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People, Places, Lifestyles of the Minnesota River Valley

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Page 1: Mankatomag 116

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Get healthy Get fit Get a new outlook Get with the MeltdownJoin the Mankato Meltdown Fitness Challenge January 13th - April 13th

Healthy Veggie Wrap Yum

Erin McCann

Eating Right

bullbullbullbull 3G 1244 PM

Pin This

Decadent Chocolate Cake

Mary Foster

Calories Unconscious

bullbullbullbull 3G 1244 PM

Not This

Sponsored By

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Get healthy Get fit Get a new outlook Get with the MeltdownJoin the Mankato Meltdown Fitness Challenge January 13th - April 13th

Healthy Veggie Wrap Yum

Erin McCann

Eating Right

bullbullbullbull 3G 1244 PM

Pin This

Decadent Chocolate Cake

Mary Foster

Calories Unconscious

bullbullbullbull 3G 1244 PM

Not This

Sponsored By

MM p01 0116indd 1 12182015 24421 PM

GOLFERS FROM AROUND THE WORLD COME TO CHALLENGE THE JUDGE and the two other golf courses in Prattville at RTJ Capitol Hill Bring your clubs

and come take on Judge hole number 1 voted the favorite hole on the Trail Complete your day in luxury at the Marriott and enjoy dining fi repits and

guest rooms overlooking the Senator golf course With the Marriottrsquos 20000 square feet of meeting space 96 guest rooms and luxurious Presidential

Cottage combined with three world-class golf courses business and pleasure can defi nitely interact in Prattville

THE ROBERT TRENT JONES GOLF TRAIL AT CAPITOL HILL is home of the Yokohama Tire LPGA Classic on the Senator Course

September 18 to 24 2014 The Marriott Prattville is part of the Resort Collection on Alabamarsquos Robert Trent Jones Golf Trail

Visit wwwrtjgolfcom or call 8009494444 to learn more

for Yourselfraquo COME JUDGE for Yourself

RTJ746JudgePRATT_CNHIMagsindd 1 32814 1217 PMMM p01 0116indd 2 12182015 24422 PM

MANKATO MAGAZINE  bull January 2016 bull 3

FEATURESJanuary 2016

Volume 11 Issue 1

Grave lessonsAuthor Rebecca Fjelland Davis finds

warmth six feet under

22Listen up

Personal trainers offer advice to start you new year off right

18

About the CoverStephanie Howe director of healthy living at the Mankato Family YMCA poses in the free weight room

She was photographed by Pat Christman

Get inspiredItrsquos January Time for a new you

14

GOLFERS FROM AROUND THE WORLD COME TO CHALLENGE THE JUDGE and the two other golf courses in Prattville at RTJ Capitol Hill Bring your clubs

and come take on Judge hole number 1 voted the favorite hole on the Trail Complete your day in luxury at the Marriott and enjoy dining fi repits and

guest rooms overlooking the Senator golf course With the Marriottrsquos 20000 square feet of meeting space 96 guest rooms and luxurious Presidential

Cottage combined with three world-class golf courses business and pleasure can defi nitely interact in Prattville

THE ROBERT TRENT JONES GOLF TRAIL AT CAPITOL HILL is home of the Yokohama Tire LPGA Classic on the Senator Course

September 18 to 24 2014 The Marriott Prattville is part of the Resort Collection on Alabamarsquos Robert Trent Jones Golf Trail

Visit wwwrtjgolfcom or call 8009494444 to learn more

for Yourselfraquo COME JUDGE for Yourself

RTJ746JudgePRATT_CNHIMagsindd 1 32814 1217 PM MM p01 0116indd 3 12182015 24424 PM

4 bull January 2016 bull MANKATO MAGAZINE

DEPARTMENTS6 From the Editor 8 This Day in History9 The Gallery Ellen Schofield

10 Beyond the Margin Let Freedom Reign

12 Day Trip Destinations Celebration of the Lakes

26 Then amp now Schuyler Colfax

29 Food Drink amp Dine 30 Food Hot cocoa

32 Wine Cabernet Sauvignon

33 Beer Light can be good

34 Food Coffee Hag v20

36 Whatrsquos Cookinrsquo Nuts

38 Thatrsquos Life My dream job

40 Garden Chat Big plans for 2016

42 your Style A lsquobalmyrsquo time of year

44 Coming attractions 45 Faces amp Places48 From This Valley 50th reunion

9

26 38

42 44

12

Coming in FebruaryCabin Fever

Relax Wersquoll get through this

When it comes to your financial future a single view-point isnrsquot always enough Our trusted advisers work as

a team providing you the benefit of multiple CFPreg professionals and decades of experience When you are

ready to ldquoget seriousrdquo about retirement give us a call

Why Settle for Less

reg regreg

wwwedwardjonescom

Kenneth J Klooster AAMSregFinancial Advisor

1660 Commerce Drive Suite 2North Mankato MN 56003507-625-8452wwwedwardjonescom

Member SIPC

Schedule a complimentaryportfolio review

THE FUTURE IS YOURSTO CUSTOMIZE

WITH A COMPREHENSIVEFINANCIAL PLAN

5073876031 wwweidebai l lycomFinancial Advisor offers Investment Advisory Services through Eide Bailly Advisors LLC a Registered Investment Advisor Securities offered through United Planners Financial Services Member of FINRA and SIPC Eide Bailly Financial Services LLC is the holding company for Eide Bailly Advisors LLC Eide Bailly Financial Services and its subsidiaries are not affiliated with United Planners

Ryan Spaude Financial Advisor

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When it comes to your financial future a single view-point isnrsquot always enough Our trusted advisers work as

a team providing you the benefit of multiple CFPreg professionals and decades of experience When you are

ready to ldquoget seriousrdquo about retirement give us a call

Why Settle for Less

reg regreg

wwwedwardjonescom

Kenneth J Klooster AAMSregFinancial Advisor

1660 Commerce Drive Suite 2North Mankato MN 56003507-625-8452wwwedwardjonescom

Member SIPC

Schedule a complimentaryportfolio review

THE FUTURE IS YOURSTO CUSTOMIZE

WITH A COMPREHENSIVEFINANCIAL PLAN

5073876031 wwweidebai l lycomFinancial Advisor offers Investment Advisory Services through Eide Bailly Advisors LLC a Registered Investment Advisor Securities offered through United Planners Financial Services Member of FINRA and SIPC Eide Bailly Financial Services LLC is the holding company for Eide Bailly Advisors LLC Eide Bailly Financial Services and its subsidiaries are not affiliated with United Planners

Ryan Spaude Financial Advisor

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6 bull bull MANKATO MAGAZINE

MM

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MANKATO MAGAZINE  bull January 2016 bull 7

xxxxxx

BUILDING AUTOMOTIONAND INTEGRATION CONTROLS

HEATING AND COOLING SYSTEMS

SECURITY

ldquoTodays leading experts to help you for a better tomorrowrdquoldquoTodays leading experts to help you for a better tomorrowrdquo

307 McKinzie Street SoMankato MN 56001507-345-4828 507-289-4874wwwpaapecom

Please call for a free consultation and estimate

KnowYourRisk

Take chargeof your healthwith monthlyself-examsand annual

mammograms

it

Mankato Clinic joins usin raising awareness ofthe importance of early

detection in the fightagainst breast cancerand the importance ofcontinued support for

breast cancer research

MM p01 0116indd 7 12182015 24435 PM

Friday January 3 1890Magnificent Showing for 1889Over $70000 Expended on Streets Waterworks and Sewers(compared to 2014 dollars this could amount to as much as $86000000 dollars)

The most important of the public works accomplished this year is the construction of a pumping station the purchase of a magnificent holly pump and the completion of the large one-million gallon reservoir The discovery of a suitable water supply was made last year but it was left to be developed this year by the sinking of two large artesian wells to a depth of more than 600 feet

The next is important as having over a mile of sewer on second street Other improvements Completion of the Tourtellotte Hospital and the purchase of additional hose for the fire department

Friday January 7 1910County Board is Wrestling with Bills in Ledbeter CaseThiel Detective Agency wants to be paid for booze and treats entertaining deputy sheriff and farmers Lady Sleuth was employed on jobThiel Detective Agency employed a woman Paid for parties on the County dime In 1910 Though not mentioned in the printed story Mrs Ledbeter was accused of murdering her husband Holland several years her elder

The County Board met this afternoon wrestling with bills that had been presented to it for services rendered in connection with the trials of Frank Smith and Mrs Grace Ledbeter

County Auditor Weaver states the cost of these trials will be between $8000 and $10000 but he wonrsquot know the exact figure for several days

The Thiel Detective Agency has put in a bill for $49835 for services largely consisting of railway fare hotel bills etc One of the items under date Nov 23-30 and Dec 1-4 is ldquodrinks cigars etc with Deputy Sheriff $405rdquo

The next item is ldquotreats and expenses with farmers and others during investigation $2215rdquo

A lady detective seems to have been employed on the case for a time making a trip to St Louis and other places

Tuesday January 3 1961Twins are first lsquoBago Births of the year

Fraternal twins were the first births in Winnebago at the Community Hospital in 1961 Mr and Mrs Eldren Jaegerrsquos boy was born at 1055 Sunday and the girl arrived at 1115 AM The boy weighed 5 pounds 8 12 ounces The girl hit the scale at 5 pounds 2 and a quarter ounces The Jaergers who operate a farm at rural Amboy have seven other children ranging in age from Sandra 18 in nursersquos training at St Josephrsquos Hospital in Mankato to 4-year-old Joel

Tuesday January 3 1928Cafes and Dance Halls Scenes of Gaiety Quiet for New Yearrsquos Police Report Cold Wave Sends Revelers Home at Early HourMinus 18 degrees Fahrenheit is just too cold to have fun on New Yearrsquos Eve

Liquor that did not flow too liberally and the extreme cold weather conspired to make the celebration of the coming of the new year in Mankato not too boisterous ldquoIt was a quiet timerdquo commented Chiefof Police Jake Hilgers ldquoProbably quieter than last yearrdquo Only one arrest was made as against 3 last New Yearrsquos The arrest was of a man found lying in the railroad yards intoxicated The tips of his fingers were frozen and itrsquos believed if he had not been discovered he would have frozen to death

This DAy in hisToryBy Jean Lundquist

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Corporate GraphicsYour Printing Solutions Company

1750 Northway DriveNorth Mankato MN 56003

800-729-7575wwwcorpgraphcom

May your 2016 be

Filled with color and

delight

MANKATO MAGAZINE  bull January 2016 bull 9

The GAllery Ellen Schofield Story by Nell Musolf

After graduat ing from the University of Minnesota in 2012 with a Masterrsquos of Fine

Arts degree in graphic design Ellen Schofield was delighted when three months later she was offered a teaching position at Minnesota State University She expected that she would have to move elsewhere and was happy that she would be able to stay in her own state

ldquoThere were about 10 positions open around the time I graduatedrdquo Schofield said ldquowhich was really quite a lot I expected that Irsquod have to move so it was great to be hired by MSUrdquo

Schofield teaches introductory level graphic design classes as well as a special concept class that helps students fire up their creativity

ldquoIn the special concept class we do mind mapping brainstorming and once a semester I bring in an improv comedian because studies have proven that improv comedians have the most creative ideas of any other professionrdquo Schofield said ldquoThe class does theater warm ups and they really seem to enjoy it We also focus on the lsquoyes andrsquo theory in that classrdquo

The ldquoyes andrdquo theory agrees with an idea and then expounds on it with enthusiasm mdash the ldquoandrdquo part

ldquoCollege students often want to look cool all the timerdquo Schofield remarked

ldquoThe lsquoyes andrsquo theory pushes past that and opens up creativityrdquo

Schofield defines graphic design as thinking made visual

ldquoGraphic design is everywhere Itrsquos logos for businesses and icons and even the tax return papers given out by the IRS are examples of graphic design and had to have been designed by some poor personrdquo Schofield said ldquoA goal of a graphic designer is to create something that anyone can understand as soon as they look at itrdquo

Before becoming a graduate student Schofield ran her own graphic design business and has continued the business on a smaller scale now that she is teaching Her personal preference in graphic design is to create icons

ldquoI tend to like iconographyrdquo Schofield said ldquoIcons can be mdash and I think should be mdash simple and elegant and tell whoever sees them something about the business they representrdquo

Schofield worked with the Childrenrsquos Museum of Southern Minnesota to create its icon an experience she enjoyed

ldquoI wanted to make it something that would appeal to kids and their parents as well The Childrenrsquos Museum has such a cool space mdash it needed an icon that would let people know what a truly cool place it isrdquo Schofield said

When working with a graphic design client Schofield likes to have ldquolots and lotsrdquo of conversations

ldquoGetting to know clients is important We talk a lot so that I can find out what a client feels passionate about when it comes to their business The goal is to find something that makes them unique and then create a graphic design that reflects thatrdquo Schofield said

Shofield said her favorite artistic tool is the art departmentrsquos laser cutter

ldquoItrsquos like the worldrsquos fanciest scissorsrdquo Schofield said ldquoIt can cut just about anything and does an amazing job Itrsquos so much fun to work withrdquo

Schofield is working with MSU colleague David Rogers on a project using the laser cutter called ldquoPaper State Flowersrdquo Schofield and Rogers are using typographic state abbreviations combined with paper flowers Their progress can be viewed at wwwpaperstateflowerscom and the final results will be shown at an art gallery in Hutchinson in October

Schofield originally planned to become an engineer but after taking a class in graphic design she changed her mind

ldquoIrsquom a visual personal and I fell in love with designrdquo Schofield said ldquoReally I canrsquot imagine doing anything elserdquo

thinking Made visualEllen Schofield teaches at Minnesota State university

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10 bull January 2016 bull MANKATO MAGAZINE

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MANKATO MAGAZINE bull bull 11

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12 bull January 2016 bull MANKATO MAGAZINE

The Celebration of the Lakes has been a family tradition for Erin Thorvaldson Chisago Lakes Chamber Board Member and Community member for Celebration of the Lakes for more than 20 years Thorvaldson was about 10

years old when her grandmother introduced her to the event which takes place Jan 30 on North Center Lake in Lindstrom

DAy Trip DesTinATions Celebration of the LakesBy leTiciA GonzAles

hit the LakesLindstrom has plenty of fun waiting for you

Hot air balloons are just one of the many attractions this festival has employed over the years

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MANKATO MAGAZINE  bull January 2016 bull 13

Day Trip DesTinaTions Celebration of the LakesBy LeTicia GonzaLes

WhenJan 29-31 2016

I-35 North to Hwy 8 east to Center City Located on the North side of Hwy 8 on

North Center Lake

If youGoWhat

Celebration of the Lakes

Lindstrom MN

AdmissionFree additional admission required for some

events activities food and ridesVisit wwwchisagolakeschambercom

ldquoSo I helped way back then when she was part of the chamberrdquo said Thorvaldson ldquoAnd having a business in the community as I got older I also wanted to give backrdquo

Born and raised in the Chisago Lakes area Thorvaldson has served on the celebrationrsquos planning committee for nine years She said the event first caught her eye not only because she loves winter but because it focuses on the outdoors ldquoeven though many people in Minnesota cringe once we get to 20 degrees so it kind of gets you out and lets you do something funrdquo

Watching the celebration grow over the past two decades has also been fun for Thorvaldson

ldquoIt was very tiny at that pointrdquo she said as she reminisced about the early days of the event ldquoIt was just a few hay bales at the icerdquo

Being an active part of the planning has been equally exciting

ldquoThe committeersquos always trying to come up with more ideas that the community would perceive as something fun to do in the winter timerdquo she said ldquoThere have been the sled dogs there have been hot air balloons and there have been kitty cat races car racesrdquo

While past years have even included BMX bike races where people dressed up in costumes the snowmobile radar run and the vintage snow mobile displays have been the ldquomain staplesrdquo of the celebration Organized by the Wild River Snowmobile Club of Chisago City the snowmobile radar run features nearly 200 riders who race upwards of 120 miles per hour on a track

ldquoSometimes they will have souped-up snowmobiles that go incredibly fastrdquo Thorvaldson said ldquoWe had a world record one that raced on the track so itrsquos pretty amazing to see how fast some of them go They break them up into categories and there are prizes for the fastest one in each categoryrdquo

Originally introduced as a memorial radar run for a rotary member the radar run has become one of the celebrationrsquos most popular events

ldquoWe started with just a sheriffrsquos radar gun and now they use different timing items like cones and announcingrdquo she add ldquoItrsquos kind of something that has evolved toordquo

With the draw of the surrounding lakes in the area Thorvaldson said ice fishing has also grown in popularity and has become embedded in the annual celebration

ldquoItrsquos like little villages out on the lakerdquo she said

ldquoThat is kind of the big that that people do There are people who drive up from all over the place the Twin Cities all over just to come spend the weekend ice fishing on the lake so thatrsquos a big big thingrdquo

Greg Shaleen who has also been on the planning committee for the celebration for more than 15 years affirmed the celebrationrsquos growth when it comes to activities offered

ldquoWe have done kind of bizarre thingsrdquo he said ldquoWe do a smoosh race which is where you take 2-by-4s and strap four leather straps on it and you do a little bit of a racerdquo

Shaleen also credits the event for bringing people out to the lakes during the coldest month of the year

ldquoEveryone is all cooped up in the community and it just got to the point where they wanted to do something fun in the winter and get people out and about and enjoy the winter sportrdquo he said

From kitty races and sled dog races to a concession tent and a family fishing contest that draws anywhere from three to five hundred people Shaleen said the Celebration of the Lakes brings people together in the outdoors

ldquoWe are basically more interested in getting people out of the house visiting with friends and neighbors and visitors to the area and enjoying each otherrsquos interest in snowmobiling or ice fishing or whatever the events are taking place or going onrdquo he concluded

MM p01 0116indd 13 12222015 115930 AM

January The holidays are over along with all of the seasonrsquos excuses for overindulge in food and drink and under-indulging in any form of exercise (other than lifting onersquos hand to onersquos mouth) After stowing the presents in the

closet and taking down the tree many people choose the New Year as the perfect time to begin a serious diet and exercise program to shed the extra pounds they put on over the past few months and to begin eating more healthfully Mankato Clinic registered dietitian Erin Gonzalez says a hearty ldquoyesrdquo to healthy mindful eating and definite ldquonordquo to any extreme ldquodo or die(t)rdquo approach

According to Gonzalez 95 percent of all dieters regain the weight they lost within five years It is her belief that such yo-yo dieting only creates more frustration and stress which can lead to emotional eating and binge eating which leads to another cycle of dieting-losing-weight-gaining-weight ad infinitum

Gonzalez speaks from experience After losing 70 pounds since the time she was a teenager Gonzalez is now at a weight she considers healthy and one that she hasnrsquot deviated from in years

By Nell Musolf | Photos by Pat Christman and Darren Gibbins

Herersquos to ahealthy

new yeara healthy

new you

14 bull January 2016 bull MANKATO MAGAZINE

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MANKATO MAGAZINE  bull January 2016 bull 15

Erin Gonzalez and her son prepare a healthful meal

Erin GonzalezldquoI struggled with weight issues when I was growing

uprdquo Gonzalez said ldquoWhen I was 16 I went on my first lsquoseriousrsquo dietmdashone of the fast diets that were popular in the 1990srdquo

Gonzalez said that she stuck to her diet religiously having a shake in the morning one for lunch and a sensible meal at night just as she was instructed to do She also walked for approximately two and a half hours a day Over the course of one summer she lost 70 pounds but she was also she now realizes flirting with an eating disorder Gonzalez says this scenario is not uncommon considering research shows 35 percent of ldquooccasional dietersrdquo progress into pathological dieting (disordered eating) and as many as 25 percent advance to full-blown eating disorders

ldquoMy food intake was very restrictive and I was always extremely conscience of what I ate but just the same I slowly gained back 30 of the 70 pounds

that I lostrdquo Gonzalez said ldquoI was always looking at food as either lsquogoodrsquo or lsquobadrsquo instead of something pleasurable to be enjoyedrdquo

It wasnrsquot until she was working at her dietetic internship that she had her ldquoahardquo moment

ldquoI was blessed with a teacher who taught her students how to enjoy foodrdquo Gonzalez said ldquoinstead of being obsessed by it Gonzalez learned about a program called Am I Hungry that specializes in helping people heal their relationship with food and their bodies so they can relearn to trust their internal hunger cues instead of having to follow arbitrary rules and broken promises of diets Gonzalez facilitates a program at the Mankato Clinic that teaches the Am I Hungry philosophy

ldquoI have two childrenrdquo Gonzalez said ldquoa 10-month-old and a 4-year-old They know how to eat naturally and they stop eating when they are no longer hungry That is what most adults need

MM p01 0116indd 15 12222015 120138 PM

16 bull January 2016 bull MANKATO MAGAZINE

xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

need to relearn how to eatrdquoThe method has worked for Gonzalez Gone are

her extra 30 pounds and she no longer dietsldquoDiets simply arenrsquot sustainablerdquo she said ldquoItrsquos so

hard in our society because we are surrounded by cues to eat all of the time At buffets where you want to lsquoget your moneyrsquos worthrsquo when yoursquore out with friends when you sit down at the end of the day and turn on the television to relax and are bombarded with ads for food Food has become a reward for a bad day or a good day or anything else we can think of But if you look at how you eat as a journey instead of as a destination you can learn to enjoy food a lot morerdquo

So what should someone who wants to start the New Year in a more healthy fashion do

ldquoPause before you eatrdquo Gonzalez recommended ldquoAsk yourself if yoursquore really hungry or if yoursquore actually thirsty or stressed instead Try not to be emotionally disconnected from what you are eatingrdquo

Gonzalez emphasized that ldquomindful eating isnrsquot naive to say nutrition isnrsquot important Of course it is Mindful eating is what allows us to take charge of our decisions of why when what how and how much we choose to eat instead of battling being in or out of controlrdquo

Instead of following the latest short-lived diet Gonzalez encourages people to make the healthiest choices possible that donrsquot leave them feeling deprived

Paulette Tonn BookerFor Paulette Tonn Booker the Am I Hungry

Mindful Eating (AIHME) program has been a game changer

Said Booker ldquoIrsquove tried several diet plans over the past 40 years including some well-known plans and I lost weight on each plan However keeping the weight off eluded me and resulted in yo-yo dieting

The lsquorulesrsquo of whichever plan Booker was on became the norm and after years of trying to live by those rules Booker was no longer able to discern what her body was telling her about hunger often leading to out-of-control overeating

ldquoI always knew there was something else going on yet no one had an answer for merdquo Booker said

When Booker first heard of the AIHME program two years ago she was relieved to discover that there were other people who felt the same way when it came to healthful eating The program taught her the skills she needed to recognize her bodyrsquos hunger signals thoughts and feelings and actions to help manage the physical emotional and environmental stresses of everyday life without resorting to eating to cope with those stresses

ldquoI no longer have to be in control of everything I only need to be in charge of my decisions at any given moment When I choose to overeat (which everyone does) I no longer beat myself up I try to reflect on what happened and then plan for ways to handle the situation differently the next time it occurs Old habits are hard to break it takes concentrated effort and dedication to rewire the brain with new habits and it can be donerdquo Booker said

About weight loss as the end goal of healthful eating Booker shared the following ldquoThe only time I get on a scale is at the doctorrsquos office I know what the experts say I should weigh A number does not define a personrsquos self-worth nor does it say anything about who we are and how we feel as we make changes in how we nurture our bodies The number on the scale is just a number bodies come in all shapes and sizes as does health I will never diet again Instead I will continue to work on developing mindful skills and in the meantime eating what I love and loving what I eatrdquo

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MANKATO MAGAZINE  bull January 2016 bull 17

Eric ZiesmerFor Eric Ziesmer he is in the middle of his weight

loss journey a journey that began last July when the 32-year-old learned that he weighed 330 pounds The time had come for Ziesmer to make some healthy lifestyle changes Ziesmer decided to lose weight because of his family mdash both present and future

ldquoI have two adorable nephews and I would love to be able to chase them around the yard or pull them in a sled during the winter and basically to be active and see them as they growrdquo Ziesmer said ldquoAnd even though Irsquom currently single if it is in my cards for marriage and kids I would like to be there and not be too tired or not in shape A clean and healthy lifestyle is what I am striving for in my coming yearsrdquo

With the help of a dietician Ziesmer has started his cleaner and healthier lifestyle Since July he has lost 40 pounds and has decided to have weight loss surgery To help his post operation phase go as smoothly as possible Ziesmer eats fresh fruit every day has cut out chips and cookies among other things

ldquoI have totally cut out soda Soda was a big one to cut out In my huge climb to 300 there were days when I would consume two 2-liter bottles of pop in a single day and maybe cracking open a thirdrdquo Ziesmer said ldquoI try to listen to my stomach instead of my eyes or eat because Irsquom bored or stressed I eat slow and sip instead of being the guzzler I have always beenrdquo

Another tactic Ziesmer has adopted has been to stop drinking liquids 30 minutes before a meal and then wait 30 minutes after eating before sipping again

ldquoWhen my stomach rumbles and says itrsquos hungry I feed it When my brain or boredom drives me to want to eat I take a second to see if my stomach feels empty and if not it gets deniedrdquo Ziesmer said

Ziesmer has noticed that he is more successful at healthy eating when he eats at home When he does dine out hersquoll cut a sandwich in half eat half and save other half for a future meal

ldquoAs far as exercise goes it went from zero to at least two if not three times a week going for a 327 mile walk and have recently made my way back into the gymrdquo Ziesmer said He has been able to keep track of his walks with accuracy thanks to an app called MapMyRun

Ziesmer knows that his healthier living journey will continue for a long time

ldquoI plan on continuing to live healthy by continuing my exercise and eating right and by saying that itrsquos not only for me and feeling better but also because there are two little guys that look up to their uncle Staying motivated is at least my key to keeping up this lifestyle I want to live a long and healthier life feeling better and being there down the road for family and friends is what means mostrdquo Ziesmer said MM

Eric Ziesmer says hersquos got plenty of motivation to get healthy two nephews to whom he wants to be a good role model

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18 bull January 2016 bull MANKATO MAGAZINE

Stephanie Howe says itrsquos best to have realistic goals when starting a fitness program

Herersquos your guideBy Robb Murray | Photos by Pat Christman

Ready for CHANGE

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MANKATO MAGAZINE  bull January 2016 bull 19

Yoursquore ready

You ate the ham and turkey and potatoes and Christmas cookies You drank the wine beer and eggnog Yoursquove spent the last few

months pondering a life change Yoursquore on the verge of a major transformation This time itrsquos happening Yoursquore going to get healthy Itrsquos going to be a new you

And then January arrived And you have no plan

Luckily we here at Mankato Magazine have got you covered Itrsquos not uncommon for people to make a New Yearrsquos resolution or some similar vow this time of year It usually comes with goal weights and promises to hit the gym X number of times per week and trips to the produce and organic sections of the grocery store because this time yoursquore serious Right

OK easy tiger Getting healthy is a great idea and wersquore wishing you all the best But wersquore also coming at you with some sensible advice Maybe setting unrealistic goals isnrsquot the best way to go Maybe just

heading into the gym and trying to get it all done in a week isnrsquot a great way to go either

ldquoFinerdquo you say ldquothen what should I dordquoWersquore so glad you asked

Letrsquos get startedThe first thing you need to remember when

starting an exercise program is that if you want to lose weight you need to change the way you eat too

ldquoNo matter what you say you canrsquot out exercise a bad dietrdquo says Stephanie Howe director of healthy living at the Mankato YMCA

Howe works in what might be the busiest fitness hub in the Mankato area So shersquos seen her share of people come through the doors with plans to change their lives Some of them succeed Most do not

One of the biggest mistakes people make Howe says is not really having a good grasp on how much time theyrsquoll need in order to incorporate a good workout into their day It doesnrsquot have to be a two-

hour commitment every day she says It can be 30 minutes of planned effective exercise several times per week Whatrsquos more important is just getting there and thatrsquos an obstacle that is bigger than most people realize

ldquoMost people want to lsquopeople pleasersquordquo she said ldquoYou can say yoursquore going to get up and work out every day but most people are built to need external accountabilityrdquo

Think about hiring a personal trainer

ldquoWhen you spend the money on a personal trainer you have an appointment therersquos someone waiting thererdquo she says

A personal trainer is a great way to immediately know yoursquore doing exactly what yoursquore supposed to be doing and yoursquoll have no doubt whether yoursquore working hard enough There are plenty of personal trainers in town mdash at the YMCA and other gyms mdash who would love to help you Of course they donrsquot work for free and for many people the cost of a personal trainer is more than theyrsquore willing to spend

Fortunately therersquos a trend in fitness to offer the whip-crack of a personal trainer while staying Jo radlinger urges her clients to not sabotage their fitness efforts with poor eating over

the weekend

MM p01 0116indd 19 12182015 24510 PM

20 bull January 2016 bull MANKATO MAGAZINE

728 N Riverfront DriveMankato MN 56001

507-625-5163katobearscom

Pins and NeedlesAlterations

Specializing in alterations for theentire wedding party including

gown re-sizing hemming re-beadingbustles and so much more

Like us onFacebook

affordableThe Y now offers something called ldquotrainer ledrdquo

exercise sessions where you work with others in a group but have access to a trainer nearby who can push you motivate you and make sure yoursquore you know doing it right Theyrsquore $3 a class

ldquoYoursquore still expected to be there but itrsquos much cheaperrdquo Howe said ldquoThe group environment pushes you and we have tons of trainer-led classes Itrsquos the best of both worldsrdquo

Across town Jo Radlinger runs Jorsquos Garage a fitness center where shersquos the one pushing you to succeed

Radlingerrsquos goal she says is to bring out everyonersquos potential

ldquoI want to make sure everybody that comes through my door has success I want them to be the very best version of themselves that they can berdquo

Like Howe Radlinger acknowledges that the financial side of hiring a personal trainer can scare people away but she says there are several reasons why it shouldnrsquot

ldquoItrsquos never a bad investment when yoursquore investing in yourselfrdquo she said ldquoMeet with a trainer who is just as passionate about your goal My goal is not to train you intensely but to show you what yoursquore capable of and then take you to that next levelrdquo

At Jorsquos Fitness Garage there are no membership fees Radlinger doesnrsquot believe in them Instead she charges $5 per visit and in that time she said she pushes you to have a great workout

GymtimidationSetting goals is a great

idea Setting unrealistic goals is the kind of thing that results in a gym membership card laying dormant in a junk drawer by February

So set those goals but set them smartlyldquoAccountability is huge Even if you canrsquot hire

someonerdquo Howe says ldquoMake specific goals mdash say yoursquore going to workout X number of times but make those numbers realistic Set goals that are within your controlrdquo

Do this and yoursquore likely to feel a lot better about how things go

ldquoMost people just want to feel better about themselves they want to feel more confidentrdquo Howe said ldquoThis way even before any physical changes happen theyrsquoll feel better Theyrsquoll start to feel like theyrsquore in control again of their life and their choicesrdquo

Taking an exercise class is a great way to both get

your body moving while at the same time have fun and meet those people who will notice when you donrsquot show up

And about that weight room Yes it can be intimidating to walk in and see people who look like they live there But Howe says that while it can definitely be a psychological barrier focusing on those people is the wrong strategy

ldquoNo one cares what yoursquore doingrdquo Howe says ldquoFocus on yourdquo

Take it slowIt can be tempting when you finally get up the

nerve to get back in the swing of working out to go hardcore But just like setting unrealistic goals trying to achieve your fitness goals in a day is impossible

ldquoPeople start out really gung-ho and reset their diet so aggressively and most people just simply canrsquot do thisrdquo Radlinger said ldquoWhen yoursquore looking at making a lifestyle change I want you to do it slowly and incrementally rather than do it all in two monthsrdquo

Rushing into the weight room and trying to lift the same weight and number of reps and sets that you did 10 years ago is a great way to make sure you canrsquot work out for a while Going from a sedentary lifestyle to two hours of pumping iron can leave you sore enough to not be able to lift anything for days Maybe even weeks

Ease into it The gymrsquos not going anywhere Think marathon not sprint

ldquoSometimes people have an all-or-nothing attituderdquo Howe said ldquoand they make themselves sore and they canrsquot continuerdquo

Speaking of all-or-nothing Radlinger says

some people bring that kind of intensity to their food intake over the weekend Bad idea

ldquoAs trainers we help people be accountable We do success measurements help them prepare and plan And wersquoll do weigh-ins on Mondayrdquo Radlinger says ldquoWersquoll find that people do really well Monday through Friday then do what I call sabotage Saturday and Sunday At some point yoursquore going to get so sick of hitting that reset button every Mondayrdquo

Whatever you choose to do both trainers say itrsquos never a bad idea to sit down with your doctor and run your plans by himher Your personal safety should always come first and getting the green light from Doc can give you some peace of mind as you start this new chapter of your life MM

Jo radlinger runs Jorsquos Fitness Garage

MM p01 0116indd 20 12222015 120709 PM

MANKATO MAGAZINE  bull January 2016 bull 21

728 N Riverfront DriveMankato MN 56001

507-625-5163katobearscom

Pins and NeedlesAlterations

Specializing in alterations for theentire wedding party including

gown re-sizing hemming re-beadingbustles and so much more

Like us onFacebook

Live the Lifestyle

wwwmapletonmarinecom

Southern MNrsquos largestboat show on now at the

Madison East Center in Mankato

MM p01 0116indd 21 12182015 24524 PM

22 bull January 2016 bull MANKATO MAGAZINE

Thirty-three years ago I stood inside a grave A lifetime ago when I was a pastorrsquos wife

In Nebraska we served a parish of barely over one hundred members A picture-postcard white church with a hand-carved white wooden altar from Germany sat at the top of a hill next to it the parsonage and next to that the cemetery rolling down the hill toward a wooded creek

The first death in the congregation after our arrival set off a flurry of activity Irsquod never met Alma because she was in a nursing home before we arrived However my husband visited her on several occasions She was mother aunt grandmother great-aunt and great-grandmother to half the congregation so there was no question about whether or not I would attend the funeral

With my two little kids in tow I attended every event at the church every Sunday morning service of course but also every funeral every confirmation every baptism every meeting of womenrsquos circle and even every family reunion that was held in the church basement At twenty-six I perfected the art of making gracious small talk with people Irsquod never seen before and would never see again and at taking tiny portions from each confirmation buffet so I would neither be sick by the end of the day nor offend any of the mothers who had slaved away over their sumptuous spreads of food

By Rebecca Fjelland Davis

Grave Lesson in Winter

ESSay

MM p01 0116indd 22 12182015 24527 PM

MANKATO MAGAZINE  bull January 2016 bull 23

Attending the little white country church was physically easy I picked up one-year-old Josh took three-year-old Nikkirsquos hand and walked out the front door down the sidewalk and next door The only things I didnrsquot have to attend were church council and the menrsquos meeting Archaic This was in the 1980s It doesnrsquot seem so long ago

All the available babysitters in the community would attend Almarsquos funeral too so this was to be my kidsrsquo first funeral

The afternoon before the service salt-snow fell Hard little crystals pelted down as if the heavens had up-ended a Mortonrsquos salt canister Within a few hours the hard snow was six inches deep and still falling

In the middle of the salt-snow the gravedigger arrived The Ditchwitch roared around the cemetery to the familyrsquos plot and my kidsrsquo noses pressed against the upstairs bedroom window pane ldquoMommy can we go watchrdquo

Glad for an excuse to get out of the parsonage I bundled them in snowsuits put them on the sled and pulled them across the house yard and garden to the fence that bordered the cemetery

The Ditchwitch made short work of the grave and all three of us were mesmerized watching the mound of gray-black dirt grow in the crystal-white snow When the hole was finished the gravedigger turned his tractor on idle He hopped off and came over to the fence His eyes twinkled in a weathered face ldquoWant to come lookrdquo

I backed up from the fence a step ldquoNo not really I think this is close enoughrdquo

ldquoYes Mommy go lookrdquo ldquoPleeeeaserdquoSo Nikki and Josh got back on the sled and I

hauled them along the fence through the gate over to the grave and looked down Six feet seemed deep bottomless Dark A sharp contrast to the pelting snowflakes all around us

ldquoWanna get down in thererdquo the gravedigger asked I shuddered hung onto the kids and backed up

again ldquoNo No thatrsquos okay This is close enough I just want to look from hererdquo

ldquoYes mommyrdquo the little ones said ldquoLetrsquosrdquoldquoNordquoldquoPleaserdquoldquoReally marsquoam I think you should Yoursquoll be

surprised I wouldnrsquot suggest it if it I didnrsquot think sordquoldquoHow would we get outrdquo The sides were deeper

than I was tall and there certainly werenrsquot footholds or a ladder built in for Almarsquos soul to use to climb out

ldquoLike thisrdquo The gravedigger laid his shovel diagonally across a top corner of the grave and jumped down He grabbed the middle of the shovel handle and swung himself back up and out with the agility of a gymnast ldquoNothinrsquo to itrdquo

ldquoI canrsquot do thatrdquoldquoYes you can Irsquoll boost you And wersquoll lift the kids

Yoursquoll be amazed I promiserdquoI shivered The idea of being inside a grave

seemed much colder than the snow crystals biting at my face

ldquoCome onrdquo he said and jumped back in Nikki and Josh willingly stepped over to him to be lifted down I had no choice but to follow I couldnrsquot let my kids alone in a grave with a man I didnrsquot even know

So I jumped The earth on the bottom made a soft landing The soil around me was warm and steamy It was moist and dark but it enfolded us in an earthy hug At least fifty degrees warmer than the air above ground it felt as if the earth were offering shelter respite a comfortable place to snuggle down and rest Tiny roots dangled full of life from the smooth edges of the hole Tears sprang to my eyes I couldnrsquot help them My eyes met the gravediggerrsquos and he smiled Gently ldquoSeerdquo he said Nothing more

I couldnrsquot speak A few minutes later he gave me a stirrup with his

hands I scrambled out and he lifted Nikki and Josh up to me Then he flipped himself out as easily as a trapeze artist

ldquoThank yourdquo I said ldquoI would never have guessedrdquoHe nodded ldquoNobody does But it helps somehow

I wanted you to feel thatrdquoWhy I wanted to ask why me You donrsquot even

know me Why were you willing to take time for usldquoThank yourdquo was all I said I shook his hand and

he hopped on the Ditchwitch and drove off into the snow

I never saw him again Someone else dug the next grave required in that cemetery

I remember only bits and pieces of the funeral Irsquom sure I baked a boxed cake mix for ldquolunchrdquo afterwards I remember answering Nikkirsquos questions about the body and sitting in the back row of the church in case Josh didnrsquot want to be quiet I do remember looking at the unfamiliar face in the casket and thinking you get to rest in a warm cozy place

Ten winters later we buried my dad on just such a day Wet snow crystals pelted us and piled up so deep the funeral home limousine got stuck in the cemetery By the time the pallbearers pushed it un-stuck their suit pants were caked in slush and mud

We stood at the graveside in the bleak wet icy day and lowered my fatherrsquos body into the ground

ldquoToo bad itrsquos such a miserable dayrdquo ldquoSorry about your dad Sorry the weatherrsquos so bad toordquo And even ldquoSuch a good man He deserves better weather than thisrdquo

But the weather I thought was just right Losing my dad my kids and their cousins losing

their grandpa my mom becoming a widow my brother losing his farming partner and best friend changed our livesmdashthat part was too heavy to carry

The only part that was okay for me was to let Dadrsquos worn-out body be wrapped in that welcoming warm enfolding soilmdashthe very soil hersquod loved to till the soil hersquod planted and tended all his life the soil that gave us all lifemdashthat was the only gratifying part of the day

The only comfort I had was letting Dad go from the cold wet biting snow into that warm and restful place

And I still wonder who that gravedigger was ten years earlier and how he knew how much I would need what he gave me that bleak winter day MM

Rebecca Fjelland Davis is an author from Mankato

MM p01 0116indd 23 12182015 24528 PM

reFlecTionsBy Pat Christman

24 bull January 2016 bull MANKATO MAGAZINE

MM p01 0116indd 24 12182015 24544 PM

reFlecTionsBy Pat Christman

MANKATO MAGAZINE  bull January 2016 bull 25

There are few things as inevitable as snow during a Minnesota winter Big

cotton ball-like snowflakes cover the ground in a white blanket whitewashing the Midwestern landscape

We struggle against it Some hope the snow never comes It always does filling the sky with floating snowflakes that cling to the ground but melt as soon as they hit the small bits of face or hands that peek out from winter clothing

It is often quite beautiful especially when viewed from someplace warm and dry MM

MM p01 0116indd 25 12182015 24548 PM

26 bull January 2016 bull MANKATO MAGAZINE

Then amp now Vice President Schuyler Colfaxrsquos Death By Bryce o sTenzel

On Jan 14 1885 one day after his death the New York Times carried a

headline that read ldquoSchuyler Colfax Dead He Drops Down in a Railway Stationrdquo While most Americans today would have tremendous difficulty in even recognizing this manrsquos name

(unless they were paying close attention to Stephen Spielbergrsquos epic movie Lincoln and made the association) Schuyler Colfax was a former Speaker of the House of Representatives and Vice President of the United States under President US Grant He died in Mankatorsquos Chicago St

Paul Minneapolis amp Omaha railroad depot from a massive heart attack

Schuyler Colfax Jr was born in New York City on March 23 1823 His father died of tuberculosis five months before Schuyler was born His sister Mary died four months after his [Schuylerrsquos]

vice President Schuyler Colfaxrsquos Death in Mankato

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MANKATO MAGAZINE  bull January 2016 bull 27

birth The young Schuyler attended school only until he was 10 He then began working to support his family Schuyler Colfax never attended any kind of secondary school or college His mother remarried when Colfax was 13 and the family moved to New Carlisle Indiana By the time he was 22 Colfax was the editor and owner of a pro-Whig newspaper He was elected to Congress in 1854 and joined the newly formed Republican Party after the Whig Party disintegrated Solidly anti-slavery his colleagues elected Colfax as Speaker of the US House of Representatives in 1863 His election came soon after the death of his wife Evelyn The couple had no children

