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EDITORIAL

Managing Editor Randy Stern 612-461-8723

Editorial Assistant Linda Raines 612-436-4660

Editor Emeritus Ethan Boatner

Editorial Associate George Holdgrafer

Contributors Linden M. Bayliss, Lakey Bridge, Buer Carlie, Emi Gacaj, Terrance Griep, Elise Maren, Jen PeeblesHampton, Analise Pruni, Linda Raines, Gabrielle Reeder, Alexander Reed, Gregg Shapiro, Aurora Smith, Jamez L. Smith, Susan Swavely, Carla Waldemar, Todd P. Walker

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Inspiration Steven W. Anderson (1954-1994), Timothy J. Lee (1968-2002), Russell Berg (1957-2005), Kathryn Rocheford (1914-2006), Jonathan Halverson (1974-2010), Adam Houghtaling (1984-2012), Walker Pearce (1946-2013), Tim Campbell (1939-2015), John Townsend (1959-2019)

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Welcome To The Gay Softball World Series

BY RANDY STERN

The Gay Softball World Series has returned to the Twin Cities. We’re rolling out a welcome to 5,000 visitors involved in this tournament. This issue celebrates this event and our community that plays an important role as gracious and welcoming hosts.

To kick things off, let me start off with this story…

In 2001, I remember driving up from Madison to the Twin Cities to see my friends up here. One friend told me to go directly to Bryn Mawr Park in Minneapolis to go see a few of them play softball.

I got there and I was astonished. I have never seen LGBTQ+ folks play in an organized form of recreational sports before. Being out for over a decade (at the time) and living in two major LGBTQ+ hubs (the Bay Area and Washington, D.C. prior to Madison), I felt like I was missing a major social aspect of our community.

That was my introduction to the Twin Cities Goodtime Softball League – our Lavender Magazine Community Award winning local league affiliated with the North American Gay Amateur

Athletic Alliance.

Once I moved here, I met more folks at TCGSL games and events. I checked out their games, rooted for them, and hung out afterwards. It was fun. My now former Olympus camera was omnipresent to capture some action on the field.

Through this, I attended – and even volunteered – the last time the Twin Cities hosted the Gay Softball World Series in 2012. It was an experience that I thought benefitted our community. We’ve always been great hosts, you know!

For 2023, the GSWS has returned to the Twin Cities. And, we’re glad to have it back!

The competition will take place across three venues – Lac Lavon Field in Burnsville, Lexington-Diffley Athletic Fields in Eagan, and Rich Valley Park in Inver Grove Heights. The tournament will feature the best amateur athletes from across the country – around 5,000 visitors will be in town for the GSWS.

If you’re interested in attending any of the events for the GSWS, log on to www.lightupthenorth.org for a complete schedule. That also includes getting tickets to the Minnesota TwinsCleveland Guardians game at Target Field on August 29 and the charity concert at First Avenue on August 30, featuring Taylor Dayne, along with drag superstars BeBe Zahara Benet and Detox.

Speaking of which, did you know that the Twins are among the supporters for the GSWS? That’s what you get when organizations truly support and love what we do! You can read more about it in this issue.

The 2023 GSWS is just a few days away! Let us make our 5,000 visitors feel right at home! 

Photo by Randy Stern

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Shane! You’ve Come Back!

BY E.B. BOATNER

George Stevens’s Shane opened a week before my twelfth birthday, about the same age playwright Karen Zacarías read Jack Schaefer’s novel in a sixth-grade class. I read it, too–smitten by the hero, I picked up a 35-cent Ballantine paperback at Kottenhoff’s Pharmacy and sped through it. Print and images both thrilled, and though many of the subtler points went over my head then, much has been clarified and expanded through Zacarías’s superb adaptation, co-produced by the Guthrie and Cincinnati Playhouse in the Park.

I was in West Hartford, CT, and Zacarías in Boston when we encountered Shane, though separated, in full disclosure, by a good three decades and deeply divergent points of view. Like hers, my parents had also moved north, but neither they, nor many others in 1940s West Hartford, were persons of color. In 1953, I unquestioningly watched the standard white cast, good and evil, while Zacarías, an immigrant girl from Mexico, having devoured the novel, never saw the film, fearing none of the characters would resemble those she imagined on the page.

There was, indeed, much to consider in the movie, but nothing (Hollywood saw to that) to indicate the greater, earlier thefts reaching back beyond the one being engineered in this frontier town between an evil cattle baron and innocent, family-oriented farmer-homesteaders. No mention either of the thousands of Black cowboys, wranglers, homesteaders who had also been given legal access to land parcels. A good quarter of the cowboys at this time (1889) were Black, Mexican or wranglers of color. Just gone were those who for generations had nurtured that land before settlers (yes, and unacknowledged settlers of color as well) had usurped their territory.

Schaefer’s novel itself was a maverick; no typical cowboy-and-Injun shoot’em-ups; good and evil, yes, fights and threats, but broader “life” questions as well. How homesteaders should live together, treat others, keep one’s word, raise children healthy in mind and body? All important, yet, never a mention of their own part in removing indigenous peoples from the lands of their heritage. Too early? Still?

Zacaría created and added Winona Jackson,

an indigenous young woman conscripted to work for cattle boss Luke Fletcher, who had stolen cattle from her people. She warns Marian Starrett while Fletcher attempts to persuade her husband Joe to sell their land. Winona, like Shane, bides her time. As in the novel, son Bobby (played here by an adult Bob), listens, watches, questions and learns. Joe refuses Fletcher; trouble is inevitable. But there is Shane.

Whatever he had been or done, Shane passed through the fire, a flawed diamond, eschewing past bloodshed, internalizing the ferocity of a Muhammad Ali in a balletic Fred Astaire frame: the first instar of “float like a butterfly, sting Iike a bee?” Shane is, in this production, a deus ex machina of color.

Schaefer made it work first; now Zacaría broadens, deepens, and fine-tunes, embracing those who were there at the creation but never acknowledged. Jack Schaefer didn’t do too shabbily, though, for a guy who wrote the consummate western in 1949–before he’d ever ventured any further out “that-a-way” than Cleveland.

At the Guthrie Theatre through August 27. 

Nebraska It’s Not For Everyone

BY CARLA WALDEMAR

Denver Airport is one of the busiest in the USA. But the only reason I’m landing here is to get away from crowds and into the wide-open spaces. I’m heading to Northwestern Nebraska—considered flyover land by those who don’t know better, and christened paradise by those who seek the pleasures of the scenic, unspoiled great outdoors.

Nebraska = pancake-flat? That’s a far stretch at what they call Chimney Rock, an iconic rock pillar thrusting close to 400 feet above the North Platte River Valley. It served as a famous landmark for travelers along the Oregon and Mormon Trails, and for us as we followed the paved trail to its base. (Why paved, you ask? Because the area’s rattlesnakes don’t like cement.) A Wild West thunderstorm rolled in and just as quickly out, refreshing the green prairie alive with wildflowers.

