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Message from North Mankato Welcome back to another issue of the North Kato Magazine! We are proud to highlight the Youth Football league that now calls North Mankato home, good luck to this year’s athletes! We look forward to gathering together this fall for back-to-school activities, music at Wheeler Park, and nights at the Mankato Brewery. We hope everyone enjoys learning more about our great City through North Kato Magazine. 261
CITY COUNCIL MEMBERS Council Member Billy Steiner Council Member Diane Norland Council Member James Whitlock Council Member Sandra Oachs Mayor Mark Dehen
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CITY SERVICES City Offices Police Department Taylor Library Building and Inspections Utility Billing Park Department Water Department Street Department Caswell Sports
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STATE AND COUNTY REPRESENTATIVES County Commissioner Denny Kemp County Commissioner Jack Kolars Representative Susan Akland Senator Nick A. Frentz
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LET TER FROM THE EDITOR Falling for Fall I will admit to you, that the only season I have ever enjoyed in Minnesota has been summer. I loved the heat (especially after winters that seem years long), didn’t mind the humidity and just soaked up the sun at every opportunity. However, in the last four years or so, a new season has quickly overtaken the top spot in my heart: Fall. A big part of that love comes from discovery of football and how much I have come to love that sport. Every Sunday afternoon from September through early February, I reserve for watching this sport.
F E AT U R E PHOTO
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That’s why I am glad this issue of North Kato Magazine highlights all our city has to offer in the Fall. From football to fashion, from music to backto-school memories, and from beer to bonfires, this issue covers it all. We’re even trying something new to appeal to our younger audience, a teen “advice” column for you to check out with your kids or grandkids. Here to help you embrace the season,
Lisa Cownie
Lisa Cownie, Editor Luxe Quarterlies, LLC
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CONTENTS AU G S E PT O C T 2 0 2 1
8 ARE YOU READY FOR SOME FOOTBALL? 16 A NIGHT AT MANKATO BREWERY 20 HELPING OUR COMMUNITY 22 BEER PAIRING + RECIPES 27 CRAVE 28 DEAR VIOLETTE 32 FALL DÉCOR 34 WON'T YOU MEET MY NEIGHBOR 36 COLOR COMMENTARY 38 BOOK REPORT 40 MUSIC IN WHEELER PARK 42 FALL FASHION 44 ODE TO MONROE ELEMENTARY 46 HERE TO GROW
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North Kato magazine is published and mailed quarterly by Luxe Quarterlies. The content used in this magazine is copyright 2021. The opinions or points of view expressed within are those of our authors.
FALL 2021 NORTH KATO MAGAZINE
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North Mankato has taken over Mankato North Mankato Youth Football, and hopes to carry the league — and its kids — to
BY ROBB MURRAY PHOTOS BY MICHELLE ISEBRAND PHOTOGRAPHY
Sporting a grin like the Cheshire Cat, Neil Kaus unlocks a door and ducks into the dark. He makes a quick left and heads toward the light. A few steps later, the fuel for that grin reveals itself. Football helmets for days lined up like soup cans on a grocery store shelf; shoulder pads stacked on vertical racks like kebabs; jerseys in yellow, red, and blue hung neatly on hangers — so new the tags may still be on them. It’s a youth football room of dreams. Hundreds of area kids have walked through this room. And for those kids — who had watched older siblings become heroes on high school gridirons, or slept with dreams of becoming the next Adrian Peterson — the road to greatness began here. When it was their turn, they lined up, wide-eyed, to enter this room and pick up their football gear for the coming season. It was, and remains, the gateway to youth football glory. It’s also now the sole focus of Kaus’ attention. Kaus and the city of North Mankato have taken over operation and ownership of Mankato North Mankato Youth Football, and they’re hoping to take an already successful program and carry it to new heights. “It's going to be a well-run city organization,” Kaus says. “It’s going to be a big, big year for us.”
NUTS AND BOLTS Shaking his head in awe, Kaus rattles off some big numbers. “It’s unbelievable,” he says, scanning the shelves that hold hundreds of Riddell football helmets. “We have over $300,000
worth of equipment here: 700 helmets, over 800 shoulder pads, 700 pairs of pants.” And he’s going to need them all. Kaus says the league is growing, and he predicts this year — as the national mood swings back in a big way to gathering publicly — the numbers will approach a record for youth football in the Mankato area. But while youth football has a long history, the current administration of the league does not. In January, the city of North Mankato announced it had struck a deal with Mankato North Mankato Youth Football to assume ownership and administration of the league. The deal essentially amounted to a donation by the league to the city. As part of the arrangement, the city agreed to handle logistics, such as maintaining the website, registrations, and financial management. It also agreed to hire a person to run it all, and they couldn’t have found someone with more experience running youth athletic organizations than Neil Kaus. Kaus takes over from Dennis Hood, who ran the organization for 20 years. Not only did Hood run the league, but he also provided storage space for all that equipment. That “youth football room of dreams” exists in the parking garage of the Oak Terrace Assisted Living community, a facility owned by Hood. He has graciously agreed to allow the league to continue using that space until it can construct adequate storage space at the Caswell Sports Complex. Kaus says the league will be expanding a bit. Flag football will now be available for youngsters in grades K-2. The tackle football program accommodates grades 3-6. Seventh graders will transition FALL 2021 NORTH KATO MAGAZINE
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to playing for their respective middle schools. When the season starts, younger kids will play on the fields at South Central College while older kids will play on the larger fields at Mankato East High School. Registration fees are climbing a bit, rising from $90 to $150. Kaus is quick to point out, however, that Connecting Kids is already on board to help families struggling to cover that cost.
league took place on the North Kato side of the river). He also ran the Mankato Peppers girls fastpitch softball organization for several years, as well as the Mankato Area Youth Baseball Association. And for a three-year stint when Hood had to step away for business, Kaus stepped in to run the football league. Kaus’ current gig represents the third time he’ll be at the helm of youth football in the area.
Fun football fact: the league will have to budget between $15,000 and $20,000 annually for helmet replacement, which amounts to about 150 helmets each year. The lifespan of a helmet is exactly 10 years. After that, they must be replaced.
This time around, he says, he feels a sense of excitement that comes from new beginnings. He’s spent the last six months pounding the pavement to drum up sponsorship dollars, and his efforts — during a time when many corporate donors are being more cautious with discretionary spending — have been extremely successful; Kaus has managed to secure tens of thousands of dollars in sponsorships. Those sponsors will appear on the brand new jerseys players will wear this season.
