River Valley Woman December 2022

Plus! APPLAUSE: CHERYL OLSON THE LOOK: SHE SHED

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BY EILEEN MADSEN Editor

there are certain words that are pronounced like the very sound they make, or the feeling you get when you say them?

Thud — the cat jumps from the couch. Popcorn pop-pops Say the word squish and your facial expression reflects how you feel when you step in some unpleasant substance, as well as making the same sound.

Our December issue is dedicated to one such word—Joy! How people experience it, who brings it, and in what ways. Joy is such a joyful word, wouldn’t you agree? You can’t help but smile when you say it. (You tried it, didn’t you?).

And how many of us preface things that bring us joy by saying “oooh”? Such as “Oooh, I love this song”, or “Oooh, I can’t wait!”

It’s that very reaction that our cover feature Bethel Balge, performer, instructor, founder of ProMusica, and executive director of the Mankato Symphony Orchestra, gets from appreciative audiences. Growing up in a musical household, Bethel’s parents took her talents seriously with professional-level instruction, which eventually led to university studies, culminating in a Doctor of Musical Arts degree. Collaborating with world-renowned artists, performing at various venues locally, nationally and internationally, and teaching piano to young and old, she’s instrumental in bringing joy.

Danielle Deopere, owner of More Than Music, located at the Wellness Collective in New Ulm, takes her musical background and harmonizes with a special education degree, to offer a different kind of approach to therapy and healing. She and patients use the healing power of music by interacting with various string instruments, as well as singing bowls, rain sticks and an ocean drum. Better. Together.

If music is one of the things that make us go “oooh,” then wrapping yourself in handcrafted love will bring the “aaahs.”

Our Comfort & Joy pages showcase three area quilters— Emily Dennis, Rose Marie Werner, and Judy Winter. Dennis has a successful online pattern design business called Quilty Love. Werner, who created a quilt replica of the Italian floor

tiles of the chapel at Good Counsel school in Mankato, is an authority on quilt documentation. Winter has taken top honors many times over for her graphically designed creations and donates her works to hospitals, camps, and to those in need. Although I’ve learned a lot about quilting from these women’s stories, including terms such as fat quarter, and stash busters, the very idea of making a quilt myself makes me want to hide under one. One person’s joy is another person’s comfort.

Our Facebook reader poll asks: What Brings You Comfort & Joy? There was much to oooh and aaah about, from pets, family, and nature walks, to fresh sheets, crème brulee, and coffee.

Pondering this question myself, it’s mostly the oddity things that came to mind (go figure), including the battery powered leaf blower I got for my birthday. Don’t laugh. After decades at a computer keyboard and sliding a mouse around, my elbows aren’t what they used to be. Getting older kind of blows, but now it’s in a good way. And thanks to a friend who showed up one day dancing and singing the “Flash Dance” movie theme in our kitchen, wearing, yes—leg warmers—I think I’ve found my new passion. What a feeling to discover these 1980s’ throwbacks are available at almost any large retailer, or online in a multitude of patterns and colors. Can’t wait to take my passion and make it happen with a swan dive and shoulder spin in the produce aisle at the grocery store. Or, at the very least, a fashionable strut through the frozen foods section.

Cancer survivor Cheryl Olson wouldn’t be upstaged by the effects from chemotherapy, so she strives to make sure others who are going through treatment aren’t either. Her efforts to bring comfort to others (and joy for herself in doing so) with her Chemo Kits, earns her this issue’s Applause spotlight. The kits include a fun print mask, lotion, lemon drops, breath mints, and other helpful items, including a gas gift card. Previously donating anonymously, this is the first time she has gone public with her efforts. Take a bow, Cheryl.

We hope this issue brings you tidings of comfort (aaah) and joy (oooh). I like the sound of that.

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By CHRISTINE NESSLER

PHOTOS BY WOLLER PHOTOGRAPHY

From a young age, Dr. Bethel Balge was influenced by music. Both of her parents were musicians—her father a choral conductor and her mother a pianist and organist.

Bethel’s love of music was nurtured through the years and she has dedicated her life to sharing that love with others.

Through her work as a performer, piano instructor, founder and artistic director of the ProMusica Minnesota Chamber Music Series, and executive director of Mankato Symphony Orchestra, Bethel is spreading the joy of music to young and old throughout Southern Minnesota, and even the world.

“I grew up immersed in classical music,” Balge said.

Bethel’s father cranked the stereo speakers in their Watertown, Wisconsin home whenever his favorite classical masterpieces were playing on Wisconsin Public Radio.

“In that environment, I absorbed a lot of great music from a young age.”

According to Balge, when a young child is taught music, it is more than just the dedication and discipline of the student that factors into their success. Parents also must be involved and Balge’s parents were certainly committed to their children’s musical success.

Once it was clear the children had outgrown their mother’s piano lessons, they were taken to the Wisconsin Conservatory of Music in Milwaukee—a huge commitment as it was a hundred-mile round trip each week. There they were taught master-level classes and given frequent opportunities to perform and compete.

Bethel went on to study piano at Michigan State University, at the Frankfurt Musikhochschule in Germany, and at the University of Wisconsin, Madison. She most recently received her Doctor of Musical Arts from the University of Minnesota.

Through the years she performed as a pianist in Germany, at places such as Frankfurt’s Alte Oper, as a soloist with the Voronezh Philharmonic in Russia, and at various venues across the United States. She was greatly influenced by her various teachers throughout her musical journey.

“Every teacher that I have had brought something different to me,” Bethel said.

At Michigan State University, Ralph Votapek, a concert pianist who traveled the world, challenged her technically by assigning large-scale works by a variety of major composers and inspired her to practice many hours as she continued to build her repertoire. At the University of Wisconsin, Howard Karp encouraged her to grow as an artist and guided her decision to continue studying in Germany. At the University of Minnesota, Lydia Artymiw was an indefatigable perfectionist, impeccably preparing her students for competitions and concerts.

As a piano teacher herself, Balge has been able to share what she

learned as a student and as a performer. Although Bethel has reduced the number of piano students she is taking, she still teaches a handful of students at Bethany Lutheran College and Martin Luther College. She appreciates the responsibility of encouraging, pushing, lifting, and inspiring students to new heights as they hone their skills.

She also teaches a 90-year-old woman who still plays piano for her church and for Pathstone Assisted Living services.

“She is a joy to teach because she is so understanding of how wonderful it is to have music in her life. I think you appreciate how special that is as you get older,” Balge said. “As I age, I realize more and more how music is the fabric of my life in every way.”

The music is engrained in Balge, body and soul.

“There is a lot of physicality in performing. It requires a lot of strength,” Bethel said. “But the musical aspect, the beauty of music, really affects me.”

For Balge, the piano has always been the foundation of all music.

“The melody and all the layers that one has when playing and performing on a piano, basically make the player the orchestra,” she said. “You have all of the parts.”

Recently, Balge has been focusing on chamber music which, by definition, is classical music played in small groups, amongst friends. Balge recognized an opportunity for classical chamber music in New Ulm in 2016. She founded the Summit Avenue Music Series which later became the independent non-profit organization known as the ProMusica Minnesota Chamber Music Series. Through ProMusica, her performances evolved into almost entirely chamber music. ProMusica offers high quality instrumental chamber music to southern Minnesota through a September to May concert series and a summer festival.

“Now that I am playing a lot of chamber music, it makes me realize how important it is for every musician to have that experience,” Bethel said. “Solo and chamber music really enhance each other. If I was only a solo performer, I would really be missing a lot by not doing chamber music. There is something unique that goes on when collaborating with other musicians. There is a lot of intuitive feeling that goes between musicians. That whole process makes my solo piano playing better. It makes me a better musician.”

As the artistic director of ProMusica, she has built relationships with musicians from the St. Paul Chamber Orchestra (SPCO) and the Minnesota Orchestra.

“These are musicians with extremely strong backgrounds from all over the world. It brings together very interesting and beautiful possibilities of collaboration,” Balge said.

In the past, Bethel played a solo concerto with the Mankato Symphony Orchestra (MSO); now she leads the charge as the executive director. In that role, Balge is instrumental in sharing the joy of music to 

• Mankato Symphony Orchestra’s Music on the Hill Concert: Sunday, December 11, 3 p.m. at Trinity Chapel, Bethany Lutheran College, Mankato. This chamber concert features Bethel Balge on piano, Allison Ostrander on violin, and Sarah Lewis on cello.

• The Mankato Symphony Orchestra Concert: Sunday, December 18, 3 p.m. at the Saint Peter High School Auditorium. The concert features the animated film ‘The Snowman’ by Raymond Briggs, accompanied by the MSO, and a holiday sing along.

• ProMusica Minnesota features ‘Lunar New Year’ on Sunday, January 29, 3.pm., at Martin Luther College’s Chapel of the Christ in New Ulm.

• See ticket information on the Go. Do. Be. Connect. events listings in this issue.

MSO indoor symphony concert, Scheherazade, conducted by Tamara Dworetz and held in St Peter High School Auditorium.

ProMusica MN performance with Bethel Balge on piano, Susie Park on violin and Silver Ainomae on cello at Trinity Chapel on the campus of Bethany Lutheran College.

MSO Instrument Petting Zoo at the Childrens’ Museum of Southern Minnesota.

 our area by bringing excellent music to the region through the group of 60 to 70 local professional, semi-professional, and amateur musicians that perform in the orchestra.

“They have all come together for a common goal of making music together,” Balge said. “It is incredibly uplifting for the musicians to perform for each other and it’s extremely exciting for the audience to know those people and share in the enthusiasm and the joy of the orchestra.”

Bethel says she has a heart for sharing music in the community and her role as executive director of MSO positions her to do just that, but it’s so much more than her heart that is proving beneficial to MSO and the community.

Shannon Beal was the president of the MSO Board when Balge was hired as full-time executive director in May 2020. According to Beal, Bethel is a unique and special find for MSO and the community.

“Dr. Balge is someone who shares and understands the artistic passion of our musicians and artistic directors, someone who can form relationships in our community and find support for the organization, and also someone who is meticulously organized enough to coordinate the details needed to schedule and execute a symphonic season, a chamber music season, and the free family series,” Beal said.

As a performer herself, Bethel understands the passion that is present in each performance, but now as the executive director, Balge understands the business of music as well.

“Bethel shares her passion for music by ensuring that individuals and groups have performance opportunities, which benefit both the performer and the audience,” Sue Keithahn, former MSO board treasurer, said. “She truly is laser focused on both the artistic side and the business side of running a symphony. By understanding the business of music, she opens more doors for local performers.”

Balge sees the presence of MSO as a sign that Mankato is a vibrant community. In keeping with their nearly 75-year tradition of excellence, Symphonic Series Music Director Ernesto Estigarribia has chosen great orchestral works to dazzle their audiences again this year. It’s Balge’s job to make sure this music reaches and inspires a community audience.

“Bethel is relentless in her drive to improve community exposure to classical music,” MSO Vice President Andrew McNamara said. “She augments the performances with interesting pieces of history that add to the audience members’ appreciation of the music.”

Balge feels that orchestral music is meant to be heard live and she encourages anyone who hasn’t experienced orchestral or chamber music to attend an upcoming MSO event.

“There is a difference between hearing orchestral music on the radio and hearing it live,” Balge said. “These great orchestral works are amazing, inspiring, and the extremes of dynamic range are best heard live.”

Just as Balge was inspired by music at a young age, she hopes to do the same for the children of southern Minnesota. One of her many goals for MSO is continued outreach to children. She wants children to experience the joy of music and be inspired to take up a musical instrument of their own.

Currently there are two outreach programs aimed at children and young adults. See Hear Play is MSO’s free family music series. It’s a special program for kids to listen to and learn about the history, purpose, and joy of classical music. The program highlights the music and theme of the MSO concert the following week.

An offshoot of See Hear Play is the Instrument Petting Zoo where kids come to the library to pick up and try out various musical instruments provided by The Music Mart in Mankato.

In 2023 the MSO will introduce an all-new competition for ninth to 12 graders, to be held February 25. Thanks to a generous donor, local music students have an opportunity to win up to $5,000 and to perform with the Mankato Symphony.

Over the years, Dr. Bethel Balge has been greatly influenced by music, so much so that it is ingrained in her very being. Now, whether she is teaching, performing, collaborating, or facilitating performances, she is sharing the joy music provides with people of all ages throughout our region.

