FACES+PLACES July 2023

FACES PLACES+

Chris Hinton of Waseca named president of the National Association of County Veterans Service Officers

Cannon Valley Cinema teams with Merchant Bank to offer free Wednesday movies

New Makers Market launches in Faribault

Inside Swing to bring year-round golf, Basilleo’s Pizza to Owatonna

Nutter Clothing Co. celebrates 100th anniversary

Wildcat Park & Landing welcomes new managers

Waseca veterans services director named president of national organization

New restaurant’s owner hopes to see Kenyon ‘flourish again’

Le Sueur chalk art fundraiser supports research in fight against Alzheimer’s Faribault artist teaching free summer classes

Keepsake Cidery adds local offerings to its menu of beverages, food and events

Cannon Valley Cinema teams with Merchants Bank to offer free Wednesday movies

By PAMELA THOMPSON pamela.thompson@apgsomn.com

What’s better than a hot summer day spent at the local pool? Perhaps a morning movie, watched inside an air-conditioned theater while munching popcorn and popping Skittles with family members.

Dennis Haines, general manager of Cannon Valley Cinema 10, said a free summer movie series that screens a family-friendly movie once a week, was inspired from a similar venture done in Lakeville.

The 10-week series was launched last year. Haines said this was the first year the free showings was sponsored by Merchants Bank.

“Everyone knows it might be kind of loud in the theater, but the families enjoy the experience,” he said.

According to Charlene Perella, a customer service representative for Merchant’s Bank, 300 people filled four theaters to watch “Minions Rise of Gru” the first week. That included a school group who came on a bus.

The second movie of the series, “The Croods: A New Age” attracted about 250 people and filled three theaters.

Haines said anyone attending the free films will also be seeing the trailers for upcoming movies, which will hopefully convince them to return to the theater.

“Summer used to be our biggest season when we would have three or four high-grossing movies each week,” he explained. “Now we get one big movie each week.”

Haines said this summer’s blockbusters are likely to be new versions of old classics starring Hollywood legends Tom Cruise and Harrison Ford. Cruise reprises his role in “Mission: Impossible – Dead Reckoning Part Two” to be released nationwide July 14. Ford resumes his role as “Indiana Jones — and The Dial of Destiny,” released on June 30.

A couple movies releasing on the same July 21 weekend are also generating plenty of buzz. Greta Gerwig’s adultskewing, satire version of “Barbie” and a Christopher Nolan-helmed look at the making of the atomic bomb, “Oppenheimer,” will compete for customers that weekend.

There is less family friendly animated fare on the docket this summer, perhaps making the free showings of some of these older films even more attractive to local families.

Rebecca Jimenez, a customer service representative for Merchants Bank, said she’s seen kids happily skipping down the

hallway to the theater, trailing popcorn in their wake.

“This gives Merchants Bank an opportunity to offer a fun activity for kids, parents and grandparents,” she said.

Cur tis Pecore-Kotek, an employee at Cannon Valley Cinema 10 and budding filmmaker, said he is proud to work for a local business that gives back to the community.

“It’s inspiring to see this happen here,” he said.

Pamela Thompson is the associate editor for the Northfield News. Reach her at 507-645-1115 or pamela.thompson@apgsomn.com.

IF YOU GO

The Summer Movie Series 2023 at Cannon Valley Cinema 10 is sponsored by Merchants Bank. All Wednesday morning movies start at 10 a.m. The movie is free, while concessions can be purchased at regular prices.

July 26: “The Amazing Maurice”

August 2: “Sonic The Hedgehog 2”

August 9: “Lyle Lyle Crocodile”

August 16: “DC League of Superpets”

Merchants Bank customer service representatives Rebecca Jimenez and Charlene Perella flank Dennis Haines, general manager of Cannon Valley Cinema 10, on the second week of the 10 week series of free family-friendly Wednesday morning movies. (Pamela Thompson/southernminn.com)

GET INVOLVED

The Faribault Makers Market runs 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturdays on the south side of Central Park. It runs in conjunction with the existing Faribault Farmers Market, which runs every Saturday from 7 a.m. to noon on the park’s north side.

For more information about Makers Market, visit facebook.com/ faribaultmakersmarket. For information about becoming a vendor, message the page or call St. Clair at 507-331-1802.

New Makers Market launches in Faribault

By TOM NELSON Guest Contributor

The Faribault Makers Market made its debut in downtown’s Central Park in June. The market will run every Saturday through October.

The market will feature a variety of items from area artists and crafters including woodworking, jewelry, artwork, etc. One of the key requirements for vendors participating in the market is that their items for sale must be of original design and hand-crafted by the vendor. No outside merchandise or flea market items can be sold.

The inspiration for the Faribault Makers Market comes from John “Spanky” St. Clair, who serves as market manager. A skilled woodworker, St. Clair creates items such as wood plaques and meat and cheese trays from his Spanky’s Woodshed in Faribault.

A veteran of area craft shows at events like Faribault’s Blue Collar Festival and Heritage Days, St. Clair had also been a frequent visitor to other weekly markets in towns such as Owatonna and Northfield. He liked the concept of those events and believed it was time to bring a market for hand-crafted items to Central Park.

