Mankato Magazine

LIVING 55 PLUS Managing Holiday Stress

THANK YOU FOR YOUR SERVICE We owe them so much

‘Running while female’ essay by RACHAEL HANEL Plan a trip to visit a series of WINERIES What to wear on

ELECTION DAY

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2 • NOVEMBER 2018 • MANKATO MAGAZINE

FEATURE S NOVEMBER 2018 Volume 13, Issue 11

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We salute our veterans They’re the ones who volunteered to defend us. They deserve our gratitude, our thanks, and at least a few pages in this magazine.

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Running while female With horrific stories of the deaths of female athletes still on our minds, writer Rachael Hanel tell us what it’s like for a girl.

ABOUT THE COVER Scott Wolfe of Mankato was one of the guys from the 82nd Airborne that survived the Green Ramp disaster. He was photographed for our cover on a rainy day by Pat Christman.

MANKATO MAGAZINE • NOVEMBER 2018 • 3

DEPARTMENTS 6 From the Editor 8 Faces & Places 12 This Day in History 13 Avant Guardians Rachel James 14 Beyond the Margin Thanksgiving with grace

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16 Familiar Faces Justin Fasnacht 30 Day Trip Destinations Great River Road Wine Trail 32 Then & Now The War to End All Wars 36 Living 55 Plus 53 Food, Drink & Dine

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54 Food Is it ‘Dressing’ or ‘Stuffing’ 56 Wine Burgundy 57 Beer Hazy IPA 58 That’s Life A tall tale

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60 Garden Chat Lyons Creek Gardens 62 Your Style Earn your “I Voted” sticker with

proper Election Day attire

64 Night Moves The What’s Up? Lounge 67 Coming Attractions 68 From This Valley Thank you for continuing to hold

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Coming in December Cancer sucks. Meet some people who are kicking its butt!

MANKATO MAGAZINE • NOVEMBER 2018 • 5

FROM THE ASSOCIATE EDITOR

By Robb Murray NOVEMBER 2018 • VOLUME 13, ISSUE 11 PUBLISHER Steve Jameson EDITOR Joe Spear ASSOCIATE Robb Murray EDITOR CONTRIBUTORS Amanda Dyslin Ann Rosenquist Fee Bert Mattson Bryce O. Stenzel Diana Rojo-Garcia James Figy Jean Lundquist Nell Musolf Pete Steiner Rachel Hanel PHOTOGRAPHERS Pat Christman Jackson Forderer

PAGE DESIGNER Christina Sankey ADVERTISING Danny Creel SALES Joan Streit Jordan Greer-Friesz Josh Zimmerman Marianne Carlson Theresa Haefner ADVERTISING Barb Wass ASSISTANT ADVERTISING Sue Hammar DESIGNERS Christina Sankey CIRCULATION Justin Niles DIRECTOR

Mankato Magazine is published by The Free Press Media monthly at 418 South Second St., Mankato MN 56001.

To subscribe, call 1-800-657-4662 or 507-625-4451. $35.40 for 12 issues.

For editorial inquiries, call Robb Murray at 344-6386, or e-mail rmurray@mankatofreepress.com.

For advertising, call 344-6364, or e-mail advertising@mankatofreepress.com.

6 • NOVEMBER 2018 • MANKATO MAGAZINE

Called to serve

E

ach Nov. 11, our country celebrates Veterans Day. So this month in Mankato Magazine, we’ve decided to honor some men and women in uniform.

Which is, when you think about it, the least we could do.

Lately in this country, it seems like any mention of military or vision of a soldier immediately throws us into a political debate. We line up on either side of the issue and lob insults and invective toward the other. Instead of coming together, we tear each other apart. Which is kind of sad.

Some on the left decry any military presence an act of imperialistic ambition, and question the spending of any public money on defense. Some on the right look at that protest and write the left off as weak and not in step with reality.

The truth is, I think, something on a different level, and something we’re never going to agree on.

But here’s something we can agree on: The men and women who raise their hands and say “I’ll go” when our freedom is c h a l l e n g e d a re a rare breed, and without them, a lot of the things we take for granted wouldn’t be possible.

So we’re not getting into debates in this issue of Mankato Magazine about military involvements. We’re merely shining a light on a few good men and women who stepped up to serve their country. And we thank them for it.

Also in this issue, we have a great essay from writer Rachael Hanel.

An assistant professor at Minnesota State University, Hanel takes us into

the mind of a female runner.

As the nation continues to try to wrap its head around the horrors that befell Mollie Tibbits, the young Iowa college student killed while out for a run in her small Iowa town; Iowa State golfer Celia Barquin, who was murdered during a morning round of golf; and Wendy Martinez of Washington D.C., who was murdered while jogging through her neighborhood, Hanel’s essay is one that reminds us we’ve still got a lot of work to do. No woman should have to worry about this stuff, and Hanel’s essay is an eye-opening look at an issue that, if you’re a man, you’ve never had to ponder.

In this month’s Familiar Faces feature, we touch base with Justin Fasnacht, a ubiquitous personality on the local music scene and creator of the online radio station FuzzTalkRadio.

It’s so nice to hear a young person in this community be so ALL IN on Mankato.

Fasnacht is a community booster just like any other, except he just has cooler friends and better taste in music. It’s people like Fasnacht who are making Mankato the kind of place people want to settle down in. We need more Fasnachts around here, quite frankly.

Robb Murray is associate editor of Mankato Magazine. Contact him at 344-6386 or rmurray@ mankatofreepress.com. Follow him on Twitter @freepressRobb.

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MANKATO MAGAZINE • NOVEMBER 2018 • 7

FACES & PLACES: Photos By SPX Sports

Alive After 5

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1. Paul Bergen played the electric guitar.

2. Eric Koskinen on stage.

3. Fans applauded musicians.

4. Mark Tarello, KEYC Mankato, gave a report.

5. Crowds relaxed at the Civic Center Plaza for Alive After 5.

6. Megan Flanagan, City Center Partnership Director, announced the events going at Alive After 5.

7. The Schell’s Beer bus parked in the sun.

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FACES & PLACES: Photos By SPX Sports

Our Community Has Heart 5k and 10K 1. Mark Dicke created balloon animals for the kids.

2. Ryder Smith (Team Superman) created giant bubbles.

3. Families worked together at the Home D

epot Builders Workshop tent.

4. Landen Goettl got his face painted

by Ron Guappone.

5. Facts about congenital heart defects ( CHD) were placed along the route.

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MANKATO MAGAZINE • NOVEMBER 18 • 9

FACES & PLACES: Photos By SPX Sports

Rock Bend Folk Festival 1. Kit Kildahl plays a live set at the Joyce’s North Grove Stage.

2. People danc to live music in the sun.

3. Miscellaneous food options, such as Gyro, abound at the festival.

4. Musician Bruce Davis performs on the pavilion stage at this year’s Rock Bend Folk Festival in Minnesota Square Park in St. Peter.

5. Stalls and food trucks were scattered across the park.

6. Handcrafted jewelry and journals by Michele Bollmann.

7. Crowds enjoyed great weather and live music with their camp chairs and coolers.

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FACES & PLACES: Photos By SPX Sports

Pridefest

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1. (From left) Kier, Wheylan and Nat Haney waved flags before the parade.

2. Centenary Church walks the Pridefest Parade.

3. Jessica Flatequal waves as she drives through the parade.

4. Maria, Jeni, and Jessica pose for a photo before the parade.

5. Ronda Redmond offers mom hugs as she walks the parade.

6. Sisters (from left) Kendra, Aysha and Sophia Erickson had fun at the Parade.

7. Pridefest 2018 Parade.

8. Ron Rust got all dressed up for the festivities 9. Minnesota State University’s Department of Social Work come together to walk in the Parade.

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MANKATO MAGAZINE • NOVEMBER 18 • 11

Children’s Books, Coffee Table Books, Brochures, Annual Reports, Catalogs, Magazines, Posters, Yearbooks, and MORE!

THIS DAY IN HISTORY Compiled by Jean Lundquist

Café patron sticks finger into coffee, lands in court Monday, Nov. 2, 1942 It was Halloween, it was Saturday night, and it was during the war.

What with coffee being the valuable beverage it was, patrons of a Mankato restaurant found it to be a serious matter when a man began running around the café, sticking his finger into everyone’s pot of java. The cafe owner and the police decided it was a case of disorderly conduct. On Monday morning, the finger dunker, Bernard Hausman, pleaded guilty to the charge, and was ordered to pay a fine of $25, or spend 20 days in the slammer. The sentence was suspended on the condition he stay sober for one year.

Council talks about “ghosts” Monday, Nov. 2, 1947 Ghosts, the hulky variety, plagued the city council this morning. The ghosts, which operated on Halloween, moved the World War cannon from Sibley Park to a place in front of the Pike Street Salvage yard. The discussion was about what kind of Halloween “spirits” might have been involved. Park Commissioner Gomer Jones wanted to find the culprits “and make an example of them.” Believing the culprits would be embarrassed at being found, the council decided to tow the cannon back to the park at city expense.

City plans to be kind to cars this winter Non-corrosive salt ordered Tuesday, Nov. 15, 1966 It might be the closest the streets of Mankato ever came to being paved with gold. City Council members decided to purchase “Carguard” salt from Cargill for the winter snow and ice season. “The salt doesn’t prevent rust on cars, but it helps,” City Engineer I.L. Samuelson said. The “Carguard” cost $4/ ton more than regular rock salt, and the city expected to use about 200 tons for the season. The salt is mixed with oil, and Samuelson told the Council it is a bright yellow.

Outhouse is subject at N. Kato council Tuesday, Nov. 6, 1977 Something was bothering North Mankato Alderman Robert Bierman, and he wanted something done about it. The something was an outhouse “which sticks out like a sore thumb” at the Belgrade Town Hall at the intersection of LoRay and Lee Boulevards. Bierman asked it be removed, or at least screened from view. City Administrator Bob Ringhofer admitted the outhouse was illegal in the City, but said the property was in sale negotiations, so the city was holding back on enforcing the law. He assured Bierman the city would take care of the situation.

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AVANT GUARDIANS

By Leticia Gonzales

Installing a landscape A

Rachel James of the Waseca Arts Center is an accomplished artist in her own right

s an avid reader, visual artist Rachel James takes what she reads and transform it into visual media.

“I read about art and art history, but also feminist theory and natural history,” said James, who also serves as the Director of the Waseca Art Center in Waseca. “My favorite art historical periods are Medieval and Northern Renaissance. I love the way medieval art looks — the awkwardness and grotesqueness. The subjects in prints from the Middle Ages and early Renaissance are inspiring for me, but in a repellent way; there are a lot of misogynistic views in there, of course. But the thing that’s funny is how relevant some of those images still are today.”

While she has a BFA from the University of Kansas and MFA from the University of Minnesota, both in printmaking, James said she likes to use whatever medium best fits the project she wants to make.

“Part of my current interest in clay, paper craft, and textiles is the feminine and ‘crafty’ associations with those media,” she added. “I’m trying to make those quiet and everyday media more grand by creating in a large scale and making objects that are beautiful rather than completely kitschy. Although, kitsch is definitely part of it too.”

Her work, which has been heavily influenced by her favorite childhood movies and tv shows from Jim Henson and Ridley Scott, to 80s fantasy and science fiction, used to include a combination of “bright neon colors and really light feminine pastels and using a really soft, delicate, pretty execution” until she lost interest in those color schemes.

“I’m not really sure why,” James said. “Maybe because

bright colors are so optimistic looking, and I’m not feeling so optimistic lately. I’ve been shifting to more muddy and natural colors in the past couple of years and I’m using lots of black, working in a more assertive, aggressive hand. I don’t want to be soft and quiet because I’m always so mad about what’s going on.”

In addition to the inclusion of dark black as an “etching or woodcut” to her printmaking, her work tends to focus on themes of nature.

With the help of a grant from the Prairie Lakes Regional Arts Council, James is working on an immersive installation project called “SpringSummerFallWinter,” highlighting the “wild plants, fungi, and animals of Minnesota- grasses, mushrooms, wildflowers, weeds, insects and animals.”

“The installation will show the changes that occur in the landscape with the seasons,” James said. “There will probably be some anthropomorphic critters and plants, because I just can’t seem to help myself when it comes to that. But it is overall about how people relate to the natural world, and ascribing human qualities to nonhuman beings is the most human thing to do.”

The installation will consist of an octagon-shaped room that is eight feet wide and eight feet tall, using all handmade natural material such as paper, clay and fiber, as well as other reused materials.

“I hope that people will feel the majesty of nature that I feel every time I go into the woods, to get a little corny and overly optimistic of my abilities to mimic what I certainly cannot,” shared James. “I want the interconnectivity of people and nature to be apparent; show the subtle shifts in seasons that are so fleeting.”

MANKATO MAGAZINE • NOVEMBER 2018 • 13

Dawn Stempson of the Flandreau Santee Sioux Tribe performs a fancy shawl dance at Land of Memories Park during an educational demonstration for sixth-grade students from Prairie Winds Middle School. Various Native educational demonstrations were given to sixth-graders from Dakota Meadows and Prairie Winds middle schools as part of their curriculum about Minnesota history. Photo

by Jackson Forderer 14 • NOVEMBER 2018 • MANKATO MAGAZINE

BEYOND THE MARGIN

By Joe Spear

Thanksgiving with grace: a powerful message Thanksgiving offers a cornucopia when it comes to topics of interest and importance.

I’ve always found it more interesting to listen to what other people are thankful for. It’s an exercise that takes you to what people consider important and usually offers a good story about them achieving this important thing.