“Bethel’s joy about, and passion for, music is contagious,” MSO Board President Christopher Paul said. “With her help, we will continue to provide high quality orchestral music in southern Minnesota for years to come.” RVW

DECK THE HALLS

FROM WINDOWS TO WALLS

'TIS THE SEASON

As we cozy up with family and admire our decor, we notice hanging stockings and wrapped-up gifts galore. Our eyes do linger longest on our drapery before we remember how we loved it, when we bought from Blinds & More.

Genesis® Custom Shades

Tenera® Sheer Shadings

By BROOKE WOHLRABE

Danielle Deopere, owner of New Ulm-based More Than Music, understands the healing and therapeutic benefits of music. Deopere’s business provides mindful meditation through the experience of live music.

Originally from the small town of Cambria, Deopere attended high school in New Ulm and, upon graduating, enrolled at Minnesota State University-Mankato.

“It took me awhile to find exactly what I wanted to do,” Deopere admitted. She first got a degree in Family and Consumer Science (FACS) with an emphasis on family, life, and child development.

Danielle also had a passion for music and has since gone on to be in several bands.

“I’ve been singing my whole life; I was in choir through high school. I didn’t start playing instruments until I was an adult,” Deopere explained. She went back to school and received a master’s in special education with autism spectrum disorders from Concordia. Danielle shared what led her to focus on special education.

“When I was going through college the first time, I was working at group homes and I graduated with a degree that didn’t really mean anything to me. I continued to work at group homes because I enjoyed it so much. That led me to pursue special education.”

Deopere ended up being a special education teacher for a decade, mostly at Lake Crystal-Wellcome Memorial. She’s currently on a medical leave of absence, due to a severe latex allergy that requires her to be in controlled environments.

She shared what led her to The New Ulm WELLness Collective, which is where her business is located.

Starting in 2018, Danielle went through several traumatic events that caused her anxiety to skyrocket. She was in a bad car accident, suffered the loss of her father, and started experiencing anaphylactic reactions.

“The body can only take so much,” she said.

She came to the WELLness Collective for services—as it features space for yoga and several different therapists including a hypo-therapist, massage therapist, and acupuncturist—and found herself wondering what she could do to help others.

“I felt called to help people. And I had music,” Danielle said. She opened her business in 2020. It’s called More Than Music because music is more than just something to listen to. It’s emotionally connected and a coping tool and Deopere thinks that’s something everyone can relate to.

“It all kind of ties together in the end,” Danielle said of her background which led her to opening her business.

“I was working in special ed, I’ve been a musician in the community, and all of that ties together into my business which uses music as a healing tool,” Deopere said.

After she became certified in meditation and mindfulness, Danielle began her business as a side job. However, now it’s more of her full-time job. The work she does is quite unique.

“I had never experienced it myself,” Deopere said with a laugh. “I’m sure someone is doing something similar somewhere.”

Now Danielle works mostly with adults, though she says sometimes they’ll bring in teenagers and she’ll work with them.

The building is connected with the New Ulm WELLness Collective nonprofit, which allows her to offer some programming to community groups. They have a partnership with MRCI so she’s able to work with adults with disabilities through that.

Deopere’s favorite part of what she does is using music to interact with people.

She plays the guitar—the first instrument she learned in her early 20s—

then picked up the banjo. She also plays the cello and ukulele. Danielle has various percussion instruments including a rain stick, an ocean drum and a set of singing bowls.

“I knew about rain sticks forever and when I ordered one Amazon was like ‘you might also like ocean drums,’” Deopere said with a laugh.

She looked them up on YouTube and got one. Later, a friend was looking to get rid of their singing bowls and offered them to Deopere so she added them to her collection of instruments as well.

“There’s been a lot of that where it seems like the universe is giving me signs that I’m headed in the right direction,” Danielle explained.

Deopere stressed that she’s not a music therapist, as she hasn’t gone through formal education in music therapy. She does have training in emotional and behavioral regulation and said some of those techniques cross over in her one-on-one music healing sessions. Many times, people who come to see her for one-on-one appointments are already seeing a doctor or therapist and sign up for a session with her as they’re looking for an add-on to help manage and find stress-relief.

Favorite bands:

The Beatles, The Avett Brothers, local music.

Family members:

Husband, Ryan, daughters Lennon and Evelyn.

Favorite activities aside from music: She makes home décor macrame products. Her husband does laser wood cutting and she makes jewelry from his creations. She also makes bath salts. Danielle also enjoys rock hunting.

“It’s really relaxing. It can be emotionally releasing. People really look forward to it,” Danielle said.

Anyone who is dealing with trauma or grief or anxiety can see Deopere. People also come to her for fun as recreation.

Deopere explained that music is so healing because it kicks in the part of the nervous system that helps calm. Whether it’s upbeat, happy music or in a minor key, it’s all beneficial for the body.

Helping people is therapeutic for Danielle, as is playing music. She explained that, when playing the cello, for example, you need to cradle the instrument as if you’re embracing it. She feels the vibrations throughout her body and finds the feeling very calming.

When lyrics are added to music, people sometimes find that they relate to a song.

“It might be putting into words feelings they’re having that they’re not able to express,” Deopere said.

Having a steady rhythm that’s predictable can also be beneficial for people with autism as they often rely on routine and that having a steady rhythm is comforting.

In addition to individual music healing sessions and group music meditation classes, Danielle teaches pound classes, an exercise program with weighted drum sticks.

“You basically rock out to music while you exercise,” Deopere explained.

Deopere has been in a number of bands, one of which was The Little Prairie Pickers where she did vocals and played banjo.

She’s now in a duo with her brother, called DD & Rosco. She plays banjo and sings. She’s also in the three-piece band The Wildflowers, comprised of women who do three-part harmony. Danielle also plays both the banjo and cello. In addition to the bands, she plays music with her friend, Laura Karels. RVW

Deopere stands in front of a mural painted on the side of The New Ulm WELLness Collective.

Danielle Deopere insider her office for More Than Music at The New Ulm WELLness Collective. For her business she often plays the guitar but will use other instruments including singing bowls, which are seen behind her.

CHERYL OLSON

CREATES & DONATES CHEMO CARE KITS

In her quest to help others as they go through chemotherapy, Cheryl Olson, a cancer survivor, has been creating and donating Chemo Care Kits to the Mankato Clinic Oncology Department for the past 5 years.

“At the first chemo treatment, one doesn’t always know what to expect, and there are some items patients need with them at all times,” said Cheryl. “My sister gave me a chemo care kit the day prior to my beginning chemo treatments.”

The kits typically include the following items: A quality, fun print, disposable mask—a must when going through chemo due to weakened immune system; a thermometer—also a must as chemo patients are at high risk to infections and an increase in temp means you need to get to the doctor; individually packaged hand wipes—for the good of the patient and others to wipe down door knobs and other items; hand sanitizer; hand lotion; lemon drops that help with the metallic taste from chemo; breath mints; Kleenex; Tylenol; and a $10 gas card to help with trips to clinic.

“Over the years, I have reached out via Facebook, asking for donations from friends and family to sponsor a bag. This year, I’m excited to say that Indulge Salon and Tanning will be donating all proceeds from pink hair extensions to this cause,” said Cheryl.

About two or three times a year, she gathers all the donation items together and has an assembly line type of production to put together the kits. She then takes them to the Mankato Clinic Oncology Department. The goal is to have enough to give all new chemo treatment patients a kit on their first day of treatment, to let them know someone is thinking about them, and to help ease their anxiety.

She has not kept track of how many kits she has donated but she says it’s a lot of them, and she is gearing up for another assembly and donation. Cheryl’s dream is to eventually be able to donate to other clinics in the river valley area and set up a non-profit.

Having previously donated the kits anonymously, this is the first time she has gone public about the Chemo Kits.

“As it continues to grow, perhaps this will be my legacy,” said Cheryl.

Cheryl Olson with the staff at Indulge Salon.

Back: Joan Stanford, Jozie Doering, Chloe Cox, Riley Dee, Janelle Johnson.

Front: Mika Courtney, Tiffany Ward, Cheryl, Kaydra Fischer, Keyuana Isaac.

By RUTH KLOSSNER

Emily Dennis had been quilting for a number of years before she and her family moved to New Ulm from the Upper Peninsula of Michigan three years ago.

Emily hadn’t just been a quilter; she had turned her hobby into a pattern design business, Quilty Love. With most of Emily’s sales being online, the move to New Ulm was seamless.

“I enjoy the challenge of coming up with my own thing, creating something new. When I started creating and sharing on Instagram, people commented that they liked my work. That’s how my business was born and how it grew,” she said. “I sell online and to quilt shops, nationally and internationally.”

Dennis continued, “My mission is to make quilting accessible, easy, and exciting for new and novice quilters alike. My goal is to inspire a new generation of quilters to continue to carry on the quilting tradition. I do this through fun and easy quilt patterns, online quilting tutorials, tips and tricks, and classes.”

Emily also creates curated bundles—collections of fabric that she puts together in a quarter bundle to make a quilt. The fabric is cut as “fat quarters,” meaning that it’s cut in a way that work well with patterns. A fat quarter is usually 18 by 21 inches.

“I write the majority of my patterns around fat quarters” she said. “I also write my patterns so quilters can use their fabric stash. Most quilters have a lot of fabric—they love stash busters because that means they can use what they have. My main focus is on the ability to use what they already have.”

Dennis usually offers three to five new patterns a year and designed her 46th pattern last year. They are available in her online shop.

“I always do an annual heart quilt right around Valentine’s Day—I start the year with that. I do a lot of star quilts, too. I think it’s a fun quilting design,” she said.

Emily’s patterns are aimed at “confident beginners” as she tries to keep them pretty simple and easy to replicate. Most are simple block based.

When creating a new pattern, Emily does three to five samples as she works things out. She always offers multiple sizes on her patterns, meaning that a lot of editing is needed.

“If I don’t offer the different sizes, I’ll get asked for them anyway, so I might as well do them upfront,” she said. “So many quilters like to make different sizes. Some only do small quilts, some only do bigger ones.”

Sizes range from baby (40 by 45 inches) to king size (110 by 110 inches).

Dennis shares her quilts with others. She holds a sample sale every year, gives quilts to family, and donates quilts or bundles to raffles and other causes. She also saves all of the baby quilts she makes and does a baby quilt auction on Instagram every two years. All the proceeds go to charity. In the past, proceeds have gone to Reece’s Rainbow, a charity that collects funds for the adoption of children with down syndrome and other special needs.

Emily authored the book, Modern Quilts, Block by Block, In 2018. A background in photography served her well in that endeavor.

“I did my own photography for the book. That was useful and I could do it in my own home. The two work so well together. Photography is a big part of quilting,” she said.

Before transitioning into quilting full time, Dennis had spent seven years as a wedding and high school senior photographer.

“I was doing photography in summer and quilting in winter. I retired from photography when our youngest was born four years ago.” RVW

Quilt pattern designer Emily Dennis

Emily and husband Matt have four children. They are Kristen, in college in Mankato; Cale, a high school senior; Brady, a high school freshman; and Ridley, now almost four. Matt is a history teacher at New Ulm High School.

The family came to Minnesota in search of milder winters and a town with parks and sports. They settled in New Ulm three years ago. Matt and Emily have family in the Twin City area, but had no ties to New Ulm when they made the move to Minnesota.

By RUTH KLOSSNER

Although Rose Marie Werner lives at Dundas, she has strong ties to the Mankato area—and to Our Lady of Good Counsel in particular.

Rose Marie grew up in the very southeastern corner of North Dakota, on a farm at Mantador, but came to Mankato to attend high school at Good Counsel. She stayed on, entered the convent right about high school, and lived there for 14 years. She left after Vatican II—but continued to do the same type of work, taking a job as director of religious education for three Catholic parishes in Faribault. Werner kept close contact with Good Counsel, however, and was on an advisory board for the development department when Sister Virginia proposed a quilt auction. Rose Marie was asked to chair it—even though she had never been to an auction and had never made a quilt. That was 1997.

“I found a neighbor who quilted, Cookie Williams. She also taught me to quilt so that I could make and donate a quilt for that first auction,” Werner recalled. “She worked with me on eight different auctions over 16 years.”

With the chapel being the heart of life at Good Counsel, Werner spent many years pondering how to tie it to quilting.

“I’d look at that beautiful Italian tile floor and think, ‘Someday I will make a quilt,’” Rose Marie remembered. “I gradually built the quilt in my mind and designed the pattern. It took about four years.

