Progress 2022-Brains

PROGRESS EDITION ALBERT LEA TRIBUNE | SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 26, 2022

BRAINS

Alex Miller and Will Jacobs work with Caleb Sorensen on one of the cars they will use in their next competition with the Alden-Conger Supermileage Team. KELLY WASSENBERG/ALBERT

STRONG COMPETITORS LEA TRIBUNE

A-C’s supermileage students are making a name for themselves at competitions all over the world

By Kelly Wassenberg news@albertleatribune.com

A

ALDEN — They may appear to be the underdog, but don’t let the Alden-Conger Supermileage Team fool you.

The team has continued to place both nationally and internationally against college teams with much deeper pockets and the benefit of having automotive classes built into their school day.

So what’s the secret behind their continued success? A strong foundation, a lot of ingenuity, a refusal to quit, the support of their community and sometimes a healthy dose of sibling rivalry.

“There are a lot of big universities that have big budgets, and we depend on volunteers and contributions,” adviser James Sorensen said.

“We’re very privileged. We’ve been blessed.”

The privilege of being able to compete at such a high level has been earned. Alden-Conger guidance counselor Amy Wallin is also an adviser for the team. She has been thoroughly impressed with how the team doesn’t seem to blink at the thought of going up against competition who are much older than they are, as well as their

Tribune Albert Lea

“The one thing I see consistently with this team is they don’t quit.

They play until the whistle blows.

It doesn’t matter what the score is.”

— Team adviser Amy Wallin tremendous work ethic.

“The one thing I see consistently with this team is they don’t quit.

They play until the whistle blows.

It doesn’t matter what the score is,” Amy Wallin said, noting the team is often the first to show up at events and the last to leave.

Her husband, Mark Wallin, who also works with the team, echoed her sentiments, adding that not even a blown engine could deter them from overcoming setbacks.

They just pulled parts off another car that had finished its six runs, the minimum number of runs to qualify, and got the car back out on the track.

While they weren’t able to get in all

The Alden-Conger Supermileage Team participates in a competition in Brainerd last spring. PROVIDED six runs to qualify, Caleb Sorensen in Brainerd last May. still had the best run in the class, The team also took home first getting 283.1 miles per gallon with See TEAM, Page 4 their E85 car at the state competition

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Meet the management team: Crystal Miller: Publisher 379-3420 | crystal.miller@albertleatribune.com Sarah Stultz: Editor 379-3433 | sarah.stultz@albertleatribune.com Krista Titus: Circulation Manager 379-3421 | krista.titus@albertleatribune.com Lisa Foley: Business Manager 379-4324 | lisa.foley@albertleatribune.com Terry Thissen: Pressroom Manager 379-9854 | terry.thissen@albertleatribune.com Offices: 808 W. Front St. Albert Lea, MN 56007 Phone: 507-373-1411 Fax: 507-373-0333 Website: albertleatribune.com Want to subscribe or moving?

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Continuing a legacy

Custom designs galore

Jake’s Pizza in Wells reopens in a new building after roof collapse. Page 4

New company in rural Ellendale finding success in first year. Page 8

Treating hearing loss Hearing Associates looks forward to continued growth in Albert Lea. Page 9

PAGE 2 | PROGRESS 2022 | THE BRAINS | SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 26, 2022

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SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 26, 2022 | THE BRAINS | PROGRESS 2022 | PAGE 3

Continuing a legacy in Wells

JAKE’S PIZZA IN WELLS REOPENS IN NEW LOCATION

By Alex Guerrero

alex.guerrero@albertleatribune.com

WELLS — Life isn’t easy, and things don’t always go according to plan.

Such was the case for Dawn Navara, owner of Jake’s Pizza in Wells, after the roof collapsed at the restaurant’s old location.

“It happened to be Feb. 24 of last year, and I came in at 4 a.m. because we were going to have turkey specials that day, our third Wednesday of the month,” she said. “I walked in to the front, and I was one table away when the roof started to cave-in.”

The collapse sent her to the hospital in need of surgery, and Jake’s was closed for 10 months. But that changed recently when the restaurant opened its new location, 27 Second St. NE, on Dec. 18.

“This town and the surrounding towns are awesome people,” she said. “…

They really want to support, and they have supported us

through this whole thing.”

And while the new location isn’t as big as the old one, there was one bright spot in getting a new place: a bigger kitchen and storage area.

According to Navara, the trick to good pizza is in the sauce.

“The sauce ingredients that we get come from northern Minnesota way up into the Lake of the Woods area,” she said.

For her, a typical day starts at 7 or 8 a.m., meeting the trucks who bring ingredients, including French fries, onion rings and everything else they need to cook with. The hamburger meat, however, comes from Wells.

She and her team then prepare for the night rush.

“So, like, pizza stuff we make sure we have enough mushrooms, green olives and black olives, everything drained and it’s all in individual containers so we can just swap them out so we don’t have to sit and open up a can each time we need one,” she said.

Navara first got into the pizza business after she graduated in 1977.

“I thought if they ever sold Jake’s in the future I would buy it,” she said.

But pizza wasn’t simply

Dawn Navara, owner of Jake’s Pizza in Wells, stands next to the store’s new location at 27 Second St. NE. The restaurant recently re-opened after being closed for 10 months following a roof collapse. ALEX GUERRERO/ALBERT LEA TRIBUNE her passion. It was a family affair.