It offers a diverse perspective that allows you to measure and compare the thankfulness of others to your own.

Of course, the most intriguing people are thankful for simple things. In Minnesota, we have some historical context for the idea of thankfulness with the famous photograph “Grace.” It’s a picture of a humble-looking man with a meal of bread and soup in front of him with hands folded and head bowed in prayer.

The famous photo by Eric Enstrom, of Bovey, Minn., was taken about 1918, according to records. The town of Bovey and Enstrom’s relatives celebrated the 100th anniversary of the photo in September.

Enstrom had a photography studio and it turns out the man in the photo was a salesman who called on Enstrom.

His name was Charles Wilden, and Enstrom apparently thought he had a photographic face, so he asked him to pose with the soup and bread and with a book that was thought to be either a Bible or a dictionary.

The photo wasn’t famous initially, but by the 1950s it was being ordered by people and churches all over the world. Enstrom then sold it to Augsburg Publishing House for $1,000 and royalties, according a report in the Star Tribune.

Historian Don Boese who wrote a book about the photo said its popularity seemed to be based on its simple message of thankfulness and it came on the heels of World War I where food was rationed. The subject of the photo, Wilden, seems to have disappeared from public records, creating even more mystique of the photograph’s power.

Another famous thankful image comes from one of the first great African American artists — Henry Ossawa Tanner — and his oil painting “The Thankful Poor.” The painting depicts a black man and young black boy whose clothing indicate their meager existence and again, like “Grace”, have their heads bowed and hands folded.

Tanner was the son of slaves and moved to Paris in 1891 and completed the painting in 1894. It also offers a simple message of grace and thankfulness for what people have, however little that might be.

Washington Post columnist Jabari Asim, writing in a 2004 column, likened it to a saying from the Hausa Tribe of Nigeria that advises “give thanks for a little and you will find a lot.”

There’s a kind of peace that comes with thankfulness and here in Mankato we can often see that in the deeds and actions of the Dakota people. Their spirit continues to be remarkable as they occupy a place that took 38 of their ancestors in the largest mass execution in U.S. history, when 38 Dakota were hanged in Mankato at the end of the U.S.-Dakota War.

The Dakota, as a people, have the grace of forgiveness and have been coming together in reconciliation since the 1970s when two great people — Dakota leader Amos Owen and Mankato businessman Bud Lawrence — made it so.

That this historic coming together of people continues to this day and that the relationship between Mankato and its indigenous people has grown with a moving memorial in downtown Mankato should fuel our souls in the Minnesota River Valley.

Indeed, it’s a moving sight to see Native Americans coming down Riverfront Drive, on their horses, from their homes in far southwestern Minnesota or South Dakota to honor and memorialize their ancestors in a moving ceremony usually amid the bone-chilling cold of a Dec. 26 day.

The continued energy brought to the annual powwow in Mankato every fall offers an opportunity for education that is rare nowadays. For this, Mankato should be thankful.

It is still relatively rare it seems, that communities like Mankato take the risks necessary to not only recall dark histories, but to move forward with a story of healing.

To see regular people putting energy into this effort to make the Dakota not just part of our history but part of our community is inspiring. They want us to know they are still here, living their lives like the rest of us. They want us to know they have a context beyond history.

A group of these like-minded community members, some white, some Native American, some African American and others, formed a group to discuss these issues and how they could make them part of the community conscience, if only for one day a year. And they took that first step with the help of a Mankato City Council that approved the first Indigenous Peoples’ Day celebrated this year replacing the observance of Columbus Day. For that, Mankato should be thankful.

The image of Grace was given to us by an immigrant.

The painting of “Thankful Poor” was given to us by one whose ancestors were enslaved. The tremendous message of forgiveness and thankfulness was given to use by people whose ancestors we killed.

For these things, we should be Thankful.

Dave Brave Heart, a local Dakota leader, played a flute at Mankato’s first interfaith Thanksgiving service in 2016. He was recently at a meeting where the community awareness of the Native Americans was discussed in the context of the first Thanksgiving.

After giving that idea some thought, he said, matter of factly. “We helped the pilgrims. We didn’t have immigration laws.”

And for that, all of us should be thankful.

Joe Spear is editor of Mankato Magazine.

Contact him at jspear@mankatofreepress.com or 344-6382. Follow on Twitter @jfspear.

MANKATO MAGAZINE • NOVEMBER 2018 • 15

Familiar Faces

Tune in to hear what all the Fuzz is about Photos by Jackson Forderer

Name:

Justin “Fuzzy” Fasnacht Age: 37 City of residence Mankato Job title: Creator and owner of FuzzTalkRadio.com Brief work history: Manager of RushSmokes, IT guy at Fun.com, bartender at various establishments, cashier at Happy Dan’s, Tech Engineer at VZW Education: Mankato East High School, Minnesota State University Family: Mom and dad in Madison Lake; two sisters and brothers-in-law; nieces and nephews; 4-month-old kittens, Raekwon and Ghostface 16 • NOVEMBER 2018 • MANKATO MAGAZINE

FuzzTalkRadio going strong since 2009

O

ne of the cool things about radio these days is that you don’t really need traditional airwaves to experience it. So if you’re one of the sad few who haven’t checked out Justin “Fuzzy” Fasnacht’s online streaming radio site, “FuzzTalkRadio,” then you need only go to its dot com to see what all the fuzz is about.

Just to get you up to speed, FuzzTalk got its start in 2009, and Fasnacht will regale you with the details of why in a moment. For now, let’s focus on the what: The 24/7 format includes a wide variety of music genres, with a playlist that is heavily focused on southern Minnesota music.

Live programming includes music shows like “The Mike and Bob Hip Hop Show,” and game shows like “Key City Buzz In.” The flagship show is “DaggerRadio,” hosted

by Dagger Chuck, who has been with FuzzTalk since its inception.

“Every Sunday from 9 p.m. to 1 a.m., Dagger Chuck provides the best skate punk music you’ve ever heard,” Fasnacht said. “He’s a godsend to FuzzTalkRadio.”

Here’s some more about FuzzTalkRadio from Fuzzy.

Mankato Magazine: Describe your history with Mankato.

Are you a lifer like so many others (because Mankato is awesome), or have you lived elsewhere?

Justin Fasnacht: Mankato is awesome. I was born, raised and will probably never leave Mankato. To the point that I don’t even want to live in N. Kato or Eagle Lake or ANYTHING that’s not Mankato. Nothing wrong with anywhere else but, it’s not Mankato.

I’ve traveled all over the country and different parts of the world. I realized at a young age everywhere has basically the same struggles or worse. So, why leave a place that I have tons of support to help me along the way of life? Mankato is special and unique, and I never

want to leave. People say it’s a black hole, but I like to think it’s akin to the island on “Lost.”

So I created FuzzTalkRadio to showcase and support Mankato’s thriving music scene.

MM: Where does your nickname, Fuzzy, come from?

JF: One time, in 7th grade, a friend ran up to me and stated, “I remember having your dad as a substitute teacher, and we couldn’t pronounce your last name. So we called him Mr. Fuzzy. You’re Fuzzy from now on.”

And it stuck.

MM: What was your vision for FuzzTalk, and have you brought that to fruition?

JF: To create an Internet radio station that resembles the real radio.

A station that plays music 24/7 and live shows hosted by local Mankato DJs. It has absolutely exceeded my expectations.

Along with providing an online presence, FuzzTalkRadio also books shows at local venues around Mankato, hosts an online calendar called MankatoMusicCalendar.com, and supports a wide variety of music genres and art.

MM: I remember many years ago finding your FuzzTalkRadio business card at the Fillin’ Station. When and how did that get started?

JF: FuzzTalkRadio started up eight years ago this November. At the end of 2009 a production label, Loonatix Productions, that I had been part of since around 2004 closed down.

Right at the same time a girlfriend of mine decided to end our relationship.

With that I didn’t have anything to do other than go to work.

It was very depressing. During this time, I found myself going to the Sugar Room quite a bit and meeting many new friends that were musicians and artists. The talent of Mankato was showing itself. I’ve always wanted to be on the radio, and I know how to create websites.

MM: How would you like to see Mankato’s music scene evolve?

JF: I would love to see many more musicians realize Mankato is a viable place to play and make home. The stronger our community gets, the better it is for everyone. It’s all about supporting each other and creating a safe and strong community.

MM: What are some of your favorite places to hang out in town?

JF: The What’s Up Lounge will of course always be a staple. But, you will always find me pretty much anywhere in the downtown area. The Wine Cafe is a nice and chill spot for local music. I love going to the 410 for their art showings. Midtown has been a great place for FuzzTalkRadio to put on shows and has arguably the best Saturday morning breakfast in town.

The Maker Space is a wonderful place to make your ideas happen.

Blue Bricks is a great place to hang on a patio and chat with friends. Red Rocks is becoming more of a thing now that they are providing live music and supporting the scene with open mics. Of course, I love my job up at Rush Smokes and Liquor. I’m there at least 40 hours a week.

MM: What’s something people would be surprised to learn about you?

JF: I love tacos. Oh ... no wait ... everyone knows I love tacos. Ummm, I dunno. I’m a pretty open book.

MANKATO MAGAZINE • NOVEMBER 2018 • 17

From Cleveland to 82nd AIRBORNE Scott Wolfe was there, and still bears the scars from, the worst peacetime loss of life in military history since WWII

By Robb Murray

L

ike a lot of guys, Scott Wolfe has space in his home that any visitor would look at and say, “Well, this must be the Man Cave.”

And like many such caves, Wolfe’s has a giant flatscreen, comfy couch, quick access to For more tasty beverages and reminders that stories of he’s a guy who wouldn’t mind a Manakto area Sunday afternoon in front of the tube veterans, see watching football.

But there are also signs that the pages 20-24. proprietor of this particular establishment isn’t your ordinary “guy.”

A flag that says 82nd Airborne … a photo with an ex-president … a framed copy of a newspaper with a front-page story of tragedy … a boot with a crack in the heel courtesy of a crashing F-16 fighter jet.

“I’m not a ‘Look at me!’ kind of guy,” Wolfe says of the shrine his wife created to his military service. “But I can see with something like this, it’s probably something that shouldn’t be just sitting in the basement somewhere.”

There are little reminders of Wolfe’s status as a veteran everywhere in this Mankato home. But Wolfe doesn’t need reminders. Especially about that day.

It was March 23, 1994. Should have been routine. But the paratroopers in his group wouldn’t even get into the sky that day. In fact, instead of them taking off into the sky, the sky came crashing down on them. By the time it was over, 24 men would be killed in what remains the worst peacetime tragedy ever for the 82nd Airborne division.

Wolfe was right in the middle of it all. Came literally inches away from being crushed, possibly incinerated.

As Wolfe talks about that day, he gestures with hands that bear the burn scars that will live with him forever. But those scars are nothing compared to what 18 • NOVEMBER 2018 • MANKATO MAGAZINE

he sees in his mind.

CLEVELAND KID

Wolfe, 46, was born and raised in Cleveland. Gave his top effort to football and track … not so much when it came to school work. Which he admits.

“My GPA was probably about,” he says, chuckling, “about as low as you can get to pass.”

But in some ways, the deck was stacked against Wolfe a bit as he made his way through high school.

His parents divorced when he was young, and his upbringing was not bucolic. By the time graduation day drew near, he was at the point where one more half day missed from school would have meant he wouldn’t have graduated.

He lived on his own when he was a senior. And as an adult, he was able to legally excuse himself from school.

“So I would obviously do that,” he says, flashing the mischievous smile they probably still remember at Cleveland High School.

He also worked quite a bit at the Chateau Supper Club (it is Kokomo’s now). He was a chef, and it was just Wolf and the owner who shared cooking duties (and yes, he continues to cook). He learned to cook shrimp, prime rib and everything else on the menu.

Working those hours allowed him to purchase an ‘81 Oldsmobile Cutlass, a ‘79 Chevy Malibu and a Honda Hurricane motorcyle.

He earned a reputation as “that guy,” the guy who would do anything on a dare.

“People learned to not dare me because I’m that guy who would do it,” he said. “Or if we were out at parties, you know. ‘Can you drink this 15th beer?’”

So when he graduated from Cleveland, class of 1991

Photo by Pat Christman

Scott Wolfe Unit of Military: 82nd Airborne Rank: Specialist Hometown: Cleveland Age: 46

(with a GPA of about 1.8 he figures) he was ready to leave.

“Didn’t want to go to college,” he said. “I knew there was more to the world than Cleveland, MN. There’s more. I wanted to do something. I wanted to get outa here.”

BOOT CAMP

Initially, Wolfe wanted to join the Army’s Military Police unit. But a recruiter talked him out of it. No one likes the MPs, he told him.

Then the recruiter, himself a

member of 82nd Airborne, asked him if he’d ever considered jumping out of airplanes.

“Sounded cool,” Wolfe said.

While jumping out of airplanes sounded cool, he had to get through bootcamp first. And that wasn’t as cool. Especially in the earliest days.

“I was scared shitless,” he said.

“You’re up all night and you can’t talk and there’s no cell phones back in the day, and you’re sitting there and you’ve got all these people yelling at you and screaming at you and you’re thinking, ‘What did I do? Why do this?’”

Wolfe was one of the lucky ones.

Because he showed up to bootcamp already in shape, he got through it OK. Others weren’t so lucky; some tried to take their own lives.

Others faltered. And when one falters, the entire group was forced to pay the price. It bonds the members together, and ensures each individual has personal motivation to not let the group down.

“Basic training was terrifying,” he said. “If we messed up, they would smoke us.”

This term, “smoke,” isn’t an official one, but it’s well known among servicemen to mean extreme physical training as a means of punishment.

“You’re in the sand pit and you’re doing pushups, situps, all these different exercises until you can’t move anymore,” he said. “Literally.”

After bootcamp, he went to Airborne school. Which is how he wound up on the road to Green Ramp.

JUMP!

The first time Wolfe ever flew in a plane was when he joined the Army. The second time he flew in an airplane was when he jumped out of it.

But he loved it. He trained for several weeks after bootcamp prior to his first jump, then jumped and jumped and jumped. He’s been to Panama several times, including Continued see Wolfe on page 24

MANKATO MAGAZINE • NOVEMBER 2018 • 19

Photo by Pat Christman

Derek Fennern Hometown: Mankato Age: 31 Unit of military service and rank: United States Marine Corps, Marine Wing Support Squadron 471, Sergeant (2005-2013) United States Air Force, 934th Airlift Wing 27th Aerial Port Squadron Staff Sergeant (2015-Present) Mankato Magazine: What made you decide to join the Armed Forces?

Derek Fennern: Multiple factors have influenced my decision to serve. When I was younger there was this one recruiting commercial, where a Marine went through an obstacle course, grabbed a sword and struck down an evil fire monster. I was 7 or 8 at the time I saw that commercial and knew I 20 • NOVEMBER 2018 • MANKATO MAGAZINE

wanted to be a Marine. In high school, the attacks on 9/11 really solidified my desire to join. After high school, I knew I wanted to be a Marine because they were the best. I joined in 2005 and was in the reserves for eight years. Over the time I saw my enlistment as more of a desire to serve my country and be a part of something bigger than myself. As I grew older, my life goals and situation changed, and I made the switch to the Air Force.

MM: Do you have a family history of military participation?

DF: My late grandfather served in the Army and there are a handful of others in my extended family who have served as well.

MM: Where did you primarily serve in the military, and what kind of work do you do?

DF: I have primarily been in the Reserves, so I was able to be stationed in Minnesota and report on my required one weekend a month and two weeks a year.

I enlisted as a Field Radio Operator

in the Marines. I have been deployed to Camp Lemonier Djibouti in Djibouti, Africa as a part a Security Forces Battalion.

We did patrols, port security, embassy security, and base security. For a two week annual tour I have been to South Africa with a Law Enforcement Company as a Radio Operator. Currently my job in the Air Force is a Ramp Specialist for the 27th Aerial Port Squadron, a part of the 934th Airlift Wing in Minneapolis. Our mission is to ensure planes are loaded properly with both supplies and passengers. It’s a pretty fun job, I get to drive forklifts and other job-related equipment.

MM: How important is your military service to who you are as a person?

DF: The majority of the past 13 years I have spent in the military. I have had many opportunities to learn new skills, travel, and meet new people. During all this time, it has really given me a perspective Continued see Fennern on page 24

Michael Bolan Unit of Military: Military Police Rank: Private First Class Hometown: Minneapolis Age: 72

Mankato Magazine: What made you decide to join the Armed Forces?

Michael Bolan: After high school I had enough money for 6 months for art school then I had a student deferment. After high school, I waited awhile then I went to the army recruitment to enlist for three years. I knew I would be drafted to Vietnam if I didn’t enlist. He told me I could choose where I wanted to go, so I chose Korea. Ironically, my folks called me to tell me they received my draft notice. By enlisting, I avoided being drafted. I was drafted and enlisted at the same time.

MM: Do you have a family history of military participation?

MB: Not that I know of.

MM: How has the military experience affect your life today?

MB: I’ve learned through the military and on through the rest of my life first: trust your instincts.

Second: be patient. Third: be kind and respectful to other people and animals. I learned a lot about both countries and met over 100 good people, including making friends with dozens of people in both countries, including the military personnel.

MM: Where did you primarily serve in the military and what kind of work did you do?

MB: There were two hardship tours of duty in 1966, Vietnam and Korea. I chose Korea. Looking back I appreciated the opportunity to serve in the Far East and also in Europe at an Army Hospital in Stuttgart, Germany.

The hardship tour of duty in Korea consisted of many things, including living in a Quonset hut with 25 other men for 17 months, dealing with the monsoon season

Photo by Pat Christman for three months. Also, dealing with two winters with weather reaching 25 below zero. A few guys received frostbite and I almost lost a couple of toes. There was a language barrier, but I learned some Korean from a Korean friend of mine.

Served in Germany and Korea.

That consisted of everything from security guard which I covered in at Panmunjom, the Swiss and Swede compounds and the Demilitarized Zone; the bridge of no return, that was security and in my regular unit second Infantry Division, second MP company, which was around 350 MPs. We covered the whole division where

you would go through the villages.

Day, afternoon, evening, whenever, to check the villages and the check the GIs and I probably made 12 or 15 arrests while in Korea. Not as many in Germany but mainly because of drunks: they like to fight.

MM: How important is your military service to who you are as a person?

MB: I learned a lot of that through the military and carried it through my life. And as far as discipline, I think I had a lot of discipline ahead of time. Because when I went Continued see Bolan on page 25

Photo by Jackson Forderer

Penny Nelson Unit: USS Theodore Roosevelt (CVN-71) Rank: HM1 (E-6) Petty Officer First Class Hometown: Plymouth, MN Age: 43 Mankato Magazine: What made you decide to join the armed forces?

Penny Nelson: I knew I wasn’t ready to go to college right out of high school. I wanted to see the world and get money for a college education for the next chapter of my life.

MM: Do you have a family history of military participation?

PN: My Dad served as an MP in the Army. He met my Mom while he was stationed up in Alaska. My Mom’s brother served in the Navy.

Her brother-in-law served in the Army. One of my cousins on my Dad’s side of the family was in the Navy and was part of the reason

why I chose the Navy instead of the Army.

MM: Where did you primarily serve in the military, and what kind of work did you do?

PN: Oceana, VA, April 1997-April 2000 Squadron Corpsman (HM) for VF-213, F-14 squadron; Keflavik, Iceland April 2000- October 2001, Leading Petty Officer (LPO) Aviation Medicine Dept; Quantico, VA, October 2001-March 2003 Squadron HM for HMX-1, Presidential Support Helicopter; White House Medical Unit Mar 2003-May 2006, clinic manager; Brunswick, ME May 2006-May 2009 Squadron HM for VPU-1, special projects squadron; Rota, Spain May 2009-May 2011, LPO of Aviation Medicine and Occupational Health departments; Norfolk, VA May 2011-October 2014, LPO of Aviation Medicine and Training Dept onboard CVN-71 (see above Unit) MM: How important is your military service to who you are as a person?

PN: It has formed my entire adulthood since I joined right out of high school and stayed in for 20

22 • NOVEMBER 2018 • MANKATO MAGAZINE

years. It is all I know.

MM: What is your fondest memory of your military service?

PN: The initiation ceremonies such as when we crossed the equator and international dateline (Golden Shellback Ceremony) and when we flew over the Arctic Circle (Blue Nose Ceremony). The camaraderie is unparalleled since you have to work together to accomplish tasks.

MM: What are you doing now?

PN: I just graduated from Minnesota State University on May 5, 2018 with Honors and looking to start a business that provides health, wellness and addiction counseling for fellow military veterans.

MM: How has the military experience affected your life?

PN: I have a second family now who I can rely on even though we are not related by blood. I keep in touch with a lot of people I worked with especially while stationed overseas. They are the best friends I have and we celebrate everything together from weddings, funerals, births, divorces, graduations, etc.

Continued see Nelson on page 25

Photo by Jackson Forderer

Freda Steffl Unit: Army Reserve Rank: E-4 Hometown: Mankato Age: 29

Mankato Magazine: What made you decide to join the armed forces?

Freda Steffl: My love to always support, protect and defend my family and friends (when the need arises) was my main motivation to join the armed forces. In my elementary and high school years, I defended kids against bullies and made friends with these kids.

MM: Do you have a family history of military participation?

FS: Yes. I have a great uncle who served in the Nigerian Airforce, another in the army, and a few fallen soldiers (casualties of war).

MM: Where did you primarily serve in the military, and what kind of work did you do?

FS: I was stationed in an engineering company here in Mankato, MN working as a CBRNS (Chemical, Biological, Radiological and Nuclear Specialist).

MM: How important is your military service to who you are as a person?

FS: I’ve always wanted to be an educated and strong (physically, emotionally and mentally) woman and the military did help me with achieving it all with the physical and educational trainings that were a part of our requirement to remain enlisted.

MM: What is your fondest memory of your military service?

FS: Our physical trainings have by far been my fondest moments. I enjoyed every obstacle course, running with all my battle buddies while singing military cadences, and early morning physical readiness training.

actress/model/producer and just recently produced my first feature film “Alexandra” which is available on ITunes, Amazon and Google Play.

MM: How has the military experience affected your life?

FS: My service in the military has impacted my life in the most positive way possible and more than ever, has made me long to help build a stronger community by helping as many people as I can (one person at a time). I am more caring and pay close attention to my surroundings.

MM: Tell us something about your military service that will surprise people?

FS: My time in the military has given me the greatest friends. We are not just friends, we are family that help/support each other even after our service ended. Though we are miles apart, I have military buddies I talk to almost on a daily basis and I am so blessed to have an unbreakable bond like that.

MM: What are you doing now?

FS: I am focusing on building my career in entertainment as an MANKATO MAGAZINE • NOVEMBER 2018 • 23

Wolfe

Contiuned from page 19 once during an uprising of sorts in Cuba that prompted thousands of Cuba residents to flee to other countries, including Panama. The 82nd Airborne Division helped manage the masses.

He was also minutes away from parachuting into combat in Haiti.

On the flight over there, though — 45 minutes away — their plane was ordered to turn around. Another unit had gone and taken care of business. The 82 Airborne wasn’t needed.

The day he’ll never forget, though, came on March 23, 1994. It was a day jump. Some German jumpers were there, meaning anyone from the 82nd Airborne who jumped with them would get their “German jump wings” (a pin to wear on their dress greens). It was supposed to be casual day.

Jumpers were told to be on Green Ramp and ready by a certain time, and Wolfe and a buddy were there, ready to go. Then his buddy remembers that he’s forgotten his dog tags, and no one is allowed to jump without dog tags. He implored Wolfe to run back to the barracks to get the dog tags. Wolfe doesn’t want to go, but he relents.

Along the way, the see another jumper heading in the same direction. They ask him what he’s up to, and he says that he’s forgotten his dog tags as well.

Wolfe says he stopped, pointed to both of them and said, “You two go,” and then, fatefully, he headed back to his spot on Green Ramp.

Moments later — with his buddy safe back at barracks — the dominoes of a disaster were starting to fall.

An F-16 and C-130 collided midair while both were trying to land. The C-130 was able to land safely, but the F-16 tumbled into another C-130 that was parked, with members of the 82nd Airborne nearby, waiting to board.

The tumbling F-16 actually hit Wolfe in the foot as it scampered away; the boot, displayed in his man cave, still has the crack it endured that day.

That collision produced an explosion so spectacular that it incinerated entire vehicles, Wolfe said, and killed 23 men instantly (one additional serviceman would

died from his injuries a short time later).

In addition to the explosion from the jet fuel, live ammunition from the F-16 began exploding in pops and bangs.

In the middle of it all, Wolfe looked over and saw his best friend sitting with what Wolfe called a “death stare.” He ran to him and saw his leg had suffered major damage. Thinking quickly, Wolfe removed his nylon belt and tied a tourniquet to his friend’s leg.

Eventually, Wolfe realized his hands and legs had sustained severe burns. He ran to the nearest bathroom and immediately ran water over his hands. Soon, the bathroom filled up with others doing the same, putting their hands in sinks and toilets.

Soon, everyone was ordered to leave via the front gate. Wolfe made his way there, and who did he see?

The guys who left to fetch their dog tags.

Riding in a humvee to a hospital, he saw men whose skin was charred or falling off their bodies.

One man died on the ride there.

Eventually, Wolfe wound up in a hospital bed. They treated him with buckets of ice but nothing could help with the pain. Doctors finally gave him morphine, and Wolfe waited with the other victims for burn specialists to be flown in.

After weeks of treatment — which included long, painful walks up and down nine flights of stairs, dozens of staples in his hands, and a visit from President Bill Clinton — he was able to walk out of the hospital.

The ordeal has, obviously, changed him. The burned texture of his hands are constant reminders of the horror he went through, and he still doesn’t like getting on airplanes.

But he’s still the tough Cleveland kid who wanted to be a cop. He actually is a cop. After a long stint with the Blue Earth County Sheriff’s Department, he’s now with the Waseca County Sheriff’s Office.

MM

24 • NOVEMBER 2018 • MANKATO MAGAZINE

Fennern

Contiuned from page 20 on how I wish to live my life and how I treat people. Admittedly, I carry a lot of my military expectations in my civilian life, like being on time, cleanliness of my house and being a leader, if I am asked to lead or not. (Without my military service) I definitely would not be driven to always do my best and show respect to everyone I meet.

MM: What is your fondest memory of your military service?

DF: The many friendships I have made. I would say my fondest memory would be the times spent out in the field, either training or on mission, because of the shenanigans and how much we relied on each other to make it through.

MM: What are you doing now?

DF: I am a husband, a father, a Teacher for Mankato Area Public Schools at PrairieCare and a reservist in the Air Force.

MM: How has the military experience affect your life today?

