EDITORS’ NOTES
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PUBLISHER Jana Gray
he winter months can be a challenging time for many as we battle the winter blues. The cold bites and the snow can stall, but we’re not completely void of things to do either inside or outside. This issue of Austin Living Magazine — the first of 2017 — meets the challenges of beating Old Man Winter head on and hopefully will leave you with an idea or two in the battle to outlast Jack Frost. If you’re the active soul, there is a story of We at Austin Living keeping fit and active at home as Troy Williams, magazine want to hear owner of Impact Fitness and Martial Arts takes you what you think, and through a simple and effective workout (Page 18). we need your brightest Another story will offer ways to beat the winter ideas for coming issues. blues, whether its getting out and catching some Favorite musicians? music or a play or even stepping out into the eleFinest artists? ments in an effort to stay active [Page 28]. Goofiest pranksters? Activity carries indoors as well. A group of laBest storytellers? dies have come together to set up their own pickleLocal nightlife? ball club at the YMCA, part of a growing interest in We are open-minded. the sport (Page 32). Call Jason Schoonover There is a story providing great ideas from the at 507-434-2235 or library to pass the night away and Nikki’s ScrapEric Johnson at book Nook just south of Blooming Prairie has all 507-434-2237. the supplies you will need to finish off your crafting Feel free to pen a letter, or scrapbook project (Page 14). too. Our address is on And who could go through winter without food, the right. something hardy to warm the soul after a fun day of sledding or tough time of shoveling. Hy-Vee chef Kristine Wolner and dietitian Courtney Kremer guide you through all the advantages that come along with Crock-Pot cooking (Page 24). We have more ideas of course and more stories that we hope will play a part in your own effort to curb the winter blues. It won’t be long before we start talking about things to do as the temperatures begin to climb.
Sales Representatives Heather Ryks LeAnn Fischer Brenda Landherr Mike Delhanty
– Eric Johnson and Jason Schoonover
JANUARY-FEBRUARY 2017 Volume 5, Number 1
Got ideas?
Austin Living co-editors
Co-Editors Eric Johnson and Jason Schoonover
EDITORIAL Co-Editors Jason Schoonover Eric Johnson Contributing Writers Jason Schoonover Deb Nicklay Eric Johnson Rocky Hulne Sarah Lysne Photographer Eric Johnson ART Art Director Colby Hansen Graphic Designers Susan Downey Colby Hansen Eric Johnson Kathy Johnson Kim Ehrich SALES & PROMOTION Advertising Manager Heather Ryks
EDITORIAL CORRESPONDENCE: Editors, Austin Living 310 2nd Street NE Austin, MN 55912 All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reprinted or reproduced without written permission. For comments, suggestions or story ideas call 507-434-2235. To purchase advertising, call 507-434-2220 © A Minnesota Publishers Inc. publication
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WHAT’S INSIDE JANUARY – FEBRUARY 2017
features PINBALL WIZARDS
Friends find common ground and fun over familiar gaming classic
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LIFE IN THE BAND
Two AHS graduates begin with different goals, but end up marching on the same path
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OLDER IS BETTER
Lifelong antique collector shows off her collections and offers tips of the trade
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SEEN 6 CHAMBER LADIES NIGHT OUT
Austin women come together to raise money for female students at Riverland Community College
8 CHRISTMAS CELEBRATIONS
Christmas in the City rings in the holiday season in various parts of Austin
10 GRAND MEADOW SUPERLARKS
The Grand Meadow Superlarks wrapped up their fourth-straight title and extended win streak to 50 games
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HOME & HEARTH 14 SAVING MEMORIES
Nikki Ryks has created a place for scrapbookers and crafters from all over
18 GETTING IN THE WINTER WORKOUT
Even if the cold and snow keeps you away from the gym, Troy Williams shows you how to maintain from home
OUT & ABOUT 28 BEAT THE BLAHS
Winter doesn’t have to mean hibernation as there are many events and activities to get people out and about
32 PICKLE OF A PADDLE
A group of women hit the pickleball court for fun and activity
34 THE FACES BEHIND
PAINT THE TOWN PINK
Several people come together to make Paint the Town Pink a success
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WHAT’S IN STORE 12 PAGING THROUGH WINTER
Austin librarians recommend engaging reads for the coldest months
AUSTIN EATS 24 SLOW AND SAVORY
Crock-Pot cooking offers easy delicious meals for the season
extras
38 56 LOOKING BACK
A grand ole time: Hormel showed pride with parade, picnic
58 AUSTIN LIVING MARKETPLACE 60 AREA HAPPENINGS
The biggest upcoming events in Austin
62 BOOK REVIEW
TRAVEL
52 SHE LOVES FRANCE
64 WHY I LOVE AUSTIN
Sue Grove has crossed over to other lands, other dreams
“Kitchens of the Great Midwest” by J. Ryan Stradal Jake Vela is here to stay: Welcoming environment makes Austin home
January-February 2017 | Austin Living | 5
SEEN | Chamber Ladies Night Out The ladies took center stage as the Austin Chamber of Commerce hosted the 19th Ladies Night Out, held this past October at the Holiday Inn Austin Conference Center. This year’s theme was a slumber party. The money raised through Ladies Night Out is dedicated to one scholarship for a non-traditional, female student attending Riverland Community College.
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(1) City of Austin. (2) Hoot & Ole’s. (3) Riverland Community College. (4) Games People Play. (5) Fuhrman Real Estate. (6) Fairway Independent Mortgage. (7) Great Clips. (8) Smyth Companies. (9) Farmers & Merchants Bank. (10) Mower County Shopper. (11) U.S. Bank.
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SEEN | Christmas Celebrations It’s one of the most anticipated times of the holiday season as Austin celebrated Christmas in the City, starting downtown with the kickoff where Santa Claus, after leading a parade down Main Street, officially lit the downtown displays. From there the celebration carried over with celebrations in northwest, southwest and east Austin. It’s a chance for families to experience the season with great treats.
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(1) People climb aboard for a wagon ride during Christmas in the City. (2) Arya, 1, and Addy, 3, Frank with parents Lydia and Alec during the horse-drawn sleigh ride at Wal-Mart during Christmas in the Northwest. (3) Santa Claus waves to fans downtown. (4) Maci, 5, and Makayla, 6, Attleson smile during a horse-drawn sleigh ride. (5) Jayden Presnell, 6, decorates a cookie at Hy-Vee. (6) Nathan Wradislavsky points out to his 4-year-old son where they are headed next during Christmas in the City kick-off. (7) Cindy Powell poses for a photo with her grandson, Jax McFarland, 2. (8) The Austinaires perform during Christmas in the City. (9) Elizabeth Huff, 5, gets her cheek painted with a snowman by Jennifer Wiebrand in the basement of the Austin ArtWorks Center. (10) Samuel Westland, 3, licks frosting from a spoon after decorating a cookie. (11) Grant Baron, 3, munches on a cookie. (12) Eleanor Heins, 2, is all bundled up to watch Santa Claus during Christmas in the City. 8 | Austin Living | January-February 2017
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January-February 2017 | Austin Living | 9
SEEN | Grand Meadow Superlarks The Grand Meadow Superlarks had already made their mark on the state stage, winning the past three Class Nine Man state titles, but they went one step further this season, winning their fourth straight championship over a tough Cleveland-Immanuel Lutheran team and extending their current winning streak to 50 straight games. This year was made even more special, as it was also the first state championship decided on the field of the new U.S. Bank Stadium in Minneapolis. Players, coaches and fans have taken the community of Grand Meadow on one heck of a ride.
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3 (1) Fans cheer late in the game as Grand Meadow moved to a shutout win over Waubun in the Minnesota State Nine Man semfinals at U.S. Bank Stadium in Minneapolis. (2) Quarterback Brenn Olson is congratulated by teammates in the waning minutes of the Section 1 Nine Man Championship at RCTC. (3) The coaching staff of Anthony Stejskal, from left, head coach Gary Sloan, Deke Stejskal, Aaron Myhre and Josh Bain pose with the championship trophy after the Superlarks defeated Cleveland-Immanuel Lutheran at U.S. Bank Stadium. (4) Fans cheer as the Superlarks wrap up their fourthstraight title. (5) Coaches and players huddle during a timeout in the Prep Bowl. (6) The Superlarks, owners of 50 straight wins and four-straight state championships. (7) Zach Myhre gestures to the crowd following the Superlarks’ win over Spring Grove in the Section 1 Nine Man championship. (8) Head coach Gary Sloan talks to his team following their win over Waubun in the semfinals. (9) Connor King, right, embraces Zach Myhre as the Superlarks won their fourth-straight state title. (10) Members of the Grand Meadow and Spring Grove football teams shake hands after Grand Meadow won the Section 1 Nine Man championship.
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Paging through winter WHAT’S IN STORE
Austin librarians recommend engaging reads for the coldest months By Jason Schoonover
Austin Public Library is brimming with personality in the seemingly endless stacks of books and movies right down to the faces behind the counters who help make the library work. As winter sets in, Austin Living asked Austin librarians to offer their picks for huddling up and binge-reading through a cold night or weekend. Each of the librarians has a say in picking the collections shared through the library. Adult Services Librarian Courtney Wyant says they aim to reflect the community.
Courtney Wyant
Adult Services Librarian
“Ordinary Grace” by William Kent Krueger “Ordinary Grace,” a novel by William Kent Krueger, is a beautifully written and engaging story. A worthy plot about family, loss and justice set in the 1960s in rural Minnesota. The characters were likable and I found myself rooting for many of them as they dealt with immense tragedy and sadness. I found the storyline to be a real tribute to the resilience of the human spirit.
“Kitchens of the Great Midwest” by J. Ryan Stradal “Kitchens of the Great Midwest” is a hilarious, tender and charming foodie novel. The book is set in the Twin Cities area and each chapter is essentially a set of short stories written from a different character’s perspective about the main character, chef Eva Thorvald. The book captures the tone of the Midwest perfectly and allows the reader to laugh at some of the more “stereotypical” Midwestern characters. 12 | Austin Living | January-February 2017
Jake Fejedelem
Technology Librarian
“Fight Club” by Chuck Palahniuk A man discovers that friendship and fitness provide an antidote to the sterility of modern life in this heart-warming novel.
