North Kato Holiday 2021

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F E AT U R E PHOTO From the moment the lights are strung on the evergreens that line Lor Ray Drive hill, I get all giddy inside for the holiday season. I’ll wager there are few cities that do the holidays better than North Mankato. In fact, year round, I find this city a pretty cool place to live...pretty darn nice, if you will. That's the thought behind the city’s new campaign...”it’s in our DNA, darn nice area.” Fellow North Mankato resident, Ashley Hanley, takes a behind the scenes look at how the campaign came about, and how the city plans to use it.

Thank you to all who attended our inaugural Symphony on the Prairie event on September 11th, and thank you to the Mankato Symphony Orchestra for bringing a beautiful patriotic concert to Benson Park.

Find this issue of North Kato Magazine on Facebook

Along with a myriad of holiday stories, we also have a column on snowshoeing, we introduce you to another famous North Kato musician and for the teens, check out our Ask Violette column.

A little something for everyone in this issue.

Thanks for stopping by!

Lisa Cownie Lisa Cownie, Editor Luxe Quarterlies, LLC Photo Credit Mankato Symphony

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WE TRAIN THE WHOLE YOU

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• IN-HOME • IN-PERSON • ONLINE Ashley Kuemper M.A., CNC Matt Kuemper M.S., CPT

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CONTENTS N OV D E C JA N

10 WHAT'S IN NORTH MANKATO'S DNA 14 AN INTERVIEW WITH DALE MENTEN 18 SEARCHING FOR THE GIFT OF LIFE 20 WHAT'S COOKING WITH CHEF JAMAL 24 EMBRACE WINTER: GO SNOWSHOEING! 26 PROGRESSIVE HOLIDAY RECIPES 30 DEAR VIOLETTE 32 HERE TO REMEMBER: HOLIDAY TRADITIONS 36 BACK TO THE 90S...IN 2022!

40 NORTH MANKATO'S HIDDEN GEM 42 WON'T YOU MEET MY NEIGHBOR 44 STRONGER TOGETHER, BUSINESSES COLLABORATE

H E R E TO WR I T E ?

PUBLISHER LUXE QUARTERLIES MARKETING NATASHA WEIS CARRIE KIJENSKI

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

EDITOR LISA COWNIE DESIGN EXPOSURE CREATIVE HIM & HER DESIGN COVER PHOTOGRAPHY MICHELLE ISEBRAND PHOTOGRAPHY PRINTER CORPORATE GRAPHICS COMMERCIAL

PLEASE DIRECT ALL EDITORIAL SUGGESTIONS & ADVERTISING INQUIRIES TO INFO@NORTHKATO.COM

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.

WINTER 2021 NORTH KATO MAGAZINE

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Pretty Darn Nice!

BY ASHLEY HANLEY

PHOTOS BY MICHELLE ISEBRAND PHOTOGRAPHY

For those of us that have grown up and lived in North Mankato, we all know it's a pretty darn nice area. But now, the City wants the region, state, and world to know that, too.

That's why they've launched a new campaign called North Mankato, a Darn Nice Area. The goal of the campaign is to highlight all that North Mankato has to offer, from culture to parks to recreation and the thriving business community.

Katie Heintz with the City says, "We decided that we wanted to identify our region and our town with all of the amazing things we are doing and have going on. So we reached out to Presence Maker to get this vision going."

A vision that highlights the strengths, beauty, and economic vitality of the city.

To come up with this campaign, the City reached out to Presence Maker, a company based in Mankato that is an integrated branding firm.

Presence Maker's Digital Manager Stacy Straka says, "The campaign is very multi-faceted. It's rooted in North Mankato's culture, its future, its economic future, its citizens, and what's important to them. We have not only the main positioning of the campaign, but a big group of sectors that help us talk about what's really authentic about North Mankato: Happiness, fun, neighborly, beauty, progress, togetherness, and kindness.

And then we've connected those sectors with individual audiences. And I think over the next 18-24 months you'll start to see how those apply to each of those individual audiences whether it be economic development, visitor attractions, citizen engagement, social culture, and all of those things and those stories we want to tell."

Straka says they've been working on the campaign for about the last eight months. She says when the City approached her, they said they wanted something authentic.

"North Mankato has a great personality. And its got many valuable assets and genuinely interesting stories. It's all in their DNA and I'm really excited to launch this campaign and tell people about it, whether it be the visitors, the citizens, or the investors. 

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I think the past 18 months have shown that people are changing the way they choose to travel, live and work.

And we're looking to attract new visitors and residents and engage citizens who already call North Mankato home.

Just from an economic development standpoint, we have great old and new businesses alike that truly thrive, North Mankato is a great place to do business. And we have a very open-minded and responsible leadership in North Mankato and a well-planned infrastructure that is a great place to help businesses grow and flourish.

A great place for those who have called this place home for decades or for those who are new to the community.

City Administrator John Harrenstein says, "North Mankato has also been a proud community and has always had a distinct identity, and we moved into a new phase a few years ago with a lot of cultural and recreational opportunities, and we're trying to share that message and describe what we are really offering to visitors and residents and other regional residents and we felt that we needed to bring together a lot of different pieces, such as the business, culture and recreational divisions."

"We have a booming industrial park, great parks, and rec system, and we were having a hard time bringing that all under a cohesive tent where we could describe the strategy, so we felt that we needed to create a brand to not only help us communicate what we're doing, not only our vision but also our value that we bring to the region," Harrenstein says.

The campaign started this fall and the hope is to bring in more things that make this area great. Harrenstein says he hopes the return on investment will help to boost the local economy and bring in more great businesses to the community. Harrenstein says they'd also like to partner with businesses that would like to sponsor some of these initiatives as well.

"We know businesses are critical for this being a darn nice area, and we're hoping this can create a tent where we get a coordinated city and business effort."

And that's not all the City is hoping to see as a result of this campaign.

"It gives us an opportunity to share our community's personality and tell our story and talk about the value we

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bring to residents and visitors. It's a chance to genuinely talk about what we believe about our community and who we are as a community. It's connected to our history, our future, and our culture. It really incorporates a wide audience that is affected by our strategic vision and our plans for North Mankato," said Harrenstein. "I think for me, it kind of talks about how fun a place it is. And this fun, playful description of this being a darn nice area, I think it really does a nice job of capturing what people think of North Mankato."

Heintz says they will incorporate this campaign in all of the branding that they do, including social media and magazine ads.

“Some of the signs might say, ‘Happiness’, it's the way we live in North Mankato. ‘Fun’ is the pool and rec areas as well as the events we put on. ‘Success’ is all of the businesses we help and want to come to North Mankato. All of those things make this community. Like for Christmas, we're doing a kind of merry-ment message that highlights all of the holiday events going on,” says Heintz.

All of those things that make up North Mankato's DNA. "We're going to change up some of the banners that you see going up Lookout and Lee Boulevard and Commerce Drive. We will do kind of an informational brochure and such. And eventually, we'd like to take it statewide with some of our billboards with the same kind of theme, just everything that will draw attention to the city and what we're doing here," Heintz adds. "We went with this campaign because it is bold and engaging and fun, and you can't get more Minnesotan than that."