“Ella’s Lilies” started with a set of finished vintage blocks that Werner bought at an estate sale. She designed the setting and hand quilted it in 2014.

marble floor in the Good Counsel Chapel was the inspiration for Rose Marie to create a quilt with the design. It took her four years to design the pattern and complete the quilt.

Marie purchased a Japanese fabric that was too pretty to cut into small pieces so she looked for a pattern that used large squares. She framed the bouquets with triangular piecing. The small border bouquets were assembled from the scraps and appliqued. Even the corner bows were made from the Japanese fabric. Called, “Garden Treasures,” this quilt won fourth place at the 2004 Minnesota State Fair.

“Navidad” started as a Spanish-style Nativity panel that Werner found in Arizona. She used the bird-in-the-air block to enhance the vignettes from both colorways of the fabric. It is handquilted and heavily embellished with beads and crystals.

The Italian

Rose Marie Werner

Rose

I wanted to make a quilt for them—it’s such a special part of the sisters’ lives.”

Rose Marie finished her Good Counsel quilt in 2008. It is embellished with couched cording and Swarovski crystals. The quilt was displayed in Good Counsel’s main house but Werner is unsure where it is now that the sisters have moved to Shakopee from Mankato.

“I hope they took it with them,” she said.

Werner’s involvement in the quilt auctions developed into an interest in the history of quilting and a research project of documenting 20th century quilt kits.

While one may think that quilt kits are a new invention, they actually started in the early 20th century.

“You’ve heard of the Sears’ houses. This was the same sort of thing. The quilt kits were packaged with whatever you needed to make a quilt. The earliest I’ve found advertised was 1916. They grew through the 20th century and were especially popular during the 1930s,” Werner said. “A lot times, people are not aware that their quilts were made from a kit. We have no idea how many there were.”

She added, “The (old) kits were sold throughout the country, with the same fabric in every kit. Now quilt kits come from a quilt shop—and often only come from that shop.”

Werner’s research has led to the documentation of over 4,000 quilt kits. She’s achieved a national reputation as the person to go to in order to identify a quilt kit.

Rose Marie stressed, however, “I’ve built what I did standing on the shoulders of those who did the research before me.”

Werner has written two books— Quilt Kits 20th Century Shortcuts, in 2019. and State Bird & State Flower Quilts. The bird and flower book provides a history of how state birds and flowers have changed over the year, and provides clues on how to identify which company the blocks came from.

In addition to research, Werner likes to design her own quilts, often using patterns—but changing them to suit herself. She likes to use patterns from the 1930s era, buts make them more modern.

“Whatever strikes me,” she said.

Rose Marie usually hand quilts her work as she finds that more relaxing then using a quilting machine.

Werner has “roughly 200” quilts in her collection, with just more than half made from kits. She takes a bunch with her when she gives lectures at local quilt guilds, the American Quilt Study Group, and regional quilt study groups in places like Oklahoma, Indiana, and Ohio.

Werner has membership in the Quilters Hall of Fame and won that group’s contest in 2009.

“I made the quilt ‘Marie’s Roses’ for the contest where you had to choose an honoree of the Quilters Hall of Fame and make a quilt to commemorate her/ him. I had been doing research on Marie Webster, a 1920s quilt designer, for my book. The quilt I made is a composite of six of Marie’s quilt designs that featured roses—five blocks and the border.”

Werner’s entry won the contest and the quilt now hangs in The Quilters Hall of Fame in Marion, Indiana, which happens to be Marie Webster’s home. RVW

“Marie’s Roses” won the contest sponsored by The Quilters Hall of Fame in 2009. The quilt is a composite of six of Marie’s quilt designs that featured roses —five blocks and the border. The quilt now hangs in The Quilters Hall of Fame in Marion, Indiana.

The quilt on the cover of Rose Marie’s book is one of her favorites. She found it in an antique store with the applique and embroidery finished. She quilted it, following the blue dotted lines stamped on the blue fabric, and was excited to see the pattern emerge.

After leaving the convent and working for three years, Rose Marie met Eugene “Gene” Werner. They married in 1975 and have three children who they raised on a farm just outside of Dundas. Gene also has a seed dealership—which is interesting in that Rose Marie’s father also had a seed farm in North Dakota.

Rose Marie quipped, “Gene says he’s my ‘off-white knight.’ He collects, too, but he’s into cream pitchers and focuses on Red Wing.”

By RUTH KLOSSNER

Janesville resident Judy Winter has been piecing quilt tops for more than 40 years. Her intricate work definitely demonstrates her love of working with “lots of pieces.”

Judy has entered quilts at the Waseca County Fair—and won top honors—numerous times. She’s also taken some of those “many pieces” quilts to the Minnesota State Fair, where she’s dazzled the judges and won awards.

A photo of her award-winning “bulgy,” a dizzying patterned quilt, has been displayed in the Creative Arts Building at the state fair for a number of years.

Winter is now working on a companion piece, “Poppin’ In”— one where the center seems to recede instead of bulging out.

Judy estimates that she’s made 200 to 300 quilts over those 40 years. Since retiring from work at Mayo Clinic Hospice in Mankato two years ago, she’s upped the number of quilts she makes annually. And, like nearly every quilter, Judy has stacks of fabric, just waiting to be turned into something beautiful.

One of Winter’s quilts hangs in the Mankato hospice office. It features the outlines of hands of kids who attended Camp Oz—a grief camp for kids—each holding something

Judy doesn’t usually sell her quilts, but gives them to family members, including their children and many nieces and nephews, and donates them to people who have experienced a loss or crisis, such as a house fire or illness.

“I take great joy when I can give my quilts away to give people pleasure,” she said. “God has given us all talents. We should utilize them in the best way we can. If I can make somebody’s

Like most quilters, Winter has a lot of completed quilts on hand. She stores her quilts flat—piled one on top of another on a bed in an upstairs bedroom. Winter counted about 20 in that stack as she peeled them away to show, telling their

“The kids and Rich tease me that, if a bus got stranded in a snowstorm by our house, each person could have their own quilt,” Judy said, then added, “As you saw, it’s probably true!” Though Rich teases her about her “bad habits,” he is

“He’s got his tractors and trucks. We laugh—I don’t go out in his shop, he doesn’t go upstairs. He does his thing, I do

Looking back, Winter recalled attending Saturday quilting classes through Waseca Community Ed when the couple’s kids were little. She was doing daycare at the time and the classes were a nice break. Soon Judy and a friend were going to quilting retreats.

“That’s when my addiction got going,” she said with a laugh. “I met a gal who challenged me to do more,

Judy Winter’s love for many pieces is evident in Poppin’ In, a quilt she was working on recently. It’s the reverse of her bulgy quilt, completed earlier and entered at the state fair.

With the center seeming to extend forward, this quilt is called a bulgy quilt.

do harder quilts, with more pieces, use my brain more. I took classes from her. That’s how I came to enjoy doing quilts that have a lot of pieces.”

While Winter does the piecing, she usually has the actual quilting done on a long arm machine. Tami Hemshrot of St. Clair does most of that work for her.

One of the most difficult quilts that Judy has completed is a yellow and blue king size Eureka quilt that captured third place at this year’s Minnesota State Fair.

“It was the most challenging, to get all the seams to match. I did it in sections. It has lots of triangles,” she said. “We renamed it ‘Sunshine of Hope.’ I’m hoping to send it to Marta, one of our former exchange students, in Poland,. She’s working with people who are trying to escape Poland.”

And, yes, there are quilts that Winter has given up on— at least for a while.

“A lot of times, they’re not even the hardest ones. It’s more like, ‘That’s not how I expected it to look,’” she said. “Sometimes I put it away for a few years, then I get it out. It will not win—I’ll figure it out! I like to challenge myself and compete—I compete with myself.”

Winter still enjoys going to quilting retreats every year, hitting four or five, usually heading south to places such as Ormsby, Okoboji, and Shalom.

“I usually fill my car when I’m going—sewing machine, small table, iron, ironing board, fabric, food if we’re cooking. I probably sew 10 or 12 hours a day while I’m there,” she said.

Judy estimates that she spends one to four hours a day sewing quilt pieces. She usually has five to seven quilts going at a time—and has five sewing machines in the quilting room in her upstairs work room in their rural home.

Besides quilting, Judy volunteers at the Simply Saved Thrift Shop in Janesville, helps with funerals at Trinity Lutheran Church in Janesville, sings in the church choir, and does programs with a women’s group.

Before retiring, Judy had worked with hospice for seven years. Before that, she worked at the local newspaper for several decades, and did daycare for 13 years when she and Rich were first married. RVW

Winter isn’t partial to her own work—she has a cabinet full of antique quilts from relatives and others.

One of Winter’s most challenging projects was this king size Eureka quilt which she renamed Sunshine of Hope It was a prize winner at the 2022 Minnesota State Fair and may be sent to a former foreign exchange student in Poland.

CHRIS THOMAS

She Shed, Cleveland

The summer sun has been gone for a while, but it can leave behind some telltale signs. As we get older, noticeable “age spots” appear. These are the evidence of an accumulation of UV damage over the years. The older you get, typically after 40, the more accumulation occurs.

Our skin is a reactive organ, affected by everything from hormones to UV light, injuries to the skin such as inflamed pimples and even a cut or scratch. These insults to the skin add up, resulting in patches of excess pigmentation and uneven tone. This can be quite distressing to deal with, but the good news is there are effective products and treatments that can restore a more even skin tone and texture.

What is Hyperpigmentation

Hyperpigmentation occurs when melanocytes, the pigment producing cells of the skin, produce too much pigment. When melanocytes are injured or unhealthy, excess melanin can clump together causing that area to appear dark brown, black, gray, red or even pink. Pigment tends to form faster than it’s shed away and the longer it’s left untreated, the more deeply rooted it becomes.

Why Do We Get Hyperpigmentation

Many things can lead to hyperpigmentation. UV exposure is the main cause for discoloration, with the sun’s radiation stimulating melanin production. While one may think a tan is beautiful, it’s actually your skin’s defense mechanism absorbing and redistributing the damaging UV rays.

Pigmentation that follows trauma to the skin, such as a cut, burn, abrasion, incision, or inflammation after acne, is known as post-inflammatory hyperpigmentation. This elicits the skin’s natural protective melanin response, resulting in discoloration at the damaged site.

Pregnancy mask, or melasma, is a condition affecting an estimated 50 to 75 percent of expectant mothers. This discoloration may appear as dark, blotchy, brown, confetti-like patches of skin. It’s most commonly on the cheeks and nose, but also found on the forehead and upper lip. It happens due to a surge in the melanocyte stimulating hormones estrogen and progesterone, and is amplified by sun exposure.

Products for Hyperpigmentation

Products and procedures are often used synergistically to even out skin’s tone and texture. The correct product regimen will do wonders for correcting existing photo damage and preventing new. An optimal treatment regimen includes ingredients to accelerate melanin dispersal, inhibit its production, and exfoliate the skin.

A complete skin cell cycle takes approximately 30 days to turn over. Exfoliation products speed up the process, revealing brighter, smoother skin much sooner. It also clears dead skin cells and oil from pores, reducing the chances of breakouts and inflammation. Many melanin inhibiting products are also great exfoliators.

Effective Products for Hyperpigmentation

Some ingredients to look for when targeting pigment are Mandelic acid, Kojic acid, Niacinamide, Vitamin A, Vitamin C, Hydroquinone, and daily use of SPF.

Together these ingredients are going to help inhibit tyrosinase, the enzyme responsible for melanin production, remove the upper layers of dead skin cells, block melanin from reaching the surface of the skin, accelerate the reduction of existing pigmentation, contribute to healthy cell function, reduce inflammation, and prevent further UV damage.

Effective Procedures for Hyperpigmentation

Two of the most common procedures to help correct hyperpigmentation are chemical peels and IPL laser treatments. Medium depth chemical peels rely on acids to remove the top layers of skin. The exfoliative effects spur cell regeneration and collagen production, fade discoloration, and peel away impactions to rapidly improve skin’s appearance.

IPL laser treatments, or photo-facials, use powerful flashes of light to create energy that penetrates the dermal layers below the skin’s surface. It also utilizes heat to penetrate and attack the pigment particles, breaking and destroying their bonds. These broken particles rise to the surface as dark “peppering” of pigment to slough off with our skin’s natural cellular turnover.

Don’t Give Up, it is Worth the Wait

If summer is lingering in all the wrong places, be patient. Most cases of hyperpigmentation can improve over time, but will often get worse before it gets better. This excess pigment is a deep rooted problem, and layer by layer it must be treated.

