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if you like to learn new things. How about you, in the back, chewing gum? No need to go back-to-school, however. RVW is handing out all the materials you need to raise your IQ a point or two. There won’t even be a quiz later.
On the cover of this LEARN issue is national speaker, entrepreneur and author, Briana Williamson. Ever questioning, Briana has made a career of growing and teaching through adversity and challenges. She, along with Dr. Kelly Meier, put their heads together to create Kinect Education Group, which not only survived the pandemic, it thrived. And that is just one chapter assigned to Briana’s multi-faceted career.
We all remember that one kid in school who was ahead of the curve in every way. Recent high school senior Samantha Rist is all that, with some extra credit thrown in. Licensed private pilot, Army ROTC scholarship recipient, hometown royalty, valedictorian… well you get the grad picture. Sam comes by her multiple successes with her unassuming attitude, good sportsmanship, and a whole lot of natural ability.
I could be just spit-balling here but when it comes to grades I have my own system as to what they mean: A’s to B’s are easily interpreted as good at the subject but not necessarily conclusive to intelligence or success, but could mean both, either, or neither. It’s the C’s to F’s where things get real, if almost strangely admirable. Getting a C in
any subject means you tried—you weren’t great—but you didn’t whiff it entirely. C minus territory, well—quit looking out the window. D is a mystery grade that I wonder how it is arrived at by teachers. You were worse than mediocre, but you didn’t not try hard enough to not fail and get an F. And don’t get me started on D+. Being scared and not prepared is definitely not a position you want to be in before a test, or any life situation. Especially when it’s a matter of your own protection. That’s where Rebecca Richter of Dynamic Defense comes in. Her teaching moment is rooted in one’s self…self-sufficiency and self-awareness. Her “Well-Armed Woman” program aims to help women become cognizant of her surroundings and her options. In other words, she helps you become a quick study in safety.
The wheels on Karen Stephens school bus have been going ’round and ’round for the past 44 years. Her motivation for having that much drive for four-plus decades? The kids. But she’s decided it’s time to put out the stop arm and retire. Her story takes you along for the ride.
Get educated by putting our SPACES pages on your schedule this month. New Ulm’s old high school is now home to funky Emerson Union apartments. Chalk boards and library shelves are invited to prom with modern kitchen appliances and industrial design. Running through the halls is up to you.
Even if you’re not going back-to-school, it’s always a good time to read and learn. Stay classy.
By MARIE ZIMMERMAN
PHOTOS BY ALICE HQ PHOTOGRAPHY
riana Williamson has a unique message about creating a lane where none seems to exist. The 31-year-old has built a career as a national speaker for equity and the role of entrepreneurship in creating generational wealth for historically underserved communities. She’s published a series of books with her young daughter, despite never imagining she’d be a children’s author. And she co-founded a company.
Along the way, people tried to curb Briana’s enthusiasm. Especially as an aspiring entrepreneur, she’d hear the laundry list of reasons why starting a business is scary. She can quote data from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics how half of U.S. small businesses fail within five years.
Briana wasn’t having any of it. Ever since she was a little girl, she has pushed back against limits and conventions. At 13, she had a chance to speak in front of the local school board. In his comments, the superintendent kept saying her name wrong (It’s pronounced “bree-AHN-uh.”).
When she got to the mic, Briana, aware that mispronunciation can be a form of subtle, if unintentional, racism, corrected the superintendent. She remembers her mother being aghast. Briana felt the loving support of her parents growing up and says her mother was a role model of a strong woman. But she also sensed her parents worried that her attitude would hinder Briana in life as a Black woman.
“I never bought into that,” Briana said. “Who you are when you show up in your most natural form is who you get to be.”
That’s how she and her husband, Matnique, have approached raising a family. They just welcomed a new baby earlier this year to join big sister Mya. Outspoken and already a YouTube influencer at age six, Mya has questions and opinions galore. Briana and Matnique don’t censor her; they work from the opposite approach of getting the world to open up to her.
It was when Mya was born that Briana felt more urgency to make the future different for her daughter. By that point, she was well on her way to creating her own lane in life and in her career.
Born and raised in North Minneapolis, Briana graduated from Hopkins High School and came to Mankato to attend Minnesota State University, Mankato (MSUM). She studied corrections and sociology, with a minor in Spanish and nonprofit leadership. As a sophomore, Briana started her career in diversity and inclusion, becoming a work-study student.
A first-generation college student herself, Briana had a passion for
supporting the retention, persistence, and equitable completion of students from communities that have historically been underrepresented and marginalized in higher education. Mentors Dr. Kelly Meier and Dr. Henry Morris encouraged her and “saw something in me that I never knew existed and still impacts my work to this day.”
After completing her undergrad in less than four years, she was hired as a graduate assistant in the office of Diversity and Inclusion. The university covered the cost for her to pursue a master’s degree in educational leadership. In 2013, Briana was hired full time as a recruitment and retention specialist at MSUM, moving on to become director of student success for Diversity and Inclusion.
Meanwhile, Matnique, who was Briana’s high school sweetheart, had transferred to the university to complete his undergrad and graduate degrees. The pace of life in Mankato made it feel like a “unique oasis,” and the couple stayed to work and raise their family.
Five years into her roles at the university in Mankato, there were workshops Briana wanted to host and topics she wanted to address that didn’t fit. True to form, she decided to go her own way. Kelly, her former supervisor, became her business partner, and the two co-founded Kinect Education Group. The goal is to inspire K-12 and higher education leaders to think broadly about intercultural competency, communication, and everyday engagement with others. In Kelly’s words, they’re creating “diversity champions.”
“We need more accomplices and less allies,” Briana said. The two lovingly refer to themselves as “salt and pepper,” a nod to the difference in their age and appearance. Kelly is a white woman, and the older of the pair. She was starting her career when Briana was born 31 years ago.
“Above and beyond how we look, there’s a balance to our work. Clients value being able to see things from all sides,” Kelly said. It applies to their work style, too. Briana describes herself as quick to react, with more fiery responses, while noting Kelly typically approaches problems methodically.
Kelly still serves as the assistant vice president for equity and inclusion at MSUM, in addition to her role as vice president of outreach and capacity building for Kinect Education. Dr. Meier joined the university in 1991 as an assistant director for student activities. Her duties and roles have progressively increased. She has a strong publication record and is an avid scholar, student advocate, community partner, and equity leader.
“I’ve always enjoyed having her wisdom, her guidance,” Briana said. “What has made all the difference is working for, and with,
At six years old, Mya Williamson is a kid boss with more than a thousand subscribers to her YouTube channel, haircare and swimsuit product lines, and 12 children’s books published together with her mom, Briana Williamson. Her insatiable curiosity and self-confidence got her started on this path, with help from mom and dad paving the way.
Writing children’s books was not part of Briana’s plan until Mya started asking questions that none of the books on her shelves could answer.
“There were books she wanted to read that hadn’t been written yet,” said Briana, echoing a quote by American novelist Toni Morrison.
When Mya was three, she loved to watch Elsa and Anna sing and dance their way across the Frozen movie landscape. Mya noticed the Scandinavian leading ladies looked very different from her, especially their hair.
“Her follow-up question is always, ‘Why?’” Briana said.
Talking about Black hair and beauty, self-love, and being true to who you are inspired Natural Hair ABCs, the first book mother and daughter wrote and published in 2019. Since then, they’ve co-authored another 11 books, with Mya in the role of content expert.
“Each book starts with what’s going on in her world. She takes what happens to her in the world and writes about it.” Briana said. “Writing the books has been great mommy and me time, great daddy and me time. It’s a family thing.”
While Briana and Mya share a sense of possibility and a “why not?” attitude, they don’t have the same love of fashion and style. Mya is into hair and beauty products, and has even tested out toddler makeup in her role as an influencer on YouTube.
“I was never a girly girl growing up. She’s much more into those things,” said Briana, who would prefer to stand outside of the spotlight but is determined to support her daughter.
Encouraging Mya to follow her passions and be true to herself is important to Briana and her husband, Matnique. They know their daughter will have experiences that could shake her self image, like a recent ballet class Mya took. The standard of ballerinas wearing their hair in tight buns and having “nude” tights in a pale color felt wrong. Mya loves her afro and wanted to wear her hair natural. And it was plain to see the tights were not matched to her skin.
“She was the only brown girl in her ballet class and didn’t fit the mold in a lot of ways,” Briana said.
So, they talked it over and came up with another book, The Ballerina Who Lost Her Fro. The story has a happy ending, where the little Black ballerina’s hairband snaps, and her afro breaks free. It deals with understanding bias, microaggressions, and sense of identity at an early age. Artist Sorcha McGlinchey, who has done work for Disney, illustrated the book, thanks to a connection made through social media.
Mya has made other high profile connections, including having her Candy Colors hair wax line chosen as one of 17 businesses for the Mall of America’s Community Commons. She also went to the state capitol to support the CROWN (Creating a Respectful and Open World for Natural Hair) act hearing.
Her growing kid boss empire also includes haircare, swimwear, browndages (bandages for black and brown skin), and even bedding printed with characters from her books. Mya sells all these products, and her books, through her website at lovemynatural.com.
someone who has never discouraged my questions.”
Passion, purpose and success
Briana and Kelly have self-funded, authored and produced over 100 different diversity and inclusion tools at Kinect Education. They started out making their products by hand and now ship to a national and international audience. More than 10,000 educators have learned from Briana and Kelly.
Success has been hard won as a women- and minority-owned company.
“We face hurdles all the time in access. We have to fight for it,” Kelly said. “Sometimes people are simply looking for you to prove it before they’re willing to give you the opportunity,” Briana said.
Right before the pandemic took hold, they felt like they were clearing the hurdles for their business. They’d secured a coveted spot at Bush Foundation’s 2020 bushCONNECT to showcase one of their feature training sessions known as “speed hating.” The pair flew to Nashville to present at a different national conference when a tornado struck the city, followed by nationwide lockdowns for COVID-19. It felt ominous.
“We came back. It was kind of deflating. We’d been seeing such success,” Briana said.
Everything stopped … but only for a moment. Kelly and Briana focused their efforts on intentional tools and services to help educators at a loss for how to connect with students who now appeared most often as tiles on a screen. Kinect Education pushed out blogs, information, and new products. They published an eBook, Creating Connections
After thousands of downloads of the book, the two realized Kinect Education could have a much broader impact. They relaunched their in-person training course and certifications as virtual learning
opportunities and now have clients coast to coast. Their diversity and inclusion message are reaching new audiences, including school board members, business leaders, and entrepreneurs—and their tools and resources have been influential in supporting community awareness for bias incidents and hate crimes.
“It would have been really easy to give up and to fold. One thing we tell people is to have grit and tenacity. … We got through it together,” Kelly said.
Kinect Education also recently secured a trademark for a product called the EquityRubric after three years of development. The tool uses an algorithm to help organizations build capacity and reach success in organizational change for a diverse society.
“What we’ve done is give people the opportunity to put (equity) into action,” Kelly said.
As their reach expands, both women remain firmly rooted in Mankato. They credit the community in their success and want to give back. Kelly and Briana started a nonprofit called The Equity Network. Through it, they received an $18,000 block grant from the City of Mankato to raise awareness and trust for public health across cultural communities, focusing on culturally relevant information about COVID-19 vaccines. Nearly 13 percent of people living in Mankato identify as people of color, according to Minnesota Compass data. And 9.8 percent of people in the community speak a language other than English, with 2.7 percent who speak English less than very well.
“(Mankato) is growing, and it’s good to be part of the change,” Briana said.
“It’s upon each of us to think what our unique identities are and how we can be an active part of the solution,” Kelly said. RVW
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By KELLY DEVRIENDT
Self-sufficiency has always been important to Rebecca Richter.
“Living an empowered life is knowing that I am capable of taking care of myself and my family,” Richter said.
With that goal in mind, Richter has continually looked for opportunities to obtain skills for herself.
A key way in which Rebecca builds her self-sufficiency is through being well educated and trained in various defense tactics, including the use of firearms.
Although she did grow up in a household of firearm enthusiasts, it wasn’t until her mid-20s that she became one herself. It was a gun show, with a booth for the Well-Armed Woman, that ignited a deeper interest in her.
“My father always taught me how to safely use and respect firearms,” Richter said, “However, it was the Well-Armed Woman non-profit that helped me realize that I wanted to educate, equip, and empower women shooters.”
This encounter kick-started Rebecca into creating and opening her own business.
“My mentor, Don Larson, encouraged me and helped me gain new skills and create a business plan,” she explained.
A huge part of Richter’s journey to business owner was obtaining training.
