HITTING ALL THE HIGH NOTES

Story and PhotoS By deB nicklay

Nancy Nickerson Lee had the unshakeable belief, back in 2016, that a regional summer stock theater could work – in, of all places, Mitchell County, Iowa.

Her plan: Use the former St. Ansgar Elementary School – which is today a community center called South Square – as rehearsal space for a troupe of college-age actors from across the country, who would spend the summer performing in four musical theater productions. The productions would invite top directors, choreographers and technical professionals to provide their expertise as well.

Two, members would also live in South Square for the summer, in classrooms fashioned into dorm space. And three, stage the productions at the Cedar River Complex in Osage, whose Krapek Family Fine Arts Auditorium is considered a state-of-the-art theater -- just the ticket for such shows.

Together, the two towns don’t surpass 5,000 in population – but that did not sway Lee, a St. Ansgar native, from her dream of bringing live theater to her home county. The Cedar Summerstock Theater was formed, and its first season was mounted in the summer of 2017.

“Hello, Dolly!” June 18-28 “The Addams Family,” July 2-12 “Godspell,” July 16-26 “Seussical,” July 30-Aug. 9 For ticket information, go to: cedarsummerstock.org

Today, Lee and a Twin Cities-based set company have an designer and technical unqualified success on director, will be on their hands – even if board for “The Addams only two of the three Family” and “Seussical,” initial ideas worked. while Christie Kerr, The dorm idea had to be assistant professor of scrapped due to fire code dance at the University requirements and students of Arizona-Tucson, now live with host families will be choreographer – a small price to pay, for “Godspell.” Renee all agree. Since that first Shad Spiker (Curly) sings, “Surrey with the Fringe on Top,” to Anna Guittar, a Twin Citiesseason, CST has become Peterson (Laurey) in the Cedar Summerstock production of “Okla- based actor, dancer and the Midwest’s only homa!” the opener for the 2019 season. choreographer, will regional summer stock choreograph “Hello, program that draws its cast and crew from colleges across the Dolly!” country. Lee, the artistic director, is the wheel around which

Now in its fourth season, CST is on solid footing and CST turns. Now retired, she was the performing arts growing both in depth and in talent, Lee said. In its first season, director for many years at Washburn High School in the video auditions submitted by the college students numbered Minneapolis and heavily involved in the Twin Cities theater 45; this year, there were over three times that many from college community. She also has maintained an abiding belief that theater majors looking for spots in the upcoming productions smaller communities are as theater-hungry as their urban of “Hello, Dolly!” “The Addams Family,” “Godspell,” and counterparts. “Seussical.” Another part of CST’s success has to be Lee’s willingness

“The quality of the auditions this year is just unbelievable,” to change musical gears if needed. She dropped the seasonLee said. “Usually, I can eliminate about half of the auditions ending revue after the first season; a Gilbert and Sullivan submitted. This year? Less than 10 percent wouldn’t work for production of “Pirates of Penzance” drew audiences, but fewer us. So much talent!” theatergoers were operetta enthusiasts. Lee and her board of

That talent will come in the form of 14 actors and three directors – the CST is a non-profit organization – evaluate each technical crew members from 11 states: New York, New show, and have worked hard to find the right formula for an Jersey, North Carolina, California, Texas, Ohio, Wisconsin, entire season. Minnesota, Connecticut, Tennessee and, of course, Iowa. Last season seemed to have hit the winning combination.