Slow and steady wins the race. With the appropriate approach, products, time, and maintenance, you can start to see a difference in four to six weeks. Follow the basic rules for protecting your skin from damage: Limit sun exposure. Don’t pick at blemishes. Avoid irritating or damaging your skin. Wear sunscreen! Yes, even in the winter. UV exposure and damage don’t take a season off. Keep up with your treatment plan and stay diligent in your everyday routine. Restoring a glowing, even skin tone is achievable!

EMILY GIDDINGS, RN

Giddie Skin Medspa, Mankato MN Certified Aesthetic Injector

lizmariegalvin

It’s easy to get caught up in the stress and chaos that accompany the holiday season each year.

For some women, their busy lives become even more hectic, as additional shopping, cooking, and spending combine to add even more anxiety. The result can be overwhelming.

In addition, women often ignore the symptoms of heart disease and put the health needs of friends and family before their own.

Take a moment to view this American Heart Association video about what may seem like a typical morning family routine youtube.com/watch?v=_JI487DlgTA

This portrayal may seem a little over the top, but many people take pride in being able to accomplish a multitude of tasks and trying to be everything to everyone. However, this can negatively affect physical and mental health, especially if one’s personal health is ignored.

Heart disease is the No. 1 killer for men and women. More women die of heart disease than of breast cancer. Taking care of heart health is important, and that includes avoiding risk factors or behaviors that lead to heart disease, recognizing symptoms of heart disease and seeking treatment for heart disease.

Risk factors for heart disease

Traditional risk factors for coronary artery disease include high cholesterol, high blood pressure, smoking cigarettes, and obesity. In addition, nontraditional risk factors, such as stress, anxiety, and depression, also affect heart health.

People often underappreciate the negative effects that psychosocial stress can have on their heart health.

Psychosocial stressors are life situations that cause unusual or intense stress, such as divorce, family conflicts, death of a loved one, prolonged illness, or natural catastrophe.

Studies have shown that depression and psychosocial stress are associated with heart attacks. In addition, high stress levels have been shown to negatively affect health recovery after a heart attack. Therefore, it’s important to address the traditional and nontraditional risk factors for heart disease to maintain a healthy heart. It is also important to recognize that the traditional and nontraditional risk factors for heart disease affect women differently than men.

How does stress lead to heart attacks?

Psychosocial stress can be short-term or long-term, and both types have been associated with heart disease. Exactly how stress leads to a heart attack is still being studied.

Emotional stress can lead to an increase in blood pressure, or hypertension, which subsequently leads to heart disease and plaque buildup in the coronary arteries. Emotional stress also can lead to increased level of stress hormones, or cortisol. These hormones affect platelets and autonomic tone, which is how your body controls involuntary functions such as heart rate and blood pressure. All these factors play a role in heart disease. Stress also can lead to unhealthy mechanisms to cope with stress, such as stress eating or substance abuse, and not exercising, which in turn can lead to heart disease.

Also, short-term severe stressful situations often can cause severe but usually temporary heart failure. This condition is called broken heart syndrome, also known as takotsubo cardiomyopathy, apical ballooning syndrome, or stress cardiomyopathy.

Several risk factors can play a bigger role in the development of heart disease in women, including:

• Diabetes

Women with diabetes are at greater risk of heart disease than men with diabetes.

• Mental stress and depression

Women’s hearts are affected by stress and depression more than men’s hearts. Depression makes it difficult to maintain a healthy lifestyle and follow recommended treatment, so talk to your health care provider if you’re having symptoms of depression or anxiety.

• Smoking

Smoking is a greater risk factor for heart disease in women than it is in men.

• Inactivity

A lack of physical activity is a major risk factor for heart disease, and some research has found women to be more inactive than men.

• Alcohol consumption

Red wine has some qualities that suggest it’s good for your health, but it needs to be consumed in moderation. This excludes other forms of alcohol. Note that calories can affect weight.

• Menopause

Low levels of estrogen after menopause significantly increase a woman’s risk of developing heart disease. Also, developing premature menopause, especially before 40, markedly increases a woman’s longterm risk of heart disease.

• Pregnancy complications

Research has found that if you had pregnancy complications, such as high blood pressure or diabetes, or even premature delivery, you and your baby have an increased risk of heart disease in the future.

• Inflammatory diseases

Women are more likely to have inflammatory disorders like rheumatoid arthritis or lupus. Women with these or other similar diseases have a higher risk of heart disease.

Research is ongoing in other heart disease risk factors in women.

Is heart disease something only older women should worry about?

Women of all ages should take heart disease seriously. Women under 65, or those with the above risk factors, and especially those with a family history of heart disease, need to pay close attention to heart disease risk factors.

What are the differences of heart disease symptoms in women?

Women and men are equally likely to present with chest pain, pressure, or discomfort.

However, women are more likely to have other associated symptoms including:

• Neck, jaw, shoulder, upper back or abdominal discomfort

• Shortness of breath

• Pain in one or both arms

• Nausea or vomiting

• Sweating

• Lightheadedness or dizziness

• Unusual fatigue

Don’t wait until it’s too late. If you experience chest pain with the symptoms mentioned above, don’t wait until it is too late. It’s important to call 911 right away.

Managing holiday stress

Stress can occur at different levels. A little stress associated with deadlines and obligations can help motivate people to accomplish tasks. Chronic stress is caused by extreme ongoing struggles, along with lack of control or meaning.

For many women, the holiday season brings the most cherished moments in their lives, but also it can be among the most stressful time of year. Often this is because people carry expectations influenced by memories and societal pressures—a smiling happy family photo on holiday cards, the smell of grandma’s home cooking at Hanukkah, seeing a Christmas tree lit, or singing your favorite Kwanzaa song. These sights, smells, and sounds of the season in homes become the mental representations that people measure their happiness and satisfaction. However, these visions don’t always match reality, and that can lead to stress.

At any time, but especially during the holidays, the key to coping is setting realistic expectations. Take a few moments as a family to write down what would make the holidays an enjoyable time with those you love. And let go of the things that add stress and no joy.

Other lifestyle changes that can help curb stress during the holidays or any time during the year include:

• Increase physical exercise. Find an exercise regimen that works for you. This can include daily walks or riding a bicycle. Start slow and gradually lengthen these regimens over time.

• Practice relaxation exercises. Incorporate muscle relaxation techniques, such as breathing exercises, to deal with anxiety and stress into your daily routine.

• Make a connection to your spirituality.

Spirituality has many definitions but, at its core, spirituality helps to give your life a clearer purpose and a greater connection to the world and others. It’s not necessarily connected to a specific belief system or even religious worship. Try prayer, meditation, or keep a journal to express your feelings and focus your attention.

• Seek professional help.

Get an annual physical and talk to your health care provider about your health, including psychosocial stress.

• Eat a healthy diet

Opt for whole grains, a variety of fruits and vegetables, low-fat or fatfree dairy products and lean meats. Avoid added sugars, saturated fats or trans fats, and high amounts of salt.

• Limit alcohol

If you have more than one drink a day, cut back. One drink is approximately 12 ounces of beer, 5 ounces of wine, or 1.5 ounces of distilled spirits, such as vodka or whiskey.

• Stop smoking

If you smoke, plan to quit.

• Monitor your heart health. Know your numbers for blood pressure, blood glucose, and cholesterol.

NITI R. AGGARWAL, M.D. Cardiologist Mayo Clinic Health System Mankato

MANKATO HILLTOP 507-625-9070

2010 Adams Street, Mankato, MN

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410 S. Riverfront Drive, Mankato, MN

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2015 S. Broadway Street, New Ulm, MN

ST. PETER 507-625-9070

1002 Old Minnesota Avenue, St. Peter, MN

Sometimes a medicine’s taste is the only thing standing between a child and getting healthy. FLAVOR Rx empowers kids to choose the taste of their medication, making medicine-time easier for little ones and their parents. Your Hilltop Hy-Vee Pharmacy offers FLAVOR Rx to give your kids an option how their medicine tastes to ensure a positive medication experience. Ask us which flavors are available for your medication.

More than 50% of Americans will be diagnosed with a mental illness or disorder in their lifetime, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. The good news is, nutrition can have a positive effect on your mood and mental health!

Studies have found that people with depression often lack proper nutrition and are deficient in neurotransmitters like serotonin, which helps regulate mood, sleep, and appetite.

Around 95% of a person’s serotonin is produced in their gastrointestinal tract, which is lined with millions of neurons. Both the production of serotonin and the function of those neurons are influenced by the “good” bacteria in your intestines, which can be affected by what you eat.

So, which foods show the best benefits for mental health?

FISH. OYSTERS.

Eating fish with higher omega-3 content (like salmon, sardines, mackerel, anchovies and herring) may be especially helpful in reducing depression.

INGREDIENTS

1 c. Dried farro

4 (4 oz each) salmon fillets

Hy-Vee nonstick olive oil cooking spray

1 tbsp. Hy-Vee Select extra virgin olive oil

1 tbsp. fresh lemon juice

2 garlic cloves, minced

1 tbsp. parsley, finely chopped, plus more for garnish

4 c. baby spinach

2 c. strawberries, sliced

1 small jicama, peeled and cut into matchsticks, about 1 cup

1 c. blueberries, halving large berries

1 oz. Gorgonzola cheese, cut into thin slices

1 recipe Strawberry Vinaigrette

DIRECTIONS

Oysters are rich in omega-3 fats, zinc and vitamin B12, all of which have been linked to antidepressant effects.

DARK LEAFY GREENS. NUTS. CRUCIFEROUS VEGETABLES.

*Diet is just one factor that can affect mental health. While good nutrition may help lower your risk, it won’t cure or completely prevent mental health illnesses and disorders. Please talk to you healthcare provider about your mental health needs.

1

In a recent study, people who eat more raw spinach and kale noted fewer depressive symptoms and increased life satisfaction.

Nuts are rich in a variety of important nutrients including omega-3 fats, minerals like magnesium along with a punch of dietary fiber. Higher nut consumption is linked to lower risk of depression and overall better mood.

2 3 4

Preheat oven to 450 degrees. Prepare farro according to package directions. Cool for 15 minutes.

Halve salmon fillets lengthwise and place on a baking sheet lightly sprayed with nonstick cooking spray. Bake for 12 minutes or until fillets flake easily with a fork.

Whisk together oil, lemon juice, garlic and parsley in a medium bowl. Add farro and toss until combined.

Nutrition Facts per serving: 610 calories, 27g fat, 6g saturated fat, 0g trans fat, 70mg cholesterol, 340mg sodium, 60g total carbohydrate, 15g dietary fiber, 11g total sugars, 0 added sugars, 34g protein. Daily values: 25% iron, 20% calcium, 80% vitamin A, 170% Vitamin C.

Cruciferous vegetables are a large group of vegetables that includes cauliflower, broccoli and Brussels sprouts. A higher consumption of cruciferous vegetables has been linked to a lower risk for dying early, as well as a lower risk for depression.

Lemon wedges for serving Berry-Farro

Salad w/Baked Salmon

You may have heard about “sustainable investing.”

But, if you’re not familiar with it, you may have some questions: What does it involve? Is it right for me? Can I follow a sustainable investing strategy and still get the portfolio performance I need to reach my goals?

Sustainable investing can be defined in different ways, with different terminologies. However, one way to look at a sustainable approach is by thinking of it as investing in a socially conscious way which may involve two broad categories: environmental, social, and governance (ESG) investing and valuesbased investing.

As its name suggests, ESG investing incorporates a broad range of environmental, social, and governance risks and opportunities, along with traditional financial measures, when making investment decisions.

This approach may have a neutral impact on performance because it maintains a focus on managing risk, traditional fundamental analysis and diversification. Here’s a quick look at the ESG elements:

• Environmental Companies may work to reduce carbon emissions, invest in renewable energy, decrease pollution, and conserve water resources.

• Social. A business may promote gender and pay equality within its workforce, and maintain positive labor relations and safe working conditions for employees.

• Governance. Companies distinguished by good governance may institute strong ethics policies, provide transparent financial reporting, and set policies to ensure it has an independent, objective board of directors.

You can pursue an ESG investing approach through individual stocks, mutual funds, or exchange-traded funds (ETFs), which hold a variety of investments similar to mutual funds, but are generally passively managed. That is, they do little or no trading. As an ESG investor, you don’t necessarily have to sacrifice performance because ESG investments generally fare about as well as the wider

investment universe. Some investments may even gain from the ESG approach. For example, a company that invests in renewable energy may benefit from the move away from fossil fuel sources.