Kari Oanes
“Boys Among Men” by Jonathan Abrams
This book catalogs the “prep-to-pro” generation of NBA players, from the brand name stars (Kevin Garnett, Kobe Bryant) to those who never capitalized on their opportunity (Korleone Young, Eddy Curry) and everyone in between (Kwame Brown and Tyson Chandler). It’s an engaging read for NBA fans.
Julie Wright
Youth Services Librarian
Technical Services Librarian
“Last Stop On Market Street” written by Matt de la Peña, illustrated by Christian Robinson
“Natural Born Heroes” by Christopher McDougall
The 2016 Newbery Award winner is the loving story of a young boy whose grandmother helps him see the beauty in his everyday life and appreciate the little things that others take for granted. Robinson’s illustrations are engaging and simple, beautifully illustrating the diverse environment around us.
“The Wrath & The Dawn” “The Rose & The Dagger” by Renée Ahdieh This two part young adult retelling of “A Thousand and One Nights” is a fast-paced story of a young woman bent on revenge for the murder of her closest friend. This series has it all: action, adventure, romance, descriptive writing that transports you to another world, and characters that live and breathe.
Christopher McDougall is the sort of nonfiction writer who leads you on a wonderful ride through distant places you never knew you wanted to visit. From World War II resistance fighters in Crete to running rooftops in London to foraging for greens with a ballerina in Brooklyn, after reading this book you will find yourself saying to your friends, “Did you know …?”
“A Sand County Almanac” by Aldo Leopold I picked this book up after hearing retired Director/Naturalist Larry Dolphin quote it in a class full of students at the Jay C. Hormel Nature Center. Leopold, who died in 1948, ranks right up there with Thoreau. This book is a beautiful collection of writings on the natural world and is a joy to read on a chilly winter day. January-February 2017 | Austin Living | 13
HOME & HEARTH
Story and Photos by E ric J oh nso n
Nikki’s Scrapbook Nook owner Nikki Ryks. 14 | Austin Living | January-February 2017
ikki’s Scrapbook Nook may have started out as a reflection of its name, but in just four years, the business has expanded to include a work area, larger sales area and a getaway for those looking to make a weekend of it. It’s a nook no longer. It’s a destination. “It’s become a gathering place for women,” said owner Nikki Ryks. “I’ve had women who haven’t seen each other in years who are up at an event here and reconnect after 20 years. It’s a sense of women gathering.” Ryks opened the Nook on Jan. 11, 2013, in a small portion of her dad Vern Dennis’ motorcycle repair shop, Vern’s Bikes and Trikes. The opening came just about three short months after conceiving and deciding to go through with the idea in October 2012. The move made sense for Ryks, who had not only sold product for home-based businesses, but saw herself as a collector of memories. “Eighteen years I’ve been scrapbooking,” Ryks said. “My daughter will be 18 and I started when I was pregnant with her because I was on bed rest and there wasn’t much I could do.” She remembers buying a camera as one of her first major purchases and she was the editor her school’s yearbook.
A group of scrapbookers make use of Nikki’s Scrapbook Nook’s getaway area. They include Sarah Cedarberg, left going clockwise, Brandy Wefel, Meg May and Haley Ryks. Sarah, Brandy and Meg all came down from the Twin Cities area, and Haley is from Blooming Prairie.
“Obviously, it’s always been in me kind of to always do something like this,” she said. However, it was a family tragedy that pushed her more than most reasons. “The best thing is when my kids go back looking through the books,” Ryks related. “I had a house fire about 28, 29 years ago and my siblings were killed. Taking care of pictures and memories is kind of important to me, because I would give anything to be able to look at a scrapbook from when I was little, but most of our pictures were burned.” Ryks threw herself into her business and expanded it in August of 2014, a process that included the getaway portion that features a kitchen for food and beds for those looking to take a break. She expanded again in September of 2015, adding a workroom.
Slowly but surely, Nikki’s Scrapbook Nook was eating into her father’s business who had begun downsizing and traveling south for months at a time. Not that all traces of the shop had disappeared as Ryks shared some of the storage space for scrapbooking materials with motorcycle parts. It created an odd environment, Ryks said. “Scrapbookers didn’t like the chrome; bikers didn’t like the scrapbooking,” Ryks said. “Now it feels like a scrapbook room and not a motorcycle showroom.” In the time since she’s opened, Ryks has seen her business consistently grow with her expanded product line. “Since I’ve opened, it’s more than tripled,” she said. Continues on Page 16 January-February 2017 | Austin Living | 15
Continued from Page 15 Her success is based on a simple premise: Offer what other stores don’t. In Ryks’ case, that includes the expanded product. “I carry unique things that people don’t find in the big chain stores like Michael’s or Hobby Lobby or even Jo-Ann’s. People come here because of my paper selection — there’s so much more to my selection than most places,” she said. That idea of providing what most places don’t is reflected in how busy she is. Already she has begun looking toward next year as people look for spot to create and save memories. “My weekends are pretty booked,” Ryks said. “I’m starting to book into January and February. My store is very busy.” Despite the work load, she wouldn’t have it any other way. “It’s been pure joy,” Ryks said. “Obviously the headaches — you get frustrated with many little things — but then there are the joys. I would never want to give up the people I’ve met.” Despite how well things have gone, Ryks laughed when asked if further expansion is in the cards. “My dad jokes that pretty soon I’ll take over the whole building,” she said. “But that’s not going to happen unless I make a lot of money. No, I’m pretty happy and content with where it is.”
Location H One mile south of Blooming Prairie on Highway 218; 15 minutes north of Austin and 20 minutes south of Owatonna. Winter Hours H Open 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Tuesday-Friday and 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Saturdays. The shop is closed Sunday and Monday. H Open late by request. Message or call ahead if traveling from long distance in case the Nook had to close early. For more information 507-583-7603; Cell: 507-438-2515. Online: www.nikkisscrapbooknook.com Facebook: Nikki’s Scrapbook Nook Email: nikryks@gmail.com
Phone:
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Nikki Ryks works on cards in the workroom of her business, Nikki’s Scrapbook Nook. Below, Nikki has expanded to include a work area and larger product selection.
January-February 2017 | Austin Living | 17
HOME & HEARTH
Troy Williams, owner of Impact Martial Arts and Fitness in Austin, says there are plenty of ways of maintaining your fitness lifestyle, even if the snowy conditions won’t let you get to the gym.
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GET IN THE WINTER WORKOUT Even if the cold and snow keeps you away from the gym, Troy Williams shows you how to maintain from home Story
and photos by
Eric Johnson
We’re all faced with a number of challenges during the winter. Driving, walking or staying warm are high on that list. But for people hoping to maintain their healthy lifestyle and stay in shape, winter can make getting to the gym a challenge in its own right. However, there are ways to not miss the opportunity by moving your workout to any open space within your home and not miss a beat. Troy Williams, owner of Impact Martial Arts and Fitness in Austin, says there are plenty of ways of maintaining your fitness lifestyle, even if the snowy conditions won’t let you get to the gym, including a number of exercises anybody can do at home with a limited number of items needed. Williams provided a workout that needs just a small, open space in the home and can be versatile enough to fit the needs of most anybody at whatever level they are at. “This is good for maintaining or if somebody is brand new,” he said. “It’s a good intro to introduce them to these muscles.” The workout Williams describes requires very few items though he suggests people consider looking into getting a basic set of dumbbells or some resistance bands. But the true beauty of the workout is that it makes use of the person’s own body weight to generate the resistance needed.
“You’re going to get a better workout with your body weight,” he said. Another nice aspect to this simple workout is that it doesn’t have to be an everyday workout. “There are people who choose to workout at home,” Williams said. “If they did this just three days a week for 90 days they are going to see results.” But even if people miss a workout for whatever reason, Williams stresses to remain active in some way at some level. That may include even using the very thing that’s keeping you from making it to the gym. “Any rigorous movement will support the cause,” he said. “If you want to maintain your core, shoveling snow can do the job.” However you choose to workout at home, Williams said to remain mindful of what you are doing so as not to risk injury. “If you don’t follow strict guidelines — ab control, posture, not swinging weights around,” Williams said. “Cleaner technique; that’s what prevents injuries.” The workout on the following pages is what Troy Williams suggests people do when getting to the gym is a struggle. The workout uses minimal assets and makes use of the person’s own weight to get an easy workout at home. Continues on Pages 20 & 21 January-February 2017 | Austin Living | 19
TRICEP DIPS With hands on the edge of the chair, extend legs out in front of you and lower yourself down and then up again.
DEEP SQUATS Make sure your backside is to the chair. For a more advanced squat, place one leg on the chair for 10 squats before switching legs and repeating.
PUSH-UPS OFF CHAIR Face the chair, kneel and then place hands on the chair, keeping your abs tight. Workout can also be done with legs fully extended.
For a more advanced version, turn and place feet on the chair and do the pushups off the floor.
ABS
Sit on the edge of the chair and bring one knee at a time to your chest. An advanced version is to bring both knees to the chest.
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MOUNTAIN CLIMBERS With your hands on chair, bring each leg forward for one minute.
SEATED SHOULDER PRESS Sit on chair with your back straight and start with your elbows even with the shoulders and extend up. This exercise can be done with empty hands or with dumbbells.
Continued from Page 19 Williams suggests people start the workout with one minute of activity, citing things like walking or jogging in place or jumping jacks. “You want to get that heart rate going,” he said. “A brisk walk, jog in place, jumping jacks for one minute and you’re good to go.” Each aspect of the workout is done in three sets of 10 reps each.
1. DEEP SQUATS Make sure your backside is to the chair. For a more advanced squat, place one leg on the chair for 10 squats before switching legs and repeating.
2. TRICEP DIPS With hands on the edge of the chair, extend legs out in front of you and lower yourself down and then up again.
3. PUSH-UPS OFF CHAIR Face the chair, kneel and then place hands on the chair, keeping your abs tight. Workout can also be done with legs fully extended. For a more advanced version, turn and place feet on the chair and do the pushups off the floor.
4. ABS Sit on the edge of the chair and bring one knee at a time to your chest. And advanced version is bring both knees to the chest.