Residents and businesses may have already received some flyers in the mail detailing the campaign. Harrenstein says people can immediately start seeing these things in their promotional materials.

"Really it's an umbrella for everything the city encompasses and is involved in," Harrenstein adds.

"We're just really excited and think this will be fun for everyone in the community," Heintz says.

Fun for a darn nice area that will soon have others finding just what's in our DNA. 

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AN EXTRAORDINARY RUN An Interview with Dale Menten

BY NATE BOOTS

When Dale Menten wrote "Run, Run, Run" after growing up in North Mankato in the Fifties and Sixties, he didn't know it would become a big deal. But it did. In 1964 "Run, Run, Run" jumped to the top of the pop music charts in Minneapolis and New York, hitting number three on the west coast in L.A. Menten's band, The Gestures, included two other North Mankato natives, Gus Dewey and Bruce Waterston, as well as Tom Klugherz from across the river in Mankato proper.

They were basically kids at the time— in high school or recently graduated.

Though The Gestures didn't stick together long enough to make it to the Seventies, Menten parlayed his early writing success with The Gestures into a career of songwriting and music production. He has written commercially and for film and for Broadway. And that experience of shooting to the top has stuck with the man who will always be a North Kato boy at heart.

Something of an armchair local historian myself, I became interested in the song "Run, Run, Run" a few years back when a group of folks briefly banded together to take a stab at revitalizing the former North Mankato Municipal Building (also known as the Brandt Building) that was built by Henry Gerlach in 1919 and sits at the corner of Belgrade Avenue and Center Street.

We were organizing an open house to show the building's potential for once again hosting live events and gatherings, and I was in charge of rounding up some music for the event. That's when I came to learn the story of The Gestures and how they played a number of shows there in

Dale Menten

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An early Gestures practice on Nicollet Avenue

the early Sixties. I also heard, from Dicky Lyons, about some barnstorming wrestling events held in the building—but that's a matter for a different article.

got us invited to many parties. Suddenly we were popular, or at least acceptable. It was then that I realized I liked songwriting better than geometry.

The Gestures' hit song is still a thrill to listen to, and one doesn't have to wait for a fickle disc jockey to spin it anymore. It's right there on YouTube for the listening.

I realized that it bears a passing resemblance (in surf rock/Beatles-esque style) to another song from that era, "Nowhere to Run" by The More-tishans, a Minneapolis band that used to travel around in a hearse. I like that song, in part, because it was written by Marc LeBoutillier, my father's cousin who tragically died at age 21 in a car accident in that occurred before I was born. I've come to learn both songs so well that I've covered each of them a few times when out and about on solo gigs or playing with my own North Mankato-based band, The High Horses.

NB: You wrote "Run, Run, Run" at a very young age. Was that one of the first songs you wrote? Why do you think that one "hit" like it did? What's special about that song?

Recently, I got the idea that it'd be fun to record my own version of "Run, Run, Run" for a 2021 solo album project I have that's in the works at Audio Atelier, a North Kato recording studio helmed by Scott Helgerson. To my delight, Menten agreed—and the song is in production. My version will be slower and more melancholically-driven and will include harmonica, but I'm not the first to want to put my own spin on the tune. Among others, it's been re-recorded

by The Rockyts (a Canadian band) and The Surf Dawgs (featuring The Ventures' Bob Spalding on guitar).

Recently, I conducted an interview with Dale Menten by way of email. He communicated to me that email was preferable to a live interview because it'd give him a chance to take his time with his answers rather than "shooting from the hip." I totally understood. I like to operate in the same way.

Here's a slimmed down (for length and content) version of our electronic exchange.

Nate Boots: When did you first realize that you wanted to be a songwriter or that you COULD be a songwriter?

Was there a specific instance, influence, or situation that catalyzed you?

Dale Menten: I started writing melodies at age six when I was being held hostage at a piano every day. I guess it was called "taking piano lessons." I called these melodies my "movie scores." No lyrics, just random notes with chords that I made up that seemed to bring the notes to life.

After a brief stint with clarinet and marching drums, I transitioned to guitar. That’s when I met Arne Marshall. Arne and I started playing Buddy Holly songs, and then moved on to writing a couple of our own. I remember one of the songs, “Little Swinger.” Probably not a showstopper, but it

DM: To this day, I have no idea what made “Run, Run, Run,” climb the charts in 1964.

Maybe it was the massive amount of airplay the record received. Or maybe it was [KDWB disc jockey] Lou Riegert’s involvement in the production of the record. Or maybe it was the British sound of the record, or the Surfing sound of the record. Or maybe it was [St. Peter D.J.] Bob Sparrow suggesting we go to Minneapolis and play our garage band tapes for Jim Madison, of “Six Days On The Road” fame.

He must have liked them, because he immediately took us into Kay Bank, a recording studio in south Minneapolis.

And as they say, the rest is history. Oh, and Madison paid the studio bill.

I believe that the ‘maybes’ and ‘ors’ could go on and on and we still wouldn’t know exactly why “Run, Run, Run” landed in the top 100. I chalk it up to serendipity. Chance. Flip a coin.

Because if it was something other than good fortune, then every time you go into a recording studio you should come out with a hit record. Trust me, it seldom works that way!

NB: What was it like to have an original song to play with your band? Did you get any pushback from band mates or show runners or listeners to leave the original stuff aside and just play covers?

DM: Looking back at the few bands that I played with, I can’t remember much in the way of pushback for our playlists filled with original songs. Actually, it was the opposite of that. Original music was what set us apart from the cover bands that worked the area. And having a charted song— which was the case with “Run, Run, Run”—set us apart even further.

NB: You've made a career of it writing music and lyrics.

What are a few other songs or projects that you look back on with fondness or affection?

DM: When I was in grade school, one of my assignments was to write a paper on what I wanted to be if I ever grew up. I had many choices: doctor, lawyer, mortician, teacher, welder, and so on. But, instead, I selected "making movies."

When the teacher asked me if I wanted to write screenplays or score movies, I replied, “Whatever comes up first.” I think she pictured me as a welder or maybe a mortician. 

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Along the way to that goal of making movies, I was blessed with a hit record (“Run, Run, Run”), an Off-Broadway stage play (“The House Of Leather”), the ownership of a decent recording studio (Cookhouse Recording), and a commercial music business that did fairly well. Then in 1975, I wrote, recorded, and performed an album for MCA records entitled, “I Really Wanted To Make A Movie.” It was because of that album that I was hired to score the movie “Lifeguard” for Paramount Motion Pictures.

Nate Boots in the recording studio at Audio Atelier in lower North Mankato.

Along with scoring the film, I sang the theme song, “Time And Tide,” written by Paul Williams, and wrote an additional song for the film, “Falling In Love With The Wind,” which was performed by Carol Carmichael. Scoring an NBC Movie of The Week and a television series for Warner Bros., quickly followed. My grade school goal of "making movies" had come true, and in the process I had collected so many amazing memories, memories that will be with me for the rest of my life. Unlike the money.

NB: What kind of effect did growing up in the Mankato area have upon your writing and musical sensibilities?