THE RIGHT MAN FOR THE JOB “This is my 30th year involved with youth sports,” Kaus says. “I'm born and raised here. I grew up in lower North Mankato and I’ve been involved with sports for quite a long time.” That’s an understatement. A graduate of Mankato West High School, Kaus grew up playing little league games at Spring Lake Park. You might say he loved North Mankato so much he never left. He and his wife Barb, the current CEO of the Mankato Area United Way, raised their family here and have no intention of leaving. His childhood love of sports never waned, and as an adult, he’s had a hand in running four different leagues. “I'm still a kid at heart,” he says, “and I want these kids to have something better than what I had.” Longtime area residents may remember the 1980s and early 1990s when the Happy Chef restaurant sponsored a fastpitch softball team. That team’s success saw them rise to national prominence, and in fact, the 1990 men’s national fastpitch tournament was held at Caswell. The guy running that team — and tournament — was Neil Kaus. After that, he ran the Mankato area’s youth football program, which was at the time called the Mankato Area Youth Athletic Association (before Dennis Hood came to town and changed the name to reflect the fact that nearly everything about the
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FROM THE SIDELINES The real importance of the league’s success can be found in the thoughts of the parents who value it. Christine Nessler has watched her two sons, Max and Liam, participate in youth football and says the experience was a great one for the whole family. Having a great coach also helped. “Well, (one of our sons) had a really great coach, a really involved dad who played football himself at a college level,” she says. “He really taught the kids not only about the fundamentals of the game but also about good sportsmanship and respect. And he didn't make it about winning, he made it more about the effort of the team and cheering each other on and supporting each other, which I thought was pretty impressive.” And off the field — on crisp Saturday mornings with coffee and cocoa mugs in hand — youth football creates an ideal atmosphere for parents to bond. “It actually is really fun for the parents because it's so social,” she says. “Coming out and seeing all the other parents every week and cheering the kids on together — you start to
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get to know the families so much better and then those families become a part of your social circles because you're spending your weekends and evenings together throughout the season.” One man who has experienced the league as both a parent and a coach is Nick Frentz. Frentz, who also happens to represent the area in the Minnesota Senate, had three boys progress through the league and he coached every one of their teams, which amounted to about 12 teams coached. “We've lived in North Mankato for more than 30 years, and many of my best memories are Saturdays at the South Central College fields with MNMYF,” he says. “And they are many of my sons’ best memories, too.” Frentz says the league has many selling points, including affordable registration fees, equal playing for all kids, short season, predictable schedule, etc. But perhaps even better than those things, he says, was the league’s ability to forge friendships.
His oldest son, Andrew, made such close friends through football that one of them asked him to be a groomsman in his wedding. This tight group of kids — now men — stuck together all these years and remains close. Frentz attributes that closeness, at least in part, to participating in youth football. “It's hard to describe the value of those MNMYF relationships,” Frentz says. “Kids who have a positive experience alongside other kids that are neighbors or classmates tend to make friends with those kids. And that positive experience is reinforced each season.” Kaus agrees. “It's not about winning and losing,” he says. “All of the teams are assembled by school. So all of the kids that you've grown up with, all the kids you've been friends with, if they're all coming out for football, they're all going to be on the same team. And they're all going to be on the same team pretty much all the way up through sixth grade. So those kids develop those friendships. That's the whole fun element about keeping it all as a K-6 program. You have those relationships.”
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The friendly place at the end of the street where you’re always just a few bucks away from a great beer and a friendly face. It’s a steady Saturday night at Mankato Brewery and taproom manager Samantha Rubene greets the customer with a smile.
She started working part-time at first. And when the previous taproom manager left, Rubene raised her hand and they gave her a shot.
“Mad Butcher?” she asks, referring to the brewery’s most popular concoction. “Yes ma’am,” the customer replies, because he’s smart and knows a good brew when he tastes one.
Much of Rubene’s work takes place during the day before any customers arrive: keeping beer stocked, refilling ball caps and T-shirts at the merch store, and keeping the taproom clean and organized. One of her duties is arranging live music acts.
Rubene — in hot pink hair and a Mankato Brewery tank top — heads to the taps. With a gentle pull, amber orange IPA flows like nectar into a pint glass.
“With everything opening up, I've been trying to book more concerts,” she says, “which is interesting because I don't know what I'm doing.”
“Wanna start a tab?” she asks, knowing the answer.
She says she’s seen many changes since she first began frequenting the brewery. What was once a slate of predictable beers, she says, has evolved to more daring and challenging fare. But one thing has remained the same: the laid-back vibe.
“Yep.” At the other end of the bar, a middle-aged couple digs into a “beer flight.” Across the room, regulars converse and test drive a lemon-lime ale. On the patio, groups soak up what remains of the evening sun while catching up with old friends and letting a dog mingle with anyone willing to spare a head scratch or belly rub. In the decade since it first began brewing beer, Mankato Brewery’s taproom has seen a dramatic evolution. Once a minimalist experience with short hours and cramped quarters, today’s taproom resembles a tavern. But where taverns serve all manner of libations and attract a varied clientele, Mankato Brewery’s taproom serves Mankato Brewery beer exclusively. And the clientele generally comes for the love of that beer, and the adventure of trying something new — a mint-flavored porter, an ale infused with hibiscus, rhubarb-flavored sour beer, or something “nitrogenated.” Grab a drink. Take a seat. You’ll like it here. Sam A whip-smart 20-something, Rubene understands more about beer than most seasoned drinkers. And when it comes to Mankato Brewery, she’s had plenty of practice. Rubene used to live in the apartment complex behind the brewery near Hiniker Pond. Occasional trips to the brewery with her fiance taught her a lot about Mankato Brewery beer.
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“I haven’t had to kick too many people out for being over intoxicated or aggressive. There's no fights,” she says. “Because our beers are relatively strong, people only have two or three and then they move on. They don't really park it all day.” Here Comes a Regular David Glover and Luke Olson are self-proclaimed “regulars.” They live within walking distance of the brewery and stop by occasionally after a long day at work. Both said that, while the cold brews and location are obvious draws, Mankato Brewery’s atmosphere is the real draw. “It's not the same as going to sit at a bar, you know? It's a little more homey,” Olson says. “I describe it as more like a family. I just love the atmosphere. I like the people who work here. They're all super nice.” Glover agreed. “It's a great place to unwind together after a day of work,” he says. “At our age, we've done the college bar scene. But you just get to a point where you kind of want something a little more low key where you know people and you can just be regulars.” But what about the beer?
