River Valley Woman August 2020

Choose the to Feel Your

To Our Patients:

The COVID-19 pandemic has changed so much of what we once knew as normal. One thing that has not changed is the superior level of care you will receive with OrthoEdge. The Orthopaedic & Fracture Clinic, Mankato and River’s Edge Hospital, St. Peter are committed to continuing to provide a safe environment for you to receive care. When you choose OrthoEdge you can expect:

• Both of our locations are screening all employees, patients, and visitors for symptoms of COVID-19 and require everyone inside the building to wear a mask.

• All surgical patients will be screened and/or tested for COVID-19 prior to surgery.

• At River’s Edge Hospital surgical patients will stay in a wing separate from medical patients and therapy will take place in the room.

We care about you and your safety. Thank you for trusting OrthoEdge to feel your best. Learn more at OrthoEdgeMN.com

Recognized for Being the Best!

River’s Edge Hospital has been recognized as a DNV GL Healthcare certified Orthopaedic Center of Excellence for:

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• Hip & Knee Replacement

• Shoulder Surgery

• Spine Surgery

Plus, River’s Edge Hospital is top rated for patient experience!

Andrew Meyers, CEO The Orthopaedic & Fracture Clinic

Joe Stratton, CEO River’s Edge Hospital

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To Shop. To Eat. To Play. To Adventure.

Businesses and recreation across the Greater Mankato area are providing a variety of fun activities and experiences with safety in mind.

BY EILEEN MADSEN Editor

Talk about social distancing when the 6 feet between us turns into a 3-month publishing hiatus. We’ve sure missed you all, and bringing you River Valley Woman. Thanks to everyone who reached out to us and for your patience as we all turn this page together. But to paraphrase that little girl in the horror movie Poltergeist, “We’re baaaack.”

And indeed these times have been scary, watching many of our thriving communities turn into ghost towns, along with the creepy sense of uncertainty that has been unprecedented, at least in my lifetime.

At some point though, we’ve learned to adapt and adjust through these changes whether we like it or not. Change is good they say. I dunno, I liked it the way things were. The only change I really like is the kind I might find clanking around in the clothes dryer. Change might not buy you a lot these days but many of us remember being able to buy candy with it years ago, and our love for sweet treats remains the same. That’s where Christine Lantinen, owner of Maud Borup, Inc. comes in as the cover feature of our DO DIFFERENT issue. This highly driven purveyor of candies and gourmet foods was named Minnesota’s Small Business Person of the Year in 2019. With a manufacturing location in Le Center, Lantinen’s employees are 96 percent female— which is nothing to shake a peppermint stick at.

The DO DIFFERENT theme was chosen well before much of our daily lives, and some of our livelihoods, became different. Trips to the grocery store were exercises in futility at times. I admit I’ve always been a toilet paper snob, but my high fallutin’ standards went right out the window when something we used to take for granted became a hot commodity. When your TP choices range from none, to camper loo-sized rolls, to see-through one-ply, the joy of finding your favorite go-to brand sitting on the shelf again is almost akin to discovering it in your Christmas stocking (a stocking you thought you just might have to use in a pinch).

After weeks on end of bad hair days, our salons are a welcome sight, even if our selfie-cut bangs are not. Cosmetologist, Sarah Madsen, could see that her business’s days were numbered working in a very small town with limited customers. What could she “do different”? Bring the salon to the customer. Not one to fish for compliments, but Madsen in the very first licensed mobile hair salon owner doing business from a renovated ice house, paving the way for others to do the same.

Historical reenactor Susan Hynes takes doing different to a new level. Portraying characters as diverse as a Civil War nurse, a fingerwagging temperance lady, or a well-heeled Victorian matriarch, you never know who time-traveling Hynes will be next in her variety of performances for local events.

When artist and potter Michelle Kaisersatt sits down at her wheel in her St. Peter studio she isn’t always sure what will take shape. Such has been her life’s journey. Taking her experiences with illness, family loss, and living through the devastating 1998 tornado, she formed the idea of creating cremation urns and life journey vessels. What’s different about these uniquely customized pieces is clients can become part of the creation process.

Most of us have likely had to do different jobs at some point in our lives before we went on to school or entered our chosen careers. We didn’t have space for our Facebook poll this month but I wanted to share some of the highlights from the question we put to readers: What is the most different/unique job you’ve had?

Liz: “I gave eco-tours of the intertidal beaches in Kachemak Bay, Alaska. We’d find anemones, sea stars, and octopus, and talk about ocean conservation.”

Candi: “I worked as the Global IndyCar sponsorship director for DXC. I was able to travel all over the US with our clients, and hang out on track with the Penske racing team. I also put together the very first DXC600 IndyCar race and ended up being the grand marshal, saying “Drivers, (not Gentlemen) start your engines.” Best job I ever had, craziest job I ever had, but memories I’ll never forget.

And the award for most different job goes to Sarah: “I gave rats LSD for a summer job doing research through the University of South Carolina. Spoiler: they didn’t like it.”

During RVW’s pause, we have had time to discuss changing up features and columns, along with other enhancements in upcoming months. It’s Her Business spotlight and By Design column debut in this issue. Change is good, right? Speaking of which, the clothes dryer just buzzed.

TURN BACK TIME

CLINIC CLINIC

Has fun in the sun left you with unwanted wrinkles, dark spots, and unhealthy looking skin?

Mankato Med and Skin Clinic offers the latest non-surgical treatment techniques to reverse the signs of aging to rebuild a more youthful looking skin.

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Dermal Fillers

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PRP Skin Rejuvenation with Skin Pen

Whether you are seeking care for a new or existing medical condition, you can rely on Mankato Med to provide high-quality care.

We provide friendly and individualized care for each patient. Visit our office or call  to learn more about treatment options and services for you and your family.

Express/Urgent Care

Common Medical Conditions

Medication Management

Lab Work

Common Acute Illnesses

By MARIE ZIMMERMAN

PHOTOS BY AK PHOTOGRAPHY

When Christine Lantinen purchased Maud Borup, Inc., with her husband, Randy, in 2005, she quickly found herself in a sticky situation. She drummed up $2 million in new orders for the candy company, but didn’t have money to fulfill them—or a business plan to persuade a bank to lend her any. What happened next would shape her career and bring her to the success she’s found today.

A farmer and family friend in Lantinen’s hometown of Le Center had visited some of the banks with her and heard the pitch. He pledged Lantinen the working capital himself. Within eight months, she’d paid him back and learned a valuable lesson—she could always bet on herself.

“To not have money to fund it and just know I could figure it out, it was amazing. That experience formed who I am today,” Lantinen, a U.S. Army veteran and Minnesota’s Small Business Person of the Year last year, said. Today, Lantinen maintains her sweet gig as president and owner of Maud Borup and has increased its revenue by 2,500 percent. Originally a woman-owned retail candy company, Maud Borup started in St. Paul in the early 1900s. When Lantinen purchased it, she shifted the focus to wholesale, selling food gifts to specialty and mass retailers including Whole Foods and Target.

In 2011, Lantinen purchased a manufacturing facility in Le Center, and nearly two years ago she opened an office in Plymouth to handle marketing, sales, and customer service. Under her leadership, Maud Borup has gone from five to 120 employees—with 96 percent of them women.

“That, to me, is success—being able to employ people and have a place they like coming to work,” Lantinen said. “I’m really driven to employing people and the ecosystem you can create in your own company, that give and take.”

A 65,000-square-foot expansion is under way at the Le Center manufacturing plant and warehouse that will be completed this summer. Fortunately, Maud Borup’s doors have remained open during the COVID-19 outbreak as an essential food business.

“Leadership has been challenging through COVID-19 as everyone views the pandemic differently. As a leader, you have to set aside your own personal view of it and try to put yourself in the place of others. After spending 10 years in the Army, I believe you prepare your entire life for times like this. It is how you lead and act through hardship that defines who you are as a person. It is a challenging time, but we all must continue on, safely, as the world needs us,” Lantinen said.

Working her way up

When she was a junior in high school, Lantinen skipped class with a girlfriend and they happened upon a handsome military recruiter. Fast-forward six months, and Lantinen was leaving for basic training. Lantinen’s family has a history of service, and she was looking for ways to pay her college tuition. The Army had the best loan replacement, which is how she chose that branch. 

" IT IS HOW YOU LEAD AND ACT THROUGH HARDSHIP THAT DEFINES WHO YOU ARE AS A PERSON.

 “I grew up a lot at basic training, and I feel like everyone should serve. It gives you a completely different perspective of your country and working as a team. We’re born selfish and it teaches you it’s not just about you. It’s an ecosystem and you’re playing a role in that,” Lantinen said.

Lantinen served in the Army Reserves from 1991 to 2001, working her way up from the lowest rank in the military to sergeant.

“I’m very much a leader who dives in and helps get the job done and I feel like that’s from being an enlisted member of the military,” Lantinen said. At Minnesota State University, Mankato, she studied business, communications, marketing and public relations while working in retail to

help pay for school. Her career took her from working the floor, to sourcing, to purchasing, to making products.

“I feel like every kind of job I’ve had was kind of a stepping stone to where I wanted to be. I was continuing to surround myself with people I aspired to be like, and jobs or careers I felt like I could learn from,” Lantinen said. “If you surround yourself with people you aspire to be, you become that person.”

As a business owner, Lantinen received high honors from the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) when it named her Minnesota’s Small Business Person of the Year for 2019, based on Maud Borup’s growth and innovation.

Maud Borup's 66,000 sq ft building addition aims to be completed this August.

“It was a huge honor. The SBA has been in and out of our lives throughout our process, which is incredible. It’s just such a great resource; if business owners aren’t tapping into it, they really should stop in their local SBA office,” Lantinen said.

SBA was key in the early years of owning Maud Borup as Lantinen struggled to get loans on her own.

“Today my decisions are more conservative because I’ve come from a background of a woman starting a business 15 years ago and being told no all the time. I’m conservative because I’m always trying to keep cash available, based on what I went through when I started,” Lantinen said.

The candy business

Creating candy is a process that has changed dramatically in the last three decades, Lantinen said. Visitors may expect to find a whimsical workplace at a confectionery, but modern candy production mostly involves big machines.

“Thirty years ago you still had some of the Willy Wonka concept going where the facility would make 10 different items,” Lantinen said. “That does still exist, but a lot of candy and chocolate manufacturing has gone to large automated lines. One facility is good at one or two things and everyone is ordering from that facility.”

Maud Borup specializes in gourmet candy, savory snacks, creative baking kits, beverage mixes, and seasonal food gifts. Some are made under the Maud Borup brand, and other lines are private labels for large retail companies such as Target. The facility in Le Center is mostly a rebagging and packing facility. This year, Maud Borup has invested about $1.6 million in equipment to bring some automated production in house, capitalizing on its strengths and building efficiency.

Turns out, they’re really efficient at cotton candy. Maud Borup’s top flavors are Cookies & Cream, Magic Dragon, Want S’more and Unicorn Dream. Their cotton candy is free from artificial flavors, dyes, and nuts, and several flavors are gluten free and vegan-friendly.

“We’re seeing a growth in organic and ‘free from’ claims. That’s a big company initiative as we move into this next decade,” Lantinen said.

Another major focus for the company is sustainability. Lantinen advocates for environmental issues and received the Environmental Champion Award in recognition of her company’s sustainability efforts, which include creating a sustainable division, eco eggs®, seven years ago. It’s the first-ever manufacturer of plantbased compostable Easter eggs.