DF: Without the Military I would not have been put on the path I am on today. Life doesn’t always go the way you plan it and the military definitely prepared me to handle stressful situations brought up by change. I decided to come down to Mankato after my first deployment to work on my degree. Little did I know I would meet my future wife, end up with a career in education, be a father and switch military careers. The military definitely put me on a path to success through utilizing the discipline and drive the military instilled in me.

MM: Tell us something about your military service that would surprise people.

DF: Even though I was in the Marines we did more classroom learning and office inventory than we did like “Call of Duty”-type missions. We would seldom do what is typically thought of as being a Marine.

Bolan

Contiuned from page 20 through MP Academy and basic training, basic was fairly easy for me. MP Academy was rough. Not everybody graduated, almost a third didn’t make it. But I did a pretty good job with that, and even got rank at the end. And I had a lot of discipline. So I don’t think that came from the military. I think I had it before I even went in, but they sort of helped mold it.

MM: What is your fondest memory of your military service?

MB: My fondest memory would be in Germany, because we used to say Germany was party Hardy. It was kind of the only time in my life where I was really popular because I knew everybody and because you know everybody and you’re friends with everybody. I enjoyed that a great deal. And we just enjoyed each other’s company. We’d go on picnics at different castles. I traveled a lot in Europe by myself and with friends. I enjoyed Europe a great deal. Korea was rough at times. But Germany was very enjoyable for 17 months. I’ve never had an experience quite like that.

MM: What are you doing now?

MB: I’d say within the next three weeks, I think I’m going to start writing about different experiences I’ve had. And it’s nothing to, you know, to be in a book or anything, but just to exercise my brain to remember things and to write them down. And I’ve been told I was a good writer because I gave my wife’s eulogy. And everybody was surprised it was done so well. And then I gave this lecture last Thursday, and they thought that was done exceptionally well. I’m thinking, well, I’m getting a lot of

compliments about writing. I’m retired as an artist, so I should try my hand at writing.

MM: Can you tell us something about your military service that would surprise people?

MB: A lot of people were surprised that I had malaria. I remember that day so much in my mind.

Fortunately, I was just in Germany for three days, and all of a sudden, it hit me because you don’t get the attack right away. I went to Europe and I was in the hospital three days, and all of a sudden I woke up and I could hardly get dressed and almost passed out. Fortunately, the emergency room was only about three quarters of a block away. The nurse took my temperature and it was 106; you start getting brain damage any more than that. So they rushed. They gave me a spinal tap thinking it was spinal meningitis. It’s a long needle, they stick it in your in the bottom of your spine. They had three guys hold me down thinking I was I was going to go crazy. I was so weak, they didn’t have to hold me at all.

They just took the sample and then the doctor said, “Where were you stationed?” I said, “Korea.” And that’s when he realized it’s malaria.

Nelson

Contiuned from page 22 MM: Tell us something about your military service that will surprise people?

PN: Even though women are in the minority in the military, the guys are super protective of the women.

The mass media makes it sound like the guys are just hitting on the women non-stop, which really isn’t the case. We are more like brothers and sisters, working together toward a common goal and mission. And the rivalry between services is fueled by mad respect for each other and is good-natured.

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MANKATO MAGAZINE • NOVEMBER 2018 • 25

Y A S

ES

Running with Wolves Avid runner and writer Rachael Hanel says women can’t afford to take chances while out on a solo run

By Rachael Hanel

O

n a brilliant late summer day in September, I drive to Seven Mile Creek Park outside of Mankato for nearly my favorite activity in the world: a challenging run through the hilly woods.

The humidity that had settled over Minnesota like a blanket for the past two months has finally dissipated.

The sun is warm but the air dry, a welcome relief since it seemed I had done all of my marathon training on days you could wring out the air like a washcloth.

Even better, I have nothing but time. My work for the day is done, and the afternoon stretches long in front of me.

I am just a few minutes into my run when I see him.

The man is just ahead of me. He’s walking over one of the wooden bridges that spans the creek.

I slow down my already slow jog as I get closer to him. We’re going in the same direction, so his back is to me. In an instant, I evaluate him. He’s not out for a run — he’s wearing jeans and a nicer short-sleeve shirt, like a polo or dress T-shirt. His hair is short and he’s slim and lean. He looks like he could run fast.

Something is sticking out of his back pocket. I can’t tell what it is — a phone? A wallet? A knife?

The likely story is that he’s out here on his lunch break on a beautiful day. Who could blame him?

But I don’t know. As a woman running alone on an isolated path, I have to assume the worst. He may be a nice guy, but I can’t afford to give him the benefit of the doubt.

26 • NOVEMBER 2018 • MANKATO MAGAZINE

MANKATO MAGAZINE • NOVEMBER 2018 • 27

Still, I keep running toward him. I have two options.

One, to pass him. But then he’ll be able to see what path I choose as we go deeper and deeper into the woods.

Or two, turn around.

I continue to slow my pace as my brain weighs the options. He hears me coming up behind him. He turns around to look. Our eyes meet. He doesn’t smile as he holds my gaze. His face looks hard.

No question now. I turn around.

And I’m mad.

I’m mad that I have to adjust my route yet again. In my 30 years as a runner, I’ve changed my route countless times in situations just like this. I’ve headed for more visible trails. I’ve chosen routes that let me dash around corners. I’ve gone toward trails with known forks and hope a guy doesn’t see which way I go. I’ve left the Sakatah Trail, turned on one of the gravel roads that intersect with it but then the only way to get back home was to run alongside busy Highway 60. I traded one safety risk for another.

I’m mad at myself. I have a small container of pepper spray but didn’t bring it. I feel more confident when I carry the spray and I would have probably charged right past the guy, knowing I had some protection if I needed it.

I’m mad at myself, too, for assuming the worst about this guy.

But Mollie Tibbetts is on my mind. I’m sure she’s on the mind of every solo female runner lately. The 20-year-old woman who went for a run in July in rural Iowa, past corn fields and barns and trees, much like the places I like to run. She was followed and

28 • NOVEMBER 2018 • MANKATO MAGAZINE

murdered.

Then, just a couple of weeks after I was at Seven Mile, two more attacks on female athletes. On Sept. 17, Iowa State golfer Celia Barquin Arozamena, 22, was killed on a golf course in Ames while she was getting in a morning round before classes.

Wendy Martinez, 35, was stabbed seven times while running on Sept. 18 in Washington, D.C. The scariest thing about this attack is that it happened while she was running along a street in one of the most populated cities in the country, something I had just done the month before when I was in D.C. for a conference.

Every man I come across while I’m alone on a trail, in the woods or on the street is a potential threat. I will not apologize for thinking this way. There’s a saying frequently attributed to the writer Margaret Atwood that goes: “Men are afraid that women will laugh at them. Women are afraid that men will kill them.” The physical power and strength that most men have over women, plus the cultural dictum in which men are responsible for the overwhelming percentage of homicides, helps create the sense of a threat.

Female runners make a variety of choices in an attempt to feel safe. They change their routes, like me.

They run in pairs or in groups. They run only during daylight hours. They run indoors. They run only on well-traveled streets. They forego headphones.

All of these options pose a quandary for the solo female runner who wants to get away from the world.

This runner wants to be inside her own head. She views a run in the woods or on a trail as not just a run, but a meditation, a prayer. The fear of an attack is

Rachael Hanel is a writer who lives in Madison Lake. She is the author of “We’ll Be the Last One to Let You Down: Memoir of a Gravedigger’s Daughter,” and is a faculty member at Minnesota State University’s Department of Mass Media Studies.

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robbing her of something fundamental: the desire to escape.

To have a time when no one is demanding anything from her, when she is responsible only for herself in the moment.

I’m mad that it’s this way. I’m mad that when I escape to the trail or woods, I’m always on guard. I’m mad that when I posted an informal poll on Facebook, dozens of my female friends said they have changed a route or changed plans because they came across someone who made them uncomfortable. I’m mad because we don’t have the same freedom as male runners.

I teach media literacy, so I’m constantly telling my students the world isn’t as bad as the media makes it seem. Of course we’re going to hear about the tragedies of women killed while exercising alone because it’s unusual.

Hundreds of thousands of women each day are running outside by themselves and coming safely back home, thank God. I run by myself because I need to.

It’s a necessary part of my life, up there with eating and breathing.

The risks aren’t going to stop me.

I accept that I will have to make adjustments. That day at Seven Mile, my initial irritation at having to change my route quickly dissipated. I was still on a run, albeit on a different trail than I had initially planned. It was still a gorgeous trail, and it was still a gorgeous day.

MM

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MANKATO MAGAZINE • NOVEMBER 2018 • 29

DAY TRIP DESTINATIONS: Great River Road Wine Trail

By James Figy

Garvin Heights Vineyards was one of the founding members of the Great River Road Wine Trail. It is nestled near the Mississippi River near Winona

Wine down for the Holidays Pair local wines with winter fare on the Great River Road Wine Trail

W

hether trying to create the perfect flavor profile for your Thanksgiving dinner or relaxing after Christmas shopping, a little wine can go a long way. But because picking the perfect wine for the occasion can be stressful, the Great River Road Wine Trail wants to help.

This group of 11 wineries along the Mississippi River will host its annual Holiday Harvest Wine & Food Festival Nov. 10-11 to allow visitors to taste a variety of local wines paired with holiday dishes.

The food offerings at each winery are often as varied as the wines, according to Linda Seppanen, co-owner of Garvin Heights Vineyards in Winona.

“What we have done that did well were spicy popcorn with Bluff Country White, turkey sliders with savory 30 • NOVEMBER 2018 • MANKATO MAGAZINE

dressing with La Crescent and assorted cream puffs with St. Urho White,” she said, adding that this year’s menu will be released right before the festival.

Those taking part in the Holiday Harvest Wine & Food Festival will receive a six-bottle wine tote and a wine trail glass, along with three 1-ounce pours and three food samples at each winery. Tickets can be purchased in advance until Nov. 6 on the Great River Road Wine Trail website or at any of the wineries the day of the festival.

Reduced-price designated driver tickets are available as well.

Although visitors can start at whichever location makes sense to them, the trail officially begins in Minnesota at Cannon River Winery in Cannon Falls and proceeds to Falconer Vineyards Winery & Bistro and Flower

Although Seppanen appreciates each one, she wouldn’t trade the winery that she runs with her husband, Marvin Seppanen.

“At Garvin Heights Vineyards, you see the grapes and can walk among them for a true vine-to-glass experience,” she said. “We are family operated, so you will talk with a principal here.”

Garvin Heights began selling wine in 2007, though the couple began growing grapes in 1987. “The vineyards kept growing as more varieties of North American hybrid grapes became available, so we planted them. We both have farm backgrounds and had enough land to do so,” she said. “...We had more grapes than we could use as hobbyists, but not big enough volumes of any to sell. So we shifted with the business focus of certainly growing our own grapes but also committing to purchase from local growers who are not interested in being a winery.”

The Seppanens take great pride in their award-winning wines, from the fortified, Port-style Riverport series to lighter varieties.

“The best-selling wine in the summertime is our sangria, a slightly sweet, citrusy, easy-drinking bit of summer in the glass,” Seppanen said. “The overall bestseller is Raspberry, which tastes like fresh raspberries. We are noted for the number of dry wines that we make rather than only focusing on sweet wines for the market.”

While many visitors stop in Winona to sample the winery on their way to the next one on the trail, Seppanen encourages staying to enjoy the area. The city’s top attractions include tours of the Marine Art Museum and the J.R. Watkins Medical Company complex, outdoor trails on the blufflands and dining at local restaurants, according to Seppanen.

She knows that there is plenty more to enjoy at the 10 other wineries on the trail, especially during the Holiday Harvest Food & Wine Festival. However, she always enjoys when people return to Garvin Heights for another glass.

“We love to see our customers again and encourage meeting others who come to visit in the winery,” she said.

“We have a great deck with views of the vineyards where people can share wine, cheese and conversation.”

Valley Vineyards in Red Wing. Crossing into Wisconsin, it continues with Maiden Rock Winery & Cidery in Stockholm, Villa Bellezza Winery & Restaurant in Pepin, Danzinger Vineyards in Alma, Seven Hawks Vineyards in Fountain City and Elmaro Vineyard in Trempealeau.

It returns to Minnesota for Garvin Heights in Winona and Riverview Vineyard & Winery in La Crescent before jumping south to the final location, Eagles Landing Winery in Marquette, Iowa.

Those who can’t attend the holiday event can still enjoy the wineries year-round. After having a wine trail passport stamped at all 11 locations, visitors earn a wine glass and can be entered to win a gift card that’s redeemable at any member winery.

As a founding member, Garvin Heights helped form the Great River Road Wine Trail in 2009. This allowed them to spread the word about each other and provide a wider variety of wines and unique experiences for customers.

Some of the wineries are located on the vineyards while others are in town, Seppanen said. Some have cozy tasting rooms while others provide large halls for wedding receptions and events. Some offer full menus while others simply offer snacks.

IF YOU GO:

HOLIDAY HARVEST WINE & FOOD FESTIVAL Where: 11 wineries along the Mississippi River in Minnesota, Wisconsin and Iowa, including Garvin Heights Vineyards 2255 Garvin Heights Road, Winona, MN 55987 When: 10 a.m.-5 p.m., Nov. 10-11 Cost: $30 per person before Nov. 6 or $40 the day of at your first stop; $15 for designated drivers Visit greatriverroadwinetrail.org for more information

MANKATO MAGAZINE • NOVEMBER 2018 • 31

THEN & NOW: The “War to End All Wars”

By Bryce O. Stenzel

32 • NOVEMBER 2018 • MANKATO MAGAZINE

N

The “War to End All Wars”

ov. 11, 2018 marks the 100th anniversary of one of the most momentous events of the 20th century; the armistice agreement, signed between the warring Allied and Central Powers that went into effect on the 11th hour, of the 11th day, of the 11th month.

As important as it was, the armistice did not officially end the “Great War,” as WWI was called in 1918; it simply allowed for a ceasefire between German, French, British and American troops on Europe’s Western Front, until a permanent peace treaty could be negotiated.

Had Germany known in advance that the Allies (with the exception of the United States) had no real intention of offering them honorable terms of surrender that they could accept — based on the promises of self-determination and respect for their territorial integrity, as outlined in President Wilson’s Fourteen Points — it would have never asked for the armistice.

As it was, both France and Great Britain sought revenge against Germany for the staggering loss of life the soldiers of each country suffered, as well as German military occupation of northeastern France and the physical devastation caused by the war. France, in particular, was eager to press its territorial claims against Germany, in an effort to wrest back political control of Alsace-Lorraine, which it had lost in the Franco-Prussian War of 1870.

The very fact that the subsequent peace negotiations that produced the Treaty of Versailles were held just outside of Paris, rather than in Geneva, Switzerland or some neutral location spelled disaster for Germany (and ultimately the rest of the world).

Germany wasn’t even allowed to send delegates to the negotiations portion of the conference; they were simply summoned after the terms were worked out among the victorious Allies and told to sign a dictated peace; otherwise, the armistice would be negated, and the war would resume.

Germany had no choice but to relinquish its colonial possessions, allow the French to militarily occupy the Rhineland to create a buffer zone of protection between the

two countries and worst of all, pay enormous war reparations to the Allies, which destroyed Germany’s economy.

In effect, Germany was “blamed” for starting the war, and would be punished accordingly. Germany was left impoverished, embittered, and politically unstable — leading to the rise of Adolf Hitler and the Nazi Party, who sought to take advantage of Germany’s suffering to promote their own diabolical political and social agenda.

The tragic irony of the “war to end all wars,” was that, in reality, it was only a prelude to a far more devastating conflict. The lesson to be learned here is that the desire for revenge on the part of France and Great Britain, as well as the failure of the United States to enforce its own lofty ideals through membership in the League of Nations, paved the way for an even worse war than the one which concluded Nov. 11, 1918.

According to Kathleen Backer, Executive Director of the Brown County Historical Society in New Ulm, the legacy of the “Great War” was strong distrust of the federal government on the part of local citizens in New Ulm, many of whom had strong family ties to the “Old Country.”

Shortly after the U.S. entered the war in April, 1917, the Committee of Public Information (CPI) was created with the task of keeping an eye on any citizen suspected of “disloyalty” to America and its war policies against Germany.

This put New Ulm right in the cross-hairs of the Committee’s scrutiny, and a major clash was not long in coming. On July 25, 1917, a massive rally of 10,000 people protesting the drafting and sending of American troops “over there” to fight against Germany was held at New Ulm’s Turner Hall.

Speakers included: Mayor Louis Fritsche, City Attorney Albert Pfaender, Director of Martin Luther College Rev. Adolf Ackermann, Brown County Auditor Louis Vogel, and businessman Frank Retzloff. A month later, Minnesota Governor Burnquist suspended Fritsche, Pfaender, and Vogel from office, while the Committee pressured the college to fire Ackermann.

I n D e c e m b e r, F r i t s c h e a n d

Pfaender were permanently removed from office, and Vogel was reinstated.

The war “challenged the very fabric of those who were German by those around them who were distrustful of their motives,” Backer said.

When asked what she learned the most from in overseeing the Historical Society’s current exhibit, Loyalty and Dissent: Brown County and WWI (which remains on display through December 31, 2018), Backer stated that she really gained an appreciation for the fact that anyone of German ancestry living at that time had to deny their heritage in an effort to “fit in” with American life. In her examination of archival records Backer ran across a New Ulm resident who even changed his address from “German Street,” to “Liberty Street,” to avoid suspicion.

In our own age of mistrusting immigrants, isolating ourselves behind walls (real or imagined), renewal of the Patriot Act, etc., we would be wise to reexamine the “Great War” and its implications.

Learning tolerance could be its greatest legacy, if we allow it. nnnn Loyalty and Dissent: Brown County and WWI is a recipient of the 2018 “Minnesota History Award,” which was presented at the Minnesota Alliance of Local History Museums Conference in Marshall, MN on April 26. The award was created to honor the excellent work performed in Minnesota’s public history community.

The Brown County Historical Society also received the prestigious American Association for State and Local History, “Leadership in History Award,” at its convention in Kansas City, MO, on Sept. 28, 2018. Winners of the award represent the best in the field of public history and provide leadership for the future of state and local history.

Brown County Historical Society will be open from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Sunday, Nov. 11, 2018, to recognize the centennial observance of “Armistice Day.” The Museum, including its WWI exhibit, will be open to guests at no charge on that day.

MANKATO MAGAZINE • NOVEMBER 2018 • 33

REFLECTIONS

By Pat Christman

34 • NOVEMBER 2018 • MANKATO MAGAZINE

T

here is always something for a farmer to do at harvest time. For the Midwestern farmer October and November are the Super Bowl.

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It’s a hard time of year. There is always a lot to do and not enough day to do it in. Add in the pressures of wet fields, breaking equipment and wet weather and you have a recipe for long days and little sleep. Winter won’t wait until the crop is out of the field, either.

Somehow, some way it seems to get done every year. The crops are brought in, fields readied for winter and the combines put away for another season. MM MANKATO MAGAZINE • NOVEMBER 2018 • 35

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Managing F Holiday Stress and Anxiety With A Little Help From

or many, the holidays are the best time of year.

Days filled with shopping, cooking, visiting and playing games with family and friends that only make it home a few times each year.

For others, the holidays can bring more mixed emotions. Although, this time of year is filled with many wonderful events and memories, it can also bring extra stress and anxiety to people caring for their loved ones.

Simply put, the holidays are a very busy time. There are more events to attend. There is extra shopping to do and often more mouths to feed which means more cooking and cleaning as well.

In order to be a good caregiver, those taking care of their loved ones, need to also take care of themselves.

Respite Care – Good For Everyone

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One of the ways to do that, according to Laura Templin, Community Relations Manager at Ecumen Pathstone Living is to take advantage of services like Adult Day Services and Respite Care.

Ecumen Pathstone Living is licensed through the Department of Human Services and has been providing respite care at the Christ the King Church since 1980.

“We provide transportation to and from the home,” Templin said. “We offer enriching programming such as stimulating games and puzzles, even live entertainment and musical performances. We really try to make it fun. Besides entertaining care receivers, we can also help with activities of daily living. If someone has diabetes and needs their blood glucose monitored – we can do all of that.”

Templin said, people can even get a bath which can be physically taxing on caregivers. Ecumen Pathstone Living also offers caregiver support and coaching.

“We teach caregivers how to deal with things like depression, social isolation, confusion and wandering,” Templin explained.

VINE Faith In Action also has an Adult Respite Center. Beth Amlie and her husband Jim have been using this service for many years. Eight years ago Jim was diagnosed with mixed

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dementia.

This is a condition in which abnormalities characteristic of more than one type of dementia occur simultaneously in the brain. In the most common form of mixed dementia, the abnormal protein deposits associated with Alzheimer’s disease coexist with blood vessel problems linked to vascular dementia.

Beth is Jim’s only full-time caregiver so that means they are together 24 hours a day, 7 days a week and with the advancement of his condition, he requires constant supervision, Beth said.

Being a primary caregiver can be very mentally and physically demanding.

If caregivers start to feel tired, overwhelmed, frustrated or trapped, these can be signs that it may be time to ask for help.

Respite care offers much-needed relief for primary caregivers. Just a few hours a day or a few hours a week can help to relieve burden and stress. Respite can be an ongoing schedule or for a special event like a vacation or a family wedding. It is very flexible and based on need.

Having respite care could mean you have time to take a walk, visit with a friend, run errands or just get a good night’s sleep. Whatever you need to do to feel refreshed. Getting respite care is very important for caregivers’ health and well-being.

Jim goes to respite care one to two days a week. While Jim is at respite care, Beth said she tries take a bath or get a massage.

“Honestly, sometimes, I just sit on the sofa and look out the window and try not to feel guilty,” Beth said.

While at respite care, Beth said Jim enjoys all kinds of activities.

“They have coffee and social time,” Beth said. “The volunteers at VINE read the newspaper out loud and talk about current events. They have some sort of music or music therapy everyday. There is a volunteer who comes in with her therapy dog. They even do art and craft projects.”

Be Proactive – Plan Ahead Beth said she has learned a lot from Mary Wichtendahl, VINE’S Respite Center Director.

“One of things that Mary talks about a lot is not waiting to transition to the next step,” Beth explained. “She tells us not to wait until we really need assistance. Don’t wait until we are at our wits end, but rather, plan ahead. It

Beth Amlie and her husband Jim pose for a quick photo during their vacation. is really common as caregivers to feel small groups,” Beth said. “We love to go responsible, to feel like we can do it all. to the Kiwanis lights. We usually do that But I’ve learned that it (respite care) is several times during the season, both so good for him too!” walking and driving.”

Although Beth doesn’t host any big One of the effects of Jim’s condition events during the holidays she said, she is aphasia which means he has lost his really tries to ability to do everything express and she can to understand “We took an eight week course alleviate speech. stress and “He can’t through the Mayo Health Systems stick to really watch called Mindful Based Stressed a normal TV or read routine. any more but Reduction that centered around “We will go he can look to events at at pictures yoga and meditation,” Beth said. other people’s and he loves “It was really informative. houses, music,” Beth maybe go to said. “So we lunch with go to a lot of

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Special Advertising Section • OCTOBER 2018 • LIVING 55 PLUS • 41

RE. More peace of mind.

VINE Adult Respite Center offers music or music therapy almost every day of the week. music events and concerts during the holiday season. Music is one thing that he still really enjoys and takes in.”

When asked what advice she would give to people who might be taking on a new role as a caregiver, Beth recommended being proactive.

“We took an eight week course through the Mayo Health Systems called Mindful Based Stressed Reduction that centered around yoga and meditation,” Beth said. “It was really informative.

We went to a total diet exercise reduction plan. We learned early on that medications don’t benefit any more than a healthy diet and 30 minutes of daily exercise.”

Now Beth and Jim eat all natural foods, grass fed animals, fruits, veggies and they do not eat any processed foods. She said the new diet really slowed Jim’s symptoms down and created a better quality of life for both of them.

Beth said she would also encourage new caregivers to attend support groups and ask questions. When this all started Beth said she had no clue what kinds 42 • LIVING 55 PLUS • OCTOBER 2018 • Special Advertising Section

Staff members at VINE Respite Center lead participants through a variety of exercises and physical activites. of service were available to her and Jim. She found out that because Jim is a veteran, he gets two days per week of respite care for free.

“Mary explained the resources that were available and showed me how to fill out the paperwork,” Beth said.

“I think VINE has helped us so much over the years. Mary leads a support group once a month and I’ve been there many times. There is something special about being surrounded by people who have experienced what you are going through. They have such compassion.”

It is not just for her that the volunteers have compassion for, Beth said.

“The volunteers are so loving and understanding towards Jim,” she said.

“He helps with things and he truly feels valued.”

Jim is now at the point he doesn’t know who Beth is.

“Sometimes I’m his daughter.

Sometimes I’m his wife. Sometimes I’m his friend,” Beth said. “I know it might

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Participants create holiday crafts at the VINE Respite Center. sound corny and sappy but we talk a lot about gratitude. We talk about how he can still walk and how we have each other people, because we know people who are alone and are not mobile.

Even on tough days, we really try to be thankful.”

Home Care Services Can Prevent Caregiver Burnout

Every situation is different and the situation may change over time.

According to Diann Ward, Assistant Director at Visiting Angels, a lot of times people are not sure what they need.

“It is my job to educate families on the different levels of care that we offer,” Ward said. “It is my job to listen and give them the tools to make a good decision. We customize plans because every client’s situation is different.”

In order to help people figure exactly what they need, a member of Visiting Angels will go into client’s homes and evaluate their situation.

Nothing like a little social time in the sunshine on a beautiful fall afternoon at VINE Respite Center.

“We have two offices, one in Mankato and one in Owatonna and we cover a large geographic area from New Praque to Delavan and New Ulm to Ellendale,” Ward said.

Many home care businesses like Visiting Angels and Freedom Home Care offer levels of care designed to meet the needs of families. Companion care, personal care, comprehensive care, live-in care and case management are only a few types of care that are offered.

“Family members might only need a companion for a couple hours each day or they might need someone to take them shopping or help them bathe,” Ward said. “Or they might need help with medication reminders, or picking out clothes or they might want someone to play board games with. Ideally we want to create relationships that build with the one on one care. We have fantastic caregivers here and we are so thankful to have them on our staff.”

Ward said they have caregivers of all ages ranging from college students to people in their late 60’s.

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Volunteers bring therapy dogs to VINE Respite Center.

s

Ward said they have caregivers of all ages ranging from college students to people in their late 60’s.

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“We have caregivers that just want to do a short shift and work a few hours a week and we have other staff that rack up the hours,” Ward said with a laugh.

“We are very flexible and we can keep them as busy as they want to be. But no matter the hours they work, it comes down to making a connection one on one and building a lasting relationship.”

Christine Nessler, Owner of Freedom Home Care said she couldn’t agree more.

“We do everything in our power to find the right personality and skill set to match with our clients’ needs,” Nessler said.