Colfax was President Abraham Lincolnrsquos first and last visitor on the fateful day Lincoln was assassinatedmdashApril 14 1865 Early that morning Colfax arrived at the White House while the president was having breakfast Colfax wanted to know whether or not Lincoln planned to call a special session of Congress for later that summer Lincolnrsquos answer was a polite but firm ldquonordquo Lincoln preferred a lenient approach in reconstructing as well as readmitting the former Confederate states to the Union now that the Civil War was over This approach put Lincoln at odds with the more ldquoradicalrdquo congressional members of his own party who preferred harsher measures be taken against their former enemies Lincoln had already made up his mind how he wanted to proceed with reconstructing the former Confederate states and he didnrsquot want any unnecessary interference from Congress Calling a special session was the last thing Lincoln wanted to do Colfax returned that same night to see Lincoln again just before the president left for Fordrsquos Theatre and his appointment with destiny This time Colfax came upon Lincolnrsquos own request The president had a long message for the silver miners of the Comstock Lode in Nevada thanking them for their loyalty to the Union that he wanted Speaker Colfax to deliver in person since Colfax was leaving by train for the West the next day Colfax was the last person Lincoln spoke to besides his wife Mary before he

was fatally shot at 1015 pm Colfax never forgave himself for turning down Lincolnrsquos invitation to be part of the theatre party that night

In 1868 Republicans selected General Ulysses S Grant as their presidential candidate Grant a military man his entire life had no political background Colfax was placed on the ticket because of his prior experience as a congressman and Speaker of the House (he resigned the position in 1869) Grant and Colfax won an easy victory in November 1868 Only two weeks later Colfax remarriedmdashthis time to Ellen Wade (niece of Ohio Senator Benjamin Wade) Their only child son Schuyler Colfax III was born in 1870

Colfax is best remembered (if at all) for his involvement in the corruption that beset Grantrsquos entire presidency Specifically the Credit Mobilier scandal broke in 1872 just as Grant and Colfax were gearing up for their re-election campaign Colfax was suspected of accepting shares of stock and cash bribes from ldquoCredit Mobilierrdquo a dummy construction company set up by the Union Pacific Railroad He was by no means the only influential person involved in the scandal Other political figures investigated included Senators Roscoe Conkling of New York William Allison of Iowa John Logan of Illinois James Bayard of Delaware and Henry Wilson of Massachusetts Grant was less popular in 1872 than he had been four years earlier and many Republicans worried that having Colfax on the partyrsquos ticket would harm the presidentrsquos re-election chances They dumped Colfax from the ticket mdash only to replace him with the also-tainted Wilson Grant won re-election and served his second and final term from 1873-1877 After being forced out from the vice presidency Colfax traveled the country as a popular lecturer often speaking about his interactions with Abraham Lincoln during the Civil War He rebuilt his tarnished reputation and commanded speaking fees as high as $2500

At 10 am on Jan 13 1885 Schuyler Colfax arrived in Mankato aboard a train from Milwaukee Mankato was just a

brief stop for Colfax who was on his way to Iowa for a speaking engagement The Chicago Milwaukee amp St Paul as well as the Chicago St Paul Minneapolis amp Omaha railroads both had depots in Mankato but because they were separate competing railroad lines Colfax was required to change trains by walking three-quarters of a mile from the Chicago Milwaukee amp St Paul depot at the foot of Hickory Street to the Chicago St Paul Minneapolis amp Omaha depot at Fourth and Washington Streets (now Washington Park) from which the next leg of his journey would depart Despite a reported temperature of 30 degrees below zero Colfax walked from one station to the other Within five minutes after he arrived at the Omaha linersquos depot Colfax entered the waiting room looked at a map on the wall sat down and died It was 1035 am No one in the station knew who the dead man actually was until they searched his pockets and found a letter with his name on it His death was likely caused by a heart attack brought on by the physical exertion of walking almost a mile in extreme cold Colfax was only 61 when he died His remains were returned to South Bend Indiana for burial

Today few Americans are aware that anyone named Schuyler Colfax ever lived much less served as vice president of the United States In this era in which officeholders are often treated as celebrities imagine how surprised people would be to learn that a former vice president died cold alone and unrecognized in a train station 131 years ago Before 24-hour news channels smart phones and social media it was possible for public figures like Colfax to live ndash and die ndash in relative obscurity Ironically Colfax loved the railroad but in the end it was the cause of his undoing Mankato has the distinction of being the location where the last man to personally speak to Abraham Lincoln in a private conversation took his last breath

MM p01 0116indd 27 12182015 24549 PM

28 bull January 2016 bull MANKATO MAGAZINE

Mayo Clinic offers pediatric and adolescent orthopedic services right here in Mankato Todd Milbrandt MD cares for patients with a variety of needs including

bull Cerebral palsy

bull Clubfoot

bull Hip disorders

bull Spinal disorders

bull Sports injuries

bull Scoliosis

bull Spina bifida

Mayo Clinic Health System in Mankato Call 1-877-412-7575 (toll-free) to schedule an appointment

495rdquox495rdquo Mankato Magazine January

Orthopedic care for your child

Independent ampAssisted Living

EQUAL HOUSINGOPPORTUNITY

1360 Adams StreetMankato MN

PrimroseRetirementcom

reg

Key City Senior Breakfast ClubThe Key City Senior Breakfast Club meets the first Thursday of each month from 830 AM - 930 AM at Primrose Retirement Community The club gives those 55+ the opportunity to meet new friends and visit old ones socialize with Key City Officials and enjoy a delicious home-cooked breakfast To visit a Key City Senior Breakfast please call (866) 447-9636

Mark your calendar for these breakfast dates Thursday January 7th Thursday March 3rd and Thursday May 5th

刀椀渀最 椀渀 琀栀攀 

一攀眀 夀攀愀爀

㔀 㜀ⴀ㤀㐀ⴀ㐀㐀䨀甀氀攀攀猀䨀攀眀攀氀爀礀挀漀洀

椀渀 匀愀椀渀琀 倀攀琀攀爀

20765 Foley Rd Mankato MN | 5073872434 | 5077262411

Three TimeNational Award Winners

MM p02 0116indd 28 12182015 30742 PM

Mayo Clinic offers pediatric and adolescent orthopedic services right here in Mankato Todd Milbrandt MD cares for patients with a variety of needs including

bull Cerebral palsy

bull Clubfoot

bull Hip disorders

bull Spinal disorders

bull Sports injuries

bull Scoliosis

bull Spina bifida

Mayo Clinic Health System in Mankato Call 1-877-412-7575 (toll-free) to schedule an appointment

495rdquox495rdquo Mankato Magazine January

Orthopedic care for your child

Independent ampAssisted Living

EQUAL HOUSINGOPPORTUNITY

1360 Adams StreetMankato MN

PrimroseRetirementcom

reg

Key City Senior Breakfast ClubThe Key City Senior Breakfast Club meets the first Thursday of each month from 830 AM - 930 AM at Primrose Retirement Community The club gives those 55+ the opportunity to meet new friends and visit old ones socialize with Key City Officials and enjoy a delicious home-cooked breakfast To visit a Key City Senior Breakfast please call (866) 447-9636

Mark your calendar for these breakfast dates Thursday January 7th Thursday March 3rd and Thursday May 5th

OMG hellip More food and drinksOK sure

By now yoursquore probably thinking ldquoOh my gosh the last thing I want to think about right now is more food more drinking and more diningrdquo

Fair enough We get it The holidays are murder on the metabolism of many many Minnesotans

But we also know that those metabolisms are hardy and soon enough theyrsquoll be hankering for a hunk of something yummy and full of fun And whatrsquos more yummy and full of fun than a big glass of Cabernet Sauvignon Our wine guy Leigh Pomeroy takes us on a tour of all that is tasty and wonderful about big red wines the kind that leave their mark the kind that really announce their presence on your palate

And just in case yoursquore super serious about a healthy lifestyle mdash and that seriousness extends to the kind of beer you choose mdash Bert Mattson our beer guy has just the selection for you Best part is Itrsquos light

Oh and under the category of ldquoDid you hear about thisrdquo Wersquove got an update for you on the Coffee Hag Mankatorsquos original coffee house and one of the most popular hangouts in town Seriously some days itrsquos hard to find a seat in that place

EnjoyPS We know that baby itrsquos cold outside mdash thatrsquos why wersquove

thrown you our absolute best hot cocoa recipe

Enjoymdash Robb Murray Associate Editor Mankato Magazine

food drink amp dineso

uthern m

n style

20765 Foley Rd Mankato MN | 5073872434 | 5077262411

Three TimeNational Award Winners

MM p02 0116indd 29 12182015 30745 PM

MANKATO 5073854485 AMBOY 5076743355 I VERNON CENTER 5075493679

INSURANCE OFFICES LOCATED IN THE COMMUNITY BANK BUILDINGS

wwwcimankatocom

Protecting the things that matter most in your life

Let us help protect what is important to you At Community Insurance we have the ability to compare insurance from multiple companies to get you the best coverage at a great price Combine that with our insurance knowledge and friendly group of agents and we say thatrsquos a winning deal

WHERE YOUR POLICY COMES WITH AN AGENT

Christina Meyer

Food

south

ern mn style

Food

south

ern mn style

By The Washington Post

Growing up my mother always encouraged her children to cook So when

I found a recipe for hot chocolate on the side of the Hersheyrsquos Cocoa can it was easy to convince her to let me give it a try

What I discovered was that hot chocolate doesnrsquot have to come from an envelope

This recipe has been a favorite of mine to make on days when winter weather has convinced me stay home and off the roads Itrsquos the perfect way to kill time and have a nice hot drink to warm you up on those chilly days

Although you can top it with whipped cream I prefer marshmallows

FAVORITE HOT COCOAMakes 4 to 6 servings

12 cup sugar14 cup unsweetened cocoa powder

Dash of salt13 cup hot water

4 cups milk34 teaspoon vanilla extract

Whipped cream or marshmallows (optional)

Mix sugar cocoa powder salt and water in a sauce pan Stir constantly over medium heat until mixture comes to a boil (about 2 minutes) Stir in

milk and heat Bring the hot chocolate to the desired temperature but do not boil Remove from heat and

add the vanilla extract Divide into mugs and top with whipped cream or marshmallows

PERFECTLY CHOCOLATE HOT COCOA

Makes 1 serving

2 tablespoons sugar2 tablespoons unsweetened cocoa powder

Dash salt1 cup milk

14 teaspoon vanilla extractWhipped cream or marshmallows (optional)

Mix sugar cocoa powder and salt into large mug In separate microwave-safe container heat on high

for 1 to 1 frac12 minutes or until very hot Carefully and gradually add milk to dry mixture Stir well Add vanilla extract Top with whipped cream or

marshmallows

Simple homemade hot chocolate

beats the winter chill

30 bull January 2016 bull MANKATO MAGAZINE

MM p02 0116indd 30 12182015 30752 PM

MANKATO MAGAZINE  bull January 2016 bull 31

Oil Change to OverhaulWe do it all

507-387-13151620 Commerce Drive North MankatowwwAustinsAutoRepairCentercom

Voted Best Auto Repair and Best Auto Mechanic 4 Years in a Row

AUSTINrsquoS AUTO REPAIR CENTER INC

MANKATO 5073854485 AMBOY 5076743355 I VERNON CENTER 5075493679

INSURANCE OFFICES LOCATED IN THE COMMUNITY BANK BUILDINGS

wwwcimankatocom

Protecting the things that matter most in your life

Let us help protect what is important to you At Community Insurance we have the ability to compare insurance from multiple companies to get you the best coverage at a great price Combine that with our insurance knowledge and friendly group of agents and we say thatrsquos a winning deal

WHERE YOUR POLICY COMES WITH AN AGENT

Christina Meyer

MM p02 0116indd 31 12182015 30755 PM

32 bull January 2016 bull MANKATO MAGAZINE

January is Cabernet TimeWersquove celebrated nearly

every January edition of Mankato Magazine with

a paean to BIG REDS And since there are so many wonderful examples why stop now

Last year I wrote about the powerful big reds of Italy This January wersquoll focus on Cabernet Sauvignon known to many as ldquothe king of winesrdquo Most oenophiles (wine lovers) consider the quintessential representations of this grape to be the classified Bordeaux of southwest France near the city of Bordeaux The five First Growths (or best wines according to a classification made in 1855 and updated in 1973) are Ch Lafite Rothschild Ch Margaux Ch Latour Ch Haut Brion and Ch Mouton Rothschild All have a cabernet sauvignon base but they are blended with merlot and often a little bit of cabernet franc and petit verdot as well

In the early 1970s I was able to buy these wines for around $22 per bottle mdash about $120 in 2016 dollars Yet with the popularity of ldquocollectiblerdquo wines on a worldwide

basis they sell today for anywhere from $400 on up

Contrary to popular belief these wines are not that massive Rather they combine cabernet sauvignon power with

structure and finesse yielding wines that become with time elixirs that are greater than the sum of their parts

Both California and Washington state have taken up the Cabernet Sauvignon challenge and are producing world-class wines at sometimes world-class prices Napa Valley is the recognized leader in this arena and rightly so Napa Valleyrsquos top Cabernet

Wine amp B

eerso

uthern m

n style

winesBy Leigh Pomeroy

Leigh Pomeroy is a Mankato-based writer and wine lover

Cabernet Sauvignon is the black Labrador of wines mdash it comes up and licks yourdquo

mdash Winemaker Scott Rich

Sauvignons rival the great wines of Bordeaux for quality mdash Irsquove tasted them side-by-side mdashand yet can sell for a fraction of their price

One such example is the 2013 Tulocay Cabernet Sauvignon from my old friend Bill Cadman We were young bucks in Napa Valley and had a tasting group in the early 1970s along with now-famous wine luminaries Bruce Neyers (Neyers Vineyards) and Mike Richmond (co-founder of Acacia Vineyard)

Billrsquos Cabernet is from an old and relatively cool growing area east of the City of Napa called Coombsville which because of industry political issues only recently received its AVA (American Viticultural Area) designation It is priced at $60 per bottle yet compares with any top-flight Bordeaux as well as the more expensive offerings from Napa Valley which can cost from $100 on up Not currently available at wine stores or restaurants in Minnesota it can be purchased by contacting the winery directly via its website tulocaycom The winery is so small that Bill will probably answer the phone himself

There is a lot of Cabernet Sauvignon available from California but mdash caveat emptor mdash not all growing areas (or appellations) are the same The best Cabernet Sauvignons are from Napa and Sonoma Counties Cabernets simply labeled ldquoCaliforniardquo or perhaps ldquoCoastalrdquo while sometimes good values lack the complexity of the greater Cabernet Sauvignons from the more northern parts of the state

Washington state has also

established itself as a prime producer of Cabernet Sauvignon But here again quality can vary greatly depending upon the area and producer While there is no ldquogo-tordquo appellation for Cabernet Sauvignon in Washington there are producers that are able to secure fruit from the best vineyards

One such example is the tiny Willis Hall Winery owned by another good friend John Bell a former Boeing jet propulsion engineer Like Tulocay its wines are only available by calling up the winery and ordering some (See willishallcom) But there are many other top quality producers in Washington like Quilceda Creek Leonetti Betz Family and Woodward Canyon

Of course not everyone can afford Cabernet Sauvignons in the $60-plus category One excellent everyday drinking example is the Flying Cloud 2013 Paso Robles Cabernet Sauvignon made by Mankato native Stephen Dooley Normally I donrsquot like Paso Robles Cabs as they tend to be too fruity and too soft for my palate mdash almost like drinking berry jam But this one is quite restrained no doubt helped by the inclusion of 13 percent zinfandel and 9 percent petite sirah in the blend

In Mankato both the Wine Cafeacute and MGM carry the Flying Cloud but at its price and quality I wouldnrsquot count on it lasting for long especially since only 759 cases were produced

So letrsquos raise a glass of Cabernet and say ldquoCheersrdquo to the New Year

MM p02 0116indd 32 12182015 30756 PM

MANKATO MAGAZINE  bull January 2016 bull 33

Bert Mattson is a chef and writer based in St Paul He is the manager of the iconic Mickeyrsquos Diner

Beer Skinny

BeerBy Bert Mattson

Last year according to Nielsen research staying fit and healthy was

the number one New Yearrsquos resolution Losing weight was two Three was to enjoy life to the fullest Unfortunately ldquolose weight and get fitrdquo also topped Time magazinersquos list of commonly broken resolutions Is this shortfall due to tension between the top two and that third one If so craft beer may have a role in the compromise Bad news first

In the context of losing weight and staying fit beer lovers might seek solace in the fact that fat carries nine calories per gram while alcohol has only seven The wrinkle is that those seven are ldquoemptyrdquo mdash calories without nutrition as opposed to those from fat protein and carbohydrates Moreover alcoholrsquos calories are the first burned when combined with the others the human body postpones burning fat while it works on alcohol Furthermore beer (and wine and often cocktails) contains carbohydrates which release insulin and can hasten fat storage Finally many drinkers have undoubtedly observed that alcohol loosens inhibitions after which an eager indulgence in unhealthy foods often occurs (Bar menus are rarely helpful in that respect)

By now you may wonder whose side Irsquom actually on Or suspect Irsquove led you to this dark place only to offer you a Lite No worries a couple craft brewers have been considering ways to keep us true to our resolutions

Evil Twin Brewingrsquos Bikini Beer drops the alcohol to 27 percent but stays bold by way of hops A Pale Ale it hits the nose with citrus suggestive of IPA The flavor follows suit floral and lemon There is an expected absence of malt yielding to bitterness up front that fades at the finish An alternative

for those who insist on the full effect Founderrsquos Brewing Companyrsquos All Day IPA rings in at a respectable 144 calories (Evil Twinrsquos entry comes in at 81)

One strategy to beat the beer munchies and avoid costly impulse eating is to have suitable chow on hand With Bikini Beer try a salad sporting blue cheese and some sort of dried fruit Creamy blue veined cheeses echo the hops while balancing bitterness An occasional bite of dried fruit stands in for malt sweetness

Brooklyn Breweryrsquos 12 Ale weighs in at 34 percent alcohol (102 calories) It is alliteratively labeled ldquoSession Saisonrdquo It opens with a waft of citrus and spice and a little lemongrass from Sorachi Ace hops mdash a hybrid developed in East Asia The same elements are found in the flavor which is a bit more subdued than a full-sized Saison

Try it with a tangle of arugula dressed with lemon and a fruity olive oil tossed with pine nuts and topped with shaved Parmesan for effect The greens and cracked pepper reflect spicy phenolic elements in the yeast Salty cheese counters the beerrsquos lingering bitterness Maybe add a few slices of Speck cured ham and Saison share a certain funkiness

If friends show and it becomes a session you may honestly say you spent Saturday working on your six-pack

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34 bull January 2016 bull MANKATO MAGAZINE

Food

south

ern mn style

Food

south

ern mn style

The Coffee Hag one of the arearsquos oldest (and coolest) bistros recently underwent a major expansion and remodeling journey culminating in a large and airy

seating area along with a much-improved kitchen and a new menu Mankato Magazine caught up with a very busy (and slightly exhausted) owner Jenn Melby-Kelly who weighs in on how itrsquos going

MANKATO MAGAZINE Are you personally enjoying the new updatesJENN MELBY-KELLY It Is Fabulous The new space represents so much more than a remodel to me It has brought to life a vision for my business thatrsquos been years in the making It incorporates many many good ideas from many many people I feel so fortunate to get to see that every time I walk through the door

MM How are customers reactingJMK Thatrsquos been one of the best parts The response has been overwhelmingly positive

A few of our most regular customers had the opportunity to get a glimpse of the remodel while it was underway (we gave some informal preview tours while we were operating the temporary stand outside) but many customers walk through the door now and see it all for the first time Itrsquos especially fun to see and hear that kind of wide-eyed reaction

A few people with special connections to The Hag have had even stronger emotional responses and Irsquom so touched and right there with them when I see eyes well up as they see what wersquove done Itrsquos a very big milestone for a very special place and wersquore blessed to have people that care so deeply

MM Do the employees appreciate the new spaceJMK Oh probably more than anyone There was a lot that we sought to do with the remodel but creating a bigger brighter better-equipped space for our team was certainly one of the primary goals Wersquove got an incredible team truly the most spirited and talented people anyone could hope for

Many of them have spent years with me working hard against the challenge of a small under-equipped space and just barely being able to keeping up with growing demand Itrsquos been a special blessing for them and for me to finally have state-of-the-art space thatrsquos made for the work that we do We all feel a special connection to this place and now more than ever the place reflects the good energy we all bring here every day

MM Is the new menu a hit (The Hag specializes in vegetarianvegan cuisine)JMK Yes but just wait Feedback and demand have been excellent with our food offerings already but wersquore just getting started on some of the really exciting things that are coming to our food menu

Remodeling the cafe was just the first major milestone of our two-part expansion plan Next up wersquore building a state of the art off-site commissary kitchen that will do for our incredible culinary team what the remodeled shop has done for our baristas Theyrsquove been working day and night on taking our already fantastic food offerings to a whole new level

Wersquove already introduced some amazing new menu items like the Garden Grilled Cheese panini (trust me itrsquos like nothing yoursquove had before) and some truly outstanding new vegan baked goods Wersquove also improved our classic offerings with house-made

Interview with Jenn Melby-Kelly owner of The Coffee Hag

By Sarah Johnson

MM p02 0116indd 34 12182015 30802 PM

MANKATO MAGAZINE  bull January 2016 bull 35

Happy New Year

Locally Owned amp Operated

Check Weekly Specialsmgmwineandspiritscommankato

Largest Selection ofbull Liquor bull Wine bull Beer bull

Hours Monday-Saturday 8 am - 10 pm

ATMs at all stores

Mankato201 Victory Dr

625-2420

North Mankato1755 Commerce Dr

387-2634

St Peter100 N Minnesota Ave

934-8964

sourdough and whole wheat breads But as impressive as it is already itrsquos just a taste mdash literally mdash of things to come as we bring our new kitchen online

MM Whatrsquos stayed the sameJMK Irsquom really proud to say that while wersquove touched almost every part of this 23-year-old business wersquove kept even more than we have changed From the first days of this project I made it my personal mission and responsibility to make sure that the ldquosoulrdquo of this special place was only enhanced and never lost as we made the updates

In every area of the remodel as wersquove added some necessary new layers of sophistication The Hagrsquos colorful quirky and even rebellious spirit is still very much a part of the space We did a lot to try to make sure it still looked and felt like ldquohomerdquo

And on a deeper level every step wersquove taken with the growth of our business has been chosen carefully to honor the core parts of The Coffee Hagrsquos identity Our focus on community our support for local art and music our commitment to creating a safe and welcoming space for everyone our efforts to lead the way on social and environmental issues affecting our world near and far mdash those have all stayed the same And those will always be at the heart of what we do

MM Anything elseJMK Irsquom so incredibly grateful for the support of our customers and community And whenever I talk about my business and how it has grown I really canrsquot overstate how thankful I am for my beautiful Coffee Hag family The hard work good energy and earnest contributions of so many people mdash past and present mdash have brought me and my business here An incredible amount of love has gone into this business and made this dream a reality

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36 bull January 2016 bull MANKATO MAGAZINE

xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

Food

south

ern mn style

whatrsquos Cooking By Sarah Johnson

Sarah Johnson is a cook freelance writer and chocolate addict from North Mankato with three grown kids and a couple of mutts

As I was pondering my subject matter for todayrsquos column I started wondering about all the different items the word ldquonutsrdquo can refer

to Crazy people are called nuts so are hexagonal metal objects that attach to bolts Nuts can be the end of things (as in ldquofrom soup to nutsrdquo) or they can be the beginning of them (as in ldquosperm incubatorsrdquo) Nut can also mean onersquos head or onersquos lump of something such as butter And if you accidentally get a nut of butter on your nut you can exclaim ldquoNutsrdquo

My favorite meaning of the word nut however is the dry indehiscent one-seeded fruit with a woody pericarp And I donrsquot even know what indehiscent OR pericarp means But these are the wonderful denizens of the world of edible nuts

Nuts are widely credited with all sorts of health benefits for the heart brain male reproductive system prostate cholesterol level fiber intake and avoidance of some types of cancer And while nuts do contain fat itrsquos the ldquogoodrdquo kind heart-healthy monounsaturated and polyunsaturated fat Their mix of omega-3 fatty acids protein and fiber helps you feel full and suppresses the appetite

Nuts are great in desserts and salads of course but they also shine in stir-fries casseroles soups chicken pork fish and even beverages Nut butters nut milks and nut oils add delicious options to our kitchen larders Breads cereals muffins and pancakes gain texture flavor and nutrition from the addition of nuts Basically anytime is a good time for nuts

Which is a wonderful thing because nuts taste so good you would think they had to be very very bad The reason lies deep in their oils

Walnut Oil is strong and flavorful Itrsquos best when used in uncooked sauces or salad dressing

Hazelnut Oil has a strong flavor and is great for the heart

Almond Oil is very popular and has a much milder flavor than walnut oil or hazelnut oil

Pecan Macadamia Nut Pistachio Cashew and Pine Nut Oils are flavorful and unique The freshness of the nuts used really affects the flavor

ldquoTherersquos Nuttinrsquo Nutty About Nutsrdquo

For the Baklava1 pound pistachios hazelnuts walnuts pecans andor almonds coarsely ground plus more for garnish12 teaspoon ground cinnamon1 cup breadcrumbs4 sticks unsalted butter melted16 sheets phyllo dough (thawed if frozen) cut in half

For the Syrup3 cups sugar1 6 -to-8-ounce jar honey1 frac12 cups water1 to 2 tablespoons fresh lemon juice

If yoursquore under the impression that baklava is much too labor-intensive and complicated to make at home think again Anybody can make

it no special skills equipment or exotic ingredients are required A word about phyllo dough Itrsquos sold in frozen packages so you need to remove the package from the freezer and let it thaw in the fridge 24 hours before you want to make the baklava Then about an hour beforehand remove the package from the fridge and let it sit on the counter

Walnuts or pistachios are the most traditional nuts to fill baklava but using other nuts works wonders as well Simply layer the phyllo with the nut filling and butter bake for an hour and finish with a simple honeyed syrup If you have leftover nuts from the holidays herersquos your chance to use them up

Mixed Nut Baklava

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MANKATO MAGAZINE  bull January 2016 bull 37

MONEY MATTERS WORK SMARTLET COMMUNITY BANK HELP YOUBRING THE TWO TOGETHER

MANKATO - SAINT ANDREWS DR 5073854444MANKATO - MADISON AVE 5076251551VERNON CENTER 5075493679AMBOY 5076743300

JULIE VETTERSR VICE PRESIDENTRETAIL BANKING

We support great causes like yoursAt Community Bank we know good things happen when you have a good bank So we make more possible by keeping banking simple and supportive And by giving you the power that comes with innovative solutions like our Health Savings Account It offers you tax-free savings for future medical expenses Stop by anytime Wersquore always ready to help out a great cause

Position a rack in the lower third of the oven preheat to 350 degrees Combine the nuts cinnamon and breadcrumbs in a bowl

Brush a 9x13-inch baking dish with some of the butter Layer 10 pieces of phyllo in the dish brushing each piece with butter before adding the next (keep the remaining dough covered with a damp towel) Sprinkle a quarter of the nut mixture over the dough Layer four pieces of phyllo on top brushing each with butter before adding the next sprinkle with another quarter of the nut mixture Add four more phyllo pieces on top brushing each with butter then add another quarter of the nut mixture four more pieces of phyllo with butter and the remaining nuts

Layer the remaining 10 pieces of phyllo on top of the nuts brushing each with butter brush the top piece with extra butter Cut into the baklava to make strips about 1 12 inches wide Then make diagonal slices about 1 12 inches apart to create a diamond pattern Bake until golden about one hour

Meanwhile make the syrup Bring the sugar honey and 1 12 cups water to a boil in a saucepan over medium heat and cook 10 to 15 minutes Add the lemon juice and boil 2 more minutes then let cool slightly Pour the syrup over the warm baklava let soak uncovered at least six hours or overnight Garnish with nuts

MM p02 0116indd 37 12182015 30817 PM

38 bull bull MANKATO MAGAZINE

Nell Musolf is a mom and freelance writer from Mankato She blogs at nellmusolfcom

38 bull bull MANKATO MAGAZINE

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MANKATO MAGAZINE  bull January 2016 bull 39

Gear Up for WinterYear-Round amp Insulated Workwear from

Carhartt Dickies and Key

UNIFORMSUniforms fromBarco Carhartt Cherokee DickiesKoi Peaches and White Cross

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Call 5073446336mankatomagmankatofreepresscom

Stephanie L Hylla LAc Dipl AcKayla M Sweeney MOm LAc

NEW LOCATION709 S Front Suite 5

5074694788mankatoacupuncturecom

Open House ndash Wednesday Feb 3 9-12noonCelebrating 5 years of Business New Location and the Chinese New Year

In Network with Blue Cross Blue ShieldLicensed by the MN Board of Medical Practice

Ribbon Cutting with Greater Mankato Growth at 10am

(A $250 Value)THIS VOUCHER ENTITLES NEW PATIENTS TO A

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wwwr igne l l fami lych i roprac t ic comMedicare Restrictions Apply Expires January 31 2016

Dr BrandonRignell DC

1351 Madison AveSuite D

Mankato MN 56001

5077797313

$2900New Patient Special

MM p02 0116indd 39 12222015 121344 PM

40 bull bull MANKATO MAGAZINE

Jean Lundquist is a master gardener who lives near Good Thunder

MM p02 0116indd 40 12182015 30834 PM

MANKATO MAGAZINE  bull January 2016 bull 41

3 Increase the Value of Your Home

3 Update Your Homersquos Appearance

3 Save Money

Choose from SeveralModels Styles amp Colors

507-625-7110 or 1-800-645-36671125 Cross St North Mankato MN

Improve Your HomersquosEnergy Efficiency

422 Park Lane Mankato MN | NuStarMankatocom

(507) 381-4747Voted One of Mankatorsquos Best

DANIEL WINGERT

Make Selling Your Home Your NuYearrsquos Resolution

MM p02 0116indd 41 12182015 30839 PM

42 bull January 2016 bull MANKATO MAGAZINE

January Resolve to moisturize

Your stYLeBy Ann Rosenquist Fee

Ann Rosenquist Fee is executive director of the Arts Center of Saint Peter and a vocalist with The Frye She blogs at annrosenquistfeecom

If you have in-laws or colleagues who know you well enough to have given you holiday gifts

but not well enough to know what wouldrsquove truly made you happy congratulations Chances are yoursquore the proud owner of a bunch of brand-new lip balm

Maybe itrsquos even holiday themed Thatrsquos the best Maybe you got the candy-cane flavored kind or wintergreen with holiday graphics on the label or something like that A theme that was irrelevant the moment the stocking was unstuffed because at that exact second the holiday was over

And here you are in January with an abundance of wax

Fortunately also here you are in the early weeks of winter with rough red knuckles Probably also cracked cuticles although it might not have gone that far yet for you Irsquom sure it has for me This photo was taken back in November and even then the Band-Aids were for real Irsquove learned to cut them in half length-wise so as to retain my ability to type Irsquove also learned to play with a range of color options Flesh-toned Clear Disney characters The colorful strips shown here were gifted to me by my husband Partly why theyrsquore cut in half is that the text is obscene This is one small trick you can use to make bloody cuticles your most exciting accessory of the winter

Sources like UrbanSurvivalSitecom and WonderHowTocom will tell you that you can use lip balm for a whole variety of purposes such as coating threads of outdoor lightbulbs before screwing them into their sockets and enhancing the burn-ability of most kindling

These are great fun but they wonrsquot improve your personal style

More germane to winter beauty are the following suggestions

Keep a tube next to your bed for first-thing-in-the-morning use And I mean really truly first-thing I mean smear the stuff on each cuticle while yoursquore still lying there before you start using your fingers at all If you wake up thinking yoursquore fine and skip cuticle care next thing you know yoursquore pushing down the lever on your Keurig and the pressure is more than your screamingly dry skin can take and boom split blood on the Keurig and itrsquos gonna be a long painful day If only you had balmed your hands before you let your feet hit the floor

Keep another tube in your glove compartment If itrsquos warm enough to take off your mittens in the car mdash if yoursquore even wearing mittens given that your hands are snagging on everything these days mdash the harsh January sunlight will allow you to see cracks and flakes in high-resolution detail Yoursquoll want the balm nearby

to cover what you didnrsquot notice first thing in the morning Also a car tube is useful for when you look in the rear-view mirror and notice that your nose and upper lip are flaking as well Itrsquos because yoursquore getting over a cold and the frequent use of tissue has worn away your top layer of skin but just because you know that doesnrsquot mean everybody else wonrsquot think ldquothere is something in that noserdquo Itrsquos just a fact Itrsquos what it looks like Lip balm to the rescue Itrsquos the only thing dry enough to slick those flakes in place and nourishing enough to maybe actually get your face back to normal

Keep a couple more tubes in a nighttime kit along with sandpaper Sandpaper Yes Not a pumice stone not a lame also-gifted sugar

scrub Medium-grit sandpaper is what you need every night lightly but with conviction As follows 1) Sand taking care not to do more damage than what the elements have already done Yoursquore just trying to remove the dry dead stuff Yoursquore just being hearty and efficient about this true to the culture of this great state in which yoursquove chosen to winter You are no pansy Sand your hands 2) Wash 3) Blot dry 4) Dial up the gifted balm whisper a word of thanks to the person who put so much thought into your well-being that they stuffed your holiday stocking with this amazing gift of self-care smash a healthy amount down into your palms massage Take heart You just might find yourself with normal-textured non-cracked not-horrible-looking hands by morning

Split-open cuticles I feel you Except for these Band-Aids I feel you

Lip balms I have been gifted and these are just from last Christmas ldquolastrdquo as in 2014

Bathrooms Worth Bragging About

HoursTue amp Wed amp Fri | 9 am to 6 pmMon amp Thu | 9 am to 7 pmSaturday | 9 am to 4 pm

219 S Victory Dr | Mankato507 | 345 | 7009ipafhickorytechnetindependentpaintandflooringcom

You Deserve Comfortable Care Every Timebull Sedation - Complete Relaxation with Just a Pillbull Invisalign - Clear Alternative to Bracesbull Botox amp Fillersbull Implants - Placement and Restorationbull Cerec - One Visit Crown Technology

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1400 Lookout Drive North Mankato507-625-CARE(2273) bull mankatodentistcom 06

1865

6124

01

Dr AngelA Schuck

Dr keith FlAck

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MANKATO MAGAZINE  bull January 2016 bull 43

Bathrooms Worth Bragging About

HoursTue amp Wed amp Fri | 9 am to 6 pmMon amp Thu | 9 am to 7 pmSaturday | 9 am to 4 pm

219 S Victory Dr | Mankato507 | 345 | 7009ipafhickorytechnetindependentpaintandflooringcom

You Deserve Comfortable Care Every Timebull Sedation - Complete Relaxation with Just a Pillbull Invisalign - Clear Alternative to Bracesbull Botox amp Fillersbull Implants - Placement and Restorationbull Cerec - One Visit Crown Technology

bull Free Whitening Programbull 3D Imaging with Fewer X-Raysbull Cosmetic Dentistrybull Drill-Free Technologybull Emergency Care

1400 Lookout Drive North Mankato507-625-CARE(2273) bull mankatodentistcom 06

1865

6124

01

Dr AngelA Schuck

Dr keith FlAck

(944) 412-7949 | OrthoEdgeMNcom

Enjoy the season

Mankato St Peter

Be active Be healthyBe able with OrthoEdge

The OrthoEdge joint replacement

program offers superb care from your first

visit through recovery The surgeons from

the Orthopaedic amp Fracture Clinic and

the care team at Riverrsquos Edge Hospital

provide personal and professional care to

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Why Riverrsquos Edge Hospital amp Clinic

bull Riverrsquos Edge Hospital amp Clinic has a long-

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MM p02 0116indd 43 12182015 30842 PM

44 bull January 2016 bull MANKATO MAGAZINE

1 Hicktown Mafia800 pm mdash New Ulm Event Center mdash 301 20th St S mdash New Ulm mdash $10 mdash 507-354-4673

7-9 Mankato West Orchesis Dance Team showcase7 pm Thursday-Saturday 2 pm Saturday mdash Mankato West High School Auditorium mdash $7 adults $5 students mdash 507-381-7578

10 Mankato Symphony Orchestra Music on the Hill II ldquoMinnesota rootsrdquo2 pm mdash Chapel at Good Counselmdash Good Counsel Drive mdash Mankato mdash $17 $12 mdash wwwmankatosymphonycom

16 Handel with Caremdash Handel Goes to Italy11 ammdash YMCA Aerobics Studio mdash 1401 S Riverfront Drive mdash Mankato mdash wwwmankatosymphonycom

16 Mankato Craft beer Expo2 pm (VIP) 3 pm general mdash Verizon Wireless Center mdash $45 VIP $35 general $10 designated driver mdash wwwmankatocraftbeerexpocom

23 Joey Flip and Mike Fugazzi rockinrsquo at the Embassy9 pm mdash Blaschkorsquos Embassy Bar and Grill mdash 325 S Minnesota Ave mdash St Peter mdash 507-934-3903

24 andrea Lyn and Dick Kimmel concert730 pm mdash Elias J Halling Recital Hall mdash Minnesota State University mdash Mankato mdash $12 regular $11 current MSU students mdash wwwmnusedumusic

28-31 MSu Theatre antigone730 pm Thursday-Saturday 2 pm Sunday mdash Andreas Theatre mdash Minnesota State University mdash Mankato mdash $16 regular $14 discount $11 current MSU students mdash wwwmnsuedu

29-31 BLC Theatre Brigadoon730 Friday and Saturday 2 pm Sunday mdash Ylvisaker Fine Arts Center mdash Bethany Lutheran College mdash Mankato mdash $10 adults $6 seniors children and students mdash wwwblceduevents

29- Feb 7 Winterfest St Peter Citywide mdash wwwstpeterchamberorg

30 Church of Cash a Tribute to Johnny Cash7 pm mdash St Peter American Legion mdash 229 W Nassau St mdash St Peter mdash 507-934-6435

31 Maud Hixson and rick Carlson concert730 pmmdash Elias J Halling Recital Hall mdash Minnesota State University mdash Mankato mdash $12 regular $11 current MSU students wwmnsuedumusic

Coming attraCtions January

T - F 8am - 6pm Sun ClosedSat 9am - 4pmM 8am - 8pm

120 North Broad Street Mankato MN 507-345-4688 wwwmeyerandsonstvandappliancecom

FIND SPECIAL DEALS ON

MM p02 0116indd 44 12182015 30902 PM

MANKATO MAGAZINE  bull January 2016 bull 45

St Peter Craft amp Vendor Show

1MelinadaBussefromRapidansoldherhandmadejewelryatthecraftandvendorshow

2DarylfromElysianandhishand-carvedwoodart

3MacKennaage7hasfunatoneoftheboothsattheStPeterCraftandVendorShow

4LizEntershowsoffsomeofherproductsattheldquoItWorksrdquobooth

5DenisePetersofldquoYoungLivingrdquoessentialoilsdisplayedherproductsattheshow

Faces amp Places Photos By Sport Pix

3

5

2

1

4

T - F 8am - 6pm Sun ClosedSat 9am - 4pmM 8am - 8pm

120 North Broad Street Mankato MN 507-345-4688 wwwmeyerandsonstvandappliancecom

FIND SPECIAL DEALS ON

MM p02 0116indd 45 12222015 121536 PM

46 bull January 2016 bull MANKATO MAGAZINE

SOUTHErN MN CHrISTMAS

FESTIVAL1 A large crowd was on hand during the festivities at

the Christmas Festival2 Friesenrsquos Family Bakery amp Bistro had tons of baked

goods and soups at the Verizon Wireless Center3 A childrenrsquos choir sang for the audience at the

festival4 Ron Haefner owner of Ronrsquos Auto Repair displayed

some of his services5 Garrison Galatz dressed up as Santa for the

Christmas Festival

faCes amp PLaCes Photos By Sport Pix

4

3

1

2

5

MM p02 0116indd 46 12182015 30923 PM

MANKATO MAGAZINE  bull January 2016 bull 47

1GirlScouttroop34494waspresentedwithatrophybyKiwanisVicePresidentKyleMrozek

2SantaClausevenwentthroughtheparaderoute3(LtoR)BrooklynPomrankeAlaynaLyonsHunterPomrankeandLilyLyonsgetagroupphototakenwithSanta

4MarshaMartigtellsSantawhatshewantsforChristmas

5TheparadefloatswerealldeckedoutinChristmaslights

6Visitorswalkthepatharoundtheparktoviewthisyearrsquoslights

Kiwanis Holiday ligHtsFaces amp Places Photos By sport Pix

2

1

3

4 5

6

MM p02 0116indd 47 12222015 121616 PM

48 bull January 2016 bull MANKATO MAGAZINE

On the Occasion of a 50th Reunion

the Class of 1965

from this VaLLeYBy Pete Steiner

Peter Steiner is host of ldquoTalk of the Townrdquo weekdays at 105 pm on KTOE

I was honored to give the presentation for our 50th class reunion recently at West Highrsquos Homecoming celebration About 120 of our nearly 400-member class

showed up We Baby Boomers the children of the greatest generation had big classes in the late lsquo60rsquos that forced the building of East High Ours was a dramatic era and our class did some great things in the face of big challenges Here edited is some of what I said

I am so glad to be standing here today Therersquos an old saying

ldquoMay you live in INTErESTINg timeshelliprdquo The Class of rsquo65 certainly has Itrsquos seems like only yesterday right after lunch that we were at our desks waiting for the start of English class when our charismatic teacher Harry Fitterer strode in and said ldquoPrESIDENT KENNEDY HAS BEEN SHOT IN DALLASrdquo At first we didnrsquot believe him but it was true It was November 22 1963 We were juniors and as the song says that was THE END OF THE INNOCENCE We had lived through the last idyllic time in America

When we first arrived in the fall of 1962 America was still carefree basking in the glow of victory in WW II Everything may have seemed ldquorightrdquo but it was not Martin Luther King Jr had just visited Mankato pointing out the continuing plight of black Americans as the Civil rights movement was gaining steam The beginnings of the Vietnam War which would alter the course of many of our lives were stirring even as we studied history and government The current generation has no monopoly on forgettable pop music ndash we had a stupid 1 song called ldquoItsie Bitsie Teenie Weenie Yellow Polka Dot Bikinirdquo (unfortunately an ear worm I canrsquot forget) But a darker cultural threat was looming The BEATLES were invading from Britain and our parents were mortified because they had LONg HAIr