The monument’s Visitors Center describes the pioneers’ half-year-long journey in covered wagons and the dangers encountered along the way, perceived (Indians) or real (poison plants, animals). Spin its Wheel of Fortune to calculate your odds of survival. Then ‘pack’ a load and check its weight.

Before sunset, drive 30 minutes to Wildcat Hills State Park, where rangers like Gary show off the local stuffed animals (elk, wildcat and more), along with a treasury of fossil skulls. A balcony overlooks hills clad in overcoats of pine, spliced by otherworldly rock formations—the first of many we’ll spot on this trip. Hike the canyons below to earn your dinner.

In nearby Scottsbluff, choose a flight of craft beers and clever pizzas at Flyover Brewing Company, or head to the old-time tavern called Steel Grill for everything from a mountain-sized nacho platter to my choice, a heap of nicely sticky ribs.

Easy to fall straight to sleep in the blissful quiet. Then, easy to arise for

a tour of Scottsbluff National Monument, anchoring a park of 3,000 woodsy acres and four miles of hiking trails. At an overlook, we scanned the 360-degree horizon of rolling pines and jutting stone. The Visitors Center offers accounts which travelers in the mid-1800s confided to their diaries. “I crawled myself into a wagon in a very cramped position and passed an emphatically miserable night,” whined John Handy in June 1850, when one in every ten travelers perished. Frances Hayes, however, opined that “The scenery here is sublime.”

We were dying of hunger, ourselves, so we sped back to Scottsbluff to pull up at The Mixing Bowl to test owner Jamie Heisner’s homage to the German fare of her great-grandfolks—specials like cabbage burgers and butterball soup (plus generous sandwiches and salads), followed by her home-made bakery treats (talking to you, black bean brownies). And a lifealtering list of Starbucks-quality coffee drinks, right here in flyover land.

The tiny town of Crawford, along our route, merits a pull-over at its quirky rock and fossil shop, selling everything from mammoths’ teeth to precious gems to a curly shrimp fossilized in a piece of ancient rock. Fossils in the gumball machine, too. Lunch at the town bar & grill provided juicy Reubens because….drum roll!…the Reuben sandwich was invented in this very state.

We’d planned a night of stargazing at Toadstool, a geological park also known for its wacky stone formations shaped like (duh!) —toadstools. But one of those epic Nebraska thunderstorms muscled in. Instead, we marveled at them by broad daylight after an overnight at Fort Robinson State Park at Our Heritage Guest Ranch. Dining there was a convivial affair, overseen by portraits of stern former Army commanders, who silently urged us to clean our plates (easy for me: bison steak, then homemade pie).

A morning ride in ATVs trucked us within photo-shooting distance of the bison and pronghorn herds as we ogled mighty rock formations above deep, pine-clad gullies. Plus more rattlesnakes.

(Clockwise) Grain Bin Antique Town, Wildcat Hills,

Tanking, Carhenge. Photos courtesy of Visit Nebraska

Back again at the fort’s grassy parade grounds, we ventured to the History Museum anchored there to ogle its iconic Clash of the Mammoths: ginormous skeletons of the two huge creatures which locked their tusks in battle and couldn’t break apart … even in death. You’ll spot the bones of a gazelle camel and the rhino herd which once wandered nearby, too.

Then meander to the nearby History Museum, which records the bloody ongoing battles between the Army and local Indian tribes. The heroic warrior Crazy Horse died close by.

By 1916, we learn, the fort housed a Black Cavalry unit; then, during WW II, a canine corps, trained to do guard duty, sniff out mines and deliver messages. During that war, 5,000 German prisoners also were housed here, as their photos testify.

On the road again. Enroute to North Platte, our final stop, by popular demand we swung into the town of Alliance to drop our jaws at Carhenge. Yup, a former Brit who’d moved here decided to build a replica of his land’s amazing Stonehenge; but with no Druids on hand to haul stones, he resorted to replicating its mystic circle with used cars. Still think Nebraska’s boring?

We reached the town at sunset, just in time to dig into creative pizzas and craft beers on the deck of Pals Brewing Company (“great beer for the Great Plains”). Then a night at the Hilton Tru, the brand’s new hipster magnet that’s so easy to love: lobby pool table, gathering pods, gym, free breakfast plus coffee 24/7. Sweet dreams, indeed.

Our final day’s a full one, starting with an exploration of Potter’s Pasture, 45 minutes distant, via hiking trails or ATVs that roar up wooded hills, glide past piney ravines and lead us to one awesome 360-view after another.

Then, off for another of those only-in-Nebraska experiences: tanking. The idea is to float down the Platte River inside a metal cattle tank shaped like a giant cake tin. BYOB? You betcha.

Last stop, North Platte—home of the One and Only Buffalo Bill. And what a home it is! Tour the fancy Italianate-style mansion, chock-full of memorabilia: think buffalo skin coat, ten gallon hat, lots of rifles, and posters from his traveling shows.

Even quirkier: Grain Bin Antique Town, a nearby barn surrounded by scores of pavilions, each loaded with everything from figure skates to brass spittoons.

Our last—and finest—dinner was celebrated at North Platte’s Cedar Room, whose kitchen marries prairie fare with fine dining: thus, cowboy calamari (mini chicken-fried steaks) vied with wild mushroom-coated brie; Rocky Mountain oysters (don’t ask) with ciabatta in pesto sauce. The menu’s catalog of beefsteaks was followed by my choice, a husky Duroc pork chop sauced in salted caramel. For braggin’ rights, go for the beast burger (elk, bison, wild boar and caramelized onions).

That burger might be a poster item for what they meant when they chose a state slogan for Nebraska: “Honestly, it’s not for everyone.” Just for the select few who seek the road trip of a lifetime.

For more info contact www.visitnebraska.com. 

“Our Town” Local Gay World Series Softball Players Get Ahead by Thinking Small

BY TERRANCE GRIEP

The differences between the sports of softball and baseball revolve mostly around size: the size of the ball, the size of the bat, the size of the field, even the size of the game itself…but the biggest size-oriented discrepancy between softball and baseball is how their respective championships are decided. One of these will manifest in just a few days with the return of the Gay Softball World Series (GSWS) to the Twin Cities. The event, according to their website www.lightupthenorth.org, is “the largest annual LGBTQ single-sport, week-long athletic competition globally.”

To say there’s a difference in size between the two title-determining events is putting it, uh, smally: where Major League Baseball’s World Series is composed of two teams contesting seven games (at most), the North American Gay Amateur Athletic Alliance’s (NAGAAA) Gay Softball World Series is composed of approximately 225 teams contesting over 900 games across 7 different divisions. The competition will attract approximately 5,000 visitors to the GSWS. NAGAAA includes 54 leagues throughout the US and Canada, making its professional cousin look cheek-pinchingly petite.