Lee credits the “spreading of the word” about Cedar The season opened with the Rodgers and Hammerstein Summerstock among CST graduates and students now looking favorite, “Oklahoma!” and followed it with “You’re a Good for summer work. As more seasons go by, knowledge about Man, Charlie Brown,” “9 to 5: the Musical,” and ended with CST has grown. “Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat,” which

But more than that, Lee said she is hearing comments involved over 70 local actors, including a children’s choir. At from prospective actors who said, when surveyed, “that they’ve most shows last season, the lowest attendance surpassed some heard nothing but good things about us,” Lee said. “We are of the highest totals from the previous season. really, really happy to be hearing that.” She added that a “You know, it really is a learning process,” Lee said. “We common comment from CST graduates was that while the ask ourselves, ‘OK, what worked? What didn’t work? What work can be hard – summer stock finds actors rehearsing one needs to change?’” show during the day, and performing another at night – it was A good example was last year’s production of “9 to 5: The among their most fulfilling experiences. Musical.” While light-hearted and extremely funny, there are a

Much of that is due to being able to work with a stellar few “edgy” moments in the show that Lee wasn’t sure would sit tech crew and directors. Directors such as Craig Johnson and well with some folk. C. Ryan Shipley – whose credits include work with a raft of She needn’t have worried – it proved to be just as popular Twin Cities-based companies and theaters – return to CST for as the more traditional fare. at least one show this season. Lee will expand her duties by Overall, there is nothing, it is said, that succeeds like directing both “Hello, Dolly!” and “Godspell.” success. One surefire sign came recently, when a bus tour

Technical coordinator and lighting designer Sue Berger, signed up to take in some shows this summer. Bus tours costume designer Barb Portinga, and technical director Scott mean that little Mitchell County, Iowa, has become a theater Effertz – all theater veterans, also return for a portion or all of destination. the productions. Jared Barnes will also return as music director Wow. and Marti Steele returns as manager. So, it seems, “the little theater that could” has come into

There are new faces as well this season. Robyn McIntyre, the big time.

By DeB Nicklay • Photos By eric JohNsoN

Kellie Schmidt knew there was something wrong, even before her daughter was born.

The Austin woman began to hemorrhage during her fifth month of pregnancy and doctors at first thought she was in the midst of a miscarriage.

“Then, they heard a heartbeat,” she said.

The daughter who would be Zoey did not enter the world easily.

Zoey Schmidt has been an inspiration for her mother Kellie who has become an advocate for autistic children and also led to her joining the Minnesota Governor’s Council on Developmental Disabilities.

Put on complete bedrest, Schmidt worried in the ensuing classroom, just for their safety. Zoey had begun to rock and months that she would lose her baby. bang her head against the wall – her typical sensory response

“I never acknowledged that I would have her,” she said. “I when she was overstimulated by things going on around her. prepared myself to have that happen.” When some students attempted to comfort her, she punched

At eight months, Kellie was induced and endured two and kicked in return. days of labor with no signs the baby would be born soon. Zoey is a bright child and early testing showed high

And suddenly, Zoey Schmidt came so quickly that a intelligence. School officials did not think she was autistic; student nurse running into the room literally caught her as she Zoey, they said, could show remorse – not something an entered the world. autistic child could do.

Even then, Zoey Schmidt, an autistic child, proved to be a But, as Kellie was later to find, myriad symptoms are survivor. present with different children.

Following Zoey’s birth, Kellie found the thrill of being a A key figure came into the Schmidt’s’ lives – Mary Barinka, mother again was quickly overshadowed by new worries. a well-known advocate for citizens with autism; today, she is

Zoey never seemed to calm and she refused to breastfeed. the Community Autism Resource Specialist with the Hormel If a baby could ever be called stand-offish, Zoey was it; she Historic Home. The organization has adopted a mission to turned away from cuddling and did not like to be held. make Austin an autism-friendly community. Formulas were tried and switched. Among the most trying of “She became my advocate; what a blessing she has been,” all in the early months was Zoey’s unwillingness to sleep. said Kellie. “For the first time, I didn’t feel alone.” Barinka