Some of the shock of the Kennedy assassination was eased when our wrestling team in the era when the state still had just ONE CLASS won the State Championship in front of a packed hall up at MSU some still maintain that is the greatest single athletic achievement in Mankato history We were the first high school in Mankato to put on a full-scale musical ldquoBye Bye Birdierdquo in the spring of 1964 In Fall of 1964 our football team would have won the conference championship outright except Owatonnarsquos great Noel Jenke who would go on to star for the U of M

cheated I watched him trap the touchdown pass that beat us Does cheating pay Was that a lesson for life

In lsquo65 we also had a fine basketball team that lost our chance at State when our 6-6 center fouled out at Luverne

BUT A FAr BIggEr CHALLENgE AWAITED US ALL As we rode out to Luverne to watch that game we couldnrsquot help noticing the highway was like a canyon between walls of snow The legendary St Patrickrsquos Day Blizzard had dumped two feet on top of an already large snow pack and then April brought rains on frozen ground Instead of coming here to school many of us soon got a real-life assignment to go out in our rain gear out on the dikes to battle the grEAT FLOOD OF 1965 Our school became an island as water flooded the parking lot and all of South riverfront Our spring play that year was called ironically

THE DESPErATE HOUrS We had to rehearse at roosevelt School up on higher ground

Our class produced three Merit scholars One of our classmates who did NOT qualify

for a merit scholarship nevertheless was such a whiz at physics that NASA requested a copy of a paper he wrote on rocketry as a senior We produced 12 doctors one of whom earned a fellowship at Stanford seeking how to bring telemedicine to the poor another of whom became a breakthrough cancer doctor We had entrepreneurs one who would go on to be a leader in Solar Energy (and then run for governor of New Hampshire) Another mdash a woman incidentally when

that was not common founded two bio-tech startups Many of us are still working

past normal retirement age One founded a company on the leading edge of recycling

computers whose clients include the NSA Another is chief medical officer of a company

devising a better tool for colonoscopies Yet another of our classmates recently completed a concert tour of China

We lived in challenging times just as you do today but we muddle through we make it to the other shore I remember sitting where you are 50 years ago thinking how old those folks up there looked But remember Life goes by very quickly You certainly live in interesting times as Shakespeare said ldquoPresent Mirth has Present Laughter Youthrsquos a stuff will NOT endurerdquo So I urge you live each moment to the fullest

MM p02 0116indd 48 12182015 30933 PM

MM p02 0116indd 49 12182015 30936 PM

MM p02 0116indd 50 12182015 30948 PM

Page 2: Mankatomag 116

Get healthy Get fit Get a new outlook Get with the MeltdownJoin the Mankato Meltdown Fitness Challenge January 13th - April 13th

Healthy Veggie Wrap Yum

Erin McCann

Eating Right

bullbullbullbull 3G 1244 PM

Pin This

Decadent Chocolate Cake

Mary Foster

Calories Unconscious

bullbullbullbull 3G 1244 PM

Not This

Sponsored By

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Get healthy Get fit Get a new outlook Get with the MeltdownJoin the Mankato Meltdown Fitness Challenge January 13th - April 13th

Healthy Veggie Wrap Yum

Erin McCann

Eating Right

bullbullbullbull 3G 1244 PM

Pin This

Decadent Chocolate Cake

Mary Foster

Calories Unconscious

bullbullbullbull 3G 1244 PM

Not This

Sponsored By

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GOLFERS FROM AROUND THE WORLD COME TO CHALLENGE THE JUDGE and the two other golf courses in Prattville at RTJ Capitol Hill Bring your clubs

and come take on Judge hole number 1 voted the favorite hole on the Trail Complete your day in luxury at the Marriott and enjoy dining fi repits and

guest rooms overlooking the Senator golf course With the Marriottrsquos 20000 square feet of meeting space 96 guest rooms and luxurious Presidential

Cottage combined with three world-class golf courses business and pleasure can defi nitely interact in Prattville

THE ROBERT TRENT JONES GOLF TRAIL AT CAPITOL HILL is home of the Yokohama Tire LPGA Classic on the Senator Course

September 18 to 24 2014 The Marriott Prattville is part of the Resort Collection on Alabamarsquos Robert Trent Jones Golf Trail

Visit wwwrtjgolfcom or call 8009494444 to learn more

for Yourselfraquo COME JUDGE for Yourself

RTJ746JudgePRATT_CNHIMagsindd 1 32814 1217 PMMM p01 0116indd 2 12182015 24422 PM

MANKATO MAGAZINE  bull January 2016 bull 3

FEATURESJanuary 2016

Volume 11 Issue 1

Grave lessonsAuthor Rebecca Fjelland Davis finds

warmth six feet under

22Listen up

Personal trainers offer advice to start you new year off right

18

About the CoverStephanie Howe director of healthy living at the Mankato Family YMCA poses in the free weight room

She was photographed by Pat Christman

Get inspiredItrsquos January Time for a new you

14

GOLFERS FROM AROUND THE WORLD COME TO CHALLENGE THE JUDGE and the two other golf courses in Prattville at RTJ Capitol Hill Bring your clubs

and come take on Judge hole number 1 voted the favorite hole on the Trail Complete your day in luxury at the Marriott and enjoy dining fi repits and

guest rooms overlooking the Senator golf course With the Marriottrsquos 20000 square feet of meeting space 96 guest rooms and luxurious Presidential

Cottage combined with three world-class golf courses business and pleasure can defi nitely interact in Prattville

THE ROBERT TRENT JONES GOLF TRAIL AT CAPITOL HILL is home of the Yokohama Tire LPGA Classic on the Senator Course

September 18 to 24 2014 The Marriott Prattville is part of the Resort Collection on Alabamarsquos Robert Trent Jones Golf Trail

Visit wwwrtjgolfcom or call 8009494444 to learn more

for Yourselfraquo COME JUDGE for Yourself

RTJ746JudgePRATT_CNHIMagsindd 1 32814 1217 PM MM p01 0116indd 3 12182015 24424 PM

4 bull January 2016 bull MANKATO MAGAZINE

DEPARTMENTS6 From the Editor 8 This Day in History9 The Gallery Ellen Schofield

10 Beyond the Margin Let Freedom Reign

12 Day Trip Destinations Celebration of the Lakes

26 Then amp now Schuyler Colfax

29 Food Drink amp Dine 30 Food Hot cocoa

32 Wine Cabernet Sauvignon

33 Beer Light can be good

34 Food Coffee Hag v20

36 Whatrsquos Cookinrsquo Nuts

38 Thatrsquos Life My dream job

40 Garden Chat Big plans for 2016

42 your Style A lsquobalmyrsquo time of year

44 Coming attractions 45 Faces amp Places48 From This Valley 50th reunion

9

26 38

42 44

12

Coming in FebruaryCabin Fever

Relax Wersquoll get through this

When it comes to your financial future a single view-point isnrsquot always enough Our trusted advisers work as

a team providing you the benefit of multiple CFPreg professionals and decades of experience When you are

ready to ldquoget seriousrdquo about retirement give us a call

Why Settle for Less

reg regreg

wwwedwardjonescom

Kenneth J Klooster AAMSregFinancial Advisor

1660 Commerce Drive Suite 2North Mankato MN 56003507-625-8452wwwedwardjonescom

Member SIPC

Schedule a complimentaryportfolio review

THE FUTURE IS YOURSTO CUSTOMIZE

WITH A COMPREHENSIVEFINANCIAL PLAN

5073876031 wwweidebai l lycomFinancial Advisor offers Investment Advisory Services through Eide Bailly Advisors LLC a Registered Investment Advisor Securities offered through United Planners Financial Services Member of FINRA and SIPC Eide Bailly Financial Services LLC is the holding company for Eide Bailly Advisors LLC Eide Bailly Financial Services and its subsidiaries are not affiliated with United Planners

Ryan Spaude Financial Advisor

MM p01 0116indd 4 12182015 24429 PM

When it comes to your financial future a single view-point isnrsquot always enough Our trusted advisers work as

a team providing you the benefit of multiple CFPreg professionals and decades of experience When you are

ready to ldquoget seriousrdquo about retirement give us a call

Why Settle for Less

reg regreg

wwwedwardjonescom

Kenneth J Klooster AAMSregFinancial Advisor

1660 Commerce Drive Suite 2North Mankato MN 56003507-625-8452wwwedwardjonescom

Member SIPC

Schedule a complimentaryportfolio review

THE FUTURE IS YOURSTO CUSTOMIZE

WITH A COMPREHENSIVEFINANCIAL PLAN

5073876031 wwweidebai l lycomFinancial Advisor offers Investment Advisory Services through Eide Bailly Advisors LLC a Registered Investment Advisor Securities offered through United Planners Financial Services Member of FINRA and SIPC Eide Bailly Financial Services LLC is the holding company for Eide Bailly Advisors LLC Eide Bailly Financial Services and its subsidiaries are not affiliated with United Planners

Ryan Spaude Financial Advisor

MM p01 0116indd 5 12222015 115613 AM

6 bull bull MANKATO MAGAZINE

MM

MM p01 0116indd 6 12222015 115714 AM

MANKATO MAGAZINE  bull January 2016 bull 7

xxxxxx

BUILDING AUTOMOTIONAND INTEGRATION CONTROLS

HEATING AND COOLING SYSTEMS

SECURITY

ldquoTodays leading experts to help you for a better tomorrowrdquoldquoTodays leading experts to help you for a better tomorrowrdquo

307 McKinzie Street SoMankato MN 56001507-345-4828 507-289-4874wwwpaapecom

Please call for a free consultation and estimate

KnowYourRisk

Take chargeof your healthwith monthlyself-examsand annual

mammograms

it

Mankato Clinic joins usin raising awareness ofthe importance of early

detection in the fightagainst breast cancerand the importance ofcontinued support for

breast cancer research

MM p01 0116indd 7 12182015 24435 PM

Friday January 3 1890Magnificent Showing for 1889Over $70000 Expended on Streets Waterworks and Sewers(compared to 2014 dollars this could amount to as much as $86000000 dollars)

The most important of the public works accomplished this year is the construction of a pumping station the purchase of a magnificent holly pump and the completion of the large one-million gallon reservoir The discovery of a suitable water supply was made last year but it was left to be developed this year by the sinking of two large artesian wells to a depth of more than 600 feet

The next is important as having over a mile of sewer on second street Other improvements Completion of the Tourtellotte Hospital and the purchase of additional hose for the fire department

Friday January 7 1910County Board is Wrestling with Bills in Ledbeter CaseThiel Detective Agency wants to be paid for booze and treats entertaining deputy sheriff and farmers Lady Sleuth was employed on jobThiel Detective Agency employed a woman Paid for parties on the County dime In 1910 Though not mentioned in the printed story Mrs Ledbeter was accused of murdering her husband Holland several years her elder

The County Board met this afternoon wrestling with bills that had been presented to it for services rendered in connection with the trials of Frank Smith and Mrs Grace Ledbeter

County Auditor Weaver states the cost of these trials will be between $8000 and $10000 but he wonrsquot know the exact figure for several days

The Thiel Detective Agency has put in a bill for $49835 for services largely consisting of railway fare hotel bills etc One of the items under date Nov 23-30 and Dec 1-4 is ldquodrinks cigars etc with Deputy Sheriff $405rdquo

The next item is ldquotreats and expenses with farmers and others during investigation $2215rdquo

A lady detective seems to have been employed on the case for a time making a trip to St Louis and other places

Tuesday January 3 1961Twins are first lsquoBago Births of the year

Fraternal twins were the first births in Winnebago at the Community Hospital in 1961 Mr and Mrs Eldren Jaegerrsquos boy was born at 1055 Sunday and the girl arrived at 1115 AM The boy weighed 5 pounds 8 12 ounces The girl hit the scale at 5 pounds 2 and a quarter ounces The Jaergers who operate a farm at rural Amboy have seven other children ranging in age from Sandra 18 in nursersquos training at St Josephrsquos Hospital in Mankato to 4-year-old Joel

Tuesday January 3 1928Cafes and Dance Halls Scenes of Gaiety Quiet for New Yearrsquos Police Report Cold Wave Sends Revelers Home at Early HourMinus 18 degrees Fahrenheit is just too cold to have fun on New Yearrsquos Eve

Liquor that did not flow too liberally and the extreme cold weather conspired to make the celebration of the coming of the new year in Mankato not too boisterous ldquoIt was a quiet timerdquo commented Chiefof Police Jake Hilgers ldquoProbably quieter than last yearrdquo Only one arrest was made as against 3 last New Yearrsquos The arrest was of a man found lying in the railroad yards intoxicated The tips of his fingers were frozen and itrsquos believed if he had not been discovered he would have frozen to death

This DAy in hisToryBy Jean Lundquist

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Corporate GraphicsYour Printing Solutions Company

1750 Northway DriveNorth Mankato MN 56003

800-729-7575wwwcorpgraphcom

May your 2016 be

Filled with color and

delight

MANKATO MAGAZINE  bull January 2016 bull 9

The GAllery Ellen Schofield Story by Nell Musolf

After graduat ing from the University of Minnesota in 2012 with a Masterrsquos of Fine

Arts degree in graphic design Ellen Schofield was delighted when three months later she was offered a teaching position at Minnesota State University She expected that she would have to move elsewhere and was happy that she would be able to stay in her own state

ldquoThere were about 10 positions open around the time I graduatedrdquo Schofield said ldquowhich was really quite a lot I expected that Irsquod have to move so it was great to be hired by MSUrdquo

Schofield teaches introductory level graphic design classes as well as a special concept class that helps students fire up their creativity

ldquoIn the special concept class we do mind mapping brainstorming and once a semester I bring in an improv comedian because studies have proven that improv comedians have the most creative ideas of any other professionrdquo Schofield said ldquoThe class does theater warm ups and they really seem to enjoy it We also focus on the lsquoyes andrsquo theory in that classrdquo

The ldquoyes andrdquo theory agrees with an idea and then expounds on it with enthusiasm mdash the ldquoandrdquo part

ldquoCollege students often want to look cool all the timerdquo Schofield remarked

ldquoThe lsquoyes andrsquo theory pushes past that and opens up creativityrdquo

Schofield defines graphic design as thinking made visual

ldquoGraphic design is everywhere Itrsquos logos for businesses and icons and even the tax return papers given out by the IRS are examples of graphic design and had to have been designed by some poor personrdquo Schofield said ldquoA goal of a graphic designer is to create something that anyone can understand as soon as they look at itrdquo

Before becoming a graduate student Schofield ran her own graphic design business and has continued the business on a smaller scale now that she is teaching Her personal preference in graphic design is to create icons

ldquoI tend to like iconographyrdquo Schofield said ldquoIcons can be mdash and I think should be mdash simple and elegant and tell whoever sees them something about the business they representrdquo

Schofield worked with the Childrenrsquos Museum of Southern Minnesota to create its icon an experience she enjoyed

ldquoI wanted to make it something that would appeal to kids and their parents as well The Childrenrsquos Museum has such a cool space mdash it needed an icon that would let people know what a truly cool place it isrdquo Schofield said

When working with a graphic design client Schofield likes to have ldquolots and lotsrdquo of conversations

ldquoGetting to know clients is important We talk a lot so that I can find out what a client feels passionate about when it comes to their business The goal is to find something that makes them unique and then create a graphic design that reflects thatrdquo Schofield said

Shofield said her favorite artistic tool is the art departmentrsquos laser cutter

ldquoItrsquos like the worldrsquos fanciest scissorsrdquo Schofield said ldquoIt can cut just about anything and does an amazing job Itrsquos so much fun to work withrdquo

Schofield is working with MSU colleague David Rogers on a project using the laser cutter called ldquoPaper State Flowersrdquo Schofield and Rogers are using typographic state abbreviations combined with paper flowers Their progress can be viewed at wwwpaperstateflowerscom and the final results will be shown at an art gallery in Hutchinson in October

Schofield originally planned to become an engineer but after taking a class in graphic design she changed her mind

ldquoIrsquom a visual personal and I fell in love with designrdquo Schofield said ldquoReally I canrsquot imagine doing anything elserdquo

thinking Made visualEllen Schofield teaches at Minnesota State university

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10 bull January 2016 bull MANKATO MAGAZINE

xxxxxxxxxxxxxMM p01 0116indd 10 12182015 24444 PM

MANKATO MAGAZINE bull bull 11

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12 bull January 2016 bull MANKATO MAGAZINE

The Celebration of the Lakes has been a family tradition for Erin Thorvaldson Chisago Lakes Chamber Board Member and Community member for Celebration of the Lakes for more than 20 years Thorvaldson was about 10

years old when her grandmother introduced her to the event which takes place Jan 30 on North Center Lake in Lindstrom

DAy Trip DesTinATions Celebration of the LakesBy leTiciA GonzAles

hit the LakesLindstrom has plenty of fun waiting for you

Hot air balloons are just one of the many attractions this festival has employed over the years

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MANKATO MAGAZINE  bull January 2016 bull 13

Day Trip DesTinaTions Celebration of the LakesBy LeTicia GonzaLes

WhenJan 29-31 2016

I-35 North to Hwy 8 east to Center City Located on the North side of Hwy 8 on

North Center Lake

If youGoWhat

Celebration of the Lakes

Lindstrom MN

AdmissionFree additional admission required for some

events activities food and ridesVisit wwwchisagolakeschambercom

ldquoSo I helped way back then when she was part of the chamberrdquo said Thorvaldson ldquoAnd having a business in the community as I got older I also wanted to give backrdquo

Born and raised in the Chisago Lakes area Thorvaldson has served on the celebrationrsquos planning committee for nine years She said the event first caught her eye not only because she loves winter but because it focuses on the outdoors ldquoeven though many people in Minnesota cringe once we get to 20 degrees so it kind of gets you out and lets you do something funrdquo

Watching the celebration grow over the past two decades has also been fun for Thorvaldson

ldquoIt was very tiny at that pointrdquo she said as she reminisced about the early days of the event ldquoIt was just a few hay bales at the icerdquo

Being an active part of the planning has been equally exciting

ldquoThe committeersquos always trying to come up with more ideas that the community would perceive as something fun to do in the winter timerdquo she said ldquoThere have been the sled dogs there have been hot air balloons and there have been kitty cat races car racesrdquo

While past years have even included BMX bike races where people dressed up in costumes the snowmobile radar run and the vintage snow mobile displays have been the ldquomain staplesrdquo of the celebration Organized by the Wild River Snowmobile Club of Chisago City the snowmobile radar run features nearly 200 riders who race upwards of 120 miles per hour on a track

ldquoSometimes they will have souped-up snowmobiles that go incredibly fastrdquo Thorvaldson said ldquoWe had a world record one that raced on the track so itrsquos pretty amazing to see how fast some of them go They break them up into categories and there are prizes for the fastest one in each categoryrdquo

Originally introduced as a memorial radar run for a rotary member the radar run has become one of the celebrationrsquos most popular events

ldquoWe started with just a sheriffrsquos radar gun and now they use different timing items like cones and announcingrdquo she add ldquoItrsquos kind of something that has evolved toordquo

With the draw of the surrounding lakes in the area Thorvaldson said ice fishing has also grown in popularity and has become embedded in the annual celebration

ldquoItrsquos like little villages out on the lakerdquo she said

ldquoThat is kind of the big that that people do There are people who drive up from all over the place the Twin Cities all over just to come spend the weekend ice fishing on the lake so thatrsquos a big big thingrdquo

Greg Shaleen who has also been on the planning committee for the celebration for more than 15 years affirmed the celebrationrsquos growth when it comes to activities offered

ldquoWe have done kind of bizarre thingsrdquo he said ldquoWe do a smoosh race which is where you take 2-by-4s and strap four leather straps on it and you do a little bit of a racerdquo

Shaleen also credits the event for bringing people out to the lakes during the coldest month of the year

ldquoEveryone is all cooped up in the community and it just got to the point where they wanted to do something fun in the winter and get people out and about and enjoy the winter sportrdquo he said

From kitty races and sled dog races to a concession tent and a family fishing contest that draws anywhere from three to five hundred people Shaleen said the Celebration of the Lakes brings people together in the outdoors

ldquoWe are basically more interested in getting people out of the house visiting with friends and neighbors and visitors to the area and enjoying each otherrsquos interest in snowmobiling or ice fishing or whatever the events are taking place or going onrdquo he concluded

MM p01 0116indd 13 12222015 115930 AM

January The holidays are over along with all of the seasonrsquos excuses for overindulge in food and drink and under-indulging in any form of exercise (other than lifting onersquos hand to onersquos mouth) After stowing the presents in the

closet and taking down the tree many people choose the New Year as the perfect time to begin a serious diet and exercise program to shed the extra pounds they put on over the past few months and to begin eating more healthfully Mankato Clinic registered dietitian Erin Gonzalez says a hearty ldquoyesrdquo to healthy mindful eating and definite ldquonordquo to any extreme ldquodo or die(t)rdquo approach

According to Gonzalez 95 percent of all dieters regain the weight they lost within five years It is her belief that such yo-yo dieting only creates more frustration and stress which can lead to emotional eating and binge eating which leads to another cycle of dieting-losing-weight-gaining-weight ad infinitum

Gonzalez speaks from experience After losing 70 pounds since the time she was a teenager Gonzalez is now at a weight she considers healthy and one that she hasnrsquot deviated from in years

By Nell Musolf | Photos by Pat Christman and Darren Gibbins

Herersquos to ahealthy

new yeara healthy

new you

14 bull January 2016 bull MANKATO MAGAZINE

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MANKATO MAGAZINE  bull January 2016 bull 15

Erin Gonzalez and her son prepare a healthful meal

Erin GonzalezldquoI struggled with weight issues when I was growing

uprdquo Gonzalez said ldquoWhen I was 16 I went on my first lsquoseriousrsquo dietmdashone of the fast diets that were popular in the 1990srdquo

Gonzalez said that she stuck to her diet religiously having a shake in the morning one for lunch and a sensible meal at night just as she was instructed to do She also walked for approximately two and a half hours a day Over the course of one summer she lost 70 pounds but she was also she now realizes flirting with an eating disorder Gonzalez says this scenario is not uncommon considering research shows 35 percent of ldquooccasional dietersrdquo progress into pathological dieting (disordered eating) and as many as 25 percent advance to full-blown eating disorders

ldquoMy food intake was very restrictive and I was always extremely conscience of what I ate but just the same I slowly gained back 30 of the 70 pounds

that I lostrdquo Gonzalez said ldquoI was always looking at food as either lsquogoodrsquo or lsquobadrsquo instead of something pleasurable to be enjoyedrdquo

It wasnrsquot until she was working at her dietetic internship that she had her ldquoahardquo moment

ldquoI was blessed with a teacher who taught her students how to enjoy foodrdquo Gonzalez said ldquoinstead of being obsessed by it Gonzalez learned about a program called Am I Hungry that specializes in helping people heal their relationship with food and their bodies so they can relearn to trust their internal hunger cues instead of having to follow arbitrary rules and broken promises of diets Gonzalez facilitates a program at the Mankato Clinic that teaches the Am I Hungry philosophy

ldquoI have two childrenrdquo Gonzalez said ldquoa 10-month-old and a 4-year-old They know how to eat naturally and they stop eating when they are no longer hungry That is what most adults need

MM p01 0116indd 15 12222015 120138 PM

16 bull January 2016 bull MANKATO MAGAZINE

xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

need to relearn how to eatrdquoThe method has worked for Gonzalez Gone are

her extra 30 pounds and she no longer dietsldquoDiets simply arenrsquot sustainablerdquo she said ldquoItrsquos so

hard in our society because we are surrounded by cues to eat all of the time At buffets where you want to lsquoget your moneyrsquos worthrsquo when yoursquore out with friends when you sit down at the end of the day and turn on the television to relax and are bombarded with ads for food Food has become a reward for a bad day or a good day or anything else we can think of But if you look at how you eat as a journey instead of as a destination you can learn to enjoy food a lot morerdquo

So what should someone who wants to start the New Year in a more healthy fashion do

ldquoPause before you eatrdquo Gonzalez recommended ldquoAsk yourself if yoursquore really hungry or if yoursquore actually thirsty or stressed instead Try not to be emotionally disconnected from what you are eatingrdquo

Gonzalez emphasized that ldquomindful eating isnrsquot naive to say nutrition isnrsquot important Of course it is Mindful eating is what allows us to take charge of our decisions of why when what how and how much we choose to eat instead of battling being in or out of controlrdquo

Instead of following the latest short-lived diet Gonzalez encourages people to make the healthiest choices possible that donrsquot leave them feeling deprived

Paulette Tonn BookerFor Paulette Tonn Booker the Am I Hungry

Mindful Eating (AIHME) program has been a game changer

Said Booker ldquoIrsquove tried several diet plans over the past 40 years including some well-known plans and I lost weight on each plan However keeping the weight off eluded me and resulted in yo-yo dieting

The lsquorulesrsquo of whichever plan Booker was on became the norm and after years of trying to live by those rules Booker was no longer able to discern what her body was telling her about hunger often leading to out-of-control overeating

ldquoI always knew there was something else going on yet no one had an answer for merdquo Booker said

When Booker first heard of the AIHME program two years ago she was relieved to discover that there were other people who felt the same way when it came to healthful eating The program taught her the skills she needed to recognize her bodyrsquos hunger signals thoughts and feelings and actions to help manage the physical emotional and environmental stresses of everyday life without resorting to eating to cope with those stresses

ldquoI no longer have to be in control of everything I only need to be in charge of my decisions at any given moment When I choose to overeat (which everyone does) I no longer beat myself up I try to reflect on what happened and then plan for ways to handle the situation differently the next time it occurs Old habits are hard to break it takes concentrated effort and dedication to rewire the brain with new habits and it can be donerdquo Booker said

About weight loss as the end goal of healthful eating Booker shared the following ldquoThe only time I get on a scale is at the doctorrsquos office I know what the experts say I should weigh A number does not define a personrsquos self-worth nor does it say anything about who we are and how we feel as we make changes in how we nurture our bodies The number on the scale is just a number bodies come in all shapes and sizes as does health I will never diet again Instead I will continue to work on developing mindful skills and in the meantime eating what I love and loving what I eatrdquo

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MANKATO MAGAZINE  bull January 2016 bull 17

Eric ZiesmerFor Eric Ziesmer he is in the middle of his weight

loss journey a journey that began last July when the 32-year-old learned that he weighed 330 pounds The time had come for Ziesmer to make some healthy lifestyle changes Ziesmer decided to lose weight because of his family mdash both present and future

ldquoI have two adorable nephews and I would love to be able to chase them around the yard or pull them in a sled during the winter and basically to be active and see them as they growrdquo Ziesmer said ldquoAnd even though Irsquom currently single if it is in my cards for marriage and kids I would like to be there and not be too tired or not in shape A clean and healthy lifestyle is what I am striving for in my coming yearsrdquo

With the help of a dietician Ziesmer has started his cleaner and healthier lifestyle Since July he has lost 40 pounds and has decided to have weight loss surgery To help his post operation phase go as smoothly as possible Ziesmer eats fresh fruit every day has cut out chips and cookies among other things

ldquoI have totally cut out soda Soda was a big one to cut out In my huge climb to 300 there were days when I would consume two 2-liter bottles of pop in a single day and maybe cracking open a thirdrdquo Ziesmer said ldquoI try to listen to my stomach instead of my eyes or eat because Irsquom bored or stressed I eat slow and sip instead of being the guzzler I have always beenrdquo

Another tactic Ziesmer has adopted has been to stop drinking liquids 30 minutes before a meal and then wait 30 minutes after eating before sipping again

ldquoWhen my stomach rumbles and says itrsquos hungry I feed it When my brain or boredom drives me to want to eat I take a second to see if my stomach feels empty and if not it gets deniedrdquo Ziesmer said

Ziesmer has noticed that he is more successful at healthy eating when he eats at home When he does dine out hersquoll cut a sandwich in half eat half and save other half for a future meal

ldquoAs far as exercise goes it went from zero to at least two if not three times a week going for a 327 mile walk and have recently made my way back into the gymrdquo Ziesmer said He has been able to keep track of his walks with accuracy thanks to an app called MapMyRun

Ziesmer knows that his healthier living journey will continue for a long time

ldquoI plan on continuing to live healthy by continuing my exercise and eating right and by saying that itrsquos not only for me and feeling better but also because there are two little guys that look up to their uncle Staying motivated is at least my key to keeping up this lifestyle I want to live a long and healthier life feeling better and being there down the road for family and friends is what means mostrdquo Ziesmer said MM

Eric Ziesmer says hersquos got plenty of motivation to get healthy two nephews to whom he wants to be a good role model

MM p01 0116indd 17 12222015 120514 PM

18 bull January 2016 bull MANKATO MAGAZINE

Stephanie Howe says itrsquos best to have realistic goals when starting a fitness program

Herersquos your guideBy Robb Murray | Photos by Pat Christman

Ready for CHANGE

MM p01 0116indd 18 12182015 24506 PM

MANKATO MAGAZINE  bull January 2016 bull 19

Yoursquore ready

You ate the ham and turkey and potatoes and Christmas cookies You drank the wine beer and eggnog Yoursquove spent the last few

months pondering a life change Yoursquore on the verge of a major transformation This time itrsquos happening Yoursquore going to get healthy Itrsquos going to be a new you

And then January arrived And you have no plan

Luckily we here at Mankato Magazine have got you covered Itrsquos not uncommon for people to make a New Yearrsquos resolution or some similar vow this time of year It usually comes with goal weights and promises to hit the gym X number of times per week and trips to the produce and organic sections of the grocery store because this time yoursquore serious Right

OK easy tiger Getting healthy is a great idea and wersquore wishing you all the best But wersquore also coming at you with some sensible advice Maybe setting unrealistic goals isnrsquot the best way to go Maybe just

heading into the gym and trying to get it all done in a week isnrsquot a great way to go either

ldquoFinerdquo you say ldquothen what should I dordquoWersquore so glad you asked

Letrsquos get startedThe first thing you need to remember when

starting an exercise program is that if you want to lose weight you need to change the way you eat too

ldquoNo matter what you say you canrsquot out exercise a bad dietrdquo says Stephanie Howe director of healthy living at the Mankato YMCA

Howe works in what might be the busiest fitness hub in the Mankato area So shersquos seen her share of people come through the doors with plans to change their lives Some of them succeed Most do not

One of the biggest mistakes people make Howe says is not really having a good grasp on how much time theyrsquoll need in order to incorporate a good workout into their day It doesnrsquot have to be a two-

hour commitment every day she says It can be 30 minutes of planned effective exercise several times per week Whatrsquos more important is just getting there and thatrsquos an obstacle that is bigger than most people realize

ldquoMost people want to lsquopeople pleasersquordquo she said ldquoYou can say yoursquore going to get up and work out every day but most people are built to need external accountabilityrdquo

Think about hiring a personal trainer

ldquoWhen you spend the money on a personal trainer you have an appointment therersquos someone waiting thererdquo she says

A personal trainer is a great way to immediately know yoursquore doing exactly what yoursquore supposed to be doing and yoursquoll have no doubt whether yoursquore working hard enough There are plenty of personal trainers in town mdash at the YMCA and other gyms mdash who would love to help you Of course they donrsquot work for free and for many people the cost of a personal trainer is more than theyrsquore willing to spend

Fortunately therersquos a trend in fitness to offer the whip-crack of a personal trainer while staying Jo radlinger urges her clients to not sabotage their fitness efforts with poor eating over

the weekend

MM p01 0116indd 19 12182015 24510 PM

20 bull January 2016 bull MANKATO MAGAZINE

728 N Riverfront DriveMankato MN 56001

507-625-5163katobearscom

Pins and NeedlesAlterations

Specializing in alterations for theentire wedding party including

gown re-sizing hemming re-beadingbustles and so much more

Like us onFacebook

affordableThe Y now offers something called ldquotrainer ledrdquo

exercise sessions where you work with others in a group but have access to a trainer nearby who can push you motivate you and make sure yoursquore you know doing it right Theyrsquore $3 a class

ldquoYoursquore still expected to be there but itrsquos much cheaperrdquo Howe said ldquoThe group environment pushes you and we have tons of trainer-led classes Itrsquos the best of both worldsrdquo

Across town Jo Radlinger runs Jorsquos Garage a fitness center where shersquos the one pushing you to succeed

Radlingerrsquos goal she says is to bring out everyonersquos potential

ldquoI want to make sure everybody that comes through my door has success I want them to be the very best version of themselves that they can berdquo

Like Howe Radlinger acknowledges that the financial side of hiring a personal trainer can scare people away but she says there are several reasons why it shouldnrsquot

ldquoItrsquos never a bad investment when yoursquore investing in yourselfrdquo she said ldquoMeet with a trainer who is just as passionate about your goal My goal is not to train you intensely but to show you what yoursquore capable of and then take you to that next levelrdquo

At Jorsquos Fitness Garage there are no membership fees Radlinger doesnrsquot believe in them Instead she charges $5 per visit and in that time she said she pushes you to have a great workout

GymtimidationSetting goals is a great

idea Setting unrealistic goals is the kind of thing that results in a gym membership card laying dormant in a junk drawer by February

So set those goals but set them smartlyldquoAccountability is huge Even if you canrsquot hire

someonerdquo Howe says ldquoMake specific goals mdash say yoursquore going to workout X number of times but make those numbers realistic Set goals that are within your controlrdquo

Do this and yoursquore likely to feel a lot better about how things go

ldquoMost people just want to feel better about themselves they want to feel more confidentrdquo Howe said ldquoThis way even before any physical changes happen theyrsquoll feel better Theyrsquoll start to feel like theyrsquore in control again of their life and their choicesrdquo

Taking an exercise class is a great way to both get

your body moving while at the same time have fun and meet those people who will notice when you donrsquot show up

And about that weight room Yes it can be intimidating to walk in and see people who look like they live there But Howe says that while it can definitely be a psychological barrier focusing on those people is the wrong strategy

ldquoNo one cares what yoursquore doingrdquo Howe says ldquoFocus on yourdquo

Take it slowIt can be tempting when you finally get up the

nerve to get back in the swing of working out to go hardcore But just like setting unrealistic goals trying to achieve your fitness goals in a day is impossible

ldquoPeople start out really gung-ho and reset their diet so aggressively and most people just simply canrsquot do thisrdquo Radlinger said ldquoWhen yoursquore looking at making a lifestyle change I want you to do it slowly and incrementally rather than do it all in two monthsrdquo

Rushing into the weight room and trying to lift the same weight and number of reps and sets that you did 10 years ago is a great way to make sure you canrsquot work out for a while Going from a sedentary lifestyle to two hours of pumping iron can leave you sore enough to not be able to lift anything for days Maybe even weeks

Ease into it The gymrsquos not going anywhere Think marathon not sprint

ldquoSometimes people have an all-or-nothing attituderdquo Howe said ldquoand they make themselves sore and they canrsquot continuerdquo

Speaking of all-or-nothing Radlinger says

some people bring that kind of intensity to their food intake over the weekend Bad idea

ldquoAs trainers we help people be accountable We do success measurements help them prepare and plan And wersquoll do weigh-ins on Mondayrdquo Radlinger says ldquoWersquoll find that people do really well Monday through Friday then do what I call sabotage Saturday and Sunday At some point yoursquore going to get so sick of hitting that reset button every Mondayrdquo

Whatever you choose to do both trainers say itrsquos never a bad idea to sit down with your doctor and run your plans by himher Your personal safety should always come first and getting the green light from Doc can give you some peace of mind as you start this new chapter of your life MM

Jo radlinger runs Jorsquos Fitness Garage

MM p01 0116indd 20 12222015 120709 PM

MANKATO MAGAZINE  bull January 2016 bull 21

728 N Riverfront DriveMankato MN 56001

507-625-5163katobearscom

Pins and NeedlesAlterations

Specializing in alterations for theentire wedding party including

gown re-sizing hemming re-beadingbustles and so much more

Like us onFacebook

Live the Lifestyle

wwwmapletonmarinecom

Southern MNrsquos largestboat show on now at the

Madison East Center in Mankato

MM p01 0116indd 21 12182015 24524 PM

22 bull January 2016 bull MANKATO MAGAZINE

Thirty-three years ago I stood inside a grave A lifetime ago when I was a pastorrsquos wife

In Nebraska we served a parish of barely over one hundred members A picture-postcard white church with a hand-carved white wooden altar from Germany sat at the top of a hill next to it the parsonage and next to that the cemetery rolling down the hill toward a wooded creek

The first death in the congregation after our arrival set off a flurry of activity Irsquod never met Alma because she was in a nursing home before we arrived However my husband visited her on several occasions She was mother aunt grandmother great-aunt and great-grandmother to half the congregation so there was no question about whether or not I would attend the funeral

With my two little kids in tow I attended every event at the church every Sunday morning service of course but also every funeral every confirmation every baptism every meeting of womenrsquos circle and even every family reunion that was held in the church basement At twenty-six I perfected the art of making gracious small talk with people Irsquod never seen before and would never see again and at taking tiny portions from each confirmation buffet so I would neither be sick by the end of the day nor offend any of the mothers who had slaved away over their sumptuous spreads of food

By Rebecca Fjelland Davis

Grave Lesson in Winter

ESSay

MM p01 0116indd 22 12182015 24527 PM

MANKATO MAGAZINE  bull January 2016 bull 23

Attending the little white country church was physically easy I picked up one-year-old Josh took three-year-old Nikkirsquos hand and walked out the front door down the sidewalk and next door The only things I didnrsquot have to attend were church council and the menrsquos meeting Archaic This was in the 1980s It doesnrsquot seem so long ago

All the available babysitters in the community would attend Almarsquos funeral too so this was to be my kidsrsquo first funeral

The afternoon before the service salt-snow fell Hard little crystals pelted down as if the heavens had up-ended a Mortonrsquos salt canister Within a few hours the hard snow was six inches deep and still falling

In the middle of the salt-snow the gravedigger arrived The Ditchwitch roared around the cemetery to the familyrsquos plot and my kidsrsquo noses pressed against the upstairs bedroom window pane ldquoMommy can we go watchrdquo

Glad for an excuse to get out of the parsonage I bundled them in snowsuits put them on the sled and pulled them across the house yard and garden to the fence that bordered the cemetery

The Ditchwitch made short work of the grave and all three of us were mesmerized watching the mound of gray-black dirt grow in the crystal-white snow When the hole was finished the gravedigger turned his tractor on idle He hopped off and came over to the fence His eyes twinkled in a weathered face ldquoWant to come lookrdquo

I backed up from the fence a step ldquoNo not really I think this is close enoughrdquo

ldquoYes Mommy go lookrdquo ldquoPleeeeaserdquoSo Nikki and Josh got back on the sled and I

hauled them along the fence through the gate over to the grave and looked down Six feet seemed deep bottomless Dark A sharp contrast to the pelting snowflakes all around us

ldquoWanna get down in thererdquo the gravedigger asked I shuddered hung onto the kids and backed up

again ldquoNo No thatrsquos okay This is close enough I just want to look from hererdquo

ldquoYes mommyrdquo the little ones said ldquoLetrsquosrdquoldquoNordquoldquoPleaserdquoldquoReally marsquoam I think you should Yoursquoll be

surprised I wouldnrsquot suggest it if it I didnrsquot think sordquoldquoHow would we get outrdquo The sides were deeper

than I was tall and there certainly werenrsquot footholds or a ladder built in for Almarsquos soul to use to climb out

ldquoLike thisrdquo The gravedigger laid his shovel diagonally across a top corner of the grave and jumped down He grabbed the middle of the shovel handle and swung himself back up and out with the agility of a gymnast ldquoNothinrsquo to itrdquo

ldquoI canrsquot do thatrdquoldquoYes you can Irsquoll boost you And wersquoll lift the kids

Yoursquoll be amazed I promiserdquoI shivered The idea of being inside a grave

seemed much colder than the snow crystals biting at my face

ldquoCome onrdquo he said and jumped back in Nikki and Josh willingly stepped over to him to be lifted down I had no choice but to follow I couldnrsquot let my kids alone in a grave with a man I didnrsquot even know

So I jumped The earth on the bottom made a soft landing The soil around me was warm and steamy It was moist and dark but it enfolded us in an earthy hug At least fifty degrees warmer than the air above ground it felt as if the earth were offering shelter respite a comfortable place to snuggle down and rest Tiny roots dangled full of life from the smooth edges of the hole Tears sprang to my eyes I couldnrsquot help them My eyes met the gravediggerrsquos and he smiled Gently ldquoSeerdquo he said Nothing more

I couldnrsquot speak A few minutes later he gave me a stirrup with his

hands I scrambled out and he lifted Nikki and Josh up to me Then he flipped himself out as easily as a trapeze artist

ldquoThank yourdquo I said ldquoI would never have guessedrdquoHe nodded ldquoNobody does But it helps somehow

I wanted you to feel thatrdquoWhy I wanted to ask why me You donrsquot even

know me Why were you willing to take time for usldquoThank yourdquo was all I said I shook his hand and

he hopped on the Ditchwitch and drove off into the snow

I never saw him again Someone else dug the next grave required in that cemetery

I remember only bits and pieces of the funeral Irsquom sure I baked a boxed cake mix for ldquolunchrdquo afterwards I remember answering Nikkirsquos questions about the body and sitting in the back row of the church in case Josh didnrsquot want to be quiet I do remember looking at the unfamiliar face in the casket and thinking you get to rest in a warm cozy place

Ten winters later we buried my dad on just such a day Wet snow crystals pelted us and piled up so deep the funeral home limousine got stuck in the cemetery By the time the pallbearers pushed it un-stuck their suit pants were caked in slush and mud

We stood at the graveside in the bleak wet icy day and lowered my fatherrsquos body into the ground

ldquoToo bad itrsquos such a miserable dayrdquo ldquoSorry about your dad Sorry the weatherrsquos so bad toordquo And even ldquoSuch a good man He deserves better weather than thisrdquo

But the weather I thought was just right Losing my dad my kids and their cousins losing

their grandpa my mom becoming a widow my brother losing his farming partner and best friend changed our livesmdashthat part was too heavy to carry