DM: Whether you’re writing a song or a novel, you tend to write about the things you know, the things you experience from your surroundings. Since the Mankato area was the center of my life, there’s no question it played an important part in my early attempts at writing songs and trying to figure out why Jimmy McGuire was such a good guitar player at such an early age.

NB: Can you say anything about North Mankato and its effects on your musical production in particular? For instance, I heard that you used to practice in a garage on Nicollet Avenue and that some of the neighborhood kids that gathered around while you practiced may've been the first to hear some of your songs, such as "Run, Run, Run." DM: Until I started high school, my world ended at the old bridge leading into Mankato. And so it was in North Mankato that my love of music and song writing began.

And it was also there that I tried my first cigarette (yuck), my first kiss (yuck again), had my first fight (painful), discovered processed sugar (yummy), and was introduced to the Mel Bay series of guitar books (ish).

North Mankato was, and will always be, my hometown, and the official hometown of The Gestures. Three of the four members of the band were from North Mankato, and so most of our rehearsals occurred there. And our first gigs were at the North Mankato Municipal Building and at Wheeler Park. And when in 1965 the rising waters of the Minnesota River threatened to bury the town, we drove back from an out-of-town gig to help out.

You see, I strongly believe “What we are is where we come from,” and that would be North Mankato, my (and our) hometown.

NB: You've agreed to let me record your song, and you've also let others do it. What's the mentality you have behind allowing or supporting that sort of endeavor?

DM: The music business is all about networking and exposure.

And, with the days of wide-open radio airplay and major label deals all but over, the smartest thing you can do is share your music with everybody, in any way possible.

I’m honored whenever anyone asks me if they can record one of my songs. Now would that change if an established artist wanted to record one of my songs? Well, only in one way: It would still be an honor, but it would probably come with a royalty check as well.

NB: Any sage advice for budding songwriters/musicians out there?

DM: What’s the difference between a large pizza and a songwriter or a musician? A large pizza can feed a family of four.

For some, this is just a joke, but to many others, it’s a way of life—one filled with closed doors and small paychecks. So if "making it big" is the only reason you choose to become a songwriter or musician, you might want to consider being a computer programmer, or even a welder—they make more money and the hours are better.

The Gestures: Dale Menten (left), Gus Dewey (center), Tom Klugherz (right), Bruce Waterston (top)

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However, if writing songs or being a musician is your passion or your destiny, then go for it. But while you’re waiting for your "turn in the pool," you might want to consider getting a day gig to help pay for those pizzas. 

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SEARCHING For the Gift of Life

BY BETH FASNACHT

weighed nine pounds, which caused discomfort. Stage 5 indicates the need to either start on dialysis or have a kidney transplant. Doctors urged Sandra to find a live donor because she is considered to be too young for dialysis. They gave her a deadline: Find a donor by the start of 2022 or be forced to start on dialysis. If Sandra could find a donor, both of her kidneys would be removed and replaced with one healthy kidney. This is out of the ordinary because typically the new kidney would be added while leaving the others in place.

Sandra has been on her own when it comes to trying to find the perfect match, and a perfect match is not easy to come by. “Clay was supposed to be my donor," Sandra said, speaking of her husband. "We were so excited. We had everything ready to go. Who knew that Clay would be my perfect match!”

But days before the scheduled surgery, the hospital discovered that they were missing one very important test, Clay’s antibody test. The antibody test mixed Sandra and Clay’s blood to determine if Sandra’s body would build up antibodies against Clay’s blood.

Unfortunately, they discovered that Sandra’s body would most likely reject Clay’s kidney.

Sandra Oachs

Not being able to use Clay as her donor prompted Sandra to reach out to her family and friends. But it is a big ask to find someone willing to donate a kidney.

She soon adopted the attitude of “Whatever the good Lord has planned for me, I’m ok with.”

Fortunately, this story looks like it will have a happy ending. In early-October, Sandra found a potential match through the National Kidney Registry, and surgery was scheduled for November. At the time this magazine went to press, Clay said that he and his wife were very excited and relieved at the developments, but until surgery is carried out, nothing is a given.

"We are very optimistic this will go forward as planned," said Clay, "and that soon after, Sandy will be on the road to recovery with healthier and happier days ahead."

T

here are currently more than 90,000 people on the kidney transplant list. One of them has been your neighbor. While Sandra Oachs has served her North Mankato community in a number of ways, including as city councilwoman and local business owner, she has been in a battle with her body.

High blood pressure when she was pregnant in 1998 was the first sign of what has become a long battle for Sandra. After a few years of trying different blood pressure medications with no results, Sandra decided to get a second opinion and went through further testing. Her doctor then discovered that Sandra’s mother had Polycystic Kidney Disease (PKD), a genetic disease that causes cysts to grow inside the kidneys.

“She was on a lot of medications and in a lot of pain,” Sandra recalled of her mother. Sandra had been tested for the markers of PKD as a teen, but early tests came back negative. Without the common symptom of back pain and the previous negative test, she didn’t consider the possibility of having PKD. But in 2004, Sandra received a positive diagnosis.

Since her diagnosis, she has gradually moved through the stages of PKD, and a year and a half ago she moved to stage 5. Her kidneys had reached their max.

Healthy kidneys typically weigh half a pound. Sandra’s

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NORTH KATO MAGAZINE WINTER 2021

Visit livingdonormc.org for more information on how to become a living donor.

BLOOD TYPE COMPATIBILITY TYPE

CAN GIVE RED BLOOD CELLS TO

CAN RECEIVE RED BLOOD CELLS FROM

A+

A+ AB+

A+ A- O+ O-

B+

B+ AB+

B+ B- O+ O-

AB+

AB+

EVERYONE

O+

O+ A+ B+ AB+

O+ O-

A-

A- A+ AB- AB+

A- O-

B-

B- B+ AB- AB+

B- O-

AB-

AB- AB+

AB- A- B- O-

O-

EVERYONE

O-

Interested in becoming a living donor?

One of the most obvious benefits is that you can save a life! Here are the steps to becoming a living organ donor:

Contact a transplant center, find one near you at livingdonormc.org Get an evaluation to make sure you are a good candidate to be a donor.

Transplant staff weigh the risks of a living transplant and ensure the potential donor is a good candidate.

Call the Experts in Single Level Living

Surgery is scheduled.

The recovery process differs among living donors and depends on the specific organ donation taking place. 

T O U R O U R MO D EL H O M E S

Wilcon Construction & Bonnie Kruger of C21 Atwood Call 507-345-6653

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Sandra Oachs and husband, Clay

WINTER 2021 NORTH KATO MAGAZINE

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BY NATE BOOTS

Chef Jamal Hashi is a man in demand, and for good reason.

He has experience doing the Minnesota State Fair. The Smithsonian National American History Museum features a restaurant he personally created. And, possibly most impressively, he invented the world-famous "Hashi Burger," a Somali cuisine-based delicacy featuring camel meat trimmings that is served globally.

Oh, did I mention he's connected with J's Sambusa, which is located in the heart of Lower North Mankato at 503 Belgrade Avenue? I connected with Chef Jamal recently to ask him a little bit about his work with J's Sambusa and to ask him what's happening with the restaurant, which opened in 2019, right before the pandemic hit.