“My daughter … who works for me now, worked through school and kept working there,” she said.

“Then I started to work for Joyce and Denny O’Rourke.”

But then they sold it

to Greg Moen, and she worked for him as a night manager.

In 2001, Moen decided to sell, and she offered to buy it from him.

Jake’s Pizza in Wells is open from 5 to 8 p.m. Sunday through Thursday and 5 to

9 p.m. Friday and Saturday, but she’s hopeful to change those hours once COVID becomes more manageable.

“It’s taking people a long time to come back into a restaurant, and I think that’s all over,” she said.

But on the bright side,

delivery and carry-out has grown.

“It actually took a long time for people to even start to order at all,” she said. “People really stayed home a lot.”

Jake’s phone number is 507-553-5050.

By the numbers

10 Months Jake’s was closed in 2021

45 Years Jake’s has been operating in Wells

80 Pizzas made on a typical Friday or Saturday night

In addition to pizza, Jake’s Pizza has several other items on the menu. PROVIDED

Jake’s Pizza has been a mainstay in Wells for 45 years. PROVIDED

PAGE 4 | PROGRESS 2022 | THE BRAINS | SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 26, 2022

Toby Soost demonstrates a welding technique to Landon Walters. Welding is one of the skills students learn while participating with the supermileage team. KELLY WASSENBERG/ FOR THE TRIBUNE

TEAM Continued from Front Page

place in the electric car, with a six-run average of 5.82 watt hours per mile and best watt hours per mile run of 5.25; Ryan Wallin was the driver in the stock car division race with an average of 540.85 mpg during six runs and the best overall run for nonelectric cars in the competition with 619.93 mpg; and the team’s urban concept vehicle ranked first with a best run of the class with 372.75 mpg and a six-run average of 341.28 miles per gallon. Both Caleb Sorensen and Ryan Wallin, who graduated last year, drove the stock car during the competition.

Caleb Sorensen, now a senior, admits that while he wants the program to succeed long after he’s gone, a lot of his drive for the competition comes from one-upping his older brothers who were in the program before him.

“Being the youngest, you want to do better than all of them and beat their records,” Caleb Sorensen said of his three older brothers.

Sophomore Will Jacobs feels the same way. He started the program in seventh grade and looks forward to being able to drive this year. When he gets in the cockpit, his older brother won’t be too far away. Sam Jacobs, a 2018 graduate of Alden-Conger and former supermileage team member, returned to aid the team in an advisory role in 2020.

Caleb Sorensen feels the younger Jacobs brother will be a great asset to the team.

Not only is Will Jacobs a jack

of all trades, Caleb Sorensen said his size gives them an advantage. He has the ability to climb into places others can’t reach to make adjustments before his teammates drag him back out of the car by his feet. Since he’s now a licensed driver, Will Jacobs can now spend time behind the wheel.

The first phase of a competition starts with a technical inspection, which includes the weight of the car and driver. Alden-Conger’s team has had to consistently add weight to their cars to meet the minimum weight requirements.

“They really focus on making everything an even playing field,” Caleb Sorensen said. “So then it’s a driver’s game and a motor game at that point.”

The boys bring more than tenacity and perseverance to their competitions, though.

According to Amy Wallin, they also bring a slice of Minnesota nice with them.

The team has gained the respect of their competition by helping other teams who need parts, advice or even an extra set of hands so they can get their car back on the track.

“Texas Tech was a big one,” Caleb Sorensen noted. “They had just started their supermileage program, and we talked to them for a long time.

They’re really cool guys.

They just started this at their college, which is a big deal, and they were figuring out how to do it.”

In this situation, the school’s resources seemed to be more of a determent.

“They tried to make things super complicated and had a lot of computers and those computers ended up failing.”

By the numbers

12 Students currently participating in the Alden-Conger Supermileage Team

60 Minimum time requirement in hours for each member to work on the vehicles in the program. This does not include parades or fundraising events.

$30,000 Annual expenses for the group, which are almost entirely funded by sponsors, including individuals, businesses and community service organizations Considering the competitions sometimes go down to the wire, the seconds it takes for them to help another team could cost them everything, but that’s just who they are. They want to win because they deserve it, not because someone else’s part fails.

They also understand how they can learn from others they teach.

“When we’re helping other people, we see different cars, and we get different ideas for what we want to do because if we do things the same way, we’re never going to change.”

And the teams they’ve

Sam Jacobs, far left, is a former Alden-Conger Supermileage Team member, who now serves as one of the group’s advisers. He credits much of the team’s success to Dave Bosma, who retired from his position in 2016. KELLY WASSENBERG/FOR THE TRIBUNE helped along the way don’t take their assistance for granted.

“It’s really cool to see when we get into the final race and all those teams that we’ve helped are in the stands cheering for us.”

Upcoming events April 10-13: Shell Eco Marathon Americas Competition in Indianapolis, Indiana

May 8-10: Minnesota Technology and Engineering Educators Association’s Supermileage Challenge in Brainerd

ALDEN-CONGER SUPERMILEAGE TEAM HIGHLIGHTS 1992

The first Alden-Conger Supermileage car is built

2000

Dave Bosma takes over as the team’s adviser

2011

The team starts to compete at the Shell Eco Marathon in Houston. The team brought as many as four cars to each competition and wins several trophies, including a safety award.