Now, let’s move on to values-based investing. When you follow a values-based approach, you can focus on specific themes where you may choose to include or exclude certain types of investments that align with your personal values.

So, you could refrain from investing in segments of the market, such as tobacco or firearms, or in companies that engage in certain business practices, such as animal testing. On the other hand, you could actively seek out investments that align with your values. For instance, if you’re interested in climate change, you could invest in a mutual fund or ETF that contains companies in the solar or clean energy industries.

One potential limitation of values-based investing is that it may decrease the diversification of your portfolio and lead to materially lower returns due to narrowly focused investments, prioritization of nonfinancial goals, and too many exclusions.

Ultimately, if you choose to include a sustainable investing approach, you will want—as you do in any investing scenario—to choose those investments that are suitable for your goals, risk tolerance, and time horizon. If sustainable investing interests you, give it some thought. You may find it rewarding to match your money with your beliefs.

This article was written by Edward Jones for use by your local Edward Jones Financial Advisor. Edward Jones. Member SIPC.

Edward Jones is a licensed insurance producer in all states and Washington, D.C., through Edward D. Jones & Co., L.P. and in California, New Mexico and Massachusetts through Edward Jones Insurance Agency of California, L.L.C.; Edward Jones Insurance Agency of New Mexico, L.L.C.; and Edward Jones Insurance Agency of Massachusetts, L.L.C.

MEGHAN ANDERSON Financial Advisor Edward Jones, St. Peter

4 S helte r N Nov 3, 2021 M t M

Sips 4 S helte r

Sips 4 S helte r

Sat November 13, 2021

Sat November 13, 2021

M to 5:00 PM

M to 5:00 PM

Hosted by Circle Inn

d by Circle Inn

Hosted by Circle Inn

Live Music The Jeremy Poland Band Food by The Pelican food truck Silent Auction

Live Music The Jeremy Poland Band Food by The Pelican food truck Silent Auction

Live Music The Jeremy Poland Band Food by The Pelican food truck Silent Auction

partnersforhousing.org

le e Novv. 1 1st: : $775 5 no ticket sales between Aug. 1 and Oct. 31

le e Novv. 1 1st: : $775 no ticket sales between Aug. 1 and Oct. 31

signnatteed d d drriver Tickeets s $35

Deessignnatteed d d drriver T Tickeetss: $ $35

Deessignnaateed d d drrivver Ticckeetss: $35

Enjoy the food, music and free soft drinks all afternoon

All proceeds from the event will benefit the clients of Partners for Housing, a 501(c)(3) non profit organization that supports people experiencing homelessness in our region.

All proceeds from the event will benefit the clients of Partners for Housing, a 501(c)(3) non profit organization that supports people experiencing homelessness in our region.

Stock your pantry before the holidays

Even before finalizing your holiday menus, ensuring that your pantry staples are well stocked will prevent last-minute panic runs to the store for things like flour, salt, cooking oil and chocolate, lots of chocolate. Take inventory of your cupboards to see if any of those kitchen necessities are running low - then you’ll be ready for all kinds of tasty recipes.

Let many hands make light work

Holiday cooking and baking memories with friends and relatives may be some of the best memories from your own childhood, so go ahead and let your family and friends help out with some of your meal preparation, cooking and table setting. Even little hands can do a few simple tasks to help, and the more the merrier!

Clean as you go

If you can do some of the cleanup during the preparation and cooking process, you’ll not only maximize your prep surface, but you’ll also make it a lot easier to finish the cleaning after the festivities have wound down for the day.

There’s nothing more satisfying than collaborating with loved ones to prepare a celebration, so take time to have fun and savor the moment. Taste your own food, spend time with the people you care about and enjoy the wonderful holiday feeling you’ve helped to create.

Between the best tools, help from family and friends, plus your upbeat, can-do attitude, your holidays this year can be more fun, festive and flavorful than ever. Find more products to help your holidays be merry at GoodCook.com.

BRANDPOINT CONTENT

The holidays are coming up, which means your life will be full of family, friends and many delicious meals. To keep everything running along merrily this year, why not take steps to make hosting less stressful, and a lot more joyful?

Here are 5 key tips and a few must-have kitchen essentials that can make your holiday hosting easier than ever.

Don’t underestimate your prep time

If your recipe says a dish takes 45 minutes to prepare and cook, build in an extra 30 minutes when scheduling your meal prep time before guests arrive. Even better, prep or cook some items (or components) ahead, so they’re pre-chopped or ready to take from the fridge and reheat. Everything always takes longer than expected, so you’ll relieve a lot of stress if you know you’ll have time to do it well. Then you can relax, put on your favorite music, gather your ingredients and get ready to make holiday magic.

Use the right tools for the job

Cooking and baking are so much easier (and much more fun) if you have the best tools possible for the job. Here are some kitchen must-haves that can make your holiday hosting seem effortless:

GoodCook Quick-Baste Roasting Pan - You’ll be ready for any major holiday gathering with this 13x17 pan that comes with a locking rack. It’s large enough for all your favorite chicken, beef and pork roasts, and it can even handle a 25-pound turkey. Constructed with a unique v-shape that allows for the collecting of juices and liquids, you can safely baste in half the time and leave the oven door open for a shorter time to keep cooking temperature consistent. Made from heavy-duty steel, it has a durable nonstick coating that is safe for metal utensils.

GoodCook Meat Tenderizer - Worried about serving tough meat? Worry no more. This double-sided mallet features a textured side for breaking up fibers in tougher meat and a smooth side for flattening cutlets. It’s also the ultimate tool to ensure that your seasonings and toppings are perfectly pulverized, as it’s suitable for crushing nuts, smashing garlic, or mincing ginger spices that will add a delicious dash of flavor to your recipes. Plus, with the single-piece, cast aluminum construction, it is ideal for sanitary use and cleanup.

GoodCook Digital Thermometer - Make sure all your food is properly cooked with an accurate thermometer that has an easy-to-read digital display so you can read the temperature quickly. Its stainless probe has a protective sleeve with a rotating temperature guide for quick reference. As simple to clean as it is to use, when your work is done, you can easily sanitize, fold and store away until next time.

GoodCook AirPerfect Nonstick Baking Sheet - Be ready for cookie swaps or spontaneous baking moments with these insulated cookie sheets that provide even baking and moister cookies. Available in two sizes, you’ll have your pick of perfecting a small or larger batch. Even better, the sheets are designed to keep cookies from burning on the bottom, delivering golden brown results every time - and with the slide-off surface and secure indented handle, cookies are easier than ever to remove. As an added bonus, the nonstick surface makes it a snap to clean.

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My husband snores like a bear. His snoring is so loud that it often interferes with my ability to sleep. I am starting to resent him and am considering separate bedrooms. I don’t mean to sound dramatic, but his snoring is really starting to impact our marriage. What can I do?

Marriage counselors and sleep specialists often have similar advice. As anyone with a newborn baby or a puppy can attest, sleep deprivation can negatively impact relationships. Resentment may develop on both sides—on yours if your partner doesn’t take your concerns seriously, or on your partner’s if they have to change their current patterns of behavior. Here are a few things to consider before sending him to the couch for the night.

1. What kind of a snore is it?

Loud snoring can occur when air is blocked from entering the body in the nose or in the throat. When air is blocked from entering through the nose, the snorer is still able to breathe through the mouth. The cadence of the breathing is regular and, though it may sound crazy-loud, it is not life-threatening, and is classic snoring. When air is blocked from entering or exiting through the throat, breathing stops for periods of time. This is called “apnea”, and can be life-threatening if it goes untreated. Sleep apnea can range from mild to severe, and can lead to irregular heartbeats, stroke, anxiety, depression, irritability, daytime sleepiness, diabetes, obesity, and many other things. If your partner stops breathing for 5-10 seconds or more, wakes up gasping for air, or experiences daytime sleepiness despite getting a full night of sleep, consider speaking with you provider about next steps.

2. What about a sleep study?

Sleep studies are used to evaluate the activity of the body during rest. The study can be done at home or in a sleep clinic. Information from the sleep study helps to formulate a treatment plan. Some of the information provided will reflect the duration and quality of sleep, how many episodes of waking occurred, and the number of times the person stopped breathing. Your provider can order the appropriate test for you.

3. See a specialist:

If the sleep study determines that your partner is experiencing sleep apnea, you may see a pulmonologist to discuss wearing a CPAP machine at night. If your partner is experiencing classic snoring with nasal blockage, they may benefit from seeing an ENT specialist to evaluate the anatomy of the nose. If you partner has a deviated septum, they may be eligible for a surgical procedure to manage the obstruction (a “nose job”).

4. Behavioral modifications:

Classic snoring can sometimes be treated with breathing strips from your local drug store. Decreasing alcohol consumption and weight loss can also help. People tend to snore less when they sleep on their sides, and body pillows to help maintain a side position are often helpful in preventing them from rolling onto their backs.

Loud snoring can be a sign of something more serious, so please discuss your treatment options with your provider.

Stay healthy friends!

CORINNE JORDAN, MD, FACS General Surgeon Physicians Group New Ulm

Despite the cold, fall and winter carry a warm sentiment. We welcome with open arms the aroma of spice, the sensation of crisp air, and the breathtaking vision of mother nature’s colors that signal her slowing down and preparing for her annual slumber. Traditions of hospitality: welcoming children to our doorstep for sugary treats, practicing gratitude around an intimate table with loved ones, gift giving, are all well appointed for this time of year.

When the sand toys and beach towels go into hibernation, out come the boots, coats, and—in my house—a whole heap of blankets that were in storage. In the autumnal season shift, I am annually horrified by the vast number of blankets we have managed to amass over time. Try as I may to drape, fold, and assign specific blankets to the correct piece of color coordinating furniture, my daughters always end up building a fort or piling them in a discombobulated way that an interior designer would certainly disapprove of.

I have realized that the blankets we gravitate toward say something about our interior state. It reminds me a bit of the opening scene of 101 Dalmatians where the different dog breeds are shown walking with a human that slightly resembles them. Take my children for example. All three desire a soft, velvety fleece they can cocoon themselves in. They quite possibly have a radar for when a fleece blanket is in the building because, anytime we are in a department store, they will hone in on the home goods section and inevitably I will find them rubbing their faces on an endcap of soft, faux satin blankets.

My godmother is the epitome of class and elegance. So, it is no surprise that when we are at her house for a movie night, she is draped in the luxury of cashmere. My friend Richard is a product of his generation, and heralds the functional merits of his Hudson Bay comforter, an iconic blanket known for its thick, 100% wool fabric, and classic design dating back to 1890. Apparently, there was a time when a blanket existed for nothing more than keeping humans warm. (Who knew)?

My mother’s obsession with her afghan collection is one I will never understand. Why would anyone want a blanket with holes in it? Quilts on the other hand I can get behind, though quilts are more of a religion than a blanket these days, which I think is pretty cool. Think I’m wrong? Short list—quilts have traditions dating back to 1360, has group worship (quilting bee), has dogma, has a variety of art forms associated with the practice of quilting...the list goes on. See, it’s a religion, told ya.

The tradition of giving a baby a blanky upon birth has always been a poignant one for me. It is meant to be a source of comfort to this new little human on their earthly journey. However, I have observed the effect of a life hard lived on these blankies. Time passes and like our bodies, they wear out.

A child’s blanky tells a story. My oldest daughter’s blanky is naturally in the roughest shape. There is a perfect circle in the velvet where she threw it on top of a candle, burning a hole in it. The spot that she fell asleep rubbing every night has been rubbed down to loose strands (though every so often I still catch her massaging that well-worn spot). My middle daughter’s blanky still has the stains from her apple juice sippy cup that she fell asleep drinking every night. My youngest daughter’s blanky is in significantly better shape because, frankly, she isn’t that attached to it and it rarely leaves her bed.

What can I say, we aren’t all blanky people, Penny prefers the company of her curiously named bear “Omar.”

Whatever brings you comfort this fall—be it made from faux satin, yarn, fleece, or 1000 thread count...may you wear it (out) well.

BY LORI MATHIOWETZ

JZ CARING BOXES

JZ CARING BOXES

“I was so excited when I got my JZ Cancer Box!” says cancer survivor Erin Pietz. “But then I thought, Hey, I don’t want this box. It means I have cancer!”

“I was so excited when I got my JZ Cancer Box!” says cancer survivor Erin Pietz. “But then I thought, Hey, I don’t want this box. It means I have cancer!”