One of those fifty-four leagues is the Twin Cities Goodtime Softball League which has provided LGBTQ+ athletes and their allies a Metro Area rallying point since 1979. “Softball is truly a sport that brings people together,” asserts Tommy Dougherty-Rosengren, a thirteen season veteran of the league. Starting out, that togetherness was harder for Dougherty-Rosengren to win than that of his teammates. As Dougherty-Rosengren recounts, “For over half of those years, I lived in Belgrade, Minnesota, and drove ninety miles round trip to play every Sunday because this league gave me life and made me a stronger and better person.”

This recounting runs parallel to the experience of Charles Brown, another member of the local league whose Goodtime begins well outside the Twin Cities—Menomonie, Wisconsin, to be precise. After years of dissatisfying interaction with local softball associations, Brown joined TCGSL “to meet people in the LGBTQ+ community and expand my friends list.” Brown remembers his initiation fondly. “It was amazing how the league accepts and supports everyone,” he reminisces. “The league is like a family, and they look out for one another. The league is accepting but also very competitive

as well. I wish I was closer to be even more involved with our league.”

Under the scintillating theme “Light Up The North,” the Twin Cities Goodtime Softball League will host the NAGAAA’s 2023 Gay Softball World Series which starts on August 28 and ends on September 2, 2023. This Byzantine spectacle will hold it’s games at Metro Area venues ranging from Burnsville to South Saint Paul and from Eagan to Inver Grove Heights and Woodbury…but this World Series, perhaps in contrast with her major league cousin, intends to unite rather than divide.

“The NAGAAA World Series is a great way for the community to come together from all around the country,” states Dougherty-Rosengren. “When you go to a World Series, it is like a big family reunion with friends from all over the county who share a common bond of softball but also celebrating and supporting the broader LGBTQ+ community.”

That celebration won’t happen exclusively on the field. “I’m not playing in the 2023 series as my team didn’t qualify, but it is an amazing experience as I have played in the past five World Series,” Brown says. “I will be around supporting local teams and friends from other cities, as well. Belonging is most important, and the league does that.” This noncompetitive support is a kind of forward-paying for the kid from Menomonie. “Signing up for TCGSL fifteen-plus years ago was the best thing I could have done for myself,” Brown insists. “It has helped me so much my life understanding myself and accepting myself.”

Dougherty-Rosengren has enjoyed similar self-improvement. He proclaims, “I am better a better friend, better husband, better advocate, and a better educator because of the years that I have spent in this league and the people I have met on my journey with TCGSL and especially my team.” That sense of teamwork is bigger than any one team, though…even bigger than the game itself. “Everyone loves the winning, but the sense of belonging and the fun we have is the best part and it isn’t just on the field–we play off the field as well,” Dougherty-Rosengren observes. “We go out for drinks, we support other teams’ fundraisers. We attend tournaments all over the country, and we play with our heart.”

Softball may be defined by the size of the ball, the bat, and the field, but locally, it’s defined by the size of at least two players’ hometowns, as well. “My favorite part of being in the TCGSL family is the fun, the family and the frivolity with such a diverse group of people representing every color of the rainbow,” Rosenberg declares. “TCGSL is and has always been a family to me. This family saved my life through a cancer battle and other health issues and it’s a pretty amazing family to be part of!” 

Husbands, Kyle Dougherty-Rosengren and Tommy Rosie Dough-Ro.

Photo by Tommy Dougherty-Rosengren

The Only Ten I SEE From Tennessee to the Twin Cities, Whisk-E 2.0 at the Gay Softball World Series

BY SUSAN SWAVELY

The North American Gay Amateur Athletic Alliance (NAGAAA) Gay Softball World Series is headed to the Twin Cities at the end of August for the 2023 tournament, and the teams are ready for it! The GSWS will take place August 28th-September 2nd, 2023. All of the important information on events, field locations, volunteering opportunities and more, can be found on their website: www.lightupthenorth.org.

Teddy Lee (he/him), coach and player for Knoxville Tennessee team Whisk-E 2.0 is just one of the many excited softballers, headed to the World Series for a week of excitement, comradery, and softball! Teddy Lee finds an incredible amount of joy as the coach and a player for Whisk-E 2.0, and has a lifetime of experience with the sport to back him up. Lee says, “I am very passionate about softball. I get to meet new people all around the USA, and I love being at the fields cheering on other teams, just to be out there living it up, trying to let my freedom shine to be who I wanna be.” Lee has been with Whisk-E 2.0 for two years, and taking his team to the Gay Softball World Series means so much to him. He says, “It means a lot that my team will be participating at the GSWS. This year I will have at least 6 new players who haven’t played in a series before. I am happy for them to go and compete with the best of the best and get to make new friends and experience a fun-filled week of softball.”

Lee’s journey with softball began long before his involvement with the GSWS or even Whisk-E 2.0. He says, “I started playing the game when I moved to Houston, Texas, in 2000… I started out playing ball on the church softball team at Bering UMC. After playing for that team for two years, I

decided that I would like to coach a team. My team was the leftovers from recruitment day, and we thought we were awesome.” Then after many more teams, many years of learning and growing, and an entire pandemic, Lee found himself in Knoxville, Tennessee. He explains, “I started out on Knoxville B2B, and after a year went by, I started my own team. We started as a travel team and then decided to play as a team during the season… During the off season, our team started to grow, and we decided to form another team. We were overwhelmed with new players wanting to play and old players coming back to play. We now have Whisk-E Rec, WhiskE 2.0, and Whiskey D. These three teams are my heart and soul.” Lee adds that he, “wouldn’t have gotten this far without my coaching crew, Nikki Crutcher, Athena Crawford, Darry Fannon, and my bookkeeper, Michelle Crutcher.”

Coach Lee, a seasoned softball pro with twelve previous NAGAAA World Series tournaments under his belt, knows how hard it is to get

Continued on page 16

Photos courtesy of Earnest Perkins

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to this level in the game. He says, “It takes a lot to get to the world series. Before the season starts, we have at least 1 or 2 practices a week leading up to it. This includes playing in different tournaments. We practice as a team, and then we have open practice with our sister teams… we played the whole season as a team, and we won [the E division] as a team. We never let anything get us down. When one player was down, we always jumped in to pick that player back up.”

Whisk-E 2.0 is thrilled to participate in the World Series, of course, but they’re also eager to experience all that the Twin Cities has to offer. Lee says, “I’m looking forward to visiting the Twin Cities this year. Before moving to Knoxville, our Madison team used to travel to Minneapolis to visit and hang out with friends when we weren’t playing ball. I will be traveling down to Madison, Wisconsin to visit family and friends while I am up that way. I am also excited about going to the Twins game while I am there. I love the park that they have. Some of the Knoxville team wants to visit Prince’s home while we are in Minneapolis, and I’m very excited to see that.”

