2022 Brainerd Lakes Area Progress Edition

PROGRESS Edition

Growth, challenges and in the lakes area opportunities abound

Hiring signs remain a constant in changed work landscape

By Renee Richardson Brainerd Dispatch Change.

It’s a constant in business, especially during the last three tumultuous years. Even before the pandemic, change seemed to be coming as fast as a loaded toboggan on a steep, icy hill.

Matt

Seymour, an active member of the lakes area business community, is one of a number of people who found this was the right time for a change. Seymour sold his independent gas station/convenience and liquor stores in the lakes area in April. The move was an option he said he was exploring before the pandemic’s challenging times arrived in the spring of 2020 with the last few years contributing to the right moment.

Even as he is transitioning to a new way of defining himself outside of work, Seymour remains optimistic about the lakes area.

“We’re blessed to be in a unique area,” he said. “I believe there is a resilience built into the lakes area that serves us very well.”

Seymour said it’s about managing challenges versus hoping or holding out for change. He was quick to point out he wasn’t an economist when asked about the workforce landscape and labor shortages, which were anticipated to challenge business long before anyone heard of COVID-19. With his extensive experience and as an employer of about 50 people, Seymour doesn’t expect changes in the workforce for some time, saying it will take a generation.

“I think it’s stressful for everybody,” he said.

One of the ongoing challenges is creating a workplace that is

Gretchen Rogers, North Central Medical Supply president and CEO, said the company’s 10-year lease in its current location ends this year. After looking for space to move into before the end of the year, Rogers said they looked at options to build to suit their business. And the corner property, which has been on the market, provided the opportunity they were looking for amid a host of medical businesses and clinics and with a senior living complex currently under construction nearby in the Gracewin Living Cooperative.

Generations of families enjoy Whitefish Chain, including owners

The resorts of the Whitefish Chain remain locally owned and operated, and many have been owned by the same families for generations

By Megan Buffington Echo Journal

Vacations on the Whitefish Chain, though modernized, have remained largely unchanged for nearly a century.

The list of amenities has grown, and the toys have gotten bigger, but some of the same resorts remain from when they were first opened in the 1930s or ‘40s.

“It sounds odd, but several years ago we put in air-conditioning, and (before that) we didn’t have air-conditioning,” said Mike Schwieters, owner of Boyd Lodge on Lower Whitefish and Rush lakes.

As vacationing becomes more extravagant, resorts grow further from their roots as simple getaways to the lake. At

want to preserve simplicity with modern amenities.

Schwieters has seen the modernization in resorting first hand. His

maternal grandfather, Lynn Boyd, started the resort in 1945, beginning with a tent cabin and slowly building more. When Schwieters’ grandparents were killed in a car accident in 1966, his mother returned with her family to the resort she grew up at. Schwieters grew up during an era of resorting boom. He saw the installation of the first swimming pool at Boyd Lodge. When he eventually took over, he helped lead the expansion of the resort, adding seven new cottages and a main office and store with a small gathering space to join the 17 three-to-five bedroom cabins.

“Everything’s bigger

and better. We’ve got dishwashers and gas grills instead of charcoal grills and air-conditioning and screen porches,” Schwieters said. “That stuff’s changed, but the feel of when you’re here, hopefully, has stayed somewhat the same.”

Schwieters is one of many running a family-owned resort on the Whitefish Chain. Every resort on the chain is privately owned and operated, with most having been in the family for at least two generations.

Compared to the rest of the lake, Karen and Dan Scholz, Beacon Shores Resort, are

Megan Buffington / Echo Journal

Beacon Shores Resort, owners Dan and Karen Scholz

Photos by Steve Kohls / Brainerd Dispatch Construction continues on Gracewin Living Cooperatives, a complex for senior living, in Baxter.

Natural products — a natural success

Soy wax candles mainstay of Sugarberry Creek Candle Co.

By Theresa Bourke Brainerd Dispatch

BRAINERD — Experimenting with candles is nothing new for Craig Axelson.

At just 6 years old, he liked to buy used candles from garage sales and melt down the wax. He quickly learned that wax was not conducive for downhill skis but could be made into his own candles with the help of an empty soup can and a shoelace wick.

Then as an adult, he found candle making to be a fun way to stay connected with his growing children.

“We started off just making simple little candles, and it morphed from there,” Axelson said during an interview in July.

By December 2020, it had morphed into a full-blown business.

It was then that Craig and wife Karla launched Sugarberry Creek Candle Co., a home-based business that sells reed diffusers, body and lip balm, room and linen spray, wax melts and — of course — candles.

Coincidentally begun when many others were starting side hustles to pass the time and earn extra income during the COVID-19 pandemic, Sugarberry Creek Candles was not pandemic-related but a culmination of years’ worth of experimentation and a little nudge from the kids.

The Axelsons, both Brainerd High School graduates, have other

FOR YOUR INFORMATION

careers. Craig is an electrician and Karla is a communications coordinator at Brainerd schools. They have a blended family with five kids and two grandchildren.

“Thanksgiving, Christmastime, the kids would come up, and we would make candles, so it’s kind of a family thing,” Craig said. “And Karla’s kids had said

that, you know, maybe we should start doing this for a business.”

So they did.

And the experimentation Craig started as a child continues today, evidenced by the various Post-it notes stuck to the walls in the Axelsons’ workshop, reminding them of what works and what doesn’t work.

“A lot of people don’t think there’s much that goes into it, but we have

to do a lot of research into how to get it exactly right,” Karla said. “Like people say, there is actually a science to it.”

That science includes combining ingredients like natural soy wax and beeswax, lead- and zinc-free cotton wicks, essential oils and shea butter under the right conditions to create the unique Sugarberry Creek products.

Ambient temperature

ADVERTORIAL

and humidity, along with the temperature of the wax at various stages in the process, all go into making a perfect product as well.

“It’s a very temperamental process and painstaking,” Craig said.

The specific lot numbers of soy wax make a difference, too.

“Lot numbers can vary with their formulas and how they make it, and

SUGARBERRY: PAGE 7

Always believing in the Brainerd lakes area

By Alyson Levig

Did you know there is a company in the Brainerd lakes area that balances commercial development and economic vitality? That company is the Brainerd Lakes Area Economic Development Corporation or BLAEDC. They believe the Brainerd lakes area is a great place to both live, work and play in the surrounding natural beauty and are here to support the economic vitality of our communities. They accomplish this by traditional development efforts along with innovative lending, recruiting and their team of experts in the fundamentals of economic development. Overall, they are invested in their work because they too live in the Brainerd lakes area.

SERVICES

Recruitment Program

Crow Wing County is more than a tourist destination, this area is home to companies that do business all over the world. With BLAEDC’s support, their Recruitment Program provides access to the talent they need to attract a workforce in a competitive market.

Unified Fund

Founded five years ago, BLAEDC’s Unified Fund continues to help county-based businesses. They make this possible by pooling all unused public funds throughout Crow Wing County into a single location as another lending assistance program for businesses who need it.

Expansion

Besides its core services to aid in business growth and expansion in the Brainerd lakes area, BLAEDC is pleased to announce its signed agreement with the North Central Small Business Development Center in 2022. This strengthened and formal relationship enables BLAEDC staff to offer services as an SBDC satellite site for all potential and current business owners in Crow Wing County.

Our Impact

Ultimately, BLAEDC’s goal is to make a meaningful difference in our communities. They believe it’s important to measure businesses started, jobs created, and dollars invested — and just as important to remember smiles shared, friendships formed, and lives improved. Along with their services, BLAEDC promotes communities throughout Crow Wing County with support for local events and celebrations. They understand the impact these types of events have on the county and the economic success that will eventually follow.

Steve Kohls / Brainerd Dispatch Craig, left, Oliver and Karla Axelson show some of the products they make at Sugarberry Creek Candle Co. on July 19, 2022, at their Brainerd business. Pooch Izzy likes to hang around in the workshop with her owners.

Connecting with the great outdoors

Nature Link Resort helps guests unplug

By Theresa Bourke Brainerd Dispatch

NISSWA — Winding

walking trails, outdoor reading nooks, lake views and rustic but modern cabins merge together on the shores of Clark Lake, to create one of the lakes area’s newest resorts.

Nestled back among the trees but only minutes from downtown Nisswa, Nature Link Resort sits just off the Paul Bunyan State Trail and aims to connect guests with the natural world around them.

The resort with its attached event venue — Catalyst by Nature Link — came to be out of a mutual desire between couples Kate and Tony Becker and Ben and Zoie Vanden Wymelenbergs to open new businesses.

The Beckers sought a

VIDEO For video, see brainerddispatch.com

FOR YOUR INFORMATION

Business: Nature Link Resort.

City: Nisswa.

Number of employees: Eight.

Interesting fact: There are no televisions at Nature Link Resort, as the owners’ goal is to help guests unplug and enjoy nature.

location for a wedding venue, while the Vanden Wymelenbergses wanted a place to build a resort.

“When we connected on this, we knew it was the perfect opportunity to team up and combine the two since our vision for what we wanted to create was so aligned,” the owners said in an email.

That vision includes

a significant focus on nature, as the name implies. Nowhere on the 14 wooded acres will visitors find a television, and the outdoor amenities are plenty. Complimentary bikes, canoes and kayaks await guests, who are encouraged to make use of the lake or hang out on the beach, sitting around the fire pit and making use of

NATURE LINK: PAGE 6

renovations are complete.

ADVERTORIAL

When I started in the glass business, I had not envisioned myself making this my longterm dream. Well, here I am some 30-plus years later. I started at the very bottom and worked my way to owning my own business. I met my wife because of it and in turn had two wonderful children.

Along the way I have worked with and beside some very wonderful people. When my wife and I purchased Brainerd Glass in 2009 we had visions of growing the company and in doing so also creating a bond and trust with not only our clients but also with our employees. Treating people with respect and listening to what their needs are is the foundation of what we do at Brainerd Glass. Integrity, hard work and going the extra mile is not only sound business practice but the right way to do things.

As we look to the future, our hope is to not only grow our business, but to also maintain up-to-date standards. We will embrace and utilize all the new technology that increases the value of our products and services. Our bottom line is to create a positive work environment for our employees and a quality product and service for our customers.

In today’s economy, unfortunately, the products we purchase have run into some time delays. Whether it is a lack of workers from our suppliers or lack of material, our lead times have grown. When you work with Brainerd Glass you will get full disclosure on the status of your project. Our goal is to work as quickly and efficiently as humanly possible. Sometimes the path may get crooked, but the result will always be for us to give the highest quality product and service available.

I personally want to thank all my employees, both present and past. Brainerd Glass is more than just a name; it is a reputation that has stood the test of time. It is a tradition that was started in 1943 and continues to this day. We consider it a blessing to live and work where we do. We actively take part in the community both physically and monetarily. We look forward to the future and will always strive to be the very best that we can be.

I had not envisioned myself making this my longterm dream.

Photos by Kelly Humphrey / Brainerd Dispatch

A view from Clark Lake shows the lake side of Catalyst by Nature Link, the soon-to-open event center at Nature Link Resort in Nisswa.

Venue Operations Manager Olivia Goskey shows what the space will look like once

attractive and a place where people want to stay. Seymour credited the great people who worked for him and his management team for leading a successful work culture.

Seymour was known for his Q Squares convenience stores — Pine Square, College Square, Raceway Square and Nitro Square. After 20 years, Seymour said it was the right deal at the right time for a transition to retirement but he really misses the work team. Now he’s taking some time to recharge, regroup and rediscover who he is away from a job description. He’s not alone in redefining himself beyond what he does for a living. This

Labor Day continues to bear witness to the changing workplace. That trend was well underway before the pandemic arrived in the spring of 2020 with aging workers leaving the labor force and fewer members of the younger generations following in additional waves of Gen X, Millennials (also known as Gen Y) and Gen Z.

Baby boomers, those born between 1946 and 1964, were already leaving the workforce at a steady clip before the pandemic convinced some to leave earlier than previously planned.

The Pew Research Center reported in the third quarter of 2020, about 28.6 million baby boomers were out of the labor force due to retirement, representing 3.2 million more boomers than the 25.4 million who retired in the same quarter of 2019.

“About a year

later, the exodus accelerated,” a 2021 Forbes article noted. “A recent survey from Coventry showed that over 75% of the respondents said they are planning to retire early. The effects of the pandemic made older people reflect on what is really important to them. A larger percentage have come to the realization that they’ll be happier and live a more fulfilling life by leaving their jobs.”

The so-called Great Resignation didn’t mean people were leaving the workforce just to collect unemployment or increased pandemic benefits. Some left for better pay, better

hours, better benefits and fewer public interactions. Others decided it was time to open their own business. There are multiple examples of that in lakes area communities as people decided it was time to follow that dream of being their own boss. And, anecdotally, some took the opportunity to go back to school or start early on the bucket list. And yes, a wave of people decided to retire earlier than they originally planned.

“Just as younger people resigned from their jobs to find more meaningful work, the seasoned professionals want to use their

GROWTH: PAGE 10

Growing up in a family of restaurateurs it was only fitting for Chris Dunmire to eventually have a restaurant of his own. And that dream became a reality for Chris in 2020 when he opened Dunmire’s Bar & Grill east of Brainerd on Hwy 210.

And in 2022, Chris doubled up on his dream with a second restaurant after he purchased Dunmire’s On the Lake, located along Hwy. 371 near North Long Lake.

“I saw that as a great location,” Chris said of the Hwy. 371 business. “My father (Craig) once looked at that location when he first moved here in the early 2000s. He didn’t go through with the purchase, but it’s neat that 15 years later I ended up building the building.”

The new location is also extra special for Chris since his dad has served as his mentor.

“I learned most of the restaurant trade following my father at a young age,” he explained. “I learned how to treat people and work with employees to enhance the customer’s visit.”

With his two restaurants, Chris knew he could turn his love for food and bringing people together into something special. Two years into the business, Chris has built a reputation for offering a menu with something for everyone. Serving up classic American dishes perfected with a Dunmire’s twist - from craft burgers to hardy meals. Each dish is made with the intent to put a smile on the face of each guest. Leave full and satisfied or take a to-go box to enjoy the leftovers later. When dining at Dunmire’s two restaurants, you’re not just another customer. The staff wants to give you a full experience from the second you walk in to the moment you leave. You will often see Chris make his rounds to personally greet and thank the customers. It’s important that you come in feeling like you belong. Come celebrate your birthday, anniversary or anything special - Dunmire’s wants to celebrate with you.

Community is the No. 1 priority for Dunmire’s. They’re always looking for ways to pay it forward and make a difference big or small. Sports sponsorships, food drives, benefits and proceed donations are just a few ways they stay involved. They believe they can make a difference in the community with their food not just by donations from food sold, but by giving people something to remember - a place to laugh and have conversation over good food and drinks.

Food brings people together, and the staff want Dunmire’s to continue to be a reason friends and family gather. Food pushes differences aside and makes one appreciate the little things in life. Everyone knows memories are always made at the dinner table.

Steve Kohls / Brainerd Dispatch

Wings Financial Credit Union in Baxter by Costco begins to take shape.

Chelsey Perkins / Brainerd Dispatch

A sign outside of Revolv Manufacturing on Thiesse Road in Brainerd advertises the company’s need to hire more employees.

Heath’s Resort Lake: Upper Whitefish.

Number of Employees: Four family and weekend cleaning crew.

Year Opened: 1938.

Owners: David and Carole

Heath.

Number of Years Owned: 35.

Interesting Fact: Their new cabin, the Reunion House, sleeps 17.

Kilworry Resort Lake: Upper Whitefish.

Number of Employees: Five, all family.

Year Opened: 1912.

Owner: George Coughlin.

Number of Years Owned: 80.

Interesting Fact: The log cabins at the resort were built by George Coughlin, the current owner. Black Pine Beach Resort Lake: Pig Lake.

Number of Employees: Four full time, 11 seasonal.

Year Opened: 1939.

Owners: Lynn and Bob Scharenbroich. Number of Years Owned: 45. Interesting Fact: Developed a marketing plan to allow winter closure by

WHITEFISH

From Page 1

relatively new to the resorting business. They’ve owned the resort for 21 years and were customers at the resort for 23 years before that, beginning in 1978 with Karen and two of her friends’ senior trip. The Scholz’s have seen the same demand for bigger and better at

their two-unit resort on Lower Whitefish Lake, just down the road from Boyd Lodge.

“When (Karen) first came up here, a boat came with the cabin. So they rowed out, and that’s what you did. That was it,” Dan Scholz said.

“They want more than that,” Karen Scholz said.

“Now, you rent pontoons, and you rent fishing boats,” Dan Scholz said. “And the fishing

boats can’t be the little rowboats; they’ve got to have a depth finder and a live well.”

Even though customers are often asking for more, resorts have retained their uniqueness.

“There’s such a variety of resorts and styles in our area that if somebody really wants super rustic, they can do that,” Schwieters said. “If they want the spa treatment, they can find that.”

LABORDAY HAPPY

It seems especially on the Whitefish Chain, once a family finds the resort that’s right for them, they’ll be customers for decades. Some resorts have been hosting the same families for five generations.

“One of the things we learned when you’re resorting is that almost all of our customers are repeat customers. They come back year after year after year, and you grow so incredibly close

with the families,” Dan Scholz said. “You watch the generations turn and grow, and they almost become an extended part of your family.”

ADVERTORIAL

The Scholzes have been invited to numerous weddings and multiple funerals.

WHITEFISH: PAGE 9

A Small Company with a Big Community Impact

Crow Wing Cooperative Power and Light Company (aka Crow Wing Power) has been powering North Central Minnesota since 1937, a standalone company that offers membership benefits to its customers through the Co-op Connections Card, simply by being a customer. Save money when using the card at area businesses who participate.

Crow Wing Power is proud to help local businesses and is always giving back to the surrounding community and its customers.

From the customer service they provide, to the linemen working directly on the power lines, during storms, extreme heat or in the dead of winter, Crow Wing always has their customers best interests in mind.

Delivering reliable, and affordable electricity to homes, cabins, farms, and many businesses, they serve over 37,000 members. Always improving and looking out for their customers, Crow Wing Power installed a new meter system that can tell what a predicted power outage area is. This allows them to verify it and have their crews dispatched to specific locations.

For being a small utilities company, Crow Wing Power, makes a big impact within the local community and surrounding areas. From a calendar photo contest, where the winner receives a credit off their electric bill, to Operation Round Up, where Crow Wing gives to many organizations throughout the year, when members round up their monthly bill to the next dollar amount.

One of the recipients of a yearly grant from the round up program is the Cuyuna Range Youth Center, which guides local youths in learning positive life skills in areas such as, health, education, social skills, community involvement and service and leadership as well as the tools needed to join the workforce.

To allofour employeeswhokeep your poweron.

Megan Buffington / Echo Journal

The Scholzes keep photos of their time as customers at the resort in window frames from the original Beacon Shores Lodge, which burned down in 2015. They also have the two-horsepower motor they used to use to get around the lake and the original resort sign and beacon that went with it.

the s’more kits they received upon check-in.

Five finished cabins stand ready for guests, with full-sized kitchens and sleek marble and metal finishes in neutral shades of black and white. Wooden accent pieces give the structures an outdoorsy, northwoods feel, perhaps tempting guests to explore the grounds and acquaint themselves with the surrounding environment.

Remodeling efforts of existing cabins are ongoing, as the Nature Link crew seeks to hold on to the historic buildings that were a part of Minnewawa Lodge, one of the state’s oldest resorts that operated on the property decades ago. Upon the lodge’s closing, the land played home to Minnesota Hockey Camps for more than 40 years before selling to the Nature Link owners.

“So we’re excited to restore it back to its original intent as a resort,” said Olivia Goskey, venue operations manager at Nature Link.

After a soft opening April 1, the owners are planning a grand opening celebration in September, when the resort’s event space is complete and open for business.

Catalyst by Nature Link

Still under construction, Catalyst by Nature Link is booked for its first wedding in mid-September. Goskey can’t wait for the first party to set foot in the brand new venue and take advantage of the inviting light brought in by floor-to-ceiling windows, sweeping lake views and outdoor patio space.

The Sky Suite and Lake Suite will offer comfortable accommodations for brides, grooms and wedding parties to get ready on the big day, with kitchenettes, bars, makeup mirrors, handy storage cubbies and comfortable couches. Arcade games and access to lawn games on the patio are meant to help those involved in the proceedings destress before the event.

A grand staircase will stretch from the lobby to the upstairs area,

which includes the main event space, where couples can get married in full view of Clark Lake.

The downstairs reception room and outdoor space will be ideal for dinner, dancing and any other festivities guests have in mind.

A vendor suite will be available for photographers, coordinators or anyone else integral to the day’s event who needs a place to set up or store equipment.

A separate catering entrance will allow for food and beverage set up without disturbing those in the rest of the venue.

The Beckers’ background in wedding photography gave them unique insight into the needs of everyone on the day of the wedding, and they designed Catalyst to make the day stressfree for all involved — not only the couple and their families, but also the vendors and guests.

“They really tried to think of everyone who would be using this space rather than just focusing on one area,” Goskey said.

Weddings aren’t the only foreseen use of Catalyst, though.

Retreats are already booked for the space, as is a nonprofit gala later in the fall. Goskey also

sees holiday parties, conferences and several other types of events in the space’s future. A local school has inquired about hosting prom at Catalyst, and a yoga retreat could be in the cards, too.

“We’d love to be able to work with different businesses in the area and host some community events,” Goskey

said. “We also want to host an open house event this fall once everything is complete so we can invite the public and all of our booked couples and interested couples to be able to come check everything out once it’s built.”

The space can hold up to 225 people and is meant to have a modern look and feel with-

out seeming out of place next to the lake and among the other natural elements in and around the resort.

“There’s lots of clean lines, lots of bright, natural light, and a neutral color palette, too, like black, ivory, white, wood metal leather. Just a lot of nature elements but not rusticky,” Goskey said.

But if Catalyst clients want to get a little closer to nature itself — and the weather cooperates — they can make use of the outdoor ceremony space, perfect for weddings and other gatherings. Benches set back in a clearing among towering pine trees pair with different archway

Original cabins from Minnewawa Lodge remain on the property at Nature Link Resort. Owners of the new resort plan to remodel the old cabins and hang on to parts of the place’s history.

Photos by Kelly Humphrey / Brainerd Dispatch

The beach at Nature Link Resort in Nisswa allows guests to have a bonfire, gaze out on Clark Lake or take canoes and kayaks for a spin. NATURE LINK: PAGE 8

sometimes you might get a bad batch, and you really gotta work hard to make that work with your product. It might not be as good as the last batch,” Craig said. “So sometimes you get lucky, and sometimes you don’t.”

Because of the variation in lot numbers, the Axelsons typically buy their soy wax in bulk, but they also have to be cognizant of its expiration, as soy wax — unlike paraffin wax — has a shelf life.

“There’s so many factors that come into play to try to get this to work the first time,” Craig said.

And when it does work, the Axelsons are left with their variety of products with signature scents inspired by the great Minnesota outdoors.

Paul Bunyan Trail gives off a subtle pine scent familiar to those who enjoy hiking, biking and snowmobiling on the north-central Minnesota state trail.

Lakeside combines citrus, sea salt, jasmine, cedar and violet for an aroma of waves lapping against the shoreline at the cabin.

“We try to create scents that somebody might encounter here in the Brainerd lakes area,” Craig said. “So people coming up from the Cities or different states can bring something home with them that reminds them of the Brainerd lakes area.”

Norway Pine, Campfire and Cabin Fever add to the outdoorsy mix, but the scents don’t stop there.

Among the most pop-

ular scents is Blood Orange, one of the many fruit-scented products, along with Lemon Verbena, Pineapple Sage, Grapefruit Mint and Pomegranate Bitters.

Coffee Bean, Black Cherry Merlot, Mint Mojito and Pink Sugar give a little variety to the Axelsons’ stock, which consists of more than 40 scents. New scents come out periodically, and so do new products, as fresh

ideas consistently crop up.

“I’m the one who makes us do all the other things (besides candles),” Karla said, joking about driving her husband crazy with all her ideas. “I get really excited about it.”

Items like body balms — which have been especially popular lately — are a good way for the Axelsons to use

SUGARBERRY: PAGE 11

Ourstaf fisthebest inthebusiness!