The only part that was okay for me was to let Dadrsquos worn-out body be wrapped in that welcoming warm enfolding soilmdashthe very soil hersquod loved to till the soil hersquod planted and tended all his life the soil that gave us all lifemdashthat was the only gratifying part of the day

The only comfort I had was letting Dad go from the cold wet biting snow into that warm and restful place

And I still wonder who that gravedigger was ten years earlier and how he knew how much I would need what he gave me that bleak winter day MM

Rebecca Fjelland Davis is an author from Mankato

MM p01 0116indd 23 12182015 24528 PM

reFlecTionsBy Pat Christman

24 bull January 2016 bull MANKATO MAGAZINE

MM p01 0116indd 24 12182015 24544 PM

reFlecTionsBy Pat Christman

MANKATO MAGAZINE  bull January 2016 bull 25

There are few things as inevitable as snow during a Minnesota winter Big

cotton ball-like snowflakes cover the ground in a white blanket whitewashing the Midwestern landscape

We struggle against it Some hope the snow never comes It always does filling the sky with floating snowflakes that cling to the ground but melt as soon as they hit the small bits of face or hands that peek out from winter clothing

It is often quite beautiful especially when viewed from someplace warm and dry MM

MM p01 0116indd 25 12182015 24548 PM

26 bull January 2016 bull MANKATO MAGAZINE

Then amp now Vice President Schuyler Colfaxrsquos Death By Bryce o sTenzel

On Jan 14 1885 one day after his death the New York Times carried a

headline that read ldquoSchuyler Colfax Dead He Drops Down in a Railway Stationrdquo While most Americans today would have tremendous difficulty in even recognizing this manrsquos name

(unless they were paying close attention to Stephen Spielbergrsquos epic movie Lincoln and made the association) Schuyler Colfax was a former Speaker of the House of Representatives and Vice President of the United States under President US Grant He died in Mankatorsquos Chicago St

Paul Minneapolis amp Omaha railroad depot from a massive heart attack

Schuyler Colfax Jr was born in New York City on March 23 1823 His father died of tuberculosis five months before Schuyler was born His sister Mary died four months after his [Schuylerrsquos]

vice President Schuyler Colfaxrsquos Death in Mankato

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MANKATO MAGAZINE  bull January 2016 bull 27

birth The young Schuyler attended school only until he was 10 He then began working to support his family Schuyler Colfax never attended any kind of secondary school or college His mother remarried when Colfax was 13 and the family moved to New Carlisle Indiana By the time he was 22 Colfax was the editor and owner of a pro-Whig newspaper He was elected to Congress in 1854 and joined the newly formed Republican Party after the Whig Party disintegrated Solidly anti-slavery his colleagues elected Colfax as Speaker of the US House of Representatives in 1863 His election came soon after the death of his wife Evelyn The couple had no children

Colfax was President Abraham Lincolnrsquos first and last visitor on the fateful day Lincoln was assassinatedmdashApril 14 1865 Early that morning Colfax arrived at the White House while the president was having breakfast Colfax wanted to know whether or not Lincoln planned to call a special session of Congress for later that summer Lincolnrsquos answer was a polite but firm ldquonordquo Lincoln preferred a lenient approach in reconstructing as well as readmitting the former Confederate states to the Union now that the Civil War was over This approach put Lincoln at odds with the more ldquoradicalrdquo congressional members of his own party who preferred harsher measures be taken against their former enemies Lincoln had already made up his mind how he wanted to proceed with reconstructing the former Confederate states and he didnrsquot want any unnecessary interference from Congress Calling a special session was the last thing Lincoln wanted to do Colfax returned that same night to see Lincoln again just before the president left for Fordrsquos Theatre and his appointment with destiny This time Colfax came upon Lincolnrsquos own request The president had a long message for the silver miners of the Comstock Lode in Nevada thanking them for their loyalty to the Union that he wanted Speaker Colfax to deliver in person since Colfax was leaving by train for the West the next day Colfax was the last person Lincoln spoke to besides his wife Mary before he

was fatally shot at 1015 pm Colfax never forgave himself for turning down Lincolnrsquos invitation to be part of the theatre party that night

In 1868 Republicans selected General Ulysses S Grant as their presidential candidate Grant a military man his entire life had no political background Colfax was placed on the ticket because of his prior experience as a congressman and Speaker of the House (he resigned the position in 1869) Grant and Colfax won an easy victory in November 1868 Only two weeks later Colfax remarriedmdashthis time to Ellen Wade (niece of Ohio Senator Benjamin Wade) Their only child son Schuyler Colfax III was born in 1870

Colfax is best remembered (if at all) for his involvement in the corruption that beset Grantrsquos entire presidency Specifically the Credit Mobilier scandal broke in 1872 just as Grant and Colfax were gearing up for their re-election campaign Colfax was suspected of accepting shares of stock and cash bribes from ldquoCredit Mobilierrdquo a dummy construction company set up by the Union Pacific Railroad He was by no means the only influential person involved in the scandal Other political figures investigated included Senators Roscoe Conkling of New York William Allison of Iowa John Logan of Illinois James Bayard of Delaware and Henry Wilson of Massachusetts Grant was less popular in 1872 than he had been four years earlier and many Republicans worried that having Colfax on the partyrsquos ticket would harm the presidentrsquos re-election chances They dumped Colfax from the ticket mdash only to replace him with the also-tainted Wilson Grant won re-election and served his second and final term from 1873-1877 After being forced out from the vice presidency Colfax traveled the country as a popular lecturer often speaking about his interactions with Abraham Lincoln during the Civil War He rebuilt his tarnished reputation and commanded speaking fees as high as $2500

At 10 am on Jan 13 1885 Schuyler Colfax arrived in Mankato aboard a train from Milwaukee Mankato was just a

brief stop for Colfax who was on his way to Iowa for a speaking engagement The Chicago Milwaukee amp St Paul as well as the Chicago St Paul Minneapolis amp Omaha railroads both had depots in Mankato but because they were separate competing railroad lines Colfax was required to change trains by walking three-quarters of a mile from the Chicago Milwaukee amp St Paul depot at the foot of Hickory Street to the Chicago St Paul Minneapolis amp Omaha depot at Fourth and Washington Streets (now Washington Park) from which the next leg of his journey would depart Despite a reported temperature of 30 degrees below zero Colfax walked from one station to the other Within five minutes after he arrived at the Omaha linersquos depot Colfax entered the waiting room looked at a map on the wall sat down and died It was 1035 am No one in the station knew who the dead man actually was until they searched his pockets and found a letter with his name on it His death was likely caused by a heart attack brought on by the physical exertion of walking almost a mile in extreme cold Colfax was only 61 when he died His remains were returned to South Bend Indiana for burial

Today few Americans are aware that anyone named Schuyler Colfax ever lived much less served as vice president of the United States In this era in which officeholders are often treated as celebrities imagine how surprised people would be to learn that a former vice president died cold alone and unrecognized in a train station 131 years ago Before 24-hour news channels smart phones and social media it was possible for public figures like Colfax to live ndash and die ndash in relative obscurity Ironically Colfax loved the railroad but in the end it was the cause of his undoing Mankato has the distinction of being the location where the last man to personally speak to Abraham Lincoln in a private conversation took his last breath

MM p01 0116indd 27 12182015 24549 PM

28 bull January 2016 bull MANKATO MAGAZINE

Mayo Clinic offers pediatric and adolescent orthopedic services right here in Mankato Todd Milbrandt MD cares for patients with a variety of needs including

bull Cerebral palsy

bull Clubfoot

bull Hip disorders

bull Spinal disorders

bull Sports injuries

bull Scoliosis

bull Spina bifida

Mayo Clinic Health System in Mankato Call 1-877-412-7575 (toll-free) to schedule an appointment

495rdquox495rdquo Mankato Magazine January

Orthopedic care for your child

Independent ampAssisted Living

EQUAL HOUSINGOPPORTUNITY

1360 Adams StreetMankato MN

PrimroseRetirementcom

reg

Key City Senior Breakfast ClubThe Key City Senior Breakfast Club meets the first Thursday of each month from 830 AM - 930 AM at Primrose Retirement Community The club gives those 55+ the opportunity to meet new friends and visit old ones socialize with Key City Officials and enjoy a delicious home-cooked breakfast To visit a Key City Senior Breakfast please call (866) 447-9636

Mark your calendar for these breakfast dates Thursday January 7th Thursday March 3rd and Thursday May 5th

刀椀渀最 椀渀 琀栀攀 

一攀眀 夀攀愀爀

㔀 㜀ⴀ㤀㐀ⴀ㐀㐀䨀甀氀攀攀猀䨀攀眀攀氀爀礀挀漀洀

椀渀 匀愀椀渀琀 倀攀琀攀爀

20765 Foley Rd Mankato MN | 5073872434 | 5077262411

Three TimeNational Award Winners

MM p02 0116indd 28 12182015 30742 PM

Mayo Clinic offers pediatric and adolescent orthopedic services right here in Mankato Todd Milbrandt MD cares for patients with a variety of needs including

bull Cerebral palsy

bull Clubfoot

bull Hip disorders

bull Spinal disorders

bull Sports injuries

bull Scoliosis

bull Spina bifida

Mayo Clinic Health System in Mankato Call 1-877-412-7575 (toll-free) to schedule an appointment

495rdquox495rdquo Mankato Magazine January

Orthopedic care for your child

Independent ampAssisted Living

EQUAL HOUSINGOPPORTUNITY

1360 Adams StreetMankato MN

PrimroseRetirementcom

reg

Key City Senior Breakfast ClubThe Key City Senior Breakfast Club meets the first Thursday of each month from 830 AM - 930 AM at Primrose Retirement Community The club gives those 55+ the opportunity to meet new friends and visit old ones socialize with Key City Officials and enjoy a delicious home-cooked breakfast To visit a Key City Senior Breakfast please call (866) 447-9636

Mark your calendar for these breakfast dates Thursday January 7th Thursday March 3rd and Thursday May 5th

OMG hellip More food and drinksOK sure

By now yoursquore probably thinking ldquoOh my gosh the last thing I want to think about right now is more food more drinking and more diningrdquo

Fair enough We get it The holidays are murder on the metabolism of many many Minnesotans

But we also know that those metabolisms are hardy and soon enough theyrsquoll be hankering for a hunk of something yummy and full of fun And whatrsquos more yummy and full of fun than a big glass of Cabernet Sauvignon Our wine guy Leigh Pomeroy takes us on a tour of all that is tasty and wonderful about big red wines the kind that leave their mark the kind that really announce their presence on your palate

And just in case yoursquore super serious about a healthy lifestyle mdash and that seriousness extends to the kind of beer you choose mdash Bert Mattson our beer guy has just the selection for you Best part is Itrsquos light

Oh and under the category of ldquoDid you hear about thisrdquo Wersquove got an update for you on the Coffee Hag Mankatorsquos original coffee house and one of the most popular hangouts in town Seriously some days itrsquos hard to find a seat in that place

EnjoyPS We know that baby itrsquos cold outside mdash thatrsquos why wersquove

thrown you our absolute best hot cocoa recipe

Enjoymdash Robb Murray Associate Editor Mankato Magazine

food drink amp dineso

uthern m

n style

20765 Foley Rd Mankato MN | 5073872434 | 5077262411

Three TimeNational Award Winners

MM p02 0116indd 29 12182015 30745 PM

MANKATO 5073854485 AMBOY 5076743355 I VERNON CENTER 5075493679

INSURANCE OFFICES LOCATED IN THE COMMUNITY BANK BUILDINGS

wwwcimankatocom

Protecting the things that matter most in your life

Let us help protect what is important to you At Community Insurance we have the ability to compare insurance from multiple companies to get you the best coverage at a great price Combine that with our insurance knowledge and friendly group of agents and we say thatrsquos a winning deal

WHERE YOUR POLICY COMES WITH AN AGENT

Christina Meyer

Food

south

ern mn style

Food

south

ern mn style

By The Washington Post

Growing up my mother always encouraged her children to cook So when

I found a recipe for hot chocolate on the side of the Hersheyrsquos Cocoa can it was easy to convince her to let me give it a try

What I discovered was that hot chocolate doesnrsquot have to come from an envelope

This recipe has been a favorite of mine to make on days when winter weather has convinced me stay home and off the roads Itrsquos the perfect way to kill time and have a nice hot drink to warm you up on those chilly days

Although you can top it with whipped cream I prefer marshmallows

FAVORITE HOT COCOAMakes 4 to 6 servings

12 cup sugar14 cup unsweetened cocoa powder

Dash of salt13 cup hot water

4 cups milk34 teaspoon vanilla extract

Whipped cream or marshmallows (optional)

Mix sugar cocoa powder salt and water in a sauce pan Stir constantly over medium heat until mixture comes to a boil (about 2 minutes) Stir in

milk and heat Bring the hot chocolate to the desired temperature but do not boil Remove from heat and

add the vanilla extract Divide into mugs and top with whipped cream or marshmallows

PERFECTLY CHOCOLATE HOT COCOA

Makes 1 serving

2 tablespoons sugar2 tablespoons unsweetened cocoa powder

Dash salt1 cup milk

14 teaspoon vanilla extractWhipped cream or marshmallows (optional)

Mix sugar cocoa powder and salt into large mug In separate microwave-safe container heat on high

for 1 to 1 frac12 minutes or until very hot Carefully and gradually add milk to dry mixture Stir well Add vanilla extract Top with whipped cream or

marshmallows

Simple homemade hot chocolate

beats the winter chill

30 bull January 2016 bull MANKATO MAGAZINE

MM p02 0116indd 30 12182015 30752 PM

MANKATO MAGAZINE  bull January 2016 bull 31

Oil Change to OverhaulWe do it all

507-387-13151620 Commerce Drive North MankatowwwAustinsAutoRepairCentercom

Voted Best Auto Repair and Best Auto Mechanic 4 Years in a Row

AUSTINrsquoS AUTO REPAIR CENTER INC

MANKATO 5073854485 AMBOY 5076743355 I VERNON CENTER 5075493679

INSURANCE OFFICES LOCATED IN THE COMMUNITY BANK BUILDINGS

wwwcimankatocom

Protecting the things that matter most in your life

Let us help protect what is important to you At Community Insurance we have the ability to compare insurance from multiple companies to get you the best coverage at a great price Combine that with our insurance knowledge and friendly group of agents and we say thatrsquos a winning deal

WHERE YOUR POLICY COMES WITH AN AGENT

Christina Meyer

MM p02 0116indd 31 12182015 30755 PM

32 bull January 2016 bull MANKATO MAGAZINE

January is Cabernet TimeWersquove celebrated nearly

every January edition of Mankato Magazine with

a paean to BIG REDS And since there are so many wonderful examples why stop now

Last year I wrote about the powerful big reds of Italy This January wersquoll focus on Cabernet Sauvignon known to many as ldquothe king of winesrdquo Most oenophiles (wine lovers) consider the quintessential representations of this grape to be the classified Bordeaux of southwest France near the city of Bordeaux The five First Growths (or best wines according to a classification made in 1855 and updated in 1973) are Ch Lafite Rothschild Ch Margaux Ch Latour Ch Haut Brion and Ch Mouton Rothschild All have a cabernet sauvignon base but they are blended with merlot and often a little bit of cabernet franc and petit verdot as well

In the early 1970s I was able to buy these wines for around $22 per bottle mdash about $120 in 2016 dollars Yet with the popularity of ldquocollectiblerdquo wines on a worldwide

basis they sell today for anywhere from $400 on up

Contrary to popular belief these wines are not that massive Rather they combine cabernet sauvignon power with

structure and finesse yielding wines that become with time elixirs that are greater than the sum of their parts

Both California and Washington state have taken up the Cabernet Sauvignon challenge and are producing world-class wines at sometimes world-class prices Napa Valley is the recognized leader in this arena and rightly so Napa Valleyrsquos top Cabernet

Wine amp B

eerso

uthern m

n style

winesBy Leigh Pomeroy

Leigh Pomeroy is a Mankato-based writer and wine lover

Cabernet Sauvignon is the black Labrador of wines mdash it comes up and licks yourdquo

mdash Winemaker Scott Rich

Sauvignons rival the great wines of Bordeaux for quality mdash Irsquove tasted them side-by-side mdashand yet can sell for a fraction of their price

One such example is the 2013 Tulocay Cabernet Sauvignon from my old friend Bill Cadman We were young bucks in Napa Valley and had a tasting group in the early 1970s along with now-famous wine luminaries Bruce Neyers (Neyers Vineyards) and Mike Richmond (co-founder of Acacia Vineyard)

Billrsquos Cabernet is from an old and relatively cool growing area east of the City of Napa called Coombsville which because of industry political issues only recently received its AVA (American Viticultural Area) designation It is priced at $60 per bottle yet compares with any top-flight Bordeaux as well as the more expensive offerings from Napa Valley which can cost from $100 on up Not currently available at wine stores or restaurants in Minnesota it can be purchased by contacting the winery directly via its website tulocaycom The winery is so small that Bill will probably answer the phone himself

There is a lot of Cabernet Sauvignon available from California but mdash caveat emptor mdash not all growing areas (or appellations) are the same The best Cabernet Sauvignons are from Napa and Sonoma Counties Cabernets simply labeled ldquoCaliforniardquo or perhaps ldquoCoastalrdquo while sometimes good values lack the complexity of the greater Cabernet Sauvignons from the more northern parts of the state

Washington state has also

established itself as a prime producer of Cabernet Sauvignon But here again quality can vary greatly depending upon the area and producer While there is no ldquogo-tordquo appellation for Cabernet Sauvignon in Washington there are producers that are able to secure fruit from the best vineyards

One such example is the tiny Willis Hall Winery owned by another good friend John Bell a former Boeing jet propulsion engineer Like Tulocay its wines are only available by calling up the winery and ordering some (See willishallcom) But there are many other top quality producers in Washington like Quilceda Creek Leonetti Betz Family and Woodward Canyon

Of course not everyone can afford Cabernet Sauvignons in the $60-plus category One excellent everyday drinking example is the Flying Cloud 2013 Paso Robles Cabernet Sauvignon made by Mankato native Stephen Dooley Normally I donrsquot like Paso Robles Cabs as they tend to be too fruity and too soft for my palate mdash almost like drinking berry jam But this one is quite restrained no doubt helped by the inclusion of 13 percent zinfandel and 9 percent petite sirah in the blend

In Mankato both the Wine Cafeacute and MGM carry the Flying Cloud but at its price and quality I wouldnrsquot count on it lasting for long especially since only 759 cases were produced

So letrsquos raise a glass of Cabernet and say ldquoCheersrdquo to the New Year

MM p02 0116indd 32 12182015 30756 PM

MANKATO MAGAZINE  bull January 2016 bull 33

Bert Mattson is a chef and writer based in St Paul He is the manager of the iconic Mickeyrsquos Diner

Beer Skinny

BeerBy Bert Mattson

Last year according to Nielsen research staying fit and healthy was

the number one New Yearrsquos resolution Losing weight was two Three was to enjoy life to the fullest Unfortunately ldquolose weight and get fitrdquo also topped Time magazinersquos list of commonly broken resolutions Is this shortfall due to tension between the top two and that third one If so craft beer may have a role in the compromise Bad news first

In the context of losing weight and staying fit beer lovers might seek solace in the fact that fat carries nine calories per gram while alcohol has only seven The wrinkle is that those seven are ldquoemptyrdquo mdash calories without nutrition as opposed to those from fat protein and carbohydrates Moreover alcoholrsquos calories are the first burned when combined with the others the human body postpones burning fat while it works on alcohol Furthermore beer (and wine and often cocktails) contains carbohydrates which release insulin and can hasten fat storage Finally many drinkers have undoubtedly observed that alcohol loosens inhibitions after which an eager indulgence in unhealthy foods often occurs (Bar menus are rarely helpful in that respect)

By now you may wonder whose side Irsquom actually on Or suspect Irsquove led you to this dark place only to offer you a Lite No worries a couple craft brewers have been considering ways to keep us true to our resolutions

Evil Twin Brewingrsquos Bikini Beer drops the alcohol to 27 percent but stays bold by way of hops A Pale Ale it hits the nose with citrus suggestive of IPA The flavor follows suit floral and lemon There is an expected absence of malt yielding to bitterness up front that fades at the finish An alternative

for those who insist on the full effect Founderrsquos Brewing Companyrsquos All Day IPA rings in at a respectable 144 calories (Evil Twinrsquos entry comes in at 81)

One strategy to beat the beer munchies and avoid costly impulse eating is to have suitable chow on hand With Bikini Beer try a salad sporting blue cheese and some sort of dried fruit Creamy blue veined cheeses echo the hops while balancing bitterness An occasional bite of dried fruit stands in for malt sweetness

Brooklyn Breweryrsquos 12 Ale weighs in at 34 percent alcohol (102 calories) It is alliteratively labeled ldquoSession Saisonrdquo It opens with a waft of citrus and spice and a little lemongrass from Sorachi Ace hops mdash a hybrid developed in East Asia The same elements are found in the flavor which is a bit more subdued than a full-sized Saison

Try it with a tangle of arugula dressed with lemon and a fruity olive oil tossed with pine nuts and topped with shaved Parmesan for effect The greens and cracked pepper reflect spicy phenolic elements in the yeast Salty cheese counters the beerrsquos lingering bitterness Maybe add a few slices of Speck cured ham and Saison share a certain funkiness

If friends show and it becomes a session you may honestly say you spent Saturday working on your six-pack

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34 bull January 2016 bull MANKATO MAGAZINE

Food

south

ern mn style

Food

south

ern mn style

The Coffee Hag one of the arearsquos oldest (and coolest) bistros recently underwent a major expansion and remodeling journey culminating in a large and airy

seating area along with a much-improved kitchen and a new menu Mankato Magazine caught up with a very busy (and slightly exhausted) owner Jenn Melby-Kelly who weighs in on how itrsquos going

MANKATO MAGAZINE Are you personally enjoying the new updatesJENN MELBY-KELLY It Is Fabulous The new space represents so much more than a remodel to me It has brought to life a vision for my business thatrsquos been years in the making It incorporates many many good ideas from many many people I feel so fortunate to get to see that every time I walk through the door

MM How are customers reactingJMK Thatrsquos been one of the best parts The response has been overwhelmingly positive

A few of our most regular customers had the opportunity to get a glimpse of the remodel while it was underway (we gave some informal preview tours while we were operating the temporary stand outside) but many customers walk through the door now and see it all for the first time Itrsquos especially fun to see and hear that kind of wide-eyed reaction

A few people with special connections to The Hag have had even stronger emotional responses and Irsquom so touched and right there with them when I see eyes well up as they see what wersquove done Itrsquos a very big milestone for a very special place and wersquore blessed to have people that care so deeply

MM Do the employees appreciate the new spaceJMK Oh probably more than anyone There was a lot that we sought to do with the remodel but creating a bigger brighter better-equipped space for our team was certainly one of the primary goals Wersquove got an incredible team truly the most spirited and talented people anyone could hope for

Many of them have spent years with me working hard against the challenge of a small under-equipped space and just barely being able to keeping up with growing demand Itrsquos been a special blessing for them and for me to finally have state-of-the-art space thatrsquos made for the work that we do We all feel a special connection to this place and now more than ever the place reflects the good energy we all bring here every day

MM Is the new menu a hit (The Hag specializes in vegetarianvegan cuisine)JMK Yes but just wait Feedback and demand have been excellent with our food offerings already but wersquore just getting started on some of the really exciting things that are coming to our food menu

Remodeling the cafe was just the first major milestone of our two-part expansion plan Next up wersquore building a state of the art off-site commissary kitchen that will do for our incredible culinary team what the remodeled shop has done for our baristas Theyrsquove been working day and night on taking our already fantastic food offerings to a whole new level

Wersquove already introduced some amazing new menu items like the Garden Grilled Cheese panini (trust me itrsquos like nothing yoursquove had before) and some truly outstanding new vegan baked goods Wersquove also improved our classic offerings with house-made

Interview with Jenn Melby-Kelly owner of The Coffee Hag

By Sarah Johnson

MM p02 0116indd 34 12182015 30802 PM

MANKATO MAGAZINE  bull January 2016 bull 35

Happy New Year

Locally Owned amp Operated

Check Weekly Specialsmgmwineandspiritscommankato

Largest Selection ofbull Liquor bull Wine bull Beer bull

Hours Monday-Saturday 8 am - 10 pm

ATMs at all stores

Mankato201 Victory Dr

625-2420

North Mankato1755 Commerce Dr

387-2634

St Peter100 N Minnesota Ave

934-8964

sourdough and whole wheat breads But as impressive as it is already itrsquos just a taste mdash literally mdash of things to come as we bring our new kitchen online

MM Whatrsquos stayed the sameJMK Irsquom really proud to say that while wersquove touched almost every part of this 23-year-old business wersquove kept even more than we have changed From the first days of this project I made it my personal mission and responsibility to make sure that the ldquosoulrdquo of this special place was only enhanced and never lost as we made the updates

In every area of the remodel as wersquove added some necessary new layers of sophistication The Hagrsquos colorful quirky and even rebellious spirit is still very much a part of the space We did a lot to try to make sure it still looked and felt like ldquohomerdquo

And on a deeper level every step wersquove taken with the growth of our business has been chosen carefully to honor the core parts of The Coffee Hagrsquos identity Our focus on community our support for local art and music our commitment to creating a safe and welcoming space for everyone our efforts to lead the way on social and environmental issues affecting our world near and far mdash those have all stayed the same And those will always be at the heart of what we do

MM Anything elseJMK Irsquom so incredibly grateful for the support of our customers and community And whenever I talk about my business and how it has grown I really canrsquot overstate how thankful I am for my beautiful Coffee Hag family The hard work good energy and earnest contributions of so many people mdash past and present mdash have brought me and my business here An incredible amount of love has gone into this business and made this dream a reality

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36 bull January 2016 bull MANKATO MAGAZINE

xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

Food

south

ern mn style

whatrsquos Cooking By Sarah Johnson

Sarah Johnson is a cook freelance writer and chocolate addict from North Mankato with three grown kids and a couple of mutts

As I was pondering my subject matter for todayrsquos column I started wondering about all the different items the word ldquonutsrdquo can refer

to Crazy people are called nuts so are hexagonal metal objects that attach to bolts Nuts can be the end of things (as in ldquofrom soup to nutsrdquo) or they can be the beginning of them (as in ldquosperm incubatorsrdquo) Nut can also mean onersquos head or onersquos lump of something such as butter And if you accidentally get a nut of butter on your nut you can exclaim ldquoNutsrdquo

My favorite meaning of the word nut however is the dry indehiscent one-seeded fruit with a woody pericarp And I donrsquot even know what indehiscent OR pericarp means But these are the wonderful denizens of the world of edible nuts

Nuts are widely credited with all sorts of health benefits for the heart brain male reproductive system prostate cholesterol level fiber intake and avoidance of some types of cancer And while nuts do contain fat itrsquos the ldquogoodrdquo kind heart-healthy monounsaturated and polyunsaturated fat Their mix of omega-3 fatty acids protein and fiber helps you feel full and suppresses the appetite

Nuts are great in desserts and salads of course but they also shine in stir-fries casseroles soups chicken pork fish and even beverages Nut butters nut milks and nut oils add delicious options to our kitchen larders Breads cereals muffins and pancakes gain texture flavor and nutrition from the addition of nuts Basically anytime is a good time for nuts

Which is a wonderful thing because nuts taste so good you would think they had to be very very bad The reason lies deep in their oils

Walnut Oil is strong and flavorful Itrsquos best when used in uncooked sauces or salad dressing

Hazelnut Oil has a strong flavor and is great for the heart

Almond Oil is very popular and has a much milder flavor than walnut oil or hazelnut oil

Pecan Macadamia Nut Pistachio Cashew and Pine Nut Oils are flavorful and unique The freshness of the nuts used really affects the flavor

ldquoTherersquos Nuttinrsquo Nutty About Nutsrdquo

For the Baklava1 pound pistachios hazelnuts walnuts pecans andor almonds coarsely ground plus more for garnish12 teaspoon ground cinnamon1 cup breadcrumbs4 sticks unsalted butter melted16 sheets phyllo dough (thawed if frozen) cut in half

For the Syrup3 cups sugar1 6 -to-8-ounce jar honey1 frac12 cups water1 to 2 tablespoons fresh lemon juice

If yoursquore under the impression that baklava is much too labor-intensive and complicated to make at home think again Anybody can make

it no special skills equipment or exotic ingredients are required A word about phyllo dough Itrsquos sold in frozen packages so you need to remove the package from the freezer and let it thaw in the fridge 24 hours before you want to make the baklava Then about an hour beforehand remove the package from the fridge and let it sit on the counter

Walnuts or pistachios are the most traditional nuts to fill baklava but using other nuts works wonders as well Simply layer the phyllo with the nut filling and butter bake for an hour and finish with a simple honeyed syrup If you have leftover nuts from the holidays herersquos your chance to use them up

Mixed Nut Baklava

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MANKATO MAGAZINE  bull January 2016 bull 37

MONEY MATTERS WORK SMARTLET COMMUNITY BANK HELP YOUBRING THE TWO TOGETHER

MANKATO - SAINT ANDREWS DR 5073854444MANKATO - MADISON AVE 5076251551VERNON CENTER 5075493679AMBOY 5076743300

JULIE VETTERSR VICE PRESIDENTRETAIL BANKING

We support great causes like yoursAt Community Bank we know good things happen when you have a good bank So we make more possible by keeping banking simple and supportive And by giving you the power that comes with innovative solutions like our Health Savings Account It offers you tax-free savings for future medical expenses Stop by anytime Wersquore always ready to help out a great cause

Position a rack in the lower third of the oven preheat to 350 degrees Combine the nuts cinnamon and breadcrumbs in a bowl

Brush a 9x13-inch baking dish with some of the butter Layer 10 pieces of phyllo in the dish brushing each piece with butter before adding the next (keep the remaining dough covered with a damp towel) Sprinkle a quarter of the nut mixture over the dough Layer four pieces of phyllo on top brushing each with butter before adding the next sprinkle with another quarter of the nut mixture Add four more phyllo pieces on top brushing each with butter then add another quarter of the nut mixture four more pieces of phyllo with butter and the remaining nuts

Layer the remaining 10 pieces of phyllo on top of the nuts brushing each with butter brush the top piece with extra butter Cut into the baklava to make strips about 1 12 inches wide Then make diagonal slices about 1 12 inches apart to create a diamond pattern Bake until golden about one hour

Meanwhile make the syrup Bring the sugar honey and 1 12 cups water to a boil in a saucepan over medium heat and cook 10 to 15 minutes Add the lemon juice and boil 2 more minutes then let cool slightly Pour the syrup over the warm baklava let soak uncovered at least six hours or overnight Garnish with nuts

MM p02 0116indd 37 12182015 30817 PM

38 bull bull MANKATO MAGAZINE

Nell Musolf is a mom and freelance writer from Mankato She blogs at nellmusolfcom

38 bull bull MANKATO MAGAZINE

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MANKATO MAGAZINE  bull January 2016 bull 39

Gear Up for WinterYear-Round amp Insulated Workwear from

Carhartt Dickies and Key

UNIFORMSUniforms fromBarco Carhartt Cherokee DickiesKoi Peaches and White Cross

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Call 5073446336mankatomagmankatofreepresscom

Stephanie L Hylla LAc Dipl AcKayla M Sweeney MOm LAc

NEW LOCATION709 S Front Suite 5

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Open House ndash Wednesday Feb 3 9-12noonCelebrating 5 years of Business New Location and the Chinese New Year

In Network with Blue Cross Blue ShieldLicensed by the MN Board of Medical Practice

Ribbon Cutting with Greater Mankato Growth at 10am

(A $250 Value)THIS VOUCHER ENTITLES NEW PATIENTS TO A

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wwwr igne l l fami lych i roprac t ic comMedicare Restrictions Apply Expires January 31 2016

Dr BrandonRignell DC

1351 Madison AveSuite D

Mankato MN 56001

5077797313

$2900New Patient Special

MM p02 0116indd 39 12222015 121344 PM

40 bull bull MANKATO MAGAZINE

Jean Lundquist is a master gardener who lives near Good Thunder

MM p02 0116indd 40 12182015 30834 PM

MANKATO MAGAZINE  bull January 2016 bull 41

3 Increase the Value of Your Home

3 Update Your Homersquos Appearance

3 Save Money

Choose from SeveralModels Styles amp Colors

507-625-7110 or 1-800-645-36671125 Cross St North Mankato MN

Improve Your HomersquosEnergy Efficiency

422 Park Lane Mankato MN | NuStarMankatocom

(507) 381-4747Voted One of Mankatorsquos Best

DANIEL WINGERT

Make Selling Your Home Your NuYearrsquos Resolution

MM p02 0116indd 41 12182015 30839 PM

42 bull January 2016 bull MANKATO MAGAZINE

January Resolve to moisturize

Your stYLeBy Ann Rosenquist Fee

Ann Rosenquist Fee is executive director of the Arts Center of Saint Peter and a vocalist with The Frye She blogs at annrosenquistfeecom

If you have in-laws or colleagues who know you well enough to have given you holiday gifts

but not well enough to know what wouldrsquove truly made you happy congratulations Chances are yoursquore the proud owner of a bunch of brand-new lip balm

Maybe itrsquos even holiday themed Thatrsquos the best Maybe you got the candy-cane flavored kind or wintergreen with holiday graphics on the label or something like that A theme that was irrelevant the moment the stocking was unstuffed because at that exact second the holiday was over

And here you are in January with an abundance of wax

Fortunately also here you are in the early weeks of winter with rough red knuckles Probably also cracked cuticles although it might not have gone that far yet for you Irsquom sure it has for me This photo was taken back in November and even then the Band-Aids were for real Irsquove learned to cut them in half length-wise so as to retain my ability to type Irsquove also learned to play with a range of color options Flesh-toned Clear Disney characters The colorful strips shown here were gifted to me by my husband Partly why theyrsquore cut in half is that the text is obscene This is one small trick you can use to make bloody cuticles your most exciting accessory of the winter

Sources like UrbanSurvivalSitecom and WonderHowTocom will tell you that you can use lip balm for a whole variety of purposes such as coating threads of outdoor lightbulbs before screwing them into their sockets and enhancing the burn-ability of most kindling

These are great fun but they wonrsquot improve your personal style

More germane to winter beauty are the following suggestions

Keep a tube next to your bed for first-thing-in-the-morning use And I mean really truly first-thing I mean smear the stuff on each cuticle while yoursquore still lying there before you start using your fingers at all If you wake up thinking yoursquore fine and skip cuticle care next thing you know yoursquore pushing down the lever on your Keurig and the pressure is more than your screamingly dry skin can take and boom split blood on the Keurig and itrsquos gonna be a long painful day If only you had balmed your hands before you let your feet hit the floor

Keep another tube in your glove compartment If itrsquos warm enough to take off your mittens in the car mdash if yoursquore even wearing mittens given that your hands are snagging on everything these days mdash the harsh January sunlight will allow you to see cracks and flakes in high-resolution detail Yoursquoll want the balm nearby

to cover what you didnrsquot notice first thing in the morning Also a car tube is useful for when you look in the rear-view mirror and notice that your nose and upper lip are flaking as well Itrsquos because yoursquore getting over a cold and the frequent use of tissue has worn away your top layer of skin but just because you know that doesnrsquot mean everybody else wonrsquot think ldquothere is something in that noserdquo Itrsquos just a fact Itrsquos what it looks like Lip balm to the rescue Itrsquos the only thing dry enough to slick those flakes in place and nourishing enough to maybe actually get your face back to normal

Keep a couple more tubes in a nighttime kit along with sandpaper Sandpaper Yes Not a pumice stone not a lame also-gifted sugar

scrub Medium-grit sandpaper is what you need every night lightly but with conviction As follows 1) Sand taking care not to do more damage than what the elements have already done Yoursquore just trying to remove the dry dead stuff Yoursquore just being hearty and efficient about this true to the culture of this great state in which yoursquove chosen to winter You are no pansy Sand your hands 2) Wash 3) Blot dry 4) Dial up the gifted balm whisper a word of thanks to the person who put so much thought into your well-being that they stuffed your holiday stocking with this amazing gift of self-care smash a healthy amount down into your palms massage Take heart You just might find yourself with normal-textured non-cracked not-horrible-looking hands by morning

Split-open cuticles I feel you Except for these Band-Aids I feel you

Lip balms I have been gifted and these are just from last Christmas ldquolastrdquo as in 2014

Bathrooms Worth Bragging About

HoursTue amp Wed amp Fri | 9 am to 6 pmMon amp Thu | 9 am to 7 pmSaturday | 9 am to 4 pm

219 S Victory Dr | Mankato507 | 345 | 7009ipafhickorytechnetindependentpaintandflooringcom

You Deserve Comfortable Care Every Timebull Sedation - Complete Relaxation with Just a Pillbull Invisalign - Clear Alternative to Bracesbull Botox amp Fillersbull Implants - Placement and Restorationbull Cerec - One Visit Crown Technology

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1400 Lookout Drive North Mankato507-625-CARE(2273) bull mankatodentistcom 06

1865

6124

01

Dr AngelA Schuck

Dr keith FlAck

MM p02 0116indd 42 12182015 30841 PM

MANKATO MAGAZINE  bull January 2016 bull 43

Bathrooms Worth Bragging About

HoursTue amp Wed amp Fri | 9 am to 6 pmMon amp Thu | 9 am to 7 pmSaturday | 9 am to 4 pm

219 S Victory Dr | Mankato507 | 345 | 7009ipafhickorytechnetindependentpaintandflooringcom

You Deserve Comfortable Care Every Timebull Sedation - Complete Relaxation with Just a Pillbull Invisalign - Clear Alternative to Bracesbull Botox amp Fillersbull Implants - Placement and Restorationbull Cerec - One Visit Crown Technology

bull Free Whitening Programbull 3D Imaging with Fewer X-Raysbull Cosmetic Dentistrybull Drill-Free Technologybull Emergency Care

1400 Lookout Drive North Mankato507-625-CARE(2273) bull mankatodentistcom 06

1865

6124

01

Dr AngelA Schuck

Dr keith FlAck

(944) 412-7949 | OrthoEdgeMNcom

Enjoy the season

Mankato St Peter

Be active Be healthyBe able with OrthoEdge

The OrthoEdge joint replacement

program offers superb care from your first

visit through recovery The surgeons from

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MM p02 0116indd 43 12182015 30842 PM

44 bull January 2016 bull MANKATO MAGAZINE

1 Hicktown Mafia800 pm mdash New Ulm Event Center mdash 301 20th St S mdash New Ulm mdash $10 mdash 507-354-4673

7-9 Mankato West Orchesis Dance Team showcase7 pm Thursday-Saturday 2 pm Saturday mdash Mankato West High School Auditorium mdash $7 adults $5 students mdash 507-381-7578

10 Mankato Symphony Orchestra Music on the Hill II ldquoMinnesota rootsrdquo2 pm mdash Chapel at Good Counselmdash Good Counsel Drive mdash Mankato mdash $17 $12 mdash wwwmankatosymphonycom

16 Handel with Caremdash Handel Goes to Italy11 ammdash YMCA Aerobics Studio mdash 1401 S Riverfront Drive mdash Mankato mdash wwwmankatosymphonycom

16 Mankato Craft beer Expo2 pm (VIP) 3 pm general mdash Verizon Wireless Center mdash $45 VIP $35 general $10 designated driver mdash wwwmankatocraftbeerexpocom

23 Joey Flip and Mike Fugazzi rockinrsquo at the Embassy9 pm mdash Blaschkorsquos Embassy Bar and Grill mdash 325 S Minnesota Ave mdash St Peter mdash 507-934-3903

24 andrea Lyn and Dick Kimmel concert730 pm mdash Elias J Halling Recital Hall mdash Minnesota State University mdash Mankato mdash $12 regular $11 current MSU students mdash wwwmnusedumusic

28-31 MSu Theatre antigone730 pm Thursday-Saturday 2 pm Sunday mdash Andreas Theatre mdash Minnesota State University mdash Mankato mdash $16 regular $14 discount $11 current MSU students mdash wwwmnsuedu

29-31 BLC Theatre Brigadoon730 Friday and Saturday 2 pm Sunday mdash Ylvisaker Fine Arts Center mdash Bethany Lutheran College mdash Mankato mdash $10 adults $6 seniors children and students mdash wwwblceduevents

29- Feb 7 Winterfest St Peter Citywide mdash wwwstpeterchamberorg

30 Church of Cash a Tribute to Johnny Cash7 pm mdash St Peter American Legion mdash 229 W Nassau St mdash St Peter mdash 507-934-6435

31 Maud Hixson and rick Carlson concert730 pmmdash Elias J Halling Recital Hall mdash Minnesota State University mdash Mankato mdash $12 regular $11 current MSU students wwmnsuedumusic

Coming attraCtions January

T - F 8am - 6pm Sun ClosedSat 9am - 4pmM 8am - 8pm

120 North Broad Street Mankato MN 507-345-4688 wwwmeyerandsonstvandappliancecom

FIND SPECIAL DEALS ON

MM p02 0116indd 44 12182015 30902 PM

MANKATO MAGAZINE  bull January 2016 bull 45

St Peter Craft amp Vendor Show

1MelinadaBussefromRapidansoldherhandmadejewelryatthecraftandvendorshow

2DarylfromElysianandhishand-carvedwoodart

3MacKennaage7hasfunatoneoftheboothsattheStPeterCraftandVendorShow

4LizEntershowsoffsomeofherproductsattheldquoItWorksrdquobooth

5DenisePetersofldquoYoungLivingrdquoessentialoilsdisplayedherproductsattheshow

Faces amp Places Photos By Sport Pix

3

5

2

1

4

T - F 8am - 6pm Sun ClosedSat 9am - 4pmM 8am - 8pm

120 North Broad Street Mankato MN 507-345-4688 wwwmeyerandsonstvandappliancecom

FIND SPECIAL DEALS ON

MM p02 0116indd 45 12222015 121536 PM

46 bull January 2016 bull MANKATO MAGAZINE

SOUTHErN MN CHrISTMAS

FESTIVAL1 A large crowd was on hand during the festivities at

the Christmas Festival2 Friesenrsquos Family Bakery amp Bistro had tons of baked

goods and soups at the Verizon Wireless Center3 A childrenrsquos choir sang for the audience at the

festival4 Ron Haefner owner of Ronrsquos Auto Repair displayed

some of his services5 Garrison Galatz dressed up as Santa for the

Christmas Festival

faCes amp PLaCes Photos By Sport Pix

4

3

1

2

5

MM p02 0116indd 46 12182015 30923 PM

MANKATO MAGAZINE  bull January 2016 bull 47

1GirlScouttroop34494waspresentedwithatrophybyKiwanisVicePresidentKyleMrozek

2SantaClausevenwentthroughtheparaderoute3(LtoR)BrooklynPomrankeAlaynaLyonsHunterPomrankeandLilyLyonsgetagroupphototakenwithSanta