5. MOUNTAIN CLIMBERS With your hands on chair, bring each leg forward for one minute.
6. SEATED SHOULDER PRESS Sit on chair with your back straight and start with your elbows even with the shoulders and extend up. This exercise can be done with empty hands or with dumbbells.
PLANKS Extend out on the floor supporting yourself with feet and arms. Keep the arms in a triangle position so the hands line up with your chin. Hold for 30 seconds to a minute. For knee drop version, drop one knee at a time, 10 for each side or double knee drop, 20 reps.
7. PLANKS Extend out on the floor supporting yourself with feet and arms. Keep the arms in a triangle position so the hands line up with your chin. Hold for 30 seconds to a minute. For knee drop version, drop one knee at a time, 10 for each side or double knee drop, 20 reps. January-February 2017 | Austin Living | 21
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AUSTIN EATS
Crock-Pot cooking offers easy, delicious meals for the season Story
and
Photos
Let me set the table for you. It’s been snowing all day — 4 to 6 inches of the white stuff you’ve been dreading all year. The plow just went by and added another 12 inches to the end of your driveway, and you have a lot of snow to blow by the time the light fades. And it’s cold — bone-chillingly so. All you want is a warm meal. You come in the house and the smell is the first thing that gets you — a nice, hot, spicy chili that’s been cooking all day, just waiting for you as day slides into night. Such is the joy of Crock-Pot cooking. “I use mine all the time,” Hy-Vee chef Kristine Wolner said to a group of around 50 ladies during a November Home & Hearth event at the Hormel Historic Home. Later in the presentation most everybody raised their hands when Wolner asked, “Who here has a Crock-Pot at home?” It demonstrated just how much of a mainstay in the kitchen a Crock-Pot is. 24 | Austin Living | January-February 2017
by
Eric Johnson
The Crock-Pot is a slow-cooking method of preparing a meal, a device that lets you cook a meal throughout the day without so much of the preparation needed for other meals. It’s especially handy in today’s society where time isn’t necessarily the commodity it used to be. “It’s the ease,” Wolner said after her presentation. “The convenience of prepping [the meal], going to work and then coming home to a prepared meal.” The Crock-Pot is a versatile tool to have in a number of different ways. There is of course the ease of cooking. Combine the ingredients in the morning, go to work and then come home to the finished meal. There is the versatility of what it can be used for: soups, stews, meats even desserts — all of these can be used with a Crock-Pot. “People can now be versatile,” Wolner explained. “They need to be able to do a bunch of stuff.” Continues on Page 27
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Chef Kristine Wolner talks about the benefits of Crock-Pot cooking during a Home & Hearth seminar at the Hormel Historic Home.
Below are two of the recipes chef Kristine Wolner had available for tasting at her Home & Hearth presentation at the Hormel Historic Home.
Savory Chicken All you need • 4 chicken breasts or 1 whole chicken • 1 envelope Savory Herb with Garlic seasoning • 2 (14.5 ounce) cans of Hy-Vee stewed tomatoes • 1 onion, sliced • 2 teaspoons minced garlic • 1 cup Hy-Vee chicken stock • 4 cups chopped broccoli • Optional: 4 tablespoons white wine. All you do 1. Place thawed contents in the slow cooker. 2. Cook on low for six to seven hours.
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Chef Kristine’s Pot Roast All you need • Olive oil, as needed • 2 pounds arm roast • 1/2 (1 pound) bag baby carrots • 4 red potatoes, cut into quarters • 1/2 onion, chopped • 1 (10.75 ounce) can Campbell’s Healthy Request Golden Mushroom Soup • 1 envelope Hy-Vee onion soup mix All you do 1. Add drizzle of olive oil to the bottom of the slow cooker. Place thawed contents of the freezer bag in slow cooker. 2. Cook on low for eight hours or until fully cooked.
The beauty of Crock-Pot cooking is the versatility it offers in terms of ingredients and how the meals are prepared.
Continued from Page 24 Another way the Crock-Pot showcases its versatility is when it comes to the preparation of healthier meals. In today’s society where healthy eating is taking more and more of the center stage in dining, the Crock-Pot makes it possible to get all your healthy needs into one, easy meal. “It’s so easy to put in a good, lean piece of meat, whole grains and vegetables into one meal,” said Hy-Vee registered dietitian Courtney Kremer. “It saves time and it gives people less excuses for not eating healthy.” And the options expanded from there in the types of meats that are both tasty and healthy, including lean beef rounds and loins, some pork and, of course, chicken breast. And perhaps the crowning achievement of the CrockPot is how much food can be made. It’s easy to carry one meal into the rest of the week or even further by preparing a good amount of food at once and freezing it, thus making it available down the line for those simple meals. And of course, those blessed leftovers only seem to get better with reheating. “You go on a Sunday, prep two or three meals and then make up a full batch for four or six [people] and package up that leftover stuff,” Wolner said.
A beer buddy for a good chili A favorite of many people when using Crock-Pots is a nice batch of chili, which can be paired with a bottle of beer to complete the meal. Brian Wahlstrom, manager for Hy-Vee Wine and Spirits, suggests Fulton Beer’s Lonely Blonde, a blonde ale out of St. Paul, Minnesota. “It would be a good contrast to the spice,” he said. “It’s just a super good beer.” Wahlstrom describes Lonely Blond as being nice and soft that isn’t as hoppy as some beers and won’t overpower the flavors in the chili. A six pack at Hy-Vee is $8.98 for a six pack or $15.99 for a 12-pack.
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OUT & ABOUT
BEAT THE
s ! h Bla Winter doesn’t have to mean hibernation as there are many events and activities to get people out and about Photos
By Jason Schoonover Submitted and by Eric Johnson
The Christmas presents are opened, the New Year’s resolutions are set and we’re in the midst of a new year. As the holidays pass and January and February lie ahead, winter can often feel a bit like an endurance test against Old Man Winter’s long embrace. We ready ourselves for — best case scenario — two more long months of sporadic bitter cold and snow before March teases the chance of an early spring. This is the time of year when many of us like to curl up on the couch under a blanket and binge-watch movies or TV shows; however, Austin boasts ample opportunities to get out, get active and beat the winter blahs. 28 | Austin Living | January-February 2017
Bo nn ie R ie tz , fr om le ft , D eA nn e Si lb au ta lk be fo re a gh an d D eb bi m at ch of pi ck e H ol t le ba ll at th e a gr ea t w ay YM CA . Pi ck le to be at th e w ba ll is in te r bl ah s w it h fr ie nd s.
Winter doesn’t have to keep the artist inside. The season can paint some lovely scenes for photography. Photo by Tim Rietz
Here are some Austincentric ways to stay active and keep winter from getting you down:
Get active
January is the season of resolutions, which are often prone to fail. However, winter is still a great time to get active. Opportunities abound at Austin’s many gyms, from simply using the exercise equipment to taking a TRX or CrossFit class. Winter is the ideal time to try something new or get involved. Former mayor and community member Bonnie Rietz recommended taking up pickleball, a sport similar to tennis but on a smaller court with a paddle and heavier ball. “It is a fun, growing sport and great for beating the winter blahs,” Rietz wrote to Austin Living. Continues on Page 30
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Continued from Page 29 Rietz also recommended Wendy Fleiner’s step class at the YMCA, which she described as a high energy and positive thing to do on a winter’s day. A group meets at the YMCA to play the sport on Tuesdays, and Austin Parks, Recreation and Forestry have offered pickleball times in the past. Try the dome. Along with free walking hours again at the Wescott Athletic Complex Dome, there will be adult flag football again and the baseball pitching machine league for the youth 7 to 12. Austin youth soccer will again hold a league and skills camp starting in January.
Austin youth have a great opportunity to stay active during the winter months inside the Wescott Athletic Complex Dome.
Austin Parks & Rec offers public skate times at Packer Arena for $4 if someone has skates or people can rent them for $1. A curling league started Nov. 14 at Packer. Adult open hockey is offered on Wednesday nights at Riverside Arena for $6 per person per time. When the weather is cold enough, Austin has free outdoor ice rinks for those that have skates.
Get outside, even in the cold
Tim Reitz, a retired doctor, recommended people do what they can to stay active, referencing the “use it or lose it” imperative. Even though the weather is typically far from warm, he recommended people take up snow shoeing or cross-country skiing as a way “to appreciate the beauty of the great outdoors and stimulate a healthy mind and body and attitude.” Tim, an avid amateur photographer, recommended photography as a way to add another layer to embracing the outdoors during winter. Of course, the Jay C. Hormel Nature Center is the prime place to experience winter in Mower County. It offers cross country ski rentals for $6 per person for three hours and snowshoe rentals for $5 per person. Cost for children age 18 and under is $1. Hours are 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday, Tuesday and Friday; 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. on Thursday; 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Saturday and 1 to 5 p.m. on Sunday. Skis must be returned 15 minutes prior to closing. Free ski rentals are offered on Thursdays beginning in January and lasting through March if conditions allow. A Minnesota Ski Pass is not required.
The hou se ban d kick ed off thin gs dur ing the ArtR ock s Jam Ope n Jam Sess ion at the Aus tin ArtW Get ting out and hea ring som e mus ork s Cen ter. ic and may be eve n play ing som e tun es can help driv e the win ter blue s awa y. 30 | Austin Living | January-February 2017
Photo by Tim Rietz
Bonnie Rietz uses cross country skies to stay active.
But the nature center really just needs to be a starting point for people to get out and about. Skinner’s Hill in southwest Austin continues to be a staple for sledders, and Mill Pond and East Side Lake attract some ice fishermen. For those looking to take to a sled with a bit more oomph, people can browse the area snowmobile trails at www.snowmobiletrail.com/us/mn/city/austin/.
Get creative
The Austin ArtWorks Center and Willow Cove both offer a steady stream of classes. Willow Cove owner Jill Jones offers workshops, which range from pallet classes to mustard seed painting. The Austin ArtWorks Center hosts a variety of courses throughout the year, with mediums like clay, paint and many, many more.
Austin Public Library also hosts workshops, classes and events, including ones like “Good Books Lately,” a time for people to talk about the books they are reading to get ideas from others. Additionally, author talks are frequently held at the library and Sweet Reads. For the musically inclined, a group of women meets on the second Friday of each month to perform music for one another. For more, contact sonial@charter.net. The ArtWorks Jam Sessions are held at the ArtWorks Center on some Friday nights. For those looking to simply appreciate the creative arts, Riverland Community College’s theater department and Matchbox Children’s Theatre have plays coming up, and the Austin Area Commission for the Arts offers a steady stream of shows at the center and Paramount Theatre. The Coffee House on Main also has acoustic acts perform on Saturday mornings.