DuringthisLaborDayweekend,wewishtosalutetheGood NeighborHomeHealth Carestaff,whichissecondtonone.Their dedication,compassionandprofessionalism –dayinanddayout–iswhyGoodNeighborhasbeen so successful duringits39yearsof servicetotheBrainerdLakesArea.Whetherit’snursingcare, therapy,homehealthaide,homemakerorcompanionservices,our employeesprovidethehighestlevelofcare.We’reproudofour employeesandthankthemfortheirloyaltytoGood NeighborHomeHealthCare.

CALLING ALL NURSES, HOME AIDES! Good

“Help Wanted.” How many times have you seen those two words in the last couple of years? Job openings are everywhere, including the healthcare industry and, more specifically, Good Neighbor Home Health Care.

In the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic, we’re all learning about what employees really want and expect from their employer when they’re changing jobs or starting their careers. One of the things that always percolates to the top of the list is a schedule that’s flexible.

Enter Good Neighbor.

Good Neighbor, which is now hiring nurses and home health aides, has been offering flexible scheduling to its employees long before it was cool to do so. Employees pick the days and times that work best for them — not what’s best for the company. That gives them the freedom to do other things that are important to them. If the pandemic taught us anything, it’s that life’s too short to miss out on the things you value the most. Work when it fits best in your day. That’s the cornerstone of Good Neighbor’s employment approach. Competitive wages and benefits are important as well, and those are available too, but job flexibility is where Good Neighbor sets itself apart.

Good Neighbor’s nurses offer medical care while aides provide a long list of non-medical services such as homemaking, laundry, cooking and personal care services.

“I was so pleased to hear from my boss at Good Neighbor Home Health Care when I was looking for work,” said Carla, a Good Neighbor nurse. “I had worked for them 30 years ago. When you work there, you definitely get work-family balance. It is one job I can say leadership treats you with respect. I love my job and my employer. I couldn’t imagine going back to an 8-to-5 job, especially in a hospital or a clinic.”

“I never considered working for a home health care agency until I got a job at Good Neighbor,” said Carolyn, a home health aide. “I thought, ‘I’ll give this a try and see what happens.’ I’m so glad I did because it’s the best professional decision I ever made.”

Contact Good Neighbor today for more information.

The fragrances at Sugarberry Creek Candle Co. are usually related to a northwoods theme from the Brainerd lakes area.

Photos by Steve Kohls / Brainerd Dispatch

The special fragrances at Sugarberry Creek Candle Co. are created at the company through experimentation by the Axelson family.

I’m the one who makes us do all the other things (besides candles), I get really excited about it.

Karla Axelson, Owner, Sugarberry Creek Candle co.

options for couples getting married to feel like they’re one with nature on their big day.

“We’re trying to keep as many trees as possible because we don’t want to cut them down,” Goskey said, noting the event space was moved over a few feet from the original blueprint so that two of the biggest trees on the property could be spared.

“We’re definitely trying to preserve all of our beautiful pines,” she added. And if guests need to pass time between events, they’re free to walk along the trails throughout the wooded area, stop to take a load off on one of the seating

options or relax with a book in any of the trails’ reading nooks.

Good things

yet to come

Nature Link can currently accommodate 40 guests in its five cabins, but owners plan to have 12 complete by the end of the year. A lakeside sauna and boutique motel are on the list of future projects, too, aiming to give guests a luxurious experience.

The small staff of eight will undoubtedly grow in size with the completion of Catalyst, and owners foresee a boom in business for local caterers, florists, photographers, bridal shops and other wedding vendors.

Nature Link already partners with The Chocolate Ox to offer complimentary choco -

late truffles for guests and provides visitors with lists of other local hotspots to check out during their stay.

“We want our guests to be able to experience nature inside and outside,” resort owners wrote in an email. “Our staff will also focus on helping you get out into nature. Whether that’s showing you things to do in the area or on site, they are here to help you disconnect.”

Unplug for a spell by booking a weekend in Redwood Cabin, planning a party at Catalyst or visiting the private island in Clark Lake to experience what the great outdoors has to offer at Nature Link Resort.

Theresa Bourke may be reached at theresa.bourke@ brainerddispatch.com or 218-855-5860. Follow her on Twitter at www.twitter.com/ DispatchTheresa.

More than anything, they’ve seen engagements.

“It’s amazing. It’s like, ‘This is my favorite place; it’s where I want to get engaged,’” Dan Scholz said. “So they get engaged here, and then we always try and do something special.”

With so many years spent together and a tight-knit community at the resorts, the owners and customers create genuine connections, different from other business relationships. Familial themes surround everything at resorts.

“When COVID happened, what was kind of a cool reset is families that sort of just took for granted that you can just go hang out with each other, all of a sudden (couldn’t),” Schwieters said. “All of a sudden, people went, ‘Hey, family is kind of a priority, and when it wasn’t there, we really missed it.’”

So families flocked where they felt the closest: resorts. Schwieters said across the state people were looking

to vacation following the pandemic. Often, they did so to get back together with the people that matter most to them. When the COVID-19 pandemic first began in March 2020, Beacon Shores saw significant cancellations. However, by July 2020, as people got sick of lockdowns, Beacon Shores was full for the rest of the summer and even into early fall. Most resorts saw

very similar patterns. At Boyd Lodge, the pandemic presented a new opportunity. Because they were unsure what the summer would look like, they switched from their regular model of weeklong rentals in the summer to allowing any reservations.

At the same time, they

told their many repeat customers that if they weren’t comfortable coming that summer, their spot would still be locked in for the following year. Removing the weeklong rental rule brought an influx of new customers looking to get away for just a few days. But, like many others before them, once they stayed, the new customers were eager to return. It made schedul-

ing a challenge the next summer, but Schwieters said it was a good problem to have.

“Some we were able to accommodate, others we had to switch to different weeks or something to make things work,” said Schwieters.

While Boyd Lodge returned to their weeklong rentals for the summer months, Schwieters anticipates they’ll need to allow short-term

rentals again in the future as people work more and vacation less. “I remember back when I was here growing up, there were a lot of people that (stayed for) two weeks. There were certain weeks when almost everybody stayed two weeks,” said Schwieters. “And now that is super rare. There’s a ton of pressure to move to shorter stays.”

Walk to Fight Suicide

Photos by Megan Buffington / Echo

beach stretches out along the Whitefish Chain of Lakes at Boyd Lake Lodge.

Mike Schwieters and his wife, Ruth, own Boyd Lodge on the Whitefish Chain.

remaining years to enjoy traveling, visiting more with family and enjoying quality time without all of the stress of a demanding job and suffering the vicissitudes of the corporate world,” Forbes reported. “While some people say that they may engage in consulting assignments and the gig economy, more than half said they aren’t thinking of going back to a traditional role.”

Even with that sentiment widely reported, a host of recent business articles noted baby boomers are coming back into the workforce to help ease labor shortages. This Labor Day finds employees in a strong position as companies court them and are even more willing to build on strong basics to train people for open positions.

The onus is on businesses to attract the workers who are out there and then keep them. Flexibility will continue to be one of the key factors in job satisfaction. Businesses are challenged to make a workplace that is appealing, provides growth opportunities and taps into the workers who are out there but who are really looking for a work/life balance and no longer willing to just pay lip service to that as a future goal.

A changing workplace and workforce

Across the lakes area, the landscape continues to shift.

Longstanding restaurants, like the Northwind Grille in

downtown Brainerd, were unable to reopen, citing a lack of workers. Another eatery with a long and storied past, the Sawmill Inn, also closed its doors. Others, like the Baxter Cafe & Catering, restructured their hours to accommodate a single, day workshift, closing the restaurant at midafternoon. And others like Jersey Mike’s Subs and Blaze Pizza joined the community, opening in Baxter. A new Jimmy John’s also opened in Baxter with a twist, perhaps following lessons gained for consumer habits and hiring challenges, with a drive-thru restaurant.

The labor-intensive restaurant industry wasn’t alone in the struggle to fill staff openings. From bus drivers to warming house attendants at Baxter ice rinks, worker shortages affected services.

In 2017, Susan Brower, state demographer, said a crunch time was coming with baby boomers leaving the workforce, and with a low birth rate,

Minnesota would have to look outside its borders to grow the workforce.

The pandemic taught businesses their workers can come from outside the state’s borders by working remotely. For the lakes area, the ability to work remotely is opening

Extraordinary Experiencesomething

doors in more ways than one.

Nate Grotzke, senior advisor at Close Converse who specializes in leasing and sales for office, retail, industrial and investment properties, said a lot of people in the Twin Cities who were told they could

work from home converted seasonal places into permanent work-from-home places in the Brainerd lakes area. Through the pandemic, Consolidated Telecommunications Co. noted the increase in services. With hospitalizations down and much of

life returning to prepandemic levels, the question is whether businesses will continue a work-from-home model or a hybrid.

Nationally, some high profile businesses have taken a harder line to bring employees back into the office. Grotzke said with some businesses making that demand, employees who relocated to the lakes area are saying they won’t come back full-time.

In regard to marketing and attracting national companies to locate in the lakes area, Grotzke said the 2020 Census came just a little too early and missed counting the number of people who moved here full time and work remotely by about six months.

“Our growth happened commercially and experientially but not statistically,” Grotzke said.

He noted there are additional restaurants — Panera, Noodles, Dunkin’ and a national chicken chain — all looking to get into this market. It’s just finding the right spot.

“There is some good stuff coming, just not yet,” Grotzke said.

Chris Close, senior advisor and principal at Close Converse, said there is a major buyer in the medical field for the roughly 12-acre lot next to Brainerd General Rental on Highway 371. As more people stay in lakes area communities, the demand for services increases along with the demand for housing. Where will the employees come from to fill these future jobs and where will they live?

Recent construction projects point to

GROWTH: PAGE 12

ARCHITECTS SCIENTISTS ENGINEERS SURVEYORS

Widsethisproudtohaveplayedaleadingroleinthedesignof PillagerSchoolDistrict’sCTCCenter—thecommunity’s EXTRAORDINARYNEWPERFORMANCESPACE.

After a long time of inaction, fresh activity pops up at the former J.C. Penney Co. building on July 14, 2022, in Baxter following news two new retail chains will renovate the space.

Photos by Renee Richardson / Brainerd Dispatch

Northwind Grille posts a notice in the business window seeking employees as they tried to reopen.

Weeklong rentals save the resort on cleaning costs, but part of it is preserving tradition, too.

As vacationing, and the Whitefish Chain, becomes more extravagant, resorts grow further from their roots as simple getaways to the lake. Many resort owners want to preserve that history. Some simplicity, though, ages out.

“When we tore down the old 1940s cabins it was kind of, pull a nail, wipe a tear, because we really loved that old small resort feel that we loved as customers,” Dan said. “And we tried to maintain it as long as we could.”

When the Scholzes bought Beacon Shores there were 10 cabins, original to the resort. Despite their efforts, few resortgoers wanted to stay in dated cabins in need of repairs.

“We couldn’t fill the

SUGARBERRY

From Page 7

ingredients they already have.

“We did have to add the coconut oil and shea butter, but we already use soy wax, so why not use that soy wax in another product?” Karla said.

As the business continues to grow, Karla hopes to use the wax in even more products, with her sights set on beard balm, liquid hand soap and body wash.

Group candle making workshops are another goal for Karla, who would love to refurbish the old barn on her property to make it fit for events.

“Right now it’s storage, but that’s my dream,” she said.

For now, though, the Axelsons will stick with the products they have, continuing to sell their candles, balms, sprays, diffusers and melts on their website, at local markets and through various lakes area business es.

Local retailers with Sugarber ry Creek Candle Co. products on their shelves include Lazy Days of Longville, Paws and Claws Ani mal Rescue and Resort, MN Traders

10 cabins because they were older cabins, and then we couldn’t afford the property,” Dan Scholz said. “We had to make a difficult decision. I would have rather kept the whole property. I really would’ve, especially the old cabins. But it wasn’t what the consumers wanted today.”

When the Scholzes bought Beacon Shores Resort, the goal was to retire there. As they drew closer to retirement age, that meant no longer doing scheduled

Co., Cragun’s Resort, Olson’s Corner Keepsakes, Campfire Bay Resort, Loco Espress, Christmas Point and Dennis Drummond Wine Co.

The candles in stock at Paws and Claws in Hackensack have custom labels on them, giving the scents appropriate animal-themed names like Cozy Kitten. Customers can request custom labels for their candles, making the products as unique

resort activities or managing a resort store. But for resort owners, it can be difficult to have an exit strategy.

“How do you get out? It’s kind of like owning a farm,” Dan Scholz said. “It’s worth so much, (but) nobody other than a farmer or somebody who’s going to tear it all down and build houses is going to buy it.”

To keep the resort they loved, both as customers and now owners, the Scholzes had to downsize.

“It was either tear down and build newer, which is what so many (resorts) are doing, or go to something like we did and downsize, and then start enjoying it more,” Dan Scholz said. “Because we don’t want this to end. We don’t want it to go away.”

It’s not just Beacon Shores that Dan Scholz is worried about preserving.

“If (people) want to continue to have family-owned resorts, they need to support them.

INNOVATION FROMTHE GROUNDUP

Offeringconstructionservices fromstart to finish.

Our goalis to providethebestqualityforourcustomers andcompletesatisfactionin ever ystepoftheprocess.

We lookforward tocontinuing to provideourcommunity with highqualityconstructionservices throughour exper tise, integrityanddependability.

Family resorts are in a sort of turmoil (or) transition,” he said. “If you want to continue to have this, you got to do this once and a while. If you do it once every 10 years, that may not be enough for them. Support us, and then we will do everything we can to support you and make it great.”

ADVERTORIAL Thank You Hy-Tec Family

By Sue Smith-Grier

The sense of family is important. In an ideal world, family works together, takes care of one another and always reaches out to help others. The crew at Hy-Tec Construction has always worked with the ideals of family in mind. The last two years have been challenging for people worldwide. We have worked with diligence to focus on our community and be a part of the solution to easing the hardships thrust on everyone by the pandemic.

The Holistic View Focusing on the community is vital in times like these. Pulling together with employees, subcontractors, vendors and clients, the Hy-Tec crew strives to be an example of a family working together to bring out the best of what we have to offer. Our ideals include working with passion, pride and dedication to produce beautiful results for each project entrusted to us. With an eye for meticulous detail, we work as craftspeople capturing the essence of excellence in our work, whether it be commercial, industrial or residential construction. It is not just about building a structure. We take pride in creating spaces that are beautiful, functional and inviting.

At Hy-Tec Construction we rely on the latest technology and the best in building methods to ensure the finished product meets or exceeds the highest standards. But technology and advanced building methods alone cannot create a space that is appealing to the eye and honors the tradition of craftsmanship. That takes a strong work ethic, dedication to excellence, pride in one’s work and a passion for producing the best. That is what sets Hy-Tec Construction apart from the others — that and our sense of family.

Working As Family

We are part of the fabric of the Brainerd lakes area and the Hy-Tec Construction name can be seen everywhere. We cherish what we have in this community, and we hold dear the culture of family. Hy-Tec Construction is a multi-generational company that is proud to take part in building and bettering our community here in the Brainerd lakes area.

The Hy-Tec crew includes some of the most dedicated and talented people you will find in Minnesota. These incredible people are the foundation of a company that strives to deliver the best in construction adding beauty and distinction to the spaces in our community.

A Legacy of Excellence

The key to the success of Hy-Tec Construction is the commitment to relationships. Cultivation and nurturing of relationships are fundamental in creating a business that excels in its mission. Our long-term relationships with subcontractors, vendors and clients speaks to our dedication to providing an environment where loyalty is generated and appreciated. This would not be possible if not for the employees who are steadfast in their commitment to uphold the highest standards of work.

Hy-Tec is one big family. We are a team working together to bring out the best of what we have to offer for the benefit of the community in which we live, work and play. Since the beginning in 1989 with a team of a half dozen people constructing commercial buildings, we have steadily grown to become a wellestablished company of over 90 crew members. Hy-Tec Construction buildings now consist of a variety of structures, including expansive warehouses, complex medical facilities and functional municipal buildings to exquisite lakeshore homes built to the owner’s specifications. We welcome qualified employees to come join the Hy-Tec Family. We are proud of our crew and their drive to do it right the first time, like in the old days. We are grateful to them, our subcontractors, vendors and clients. We appreciate all of you.

Megan Buffington, Echo Journal intern, may be reached at megan.buffington@ pineandlakes.com. She is a 2021 Pequot Lakes High School graduate who attends the University of Nebraska-Lincoln.

Photos by Steve Kohls / Brainerd Dispatch

Above: Pouring liquid soy wax into a beaker, Craig Axelson begins making one of the Sugarberry Creek Candle Co. candles July 19, 2022, in his Brainerd workshop. Right: A dish of raw soy wax chips before heating and melting is displayed at Sugarberry Creek Candle Co. on July 19, 2022.

BRAINERD MICROPOLITAN UNEMPLOYMENT RATE (%)

that growth, as does renovation of the long vacant former J.C. Penney Co. building in Baxter, which is making room for new Hobby Lobby and HomeGoods stores. Construction work is ongoing to build an expanded North Central Medical Supply and Equipment in Baxter, just a stone’s throw from crews working on the sizable footprint for the Gracewin Living Cooperative along Glory Road. Gracewin Living is a high-end senior housing development for those 55 and older. It is building a three-story, 46-unit cooperative.

Campbell Properties from North Dakota is planning to build a Pinehurst Apartments complex — consisting of five three-story, 50-plus unit apartment buildings — at Cypress and Douglas Fir drives in Baxter. The development would include 289 residential units.

Campbell Properties reported it hasn’t had vacancies in its current apartment complexes for almost five years. The new project, built in phases, could be completed in 2026.

The ability to work from anywhere and more flexible schedules with a hybrid of remote and in-person working arrangements is likely for the foreseeable future. It created the option for people to leave the metro and make seasonal homes permanent across the lakes area, where the commute from office to lakeside or country living is a few steps instead of hours behind a windshield. That also means time saved when going from work to home for family dinners or making it to a child’s game or just being there after

school. The other door it opens is expanding the job opportunities for existing lakes area residents who didn’t want to leave the area but who couldn’t find the work they wanted.

Ascensus describes itself as a company that helps people save and feel financially secure through partnerships with financial institutions and state governments, whether that is saving for retirement, health care, education or disability related expenses. The company has grown to be much more than one working with retirement solutions. Ascensus has also been a bellwether of trends in the lakes area and has grown to be a major employer.

Ascensus employs more than 425 people in the lakes area. Many of those employees used to commute to east Brainerd in recent years and occupy two former retail centers turned office complexes — the former Pamida and former J.C. Penney spaces by the East

Brainerd Mall, near where highways 210 and 25 meet. Ascensus left both of those building spaces as its employees work from home.

Shannon’s Auto Body is opening a second facility and doubling its employees as the business moves into the former Pamida store turned Ascensus office building.

Steve Christenson, executive vice president at Ascensus, said the business started to offer a work from home model under certain guidelines before the pandemic, but COVID19 accelerated it.

Ascensus has a national presence supporting millions of retirement plan participants but always maintained a commitment to the Brainerd area.

Christenson said the Brainerd market remains a key hub of service activity. Technology, he said, enabled people to work from home effectively and they’ve found the workforce in the Brainerd area

to be adaptable and productive.

Ascensus surveyed its national workforce coming out of the pandemic and overwhelmingly the response was to come in a day or two but continue to work from home predominantly. So the company took a hard look at its facilities across the country and the Brainerd location remained attractive, stable and productive — so they searched for a new home with a smaller physical footprint. And that has taken Ascensus back to its beginnings in a smaller building in the Johnson Properties area of Baxter, just off Golf Course Drive. The change means leaving about 94,000 square feet of office space and downsizing to about 18,000 square feet. It reduced Ascensus’ office space by 80%.

The company is creating a new space with flexible workspace, meeting rooms and collaboration spaces. Christenson likens it more to the Google model with much more open space to allow for flexible schedules and to allow larger staff meetings or times when teams need to get together. The new office space should be ready to move into by midDecember.

Christenson, who has been with the company for decades, misses the hallway conversations that he noted were part of the business atmosphere for baby boomers. The next digital generations may have a different way of connecting at the proverbial watercooler — something they may never have experienced themselves outside of binge-watching an old office show — but Christenson said to their credit, they are quick to adapt. Some jobs, such as printing materials,

have to come back to the office. For others, Ascensus is open to the flexible schedule with people gathering together as a team certain times of the year. But forcing employees to come back to an in-person setting when they can work from home will be a challenge when they have so many choices for jobs, Christenson said.

“Our goal is to retain very good employees,” Christenson said, adding the flexible schedule has worked and they see it working in high customer satisfaction numbers. “We’ve had conversations on that and this is the longterm setup for Ascensus because it is working.”

It’s been a big shift in a short time.

Employees are much more empowered to negotiate their working conditions than they have been in many years, Christenson said. Baby boomers, who were two-thirds of the workforce, are now less than onethird. Christenson noted employers can’t backfill those open positions without finding technical efficiencies. He noted home banking as an example. How many people who used to go in and cash a check with a bank teller, now just take a photo of it and deposit it with the convenience of mobile banking? Consumers comfortable with technology will help drive automation. It’s a challenge on a global scale.

As Ascensus competes to fill its open positions, it is now competing for those workers not on a local scale but a national one as they, too, can work from anywhere. But Christenson feels as a company they’ve found a good balance, purposefully and thoughtfully checking with clients to see if

they are getting what they need and with employees so they feel connected to the company and each other.

“We’ve really looked at how we communicate,” Christenson said of keeping staff members informed. They added 5-8 minute video chats every Friday to look at what happened during the week, both good things and challenging ones. The informal video chats include a variety of backdrops and trivia contests and gift cards.

“You have to find a different way to have the conversation and I think we’ve done a good job of it,” Christenson said.

Part of the conversation in attracting employees in the Brainerd lakes area for Christenson is letting them know they can work for Ascensus here and be part of the operation’s many avenues, whether their background is in education or health care or financial services and benefits. The diversification beyond what people may think of Ascensus for its retirement focus, means more jobs and recruitment options in the Brainerd area so people can stay here without moving across the country for the job they want.

Looking ahead, Christenson said the biggest thing people will notice is the shifts are happening much faster than they used to historically. The reaction time for companies is going to have to be quicker and more efficient. He said businesses used to have years to lean in on changes and then it was down to months.

“Now see that in weeks.”

Renee Richardson, managing editor, may be reached at 218855-5852 or renee.richardson@ brainerddispatch.com. Follow on Twitter at www.twitter.com/ DispatchBizBuzz.

PROGRESS Edition

Art of at the heart

Franklin Arts Center

A diverse mix of commercial tenants provide outreach, experiences

By Chelsey Perkins Brainerd Dispatch Brainerd

One doesn’t need detective skills to unearth Franklin Arts Center’s past:

lockers line the halls, walls feature chalkdusted blackboards and carved acts of rebellion add character to cupboard doors and window sills.

Where Brainerd students once dissected frogs or passed notes to a crush, local creatives now dance the salsa, glaze pots, paint canvases, sew capes or edit photographs. Visitors can shop for yarn, receive acupuncture, strike yoga poses, enter the world of virtual reality, engage in art therapy and soon, even get a haircut — all in one day, if they’d like.

to composers to painters.

Sixteen years after its birth, the vision of a community space dedicated to the arts is thriving, tenants say, buoyed by boundless reinvention.

Tiffany Sustercich is capturing that spirit as she adds her spin to one of center’s original commercial spaces. In recent years, the Brainerd woman rekindled a passion for shaping clay that first emerged as a teen. Now, she’s transforming the pottery studio into a multifunctional mecca for clay artists of all ability levels.

9am 10:15 —

Nearly succumbing to the churn of progress after its days as Franklin Junior High faded into memory, the 90,000-square-foot

brown brick building in north Brainerd found new life thanks to the relentless advocacy efforts of civic-minded

residents. Remodeling by the owner Artspace divided the decommissioned school into both a 25-unit

apartment complex and a patchwork of businesses, nonprofit organizations and personal artist studios.

These days, a full 44 tenants operate within the commercial wing, ranging from architectural designers

“It is artists, hobbyists — people looking to develop their craft further, not production potters,” Sustercich said of the clientele she hopes to attract. “So really trying to keep the inspiration of art going

Readers share job and career advice

DeLynn Howard Brainerd Dispatch

When I was a little girl, I wanted to be an elementary school teacher.

As I got older, the idea of being a teacher stuck but I had moved up in the age bracket some. I thought a high school English teacher sounded like a much better idea.

I did two years of college at Central Lakes College (formerly Brainerd Community College when I attended) and moved on to Moorhead State University to major in education.

A number of circumstances brought me back home shortly after starting my junior year there. Do I wish I had that four-year degree under my belt, no matter what my major

would have been? Yes, of course. But do I regret it? No, because the choices I made eventually brought me here — to the Brainerd Dispatch. Twenty-three years later and I’m still loving my job.

So, what advice would I give my younger self? Do whatever feels right. You only get one life.

Thanks to those who submitted their pieces of advice. You never know who that advice could reach and help.

I wish I knew then what I know now

I would have started my author website years earlier and completed my social work degree in my 20s.

ADVICE: PAGE 17

Contributed / Shutterstock

A great piece of reader-submitted advice is “Failure is never trying at all.”

Kelly Humphrey / Brainerd Dispatch Franklin Arts Center, seen here Thursday, Aug. 11, 2022, in Brainerd, is home to 44 commercial tenants and 25 apartment units.

Chelsey Perkins / Brainerd Dispatch

Surrounded by fabric and finished pieces, Karen Knierim discusses the clothing she designs July 7, 2022, as part of her business Ethereal Threads, which operates from a studio in the Franklin Arts Center in Brainerd.

FRANKLIN ARTS: PAGE 16

By Sara Guymon Brainerd Dispatch

For many people, running a business with a close family member sounds like a nightmare — but not for Julie LaValle and Amy LaValle Hansmann.

LaValle and Hansmann are a mother-daughter duo who decided to open a thrift shop together.

As the two sole employees of The Mercantile, the two work hard to find, refurbish and resell items in their shop.

Initially, Hansmann was not involved in the opening at all. Her parents had owned a medical supply store for a long time.

“The medical supply store was very intense, very stressful,” LaValle said. “You have to be open and you’re on 24-hour call. You don’t get to call in sick if somebody’s oxygen machine breaks down.”

After 14 years working in that stressful environment, LaValle and and bought an empty reselling it. However, LaValle would decide to keep the building to pursue owning a thrift

“I went into a thrift store somewhere and thought,

The working men and women who form the backbone of our economy have earned our admiration, respect and best wishes.

proud to salute them.

PAPERSHREDDING SERVICESTHATPROTECT YOURSENSITIVEDATA.

Whetheryou’redestroyingoldtaxreturns,bankstatements, medicalrecordsoranyothertypeofsensitiveinformation, PaperStormbringsexperienceandprofessionalismto thejobsoyoucanhavepeaceofmindthateverything wasdestroyedproperly.

PaperStorm’sservices:

•Mobile,on-sitepapershreddingforbothcommercialand residentialcustomers

•Convenientwalk-upserviceatourPillagerfacility

•Computerharddrivedestruction

•Digitalmediadestruction(CDs,DVDs,floppydisks,etc.)

•Freeuseoflockedcontainerswithregularshredding service

Contactustodayforafreequote.

Professional paper shredding is just a call away

Does this sound like you? You’re staring at a pile of sensitive records that need to be shredded but you just burned out your second office shredder. You’re suffering from a little burn-out yourself after sitting over the shredder and feeding a sheet or two of paper into it at a time. Before you pull out the rest of your hair, call us.

For nearly 20 years, Paper Storm has been helping its customers rid themselves of old tax records, bank statements, contracts, credit card statements, business plans, personnel files and more. Customers gain peace of mind from knowing that their confidential and sensitive materials were thoroughly destroyed. At a time when identify theft and data breaches are on the rise, Paper Storm’s procedures and technology eliminate the chance of your private data falling into the wrong hands.

“The general public is increasingly aware of identity theft and privacy issues, and we’re seeing that by the number of businesses and individuals who call us, looking for a way to properly destroy their records and sensitive information,” Paper Storm President Geoff Gorvin said.

Paper Storm’s services can accommodate both commercial and

residential customers. Its mobile service, with routes throughout central and northern Minnesota, features a custom truck with an industrialsized, state-of-the-art paper shredder on board for shredding on site. No project is too small or too large. Locked containers are available for regular customers to use for free with ongoing service.

In addition to shredding paper, Paper Storm can shred digital media, too, like floppy disks, CDs and DVDs. Computer hard drives can be destroyed as well.

Many customers don’t have enough paper to warrant a trip from Paper Storm’s truck. For them, Paper Storm’s walk-up service might be a more convenient and cost-effective alternative. Customers can bring their materials to Paper Storm’s Pillager location during hours of operation –without an appointment – and staff will assist them with destroying it.

Both the walk-up and mobile services are NAID AAA Certified.

The walk-up service is located west of Baxter on State Highway 210, in the Sylvan Commercial Park, at 12806 Alfalfa Lane, Pillager. The cost is based on weight.

12806AlfalfaLane

Pillager,Minnesota

Local:218-818-3177

www.PaperStorm.net

Shred@PaperStorm.net

Jewelry is displayed on an vintage dress Thursday, July 21, 2022, at The Mercantile thrift store.

Mixing antique kitchen utensils with items from the spice rack, The Mercantile Thrift & Gift store features a variety of items at the Brainerd area store Thursday, July 21, 2022.

An assortment of jars, used to fill fresh oil into vehicles, are displayed Thursday, July 21, 2022, at The Mercantile thrift store.

FRANKLIN ARTS

From Page 13

versus making 100 of something.”

The mission of offering shared space and equipment for local potters will continue, but

In mid-July, a halfdozen potter’s wheels and three kilns were en

route to support classes beginning this fall for all ages offered through Peace and Pottery, one of Sustercich’s small businesses. Subject matter will include lessons on the wheel, hand-building, jewelrymaking, painting and more. So detailed are Sustercich’s plans, she

Chelsey Perkins / Brainerd Dispatch

Pottery on July 7, 2022, in Franklin Arts Center in

envisions locally sewn aprons to give to youth students with the promise of earning patches in a scout-like fashion for mastering various pottery skills.

Some of those students might find themselves

FRANKLIN ARTS: PAGE 19

Business: : Franklin Arts Center.

Commercial tenants: 44.

Interesting fact: People frequently visit the former middle school building to find their old lockers or classrooms and reminisce, particularly in the summer months when class reunions typically take place. “We encourage them to go downstairs, look at the cafeteria,” Vreeland said.

ADVERTORIAL O 2

Tee i n ’s Pr i r lf ur nin t er 1 t,

By Sheila Helmberger

Even if you have golfed the award winning Cragun’s Legacy courses 100 times before, the experience is about to be completely new.

The Legacy Courses renovation is in addition to a current $22 million dollar resort renovation making changes and upgrades to the lakefront resort, on everything from the marina, lobby, meeting spaces, 206 lakeview lodge rooms and cabins. A massive redesign of all things golf at Cragun’s has been underway since 2018.

This fall the resort made the debut of one of the most exhilarating pieces of the project. “Things have been pretty exciting around the property,” says Eric Peterson, general manager and development director at Cragun’s Resort on Gull Lake,” We are taking our existing 36-hole championship course and are doing an expansion and complete renovation. When complete we will have an 18-hole and 27-hole championship course along with our popular family friendly 9-hole par 3 course.” When you are already known around the country as one of the premiere courses in the destination golf directory, an upgrade and redesign will have to be incredible. Cragun’s has accomplished just that.

Currently the project is about 80% complete; the colossal changes to the courses came with a $10 million dollar budget, earmarked exclusively to be spent on the golf courses. Construction has been underway for a year and a half.

The “Lehman 18” is named after the designer, Tom Lehman, who was hired to create the blueprint for the new course. A decorated PGA Tour professional and golf course designer, Lehman is a Minnesota native. He was given the job of completely reimagining 27 of the existing holes and creating the new course that beautifully showcases a course that plays over 7,400 yards from the longest tees and winds through the expansive 850-acre piece of property.

The new redesigned “Dutch 27,” which will feature three nine-hole courses, will be called the Red, White and the Blue. Interchangeable, the trio combines to give golfers three different 18-hole combinations that will offer a unique experience every trip out to play.

The extraordinary contemporary designs started with the removal of all existing bunkers and sand traps on the old holes. “Thirty percent of them will be put back in,” says Peterson, “but with more strategic locations.” The new traps will feature the popular Ohio Best White Sand, a vibrant sand, white in color, and engineered for performance in a golf course setting.

“If you knew the golf course as it was, you will recognize a few of the holes and corridors when you come out, but the way it will play now will be all different,” says Peterson. “Every green, and the area surrounding it, was adjusted to offer a whole different playing experience. We have changed fairways, we have reversed some of the holes,” he says, “We had holes that used to go one direction and now we are using the same corridor, but we have flipped the hole completely around.”

From the beginning, he explains, the end goal for all the changes was to establish golf holes that were more playable for the average player, but also kept the game challenging for the experienced golfer.

If walking out of your front door and teeing off within minutes sounds enticing to you, learn more about the possibility of living on your favorite place to play. Building lots are now available with beautiful views in the newly created Legacy Ridge and Legacy Point neighborhoods and they may suit you perfectly. Exquisite landscapes and close proximity to the Lehman Legacy and Dutch Legacy Courses at Cragun’s, will put nationally acclaimed golf in your own yard.

Peterson assures if Cragun’s has always been your favorite place to golf, it is the one thing that will never change.

Tiffany Sustercich discusses her process in creating the mugs she will sell alongside others’ works at Lakes Area

Brainerd.

FOR YOUR INFORMATION

City: Brainerd.

I completed my Honors AA at Central Lakes College in 2012 at the age of 48. I completed my social work bachelor degree through the College of Saint Scholastica in 2013 at the age of 49. Starting a professional career in my 20s or 30s would have given me many more years of serving my students.

I probably would have completed my master’s degree right after my bachelor degree if I was in my 20s. I’m still considering starting a master’s degree, however becoming an author takes priority right now.

At CLC, I reignited my childhood enjoyment of writing, so I wrote a few dozen articles, mostly for the Lake Country Journal from 2013 until 2019. If I knew then, what I know now … I would have created a webpage then.

In 2020, while COVID-19 was causing disruptions for many people, it presented me with the opportunity to publish “100 Things to Do in Minnesota Northwoods Before You Die” through Reedy Press out of Saint Louis. The book was released in April of 2021.

Starting my webpage created a lot of anxiety for me because so many other author things needed my attention.

I am also working full time at CLC, so I don’t have a lot of time to connect with people during the school day.

Bradley Miller from BamSites was awesome to partner with and he created a webpage that reflected my writing.

My website was up and running about a month before my book

was released. If I had completed it earlier, I could have set up pre-

sales, and a few other fun events ahead of time. I’m thankful I had

the website activated when I did.

My next book, “100 Things to Do in Minnesota Before You Die,” is scheduled for release in spring of 2023. I’m enjoying my work with CLC students during the

day, and my writing career in evenings and on weekends. I have the best of two careers. Looking back, I wish I knew then what I know now!

Julie Jo Larson, author

Rebranding Stern Assembly and Stern Industries to Revolv Manufacturing and AxisNorth Solutions

By Sara Schroeder

Plastic products provider Stern Companies has rebranded its manufacturing and strategic sourcing divisions, according to CEO Shawn Hunstad. The rebranding for both companies took place July 6, 2022.

Stern Assembly, which encompasses the brand’s manufacturing and assembly services including rotational molding and thermoforming, is now Revolv Manufacturing. Stern Industries, the brand’s single-source solutions provider, is now AxisNorth Solutions. According to Hunstad, the rebranding efforts aim to clarify the two divisions and their services to better serve their clients. The rebrand does not affect company ownership, leadership or staffing. Hunstad said clients can expect the same outstanding service and value from the companies.

AxisNorth Solutions was chosen as the new branding for Stern Industries to represent the company’s positioning at the center of the clients’ custom polymer sourcing and coordination strategy. The Axis in the new name was chosen because an axis is the center line around which an object rotates. The company chose “North” as a nod to its Minnesotan roots dating back to 1995.

AxisNorth Solutions, previously Stern Industries, has been the trusted partner of clients seeking the market knowledge and convenience of an experienced single-source polymer products and solutions provider. The division offers a comprehensive line of services including brokerage and sourcing, warehousing and resale.

Revolv Manufacturing was inspired by the rotational movement of the plastics molding process, Revolv Manufacturing was chosen as the new branding for Stern Assembly, representing forward motion, strength, and innovation. Revolv Manufacturing, previously known as Stern Assembly, was launched by Stern Companies in 2009 to champion the plastics and rubber manufacturing and assembly side of their business. Revolv Manufacturing now offers a variety of polymer manufacturing processes and services, including rotational molding, thermoforming, assembly and others. Together, the sister companies of AxisNorth Solutions and Revolv Manufacturing provide Stern Companies’ clients with 360 degree service for all custom polymer needs.

Revolv currently has work opportunities on all three shifts. We offer a fun environment, great pay, flexible shifts (no weekends), competitive benefits and a weekly gas supplement.

Our companies’ core values are Integrity, Respect, Teamwork, Customer Focused and Growth Minded.

Visit the websites at www.revovlmfg.com and www.axisnorthsolutions.com.

MERCANTILE

Page 14

‘We could do that,’” LaValle said. “We decided to keep it and we had the business there for five years.”

After seeing her mom in business, Hansmann decided she wanted to help. She wanted to leave her job and at the time, it just made sense for her to begin working with her mom.

The duo began working together, despite their polar opposite approaches to thrifting.

Hansmann is the type of person who could spend hours in one store, making sure she saw every item that was available. She is also drawn to more unusual and quirky items her mom doesn’t always understand.

LaValle is quite the opposite. She is the type of person who likes to be in and out of a store and doesn’t want to waste time.

The differences carry over to work style as well. Hansmann likes to focus on the aesthetics and design of the store. She is constantly rearranging the merchandise and making sure that everything is as visually appealing as it can be. LaValle is more focused on the business side of things. She is in charge of all the bookkeeping.

Even though their personalities can clash at times, the two enjoy working together and the space is big enough for them to take a break if needed.

21, 2022.

Business: The Mercantile. City: North of Baxter. Number of employees: Two. Interesting fact:

“The hardest thing is we both have kind of different working styles,” Hansmann said. “So I am more ADHD and all over the place. I’m really into the visual and how everything looks. She is much better at finding things that are actually useful to sell, things people want, whereas I tend to be out buying all that just weird stuff that I think is so neat. Nobody needs it, but it’s great.”

When COVID-19 hit in spring of 2020, Hans-

mann opted to not return to work for a few months due to an autoimmune disorder that puts her at high risk. By the fall of 2020, the pandemic was so stressful, the duo decided it would be best to focus on moving locations.

The two knew they needed a larger space and had already decided to move locations, so the pandemic seemed like the perfect time to start. They closed their shop on Washington Street

and began to make plans for their new shop out by Brainerd International Raceway.

“It took all winter and the next spring to get this building built because it wasn’t here before,” Hansmann said. “So then there were many, many months again where we were here but nobody else was here so I could actually come to work.”

The two began to design and decorate their new store with the help of their husbands. Even though the husbands aren’t officially employees, they do help out quite a bit. They help with restocking and moving large items around the store, but it’s hard to get them behind the counter.

One thing that sets The

Mercantile apart from other thrift stores in the area is it does not sell clothing. If clothes do happen to be in the store, it’s one piece they think will sell and is worth buying.

“We don’t really do clothing at all,” Hansmann said. “If we come across something occasionally that we think is cute, we’ll put it out. For the most part, we don’t do clothes.”

Even without clothing, the duo tries to find something for everyone. There are a variety of items found by Hansmann and LaValle, but also by friends and their families. The duo have a lot of people send them pictures of items they see while out and about to

ADVERTORIAL Follow us on Facebook

help them restock.

In addition to the help they get from others for restocking, the pair take a couple months in the winter to restock things themselves. LaValle and her husband leave town during January and February, which gives them an opportunity to look for items to resell.

Ever since moving to the new location, business has continued to expand and different items sell better. Toys have increased in sales at the new location when they never sold very well at the previous spot.

The traffic construction on Highway 371 this summer has also helped to draw in customers. Since traffic is often slowed or even stopped, many drivers and passengers are looking off the road and have noticed the shop.

“We’re the last turn really before the construction and people have told us, ‘I didn’t know you were here before but I was driving slower because of the road construction,’” said LaValle.

The Mercantile has a large assortment of different and unique items. However, the store’s interior is sorted in a way that makes items easier to find despite the wide variety.

LaValle and Hansmann just want to ensure there is something available for anyone who might happen to walk in the door.

Sara Guymon may be reached at 218-855-5851 or at sara. guymon@brainerddispatch.com. Follow her on Twitter at twitter. com/SaraGuymon.

Patients can trust Northern Eye Center

Who you trust with the health and safety of your eyes — perhaps most importantly with your sight — is a big deal. Naturally, you want a doctor and an eye clinic you can trust, one that understands the gravity of such responsibility and works to take care of your family.

Since 1971, Northern Eye Center has understood this responsibility and created a clinic centered around family-friendly optic care. Their three locations in Brainerd, Little Falls and Staples offer a welcoming atmosphere and services intended to serve every member of your family. From surgical evaluations to routine eye exams, LASIK surgery and new glasses, Northern Eye Center has been the leading family eye care center in the lakes area for more than four decades.

Northern Eye Center provides the Brainerd lakes area and surrounding communities with LASIK surgery, cataract surgery, glaucoma management, cosmetic eyelid surgery, eye health, macular degeneration treatment, contact lenses, eye prescriptions and optical services. In addition, Northern Eye Center also has an in-house optical department, giving patients the ability to shop for glasses while they wait, or complete everything they need, from an eye exam to new glasses, all at one convenient location.

Dr. David Sabir, Northern Eye Center’s leading ophthalmologist since 1997, possesses a wealth of experience and knowledge regarding surgical or treatment-based eye disorders including cataract surgery, macular degeneration, glaucoma, corneal transplants, LASIK, cosmetic eyelid surgery, diabetic surgery, and a variety of others.

Dr. Bradley Adams, Northern Eye Center’s optometrist since 2008, is available to patients exclusively at NEC’s Brainerd location. Dr. Adams provides all-around comprehensive care for every member of your family and is certified to recognize, diagnose, and treat ocular diseases such as glaucoma, macular degeneration, cataracts, diabetic retinopathy and dry eyes.

Expert experience and a commitment to optic health of all ages, means you and your family — young and old and every age in between — are in caring hands at Northern Eye Center.

From

Thursday, July

I went into a thrift store somewhere and thought, ‘We could do that.’

Kelly Humphrey / Brainerd Dispatch

A sign outside Franklin Arts Center, seen Thursday, Aug. 11, 2022, in Brainerd, includes some of the artistic endeavors visitors will find inside.

FRANKLIN ARTS

From Page 16

wishing to explore their creativity further, and Sustercich has thought of that, too. She’s expanded the opportunity to lease drying rack space with a communal option, where people can purchase clay directly in the studio, share glazes and use wheelthrowing tools. Plans also call for the doubling of the gallery space, which will feature pottery from local artists, including those learning at and using the studio. Sustercich’s own glazed mugs stamped with words or designs will be on the shelves, too. Combined with other retail offerings, the pieces form the

foundation of a little store carrying one-ofa-kind art.

Sustercich’s ambitions for Lakes Area Pottery go beyond promoting clay arts. She sees it as a gathering place, both for other commercial tenants with monthly potlucks and for the artist community at large with “Artist

Connect” social hours.

“I’ll have a little sitting area and a little coffee bar, and I’m hoping that artists come in and chat,” she said. “It’ll be a different feel.”

That feeling — one of camaraderie and connection — is a welcome one after the pandemic kept the doors locked and much of the building dark and silent for some time, said Julie Vreeland, one of the property managers. But, in some

ways its own side effect of COVID-19, studios began to fill back up as people sought the opportunity to get out of the house.

“I think what’s happened in the last year is that people kind of got tired of working at home, so they were looking for a space to move to,” Vreeland said. “And because we’re so unique, they knew we were here and kind of gravitated this way.”

For Karen Knierim, stepping away from home to work on her craft means a short walk down the hall, sometimes with a wagon. The clothing designer and her husband Chuck live in one of the apartments on the eastern side of Franklin. About two years ago, Knierim decided to move the operation

WHAT YOU’LL FIND AT FRANKLIN

ARTS CENTER

► Studio No. 10 — Spirit Movement Dance Studio, with a barber shop coming soon in the same space.

► 20 — Doctor Don.

► 30 — Inner Healing Hypnosis.

► 11 2 — Picture Day Pro!

► 11 3 — A Needle Pulling Thread.

► 11 4 — WonderTrek Children’s Museum.

► 11 5/219 — Anakkala Tax.

► 11 6 — Strong Towns.

► 11 6A — Seth’s Lane.

► 11 7 — Zen Fox Photography.

► 11 8 — Teacher’s Lounge.

► 11 9 — Better Days Acupuncture.

► 12 0 — Honeybadger Analytics.

► 12 1 — Tracy Miller Fine Art.

► 12 2 — Jeff Mozey Photography.

► 12 3 — Carrie Benson Photography.

► 12 5 — The Yellow Chair.

► 12 6 — Lakes Area Pottery.

► 12 7 — Rothvanni Studio.

► 20 0 — For Marketing.

► 21 5 — True Photography.

► 21 6 — Deluxe.

► 216A — ISMS.

► 21 6A — VR Odyssey.

► 21 7 — Accessibility Design.

► 21 8 — Conference center.

► 22 0 — The Finishing Stitch.

► 22 1 — Korenne Writing Studio.

► 22 2 — Ethereal Threads.

► 22 3 — Transformed by Love Ministries.

of Ethereal Threads — an 18-year-old business specializing in historical garb a la renaissance fairs — to a studio space. “I can’t believe how much more efficient I am at sewing without having to fold up everything on the kitchen table so we can eat,” Knierim said. “Leaving piles of stuff out when I’m working on stuff just saves so much time.”

Racks bursting with the finished products of hooded coats, Vikings-era attire and capes destined for the Minnesota Renaissance Festival demonstrate Knierim’s productivity. The couple modified the studio to improve its efficiency for the sewing operation, including the addition of a wall and closets to contain the fabrics from which the hand-crafted

► 22 4A — Legacy Chorale.

► 22 4B — LAH Musique.

► 22 4S-1 — Emily Skelton Design.

► 22 4S-2 — Kathley Krueger Painting.

► 22 4S-3 — Angela Anderson.

► 22 4S-5 — OO Design.

► 22 4S-6 — Lynch Painting.

► 22 5 — Art Matters.

► 22 6 — Laura Kotsmith Pottery.

► 22 7 — Dead Crow Studio.

► 22 8 — Lakes Area Yoga Studio.

► 22 9 — Layaway Financial.

wares are made.

Vreeland noted many of the tenants choose to modify spaces to fit their needs. Sometimes, reminders of the past classrooms are sparse, the transformation dramatic. Other times, a blackboard peeks from behind a display and one can almost imagine the neat rows of desks arranged before it.

The age of the building — erected in sections in the 1930s, ‘50s and ‘60s — is a

limiting factor in the extent of remodeling permitted. Asbestos means the floors and walls must remain intact. This doesn’t seem to limit the creativity with which some of the spaces become something new, including walls and floors built right over the originals. The lack of running water access in some spaces is another hurdle

FRANKLIN ARTS: PAGE 21

By Bryan Reeder and Laura Stromberg (Pequot Tool)

Pequot Tool Manufacturing is a thriving precision manufacturing

shop

in the area

and

they would

like

to

take

this

Labor Day to recognize the people who make it happen — their employees. Through a culture of education, united with new tooling and evolving technology, Pequot Tool is creating a transformation of what success looks like for its employees. Part of this transformation is automation in advanced machining processes, enabling hiring of highly skilled technical manufacturing professionals.

ROBOTIC IMPLEMENTATION

Pequot Tool has an automation team that performs development and robotic implementation for their manufacturing processes. Automation is a priority that Pequot Tool recognizes value in and their frontline development team literally builds robotic machines from the ground up, programs, and then teaches the robots to do complex manufacturing procedures. Today’s automation includes robots that load/unload machines or scaffold systems that are mounted and feed the machine, or used as a stand-alone that is capable of running multiple machines. By partially automating production, facility cycle times are reduced, quality is improved, and a safer workplace is created.

