Big Book AA: Peace Lutheran Church, door 5, New London, 6 p.m.
Monday Hand & Foot Cards: Dethlefs Community Center, Spicer, 9 a.m.
Walking club: Atwater Community Center, 9:45 a.m.
A.A.: 1805 E. Hwy. 12, noon
Mahjong: Dethlefs Community Center, Spicer, 1
p.m.
Parkinson’s Disease support group: CCM Health Wellness Center, Montevideo, 3:30 p.m., 320-3218240
TOPS: Assembly of God Church Encore, 3821 Abbott Drive, 6:15 p.m., 320-796-2280
A.A.: 1805 E. Hwy. 12, 7 p.m.
Alanon: 1805 E. Hwy. 12, 7 p.m.
Tuesday
A.A.: 1805 E. Hwy. 12, 7:30 a.m.
Veterans and Active Duty Military: Willmar Community Center, 9:30 to 11 a.m.; informal coffee time for veterans and spouses; 320-894-7840. All firefighters, police officers, and rescue squad members are invited to join.
SAIL exercise: Atwater Community Center, 9:45 a.m.
Dementia Support Group: Bethesda, Willmar, 10
a.m.
SAIL exercise: Willmar Community Center, 10:15
a.m.
SAIL exercise: Dethlefs Community Center, Spicer, 10:15 a.m.
Kiwanis: Kandiyohi County Historical Society Museum, Willmar, noon
Hand & Foot Cards: Willmar Community Center, 12:30 p.m.
Bingo: Dethlefs Community Center, Spicer, 1 p.m.
A.A.: 1805 E. Hwy. 12, 7 p.m.
Alanon: 1805 E. Hwy. 12, 7 p.m.
Wednesday
Coffee and conversation: Dethlefs Community Center, Spicer, 9 a.m.
Hand, Knee & Foot Cards: Dethlefs Community Center, Spicer, 9 a.m.
Mahjong: Dethlefs Community Center, Spicer, 9:30 a.m.
Walking club: Atwater Community Center, 9:45 a.m.
Rotary: The Oaks, noon
Cribbage corner cards: Willmar Community Center, 12:30 p.m.
Whist: Willmar Community Center, 12:30 p.m.
Willmar Area Senior Citizens Club: Willmar Community Center, 2 p.m. entertainment by Gig Noonan, 3 p.m. meeting.
Women’s A.A.: 1805 E. Hwy. 12, 6:45 p.m.
A.A.: 1805 E. Hwy. 12, 7 p.m.
Alanon: 1805 E. Hwy. 12, 7 p.m.
Thursday
A.A.: 1805 E. Hwy. 12, 7:30 a.m.
Mexican Train: Dethlefs Community Center, Spicer, 9 a.m.
SAIL exercise: Atwater Community Center, 9:45
a.m.
SAIL exercise: Willmar Community Center, 10:15
a.m.
SAIL exercise: Dethlefs Community Center, Spicer, 10:15 a.m.
Hand & Foot Cards: Willmar Community Center, 12:30 p.m.
500 cards: Dethlefs Community Center, Spicer, noon LSS Caregiver: Willmar Community Center, 2 p.m. Dementia Support Group: Bethesda North Pointe, New London, 2:30 p.m.
A.A.: 1805 E. Hwy. 12, 7 p.m.
Friday Alanon: 1805 E. Hwy. 12, 11 a.m.
Whist: Dethlefs Community Center, Spicer, 1 p.m.
Senior Dance: Willmar Community Center, 1 to 4 p.m., $3 non-dancers, $8 dancers, both includes lunch; music by Leroy and Jerry.
Farkle Fridays: Willmar Community Center, 1 to 4
p.m.
A.A.: 1805 E. Hwy. 12, 2 p.m.
A.A.: 1805 E. Hwy. 12, 7 p.m. Recovery Church: 516 4th Ave SW, New London, 7 p.m. Child care provided.
Saturday
A.A.: 1805 E. Hwy. 12, 10 a.m.
Multiple Myeloma support group: Willmar Fire Department training room, 10 a.m. to noon
A.A.: 1805 E. Hwy. 12, 7 p.m.