“I am vendor and I was feeling everyone out about this idea at all the events that I went to and I finally decided I have to do this,” St. Clair said about his decision to move forward with the creation of the Maker’s Market.

A resident of Faribault since 1997, St. Clair and his wife Lori St. Clair have been active with the local chapter of American Bikers for Awareness Training and Education. Lori was a vendor coordinator for ABATE events for 12 years and St. Clair was an assistant vendor coordinator with the group.

“They’re the one who got me into this vendor stuff in the first place,” St. Clair said. “I was at the vendors’ area all the time because that is where the action is and that is what got me into being a coordinator.”

The experience with ABATE provided a background in working with vendors and helped St. Clair move into his new role as the Makers Market manager. He was also able to connect with another area artist Kari Casper, who will serve as an assistant with the Makers Market.

Casper’s business, We Bead, creates unique jewelry and crafts. She also serves as the coordinator for the annual Heritage Days Craft Show. Like St. Clair, she also believed the time was right for a weekly event such as the Makers Market in Faribault.

“We visited the adjacent towns and saw their markets and saw how they were doing their fairs, so we’ve got great ideas on how to get this going,” Casper said. “If we built it they will come, and hopefully, we intend to have this grow and to have things like food trucks, live music and local sponsors,”

She added, “It’s fun to enjoy the Minnesota weather and be outside, and go from place to place and see what everyone makes and does. It will be similar to the Strait River Art Festival but just on a regular basis. We just want to help facilitate for our area artists — to show what they have — and bring something into the community.”

Both St. Clair and Casper see the Makers Market as a way to help showcase the talent of area artists and crafters along with creating another attraction for the downtown area in the summer — along with the existing farmers market.

“It’s good economic growth for the community,” Casper said. “If they come here for the market and it’s a fabulous market they’re going to go to a restau-

rant or shop at one of the boutiques or businesses. It’s great for the community.”

The Makers Market is still accepting vendors. .

“They will be vetted and we will try to make sure they meet our quality or standard of product to be sold,” Casper said. “It is going to be very professional.”

The cost for vendors for the season is $40. The fee is to help with advertising costs for the market.

Vendors do not have to commit to being there every Saturday, but a roll call will be taken each week, in order to let customers know which vendors will potentially be at the market each week.

As a vendor, one of the benefits of these types of markets is the personal interaction that customers can have with the ar tist. St. Clair has sold his merchandise at shops in the past but he prefers the in-person shows and markets.

“It’s easier to go face-to-face because you can actually talk to the customer,” St. Clair said. “When they see

your product (at a store), they just see your product and they don’t even know who you are. These types of markets are more personable.”

In the future, St. Clair and Casper hope to grow the Makers Market and have it become a summertime habit in downtown Faribault.

“I want it bigger than those two,” St. Clair said of the future of the Makers Market in comparison to the weekly markets during the summers in Northfield and Owatonna. “I want to literally fill the park and I don’t see why we can’t do that.”

He added, “My personal goal is that three years from now I want that park full. I want food trucks, kids activities and that stage utilized with music. It’s baby steps right now but I just want to get the thing rolling and after that everything should be able to fall into place.”

Tom Nelson is a freelance writer. Reach the editor at editor@apgsomn.com.

A sampling of John St. Clair’s creations, on display at last year’s Blue Collar Festival. (Submitted photo)

Faribault Makers Market organizers John “Spanky” St. Clair and Kari Casper stand in Central Park, where the first market will be held on Saturday. (Tom Nelson/ southernminn.com)

STAY IN THE KNOW

Follow along on the business Facebook page, Inside Swing Golf Owatonna, and on its website, insideswinggolf. com, for updates as the team gets closer to its opening.

Inside Swing to bring year-round golf, Basilleo’s

Pizza

to Owatonna

By PRESTON MEIER Guest Writer

With all the different parks and outdoor entertainment options, there is never a dull moment when summer time hits in Owatonna. However, it’s a different story in the winter when many of these places are inaccessible or forced to close due to frigid weather.

Golf is one of the most popular summer activities in Owatonna. Having three courses spread across the city makes it open to players of all skill levels. But, when courses have to shut down during the winter, it leaves no local place for golfers to escape to.

With the sport having such a large following, many people desire the ability to play during every season, rain or shine. These golfers are really left with two options —travel around Minnesota to find a golf simulator or hang up the clubs until nice weather comes around. This is the problem Jesse Sletten, James Harsma, Shawn Sundine and Blake Krueger set out to solve.

The group of four are avid golf players that often play together. During every offseason, they noticed the staggering lack of options for indoor golf. This year, they will be bringing indoor golf to the city of Owatonna.

“It started with us just looking for places to play golf during the winter,” Harsma explained. “We were traveling around and there are lots of options outside of Owatonna to play at. It really

came down to us not wanting to drive places to play indoor golf.”

