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MEET THE TEAM
KATIE OJANPA Editor
NATASHA WEIS Owner/Publisher
CARRIE KIJENSKI Marketing/Sales
KARLA MARSHALL
MICHELLE ISEBRAND
EXPOSURE CREATIVE
HIM & HER DESIGN
One-hit wonder editor, Grammie extraordinaire, spouse to one of the best writers ever, happy, content, and healthy. (Knock on wood). North Mankato feels like the “Cheers Bar” where everybody knows your name-and that’s a good thing.
Big Love and Tight Hugs is my motto! Nothing makes me happier than to put a smile on another’s face! There is so much to love about North Mankato that I felt the need to launch a magazine to share with all! Here To Stay!
No matter what life throws your way, you can always find the opportunity within. Smile, be thankful, appreciate your journey! And don’t forget the wine! I’m so excited to work with so many amazing people and share all there is to experience in the wonderful community of North Mankato!
As an advertising guru and hardcore coffee enthusiast, I love the unique character and charm of North Mankato. The people, places, and sense of community are amazing. Why else would a girl leave Colorado to live here!
Designer, photographer, wife and mother of two boys, my ambition in life is to make, preserve and cherish memories. With it’s beautiful parks, amazing swimming pool, and festive main street North Mankato has been our family’s go to place for fun to last a lifetime.
Creative Director
Creative Design
LETTER FROM THE PUBLISHER Hello Readers, We are so excited to be working with the City of North Mankato staff to create this special publication that North Mankato residents and businesses can look forward to receiving in their mailboxes quarterly. North Kato Magazine will also be available online and free at a variety of local businesses for anyone to pick up! Our vision for the magazine is simple. We plan to play an integral role in helping the community flourish. This high-end magazine, published four times a year, will be filled with local stories, familiar faces and special events. One of the most exciting facets of North Kato Magazine is that it truly belongs to the community. Not only is North Kato Magazine exclusively for and about the businesses and residents, it is the true pulse of what’s happening and important to you. This is your magazine so we encourage you to contact us with any recommendations of articles for upcoming issues. We would love to hear about your business, family or neighborhood hero. Look forward to seeing you around town! Here To Stay,
THANK YOU Natasha Weis, Publisher Luxe Quarterlies, LLC
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NORTH KATO MAGAZINE SUMMER 2020
for supporting the businesses that allow North Kato magazine to print.
I am excited to welcome the North Kato Magazine to North Mankato! A magazine focused on the City’s amazing businesses, quality of life activities, and people! I hope everyone enjoys learning more about our great City through North Kato Magazine. 120
CITY COUNCIL MEMBERS Council Member Billy Steiner Council Member Diane Norland Council Member James Whitlock Council Member Sandra Oachs Mayor Mark Dehen
billysteiner@northmankato.com dianenorland@northmankato.com jimwhitlock@northmankato.com sandraoachs@northmankato.com markdehen@northmankato.com
CITY SERVICES City Offices Police Department Taylor Library Building and Inspections Utility Billing Park Department Water Department Street Department Caswell Sports
507-625-4141 507-931-1570 507-345-5120 507-625-4141 507-625-4141 507-625-3382 507-625-3382 507-345-5570 507-625-4141
info@northmankato.com tips@nmpd.org kheintz@nmlibrary.org permits@northmankato.com utility@northmankato.com drader@northmankato.com drader@northmankato.com nhost@northmankato.com ptostenson@caswellsports.com
STATE AND COUNTY REPRESENTATIVES County Commissioner Denny Kemp County Commissioner Jack Kolars Representative Jeff Brand Senator Nick A. Frentz
denny.kemp@co.nicollet.mn.us jack.kolars@co.nicollet.mn.us rep.jeff.brand@house.mn sen.nick.frentz@senate.mn
PUBLIC SCHOOLS Mankato School District (ISD 77)
507-387-3017
NORTHMANKATO.COM
isd77.org
CONTENTS J U L AU G S E PT 2 0 2 0
ON THE COVER
Rory Reedstrom enjoying the Spring Lake Park Swim Facility
8 MILES OF FUN TO EXPLORE 12 DIVE INTO SUMMERTIME FUN 16 LOVING NORTH MANKATO, DATING STYLE 20 A TALE OF TWO DANS 24 GETTING COUNTED IN 2020 26 SISTERS SELLING STYLE 30 HERE TO REMEMBER
PUBLISHER NATASHA WEIS, LUXE QUARTERLIES MARKETING NATASHA WEIS CARRIE KIJENSKI EDITOR KATIE OJANPA DESIGN EXPOSURE CREATIVE HIM & HER DESIGN
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PRINTER CORPORATE GRAPHICS COMMERCIAL CONTRIBUTORS KATIE OJANPA BRIAN OJANPA MIKE LAGERQUIST JEN CUCURULLO CINDY OLSON KATIE HEINTZ ANNA MEYER
H E R E TO WR I T E ? Writers are the voice of North Kato Magazine and we are proud to have a blend of seasoned writers and fresh new voices. If you would like to join our team of freelance writers contact us at info@Northkato.com PLEASE DIRECT ALL EDITORIAL SUGGESTIONS & ADVERTISING INQUIRIES TO INFO@NORTHKATO.COM
North Kato magazine is published and mailed quarterly by Luxe Quarterlies. The content used in this magazine is copyright 2020. The opinions or points of view expressed within are those of our authors.