Take up a good cause
Nothing quite busts the blues like giving back and lending a helping hand. Austin is perfectly positioned for two big causes this time of year. First, the annual Lyle Area Cancer Auction is held from 6 p.m. to 1 a.m. on Jan. 13 and 11 a.m. to 2 a.m. on Jan. 14. Then, various Paint the Town Pink events will be held Jan. 30 to Feb. 12.
jump Kramer & Associates get ready to lake as the crew from Davis, Thoen, the se. cau into d e goo anc a entr for y if earl cold an es the ude embracing Toby Hovelsrud mak Beating the cold can sometimes incl y. ruar Feb past this ge Plun r during the Pola January-February 2017 | Austin Living | 31
Pickle of a paddle
OUT & ABOUT
By Rocky Hulne Photos by Eric Johnson
A group of women hit the pickleball court for fun and activity
Janet Hokanson returns a ball during a game of pickleball at the YMCA.
32 | Austin Living | January-February 2017
Janet Hokanson is 76 years old, but she’s not missing a beat, especially when she’s on the pickleball court. Hokanson is one of 10 Austin women who regularly play pickleball at 5:30 p.m. every Tuesday night at the YMCA. It’s not a league, but the games allow for a little competition, and a lot of fun. “If you don’t use it, you’ll lose it,” said Hokanson, a former physical education teacher who coached varsity tennis for eight years. “We have to keep moving every day doing something. Pickleball is fun. We can laugh a lot and get exercise at the same time. It’s wonderful.” The group was started a couple of years ago when Margaret Johnson organized a group of women from the Hormel Corporate Office to play pickle-
Margaret Johnson returns a ball during a game of pickleball at the YMCA. Below, a paddle and pail of pickleballs rest beside the net, waiting to be used.
ball outdoors at the Neveln Elementary courts. The group originally had to rent their paddles, but eventually they were able to start playing in the YMCA that provides a year-round place to meet. Johnson was able to recruit a group of players by sending out e-mails. She also plays pickleball three mornings a week in Albert Lea and she’s grown to love the sport. “It’s just fun to get together with a bunch of ladies and get out there and exercise,” Johnson said. “Most of us would play every day if we could.” DeAnne Silbaugh was one of the first players to join the group of pickleball players. She said it’s a great way to stay active in a sport that requires less running, but still requires fast reaction time at the net.
A pickleball is about the size of a baseball and it doesn’t bounce extraordinarily high, which requires players to be quick on their feet. “I played tennis and racquetball, but as we got older we had injuries and we couldn’t play anymore, so we rounded up all of our tennis friends and we started playing pickleball,” Silbaugh said. “Margaret talked a few
of us into playing. The rest is history.” Deedee Marx used to teach pickleball when she was a physical education teacher in the 1980s and 1990s and she wants to see the sport continue to spread. “We’re just trying to bring the sport back,” Marx said. “The rules are a little complicated until you know about them and get used to it. It’s a good fast paced game and even we can play it in our 60s and 70s.” Johnson said the group is looking for more pickleball players and anyone interested in joining can contact Austin Parks, Recreation and Forestry or the YMCA. Anyone interested in playing doesn’t have to bring a partner, as the group usually mixes up teams. January-February 2017 | Austin Living | 33
OUT & ABOUT
The faces behind Paint the Town Pink
The Austin Bruins and Coulee Region Chill face off last February during the fifth annual Paint the Rink Pink game at Riverside Arena.
Several people come together to make Paint the Town Pink a success By The Hormel Institute • Photos At The Hormel Institute, research is dedicated to an extremely important and narrow focus: finding new answers to prevent and control cancer. The fact that cancer death rates are down 23 percent in the past two decades shows research, prevention and new therapies protect and extend lives. Cancer affects everyone and our local community supports The Hormel Institute’s world-renowned cancer research through several grass root fundraisers. One of the fastest growing of these is the annual Paint the Town Pink campaign. “We are very fortunate to have so many creative and caring members in our community who are willing to share their time to make PTTP a success,” said Kathi Finley, director of Paint the Town Pink. “The growth of Paint the Town Pink is a reflection of their compassion and belief that cures are possible.” Paint the Town Pink grew to 28 communities last year and this year the fundraising goal of $300,000 will likely top $1 million raised in total by PTTP for cancer research. These are just a few of the people from throughout southern Minnesota and beyond who make it happen: Austin Bruins’ Paint the Rink Pink: Craig Patrick, co-owner of the Austin Bruins Hockey Team, spearheaded Paint the Rink Pink in 2011, an ice hockey fundraiser that raised $23,000. Paint the Town Pink was coined in 2012 34 | Austin Living | January-February 2017
by
Eric Johnson
and this year the multi-town effort will again increase its goal with 100 percent to fund The Hormel Institute’s cutting edge cancer research. PTTP Steering Committee: This group thinks pink throughout the year to help manage major events as well as add new events and communities. Members include director Kathi Finley along with Janet Anderson, Neal Anderson, Jeff Baldus, Toren Bires, Becky Earl, Judy Enright, Mike Keeley, Jeanine Nelson, Jeremy Olson, Nancy Schnable, Kim Underwood, Tami Yokiel, and from The Hormel Institute, Gail Dennison, Brenna Gerhart and Michelle Phillips. Plunging for Pink: Plunging for Pink is a crowd favorite with teams that creatively dress up and jump in frozen East Side Lake every year. The team behind the popular plunge work overtime coordinating efforts by Park and Recreation, city of Austin, Waterways and more to drill holes in a frozen lake and keep jumpers safe.Hormel Foods’ Tim Fritz inspired his team to “do something to support the community,” and Joe Muzik stepped up to spearhead this event in 2013. This year Toren Bires takes over the reins to join Cody Anderson, the popular emcee of the event who both met his wife at and proposed at past Plunge events, to help manage the polar plunge. Continues on Page 36
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Continued from Page 35
multicolored flags (purchased/provided by Jeff Baldus) displayed at Mayo show the community that while the color pink reigns supreme during the festival, the cancer research funding helps provide answers to all cancers. Everyone who donates time or funds to Paint the Town Pink is helping to further The Hormel Institute’s research to find better treatments and ways to prevent breast cancer. Money raised through Paint the Town Pink funds seed grants our scientists can use for preliminary research into new ideas, leading to larger grants to further that initial research, as well as funding new and advanced technology to keep our scientists on the leading edge of research.
Hoot & Ole’s: Multi-year winners of the largest fundraising team for Plunging for Pink, the Dutchtown Jumpers of Hoot & Ole’s are a powerhouse of fun and fundraising. Judy Enright and Jeremy Olson are the duo behind many of the events Hoot & Ole’s puts on each year to raise money for the plunge. Bean bag tournaments, hot dish potlucks, golf outings, Judy and Jeremy work throughout year to make sure the Dutchtown Jumpers are the team to beat. Park and Recreation: Kim Underwood, who received the special Pink Heart award for outstanding support of Paint the Town Pink, is the energetic leader of the Austin Parks, Recreation and Forestry department and the force behind the pink flags up and around downtown Austin, the ice hole carefully cut into East Side Lake for the plunge, the snowmobile race event and path on the lake, and many other details the city of Austin takes care of to make the Paint the Town Pink campaign a success. Kim and her team work tirelessly, and Members of Boy Scout Troop 113 Jacob Langstaff, often unseen, to get from left, Sam Hagen and John Olson head into the water many of the Paint the during the Polar Plunge in East Side Lake this past February. Town Pink events off the ground. For all details on Paint the Town Pink events, go onFishing for a Cure: A small village of fishermen take line to The Hormel Institute’s website — www.hi.umn. over East Side Lake one Saturday a year during Paint the edu — and click on the PTTP link at the top of the page Town Pink, and Glenn and Babs Newman are the ones or go to Paint the Town Pink’s Facebook page at www. who gather them there. This event was started by Jim facebook.com/austinpttp. Nelson and Duane Smith and is a family favorite. This year’s Paint the Town Pink campaign will offiSmashin’ Cancer - Mower County Fair Board: A cially take place from Jan. 30 to Feb. 12, 2017, although truly Minnesota tradition, the Smashing Cancer Demo multiple events take place all year long. Derby takes place each February to benefit Paint the Town “PTTP has a significant and important impact on Pink. The Mower County Fair Board makes this event posThe Hormel Institute,” said Gail Dennison, Director sible. Multiple divisions of cars and trucks brave the cold, of Development and Public Relations for The Hormel ice and snow to battle it out to be the last car standing, Institute. “The funds provide grants for innovative reand to help raise money for breast cancer research. search and our scientists, when they experience the “The fair board is happy to help fund research that community bedecked in pink and holding events — it will hopefully smash cancer forever,” said Mower County truly is very inspirational for them to them to know their Fair Board member John Mueller. “Cancer affects everyone work is valued and supported. We would like to say thank and every family in some way and we are glad to help.” you — Paint the Town Pink is all about people working Mayo Clinic Austin: Tami Yokiel and Mayo Clinic for a brighter and healthier tomorrow.” Austin get behind PTTP in a big way each year. The 36 | Austin Living | January-February 2017
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l l a b n i P s d r a z i W un f d n a d n u gro n o m m o c d n i f s d n e ic i s r s F a l c g n i m ga r a i l i m a f r ove By Rocky
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o to s Hulne • Ph
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n Eric Johnso
hen the phrase “pinball craze” comes to mind, one’s mind may wander to an image of the 1975 rock opera entitled “Tommy.” The film featured a bell-bottomed boy named Tommy, who couldn’t talk, speak or hear, but was a master at the pinball table. In Austin there is a modern pinball craze taking place, but there are no bell bottoms involved — just a handful of strangers who have evolved into close friends over the past few years.