She became certified through several avenues—in fact, more than she needed.
“I wanted to gain all perspectives,” she said, “I thought it was important to learn from multiple sources of knowledge.”
This training also opened her eyes to the need for female instructors, as the majority of trainers she encountered were men.
“There is something to be said about learning from another female,” Rebecca said, “We learn differently and have different needs.”
When Dynamic Defense opened to the public in Mankato in 2020, Richter found it wasn’t only women seeking out her services.
“I have a pretty good mix of men and women in conceal carry classes,” she said.
“There were over five million new gun owners last year,” Richter shared, “These people need to learn how to use their guns.”
Presently, to own a firearm, a background check is needed. Additional training is required when the owner desires to carry the gun on their person. Even with training, Richter believes it isn’t enough.
“There is a lot of over confidence; we don’t rise to the occasion as many believe,” she said, “People default to their highest level of training, which is why regular training is needed.”
Dynamic Defense offers firearm as well as awareness trainings. This includes conceal carry certification along with non-lethal defense training. Although classes are for both men and women, and many of her customers are men, Dynamic Defense offers ladies-only classes, as well as youth classes. Additionally, many women participate in the Situational Awareness/ Personal Defense Training.
Situational awareness and personal defense training focuses on the point that we are our own first responders.
“Seconds count and help is minutes away, “Richter explains, “By the time help arrives, the incident can be over and the outcome depends on us.”
Richter went on to explain that it is our denial mindset that can keep us from being prepared. The reality is that there are no safe places and all it takes is a split second.
“That is a hard pill for people to swallow,” she said.
The Situational Awareness training teaches students how to be more aware of their surroundings and prepared to react if need be.
“Your body can’t go where your mind has never been,” Richter stated, “Developing a preparedness mindset is your greatest tool.”
This class has less to do with gun training and, instead, instructs on ways to assess your surroundings and develop a potential reaction plan.
“It is not the goal to live your life paranoid,” Richter asserted, “…but developing a general awareness can make a huge difference; there is a huge difference between being scared and being prepared.”
One of the critical things Richter points out in this training is the importance of listening to your gut.
“Women so often ignore their gut instincts that something feels off and instead worry about being rude,” Richer explained.
Rebecca explains that if someone is exhibiting poor boundaries, such as staring, being fidgety, or singles you out to ask a question out of the blue, that is a red flag and you have the right to say, “I can’t help you” or “No thank you.”
To highlight this, Richter shared a story of a student who was attacked in her own apartment after allowing someone to help her carry up her groceries.
“This woman felt that something was off, but the man persisted,” Richter stated, “She talked herself out of trusting her gut.”
Moreover, personal defense training can focus on both lethal and non-lethal tactics.
“What I do is way more encompassing than just shooting a gun,” Richter stated.
For those who do not want a gun, there are other defense tools that are taught. For those who do want to focus on gun training, often times it is not only about protection.
“Many shoot guns for recreational purposes,” Richer said. According to her, shooting guns can help with fine motor skills, critical thinking, hand-eye coordination, and can act as a way to clear your mind and reduce stress.
No matter the intent, Dynamic Defense is able to cater to the needs of the students.
“I love being able to tailor the courses to the individual,” Richter said, “I want people to walk away learning what works best for them.”
“Ultimately,” Richter said, “I want my students to feel empowered to take care of themselves in any situation.” RVW
FOREHEAD
THE 11's
EYEBROW LIFT
CROW’S FEET
BUNNY LINES
LIP FLIP
CHEEK VOLUME
MARIONETTE LINES & NASOLABIAL FOLDS
VOLUMIZE LIPS
RESHAPE CHIN
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Dermal filler injections are commonly used as a nonsurgical option to reshape areas such as the chin, jawline or nose. This can improve the side profile & reduce the appearance of a sagging neck. Thanks to this, fillers have eliminated the need for surgical procedures to fix these common complaints.
MARIONETTE LINES & NASOLABIAL FOLDS
Marionette lines are those lines below each corner of the mouth that can significantly add age to ones face. Fillers can very easily fill in that lost volume in these lines to instantly take years off the face.
Crow's feet, are those little lines spreading out from the corners of your eyes that develop over time because of tiny muscle contractions that happen each time you make a facial expression. Botox® or Jeuvea® reduces the visability by relaxing the muscles that surround the corners of the eyes.
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Lip Flip is a non-surgical treatment that can aid in achieving fuller, more beautiful lips. Botox® Lip Flip does not fill your lips with a substance such as hyaluronic acid. Instead, it will create a natural-looking pout that you will love!
A Botox® eyebrow lift elevates the height of your eyebrows and relaxes the underlying muscles to smooth your skin on the outside and relaxes the muscles between the brows.
Glabella lines, often referred to as the dreaded 11's, are the short parallel verticle lines found between the eyebrows. These lines are evident when someone makes the angry face caused by years of muscle movement. The best treatment of this type of wrinkle is to stop the muscle contractions that caused the problem with Botox® and Jeuveau®.
Horizontal forehead wrinkles are cused by repeated movement of the forehead muscle and can form as early as our 20s and 30s, depending on anatomy and how much we use the muscle.
Recent Nicollet High School graduate Samantha “Sam”
Rist will definitely have a leg up—no, make that a wing up—on her college classmates this fall. Not only has Rist piled up 24 college credits during her high school years, but she’s already a licensed private pilot.
That second accomplishment will be especially helpful in Rist’s planned major of aviation management at Minnesota State University, Mankato. It gives her an advantage in knowing how an airport operates, as does her summer work experience in scheduling and dispatching at the Mankato Airport—work that will continue when college classes start.
“It’s a nice foot in the door,” Rist acknowledged. “I’m scheduling students in different planes. I saw it done when I was a student, now I’m doing it.”
Rist scheduled all her college classes in the morning—and will head out to the airport for afternoon work shifts. The 18-year-old will be busy, keeping up with 17 credits in calculus, aviation 101, principles of management, photography, and oceans of the world—and being in the Army ROTC.
The choice of MSU was easy. While she may have preferred Air Force ROTC, she would have had to leave the state to find such a program. Besides, “MSU has one of the best aviation programs around,” she said.
Having a father and grandfather who both served in the Air Force, Sam has always been interested in the military. She’s been a member of the Mankato Squadron of the Civil Air Patrol for four years and is signed up for Army ROTC
in college. She received an Army ROTC scholarship that will fund her sophomore through senior years of college.
After four years, if everything goes as planned, Sam will not only have a degree, but will graduate as an officer. She’ll have an eight-year commitment to the Army after that—either active duty, guards, or reserves.
“I can make a wish list, but the Army decides where I’ll go. I like logistics, especially airfield. Air crew or dispatcher would be cool,” Rist said. Rist’s future goal is to run an airport in a community the size of Mankato. Having grown up in rural Nicollet County, she isn’t interested in the big city.
“I’d like to be involved in natural disaster relief, medical relief. It would be so cool to be able to help people from behind the scenes, coordinating what planes are available, how much will fit in, and so on,” she said.
Sam received her Private Pilot Certification last December, braving strong winds and cold temperatures to complete the licensure—and working through the 40 to 60 hours of training required, in spite of Covid-19. Each lesson required a four-hour commitment—two hours flying and two hours’ to get to the airport and back from her rural home.
With her license, Rist can fly alone in certain types of aircraft and can take passengers up to the plane’s capacity. Having the license will also allow her to advance faster in her major in college.
Sam’s interest in being a pilot was fostered through the Civil Air Patrol when a senior member—who was a Delta pilot—asked Rist if she was interested in taking lessons. She didn’t have to ask twice. With the help of a CAP scholarship, Sam was able to achieve her goal.
Along with the military influence of her dad, Travis, and grandfather, John, Sam’s exposure to aerospace through the Civil Air Patrol fostered her interest in flying.
“My mom saw a booth and knew I was interested in the military so we went to some meetings,” Sam said. “I loved it.”
Through the Mankato Squadron, Sam and her brother Justin volunteered with Wreaths Across America, laying wreaths at Fort Snelling before Christmas. She described that as a “really cool” experience.
For five years, Rist attended the Minnesota National Guard Youth and Teen Camp at the Camp Ripley military base, then returned as a junior counselor. The week-long camp is for kids ages 10 to 15 who have a military connection in their family.
“I went back because of the amazing environment that it created. Everybody in the camp had a connection to the military and could relate to one another. That’s not always the case at school. Everybody there understood each other and knew what they went through. I made friends there that I still talk to today,” she said.
Flying is just one of many things that kept Samantha Rist busy during her high school years at Nicollet. She’s equally at home in a Civil Air Patrol uniform, a high school sports uniform, or a crown and sash. Soon she’ll add an Army ROTC uniform.
A humble high schooler who does not
seek attention, Sam quietly went about her high school years—and took part in just about every school opportunity offered.
When it was all done, Rist emerged as the class valedictorian, even though that was never on her bucket list.
“It wasn’t something I strived for,” Sam said. “I just wanted to have good grades.
It’s an accomplishment but, more important to me, is to be a good student and to be responsible.”
That hard work paid off as Sam received not only a ROTC scholarship, but scholarships from the Courtland Lions, the Nicollet Lions, the Nicollet Public School PTO, and ProGrowth Bank.
“Trying to keep my grades up was a challenge, but it was worth it,” Sam said. “It meant a lot of late nights, especially on the days we had games the night before a test. I utilized study halls and college prep time. I was gone flying a lot on the weekends so I learned not to procrastinate.”
Although she was not the star on her sports teams, Rist was a good teammate, a good leader, and always worked hard to help the team.
Sam’s favorite sport was track, where she advanced to sections every year beginning in seventh grade—missing only 2020 when there was no season.
That track experience carried over to cross country which Sam tried for the first time in the fall of 2020. She had played volleyball as her fall sport until that time.
“I needed a change,” she said. “No words can describe the (cross country) experience. Everyone was so encouraging. No matter how you did, people were happy for you. My 4x400 experience helped me close races—I had a strong finish.”
That finish allowed Rist to advance to sections in her first and only cross country season.
Sam’s second favorite sport was basketball, a sport she played all the way through school. While basketball is a competitive sport, it became even more so this past year when players had to wear masks.
“It was a big learning curve, trying to play with them,” she said. “I went distance learning so I wouldn’t miss sports. Sports kept me sane through Covid. Sports provided a chance to see friends that we didn’t see during virtual learning.”
During the spring sports season—from seventh grade on—Sam did “dual duty,” also taking part in trap shooting as well as track. She enjoyed the sport along with her brother Justin and sister Emily. Sam was the team’s top female shooter for three years and competed at the state meet each year.
“All the other sports get so much recognition, but trap shooting doesn’t. It means so much to the team and volunteer coaches to be recognized, as they were with a fire truck parade after this year’s state meet,” Sam said.
In addition to sports, Rist was inducted into the school’s National Honor
Society chapter and did a lot of volunteer work with the group. She was also in band and choir all four years of high school. She especially enjoyed the concerts that the groups presented—and felt bad that they weren’t able to perform the past year.
“It felt weird not to play at games this year. People enjoyed the band and it brought so much support to the teams,” she said.
For her all-around involvement, Rist was recognized as Nicollet High School’s female recipient of the Triple A Award for academics, arts, and athletics. She also received the director’s award for choir where she was alto section leader.
Sam was busy outside of school, too. She was a member of the oneand-only two-year Miss Nicollet court. Named a princess in June 2019, the court’s reign continued until this June because Nicollet’s Friendship Days—where the court is named—was cancelled last year.
For her talent as part of the Miss Nicollet program, Sam explained her involvement in the Civil Air Patrol through a slide presentation.
“The Miss Nicollet program showcases the town in a positive way,” Sam said. “Going to other towns for their parades, you see what they do, you meet new people, and you see the girls in a different element.”
The court took part in only one parade in 2020—but won’t soon forget the day they were caught in a bad hailstorm partway through. They had to take shelter, then fold up and cover the Legion float while it was still raining.
Court members also helped at events held by the sponsoring Nicollet American Legion and Auxiliary, including serving at the Legion Fish Fry.
A member of Trinity Lutheran Church in Nicollet, Rist takes a turn at livestreaming the church services on the fourth Sunday of every month, and helps at any extra services. She began volunteering in 2019 and continued right through the pandemic.
“This helps people who can’t attend church in person,” she said “During Covid, this was the only way services were conducted.”
Sam and her family—dad Travis, mom Becky, brother Justin, and sister Emily—live in the Minnesota River bottom, between Courtland, Nicollet, and Judson. They have 80-plus apple trees on their property and make a lot of applesauce and apple juice together as a family—and also give a lot of apples away.