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D EI CH MAN CO N STRU CTI O N .CO M
.84 .36 .77 2.01 mi
Spring Lake Park
mi
Webster Avenue to Hiniker Pond
mi
Bluff Park
mi
Benson Park
HAPPY TRAILS BY MIKE LAGERQUIST
North Mankato residents looking for any type of walking or biking trails will likely be able to find what they want. Whether it be routes with hills or with prairie views – or a combination of the two – city routes or country routes, your destination is right around the corner. “I am pretty much hitting the pavement in North Mankato every morning of the week, all year long,” says North Mankato resident Pam Fink. Chances are, if you’re out and looking you’ve probably seen her enjoying a run along one of her favorite routes. Known as “The Bike Lady of North Mankato,” Jo Robbins has made two wheels her chosen mode of transportation. Although it started out as a necessity – hers was a onevehicle family – her bicycle is still where you’ll find her all year long, unless it’s icy. “I like the idea of commuting on a bike,” she says. North Mankato, along with its neighbor, Mankato, has been designated a Bicycle Friendly Community. According to the North Mankato website: “The Bicycle Friendly Community Program provides incentives, hands-on assistance, and award recognition for communities that actively support bicycling. A Bicycle Friendly Community welcomes cyclists by providing safe accommodation for cycling and encouraging people to bike for transportation and recreation.” Look for shared lane markings, called “sharrows,” on North Mankato streets. These
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1.06 Highway 14 Trail
mi
1.4
mi
1.69
41 Trail
Minnesota River Trail
(Pleasant View to County Road 71)
(Main Street Bridge to McDonald’s)
designations, which Robbins helped develop with Mayor Mark Dehen and others, show the emphasis that the city has placed on encouraging safe multi-modal transportation. “Some of my favorite routes in North Mankato include Lookout Hill, Lee Hill, a loop around lower North Mankato, the County Road 41 trail, Benson Park, Bluff Park, Bluff trail along Highway 14 adjoining with the Hiniker Pond trail, and Spring Lake Park and the River trail,” Fink says. “Also the city has done such a good job of planning. I can hit a variety of them in one single run and can even hook up with a trail in Mankato.” Robbins, who lives on Marvin Boulevard in Upper North Mankato, often bicycles a 5-mile loop that includes traveling down to the Judson Bottom Road and out to Rockford Road and back. She notes that many of the routes were created when devising Safe Routes to School accommodations, while additional trails have been incorporated into future city development. In both cases, trails are going where people want them and can utilize them. A 10.16-mile North Mankato route included online at strava.com/routes/1399883 is essentially the one Fink enjoys. It’s a good example of a mixed-terrain trail. From the Judson Bottom Road at the end of Lee Boulevard, a bicyclist travels to Rockford Road, then encounters a gradual incline across Highway 14 to Benson Park. From near Culver’s Restaurant, the path goes along
mi
Highway 14 again, past Hiniker Pond and Spring Lake Park. It’s a route that includes river views, country roads and a variety of residential areas. Another feature that Fink enjoys is the connectedness with trails that head north or south via the Red Jacket and Sakatah Trails. “We are definitely blessed in this community with wonderful trails for walking, biking and running.” According to the City of North Mankato’s Phil Tostenson, Caswell Sports Director, and Duane Rader, Water Superintendent and Parks Superintendent, this is the length of paved trails in the following parks. This represents paved trail, not traveling on a loop (out and back again): • • • • • • •
Spring Lake Park – .84 miles Webster Avenue to Hiniker Pond – .36 miles Bluff Park – .77 miles Benson Park – 2.01 miles Highway 14 Trail – 1.06 miles 41 Trail (Pleasant View to County Road 71) – 1.4 miles Minnesota River Trail (Main Street Bridge to McDonald’s) – 1.69 miles
Robbins says she’s especially happy with water fountains for dogs that have been installed, and could see additional improvements in the future. One thought: A bridge over the lake, though she admits that could be difficult to do.
SUMMER 2020
NORTH KATO MAGAZINE
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Spring Lake Park Swim Facility
dives into BY BRIAN OJANPA
that the reopening of the Spring Lake Park Swim Facility in 2019 went swimmingly. And plans for 2020 were anything but watered down...until COVID-19 came calling. The pandemic delayed this year’s pool opening until June 17, when the facility limited capacity to 250 users. Now, up to 600 are being admitted daily to the 700-capacity pool. “We exceeded our attendance expectations last year. There were at least 1,000 people coming and going each day. It was a great response,” said North Mankato Taylor Library Director Katie Heintz, who also leads operations at the swim facility. The $3.2 million pool project had an abbreviated inaugural season, opening July 31 and closing 26 days later. But even with that short window city officials were able to glimpse the facility’s long-view potential. In barely over three weeks 17,000 day passes and 160 family passes were sold, and Aquatics Director Bekah Sands said 279 family packages had been purchased well before winter snows had melted this year. By necessity pool staff may have had to dog-paddle into the
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facility’s fledgling season, but this year, prior to the opening delay, there was a full-on freestyle sprint into program offerings. “The biggest addition this year is the swimming lessons,” Sands said. Those five-per-day Monday-Thursday sessions allow participants in all skill levels to sign up for one-week lesson blocks. The facility also offers fitness classes in the pool. “Kind of like water aerobics--with music,” Sands said. There also are special “boot camp” fitness sessions that parents can participate in while their kids are taking swim lessons. Kids may hold sway at the facility but there’s action on tap for adults as well. They’ll be able to get wet AND wet their whistles at a couple upcoming 21-and-over night replete with live music and an open bar. “We placed it on Facebook and within 24 hours 1,300 people expressed interest,” Sands said last winter. In the long run the facility will also be available for by-the-hour, bartenderson-board, evening corporate rentals. Other new enticements for 2020: • Mayo Clinic Health System sponsorship of free community swim nights..