Thanks to their love of acquiring and restoring old pinball machines, Matt Merfeld, a doctor, Dave Brennan, a packaging engineer, Dean Darnell, a farmer, and Duane Felt, a county worker, have teamed up and shared a hobby that has played a big role in their lives. “If you didn’t have friends in the hobby, you’d get bored pretty quick because family doesn’t care about it,” Merfeld said. “I ask a lot of people about pinball, just in case they have a machine in the basement and that way I can buy it and sell it. The best news you can hear is someone who has a broken machine in the basement and they think it isn’t worth anything.” Continues through Page 41
Duane Felt plays Black Knight 2000 as Dr. Matt Merfeld watches. The two became friends through their combined love of pinball.
January-February 2017 | Austin Living | 39
The four men picked up their hobbies individually, but they eventually crossed paths on the forum of the website pinside. com a few years ago. Since then, they’ve met up consistently to trade advice and machines. Between the four of them, they’ve restored a total of close to 100 machines. Felt said that the friendship he has with his pinball buddies is unlike any other. “A lot of us have social anxiety, but this is something we can bond over,” Felt said. “I think for the most part, our pinball friends are our best friends. We share everything.” Brennan used to restore classic motorcycles, but he made the switch to pinball machines a few years ago when he bought a used machine and it didn’t function correctly. Since then, Brennan has quickly picked up the complex process of restoring the machines, which involves touching up the playing field, replacing the circuit board, and fixing the parts inside the machine. Pinball machines and parts can be purchased on Craigslist or acquired through word of mouth. “We help each other out and we trouble shoot with different things,” Brennan said. “My best friends are the ones I met through pinball.” Brennan has fallen hard into the pinball scene as his home and garage are filled with games. His collection includes The Black Night, Flash Gordon and The Black Hole. He’s even taken on the task of building his own game from scratch by using parts of other “donor” games. When he’s on the road, Brennan will often visit www. pinside.com and visit other pinball enthusiasts. “There’s really no place to play anymore, so I’ll find people who have machines and ask them if they want to play,” Brennan said. “I’ll come over and be like ‘I’m that weird guy.’ We play some games and talk pinball. It’s awesome.” The number of pinball machines on the market varies from one that were made in the ’70s, to ones that were made in recent years. Since most machines were built to only last about five years before being thrown away, there is often a lot of work that comes with a new purchase. Some collectors will pursue any machine they can find and rebuild, while others are after the more rare finds. “It’s cool to have a rare machine,” Darnell said. “I’m probably the only pinhead farmer that you’ll meet.” Merfeld, Brennan, Darnell and Felt will sometimes host or attend pinball parties in Austin, where people from all over will come over to talk shop and play games. They’ve also attended conventions in Chicago and Milwaukee, where they meet the people who design the games. “We’re a little crazy with just inviting complete strangers over to your house. It’s a growing hobby and the community is growing,” Felt said. “It’s like classic cars. Condition and model. Every pin has a title and it’s unique. People restore Mustangs and Camaro’s. They don’t restore Pintos.” From left, Lights of pinball machines fill up a dark room. Dave Brennan holds up the table of Theatre of Magic to show off the intricacies that lay underneath. Dean Darnell stands next a row of machines, one of which being another pinball classic, Flash Gordon. 40 | Austin Living | January-February 2017
Dr. Matt Merfeld, from left, Dave Brennan, Dean Darnell and Duane Fett have found a common link in an enduring form of gaming — pinball.
January-February 2017 | Austin Living | 41
On The arch Two AHS graduates begin with different goals, but end up parading on the same path By Sarah Lysne Photos by Eric Johnson, Gopher Photo
42 | Austin Living | January-February 2017
The University of Minnesota Color Guard leads the marching band in a parade. Laura Siegfreid and Bethany Rowbal, both Austin grads, are part of the band. Gopher Photo/gopherphoto.com
Above, Laura Siegfried playing the flute with the marching band. Below, Bethany Rowbal commands the field with the color guard. Photos courtesy of Gopher Photo/gopherphoto.com
January-February 2017 | Austin Living | 43
Bethany Rowbal marching with the University of Minnesota Color Guard. 44 | Austin Living | January-February 2017
Gopher Photo/gopherphoto.com
Austin grads Bethany Rowbal, left, and Laura Siegfreid are both representing Austin High School as members of the University of Minnesota Marching Band. Eric Johnson
T
wo Austin High School graduates are enjoying the opportunity to represent the University of Minnesota as members of the University of Minnesota Marching Band in the Twin Cities. Senior Laura Siegfreid and sophomore Bethany Rowbal are both honored to be a part of the band this year. Siegfreid, a retail merchandising major, played the flute in high school and has liked the Gophers from an early age. It only made sense for her to want to be part of the spectacle. “I grew up going to Gopher sporting events, and I was always eager to see the band perform. I knew that someday I wanted to be out on that field playing in the future,” said Siegfreid.
“I grew up going to gopher sporting events and I was always eager to see the band peRform. I knew that someday I wanted to be out on that field playing in the future.” Laura Siegfreid
Siegfreid competed against 30 other students during her junior year at the U of M and was one of five selected to play in the 26-member flute and piccolo section that year. Rowbal’s involvement in the band, however was not originally part of her college goals. “When I entered college I was just planning to focus on my classes, but participating in the band has ended up being one of my favorite things about college,” she said. Rowbal is a student in the College of Biological Sciences and plans to major in biology and minor in Fisheries, Wildlife and Conservation Biology. Continues through Page 47 January-February 2017 | Austin Living | 45
“It’s kind of amazing to see how many college students put so much time towards it and work so hard to put together a show that only lasts 10 minutes.” Bethany Rowbal She played clarinet in the AHS wind ensemble but has found a different way to be part of the band experience at the U. Before moving to Austin with her family, she attended high school in Georgia where she was in her high school band’s Color Guard, during her freshman-junior year. Rowbal ultimately came full circle and was one of eight who were chosen to be in U of M band’s Color Guard. Siegfreid and Rowbal saw significant differences between being in the band at AHS and being a part of the U of M Marching Band. “I think the most challenging part about being in marching band at the U is the time commitment,” Rowbal said. “We practice for an hour and 45 minutes Monday through Thursday during the season, with additional practices on Fridays and Saturdays of game weekends.” That practice shows on the field. “The band learns a different half time show for every football game which includes new music, new drills, and new formations on the field,” Siegfreid said. “We also practice for a pregame show. On game days, during the football season, we often spend eight hours practicing and performing.” Siegfreid also noted that unlike high school, they are 46 | Austin Living | January-February 2017
required to memorize all of their music for each half time show and they have to learn different marching styles such as the high-step, the glide step and a variety of combinations to go along with those marching styles. “There are a lot of things that I love about being in the marching band,” Rowbal said. “It’s kind of amazing to see how many college students put so much time towards it and work so hard to put together a show that only lasts for 10 minutes. I think my favorite part is performing on game days in front of thousands of people.” “Most of the people in the band are not music majors. It’s a great opportunity to pursue your own education and future, but still carry your love for music with you in college,” Siegfreid said. Rowbal said that the marching band travels with the football team to bowl games. Last year they went to Detroit, Michigan, for the Quick Lane bowl. The Gophers are bowl eligible this year, and the girls were hoping to travel somewhere warm. The girls recalled a quote on the wall near their rehearsal space which says, “The band doesn’t become a part of your life; you become a part of the band’s life.” “We are a part of something that has continually grown and represented the state for 125 years, and it’s an honor to be a part of something like that!” Siegfreid said.
Laura Siegfreid with Goldie the Gopher. Gopher Photo/ gopherphoto.com
January-February 2017 | Austin Living | 47
Older is Better By Jason Schoonover • Photos
by
Eric Johnson
Lifelong antique collector shows off her collections and offers tips of the trade An old scale on one side of Sandra Bell’s kitchen holds an arrangement of Santas and holiday decorations, while another scale sits on the opposite side of the room serving as a candy dish. Sandra walks through her kitchen pointing to other antiques mixed expertly throughout the space: two cigar molds split each side of a window and a 1900s coffee grinder is mounted on a wall, as are an old architectural hook and old sauerkraut holder. “Yeah, I got antiques,” Sandra says half to herself as she walks through her kitchen. At first glance, Sandra and her husband Greg’s house appears to boast a clean, modern look; however, it’s peppered with unique pieces of history in the form of antique furniture and decorative pieces, many of which are more than 100 years old
and have many years of life left. For Sandra, antiques are a lifelong passion. “I’ve always gravitated toward them, because I think it’s cool that a piece is 100 years old, and they don’t make them like they used to,” she said. “I don’t care where you buy it. It’s just all veneer. If you buy something that’s old and antique, you know it’s going to be around for another hundred years.” For a piece that’s a hundred years old, it’s likely to last many more decades. “Quality wise, you just can’t beat it,” Sandra said. Sandra, who owns Austin’s Twice Is Nice, showed off a variety of her collected antiques to Austin Living, which serves as advice to others looking to get into the antique game. Continues through Page 51
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Many antiques can be used as wall-mounted decorations, including this old coffee-grinder at Sandra Bell’s home.
January-February 2017 | Austin Living | 49
Add a personal touch Sandra’s antiques each have a different origin, but they now work together in one space. That’s because Bell has used them to accent and showcase her personality and her decorative style, which she describes as French-European. She collects pottery, especially Red Wing Pottery, and she has pieces set by an old French cherub. She places other decorative pieces, like part of an old fence, around the walls. In an upstairs room, she displays her collection of old metal purses in an old cabinet, and in her living room she has an original table that belonged to her father and his mother. Despite her affinity for antiques, Sandra mixes in a vast variety of new pieces in her home. Along with new furniture, she mixes in cabinets and other pieces from Georgia-based American Heritage Furniture products, which makes new furniture that looks old. She sells such pieces at Twice is Nice.
Repurpose Like Sandra’s kitchen decorations, many antiques find new life and new purpose. She uses things like an old iron gate and an old door as decorations, and she placed her collected creamers in an old basin. Two old corbels sit atop a kitchen shelf as decoration. She said the items, previously used on the exterior porches of older homes, are becoming more costly and now a good set would cost about $225 because they’re hard to find pairs in good shape. “It’s just fun to decorate with that kind of stuff,” she said. Many items can be repurposed. A company took tin ceiling from a store in Minneapolis and made them into mirrors. In her living room, she uses a large copper boiler she bought for $125 to hold accessories for a fireplace. With the high price of copper, she said the value is only going up. Near the back of her living room is an old potbelly, which was a baker’s table with deep metal drawers that she now uses as a decorative table. “I just think that’s so cool,” she said of the piece she found at a flea market. She recommended people stick with the colors they like, adding whites and different colors can be mixed if it’s done right.