4MarshaMartigtellsSantawhatshewantsforChristmas

5TheparadefloatswerealldeckedoutinChristmaslights

6Visitorswalkthepatharoundtheparktoviewthisyearrsquoslights

Kiwanis Holiday ligHtsFaces amp Places Photos By sport Pix

2

1

3

4 5

6

MM p02 0116indd 47 12222015 121616 PM

48 bull January 2016 bull MANKATO MAGAZINE

On the Occasion of a 50th Reunion

the Class of 1965

from this VaLLeYBy Pete Steiner

Peter Steiner is host of ldquoTalk of the Townrdquo weekdays at 105 pm on KTOE

I was honored to give the presentation for our 50th class reunion recently at West Highrsquos Homecoming celebration About 120 of our nearly 400-member class

showed up We Baby Boomers the children of the greatest generation had big classes in the late lsquo60rsquos that forced the building of East High Ours was a dramatic era and our class did some great things in the face of big challenges Here edited is some of what I said

I am so glad to be standing here today Therersquos an old saying

ldquoMay you live in INTErESTINg timeshelliprdquo The Class of rsquo65 certainly has Itrsquos seems like only yesterday right after lunch that we were at our desks waiting for the start of English class when our charismatic teacher Harry Fitterer strode in and said ldquoPrESIDENT KENNEDY HAS BEEN SHOT IN DALLASrdquo At first we didnrsquot believe him but it was true It was November 22 1963 We were juniors and as the song says that was THE END OF THE INNOCENCE We had lived through the last idyllic time in America

When we first arrived in the fall of 1962 America was still carefree basking in the glow of victory in WW II Everything may have seemed ldquorightrdquo but it was not Martin Luther King Jr had just visited Mankato pointing out the continuing plight of black Americans as the Civil rights movement was gaining steam The beginnings of the Vietnam War which would alter the course of many of our lives were stirring even as we studied history and government The current generation has no monopoly on forgettable pop music ndash we had a stupid 1 song called ldquoItsie Bitsie Teenie Weenie Yellow Polka Dot Bikinirdquo (unfortunately an ear worm I canrsquot forget) But a darker cultural threat was looming The BEATLES were invading from Britain and our parents were mortified because they had LONg HAIr

Some of the shock of the Kennedy assassination was eased when our wrestling team in the era when the state still had just ONE CLASS won the State Championship in front of a packed hall up at MSU some still maintain that is the greatest single athletic achievement in Mankato history We were the first high school in Mankato to put on a full-scale musical ldquoBye Bye Birdierdquo in the spring of 1964 In Fall of 1964 our football team would have won the conference championship outright except Owatonnarsquos great Noel Jenke who would go on to star for the U of M

cheated I watched him trap the touchdown pass that beat us Does cheating pay Was that a lesson for life

In lsquo65 we also had a fine basketball team that lost our chance at State when our 6-6 center fouled out at Luverne

BUT A FAr BIggEr CHALLENgE AWAITED US ALL As we rode out to Luverne to watch that game we couldnrsquot help noticing the highway was like a canyon between walls of snow The legendary St Patrickrsquos Day Blizzard had dumped two feet on top of an already large snow pack and then April brought rains on frozen ground Instead of coming here to school many of us soon got a real-life assignment to go out in our rain gear out on the dikes to battle the grEAT FLOOD OF 1965 Our school became an island as water flooded the parking lot and all of South riverfront Our spring play that year was called ironically

THE DESPErATE HOUrS We had to rehearse at roosevelt School up on higher ground

Our class produced three Merit scholars One of our classmates who did NOT qualify

for a merit scholarship nevertheless was such a whiz at physics that NASA requested a copy of a paper he wrote on rocketry as a senior We produced 12 doctors one of whom earned a fellowship at Stanford seeking how to bring telemedicine to the poor another of whom became a breakthrough cancer doctor We had entrepreneurs one who would go on to be a leader in Solar Energy (and then run for governor of New Hampshire) Another mdash a woman incidentally when

that was not common founded two bio-tech startups Many of us are still working

past normal retirement age One founded a company on the leading edge of recycling

computers whose clients include the NSA Another is chief medical officer of a company

devising a better tool for colonoscopies Yet another of our classmates recently completed a concert tour of China

We lived in challenging times just as you do today but we muddle through we make it to the other shore I remember sitting where you are 50 years ago thinking how old those folks up there looked But remember Life goes by very quickly You certainly live in interesting times as Shakespeare said ldquoPresent Mirth has Present Laughter Youthrsquos a stuff will NOT endurerdquo So I urge you live each moment to the fullest

MM p02 0116indd 48 12182015 30933 PM

MM p02 0116indd 49 12182015 30936 PM

MM p02 0116indd 50 12182015 30948 PM

Page 3: Mankatomag 116

Get healthy Get fit Get a new outlook Get with the MeltdownJoin the Mankato Meltdown Fitness Challenge January 13th - April 13th

Healthy Veggie Wrap Yum

Erin McCann

Eating Right

bullbullbullbull 3G 1244 PM

Pin This

Decadent Chocolate Cake

Mary Foster

Calories Unconscious

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Not This

Sponsored By

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GOLFERS FROM AROUND THE WORLD COME TO CHALLENGE THE JUDGE and the two other golf courses in Prattville at RTJ Capitol Hill Bring your clubs

and come take on Judge hole number 1 voted the favorite hole on the Trail Complete your day in luxury at the Marriott and enjoy dining fi repits and

guest rooms overlooking the Senator golf course With the Marriottrsquos 20000 square feet of meeting space 96 guest rooms and luxurious Presidential

Cottage combined with three world-class golf courses business and pleasure can defi nitely interact in Prattville

THE ROBERT TRENT JONES GOLF TRAIL AT CAPITOL HILL is home of the Yokohama Tire LPGA Classic on the Senator Course

September 18 to 24 2014 The Marriott Prattville is part of the Resort Collection on Alabamarsquos Robert Trent Jones Golf Trail

Visit wwwrtjgolfcom or call 8009494444 to learn more

for Yourselfraquo COME JUDGE for Yourself

RTJ746JudgePRATT_CNHIMagsindd 1 32814 1217 PMMM p01 0116indd 2 12182015 24422 PM

MANKATO MAGAZINE  bull January 2016 bull 3

FEATURESJanuary 2016

Volume 11 Issue 1

Grave lessonsAuthor Rebecca Fjelland Davis finds

warmth six feet under

22Listen up

Personal trainers offer advice to start you new year off right

18

About the CoverStephanie Howe director of healthy living at the Mankato Family YMCA poses in the free weight room

She was photographed by Pat Christman

Get inspiredItrsquos January Time for a new you

14

GOLFERS FROM AROUND THE WORLD COME TO CHALLENGE THE JUDGE and the two other golf courses in Prattville at RTJ Capitol Hill Bring your clubs

and come take on Judge hole number 1 voted the favorite hole on the Trail Complete your day in luxury at the Marriott and enjoy dining fi repits and

guest rooms overlooking the Senator golf course With the Marriottrsquos 20000 square feet of meeting space 96 guest rooms and luxurious Presidential

Cottage combined with three world-class golf courses business and pleasure can defi nitely interact in Prattville

THE ROBERT TRENT JONES GOLF TRAIL AT CAPITOL HILL is home of the Yokohama Tire LPGA Classic on the Senator Course

September 18 to 24 2014 The Marriott Prattville is part of the Resort Collection on Alabamarsquos Robert Trent Jones Golf Trail

Visit wwwrtjgolfcom or call 8009494444 to learn more

for Yourselfraquo COME JUDGE for Yourself

RTJ746JudgePRATT_CNHIMagsindd 1 32814 1217 PM MM p01 0116indd 3 12182015 24424 PM

4 bull January 2016 bull MANKATO MAGAZINE

DEPARTMENTS6 From the Editor 8 This Day in History9 The Gallery Ellen Schofield

10 Beyond the Margin Let Freedom Reign

12 Day Trip Destinations Celebration of the Lakes

26 Then amp now Schuyler Colfax

29 Food Drink amp Dine 30 Food Hot cocoa

32 Wine Cabernet Sauvignon

33 Beer Light can be good

34 Food Coffee Hag v20

36 Whatrsquos Cookinrsquo Nuts

38 Thatrsquos Life My dream job

40 Garden Chat Big plans for 2016

42 your Style A lsquobalmyrsquo time of year

44 Coming attractions 45 Faces amp Places48 From This Valley 50th reunion

9

26 38

42 44

12

Coming in FebruaryCabin Fever

Relax Wersquoll get through this

When it comes to your financial future a single view-point isnrsquot always enough Our trusted advisers work as

a team providing you the benefit of multiple CFPreg professionals and decades of experience When you are

ready to ldquoget seriousrdquo about retirement give us a call

Why Settle for Less

reg regreg

wwwedwardjonescom

Kenneth J Klooster AAMSregFinancial Advisor

1660 Commerce Drive Suite 2North Mankato MN 56003507-625-8452wwwedwardjonescom

Member SIPC

Schedule a complimentaryportfolio review

THE FUTURE IS YOURSTO CUSTOMIZE

WITH A COMPREHENSIVEFINANCIAL PLAN

5073876031 wwweidebai l lycomFinancial Advisor offers Investment Advisory Services through Eide Bailly Advisors LLC a Registered Investment Advisor Securities offered through United Planners Financial Services Member of FINRA and SIPC Eide Bailly Financial Services LLC is the holding company for Eide Bailly Advisors LLC Eide Bailly Financial Services and its subsidiaries are not affiliated with United Planners

Ryan Spaude Financial Advisor

MM p01 0116indd 4 12182015 24429 PM

When it comes to your financial future a single view-point isnrsquot always enough Our trusted advisers work as

a team providing you the benefit of multiple CFPreg professionals and decades of experience When you are

ready to ldquoget seriousrdquo about retirement give us a call

Why Settle for Less

reg regreg

wwwedwardjonescom

Kenneth J Klooster AAMSregFinancial Advisor

1660 Commerce Drive Suite 2North Mankato MN 56003507-625-8452wwwedwardjonescom

Member SIPC

Schedule a complimentaryportfolio review

THE FUTURE IS YOURSTO CUSTOMIZE

WITH A COMPREHENSIVEFINANCIAL PLAN

5073876031 wwweidebai l lycomFinancial Advisor offers Investment Advisory Services through Eide Bailly Advisors LLC a Registered Investment Advisor Securities offered through United Planners Financial Services Member of FINRA and SIPC Eide Bailly Financial Services LLC is the holding company for Eide Bailly Advisors LLC Eide Bailly Financial Services and its subsidiaries are not affiliated with United Planners

Ryan Spaude Financial Advisor

MM p01 0116indd 5 12222015 115613 AM

6 bull bull MANKATO MAGAZINE

MM

MM p01 0116indd 6 12222015 115714 AM

MANKATO MAGAZINE  bull January 2016 bull 7

xxxxxx

BUILDING AUTOMOTIONAND INTEGRATION CONTROLS

HEATING AND COOLING SYSTEMS

SECURITY

ldquoTodays leading experts to help you for a better tomorrowrdquoldquoTodays leading experts to help you for a better tomorrowrdquo

307 McKinzie Street SoMankato MN 56001507-345-4828 507-289-4874wwwpaapecom

Please call for a free consultation and estimate

KnowYourRisk

Take chargeof your healthwith monthlyself-examsand annual

mammograms

it

Mankato Clinic joins usin raising awareness ofthe importance of early

detection in the fightagainst breast cancerand the importance ofcontinued support for

breast cancer research

MM p01 0116indd 7 12182015 24435 PM

Friday January 3 1890Magnificent Showing for 1889Over $70000 Expended on Streets Waterworks and Sewers(compared to 2014 dollars this could amount to as much as $86000000 dollars)

The most important of the public works accomplished this year is the construction of a pumping station the purchase of a magnificent holly pump and the completion of the large one-million gallon reservoir The discovery of a suitable water supply was made last year but it was left to be developed this year by the sinking of two large artesian wells to a depth of more than 600 feet

The next is important as having over a mile of sewer on second street Other improvements Completion of the Tourtellotte Hospital and the purchase of additional hose for the fire department

Friday January 7 1910County Board is Wrestling with Bills in Ledbeter CaseThiel Detective Agency wants to be paid for booze and treats entertaining deputy sheriff and farmers Lady Sleuth was employed on jobThiel Detective Agency employed a woman Paid for parties on the County dime In 1910 Though not mentioned in the printed story Mrs Ledbeter was accused of murdering her husband Holland several years her elder

The County Board met this afternoon wrestling with bills that had been presented to it for services rendered in connection with the trials of Frank Smith and Mrs Grace Ledbeter

County Auditor Weaver states the cost of these trials will be between $8000 and $10000 but he wonrsquot know the exact figure for several days

The Thiel Detective Agency has put in a bill for $49835 for services largely consisting of railway fare hotel bills etc One of the items under date Nov 23-30 and Dec 1-4 is ldquodrinks cigars etc with Deputy Sheriff $405rdquo

The next item is ldquotreats and expenses with farmers and others during investigation $2215rdquo

A lady detective seems to have been employed on the case for a time making a trip to St Louis and other places

Tuesday January 3 1961Twins are first lsquoBago Births of the year

Fraternal twins were the first births in Winnebago at the Community Hospital in 1961 Mr and Mrs Eldren Jaegerrsquos boy was born at 1055 Sunday and the girl arrived at 1115 AM The boy weighed 5 pounds 8 12 ounces The girl hit the scale at 5 pounds 2 and a quarter ounces The Jaergers who operate a farm at rural Amboy have seven other children ranging in age from Sandra 18 in nursersquos training at St Josephrsquos Hospital in Mankato to 4-year-old Joel

Tuesday January 3 1928Cafes and Dance Halls Scenes of Gaiety Quiet for New Yearrsquos Police Report Cold Wave Sends Revelers Home at Early HourMinus 18 degrees Fahrenheit is just too cold to have fun on New Yearrsquos Eve

Liquor that did not flow too liberally and the extreme cold weather conspired to make the celebration of the coming of the new year in Mankato not too boisterous ldquoIt was a quiet timerdquo commented Chiefof Police Jake Hilgers ldquoProbably quieter than last yearrdquo Only one arrest was made as against 3 last New Yearrsquos The arrest was of a man found lying in the railroad yards intoxicated The tips of his fingers were frozen and itrsquos believed if he had not been discovered he would have frozen to death

This DAy in hisToryBy Jean Lundquist

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Corporate GraphicsYour Printing Solutions Company

1750 Northway DriveNorth Mankato MN 56003

800-729-7575wwwcorpgraphcom

May your 2016 be

Filled with color and

delight

MANKATO MAGAZINE  bull January 2016 bull 9

The GAllery Ellen Schofield Story by Nell Musolf

After graduat ing from the University of Minnesota in 2012 with a Masterrsquos of Fine

Arts degree in graphic design Ellen Schofield was delighted when three months later she was offered a teaching position at Minnesota State University She expected that she would have to move elsewhere and was happy that she would be able to stay in her own state

ldquoThere were about 10 positions open around the time I graduatedrdquo Schofield said ldquowhich was really quite a lot I expected that Irsquod have to move so it was great to be hired by MSUrdquo

Schofield teaches introductory level graphic design classes as well as a special concept class that helps students fire up their creativity

ldquoIn the special concept class we do mind mapping brainstorming and once a semester I bring in an improv comedian because studies have proven that improv comedians have the most creative ideas of any other professionrdquo Schofield said ldquoThe class does theater warm ups and they really seem to enjoy it We also focus on the lsquoyes andrsquo theory in that classrdquo

The ldquoyes andrdquo theory agrees with an idea and then expounds on it with enthusiasm mdash the ldquoandrdquo part

ldquoCollege students often want to look cool all the timerdquo Schofield remarked

ldquoThe lsquoyes andrsquo theory pushes past that and opens up creativityrdquo

Schofield defines graphic design as thinking made visual

ldquoGraphic design is everywhere Itrsquos logos for businesses and icons and even the tax return papers given out by the IRS are examples of graphic design and had to have been designed by some poor personrdquo Schofield said ldquoA goal of a graphic designer is to create something that anyone can understand as soon as they look at itrdquo

Before becoming a graduate student Schofield ran her own graphic design business and has continued the business on a smaller scale now that she is teaching Her personal preference in graphic design is to create icons

ldquoI tend to like iconographyrdquo Schofield said ldquoIcons can be mdash and I think should be mdash simple and elegant and tell whoever sees them something about the business they representrdquo

Schofield worked with the Childrenrsquos Museum of Southern Minnesota to create its icon an experience she enjoyed

ldquoI wanted to make it something that would appeal to kids and their parents as well The Childrenrsquos Museum has such a cool space mdash it needed an icon that would let people know what a truly cool place it isrdquo Schofield said

When working with a graphic design client Schofield likes to have ldquolots and lotsrdquo of conversations

ldquoGetting to know clients is important We talk a lot so that I can find out what a client feels passionate about when it comes to their business The goal is to find something that makes them unique and then create a graphic design that reflects thatrdquo Schofield said

Shofield said her favorite artistic tool is the art departmentrsquos laser cutter

ldquoItrsquos like the worldrsquos fanciest scissorsrdquo Schofield said ldquoIt can cut just about anything and does an amazing job Itrsquos so much fun to work withrdquo

Schofield is working with MSU colleague David Rogers on a project using the laser cutter called ldquoPaper State Flowersrdquo Schofield and Rogers are using typographic state abbreviations combined with paper flowers Their progress can be viewed at wwwpaperstateflowerscom and the final results will be shown at an art gallery in Hutchinson in October

Schofield originally planned to become an engineer but after taking a class in graphic design she changed her mind

ldquoIrsquom a visual personal and I fell in love with designrdquo Schofield said ldquoReally I canrsquot imagine doing anything elserdquo

thinking Made visualEllen Schofield teaches at Minnesota State university

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10 bull January 2016 bull MANKATO MAGAZINE

xxxxxxxxxxxxxMM p01 0116indd 10 12182015 24444 PM

MANKATO MAGAZINE bull bull 11

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12 bull January 2016 bull MANKATO MAGAZINE

The Celebration of the Lakes has been a family tradition for Erin Thorvaldson Chisago Lakes Chamber Board Member and Community member for Celebration of the Lakes for more than 20 years Thorvaldson was about 10

years old when her grandmother introduced her to the event which takes place Jan 30 on North Center Lake in Lindstrom

DAy Trip DesTinATions Celebration of the LakesBy leTiciA GonzAles

hit the LakesLindstrom has plenty of fun waiting for you

Hot air balloons are just one of the many attractions this festival has employed over the years

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MANKATO MAGAZINE  bull January 2016 bull 13

Day Trip DesTinaTions Celebration of the LakesBy LeTicia GonzaLes

WhenJan 29-31 2016

I-35 North to Hwy 8 east to Center City Located on the North side of Hwy 8 on

North Center Lake

If youGoWhat

Celebration of the Lakes

Lindstrom MN

AdmissionFree additional admission required for some

events activities food and ridesVisit wwwchisagolakeschambercom

ldquoSo I helped way back then when she was part of the chamberrdquo said Thorvaldson ldquoAnd having a business in the community as I got older I also wanted to give backrdquo

Born and raised in the Chisago Lakes area Thorvaldson has served on the celebrationrsquos planning committee for nine years She said the event first caught her eye not only because she loves winter but because it focuses on the outdoors ldquoeven though many people in Minnesota cringe once we get to 20 degrees so it kind of gets you out and lets you do something funrdquo

Watching the celebration grow over the past two decades has also been fun for Thorvaldson

ldquoIt was very tiny at that pointrdquo she said as she reminisced about the early days of the event ldquoIt was just a few hay bales at the icerdquo

Being an active part of the planning has been equally exciting

ldquoThe committeersquos always trying to come up with more ideas that the community would perceive as something fun to do in the winter timerdquo she said ldquoThere have been the sled dogs there have been hot air balloons and there have been kitty cat races car racesrdquo

While past years have even included BMX bike races where people dressed up in costumes the snowmobile radar run and the vintage snow mobile displays have been the ldquomain staplesrdquo of the celebration Organized by the Wild River Snowmobile Club of Chisago City the snowmobile radar run features nearly 200 riders who race upwards of 120 miles per hour on a track

ldquoSometimes they will have souped-up snowmobiles that go incredibly fastrdquo Thorvaldson said ldquoWe had a world record one that raced on the track so itrsquos pretty amazing to see how fast some of them go They break them up into categories and there are prizes for the fastest one in each categoryrdquo

Originally introduced as a memorial radar run for a rotary member the radar run has become one of the celebrationrsquos most popular events

ldquoWe started with just a sheriffrsquos radar gun and now they use different timing items like cones and announcingrdquo she add ldquoItrsquos kind of something that has evolved toordquo

With the draw of the surrounding lakes in the area Thorvaldson said ice fishing has also grown in popularity and has become embedded in the annual celebration

ldquoItrsquos like little villages out on the lakerdquo she said

ldquoThat is kind of the big that that people do There are people who drive up from all over the place the Twin Cities all over just to come spend the weekend ice fishing on the lake so thatrsquos a big big thingrdquo

Greg Shaleen who has also been on the planning committee for the celebration for more than 15 years affirmed the celebrationrsquos growth when it comes to activities offered

ldquoWe have done kind of bizarre thingsrdquo he said ldquoWe do a smoosh race which is where you take 2-by-4s and strap four leather straps on it and you do a little bit of a racerdquo

Shaleen also credits the event for bringing people out to the lakes during the coldest month of the year

ldquoEveryone is all cooped up in the community and it just got to the point where they wanted to do something fun in the winter and get people out and about and enjoy the winter sportrdquo he said

From kitty races and sled dog races to a concession tent and a family fishing contest that draws anywhere from three to five hundred people Shaleen said the Celebration of the Lakes brings people together in the outdoors

ldquoWe are basically more interested in getting people out of the house visiting with friends and neighbors and visitors to the area and enjoying each otherrsquos interest in snowmobiling or ice fishing or whatever the events are taking place or going onrdquo he concluded

MM p01 0116indd 13 12222015 115930 AM

January The holidays are over along with all of the seasonrsquos excuses for overindulge in food and drink and under-indulging in any form of exercise (other than lifting onersquos hand to onersquos mouth) After stowing the presents in the

closet and taking down the tree many people choose the New Year as the perfect time to begin a serious diet and exercise program to shed the extra pounds they put on over the past few months and to begin eating more healthfully Mankato Clinic registered dietitian Erin Gonzalez says a hearty ldquoyesrdquo to healthy mindful eating and definite ldquonordquo to any extreme ldquodo or die(t)rdquo approach

According to Gonzalez 95 percent of all dieters regain the weight they lost within five years It is her belief that such yo-yo dieting only creates more frustration and stress which can lead to emotional eating and binge eating which leads to another cycle of dieting-losing-weight-gaining-weight ad infinitum

Gonzalez speaks from experience After losing 70 pounds since the time she was a teenager Gonzalez is now at a weight she considers healthy and one that she hasnrsquot deviated from in years

By Nell Musolf | Photos by Pat Christman and Darren Gibbins

Herersquos to ahealthy

new yeara healthy

new you

14 bull January 2016 bull MANKATO MAGAZINE

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MANKATO MAGAZINE  bull January 2016 bull 15

Erin Gonzalez and her son prepare a healthful meal

Erin GonzalezldquoI struggled with weight issues when I was growing

uprdquo Gonzalez said ldquoWhen I was 16 I went on my first lsquoseriousrsquo dietmdashone of the fast diets that were popular in the 1990srdquo

Gonzalez said that she stuck to her diet religiously having a shake in the morning one for lunch and a sensible meal at night just as she was instructed to do She also walked for approximately two and a half hours a day Over the course of one summer she lost 70 pounds but she was also she now realizes flirting with an eating disorder Gonzalez says this scenario is not uncommon considering research shows 35 percent of ldquooccasional dietersrdquo progress into pathological dieting (disordered eating) and as many as 25 percent advance to full-blown eating disorders

ldquoMy food intake was very restrictive and I was always extremely conscience of what I ate but just the same I slowly gained back 30 of the 70 pounds

that I lostrdquo Gonzalez said ldquoI was always looking at food as either lsquogoodrsquo or lsquobadrsquo instead of something pleasurable to be enjoyedrdquo

It wasnrsquot until she was working at her dietetic internship that she had her ldquoahardquo moment

ldquoI was blessed with a teacher who taught her students how to enjoy foodrdquo Gonzalez said ldquoinstead of being obsessed by it Gonzalez learned about a program called Am I Hungry that specializes in helping people heal their relationship with food and their bodies so they can relearn to trust their internal hunger cues instead of having to follow arbitrary rules and broken promises of diets Gonzalez facilitates a program at the Mankato Clinic that teaches the Am I Hungry philosophy

ldquoI have two childrenrdquo Gonzalez said ldquoa 10-month-old and a 4-year-old They know how to eat naturally and they stop eating when they are no longer hungry That is what most adults need

MM p01 0116indd 15 12222015 120138 PM

16 bull January 2016 bull MANKATO MAGAZINE

xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

need to relearn how to eatrdquoThe method has worked for Gonzalez Gone are

her extra 30 pounds and she no longer dietsldquoDiets simply arenrsquot sustainablerdquo she said ldquoItrsquos so

hard in our society because we are surrounded by cues to eat all of the time At buffets where you want to lsquoget your moneyrsquos worthrsquo when yoursquore out with friends when you sit down at the end of the day and turn on the television to relax and are bombarded with ads for food Food has become a reward for a bad day or a good day or anything else we can think of But if you look at how you eat as a journey instead of as a destination you can learn to enjoy food a lot morerdquo

So what should someone who wants to start the New Year in a more healthy fashion do

ldquoPause before you eatrdquo Gonzalez recommended ldquoAsk yourself if yoursquore really hungry or if yoursquore actually thirsty or stressed instead Try not to be emotionally disconnected from what you are eatingrdquo

Gonzalez emphasized that ldquomindful eating isnrsquot naive to say nutrition isnrsquot important Of course it is Mindful eating is what allows us to take charge of our decisions of why when what how and how much we choose to eat instead of battling being in or out of controlrdquo

Instead of following the latest short-lived diet Gonzalez encourages people to make the healthiest choices possible that donrsquot leave them feeling deprived

Paulette Tonn BookerFor Paulette Tonn Booker the Am I Hungry

Mindful Eating (AIHME) program has been a game changer

Said Booker ldquoIrsquove tried several diet plans over the past 40 years including some well-known plans and I lost weight on each plan However keeping the weight off eluded me and resulted in yo-yo dieting

The lsquorulesrsquo of whichever plan Booker was on became the norm and after years of trying to live by those rules Booker was no longer able to discern what her body was telling her about hunger often leading to out-of-control overeating

ldquoI always knew there was something else going on yet no one had an answer for merdquo Booker said

When Booker first heard of the AIHME program two years ago she was relieved to discover that there were other people who felt the same way when it came to healthful eating The program taught her the skills she needed to recognize her bodyrsquos hunger signals thoughts and feelings and actions to help manage the physical emotional and environmental stresses of everyday life without resorting to eating to cope with those stresses

ldquoI no longer have to be in control of everything I only need to be in charge of my decisions at any given moment When I choose to overeat (which everyone does) I no longer beat myself up I try to reflect on what happened and then plan for ways to handle the situation differently the next time it occurs Old habits are hard to break it takes concentrated effort and dedication to rewire the brain with new habits and it can be donerdquo Booker said

About weight loss as the end goal of healthful eating Booker shared the following ldquoThe only time I get on a scale is at the doctorrsquos office I know what the experts say I should weigh A number does not define a personrsquos self-worth nor does it say anything about who we are and how we feel as we make changes in how we nurture our bodies The number on the scale is just a number bodies come in all shapes and sizes as does health I will never diet again Instead I will continue to work on developing mindful skills and in the meantime eating what I love and loving what I eatrdquo

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MANKATO MAGAZINE  bull January 2016 bull 17

Eric ZiesmerFor Eric Ziesmer he is in the middle of his weight

loss journey a journey that began last July when the 32-year-old learned that he weighed 330 pounds The time had come for Ziesmer to make some healthy lifestyle changes Ziesmer decided to lose weight because of his family mdash both present and future

ldquoI have two adorable nephews and I would love to be able to chase them around the yard or pull them in a sled during the winter and basically to be active and see them as they growrdquo Ziesmer said ldquoAnd even though Irsquom currently single if it is in my cards for marriage and kids I would like to be there and not be too tired or not in shape A clean and healthy lifestyle is what I am striving for in my coming yearsrdquo

With the help of a dietician Ziesmer has started his cleaner and healthier lifestyle Since July he has lost 40 pounds and has decided to have weight loss surgery To help his post operation phase go as smoothly as possible Ziesmer eats fresh fruit every day has cut out chips and cookies among other things

ldquoI have totally cut out soda Soda was a big one to cut out In my huge climb to 300 there were days when I would consume two 2-liter bottles of pop in a single day and maybe cracking open a thirdrdquo Ziesmer said ldquoI try to listen to my stomach instead of my eyes or eat because Irsquom bored or stressed I eat slow and sip instead of being the guzzler I have always beenrdquo

Another tactic Ziesmer has adopted has been to stop drinking liquids 30 minutes before a meal and then wait 30 minutes after eating before sipping again

ldquoWhen my stomach rumbles and says itrsquos hungry I feed it When my brain or boredom drives me to want to eat I take a second to see if my stomach feels empty and if not it gets deniedrdquo Ziesmer said

Ziesmer has noticed that he is more successful at healthy eating when he eats at home When he does dine out hersquoll cut a sandwich in half eat half and save other half for a future meal

ldquoAs far as exercise goes it went from zero to at least two if not three times a week going for a 327 mile walk and have recently made my way back into the gymrdquo Ziesmer said He has been able to keep track of his walks with accuracy thanks to an app called MapMyRun

Ziesmer knows that his healthier living journey will continue for a long time

ldquoI plan on continuing to live healthy by continuing my exercise and eating right and by saying that itrsquos not only for me and feeling better but also because there are two little guys that look up to their uncle Staying motivated is at least my key to keeping up this lifestyle I want to live a long and healthier life feeling better and being there down the road for family and friends is what means mostrdquo Ziesmer said MM

Eric Ziesmer says hersquos got plenty of motivation to get healthy two nephews to whom he wants to be a good role model

MM p01 0116indd 17 12222015 120514 PM

18 bull January 2016 bull MANKATO MAGAZINE

Stephanie Howe says itrsquos best to have realistic goals when starting a fitness program

Herersquos your guideBy Robb Murray | Photos by Pat Christman

Ready for CHANGE

MM p01 0116indd 18 12182015 24506 PM

MANKATO MAGAZINE  bull January 2016 bull 19

Yoursquore ready

You ate the ham and turkey and potatoes and Christmas cookies You drank the wine beer and eggnog Yoursquove spent the last few

months pondering a life change Yoursquore on the verge of a major transformation This time itrsquos happening Yoursquore going to get healthy Itrsquos going to be a new you

And then January arrived And you have no plan

Luckily we here at Mankato Magazine have got you covered Itrsquos not uncommon for people to make a New Yearrsquos resolution or some similar vow this time of year It usually comes with goal weights and promises to hit the gym X number of times per week and trips to the produce and organic sections of the grocery store because this time yoursquore serious Right

OK easy tiger Getting healthy is a great idea and wersquore wishing you all the best But wersquore also coming at you with some sensible advice Maybe setting unrealistic goals isnrsquot the best way to go Maybe just

heading into the gym and trying to get it all done in a week isnrsquot a great way to go either

ldquoFinerdquo you say ldquothen what should I dordquoWersquore so glad you asked

Letrsquos get startedThe first thing you need to remember when

starting an exercise program is that if you want to lose weight you need to change the way you eat too

ldquoNo matter what you say you canrsquot out exercise a bad dietrdquo says Stephanie Howe director of healthy living at the Mankato YMCA

Howe works in what might be the busiest fitness hub in the Mankato area So shersquos seen her share of people come through the doors with plans to change their lives Some of them succeed Most do not

One of the biggest mistakes people make Howe says is not really having a good grasp on how much time theyrsquoll need in order to incorporate a good workout into their day It doesnrsquot have to be a two-

hour commitment every day she says It can be 30 minutes of planned effective exercise several times per week Whatrsquos more important is just getting there and thatrsquos an obstacle that is bigger than most people realize

ldquoMost people want to lsquopeople pleasersquordquo she said ldquoYou can say yoursquore going to get up and work out every day but most people are built to need external accountabilityrdquo

Think about hiring a personal trainer

ldquoWhen you spend the money on a personal trainer you have an appointment therersquos someone waiting thererdquo she says

A personal trainer is a great way to immediately know yoursquore doing exactly what yoursquore supposed to be doing and yoursquoll have no doubt whether yoursquore working hard enough There are plenty of personal trainers in town mdash at the YMCA and other gyms mdash who would love to help you Of course they donrsquot work for free and for many people the cost of a personal trainer is more than theyrsquore willing to spend

Fortunately therersquos a trend in fitness to offer the whip-crack of a personal trainer while staying Jo radlinger urges her clients to not sabotage their fitness efforts with poor eating over

the weekend

MM p01 0116indd 19 12182015 24510 PM

20 bull January 2016 bull MANKATO MAGAZINE

728 N Riverfront DriveMankato MN 56001

507-625-5163katobearscom

Pins and NeedlesAlterations

Specializing in alterations for theentire wedding party including

gown re-sizing hemming re-beadingbustles and so much more

Like us onFacebook

affordableThe Y now offers something called ldquotrainer ledrdquo

exercise sessions where you work with others in a group but have access to a trainer nearby who can push you motivate you and make sure yoursquore you know doing it right Theyrsquore $3 a class

ldquoYoursquore still expected to be there but itrsquos much cheaperrdquo Howe said ldquoThe group environment pushes you and we have tons of trainer-led classes Itrsquos the best of both worldsrdquo

Across town Jo Radlinger runs Jorsquos Garage a fitness center where shersquos the one pushing you to succeed

Radlingerrsquos goal she says is to bring out everyonersquos potential

ldquoI want to make sure everybody that comes through my door has success I want them to be the very best version of themselves that they can berdquo

Like Howe Radlinger acknowledges that the financial side of hiring a personal trainer can scare people away but she says there are several reasons why it shouldnrsquot

ldquoItrsquos never a bad investment when yoursquore investing in yourselfrdquo she said ldquoMeet with a trainer who is just as passionate about your goal My goal is not to train you intensely but to show you what yoursquore capable of and then take you to that next levelrdquo

At Jorsquos Fitness Garage there are no membership fees Radlinger doesnrsquot believe in them Instead she charges $5 per visit and in that time she said she pushes you to have a great workout

GymtimidationSetting goals is a great

idea Setting unrealistic goals is the kind of thing that results in a gym membership card laying dormant in a junk drawer by February

So set those goals but set them smartlyldquoAccountability is huge Even if you canrsquot hire

someonerdquo Howe says ldquoMake specific goals mdash say yoursquore going to workout X number of times but make those numbers realistic Set goals that are within your controlrdquo

Do this and yoursquore likely to feel a lot better about how things go

ldquoMost people just want to feel better about themselves they want to feel more confidentrdquo Howe said ldquoThis way even before any physical changes happen theyrsquoll feel better Theyrsquoll start to feel like theyrsquore in control again of their life and their choicesrdquo

Taking an exercise class is a great way to both get

your body moving while at the same time have fun and meet those people who will notice when you donrsquot show up

And about that weight room Yes it can be intimidating to walk in and see people who look like they live there But Howe says that while it can definitely be a psychological barrier focusing on those people is the wrong strategy

ldquoNo one cares what yoursquore doingrdquo Howe says ldquoFocus on yourdquo

Take it slowIt can be tempting when you finally get up the

nerve to get back in the swing of working out to go hardcore But just like setting unrealistic goals trying to achieve your fitness goals in a day is impossible

ldquoPeople start out really gung-ho and reset their diet so aggressively and most people just simply canrsquot do thisrdquo Radlinger said ldquoWhen yoursquore looking at making a lifestyle change I want you to do it slowly and incrementally rather than do it all in two monthsrdquo

Rushing into the weight room and trying to lift the same weight and number of reps and sets that you did 10 years ago is a great way to make sure you canrsquot work out for a while Going from a sedentary lifestyle to two hours of pumping iron can leave you sore enough to not be able to lift anything for days Maybe even weeks

Ease into it The gymrsquos not going anywhere Think marathon not sprint

ldquoSometimes people have an all-or-nothing attituderdquo Howe said ldquoand they make themselves sore and they canrsquot continuerdquo

Speaking of all-or-nothing Radlinger says

some people bring that kind of intensity to their food intake over the weekend Bad idea

ldquoAs trainers we help people be accountable We do success measurements help them prepare and plan And wersquoll do weigh-ins on Mondayrdquo Radlinger says ldquoWersquoll find that people do really well Monday through Friday then do what I call sabotage Saturday and Sunday At some point yoursquore going to get so sick of hitting that reset button every Mondayrdquo

Whatever you choose to do both trainers say itrsquos never a bad idea to sit down with your doctor and run your plans by himher Your personal safety should always come first and getting the green light from Doc can give you some peace of mind as you start this new chapter of your life MM

Jo radlinger runs Jorsquos Fitness Garage

MM p01 0116indd 20 12222015 120709 PM

MANKATO MAGAZINE  bull January 2016 bull 21

728 N Riverfront DriveMankato MN 56001

507-625-5163katobearscom

Pins and NeedlesAlterations

Specializing in alterations for theentire wedding party including

gown re-sizing hemming re-beadingbustles and so much more

Like us onFacebook

Live the Lifestyle

wwwmapletonmarinecom

Southern MNrsquos largestboat show on now at the

Madison East Center in Mankato

MM p01 0116indd 21 12182015 24524 PM

22 bull January 2016 bull MANKATO MAGAZINE

Thirty-three years ago I stood inside a grave A lifetime ago when I was a pastorrsquos wife

In Nebraska we served a parish of barely over one hundred members A picture-postcard white church with a hand-carved white wooden altar from Germany sat at the top of a hill next to it the parsonage and next to that the cemetery rolling down the hill toward a wooded creek

The first death in the congregation after our arrival set off a flurry of activity Irsquod never met Alma because she was in a nursing home before we arrived However my husband visited her on several occasions She was mother aunt grandmother great-aunt and great-grandmother to half the congregation so there was no question about whether or not I would attend the funeral

With my two little kids in tow I attended every event at the church every Sunday morning service of course but also every funeral every confirmation every baptism every meeting of womenrsquos circle and even every family reunion that was held in the church basement At twenty-six I perfected the art of making gracious small talk with people Irsquod never seen before and would never see again and at taking tiny portions from each confirmation buffet so I would neither be sick by the end of the day nor offend any of the mothers who had slaved away over their sumptuous spreads of food

By Rebecca Fjelland Davis

Grave Lesson in Winter

ESSay

MM p01 0116indd 22 12182015 24527 PM

MANKATO MAGAZINE  bull January 2016 bull 23

Attending the little white country church was physically easy I picked up one-year-old Josh took three-year-old Nikkirsquos hand and walked out the front door down the sidewalk and next door The only things I didnrsquot have to attend were church council and the menrsquos meeting Archaic This was in the 1980s It doesnrsquot seem so long ago

All the available babysitters in the community would attend Almarsquos funeral too so this was to be my kidsrsquo first funeral

The afternoon before the service salt-snow fell Hard little crystals pelted down as if the heavens had up-ended a Mortonrsquos salt canister Within a few hours the hard snow was six inches deep and still falling

In the middle of the salt-snow the gravedigger arrived The Ditchwitch roared around the cemetery to the familyrsquos plot and my kidsrsquo noses pressed against the upstairs bedroom window pane ldquoMommy can we go watchrdquo

Glad for an excuse to get out of the parsonage I bundled them in snowsuits put them on the sled and pulled them across the house yard and garden to the fence that bordered the cemetery

The Ditchwitch made short work of the grave and all three of us were mesmerized watching the mound of gray-black dirt grow in the crystal-white snow When the hole was finished the gravedigger turned his tractor on idle He hopped off and came over to the fence His eyes twinkled in a weathered face ldquoWant to come lookrdquo

I backed up from the fence a step ldquoNo not really I think this is close enoughrdquo

ldquoYes Mommy go lookrdquo ldquoPleeeeaserdquoSo Nikki and Josh got back on the sled and I

hauled them along the fence through the gate over to the grave and looked down Six feet seemed deep bottomless Dark A sharp contrast to the pelting snowflakes all around us

ldquoWanna get down in thererdquo the gravedigger asked I shuddered hung onto the kids and backed up

again ldquoNo No thatrsquos okay This is close enough I just want to look from hererdquo

ldquoYes mommyrdquo the little ones said ldquoLetrsquosrdquoldquoNordquoldquoPleaserdquoldquoReally marsquoam I think you should Yoursquoll be

surprised I wouldnrsquot suggest it if it I didnrsquot think sordquoldquoHow would we get outrdquo The sides were deeper

than I was tall and there certainly werenrsquot footholds or a ladder built in for Almarsquos soul to use to climb out

ldquoLike thisrdquo The gravedigger laid his shovel diagonally across a top corner of the grave and jumped down He grabbed the middle of the shovel handle and swung himself back up and out with the agility of a gymnast ldquoNothinrsquo to itrdquo

ldquoI canrsquot do thatrdquoldquoYes you can Irsquoll boost you And wersquoll lift the kids