This calendar will run each week in the Sunday Reminder and as space permits in the West Central Tribune e-edition, Monday through Saturday. To have your event included please email news@wctrib.com or mail it to Kit Grode, West Central Tribune, PO Box 839, Willmar, MN 56201. Include all information and the name and phone number of the person submitting it. You will be called to confirm the information.
BY DANA JACKSON
Q: Who is the actor starring as Superman in the new film coming out this summer? I’ve never seen him before. -- K.P.
A: Director James Gunn chose David Corenswet to don the red cape in his upcoming “Superman” movie because the film focuses on an earlier part of the superhero’s life. Henry Cavill, who most recently played the Man of Steel, is 41 years old, while Corenswet is a decade younger. A brief trailer of the movie was recently released online, which not only featured the titular character but also featured Lois Lane (Rachel Brosnahan) and Lex Luthor (Nicholas Hoult).
Corenswet’s prior credits include the miniseries “Lady in the Lake,” the movie “Twisters,” and the Ryan-Murphyproduced series “The Politician.” “Superman,” however, will likely make him a household name this summer.
***
Q: Whatever happened to the latest western movie by Kevin Costner? I blinked and missed it in theaters. Is it streaming anywhere? -- Y.S.
A: “Horizon: An American Saga” is a four-chapter film series that “Yellowstone” star Kevin Costner wrote, directed, and acts in. “Chapter 1” reportedly had a $100 million budget with a big chunk of it financed by Costner himself. He received a standing ovation at the Cannes Film Festival after the movie premiered there in May,
but one month later when it was released nationwide in theaters, you could hear a pin drop. It was rather surprising given that his western “Dances With Wolves” won the Oscar for Best Picture three decades earlier and that the “Yellowstone” TV series, which was set on a ranch out West, was a recent huge hit. Alas, “Yellowstone” audiences didn’t feel like watching Costner in a 3-hour slow-moving flick, no matter how good the writing and performance. “Chapter 2” was supposed to be released in 2024, but because of the box-office failure of its predecessor, it’s been pushed to 2025. Currently, you can stream “Chapter 1” on Max. “Chapter 3” started its principal photography in May, while “Chapter 4” is in active development. But it might be best to simply release “Horizon” as one big miniseries on streaming. Perhaps then it would receive accolades from the Emmy Awards instead of the Oscars someday.
***
Q: I saw a book at the
library that had Millie Bobby Brown’s name on it, but I forgot the title. Is she an author now, too?
HOLLYWOOD -- James Bond fans haven’t exactly embraced Daniel Craig’s portrayal of a gay man in director Luca Guadagnino’s film “Queer.” The well-publicized love scene between Craig and Drew Starkey didn’t create the box-office boom they hoped for. It cost 48 million euros to make and has only grossed $3.2 million at the time of this writing. This is unlike Guadagnino’s other films: “Call Me by Your Name” ($43.1 million gross against a $3.5 million cost), “Bones and All” ($15.3 million gross against a $20 million cost), and “Challengers” ($96 million gross against a $55 million cost).
Julia Roberts, Andrew Garfield and Chloë Sevigny are gambling on Guadgnino as he directs their upcoming thriller “After the Hunt.” ***
I don’t know if anyone took Jim Carrey seriously when he retired from filmmaking after “Sonic the Hedgehog 2” ($405 million gross against a $110 million cost). He’s back in “Sonic the Hedgehog 3” once again as Dr. Ivo Robotnik, along with Ben Schwartz, James Marsden and Idris Elba. Carrey jokingly said, “I came back to this universe because, first of all, I get to play a genius, which is a bit of a stretch. And ... I bought a lot of stuff, and I needed the money, frankly.”
***
Ryan Reynolds hasn’t rested on his laurels after the $1.338 billion grosses for “Deadpool & Wolverine.” He completed the road action comedy “Animal Friends,” with Jason Momoa, Vince Vaughn and Aubrey Plaza, in March for an October 2025 release. Then he jumped
1. Sonic the Hedgehog 3 (PG) Jim Carrey, Ben Schwartz
2. Mufasa: The Lion King (PG) Aaron Pierre, Kelvin Harrison Jr.
3. Wicked (PG) Cynthia Erivo, Ariana Grande
4. Moana 2 (PG) Auli’i Cravalho, Dwayne Johnson
HOLLYWOOD
into Apple TV+’s actionadventure film “Mayday” with Kenneth Branagh and Maria Bakalova. ***
Finally, you’ve no doubt heard about a pair of the ruby slippers worn by Judy Garland in “The Wizard of Oz” that were stolen in 2005 from the Judy Garland Museum. They were recovered in 2018 and sold at an auction for $28 million ($32.5 million after taxes and fees). Apparently the thief, exmobster Terry Martin thought they were valuable because they were insured for $1 million and were made with actual rubies.