“Getting everybody together to work outdoors is fun,” she said.
Although most of her time is devoted to school, sports, and flying, Sam also enjoys deer hunting and has bagged her share of deer. She also enjoys crocheting, having learned that from her grandmother. RVW
when daughter Shannon started school, Karen Stephens took a job driving the Head Start bus for Minnesota Valley Action Council.
On May 25, 2021, after 44 school years on the road with kids, Karen drove her final regular school bus route in Sleepy Eye,.
“I told them I would sub sometimes,” she said. “I drove five years for Head Start, then in the fall of 1981 I went to work for Warren Marti, who owned the Sleepy Eye school bus company at that time.” By the next fall, Marti had sold the bus company to the Regan family. I drove school bus and did office work for Tom Regan for the next 22 years.”
When the Regans sold the bus company to Tim and Dave Schieffert in 2004, Stephens stayed with her driving position and spent the last 16 years driving for Sleepy Eye Bus Lines.
Karen also instructed new bus drivers for several years.
Karen’s husband, Roger, retired from his position with Sleepy Eye Public Utilities in 2006. A few years later, Karen talked him into driving school bus, too.
“He was my last bus driving student,” she said.
Karen mentioned the late Eunice Sandhoefner—who also drove Sleepy Eye school buses for many years—as a role model of sorts.
Feature Courtesy DEB MOLDASCHEL, EDITOR Sleepy Eye Herald-DispatchEunice drove until she was 85—just the little bus around town, Eunice always said.
Karen decided to end her bus driving career as a much younger woman—but still several years past the age when retirement might have beckoned. Why did she drive school bus for so long?
“I loved the kids,” she said. “Especially the little ones.”
Karen’s bus driving time took her all around the countryside and all around town. In addition to bringing country kids to town, she drove the preschool bus in town and made many trips shuttling high school students from St. Mary’s for specialized classes at the public school.
Karen claims she was a strict bus driver and knew that the kids and parents appreciated that.
“One time I was sick for several days and an older man drove my route,” she said. “When I came back to work, one little girl [who had been a bit of troublemaker on the bus] got right in my face and told me I better never do that again! Another girl wrote me a letter telling me all the things that were happening on the bus while I was not driving.”
On her last day of driving, area daycare provider, Lisa Schmitz, and her
What did you learn through the years?
• We have some very awesome kids from awesome parents. Their kindness to each other and to follow directions on the bus…some were better at it than others, but the older kids helped out. They got the kids to sit down and be quiet.
• Parents have to be careful what they tell the kids. One of my favorite stories was a little preschooler. We had a lumber yard, Steinke Seidl, on one corner of the block and the liquor store on the other corner. When we drove by the lumberyard, the girl said, “That’s where my daddy works,” and when we went past the liquor store, she said, “And that’s where he drinks his beer.”
• The kids are good. I can’t say I had any bad kids. The boy-girl crushes were fun to watch. You always wonder what will happen down the road.
What did you teach the kids?
• I have no idea. I hope I taught them how to be kinder to each other and to be more aware.
• Pre-schoolers were the most fun. If you let them know from the get-go what you’ll allow, it helps a lot.
• I got naughty routes for a while. Some wouldn’t behave at first. But, years later, I saw a boy I had had on the bus. He turned to his little boys and told them, “This is your new bus driver, you WILL behave.”
Share a funny experience:
• I asked a little boy how many girlfriends he had. He said he didn’t have any. I said that I was sure he did and he looked at me and said, “Okay, two.”
Scary experiences:
• I ran over a few deer. One time I had one slide under the bus. A hunter shot at a doe. She was running for the woods when she saw the bus. I’m hitting the brakes and I’m going kind of sideways on the icy gravel road. I watched
her go under the bus. She slid all the way through as the bus was kind of sideways—and came out the other side, got up, and ran away.
• Last fall, when it was just getting light one morning, and there were corn fields on both sides, one deer made it past the bus, a second one didn’t. I had my foot to the floor but I couldn’t stop. It’s scary with kids on the bus.
• Then you always have the stop arm runners. It’s very scary when you know you have kids waiting to cross the road. I don’t think there’s a bus driver that doesn’t say a lot of prayers going out.
Weather problems:
• I’ve been stuck a number of times. The last time was down in the valley in April. It started to snow lightly, then started dropping inches. A lot of people were stuck that day. Thank God for cell phones.
• Luckily, I’ve never been stranded anywhere.
Greatest joy in driving:
• All the kids. The kids are really fun. I enjoy them—I wouldn’t have been a bus driver so long if I didn’t enjoy it.
• The only thing I won’t miss will be getting up early and going to bed early. I usually got up about 4:00 a.m. and went to bed at 8:00 p.m. I had a long route and left at 5:45 a.m., with my first stop at 6:20 a.m.
• I will be subbing again this fall—doing a route during harvest.
kids surprised Karen with a bouquet of flowers.
“Karen is greatly appreciated by so many families of young children for her friendliness and for keeping our children safe and on schedule,” said Schmitz.
Karen said she certainly won’t miss driving a school bus in snowstorms. “Do you remember December of 1996? There was not a full day of school, it was late starts, early outs, and snow days all month,” she recalled. Karen will miss the children. “But I’m friends with many former bus riders on Facebook,” she said.
Besides having more time to pester Roger, Karen said she is perfectly happy with her bus-free days so far. She’d like to go to Duluth to see the Glensheen Mansion, but doesn’t have a hankering for a lot of long distance traveling.
Daughter Shannon lives in Sauk Centre and her children are scattered around the state—mostly good “day trips” for Karen and Roger.
Karen’s family planned a retirement party for her on Saturday, June 19. She said they pretty much had it all planned before they thought of asking her if it would be okay. Indeed it was, and Karen saw family, friends, coworkers, and bus riders. RVW
or New Ulm natives who graduated in 1966 or before, the building will always be remembered as their high school. For students from the next few decades, it will be entrenched in their minds as the junior high. But, for the people who live there now, it’s home.
The old New Ulm High School/Junior High reopened 20 months ago as Emerson Union.
Although the old wooden Emerson Building—loved by some, maybe disliked by others—is long gone, the 1915/1939/1955 brick school stands straight and strong, now with new purpose.
Emerson Union was developed by Community Housing Development Corporation with help from the City of New Ulm and multiple community partners.
Converting the old school to apartments was a lengthy process. The building was listed on the Register of Historic Places in 2015—a fact that figured into rehabilitation plans.
Begun in 2017, the rehab preserves the historic elements of built-in cabinets, chalk and bulletin boards, wood floors, doors, woodwork, and lots of windows.
The 49 apartments created have a mix of historic charm and modern finishes. Modern kitchens—complete with stainless steel appliances including an oversized refrigerator, range, dishwasher, and microwave—were added. There are one-, two-, and three-bedroom units, along with a community room, craft room, fitness center, laundry room, playground, and exterior green space.
A walk down the hallways makes one think of those school days long ago— with original floors, doors, and room numbers/names retained. Apartment numbers correspond to the old room numbers as much as possible, except where large classrooms—such as the home economics room—were
By RUTH KLOSSNER
The stairways and hallways have been left, just as thousands of students knew them over the years.
A view of the building from the parking lot off Washington Street. Several entrances open off this side.
This is certainly a walk down memory lane for any student who attended school in the building. The rehab project did a great job of keeping the “flavor” of the school.
Original woodwork, bulletin boards, and blackboards were retained in the apartments. Residents like them, Taylor-Lund stated.
Site manager Darcy Taylor-Lund noted that the 1939 dedication plaque was polished and moved from a first floor conference room to the lobby inside door #2, off First North.
Each apartment has a modern kitchen with refrigerator, range, microwave, and dishwasher. Note the blackboard in the bedroom on the left. Original wood floors were kept wherever possible.
The school library has a new spacious look. A lending library will soon be started in the room which now has a sink and microwave on the entry wall.
The choir room control panel is still there—complete with a hand-written program for “7th hour, 7th grade choir” with student names—taped to the left door.
Even
the garage door in the old shop room has been saved. Students drove cars through the door to repair them in their classes.
The old principal’s office—a room that many students tried to avoid—has been split into two apartments.
A total of 33 photos of “school days” have been framed and hung in the hallways around the building.
The choir room has been opened into a community room. The old “Little Theatre” off to the right is now a kids’ play area.
split into two apartments. Some of the old lockers are still in place, although most have been removed.
The old library is now a community room where residents can gather for large gatherings. The bookshelves are still there, with plans for a lending library to be added soon, now that Covid restrictions have been lifted.
The cafeteria in the school’s lower level has been converted into four apartments and the door to the tunnel is still there—in Apartment 013— but the tunnel has been filled in.
Property site manager Darcy Taylor-Lund of Lloyd Management has been with the project from the start. She explained that the building opened to residents of all ages in January 2020. RVW
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410 S. Riverfront Dr. Mankato, MN 507-625-1107
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With the school year fast approaching, it’s time to get back to planning for our upcoming busy schedules. Staying organized can help alleviate a lot of stress so let your friendly Hy-Vee Pharmacists help you stay organized when it comes to your prescription and over-the-counter medication needs.
Hy-Vee Pharmacy offers a repeat refill program that will automatically fill your prescriptions ahead of time so they are ready when you are. You can receive a phone call, text message, or email to let you know when your order is ready so you never have to worry about running out again! It is important to stay on top of your
medication therapy because not taking your medications as directed by your doctor can be costly to both you and your health.
Another option to help stay organized is to use a “pill minder” or weekly medication planner to assist with taking your medications as prescribed. These planners come in a variety of options to meet your medication needs and can be set up for multiple dosing times per day such as morning, noon, and bedtime.
Let your Hy-Vee pharmacy team help you stay organized with all of your medication needs!
169289
WATER DID
2 c. diced strawberries
2 kiwi peeled, quartered and thinly sliced
¼ c. chopped red onion
1 jalapeno pepper, seeded and finely chopped*
1 tbsp. chopped fresh mint
1 tbsp. fresh lime juice
you can keep yourself hydrated by drinking and eating? For example, eating 3 ounces of cucumber will give you almost 3 ounces of water too – only with the added nutrients of cucumbers! Fruits and vegetables are high in water, electrolytes and nutrients. This is important for overall health, and especially important for athletes’ ability to perform, and recover. Especially in warm weather when we lose more water through our skin, say “goodbye” to sports drinks and consider adding fruits and vegetables to your diet to stay healthy and hydrated.
FOR WATER AND ELECTROLYTES –try strawberries, cantaloupe and peaches. When we sweat, we lose the electrolyte potassium. Potassium works together with sodium (salt) in the body to help maintain your water level. Strawberries, cantaloupe, and peaches are all high in potassium, which help keep your heartbeat and blood flow in check. If you eat just one cup of these fruits a day, you’re replenishing five to 10 percent of your daily potassium needs!
FOR WATER AND VITAMIN C –try kiwi, citrus fruits and watermelon. Vitamin C plays an important role in several body functions – especially maintaining flexibility and cartilage in your joints. Did you know vitamin C also helps protect your skin from the sun and pollution? One serving of these fruits with provide you with at least one-third of your daily requirements and help protect your skin. After being cut, kiwi, citrus fruits and watermelon can last up to one week in the refrigerator. Cut it once and enjoy it all week.
FOR WATER AND DEFENSE AGAINST CANCER –try broccoli and tomatoes. Studies have shown lycopene – an antioxidant found in tomatoes – may help reduce your risk of several different types of cancer, including lung, stomach, breast and colon. Though it may sound unbelievable, broccoli is 90% water. It also contains high levels of antioxidants, specifically ones called isothiocyanates. These have cancer-fighting properties by helping block defective genes that can turn normal cells into cancerous ones.
FOR WATER AND SPORTS RECOVERY –try cherries and pineapple. Both cherries and pineapple have been shown to potentially help reduce inflammation. After a workout on a warm day, speed muscle repair with some pineapple – it contains an enzyme called bromelain that may help with muscle recovery.
1 (3 pound) seedless watermelon
½ tsp. kosher salt
¼ tsp. Hy-Vee black pepper
1/3 c. Hy-Vee Select traditional feta cheese crumbles
1
2 3 4 5
For salsa, in a bowl combine strawberries, kiwi, red onion, jalapeno pepper, mint and lime juice. Cover and refrigerate until ready to serve.
Preheat grill to direct heat over medium-high heat.
Cut watermelon into one-inch-thick slices; discard ends. Place watermelon slices on grill rack. Grill about 2 minutes or until watermelon is lightly seared, turning once halfway through grilling.