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They paid him in beer. True story. When Cody Behrendt designed his first beer label for Mankato Brewery — a special-issue brew dedicated to the late comic book creator Stan Lee — brewmaster Chris Collins paid him in a currency that came with notes of citrus and a hoppy finish. But Behrendt didn’t mind. “To be honest it was a dream come true,” he says. “I always tell people the two things in life I always wanted to do was 1) become a graphic designer, and 2) I wanted to create beer labels. That's no joke.” He marked item number one off that list long ago when he landed a job as a graphic designer at a Glencoe, MN newspaper. He knocked item two off that list just a few years ago. And today he and the Mankato Brewery in lower North Mankato have brewed up a unique relationship. If you’ve grabbed a six- or 12-pack of Mankato Brewery beer in the last two years, it’s likely the can you pressed against your lips to enjoy some cool, hoppy goodness came wrapped in Behrendt’s handiwork.
In the last two years he’s designed, among others: ■ Coconut Cove, a pina colada cream ale with a prominently featured bare-chested — and tattooed — pirate. ■ Mad Butcher Prime, a more potent version of their famed Mad Butcher, with the butcher himself reimagined as an armor-clad Transformer. ■ Tangerine Tart, which features a pin-up-style poster girl in a bomber jacket and aviator’s goggles. Behrendt met Collins while visiting a mutual friend in Mankato. Collins later spotted Behrendt’s artwork on Facebook and asked him to take a stab at designing a label. “I jumped at the opportunity. I didn't even think twice about how much he was going to pay me,” Behrendt says. “He gave me almost a pallet of beer. And I thought it was the greatest idea ever. I was like, ‘I get to design a label, and I get paid in beer? This is great!’ But then I realized that was probably a horrible idea. But I did it anyway.” He says he was tough on himself after that first attempt and feared he wouldn’t be allowed a second. But a few years — and a dozen labels — later, and it seems like the brewery is happy with his work. When it comes to ideas, Behrendt says the staff usually will give him a rough idea of what they’re looking for (a collage of characters loosely based on the staff, a running joke from a 1980s-era film, a wild idea about fairies and sprites, etc.). After that, however, they typically give him freedom to create. He says that 99% of the time, they’re happy with what he comes up with. Doing work for Mankato Brewery has even resulted in some label-design work for a brewery in Mexico. Collins helped hook him up with that opportunity. “Chris has been my No. 1 fan when it comes to designing labels,” he says. And the best part: They’re no longer paying him in beer.
“I drink the same thing every time I come here, but I also try their new beer every time. If they have something new, I'll try it. And they have a lot of good beers,” says Olson. “And they'll do different variations of it, like with a nano (very small batch of specialty beer) and whatnot. So that's cool, because they're always changing it up or adding something to a beer to appeal to different people.”
few blocks away.
Glover says he likes to try everything.
“Sometimes these breweries can get a little pretentious,” she says. “But not this one. This one is very comfortable. And quite frankly, it's fairly family friendly.”
“It's good to drink local,” she says. “And there's no place you’re going to get fresher beer.” The trio says they’ve made a practice of visiting other breweries whenever they get a chance. Carlson says this brewery strikes the right tone for this community.
“I tend to skip around and try different things,” he says, “and they're always coming out with new stuff. My favorite right now is probably the Mad Butcher Prime (a kicked up version of their flagship brew). It's really good.”
If anything speaks to the inviting nature of the brewery, consider this: Just prior to being approached by a writer, Chesley put a deposit down to reserve the brewery for Carlson’s birthday party.
The Golden Hour After a few minutes of observing the patio, the writer deduces that Rosie Chesley, Patty Myer and Sarah Carlson seem like the right group to approach with questions.
“It is absolutely 1,000% a great party place,” she says.
“So you’re admitting that you were watching us before you came over,” says Chesley in a playfully sarcastic tone.
They rattle off all the events they’ve been to: memorial service for a friend, Dad’s 65th birthday, wedding shower, painting party, yoga — this is their go-to venue. It’s cozy and comfortable. Friendly staff. Tasty brews.
“Yes.” “That’s not weird,” she says. "That’s fine. Totally normal.”
If you’re looking for a very North Kato evening, you can’t go wrong with a night at the brewery.
Myer says she’s been coming to the brewery since it opened. They live just a
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Brent Busch, your local neighborhood mortgage lender. Q: We are ready to buy our next home but don’t want to sell our current home until we have a place to move into. How can we accomplish this? A: In many cases, you can purchase your new home and then sell your current home after you move. This is called a non-contingent purchase. One thing we are frequently asked when doing a non-contingent purchase is “what about my down payment”. We have a unique offering that will actually allow you to put the majority of your down payment onto your new loan after it closes and your sale is finalized. In this scenario, you would purchase the new home using a minimal down payment program such as 3% or 5% down and then once your current home sells, you can apply the proceeds from the sale to your new loan. This recalculates your monthly payments based on the new loan balance and loan to value. Think of it as a delayed down payment. As an added bonus you are not at all required to do the delayed down payment if you choose not to after closing. This is simply an added service for our clients to be able to do if they would like.
Q: I am looking for a mortgage and see ads for different mortgage companies. I see online companies that promise speed, I see national banks that promise small town customer service, and I see everything in between. How do I choose a mortgage company? A: There are many factors that go into choosing a lender for your home purchase or refinance. Our best advice is to look further than just an advertisement. Most companies are very good at advertising and telling you that they are the best without providing the evidence. At PrimeSource Funding, we promise speed, service, and communication for each of our clients and that is evidenced in our community involvement, awards, and most of all our reviews. By taking a few minutes to explore a lenders social media pages, advertisements, and Google reviews, you can get a feel for the company’s culture, expectations, and service. From there it is up to you to pick a provider that best fits your needs. As an additional thought, we always recommend working with someone who is a mortgage specialist. There are tons of places out there where you can get a mortgage, an auto loan, and a credit card all from the same provider but when it comes to mortgages it is always a good idea to work with someone who is truly an expert that specializes in just mortgage financing. We may be biased when it comes to our company, but we have been voted as the Best In Mankato, and the Best of the Best in Rochester by area voters, so if you need any mortgage advice, we would love to help.