LOCALLY TRAINED FROM CLC’S ROBOTICS PROGRAM

With the emphasis on robotic automation, Pequot Tool utilizes Central Lakes College robotic program to secure prospective employees. They currently employ three graduates from CLC’s robotics program — Vance Peyton, Lucas Bollig and Dustin Rollins, as automation technicians and engineers. Pequot Tool is putting their knowledge to the test by tasking them to implement automation to alleviate repetitive or manual tasks.

It’s a common misconception that replacing workers with automation will eliminate jobs; it could not be further from the truth. Automation opens the door for Pequot Tool’s employees to advance to higher skill jobs as the robotics team creates programs for the manual or monotonous part of the labor.

FUTURE FOCUSED

POBox580, PequotLakes,MN56472|218-568-8069•pequottool.com

Pequot Tool’s commitment to automation advancements keeps them in step with emerging technology and enables them to evolve faster than its competitors and be cost competitive in the global market. Today is a new era where machines work in tandem with people, rather than just being operated by them. Increasing demand for higher precision parts is fueling the growth of Pequot Tool which in turn is supporting the ability to challenge its employees with a different kind of work… the next generation of labor.

Your heart will know I headed off to Hamline University with the idea I wanted to be a bilingual social worker. Growing up as a preacher’s kid, I participated in social justice outreach to people needing anything from dental work to grief counseling and was interested in being helpful.

In 1970, I walked out of the college counselor’s office stunned. She recommended I drop Spanish, having fulfilled the requirement, and pursue the sociology route alone. I changed counselors. I went on to study in Seville, Spain, a semester and returned my senior year, only to be told that teaching was my only viable path with a Spanish major. It was still a time where women were routed to teaching or nursing and interviewers could ask when you were planning on marriage and arrival of your first born.

Looking back at my younger self, I feel the bittersweet mix of dreams and society’s blindness to gender divided potential. The times one lives in might support or redirect dreams. I held to the dream of selffulfillment despite some closed doors. In my case, I wrote letters to companies in the Twin Cities, expounding the advantages of having bilingual employees, from maintenance to CEOs, if not for mere diversity of ideas, but economically, getting

a “two-for-one” deal, saving money on interpreters. Ah, the naivety.

From General Mills to 3M, companies rejected all innovations from training in intercultural communications of relationship building before business to proper cultural eye contact. Language and cultural seminars for executives didn’t resonate. Theirs was an English only, ethnocentric approach. I did obtain a teaching license, a piece of paper that didn’t begin to cover what was ahead. When I walked into my first classroom, the outgoing teacher said, “Remember one word: Numbers,” and then left. That meant registration, the continuous convincing sales job to students, parents and administrators enumerating the values of having another language. Without enrollment, classes are canceled. Without classes, you can lose your job. Enter district politics, the other side of teaching. Advice? Be aware of the outside ebb and flow of community, politics and social changes, while balancing with the love of teaching, students, lifelong learning and always listen to your gut! There will be board meetings, concerned parents, even angry

community members challenging the books you use. Deep breath. Be informed. Be the role model the students need. Balance to salvage your passion and energy. Be fed, not fed up. I didn’t end up being a bilingual social worker. Instead, my career catapulted me into translating for patients, working with Central American refugees, bringing exchange students into schools and taking study groups out to other countries.

Truly, each day

My advice to my younger self

brought challenge and satisfaction. The only thing we do more of on this planet than sleep is our work. May it be fulfilling. Your heart will know.

Jan Kurtz, Fort Ripley Failure is never trying at all

Don’t be afraid to say “yes” to new opportunities even if they are out of your comfort zone. If it doesn’t pan out, that’s OK. It’s not failure. Failure is never trying at all.

Rebecca Flansburg, freelance writer, Baxter

Hone your communication and interpersonal skills. This is a must in this position. You will use them every day. Being the administrative support person for an elected board is a job where you will have many bosses over the years (22 commissioners over the past 32 years). Remember that everyone has a story. Listen. Be kind.

Let go of perfection. Find value in feedback or criticism instead of taking it personally. Save yourself a lot of undue stress.

Embrace change, especially in technology. It’s inevitable and will make your job easier. When I started there was no email, voicemail or internet. Fun fact: I used to have to walk

the agenda over to the Brainerd Dispatch when they were on South 6th Street.

Increase your contribution to your retirement plan every year. It makes a difference.

Therese Norwood, administrative coordinator to the County Board and County Administrator, Crow Wing County Administrator’s Office, Brainerd Keep pushing yourself

Don’t be afraid to make mistakes and stumble from time to time.

We grow the most when we are pushing ourselves outside of our comfort zone.

Julie Vandeputte, sales manager, NorthAmCon, Inc., Alpena, Michigan

Manufacturing Campus of Innovation, Creation and Family

LINDAR, Avantech and TRI-VEN companies, located in Baxter Industrial Park, are a family of companies that offer product design with a solutions-focused approach combined with highly technical and flexible production with the ability to manufacture one to over millions of products to consistently meet the demands of a global customer base.

Today the companies employ more than 280 people with manufacturing campus facilities in excess of 250,000 square feet.

Whether you’re at a Lowes in Sacramento, Target in Dallas, Kwik Trip in Des Moines, a Wal-Mart in Philadelphia, a construction site in Tampa, on a golf course in Charlotte, or in a farm field in central Illinois you are likely within feet of our products.

As the dawn breaks, a groundskeeper closes a LINDAR manufactured hood on a commercial lawn mower as she prepares to manicure one of the finest courses in the nation.

A young man with an adventurous spirit glides his paddle board across the glassy shoreline water, a paddle board from a company that entrusted Avantech to help create with an engineered rotational mold.

The stories of our products and products we support could go on and on, each interwoven with a unique story of their own. Being part of all of these stories are the “why” behind the “what” we do at LINDAR, Avantech and TRI-VEN.

This relentless desire to be part of innovative products is driving and inspiring our future to further develop our own unique brands such as our Maluna unhinged coolers that are designed at Avantech and manufactured at TRI-VEN. EMPLOYEE INVESTMENT: Our four core values of initiative, integrity, teamwork and relationships are non-negotiable qualities we all share. While we seek out these qualities in the people that join us, we understand the responsibility we have to continuously build and support them. We want our employees to come here and stay here.

Those that aspire for growth and leadership, we stand ready to help, preparing them with outside opportunities such as the Blue Ox Leadership training and active participation in peer groups like the Lakes Area Manufacturers Alliance. Internally, we have developed a progressive professional development structure that rewards initiative and performance, helping to grow and develop our own talent.

Guided by intentional employee engagement, we take action, responding directly to the feedback from our employees. We continually focus our resources in offering access to affordable healthcare, increasing our contribution to their savings for retirement and ensuring they have the time off they need for what’s truly important in their lives.

The return that helps continuously fund this investment is from a highly functioning team that supports a strong culture of safety, a superior ISO quality rating and growing base of satisfied customers.

If you’re looking for or thinking about making a change professionally, please contact our human resources team at hr@lindarcorp.com to explore possibilities of joining a team you can call a family.

Balance to salvage your passion and energy. Be fed, not fed up.

Jan Kurtz, Fort Ripley

in a facility that wasn’t designed for how it’s used now. Vreeland said with sinks at a premium, the building has not accommodated a restaurant or coffee shop that would naturally boost foot traffic.

An old science room featuring multiple sinks, however, lent itself to becoming a shared space for multiple tenants.

People may rent a 10-by-10-foot cubicle there for $50 per month. Some of those taking advantage of this option are apartment renters, while others, like Sustercich, end up outgrowing their areas and taking on something larger.

When Rebecca Anakkala decided to rent a studio in 2010, 100 square feet wouldn’t have been an option. A massive quilting machine is the backbone of Anakkala’s The Finishing Stitch, which provides quilting services to people who’ve pieced together their own design.

“This started off as being a way to put groceries on the table,” Anakkala said. “That was my contribution while I stayed at home. It just morphed into this.”

The space she now occupies is a far cry from the days of tiptoeing around Legos while her son played on the floor next to her. Being in Franklin permitted her to create boundaries between work and home life — clients no longer must traipse through her house, for example.

“I have my own

space. It feels a little bit more professional than having people come to my house,” she said.

“The one thing I miss is I can’t quilt in my pajamas and slippers anymore.”

Bits of home, however, came with her: one wall in Anakkala’s studio features a plethora of county fair ribbons earned by her and her children over the years. Her husband Jason operates his tax preparation business in another Franklin studio,

and her son now lives in one of the building’s apartments.

Tracy Miller might not be quite as settled in as Anakkala, but the studio she recently moved into already feels like an integral part of her creative process. The former Coloradoan, a fine art painter for almost three decades, hung finished canvases along the frame of a blackboard in the main area of her well-lit space. The next step is a full-blown gallery of Miller’s work,

created just steps away. A smaller attached room is now her painting studio, filled with various works in progress along with a wide selection of paints and brushes.

“This has been so wonderful for me to move into this building because I have every facet of my business right here. Every facet of it, I was able to get it all out of my house. My husband’s probably very thankful, too,” Miller said with a laugh. “I had stuff

in the garage and everywhere.”

Miller began her artistic career handpainting silks, such as scarves and neckties.

After 15 years, she said she wanted to try something new. A workshop on nonrepresentational abstracts set her on an entirely new course with a brush in her hand. Before long, her signature style of vibrant, colorful, abstract animals emerged. In early July, Miller was busy

painting a set of six large pet portraits for a client, with each pet featured on a different denomination of paper money.

Miller’s eye-catching animal portraits and other works of art aren’t only for private collectors. Her art is licensed by multiple companies nationally and internationally. Seventeen of her paintings are available for people

FRANKLIN ARTS: PAGE 24

ADVERTORIAL

Dr. Wade Swenson Joins Lakewood Health System Medical Staff

Wade Swenson, MD, MPH, MBA, FACP, joins Lakewood Health System’s medical staff as its new oncologist.

Originally from Moorhead, Minnesota, Dr. Swenson received his undergraduate degree from the Minnesota State University Moorhead and his medical degree from the University of North Dakota School of Medicine. He received his master of public health degree from the University of Iowa College of Public Health, and his master of business administration from the University of St. Thomas Opus College of Business. Dr. Swenson completed residencies in internal medicine, hematology, medical oncology and bone marrow transplant at the University of Iowa.

He is a member of the following associations: American Society of Clinical Oncology, American Society of Hematology, American College of Physicians (Fellow), International Society of Thrombosis and Hemostasis, American College of Healthcare Executives, Healthcare Financial Management Association, National Rural Health Association, Minnesota Rural Health Association, and the Institute of Healthcare Improvement.

As an oncologist, Dr. Swenson practices full-spectrum medical oncology and hematology, including breast, colon, lung and prostate cancers and hematologic malignancies. He was drawn to the ever-changing fields of oncology and hematology because of the prom-

ise of improved therapies, the relationship between physician and patients and the trust required to make important treatment decisions.

“I am passionate about community-based, mission-driven healthcare organizations,” said Dr. Swenson. “Lakewood is an innovative rural health system that successfully prioritizes high-quality care, the patient experience, and an exceptional workplace culture.”

Dr. Swenson has two children, and in his free time, he enjoys traveling, hiking, and spending time on Minnesota lakes.

Dr. Swenson will be seeing patients in Lakewood’s Staples clinic starting Sept. 6.

Chelsey Perkins / Brainerd Dispatch

Rebecca Anakkala stands next to her quilting machine July 7, 2022, inside the studio she rents for her small business The Finishing Stitch at Franklin Arts Center in Brainerd.

ADVERTORIAL

THE DESTINATION LOCATION FOR AUTOMOTIVE NEEDS

By Alyson Levig

Shannon’s Auto Body shop has provided collision repair to Crow Wing, Cass and Aitkin counties for over 25 years, establishing excellent customer care, expert knowledge and expanding a 17,000-square-foot facility. The owner and founder, Shannon, as well as his wife, Amie, have worked tirelessly to build this customercentric reputation while becoming a destination automotive location for the Brainerd lakes area.

Certified Staff

Since it first opened its doors by Shannon Christian himself in 1996, Shannon’s Auto Body has always been dedicated to the quality of its work. This commitment can first be seen within their staff, as all members are Platinum I-CAR technicians, ASE certified and knowledgeable with surrounding insurance companies to aid in both repairs and claims processes. It is then displayed within their I-CAR Gold Class shop(s) — the highest achievement recognized by the collision repair industry. Each of Shannon’s facilities feature a paint spray booth, mixing room, alignment and frame rack, as well as a measuring system. Finally, the company is an active member of the Society of Collision Repair Specialists (SCRS) and the Alliance of Automotive Service Providers Minnesota (AASP-MN), enabling them to accommodate their staff with updated procedures and industry changes.

“You can’t just let anyone fix your car anymore,” Shannon said.

Although an employee shortage has swept across the nation, Shannon’s Auto Body has kept a fully trained staff, keeping appointments moving forward smoothly. These employees can be trusted to follow the correct procedures — especially toward newer technological vehicles — and provide the original equipment manufactured parts for your car or truck. Meaning, they are applying the parts made and designed specifically for your vehicle’s make and model. Moreover, safe and proper vehicle repairs have always been Shannon’s Auto Body’s specialty.

Quality Work and Services

Because of its certified staff, Shannon’s Auto Body is easily your one-stop convenient spot for all your automotive and mechanical needs. You can trust them to repair your vehicle correctly or let you know if something cannot be safely fixed after they complete a damage analysis.

For automotive restorations, Shannon’s Auto Body technicians contain the experience to fix even the most challenging damages on a variety of makes and models of both domestic and imported vehicles. Plus, the staff stays up-to-date on manufacturer requirements by conducting frequent vehicle-specific research.

The mechanical side of the company also takes on jobs both big and small by utilizing state-of-theart diagnostic tools, alignment machines, tire mounting and balancing and even A/C services. These technicians are also equipped for custom fabrication and welding for either steel or aluminum vehicles.

Besides the basic automotive and mechanical services and post-repair inspections, Shannon’s Auto Body can handle hail damage repair. A service they have been completing around the clock this year.

“We are fully staffed here,” Shannon said. “So if you are waiting on any aspect of the hail damage service or insurance claim process, call us and we will get you taken care of.”

Did you know they have rental cars too? For customer convenience, Shannon’s Auto Body has added 30 vehicles to their rental fleet, allowing customers to freely go about their day while their main ride is properly repaired.

Customer Care

Along with its fully trained staff and service variety, Shannon’s Auto Body also proudly expresses excellence in client care and is committed to 100 percent customer satisfaction — traits Shannon started 26 years ago. Because customers always come first at Shannon’s Auto Body, any service appointment will be completed as smoothly as possible. Moreover, you can expect Shannon’s Auto Body technicians to work and communicate every step of their repair process with you as well as work directly with your insurance company concerning damage claims. In the end, they’ll provide you with one less thing to worry about.

Expanding into 2023

If you’ve heard the rumor of Shannon’s Auto Body shop moving, well, it’s half true. By the spring of 2023, the company will expand into the old Ascensus building located on the V of highways 25 and 210 on the east side of Brainerd. This building will focus more on collision repair, use state-of-the-art equipment and add more jobs to the community. If interested in working for a company expressing excellence in all forms, apply now as job applications are open. As for the original location for Shannon’s Auto Body at 13540 Ironwood Drive in Brainerd, it will continue to operate, just with more capacity for additional appointments for their customers in the Brainerd lakes area.

A Destination Automotive Location

Though not in the heart of the Brainerd lakes area, Shannon still considers Shannon’s Auto Body to be a destination location for automotive repair and service. The evidence comes from the many positive reviews of satisfied, returning, and new customers, which can be found on their Facebook page.

“We are located in the rural east side of Brainerd,” Shannon said. “But we are still a destination location because of the continued quality service we provide to every client and their vehicle.”

Shannon’s Auto Body is a robust, growing business even after the hardships the nation has faced over the past couple of years. Their customer base continues to grow by experienced reputation and word-ofmouth as Shannon’s Auto Body staff continues to focus on their work quality and customers.

Trust that Shannon’s Auto Body will take care of both you and your vehicle — ensuring its safety so you can drive confidently once again.

to personalize their credit cards at Card. com, including a sloth, tree frog, buffalo and great-horned owl. For those wishing to emulate Miller’s brightly hued creations, 11 paintings became Craft-Ease Paint by Numbers kits, including some of her most frequent subjects — dogs and horses.

In-person instruction on blank canvases — in her Franklin studio, of course — is something Miller hopes to offer down the road.

“A lot of people don’t understand how to work with acrylics real well, so that’s probably what I would do is teach how to work with acrylic and also teach how to paint more abstraction in your work,” Miller said. “I’m not a realistic painter. I don’t pretend to be.”

While Miller dwells in the abstract, Bradford Folta Jr. deals in hyperrealistic detail in his corner of Franklin.

Folta is the founder of Honeybadger Analytics, a company focused on locational analytics and geomatics. Practically speaking, this means Folta partners with small governments, municipalities, businesses and utilities to help them run more efficient systems. The city of Detroit Lakes is one client, and Folta took information already available to create an intricate map of the city’s water infrastructure.

On the geomatics end, Folta uses scanning technology and other methods to collect data and recreate buildings and more from the ground up — every angle, every texture. He’s completed scans of the entire Franklin building, for instance, along with

the Northern Pacific Center, the finished product of which has been used to show potential vendors the space from afar.

“We could map Brainerd in 3-D and then drop it into our VR headset and do a walkthrough and understand and see every sign,” Folta said. “If you were standing out on the lawn, we could see you and measure how tall you were to about a millimeter.”

To the uninitiated, it might seem like this line of work leaves little room for creativity. Folta views it much differently, emphasizing he believes after two decades of this kind of mapping technology, the surface is only just scratched.

“This is the thing that is running dispatch systems for the county. It’s the thing that drives our society, it’s Google Maps in the

background, right?” Folta said. “ … Why don’t we use it more to do our demographics or our crime analysis? Or why is Brainerd making a significantly less … median income than Baxter? Like, what is that disparity? What is that difference? How do we bridge that gap?”

Folta said people in the field tend to be narrowly focused on their own corner of the world, like police data or environmental data. But he sees potential in those different areas joining forces to build systems of all kinds that work for everybody.

This is the reason Folta rented a second space in Franklin to open the Minnesota Geospatial & Geomatics Institute. Once ready, the institute will offer a certificate program to train people in the fields, with an emphasis on how to convey the gathered

information. The act of making places safer and more accessible is also the realm of Jane Hampton and her team at Accessibility Design. The 30-yearold business modifies about 230 homes each year in Minnesota and Wisconsin, making it easier and more comfortable for people with disabilities or senior citizens to live where they’d like.

“It’s really nice to see people kind of light up when they realize what we can do for them, you know, as far as making their home situation where they spend most of their time a lot more conducive to them,” said Joe Drew, access designer.

In Franklin for about six years, the business consolidated into one space during the COVID19 restrictions and expanded its footprint.

Helping people live better lives in their houses in the wake of the pandemic — which normalized work-fromhome situations in a way like never before in the United States — is particularly rewarding, Hampton said.

“We’ve been talking about telecommuting for years, because if the person who has a physical challenge doesn’t have to go work, they can be at home and be very proficient in computers and, you know, all sorts of things,” Hampton said. “We have one client that was on a sip-and-puff (for people without the use of their hands) and he does accounting. I mean, amazing. Now with COVID, people understand that more.”

Hampton said people with architectural design brains not only want to be creative, but they must be. A community

of other creative thinkers is a natural place for the organization to thrive.

“We can’t do cookie cutters. So this is a creative environment on all different levels,” Hampton said. “And there’s another common thread of not only are we taking our creativity through the drafting table — or the computer now — to our individuals, but if you look closely, everybody in here, for the most part … have an outreach experience.

“Their creativity is something that is helping others. And so we vibrate with them as well on that level. … It’s a lovely community, and Julie (Vreeland) does a fantastic job. So I’m glad you’re here spreading the word.”

Chelsey Perkins, community editor, may be reached at 218855-5874 or chelsey.perkins@ brainerddispatch.com. Follow on Twitter at twitter.com/ DispatchChelsey.

Wilderness Land Clearing and Mulching is environmentally friendly

Whether you need your lot cleared for an upcoming new build or are looking to get rid of Buckthorn or invasive and noxious weed from your property, Joe Nelson and the staff at Wilderness Land Clearing and Mulching are just the people to help.

When clearing property, they use environmentally friendly methods to complete the cut and mulch process simultaneously, making it as easy and clean for the homeowner as possible. While performing the job at hand the group only minimally disturbs the root system of any trees that will remain.

For the avid hunter Wilderness can help with land management, clearing shooting lanes or creating natural food plots for deer, turkey and other wildlife.

If you have ever thought about creating a trail system throughout your property for recreational ATV use or horseback riding, Wilderness Land Clearing and Mulching can help you design the perfect path throughout your acreage that will maneuver throughout the woods and add one more way to enjoy the land you already love.

You could try doing any of these jobs yourself, but why not hire a licensed and insured company that has the knowledge to do the job while keeping in mind the land and wildlife that will remain?

Chelsey Perkins / Brainerd Dispatch

One of several studios within a shared space, with each cubicle featuring its own sink in a former science room is seen July 7, 2022, in Franklin Arts Center in Brainerd.

PROGRESS Edition

By Frank Lee Brainerd Dispatch Aitkin

Small town America

still exists in places like Aitkin, with its quaint shops and personal service that people say keep residents from leaving and visitors coming back.

Walk up and down Minnesota Avenue in downtown Aitkin, one can spot carefully cultivated flowers in bloom in front of storefronts as likely as a person would see someone they know.

Unclaimed Freight

North on Minnesota Highway 210 has been in business for almost two dozen years, according to Nick Bratland, before he purchased it almost half a year ago.

sold on residents, Aitkin businesses tourists in the area

“I was looking for just another business, a good business, and I was interested in retail but not kind of little nichekind of retail if you will — something different,” said Bratland, who also owns Spotlight Cafe and the Ice Cream Spot in Garrison.

Unclaimed Freight North

Unclaimed Freight North is a surplus dealer for unclaimed freight and liquidation products, according to its Facebook page. It is a large store but with a small-town feel in customer service.

“We just carry a wide variety of absolutely everything,” Bratland said. “I mean you can come here and get anything from food to furniture to tools to things you’ve never seen before.”

An astonishing selection of home furnishings, tools, gifts, household items and more can be found in the 25,000-square-foot building with the name outside in yellow block lettering.

“Pretty much everyone around here, locally, shops here,” Bratland said. “And then you have a lot of seasonal people with cabins and lake houses and things of that nature — vacation people.”

AITKIN: PAGE 28

Nick Bratland owns Unclaimed Freight North at 42190 Minnesota Highway 210 in Aitkin. “We just carry a wide variety of absolutely everything,” Bratland said. “I mean you can come here and get anything from food to furniture to tools to things you’ve never seen before.”

The next generation steps into leadership roles

By Tim Speier Brainerd Dispatch

BRAINERD — Running a family business takes a lot of work, time and, of course, family, especially when the older generation is looking to retire and pass the reins of the legacy built over the years to the next in line.

Though as kids they said they would never want to run the business, years later both Grace Czeczok of Mickey’s Pizza and Subs and Chris Bricker of Crystal Cleaners find themselves back at their family’s business learning the in’s and out’s and preparing to take over — eventually.

Mickey’s Pizza and Subs

Mickey’s Pizza and Subs was established in 1982 by Grace

Czeczok’s grandfather, Mickey Kaminski, and her grandmother, Pat Kaminski.

Before opening in 1982, Mickey owned a smoke shop in Brainerd. He sold the business to open Mickey’s as a hobby business for Pat and her sisters, said Toni Czeczok, current co-owner of Mickey’s and Mickey’s daughter..

The pizza and sub shop at North Ninth and Washington streets ended up taking off and, in a matter of no time, Mickey had to quit his other job to help run the business.

After running the business for a few years, they knew they needed to expand and in 1989 they ended up moving to their

Photos by Frank Lee / Brainerd Dispatch Curio North, 118 Minnesota Ave. N. in Aitkin, sells gifts, souvenirs, home decor, clothing and more.

Tim Speier / Brainerd Dispatch Willing and able to jump into any position at Mickey’s Pizza and Subs, Grace Czeczok prepares a

July 18, 2022, for a customer.

As the baby boomers continue to retire, family members are stepping up to take over businesses

Steve Kohls / Brainerd Dispatch

Noelle Bastian creates an intricate tattoo on her friend Emily Theisen’s arm at Folklore Tattoo in Brainerd.

BRAINERD — Even though Folklore Tattoo’s location in Pequot Lakes was not permanent, the artwork and experience

Folklore Tattoo is found right on Washington Street, but not many people would know it’s there. Bastian moved into the new shop in

February of this year and business has been the same. Her dedicated clients followed her from one location to another.

Bastian is the sole employee of Folklore Tattoo and does not plan on bringing anyone on in the future. She likes

the simplicity of running things herself and not having the extra hassle of bringing on more artists.

The one person she would consider mentoring in the future would be her 18-yearold daughter who will be

VIDEO For video, see brainerddispatch.com

attending art school on scholarship in Oregon. Other than her, Bastian does not see herself taking on an apprentice.

Apprenticing is a requirement for all tattoo artists and the length

FOLKLORE: PAGE 32

JOB

BIG

We live in one of the most beautiful areas in the country. It is surrounded by towering trees as far as we can see and while they bring us great joy, they can also present a challenge when it’s time to deal with any that have fallen, need to be removed, or simply have some of its branches trimmed. It can be risky to try to do any of it on your own.

Whether you are the victim of a strong storm with straight line winds or have noticed a tree or two leaning just a little too far in the direction of your home, JN Tree Service and Landscaping should be your first call. Locally owned and operated by Joe Nelson, the business prides itself in attention to detail and respect for the customer.

ADVERTORIAL TREE SERVICES • 60 Foot Bucket Truck • Expert Climbing Technicians • Shoreline Restoration • Tear-out Landscaping • Complete Landscaping • And Lot Clearing!

JN Tree Service and Landscape specializes in residential and commercial land clearing, stump grinding and brush clearing. Dependable and skilled, the insured, licensed and trained staff from JN Tree Service will show up on time and complete the job in a safe and clean manner which is well worth your peace of mind.

Do not make the mistake of thinking tree removal is a job that you should, or could, tackle on your own. JN Tree Service has the tools necessary, including a 60-foot bucket, crane and ex-

pert climbing technicians, who will help to assess your needs and then successfully and safely complete the job.

Pruning and dead-wooding trees are another way to keep your property healthy and attractive. Piles of branches and tree debris can be a safety hazard if left unattended and pose an unnecessary fire hazard if left laying on your property. One call is all it will take to get it all cleaned up, no matter how big or small the job may be.

Some of the other services JN Tree Service offers include:

Lot and Wood Clearing

Tree Removal and Trimming

Storm Clean-up

Brush Clearing and Chipping

Shoreline Restoration and More!

Contact Joe Nelson and the team at JN Tree Service and Landscaping to help with all your tree removal and trimming today. To get a free estimate and learn more about what they can do to help on your property, call 218-232-7328 or visit wwwjntreeservice-landscaping.com.

Folklore Tattoo looks to provide a unique experience

Folklore Tattoo is a singly owned and operated shop recently moved from Pequot Lakes to Brainerd and showcases a service called intuitive tattoos

Crosby lodgings attract bikers, lake and outdoor enthusiasts

By Frank Lee Brainerd Dispatch

CROSBY — The immigrant workers who mined precious minerals from the Cuyuna Iron Range may be gone but the region still attracts people from far and wide for its natural resources.

True North Basecamp and Cuyuna Cove are two such outdoor retreats in the Crosby area that offer cabins and tents to bicyclists, and lake and outdoor enthusiasts who recreate in the region.

“Our resort is more for the people that mountain bike and paddleboard,” said Dan Jurek, owner of True North Basecamp. “We’re seeing a big resurgence of paddle-

boarding this summer.”

True North Basecamp is connected directly to the world-class Cuyuna Lakes Mountain Bike Trails. The trails are 30 miles of “red gold” that twist their way through the Cuyuna Country State Recreation Area, and the towns of Crosby, Ironton, Cuyuna and Riverton.

“It’s a very clean campground — nice bathroom and shower facility, quick access to the lake, which was great and quick access to the bike trails,

which is why they’re here,” Lisa Husom said of True North Basecamp.

“I’m really excited,” said 13-year-old daughter Ella Husom. “I like biking and these trails are a lot of fun to go around. And they turn new tires orange, which is one of my favorite parts actually.”

Lisa Husom, a 40-yearold wife and mother of two from Chippewa Falls, Wisconsin, runs a nonprofit and recently rented a campsite at True North Basecamp for the first time for a four-day stay while her husband does a group bicycle ride in the region.

JIBEC is Second to None

By Renee Kardell

Since 2010, Jake and Jenny Niggeler of JIBEC Heating and Cooling have served the Brainerd lakes area with one underlying goal: quality products and quality customer service. Family-owned and operated since their purchase of JIBEC in 2010, their pursuit of quality and excellence has allowed them to expand their business and their team of qualified technicians. Currently composed of six phenomenal technicians, JIBEC continues to look toward its future of serving the lakes area’s heating and cooling needs with pride. Their core values include family and community first paralleled with prompt, quality service.

As you can probably imagine, the perfect efficiency level tailored to a client’s specific needs is the name of the game; something JIBEC understands and prioritizes through products from RUUD and Navien. Backed by an outstanding product warranty, communicative customer service staff and quality parts, JIBEC Heating and Cooling is proud to carry RUUD and Navien systems exclusively. More specifically, RUUD products offer a wide variety of efficiency levels, allowing JIBEC to better serve clients looking for products and services that best fit their cabin or primary home and, most importantly, their budget. RUUD has committed its company and its products to serve “a greater degree of good” through its innovative products and commitment to the environment.

In addition to the flexibility and quality RUUD products offer JIBEC clientele, combi boilers from Navien can provide customers with options for both in-floor heat and domestic hot water.

In conjunction with a line of trustworthy products, JIBEC technicians strive to prevent situations like no-heat calls in the bitterly cold nights of January or the

no-air calls in the dog days of summer. They do so by inspecting every aspect of a unit, including electrical components, and going as far as a thorough cleaning, if necessary. During these inspections, serious and potentially frustrating problems are taken care of before those -40 degree nights arrive. JIBEC has NATE-certified (the gold standard for technician development in HVAC-R) technicians, and are proud to provide spring and fall check-ups for furnaces, air conditioners, boilers, and ventilation systems (such as air exchangers and humidifiers). JIBEC is pleased to serve the Brainerd lakes and surrounding areas during the times we need it most: emergencies. Through their years of experience and training, JIBEC and its technicians empathize with customers when it comes to the importance of late-night calls for no heat or air and their critical response time.

We would like to thank our wonderful team and our fabulous customers for your support.

In fact, you’ll find much of what a JIBEC HVAC-R technician does in their seasonal preventative maintenance checks is taking measures to ensure your family’s wellness, especially regarding things like air quality or the safety of your furnace and the potential impacts this could have on your home and family. The quality products, care, and service provided by JIBEC are second to none here in the beautiful Brainerd lakes area. For all your heating, cooling, home air quality, and preventative maintenance needs, contact Jake and Jenny Niggeler at JIBEC Heating and Cooling.

We greatlyappreciateallofyou.

Dan Jurek, owner of True North Basecamp, talks Tuesday, Aug. 9, 2022, about the resort in Crosby. The cabins resemble miner cabins that dotted the Cuyuna Iron Range during the mining days.

Photos by Steve Kohls / Brainerd Dispatch Furnished canvas tents are erected on wooden platforms for guests at True North Basecamp on Wednesday, Aug. 10, 2022, in Crosby.

BASECAMP: PAGE 34

The city of Aitkin, with its population of 2,168, is in the heart of lake country yet only two hours from downtown Minneapolis, according to the city’s website.

“We’re right off of 210 so there’s a lot of traffic that drives by every single day from Aitkin to Brainerd and everywhere else,” Bratland said of Unclaimed Freight North.

Aitkin is the county seat of Aitkin County. The county’s population was 15,697 as of the 2020 census.

“Aitkin is a great community. It’s a very small town, a very friendly community, so our locals are amazing,” Bratland said. “This business is probably built on just the good local Aitkin people. … We’re very small town, so we go the extra mile with deliveries and things of that nature.”

More than 33% of Aitkin County residents are age 65 and older according to population estimates last year by the U.S. Census Bureau.

“We really work with people… just any way to help them out. We get a lot of elderly and handicapped people (with) special needs, whether it’s putting together furniture in their house, delivery,” Bratland said.

Minnesota Avenue

North Traffic jams are practically nonexistent in Aitkin but motorists are likely to slow down to see sales advertised in chalk on sidewalk sandwich boards in front of decorated storefront windows.

Tracy Magnus has a cabin on Long Lake in Aitkin. The 47-yearold Lake Elmo resident recently shopped at Curio North, a gift shop, in the heart of Aitkin with a friend from Chicago.

“We actually have roots here because my great-grandma was born here. My mother was born here … and so my mom grew up at the lake,” said Magnus, a wife and mother of two.

Farm Island is a 2,054-acre lake in Aitkin County and the fourthlargest lake in the county. Magnus said her ancestors were raised on Farm Island Lake.

“This is our go-to shop. Curio makes really great salsas and preserves and all sorts of spices and stuff,” Magnus said while shopping at the gift store with her visiting friend from the Windy City. “He had some of the curry that I had. He wanted to bring some back to Chicago.”

Magnus said she loves staying at her Long Lake cabin because of the quieter, more relaxed lifestyle even though she is used to living in bigger cities.

“It’s getting busier with people coming up on the weekends and stuff in the summer,”

Magnus said of Aitkin. ‘But it’s very nice, like, down-to-earth, hometown feeling. And then shopping is fun because I like to come into Curio specifically because they have, like, the lake stuff.”

Rose Greninger, a vendor, can often be found behind the counter at All Through the House, a crafters’ cooperative just south of Curio North on Minnesota Avenue North.

“We have, I believe, over 30 vendors, and so we all offer something different,” Greninger said. “My particular specialty is quilting. But we have everything imaginable — jewelry, woodworking.”

By Nicole Stracek

Whether you’re ready to pop the question or looking for something special to celebrate an anniversary, E.L. Menk Jewelers is ready to help make your next jewelry purchase stress free. Located in historic downtown Brainerd, E.L. Menk Jewelers has been providing exceptional customer service to the Brainerd lakes area since 1979. Offering a large selection of jewelry and accessories, the goal is to help customers find the perfect piece. From bracelets to rings to earrings and necklaces, E.L. Menk Jewelers boasts a wide selection of items that are hand-selected by owner Ed Menk.

“We know how important and precious a piece of jewelry is to you. That’s why we offer in-house services so you can take comfort in knowing your jewelry is in good hands.”

If you can’t find the perfect piece for that special someone, Ed Menk can help by creating a unique piece that will be cherished forever. “If you have something

specific that you want but don’t see it on store, we can create unique customized items using our in-store workshop using our beautiful cut diamonds and gems.” EL Menk also offers repairs and jewelry maintenance to ensure your purchase stays beautiful for years to come.

Because the team at E.L. Menk Jewelers knows the importance of all things that sparkle and shine, they provide customers with peace of mind when purchasing fine jewelry and accessories. Extremely knowledgeable with over 43 years in the business, the team at E.L. Menk Jewelers is excited to help make your jewelry purchase memorable and unique. Stop by E.L. Menk Jewelers to see the selection of beautiful jewelry. E.L. Menk Jewelers offer engagement and wedding rings, diamonds and gemstones, exclusive collections, custom jewelry, and estate jewelry. Visit www.elmenkjewelers.com or call 218-829-7266.

Photos by Frank Lee / Brainerd Dispatch

Rose Greninger, a vendor, can often be found working at All Through the House, a crafters’ cooperative just south of Curio North on Minnesota Avenue North in Aitkin.

Reichert Bus Service is here for the long haul

By Renee Kardell

If you think back to your first day of school, chances are, you can remember the very first person you encountered on that pivotal day. For most, it wasn’t a teacher; it was a bus driver. You can also probably reflect on how anxious you felt when the school bus arrived. As it did, a smiling, charismatic face was waiting to take you to school as the doors opened. If you’re like most, you sighed in relief and boarded the bus to school, feeling optimistic and just a little less nervous.

As you continued through your school years, your bus driver was the first person you saw, day in and day out, as you traveled to school. They began to care for you; in return, you cared about them. Over time, a relationship developed, and this daily interaction created a bond. Now, even as adults, when we think back to our time in school, we fondly remember the bus driver(s) that took us to school safely every day with a smile on their faces. The drivers and the company behind those special relationships and smiles throughout the years have been Reichert Bus Company.

Seventy-five years ago, Elmer and Phoebe Reichert started Reichert Bus Service with a dream and a single bus — a dream of serving a community, its school district and its families, a dream of creating a company and a workplace where employees felt fulfilled and supported enough to stay for decades, a dream of creating a legacy centered around the community and its incredible employees for years to come.

Fast forward three-quarters of a century and Elmer and Phoebe Reichert’s original dreams have come to fruition through Reichert’s extraordinary employees and their dedication to the families they serve.

Reichert Bus Service, currently owned and operated by third-generation brothers Mike and Mark Moran, now services the entirety of the Brainerd Lakes School District with an impressive 81 routes. Within those 81 routes are services for special needs students and charter services between metro areas and Brainerd. Rain or shine, Reichert provides safe, friendly service, all day long, 365 days a year.

Hundreds of children see their drivers’ welcoming faces every morning as they travel to school and return home at the end of the day. This daily interaction becomes a unique relationship and one that has the potential to impact a child’s life, and education, significantly.

“It’s a relationship Reichert, and its drivers genuinely care for and take seriously,” states longtime (an impressive 25 years to be exact) employee Kevra Cherne. Most drivers, realizing the significance of their relationships with students, stay with Reichert for decades. The driver and student relationship quickly parallels Reichert’s relationship with their drivers.

In addition to their service to the Brainerd lakes community through their extensive routes, Reichert Bus Company currently employs 100 people — a responsibility they take to heart. From the office staff diligently answering phone calls and processing paperwork to the mechanics who work to keep the buses on the road to the drivers ensuring the wellbeing of our community’s children, every employee is invaluable to the success of Reichert and our local school system. Reichert holds outstanding employee retention through their focus on community and commitment to its employees.

To emphasize their unwavering support for the Brainerd lakes community, Reichert undertook a special holiday mission last year — Home for the Holidays. Reichert drivers collectively nominated 40 families from their bus routes. On Christmas Eve and Christmas Day, the designated families had the opportunity to partake in a Christmas meal at Reichert’s expense. Reichert also extends their well-wishes, sponsorship and support to student-athletes through advertisements to school sports teams in regional and state competitions.

Founded upon humble beginnings, a commitment to the Brainerd lakes area, and its employees, it’s clear that Reichert Bus Service is here for our children, our families, our schools, and our community for the long haul.

Come Join the Reichert Family!

Bus Drivers Needed...

Benefits of Driving a Bus:

Earn $15,000+ per year working part time!

Welcome to the Reichert Family - We have been in the “student transportation” business for 75 years. We love this community, and we love the students we get to transport. In addition to our 81 school routes, we also average four school trips per day. Our drivers, men and women, range in age from under 30 to over 65. Many of our drivers work other full time or part time jobs. Driving bus is a great way to earn extra money, while being part of helping our students be safe and successful. Please join us, test drive a bus and see if the Reichert family is right for your family!

current location, the former Hardee’s building on South Fifth Street.

Toni said there was a day, somewhere around 1985, when her dad called her husband Jim Czeczok, who had a background at working in restaurants, and asked him if he would come to the restaurant and help out as someone called in sick.

“That was (in) 1985 and he’s been here ever since,” Toni said of Jim. “Then we bought my parents out in 2005 and I still have my dad working here. He’s 82 and he’s still working here two to three days a week.”

Growing up around the shop, Toni said she would help out whenever she had the chance as she worked in retirement planning services for 18 years prior to joining the family business in 2005.

A few years ago, Jim started talking to Toni about retiring. They talked to her parents about what they wanted to see happen to the legacy they had built up and decided they would try and keep it in the family.

“My dad said, ‘Well, ask Gracie first. Give her the first option,’” Toni said. “So I went down to St. Paul, she had bought a house and was working in the finance industry.”

Unbeknownst to her mother, at the time Grace started to contemplate a job change. “I was there for probably six or seven years and I liked my job,” Grace said. “I just wasn’t really challenged anymore. Kind of at the top of where I could be with the company at that point without moving out of state. So my mom happened just to be down (in the Cities) and asked, kind of pro-

posed the idea of taking over the business. … So it was almost like perfect timing. I think it was just kind of a moth-

er’s instinct maybe.” Grace said she would always come into Mickey’s after her parents took over in second grade.

“I spent a lot of days and nights here and did what I could to help or slept in a booth,” Grace said. “You know, get in

FOR YOUR INFORMATION

Mickey’s Pizza and Subs: 22 employees.

Crystal Cleaners: Six employees.

Interesting fact: Both businesses opened right next to each other on North Ninth and Washington streets before moving to their current locations. And after moving, both businesses had a vehicle drive through the front of their stores.

trouble; eat too many suckers.”

Coming back to Brainerd for a year offered a chance to start learning the business and to see if taking over the business and eventually purchasing it was something she would want to do.

“I think after two months, she said, ‘Oh, I could run this business without you guys,’” Toni said of her daughter. “And then after six months, she said, ‘Don’t ever leave me.’”

Grace said she enjoys the challenges of running the business and looks forward to eventual-

Thanks for supporting our weekly community publication. Our staff works hard to keep you informed about local news, sports and information.

Thank you to our great employees

Have a safe and enjoyable Labor Day

ly taking over. Though she knows, as both her parents found out, there are family members who still come in to help out during the week and are never too far away for a question.

Not ready to completely retire yet, Toni said she plans to stick around and help with the paperwork and taxes, which Grace Czeczok has no qualms about.

“I’m really lucky that it kind of runs itself, almost,” Grace said. “It’s a lot of work and it runs your life. But it also can run really smoothly if you’re present and

Echo Journal does admirable job

By Pete Mohs

Many things have changed in our lives in recent years, but one thing that is steady is the level of quality each week in the PineandLakes Echo Journal newspaper and digital products.

The Echo Journal staff does an admirable job of covering meetings, community events and sports activities for the northern communities of Pequot Lakes and Pine River-Backus, plus more than a dozen other cities in its readership area.

And for its efforts, the publication earned three Minnesota Newspaper Association Better Newspaper Contest awards last February. Those third-place awards were for the staff in advertising excellence and best magazine (Love of the Lakes); and to editor Nancy Vogt, social issues story.

The Echo Journal staff was also recently honored by finishing third among the entries in the “Best Newspaper” division of the “2022 Best of” contest judged by area residents.

The Echo Journal staff, which has primarily been working from home since COVID-19 started in 2020, continues to focus on local news coverage of dozens of cities in Crow Wing and Cass counties. The publication also focuses on coverage of the school districts of Pequot Lakes, Pine River-Backus, Brainerd (Nisswa School) and the Crosslake Community School.

The Echo Journal, combined with the Brainerd Dispatch staff, produces more than 30 special sections each year. They also help produce the weekly Echoland Piper Shopper.

The PineandLakes Echo Journal has continuous news updates at www.pineandlakes.com. Before the digital age, Echo Journal readers were forced to wait, sometimes almost a week, to receive the local news. Today, the coverage is updated 24/7 with breaking news on its website. This development has helped the website grow to an all-time high of 1.2 million page views in 2021.

The Echo Journal newspaper is the result of a merger between the Lake Country Echo and Pine River Journal newspapers in the fall of 2013. The Pine River Journal was established in 1935 while the Lake Country Echo began in 1972.

Photos by Tim Speier / Brainerd Dispatch

Three generations of owners at Mickey’s Pizza and Subs are Pat Kaminski, left front, Toni Czeczok, Jim Czeczok, back left, Grace Czeczok and Mickey Kaminski.

For Mickey Kaminski, being retired just means you make your own schedule at Mickey’s Pizza and Subs Monday, July 18, 2022.

able to help out and do stuff. Me, long term, it’d be cool to franchise and stuff like that. But I know that’s 20 years down the road, probably. I’m not in a hurry to do that, I still have a lot to learn.”

Crystal Cleaners

Moving to the Brainerd lakes area and purchasing Crystal Cleaners in 1986, Susan Bricker and Rick Bricker, co-owners of the business, said when their son was 5 years old they felt as though they needed a change.

“Rick operated DunRite cleaners for 12 years in downtown Minneapolis on Hennepin Avenue and he was real tired of it,” Susan said. “We wanted to move to the country and live on a lake.”

Crystal Cleaners was originally called Crystal Clean Cleaners before the purchase and was located on North Ninth and Washington streets.

Susan said after they first moved up to the area, she and her husband would often take their son, Chris, to the lake.

“We would make a sandwich, go fishing and watch the sunfish jumping in the springtime,” she said.

During one of their after-work fishing trips, they ended up purchasing the property next to the jumping sunfish location.

“He’s always had jobs here,” Susan said. “Even at 5 years old, I would have him sort buttons. Yeah, I would have him fill up the washing machine, simple things. Pick up, clean the lint out of the dryers, sweep, you know, that type of thing.”

They were In their location past the historic water tower for four years. Crystal Cleaners moved to its current location on Northwest

Fifth and Washington streets in 1990.

For Chris, Crystal Cleaners became his second home as he grew up playing in the shop and even had all his toys

in the bottom drawer of the filing cabinet in the office.

Growing up like most teenagers from a small town, Chris looked forward to leaving and

doing his own thing.

“He did leave for a couple of years and went to chef school, graduated at the top of his class,” Susan said. “When he was doing his

internship at Bar Harbor, that’s when he realized he didn’t want to work holidays, evenings and weekends. And we told him, eventually we’re going to sell the cleaners. And once he realized what he wanted for his future, he came back.”

Chris said he loved to cook but found the job did not offer much time to be with family or start his own.

Soon after coming back to the area, Chris started dating the woman who would become his wife, Jenny, who now works at Crystal Cleaners as well.

Still in the works of transferring ownership, with no set timeline, Chris said he is taking it day by day as the industry has changed in the last few years. The business has gone from mostly dry cleaning and pressing to wash and fold, as fabrics and

ADVERTORIAL

the clothing industry change to the needs of their consumers.

“I’m just trying to learn the business,” Chris said. “There’s so much. I know everything in the back. Up front, I don’t know so much. That’s gonna be coming next.”

Though Chris’ plans have changed over the years and through all the “steam, noise and swear words” of working with family, he said it’s always a good time coming to work at the place he knows so well.

“It’s a really good feeling to help people,” Susan said. “I mean, it doesn’t matter whether it’s a spot or a ripped seam or to turn dirty clothes into clean. Everybody always likes to, you know, get their nice clean shirt.”

Tim Speier, staff writer, can be reached on Twitter @ timmy2thyme, call 218-8555859 or email tim.speier@ brainerddispatch.com.

Brainerd DispatchCovering the news since 1881

By Pete Mohs

The Brainerd Dispatch staff continues to work hard to produce quality products for its print and digital readers, especially during the challenging past two years of the COVID-19 pandemic. And the Dispatch staff was rewarded earlier this year for its efforts by earning a total of 16 staff and individual awards in the annual Minnesota Newspaper Association’s Better Newspaper Contest.

The Dispatch earned seven first-place MNA awards, including General Excellence, which is one of the most prestigious awards in the statewide competition of dozens of entries in the large newspaper division. Other first-place staff awards for the Dispatch included: typography and design and best use of photography as a whole. Individual winners for the Dispatch were Theresa Bourke, human interest; Jennifer Kraus, hard news; Frank Lee, social issues; and photographer Kelly Humphrey, portrait and personality.

Runner-up finishes for the staff were sports reporting and special section (Veterans Day magazine). Individuals finishing second were Matt Erickson and Chelsey Perkins, best use of social media, and Humphrey, sports photo.

Placing third in the staff categories were general reporting and advertising excellence while individuals finishing third were Perkins, use of graphics and illustrations; Bourke, social issues story; and Krause, local breaking news.