2015

The Shell Eco Marathon was moved to Detroit, where the team received the Vehicle Design Award and continued to place in other categories.

2016

After taking first place with its All-American Urban Concept Car, the Alden-Conger Supermileage team was invited to the Drivers’ World Championship in London. The team finished third behind university teams from Indonesia and France.

2017

James Sorensen and Amy Wallin take over as advisers for the group, who continued to have success despite the change in leadership and team members. The group’s All-American car placed first in the diesel category and second overall in the internal combustion engine category. The placement earned the team a spot in the Driver’s World Championship competition in Detroit, where the team earned another trip to London.

The event was rained out and placements were decided on the best qualifying times.

Alden-Conger was in the top three, earning the team a trip to Maranello, Italy. The team met with designers and engineers from Ferrari and had the opportunity to drive on the Fiorano Track, a private racetrack owned by the company.

2018

The team traveled to Sonoma, California, for the Shell Eco Marathon. The team’s urban concept diesel car placed fifth in the internal

combustion engine category, and its prototype car finished ninth in the same category.

The prototype car was also the top finisher with an ethanol fuel source.

2019

The team took third place in the internal combustion engine category with their urban concept diesel vehicle at the Shell Eco Marathon. The win earned the team another trip to the Drivers’ World Championship in London. The car finished sixth at the Eco Marathon Europe competition in Weybridge, England, but the team didn’t qualify for world finals.

2020

All competitions were canceled due to COVID.

2021

While Shell did not have a competition due to the continuing COVID pandemic, the team did compete at the state competition at Brainerd International Raceway and brought home three trophies.

The Alden-Conger Supermileage Team competed in Brainerd last year for the state competition. PROVIDED

SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 26, 2022 | THE BRAINS | PROGRESS 2022 | PAGE 5

Boutique owners find success, expand store into new building

By Kelly Wassenberg news@albertleatribune.com

Every journey seems to start with one small step.

Some may know their intended path, but others allow the breeze to guide them along its own trail.

So is the case for Matt and Angela Moller, owners of The Homestead Boutique in Albert Lea. About five years ago, the couple decided they needed a change. Matt Moller was a plumber by trade, and Angela Moller worked from home as a graphic designer. While neither of them was afraid of hard work, they found their schedules didn’t seem to give them the flexibility they wanted when it came to their priorities, including their four children and their faith.

“He’s always been very active in youth sports and being a confirmation leader for years and years,” Angela Moller said of her husband. “So that was really important for him to have a job that allowed him to have the flexibility to do things that are important to him.”

Matt Moller began making furniture pieces in his shop before the couple started designing personalized signs. He’d build them, and she’d decorate them. Then Matt Moller found a niche in his craft — geometric artwork.

“I think it all started because I never throw anything away,” Matt Moller said. “We had made some signs, and I had a lot of scrap pieces and I wanted to do something with them.”

“He was really just trying to use what he had,” his wife added. “He’s a useit-up, wear-it-out kind of guy.”

The couple started working from home using the business name Homestead Designs, in homage to their family farm that once belonged to Matt Moller’s grandparents. They worked from home, selling items online and at various festivals and craft fairs.

The business model worked for them. Matt Moller was still working over 40 hours a week, but he could decide when he worked.

The step from Homestead Design to The Homestead Boutique was one that came about by chance.

“It was kind of just a someday dream,” Angela Moller said. “Wouldn’t it be fun someday to have a store?”

Then one day she received an email asking her if she’d be interested in opening a boutique in the Dinah’s Style building.

The duo went to view the place and decided it was worth a try.

“We haven’t really sought out the next step in our business,” she said.

“We’ve kind of put our head down and done the work, and the next step has

Matt and Angela Moller opened The Homestead Boutique on Newton Avenue earlier this month. KELLY WASSENBERG/FOR THE TRIBUNE kind of appeared in front of us. And they’ve always just seemed like a step not really a leap.”

Growing by inches and not bounds helped keep their goals for their business feel more manageable. During the first nine months of operation, the boutique was a collaborative effort. The Mollers then rebranded the store The Homestead Boutique when they began exclusively running the business.

“When we had the opportunity to rebrand the boutique and take it over as our own, we knew that clothing was going to be a huge part of it, because we had already seen that there was a huge need for that in our community, and that our community wants to shop locally for clothing,” Angela Moller said.

“So I kind of had to start with what felt familiar to me just the way I normally dress, just easy-to-wear comfy, casual mix-andmatch affordable pieces.

And then I was kind of pleasantly surprised to find that a lot of people appreciated that and shared my similar style.”

The couple agreed it was time to take another step forward at the end of 2021.

“As much as we love our space inside the Dinah’s building, we’ve just really been outgrowing it,” Angela Moller said.

Not only have customers requested more items of clothing, gifts and decor, the business is trying to fill gaps left by the closing of stores such as Herbergers,

Angela Moller stocks her shelves with home decor and gift ideas while her husband, Matt Moller’s geometric artwork graces the business’ walls.

Sterling Drug and the Christian gift store Cup of Faith.

She also looked forward to being able to showcase more of her husband’s work in the store, which opened at the beginning of February at 211 S. Newton Ave. Along with having a larger space, their downtown location will make it easier for customers to stop by. That’s very important to Angela Moller, who tries to accommodate their customers’ needs.