“She would go for days, it seemed,” she was instrumental in providing information and said. Kellie and her husband, Oliver, began to take turns allowing the other to sleep. “For the resources for the Schmidts. The diagnosis of autism was finally given Kellie’s questions mounted. While Zoey was meeting all her 6 month-milestones in first time, by the Bluestem Center for Child and Family Development in Rochester – and finally, Kellie terms of development, “she began to bang her I didn’t and Oliver were able to get some answers. head against the wall – so hard she was leaving holes,” Kellie said. feel Zoey was also diagnosed with a sensory integration disorder and attention deficit Terrified that Zoey would hurt herself, Kellie pleaded with her pediatrician to tell her alone.” hyperactivity disorder. Once diagnosed, a number of services began to open up for what was happening. Kellie Schmidt the family, including therapy using Applied

“I kept saying, ‘This isn’t normal.’” Behavior Analysis to teach proper behavior

The doctor told the Schmidt’s that they and responses. Kellie has since been trained as should “just watch her” and continue to monitor Zoey’s a certified family peer specialist. The training helps instruct progress. Kellie spent hours on the Internet trying to find and educate others on the supports needed by children with answers. autism.

Zoey’s behavior worsened as she grew. She would refuse Slowly, with invaluable therapy, the family began to have to dress herself because she said clothes hurt her body; strong answers and see hope that Zoey’s behavior could improve. lights and sound could send her into more head-banging, or Now in first grade, Zoey still faces many challenges. Her punching and kicking. elementary school, Neveln, “has been absolutely wonderful”

Finally, it was clear that daycare or preschool for Zoey was in providing for Zoey’s needs, such as softened lights; an out of the question. Kellie held down three jobs while Oliver indoor swing and rocking chair help calm her during troubled stayed home with Zoey. moments. When Zoey had to be gone for an extended time,

Those early years found Zoey constantly in “a fight or her teacher, Amber Rochat, had the class make a YouTube flight” mode, Kellie said. Kellie could not run a vacuum cleaner video that showed the children wishing Zoey well and telling without a reaction from Zoey; Kellie and Oliver purchased her they loved and missed her. Zoey was excited to see it, earphones to deaden noise. It took two hours to give her a bath Kellie said. – anything touching her skin, Kellie said, caused her pain. The “She said, ‘Look, I have friends!’” Kellie said. family installed a security system not to keep people out – but Kellie said that Rochat, “has gone above and beyond” to keep Zoey from running out of the house. for her daughter, Kellie said. “Neveln has been a real game

“Then came kindergarten,” Kellie said, groaning at the changer for us.” memory. Kellie said having a child with autism impacts families in

On her first day, Zoey was unmanageable. She tried to run ways they might not recognize as they occur. Kellie admits she from the school to get home; the principal reported that she was so focused on Zoey that she sometimes overlooked how was hurting other children in her class. Zoey’s older brothers – Jacob, 13, Blake, 9 and Oliver, 8 –

“I just bawled,” Kellie said. Still, she wasn’t quite might be affected by Zoey’s behavior. convinced that Zoey was actually hurting others. One signal she did recognize – you could call it the

But at one point, teachers took children from her gathering of the coats.

Zoey Schmidt, the reason for her mom Kellie’s advocacy. Photos provided

“We would go somewhere, a family get-together, whatever, and Zoey would start to be overstimulated – and the boys would immediately go for their coats because they knew it was time to go home when Zoey acted up,” Kellie said.

One of Zoey’s therapists from Independent Management Services was chatting with the boys one day and realized how much the brothers wanted to go to a movie and eat popcorn – something that they hadn’t done in recent years because of Zoey’s behavior.

“’Well,’ she said, ‘we’re going to a movie, then,’” Kellie recalled with a chuckle. Once at the movie theater, the therapist worked with Zoey, showing her a constructive way to handle her anxiety. Facing one of the side walls of the theater, she showed Zoey how to push back and forth against the wall until she calmed. The exercise worked and Zoey, while she had to do the exercise more than once, was fine through the movie. It is just one example of how such services bring rewards.

Barinka, Kellie said, has taught her so much that among the most important has been becoming your own advocate. Kellie has embraced a mission to help others who have struggled with an autistic child. Her own education about what autism is – and what it isn’t – has led her to new endeavors.