Originally, six pairs of Garland’s ruby slippers were made by MGM. The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences has a pair in their Academy Museum, which were donated by
TOP TEN MOVIES
5. Homestead (PG-13) Dawn Olivieri, Neal McDonough
6. Gladiator II (R) Paul Mescal, Denzel Washington
7. Kraven: The Hunter (R) Aaron Taylor-Johnson, Ariana DeBose
Leonardo DiCaprio and Steven Spielberg in 2012. Another pair is in the Smithsonian Museum in Washington, D.C. Two other pairs are owned by private collectors,
Courtesy of Sony Pictures Classics
Director Luca Guadagnino (“Queer” and “After the Hunt”)
Courtesy of Netflix
David Corenswet (Upcoming in “Superman”)
Stuffing mix magic: Easy turkey meatballs for dinner or a party hit!
BY PATTI DIAMOND
hen the week
Wbetween Christmas and New Year’s hits, we’re all caught in a strange limbo. All the cookies, sweets and party treats create a lawless wasteland of dietary anarchy. The big holiday feasts are behind us, but the New Year’s celebrations are still to come. Whether you’re preparing a cozy family dinner or gearing up for a festive gathering, this recipe for turkey meatballs will have you covered.
What makes these meatballs stand out?
We’re skipping the usual breadcrumbs and spicing things up with a seasonal shortcut -- boxed stuffing mix! Soaking the mix in milk creates a panade -- similar to the technique in Italian meatballs -- making them irresistibly tender and moist. It’s an unexpected twist that gives these meatballs loads of flavor with little extra effort. Plus, using ground turkey makes them a lighter option after all those heavy holiday dishes. Why stop at just meatballs when you can go all-out with holiday vibes? Pair these tender turkey meatballs with a tangy, cranberry-based dipping sauce that brings the whole dish together. The sweet-tart flavor of cranberry, brightened with a hint of orange, adds a festive flair and makes every
bite feel like a celebration. Serve them as a quick, satisfying dinner over rice or pasta, or plop them on hoagie rolls, or a crusty baguette for a meatball sandwich, or pop them on toothpicks for an irresistible party bite. No matter how you serve them, you’ll have a crowdpleaser that’s as easy to make as it is to eat.
HOLIDAY TURKEY MEATBALLS
Yield: 80 meatballs
Total Time: 35 minutes
2 large eggs
1 cup milk
1 (6 ounce) box turkey stuffing mix
2 pounds ground turkey, 85/15 fat content
1/4 cup onion, finely minced or grated
1/4 cup flat leaf parsley, finely minced, packed 1/4 cup Parmesan cheese, grated
1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
1/4 teaspoon pepper, or more to taste
Preheat oven to 400 F. Line a rimmed baking sheet with parchment paper.
In a large bowl, combine eggs and milk, then add to stuffing mix. Let this sit for about 5 minutes to allow the stuffing to absorb the milk mixture. Add turkey, onion, parsley, Parmesan, garlic and pepper. Mix gently with your hands until well combined. Use a spoon or scoop to measure heaping tablespoons of the mixture, and roll into balls. Place on prepared baking sheet and bake for 18-20 minutes or
until they reach 165 F. CRANBERRY
DIPPING SAUCE
1 (12 ounce) bag
cranberries, frozen or fresh
1 zest and juice medium navel orange
1/2 cup brown sugar
1/4 cup granulated sugar
1 cup water
1 pinch salt
2 tablespoons balsamic vinegar
1 tablespoon butter
In a medium saucepan over medium heat, combine cranberries, orange zest and juice, both sugars, water and salt. Bring to a boil, then reduce to low and simmer for 10-15 minutes, until cranberries break down.
Remove from heat and stir in the vinegar and butter. Blend for a smooth texture or mash with a potato masher for a rustic take. Serve with meatballs.
