EDITOR’S NOTE
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– Eric Johnson Austin Living Editor In the July-August edition of Austin Living we inadvertantly gave a wrong attribution to a painting in our Austin Expressions section. The painting on Page 40 was created by Mary Wolcott. Austin Living greatly regrets this error. 2 | Austin Living | November–December 2017
PUBLISHER Jana Gray EDITORIAL Editor Eric Johnson Contributing Writers Chris Baldus Rocky Hulne Eric Johnson Deb Nicklay Michael Stoll Photographer Eric Johnson ART Art Director Colby Hansen Graphic Designers Susan Downey Kim Ehrich Colby Hansen Eric Johnson Kathy Johnson SALES & PROMOTION Advertising Manager Heather Ryks Sales Representatives Mike Delhanty Brenda Landherr Heather Ryks NOVEMBER-DECEMBER 2017 Volume 5, Number 6 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.
Two Sides, by Mary Walcott
uring the last week of September, Austin High School and the community celebrated the school’s homecoming and as I was approaching the wildly exuberant junior class float to take some pictures during the parade, they let me know just how excited they were for the week. Then they pointed and jumped, shaking the float and truck, letting me know that AHS was No. 1. After the parade, when I was toning my photos and came to that specific photo, it struck me just how excited they were, fired up as they were for the homecoming game against Northfield that, unfortunately, the Packers lost by just a touchdown. In that photo that class managed to sum up everything that marks Austin as community — excitement, pride, fun and diversity. All these things mark our community as something for everybody. By way of comparison, that is what this issue of Austin Living magazine has become. Something for everyone. It’s what makes those stories we tell so much fun for a staff that often times tackles new themes. Of course, it’s not about us. It’s about the great stories we tell and as we wrap up the 2017 schedule, we have some good ones. Given this was a NovemberDecember issue we were not going to miss the holidays — not by a long shot. We visited the home of Randy Forster and strolled through the miniature streets of his Christmas village composed of pieces he’s collected over the years. We visited with Kristy Rooney about the popularity of an event for people looking for more meaning in their gifts — A Handmade Christmas. And, we sat down with the director of the Ecumenical Bells, Ann Flisrand, so we might hear about the group’s unique talent as well as tell the story of Flisrand’s own lengthy involvement as organizer and director of the “belles of the bell.” Not only that, but some of the members told us their favorite traditions in The List. But we didn’t just stay with the holidays. Our features touch on the Salvation Army’s Capt. David Amick and the service of his family within the organization as well as the return Whalen and Willows, complete with newe members and new music. And we traveled. In a continuing series of places to visit in a day, we cruised down Interstate 90 to Winona and its marvelous Minnesota Maritime Art Museum. Truly, something for everyone.
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SEEN
WHAT’S INSIDE
6 LEFSE-ROLLING
NOVEMBER – DECEMBER 2017
St. Olaf Lutheran Church makes Lefse.
8 BACK TO SCHOOL
Parents show off their students.
10 AUSTIN HOMECOMING
STEEPED IN SALVATION
The spirit of a school.
AUSTIN EATS 12 ‘A TRUE FAMILY BUSINESS’
Five generations of the Amick family have answered the call
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1910 Fresh Mexican Restaurant Kitchen brings family flavors to Austin.
THE LIST 16 TRADITIONS OF THE HOLIDAYS
Members of Ecumencial Bells tell us their favorite holiday traditions.
OUT & ABOUT 18 SYMPHONY OF BELLS
Ann Flisrand and Ecumencial Bells let their musical talents ring out.
22 COMFORT IN THE WILD
Sabrina Messick plunges into the wilds of business with an outdoors venture.
26 NEW FACES BRING NEW
NEW VIBE
Section leaders looking at innovative and unique methods of fighting cancer.
HOME & HEARTH
With two new members, Whalen and The Willows is introducing a new depth as they return to playing
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RESEARCH TO INSTITUTE
28 DICKENS ON A SMALL SCALE
Randy Forster celebrates Christmas in his own small way.
32 ONE OF A KIND FROM THE HEART
A Handmade Christmas is in its fifth year of bringing uniqueness to Austin.
TRAVEL 52 ON THE WAVES OF ART
KEEPING THE MOMENT As the new owner of the Yoga Studio of Austin, Kelly Kingland wants to guide people to a fuller life
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Winona’s Minnesota Marine Art Museum a harbor of paintings among the bluffs.
LOOKING BACK 58 PURPOSE OF FELLOWSHIP
Clubs and organizations served an important purpose bringing people together.
BOOK REVIEW 62 A SERIOUS PASSION FOR FOOD
Amy Thielen thrills fans with her love of food.
WHY I LOVE AUSTIN 64 ICE IS LIFE
Bruiser finds a den in Austin.
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SEEN | Lefse-rolling at St. Olaf Lutheran Church As the holidays inch closer, so do so many tried and true holiday traditions. In Minnesota, with a heavy Scandinavian ancestry, it should come as no surprirse that one of those traditions is the making and eating of lefse, a traditional Norwegian flatbread readily found throughout our area. St. Olaf Lutheran Church is right in the center of that tradition with a massive threeday effort that is dedicated to nothing more than the making of the popular holiday staple. The effort required hours of prepping the dough and cooking it, but oh is that work worth it. 2
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(1) Marlene Fiala and Joy Blaser (far right) were just a few of the cooks making lefse at St. Olaf Lutheran Church recently. The lefse was made in preparation for sale at the annual Scandinavian Festival Bazaar in October. (2) Karen Olson inspects and cools the lefse rounds. (3) Judy Bungum lifts a lefse round from the griddle. When all was done, some 600 pounds of potatoes had been used and 300 dozen lefse made. (4) Jim Braaten has been a whiz at the lefse griddle for several years. (5) Georgia Brenden carefully scoops up dough for the lefse cooks, making sure each ball of dough is the same size before it is flattened and placed on the griddle. 6 | Austin Living | November–December 2017
6 (6) Bernie Bishop shows off his dough-making skills in the kitchen. (7) Vernice Bishop, left, and Ila Akkerman head up the annual lefse rolling at St. Olaf Lutheran Church. (8) Lefse piles up, ready for the Scandinavian Festival Bazaar at St. Olaf Lutheran Church of Austin. (9) Lefse is rolled and flattened out before going on the griddle.
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SEEN | Back To School 2017-18 That time came again — the first day of school. As students dressed up in their first-day best clothes, their parents took those special first-day-of-school pictures. It’s exciting and full of promise and maybe a little bittersweet as parents follow the growth of their children through this annual photo. It’s a memory to be filed away and we asked parents to share those memories taken just before they were off to catch the bus.
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(1) Jaimie Miller (eighth-grade, Ellis Middle School), Justin Miller (sophomore, Austin High School). Children of Dan and Kelli Miller. (2) Jordan DeLamater (sophomore, Austin High School), daughter of Tim and Kris DeLaMater. (3) Kinsley (Woodson Kindergarten), from left, and Brekyn (second grade, Southgate Elementary). Daughters of Shane and Evan Tieskoetter. (4) Cameron Simons (second grade, Sumner Elementary School). Simons got an earlier start than most on July 31. Son of Megan Huston and Cody Simons. (5) Braden Lamaack (fifth grade, I.J. Intermediate School). Son of Jill Vandeweerd (6 & 7) Hudson Schaefer (Preschool, Applelane Montessori School) and Kaydence Schaefer (second grade, Southgate Elementary). Children of Bryan and Kylene Schaefer. (8) Destiny Mensch (fifth-grade, I.J. Holton Intermediate School) and Justice Nelson (kindergarten, Pacelli Catholic Schools). Children of Brandon Nelson and Amber Barclay. (9) Amelia (fourth grade, Sumner Elementary School) and Noah Green (second grade, Sumner Elementary School). Children of Amber Bautista. (10) Stephanie Garbisch (fifth year teaching English Language at Nevelen Elementary School) and daughter Emerson (21 months, going to grandma’s daycare). (11) Brooke Goligowski showing her disappointment at having to go to school a full two weeks before her sisters (senior at Austin High School, PSEO classes at Riverland Community College). She is the daughter of Brian and Wanda Staska. (12) Kaitlyn Goligowski (sophomore, Austin High School) and Maddie Staska (seventh grade, Ellis Middle School.) They are holding a picture of their sister Brooke Goligowski. Daughters of Brian and Wanda Staska. November–December 2017 | Austin Living | 9
SEEN | Austin Homecoming It’s one of the weeks students at most every school look forward to the most — Homecoming. Austin students and the community jump into it just as fervently as any other school, complete with the coronation of the homecoming king and queen, the party of the parade and of course the big game, capping a week of fun and memories. At every turn AHS showed off the spirit of school and Austin.
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(1) The Austin football team rolls by with candy for everybody during the Austin Homecoming parade. (2) The Austin senior class rounds out the parade. (3) The homecoming court rides down Fourth Avenue Northwest during the parade. (4) Woodson Kindergarten principal Jessica Cabeen busts off a dance move during the parade. (5) A group of kids watch as the Austin Homecoming parade begins marching by. 10 | Austin Living | November–December 2017
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(6) The Austin High School sophomore class goes past The Paramount Theatre during the Austin Homecoming Parade. (7) The Austin High School cheer team performs at halftime of the game against Northfield. (8) Austin’s Logan Braaten, right, leaps to greet Isaac Clasen during opening line-ups before the Packer’s homecoming game at Art Hass Stadium. (9) Members of the junior class pull on their end during a tug-o-war with freshman during Battle of Connects. November–December 2017 | Austin Living | 11
AUSTIN EATS
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‘A true family business’
1910 Fresh Mexican Kitchen owner Israel Gonzales prepares sangria at the newly-opened location. The drinks served are made fresh and have loads of flavor and are vibrant with color.
