River Valley Woman June 2021

Early detection saves lives.

BY EILEEN MADSEN Editor

And I mean that literally. At least for this one month out of the year, we are letting the guys of the river valley have their day in the sun. Seven fellas from a variety of backgrounds, occupations and aspirations shine in this issue devoted just to them. As fabulicious as we women know we are, and as much as we love our significant others, brothers, dads, sons, etc., it does tend to be all about them, doesn’t it? Even when it isn’t. Ever notice how the word “guys” and other male euphemisms are interchangeable with either sex? “What do you guys wanna do tonight?” we ask our gal pals. “Guys, keep it down!” we yell at our family when we want peace and quiet. When we are impressed we say “Dude!” When we are happy we say “Oh boy!” And when we are exasperated we roll our eyes and say “Awww, MAN!” Wait, that actually makes sense.

All kidding aside, I really love this annual issue. Because I like guys. I love select guys. At any given gathering I will most often gravitate to where the boys are. Not because I like sports. (Although, I don’t altogether suck at shooting baskets.) It’s because guys think differently. Talk differently. It can be refreshing. They cut to the chase. They will readily LOL. Most of my BFFs are male, including my husband. Yea, cliché and sappy as that may sound. If I was not married to my guy, we would be good friends. Real good friends. The type of friends who would stare at each other over beers while out with the gang and wish we were alone somewhere. Is it hot in here? Annnyhooo….

Rockin’ our cover is APX Concrete’s Ryan Evenson, whose work shapes communities throughout the river valley and beyond. But Ryan is the first to point that it isn’t all about him. It’s his employees’ teamwork, along with the clients’ dream work, that sets things in stone. If the walls of APX, and sister company, Evenson Concrete Systems, could talk, you’d hear echoes of Ryan’s father and grandfather, in whose footsteps (hopefully, not wet cement) he has followed, learning and working his way up.

Because of Father’s Day this month, dads and their influence are mentioned throughout our features. My dad had a big influence on me. Oh yea, he was a very hard worker, snappy dresser, funny, loved jazz,

always put mom first and was on us kids' sides no matter what. But I’m talking about the important things. He taught me to never listen to him about hair care products. Frustrated at the amount of shampoos, conditioners, and sprays he had to wade through in the bathroom due to me and my sisters’ obsession with our ’dos, he suggested we could wash our hair with his beloved Lava soap and we couldn’t tell the difference. Not taking him at his word led me to a bright future of good hair days without the grit. Thanks Dad!

Ben Janike flexes his muscle helping his mostly female clientele build not only healthy, strong bodies, but selfconfidence as well, at Kato CrossFit. But it wasn’t only his clients who needed confidence. Ben, himself had to man up and draw on his inner strength last year when the fitness biz took a major hit because of the pandemic. Taking a job with Folie Roofing during the interim allowed him to support himself as well as his staff. Just the lift that was needed.

Furniture craftsman, Harold Enamorado, takes his talent and— knock on wood—will create beauty from the seemingly ugly. Harold admits he is a backwards thinker. Meaning, in order to make his gorgeous and unique pieces, the key is finding the right piece of wood first. Then the magic begins. He is forward thinking, however, when it comes to recycling. A pest infestation in the ash tree population in New Ulm forced the City to cut down hundreds of trees, and that is where Harold stepped in, reclaiming them for his projects, and saving them from incineration.

Michael Cimino is a contradiction. On the one hand he’s a talented muralist, whose work you see throughout Mankato and neighboring cities. On the other hand, he would just as soon someone paint over them all. At least, eventually. Another casualty of career-killing COVID, Michael has had plenty of time to ponder his art, what it should and should not be, and whether he should even be doing it at all. This different approach interview is a thinkpiece, as well as an eyeopener, to not only the man behind the graphics you may be driving by daily, but the evolution and revolution of the artist.

Rounding out this man-tastic issue are Q&As with photographer Kyle Krenz, with an eye for the ordinary that is extraordinary; smokin’ Greg Traylor amps up the barbecue flavor with TNT Eats; and park & rec director Tom Schmitz plays at work as he works at play.

Oh boy, we’ve got smarts, strength, insight, talent, sincerity, honesty and determination all rolled into one issue. Dude! The guys have it.

By MARIE ZIMMERMAN

PHOTOS BY ALICE HQ PHOTOGRAPHY

yan Evenson’s path to becoming a thirdgeneration contractor started with his grandfather, who owned his own concrete company and worked hard every day. The projects his grandfather did intrigued Ryan; he wondered how and why each one looked different. As a teenager, he got hands-on experience by joining the crew with his dad’s concrete business—not even really for the money, but for the satisfaction.

“Concrete is very physical, manual, labor intensive. It’s probably one of the hardest construction trades to really work in. One because, obviously, concrete—the minute it starts to take its final state—it becomes very solid and there’s no changing it if you need to make any changes. It’s very demanding, but rewarding, as well,” Ryan, who’s has 25 years of experience in the industry, said.

Starting with the foundation his grandfather and father laid for him, Ryan learned contracting by working his way up. He’s now the president and CEO of APX Construction group and its sister company, Evenson Concrete Systems.

Mitch Rohlfing is Ryan’s business partner and executive vice president of APX Construction Group. The two have a lot in common. Both are hometown kids from Cleveland, Minnesota, and both have been in construction their whole lives and have construction management degrees from Minnesota State University, Mankato.

Mitch also started out working with his dad, then went into custom home building before getting into commercial construction. He and Ryan knew each other from growing up in the same town of 700 people, and from job sites they’d shared. In 2003, they joined forces to start Evenson Concrete Systems (ECS) together.

ECS slowly developed into more than just concrete, and the two launched APX in 2014 to offer the full

commercial general contracting concept. They have very similar work styles, Mitch said, and build off each other’s strengths.

“(Ryan) is just a generally good guy. He’s honest. He’s a lot of fun to be around. He creates a real fun atmosphere. Our whole team here at APX enjoys working with him. I think that’s part of why we’re so successful,” Mitch said.

Based in Mankato, APX employs more than 55 people locally. The company’s focus is in Mankato, Rochester, Minneapolis, St. Paul, Sioux Falls, and Northern Iowa, although it has completed work nationwide. Some of APX’s projects close to home include Southern Minnesota Periodontics and Implants, Maud Borup, DLC, Medieval Metalwerx, Buffalo Wings & Rings, Caribou, and Spotlight Dance Company. Upcoming projects include the Picklebarn and Truck Center Companies.

“Essentially we’re shaping the community. We’re helping others see their vision and helping develop an entire community through all these projects and their different uses,” Evenson—who is a champion for sustainable growth that engages everyone in the community in creating a vibrant future—said.

The very first project for APX was ambitious—a 100,000 square foot warehouse facility for what was then Angie’s Kettle Corn in North Mankato. It was a large project on a tight timeline, and the team came through on time, despite some delays. While construction is notorious for last minute changes, delays, and challenges, Ryan is good at anticipating issues and enjoys the twists and turns of taking an idea from start to finish.

“The fun part of it is you’re doing something different every day. The biggest and most important thing that makes you successful is always being able to adapt very quickly to those very different needs and requirements,” Evenson said. 

Everyone is only as good as the people next to them or with them. It’s not how good I am.

What values were instilled in you by your father?

I think the biggest influence on who I am has probably been my father, just seeing how hard he worked every single day and what he put into it and what he was able to accomplish and get out of it. Both my father and grandfather owned and operated their own concrete construction company.

In my father’s business, he was everything. He was the owner, the onsite field manager, accounting, payroll, estimator: He wore every single hat and worked hard every single day and never complained about it. It was just what he did. And I saw how he built relationships.

I think that would be equally the same for both my grandfathers. My other grandfather was a dairy and crop farmer and worked seven days a week. I don’t recall him taking a vacation for 35 years.

Ryan and his wife, Keri, have three kids, daughters ages 12 and 10, and a son who is 5. The family lives near Madison Lake. As a dad, what values do you want to instill in your children?

I’m trying to instill the same values that I grew up with. Always try your hardest. Whatever you’re going to put into it, you’re going to get out of it. The opportunities are endless, wherever you want to take it.

 In his role at APX, Ryan guides clients through services ranging from construction management, general contracting, pre-construction, design/build, development, and owners representation. This often includes land acquisition, business consulting, financing, and permitting. It’s a complex process that can be intimidating, but Ryan’s always one step ahead in his mind. “I’ve been afforded the experience of being on so many different sides of the construction and business development field. I started out as a subcontractor working for general contractors. We’re a developer, so we develop our own projects. From the development side, we are the owner, just like our clients are, so we know how important it is to maintain that cost, that quality, that time,” Evenson said. “I’m always able to think ahead and really understand quickly where a client maybe needs help, because they don’t know what they don’t know.”

In his industry, Ryan sees two types of projects. There’s the work advertised in a public bidding process, where a lower total price tag is often a major factor in who gets the job. And then there’s what Evenson termed “relationship work,” which is how APX finds most of its projects.

“The majority of our work is negotiated, client-based work where

they’re coming to us based on relationships,” he said. “Really what drives me is the ability to take and help a customer that most of the time doesn’t really know how to get from concept and vision all the way to completion. It’s way more than just building a building. It’s helping them understand how their building is going to function and flow and be vibrant and alive for them. And along the way, we’ve become good personal friends with our customers.”

While hard work has always been a central theme in Ryan’s life, he also enjoys spending quality time with his family, hunting, fishing, and supporting community causes. Evenson’s business model is firmly rooted in the community, and focused on relationships and people.

“Everyone is only as good as the people next to them or with them. It’s not how good I am. We’re growing because of how good everyone else is, how everyone works together and is able to be so effective and efficient and having that team dynamic and collaboration every day,” Ryan said.

As his businesses and list of projects continue to grow, Ryan can look out over the community he calls home and see the legacy he’s helping to build, set in stone. RVW

HEAT BEAT

By CHRISTINE NESSLER

When Ben Janike started Kato CrossFit in 2012, he may not have planned on owning a female-dominated gym. Now—nine years in—Janike has a predominantly female clientele and a knack for helping women build self-confidence through CrossFit as part of their overall wellness.

It’s no secret that poor body image can affect self-esteem. Culture, media, family, and friends all project negative or positive body messages. We grow up with a skewed sense of the ideal body, based on what we’re told.

Janike himself says he grew up being teased for being the “fat kid.” When he was 16 years old, he was grounded for a summer for crashing his mom’s car and forced to ride his bike 10 miles to work every day from his family’s home outside of Waseca. It was during that time that he really began to appreciate fitness. He was even inspired to make his own gym in the hayloft of his parents’ barn. Perhaps building his own gym was a sign of what was to come, namely a career dedicated to helping others find that love of selfcare through fitness and overall wellness.

When Janike opened Kato CrossFit in 2012, CrossFit was something completely new to southern Minnesota. CrossFit is a strength and conditioning workout that uses high intensity interval training, along with functional movements. It turned out to be a great fit for the Mankato area. By 2017, Kato CrossFit had outgrown two locations and moved to its current space at 1522 North Riverfront Drive in Mankato.

A few years ago, Janike saw a new opportunity. He noticed a lot of women looking for fitness help. Ben determined it was time to reach out to those women and show them a new way to view wellness.

“There are a lot of ladies out there and a ton of misleading information,” Janike said. “I wanted to help them navigate through the bull.”

Joy Strand, a client for eight years, came to Kato CrossFit just like a lot of people do, looking to lose weight.

“I had a distorted self-image, and had unrealistic expectations of how I wanted to look,” Strand said. “In our culture, there’s always a critic. If you’re too big, lose weight; it too skinny, eat a sandwich; it too muscular, don’t look like a man.”

With Janike’s help, Strand began to see herself in a different way.

“Ben is special, he has a gift of creating belief inside people they didn’t even know they had,” Strand said. “For me, a spark was created by Ben and it ignited motivation, self-confidence, and passion for health. It took off so fierce I forgot I was there to lose weight.”

Strand says she now loves her body for what it is, and not for what she thought it should be. She has become more confident as she has become healthy, happy, and fit.

“I still have insecurities,” Strand said. “But I can handle them and not let them handle me.”

Many women are changing the way they view fitness and seeing the benefit of lifting and building strength. Coaches decide which workout is most appropriate and then adjust that workout for each person.

“The coaches get to know you and your goals, so nobody falls through the cracks,” Donna Leff, a client for the past six years, said. “They help you get the most out of class. It’s a much more effective experience than going into a gym, getting on a treadmill, not speaking to anybody the whole time, and then leaving.”

“I feel like CrossFit helps show females that they can do anything they set their mind to,” Kato CrossFit coach Heather Lee said. “It doesn’t matter who you are, if you have determination and drive, you can do anything.” 

Ben Janike, owner of Kato CrossFit, helps his clients by taking their journey to a healthy lifestyle one step at a time.

Degree in Exercise Science from Minnesota State University, Mankato

Wrestled as a Maverick for Minnesota State University, Mankato

Likes the team comradery of CrossFit that encourages a bit of healthy competition and reminds him of wrestling workouts

Husband to Elizabeth

Father to Jackson (10), Charlie (8), Lucas (6) and Leo (5)

Wants to teach three main values in his sons—respect, kindness, and bravery

Another approach to helping his clients to achieve their overall wellness has been the collaboration of the Kato Athletic Company.

Janike partnered with Sam Benjegerdes of Rexius Nutrition and Matthew Hogden of Bodikey Physical Therapy to form The Kato Athletic Company which provides a “one-stop health and wellness destination.” Combined, the three businesses offer a fitness center, CrossFit classes, personal training, nutrition supplements, the meal prep service known as Eat Fit Go, and physical therapy. Janike feels that there is nothing else like it available.

When COVID-19 hit, Janike and his team made the tough decision to close Kato CrossFit, even before the mandated closure. Janike and his team sat down with their computers at once and started working on a plan. They immediately pivoted and had a plan to go virtual the next day.

“When COVID hit, that destroyed people,” Janike said. “I spent most of my day on the phone just talking to people.” For the 105 days the gym was closed, the team checked in with clients once a week to see how they were doing. They posted resources in their Facebook group, including mobility exercises and meal plans. They leased out all of their equipment except for what they needed to teach virtual classes.

However, it wasn’t just the clients that Ben looked out for during COVID.

“When COVID hit, my mission was to make sure that none of my employees lost their jobs,” he said.

Janike had put everything into his gym. To keep it alive, he broke off and took a full-time job with Folie Roofing, operated by his friend Jay Folie. It allowed Ben the security of a full-time income, as well as a way to keep his employees safe from a lay-off.

“We have super good coaches in this gym. They all just stepped up and kind of took that spot,” Janike said. While he is still the owner, Janike depends on his coaches to run the gym.

Although Kato CrossFit felt the effects of COVID-19, the principles that made the gym special kept it alive.

“Our gym survives by being a tight-knit community,” Janike said.

 “I was excited to show up every day, to see what challenge awaited me on the whiteboard,” Strand said. “Once I discovered how much I loved how my body performed, I started to care about what I put into my body.”

That’s where the conversation of overall wellness comes into the picture. Janike and his coaches look at the whole picture of their client’s health. They provide support systems and checks and balances to ensure their clients are able to stick with their wellness goals for the long-term. They focus on one wellness goal at a time and work from there.