2020 Photo courtesy of Evenson Concrete Systems.
• Last year there were separate fee schedules for North Mankato residents and non-residents. This year daily admission is $5 for all. Sands said the $5 fee is below market rate for similar swim facilities in Minnesota.
first renovation since its inception in 1969. Previously it was a sand-bottom swimming area, and its aged filtration system has been replaced with a high-tech system that monitors water twice a day.
• This year the water is heated, allowing the facility to be more user-friendly in cooler weather. Last year a 70-degree daytime high air temperature was the minimum for facility openings. This year a 65-degree high is the minimum. Sands said the water is heated early in the season until the summer sun takes over the task. She added that personal preferences make heating water to the “right” temperature an inexact science. “Some want it in the 60s and some want it in the 80s.”
The sand bottom has been replaced with a PVC plastic material and the facility’s fun amenities include slides, a rope course, a rock-climbing wall, splash pad, shallow toddler area and the most popular, a 40-foot zip line. There’s also a large lounging “lawn” surfaced with artificial turf.
• Kids’ birthday pool parties. For $175 a reserved space for 10 children is provided for two hours. The cost includes refreshments and cake. Sands said prior to the season phone calls came from people in surrounding towns wanting to book pool dates. • The facility will expand its food concessions options this season, including the addition of healthy offerings for kids. • Take a dive, dad. Every Father’s Day you get in free.
The facility’s regular hours are noon-6 p.m. weekdays and noon-7 p.m. Saturday and Sunday. The expectation this year was for 14 lifeguards to be on duty throughout the day. Last year the facility worked with the Mankato Family YMCA for lifeguard staffing, but this year the facility is solely handling guard staffing. The irregular-shaped body of water at the facility is nothing if not massive. At 52,575 square feet it’s just shy of a football field’s 57,600 square feet. The more the merrier, city officials say. Said North Mankato City Administrator John Harrenstein, “We hope the community will enjoy it all summer long.”
The Spring Lake Park Swim Facility last year underwent its SUMMER 2020
NORTH KATO MAGAZINE
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THE
On July 31, 2019, opening day of the new Spring Lake Park Swim Facility, Jessica Reedstrom and her four kids were first in line to enter the grounds. They had been eagerly anticipating the opening and wanted to be able to scout spots and stake their ground. “We were regular users of the sand-bottomed Spring Lake pool, and with three boys who loved playing with the sand during swim breaks, I wasn’t sure what they would think of the new pool,” said Jessica. All four of the kids, Allie, 10, Evan, 8, Noah, 6, and Rory, 4 were instant converts to the new facility. The pool would soon become a Zen-like place where Jessica and her family could enjoy being in the sun and surrounded by people and forget the diagnosis she received two weeks after the pool opened; terminal and aggressive metastatic cancer. “I was first diagnosed with breast cancer in 2016, when I was 29 years old. I was nursing my youngest son and felt a lump and saw blood in my breast milk. I went through radiation, chemotherapy, a double mastectomy, reconstructive surgery, and a prophylactic hysterectomy all within a short period of time. The good news was that I went into remission until August of 2019.” Jessica began experiencing back pain in August and after consultation with her Mankato oncologist learned that the initial breast cancer had metastasized to her liver and bones and was a very aggressive stage 4 cancer. The prognosis is
The Reedstrom kids enjoying a dip. Left to right Rory, 4, Noah, 6, Evan, 8, Allie 10
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IS MOM’S OASIS DURING HER ORDEAL BY KATIE OJANPA grim. Her kids know their mom has cancer but Jessica and husband Kyle have chosen not to discuss timelines with their children. “We are realists,” said Jessica, “but we also believe in miracles.” For now, Jessica is receiving chemotherapy and continues to display great optimism in the face of less-than desired results from her last treatment.. “My doctor is very matter-of-fact about this being an incurable cancer.” There have been tough days. Days when Jessica was too weak to load a dishwasher or walk unaided, or do much other than resting on the couch. That’s when her village steps in. Jessica’s best friend, Anna Reichel, lives a block from her in lower North and has organized fundraisers and established a GO FUND Me page for the Reedstrom family. The North Mankato children’s librarian, Michelle Zimmerman, calls Jessica when she receives new books for kids that involve cancer themes or stories. Crossview Covenant Church, the church the Reedstrom family attends, and Bridges, where their children go to school, have both provided consistent support and encouragement. “I don’t know what the future holds, but Kyle and I are committed to making as many memories for the kids as we can--to lean into this time together. There are days I don’t think about the cancer. I look healthy and today I look good.” Little Rory had a quick response to that. “You look pretty every day.” The Go Fund Me site for Jessica can be found at gofundme.com/f/team-jess-fund.