1910 Fresh Mexican Kitchen brings family flavors to Austin By Michael Stoll • Photos Few things are more satisfying and comforting than a home-cooked meal. At 1910 Fresh Mexican Kitchen in Austin, you will enjoy exactly that, even though you’re eating at a restaurant. When you first enter, owner Israel Gonzales’s brotherin-law, Enrique Camarena, might welcome you with a smile and one of the best handshakes you’ll ever get in an Austin restaurant. Lining the menu are dishes that represent Gonzales and his family. Patrons can enjoy rice and beans made from his mother, chicken tacos inspired by his sister, salad dressings perfected by his wife, or Gonzales’s own take on an Ensenada special, fish tacos. “We’re trying to get as close as possible to what you would try in Mexico,” Gonzales said.
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Eric Johnson
The story of 1910 Fresh Mexican Kitchen started in Los Angeles, California, where Gonzales’s grandmother ran a bakery and a couple of restaurants. It was in one of those restaurants that Gonzales and other family members got their start. Gonzales opened a bar in Miami, Florida, with his brother, and that may have been the end of the story had it not been for a fateful visit to Austin. “My parents came to Austin to visit a cousin of my mother,” Gonzales said. “They liked it so much, they moved from L.A. to get away from the traffic and the big city.” “That was in the spring, of course,” he said with a laugh. Continues on Page 14 November–December 2017 | Austin Living | 13
All of the meals served at the 1910 along with drinks are made fresh with fresh ingredients.
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it either, but I thought it would make it look more appealing with the different colors. Everything adds a little bit to it. “ But the most important quality of the food is the freshness, right down to the tortillas being made from scratch. “We try to get the true flavor of the food and drinks,” he said. “I feel the only way to get the true flavor is to use fresh ingredients.” The freshness of the food at 1910 Fresh Mexican Kitchen will leave you wanting more, and the inviting, laid-back atmosphere will have you planning your next visit the minute you leave. “It’s a true family business,” Gonzales said.
Gonzales visited his parents in Austin and decided he would stay, too. “I got married and now I have a family here,” he said. “It was kind of a random deal.” With Gonzales came the goal of bringing food not commonly found in southern Minnesota. When the family opened the original 1910 Mexican Kitchen at 210 Fourth St. NE, the concept proved very popular. The location closed when the property transferred owners. The current location at 507 First St. NW opened on July 10. In creating the menu, Gonzales combined his family recipes with his favorite foods. “They’re some of the things I’ve tasted in different places that I liked,” he said. “For the fish taco, I went to Ensenada and I tried the original from the person who invented fish tacos. I liked them so much I figured that since no one does them here, let’s try it. The chicken tacos are hard to find in Mexico. That’s more of something you see in California or Arizona. There’s a little bit (of American influence), but the recipes are original from Mexico.” In true restaurateur fashion, Gonzales puts his own twists on some of the recipes. “We kind of experimented with some of the recipes,” he said. “Take the fish taco. The recipe is from Ensenada, but we tweaked it until we found the flavor we wanted. It’s the same with the toppings. In Ensenada they don’t use red The 1910 prides itself on its meals being made fresh including their tortillas cabbage, just white. They don’t put carrots on seen here being pressed out by Adriana Hernandez. 14 | Austin Living | November–December 2017
New to 1910?
Trying to figure out what to eat at a new restaurant can be a daunting task. If you’re trying 1910 Fresh Mexican Kitchen for the first time, here are a few recommendations from Gonzales.
Food
• Fish Taco – The mildness of the battered fish combined with the crunch of the cabbage/carrot mixture and the tanginess of the house-made Thousand Island dressing creates a light symphony of flavors. • Chicken Taco – Wonderfully seasoned chicken that makes you crave another bite. Combine it with their spicy salsa brava and cilantro for a real kick in the taste buds. • Fajita Taco – Onions and peppers provide the perfect accompaniment to the mildly seasoned beef, allowing the true taste of the meat to shine through. • Pork Quesadilla – Deliciously seasoned pork and melted cheese that is so flavorful, you probably won’t need the sour cream and pico de gallo that come on the side.
Drinks
You can’t go wrong with any of 1910 Fresh Mexican Kitchen’s Raspados, or shaved Mexican ice, made with real fruit. However, if you want something of an adult nature to go with the above mentioned dishes, Gonzales recommends a cold beer or one of the following house made drinks: • Strawberry on the Rocks • Sangria • Mango Margarita November–December 2017 | Austin Living | 15
THE LIST
Coni Nelson When we come home from church, my husband will make a Danish dish, Aebleskiver, a kind of pancake. Advice: Memories are more important than a package, especially with family.
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Starla Lee
Rhonda Besel
We grew up in California and tamales were a thing. When I lived in St. Paul, I would go and get my tamale. Christmas to me is tamales.
Mine is Thanksgiving. We have kind of a new tradition, the last five years. We’ll come home and have brunch. Then we’ll travel with the Grand Meadow football team and eat with them at the Old Country Buffet and we participate in the state football tournament.
Advice: I love looking at Christmas lights, especially if snow is happening. Enjoy the moments of Christmas. Call the folks, call your people. Tell them that you love them.
Advice: Spending time with family and giving thanks for what you are doing.
Members of Ecumenical Bells tell us their favorite holiday traditions and give advice to others hoping to create their own. Story
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As an undoubtedly busy holiday season approaches, it would have been easy to fill these pages up with several different ideas. We could have gone the shopping route, laying out those hot buys everybody will be vying for come for Black Friday and beyond. We could have made the quest easier to find that one gift coveted by a loved one. We could have gone the food route. A story about which foods make that perfect holiday setting or those favorites no dad can go without at Thanksgiving. Rather than those ideas, quality no matter which way you look, we decided to go a much different route and fill this space with something a little more personal. Holiday traditions paired with some advice for people to consider
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when the rush of Christmas and Thanksgiving come a-calling. All families have those traditions, some going back years to holiday’s long past that still strike a chord of memory. And what better people could we have asked than the Ecumenical Bells here in Austin? Throughout the holiday season, you can hear those heavenly bells this group plays, ringing out at various spots throughout the area. And so we sat down with the group and polled a few of them before one of their practices. You can also turn ahead to Page 18 to read more about the founder of the group, Ann Flisrand. And as always, we at Austin Living magazine wish for you nothing but happiness during this time of year.
Lilah Aas
Pam Aandahl Solberg
Nancy Heimer
I’m originally from Decorah, Iowa, home of Luther College, and for many years they performed Handel’s “Messiah.” Christmas at Luther was the official start of the Christmas season [for me].
Mom used to make lutefisk for Christmas. I don’t have lutefisk, but I do have fish, torsk. It’s cod without the lye.
Going to the Michael Veldman concert for Christmas. The Christmas music was the start of my Christmas, the start of the celebration.
Advice: In the four weeks before Christmas don’t make it all about buying. Take some quiet time.
Advice: Slow down and enjoy the season.
Advice: Try doing something you’ve never done before. If you’ve never baked cookies, try baking cookies. Listen to new Christmas music.
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OUT & ABOUT
Symphony of bells
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Ann Flisrand directs a rehearsal of the Ecumenical Bells at Congregational Church UCC. Flisrand has been involved in handbell choirs for years both as a player and director.
Ann Flisrand and Ecumenical Bells let their musical talents ring out By Deb Nicklay • Photos
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They are the instruments of the toll swing and gyro; of the thumb damp and the singing bell. And if those phrases sound odd, they are just some of the techniques used by the Ecumenical Bells, a community handbell choir that has been providing its music in any number of community venues since 1983. From the very first time director Ann Flisrand heard handbells used in a workshop at Luther College in 1980, “I fell in love with them; I still love them.” She was living in Willmar at the time with her husband, Richard, who was teaching band at a community college. The couple attended a rural church in Spicer, just a few miles away. “And here, in this small country church, someone gave the church a memorial to purchase handbells,” she said. While few in the church knew much about handbells, Flisrand, who was already the choir director, was asked to attend workshops. Soon, she was directing both youth and adult handbell choirs. “At first, I had no idea what I was doing,” she said with a laugh. “I was just trying to keep ahead of everyone.” The couple moved to Austin in 1982, when Richard took a teaching position at Riverland Community College. The Austin Congregational Church UCC had just purchased handbells, in preparation for the church’s 125th anniversary. A church member who knew of her interest invited her to a rehearsal. “I just wanted to play and learn,” she recalled, but while she waited for someone to tell her what music to play, the group ended up looking to her for direction. Soon, she was directing youth and adult choirs once again. The Ecumenical Bells was born from a larger group of Austin and area musicians who met as the Music Performers Group. The group met — and continues to meet — once a month to play for their fellow musicians in a nonorganizational, fellowship-type meeting. “A few wanted to learn the bells and that’s how it began,” she said. Continues on Page 20 November–December 2017 | Austin Living | 19
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Above, Starla Lee plays during a rehearsal for Ecumenical Bells at Austin Congregational Church UCC. Below, Pam Aandahl Solberg, left, and Lilah Aas play with Ecumenical Bells during the Austin ArtWorks Festival above the Austin ArtWorks Center.
Ecumenical Bells feature members from varying age ranges.
