LET’S PLAY HOCKEY If you’re looking for good people and good times, look no further than adult league hockey
All aboard the
‘BANDWAGON’
Your beginner’s guide to
ICE FISHING
Trekking through the snow with
SCOTT KUDELKA
JANUARY 2018
The Free Press MEDIA
$2.95
Wedding Planner 885 E. Madison Ave Mankato www.hilltopflorist.com Behind the Lens Photography
Golf Course & Banquet Facility Because without a travel agent, you’re on your own.®
Reserve Your Date Today! Reserve Your 507Date947-3355 Today!
507-Scenic 947-3355 IntimateOverlooking Reception Area,Scenic Overlooking Golf Course Golf Course Intimate Reception Area, Scenic Course Complete Clubhouse remodel forGolf 2018 OpenOverlooking Year-Round Intimate Reception Area
Golf Course & Banquet Facility
Open Year-Round
Please contact us about our special savings and inclusions for your honeymoon or destination wedding.
Madison East Center, Suite 604 Mankato MN 56001 507-345-8797
FORYOUR YOUR... FOR ...
FOR YOUR . . . Wedding Receptions Receptions Wedding Receptions •••Wedding Groom's Dinners Dinners •••Groom’s Groom’s Dinners • Showers • Showers Showers GiftOpenings Openings •••Gift
• Gift Openings
WE OFFER...
WE OFFER OFFER .. .. .. WE
• Full dinner and bar service •• Full Full dinner dinner and and bar bar service service • Seating for up to 200 • Seating up Seating for for up toto 200 200 • •In-House Chef • In-House Chef • •Outdoor In-HouseWedding Chef Ceremonies
• Outdoor Wedding Ceremonies
• Outdoor Wedding Ceremonies www.northlinksgolf.com
www.northlinksgolf.com
Jake Palmer’s Party Sound
E X P E R T S T A F F. Q UA L I T Y I N V E N T O RY.
More than just great music...
Fun
Affordable
Professional
507-327-8311
www.Partysoundpro.com
Classic Elegant Modern Appeal
From the breathtaking view to the outstanding food, All of the Essentials to Make Your Event One to Remember! Visit our Mankato showroom at 1521 Madison Ave.
(507) 625-3238 • gkrental.com
We Offer: • Ceremony and Reception Venue • From small and intimate to larger receptions • Gourmet Chef • Planning Meetings provided at no additional cost • Beautiful Atmosphere with Scenic Views • Professional Bartenders & Wait Staff • And many more services and amenities for your event
Your Day will be Flawless!
100 Augusta Drive | Mankato, MN 56001 | 507-387-5676
Mr. & Mrs. Indian Island Winery offers a beautiful facility and location for your special occasion! Small Intimate Weddings Perfect for Bridal Showers, Bridal & Bachelorette Parties!
F R O M S I M P L E TO S I M P LY E L E G A N T.
JANESVILLE, MN
w w w. d r u m m e r s g a r d e n c e n t e r. c o m 2 8 1 S A I N T A N D R E W S D R . • M A N K ATO • 5 0 7 - 3 8 8 - 4 8 7 7
FROM MANKATO: HWY 14E TO SMITH’S MILL, RIGHT ON CTY. RD. 37 FOR 5 MILES FOR MORE INFORMATION PLEASE CALL 507-317-7914 WWW.INDIANISLANDWINERY.COM MANKATO MAGAZINE • JANUARY 2018 • 1
for weddings as nature intended
Linnaeus Arboretum gustavus adolphus College St. peter, Minnesota
CHARTER ONE OF OUR VANS
Large or small ceremonies. Intimate dinners and receptions. arboretum@gustavus.edu 507-933-6181
For Your Special Day!!
Photo by Linda Albrecht
Saint Peter & Mankato • Comfortably Seats 12 • Reclining Leather Seats • Free WiFi • Remote Controlled Stereo
a price Call for te! quo Make your Wedding, Bachelor and/or Bachelorette party UNFORGETTABLE!! Visit landtoairexpress.com or Call 507-625-3977 2 • JANUARY 2018 • MANKATO MAGAZINE
find her.
tell her.
keep her.
ENGAGEMENT SPECIALIST . CUSTOM DESIGN STUDIO . CERTIFIED WORLDWIDE DIAMOND IMPORTER
F EATUR ES JANAURY 2018 Volume 13, Issue 1
16
Circling the wagons
Bandwagon is one of the longest-running, locally produced television shows in the country. This month, we pull back the curtain a bit to see how the magic happens.
20
Let’s play hockey!
In the state of hockey, you can find folks of all ages lacing up their skates and hitting the rinks.
28
Ice Fishing
Winter is here. If you’ve never braved the frozen lakes in search of fresh fish, now’s your time to give it a try.
ABOUT THE COVER Our cover model this month is Katie Paulson, a young goaltender who regularly fills in for adult women’s league games. She was photographed by Jackson Forderer. MANKATO MAGAZINE • JANUARY 2018 • 3
DEPARTMENTS 6 From the Editor 8 This Day in History 9 The Gallery
9
Greg Wilkins
10 Beyond the Margin January woods hold promise 12 Familiar Faces Scott Kudelka 14 Day Trip Destinations
Lutsen
26 Then & Now Blizzard of 1975 31 Food, Drink & Dine 32 Food
10
Small bites
34 Wine
On being a somm
35 Beer Wee heavy 36 Happy Hour
Brandy
38 That’s Life Best of both worlds
32
36
40 Garden Chat New Year’s resolutions 42 Your Style Slow clap for the MinneSkirt 44 Coming Attractions 45 Faces & Places 48 From This Valley To those we lost ...
Coming in February
38 4 • JANUARY 2018 • MANKATO MAGAZINE
42
We touch base with some of the social media gurus in town.
Speaking of Health:
Kick Addictions
Mayo Clinic Health System is proud to support health and wellness in our community.
Kicking bad habits is difficult, but doing so can help strengthen relationships, boost your physical health and give you the confidence to improve your wellbeing. Addictions come in many forms — tobacco, substances, food, soda and even digital devices — and should be addressed in a way that works for you.
Grace Fjeldberg, a Mayo Clinic Health System registered dietitian, is committed to helping patients adopt healthy behaviors.
Start the year by establishing family rules around screen time, which includes adults. Put away devices during meals, and take technology breaks. Play a game, get outside and keep devices out of rooms where sleep can be interrupted. — Adam Anderson, Ph.D, Behavioral Health, Mayo Clinic Health System
Take the next step Start small. If you’re looking for an easy, free, climate-controlled way to jump start a health routine, check out the Mayo Clinic Mile at River Hills Mall. Set a goal. Register early for one of the events during the Mankato Marathon. Events range from My Bold Walk, designed especially for those with chronic conditions, all the way to the full marathon. Learn more. If you or someone you know has lingering health concerns, attend a free information session to determine if this is the right year for bariatric surgery, or to address ongoing knee or hip pain. Get support. Support groups provide preventive and ongoing care for patients and their families. Topics include breast-feeding, stroke, grief and more.
For more information, visit mayoclinichealthsystem.org and click on “Classes and Events”.
mayoclinichealthsystem.org
MANKATO MAGAZINE • JANUARY 2018 • 5
» G R E AT G OL F,
great meetings.
GOLF DIGEST EXECUTIVES KNOW GREAT GOLF and have named Renaissance Ross Bridge Golf Resort
»» Play where the champions play
& Spa and Auburn Marriott Opelika Hotel at Grand National two of their newest Editors' Choice Winners, along
on Alabama's Robert Trent Jones
with Pebble Beach, The Greenbrier, Pinehurst and 65 other North American locations. When you need to step
Golf Trail. To book your next outing,
away from the office for a great golf getaway or an off-site meeting, plan your visit to Alabama’s Robert Trent Jones Golf Trail. The best part about the Trail is you don’t have to break the bank to play world-class golf. »»
call 800.949.4444 today and visit rtjgolf.com to learn more.
MANKATO MAGAZINE • JANUARY 2018 • 7
This Day in history By Jean Lundquist
Monday, Jan. 13, 1958 Car takes a swim in the lake It was either sink or swim for Louis Birr of Kasota, a rural youth whose car went down in Lake Washington Sunday, so he swam. He is the son of Mr. and Mrs. H.H. Birr of Kasota. He was travelling on the ice near open water, observers reported, when the ice beneath his car gave away. A younger brother riding with Birr went out his door onto solid ice immediately. Birr, however, climbed to the roof of his car as it sank slowly. He stayed with it until he was in waist deep water, then swam a short distance to solid ice. The car sat in 15 feet of water near the “narrows.” Kost towing company of Mankato was called to retrieve the car from the deeps. Old timers say there are springs in the area, and with the warm weather, the ice was weak there.
Corporate Graphics is a full-service commercial printer and book manufacturer. Children’s Books, Coffee Table Books, Brochures, Annual Reports, Catalogs, Magazines, Posters, Yearbooks, and MORE!
1750 Northway Drive • North Mankato, MN 56003 www.corpgraph.com
800-729-7575
Friday, Jan. 8, 1965 Former Madelia woman leaves vast fortune Distribution of a vast fortune, totaling upwards of $250,000, goes to health and educational institutions under terms of the will of a Madelia spinster that was announced this week. Beneficiaries of the late Miss Helen Gjertsen include Luther Memorial Home, Community Hospital and the school district at Madelia, and also the University of Minnesota. Miss Gjertsen, a one-time dressmaker, died in 1962 at the age of 95. She left her estate to aid the poor, old and sick, the crippled children of needy families, and to assist students from needy families. Each of the beneficiaries also receive a share of mineral rights owned by Miss Gjertsen on 640 acres in North Dakota. The value is not announced, but assumed to be very valuable. Friday, Jan. 7, 1972 Local book listings compiled by Readmore Bookstore based on sales Hardcover best sellers • “Wunnerful, Wunnerful,” by Lawrence Welk • “Bury My Heart at Wounded Knee,” by Dee Brown • “Winds of War,“ by Herman Wouk • “Honor Thy Father,” by Gay Talese Paperback best sellers: • “Steal This Book,” by Abbie Hoffman • “Future Shock”, by Alvin Toffler Monday, Jan. 2, 1905 John Born’s narrow escape; Packer at mill gets too close to revolving shaft John C. Born, a packer at the Hubbard mill, had a very narrow escape from serious injury or death while at work in the mill last Saturday afternoon. Born was standing on a step ladder near a revolving shaft when some screws in the shaft caught in his clothing and drew him from the ladder. The revolving shaft tore clothing from his body. There’s no telling what might have happened had not the man thrown against the hanger and dislodged the belt, thus bringing the shaft to a stop. Born fell into the flour. He’s somewhat bruised, but not seriously injured. Friday, Jan. 13, 1933 Mankato man speaker at fair meeting “Thanks to county fairs, 4H clubs, better schools and the radio, farm girls and boys today have opportunities today for self-development equal to those endured by young people in the cities,” E.U. Berdahl told members of the Minnesota Association of County Fairs at their convention in Minneapolis. “If there once seemed to be more advantages for young folks in towns and cities than on farms, county fairs and junior clubs have created a condition that completely reverses our comparative thinking,” Mr. Berdahl said. “Today there is no lurking desire to get away from the farm to seek fancy opportunities elsewhere.
The Gallery: Greg Wilkins Story by Leticia Gonzales
From adversity, beauty Greg Wilkins overcame bullies and teachers who didn’t understand him
W
hether it was learning to crochet at the age of eight, or building scenery, writing scripts and creating masks and costumes for the Young People’s Theatre as a 9-year-old in Eustis, Florida, 50-year-old Mankato resident Gregory Wilkins begin using art to uplift others early in his youth. “Growing up in a multinational and multilingual home, I was different from most and faced with adversity,” said Wilkins, associate director of Minnesota State University’s Centennial Student Union and Student Activities. “My local community did not understand my global perspective, what it meant to be a queer kid, and my love of all things different. This empowered me to be an advocate for change. Rather than allowing others to stunt my passion, my wings were unfurled. I found myself through my art, my authentic self — peculiar and unique.” Despite being teased in the fourth grade for teaching his peers how to crochet, a skill Wilkins said his teachers felt was not for boys, Wilkins went on to perform “Somewhere Over the Rainbow” in female drag. “My choice of attire and performance spun out of control when I was chastised by my teachers and schoolmates,” he shared. “Overnight, my life went spiraling into chaos. It was at this juncture that I began to get picked-on, bullied, name called, and beaten up. There was no one to protect me.” With encouragement from his mother, Wilkins said he was able to realize the talents he was given and not hide them from the rest of the world. “Art, both visual and performing, was a way to express myself,” he added. “I was free to be, or do, or wear, anything or anywhere my imagination would lead; nothing could bar or bind me into being mundane. Life was limitless. It was then and there I decided I was not going to live a life of woulda, shoulda, coulda. Life was about living and living fully — to be passionful not passionless, mindful not mindless.” As a self-taught artist, Wilkins dabbled in a variety of crafts, including needlepoint, cross-stitch, painting, building with clay and wood, storytelling, creating tree forts and underground tunnels from scraps of trash, and more drag.
“Creation was about exploration; learning by doing,” said Wilkins. A lot of that exploring involved visiting countless galleries and museums and engaging with the people throughout all 50 states as well as more than 35 countries around the world, which is reflected in his art. “It resonates through color, texture, images, and titles,” expressed Wilkins. “I cannot escape it. It is part of me — stories of hardship, community celebrations, birth, death, marriage, or even the depths of a cave system, the powerful energy of a rainforest, the glow of a volcano, the song of bellbirds in the forest, the cultural songs of love and despair, or the vastness of a desert.” Wilkins’ work will be displayed at the Prairie Lakes Artist Grant Exhibition at Ylvisaker Fine Arts Center at Bethany Lutheran College in Mankato Jan. 8 to Feb. 12, with an opening reception 1-5 p.m. Jan. 14. His solo exhibition will be showcased Jan. 16-Feb. 16 at the Waseca Arts Center, with an opening reception 5-8 p.m. Jan. 19.
MANKATO MAGAZINE • JANUARY 2018 • 9
10 • JANUARY 2018 • MANKATO MAGAZINE
Familiar Faces: Scott Kudelka By Amanda Dyslin
No such thing as the winter blues at Minneopa Naturalist a lover of the cold months, offers programming for like-minded enthusiasts Photos by Pat Christman
S
cott Kudelka’s love of the great outdoors began while growing up in southeast North Dakota, surrounded by the beauty of nature. A career spent in parks emerged from there, including working as a park ranger for the North Dakota Parks and Recreation Department, at the Water Resource Center at Minnesota State University, and ending up the last five years as the Minneopa Area Naturalist in Mankato. Since May of 2012, Kudelka has worked to beef up
12 • JANUARY 2018 • MANKATO MAGAZINE
programming at Minneopa, as well as Flandrau and Fort Ridgely state parks, for which he is also responsible. And that programming doesn’t end when the cold months befall us. A lover of winter, some of Kudelka’s favorite times out on the Minneopa trails are when a blanket of snow has covered the ground and he can see his breath in front of his face. By offering wintertime group activities, he hopes more people discover the wintertime warrior in their hearts as well.
Mankato Magazine: When you started work with the Department of Natural Resources, what kinds of programming did you want to increase at the parks? Scott Kudelka: One of my major focuses is to get people on the rivers paddling. As an area naturalist, I am responsible for three parks: Minneopa, Flandrau and Fort Ridgely. So I do a lot of programs on the Minnesota River and its tributaries. I really wanted to get people outside where they are experiencing it without modern technology — the paddles, the hikes, we do cross-country skiing at Flandrau, snowshoeing — just immersing them into the outdoors. One of my favorite places to go is Swan Lake. It’s 10,000 acres, and you hardly ever see a soul there. I wanted to show what nature and the environment can provide for people.
MM: What are some activities planned for Minneopa in January? SK: If you go to dnr.state.mn.us/state_parks/ minneopa, all events for January and February are listed. The New Year’s Day hike is a really popular one. I think last year 60 people were there. The main purpose is to get people on the right footing for the new year and exercise, but I like to talk about the natural environment around us, too.
Here are details on several January events at Minneopa: First Day Hike, 10-11 a.m. Jan. 1, 2018 Snowshoe Adventure Hike, 1-2 p.m. Jan. 13, 2018 Winter Fest, 5-8 p.m. Jan. 27, 2018
MM: Where do you get inspired for ideas for special events to offer? SK: One is just my background, including working at the (Water Resource Center). The other one really comes from the Friends of Minneopa group, building off of what they were doing before I arrived. MM: In the winter, many folks rule out outdoor activities. What is special about the park during the cold months that might encourage people to bundle up and head out there? SK: I think one is the beauty, especially at Minneopa. The waterfalls are such an attraction, which of course is why the park was established. And when it freezes and turns to ice, a lot of people want to come out and see that. Then there are the bison, which shrug (the cold) off like it’s nothing. They were born to live in extreme conditions. There’s also a lot of deer that come through. We see coyotes here and there. Wildlife viewing is a great activity, especially in the winter if you like to follow tracks. MM: What are some outdoor activities that you personally enjoy in winter? SK: Number one is cross-country skiing. Winter is my favorite season. I love the cold. I hate heat. I do not do well. Cross-country skiing, I’ve been doing that for years, and then snowshoeing. Just being outside tramping through the woods of the prairie. MM: When you’re not working, where else do you like to visit? SK: There’s just a lot of places. I’ve been taking groups to Seven Mile Creek. It’s a really protected place. And Swan Lake, of course. And really just paddling any of the rivers. I’ve paddled most of the Minnesota River and all its tributaries. MM: What is something people might be surprised to learn about you? SK: The biggest surprise for people is that I served in the U.S. Army, the North Dakota National Guard, actually, for six years (1981-1987).
Name:
Scott Kudelka
Age: 53 Job title: Minneopa Area Naturalist City of residence: Skyline Family: Partner, Angie Becker Kudelka MANKATO MAGAZINE • JANUARY 2018 • 13
Day Trip Destinations: Minnesota Slopes By James Figy
Lutsen Mountains offers nearly 100 runs and a 1,000 foot vertical along the North Shore. Photos courtesy of Explore Minnesota.
It’s all downhill ‘Minnesota Slopes’ promises fun at ski areas statewide
I
f there’s one thing true about Minnesotans, it’s that we’re not afraid of a little snow. “Most Minnesota residents, we’re here because we love the four seasons,” said Explore Minnesota spokesperson Alyssa Hayes. “It’s really a four-season state, and a true Minnesotan is going to get out there and embrace whatever weather comes our way.” To help residents enjoy the weather this winter, Explore Minnesota and the Minnesota Ski Areas Association are teaming up again for Minnesota Slopes. This initiative offers information about the 17 ski destinations across the
14 • JANUARY 2018 • MANKATO MAGAZINE
state’s five distinct travel areas, and it also runs a sweepstakes to encourage residents and visitors to hit the hills. “Every pocket of the state has a ski area, so really you can go anywhere throughout the state to find some ski area fun,” Hayes said. The sweepstakes runs until Jan. 28, and the details about prizes and how to register are available on the Minnesota Slopes website. “Folks who sign up have a chance at great prizes, such as lift tickets, rentals and getaway packages,” Hayes said. On top of downhill skiing, most
ski areas offer lessons, snowboarding and tubing so that there’s something for people of all ages and skill levels. “A lot of the areas across the state are going to offer thrills for novices and people who are maybe just trying skiing for the first time,” Hayes said. Each ski area across the state has something unique to experience. Lutsen Mountains boasts nearly 100 runs and a 1,000-foot vertical across four mountains near the North Shore. Buena Vista Ski Area in Bemidji offers 16 runs, one of which extends out 2,000 feet. Andes Tower Hills in Kensington has 15 runs along with tubing and
cross-country skiing trails. Besides those, there’s Afton Alps in Hastings, Buck Hill in Burnsville, Chester Bowl and Spirit Mountain in Duluth, Coffee Mill Ski Area in Wabasha, Detroit Mountain Recreation Area in Detroit Lakes, Elm Creek Winter Recreation Area in Maple Grove, Giants Ridge in Biwabik, Hyland Hills Ski Area in Bloomington, Mount Itasca in Coleraine, Mount Ski Gull in Nisswa, Powder Ridge in Kimball, Welch Village in Welch and Wild Mountain in Taylors Falls. Of course, Mount Kato has 19 runs here in the Minnesota River Valley. However, visiting other ski areas across the state is about much more than the outdoor sports. It’s about seeing all the great scenery and attractions the state has to offer with friends and family. Hayes said that near each ski area are restaurants, fun places to stay, shopping, breweries and winter festivals. Staying in the state to ski can provide families with an affordable vacation. But engaging in winter sports in Minnesota combined with eating and shopping at area businesses also pumps money into the local economy. Winter travel comprises 24 percent of the state’s $14.4 billion tourism industry, Hayes said. Explore Minnesota aims to draw
visitors who live outside the state as well. Whether in the winter or the warmer months, there’s plenty to do, according to Hayes. “We also have a statewide travel campaign, #OnlyinMN,” she said. “It’s a very successful campaign in sharing all the unique experiences that can be found in our state.”
GO IF YOU
dream big. We are there for you, every step of the way. PASSION. INSTINCT. DRIVE IT’S WHAT SEPARATES US FROM THE PACK.
Minnesota Slopes
Where: 17 ski areas across the state Visit exploreminnesota.com/slopes for more information
/COMMERCIAL TO THE CORE/ CBCFISHERGROUP.COM
MANKATO MAGAZINE • JANUARY 2018 • 15
60
YEARS OF OOMPAH-PAH KEYC’s ‘Bandwagon’ lets dancers — and viewers — step back in time By Robb Murray | Photos by Pat Christman
16 • JANUARY 2018 • MANKATO MAGAZINE
‘Bandwagon’ began more than 60 years ago as a way to promote the newly launched KEYC-TV.
O
n a cool November night, the neon letters of the Kato Ballroom sign glow warm in the evening sky. A few falling snowflakes dance around the doorway. Folks hustle inside. It’s polka night at the Kato, the night KEYC records episodes for the next few weeks of its iconic, and increasingly popular, “Bandwagon” program. A hand-written sign on the wall says admission is $8, and by the time the music starts, a few hundred souls who plunked down eight bucks will populate the Kato’s polished dance floor, two by two. Super dancers Laura Malek and Steve Weber will have
all eyes on them as they toss and twirl each other like a pair of teenagers. Carol and Marlon Portner will have their eyes on each other — the love birds met here many years ago … and the romance hasn’t died. Kathy Pohlen’s eyes will be peering through camera lenses and keeping an eye on her assistants. Rick Keane’s eyes will be on his sheet music, although the master trumpet player probably doesn’t need it — he can likely play most of these polkas by heart. And Tania Cordes’ eyes will be everywhere, keeping watch over the food, the bar, the stage, the guests; as owner of the Kato, she keeps her eyes on everything. Overhead, several sections of sheer fabric accented with white lights gently bow over the dance floor. Bartenders pour beers and Cokes and collect $6 for beef commercials. Old friends exchange hugs and handshakes while band members organize yellowed sheets of music, getting ready for a night of oompah-pah. Are you ready to dance? The show’s about to begin.
THROWBACK
Kathy Pohlen fiddles with a few wires and consults with a camera operator. “We’re having technical difficulties,” she says. “Technical difficulties that seem to happen
every time.” Not that it’s a problem. While Pohlen says the “Bandwagon” staff gets the newsrooms handme-downs — which includes cameras that still record on tape — Pohlen’s 20-plus years of experience are more than enough to handle any problems that arise. She’s a part of the great tradition that has kept this show running since the mid-1900s. “Bandwagon” began in 1960, and was launched to help promote the launch of KEYC itself. It’s often said of the show that it’s “quite possibly” the longest-running television show in the country (if not the world.) In any case, Bandwagon has been around forever, and its history in southern Minnesota is strong. In the early days, it was sponsored by John Deere, and later Randall’s (the supermarket that used to stand roughly where Cub Foods is today.) The original host was Earl Lamont, who gave way quickly to Chuck Pasek. Pasek ruled the Bandwagon airwaves from 1961 to 1995. Dick Ginn hosted alongside Pasek for several years as well. Tom Goetzinger took his turn. Today, Cordes hosts the program. Through the years, the format remained the same: polka music, people dancing, cameras rolling. Watching it today is like looking back in time to simpler days, MANKATO MAGAZINE • JANUARY 2018 • 17
A band member sifts through some well-worn polka sheet music before the opening song. days when real men and women playing real musical instruments performed real songs, and couples dressed up in their good clothes for a night of fun. The television cameras, it seems, is beside the point … yet, is the point. Without them, this thing wouldn’t exist. In fact, it almost stopped existing a few years ago. Without sponsors and with ratings falling, KEYC nearly killed the program. Instead, it cut back on tapings to every other month instead of every month. Also, to stop the financial bleeding — the show had been losing money — Cordes decided to start charging for admission. And a funny thing happened. More people started coming. And the ratings, somehow, started going up. “We did a survey,” Cordes says. “We asked people if they’d pay, and what bands would they want to see.” People said they’d pay. And when she started charging for admission, nobody, not even the regulars, seemed to mind. “In fact, more people came,” 18 • JANUARY 2018 • MANKATO MAGAZINE
she said. In 2014, “Bandwagon” had a 4 percent audience share. In 2016, that number had jumped to 16 percent.
FLOATING ON AIR
Remember that scene from “Grease,” at the high school dance, where all eyes are on Danny and Sandra (and later Danny and Cha Cha after she cleverly steals Danny away)? Laura Malek and Steve Weber are the Danny and Sandra/Cha Cha of “Bandwagon.” They don’t just dance. They are dance. They look like they could transition from polka to swing to tango at the drop of Weber’s cowboy hat. Every movement is smooth and effortless, like they’re floating on air. “We met here,” Malek says. “And we’ve been dancing ever since.” They’ve also been a couple ever since. Weber, from St. Peter, says he’s been dancing since he was a kid. Took lessons as a youngster. Malek, from Duncan, Iowa, says the pair has been dancing at
ballrooms around the region since they met at a taping of “Bandwagon” several years ago. They love coming here, she says, because of the atmosphere. “The people are here to dance,” she says. “At a bar, people are walking around on the dance floor with drinks in their hands. You’d never see that here.”
SO MINNESOTA
Every other month, “Bandwagon” night is an event. And no southern Minnesota event would be complete without large quantities of steaming food. Before the music starts, people wait in line for their turn to fill their plates with scoops of tasty spaghetti out of stainless steel vats. Others grab slices of white bread for pulled chicken sandwiches, accompanied by mashed potatoes and corn. And no one skips those triangle cuts of cheesecake. (Don’t forget a napkin; there’s a pile of ‘em tucked neatly inside a wicker basket.) “I want people to feel comfortable here,” Cordes says. “I want them to feel welcomed.”
Seems they do. A man, having just procured a pair of whisky drinks from the bar, is beckoned to a table other than the one his partner is sitting at. “You’re bringing those drinks to the wrong table!” a woman beckons as he walks by. “You should be bringing them here!” The man looks over, smirks knowingly, but never breaks stride. At his table, a smiling woman had been watching the exchange. On stage, Cordes announces the first song: “The Minnesota Polka.”
ROLL OUT THE BARRELL
Few people have seen as much “Bandwagon” as Rick Keane. He plays trumpet for Ray Sands and the Polka Dots, and he’s been blowing his horn at “Bandwagon” tapings for about 45 years. “When I started, I couldn’t drive,” he says, laughing. “I had to be picked up.” He loves it here. He says coming here gives him chance to see and catch up with old friends. It’s also a chance to play the music he loves. “It’s the music we grew up with,” he says. “We all do it because we like to play.” At the rear of the band, a woman emerges, walking gingerly. She sits, smiles, and tells the story of how, if you think she’s walking gingerly now, you should have seen her in June. While dealing with sepsis, she had two heart attacks. Two. In 2003, she had kidney and pancreas transplants. She’s also diabetic. She grew up on a dairy farm near Kenyon, and taught music at Kenyon-Wanamingo High School. She plays saxophone in the band, and has even written some polkas, and as she’s about to get into the rigors of growing up on a dairy farm — an unrelenting task with cows that refuse to stop making milk — she’s summoned. “We’re gonna get going in a minute, here,” Keane says to Sands as the band members return to the seats and organize their sheet music. “OK, OK,” she says, “I’m coming.”
At top: Kathy Pohlen makes some final adjustments to the sound equipment. Below: Dancers are what ‘Bandwagon’ is all about.
CUPID POLKA
For Carol and Marlin Portner, the Kato Ballroom and “Bandwagon” are special. “We me here,” Carol says, loudly — because the band is really kicking out the polkas — as she points across the room, “right at that table over there.” She came with a date. He came with a date. And those two dates, well, hooked up. That left Carol and Marlin dateless. So they danced together … and enjoyed each other’s company. They thought about each other, wondered if they’d ever meet again. A few weeks later, on Valentine’s Day, the wondering ended.
“I tapped him on the shoulder, he turned around and I said, ‘Will you dance with me?’” Carol recalled. “And the smile I got was the nicest smile I’ve ever seen.” It was dark in the Ballroom as Carol recalled that day, but it’s possible that, as she told that story — and the two recalled the genesis of their marriage, and as dancers floated across the floor and trumpet players belted out polka melodies and “Bandwagon” guests enjoyed rum and Cokes and soaked up the nostalgia dripping from Kato Ballroom walls — that Marlin’s eyes may have dampened. Just a bit. MM
MANKATO MAGAZINE • JANUARY 2018 • 19
John Selly puts his goalie helmet back on during a brief intermission between periods during a C league hockey game at All Seasons Arena. The C league is one of many adult hockey opportunities for Mankatoans
Let’s … play … hockey!
Adult leagues contribute to state’s hockey identity
M
By Brian Arola | Photos by Jackson Forderer
innesota is the State of Hockey for a reason. Plenty of states boast an NHL franchise or have one or more college teams. Minnesota has that and much more, from the annual spectacle of the high school state tournament to the homemade rinks assembled in backyards across the state.
20 • JANUARY 2018 • MANKATO MAGAZINE
Within this hockey ecosystem, there’s a largely overlooked class of players: the adult hockey leaguers. The leagues aren’t just a bunch of geezers trying to recapture their high school glory. Leagues come in all shapes and sizes. There are church leagues and beer leagues,
Dan Kvasnicka skates back to the bench after his shift. leagues for benders and beauties, leagues as competitive as game seven of the Stanley Cup or as leisurely as an open skate. If adult league play were a hockey player, it’d be a solid contributor — a “grinder” maybe — to the fabric of Minnesota’s hockey identity. It’s what turns the sport into a lifetime activity. Realistically, any good Minnesotan could grow up with the game and keep playing until they’re physically unable to climb over the boards. Many people do just that in Mankato and across the state. Few if any other states can say the same. Mention adult hockey leagues and you might think it’s a bunch of old guys ambling around the ice. Not the case. Many women play too. Jokes aside, as Mankato becomes more of a hockey town, league play exists as an important cog in its wheel of progress. Whether you were the Zach Parise of your high school team or want to learn the sport your kid is obsessed with, you can likely find opportunities to play. Let’s start at the top.
‘A’ game
All Seasons Arena organizes A and B leagues for people over 18 and 25, respectively. These are the more competitive leagues in town, where teams organize themselves and duke it out year after year. Rivalries develop, skilled skaters get a challenge, and play is fast. You’ll find local coaches, former high school standouts and maybe even former MSU Mavericks in these leagues. Jamie Kunst, who oversaw the leagues for years and organizes the Brian Fazio Memorial Hockey Tournament in Mankato, still plays in it with guys he’s known for decades. “I play with a handful of guys who I grew up playing with,” he said. “I’ve been playing with them for 37, 38 years.” The best way to play in the A or B leagues is to know a team manager and demonstrate some ability in hockey. It can be a challenge, but the league isn’t meant for people who just want to learn to play. Other leagues fill that role. Being the most competitive leagues in town, you might envision a rough and tumble aspect to A and B play. But Kunst
said fights are rare and physical play is tempered because, well, everyone’s got a day job. “A lot of us are older and need to work the next day,” he said. “But it’s competitive and there’s certainly the risk of injury.” Finding players isn’t too difficult in A and B given the established teams returning each year. More opportunities to join could be available, Kunst said, if only there was more ice time in town. Ice time tends to come up when you talk to people associated with league play. Finding it is a struggle, which is why league play usually takes place in the late evenings or early mornings. Weekday or Sunday games can start as late as 10 p.m. Youth play is prioritized for ice times, a reality league members understand and support. Still, more ice sheets would expand hockey opportunities for youth and league play alike, league members say. As is, Kunst said the leagues help sustain the hockey community by paying for nonpeak ice times. “By having these adult groups purchase ice during non-peak times, it helps with the overall budget,” he said. MANKATO MAGAZINE • JANUARY 2018 • 21
Kerry Snelson waits to see if a teammate will pass him the puck during C hockey league play in November. Snelson is one of the board members for the league, which ranges from newcomers to the game to people who grew up with it.
Putting the C in camaraderie
Mankato’s C league and women’s leagues contribute in the same way. But if the A and B leagues are for the most skilled players, the additional leagues are for anyone else. “We’re the catch all,” said Kerry Snelson, a board member for the C league. “You have the A league and B league, mostly younger and faster, then the C league encompasses all of the above.” The C league is independently operated and can include anyone from the relatively new to the sport to skaters who could reasonably hold their own in the B league. Rather than teams arranging themselves, the pool of players are drafted onto teams with names like the Flying Hellfish, Monkeys and Mammoths in an attempt to even out competition year after year. “That’s where your camaraderie is built because you get to know more people and meet new
22 • JANUARY 2018 • MANKATO MAGAZINE
people,” said Jay Hertling, another board member, of the league’s set up. The changing teams year after year keeps competitive levels light. The five board members say it’s intentionally set up as a fun league where winning isn’t above everything. Some of them admitted to not even looking at the standings, because it’s not about that. “It’s about playing hockey with your buddies,” said Board Member John Selly, who goaltends and sponsors his team. “Everybody loves the game and they care about each other too.” The camaraderie extends off the ice. The board gets together every year for the draft, then invites all league members to a reveal party so they know which team they’re on. On Super Bowl Sunday, a group of them meets at an outdoor ice sheet to play pick up. Oh, and everyone seems to have a nickname. Hertling is the “Big Hurt,” Selly is “Gumper” or “Slab,” and Snelson is “Sniper.”
Other board members include Paul “Dutch” Schmuck and “Captain” Dan Kvasnicka. There’s also a guy in the league nicknamed “Niner” — take a guess what number he wears out on the ice. Not everyone in the league — ages range from 21 to 63 — played hockey growing up, but many did. Hertling and Schmuck were even competitors in high school, Schmuck from Luverne and Hertling from Sleepy Eye. The C league, like its A and B counterparts, doesn’t have too much trouble filling out its teams. They even added a seventh team just this year. The board said they’re happy to report nearly all members return every year. Attrition usually only happens because people want to hang up their skates for good. League members have even played into their 80s. One was the elder statesmen in the league for many years until retiring about a decade back. It might not even need to be said, but he was a Canadian.
Russ Rigdon keeps the puck away from an opposing player in November during C league play in Mankato. Like many members of the league, Rigdon has a nickname. He’s “Niner,” in honor of the number he wears.
A league of their own
A handful of women play in the C league, but there’s also a dedicated women’s league in the fall and winter. It’s more informal than any of the other leagues due to numbers being lower, but it’s kept going for much the same reason the others do: camaraderie, a good workout and a love of the game. Sherry Stagg, who runs the women’s league, has a similar hockey-playing origin story to many of her league mates. She was a hockey mom who grew up in the time when hockey wasn’t offered to girls. Wanting to learn more about the game, she joined the women’s league about a decade back. “There’s a bunch of hockey moms who all sat watching our kids and we thought ‘Gosh that looks like fun,’” she said. “We came from the era prior to organized girl’s programs in school, so we never had that
opportunity.” Supplementing the hockey moms turned hockey leaguers are younger women who did grow up playing. The league runs from ages 18 to 50 plus, with skill levels all across the board. Without a women’s league, the younger women’s hockey opportunities would be scarce unless they played with the men. “I hear that consistently from women in their 20s,” Stagg said. “ … Our goal with this women’s league is we wanted to develop it to have enough teams to have a small league like the men do.” The numbers don’t currently allow for such a plan, but more girls growing up in the game provides hope it could one day happen. For now, Stagg said the league has dedicated members who’d hate to see it go. “Many of us came together as strangers, but we’ve developed friendships that lasted a lifetime through hockey,” she said. “It’s an amazing sport that’s brought a bunch of people together.”
Stagg’s comment gets at what makes hockey so special in Minnesota. It’s our state sport, but also a bonder. Hockey brought Stagg and other hockey moms together when they used to watch their children play. Now, their adult hockey league keeps them together. They’re some of the many Minnesotans and Mankatoans who tie up their skates once or twice per week and get out on the ice with friends. It can be just as much an exercise hour as it is social hour. It’s just as much about camaraderie as whatever the score ends up being at the end. Whatever the motivation or background in the game, there’s a hockey league for all in Mankato. And like the rest of the State of Hockey, there’s little shortage of the “all” wanting to lace ‘em up. MM
MANKATO MAGAZINE • JANUARY 2018 • 23
Reflections By Pat Christman
B
oating season seems like such a distant memory. The docks are removed, or frozen in place. The lake is covered with a layer of ice and snow. The boat is stored away, nowhere to be seen. The lake looks so different in the winter. The same spots you fished, swam and water skied during the summer look so inhospitable and desolate in the winter. It’s hard to believe it’s the same place. But just like the boat motor, the fishing rod and sore muscles, everything needs a rest. The lake is still there, under the ice, waiting for spring to come and the boats to return. MM
24 • JANUARY 2018 • MANKATO MAGAZINE
MANKATO MAGAZINE • JANUARY 2018 • 25
Then & Now: The “Great” Blizzard of 1975 By: BRYCE O. STENZEL
of Blue Images courtesy
Earth County Histo
rical Society.
The “Great” Blizzard of 1975 T
here seems to be some truth to the expression, “winters in Minnesota don’t seem to be nearly as severe as they used to be.” From my own recollections, growing up in rural Mankato during the 1970s, that decade produced many of the severest cold and worst blizzards I can remember. One in particular stands out. It occurred from Jan. 9-12, 1975. It was known in Minnesota as, “The Storm of the Century.” In other parts of the country, it was called, “Super Bowl Blizzard,” (Vikings were playing Pittsburgh
26 • JANUARY 2018 • MANKATO MAGAZINE
Steelers in New Orleans) or “The Great Storm of 1975.” By all accounts, it was horrific — not only for the amount of snow and winds produced, but also for the fact that this storm spawned one of the worst tornado outbreaks ever to occur during the winter months. The tornadoes were spawned by a record low-pressure system, which resulted from the storm’s most unusual energy source. Most winter storms start in Canada, but this one brewed up over the Pacific Ocean, with gale force winds pushing across the Pacific Northwest before
straddling the Rocky Mountains. As the resulting blizzard roared into the Great Plains, the snow met with clashing temperatures between arctic air and Gulf of Mexico moisture. This lowbarometric recipe whipped up a two-day tornado outbreak on top of the snowfall. The blizzard affected a great swath of the U.S., from Oklahoma and Colorado all the way to the Minnesota-Canadian border and stretching down into Georgia. The storm produced a total of 58 fatalities. Twelve of those resulted from the 42 tornadoes spawned in the Southeast over the course of
four days. Over two feet of snow fell over much of the Midwest, much of which fell in areas not equipped to deal with the immediate fallout. On its website, under the heading of “Famous Winter Storms,” the Minnesota DNR reported that, during “The Great Storm of 1975,” one to two feet of snow fell; 80-mph winds created 20-foot snowdrifts; most roads in the state were closed for at least 11 days; schools were closed; a train got stuck at Willmar; and 15,000 head of livestock were lost. Many low barometric pressure records were set (28.55 at Duluth). Fourteen people died in the blizzard itself, and 21 more people died from heart attacks, likely induced from trying to dig their way back out of it. Nationwide, the storm’s lingering cold temperatures
killed more than 100,000 livestock and 58 people. Twisters hit Oklahoma, Arkansas, Texas, Indiana, Illinois, Alabama, Florida, North Carolina and parts of Louisiana. In Mississippi alone, an F4 tornado crossed four counties and killed 10 people. The total amount of property damage tallied up to an estimated $63 million. I was 7 at the time. I still vividly recall the lights going out in my family’s house on the first night of the blizzard — as several nearby power lines snapped, leaving us in the dark and cold. We had a gas cook stove, so there was some heat in the house; but because there was no electricity to operate the ignition mechanism, our furnace would not kick in. Trying to see anything outside the windows was impossible. It was a complete white-out. I remember a kerosene lamp being lit that provided minimal light until it was time to go to bed. Once under the covers, I was warm and comfortable, but I could hear the sound of the wind howling outside. The bare branches of the trees
scraped against each other, and occasionally they scraped against the side of the house; it sounded as though the blizzard was trying to force its way in. The blowing snow sounded like sandpaper scouring against the windows. These were the only sounds I could hear; there was no traffic on the highway that ran past my parent’s home. It would be several days, before the snowplows got through to reopen the state highway. After I returned to school, I heard stories from fellow classmates of similar experiences, and of having to dig tunnels through the drifts in order to access walk-out basements. Needless to say, it was a great year for snow forts! By the time Super Bowl Sunday finally rolled around, the storm was dying down. To add insult to injury, the Steelers beat the Vikings, 16-6.
MANKATO MAGAZINE • JANUARY 2018 • 27
Breaking the
ice:
A beginner’s guide to ice fishing By James Figy Photos courtesy of Travis Roberts.
Pop-up Ice House Fishing Pole Bucket, Tip-up & Scoop Heater
Auger
W
hen Jake Geib started ice fishing, he had a lot to learn. Although he’d gone fishing with his dad and relatives as a kid, the Mankato resident really got into ice angling about 10 years ago, around the time he started high school. Geib learned how harshly the wind whips across an open lake after a negative 15-degree windchill blew him and his cousin off the ice. He learned to use different gear and learned that it’s harder to move it all in the cold. “In the summer on a boat, … if you want to fish the other side of the lake, you just drive over there,” he 28 • JANUARY 2018 • MANKATO MAGAZINE
Fish Finder said. “With ice fishing, there’s more work involved. You drill the hole, clean the hole and check it with your depth finder.” He learned a lot about ice fishing, but most of all, he learned to love it. As the land of 10,000 frozen lakes, Minnesota offers many opportunities for ice fishing, but aspiring ice anglers should first learn the differences between fishing in winter versus summer. Having the correct gear is important, but staying safe is the biggest concern, according to Travis Roberts, owner of Roberts Guide Service based in Madison Lake.
What you need: hook, line and auger
Although devotees spend thousands of dollars on ice fishing gear, it requires — at minimum — a pole, bait and something to drill through the ice. However, the poles people use in warmer months won’t cut it, said Tony Valiant, fishing department manager for Scheel’s in Mankato. “In the summertime, you’re looking at a 7-foot pole, even longer in some instances. In the winter, you’re looking at inches,” he said. Ice fishing poles range from 24 to 36 inches, with light action rods for panfish and medium to heavy rods for northern pike or walleye. In-line reels feed the fishing line straight down the pole and into the depths without tangling the line — unlike spinning reels that loop the line side to side. However, in-line reels have less drag, according to Valiant, so larger fish often require a spinning reel and a little extra care. Roberts recommends 2- to 4-pound test fishing line. “A lot of people go out there with heavier line, and they don’t catch as much because the fish can see it,” he said. For the end of the line, Nate Green, owner of White’s Corner Bait in Madison Lake, offers a variety of live baits and lures. Fathead, shiner, sucker and crappie minnows work well, but so do plastic worms, jigs, the Rapala Rippin’ Rap and spoons, some of which rattle or flutter. Green believes both live bait and lures are successful, and because an ice angler is allowed to fish two holes at a time, he uses both. “Me personally, it’s 50-50,” he said. “If I’m going to go fish for walleye, I’ll have a tip-up set up with a shiner on it, and I’ll be, with my other pole, jigging for some walleye with artificial.” From hand-crank to high-powered, options abound for augers. Manual options start around $40 at Scheel’s but take more time and effort, while gas-powered augers can reach upwards of $600, Valiant said. White’s Corner Bait sells mostly electric augers as well as the K-Drill, a large bit that attaches to any cordless drill. While more gear can make ice fishing easier, Roberts advises beginners to buy just enough equipment at first — whatever they can’t borrow from friends or rent from the area bait shop. “Don’t go spend $1,000 on the gear and then realize, ‘This isn’t for me.’ Get out a few times,” he said. “If you like it, you’re going to want to start purchasing some of the stuff that you’ll need.”
Where to find fish
When it comes to ice angling in south central Minnesota, the top hot spot is Madison Lake. It has been exceptionally hot this year, according to Roberts. He also recommends Lake Washington, German Lake, Lake Francis and both sides of Jefferson Lake. To that list Valiant added Mills Lake, Duck Lake, Cannon Lake and Eagle Lake, which was “insanely hot” last winter. “This fall,” he said, “you could go out there and catch the limit every day if you wanted to, so I’m sure that’ll be a decent lake again.” While some lakes are better for specific fish, most in the area have sunfish, crappies, northern pike and walleyes, Roberts said. Although ice fishing poles are smaller, Roberts has caught a 30-inch, 10-pound walleye and a 40-inch, 20-pound pike. “Your ice fishing tackle can handle as big of fish as summer tackle,” he said. “You can catch big fish through the ice.” Geib recommends using a depth finder to help find fish and avoid weeds. “You could have your hook 1 foot off the bottom, and the fish could be 6 foot off the bottom. And fish don’t go down to get a hook; they typically only go up,” he said. “So there could be fish above your hook that you’re not seeing.”
How to not be cold as ice
Staying warm requires the right attire and some shelter. Dark houses are popular among longtime ice anglers, but they require permits, depending on the type and whether they will be left unattended. White’s Corner Bait rents ice houses on Madison Lake, but for those who want their own shelter or who are fishing elsewhere, a pop-up shelter works fine. Pop-ups start around $200 and are easy to pull onto the ice with a sled, Valiant said. “They fold down to the same size your regular camping tent would,” he said. “They come with a carrying case, and you can throw them over your shoulder and into the backseat of a car.” Many people will use portable gas heaters inside the shelter. People who plan to fish for a while should to bring plenty of propane tanks, Geib said — which is another lesson he learned. Waterproof bibs and boots are important because augers usually splash water, and getting wet can spoil a trip quickly. A warm jacket will help, and some stores sell coats that float if the ice breaks. However, it’s also important to dress in layers underneath the bibs, according to Green. “You’re going to want to have something that’s wicking that moisture away from your body into a second layer of clothing. When you’re out there, for instance, pulling your house, you can work up quite a sweat,” he said. Sweating a little doesn’t seem like a big deal while moving around, but while sitting, that perspiration chills. If you don’t have moisture-wicking clothing, Roberts suggests waiting to put on heavier layers until after lugging the shelter and gear to your spot. “The more energy you exert, the lighter clothes you want on,” he said. “Then you want to dress warm for when you are sitting still.”
MANKATO MAGAZINE • JANUARY 2018 • 29
How not to make a splash
When the ice is fresh, people should take two other pieces of equipment: cleats for their boots so they don’t fall and ice sticks so they can pull themselves to safety if the ice breaks. According to the Minnesota Department of Natural
30 • JANUARY 2018 • MANKATO MAGAZINE
Resources, new clear ice is safe to walk on at 4 inches thick and safe to drive a snowmobile or ATV on once it reaches 5 inches. At 8 inches and thicker, it should be safe to drive a car or small truck onto the surface, but wait until it surpasses 1 foot for a medium truck. The DNR suggests asking
about ice conditions at the local bait shop or fishing resort before heading out to fish and then checking the thickness upon arrival and every 150 feet. Ice on a lake varies in thickness, Roberts said. People should avoid walking and driving near underwater springs, currents (especially in the narrows), or culverts along the shore, because the ice is often thinner in those spots. “People think, ‘There are people out there ice fishing, so it must all be safe,’ when really there are spots out there that aren’t as good. So don’t go wandering around,” he said. Ice fishing is a different beast, but true ice anglers learn to enjoy the sport not in spite of its differences to summer fishing but because of them. “Both of them are fun,” Geib said. “Getting you and a couple of your friends or family and just sitting inside a little hut, talking to each other, spending time with each other — it’s fun, so long as you have heat.” MM
A
Enjoy! — Robb Murray, Associate Editor, Mankato Magazine
southern mn style
hhhh, January. The beginning of the year, a chance to start over, a clean slate. Americans in general overindulge during the holidays. There’s just so many opportunities to eat things that run in direct opposition to the concept of “smart eating.” Holiday work parties come in the form of potlucks where you stroll unencumbered through minefields of pasta salad, marinated cocktail wieners and six different kinds of chocolate chip cookies. At home, holiday meals are intentionally oversized. Why? Because it’s Christmas! Eat! You’ve earned it, you tell yourself, so you feel no guilt whatsoever about that third helping of cheesy potatoes, or that fourth glass of Guiness. The holidays only come around once a year, right? Eat that ham like it’s your job! And then January comes. You step on the scale and you’re ready to turn over a new leaf. You announce a moratorium on anything cheesy, swear off Guiness and quit the job of eating ham like it’s your job. It won’t be easy. Fear not. You’re not alone! Luckily for you we’ve got plenty of advice for you in this month’s Food, Drink & Dine. We caught with a real live dietitian who can help you start the new year off right. Make taking care of your body your new hobby.
food, drink & dine
Time for a fresh start, right?
MANKATO MAGAZINE • JANUARY 2018 • 31
Wine & Beer
wines
By Leigh Pomeroy
I
On being a somm
southern mn style
n my last article, I recommended a book (“Cork Dork”) and a film (“Somm”), both of which cover the lives of young “somms,” short for sommeliers. I have to confess that I was once one of them, sort of. By “sort of” I mean I was once a wine steward, a.k.a. sommelier — the term “somm” wasn’t coined yet — when becoming one was not driven by the obsessive pursuit required today, particularly in major markets such as New York and San Francisco. I fell into the job having recently left a marketing position at a winery to move to Los Angeles to become a screenwriter — one of those silly changes of career direction one does in one’s mid-twenties. I had to earn a living while attempting to pursue my new career, so what could be a better job than pouring wine in a restaurant? The restaurant, called The Chronicle after the San Francisco newspaper — there is a reason for this that I don’t recall — was started by a guy named Lud who made a pile of money starting and then selling a low-cost airline. There is an old dictum that goes: “How do you make a small fortune in the restaurant business? Start with a large fortune.” Lud was determined to follow this formula. The Chronicle featured one of the finest wine lists in the state, if not the country, so it was a terrific opportunity for a young guy like me to be put in charge of dispensing as much of it as possible. Because The Chronicle was probably the best restaurant closest to Santa Anita racetrack, it attracted many of the higher end racing crowd. A regular couple on race day were Alfred Vanderbilt, a multi-kazillionaire who owned horses, and Robyn Smith, one of the first female jockeys ever to race at Santa Anita. He was in his 60s, and she was in her late 20s. We always had a particular Brut Rosé Champagne on hand for them, of which she polished off the majority. He would always peck at his dinner. She would consume hers and then finish his. I seem to recall she sometimes ordered two entrées. Since she was a jockey, I wondered where she put it all. I posed this question to the hostess, Marie, one evening. Marie was a divorcée whom Lud had no doubt hired for her physical attractions, exotic French background and friendly personality. “After every meal, she visits the ladies’ room,” she replied. Fortunately, she didn’t add, “You idiot. Can’t you figure it out?” Mr. Vanderbilt invited Marie and her teenage daughter to the races one day. But Marie was a little unsure of Mr. Vanderbilt’s intentions, so she invited me to come along as an escort. When we arrived at the track, the Vanderbilt box was full, so we were forced to sit in the empty J. Paul Getty box next door. A real disappointment. But the
34 • JANUARY 2018 • MANKATO MAGAZINE
great thing about sitting in the J. Paul Getty box is that everyone comes by to say hello. I remember exchanging pleasantries with Telly Savalas and Burt Bacharach, but the rest were all a blur. In his quest to earn his small fortune, Lud was always looking out for the great wine deal. One afternoon I arrived at The Chronicle to find a full pallet of Pouilly Fuissé, about 48 twelve-bottle cases. At that time, the mid-1970s, Pouilly Fuissé was the most popular French white wine in the U.S. Because of its popularity, about twice as much wine was labeled and sold as Pouilly Fuissé as was legally made according to French law. (What? You’re surprised? The history of the wine industry is replete with scandal. See my December article.) Lud walked in as I was examining the stack. “Leigh, you gotta try this,” he said. “I got a great deal.” I had been tasting Pouilly Fuissé since my teens, as it was my parents’ favorite celebratory white for birthdays and other special occasions (except for Champagne, which my father poured only when announcing that my mother was pregnant again.) I knew right away that the wine Lud was pouring was NOT Pouilly Fuissé. So here I was challenged with selling 576 bottles of fraudulent Pouilly Fuissé. As it turns out, this was easier than I thought. Lud made it the house white wine pour, and by the bottle it was also quite reasonable. Diners ordered and drank it quite happily. Then one evening a couple ordered a bottle, I poured, and the husband looked up at me and said, “This is not Pouilly Fuissé.” I said, “I know.” Shocked, he asked, “Then why are you selling it as Pouilly Fuissé?” I explained to him the genesis of the situation, as described above. “Congratulations,” I added. “I’ve been serving oceans of this stuff, and you’re the first to recognize that this is not real Pouilly Fuissé.” All turned out okay. I brought him another wine that I knew he would like better, gave him a good deal, and he left secure in the knowledge that his palate was more discerning than 99 percent of The Chronicle’s other diners. The Chronicle sold out of the “Pouilly Fuissé” shortly thereafter, thus teaching me the valuable lesson of never overestimating the taste of the American consumer. And, oh by the way, Robyn Smith later went on to become Mrs. Fred Astaire when she was 35 and he 81. (To be continued….) Leigh Pomeroy is a Mankato-based writer and wine lover.
Beer
By Bert Mattson
Wee Heavy at January J
anuary has a way of juxtaposing our ideals against reality. The exaggerated standards of a holiday season, and its excesses, tend to leave one self-conscious and a little shaky before the material world ... and the mirror. There’s no place for the new stuff you don’t need and feel a bit guilty about getting. A strand of a hundred twinkling lights conjures to mind a 20-dollar bill. Your pants are too tight. Bathed in fridge light, you contemplate that fact while chewing ham and Hawaiian rolls. Then it dawns that you hugged someone you realize you wouldn’t really normally want to. You shiver. It’s a heavy mood, man. Something like shopping while hungry, it might not be most efficient to set about resolving things whilst suffering a holiday seasonal affective hangover. Rather than ponder, critically, your body’s present relationship with gravitational pull, might not a little patience be a sound prescription? Patience and a slow pull off some high gravity ale? I’d say so. Evidence suggests beer was brewed in Scotland back to the Neolithic. Early ales would have been bittered with herb mixtures. A fact that feeds the misconception the England has used hops more extensively. Records indicate heavy importation of hops into Scotland. By the beginning of the 20th century, hops were the rule. That said, Scottish Ales tend to be malty and rich with low hop imprint. Of somewhat unique historical note regarding Scottish Ales is something known as the shilling designation. In the nineteenth century, this quirky scale reflected the cost of a British barrel of ale relative to
its alcohol content. It appeared after levies on malt and sugar were abandoned in favor of beer duties. A 60-schilling Two-Pennys sported the lowest gravity, and 80 schilling Exports populated mid range, while Wee Heavys were the heavyweights. These labels, while diminished in meaning, have outlived the predecimal currency itself. Wee Heavy or Scotch Ale (distinct from the broader category of Scottish Ales) traditionally tends to be sweet, full bodied and high in alcohol, often exhibiting an element of smokiness. Brau Brother’s Brewing Co.’s Bancreagie Peated Scotch Ale is local rendition true to form. Forgoing, for the moment, any fretting over a waistline, this is the sort of beer that holds up well to a hearty joint of meat like mutton, wild game, or, in a pinch, liverwurst on toast with onion jam. Odell Brewing Company’s 90 Schilling Ale nods to that aforementioned old-timey nomenclature. While the range for Wee Heavy is listed at 90 and up, this brew is billed as Scottish Ale and, accordingly, is lower in alcohol, lighter in body, and a little less sweet. This hardly helps with gravitational pull in my experience — it’s very easy to have two. It is also easy to pair. It’s got the carbonation to carry the richness of a steak or burger and clean the palate of fat. Its malt melds with Maillard browning of grilled meat. Grab one. And lighten up.
Bert Mattson is a chef and writer based in St. Paul. He is the manager of the iconic Mickey’s Diner. bertsbackburner.com
Cinco de Mayo Authentic Thursday, May 5 Mexican Food andMother’s Amazing Day Drinks Check May Our 8 Sunday,
Daily Specials! Check Our Daily Specials! 1404 MADISON MADISONAVE., 1404 AVE., MANKATO 507.344.0607 | laterrazamankato.com 507.344.0607|laterrazamankato.com Open: 11–10 Open:Monday–Thursday Monday-Thursday11-10; Friday 11–10:30; Sunday 11–9 Friday&&Saturday Saturday11-10:30; Sunday11-9 1235-
MANKATO MAGAZINE • JANUARY 2018 • 35
Drinks
Happy Hour:
By M. Carrie Allan | Special to the Free Press
southern mn style
Still sippin’ on Courvoisier? It’s time to try a brandy from closer to home. R
achel Cole Gardner was working on her grandmother’s farm in Upstate New York when she noticed some gangly apple trees around the property, trees that hadn’t been pruned in years, adorned with tiny green bulbs. Curious, she tasted a few. “They were very bitter, very tart — blech! — but I ended up pulling down 10 to 15 pounds of them and bringing them back here,” says Gardner, co-founder of Republic Restoratives distillery in Washington. The apples sat in the distillery refrigerator until a bartender pushed them to the head of Gardner’s to-do list by juicing them. Gardner added yeast and let the brew sit for a couple of months before distilling it into brandy. “The whole space filled with this apple-y smell,” she says. “It made our space feel homey and really made us feel more connected to what we’d made.” That smell of apples conjures home for lots of Americans, which is funny, when you think about it. Few cliches have stumbled onto deeper truths like “American as apple pie,” which centers our national identity on fruit that originated in Asia and pastry traditions from Europe. Apple and other brandies were a large component of early American drinking. Distilled from grapes, apples or other fruits (as opposed to grain or sugar cane), they came from distilling traditions that settlers brought with them. In the past few decades, those old roots have started producing new fruit. Until quite recently, most domestic brandies — both 36 • JANUARY 2018 • MANKATO MAGAZINE
the grape-based standard and those from other fruits — have languished in the elegant shadow of such European forebears as cognac and Calvados. That image of sophisticated sipping even crept into hip-hop, with Ice Cube sippin’ on Courvoisier and Jay-Z praising Remy on the rocks; millions heard Tupac Shakur’s posthumous profession of loyalty to Hennessy. The titans of rap have long been directing people to brandy, every drop of it French. French brandy had quality and cachet, whereas domestic brandies were thought of (sometimes justly) as cheap, adulterated and sweet — far removed from the complexity of their European ancestors. But American brandy had an earlier act. Made from the fruits that grew well in their regions, brandy had a big role in our drinking and cocktail culture (the earliest known was being distilled in New York in 1640) before Prohibition came along and wiped it off the map. Among apple brandy makers, only Laird & Company of New Jersey survived, diverting into legal apple products during Prohibition. Brandy production never fully rebounded: PostProhibition, the East Coast had Laird’s again, and the West Coast had some grape brandies, but there “was not much in between, as fruit brandies quickly became mass-produced products using grain neutral spirits with fruit flavoring additives,” wrote Michael Veach and Renae Price in a history of American brandy commissioned by Copper & Kings distillery. In the 1980s, a handful of craft distillers out West — St. George
Spirits, Germain-Robin, Clear Creek, Osocalis — began making forays into quality fruit brandy, many of them hewing close to European traditions. As the cocktail movement gained steam through the early 2000s, interest in craft spirits and in those older distilling traditions increased. According to the Distilled Spirits Council, brandy sales have gone up 35 percent since 2002. Small distillers scattered around the country have started dabbling in brandy, incorporating fruits that reflect their region’s farms.
Hot Buttered Apple Brandy 8 servings
You can keep the drink on low heat on the stove top and add the pats of spiced butter drink by drink.
MAKE AHEAD:
The spiced butter can be refrigerated for up to 2 weeks. Chai tea is available at most grocery stores. Apple brandies are becoming more widely available; Laird’s is the most well known.
Ingredients
For the drink 8 cups water 8 chai tea bags 1 1/2 cups apple brandy (see headnote) For the spiced butter 4 ounces salted butter, preferably European style or high-fat, at a cool room temperature 1 tablespoon finely grated orange zest (from 1 large navel orange) 1/2 cup packed light brown sugar 1 teaspoon Angostura bitters 1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract
510 Long Street, Ste. 104 Mankato, MN
507.345.4040 MankatoRealEstate.com AmericanWayRealty
Karla Van Eman—Broker/Owner ABR, CRS, GRI
Steps
For the drink: Bring the water to a full boil in a large saucepan over high heat, then remove from the heat and add the tea bags. Steep for 4 to 6 minutes, then discard the tea bags. Add the apple brandy; return the saucepan to the stove top, over low heat. For the spiced butter: Whisk together the softened butter, orange zest, brown sugar, bitters and vanilla extract in mixing bowl, until thoroughly incorporated. The yield is about 3/4 cup. Cover and refrigerate if not using within a few hours. When you are ready to serve, ladle the hot tea and brandy mixture into a heatproof mug. Top with a heaping teaspoon of the spiced butter, stirring vigorously until the spiced butter has created a layer of foam on top of the drink. Divide among individual small mugs or short glasses; serve right away, with a spoon or swizzle stick so your guests may continue to stir the drink, as needed.
The OrthoEdge joint replacement program offers superb care from your first visit through recovery. The surgeons from the Orthopaedic & Fracture Clinic and the care team at River’s Edge Hospital provide personal and professional care to get you back to able.
www.orthoedgemn.com MANKATO MAGAZINE • JANUARY 2018 • 37
Artfully crafted with a wide range of stone and wood visuals. Wonderfully waterproof thanks to Shaw’s LifeGuard Resilient core. Artfully crafted with a wide range of stone and wood visuals. Wonderfully waterproof thanks to Shaw’s LifeGuard Resilient core.
Got water?
Dealer Area
Carpet | Tile & Stone | Hardwood | Laminate | Resilient | shawfloors.com
507.625.3089
Artfully1107 crafted with a wide Cross St. | North Mankato range of stone and wood visuals. Mon.-Thurs. 9am-8pm Wonderfully waterproof thanks to • Fri. 9am-6pm Sat.Resilient 9am-4pm Shaw’s LifeGuard core.• Closed Sun.
www.rickwaycarpet.net
Improve Your Home’s Energy Efficiency
Happy Holidays! From all of us at Minnesota Valley Federal Credit Union.
Check out our New Panel Designs and Colors 1125 Cross St., North Mankato, MN • Toll Free1-800-645-3667 • Phone 507-625-7110
Thank You for voting us #1, 4 of the last 5 years!
the year of the new house (507) 381-4747 DAN WINGERT
One of Mankato’s Best
Broker, GRI
422 Park Lane, Mankato, MN | www.NuStarMankato.com
Greater Mankato’s Community Credit Union Since 1934 1640 Adams Street 100 Memorial View Court
507-387-3055 mnvalleyfcu.coop Equal Housing Lender Federally Insured by NCUA NMLS# 504851 MANKATO MAGAZINE • JANUARY 2018 • 41
Your style By Ann Rosenquist Fee
“A jacket for your butt” Also a guiding paradigm for feminism, statism, style
I
t was one thing to receive a downlined MinneSkirt as a birthday gift a few years back, and start experiencing the benefits. Benefits, like, I was finally warm from waist to knees (which, turns out, is a makeor-break area in terms of feeling all-over warm) and could stop asking for the car heat to be turned up despite that everybody else was fine, which allowed other conversations to happen in transit, which improved family dynamics a great deal. Benefits also including the fact that I looked adorable, waist-to-knees, and began seeking opportunities to share that with the world, versus hibernating from November through March, hoping somebody else would stop at 42 • JANUARY 2018 • MANKATO MAGAZINE
Hy-Vee on the way home. It was one thing to have my warmth and style problems solved, waist-toknees. It was another thing, entirely, to realize about three years later that I’d adopted the MinneSkirt as my guiding paradigm for all other winter attire, and the results are a set of long-lasting daily-wear staples which, cumulatively, transform winter from a thing to be avoided into a thing that feeds one’s superpowers of style and invincibility. Staple One: MinneSkirt. Staple Two: Thirty-six-inch wool leg warmers which I own in gray and also brownish-gray for days we all need a pop of earth tone.
Staple Three: Sweater tights in dark gray, two pairs, not as long-lasting as I’d hoped but I can’t find an appealing replacement so this year I cut off the feet due to irreparable holes and bought some decent socks, which as far as you know are just simply tights, due to … Staple Four: Calf-high lace-up so-very-thermal waterproof boots with faux fur on top, so perfectly laced and furred that there’s no need to change out of them and into dumb cold regular shoes for any possible meeting or event, ever, all winter long, these are simply what I’m wearing, and you have no idea that the feet have rotted out of my sweater tights or that I’m wearing sports socks or even
that the tights exist at all, because all you’re seeing, besides my welltailored above-the-knee MinneSkirt, are the woolen legwarmers which might as well be pants, plus the boots. Staple Five: Also-tailored black waterproof down-lined coat, with optional black knit hat with a black poof on top. Staple Six and Last: Leather mittens with finger-holes inside, which, another discovery, that’s somehow key and cannot be approximated simply by sticking gloved hands inside mittens — it’s the leather plus the finger holes all in one piece, one actual mitten, I don’t know why this works best but it’s a fact. And with that, all that, I am Coco Chanel meets Arctic Cat. Chic. Insulated. So excited for winter you cannot even stand it. MinneSkirt creators Rose and Gretchen Heim weren’t at all surprised when I told them the skirt had blown my style-mind and led to an all-items transformation of my winter wardrobe, nor that the resulting getup of staples feels equal parts feminist and lovely and clever. That kind of overhaul and that kind of pleasure were pretty much what they envisioned when they worked
up the prototype of the world’s first “jacket for your butt,” which grew into the successful northern-Minnesotabased winter clothing and accessories design and production company “heim-made.” The MinneSkirt is the most popular of their twenty-or-so products. What set Rose and Gretchen apart from every other woman who has ever complained about bulky ugly inadequate outerwear, but failed to take action, is that throughout Gretchen’s youth, particularly when she began showing horses and needed fancy pricey uniforms and blankets the family couldn’t afford, they’d tossed the phrase “we can do that” at each other. And then, routinely, they did it. They designed and made the uniforms, crafted the matching blankets, and on and on. So it wasn’t a revolution when Gretchen turned her frustration with unflattering too-short coats into the sleek, tailored, functionalbeyond-functional (so! many! zippers!) first-draft MinneSkirt. Nor was it a revolution when the two kept testing and testing and manufacturing and manufacturing, and perfected the product, and started showing and selling the stuff. It was simply what
two artsy hearty northwoods women did. Which brings us back to you, here in January, you and your whinings. Don’t pretend you haven’t. You have felt lackluster at least once since Daylight Savings Time, and said something out loud about it to someone who probably had other things on their mind, and by woodswomen standards that’s as good as a whine. Knock it off. Gretchen and Rose and I implore you to suck it up, buy a hat you love and gloves you’ll actually try not to lose, plus boots you don’t need to change out of in order to be presentable. Buy a MinneSkirt, or don’t, it doesn’t matter. What does matter is that you use the gift of this harsh glorious season to be your best, most insulated, most invincible waterproof self. Summer will be here before we know it. Let’s be warm and adorable. Let us make the style-most of winter, together, while it lasts.
Ann Rosenquist Fee is executive director of the Arts Center of Saint Peter and a vocalist with The Frye. She blogs at annrosenquistfee.com.
Discover an Insurance Partner.
Happy New Year!
When looking for insurance coverage, isn’t it important to have an agent you know and can trust to be there when you need someone? Call our office today to connect with our local knowledgeable staff. We thank you for your business and look forward to serving you.
MANKATO 507.385.4485 AMBOY 507.674.3355 I VERNON CENTER 507.549.3679 WHERE YOUR POLICY COMES WITH AN AGENT
www.cimankato.com MANKATO MAGAZINE • JANUARY 2018 • 43
Coming Attractions: Janaury 5
Mankato Brewery anniversary party 5-10 p.m. — Mankato Brewery — 1119 Center St. — North Mankato — $10 and 21+ — www.mankatobrewery.com
7 Music on the Hill: Peter McGuire,
Anthony Ross, Timothy Lovelace 2-5 p.m. — School Sisters of Notre Dame — 170 Good Counsel Drive — Mankato — $17 premium, $12 general admission — www.mankatosymphony.com
12 The Oak Ridge Boys: Shine the Light Tour 7 p.m. — Verizon Center — 1 Civic Center Plaza — Mankato — $85, $65, $55, $45 — www.verizoncentermn.com
13
Mankato Craft Beer Expo 2 p.m. — Verizon Center — 1 Civic Center Plaza — Mankato — $ 97 VIP, $47 early admission, $37 general admission, $7 designated driver — www.verizoncentermn.com
20
Demolition Means Progress and Beulah Rue 8:30 p.m.-12:30 a.m. — The What’s Up? Lounge — 118 E. Rock St. — Mankato — 21+ event — $5 — www.whatsuplounge.com
20 Music of The Beatles: The Revolution 5 7:30 p.m. — State Street Theater — 1 N. State St. — New Ulm — $15 — www. statestreetnewulm.org
31-Feb. 2
Minnesota State University presents: “1984” 7:30 p.m. — Ted Paul Theatre of the Earley Center for Performing Arts — MSU — Mankato — $16 regular, $14 discounted (over 65, under 16 and groups of 15 or more) and $11 for current Minnesota State University students — www.mnsu.edu/theatre
20 Big Deal Poetry featuring Michael Torres
7-9 p.m. — Coffee Hag — 329 N. Riverfront Drive — Mankato — free — 507-387-5533.
21 Mankato Bridal Show
10 a.m.-2 p.m. — Verizon Center — 1 Civic Center Plaza — Mankato — $15 for VIP, free for general admission — www.mankatobridalshow. com
30
A Night with Janis Joplin 7:30 p.m. — Verizon Center — 1 Civic Center Plaza — Mankato — $89.50, $59.50, $39.50 — www.verizoncentermn.com
Dr. AngelA Schuck Dr. keith FlAck
You Deserve Comfortable Care Every Time • Sedation - Complete Relaxation with Just a Pill • Invisalign - Clear Alternative to Braces • Implants - Placement and Restoration • Cerec - One Visit Crown Technology • 3D Imaging with Fewer X-Rays
625-CARE(2273) 44 • JANUARY 2018 • MANKATO MAGAZINE
• Free Whitening Program • Drill-Free Technology • Cosmetic Dentistry • Emergency Care • Botox & Fillers
mankatodentist.com
Faces & Places: Photos By SPX Sports
SOUTHERN MN CHRISTMAS FESTIVAL
1. West Connection serenaded the event with holiday carols. 2. Charlie Saffert with the Pie Peddler of Mankato sold Christmas goodies. 3. Kiya and Savannah Nuhfer made a stop at the craft corner to make Christmas creations. 4. Brooke Pankonin styles Kamryn Hawkens’ hair. 5. Sam Guggisberg and Monica Waite, representing Gallery 512 Boutique, offer a variety of novelties to get a jump on Christmas shopping. 6. Sophia and Landon Kunkel posed for a photo for their parents in front of Santa’s Workshop.
1
2
4
3
5
6
MANKATO MAGAZINE • JANUARY 2018 • 45
Faces & Places: Photos By SPX Sports
VERTANS DAY CHILI FEST
1. Don Stemper tries one of the eight types of chili while conversing with a fellow veteran. 2. Mary Styndl looks through the Silent Action. 3. Eight competitors entered the chili cook off contest. 4. After singing the National Anthem at the opening ceremony, Mary Anne Dundas with Mary Anne’s Music enjoyed some food. 5. Paige Eustice was ecstatic to take a photo with Miss Minnesota, Emily Schumacher.
2
4
46 • JANUARY 2018 • MANKATO MAGAZINE
1
3
5
Faces & Places: Photos By SPX Sports
UNITED WAY READING AT THE YMCA
1
1. Leah Kemboi gets her picture taken with Miss Mankato’s Outstanding Teen, Lauren Senden. 2. Scout Leader Mark Roemhildt helps Hudson Marco learn about the Scout’s Law 3. Cormac Greenbush looks on with excitement with his dad as a United Way volunteer makes him a hat he decorated. 4. Colton Horton practices his balancing act by moving Ping-Pong balls from basket to basket. 5. Christie Skilbred and her husband Brett share in their kids’ excitement over reading. (From left) Reece, Jayden and Evan each received two free books from Capstone Publishing.
3
2
4
5
MANKATO MAGAZINE • JANUARY 2018 • 47
From this Valley By Pete Steiner
A Cloud of Witnesses A
s I age, a year is a much smaller percentage of my life than it was when I was 30. Maybe that is why time now seems to fly by. Oh, a day can still seem long, but the years whiz past like cars on a freeway. It’s also curious, in the Digital Age, how quickly history seems to simply evaporate. Yesterday’s concern is obliterated by the latest Tweet. I’m all for living in the Now, but if you can’t even imagine a time before indoor plumbing and electricity at the flick of a switch, you’re building on sand, wading into deep water without a lifeboat. We begin 2018 with a lot of great local folks no longer here to light up our lives. One of my favorite TV segments every year is the “Hail and Farewell” on CBS Sunday morning on the last Sunday of the year, saluting the famous and not-so-famous who made our lives richer. I thought I’d try to localize the sentiment, to hold up, as Paul called them, in Hebrews, the Cloud of Witnesses that have gone before. Herewith, a Litany of the Lost (forgive any omissions,) those dear departed who helped weave my life’s tapestry: John Rezmerski, gentle soul, cultural ambassador, gourmet chef, master wordsmith. It’s been more than a year, but publishing deadlines didn’t allow me to note John’s passing adequately last year. He moved to Minnesota to teach at Gustavus, and the Northland grew on him; he hung out with Bill Holm and other great Minnesota writers. Google it to hear John read his masterwork, “Cataloging the Flow,” shortly before he died. Bill Bassett, whose intelligence matched his 6-6 height, used both to forcefully steer Mankato through the last three decades of the 20th century. Often controversial, he was never afraid to debate his actions. He came on my radio show monthly, squeezing into the guest chair just 30 seconds before air time with a Cheshire-cat grin, asking, “what shall we talk about today?” Ironic that he and the King of the other city across the river, Bob Ringhofer, would die only about a year apart. Each, as Shakespeare put it in Julius Caesar, “bestrode his world like a Colossus.” Jim Korth and Luverne Klar. Both legends, both highly successful coaches. Both old-school and colorful, like they’re seldom made anymore in our politically correct world. Always quick with both discipline and a hearty laugh, Korth and Klar helped turn boys to men. Jeff Spann, an All-American for the Maverick football team in 1986, he had come here all the way from Miami. A black man, he chose to make it Mankato when few African-Americans lived here, and he left a great legacy of community service. 48 • JANUARY 2018 • MANKATO MAGAZINE
Ray Schwegman defined what a great restaurateur should be, first at the Holiday House, later at Stoney’s (both, alas, places that are no more.) Ray never seemed to have a bad day. He greeted everyone with a smile, and once he met you, he never forgot your name! Big Jim Spenger sold insurance and loved hunting. I still picture him strolling down Belgrade Avenue to his office on a sunny day with a big grin. He called himself the biggest fan of my musical alter ego, Milo Bobbins. A couple of my Welsh brethren left us this year. Ken Lloyd, who loved nothing better than singing, had a voice so big he could carry a whole section, tenor or bass, at the annual Welsh songfest in September. And Miriam Jones, so gracious and unendingly enthusiastic, was a pillar of Lake Crystal, who most enjoyed helping others. Speaking of those who loved to help others, we lost Lisa Coons, her kindness and gentleness. Her legacy lives on in the welcoming atmosphere of the Coffee Hag and the Center for Earth Spirituality at Good Counsel. Bud Lawrence just crossed to the other side. He walked everywhere with a broad smile, including all the way to Prairie Island to discuss founding a Native American PowWow in Mankato. Nearly five decades later, that annual celebration of reconciliation endures. When you see an eagle, think of Bud. And we lost my boss and my friend, John Linder. His radio genius and his kindnesses to employees and friends of all stripes were well-known. He wanted everyone to join in the fun, and to “pay it forward.” But until his memorial service, many did not know what a merry prankster he was. His last prank was in his obituary, which he wrote himself, telling everyone he was a fan of Italian opera and flamenco — which he was not. Still, at the memorial, we got Italian opera and flamenco dancing, along with tear-filled laughter. •••• When the day comes, maybe someone will write my name and brief history in this space. But wait! Writing one’s own obituary is becoming increasing popular: I should write “The Last Column” now, while I’m apparently still of sound mind. Ah, but I procrastinate: today’s thoughts move me to first head for my favorite watering hole to toast our great Cloud of Witnesses. Fast away the old year passes.
Peter Steiner is host of “Talk of the Town” weekdays at 1:05 p.m. on KTOE.
RENOWNED AND RENEWED: RTJ TURNS 25
Acclaimed as one of the world's great golf destinations, Alabama's Robert Trent Jones Golf Trail invites you to celebrate its 25th year by offering fantastic deals. Unlimited golf packages are easy on your wallet. All of the original RTJ Golf Trail sites have been renovated and are ready for your arrival. Celebrate our silver anniversary while saving some silver yourself.
» Plan your visit to the RTJ Golf Trail by calling 1.800.949.4444 or visiting rtjgolf.com.
facebook.com/rtjgolf
twitter.com/rtjgolf «
MANKATO MAGAZINE • JANUARY 2018 • 49
HELPING FAMILIES FOR 25 YEARS. Accra provides support to children, adolescents, adults and families that need help in their homes for a loved one with a disability. We'll help you navigate the different services available to you. PCA Choice services allows you to choose a family member or friend to be your paid caregiver.
Non-Profit Home Care Agency We accept major insurance plans; Medicaid and private pay.
Call us and ask about the possibilities!
New Ulm: 507-225-0623
SERVING PEOPLE STATEWIDE www.accracare.org 50 • JANUARY 2018 • MANKATO MAGAZINE