Recreate In an upstairs bedroom, Sandra has a cedar chest she bought when it was brown and ugly, but she and Greg painted it to give it new life. “And it’s a cool piece,” she said. “… That’s one of my favorite pieces.” 50 | Austin Living | January-February 2017
Above, Sandra Bell is reflected in an antique mirror. Left, don’t be afraid to leave things as is for that antique touch. Below, Sandra Bell loves scales and utilizes them throughout her home.
Sandra Bell’s antique-decorated home lends a perfect background to Christmas.
Just because something is old doesn’t mean it is — or has to be kept — original. Many pieces are refurbished over time, and Sandra said it’s popular now to paint antiques. “Redo ‘em,” she said. “Don’t be afraid to grab a can of paint because your base is so much better than buying a veneer product.” In Sandra’s experience, older people tend to like original pieces, while younger people often want to paint them. She says it’s just a matter of personal preference and both new and refurbished pieces adorn her rooms. Sandra and Greg have redone many pieces, and she suggested people have a plan before diving in. “Take your time,” she suggested. “Take a piece. Take your drawers off, just put it up on a table. Most of it’s done with chalk paint.”
Keep your eyes open “I’m always on the hunt. It’s a sickness,” Sandra says with a laugh. Sandra says she looks anywhere and even travels looking for fun, unique pieces, and she urged people to pounce on a piece they like. “If you see something you like, buy it,” she said. “Because you will find a spot for it.”
But she hasn’t always done that. Sandra passed up a large shelving unit that had been used at a business because it was too large to move; however, she wishes she could have bought it.
Stick with reputable dealers and sellers When it comes to pricing items, Sandra suggested people shop around and gauge prices, so they’re ready to buy when they find the right one. While antiques may cost more, Bell says you get what you pay for. “If you spend a little bit of money on an antique item, they’re only going to grow in value,” she said. She also recommended sticking with reputable dealers whenever possible, and she suggested attending the large sales often held in the summer at fairgrounds, flea markets or big sales that attract big dealers. In her decades of antiquing, she’s had a few horror stories of getting a piece home and then finding cracks or broken pieces. She suggested people take out drawers and check legs to ensure nothing is glued together or cracked. At Twice Is Nice, Sandra sells most of her antiques from various dealers. January-February 2017 | Austin Living | 51
TRAVEL
Photo by Eric Johnson
Sue Grove has crossed over to other lands, other dreams By Deb Nicklay • Photos Submitted
by
Sue Grove
A picture at night of Notre Dame Cathedral in Paris, France on Sue and Vern Grove’s final night in the city in 2015. 52 | Austin Living | January-February 2017
You could never say Sue Grove would let grass grow under her feet. The emeritus professor of French from Riverland Community College is on the road. Many roads, in fact. She chuckled when relating the number of trips she has taken since 2008, her retirement year. “Well, it’s over 20,” she said, as she scanned a sheet she penciled for dates. Some were smaller jaunts within the U.S., at times taken for conference travel or, at other times, to visit family. She can count Seattle, New Orleans, Orlando, Florida, and Albuquerque, New Mexico. And: New Hampsire; Disney World; Grapevine, Texas; Orange, California; New York City, Houston, Texas, Door County, Wisconsin; Duluth, Minnesota; and Washington, D. C. There are more, but her serious travels comes with crossing oceans, and her first choice?
Well, France, of course. She has made many, many trips to the country of vineyards, Chanel, Citroens, and Edith Piaf, and has loved every one of them. It may be heritage speaking to her: She is, after all, one quarter French (and one-quarter Norwegian and one-half German). “But it’s the French part that has always held me,” she said. “I’ve been in love with France since I was young.” She is particularly intrigued by the France of the 1950s and 1960s when fashion, culture and its movie industry caught the fascination of the world. Grove can spontaneously sing the lyrics to most of Michel Legrand’s music that brought 1964’s “The Umbrellas of Cherbourg,” and a very young Catherine Deneuve to the world. It was no accident the first country she returned to after her retirement was France. Her travels, however, will most likely take place along rural vistas and back roads. Soaking up the native culture is important to Grove who most often travels with her husband, Vern — a perfect partner who enjoys the travel as much as she. But you won’t see her traveling to Paris very often, though its true the historical spots in the country’s capital should be visited, she said, “after that, it’s just a big city.” She loves to travel the small towns of France, where real life takes place. She and Vern often rent a car to travel the countryside, and stay in apartments rather than hotels. “You can buy groceries and cook for yourselves, which is nice,” she said. There is a bit of irony in their travels to France: For all her years as a French teacher, Vern has never learned the language. So, when the couple stops at small inns or pubs, Vern doesn’t say much and lets Sue do the talking. Continues on Page 54 January-February 2017 | Austin Living | 53
The view from the Grove’s cottage in Puy I’Eveque in France near the Lot Valley.
The colorful houses in Burano, Italiy near Venice.
A bridge in Cahors, France.
54 | Austin Living | January-February 2017
Continued from Page 53 Grove laughed at one of the more recent stops, when townspeople at one restaurant in a small French town realized they were sitting next to Americans. “Seeing any American, where they live, is highly unusual” so once learned, townspeople began to ask the couple many questions, which Susan fielded. Vern stayed quiet. One woman finally turned to Sue, motioning to Vern. “Is he a mute?” she asked. Grove laughed in the retelling, adding there are not too many regions of France she has not visited. Some trips were taken with French students during her tenure at Riverland; some were taken with other tour groups. At other times, Sue and Vern would “wing it” on their own. She has even stayed in a chateau. “I have loved every trip,” she said, adding each region is different. She was particularly touched when they toured the beaches of Normandy, the site of the D-Day landings by Allied Forces that helped turn the tide of World War II. “Every American should visit Normandy,” she said. Grove realized during extended visits, “I found myself not only speaking in French, but thinking in French as well. “When you speak in another language, it is almost like you become someone else,” she said. “Language can change people. You act differently; you think differently.” She has conducted a pilgrimage
of sorts during trips to France. For many years, Grove has been intrigued by the writings of 17th century French aristocrat, Marie de Rabutin-Chantal, marquise de Sévigné. The marquise’s letter-writing skills were wonderful, said Grove. She thought she could journey along the same paths of some of the marquise’s travels and places where she had lived. They seemed to be some kind of kindred spirits. Sue was in Paris for a conference when she realized the name of a boulevard that ran right behind her lodgings carried the marquise’s name. “That was a little odd, a little coincidental,” she said with a laugh. Another twist: When Sue began researching her ancestral lineage, she found her forebears and the marquise lived in and round the same community, Angers, in the western part of the country. “They very well could have known her,” Grove said of her ancestors. Grove admitted there are times when you have to “go in the zone” when travel takes a downside — as when the airport lines are too long, or the seats on the plane too crowded. Still, those are small prices to pay for your first glimpse of a foreign countryside. There are other countries to travel. She has traveled to Ireland (“Absolutely beautiful countryside,” she said, and vows to return) and England, as well as the British Virgin Islands, all since she retired. Sue and Vern are soon headed to Norway, to see if the strings of heredity vibrate as intensely as those on the French side of her ancestry. There are still a lot of “would love to’s” in her travel wish book. She would also love to see St. Petersburg, Russia’s former capital; Hawaii, and then there is Maine, and Vermont ... the list goes on. But it will always end in France. “I never tire of it,” she said of her travels. January-February 2017 | Austin Living | 55
LOOKING BACK
Above, Tichy’s Band in Lafayette Park in 1916. Right, an announcement about the Hormel picnic in the Austin Daily Herald on Aug. 23, 1907.
A grand ole time By Jaimie Timm, Mower County Historical Society • All
photos courtesy of the
Mower County Historical Society
Hormel showed pride with parade, picnic On Aug. 24, 1907, the George A. Hormel & Co. held its sixth annual company picnic. The event began with a rather impressive parade down Main Street. The 250 employees gathered at the Water Works Park where each man was given a cane and a blue ribbon badge. The parade began with automobiles, then carriages, Tichy’s Band, the Office Department, the Traveling Men, superintendents and foremen, the Industrial Division, the Hormel Band (drawn by three mules), decorated wagons loaded with provisions (presumably for the picnic in the afternoon), and busses filled with women and children. The whole parade procession was about six blocks long. Upon arriving at Lafayette Park, George Hormel called 56 | Austin Living | January-February 2017
the gathering of about 1,000 people to order and introduced the speaker — Lafayette French (former mayor of Austin and prominent trial lawyer). O.W. Shaw also spoke to the group. For the rest of the afternoon, the group enjoyed a picnic meal and amusements. The Geo. A. Hormel & Co.’s Employees Association was responsible for hosting and planning the picnic each year. The newspaper account of the 1907 picnic said that: “each year the event becomes greater than former ones.” Each employee gave 75 cents toward the event, but they were paid for their time at the picnic by the company. The organization arranged bands, baseball games, food, speakers and all other attractions.
The George A. Hormel & Co. in 1908.
Above, the George A. Hormel & Co. annual employee picnic parade in 1907. Left, George Hormel (bottom right in the bowler hat) leads a procession of employees in the parade. Below, the pavilion at Lafayette Park in the early 1900s. The Hormel picnic was probably held near here.