If making sauce from scratch doesn’t appeal to you, then simply combine one (15 ounce) can cranberry sauce with a (12 ounce) bottle of chili sauce for a delicious loweffort option.
So, whether you’re juggling post-holiday fatigue or planning a New Year’s bash, these Holiday Turkey Meatballs will make your life a little easier -and a lot more delicious. That’s a win in my book. Here’s to ringing in the New Year with style and a full belly!
Lifestyle expert Patti Diamond is the pennypinching, party-planning,
Bake in the preheated oven until golden brown, 10 to 15 minutes. Transfer knots to a large bowl. Drizzle with oil. Sprinkle with garlic, Parmesan, parsley, crushed red pepper, and salt. Toss gently to coat. 1
1
1
2
5
1/2
4 dollops ricotta cheese (optional)
Crumble ground beef in a large skillet over medium heat. Cook and stir for 5 minutes. Drain. Place beef in the bottom of a slow cooker. Add bell pepper, onion, diced tomatoes, crushed tomatoes, beef broth, mushrooms, and Italian seasoning. Cook on low 4 hours. Add broken lasagna noodles. Cook on Low until noodles are tender, about 45 minutes more. Season with salt and pepper to taste.
Ladle soup into serving bowls. Divide mozzarella cheese between the bowls. Top each bowl with a dollop of ricotta cheese.
Garrison rehab helps eagles fly into the wild once again
BY TIM SPEIER Brainerd Dispatch
GARRISON, Minn. —
Looking to help injured animals make a full recovery in the Brainerd lakes area, Wild and Free has helped multiple bald eagles back into the wild this past year.
Wild and Free Wildlife Rehabilitation Organization was started by Dr. Debbie Eskedahl in Anoka County in 1985 and moved behind the Garrison Animal Hospital in 1990 before being able to purchase 17 acres nearby in Garrison in 2004.
On Thursday, Dec. 19, Grace Frickenstein, wildlife program coordinator at Wild and Free, said they always take in new animals and have released a handful of bald eagles over the past few months. At one point during the summer, she said they had eight injured bald eagles at their facility.
“For the most part, we get them after some sort of event that injures them,” Frickenstein said.
“So whether that’s a car collision or, we had one, I think it was around the September time, that came in after a fight with another bald eagle over a fish. So, we do see them pretty consistently throughout the year and it’s one of the few animals that we get in the winter.” Frickenstein said they still have one bald eagle who came to them around July with an injured leg and has slowly been gaining its flying strength back. Though that is a long time for any
rehabilitation, she said they hope he can fully recover as it’s a very young bald eagle who still has his brown feathers.
“He is by himself right now, but we’ll just continue pushing him,” she said. “We typically don’t keep animals for longer than about two months. Ultimately, we are still working on him, because we do believe that he will be releasable. He’s just taking a little bit longer.”
Though they prefer squirrels, the eagle eats around 15 to 20 mice a day, and since they are the only ones there right now, they get to use the whole 100 feet of the bird enclosure to spread their wings. They are able to keep up with the demand for food thanks to people in the area who drop off mice and roadkill.
Frickenstein said eagles are a sacred species to many native tribes, so any eagles they are not able to save, including any feathers that are dropped while the eagles are being cared for, are packaged up and shipped to the National Eagle Repository.
The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service works to store and distribute remains of both golden and bald eagles to federally recognized tribes for religious and cultural uses.
“It is something that we do not have to do but that we choose to do,” Frickenstein said. “Over the last year, we have sent 21 eagles to the repository for this purpose. In total, up to this point in the year, we have seen 45 eagles, so a little bit more than half are able to be rehabilitated, which is
typical for species across the board.”
She said they would take just about any animal at Wild and Free except for skunks, due to their high rabies content, and wolves. Previously, Frickenstein said that when someone finds an animal, she recommends not immediately going up to it.
With small animals, their mother can leave them to go forage for food and then come back later to grab them. If anyone is not sure or believes an animal is injured, they can reach out to the Garrison Animal Hospital, which part-
ners with Wild and Free.
“They are going to be your main contact to get in touch with us,” Frickenstein said. “The veterinarians there are our rehabilitators, so they know what’s going on, and ultimately, they will either get you in touch with a Conservation Officer who can pick it up or a volunteer from Wild and Free who is willing to go pick it up.”