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The group rehearses weekly at the Austin Congregational Church UCC, who also loans the group its handbells. The group has a regular attendance of about 12 musicians. A smaller ensemble of five to six of the group will perform when the larger group cannot. Since its inception, the Ecumenical Bells has performed at a variety of venues, from churches and holiday events, to nursing homes and with other choral groups. Timing and the size of the venue usually determines whether the whole group or ensemble will play. That fact points to the space it takes to accommodate the handbells: long tables are needed to provide enough space for all members and the bells. Musicians are as young as high school age during some seasons, she said. “It’s fun stuff and it doesn’t matter, the generation. We have a good time,” she said. Through all of it, Flisrand continues to learn and employ new techniques. Bells seem to have endless potential for
eliciting different sounds — using mallets, plucking the clapper, or using a singing bell technique — rubbing the rim of a bell that has been rung—or the toll swing, accomplished with a full arm swing of the instrument. All create different tones and resonance, from full-bodied richness to soft shimmer. Flisrand also directs bell choirs in two churches — an adult choir at Our Saviors Lutheran Church, and both adult and youth bell choirs at Westminster Presbyterian Church in Austin. She also performs as a solo ringer and plays clarinet with the Austin Symphony Orchestra. Clearly, Flisrand is enamored with the instruments she became intrigued with decades ago. “The bells are unique in many ways; handbells are new enough that you often can meet composers of handbell music, and learning new techniques is fun,” she said. “And, you’re part of a team, too, and you’re sharing that love of music. You’re serving the community, but you’re also providing joy for a lot of people.”
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Comfort in the wild
OUT & ABOUT
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Austin grad Sabrina Messick, along with her husband and his friend are plunging into the wilds of business with outdoors venture By Rocky Hulne • Photos
submitted by
BYU Photo
Little did Austin grad Sabrina Messick know that when her husband Casey signed up for an engineering and business collaboration contest at Brigham Young University in Utah, that it would have a major impact on her life. But Casey and his friend Caleb Lystrup won that contest and ever since then they’ve been deeply imbedded in turning the idea into a company. The duo have formed Khione, which sells the SHEL, a kind of cover for hammocks which provides both shelter and warmth while camping and hiking. Sabrina, who is a full-time gymnastics coach at AllAmerican Gymnastics and competed for Austin High School earning trips to the Minnesota Class A State Gymnastics Meet in 2009 and 2010, has taken on the task of working with the business and organization side of Khione. “It took a lot of bravery, maybe a little bit of foolishness and a lot of sacrifice,” Sabrina said. “It is time consuming. Sacrifices have had to have been made. It was a big sacrifice to allow [Casey] the freedom and the time to explore how deep his desire was to get into this business. When he decided that’s really what he wanted to do, it took me deciding that I could add a few hours to my week and I could be fully supportive and expand my skills for this company.” Casey originally had the product idea when he found himself getting cold after he slept in a hammock overnight on a camping trip. It was then that he formed the idea of creating the SHEL, which covers the hammock similar to the way a tarp covers a tent. The nylon SHEL covers the entire hammock as it is 11 feet long, three feet high and weighs less than 30 ounces. It provides protection from snow, rain and even mosquitoes. Sabrina said the product provides relief and keeps campers warm and comfortable overnight. “What it does is it insulates and it uses your body heat to keep you warm,” Sabrina said. After winning a $7,000 award in the BYU contest, the Khione company recently held a Kickstarter campaign that had great success. With a goal of just $15,000, it surpassed that, raising a total of $95,000. Sabrina said the response was so successful because she, Casey and Lystrup all reached out to people they knew and posted information about the Kickstarter on Facebook. They also had a product display meeting where they gained multiple contacts who became donors. Continues on Page 24
Sabrina Messick, an Austin graduate and gymnastics standout, shows off the SHEL hammock cover with her husband Casey.
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Casey Messick, standing, and Caleb Lystrup show off the SHEL hammock cover.
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To learn more about Khione, visit the website at www.Khioneoutdoorgear.com
“I never thought that I would be on this side of a business, ever. Now that the project is in full You kind of know what you’re swing, Sabrina has found herself good at when you’re growing up trying to learn as much as she The company sells individual and you take that into adulthood possibly can about the business SHELs and SHELs with you,” Sabrina said. “When we world. There have been bumps in the that come with decided to do this, there were growing road and she has found herself struggling hammocks. pains and there were things we didn’t at times. know how to do. It’s very, very exciting, but Still, after being married to Casey for three when you look at the whole picture, it was very years, Sabrina is looking forward to the future daunting. It takes a lot of energy.” with the Khione. 24 | Austin Living | November–December 2017
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OUT & ABOUT
New faces bring new research to Institute By The Hormel Institute • Photo Provided Thanks to the generous support of the state of Minnesota and The Hormel Foundation, the east expansion at The Hormel Institute, that added another 20 state-of-the-art labs in 2016, is filling up with new researchers. The space promises to bring new, cutting-edge research to The Hormel Institute through the expertise of the principal investigators (PIs) or section leaders who will lead the research in those labs. New research professors will come from around the globe to Austin. This summer, three new section leaders joined The Hormel Institute. Dr. George Aslanidi, Dr. Rendong Yang, and Dr. Ilana Chefetz are each opening new avenues of research at The Hormel Institute. This brings the number of research 26 | Austin Living | November–December 2017
sections at The Hormel Institute to 17, each with its own cancer research focus. Austin will be a change of pace for all three new section leaders, as they are each moving from large cities. And while The Hormel Institute and its research facilities were the main draw for the scientists and their families, they are excited to get to know their new community. As we talked with our new section leaders for this piece they told us about how they are settling into new houses or Science Park Housing, exploring the parks and other green spaces Austin offers, and getting children into new school routines — including one very excited Woodson Critter! Here’s a little about each of our new section leaders, and make sure to say hello if you see them around town.
Dr. Rendong Yang, Assistant Professor Dr. Yang is the head of the Computational Cancer Genomics section and his work will utilize The Hormel Institute’s supercomputers. Dr. Yang’s lab will work to develop computer programs and algorithms that look through a patient’s DNA sequence or genome to find mutations or other biomarkers that differ from a reference or “normal” genome. Clinicians and other researchers can use those programs to learn about their patients and better prescribe drugs with a specific cancer target. This work requires supercomputers because regular computers cannot handle the huge amount of data and processing power needed for the large-scale sequencing data Dr. Yang uses in his work. Dr. Yang has a doctorate. in bioinformatics from the China Agricultural University and comes to The Hormel Institute from the Minnesota Supercomputing Institute at University of Minnesota, Twin Cities.
Section leaders looking at innovative and unique methods of fighting cancer Drs. George Aslanidi, Dr. Ilana Chefetz and Dr. Rendong Yang are three of The Hormel Institute’s newests faces who will be looking into innovative ways of fighting cancer.
Dr. George Aslanidi, Associate Professor Dr. Aslanidi is the head of the Molecular Bioengineering and Cancer Vaccine section. The goal of his lab is to develop an efficient anti-cancer vaccine. However a cancer vaccine works differently than a vaccine for an infectious disease. Dr. Aslanidi wants to develop a vaccine for patients which can attack leftover cells and antigen residues following surgery to remove bulky tumors. To do this, his lab will try to insert the cancer-specific antigen into a specialized virus which will then signal the body’s immune system to attack. Dr. Aslanidi hopes this approach will be able to reduce or eliminate chemotherapy and radiation treatments and stop cancer metastasis. Dr. Aslanidi has a doctorate in biophysics from the Institute of Theoretical and Experimental Biophysics in Russia and comes to The Hormel Institute from the Department of Pediatrics at University of Florida in Gainesville.
Dr. Ilana Chefetz, Assistant Professor Dr. Chefetz is the head of the Cancer Stem Cells and Necroptosis section. Not all cancer cells are similar — a small percentage have special capabilities that allow them to initiate and propagate tumors and give them resistance to traditional cancer treatment drugs. These are called cancer stem cells. Dr. Chefetz’s research focuses on using necroptosis (a form of cell death) or another novel mechanism of cell death to design therapies to target cancer stem cells. Dr. Chefetz wants to eliminate the cancer stem cells which are left over after chemotherapy treatments in order to prevent cancer from recurring in the patient. Dr. Chefetz has a doctorate in genetics and molecular dermatology from Technion — Israel Institute of Technology, Department of Medicine and comes to The Hormel Institute from the University of Michigan Comprehensive Cancer Center. The Hormel Institute will continue to hire for the next few years as they fill their new labs and increase their research capabilities. Science Park apartments across the street from The Hormel Institute have been popular with incoming scientists and all units are currently full, with the one or two that occasionally open up as people move out snatched up quickly. There are currently 120 faculty and staff from 15 different countries working at The Hormel Institute and they look forward to adding to both numbers in the coming years. “We are proud to have a high-quality research facility that allows us to add jobs to the local community,” said Dr. Zigang Dong, Executive Director of The Hormel Institute, “As we add additional faculty members I am excited about the level of innovation and diversity each new hire will bring to southeastern Minnesota.” November–December 2017 | Austin Living | 27
HOME & HEARTH
Dickens on a small scale
At every level, big to small, Randy Forster’s Christmas village displays the spirit of Christmas. Below, A large majority of Forster’s Christmas village display is arranged on the mantle above his fireplace.
