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“Minnesota’s Oldest Weekly Newspaper” Vol. 162, No. 33
December 1, 2016
11 2nd Ave. N., Unit 103, Sauk Rapids, Benton County, MN 56379
Making the call
Bukowski continues 30-year ofÀciating career by ANNA SALDANA STAFF WRITER
SAUK RAPIDS – Michael Bukowski was a three-sport athlete in high school, playing football, basketball and baseball. His love of the game continued as he played college football and baseball. “I wasn’t ready to give up sports when I graduated college,” Bukowski said. “My dad was a football PHOTO BY ANNA SALDANA
Michael Bukowski has been an ofÀcial for high school and college games through the St. Cloud OfÀcials Association for 30 years.
referee for 20 years and one day, they needed someone for their crew and he asked me if I was interested.” That was 30 years ago, and he’s still on the sidelines. “It’s just a love of the game. I wanted to stay involved in athletics, and in order to do that, I was either going to be a coach or an ofÀcial,” Bukowski said. “I’m really glad I’m an ofÀcial because I can get involved in a variety of sports at different levels.” Bukowski ofÀciates football and basketball games at both the high school and college level for the St. Cloud OfÀcials Association. He was also an ofÀcial for baseball games for 28 years, until he sustained a shoulder injury.
“Since I don’t do baseball anymore, I do a lot of girls lacrosse games now,” Bukowski said. “I ofÀciated a lot of the Sauk Rapids games last spring.” Bukowski has a hard time picking which sport is his favorite. “I really enjoy all of the sports. I can’t really pick one because it depends on the season,” Bukowski said. “If it’s football season, football’s my favorite, but as soon as that’s done, it’s basketball, then baseball or lacrosse.” Bukowski enjoys spending time with his fellow ofÀcials, both on and off the Àelds. “All of my friends are ofÀcials, because you are with them so often. You get to know your crews pretty quickly because of all the hours you spend together,” he said. “I have one guy on my football crew that I start-
A Christmas tradition
Living nativity 22 years in the making
by ANNA SALDANA STAFF WRITER
WATAB TOWNSHIP – Many residents attended public hearings for Watab Township Nov. 29 to discuss amendments to Ordinance 3: establishing fees for emergency protection services and Ordinance 8: subdivision. Following public hearings on both ordinances, the board made the decision to table any action. In collecting money for unpaid emergency bills, the township’s primary concern is Rockwood Estates, which consists of 240 homes. The amendment proposed the township would have the option to bill a property owner for emergency services wheth-
Watab continued on pg. 2
Sauk Rapids Holiday Parade of Lights and Family Fun Day
Saturday, Dec. 3 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Toys for Tots Drive, Sauk Rapids Fire Department.
by ANNA SALDANA STAFF WRITER
SAUK RAPIDS – Decorating the tree, baking cookies and wrapping gifts are part of many family traditions surrounding the Christmas season. Each family has their own unique traditions too – cutting down their own tree in the woods or making a special drink. At Living Waters Lutheran Church, another tradition continues to live on – the living nativity. “The living nativity is something of a tradition around here,” said Terry Sylvester, a longtime member of the church. “It’s quite important for our community.” The living nativity started with the church’s inception in 1994 and has been going on ever since. Each year, during the Sauk Rapids Annual Parade of Lights and Family Fun Day, volunteers set up the nativity in
ed with 30 years ago.” One of Bukowski’s favorite things to ofÀciate is a state tournament. “I’ve been ofÀciating state tournaments for 17 years. I got to ofÀciate twice at the Metrodome, so that was really cool,” Bukowski said. “I’ve done a handful of state championships too.” He also enjoys ofÀciating at the college level, where he is at many Division II games. “I’ve gone as far as Minot, N. D., to ofÀciate a college game,” Bukowski said. “Between the drive and the game, it got to be a long day, but it was worth it to be on the sidelines.” Even though he has 30 years under his belt, he has no desire to quit ofÀciating any time soon. “I’m going to do it as long as I can,” Bukowski said. “I just love the game so much.”
Township tables ordinances
10 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Living Nativity Scene, Coborn’s.
11 a.m. to 2 p.m.
Kids Bingo, Sauk Rapids VFW Post. No. 6992.
11 a.m. to 7:30 p.m. Silent Auction, VFW.
2 to 3 p.m.
Santa and Mrs. Claus, VFW.
3 p.m.
PHOTO BY NATASHA BARBER
Living Waters Lutheran Church sets up their living nativity each year in the Coborn’s parking lot for the Sauk Rapids Holiday Parade of Lights and Family Fun Day. They also use the nativity at their Christmas in the barn masses.
the Coborn’s parking lot. “I don’t ever remember taking a year off,” Sylvester said. “A lot of our parish families make it a family tradition to come down and volunteer a shift. Everyone from little kids
to older adults like to get involved.” The living nativity doesn’t go without a lot of work. The costumes, stable and crib are all handmade. “We have four sets of cos-
tumes, so that everyone can Àt into them and, if it’s cold outside, they Àt over the bulky winter clothes,” Sylvester
Trots for Tots 5K run, Sauk Rapids Fire Department.
5 p.m.
Holiday Parade of Lights, Second Ave.
5 to 8 p.m.
Steak fry and meat rafÁe, VFW.
Living nativity continued on pg. 2
Briar House: building on small business
by NATASHA BARBER STAFF WRITER
SAUK RAPIDS — The scent of birch and cranberries Àll the rooms of the old farmhouse at 505 Second Ave. N, Sauk Rapids. As customers shop for a variety of trinkets, clothing, food items and décor, they are removed from the bustle of daily life and transported to a slower time, stopping to smell the roses… or perhaps rose hips, candles, room sprays and potpourri in the case of Briar House. Following Black Friday, where big-box companies are known for large markdowns on corporate products, customers Àlled Briar House Nov. 26 in support of small business. Small Business Saturday® was created to celebrate and encourage local businesses and all they do for their communities. Lisa Pfannenstein, owner of Briar House, and her
three-employee staff greeted both familiar and unacquainted customers and thanked them with special promotions. Pfannenstein has owned her small business for almost 30 years, but it wasn’t her original life plan. She grew up on a dairy farm outside of Ogilvie where she learned hard work. Her creative talents were nurtured by three generations of artistic women. “My great-grandmother was a seamstress, my grandmother was an artist and my mother was a Áorist,” Pfannenstein said. “So I was one of those 5-year-olds who would get pink yarn for Christmas and be over-the-moon with my 69 cent gift.” But even though she had always enjoyed crafting and dabbling in her talents, she didn’t pursue them initially. Instead, Pfannenstein attended the College of St. Benedict and received degrees in elementary
and special education. While attending school, she met her husband Al and married. The newlyweds were welcoming a brand new baby boy into their home when life took an unexpected turn — Al was diagnosed with cancer. “You’re not prepared for it at 28 and 25 [years old.] It really changed our life. So I never really got into teaching because all of that took me down a different road,” Pfannenstein said. The family battled cancer for about two and a half years. Pfannenstein stayed with her employer, which offered great health care beneÀts, and began crafting as a second income source while her husband regained his health. Eventually, she stumbled upon a candle coating she would recreate and make her own. Pfannenstein
Briar House continued on pg. 2
PHOTO BY NATASHA BARBER
Lisa Phannenstein, of St. Joseph, is the owner of Briar House, a new business at 505 Second Ave. N, Sauk Rapids. She entered into small business nearly 30 years ago.