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It’s tucked back off the beaten path in Upper North Mankato. From its unassuming location in the midst of other North Kato businesses, it’s an organization doing amazing things for the betterment of its community, a community it engages in its fight against youth hunger. Feeding Our Communities Partners (FOCP) has a mission to make sure hunger is not a barrier to success. Its board, staff and tireless volunteers, believe that feeding hungry tummies allows for healthy and active minds during the school day. FOCP fulfills this mission primarily through the work of the BackPack Food Program (serving elementary students) and Power Pack Program (serving middle school students). These programs provide youth hunger relief when access to food may not otherwise be possible. Collectively, they serve over 1,200 students each week at 28 area schools within five school districts in the greater Mankato area. They do it all from their headquarters at 2120 Howard Drive. North Kato Magazine talked with FOCP Executive Director Sheri Sander-Silva about how, after more than 10 years, the organization continues to impact the communities they serve. How did FOCP get started? In 2008, an Economic Summit was hosted in Mankato. Part of that was a comprehensive study on how many meals were missed annually by families due to poverty. The numbers were alarming. Meals were being missed even with the food shelf and government assistance. Concerned residents began gathering community stakeholders to brainstorm solutions. Local educators shared that students couldn’t focus and reach their full potential with hungry tummies. Beginning with volunteers, the BackPack Food Program began on a dining room table. The program was piloted in 2010 at Franklin Elementary school and served nearly 30 students. In 2010, the official organization was formed. Who do you serve? We serve those most in need when they need it most. The BackPack Food Program and the Power Pack Program annually serve over 900 students who live in food-insecure households. Students directly receive child-friendly, well-balanced, single-serving food items for weekends and non-school days when access to school feeding programs is unavailable. These services are available at 29 area schools located within five local school districts. Why did you get involved in the organization? As someone who is passionate about positive youth development, the mission is compelling. Providing food to youth as basic fuel for ultimate success is of the utmost importance. The impact of this work reaches far beyond a simple meal. It’s easy to want to support that.
BY ASHLEY HANLEY
How many volunteers do you have? How many people do you serve? We have a small but mighty staff, but due to the volume of our enrolled students, we rely on the generous support of volunteers. Last year, we had 2,333 volunteers offer their time and energy. With our volunteer support, 226,840 meals were served to 1,070 food-insecure students last school year.
The generosity of our community helps fuel one North Mankato nonprofit to reach beyond our city borders to fight youth hunger.
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What challenges did the pandemic bring? With great challenge comes great opportunity. Due to the increased economic stress and uncertainty while Sheri Sander-Silva
parents were out of work and students were out of school, our team, partners and volunteers kicked our services into high gear. While observing social distancing and safety protocols, we modified our delivery services to ensure students received their food while outside of school buildings. We also sought opportunities to provide additional food support to community members struggling with food access. Through the Minnesota Department of Education, we helped distribute an additional 440,482 meals to program participants. We also teamed up with the USDA and Second Harvest Heartland to provide COVID food assistance for community members of all ages. These food events distributed an additional 188,850 pounds of food to area households. Even amid so much uncertainty, we found once again that our community is generous and willing. We were overwhelmed with resilient hunger heroes wanting to give back in countless ways, and we were moved to see firsthand the gratitude of recipients. How can people volunteer or help? We rely on community support year-round and we have a variety of volunteer opportunities. Volunteers assist with the preparation and delivery of food packs to students. The organization is supported by several community-led committees intended to further its reach and impact. We also have three significant fundraisers annually that cannot happen without volunteer support. You can find these opportunities via our website: feedingandfueling.org.
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FOCP relies on volunteers to deliver kits to area schools.
Volunteers also help keep the warehouse organized.
Different groups can come in to help pack the food kits, it’s a great teambuilding experience!
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FALL 2021 NORTH KATO MAGAZINE
21
RULLO DI CUCU
E BY JEN &
Well into the Fall season in Minnesota the mouthwatering aroma of steaks on the grill fills the air. Even though grilling a steak might seem like a simple task, there are many decisions to make before you take that first bite: what cut to choose, what method of cooking, how tender or crispy, sauce or no sauce, and the debate between rare and well-done (rare and medium-rare in our household). During a recent weeknight dinner, we decided that Mankato Brewery beer would make a fine companion for both a steak sauce and a pairing. So next time you are contemplating a steak sauce, give this a try.
INGREDIENTS
View the recipe on how we used Mad Butcher Beer to enhance our NY strip steaks. Steaks were served with a grilled baked potato topped with an herb butter sauce, broccoli, and a tall Kato Lager.
4 medium (or 8 small) sized potatoes 6 oz Butter 1 tsp Olive oil 1 Garlic clove
DIRECTIONS
Fresh chopped herbs: parsley, thyme, oregano, mint, rosemary Cut the potatoes Hasselback style (see photo), make cuts along the potato by guiding the knife down until it hits the skewers.
Blend together the rest of the ingredients using an immersion blender, regular blender or mortar and pestle. Spread the butter mixture evenly on top of each potato. Wrap each potato in tin foil and place on the grill for approximately 45-50 minutes.
P R O U D LY S P O N S O R E D B Y
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NORTH KATO MAGAZINE FALL 2021
YOUR MEAT & SEAFOOD HEADQUARTERS
Wipe both sides of the steak to remove extra moisture Season the steak with fresh ground black pepper, sea salt, and a drizzle of olive oil on both sides
INGREDIENTS
Let the steaks sit at room temperature for 20-30 minutes and then grill at 425 degrees.
1 T supreme peppercorn - crush using a mortar and pestle
1 T butter 1/8 tsp paprika 1/8 tsp ground mustard 1 T chopped chives 1 white onion sliced julienne (thinly sliced) Cornstarch
12 oz Mad Butcher beer - separate into 8oz and 4oz (keep at room temperature)
EDI CUCURULLO Hy-Vee Hilltop Chef Find Chef Edi and his delicious recipes at Hy-Vee
Dash of cayenne pepper
DIRECTIONS
Salt as needed While the onion mixture is simmering, pour the remainder of the beer (4oz) into a bowl and add 1 tablespoon of cornstarch.
Melt the butter in a pan on medium heat. Add the crushed black peppercorn and let sizzle for a minute.
Mix well with a whisk.
Add the onion to the mixture (in order to avoid the butter getting dark, add a drizzle of olive oil into the pan).
Once the 10 minutes is up, add the cornstarch and beer mixture to the pan and cook until a creamy consistency (if it gets too thick, add more liquid [beer]).
Add the chives, paprika, ground mustard, and a dash of salt.
Remove from the stove and add a pinch of salt and a dash of cayenne pepper.
Stir so the onion is well coated, cook for 2-3 minutes until the onion is translucent and soft.
Drizzle over cooked steak & enjoy!
Add 8 oz Mad Butcher beer, stir, and let simmer for 10 minutes.
We paired the NY strip steak with the Kato Lager which had a nice foam and a clear color. Choosing this beer pairs nicely with the fat of the steak and works in harmony with the tanginess of the Mad
Butcher sauce. The Kato Lager beer is needed to rebalance the flavors in your mouth and gives your palette a pleasant and fresh feeling after you eat a bite of the tangy, peppery steak.