There’s also a 100-foot wind turbine that powers the plant in Le Center, and Maud Borup recycles its paper, cans, and corrugate.

“That’s core value for both my husband and me, and it’s a job that’s never done. There are always pieces of your business that you can be looking at and you can be better at.”

Owning a candy company comes with at least one major perk— taste testing. That’s even more true for the kids of a candy company executive. Bishop and Miia are Maud Borup’s official company taste testers.

“They for sure try everything and they have an opinion on everything. If you are not getting a kid’s opinion on a new candy product, you are just wrong,” said Lantinen, whose favorite candy is any dark chocolate she can get her hands on.

Lantinen hopes one day Bishop and Miia will be interested in leading the century-old company. She wants to keep strengthening the Maud Borup brand and growing in her hometown.

“I consider it a family business. Employee number two was my husband. Employee number four was my mom. My niece works in the company,” Lantinen said. “The business is intertwined with our lives. It’s a joy to be able to do what we do.”

Outside of family and work, Lantinen enjoys spin classes and has been doing yoga for 20 years. Recently, she and Randy have been running 3.5 miles each day to boost their mental and physical health. Lantinen thinks mental health will be one of the biggest issues on the road to recovery coming out of the coronavirus pandemic.

“I encourage everyone to get outside—walk, run, bike, breathe fresh air, clear your head and push yourself to be in the best physical and mental state possible through this,” she said. RVW

What’s your favorite candy?

Dark chocolate

If you had to choose 3 adjectives to describe yourself, which would you choose?

Determined, strongwilled, confident

What’s one thing about you that surprises people?

Served in the Army Reserves for 10 years

If someone were to play you in a movie, who would you want it to be?

Julia Roberts

What was your best subject in school? Marketing Share a quote that inspires you.

JUST DO IT

Maud Borup LeCenter Team: Kim Ehlers, Nadya Messer, Keisha Swanson, Tina Schloesser, Tammy Passon, Christine Lantinen, Chris Bauer, Randy Lantinen, Mark Volkenant

By GRACE BRANDT

resourceful Civil War nurse. A turn-of-the-century maid with sticky fingers. A dour temperance lady. A sly snake oil saleswoman.

This colorful cast of characters might seem totally dissimilar to each other, but they all have one thing in common—they’ve all been brought to life by Mankato resident Susan Hynes.

For more than 10 years, Hynes has volunteered and worked as a historical reenactor, breathing life into real characters from Minnesota’s history. She volunteers with places such as the Blue Earth County Historical Society and the Betsy-Tacy Society, along with making appearances at events including Mankato’s History Fest and the Antique Power Show in Hastings.

She has played everything from a well-to-do Victorian matriarch to a simple prairie schoolteacher, fleshing out names in a history book with hours of detailed research— which often reveals surprising stories.

“They say truth is stranger than fiction, and I think it really is,” Hynes said. “Part of it is that fiction has to make sense. Some of the things that you find out happened in history, or some of the characters—and the outlandish and wild things that they did—if you put them in a novel, people wouldn’t believe them.”

Now, Hynes brings that colorful history to life—one character at a time.

A childhood passion

Hynes grew up in Winnebago, Minnesota and was “always pretty artistic.” She taught herself how to sew so that she could make clothes for her dolls, and she and her siblings organized carnivals on a stage her father built for them in their backyard.

“As a kid, my friends and I would get a great big box and put someone in it, and tell people, ‘There’s a gorilla in there!’” she recalled. “Or at night, we’d tie one of us to a telephone pole and hide and see if anyone stopped to look. We always wanted to get reactions out of people.”

Another thing Hynes loved was costumes.

“As a young adult, I loved costume parties,” she said. “I liked clothing and fashion and the expression of color.”

Hynes graduated from Winnebago High School in 1968 and studied art in college, but soon dropped out because she felt intimidated by it. In its place, she began working for South Central Educational Cooperative Service Unit, staying for 21 years before moving on to CenterPoint Energy. She was there another 17 years, retiring five years ago.

Hynes started volunteering during her time at CenterPoint, because she needed something fun to do in her free time.

“I needed something besides sitting at a desk and doing a desk job,” she explained.

Everything changed in 2003 when she and her niece attended the annual Victorian lawn party hosted by the Blue Earth County Historical Society (BECHS) at the Hubbard House, Mankato’s premier historical mansion.

“We walked up to the front, and I said, ‘Oh, maybe I should go put on my big hats,’ since we saw volunteers in these fancy costumes,” Hynes recalled. “My niece said, ‘Try to act normal.’”

Hynes said that as she and her niece met with different BECHS volunteers, her niece mentioned Hynes’ love of costumes. The volunteers encouraged Hynes to participate in upcoming shows, but she felt like she didn’t know enough history about the Hubbards and early Mankato life.

But, with a little extra encouragement, she decided to give it a try.

“As soon as I started doing it, I knew that I loved doing it,” she said.

Hynes soon became a knowledgeable Hubbard House guide, as well as working with BECHS in other ways. Since then, she has volunteered at other annual events, eventually taking over much of their organization. She also started the summer “Gaslight” series, which covers topics from Mankato’s history such as local suffragette movements and Victorian weddings, and she also started the organization’s annual summer Medicine Show. (You can usually spot her during the show as half of the “Cherry Sisters” duo, an infamously terrible vaudeville act.) She writes the scripts herself and assigns the parts, as well as usually contributing to the organization’s “Ghosts from the Past” series and other events.

Hynes even wrote a play for BECHS that was performed in 2007. “Who Killed Holland Ledbetter?” was a dramatic account of the real-life murder of Mankato resident Holland Ledbetter in 1909, and it was performed in the actual courthouse where the murder trial took place.

Branching out

From the Blue Earth County Historical Society, Hynes soon learned of other opportunities to reenact history in the area. First came her work with the Betsy-Tacy Society, which oversees the Betsy and Tacy Houses. Hynes often volunteered in costume, leading tours around the two houses.

“I realized I just love doing this,” she said. “Then I was helping other people find costumes. It was like all this stuff that I’d been doing as a kid, like my young self was coming out. I ran into an (old neighbor) once, and she said, ‘Susan, remember when you used to do all those plays with the kids in the neighborhood?’ And I said, ‘Yeah, I’m still doing that!’” 

From: Winnebago.

Lives in: Mankato.

Housemate: Her cat, Frankie.

Hobbies: Reading, participating in classes at the VINE Adult Community Center.

Favorite character to play: Either Violet McNeal or Mary Ann “Mother” Bickerdyke.

Favorite historical era: “The American Civil War. It’s fascinating, and you can never know enough about it. In our country’s history, it’s unsurpassed.”

A historical period she’d like to explore more: The fur trade era.

 Hynes expanded her historical repertoire as she began reenacting characters from the Civil War at different events, usually in accurate Civil War costumes that she had hand-sewn. She became a founding member of the Boy in Blue project to restore Mankato’s Boy in Blue statue, which had been erected in honor of Blue Earth County soldiers involved in the Civil War. The group’s goal was achieved in 2015, during the war’s sesquicentennial celebration in Blue Earth County.

Around the same time, Hynes began volunteering at Mankato’s annual History Fest event. At first, she went as a volunteer of the Betsy-Tacy Society, but her friend and fellow reenactor, Ron Affolter, suggested trying a new character: a temperance lady. For the past six years, Hynes has grimly trudged the festival, clad all in black, a hatchet hanging from her side and a sign gripped in her hand that warns, “Beware the evils of drink!”

“When I carry the hatchet, I notice the boys will all come up to me to ask about it,” she said. “I get a lot of responses, all positive. It engages people. It’s a fun character to do.”

It was at History Fest that Hynes met members of the Cannon Old West Society (COWS), a roving group of history lovers that puts on Wild West-style shows at different events, complete with shoot outs and horse tricks. Some of the members were volunteering in the saloon where Hynes often barged in to decry the evils of whiskey, and they asked her to do her shtick with them at their next event.

Hynes has volunteered with COWS for about four years, participating in shows at events such as the Waseca Sleigh and Cutter Festival and the Antique Power Show in Hastings.

Sometimes, she plays the Temperance Lady; other times, she plays wild and wacky characters she makes up that fit in with the group’s rough cowboy antics.

“We always have such a fun time,” she said. Colorful characters

When it comes to Hynes’ cast of characters, she comes up with almost all of them herself, and the great majority are people who truly lived in Minnesota. One notable exception is Isabelle Finstermacher, a crafty character who will pop up at different Hubbard House events and who, curiously, always seems to have a different accent. She finds most of them simply by reading—a lot.

“I’ve got three bookcases, and books piled up by my bed,” she said. “Anybody who does very much historical costuming or interpretation, in the winter, in the downtime, they’re doing a lot of reading. If I go to any historical site, I’ll look for books. Sometimes you just see a little blurb about somebody, and you research it further.”

That’s how Hynes came up with Violet McNeal, a woman from Iowa who came to St. Paul in the early 1900s and became involved with a snake oil salesman. That character became one of Hynes’ favorites and sparked the annual Medicine Show that BECHS organizes every August.

Meanwhile, Hynes learned of another character, Mary Ann “Mother” Bickerdyke, who was briefly mentioned in a Civil War presentation. From there, Hynes hunted down more information until she could create a detailed and true-to-life character.

“Almost every time I do something, I want it to be factual, and I want it to be engaging. Even the saddest things have some humor,” she said. “You can bring history alive by bringing objects and costumes

[to show]. I like to say, ‘The specific is terrific.’ They’ll remember the details, rather than just saying this vague timeline of history. That’s the way I learned history to start with, and it was not very engaging. When you are trying to do a historical presentation, people like to hear about death and scandal and mystery, and they like some humor thrown in with it, and that’s out there, in real life, more than you can imagine.”

For costumes, Hynes usually finds what she needs at thrift stores, especially if she’s building a Victorian costume. Civil War clothes are more difficult, and she usually has to make those herself. Because of the intricate techniques involved, one dress from that time period can take 60 hours to finish. Hynes also makes most of her own hats, working on them throughout the winter when there aren’t as many historical events to attend. She also acquires wigs that she enjoys using—but admits she has not yet found a use for her Marie Antoinette-style wig.

“I have five closets and some storage in the basement and a storage unit, all for costumes,” she said with a laugh. “My hats are just stacked up in hat boxes. When I have to find a specific hat, I have to take them all out, and the place is just a cluttered mess.”

For Hynes, though, all the work is worth it to share her love of history— something that she believes is still important now, even decades or even centuries after it first happened.

“I think it’s important in life to have gratitude and to see yourself in perspective to those who’ve come before you,” she said. “All of us as we travel down a road, and there are those who came before us. We need to have gratitude, and also respect for those who suffered before us and to try to understand the mistakes of the past. And it’s hard to do—to understand something larger than yourself that affects everyone. I think history allows you do that.” RVW

By RUTH KLOSSNER

aced with the retirement of the co-worker who shared expenses at the Hairstop in Morton, Sarah Madsen pondered her future—but didn’t have to ponder long.

“As a cosmetologist, I realized that the hair industry is changing,” Madsen said. “It used to be an every week thing, with people getting perms regularly. That generation is nearly extinct. Now I have only two that get their hair done regularly.”

Add in the demographics of being located in a town of less than 400 people, Madsen knew she had to come up with a new plan.

An idea presented itself on Pinterest—but, as much as Madsen liked it—it wasn’t a viable option in Minnesota at the time.

The idea was to take her services to clients—rather than having them come to her.