In order to best match up caregivers with care receivers, Freedom Home Care conducts a free in-home assessment with each client to determine their home care needs.

“One of our registered nurses and their client care manager meet with the client and family to determine care needs,” Nessler said. “We also take into consideration information received from our case managers, social workers, discharge planners, therapists or physicians.”

The in-home assessment typically takes about an hour. After that, they are able to set up care in a reasonably short amount of time. Freedom Home Care has people called case managers that are a wonderful fit for people who don’t have family members that live near by, Nessler said.

“A case manager can take a person to their Dr. appointment who might have memory issues for example, and the case manager will take notes for the family,” Nessler said. “It is hard to remember all the stuff they are telling

s

“A case manager can take a person to their Dr. appointment who might have memory issues for example, and the case manager will take notes for the family,” Nessler said.

“It is hard to remember all the stuff they are telling you in a seven minute appointment.

They are also trained to ask questions the care receiver might not think to ask.”

s

you in a seven minute appointment.

They are also trained to ask questions the care receiver might not think to ask.”

Case managers can even serve as an emergency contact if a loved one has a fall, Nessler said.

“If they don’t have family near by, the case manager can sit with them at the hospital or take them to urgent care,” Nessler said. “It offers a great peace of mind for both the client and the family that can’t be there.”

“I’m so comfortable knowing that I can call someone whenever I need anything,” said Grace Siebrass, a Case Management client of Freedom Home Care, “And my children feel better knowing I have someone local who will respond right away if I need help.”

One of the things that makes home care so unique is how customizable and affordable it is.

“Family members can be part of the care team and we just fill in or we can be there 24 hours,” Nessler said. “With the holidays coming up, we know this can be busy time of year with added stress so don’t forget to ask for help.

You don’t have to bear the burden all alone.”

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By Marianne Carlson

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“In 2019, 66 counties will lose the Medicare Cost Plan which is a very popular plan in Minnesota. To put it in perspective, approximately 700,000 people in the US have a Cost Plan and almost 400,000 of those people live in Minnesota and around 350,000 of them are losing that plan, which greatly affects Southern Minnesota.”

Eliminating the Cost Plan leaves Minnesotans in the position of having to chose either the Advantage Plan or the Supplement Plan.

“Both plans are good for different reasons,” Gross said. “But the Advantage Plan will have more cost sharing for folks losing their Cost Plan. However, something they need to understand is that, if they choose the Advantage Plan they are giving up their Medicare benefits to the insurance company.”

With a Medicare Advantage plan you assign your Medicare benefits over to an insurance company (also known as Medicare part “C”) to become the sole payer of your Medical claims.

In turn for the insurance company accepting this risk, they also receive a payment from Medicare in addition to the premium they charge the insured.

Please keep in mind you will continue to pay your Medicare part B premium that is typically deducted from your Social Security check.

Gross explained that Advantage Plans have a network and if people choose to receive care out of their network they will have a higher cost sharing. Where as, if people chose the Supplement Plan, they can go anywhere in the US that takes Medicare and get virtually 100% coverage.

“This is a very portable plan but of course, it comes with a higher price tag,” Gross said. “Folks need to be aware of that. But right now there is a one time opportunity to get guaranteed enrollment for this plan. Normally you have to go through health underwriting if you apply for a Supplement outside your initial enrollment into Medicare, but because people are losing their Cost Plan, they have the opportunity to get guaranteed enrollment. Where as, if you do it later down the road, you might be declined if you are in poor health.”

Normally open enrollment is only offered until December 7 but this year due to folks losing their Cost Plan, a special enrollment is being offered through the end of February.

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Everyday ways to help your elderly neighbors T

houghtful men, women and children can give back to their communities in various ways. Coaching youth sports, volunteering with local charities and donating to local food or clothing drives are just a few of the ways you can help make your community a better place.

Another way to give back is to help your elderly neighbors who may not be as independent as they once were. Such men 50 • LIVING 55 PLUS • OCTOBER 2018 • Special Advertising Section

and women may have physical limitations that compromise their ability to perform everyday tasks. People in the prime of their life take their ability to perform such tasks for granted.

And while these gestures might seem simple, helping your elderly neighbors with their everyday tasks can have a profound impact on their lives.

n Invite seniors over for dinner or other gatherings. Many seniors deal with social isolation, which occurs when they lack opportunities to interact with other people. Recent data from the Administration on Aging indicates that 35 percent of women over the age of 65 were widows and almost half of women 75 and older live alone. Inviting elderly neighbors who live alone over for dinners, movie nights or game watches once per week is a great way to help them avoid social isolation and give them something to look forward to. n Help with some weekly chores.

Seniors living on fixed incomes may find it difficult to maintain their homes. Relatively simple tasks like mowing the lawn, taking out the garbage and even vacuuming can be difficult for seniors with physical limitations. Pitching in to help with such chores once or twice a week won’t require much time on your part and can have a significant impact on the lives of your aging neighbors. n Drive seniors to religious services.

Attending religious services is important to many seniors, but those who can no longer drive themselves to weekly services may not be attending them as much as they would like. Whether you attend such services or not, offer to drive an elderly neighbor on Sunday mornings (or whenever weekly services are held). Religious services can help seniors stay connected to their faith and their communities, and driving an elderly neighbor to and from houses of worship once per week won’t require a significant commitment of your time.

Helping your elderly neighbors is a great and often simple way to give back to your community.

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S

eems like stuffing is an issue that is truly dividing America.

Is it “stuffing” or is it “dressing”?

I’m here to tell you, folks. It’s stuffing. End of discussion. I mean, you can go ahead and read the article on the next page if you want, but I’m telling you it’s a non issue. I’ve solved it. Right here and now.

Dressing??? Seriously, you guys? It’s not “dressing”?

What even is that? I mean, who are you “dressing” people, anyway? How high is that horse you’re on, and did you hurt yourself climbing down to tell us all how amazing your mother-in-law’s family “dressing” recipe is?

No. It’s not “dressing.” Despite what Wikipedia says (I’ll save you the keystrokes: they say “dressing” is an acceptable alternative to stuffing, but they’re so, so wrong), the terms are not, in fact, interchangeable.

They’re NOT the same thing. So if you’re going to call yourself a Minnesotan, you better not be calling it “dressing.”

And you better be stuffing that savory mixture inside the bird on Thanksgiving this year. To do anything less is un-Minnesotan, possibly un-American.

Move to California, maybe. Don’t do that here.

— Robb Murray, Associate Editor, Mankato Magazine

southern mn style

Enjoy!

food, drink & dine

Go stuff it!

MANKATO MAGAZINE • NOVEMBER 2018 • 53

Food

food

By Amanda Dyslin

southern mn style

Midwesterners firm: It’s called ‘Stuffing’

I

t was the first day of fall, and unlike last year on this day (which was HOT), it actually felt like it. The air was crisp, Minnesotans were walking around in sweaters and sandals (because why commit just yet?), and it just seemed like a good day to start talking about a Midwesterner’s favorite fall pastime: eating stuff that makes us happy.

So we did. In preparation for this very November issue of Mankato Magazine, we posed three Thanksgiving questions to Facebookers regarding a subject that seems hotly debated, depending upon which family you were raised in: Is it called Stuffing or Dressing?

Should it have nuts or no nuts?

Does it belong inside the bird or outside only?

54 • NOVEMBER 2018 • MANKATO MAGAZINE

We have to hand it to you, southern Minnesotans.

When it comes to stuffing, many of you are on the same page. All three categories were pretty much landslides.

With 92 percent of the vote: It’s called STUFFING. And you darned well mean it. Although a few folks dissented.

“It’s called ‘dressin,’ no ‘g,’” commented Tom Polich, who clearly wasn’t raised around here.

“Same as Tom,” Jill Mahowald said. “But with the ‘g.’”

With 83 percent of the vote: Don’t put no nuts in our stuffing.

And with 75 percent of the vote: Keep that stuffing outside the bird.

“Better outside. You’re able to develop some amazing caramelization/crust on it. (D-word Expletive!) Now I feel like I have to make some,” commented Shawn Schacherer.

Then Sophie Jones schooled us all.

“I mean, technically ‘stuffing’ is INSIDE the bird, while ‘dressing’ is OUTSIDE the bird, so … both?”

Well played, Jones.

Regardless, in honor of the results that STUFFING is preferred ’round these parts sans nuts and NOT to be put inside a turkey’s cavity, here’s a delicious and simple recipe following those guidelines. Happy Thanksgiving!

Traditional Thanksgiving Stuffing Recipe Ingredients 4 tablespoons butter or non-dairy margarine 1 medium onion, chopped 3 celery stalks, cut crosswise in ¼-inch slices ½ teaspoon kosher salt 1 teaspoon ground sage 1 teaspoon dry thyme 10 cups dried unseasoned bread cubes (found in the bread section at the grocery store) 1½ cups chicken or vegetable broth 1 egg Optional garnish: ¼ cup fresh parsley, chopped

Instructions Preheat oven to 350°F. Melt butter in a large pan. Saute onions, celery, salt, sage, and thyme for 5 minutes on medium heat. Turn off heat. Add bread cubes and gently stir them into the onion mixture.

Slowly pour chicken broth over the bread cubes folding everything carefully so the bread cubes do not break apart too much. In a small bowl, gently whisk the egg and add it to the stuffing mix. Continue to fold everything until the egg is incorporated. Scoop uncooked stuffing into a medium casserole dish and bake uncovered for 40 minutes or until nice and toasty on top.

-Source: SavorySweetLife.com

92%

It’s called STUFFING

83%

Don’t put no nuts in our stuffing.

75%

Keep that stuffing outside the bird.

MANKATO MAGAZINE • NOVEMBER 2018 • 55

Wine & Beer

wines

By Leigh Pomeroy

On to Burgundy!

T

southern mn style

he second leg of our France trip included three spectacular days in the heart of France’s Côte de Nuits, which we reached via a slow train from Cahors to Paris and then a fast TGV (train à grande vitesse) from Paris to Dijon. TGVs regularly travel at speeds of 200 mph and up. And the ride is so smooth that you think that you’re just crusin’ along at a mere, say, 80 mph.

To older American wine drinkers, “Burgundy” used to mean red jug wine. And it was the label used by American wineries to designate any red blend. That term is no longer used for American wines, nor will you see it on French wines either.

That’s because “Burgundy” is a word coined by the English to designate the Bourgogne region of France — but I will use it here for the sake of simplicity.

Burgundian labels can be very confusing to the wine layperson, mainly because only on a few labels will you see the word “Bourgogne,” and these are the least important and always from the lesser vineyards of the region.

Instead, Burgundian vintners name their best wines after the vineyards where they are grown, and their

next best wines after the village of their origin. Generally speaking, the more specific the place and vineyard name on the label, the better the wine.

Further, Burgundian vineyards are classified as to their historic quality. For example, the best vineyards are labeled as Grand Cru and the next best vineyards as Premier Cru. But it’s not quite this simple, because this original classification dates back to 1861 and only once has been updated (sort of) in 1936. And at that time, some growers refused to participate.

The result is that some Premier Cru wines are better than, and cost more than, some Grand Cru wines.

A lot of that depends upon the reputation of the vintner.

The third tier of the classification are the village wines, those named after the villages where they originate, like Chevrey-Chambertin (where we stayed), VosneRomanée, Beaune, Pommard and Pouilly-Fuissé. These can be fine wines and far more affordable, yet still expensive in the U.S. The primary red grape of Burgundy is pinot noir. This is an agonizing grape to grow, subject to rot and weather whims, and in many years lacking color and depth. Yet when it reaches its potential, as it does in good years in the Côte de Nuits, it yields a wine of extraordinary quality, a classic example of the whole being much greater than the sum of its parts.

This is one reason why top-notch Burgundy is so expensive.

The primary white grape of Burgundy is chardonnay, which is grown primarily in the Côte de Beaune and in Chablis. Chardonnay creates the extraordinary wines of Corton-Charlemagne, Montrachet and Meursault, as well as Pouilly-Fuissé.

On our trip to Burgundy, we were hosted by Keith and Sue Klein, former Mankatoans who moved to Gevrey-Chambertin about 20 years ago when he was invited to leave his position at Minnesota State University to teach biology

56 • NOVEMBER 2018 • MANKATO MAGAZINE

at the University of Dijon. On our first night there, they treated us to a Cremant de Bourgogne from the small family estate of Maison Parigot, followed by a ChambolleMusigny 1er Cru Les Amoureuses 2002 from Daniel Moine-Hudelot, and to accompany the cheese plate, a Corton Grand Cru Le Rognet 2004 from Bernard Ambroise — all incredible wines. Sue’s exquisite meal was the perfect match.

Later we visited Maison Parigot and the Ambroise family wineries.

In case you are unfamiliar with Cremant de Bourgogne, it is a sparkling wine made in the same way as Champagne but from the Burgundy region. Because legally in Europe — though unfortunately not in the U.S. — only the wines from the Champagne region of France can be labeled as “Champagne”. The sparkling wines from Burgundy and other areas must be labeled as something else.

In France, they are called cremant; in Spain, cava; in Italy, spumante; in Germany, sekt; etc.

One aspect of Burgundian winemaking is that the wineries are mostly very small. In fact, in some villages (like Gevrey-Chambertin), where all the village center buildings are made of stone, they are literally interspersed among the wall-to-wall residences. The only way to tell that an edifice is a winery and not a home is a plaque indicating the name of the winery and a double door in the front indicating that machinery is able to enter the building.

I could go on further about Burgundy, but for the lack of space cannot. So for next month, I’ll cover our visit to the wine regions of the Rhône, an area that is quite different. À vôtre santé!