Yoursquoll be amazed I promiserdquoI shivered The idea of being inside a grave

seemed much colder than the snow crystals biting at my face

ldquoCome onrdquo he said and jumped back in Nikki and Josh willingly stepped over to him to be lifted down I had no choice but to follow I couldnrsquot let my kids alone in a grave with a man I didnrsquot even know

So I jumped The earth on the bottom made a soft landing The soil around me was warm and steamy It was moist and dark but it enfolded us in an earthy hug At least fifty degrees warmer than the air above ground it felt as if the earth were offering shelter respite a comfortable place to snuggle down and rest Tiny roots dangled full of life from the smooth edges of the hole Tears sprang to my eyes I couldnrsquot help them My eyes met the gravediggerrsquos and he smiled Gently ldquoSeerdquo he said Nothing more

I couldnrsquot speak A few minutes later he gave me a stirrup with his

hands I scrambled out and he lifted Nikki and Josh up to me Then he flipped himself out as easily as a trapeze artist

ldquoThank yourdquo I said ldquoI would never have guessedrdquoHe nodded ldquoNobody does But it helps somehow

I wanted you to feel thatrdquoWhy I wanted to ask why me You donrsquot even

know me Why were you willing to take time for usldquoThank yourdquo was all I said I shook his hand and

he hopped on the Ditchwitch and drove off into the snow

I never saw him again Someone else dug the next grave required in that cemetery

I remember only bits and pieces of the funeral Irsquom sure I baked a boxed cake mix for ldquolunchrdquo afterwards I remember answering Nikkirsquos questions about the body and sitting in the back row of the church in case Josh didnrsquot want to be quiet I do remember looking at the unfamiliar face in the casket and thinking you get to rest in a warm cozy place

Ten winters later we buried my dad on just such a day Wet snow crystals pelted us and piled up so deep the funeral home limousine got stuck in the cemetery By the time the pallbearers pushed it un-stuck their suit pants were caked in slush and mud

We stood at the graveside in the bleak wet icy day and lowered my fatherrsquos body into the ground

ldquoToo bad itrsquos such a miserable dayrdquo ldquoSorry about your dad Sorry the weatherrsquos so bad toordquo And even ldquoSuch a good man He deserves better weather than thisrdquo

But the weather I thought was just right Losing my dad my kids and their cousins losing

their grandpa my mom becoming a widow my brother losing his farming partner and best friend changed our livesmdashthat part was too heavy to carry

The only part that was okay for me was to let Dadrsquos worn-out body be wrapped in that welcoming warm enfolding soilmdashthe very soil hersquod loved to till the soil hersquod planted and tended all his life the soil that gave us all lifemdashthat was the only gratifying part of the day

The only comfort I had was letting Dad go from the cold wet biting snow into that warm and restful place

And I still wonder who that gravedigger was ten years earlier and how he knew how much I would need what he gave me that bleak winter day MM

Rebecca Fjelland Davis is an author from Mankato

MM p01 0116indd 23 12182015 24528 PM

reFlecTionsBy Pat Christman

24 bull January 2016 bull MANKATO MAGAZINE

MM p01 0116indd 24 12182015 24544 PM

reFlecTionsBy Pat Christman

MANKATO MAGAZINE  bull January 2016 bull 25

There are few things as inevitable as snow during a Minnesota winter Big

cotton ball-like snowflakes cover the ground in a white blanket whitewashing the Midwestern landscape

We struggle against it Some hope the snow never comes It always does filling the sky with floating snowflakes that cling to the ground but melt as soon as they hit the small bits of face or hands that peek out from winter clothing

It is often quite beautiful especially when viewed from someplace warm and dry MM

MM p01 0116indd 25 12182015 24548 PM

26 bull January 2016 bull MANKATO MAGAZINE

Then amp now Vice President Schuyler Colfaxrsquos Death By Bryce o sTenzel

On Jan 14 1885 one day after his death the New York Times carried a

headline that read ldquoSchuyler Colfax Dead He Drops Down in a Railway Stationrdquo While most Americans today would have tremendous difficulty in even recognizing this manrsquos name

(unless they were paying close attention to Stephen Spielbergrsquos epic movie Lincoln and made the association) Schuyler Colfax was a former Speaker of the House of Representatives and Vice President of the United States under President US Grant He died in Mankatorsquos Chicago St

Paul Minneapolis amp Omaha railroad depot from a massive heart attack

Schuyler Colfax Jr was born in New York City on March 23 1823 His father died of tuberculosis five months before Schuyler was born His sister Mary died four months after his [Schuylerrsquos]

vice President Schuyler Colfaxrsquos Death in Mankato

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MANKATO MAGAZINE  bull January 2016 bull 27

birth The young Schuyler attended school only until he was 10 He then began working to support his family Schuyler Colfax never attended any kind of secondary school or college His mother remarried when Colfax was 13 and the family moved to New Carlisle Indiana By the time he was 22 Colfax was the editor and owner of a pro-Whig newspaper He was elected to Congress in 1854 and joined the newly formed Republican Party after the Whig Party disintegrated Solidly anti-slavery his colleagues elected Colfax as Speaker of the US House of Representatives in 1863 His election came soon after the death of his wife Evelyn The couple had no children

Colfax was President Abraham Lincolnrsquos first and last visitor on the fateful day Lincoln was assassinatedmdashApril 14 1865 Early that morning Colfax arrived at the White House while the president was having breakfast Colfax wanted to know whether or not Lincoln planned to call a special session of Congress for later that summer Lincolnrsquos answer was a polite but firm ldquonordquo Lincoln preferred a lenient approach in reconstructing as well as readmitting the former Confederate states to the Union now that the Civil War was over This approach put Lincoln at odds with the more ldquoradicalrdquo congressional members of his own party who preferred harsher measures be taken against their former enemies Lincoln had already made up his mind how he wanted to proceed with reconstructing the former Confederate states and he didnrsquot want any unnecessary interference from Congress Calling a special session was the last thing Lincoln wanted to do Colfax returned that same night to see Lincoln again just before the president left for Fordrsquos Theatre and his appointment with destiny This time Colfax came upon Lincolnrsquos own request The president had a long message for the silver miners of the Comstock Lode in Nevada thanking them for their loyalty to the Union that he wanted Speaker Colfax to deliver in person since Colfax was leaving by train for the West the next day Colfax was the last person Lincoln spoke to besides his wife Mary before he

was fatally shot at 1015 pm Colfax never forgave himself for turning down Lincolnrsquos invitation to be part of the theatre party that night

In 1868 Republicans selected General Ulysses S Grant as their presidential candidate Grant a military man his entire life had no political background Colfax was placed on the ticket because of his prior experience as a congressman and Speaker of the House (he resigned the position in 1869) Grant and Colfax won an easy victory in November 1868 Only two weeks later Colfax remarriedmdashthis time to Ellen Wade (niece of Ohio Senator Benjamin Wade) Their only child son Schuyler Colfax III was born in 1870

Colfax is best remembered (if at all) for his involvement in the corruption that beset Grantrsquos entire presidency Specifically the Credit Mobilier scandal broke in 1872 just as Grant and Colfax were gearing up for their re-election campaign Colfax was suspected of accepting shares of stock and cash bribes from ldquoCredit Mobilierrdquo a dummy construction company set up by the Union Pacific Railroad He was by no means the only influential person involved in the scandal Other political figures investigated included Senators Roscoe Conkling of New York William Allison of Iowa John Logan of Illinois James Bayard of Delaware and Henry Wilson of Massachusetts Grant was less popular in 1872 than he had been four years earlier and many Republicans worried that having Colfax on the partyrsquos ticket would harm the presidentrsquos re-election chances They dumped Colfax from the ticket mdash only to replace him with the also-tainted Wilson Grant won re-election and served his second and final term from 1873-1877 After being forced out from the vice presidency Colfax traveled the country as a popular lecturer often speaking about his interactions with Abraham Lincoln during the Civil War He rebuilt his tarnished reputation and commanded speaking fees as high as $2500

At 10 am on Jan 13 1885 Schuyler Colfax arrived in Mankato aboard a train from Milwaukee Mankato was just a

brief stop for Colfax who was on his way to Iowa for a speaking engagement The Chicago Milwaukee amp St Paul as well as the Chicago St Paul Minneapolis amp Omaha railroads both had depots in Mankato but because they were separate competing railroad lines Colfax was required to change trains by walking three-quarters of a mile from the Chicago Milwaukee amp St Paul depot at the foot of Hickory Street to the Chicago St Paul Minneapolis amp Omaha depot at Fourth and Washington Streets (now Washington Park) from which the next leg of his journey would depart Despite a reported temperature of 30 degrees below zero Colfax walked from one station to the other Within five minutes after he arrived at the Omaha linersquos depot Colfax entered the waiting room looked at a map on the wall sat down and died It was 1035 am No one in the station knew who the dead man actually was until they searched his pockets and found a letter with his name on it His death was likely caused by a heart attack brought on by the physical exertion of walking almost a mile in extreme cold Colfax was only 61 when he died His remains were returned to South Bend Indiana for burial

Today few Americans are aware that anyone named Schuyler Colfax ever lived much less served as vice president of the United States In this era in which officeholders are often treated as celebrities imagine how surprised people would be to learn that a former vice president died cold alone and unrecognized in a train station 131 years ago Before 24-hour news channels smart phones and social media it was possible for public figures like Colfax to live ndash and die ndash in relative obscurity Ironically Colfax loved the railroad but in the end it was the cause of his undoing Mankato has the distinction of being the location where the last man to personally speak to Abraham Lincoln in a private conversation took his last breath

MM p01 0116indd 27 12182015 24549 PM

28 bull January 2016 bull MANKATO MAGAZINE

Mayo Clinic offers pediatric and adolescent orthopedic services right here in Mankato Todd Milbrandt MD cares for patients with a variety of needs including

bull Cerebral palsy

bull Clubfoot

bull Hip disorders

bull Spinal disorders

bull Sports injuries

bull Scoliosis

bull Spina bifida

Mayo Clinic Health System in Mankato Call 1-877-412-7575 (toll-free) to schedule an appointment

495rdquox495rdquo Mankato Magazine January

Orthopedic care for your child

Independent ampAssisted Living

EQUAL HOUSINGOPPORTUNITY

1360 Adams StreetMankato MN

PrimroseRetirementcom

reg

Key City Senior Breakfast ClubThe Key City Senior Breakfast Club meets the first Thursday of each month from 830 AM - 930 AM at Primrose Retirement Community The club gives those 55+ the opportunity to meet new friends and visit old ones socialize with Key City Officials and enjoy a delicious home-cooked breakfast To visit a Key City Senior Breakfast please call (866) 447-9636

Mark your calendar for these breakfast dates Thursday January 7th Thursday March 3rd and Thursday May 5th

刀椀渀最 椀渀 琀栀攀 

一攀眀 夀攀愀爀

㔀 㜀ⴀ㤀㐀ⴀ㐀㐀䨀甀氀攀攀猀䨀攀眀攀氀爀礀挀漀洀

椀渀 匀愀椀渀琀 倀攀琀攀爀

20765 Foley Rd Mankato MN | 5073872434 | 5077262411

Three TimeNational Award Winners

MM p02 0116indd 28 12182015 30742 PM

Mayo Clinic offers pediatric and adolescent orthopedic services right here in Mankato Todd Milbrandt MD cares for patients with a variety of needs including

bull Cerebral palsy

bull Clubfoot

bull Hip disorders

bull Spinal disorders

bull Sports injuries

bull Scoliosis

bull Spina bifida

Mayo Clinic Health System in Mankato Call 1-877-412-7575 (toll-free) to schedule an appointment

495rdquox495rdquo Mankato Magazine January

Orthopedic care for your child

Independent ampAssisted Living

EQUAL HOUSINGOPPORTUNITY

1360 Adams StreetMankato MN

PrimroseRetirementcom

reg

Key City Senior Breakfast ClubThe Key City Senior Breakfast Club meets the first Thursday of each month from 830 AM - 930 AM at Primrose Retirement Community The club gives those 55+ the opportunity to meet new friends and visit old ones socialize with Key City Officials and enjoy a delicious home-cooked breakfast To visit a Key City Senior Breakfast please call (866) 447-9636

Mark your calendar for these breakfast dates Thursday January 7th Thursday March 3rd and Thursday May 5th

OMG hellip More food and drinksOK sure

By now yoursquore probably thinking ldquoOh my gosh the last thing I want to think about right now is more food more drinking and more diningrdquo

Fair enough We get it The holidays are murder on the metabolism of many many Minnesotans

But we also know that those metabolisms are hardy and soon enough theyrsquoll be hankering for a hunk of something yummy and full of fun And whatrsquos more yummy and full of fun than a big glass of Cabernet Sauvignon Our wine guy Leigh Pomeroy takes us on a tour of all that is tasty and wonderful about big red wines the kind that leave their mark the kind that really announce their presence on your palate

And just in case yoursquore super serious about a healthy lifestyle mdash and that seriousness extends to the kind of beer you choose mdash Bert Mattson our beer guy has just the selection for you Best part is Itrsquos light

Oh and under the category of ldquoDid you hear about thisrdquo Wersquove got an update for you on the Coffee Hag Mankatorsquos original coffee house and one of the most popular hangouts in town Seriously some days itrsquos hard to find a seat in that place

EnjoyPS We know that baby itrsquos cold outside mdash thatrsquos why wersquove

thrown you our absolute best hot cocoa recipe

Enjoymdash Robb Murray Associate Editor Mankato Magazine

food drink amp dineso

uthern m

n style

20765 Foley Rd Mankato MN | 5073872434 | 5077262411

Three TimeNational Award Winners

MM p02 0116indd 29 12182015 30745 PM

MANKATO 5073854485 AMBOY 5076743355 I VERNON CENTER 5075493679

INSURANCE OFFICES LOCATED IN THE COMMUNITY BANK BUILDINGS

wwwcimankatocom

Protecting the things that matter most in your life

Let us help protect what is important to you At Community Insurance we have the ability to compare insurance from multiple companies to get you the best coverage at a great price Combine that with our insurance knowledge and friendly group of agents and we say thatrsquos a winning deal

WHERE YOUR POLICY COMES WITH AN AGENT

Christina Meyer

Food

south

ern mn style

Food

south

ern mn style

By The Washington Post

Growing up my mother always encouraged her children to cook So when

I found a recipe for hot chocolate on the side of the Hersheyrsquos Cocoa can it was easy to convince her to let me give it a try

What I discovered was that hot chocolate doesnrsquot have to come from an envelope

This recipe has been a favorite of mine to make on days when winter weather has convinced me stay home and off the roads Itrsquos the perfect way to kill time and have a nice hot drink to warm you up on those chilly days

Although you can top it with whipped cream I prefer marshmallows

FAVORITE HOT COCOAMakes 4 to 6 servings

12 cup sugar14 cup unsweetened cocoa powder

Dash of salt13 cup hot water

4 cups milk34 teaspoon vanilla extract

Whipped cream or marshmallows (optional)

Mix sugar cocoa powder salt and water in a sauce pan Stir constantly over medium heat until mixture comes to a boil (about 2 minutes) Stir in

milk and heat Bring the hot chocolate to the desired temperature but do not boil Remove from heat and

add the vanilla extract Divide into mugs and top with whipped cream or marshmallows

PERFECTLY CHOCOLATE HOT COCOA

Makes 1 serving

2 tablespoons sugar2 tablespoons unsweetened cocoa powder

Dash salt1 cup milk

14 teaspoon vanilla extractWhipped cream or marshmallows (optional)

Mix sugar cocoa powder and salt into large mug In separate microwave-safe container heat on high

for 1 to 1 frac12 minutes or until very hot Carefully and gradually add milk to dry mixture Stir well Add vanilla extract Top with whipped cream or

marshmallows

Simple homemade hot chocolate

beats the winter chill

30 bull January 2016 bull MANKATO MAGAZINE

MM p02 0116indd 30 12182015 30752 PM

MANKATO MAGAZINE  bull January 2016 bull 31

Oil Change to OverhaulWe do it all

507-387-13151620 Commerce Drive North MankatowwwAustinsAutoRepairCentercom

Voted Best Auto Repair and Best Auto Mechanic 4 Years in a Row

AUSTINrsquoS AUTO REPAIR CENTER INC

MANKATO 5073854485 AMBOY 5076743355 I VERNON CENTER 5075493679

INSURANCE OFFICES LOCATED IN THE COMMUNITY BANK BUILDINGS

wwwcimankatocom

Protecting the things that matter most in your life

Let us help protect what is important to you At Community Insurance we have the ability to compare insurance from multiple companies to get you the best coverage at a great price Combine that with our insurance knowledge and friendly group of agents and we say thatrsquos a winning deal

WHERE YOUR POLICY COMES WITH AN AGENT

Christina Meyer

MM p02 0116indd 31 12182015 30755 PM

32 bull January 2016 bull MANKATO MAGAZINE

January is Cabernet TimeWersquove celebrated nearly

every January edition of Mankato Magazine with

a paean to BIG REDS And since there are so many wonderful examples why stop now

Last year I wrote about the powerful big reds of Italy This January wersquoll focus on Cabernet Sauvignon known to many as ldquothe king of winesrdquo Most oenophiles (wine lovers) consider the quintessential representations of this grape to be the classified Bordeaux of southwest France near the city of Bordeaux The five First Growths (or best wines according to a classification made in 1855 and updated in 1973) are Ch Lafite Rothschild Ch Margaux Ch Latour Ch Haut Brion and Ch Mouton Rothschild All have a cabernet sauvignon base but they are blended with merlot and often a little bit of cabernet franc and petit verdot as well

In the early 1970s I was able to buy these wines for around $22 per bottle mdash about $120 in 2016 dollars Yet with the popularity of ldquocollectiblerdquo wines on a worldwide

basis they sell today for anywhere from $400 on up

Contrary to popular belief these wines are not that massive Rather they combine cabernet sauvignon power with

structure and finesse yielding wines that become with time elixirs that are greater than the sum of their parts

Both California and Washington state have taken up the Cabernet Sauvignon challenge and are producing world-class wines at sometimes world-class prices Napa Valley is the recognized leader in this arena and rightly so Napa Valleyrsquos top Cabernet

Wine amp B

eerso

uthern m

n style

winesBy Leigh Pomeroy

Leigh Pomeroy is a Mankato-based writer and wine lover

Cabernet Sauvignon is the black Labrador of wines mdash it comes up and licks yourdquo

mdash Winemaker Scott Rich

Sauvignons rival the great wines of Bordeaux for quality mdash Irsquove tasted them side-by-side mdashand yet can sell for a fraction of their price

One such example is the 2013 Tulocay Cabernet Sauvignon from my old friend Bill Cadman We were young bucks in Napa Valley and had a tasting group in the early 1970s along with now-famous wine luminaries Bruce Neyers (Neyers Vineyards) and Mike Richmond (co-founder of Acacia Vineyard)

Billrsquos Cabernet is from an old and relatively cool growing area east of the City of Napa called Coombsville which because of industry political issues only recently received its AVA (American Viticultural Area) designation It is priced at $60 per bottle yet compares with any top-flight Bordeaux as well as the more expensive offerings from Napa Valley which can cost from $100 on up Not currently available at wine stores or restaurants in Minnesota it can be purchased by contacting the winery directly via its website tulocaycom The winery is so small that Bill will probably answer the phone himself

There is a lot of Cabernet Sauvignon available from California but mdash caveat emptor mdash not all growing areas (or appellations) are the same The best Cabernet Sauvignons are from Napa and Sonoma Counties Cabernets simply labeled ldquoCaliforniardquo or perhaps ldquoCoastalrdquo while sometimes good values lack the complexity of the greater Cabernet Sauvignons from the more northern parts of the state

Washington state has also

established itself as a prime producer of Cabernet Sauvignon But here again quality can vary greatly depending upon the area and producer While there is no ldquogo-tordquo appellation for Cabernet Sauvignon in Washington there are producers that are able to secure fruit from the best vineyards

One such example is the tiny Willis Hall Winery owned by another good friend John Bell a former Boeing jet propulsion engineer Like Tulocay its wines are only available by calling up the winery and ordering some (See willishallcom) But there are many other top quality producers in Washington like Quilceda Creek Leonetti Betz Family and Woodward Canyon

Of course not everyone can afford Cabernet Sauvignons in the $60-plus category One excellent everyday drinking example is the Flying Cloud 2013 Paso Robles Cabernet Sauvignon made by Mankato native Stephen Dooley Normally I donrsquot like Paso Robles Cabs as they tend to be too fruity and too soft for my palate mdash almost like drinking berry jam But this one is quite restrained no doubt helped by the inclusion of 13 percent zinfandel and 9 percent petite sirah in the blend

In Mankato both the Wine Cafeacute and MGM carry the Flying Cloud but at its price and quality I wouldnrsquot count on it lasting for long especially since only 759 cases were produced

So letrsquos raise a glass of Cabernet and say ldquoCheersrdquo to the New Year

MM p02 0116indd 32 12182015 30756 PM

MANKATO MAGAZINE  bull January 2016 bull 33

Bert Mattson is a chef and writer based in St Paul He is the manager of the iconic Mickeyrsquos Diner

Beer Skinny

BeerBy Bert Mattson

Last year according to Nielsen research staying fit and healthy was

the number one New Yearrsquos resolution Losing weight was two Three was to enjoy life to the fullest Unfortunately ldquolose weight and get fitrdquo also topped Time magazinersquos list of commonly broken resolutions Is this shortfall due to tension between the top two and that third one If so craft beer may have a role in the compromise Bad news first

In the context of losing weight and staying fit beer lovers might seek solace in the fact that fat carries nine calories per gram while alcohol has only seven The wrinkle is that those seven are ldquoemptyrdquo mdash calories without nutrition as opposed to those from fat protein and carbohydrates Moreover alcoholrsquos calories are the first burned when combined with the others the human body postpones burning fat while it works on alcohol Furthermore beer (and wine and often cocktails) contains carbohydrates which release insulin and can hasten fat storage Finally many drinkers have undoubtedly observed that alcohol loosens inhibitions after which an eager indulgence in unhealthy foods often occurs (Bar menus are rarely helpful in that respect)

By now you may wonder whose side Irsquom actually on Or suspect Irsquove led you to this dark place only to offer you a Lite No worries a couple craft brewers have been considering ways to keep us true to our resolutions

Evil Twin Brewingrsquos Bikini Beer drops the alcohol to 27 percent but stays bold by way of hops A Pale Ale it hits the nose with citrus suggestive of IPA The flavor follows suit floral and lemon There is an expected absence of malt yielding to bitterness up front that fades at the finish An alternative

for those who insist on the full effect Founderrsquos Brewing Companyrsquos All Day IPA rings in at a respectable 144 calories (Evil Twinrsquos entry comes in at 81)

One strategy to beat the beer munchies and avoid costly impulse eating is to have suitable chow on hand With Bikini Beer try a salad sporting blue cheese and some sort of dried fruit Creamy blue veined cheeses echo the hops while balancing bitterness An occasional bite of dried fruit stands in for malt sweetness

Brooklyn Breweryrsquos 12 Ale weighs in at 34 percent alcohol (102 calories) It is alliteratively labeled ldquoSession Saisonrdquo It opens with a waft of citrus and spice and a little lemongrass from Sorachi Ace hops mdash a hybrid developed in East Asia The same elements are found in the flavor which is a bit more subdued than a full-sized Saison

Try it with a tangle of arugula dressed with lemon and a fruity olive oil tossed with pine nuts and topped with shaved Parmesan for effect The greens and cracked pepper reflect spicy phenolic elements in the yeast Salty cheese counters the beerrsquos lingering bitterness Maybe add a few slices of Speck cured ham and Saison share a certain funkiness

If friends show and it becomes a session you may honestly say you spent Saturday working on your six-pack

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34 bull January 2016 bull MANKATO MAGAZINE

Food

south

ern mn style

Food

south

ern mn style

The Coffee Hag one of the arearsquos oldest (and coolest) bistros recently underwent a major expansion and remodeling journey culminating in a large and airy

seating area along with a much-improved kitchen and a new menu Mankato Magazine caught up with a very busy (and slightly exhausted) owner Jenn Melby-Kelly who weighs in on how itrsquos going

MANKATO MAGAZINE Are you personally enjoying the new updatesJENN MELBY-KELLY It Is Fabulous The new space represents so much more than a remodel to me It has brought to life a vision for my business thatrsquos been years in the making It incorporates many many good ideas from many many people I feel so fortunate to get to see that every time I walk through the door

MM How are customers reactingJMK Thatrsquos been one of the best parts The response has been overwhelmingly positive

A few of our most regular customers had the opportunity to get a glimpse of the remodel while it was underway (we gave some informal preview tours while we were operating the temporary stand outside) but many customers walk through the door now and see it all for the first time Itrsquos especially fun to see and hear that kind of wide-eyed reaction

A few people with special connections to The Hag have had even stronger emotional responses and Irsquom so touched and right there with them when I see eyes well up as they see what wersquove done Itrsquos a very big milestone for a very special place and wersquore blessed to have people that care so deeply

MM Do the employees appreciate the new spaceJMK Oh probably more than anyone There was a lot that we sought to do with the remodel but creating a bigger brighter better-equipped space for our team was certainly one of the primary goals Wersquove got an incredible team truly the most spirited and talented people anyone could hope for

Many of them have spent years with me working hard against the challenge of a small under-equipped space and just barely being able to keeping up with growing demand Itrsquos been a special blessing for them and for me to finally have state-of-the-art space thatrsquos made for the work that we do We all feel a special connection to this place and now more than ever the place reflects the good energy we all bring here every day

MM Is the new menu a hit (The Hag specializes in vegetarianvegan cuisine)JMK Yes but just wait Feedback and demand have been excellent with our food offerings already but wersquore just getting started on some of the really exciting things that are coming to our food menu

Remodeling the cafe was just the first major milestone of our two-part expansion plan Next up wersquore building a state of the art off-site commissary kitchen that will do for our incredible culinary team what the remodeled shop has done for our baristas Theyrsquove been working day and night on taking our already fantastic food offerings to a whole new level

Wersquove already introduced some amazing new menu items like the Garden Grilled Cheese panini (trust me itrsquos like nothing yoursquove had before) and some truly outstanding new vegan baked goods Wersquove also improved our classic offerings with house-made

Interview with Jenn Melby-Kelly owner of The Coffee Hag

By Sarah Johnson

MM p02 0116indd 34 12182015 30802 PM

MANKATO MAGAZINE  bull January 2016 bull 35

Happy New Year

Locally Owned amp Operated

Check Weekly Specialsmgmwineandspiritscommankato

Largest Selection ofbull Liquor bull Wine bull Beer bull

Hours Monday-Saturday 8 am - 10 pm

ATMs at all stores

Mankato201 Victory Dr

625-2420

North Mankato1755 Commerce Dr

387-2634

St Peter100 N Minnesota Ave

934-8964

sourdough and whole wheat breads But as impressive as it is already itrsquos just a taste mdash literally mdash of things to come as we bring our new kitchen online

MM Whatrsquos stayed the sameJMK Irsquom really proud to say that while wersquove touched almost every part of this 23-year-old business wersquove kept even more than we have changed From the first days of this project I made it my personal mission and responsibility to make sure that the ldquosoulrdquo of this special place was only enhanced and never lost as we made the updates

In every area of the remodel as wersquove added some necessary new layers of sophistication The Hagrsquos colorful quirky and even rebellious spirit is still very much a part of the space We did a lot to try to make sure it still looked and felt like ldquohomerdquo

And on a deeper level every step wersquove taken with the growth of our business has been chosen carefully to honor the core parts of The Coffee Hagrsquos identity Our focus on community our support for local art and music our commitment to creating a safe and welcoming space for everyone our efforts to lead the way on social and environmental issues affecting our world near and far mdash those have all stayed the same And those will always be at the heart of what we do

MM Anything elseJMK Irsquom so incredibly grateful for the support of our customers and community And whenever I talk about my business and how it has grown I really canrsquot overstate how thankful I am for my beautiful Coffee Hag family The hard work good energy and earnest contributions of so many people mdash past and present mdash have brought me and my business here An incredible amount of love has gone into this business and made this dream a reality

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36 bull January 2016 bull MANKATO MAGAZINE

xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

Food

south

ern mn style

whatrsquos Cooking By Sarah Johnson

Sarah Johnson is a cook freelance writer and chocolate addict from North Mankato with three grown kids and a couple of mutts

As I was pondering my subject matter for todayrsquos column I started wondering about all the different items the word ldquonutsrdquo can refer

to Crazy people are called nuts so are hexagonal metal objects that attach to bolts Nuts can be the end of things (as in ldquofrom soup to nutsrdquo) or they can be the beginning of them (as in ldquosperm incubatorsrdquo) Nut can also mean onersquos head or onersquos lump of something such as butter And if you accidentally get a nut of butter on your nut you can exclaim ldquoNutsrdquo

My favorite meaning of the word nut however is the dry indehiscent one-seeded fruit with a woody pericarp And I donrsquot even know what indehiscent OR pericarp means But these are the wonderful denizens of the world of edible nuts

Nuts are widely credited with all sorts of health benefits for the heart brain male reproductive system prostate cholesterol level fiber intake and avoidance of some types of cancer And while nuts do contain fat itrsquos the ldquogoodrdquo kind heart-healthy monounsaturated and polyunsaturated fat Their mix of omega-3 fatty acids protein and fiber helps you feel full and suppresses the appetite

Nuts are great in desserts and salads of course but they also shine in stir-fries casseroles soups chicken pork fish and even beverages Nut butters nut milks and nut oils add delicious options to our kitchen larders Breads cereals muffins and pancakes gain texture flavor and nutrition from the addition of nuts Basically anytime is a good time for nuts

Which is a wonderful thing because nuts taste so good you would think they had to be very very bad The reason lies deep in their oils

Walnut Oil is strong and flavorful Itrsquos best when used in uncooked sauces or salad dressing

Hazelnut Oil has a strong flavor and is great for the heart

Almond Oil is very popular and has a much milder flavor than walnut oil or hazelnut oil

Pecan Macadamia Nut Pistachio Cashew and Pine Nut Oils are flavorful and unique The freshness of the nuts used really affects the flavor

ldquoTherersquos Nuttinrsquo Nutty About Nutsrdquo

For the Baklava1 pound pistachios hazelnuts walnuts pecans andor almonds coarsely ground plus more for garnish12 teaspoon ground cinnamon1 cup breadcrumbs4 sticks unsalted butter melted16 sheets phyllo dough (thawed if frozen) cut in half

For the Syrup3 cups sugar1 6 -to-8-ounce jar honey1 frac12 cups water1 to 2 tablespoons fresh lemon juice

If yoursquore under the impression that baklava is much too labor-intensive and complicated to make at home think again Anybody can make

it no special skills equipment or exotic ingredients are required A word about phyllo dough Itrsquos sold in frozen packages so you need to remove the package from the freezer and let it thaw in the fridge 24 hours before you want to make the baklava Then about an hour beforehand remove the package from the fridge and let it sit on the counter

Walnuts or pistachios are the most traditional nuts to fill baklava but using other nuts works wonders as well Simply layer the phyllo with the nut filling and butter bake for an hour and finish with a simple honeyed syrup If you have leftover nuts from the holidays herersquos your chance to use them up

Mixed Nut Baklava

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MANKATO MAGAZINE  bull January 2016 bull 37

MONEY MATTERS WORK SMARTLET COMMUNITY BANK HELP YOUBRING THE TWO TOGETHER

MANKATO - SAINT ANDREWS DR 5073854444MANKATO - MADISON AVE 5076251551VERNON CENTER 5075493679AMBOY 5076743300

JULIE VETTERSR VICE PRESIDENTRETAIL BANKING

We support great causes like yoursAt Community Bank we know good things happen when you have a good bank So we make more possible by keeping banking simple and supportive And by giving you the power that comes with innovative solutions like our Health Savings Account It offers you tax-free savings for future medical expenses Stop by anytime Wersquore always ready to help out a great cause

Position a rack in the lower third of the oven preheat to 350 degrees Combine the nuts cinnamon and breadcrumbs in a bowl

Brush a 9x13-inch baking dish with some of the butter Layer 10 pieces of phyllo in the dish brushing each piece with butter before adding the next (keep the remaining dough covered with a damp towel) Sprinkle a quarter of the nut mixture over the dough Layer four pieces of phyllo on top brushing each with butter before adding the next sprinkle with another quarter of the nut mixture Add four more phyllo pieces on top brushing each with butter then add another quarter of the nut mixture four more pieces of phyllo with butter and the remaining nuts

Layer the remaining 10 pieces of phyllo on top of the nuts brushing each with butter brush the top piece with extra butter Cut into the baklava to make strips about 1 12 inches wide Then make diagonal slices about 1 12 inches apart to create a diamond pattern Bake until golden about one hour

Meanwhile make the syrup Bring the sugar honey and 1 12 cups water to a boil in a saucepan over medium heat and cook 10 to 15 minutes Add the lemon juice and boil 2 more minutes then let cool slightly Pour the syrup over the warm baklava let soak uncovered at least six hours or overnight Garnish with nuts

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38 bull bull MANKATO MAGAZINE

Nell Musolf is a mom and freelance writer from Mankato She blogs at nellmusolfcom

38 bull bull MANKATO MAGAZINE

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MANKATO MAGAZINE  bull January 2016 bull 39

Gear Up for WinterYear-Round amp Insulated Workwear from

Carhartt Dickies and Key

UNIFORMSUniforms fromBarco Carhartt Cherokee DickiesKoi Peaches and White Cross

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Call 5073446336mankatomagmankatofreepresscom

Stephanie L Hylla LAc Dipl AcKayla M Sweeney MOm LAc

NEW LOCATION709 S Front Suite 5

5074694788mankatoacupuncturecom

Open House ndash Wednesday Feb 3 9-12noonCelebrating 5 years of Business New Location and the Chinese New Year

In Network with Blue Cross Blue ShieldLicensed by the MN Board of Medical Practice

Ribbon Cutting with Greater Mankato Growth at 10am

(A $250 Value)THIS VOUCHER ENTITLES NEW PATIENTS TO A

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wwwr igne l l fami lych i roprac t ic comMedicare Restrictions Apply Expires January 31 2016

Dr BrandonRignell DC

1351 Madison AveSuite D

Mankato MN 56001

5077797313

$2900New Patient Special

MM p02 0116indd 39 12222015 121344 PM

40 bull bull MANKATO MAGAZINE

Jean Lundquist is a master gardener who lives near Good Thunder

MM p02 0116indd 40 12182015 30834 PM

MANKATO MAGAZINE  bull January 2016 bull 41

3 Increase the Value of Your Home

3 Update Your Homersquos Appearance

3 Save Money

Choose from SeveralModels Styles amp Colors

507-625-7110 or 1-800-645-36671125 Cross St North Mankato MN

Improve Your HomersquosEnergy Efficiency

422 Park Lane Mankato MN | NuStarMankatocom

(507) 381-4747Voted One of Mankatorsquos Best

DANIEL WINGERT

Make Selling Your Home Your NuYearrsquos Resolution

MM p02 0116indd 41 12182015 30839 PM

42 bull January 2016 bull MANKATO MAGAZINE

January Resolve to moisturize

Your stYLeBy Ann Rosenquist Fee

Ann Rosenquist Fee is executive director of the Arts Center of Saint Peter and a vocalist with The Frye She blogs at annrosenquistfeecom

If you have in-laws or colleagues who know you well enough to have given you holiday gifts

but not well enough to know what wouldrsquove truly made you happy congratulations Chances are yoursquore the proud owner of a bunch of brand-new lip balm

Maybe itrsquos even holiday themed Thatrsquos the best Maybe you got the candy-cane flavored kind or wintergreen with holiday graphics on the label or something like that A theme that was irrelevant the moment the stocking was unstuffed because at that exact second the holiday was over

And here you are in January with an abundance of wax

Fortunately also here you are in the early weeks of winter with rough red knuckles Probably also cracked cuticles although it might not have gone that far yet for you Irsquom sure it has for me This photo was taken back in November and even then the Band-Aids were for real Irsquove learned to cut them in half length-wise so as to retain my ability to type Irsquove also learned to play with a range of color options Flesh-toned Clear Disney characters The colorful strips shown here were gifted to me by my husband Partly why theyrsquore cut in half is that the text is obscene This is one small trick you can use to make bloody cuticles your most exciting accessory of the winter

Sources like UrbanSurvivalSitecom and WonderHowTocom will tell you that you can use lip balm for a whole variety of purposes such as coating threads of outdoor lightbulbs before screwing them into their sockets and enhancing the burn-ability of most kindling

These are great fun but they wonrsquot improve your personal style

More germane to winter beauty are the following suggestions

Keep a tube next to your bed for first-thing-in-the-morning use And I mean really truly first-thing I mean smear the stuff on each cuticle while yoursquore still lying there before you start using your fingers at all If you wake up thinking yoursquore fine and skip cuticle care next thing you know yoursquore pushing down the lever on your Keurig and the pressure is more than your screamingly dry skin can take and boom split blood on the Keurig and itrsquos gonna be a long painful day If only you had balmed your hands before you let your feet hit the floor

Keep another tube in your glove compartment If itrsquos warm enough to take off your mittens in the car mdash if yoursquore even wearing mittens given that your hands are snagging on everything these days mdash the harsh January sunlight will allow you to see cracks and flakes in high-resolution detail Yoursquoll want the balm nearby

to cover what you didnrsquot notice first thing in the morning Also a car tube is useful for when you look in the rear-view mirror and notice that your nose and upper lip are flaking as well Itrsquos because yoursquore getting over a cold and the frequent use of tissue has worn away your top layer of skin but just because you know that doesnrsquot mean everybody else wonrsquot think ldquothere is something in that noserdquo Itrsquos just a fact Itrsquos what it looks like Lip balm to the rescue Itrsquos the only thing dry enough to slick those flakes in place and nourishing enough to maybe actually get your face back to normal

Keep a couple more tubes in a nighttime kit along with sandpaper Sandpaper Yes Not a pumice stone not a lame also-gifted sugar

scrub Medium-grit sandpaper is what you need every night lightly but with conviction As follows 1) Sand taking care not to do more damage than what the elements have already done Yoursquore just trying to remove the dry dead stuff Yoursquore just being hearty and efficient about this true to the culture of this great state in which yoursquove chosen to winter You are no pansy Sand your hands 2) Wash 3) Blot dry 4) Dial up the gifted balm whisper a word of thanks to the person who put so much thought into your well-being that they stuffed your holiday stocking with this amazing gift of self-care smash a healthy amount down into your palms massage Take heart You just might find yourself with normal-textured non-cracked not-horrible-looking hands by morning

Split-open cuticles I feel you Except for these Band-Aids I feel you

Lip balms I have been gifted and these are just from last Christmas ldquolastrdquo as in 2014

Bathrooms Worth Bragging About

HoursTue amp Wed amp Fri | 9 am to 6 pmMon amp Thu | 9 am to 7 pmSaturday | 9 am to 4 pm

219 S Victory Dr | Mankato507 | 345 | 7009ipafhickorytechnetindependentpaintandflooringcom

You Deserve Comfortable Care Every Timebull Sedation - Complete Relaxation with Just a Pillbull Invisalign - Clear Alternative to Bracesbull Botox amp Fillersbull Implants - Placement and Restorationbull Cerec - One Visit Crown Technology

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1400 Lookout Drive North Mankato507-625-CARE(2273) bull mankatodentistcom 06

1865

6124

01

Dr AngelA Schuck

Dr keith FlAck

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MANKATO MAGAZINE  bull January 2016 bull 43

Bathrooms Worth Bragging About

HoursTue amp Wed amp Fri | 9 am to 6 pmMon amp Thu | 9 am to 7 pmSaturday | 9 am to 4 pm

219 S Victory Dr | Mankato507 | 345 | 7009ipafhickorytechnetindependentpaintandflooringcom

You Deserve Comfortable Care Every Timebull Sedation - Complete Relaxation with Just a Pillbull Invisalign - Clear Alternative to Bracesbull Botox amp Fillersbull Implants - Placement and Restorationbull Cerec - One Visit Crown Technology

bull Free Whitening Programbull 3D Imaging with Fewer X-Raysbull Cosmetic Dentistrybull Drill-Free Technologybull Emergency Care

1400 Lookout Drive North Mankato507-625-CARE(2273) bull mankatodentistcom 06

1865

6124

01

Dr AngelA Schuck

Dr keith FlAck

(944) 412-7949 | OrthoEdgeMNcom

Enjoy the season

Mankato St Peter

Be active Be healthyBe able with OrthoEdge

The OrthoEdge joint replacement

program offers superb care from your first

visit through recovery The surgeons from

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the care team at Riverrsquos Edge Hospital

provide personal and professional care to

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Why Riverrsquos Edge Hospital amp Clinic

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MM p02 0116indd 43 12182015 30842 PM

44 bull January 2016 bull MANKATO MAGAZINE

1 Hicktown Mafia800 pm mdash New Ulm Event Center mdash 301 20th St S mdash New Ulm mdash $10 mdash 507-354-4673

7-9 Mankato West Orchesis Dance Team showcase7 pm Thursday-Saturday 2 pm Saturday mdash Mankato West High School Auditorium mdash $7 adults $5 students mdash 507-381-7578

10 Mankato Symphony Orchestra Music on the Hill II ldquoMinnesota rootsrdquo2 pm mdash Chapel at Good Counselmdash Good Counsel Drive mdash Mankato mdash $17 $12 mdash wwwmankatosymphonycom

16 Handel with Caremdash Handel Goes to Italy11 ammdash YMCA Aerobics Studio mdash 1401 S Riverfront Drive mdash Mankato mdash wwwmankatosymphonycom

16 Mankato Craft beer Expo2 pm (VIP) 3 pm general mdash Verizon Wireless Center mdash $45 VIP $35 general $10 designated driver mdash wwwmankatocraftbeerexpocom

23 Joey Flip and Mike Fugazzi rockinrsquo at the Embassy9 pm mdash Blaschkorsquos Embassy Bar and Grill mdash 325 S Minnesota Ave mdash St Peter mdash 507-934-3903

24 andrea Lyn and Dick Kimmel concert730 pm mdash Elias J Halling Recital Hall mdash Minnesota State University mdash Mankato mdash $12 regular $11 current MSU students mdash wwwmnusedumusic