“I’ve come to realize we treat behavior, not autism,” she said. “Labels belong on cans, not children. No child should ever feel like they don’t fit in. And parents should not have to wait five years to finally find services.”

Last year, Kellie was accepted from a statewide pool of applicants into the eight-month Minnesota Partners in Policymaking leadership training. Created by the Minnesota Governor’s Council on Developmental Disabilities, the goal of the council is to develop leaders statewide to partner with school systems, medical and business communities to create supports for persons with disabilities.

“I’ve learned so much – and I am really interested in the policy-making,” Kellie said. “I want to help educate people within our community about autism” and the accommodations needed for citizens who are autistic.

“So many things need to be changed – why rely just on a medical diagnosis, for instance, and why shouldn’t a child get those services when they need it?”

In her work with the Governor’s Council, a resource referral document was recently completed, showing parents all of the services available for the autistic. She hopes they will be distributed soon.

She feels particularly lucky to be living in Austin, where services for the autistic are broader than in many communities. That includes Mower County for its occupational and therapeutic services and the Department of Human Services (DHS), whose employees “are so kind and caring,” Kellie said.

“Having the Hormel Historic Home is such a blessing,” she said, referring to the non-profit which in recent years adopted autism as one of its missions. Since then, HHH has become a key organization that educates the community while providing programming for the autistic, from camps to respite nights at places like the YMCA. Autism Friendly Austin has worked to educate and train local businesses with information about autism and equipping owners with sensory kits. The kits have items that help an autistic person calm down should they begin to feel overwhelmed while in their place of business.

“Businesses have stickers that will tell you if they are autism friendly,” Kellie said. “We really do look for those stickers before we go in a business.”

“Austin is just an amazing place to be in – we even have a sensory park” that allows autistic citizens a quiet place to go, away from ball fields or noisy games.

“You just don’t have that in many communities,” she said. “I am so grateful to live in this community.”

Looking forward, Kellie has hope that Zoey will one day grow out of some behaviors or learn to control them. Whatever happens, Kellie is ready to provide support for her daughter.

“And if I could help even one family, that would be amazing,” Kellie said. “It makes me feel I am doing something right – and to let people know they are not alone.”

Kellie Schmidt

In the last few years, there’s been a resurgence of sorts in the good works of Fred Rogers, he of “Mister Rogers’ Neighborhood.”

The show aired in the United States from 1968 to 2001 and through his mildmannered way, Fred Rogers taught children acceptance and friendship and urged them to follow their own way.

That influence and those lessons were at the heart of a Banfield Elementary initiative that in its own way taught students the heart of understanding.

The idea was the brain child of Sue Conway with a central core of creating unity.

“It actually started in the fall,” Conway said. “I was trying to come up with a school-wide project of how we could all connect and spread kindness.”

And despite a year that’s been cut short because of the COVID-19 coronavirus, there is not doubt that the efforts have paid off.

“It’s been amazing,” Conway said. “I threw out an idea to teachers and now you walk down the hallway and you see the kindness posters up. Kindness presented throughout the school gives you a smile and you have a great day.”

speak more than one language? It was really hands on and was a look at how we have a lot more in common.” The Unity Project is a pole at the center of strings radiating outwards and through the entanglement the participants begun to understand what they have in common. From this stepping stone, Conway and staff could really dig into the idea of being kind to one another and in a lot of ways getting to know one another. The program throughout the year was guided by several ideas of Rogers, which he often featured in his show. These

Following in Fred Rogers’ footsteps while creating a ideas included: program in the school was a natural idea for Conway. •Everyone wants to love and be loved.

In one way or another, the idea of kindness has been with •Provide an environment where all feel welcome and her and her family throughout the years. accepted.