CONCRETE RESULTS Thank you for allowing Evenson Concrete Systems to collaborate on the Spring Lake Park Swim Facility Project.
POOL DECKS • PATIOS • FOUNDATIONS • DECORATIVE CONCRETE • DRIVEWAYS
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1020 Innovation Lane • Mankato, Minnesota SUMMER•2020 NORTH KATO MAGAZINE 15 507.387.3660 evensonconcrete.com
BY JEN CUCURULLO
If one were to Google “date night,” a plethora of articles would appear. You can learn how to organize a date night, what to wear on a date night and the top tweets about the changes of date night after marriage. Did you know that there are date night subscription services in which you receive a “date night in a box?” So, what if you really just want a simple, old fashioned date night without your littles along. After 4 years of parenthood, my husband and I decided that - date nights on the couch - weren’t cutting it.
As we took control and made a plan, we had a list of must haves:
A location we could take an Uber to easily.
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Options are always good, it needed to be a place that had a few establishments within the same vicinity.
NORTH KATO MAGAZINE SUMMER 2020
Good cocktails, delicious food and an atmosphere for conversation.
A crowd that appeared to be born within the same decade or 2 of us. Check out our Lower North Kato date night!
•
Charming character and an atmosphere where “Everybody knows your name.” Purse hooks were an added bonus for me.
•
Cocktails chosen: Thanks to bartender Bridget, she suggested the Circle Inn Cherry Limeade (delicious and will be perfect for hot summer nights) and my husband’s go-to choice, Alaskan Amber.
Dino’s Pizzeria. Our delightful server, Noah, suggested his favorite Crab and Lobster dip. This is something I could easily have on a weekly basis. •
Pizza choice was First Class pizza with some added sausage. Next time I will be sure there are leftovers for the following day.
•
Sipping Malbec and Fat Tire with Bocelli music in the back ground was a perfect treat for me and my Italian husband.
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•
Jess was behind the bar and her recommendation was the Applewood Smoked Old Fashioned. As a lover of Old Fashioneds, this version was pure perfection.
•
We ended the night with a delicious Irish Coffee.
We rate this date night and location a
Editor’s note: This date night was pre COVID-19.
Another plus about Lower North Kato–ART! We were able to check out the art sculpture tour and see the Silo Project!
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Belgrade Avenue United Methodist current Pastor Dan Crandall (left) and former Pastor Dan Horn (right) are kindred spirits in contemporary church matters.
FORMER, CURRENT BELGRADE AVENUE UNITED METHODIST PASTORS MUSICALLY MESH BY BRIAN OJANPA
In Pastor Dan Crandall’s office old Christ-centric framed prints, the sort one might see in antique shops, hang near a hip bobblehead doll of 18th Century English theologian John Wesley. The dichotomy is by design. Crandall, the new-ish pastor of Belgrade Avenue United Methodist Church, knows that in today’s mainstream-religion churches the traditional and the contemporary must mesh. “The old and the new. That’s what I wanted this office to be,” said Crandall of the dicey but doable task of incorporating church traditionalism with today’s culture. At Belgrade Avenue old-school hymns share the stage with contemporary beats. Crandall became the church’s lead pastor in July 2019, succeeding Dan Horn, who retired after a 44-year pastoral career. Truth be told, Horn’s ministerial machinations greased the skids for Crandall’s coming. Though the 126-year-old church’s congregation members skew traditional, Horn’s style has always been, well, slightly “out there.” “My title was ‘renegade pastor,’ “ says the Bob Dylan-loving Horn of his early days in the ministry at other locales. As the son of a Baptist pastor not averse to sprinkling fire and brimstone into his sermons, Horn took note, then marched to a different drummer. “My dad carried this big, honking, King James bible around with him.” He gives a little wink. “But I’ve become a lot more earthly.” Belgrade Avenue United Methodist has 346 members. Average attendance at worship services is 125. The gap may appear significant but certainly isn’t unusual in today’s churchgoing climate. Horn and Crandall can speak at length about what this all means. “The value of church has shifted from what it was to what it is,” Horn said. “I think what’s happening is that people used to come to church out of traditional obligation. Now they’re coming for a different reason.” Added Crandall, “In some ways the church has lost touch with the culture. It expects (people) to come to church based on our terms rather than meeting the people ‘where they’re at.’ ” Crandall, who was raised a Catholic, was previously affiliated with a megachurch in the Twin Cities. He has cellphone video of a typical service there. People dancing wildly, light show in play, deejays dispensing high-decibel joyful noise. Not that he’d introduce this at Belgrade Avenue, but this is what works
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today as churches toil to sustain themselves. Amen, Horn said. “What happens on a Sunday morning isn’t necessarily church,” he said of services’ traditional formats. “The original intent of the church was to have a community of believers who gather to be a community of spiritual, intergenerational growth and relationships.” Toward that end, Crandall has plans to hire a full-time director to assume the mantle of ministering to teens, and he wants to expand the church’s foyer, a communal hearth of sorts for its congregants. “The lobby is where people like to linger. We’re very much a ‘kitchen table’ church. People talk about matters of life over cheesecake.” COVID-19’s social isolation component served to kickstart the church’s shift to improving its online services, a quest that actually serves the church’s ongoing mission to stay in pace with the times. Crandall said a church can’t stay stagnant. “There are three things that grow churches and keep them vibrant: Preaching, family ministries, and music.” Look for plenty of the latter because Crandall is a former professional musician. Horn also is locked into music’s pleasures and speaks in reverential tones of the Minneapolis U-2 concert he attended. Crandall and Horn acknowledge the challenge churches can face in attracting and retaining members as people churchhop in pursuit of spiritual sustenance. Or, more simply, communal relationships. Crandall knows that plenty of people look askance at contemporary churches pushing the envelope on edginess, even while others seek it out. “They probably don’t meet our definition of churches per se, but there’s always a ‘grass is greener on the other side’ mentality.” As Horn came upon retirement Crandall was approached about leading the church. He said he came to North Mankato for a visit, fully intending to say thanks but no thanks and head back up Highway 169. But church folks, more or less, had him at “hello.” “There are three things I’ve noticed about this congregation. It’s a welcoming church, a caring church, and people here have a tremendous amount of care for one another.”