28-31 MSu Theatre antigone730 pm Thursday-Saturday 2 pm Sunday mdash Andreas Theatre mdash Minnesota State University mdash Mankato mdash $16 regular $14 discount $11 current MSU students mdash wwwmnsuedu

29-31 BLC Theatre Brigadoon730 Friday and Saturday 2 pm Sunday mdash Ylvisaker Fine Arts Center mdash Bethany Lutheran College mdash Mankato mdash $10 adults $6 seniors children and students mdash wwwblceduevents

29- Feb 7 Winterfest St Peter Citywide mdash wwwstpeterchamberorg

30 Church of Cash a Tribute to Johnny Cash7 pm mdash St Peter American Legion mdash 229 W Nassau St mdash St Peter mdash 507-934-6435

31 Maud Hixson and rick Carlson concert730 pmmdash Elias J Halling Recital Hall mdash Minnesota State University mdash Mankato mdash $12 regular $11 current MSU students wwmnsuedumusic

Coming attraCtions January

T - F 8am - 6pm Sun ClosedSat 9am - 4pmM 8am - 8pm

120 North Broad Street Mankato MN 507-345-4688 wwwmeyerandsonstvandappliancecom

FIND SPECIAL DEALS ON

MM p02 0116indd 44 12182015 30902 PM

MANKATO MAGAZINE  bull January 2016 bull 45

St Peter Craft amp Vendor Show

1MelinadaBussefromRapidansoldherhandmadejewelryatthecraftandvendorshow

2DarylfromElysianandhishand-carvedwoodart

3MacKennaage7hasfunatoneoftheboothsattheStPeterCraftandVendorShow

4LizEntershowsoffsomeofherproductsattheldquoItWorksrdquobooth

5DenisePetersofldquoYoungLivingrdquoessentialoilsdisplayedherproductsattheshow

Faces amp Places Photos By Sport Pix

3

5

2

1

4

T - F 8am - 6pm Sun ClosedSat 9am - 4pmM 8am - 8pm

120 North Broad Street Mankato MN 507-345-4688 wwwmeyerandsonstvandappliancecom

FIND SPECIAL DEALS ON

MM p02 0116indd 45 12222015 121536 PM

46 bull January 2016 bull MANKATO MAGAZINE

SOUTHErN MN CHrISTMAS

FESTIVAL1 A large crowd was on hand during the festivities at

the Christmas Festival2 Friesenrsquos Family Bakery amp Bistro had tons of baked

goods and soups at the Verizon Wireless Center3 A childrenrsquos choir sang for the audience at the

festival4 Ron Haefner owner of Ronrsquos Auto Repair displayed

some of his services5 Garrison Galatz dressed up as Santa for the

Christmas Festival

faCes amp PLaCes Photos By Sport Pix

4

3

1

2

5

MM p02 0116indd 46 12182015 30923 PM

MANKATO MAGAZINE  bull January 2016 bull 47

1GirlScouttroop34494waspresentedwithatrophybyKiwanisVicePresidentKyleMrozek

2SantaClausevenwentthroughtheparaderoute3(LtoR)BrooklynPomrankeAlaynaLyonsHunterPomrankeandLilyLyonsgetagroupphototakenwithSanta

4MarshaMartigtellsSantawhatshewantsforChristmas

5TheparadefloatswerealldeckedoutinChristmaslights

6Visitorswalkthepatharoundtheparktoviewthisyearrsquoslights

Kiwanis Holiday ligHtsFaces amp Places Photos By sport Pix

2

1

3

4 5

6

MM p02 0116indd 47 12222015 121616 PM

48 bull January 2016 bull MANKATO MAGAZINE

On the Occasion of a 50th Reunion

the Class of 1965

from this VaLLeYBy Pete Steiner

Peter Steiner is host of ldquoTalk of the Townrdquo weekdays at 105 pm on KTOE

I was honored to give the presentation for our 50th class reunion recently at West Highrsquos Homecoming celebration About 120 of our nearly 400-member class

showed up We Baby Boomers the children of the greatest generation had big classes in the late lsquo60rsquos that forced the building of East High Ours was a dramatic era and our class did some great things in the face of big challenges Here edited is some of what I said

I am so glad to be standing here today Therersquos an old saying

ldquoMay you live in INTErESTINg timeshelliprdquo The Class of rsquo65 certainly has Itrsquos seems like only yesterday right after lunch that we were at our desks waiting for the start of English class when our charismatic teacher Harry Fitterer strode in and said ldquoPrESIDENT KENNEDY HAS BEEN SHOT IN DALLASrdquo At first we didnrsquot believe him but it was true It was November 22 1963 We were juniors and as the song says that was THE END OF THE INNOCENCE We had lived through the last idyllic time in America

When we first arrived in the fall of 1962 America was still carefree basking in the glow of victory in WW II Everything may have seemed ldquorightrdquo but it was not Martin Luther King Jr had just visited Mankato pointing out the continuing plight of black Americans as the Civil rights movement was gaining steam The beginnings of the Vietnam War which would alter the course of many of our lives were stirring even as we studied history and government The current generation has no monopoly on forgettable pop music ndash we had a stupid 1 song called ldquoItsie Bitsie Teenie Weenie Yellow Polka Dot Bikinirdquo (unfortunately an ear worm I canrsquot forget) But a darker cultural threat was looming The BEATLES were invading from Britain and our parents were mortified because they had LONg HAIr

Some of the shock of the Kennedy assassination was eased when our wrestling team in the era when the state still had just ONE CLASS won the State Championship in front of a packed hall up at MSU some still maintain that is the greatest single athletic achievement in Mankato history We were the first high school in Mankato to put on a full-scale musical ldquoBye Bye Birdierdquo in the spring of 1964 In Fall of 1964 our football team would have won the conference championship outright except Owatonnarsquos great Noel Jenke who would go on to star for the U of M

cheated I watched him trap the touchdown pass that beat us Does cheating pay Was that a lesson for life

In lsquo65 we also had a fine basketball team that lost our chance at State when our 6-6 center fouled out at Luverne

BUT A FAr BIggEr CHALLENgE AWAITED US ALL As we rode out to Luverne to watch that game we couldnrsquot help noticing the highway was like a canyon between walls of snow The legendary St Patrickrsquos Day Blizzard had dumped two feet on top of an already large snow pack and then April brought rains on frozen ground Instead of coming here to school many of us soon got a real-life assignment to go out in our rain gear out on the dikes to battle the grEAT FLOOD OF 1965 Our school became an island as water flooded the parking lot and all of South riverfront Our spring play that year was called ironically

THE DESPErATE HOUrS We had to rehearse at roosevelt School up on higher ground

Our class produced three Merit scholars One of our classmates who did NOT qualify

for a merit scholarship nevertheless was such a whiz at physics that NASA requested a copy of a paper he wrote on rocketry as a senior We produced 12 doctors one of whom earned a fellowship at Stanford seeking how to bring telemedicine to the poor another of whom became a breakthrough cancer doctor We had entrepreneurs one who would go on to be a leader in Solar Energy (and then run for governor of New Hampshire) Another mdash a woman incidentally when

that was not common founded two bio-tech startups Many of us are still working

past normal retirement age One founded a company on the leading edge of recycling

computers whose clients include the NSA Another is chief medical officer of a company

devising a better tool for colonoscopies Yet another of our classmates recently completed a concert tour of China

We lived in challenging times just as you do today but we muddle through we make it to the other shore I remember sitting where you are 50 years ago thinking how old those folks up there looked But remember Life goes by very quickly You certainly live in interesting times as Shakespeare said ldquoPresent Mirth has Present Laughter Youthrsquos a stuff will NOT endurerdquo So I urge you live each moment to the fullest

MM p02 0116indd 48 12182015 30933 PM

MM p02 0116indd 49 12182015 30936 PM

MM p02 0116indd 50 12182015 30948 PM

Page 4: Mankatomag 116

GOLFERS FROM AROUND THE WORLD COME TO CHALLENGE THE JUDGE and the two other golf courses in Prattville at RTJ Capitol Hill Bring your clubs

and come take on Judge hole number 1 voted the favorite hole on the Trail Complete your day in luxury at the Marriott and enjoy dining fi repits and

guest rooms overlooking the Senator golf course With the Marriottrsquos 20000 square feet of meeting space 96 guest rooms and luxurious Presidential

Cottage combined with three world-class golf courses business and pleasure can defi nitely interact in Prattville

THE ROBERT TRENT JONES GOLF TRAIL AT CAPITOL HILL is home of the Yokohama Tire LPGA Classic on the Senator Course

September 18 to 24 2014 The Marriott Prattville is part of the Resort Collection on Alabamarsquos Robert Trent Jones Golf Trail

Visit wwwrtjgolfcom or call 8009494444 to learn more

for Yourselfraquo COME JUDGE for Yourself

RTJ746JudgePRATT_CNHIMagsindd 1 32814 1217 PMMM p01 0116indd 2 12182015 24422 PM

MANKATO MAGAZINE  bull January 2016 bull 3

FEATURESJanuary 2016

Volume 11 Issue 1

Grave lessonsAuthor Rebecca Fjelland Davis finds

warmth six feet under

22Listen up

Personal trainers offer advice to start you new year off right

18

About the CoverStephanie Howe director of healthy living at the Mankato Family YMCA poses in the free weight room

She was photographed by Pat Christman

Get inspiredItrsquos January Time for a new you

14

GOLFERS FROM AROUND THE WORLD COME TO CHALLENGE THE JUDGE and the two other golf courses in Prattville at RTJ Capitol Hill Bring your clubs

and come take on Judge hole number 1 voted the favorite hole on the Trail Complete your day in luxury at the Marriott and enjoy dining fi repits and

guest rooms overlooking the Senator golf course With the Marriottrsquos 20000 square feet of meeting space 96 guest rooms and luxurious Presidential

Cottage combined with three world-class golf courses business and pleasure can defi nitely interact in Prattville

THE ROBERT TRENT JONES GOLF TRAIL AT CAPITOL HILL is home of the Yokohama Tire LPGA Classic on the Senator Course

September 18 to 24 2014 The Marriott Prattville is part of the Resort Collection on Alabamarsquos Robert Trent Jones Golf Trail

Visit wwwrtjgolfcom or call 8009494444 to learn more

for Yourselfraquo COME JUDGE for Yourself

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4 bull January 2016 bull MANKATO MAGAZINE

DEPARTMENTS6 From the Editor 8 This Day in History9 The Gallery Ellen Schofield

10 Beyond the Margin Let Freedom Reign

12 Day Trip Destinations Celebration of the Lakes

26 Then amp now Schuyler Colfax

29 Food Drink amp Dine 30 Food Hot cocoa

32 Wine Cabernet Sauvignon

33 Beer Light can be good

34 Food Coffee Hag v20

36 Whatrsquos Cookinrsquo Nuts

38 Thatrsquos Life My dream job

40 Garden Chat Big plans for 2016

42 your Style A lsquobalmyrsquo time of year

44 Coming attractions 45 Faces amp Places48 From This Valley 50th reunion

9

26 38

42 44

12

Coming in FebruaryCabin Fever

Relax Wersquoll get through this

When it comes to your financial future a single view-point isnrsquot always enough Our trusted advisers work as

a team providing you the benefit of multiple CFPreg professionals and decades of experience When you are

ready to ldquoget seriousrdquo about retirement give us a call

Why Settle for Less

reg regreg

wwwedwardjonescom

Kenneth J Klooster AAMSregFinancial Advisor

1660 Commerce Drive Suite 2North Mankato MN 56003507-625-8452wwwedwardjonescom

Member SIPC

Schedule a complimentaryportfolio review

THE FUTURE IS YOURSTO CUSTOMIZE

WITH A COMPREHENSIVEFINANCIAL PLAN

5073876031 wwweidebai l lycomFinancial Advisor offers Investment Advisory Services through Eide Bailly Advisors LLC a Registered Investment Advisor Securities offered through United Planners Financial Services Member of FINRA and SIPC Eide Bailly Financial Services LLC is the holding company for Eide Bailly Advisors LLC Eide Bailly Financial Services and its subsidiaries are not affiliated with United Planners

Ryan Spaude Financial Advisor

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When it comes to your financial future a single view-point isnrsquot always enough Our trusted advisers work as

a team providing you the benefit of multiple CFPreg professionals and decades of experience When you are

ready to ldquoget seriousrdquo about retirement give us a call

Why Settle for Less

reg regreg

wwwedwardjonescom

Kenneth J Klooster AAMSregFinancial Advisor

1660 Commerce Drive Suite 2North Mankato MN 56003507-625-8452wwwedwardjonescom

Member SIPC

Schedule a complimentaryportfolio review

THE FUTURE IS YOURSTO CUSTOMIZE

WITH A COMPREHENSIVEFINANCIAL PLAN

5073876031 wwweidebai l lycomFinancial Advisor offers Investment Advisory Services through Eide Bailly Advisors LLC a Registered Investment Advisor Securities offered through United Planners Financial Services Member of FINRA and SIPC Eide Bailly Financial Services LLC is the holding company for Eide Bailly Advisors LLC Eide Bailly Financial Services and its subsidiaries are not affiliated with United Planners

Ryan Spaude Financial Advisor

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6 bull bull MANKATO MAGAZINE

MM

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MANKATO MAGAZINE  bull January 2016 bull 7

xxxxxx

BUILDING AUTOMOTIONAND INTEGRATION CONTROLS

HEATING AND COOLING SYSTEMS

SECURITY

ldquoTodays leading experts to help you for a better tomorrowrdquoldquoTodays leading experts to help you for a better tomorrowrdquo

307 McKinzie Street SoMankato MN 56001507-345-4828 507-289-4874wwwpaapecom

Please call for a free consultation and estimate

KnowYourRisk

Take chargeof your healthwith monthlyself-examsand annual

mammograms

it

Mankato Clinic joins usin raising awareness ofthe importance of early

detection in the fightagainst breast cancerand the importance ofcontinued support for

breast cancer research

MM p01 0116indd 7 12182015 24435 PM

Friday January 3 1890Magnificent Showing for 1889Over $70000 Expended on Streets Waterworks and Sewers(compared to 2014 dollars this could amount to as much as $86000000 dollars)

The most important of the public works accomplished this year is the construction of a pumping station the purchase of a magnificent holly pump and the completion of the large one-million gallon reservoir The discovery of a suitable water supply was made last year but it was left to be developed this year by the sinking of two large artesian wells to a depth of more than 600 feet

The next is important as having over a mile of sewer on second street Other improvements Completion of the Tourtellotte Hospital and the purchase of additional hose for the fire department

Friday January 7 1910County Board is Wrestling with Bills in Ledbeter CaseThiel Detective Agency wants to be paid for booze and treats entertaining deputy sheriff and farmers Lady Sleuth was employed on jobThiel Detective Agency employed a woman Paid for parties on the County dime In 1910 Though not mentioned in the printed story Mrs Ledbeter was accused of murdering her husband Holland several years her elder

The County Board met this afternoon wrestling with bills that had been presented to it for services rendered in connection with the trials of Frank Smith and Mrs Grace Ledbeter

County Auditor Weaver states the cost of these trials will be between $8000 and $10000 but he wonrsquot know the exact figure for several days

The Thiel Detective Agency has put in a bill for $49835 for services largely consisting of railway fare hotel bills etc One of the items under date Nov 23-30 and Dec 1-4 is ldquodrinks cigars etc with Deputy Sheriff $405rdquo

The next item is ldquotreats and expenses with farmers and others during investigation $2215rdquo

A lady detective seems to have been employed on the case for a time making a trip to St Louis and other places

Tuesday January 3 1961Twins are first lsquoBago Births of the year

Fraternal twins were the first births in Winnebago at the Community Hospital in 1961 Mr and Mrs Eldren Jaegerrsquos boy was born at 1055 Sunday and the girl arrived at 1115 AM The boy weighed 5 pounds 8 12 ounces The girl hit the scale at 5 pounds 2 and a quarter ounces The Jaergers who operate a farm at rural Amboy have seven other children ranging in age from Sandra 18 in nursersquos training at St Josephrsquos Hospital in Mankato to 4-year-old Joel

Tuesday January 3 1928Cafes and Dance Halls Scenes of Gaiety Quiet for New Yearrsquos Police Report Cold Wave Sends Revelers Home at Early HourMinus 18 degrees Fahrenheit is just too cold to have fun on New Yearrsquos Eve

Liquor that did not flow too liberally and the extreme cold weather conspired to make the celebration of the coming of the new year in Mankato not too boisterous ldquoIt was a quiet timerdquo commented Chiefof Police Jake Hilgers ldquoProbably quieter than last yearrdquo Only one arrest was made as against 3 last New Yearrsquos The arrest was of a man found lying in the railroad yards intoxicated The tips of his fingers were frozen and itrsquos believed if he had not been discovered he would have frozen to death

This DAy in hisToryBy Jean Lundquist

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Corporate GraphicsYour Printing Solutions Company

1750 Northway DriveNorth Mankato MN 56003

800-729-7575wwwcorpgraphcom

May your 2016 be

Filled with color and

delight

MANKATO MAGAZINE  bull January 2016 bull 9

The GAllery Ellen Schofield Story by Nell Musolf

After graduat ing from the University of Minnesota in 2012 with a Masterrsquos of Fine

Arts degree in graphic design Ellen Schofield was delighted when three months later she was offered a teaching position at Minnesota State University She expected that she would have to move elsewhere and was happy that she would be able to stay in her own state

ldquoThere were about 10 positions open around the time I graduatedrdquo Schofield said ldquowhich was really quite a lot I expected that Irsquod have to move so it was great to be hired by MSUrdquo

Schofield teaches introductory level graphic design classes as well as a special concept class that helps students fire up their creativity

ldquoIn the special concept class we do mind mapping brainstorming and once a semester I bring in an improv comedian because studies have proven that improv comedians have the most creative ideas of any other professionrdquo Schofield said ldquoThe class does theater warm ups and they really seem to enjoy it We also focus on the lsquoyes andrsquo theory in that classrdquo

The ldquoyes andrdquo theory agrees with an idea and then expounds on it with enthusiasm mdash the ldquoandrdquo part

ldquoCollege students often want to look cool all the timerdquo Schofield remarked

ldquoThe lsquoyes andrsquo theory pushes past that and opens up creativityrdquo

Schofield defines graphic design as thinking made visual

ldquoGraphic design is everywhere Itrsquos logos for businesses and icons and even the tax return papers given out by the IRS are examples of graphic design and had to have been designed by some poor personrdquo Schofield said ldquoA goal of a graphic designer is to create something that anyone can understand as soon as they look at itrdquo

Before becoming a graduate student Schofield ran her own graphic design business and has continued the business on a smaller scale now that she is teaching Her personal preference in graphic design is to create icons

ldquoI tend to like iconographyrdquo Schofield said ldquoIcons can be mdash and I think should be mdash simple and elegant and tell whoever sees them something about the business they representrdquo

Schofield worked with the Childrenrsquos Museum of Southern Minnesota to create its icon an experience she enjoyed

ldquoI wanted to make it something that would appeal to kids and their parents as well The Childrenrsquos Museum has such a cool space mdash it needed an icon that would let people know what a truly cool place it isrdquo Schofield said

When working with a graphic design client Schofield likes to have ldquolots and lotsrdquo of conversations

ldquoGetting to know clients is important We talk a lot so that I can find out what a client feels passionate about when it comes to their business The goal is to find something that makes them unique and then create a graphic design that reflects thatrdquo Schofield said

Shofield said her favorite artistic tool is the art departmentrsquos laser cutter

ldquoItrsquos like the worldrsquos fanciest scissorsrdquo Schofield said ldquoIt can cut just about anything and does an amazing job Itrsquos so much fun to work withrdquo

Schofield is working with MSU colleague David Rogers on a project using the laser cutter called ldquoPaper State Flowersrdquo Schofield and Rogers are using typographic state abbreviations combined with paper flowers Their progress can be viewed at wwwpaperstateflowerscom and the final results will be shown at an art gallery in Hutchinson in October

Schofield originally planned to become an engineer but after taking a class in graphic design she changed her mind

ldquoIrsquom a visual personal and I fell in love with designrdquo Schofield said ldquoReally I canrsquot imagine doing anything elserdquo

thinking Made visualEllen Schofield teaches at Minnesota State university

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10 bull January 2016 bull MANKATO MAGAZINE

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MANKATO MAGAZINE bull bull 11

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12 bull January 2016 bull MANKATO MAGAZINE

The Celebration of the Lakes has been a family tradition for Erin Thorvaldson Chisago Lakes Chamber Board Member and Community member for Celebration of the Lakes for more than 20 years Thorvaldson was about 10

years old when her grandmother introduced her to the event which takes place Jan 30 on North Center Lake in Lindstrom

DAy Trip DesTinATions Celebration of the LakesBy leTiciA GonzAles

hit the LakesLindstrom has plenty of fun waiting for you

Hot air balloons are just one of the many attractions this festival has employed over the years

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MANKATO MAGAZINE  bull January 2016 bull 13

Day Trip DesTinaTions Celebration of the LakesBy LeTicia GonzaLes

WhenJan 29-31 2016

I-35 North to Hwy 8 east to Center City Located on the North side of Hwy 8 on

North Center Lake

If youGoWhat

Celebration of the Lakes

Lindstrom MN

AdmissionFree additional admission required for some

events activities food and ridesVisit wwwchisagolakeschambercom

ldquoSo I helped way back then when she was part of the chamberrdquo said Thorvaldson ldquoAnd having a business in the community as I got older I also wanted to give backrdquo

Born and raised in the Chisago Lakes area Thorvaldson has served on the celebrationrsquos planning committee for nine years She said the event first caught her eye not only because she loves winter but because it focuses on the outdoors ldquoeven though many people in Minnesota cringe once we get to 20 degrees so it kind of gets you out and lets you do something funrdquo

Watching the celebration grow over the past two decades has also been fun for Thorvaldson

ldquoIt was very tiny at that pointrdquo she said as she reminisced about the early days of the event ldquoIt was just a few hay bales at the icerdquo

Being an active part of the planning has been equally exciting

ldquoThe committeersquos always trying to come up with more ideas that the community would perceive as something fun to do in the winter timerdquo she said ldquoThere have been the sled dogs there have been hot air balloons and there have been kitty cat races car racesrdquo

While past years have even included BMX bike races where people dressed up in costumes the snowmobile radar run and the vintage snow mobile displays have been the ldquomain staplesrdquo of the celebration Organized by the Wild River Snowmobile Club of Chisago City the snowmobile radar run features nearly 200 riders who race upwards of 120 miles per hour on a track

ldquoSometimes they will have souped-up snowmobiles that go incredibly fastrdquo Thorvaldson said ldquoWe had a world record one that raced on the track so itrsquos pretty amazing to see how fast some of them go They break them up into categories and there are prizes for the fastest one in each categoryrdquo

Originally introduced as a memorial radar run for a rotary member the radar run has become one of the celebrationrsquos most popular events

ldquoWe started with just a sheriffrsquos radar gun and now they use different timing items like cones and announcingrdquo she add ldquoItrsquos kind of something that has evolved toordquo

With the draw of the surrounding lakes in the area Thorvaldson said ice fishing has also grown in popularity and has become embedded in the annual celebration

ldquoItrsquos like little villages out on the lakerdquo she said

ldquoThat is kind of the big that that people do There are people who drive up from all over the place the Twin Cities all over just to come spend the weekend ice fishing on the lake so thatrsquos a big big thingrdquo

Greg Shaleen who has also been on the planning committee for the celebration for more than 15 years affirmed the celebrationrsquos growth when it comes to activities offered

ldquoWe have done kind of bizarre thingsrdquo he said ldquoWe do a smoosh race which is where you take 2-by-4s and strap four leather straps on it and you do a little bit of a racerdquo

Shaleen also credits the event for bringing people out to the lakes during the coldest month of the year

ldquoEveryone is all cooped up in the community and it just got to the point where they wanted to do something fun in the winter and get people out and about and enjoy the winter sportrdquo he said

From kitty races and sled dog races to a concession tent and a family fishing contest that draws anywhere from three to five hundred people Shaleen said the Celebration of the Lakes brings people together in the outdoors

ldquoWe are basically more interested in getting people out of the house visiting with friends and neighbors and visitors to the area and enjoying each otherrsquos interest in snowmobiling or ice fishing or whatever the events are taking place or going onrdquo he concluded

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January The holidays are over along with all of the seasonrsquos excuses for overindulge in food and drink and under-indulging in any form of exercise (other than lifting onersquos hand to onersquos mouth) After stowing the presents in the

closet and taking down the tree many people choose the New Year as the perfect time to begin a serious diet and exercise program to shed the extra pounds they put on over the past few months and to begin eating more healthfully Mankato Clinic registered dietitian Erin Gonzalez says a hearty ldquoyesrdquo to healthy mindful eating and definite ldquonordquo to any extreme ldquodo or die(t)rdquo approach

According to Gonzalez 95 percent of all dieters regain the weight they lost within five years It is her belief that such yo-yo dieting only creates more frustration and stress which can lead to emotional eating and binge eating which leads to another cycle of dieting-losing-weight-gaining-weight ad infinitum

Gonzalez speaks from experience After losing 70 pounds since the time she was a teenager Gonzalez is now at a weight she considers healthy and one that she hasnrsquot deviated from in years

By Nell Musolf | Photos by Pat Christman and Darren Gibbins

Herersquos to ahealthy

new yeara healthy

new you

14 bull January 2016 bull MANKATO MAGAZINE

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MANKATO MAGAZINE  bull January 2016 bull 15

Erin Gonzalez and her son prepare a healthful meal

Erin GonzalezldquoI struggled with weight issues when I was growing

uprdquo Gonzalez said ldquoWhen I was 16 I went on my first lsquoseriousrsquo dietmdashone of the fast diets that were popular in the 1990srdquo

Gonzalez said that she stuck to her diet religiously having a shake in the morning one for lunch and a sensible meal at night just as she was instructed to do She also walked for approximately two and a half hours a day Over the course of one summer she lost 70 pounds but she was also she now realizes flirting with an eating disorder Gonzalez says this scenario is not uncommon considering research shows 35 percent of ldquooccasional dietersrdquo progress into pathological dieting (disordered eating) and as many as 25 percent advance to full-blown eating disorders

ldquoMy food intake was very restrictive and I was always extremely conscience of what I ate but just the same I slowly gained back 30 of the 70 pounds

that I lostrdquo Gonzalez said ldquoI was always looking at food as either lsquogoodrsquo or lsquobadrsquo instead of something pleasurable to be enjoyedrdquo

It wasnrsquot until she was working at her dietetic internship that she had her ldquoahardquo moment

ldquoI was blessed with a teacher who taught her students how to enjoy foodrdquo Gonzalez said ldquoinstead of being obsessed by it Gonzalez learned about a program called Am I Hungry that specializes in helping people heal their relationship with food and their bodies so they can relearn to trust their internal hunger cues instead of having to follow arbitrary rules and broken promises of diets Gonzalez facilitates a program at the Mankato Clinic that teaches the Am I Hungry philosophy

ldquoI have two childrenrdquo Gonzalez said ldquoa 10-month-old and a 4-year-old They know how to eat naturally and they stop eating when they are no longer hungry That is what most adults need

MM p01 0116indd 15 12222015 120138 PM

16 bull January 2016 bull MANKATO MAGAZINE

xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

need to relearn how to eatrdquoThe method has worked for Gonzalez Gone are

her extra 30 pounds and she no longer dietsldquoDiets simply arenrsquot sustainablerdquo she said ldquoItrsquos so

hard in our society because we are surrounded by cues to eat all of the time At buffets where you want to lsquoget your moneyrsquos worthrsquo when yoursquore out with friends when you sit down at the end of the day and turn on the television to relax and are bombarded with ads for food Food has become a reward for a bad day or a good day or anything else we can think of But if you look at how you eat as a journey instead of as a destination you can learn to enjoy food a lot morerdquo

So what should someone who wants to start the New Year in a more healthy fashion do

ldquoPause before you eatrdquo Gonzalez recommended ldquoAsk yourself if yoursquore really hungry or if yoursquore actually thirsty or stressed instead Try not to be emotionally disconnected from what you are eatingrdquo

Gonzalez emphasized that ldquomindful eating isnrsquot naive to say nutrition isnrsquot important Of course it is Mindful eating is what allows us to take charge of our decisions of why when what how and how much we choose to eat instead of battling being in or out of controlrdquo

Instead of following the latest short-lived diet Gonzalez encourages people to make the healthiest choices possible that donrsquot leave them feeling deprived

Paulette Tonn BookerFor Paulette Tonn Booker the Am I Hungry

Mindful Eating (AIHME) program has been a game changer

Said Booker ldquoIrsquove tried several diet plans over the past 40 years including some well-known plans and I lost weight on each plan However keeping the weight off eluded me and resulted in yo-yo dieting

The lsquorulesrsquo of whichever plan Booker was on became the norm and after years of trying to live by those rules Booker was no longer able to discern what her body was telling her about hunger often leading to out-of-control overeating

ldquoI always knew there was something else going on yet no one had an answer for merdquo Booker said

When Booker first heard of the AIHME program two years ago she was relieved to discover that there were other people who felt the same way when it came to healthful eating The program taught her the skills she needed to recognize her bodyrsquos hunger signals thoughts and feelings and actions to help manage the physical emotional and environmental stresses of everyday life without resorting to eating to cope with those stresses

ldquoI no longer have to be in control of everything I only need to be in charge of my decisions at any given moment When I choose to overeat (which everyone does) I no longer beat myself up I try to reflect on what happened and then plan for ways to handle the situation differently the next time it occurs Old habits are hard to break it takes concentrated effort and dedication to rewire the brain with new habits and it can be donerdquo Booker said

About weight loss as the end goal of healthful eating Booker shared the following ldquoThe only time I get on a scale is at the doctorrsquos office I know what the experts say I should weigh A number does not define a personrsquos self-worth nor does it say anything about who we are and how we feel as we make changes in how we nurture our bodies The number on the scale is just a number bodies come in all shapes and sizes as does health I will never diet again Instead I will continue to work on developing mindful skills and in the meantime eating what I love and loving what I eatrdquo

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MANKATO MAGAZINE  bull January 2016 bull 17

Eric ZiesmerFor Eric Ziesmer he is in the middle of his weight

loss journey a journey that began last July when the 32-year-old learned that he weighed 330 pounds The time had come for Ziesmer to make some healthy lifestyle changes Ziesmer decided to lose weight because of his family mdash both present and future

ldquoI have two adorable nephews and I would love to be able to chase them around the yard or pull them in a sled during the winter and basically to be active and see them as they growrdquo Ziesmer said ldquoAnd even though Irsquom currently single if it is in my cards for marriage and kids I would like to be there and not be too tired or not in shape A clean and healthy lifestyle is what I am striving for in my coming yearsrdquo

With the help of a dietician Ziesmer has started his cleaner and healthier lifestyle Since July he has lost 40 pounds and has decided to have weight loss surgery To help his post operation phase go as smoothly as possible Ziesmer eats fresh fruit every day has cut out chips and cookies among other things

ldquoI have totally cut out soda Soda was a big one to cut out In my huge climb to 300 there were days when I would consume two 2-liter bottles of pop in a single day and maybe cracking open a thirdrdquo Ziesmer said ldquoI try to listen to my stomach instead of my eyes or eat because Irsquom bored or stressed I eat slow and sip instead of being the guzzler I have always beenrdquo

Another tactic Ziesmer has adopted has been to stop drinking liquids 30 minutes before a meal and then wait 30 minutes after eating before sipping again

ldquoWhen my stomach rumbles and says itrsquos hungry I feed it When my brain or boredom drives me to want to eat I take a second to see if my stomach feels empty and if not it gets deniedrdquo Ziesmer said

Ziesmer has noticed that he is more successful at healthy eating when he eats at home When he does dine out hersquoll cut a sandwich in half eat half and save other half for a future meal

ldquoAs far as exercise goes it went from zero to at least two if not three times a week going for a 327 mile walk and have recently made my way back into the gymrdquo Ziesmer said He has been able to keep track of his walks with accuracy thanks to an app called MapMyRun

Ziesmer knows that his healthier living journey will continue for a long time

ldquoI plan on continuing to live healthy by continuing my exercise and eating right and by saying that itrsquos not only for me and feeling better but also because there are two little guys that look up to their uncle Staying motivated is at least my key to keeping up this lifestyle I want to live a long and healthier life feeling better and being there down the road for family and friends is what means mostrdquo Ziesmer said MM

Eric Ziesmer says hersquos got plenty of motivation to get healthy two nephews to whom he wants to be a good role model

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18 bull January 2016 bull MANKATO MAGAZINE

Stephanie Howe says itrsquos best to have realistic goals when starting a fitness program

Herersquos your guideBy Robb Murray | Photos by Pat Christman

Ready for CHANGE

MM p01 0116indd 18 12182015 24506 PM

MANKATO MAGAZINE  bull January 2016 bull 19

Yoursquore ready

You ate the ham and turkey and potatoes and Christmas cookies You drank the wine beer and eggnog Yoursquove spent the last few

months pondering a life change Yoursquore on the verge of a major transformation This time itrsquos happening Yoursquore going to get healthy Itrsquos going to be a new you

And then January arrived And you have no plan

Luckily we here at Mankato Magazine have got you covered Itrsquos not uncommon for people to make a New Yearrsquos resolution or some similar vow this time of year It usually comes with goal weights and promises to hit the gym X number of times per week and trips to the produce and organic sections of the grocery store because this time yoursquore serious Right

OK easy tiger Getting healthy is a great idea and wersquore wishing you all the best But wersquore also coming at you with some sensible advice Maybe setting unrealistic goals isnrsquot the best way to go Maybe just

heading into the gym and trying to get it all done in a week isnrsquot a great way to go either

ldquoFinerdquo you say ldquothen what should I dordquoWersquore so glad you asked

Letrsquos get startedThe first thing you need to remember when

starting an exercise program is that if you want to lose weight you need to change the way you eat too

ldquoNo matter what you say you canrsquot out exercise a bad dietrdquo says Stephanie Howe director of healthy living at the Mankato YMCA

Howe works in what might be the busiest fitness hub in the Mankato area So shersquos seen her share of people come through the doors with plans to change their lives Some of them succeed Most do not

One of the biggest mistakes people make Howe says is not really having a good grasp on how much time theyrsquoll need in order to incorporate a good workout into their day It doesnrsquot have to be a two-

hour commitment every day she says It can be 30 minutes of planned effective exercise several times per week Whatrsquos more important is just getting there and thatrsquos an obstacle that is bigger than most people realize

ldquoMost people want to lsquopeople pleasersquordquo she said ldquoYou can say yoursquore going to get up and work out every day but most people are built to need external accountabilityrdquo

Think about hiring a personal trainer

ldquoWhen you spend the money on a personal trainer you have an appointment therersquos someone waiting thererdquo she says

A personal trainer is a great way to immediately know yoursquore doing exactly what yoursquore supposed to be doing and yoursquoll have no doubt whether yoursquore working hard enough There are plenty of personal trainers in town mdash at the YMCA and other gyms mdash who would love to help you Of course they donrsquot work for free and for many people the cost of a personal trainer is more than theyrsquore willing to spend

Fortunately therersquos a trend in fitness to offer the whip-crack of a personal trainer while staying Jo radlinger urges her clients to not sabotage their fitness efforts with poor eating over

the weekend

MM p01 0116indd 19 12182015 24510 PM

20 bull January 2016 bull MANKATO MAGAZINE

728 N Riverfront DriveMankato MN 56001

507-625-5163katobearscom

Pins and NeedlesAlterations

Specializing in alterations for theentire wedding party including

gown re-sizing hemming re-beadingbustles and so much more

Like us onFacebook

affordableThe Y now offers something called ldquotrainer ledrdquo

exercise sessions where you work with others in a group but have access to a trainer nearby who can push you motivate you and make sure yoursquore you know doing it right Theyrsquore $3 a class

ldquoYoursquore still expected to be there but itrsquos much cheaperrdquo Howe said ldquoThe group environment pushes you and we have tons of trainer-led classes Itrsquos the best of both worldsrdquo

Across town Jo Radlinger runs Jorsquos Garage a fitness center where shersquos the one pushing you to succeed

Radlingerrsquos goal she says is to bring out everyonersquos potential

ldquoI want to make sure everybody that comes through my door has success I want them to be the very best version of themselves that they can berdquo

Like Howe Radlinger acknowledges that the financial side of hiring a personal trainer can scare people away but she says there are several reasons why it shouldnrsquot

ldquoItrsquos never a bad investment when yoursquore investing in yourselfrdquo she said ldquoMeet with a trainer who is just as passionate about your goal My goal is not to train you intensely but to show you what yoursquore capable of and then take you to that next levelrdquo

At Jorsquos Fitness Garage there are no membership fees Radlinger doesnrsquot believe in them Instead she charges $5 per visit and in that time she said she pushes you to have a great workout

GymtimidationSetting goals is a great

idea Setting unrealistic goals is the kind of thing that results in a gym membership card laying dormant in a junk drawer by February

So set those goals but set them smartlyldquoAccountability is huge Even if you canrsquot hire

someonerdquo Howe says ldquoMake specific goals mdash say yoursquore going to workout X number of times but make those numbers realistic Set goals that are within your controlrdquo

Do this and yoursquore likely to feel a lot better about how things go

ldquoMost people just want to feel better about themselves they want to feel more confidentrdquo Howe said ldquoThis way even before any physical changes happen theyrsquoll feel better Theyrsquoll start to feel like theyrsquore in control again of their life and their choicesrdquo

Taking an exercise class is a great way to both get

your body moving while at the same time have fun and meet those people who will notice when you donrsquot show up

And about that weight room Yes it can be intimidating to walk in and see people who look like they live there But Howe says that while it can definitely be a psychological barrier focusing on those people is the wrong strategy

ldquoNo one cares what yoursquore doingrdquo Howe says ldquoFocus on yourdquo

Take it slowIt can be tempting when you finally get up the

nerve to get back in the swing of working out to go hardcore But just like setting unrealistic goals trying to achieve your fitness goals in a day is impossible

ldquoPeople start out really gung-ho and reset their diet so aggressively and most people just simply canrsquot do thisrdquo Radlinger said ldquoWhen yoursquore looking at making a lifestyle change I want you to do it slowly and incrementally rather than do it all in two monthsrdquo

Rushing into the weight room and trying to lift the same weight and number of reps and sets that you did 10 years ago is a great way to make sure you canrsquot work out for a while Going from a sedentary lifestyle to two hours of pumping iron can leave you sore enough to not be able to lift anything for days Maybe even weeks

Ease into it The gymrsquos not going anywhere Think marathon not sprint

ldquoSometimes people have an all-or-nothing attituderdquo Howe said ldquoand they make themselves sore and they canrsquot continuerdquo

Speaking of all-or-nothing Radlinger says

some people bring that kind of intensity to their food intake over the weekend Bad idea

ldquoAs trainers we help people be accountable We do success measurements help them prepare and plan And wersquoll do weigh-ins on Mondayrdquo Radlinger says ldquoWersquoll find that people do really well Monday through Friday then do what I call sabotage Saturday and Sunday At some point yoursquore going to get so sick of hitting that reset button every Mondayrdquo

Whatever you choose to do both trainers say itrsquos never a bad idea to sit down with your doctor and run your plans by himher Your personal safety should always come first and getting the green light from Doc can give you some peace of mind as you start this new chapter of your life MM

Jo radlinger runs Jorsquos Fitness Garage

MM p01 0116indd 20 12222015 120709 PM

MANKATO MAGAZINE  bull January 2016 bull 21

728 N Riverfront DriveMankato MN 56001

507-625-5163katobearscom

Pins and NeedlesAlterations

Specializing in alterations for theentire wedding party including

gown re-sizing hemming re-beadingbustles and so much more

Like us onFacebook

Live the Lifestyle

wwwmapletonmarinecom

Southern MNrsquos largestboat show on now at the

Madison East Center in Mankato

MM p01 0116indd 21 12182015 24524 PM

22 bull January 2016 bull MANKATO MAGAZINE

Thirty-three years ago I stood inside a grave A lifetime ago when I was a pastorrsquos wife

In Nebraska we served a parish of barely over one hundred members A picture-postcard white church with a hand-carved white wooden altar from Germany sat at the top of a hill next to it the parsonage and next to that the cemetery rolling down the hill toward a wooded creek

The first death in the congregation after our arrival set off a flurry of activity Irsquod never met Alma because she was in a nursing home before we arrived However my husband visited her on several occasions She was mother aunt grandmother great-aunt and great-grandmother to half the congregation so there was no question about whether or not I would attend the funeral

With my two little kids in tow I attended every event at the church every Sunday morning service of course but also every funeral every confirmation every baptism every meeting of womenrsquos circle and even every family reunion that was held in the church basement At twenty-six I perfected the art of making gracious small talk with people Irsquod never seen before and would never see again and at taking tiny portions from each confirmation buffet so I would neither be sick by the end of the day nor offend any of the mothers who had slaved away over their sumptuous spreads of food

By Rebecca Fjelland Davis

Grave Lesson in Winter

ESSay

MM p01 0116indd 22 12182015 24527 PM

MANKATO MAGAZINE  bull January 2016 bull 23

Attending the little white country church was physically easy I picked up one-year-old Josh took three-year-old Nikkirsquos hand and walked out the front door down the sidewalk and next door The only things I didnrsquot have to attend were church council and the menrsquos meeting Archaic This was in the 1980s It doesnrsquot seem so long ago

All the available babysitters in the community would attend Almarsquos funeral too so this was to be my kidsrsquo first funeral

The afternoon before the service salt-snow fell Hard little crystals pelted down as if the heavens had up-ended a Mortonrsquos salt canister Within a few hours the hard snow was six inches deep and still falling

In the middle of the salt-snow the gravedigger arrived The Ditchwitch roared around the cemetery to the familyrsquos plot and my kidsrsquo noses pressed against the upstairs bedroom window pane ldquoMommy can we go watchrdquo

Glad for an excuse to get out of the parsonage I bundled them in snowsuits put them on the sled and pulled them across the house yard and garden to the fence that bordered the cemetery

The Ditchwitch made short work of the grave and all three of us were mesmerized watching the mound of gray-black dirt grow in the crystal-white snow When the hole was finished the gravedigger turned his tractor on idle He hopped off and came over to the fence His eyes twinkled in a weathered face ldquoWant to come lookrdquo