Nate Boots: Tell a little bit about yourself and explain your role in working at J's Sambusa.

Jamal Hashi: My Name is Jamal Hashi, and I'm known locally in the Minneapolis food scene as Chef Hashi. I am the executive chef and a nutritional consultant with J's Sambusa. My goal in joining with them was to create sustainable menus that are nutritious, flavorful, and culturally appropriate for all to indulge.

The seven months I have been to Mankato has brought me tremendous joy in seeing the diversity of the team of people working together in sync to reach one goal.

NB: What is J's Sambusa's specialty and what make the restaurant unique?

JH: The restaurant brings a fusion of foods. I believe it is a representation of the melting pot that is America. We have quesadilla-made Tandoori Spice Chicken, pasta with a hint of Gedo Masala, handmade burger patties and chopped cheese sandwiches. All nutritious, mostly locally & ethically sourced, and, most importantly, delicious.

NB: Explain what kind of work J's Sambusa has been doing since the pandemic started.

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NORTH KATO MAGAZINE WINTER 2021

JH: The pandemic definitely affected the food business and J's Sambusa was a thriving restaurant that relied heavily on walk-ins, catering, and corporate lunches. With the changes in things and the lockdown, a need arose, and J's Sambusa kitchen joined the fight in stepping up against hunger as the disparities became evident when everything paused. The kitchen is currently doing community meals, providing healthy appropriate food for families with small children.

NB: What are some positive elements to operating out of North Mankato?

JH: North Mankato far exceeded my expectations. J's Sambusa has the most diverse clients of anywhere else around. On any day, it's easy to spot twenty different languages. In addition, as someone who's owned and operated thirteen different concepts, including one in New York City which is still in operation, I can say I am fond of everything in North Mankato, especially the people. I feel they are more accepting and loving than I have expected. That definitely took me by surprise, the strangers greeting me on the street. Even your police officers are incredible human beings here. What is in your water, North Mankato? Why am I falling for you?

NB: What is the outlook for the business in the near future in North Mankato?

JH: Growth. More inclusiveness and less barriers. More belonging and longevity and to forever remain as a kitchen service to others.

NB: Any other news or comments you would like to pass along?

JH: I want to share with my fellow North Mankato friends and families, we are here for you during these tough times.

"To get there" spells "Toge(t)ther(e)." 

Brent Busch, your local neighborhood mortgage lender.

Q: Homes are selling so fast right now, how will my offer ever get accepted? How can I make sure I get my dream home?

A: The housing market is most certainly moving at rapid pace. There are some things you can do to help make sure you get the home you always wanted.

Start out by working with a local real estate professional. They will be able to guide you not only on the specific property details, but also in how to structure your offer. By working with your real estate professional, you will be sure to make your offer the most attractive to the sellers and advantageous to your own situation. Additionally having a great real estate professional to guide you will help to reduce stress and make your home purchase much more enjoyable.

Another key component to your success in purchasing a home is your lender. You want to select a lender that is experienced in the local market and products. It’s important that everyone in the transaction knows and trusts your lender.

When a seller is presented with multiple offers there are many things that contribute to their final decision. Sometimes the strongest offer is not the highest priced, but the offer with the best combination of price, closing flexibility, and loan options. Choosing a lender that closes on time, every time, can be the deciding factor in an accepted offer. Working with a lender like PrimeSource Funding, everyone in the transaction will be familiar with our level of customer service, communication, and dedication to closing on time.

PrimeSource Funding has been voted the Best Mortgage Provider in Mankato and we have over 800 five star google reviews which are just two examples of how much trust the Mankato community has in us.

Q: We are ready to buy our next home but don’t want to sell our current home until we have a place to move into.

How can we accomplish this?

A: In many cases, you can purchase your new home and then sell your current home after you move. This is called a non-contingent purchase.

One thing we are frequently asked when doing a noncontingent purchase is “what about my down payment”.

We have a unique offering that will actually allow you to put the majority of your down payment onto your new loan after it closes and your sale is finalized. In this scenario, you would purchase the new home using a minimal down payment program such as 3% or 5% down and then once your current home sells, you can apply the proceeds from the sale to your new loan. This recalculates your monthly payments based on the new loan balance and loan to value.

Think of it as a delayed down payment. As an added bonus you are not at all required to do the delayed down payment if you choose not to after closing. This is simply an added service for our clients to be able to do if they would like.

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

Photo Credit Mankato Symphony

Photo Credit Mankato Symphony

Photo Credit Mankato Symphony

Photo Credit Mankato Symphony

Photo Credit Mankato Symphony

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SUGGESTED SNOWSHOE ADVENTURES

Moonlight Hikes My all-time favorite snowshoe hikes are night hikes on a fresh blanket of snow during a full moon. A silent hike on a night when the moonlit up the freshly fallen snowflakes like diamonds.

Moonlight hikes are at the top of my list.

Snacks & Coffee Break Pack a snack and plan a coffee break.

Pack a small backpack with a thermos of coffee or tea, and a snack. Find a scenic spot, brush the snow off a log or stump and enjoy a ‘warm me up’ and snack.

I have a single burner stove that attaches to a 16 oz propane cylinder. Set up in the snow boil some water and make French press coffee.

BY JAY ZIELSKE

When was the last time you did something for the first time? If you have never snowshoed or it has been awhile I encourage you to give it a try. Perhaps you have been reluctant to attempt cross country or downhill skiing because of cost or the fear of injuring yourself. That’s the beauty of snowshoeing. If you can safely walk, you can snowshoe! It’s relatively inexpensive and you can do it anywhere provided there is a blanket of snow.

My first experience snow showing was as a teenager with a pair of snowshoes that resembled ‘glorified’ tennis rackets.

Snowshoe gear has come a long way since then and can be found in any of our local sporting good, bike or ski shops. If you have never snowshoed the beauty is that you can get started for relatively cheap with a pair of entry level snowshoes and poles for under one hundred dollars. No special footwear is required as bindings on most snowshoes will accommodate winter boots or hiking boots. Myself, I prefer the ankle support of a pair of insulated hiking boots.

Provided there is an ample amount of snow six inches or more you can

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NORTH KATO MAGAZINE WINTER 2021

snowshoe and you can go most anywhere there is snow. Locally any of the city, county or state parks provide excellent opportunities. I enjoy the challenge of steeper terrain, so the slopes and ravines found in portions of Bluff Park and Seven Mile Creek are among my favorites. If what you have in mind is something less challenging, then the open spaces of Benson or Spring Lake Parks, or Rasmussen Woods great choices as well.

As a snowshoer being to first person to break trial through a fresh blanket of ‘powder snow’ is a particular pleasure.

The ‘woosh… woosh…woosh’ sound as you stride through the freshly fallen snow on a cool winter morning is music to one’s ears. You’re experiencing the true purpose behind snowshoes.... to carry you across snow that would otherwise result in you sinking up to your knees or higher.

Some prefer to snowshoe on a well beaten path where others have passed. To each their own, but to me at that you’re just ‘walking’ with snowshoes. If you find yourself hiking a well beaten snowshoe trail and find a pair tracks wandering off the main trail into deep snow that probably was me.