A monkey “mascot” in the pastor’s office at Belgrade Avenue United Methodist Church bespeaks a contemporary facet of ministerial inspiration.
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To Shop. To Eat. To Play. To Adventure. Businesses and recreation across the Greater Mankato area are providing a variety of fun activities and experiences with safety in mind.
THE BOOK REPORT BY KATIE HEINTZ, THE NORTH MANKATO TAYLOR LIBRARY
Welcome to your quarterly glimpse into life at the North Mankato Taylor Library. Let’s just get one thing settled right away, we are not your typical, keep quiet library. We love all our visitors and we encourage families to stay and play. Along with our books, movies, audiobooks, computers, magazines, Book Club Bags, Story Time kits, and WiFi hot spots. we have an extra love for connecting with people. We offer over 25 programs a month for anyone to participate in, from Book Clubs, Family Nights, Toddler times to Adult Crafting Nights. We have something going on for everyone. Last year over 14,500 people came to the library for our programs. Programming might look a little different these days, but we are still putting them on.
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We are also a place to gather. Come down for a cup of coffee, read the newspaper, or help with our community puzzle. Families can come down to the library, we have lots to do. Play with our train table, iPads, tunnel climber, interactive kid station, check out our new fish tank or just sit and read in one of our many comfy chairs. I don’t need to tell you again that we are so much more than books, however, we have a lot of great books too. Everyone is always welcome here and we would love to show you around. Stop down to see what we have going on and check out your next great read! Please find our updated hours, programs and contact information on our website: northmankato.com/taylorlibrary
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Q&A CENSUS 2020 BY CINDY OLSON
North Mankato City Planner Mike Fischer is counting on you -- for the 2020 Census. He’s pretty proud of the response he’s witnessed in the past two census drives: residents scored an 88% return rate in the 2000 census and 87% in the 2010 census. “We use social media and send out letters to every rental property to let people know. We work with the Tapestry Project through the Minnesota Council of Churches to make sure we reach populations who might speak different languages,” he said.
of the Mankato League until it disbanded and then joined the LWV St. Peter. I’ve been president since May, 2014. The St. Peter Area LWV now serves Blue Earth and Nicollet Counties, Mankato, North Mankato and St. Peter.
Q
What does LWV do? Are they census takers?
A
Well, one of our members has been a census taker. Two of our members are part of St. Peter’s Complete Count Committee. But we do a lot of things people might not know about. We encourage informed and active participation in government. We influence public policy through education and advocacy. We don’t support any political parties or candidates. The public sees this in our candidate forums, voter registration drives, and other public events, which are always free and open to the public. Issues we currently work on at a local and state basis are encouraging full participation in the census, redistricting reform and support of funding for election cyber security. The State League lobbies at the State Capitol.
Q
Let’s talk about the census. What exactly IS this?
A
The 2020 Census counts every person living in our 50 states, the District of Columbia and the five US territories. It’s in our Constitution. We are required to respond.
Q A
Why should anyone care about this?
So it’s time again to be counted, and with the 2020 census come a lot of questions. For North Mankato resident Lynn Solo, President of the League of Women Voters - St. Peter, the 2020 Census is a big deal. She sat down recently to answer questions about all things census and the organization she leads.
Q
How did you get involved with the League of Women Voters?
A
I first heard about the League in grade school. Every election season my parents would look forward to receiving the LWV Voters’ Guide that we students brought home from school. My parents read it as it contained nonpartisan information about candidates. Now we have Vote411.org, a League sponsored website containing election information throughout the US. It is new this year to Minnesota.
Q
How long has the League of Women Voters - St. Peter been around? Is there a chapter in North Mankato or Mankato?
A
Locally, organizers started forming Leagues in Blue Earth and Nicollet Counties early in 1920. The Leagues waxed and waned but started up again in 1963 in Mankato and St. Peter. The Mankato area League disbanded in 2009 when our last president moved to Duluth. I was a member
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Knowing how many people live in an area helps city, county, state and federal agencies with planning. For example, knowing how many children and women of child-bearing age live in a community helps in planning for schools. North Mankato needs to know how many we are and where we live so our city council and city staff can make decisions about our infrastructure and the need for services such as libraries, law enforcement and fire stations. Entrepreneurs use the information to make business decisions.