“My son was an incredible Mr. Rodgers fan,” Conway said. •No matter what our talents may be, they can deeply affect “I’m one of those huggy, feely teachers and so my brain never others. really shuts off. I was looking for something that we could •The greatest gift you ever give is your honest self. connect with people.” •Sometimes a smile is a

The school recognized way to convey love, even to this as well. Conway took someone you don’t know. her idea to Principal Jeff •A love of learning has Roland and then she revealed a lot to do with learning that the idea to teachers and staff. we’re loved.

From there, the school •Take 10 seconds to took it and ran. think of people who have

Conway began helped you become who you formulating her plan and are. would send emails out to the •Won’t you be my teachers of the school with reader? (referring to a love of tips of how to progress the reading) kindness initiative. •Music is the heartbeat

“I gave them an of it all. overview of where I wanted •Won’t you be my to go throughout the year,” neighbor? Conway said. “We broke it The Be Kind Buttons turned out to be a huge part of the These ideas helped down month by month.” Banfield Neighborhood project. guide certain actions toward

Conway explained that kindness at Bandfield — a the importance of touching curriculum if you will. base with the teachers on a regular basis was a way of ensuring Some of those ideas included things like the famous the idea took hold and continued forward. Trolley, that on the show would ferry kids from the real world

This way there was always a new activity and a new way to the The Land of Make Believe. Only at the Banfield, Trolley direct the students. would go from classroom to classroom.

While the teachers did their part to help spread the idea “Mr. Rodgers’ Trolley would go to each classroom for one of kindness, Conway leaned heavily on school counselor week, where students wrote five acts of kindness they saw that Kendra Hotchkiss, who hosted positive action assemblies each week. They would then be read so it was something they could month. hear,” Conway said.

During these assemblies, students could share what they That kind of interaction gave the students both examples saw in the month that represented kindness. The time was also of kindness as well as seeing the affects of those actions. used to look ahead to the next month. There was also ideas like the Be Kind Buttons.

All of this got its start through a very simple concept: “The ‘Be Kind Buttons,’ boy did that take off,” Conway unity. said. “Fourth graders designed ‘Be Kind Buttons’ and had 50

“We started out with Unity Project,” Conway said. “Really some entires and chose 10 of them. Austin Graphics printed get them to understand what (the students) had in common. them for minimal cost at the high school. We made 600 We would ask questions like ‘were you born in Austin? Do you buttons so far.”

Sue Conway and Banfield students pose in front of a sign that allowed them to become the “I” in Kind.

Sue Conway

Even with all the successes, the idea that they couldn’t finish the year in school has been somewhat of a bummer. For instance, they won’t be able perform the showcase they had planned toward the end of the year, featuring music and dancing by the students, showing off what they have learned.

However, that doesn’t take away from what not only Mr. Rogers was trying to get across, but Banfield as well.

“Parents that have come into the building comment to our staff,” Conway said. “They just said it was so uplifting to see the smiles on the front door.”

That is the affect Mr. Rogers has had over the years, but what has really amazed Conway is just how widespread the idea of Mr. Rogers is.

Despite the partial year, Conway has seen enough and it has her planning for next year already. That’s the positive effect of Mr. Rogers.

“Mr. Rogers was phenomenal about being calm to children and adults,” Conway said. “We all have feelings and we all need to express ourselves. What do I love? It’s just calm. It’s not craziness, I just think that resonates with everybody. It’s okay to be who you are, but we also have to learn to make sure it’s not hurting yourself and others.”

“It continues after all these years,” Conway added. “It’s fascinating with everything going on how many people have quoted him. It’s a sense of security. Like he said, ‘Alway look for the helpers.’ Again, look for the positive.”

Messages of positivity were everywhere in Banfield for students to see, a sign of the support from teachers and staff.

Story and Photo by Eric JohnSon

Thomas Herrera and his wife Kelly Herrera, from left, Mollie Schwartz and Jacob Schwartz stand with gifts purchased with money raised by Herrera for Operation Christmas Eve. Photos provided

Pictured are an assorted example of the autographed items Thomas Herrera sells to raise money for causes.