One of the tactics she

used to make shopping easier during the pandemic was going live on Facebook.

“It started out as just kind of a silly little thing,” she said. “Again, kind of a way to reach people and help people shop.”

She noted despite the fair amount of foot traffic her business saw, she knew there were loyal customers who didn’t feel safe or comfortable leaving home — so she brought the store to them during live Facebook sales prior to the

2020 Christmas shopping season. It was so popular that she has continued to do the postings year-round, typically twice a month at 7 p.m. Sundays.

“That has been so much fun for us because we have so many really, really loyal customers who watch that,” Angela Moller said.

“It kind of feels like we’re hanging out with them because they’re interacting with us in the comments.”

She said the live streams typically feature giveaways and special buys

as another way for them to show their appreciation to those people who have helped build them up.

“That’s really what’s enabling us to grow,” she said of their loyal customer base.

The business’ new location features more clothing, gift ideas, locally made and sourced products such as jewelry and coffee and, of course, home decor.

“Everything we do is about our love of home,” Angela Moller said.

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PAGE 6 | PROGRESS 2022 | THE BRAINS | SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 26, 2022

Creating change one city at a time CLIMATE ACTION PLAN LOOKS AT THINGS CITY CAN DO TO MITIGATE RISKS OF CLIMATE CHANGE

By Kelly Wassenberg news@albertleatribune.com

Every year schools practice fire drills and local fire departments educate students on fire safety, encourage them to do at-home fire drills with their families and even show the students what they look like with all their gear on — so the children aren’t afraid of firefighters if they one day have to pull them from a burning building.

It’s a proactive strategy — one in which you prepare for the worst and hope for the best.

The city of Albert Lea has already started proactively working to mitigate the risk from another type of threat to area residents: the threat of global climate change.

The state of Minnesota established statewide greenhouse gas reduction goals of 80% by 2050 using a base year as 2005. And the city has taken steps to do its part.

In 2017, the city was selected to receive technical assistance in developing a Climate Vulnerability Assessment, which was completed the following year. In 2019, the city was supported by a second grant through the state to outline strategies and actions to support the goal of achieving climate resilience and reducing the city’s emissions.

This outline, as well as the vulnerability assessment, was completed by paleBLUEdot.

The recommendations given by paleBLUEdot to address the concerns listed in the assessment are what is referred to as living plans. In other words, they are not static or concrete. There is no established order or date to have these goals met by.

“The time constraints or order in which actions are taken are a matter of what can have a quicker turnaround time or what may have to be done first in order to achieve subsequent action items,” Albert Lea City Manager Ian Rigg said. “Other considerations on order of action were based on likelihood of being adopted by leaders and the public.”

Executing the plan will include assigning responsibility to those most aligned with the goal or task at hand. For example, the goal of adding more bike trail options would be assigned to those in charge of street plans, Rigg said.

“Once they are assigned we will meet regularly as a group to go over progress and share ideas,” Rigg said, noting these goals will be part of other review processes as well including budget justification, performance reviews and more.

“My focus is on knowing real attempts are being made and staff know to look for and speak up about opportunities,” he said.

When it comes to any negative ramifications for residents, he said they are meant to be minimal or non-existent.

“For example, many of the actions related to property are about outreach, promotion of alternatives and even provide some incentives leading to future savings,” Rigg said. “One recent example is a policy change that adds tax abatement potential to newly constructed or rehabilitated homes.”

Rigg understands costs are a legitimate concern, regardless of how dedicated somebody may be regarding climate change.

“I think a good parallel regarding cost benefit for both residents and for staff when suggesting changes is our dedication to having a full-time fire department. Those outside the service area of the Albert Lea Fire Department will pay less in taxes if they have a volunteer-based department, but they also pay more in insurance,” Rigg said. “Collectively is the department costing

an average resident more in taxes than what they pay in insurance? If they are, what are the added benefits?”

The answer to such a question could be increased safety to protect the lives of residents and lowering potential property loss.

“When we see a problem and look for solutions, we need to be honest about the payback and the deliverables,” he said.

The development and rehabilitation of private housing is just one step in many to meet multiple action items in the plan. Building and transportation improvements through promotion of higher efficiency options, infilling existing lots or creating density is something we recently achieved as a policy, he said noting now the city needs people to take them up on the tax abatement.

Other changes residents may notice include stronger enforcement of existing zoning requirements, and Rigg expects that to continue. The city wants to reduce sprawl and create

“All aspects, and there are many, of a changing climate are serious.”

— Albert Lea City Manager Ian Rigg more financially sustainable infrastructure, but the city has to do so wisely by looking for buildings to build more vertically so they leave a smaller footprint.

“In the future, when we look at development plans, we have to look for this balance.”

An example of this is the redevelopment of apartments in the old Marketplace Foods grocery store.

The property was reviewed by staff, who then asked developers to reduce a significant portion of the parking lot. Not only was the larger lot deemed unnecessary, it would have cost the developers more to reinstall a new parking lot given the poor condition of the existing lot and would leave a smaller footprint.

“We saved them money and added valuable greenspace in an area known to have flash flooding.”

Greenspace allows for more permeous surfaces, which reduces water runoff into storm drains and nearby waterways.

Rigg said in the ’70s, cities adopted zoning requirements to make a minimum amount of parking for business, regardless of the business type. Since facing issues from the practice, including an increase in flooding, the requirements are being reversed across the country.