The Dispatch produces newsprint publications on Wednesdays and Saturdays and digital newspapers editions on Monday, Tuesday, Thursday and Friday. The Dispatch also features continuous news updates at brainerddispatch.com.

The Dispatch has been responsible for covering the Brainerd lakes area since it was first published in 1881. The newspaper continues to be a key source of area information — although the news is delivered in a variety of forms. The Dispatch began to transition its news and advertising to a combination of print and online platforms with the debut of the Dispatch website in 1996.

Today, the Dispatch has an annual audience of more than 21 million page views with 2.2 million users while many also read the Dispatch e-edition. The Dispatch produces podcasts and has expanded its video coverage with breaking news and weekly features. The Dispatch is also active in social media like Twitter updates that link our stories to Facebook posts.

Two generations of owners at Crystal Cleaners are, Chris Bricker, left, Jenny Bricker, Susan Bricker and Rick Bricker.

Keeping the family business alive, Chris Bricker steams a dress at Crystal Cleaners Friday, July 22, 2022.

of an apprenticeship can vary greatly. Bastian did her apprenticeship under Clint Lasher of Pain Inkorporated Tattoo, a shop that is no longer in existence. Bastian started tattooing there a few months into her apprenticeship, which is pretty standard.

When beginning, most apprentices are not paid since they are still learning. It’s mostly work done on themselves, friends and family.

However, the apprentice slowly gains experience and can begin charging small amounts for their work.

“Most mentors will apprentice you with the knowledge that you will be staying at their shop, because they’re teaching your craft and putting time and energy into that,” said Bastian. “And so the nice thing to do is to stay with them to make them money. But you can go to a different shop. You will see a lot of tattoo artists and they’re just jumping around shop to shop. Some bosses are not great bosses, and some work environments are not great work environments. So it’s just finding a place that feels good for each individual artist.”

After working at Pain Inkorporated Tattoo for a while, Bastian was invited by two of her coworkers to work at a shop they were opening. Bastian worked at Red at Night for a while, but became pregnant with her third child in May of 2018. When talking about maternity leave, Bastian told her coworkers that she didn’t know when she would be returning to work.

“I want to give enough time to my babies, like I

don’t want to feel like I have to go back to work in six weeks,” Bastian said. “So I just kind of left it open-ended and I was like, ‘I don’t really know when I’ll be back.’”

After further discussion with her husband, Bastian decided opening her own shop, where she could set her own hours, seemed like the right thing to do. Plus, she could work closer to home since she was living in Pine River at the time.

From that conversation, Bastian decided to open a shop in Pequot Lakes.

Voted #1 four years in a row

Thank you to all of our amazing customers and employees!

ADVERTORIAL

MIKE’S TREE COMPANY A Local Company You Can Trust

BY BRYAN REEDER

Mike’s Tree Company has been providing professional tree service in the Brainerd lakes area since 1995. They offer tree removal, tree trimming, tree pruning, stump removal, insect and disease control, tree protection plans, soil care and consulting services. This Labor Day they are pleased to continue to focus on creating a safe working environment for their employees and their families.

Professional and Community Driven

Their tree service is based on care for clients as well as the trees. They strive to ensure their customers receive the most professional Tree Care Service in Minnesota. Most of the new business at Mike’s Tree Company comes from referrals so you can trust in their quality of service and the high standards they have set for themselves.

Are you doing some yard clean up this fall? Mike’s Tree Company believes in their community and offers organic yard waste drop off and disposal for homeowners for a minimal charge.

Tree Doctors

Not only is Mike’s Tree Company the most trusted tree service company in the area, but they also take pride in being a leader in tree health care in the Brainerd lakes area. Mike’s Tree Doctors are certified arborists. They are known to be the most knowledgeable tree surgeons in the Brainerd lakes area. The goal is not to simply be there in an emergency or after neglect, but rather to be proactive in providing the services needed to keep your existing trees healthy. Their educated team specializes in diagnosing your trees for various diseases and insects. It is their mission to educate people on proper tree care practices to ensure the life and vitality of area trees.

Voted Best Tree Company

In 2018, 2019, 2021 and 2022, Mike’s Tree Company was voted the Best Tree Company of the Best of Brainerd Lakes. Owner Mike and their 25 employees appreciate all of their current customers and look forward to continuing to be a local company that can

If you would like more information about caring for your trees or are interested in any of the other services, including commercial snow removal, you can find their contact mikestreecompany.com.

Photos by Steve Kohls / Brainerd Dispatch

A custom-made tattoo design by Noelle Bastian at Folklore Tattoo is created on Emily Theisen’s arm at the Brainerd studio.

Noelle Bastian talks Wednesday, July 27, 2022, at Folklore Tattoo in Brainerd. The artist combines several extra aspects into receiving a tattoo at her business.

So intuitive tattoos are kind of a whole different type of thing. I would explain it more as a full experience versus a regular tattoo session.

Noelle Bastian, owner, Folklore Tattoo

FOR YOUR INFORMATION

Business: Folklore Tattoo.

City: Brainerd.

Number of employees: One.

Interesting fact: Folklore Tattoo offers a service many people may not have heard of: intuitive tattoos. Noelle Bastian will draw up a design personalized to the client, who will not see the design until the day of the session.

One of the things that sets Folklore Tattoo apart from other tattoo shops in the area is a service that Bastian offers called “Intuitive Tattoos.” It’s a blind trust between the client and Bastian and it isn’t for everyone.

“So intuitive tattoos are kind of a whole different type of thing,” said Bastian. “I would explain it more as a full experience versus a regular tattoo session.”

Bastian will ask a client to come up with an intention for the tattoo prior to the appointment. For example, someone could come in wanting a tattoo to represent healing or strength. Bastian will note that and also have the client fill out a form with information about themselves.

From this information, Bastian gets to work sketching a design that she thinks will accurately represent the client and their intentions.

That isn’t the only unique thing about the session though. Upon arrival, Bastian will sit down with the client and guide them through some breathing exercises and guided meditations. She also allows the client time to share with her whatever is on their minds at the moment and lends a listening ear.

“We talk about whatever they want to talk about,” said Bastian. “Really, I’m just kind of here to hold space for them at that time, which is just being there to support them in whatever they’re wanting to talk about. I think a lot of people don’t really have

that in their life where they just have somebody there to listen and not to, like judge them or give them advice.”

After the client has had the opportunity to talk about whatever it is that they want to share, Bastian shows them the tattoo design that she has drawn up. Bastian also provides a written explanation of the symbolism within the tattoo. If the client is OK with the design, they go ahead with the tattoo.

“I always drive home the fact that if they don’t like the tattoo that I do or if they’re not feeling it’s right for them to let me know because I definitely do not want to put something on somebody that they’re not 100%,” said Bastian.

These sessions require a lot of trust and Bastian noted it’s often hard for people to let go of control. It’s a big exercise of faith to allow someone to tattoo a permanent piece of art about the size of a hand onto their body.

In addition to the intuitive tattoos, Bastian also does regular appointments. However, she only opens up her schedule four times a year and she is usually booked up in a matter of days.

She books three months in advance and if there happens to be a cancellation, she likes to post on her social media a piece that she designed and see if anyone wants to come in spontaneously for that piece.

Out of all the work Bastian does, her favorite tattoos to do are flowers.

“I love flowers,” said

Bas tian. “I love really anything nature inspired like insects or animals, birds. I just am really drawn to tattooing that kind of thing because I think all organic forms just really fit nicely with the body in my opinion, and they’re enjoyable for me to tattoo.”

Almost all of Bastian’s clientele have heard of Folklore Tattoo through word of mouth or social media. COVID-19 also increased her clientele as tattoo appointments around the nation increased. According to the Minnesota Brow Lash and Medspa Academy, in order to become a licensed tattoo artist in Minnesota, the State requires 200 hours of actual pigment implementation into skin (tattooing), under a licensed supervisor. Her clients are not shy when it comes to telling their friends about Bastian’s business. Plus, her clients are willing to travel across the state for an appointment.

Emily Theisen and Isaiah Helmin are two of those clients. They heard about Bastian from a mutual friend and have been going to her ever since. They are even willing to make the drive from Duluth to make their appointment.

Theisen, who has had multiple tattoos done by Bastian recently stopped

them to get new pieces done despite the travel time and Helmin’s job that requires him to work nights.

“We’ve been going to Noelle for two or three years now,” said

she’s been the one we’ve been going to for a long time now. She’s super good at what she does.”

Bastian’s new location in Brainerd is still

fairly new, but the work done within the walls of the shop is the same. Sara Guymon may be reached at 218-855-5851 or at sara. guymon@brainerddispatch.com. Follow her on Twitter at twitter. com/Sara_Guymon.

ADVERTORIAL

Brainerd Area YMCA is a true icon

Recent years and global events have proven the importance of taking care of our health and the health of our families more than ever before. Families desire a safe, welcoming location with activities to suit every family member and an organization that empathizes with the challenges of chaotic schedules and affordability. For many lakes area families, the Brainerd Area YMCA is this organization.

In 1885, the then prominent Northern Pacific Railroad introduced the idea of a “wholesome place to spend their leisure time,” and from there, the idea of a YMCA in the Brainerd lakes area was born. The first official location was completed four years later, in 1889, on the corner of Sixth and Front streets. Since 1889, the Brainerd YMCA has given area families a place of community to focus on their personal growth, fitness and well-being. In the many decades it’s served our beautiful community, it’s changed locations, endured location changes and building expansions — all while maintaining its reputation as a place where every family member can find a sense of belonging

The Brainerd Area YMCA has created a focal point of fitness hospitality for all ages, body types, and athletic abilities. Programs like youth weight training, sports leagues and swimming lessons create a healthy outlet for young adults and children to explore the type of activity best suited to their age and abilities. Group fitness, adult sports and large swaths of open gym area give adults of any age options for variety and autonomy. Water exercise classes and an Olympic-size lap pool leave open-ended opportunities for all participants, young and old alike.

A wide variety of class schedules, open pool times and practice times are offered to work around the ever-changing lifestyles of busy families and working parents. Rates — another important variable in family-friendly health and fitness — are intended to be reasonable and within reach for average income households in the Brainerd lakes area.

On a daily basis, the underlying mission of the Brainerd Area YMCA — “to enhance lives in the Brainerd lakes area by connecting individuals and families with opportunities based on Christian values that build a healthy spirit, mind and body” — continues to serve our community and area families with excellence. The Brainerd Area YMCA, from its spirit and commitment to all members of the family, is a true icon here in the lakes area and the perfect place for families.

Emily Theisen waits while friend Noelle Bastian creates a tattoo on her arm Wednesday, July 27, 2022, in Brainerd.

Emily Theisen listens as her friend Noelle Bastian describes her tattoo at Folklore Tattoo in Brainerd Wednesday, July 27, 2022.

“I think it’s a nice campground,” Husom said. “I really wasn’t sure what to expect, but it’s actually been a lot nicer than what we originally thought it might be. … I think we would stay here again.”

True North Basecamp

Jurek co-founded True North Basecamp with his friend Jeff Bajek. Jurek bought out Bajek in 2021 to become the sole owner. The pair were camping, biking and adventuring in Cuyuna with their sons in 2013 when they had the idea for True North Basecamp.

“Their first night was dank, rainy and frighteningly cold. It took a little of the wind out of their sails,” according to the story on the website for True North Basecamp.

They kept that ordeal in mind while developing

True North Basecamp.

Each campsite, cabin tent and cabin on the 40 acres that comprise True North Basecamp near Serpent Lake is equipped with a fire pit, a cooking grate and a picnic table.

“There was no lodging in the area. And so with the growth of the trails, we decided to open True North Basecamp to accommodate people that mountain bike,” Jurek said.

True North Basecamp is situated near Main Street in Crosby and its dining options and gear outfitting options. Mountain bikes, paddleboards and snowshoes can be rented locally.

“We have direct trail access and direct lake access,” Jurek said. “And we offer the amenities that campers and vacationers like while on an adventure vacation.”

Those amenities include

heating and air-conditioning, access to highspeed Wi-Fi and several USB charging points, for

example, in the cabins.

True North Basecamp has six lakefront cabins modeled after the taconite

FOR YOUR INFORMATION

Business: True North Basecamp.

City: Crosby.

Number of employees: Three.

Interesting fact: The business opened the day after Christmas Day 2015.

access all that Cuyuna has to offer — meaning nice, clean, modern facilities to relax with after a long day on the trail or paddling in the lake,” Jurek said.

Husom added, “We’re not that far from town, so it’s close enough to the city if we needed to run into town to grab something that would be convenient. Otherwise, it’s very quiet and secluded out here.”

We arehappytocelebrate thespiritofhardwork!

Holden ElectricCo.,Inc. is committedtopr oviding thebest electricalandtec hnicalsolutions forourcustomersthrough quality, value, and service. We strivetoimplementa long-term relationship withourcustomersbasedonsafety, pr ompt serviceandanticipatingourcustomers’needs. To guaranteequality,wecontinually invest in tr ainingand education forourworkforceandgive our employeesthe propertoolsandequipment for everyjob.

mining industry buildings of the early 1900s.

“Our main goal is making it easy for people to

The cost to rent a cabin is $89 per night, Sunday through Thursday, and $135 per night, Friday and Saturday; each cabin has one full size and three twin beds. The

Advertorial

cost to rent a 10-foot by 12-foot cabin tent is $54 per night, Sunday through Thursday, and $69 per night, Friday and Saturday.

“There’s wildlife, but I wouldn’t say that’s the main draw — by no means are we a hunting and fishing destination. We’re more about paddleboarding and mountain biking,” Jurek said.

Nora Husom, an 11-year-old, said, “It’s nice. I like the lake and the trails are really fun. I haven’t fallen yet, which is really good.”

The cost to rent one of the 23 campsites at

Would you trust your family with your electric needs?

By Sara Schroeder

At Holden Electric, you can. A family-owned business that has been serving and servicing the Brainerd Lakes area since 1957, Holden Electric is known for contributing to the lakes area’s economic growth and has become the largest electrical contractor in the Baxter/Brainerd area.

Holden Electric serves both central and northern Minnesota with offices in Baxter, Duluth and Two Harbors. They have become a leading electrical contractor in service and excellence.

Top notch, quality work is what you can expect when you call for a repair, a new build or remodel.

Holden Electric is a name you can trust, backed by years of experience and local businesses as proof of not only a job well done, but continued great customer service, quick response to repairs and knowledgeable ideas for new builds and businesses.

We arehappytocelebrate thespiritofhardwork!

Whether you are new to the area, or have been here for years, you will for sure hear of Holden Electric. The owner and many employees are involved in the community, the company donates to many causes locally both financially and with in-kind services.

As you visit various places throughout northern Minnesota you will soon learn that Holden Electric has had their hand in many of them such as CRMC Crosby, Crosslake Vet Clinic, Little Falls WWTP, Mille Lacs Health Care Omania, Arvig in Perham, just to name a few. But the highlight has been working on the Brainerd area schools where they secured work at nine local area schools.

Holden Electric isn’t just a business in Baxter, Minnesota; it’s a family of electricians, working together, cheering one another on and celebrating each other’s life events and being there for co-workers when life gives them challenges.

HoldenElectricCo.,Inc.iscommittedtopr oviding thebest electricalandtechnicalsolutions forourcustomersthrough quality, value, andservice. We strivetoimplementa long-term relationship withourcustomersbasedonsafety, pr ompt serviceandanticipatingourcustomers’needs.

Holden Electric recently added several electricians that have roots in our community and have been welcomed by all.

With Holden Electric, you aren’t just a name, you’re family.

To guaranteequality,wecontinuallyinvestintrainingand education forourworkforceandgive our employeesthe propertoolsandequipment for everyjob.

Call for a quote for your next project at 218-829-4759 or visit their website at www.https://holdenelectric.com.

Frank Lee / Brainerd Dispatch

Nora Husom, left, her older sister Ella, center, and their mom Lisa, right, of Chippewa Falls, Wisconsin, take a meal break Saturday, Aug. 6, 2022, at one of the picnic tables at True North Basecamp in Crosby.

Steve Kohls / Brainerd Dispatch

Dan Jurek, owner of True North Basecamp in Crosby, talks about their furnished tents that are rented to guests at the resort. Each campsite, cabin tent and cabin is equipped with a fire pit, a cooking grate and a picnic table.

True North Basecamp is $29 per night, Sunday through Thursday, and $39 per night, Friday and Saturday.

“Winter is a big draw for fat-biking, snowshoeing and cross-country skiing,” Jurek said.

True North Basecamp opened Dec. 26, 2015, near Pennington Mine Lake in time for what proved to be a busy fat tire-biking season on the Cuyuna Lakes Mountain Bike Trails.

“This area of former mining pits and rock deposit stockpiles now boasts regenerated vegetation and clear lakes that draw a wide range of recreation enthusiasts,” according to the Cuyuna Lakes Mountain Bike Crew website.

According to the area advocacy group, 25 miles of natural shoreline can be explored by boat or canoe and anglers can cast a line for trout, northern, bass, crappie or sunfish.

“We’re close to town,

the town of Crosby, so all the restaurants and breweries are probably less than a mile from there,” Jurek said of True North Basecamp’s location on First Street Southwest. “But we’re also connected to the trails and the lakes.”

Cuyuna Cove Cuyuna Cove, which also offers lodging, is about a mile away on Minnesota Highway 6 in Crosby and near Portsmouth Mine Pit Lake..

“Our goal in building Cuyuna Cove is that you’ll have a rejuvenating getaway filled with adventure, nature and connecting to yourself and loved ones,” according to the proprietors’ statement on Cuyuna Cove’s website.

The five cabins at Cuyuna Cove were completed June 27, 2020, “in the midst of the pandemic,” and the canvas tents were launched in May of last year, with

the redwood sauna finished in October.

Ellen Lawson is a 42-year-old product designer from Minneapolis, and a wife and mother. It was her first time renting lodgings from Cuyuan Cove because her family enjoys mountain biking.

“We aren’t big campers in general. But we’re kind of in-between campers, like we like the feel, but we don’t want to take all the time to get all the things ready and everything,” Lawson said.

Cuyuna Cove comprises 3 acres of land connected directly to Cuyuna Country State Recreation Area and the mountain bike trails.

“The tent is set up and everything and it has electricity,” Lawson said. “There’s a lot of amenities included, so it has like silverware, plates and cups, and so, like, a coffee maker or a little French press and

gracewinliving COOPERATIVE FOR AGES 55+

OpeningSpring2023

Ownershipbenefitswithequityearnings. Flexiblepurchaseoptions&all-inclusivefees. Prime5acrelocationonGloryRoadinBaxter. Secure,maintenance-freeliving. Amenitiesforallseasons.

Call(855)472-2396today. www.gracewinliving.com

so a lot of the things that we care not to, maybe, pack every single time we go out.”

The cost to rent a tent at Cuyuna Cove starts at $175 a night, and the cost to rent a cabin starts

at $250 a night, with cabin amenities such as a bathroom, a patio, a kitchenette, Wi-Fi, a grill and a queen bed.

“Being busy, busy people, we really want to relax on a vacation but

still get the kind of the outdoors feel and everything,” said Lawson, who grew up camping. Frank Lee may be reached at 218-855-5863 or at frank.lee@ brainerddispatch.com. Follow him on Twitter at www.twitter.com/ DispatchFL.

Gracewin Living Cooperative Offers Senior Living With Ease

By Sheila Helmberger

Adults 55 years and older in the Brainerd and Baxter areas will soon have another option for enjoying an active lifestyle that accommodates an easier, more relaxed way of living. Without any yard work or maintenance to do, you will be able to enjoy your hobbies, friends and families just the way you have always wanted.

Currently under construction at 7084 Glory Road in Baxter, Gracewin Living is located on five acres near Perch Lake, which means grocery stores, restaurants, medical facilities, retail stores and nature trails are all conveniently located near your new home. Feel like you are on vacation every day in your own private home with on-site shared amenities to enhance your new easy way of life.

The new Gracewin Living Cooperative will offer members the financial rewards of home ownership with equity earnings on share purchases and tax benefits similar to owning your own traditional home. The country club feel of this new living option for seniors in the area is a welcome one for those who are ready to let go of some of the work of owning their own home but still enjoy their independence.

With no lawn mowing or snow shoveling to take up space on your to-do list, you will have more time for your friends and family. Enjoy the pickleball courts, fitness room, backyard patio with a fire pit and a grilling area. Learn new hobbies and share yours with other residents with similar interests — the built-in community provides many opportunities for social interaction. Enjoy your morning coffee or evening wind-down on a third floor owner’s lounge that offers a serene view of Perch Lake. The heated parking garage will eliminate another one of the worst parts of a Minnesota winter. The new life you deserve will be a lot less work and a lot more play.

The Sparrow, Goldfinch, Bluebird and Chickadee layouts at Gracewin Living are units that encompass from 1,000 to 1,250 square feet and include your larger-than-average private patio or balcony for relaxing. With sixty percent of the units already spoken for, the single-floor homes are selling fast. Starting at just $154,000, all feature upscale finishes, quartz countertops and tile in the bathrooms. The inclusive monthly fees, depending on the share payment option selected, are between $800 and $2,000. When you let someone else do the work and the upkeep, you can spend your time enjoying your beautiful new home.

Construction on the new complex is right on schedule and set to open this coming spring in the heart of lake country. For more information, or to learn how you can purchase your own home at Gracewin Living, call 855-472-2396 or go to www.gracewinliving.com.

Steve Kohls / Brainerd Dispatch

An abandoned mine lake on the edge of the True North Basecamp in Crosby offers guests boating, swimming and other water sports.

Steve Kohls / Brainerd Dispatch

Guests at True North Basecamp in Crosby pack their mountain bikes in the truck after spending time at the resort. The guests were lodging in rented, furnished tents on platforms.

The crafters in the cooperative are required to occasionally work retail in the store, according to Greninger.

“During the COVID shutdown period … we did a lot of oneon-one shopping or a lot of social media,” Greninger. “We’d post things and people would say, ‘Oh, I’d like to get that,’ and then we’d deliver or meet them at the curb … curbside shopping and then some in person.”

Beanery, Grandma’s

Peter Lowe owns

The Beanery Cafe & Roastery, Grandma’s Pantry & Market and Block North Brew Pub in Aitkin.

“We carry a lot of organic, gluten-free products,” said Amy Wyant, manager of The Beanery Cafe & Roastery and Grandma’s Pantry & Market. “We have a wide variety of bulk items and herbs and loose leaf teas and we have a deli, so we slice our own meats and cheeses.”

Grandma’s Pantry & Market includes a specialty cheese case that has over 29 different cheeses both locally made in Minnesota and imported.

“I buy all my meat from local farmers. And by local, I mean within 49 miles of the market except for my ground elk and my ground buffalo, which I buy from South Dakota,” Wyant said.

Wyant said Aitkin’s population increases significantly in the late spring through the fall

because many people have lake cabins or lake homes, or hunting property in the region.

“With my local population, I have a

lot of regulars that like to come in for their morning coffee … and then we have groups that meet here,” Wyant said of the off-season

business. “For example, we have a group of pastors that meet here once a week. We have a knitting club that meets.”

Choose Electrical Options when you need …

Expert Electronic Motor Solutions

• Same Day Turnaround on Small Motors

Electronic Motor Sales

• We have a complete inventory of large and small motors for nearly every application.

Service and Repair

• Our experienced technicians can repair and service your pumps, gearboxes, generators, electrical control products and power transmissions.

Parts In Stock

• We have a large supply of bearings, belts, sheaves, idlers, skirtboard rubber, roller chain, couplers and shaft mount gearboxes.

We sell, service, and repair a wide variety of motors.

Preventive maintenance is a more costeffective option than buying a new motor.

We offer limited service warranties and stand behind all manufacturer warranties.

Nancy Panning was enjoying what the Block North Brew Pub had to offer with a friend of hers as they sat outside on one recent summer day. The 58-year-old wife and grandmother of five from Albertville has a lake house in the Aitkin area.

“I like the small-

town feel of Aitkin,” Panning of good customer service. “The shops I have shopped at I’ll ask questions and they will say they will get me the information I want.”

Frank Lee may be reached at 218-855-5863 or at frank.lee@ brainerddispatch.com. Follow him on Twitter at www.twitter. com/DispatchFL.