Thousands of people in Southern Minnesota receive a Jonathan Zierdt cancer box from their oncology health care team annually. Physicians present the box at a time when their cancer-fighting patient is feeling frightened and unsure. Recipients receive a warm reminder they are being cared for by an entire community.

Thousands of people in Southern Minnesota receive a Jonathan Zierdt cancer box from their oncology health care team annually. Physicians present the box at a time when their cancer-fighting patient is feeling frightened and unsure. Recipients receive a warm reminder they are being cared for by an entire community.

Jonathan and Ginger Zierdt established the Caring Box program after Jonathan was diagnosed with cancer. He wanted to make the cancer journey as comfortable and dignified as possible for cancer patients and their caregivers. Each box contains a warm blanket, an award-winning cancer-fighting cookbook, a journal, a pen, and a gift card to assist in paying for gas to appointments or prescription costs.

Jonathan and Ginger Zierdt established the Caring Box program after Jonathan was diagnosed with cancer. He wanted to make the cancer journey as comfortable and dignified as possible for cancer patients and their caregivers. Each box contains a warm blanket, an award-winning cancer-fighting cookbook, a journal, a pen, and a gift card to assist in paying for gas to appointments or prescription costs.

Please join us in supporting this one-of-a-kind program that supports patients, family members, and caregivers. Jzfullyalive.com

Please join us in supporting this one-of-a-kind program that supports patients, family members, and caregivers. Jzfullyalive.com

Hallmark moments are c

3rd annual

Elfcapade

11 AM - 3 PM Saturday, December 10th

Bring the little ones for a story-based adventure A group of mischievous little elves have infiltrated the stores of St Peter leaving behind fun for all Along the way you will collect precious memories and keepsakes for your Christmas traditions

These local businesses are ready for those sneaky little elves to come visit. You might see a few elf traps or treats for them at The Amber Seaver Team with Keller Williams

Realty, Julee's Jewelry, The Smallest Cog Bike Shop, Arrow Hardware and Paint, Harbor Home and Gifts, Her Happy Place, The People's Store, Swedish Kontour Imports, and St. Peter American Legion Auxiliary

Her Happy Place,

The People's Store, Swedish Kontour Imports, and St. Peter American Legion Auxiliary

WHERE SOUTHERN MINNESOTA GETS

a n d l e l i g h t S h o p p i n g e v e n t . T h i s y e a r

C a n d l e l i g h t S h o p p i n g e v e n t . T h i s y e a r w i l l i n c l u d e a t a s t e o f S t . P e t e r ' s h i s t o r y w i l l i n c l u d e a t a s t e o f S t . P e t

ANGI: Books and golden retrievers.

WHAT BRINGS YOU COMFORT & JOY?

VIKKI: Books, family, comfy jammies, fluffy blanket, warm slippers, coffee/ tea/hot chocolate.

COLE: Sunrises and sunsets. We are so lucky to experience the start of a new day and the end of another beautiful day on this earth. Of course family and pets also!

ERIN: Sundays, vanilla candles, cooking while sipping wine, my family watching Sunday football together.

ROXY: Laughing about anything & everything with family and friends.

LYNETTE: Family, grandkids, and great friends.

KATHY: Looking at Christmas lights or, having a beer by a bonfire with my hubby. He just had a stroke and ER helped him to a full recovery. The little things really are the BIG things!

NANCY: A favorite quilt made by me, with my favorite cat, Axel, on my lap, and watching Sunday football.

SARA: Peppermint tea while watching a holiday baking competition show on TV.

KELLY: Baking, decorating the tree and spending time with family.

ANDREA: Earl Grey tea. That brings me comfort every time. My family, dog, friends and nature bring me joy.

JUDY: When any of my family comes home and we are all around the table talking and playing games. I just don’t want the evening to end.

MADYSEN: Books and going on walks!

CINDY: The simplicity of less stuff and free time!

BELLA: My comfort and joy comes from taking a hot bath before bed while listening to Christian music. And the seasonal hot apple blasts from Caribou…. they can bring comfort & joy to anyone!

BEVERLY: Know my family is safe, happy and thriving.

JANE: Knowing that my family is home safe every night is my comfort. And what brings me joy is my child's laughter.

JODI: Jesus!

CHELSEYJEAN: My family and friends that are like family. They're my people. My safe place.

KRISTINE: My family, holding my grandson's hand, smelling my daughter's hair, and knowing they are safe.

AMY: Cuddling with my puppy.

JENNIFER: Grandchildren!

KARINA ROSE: Happy kids, Warm blankets, hot tea, reading, camping.

MELANIE: Love and memories of my family and a good creme brulee.

: My dog.

JOY: Books, Coffee, hugs.

AMBER: Sharing a meal with friends or family, a hot bath, cozy blankets by the fire with hot cup of coffee, twinkle lights around our home that turn on at dusk.

LINDA: Earl Grey for me as well, being on the fjord, on the water, my family and my cat, and my friends. Sunshine, early mornings.

SHARON: Full moon.

MAUREEN: Good health, my grandkids, my family, great friends, and Christmas movies and music!

JESSICA: Healthy kids, loving family, fireplace warmth, comforting meal, laughter with friends, and puppy snuggles.

DEENA: Crawling into a freshly made bed.

DANA: Walking in the beautifully colored leaves.

TRICIA: Music! Coffee, great food and conversation, cooking, laughing with my grandbabes and their hugs.

CRISSY: Making memories with my family.

LINDA: Having our kids and grandkids all back home on the farm and all healthy.

MELISSA: Family, friends, and cuddles from my grandson.

DEANNA: Baking cookies and drinking hot cocoa.

THERESA: Knowing I will spend time with my family for the holidays.

AMY: When our 3 children are home and spending time together. My children’s friends feeling comfy and welcomed at our home.

PATTI: Watching my kids grow into compassionate adults who are working hard to achieve their goals. And, of course a great glass of wine.

AMANDA: Wrapping myself in a cozy blanket and putting together a puzzle.

ALYSSA: Gilmore Girls TV show.

ANGEL: A healthy & happy family, a clean home, warm coffee in the morning on a cold day, homemade soup, preparing & eating Italian food, watching birds eat from my feeders, crawling into my bed after a long day. And now that it's getting cold, the remote start and heated seats in my car brings me much joy & comfort.

ROYAL: Grandbabies, Oreos, smoking hot wife, sons, “my kids,” Christmas… I'll stop.

JENNIFER: Holiday game night with my family.

SARA: Ice fishing, four wheeling, camping.

RENEE: Spending quality time with loved ones.

CHRISTIE: A good cup of coffee in a cozy mug and fresh sheets on the bed, my top two simple favorites!

JO: Nature and fresh air.

CONNIE

Every year for Christmas I would sit on Santa’s lap and ask for a puppy. Every year I would open some type of toy that was supposed to resemble the puppy I really wanted. The yappy stuffed dog that walked on a leash and yipped was a favorite, but still did not fill my want for a puppy. My mom and dad said it was because Santa’s elves can’t make puppies in the North Pole and they can’t live there because it is too cold. This didn’t make sense to me because Lady from Lady in the Tramp was a Christmas present. Some parents will work their magic and convince Santa to deliver a puppy.

Obviously, purchasing a pet should be something well thought out. It is essential that both parents agree on bringing a pet home or the pet will be a source of tension, right along with the laundry and who is making dinner. When one partner or family member does not care for the pet, it can make the pet much more anxious. Kids might say that they “promise” to help feed, walk, and care for it. But don’t forget they made this same promise about cleaning up their room and helping around the house. As much as they love this pet, the newness will wear off. Are you prepared to care for this pet when the kids move out? Are you prepared to find someone to care for the pet when you go on family vacations? Have you considered who is coming home to let a dog out at lunch or at the end of the day before you head out for Friday night cocktails? Are pets allowed where you live?

Have you considered the needs of the pet? Are you willing to have litter boxes in bedrooms or living areas? Are you prepared for cleaning up accidents on your new floor or carpet? Are you prepared for chewed up moldings, shredded couch corners, or early mornings?

If you don’t care to exercise

or leave your home, you may want to choose a cat or a lazy dog breed that does not require obscene amounts of walking, running or biking. If you do not like to go out in sub-zero temperatures, you may want to rethink a dog of any kind (or moving to another state). Some breeds will require more training than others. Of course, all dogs could benefit from training, but a large breed dog that jumps on you or pulls you down the street will require more!

Pets are also a huge financial investment. In 2020 people spent anywhere from $5,000 to $30,000 over one single pet’s lifetime. This, of course, varies largely on breed, medical care, and lifespan. In the past 10 years, Americans spent 10 times more on their pets. One in 10 millennials are putting off having children due to their pet’s cost. We often hear, “I got this FREE kitten” but that kitten needs vaccines, deworming, to be spayed or neutered, food, litter boxes, scratching posts, vet care, and, god forbid, it has less than 30 toys. It will likely even require Christmas presents and a Halloween outfit. It is probably very unlikely that your child who promised to help care for this pet or the friend that got you this pet, is going to empty their piggy bank to help cover the costs.

Let’s say the family agrees on getting a pet and everyone is committed to helping raise this pet, a lot of thought needs to go into what breed to get. Some breeds will require more exercise, grooming, vet care, and training. There are breeds that are more family friendly and known to be good with kids. Does someone in the home suffer from allergies or asthma? Are you easily annoyed by heavy breathing, snorting, or midnight meowing?

Of course, just as there are downsides of having pets, there are a lot of perks. With long term responsibility comes amazing snuggles, love, bonds, health benefits, and memories. Just be sure that the recipient is prepared for their whole life as well.

NICOLE LUECK, CVT MN Valley Pet Hospital Mankato

“Oh, there’s no place like home for the holidays,” crooned Perry Como in the iconic 1954 classic Christmas song of the same name. That stirring sentiment, for many, rings particularly true this year as we look forward to once again hosting celebrations at home with loved ones. If you’re planning to stay home for the holidays, now is the time to start thinking about how you can create a festive and joyful atmosphere for yourself and your guests.

Decorations, food and entertainment are all important aspects of the holiday season, but another impactful way you can create a homey holiday feel is through fragrance. “Our sense of smell is our strongest sense,” said Harry Slatkin, home fragrance expert and founder of Slatkin & Co. “It goes straight to your brain and can recall a memory and give you a sense of joy in an instant.”

As you return home for the holidays this year, Slatkin, dubbed the “Candle King” by The New York Times, offers these five home fragrance tips to create a festive and joyful holiday atmosphere with scented candles.

1. Scents to greet your guests

When your guests arrive, you’ll want to have a scented candle burning that makes them feel relaxed and uplifted as soon as they walk in. In your entryway, light an aromatic candle with notes of pine or fir balsam to greet guests with a fresh, woodsy fragrance. Even if you don’t have a Christmas tree, a scented candle with notes of pine needles and juniper will have guests believing that you brought one home that day. You can also opt for other evergreen candles with notes of white birch and crisp winter air to capture the scents of a snowy winter day in the woods.

2. Scents to gather around

No matter where you start the evening, chances are everyone will eventually gather and end the night in your living room. To create a cheerful and festive atmosphere, choose a candle with bright, invigorating notes like Christmas Joy. This lively fragrance blends sparkling citrus notes with a variety of holiday spices,

fresh cranberries and blue spruce that will remind you and guests of cherished holidays spent sipping mulled wine in front of the fireplace.

3. Scents for the cooking and dining areas

Choosing a scent for spaces where you will be cooking or eating can be tricky because you don’t want a candle fragrance to compete with the aroma of your holiday dishes. Likewise, burning a scented candle during dinner can interfere with the dining experience and take away the enjoyment of the meal and ambiance.

Instead, after the cooking is finished, burn a gourmand-scented candle in the kitchen with notes of buttercream and brown sugar that will have your guests’ mouths watering. Even if there is nothing cooking in the kitchen, the inviting fragrance will have them thinking you just took a tray of freshly baked sugar cookies out of the oven.

4. Scents for you

As a host, don’t get so caught up in the party planning that you forget to enjoy the holiday season. Take time to take care of yourself by relaxing alone at home in your favorite spot with an aromatherapy candle. A scented candle with soothing notes of geranium, frankincense and cedarwood can produce a sense of tranquility and calm to help you find a sense of inner peace during the busy holiday season.