Additional plans currently being looked at include saving businesses money by creating less waste.

“If we can, for example, find ways to recycle water/food waste from our industrial plants cheaply and effectively, we will retain revenue in Albert Lea and create savings for our companies. Right now, some of our companies are shipping this waste as far as Des Moines.”

Deconstruction techniques can help the city be environmentally conscious while saving money.

Instead of knocking down a building and filling dumpsters with debris, the building is deconstructed, salvaging usable materials which can be resold. While this process is more labor intensive, it saves money from waste.

“There are doors we can open and others we have to look for and help open,” Rigg said.

This is just a start.

“We are open to all

ideas and ways to create positive changes,” Rigg said. “These action items require many steps, and those steps can come from multiple sources in and outside the city government. We set goals to reach knowing the attempt will bring positive changes without drastic upheaval. Even if we do not meet all the itemized goals, our main goal of changing how we as a city processes policy, purchases and services with a focus regarding climate change ingrained into what we do, will be met.”

Rigg is both concerned and optimistic about the implications of the assessment.

“All aspects, and there are many, of a changing climate are serious,” Rigg said. He worries about what the rapid changes in climate could do to the land, food supply and ability to manage an increased frequency of drought and flooding.

There is also concern about how the impact of climate change disproportionately affects the most vulnerable members of society, as low-income housing is commonly found in more flood-prone areas.

“The ability to rebuild when property is damaged or lost in a natural disaster is not the same for those with limited means or with disabilities. Yes, there is the FEMA (Federal Emergency Management Agency) and other support systems, but they are not complete and do not always render aid in more isolated events,” Rigg said.

In addition to doing more in stormwater reduction, retention and diversion, he voiced concern over extreme temperatures causing health concerns and potentially death for those unable to afford the means to adequately cool their homes.

“Even if people only care about monetary-motivated ideas, consider what quick and heavy rainfall does when it creates flash flooding,” Rigg said. “It is a significant issue for development. The more land goes from being developable to floodplain in routine flash flood events, the more expensive it becomes to support new and existing development through infrastructure.”

He said the more taxes have to go up to pay for that infrastructure, the more it feels like a waste if the city doesn’t try to bend the curve on climate change by spending some of those resources now.

Rigg is also optimistic about technology currently in development, saying he believes it will grow exponentially and provide society with exponentially cleaner options, and will be much more efficient when it comes to the resources it uses.

“That use creates the ultimate test for current technology leading to its continued and rapid advancement. Even if green alternatives cost a fraction more now, or are not as well known, its purchase and use will pay future dividends through improved confidence — both investor and consumer — and increased production.

“Unfortunately, there is no national plan coming to save us. I doubt state leaders will agree on workable answers. Action will come from local leaders and communities as it typically has,” Rigg said.

“Some of our greatest advancements in pollution control and public health were started or implemented by cities and counties such as sanitation, wastewater and driving water. This is the next challenge to sustaining modern living.

“Some of what is in here are lofty goals,” Rigg said of the climate action plan, “But goals nonetheless.

Not all will be achieved while others will. The truest failure by the city is not trying at all.”

The assessment states that by 2050: Residents could see an average temperature of 3 to 5 degrees higher than it is today.

There could be 10 to 15 more days a year when the temperature is 95 degrees or higher.

Residents can expect an average annual rainfall of 5% higher than today or more.

There is expected to be a 15% increase in heavy precipitation events.

People can expect to see a growing, allergy and mosquito season that is estimated to last 15 to 20 days longer than we currently experience each year.

GET INVOLVED ON A PERSONAL LEVEL “Change does not have to be some large reversal of everything we do individually. It is as simple as a momentary pause when a person thinks of an alternative at no real cost or, even better, a cost savings, and gives it a try.”

— Albert Lea City Manager Ian Rigg Listed below are just a few of the things you can do as a citizen of Albert Lea to help protect the environment. For more ideas, view the Albert Lea Climate Action Plan at cityofalbertlea.org.

Things you can do: • Schedule an energy audit with a licensed contractor or Freeborn Mower Electric Cooperative, which assess your home to see the best ways in which ways to save energy in your home specifically • Unplug appliances or electronics when not in use • Set your thermostat 2 degrees higher in the warmer months, and 2 degrees cooler during the winter • Switch to a smart, programmable thermostat • Convert three or more light bulbs in your home to LED bulbs • Look into solar energy options for your home or business • Consider alternative transportation such as walking or biking to work, using public transit or carpooling.

• When buying or leasing a vehicle, consider hybrid or electric models Recycle, and make sure your recyclables are clean and dry so they don’t end up in the landfill • Use reusable shopping bags • Give up single-use plastics by switching to reusable containers.

• Donate gently used clothing and household items to a local charity • Use a dishwasher if you have one, research shows people use more water washing dishes by hand than running a full or nearly full dishwasher • Reduce lawn space by replacing grass with drought resistant native plants, prairie grasses and wildflowers • Water your lawn less often and do so early in the morning or later in the evening • Collect rainwater to water indoor and outdoor plants.