S H O P L O C A L & S AV E HILLTOP LOCATION 2010 Adams Street, Mankato | 507-625-9070
RIVERFRONT LOCATION 410 S. Riverfront Drive, Mankato | 507-625-1107
WINE & SPIRITS 2010 Adams Street, Mankato | 507-625-3055 FALL 2021 NORTH KATO MAGAZINE
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RIVERFRONT 410 S. Riverfront Dr. Mankato, MN 507-625-1107
HILLTOP 2010 Adams St. Mankato, MN 507-625-9070
MORE
EAT FRUITS AND
VEGGIES FUEL UP THIS FALL
WITH HEALTHY
VITAMIN RICH FOODS
Did you know you can keep yourself hydrated by drinking and eating? For example, eating 3 ounces of cucumber will give you almost 3 ounces of water too – only with the added nutrients of cucumbers! Fruits and vegetables are high in water, electrolytes and nutrients. This is important for athletes’ overall health, ability to perform, and recovery. Especially in warm weather when we lose more water through our skin, say “goodbye” to sports drinks and consider adding fruits and vegetables to your diet to stay healthy and hydrated.
269
YOU ARE WHAT YOU EAT Strawberries
Watermelon
Cantaloupe
Cucumber
Peaches
Broccoli
Citrus fruits
Tomatoes
Customize our menu to fit any budget! Contact us today to book The Pelican for your business or event!
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232 Belgrade Ave., North Mankato
273
GREAT FOOD & LIVE MUSIC Big Dog Sports Cafe’s patio is ready to be enjoyed this summer! Take advantage of the weather and join us for a delicious meal and a cold drink!
507.386.8463 1712 Commerce Drive, North Mankato
Stop in today and try one of our delicious Angus burgers made fresh daily!
Spinner's has been part of the North Mankato community for over 75 years and we're looking forward to serving you for another 75! Enjoy food and drinks on our outdoor patio.
507.625.9751 | spinnersbarandgrill.com 301 Belgrade Ave., North Mankato
FALL 2021 NORTH KATO MAGAZINE
27
BY VIOLETTE BOOTS
DEAR VIOLETTE: So, I did distance learning this year, and it worked for me, school-wise. I made it through the year, but I feel like I've lost connections with many of my friends. Most of my friends did in-person learning, and sometimes I'm worried I missed out. Any advice for getting back into the game?
Violette B oots rece ntly finished her fresh man year at Manka to West an d has grown up in Lower North Mankato . She enjo ys giving advice to her youn ger brothers, playing te nnis and basketbal l, and pet ting dog among o s, ther thin gs.
— SINCERELY, LOST CAUSE DEAR LOST, My best advice for you is to simply reach out. It may seem daunting to try to find something to talk about to a friend you haven't spoken to in a while, but hopefully they will understand that the fact that you reached out to them at all is a sign you still want to be friends. I suggest simply stating the truth about how you feel disconnected because then they will have a better chance at knowing why you reached out. Once you get more comfortable again, try planning on some fun events with them! I find that when you are the one to take the initiative to plan something, people will be more interested. DEAR VIOLETTE: I am ready to start enjoying activities again, but my mom is still being cautious about COVID stuff, even though it seems to be winding down. I'm not sure we'll even be visiting our out-of-state family this year like we usually do. We might have to just stick around the Mankato area. What to do? — SINCERELY, DREAMER DEAR DREAMER, I understand the concern over being bored and not being able to go on trips. However, it doesn't have to be that way! Here are some of my favorite local places and things to do as a North Mankato resident: 1. Try biking! Some of my favorite trails include the Red Jacket Trail, Judson Bottom Road (look out for cars, though), and the Minnesota River Trail. These routes are not only scenic, but also a good source of exercise and fun! 2. Visit state parks! There are some really cool parks in the Mankato area, my personal favorite being Minneopa, where you can check out the Falls or the bison. You can hike, picnic, scavenger hunt (leave items in the park), camp, and so many more things! They are especially fun to go to with friends and family. 3. Pick up a new hobby! I would suggest trying out something you haven’t done before. If you come back post pandemic with some skills and talents under your belt, not only will others be impressed, but you might just feel good about yourself too.
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NORTH KATO MAGAZINE FALL 2021
4. Decorate your space! I think that if you are going to stay at home, you should make it a place you want to be in. Try building furniture for your room or maybe finally clean out that dusty closet or just make some art you can put up on your wall. I’ve often found that things I’ve made myself bring me more joy than something store-bought. DEAR VIOLETTE: The good news: We got a new pet during the pandemic! The bad news: Lucky might be the naughtiest dog in North Mankato! I don't want to let him go... but I'm kinda afraid he might snap on someone... LITERALLY!!!!!!! Is it bad to think of taking Lucky back to the place we got him? — SINCERELY, NOT-SO-PROUD PET OWNER DEAR NOT-SO-PROUD, With my experience with three different dogs, I’ve found that sometimes you have to stick it out a bit. The first weeks of owning a dog are usually is pretty stressful, but if I were you, I’d try to remember that Lucky may be just as stressed out as you. In the rough patches, I would say give a little extra attention to what Lucky needs. I don’t know what Lucky’s issues are exactly, but I have some solutions for a couple of scenarios. If Lucky has barking and yelping problems, try ignoring the barking, then give a reward if Lucky stops. Lucky will learn that being quiet is good. If Lucky gets really aggressive around other dogs and people, I’d try introducing a new person and letting Lucky sniff them and learn that those people are not mean. However, be careful to monitor Lucky, or that could be really bad. If Lucky is just not that smart, then try to reward any good behavior with treats. Once Lucky understands that getting a treat means that something good happened, Lucky might be easier to train. Perhaps the worst problem to have is potty training issues. If Lucky is not making it all the way outside, don’t get upset with Lucky a long time after the accident, otherwise Lucky won't get it and might even try to hide the accident from you. Instead, recognize the signs that Lucky needs to go outside and give rewards. If all else fails, you'll just have to clean up the gross stuff and hang in there with Lucky as best you can. Hopefully these tips will help you get over the humps and bumps of the first stages of dog ownership.