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With a collection of miniature, Victorian buildings, Randy Forster celebrates Christmas in his own small way By Michael Stoll • Photos
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Eric Johnson
my mother’s and my grandmother’s. It’s a family connection.” When people visit the home of Mower County The Christmas villages, which he began collecting Historical Society Executive Director and Summerset about 20 years ago, were another extension of the Theatre co-director Randy Forster during the holidays, decorations. they can hardly help but notice the grand Christmas village “It started with someone giving one to me as a gift, display adorning his fireplace mantle. Each building is a and the first village was The Old Curiosity Shop,” he glowing display of craftsmanship designed to look like said, referring to a miniature versions building that sat at the of what one could front of the display read about in Charles and is named for the Dickens’ classic “A Dickens’ novel of the Christmas Carol.” same name. “That’s “I guess you probably one of my could call me a favorite ones and Christmas fanatic,” that’s why I have it in Forster said, and one the front.” could hardly argue From that point, with the assessment. the collection began to In mid-September, grow. Forster had not only “Over the years I several Christmas would get a piece for village pieces on Christmas or I would display, but two small add another special Christmas trees as one every couple of well. years,” he said. “I still “I love old get them as gifts.” ornaments and vintage things,” he said of his Randy Forster is photographed with his favorite miniature from his Christmas Continues on trees. “I have a lot of village collection, a replica of the Globe Theatre where William Shakespeare made his name. Page 30 ornaments that were
November–December 2017 | Austin Living | 29
A figurine lights a lamp in Randy Forster’s Christmas village display.
Randy Forster’s The Old Curiosity Shop was the first in his Christmas village collection and immediately sets the tone of the Christmas season.
Continued from Page 29 As of this year, he has 25 pieces in his collection. “It does get to the point where I’m running out of room,” he said with a laugh. Forster collects villages from the Dickens Village line made by Department 56. The company makes other villages, such as Christmas in the City, Snow Village and Disney Village, but Forster prefers the Dickens Village collection because it was the first and because he likes the look of the old English buildings. Despite having a Dickens theme, he does not have Ebenezer Scrooge. “My mother has Scrooge,” he said with a laugh. “Scrooge might be something I need.” Forster said it can take him a good amount of time to arrange the village. “I rearrange them every couple of years so they’re not always in the same configuration,” he said. “It’s more a street scene right now. I have mostly street pieces but then there are a couple of houses that anchor the street.” “If you come back in a couple of years they might look different,” he added with a laugh. Sitting on an end table, separated from the mantelpiece village, was a miniature familiar to theatre lovers worldwide 30 | Austin Living | November–December 2017
that Forster keeps on display year-round: the Globe Theatre. “This one is one of my favorite pieces because of my love for the theatre and it’s an actual real place in London and I’ve been there,” Forster said. “That’s kind of a special piece, that’s why I have it separated.” The only non-Dickens Village piece Forster has is a landmark familiar to Austin residents: The Spam Museum. That would be the old Spam Museum that was connected to Hormel Foods Corporate South. “That was made as a special collector piece and it was given to me as a gift when I first moved to town,” he said. “That doesn’t blend in with the Dickens. It’s kind of a standalone piece that I put out at Christmas.” So what will be the next piece added to Forster’s collection? Well, he’s not sure. “I have no idea what I might be getting this year,” he said. “I haven’t really looked to see what they’ve come out with that’s new. They do make new pieces all the time and then they retire certain ones, so they’re only in production for so many years. I would be willing to bet that most of the pieces I have are retired.” One thing is for sure; Forster does not intend to stop collecting anytime soon. “All of the villages remind me of Christmas and I’m sure I’ll keep collecting and adding more,” he said.
Each building in Randy Forster’s Christmas village collection is intricately detailed.
November–December 2017 | Austin Living | 31
HOME & HEARTH
One of a kind from the heart By Christopher Baldus • Photo The scene is reminiscent of the 1950s. Guests, dressed for a night on the town, with glasses of wine in hand, mingle among the displays of paintings, pottery, scarves, candles, home decorations and more. They snack on hors d’oeuvres. It’s an experience orchestrated to be unique in this southern Minnesota industrial town surrounded by a sea of farms. “You see that in movies … you don’t see that a lot in town,” said Kristy Rooney, who is running the Handmade Christmas arts and crafts show in Austin. “So we really wanted to give — from every level — something that people weren’t getting anywhere else in town.” “Every level” includes the atmosphere of opening night, the variety of vendors and the one-of-a-kind items that make their buyers part of an artist’s life’s work. “We wanted to create an event, not just like a market, but really something that people would find more of a tradition,” she said. Handmade Christmas is a two-day event at the Hormel 32 | Austin Living | November–December 2017
by
Eric Johnson
Historic Home. Friday Dec. 8, from 4-9 p.m. is the Christmas party, Rooney said. Saturday, Dec. 9, from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. is the more low-key shopping day. “This year we’re celebrating our fifth anniversary (in Austin),” Rooney said. “So, we’re going to have anniversary treats and the first 75 shoppers through the door will get an anniversary bag with different coupons and goodies.” The show has come a long way, at least in miles, since it began in a church basement in St. Paul. A major change this year, however, is Rooney organizing it without the woman who convinced the Austin native to move the concept back home. Anna Otto, who makes a type of scarf that has been very popular at Handmade Christmas, has moved out of state. She encouraged Rooney to do a show. Continues on Page 34 Kristy Rooney organizing solo the ever-growing and popular A Handmade Christmas held at the Hormel Historic Home. Over five years ago Rooney brought the show down from St. Paul and organized it with the help of Anna Otto.
Plenty of items were on hand at the first night of last year’s A Handmade Christmas at the Hormel Historic Home. Austin Daily Herald File Photo
A Handmade Christmas is in its 5th year of bringing uniqueness to Austin
November–December 2017 | Austin Living | 33
Gail Christenson browses through items at A Handmade Christmas last year at the Hormel Historic Home. Austin Daily Herald File Photo
Coming to A Handmade Christmas This is a list of some of the vendors who will be at A Handmade Christmas, an Indie Craft Market at the Hormel Historic Home 4-9 p.m. Friday, Dec. 8, and 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 9, v Katie Stromlund: Original acrylic paintings, Facebook.com/KatieStromlundOriginalAcrylics v Melinda Wolff: Jewelry repurposed from wood scraps, melindawolff.com v Allison Marie Design: Hand-painted signs, allisonmariedesign.com v Crooked Pine Farm & Goods LLC.: Holistic, herbal infused skincare and goat soap, crookedpinesoap.com v Geekiana: Decorated apparel, geekiana.com v Sugar Creek Mittens: Winter accessories, etsy. com/shop/SugarCreekMittens v Melissa Anne Company: Home décor, melissaannecompany.com v Zarooka Candle Co.: Kristy Rooney, Facebook. com/zarooka v Grey Minnow Market: Rooney and Katie Stormland, providing education and community for makers.
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Continued from Page 32 “She said, ‘I will help you co-run this if you bring it down here,’” Rooney said. After four years of co-running the show, Otto has moved to the East Coast and Rooney is flying solo. Rooney’s day job is as a coordinator/navigator for Austin Adult Education’s GED program and its advanced English Learner program. She is a 1998 graduate Austin High School who earned a bachelor’s degree in cross cultural ministry at the University of Northwestern in St. Paul. She began putting on shows in 2011 in the basement of a St. Paul church, which was just one of many in the Twin Cities. Handmade Christmas is a type of show that is common in the Twin Cities, but special in Austin, Rooney said. She expects the Handmade Christmas to have 30 vendors — artisans and crafters who are chosen by a show jury. The jury considers quality and variety in choosing who can be in the show, Rooney said. Their aim is to give the community “really well-made, hand-made goods that they could really be attracted to, really be like proud to own, really kind of feel like they got a piece of this artist,” Rooney said. “We are really looking for the shopper who appreciates the hand-made,” she said. “They like the idea of getting something that not everybody has and they like supporting the art maker community. There’s kind of something special about finding something that is really well-done that’s almost like their little secret their special thing.” Tickets will be available in November. Go to AHandmadeChristmas.com.