Leigh Pomeroy is a Mankato-based writer and wine lover.

BEER

By Bert Mattson

Shaking up IPA impressions M ilkshake IPA: a harumscarum style heading on a scene that’s already easily caricatured. Who cares! It’s good. It’s also scarce on shelves in this market.

So far.

Milkshake IPA is the emergent offspring of New England IPA (NEIPA) AKA Hazy IPA AKA Juicy IPA. Just as American IPA’s detractors uttered, “I don’t like hoppy,” NEIPA proved that happiness isn’t tantamount to bitter by heading the opposite direction and restraining bitterness and emphasizing fruit.

It was curiously hazy. Flaked oats were commonly added. The process of flaking oats uses pressure and heat to gelatinize starches. The unmalted grain is employed to achieve creaminess, enhance haziness, and lighten color. In the haze, with traditionalists wagging a finger, brewers of Milkshake IPA piled on with lactose for full body, and a silky mouthfeel. The unfermentable sugar adds sweetness. Fruit remains at the front, through its addition or hop character. Vanilla is often added.

After the Brewers Association recent addition of New England IPA to its Beer Style Guidelines, it still can be tough to identify these beers on the shelves. Milkshake IPAs, when they can be found, tend to identify as such.

Part of the reason that Milkshake IPAs are more common at tap rooms than stores may be that the style is difficult to scale up. I felt fortunate to find four examples, commercially available in cans.

As though the fruity-creamybeer pursuit didn’t ring enough of guilty pleasure, I scored some chicken wings to have them with.

I had a hunch the fruit would align with tropical undertones of the peppers that add heat and dimension to wing sauces. This is true to an extent. But Jerk wings were a bust. Barbecue was a home run — these beers worked across the spectrum, from sweet to hot.

D r y r u b , h o w e v e r, w a s underwhelming. The chicken is only a vehicle; pork would surely serve well. Note that lactose isn’t the element in dairy that cools heat from hot peppers (casein, rather).

But blue cheese dressing shined!

Not only cleaning up between bites, it was universally interesting with the beers. The sweet barbecue wings, blue cheese dressing, and Limited Release Cloud Catcher Milkshake IPA by Odell were a parade of exchanges, tactile and palatable: from fruit echoing fruit, through cream soothing heat and complimenting mouthfeel, to carbonation-lifting fat, and veins of blue mirroring herbal hoppiness, and more. Cloud Chaser eschews the addition of actual fruit, relying on hop profile, notably citrus and peach.

Outside barbeque, I’d say it’s safe to seek out something that incorporates blue cheese. If it’s a reception scenario, perhaps cured pork, blue and any of the fruits that marry well with while reflecting the brew. Peach happens to compliment both barbecue and blue, which may help explain Cloud Catcher’s affinity for my food. The name of the style may seem exotic overdone, but it’s evidently at home with pedestrian bar fair. Modist Brewing Co., among the local “ J u i c y ” I PA vanguard (with Dreamyard), periodically releases a marvelous Shook Pineapple Milkshake IPA.

Bert Mattson is a chef and writer based in St. Paul. He is the manager of the iconic Mickey’s Diner. bertsbackburner.com

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THAT’S LIFE

By Nell Musolf

A Tall Story

“C

an you reach something for me?”

The request came at Walmart from a fellow shopper who couldn’t reach a bottle of cooking oil perched on the top shelf.

“Of course,” I said. While I know I’ll most likely never perform CPR, rescue a cat from a tree or save anyone from drowning, if you want something from a high shelf, I’m your gal.

For as long as I can remember I’ve been tall, the kind of tall that could always reach objects on top shelves and was automatically put in the last row of every class picture. I was typecast as a giraffe in the second grade play and never in my life have I ever bought anything marked “petite.”

Not that I minded. Being tall meant I could eat more because tall people, supposedly, hide those extra pounds and carry them well. Not really, but tall people like to hear that kind of nonsense whenever we can, especially during the annual weigh-in at the doctor’s office.

So it was both depressing and alarming the last time I went in for a physical and learned that I was an entire 58 • NOVEMBER 2018 • MANKATO MAGAZINE

inch shorter than I’d been the previous year.

“That has to be wrong,” I told the nurse, a statement I’m sure she heard at least 20 times every day. “I’m five 5-feet-10 and a half inches tall! I’ve been 5-feet-10 and a half inches tall since I was 16.”

The nurse smiled good-naturedly. “Maybe I measured you wrong. Let’s give it another try.”

Much more willingly than usual, I hopped on the scale once again and stretched my neck up high, so high I got a crick but the pain was worth it if I got back that inch I lost.

The nurse squinted. “Still five-nine and a half but remember, it’s late in the day. You were probably taller when you woke up this morning.”

“I could have lost an entire inch in one day?”

She shrugged. “It happens.”

Losing an inch shouldn’t have depressed me as much as it did since I knew that’s what happened as one got older, along with grey hair and a metabolism that can survive on a single hard-boiled egg per week for sustenance. Then again, that’s what depressed me — the realization that “one” wasn’t getting older: I was.

My husband tried to cheer me up as I self-medicated later that evening with a glass of wine and a “Hawaii 5-0” marathon (the old version starring Jack Lord from the 60s — Season One available on Amazon for $8.88).

“Didn’t your feet get bigger when you were pregnant with the boys?”

Mark asked.

“I’m not getting taller, I’m getting shorter.”

“But your feet are bigger. That must be where the inch went.”

Since this was clearly the kind of conversation that was going nowhere fast, I poured myself another glass of wine and started the next episode of “Hawaii 5-0” and thought about living in Hawaii and wearing a muumuu for the rest of my days. A muumuu that hid my big feet and my shrinking stature.

When I was younger (and dumber), I truly believed getting older wouldn’t bother me. Of course, I also believed money didn’t buy happiness and calories didn’t count if you ate when you weren’t hungry.

There’s something about being in your 20s … 30s … 40s where you never quite accept you’re ever going to get old. Your friends will, but you won’t. It’s called delusional thinking and it’s not such a bad thing — until the party ends, that is.

My mother once said no matter how old she got, she still felt 17 inside. I agree, although I’d say 12 would be more accurate for me.

Not that any of this matters. I work in a library and the other day I came across an enormous set of books describing the adventures of 18th century explorers, most of whom I’d never heard of. As I thumbed through one of the books it dawned on me that those guys were the rock stars of their generation and now no one knows their names. Even more sobering was the thought that only the most famous explorers had books written about them. Just think about all the people since time began who never had so much as a paragraph written about them.

So who am I to sweat over a lost inch? In the long run it doesn’t matter and no one will remember how tall I once was other than me when the inevitable day comes when I have to limit my shopping to the middle shelves.

Nell Musolf is a mom and freelance writer from Mankato.

She blogs at: nellmusolf.com

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MANKATO MAGAZINE • NOVEMBER 2018 • 59

GARDEN CHAT

By Jean Lundquist

Naomi Pfeiffer is the owner of Lyons Creek Gardens near Lake Crystal.

The story of Lyons Creek Gardens N

estled along the banks of Minneopa Creek at the western edge of Lake Crystal, I found Lyons Creek Gardens and Naomi Pfeiffer, the Lyons Creek gardener.

A long time ago, before there was anything named Minneopa in the area, a man with the last name of Lyons built a sawmill on the creek, and it was named for him.

When the Pfeiffers purchased the property in 1979, the title still noted that one boundary of the land was Lyons Creek, and that’s how Naomi knows it. Thus, the name of her gardens.

Naomi says she has been a gardener her whole life.

She says she started gardening for her family when the children were small. She says when they told her they wanted a snack, she told them to go get something out of the garden. For years, she says, all the tips of her asparagus were missing, plucked and eaten by a snackhungry little Pfeiffer.

She still has a very large asparagus patch, painstakingly weeded on hand and knee, with the tips now attached to 60 • NOVEMBER 2018 • MANKATO MAGAZINE

the stalks.

But the pride and joy of Naomi’s gardens are her heirloom tomatoes and peppers, and her Asian lilies.

Inside an enhanced fence designed to keep out rabbits, Naomi has 70 varieties of tomatoes, plus her “test plants.”

Those are the plants she is growing just one or two of, to see if she likes them enough to plant more next year.

“I have every color of tomato,” she explains. She has a large selection of red tomatoes, plus most of the colors of the rainbow. She also has pink, white, yellow, green, orange, purple and black tomatoes. She knows the flavor and characteristics of each variety, and almost every description includes the word “amazing,” when Naomi talks about her tomatoes.

And, “When you put all the colors together in a sauce, the flavor is just amazing,” she declares.

Her 30-plus varieties of peppers range from the very hot ghost peppers, to the very sweet bell peppers. All heirloom.

Every fall Naomi meticulously saves seeds from her

garden to grow new plants in her hoop house in the spring. Although she has nearly 200 tomato plants in her gardens, she starts many more seeds than that, and sells the bedding plants at the North Mankato Farmers’ Market. That’s where she also takes the vegetables and flowers she grows that are in excess of the “Produce Boxes” she sells through a CSA. Naomi puts a fabric weed barrier around her plants, and between rows. Beneath that is a drip line for irrigation.

Every year she gets her soil tested, and gets a special soil amendment to provide any nutrients she is lacking.

She tills that in each spring, then puts the weed barriers back in place.

It sounds like Naomi has the perfect gardens, and she may, but she is vexed by things out of her control just like the rest of us.

In 2018, the Lyons Creek waters flooded her gardens, and she had to replant. She never did get her cucumbers, watermelons and other vining crop in the ground.

Every crop was delayed, but she figured she could make up for the flood with good weather. Then, the spring turned cold, and no flowers set. Then, the temps turned super warm, and no veggies set.

Blight set in her tomatoes.

Then, with so much of their habitat ruined by the flood, the deer came.

They were not deterred by mere rabbit fencing. Lyons Creek Gardens never had a deer problem before last summer.

They weren’t content to nibble on a little vegetation. They picked off the few tomatoes that were growing, and then took a bite out of them. The Department of Natural Resources agreed deer were the tomato munching culprits, and gave Naomi special dispensation to correct the problem.

When we chatted in July, Naomi was still upbeat and positive about her gardens. She was expecting some ripe tomatoes any day, getting her first BLT, and pointing out the peppers that were almost ripe.

Like every gardener I know, she moaned and groaned about everything that went wrong in her garden this summer, then brightened, smiled, and said, “There’s always next year.”

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Jean Lundquist is a Master Gardener who lives near Good Thunder. gardenchatkato@gmail.com MANKATO MAGAZINE • NOVEMBER 2018 • 61

YOUR STYLE

By Ann Rosenquist Fee

Illustration by Ann Rosenquist Fee

Ann’s Fashion Tarot: Election Edition

S

wear to gaaaahhhd this is the last time I will force Ann’s Fashion Tarot on my readership, but wow, it’s critical right now, Nov. 6 is Election Day and I am just doing my part to make sure everybody wears what they’re supposed to wear, to affect whatever change you’d like to see in the world.

62 • NOVEMBER 2018 • MANKATO MAGAZINE

WANT TO BRING UNLIKELY FORCES TOGETHER TO MAKE THEM WORK IN HARMONY VERSUS YANKING THE TOWN/STATE/NATION’S CHAIN IN ALL DIFFERENT DIRECTIONS? Dress in a manner aligned with The Chariot, the Tarot card that features a super-focused driver holding reins and a scepter and a shield while two otherwise unwieldy lynxes trot in unison, moving the vehicle forward faster and more efficiently than either could accomplish alone. n Suggested wardrobe elements: Unmatching socks.

Unmatching belt/bag/shoes. Reins, sceptre, trust in the big picture, in the big cycles.

WA N T TO SUMMON MODERATION AND A HEALTHY DEMOCRACY AND EVERYBODY JUST CALM DOWN? Dress according to Temperance, the Tarot card which shows a woman pouring liquid from one vessel into another, also gazing into a pool knowing full well that what she’s seeing isn’t the actual thing, it’s the reflection of a thing. Tactile and philosophical, both. Taking responsibility for what she can do, and stepping back from, accepting and detaching from, everything she cannot do a damn thing about. n Suggested accessories: Earrings that look like vessels, sequins that act like tiny mirrors that act like pools of water, healthy detachment from stuff that does not actually affect your day-to-day.

WANT TO TAKE WHATEVER’S WRONG AND MAKE IT RIGHT? Dress like the Justice card. n Suggested props: Two tiny succulents in clay pots, crafted and planted by local artisan Barb Page, whose work will be for sale Nov. 3 at the Arts Center of Saint Peter’s Holiday Fare 10 a.m. - 4 p.m. at the Treaty Site History Center in St. Peter. Also featuring silk scarves

by Patricia Freiert and woolens

by Melinda Kjarum, which would pair nicely if you’re going into the booth dressed like The Chariot card. Also featuring mixed metals by jewelry artist Paulette Topel, suitable for dressing like Temperance or just generally looking fabulous.

Aaaanyway. Buy two plants. Also buy some twine somewhere and make wee macrame hangers, for the plants, and then when you go to the voting booth Nov. 6, hold one in each hand, like a scale of justice. Set them both down whilst actually voting.

But then pick them back up and strut right out of that polling place like you’re Justice herself, like your succulents and stride and optimism and intention might actually make a difference.

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Mankato|Vernon Center|Amboy www.cbfg.net MANKATO MAGAZINE • NOVEMBER 2018 • 63

NIGHT MOVES — What’s Up? Lounge

By Diana Rojo-Garcia

The Tony Flynn Project plays at the What’s Up? Lounge. Photo by Jackson Forderer

What’s up with the What’s Up? Lounge Despite closing for a brief time, its status as a top live music venue is very much intact

M

usic hadn’t started quite yet on an uncommonly cold September night at the What’s Up? Lounge.