Lee enjoys the whole experience of Softball. He says, “Softball isn’t just getting on the field to play, it’s about making new friends, and caring about the people you love.” Having a sport that specifically highlights the queer experience is so important. Lee explains, “[Softball] gets me out of the house meeting new people and being who I am while being proud of who I am as a gay man.” Celebrating people of all sexualities is an important part of the NAGAAA Gay Softball World Series. Lee adds, “I am also thankful for the straight allies who play on the teams. As our allies, they often act as ambassadors to the conservative straight community and let them know that gay folks are just folks.”

Don’t miss out on the experience of a lifetime: full of fun, gayness, friendship, and softball! Come out to attend the games and events of the 2023 Gay Softball World Series, and Light up the North in the Twin Cities!

Good luck on your thirteenth World Series, Teddy! 

The Big Assist To Bring Back The Gay Softball World Series To The Twin Cities

BY AURORA SMITH

The Gay Softball World Series (GSWS) is coming to the Twin Cities for the first time since 2012. That’s 11 years since the Twin Cities have hosted this major sporting event, and major it is. There will be over 5,000 participants and fans coming to the Cities from August 28th through September 2nd. This is not only great news for the Series and sports fans but will also bring economic revenue to the area.

About the GSWS

The GSWS is presented by the North American Gay Amateur Athletic Alliance (NAGAAA), a nonprofit that promotes amateur sports competitions with emphasis on participants from the LGBTQ+ community. The GSWS is the largest LGBTQ+, single-sport, annual weeklong athletic competition in the entire world, making it a prestigious honor to host.

Members of the Twin Cities Goodtime Softball League partnered with Sports Minneapolis to win the right to host the Series from NAGAAA. Sports Minneapolis has previously secured hosting other major sporting events in the Cities, including the Super Bowl, the X Games, and more. The organization could not be more thrilled to add the GSWS to the list.

The Twins’ Help Bring GSWS Back

The Twins’ — Minnesota’s Major League Baseball team — have been instrumental in bringing the GSWS back to the Cities. The team was honored to be invited to be part of the group that presented the bid to host in 2020.

“We were the first MLB team to partner on the games,” says Nancy O’Brien, Vice President of Community Engagement for the Twins.

Fast forward to 2023, and the Twins are helping to promote the Series both at their games and through their various communication channels. O’Brien emphasizes how the Cities have always been an exceptional host for major sporting events.

“We have fantastic facilities, a passionate and

Photos by Randy Stern

enthusiastic community of sports fans, and we love to showcase our city to visitors from across the country and around the world,” she says. “We are excited to share our welcoming community with the athletes, as well as their family and friends.”

What to Know About the GSWS

This is the 46th annual Gay Softball World Series and the third time the Twin Cities have hosted. The Series boasts approximately 225 teams and an impressive 4,500 athletes in seven different divisions of play. The various games throughout the Series will be played at complexes in Burnsville, Eagan, Inver Grove Heights, South St. Paul, and Woodbury.

The Opening Ceremony & Welcome party kicks things off on Monday, August 28th at the US Bank Commons. On the 29th, you can enjoy a Pre-Game Block Party at Modist Brewing Company, featuring a Light Up the North Golden Ale. A portion of each “World Series Beer” sold all summer long goes to support the Gay Softball World Series. This event is also free and open to the public, no ticket to the game required.

Then, the big game when the Twins take on the Cleveland Guardians at Target Field at 6:40 pm on the 29th.

The game is branded with the GSWS theme- “Light Up the North Night.” Tickets purchased through the GSWS website, www.lightupthenorth.org, include a co-branded Twins/Light Up the North baseball cap. A portion of the proceeds from this ticket package goes directly to supporting the Twin Cities GSWS organization.

If you’re not super keen on softball, there are dozens of other events associated with the Series you can enjoy, including a Hall of Fame Dinner on the 29th (ticketed) and a charity event concert at First Avenue on August 30th, featuring Taylor Dayne (also ticketed). The concert will also feature performances from Ru Paul’s Drag Race Queens BeBe Zahara Benet and Detox, plus other talented local entertainers. The Saloon is hosting the Championship Weekend Kickoff Bash (ticketed) on Friday September 1st and the Closing Ceremony on Saturday the 2nd (free to GSWS participants with their wristband).

O’Brien is most excited for the theme night and big game. “We’re looking forward to welcoming the athletes and their families to Target Field for Light Up the North Night,” she says. “Personally, I can’t wait to be a fan at their games and hope to cheer on our local Twin Cities Goodtime Softball League team and bring another world championship to Minnesota!” 

Minneapolis Rolls Out Red Carpet for Gay Softball World Series

BY JEN PEEPLES

Approximately 225 teams will converge in Minneapolis for the week-long tournament. Marking its presence as one of the largest global gay sporting events, the GSWS anticipates many participants arriving early and choosing to extend their stay through the Labor Day holiday weekend to relish the charming Minnesota weather. The games are slated to unfold across metroarea fields in Burnsville, Eagan, Inver Grove Heights, South St. Paul, and Woodbury, while the social events will light up the downtown area.

The events include an enticing lineup such as the Opening Ceremony at the scenic Commons Park, a lively block party at Modist Brewing, the pioneering “Light Up the North Night” at a Minnesota Twins game, a star-

studded charity event featuring Taylor Dayne, Detox and BeBe Zahara Benet at First Avenue, and a grand closing weekend block party at The Saloon.

The Twins’ engagement with “Light Up the North Night” stands as a historic instance of an MLB team officially sponsoring and hosting an evening in support of the GSWS. The Twins organization, well-integrated with the local LGBTQ+ community and an active participant in the Twin Cities Pride Parade, offers an exclusive co-branded Twins/GSWS hat with tickets. Part of the proceeds will support the GSWS efforts. Another exciting highlight is the partnership with Modist Brewing, which has crafted a special beer dedicated to the Gay Softball World Series.

Hosting the GSWS is poised to provide a substantial economic lift for Minneapolis, as attendees will contribute to the local economy by exploring businesses and attractions. Moreover, the event will bolster the city’s reputation as an inclusive, open-hearted destination. Greg Fedio, Executive Director of the Local Organizing committee, highlighted the teamwork amongst the Local Organizing Committee as the most rewarding part of planning so far.

Photo by John Irvine

Cheese curds, tots, bacon, tangy pickled red onions and mozzarella layered over our Bu alucé sauce. Stick not included.

Originally slated for 2022, the pandemic-induced cancellation in 2020 postponed Minneapolis’s hosting of the GSWS to 2023. Greg, having volunteered at the 2012 event, had aspired to bring the tournament back to Minnesota during his six-year tenure as the local gay softball league commissioner. He eagerly awaits the opportunity to flaunt Minnesota’s hospitality and the city’s dynamic post-pandemic resurgence. The metropolitan area fields are first-rate, downtown events are conveniently accessible, and Minnesota, above all, offers a secure, welcoming community for LGBTQ+ participants

The Opening Ceremonies, block party at Modist, Light Up the North Night at Target Field, Taylor Dayne charity concert at First Avenue, and the Closing Ceremonies– all in downtown Minneapolis – will provide lively events throughout the week for players and fans. The city looks forward to highlighting its inclusive spirit and all it has to offer as the tournament returns. More information on the GSWS and tickets for the various events can be found on the GSWS website, www.light-

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The Twin Cities Offers A Lot To Do In Addition To Softball

BY LINDA RAINES

From Monday, August 28th through Saturday, September 2nd, the Twin Cities will play host to a gathering of thousands of athletes from all over the country when the NAGAAA Gay Softball World Series comes to town. Many of these players will have been to the Minneapolis/St. Paul area before, but plenty of others will be visiting our amazing metro area for the first time, and we look forward to welcoming you and showing you what we have to offer.