Remove watermelon slices from grill. Sprinkle with salt and pepper. Cut each slice into 6 wedges. Transfer wedges to a serving platter; top with salsa and cheese.
Nutrition Facts per serving: 70 calories, 1g fat, 0.5g saturated fat, 0g trans fat, 5mg cholesterol, 130mg sodium, 14mg total carbohydrate, 2g dietary fiber, 10g sugars, 0 added sugars, 2g protein. Daily values: 15% vitamin A, 70% vitamin C, 2% iron, 4% calcium.
Gendered violence is not only a “women’s issue.” People of all genders experience relationship abuse and sexual violence, and while not all men are violent or abusive, statistically it is largely men who perpetrate these kinds of abuse. Even when men experience abuse or violence, it is often perpetrated by other men. Why is that? How does our society produce so many men who use their power and privilege to harm others? This is a huge question that has many answers. One thing to examine is our society’s definition of masculinity.
Traditionally, the traits and characteristics of being a man are very limiting. When asking a group of boys or men what the characteristics of a man are, some typical answers will be strong, powerful, in charge, no emotions, no weakness, aggressive, tough, and independent. Alone, some of those characteristics can be positive. But when put together, we see a toxic and problematic box that boys and men must fit into to be considered manly or masculine. Men and boys often face social consequences if they step outside of this small box.
Parents, teachers, coaches, and other adults can help prevent violence and allow boys and young men to be their full and authentic selves by rewriting the script for masculinity.
As a society, we teach boys that there are only a few acceptable emotions to express. When a young boy or man is constantly having to censor their emotions, it may become challenging to name or recognize one’s own emotions and, consequently, it becomes challenging to recognize the emotions of others. This carries into adult relationships in problematic ways. We can encourage boys and young men to express a full range of emotions. Ask boys how they’re feeling. Help them label those feelings. Let them know that it is okay to be sad, afraid, joyful, and excited.
Men and boys are not encouraged to develop deep, meaningful, or intimate platonic relationships in the same way women are. Because of this, boys often grow up without being able to learn or practice crucial relationship skills. Furthermore they often lack the social and emotional support provided by friends. Because of the ways our society separates genders, boys’ first friendships are often with other boys. However, it is common for these friendships to fizzle in adolescence. It is important to encourage boys to sustain these early friendships, because these are the spaces where boys can talk about their emotions, form meaningful connections, and get mutual support.
When confronted with displays of toxic masculinity in movies or TV, or when hearing messages like “man up,” it is important that adults talk to boys about this. It shouldn’t be up to boys to navigate these messages alone; adults should help unpack these messages. When seeing traditional or problematic masculinity in a TV show, an adult can ask a boy why they might not have identified with that character. Or they can ask how that character might have made different choices. Adults can push back when they hear other adults say things like “stop crying,” or “toughen up,” by saying, “it’s okay for him to cry.”
When defining masculinity, leadership often comes up. Leadership isn’t just taking charge of a class project; being a leader is to not be a follower. Violence, abuse, harassment, and other harmful behaviors do not happen in isolation; they are allowed or encouraged by peer groups or communities. We need to raise boys and young men to call out hurtful remarks or behavior. Sometimes this might be standing up for a kid who is being bullied. Sometimes this might mean telling a group of peers, “that isn’t funny.” This is an important skill for all children, but toxic masculinity often plays out in peer groups of guys, so teaching this to young boys is especially important.
When looking at the very limited definition of masculinity, how many of us can think of anyone who fits into that box entirely? If we can think of someone who fits perfectly into that box, are they a good role model for boys and young men? The current model of masculinity is limiting and perpetuates aggression, abuse, and toxic behavior. Once we re-write the definition for masculinity, boys and men can be free to be their full selves, and we can prevent violence. Broadening our definition of masculinity benefits everyone.
Additional resources:
Tony Porter, A Call to Men – Ted Talk
Jackson Katz, Violence against women – it’s a men’s issue – Ted Talk
Justin Baldoni, Why I’m Done trying to be Man Enough – Ted Talk
Ben Hurst, Boys won’t be boys. Boys will be what we teach them to be.
– Ted Talk
While few people want to plan for the end, it’s an important step to take to ensure your wishes are followed. It also takes away stress from your loved ones by leaving clear instructions. But what should you do to prepare for your first meeting with an estate planning attorney?
Briefly Review the Basics. There are many sides to an estate plan. The following are some common words and simple definitions. Although you likely already know what a number of these words mean, reviewing them can be helpful.
• Wills do many things, but most people think about dividing their property after they pass. Wills are especially important if you want specific items to go to certain people or if you do NOT want certain people to get specific items.
• Trusts allow you to immediately move property to a trustee, who holds it for the benefit of a third party. Trustees then have certain duties to manage that property.
• Powers of Attorney allow another person to have control over your finances. These can be drafted a number of ways; they might require your attorney-in-fact to first prove you are incapacitated in court or you might allow the attorney-in-fact to make these decisions now.
• Health Care Directives allow you to state your wants and needs for end-of-life medical treatment, such as treatment preferences or organ donation. Consider it a “medical” power of attorney.
• Guardianships and Conservatorships are the way you ask the court to have control over another person’s medical and financial decisions when they are unable to make those decisions themselves. While invasive, these measures are sometimes necessary to protect those we love—such as a parent who does not have a health care directive or power of attorney that has developed a neurodegenerative disease like Alzheimer’s.
• Estate attorneys guide you through the process of choosing which documents will work best and the effects of each one on your overall estate plan.
Consider Your Assets. Think through what you own and where you want it to go. Assets could include physical items like land, cars, and family heirlooms, as well as intangible items like bank accounts and investments. You’re not limited to giving items only to family; consider your friends, neighbors, or charitable gifting.
Make a List of All Assets and Debts. An inventory like this both helps you make decisions and helps your beneficiaries know what to look for and where. It also helps your attorney understand what you have, how it’s owned, who you want to get it, and what the attorney needs to do to make sure it ends up there. An inventory also raises red flags if you need tax planning tools.
Pick a Guardian and Personal Representative or Two. Reflect on who you would like to take care of your children and who will enact and follow your estate plan. These are very big decisions and should not be taken lightly. Your attorney will need information regarding your first and second (and even third) choices for these very important, distinct roles. While you can ask your attorney about the benefits and downsides of picking certain individuals, these choices are ultimately yours to make.
Gather Information. Your attorney will need quite a bit of information. This includes names, birthdays, and maybe even addresses of your spouse, significant other, children, or parties you’ve named in your estate planning documents.
Think About the Nuclear Option. Your attorney will ask you uncomfortable questions; it’s their job. One of these questions will likely include the “worst case scenario”—what should happen to your estate if everyone you’ve listed has predeceased you. Consider giving your property to additional family, friends, or charitable organizations.
Be Prepared to Make Decisions. At your first meeting, or possibly before in the form of a questionnaire, your attorney will ask you all kinds of questions. Try to come to your meeting prepared with answers, but also know that the attorney might ask questions you hadn’t considered. It’s ok to ask for a reasonable amount of time (or a second meeting) to consider your options.
Remember—Estate Planning is a Conversation. Your attorney cannot write your estate plan without your help, just like you cannot draft estate documents without theirs. Feel free to ask questions and voice your concerns to ensure your estate plan turns out the way you want it to. While your attorney will have anecdotal commentary and some words of wisdom, the choices in your estate plan are yours to make. The estate plan should be a reflection of your wants, not the attorney’s or your family’s.
This article is not intended to be responsive to any individual situation or concerns as the contents of this article are intended for general informational purposes only. Readers are urged not to act upon the information contained in this article without first consulting competent legal advice regarding implications of a particular factual situation. Questions and additional information can be submitted to a Gislason & Hunter Attorney or to the writer of this article.
With COVID hitting the one year mark and millions of people who have laid low, it’s not surprising that we are seeing a baby boom! What else were people supposed to do at home—besides gaining weight and watching tv? The truth is, we spend years with just our four-legged fur babies, traveling through life together and giving them our undivided attention. When we become pregnant, we are in for a wild—and amazing—ride and so is our pet. The good news is we have nine months to prepare them for the new change. There are even some things you can do to help your pet adjust to life after the baby is born.
I once shared my life with three cats and a husband. I adopted a sweet, but cautious and yappy, wiener dog who I later found out hated children. He was terrified of them and very reactive. At the time, it didn’t matter as I didn’t see myself having children, so we kept him anyway. Fast forward years later and we were expecting our first child. On the day my water broke, we left fairly quickly and, obviously, very frantically. I had family come care for my dog and was reunited with him two days later when I brought home this new loud creature that smelled funny. My cautious canine vomited 12 times that day and was later hospitalized at my clinic for pancreatitis. So much for a picture perfect meet and greet!
There are some things that we can’t prepare for and some that we can (parenthood is not one of them). Let’s focus on what we CAN do to help that transition!
There is no doubt that you will be tired in those first initial months, so start small. Start by working on basic commands such as sit, down, stay, come, off, and leave it. You could also start playing sounds of babies crying on YouTube while your dog eats. Start with the volume low and gradually, over time, work towards increasing the volume but only if your dog is not responding. You could also find a baby doll and start by just carrying it around or placing it on the floor, to get your dog used to the visual of you being with someone else. You could start wearing baby lotion to help your dog get used to the smell. If you are setting up a nursery, decide if your dog will be allowed in the room. I typically suggest allowing them to smell things and be a part of the changes, rather than closing off a room and leaving it up to their imagination. That only increases their anxiety.
have a dog in your lap, start asking for a sit before allowing them on the couch or by setting new boundaries. It can be hard holding a baby and breastfeeding while your dog is trying to climb into your lap to take over.
Where is your dog sleeping now? If it’s in your bed, do you plan on cosleeping with a baby? What we want to avoid is making all these changes
AFTER the baby comes home. If everything changes after the baby comes home, we are more likely to make negative associations with the baby. For example, you let your dog climb into your lap when the baby is sleeping, but the dog is not allowed in your lap when the baby is awake. This tells the dog life is better when the baby is absent.
Make plans for who will take care of your dog while you are in the hospital. Be sure it’s someone your dog knows and feels comfortable with. Once your bundle of joy—and source of exhaustion—is born, have dad bring home a blanket that the baby was wrapped in. When you come home from the hospital, have a friend or family member watch your baby for a couple minutes in the car while you spend a couple minutes with your dog. They have been waiting days for you to come home, give them some attention before rocking their world.
One of the good things about babies is they come out immobile (not that that’s less scary!). This does not mean you should ever leave your dog and child unattended. Unfortunately, there have been many babies who have been fatally injured by the family dog while unattended in a swing or basinet. Babies do make little noises and, to some dogs, this can sound like prey. We would recommend separate and contained sleeping set-ups, both at nap time and night time. Unless you are ACTIVELY watching your baby and dog—your eyes are only on them—there should be a barrier to separate the two. I see so many social media pictures of babies propped up on the family dog that make me cringe. If you love your dog, please take some time to educate yourself or call your vet clinic to learn body language to help keep everyone safe and the line of communication open.
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Bringing home a baby is just the first step in the new journey of so many memories, “oh my god” moments, frustrations, triumphs, smiles, and life. There is a lot you can do to help them prepare for the “unknown” but man, wait until the toddler years. Then it’s possible both you and the dog will both want to move out!
I would also recommend that you start working on a routine that will be most like your new future routine. This requires some fortune telling. Get your dog into the new rhythm. If walks are important to you, start moving them to a time that will work best when a new baby is here. Start walking with the empty stroller. Start becoming aware of how and when you give your dog attention. If the second you sit down on the couch you
The good news is, there are plenty of resources available to you on this topic. A great resource is familypaws.com and doggonesafe.com. There is also a great Facebook group called “Parenting Kids and Dogs. For more help check out familypaws.com.
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Tell us about Stamp and Scrap with Tammy? I have been scrapbooking for over 20 years. About 10 years ago I went to my first scrapbooking retreat and was introduced to making handmade greeting cards. I was hesitant to start making cards despite having all the supplies. My friends talked me into it and five years ago I started to sell the cards I was making and going to craft fairs. It did not take long, and people were asking if I held events. I secretly really wanted to start classes and host my own weekend retreats. I started with one in-person class per month, and I have now grown to four classes a month that are offered both in-person and to-go. I also mail kits all over the county. In September I am holding my first Stamp and Scrap Fall Fest event at the Blue Earth County Historical Society. I host three full weekend retreats a year at the Village Retreat Center in Waterville. As my business grew it was time to decide to stay at, or quit, my full-time job and focus on growing my paper crafting business. In January of 2020 I completed my home studio space in North Mankato and moved into making this a full-time opportunity. With that move I had the time to focus on building an online presence and reaching people all over the country. In January of 2020, like everyone else, I had no idea that come March I would have no other choice but to offer all my events as a “to-go” option. I had a pity party for about a week and then decided to figure it out. I learned so many things in a short amount of time. Zoom, Facebook Live, email marketing, blogging and general social media. I am grateful we are back to in-person events and seeing my stamping people.