• Grow your own food in your yard or a local community garden • Eat a plant rich diet, buying from farmer’s markets and buying food that is in season to reduce the distance the food has to be shipped to reach your table • Plant fruit or nut-bearing trees or shrubs well-suited for the hardiness zone of your property • Plant trees for shade • Put together an emergency preparedness kit for your household • Understand the risk of extreme weather, extreme temperatures, flooding and wildfires to your home. Take action to protect it.

• Keep yourself and your family current with physicals, vaccinations and prescribed medications and therapies.

• Keep breathing protection masks available for you and your family for when air quality alerts are declared.

SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 26, 2022 | THE BRAINS | PROGRESS 2022 | PAGE 7

Helping students be math masters

By Sarah Stultz

sarah.stultz@albertleatribune.com

A program in Minnesota is recognizing excellence in mathematical skills for students in fourth through sixth grades as well as emphasizing the importance of the subject in everyday life.

Math Masters was founded in 1989 in Austin

by Lewis Aase and Julie Espe, according to the program’s website. It has since grown to serve over 5,500 students each year at competitions throughout Minnesota and surrounding states.

In Albert Lea, there are students who participate in both fifth and sixth grades and who are led by teachers who are passionate about math.

Larry Rassler, a fifthgrade teacher at Hawthorne Elementary School, said he has been in the district for 19 years and participating in Math Masters for 18.

“Math Masters is mainly about problem-solving,” he said.

He noted he started as a coach after someone simply asked him if he wanted to do it.

Natalie Peek said this is her second year teaching fifth grade at Halverson Elementary School and her first year doing Math Masters. Teacher Anna Wescott typically leads the school’s team, but she is out on maternity leave.

“I am excited for it,” she said. “When I was in fifth grade I struggled with math.”

She said she enjoys seeing students find success in the subject.

Derek Ihrke, Robin Hundley, Larry Rassler and Natalie Peek are Math Masters coaches in the Albert Lea school district. SARAH STULTZ/ALBERT LEA TRIBUNE Derek Ihrke, a fifthgrade teacher at Lakeview Elementary School, said he is in his fifth year as a teacher at the school and his third year leading the school’s Math Masters team.

He said math is probably his favorite subject to teach.

Robin Hundley, who has been with the Albert Lea district for 15 years and now teaches sixthgrade math at Southwest Middle School, said she initially started coaching

Math Masters when she taught fifth grade, and then when the opportunity came up for her to teach math at the middle school, she jumped at it and has led the program there, too.

The teachers said to be on the Math Masters team, students take a test, and then the top students are selected to participate.

The students meet weekly after school leading up to the big competition practicing math problems.

At the competition, students can earn awards both individually and as a team.

There are fact drills, and both an individual round and a team competition.

The teachers said the program teaches the students how to be a good team member, how to face adversity and how to problem-solve.

Rassler noted many of these students have never had to work at math.

At the competition, there are math problems

about probability, geometry, percentages and spatial thinking.

While there are some multiple choice questions, for most of the questions, the students simply have to come up with the correct answer.

Rassler said he enjoys seeing many of the students come out of their shells when participating, and each participant gets a T-shirt.

While last year was a virtual contest, and they had virtual practices

because of the COVID-19 pandemic, this year they hope to compete in person.

“It’s fun to see them take on a role and succeed,” Peek added.

Hundley has a corner in her classroom dedicated to Math Masters with photos of previous years’ teams displayed.

The teachers said they look forward to this year’s competition.

Students can win plaques, medallions and ribbons in each competition element.

Behind the scenes with technology at the Albert Lea school district

By Sarah Stultz

sarah.stultz@albertleatribune.com

Use of technology in the classroom is growing and has taken on a significant role during the COVID-19 pandemic.

In the Albert Lea school district, there are five people in the information technology department, which has remained steady since the beginning of the pandemic.

Michael Davis, coordinator of information technology for the district, answered questions about his department and how it has been affected during the pandemic:

Q: Are the IT employees all at the district office or are there different ones at each school?

A: “Our network administrator, our mobile device manager and I all have an office at Brookside, but we do spend time out in the schools for some tasks that need to be completed in-person. We also have two technology specialists.

They split their time between all of our buildings depending on what issues arise on a given day.”

Q: What types of things does the IT department oversee?

How did your responsibilities evolve during the pandemic?

A: “We ensure that all technology, district wide, is in working order. This includes classroom computers, interactive displays, teacher and student Chromebooks and iPads, IP phone system, and the list goes on. This includes troubleshooting, repair and maintenance.

We also maintain the school’s network.

There are also many third-party systems we deal with like our student information system and various programs that are subject area and grade level specific. We also maintain all the computers and systems used by support staff.

A lot of the work we do is hands on. When we had to convert to the remote learning model due to the pandemic, it was very challenging for our department. We sent Chromebooks and iPads home with every student during that time. Having to troubleshoot issues over the phone instead of

How is education evolving to include more technology?

Members of the Albert Lea Area Schools IT department include, from left, Mark Jensen, network administrator; Jeff Humphress, technology specialist; and Michael Davis, coordinator of information technology. Not pictured are Dan Halverson, mobile device manager, and Don Lamaack, technology specialist. SARAH STULTZ/ALBERT LEA TRIBUNE in-person was something our department was not used to. There are a lot of variables in play when students are using the devices at home instead of in a classroom on our network.”

Q: Do you have any numbers as far as

pieces of equipment that you are in charge of (Chromebooks, iPads, etc.)?