If you want good schools, be counted. If you want clean water, get counted. If you want attractive parks, up to date libraries, law enforcement and fire protection, get counted. Getting counted in the census brings federal funds into our city on a per person basis for these services. The Census determines the number of Congresspeople who will represent us in Washington and how we will redraw new electoral boundaries. Minnesota currently has eight congressmen/women, but we are not growing as fast as some other states. We need to count everyone so we can hold our congressional representation.
Q
How is this information collected?
A
By mid March, every household will receive an invitation to respond to the census. You’re required by law to respond and can do so online, by phone or by mail. One person from each household needs to fill out the form. If no one from that home, apartment, mobile home, etc. responds within a certain amount of time they will get a second notice [by mail] and then a third. If after all of that no one responds, someone from the Census Bureau will visit your home and help you to fill out the form. Census workers will wear identification and follow strict safety protocols.
Q
How will my personal information be safeguarded?
A
You will never be asked for your Social Security number, money or donations, anything on behalf of political parties, your bank or credit card account. There is no citizenship question, although it does ask where you were born. Also note that identifiable information about you, your home, or your business will not be shared with any agencies, including law enforcement. The law ensures that your private data is protected and that your answers cannot be used against you by any government agency or court. Information only becomes unclassified after 72 years. If you have concerns, call the Bureau at 301-763-INFO(4636) or 800-923-8282.
Q
What happens if I don’t participate?
A
Follow-up, in-person visits have been delayed due to the pandemic, but most local offices will start follow-up work by early August. Residents can expect census takers to wear masks and follow local public health guidelines. They will have completed virtual COVID-19 training on health and safety protocols. If they don’t find you home, they will leave a note with information on how to respond. If you still don’t respond, they will stop by again.
Q
Where can I go for more information?
A
A super website is 2020Census.gov. You can even view the questions there!
Q
How can I find out more about LWV-St. Peter?
A
Email us at lwvstpeter@lwvmn.org. Check us out at lwvmn.org under Local Leagues. Look for us on Facebook. Talk to our members at one of our events. Membership is not limited just to women.
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CHALKFEST 2020 FREE COMMUNITY EVENT FOOD FUN MUSIC PEDESTRIAN SAFETY Belgrade Ave in North Mankato
AUG 22-23 10am–5pm
• Watch Professional Chalk Artists at Work • Featuring Shawn McCann • Free Safety Vests • Pedestrian Safety Information • Free Balloon Twisters • Accessible Community Mandala
SMILES CENTER FOR INDEPENDENT LIVING 709 S Front St Mankato MN 56001 507-345-7139 Contact Vickie Vapel@smilescil.org Check us out on FB
SMILES Center for Independent Living:
Supporting people with disabilities to realize their full potential.
SUMMER 2020
NORTH KATO MAGAZINE
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SOTA SISTERS BY CINDY OLSON
When Amber Bannerman was little, her grandmother Marlene took her along to help at great-aunt Doris’s store, Be-Van’s Clothing in St. James. Amber remembers her “help” consisting of sitting upstairs in the office at Doris’s big desk and imagining herself as the owner. And thus was born an entrepreneur. But entrepreneurship is in Amber’s DNA. Now owner of her own boutique, Sota Sisters, on Commerce Drive in upper North Mankato, Amber comes from a long line of entrepreneurs. Growing up on a farm near St. James, she was surrounded by creative, hardworking family members like grandmother Marlene and great-aunt Doris; Mom Sheree Eckstrom, an elementary teacher; dad Brad Ekstrom and grandfather Dale Eckstrom, both farmers; grandfather Wayne Estby, a Realtor, landscaper company owner, and auctioneer; and great-grandparents who owned Eckstrom Bus Service, Ford Implement, and the Massey-Ferguson dealership. And then there is Aunt Barb, who owned two coffee shops. The Eckstrom grandparents live right across the road from Amber’s parents’ farm, so running over there to help clean out a hog barn on occasion was typical. Amber’s most important task, however, was tending to her three younger sisters, Ashley, Aryn, and Aubrey who range in age from six to 15 years younger than Amber. Her teacher mom depended on her. Like all her relatives, Amber kept herself busy -- caring for her sisters, working part-time jobs, playing tennis and golf and running track in high school, modeling occasionally for the John Casablancas Agency in Minneapolis, and being a diligent student whose leadership skills her teachers recognized. “I’ve never been afraid to carve my own path.” Eventually college took Amber to Mankato, where she majored in mass communications and public relations. Her high school sweetheart, Neil Bannerman, was already a student at MSUMankato. They married in Amber’s junior year. After their first child was born, they became caretakers at Bray Park on Madison Lake. It was a good fit for a young couple starting out, with flexible hours and free housing on site. Neil took care of the grounds while Amber handled reservations and bookkeeping. The experience helped forge an already strong partnership.
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Then came other jobs, first as a children’s book editor, but that ended with a layoff. Amber calls it a “blessing in disguise” because it fired up her determination even more. She took part-time jobs while raising their three children. Eventually she became sales director for a direct market jewelry company, and then executive director of One Bright Star, the Mankato nonprofit that supports families grieving the loss of a child. She is still involved with the organization.
Swansons Photography St. James, MN
But all the while a little voice kept urging her in a new direction.