What do you enjoy most about running this business?
I enjoy the relationships that have come from the connecting with people at my events and online. While doing a kids’ class recently I had a first grader tell me “this is the best day of my entire life.” I love seeing my customer’s face light up when ink meets the paper for the first time. The friendships I have made through my Facebook Lives and YouTube channel mean the world to me. The projects are great, but it is the connecting with people that brings me the most joy. I now have friends and customers all over the world because of this journey. The friendships that touch my heart are not only the ones I have made but it is so rewarding to see friendships come together during a class between people that otherwise would not have met. As more people are returning to my in-person events the hugs and even some tears show me how important this hobby is for so many.
What do you find challenging?
Technology! Five years ago, I barely knew how to send an email. I often joke that it took me nine months to master copy and paste! I self-taught, with the help of Google, how to use email marketing, blog, make videos and so much more. There have been many tears over the course of all
these things that have nothing to do with paper crafting, but everything to do with growing a small in-person and online business. Overcoming these challenges has also been some of the most rewarding moments. I still have a lot to learn and just keep pushing forward in the technology department.
Can you describe one of your favorite projects?
My tag line is “Make something that means something.”
My style of cardmaking, scrapbooking, gifting packaging and home décor is simple, successful, stamping. I want everyone from the first-time stamper to the avid long-time customer to have a successful experience when they create with me. Do I know how to make over the top creations? Sure, but I’ve learned over time that a typical stamper is coming to my studio or event to relax and enjoy the simple stamping experience. Most of my events are creating greeting cards, throughout the year I add in special events where we will create a holiday home décor piece or 3-D gift packaging around the holidays.
What do you like to do in your spare time?
I love to travel, and the flexibility of my business has allowed me to plan and take time off. With having two active kids, spare time is limited. Most of my time is spent driving them to activities which I am grateful my flexible schedule allows me to do this.
Do you have any hidden talents? Does knowing how to print all my own postage at home count? I tend to make up my own words during my videos and over time it has become normal, I no longer worry about saying the right thing all the time. I give myself some grace and remind my customers I have no idea what I am talking about at times.
Family and background?
I have been married to my husband Kris for 18 years. He has been supportive from the start. Until January 2020 I used the dining room and kitchen island to prepare all my events, we would have to clean a spot off to eat dinner many nights. At the time all my events were held outside of my home at Uncle Albert’s Café in Eagle Lake. We decided in in 2019 to finish our basement and build a studio space for me to work out of and hold small classes. When I do hold events outside of my home studio, he is always on call to bring me things I forget. We have two kids, Allison is 14 and Brody is 11.
My previous job I managed Uncle Albert’s Cafe in Eagle Lake. My parents (Mark and Rolene) owned it, and my mom and I ran It together for 26 years. She wanted to retire, and I was ready have a more flexible schedule and focus on building my Stamp and Scrap with Tammy business. In December of 2019 we closed the café. We worked together nearly every day, so it is an easy decision to turn to her for help when I get behind.
BALLET
Itty Bitty
Ages 2-3
Creative Movement
Age 3-4
Jazz
Ages 5 and up
Tap Ages 5 and up
Modern
Ages 7 and up
Pre-Ballet
Age 5-6
(completed Kindergarten)
Ballet 1
Ages 6-7
Ballet 1A/1B
Ages 7-9
Ballet 2A/2B
Ages 8-10
Ballet 3A/3B
Ages 10-13
Ballet 4A/4B
Ages 12 and up
Ballet 5
By invite only A La Carte Ballet Classes
Classes will continue to follow any COVID-19 guidelines put forth by the State of Minnesota that are relevant at the time of classes. For more information or to register for classes visit our website at www.mankatoballet.org
Never too young
Whether you yourself are in your 20s or 30s, or if you have young children, there’s one thing to know about your skin: it’s never too early to start taking good care of it.
Although there are a variety of effective treatments for treating sun damage and fine lines and wrinkles, nothing is going to keep your skin looking young quite as well as taking care of it, to begin with. It’s easier to stop sun damage from getting worse than treating bad sun damage later on.
A good skin care regimen is as important as brushing your teeth, keeping up good hygiene, and maintaining a healthy diet.
Good skin care habits start with simple everyday things like washing your face morning and night, and wearing a moisturizer and sunscreen every day.
UV exposure is the single greatest factor when it comes to visual signs of aging on your skin.
Never too old
We’re told to start moisturizing as teenagers and to start worrying about wrinkles at 30, but what if, at 40, 50, 60 or beyond, you’ve never had a facial and still have no real skincare routine? Even if you’ve never been interested
GIDDINGS, RN Giddie Skin Medspa, Mankato MN Certified Aesthetic Injectorin skin care, it’s not too late to put together an effective regimen. The key is not to get overwhelmed—a good, effective skin care routine needs to be neither expensive nor time consuming. But you need to take the first step. With the right care, skin can look smoother, brighter and, yes, younger. And skin damage can even be repaired over time. As we age, our body produces less collagen and loses the fat that keeps our skin looking plump and our cheeks looking pinchable. Often these changes feel like they happen overnight, as hormone levels drop during menopause. But again, hitting “the change” doesn’t mean it’s too late to take care of your skin. It’s actually the perfect time to invest some extra time and care into the health of your largest organ—particularly the skin on your face, neck and chest.
Your skin is an organ and what we eat and drink can affect it. In the summer months, we need to work to keep our bodies and skin hydrated. The sun and heat give us a challenge as we are more active and sweat more often. In the winter months, it is just as important to keep our bodies hydrated as our skin is exposed to dry hair in our homes with the furnace running, and cold air means low humidity we are exposed to. The cold and the air are dry, so we need to be sure we get enough water—and the right kind of water. Don’t cheat on this. This doesn’t mean the water you use to make your coffee. Drink about two to three liters of pure, clean drinking water daily.
AND BELLA NOVA WANTS TO SHOW OUR APPRECIATION TO ALL THE WONDERFUL TEACHERS AND SCHOOL STAFF! STOP IN AT BELLA NOVA WITH YOUR SCHOOL BADGE, AND RECEIVE 15% OFF YOUR ENTIRE PURCHASE. THANKS FOR ALL YOU DO....YOU ARE APPRECIATED MORE THEN YOU KNOW!
Diets. Almost everyone has tried one at some point. But here’s a secret: THEY DON’T WORK! You may see results quickly and think, wait a minute, it’s working. But research shows most weight loss success from dieting disappears after one year. When I’m trying to lose weight and get healthy, I’m looking for lifelong results, not just a quick, but not-so-permanent fix.
As a certified nutrition coach with Fit & Grit Training in Mankato, the first thing I tell my clients is, “Stop dieting.” Healthy eating can’t be wrapped up in a series of strict guidelines and beautiful cookbooks. The newest fad diet isn’t the path to health.
And while some people need special diets for medical reasons (I do!), most people are just eager for a quick fix. The thing is, health is a lifelong journey and no quick fix is going to substitute for long-term behavior change. It’s those pesky, not-so-great behaviors that got us into this unhealthy spot in the first place!
Ready to eat healthy but have no idea where to start? Here are a few tips to get you going.
Stop Counting Calories: While it’s important to have a general idea of the calories you’re consuming in a day, and what those calories represent, calorie counting points your focus in the wrong direction. You may desire weight loss but you can’t control the scale. You can control what you put into your body. And QUALITY MATTERS! Not all calories are created equal. Eating 100 calories from a donut gets you lots of sugar and fat while leaving you feeling hungry. Eating 100 calories from produce gets you essential nutrients and leaves you feeling full longer while avoiding “empty” calories.
Know What’s In Your Food: It’s important to learn the art of label reading. And yes, it’s an art—or maybe a science—whatever it’s called, it’s challenging! The healthiest foods are foods without labels, like fruits and vegetables. But since most of us eat some packaged foods, it’s important to know some label reading secrets. First, make sure you’re reading the nutrient panel AND the ingredients list. This gives the most complete picture of what’s in your food. Second, pay attention to salt, added sugar, and trans fats. Limit or avoid these items. Finally, if the ingredients list is miles long, look for something more simply made. Knowing what you’re putting into your body is a key strategy in healthy eating.
Flexibility, Moderation, and Balance: Most diets are a list of foods you can’t have, with no flexibility. For most people, this style of eating is unrealistic. It’s hard to eliminate certain foods, especially your favorites. Instead, consider flexibility, moderation, and balance. You don’t have to completely eliminate foods that are less healthy. Instead, eat them in limited quantities and only during special occasions. If you love cake, eat cake. But eat cake sparingly, as a treat, and choose small serving sizes. If you’re eating healthy food most of the time, a small piece of cake isn’t going to ruin your healthy eating. Create boundaries to help you enjoy life’s sweet treats within reason, all while staying committed to your health.
Think Blue Zones: Eating healthy can be hard, and confusing, and sometimes we need guidelines. If we look at some of the healthiest populations in the world (Blue Zone populations), we find that most of them eat relatively similar to each other. Blue Zone eating is known for focusing on whole foods, healthy fats, and tons of spices and flavor, while limiting dairy, eggs, red meat, and sweets. This type of eating focuses on balance, health, and satisfaction when it comes to food.
Healthy eating doesn’t have to be bland and boring and it certainly shouldn’t make you feel deprived. While it takes time to create healthy eating habits, you (and your waistline) will benefit for years to come. This year, ditch the diet and eat for health. Let’s enjoy eating again!
Grain bowls are great because they are healthy and make use of ingredients you have on hand.
STEP 1: Choose a whole grain and prepare according to package instructions. We love quinoa since it has a host of health benefits and works great if you have a gluten intolerance/allergy.
STEP 2: Choose a bean and prepare according to package instructions (rinse beans that come in a can). We love chickpeas that can be roasted in the oven and can add a nice crunchy element.
STEP 3: Boil your eggs. This is optional and is best left off if you have issues with cholesterol or have eaten eggs earlier in the day.
STEP 4: Choose and cut your veggies. We love using tomatoes, cabbage, spinach, and green onions to get a colorful, rainbow effect but you can use whatever you have available.
STEP 5: Mix your sauce. We love a good peanut sauce (mustard sauce is also delicious).
FOR THE PEANUT SAUCE MIX:
¼ cup peanut butter
1 tsp olive oil
1/8 cup white wine vinegar
1 ½ Tbsp soy sauce
1 Tbsp roasted chili paste
1 tsp garlic powder
¼ cup of water (give or take for consistency)
STEP 6: Assemble and enjoy! Start with a small portion of your chosen grain. Add on the beans and eggs. Mound on all the veggies. Top with a drizzle of sauce. Bonus—this recipe is kid- approved!
Whether you were born and raised in Minnesota or transplanted to our beautiful state, one thing is certain. You’ve heard the phrase we’re “Minnesota Nice,” right? This Minnesota-specific phrase suggests that we focus on friendliness. It also implies an aversion to conflict, meaning we can’t say “no” to people when they offer us something for free, right? Wrong!
It’s true that Americans have too much stuff, and Minnesotans might acquire more things due to wanting to be polite when offered a plate of cookies, a bag of hand-me-downs, and a container of leftover hotdish. When you mix politeness with hobbies and interests, you might find yourself a receptacle for things people feel you may want. If you knit, maybe everyone is giving you yarn. If you woodwork, people might be bringing cool reclaimed wood or piles of old barnwood. In some instances, these are welcome gestures. However, for many it creates more stuff than they are prepared to deal with. I’m suggesting that it’s better to say “no,” or
BY CINDY HAUGLAND tidytightwads.com
have a plan, before you accept more clutter into your lives.
Saying “yes” can mean that clutter piles up in your life, home, car, office, and storage shed. It’s okay to say “no” if you can’t use something or aren’t prepared to accept it at the time. You don’t have to feel like you need to store things indefinitely either.
Learn to say “no” to your sister’s castoff sofa if you don’t need furniture and have no use for it. There’s always someone who can use it if you can’t. It’s a wonderful thing for people to offer large ticket items to friends and family first, but learn to see the offer for what it is; asking you first. Then, say “no” if you’re not interested.
Learn to say “no” to your cousin’s hand-me-downs when her style or size isn’t even close to yours. Same goes for your kids and well-meaning handme-downs. Your sporty daughter isn’t going to appreciate a garbage bag full of dresses to go through, and it will mean more work for you figuring out who to pass it on to next. Learn to suggest someone with a child about the right age, size, and style so everyone is happy!