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BY BROOK DEVENPORT, Blinds and More
The right window treatment can not only really make a difference in the look of your home, but impacts the space in other ways as well. It is an investment that will be around a while, so the pressure is on to choose the style and type. I always recommend choosing window treatments that you love, instead of selecting something that is trending at the moment. You will be the one to look at it every day, so make sure that it is something that you will enjoy. Also, consider not only how the treatment looks, but how it is going to function and meet your needs for the room. This means you should consider factors including privacy, light control and insulation. Cordless and Motorized blinds and shades are quickly becoming standard because cords are not safe for kids and pets. Some of the most popular shades that my clients love are: • Woven wood shades come from organic elements of reed, bamboo grass, paper and jute. Woven woods filter the sunlight and fill a room with warmth, texture and natural beauty. Woven woods come in a variety of weaves from chunky woods to classic matchstick styles, unique strands of shimmery accents and wavy textures. • Roller and Roman shades are loved for their clean
appearance, superior functionality, artistic flair and exceptional style. A vibrant selection of color hews, true neutrals and impactful textures bring an infinite selection of design choices. Choose from an array of decorative and foundational fabrics, from sheer to opaque, or solar screens with just the right openness for your desired light control, privacy and view through. • Transitional or Zebra Shades offer you the privacy of a window shade the softened view of a sheer and the option of raising and lowering your shades with privacy control at every level. Unique vanes transition from opaque to sheer as you raise and lower your shades for vast viewing options. Select one of the semi opaque, room darkening, or semi-sheer fabrics to softly diffuse the light. • Sheer Shades offer the best of both worlds – beautiful views and protection from the sun. With the vanes open these stunning shadings provide up to 88% UV protection and 99% with the vanes closed. • Cellular Shades offer an expansive range of pleat sizes, fabrics, colors, opacities and textures, along with innovative lifting systems and design options, the choices are endless!
Sheer shades are beautiful and protect from the sun. Roller Shades are classic and offer numerous choices in fabric.
Woven Wood Shades are unique and offer natural beauty.
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NORTH KATO MAGAZINE FALL 2021
— 1ST PLACE — NEW HOME CONSTRUCTION
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257
BY BETH FASNACHT
Orchid Drive Delivers Welcoming Warmth For some, a bonfire is just a way to keep warm on a cool fall night. But, for those of us who live on the Orchid Dr. N. cul-de-sac, it is so much more. Moving into a new neighborhood is both exciting and daunting when thinking about the prospect of meeting new people and wanting to fit into an established neighborhood. Instead of delivering muffins to the newbies in our hood, we do things differently: we have a bonfire. Since the neighborhood’s inception around 1988, gatherings have been happening throughout the years. Many of the “originals” are still here and it’s been said that pink flamingos once traveled the neighborhood indicating where the next get-together was to be held. Over the years, the flamingos have been replaced by a traveling rooster, numerous small gnomes, a stuffed gorilla (for a very short time), and most recently a large gnome. The gnome cannot be moved until the party has commenced and no one knows who will be the next until it appears somewhere in their yard or, at times, on their roof! When asked what keeps you coming back to the fires, the responses were heartwarming, to say the least. From a neighbor who has recently moved away, “they (the bonfires) always felt so inclusive and impromptu, everyone was welcome and you could stop by whenever you felt like it. No pressure and always so much fun.” She still does a periodic “drive-by” in hopes of finding us
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NORTH KATO MAGAZINE FALL 2021
gathered together around a fire or on a patio. One of the newer residents of our neighborhood has been amazed by our generosity and warmth, “Each evening is like a theme party. You never know if the night will consist of ceremoniously burning relics of the past with accompanying tales, reflections of building adult-sized snow forts (see photo), listening to ghost stories, playing yard games, singing karaoke, watching a ball game, celebrating milestone events, or simply chatting the night away. The bonfires call us to gather and the friendships keep us together.” Through the years, the residents of Orchid Dr. N. have raised their own families, “watched over” their neighbor’s families, celebrated graduations, gathered for a backyard wedding, and now are welcoming the next generation of children to our neighborhood family. Here, you get to know the entire family of each neighbor, not just the one(s) who happen to live in the house. Although we are generally gathered in good times, a neighbor reminded me “we share in their celebrations and sorrow, victories and defeats, but with humor and sincerity.” Yes, we started out as neighbors, but we have become the best of friends with the bonus of living by each other.
PEOPLE CARING FOR PEOPLE PHYSICAL THERAPY/ OCCUPATIONAL THERAPY 253
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BY JAY ZIELSKE
As I drive the rural roads and highways, one of my favorite sounds of late summer evenings is the chorus of crickets whose impromptu concert reminds me that the days are getting even shorter and that Fall is just around the corner. If you were to take poll of a hundred Minnesotans asking them what their favorite season is, my guess is that Fall would win. It is rather remarkable when you consider that winter is just around the corner! There’s something about the smell of the fresh brisk air. Or perhaps it’s the return to a routine as children return to school. Or just maybe it’s that fall means football season! After giving it considerable thought, I have concluded that the Fall is the overwhelming favorite of the four seasons for the fact that far and away it is the most colorful of the seasons. While one could argue that the appearance made by wild flowers in spring is quite colorful as well, nothing compares to the vast expanse of colorful leaves here in the Minnesota River valley. Though Minnesota’s NorthShore captures much of the attention of leaf peepers willing to take a road-trip to find the fall colors. I would argue that the colors in the valley are every bit as spectacular, and we don’t have to travel anywhere... the colors come to us! Better yet, we can watch the colors evolve over several weeks guaranteed to catch the peak fall colors in our own backyard.
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NORTH KATO MAGAZINE FALL 2021
This is a favorite scenic view year round. But fall is a special treat as you gaze across the river to Sibley Park and the confluence of the Blue Earth and Minnesota rivers. The fall views here are spectacular.
Walking the paved path on a quiet fall evening at the peak of fall colors is another special sight. The reflection of the trees and cattails on a mirror like Spring Lake on a calm day is a must see.
At Bluff Park you not only are able to see the fall colors as you stroll through the woods, on the way to the overlook you can also enjoy the fall colors of native prairie grasses and plants.
Catch the sights and sounds of migrating waterfowl on Lady Bug Lake, surrounded cattails and neighboring restored native prairie.
A hotly contested debate among avid leaf peepers is the ‘official’ arrival of peak fall colors. What better way to engage in that debate than over a cold one at one of our local breweries or outdoor patios. If the debate ends in a stalemate, then agree to meet again same time, same place in a week. For me, peak fall colors have arrived when there remains a smattering of green trees amongst the others, reluctant to say goodbye to summer. That’s my opinion, but I’ll gladly hear yours over a cold one.
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PRAIRIE
FAL L FESTIVAL AUTHOR SERIES COMING THIS
Sept. - Nov. WATCH FOR DETAILS
SAT. OCT. 2, 2-7PM | BENSON PARK | NORTH MANKATO CORN PIT, SCARECROW WALK, FACE PAINTING, BOUNCE HOUSE, HAYRIDES, FALL FOOD, DRINKS & MORE!
Jack-O-Lantern free! Walk
BRING YOUR LAWN CHAIR OR A BLANKET AND ENJOY LIVE MUSIC.