A: Currently our K through second-grade students have iPads and third through 12th graders have Chromebooks. Every teacher has a Chromebook, and every classroom has a

computer and large format display, whether it be a projector or interactive panel. We have somewhere in the neighborhood of 4,000 devices we support.

Q: How important is your role to the day-to-day operations of the school district?

A: The IT department’s role is vital to the day-to-day operations of the school district. Our district is full of amazing educators who are very capable of adapting to challenging circumstances.

That being said, I don’t think there would be a single employee who would be excited if the network crashed or a single teacher who would be excited if I told them their students’ Chromebooks won’t be working for a few days.

Technology is constantly evolving and impacting the way we live our lives, and education is not immune to this. The information our students have at their fingertips is truly amazing.

Q: How often does equipment get replaced on average?

A: It isn’t set in stone, but the current replacement cycle is four years for Chromebooks, five years for iPads, and five years for desktop computers.

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PAGE 8 | PROGRESS 2022 | THE BRAINS | SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 26, 2022

Jenn and Jason Schreiber launched 10,000 Custom Designs by Jason last year and have seen the business grow quickly in the last year. SARAH STULTZ/ALBERT LEA TRIBUNE

NEW COMPANY TAKING OFF IN FIRST YEAR

By Sarah Stultz

sarah.stultz@albertleatribune.com

Visit with Jason and Jenn Schreiber of 10,000 Custom Designs by Jason in Ellendale for only a few minutes, and you’ll learn quickly the options are limitless for the new company that started last year.

The business — which offers embroidery, direct-to-garment printing, screen printing, custom logo design, and laser engraving and cutting — is already making a name for itself in the area in the short time it has been open.

“The name Custom Designs really is the heart of the business because almost everything we do is custom,” Jason Schreiber said. “If you’re looking for something everybody else has, we don’t do that.”

The business started in the middle of the COVID19 pandemic when the Schreibers said they were forced to work from home during the shutdown.

Jason Schreiber said he and Jenn had been in a long-distance relationship — he had lived in the Albert Lea and Glenville areas for over 30 years, and she was in the Shakopee area. They both had been married before and together had eight children.

When the pandemic started, they said it seemed like a good opportunity to move in together because at that point it looked like the pandemic was going to be never-ending and they would always have to work from home.

They both sold their houses and together they bought a new place in June 2020 in rural Ellendale. In February 2021, they were married in their kitchen by one of their children.

Jason Schreiber said in June 2021 the company he worked for downsized and he lost his job.

At the same time, he and his wife were talking to a local embroidery company

A T-shirt runs through a dryer at the 10,000 Custom Designs

by Jason shop in Ellendale. about buying their business with plans to put it into a remodeled shop on their property. They added an HVAC system, windows, insulation, LED lights and redid the floors in the shop, and the company backed out at the last minute, he said.

“We had invested thousands of dollars in the studio …” he said. “We took the weekend to think about it, and said we’ve invested all this money, we might as well start.”

Their company, 10,000 Custom Designs by Jason, officially launched in September 2021, though they relaunched an Etsy shop earlier under a different name, BirchwoodCreative.

He said in 2019 he purchased a laser-cutting machine and loved to design and create things. They purchased a second laser from one of his wife’s friends along with the Etsy shop in early summer 2021 and then shut down the shop for a time before relaunching it.

The shop offers four different sizes of cake toppers made from premium birch wood purchased from Root River Hardwoods, which they sell all over the United States. It also sells table numbers, favors and tags, custom signs other event decor.

He said the machine is

Cake toppers are especially popular in the Schreiber’s Etsy shop, BirchwoodCreative. PROVIDED

very intricate and can engrave or cut down to the thickness of a human hair.

Aside from the cake toppers, their other wedding supplies are also popular, including table numbers and unity signs. They also do a lot of wedding gifts, such as personalized wood or slate cutting boards, and make groomsmen and bridesmaids gifts, such as personalized knives and wooden hangers.

Ornaments are also popular.

He said they can engrave on any kind of wood and can also mark on metal.

Jason Schreiber said he knew there was a need for quick, easy, less-expensive screen printing, so they thought there was an opportunity for direct-to-garment printing on T-shirts and sweatshirts. They also have a partner who does screen printing for larger orders. The design on the clothing item can be something customers submit, or he can come up with one, as well.

Some of the other things they make include embroidered Richardson

Jason Schreiber puts a T-shirt on a machine to prepare it before putting on a logo. The company offers direct-to-garment printing itself, as well as screen printing for large orders through a partner. SARAH STULTZ/ALBERT LEA TRIBUNE 112 caps, patches, wood veneer stickers and stamps, among others.

He can also sell a digital file to another laser company.

“We have been blessed with the local support — people that find things they like and they want something similar but they don’t want to buy it from some random people,” he said. “They want to buy it from people they know or someone local.”

Through this point, their largest challenge has been the shortage of supplies, but they continue to work through those issues.

“The biggest part of the business I enjoy is designing,” he said.

He said the company can turn things around in less than a week depending on availability of materials.

The company can be found online at 10000customdesigns.com.

A T-shirt runs through a dryer at the 10,000 Custom Designs

by Jason shop in Ellendale.