Learn to say “no” to fix-it-upper projects others think you could do amazing things with. You don’t need a lawn mower that hasn’t run for four years or a three-legged night stand, even if you’re the handiest person on the planet. Unless you’re being asked to fix something and give it back, or even make some money on helping with repairs, learn to pass. Know if local high school or community college programs are looking for equipment for students to practice mechanical skills or suggest a name of a local scrapper who will come pick up items for free.
Learn to say “no” to freebies given out at events that you know you won’t use. Go ahead and take it home if it’s something you know you’ll need, but pass on the things you know will just be clutter in a drawer once you get home.
You betcha you can learn to say no to more stuff, and still be Minnesota nice!
What is a rain garden, and why might you want one? Rain gardens collect and filter stormwater runoff from building rooftops and pavement surfaces. Because these surfaces are impermeable, rainfall doesn’t immediately soak into the ground. Heavily used surfaces can also contain pollutants and debris such as chemicals from cars, pet waste, grass clippings, road salt, and other nutrient-heavy debris that rainfall washes away.
Instead of these foreign particles washing into nearby lakes, rivers, and wetlands, we can redirect the rainfall into shallow depressed gardens planted specifically with plants that help filter the pollutants and absorb any stray nutrients. Aside from mitigating pollutants, rain gardens are also a smart way to collect and use (free!) water that would otherwise run directly into our stormwater systems. They attract wildlife, create beauty, and require minimal maintenance once established. Interested? Here’s how you can design and install your own rain garden.
Location
Rain gardens are most effective when they’re near whatever water source will be filling them. You might already have a low spot in your yard that holds standing water after significant rainfalls—this would be an easy place to install a rain garden. Otherwise, most residential rain gardens are located close to their homes’ downspouts, driveways, or sidewalks, where rainfall quickly accumulates. If your rain garden will be receiving water directly from your downspouts, consider installing catch basins with buried plastic piping that drains into the garden’s center.
Your rain garden should be at least 10 feet away from buildings to eliminate potential issues with water getting into basements. Rain gardens should also be at least 35 feet away from septic system drain fields and 50 feet from drinking water wells. You’ll want to observe a few heavy rainfalls to learn which way the water flows off the surfaces around your home before making any final placement decisions.
The soil in a rain garden is really important. You want the garden to drain within 48 hours of filling with rainwater. Otherwise, you risk drowning your plants and providing breeding habitat for mosquitoes. To find out if the soil in your potential rain garden locale will drain properly, dig a hole that’s at least 10 inches deep and wide. Fill it with water. If the
water drains completely over the next 48 hours, the soil is appropriate for rain garden construction. No additional soil amendment is needed unless a soil test reveals a specific nutrient deficiency.
Next, you’ll want to consider the overall size of the garden, which will depend on the size of the roof or hard surfaces draining into it. Rain gardens can generally process the runoff water from a surface about three times their size, which means typical home rain gardens are around 100 to 300 square feet.
After you define the garden’s boundaries, it’s time to dig! The deepest part of the rain garden should be about six inches below the grade of the surrounding ground. The bottom of the rain garden should be a flat, level surface, like the bottom of a swimming pool. You can then grade the rest of the garden into a gentle slope between the low point and the edges. Remove any excess soil from the site altogether.
Choose the plants in your rain garden—and their location within the planting—based on how much water they need overall and how much standing water they can tolerate. It can be helpful to break the garden into three zones or rings that each extend around the garden’s circumference, like lines on a topographic map. The bottom zone needs plants that are tolerant of standing water, as the garden might be full of rainwater for up to two days. The plants in the middle zone will receive some heavy moisture but then dry out completely as the garden drains. The outer ring of plants will only get limited water from rainfall, so these plants should be very drought tolerant.
You can find the University of Minnesota Extension’s comprehensive list of plants suitable for rain gardens at extension.umn.edu/landscape-design/raingardens. I like this resource because it also mentions which plants are suitable for each garden zone. For the garden’s lowest zone (“s” and “w” on the UMN list), consider planting sedges, rushes, swamp milkweed, and cardinal flower. The middle zone (“um”) is perfect for many common wildflowers and native grasses. My favorites here include purple coneflower, prairie blazing star, big bluestem, and switchgrass. The driest zone (“ud”) is perfect for prairie plants with deep root systems. Little bluestem, side-oats grama, prairie smoke, and purple prairie clover are showy, tidy plants for this zone.
BY JUSTINE MARJAN Global Stylist for TRESemmé
Life at home has been harder on your hair than you might realize. If you have found yourself stretching the time between hair washes, wearing a perpetual ponytail in a hair elastic, or twisting and twirling strands with your fingertips on virtual office calls, your hair is ready for a reset. Plus, with more opportunities to safely get out and socialize, there has never been a better time for gorgeous, healthy-looking hair to take center stage. Luckily, getting hair back in tip-top shape does not need to require a salon visit. Justine Marjan is the Global Stylist for TRESemmé and shares her six tips on how to help hair start a fresh chapter this summer. BPT
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Something as simple as extended exposure to indoor heating systems can zap hair of much-needed moisture. Help reset hair with a moisture-boosting shampoo and conditioner option like TRESemmé Pro Pure Damage Recovery. "With 0% sulfates, parabens and mineral oils, this duo doesn't compromise on performance while being a cleaner way to care for your hair," says Marjan.
Look for a hair, skin and nail-strengthening multivitamin that can help boost hair health from the inside. While these vitamin-and nutrient-packed supplements are easy to add into your daily routine and available at the same stores that stock hair wash and care essentials, be sure to check with your doctor before incorporating.
Whether you have naturally curly hair or are looking to create a curled hairstyle, the right wash and care products are an important first step. Marjan recommends TRESemmé Pro Care Curls Shampoo and Conditioner. "This duo locks in moisture, smells amazing and has a sulfatefree system that helps protect curls from humidity." She continues, "Post-shower, give your blow-dryer a break and wrap hair in a soft T-shirt or microfiber towel to help curls maintain their definition."
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If you have had to postpone your standing haircut, look to fashion-forward hair accessories like trendy knot headbands, enamel barrettes or even '90s-inspired mini claw clips to help hide bangs that may be growing out or style hair that's in between lengths. Even hair that has gone a couple of days in between washes will look fresh with the right adornments.
For hair that needs a little extra TLC, consider either leaving conditioner on for a few extra minutes while hair is wrapped in a shower cap (the steam will help lock in the product's conditioning benefits) or create an at-home hair mask with ingredients such as avocado, honey, coconut oil or apple cider vinegar to help give hair an extra dose of nourishment.
Many of us have fallen into a hair rut with the same styles on rotation. As we safely begin to schedule time with colleagues, family and friends, be sure to try new styles to add that boost of confidence to your reunion. Whether returning to the office or an outdoor dinner date, the "Get the Look" portion of TRESemmé.com has the step-by-step breakdowns to recreate today's trending hair styles.
E-mail Ruth Klossner at cowladyruth@gmail.com by the 10th of the month. Listings are generally for events that are free to the public, or are fundraisers. Listings will be published as space allows and at the discretion of the editor.
Now thru Aug 25
• Downtown Cowtown display of painted cows/calves, downtown Litchfield. Info: litch.com, 320693-8184 or judy@litch.com.
Fri, Aug 6, 13, 20, 27
• Volunteer Resource Work, Minneopa State Park, 5 mi W of Mankato off Hwy 68/169; 8-10 am Info: 507-384-8890 or scott. kudelka@state.mn.us
Fri-Sat, Aug 6-7 & Sat, Aug 28
• BCHS Popcorn Wagon, 2 N Broadway New Ulm. 10 am-6 pm Fri, 10 am-5 pm Sat. Info: browncountyhistorymn.org or 507-233-2616.
• Brown Co Hist Soc Book Sale, Museum Annex, 12 N Broadway, New Ulm. 10 am-6 pm Fri, 10 am-3 pm. Info: browncountyhistorymn.org, 507-233-2621 or education@browncountyhistorymn.org.
Fri-Sun, Aug 6-8
• Wacipi Days, Granite Falls. Info: uppersiouxcommunity-nsn.gov.
Sat, Aug 7
• U of M & SROC Reunion, Farmamerica Visitors Center, 7367 360th Ave, Waseca, 9 am-4 pm. Info: wasecachamber.com/ events/details/u-of-m-and-srocreunion-new-date-12732.
• Heidi’s Hoedown Benefit, Lamplighter, 214 N Minnesota, New Ulm, 1-6 pm. Info: 507-382-0971.
• State Park Events, Fort Ridgely State Park, 72404 Co Rd 30, Fairfax. Ask the Naturalist, 1 pm; Nature Hike, 4 pm; Wild about Wildlife, 7 pm. Info: 507-3848890 or scott.kudelka@state. mn.us.
Sat, Aug 7-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, Aug 8
• Last Mass & Parish Closing Celebration, St. Gregory the Great Catholic Church, 440 6th St, Lafayette, 10:30 a.m. Info:
Facebook, 507-228-8298 or stgregory@holycrossafc.org
• Czech Heritage Festival, Bechyn, 10 am-5 pm. Info: BechynCzechFest.org or Facebook.com/BechynMinnesotaWorld.
Mon, Aug 9
• NCHS History Hangout Virtually—The U.S. Dakota War, Zoom, 10 am. Connect: us02web. zoom.us/j/82950406700. Info: 507-934-2160 or info@nchsmn. org.
• Concert in the Park with Larry Mages & the Mages Family Band, German Park, New Ulm, 7 pm. Info: 507-359-8347 or parkandrec@ci.new-ulm.mn.us
Mon, Aug 9, 16, 23 & 30
• Music in the Park, Library Square, Hutchinson, 6:30-8 pm. Info: Facebook, riversongfestival.org/about-riversong/musicin-the-park/ or 503-807-9442.
Mon-Fri, Aug 9-13
• ‘Beauty & the Beast’ JR Theatre Camp, Paradise Center for the Arts, 321 Central Ave N, Faribault. Info: 507-332-7372 or info@ paradisecenterforthearts.org.
Tues, Aug 10-Oct 5
• Classic Car Roll-in, downtown, Henderson, 5-8 pm. Info: Facebook.
Wed, Aug 11
• Lake Crystal Area Chamber Golf Tournament, Madelia Golf Course, Watona Park, Madelia, 3:45 pm. Info: 507-726-6088 or lcacc56055@gmail.com.
Wed-Sun, Aug 11-15
• Blue Collar Festival, 321 Central Ave N, Faribault, 11 am-11 pm. Info: Facebook, bluecollarfestival.com/ or 507-334-4381.
Thurs, Aug 12
• Meat-A-Palooza, Farmamerica, 7367 360th Ave, Waseca, 6-9 pm. Info & cost: 507-835-2052, Facebook, farmamerica.org/ meat-a-palooza/ or info@farmamerica.org
• 11 @ 7 Concert Series, Central Park, Owatonna, 7-8 pm. Info: 507-451-7970 or oacct@owatonna.org.
• Music in the Park, City Park, Winthrop, 6:30 pm. Info: 320583-8223 or roepkemarlene@ gmail.com
Thurs, Aug 12 & 19
• Concert in the Park, Central Park, 430 2nd Ave NW, Faribault, 6-9 pm. Info: visitfaribault.com/ calendar/.
Thurs, Aug 12, 19 & 26
• Alive After 5, Civic Center Plaza, Mankato, 5-7:30 p.m. Info: 507388-1062, citycentermankato. com/city-center/things-to-do/ alive-after-5/ or admin@Citycentermankato.com.
Thurs, Aug 12-Sept 30
• Bands & Burgers, 416 Main St, Madison Lake, 6-9 pm. Info: 507243-4343, fun@luckyluremadlake.com or Facebook.
Thurs, Aug 12 & 26, Sept 9 & 23
• Cruz IN Lake Crystal 2021, Marston Park, Main St, Lake Crystal, 5-8 pm. Info: Facebook or lakecrystalchamber.com/events.
Thurs-Sun, Aug 12-15
• MN Senior Games, Mankato. Info: mnseniorgames.com, Facebook, seniorgames@ visitmankatomn.com or 507385-6663.
• Gaylord Eggstravaganza, various locations, Gaylord. Parade 1 pm Sat. Info: exploregaylord.org/category/upcoming-events/.
Fri, Aug 13 & Sept 10
• All You Can Eat Chicken Dinner, American Legion Post #294 Lake Crystal, 6-8 pm. Info: lakecrystalchamber.com/events.