Mention “Minneapolis” and many people will automatically say “Prince” or “the Mall of America”….but we are far more than just those two things. For all of you who will be visiting our fair metropolis for the first time (or perhaps we’ll be welcoming you back!), here are a few things that you might want to visit and take in between ball games.

Tired of hitting the ball with a bat? How about hitting the Midway and taking a hammer to the high striker at the Minnesota State Fair? You might ring the bell and win a stuffed animal for your sweetie! One of the largest State Fairs in the country, this extravaganza of thrilling rides, delicious foods, great musical entertainment and barns filled with prize livestock runs from August 24 – September 4th. www.mnstatefair.org

Of course, if you’re more into chowing down on a turkey leg like Henry VIII while watching knights jousting on horseback to the applause of fair damsels in Renaissance finery, take some time to visit the Minnesota Renaissance Festival which occurs every weekend in Shakopee with different themes from August 19– October 1st. Huzzah! www.renaissancefest.com

If playing in the Gay Softball World Series isn’t enough sports for you, there are a number of games you might wish to take in while you’re here. Minnesota’s own professional soccer (or football, if you hail from the rest of the world!) team, the Minnesota United FC will play two games at Allianz Field on August 27th and 30th. www.mnufc.com Is American football more of your jam? Head on over to US Bank Stadium on August 26th to watch the Minnesota Vikings take on the Arizona Car-

dinals in a pre-season game. www.vikings.com

Not to be outdone, the ladies of the Minnesota Lynx will be taking to the hardwood of Target Center on August 24, 29th and September 3rd. www.lynx.wnba.com

Of course, there’s plenty of America’s pastime to enjoy at Target Field as well, when the Minnesota Twins enjoy a seven-game homestand from August 24th through the 30th. www.mlb.com/twins

If you’re exhausted from being around all of the people and the hubbub and want some quiet time after the dust has settled on the infields, Minnesota is rich in natural beauty. We may be known as the Land of 10,000 Lakes, but we’re also home to one of the best park systems in the country! Close to and within the Cities themselves, there’s ample opportunity to commune with nature on parks, trails, lakes and rivers. The Minnesota Department of Natural Resources can lead you in the right direction for all kinds of hiking fun. www.dnr.state.mn.us/ state_parks/index.html Additionally, the Three Rivers Park District is also a great resource for any number of parks, trails, kayaking, paddleboarding and other delights in Minnesota’s great outdoors. www.threeriversparks.org

Photo courtesy of BigStock/photo.ua

Perhaps instead of hiking, you’d prefer a relaxing afternoon jaunt on magnificent Lake Minnetonka on a charter boat. You can marvel at the breathtaking lakefront homes of Vikings players and corporate CEOs while enjoying refreshing drinks on a sunset dinner cruise. Shopping and dining also abound on the shores of this lake and are just the right medicine after a long day of playing ball. You’ll find plenty to choose from in both Excelsior and Wayzata, two gems on the shores of the legendary lake. www.wayzatachamber.com www.excelsiorlakeminnetonkachamber.com

Of course, if you’re in the need of a bit of retail therapy, be sure to check out Grand Avenue & Summit Avenue in St. Paul. Grand Avenue’s famous tree-lined, 26-block shopping district is one of the crown jewels of the Twin Cities. And, for the architecture lover, just one block north is a fivemile boulevard of breathtaking Victorian homes—the longest stretch of its kind in the entire country. www.visitsaintpaul.com/things-to-do/neighborhoods/grand-summit-avenue/

Minneapolis is also home to numerous art museums, galleries, theatres and music venues. Take in a concert at the famed First Avenue & 7th St Entry, which helped in giving a platform for that distinctive Minneapolis Sound, but don’t forget to take photos in front of the The Stars on the wall that memorialize the notables who’ve performed on stage at this iconic venue. www.first-avenue.com

An exhibit that may be of considerable interest to many coming in for the World Series is a special exhibit at Mill Commons entitled “Going Out, Coming In” which runs through October 8th. This photo exhibit details queer resistance, love, and identity formation amid the evolution of the Downtown Minneapolis neighborhood throughout the 20th century. www. mnhs.org/millcity/activities/exhibits Another great site for an Instagramready selfie is the Minneapolis Sculpture Garden where you can snap a photo in front of the ubiquitous and iconic Spoonbridge and Cherry sculpture that was the first work commissioned for the Garden which opened in 1988. www.artgarden.org

If you want to spend a few days getting your Pride on, you can take a short drive up to Duluth, on the shores of Lake Superior, for their annual Duluth Superior Pride Festival which takes place over Labor Day weekend. Rainbows, balloons, parades, drag queens and lots of glittery-glam fun can be had in the Twin Ports of Duluth, MN and Superior, WI at Bayfront Festival Park. www.duluthsuperiorpride.com

Of course, if all of this hasn’t caught your fancy, let’s circle back to those two aforementioned Minnesota notables—the Mall of America and Prince. Featuring over 500 stores, restaurants, an amusement park and an aquarium, the Mall of America offers something for everyone. It truly IS one stop shopping, and a great way to get your retail fix after a day spent in the dugout. www.mallofamerica.com And, since you’re already down in Bloomington, it’s only a hop, skip and a jump on over to Chanhassen to visit Paisley Park, where The Purple One had both his home and his studio. While there, you can even tour the complex to get an up-close look at Prince’s world where the magic happened. www.paisleypark.com

The Twin Cities metro is filled with so many great things to check out that we couldn’t possibly list them all here in the space provided. We have multitudes of LGBTQ+ owned and LGBTQ+ friendly bars, restaurants and coffee houses that serve the community, and we encourage you to check them out and patronize their establishments to show your appreciation for their support while you’re in town. Lavender’s annual Pride Pages directory is a great resource for finding them, and it’s available online! https://issuu. com/lavendermagazine/docs/lavender720

So, whatever piques your interest, you can surely find it here in the Minneapolis/St. Paul metro. We know that you’re here to play softball, but don’t forget to check out what else we have to offer—it might tempt you to come back and plan a vacation with us! 

The Twin Cities’ Finest Contractor

BY E.B BOATNER

Dreaming Home

One chance instant can reverberate through decades, for good or ill. Cruel or kind may hinge on the flip of a coin. Here, 12-year-old Rachel and her pal find Kyle, Rachel’s 15-year-old brother, drawing from a gay porno magazine. Teasing might have done for some sibs, but Rachel and Kyle are being raised on a Texas army base by a harsh former Vietnam P.O.W. and conservative Christian. When Rachel snitches, Kyle is beaten and banished into conversion therapy. The next portions of the novel deal with Kyle, first in his 20s, and continuing on into his 50s as he pursues his architectural career, as much in efforts of creating a home as for financial gain. At the close, he tenuously reconnects with sister Rachel. Who fared better?

The Heat Will Kill You First: Life and Death on a Scorched Planet

Gay or straight, Red or Blue, believer, agnostic, or atheist: your status matters not to the accelerating electron. Heat is impartial, ubiquitous, and rising globally, faster even than pessimists have projected. Everything is affected–survival (or not) of Polar Bears, of coastal cities, of the very foods on which we depend. Every living thing has its “Goldilocks” or habitable zone above which (or below, not the case here) it cannot exist. Note: If you’re fine with your status quo, but some living entity you depend on isn’t, then you’re not fine. Goodell, author of The Water Will Come, writes in an accessible, anecdotal voice,

backed with hands-on research, interviews, scientific explanations of how heat-related events cascade, traveling the globe to report bad news first-hand. Listen.

Blight: Fungi and the Coming Pandemic

Fungi’s genetic material, like ours, lies within their cell nucleus–making targeting them without harming the human patient difficult. Fungi range from helpful to lethal. The latter all but eradicated the American chestnut, and harm is accelerating: Bat species decimated, whitebark pines now ghost skeletons. Healthy, we were generally passed over–too hot–but as they adjust to warmer climates, we’re on the menu. Don’t care about bats? Consider the literal tons of biting, crop-destroying insects they devour. Each species lost is a piece in the mosaic of viable human life. Creatures eat or are eaten along the chain fueling our lives. Ignore the loss of a piece, help fungi spread through travel, rising heat, entrench those fungi that survive without hosts; they’re here forever. 

We’re fighting for a different future. For families facing the disease today. For more time. For treatments.

We’re closer than ever to stopping Alzheimer’s. But to get there, we need you. Join us for the world’s largest fundraiser to fight the disease.

Open Arms Extends Giving Hands to LGBTQ+ Seniors

BY GABRIELLE REEDER

In 1986, a generous Minnesota man named Bill Lowe decided to extend his acts of kindness toward his neighbors. Lowe gifted his community with warm, fresh meals for those affected by AIDS and unable to cook for themselves.

Lowe’s Legacy

Thirty-seven years later, Lowe’s legacy thrives and benefits the community. The same principle Lowe started the foundation guides the organization to this day.

Today, Open Arms operates out of a 21,000 sq. ft warehouse in Minneapolis (and opened a second location in St. Paul) that prepares, cooks, and packages millions of meals for the sick, injured, or those who can’t get fresh meals.

Expansion

Lowe’s charity initially catered to those living with or affected by HIV. Still, the foundation expanded, and now, Open Arms leaned into its name and unfurled its arms to critically and chronically ill people living with cancer, COPD, MS, ALS, CHF, and other illnesses and conditions.

This organization differs from other meal assistance programs since you don’t need to prove income to receive fresh meals. Thanks to this unique rule, Open Arms has distributed almost 12 million meals to Minnesotans in need of fresh, healthy, clean food.

Since Lowe donated his first meal, his brainchild has contributed over seven million meals for individuals who do not possess the means necessary to prepare their own fresh meals.

Medically Tailored Meals

Open Arms knows that living with a medical condition can cause stress and discomfort, especially when it comes to meal planning and food restrictions. To ease that burden and tension surrounding eating and receiving adequate nutrition, the organization strives to reduce worry by concocting medically tailored meals that meet the nutritional needs of each individual recipient.

Since Open Arms works with patients who may be experiencing financial distress, chefs, volunteers, and supporters ensure the patient and their family all receive fresh, clean meals at no cost to the family.

Unlike some organizations, recipients do not need to prove or disprove income to qualify for meals. Each chef works hand in hand with a team of dieticians and dietetic technicians to ensure every meal matches the needs of the recipient.

Open Farms

Open Arms founded a sustainable farming practice with access to fresh, nutritious, and clean food some may not have access to otherwise. Each of the five Open Farms operates under local farmers and knowledgeable staff who monitor storm runoff, protect soil, maintain safe and healthy agriculture practices, and help the farm with air filtration to benefit the environment.

Open Farms has harvested over 14,000 pounds of vegetables and herbs since its foundation and shows no signs of halting the growing and giving process.

Besides pulling ingredients from Open Farms fields’ cooking, volunteers and dieticians prepare patients’ foods in-house to secure the highest quality ingredients and tastiest meals.

Qualifications

“Meals are delivered not only to our clients but also to dependents and caregivers. Income is not a qualifier for our services, and we operate on models of abundance, community, & social responsibility,” Open Arms’ website states.

According to Kelly Hinseth of Open Arms, the senior community in Minnesota demonstrates a need for Open Arms’ services, including LGBTQ+ identifying seniors. Each recipient depends

on the nutrition present in the meals supplied by Open Arms, and the counseling Open Arms also graciously gives back to the community.

Partnerships

Open Arms counts on their partners and volunteers to keep the development on its feet and provide support to recipients daily. Some organizations that work hand in hand with Open Arms include the Corporate Volunteerism Council, Meals on Wheels, Minnesota Council of Nonprofit, and Visit St. Paul.

Open Arms recently joined forces with another organization dedicated to helping individuals and those in need of assistance in Minnesota. In May, just in time for Older Americans Month, Securian Financial assisted Open Arms with packaging meals for older people in need of medically tailored meals.

In just two hours, volunteers neatly packaged around 2,000 meals for a week’s worth of food to feed Open Arms’ over 175 recipients. With this non-profit’s graciousness, critically and chronically ill people curb their worries surrounding medical bills and food costs with the gratitude instilled in the community by Lowe’s humanitarian ideals. 

Photo courtesy of BigStock/Angelov

How To Arrive At The Gay Softball World Series

BY RANDY STERN

The Gay Softball World Series will welcome hundreds of athletes from across the country to the Twin Cities. If they’re lucky, they’ll simply fly into Minneapolis-St. Paul International Airport with their bats and uniforms. Otherwise, it’s going to be many hours on the road to ensure that no bat is destroyed and many pieces of luggage full of uniforms are not lost somewhere in an airline’s network.

Most likely, you will load up an SUV or minivan full of gear and fellow teammates on the road for a chance at the GSWS title. Not everyone’s schedule will mesh to get you all to the Twin Cities. But, when they do, you need to ride in comfort.

However, if six of you want to get to the GSWS, I have something for you to consider when you get to the rental car lot…or, if you’re shopping for a vehicle altogether.

It’s a Jeep!