5. Scents for the ones you love

Gift a sensory experience by buying scented candles for those near and dear to you. While the act of gifting scented candles may have served as a punchline on late-night TV in recent years, the $23 billion U.S. home fragrance market is no joke. Americans love scented candles. For a wide variety of choices, check out the Homeworx by Slatkin & Co. collection of 4-wick candles. There are also many options to choose from locally. Whether your loved ones prefer warm, comforting candles with notes of cinnamon, pumpkin and vanilla, gourmand and fruity scents or woodsy, winter-themed fragrances, you’re sure to find options to satisfy them all. Best of all, they’ll think of you every time they light their candles.

“There is no stronger connection between scent and feelings of peace and joy than during the holiday season,” said Slatkin. “It is a special time when we create and celebrate memories with family and friends, and scent is the common thread that ties them all together.”

Set the seasonal mood with scents that evoke warmth, relaxation and togetherness. Using these five home fragrance tips, you can create a holiday everyone is sure to remember.

BRANDPOINT CONTENT

As we begin the holiday season, it’s good to remember that parents can’t control everything. Your child may cry when they visit Santa or get sick the day of their holiday concert. That’s life. What we can do is keep our sense of humor and set the stage for a happy and healthy holiday season.

We begin the season by giving thanks. One way you can encourage gratitude all month long is by helping your children give back. Your family can participate in a toy drive such as Mankato Toys for Tots or join the Holiday Sharing Tree to buy gifts for children and families in need. You can even ring the bell for The Salvation Army.

If your family is in need of gifts for the holidays, reach out to your county social services. You may also visit the Mankato Toys for Tots website to apply.

When shopping for your children and family, do your best to stay within a budget. We often buy more than we can afford and our children can appreciate. Look at ways to limit your spending. For instance, thrift stores have a wonderful selection of gently used toys and books.

When you’re not stressed over shopping and finances, you can enjoy more time with your kids doing things they’ll remember long past the latest video game. Play outside, make crafts and gifts together, cuddle up for a holiday movie.

With so much going on, do your best to keep your routines the same. You can improve everyone’s moods and energy by sticking to your child’s sleep and mealtime schedules when you can. When you can’t, pack easy and nutritious snacks like cheese sticks, carrots, nut butter, and crackers.

While baking is often a family tradition, the key is finding balance and moderation when enjoying treats.

There may also be some healthy treats your kids might enjoy eating or making. Did you know you can make ants on a log to look like reindeer? Teach your children about fueling foods and sometimes foods. Before you know it, they’ll be questioning your choices.

So, at holiday parties, make sure there are healthy kid-friendly snacks—veggie trays, cut up fruit, sliced cheese, and crackers. Wine, beer, and cocktails tend to flow freely. Make sure alcohol is out of your children’s reach. Appetizers can also be choking hazards for small children whether they are grapes, cherry tomatoes, or chunks of meat or cheese. Your child may also have an allergy to a food that’s within reach. Keep a close eye on what your child is eating.

With hugs, kisses, and children playing together, germs pass from person to person. Protect your family from influenza and Covid by getting vaccinated. Vaccination is recommended for everyone over six months of age. Both vaccines offer protection from the viruses. If you do get sick, vaccination can prevent severe illness.

May you and your family have healthy and happy holidays.

AMY DEEHR DO Mankato Clinic pediatrician

TO HAVE YOUR EVENT LISTED

To have your event listed, please email Ruth Klossner at cowladyruth@gmail.com by the 5th of the previous month. Listings are generally for events that are free to the public, or are fund-raisers. Listings will be published as space allows and at the discretion of the editor.

Now thru Sat, Dec 31

• Kiwanis Holiday Lights, Sibley Park, 900 Mound Ave, Mankato. 5-9 pm Sun-Thurs, 5-10 pm FriSat. Info: kiwanisholidaylights. com.

Now thru Sun, Jan 1

• Holiday Lights in Motion, Sportsmen’s Park, Hwy 4N, Sleepy Eye, 5-10 pm. Info: 507-794-4732 or sandy@sleepyeyeholidaylights. org.

Fri, Dec 2

• Ari-Dazzle Designer Purse Bingo, 310 W Main St, Arlington, 5 pm. Info: Arli-Dazzle Facebook.

• LWML Annual Christmas Bazaar and Luncheon, Redeemer Lutheran Church, New Ulm, 10:30 am-1 pm. Info: redeemerlwml@ newulmtel.net

• ArtScape Opening Reception, Grand Center for Arts & Culture, 210 N Minnesota St, New Ulm, 6:30-7:30 pm. Info: thegrandnewulm.com, 507-359-922 or grandnewulm@gmail.com or grandnewulm@gmail.com

• Christmas in the Valley, Main Street, Le Sueur, 6-8:30 pm. Info: lesueurchamber.org/events.

Fri-Sat, Dec 2-3

• Christmas in the Village, Steele Co Hist Soc, 1700 Austin Rd, Owatonna. Info: 507-451-1420 or james. lundgren@steelehistorymuseum. org.

Fri-Sun, Dec 2-4

• A Christmas Carol, State Street Theater Co, 1 N State St, New Ulm. 7 pm Fri & Sat, 2 pm Sun. Info: sjuni@statestreetnewulm.org

• Christmas in Christ Chapel, Gustavus Adolphus College, St. Peter. 7:30 pm Fri; 2:30 & 7:30 Sat, 2:30 pm Sun. Info & tickets: 507-9337520 or gustavus.edu/events/ccc/.

Fri & Sun, Dec 2 & 4

• Crow River Singers Winter Concert, New Journey UCC, 31 4th Ave SW, Hutchinson, 7-8 pm. Info: info@hutchinsonarts.org or hollymd55@hotmail.com.

GO. BE. DO. CON NECT.

Fri-Sun, Dec 2-4 & Thurs-Sun, Dec 8-11

• A Christmas Carol by the Merlin Players, Paradise Center for the Arts, 321 Central Ave N, Faribault. 7:30 pm Fri-Sat, 2 pm Sun. Info: 507-332-7372 or info@paradisecenterforthearts.org.

Sat, Dec 3

• Bells on Belgrade Children’s Free Christmas Celebration, lower North Mankato, 2-6 pm. Info: businessonbelgrademn.com/ events/bells-on-belgrade.

• Trees & Traditions, Christ the King Lutheran Church, 1040 S Grade Rd SW, Hutchinson, 9 am-2 pm. Info: 587- 484-2359 or ctk@ hutchtel.net

• Cookie Walk, Our Savior’s Lutheran Church, 800 Bluff St NE, Hutchinson, 9-11 am. Info: 320-587-3318 or oslsecretary@ hutchtel.net.

• Arli-Dazzle, Arlington, 9 am-7 pm. Info: Arli-Dazzle Facebook.

• Holiday Open House, Morgan Creek Vineyards, 23707 478th Ave, New Ulm, 11 am-5 pm. Info: morgancreekvineyards.com or martimcv@aol.com

• Winter Wonderland, Starfire Event Center, 206 2nd Ave SW, Waseca, 10-11:30 am. Info: starfireeventcenter@wasecamac.com or 507461-1387.

• Bingo, Legion Friendship Hall, 715 N 3rd St, Nicollet, 4 pm. Info: American Legion Post #510 on Facebook.

• “Repeat The Sounding Joy’ Christmas Concert by Jason Gray, USC High School, 600 11th St SW, Wells, 6-8 pm. Info: 507-5535929 or fivesistersproject.com/ jason-gray-concert.

• Christmas in Lake Crystal, Rec Center, 621 W Nathan St, Lake Crystal, 10 am-2 pm. Info: lakecrystalchamber.com/events.

• Lunch, Bake & Craft Sale, First Lutheran Church, 925 13th St, Glencoe, 9 am-1 pm. Info: 320864-5522, office@1stglencoe.org or firstglencoe.org.

Sat, Dec 3 & 10

• The Betsy-Tacy Society’s Victorian Christmas, 332 Center St, Mankato, 1-4 pm. Info: 507-345-9777, info@betsy-tacysociety.com or betsy-tacysociety.org.

Sat, Dec 3, 10 & 17

• Christmas Tours, Dr. William W. Mayo House, Le Sueur. Info: neycenter.org/events-programs/ calendar/.

Sat-Sun, Dec 3-4

• Gun and Knife Show, Kato Ballroom, 200 Chestnut St, Mankato. 9 am-5 pm Sat, 9 am-3 pm Sun. Info: gunshowtrader.com/gunshows/mankato-gun-knife-show/.

• MLC Christmas Concert, Chapel of the Christ, Martin Luther College, New Ulm. 7:30 pm Sat, 4 pm Sun. Info: wels.net/event/2022-martin-luther-college-christmas-concerts/.

Sun, Dec 4

• Sleepy Eye Craft & Vendor Show, Event Center, Sleepy Eye, 10 am-2 pm. Info: Facebook.

• Breakfast with Santa, Glencoe City Center, 1107 11th St E, Glencoe, 9 am-1 pm. Info: connect@ glencoechamber.com.

Sun, Dec 4, 11 & 18

• Fair Trade Bazaar, Bethlehem Lutheran Church, 720 S 2nd St, Mankato, 10:30 am-12 pm. Info: 507-388-2925 | or blchurch@ blcmankato.org.

Tues, Dec 6

• Winds of Christmas, Christ Chapel, Gustavus Adolphus College, St. Peter, 10 am. Info: gustavus. edu/calendar/gustavus-winds-ofchristmas-4.

Wed, Dec 7

• Toys For Tots Toy Drive, Fire Hall, 213 4th St, Courtland, 5-7 pm. Info: Facebook

Thurs, Dec 8

• #ShopNewUlm At Night, business places, New Ulm, 4-8 pm. Info: chamber@newulm.com or 507233-4300.

Thurs, Dec 8 & 15

• TRIVIA @ Starkeller, 2215 N Garden St, New Ulm, 6:30-8:30 pm. Info: triviamafia.com/starkeller.

Thurs & Sat, Dec 3, 8 & 10, 15 & 17, 22

• Model Railroad Club Open House, Roundhouse Inc, 307 Tiell Dr, St James. 7-9 pm Thurs, 1-5 Sat. Info: 507-375-3333.

Fri, Dec 9 & Jan 13

• Chicken Dinner, American Legion, 600 Co Rd 20, Lake Crystal, 5-7 pm. Info: lakecrystalchamber. com/events.

Fri & Sat, Dec 9-10

• Live Nativity Drive Thru, 4th St &

4th Ave NE, Waseca, 5-8 pm. Info: 507-835-3260 or info@wasecachamber.com.

Sat, Dec 10

• Holiday Craft & Vendor Festival, City Center, Glencoe, 9 am-2 pm. Info: Facebook Enchanted Swap and Sell.

• Farmers Market Holiday Market & Main Street Christmas, Depot Marketplace, 25 Adams St SE Hutchinson, 11 am-4 pm. Info: 320-234-5652.

• Curling, Cookies & Cocoa, Heather Curling Club, Mapleton, 9 am-12 pm. Info & sign-up: Maple River Community Ed.

• Cocoa With Santa, Owatonna Arts Center, 435 Garden View Ln, Owatonna, 10 am-12 pm. Info: info@ oacarts.org or oacarts.org.

• St. Lucia Festival, Augustana Lutheran Church, 603 Armstrong Blvd N, St. James, 8-10:30 am. Info: Facebook.

• Holiday Craft & Vendor Festival, City Center, 1107 11th St E, Glencoe, 9 am-2 pm. Info: glencoechamber.chambermaster.com/ events/.

• Glencoe Living Nativity, Oak Leaf Park, Glencoe, 5-7 pm. Info: 612840-6308 or eggersgluesscindy@ gmail.com.

Sat, Dec 10 & Jan 14

• Legion Made Rights, American Legion, New Ulm, 10 am-1 pm. Info: nuamericanlegion.com.

Sun, Dec 11

• SC MN Compassionate Friends Worldwide Candle Lighting, Redeemer Lutheran Church, 700 S Broadway, New Ulm, 6 pm. Info: 507 380-9115, 507-388-3126 or Facebook.

• Swedish Meatball Dinner Fundraiser, American Legion, St. James, 10:30 am-1 pm. Info: 375-5990.

• Blue Christmas Service, First United Methodist Church, New Ulm, 6-7 pm. Info: 1umcnu@gmail.com.

• Mankato Symphony Orchestra Music on the Hill Concert, Trinity Chapel, Bethany Lutheran College, Mankato, 3 pm. Info: mankatosymphony.org.

Mon, Dec 12 & Jan 9

• Senior Driver Refresher Course, CAST Senior Center, 600 N German St, New Ulm, 1-5 pm. Info & sign-up: 507-354-3212, castnu@

newulmtel.net or communityandseniorstogether.org.