Snowshoe Events If you’re feeling the competitive spirit there are Snowshoeing Races and Events. You can find a list of upcoming events at the CuteMoose website. A number of years back I participated in ‘Book Across the Bay’ a nighttime snowshoeing and cross country ski event from Ashland to Washburn, Wisconsin. The event begins with a pre-race bonfire in Ashland. The course is lit with luminaries lining the entire route from Ashland to Washburn.

Go where Few have Gone Before I particularly enjoy exploring portions of parks that are difficult to access in the summer months.

The steep slopes of some our local ravines can be difficult if not treacherous to navigate. However, with a pair of snowshoes and a little ‘gumption’ hiking up or down the ravines on a fresh blanket of powder can be a lot of fun.

You’re likely to fall a time or two, but you’ll have the fresh blanket of powder cushion your fall.

When going down steep terrain if you find your snowshoes beginning to slide beneath you, lean back and let momentum carry you down the slope like a skier. 

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GEAR UP FOR WINTER

286

1951 N. Riverfront Drive • Mankato, MN 507-387-1171 • 1-800-879-1938 Mon-Fri: 8am-7pm Sat: 8am-5pm Sun: 11am-5pm

CANDSSUPPLY.COM

WINTER GEAR FOR THE ENTIRE FAMILY

Coats, Jackets, Bibs, Boots, Hats, Gloves & much more!

WINTER 2021 NORTH KATO MAGAZINE

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BY SOUTH CENTRAL COLLEGE CULINARY ARTS PROGRAM

Nothing will taste sweeter than these Jumbo Cinnamon Rolls on Christmas morning.

INGREDIENTS

Cook Time: 25-30 minutes | Yield: 12 rolls

DOUGH ¾ c whole milk ½ c buttermilk 4 g instant yeast 1 c water, warm 3 T granulated sugar 2 T butter, room temp 1 ½ tsp table salt 25 oz all-purpose flour

In a small saucepan, combine the milk and buttermilk over low heat until it reaches 100°F. Add the warmed milk, yeast, water, sugar, butter, salt, and 18 oz of flour into a bowl of a stand mixer with the paddle attachment.

Mix on low speed to combine, then increase to high speed for an additional 2 minutes.

CREAM CHEESE ICING 4 oz cream cheese, softened ¾ c powdered sugar 2 T heavy cream

done, punch down dough and transfer to a lightly floured work surface.

Using a dough cutter, portion the dough into two even pieces.

Roll each portion of dough into a 10-inch by 16-inch rectangle.

Evenly spread the filling mixture across each rectangle of dough. Be sure to leave a ½ inch border.

Switch out the paddle attachment in exchange for the dough hook.

Roll each rectangle into a tight log. Place on a sheet pan, cover it with plastic, and place in the freezer for 10 minutes.

Add the remaining 7 oz of flour and mix on low speed until combined.

Remove logs from freezer and cut each into 6 even pieces.

Knead dough on medium speed for 5-7 minutes.

Remove from stand mixer, placing the dough in a lightly greased bowl covered with plastic.

Allow 1-1 ½ hours to ferment.

While dough is fermenting, add all ingredients for the filling into a bowl and mix to combine.

When the fermentation process is

P R O U D LY S P O N S O R E D B Y

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FILLING ¾ c butter, melted 1 ¼ c granulated sugar ¼ c cinnamon

NORTH KATO MAGAZINE WINTER 2021

Split the rolls into two 8-inch round pans that are lightly greased. Each pan should hold 6 rolls.

Place rolls into a proofer and allow 1 hour to proof.

Place pans into a 350°F oven for 25-30 minutes or until the internal temperature of 190°F is achieved.

Once rolls have completely cooled, gently cover with cream cheese icing.

CREATE AND SHARE YOUR FAVORITE THINGS THIS HOLIDAY SEASON.

INGREDIENTS

Yield: 16 rolls

4 oz thin rice vermicelli noodles, cooked and cooled

½ c green onions, thinly sliced

1 tsp sesame oil

8 large butter lettuce leaves, stems removed and washed

¼ tsp kosher salt

2 c bean sprouts

16 shrimp, cooked, shelled, deveined, and split in half

1 cucumber, thinly sliced

2 carrots, peeled and shredded

Enjoy this healthy addition to your diet in January.

1 c cilantro, washed 1 c mint, washed

1 c red cabbage, thinly sliced

16 rice paper rounds

In a bowl, toss the vermicelli noodles, sesame oil, and salt together.

Dip one rice paper into a bowl of cold water, let sit for a few seconds to lightly soften.

Transfer the rice paper to a clean work surface and place the desired ingredients in a strip in the center of the paper. Be careful to not put too much, as it will rip the paper when it is folded.

Fold the lower edge of the rice paper up to the center over the fillings.

Fold the short sides into the center, then roll it forward like you would a burrito.

Repeat this process for the remaining ingredients.

Serve with Thai peanut sauce.

INGREDIENTS

Yield: Two 9x5 loaves

3 ¼ c all-purpose flour 2 tsp cinnamon ½ tsp nutmeg ½ tsp allspice ½ tsp ginger

2 tsp salt 2 tsp baking soda 1 ¾ c pumpkin puree 1 c vegetable oil 3 c sugar

4 eggs 1 tsp vanilla extract 2/3 c water, room temp 1 ½ c chocolate chips

Preheat oven to 350°F. Prepare two 9x5 loaf pans by buttering and lightly dusting with flour.

Add the room temperature water and whisk to combine. Stir in the chocolate chips.

In a bowl, whisk the flour, spices, salt, and baking soda together.

Pour the dry ingredients into the wet ingredients, fold gently to incorporate.

In a separate larger bowl, whisk together the pumpkin puree and vegetable oil until thoroughly combined. Add in the sugar and mix well.

Divide the batter between the two prepared loaf pans.

Whisk in eggs, one at a time, until incorporated. Whisk in the vanilla.

Try this delicious loaf for Thanksgiving.

Bake for 1 ¼ hour – 1 ½ hour or until a toothpick inserted into the loaf is clean when removed.

Cool loaves completely before serving.

S H O P L O C A L & S AV E HILLTOP LOCATION 2010 Adams Street, Mankato | 507-625-9070

RIVERFRONT LOCATION 410 S. Riverfront Drive, Mankato | 507-625-1107

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Are you trying to reduce your stress level?

If you answered yes, here is a list of seven foods you will want to purchase on your next shopping trip at your local Hy-Vee. All of these foods are packed with natural protective substances that may help you ward off diseases, help you feel energized and improve your mood.

So grab some and “get-up-and-go.”

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

FOR A STRESS-REDUCED YEAR

FOODS

7

Banana Loaded with potassium to help keep your blood pressure in check.

Broccoli A good source of antioxidants, fiber, electrolytes and phytonutrients. Try oven roasting until crisp-tender.

Quinoa It serves up high-quality protein and plenty of fiber. The rice-like granules contain magnesium, potassium, zinc, vitamin E, riboflavin and more iron than true grains. Use quinoa in place of rice for a variety of main dishes or sides for your next meal.

Greek Yogurt Provides double the protein of most regular yogurts. Also an excellent source of calcium and loaded with friendly bacteria (the “probiotics” which promote good digestion and boost immunity).

Edamame (green soybeans) High in folate, potassium, iron and magnesium and a good source of protein.

They also contain beneficial fats, and soluble and insoluble fiber.

Add them to your favorite salad.

Chia Seeds These tiny seeds are a good plant source of omega-3 fatty acids.

They are essentially flavorless and do not require grinding. Chia seeds provide a good source of fiber and antioxidants. Add to Greek yogurt or smoothies.

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

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

This common spice may help regulate blood sugar levels after meals. It may also have antioxidant effects and decrease inflammation which may be causing internal stress to your body.

Sprinkle on cooked quinoa or oatmeal for a power-packed breakfast.

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With Evoke, patients with concerns about sagging or loose facial skin can remodel the cheeks, jowls, neck and jawline with no recovery time!

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

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MORPHEUS 8 The Morpheus8 combines the power of micro-needling and RF (radio frequency) to penetrate deeper into the skin than any other microneedling device allowing it to stimulate collagen production to truly contour and transform different parts of the body. The result – a smoother and sleeker appearance.

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WINTER 2021 NORTH KATO MAGAZINE 29 1603 N Riverfront Drive Mankato | 651-226-3704

BY VIOLETTE BOOTS

DEAR VIOLETTE: I'm sad summer is over! I feel like whenever school starts up again, I just lose my freedom and have to do things I'm told to do, not things I want to do. How do I get over this?

— SIGNED, SUMMER'S END SADNESS DEAR SUMMER, Being sad once school starts is a common feeling for many students.

You’re not alone. When I start to get down about going back to school, I try to remember how unique this time is in my life! Never again in your life will you be surrounded by so many people your exact age or be switching from topic to topic every hour or have the chance for all of these school activities!

Instead of focusing on how school limits you, focus on how school presents you opportunities you can’t get anywhere else. Think about sporting events you can either go to or try out for. Think about clubs and activities and classes you can take where you’ll make potentially lifelong memories.

Think about how every single day at school can give you a new chance for something fun, interesting, scary, exciting, or perspective-changing. I don’t love every aspect of school, but I do the best I can to find those little precious gold nuggets!

DEAR VIOLETTE: Any good fall recipes or local food-y places to recommend?

I'm, like, hungry and stuff. Like, really hungry.

— SINCERELY, SORTA HANGRY DEAR HANGRY, Boy do I ever have some places for you!

Here are some of my favorite places for food as a teenager living in the North Mankato area: Dino's Pizza: Oh man. This is my favorite pizza in North Mankato, and they are up against some real competition with other great places like Pagliai's and Jake's and even Gary's in the area! Dino's has classic,

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NORTH KATO MAGAZINE WINTER 2021

New York style pizzas—large, saucy, and full of cheese! They also offer an awesome little birthday program where young people can get a free pizza in their birthday month.

Violette B oots is a sophomo re at Man kato West Hig h School and has grow n up in Lo wer North Ma nkato. Sh e enjoys th e change of the seaso ns, listen ing to Radiohea d, and ea ting apple cris p, among other thin gs.

Curiosi-Tea House and Neutral Groundz: Depending on if you prefer coffee or tea (that question can really divide folks!), I highly recommend both of these places.

Curiosi-Tea has a cozy, whimsical atmosphere with fun teacups, varieties of tea, and delicious baked goods. Neutral Groundz has a warm and cozy atmosphere with hot and cold coffee, sweet treats, and a fun decor store to shop around in at the back.

Happy Chef: My hidden gem of this list, Happy Chef is a fantastic little breakfast and brunch restaurant (although they do serve dinner as well). If you’re looking for your morning fix or maybe meeting friends for brunch, definitely consider Happy Chef! They’ve got sweet breakfasts, they’ve got hearty breakfasts, they’ve got savory breakfasts. They’ve got just what you need to get you moving for the day.

The Pelican: A new project! The Pelican food truck is a fun food option to find around North Mankato and the area, although you may see it most often hanging out around the Circle Inn. My favorite menu item is their "Gouda Dog," but pretty much anything on their menu, from gourmet hot dogs to taco salads, is a flavor-sensational hit!

This is my list of go-to places, but if I don’t feel like going out, my favorite fall recipe is apple crisp. I just love, love, love apple crisp. It often tastes best in the fall while the apples are in season! If you’re looking for a new fall recipe to try or maybe you’re just sick of pumpkin pie, give apple crisp a chance!

DEAR VIOLETTE: It's been a weird couple years of school. It's like I feel weird leaving the couch or my home to go to school or go out in public.

It's like some days I actually MISS the pandemic or doing zooms for classes. Is this weird? It feels weird. Is this normal?

What is going on?

— SINCERELY, PANDEMIC PANICKER DEAR PANICKER, I understand where you’re coming from. These last two years were not traditional in any way or aspect, but some people found the beauty in it.

Working from home for some was really challenging, but for others it was a breeze! Think for a second about why you miss the pandemic: Is it because you miss being with family so much? Consider taking your school homework and working on it with them as opposed to by yourself. Include your family!

Is it because you miss being able to stay inside your own house?

Maybe consider all the opportunities that can await you outside. There’s an entire world for you out there!

Do you miss the improvised curriculum and less work you had to do? Then maybe try taking classes that will make you more devoted and interested! My current favorite class is also my most difficult class, but I found the difficulty bearable just because I’m so interested in it and willing to engage.

Whatever it is that you feel like you’re lacking outside of the home can be found in small things everywhere. You just have to look for similarities and ways you can not only make up for what you’re missing but also find beauty in the change of attitude and scenery!

A Mankato Tradition - Quality Products and Exceptional Service from your local, hometown lumber yard and rental company.

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“Andersen” and all other marks where denoted are trademarks of Andersen Corporation. ©2021 Andersen Corporation. All rights reserved.

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Building Friends on Commerce Drive

H E R E TO R E M E M B E R

BY CHRISTINE NESSLER

BY CHRISTINE NESSLER

TRADITIONS THAT HOLD

Traditions are what make the holidays so special. We tend to ramp up our spirits with decorations, special treats, celebrations, gifts, and extra family time. Thanks to dedicated and caring staff, traditions can still be a big part of the holidays even when an individual moves from their home into one of the North Mankato Assisted Living Communities.

Oak Terrace Senior Living, Vista Prairie at Monarch Meadows, and Birchwood Cottages are the three Assisted Living Communities in North Mankato. Each has dedicated staff to provide fun activities all year round for their residents, but during the holidays the festive atmosphere is taken to a heightened level.

No matter the community, residents can celebrate in much of the same way they did in their previous homes.

TRUE NO MATTER

Activities Directors and Life Enrichment Coordinators are the creative masters behind the resident activities at Assisted Living Communities. They are the welcome committee, the party planners, and the fun makers.

“I look at it like creating moments of joy,” said Chaitra Collison, Activities Director of Autumn Lane, the Memory Care Unit of Oak Terrace Senior Living. It all starts with getting to know the residents including their abilities, their likes and dislikes, their history, and their own traditions.

At the holidays, creating moments of joy means carrying on traditions held by their residents and their family members.

WHERE “HOME” IS 32

NORTH KATO MAGAZINE WINTER 2021

“I enjoy reminiscing with residents and families about their prior holiday traditions,” said Kati Hanson, Life Enrichment Coordinator at Birchwood Cottages. “It can be so rewarding to hear their stories and to see the joy in their faces when they talk about the special things they used to do with their families.”

Although it takes a little extra digging, having that personal touch makes all the difference.

“The more we know about the residents, the more we can take care of them,” said Collison. It also gives staff the opportunity to create special touches in the activities they provide. This year, one special touch 

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

Collison plans to include is recreating the special family holiday recipes of her residents.

Aside from cooking and baking special treats, many of the buildings encourage participation in tree decorating, holiday crafts, cookie decorating, holiday meal planning, reminiscing and more. Oftentimes there is special music provided, special visitors, or special events like horse-drawn carriage rides and tours of the Kiwanis Holiday Lights.

For some, the holidays mean serving others. The residents and family members at Vista Prairie at Monarch Meadows collect donated hats, mittens, and scarves for individuals at the Connections Homeless Shelter each Christmas.

Family members contribute to the collection as well as the residents. Some residents even donate items they have knitted themselves.

“It’s great for our residents here to feel connected and a part of the community,” said Clayon Kalmon, Interim Executive Director of Vista Prairie at Monarch Meadows. After the items are collected, they are put into a large Santa bag and delivered to the shelter.

“They really try to provide what they can for the residents to keep them active,” said Scott Cole, whose brother Landy Cole is a resident at Birchwood Cottages. “During the holidays they always had holiday celebrations and prepared special meals where families were invited to participate.”

Before COVID, family members were invited to participate in various holiday activities and events at the buildings.

Communities even provided designated spaces available for family gatherings with the residents. Last year COVID-19 put a pause on some of these events and gatherings due to restrictions limiting large group sizes and outside visitors in the buildings.

For Betty Mitchell, a resident of Vista Prairie at Monarch Meadows, the holidays were challenging last year with COVID-19 restrictions. For the first time, she wasn’t able to celebrate with her family. The extra touches at the building helped her to get through a tough holiday season away from her loved ones.

“In times like that, you have to make the best of it,” said Mitchell. “They had it all decorated and that made it feel Christmassy. Having a home-cooked meal for Christmas was nice too.”

In 2020, staff had to get extra creative to ensure residents, families, and staff were uplifted with holiday happenings.

Santa Claus pays a visit to Margaret Fleming at Vista Prairie at Monarch Meadows. (2019)

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“Due to COVID, we weren’t able to gather as a group for the holidays last year,” said Julie Dickhudt, Activities Coordinator for Assisted Living at Oak Terrace Senior Living. “So, I put my portable keyboard on a rolling cart and went from room to room, asking for favorite Christmas song requests.”

Hanson had several creative holiday ideas to replace their usual large group gatherings and hired entertainment. She coordinated extra outdoor fall activities, hot chocolate bars, Secret Santa surprises for residents, and even faux snow activities.

“I found a recipe online for making faux snow,” said Hanson.

“We made a giant bowl of it. Residents were able to put their hands in it, make snowballs and reminisce about playing in the snow as a child.”

That little bit of extra fun helps residents to relive fond memories of their youth.

“It brings that youthful spunk back to them,” said Melinda Pietch, Director of Health Services at Vista Prairie at Monarch Meadows. “I think some of the activities we do remind them of when they were young.”

Last year staff tried to keep family members and residents connected in new ways as well. Video calls, photo cards, and handwritten notes to name a few. For Thanksgiving, Hanson asked each resident what they were thankful for, made a sign for them to hold in a picture, and then sent that photo to their families.

Collison helped her residents make cards for their family members. Some included a special written note and some, with just a signature depending on what her resident was able to do. Either way, it was a treat to families.

“I received a lot of thank-yous from family members who didn’t think they would ever get another letter from their mom,” said Collison.

There is a lot of planning and effort that goes into providing activities for residents, but in the end, it’s all worth it.

“The best part of my day is giving the residents something to smile about and making them laugh,” said Hanson. “Nothing tugs on my heartstrings more than when I hear ‘thank you,’ ‘I love you,’ or ‘you make each of my days better.’”

Even with the complications of COVID-19, the caring staff at Assisted Living Communities help uphold family traditions by getting to know their residents and their families and by providing meaningful holiday activities. 

Landy Cole, resident of Birchwood Cottages, gets festive with Life Enrichment Coordinator Kati Hanson. (2020)

Julie Dickhudt, Activities Coordinator, travels from room to room to provide holiday music for residents of Oak Terrace Senior Living. (2020)

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301 Belgrade Ave., North Mankato

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BY TIFFANY WARD, Indulge Salon

Ponytails are seen on all the celebrities! JLo and Ariana Grande are the ponytail queens. If you don't have a celebrity stylist at your disposal to install long extensions, we've got a little trick for you! It is classic, glamorous, and can be so versatile. One quick trick, and you can have a longer, fuller looking ponytail! Section your hair ear to ear. Wrap the top section in a clear elastic band. In the salon, we use clear elastics because they are so much easier to hide. Wrap the second section in a clear elastic just below the top one. Using a large hair threading needle (look familiar from the early 90's?), loop the bottom pony through the eye of the needle, pushing the needle up through the top ponytail and pull! So easy! Back comb it for some fullness, wear it sleek, or add a bow. All versions are gorgeous! If you would like a fuller look like the one pictured, use Eufora Powder Grip when back combing and seal it all in with Eufora Tame Hairspray. Another great thing about ponytails - they work best with dirty hair, so do this on day 2 or 3 of your blowout!

You can't go wrong with a good old-fashioned blowout or roller set. Classic styles are always in, but you can put a twist on the blowout or roller set depending on your length or style of hair.

If your hair is a bit shorter you can add flare or glamor with a deep side part and a hair clip. Here, we used one that complimented Tiffany's sweater.

In recent years most blowouts have been done with a middle part and curls that flow away from the face. Trending again is the 90's blowout that has a side part, with curls turned down and more toward the face. The most updated version is a combination of both. Mix it up and have fun with it! Don't forget some shine spray when you are done! We recommend Eufora Gloss, an aerosol shine spray that keeps your hair bouncy, and shiny without the any heavy greasy feeling.

Volume, texture, 90's. Accessories: Scrunchies, Headbands, Bows, Hair Clips.

Fun and glam is to do a little braid in the front of your hair with some volume and curls around it. This version of a braid was done with the medium hair threading needle and Eufora Fixation Styling Wax to maintain the sleek look of the loops. Apply a small amount of Fixation to the hair you will be working with and comb through completely. This also helps the needle to slide through more easily. Wrap one small section in the front with a clear elastic, loop the hair through the eye of the thread, the needle through the center of the pony tail and pull through. You can pull the pieces out around the elastic to add more volume and texture to your liking. Taking a small amount of hair on each side of the first pony incorporating the remainder of the first ponytail, wrap this with a clear elastic and repeat the looping process.

You can do this as many times as you would like. In this style it was done 3 times. Using the Powder Grip to back comb and fan out the hair around the style. Finish with Gloss, grab a glass of eggnog and enjoy your evening!

This is the big winner for the season! Wavers are a huge hit this season because they create volume and texture in one quick step! You can make your waves as tight or as loose as you prefer. Cherre has her waves in the medium range. Taking a section of hair, spray with Eufora Retain Heat Styling Spray, comb through, clamp the hair with the waver, hold for 2-3 seconds and move down the strand. If you would like larger waves take larger sections of hair, and allow gaps between the waves. For tighter waves take smaller sections of hair and don't leave any gaps between waves. Once complete, spray with Gloss Shine Spray and slay the day (or night)! Headbands are also a very popular accessory this season and a great way to frame these beautiful waves. How can you go wrong with this python headband from Indulge?

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NORTH KATO MAGAZINE WINTER 2021

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It may be one of North Mankato’s most treasured hidden gems. A little shop within a big production facility that many drive by each day and don’t even know it is there: The Carlson Craft Stationery and Gift Store.

“We want everyone in North Mankato to know we’re here!” says Kristin Berglin, who runs the store each day.

“Parking in front of a large production building might be a little intimidating, but come on in! We’ve reserved parking spots for you right by the front door where you’ll be greeted by our very own Cindy as you enter.

No appointment is needed. Or, if you’re planning your wedding and want to bring your entourage, call ahead and make an appointment. We’ll guide you every step of the way with product selection, wording etiquette and design advice. Discover the perfect event invitations in one of our collections, or work with us to create something completely custom and one-of-a-kind. We’ll help you plan any event, and our goal is to make your experience magical! Stop in, say hello and browse the store. We’d love to meet you!”

The Stationery & Gift Store is a shop for personalized wedding and all occasion invitations, napkins, event accessories, stationery, holiday cards, home décor, and gifts for any occasion! They have recently added a line of all-occasion cards by Happiness Delivered, so you can pop in and get individual cards that celebrate birthdays and all of life’s special events.

“We welcome the general public and employees throughout Taylor Corporation to shop the many products that we offer in our store and our online

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store,” explains Berglin. “We love serving the wonderful community we’re a part of. We’re also proud of the business partnerships we’ve created here throughout the years.”

Berglin has worked at Carlson Craft for 24 years in many different areas, but now she has found her spot.

“The Stationery & Gift Store is my calling,” she smiles. “I love working with people, getting to know them and learning about the event they are celebrating. I love the joy it brings to them when they see their final product! I get to see amazing new products as they’re added to our offering. Our newest addition is the Clear Collection. We have some beautiful displays in the store featuring clear acrylic invitations, wedding signs, and more.”

As this magazine hits your hands, Berglin and Taylor Corps is hitting its busy season.

“Busy is an understatement! It gets crazy around here, and we jump in to help each other out. It’s an incredible team to be a part of, and I do my bit by running an envelope press during the holiday season. It’s great to be able to try new things, and it makes me more knowledgeable about our products, which helps me better serve our customers. Our busy season is coming up fast! November 22nd – December 21st is our busiest time of the year printing Holiday cards, Christmas cards, Photo cards, Holiday Party Invitations and Holiday accessories. A printed holiday greeting card is an affordable way to show customers, clients, friends and family that you are thinking of them. In this digital age, people still love receiving cards in the mail.”

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Trip to Omega Court Neighborhood Becomes Holiday Tradition for Many Lights, music...Santa Claus...must mean one thing: Christmas time on Omega Court in upper North Mankato. It was just a few years ago, when a new family moved in, bringing with them a tradition from Arizona that has transformed their neighborhood during the holidays.

“I started with a small light display when I lived in Tucson, Arizona. My wife and I love Christmas so we have slowly been adding pieces over the years. We have been doing it for about 10 years now,” says Kai Schutte. “We started with a sixchannel Mr. Christmas which is basically a box that plays music along with the lights. These are already programmed songs that I didn't get to pick. About three years ago, I decided to switch over to Lightorama. This is what controls the lights. It is completely programmable and allows me to pick songs I want and customize them to the lights. We have continued to add more lights and displays along with enlisting the help of our neighbors. Last year we decided to make it bigger because we knew Kiwanis was not happening and we felt there needed to be something in town to put a smile on people's faces.”

It does more than light up people’s faces though, the tribute to Christmas has turned into a way to contribute back to the community. The neighbors collect food and cash donations from those visiting the display, last year the neighborhood was able to donate 380 pounds of food and more than $300 to a local food shelf. They also collected toys for the Toys for Tots program.

“It has been awesome to see all of the people

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enjoying the light show. We truly enjoyed seeing kids’ faces light up while walking through or meeting Santa. We were able to bring the donations that were given from the community to the St. Peter Food Shelf along with the Children's Hospital. It was so cool to be a part of giving back to the community,” says Schutte.

Fellow neighbor and organizer, Ryan Wempen says for the families that live on Omega it is truly a special time.

“Overall, it’s just a fun activity for the neighborhood,” explains Wempen. “All the guys get together nightly and this just adds to the fun. I enjoy it and hope we do some good in the community with the donations while giving options for people to enjoy during the winter. We just love it and hope it continues. We keep adding décor and new ideas, we closed the block to cars last year for two nights and had it walking only.

We also have incorporated pictures with Santa, free hot chocolate and mini-donuts some nights.

This year we plan to close the road a few extra nights and add a few more things. The neighbors really work together, each taking their specialty, from set up, storage, running the electronics and artwork. It is fun to see how well it works.”

You can keep up to date with their schedule, special events and how to donate on the Omega Court Christmas Lights Facebook page.

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Business on Belgrade is a non-profit organization comprised of business owners, staff and community members of Belgrade Ave and North Mankato. We strive to promote the businesses and bring the community to the business district by also hosting events. Our organization started its first event in 2009, Blues on Belgrade (Bluesfest) and since then have added Bookin’ on Belgrade (Family Fun Run), Bells on Belgrade (Holiday Family Fun and Parade) and Bier on Belgrade (Oktoberfest). We also cohost many other events. We care deeply about our community and the business district which is the heartbeat of this town.

There are two groups serving the North Mankato business community. Finding strength in numbers, these two groups, comprised of volunteers, find ways throughout the year to support each other.

Connecting Commerce creates opportunities for shared experiences and a stronger relationship between Upper North Mankato businesses and the community. Through business partnerships, we use community events to create a shared culture and a stronger connection between Upper North Mankato businesses and its community members.

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Greater Mankato Growth is committed to advancing business for a stronger community as the Chamber of Commerce and Economic Development Organization serving our regional marketplace. Our organization exists to intentionally develop the regional center by promoting, supporting, and serving as a catalyst for economic development.

Whether you are a small business owner, a member of a large firm, or part of a start-up company, Greater Mankato Growth offers targeted benefits, valuable resources and unparalleled support that will help you and your business gain a competitive advantage. As a member of Greater Mankato Growth, you are joining 900+ other businesses to accomplish what no one business could ever do alone. Be a part of something bigger.

Are you looking for unique items that you can only get from locally owned businesses? Do you want to ensure your spending stays local and creates a better community? KatoLocal.com Is the place for you!

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