“Smalltown USA can’t keep a full-time person in business,” Sarah said. “My brain started thinking, ‘How can I make it work? I knew of other towns with retiring stylists and barbers—or none at all. That was my target—it was not about going to small towns to put somebody out of business.”

There was that roadblock, however.

“It was being done in other states and around the world,

Sarah has spent a lifetime in hairstyling, as her mother was a cosmetologist before her.

“I grew up around hair, doing hair. I lived and breathed it,” she said. Growing up in Marshall, Sarah went to high school there, then went on to Pipestone Area Vocational-Technical Institute (now part of Minnesota West Community & Technical College). After working in Marshall for seven years, marriage took Madsen to Morton. She worked at the Hairstop with another stylist for almost 18 years before hitting the road.

Sarah has a 23-year-old son who lives in Sioux Falls and a nine-year-old son, Brady, who goes to school in Redwood Falls.

“I stay here because of him. He’s with me half the time. We enjoy fishing and camping—boy stuff—on the weekends that I have him,” she said.

Proud to be a part of the Morton community, Madsen is vice president of the Morton Area Chamber of Commerce Tourism Board.

For the last two years, cosmetologist Sarah Madsen has taken her services to her customers in a custom-built Legend trailer.

Madsen did a color job while working in Morton on a Tuesday afternoon.

but Minnesota didn’t have allowances in its licensure at the time,” Sarah said.

With Madsen’s urging, state licensure for mobile units was approved in July 2017.

“I have documented proof that I have the first mobile license in Minnesota,” Sarah said proudly. “Currently, I’m the only one working year around. There is another one working in the Rochester and St. Paul area three days a week, from June to October. She started in May 2019 in an Airstream trailer.”

Madsen’s Hair Traveler business—officially licensed May 5, 2018— operates in a custom-built Legend Ice House.

“Legend, out of Brainerd, is a small enough company to build a custom trailer. It was about a four-month process to get it made,” Madsen said.

The spray foam insulated trailer is completely self-contained with a generator, water tank, sink, all the proper utilities, LP heat, air conditioning, and a bathroom.

“I have all the state-required items,” Madsen said. Madsen serves a wide area—from Morton, where she lives, westward—putting an average of 12,000 miles a year on her pickup and trailer.

She’s in the city parking lot in Morton every Tuesday until 8:00 p.m. for walk-in haircuts. On Wednesdays and Thursdays, she alternates between Franklin, Redwood Falls, Lucan, Vesta, and Balaton—an hour and 20 minutes to the west. On Fridays, she starts her day at the truck stop in Morton, then parks at O’Reilley’s Auto Parts in Redwood Falls for the afternoon.

With family and many friends in Austin, she travels there every other weekend. Set-up takes only five to seven minutes with hydraulic and remote control to lower and/or raise the unit.

Working out of a fish house has its advantages.

“The main increase in my customer base has been men. They—the sportsmen type, actually—see the trailer and feel comfortable coming in. It’s great for business. One bald guy came in just to check it out. If I had a dollar for every time someone asks, ‘Are the fish biting,’ I’d be rich,” Sarah said with a laugh.

Madsen is licensed to do everything a full-service salon does but caters to quick services, especially haircuts and facial waxing. She also does colors and highlights.

“I do take appointments but I allow enough time to do walk-ins,” Madsen said. “Tuesday in Morton is my walk-in day.”

On an average day, Madsen might do 25 to 30 haircuts. In one day, she did 20 haircuts between 4:00 and 8:00 p.m. Her schedule is just as full when she’s in Austin.

Madsen also carries hair care products for her customers, primarily Scruples Hair Products made in Lakeville, Minnesota.

With two years of experience on the road, Madsen has a bigger goal—to educate other people on how to do the same thing.

“I want this to be an option for other stylists or barbers. I’ve written a book on how to do it and I’m looking for a publisher. I’d like it to be a booklet for barber and cosmetology schools. Right now there’s nothing out there,” Sarah explained.

“My main thrust is to educate people that they can do it. If they’re not busy where they are now, they can do things like this to get enough business,” she said.

The move from the Hairstop to Hair Traveler has been a good one for Madsen. She explained, “It’s worked tremendously well. I’ve quadrupled my business—you can take that to the bank. I’m almost as busy as my arms can be—but usually I can squeeze another one in. This allowed me to keep my Morton customers and gain new ones—while providing service to those who didn’t have it.” RVW

Being shutdown was the most difficult thing I’ve ever had to do professionally! Knowing I had customers waiting, needing services, but unable to legally take care of them was hard! Knowing I had a profitable business, if I was able to work—but having to apply for unemployment was surreal!

Unemployment came after six weeks of shutdown with zero income. Not knowing if any was even coming because self-employed persons normally do not qualify. But special rules were applied to allow us to receive it, temporarily.

Getting back to work June 1 was like preparing for a marathon. The first two weeks out I worked 12 days straight, 10 to 12 hour days—and still I couldn’t get everyone in.

Now after a month, things are still busy, but getting more normal. Summer is still the busy season, as hot weather makes people want haircuts more often. I’m so happy to be back taking care of my clients again.

I also have had many other hair people from all over the country calling and messaging me to find out about my mobile business because they want to do one, too. A friend, in southwest Minnesota just ordered one from Ice Castle and hopes to have it running by fall.

Note: Photos were taken prior to the COVID-19 pandemic and subsequent mask rules for salons.

With her own generator and hydraulic and remote controls, Sarah Madsen can set up for business in only five to seven minutes when she arrives on location.

Madsen’s well-designed Hair Traveler trailer has all the features of a salon—in a compact space.

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By GRACE BRANDT

When artist Michelle Kaisersatt stands in front of the potter’s wheel in her art studio in St. Peter, she isn’t always sure what shape the clay will form as it starts to spin under her hands.

Sometimes, she has an idea in her mind, but other times, it’s completely unknown.

Kaisersatt has worked as a potter since 2008 and specializes in urns and “life journey vessels,” as she calls them. Each piece takes countless hours to create. The process is long, starting with the spinning wheel and continuing through trimming, firing, glazing and other steps before she has a finished product.

Kaisersatt’s pieces feature delicate and intricate designs that are often inspired by nature. She rarely adds clay to her original piece. Instead, she carefully and skillfully carves away to create the trailing vines, detailed feathers, and other embellishments found in her art. If her clay breaks during this intensive work, there is no way to fix it.

“That’s one of the interesting things about pottery,” Kaisersatt said. “You can love a piece from the first day that you throw it, but you can’t embrace it yet. It’s not complete. There are so many things that can go wrong with it—all these variables that are in between that could make it go awry. I’ve had pieces where I’ve just had to hold my breath and say, ‘Okay, if the universe wants me to have this piece, thank you…and, if not, okay, there’s obviously something else that I’m supposed to be doing.’ I’ve had a few pieces I’ve had to toss…. You just kind of have to let it go.”

Kaisersatt’s outlook on her art matches her outlook on life—that it is unpredictable and uncontrollable but ultimately beautiful. Her own life is a testament to this, and so is each piece of art she creates.

An early love

Kaisersatt grew up on a farm at Le Center, Minnesota, and loved to draw as a kid. She enjoyed trying to faithfully copy the little pictures that sometimes were printed in the weekly newspaper—an exercise that was supposed to help readers discover if they had enough talent to be “true” artists. When she was about 12, she sent in one of her sketches, and a representative from an art school actually visited her home to talk to her. Unfortunately, Kaisersatt’s family was hesitant to pursue a costly opportunity when their budget was already tight.

“The [school representative] ended up saying, ‘Hmm, I don’t think you’re quite qualified anyway,’” she recalled. “I remember it was very devastating at the time.”

However, Kaisersatt continued to work on her art. In high school, she took classes that introduced her to oils, acrylics, and mixed media—along with one session where students learned how to throw pots.

“I made little teacups,” Kaisersatt recalled. “But instead of being a set of teacups, I ended up having five that were all different sizes. None of them were the same. But I still gave them to my mom for a Christmas gift, and she still has them.”

When Kaisersatt graduated, she went to radio broadcasting school in Austin, Minnesota. She explained that she wasn’t sure if art could be a sustainable career, so she picked something more marketable.

“I wanted to be an artist, but because of that experience [with the art school representative]…I never felt like a bona fide artist,” she said.

Over the next several years, Kaisersatt’s career meandered in ways she hadn’t foreseen—including stints at a furniture store, a lumberyard, and a graphic design company. Along the way, she also returned to school to study interior design. Later, she and her family moved to Waterloo, Iowa where she worked in her field. Eventually, though, she found herself drawn back to art.

“When I turned 35, I had a moment where I was like, ‘Who am I? What are my interests? I need some creative outlet for myself,’” she recalled.

After some searching, Kaisersatt discovered pottery classes offered through the Arts and Heritage Center in St. Peter. She started taking classes once a week and—by the next year—she was already teaching classes of her own.

“I just fell in love with it,” she said. “I was addicted to it the first time that I started throwing, because I love the feel of the clay through my fingers.”

Out of the destruction

Only months later, in March 1998, St. Peter was hit by a devastating tornado, which destroyed the Arts and Heritage Center. Kaisersatt was in the basement of the building when the tornado came through, and she emerged to find destruction everywhere.

“That was a very, very traumatic time,” Kaisersatt said. “I was huddled in the hallway, and all of a sudden, the buckets of glaze started flying. The windows upstairs were exploding from the pressure. I was sitting down there, crouched on my knees, and just repeating, ‘Hail Mary, full of grace…' I think that’s all I could say. We were all just kind of in shock from it.”

Kaisersatt was able to save the pottery wheels that had been stored in the center’s basement, and she moved one of them to her house.

“I set it on my back step, and I was throwing outside,” she recalled. “I had no kiln to fire (my pieces), so I just practiced. During that same time, I had a lot of my old clients who’d lost their homes, so I ended up helping them. While doing that, they insisted on paying me, so I’d take a little money and put it in a kitty jar, and I ended up building my first studio in our backyard.”

In her studio, Kaisersatt repurposed several pieces of furniture and building materials that she found scattered across town in the wake of the tornado. The doors to the city’s food co-op were turned into her studio doors, while a table on the side of the road became one of her worktables. All the while, she kept sculpting, slowly selling pieces at different craft shows, until she had enough money to purchase a kiln of her own.

“There are all these different things that rose to the surface that eventually came into being this full circle,” she said.

Shaping something new

Eventually, Kaisersatt’s hobby grew into something more. But she knew that if she wanted to become a full-time artist, she needed to focus her efforts on something specific.

“It took me a while to decide what I wanted to do,” she said. “I knew I wanted to do pottery, but it was a little bit of a different aspect because I put so much of my soul into each piece. I asked, ‘What type of a product am I going to be able to create and blend the two characteristics together and make it marketable?’”

After extensive research, Kaisersatt came across a somewhat surprising choice—cremation urns. While some artists shied away from these pieces because of the inherent focus on death, Kaisersatt said she has never felt uncomfortable discussing the end of someone’s life. She had first been introduced to the concept of death at a very young age—only four—when her baby sister drowned in a swimming pool. Ever since, she had felt like death was a natural part of life that didn’t need to be hidden.

“Death has not really been a scary thing for me to talk about,” Kaisersatt said. “Death is no less common than birth. We’re all born, and we all pass on.”