Ok, it’s not your stereotypical Wrangler with the roof and doors removed. Rather, the spacious Grand Cherokee L.

You’ve heard of the Grand Cherokee. It has been one of the more popular models in the Jeep lineup – next to the iconic Wrangler. It is more of a softroader, which can be equipped with a beefier four-wheel drive system. For this newest edition of the brand’s mid-size SUV, you can also choose between a two-row model or this three-row L version. Grand Cherokee L models can also seat up to seven people – your teammates included.

Photos by Randy Stern

Community Connection brings visibility to local LGBTQ-friendly non-profit organizations. To reserve your listing in Community Connection, email advertising@lavendermagazine. com.

ADOPTION & FOSTER CARE

Foster Adopt Minnesota

Finding families and providing information, education, and support to Minnesota Adoptive, Foster and Kinship communities.

2446 University Ave. W., Ste. 104 St. Paul, MN 55114 (612) 861-7115, (866) 303-6276 info@fosteradoptmn.org

www.fosteradoptmn.org

ANIMAL RESCUE

Second Chance Animal Rescue

Dedicated to rescuing, fostering, caring for, and adopting out dogs and cats into forever homes.

P.O. Box 10533

White Bear Lake, MN 55110 (651) 771-5662 www.secondchancerescue.org

BUSINESS ASSOCIATIONS

Quorum

Minnesota's LGBTQ+ and Allied Chamber of Commerce working to build, connect, and strengthen for a diverse business community.

2446 University Ave. W., Ste 112 St. Paul, MN 55114 (612) 460-8153 www.twincitiesquorum.com

CASINOS

Mystic Lake Casino Hotel

Nonstop gaming excitement with slots, blackjack, bingo and more plus distinctive bars and restaurants.

2400 Mystic Lake Blvd. Prior Lake, MN 55372 (800) 262-7799

www.mysticlake.com

ENVIRONMENT

The Nature Conservancy

TNC is an environmental nonprofit working to create a world where people and nature thrive.

1101 W. River Pkwy., Ste. 200 Minneapolis, MN 55415-1291 (612) 331-0700 minnesota@tnc.org www.nature.org/minnesota

EVENT VENUES

Landmark Center

A classic venue, with a grand cortile and beautiful courtrooms, accommodates celebrations of all sizes.

75 W. 5th St. St. Paul, MN 55102 (651) 292-3228

www.landmarkcenter.org

GRANTMAKERS/FUNDERS

PFund Foundation

PFund is the LGBTQ+ community foundation that provides grants to students and grants to non-profits. PO Box 3640 Minneapolis, MN 55403 612-870-1806

www.pfundfoundation.org

COMMUNITY CONNECTION

HEALTH & WELLNESS Aliveness Project

Community Center for individuals living with HIV/AIDS – on-site meals, food shelf, and supportive service.

3808 Nicollet Ave. S. Minneapolis, MN 55102 (612) 824-LIFE (5433) www.aliveness.org

Family Tree Clinic

We're a sliding fee sexual health clinic and education center, now in Minneapolis.

1919 Nicollet Ave. Minneapolis MN 55403 (612) 473-0800

www.familytreeclinic.org

NAMI Minnesota

(National Alliance on Mental Illness)

Providing free classes and peer support groups for people affected by mental illnesses.

800 Transfer Rd. #31 St. Paul, MN 55114 (651) 645-2948

www.namihelps.org

Rainbow Health Minnesota

Meeting the health needs of LGBTQ+ people and those living with HIV with holistic service.

2700 Territorial Rd. W. St. Paul, MN 55114 General: (612) 341-2060 MN AIDSLine: (612) 373-2437

www.rainbowhealth.org

Red Door Clinic

Sexual health care for all people. Get confidential tests & treatment in a safe, caring setting.

525 Portland Ave., 4th Fl. Minneapolis, MN 55415 (612) 543-5555

reddoor@hennepin.us

www.reddoorclinic.org

LIBRARIES

Quatrefoil Library

Your LGBTQ+ library and community center. Free membership, events, and e-books/audiobooks. Check us out!

1220 E. Lake St. Minneapolis, MN 55407 (612) 729-2543

www.qlibrary.org

MEDIA & COMMUNICATIONS

Radio K

Radio K is the award-winning studentrun radio station of the University of Minnesota.

330 21st. Ave. S. Minneapolis, MN 55455 (612) 625-3500

www.radiok.org

MUSEUM Minnesota Historical Society

Create your own adventure at MNHS historic sites and museums around Minnesota. mnhs.org

Walker Art Center

Showcasing the fresh, innovative art of today and tomorrow through exhibitions, performances, and film screenings.

725 Vineland Pl. Minneapolis, MN 55403 (612) 375-7600

www.walkerart.org

PERFORMING ARTS

Chanhassen Dinner Theaters

The nation’s largest professional dinner theater and Minnesota’s own entertainment destination.

501 W. 78th St. Chanhassen, MN 55317 (952) 934-1525

www.ChanhassenDT.com

Children’s Theatre Company

Children’s Theatre Company excites the imagination with world-class familyfriendly theatre for kids, teens, and adults. 2400 3rd Ave. S. Minneapolis, MN 55404 (612) 874-0400

www.childrenstheatre.org

Guthrie Theater

Open to the public year-round, the Guthrie produces classic and contemporary plays on three stages. 818 S. 2nd St. Minneapolis, MN 55415 (612) 377-2224

www.guthrietheater.org

Lyric Arts Main Street Stage

Theater with character. Comedies, musicals, & dramas in a professional, intimate setting where all are welcomed. 420 E. Main St. Anoka, MN 55303 (763) 422-1838 info@lyricarts.org

www.lyricarts.org

Minnesota Opera

World-class opera draws you into a synthesis of beauty; breathtaking music, stunning costumes & extraordinary sets. Performances at the Ordway Music Theater - 345 Washington St., St. Paul, MN 55102 (612) 333-6669 www.mnopera.org

Minnesota Orchestra

Led by Music Director Designate Thomas Søndergård, the Minnesota Orchestra, one of America’s leading symphony orchestras. 1111 Nicollet Mall Minneapolis, MN 55403 (612) 371-5656, (800) 292-4141 www.minnesotaorchestra.org

Ordway Center for the Performing Arts

Leading performing arts center with two stages presenting Broadway musicals, concerts and educational programs that enrich diverse audiences. 345 Washington St. St. Paul, MN 55102 (651) 224-4222 info@ordway.org www.ordway.org

Twin Cities Gay Men’s Chorus

An award-winning chorus building community through music and offers entertainment worth coming out for! 1430 W. 28th St., Ste. B Minneapolis, MN 55408 (612) 339-SONG (7664) chorus@tcgmc.org www.tcgmc.org

RELIGIOUS & SPIRITUAL

Hennepin Avenue United Methodist Church

Everyone is welcome at Hennepin Church! Vibrant Worship. Authentic Community. Bold Outreach. 511 Groveland Ave. Minneapolis, MN 55403 (612) 871-5303 www.hennepinchurch.org

Plymouth Congregational Church

Many Hearts, One Song; Many Hands, One Church. Find us on Facebook and Twitter. 1900 Nicollet Ave. Minneapolis, MN 55403 (612) 871-7400 www.plymouth.org

St. Mark’s Episcopal Cathedral

An inclusive and affirming community transforming lives through God’s love. 519 Oak Grove St.