Inside Swing is the name of the indoor golf simulator business, which is set to open on Sept. 1 of this year. It will be located on W Bridge St. in the Bridge Street Center — specifically in the former location of Torey’s Restaurant and Bar before the establishment moved downtown years ago. The business will feature four stalls of high definition golf simulators that can be reserved or will be available for walk-ins. There will also be a full bar with bar seating and weekly drink specials.

The idea to open the business really sparked with the group after developing simulators of their own. They worked on a design at Sletten’s home and realized that they could provide it to the public.

“We built a couple of our own iterations at my place,” Sletten said. “Some of our clients at James and I’s other business found out that we had built some at my house, so then we did some drawings and designed a few different simulators.”

With how big the game of golf has become in Owatonna, Harsma and the other owners believe that it will not be a challenge to fill up the stalls once the business opens.

“I think there is a large group of people that play golf in Owatonna,” Harsma said. “It’s a big enough city to where it seems silly that there’s not [a simulator]. The fact that just us as a group of people were looking for a place to do that, shows there is demand.”

Inside Swing will also be par tnering up with another business to share the

space and offer a unique experience. Basilleo’s Pizza Restaurant will also be opening in the same building, providing a full italian menu with carry out or dine in options and a separate dining area away from the bar and golf simulators.

Tom Lester has been the owner of Basilleo’s for five years and never anticipated opening a location in Owatonna. Currently, the restaurant only has one location, which is in Faribault, but Lester said the partnership with Inside Swing is what made him want to expand.

“Partnering up with them was the reason why I decided to come and help them work on it,” Lester said. “I wasn’t planning on opening a location here by myself, but having someone that helps us definitely was a key factor.”

Although they are two separate businesses, Inside Swing and Basilleo’s will work together hand and hand. There will be a constant flow of customers within the building that will attract people to each business. Harsma believes the restaurant will provide a welcoming environment throughout the entire building.

“We’re gonna help each other, it’s going to be a good relationship,” Harsma

said. “There will be people coming in to pick up a pizza or have dinner and see what we have to offer then maybe a few days later, they come back and play a round.”

The owners have high hopes for Inside Swing when it first opens. With the help of Brooktree Golf Course, they plan to start hosting weekly golf leagues within the first year of opening.

Although there are many different parts of the business, the overall goal is to provide a top tier simulator experience for all the golfers in Owatonna.

“The biggest thing that we want to accomplish is to provide the capacity for inside simulators in the winter for the community of Owatonna,” Sletten said. “We don’t want people to have to leave town or decide they just aren’t going to swing the sticks over the wintertime.”

Construction of Inside Swing is currently underway preparing for its opening in September. The business plans to be open seven days a week, all day with extended hours on Friday and Saturday.

Basilleo’s Pizza owner Tom Lester, pictured in his kitchen last year, is opening a second location next to Inside Swing. (File photo/southernminn.com)

Inside Swing owners, from left, Shawn Sundine, James Harsma, Jesse Sletten and Blake Krueger pose outside of the building where there new indoor golf simulator. (Preston Meier/southernminn. com)

Preston Meier is a freelance writer in Owatonna. Reach the editor at OPPeditor@apgsomn. com.

Nutter Clothing Co. celebrates 100th anniversary

By CARSON HUGHES carson.hughes@apgsomn.com

The close ties that drive Nutter Clothing Company aren’t just the fabric that goes around your suit collar; it’s the relationships between colleagues and customers.

Since 1985, Scott Dobie has owned and operated the fine menswear store in the heart of downtown St. Peter with a small team of seasoned employees, keeping it a fixture of men’s fashion in the local area and beyond.

On July 5, Dobie will be approaching his 45th year at Nutter, after first joining the store in 1978, but the team is taking the day to celebrate an even greater occasion — the 100th anniversary of the business.

To mark the occasion, Nutter is throwing a celebration, a centennial anniversary sale and is even inviting the family of the clothing store’s founder and original owner James Nutter.

Nutter, a St. Peter native born in 1894, first opened the Nutter Clothing Company in 1923 after purchasing the location and stock of the Haesecke Clothes Shop. Prior to his entry into the clothing business, Nutter had served abroad in France during World War I and had worked seven years as an assistant cashier in the First National Bank.

For 43 years, Nutter owned and operated the clothing store, building a loyal customer base that continues to this day. Willie Derner, an 89-year-old farmer living between Cleveland and St. Peter, said he’s been a loyal patron of the business since he was 10-12 years old. It’s the place where he’s purchased suits for special occasions, like his prom in 1951. As his children and grandchildren

have grown, they too have become frequent shoppers at Nutter.

“[Nutter] was a nice guy, he had good stuff, and he always had what you wanted,” Derner recalled.

The store’s following owners, Harry Kramer and Scott Dobie have treated him well, too, Derner added. When Nutter retired, Kramer took over the business in 1965 after working at the store for several years, and he later sold it to Dobie in 1985 after he had worked there for seven years.

The Nutter Clothing Company continues to wear its history with pride. Dobie, a self-identified history buff, has held onto archives and photos associated with the business and keeps company heirlooms on display.

Look up at the top of the store shelves, and patrons can see one of Nutter’s own top hats next to a portrait of himself and a photo of Harry Kramer. Observers are also sure to notice a Traverse Township baseball jersey dating back to the 1930s. The boiled wool jersey features Nutters stitched on the back, signaling that the company was a sponsor of the baseball club.

Nutter owes much of its success over the past 100 years to business that comes in from out of town. It’s not uncommon for the clothing store to have customers from the Twin Cities, New Ulm and Rochester browsing their selection of dress shirts, pants, sportswear and shoes.

Dobie credited Nutter’s outside appeal to the customer service provided by the team of staff.

“I think it’s the service and just taking care of the customers’ needs,” said Dobie. “It’s probably a help that men don’t like to shop, so if they can come in and find what they’re looking for in a short

period of time, they enjoy that.”

It’s a close knit group that operates the store day-to-day. The “newbie” on staff, Meagan Dobie, is Scott’s daughterin-law and has already built up 10 years of experience. Barb Moeller is the store’s longest-serving staff member, second only to Dobie, with 43 years at Nutter. With four decades of experience, she still enjoys the job.

“I look forward to coming to work and talking with people and meeting with people and helping,” said Moeller. “Seeing them come in maybe on the grumpy side, but putting a smile on their face and making it a fun experience.”

With both Dobie and Moeller having four decades of experience, Meagan noted the duo have been responsible for clothing fathers, sons, grandsons and more.

“I think one of the coolest things for me working here is the generations that these two have helped,” said Meagan. “You have kids where you did their parents’ prom and their wedding and now their prom and their wedding.”

Even some former employees help out at Nutter, thanks to the store’s laidback, family-like working environment. Dobie noted that one former full-time staff member of 25 years still comes in on one or two Saturdays a month to be involved, while another four former employees work off and on.

“You’ve got to love your job, and we do,” said Moeller. “We have a work family here.”

The original 300 business block on Minnesota Avenue where Nutter Clothing Company was born.

Nutter Clothing Co. retains old heirlooms of its 100-year history including a top hat which belonged to the original owner, James Nutter, a portrait of Nutter and photograph of the store’s second owner Harry Kramer. (Carson Hughes/southernminn.com)

From left to right, Barb Moeller, owner Scott Dobie and Meagan Dobie, of Nutter Clothing Company, hold up specially designed t-shirts for the menswear clothing store’s 100th anniversary. (Carson Hughes/southernminn. com)

Reach Reporter Carson Hughes at 507-9318575. ©Copyright 2022 APG Media of Southern Minnesota. All Rights Reserved.

Wildcat Park & Landing welcomes new managers

By RACHEL STOCK rachel.stock@apgecm.com

Steve Goetzinger and Amber Miller are taking over Brownsville’s Wildcat Park & Landing.

In early May 2023, Miller and partner Goetzinger were instituted as the new park management team for Wildcat. The management agreement with the county is a one year contract, with a possibility for renewal come the 2024 camping season. According to Miller, the couple lives on-site and, under their new company Fireside Management LLC, “handles campers’ concerns, visitors’ concerns, takes reservations and cares for the maintenance of the park.”

Prior to filling this management position, Goetzinger had a 20-year career in construction, whereas Miller worked at Gunderson for some odd 10 years doing labs and x-rays. The duo also own and operate two AirBnBs in Houston County, one in Spring Grove and one in La Crescent.

“Running a campground, it’s kind of along the same lines as the Airbnbs, with the reservations and the hospitality,” said Miller.

For Miller and Goetzinger, the opportunity to care for Wildcat “is so much more” than just a job. The family have been camping at the park with their kids for many years and had “quite the journey” getting where they are now.

In September of 2021, a friend of Miller’s asked if she and Steve would be interested in quitting their job, selling their Caledonia home and going on an eight month road trip around the United States. The following September, after taking a year to save up, plan and make the trip feasible, the family hopped in a vehicle and made the jump.

“Last September, we did that,” said Miller. “We left our W2s. … We sold our house in Caledonia in a week and took off on a road trip. We homeschooled the kids and visited lots of national parks.”

The trip further ignited the family’s love of nature and desire to better connect with others. It was around this time “a fellow camper” sent the couple an application link to the then open management position at Wildcat Park & Landing.

After reading [the application], I realized it aligned perfectly with being out in nature, spending time with our friends and our kids, things like that,” said Miller. “I knew we had all of the skills and qualifications to come and run this park. … We just decided it was the next leap.”

Miller and Steve quickly began working together to figure out how to write a budget proposal and other necessities, preparing them for the position and its application process. Hiring of the pair was confirmed by the Houston County Board of Commissioners in mid-April and the family was settled at the park by the start of camping season.

According to Miller, the couple quickly got to work making a Facebook page dedicated to the park, called Wildcat Camp & Recreation, to “keep campers in the loop of what’s going on.” A website for Wildcat is also in the works, to be complete with online reservation access and credit card processing. The management team is hopeful the site will be fully operational by the end of July, early August.

“Wildcat is still a hidden gem in Houston County,” said Miller. “There’s still so many people that don’t know about this campground and that’s why it was super important for me to start getting the word out.”

In addition to making Wildcat more accessible digitally, Miller and Goetzinger have made improvements to the park itself. Yoga on Mondays at 9 a.m. started recently and Miller hopes to continue to add more activities throughout the season.

“This little river town has so much to offer,” said Miller. “We’re open to whatever anybody comes to us with. If it fits the park, we want to support that.”

Volleyball nets have been added to the park, new mulch was recently laid on the playground and new sand can be found on the beach. Apparel is now available at the management office and, just outside, a meat vending machine can now be found, stocked with goodies from City Meat Market in New Albin.

According to Miller, the couple has also started working with a few “kid entrepreneurs” in the area. Their own son Deacon invested in a gumball machine for the office, “the Augedahl kids, they

bring us our bait,” and Harper’s Bug Spray, a natural spray made by a local kid, is also for sale.

“It’s been amazing. It’s been everything we thought it would be, everything that we hoped it’d be,” said Miller. “I want Houston County to know what a gem of a resource they have here. Wildcat could easily become one of the top tourist destinations in the county.”

On the water shelters are available for rent at Wildcat.

New park managers Amber Miller and Steve Goetzinger are long time campers at Wildcat.

Wildcat Park & Landing can be found at 11011 MN-26 in Brownsville.

Recent improvements to the park include volleyball nets and new mulch at the playground.

Reach associate editor Rachel Stock at 507724-3475.

Waseca veterans services director named

president of national organization

By ETHAN BECKER ethan.becker@apgsomn.com

Along-time Waseca County employee will have a chance to take on a new leadership role as he continues to follow a passion: helping veterans.

Chris Hinton is the director of the Waseca County Veterans Services Office. A veteran himself, Hinton felt a calling to help people in his local area following his years of service.

“I ser ved in the United States Navy. I joined in spring 2000, and I served until spring 2005,” Hinton said.

The decision to leave wasn’t easy, Hinton noted, but he looked at what he wanted out of his life and knew what he needed to do.

“I wanted to start a family, and it was the best course of action for me. …

When you’re in the military, oftentimes you have to choose between family and career,” Hinton said. “Seeing that the divorce rate was so very high in the military … I didn’t want to roll those dice, so I decided to come back.”

Following his time in the Navy, he helped his father run a mortgage company before going back to college on the G.I. Bill. He got a degree in law enforcement, and began working with the Blue Earth County Sheriff’s Office. Following that, he was hired to work at the Minnesota Assistance Council for Veterans as a case manager; a job that led him to Waseca.

“That was a wonderful, wonderful job. I got to work with some very amazing people, and I got to help out a lot of really deserving people as well,” Hinton said. “This job here at Waseca County opened up in 2015 … and after many different interviews and some stiff competition I got hired on in early 2016.”

Hinton’s current job at Waseca County sees him helping veterans and their spouses and families in the area. It was a position that gave him the ability to help and positively impact a larger veteran community, which was something that he was looking for.

“I wanted to do more. I wanted to learn more. I wanted to understand how the different policies and the different governmental agencies that are out there work,” Hinton said. “This job al-

lowed me to have a bigger impact on the larger population, and I was able to help out more people.”

Following that desire to help more and more people, Hinton recently took another large step on that path when he was elected to be the president of the National Association of Veteran County Service Officers. It was a position that Hinton had worked toward for some time.

“You have to want it. Once I got onto the executive board, it become clear to me that I wanted to continue this path and learn more and do more,” Hinton said. “So I ran for Second Vice [President], then First Vice [President] and now for President.”

In this new position, Hinton will be continuing to advocate for veterans all across the state, and set up relationships and programs that will be beneficial to them.

“The biggest thing is that I want to bring information, facilities, programs and, frankly, dollars down to our local affiliates. We have to go to the top to bring the dollars back home,” Hinton said.

Hinton said that his four pillars have been efficiency, adaptability, initiative

and partnerships, and that he’s going to base this term, which will last for two years, around those four things and trying to “grow NAVCSO in a way that is going to continue to help County VSO.”

“I would say the benefit that NAVCSO brings to local governments, including Waseca’s, is it allows the federal government to see what it is that we do. … It shows them there is a need,” Hinton said. Hinton will continue to serve in his position as the director of Waseca County Veterans Service Office, and following his passion, he hopes to see a CVSO in every county in the state.

“The state of Minnesota has a wonderful partnership with its local government agents … and even going up into some of the federal agencies. Not every state has that,” Hinton said. “But all they have at the state level is two people who can help file claims and stuff. … So you have millions of veterans who only have two people to talk to. I find that completely unsatisfactory.”

Waseca County Veterans Service Office Director Chris Hinton was recently elected to serve as the president of the National Association of County Veterans Service Officers.

Ethan Becker is a reporter for the Waseca County News. Reach him at (507) 333-3133. Find him

IF YOU GO

Angie’s is a new restaurant at 635 Second St., smackdab in the heart of Kenyon. It’s open 7 a.m. to 8 p.m. Tuesdays through Saturdays, 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. on Sunday and is closed on Mondays.

On Sundays, Angie’s serves breakfast and a midday dinner. The other days, it serves breakfast, lunch and dinner.

New restaurant’s owner hopes to see Kenyon ‘flourish again’

By COLTON KEMP colton.kemp@apgsomn.com

Angie Anderson was feeling burnt out from working at JB’S Tavern in Wanamingo, driving her to quit her job about two years ago.

“I think, after COVID, people were mean,” she said. “They’d come into the restaurant and they were mad they had to wear a mask, mad because they couldn’t put 18 tables together. And it’s like, it’s not my rule.”

Still, having so much experience from working at “every restaurant in town” over the years, she knew she was a valuable asset.

That’s why, when Barney Nesseth, a partner at JB’S, asked to meet with her, she thought he was going to ask her to come back.

“He said, ‘I have this idea,’” Anderson recounted. “He goes, ‘I’m gonna buy the Emerson building in Kenyon.’ And I said, ‘Oh, for what?’ He goes ‘Well,’ and he handed me this packet and it said ‘Angie’s’ on top. It was a proposal for a restaurant — for him and I to do a restaurant together.”

She was “speechless and shocked” at the proposal. It wasn’t long before Anderson was putting up big letters, spelling out the name that her and her new restaurant share.

At first, Nesseth offered a 90-10 split and said, by year four, she’d be 50% owner. Then, she would eventually have the opportunity to buy the business outright.

Well, that offer didn’t last. Just the other day, Nesseth gave her the additional 40%.

“He goes, ‘You’re going to be anyway, so it’s just easier is we split everything,’” she said. “He’s like, ‘You’ve done all this hard work in here and you’ve put all your time. You deserve it.’ So, we’re 50/50 now.”

While Nesseth is taking a hands-off approach and letting Anderson take the reins, there is one part of the restaurant inspired by his family. Anderson said he would often say they needed ice cream at JB’S Tavern, since his daughter “always went out for ice cream” with her friends.

His daughter, Rachel Nesseth, died in a car crash in August at just 18 years old. In her memory, Anderson has tentatively decided to name the ice cream

section of her store “Rachel’s Ice Cream Parlor.”

Thriving community

One of the surprising par ts of her first few days was how many people followed her from other restaurants around town because they said they enjoy her cooking. Among those who followed her is Bill Theel, a Wanamingo man who was at the restaurant Tuesday morning.

“It’s great to have a new restaurant in town,” he said. “I knew her when she worked at — where was it again? — JB’S. Yeah, it’s a great addition to the community.”

Anderson likes that small-town vibe, but didn’t always plan to stick around in Kenyon. Out of high school, she wanted to save up money to go to the New England Culinary Institute in Vermont.

“I wanted to be a really fancy chef who made, you know, this much food,” she said, forming a small circle with her hands. “I was working at the Kenyon VFW, trying to save up money. Well, I never saved any money and then I got pregnant. So I was like, ‘OK. I guess I’ll stay.’”

Back then, Kenyon was “thriving,” according to Anderson, who grew up in the small town in the ‘80s and ‘90s. Over the years, she’s watched that spirit fade away.

“There were stores, there were three grocery stores on Main Street, every building had something,” she said. “I mean, it was just crazy. … I’ve seen Main Street (Second Street) kind of dwindle, and it makes me sad because you drive through and it’s like there’s nothing here.”

Angie Anderson checks up on her son, Thomas Temple, who helps run the kitchen at Angie’s, a new restaurant in Kenyon. (Colton Kemp/southernminn. com)

Angie’s is a new restaurant in Kenyon, which serves breakfast, lunch and dinner Tuesday through Saturday, as well as breakfast and a dinner option on Sunday. The restaurant is closed on Mondays. (Colton Kemp/southernminn.com)

Angie Anderson, of Kenyon, sets out her specialty brioche buns, which she uses to set her burgers apart from “something you would make at home.” (Colton Kemp/southernminn.com)

From left, Allen Syverson, of Kenyon, Wayne Livingston, of Wanamingo, and Bill Theel, of Wanamingo, sit at a table inside Angie’s for some Tuesday morning coffee. Theel and Livingston said they followed Angie Angerson, the new restaurant owner, from her last job because of her cooking. (Colton Kemp/southernminn.com)

Le Sueur chalk art fundraiser supports research in fight against Alzheimer’s

By CARSON HUGHES carson.hughes@apgsomn.com

Corner Drug and Le Sueur-Henderson Community Education recently brought the fight against Alzheimer’s to the sidewalk with a new community-wide chalk art campaign.

At the Le Sueur Farmers Market on June 3, Corner Drug and Community Education kicked off a month-long fundraiser to support Alzheimer’s research by providing artists of all ages with chalk to draw their own Alzheimer’s-inspired artwork on the sidewalk.

Throughout the month of June, youth, adults and local businesses were encouraged to register with Community Education and submit a photo of their chalk art to Michelle.steiger@yoursterlingpharmacy.com. Winners in each division received prizes.

Ar twork was posted on the Corner Drug website at yoursterlingpharmacy. com/alzheimers-donations/ and community members will be able to vote for

CONTINUED FROM PAGE 8

Now bringing the liveliness back to Kenyon’s main drag is part of her motivation for opening a restaurant. She had the feeling the other day that maybe it’s happening.

“The other day, I was doing something and had the shades open,” she said. “I watched these ladies.”

She recounted how they walked from store to store, business to business, spending their entire afternoon on Kenyon’s main road.

Then her pizza ovens came in, she

their favorites with their dollars, which will benefit the Alzheimer’s Association, the nation’s largest non-profit specializing in Alzheimer’s research and care.

Alzheimer’s affects more than 6.5 million people in the United States over the age of 65, according to the Mayo Clinic, and is the leading cause of dementia, causing serious loss of memory and cognitive functioning in those with the disease.

The effort is an expansion of Corner Drug’s yearly efforts to raise funds for Alzheimer’s research each June as a pharmacy under Astrup Companies. Last year, the company’s divisions raised a total over $72,000. which included over $37,000 raised by employees and $35,000 matched by Astrup Family Foundation.

Now, Corner Drug is encouraging the whole community to get involved with the goal of raising $40,000 companywide and $75,000 in total with a $35,000 match from the Astrup Family Foundation.

“We are hoping this is something that will grow every single year and eventually maybe even include Parks and Rec

needed help carrying them, and she noticed her friend standing outside.

He came over to help her, and she bought him some beers for it. In the meantime, the ladies were still storehopping.

“It dawned on me that people were parking and walking around Main Street and Kenyon and actually had places to go,” she said. “I haven’t seen that in so long, so I thought that was cool. You know, hopefully there’ll be other people that will have businesses on Main Street too. It’d be awesome to see it flourish again.”

and have a sidewalk walk so maybe people come to visit Le Sueur just to walk around town and see the art,” said Corner Drug Pharmacy Manager

The food

Anderson describes the food at Angie’s as “diner-like.” She hopes her food has a homemade feeling, but isn’t dismissed as something “you could make at home.”

The restaurant serves breakfast, lunch and dinner most days. Sunday will have a special dinner option that’s a little more complicated, like an entree with multiple sides and a drink.

Her big controversy of opening week was pizza. She originally planned to have it ready for the grand opening on Thursday, but when it came time, she

Michelle Steiger.

Reach Reporter Carson Hughes at 507-9318575. ©Copyright 2022 APG Media of Southern Minnesota. All Rights Reserved.

discovered it wasn’t to her liking.

“I’m still tr ying to perfect that,” she said. “I thought I had it, but I let the sauce sit for a couple of days. I was like ‘Nope, it’s too spicy.’ I only put a teaspoon of cayenne, but I just wasn’t really vibing with it.”

She guessed pizza should be available in a month or so, once she has more practice.

Reach Reporter Colton Kemp at 507-3333129. © Copyright 2023 APG Media of Southern Minnesota. All rights reserved.

Community members were able to vote for their favorite sidewalk chalk art submissions on the Corner Drug website with dollars to benefit Alzheimer’s research. (Courtesy of Corner Drug)

Faribault artist teaching free summer classes

By COLTON KEMP colton.kemp@apgsomn.com

As a toddler, Faribault artist Kate Langlais would draw and paint with any art supplies she could get her hands on. She took every art class she could in high school.

This summer, she’s on the other side of the easel as the instructor of her free classes, which are funded by the Minnesota State Ar ts Board, through a Creative Support for Individuals grant. She’s offering several painting and drawing classes for children and adults through mid-August.

One of Langlais’ favorite art movements is impressionism, which she teaches in some of her classes. She

especially likes impressionists Vincent Van Gogh and Claude Monet.

“Portrait art is one of my favorite things too, and I love teaching about famous artists who use symbolism in their work, like Frida Kahlo,” she added.

When she first finished high school, she began to teach art classes through her local community education center. She did various odd jobs to pay her way through college.

“My favorite thing about teaching a class is when a student succeeds at something new they were trying to do,” she said. “That pride they feel in their artwork is just amazing to witness.”

While many of her classes are for children and teenagers, several classes are open to all age groups.

Classes are typically held in Langlais’ backyard, but some are at Central Park

and the community center.

In her backyard Wednesday morning with one of her two parent/child painting classes, budding artists as young as 1 year old painted with brushes and their fingers. On another area of the patio the youngsters learned what happens when colors are mixed together.

“I feel that offering more arts opportunities for youth is where my passion is,” she said. “Many of them crave more art experiences than the school day can accommodate, and especially during the summer there is often more time for that. I love their enthusiasm, the challenges and the development of young ar tists exploring new ways to create art.”

Some classes explore a range in art while others focus on mediums or subjects including portrait drawing, landscapes, Minnesota, the science of art, and impressionism.

Langlais’ own art experiences aren’t just a paycheck for her. In fact, she con-

siders them a necessity.

IF YOU GO

To see the full schedule of and sign up for the free art classes taught by Kate Langlais, visit her website: KateLanglais.com.

Art and teaching art is therapeutic for me,” she said. “I’ve especially realized this since becoming a mom: that getting time and space to create and teach art makes me feel whole and like myself again. I love when my students find art to be therapeutic too. I get a lot of feedback about that during my classes with adult students. It’s really such a human need to make and create.”

Audrey Rose Tuma-Ostenson, 18 months, looks up from her finger painting during an art class taught by Kate Langlais Wednesday morning.

Rachel Mandenhall helps her son, Fletcher, 1, paint in Kate Langlais’ backyard Wednesday.

Parker Liu, 3, discovers what happens when colors are mixed Wednesday during one of Kate Langlais’ free backyard parent/child painting classes. (Kristine Goodrich/southernminn.com)

Kate Langlais checks on her older daughter Frida, 3, as other class participants play and paint in the background. (Kristine Goodrich/southernminn.com)

MORE INFO

Keepsake Cidery is open to the public on weekends from March through December.

The schedule for summer and fall 2023: Fridays 4-9 p.m.; Saturdays 12-8 p.m.; and Sundays 12-6 p.m. Always open by appointment for to-go ciders.

Keepsake can ship cider to 37 states.

Keepsake Cidery

adds local offerings to its menu of beverages, food and events

By PAMELA THOMPSON pamela.thompson@apgsomn.com

On a hot, dry Sunday morning in early June, watering the pear trees imported from England and training new hires for the cider tasting room were only two of the dozens of tasks for Keepsake Cidery owners Nate and Tracy Jonkman.

But those chores were delayed for an hour thanks to the morning yoga class taught by Sarah Bach-Bergs inside their events barn.

With the barn doors thrown open to catch the breeze, the sounds of songbirds trilling and horses naying offered a naturally melodious backdrop to the meditative with flow yoga class.

Since they opened the Cidery in 2014, which is located east of Highway 3 south of Dundas at 4609 135th St. E., the Jonkmans have been tweaking their business model by adding new activities and events. Their website is crammed with fun summer offerings — for the whole family, for couples, for friend groups, for celebrations, and for single tasters.

There seems to be something for everyone at Keepsake.

Land of locals

“Our cider is about relationships both to people and the land,” said the couple on a walk through the pear orchard which is planted next to the larger apple orchard.

“We love food, community and nature,” said Nate. “We believe in supporting small, diverse, local producers. We want to increase the connection points

so we’re always adding more unique collaborations.”

The Cidery owners said they were pleased to announce the latest collaborations this summer will extend to local cheesemakers, fiber artists, brewers and sheep farmers.

“We want the cidery to be a reflection of ourselves and how we use the land,” Nate said. “We want to be a creative, happening place, featuring a diversity of businesses.”

The couple explained that the cidery was open for small groups of about 100 people. Those events might be celebrating a class reunion, an intimate wedding, a graduation or a birthday party.

They said their interior spaces can handle business meetings, small conferences or workshops. Interested parties should consult their website and call to lock in the date on the increasingly filled calendar.

“We are not Target,” said Nate, referring to the retail giant. “We operate on a personal level. We’re showing the public that not all southern Minnesota farms have to grow only corn and soybeans.”

Tasting room

After a yoga class, an orchard walk or a game of corn hole, most visitors end up in the tasting room. Along with a lengthy beverage menu, food items include melt in the mouth toasties, made from the cheeses, breads and meats sourced from local producers.

“We offer simple ingredients well made that are available seasonally and are nearly all locally grown and made,” said Tracy.

Other seasonal food offerings include cheese plates, a mezze platter, an olive

plate, and the Ploughman’s Platter with salami, ham, cheddar, pickles, grilled bread, apple, hummus with crackers, cheese curds and assorted pickles.

The popular toasties are made with a variety of cheeses and meats. The menu always includes vegetarian options.

Keepsake’s current cider list is divided into dry, semi sweet and strong. The options for dry cider includes information about the type of fruit and process used. The detailed menu reads like an agricultural tool kit with clever names such as Wild, River Valley Reserve and Orchard Reserve. The owners encourage multiple tastings and always to ask the staff questions.

This summer, some of the more popular drinks are the Chestnut SV, made with chestnut crab single varietal, the Sunset, which is aged on currants, aronia, and grapes, and the Cherry, aged on welch garden cherries.

More curious palettes might want to try Adventure, which is made with heirloom and bittersweets, plus wood and spirits, and aged on whiskey oak staves. Or they could try Happenstance, which is aged on foraged Wild Cherry Bark and stored in a J Carver Gin Barrel.

For a more festive drink, try the Aura, a Champagne style, high-acid with bubbles and tannin.

Keepsake has added a homemade wine, Frontenac Red. But this year’s big news is that the cidery also serves guest wine and beers, after the owners secured a liquor license.

“We always have Imminent Brewing on tap,” said Nate, “as well as rotating special blends available only at the cidery.”

Keepsake Cidery offers many outdoor areas for patrons to sit and sip. (Pamela Thompson photos/southernminn.com) This couple from the Twin Cities enjoyed the variety of tasting from the cider flight.

Cider bottles site for sale in Keepsake Cidery’s Tasting Room. (Photo courtesy of Keepsake Cidery)

Keepsake Cidery owners Nate and Tracy Jonkman stand beside their apple orchard. (Pamela Thompson/southernminn.com)

Pamela