ELECTRICAL OPTIONS is everybody’s motor supply store

By Sara Schroeder

• Whether you are looking for someone to repair or service your pump, gearbox, generator, electrical control pump or power transmission, you need to look no further than Electrical Options, LLC.

• Electrical Options believes in offering high quality parts, including conveying systems and components along with a variety of brands to choose from.

• We also design and build custom control panels for all different types of industry needs. Whether it be a new project or an upgrade, we will always strive to exceed your expectations and standards.

• Leading the way in motor repair and supplies, our team is here to answer questions and offer solutions that meet your needs.

• Our professional technicians have the skills and know how you can trust.

• Allow us to be your motor supply store.

• Call 218-828-7062 to schedule your free estimate today.

• We honor all manufacturer warranties.

Serving and servicing the Brainerd lakes and the surrounding area with high quality electric motors and repairs since 1996.

Photos by Frank Lee / Brainerd Dispatch

The Beanery Cafe & Roastery and Grandma’s Pantry & Market on Minnesota Avenue North in Aitkin are owned by Peter Lowe, owner of Block North Brew Pub in Aitkin.

The Beanery Cafe & Roastery in Aitkin offers a whole line of specialty coffees and smoothies.

A sign on Highway 210 near Unclaimed Freight North in Aitkin welcomes motorists to the county seat of Aitkin County.

PROGRESS Edition

Living the American Dream in Little Falls

Sanchez Burrito owner takes pride in community involvement

By Theresa Bourke Brainerd Dispatch

Little Falls

Hues of bright orange,

ornate customdesigned tables and smells of sizzling meat and veggies welcome hungry visitors to Sanchez Burrito.

Authentic Mexican artwork adorns the walls, while wooden furniture

from south of the border and lively, upbeat music complete the festive ambiance.

The Little Falls restaurant is a manifestation of the American Dream for owner Yunior Sanchez, who was looking for better opportunities when he moved from Honduras to the United States as a

teenager in 2009.

“We’ll just call it the American Dream,” Sanchez said during an interview in a booth at his restaurant in July.

He went first to Louisiana when he was 17 years old before a friend talked him into moving up north to Bemidji. He made his way down to the lakes area about 10

years ago and now lives in Brainerd with his wife and daughter.

“The people are friendly, and I like the lakes,” Sanchez said. “I don’t like the big cities. I’m a small town guy.”

Cooking was a central part of growing up in a small-town family with four boys. Sanchez learned to make things

like grill fries and chicken in his early years and translated those skills over to working in Mexican restaurants in the U.S. “I found out when I was working in a restaurant that it was something I can manage,” he said. “... And I can see myself having a restaurant, too.”

SANCHEZ: PAGE 42

Crosslake Town Square businesses thrive on camaraderie

By Nancy Vogt Echo Journal

CROSSLAKE —

There’s camaraderie among businesses in Crosslake Town Square, and business owners are embracing it.

“In town square, every single business works with every business. We work as a team,” said Catharine Funk, owner of Encompassing Beauty, which she describes as “the Menards for women.”

Her store, open for the past five years, focuses on beauty and fashion, offering clothing, shoes and accessories along with a full-service Aveda concept salon.

“It’s really cool how we work together in town square to make sure every niche is filled,

and there’s no animosity,” she said.

Crosslake Town Square

Crosslake Town Square has a variety of businesses in their own unique spaces, including longtimers Crosslake Drug, Rafferty’s Pizza, Studio Posh Salon and Spa, Larson Group Real Estate/Keller Williams Realty Professionals, and Crosswoods Development.

Others are Lakes Area Title, Key Wellness, Simply Rustic Floral Design, Lundrigan’s Clothing Outlet, Patriot Lakes Nutrition, the National Loon Center’s The Nest, Northland/Sotheby’s International Realty,

CROSSLAKE: PAGE 44

Mattson Lumber faces change together

By Dan Determan Echo Journal

NISSWA — For 36 years, Mattson Lumber has served Nisswa and the surrounding Brainerd lakes area, and the owners have fought through good times and bad.

They have done so as a family-owned business the whole time.

The company started when Bill Mattson Sr. purchased Gull Lake Lumber in the spring of 1986, opting to put his surname on the side of the building.

Now, Bill Mattson Jr.; his wife, Lori; and Bill Mattson Sr. run Mattson Lumber together, along with several non-relative employees. Though much has changed in 36 years, they enjoy the fact that Mattson Lumber has maintained its “local busi-

ness” mentality.

“If you have a problem, we’re small enough where you don’t get a run around,” Mattson Jr. said. “There’s no phone system. Somebody is going to answer the phone and it will be a real person. There are no departments or ‘Press 9 for this’ sort of thing. We have tried to make things as easy as possible.”

Mattson Jr. started stocking lumber there at age 14 — of course, now that is done by forklift — and worked part time during his summers off.

“I started by stacking lumber, then I did some driving, worked the counter and did some estimating. Now, I don’t know what you would call what I

Nancy Vogt / Echo Journal

This side of Crosslake Town Square features businesses and a clock tower, shown in July 2022.

Kelly Humphrey / Brainerd Dispatch Yunior Sanchez came to the Brainerd lake area about 10 years ago and now lives in Brainerd with his wife and daughter. He spoke of living his own American Dream July 7, 2022, in his Little Falls restaurant, Sanchez Burrito.

Dan Determan / Echo Journal

The COVID-19 pandemic created plenty of issues for Mattson Lumber, from price hikes to product shortages to understaffing.

CUB FOODS - EASING THE STRESS OF TODAY’S GROCERY SHOPPING

It is no secret that today’s economy has made a trip to the store a little more challenging. This is never truer than when the destination is our local grocer. From the occasional empty spaces found in the aisles to the amount that shows up on our receipts at the checkout these days, each trip has become an adventure. When things are at their most challenging for consumers, your family-owned and operated local Cub Foods is in your corner, working hard to help you find some relief for your bank account while still delivering top quality products in every department.

From meat to molasses and cereal to snacks, whether you are grilling in the backyard with the neighbors or packing cold lunch for your family, Cub Foods is known for having some of the lowest prices in the area along with the friendliest service. While the economy has offered a bit of a challenge to consumers the past year, your neighborhood Cub Foods is doing its part to make feeding your family still an enjoyable experience.

Steve Daoust has been the store manager at Cub Foods in Baxter for the past four years. He knows the consumer is often confused by various product shortages and wondering what they can expect in the coming months. A combination of trucking and supply chain issues has resulted in the shortages, and they are noticeable in everyday categories such as cat food and pasta.

“It is going to take several months to catch up,” he says. The big Jif Peanut Butter recall will take a while longer.

BY SHEILA HELMBERGER

“It just takes time to refill the shelves and for things to make it down the pipeline to the store shelves in Baxter. The same is true with the baby formula shortage.” He admits sometimes it has seemed like when one category gets back to where it was, another one will be hit with a hole on the shelf.

While challenges may last a few months longer and some even closer to the end of the year, Daoust has good news for other areas. While paper plates and napkins are sometimes currently hard to find, he says that is more of a result of seasonal demand being high in the summer months. “Those will all come back by October or November as demand drops for them.”

Prices for the things on hand have crept up on every item across the board too, the past few months, pinching the pocketbooks of his shoppers. “We have probably seen the worst of that,” says Daoust. “We are actually seeing the prices top-out a little lately.” After the summer he says we should see select items, even meat, come back down and offer a little relief.

When you are in a hurry, or only need a few items from the store, waiting in a long check-out line can be an inconvenience. Your Baxter Cub Foods is about to help with that, too. “We have an upgrade coming to our front-end system and when that happens the store will add self-checkouts,” says Daoust, who predicts the addition will go smoothly. “They have been around awhile, and customers already know how to use them. They appreciate the speed they offer to the check-out process.”

To help customers save money in another area, Cub can offer relief at the local gas pump, too. By collecting and using your Cub Reward points, you can get valuable discounts at participating Holiday Gas Stations. One hundred dollars in grocery purchases, that you are going to make anyway, can score 10 cents off up to 20 gallons of gas.

Technology makes our lives easier in every way, from gathering our news to paying our bills, and buying our food is no different. Gone are the days that you made it up to the check-out only to find the coupons you spent the morning clipping were sitting at home on the kitchen counter. Your Cub Food savings are always at hand with digital coupons found on the app as well as the current week’s ad. Create your shopping list or arrange pickup or delivery of your order easily by using the My Cub app in the palm of your hand.

While staffing shortages and finding the right people to fill important roles can sometimes be a struggle for business owners and managers, Daoust says his store is doing well even in that area currently, but the Brainerd and Baxter Cub are always hiring to fill new and current openings.

Whether it is dinner for your family or a big event like a graduation party or backyard wedding, your Cub Foods is there for you to help with everything from food and desserts to decorations and party supplies.

Your local, family-owned Cub Foods is a hometown grocery store working to offer savings for its customers, especially those who can use it most.

Enhancing Lives and Restoring Hope - Northern Pines Mental Health

By Sheila Helmberger

No one should suffer from a worried mind, feelings of dread, not belonging or struggling to communicate with friends and family we care about deeply.

Northern Pines Mental Health Center can help “Enhance Lives and Restore Hope” when things look their darkest. Providing services throughout Crow Wing, Cass, Aitkin, Todd, Morrison and Wadena counties, Northern Pines has nine outpatient offices and staff available in 27 schools and two drop-in centers throughout the region.

Mobile Crisis Outreach is another way to find help. By offering an assessment to anyone thinking of harming themselves, staff is available to go to either a hospital or the home or community of those who are in need.

During the past two years, when the pandemic affected everyone, in some way, the staff at Northern Pines saw an increase in substance abuse with those in crisis. Services to those affected by chemical health are available in Brainerd, Aitkin, Little Falls and Wadena.

Desiree Montonye, MS, LADC, has joined Northern Pines as the new Substance Use Recovery Services Director. She feels it is important to treat, not only the substance abuse, but the reasons behind it.

“My goal is to offer services and programming at NPMH that not only addresses the addiction, but also provides an environment that allows people to feel safe, respected, and most of all, never judged for the reason that brought them here.” Often, Montonye says, substance abuse clients are discriminated against unfairly and must overcome additional barriers while they are trying to recover, something that people who suffer from other diseases never face.

“The goal at NPMH is to not only address the addiction but provide an environment that allows clients to feel safe, respected and never judged about what brought them here.”

If you or a loved one are ready to begin the recovery journey, contact NPMH for a same-day chemical health assessment.

To learn more about what Northern Pines Mental Health has to offer, see www.NPMH.org or reach the call center at 320-639-2025.

The Northern Pines Board of Directors and Laura Vaughn, executive director, thank the entire Northern Pines Mental Health staff for their dedication in providing extraordinary mental health, therapeutic, substance and recovery skills services, as well as the support people throughout the agency. “You have all been exceptional in wanting to serve as essential workers during the continued pandemic health crisis.”

To those who accept the services of NPMH, “We thank you for the privilege of cheering you on as you grow!”

OUREMPLOYEES AREAN ESSENTIAL PIECEOFCTC.

Happy Labor Day from Enhancing Lives,

Restoring Hope

Northern Pines is a comprehensive community mental health center with a six-county service area in Central Minnesota that includes Aitkin, Cass, Crow Wing, Morrison, Todd and Wadena Counties.

We provide a full range of mental health services to all ages:

•

• Mobile Crisis outreach services

• Adult Community Based Services

• Assertive Community Treatment for adults and youth

• Children & Family Services

• School based services

• Mental Health and wellness education and promotion

• Medication management

• Outpatient therapy

• Psychiatry

• Peer specialist services

• Chemical health services

• Some housing assistance

• Drop-in centers located in Brainerd and Staples and more. As an essential community provider, Northern Pines provides reduced or no-fee services, based on its sliding fee scale. A Minnesota nonprofit corporation, Northern Pines is governed by a volunteer Board of Directors, representing the communities it serves.

To learn more visit our website www.NPMH.org

Want to make an appointment? Need more information? No Problem. CALL 1-833-316-0698

Northern Pines Mission:

Northern Pines is an integrated system of services committed to individuals, families and communities. We are dedicated to providing appropriate clinical mental health care along with preventative, educational and supportive programs throughout Central Minnesota.

FOR CUSTOMERS AND EMPLOYEES ALIKE, CTC DELIVERS

By Sheila Helmberger

OUREMPLOYEES AREAN ESSENTIAL PIECEOFCTC.

date on important topics company-wide and offer a chance to have a little fun together, too.

In business for more than 70 years, the company began in 1952, when rural farms in the area joined together to deliver phone service to places that had none. A local cooperative, its valued customers accrue capital credits the longer they stay a member.

CTC and its employees have created a successful business model where each person is valued for their expertise and the contribution they make to the unwavering quality of service the company is able to provide for its customers.

In a recent questionnaire presented to employees, some of them explained why they find working for CTC so rewarding.

“I love our vision and values. We are competitive and driven to grow, yet we still support our community and look to what is best for our membership.”

“It is so nice to work for a company that values its employees, recognizes accomplishments, and cares about the communities they serve. Everyone on the team is friendly and motivated to be the best in the industry.”

“I love my coworkers, customers, and all that I learn from each of you! Our talents, values, and caring shows in all that we do for each other and our community!”

Company-wide Zoom meetings, started during the pandemic, were such a popular way to connect, they have continued today. They provide a way for employees to keep up to

Besides delivering valuable and dependable services to communities, CTC employees are visible in other ways, participating in missions that include a CTC funded home for Habitat for Humanity, Smiles for Jake and internal food drives that are in-turn donated to the communities.

Participation in community parades, Chamber of Commerce events and other company sponsored activities celebrate the appreciation CTC has for its members while it donates to other various causes throughout the year.

The Employee Experience Committee plans events for workers to gather with one another socially at such outings as holiday parties, family night at Kart Kountry, drive-in movie nights and highway clean-up days. Free snacks in the breakroom are a popular perk and monthly challenges sponsored by the company offer a way to enhance the quality of life of the employees away from the office. Nutrition, physical wellness and personal finance have all been the focus.

Kelly Burns, marketing and recruitment manager at CTC, credits the leadership of CEO and General Manager Kristi Westbrook as one of the reasons the company remains such a strong employer in the lake country area.

“We are always looking for genuine, honest, hardworking and tech-savvy people to work at CTC,” said Burns. Besides medical, dental and vacation, benefits include a pension plan and the opportunity to grow within the company.

To join the team at CTC and find out first-hand why others are so happy there, visit www.goctc.com/careers.

From Page 37

do, but I started here the same way everybody else did,” he said.

From his early days as a teenager in the lumber yard, he has made himself a career in the family business, working under someone he respects and who respected him back.

“I enjoy it — I won’t say I enjoy every day and I won’t say all the time for my entire life, but my dad is in the office right now and, quite honestly, I enjoy working with

him the vast majority of the time. We get along pretty well, and he has been really easy to work for and with,” Mattson Jr. said. “He let me make my own mistakes, even though he knew they were mistakes … I had the support of my father and my boss at the same time, and I was able to learn and grow at my own rate. I don’t know if you get that in a more rigid corporate structure, and it has been a blessing.”

In addition to working with his dad, Mattson Jr. relishes the opportunity to work with his

wife as well.

Some people say, ‘I want to get away from my spouse (at work),’ but it works for us and it’s actually nice,” he said. “Sometimes, you bring a little more work home than you’d like, and you just have to get over that mindset.”

The family-owned business brought a tremendous amount of pride for the Mattsons, but Mattson Jr. admits the operation is not without its challenges.

“Someone once told me that a family business is like a sister –you love them to death

because they are a part of the family, but sometimes you hate them,” he said. “A family business is a member of the family, and just like any other relatives, there are frustrating times and you never get away from it … That is a blessing and a curse at the same time.”

In the 36 years Mattson Lumber has been serving the lakes area and beyond, Mattson Jr. said the greatest change to the business has been in what they can sell and how they go about selling it.

“There are so many

more choices now,” he said. “I’d say 25 years ago, aside from windows, everything else was a stock item. There were flush oak doors and six-panel pine doors. There were bright brass and antique brass knobs, and maybe five colors of soffit, and we would stock all five. Now there are 28 colors and we can’t stock them all. … Now, dollar-wise, I would say the slight majority is special-ordered.

“There is still a lot in stock, but things have definitely changed.”

More changes came,

of course, during the COVID-19 pandemic, which caused prices to fluctuate wildly at times. For Mattson Lumber, however, high prices were not nearly as problematic as product shortages that are still creating issues in 2022.

“The prices are what they are, and we don’t have a lot of control over them,” Mattson Jr. said. “The problem was if I want to sell a 2-by-4, I have to have a 2-by-4 to sell.

“More challenging, for me, is that I would have two or three sources

MATTSON: PAGE 46

By Alyson Levig

WHAT IS BRIDGES OF HOPE?

Since 2002, Bridges of Hope has been on a mission to “build bridges of support, anchored in Christ’s love, between families in the Lakes Area and the community assets that can help them thrive and gain hope.” As a nonprofit 20 years later, the organization continues to do just that: connect partnerships within the community to strengthen, stabilize, and support both families and individuals facing challenges, crises or instability within their life.

HOW DO THEY HELP THE COMMUNITY?

Bridges of Hope offers a variety of services to assist with the ever-changing needs of the surrounding community. These services include Common Goods Thrift Stores which are located in Baxter, Crosslake and Crosby; Resource Connections; Operation Sandwich; and an overnight warming shelter.

RESOURCE CONNECTION SERVICE

The Resource Connection Service is a singular point of entry for individuals and families within the community that have a short-term challenge or need. The staff is able to provide access to resources to these clients to help them regain stability. The program has assisted thousands of households throughout the Brainerd Lakes Area.

OPERATION SANDWICH

Operation Sandwich has been around the Brainerd lakes area for 10 years before collaborating with Bridges of Hope in 2020. The program was created to assist hungry kids in the area during the summer as free or reduced-price school lunches ended after each school year. Each week, families are given grocery bags for five days worth of lunch supplies including bread, peanut butter, jelly and fresh fruit. Last summer, Operation Sandwich supplied 30,000 lunches and now provides lunches and snacks during school breaks.

WARMING SHELTER

Last winter, Bridges of Hope opened a warming shelter to help individuals escape the cold. The shelter provides a safe place for any homeless adult 18 years and older to sleep from 8 p.m. to 8 a.m. This winter, Bridges of Hope is planning on extending the sleeping hours from 7 p.m. to 8 a.m. and open the building officially for the season on Sept. 15. If you need to use the warming shelter, the address is 1926 S. Seventh Street in Brainerd.

HOW CAN YOU HELP?

Donate Bridges of Hope offers many ways in which you can either donate your time or money to help families in need throughout the community. Additionally, donating your gently used items and/or shopping at one of their Common Goods stores is another great way to support the organization.

2022 BUILDING HOPE GALA

To celebrate its 20th anniversary, Bridges of Hope is hosting a “Building Hope” Gala on Sept. 24. This semi-formal event will include a dinner, program, auction and even dancing to help raise money for ongoing programs. Individual seats, tables for 10 and sponsored tables are still available.

If you would like to know more about the programs Bridges of Hope oversees, volunteer or to order your 2022 Gala tickets, visit Bridges of Hope’s website: www.bridgesofhopemn.org.

Dan Determan / Echo Journal

The Mattsons -- Bill Sr., left, Bill Jr. and Lori -- have been operating Mattson Lumber since Bill Sr. bought the business in 1986.

MATTSON

SANCHEZ

From Page 37

So when he — along with his family members — didn’t feel valued highly enough in his last job, Sanchez decided to embark out on his own.

He found the perfect place in a former Chinese restaurant in

Thanks

Little Falls and spent a few months fixing it up before opening Sanchez Burrito in October 2018. The staff is made up entirely of Sanchez’s family members.

The family bond is always there, but Sanchez said they all manage to remain professional at work for the good of the business.

“I like to be working

with the guys. They respect me and the way we work,” Sanchez said. “And we don’t have someone telling us how to do it because we know how to do it now.”

As the name implies, burritos tend to be the biggest seller at the restaurant, but the menu extends beyond the establishment’s namesake to include

ADVERTORIAL

A Third Generation Partners in Waste

By Sue Smith-Grier

Since 2000, Waste Partners has been removing waste from businesses and residences in the Brainerd lakes area.

Founded by father and son, Gary and Eric Loge, this family-owned company has expanded to serve most of Crow Wing County and the lower region of Cass County. Brothers Drey and Jace currently head up this important service as the third generation of owners.

Waste Partners serves many communities in and around the Brainerd lakes area from Hackensack to Fort Ripley and Ironton to Pillager. With over 15,000 customers, more than 40 employees of the company provide services to move waste and recycling. The company has recently expanded to six maintenance bays to make sure their equipment is able to serve their customers well. This garbage and recycling company is unique in this area because they are the only one with the capability to collect, bale and ship recycled cardboard to market for reuse directly from their facility. The carbon footprint of recycled cardboard is about half that of cardboard made from virgin pulp. Recycled cardboard saves hundreds of gallons of oil and other fossil fuels. Thanks to Waste Partners, we can all make a difference when we recycle.

Drey and Jace are proud to be carrying on the family’s business and the legacy of friendly, prompt and professional service to customers. The entire Waste Partners team works as a family providing this much needed service to the communities they serve. They have created a positive work atmosphere based on loyalty, trust and dedication to providing excellent service to customers throughout the area. The constant expansion of Waste Partners into new communities serves as a testimonial to their excellence.

In many areas, especially rural residential areas, people have experienced more visits from wildlife in the last few years. Racoons and bears will rifle through garbage cans looking for food, creating a mess, but also posing a safety threat. Prompt waste removal takes on more importance in these areas and Waste Partners is known for its quick and courteous service.

Just about everyone has dealt with the frustration of working with a company that outsources communications. This means long times waiting on hold, unanswered questions and often roundabout services with dissatisfied customers. Not so with Waste Partners. Office staff are local people with a wealth of knowledge to answer your questions promptly and professionally. Regardless of your method of communication, you will get the answer you need in as short a time as possible.

Waste Partners also takes pride in their appearance. You are not likely to see a Waste Partners truck on the road that looks like or sounds like its better days are far in the past. Pride in professionalism extends even to the care of the vehicles. Trucks are clean and well maintained because drivers and mechanics take pride in their work.

Partnership is an important concept with this company. It extends to staff and the customers served. Together we create a better, cleaner community and environment thanks to the dedicated staff and loyal customers of Waste Partners.

Photos by Kelly Humphrey / Brainerd Dispatch

Above: Colorful décor and custom-made tables and seats fill the inside of Sanchez of Burrito in Little Falls. The menu includes burritos and items like quesadillas, tacos, nachos and burrito bowls as well. Right: A custom-made bench sits in the entryway of Sanchez Burrito in Little Falls.

items like quesadillas, tacos, nachos and burrito bowls as well.

“I would say we make the best quesadillas,” Sanchez said with a smile, noting the cheesy tortilla dish is another favorite with his customers.

And if a customer comes in with a different request, Sanchez will try to make that happen, too.

“If you come with some ideas, we can cook something that’s on your mind,” he said.

Fajitas are a possibility, too, and won out as the choice for a 400-person catering gig in July when a large family reunion chose Sanchez Burrito to make the food for the event.

Catering is part of what keeps the business afloat, as are repeat customers who enjoy the food and a steady stream of hungry visitors from nearby Camp Ripley.

As Sanchez approaches four years with his restaurant open, the biggest challenges he sees in the business are inflation and the rising costs of food. The price of ingredients hits especially hard for a restaurant like Sanchez Burrito, where a typical meal only costs about $10 or so, compared to restaurants that can charge more for their food.

But so far the support of the Little Falls community keeps the establishment going. Even the COVID-19 pandemic didn’t cause too much concern for Sanchez.

“We didn’t have much problem because the health department, they let us open the doors, and people could still walk in and order,” he said “... It was pretty

Above:

up a burrito Thursday, July 7, 2022, at his restaurant, Sanchez Burrito, in Little Falls. “If you come with some ideas, we can cook something that’s on your mind,” he said. Below right: Vibrant artwork adorns the walls of Sanchez Burrito in Little Falls.

Below

One way he did that earlier this year was by donating 300 tacos to raise money for the Little Falls Lindy Dance Team.

SANCHEZ: PAGE 48

On this Labor Day we celebrate our phenomenal team members! It is your effort every day that propels this company forward.