Wed, Dec 14

• Friends in the Kitchen Class, CAST Senior Center, 600 N German St, New Ulm, 11 am-12:30 pm. Info: 507-354-3212, castnu@newulmtel. net or communityandseniorstogether.org.

Fri, Dec 16

• Lorie Line Christmas, State Street Theater Co, 1 N State St, New Ulm, 7 pm. Info & tickets: generaloffice@ statestreetnewulm.com or 952474-1000.

• Mick Sterling Presents A Grand Ole Opry Christmas, Paradise Center for the Arts, 321 Central Ave N, Faribault, 7:30 pm. Info: visitfaribault. com/calendar/.

Fri-Sun, Dec 16-18

• Christmas at the Cox House, 500 N Washington Ave, St. Peter. 6-8 pm Fri, 1-4 pm Sat & Sun. Info: 507-934-2160 or cox@nchsmn.org or nchsmn.org/event/cox-housechristmas/.

Sat, Dec 17

• Brunch and Birding—Christmas Bird Count Kickoff, Ney Nature Center, 28238 Nature Center Ln, Henderson 10-11:30 am. Info & registration: 507-357-8580 or info@ neycenter.org

• Holiday in Old Town, Mankato, 12-3 pm. Info: Facebook.

Sun, Dec 18

• Omelet Breakfast, Legion Friendship Hall, 715 N 3rd St, Nicollet, 8:30 am-12 pm. Info: Facebook Nicollet Sons of the American Legion.

• Home Free’s Country Christmas Tour, Mayo Clinic Event Center, 1 Civic Center Plaza, Mankato, 8 pm.

Info: mayoclinichealthsystemeventcenter.com

• Mankato Symphony Orchestra Concert, High School Auditorium, St Peter, 3 pm. Info: mankatosymphony.org.

Sat-Sun, Dec 24-25

• Christmas Luminaries, Schell’s Brewery, 1860 Schell Rd, New Ulm, 6 pm. Info: schellsbrewery.com or 507-354-5528.

Sat, Dec 31

• Bingo, Legion Friendship Hall, 715 N 3rd St, Nicollet, 4 pm. Info: American Legion Post #510 on Facebook.

Sun, Jan 1

• First Day Hike, Minneopa State Park, 5 mi W of Mankato off Hwy 68/169, 10-11:30 am. Info: 507-3848890 or scott.kudelka@state.mn.us.

Fri, Jan 6 & 20

• Starkeller Music Series, 2215 N Garden St, New Ulm, 6-7 pm. Info: schellsbrewery.com/brewery/ starkeller/.

Sat, Jan 14

• Bingo, Legion Friendship Hall, 715 N 3rd St, Nicollet, 4 pm. Info: American Legion Post #510 on Facebook.

• Ambassador Bash—Dueling Pianos, Starfire Event Center, 206 2nd Ave SW, Waseca, 7-9 pm. Info: 507835-3260, or starfireeventcenter@ wasecamac.com.

• Mankato Craft Beer Expo, Grand Hall, Mayo Clinic Event Center, 1 Civic Center Plaza, Mankato, 2-6 pm. Info: mayoclinichealthsystemeventcenter.com.

Sun, Jan 15

• Dad’s Belgian Waffle Breakfast & Elissa Ries Benefit, Lafayette Fire Hall, 9 am-1 pm. Info: 507-2400048.

KIRBY HURD Grant Writer & Development Associate CADA

The holiday season is here again, meaning that opportunities for giving are abundant.

Between budget constraints, staffing shortages, and rising operational costs, nonprofit needs have never been greater. Individuals have more choices of causes and organizations to support than ever, which can feel overwhelming. You know that you want to give but how do you decide where and how you will share your support?

A personal philanthropic philosophy can provide the roadmap to navigating your giving decisions. A good place to start is thinking about your personal values—what is important to you, and why? Knowing what you value and why is fundamental to building your personal philanthropic philosophy. Once you have determined your personal values, you can begin matching your values to causes—which programs and organizations have missions that engage your values? Research is an easy and helpful way to gather this information. Keep your eyes open for organizations that are doing good work in your community, ask your friends and neighbors which causes they support and why, and use local newspapers, magazines, websites, and internet search engines to learn information and find answers to your questions. When you have identified an organization—or better yet, a few—whose work matches your values, you have arrived at the final question of your personal philanthropic philosophy—what kind of impact are you hoping to make? Thankfully, there are a variety of ways to make a meaningful impact for organizations you decide to support—three significant ways are in giving of your time, talent, and treasure.

Time

Time is a precious commodity. Between work in and outside of the home, time spent caring for our family members, and our commitments to our friends, neighbors, and communities, it seems there are never enough hours in the day to accomplish everything on our to-do lists. While it’s not always easy to make time for everything we want, we know how important that time is to people and to causes that need it. It doesn’t have to be a lot of time—an hour or two can make a big difference. A benefit of giving your time is being able to experience the impact of your giving first-hand—you get to witness the work being done by organizations with missions that match your values and be an active participant. Giving of your time is an incredibly fulfilling way to see the difference one individual truly can make in helping an organization to meet its goals and enact its mission.

Talent

Whether you believe it or not, you—yes, you!—have a talent that you can easily share with others. Between the extra busy retail environment of the season and the perpetual short staffing across many industries, this is a great time of year to become a volunteer and share your talents. Think about the skills you bring to your everyday life and how you might extend those skills to helping a nonprofit during their busy season. Do you enjoy writing and sending letters at the holidays? If so, you could help a nonprofit organize and facilitate their holiday fundraising letter campaign. Do you like to cook and bake special meals and treats at the holidays? Consider hosting a holiday bake sale benefiting your favorite cause or preparing a delicious holiday meal for families who might not otherwise have one. Are you a professional with expertise to share? Maybe joining a nonprofit’s Board of Directors is right for you. Whatever your talents may be, you can share them with organizations to make a simple and meaningful impact.

Treasure

While time and talent are themselves treasures, you can also choose to show your support for organizations through your treasure—financial gifts and contributions. Monetary gifts are beneficial and give the greatest flexibility to your favorite organizations year-round. Become a monthly donor at your favorite organization to make the giving process easy and streamlined for you and the nonprofit. If you are someone who shares joy through gift exchanges with friends and family, consider extending that giving spirit to your favorite nonprofit. Many organizations collect wish lists for individuals and families they serve; gather a group of friends and go shopping together, or pledge to make a financial gift to your favorite organization and ask your friends and family to make matching gifts.

Regardless of how and why you give, know that your gifts of time, talent, and treasure make an enormous difference to organizations in your community. Develop your own philanthropic philosophy and begin giving to your community this holiday season.

DecemberMust

Take your window coverings to the next level with Parasol Cellular Shades. Offering an additional inner cell that adds superior energy savings and enriched, true color even in harsh sunlight. Call Blinds & More today! Blinds & More Window Coverings 507.380.5019 blindsandmore.org

5. Detox Today

A detox foot soak makes joint movement easier in the knees and elbows. It’s an alternative medicine option for people who suffer chronic lymphatic and bone pain. Detoxification also promotes weight loss, as it rids your body of crippling chemicals and raises your metabolism to higher levels. Body Concepts LLC

1615 N. Riverfront Dr. Mankato, MN 507.381.5467

bodyconceptsmankato.com

6. World's Softest Socks

Our Pamper Me Bundle includes aromatherapy bath salts, roll-on, 3 oz candle and body spritz. Choose from our five scents. A perfect gift for someone special! Fort Road Studios 218 Judson Fort Rd. East Lake Crystal, MN fortroadstudios.com

3. Craft Addict

Soy Candles

8 oz. single wick candles are great for a decent sized bedroom, living room or kitchen. Burn time up to 40 hours. Harbor Home & Gifts 213 S. Minnesota Ave. Saint Peter, MN harborhomeandgifts.square.site

4. Diamond Halo Ring Necklace & Earring Set

Gifts for anyone's budget. How about this beautiful Sterling silver with gold overlay necklace and earring set. Included are cubic zirconium accent stones. Necklace MSRP $110.00 and Earrings MSRP $105.00. Patterson's Diamond Center Mankato Hilltop 1031 Madison Ave Mankato, MN 507.625.1625 Downtown New Ulm 117 N. Minnesota St. New Ulm, MN 507.354.2613 pattersonsdiamondcenter.com

Step into comfort this holiday season! Warm & cozy describe this collection from World’s Softest Socks. Each collection is designed with softness in mind to make this your favorite pair. $14.99 each; also available in additional styles & collections not shown. Inspired 119 N Minnesota St. New Ulm, MN 507.233.4350

inspirednewulm.com

7. Renewal by Andersen Windows: Professionally Installed by Schmidt Siding & Window

You can be confident in Renewal by Andersen® custom replacement windows, which are backed by one of the strongest transferable warranties in the industry. Soon you’ll be saying, “I love our new windows.” Schmidt Siding & Window expert crews install them all year round. Renewal by Andersen® windows are custom-made to fit within the exact space of an existing window. They are an easy, hassle-free way to enhance your home’s comfort and appearance without the major disruptions that often come with remodeling projects.

Schmidt Siding & Window 901 N 5th St. Mankato, MN 507.625.6412 schmidtmankato.com

2. Pamper Me Bundle

1. Parasol Octavia Cellular Shades

8. Josh Wine Chardonnay

Our Chardonnay is a great balance of bright citrus and honey with a touch of oak character and hints of juicy peach. Crafted with care so that no single flavor overpowers another, this wine is simply delicious.

MGM Wine and Spirits

Mankato

201 Victory Dr. 507.625.2420 North Mankato

1755 Commerce Dr.

507.387.2634

St. Peter

100 N. Minnesota Ave. 507.934.8964 mgmwineandspirits.com

9. Basin Bath Products

Basin brings the relaxation of a spa to your home. With a refreshing line of sweetly scented bath bombs, scrubs and soaps that will help relieve your daily stresses. You can find Basin products at your local Hy-Vee.

Hy-Vee

Mankato Hilltop

507.625.9070

Mankato Riverfront

507.625.1107

New Ulm

507.354.8255

St. Peter 507.519.1910 hy-vee.com

10. The Meatery Gift Card

Take away the stress of gifting with The Meatery gift card. Feel good knowing your gift is one a Meathusiast will crave, most likely share once prepared, and supports hard working farmers. It's the gift that keeps on giving!

The Meatery

507.479.1367

1230 S Victory Dr. Mankato, MN themeaterymn.com

11. Thymes Frasier

Fir Candle

This fragrance is a must have for winter. Thymes is a Minnesota company and we carry all your favorite Frasier Fir items, such as diffusers, oils, room sprays and candles.

A to Zinnia Floral & Gifts

15 S Broadway St. New Ulm, MN 507.359.9900 atozinnia.com

12. Toys & Games from C&S Supply

When you are looking for quality toys look no further than C&S Supply in Mankato. We carry an extensive line of high quality toys from names like Melissa & Doug, Lego, Ertl, Radio Flyer, Schleich, and New-Ray. These are toys that will last and give your child many years of enjoyment.

C&S Supply

1951 N. Riverfront Dr. Mankato, MN 56001 507.387.1171 or 800.879.1938

candssupply.com

13. Zeitgeist + The Loon

Visit Morgan Creek Vineyards’ Marketplace for award winning wines, paired with the fleeting seasons of nature, featuring local artists. A gift of seasonal elegance. New Ulm’s Zeitgeist white wine, and nature’s artistry, celebrating our State Bird, the Loon.

Morgan Creek Vineyards & Winery 23707 478th Ave. New Ulm, MN 507.947.3547 morgancreekvineyards.com

Melanie Marti Owner

“I am not going to sit here and watch the world go by.”

-Deanna Enright Mankato, MN

Deanna was just managing knee pain with cortisone shots until she returned from a trip to Vietnam & Cambodia. She consulted her doctor, Jesse Botker, and scheduled a double knee replacement. Now Deanna can go back to traveling without worry!

“It’s been wonderful! I can stand for hours and I am not in pain. I can walk and I am not in pain.”

See Deanna’s full story at www.rehc.org/news

Learn more at OrthoEdgeMN.com

JOINT REPLACEMENT SURGERY IMPORTANT CHOICE, EASY DECISION

River’s Edge Hospital has been recognized as a DNV GL Healthcare certified Orthopaedic Center of Excellence for:

• Hip & Knee Replacement

• Shoulder Surgery

• Spine Surgery

Plus, River’s Edge Hospital is top rated for patient experience!

DR. JESSE BOTKER