November–December 2017 | Austin Living | 35
By Deb Nicklay Photo by Eric Johnson
Steeped in Salvation Five generations of the Amick family have answered the call 36 | Austin Living | November–December 2017
W
to be an officer,” said Amick, who with his wife heads up Army programs as well as serve as pastor of the hen Capt. David Amick Salvation church. “Four to six years is the normal length of time you stay in one place.” of the Austin Salvation By the time he moved to Austin, he was well versed in the Army picks up the bells ways of corps life — he had lived it, as had three generations before him. of this year’s kettle campaign, he may “In my first six years of schooling, I attended six different well think back on the photograph of schools,” he said. His great-grandfather was the first, becoming a member of an ancestor, in a corps uniform, doing the corps as an envoy — a rank not unlike that of a lay pastor, who receives training and is recognized as someone with the same thing. officer responsibilities but who is noncommissioned. His grandfather, also David, was a major in the corps, That would be his great-grandfather, Carl Amick, who and his father, also David, was a captain. Dave and Laura started a family association with the Salvation Army that have a daughter, Kendra Hixenbaught, who live in Niles, continues today. Michigan. She and her husband are also The Amick family long knew with the corps. the photo — that shows Carl Amick Oh, and he has a sister in Bay City, ringing bells with another corps Mich., and a brother, in Omaha, who are member — was of their greatboth in the corps; as well as two uncles. grandfather. One doesn’t always know that wives What they did not know was the are just as important to the corps, he fame of the other bell ringer in the said. photograph. “You cannot serve as an officer in the A curious relative embarked on corps without being married,” he said. a mission to find out who the man The life is fulfilling, but it can be was, who was also dressed in a corps difficult, too. Moving every four to six uniform — and was astonished to years can be hard on families, he said, find it was Edward Higgins, the third and in his personal case, there was an general of the Salvation Army. expectation that “you would follow in As general, Higgins was head of all the footsteps.” Salvation Army corps operations across He knew his children would have to the world. Given the age appearance find their way. of the two men, it looked like the “One thing I had to learn when I was photograph was taken sometime early growing up was how to make friends — in the 20th century, before Higgins but not long-term,” he said. became general. It is thought to have There were some years that he been taken in Kansas City, according Envoy Carl Amick, right, stands with Edward worked outside of the Army, but found to Amick. Higgins, third general of the Salvation Army. a renewed faith and purpose in more But what Higgins was doing Carl is Capt. Amick’s great grandfather. recent years. He was not an officer for a ringing bells with Amick in Kansas Photo provided long time, but chose to enter the corps City remains unclear. It was known in more recent years. He attended the College for Officer there was a time when it was Higgins’ duty, as chief secretary, Training, graduating in 2011, the same year he and Laura to visit and energize the American corps. Higgins, a Britisher, came to Austin. was in the U.S. from about 1896 to 1905. “I’ve been a trucker, a cook, I worked in factories,” he While that point is of family interest, the real story may said, adding that those years may have given him insights he be that Carl Amick established an Amick lineage that would might not otherwise have. carry the banner of the Army into the 21st century. Four But when he truly felt he was called to the life, he generations of corps members followed. answered the call. That call, he noted, is not only to serve Amick, with his wife, Capt. Laura Amick, moved to people, but to serve God, too, as a pastor. Austin six years ago to take the reins of the Austin Salvation “It was a hard decision,” he said. “I knew what it meant Army. — and it meant moving. A lot,” he said. While that might seem like a short time to most, it has But it was also a blessing, he said. proved to be Amick’s second-longest residency as a member of the corps. “A blessing because of the things we do for people … and “It is something you need to get used to if you are going for God. Everything we do comes through God,” Amick said. November–December 2017 | Austin Living | 37
38 | Austin Living | November–December 2017
New Vibe With two new members, Whalen and the Willows is introducing a new depth as they return to playing Story
and
Photos By Eric Johnson
With a slightly new look and a new passion, Whalen and Willows are excited to get back on the road including a show on Nov. 4 at the Paramount Theatre. November–December 2017 | Austin Living | 39
With the addition of Nick Braaten and Trevor Bordelon, Whalen and the Willows is aiming for a new energy, deeper complexity with the hints of the original sound produced by Joshua Whalen, Jessica Williams and Victoria Torkelson.
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which the group hopes will continue the trend they were on in 2014.
Surprise! We’re a band!
Happy accidents sometimes make the world go around and in the case of Whalen and Willows, that is the truth of things. While not strictly an accident, the reforming of the band wasn’t exactly a planned thing, either — especially in the case of Torkelson and Williams. Both hadn’t put a lot of thought toward reforming the band until a couple of coincidences realigned their courses. As a trio, Whalen, Williams and Torkelson had not played together since 2014, after they had completed a winding tour that took them through stops on the west coast. With the birth of Joanna the music was put on a shelf, but it was never forgotten. “Not making music is just never a thought,” Whalen said. “The thought has always been, ‘OK, well I’m going to wait until it’s the right time to start playing again.” “Whalen and the Willows has just been amazing and I
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It’s
been just about three years since Whalen and the Willows — Joshua Whalen, Jessica Williams and Victoria Torkelson — played publicly together. The folk trio were steadily moving up, playing larger and more wide-ranging festivals. However, life intervened with a blessing for Whalen and Williams when they introduced their daughter Joanna into the world. As is so often the case, things were put on hold as they figured out where to go next. “When Jess was pregnant, we decided to put things on hold and try to figure out how to be parents,” Whalen recounted on a sunny Saturday afternoon near Wildwood Park in Austin. “When we learned there’s no figuring it out … well, we might as well start up music again.” And that they have, while at the same time introducing two new members to the band in guitarist Nick Braaten and Trevor Bordelon on bass. It’s a combination that will add that right extra touch
Not making music is just never a thought.
40 | Austin Living | November–December 2017
Joshua Whalen
didn’t want it to go away, but I didn’t want to force it either,” Whalen continued. “I was hopeful, but uncertain.” However, plans started to swirl, not from intricate planning, but by simple jamming — which is how both Williams and Torkelson fell back into playing. In their own ways, everything returned to center just by playing simple music in a simple setting. For Williams, it was the act of walking into a room, despite not being altogether certain she really wanted the life. “They kind of started back up without me initially because I just wasn’t sure if I was ready to jump back into it,” Williams said as her two-year-old dozed in her arms. “My parents already have Joanna fairly often, but then one day, I just brought something up to the room while they were rehearsing. There were like, ‘You should sit down and sing a song with us.’ And so I did, and they were like, ‘So you’re back in the band, right?’” For Torkelson it was much the same thing. Some simple playing and then a surprise. “I didn’t even know it was going to start, really, until Nick said one day, ‘You want to come and jam with Joshua and I?’” she said. “I was like, ‘Sure,’ and then we started playing some of our old songs and I was like, ‘OK, cool,’ and then Josh was like, So we’re going to play this date, this day and this date.’ I was like, ‘Oh … all right.’” Sometimes, that’s how good things happen. “It was kind of unexpected,” Williams said. “There was always a thought that it was something we would eventually get back to. There wasn’t really a conversation. It just kind of happens.”
Trevor and Nick
The addition of Bordelon and Braaten will add a new side and sound to Whalen and the Willows. Both have been playing music for most, if not all, their lives, but they are also coming from different backgrounds. Continues through Page 45 November–December 2017 | Austin Living | 41
Nick Braaten
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Jessica Williams
Joshua Whalen
Victoria Torkelson
Trevor Bordelon
... There was this cool riff going on and the thing that stood out to me as I was learning it is it has this traditional blues vibe and then it changes that and turns around the chord progression. As soon as I heard those chords in that turnaround, I was like, ‘That’s totally Whalen and the Willows.’
42 | Austin Living | November–December 2017
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Trevor Bordelon
Bordelon played mostly in cover bands while Braaten was a so-called metalhead with tastes of different kinds of genres in general — just not folk. But like most musicians, this is an opportunity to expand and to branch off into something they haven’t played before. “Folk is definitely not my background, but I view this as an opportunity to put my own spin on some of [Whalen’s] songs,” Braaten said. Bordelon, too, is new, though he has always been a fan of the genre. “I’ve always played in cover bands and upbeat bands, but I’ve always been a fan of folk and bluegrass, especially as a bass player because they hold down the rhythmic nature without a drum being present.” With that difference in background comes a difference in sound. Whalen and the Willows as a trio produced a woven, graceful transition through their music that walked through emotions like a warm, fall day. With the addition of Bordelon and Braaten, that sound will become fuller, deeper and more complex, challenging them both in a different way. “There’s a lot of movement in folk music — back and forth, but as far as chords go, structure, it’s fairly simple so when you add those layers of complexity, it not only adds to the vocal harmony, but it adds to the melodic harmony that’s happening,” Bordelon explained. “Especially with Nick and Josh strumming their guitars.” It’s further enhanced with Braaten’s electric guitar. “I think I can bring a non-folk related guitar sound to the folk genre,” Braaten said. “I told Josh from the beginning, I definitely call myself a folk guitarist. I can definitely do what I can do to try and make it sound fun.” It was a move that worked with perfect fluidity. “Bringing them in has been awesome,” Whalen said. “Nick and I started jamming and Nick really had a lot of ideas and wanted to contribute. I thought, ‘This is outstanding; this is stuff I never would have thought of.’ Then we jammed with Trevor and it was the same thing. We sit and talk about the songs and some ideas and how we wanted it to feel but they bring their own parts.”
Still there
While the sounds might be varied and changed in subtle ways, the core feel of the group will still be Whalen and the Willows. Think of it as a construction project. “I think people are going to notice a different vibe,” Whalen said. “There is going to be a new sound and it’s definitely going to be more rhythmic because adding the bass, it’s going to be a lot more foot-tapping so I think the energy is going to be the first thing they notice.” Coming from outside the trio, Bordelon pushed the notion though that underneath it all it’s going to very much be Whalen and the Willows — just make sure you keep your ears open to the new parts, because each song will have the capability to flow from one side to the other and back again. “As an outsider, I came in, Nick especially kept telling me, ‘Oh, we got this new song. It’s really bluesy and driving and kind of delta blues kind of feel’ and you know I was pumped when I first heard it because there was a cool riff going on and the thing that stood out to me as I was learning it is it has this traditional blues vibe and then it changes that and turns around the chord progression,” he explained. “As soon as I heard those chords in that turnaround I was like, ‘That’s totally Whalen and the Willows.’” It was a moment that he remembered. “That’s a moment as a musician, we were playing up in the jam space and I got goosebumps,” he said. Some of that reworking wraps back to the vocals as well and while it won’t require much of a change from those who add their voices to the songs, there will be the opportunity to simply make the songs better. “Just the other day we sat down and rewrote some harmonies on a couple of our songs — just made them tighter, more like a traditional folk harmony and it really brings out the main melody and makes that more prominent,” Torkelson said. From Williams’ standpoint, who is strictly vocals for the band, it’s part of an ever-changing vocal experience. Something that adds to more complexity of what the band is hoping to accomplish.
November–December 2017 | Austin Living | 43
44 | Austin Living | November–December 2017
“I think that’s something that’s always changing,” she said. “When we first started out, I used to sing with a lot more vibrato and then we went into the studio and it was all just going for a smooth, soft, flowing sound. I feel that’s something we’re always changing up. I don’t know if I would say specifically it’s the change in the group.”
Where to from here?
As little Joanna played in the long grass, looking for flowers and butterflies, the group looked ahead to what they want to accomplish and they are doing it full steam ahead. “The next focus is putting out new music,” Whalen said. “We have studio dates planned in October, so we got a new record planned.” The group also has a drive to get out and play again. They have a show at the Paramount Theatre they are hosting on Nov. 4, which will feature themselves along with some other acts including the South Dakota band The Tinder Box and BIG Sexy out of Minneapolis. They have also been accepted back into Chicago’s Chillfest this year and are putting together a possible show in Duluth. It’s about getting the music going again and getting it out to the people. “The big thing is getting this new record out,” Whalen said. It’s fast-moving but that happens when a group of people with common talents, common interests and common drive come together. That’s what is making this band flow and it was a goal of Whalen’s from the beginning: Not just to play music again or get a record out, but to do all of that with passionate people. “My big thing with Whalen and the Willows and it always has been … is people I enjoy being around who think somewhat similarly about a lot of things. But the biggest thing I wanted from the group was people who were going to bring it. Bring their own ideas. I want this to be a band and a band that is greater than the individual parts.” November–December 2017 | Austin Living | 45
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T
o get the most out of yoga, you need to keep it with you.
“What people don’t realize is that you can take your yoga off of your mat and carry it with you throughout your entire day,” said Kelly Kingland, owner of the Yoga Studio of Austin. Yoga is more than the physical exercise of putting yourself in poses with names such as “lotus,” “hero” and, yes, “downward-facing dog.” It’s also a mental exercise. “Yoga is all about connecting your breath to your movement, so that’s how you find that meditative state so you can be in the moment,” she said. For athletes, that has also been called focus. “It’s actually known taking any sort of yoga practice and pairing it with (a sport such as basketball), helps so that you can be present and in the moment when you are out on the court and making better decisions,” she said. Kingland took ownership of the Austin Studio in August 2016 after being certified in a number of yoga styles. It was not something she had planned. She graduated from high school in 2007, and went on to earn her bachelor’s degree in accounting from Minnesota State University. From there, she became an accountant with a cubicle. It felt wrong to a woman whose background includes high school sports such as volleyball and competitive cheerleading. Oh yes, cheerleading is a sport, she said. “I was a base. I was a flyer; a gymnast doing back-hand springs,” she said. A flyer is, as it sounds, the person launched into the air by teammates. It wasn’t by E ric J ohnson her favorite thing, but “I kind of got thrown into that,” she said. She still plays volleyball recreationally and was a fitness dance instructor before buying the yoga business from Lindsey Kepper. “I’m not a cube person,” Kingland said of her accounting gig. “I can’t sit in the cube. I want to talk and I want to move around and things like that.” She went on to establish her own business as a Herbalife independent distributor. Operating the yoga studio, however, is the first career endeavor that feels long-term, she said. Her relationship with yoga began on Thanksgiving in 2015 when she attended her first class at the Austin studio. She was impressed. “It wasn’t just about having a work out,” Kingsland said. “The message that (Kepper) had that day was, obviously, about having gratitude and being grateful — how having an attitude of gratitude is what leads to living a life of happiness.”
Keeping the moment As the new owner of the Yoga Studio of Austin, Kelly Kingland wants to guide people to a fuller life By Chris Baldus • Photos
Continues on Page 50 November–December 2017 | Austin Living | 49
Kelly Kingland, owner of the Yoga Studio in Austin, leads one of her seven classes.
Kepper, a certified yoga trainer, taught Kingland, who is certified in a number of yoga styles. Kingland now teaches seven classes a week, two on Wednesday. It’s something she truly enjoys. “It’s uplifting, it’s positive and, yeah, it’s everything I love about life,” she said. Yoga teaches ethics turned inward, such as selflove and care, and externally, how you treat others. It is not a religion, although it can be complementary to faith teachings as it is a method of drawing out the best version of qualities within yourself. “You are calling upon those aspects and those qualities in yourself … to help you through whatever it is you’re going through,” Kingland said. Slowing down to do that, to be in the moment, is a
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It’s uplifting, it’s positive and, yeah, it’s everything I love about life. Kelly Kingland, owner Yoga Studio of Austin
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challenge for many people. “It’s just our society in general,” Kingland said. “We’re just so fast-paced, we’re always moving forward. We’re always looking to the next thing. Teaching ourselves to calm down and to just live in the moment — to focus here and now — is not something that we do very often; learning how to be in the present living in the moment.” The studio has a full team of yoga instructors. Details about their classes are found at yogastudioofaustin.com. Moving ahead, Kingland is continuing to renovate the studio and is looking forward to creating a scholarship program to help people who can’t afford it attend yoga classes. It will be funded by donations from people who attend a fundraising class called karma yoga.
There is nothing better than curling up in your favorite blanket on a cold winter day and reading a book. Especially in front of a fireplace.
Freeborn Lumber Co. 917 Plaza Street W Albert Lea, MN 56007 507-377-4284 November–December 2017 | Austin Living | 51
TRAVEL
On the waves of art Winona’s Minnesota Marine Art Museum a harbor of paintings among the bluffs
The White Angel tug floats slowly past the Minnesota Marine Art Museum, a fantastic setting for a museum featuring art and water. 52 | Austin Living | November–December 2017
By Rocky Hulne • Photos
by
Eric Johnson
Throughout our little corner of the state, there are opportunities to get out and about and experience those gems outside of Austin and the immediate area. For a year, Austin Living Magazine is going to take you to these spots. Some you will recognize, some you will not, but all of them we hope will be worth the time to get out and maybe embark on a new adventure. In this issue, we traveled to Winona to visit the Minnesota Marine Art Museum, a museum dedicated to art and featuring water of all kinds. Look for further journeys down the road as we set off to places a little farther away.
If you’re looking to find some incredible art next to relaxing scenery and you’re willing to take an hour and half drive, then a trip to the Minnesota Marine Art Museum in Winona is a great way to fill your needs. Standing alongside one of America’s most iconic rivers, the museum’s location offers an up-close view of the Mississippi River where you can watch barges being filled and moved under the bluffs or see a bald eagle fly just overhead as you walk on the museum’s patio just outside the main building. But inside the museum are the beautiful works of art — some of the greatest pieces by artists throughout history. Continues on Page 54
Students from Lewiston-Altura High School learn about one of America’s most famous works of art, “Washington Crossing the Delaware.” There are only two original copies of this painting and the Minnesota Marine Art Museum has one. Above, pictures featuring the Mississippi River occupy a corner of a gallery featuring the photo exhibit “Mississippi River Photo Shootout.” The exhibit is a juried exhibition featuring both professional and amateur photographers. November–December 2017 | Austin Living | 53
Continued from Page 53 The oldest painting in the museum dates back to the 1600s while the newest paintings were done recently in the 2000s. Amongst the vast collection there are plenty of shining works for guests to check out that all have one thing in common — they either include water or were inspired by water. “It’s art inspired by water and we take that term very literally or very loosely, and it’s all depending on what we have at the time in the exhibition space,” said Dave Casey, the assistant curator of education and exhibitions. “We’re on the Mississippi River and we’re on the busiest port in Minnesota, so it’s a fitting spot for the museum.”
The MMAM’s collection runs like a list of who’s who of artists. It includes works from Vincent van Gogh, Claude Monet, Pablo Picasso and Georgia O’Keefe. It also has some rare and iconic works. Perhaps the museum’s crown jewel is a painting of “George Washington Crossing the Delaware” from the mid1800s. The painting was composed in Germany when the country was trying to build up enthusiasm for a revolution by turning to the U.S. revolution. There were only two original paintings done of the scene and the one in Winona was displayed in the White House for approximately 30 years. The other painting is in the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York. A couple browses through photos featured in the “Mississippi River Shoot Out” exhibit at the Minnesota Marine Art Museum. All the photos in the exhibit show off the beauty of the Mississippi River.
54 | Austin Living | November–December 2017
All the artwork displayed at the Minnesota Marine Art Museum have something to do with water.
“It’s a highlight for a lot of people,” Casey said of the work. Some other treasures that can be seen in the simple, but organized galleries include a rare eagle painting by John James Audubon, who was famous for documenting different species of birds, and Van Gogh’s earliest oil painting displayed in the United States. All of the works in the museum are originals. The museum began acquiring famous pieces after it initially opened 11 years ago with a much smaller building and it included more local art. Casey said the MMAM has been able to bring in some great works, due to some very generous donations. Continues on Page 56
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The Minnesota Marine Art Museum, located on the shores Mississippi River in Winona. Photo courtesy of the Minnesota Marine Art Museum
Above, Paintings at the Minnesota Marine Art Museum can be viewed in a number of serene and eloquently lit galleries offering quiet tour through the museum.
56 | Austin Living | November–December 2017
Continued from Page 55 Since it changed its focus, the MMAM has undergone three different expansions to triple the gallery space available. Three of the current galleries change displays every couple of months as local art and modern art are shuffled and different types of works are shown. “The board realized that if people are going to come again and again we had to change things up, so that’s why those three front galleries change and our collecting department is actively collecting. We outgrew the space that we had,” Casey said. “Any time we get new works, people want to come out and see what we have.” And while paintings dominate much of the space, a visit to the museum through Dec. 23 of this month will lead people through an exhibit of excellent photography featuring the Mississippi River. The juried exhibition title “Mississippi River Shootout,” features works by both professionals and amateurs, showcasing the beauty of this river that defines Minnesota. The MMAM also has a large European section of art, but the Hudson River School collection also stands out. The collection features an artist’s rendition of what the Winona area looked like back in 1868 and it offers plenty of other pieces featuring 19th century landscape around the Mississippi River. “Our most complete collection is the Hudson River School collection,” Casey said. “People might not come here specifically for it, but they’re always blown away by it.” The MMAM is open 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Tuesday through Sunday. Admission is $7 for adults and $3 for students. On Tuesdays, students receive free admission. For more information on the MMAM, you can visit www.mmam.org. November–December 2017 | Austin Living | 57
LOOKING BACK
The Milwaukee Railroad Women’s Club gathered for its annual meeting, year unknown. The Women’s Club was made up of Milwaukee Road employees and officer’s wives. They provided welfare and relief for Milwaukee Road employees – in 1890, the Milwaukee Road employed about 500 people in Austin. Some of the committees of the club in Austin included “welfare,” “good cheer,” “safety first,” “sewing,” and “social.” They were also known to help out with funeral dinners, picnics for railroad employees, and providing “good cheer to the sick.”
Purpose of fellowship Clubs and organizations served an important purpose bringing people together By Jaimie Timm, Mower County Historical Society • All
The officers of the Danish Brotherhood Lodge 111 in 1923. The organization was celebrating 25 years in Austin.
58 | Austin Living | November–December 2017
photos courtesy of the
Mower County Historical Society Over the years, Austin has been home to many different clubs and organizations. These photographs explore just a handful of the clubs that have met in Austin over the years. The groups often served a purpose for its members. Fraternal organizations often provided insurance for group members, welfare groups conducted relief work and study clubs tried to provide members with interesting and educational programs. Austin newspapers in the early 1900s were filled with various club meeting notices and reports. Being a member of a club was a great way to be social with your friends and neighbors who shared similar backgrounds and interests.
The members of the Danish Brotherhood Lodge 111 at a picnic in 1900 (Vern Judd photograph). The Austin Danish Brotherhood lodge was chartered on April 30, 1898. The national Danish Brotherhood was organized in 1882 and was an outgrowth of several Danish immigrant veteran’s organizations. Originally intended to be a national fraternal insurance association for immigrant men, the individual lodges became a way for Danish immigrants to celebrate and preserve their Danish culture and language. The Austin lodge held an annual masked ball in the 1920’s and 1930’s where they gave out prizes for the best costume. In 1925, over 800 people attended.
These are the members of the “Never Sweat Club” in Austin in 1912. Beyond that, we know nothing else about the club. Was the club name meant to be a tongue in cheek reference? All of the men look quite serious in the picture, but a few look like they enjoyed a good laugh. One of the men sitting on the ground is William Bell, the “secretary, treasure, and Eat officer” of the club.
Members of the Austin Automobile Club on Main Street. Club members helped care for the roads surrounding Austin and often planned picnic days where they traveled a certain route and fixed-up the road along the way. A lead car drove ahead and marked the places that needed attention. In the cars that followed, club members used pick axes and shovels to fill in potholes, level ruts, and generally try to smooth out any issues. After everyone arrived at the agreed upon ending point, club members enjoyed a picnic meal and listed to speakers. Often, several area automobile clubs, including Lyle, Brownsdale, and Rose Creek, met the Austin group for a large gathering. November–December 2017 | Austin Living | 59
Nov. 18 Welcome the holiday season with these Austin activities! —All dates, times, and locations subject to change
Nov. 2
First Thursdays Event - Wine A Lot
When: 6-8 p.m. Where: The Spam Museum Adult-focused event featuring wine tasting, appetizers and more. For more information, call 507-434-6420.
Thanksgiving Feast Fundraiser
When: 5:30-9:30 p.m. Where: Holiday Inn Austin Conference Center Annual fundraiser for the Jay C. Hormel Nature Center. For more information, call 507-437-7519.
Nov. 23
Thanksgiving Brunch
When: 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. Where: Holiday Inn Austin Conference Center. For more information, call 507-433-8000.
Nov. 3-8
Nov. 24
Where: Holiday Inn Austin Conference Center Fun-filled 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.
When: 5:30-7:30 p.m. Where: Main Street, Downtown Austin
Calico Hutch Quilters Retreat
Christmas in the City Kick-Off
Nov. 28
Christmas in the Northwest
When: 4-7 p.m. Where: 18th Avenue Northwest and surrounding area
Nov. 30
Christmas in the Southwest
When: 4-7 p.m. Where: Sterling Shopping Center and surrounding area
Nov. 4
Dec. 2-3
When: 7-9:30 p.m. Where: St. Olaf Lutheran Church For more information, go to www.northwesternsingers.com.
When: 4-9 p.m. on Dec. 2; 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Dec. 3. Where: The Hormel Historic Home. For more information go to www.ahandmadechristmas.com
Northwestern Singers Benefit Concert
A Handmade Christmas
Nov. 13
Dec. 5
When: 7-9 p.m. Where: Knowlton Auditorium, Austin High School Presented by the Austin Artist Series, providing the Austin community with 72 years of quality music programs.
When: 4-7 p.m. Where: 11th Street Northeast and surrounding area
Austin Artist Series - Roy and Rosemary
Nov. 15-19
“She Loves Me”
When: 7-9:30 p.m. (2-4:30 p.m. on Nov. 19) Where: Frank W. Bridges Theatre, Riverland Community College Set in a 1930’s European perfumery, shop clerks Amalia and Georg don’t see eye to eye. After both respond to a “lonely hearts” ad in the newspaper, they now live for the love letters they exchange, but the identity of their admirers remains unknown. A warm romantic comedy with an endearing innocence and a touch of old world elegance inspired by the classic film “The Shop Around the Corner.” Rated PG. Tickets available at www.riverland.edu/theatre. For more information, call 507-433-0595. 60 | Austin Living | November–December 2017
Christmas in the East
Dec. 7
First Thursdays Event - Christmas at the Museum When: 4-8 p.m. Where: The Spam Museum Make an ornament to deck your halls in preparation for the holidays. For more information, call 507-434-6420.
Dec. 8
Christmas in the County Pre-Sale Bake Sale When: 4-6 p.m. Where: Mower County Historical Society Get a head start with your holiday baking needs. For more information, call 507-437-6082.
Austin ArtWorks Center For more information, call 507-434-0934.
Dec. 8-10
“A Fairy Tale Christmas”
When: 7 p.m. (2 p.m. on Dec. 9 and 10) Where: Historic Paramount Theatre A Matchbox Children’s Theatre production. Everyone’s favorite classic holiday tale gets the fractured fairy-tale treatment, with famous fairy-tale characters taking on memorable roles of Dickens’s A Christmas Carol — Big Bad Wolf, Old King Cole, Queen of Hearts, a Fairy Godmother — you’ll never know who will show up next. This fun-filled adaptation stays true to the warmth and heart of the classic. Tickets $6 for youth 14 and under, $10 for adults. For more information, call 507-433-1931 or go to www. matchboxchildrenstheatre.org.
•Nov. 1, 29: Throw, Alter, Glaze, 6-7 p.m. •Nov. 1-18: Renee Sonka and Lori Tapani Gallery Show •Nov. 4, 11 and 18: Mugs and Handles (Ages 16 and up), 10:30-11:30 a.m. •Nov. 10 and Dec. 8: Landscapes in Oil - Painting the Softer Side of Nature (Ages 16 and up), 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. •Nov. 24-Jan. 1: All AACA Member Show, opening reception Nov. 24 5-7 p.m. •Nov. 30: Polymer Clay Snowflake Ornaments (Ages 13 and under), 5:30-6:30 p.m. •Dec. 7: Sterling Silver Earrings, 6-7 p.m. Kids Studios are held every Saturday from Nov. 4-Dec. 16. Call for more details.
Hormel Historic Home
For more information, call 507-433-4243. History Happy Hour •Nov. 13: TBD, 5:30 p.m. •Dec. 11: History of Nativity Sets, 5:30 p.m.
Dec. 9
Home and Hearth Series •Nov. 21: The Grateful Life, 10 a.m. •Dec. 19: History of the Nativity, 10 a.m.
When: 3-7 p.m. Where: Mower County Historical Society Enjoy indoor and outdoor activities, including bake sale, silent auction, horsedrawn sleigh and wagon rides, raffle, children’s activities, cookie decorating, pine cone bird feeders, a visit with Santa and Mrs. Claus, and even blow the 1004 train whistle. For more information, call 507-437-6082.
Other events •Nov. 16: Holiday Card Party, noon to 4 p.m. •Nov. 17: Holiday Open House Tea Luncheon, 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. •Nov. 18: Soup and Santa for Families, 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. •Nov. 18: Soup and Spirits, 4-7 p.m. •Dec. 23: Bissen Concert Holidays and More, 5-8 p.m. Holiday walk-in tours will run from 10 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Monday through Friday starting Nov. 20 and ending Dec. 29.
Christmas in the County
Dec. 10
Austin Symphony Orchestra: Trans-Siberian Christmas
When: 2-4:30 p.m. Where: Knowlton Auditorium, Austin High School Alt-Rock ensemble the Galactic Cowboy Orchestra returns to Austin for an energetic and dynamic performance of Christmas music in the style of the Trans-Siberian Orchestra. Electric fiddle and rock star virtuosity meld seamlessly with the power of the traditional orchestra to deliver a thrilling celebration of the season. In more traditional style, the Austin Symphony Chorus joins the orchestra and soprano soloist for one of French composer Francis Poulenc’s best known works and tribute to Russian friend, Igor Stravinsky. Tickets are also available at the Coffee House on Main and Hy-Vee. For more information, go to www.austinsymphonyorchestra.org.
Jay C. Hormel Nature Center
For more information, call 507-437-7519 or email info@hormelnaturecenter.org •Nov. 2: John Duren and His Photography Adventures, 7-8 p.m. •Nov. 28: Austin Utilities Program: Community Solar Project, 7-8 p.m. •Nov. 30: Christmas Crafts Session 1, 6-9 p.m. •Dec. 2: Christmas Crafts Session 2, 8:30-11:30 a.m. •Dec. 2: Christmas Crafts Session 3, 1:30-4:30 p.m. •Dec. 12: Kevin Strauss: “Holiday Tales from Around the World,” 7-8 p.m. •Dec. 19: The Association Jazz Combo Concert, 7-8 p.m.
Movie Night at the Paramount
For more information or to request your favorite movie for future showings, call 507-434-0934 or email info@austinareaarts.org. What’s in a Name November •Nov. 1: Good Will Hunting (R), 7:30 p.m. •Nov. 8: Forrest Gump (PG-13), 7:30 p.m. •Nov. 15: What’s Eating Gilbert Grape? (PG-13), 7:30 p.m. •Nov. 22: Tommy Boy (PG-13), 7:30 p.m. •Nov. 29: The Curious Case of Benjamin Button (PG-13), 7:30 p.m. December Disasters •Dec. 6: Planes, Trains and Automobiles (R), 7:30 p.m. •Dec. 13: National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation (PG-13), 7:30 p.m. •Dec. 20: Home Alone (PG), 7:30 p.m. •Dec. 27: Die Hard (R), 7:30 p.m.
Performances at the Paramount For more information, call 507-434-0934.
Dec. 16
Driller MMA Fight
When: 6-10 p.m. Where: Holiday Inn Austin Conference Center For more information, call 507-433-1000.
•Nov. 4: Weathered Willow, 7:30 p.m. •Nov. 11: The New Standards, 7:30 p.m. •Nov. 17: Billy McLaughlin and Simple Gifts, 7:30 p.m. •Nov. 24: Jane Taylor’s The Nutcracker, 7:30 p.m. •Dec. 2: Merry TubaChristmas!, 11 a.m. •Dec. 2: At Christmas (John and Lisi Wright), 7:30 p.m. •Dec. 16: Christmas at Home, 7:30 p.m. November–December 2017 | Austin Living | 61
BOOK REVIEW
A SER OUS PASS ON FOR FOOD Amy Thielen thrills fans with her love of food By Holly Johnson, Austin Page Turners
I love food. I love planning, prepping, cooking, serving and even cleaning up after food. The whole process brings me joy; it’s my release. For this reason, I was drawn to the book called “Give the Girl a Knife” by Amy Thielen. The title, which might lead readers to think they are about to read a thriller, indicates that the author is serious about her passion for the kitchen. Though she didn’t always have the drive to be a chef, her life’s journey has been infused with a childhood filled with lessons from the kitchen. From her grandmother’s multicultural cooking ancestry to her mother’s pea pod and mushroom steak garnish and her father’s family meat market in Pierz, Minnesota, Thielen was exposed to food as an activity throughout her life. As her life progressed she recognized that seemingly mundane family activities had become the foundation for her personal evolution. She said, “But the romance of cooking-the low buzz I felt inside when I inhaled my favorite cookbooks, Paula Wolfert describing a chanterelle-and-walnut tart in France or Madeleine Kamman on the momentous cabbage and duck tourtes of the Savoie; or even when my mom pulled the heavy aluminum pan of swirling brown butter away from the heat and then threw a pile of chopped scallions into it, sighed softly and walked away, knowing that half of the scallions would frizzle to delicious brown bits and the rest would give her spaetzle a bright chivey flavor, just as they always did, time after time-that part of cooking that ignited my senses and my imagination at the same time, I did not find at culinary school.” Referring to time spent with her aunts and cousins she 62 | Austin Living | November–December 2017
wrote, “Their belief system could be summed up in three ingredients: butter, fermented pickles, and bacon. We really believed in bacon. Meat in general, actually.” Theilen, a native of Park Rapids, Minnesota, grew up the child of a car dealing father and home manager mother. Summers were spent at the family’s lake cabin on Long Lake, east of Park Rapids. Following her parents’ divorce, Thielen moved to Twin Cities suburbia with her mother, but she missed her home. “Park Rapids could feel gritty, at times about as glamorous as carpet worn down to the plastic mesh, but it was nonetheless storied,” she said. “And when we lived there, so were we.” Pursuing a literary education, Thielen attended a liberal arts college in Ohio before returning to St. Paul to attend Macalester College. It was during this time in her first apartment that she started to really cook and explore her individual passion apart from that which came from her family. Following culinary school, Thielen’s artistic and functional skills allowed her to work for some of the greatest chefs in New York City. Her writing, influenced by her love of reading, allowed me a glimpse into the life of those who have made a reputation in food creativity. It is probably no surprise that the restaurant business is risky. It’s competitive and costly, and success is often dependent on creative marketing and whose name is behind the kitchen. Reading of the demands placed on those who do the behind-the-scenes work at some of the best known restaurants was eye opening to me. It’s not glamorous. It’s not comfortable, and it’s not a get rich proposition.
Bring your banking
home
for the holidays! Offering personalized loans for all the special moments in life.
Amy Thielen.
Photo provided by Random House
In her book, Thielen is often torn between her love of the New York food scene and her roots in Minnesota. The longer she is on the east coast, the more she values her time spent in her grandmother’s kitchen. The most unique and bizarre creations of the best chefs she encounters can’t compete with the impact her mother’s spaetzle recipe or her grandmother’s homemade bread had on her and those she shared it with. At last returning to the Minnesota town that shaped her, Thielen, now a wife and mother, seems to have found contentment. The home where she learned to appreciate the gifts of the earth has been modernized with electricity and plumbing. As host of the Food Network’s, “The Heartland Table,” Thielen shares her favorite recipes and cooking tips from the comfort of her beloved home in her beloved Two Inlets, Minnesota. As I stated, I love food. I love reading about food, and I love working with food. This book showed me how food can nourish a life both nutritionally and emotionally. If you want to get to know Amy and her craft better, visit www.amythielen.com or facebook.com/amythielencook.
Holiday e Open Hous
8 Friday, Dec. 0pm 1:00pm–4:3
er, Coffee & Cookies, Cid Santa from Pictures with m 2:30–4:30p
201 West Oakland Ave. • Austin, MN
JustCallHome.com
Member FDIC
November–December 2017 | Austin Living | 63
ICE IS LIFE
WHY I LOVE AUSTIN
Bruiser the Bear with his translator, Hans Phurbatuum (bear whisperer).
Bruiser finds a den in Austin By Bruiser
the
Bear • Translated
by
Hans Phurbatuum (Bear Whisperer) • Photo
The chill in the air, the gloss of the ice, the purr of the zamboni, the intoxicating scent of popcorn and hot dogs. These are what tickle your senses every time you step into my house, Riverside Arena. As a young cub growing up in the Northwoods, I never pictured myself as a “city bear.” But when Craig Patrick brought the Bruins to Austin in 2010, they were in need of a mascot. Was it fate? Was it destiny? I’m not sure, all I know is that when I got the call I knew this was my chance to make it to the big leagues. So that is where the story begins, from then on it has been a wild roller coaster ride of pure craziness. All thanks to the great city of Austin. Since making this my home in 2010, I have grown more and more in love with the town each and every year. It has helped me grow into the bear I am today. Each and every time I step out on the ice, in front of all our screaming fans, its makes me feel alive. The love, support and sheer energy that the people of Austin bring to games is absolutely amazing. Over the last seven years we have developed an incredible following and fan base. Folks here in Minnesooota sure love their hockey. Come to think of it, I think they love pretty much anything on ice. Hockey, fishing, curling, sledding. You name it, they’ve done 64 | Austin Living | November–December 2017
by
Eric Johnson
it, on ice. I’ve traveled around to other arenas in our league and our fans, by far, are the best in the NAHL. Every Friday and Saturday night, they are out there in their black and yellow, screaming at the top of their lungs, cheering our boys on to victory. Quite frankly if it wasn’t for them, the Bruins, and myself, would be lost. The people aren’t the only ones that make it great here. We wouldn’t be able to do what we do each and every weekend if it wasn’t for Austin’s local businesses. The support that they have shown to our organization is key to the success we have had. Whether some lucky fan is tossing the balls as the “Black Label Bacon Fan of the Game,” a private party is rocking in the Papa Murphy’s Bears Den or you are hearing the starting lineup courtesy of Drs. Potach and Mitchell. Austin’s businesses and business owners are the best in the biz. I could go on and on talking about how great the last seven years have been here in Austin. But I can’t, I am way too busy enjoying and planning the many more years to come. On behalf of myself and everyone from the Austin Bruins organization, I want to say THANK YOU AUSTIN! Thank you for opening up your town to us and thank you for continuing to support us. You mean everything to us. That is why I, Bruiser Bear, love living in Austin, Minnesota.