“I’ve always had something inside me that wanted to own my own business, but it took time to figure it out.” By then she was working in a boutique. “It made me realize how much I love it. I love interacting with the customers. I love merchandising. It was the final push -- yep, this is what I need to do.” Any doubts she may have had evaporated when her oldest son, Landon, said, “If you don’t try, you’ll never know.” But how to start? Back to Aunt Barb, who has been Amber’s inspiration for a long time, and who now works in a St. Paul fashion boutique. When Amber went to see her in April of last year in that St. Paul boutique to tell her about her dream, Barb grabbed a decorative pillow on display and gave it to Amber. The words on the pillow said, “If not now, when?” And then they got to work. Barb gave her “insider tips” and introduced her to the Twin Cities wholesale market. There she established relationships with vendors who would supply her with the unique fashions and decor she sought. She contacted the South Central Minnesota Small Business Development Center in Mankato for advice. She networked with Yvonne Carriveau and neighbor Shane Bowyer, both in the MSU-Mankato College of Business. In May of 2019, she established an LLC. On September 9th, she opened her store. “It was a lot of work. I kept praying ‘If this isn’t meant to be, please put a roadblock in my way.’ But if there was a challenge, I found a way to work through it.”
Her three sisters inspired her to call her store “Sota Sisters” — “Sota” for Minnesota. Those sisters, now grown up and pursuing education, jobs, and family life, come back frequently to help out at the store. You’ll see them, along with other family members and staff, featured as models on the Sota Sisters website (sotasistersboutique.com) and on their Facebook page. Amber feels at home in her shop in North Mankato. “We live here. My kids go to school here. This location was the first one we looked at. I had a good feeling about it.” She is committed to supporting her community, teaming up with North Mankato business neighbors to form the nonprofit “Connecting Commerce” business association, with support from The City of North Mankato. The team has worked on such events as Trick or Treat, Shop Small North Mankato, and a raffle to support North Mankato firefighters. For Amber, opening her own store is a dream come true, but a dream for which she worked very hard. More than that, it’s a place where she wants to inspire and empower women, making them feel comfortable and supported. “You don’t always think about how you’re impacting lives.” She recalled a woman who had just visited her dad in the hospital. He was very ill. “I needed to go somewhere to make me feel better. I can’t take anymore today,” the woman told her. “When I open the door every morning to come in, I just feel good. I have awesome employees. I see the store and what we’ve built. We want people to feel welcome here.”
NATE KNOWS
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REAL ESTATE NATHAN GRUENZER REALTOR®
C 507-382-4362 O 507-345-TRUE
SUMMER 2020
NORTH KATO MAGAZINE
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N O R T H K AT O
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Call for a FREE ESTIMATE 507-241-LIFT(5438)
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DALE ANN LARSON DEB JOHANNSEN BRITTANY LINDER KRISTY STOFFEL
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Your Spinal Health Care Expert Dr. Mark D. Dehen DC FICC
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507-625-7667
Call Today 507-388-7744
1706 Lor Ray Dr., North Mankato www.backtowellnessclinic.com
334 Belgrade Ave • North Mankato
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Commercial Signage • WE MAKE IT • WE INSTALL IT 117
TANNING
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Securian Advisors MidAmerica Inc. 124 East Walnut Street, Suite 340 Mankato, MN 56001
Mike Callahan
Financial Professional michael.callahan@securianma.com 507-387-5638, ext. 524 office 507-317-7373 mobile 507-387-3896 fax securianmidamerica.com Securities offered through Securian Financial Services, Inc, Member FINRA/SIPC Securian Advisors MidAmerica is independently owned and operated.
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Corporate Graphics
131 119
1750 Northway Drive North Mankato, MN 56003 507-388-3300, 800-729-7575
Alpha Media Mankato
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H E R E TO R E M E M B E R
the Spring Lake Swim Facility BY ANNA MEYER, CITY OF NORTH MANKATO
1969
-197
2
If you were to walk through the gates to the Spring Lake Park Swim Facility today, you would be greeted by water slides and a zipline, crystal clear water with a clean blue PVC bottom, cool ice cream and hot pizza, and more fun features that will keep your family busy for hours. If you would walk through the gates to the swim facility in the 1970s, however, you would find a completely different experience. The original construction for the swim facility was completed in time for operations to begin in the summer of 1972. The pool area did not include water slides or a zipline: it was a 224 feet by 268 feet pool with a few diving boards. The facility was a sand bottom pool with clay and polyethylene lining to hold the water, and a sand beach surrounded the facility with everything enclosed by a fence. The pool contained 1,136,000 gallons of water with recirculating pumps to allow for complete flowthrough of water every 18 hours. The original bathhouse included individualized dressing rooms, a shower area, a storage area, a concession area, and two sets of restrooms. In all, the approximate cost of the entire
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facility was $255,000 when it was bid in 1969. The ‘72 Swim Facility served the City and its residents well and is the home to many memories of those who visited, but as it began showing its age in recent years, the City approved plans to renovate. In the summer of 2019, the City opened the renovated swim facility to 26,000 visitors. This $4.2 million renovation included replacing the concrete deck, removing the sand bottom in favor of a PVC liner, replacing pool filters, ADA compliance, installing a toddler area, rock climbing wall, water slides, and zipline, basketball, and volleyball features, and a new pool/warming house. Today the swimming area is approximately 52,000 square feet and holds 1,457,000 gallons of water. The bathhouse serves as the check-in, locker area and includes dressing rooms, showers, and restrooms, while the new pool/warming house serves as the concession area and rentable event space. Today, you may walk through the Swim Facility and see changes and the facelift it’s gotten since 1972, but one thing remains the same: everyone remembers the fun they had and the memories they made there.