Fri-Sun, Aug 13-15
• ‘Into the Woods’ by Protean Players, State Street Theater, 1 N State St, New Ulm. 7 pm Fri-Sat, 2 pm Sun. Info: statestreetnewulm.org.
Fri-Sun, Aug 13-15 and SatSun, Aug 21-22
• MN Senior Men’s Amateur State Baseball Tournament, Veterans Field, St. James. Info: localendar. com/public/stjameschamber.
Sat, Aug 14
• Relay For Life of McLeod County, Masonic W River Park, Hutchinson, noon-midnight. Info: Facebook.
• Waseca Freeman’s Soap Box Race & Carnival, 831 3rd Ave, Waseca, 11 am-3 pm. Info & registration: 651-528-2137.
• State Park Events, Minneopa State Park, 5 mi W of Mankato
off Hwy 68/169. Spider Bio Blitz, 1 pm; Nature Hike, 4 pm; Beaver Ecology, 7 pm. Info: 507-3848890 or scott.kudelka@state. mn.us
Sat, Aug 14 & 28, Sept 11 & 25
• Unique Classic Cars Roll-In, 2015 Bassett Dr, Mankato, 2 pm. Info: Facebook or uniquemankato. com/.
Mon, Aug 16
• Concert in the Park with the Original German Band, German Park, New Ulm, 7 pm. Info: 507-359-8347 or parkandrec@ ci.new-ulm.mn.us
Tues, Aug 17
• Chamber Diplomats Annual Picnic, Levee Park, St. Peter, 5-6:30 pm. Info: stpeterchamber.com.
Thurs, Aug 19, Sept 2 & 16
• Cruisin on Pine & 99, Main Street, Nicollet, 5-8 pm. Info: Facebook.
Fri, Aug 20
• ‘Looney Lutherans,’ Paradise Center for the Arts, 321 Central Ave N, Faribault, 7:30 pm. Info: 507-332-7372 or info@paradisecenterforthearts.org.
Fri-Sat, Aug 20-21
• Winstock 2021, Winsted. Info: 320-485-4287 or winstock@ winstockfestival.com
Fri-Sun, Aug 20-22
• End of the Summer Celebration Weekend, Sleepy Eye. Parade Sat 6 pm. Info: Facebook, 507-794-4731, secofc@sleepyeyechamber.com, or sleepyeyechamber.com/end-of-summer-celebration.html
Sat, Aug 21
• Le Sueur & Blue Earth Co Farm Bureau Breakfast on the Farm, Dauk’s Sweet Corn, 62536 Lakeview Road, Madison Lake, 7-11:30 am. Info: Facebook.
• Hummingbird Hurrah, Henderson, 9 am-4 pm. Info, 507-6656570 or hendersonhummingbirdhurrah.com.
• Jeans & Dreams—MVL Booster Club Auction, Turner Hall, New Ulm, 5-9 pm. Info: Facebook.
• Love In Mankato, Sibley Park, Mankato, 3 p.m. Info: Facebook or Loveinmankato.com.
Sat-Sun, Aug 21-22
• Forest City Stockade Summer
Rendezvous, 6 mi NE of Litchfield on Hwy 24, 10 am-4 pm. Info: forestcitystockade.org.
Sun, Aug 22
• Outdoor Service with Mary Kavan, Bernadotte Church Park, 34120 515th Ave, Lafayette, 9:30 a.m. Info: 507-240-0048.
Mon, Aug 23
• Youth Focused CPR/AED Training, Washington Learning Center, New Ulm, 1-2:30 p.m. Info & registration: cfleck@newulm.k12. mn.us, newulm.ce.eleyo.com/ or 507-233-8307.
• Home Alone Safety (Grades 2-6), Washington Learning Center, New Ulm, 6-7:30 p.m. Info & registration: cfleck@newulm.k12. mn.us, newulm.ce.eleyo.com/ or 507-233-8307.
• Concert in the Park with Worst Band Ever, German Park, New Ulm, 7 pm. Info: 507-359-8347 or parkandrec@ci.new-ulm.mn.us
Wed-Fri, Aug 25-27
• American Red Cross Blood Drive, 1212 N Franklin St, New Ulm. 1-7 pm Wed, 12-6 pm Thurs, 8:30 am-1:30 pm Fri. Info & appointments: 800-733-2767 or RedCrossBlood.org.
Thurs, Aug 26
• Downtown Cowtown Cows & Calves Auction & Outdoor Concert, Central Park, Litchfield, 5:30 p.m. Info: litch.com, 320-6938184 or judy@litch.com.
Fri, Aug 27
• Big Hitter Golf Classic, Country Club, Glencoe, 12 pm. Info & registration: 320-864-3650, sally@ glencoechamber.com, 320-8646166 or glencoechamber.com/ annual-events-2/.
Fri-Sun, Aug 27-29
• Pioneer Power Show, 34605 265th Ave, Le Sueur, 7 am-5 pm. Info: pioneerpowershow.com/ show.html or Facebook.
Sat, Aug 28
• Kids State Sanctioned Pedal Pull, Pioneer Power Show Grounds, 34605 265th Ave, Le Sueur, 3 pm. Info: pioneerpowershow.com/ show.html.
• Lafayette Lions Hog/Corn Roast, Fire Hall, Lafayette, 4:30-7:30 pm. Info: 507-240-0048.
• Lafayette Fire Dept Street Dance, Main Street, Lafayette, 8 pm. Info: Facebook.
• Shop the Lot Crafts, 2nd N & Broadway, New Ulm, 10 am-5 pm. Info: nucve.com or Facebook.
• Autofest Scavenger Hunt, start & end at Swany’s Pub, Courtland, 12-4 pm. Info: newulmautofest@ gmail.com
• State Park Events, Flandrau State Park, 1300 Summit Ave., New Ulm. Nature hike, 1 pm; Discover the Park, 3 pm; Park Story, 7 pm. Info: 507-384-8890 or scott. kudelka@state.mn.us
Sun, Aug 29
• Hilltop Happenings, Hilltop Hall, 206 First St N, Montgomery, 4 pm. Info: wendyzaske@yahoo. com.
• Flying Dutchmen Hill Climb, Club Grounds, 20153 110th Ave, New Ulm, 10 am. Info: flyingdutchmenmotorcycleclub.com/ contact or 507-388-1671.
• Bluegrass Gospel Concert—The Farm Hands, United Church of Christ, 318 4th St, Gaylord, 10 am-5 pm. Info: 507-237-4031.
Mon, Aug 30
• Concert in the Park with Teddy Bear Band, German Park, New Ulm, 7 pm. Info: Info: 507-3598347 or parkandrec@ci.new-ulm. mn.us
Thurs, Sept 2
• Makers Market, Prentice St, Granite Falls, 4-7 pm. Info: exploreminnesota.com/event/ makers-market/25163 or graniteareaarts@gmail.com.
Fri, Sept 3
• Waseca Hockey Assn Golf Tourney, Lakeside Club, 37160 Clear Lake Dr, Waseca, 12 pm. Info: wasecahockey.org.
• State Park Events, Fort Ridgely State Park, 72404 Co Rd 30, Fairfax. Nature Hike, 4 pm; CCC/ VCC Historical Tour, 7 pm. Info: 507-384-8890 or scott.kudelka@ state.mn.us
Sat, Sept 4
• State Park Events, Minneopa State Park, 5 mi W of Mankato off Hwy 68/169. Become a Bison Ambassador, 1 pm; Nature Hike, 4 pm; State Parks, 7 pm. Info: 507-384-8890 or scott.kudelka@ state.mn.us
Sun, Sept 5
• Swan Lake Paddle, Nicollet Bay boat ramp on Swan Lake, Nicollet, 9-11 am. Info: 507-384-8890 or scott.kudelka@state.mn.us
Thurs, Sept 9
• Music in the Park—Bullypulpit Bluegrass, Wheeler Park, No Mankato, 5:30-7:30 pm. Info: Facebook.
Thurs-Sat, Sept 9-11
• Land Castle Summer Extravaganza, Winsted. 4:30 pm Thurs to 11 pm Sat. Info & tickets: Facebook or landcastlesummerfest.com.
Fri, Sept 10
• Church of Cash, Paradise Center for the Arts, 321 Central Ave N, Faribault, 7:30 pm. Info: 507-3327372 or info@paradisecenterforthearts.org
Fri-Sat, Sept 10-11
• Fall City Wide Garage Sale, Lake Crystal. Info: lakecrystalchamber. com.
Sat, Sept 11
• Annual Pork Chop Dinner, Cedar Mills Gun Club, 62841 140th St, Hutchinson, 5-7:30 pm, free dance follows. Info: Facebook or 320-587-7852.
• HermannFest, Hermann Heights Park, 10 Monument St, & Harman Park, 101 N Garden St, New Ulm. Info: hermannmonument.com or newulm.com/visitors-community/things-to-do/festivals/ hermannfest/.
• Southern MN Autism Ride, Thunder Bar & Grill, 453 Main St, Good Thunder, 11 am-7 pm. Info: Facebook.
• Brew Fest, Steele Co 4 Seasons Centre, 1525 S Elm Ave, Owatonna. Info: Facebook or owatonnanow.com/.
Sat-Sun, Sept 11-12
• Rock Bend Folk Festival, Minnesota Square Park, 224 W Elm St, St. Peter, noon Sat to 7 pm Sun. Info: rockbend.org or rockbendfolkfestival@gmail.com.
• St. Anastasia Fall Festival, 460 Lake St W, Hutchinson. Info: stanastasia.net/.
Sun, Sept 12
• New Ulm Lions Club Fly-In Breakfast, Municipal Airport, New Ulm, 7 am-12-30 pm. Info: 612-501-2719 or bbschir@comcast.net.
Mon, Sept 13
• NCHS History Hangout Virtually—Nicollet County Schools, Zoom, 10 am. Connect: us02web.zoom. us/j/82950406700. Info: 507-9342160 or info@nchsmn.org
Fri-Sat, Sept 17-18
• Hutchinson Arts & Crafts Festival & Taste of Hutchinson, Library Square Park, Hwy 15, downtown Hutchinson. 10 am-6 pm Fri, 9 am-4 pm Sat. Info: info@explorehutchinson.com
FAMILY-FRIENDLY SERVICE IN EVERY DEPARTMENT AT JENSEN MOTORS
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.
Lake Crystal Farmers Market
• Collis C-Store parking lot. JunOct, Fri, 2-5:30 pm. Info: 218-3304874.
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
ams Street. Early May- end Oct., Sat. 8 am-noon. Jun.-Oct., Tues & Thurs., 3:30-6 pm. Info: 507-3829337, manager@manktatofarmersmarket.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.,
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 FAIR
• 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.
TRI-COUNTY FAIR
• Wed, Aug 18. Curling Club Building, 600 Hope St, Mankato. Info: Facebook.
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.
AThis singular question has spawned a 450 billion dollar industry relating to self-care and beauty products. Turn on your television at any time and you will be bombarded (assaulted?) with products that promise to make you glossy, shiny, wrinkle free, toned, and vibrant. While these products may provide a service to the outer package, the key to longevity and wellness lies within. Just like your car, you will need more than a wash and wax to keep the motor running. So pop the hood and take a good look inside to see what you may need to do to keep yourself conditioned for the long haul. Aging gracefully is about living your best life and having the mental and physical health to enjoy it.
1. Exercise
Yep, every doctor tells you to exercise every time you seem them. This is because it is a proven preventative tool against most diseases, and a promoter of mental and physical health. “Exercise” doesn’t mean jumping on the treadmill you bought decades ago that is currently serving as a bookshelf in your basement. Rather, “exercise” means natural movement. Walking counts. Every little step adds up, and you will reap the benefits in longevity.
2. Eat well
Eating real food, mostly plants, and only until you are about 80% full. “Real food” is food that doesn’t need an ingredient list, doesn’t come in a crinkle-package, and is not processed. Plants should make up at least half of your plate. Stop eating when you are about 80% full. This is a moving target because it requires you to be mindful while you are eating. Typically that is not achieved when you are driving a car full of kids to soccer, or binge-watching Netflix. This requires the act of eating to be the sole focus of your attention, meaning you slow down and pay attention to your body, practicing mindfulness in the process.
3. Sleep well
Seven to nine hours is needed for your body to process and recover. Cheating here and there can add up over time and contributes to hormonal derangements, deficiencies in certain neurotransmitters, and other factors that can contribute to anxiety, depression, obesity, memory loss, etc. Develop a bedtime ritual that can signal to your mind and body that it is time to wind down. Put away the devices and to-do lists. The world will have to wait for you until tomorrow, and that is ok.