The company has created several ornaments, including this one for the United Way of Freeborn County. PROVIDED

One of the services 10,000 Custom Designs by Jason offers is embroidery, as seen on this jacket for Albert Lea Gymnastics Club. PROVIDED

SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 26, 2022 | THE BRAINS | PROGRESS 2022 | PAGE 9

COMPANY TREATS HEARING LOSS IN NEW FACILITY AT THE NORTHBRIDGE MALL HEARING ASSOCIATES LOOKS FORWARD TO CONTINUED GROWTH IN ALBERT LEA

By Kelly Wassenberg news@albertleatribune.com

A student sits in a chair and follows an examiner’s instructions.

“When you hear a beep in your right ear, I want you to raise your right hand. If you hear the beep in your left ear, raise your left hand.”

Many are familiar with this basic hearing screening often done in school, yet many adults haven’t bothered to have their hearing checked since then. And that can be a problem.

According to Hearing Associates Director of Operations Alex Crippin, having a baseline hearing test to compare future hearing tests to is a valuable tool for an audiologist. This is especially true because many compensate for their hearing loss without even realizing it. He said for many, the realization of how significant their hearing loss was came with COVID. The necessity of wearing masks took away two tools those with hearing loss utilize — the ability to read lips and see facial expressions.

Moving from their previous location to the John & Susan Morrison Healthcare Plaza during the pandemic may have brought with it a few challenges.

“All of our deadlines got pushed back,” Crippin said. “The first two weeks of operation, we were using folding chairs because our patient chairs hadn’t arrived yet.”

The positives have far outweighed the negatives, though.

Hearing Associates typically rents or leases locations they use to see patients in the communities they serve. Audiologists would bring in their gear, set everything up and take it with them at the end of the day.

“This space is ours,” Crippin said. “So our name is on the door and we’re always there.” Another benefit to their new location was the ability to design their own space to be exactly how they wanted it.

With patients ranging in age from pediatrics to

Hearing Associates is one of the new businesses to open in the Northbridge Mall, in the space previously occupied by Herberger’s. There is a door connecting the business to the Mercy One clinic. They are two separate entities, but frequently work together to address their patients’ concerns about their hearing. KELLY WASSENBERG/FOR THE TRIBUNE geriatrics, the main level space makes it easily accessible for those who may come in a stroller or have mobility issues. There is also a door that connects Hearing Associates directly to Mercy One. While the two businesses are completely independent from one another, they have a symbiotic relationship which predates Mercy One’s presence in Albert Lea. Audiologist Christine Heintskill works in Albert Lea as well as Charles City and Mason City, where Mercy One also has a clinic.

She said the organizations continue to work together to serve the needs of their patients. If someone is seen at Hearing Associates at either location, and needs to be referred to an eyes, ears and throat specialist, Mercy One can typically get them in to be seen that day. Mercy One refers patients to them, as well.

This is important because as Crippin explained, hearing loss can sometimes be a symptom of a larger problem, especially if it comes on suddenly or is unilateral.

While there are congenital and genetic reasons for hearing loss, the group is also seeing an uptick of

younger patients in part to today’s technology. A decade ago, over-the-ear headphones were commonplace. Now, earbuds are gaining in popularity.

While either device can cause damage to the ear at higher volumes, earbuds create additional problems as they direct sound further into the ear canal.

Regardless of age, there are a few symptoms that are indicative of hearing loss. Do people sound like they are mumbling? Is it harder to hear women’s and children’s voices that seem to be higher pitched than men’s? Is it more difficult to understand what someone is saying if they’re not facing you? Do you depend on syntax, or context clues, to fill in gaps of spoken word?

If so, you may want to consider following up with a provider. Beyond the annoyance of having to ask someone to repeat themselves, hearing loss has been proven to speed the natural progression of cognitive decline and dementia as people age and affects a person’s quality of life.

Not to mention, advancements in technology have not only improved the look and functionality of hearing aids, but have been able to add perks many

wouldn’t have thought possible.

As an independent provider, Hearing Associates works with six different providers of hearing aids so they can focus on the patient’s type and degree of hearing loss, communication needs and their budgets. Even budget-friendly options allow you to stream phone calls through them, and once connected to a phone, many can take advantage of the other apps on the customer’s phone.

Drop technology can send an alert to the patient’s phone if they detect an abrupt shift.

The alert can be dismissed if the individual simply dropped their hearing aid on the floor.

Otherwise, the device can contact a preset emergency contact to notify them the customer has possibly fallen. That technology can give someone the ability to program their smart coffeemaker to start and to turn on a hallway light once the hearing aids are removed from their charging stations since it would indicate the person is awake.

Some even have fitness trackers in them.

While hearing loss is the number one reason most

see an audiologist, Hearing Associates can also arrange tests for vertigo, as the bones in the ear affect balance; can counsel those who may have more of a communication issue than a hearing problem; and can help with the treatment of tinnitus, or an unexplained ringing or chirping in the ear.

As Crippin looks forward to the company’s continued growth in Albert Lea, he also reminds the public that hearing is one of your most important senses — so it’s just being wise to check your hearing, just like you would your teeth and eyes.

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Christine Heintskill holds an example of one of the hearing aids offered at the hearing center. Along with being smaller than older models, newer hearing aids often include bluetooth technology and can be charged wirelessly overnight.

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PAGE 10 | PROGRESS 2022 | THE BRAINS | SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 26, 2022

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PAGE 12 | PROGRESS 2022 | THE BRAINS | SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 26, 2022

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