Quality Products and Exceptional Service from your local, hometown lumber yard and rental company for over 75 years.
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An Authorized Servicing Stihl Dealer 1951 Riverfront Dr. Mankato, MN
507-387-1171 1-800-879-1938 126
Mon.-Fri. 8am-7pm Sat. 8am-5pm Sun. 11am-5pm
candsupply.com AN EMPLOYEE OWNED & LOCAL BUSINESS SINCE 000 1957
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WHAT’S NEW @ DOWNTOWN HY-VEE
KEVIN PLATH PRODUCE MANAGER
37 YEARS PRODUCE MANAGER
You get to know people’s schedules and can almost set your watch for when they’ll be in the store. And if they’re not here, you question it, you really learn their routine.
WHAT’S NEW The store is brighter from more natural sunlight along with being more open due to less clutter. This makes the shopping experience easier for customers, the extra floor space allows for easier movement. New light fixtures, cases and endcaps add a new dynamic to store. Even with all the new additions to the store, customer service remains our top priority, and that is something that will never change. Stop in and see what’s new at your Riverfront Hy-Vee!
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BECKY LLOYD
ACCOUNTING MANAGER 34 YEARS AT DOWNTOWN HY-VEE
I get to see the same people and they have become more than just customers to me, they’re my friends. I like how technology has made the shopping experience easier, both for customers and employees. I’ve been doing accounting with Hy-Vee for over 30 years. So if the computers crashed I could still do the books on paper (LOL). I like the consistency the store has maintained over the years, but the new changes are a nice touch. It’s like the store has been given a breath of fresh air, it’s a refreshing change.
410 S. Riverfront Drive Mankato, MN | 507-625-1107
THE BODY ACHIEVES WHAT THE MIND BELIEVES.
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BIRTHDAY PARTIES CORPORATE & GROUP TRAINING
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507-386-7400 • WWW.SMMA.ROCKS 1750 COMMERCE DR. SUITE 140 • NORTH MANKATO, MN 56003
Brent Busch, your local neighborhood mortgage lender. Q: Our family needs a bigger home and we want to use the equity in our current home for the down payment. This seems like a difficult process and how can we do this without moving twice? A: That’s a great question and it comes up a lot. There are a couple of different options depending on how you would like to move forward, but don’t worry, both are very easy and I make it as stress free as possible. The first option would be to sell your current home and purchase your new home on the same day. We do this often and coordinate with your real estate agent to make sure everything goes smoothly and according to plan. Typically you will sell your current home and buy your new home in a matter of hours. We take care of scheduling, timing, and money transfers so you can focus on your new home. The second option is to purchase your new home first while still owning your current home. This can give you the time to move into the new home at your own pace, allow you to make necessary changes to your current home for the upcoming sale, or even upgrade your new home before you move in. This also allows you a stronger negotiating position for purchasing your new home. For the loan we do a minimal down payment, as low as 3%. Once your current home sells we apply the proceeds from the sale to your current loan and recalculate your payments based on the new balance. You could think of it as a delayed down payment. This process is very simple and is not a refinance of your loan.
Q: I already own a home but I want to take advantage of the historically low rates I have been hearing about. How do I refinance and what do I need to know? A: Refinancing has been extremely popular lately due to the rate market being very favorable. The process itself is very simple. We can have a 15 minute conversation over the phone to set up your file and fill out all of the required documents. At this point I would provide you with a complete breakdown of your options, what your savings would be, and what costs are applicable to your particular loan. After that we submit the file to underwriting and complete their requirements which generally can be completed in 21 days or less! You may not even need an appraisal for a refinance depending on the last time your property was appraised.
I am always available to answer any questions you may have. Call 507-389-8276 or email me at busch@primesourcefunding.com
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MN MLO 1626669 | NMLS 2174
1751 N Victory Drive Suite 500, Mankato | primesourcefunding.com | 507-389-8276
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EXCELLERATE HEALING. It is called stem cell therapy and it uses your OWN body’s blood and tissues to help treat your pain. The procedure has to be performed correctly, which few can do. But in the hands of an expert like Dr. Kristin Oliver stem cell therapy has the potential to change lives. It can reduce the effects of arthritis and help injured tissue heal. Stem cell therapy can replace pain with hope. It can return athletes to the playing field and grandparents back to the lives they want to live. To learn more please visit our website www.bluetailmedicalgroup.com or call Kathy Nelson at 507-385-4014. Kristin Oliver, MD A Leader in Regenerative Medicine Dr. Oliver is a leader in regenerative medicine, having performed more procedures than anyone in the country, including stem cell and platelet rich plasma therapies and provides therapy locally at Mankato Clinic’s location in North Mankato.
bluetailmedicalgroup.com STEM CELL THERAPY THE POWER TO HEAL IS IN YOUR BLOOD.