Towards the end of March, Nexus-Gerard Family Healing put out a call for help.

Amidst the COVID-19 pandemic, Nexus-Gerard was looking for donations of items, including games and activities, which they could put toward keeping children on the campus busy. As schools around the state and country closed because of the outbreak and districts began instituting distance learning, those at Nexus-Gerard couldn’t simply go home, thus the need for more recreational items on campus.

Within an hour and a half of the request going up on Nexus-Gerard’s Facebook page, Thomas Herrera was on campus with a cashier’s check for $2,000.

For Herrera, donating the money wasn’t an option.

“I wanted to be able to do something to provide some sense of relief to these kids,” Herrera said.

For years now, Herrera has been putting himself in a position to help kids and those less fortunate. A 2011 Austin High School graduate, Herrera’s thoughts were of wanting to create a better world around him.

And it was for good reason, because he had lived a life that was the same as those he would come to help.

“I felt like my senior year was a changing moment for me, both mentally and physically,” Herrera said. “There were situations we were going through at home ... food insecurity, always having to rely on foundations and charities for my family to get by. There were times as a child I would come home to a house with no electricity, no heat.”

In his mind, Herrera came to feel that he had more to offer.

“I felt like I needed to do something more,” Herrera said. “I couldn’t let the people down that believed in me. I started to do a little bit extra. If I had a little bit of extra money I donated it to bell ringers.”

Thomas and Kelly Herrera, center, stand with supporters over a haul of toys for kids.

However, Herrera didn’t have any official platform. He simply did what he could, when he could; however, not long after graduating an opportunity arose that would give Herrera that platform.

An eight-sided platform.

Not long after high school, the former wrestling, football and track and field standout took up mixed martial arts fighting. As he rose through the local and state ranks and accumulated titles, Herrera found that he had more than an opportunity to win.

He had his platform to get the word out.

“MMA is a great platform to speak on the things I wanted to talk about,” Herrera said. “I noticed a lot of people, I had their attention. After a few fights I thought, ‘I think it’s time to do something more.’ I feel like my existence in this world is to do something more.”

Herrera started to share his stories and in time he started donating the money he earned from fighting to various causes. From this was born Operation Christmas Eve.

“I was donating a lot of my personal money from my MMA career to certain organizations,” Herrera aid. “I just wanted to create something more permanent — Operation Christmas Eve.”

“Every year, I would raise money in any way I could,” Herrera continued. “I would donate all that money or use the money to purchase Christmas presents throughout southern Minnesota.”

It even went so far as to act as a motivator while fighting.

“I saw that as a success. An opportunity to fight and speak,” he said. “If I didn’t win that fight, I wouldn’t have that opportunity to help those people.”

In eight years of fighting, Herrera has been able to give and make sure people have a chance at being happy.

However, his time in the ring would come to an end as his life took a change. His career as a nurse and his military service took up too much time.

This left Herrera looking for a different way to raise the money needed. Again, he didn’t have far to look.

“One of my favorite things in this world is autographed memorabilia,” Herrera said. “I thought that if there’s a market there, I would consider selling some of the stuff I already had.”

The move paid off. As he started selling his memorabilia, he started making more connections that pushed what he was doing even further.

One of those connections was Total Sports Enterprises out of Bloomington. TSE contracts with Minnesota’s professional teams when it comes to autographing things like jerseys, basketballs and hockey sticks.

Herrera will purchase the items and then sell them. In Herrera’s case, the money goes to a cause.

He estimates that overall he’s raised approximately $85,000, but he’s also taken from this trek an urge to see children and teens succeed.

“The No. 1 thing I’ve taken from this entire process, if there are any children, teens or any adults struggling, my advice is to endure the struggle and learn from the struggle what you can,” Herrera said. “There are lessons to be taken out from anything.”