Kaisersatt began seriously making urns in 2008. She still creates other types of pottery, but her emphasis is on urns and life journey vessels. These vessels are intended to be purchased by a client, used to store special written memories throughout the client’s life, and then converted into an urn after the client’s passing—which is why Kaisersatt uses the name “life journey.” She works with each client to create a tribute to the loved one who has passed on, weaving in details such as a person’s favorite plant or materials that evoke something they loved in life. One client in California wanted an urn for her husband, who died in a motorcycle accident. The client shipped Kaisersatt many of the gears and chains from her husband’s motorcycle, and Kaisersatt was able to incorporate them into the finished urn. Another client had planted a tree as a memorial to the person who died, so Kaisersatt carved leaves from the tree into the vessel.

“It’s really a matter of sharing their story and somehow infiltrating that into the piece,” she said. “It becomes less of a purchased product and more of a sacred piece for them, too, because they’re a part of the creation process. It’s always been a really enriching experience for both of the parties involved.”

Beauty in loss

For Kaisersatt, finding beauty in every part of life, even loss, is a recurring theme in her art—and she knows a lot about loss. In 2012, her father died in a tragic accident and, shortly after, she was in a serious motorcycle accident herself. Only weeks later, she was diagnosed with stage three colon cancer. While she was able to undergo surgery that made her cancer-free, 

Kaisersatt has been in her current studio—which she shares with two other female artists—since 2012. She throws on a stand-up wheel (which deviates from the standard sit-down wheel most potters use). Most of her pieces are inspired by nature and natural elements, and she enjoys finding ways to integrate items from the real world—such as driftwood and crystals—into her art.

“I’m always trying to learn how to reflect different textures or elements, like wind or water rippling,” she said. “I started a couple years ago really loving the idea of bringing nature elements into my work.”

In addition to Kaisersatt’s sculpting, she also teaches art workshops to children, elders, and other groups—often teaching them together, so that they can learn about each other as they learn about pottery.

“What I learned through one workshop was that both the adults and the young kids are so resilient, and yet they both are so emotionally vulnerable,” Kaisersatt said. “I loved watching how they interacted and how they helped each other.”

 her husband Dale was not so lucky. In 2013, Dale Kaisersatt was diagnosed with stage four colon cancer, and his was much more serious, requiring extensive rounds of chemotherapy and radiation.

“People who have experienced loss will get this, especially when it is a long-term diagnosis,” she said. “You start grieving the day that the diagnosis is given. You don’t show it, because then you’re not helping your family member be strong. So I used my art during that time as my way of grieving. I would come (to my studio), and it was my release valve.”

Along the way, Kaisersatt was let go from her job at the Twin Rivers Council for the Arts as the organization restructured its staff positions and, in March 2014, her family’s house was completely destroyed in a chimney fire.

Kaisersatt’s greatest loss came in April 2017, when her husband passed away. But, she said she found comfort in her husband’s death

Kaisersatt said she is trying to encourage people to come to her for life journey vessels during their lifetime, instead of waiting to purchase an urn for someone after they’ve died. This way, people can be much more involved in the process and leave behind something that can be a gift to their loved ones. Throughout the years, the owner of the vase can add slips of paper with especially meaningful memories into the vase, which can offer comfort after they die.

“My concept of a life journey vessel is putting little snippets of stories of what makes [the vessel owner] what they are, [such as] a specific life experience that was really impactful,” Kaisersatt explained. “Its intention is to be with someone while they’re living so that they can put those memories in that vase and hold onto them, knowing that they’re very sacred memories. Then when it’s their time to pass, they designate that as their urn, if they so choose, knowing that they have all of these stories to share with their loved ones that may ease the transition or be a gift to them.”

by remembering that, in a way, he was still with her. She and her late husband have two children, Darren and Laura.

“Everybody has their own way of processing things and what they believe in, and that’s just the beauty of living,” she said. “I can’t say, ‘Yes, they’re still here,’ but I can believe they’re still here because of my experience. During those last four years, I’d been really focusing on being strong for Dale, and it was a rollercoaster ride. You’d have one week where you’d be up and the next week you’d come crashing to the ground. It really makes you learn that you have to pay attention to everything in life.”

Kaisersatt has also drawn on her own losses to help people through their difficult times—and to keep moving forward herself.

“Because of my own experience, I feel like maybe I’m more empathetic,” she said. “My life just kind of morphs as it goes. It’s been a very rich life, and it’s still going.” RVW

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We are taking all necessary safety precautions as they pertain to COVID-19 and the CDC Guidelines.

hen Peggy and Chuck Gappa do something, they do it big. A 20,000-pound rock, 12 water pumps, waterfalls, live fish, giant pumpkins, numerous flowerbeds, and a lot more.

It wasn’t always that way.

The Gappas have lived on their farm site southwest of Nicollet for 45 years but their expansive gardens and extensively decorated yard started with one little area.

“I had to beg for a 12-by-12 tulip bed at first,” Peggy explained. “We started with one little area. I didn’t think I’d plant a lot, but it seemed I came back with two or three pots every time I went to town.”

Now that Peggy and Chuck are retired, they sometimes wonder how they found time for all things they did over the last three-plus decades. Then, as now, they were always on the lookout for new things to add— and went about creating them.

The Gappas’ yard seems like a park as it combines flower beds, a fish pond, rock creations, a windmill, a pergola, and so much more—and even includes a kids’ tree fort out back.

Chuck and Peggy make annual trips to the Amish auctions at Waverly, Iowa where they find new items or—more often—ideas of things they can create.

One trip made Peggy comment, “You know that old wheel…” referring to something it could be turned into. “Chuck can make a lot of the stuff.”

The farm also had horses until a year ago in March when Chuck made the difficult decision to sell his last team of draft horses.

“It’s the first time since I was in eighth grade that I haven’t had horses,” Chuck said.

With the horses gone, the Gappas made good use of the horse pasture—planting gourds and squash, giant pumpkins, zucchini, and tomatoes—and they’re doing great!

Chuck retired three years ago from New Ulm Monument, and Peggy a year-and-a-half ago from the Fashion Corner Salon in St. Peter. That allows more time to tend to those gardens and displays. RVW

Story and Photos By RUTH KLOSSNER

The Gappas love butterflies and have two milkweed beds for Monarchs. These butterflies were made by a man at Good Thunder. Chuck and Peggy put yellow glass in the back window to tie it all together.

This 8,000-pound rock came from the quarry across from MVL. It’s hollowed out 16 inches deep, 32-by-36 inches. Soft water—either rain water or from a dehumidifier—is used so that the rock doesn’t discolor.

Back in the woods, behind the rockery, the Gappas’ five grandsons have their own hideaway, a camouflage tree fort. The boys are three to 13 years old.

The waterfall and fishpond was completed 20 years ago, in time for a family reunion. The duck decoys seem to do the job—Peggy noted that a pair of live mallards found their way to the pond! When everything is running there are 12 water pumps operating things in the yard.

Barn wood from a neighbor’s farm—gotten some 20 years ago—was used to create this wall. Items are added or rearranged when they’re brought out each spring. The Gappas’ grandsons help with that work, as well as watering flowers. Graduation and some wedding photos have been taken in the yard.

Peggy and Chuck Gappa

This rocked-in area was the Gappas’ first pond—but was filled in and planted when the Gappas learned two lessons. One was not to put a pond under trees and the other was to install a filter.

“Safer at home” was a common phrase heard in the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic.

We have all had to adapt to a new kind of world very quickly by staying at home, working remotely, and schooling and entertaining children at home.

This new way of living came with challenges, inconveniences, and barriers, but for most of us these lifestyle changes were ultimately doable. While social distancing and quarantining are necessary measures to curb the spread of COVID-19, increased isolation can mean increased risk for victims and people surviving relationship abuse. People experiencing emotional, physical, or sexual violence may not be “safer at home.”

Social distancing and quarantine measures provide people who use abuse against a partner with more opportunities to exercise their power and control in a relationship. Advocates have heard of many ways that COVID-19 is being used to isolate, manipulate, and threaten victims of abuse.

Isolating

Victims of relationship abuse may experience increased risks because of isolation measures that were intended to curb the spread of COVID-19. Victims have told advocates that their partner will use the threat of the coronavirus to discourage them from working or seeing friends or family with the intent of further isolating them and preventing them from leaving the relationship during this challenging time. A person who uses abuse in a relationship may use the virus as a scare tactic to keep their partner away from children or away from friends or family. Additionally, travel restrictions can disrupt and delay a survivor’s escape plan.

Manipulating

Many people are experiencing increased stress and anxiety because of the ramifications of the global pandemic. People who use abuse in relationships may feel more justified in escalating abusive behaviors and

using this stress as a way to deflect and not take responsibility for their words or actions. Furthermore, in a time where there is already lots of misinformation about the pandemic, abusive partners may further manipulate myths and exaggerate falsehoods to scare and intimidate victims.

Threatening

Abusive partners may also put victims at risk by withholding necessary items such as disinfectants, hand sanitizer, or soap. Someone who uses abuse in a relationship might also withhold insurance cards, car keys, or other things a person needs to access medical resources. Some victims have told advocates that an abusive partner has threatened to kick them out of the home if they get sick or that an abusive partner has threatened to infect their victim with the virus.

People experiencing relationship abuse may face unique challenges and barriers when seeking help during the COVID-19 pandemic. Many people living with an abusive partner find respite from the danger of their homes by going to work or visiting friends and family. Staying away from home as much as possible is one thing many victims and survivors include in their regular safety plan. However, with social distancing and quarantine measures that were in place, this respite has been taken away. CADA advocates are aware that, during this period of social distancing, instances of domestic and sexual violence may increase, while the number of calls advocates receive from victims may decrease. Finding the space and privacy to make a call for help is extremely challenging when someone is home with their abusive partner day in and day out. Fear of contracting the virus also prevents victims of relationship abuse from seeking shelter or health care.

The economic ramifications of COVID-19 are also keeping victims of relationship abuse trapped in unsafe situations. A survivor may no longer have a way to support themselves and their children because of job loss or reduced hours at work. Financial concerns are often reasons that a victim will stay in or return to an abusive relationship, and those financial concerns are likely to be exacerbated during the pandemic.

In Minnesota, domestic and sexual violence agencies like CADA are designated as essential public safety services and remain open. Shelters across the state have remained open, and advocacy services are available over the phone or in-person if that is the safest option. Victims may now be cut off from many places where they would normally disclose the abuse— they are less likely to be able to talk to a co-worker, a teacher, a doctor, or friends and family about what is happening at home.

If you think that someone you know is experiencing relationship abuse, be sure to reach out to them often. Letting someone know that you are thinking about him or her and that they are not alone can be a huge help. If someone you know is experiencing abuse, you can direct him or her to a local advocacy center or other emergency services. “Staying home” doesn’t have to mean staying in an unsafe home!

KRISTEN WALTERS Development & Communications Manager CADA, Mankato

When did you open Spinning Spools?

Twelve years ago, in 2008.

What motivates you to come to work each day?

I love the colors and beauty of everything in the shop. Customers who come in, love it with me.

What is your passion?

Fabric and anything I can do with it! Quilts, home décor, children’s clothing, doll clothes.

What is your greatest challenge?

Having the time to do all the things I want to do.

Do you have a mentor, if so what have you learned from him or her?

My mom and both grandmas sewed, so I was around it all my life.

How did you learn to sew?

I started using a machine by the time I was 8, sewing anything I could with scraps provided to me. Merchandising college, tailoring courses, trial and error all entered into it. I took a lot of things apart to see how they were made, and put them back together with my own spin on fabrics and design.

What have you learned from your customers?

Color and design options. I may have something in my mind, then someone will change out one thing and make it better, or different.

What advice would you give to a woman hoping to start a business?

Follow your passion. Don’t try to do it alone, have some key people who can help with things you aren’t as good at. But if you love it, you will be successful.

What was your first job?

Altering and hemming clothing for my mom’s friends when I was 14-16 years old. Working in a fine men’s clothing store, where I got to first experience men’s tailoring. By age 23 I had my first son, thus becoming a stay-at-home mom for the next 20 years. I did inhome alterations for people during those years.

If you could do anything besides what you are doing what would it be?

I can’t imagine not having a sewing machine in front of me!

Back: Spinning Spools staff Roxy DeRock, owner Val Besser. Front: Janice Running and Linda Wattnem.

OWNER OF SPINNING SPOOLS QUILT SHOP, NEW ULM

What are your needs and wants?

Determining your needs and wants for your future kitchen space will help guide the design process. Why are you remodeling? Do you need a more functional kitchen? Do you want more seating at the island? Are you remodeling the space to prepare the home for resale? There are many reasons why homeowners choose to remodel their kitchen, and having a list of needs and wants will facilitate an efficient design process. Additionally, having inspirational photos showing styles or designs that catch your eye will assist the designer in learning your style.

What is your budget for this project? Will your investment pay off?

Determining a budget can be a little difficult, especially if you are unfamiliar with product and labor costs. There are a lot of factors that enter in answering the question “Will my investment pay off?” Location, scope of project, size of your investment, length of time you intend to stay in your present location, all are factors that enter in. Take a realistic look at what you can afford and are prepared to spend on your project. Talk to Realtors, appraisers, and other professionals familiar with your neighborhood to gain knowledge on what a proper investment might be. In general terms, the larger the budget, the more flexibility you will have in achieving your design and functionality goals.

What product selections should be made prior to starting a kitchen remodel?

One of the first steps in designing a kitchen space is selecting the appliances. Although dishwashers and most ranges are standard widths, refrigerators can vary in width, depth, and height. If the make and model of the refrigerator is known at the beginning of the design process, a designer can successfully incorporate it into the kitchen design so that it fits into the space and doesn’t end up looking too big and bulky. Some homeowners prefer the features and looks of professional style ranges which can be as wide as 60.” The appliance variance can make a significant difference on how the entire kitchen space is designed.

What logistics should be planned out prior to beginning a kitchen remodel?

Prepare and freeze meals you can reheat in the microwave, electric skillet or crockpot. Stock up on disposable plates, utensils and store away all the things you won’t be needing during the remodel. You’re in luck if you have a basement bar. For the rest of us, it’s more of a challenge. Think about how you’re going to handle cooking messes. The laundry room or the patio, garden hose and a dishwashing tub might be the answer. Your makeshift kitchen should include a refrigerator, microwave, coffee maker, toaster, slow cooker, electric frying pan and of course… a grill! It is totally acceptable to eat a few more brats and burgers during this time.

Is there a time of year that would be logistically easier to complete a kitchen remodel?

Some homeowners choose to have this invasive project completed during the summer months so they can grill outside or spend more time away from home if they have a vacation home or cabin.

Should I seek the expertise of a professional designer?

Yes! The kitchen is one of the most important areas of the home. It is where we gather, prepare food, and reconnect with each other. During the design process, the designer will learn your needs and wants and incorporate as many of these elements into the design as possible. They will also help you achieve your design objective, while at the same time keeping it in budget. You deserve to have such a significant space designed by a professional to maximize functionality and beauty.

Rethinking RETRACTABLE LEASHES

NICOLE LUECK (CVT) MN Valley Pet Hospital Mankato

You’re out for a walk on a beautiful summer day. You chose this path because your Lab doesn’t care for other dogs. Out of nowhere, a terrier comes running up to you, barking and lunging. Your dog starts to bark and lunge back while spinning in circles but the terrier’s leash becomes wrapped around your legs. The owner is trying to reel her dog in but the leash is stuck. Your dog bites her's and now you’re rushing to the vet clinic.

The truth is, a dogfight could happen with any leash BUT using a retractable leash increases the dangers. A retractable leash is a thin cord wound around a spring-loaded device, inside a plastic handle. The button on the device controls the amount of freedom the dog is allowed. It is much easier to protect a dog on a standard leash than one 20 feet away at the other end of a thin cord.

We have all seen the person—or been the person—who “reels” in their dog when a danger is ahead, but with a retractable leash it’s like deep-sea fishing! You might be successful OR the leash will become wrapped around signs, cars, or innocent civilians. This can be especially dangerous when walking near a road.

Thousands of dogs are hit by cars every year while chasing a squirrel or something else into traffic. When on a retractable leash they have roughly 10 to 25 feet of distance ahead of their owners. If you’re crossing the street in the dark, your dog may already be on the other side and a car could easily separate you. It is very difficult to gain control of a situation at that distance away from your dog. When using a regular leash we can communicate with our dog and give him or her cues, but when our dog is in the next city over, it’s impossible to communicate without the distractions.

Retractable leashes have been proven to increase a dog’s anxiety. The amount of freedom a dog is allowed to have is constantly changing. They

may only have a few feet or they may be allowed the full 10 to 25 feet, but it can always change. It can cause dogs to become more reactive as they are allowed to approach a situation long before the owner has control.

Besides causing anxiety, retractable leashes do not teach good leash manners. The dog learns that if it pulls enough, it is rewarded with more real estate.

We often think that our dog is safe, but we forget that the dog we are approaching may not care for other dogs. The retractable leash can also cause the dog and owner physical damage. Owners often end up with burns on their hands from instinctually grabbing the cord in an emergency and can be responsible for clotheslining children or other people. When the dog is quickly stopped at the end of this leash, it can cause neck wounds, lacerated tracheas, or spinal injuries.

The leash also makes a noise as it comes unwound in the handle. This noise can cause some dogs—especially those that are already noise-sensitive— to become fearful. Besides the length and the sound, when dogs pull abruptly on the leash the owner is much more likely to drop the leash. The leash then snaps like a tape measure, often causing the dog to run or cower in fear. Even if the situation ends without anyone getting hurt, it still can cause lingering fears as dogs make great associations.

Using a retractable leash has its time and place. It can be great for out in the country when you want your dog to get the exercise and take in all the smells or in the backyard free from obstacles.

It is very unsafe in public settings such as pet stores, veterinary clinics, city sidewalks, and parks. It should not be used anywhere you could approach vehicles or other dogs, or in a place that you need control of your dog.

Retractable leashes can sound like a great idea but please consider where you will use them and if it’s safe for your pet.

By MOLLY SLAMA

Beer brings a feeling of friendship for me. It accompanies meals, holidays, and is a great beverage for “cheers.” Beer is a way to celebrate literally anything. Pints and brews pair well with these hot summer days.

Beer is an alcoholic beverage made by the fermentation of grain, just as wine is an alcoholic beverage made by the fermentation of fruit. The majority of the world’s beers have a grain base, usually barley. Beer is a source of polyphenols, naturally occurring in plant foods that feed the beneficial microbes in your gut. With far less alcohol per ounce than other drinks, beer can be the drink of moderation. Whether it is cheering over plastic cups at a sports event, bottles at a local bar or glasses in the newest local craft brewery, getting together to sip beer has been a way to connect people and build communities.

Beer is my alcoholic drink of choice and I enjoy all varieties and brands. I sip out of cans or bottles and do not prefer any one beer style over another. I support local breweries as often as possible. One of my favorite things in the summer is to share and sample seasonal packs. Recently a new favorite really stuck with me, Schell’s Fort Road Blonde Ale. This was a match made in heaven from the beginning as I am a blonde as well. This refreshing drink is brewed with a blend of Schell’s very own locally grown barley and wheat malts. Fort Road Blonde is light gold in color with a dense white foam head. This particular brew runs from April to September. As a Kolsch ale, this is an easy-drinking, warm-ish kind of weather beer. Another reason to love this batch, it was developed with efforts to try to source more local ingredients. Beer is versatile and can be used in cooking and baking as well! I reached out to Kyle Marti from Schell’s Brewery for a recipe to incorporate my new found favorite and he did not disappoint. Schell’s Brewery, as many know, is located in New Ulm. I am thrilled to share this amazing summer treat for the grill. The balanced fruity floral hop character in Fort Road Blonde makes the dressing a mouth-watering addition to this delicacy. Our family enjoyed ours with a side salad. The dressing was great on both the vegetables and the pork.

1 c. pecan halves

1/2 c. granulated sugar

1 tbsp. cinnamon

2 tsp. nutmeg

Cayenne pepper to taste

2 tbsp. salt

1/2 c. salad oil

1 qt. dry bread crumbs

1. Preheat oven to 400 degrees

2. On a cookie sheet place pecans, sugar, spices and oil and combine well

3. Bake for 10 min or until slightly dark

4. Allow to cool

5. Combine with bread crumbs and grind using food processor

1/4 c. Fort Road Blonde Ale

1/4 c. Dijon mustard

1 tbsp. minced garlic (fresh)

1 tsp. rosemary (fresh)

1 pork tenderloin cut into 1/2” to 3/4” cutlets

1. Combine all above ingredients and mix well

2. Place pork tenderloin pieces in marinade and let stand for 4-8 hours in the refrigerator (preferably 8 hours)

3. Using a baking pan place pecan breading into pan

4. Take pork pieces and press into breading and coat well (use some force to thin out cutlets)

5. Grill breaded cutlets (before grilling wipe grill grate with a rag soaked in oil onto the preheated grate to help prevent sticking)have the grill set at the highest possible temperature and grill for approximately 3 minutes per side (cooks fast)

6. Plate with a field of greens mixed with diced veggies and drizzle with dressing

RIVERFRONT

410 S. Riverfront Dr. Mankato, MN 507-625-1107

HILLTOP

2010 Adams St. Mankato, MN 507-625-9070

MEDS MADE EASY

MedLink, a new program offered by Hy-Vee, aligns prescriptions so customers receive them all at once instead of making multiple orders and trips throughout the month. Aligning medication relaxes the burden on those who order and organize multiple medications,

especially the elderly, chronically ill, or family members caring for loved ones. Picking up prescriptions at the same time may also reduce the chance of missing a dose.

Stop by or call your local Hy-Vee pharmacy to see if the MedLink program is a good fit!

140800

Sweet-Heat

Grilled Pineapple CITRUS.

Citrus fruits are known for their high concentration of vitamin C, which is needed to produce infection-fighting white blood cells. The body does not store vitamin C, so daily intake is important. Citrus fruits include oranges, tangerines, clementines, grapefruit, lemons and limes.

GARLIC.

For centuries, garlic has served culinary and medicinal uses. Preclinical studies have shown compounds from garlic could have antioxidant, anti-inflammatory and antimicrobial properties. One study showed aged garlic extract significantly reduced the severity of self-reported cold or flu symptoms.

GINGER.

Ginger is a strong antioxidant and anti-inflammatory. Research suggests ginger has antimicrobial potential to treat infectious diseases.

HONEY.

Since ancient times, honey has been valued for its antimicrobial properties and ability to treat wounds. Honey has been shown to inhibit the growth of a bacterial species that cause gastric infections, including E. coli and may shorten the duration of bacterial diarrhea.

LEAFY GREENS.

Kale, spinach and other dark leafy greens are full of nutrition, particularly vitamins A, C, E and K. Add in broccoli and you have many of the B vitamins too.

PAPAYA.

One cup of papaya offers 114 percent of the daily requirement of immune-boosting vitamin C.

PEPPERS.

Packed with antioxidants, bell peppers are full of vitamin C. Red bell peppers have the highest concentration of the immune-boosting vitamin. Studies suggest the capsaicin found in hot peppers can enhance select immune functions.

PINEAPPLE.

A good source of vitamins B2 and C, manganese and phytochemicals – pineapple has been linked to immunity. In one study, those who ate canned pineapple had a much shorter period of infection than those who didn’t eat it.

PLAIN YOGURT.

Boosts probiotics and supports your microbiome – the good bacteria in your body – so you’re less vulnerable to infections.

TURMERIC.

Turmeric is a spice commonly used in Indian cuisine. It contains curcumin, antioxidant and anti-inflammatory that has also been shown to enhance antibody response in the immune system.

INGREDIENTS

2 tbsp. Hy-Vee Select 100% pure maple syrup

1 tbsp. Hy-Vee canola oil

1 tbsp. Sriracha sauce

1 tsp. Hy-Vee crushed red pepper

1 tsp. Hy-Vee ground cinnamon

1/4 tsp. Hy-Vee kosher sea salt

2 (1-lbs. each) pkgs.

Hy-Vee Short Cuts pineapple chunks

DIRECTIONS

Soak skewers in water for 30 minutes. Preheat a charcoal or gas grill for direct cooking over medium-high heat. 1

2

Combine maple syrup, canola oil, crushed red pepper, cinnamon, and salt in a medium bowl. Add pineapple; toss to coat. Thread pineapple onto skewers; reserve sauce. Grill 6 minutes, turning occasionally and brushing with reserves sauce. Serve warm.

Nutrition facts per serving: 120 calories per serving, 2.5g Total Fat, 0g Saturated Fat, 0g Trans Fat, 0mg Cholesterol, 120mg Sodium, 25g Total Carbohydrates, 2g Dietary Fiber, 20g Total Sugars, 0g Added Sugars, 1g Protein.

EMILY GIDDINGS, RN Giddie Skin Medspa

Collagen 101: Your Guide to Healthy, Youthful Skin

Collagen products are available in countless forms—topical creams, ingestible supplements, and even injectables. But what exactly is collagen, and why are we so obsessed with keeping it in our bodies?

Collagen is one of the most important proteins in our bodies. It supports our skin like a skeleton, giving our skin the firmness and elasticity to move and function healthily. Collagen represents over 25% of our body’s total proteins and is found in all essential structures, including bones, tendons, ligaments, and skin. But it’s collagen in the skin that hogs the limelight— and gets most of the products—because collagen keeps our skin looking young. And who doesn’t want that?

Our skin naturally produces collagen daily. That production, however, depends greatly on our age and habits.

Collagen production naturally declines as we age, beginning around age 30. At first the decline is barely noticeable, but loss increases exponentially as we age. And when collagen decreases, wrinkles increase because our skin loses its elasticity and tautness.

How to Get Your Best (Collagen-Filled) Skin

Our habits—good and bad—also influence collagen production. If skin is healthy, it repairs itself and makes new collagen as needed. When everything is humming along, our collagen-making cellular gizmos— called fibroblasts—can pump out new collagen while a wrecking crew of enzymes break down and whisk away the old collagen. This collagen giveand-take keeps skin looking smooth and young.

But things such as ultraviolet rays, smoking, pollution, stress, and other factors can wreak havoc on our skin by producing free radicals that break down collagen fibers. Excessive sun exposure, for example, reduces fibroblasts’ collagen factories, causing a flimsier collagen layer, and overstimulates the wrecking crew so it then clears out healthy collagen.

Thankfully, there are things we can do to help our bodies maximize healthy collagen production. First, do what you can to minimize or avoid those damaging factors—cover up when in the sun or use broad-spectrum SPF 30+, stop smoking (or don’t start!), try to avoid exposure to pollution, and reduce stress as much as possible. Then, identify a plan to improve your body’s overall health so your body can build healthy skin.

Anything that increases oxygenation and blood supply to collagen will make our skin healthier. So, when you hit the gym and prioritize clean and healthy eating—especially food rich in antioxidants and vitamin C—you’re taking strides toward better collagen production and healthier skin.

What Topical Products Can Improve Collagen?

If a healthy lifestyle doesn’t give you the collagen-filled results you’re looking for, there are topical treatments that can help.

Retinoic acid and retinol are vitamin A-derived products that “turn on” cells involved in collagen production. But these products can be irritating, so use only every other night when you begin and only use a pea-size drop for your entire face.

Antioxidant products, like copper peptides and vitamin C can neutralize damaging free radicals and extinguish inflammation in your daily skincare regimen.

Products including vitamin C can stimulate healthy collagen production. Serums including growth factors can stimulate fibroblasts and stem cells to encourage new cells and collagen.

After your morning wash, you would apply your vitamin C, peptide and/ or serums before your daily moisturizer and sunscreen. At night, after your wash, you would insert your serums and/or antioxidant products, then retinoic acid product, before your moisturizer.

Which Professional Treatments Boost Collagen?

The topical products listed above offer effective and easy treatments, but they require consistency and months to see results. Professional treatments, on the other hand, take collagen building to the next level and offer rapid results. However, you may need three to four treatments to see optimal results. A quality provider can help you decide which treatment is best for you.

Fractionated laser treatments, such as Fraxel, can target multiple fibroblast receptors and stimulate collagen. These treatments cause microscopic, controlled “injuries” in the collagen layer. The body then repairs these injuries by making beautiful new collagen.

Professional microneedling works in a similar way. Tiny puncture wounds on the surface of the skin jump-start the healing and collagenbuilding process. This procedure can be coupled with platelet-rich plasma, a natural product, for better results.

Injectable hyaluronic acid fillers, such as Juvé derm and Restylane, are a commonly chosen option. Along with plumping wrinkles from below by supporting tissue, these products prompt skin cells to increase collagen production to maintain the new, improved structure.

So—whether you are a 30-something noticing initial collagen loss or a 60-something with a growing collection of wrinkles—there are steps you can take today to improve your skin for tomorrow and for years to come.

For a variety of reasons, you may find yourself at home more than in previous years. Whether budgets are tighter or you’re focused on heightening health safety precautions, you have an opportunity to maximize your time at home.

Unexpected time at home likely caught many people off-guard, but if there’s one thing I’ve heard consistently over the year is what people would get accomplished if they had more time. Well, if you’ve ever said: “I wish I had more time” or “I’ll tackle this when I have more time” then you have an opportunity to tackle your list. I challenge you to live in the moment and make the most of your time around your house and yard.

All you need is a plan and some encouragement. You’ll be amazed at what you can accomplish. Start with a brainstorm list of all your areas of your home you feel need attention.

Next, organize your list one of a few ways:

• Priority (most important first)

• Zones of your home (top to bottom, etc)

• Length of time to complete (start with tasks that will be easy to cross off the list and work your way toward the ones that will take days or longer to finish)

Next, enlist help:

• Assign tasks to family members who are best equipped to help.

• Set a timer and do your work within a specified time. Take breaks and make it fun. Tell stories or listen to music. Post a progress chart. Take time to play a game or puzzle you might find— even if you plan to put it in the donate pile later. Pause to share stories as you sort through old photographs or school projects. Pay attention to the weather and plan your yard projects on the days you can enjoy the best weather.

Once you feel fairly clean and organized, spend time making videos or scheduling live chats with friends and family. Take pictures and write letters to send to older neighbors or family who aren’t digital savvy, but need to feel connected. At-risk individuals who are spending months isolating will need words of encouragement and extra acts of kindness. Who can you reach out to today?

BY CINDY HAUGLAND tidytightwads.com

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, routine vaccinations fell during the first half of this year as Americans skipped routine doctor visits due to the pandemic. Lower vaccination rates leave children and communities vulnerable to preventable diseases such as the measles, mumps, chickenpox and whooping cough.

Healthcare providers know there are children and adolescents in our community who have missed vaccinations that are important to their health. The easiest way to get your children’s immunizations and health back on track is to call your provider.

The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends well-child visits to keep track of your child’s immunizations, health, physical, emotional and social development. Your provider can make sure your child is meeting milestones such as rolling over, walking, throwing a ball and saying more than 50 words even if all you seem to hear them say is “No” and “Mine.”

During the well-child visit expect a head-to-toe examination, along with measurements and scheduled vaccines. You get an opportunity to talk over any health concerns. Your provider will offer ways to keep your child healthy and answer your questions. Each stage of parenting comes with many questions.

Vaccines are an important part of the well-child visit. In the first 2 years of life, follow an immunization schedule to protect your children against hepatitis A and B, diphtheria, pertussis (whooping cough), tetanus, polio, pneumonia, measles, mumps and rubella. Vaccines are spaced at 2, 4, 6, 12, 15 and 18 months.

Since your baby is changing rapidly during the first 2 years of life, there is a lot to talk about. These visits are a great way to get to know your pediatrician and get advice on feeding, sleeping and caring for your little one. Check-ups are also recommended at age 2, 30 months and then annually beginning at age 3 through age 18. It’s hard to imagine, but your baby will be a teenager someday.

During your child’s school years, there are several visits that include immunizations. If your child is entering kindergarten in 2020-21, he or she will need a well-child visit and several vaccinations. This is an important visit to make sure your child is ready for school. The fourth-grade check-up may include a vaccine if your child is not upto-date. At the seventh grade check-up, the well-child visit includes multiple immunizations including the meningococcal and human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccines.

Then from seventh to 12th grade, sports physicals are required in Minnesota for all athletes playing school sports. By law, your teen athlete will need a sports physical every three years. The sports physical can be combined with the well-child visit. Simply let your doctor’s office know when you schedule the appointment.

As we have settled into a new normal, it’s time to get your child’s health back on track. If you’ve missed an appointment or aren’t sure if your child is up-to-date on vaccines, call your pediatrician or family medicine provider. It’s one thing you can get back on schedule.

AMY DEEHR, DO Mankato Clinic Pediatrician

Skorts (skirt with attached shorts) have become a mainstay in the wardrobe of women who love a feminine, yet care-free, feel. Continue the freedom skorts give this fall by pairing them with a cowl neck sweater. Start the season wearing a short bootie and bare legs. As the daily temperatures fall, pull on some tights and your knee boots to further extend your enjoyment of the skort.

Another freedom seasonal trend will offer this fall is in the dolman sleeve. A sleeve wide at the top and narrow at the wrist, offers a full chest or broad shoulders some breathing room while giving cute shape. Our favorite neckline to pair with the dolman sleeve is the boat neck. This combination gives room to hide the unwanted while keeping the overall look sleek and feminine.

Graphic T-shirts are still in the spotlight this fall. Whether your social statement is polarizing or uniting you will be on trend dressing it up with a blazer or keeping it casual with your favorite denim. Oversized continues to trend while color becomes more neutral for the season.

Camisoles are going to carry on through the cooler months. Softer and neutral solids will be paired with statement cardigans and kimonos. The pleated front camisole is a favorite of women of all shapes, especially women with larger breasts. Pleating allows the fabric to follow curves and valleys without restricting movement or showing the under layers of support.

Along with the skort, shorts will have an extended season when worn over tights with long line boots. Leather and metallic- like fabrics will be the most on trend with their heavier feel as we move into cooler days.