THANK YOU for your extraordinary efforts and outstanding teamwork!

We hope you all take some time to relax, recharge and enjoy the long weekend with your families and friends.

Have a safe and happy Labor Day weekend!

By Sheila Helmberger

There is a good chance you are familiar with the work of Viking Label and Packaging in Nisswa and may not even know it. From food and beverages to health and beauty and automotive supplies, some of the labels on items you use every day may have come from the facility located right in the heart of lake country.

Viking Label & Packaging extends a sincere THANK YOU to each of our 51 fantastic employees!

PRODUCTION

Viking Label & Packaging extends a sincere THANK YOU to each of our 51 fantastic employees!

Your dedication and commitment to excellence is second to none!

Your dedication and commitment to excellence is second to none!

Far from the new kid on the block, the company was started in 1965 in the garage of the building in Nisswa that it is still in today. For over 50 years it has continued to thrive, creating labels for clients all over the United States and Canada.

We wish you and your families a safe and enjoyable Labor Day holiday!

Viking Label excels in meeting the challenges of demanding delivery schedules. We are able to manage these challenges through continued improvement initiatives, utilizing just-in-time suppliers, and implementing the Six Sigma methodology.

We wish you and your families a safe and enjoyable Labor Day holiday!

CAPABILITIES

• 4 Color Process

• 12 Color Capability

• Cold Foil Stamping

VSequential Numbering & Barcode

• Embossing

• Multi-Panel Booklets

• IRC Coupons

• Custom Die Cutting

• Backprinting

• Roll Form/ Sheet Form/ Fanfolded

• Shimmer

COATINGS:

• Aqueous or UV

• Adhesive Patterning

• Laminating

PRINTING METHODS:

• Flexography

• UV Flexography

• Digital

MATERIALS:

• Paper

• Prime Film

• Foil

• Tag

• Non PS

• Pressure Sensitive

Follow us on Instagram and Facebook!

The building looks quiet from the outside, but the exciting stuff is all happening on the inside. Besides labels, the company specializes in inserts, printed film, coupons and booklets. Using custom sizes and shapes, films or foils they can help determine the perfect way to show off any product.

Keeping up with industry advances Viking Label offers a digital print process which adds even more flexibility and quicker turnaround time to the already advanced capabilities offered with adhesives, coatings and decorative details. Flexibility, speed and customer satisfaction are key to the success of the little company with a far reach.

When selecting the label to showcase your product you will need someone familiar with design, someone to help you determine which materials will work best for the job and a customer service staff that can answer any questions along the way. You will stay connected with your project from beginning to end with one of the company’s experienced representatives.

The staff at Viking Label is filled with long-term employees made up of your friends and neighbors and that speaks volumes about the way the company values the people who work for them.

The work ethic of its staff, the superior product they turn out and a long-term relationship with its clients are the reasons for the success of Viking Label. No job is too big or too small and they will help ensure the final product is just the way you vision. Visit

good, a lot of support, too, so I’m happy.” That support encourages Sanchez to reciprocate, giving back to his community in return.

Yunior Sanchez rolls

left: A little taco truck sits on the counter at Sanchez Burrito in Little Falls. Burritos tend to be the biggest seller at the restaurant, but the menu extends beyond the establishment’s namesake to include items like quesadillas, tacos, nachos and burrito bowls as well.

CROSSLAKE

From Page 37

Squirrelly Mama and Lakes Central Insurance.

There’s just one vacant building after the business owners retired.

In the center of town square is a big park with a gazebo and picnic tables. Bands sponsored by the Crosslake Ideal Lions Club draw a crowd to the park on summer Saturday nights when they play in the gazebo, and merchants offer fun for kids during summer with Big Fun Tuesday activities in the park. You won’t lose track of time as a nostalgic

clock tower stands on one side of the street. Town square offers public restrooms.

A third phase is planned to be built, with some merchants hoping to bring distinctive shops and eateries to that part of Crosslake.

Squirrelly Mama

Much of the recent push for town square businesses to band together is credited to Jackie Spencer, who opened Squirrelly Mama a year ago and is passionate about bringing value to the community.

“She is every bit as squirrelly as her name,” said Melissa Krueger, who has owned Simply

FOR YOUR INFORMATION

Business: Squirrelly Mama

Number of employees: One plus owners Jackie and Steve Spencer.

Interesting fact: The store name “Squirrelly Mama” came about because Jackie Spencer’s life is defined by her three children, and a former boss called her “Squirrel” because she was always doing 100 things. Plus, “People want to see what it is so they come in,” she said. “If you talk to me for five minutes you’ll see why it depicts me.” She also designed her business logo that features a peony, her grandma’s favorite flower.

Rustic Floral Design for three years and caters to weddings, funerals, birthdays, anniversaries, dinner parties and all occasions. “She brought excitement. She motivates all of us to want to do all the things.”

Tim Valencia-Louden,

Quality Service and Products Since 1913

From Pole Barns to Custom Homes

THANK

who opened the health and wellness shop Patriot Lakes Nutrition in January — which he describes as a happy, healthy fast food restaurant alternative — calls Spencer a “firehouse.” He and others have a goal of driving traffic to town square and getting

the community more involved in the square.

“We’re actually still

back here and have so much to offer,” he said. Jackie and Steve Spen-

When Nels Simonson, grandfather of Richard Hobbs, owner of Simonson Lumber Companies, was 8 years old in the 1800s, his family moved across the world from Denmark to St. Paul.

Nels’ father worked on the railroad and when Nels was a child he went to work in the railroad house. The Simonsons’ house was heated by gas and one day, while Nels was not at home, there was an explosion. His whole family was killed, and he was left as an orphan at the age of 15.

Hobbs shared his family’s history of how Simonson Lumber Company started and how it got to where it is today - with six locations in Minnesota in the cities of Baxter, Crosslake, Miltona, St. Cloud, Hutchinson and Alexandria.

Hobbs said after the explosion, Nels got on a train and headed to a farm in northwestern Minnesota, looking for work. Nels started helping out on the farm and he also was a stagecoach driver for carrying mail, passengers and he traded hides, farm produce and other items.

With a horse-drawn wagon, a pile of logs, a shed and few acres of land - Nels incorporated the town known as Dresser Junction, Wisconsin, and started a sawmill, the Simonson Lumber website states. Dresser is near St. Croix Falls, Wisconsin.

Nels used a few friends to help him in the day-to-day running of the mill. It didn’t take Nels long to figure out a better way to keep track of sizes and quantities. He built a lumber barn which was a more efficient way to organize his business.

Nels decided that instead of just selling to lumber distributions, he would become a distributor. So his business evolved from a sawmill to a lumber yard in 1913. He moved the lumber business to St. Croix Falls, thus the creation of Simonson Lumber Companies.

The lumber business boomed and more companies were started. A company in St. Cloud was started in 1927 because of the railroad. Hobbs said his grandfather leased the St. Cloud property with a handshake from the time he moved his business there until 1980, when Simonson’s purchased the land outright.

Frank and Elizabeth Hobbs passed on the business to their three sons, including Richard Hobbs. Hobbs said his grandfather’s work ethic and the way he treated people carried down through the generations. “My grandfather believed in treating his people well,” said Hobbs, who started in the family business when he was 10. “We continue his legacy in the belief that you need to treat your employees well and then they’ll treat our customers well.”

Simonson Lumber was located on West Washington Street in Brainerd since January 1996. The business outgrew its site over the years and moved in August 2013 to Baxter. The lumber company is located on Independence Road, which is off Timberlane and Highway 210. It is located in the former Stock Lumber site and shares the building with Brock White.

Simonson Lumber ships products all over northern Minnesota. They have jobs in Hibbing, Bemidji, Grand Rapids, Duluth, Superior, Wisconsin, and also in North Dakota.

Nels Simonson, at 8 years old moved across the world from Denmark to St. Paul with his family

We are so often caught up in our destination that we forget to appreciate the journey, especially the goodness of the people we meet along the way”

Photos by Nancy Vogt / Echo Journal

At the center of Crosslake Town Square is a park area with a gazebo, shown in July 2022.

The Squirrelly Mama family includes, from left: Jackie and Steve Spencer, Autumn Anderson, and Brielle and Linkin Spencer.

cer moved to Crosslake in 2019 with their family. They were looking for office space for their property management company, Crosslake Vacations, when Jackie toured a space at Crosslake Town Square.

“I just wanted an office space to be able to work without being bothered and to meet customers,” she said. “And then at that moment, I fell in love with a very, very unique building, and the park outside and what I felt it could be for families.

“I squirreled,” she said, and Squirrelly Mama opened a year ago in that building, along with an office for Steve and Crosslake Vacations.

The family received a warm welcome from businesses and customers from Day One.

The family boutique with an emphasis on custom and funny gifts, along with home decor, is what Spencer calls “a place where there’s something for everyone and everyone is welcome.”

The building’s unique layout boasts two fireplaces and a play area for children, including two of the three Spencer kids — Linkin, 8, and Brielle, 4. They also have daughter Ceyauna, 21.

“My really big thing that I say all the time is ‘complement, not compete,’” Spencer said. “We’re here to complement the local businesses and the way things are done without competing with them or competing with the way things are done.”

She reiterates the importance of community.

“For me it was more about bringing the community together and adding value ver-

FOR YOUR INFORMATION

Business: Simply Rustic Floral Design Number of employees: One plus an independent contractor. Interesting fact: Owner Melissa Krueger had zero experience in floral design before she opened her store.

sus owning a store that is going to be retail all day, every day,” Spencer said. “That was never my mission. … For me, my heart is in the community portion of it, whether it’s chatting with my amazing customers or the paint nights, the craft days, the Big Fun Tuesdays that we’re bringing to the square. I like the

CROSSLAKE: PAGE 48

Thank You Employees

Pequot Lakes Super Valu: Good People Providing Good Food for Your Good Times

By Sue Smith-Grier

You can always tell when a business is under great leadership. It thrives and innovates and the customer base is constantly growing. Such is the case with Pequot Lakes Super Valu grocery store. After Corky LeDoux retired from the business in April of 2021, Daren Nordby assumed the helm and continues the store’s legacy of great customer service, fresh meats and produce provided in a welcoming and friendly atmosphere.

Friendly Service

At Super Valu, team members put a lot of effort into making sure customers have a clean, safe environment in which to do their grocery shopping. It all begins when they start sprucing up the store in the quiet hours of the morning so early birds can get their shopping in when the doors open at 7 a.m. and the store stays open until 10 p.m.

The store’s team members provide excellent customer service to all patrons. Expect friendly smiles and helpful hands. The value in shopping is not just the quality of the food, but also the quality of service.

For Your Convenience

Pequot Lakes Super Valu is also committed to making the shopping experience as convenient as possible. Shelves are kept clean and stocked. Customers will find fresh produce and meats as well as a deli that offers delicious prepared foods along with a wide variety of cold cuts and cheeses.

The bakery provides customers with tantalizing fresh baked goods including special order cakes and artisan breads. For special occasions, or to brighten someone’s day, check out the floral department. Customers can communicate their deepest feelings with an elegant bouquet from Super Valu.

For prescriptions, come to the Essentia pharmacy located inside. Have it filled while grocery shopping. It is all about making life more convenient.

Customers have a choice of traditional or self-checkout lines. This enables shoppers to have a streamlined checkout experience. Some customers prefer the no-contact convenience of self-checkout while others are partial to the more personal experience of traditional checkout. Whichever route is chosen, customer satisfaction is a priority.

For the ultimate in shopping convenience, Super Valu provides customers with online shopping. Norby said, “Customers can order their groceries online through our website and we do the shopping for them. They come to the store, and we bring their groceries out to them.” This is a great time-saver for busy individuals and families with tight schedules.

To access the online shopping, go to peqotlakessupervalu.com to find everything needed for a virtual trip to the grocery store. There is a direct connection to the pharmacy along with the link to the online shopping. The weekly ads show what’s new and what items are on sale. The Private Brands section includes the brands that can save shoppers money and some have links that go to the brand sites providing customers with more information and recipes.

Be sure to check out the Pump Perks section. In this day and age of high gas prices, customers will definitely want to save money on gasoline while also saving on groceries.

Pequot Lakes Super Valu owes its success to the many patrons, new and familiar faces, who depend on this store to provide the best in fresh meats and produce, convenience and customer service.

Businesses line a street in Crosslake Town Square, shown in July 2022.

Melissa Krueger arranges flowers at her store, Simply Rustic Floral Design, in Crosslake Town Square in July 2022.

where I would normally get most of that, but now they are out — the material shortages were far more challenging. We overcame it for the most part, but we had to be a little more creative. We had to plan further ahead and increase our inventory levels, because if we were used to being able to get a product four or five days a week and now it is going to be three weeks out, I am looking at stocking a three-week supply.”

A product shortage is perhaps manageable when one item is delayed, but during the pandemic, when one shortage was improving, another was around the corner.

“That was the worst of it,” Mattson Jr. said. “It was nails for six months, and now subfloor adhesive is the new thing that is tough to get. I had some ordered for a year ahead of when it came.”

This constant struggle to stock certain items, and the unpredictable nature of what will be available, has made for an increased workload for the Mattsons and their employees.

“A lot of contractors, builders and people here just get tired, because instead of making one phone call for a product, you’re making 10,” Mattson Jr. said. “There is no extra money in making 10 phone calls. It’s the same sale with 10 times the amount of work. … There is nothing we can do about it. We just overcome.”

Mattson Jr. believes the supply chain is getting better overall, but he fears it may be due to the housing market slowing down.

Of course, the shortages of the pandemic are not the first major chal-

lenge Mattson Lumber has faced since the 1980s. The recession that began in 2008 created plenty of issues for the industry at large, but it was nothing like the issues faced in 2022, Mattson Jr. said.

“That was different. Then, you were looking for sales, and you had to be creative to find sales.

In fact, in Crow Wing County then, there were a few more building supply dealers that are just not here anymore. It was a war of attrition. That is not the case now. Now, it’s finding people (to employ). We have some good, long-term people here, but I would still like one or two more.”

In the bad times of 2008 or 2020 or in good times, Mattson Lumber has been able to get by thanks in large part to the support of its regular customers.

“It means everything to us, even without the pandemic,” Mattson Jr. said. “We thrive on that. I would hate to have to go out and search for customers over and over again. … You get used to how somebody works, and you can anticipate what they want a little more. We like new customers too, but when you work with somebody for a few projects or a few years or 10 years, you get to know what they like and what they don’t.”

While he is unsure if the next generation of Mattsons will carry on the family business — and he is OK with them pursuing their own dreams — Mattson Jr. hopes to simply continue serving the lakes area to the best of his family’s abilities.

“I’m pretty comfortable where we’re at. We will not become the next Home Depot, and I have come to terms with that. Our goal is to do better, and I want to grow like everybody else does, and we will seek that out,” he said.

Mattson Lumber, on Highway 371, is open Monday through Friday from 7 a.m. to 5 p.m.

ADVERTORIAL Preserving a lifetime of sight for over 30 years

By Alyson Levig

Since its doors first opened in 1999, Midwest Family Eye Center has always prioritized its patients’ optimum eye health. The clinic’s founder, Dr. Jackie McCall, is a member of both the Minnesota Optometric and American Optometric Associations and personally offers over 35 years of experience in the profession along with a variety of eye care services. As a provider in the InfantSee program, Dr. McCall and her staff can also provide comprehensive eye exams to infants, expanding their expertise to all ages throughout the Brainerd lakes area.

Because of the company’s dedication to aiding in patient eye health, Dr. McCall has state-of-the-art equipment which helps her diagnose and manage a wide range of eye diseases such as glaucoma, macular degeneration and diabetic retinopathy. She also treats eye infections and injuries to the eye.

“I am very fortunate to have such skilled technicians and opticians on board with me,” McCall said. “It’s also wonderful to work so closely with people on a daily basis.”

Additionally, Midwest Family Eye Center stays ahead of evolving technology surrounding contact lenses to accommodate their patient’s lifestyle needs at reasonable prices. These contact services include daily disposables, contacts that correct astigmatism, multifocal, and many other hybrid lenses.

With friendly, knowledgeable staff and committed service, it’s no wonder why Midwest Family Eye Center has again won the Best of Brainerd Lakes Eye Care award. The honor has been granted to the company in 2018, 2021 and 2022 as well, which shows the Center’s priority to their patients’ eye health.

“The award is a huge vote of confidence and for the care received at Midwest Family Eye Center to myself and my staff,” Dr. McCall said.

“We feel humbled and thankful that we can be part of enhancing and protecting vision for life.”

With a sound foundation built in the heart of the Brainerd lakes area along with their dedication to personalized, comfortable care, Midwest Family Eye Center patients contain extensive confidence in the company’s goal of optimum eye health. Because of this, many patients and their families are lifelong, receiving care from Dr. McCall and her staff for over 35 years, while others who have moved out of the area — even out of state — will return for their regular appointments. This clientele confidence can also be seen through the many positive reviews and “would recommend” located on the website or Facebook page.

“I would personally like to thank my patients for their continued confidence,” Dr. McCall said. “And extend my welcome to any new patients.”

At Midwest Family Eye Center, patients are the focus. With a team of welltrained technicians, opticians and committed staff constantly providing outstanding service; patients can trust the provided treatments to preserve their vision for a lifetime of sight wherever the Brainerd lakes area — or life — takes them.

Dr. Jackie McCall

Photos by Dan Determan / Echo Journal

Above: Bill Mattson Jr. helps a customer in the shop at Mattson Lumber on Friday, July 15, 2022. Right: A wood sculpture of Bill Mattson Sr. stands outside the shop of Mattson Lumber.

Mid Minnesota Federal Credit

By Sara Schroeder

Personal Finance is currently not a required class to take to graduate high school in Minnesota, nor many other states. However, not having a solid foundation in money management is a detriment to our youth and society.

An article this spring in the Brainerd Dispatch pointed out, “Businesses have CFOs — Chief Financial Officers — but most of us are on our own when it comes to managing the cost of health care, using credit cards, doing taxes, buying a house or a car, planning for retirement and even having enough money on hand to buy groceries.”

Mid Minnesota Federal Credit Union (MMFCU) is working to equip youths and others with the financial knowledge they need to be successful. Providing financial education to dozens of area

high schools including a 5-week course at Staples High School, Brainerd Alternative Education Center classes each semester, Mad City Money exercise at McGregor High School this past May and a summer financial education series to youth at PORT group homes.

“When resources are tight in a school district, Mid Minnesota does this at no cost to us,” explains Jessica Haapajoki, administrator at the Brainerd Learning Center. “I think Mid Minnesota invests in their employees so their employees can invest in their communities.”

MMFCU’s focus on providing financial education is based on their mission to improve financial well being along with their values that include a Sense of Community. Jill Casper, the vice president of community engagement at MMFCU,

is at the head of instructing these classes as well as training others to deliver them too. Jill works closely with area teachers, so students can learn the importance of money management.

MMCU isn’t just a place to do banking; it’s a way to live your life to the fullest as they educate their members and the community.

SANCHEZ

From Page 43

“I like to be involved in the community, not just to have a business,” Sanchez said. “I want people to see me in different ways, too, not just, ‘Oh, I’m here (in the restaurant).’ I want to get respect too in the community.”

Sanchez Burrito was named the Judges Choice winner for the dance team’s taco challenge event.

A taco-shaped trophy commemorating the win sits in the restaurant, enticing customers to try Sanchez’s award-winning food.

“Everyone’s welcome to

CROSSLAKE

From Page 45

community part of it. I feel fulfilled when I feel like I’m adding value to life in Crosslake.”

Spencer’s goal remains to draw the community to town square through events, do-it-yourself craft nights and unique, custom and personalized retail items at her store, such as baskets for real estate agents to hand out when someone buys a house.

“Building those connections, not just selling a pair of pants,” she said.

Future of Crosslake

Town Square

Spencer relishes her role as cheerleader or team captain for Crosslake Town Square.

“I want to build something I can be proud of for my kids and add value to a community I love,” she said.

She sees Phase 3 — a third block of buildings — as another step focused on retail with a dream to see small shops and a coffee shop. She’d like to host a

FOR YOUR INFORMATION

Business: Sanchez Burrito. City: Little Falls.

Number of employees: Seven.

Interesting fact: Sanchez Burrito offers mushrooms to put in burritos, and they are a popular ingredient among the customers, according to owner Yunior Sanchez.

come in to give us a try,” he said, noting quality customer service and a welcoming atmosphere is his goal.

But if Sanchez isn’t behind the counter making the food or personally welcoming customers to his restaurant, he might just be in a corner booth, basking in the fruits of his labor.

“Sometimes I grab a cold beer, and I’m like, kind of thinking to myself, ‘Wow, look at what we’ve been

Kids Expo, similar to the Senior Expo in Crosslake but for youth.

She envisions The Legacy Gardens of Crosslake Town Square as a destination of its own with a play area and water element for kids, again not competing with amenities already offered in other parts of Crosslake.

The gardens are in the design stage in memory of Christine Sesin, the late daughter of Jim and the late Linnea Anderson, who are among the founders of Crosslake Town Square. Spencer calls town square a hidden gem that’s making huge strides toward filling its great potential to add vast value to the community.

“We’re working hard to make it what it was always intended to be,” she said.

“I’m excited to know where we’re headed.”

Others agree with her that Crosslake Town Square has a family of merchants who support each other.

“Crosslake really, in general, works together and that’s what makes Crosslake so special,” Funk said Nancy Vogt, Echo Journal editor, may be reached at 218-855-5877 or nancy. vogt@pineandlakes.com. Follow her on Facebook and on Twitter at www. twitter.com/@PEJ_Nancy.

doing,’” he said. “So, it gets me excited.’”

Excited at attaining his American Dream, excited to help support his mom back home in Honduras, and excited to keep serving his burritos and quesadillas to the Little Falls Community that embraced Sanchez as one of their own.

Theresa Bourke may be reached at theresa.bourke@brainerddispatch. com or 218-855-5860. Follow her on Twitter at www.twitter.com/ DispatchTheresa.

Nancy Vogt / Echo Journal

Catharine Funk stands in her store, Encompassing Beauty, in Crosslake Town Square in August 2022.

FOR YOUR INFORMATION

Business: Encompassing Beauty.

Number of employees: Five.

Interesting fact: Owner Catharine Funk was one of the top five people to do permanent makeup in Minnesota.

Contributed

Tim Valencia-Louden owns Patriot Lakes Nutrition in Crosslake Town Square.

FOR YOUR INFORMATION

Business: Patriot Lakes Nutrition

Number of employees: One.

Interesting fact: His business name stems from being the USA Patriots in high school, as well as having the Patriots at the Pequot Lakes School District.

ADVERTORIAL

Clow Stamping Company: Over 50 years of doing it right the first time

By Sara Schroeder

Clow Stamping stands for quality on-time delivery and pride in their high-quality craftsmanship. Through cutting edge technology, years of experience and hard work they do it right, the first time. Clow Stamping Company is a top provider and industry leader in full-service stamping and fabrication of metal components. Having a stellar focus on quality and customer care is one of the largest reasons they have experienced so much growth.

The best products, workers and customer service brings them to the top of their game, every time.

As a metal stamping company, they continually strive for perfection and provide constant communication through production, keeping the client informed every step of the way.

They maintain a high standard of integrity with all fellow workers, peers, as well as their customers and suppliers. One way they continue to do this is through their teamwork of co-workers, customers, and suppliers. Making everyone responsible for a job well done, while respecting one another along the way.

Clow Stamping workers at all levels are striving daily to improve processes and themselves, making sure they keep their personal goals and the organization’s goals aligned. The company firmly believes every problem can be solved and the best solution is the one that is cost-effective and safe using simple changes to procedures and processes as well as technology.

Clow Stamping started operations in the metal stamping industry in 1970. What began as a family business has grown into a professional leader in the stamping industry, flourishing over the last four decades due to working with their customers to provide the solutions to their challenges, whether they be in design, manufacturing or shipping. They are always striving for perfection.

Today, they continue to operate with a singular dedication to their customers and employees. As a family-owned business, they believe in traditional values, ethical behavior, respect for people, pride in craftsmanship and cutting-edge technology.

Kelly Humphrey / Brainerd Dispatch Sanchez Burrito, owned by Yunior Sanchez, opened in October 2018 in Little Falls.