Minneapolis, MN 55403 (612) 870-7800

www.ourcathedral.org

Westminster Presbyterian Church

An open and affirming congregation, welcoming persons of all sexual orientations, gender expressions and identities.

1200 Marquette Ave.

Minneapolis, MN 55403 (612) 332-3421

www.westminstermpls.org

SENIOR LIVING

Friends & Co

Fostering meaningful connections for older adults for 50+ years. Offering quick drop-in chat line, phone & visiting companionship services.

2550 University Ave. W., Ste. 260-S St. Paul, MN 55114 (612) 721-1400

www.friendsco.org

Senior Community Services

Providing non-medical services that meet the changing needs of older adults & support their caregivers. 10201 Wayzata Blvd., Ste. 335 Minnetonka, MN 55305 (952) 541-1019

www.seniorcommunity.org/lav

SOCIAL SERVICES

Lutheran Social Service of MN

Serving all Minnesotans with personcentered services that promote full and abundant lives. lssmn.org | 612-642-5990 | 800-582-5260

Adoption & Foster Care | welcome@chlss.org

Behavioral Health | 612-879-5320

Host Homes | hosthomes@lssmn.org

Supported Decision-Making | 888-806-6844

Therapeutic Foster Care | 612-751-9395

TRAVEL DESTINATIONS

Discover St. Louis Park

Minnesota’s Sweet Spot! Visit us for exceptional dining, attractions, shopping, hotels and event space. 1660 Hwy 100 S., Ste. 501 St. Louis Park, MN 55416 (952) 426-4047 www.DiscoverStLouisPark.com

Discover Stillwater

Get away to Stillwater for delicious dining, fun shops, and unique nightlife in this charming rivertown! info@DiscoverStillwater.com www.DiscoverStillwater.com

Visit Greater St. Cloud

Give yourself a break. Visit Greater St. Cloud.

1411 W. St. Germain St., Ste. 104 St. Cloud, MN 56301 (320) 251-4170 info@visitstcloud.com

www.visitstcloud.com

YOUTH

The Bridge for Youth Emergency shelter, crisis intervention, and resources for youth currently or at risk of experiencing homelessness.

1111 W. 22nd St. Minneapolis, MN 55405 (612) 377-8800 or text (612) 400-7233 www.bridgeforyouth.org

Account Executive. Lavender Media is seeking to add a Twin Cities based full time Account Executive to our sales team. We are looking for an outgoing, organized, self-driven & motivated professional with excellent phone, writing and presentation skills. Candidates should enjoy working directly with clients who are interested in growing their business through Lavender advertising and event sponsorships. Candidates must be local. Includes base pay + commission and an employee benefits package that includes group health, dental, life insurance and LTD. Applicants should have experience with Mac software environment, Excel, Word, social media platforms & database software such as Filemaker Pro. They should exhibit an elevated level of organization, attention to detail, the ability to work as part of a team, effective communication, self direction, enjoys working with new people and has a natural drive to grow. Please send your cover letter and resume to stephen.rocheford@lavendermagazine. com

This particular example is what Jeep calls the Altitude trim, which is a package for the Laredo model. A Laredo is the “base” trim level, but don’t call it basic. It comes with a lot of equipment as it is. The Altitude package adds a blacked-out grille, badging, trim, and a set of 20-inch alloy finished in black. For some folks, this is considered “cool.” It is also a trend among automakers to make such “cool” vehicles in their respective lineups.

If you’re a winning team and want to look “cool” getting to the ballfields – this is your ride.

In terms of space, there is 159.1 cubic feet of interior volume to work out between players and their gear. If you load up all three rows, you only have just 17.4 cubic feet of gear space to load up. Knowing how big your equipment bags are, you might have to get creative in getting everything together. You can use the Grand Cherokee L as a gear hauler for your entire team. That way, you can fill up to 84.6 cubic feet of equipment bags, coolers, luggage, and everything else to support your team.

The Altitude trim offers six seats upholstered with its leatherette and sueded cloth combination. They are on the firm side, but you can find comfort getting to the ballfields in Eagan and back to your hotel. If you’re coming from our state lines, the Grand Cherokee L is pretty comfortable for six folks – including the driver.

Access to the third row is done with a sliding second row seat, using a lift handle on top of the seatback. The rear doors are large enough for your teammates to navigate. There is a center “pass-through” area, but please be mindful of the raised “hump” between the second-row seats. You can also adjust the second-row seats for leg room and recline.

Your teammates would probably want to chill out with their devices on the road. This Altitude tester comes with an 8.4-inch UConnect 5 infotainment system, which is very robust and offer plenty of options for playback and navigation. That means, you can tether your iPhone or An-

droid device seamlessly either through a USB cord or wirelessly. There are twelve USB A and C ports across all three rows for charging up your devices. There is a wireless charging pad up front in the center console.

Each row of seats gets two cupholders. There are places for water bottles in the door compartments, as well. In the Grand Cherokee L, you can stay hydrated and entertained after a tough game in the tournament.

Most likely, your Grand Cherokee L will come with a 3.6-liter V6 putting down 293 horsepower. An eight-speed automatic is operated by a knob on the center console. This vehicle had Jeep’s four-wheel drive system, which turns on automatically in most conditions – including rained out sessions. Expect fuel economy to average around where we observed at 22.3 MPG.

The ride to the GSWS and back will be smooth inside the Grand Cherokee L. You won’t feel the remaining potholes around town, as the suspension handles them quite well.

Drivers will find the Grand Cherokee L highly maneuverable with solid braking and steering action. Not to mention, you have plenty of driver assistance features that will keep you away from harm. Adaptive Cruise Control, along with the LaneSense Lane Departure Warning and Lane Keeping Assist, are engineered to make sure that at least six of you will take your at-bats in one piece.

If this is the kind of SUV you want to have handy for your team at home or on the road – not to mention your active and relaxing lifestyle –the three-row 2023 Jeep Grand Cherokee L is available in six trim levels, two- or four-wheel drive, and a choice of the V6 or a V8 engine. Pricing starts from $42,030. This 4X4 Altitude tester came with a sticker price of $54,565.

If you don’t need a third row, the shorter two-row Grand Cherokee has a lot more choices available with pricing starting from $40,130.

As you traverse the country on your way to the Twin Cities for the GSWS, you have a lot of choices on how to get there and around for the tournament. Consider the Jeep Grand Cherokee L one of those choices. If you get one from your local rental car agency, you have already won. If you own one, just grab your trophy already. 