BY LISA EIDE Her Happy Place St. Peter

I have a few vivid plant-related memories from my childhood. One of the clearest is the time that I first encountered the common milkweed. As a child, I liked to pull leaves and flowers apart to see what was inside. Imagine my surprise when I broke open a milkweed stem. When damaged, these plants ooze an opaque white sap made of latex, far different from the usual green I’d found in countless other stems and leaves. I was wildly curious about this plant, and I’ve never forgotten that experience. I’ve since learned that milkweeds ( Asclepias species) are special for many reasons. The most commonly known reason is that the plant is the exclusive host on which monarch butterflies lay their eggs. The resulting caterpillars feed on milkweed leaves, despite the fact that milkweeds contain an alkaloid that is toxic to most vertebrate animals. This compound actually helps protect the monarch caterpillars from hungry birds and other vertebrate predators—it makes the caterpillars bitter to taste and

toxic when consumed. It also makes milkweed plants highly deer and rabbit resistant.

There are over 100 species of milkweed throughout the United States, with 14 of those species being native to Minnesota. Aside from feeding monarch caterpillars, milkweed plants also serve other important ecological functions. Milkweed flowers are an abundant source of high quality nectar for bees, butterflies, and hummingbirds. I’m always thrilled when my various milkweed plants are blooming during the summer, because I inevitably get to observe species of foraging insects that I don’t usually see. Aside from being ecologically significant, milkweed plants have bright beautiful flowers that really stand out in gardens and landscapes. They come in a wide variety of colors, too, ranging from shades of pink, purple, and white to the boldest yellow and orange. I’m happy to recommend some perennial native milkweed species that would look great in your gardens while also providing a valuable food source for our native insects. Butterfly weed ( Asclepias tuberosa). This friendly little plant forms a mostly tidy clump, growing between 18 to 36 inches tall and about 24 inches wide. It has a large tap root that doesn’t like to be disturbed after planting. The species has cheery bright orange flowers, while the cultivar ‘Hello Yellow’ has sunny yellow ones. It grows best in full sun and tolerates dry infertile soils. In fall, its seed pods turn beautiful shades of pink before releasing fluffed seed pods that easily germinate the following year.

Swamp milkweed ( Asclepias incarnata). I became more acquainted with swamp milkweed after it seeded itself into one of the gardens I tend. Its flowers are pink or white, depending on the variety. This milkweed prefers moist to wet soils, often growing alongside standing water in its native habitat. It also tolerates heavy clay soils. Swamp milkweed has very showy flowers and deep purple fall foliage. Cultivars available for purchase include ‘Cinderella’ and ‘Ice Ballet.’

Common milkweed ( Asclepias syriaca). Common milkweed is the one that you’re probably familiar with. It grows along roadsides and in prairies and fields throughout Minnesota. The mauve flowers grow in two-inch globes on tall stalky plants with broad flat leaves. Common milkweed is the most aggressive of these milkweeds, so don’t plant it if you don’t want a large permanent patch of it. The plant spreads not only by seed but also by underground rhizomes, and it easily colonizes an entire area, whether the soil is wet or dry.

Showy milkweed ( Asclepias speciosa). As the name suggests, showy milkweed has stunning flowers. The flower tops are light pink and starshaped, highlighted by brighter pink petals below. Showy milkweed has a growth habit similar to that of common milkweed, though it doesn’t aggressively colonize. It prefers consistent moisture and full sun. This plant is hard to find in the retail world, but you can easily start some from seed— the seeds are widely available online.

Whorled milkweed ( Asclepias verticillata). In comparison with its other native relatives, whorled milkweed has a dainty, delicate presence that reminds me of Queen Anne’s lace. Its leaves are thin and needle-shaped, and the white flowers form small rounded clusters. The plant is one to two feet tall and wide and thrives in medium to dry soil. Whorled milkweed seed pods are lovely in floral arrangements.

LAURA SCHWARZ

New Ulm native Minneapolis-based horticulturist & writer

an cave an cave an cave iveaway veaway veaway

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.

Thurs-Sat, Aug 6-8

• Courtland City-Wide Garage Sales. Info: hulk0017@umn.edu

Fri, Aug 7-thru Sept

• Farmers’ Market, Lake Crystal. Info: lakecrystalchamber.com/ events.

Fri-Sat, Aug 7-8

• City Wide Garage Sales, Henderson. 8 am-8 pm Fri, 8 am-noon Sat. Info: 507-248-3230.

• Demolition Derby, Nicollet Co Fairgrounds, 400 W Union St, St Peter, 7 pm Fri, 6:30 pm Sat. Info: Facebook.

Fri-Sun, Aug 7-9

• Upper Sioux Community’s Pezhutazizi Oyate Traditional Wacipi Powwow, Granite Falls

Sat, Aug 8

• Eggstravaganza Fireworks by Fire Fighters Relief Assn & City of Gaylord, 10 pm, Gaylord.

• Sweet Summertime, Farmamerica 7367 360th Ave, Waseca, 9 am-4 pm. Info: farmamerica.org/events/.

Sat, Aug 8 (thru Sept)

• Farmers Market, Central Park, Owatonna, 7 am-12 pm. Info: https://visitowatonna.org/ calendar-of-events/

• Farmers’ Market, 25 Adams St SE, Hutchinson, 8 am12 pm. Info: business. explorehutchinson.com/ events/.

• Mankato Farmers’ Market, Best Buy Parking Lot, 8 am. Info: Facebook.

• KNUJ Farmers Market, Cash Wise Parking Lot, New Ulm, 9 am-noon. Info: Facebook.

Sat, Aug 8 & Sept 19

• Shop the Lot Craft & Vendor Show, 2nd & Broadway parking lot, New Ulm. Info: Facebook.

Mon, Aug 10

• Music in the Park with Sleepy Eye Concertina Club, Johnson Park Football Field, New Ulm, 7-8 pm.

Mon, Aug 10 (thru Sept)

• North Mankato Farmers Market, So Central College, 1920 Lee Blvd, No Mankato, 3:30-6:30 pm. Info: Facebook.

Mon-Fri, Aug 10-14

• Acting Fun for Little Ones Theatre Camp (Ages 4-7),

GO. BE. DO. CON NECT.

In these uncertain times, be sure to check ahead to see if events are being held.

Central Park, Faribault, 9:30-11am. Info & signup: 507-332-7372 or info@ paradisecenterforthearts.org.

Tues, Aug. 11, 18 & 25 and Sept 1, 8 & 15

• Henderson Classic Car RollIns, downtown, Henderson, 5-8 pm. Info: 507-248-3691, hendersonrollin.com or hendersonrollin@gmail.com.

Wed, Aug 12

• Music in the Park by the Mages Family, American Legion Park, S 6th St, Le Sueur, 6 pm. Info: lesueurchamber.org.

Wed, Aug. 12 (thru Sept)

• Hutchinson Farmers Market, 25 Adams St SE, Hutchinson, 2:30-5:30 pm. Info: http:// business.explorehutchinson. com/events/

• Farmers Markets, Plaza de St. James, St. James, 5-7:30 pm. Info: discoverstjamesmn.com.

Thurs, Aug 13

• Meat-A-Palooza 2020, FarmAmerica, 7367 360th Ave, Waseca, 6-9 pm. Info: farmamerica.org/events/ or Facebook.

• 7 @ 7 Concert by Root River Jam Band, Central Park, Owatonna, 7 pm. Info: visitowatonna.org/calendar-ofevents/.

Thurs, Aug. 13 (thru Sept)

• KNUJ Farmers Market, Cash Wise Parking Lot, New Ulm, 2:30-5:30 pm. Info: Facebook.

Thurs, Aug 13 & 27, Sept 10 & 24

• Cruisin on Pine & 99, Nicollet, 5 pm. Info: Facebook.

Thurs, Aug 13, 20 & 27 and Sept 3, 10, 17 & 24

• Bands & Burgers, Lucky Lure patio, 416 Main St, Madison Lake, 6 pm. Info: 507-243-4343 or fun@luckyluremadlake.com

Fri, Aug 14

• Farmers Market, Bell Tower Park, Main St, Good Thunder, 4-6 pm. Info: 651-398-2400.

Fri, Aug 14 & 28

• Searles Bar Bike & Car Night, 13014 Main St, New Ulm (Searles), 5 pm. Info: Facebook.

Sat, Aug 15

• Autofest Scavenger Hunt, Searles Bar & Grill, 13014 Main St, New Ulm (Searles), 11 am-4 pm. Info: Facebook.

Mon, Aug 17

• Music in the Park with Mages Family Band, Johnson Park Football Field, New Ulm, 7-8 pm.

Wed, Aug 19

• Art in the Park, Central Park, Faribault, 10:30 a.m. Info: 507-332-7372 or info@ paradisecenterforthearts.org

Thurs, Aug 20

• Lifelong Learner Series— Pollinators, Ney Nature Center, 28238 Nature Center Ln, Henderson 12 pm. Info & registration: 507-357-8580 or info@neycenter.org

Thurs, Aug 20 & Sept 3 & 17

• Cruz-In Lake Crystal, Marston Park, Lake Crystal, 5-8 pm. Info: lakecrystalchamber.com/ events.

Sat, Aug 22.

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

Mon, Aug 24

• Music in the Park with Molly & Sonny Boy, Johnson Park Football Field, New Ulm, 7-8 pm.

Thurs, Aug 27

• 7 @ 7 Concert by Lost Faculties, Central Park, Owatonna, 7 pm. Info: visitowatonna.org/ calendar-of-events/.

Fri, Aug 28

• Big Hitter Classic Golf Tournament, Country Club, Glencoe, 1 pm. Info: sally@glencoechamber.com.

• Family Farm Night—Time Travel Tour, Minnesota Agricultural Interpretive Center—Farmamerica, 7367 360th Ave, Waseca, 5-8 pm. Info: 507-835-2052 or info@farmamerica.org.

Fri-Sat, Aug 28-29

• Joseph Hall’s Elvis & Johnny Cash Tribute, Paradise Center for the Arts, 321 Central Ave N, Faribault, 7:30 pm. Info: visitfaribault.com/calendar/ or 507-332-7372.

• The Rocky Horror Picture Show, State Street Theater Co, 1 N State St, New Ulm. 7:30 pm. Info & reservations (limited): 507-359-9990 or statestreettheater@gmail.com.

Sat, Aug 29

• Cottonwood River Hike, Flandrau State Park, 1300 Summit Ave., New Ulm, 7-8 pm. Info: 507-384-8890 or scott. kudelka@state.mn.us.

Sun, Aug 30

• Hill Climb, Flying Dutchmen Motorcycle Club, 20513 110th Ave, New Ulm, 10 am, Info: 507-354-2024 or FlyingDutchmenCycleClub. com.

Mon, Aug 31

• Music in the Park with Molly & Sonny Boy, Johnson Park Football Field, New Ulm, 7-8 pm.

Wed-Fri, Sept 2-4

• Blood Mobile, Civic Center, 1212 N Franklin St, New Ulm. 1-7 pm Wed, 12-6 pm Thurs, 8:30 am-1:30 pm.

Tues, Sept 8

• Dementia Experience Tours & Presentation, Laurel’s Peak Rehabilitation Center, 700 James Ave, Mankato, 3:307:30 pm. Info & registration: 507.387.4663 or cnessler@ freedomhomecarellc.com.

Thurs-Sat, Sept 10-12

• Sleepy Eye City Wide Garage Sales. Info: sleepyeyeonline. com/goodnews/sleepy-eyecity-wide-garage-sales/.

Sat, Sept 12

• Cornhole Tournament, American Legion Post #510, 715 3rd St, Nicollet, 1 pm. Info: 507-304-0054 or 507-995-8530.

• Fall Craft Sale, Steele Co Four Seasons Centre, 1525 S Elm Ave, Owatonna, 9 am-3 pm. Info: 507-456-1120 or bhortop@farmersagent.com.

• St. Raphael’s Catholic Church Fall Festival, Springfield, 5-7:30 pm. Info: springfieldmnchamber.org/ event-calendar/.

• Fall Festival 2020, Farmamerica 7367 360th Ave, Waseca, 11 am-4 pm. Info: farmamerica.org/events/.

• Multicutural Fiesta, Community Building Parking Lot, St. James, 3:30-9 pm. Info: discoverstjamesmn.com.

Fri-Sat, Sept 18-19

• Community-Wide Garage Sales, New Ulm. Info: nujournal. com/garage-sales/ or 507-359-2911.

• Citywide Garage Sales, Nicollet. Sat, Sept 19

• Giant Celebration Event, American Legion Park, S 6th St, Le Sueur. Info: lesueurchamber.org.

• Rolling Thunder Bean Bag Tournament Fundraiser, Country Club, 1 Golf Dr, New Ulm, 3 pm. Info: Facebook.

Sun, Sept 20

• Roll-In & Charity Classic Car Show & Swap, Nicollet Co Fairgrounds, St. Peter, 10 am-2 pm. Info: clubs.hemmings. com/autorestorers or 507-340-3095.

Finding Hope in Challenging Times

United Way’s Women with Heart panelists share perspectives

In challenging times, how do we find the encouragement and hope to keep moving forward? The past few months have been difficult for many people. Between family, health, educational, professional and societal concerns, this year has presented unique stresses and escalated needs throughout our region.

Greater Mankato Area United Way’s 11th annual Women with Heart event welcomed three panelists to share their perspective on how we can find hope even in the most difficult of circumstances.

The annual event brings together hundreds of women to rally around needs in our region and kick off pledging to the United Way campaign. United Way’s 2021 campaign will support 56 essential programs in Blue Earth, Le Sueur, Nicollet and Waseca counties.

Due to COVID-19 limitations, this year’s event took place virtually, with most attendees participating remotely from their home or workplace.

The 2020 Women with Heart panel included Dr. Annette Parker, president of South Central College; Dr. Katie Smentek, pediatrician at Mankato Clinic; and Amy Vokal, director of public safety for the City of Mankato. The panel was facilitated by Kate Cox, LICSW, director of Project for Teens (a United Way–supported nonprofit program).

Each leader shared professional and personal experiences, along with helpful takeaways on resilience, empowerment and hope. They also discussed the importance of showing others—and ourselves—empathy and compassion. Here are a few of their thoughts.

On not having the answers:

Cox: “There is no playbook right now. We learn, and we make adjustments as we go. We don’t have an end date to all that is happening, so it’s important to keep people positive and moving forward.”

Smentek: “I have always seen part of my job as reassuring families that their children are safe and healthy. I’m the one who has the trusted answers to their questions. Not being able to have the answers now is incredibly hard. I see my role right now in regard to COVID-19 as gathering

and assessing medical information and providing the best guidance I can to keep my patients and community safe.”

Vokal: “We need to be able to say, ‘I don’t know the answer right now— but we are going to figure it out.’”

On coming together:

Parker: “[At SCC], a positive outcome of these challenging times has been coming together for updates, discussion and dialogue. This has helped create an environment for sharing and working together.”

On getting back up:

Vokal: “I think of three things: mindset, resilience and grit. Grit gets you up when you don’t want to get out of bed.”

On racial understanding:

Parker: “It is hard to be positive when the same things happen again and again. When I compare the marches of the ’60s and ’70s with today, they were not as diverse then. We’re all proud to be Americans, and we have an opportunity to lead the world.”

On policing reforms:

Vokal: “This has been a learning process, and we’ve had great community support. Everyone wants this to succeed.”

On school:

Smentek: “I had to lean on my village more than ever to help my family through distance learning. With the upcoming uncertainty about backto-school plans, I’m trying to plan ahead for the fall. For example, we are working through a schedule of who would help with virtual school hours. We’re also modeling mask wearing, and giving our kids chances to practice wearing them in case they are required for going back to school.”

On the future:

Parker: “We need to leave our workplaces and our communities better than we found them. The only way to do that is to build leaders within them. That will be our legacy long after we are gone.”

Katie Smentek

Annette Parker

Amy Vokal

BY LAURA MURRAY

Greater Mankato Area United Way

QI’m feeling a lot of frustration towards some of my family and friends recently, especially in regard to political differences and ignoring social-distancing rules. How should I manage this?

ADear 2020, this was not on my vision board. From the pandemic to the civil unrest, and all the murder hornets in between, we have managed to immerse ourselves in some very polarizing waters this year. But we don’t have to drown ourselves in incivility. Even people who deeply love each other are falling victim to the politics of personal destruction. If those divides have you feeling some resentment towards your loved ones, you are not alone. Here are a few points to consider.

1. Check yourself

Reflect on what is specifically irritating you. For example, if conversation with Uncle Bob is going well and then goes straight south into a political rant, don’t be afraid to pivot and change the topic. Draw the conversation toward neutral territory such as hobbies or shared experiences. When in doubt talk about food. Everyone has to eat, and people rarely get aggressive over the state of their broccoli.

2. Set boundaries

If someone’s actions could potentially negatively impact your health

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

or safety, then enforcing boundaries is paramount. If possible, establish parameters ahead of time in order to minimize tension in the moment. Set expectations that you are comfortable only with remote or virtual gatherings, and establish specific plans that allow you to enjoy the benefits of the relationship as well as your own personal safety. Recognize that wearing a mask can be seen as a safety shield for some, and a political weapon for others. Do your best to protect yourself as best you can given the circumstances you are in.

3. Grace, not perfection

It’s ok not to like your family and friends all the time. It’s ok to feel unsure, scared, or anxious; as long as you feel safe. Give yourself the space you need, emotionally and physically, to process your feelings. No one has the answers, and none of us know how the rest of the pandemic will play out. Create the space you need to find joy in your day, and celebrate what you can.

4. Tap out

When all else fails and you can’t take it anymore, it’s perfectly ok to disengage and walk away. Consider taking a media detox: avoid social media and the nightly news. Go on a long walk outside, weed the garden, or get some exercise. Just don’t forget to dodge the murder hornets.

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7.

Pandemics aside, life is busy as we juggle our jobs, kids, and family along with other obligations. Often, the hectic pace we keep makes it difficult to cook a healthy meal or find time to work out and take care of ourselves. Unfortunately, one of the side effects of this self-neglecting behavior is an increase in body weight. Many times, the resulting scenario involves a closet filled with clothes we either dream of fitting into again or look at selling outright in order to start over.

Adding insult to injury is the diagnosis by our health care provider that because of this weight gain, we are now also prediabetic, with borderline cholesterol levels and prehypertensive blood pressure. Understandably, this causes even higher levels of stress, guilt, and depression that can lead to negative behavior, such as comfort eating and additional weight gain.

We end up feeling guilty because we should know better. In response to our ill-fitting clothes that cause both psychological and literal discomfort, we come up with a plan to lose the weight, which includes:

• Ridding our homes of any dessert, candy, soda, and processed food

• Promising to buy and eat only whole foods made from scratch

• Going to the gym five days a week and working out for one hour each time

• Hiring a life coach to help get our life together

• Reducing stress from work and our jobs

Sound familiar? Most of us do okay for three to four weeks then slowly revert to old habits that leave us feeling more discouraged and adding even more weight.

Start your path to better health

It’s time to break the vicious cycle of exercise and diet plans that simply aren’t sustainable. To start your path to better health, I want you to change one thing.

Simplify your goals

Instead of coming up with six or seven goals right from the start, focus

on one thing you can change either in your diet, exercise habits or weekly routine.

For example, the recommended physical activity per week for cardiac health and weight loss is five to six sessions of at least 30 minutes of aerobic exercise. This is a great goal many people can achieve.

Start by committing to 30 minutes of physical activity, with the eventual goal of one hour. You can feel good knowing you’ve had success, and perhaps in a month or two squeeze in some additional time on another day. Even adding a half-hour walk with your significant other or a pet several times a week is great. It all starts by changing one thing.

One change can make a positive difference to your health

Think about this: if you’re someone who drinks multiple sodas daily, you can lose upwards of 10 pounds a year simply by reducing your intake of one soda per day, even if you change nothing else. This is a theoretical number based on calories alone. Yet, you’re creating success for yourself by changing one thing.

Try eating a salad every other day with a meal. This is something you can manage and feel successful with. Eventually, you can implement other healthy things into your eating routine. For example, add a water bottle with fruit infusions to help keep you hydrated and lower your urge to snack. Plus, it’s a great alternative to other drink options throughout the day.

Here’s something to think about. When a child starts to learn a skill, whether it’s reading, sports, or whatever, they experience success. This experience builds momentum and provides confidence that leads to longterm sustainability.

Motivation by success works much better than motivation by guilt. Unfortunately, much of our motivation to change is guilt-based. This doesn’t work with motivating our children—or with managers and leaders with employees in the workplace—so why do we expect it to work here?

Remember, these are simply examples of ways to make healthy adjustments in our lives that will give you the confidence to change one thing.

GRAHAM KING, M.D. Mayo Clinic Health System, Mankato Family Medicine Physician

Thinking about purchasing a home?

WITH NICOLE BANGASSER

Q: I already own a home but I want to take advantage of the historically low rates I have been hearing about. How do I refinance and what do I need to know?

Refinancing has been extremely popular lately due to the rate market being very favorable. The process itself is very We can have a 15 minute conversation over the phone to set up your file and fill out all of the required documents. At this point I would provide you with a complete breakdown of your options, what your savings would be, and what costs are applicable to your particular loan. After that we submit the file to underwriting and complete their requirements which generally can be completed in 21 days or less! You may not even need an appraisal for a refinance depending on the last time your property was appraised. It’s a very quick and simple process.

Q: I have been thinking about buying a home but I don’t have much saved for down payment. Are there any programs for me?

A: YES! There are quite a few low to no down payment programs. USDA/Rural Development is a wonderful program that requires no down payment. The only catch is that you must purchase a home outside of the towns of Mankato and North Mankato. For homes located in town, FHA and Conventional loan programs only require 3.5% and 3% down. Both programs are great options for buyers that don’t have much saved for down payment OR simply don’t want to spend quite as much at closing. All three have different qualifying criteria, but it only takes a couple minutes to find out what you qualify for.

Nicole Bangasser is a Senior Loan Originator and Vice President of Marketing and Community Involvement for PrimeSource Funding. Her office is located at 1751 N Victory Drive Suite 500 in Mankato MN. Nicole enjoys helping people reach their homeownership goals through new purchase and refinance loans.

EX CELL ERATE HEALING.

It is called stem cell therapy and it uses your OWN body’s blood and tissues to help treat your pain. The procedure has to be performed correctly, which few can do. But in the hands of an expert like Dr. Kristin Oliver stem cell therapy has the potential to change lives. It can reduce the effects of arthritis and help injured tissue heal. Stem cell therapy can replace pain with hope. It can return athletes to the playing field and grandparents back to the lives they want to live.

To learn more please visit our website www.bluetailmedicalgroup.com or call Kathy Nelson at 507-385-4014.

Kristin Oliver, MD

A Leader in Regenerative Medicine

Dr. Oliver is a leader in regenerative medicine, having performed more procedures than anyone in the country, including stem cell and platelet rich plasma therapies and provides therapy locally at Mankato Clinic’s location in North Mankato.

bluetailmedicalgroup.com

STEM CELL THERAPY

THE POWER TO HEAL IS IN YOUR BLOOD.