SAT. OCTOBER 16, 6-9pm BLUFF PARK
AND FALL FOOD STAND
fun the w for familhole y!
Saturday, October 16th
6-9pm
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Bluff Park
NORTH KATO MAGAZINE FALL 2021
Enter if you Dare
SAT. OCTOBER 23, 8-10pm Recommended for Teens and Adults
Mankato's workwear HEADQUARTERS We have the largest in-stock selection of Carhartt® insulated and year-round workwear in the Mankato area.
HOODED JACKETS • BIBS • JEANS • T-SHIRTS
GREAT SELECTION OF BIGS & TALLS
TIME TO START THINKING ABOUT
SNOWBLOWERS? We carry Areins snowblowers in a variety of sizes starting at $1,299.99
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WE’RE AN AUTHORIZED SERVICING STIHL DEALER 247
1951 N. Riverfront Drive • Mankato, MN 507-387-1171 • 1-800-879-1938 Mon-Fri: 8am-7pm Sat: 8am-5pm Sun: 11am-5pm
An Employee Owned & Local Business Since 1957
With the COVID-19 pandemic fading throughout 2021, it's safe to proclaim that it has been a tough year for all. One group that the pandemic has dynamically affected has been working musicians. When folks had to stop gathering in large numbers, to distance socially, to stop dancing (for goodness' sake), lost live music gigs became one of the first recognizable pieces of collateral damage.
BY NATE BOOTS
Most local musicians in Southern Minnesota do music on the side. They have other part-time jobs as educators, construction workers, farmers, bartenders or baristas, freelance writers or artists, or you name it. The music portions of their work may ramp up more than part-time during the summer months when festivals or special events tend to be held and when the weather is more amenable for freshair performances. So, the lost summer of 2020 hit gigging musicians particularly hard. Almost all live music was canceled with no makeup dates in sight. A goodly number of handy musicians turned to live stream shows, wherever and whenever possible, but these shows were often sub-par facsimiles of gigs, especially sonically. In the darkest moments of the pandemic when masks were the rule and a body could be arrested for coughing on another, some musicians wondered if sweaty, jam-packed, shoulder-toshoulder, in-person gigs would become a thing of the past. This has had an interesting effect. In some ways, it has likely allowed the musical cream to more quickly rise to the top. Those musicians who HAVE to keep playing, who NEED to keep playing, would do so—even to an audience of none in their living rooms or bedrooms. They would write about their pandemic experiences and create new music from them. Maybe they would just stop and think for the first time in a long while. What's so great about that, you might ask? Well, if you have to ask, you might need to stop and think. One of the few places locally that was able to host live summer music in 2020 was Wheeler Park in North Mankato. The spacious, tree-luscious park became the perfect spot for folks to safely social distance under the shade of leafy old trees or in dappled sun on the expansive grass to enjoy some music. Katie Heintz, Director of the Taylor Library and Mover & Shaker Extraordinaire in North Mankato, helped facilitate the music at Wheeler in 2020 after having started up "Music at Storytime Park" near the library over the previous few summers. "With the pandemic last year, one of the only social things people did was
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NORTH KATO MAGAZINE FALL 2021
get out to Wheeler Park each week for a couple of hours of music," says Heintz. "I've had many people get back to me and say it was one of the best parts of their summer." Heintz says she's had a lot of interest from musicians wanting to play Wheeler Park in 2021 following the 2020 performances. But she's settled on a list of eight different acts, a mix of area standards and newcomers, who will take the stage at Wheeler on select Thursdays in September of 2021 (they were also held in July of 2021). One of the groups that Heintz selected this year was the Lost Walleye Orchestra, which is helmed by Billy Steiner. A longtime area musician and North Mankato city councilman, Steiner says he is happy that live music is making a return after "a tough long year." He is also pleased that Wheeler Park is the locale for the summer series, reminiscing that though regular performances in Wheeler Park have been scant in recent years, music in Wheeler Park goes back to the days when The Gestures played benefit shows for the folks who worked on the dikes to save the city of North Mankato from the 1965 flood after the city had been decimated not long before that by the flood of '51. "Those folks who worked the dikes and volunteered their time and efforts saved the city," says Steiner. "And then The Gestures, at the height of their success, did their part to help, too. Those were the first Fun Days celebrations, you know." The first musical performance in Wheeler Park in 2021 came as a part of the "reimagined" Fun Days that will be taking place in North Mankato, a year after it had to be canceled. On July 8, one of the area's very best local bands, Bee Balm Fields, played in the evening. Frontwoman Laura Karels and her mates Pete Klug (guitar), Ben Scruggs (bass), Eric Bunde (drums), and Dustin Voges (trumpet) are one of those bands that took some time during the pandemic to up their game. Their original music and energy regularly set listeners abuzz. And as for Wheeler Park, it's looking to be the perfect spot for music lovers to come out and connect. "The park itself is beautiful," says Heintz. "People can put blankets or lawn chairs down. Kids are within eyeshot of parents. There's room to dance with all the space. I love the fact that it's in the center of lower north Mankato. I love that people can bike or walk over or throw their kids in a wagon. There's something for everybody, and it's a fun way of bringing people together."
A SNAPSHOT OF SUMMER IN
North Mankato
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BY AMBER BANNERMAN, Sota Sisters
Fall is in the air! Back to school, back to work, back to routine. Sota Sisters just got back from market, and found so many new, cute, trendy, functional, and fashionable items for you! We’re bringing you our top picks for the top five in fall trends!
We had a very hard time choosing which plaid prints we liked best at market, as we loved them all! Plaid jackets and shirts are very in for fall!
Need we say more? From wide legged styles, to boyfriend styles, to girlfriend styles, you can't go wrong!
These are hand-crafted in Minnesota and make a great backto-college gift. Choose from great messages like: breathe, fearless, faith, strength or an upside down heart which stands for self-love. There are many options to choose from.
Pair an oversized graphic tee with a plaid jacket and a pair of comfy jeans, and you’re set!
Yes, mustard is still a must-have fall color! We will have mustard pants, mustard plaids, mustard hats, and mustard shoes!
