.net

• Almost Paradise—Prom 1984 Concert, Paradise Center for the Arts, 321 Central Ave N, Faribault, 7:30 pm. Info: 507-332-7372 or director@ paradisecenterforthearts.org.

Fri.-Sat., May 10-11

• Turner Ladies Pillow Cleaning, Turner Hall, 102 S State St, New Ulm, 6:30 am Fri-2 pm. Info:

newulmturnerhall.org.

• Lake Crystal City Wide Garage Sales. Info: lakecrystalchamber. com.

Sat., May 11

• Celebrate MOM Craft & Vendor Show, Nat’l Guard Armory, 100 Martin Luther King Jr Dr, Mankato, 9 am-4 pm.

• Prism Concert, MVL High School, rural New Ulm, 5 & 7 pm. Info: valh@mvlhs.org or mvl.org/ calendar/.

• Handel Messiah, Good Counsel Chapel, 170 Good Counsel Dr, Mankato, 7:30 pm. Info: 507-6258880 or mankatosymphony.com.

• Gustavus Wind Symphony, Chamber Winds &Woodwind Chamber Ensembles Concert, Bjorling Recital Hall, Gustavus Adolphus College, St. Peter. Info: 507-933-7013.

Sun., May 12

• Permit to Carry Course, Searles Bar & Grill, 13014 Main St, New Ulm, 1- am-1:30 pm. Info & cost: 612-787-2264 or carrypermit.net.

• Gustavus Philharmonic Orchestra & Lucia Singers Spring Concert, Christ Chapel, Gustavus Adolphus College, St. Peter, 3:304:30 pm. Info: Info: 507-933-7013.

• Handbell Ensemble Concert, Bjorling Recital Hall, Gustavus Adolphus College, St. Peter, 7:308:30 pm. Info: Info: 507-933-7013.

Mon., May 13

• Chamber Golf Outing, Le Sueur Country Club, 36195 311 Ave, Le Sueur, 1 pm. Info: 507-665-2501 or julieb@lesueurchamber.org

Tues., May 14

• Teepa Snow-World Renowned Dementia Speaker, Event Center, 1005 Hwy 15, Hutchinson, 8 am-4 pm. Info & cost: 320-484-9184, 320-484-6004 or hopehagert@ ecumen.org

Thurs., May 16

• Ney Senior Learning Series— Beginner Birding, Ney Nature Center, 28238 Nature Center Ln, Henderson, 12-1:30 pm. Info & registration: 507-357-8580 or info@neycenter.org.

Fri.-Sat., May 17-18

• Garage & Bake Sale 4-H Spring Fundraiser, 4-H Bldg, Fairgrounds, 409 8th Ave NE, Waseca. 3:30-8 pm Fri, 7 am-12 pm Sat. Info: 507-835-0600.

• City Wide Garage Sales, St. James. Crazy Day Sat. Info: 507375-3333.

Earth Day is April 22—and I’ve been really worried about our Earth lately. As a society, we’re really wasteful. We consume countless products that are only meant to be used once. We throw many things away, but they don’t actually disappear—they often become large anaerobic piles of garbage that slowly leak chemicals.

I work as a professional gardener, and we often refer to the horticulture industry as the “green industry.” I’ve always wanted the word “green” to also mean “environmentally friendly” in this context. Unfortunately, my colleagues and I consume endless single-use plastics, as well as huge quantities of water and chemicals. Some of us are working to make our industry more sustainable, but it’s difficult to alter an entire established system.

Anyway, I’m an optimist, so I spend a lot of time examining my personal consumption habits and searching for responsible ways to dispose of things I can’t reuse. I know that my simple actions won’t change the fate of our Earth; I’m much too small. But what if we gardeners all made significant changes in the ways we purchased and disposed of goods? What if we asked our growers and retailers to hold themselves to higher sustainability standards? What if each of us used water and fertilizer more responsibly? I can’t imagine it wouldn’t make any difference at all.

Water

It’s impossible to garden well in Minnesota without water. But it’s easy

BIGREBATES

LAURA SCHWARZ

New Ulm native, is a horticulturist and writer in Minneapolis

to be more deliberate with water use. Drip lines are the most efficient irrigation type—they only release water at the root zones of the plants that need it. If you water by hand, try to keep the water stream focused on the soil above each plant’s roots, rather than broadcasting a shower over the entire garden. This practice conserves water, and helps prevent fungal disease outbreaks.

If possible, collect rainwater using rain barrels or rain gardens. Neither of these needs to be fancy or complex. We currently have one rain barrel and a small “rain garden” that is nothing more than a slight depression planted with moisture-loving plants. When it downpours in the summer, the barrel and the low spot both fill quickly.

Finally, if you use an automatic sprinkler system, don’t forget to adjust it when it rains. I can’t tell you how many times I’ve seen gardens that are overwatered because we’ve received adequate rainfall and they’re also being irrigated. I’ve even witnessed many sprinkler systems running during rainstorms!

Plastic

Single-use plastics are everywhere in the gardening world, and they often aren’t recyclable. For home gardeners, these include plastic soil and mulch bags, along with the endless plastic trays, packs, and pots that our beloved plants are sold in. Some growers are transitioning to pots made of biodegradable materials, so if you can find plants sold that way, buy them. You can also purchase most soils and mulches in bulk, which is usually cheaper, too. If you only need a small amount, ask a bulk retailer if they will sell you a few paper bags or reusable buckets full of mulch or soil—most suppliers will be happy to oblige.

Since the current industry standard is plastic everything, we have to turn our attention to recycling and reusing the plastic we do buy. Unfortunately, many recycling facilities are unable to process black plastic pots, though it doesn’t hurt to ask. I tend to collect my pots for storage or transplanting purposes, or I offer them to my neighbors for any number of creative reuses. Community forums are good places to give away plastic pots— you’ll be surprised by how many people want them!

Chemicals

Please read the labels for any and all chemicals you use in your gardens. Proper timing of pesticide applications will protect the surrounding environment, especially the bees and other beneficial insects that are crucial to our ecosystems. Chemical labels include instructions intended to prevent chemical runoff into nearby water sources. They also provide helpful information about proper storage and disposal of chemicals. I recently learned that most gardens do not need fertilizer unless a soil test provides evidence of a nutrient deficiency. Plants can only use a finite amount of nutrients, and the remaining ones can build up in the soil. Excess phosphorus, in particular, is especially bad for our local lakes and ponds. To fertilize responsibly, have your soil tested and then only apply fertilizer according to what your soil actually lacks.

Other actions

• Turn organic waste into compost

• Use fallen leaves as garden mulch

• Avoid plastic landscape fabrics

• Prioritize drought-tolerant plants

• Reuse food cartons to start seeds at home

• Purchase high quality tools that will last many years

• Shop secondhand—estate sales are great for finding used tools

• Share extra garden resources with your friends and neighbors

Women’s Expo

Saturday, May 4th, 9am – 2pm

Saturday, May 7th, 2016 9am – 2pm | New Ulm Event Center

Saturday,

Saturday, May 7th, 2016 9am – 2pm | New Ulm Event Center

New Ulm Event Center

• FREE ADMISSION

FREE ADMISSION & SEMINARS PLUS a Variety of Vendor Booths

FREE ADMISSION Seminars throughout the event

• Seminars throughout the event

Bounce House | Face Painting By Royalty

9:45 - New Ulm Medical Center - “Women’s Health”

Mini Cake Decorating By Cash Wise

9:45 - New Ulm Medical Center - “Women’s Health”

11:15 - Hy-Vee - Get Hooked “Seafood Sensations

9:45 - New Ulm Medical Center - “Women’s 11:15 - Hy-Vee - Get Hooked “Seafood Sensations

11:15 - Hy-Vee - Get Hooked “Seafood Sensations

(11:30 until gone)

12:45 - Spinning Spools Quilt Shop“Cuddle Your Wine in an easy to make wine

• Over 40 booths featuring a variety

12:45 - Spinning Spools Quilt Shop“Cuddle Your Wine in an easy to make wine Over 40 booths featuring a variety

12:45 - Spinning Spools Quilt Shop“Cuddle Your Wine in an easy to make wine Over 40 booths featuring a variety

For more information

contact KNUJ 860 AM/SAM 107.3 FM at 507-359-2921 or 1-800-444-5685

For more information contact KNUJ 860 AM/SAM 107.3 FM at 507-359-2921 or 1-800-444-5685

For more information contact KNUJ 860 AM/SAM 107.3 FM at 507-359-2921 or 1-800-444-5685

According to the National Auto Dealers Association 31 percent of the new vehicles sold last year were leased. Here are some frequently asked questions and answers so you can determine if leasing is right for you.

What is Leasing? Isn’t that just renting a vehicle?

Sure. You can call leasing whatever you want to—you’re just paying to use a vehicle for a certain amount of time.

How many miles can I drive per year?

Leases start at 10,000 miles and go as high as 25,000 miles per year. You choose. Even if you drive 30,000 miles per year a lease may be right for you. The average driver puts on about 13,400 miles per year.

How much money do I have to put down?

You can put as little as $0 cash down to lease the vehicle, but most banks like to see at least your first payment, registration and acquisition fee.

Are there any vehicles I can’t lease?

Yes. You can lease all new vehicles including Heavy Duty Trucks and diesels. You can even lease certified pre-owned vehicles. Pre-owned non-certified vehicles cannot be leased.

What if I get into an accident during my lease?

It’s a good thing you didn’t buy it. We all know that the value of a vehicle is affected when there is an accident on the history report. This may lean you towards turning it in. If the vehicle is totaled, most leases include GAP insurance, which is insurance that covers if there is a difference between what insurance determines as the value and the buyout on your lease.

MELISSA BRADLEY Chief Financial Officer Snell Motors, Mankato

What if I want to sell or trade before my lease is up?

It works just like a loan at the bank. You can sell or trade your lease anytime. You have a payoff with the leasing company that needs to be paid off.

What happens at the end of the lease?

You can either buy out your lease for the pre-determined amount or turn it in and lease or purchase a different vehicle.

What happens if I go over miles?

You simply pay $0.25 per mile. The mileage rate the government uses is $.58 per mile. If I pay $15,000 to trade up from my three-year-old vehicle with 36,000 miles to a brand new one—that’s $.41 per mile. $0.25 is a steal.

Who pays for repairs on my lease?

When you lease a new vehicle, it is typically under warranty the entire duration of the lease so there are very few out-of-pocket expenses. However, you would be responsible for maintaining the vehicle with oil changes, tire rotations, and other regularly scheduled maintenance items.

What do you think the greatest benefit of leasing is?

When you lease a car, there are lower out-of-pocket costs up front and throughout the lease. Typically the monthly payment is lower and there is very little cash due at signing.

TRENDY UNIQUE AFFORDABLE

sunday: 12pm-4PM

monday: closed

tue/wed/THUr: 10am-7PM

friday: 10am-6PM

saturday: 10am-4PM

STORE HOURS: 507-779-7444

521 N. Riverfront Dr. Mankato MN 56001

Offering Sizes Small - 3X

AprilMust

HAVES

1. What's Trending! Laminate offers beautiful looks that emulate the elegance of porcelain tile and the warmth of hardwood, but with the easy maintenance and super durability of a laminate.

Nordaas American Homes

10091 State Hwy 22 Minnesota Lake, MN 56068 800-658-7076 nordaashomes.com

2. Realyn 74" TV Stand with Fireplace Option

This versatile TV Stand features cord access holes allowing you to snake wires directly from your media devices through the back of the unit, keeping cords hidden from view as you plug them into wall outlets or a power strip. Shop our large selection of TV Stands in store today!

Rooms and Rest

Furniture and Mattress

1760 Madison Ave. Mankato, MN 56001 1704 North State St. New Ulm, MN 56073 roomsandrest.com

3. Beauty by Aromi Stop is and check out our new selection of lip colors and perfumes from Aromi Beauty. Aromi Beauty products are hand-crafted in Minnesota. Vegan and cruelty free.

4. Hydra Aromatherapy Shower Burst

Elevate the everyday with shower bursts that deliver amazing aromatherapy while you shower. Shower Bursts are easy-to-use! Unwrap and splash with water to infuse the air with 100% pure, all-natural essential oils. Enjoy each fizzing Shower Burst for multiple showers! Make sure to re-wet each time. They are made with all-natural ingredients and pure essential oils, and they are Made in the USA. Inspired 119 N Minnesota St. New Ulm, MN 56073 507.233.4350

inspirednewulm.com

5. STIHL Trimmer

Cut overgrown grass down to size with this lightweight but powerful Stihl trimmer. It’s battery powered for easy use and virtually maintenance free. Enjoy the power, speed, and precision of the Stihl FSA 56 trimmer. Rose and her knowledgeable staff will help you to choose the right trimmer for your home. Find everything you need for spring at Arrow Ace Hardware, your hometown helpful place. Arrow Ace Hardware & Paint

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6. 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 allinclusive 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

7. All New Lost & Found Collection

Recently introduced to Bella Nova, “Lost & Found” Trading Co. has a gorgeous collection of timeless jewelry sure to capture the heart of any Jewery lover! Pearls, Beads and mixed metal give both a Rustic, yet feminine touch. We have a variety of Pendants, Bracelets and Earrings.

Bella Nova Boutique 521 N. Riverfront Dr. Mankato, MN 56001 507.779.7444

8. Himalayan Salt Room

Halotherapy, or breathing in of salt vapor, takes the healing properties of salt into the respiratory system. Dry salt therapy is a NATURAL detoxification for your airways and skin. “Halo”, coming from the Greek word for salt, Halotherapy is the use of vapor utilizing micro particles of salt to promote optimal health and wellness.

Body Concepts LLC

1615 N. Riverfront Dr. Mankato, MN 56001

507.381.5467 bodyconceptsmankato. com

9. 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 blindsandmore.org

10. Catch of the Day! Get the most out of your fishing experience with the Lowrance HDS9 Gen 3 fishfinder. With leading-edge fishfinder technology and an easy-to-use multi-touch display the HDS-9 Gen 3 will help you navigate the waters to fish like you've never fished before. Get ready to reel ‘em in this season.

Scheels River Hills Mall

1850 Adams St. Mankato, MN 56001 507.386.7767 scheels.com

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AprilMust

13. Hot Grill, Cool Colors

11. Save On Fuel. Get Great Perks.

Hy-Vee Fuel Saver + Perks® members earn discounts at the pump when they purchase designated products at Hy-Vee stores. It’s an easy way to save on gas with the groceries you regularly buy. Only HyVee Fuel Saver + Perks® members get access to exclusive deals and exciting rewards.

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

12. Contemporary Design

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

Don't let the size of this colorful gas grill fool you. Small enough to fit on a city balcony, large enough to execute an entire meal, with convenient side tables to place spices and marinades. Built to last with cast iron aluminum lid and body, porcelain-enameled, cast iron cooking grates. Available in six colors. Perfect for camping!

C&S Supply 1951 N. Riverfront Drive, Mankato, MN 507.387.1171 or 800.879.1938

14. Order your Stylebox Today! Get a personalized outfit that feels right and fits right delivered right to your doorstep every month! Sign-Up for a Refinery Style Box Subscription today using the code STYLEBOX35 for $35 off your first month! The Refinery Boutique St. Peter, New Prague and Minneapolis, MN 507.934.5981 therefinerymn.com

15. Trendy & Versatile

Suit your storage needs with this cool TV stand by Legends. Both beautiful and functional, it allows you to adjust the doors to your preference. They can be on one side, together in the middle, or split on each side. Hayden's Furniture & Floorcovering 14 East Central Springfield, MN 56087 507.723.5415

RELIEF FROM VARICOSE VEINS.

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Don’t let the discomfort of varicose veins keep you from enjoying life. Our surgical experts in Mankato provide a quick and effective solution for varicose veins, leg pain and other serious conditions.

Mayo Clinic Health System in Mankato Call 507-246-2627 to schedule an appointment. mayoclinichealthsystem.org