Sitting toward the back of the venue in what use to be old apartments above the Oleander Saloon, dozens of artifacts belonging to musicians of gigs past hang on the walls like trophies.

Drum cymbals dot the black and red walls, a Mexican flag decorated with Megadeth’s logo hangs proudly, a broken guitar that belonged to Forever Dumb and a few framed promotional posters of shows that took 64 • NOVEMBER 2018 • MANKATO MAGAZINE

place at the venue — including Afroman and one of my all-time guilty pleasures, Motion City Soundtrack.

The telephone booth is almost mesmerizing to look at while sitting on a chair that must have spawned from the late 90s, filled with stickers of countless local musicians from Professor Fresh and Ill Poe to Evasive Maneuver and Poor Lemuel. One could be forgiven for forgetting this legendary venue closed for a while several years ago, leaving some convinced it would never open again.

But today it’s going strong, with live shows weekly.

Travis Wachtel, a bartender at the What’s Up? Lounge, makes a drink during the Ian Hilmer Band and Tony Flynn Project concert in September. Photo by Jackson Forderer The historical trappings posted everywhere (including the bathroom) is enough to visit the What’s Up? Lounge. But of course, that’s not why we’re here. nnnn I arrived early, around 8 p.m., thinking the music started at 8:30 p.m. Boy, was I wrong, but I’m glad I was.

The Oleander, the oldest bar in Mankato, was occupied with regulars. Bantering between patrons and the bartenders, laughter among friends and the occasional smack of a pool ball filled the saloon.

My husband and I don’t usually go downtown often, mostly because it’s loud and we’re just not really the “loud” kind of crew. But the Oleander in Old Town?

That’s something we could get use to.

We grabbed two shorts of Two Hearted Ale and trekked up the stairs to the What’s Up? Lounge where we’re greeted by the kind and burly guard who stamps a kiss onto the backs of our hands.

(By the way, did you know it’s only $5 cover to get into most shows?)

On this particular night, there were three bands performing: MOLS, Ian Hilmer with Dave Hansen and The Tony Flynn Project.

The crowd hadn’t quite shown up yet (and never really would); we were an hour early for the show, and it mostly remained slim.

There were around 30 people, but those 30 were possibly the most supportive crowd I’ve seen, hollering with excitement for live music.

As MOLS started in around 9 p.m., the crowd inched closer to the stage, while others remained

sitting near the bar or at tables with Michelob glass stained lamp shades.

“If you’re a cat person say ‘Whoo!’” The drummer said. “If you’re a dog person, say ruff!”

Most people whoo’d.

“Y’all messed up,” he said. nnnn The What’s Up? Lounge is tucked away on Riverfront Drive, and it’s not one of those venues that might benefit from a lot of foot traffic. But what keeps people coming to the venue (along with it being a staple) is knowing the band that is performing — be it a local band or national headliner with local opening acts.

Travis Wachtel, bartender of 13 years at the Ole’ and the What’s Up?, says the music varies in genre, but it’s mostly original.

“It depends if they’re into metal or hippie type music or rap music,” Wachtel said. “The rap usually brings in a younger crowd, this (night) will bring in an older crowd.”

A couple friends, Dustin Russ and Tashina Muns, came to the show particularly to see The Tony Flynn Project.

“My uncle is Tony Flynn,” Muns said. “We usually come out to all of his shows.”

Though they don’t typically come to a lot of shows at the What’s Up? unless it’s Tony’s shows, they add the staff and concert goers are welcoming.

“All in all the environment is good and the people are really nice,” Russ said.

Plus, it’s not right downtown.

“I think since it’s not right down there, like by South MANKATO MAGAZINE • NOVEMBER 2018 • 65

Ian Hilmer plays at the What’s Up? Lounge during his concert with the Ian Hilmer Band. Photo by Jackson Forderer Street, if you’re not into the college and downtown scene, this is definitely the place to be,” Muns said.

“I can say a downfall is those damn stairs,” Russ joked. “Especially when you’re a little light headed, they are not your friend.”

Wachtel vouches for the inviting atmosphere. Plus, with original music performed at the venue, there’s rarely a chance of seeing a bad show. “I haven’t seen a really bad one yet,” he laughed.

“This is a good place for live music,” he continues.

“If you come here, you’re not going to see the performance anywhere else. You’re either here to see it, or you’re going to miss out.” nnnn MOLS continued its energetic performance for the first 30 minutes of the set. Ian Hilmer and Dave Hansen followed.

A quick change of sets, and the pair began to perform. The venue still remained fairly open with a handful of fans.

Enough fans to fill the room with enthusiastic clapping and whooing, but empty enough to get through the bathrooms and crowd.

Even if you’re sitting in the back, which I was, the sound was clear, almost as if I were close to the stage.

It’s no wonder musicians such as Hilmer, whose first performance was at the What’s Up?, return to the venue.

More often than not though, Hilmer and Hansen said people choose to return to the club because they know the band.

“I think the following is more following the band 66 • OCTOBER 2018 • MANKATO MAGAZINE

The bricks behind the What’s Up? Lounge have been carved into over the years with the various band names that have played at the venue. Photo by Jackson Forderer

not the bar,” Hansen adds.

And sometimes, a great band might perform at the What’s Up? but it might be empty, Hilmer said.

The history behind the What’s Up? is marked throughout the venue, both inside and out. Hilmer took me right behind the venue where all the names of the bands who have performed are carved into the bricks.

“This is one of the real stages,” Hilmer said. “Well, there are other stages in town, but this is a real club.

This is the club, it’s been here for a long time.”

Who knows who’ll mark their name next on the wall of the legendary venue?

COMING ATTRACTIONS: NOVEMBER 1

Whose Line is it Mankato?

7:30 p.m. — Verizon Center — Grand Hall — Mankato — $50 riser, $1000 table — verizoncentermn.com.

1-3, 8-11

MSU Dept. of Theatre and Dance presents: “The Happy Elf,” 7:30 p.m. — Ted Paul Theatre of the Earley Center for Performing Arts — MSU — Mankato — $22 regular, $19 discounted (over 65, under 16 and groups of 15 or more) and $15 for current Minnesota State Mankato students — mnsu.edu/theatre.

3

St. Peter Craft and Vendor Show 9 a.m.-2 p.m. — St. Peter Community Center — 600 S. Fifth St. — St. Peter — free admission — facebook.com/ StPeterCraftVendorShow.

Start Your 4-Year Degree in Social Work at South Central College

9

Jake “The Snake” Roberts: Dirty Details Tour 8:15 p.m. — The What’s Up? Lounge — 701 N. Riverfront Drive — Mankato — $50 general admission plus meet and greet, $20 general admission — whatsuplounge.com.

9-11, 16-17

Bethany Lutheran College presents: “The Legend of Sleepy Hollow,” 7:30 p.m. — Ylvisaker Fine Arts Center — Mankato — $10 — theatre.blc.edu/tickets.

11

Mankato Symphony Orchestra presents: Romantic Masterpieces 2 p.m. — Good Counsel Chapel — Mankato — purchase tickets online at mankatosymphony. com

14-17

MSU Department of Theatre and Dance presents: “Stupid F*cking Bird 7:30 p.m. — Ted Paul Theatre of the Earley Center for Performing Arts — Mankato — $10 regular; $9 for seniors ages 65 and older, children under 16 and groups of 15 or more; and $8 for Minnesota State Mankato students — mnsu.edu/theatre.

17

Stride and Veterans 5K 9 a.m. — Myers Field House — Minnesota State University, Mankato — Price after Oct. 31: Adults (18+): $35; Youth (17 and under): $25; Veterans: $30 Event Day Registration Pricing: Adults (18+): $40; Youth (17 and under): $30; Veterans: $35 Pre-Registration closes on November 13th at 11 p.m. — signmeup.com/ reg/form/125566/registration

8

Good Thunder Reading Series presents: Danez Smith 10 a.m., workshop at Emy Frentz Gallery, 523 S. Second St. — 3 p.m., craft talk at First Congregational UCC, 150 Stadium Court — 7:30 p.m., reading, CSU room 245 at MSU — all events are free and open to public — gt.mnsu.edu.

17

Family Series: Viva Vivaldi 3 p.m. — Children’s Museum of Southern Minnesota — 224 Lamm St. — Mankato — mankatosymphony.com.

30

A Holiday Concert: Linda Eder 7:30 p.m. — Verizon Center — Grand Hall — Mankato — $49.50, $39.50, $29.50 — verizoncentermn.com.

Pre-Social Work Transfer Pathway

Complete your Transfer Pathway Associate Degree at SCC and then transfer your credits directly to a related major at a Minnesota State University as a Junior.

Learn more about SCC’s Transfer Pathways at:

www.southcentral.edu/transfer

8

Wine Tasting Extravaganza 6 p.m. — The Loose Moose Saloon — 1190 S. Front St. — Mankato — $25 — paypal.me/ mankatoelks225/25.

8

Mankato Gala 5:30-9 p.m. — Verizon Center — 1 Civic Center Plaza — Mankato — mntc.org/event/ mankatogala.

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MANKATO MAGAZINE • NOVEMBER 2018 • 67

FROM THIS VALLEY

By Pete Steiner

Thank You for Continuing to Hold … or, Random thoughts on coming into the dark season

T

he soft jazz, approximating Kenny G on Adderall, was threatening to bring out the Mr. Hyde in me. I kept looking at my watch to see how long I’d been on hold. To pass the time, I switched my phone from ear to ear. I began to wonder, how far could I throw it? What might I break? Could I press a number to at least play Mozart instead of giddy soft jazz? The author Franz Kafka, whose life coincided with that of A. G. Bell, inventor of the telephone, never had the perverse pleasure of being told, “press zero to speak to a real person.” Wiktionary defines “Kafkaesque” as “marked by a senseless, disorienting, often menacing complexity.”

As in, “Press “2” if... Press “3” if... Press “x” if you’d like this menu repeated.” I press “zero” and instead of being directed to a real person, I get auto hangup. Kafka could have written this story. “We know your time is valuable.

We truly appreciate your patience.” Oh, yeah? Then how about a 1 percent DISCOUNT for every minute I have to wait in Voice Mail Hell??

stage. I don’t have any jotted notes from July and August, so it must have settled into some semblance of a normal, if abbreviated, summer. Oh, wait, here’s a note that says “remarkably little severe weather this summer...” Written Sept. 17. Two days later, on the second-to-last full day of summer, a vicious windstorm ripped through Mankato.

That system soon produced numerous tornadoes that did heavy damage in Morristown, Waterville and points east.

(Lesson: You can never get smug about weather in MN.) And we still can’t relax: a tornado hit in Hennepin County as late as Nov. 16, in 1931. Ah, but do you remember that lovely, long stretch of pleasant days in September? That’s what I mean when I compare Voice Mail Hell to Minnesota weather: Eventually you get to speak to a real person; eventually, it’s going to be 70 and sunny. With Global Warming, maybe even on Thanksgiving this year? Please continue to hold.

nnnn

Random Thoughts: Really off the wall here, but walking near City Hall downtown, I noticed the wrought iron sign stretching between the building and the parking ramp: “Entertainment Alley” is what it proclaims, but frankly, it looks more like a place you could get mugged in the wee hours. I love downtown and favor several of the establishments whose back doors empty into “Entertainment Alley.” But as we re-imagine Old Town, that space needs re-imagining too. There’s not much room for decorative lighting, but with all the LED signs adorning various commercial enterprises and parking lots these days, how about one of those hanging above the alley? Somebody’s gotta have a better idea.

And this: 2018 was also the year that bears began invading towns in southern Minnesota. In late spring, it seemed like a daily occurrence. Some experts blamed it on bird feeders! Bears find them easy pickings, those experts say. I like to feed the birds. Haven’t had a bear visit here yet, but it definitely would spice up the day.

Maybe bears could keep squirrels and chipmunks away from my feeders and deer away from your hastas? There’s an upside to nearly every situation.

So I was flipping through scraps of paper that I toss in a folder, thought starters I might use in future articles. There was the banner Free Press headline from fifteen years ago, “MAYHEM ERUPTS ON HILLTOP,” about the homecoming riot of 2003. But I assumed someone else would cover that uncomfortable anniversary. There were messy scribblings on torn deposit slips and recycled greeting cards about various weather milestones. Weather is endlessly fascinating and challenging for Minnesotans, and you know, it seems there was a Kafkaesque element to this year’s weather!

Of course, we marked the 20th anniversary of the St. Peter tornado on March 29th. Then we waited for spring to come. And we waited. It was the weather corollary of being in Voice Mail Hell! (Do the weather gods “know our time is valuable?”) We didn’t hit 50 degrees until April 12, five months after the thermometer had previously achieved that modest milestone. Then came April 14, and a one-foot dump of heavy, wet, back-breaking snow.

After I broke my back (figuratively) clearing it, I thought, what if this happens next year when we host the Final Four? They’ll mock us more than they did during our frigid Super Bowl.

Then it hit 100 degrees in May! That had only happened one other time in May in Minnesota, back in the Dust Bowl days of the ’30’s. And then in June, it rained, like forever. A FOOT of rain, and the river swelled past the 22-foot flood 68 • NOVEMBER 2018 • MANKATO MAGAZINE

nnnn

Peter Steiner is host of “Talk of the Town” weekdays at 1:05 p.m. on KTOE.

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