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NORTH KATO MAGAZINE FALL 2021
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H E R E TO R E M E M B E R
BY NATE BOOTS
The Race Is On Feeling "Old" We value education less than we ever have. The factoids we As I sit down to write this (well, the first draft anyway) it's stumble across on the Internet don't count. Fake news (a real the morning of June 4, 2021, the last day of this 2020–21 thing) doesn't count. Spin doesn't count. Conspiracy theories pandemic-stricken school year for the Mankato Publics. I NATE BOOTS don't count. Education—the learning, the understanding, and just dropped off my youngest, Gordie, for his final day ofBY fifth the synthesis of that knowledge into practical application— grade, his final day of elementary school. This is one of those is what I'm talking about. The time and effort and openrites of passage for him. By the end of the day, he's going mindedness it takes to absorb the knowledge that comes to be done with elementary school. When you're done with from paying attention in an educational setting is what I'm elementary school, you're not a little kid anymore. talking about. He feels old. Those fortunate parents who have children attending Monroe I feel old, too. Elementary—or maybe even attended Monroe themselves As his father—a person who is now finished parenting once upon a time—they know what I'm talking about. They elementary school-aged children, this is a rite of passage for know the effects of folks in charge at Monroe taking special me as well. educational care. They've seen the foundations of learning fostered in young minds. They've experienced support that Before I get too nostalgic, I'd like to discuss feeling old for leads to polish. a sec. "Feeling old" doesn't mean you are necessarily old. I firmly believe that youth is a state of mind and spirit. But Before he ever attended Monroe, Gordie, seemed to realize when we "feel old," I think it means that we just feel "beyond" that his older siblings were being given some sort of special what we're used to at a certain point in time. treatment, and he was jealous of his older brother and sister. As a preschooler, he would walk along to deliver them to Toddlers feel it when they graduate from diapers to school in the mornings or he would ride along in the car underpants. Six-year-olds feel it when they learn to ride a to drop them off. My older two had a habit of, after saying bike for that very first time. Sixteen-year-olds feel it when goodbye, racing down the diagonal sidewalk that cuts they can legally drive a car. Twenty- or thirty-something through the playground and leads to the south side entrance parents feel it when they have that first kid—and forty-fiftyof the school. When they'd exit the vehicle and step onto or sixty-something year-olds feel it when they have that first that sidewalk, Gordie would stare, rapt in his toddler seat, grandkid. There are tons of classic benchmarks that make us until the older two raced away and disappeared into the feel old. Some are subtler. Like the first times that we realize doors of the school. our teachers are, say, actually human. Or the moments we realize that our idols are fallible. Or those events that show When Gordie finally started kindergarten, he was able to join us that life is fragile, or that it can move more quickly than the race. From the outset, Gordie was fast, and sometimes we'd like. he'd even beat one or both or the older two. This soon created something of a problem because if Gordie won, the older kids Sometimes that "beyond" is an abrupt awareness of would be mad. But then again if Gordie didn't win the race limitation—an inability to digest certain foods without paying he'd be the one who was ticked off. The final words, hugs, and for it in tortured sleep. An inability to wake up in the morning goodbyes were becoming a jumbled rush because whoever without increasingly annoying aches and pains. A dulling of got out of the door first had a head start. sight or sound or taste. Hearing aids. Bifocals. After I noticed that Gordie was, before he even entered the Sometimes the "beyond" has less to do with loss and more to building, in tears because he'd lost, I made up the rule that do with gain: a sudden awareness of collected experiences all three kids had to start on the same sidewalk square and that leads to a seemingly sudden maturity or wisdom. couldn't take off 'til I honked the horn. It needed to be a fair Education can do that. race, and there was to be no pouting or sulking, or crying Monroe Elementary School in North Mankato, the school based on the results. Some other kids began to join in. It where I've had at least one of my children enrolled for became a sort of weird little track meet, but I thought it was the past ten years, specialized in providing these first real kind of great. Kids were sprinting to get into the Monroe educational experiences. The folks at Monroe are pros. Elementary School doors.
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The Value of Care: Karen Mehlhaff When we don't value education, we're missing out on a number of levels. When we do, it's a big old life-hack. One person who has stood out for years at Monroe (among the many, believe me) is Karen Mehlhaff. For a number of years, Mehlhaff has taught fifth grade, a special year at Monroe where students enjoy being the big fish in the smaller pond before graduating to the massive lake of junior high. This year Mrs. Mehlhaff was Gordie's homeroom teacher. With COVID pandemic protocols in place for parts of the last two years, teachers were at the forefront of having to make vital adaptions with little or no extra training. Mrs. Mehlhaff routinely seemed to make it look easy. Here's an excerpt of the final parent email of the school year she sent out: "When I see the iris and the peonies blooming in the yard, I know the school year is coming to a close, and butterflies start to flutter in my stomach. I know my students are ready to move on to middle school, but I am not quite ready to say "goodbye" to them just yet. The last day of school is always a challenging one for me, and definitely not my favorite day of the year. I know I will feel melancholy after the last child has left and the room is barren and quiet, with no personalities left that make the room so incredibly full of energetic life. The last day of school signals not only a closing of books and learning, but of relationships, and that is hard. Your child will indeed be missed. This year, the connection in our class of eighteen, was a strong, unique bond that found us deeply relying on each other. We laughed, we cried and we supported one another for nine months under incredible circumstances. "There were some touching moments for me personally, often arising when least expected. Telling the students in November that they were switching to distance learning for an indefinite amount of time ... or more than once I would look at the sea of masks, with all eyes on me, as if saying, "Now what Mrs. Mehlhaff? What's next?" and my heart would catch a beat. I smile when I think of the simple pleasures I observed this year ... a very fun Valentine party with the simplest of games, watching them play Duck Duck Goose, blowing bubbles outside, and most recently singing the "Fifty Nifty State Song" and marching around the classroom which was totally spontaneous ... I will tuck these memories away so that amidst discussions of "the year of COVID" I will remember and I will indeed smile." My goodness. That's not just one of the best emails I've received from a teacher of my children, that's one of the best emails I've received from anyone.
The Final Wave As Gordie and his older siblings aged, they stopped the Diagonal Sidewalk Race. Soon enough, his older siblings graduated to Dakota Meadows Middle School and Mankato West High. But as he hit the higher elementary grades, Gordie started up a new tradition: the extended wave. In the Fall, when the weather was golden and crisp and we'd walk to school, Gord would turn and wave a few times when I'd stop along that diagonal sidewalk to leave the final stretch for him to walk solo. When the winter weather got cold, he'd turn and wave in the frosty air at me in my vehicle parked along the curbside until he was out of view. We took to waving back and forth to each other an obnoxious amount of times. It became a funny habit. If we didn't have at least five or more rounds of the waving, it didn't feel quite right. So on that last day of school, today, I decided to take a photo. I had to capture it one last time before it was over before he became a middle schooler, a high schooler, or maybe even a teacher or an artist or a businessman or a father himself. I was happy to have the camera there to cover my face as he turned around to wave that one last time. Goodbye, Pops. Goodbye swing sets and slides. Goodbye, Monroe Elementary. Goodbye.
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