“A big misconception is that fitness is the end of it,” Janike said. “Here, we talk about your life as a whole. Making sure you are getting sleep, water, decent nutrition. We need to gain the self-confidence and then all of a sudden you get a barbell in your hand and it switches from wanting cardio to stay lean to wanting to lift to be strong.”

Watching that transition is Janike’s favorite part of owning Kato CrossFit.

That self-confidence shift manifests in different ways for each client.

Donna Leff, Kato CrossFit client of almost six years, has seen her confidence grow in and out of the gym.

“I think it’s taught me to stop underestimating myself so much. It’s given me the chance to practice attributes that carry over into everyday life,” Leff said. “It’s easier to stick with a problem longer at work because I stick with challenging workouts at the gym all the time.”

Ben could go on all day about the lives he’s seen change from CrossFit. Among them are two of his own employees, Lex Mathison and Heather Lee.

Lex Mathison started at Kato CrossFit in 2019. Mathison was a runner and says she was developing bad habits, including an eating disorder. Mathison decided she wanted to get strong, but had never really been interested in lifting. She found Kato CrossFit on Instagram and reached out to Janike. They began working on nutrition together.

“I feel like it is the mental aspect of being in the gym with like-minded people more than anything,” Mathison said of how CrossFit helped her overcome her eating disorder. “You constantly have that support system.”

Although Mathison first became interested in Kato CrossFit as a way to become stronger, she soon found her objectives changing.

“Everyone’s goal here is usually one goal and then it morphs into a different one,” Mathison said. She decided to begin competing in CrossFit competitions after becoming a member. Lex later became interested in coaching and completed her certification when she was 17, the youngest one can be as a CrossFit coach. Now 18, Mathison has the opportunity to help others as a certified CrossFit coach for Kato CrossFit.

Another current coach started out as a member.

When Heather Lee joined Kato CrossFit almost four years ago, she was facing challenges in her personal life and struggling with her mental health.

“Kato CrossFit became an outlet for me,” Lee said. “I was able to take one hour out of my day a few times a week and focus on my health and well-being. Within the first couple of months, I felt a huge change in my mental health and was starting to feel like myself again.”

According to Janike, the number one factor of overall well-being is mental health. He sees fitness as one approach to nurturing mental health.

“America, in general, has gotten into the habit of quick and easy,” Janike said. “You have to make that extra effort for your own mental stability and physical ability.”

Ben noted that the transformations for Mathison and Lee are easy to spot.

“Heather and Lex walked in here for the first time slouched down and now they walk in with a swagger,” he said. “That, in itself, is something that is absolutely groundbreaking.”

Having made those transformations themselves makes these women even more effective as Kato CrossFit coaches.

Janike has had a lot of jobs in his life, but he feels like the work they do at Kato CrossFit is close to everyone’s passion. That passion does not go unnoticed.

“Ben, as a coach, is incredible. You meet people and know immediately that they are doing what they are meant to be doing with their lives. To me that is Ben,” Kathryn Block, a Kato CrossFit member since 2017, said. “Ben has pushed me well beyond my comfort zone and helped me find a drive I didn’t know I had. I am determined and strong because Ben helped me uncover that.”

Making it fun is all a part of the culture at Kato CrossFit. Ben and his coaches support and encourage clients to reach their wellness goals and gain self-confidence in the gym and out in the world. Their clients have begun doing the same for their Kato CrossFit team.

Block, like many others, didn’t know what to expect from a CrossFit workout. However, from the moment she entered the gym she felt at ease. Instead of the judgement she had experienced at other gyms, she felt welcomed by Janike and his team.

“Ben has built a family environment at the gym.” Block said. “No one is left behind during class, you stay and cheer and support one another until everyone is done.”

Janike may not have planned out his future on his long bike rides to work at the age of 16, but he definitely set a course for his legacy. Ben has spent nine years building a gym with a safe environment that offers a family feel, a path to a lifelong healthy lifestyle, and an opportunity to boost selfconfidence through overall wellness.

“At the end of the day, it all boils down to the people. The community. The familiar faces,” Strand said. RVW

Ben Janike opened Kato CrossFit in Mankato in 2012.

By RUTH KLOSSNER

A designer of beautiful handcrafted furniture, Enamorado commented, “I design backwards. I find the wood first, then design the pieces. I do it backwards.”

That backwards approach also applies in other ways to his work. He involves his clients in the design process, reaching out to learn where and how the piece will be used. That’s important, as virtually all of Harold’s work is pre-sold.

“People ask me, ‘What’s the difference between buying a table and getting a custom table?’ I tell them it’s like a birthday cake. Anybody can buy a cake, but if you know the person’s favorite flavor and decorate it with their name, it’s special,” he said. “That’s why we get our clients involved in the design process. People can pick the slabs they want for their piece—they’re part of the process.”

Each piece created at Enamorado’s Cala Contemporary Woodwork in New Ulm is carefully designed, with Enamorado striving to give his clients more than “just a piece of furniture.”

“We give you more than just furniture—we give you the story of the wood. Every product has a story behind it. It’s all about the trees,” he said.

A perfect example of the “story behind the wood” is reflected in the eight tables and 16 benches Enamorado recently completed for Schell’s Brewery.

Harold closed the deal on the story of the wood in the tables. He used reclaimed lumber from ash trees cut down by the City of New Ulm because of emerald ash borer infestation. The trees were destined to be incinerated at the tree disposal site, but Enamorado stepped in. He got special certification from the Department of Agriculture to use the wood.

On his website, Enamorado explained, “This is tragic, and this blatant waste of natural resources needs to stop. I want to give these healthy trees a second chance to be something beautiful. By creating unique, artistic furniture pieces, we can capture the beauty of the wood and immortalize the tree forever. We will also donate wood to local high schools for woodworking departments.”

“I told Schell’s that I wanted to sell them something that they can share with their clients. Schell’s has grown in New Ulm, just like these trees grew in New Ulm. That was my selling point.”

He went on, “It was a challenging process. When we got approval, the trees were outside. The requirements were that we had to have a machine to saw and dry them on site. We had to cut and dry them quickly.”

Enamorado works with a wide variety of wood—not only ash, but black walnut, oak, locust, pine, red cedar, and more. Future plans include the addition of exotic woods from Honduras.

“We often use the wood nobody else wants,” he said. “We buy the lots the sawmills don’t want—including the ugliest things you’ll find in the forest. It’s a challenge for us when we find wood in different shapes— that’s when our creativity goes up!” 

Ash logs—once destined for the burn pit— wait to be made into beautiful furniture at Harold Enamorado’s Cala Contemporary Woodwork in New Ulm.

“The story of the wood” was the selling point in tables made for Schell’s Brewery, using ash wood grown in New Ulm, then cut down by the city because of ash borer disease.

Cubes are among the best sellers for Cala Contemporary Woodwork. Each cube is custom designed and has its own look and feel. Some come with legs and/or rollers.

When Harold was looking for a name for his business, he wanted something short, elegant, and easy to remember. He saw a photo of his wife, holding Calla lilies.

“That was the first flower I gave to my wife when we were dating,” he explained.

Harold has had a love affair with trees since his childhood. He still remembers a mango tree that he and his friends played in back in Honduras.

Enamorado wrote about the tree on the Cala Contemporary website. “One day, the city decided that they were going to construct a new building on that site. I remember standing by with my cousins and watching the construction company cut our mango tree down. We observed as it hit the ground without ever getting a second chance. This moment had a huge impact on me and my perception about the use of trees in our society.”

After a family vacation to Costa Rico, Harold decided to study architecture at a college there—and met his future wife, Jayme Argall of New Ulm, who was an international student, at the same college.

“We came here for vacation for a few weeks, then went back to Costa Rico to finish our degrees. I saw all the lakes and I wanted to go fishing,” Harold recalled.

The family moved to Minnesota in January 2015…in snow and ice that Harold had never seen.

“I said, ‘Honey, where are the lakes?’ and she replied, ‘You’re standing on them!”

After a few years in the Twin Cities, the family moved to New Ulm about four years ago.

Harold and Jayme have three children—son Alessandro, 12; and twins Chloe and Emilia, three-and-a-half. The kids provide an interesting perspective on Harold’s work.

“Every night when I get home, the girls say, ‘Let me see your owies today.’ Then I have to tell them a story about how I got them. I make up a story that goes, “I was walking in the forest and a dinosaur.…’”

Alessandro comes to the shop after school several days a week and helps out, with a promise that he’ll get an Xbox.

“When people ask him how he knows when he’s done sanding a piece, he says, ‘You rub your hand across. When you don’t get any more splinters, it’s done,’” Harold said.

Harold Enamorado checks the epoxy that centers a black walnut table dining table with a live (raw) edge. When the epoxy sets, the table will be turned over and finished.

Harold Enamorado has been involved in furniture making almost his entire life, His dad, Saul, had a metal factory, making furniture, in San Pedro Sula, Honduras. As a child, Harold remembers going to school in the morning, then working in the shop in the afternoon. Then, on Saturday’s and Sunday’s the family would go door-to-door selling pieces.

When metal prices increased drastically some 20 years ago, Harold’s father went into the wood business, making wood furniture. With that change, Harold developed a background in both metal and wood work.

“I enjoyed it. I learned a lot from the craftsmen in Honduras, especially in the use of tools which were very limited. You have a hammer, a knife, and a pliers—you figure it out. That’s what expands your mind,” he said.

When he came to New Ulm, Harold started doing woodwork in his garage—but soon ran out of space and power. He was buying metal from Booth Welding and jumped at the chance to rent space from them.

Enamorado purchased the old city water treatment plant near the Minnesota River in New Ulm last September. The building provides plenty of space, but still needs major renovations, as it was vacant for nearly 20 years.

“We fixed the roof, but there’s an endless list of things to fix,” he said. “I want to close off space for an office and showroom, when I have time.”

To learn more about Cala Contemporary Woodwork, visit calamn.com or CALA on Facebook.

 Enamorado uses the imperfections of the wood to create unique custom details.

Harold also works with a lot of reclaimed barn wood and can tell his clients where the barn was located, and sometimes the story behind it.

“We ship all over the U.S. It’s unique for our clients to get furniture made from old barns,” he said.

Although Enamorado has shipped product all over the world— Germany, Puerto Rico, Canada, Honduras, Alaska, and has an inquiry from Australia—he would like to do more work for local clients, to avoid the hassles and cost of shipping.

Harold’s father is still in the furniture business in Honduras and Harold stays in touch with woodworkers there. He also hires Honduran craftsmen to create drawings and plans for his projects.

“I support the guys there. I know how difficult it is for them. I pay them the same as I’d pay workers here to do my IT, auto cad drafting, and graphics design,” he said. 

Harold Enamorado creates beautiful wood furniture in his shop just off Front Street in New Ulm. Slabs of various woods are on display and clients are encouraged to select wood for their products.

Harold Enamorado skillfully combines reclaimed barn beams with metal to create striking coffee tables.

Each piece is created to fill a client’s need, with consideration for its use, location, and other items in the room.

While most furniture makers use epoxy to fill cracks, Harold Enamorado chooses to use melted aluminum, heating it until it’s liquid.

 Enamorado also supported his native country when it was hit hard by a pair of hurricanes a few weeks apart during the pandemic. He created a GoFundMe page and raised more than $4,000 to help families and children with food, milk, medicine, diapers, and personal products.

Now in his second year as a registered LLC business, Enamorado commented, “For me, this business is not about making money but it’s about paying bills and, more so, building a brand. To do that, I do things differently. We do all the processing from forest to furniture. I cut logs, mill, dry them, do the metal work.”

As he looked at a dining room table in progress, Harold quipped, “We do everything except have dinner on the table.”

After adding a sawmill last July, Enamorado’s business is picking up and now has three employees—Chuck Kilmer, who does welding and woodworking; high school student Nick Reinhart who does welding; and Stacey Watje who handles shipping, among other things. Stacey’s son, Travis, a college student in computer programming and art, comes in when he can to draw projects on a CNC machine. RVW

A beautiful black walnut table made for a client.

By LORI MATHIOWETZ

he subject of solitude among artists is wildly debated. Picasso was fond of saying: “without solitude serious work is not possible.” Arthur C. Clark begged to differ and declared: “artists don’t thrive in solitude; nothing is more stimulating than the conflict of minds sharing interests!”

If you’ve spent any time in Mankato, Eagle Lake, or New Ulm, likely you have driven or walked past one of Michael Cimino’s public installations. These are not places of solitude, but rather of gathering. In New Ulm his “Follow Your Bliss” memorial mural has become a popular place for loitering tweens to make TikTok videos, prom-goers to stop for a photo-op, and pedestrians young and old to try their hand at finding the morel mushrooms hidden in the painting like an IRL “Where’s Waldo” interactive Eye Spy.

Most often artists enter into solitude with the intention of being productive.

Memorial mural in New Ulm, Follow Your Bliss

The desire to get away from the suffocating clamor of society and introspection becomes necessary, almost pivotal to the process of creation. Unless of course you are a public mural artist who has been isolating among the jack pines of Northern Minnesota during a time of global pandemic and social upheaval. Which puts artists like Cimino, who normally create communal-experiences, into a purgatory of sorts.

What’s the solitude like? Do you welcome the hiatus?

Cimino: Oh no, it’s terrible. I feel paralyzed. I used art for so many different things, my financial wellbeing, my struggles, how I built myself up, I relied on art for every sole part of my being. So now I have to figure out how to make myself happy without it. It’s torture. But it also seems really important. Like if I don’t do this, then I’m just blindly going through this career in the arts without stopping to think about the importance of art in a community to begin with. So, it needs to be done. Had COVID not happened I would still be blissfully bumbling around thinking that what I’m doing is righteous and just. But this has allowed me the time to reflect and I’ve had to deal with and come to terms with some of the demons in my own mentality, with my weaknesses in the way I built my career in the arts.

What’s integral to your work? Like without that... you can’t lift a brush/pencil?

Cimino: It sounds pitiful to say, but I’m realizing how much I relied on the response of others to drive me to make art. I’m a creature of habit who needs certain cues and triggers, and social interaction was important to my making art. I kind of adhere to the idea of Determinism: external factors affect who we are, what we do, why we do it. So, for me it goes back to the high school art room with Byron Ubl, which was communal. Or the college art studios where when I was teaching and my students were painting, I was painting alongside them. Public art is a social act. COVID disrupted my habits, so with the former shutdown and stay-at-home order, it just took away my drive to make art. I’m relearning that now. My practice has really changed from painting and drawing to woodworking and building decks, so that has kind of fulfilled that creative role for a while.

You got off social media this year too, correct?

Cimino: Yeah, so I don’t have those connection points any more. And those little bits of shallow affirmation did seemingly have an effect. So, I’m recreating this practice of not constantly uploading content and having it judged. For some reason the internet creates the valuation points for why we are living, like if someone doesn’t hashtag it, then it didn’t happen. It’s not that I’m done making public art, it’s figuring out how do I continue to move forward and create art for myself and other people without the constant need for a stranger’s affirmation. COVID changed everything about how I thought my brain operated. I used to think I had this compulsive drive to make art. Then when COVID hit I just stalled.

So, a lot has changed since working in Mankato?

Cimino: In Mankato I felt this self-proclaimed calling of like really kickstarting and getting murals there in the hopes that, sure they’re not the greatest works of art, but when someone sees one, maybe in spite, they want to make it better. Like the Mandala mural on Bellissimo Paint and Coatings in Old Town Mankato, it got redone this last summer. Exact same process, they used some of our old imagery. But I think it looks better now, it’s much crazier! I don’t necessarily agree with the color palette that much, but they made it what I believe to be better. Hopefully someone goes down to south Riverfront someday and looks at the wall I did and says, “it’s just blue and pink triangles. Let’s make something better!” There’s a cycle to them, murals get old. They need to be made new. You drive through a town like New Prague or any small town in Minnesota and see all these old war murals completely beat up. Why? For some reason we just haven’t fully grappled yet with the fact that murals are not permanent works of art that need to be kept around forever. They need to be recycled they need to be made new.

If art isn’t living, it dies then?

Cimino: Especially public art. I mean we have museums, and I have little drawings here in my closet that sure, they will stay here forever and never see the light of day and that’s fine. Public art needs to be renewed. Ten years is good. I wanted to get stuff down there enough to where people would see it as normal and see other murals and then start doing it themselves. I hope more than anything that people do cover up my work. After ten years it’s aged out. A new artist needs to come in and paint over my 

River Rock Coffee, St. Peter

Martians or Bigfoot?

This is a loaded question. Are we talking peaceful Nordic Humanoids or Zeti Reticuli Greys? Are we assuming that Bigfoot isn’t related to the numerous human disappearances that occur every year in National Parks?

Never mind, it’s gotta be Martians, I couldn’t deal with the smell of Sasquatch, I gotta believe E.T.s bathe regularly.

Video Games or Board Games?

Video games, I’m the jerk that comes into board games hoping to anger the people who take it seriously.

Boxers or Briefs?

Boxer briefs, the best of both worlds.

Piercings or Tattoos?

I plead the 5th, answering this question will halve the number of friends I currently have.

Drawing or Painting?

Drawing 100%. Painting requires so much prep, clean up, maintenance, minutiae. Drawing (in the context of its most basic definition) is immediate gratification.

Museum or Concert?

Concert, I miss live music terribly.

Hunter or Gatherer?

Gatherer, I think people look mostly terrible in orange, (excluding those reading this while wearing orange, you look fantastic).

Luck or Fate?

Fate, we’re all directed by outside environmental influence without our control.

Smell or Sight?

Sight, I could benefit from losing my sense of smell some days.

 stuff or recycle the work. And use some of the prime real estate that I and others have painted on and recycle our work. It does have an expiration date, culturally and aesthetically. If I go back to Mankato in four years and I see beat-tohell, faded remnants of my mural, I’m going to be disappointed that no one covered it up and made it better.

I don’t know that most artists would say that.

Cimino: It’s like a Kmart! When a Kmart is fresh and new in New Ulm in the 80s, it’s a wonderful thing. But in 2014 when there’s a Target and a Walmart, and a turning tide away from big box stores toward shopping locally, and that Kmart has been closed for years, abandoned and empty, it looks like a scar on the community. It has an expiration date. It’s a very capitalist analogy to make but I think it holds true. Art needs to change over time.

Boy that feels like a hard pill to swallow though. If we’re not growing we’re dying I suppose?

Cimino: The core thing is that people’s ideas change. So, the infrastructure has to change around it.

So, then what would you say the role of an artist is in American society today? Are there themes that you think we should all be pursuing or exploring? Questions we should be trying to answer or ask of one another?

Cimino: Every answer is tough right now because we’re in such a state of change. I personally am in a state of change right now. Especially in this last year, and Minneapolis being sort of the ground zero for so much social change and discussion. I really just try to sit down and listen. As a public artist, I don’t know that my voice should really be the one talking right now. I think we should really, really be looking at fully embracing and exhibiting the views and ideas of the BIPOC (Black Indigenous, People of Color) community. My own self education, racially, over the last year, has been key to listening more and to seeing what we have been blissfully ignorant of. I sound three years outdated saying this but right now I think we need to include more voices in the discussion. I’m a straight, white male living in mid-western Minnesota. What I have to say is not really that socially progressive for the rest of us. Sometimes taking action means actively stepping down, listening more, and removing yourself from leadership roles.

Do you think your role then as an artist in listening and including new voices involves the job of inviting and including?

Cimino: These aren’t my stories to tell. I’m very much on the side of: I do not want to be the

storyteller for someone else’s story. I look back now and think my format for community murals seems cringy. It wasn’t community engaging enough. When I did one in North Minneapolis at Jenny Lind Elementary which is a majority minority elementary school it was a fantastic time. The community mural had a diverse turn out overall. A part of my brain just says: “shut up and listen, that’s what you’re doing. Just. Be. Insignificant. Because you probably can’t solve this problem.” So that’s one side of me. But there is the other that asks: what can I do with my experience and my privilege to help? I don’t know what my role is yet, I’m still trying to figure it out. These stories are incredibly important and we are at a turning point in America. So, I’m shutting up. And I think I’m getting better at listening.

No regrets?

Cimino: I would never regret the job in North Minneapolis, right? But I was a straight white male at a minority elementary school in North Minneapolis. I don’t really think that that was my place to be. I did a fine job and I think I brought some joy to that school, but in reflection on it now, it does seem like it wasn’t my story to tell. Even two years ago in Mankato, I was the leader for the community PRIDE mural. Again, I’m a straight, white male! I think I need to work in the background more. I hate to call it a hiatus, but it’s definitely a personal struggle figuring out where I am as an artist right now.

Does public art have a place in teaching us how to listen?

Cimino: So, that’s tough. Art in and of itself is subversive. It has a point through analogy or metaphor or wordplay. We don’t need that. We need very literal, in your face, shut up and listen documentary type art. Art is always sort of fun and coy and playful. To play and be subversive doesn’t seem as productive. If I was a photographer, I would be talking very differently about this than I can as a public mural artist. Photographers and videographers are arguably the most important artists right now. We need real, concise, accurate, non-fictitious descriptions of what is happening right now for history.

Why should anyone care about art?

Cimino: We should because this isn’t permanent. I think artists are going to be really important post-pandemic. We are going to want to look back. Art is a great catalyst for introspection and looking back, literally and figuratively.

I think some of the best art that came out this year were the COVID graphics. The department of health graphic designers deserve more credit. The little buffalo plaid masks and smiley faces. The public health graphic artists who created effective campaigns, they had a hard job to do!

What kids’ movie secretly scarred you?

I can’t remember the names because I’d cry and hide from the movie if it ever got scary.

If famous portraits could talk; which would be the rudest?

Probably a portrait of a deceased Floridian Pomeranian that some sucker paid $12,000 to a commercial pet painter who just subbed it out to an overseas painter for $800.

Life is now a video game: what are the cheat codes?

C:\Windows\System32 (--delete)

1. Is a hotdog a sandwich?

3. Is anything real?

2. Is cereal soup?

Yes, a hotdog is a sandwich, so is a hamburger. Just because someone changed the name to market it as something new and special doesn’t mean it transcends its core definition. Saying a hotdog isn’t a sandwich is like saying a Tesla isn’t a car. Fight me. Man that question is an excellent analogy for our modern political division.

Cereal is NOT ALWAYS a soup because cereal refers to harvested and processed grains, which a soup is not required, BUT COULD include.

I choose to live with the burden of believing everything is tangibly real, and it’s a terrifying existence.

Now that we’re talking about it, if you really look at COVID from an artist’s perspective, there was plenty of art during COVID! Building outdoor patios, decorating home offices. Art isn’t just painting and drawing and exhibitions. It’s people’s plants, and grocery store feng shui, and restaurant layouts, and when live music starts up again. There’s aesthetic change everywhere!

Sounds like you’re in a sort of waiting room or purgatory? Cimino: There’s a light at the end of the tunnel. We still have all these little things up in the air. I don’t even know what they are. I hope it’s healing. I hope we can start enjoying creativity again. But right now, yeah, it’s purgatory. Waiting. For something to click. For something good to happen. RVW

The Capitol Room, St. Peter

Rainbow Laundry, Minneapolis

Mural on South Riverfront, Mankato

CATS & URINARY TRACT DISEASE

Over 95 million homes own at least one cat. (They’re like potato chips, you can’t just have one). A large portion of these kitties will experience some form of Feline Lower Urinary Tract Disease (FLUTD). There are a variety of conditions that cause this. Although the conditions may differ, the signs remain the same. You may notice frequent trips and/or vocalization in the litterbox, urine in inappropriate places, excessive grooming of their nether regions, a strong odor (and I don’t mean asparagus), or see blood in their urine. When cats have developed FLUTD, they often start urinating outside the box. The painful urination is associated with the box itself and therefor they find a new spot. This causes great frustration by humans and we often view this “act of defiance” (like you were ever in charge anyway) and drag our feet on making a vet appointment. Without veterinary care these problems will persist, and some are life threatening.

Feline Idiopathic Cystitis (FIC) is inflammation of the bladder for an unknown medical reason. The symptoms of FIC are painful and resemble

the same as the ones listed above and the most common reason FIC occurs is often due to stress. Because this condition is often caused by stress, it usually reoccurs, is lifelong, and 50% of cats will experience it again in the same year. Without treatment FIC can cause urethral obstructions.

Crystals are formed by a compilation of minerals when a cat becomes dehydrated. There are a variety of crystals that form, but the most common are called struvites. A buildup of these minerals can cause bladder stones. Special veterinary prescribed diets are able to break down these crystals and stones while other prescribed diets can help prevent them all together. Some stones cannot be broken down by a diet and require a surgical procedure called a cystotomy to remove them. Stones left untreated can lead to urethral obstructions.

Urethral Obstructions (UC) in cats can be life threatening and, sadly, occur too often. Males are more prone to developing these blockages due to their urethral anatomy. We also see an increased risk in overweight cats and cats who eat only dry food. UC can be caused by ongoing cystitis or blockages such as plugs, stones, or tumors. The urinary blockage will back the urine up in the bladder and can cause kidney failure. These conditions require a hospital stay including IV fluids, urinary catheters, repetitive blood work, and patience. Without veterinary care a cat with this condition will die with much suffering.

When you bring your cat to the vet, they will obtain a sterile sample through a process called cystosentesis, where the urine is taken directly from the bladder via a syringe (better tolerated even than a husband with a cold). We then look at this sample under a microscope or through a machine to search for blood cells, bacteria, and crystals. Depending on the findings and the cat’s presentation, the treatment will be determined. This is why your cat must be seen at the vet and why prescribing “just an antibiotic” over the phone will not be effective. True bladder infections (overgrowth of bacteria) only account for five percent of all cases in cats.

FLUTD will likely require a lifelong veterinary prescribed diet, along with increased water intake, including some canned food. Stress is the number one cause of FLUTDs. All cats perceive stress differently. I had one cat that could move across states and handle new incoming pets without an ounce of stress. My other cat would develop FIC whenever I moved the furniture or put up the Christmas tree. There has even been research that shows changing feeding times can cause increased stress. When looking at stressors in the environment, you should assess the relationship your cat has with other fur members in the family. When we ask clients how their cats get along, we usually get “fine” But, unless your cats are sleeping next to each other or grooming one another, they are not “fine.” A cat’s number one resource is its territory, so sharing with a bully can definitely cause increased stress and this needs to be addressed. Some cats even require an anti-anxiety medication to help control stress that can’t be changed in the environment (since binge eating isn’t an option).

When you see these signs or your cat seems “off,” seek help sooner rather than later—and follow your veterinarian’s recommendations and treatments. Ignoring the symptoms of FLUTD’s can cause MEOWtains of problems and become a real cat-astrophe. They are a real bummer for your pocket book and even more for your beloved kitty.

NICOLE LUECK, CVT MN Valley Pet Hospital Mankato

Tell us about yourself.

I moved to Mankato six years ago.

What made you decide to do a food truck?

I drove a truck for about 13 years. After my last driving job, I came home and, after talking about my job to my wife, she said, “Go do something you love doing.” So, I bought the smoking trailer.

Where can people find you?

Our food truck is located wherever you see the smoke. We go to fairs and special events.

Visit TNT Eats on Facebook or tnteats.com.

Do you have a staff?

All the food prep, repair, shipping is done by me—a one man operation!

What type of food do you make and sell?

TNT Eats does barbecue. Some of the best barbecue in the Midwest.

What is your popular food item?

Our most popular item is the Mac Attack. That is homemade macaroni and cheese, topped with smoked brisket, then topped with our own homemade Great White Sauce.

What is your food background and who taught you to cook?

I have been cooking my whole life. I think I started with Chopped, the show on the Food Network. I used to cook with grandma and grandpa and different members of my family. I just go in the kitchen and try different dishes, finding out what type of food items go together.

How did you make the leap to starting a storefront restaurant?

We had a five-year businesses plan. The first year in business, we couldn’t keep up with demand. The Mankato community and surrounding communities has shown great support for TNT Eats and we do value our customers. We are looking to be open on North Riverfront Drive in about five or six months.

What’s going to be on your menu?

Barbecue! Mac Attack, pork belly burnt ends—the Mankato community calls them “meat candy”—pulled pork ,chicken, homemade mac and cheese, coleslaw, beans, fall off the bone ribs, and more. On Sunday we are looking to do some brunch items such as cornbread waffles with honey

glaze smoked wings alongside our homemade honey whipped butter and homemade syrup (our version of chicken waffles.) Plus, smoked pork hash, potato hash brown waffles, and other unique, tantalizing breakfast options. These are just a fraction of our menu items.

What is your personal favorite thing to eat?

I love all my menu items. It is hard to pick a favorite. I put in so much time putting these items together and they all become my favorites. But, if I had to pick one, it would be my Mac-Attack. This is a dish my family helped to put together. My daughter in-law put macaroni, brisket, and great white sauce together and asked me to try it. I loved it ever since my son named it Mac Attack. First time on our menu it was a hit!

Is there any one thing you wouldn’t eat?

My wife and I are foodies. I’ll try anything twice. I call that the “Andrew Zimmern” way.

What do you do in your spare time?

I try to work on creating new barbecue menu items and new sauces.  Family?

Married to Dr. Sara Traylor. We have a son, 29; a daughter, 32; and three grandchildren.

As a dad, what values do you instill in your children?

To be kind and treat people like you want to be treated with good moral values, inclusivity.

TUNE IN ON AIR AND ONLINE ALL SUMMER FOR A CHANCE TO WIN AWESOME PRIZES LIKE TICKETS, GIFT CARDS & COOL PRODUCTS FROM LOCAL BUSINESSES!

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This month, Kristen and Jason sat down for a chat about his role in local anti-violence work and his role as a leader of CADA. Jason is the Executive Director of CADA and has been in this role for a little over four years.

Kristen: What got you interested in this line of work?

Jason: I started at CADA right after grad school. A mentor of mine was a board member at the time and encouraged me to get involved with CADA. I was, and still am, very interested in how we define masculinity in our culture and how that can result in gender-based violence. Also, my experiences growing up made me very aware of how multigenerational violence and trauma can impact people. When I started, I was excited and hopeful that I could use some of my experiences, skills, and identities to make a positive impact in the anti-violence movement locally in my community.

Kristen: What have you done previous to your position as Executive Director at CADA?

Jason: My first role at CADA was a Community Liaison; my job was to coordinate the Blue Earth County Blueprint for Safety which is a collaborative effort with criminal legal partners to increase victim safety and offender accountability. This effort began in 2010, after nearly 25% of Minnesota’s domestic violence related homicides happened in Blue Earth County. The Blue Print was put in place to reduce lethality and increase victim safety. I was also tasked with starting a program for men who used violence in relationships. This was how CADA’s Southern Minnesota Offender Education Program started.

Kristen: What has been your biggest challenge working in the antiviolence movement in this region?

Jason: One of the things I’m most passionate about is large-scale social and systemic change. The nature of large-scale change like this is that it moves slowly, which is a major challenge. It can be frustrating to see changes take so long. One example of this slow change can be seen in

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Friday Evening: Kids’ Bike Drawing, Bean Bag Tourney, Twin Cities DJ Bruce Zutter (7:30-12)

Saturday: Minnesota Twins Play Ball MN, Kids Pedal Pull, Bean Bag Tourney, Escape Room, Bike Drawing, Queen Coronation (8 pm), Smoke Screen Band (9-1)

Sunday: Craft Fair (inside & out), Big Parade (1 pm), Wendinger Band & Schell’s Hoboes in the park, Raffle Drawing

the field of violence prevention. CADA has provided life-saving services to victims and survivors for over 40 years. At the same time, we know that work needs to be done to prevent domestic and sexual violence from happening in the first place. This requires a significant change of social norms in our country and world. Funding and resources for violence prevention work is hard and sometimes impossible to find. This is a situation where our most of our funding institutions have not yet caught up with what our communities need.

Kristen: What part of this work are you most passionate about?

Jason: Our work requires people working at different levels of advocacy all at once. We need frontline advocates working with individuals in crisis and we need people advocating for systems and legislative changes. I’m really passionate about making systems-level changes. Also, as an executive director, I tend to be a bit of a nerd when it comes to nonprofit leadership strategies and finding innovative tools to grow our organization. I enjoy gathering data, analyzing it, and brainstorming what we can do differently to have a greater impact in our community. That said, I recognize that institutional changes often take longer than we’d like, particularly in the nonprofit sector. Although it’s quite challenging, I also find it rewarding.

Kristen: What advice would you give to people who want to get involved in this work?

Jason: People can get involved in a number of ways; there is no wrong way to help! People can start educating themselves on the issues of relationship abuse, sexual violence, and sex trafficking. They can have conversations with friends and family to normalize these issues because we need increased awareness and community participation in addressing these issues. People can reach out to CADA for volunteer or internship opportunities. They can get involved by being on our board or volunteering on one of our board committees. They can also like us on Facebook or Instagram and keep up-to-speed on what’s new in our work, share content, or offer support. Lastly, I’d be remiss if I didn’t mention making a donation or, better yet, becoming a regular supporter. CADA is a community-based nonprofit and we do not receive city or county funding, yet our services are vital to community safety. Donations from individuals really do make our work possible.

Kristen: Who or what inspires and motivates you?

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Jason: At the end of the day, the people we serve through our mission inspire and motivate me. I know that we, as a community, can continue to do better and do more to support victims and survivors. We’re talking about our neighbors, coworkers, friends, and family members. Victims and survivors deserve the most robust and high-quality services. Keeping that in mind is often what keeps me going.

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KRISTEN WALTERS Development & Communications Manager CADA, Mankato

JASON MACK Executive Director CADA, Mankato

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

GET YOUR DAILY VITAMINS

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

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WHAT’S A GUY TO EAT?

Celebrate Men’s Health during June. Men are notorious for steering clear of the doctor’s office. In fact, 25 percent of men in a recent survey said that they wait as long as possible before turning to medical treatment. We all know that a healthy diet is essential for fighting off disease, strengthening your immune system and simply feeling good. So what’s a guy to eat? Your Hy-Vee is filled with foods that will help all the men in your life reach their optimal health.

Tomatoes. Lycopene, a phytochemical found in tomatoes, has been found to reduce the risk of prostate cancer and cardiovascular disease. The best form of lycopene is found in cooked tomato products such as tomato sauce, tomato soup or ketchup.

Oatmeal. Men everywhere! Start your day with a bowl of oatmeal. The soluble fiber in oatmeal has the unique ability to bind up cholesterol and remove it from your body before it ever gets absorbed. Plus, the fiber boost also helps with gut health.

Seafood. Seafood such as salmon, herring, trout, tuna, mackerel and sardines are rich in omega-3 fatty acids which are effective in lowering risk for heart disease. If you don’t like seafood, omega-3 fatty acids can also be found in canola, flaxseed, soybean oil and walnuts.

Nuts. Nuts are filling and satisfying because of their healthy monounsaturated fat content. Nuts have their own qualified health claim: Eating 1.5 ounces of most nuts per day may reduce the risk of heart disease when they’re part of a diet low in saturated fat and cholesterol.

Grilled

Tuna Steaks with Peach Salsa

INGREDIENTS

4 (8 oz each) yellowfin tuna steaks, about 3/4-inch thick

3/4 tsp. lime zest

2 tbsp. fresh lime juice

2 tbsp. snipped fresh cilantro

2 tbsp. finely chopped green onion

1 tbsp. Hy-Vee Select olive oil

1/2 tsp. Hy-Vee kosher sea salt

1/4 tsp. cayenne pepper

3/4 tsp. pound fresh peaches, chopped (about 2 cups)

2 Roma tomatoes, seeded and chopped (about 1 cup)

1/2 c. chopped orange bell pepper

1/4 c. chopped red onion

1 jalapeno pepper, seeded and finely chopped

DIRECTIONS

Rinse fish; pat dry with paper towels. Set aside. 1

In a small bowl, combine lime zest, lime juice, cilantro, green onion, olive oil, salt and cayenne pepper; set aside. 2

In a medium bowl, combine peaches, tomatoes, bell pepper, red onion and jalapeno; stir in half of cilantro mixture. Cover and chill until serving time. 3

Prepare a charcoal or gas grill with greased grill grate for direct grilling over medium-high heat. Grill tuna for 3 to 4 minutes or until desired doneness, turning once and brushing with remaining cilantro mixture halfway through grilling. Serve tuna immediately with salsa.

Nutrition Facts per serving: 320 calories, 4.5g fat, 0.5g saturated fat, 0g trans fat, 90mg cholesterol, 350mg sodium, 12g carbohydrate, 2g fiber, 9g sugars, 58g protein. Daily values: 20% vitamin A, 50% vitamin C, 2% calcium, 10% iron.

April Graff, MS, RD, LD - Hilltop Dietitian 507.625.9070 | AGraff@hy-vee.com

Tell us about yourself:

I and four siblings grew up in Saint Peter from the early 1960s through the 1980s. I was involved in many activities, some of which were athletics, Boy Scouts and student council. The latter sparked my interest in government and public service. I was awarded a Navy ROTC scholarship and began college in 1979 at the University of Colorado in Boulder, studying aeronautical engineering. After two years, I changed course and moved to the University of Minnesota Minneapolis to study business. After two more years, I made a final course correction and moved to my home area to finish college at Mankato State University. Finding a major called R.P.L.S. (Recreation, Parks and Leisure Services) truly turned the light on in my head. My career path was then set. I always knew I wanted to “play,” but had no idea there were careers in that field. I could have finished college in 3 years instead of 6+. I worked in Salt Lake City working in the park and rec industry as well as the National Park Service near Gunnison Colorado, before moving “home.” I spent a winter with Mount Kato, before three years as a district scout executive with Twin Valley Council where I got to direct Camp Cuyuna near Cross Lake for two summers. In 1991, I landed one of my dream jobs—park ranger with the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources. Then came four years as a “bison rancher and prairie protector” in Blue Mounds State Park near Luverne. From 1995 –2005 I was the assistant park manager at Flandrau State Park in New Ulm.

My wife and my two sons eventually learned that not everyone lives in a state park with bison or a sand bottom swim pool in their backyard. They had a great childhood. In 2005, I began answering to the mayor instead of the governor, by accepting the park and recreation director position for the city of New Ulm.

What do you do as director?

I manage the largest department in New Ulm city government; including three large buildings: Recreation Center, Civic Center and Community Center; 43 park units including Hermann Monument and the Glockenspiel; 8 miles of paved trail; 320 acres; 90+ employees; and annual budget of $4.7M. I stay busy administering all facets of a typical business such as HR/personnel, accounting/budgeting, planning, leading, development, maintenance, operations, customer service, public relations, etc.

What makes the New Ulm Parks and Rec department special?

It’s the largest municipal park and rec system of the 853 cities in Minnesota, per capita. I have found very few municipal park and rec systems in the country larger, per capita. The vastness and diversity of the system dates back to the founders of New Ulm in the mid 1850s, with many parks in the original city plat. More recently, the systems large size is due to our local option sales tax (1/2% and voter approved by 70% yes votes in both 2000 and 2016). All this sales tax goes to park and rec capital development projects.

The iconic Hermann Monument.

The nearly completed German Park amphitheater will have the finishing touches put on it in the near future.

Johnson Park ball field had a recent facade lift.

Tom Schmitz

What are the most recent additions to New Ulm’s Park & Recreation offerings?

Facilities:

• Recreation Center indoor expansion opening in August includes new:

• Aquatic Center/Water Park including the second indoor NinjaCross in America, climbing wall, Aquazip’n, zero depth entry, children play features, flume slides, log roll and more.

• Playground

• Regional gymnastics center

• Co-located cardio and strength fitness center

• Improvements to Vogel Fieldhouse

• Hermann Heights Park entrance road and parking infrastructure.

• Johnson Park baseball grandstand renovation.

• Outdoor Performing Arts Amphitheater in German Park downtown.

• Splashpad and Yard Game Circuit in North Park.

• Riverside Park Environmental Learning Center.

• Glockenspiel control system and figurines replaced.

Programming:

• Rec-On-The-Go

• Aquatics

• Themed youth day camps

• Fitness classes

• Puppet wagon

• Monday night concert series in German Park

Any plans for future parks or improvements?

• We are currently studying and planning for new neighborhood parks in underserved and developing neighborhoods.

• Restoration of Hermann Monument anticipated to cost up to $10M.

• Minnesota River Parkway and trail improvements.

What is your favorite recreational activity?

I don’t have just one. Some include snowboarding, snowshoeing, and all kinds of skiing, canoeing, camping, ice hockey, all types of bicycling, ball and disc golf, and ultimate team disc.

Family?

Happily married to Kim Hemphill-Schmitz since our wedding in Seven Mile Creek Park in June of 1986. Sons: Dylan (30) in Brainerd, and Kelton (25) in Winter Park/Fraser Colorado. My father is from New Ulm, Minnesota and mother is from Ulm, Germany.

Special Father’s Day Question: What values do you hope to instill in your children? What values does/did your own dad instill in you?

1. Live by the “Platinum rule” – Treat Others Better Than They Want To Be Treated.

2. Have fun! Life is short, enjoy every minute.

3. Your career is a major part of your life. If you don’t enjoy your career, find one you do enjoy.

4. If something’s worth doing, it’s worth doing well.

5. Life is better busy, than bored.

New Ulm's new Rec Center will feature a fitness center, indoor playground, and pool. Pictured are some renderings of the future finished amenities, along with Tom Schmitz by the construction area.

MEN it’s OK to Take Care of Yourself

While it can take guys a fraction of the time to get ready for date night compared to the ladies, that doesn’t mean men aren’t spending time on their appearance. Each year more men are seeking aesthetic treatments to enhance and rejuvenate their appearance. From manscaping to fillers and laser hair reduction, men have a lot of options to enhance their features and reduce personal grooming time (we’re looking at you, laser hair treatment!).

So, what are all the treatment options?

Botox to Smooth Wrinkles

Neuromodulators like Botox and Dysport are possibly the most popular way to reduce facial wrinkles. This quick, simple procedure can smooth your wrinkles—like crow’s feet and frown lines—to restore your youthful appearance. (Don’t let Tim Allen’s hilarious and seriously exaggerated Botox experience in Christmas with the Kranks deter you.) The injections take a few days to kick in and usually last a few months. So, leave your preconceptions at the door and check out this quick and easy way to look younger.

Fillers to Refine Your Jaw Line

Do you wish your jaw line were stronger? Fillers can help. Whether your weak jaw line is hereditary, the result of fat under your chin, or thanks to natural aging, fillers can add definition and help lift, tone, and tighten your profile. Your provider can combine injectable fillers like Juvéderm, Voluma, Restylane Defyne or Lyft with targeted fat reducing treatments—such as Kybella—to get you that chiseled jaw with a minimal downtime!

Kybella to Ditch That Double Chin

Double chins can be exceptionally hard to get rid of, even with diet and exercise. But with two to four treatments of Kybella, you can kiss that extra chin goodbye for good! Unlike liposuction, Kybella is a completely non-surgical way to melt fat deposits away and restore definition to the upper neck. This injectable treatment is made from deoxycholic acid, an agent the human body produces naturally to help metabolize fat. Kybella is exceptionally popular with men, especially those looking for a better (and more comfortable) fit for their jacket and tie.

Laser Treatment to Remove Unwanted Hair

Do you have hair in all the wrong places? A series of 6-10 non-invasive laser hair removal treatments can permanently eliminate hair on virtually any area of the body or face. Just imagine never having to worry about that back hair again!

Platelet-Rich Plasma Treatment for Hair Restoration

If you’re experiencing thinning hair, you don’t have to live with it forever. Platelet-rich plasma (PRP) hair restoration treatments use the platelets

from your own blood to stimulate hair growth. During the process, a small vial of blood is taken from your arm. This vial is then spun in a centrifuge to separate the red blood cells and plasma. The resulting platelet-rich plasma–often called “liquid gold”–is then activated and injected into the scalp. Most patients will need about three sessions initially (one per month) to see optimal results, followed by a booster treatment three months after the last treatment in the initial series has been completed.

Skin Rejuvenation to Look Years Younger

Healthy skin can take years off your perceived age. Thankfully, there are several great treatment options to promote cell turnover and give you healthy, youthful skin. These treatments can help you ditch everything from rosacea and acne scars to dark spots caused by hyperpigmentation and wrinkles. You will usually need multiple treatments for best results.

Chemical Peels - They are a great option for anyone looking to erase skin imperfections left over from sun exposure, such as fine wrinkles and hyperpigmentation. These treatments exfoliate the skin and dissolve the outer layers of damaged skin to restore a youthful appearance.

Laser Skin Rejuvenation - Treatments like intense pulse light (IPL) and broadband light (BBL) are common, non-invasive laser treatments that use light to reach damaged layers of the skin and enhance the production of collagen. They can also precisely target specific areas, such as sunspots. Microneedling - Microneedling techniques can stimulate your body’s natural collagen reproduction to give you smoother, more youthful skin. This treatment can incorporate platelet-rich plasma (what is used in the PRP hair restoration treatment) to further promote naturally smooth, tighter skin.

Testosterone Treatments to Improve Health

Hormones (or the lack thereof) are essential to a properly functioning bodily system and can have a major impact on your overall health and wellbeing. When men experience low testosterone, the hormonal imbalance can manifest itself in a variety of physical, mental, and emotional ways. Symptoms can include everything from hair loss and erectile dysfunction to irritability and depression. Fortunately, testosterone replacement therapy is available in several forms. Most men who undergo testosterone treatments report improvement in their energy levels, sex drive, and even the quality of their erections. They can also experience increases in bone density, muscle mass, and insulin sensitivity. For this, it is best to check with your physician or seek out someone who specializes in bioidentical hormone therapy.

Everyone wants to look their best, and men are no exception. With today’s science and aesthetic treatments, it’s easier than ever to make that happen.

EMILY GIDDINGS, RN

Giddie Skin Medspa, Mankato MN Certified Aesthetic Injector

It’sHisBusiness

Dustin VanHale

Background about yourself:

I grew up in Madelia, Minnesota, which is where I currently live with my wife, Sarah, our two-year old son and newborn daughter. I strive to give back to my community, not only by growing my business here, but through other services as well. I’ve been a volunteer firefighter for the Madelia Fire Department for almost 10 years.

Tell us about Total Lawn Care & Landscape:

Total Lawn Care and Landscape came to life when I was in high school. Since then, it’s grown into one of southern Minnesota’s premiere landscaping companies. We specialize in patios, retaining walls, seeding/ sodding, mowing, fertilization, you name it. We pride ourselves in providing top quality work while maintaining the friendly service of a small business. Customer satisfaction is our #1 priority and our relationship with our customers is extremely important to us.

How did you come to start a lawn and landscaping business?:

I began mowing lawns as a teenager to save up for college and loved being able to create beautiful lawns for others to enjoy. I took pride in my work and loved what I did, so I kept doing it. That was back in 2009, and since then, we’ve grown immensely. I also opened up two bulk landscape supply stores—Total Landscape Supply—in Madelia and Mankato, to provide my customers with all the materials they would need for their weekend projects. None of this would have been possible without the surrounding communities and their constant support.

What do you enjoy most about running this business?

I still enjoy the day to day operations of the business and I like to personally check on each job site to make sure everything is up to standard. This also allows me to get to know all the customers on a more personal level. My office staff will joke that I’m hard to get a hold of because I’m never around. You can always find me on a job site. At the end of the day, I get the most satisfaction from a job well done that myself and the customer can be proud of for years to come.

What do you find a challenge?

Our biggest challenge is finding help. As I’ve mentioned, we’ve grown immensely over the years, which requires more manpower. Right now, we have an amazing crew that is dedicated and detail-oriented, which is what we look for in our employees.

TOTAL LAWN CARE & LANDSCAPE

Can you describe one of your favorite projects?

We had a project in Waseca last year that I really enjoyed, from the planning steps all the way to completion. We did a rip out redo, meaning we started with a completely blank slate. This gave us creative freedom to create an amazing scenery around the entire property. We did retaining walls, rock beds, a patio complete with a fire ring, shrubbery, erosion control, hydroseeding, you name it. Having the freedom to start fresh and completely transform a place is always fun.

What is a popular look these days in landscaping?

The most popular look right now is smooth, square patios with a neutral tone. The neutral tones match well with the modern house styles. Typically, we pair these patios with dark grey borders and bullet edgers. We also have a dark grey retaining wall block that is extremely popular.

What is the first step a homeowner should take when trying to figure out what to do with their landscaping?

The first step is giving a landscaping professional. From there, they will figure out exactly what it is you’re looking for and have likely have sales staff meet with you. They’ll look over the area, bring samples, and help you with the design process. Find someone experienced in landscaping and are educated on both the products and the process. This ensures they can answer any questions or concerns you may have.

What do you like to do in your spare time?

When I’m not working, you can find me spending time with my family or trying out new recipes on my smoker. I’m beyond thankful for my patient and understanding wife who knows that my phone is never off and my working hours are 24/7. She’s my biggest supporter and I couldn’t do it without her.

Do you have any hidden talents?

I can juggle. (Just kidding, I can’t, but my wife can). My only hidden talent is being able to drink 12 cans of Mountain Dew on the long days to keep me awake and caffeinated.

What are you grateful for?

I couldn’t be more thankful for all the hardworking guys we have that make these beautiful landscapes possible. My team and my family are what have allowed me to make my dream job a reality.

Tell us about yourself.

I was born and raised in New Ulm, and have spent my entire life under the same zip code. Growing up, I was into drawing and sketch arts—a talent I think I picked up from my dad. I remember flipping through his old sketch books and being struck by the pencil strokes, how the images came to life. I tried my hand at it, but my sketches never resonated like his did. I gained a creative eye from him, and a flair for nature from my mom, where we’d often go for walks, or she’d instill knowledge about the various flowers and plants we’d see.

When did you start doing photography?

In my teen years, I picked up a 35mm Kodak camera at a garage sale, a simple point and shoot; most of my photos were ordinary scenes or people I knew. One summer, I went to my grandpa’s cabin on Rice Lake, and that’s where I got my first stunning shot of a sunset. It clicked that I could take nice photos. With that simple setup, I got a few lucky shots over the years, until I stepped into the digital field. In 2006 I purchased my first digital SLR, and began to learn the basics; moreover, I learned more about how to achieve the proper lighting and shading, as it naturally occurs. Everything I’ve learned came from trials, errors, and photo tips found on early photo websites. By 2013, I was confident enough to begin sharing my work with others, and began doing so on Facebook. The next year, I created a page devoted exclusively to sharing my work.

Why do you call your Facebook page October, Minnesota?

I decided upon the name October, Minnesota for a few reasons.

THROUGH THE LENS OF KYLE KRENZ

Minnesota—due to my love for this area. I have a fondness for the autumn season, and what it brings. With the warm light angles, the amplified smells of drying earth and leaves, nature’s boastful buffet of colors just before its big annual nap—the name October made perfect sense. These things inspire me and I focus my attention on ways to showcase the emotions, regardless of the season, in each picture I put forth.

The name has a comma; I like to think that every photo I take metaphorically belongs to a community, where that October feeling dwells. A small town, maybe with a little river, small houses, warm hiking paths and big maple trees. A small Minnesota town pulled from the inspirations of Ray Bradbury and Garrison Keillor: October, Minnesota.

What do you think makes your photos resonant with people?

The community, both local to New Ulm and throughout the region, has been amazingly supportive of my photography. Some offer tips of new places to see, some share their memories, both of which help inspire new photos. I think my work resonates with people not just because of nostalgia, but because I try to approach familiar places with a new perspective. For example, as a kid everything was filled with wonder, everything seemed so big. I often crouch down to a child’s height to regain that point of view.

What is your favorite thing to photograph?

I find it hard to focus on just one type of photography. I often wander through nature, either on a walk or a countryside drive, and see what

catches my eye. Sunsets, macro nature photography, wildlife, rolling prairies, all excite me. Being a lover of history, I appreciate the history in area downtown buildings and classic houses. I’m also fascinated by the history of abandoned areas: towns that have flourished and are now living snapshots of the autumn days of a community, former farm sites that nature is slowly reclaiming, old roads with more grass than pavement. There’s beauty in these overlooked areas.

Have you done anything professionally with your work?

Over the past four years, I’ve sold sets of greeting cards with my photo work at Christmas time, many prints, and last year I introduced a New Ulmthemed photo calendar. Along Broadway in New Ulm, there are banners which showcase many New Ulm landmarks by many talented area artists, and I am blessed to have some photos on banners which share that space with them. I’ve been honored with phone book covers and travel guide photo selections, as well.

What is your ultimate goal with your photography?

These have all been great ways for me to showcase my passion for photography, and to promote the area I live in. And I think that’s my ultimate goal: to do something I’m passionate about that can help brighten others’ lives. It’s a dream to turn this passion of mine into a full-time career.

What sort of camera(s) do you use?

I’ve come a long way from that old Kodak film camera. I currently use a Canon 5D Mk II full frame camera, with a couple trusty lenses. Up until a

couple years ago, I relied heavily on my Motorola smart phone camera. Some may scoff at the idea, but the best camera truly is the one you have with you. Modern phone cameras are amazing tools, and I encourage everyone to explore what they really can do!

If you could photograph any place in the world, where would it be?

My home is along the banks of the Minnesota River, and I love discovering new things to photograph, as well as revisiting some favorite haunts. But if I could pick another area to photograph I would pick New England in the fall. Overly romanticized or not, seeing the fiery colors of the leaves, the small communities, the winding roads and shorelines would be a bucket list item for me. Plus, the chance to visit Salem and Sleepy Hollow when they’re preparing for their big seasons, the camera would never get a break.

What do you like to do in your spare time?

I fill my spare time, that is, time outside of my full-time employment and my photography, with other forms of art. I build guitars and movie prop replicas, I’m the family genealogist, I enjoy creative writing, and spending as much time with my family and friends as I can. I also have a penchant for rambling, whether it be in written form or exploring the countryside.

As a dad, what values to you hope to instill in your kids?

If I could pass on two values to my son, they’d be to always do good (not just do well), and to never give up on something you’re passionate about.

New at Investing? Follow These Suggestions

If you’re fairly new to investing, you might be wondering what sort of rules you should follow or moves you should make. And while everyone’s situation is different, there are indeed guidelines that make sense for all investors. Here are some to consider: Learn the basics. The investment world can seem confusing, but the more you know about the basic components, the more confident you’ll be when you begin to invest. For starters, you’ll want to be familiar with the essential types of investments: stocks, bonds, mutual funds, government securities

and so on. And it’s also important to know that some investments are designed to provide growth – an increase in the investment’s value – while others provide income in the form of dividends or interest payments, and still others may offer growth and income.

Set your goals. You need to know why you’re investing – and that means you must clearly define your goals. Do you want to retire early? When you do retire, what kind of lifestyle would you like to have? Are you planning on helping your children (or grandchildren) pay for college? Once you’ve established your goals, you can create the appropriate investment strategy for achieving them, taking into account your time horizon and risk tolerance.

Invest regularly. At first, you may only be able to afford to put in small amounts to your investment accounts, but even so, try to contribute regularly. You’ll get into the habit of investing and, later on, when you earn more money, you can ramp up your contributions. If you have a 401(k) or similar plan at work, the money can come out of your paycheck before you even see it.

Think long term. As you begin investing, it’s important to have the right attitude. Specifically, don’t look for the “hot” investments that will make you a “bundle” in a matter of weeks. Investing just doesn’t work that way – instead, it’s a decades-long process of carefully choosing, managing and adjusting a diversified portfolio that’s suitable for your individual needs. And by maintaining a long-term focus, you’ll be less susceptible to making ill-advised moves in response to short-term market events.

Don’t get scared off by downturns. If you invest for many years, it’s inevitable that you will experience sharp drops in the financial markets. But these declines are actually a normal part of investing. If you overreact to them by selling investments just because their price has dropped, you’ll not only be breaking a cardinal rule of investing – to buy low and sell high – but you’ll also be disrupting the type of cohesive, continuous investment strategy that’s necessary to help you achieve your goals.

Get some help. You may find it easier to navigate the investment landscape if you get some help from a professional advisor – someone who understands your goals and family situation and who can make appropriate investment recommendations. A financial advisor can also suggest changes to your portfolio in response to changes in your life (new job, child graduating college, etc.) and in your goals, such as a new date for retirement.

When you invest, there aren’t many guarantees. But by following these suggestions, you will know, at the very least, that you’re taking the steps that can lead to success.

MEGHAN ANDERSON Financial Advisor Edward Jones, Member SIPC St Peter, This article was written by Edward Jones for use by your local Edward Jones Financial Advisor.

KELLY HEITKAMP DISHES ABOUT COOKING

My name is Kelly Heitkamp. I have been married to Patti for 26 years and have two wonderful children, Spencer and Erin. I work for Bevcomm as their senior account executive selling cyber Security, IT management, and phone solutions.

I am not sure how I rate being in a magazine talking about cooking? Heck, I grew up in Adrian, Minnesota, eating Tuna Helper, sloppy Joes, Jell-O with fruit cocktail (which makes it the fancy Jell-O) and goulash in the 80s. Maybe that is my driving force where I won’t allow my children to walk through the door and see their supper being made out of an electric frying pan.

I guess I started cooking when my wife went back to work, and I seem to have a knack for it. I certainly wouldn’t and couldn’t make cooking my career. Patti told me that I had to find a hobby; I guess I found one in cooking and making homemade moonshine. Go figure….

I will tell you one thing that makes cooking enjoyable is not really planning anything until the day of. I cannot and will not go to a grocery store and plan out a week of meals. How will I know what I will be in the mood to eat four days from now on a Thursday, or what my schedule will be?

Do I like going to a grocery store? It depends upon the risk of being taken out by one of those motorized scooters that seems to never have brakes.

When you’re at the grocery store you must pick up six items that will get you through any dinner service and enhance the flavor of the meal. First, garlic where you should add three or four cloves in every meal you cook, so invest in a garlic press. Don’t forget to smash the garlic with the side of the knife and peel before you put them in the press. Second, sweet peppers can add flavor to any dish, by slicing them up to put in a sandwich, to grill for a side dish, or to put in a salad. Three, Famous Dave’s Rib Rub can go on any meat or tofu. Four, Farm Boy BBQ is a fantastic sauce to grill with. It just caramelizes on the meat so nicely and it’s perfect if you’re making a grilled BBQ chicken pizza. Five, Paul Newman’s Marinara which I use in every Italian dish and on my margarita pizza. Six, you must have alcohol to drink and be listening to some stellar tunes while you’re cooking.

In January 2019, I was in Mexico and I told my family that, when I get back, I am going to make sushi, seafood bisque, and learn to play the guitar. I accomplished two of the three and decided not to pick up the “string axe” and, instead, took up making homemade moonshine. That makes perfect sense to me and my friends are more appreciative since my voice is certainly not angelic. I believe the people’s favorites are my homemade sushi and sauces, grilled pizza, and the moonshine. At my home you have a good chance of having all three in one sitting. I better make this clear before I have the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms storming up my driveway—I have no grain mash still in my backyard producing alcohol.

When it comes to making sushi, I would recommend you purchase a sushi making kit via Amazon. The key to good sushi is rinsing the rice and draining the water until it’s clear and letting it soak for 20 minutes before you cook it. You can use tuna, crab, smoked salmon, shrimp or vegetarian. Please make sure you ask the butcher for sushi grade tuna.

Now with the grilled pizza, my most requested pizzas are the Margarita, BBQ Chicken, and the Steak & Sweet Pepper. Don’t make this too difficult, just go out and buy the bag pizza crust and bake it until it turns a little golden and let it cool, then put it on the grill with your ingredients.

As for the homemade moonshine, people like to sip on the Orange Dreamsickle, Apple Pie Ala Mode, All Berry, and Lemon Drop. You can drink the moonshine a couple of weeks after making it but remember the longer it sits, the stronger and smoother it becomes.

Tips I would share are: always taste your food throughout the cooking process and please get a new spoon each time. Only add a little salt right in the beginning and save it towards the end to add if need be. Don’t be afraid to try something new and you should always try at least two vegetarian meals a week. You know you can Google any recipe, but only let it be your guide and don’t be terror-stricken to deviate. My last tip is to skip the potlucks—they weren’t a good idea prepandemic, so they most certainly are not post pandemic. You never know who has Tigger the cat walking across the counter as they’re making their favorite crockpot lasagna dish.

ORANGE DREAMSICKLE MOONSHINE

Mix together one gallon of orange juice, two and a half cups of white sugar, and half of cup of French vanilla creamer in a soup pot.

Over medium to high heat bring to a boil stirring constantly.

Once it begins to boil, stir the mixture for three more minutes and remove from heat.

Add three cups of Minnesota proof Everclear, two cups of Svedka Vodka, and one tablespoon of vanilla extract and mix.

Pour into mason jars and cap and store in the refrigerator for at least a week.

Shake the jar every couple of days for the first week. The longer it sits the smoother it will be.

GRILLED STEAK & SWEET PEPPER PIZZA

One bag of pizza crust (Go by instructions)

For thicker crust you can add flour and water and let it sit longer.

Spray pizza pan with cooking spray and spread-out crust. (Place cookie sheet under pizza pan to save on mess in the oven)

Bake crust at 475 degrees until lightly golden and let cool. Grill steak to medium temperature and let cool.

Sauté sliced sweet peppers and mushrooms.

Spread Farm Boy BBQ Sauce or Paul Newman’s Marinara on crust.

Add sliced streak, sweet peppers, mushrooms, and shredded mozzarella.

Place pizza crust and ingredients directly on the grill for about 10 to 12 minutes, rotating every two minutes.

TIDY TIGHTWADS

Celebrating Dad Without the Clutter

An ongoing joke that most people have heard is centered around getting dad another tie for Father’s Day. If your husband, dad, or man in your life wears lots of ties, this is a great idea and this article is not meant to criticize ties and dressing for success. The idea is more about not buying more items that dad doesn’t need, but that add to the clutter in your homes and lives.

However, just because I often advocate not to accumulate too much “stuff,” doesn’t mean we shouldn’t give gifts and celebrate the lives of those we love and commemorate important life events. I encourage you to think outside the “clutter” box and come up with loving, meaningful gift ideas that dad will love to receive and talk about for months and years after.

When you come up with something that is an experience gift, it means you’re spending time together, giving alone time, relieving some task that isn’t enjoyable or has been indefinitely put off, removing frustration, or some other really meaningful effort. Here are a few ideas you can steal.

When you need care fast

BY CINDY HAUGLAND tidytightwads.com

Movie Night. Plan to watch his favorite movies or tv shows, creating a marathon viewing weekend, filled with snacks. If he isn’t much of a tv person, you could listen to his favorite tunes all week, or watch his favorite sport, etc. The key is making it about him. Movie and concert tickets are another option that provide time together and don’t add to the clutter.

Notes of Awesomeness. Have everyone in the family write some notes of why he’s so awesome, things you appreciate him sharing or teaching you, or a favorite memory together.

Coffee. If dad is an avid coffee drinker, do a deep cleaning of the coffee maker. Use vinegar and cleaning tools to get it running in top shape and tasting great. Does the grinder need cleaning too? Buy his favorite coffee beans and/or pick up a series of gift cards to his favorite place that he can enjoy a cup every Monday morning, all month long. Remember to make dad a cup on Father’s Day morning or his birthday.

Projects. Better, easier organization is always a great gift. Get some Velcro Storage Straps for organizing cords, garden hoses, rope, and other items and work on some messy, problem areas to clean up for him. Maybe there’s a landscaping project he’s been wanting to do, and you can help.

Craft Brews. Schedule a trip to a new craft beer or wine destination or to a few of his favorites. Call ahead to find out any promotions or special events they might have that you can arrange for him or even plan your own “tour.” Be the designated or on-call driver.

Waterproof. A waterproof life jacket for his phone is perfect to take on the boat, fishing, duck hunting, vacationing, snowmobiling, snorkeling, and more. A quality one will keep his phone safe from water, has full functionality to record or make calls while in the case, has room for wallet related items, and floats if dropped.

Photos. Schedule a photo session for him with the kids or grandkids. Maybe you have a photo that was recently taken that he loves, but you haven’t taken the time to order a nice print. Do that now and get a frame. Food. Plan his favorite meal and get the kids involved. Take it to the next level and plan his favorite foods for the entire week of Father’s Day. Choose one of his favorites that is labor intensive or requires a special trip to find ingredients. Another idea is to travel to his favorite restaurant, pack some fun lunches to take to work, or make his favorite snacks.

Help. Help him tackle a project he’s been putting off like reorganizing the shed, refinishing a wood piece, re-landscaping, or another task he would appreciate getting off his list. If the task requires hiring skilled assistance, make the arrangements.

Indulge. Order a small indulgence he isn’t doing for himself like a subscription to his favorite magazine or Sirius XM radio. These are great clutter-free gift ideas too.

No matter what you choose to do for the man in your life, heart-felt personalized gifts of time, talent, and love are always a good idea.

HELPING CREATE YOUR BRANDS

Visual Identity

Gari

HEY GUYS, RELAX!

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Floating Relieves Stress

Floating has become the best-kept secret to safely and naturally relieve stress and anxiety. A float tank (ours are more of a float room) provides a weightless environment that when combined with pitch darkness and silence, creates sensory reduction. With the sensations of the outside world removed, your body and mind are allowed to completely relax and unplug.

A 2001 study in the Journal of the Canadian Pain Society found that spending time in a floatation tank effectively decreased anxiety and depression and increased optimism. In summary, floating takes you to your happy place.

–Joe Rogan

Tom Brady

COME ON GET HAPPY!

Treat yourself this summer to a new ultra light weight tee from Alo, sneakers from On Running in the color glacier/ olive. Wow with hybrid shorts from On Running, which have a removable liner to become swim trunks!

SIMPLY ADORABLE!

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Crop tank from Alo, paired with Hotty Hot Shorts from lululemon. Throw on a perfectly oversized crew from lululemon, and wildly colored sneakers from On Running.

HEAD TURNERS. Stunning burgundy tee that is sure to become your new favorite, paired with printed shorts, both from lululemon, along with pebble colored sneakers from On Running.

SHAKE IT!

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This novelty camp cocktail print shirt from Eton of Sweden will be your summer go-toparty shirt. Bring along a raffia cocktail shaker and bitters set from Scrappy's Bitters and you’ll make the A-list.

COOL BUT COMFY!

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Check out the leather-like leggings from Spanx, paired with a classic fitted tank from Alo, and chic camo jacket from Blanc Noir.

HANG OUT WITH YOUR BESTIES!

This fitted tank from Vuori pairs excellently with their army green joggers, and scrunchie from lululemon, along with Lush Wine mix to make delicious wine slushies.

GO SPORTY & CASUAL.

ALL DOLLED UP AND SOMEWHERE TO GO!

4

Heading to the golf course or downtown? Check out Mizzen + Main's stretchy and moisture wicking polo, along with lululemon's famous Commission shorts that look and feel great!

ROCK ON!

4 5

A vintage inspired KISS tee from Recycled Karma pairs great with Vuori's famously soft shorts. A scrunchie from lululemon, and The Roger Advantage sneakers in white/ rose complete the funky vibe.

Weddings and other special occasions call for class. Work it in this beautiful burgundy suit from Jack Victor floral print shirt (yes, you…in floral!) from Eton of Sweden, Geoff Nicholson pocket square, and dashing cognac colored leather shoes from Florsheim. Whip out an indigo colored wallet from Secrid, with RFID technology to keep all your credit card info secure!

6

JUST THE RIGHT AMOUNT OF DRESSY. This herringbone wool and linen-finished sport coat from TailoRed is oh so right for so many occasions. Pair it with a textured navy shirt from Eton, twill chinos from Brax, tie from Geoff Nicholson. Pop a whiskey colored wallet from Secrid in your pocket and head out.

TIME FOR AN UPGRADE?

5 6

Run with it by donning On's weather jacket, their Movement tank in mineral, running shorts, and On's Cloudswift shoes with Helion Superfoam in the color lake/sky.

BY MATT LONG & AARON JONES J. Longs | Mankato

LET’S GO!

Blanc Noir's luxurious joggers and zip front sweatshirt pairs excellently with lululemon's Energy Bra. Post jog calls for Volcano perfume from Capri Blue, and a relaxing French Linen candle from Voluspa.

NUMBER IS JUST A

Age evoke NECK evoke FACE

Evoke is a facial remodeling platform that is revolutionizing non-invasive antiaging treatments. Evoke offers a firstin-class proprietary technology that delivers structural reorganization of the facial tissues to produce dramatic skin tightening results. With Evoke, patients with concerns about sagging or loose facial skin can remodel the cheeks, jowls, neck and jawline with no recovery time!

REPROGRAM THE AGE OF YOUR SKIN & LOOK BETTER THAN YOU DID 10 YEARS AGO WITH MANKATO MED AND SKIN CLINIC.

NON-INVASIVE CONTOURING TREATMENT

Evolve is the next generation in skin remodeling that maximizes skin tightening and body contouring results! It harnesses the power of RF energy to remodel skin and improve its appearance. With Evolve, you can get both skin contraction and adipose tissue reduction with a single treatment.

• RESHAPE YOUR BODY

• TIGHTEN SKIN

• REDUCE CELLULITE

• IMPROVE BODY SHAPE

• NO DOWNTIME

• SAFE FOR ALL SKIN TYPES

• PAINLESS, COMFORTABLE TREATMENT

botox & JEUVEAU

Quick 10-minute treatments that work beneath the surface & temporarily reduce the underlying muscle activity that causes moderate to severe frown lines, crow’s feet and forehead lines in adults.

Morpheus8 combines the power of micro-needling and RF (radio frequency) to penetrate deeper into the skin than any other microneedling device allowing it to stimulate collagen production to truly contour and transform different parts of the body. The result – a smoother and sleeker appearance.

skinwave

This next generation Hydrafacial will not only make your skin feel clean but make it glow! Take your traditional facial to the next level. The skin wave uses vacuum suction to extract clogged pores and remove skin cells as well as hydrates the skin utalizing serums to treat specific skin issues. Inflamed skin will be calmed while acne and oily skin will be improved.

dermal FILLERS

• QUICK TREATMENT THAT TAKES 30-60 MINUTES (CAN BE DONE OVER LUNCHTIME) 162162

Versa® injectable hyaluronic acid gel fillers can be used to correct age-related volume loss and moderate to severe facial wrinkles and folds. It can also be injected into the lips for lip augmentation and for correction of the fines lines around the mouth.

TO HAVE YOUR EVENT LISTED

E-mail Ruth Klossner at cowladyruth@gmail.com by the 10th of the month. Listings are generally for events that are free to the public, or are fundraisers. Listings will be published as space allows and at the discretion of the editor.

Fri, Jun 4

• Dairy Day, Library Square Park, Hutchinson, 11 am-1 pm. Info: business.explorehutchinson. com/events/details/dairyday-30148.

• IV Play at Spring of Destruction Kick Off Party, Fairgrounds, St. Peter, 8-11 pm. Info: ivplayrocks. net/upcoming-shows/.

Fri-Sat, Jun 4-5

• Citywide Garage Sales, Springfield. Info: springfieldmnchamber.org/.

Fri-Sun, Jun 4-6

• Morristown Dam Days, Morristown. Info: Facebook.

Sat, Jun 5-mid-Oct

• Riverwalk Market Fair, Bridge Square at Division St & 4th St, Northfield, 9 am-2 pm. Info: riverwalkmarketfair.org or info@ riverwalkmarketfair.org

Sun, Jun 6

• Road Run, Flying Dutchmen Club Grounds, 20513 110th Ave, New Ulm, 1 pm. Info: 507-3542024, 507-354-2306 or FDMC1@ comcast. Net.

Mon, Jun 7

• Concert in the Park with the Concord Singers, German Park, 200 N German, New Ulm, 7 pm.

• Smokin In Steele BBQ, Four Seasons Centre, 1525 S Elm Ave, Owatonna. Info: visitowatonna. org.

Mon-Fri, Jun 7-11

• LTO Bright Star Theatre Summer Camp, Little Theatre of Owatonna, 560 Dunnell Dr, Owatonna, 9 am-4 pm. Info: littletheatreofowatonna.org/.

Tues, Jun 8-29

• Library Concert Series, Public Library/Trowbridge Pk, 408 N State St, Waseca, 7-8 pm.

Tues, Jun 8-Oct 5

• Classic Car Roll-in, downtown, Henderson, 5-8 pm. Info: Facebook.

Wed, Jun 9, 16, 23 & 30 and July 7, 14 & 21

• Municipal Band Concert, German Park, 200 N German, New Ulm, 7 pm. Info: 507-359-8347, parkandrec@newulmmn.gov or newulmmn.gov.

Wed-Fri, Jun 9-11

• American Red Cross Blood Drive, 1212 N Franklin St, New Ulm, 1-7 pm Wed; 12-6 pm Thurs, 8:30 am1:30 pm Fri. Info & appointments:

GO. BE. DO. CON NECT.

800-733-2767 or RedCrossBlood. org.

Thurs, Jun 10-Sept 30

• Bands & Burgers, 416 Main St, Madison Lake, 6-9 pm. Info: 507243-4343, fun@luckyluremadlake.com or Facebook.

Thurs, June 10, 17 & 24, July 8 & 22

• Cruisin on Pine & 99, Main Street, Nicollet, 5-8 pm. Info: Facebook.

Thurs, Jun 10 & 24 and July 15 & 29

• Music in the Park, City Park, Winthrop, 6:30 pm. Info: 320-5838223 or roepkemarlene@gmail. com.

Fri, Jun 11

• The Johnny Cash Story, State Street Theater Co, 1 N State St, New Ulm, 7-9 pm. Info & tickets: statestreettheater@gmail.com, 507-359-9990 or statestreetnewulm.org.

Fri, Jun 11 & Jul 9

• All You Can Eat Chicken Dinner, American Legion, Lake Crystal, 6-8 pm. Info: lakecrystalchamber. com.

Sat, Jun 12

• Ambassadors’ Blues Fest Comeback Tour 2021, Minnesota Square Park, Hwy 169, St. Peter, 12-9:30 pm. Info: Facebook.

• Minnesota Fishing Tournament for Life, Madison Lake, 7 am-3 pm. Info: Facebook.

Sat, Jun 12 & 26 and Jul 10 & 24

• Shop the Lot Crafts, 2nd N & Broadway, New Ulm, 10 am-5 pm. Info: nucve.com.

• Unique Classic Cars Roll-In, 2015 Bassett Dr, Mankato, 2 pm. Info: Facebook or uniquemankato. com/.

Mon, June 14

• NCHS History Hangout Virtually—Conducting Genealogy, Zoom, 10 am. Connect: us02web. zoom.us/j/82950406700. Info: 507-934-2160 or info@nchsmn. org

• Concert in the Park with Tricia & The Toonies, German Park, 200 N German, New Ulm, 6:30 pm.

• Bean Bag Toss Dedication & Games, Memorial Park, St. James, 7-9 pm.

Mon-Sat, Jun 14-19

• Railroad Days, St. James. Info: discoverstjamesmn.com.

Thurs, June 17, July 1, 15 & 29

• Cruz IN Lake Crystal 2021, Marston Park, Main St, Lake Crystal, 5-8 pm. Info: Facebook or lakecrystalchamber.com/events.

Tues-Thurs, Jun 15-17

• Beyond the Barn Day Camp for

Kids, Farmamerica, 7367 360th Ave, Waseca, 9 am-3:30 pm. Info & registration: 507-835-2052, farmamerica.org/membership/.

Tues, Jun 15

• Water Carnival Disc Golf Tournament, Ridgewater College, Hutchinson, 5:00 pm. Info & registration: ridgewater.edu/ disc-golf-event-registration/.

Thurs, Jun 17

• Cruisin on Pine & 99 5th Anniversary Party, Main Street, Nicollet, 5-8 pm. Info: Facebook.

• Railroad Days Family Fun Run, St. James, 5 pm.

• Water Carnival Boat Parade, Masonic/West River Park, Hutchinson, 6 pm. Info: watercarnival. org.

• Cruz IN Lake Crystal 2021, Marston Park, Main St, Lake Crystal, 5-8 pm. Info: lakecrystalchamber. com/events.

• Lifelong Learner Series—Insects, Ney Nature Center, 28238 Nature Center Ln, Henderson, 12-1 pm. Info & registration: 507-357-8580 or info@neycenter.org

Thurs & Sun, Jun 17 & 20

• Water Carnival Fireworks, seating at Roberts Park, Les Kouba Point & Oddfellows Park, 10 pm. Info: watercarnival.org.

Thurs, Jun 17-Aug 12

• 11 @ 7 Concert Series, Central Park, Owatonna, 7-8 pm. Info: (507) 451-7970 or oacct@owatonna.org.

Fri, Jun 18

• Fire Dept Pork Chop Supper & Street Dance, Community Bldg, 505 1st Ave S, St. James, 5-8 pm supper; 8-11 pm dance. Info: Facebook.

• St. James Golf Invitational, South Fork Golf Course. Info: 507-9427484 or golf@southforkgolf.com

• Nitty Gritty Dirt Band Concert, Vetter Stone Amphitheater, 7 pm. Info: vetterstoneamphitheater. com.

• Waseca Chamber Golf Tournament, Lakeside Club, 37160 Clear Lake Dr, Waseca, 8:15 am-3 pm. Info; wasecachamber.com.

Fri-Sat, Jun 18-19

• Heritage Days, Heritage Hill, Hwy 7, Montevideo. Info: 320-2698470, heritagehillmn@gmail.com or Facebook.

• Citywide Garage Sales, New Ulm. Info: 888-463-9856.

Fri-Sun, Jun 18-20

• Friendship Days, Nicollet. Info: Nicollet American Legion Facebook page.

Sat. June 19

• 128th Annual bazaar, Albion Lutheran Church, 10454 250th Ave, St. James, 12 pm. Info: Facebook.

• Aaron Lewis Concert, Vetter Stone Amphitheater. Info: vetterstoneamphitheater.com.

• Railroad Days Parade, 10th Ave S & Armstrong Blvd S start, St. James, 6 pm.

Sun, Jun 20

• Craft Show, American Legion Hall inside and outside, Nicollet, 10 am-4 pm. Info: 507-382-4349.

• Parade, Nicollet, 1 pm. Info: American Legion page on Facebook.

• Water Carnival Grand Day Parade, starts at Main Street & 1st Ave NW, Hutchinson, 1 pm. Info: watercarnival.org.

Mon, Jun 21

• Heartsaver CPR/AED First Aid Certification Course, Washington Learning Center, 910 14th St, New Ulm, 6-9 pm. Info & registration: 507-233-8307 or cfleck@newulm. k12.mn.us

• Concert in the Park with Garage Band, German Park, 200 N German, New Ulm, 6:30 pm.

• George Carden Circus, Steele Co Four Seasons Centre, 1525 S Elm Ave, Owatonna. Info: visitowatonna@gmail.com.

Tues, Jun 22

• Chess Tournament, Public Library, 17 N Broadway, New Ulm, 2-6 pm. Info & registration (reqd by Jun 18): 507-359-8331.

Tues or Thurs, Jun 22 or Jun 24

• One Room School House for grades K-5, Brown County Fair Grounds, New Ulm, 9 am-1:30 pm. Info & registration: education@browncountyhistorymn. org or 507-233-2621.

Thurs, Jun 24

• Chamber Golf Tourney, Golf Club, Sleepy Eye, 11:30 am. Info & registration: Info: 507-794-4731, secofc@sleepyeyechamber.com or sleepyeyechamber.com.

Thurs-Sat, Jun 24-26

• Western Fest PRCA Stampede Rodeo, Lee Mar Ranch, 5328 Hwy 212, Granite Falls, 5:30 pm. Info: 320-564-4070 or granitefallsprcarodeo.org.

Fri-Sun, Jun 25-27

• Sauerkraut Days. Downtown Henderson. Info: Facebook or kraut.hendersonmn.com.

• Glencoe Days. Glencoe. Info: glencoedays@gmail.com or Facebook.

Mon, Jun 28

• Home Alone Safety for grades

Some of these events are tentative. Check ahead to see if they are being held and what COVID requirements must be met.

2-6, Washington Learning Center, New Ulm, 5-6:30 pm. Info: 507-233-8307 or cfleck@newulm. k12.mn.us

• Concert in the Park with Garage Band, German Park, 200 N German, New Ulm, 6:30 pm.

Thurs, July 1 & Aug 5

• 1st Thursday Downtown, Central Park and 100 & 200 blocks of Cedar Ave, Owatonna, 5-8:30 p.m. Info: Facebook.

Sun, Jul 4

• July 4th Celebration, Turner Hall Park, 102 S State, New Ulm. Info: 507-354-4916, newulmturnerclub@gmail.com or newulmturnerhall.org/.

• Red Hot Boom, Riverfront Park,

309 W Rock St, Mankato, 5-10 pm.

• Fourth of July Fireworks Display, St. James Lake, St. James, 8:3010:30 pm.

Mon, Jul 5

• Concert in the Park with Sleepy Eye Concertina Band, German Park, 200 N German, New Ulm, 6:30 pm.

Fri-Sat, Jul 9-10

• Madelia Park Days, Watona Park, 711 Dill Ave SW, Madelia. Info: 507-642-8822, 888-941-7283 or chamber@madeliamn.com.

Sat, Jul 10 & 24 and Aug 14

• Unique Classic Cars Roll-In, 2015 Bassett Dr, Mankato, 2 pm. Info: Facebook or uniquemankato.

com/.

Sat, Jul 10

• Mayer Rising Community Festival—Car, Cycle & Tractor Show & Swap Meet, 413 Bluejay Ave N, Mayer, 9 am-2 pm. Info: Facebook, 612-991-0518 or crafts@ mayercarshow.com.

Mon, Jul 12

• Concert in the Park with the Wendinger Band, German Park, 200 N German, New Ulm, 6:30 pm.

• NCHS History Hangout Virtually—Five Governors from St Peter, Zoom, 10 am. Connect: us02web.zoom. us/j/82950406700. Info: 507-9342160 or info@nchsmn.org

Thurs-Sun, Jul 15-18

• Bavarian Blast, Fairgrounds, 1212 N Franklin St, New Ulm. Info: bavarianblast.com/, info@bavarianblast.com or 507-233-4300.

• FunFest 2021, Gibbon. Info: Facebook.

Fri-Sun, Jul 16-18 & 23-25

• LTO Production— ‘Frumpled Fairy Tales,’ Little Theatre of Owatonna, 560 Dunnell Dr, Owatonna, 7:30 pm. Info: littletheatreofowatonna.org/.

Sat-Sun, Jul 17-18

• Flying Dutchmen Flat Track Practice School, Club Grounds, 20513 110th Ave, New Ulm, 10 am. Info: 507-354-2024, 507-354-2306 or FDMC1@comcast. Net.

Farmers' Markets County Fairs in our Area

Arlington Farmers Market

• Community Center Parking Lot. June 21- fall. Mon. 4-6 pm. Info: 507-327-6601, Facebook or cityhall@arlingtonmn.com.

Buffalo Lake Farm & Flea Market

• City Park on Hwy 212. Jun.-Oct., Sat., 8 am-noon. Info: 320-3891006 or renvillecountymn.com.

Fairfax Farmers Market

• 1st St,. SE of Hwy 19. Mid-JuneSept., Tue. 4-6 pm. Info: 507-4267281 or renvillecountymn.com.

Gaylord Farmers Market

• 5th & Main Ave, Jun-Oct, Wed. 4-6 pm. Info: 507-232-3497.

Gibbon Farmer’s Market

• Hwy 19, Jul.-Oct., Thurs. 3-5:30 pm.

Glencoe Farmers Market

• 11th St and Greeley Ave. Mid Jun.-Oct., Thurs., 3-6 pm. Info: 320-864-3650, sally@glencoechamber.com or glencoechamber.com.

Hector Farmers Market

• CRC C-Store, intersection Hwy 212 & Co Rd 4. Jul.-fall, Wed. 3-6 pm. Info: 320-848-2195 or renvillecountymn.com.

Hutchinson Farmers Market

• 25 Adams St SE. May 22-Oct 30, Wed. 2:30-5:30 pm and Sat. 8 am-noon; Info: 320-234-5652 or jpage@ci.hutchinson.mn.us.

Litchfield Community Market

• VFW Parking Lot, 915 E Hwy 12. May-Oct. Thurs., 2-5:30 p.m.

Madelia Community Hospital’s Farmers Market

• Drew Ave, May-Oct., Wed. 4-6 pm. Info: mchospital.org.

Madison Lake Farmers Market

• Lindburgh Park, 300 7th St, May 15-Oct. Sat., 9 am. Info: mlfm2014@yahoo.com.

Mankato Farmers Market

• Best Buy Parking Lot, 1805 Adams Street. Early May- end Oct., Sat. 8 am-noon. Jun.-Oct., Tues & Thurs., 3:30-6 pm. Info: 507-3829337, manager@manktatofarm -

ersmarket.com or mankatofarmersmarket@gmail.com

Morton Farmers Market

• City Hall parking lot on Hwy 19, downtown. Mid Jun.-fall, times vary. Info: 507-697-6912 or renvillecountymn.com.

New Prague Farmers Market

• Carbone’s parking lot, May 8- Oct., Sat. 9 am-noon. Info: Facebook, ajbisek@bevcomm. net or 952-201-5759.

New Ulm KNUJ Radio

Farmers Market

• Cash Wise Foods, Hwy 14 W. June-Oct., Thurs. 2:30-5:30 pm. June 29-fall, Sat. 9 am-noon. Info: Facebook.

North Mankato Farmers Market

• 1920 Lee Blvd., upper No. Mankato. June 7-Oct. 18; Mon., 3-6 pm. Info: northmankato. com/farmers-market.

Olivia Farmers Market

• City parking lot, 9th St & Fairview, 2 blocks S of stoplight. Jul.-Oct., Thurs., 1:30-5:30 pm. Info: 320-522-1043 or renvillecountymn.com.

Olivia United Acres Farmers Market

• Memorial Park on Hwy 12. MidJune.-Oct., Mon & Thurs., 12:305:30 pm. Info: 320-522-10430699, eda@renvillecountymn.com or renvillecountymn.com.

Owatonna Farmers Market

• Central Park. May-Nov. 3, Sat., 7 am-12 pm. Info: visitowatonna@gmail.com.

St. James Farmers Market

• Plaze De St. James; Wed & Thurs. 3-5:30 pm. May-mid-Oct. localendar.com/public/stjameschamber.

St. Peter Farmers Market

• Hwy 169 & Myrtle St. Jun.-Oct., Tue. 3-6 pm & Sat 8:30 am-noon; Info: 507-304-3946, Facebook or stpfarmersmarket@gmail.com

Winsted Farmer’s Market

• Winsted Avenue, May-Oct., Sat. 7 am-12 pm. Info: WinstedChamber.com.

WASECA COUNTY FREE FAIR

• Wed-Sun, July 14-18. 409 8th Ave NE, Waseca. Info: wasecacountyfreefair.com/ or 507-461-0314.

WATONWAN COUNTY FAIR

• Thurs-Sun, July 15-18. 35164 11th St S, St. James. Info: watonwancountyfair.com/home.html or watcntyfair@gmail.com.

REDWOOD COUNTY FAIR

• Thurs-Sun, July 15-18. 201 N Dekalb St, Redwood Falls. Info: 507-627-2801, redwoodcountyfair.com/ or Facebook.

RICE COUNTY FAIR

• Wed-Sun, Jul 21-25. 1814 2nd Ave NW, Faribault. Info: ricecountyfair.net/, 507-332-2470 Facebook.

BLUE EARTH COUNTY FAIR

• Thurs-Sun, July 22-25. Garden City. Info: blueearthcountyfair. org or info@blueearthcountyfair. org.

FARIBAULT COUNTY FAIR

• Wed-Sat, July 28-31. 235 Midway Rd, Blue Earth. Info: 507-3407539 or faribaultcountyfairweb@ gmail.com.

SCOTT COUNTY FAIR

• Wed-Sun, Jul 28-Aug. 1. 7151 190th St. W, Jordan. Info: 952-492-2436, fairofficestaff@scottcountyfair.com or scottcountyfair.org.Bottom of Form

FREEBORN COUNTY FAIR

• Tues-Sun, Aug 3-8. 1105 Bridge Ave, Albert Lea. Info: freeborncountyfair.com, 507-373-6965 or freeborncountyfair@gmail.com.

SIBLEY COUNTY FAIR

• Wed-Sun, Aug 4-8, 801 W Chandler St, Arlington. Info: sibleycountyfair.com or secretary@ sibleycountyfair.com.

MEEKER COUNTY FAI R

• Thurs-Sun, Aug 5-8. 1230 N Armstrong Ave Litchfield . Info:

320-761-2841 or www.meekerfair.com/

DAKOTA COUNTY FAIR

• Mon-Sun, Aug 9-15. 4008 220th St. W, Farmington. Info: 651-4636900 dakotacountyfair.org/.

COTTONWOOD COUNTY FAIR

• Wed-Sat, Aug 11-14. 1840 8th Ave, Windom. Info: cottonwoodcountyfair.org/ or Facebook.

NICOLLET COUNTY FAIR

• Wed-Sun, Aug 11-15. 400 West Union St, St. Peter. Info: 507-9342684, 507-931-5816 or nicolletcountyfair.com.

BROWN COUNTY FREE FAIR

• Wed-Sun, Aug 11-15. 1201 N State St, New Ulm. Info: Phone: 507-354-2223 or info@browncountyfreefair.com.

CARVER COUNTY FAIR

• Wed-Sun, Aug 11-15. 501 West 3rd St, Waconia. Info: 952-4422333, carvercountyfair.com or Facebook.

RENVILLE COUNTY FAIR

• Thurs-Sat, Aug 12-14 . 500 Main Street, Bird Island. Info: renvillecountyfair.org or 320-365-3242.

MARTIN COUNTY FAIR

• Tues-Sat, Aug 17-21. Co Rd 39, NW Fairmont. Info: 507-2359576, martincountyfair@gmail. com.

STEELE COUNTY FREE FAIR

• Tues-Sun, Aug 17-22. 1525 S Cedar Ave Owatonna. Info: 507451-5305, scff.org or Facebook.

LE SUEUR COUNTY FAIR

• Thurs-Sun, Aug. 19-22. 320 S Plut Ave, Le Center. Info: 507-3576500, info@lesueurcountyfair. org, or lesueurcountyfair.org.

McLEOD COUNTY FAIR

• Thurs-Sun, Aug 19-22. 840 Century Ave SW, Hutchinson. Info: 320-587-2499 or mcleodcountyfair.com.

DOES YOUR BIKE NEED A BOOST?

With spring here, I think we’re all more than ready to get outside and embrace the sunshine and warmer weather.

People are looking at new ways to enjoy their outdoor activities and the interest and popularity of electric bikes is on the top of that list. When you are on the trails or taking a leisure ride around town, you may have noticed more people on e bikes than ever before. You may have friends that have purchased one, or maybe you are even considering one for yourself. If you are, let’s take a minute to ask some questions and consider some of the reasons why so many people love biking with a boost.

For most of us, the first question is “How do e-bikes work?’ Electric bikes are pedal assist bikes, so there is a battery powered motor that helps the pedals turn while you are riding. The motor works when you do, so the e-bike gives you a boost while you are pedaling. Because the motor increases the power as you pedal, your ride feels smooth and your legs feel super strong. Because the motor stops when you stop pedaling, you are always in control.

Next, what type of an e bike will be the best fit for you? There are several different styles and models to choose from, but they break down into some categories based on where you plan to ride. Here are some e-bike basics:

Electric Hybrid and Commuter Bikes. These bikes are comfortable, fun, versatile, and give you extra power to go farther and faster. Great choice for getting around town and on your commute.

Electric Mountain Bikes. These allow you to do the trails with ease and powers you up the hills.

Electric Road Bikes. Hit the road with the power and the speed to ride with the fast group.

So, you are thinking, I like to do all of those things. Do I need more than one bike? Nope. When you’re making your decision, check with the experts as to which bike will fit best for where and how you want to ride.

Some additional things to consider:

How much does an e-bike cost? Generally speaking, better quality

e-bikes start in the $1500 range and go up to several thousand dollars, depending on how they are customized.

Since e-bikes are battery powered, how far can you go on a charge? There is a wide range, depending on your bike, motor, and battery, but most e-bikes will go from 25 to 75 miles on a single charge.

Are e-bikes faster than regular bikes? Yes and no. Most e-bikes are pedal assist so your speed depends on how much effort you are putting in your pedaling. But, for the most part, you will ride faster and farther on your e-bike.

Now that we have touched on some e-bike specifics, let’s consider some great reasons to get out and try one!

1. An e-bike will help you to ride faster, further, and go longer. Because you will have the extra boost from the motor, you can travel farther at a faster pace, and the boost allows you the energy to ride longer on the roads and up the hills.

2. Helps to keep you fit. Because you are riding more, you are pedaling more, so you are getting great exercise. Win, win!

3. Great for your commute. Avoid traffic and save money on your way to work.

4. Have more fun. The best thing about an e-bike is that it makes your ride more enjoyable. The pedal assist feature allows you to ride more confidently more places. The added boost you get while pedaling gets you up the hills and on the trails with greater ease, so you will be motivated to ride more often because you are having so much fun.

Whether you like to ride to keep fit, get to work, or just have fun, there is an e-bike for you. So, if you are ready for a new adventure, check out an e-bike and have more fun!

MICHAEL KRAYWINKEL Bike Expert SCHEELS Mankato

Overall, plant “sexuality” is a complicated spectrum based on each plant’s individual flowers, which can be either perfect or imperfect. Perfect flowers contain both male and female reproductive parts, while imperfect flowers have only male or female parts. If a plant has both male and female flowers, it’s considered “monoecious.” If a plant has only male flowers or only female flowers, it’s a “dioecious” plant, and each plant is considered strictly male or female.

There aren’t very many Minnesota plants that are dioecious, so it usually won’t matter to a gardener if her plants are monoecious, dioecious, or something else entirely. But in some circumstances, dioecious male plants are more desirable than their female counterparts. In honor of the Man Issue, here are a few male plants with important horticultural features.

Male trees that are less messy Large shade trees have countless benefits for homes and landowners, but they produce a lot of organic material that falls into our yards and gardens. While we expect to rake leaves each autumn,

seed pods and fruits can be an unexpected and obnoxious source of debris. Since male flowers don’t produce seeds, male trees can’t produce fruits or seed pods. For some species, plant breeders have selected and propagated only male plants for this very reason.

The gingko (Ginkgo biloba) is a tough but beautiful shade tree, an excellent option for urban streets and country groves alike. The ginkgo is particularly well-suited for cities, as it tolerates salt, compacted soil, heat, and air pollution. It’s also deer resistant and has gorgeous yellow fall color. However, mature ginkgo trees produce particularly offensive fruits—fleshy tangerine-colored balls that smell almost exactly like dog poop when they break open—and they always break open when they fall off the trees and you unsuspectingly step on or drive over them.

Luckily, the ginkgo is dioecious, so it’s possible to create male trees that don’t fruit. If you’re interested in planting ginkgo trees, look for the following male cultivars: ‘Autumn Gold,’ ‘Gold Spire,’ ‘Magyar,’ ‘Presidential Gold,’ and ‘Princeton Sentry.’

Kentucky coffeetree (Gymnocladus dioicus) is another neat dioecious shade tree, valued for its unique bark texture, overall disease and insect resistance, and adaptability to poor soil and drought conditions. Similar to ginkgos, the Kentucky coffeetree’s seed pods are large and messy, though they’re not known for being stinky. Seed pods can be up to 10 inches long, and they’re pretty hefty, too—I wouldn’t want them raining down on my head from a tree in my yard. Male cultivars are incapable of producing seed pods, and they now dominate the retail market. These include ‘Espresso,’ ‘True North,’ and ‘Decaf.’

Male plants that pollinate ornamental females

For dioecious plants whose main ornamental feature is fruit, male plants still play an important biological role. The flowers on these female plants need pollination to produce their berries, which means gardeners need to have at least one male plant nearby. Winterberry (Ilex verticillata) is one of the few Minnesota hardy plants that this concept applies to, as most people who plant winterberry shrubs do so for their showy bright red (or orange) berries, which are a welcome colorful addition to the winter landscape.

‘Jim Dandy’ is the main male winterberry cultivar available in Minnesota. Its flowering time lines up nicely with female cultivars ‘Afterglow,’ ‘Red Sprite,’ ‘Wildfire,’ ‘Goldfinch,’ ‘Berry Heavy,’ and ‘Berry Nice.’ A single ‘Jim Dandy’ can pollinate up to 20 female winterberry plants as long as they’re planted within 40 feet of each other. If you plant a group of females, it’s best to tuck a male plant in behind them or somewhere nearby where it’s not front-andcenter, since Mr. Jim will not have any berries himself.

Male plants that produce more food

Asparagus ( Asparagus officinalis) is another dioecious plant whose male varieties are most desirable. Though both male and female plants produce edible stalks, the females also produce inedible berries (full of seeds) later in the growing season. Since the female plants must spend energy creating these seeds, they have less energy for foliage production. This means female asparagus plants are generally smaller, and that the male plants will ultimately produce more spears, sometimes out-producing female plants at a rate of three to one. Male asparagus plants also tend to live longer. The ‘Jersey’ series of male asparagus plants (‘Jersey Knight,’ ‘Jersey Giant,’ ‘Jersey Supreme,’ etc.) has been around since the mid1980s, but they will no longer be available in the near future. The newer male cultivars include ‘Millennium,’ ‘Eclipse,’ ‘Equinox,’ and ‘Walker Deluxe.’ So far, ‘Millennium’ has been most widely tested in Minnesota, and it’s highly productive for up to 20 years. I have some ‘Millennium’ plants in my garden, and I definitely recommend them. Yum.

Are you ready to have a baby?

When you are thinking about becoming pregnant—whether it’s the first time or not—it’s important to discuss your plans with your health care provider before you become pregnant. Traditional prenatal care once you are pregnant is not usually started until after 13 weeks. Therefore, making sure you are healthy before trying to conceive is essential.

Here are some questions to ask yourself and your provider about having a baby:

Am I healthy enough to have a baby?

Some medical diagnoses put mom and baby at higher risk and will require closer monitoring. Examples include seizures, diabetes, high blood pressure, depression, and thyroid disease. Your provider will help you make sure these conditions are well managed before you become pregnant. Being 35 and older also increases your risk.

If you or your partner have a family history of genetic disease, you may be sent to a genetic specialist to discuss possible screening tests for the disease.

A recent pregnancy or complications with previous pregnancies may mean your provider will follow you more closely or advise waiting to become pregnant until you have had a more thorough evaluation.

It is also important to be screened for infections you may not know you have. And you should confirm that you have been given all recommended vaccines. For example, some women who were vaccinated against rubella find that they are no longer immune. Babies born to a mom who was sick with rubella, especially in early pregnancy, are at greater risk for birth defects.

Are the medications and supplements I’m taking safe in pregnancy?

Prescribed and over-the-counter medications can be harmful to an unborn baby. There are only about 30 medications with proof that they are safe in pregnancy. Some medications can also affect your ability to become pregnant. Your provider can assist with stopping necessary medications, changing to an alternative medication and starting recommended medications, such as folic acid. The best time to do this is several months before becoming pregnant.

Will my current lifestyle provide a safe and comfortable environment for a newborn?

If you are employed, check to see if your place of work provides paid family medical leave after delivery, and learn about policies for time off as your child grows.

Make a list of people available to help you if you or your baby need it.

Consider the potential need for help during pregnancy, such as when you are tired or nauseous, or if bedrest is recommended.

Consider the cost of having and raising a child. Babies can be expensive. From buying a package of diapers to covering day care, the costs add up quickly. Look into the prices of the essentials to know what to expect and start a budget.

Unfortunately, pregnancy is rarely perfect, but planning ahead can increase your chances for a healthy pregnancy and baby. Schedule a preconception appointment with your health care provider as soon as you begin thinking about becoming pregnant.

BREANNA WEISBROD Nurse Practitioner, Family Medicine Mayo Clinic Health System, Waseca

JuneMust

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Burn Calories, stimulate your metabolism, detox, and relieve pain all while relaxing in the Alpha Fuzion sauna pod. Call us today and start feeling better tomorrow.

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Renewal by Andersen® windows are custom-made to fit within the exact space of an existing window. They are an easy, hasslefree way to enhance your home’s comfort and appearance without the major disruptions that often come with remodeling projects. Schmidt Siding & Window 901 N 5th St. Mankato, MN 56001 507.625.6412 schmidtmankato.com

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IS THE BEST MEDICINE PREVENTION

When younger men come to see me, it’s usually one of three things. Their brother or father was diagnosed with a medical condition. A male friend or family member has died. Or their wife made the appointment.

Men don’t like going to the doctor. It’s against our nature. Unfortunately, delaying routine check-ups can result in bigger health problems.

It’s like having a leaky roof. If you can fix the leak when it’s small and get on it early, you can take care of things fairly easily. If you wait for the leak to get bigger, it can do a lot of damage to your home and cost a ton of time and money to fix. The same goes for health issues that are left untreated. The health problem can get bigger, affect your whole body and be more difficult to treat.

We encourage men to begin seeing a primary care provider in their 20s. As men get older, we want to see you a bit more often. Our joints start aching a little more, we see a little more heart disease and our risks for cancers increase with age. During check-ups, we tell you if it’s time for routine cancer screenings for prostate cancer, colorectal cancer and lung cancer if you have smoked.

Here are some ways we help men stay healthy.

Heart and Cardiovascular Disease

Heart disease is the number one killer of American men and women. Even young and middle-aged men can develop heart problems. We pay close attention if you have a family history of heart disease, heart attacks and strokes. In routine check-ups, we also look for warning signs such as high blood pressure and high cholesterol which can lead to heart attacks and strokes.

We’d rather see you before you have a cardiac event. Because we can help prevent it.

To improve your heart health, we will want to get you active and exercising. Weight loss – even as little as 5% of your total body weight – can have big health benefits. If you weigh 200 pounds, 10 pounds can lower your blood pressure and cholesterol. If necessary, we may prescribe cholesterol or blood pressure medications.

Diabetes

Diabetes is another common disease that increases your risk for heart attack and strokes. Diabetes can also significantly affect your quality of life. We want to keep your quality of life as good as possible for as long as possible so you can work and do all the things you enjoy.

Many of us are at higher risk for type 2 diabetes. That’s why we sometimes recommend a simple blood test to measure blood sugar. High blood sugar levels indicate prediabetes or diabetes.

Prediabetes means blood sugar levels are higher than normal, but not high enough yet to be diagnosed as type 2 diabetes. This gives us time to get you on a path to prevent diabetes. Activity, weight loss and healthy eating go a long way toward prevention.

I strongly encourage men to come in for routine check-ups to prevent some basic health problems.

RICHARD PELLER , MD

MANKATO CLINIC FAMILY MEDICINE

ASK CANDEE: Getting REAL Estate

We’d like to sell our home but where will we go?

Because there is currently a shortage of homes for sale on the market, many sellers are afraid they won’t be able to find a home to purchase and will end up homeless if they sell their current home too quickly. While this is an understandable concern, there are options that can help ensure that you do not in fact end up without a place to go if you sell your home before you find a new one. For example, some sellers secure short-term housing while they are looking for a new home. This could mean finding a short-term rental home or moving in with friends or family temporarily. If you are working with an experienced real estate agent, they can also talk with you about creative options that can be built into the contract for the purchase of your current home. Sellers are in the driver’s seat in this market and buyers are willing to make concessions that they may not normally make. Most homes are selling for well over the asking price, and the bottom line is that many sellers feel the higher return they are getting on their home sale is worth the temporary inconvenience.

It’s a seller’s market, so can I price my home a lot higher?

Even though it is a seller’s market, setting the right price for your home is one of the most

important things you can do. According to CoreLogic, home sale prices nationwide are expected to increase by an average of 3.3% this year. When it comes to choosing the listing price for your property, your goal should be to increase visibility and drive more buyers your way. Instead of trying to win the negotiation with one buyer, you should price your property so that interest and demand are maximized, and more buyers will want to take a look. As a seller, you might be thinking you should price your home on the high end since demand is high and inventory is low. But you should know that a high price tag does not mean you’re going to cash in big on the sale, and in fact it’s more likely to scare off potential buyers. Even today, when there are so few houses for sale, your house is more likely to sit on the market longer or require a price drop if it is listed too high. When you price it competitively, there’s a good chance that you’ll have multiple buyers competing to win the sale and it will sell for above your asking price. It’s important to work with an experienced real estate professional to make sure your property is priced correctly for your local market to get you the most out of your home sale.

How should I choose a real estate agent to list my home?

Today, it’s more important than ever to have a trusted real estate professional guide you

through the home selling process. Houses sold with an agent sell for an average of 6% more than those sold on their own, and agents can absorb much of the stress involved in the process. In short, it’s worth it to hire a good agent. Many home sellers ask their family and friends for recommendations on real estate professional they have worked with successfully. The key is to find an agent who will sell your home using a range of marketing tactics and is experienced in negotiating. It’s common for sellers to interview 2-3 different agents and go with the one they like best. Some questions you should ask include what they would recommend as a selling price for your home (beware of an agent who goes with a significantly higher number, they are likely exaggerating just to earn your business), how they plan to market your home, how they will help you negotiate to get the best sale price, what their communication style is like and what is included in their fees. You can also ask them for a list of homes they have sold in the same price range as yours. If you still aren’t sure, ask the agent if you could talk to a few of their past clients.

CANDEE DEICHMAN REALTOR® CENTURY 21 Atwood

Joint Replacement Surgery Important Choice, Easy Decision

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For quality care, close to home, it’s OrthoEdge . The OrthoEdge Joint Replacement Program features two of the most experienced orthopaedic care providers in the area, The Orthopaedic & Fracture Clinic and River’s Edge Hospital .

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Getting the care you deserve and trust, close to home, makes OrthoEdge the right choice for joint replacement surgery.

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