January-February 2017 | Austin Living | 57
AUTOMOTIVE HOLIDAY CARS OF AUSTIN: 2701 West Oakland Ave., Austin, MN www.holidaycarsaustin.net www.holidayford.net (888) 267-1356 Holiday Cars of Austin is proud to be one of the premier dealerships in the area. From the moment you walk into our showroom, you’ll know our commitment to Customer Service is second to none. We strive to make your experience with Holiday Cars a good one – for the life of your vehicle. Whether you need to purchase, finance, or service a new or pre-owned vehicle, you’ve come to the right place. DENTAL DRS. ELROD, GREEN & HYLAND, DDS: 800 1st Ave. SW, Austin, MN (507) 437-8208 www.yoursmileperfected.com Drs. Elrod, Green & Hyland is a modern, state-of-the-art practice offering patients a full-range of general and cosmetic dental services, from routine check-ups to complete smile makeovers. The doctors practice conservative, proactive dentistry utilizing the latest in dental technology. The first step towards a beautiful smile and a lifetime of good oral health is to schedule an appointment. Our office works with numerous Insurance Carriers. For your convenience, we offer a variety of payment options. Call today to schedule your appointment. We look forward to serving you for years to come! FINANCIAL BREMER BANK: 805 North Main, Austin, MN (507) 433-8822 www.bremer. com Full-service banking, wealth management, investment, trust and insurance for personal or business banking. Online banking anywhere, anytime. EDWARD JONES: www.edwardjones.com Edward Jones serves nearly 7 million investors from more offices than any other investment firm in America. We attribute a great deal of our success to our principles and personal, longterm approach to investing. We have consistently been ranked among the best companies to work for by FORTUNE magazine, and our employees tend to stay with us for years. As a privately owned company, Edward Jones has a very personal feel that’s almost like family. And we’re very proud of that. We have consistently been ranked among the best companies to work for by FORTUNE magazine, and our employees tend to stay with us for years. As a privately owned company, Edward Jones has a very personal feel that’s almost like family. And we’re very proud of that. FIRST FARMERS & MERCHANTS: 128 N. Main St., Austin, MN (507) 433-3473 www.ffmbank.com First Farmers & Merchants Bank is a financial institution serving a number of southern Minnesota communities. We provide premium banking services, including agricultural and consumer loans, mortgage lending, mobile and online banking, small business banking, and deposit products HEALTH DRAAYER CHIROPRACTIC: 109 1st Ave. SE, Suite 1, Austin, MN (507) 3968088 www.draayerchiropractic.com Dr. Patrick Draayer looks forward to helping you reach you optimum health. Draayer utilizes the most advanced chiropractic techniques, offers advice on supplements, and works with you to help you reach complete wellness. Patients are treated like part of the family - your health and comfort are Draayer Chiropractics number one priority! THE HORMEL INSTITUTE: 801 16th Ave. NE, Austin, MN (507) 433-8804 www.hi.umn.edu The Hormel Institute is a world-recognized leader in the scientific field showing that dietary factors prevent and control cancer development. We are accelerating cancer research discoveries to achieve our mission: Improve your health and well-being. Today’s Research, Tomorrow’s Cures. HOME IMPROVEMENT AREN’S HEATING: 103 3rd St. SE, Austin, MN (507) 433-5652 www.arensheatingandcooling.com Steve and Penny Arens working hard to make “Our Furnace Company Your Furnace Company” for 32 years since 1983. Selling “Top Rated” Bryant Equipment. We will service any make or model. 24 HR Emergency Service. Free Estimates. Call Today (507) 433-5652. 58 | Austin Living | January-February 2017
HOME IMPROVEMENT (CONTINUED) BUDGET BLINDS: 310 1st Ave. S., Albert Lea, MN (877) 373-8535 www.budgetblinds.com/AlbertLea We proudly serve the local community by offering high quality and stylish window coverings for any occasion. Our lavish selection of window treatments includes shutters, blinds, draperies, shades and even window film. Call us today to schedule your free in-home consultation. Looking forward to helping you beautify your home! FREEBORN LUMBER COMPANY & DESIGN CENTER: 971 Plaza Street West, Albert Lea, MN www.freebornlumber.com (507) 377-4284 A family owned business that began in 1946. Stop in and visit their new facility and design showroom. Freeborn Lumber features quality building materials, new home design, kitchen remodels, cabinet design, agricultural buildings and outdoor living spaces. GREENMAN HEATING & REFRIGERATION: 1001 4th St. SE, Austin, MN (507) 437-6500 www.lennoxdealer.com/greenmanhvac Your local Lennox Premier Dealer staffed with Austin’s finest NATE Certified installers and technicians, ready to assist you with your heating, cooling, fireplace, and ventilation needs. Family owned for over 50 years, our family cares about your family. Voted Best of Mower County. Go Green, Save Green, call Greenman. NEW DIMENSION ELECTRONICS: (507) 433-2122 Having been in business for over 35 years, providing your home entertainments needs with Dish Network, Directv, Antenna Service, and Home Theater. Visit our website at www.Newdimensionelectronics.net or Come See our showroom located next to Jim’s Super Valu at 209 11th St NE, Austin Mn. SERVICES AUSTIN AEROFLIGHT: 710 21st St NE, Austin, MN (507) 433-1813 www.austinaeroflight.com Austin Aeroflight, Inc. is a full service FBO located at the Austin Municipal Airport. We offer both Jet A and 100LL fuel services. We provide flight training and ground instruction. Along with training, we also offer a complete line of CATS computerized testing. All FAA or FCC written tests can be taken here. Your major or minor aircraft repairs may be completed by our professional maintenance personnel. Austin Aeroflight also has the heated hangar space you need to protect your aircraft in all weather conditions. We’re here to meet all your aviation needs in Southern Minnesota. CRIME VICTIMS RESOURCE CENTER: 101 14th St NW, Austin (507) 437-6680 www.facebook.com/CVResourcecenter The CVRC provides advocacy and support to crime victims in Mower County. The CVRC is here to serve you and those close to you with support and options, and works for changes which will enable all citizens to live in a community free of fear and violence through advocacy, actions and education. The CVRC will help individuals who have been victims of many different types of crime. GERARD ACADEMY: 1111 28th St. NE, Austin, MN (507) 433-1843 www.nexustreatment.org At Gerard Academy, we believe in strengthening the inherent goodness and potential of every child and family, no matter what challenges they face. Since 1969, we have offered therapeutic care for children, adolescents and their families, providing the foundation for them to re-imagine and rebuild their lives. SMYTH COMPANIES: 1201 27th Ave. NW, Austin, MN (507) 434-5918 Smyth offers full-service design and prepress services to our commercial clients. From simple two-color flyers to complex layouts for annual reports or product brochures, we can do it all. Eight station presses enable the application of a world of colors along with gloss or matte coatings. Digital printing is also available for short run and prototype work. SHOPPING NORTHBRIDGE MALL: 2510 Bridge Ave., Albert Lea, MN (507) 377-3185 www.northbridgemall.com Conveniently located just off the intersection of I-35 and I-90, Northbridge Mall features many dining and shopping opportunities.
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January-February 2017 2014 | Austin Living | 59 63
Jan. 9
History Happy Hour
When: 5:30 p.m. social hour, 6 p.m. presentation. Where: Hormel Historic Home, 208 Fourth Ave. NW The Archeology of Bones, presented by Elena Haymond.
Get ready for a hopping winter with the start of the new year. Make your New Year’s resolution to get out more this year and attend some community fun. With hockey, holiday parties, robots and annual Paint The Town Pink events, the whole community will be kicking off a great year. — All dates, times, and locations subject to change
Jan. 13-14
Lyle Area Cancer Auction
When: 6 p.m. to 1 a.m. Friday, 11 a.m. to 2 a.m. Saturday Where: Lyle American Legion and Lyle maintenance building The Lyle Area Cancer Auction will take place at both the Lyle American Legion and Lyle maintenance building. The auction starts at 6 p.m. Friday and will continue until around midnight or 1 a.m. The auction will resume at 11 a.m. Saturday and will run until the last item sells, typically between 1 and 2 a.m. Sunday morning. The auction has a variety of items for sale each year.
Jan. 17
Hearth & Home Series
When: 10 a.m. Where: Hormel Historic Home, 208 Fourth Ave. NW Flood Walls in a Former Swampland, presented by Tim Ruzek
Jan. 13-15
Tyler Brady Hockey Tournament
Where: Packer Arena or Riverside Arena Teams will hit the ice for this annual peewee tourney. For more information or to register a team, contact Mike Rumsey at tournamentdirectorayh@gmail.com or 507-4386777 or visit https://austin.sportngin.com/register/form/226132467.
Jan. 20-22
Packer Classic Girls Hockey Tournament
Where: Packer Arena or Riverside Arena Just days after the boys hit the ice, the girls will follow suit in a hockey tournament. Like the Tyler Brady tourney, contact Mike Rumsey at tournamentdirectorayh@gmail.com or 507-438-6777 for more information or to register a team. Online registration is available at https://austin.sportngin.com/register/form/909221676
Jan. 21
VEX Robotics Tournament
When: 9 a.m. Where: Austin High School Watch high school robotics teams compete against each other in this amazing event, working towards a place at the state competition. More information to follow.
Jan. 22
Austin Wedding Showcase
When: Noon to 3 p.m. Where: Hormel Historic Home This annual event features vendors and a fashion show of wedding-related items. This year’s fashion show will feature the Austin Bruins. Admission is $4. For more information, call Amanda Barber at 507-433-4243. 60 | Austin Living | January-February 2017
Jan. 27-29
“Cinderella”
When: 7 p.m. Friday, 2 p.m. on Saturday and Sunday Where: Historic Paramount Theater This classic fairytale will take on a new twist when Matchbox Children’s Theatre brings William Glennon’s new adaptation of the story to the stage to support Paint the Town Pink. The adaptation is hailed as funny and charming. Tickets for ages 14 and under are $6 and adults $10.
Jan. 28
Cedar River Longbeards National Wild Turkey Federation Banquet
When: 5 to 10 p.m. Where: Holiday Inn Austin Conference Center The 20th Annual Cedar River Longbeards fundraising banquet includes live and silent auctions and raffles. The event offers people a chance to become involved in the club’s Dream Hunt and to Save the Habitat, Save the Hunt.
Jan. 28
Dammen Cross Country Ski Race
When: 8 a.m. Where: Hormel Nature Center Annual cross country ski race with beginner’s/kid race, classical, and freestyle races. Register by Jan 20 for discounted entry fee. Register at www.hormelnaturecenter. org/ski-race. For more information, call 507-437-7519. Reregistration by Jan. 20 is $15 for adults and $5 for kids (ages 13 and under). After Jan. 20, registration is $18 for adults and $8 for kids. Only $5 extra to do both the Classical and Freestyle races! Skis are available to rent for any participant who needs them. The profits from this event go directly to the Kevin Dammen Memorial Mentorship Fund. Nature Play days and our Summer Adventure Programs benefit directly from this mentorship program.
Jan. 28
Cross Country Ski Lessons
When: 1:30 to 4:30 p.m. Where: Jay C. Hormel Nature Center Classical ski lessons will include instructions for beginners as well as tips for intermediate skiers. Lesson cost is $6 for adults and $1 for children (accompanied by an adult), which includes poles, boots and skis. Meet in the Interpretive Center basement. Registration is required in advance by calling 507-4377519, info@hormelnaturecenter.org.
Jan. 30-Feb. 12
Fifth annual Paint The Town Pink
Where: Multiple locations throughout Mower County Paint the Town Pink has grown from one pink-themed hockey game into a county-wide initiative with dozens of fundraisers for breast cancer research at the Hormel Institute. Main roads are lined with pink flags, and other pink decor is featured throughout the community. Numerous businesses and organizations offer pink-themed deals and events during Paint the Town Pink. And on Feb. 10, the Austin Bruins will play their sixth annual Paint the Rink Pink game at Riverside Arena. Plunge for the Pink returns to East Side Lake on Feb. 4. For a schedule of events, go to www.hi.umn.edu. Every donation to The Hormel Institute through “Paint the Town Pink” goes 100 percent directly into research focused on discoveries leading to the prevention and control of breast cancer.
Feb. 3
Tonic Sol Fa
Feb. 21
When: 7:30 p.m. Where: Historic Paramount Theatre The Twin Cities-based a cappella group returns to Austin to perform at the Paramount Theatre. Ticket prices TBD.
Hearth & Home Series
Feb. 3-5
Packer Classic Bantam Tournament
Austin Area Chamber of Commerce Annual Banquet
Feb. 10-12
Feb. 22-26
Where: Packer Arena or Riverside Arena To enter Bantam Tourney, go to https://austin.sportngin.com/register/form/477683295. Early Bird Registration: $700 if you register by Oct 1, 2016, $800 after Oct 1, 2016. For more information or to register your team please contact Mike Rumsey via email tournamentdirectorayh@gmail.com or call him at 507-438-6777.
Calico Hutch Quilt Retreat
Where: Holiday Inn Austin Conference Center. With a “Back to the Fifties” theme, this event returns, offering days of quilting with friends, plus free demos, massage therapists, show and tell, door prizes, games and more. For more information, call 507-377-1163 or 507-433-8000.
Feb. 11
2017 Harris Piano Competition
Where: Paramount Theatre and Hormel Historic Home In 2012 the Harris Piano Competition, named after MarySue Hormel Harris, was created as a way to further music appreciation and education for area youth. The competition is for youth ages 6-18 who live in the Minnesota counties of Dodge, Freeborn, Mower, Steele or Waseca, or the Iowa counties of Cerro Gordo, Floyd, Mitchell or Worth. Concert and awards ceremony featuring eight top performers at the Paramount Theater at 4 p.m. Honorable Mentions will also be recognized at afternoon contest. Reception to follow the concert and awards ceremony. Those interested in competing should contact Holly Johnson at 507-433-4243 or via email at holly@hormelhistorichome.org.
When: 10 a.m. Where: Hormel Historic Home, 208 Fourth Ave. NW Program TBD
Feb. 23
When: 5 to 8:30 p.m. Where: Holiday Inn & Austin Conference Center Social Hour starts at 5 p.m., dinner at 6:30 p.m., and the program will start at 7:30 p.m. For more information, contact the Austin Area Chamber of Commerce at admin@ austincoc.com. The cost is $30 per person, and table sponsorship is $300 and reserves seating for eight.
“The Language Archive”
When: 7:30 p.m. Feb. 22-25, 2 p.m. Feb. 26 Where: Riverland Community College George is a man consumed with preserving and documenting the dying languages of far-flung cultures. Closer to home, though, language is failing him. He doesn’t know what to say to his wife, Mary, to keep her from leaving him, and he doesn’t recognize the deep feelings that his lab assistant, Emma, has for him. Is love a universal language or just a well-intentioned dream that leaves us all at a loss for words? Suggested for ages 12 and up.
Feb. 24
Johnny Holm Band Concert When: 7 to 11 p.m. Where: Holiday Inn Austin Conference Center Known for long, high-energy shows, Johnny Holm and his band will bring a rocking show to Austin.
Feb. 25
Mower County Pheasants Forever Banquet
Feb. 13
When: 7 to 11 p.m. Where: Holiday Inn Austin Conference Center Only a limited number of tickets are available for the event that will feature a social hour, raffle and dinner.
When: 5:30 p.m. social hour, 6 p.m. presentation. Where: Hormel Historic Home, 208 Fourth Ave. NW Program TBD
Feb. 26
Feb. 18
When: 2 p.m. Where: St. Olaf Lutheran Church ASO will perform a concert called “Remembrance” featuring hometown violinist Richard Roberts, who is now the Concertmaster of the Montreal Symphony. That show will center on great symphony music and will look back at ASO’s roots.
History Happy Hour
Foodie Throwdown
When: 5:30 to 8:30 p.m. Where: Hormel Historic Home Annual event featuring local chefs preparing foods to a specific theme, with guests being the judges. Cost is $35 per person. For more information, call 507-433-4243.
Feb. 18
Friends of the Jay C. Hormel Nature Center Annual Meeting
When: 2 p.m. Where: Jay C. Hormel Nature Center Join nature center staff for refreshments, a review of the center’s 2016 accomplishments, and a free program (open to the public), TBA. Please RSVP by Thursday, Feb. 16 (507437-7519, info@hormelnaturecenter.org).
Austin Symphony Orchestra – Remembrance
Feb. 26
Mower County Humane Society Spaghetti Dinner When: 4 to 7 p.m. Where: Holiday Inn Austin Conference Center Annual fundraiser for the Mower County Humane Society, featuring spaghetti dinner, silent auction, more. For more information, call 507-433-8000. January-February 2017 | Austin Living | 61
BOOK REVIEW
HUNGRY FOR MORE
Stradal kneads complexity into his book ‘Kitchens of the Great Midwest’ By Holly Johnson, Austin Page Turners I love the kitchen. Cooking, hanging out with friends, organizing cupboards, I just love it. So when my book club suggested we read “Kitchens of the Great Midwest” by J. Ryan Stradal, I was excited. I thought it would be an uplifting read about good things happening in my favorite room, in the region of the country I call home. My assumption is a great example of why we shouldn’t judge a book by its cover or its title. There is definitely a story involving interesting and unique characters and there are a variety of kitchens, but the plot is more complex than I expected. The opening chapter describes the early life of Lars Thorvald from Duluth, Minnesota, who is nicknamed Fishboy. His father, Gustaf Thorvald, is the highly regarded owner of Gustaf and Sons Bakery. When tragedy strikes and the woman responsible for making the annual Sunday Advent lutefisk is laid up one year, Gustaf promises his family will provide the beloved traditional dish. The task of pounding, drying, and soaking the whitefish falls to Lars and his younger brother Jarl. Lars masters the skill of making lutefisk and in the meantime becomes “a little wizard in the kitchen.” With a nickname like Fishboy, you can imagine the kind of life Lars has during
his teen years. Although the old Scandinavian women who walked him to church assured him that any young man who made lutefisk as well as he did would be quite popular with the ladies, Lars endures the cruelty and ridicule of immature classmates. Abandoning the family bakery business and his successful lutefisk industry, Lars moves to the Twin Cities to begin his career as a chef. From there the story branches out to include characters such as his wife, Cynthia, who is the smartest waitress on staff at the restaurant where Lars is chef. Cynthia’s ability to detect the subtle flavors in both food and wine captures Lars’ attention, and the two are married. Their daughter, Eva, becomes the leading lady throughout the rest of the book. Having inherited her mother’s exquisite taste palate, her story takes her on a journey where she enjoys kitchen apprenticeship, elite socializing, entrepreneurship, and success. Unfortunately, tragedy, loss, and loneliness also play a role. Influenced by cousins Braque and Randy, a variety of both good and bad friends, and the merchants who introduce her to unique food, Eva spends her time creating unique recipes and crafting a life based on her passion and innate skills in the kitchen. The story is one of love, new beginnings, and redemption that will leave you hungry for more. An added bonus in the story is the recipes for French Onion Soup, Caramel Bars and Chile Infused Oil. Blame it all on the lutefisk. J. Ryan Stradal
62 | Austin Living | January-February 2017
January-February 2017 | Austin Living | 63
WHY I LOVE AUSTIN
Jake Vela has been a longtime member of the Austin community and is devoted to making the community a better place.
HERE TO STAY Welcoming environment makes Austin home By Jake Vela • Photo I was 14 when my parents decided to relocate us to Austin. At that age, it was difficult for me to have to leave everything behind — lifelong friends, family, and my school. As I reflect on what must have been a difficult decision for my parents, I am thankful that they chose to move our family to Austin, Minnesota. Why? Because the people have proven to be welcoming, generous and kind. Moving to a new community and starting a new chapter was difficult. In 1997, there were only a handful of Mexican families who were setting roots in Austin, and there was only one Mexican “tienda” located on Fourth Avenue Northeast. The owner of the store welcomed us in, and quickly introduced us to other families in the community. He will never know this, but those connections were crucial and helped my family adjust to our new life in Austin. I’ll also never forget my first Minnesota winter. Snow had blanketed the land, and all we wanted to do was play outside. We quickly realized that our “jackets” were not appropriate for those brutal Minnesota winters. Coming from South Texas, 64 | Austin Living | January-February 2017
by
Eric Johnson
we had no idea that parkas were a necessity in Minnesota! Thankfully, we had some friends and neighbors who were generous enough to provide us with appropriate winter wear that year. That compassionate spirit continues today. We have programs, services and institutions working together to improve the quality of life for everyone. In my former role as the executive director of the Welcome Center, I helped integrate hundreds of new immigrant and refugee families into our community. I was fortunate to work alongside many of the champions in our community — business, education, community, and nonprofit leaders — to create meaningful impact in Austin. And now, in my current position as a success coach at Banfield Elementary, I have the opportunity to encourage and support the younger generation to strive for greatness and continue the tradition of being kind, generous and welcoming to others. I have been calling Austin home for the last 20 years. I love Austin, and I’m here to stay!