4. Have a purpose
There should be a “thing” that motivates you to get up and out of bed every day. Commit to your family, your community, and have a social support system that is a regular presence in your life.
5. Practice mindfulness and gratitude
When the mind is distracting you with worry, anxiety, fear, and unknowns, bring yourself back into the present moment by reminding yourself about what is going well.
Stay healthy, friends!
It’s only natural that, as parents, you want to instill confidence in your kids. Confident children believe in themselves and can face new challenges without fear— essential factors for a happy and fulfilling life.
Children’s confidence depends on hearing certain messages, and parents are in the best position to send them. Confident children know they are worthy of being loved and belonging with their friends and family. Parents communicate this self-worth to their children through verbal and nonverbal messages every day.
There are many ways to send these messages, but parents interested in increasing their children’s self-worth can use these five messages as a starting point.
1. I delight in being your parent. Spend one-on-one time with your children doing what they love to do—and let them lead—for no other reason but to enjoy being with them. Give your children lots of physical affection in a sincere, natural and ageappropriate way.
2. Your self-worth does not depend on what you do, but on who you are. Praise your children for character traits rather than talents or achievements. Point out what is genuinely good and likeable about who they are. When they misbehave, focus on the specific problem behavior instead of communicating that they are bad. Praise character traits and discipline behavior.
3. You deserve to be treated well, and when you are not, you are strong. When children are hurt and it’s not their fault, they need three things: emotional validation, the right interpretation of what happened, and to know they can do something about it. When children are hurt, do not feel sorry for them. Rather, work with them on practical ways they can stand up for themselves, such as using their words to stand up to a bully. If children know they deserve to be treated with respect and kindness, their self-worth will not be affected when someone is mean to them.
4. Your feelings are worth being known. Children who can be their true selves will grow in self-confidence. Always encourage your children to show how they are really feeling. When children are upset, they can work through it if their feelings are validated. So be a listener, rather than a teacher. Try to see things from their perspective and then let them know that you see how they are feeling.
5. You can use your strength to meet challenges. Let kids take age-appropriate risks to do what they’re excited about, even if they might get hurt. If you don’t, what they might hear is that you don’t think they are strong enough to do it. Teach your children that they can make their own decisions. Giving them simple choices when they are young teaches them to be confident decision-makers.
Additional information: get more tips on parenting on the Hometown Health blog.
MAEGEN STORM Nurse Practitioner Pediatric and Adolescent Medicine Mayo Clinic Health System, Faribault
1. One Step for a Good Cause
Pick up One Step Bottled water and help Hy-Vee donate towards clean, safe drinking water worldwide. Clean-water projects include digging wells in South Africa, South Sudan, Nigeria, Haiti and Kenya. Stop in and stock up today.
Hy-Vee Hilltop
2010 Adams St. Mankato, MN 56001
507.625.9070
Hy-Vee Riverfront
410 S. Riverfront Dr. Mankato, MN 56001
507.625.1107
2. Work in comfort with Dansko professional clogs
Come and shop our selection of Dansko Professional clogs. Dansko professionals are the perfect choice for chefs, nurses and medical professionals, restaurant servers, hairdressers, and just about anyone who spends long days on their feet or simply appreciates comfortable, stylish, longlasting footwear.
C&S Supply
1951 N. Riverfront Drive, Mankato, MN 507.387.1171 or 800.879.1938 candssupply.com
3. Awaken Your Skin
The Skinwave combines an aqua-delivery system, skin revitalizing solutions and Hydrogen therapy for a multi-dimensional skincare treatment. The Skinwave facial is the ultimate compliment to brighten, improve vitality and tone in all skin types. Schedule your appointment today. The Skin Clinic Medspa
1603 N Riverfront Dr. Mankato, MN 651.226.3704 mankatomed.com
4. Our Traveling Showroom
Blinds & More travels to your home or office with custom samples. We offer window coverings and interior design services. Our team will travel within a 60-mile radius of Mankato. Schedule your free consultation today!
Blinds & More Window Coverings & Decor 507.380.5019 blindsandmore.org
5. EMSCULPT NEO
The first and only FDA cleared non-invasive body shaping procedure that provides simultaneous fat elimination and muscle building in a combined 30-minute session. Multiple treatment applications including abdomen, buttocks, arms, calves & thighs. Can treat BMI to 35!
Giddie Skin
530 N Riverfront Dr. Suite 130 Mankato, MN 56001 507.381.7723 giddieskin.com
6. Date Night
Looking for a fun date night?
Join us Thursday, August 12th for Meat-a-Palooza. Celebrate Minnesota agriculture and meet the experts behind the products. Enjoy samples of wine, beer, and spirits from local producers. Taste beef and pork specialty recipes from local chefs. Live butcher demo by Blondies Butcher Shop. At the end of the event, enter for a chance to win fresh cuts of meat and other prizes. Use code MeatDeal21 for buy one ticket get one half price!
Farmamerica
7367 360th Ave
Waseca, MN 56093
507.835.2052
farmamerica.org
7. Detox Today
A detox foot soak makes joint movement easier in the knees and elbows. It’s an alternative medicine option for people who suffer chronic lymphatic and bone pain. Detoxification also promotes weight loss, as it rids your body of crippling chemicals and raises your metabolism to higher levels. Body Concepts LLC
1615 N. Riverfront Dr. Mankato, MN 56001 507.381.5467 bodyconceptsmankato.com
8. Home Decor
Stop in at Bella Nova and check out all the new Home Decor.....there’s a little something for everyone. Bella Nova Boutique 521 N. Riverfront Dr. Mankato, MN 56001 507.779.7444
9.
The perfect backpack for school, weekend travel, or outdoor adventures. If you're looking for a backpack with storage, this is an excellent choice featuring a large main compartment to easily store supplies, two mesh water bottle pockets, an external fleece-lined pocket, and front compartment. Get ready for your next adventure!
Scheels
River Hills Mall
1850 Adams St. Mankato, MN 56001
507.386.7767 scheels.com
10. Healthy, Vibrant Rejuvenated Skin Skin Essentials offers DERMALINFUSION®, an advanced skinresurfacing treatment that simultaneously exfoliates, extracts & infuses skin with condition-specific serums for an all-inclusive treatment in one step to improve skin health, function and appearance with no downtime. Call Skin Essentials & schedule a free consultation.
Skin Essentials, Mankato Clinic
1400 Madison Ave. Suite 400A
Madison East Center Mankato, MN 56001 507.625.6599
11. Renewal by Andersen Windows: Professionally Installed by Schmidt Siding & Window
You can be confident in Renewal by Andersen® custom replacement windows, which are backed by one of the strongest transferable warranties in the industry. Soon you’ll be saying, “I love our new windows.” Schmidt Siding & Window expert crews install them all year round. Renewal by Andersen® windows are custommade to fit within the exact space of an existing window. They are an easy, hassle-free 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
12. BioShield® UV Disinfection Sanitizer
Harness the instant neutralizing power of Ultraviolet Light to virtually eliminate all unhealthy
Have you ever admired someone for their resilience? Maybe it was a friend who recovered from cancer or a teen who lost a parent. Resilience is having the capacity to cope with and bounce back from stress, adversity, failure, challenges, and trauma. Resilience isn’t something you’re born with. Resilience is actually a learned skill that anyone can develop with practice, determination, and problem solving. You’re never too old or too young to build this skill. Here are some tips on how to build or enhance resilience in ourselves and our children.
Connect. When we know we have the support of a parent, friend, spouse, or family member, we can look to them for guidance as we navigate a difficult situation. As parents, our unconditional support can empower our children to come to us with their challenges and we can teach them problem-solving and coping skills.
Take healthy risks. Healthy risks take us out of our comfort zones but are not harmful. Healthy risks for adults and children alike can be trying a new sport, volunteering or learning a new skill. When we avoid risks, we start to believe we can’t handle new things or opportunities. Healthy risks also help us push ourselves, develop confidence, and in turn build resilience.
Teach problem-solving skills. Make sure your children know they can come to you for help. As parents, we sometimes want to “fix it” right away for our children. Instead of fixing the issue for them, ask questions and brainstorm solutions, and support your child while assisting them to come up with a reasonable outcome. Practice what you teach by also using these same problem solving skills when you have a problem.
Name emotions and move on. Emotions rise when stress kicks in. Name the feelings such as anxiety, sadness, envy. Remind yourself that the feelings will pass. Do the same to reassure and validate your children when they are dealing with big emotions.
Practice coping skills. When you or your children are stressed out or frustrated, try some deep breathing techniques, count to 10 or take a time out.
Learn from mistakes. Don’t look at mistakes as failures. Instead look at mistakes as a chance to learn and grow. We all make mistakes. We are all human after all. Talk to your children about a mistake you made and how you recovered. It may feel good to talk about it and your child will learn that mistakes aren’t the end of the world. Like you, they can recover.
Look on the bright side. As a therapist I am always encouraging my patients to “challenge their negative thinking patterns” and this can be done by reframing situations. An example of a reframe can be used with the following scenario. Your daughter totals the car after you stopped paying collision insurance. Instead of having an abrupt response, utilize the coping strategies identified above, such as deep breathing. Refocus and look at the brighter side, focus on the positive that no one was hurt. That’s the most important thing. This more optimistic perspective will make both you and your daughter feel better.
Exercise. Physical activity, especially outdoors, can help reorganize the brain to better handle stress and anxiety. So get outside with your kiddos. Walk, run, bike, hike, play, swim, throw a Frisbee, head to the playground, play tag. Do whatever moves you.
We all have the power to be resilient!
Why is my home’s assessed value different from the fair market value?
The assessed value of your home is determined by a public tax assessor every year to determine the amount you will pay in property taxes on your home. Depending on where the home is located, a tax assessor will evaluate several factors, including recent home improvements, the value of similar homes in the area and what it would cost to replace the home if it were destroyed in a fire or natural disaster. In some cases the assessor will inspect your property in person and sometimes they will complete the assessment remotely. The fair market value of your home is the actual amount you potentially could get from a buyer when you list your home for sale. There is often a difference between the assessed value and the market value of a home. In a seller’s market like we have right now, it’s likely that your home will sell for more than the tax assessed value due to low inventory of homes available for sale and homes often being subject to bidding wars between highly motivated buyers. On the flip side, a home may actually sell for less than the assessed value in a buyer’s market because sellers may be willing to take less in order to compete with other homes on the market.
How much does a real estate agent charge for commission fees?
In a typical real estate transaction, the real estate
agent is paid by the seller and receives an agreed upon percent of the total sale price of the home when the transaction closes. In the greater Mankato area, a real estate agent’s commission fee is generally between 5-6% of the home’s final sale price. In most cases, the buyer’s real estate agent and the seller’s agent split the commission fee, so that each of them are earning between 2.25-3% of the final sale price of the home. The amount the seller is paying the agent in commission fees is agreed upon by both parties when the house is listed and is written into the signed listing agreement between the sellers and their listing agent. Some real estate agencies will work at a discounted rate or for a flat service fee, but this often results in a lower quality of service and a more stressful real estate transaction.
What is a home inspection and how does it work?
A home inspection is a physical inspection of a property performed by a neutral professional to make sure everything is working properly in the home and identify any current or future issues or problems. When you buy a home, getting a home inspection should be at the top of your list. If possible, it’s a good idea to attend the inspection so you can learn more about your future home and ask questions. During a home inspection, the inspector will walk through the property examining different
areas while taking notes and maybe even some photos. Some areas that will be looked at include physical structures like the driveway, roof and garage floor; the interior structure including the condition of the flooring, walls, doors, windows and checking for any water damage. The inspector will also look at major systems in the home including running tests on the water systems and inspecting the appliances like the refrigerator, dishwasher and stove. The utilities in the home including electrical and gas lines will also be examined. When the inspector completes their evaluation, they will send you a report outlining the condition of the home along with any recommendations for repairs. Buyers may choose to write into the purchase agreement that the home sale will be contingent upon a home inspection being completed. If unexpected issues arise, the buyer may ask that the seller complete certain repairs before the buyer agrees to purchase of the property. On the flip side, the seller may insist that a home sells “as is” regardless of the results of the inspection.
CANDEE DEICHMAN REALTOR® CENTURY 21 Atwood
165172
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 .
• Over 5,000 successful hip, knee and other orthopaedic surgeries
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Getting the care you deserve and trust, close to home, makes OrthoEdge the right choice for joint replacement surgery.
Learn more at OrthoEdgeMN.com
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• Hip & Knee Replacement
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Plus, River’s Edge Hospital is top rated for patient experience!