Those who are interested in becoming more involved or volunteering at Wild and Free can find more information on their website at wildandfree.org and the Garrison Animal Hospital
Riki Kern, right, releases an eagle with a group of Wild and Free
Fire Screens
Now that we have electric lights and heating, lighting a fire in the fireplace feels like something special. Spend a few minutes in front of one, though, and you’ll remember why technology has moved on. Between the intense heat and light of the flames and the danger of stray sparks, having an open flame indoors isn’t the best idea. That’s where fire screens came in.
By the late 18th century, they were made of various materials like wood, leather, wicker and papier-mache. Metal was not a popular material; it would get too hot. With everyone gathered around the fire, the fire screen would have had a prominent place in the room, so they were made to be decorative as well as practical. Fabric covers with woven or embroidered designs were popular. So were paintings. In the late 1800s, stained glass screens, like this one that sold for $800 at Morphy Auctions, became fashionable. With the bright, flickering flames behind them, they must have been especially beautiful.
* * *
Q: I just read your article on WWI trench art. I have some that I would like to sell. It was acquired from the train engineer Otto Henning, who was an engineer on the train that pulled the train car on which the armistice was signed. What I have is an ash tray made from a cannon shell casing, a model biplane made out of a rifle casing, and a picture of Otto. The engineering battalion is etched on the biplane. What is the market for such items?
A: Trench art is usually collected as folk art or war memorabilia. It sometimes sells at
auctions for firearms or metal items like coins and jewelry, but usually gets lower prices there. The market for folk art can be difficult to gauge; the best way to do so is usually to visit shows and talk to dealers to see what is selling. Trench art is not as popular as some other forms of folk art. Pieces like ashtrays and models usually sell for about $50 to $150. In your case, the connection to a historical figure and specific event may increase the value.
* * * TIP: Never polish trench art pieces made of brass shell casings. Collectors prefer the dark-colored metal.
* * * CURRENT PRICES
figures on white horses, 20th century, 5 inches, $125. Folk art, picture, theorem, strawberry tree, on velvet, signed, frame, Bill Rank, 15 x 13 inches, $280. Jewelry, pendant, diamond shape, center photograph, Martin Luther King Jr., under glass dome, “I have a dream”
THISWINTER’S FORECAST: WhateverMakes
YouComfortable.
THISWINTER’S FORECAST: WhateverMakes
YouComfortable.
Bank, mechanical, carousel, pierced canopy, red and white, black and white trim, yellow,
on reverse, pierced edge, silver tone, c. 1963, 2 1/2 x 2 inches, $330. Cut glass, wine, cranberry to yellow, diamonds, engraved flowers, clear stem, ray cut foot, 8 inches, $2,040.
The New Year brings challenges that can change many things in your life. You need to be prepared not only to confront them but also to deal with what happens afterward.
TAURUS (April 20 to May
20) You have what it takes to set your goals quite a bit higher this year. Learn what you need to know and put what you learn into your efforts. A partner offers loving support.
GEMINI (May 21 to June 20)
In true Gemini Twin fashion, you’re conflicted about a decision you know you’ll have to make in this New Year. Best advice: Get the facts before you make any commitment.
CANCER (June 21 to July 22)
A friend offers you an exciting opportunity for this New Year. Although your positive aspects are strong in most respects, caution is advised. Investigate before you invest.
LEO (July 23 to August 22)
You can make this New Year a roaring success! Start by readjusting your goals to reflect the changes in the economy. Your den-mate offers both wise and loving support.
VIRGO (August 23 to September 22) The New Year brings new opportunities for change. But you need to be ready to move away from the comfortable status quo to the challenging unknown. It’s up to you!
LIBRA (September 23 to October 22) Your most important New Year’s resolution should be to work out problems with a family member in order to avoid
continuing misunderstandings. Do it soon for both of your sakes.
SCORPIO (October 23 to November 21) The New Year has much to offer the intensely determined Scorpian, who isn’t afraid to take on challenges and stay with them until they surrender their rewards.
SAGITTARIUS (November 22 to December 21) You’ll have many fine opportunities in this New Year. But be warned:
