H E R E T O S TAY
SPRING 2021
kato JEFF HEINTZ STYX
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Message from North Mankato
Welcome to North Kato Magazine’s one-year anniversary 2021 Summer issue! North Kato Magazine is focused on promoting our wonderful community and we are grateful you have embraced it and supported it over the past year. This issue includes the history at Caswell Park and 435 Nicollet Avenue, musicians in our community, the Class of 2021 seniors, and more! We hope everyone enjoys learning more about our great City through North Kato Magazine. 220
CITY COUNCIL MEMBERS Council Member Billy Steiner Council Member Diane Norland Council Member James Whitlock Council Member Sandra Oachs Mayor Mark Dehen
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STATE AND COUNTY REPRESENTATIVES County Commissioner Denny Kemp County Commissioner Jack Kolars Representative Susan Akland Senator Nick A. Frentz
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LET TER FROM THE EDITOR I am so excited to present this issue of North Kato Magazine to you because it is just stuffed with a bunch of wonderful human beings! People who also happen to be wonderfully talented in one way or another. People who are our North Kato neighbors and friends. Starting with the man you see on the cover, Jeff Heintz. The former Lancer and Mankato West alum has made his way in the music world and I’m happy we get to share his journey in these pages. It’s a journey that led him back home to North Mankato. Speaking of grads, there are so many awesome seniors in our city and we want to celebrate them after what can only be described as a year like no other. We caught up with four soon-to-be graduates from every corner of the city and asked who their local role models are and what lessons they want to leave behind as they, much like Jeff Heintz once did, embark on the next leg of their life’s journey. Parents, as you read this you are probably in the midst of planning a grad party (I am!)! Don’t worry, we got you. You’ll find some fun ideas in this issue. Inspired by Jeff, we also highlight local musicians up and coming in our community, we continue our Won’t You Meet My Neighbor section, we highlight a mom for Mother’s Day and a dad for Father’s Day, offer some self-care tips as the season changes and of course, we have Here to Remember featuring Caswell Park.
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F E AT U R E PHOTO Congratulations to North Mankato resident, Kate Camp! Her essay was chosen as winner of the League of Minnesota Cities 2020 Mayor for a Day Essay Contest. Thank you for joining us at our City Council meeting and being Mayor for a Day!
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CONTENTS M AY J U N J U L 2 0 2 1
8 JEFF HEINTZ, STYX 16 NICK HINZ, LEAVING A LEGACY 20 435 NICOLLET AVENUE, THE SZALLARS 18 GROW WHERE YOU ARE PLANTED 24 JENI BOBHOLZ, POURING INTO OUR COMMUNITY 26 SELF-CARE 28 MUSIC MECCA 30 SUMMERTIME IN NORTH MANKATO 32 SENIOR SPOTLIGHT 34 HOCKEY MOM ROLLS WITH IT 36 GRAD PARTY RECIPES 38 BOOK REPORT 41 CRAVE 42 CASWELL PARK 46 HERE TO GROW
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Writers are the voice of North Kato Magazine and we are proud to have a blend of seasoned writers and fresh new voices. If you would like to join our team of freelance writers contact us at info@Northkato.com
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North Kato magazine is published and mailed quarterly by Luxe Quarterlies. The content used in this magazine is copyright 2021. The opinions or points of view expressed within are those of our authors.
SPRING 2021 NORTH KATO MAGAZINE
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Jeff holding a signed guitar given to him by Neal Schon of Journey.
BY LISA COWNIE PHOTOS BY MICHELLE ISEBRAND PHOTOGRAPHY
Jeff Heintz’s life has been full of “pinch me” moments: hearing his song on the radio for the first time and meeting many of his idols, notably drummers Steve Smith of Journey, Rick Allen of Def Leppard, and Myron Grombacher with Pat Benatar. It’s also a feeling he gets driving up to his home nestled in the hills of North Mankato when he is on break from touring. No matter where his “pinch me” moments take him, there’s no place like home. “I moved back here for the people. It’s a whole different vibe here,” explains Heintz, who currently works for the bands Styx and Trans-Siberian Orchestra. “When you have been traveling or working, it’s a wonderful place to come back to. I love lower North, in particular, Belgrade Avenue has such a cool vibe to it. Neutral Groundz and Dino’s Pizzeria are among my favorites. I like the quietness of the community. I really enjoy Fun Days each summer. You know, I was a Lancer at one time, so I enjoy watching them perform when I am home.”
amazing. I’ve met people I never dreamed I’d meet, let alone get to know. I still get to be around it and I love it. I wouldn’t have it any other way now.” Indeed, Heintz’s resume reads like a Who’s Who of the 80s music scene: Sheena Easton, Pat Benatar, KISS, and Def Leppard, among others. Heintz has spent the last 13 years with the group Styx and when they are off tour, he works with Trans-Siberian Orchestra. “Styx is truly my second family,” Heintz reflects. “They are wonderful people. With them, I do about 100 to 115 shows a year. Then when they slow down in November and December, I work for Trans-Siberian Orchestra. I am essentially on tour a total of 250 days a year. I love it and I never take it for granted.”
“Tommy Shaw once told me, ‘you don’t pick your instrument, it picks you’,” he says. “That certainly happened in my case.”
What does a live production manager do? He’s the first to get to the stage each show and the last to leave, setting up and tearing down and making sure all runs smoothly in between. Although he is behind the scenes now, he still plays the drums daily and is ready to go in at a moments’ notice for whatever band he is working for at the time. In fact, he has in his home a drum kit identical to the one used by Todd Sucherman, drummer for Styx. That drum kit is surrounded by memorabilia of a life well spent: signed guitars, autographed photos, a life captured in memories that he made happen through dedication and hard work.
Following that passion has made the drummer’s life one big dream come true, although not the way he originally envisioned it.
“If you love it, you gotta do it. Chase that dream. I have no regrets,” he says. “We’re only on this big ball once, so you gotta do what you love.”
“I am a musician,” he says. “But the music industry is so competitive. I took a sideways step from that and ended up behind the scenes in live music production. I love it! I get to work with all of my heroes. It’s
Chasing his dream, Heintz embarked on a journey that took him far away from his home in southern Minnesota right after high school.
Performing with the Lancers, in many ways, is how he got his start. It fueled his passion for music. A passion that started when he picked up a pair of drum sticks at age 12.
SPRING 2021 NORTH KATO MAGAZINE
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Jeff Heintz and Lawrence Gowa n, keyboardist of Styx. In addition to being Lawrence ’s production manager, he is also his tech.
Green
ream Vinyl D
“I was an average student in high school, but I was not that interested in college,” he says. “But my parents insisted. They said they would send me to a music college if I wanted, but it was clear, that no matter what, I was going to college.” After graduating from Mankato West High School, Heintz attended the Berklee College of Music in Boston. There Heintz made the dean’s list, validating that if you do what you love, you have a greater chance to succeed. With confidence, training and unwavering passion, he knew where he had to go next. “If you really want something you have to give it your all and I knew the only way to do that was to surround myself with it, so I moved to LA out of college. I knew if I wanted a shot that’s where I had to be. This was in the 80s when the core of the music industry was in LA on the Sunset Strip. In the late 80s, all the hot bands were there: Guns N Roses, Mötley Crüe, Poison. As an aspiring musician, all you could do was go out and play live and try to get the attention of a record label. It was so saturated, and I realized quickly the odds of that happening were pretty slim.”
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NORTH KATO MAGAZINE SPRING 2021
Jeff Heintz Live with G reen Vinyl Dream Ope ning for Pa t Benatar.
s d Jame intz an ding Jeff He n u fo , ung "JY" Yo x. er of Sty memb
Jeff recently visited his alma mater, Berklee College of Music.
Jeff and Ri ck Allen, th e drummer Def Leppar for d during th e Def Lepp Styx and Te ard, sla tour in 20 15.
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Still, Heintz persevered. When he first got to LA, he played for a few bands at local establishments for a while “You just had to play live and hope that someone in the recording industry would see you,” he says. Then he found like-minded musicians and formed Green Vinyl Dream. The band, who still keeps in touch, was originally together 15 years. “If you go by longevity, we were the most successful band in LA,” he jokes. Green Vinyl Dream won a few LA Music Awards and even had a song, “Can’t Stop Now”, on the radio. Green Vinyl Dream followed that success by recording the original soundtrack to the film “The Pistol,” based on the life of the late basketball star “Pistol” Pete Maravich. “Mark and Brian were popular and the biggest L.A. morning radio hosts at the time without question. Those two just fell in love with our song “Kaleidoscope.” They played it relentlessly! It actually did catch the ear of a record label, but the label was only signing one new act in our genre at that time. It was between us and one other band you may have heard of: Matchbox Twenty. You can probably understand which they chose!” Green Vinyl Dream, with Heintz on drums, did achieve some fame. Music Connection Magazine named the band one of the Top Ten unsigned acts of the year. Their debut indie CD earned the Most Outstanding Indie Album award at the LA Music Awards. Their song, “Everybody’s Here,” won an award from the prestigious John Lennon Songwriting Contest. All of this didn’t get the band signed, however it did catch the attention of other musicians and GVD started getting gigs opening for bands such as Aerosmith, Linkin Park, Tom Petty, Dave Matthews, and Savage Garden. It was when they were on tour opening for Pat Benatar, Heintz found an opportunity that began his transition.
“I fell into what I do now. While on the road with Benatar, they were in need of a drum, bass and keyboard tech so I jumped in and started doing that. I would play in the opening band, then hop back stage to work it for Benatar while my bandmates were out selling merch and meeting people. I found I loved that side of things and I could make a good living at it. That’s how the transition from behind the drums to behind the scenes started,” reflects Heintz. He hasn’t looked back since. Being on the road has allowed him to meet many of the people he admired as a young musician: Steve Perry and Journey, Styx, Def Leppard, Kiss, Elton John, Rod Stewart, Pat Benatar, Reo Speedwagon and Cheap Trick to name a few...and even some new ones that hit it big along the way like Gwen Stefani and No Doubt. To today’s Lancers and other aspiring musicians, Heintz has some advice. “Just start by putting yourself in the path of opportunity and hone your craft. None of what has happened in my life would have happened if I hadn’t moved to LA,” he says. “However, the music industry has changed so much. Back in the 80s all you wanted to do was get a record deal, and that would lead to your big break. But the recording industry isn’t what it was back in the day because of Spotify, Apple Music, etc. You can get music out there, but there is so much of it. So how do you weed through that? Just stay out there and play live.” Having established himself in LA and in the industry, he decided about 10 years ago he was ready for another transition. Heintz’s journey led him back to his childhood home and people that matter most: family. For Heintz, it’s not just about the people he’s met but the people he gets to come home to.
Jeff ’s h ome drum kit buil t identic al to the on e used by Tod d Suche rma drumm n, er for Sty x.
um kit Jeff with the dr nsTra for ilt bu he tra. Siberian Orches
Jeff's view on any given day while on tour.
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North Kato project leaves a father’s legacy to his daughter, a bank’s legacy to its community. For North Mankatoans, it has always been seen as the block on Belgrade with an old gas station and an auto bank. This summer, that block gets some new life and a new name: The Romey Hinz Addition. A touching tribute from a father, Frandsen Bank president Nick Hinz, to his daughter. “I named the project after my 10-year-old daughter, Romey,” Hinz explains. “When we re-parceled the old gas station and our auto bank to evenly divide the lots to make room for the new bank building. We had an opportunity to rename the subdivision plat (the land). I thought it would be fun to leave a legacy on Belgrade Avenue to my daughter, something that she will hopefully be proud of me for, for long after I’m gone.” That’s not the only legacy the bank is building on its block of Belgrade. Committed to using local vendors, the project
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NORTH KATO MAGAZINE SPRING 2021
boasts of supporting the community in a variety of ways. APX Construction is the general contractor, while River Bend Business Products and I-Space are providing all of the furniture. Other local vendors include 7 systems, Evenson Concrete Systems, Jerry’s Tile, Kendall Door, ECS Electric, MCI, and Summit Fire. “The new bank building is coming along nicely ahead of schedule. Our auto bank is going to be torn down around May 15th to make room for the parking lot. We are tentatively planning on a late June early July completion / move-in date. Currently, windows are being installed on the exterior along with the start of the exterior façade. On the interior, we are finishing painting and installing flooring. Based on the mild winter, we were able to close up the building sooner than expected, so we were able to work on the interior all winter long,” says Hinz. “The Romey Hinz addition is going to fit right in on Belgrade.”
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THE SZALLARS
IT'S A STORY
that spans numerous genres: historical, drama, suspense, and, yes, romance. A story that begins in the Autumn of 1938.
Young Sondra Yungerberg moved with her family from Springfield, Minnesota, to the town of North Mankato. Sondra’s father, Herman, had been farming but was offered a chance to work with the North Western Railroad. In North Mankato, Herman had three lots to choose from, and he chose Lot 9 of Block 9 of Subdivision of Block Number 7. The family moved in, and Sondra started school. Public education for five-year-old Sondra was provided at the North Mankato School located on the northeast corner of Belgrade Avenue and Center Street, just a block from Sondra’s residence. There, Sondra took lessons in reading, writing, and ‘rithmetic from Ms. Lundin. “She was a great teacher,” says Sondra, who celebrated her 88th birthday in March of 2021, “but she was a strict teacher. No goofing off. All my aunts had her, and they’re lots older than me. My daughter had her later. Ms. Lundin was there a lot of years.” Around town in North Mankato, which had approximately 3,500 residents according to 1940 census figures, Sondra and her siblings made friends—and rivals. She remembers the Lyons boys fondly for the ice-skating rink that they built off south Center Street back where there was still a woods near the Minnesota River. “In the winter, the Lyons boys built the best rink around,” says Sondra. “They all taught us to skate.” And in the summer, Sondra says, “Several of the Lyons boys put ropes in the trees so we could swing in and back and forth.” But it wasn’t all fun and games. The Yungerbergs and Lyons often fought and even had preferred one-on-one matchups. Sondra’s oldest brother Farrell Yungerberg would square off with Dutch Lyons, and her brother Darwin Yungerberg would fight Gump Lyons. Sondra said that it was often a matter of the “Catholic school kids against the public school kids.” Chief of police H.M. Quimby, if he ever came upon a scrap, had a way of settling those disagreements, though. “He would walk up, take their heads, and knock ‘em together,” says Sondra. “Whoever stood up first after that was the winner.” Sondra says that she wouldn’t expect such a system like that to work
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anymore, but back then, she says, it was a case of “like my dad used to say: ‘If it works, don’t change it.’” Sondra enjoyed growing up in North Mankato and felt that it was a place where everybody seemed to care for and look out for each other. When she was 15, she met her future husband, Ronnie, at “one of the old-time dances” at the Kato Ballroom. Ronnie Szallar, who is of Hungarian descent, had been born in New York City, but when he was seven years old his mother sent him to live with her sister and brother-in-law in Wells, Minnesota, some 40 miles south of North Mankato. Apparently, young Ronnie was raising Cain and headed down the wrong path. When given bus fare to attend school, the lad instead “had a good time” with the money, strapping on roller skates and hitching rides on the backs of automobiles about the city. Life in Wells with his aunt and uncle was more regulated for Ronnie, and there wasn’t as much trouble to get into. He was a couple of years older than Sondra when they first met, but smitten enough with her to propose marriage when Sondra was eighteen. The year Sondra turned 18 was 1951—quite the year to have been a North Mankatoan. Sondra was a member of the first graduating class of Mankato West High, but she didn’t have a graduation ceremony there—which has made it easy for Sondra to relate to some of the graduates of 2020 who missed out on their own graduations due to the coronavirus pandemic. The epic Flood of ‘51 wreaked havoc upon North Mankato, swamping homes and businesses and forcing residents such as Sondra and her family to find shelter elsewhere. For the Yungerbergs, that meant leaving 435 Nicollet Avenue and seeking refuge with relatives in Janesville for the better part of a month. “I wasn’t allowed back right away because I’d had rheumatic fever as a child,” says Sondra. “Dad and the other kids had a lot of cleaning up to do. People had taken motors out of their furnaces, and the basements needed a lot of work.” Life didn’t stop, though. Sondra’s life, in fact, was taking off. She says that on the morning of her high school graduation day, the phone rang. On the other end... was none other than the F.B.I. They were inquiring to see if Sondra was interested in a job as a typist. She could take dictation and type at the
rate of 120 words per minute. Grace Yungerberg, Sondra’s mother, stepped in. “Mom got involved and said, ‘She’s not worldly enough,’” says Sondra. So that was the end of that. Ronnie Szallar swooped in and proposed marriage. Sondra accepted the proposal, and after a visit to Crandall’s Jewelry—”I had a Crandall classmate,” says Sondra—Ronnie and Sondra became Mr. and Mrs. Szallar later that year. Their honeymoon was short. They were married on a Friday at St. Paul’s Lutheran by Reverend Haase, went bowling at Urban Lanes with Sondra’s brothers on a Saturday, and spent time appropriating gifts and reveling on a Sunday with Sondra’s parents at 435 Nicollet Avenue. On the Monday following the Szallars’ marriage, 22-year-old Ronnie left for Kentucky, where he would be doing eight weeks of training for his induction into the U.S. Army to be a field wire technician. Sondra got to visit Ronnie in Kentucky just once, and while there, she says, “I got arrested twice.” Sondra couldn’t resist breaking the 10 p.m. curfew to go visit her husband on the base and was twice picked up and taken back to her hotel by the military police. “They didn’t fool around back then,” said Ronnie. That didn’t stop Sondra, who says she simply found another route to the base on a third attempt. At the memory, Ronnie laughs and shakes his head. Ronnie was soon enough sent overseas to serve in the Korean War. He worked as a wire specialist clambering up poles and, sometimes, staying up there most of the day. It was there—”up a hundred feet in the air on a telephone pole” according to Ronnie—and thousands of miles from home, that Ronnie Szallar got the news that his wife had given birth to their first baby girl, Susie.
missed each other. In 1954, Ronnie and Sondra Szallar took up residence at 435 Nicollet and eventually took over the mortgage from Sondra’s folks. Another two daughters, Rhonda and Denise, came along. Ronnie worked at Art Crafts for years and put in phone wires and television antennas, and Sondra raised her girls and took on parttime work for various employers, including a stretch at Jack N Jill’s grocery store. After nearly 70 years of marriage, the Szallars enjoy each other’s company at their home at 435 Nicollet Avenue. “This house is one of our favorite things,” says Sondra, pointing out the oak floorboards and ceiling trim, and many of the “beautiful glass front doors in North Mankato.” They miss a few things in Lower North—Del’s Cafe and Mutch’s Hardware store come to mind. But they have a loving extended family that includes a number of grandchildren and great-grandkids. And they appreciate their neighbors and the helpful attitude of the people in their neighborhood. “I don’t think we’re going anywhere,” says Ronnie. “Not in the near future, anyway.”
Before Ronnie finished his hitch, the small new family had quite a scare. While on R&R in Tokyo, Japan, Ronnie and his unit had boarded a plane to leave. At the last minute, it was decided that some other U.S. Airmen needed to be moved more urgently, so Ronnie’s unit de-boarded the plane. When the plane took off, it crashed, and all aboard were killed. Ronnie was shocked. Back home, though, the news was mistranslated, and when Sondra got a call from Ronnie’s Aunt Marie in Wells saying that Ronnie’s plane had gone down and that there were no survivors, Sondra was inconsolable. In her living room at 435 Nicollet Avenue, Sondra points to the floor in the dining room. “Over there, where that telephone wire was,” she says, “I was lying right there on the floor.” It took a full day to get the news straightened out. A full day that Sondra spent believing that her husband—and the father of a baby daughter he hadn’t met yet—was gone from this world. When Ronnie came back, it’s an understatement to say that the pair SPRING 2021 NORTH KATO MAGAZINE
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BY ANGELA PICK
Jeni Bobholz wins the GMG City Center Volunteer of the Year Award.
Jeni Bobholz, owner of The Circle, strives to teach her daughter, Ellie, the importance of giving back.
he Circle Inn on Belgrade Avenue has been known for bringing people together since it opened just after the end of Prohibition. Owner Jeni Bobholz worked as a server and manager at the favorite neighborhood watering hole for ten years before taking ownership just over a year ago. Since then, she has found countless ways to serve the community of North Mankato. Bobholz was recently recognized by Greater Mankato Growth as the 2020 City Center Partnership Volunteer of the Year. She was humbled by the honor, claiming, “I’m just a bar owner who wants to help. I’m just doing what we all should do. We have opportunities to do things, so we just do them.” Bobholz is reluctant to take more than her share of the credit, “If it wasn’t for our customers and this community, it wouldn’t be what it is. People come out of the woodwork to help. Even if they aren’t personally affected, they know it means something to someone here. There is a true sense of community in North Mankato. People are actually genuinely nice, good people. It’s a unique thing.” Bobholz’s ties to the community run deep. She was raised in Mankato and met her husband, Jacob, when they were in 6th grade together at Garfield Elementary. Their 9-year-old daughter, Ellie is a fourth-grader at Monroe. Ellie is the spitting image of her mother, but the likeness doesn’t end there. Ellie and her best friend, Nora, came up with the idea to sell ice cream treats to raise money for Girls on the Run starting last May. It was so successful that the girls continued the fundraiser and were able to donate hundreds of dollars each week to places dear to their hearts
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NORTH KATO MAGAZINE SPRING 2021
The Circle in lower North Mankato is known as a community gathering place.
including Monroe PTO, Lasting Imprint, North Mankato Fire Department, Partners for Affordable Housing, and MY Place. Most high school reunion celebrations include a gathering at the Circle Inn, and holiday weekends are a huge draw for Mankato alums who have moved away from the area. Early on, Bobholz recognized this as a way to bring the community together in other ways; working tirelessly to raise money for worthy causes. Jeni started getting involved with Business on Belgrade in 2008, and currently serves as President of the association whose mission is to “promote, enhance and preserve beautiful Lower North Mankato as a diverse business, cultural and residential destination for the benefit of the entire community.” The association is responsible for hosting free community events including Anthony ford Pond Hockey, Blues on Belgrade, Bier on Belgrade, Bookin’ on Belgrade, Bunnies on Belgrade, and Bobholz’s favorite: Bells on Belgrade, “It’s magical and fun for the entire community.” She and the other board members devote countless volunteer hours to bring these events to the community raising money for organizations like The Sharing Tree, Knights of Columbus and the Anthony Ford Fund. In addition to her work with Business on Belgrade, Bobholz finds ways to raise money for other organizations and people in need with silent auctions, bingo, meat raffles, apparel sales, vendor fairs, and cook-offs. At around 1,500 square feet, the Circle Inn bar is relatively small. Bobholz herself is just over five feet, but their impact on the community is giant.
Your hometown home & auto team
Jeni Bobholz stands next to the Circle Inn sign after taking ownership.
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Jeni Bobholz and her husband Jacob.
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DIY PROJECTS?
INTRODUCTORY
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507-387-3055 MNVALLEYFCU.COOP Daughter Ellie and husband Jacob attenting the local 4th of July parade in Lower North Mankato.
EQUAL HOUSING LENDER | NMLSR ID 504851 | FEDERALLY INSURED BY NCUA *APR= Annual Percentage Rate. 2.99% variable APR for terms up to 180 months. 2.99% APR is in effect for first 12 months on new Home Equity Line of Credits with LTV < 70%. LTV 71%-80% = 3.25%, LTV 81%-90% = 4.00%. After 12 months the normally indexed rate of 3.25% APR will apply. The rate is a variable rate and the maximum rate that may apply is 15.00% APR. Offer only applicable for new and refinanced Home Equity Lines of Credit. In most cases,000 MVFCU will pay closing costs up to $450 if standard conditions are met. Certain restrictions may apply. Appraisal fee not included in closing cost estimates. Early termination occurs when loan is satisfied. If early termination occurs, any closing costs paid by MVFCU must be repaid by borrower. Rate, terms and conditions are subject to change without notice. Loans are subject to creditworthiness. This offer is subject to normal credit qualifications. Some additional restrictions may apply. Speak with a loan officer for complete details.
SPRING 2021 NORTH KATO MAGAZINE
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10 QUICK WAYS TO PRACTICE
Self-care can come in many different forms. It is important to focus on finding what works for you. Small changes in your daily routine can lead to big results in improving your mental and physical health. Here are 10 simple things you can do to bring self-care into each day: Tune into your body. This may come in the form of meditation, or can be just a few minutes at the start or end of your day to stop, be still and focus on your breathing. Take this time to step away from the kids/family/work and calm your mind.
Go to bed 10 minutes earlier. We often do not get enough sleep, and in those 7-8 hours a night our body is recovering and repairing. Try going to bed 10 minutes earlier each day until you are getting a full 7-8 hours of sleep each night.
Exfoliate your skin. Your skin is your largest organ and we often neglect it. Dry brushing or exfoliating your skin will remove dead skin cells and stimulate the lymphatic system, drawing out toxins and boosting your immune system.
Start your day with a glass of water and lemon juice. This can help to boost your metabolism and cleans your system.
Put more fruits and vegetables on your plate. Our bodies need a variety of vitamins and minerals to make repairs on a cellular level. Increasing the amount and variety of colors on your plate is an effective way to help your body get the minerals and vitamins that it needs.
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NORTH KATO MAGAZINE SPRING 2021
BY OLIVIA HAGEMAN Menari Body Works
Open yourself up to positivity. Write, say, or even think positive affirmations. When you project positivity, you will attract positivity.
Practice letting things go. Letting go of the little things that go wrong in life will reduce the weight that we can feel on our shoulders.
Be in nature. With warmer weather arriving, it is a great time to start getting outdoors again. Take a walk on a trail or work in your own backyard. Exposure to sunlight increases your brain’s release of feel-good hormones, which is probably why it feels so good!
Bring a little joy into your day. This can be as simple as listening to your favorite song, taking a hot bubble bath, buying yourself a little treat, or having a dance party with your kids. Do a little something each day that brings a smile to your face.
Read a book before bed. Screen time before bed has been shown to affect our sleep quality. Reading a book before bed and skipping the TV, tablet or phone can help calm your mind and you can get a more restful sleep.
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North Mankato Musicians of Note
BY NATE BOOTS
If you’ve noticed what feels like an explosion of music near the big bend in the Minnesota River over the past few years... that’s because there has been. Never before in history—largely due to the Internet and, in particular, YouTube and social media—has it been so easy to get a solo act, duo, or band together and up and running. Chords, licks, and lessons that took weeks, months, or years to acquire are there for the taking on websites or video-sharing platforms. Auditions are made simpler with the power of shareable video and audio. Info and samples are readily available. Marketing is an instantaneous snap. Luring a captive audience is a breeze... well, for a few seconds, anyway.
The Rain Kings perform at the North Mankato American Legion. Photo Courtesy of Nate Boots.
Getting a crowd to pay attention for an entire song—or for the long haul—remains a challenge. But that’s not a bad thing. Though making music and connecting is easier, making quality music and doing something original still takes time and remains at a premium, which I imagine it always will be. Making attractive live music is another type of trick that many a musician may try but few might master. Though the following list is by no means exhaustive or complete, here are some of the musicians who currently live right in North Mankato and have a hand in the local music-making game. Joe Tougas - Formerly of the duo The Frye (and The Gram Parsons Project, and Blue Velveata), Joe Tougas is a balladeer extraordinaire, a great writer, and an artful guitarist. Now playing either solo or with his right-handgal Ann Fee or others as a part of Joe Tougas & Associates, Tougas is possibly the best between-the-songs banter-ist around. Check out his new original song “Sway” on YouTube.
Up and comer Mal Murphy, catch her when you can! Photo Courtesy of Bailey Burg.
Billy Steiner - Not only does Billy Steiner sing and play the most soulful harmonica in Southern Minnesota (often with longtime Kato-area band City Mouse), he sits on the North Mankato City Council and has for years. Steiner is a great proponent of music in the area and a walking storybook of musical tales and connections and appreciation.
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NORTH KATO MAGAZINE SPRING 2021
From left to right, Billy Steiner, Joe Tougas, and Ann Fee. Photo Courtesy of Bob Drengler.
Amy Korteum - For years, Korteum’s harp concerts have given folks timely holiday cheer. Just to hear any harpist play that heavenly instrument is rare. To Ms. Korteum play is a special treat. Scott Helgerson and Brian Jentges - Two of the five members of The Rain Kings currently live in North Mankato. Along with Clint Eaton, Greg Spear, and Jason Olson, Brian Jentges mans the drums like a champ and Scott Helgerson adds deft keys, guitars, and vocals—and is a deadly talented and rising recording engineer. Mal Murphy - This gifted young singersongwriter in the mold of Brandi Carlile recently moved to upper North Mankato from Minnesota Lake and baristas at Neutral Groundz in LoNo. A voice like hers will stick with you. Dan White - Longtime guitar-playing vocalist Dan White of DW3 (along with occasional bandmates Cory Norgren, Eric Zimmerman, Adrian Barnett, and Johnathan Moeller) starts the party wherever he goes. The group’s performance at North Mankato’s Wheeler Park in Late Summer 2020 was a joy for many a music-starved and pandemic-weary person. Eric Zimmerman - Jazz and funk collide when Eric Zimmerman straps on an electric bass, often as part of his group The EZ Jazz Trio with Evan Bierer and Ryan “The Human Metronome” Rader. His talented wife, Jerusha Zimmerman, has got musical chops of her own and runs the choir at Dakota Meadows Middle School. Check out their recently archived livestream show at The Grand online.
Call the Experts in Single Level Living T O U R O U R MO D EL H O ME S
Wilcon Construction & Bonnie Kruger of C21 Atwood Call 507-345-6653
Nate Boots - Yours truly is an alt-folkie acoustic guitar-harmonica guy who’s lived in LoNo for the better part of 20 years. I also play with Michelle Roche, Ben Scruggs, and occasionally Lehi Gertz in my full band called Nate Boots & The High Horses or with my three kids in a fam-band we call The Respectacles. I’ll be playing at The Circle Inn, Javens Winery, Pleasant Grove Pizza Farm, and elsewhere in " the days to come.
North Kato musicians Nate Boots & The High Horses put on a show at Pleasant Grove Pizza Farm. Photo Courtesy of Johnny Foderick.
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SUMMERTIME
North Kato
MUSIC IN THE PARK
Music in the Park is back this summer by popular demand! Bring your lawn chair, blanket, and a cooler to enjoy fun community nights with local musical talent. Join us Thursday nights: July 15, 22 and 29 and September 2, 9, 16, 23 and 30 in Wheeler Park from 5pm-7pm for music, food and fun!
ARTSPLASH
The ArtSplash Art Fair is back! Join us for its 16th annual event on Saturday, June 19, from 11 am to 3pm at South Central College. Check out the local vendor booths and enjoy live music, food, drinks, and kids’ activities! Arts and crafts at the event include original photography, paintings, cards, jewelry, handmade items, yard art, and more for sale! If you’re interested in having an art booth, contact Katie Heintz by email kheintz@nmlibrary.org or by phone at 507-345-5120. Hope to see you there!
“
MOVIES IN THE PARK
The North Mankato Taylor Library will be hosting Movies in the Park again this summer! Join us June 18th in Spring Lake Park and on August 6th in Benson Park at dusk for a family night out at the movies. Keep watching for more information for these events at the Taylor Library Facebook page @NorthMankatoTaylorLibrary
LIBRARY SUMMER READING PROGRAM
Join the North Mankato Taylor Library for their 2021 Summer Reading Program: Tails and Tales! You won’t want to miss the kick-off on June 5th from 10am to 1pm at Bluff Park, featuring a “Wild Things Attraction: WalkThrough Mini Zoo!” Other activities include take-home kits, storytime at the pool, crafts, prizes, and more in-person programs! Follow the Taylor Library’s website, Facebook page, Instagram, Twitter, and Snapchat for the latest information. We can't wait to see you at the library this summer!
NORTH MANKATO FARMERS' MARKET
The North Mankato Farmers' Market, presented by South Central College, is seeking vendors, sponsors, partnerships, food trucks and entertainment for the 2021 market season. The market will begin its fifth season on June 7 and will run every Monday through October 18 from 3 p.m. to 6 p.m. Visit the market in the South Central College parking lot located at 1920 Lee Boulevard in upper North Mankato. The North Mankato Farmers' Market offers fresh locally grown fruits and vegetables, baked and canned goods, handmade products and has no fees for vendors! Welcome to your neighborhood market.
Recognizing that technology in law enforcement is growing rapidly, we are constantly expanding the number of tools we have to get the job done efficiently and effectively. Pantheon Computers was able to come into our department and identify vulnerabilities and deficiencies in our network and operating systems. They were then able to provide us with a number of solutions that limit and actively monitor our exposure to any threats. — Lieutenant Shawn Morgan, North Mankato Police Department
TECHNOLOGY THAT LETS YOU WORK THE WAY YOU LIVE 866-835-2212 | pantheoncomputers.com 30
BY ANNA BROWN
NORTH KATO MAGAZINE SPRING 2021
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Brent Busch, your local neighborhood mortgage lender. Q: Our family needs a bigger home and we want to use the equity in our current home for the down payment. This seems like a difficult process and how can we do this without moving twice? A: That’s a great question and it comes up a lot. There are a couple of different options depending on how you would like to move forward, but don’t worry, both are very easy and I make it as stress free as possible. The first option would be to sell your current home and purchase your new home on the same day. We do this often and coordinate with your real estate agent to make sure everything goes smoothly and according to plan. Typically you will sell your current home and buy your new home in a matter of hours. We take care of scheduling, timing, and money transfers so you can focus on your new home. The second option is to purchase your new home first while still owning your current home. This can give you the time to move into the new home at your own pace, allow you to make necessary changes to your current home for the upcoming sale, or even upgrade your new home before you move in. This also allows you a stronger negotiating position for purchasing your new home. For the loan we do a minimal down payment, as low as 3%. Once your current home sells we apply the proceeds from the sale to your current loan and recalculate your payments based on the new balance. You could think of it as a delayed down payment. This process is very simple and is not a refinance of your loan.
Q: I already own a home but I want to take advantage of the historically low rates I have been hearing about. How do I refinance and what do I need to know? A: Refinancing has been extremely popular lately due to the rate market being very favorable. The process itself is very simple. We can have a 15 minute conversation over the phone to set up your file and fill out all of the required documents. At this point I would provide you with a complete breakdown of your options, what your savings would be, and what costs are applicable to your particular loan. After that we submit the file to underwriting and complete their requirements which generally can be completed in 21 days or less! You may not even need an appraisal for a refinance depending on the last time your property was appraised.
I am always available to answer any questions you may have. Call 507-389-8276 or email me at busch@primesourcefunding.com
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MN MLO 1626669 | NMLS 2174
1751 N Victory Drive Suite 500, Mankato | primesourcefunding.com | 507-389-8276
Meet Megan Farniok Loyola High School
What is your favorite thing about growing up in North Mankato? “My favorite thing about living in North Mankato is how quiet the area is. I also think North Mankato has a very welcoming atmosphere. I love how there is so much open land and it makes North Mankato feel so open. I also like how there aren’t as many big stores as Mankato has, I enjoy the small ones that we have here in North Mankato.” Who is a local person you look up to? “North Mankato has a lot of great people. Some of the local people I look up to are my boss, Malinda Pietsch, at Vista Prairie Monarch Meadows. She teaches me so many new things every day and keeps me on my toes. Also Chief Gullickson for keeping North Mankato safe. I also look up to Dr. Wertz at the Mankato Clinic, he inspired me to go into the medical field as he helps so many of his patients in his community. Thank you all!” What has been your favorite activity in high school? “My favorite activities in high school have been Student Council and Key Club because there are so many opportunities to help out, and that is what I love doing!” What are your plans after high school? I plan to attend Winona State University to study nursing.
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NORTH KATO MAGAZINE SPRING 2021
What is your favorite thing about growing up in North Kato? “My favorite thing about growing up in North Kato would be that I was super close to all of my childhood friends! Everyone was within walking or biking distance of each other and one of our favorite summer activities was biking to the gas station or Culver’s for ice cream.” Who is someone local you look up to? “A local person that I look up to would be Sandy Hasse. This is because Mrs. Hasse was almost every kid’s sixth grade teacher and everyone absolutely loved her. Now that I am almost done with high school I can say I still really do appreciate Mrs. Hasse. Mrs. Hasse is always very optimistic, outgoing, and never gives up. She’ll have a bike accident one week and the next you will see her walking up Lee Blvd with a cast on her arm, two dogs, and a smile on her face.” What is a life lesson you would pass on to those younger than you? “A life lesson I would pass down to others who are younger would be to make sure you are living in the moment because you never know what might come ahead the next day.”
BY LISA COWNIE
Mankato West High School
CLASS OF 2021
Meet Ava Lorenz
Meet Donovan Bjork Mankato West High School
Meet Jake Maes Mankato West High School
What is your favorite thing about growing up in North Mankato? “My favorite thing about living in North Mankato is that all of my friends are so close where I live. We can easily see each other and there are always things to do.” Who is someone in North Mankato you look up to? “Someone local I look up to would definitely be my mom. She’s the strongest and most caring woman I know.” What is your favorite thing to do in North Kato? “My favorite thing to do in North Mankato is driving around at night, whether it’s by myself or with friends, and just listening to music.” What is a life lesson you would pass on to those younger than you? “Just live it up! You’re only a kid/ teenager once so do the most with it. It goes by faster than you think, don’t take it for granted.”
Like our cover story, you play drums! How has that impacted your life so far? “I started playing drums in 6th grade. What I like about playing percussion is the variety of instruments you get to play. One song you will be playing snare drum, then another you will be playing a mixture of sounds like a train whistle or a triangle. I plan to always play drums and music in my spare time, as it is one of my favorite hobbies.” What is your favorite thing about growing up in North Mankato? “I love the schooling here, and all the activities my friends and I can do in town. For example, going to Maverick hockey games on the weekends!” Who are your local role models? “Two adults that I look up to in town are my parents, Cheri and Matt Maes. I look up to them because they are great role models, and have always been there for me.” What are your plans after high school? “I plan to go to college and major in business.”
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Kate Cox has always been a go-getter. From an early age, she took on roles that had her caring for others. In our community we know her as a social worker, leader of Project for Teens and just an overall leader. Fifteen years ago, though, Kate took on her favorite role: she became a mother with the birth of her son Ethan. Brodie came along three years later, and Kate's world has been one big whirlwind since! "It's been wonderful and I am thankful my husband Chaun and I are raising our boys in North Mankato," she says. "It's just a wonderful place to raise a family." Once her boys discovered hockey, she found the North Kato community even embraces that. "From roller blades to ice skates, Spring Lake Park is where we are year-round," she says. "It offers everything my boys and their friends need to enjoy
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NORTH KATO MAGAZINE SPRING 2021
the sport they love no matter what time of year it is. It is a special place. Made more special when I lace up and join them!" For Kate, spending her time at the rink, yes, even on Mother's Day, is something she wouldn't change for anything in the world. And when the busy day is done, she is thankful for the neighborhood she gets to come home to "They say it takes a village, well in our case it takes a neighborhood. We support each other and help each other out especially when we are all running different directions with kids' activities." To all moms out there, hockey or otherwise, Kate says to just embrace each day and rely on the North Kato “village” around you.
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salt and pepper. Spread eggs over ham.
DIRECTIONS Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
Cover eggs with cheese and top with buns.
Coat a 9x13 pan with 1 T butter.
The simpler your menu is, the less stress you’ll feel. You can prepare an array of foods, but give your guests the option to customize their plates how they like.
INGREDIENTS 9 oz deli ham 12 ct Hawaiian rolls 6 slices of your favorite cheese 6 eggs 4 T butter, divided poppy seeds
Slice the rolls in half lengthwise and lay the bottoms in the baking dish. Place an even layer of ham over the buns in the baking dish. In a skillet over medium heat, scramble eggs with 1 T butter and lightly season with
Melt the remaining 2 T butter and brush the tops of the buns. Sprinkle with poppy seeds. Heat in oven for 15-20 minutes or until hot. If you’d like to make ahead, you can just add the eggs the day of the party and finish in oven.
BAR
Let your guests have some fun! A big bowl of creamy Mac & Cheese and some delicious toppings and mix-ins are all you need for the ultimate cheesy celebration. The sky is the limit on toppings… anything goes!
INGREDIENTS
1/2 tsp salt
DIRECTIONS
2 cups uncooked elbow macaroni
1 cup whole milk
Boil the macaroni in a 2 qt saucepan in plenty of water until tender, about 7 minutes. Drain.
4 T butter 2 1/2 cups grated sharp Cheddar cheese 1/2 cup sour cream (I prefer Greek yogurt)
1/2 tsp nutmeg 1/2 tsp dry mustard 1/2 tsp black pepper to taste - hot sauce and Worcestershire sauce
8 oz American cheese, I like Bongard’s
In a medium saucepan, mix butter and cheeses. Stir until the cheese melts. In a slow cooker, combine cheese/butter mixture and add sour cream, salt, milk, nutmeg, mustard and pepper and stir well. Taste. Adjust seasoning as needed. Add drained macaroni and stir again. Set the slow cooker on low setting and cook for 2 hours, stirring occasionally.
GRILLED CHICKEN * SPINACH * ARTICHOKE * BACON * HOT DOGS (DICED INTO CHUNKS) MORE CHEESE * PICO DE GALLO * JALAPENOS * BROCCOLI * BLACK BEANS * CHILI * BBQ SAUCE
P R O U D LY S P O N S O R E D B Y
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NORTH KATO MAGAZINE SPRING 2021
YOUR GRADUATION & CATERING HEADQUARTERS
GARLIC PARMESAN POPCORN SEASONING
BAR INGREDIENTS
1/2 cup parmesan cheese
3 bags plain popcorn
ZAATAR SPICED POPCORN SEASONING 1/2 cup zaatar spice
MAC N CHEESE POPCORN SEASONING 1 package Kraft Dinner dried cheese mix
1 tsp garlic or onion powder 1/2 tsp salt
1 T garlic powder
Extra topping ideas
CHILI LIME POPCORN SEASONING
Butter Lime wedges/citrus zest Sriracha or hot sauce
1/2 cup chili powder
Shredded cheese (parmesan, cheddar, Swiss, etc)
2 T lime zest 1 tsp red chili flakes
Spice rubs
1/2 tsp salt
Shredded coconut Caramel/chocolate sauce
GRANOLA TO SERVE WITH FRESH FRUIT INGREDIENTS 4 cups old fashioned oats 1 cup sliced almonds 1 cups shelled pumpkin seeds (pepitas) 1/2 cup shredded coconut Graduation season is upon us! We all know when it comes to planning a great graduation party it’s ALL about the food! We also know, we sometimes need a little help. To get you started we asked local chef Tracy Klostermeyer to get us going in the right direction, with some f resh ideas! Planning a high school or college graduation party is something special. You want to celebrate your child's hard work as well as kick off the next chapter
in their lives. Whether you’re planning a small gathering with family, an outdoor party with f riends or a big grad bash, here are three graduation party food ideas to make your grad party memorable and fun! You can take the last-minute hassle out of your party planning by spreading out the work the week before your event. And don't forget, graduation decorations make a fun backdrop for your food table.
2 T cinnamon 1 tsp salt 1/2 cup olive oil or melted coconut oil 1/2 cup honey 1/4 cup peanut butter, warmed 1/2 cup dried cranberries
DIRECTIONS
Preheat oven to 350 degrees and line a sheet pan with parchment paper. In medium sized bowl combine the oats, sliced almonds, pumpkin seeds, coconut, cranberries, cinnamon and salt.
Pour over the oat mixture and mix until incorporated. Spread evenly on the sheet pan. Bake for 20-25 minutes mixing once halfway through until golden brown. Cool. Store in an air tight container.
In small bowl whisk the oil, honey, and peanut butter.
TRACY KLOSTERMEYER Owner of TK Cuisine Hy-Vee Hilltop Chef Find Chef Tracy and her delicious recipes at Hy-Vee
S H O P L O C A L & S AV E HILLTOP LOCATION 2010 Adams St., Mankato | 507-625-9070
RIVERFRONT LOCATION 410 S. Riverfront Dr., Mankato | 507-625-1107 SPRING 2021 NORTH KATO MAGAZINE
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TAILS AND
TA L E S Summer Reading
Program Kickoff
Sat., June 5th 10am
In person programs Take-Home Kits Storytime at the Pool Crafts & Prizes
THE BOOK REPORT
W I N E A N D WO R DS BOOKCLUB IS R E AD IN G
SUMMER BEACH
READS
THE GIRL WITH THE LOUDING VOICE By Abi Dare
That Summer NEXT MEETING May 25th, 6pm Sign up to get our emails by calling the library 345-5120
by Jennifer Weiner
People We Meet on Vacation by Emily Henry
Malibu Rising by Taylor Jenkins Reid
DID YOU KNOW? We check out Hot Spots, free Wi-Fi. | Open Saturdays Again 12pm-4pm 38
NORTH KATO MAGAZINE SPRING 2021
GRILLING TIME Largest Selection of Weber Grills & Accessories in the Area.
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POWER Stop in and check out our full line of STIHL® Battery or Gas Power Equipment.
OPEN
OPEN DURING HWY 14 & RIVERFRONT DR. CONSTRUCTION Please check our website for detour information. candssupply.com 216
An Employee Owned & Local Business Since 1957
RIVERFRONT 410 S. Riverfront Dr. Mankato, MN 507-625-1107
HILLTOP 2010 Adams St. Mankato, MN 507-625-9070
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Offering a wide variety of tap beers ranging from craft beers to classic domestics. Summer is here, grab your friends and enjoy our outdoor dining area. Check us out on Facebook or online at thenakato.com for updates.
Spinner's has been part of the North Mankato community for over 75 years and we're looking forward to serving you for another 75! Enjoy food and drinks on our outdoor patio.
Enjoy live music, drink specials and our fantastic Thursday night meat raffle this summer on our HUGE patio. Open Wed.–Sat. Check out Facebook for our daily activities. Circle Inn, Stagger Out.
507.388.8999
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H E R E TO R E M E M B E R
E R U T U F T BRIGH
t s a P d e i r o t S s ’ o t a k n a M North k r a P l l e w Cas BY ASHLEY HANLEY
They say there’s no place like home. And for more than three decades, thousands of softball players from southern Minnesota have called Caswell Park their softball home. North Mankato resident Jon Thompson has played, coached and administered tournaments at Caswell for decades. All those hours spent at the park have added up to countless memories for Thompson and his family. “Caswell has been a site where I have watched my kids win many tournaments, including a high school State Tournament in 2016. Some of my favorite memories of my kids playing softball are my kids playing on those fields. I have scorecards on my desk of games I coached my kids at that site on my desk at work that are treasured items. Every year we host tournaments there and walking into the park that morning brings back a lot of good memories.” Thompson and his family are not alone, Caswell attracts thousands from around the country, even around the globe, to North Mankato each summer. Along with sentiment and tradition, Caswell offers some economic benefits for the area as well. “Caswell Park is another piece of the area to attract outside visitors to the region as well as provide high-quality recreational programs for the community,” Caswell Sports Director Phil Tostensen said. “The region is fortunate to have two universities with a variety of programs to attract visitors. We have some great outdoor recreational opportunities such as Minneopa Park or the area rivers to attract visitors. We also have some great cultural and historical attractions in the area. Caswell Park brings the sports tourism part to the region with some of our events lasting four days, which is great for the local economy. Our hospitality industries feel the most of that impact but gas stations and shopping also see some, especially from the sporting good side of things.” Built in 1985, Caswell has the reputation of being one of the premier softball complexes throughout the country, a game-
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changer for North Mankato. The complex is named after K.W. “Bud” Caswell. Caswell was a major advocate for sports in the North Mankato area for many years. The Nicollet County Historical Society says Caswell owned and operated many recreational sites throughout the community. He was also known as the voice of Tanley Field in the 1940s. Tanley Field was where Monroe Elementary is now. Caswell also served as the director of the 1947 Minnesota State Amateur Baseball Tournament, which was held at Tanley Field. Because of his dedication and involvement in the game, in 1987 Caswell was honored by the people of North Mankato with the naming of Caswell Park. Since that time, the site has grown into a home-run facility. The biggest change over the years was starting with four softball fields and eventually growing to the six fields it has today. “When it was first built, it really seemed to consider the users and the spectators for their game experience,” said Tostensen, who is now in charge of the facility with the City of North Mankato. “Field maintenance has always been an important part of what we do, and I think players appreciate that when they come to Caswell Park, the fields will be in great shape. The spectators have a great experience with plenty of room to sit and the upper deck for a great perspective if they want to watch multiple games. With the shade improvements coming, there will be more shade for those hot summer days!” Thompson agrees and says there are state-of-the-art amenities that make Caswell stand out in their field. “I think the main aspect of Caswell that makes it special is that when they built the complex they took Minnesota summer weather into account and built the fields to drain water better than any fields I have coached or played on in
Minnesota. Also, the fencing, dugouts and youth temporary fencing are better than other fields in the state.” As the sport of softball continues to grow, Caswell has been an attraction for softball lovers of all ages and all places. In 2019, they had 718 total teams, with 325 being from out of town. There were 34,498 visitors, with 22,639 being from out of town. The estimated economic impact was $8,165,621, according to Tostensen. For these numbers, teams/visitors from out of town are classified as being outside of 75 miles. The economic impact numbers do not include teams from the North Mankato area. In 2020 and amidst the pandemic, they had 573 total teams with 64 being from out of town. There were 20,339 visitors with 6,472 being from out of town. The estimated economic impact was $4,346,476. Incredible, considering how COVID impacted so many places and events. One highlight for the Park over the years has been hosting the Minnesota State High School League State Fastpitch Tournament (something the author of this article got to participate in for 2008 and 2009). Last year was the first year since 1994 that Caswell did not host the state tournament (due to COVID 19).
consistent basis year after year. Part of it is the quality fields at Caswell Park but it also is the overall experience from the staff, tournament directors, and the community.” Teams have literally come from all over the world to play at Caswell. Before the pandemic, Caswell was the home location for the Aussie Peppers, a professional women’s fast pitch team based out of Australia. Caswell has also hosted National Tournaments for fastpitch and slowpitch, for kids, women and men. Teams from Canada and Japan also frequent Caswell’s tournament, just to name a few. Even though COVID canceled events until June 20 of last year, wiping out the high school portion of their schedule, Tostensen says they found many positives from things that were out of their control. “One of the positive things that came out of the season was our ability to be flexible in our scheduling with the employees doing the same. We had weekends that were sometimes scheduled a week ahead of time due to facilities around the Twin Cities choosing not to open. There was one four-day stretch where we hosted adult summer softball, boy’s baseball, girls fastpitch, and men’s state softball,” said Tostensen. “We were able to host one adult slow-pitch national tournament that was scheduled for Fargo, North Dakota and added a national tournament that was created due to travel concerns from players and teams.“
Tostensen says there are a variety of things that bring teams and fans to the multiple tournaments held at Caswell every year.
The field’s reputation has teams coming back year after year, just for the opportunity to play at such an elite place.
“I think we compare very favorably to parks within the region. We attract quite a few teams from outside the area, away from the Twin Cities tournaments, which boasts well for us. We also can attract teams from outside the state on a
“Another thing that makes Caswell Park special is the overall experience that user groups who run tournaments and events create for the teams coming into town. There is a reason that outside organizations return year
1985 2020
Caswell Park under construction in 1985.
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after year for events held at Caswell Park. Caswell Sports is now bidding on more national tournaments and creating events and we see teams coming back for events year after year. It also helps the community is informed of our schedule, so they are ready as well which is part of the overall experience coming to Caswell.” While the fields have a historic past, there are many things to look forward to in the future. Recently the North Mankato City Council approved upgrades that include upgraded scoreboards, lighting, new dugouts, new warmup areas, restroom, concession stand upgrades, shade covers and more. The state of Minnesota is providing a $2 million grant to help fund these projects, with the city providing $750,000. The improvements will begin after the final tournament of the season, which is right around Labor Day.
A summertime hom
e away from home
for many throughou
t the years.
“Caswell, although built many years ago, is still one of the top complexes in the state and compares favorably against any park in the Midwest. This fall North Mankato is going to be upgrading many of the amenities that will keep Caswell a top regional draw for Tournaments both youth and adult. As a resident of North Mankato, I am glad we have such a nice facility that is drawing so many people to the area each summer to spend their money in our community and helping all of us by bringing dollars to our area. Caswell is a great benefit to the quality of life in our area,” said Thompson. Building on the past and planning for the future ensures people will keep coming and coming to a place softball fans of all ages and abilities can call home.
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