I backed up from the fence a step ldquoNo not really I think this is close enoughrdquo

ldquoYes Mommy go lookrdquo ldquoPleeeeaserdquoSo Nikki and Josh got back on the sled and I

hauled them along the fence through the gate over to the grave and looked down Six feet seemed deep bottomless Dark A sharp contrast to the pelting snowflakes all around us

ldquoWanna get down in thererdquo the gravedigger asked I shuddered hung onto the kids and backed up

again ldquoNo No thatrsquos okay This is close enough I just want to look from hererdquo

ldquoYes mommyrdquo the little ones said ldquoLetrsquosrdquoldquoNordquoldquoPleaserdquoldquoReally marsquoam I think you should Yoursquoll be

surprised I wouldnrsquot suggest it if it I didnrsquot think sordquoldquoHow would we get outrdquo The sides were deeper

than I was tall and there certainly werenrsquot footholds or a ladder built in for Almarsquos soul to use to climb out

ldquoLike thisrdquo The gravedigger laid his shovel diagonally across a top corner of the grave and jumped down He grabbed the middle of the shovel handle and swung himself back up and out with the agility of a gymnast ldquoNothinrsquo to itrdquo

ldquoI canrsquot do thatrdquoldquoYes you can Irsquoll boost you And wersquoll lift the kids

Yoursquoll be amazed I promiserdquoI shivered The idea of being inside a grave

seemed much colder than the snow crystals biting at my face

ldquoCome onrdquo he said and jumped back in Nikki and Josh willingly stepped over to him to be lifted down I had no choice but to follow I couldnrsquot let my kids alone in a grave with a man I didnrsquot even know

So I jumped The earth on the bottom made a soft landing The soil around me was warm and steamy It was moist and dark but it enfolded us in an earthy hug At least fifty degrees warmer than the air above ground it felt as if the earth were offering shelter respite a comfortable place to snuggle down and rest Tiny roots dangled full of life from the smooth edges of the hole Tears sprang to my eyes I couldnrsquot help them My eyes met the gravediggerrsquos and he smiled Gently ldquoSeerdquo he said Nothing more

I couldnrsquot speak A few minutes later he gave me a stirrup with his

hands I scrambled out and he lifted Nikki and Josh up to me Then he flipped himself out as easily as a trapeze artist

ldquoThank yourdquo I said ldquoI would never have guessedrdquoHe nodded ldquoNobody does But it helps somehow

I wanted you to feel thatrdquoWhy I wanted to ask why me You donrsquot even

know me Why were you willing to take time for usldquoThank yourdquo was all I said I shook his hand and

he hopped on the Ditchwitch and drove off into the snow

I never saw him again Someone else dug the next grave required in that cemetery

I remember only bits and pieces of the funeral Irsquom sure I baked a boxed cake mix for ldquolunchrdquo afterwards I remember answering Nikkirsquos questions about the body and sitting in the back row of the church in case Josh didnrsquot want to be quiet I do remember looking at the unfamiliar face in the casket and thinking you get to rest in a warm cozy place

Ten winters later we buried my dad on just such a day Wet snow crystals pelted us and piled up so deep the funeral home limousine got stuck in the cemetery By the time the pallbearers pushed it un-stuck their suit pants were caked in slush and mud

We stood at the graveside in the bleak wet icy day and lowered my fatherrsquos body into the ground

ldquoToo bad itrsquos such a miserable dayrdquo ldquoSorry about your dad Sorry the weatherrsquos so bad toordquo And even ldquoSuch a good man He deserves better weather than thisrdquo

But the weather I thought was just right Losing my dad my kids and their cousins losing

their grandpa my mom becoming a widow my brother losing his farming partner and best friend changed our livesmdashthat part was too heavy to carry

The only part that was okay for me was to let Dadrsquos worn-out body be wrapped in that welcoming warm enfolding soilmdashthe very soil hersquod loved to till the soil hersquod planted and tended all his life the soil that gave us all lifemdashthat was the only gratifying part of the day

The only comfort I had was letting Dad go from the cold wet biting snow into that warm and restful place

And I still wonder who that gravedigger was ten years earlier and how he knew how much I would need what he gave me that bleak winter day MM

Rebecca Fjelland Davis is an author from Mankato

MM p01 0116indd 23 12182015 24528 PM

reFlecTionsBy Pat Christman

24 bull January 2016 bull MANKATO MAGAZINE

MM p01 0116indd 24 12182015 24544 PM

reFlecTionsBy Pat Christman

MANKATO MAGAZINE  bull January 2016 bull 25

There are few things as inevitable as snow during a Minnesota winter Big

cotton ball-like snowflakes cover the ground in a white blanket whitewashing the Midwestern landscape

We struggle against it Some hope the snow never comes It always does filling the sky with floating snowflakes that cling to the ground but melt as soon as they hit the small bits of face or hands that peek out from winter clothing

It is often quite beautiful especially when viewed from someplace warm and dry MM

MM p01 0116indd 25 12182015 24548 PM

26 bull January 2016 bull MANKATO MAGAZINE

Then amp now Vice President Schuyler Colfaxrsquos Death By Bryce o sTenzel

On Jan 14 1885 one day after his death the New York Times carried a

headline that read ldquoSchuyler Colfax Dead He Drops Down in a Railway Stationrdquo While most Americans today would have tremendous difficulty in even recognizing this manrsquos name

(unless they were paying close attention to Stephen Spielbergrsquos epic movie Lincoln and made the association) Schuyler Colfax was a former Speaker of the House of Representatives and Vice President of the United States under President US Grant He died in Mankatorsquos Chicago St

Paul Minneapolis amp Omaha railroad depot from a massive heart attack

Schuyler Colfax Jr was born in New York City on March 23 1823 His father died of tuberculosis five months before Schuyler was born His sister Mary died four months after his [Schuylerrsquos]

vice President Schuyler Colfaxrsquos Death in Mankato

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MANKATO MAGAZINE  bull January 2016 bull 27

birth The young Schuyler attended school only until he was 10 He then began working to support his family Schuyler Colfax never attended any kind of secondary school or college His mother remarried when Colfax was 13 and the family moved to New Carlisle Indiana By the time he was 22 Colfax was the editor and owner of a pro-Whig newspaper He was elected to Congress in 1854 and joined the newly formed Republican Party after the Whig Party disintegrated Solidly anti-slavery his colleagues elected Colfax as Speaker of the US House of Representatives in 1863 His election came soon after the death of his wife Evelyn The couple had no children

Colfax was President Abraham Lincolnrsquos first and last visitor on the fateful day Lincoln was assassinatedmdashApril 14 1865 Early that morning Colfax arrived at the White House while the president was having breakfast Colfax wanted to know whether or not Lincoln planned to call a special session of Congress for later that summer Lincolnrsquos answer was a polite but firm ldquonordquo Lincoln preferred a lenient approach in reconstructing as well as readmitting the former Confederate states to the Union now that the Civil War was over This approach put Lincoln at odds with the more ldquoradicalrdquo congressional members of his own party who preferred harsher measures be taken against their former enemies Lincoln had already made up his mind how he wanted to proceed with reconstructing the former Confederate states and he didnrsquot want any unnecessary interference from Congress Calling a special session was the last thing Lincoln wanted to do Colfax returned that same night to see Lincoln again just before the president left for Fordrsquos Theatre and his appointment with destiny This time Colfax came upon Lincolnrsquos own request The president had a long message for the silver miners of the Comstock Lode in Nevada thanking them for their loyalty to the Union that he wanted Speaker Colfax to deliver in person since Colfax was leaving by train for the West the next day Colfax was the last person Lincoln spoke to besides his wife Mary before he

was fatally shot at 1015 pm Colfax never forgave himself for turning down Lincolnrsquos invitation to be part of the theatre party that night

In 1868 Republicans selected General Ulysses S Grant as their presidential candidate Grant a military man his entire life had no political background Colfax was placed on the ticket because of his prior experience as a congressman and Speaker of the House (he resigned the position in 1869) Grant and Colfax won an easy victory in November 1868 Only two weeks later Colfax remarriedmdashthis time to Ellen Wade (niece of Ohio Senator Benjamin Wade) Their only child son Schuyler Colfax III was born in 1870

Colfax is best remembered (if at all) for his involvement in the corruption that beset Grantrsquos entire presidency Specifically the Credit Mobilier scandal broke in 1872 just as Grant and Colfax were gearing up for their re-election campaign Colfax was suspected of accepting shares of stock and cash bribes from ldquoCredit Mobilierrdquo a dummy construction company set up by the Union Pacific Railroad He was by no means the only influential person involved in the scandal Other political figures investigated included Senators Roscoe Conkling of New York William Allison of Iowa John Logan of Illinois James Bayard of Delaware and Henry Wilson of Massachusetts Grant was less popular in 1872 than he had been four years earlier and many Republicans worried that having Colfax on the partyrsquos ticket would harm the presidentrsquos re-election chances They dumped Colfax from the ticket mdash only to replace him with the also-tainted Wilson Grant won re-election and served his second and final term from 1873-1877 After being forced out from the vice presidency Colfax traveled the country as a popular lecturer often speaking about his interactions with Abraham Lincoln during the Civil War He rebuilt his tarnished reputation and commanded speaking fees as high as $2500

At 10 am on Jan 13 1885 Schuyler Colfax arrived in Mankato aboard a train from Milwaukee Mankato was just a

brief stop for Colfax who was on his way to Iowa for a speaking engagement The Chicago Milwaukee amp St Paul as well as the Chicago St Paul Minneapolis amp Omaha railroads both had depots in Mankato but because they were separate competing railroad lines Colfax was required to change trains by walking three-quarters of a mile from the Chicago Milwaukee amp St Paul depot at the foot of Hickory Street to the Chicago St Paul Minneapolis amp Omaha depot at Fourth and Washington Streets (now Washington Park) from which the next leg of his journey would depart Despite a reported temperature of 30 degrees below zero Colfax walked from one station to the other Within five minutes after he arrived at the Omaha linersquos depot Colfax entered the waiting room looked at a map on the wall sat down and died It was 1035 am No one in the station knew who the dead man actually was until they searched his pockets and found a letter with his name on it His death was likely caused by a heart attack brought on by the physical exertion of walking almost a mile in extreme cold Colfax was only 61 when he died His remains were returned to South Bend Indiana for burial

Today few Americans are aware that anyone named Schuyler Colfax ever lived much less served as vice president of the United States In this era in which officeholders are often treated as celebrities imagine how surprised people would be to learn that a former vice president died cold alone and unrecognized in a train station 131 years ago Before 24-hour news channels smart phones and social media it was possible for public figures like Colfax to live ndash and die ndash in relative obscurity Ironically Colfax loved the railroad but in the end it was the cause of his undoing Mankato has the distinction of being the location where the last man to personally speak to Abraham Lincoln in a private conversation took his last breath

MM p01 0116indd 27 12182015 24549 PM

28 bull January 2016 bull MANKATO MAGAZINE

Mayo Clinic offers pediatric and adolescent orthopedic services right here in Mankato Todd Milbrandt MD cares for patients with a variety of needs including

bull Cerebral palsy

bull Clubfoot

bull Hip disorders

bull Spinal disorders

bull Sports injuries

bull Scoliosis

bull Spina bifida

Mayo Clinic Health System in Mankato Call 1-877-412-7575 (toll-free) to schedule an appointment

495rdquox495rdquo Mankato Magazine January

Orthopedic care for your child

Independent ampAssisted Living

EQUAL HOUSINGOPPORTUNITY

1360 Adams StreetMankato MN

PrimroseRetirementcom

reg

Key City Senior Breakfast ClubThe Key City Senior Breakfast Club meets the first Thursday of each month from 830 AM - 930 AM at Primrose Retirement Community The club gives those 55+ the opportunity to meet new friends and visit old ones socialize with Key City Officials and enjoy a delicious home-cooked breakfast To visit a Key City Senior Breakfast please call (866) 447-9636

Mark your calendar for these breakfast dates Thursday January 7th Thursday March 3rd and Thursday May 5th

刀椀渀最 椀渀 琀栀攀 

一攀眀 夀攀愀爀

㔀 㜀ⴀ㤀㐀ⴀ㐀㐀䨀甀氀攀攀猀䨀攀眀攀氀爀礀挀漀洀

椀渀 匀愀椀渀琀 倀攀琀攀爀

20765 Foley Rd Mankato MN | 5073872434 | 5077262411

Three TimeNational Award Winners

MM p02 0116indd 28 12182015 30742 PM

Mayo Clinic offers pediatric and adolescent orthopedic services right here in Mankato Todd Milbrandt MD cares for patients with a variety of needs including

bull Cerebral palsy

bull Clubfoot

bull Hip disorders

bull Spinal disorders

bull Sports injuries

bull Scoliosis

bull Spina bifida

Mayo Clinic Health System in Mankato Call 1-877-412-7575 (toll-free) to schedule an appointment

495rdquox495rdquo Mankato Magazine January

Orthopedic care for your child

Independent ampAssisted Living

EQUAL HOUSINGOPPORTUNITY

1360 Adams StreetMankato MN

PrimroseRetirementcom

reg

Key City Senior Breakfast ClubThe Key City Senior Breakfast Club meets the first Thursday of each month from 830 AM - 930 AM at Primrose Retirement Community The club gives those 55+ the opportunity to meet new friends and visit old ones socialize with Key City Officials and enjoy a delicious home-cooked breakfast To visit a Key City Senior Breakfast please call (866) 447-9636

Mark your calendar for these breakfast dates Thursday January 7th Thursday March 3rd and Thursday May 5th

OMG hellip More food and drinksOK sure

By now yoursquore probably thinking ldquoOh my gosh the last thing I want to think about right now is more food more drinking and more diningrdquo

Fair enough We get it The holidays are murder on the metabolism of many many Minnesotans

But we also know that those metabolisms are hardy and soon enough theyrsquoll be hankering for a hunk of something yummy and full of fun And whatrsquos more yummy and full of fun than a big glass of Cabernet Sauvignon Our wine guy Leigh Pomeroy takes us on a tour of all that is tasty and wonderful about big red wines the kind that leave their mark the kind that really announce their presence on your palate

And just in case yoursquore super serious about a healthy lifestyle mdash and that seriousness extends to the kind of beer you choose mdash Bert Mattson our beer guy has just the selection for you Best part is Itrsquos light

Oh and under the category of ldquoDid you hear about thisrdquo Wersquove got an update for you on the Coffee Hag Mankatorsquos original coffee house and one of the most popular hangouts in town Seriously some days itrsquos hard to find a seat in that place

EnjoyPS We know that baby itrsquos cold outside mdash thatrsquos why wersquove

thrown you our absolute best hot cocoa recipe

Enjoymdash Robb Murray Associate Editor Mankato Magazine

food drink amp dineso

uthern m

n style

20765 Foley Rd Mankato MN | 5073872434 | 5077262411

Three TimeNational Award Winners

MM p02 0116indd 29 12182015 30745 PM

MANKATO 5073854485 AMBOY 5076743355 I VERNON CENTER 5075493679

INSURANCE OFFICES LOCATED IN THE COMMUNITY BANK BUILDINGS

wwwcimankatocom

Protecting the things that matter most in your life

Let us help protect what is important to you At Community Insurance we have the ability to compare insurance from multiple companies to get you the best coverage at a great price Combine that with our insurance knowledge and friendly group of agents and we say thatrsquos a winning deal

WHERE YOUR POLICY COMES WITH AN AGENT

Christina Meyer

Food

south

ern mn style

Food

south

ern mn style

By The Washington Post

Growing up my mother always encouraged her children to cook So when

I found a recipe for hot chocolate on the side of the Hersheyrsquos Cocoa can it was easy to convince her to let me give it a try

What I discovered was that hot chocolate doesnrsquot have to come from an envelope

This recipe has been a favorite of mine to make on days when winter weather has convinced me stay home and off the roads Itrsquos the perfect way to kill time and have a nice hot drink to warm you up on those chilly days

Although you can top it with whipped cream I prefer marshmallows

FAVORITE HOT COCOAMakes 4 to 6 servings

12 cup sugar14 cup unsweetened cocoa powder

Dash of salt13 cup hot water

4 cups milk34 teaspoon vanilla extract

Whipped cream or marshmallows (optional)

Mix sugar cocoa powder salt and water in a sauce pan Stir constantly over medium heat until mixture comes to a boil (about 2 minutes) Stir in

milk and heat Bring the hot chocolate to the desired temperature but do not boil Remove from heat and

add the vanilla extract Divide into mugs and top with whipped cream or marshmallows

PERFECTLY CHOCOLATE HOT COCOA

Makes 1 serving

2 tablespoons sugar2 tablespoons unsweetened cocoa powder

Dash salt1 cup milk

14 teaspoon vanilla extractWhipped cream or marshmallows (optional)

Mix sugar cocoa powder and salt into large mug In separate microwave-safe container heat on high

for 1 to 1 frac12 minutes or until very hot Carefully and gradually add milk to dry mixture Stir well Add vanilla extract Top with whipped cream or

marshmallows

Simple homemade hot chocolate

beats the winter chill

30 bull January 2016 bull MANKATO MAGAZINE

MM p02 0116indd 30 12182015 30752 PM

MANKATO MAGAZINE  bull January 2016 bull 31

Oil Change to OverhaulWe do it all

507-387-13151620 Commerce Drive North MankatowwwAustinsAutoRepairCentercom

Voted Best Auto Repair and Best Auto Mechanic 4 Years in a Row

AUSTINrsquoS AUTO REPAIR CENTER INC

MANKATO 5073854485 AMBOY 5076743355 I VERNON CENTER 5075493679

INSURANCE OFFICES LOCATED IN THE COMMUNITY BANK BUILDINGS

wwwcimankatocom

Protecting the things that matter most in your life

Let us help protect what is important to you At Community Insurance we have the ability to compare insurance from multiple companies to get you the best coverage at a great price Combine that with our insurance knowledge and friendly group of agents and we say thatrsquos a winning deal

WHERE YOUR POLICY COMES WITH AN AGENT

Christina Meyer

MM p02 0116indd 31 12182015 30755 PM

32 bull January 2016 bull MANKATO MAGAZINE

January is Cabernet TimeWersquove celebrated nearly

every January edition of Mankato Magazine with

a paean to BIG REDS And since there are so many wonderful examples why stop now

Last year I wrote about the powerful big reds of Italy This January wersquoll focus on Cabernet Sauvignon known to many as ldquothe king of winesrdquo Most oenophiles (wine lovers) consider the quintessential representations of this grape to be the classified Bordeaux of southwest France near the city of Bordeaux The five First Growths (or best wines according to a classification made in 1855 and updated in 1973) are Ch Lafite Rothschild Ch Margaux Ch Latour Ch Haut Brion and Ch Mouton Rothschild All have a cabernet sauvignon base but they are blended with merlot and often a little bit of cabernet franc and petit verdot as well

In the early 1970s I was able to buy these wines for around $22 per bottle mdash about $120 in 2016 dollars Yet with the popularity of ldquocollectiblerdquo wines on a worldwide

basis they sell today for anywhere from $400 on up

Contrary to popular belief these wines are not that massive Rather they combine cabernet sauvignon power with

structure and finesse yielding wines that become with time elixirs that are greater than the sum of their parts

Both California and Washington state have taken up the Cabernet Sauvignon challenge and are producing world-class wines at sometimes world-class prices Napa Valley is the recognized leader in this arena and rightly so Napa Valleyrsquos top Cabernet

Wine amp B

eerso

uthern m

n style

winesBy Leigh Pomeroy

Leigh Pomeroy is a Mankato-based writer and wine lover

Cabernet Sauvignon is the black Labrador of wines mdash it comes up and licks yourdquo

mdash Winemaker Scott Rich

Sauvignons rival the great wines of Bordeaux for quality mdash Irsquove tasted them side-by-side mdashand yet can sell for a fraction of their price

One such example is the 2013 Tulocay Cabernet Sauvignon from my old friend Bill Cadman We were young bucks in Napa Valley and had a tasting group in the early 1970s along with now-famous wine luminaries Bruce Neyers (Neyers Vineyards) and Mike Richmond (co-founder of Acacia Vineyard)

Billrsquos Cabernet is from an old and relatively cool growing area east of the City of Napa called Coombsville which because of industry political issues only recently received its AVA (American Viticultural Area) designation It is priced at $60 per bottle yet compares with any top-flight Bordeaux as well as the more expensive offerings from Napa Valley which can cost from $100 on up Not currently available at wine stores or restaurants in Minnesota it can be purchased by contacting the winery directly via its website tulocaycom The winery is so small that Bill will probably answer the phone himself

There is a lot of Cabernet Sauvignon available from California but mdash caveat emptor mdash not all growing areas (or appellations) are the same The best Cabernet Sauvignons are from Napa and Sonoma Counties Cabernets simply labeled ldquoCaliforniardquo or perhaps ldquoCoastalrdquo while sometimes good values lack the complexity of the greater Cabernet Sauvignons from the more northern parts of the state

Washington state has also

established itself as a prime producer of Cabernet Sauvignon But here again quality can vary greatly depending upon the area and producer While there is no ldquogo-tordquo appellation for Cabernet Sauvignon in Washington there are producers that are able to secure fruit from the best vineyards

One such example is the tiny Willis Hall Winery owned by another good friend John Bell a former Boeing jet propulsion engineer Like Tulocay its wines are only available by calling up the winery and ordering some (See willishallcom) But there are many other top quality producers in Washington like Quilceda Creek Leonetti Betz Family and Woodward Canyon

Of course not everyone can afford Cabernet Sauvignons in the $60-plus category One excellent everyday drinking example is the Flying Cloud 2013 Paso Robles Cabernet Sauvignon made by Mankato native Stephen Dooley Normally I donrsquot like Paso Robles Cabs as they tend to be too fruity and too soft for my palate mdash almost like drinking berry jam But this one is quite restrained no doubt helped by the inclusion of 13 percent zinfandel and 9 percent petite sirah in the blend

In Mankato both the Wine Cafeacute and MGM carry the Flying Cloud but at its price and quality I wouldnrsquot count on it lasting for long especially since only 759 cases were produced

So letrsquos raise a glass of Cabernet and say ldquoCheersrdquo to the New Year

MM p02 0116indd 32 12182015 30756 PM

MANKATO MAGAZINE  bull January 2016 bull 33

Bert Mattson is a chef and writer based in St Paul He is the manager of the iconic Mickeyrsquos Diner

Beer Skinny

BeerBy Bert Mattson

Last year according to Nielsen research staying fit and healthy was

the number one New Yearrsquos resolution Losing weight was two Three was to enjoy life to the fullest Unfortunately ldquolose weight and get fitrdquo also topped Time magazinersquos list of commonly broken resolutions Is this shortfall due to tension between the top two and that third one If so craft beer may have a role in the compromise Bad news first

In the context of losing weight and staying fit beer lovers might seek solace in the fact that fat carries nine calories per gram while alcohol has only seven The wrinkle is that those seven are ldquoemptyrdquo mdash calories without nutrition as opposed to those from fat protein and carbohydrates Moreover alcoholrsquos calories are the first burned when combined with the others the human body postpones burning fat while it works on alcohol Furthermore beer (and wine and often cocktails) contains carbohydrates which release insulin and can hasten fat storage Finally many drinkers have undoubtedly observed that alcohol loosens inhibitions after which an eager indulgence in unhealthy foods often occurs (Bar menus are rarely helpful in that respect)

By now you may wonder whose side Irsquom actually on Or suspect Irsquove led you to this dark place only to offer you a Lite No worries a couple craft brewers have been considering ways to keep us true to our resolutions

Evil Twin Brewingrsquos Bikini Beer drops the alcohol to 27 percent but stays bold by way of hops A Pale Ale it hits the nose with citrus suggestive of IPA The flavor follows suit floral and lemon There is an expected absence of malt yielding to bitterness up front that fades at the finish An alternative

for those who insist on the full effect Founderrsquos Brewing Companyrsquos All Day IPA rings in at a respectable 144 calories (Evil Twinrsquos entry comes in at 81)

One strategy to beat the beer munchies and avoid costly impulse eating is to have suitable chow on hand With Bikini Beer try a salad sporting blue cheese and some sort of dried fruit Creamy blue veined cheeses echo the hops while balancing bitterness An occasional bite of dried fruit stands in for malt sweetness

Brooklyn Breweryrsquos 12 Ale weighs in at 34 percent alcohol (102 calories) It is alliteratively labeled ldquoSession Saisonrdquo It opens with a waft of citrus and spice and a little lemongrass from Sorachi Ace hops mdash a hybrid developed in East Asia The same elements are found in the flavor which is a bit more subdued than a full-sized Saison

Try it with a tangle of arugula dressed with lemon and a fruity olive oil tossed with pine nuts and topped with shaved Parmesan for effect The greens and cracked pepper reflect spicy phenolic elements in the yeast Salty cheese counters the beerrsquos lingering bitterness Maybe add a few slices of Speck cured ham and Saison share a certain funkiness

If friends show and it becomes a session you may honestly say you spent Saturday working on your six-pack

MM p02 0116indd 33 12182015 30757 PM

34 bull January 2016 bull MANKATO MAGAZINE

Food

south

ern mn style

Food

south

ern mn style

The Coffee Hag one of the arearsquos oldest (and coolest) bistros recently underwent a major expansion and remodeling journey culminating in a large and airy

seating area along with a much-improved kitchen and a new menu Mankato Magazine caught up with a very busy (and slightly exhausted) owner Jenn Melby-Kelly who weighs in on how itrsquos going

MANKATO MAGAZINE Are you personally enjoying the new updatesJENN MELBY-KELLY It Is Fabulous The new space represents so much more than a remodel to me It has brought to life a vision for my business thatrsquos been years in the making It incorporates many many good ideas from many many people I feel so fortunate to get to see that every time I walk through the door

MM How are customers reactingJMK Thatrsquos been one of the best parts The response has been overwhelmingly positive

A few of our most regular customers had the opportunity to get a glimpse of the remodel while it was underway (we gave some informal preview tours while we were operating the temporary stand outside) but many customers walk through the door now and see it all for the first time Itrsquos especially fun to see and hear that kind of wide-eyed reaction

A few people with special connections to The Hag have had even stronger emotional responses and Irsquom so touched and right there with them when I see eyes well up as they see what wersquove done Itrsquos a very big milestone for a very special place and wersquore blessed to have people that care so deeply

MM Do the employees appreciate the new spaceJMK Oh probably more than anyone There was a lot that we sought to do with the remodel but creating a bigger brighter better-equipped space for our team was certainly one of the primary goals Wersquove got an incredible team truly the most spirited and talented people anyone could hope for

Many of them have spent years with me working hard against the challenge of a small under-equipped space and just barely being able to keeping up with growing demand Itrsquos been a special blessing for them and for me to finally have state-of-the-art space thatrsquos made for the work that we do We all feel a special connection to this place and now more than ever the place reflects the good energy we all bring here every day

MM Is the new menu a hit (The Hag specializes in vegetarianvegan cuisine)JMK Yes but just wait Feedback and demand have been excellent with our food offerings already but wersquore just getting started on some of the really exciting things that are coming to our food menu

Remodeling the cafe was just the first major milestone of our two-part expansion plan Next up wersquore building a state of the art off-site commissary kitchen that will do for our incredible culinary team what the remodeled shop has done for our baristas Theyrsquove been working day and night on taking our already fantastic food offerings to a whole new level

Wersquove already introduced some amazing new menu items like the Garden Grilled Cheese panini (trust me itrsquos like nothing yoursquove had before) and some truly outstanding new vegan baked goods Wersquove also improved our classic offerings with house-made

Interview with Jenn Melby-Kelly owner of The Coffee Hag

By Sarah Johnson

MM p02 0116indd 34 12182015 30802 PM

MANKATO MAGAZINE  bull January 2016 bull 35

Happy New Year

Locally Owned amp Operated

Check Weekly Specialsmgmwineandspiritscommankato

Largest Selection ofbull Liquor bull Wine bull Beer bull

Hours Monday-Saturday 8 am - 10 pm

ATMs at all stores

Mankato201 Victory Dr

625-2420

North Mankato1755 Commerce Dr

387-2634

St Peter100 N Minnesota Ave

934-8964

sourdough and whole wheat breads But as impressive as it is already itrsquos just a taste mdash literally mdash of things to come as we bring our new kitchen online

MM Whatrsquos stayed the sameJMK Irsquom really proud to say that while wersquove touched almost every part of this 23-year-old business wersquove kept even more than we have changed From the first days of this project I made it my personal mission and responsibility to make sure that the ldquosoulrdquo of this special place was only enhanced and never lost as we made the updates

In every area of the remodel as wersquove added some necessary new layers of sophistication The Hagrsquos colorful quirky and even rebellious spirit is still very much a part of the space We did a lot to try to make sure it still looked and felt like ldquohomerdquo

And on a deeper level every step wersquove taken with the growth of our business has been chosen carefully to honor the core parts of The Coffee Hagrsquos identity Our focus on community our support for local art and music our commitment to creating a safe and welcoming space for everyone our efforts to lead the way on social and environmental issues affecting our world near and far mdash those have all stayed the same And those will always be at the heart of what we do

MM Anything elseJMK Irsquom so incredibly grateful for the support of our customers and community And whenever I talk about my business and how it has grown I really canrsquot overstate how thankful I am for my beautiful Coffee Hag family The hard work good energy and earnest contributions of so many people mdash past and present mdash have brought me and my business here An incredible amount of love has gone into this business and made this dream a reality

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36 bull January 2016 bull MANKATO MAGAZINE

xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

Food

south

ern mn style

whatrsquos Cooking By Sarah Johnson

Sarah Johnson is a cook freelance writer and chocolate addict from North Mankato with three grown kids and a couple of mutts

As I was pondering my subject matter for todayrsquos column I started wondering about all the different items the word ldquonutsrdquo can refer

to Crazy people are called nuts so are hexagonal metal objects that attach to bolts Nuts can be the end of things (as in ldquofrom soup to nutsrdquo) or they can be the beginning of them (as in ldquosperm incubatorsrdquo) Nut can also mean onersquos head or onersquos lump of something such as butter And if you accidentally get a nut of butter on your nut you can exclaim ldquoNutsrdquo

My favorite meaning of the word nut however is the dry indehiscent one-seeded fruit with a woody pericarp And I donrsquot even know what indehiscent OR pericarp means But these are the wonderful denizens of the world of edible nuts

Nuts are widely credited with all sorts of health benefits for the heart brain male reproductive system prostate cholesterol level fiber intake and avoidance of some types of cancer And while nuts do contain fat itrsquos the ldquogoodrdquo kind heart-healthy monounsaturated and polyunsaturated fat Their mix of omega-3 fatty acids protein and fiber helps you feel full and suppresses the appetite

Nuts are great in desserts and salads of course but they also shine in stir-fries casseroles soups chicken pork fish and even beverages Nut butters nut milks and nut oils add delicious options to our kitchen larders Breads cereals muffins and pancakes gain texture flavor and nutrition from the addition of nuts Basically anytime is a good time for nuts

Which is a wonderful thing because nuts taste so good you would think they had to be very very bad The reason lies deep in their oils

Walnut Oil is strong and flavorful Itrsquos best when used in uncooked sauces or salad dressing

Hazelnut Oil has a strong flavor and is great for the heart

Almond Oil is very popular and has a much milder flavor than walnut oil or hazelnut oil

Pecan Macadamia Nut Pistachio Cashew and Pine Nut Oils are flavorful and unique The freshness of the nuts used really affects the flavor

ldquoTherersquos Nuttinrsquo Nutty About Nutsrdquo

For the Baklava1 pound pistachios hazelnuts walnuts pecans andor almonds coarsely ground plus more for garnish12 teaspoon ground cinnamon1 cup breadcrumbs4 sticks unsalted butter melted16 sheets phyllo dough (thawed if frozen) cut in half

For the Syrup3 cups sugar1 6 -to-8-ounce jar honey1 frac12 cups water1 to 2 tablespoons fresh lemon juice

If yoursquore under the impression that baklava is much too labor-intensive and complicated to make at home think again Anybody can make

it no special skills equipment or exotic ingredients are required A word about phyllo dough Itrsquos sold in frozen packages so you need to remove the package from the freezer and let it thaw in the fridge 24 hours before you want to make the baklava Then about an hour beforehand remove the package from the fridge and let it sit on the counter

Walnuts or pistachios are the most traditional nuts to fill baklava but using other nuts works wonders as well Simply layer the phyllo with the nut filling and butter bake for an hour and finish with a simple honeyed syrup If you have leftover nuts from the holidays herersquos your chance to use them up

Mixed Nut Baklava

MM p02 0116indd 36 12182015 30812 PM

MANKATO MAGAZINE  bull January 2016 bull 37

MONEY MATTERS WORK SMARTLET COMMUNITY BANK HELP YOUBRING THE TWO TOGETHER

MANKATO - SAINT ANDREWS DR 5073854444MANKATO - MADISON AVE 5076251551VERNON CENTER 5075493679AMBOY 5076743300

JULIE VETTERSR VICE PRESIDENTRETAIL BANKING

We support great causes like yoursAt Community Bank we know good things happen when you have a good bank So we make more possible by keeping banking simple and supportive And by giving you the power that comes with innovative solutions like our Health Savings Account It offers you tax-free savings for future medical expenses Stop by anytime Wersquore always ready to help out a great cause

Position a rack in the lower third of the oven preheat to 350 degrees Combine the nuts cinnamon and breadcrumbs in a bowl

Brush a 9x13-inch baking dish with some of the butter Layer 10 pieces of phyllo in the dish brushing each piece with butter before adding the next (keep the remaining dough covered with a damp towel) Sprinkle a quarter of the nut mixture over the dough Layer four pieces of phyllo on top brushing each with butter before adding the next sprinkle with another quarter of the nut mixture Add four more phyllo pieces on top brushing each with butter then add another quarter of the nut mixture four more pieces of phyllo with butter and the remaining nuts

Layer the remaining 10 pieces of phyllo on top of the nuts brushing each with butter brush the top piece with extra butter Cut into the baklava to make strips about 1 12 inches wide Then make diagonal slices about 1 12 inches apart to create a diamond pattern Bake until golden about one hour

Meanwhile make the syrup Bring the sugar honey and 1 12 cups water to a boil in a saucepan over medium heat and cook 10 to 15 minutes Add the lemon juice and boil 2 more minutes then let cool slightly Pour the syrup over the warm baklava let soak uncovered at least six hours or overnight Garnish with nuts

MM p02 0116indd 37 12182015 30817 PM

38 bull bull MANKATO MAGAZINE

Nell Musolf is a mom and freelance writer from Mankato She blogs at nellmusolfcom

38 bull bull MANKATO MAGAZINE

MM p02 0116indd 38 12182015 30822 PM

MANKATO MAGAZINE  bull January 2016 bull 39

Gear Up for WinterYear-Round amp Insulated Workwear from

Carhartt Dickies and Key

UNIFORMSUniforms fromBarco Carhartt Cherokee DickiesKoi Peaches and White Cross

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Call 5073446336mankatomagmankatofreepresscom

Stephanie L Hylla LAc Dipl AcKayla M Sweeney MOm LAc

NEW LOCATION709 S Front Suite 5

5074694788mankatoacupuncturecom

Open House ndash Wednesday Feb 3 9-12noonCelebrating 5 years of Business New Location and the Chinese New Year

In Network with Blue Cross Blue ShieldLicensed by the MN Board of Medical Practice

Ribbon Cutting with Greater Mankato Growth at 10am

(A $250 Value)THIS VOUCHER ENTITLES NEW PATIENTS TO A

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Dr BrandonRignell DC

1351 Madison AveSuite D

Mankato MN 56001

5077797313

$2900New Patient Special

MM p02 0116indd 39 12222015 121344 PM

40 bull bull MANKATO MAGAZINE

Jean Lundquist is a master gardener who lives near Good Thunder

MM p02 0116indd 40 12182015 30834 PM

MANKATO MAGAZINE  bull January 2016 bull 41

3 Increase the Value of Your Home

3 Update Your Homersquos Appearance

3 Save Money

Choose from SeveralModels Styles amp Colors

507-625-7110 or 1-800-645-36671125 Cross St North Mankato MN

Improve Your HomersquosEnergy Efficiency

422 Park Lane Mankato MN | NuStarMankatocom

(507) 381-4747Voted One of Mankatorsquos Best

DANIEL WINGERT

Make Selling Your Home Your NuYearrsquos Resolution

MM p02 0116indd 41 12182015 30839 PM

42 bull January 2016 bull MANKATO MAGAZINE

January Resolve to moisturize

Your stYLeBy Ann Rosenquist Fee

Ann Rosenquist Fee is executive director of the Arts Center of Saint Peter and a vocalist with The Frye She blogs at annrosenquistfeecom

If you have in-laws or colleagues who know you well enough to have given you holiday gifts

but not well enough to know what wouldrsquove truly made you happy congratulations Chances are yoursquore the proud owner of a bunch of brand-new lip balm

Maybe itrsquos even holiday themed Thatrsquos the best Maybe you got the candy-cane flavored kind or wintergreen with holiday graphics on the label or something like that A theme that was irrelevant the moment the stocking was unstuffed because at that exact second the holiday was over

And here you are in January with an abundance of wax

Fortunately also here you are in the early weeks of winter with rough red knuckles Probably also cracked cuticles although it might not have gone that far yet for you Irsquom sure it has for me This photo was taken back in November and even then the Band-Aids were for real Irsquove learned to cut them in half length-wise so as to retain my ability to type Irsquove also learned to play with a range of color options Flesh-toned Clear Disney characters The colorful strips shown here were gifted to me by my husband Partly why theyrsquore cut in half is that the text is obscene This is one small trick you can use to make bloody cuticles your most exciting accessory of the winter

Sources like UrbanSurvivalSitecom and WonderHowTocom will tell you that you can use lip balm for a whole variety of purposes such as coating threads of outdoor lightbulbs before screwing them into their sockets and enhancing the burn-ability of most kindling

These are great fun but they wonrsquot improve your personal style

More germane to winter beauty are the following suggestions

Keep a tube next to your bed for first-thing-in-the-morning use And I mean really truly first-thing I mean smear the stuff on each cuticle while yoursquore still lying there before you start using your fingers at all If you wake up thinking yoursquore fine and skip cuticle care next thing you know yoursquore pushing down the lever on your Keurig and the pressure is more than your screamingly dry skin can take and boom split blood on the Keurig and itrsquos gonna be a long painful day If only you had balmed your hands before you let your feet hit the floor

Keep another tube in your glove compartment If itrsquos warm enough to take off your mittens in the car mdash if yoursquore even wearing mittens given that your hands are snagging on everything these days mdash the harsh January sunlight will allow you to see cracks and flakes in high-resolution detail Yoursquoll want the balm nearby

to cover what you didnrsquot notice first thing in the morning Also a car tube is useful for when you look in the rear-view mirror and notice that your nose and upper lip are flaking as well Itrsquos because yoursquore getting over a cold and the frequent use of tissue has worn away your top layer of skin but just because you know that doesnrsquot mean everybody else wonrsquot think ldquothere is something in that noserdquo Itrsquos just a fact Itrsquos what it looks like Lip balm to the rescue Itrsquos the only thing dry enough to slick those flakes in place and nourishing enough to maybe actually get your face back to normal

Keep a couple more tubes in a nighttime kit along with sandpaper Sandpaper Yes Not a pumice stone not a lame also-gifted sugar

scrub Medium-grit sandpaper is what you need every night lightly but with conviction As follows 1) Sand taking care not to do more damage than what the elements have already done Yoursquore just trying to remove the dry dead stuff Yoursquore just being hearty and efficient about this true to the culture of this great state in which yoursquove chosen to winter You are no pansy Sand your hands 2) Wash 3) Blot dry 4) Dial up the gifted balm whisper a word of thanks to the person who put so much thought into your well-being that they stuffed your holiday stocking with this amazing gift of self-care smash a healthy amount down into your palms massage Take heart You just might find yourself with normal-textured non-cracked not-horrible-looking hands by morning

Split-open cuticles I feel you Except for these Band-Aids I feel you

Lip balms I have been gifted and these are just from last Christmas ldquolastrdquo as in 2014

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HoursTue amp Wed amp Fri | 9 am to 6 pmMon amp Thu | 9 am to 7 pmSaturday | 9 am to 4 pm

219 S Victory Dr | Mankato507 | 345 | 7009ipafhickorytechnetindependentpaintandflooringcom

You Deserve Comfortable Care Every Timebull Sedation - Complete Relaxation with Just a Pillbull Invisalign - Clear Alternative to Bracesbull Botox amp Fillersbull Implants - Placement and Restorationbull Cerec - One Visit Crown Technology

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1400 Lookout Drive North Mankato507-625-CARE(2273) bull mankatodentistcom 06

1865

6124

01

Dr AngelA Schuck

Dr keith FlAck

MM p02 0116indd 42 12182015 30841 PM

MANKATO MAGAZINE  bull January 2016 bull 43

Bathrooms Worth Bragging About

HoursTue amp Wed amp Fri | 9 am to 6 pmMon amp Thu | 9 am to 7 pmSaturday | 9 am to 4 pm

219 S Victory Dr | Mankato507 | 345 | 7009ipafhickorytechnetindependentpaintandflooringcom

You Deserve Comfortable Care Every Timebull Sedation - Complete Relaxation with Just a Pillbull Invisalign - Clear Alternative to Bracesbull Botox amp Fillersbull Implants - Placement and Restorationbull Cerec - One Visit Crown Technology

bull Free Whitening Programbull 3D Imaging with Fewer X-Raysbull Cosmetic Dentistrybull Drill-Free Technologybull Emergency Care

1400 Lookout Drive North Mankato507-625-CARE(2273) bull mankatodentistcom 06

1865

6124

01

Dr AngelA Schuck

Dr keith FlAck

(944) 412-7949 | OrthoEdgeMNcom

Enjoy the season

Mankato St Peter

Be active Be healthyBe able with OrthoEdge

The OrthoEdge joint replacement

program offers superb care from your first

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Why Riverrsquos Edge Hospital amp Clinic

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MM p02 0116indd 43 12182015 30842 PM

44 bull January 2016 bull MANKATO MAGAZINE

1 Hicktown Mafia800 pm mdash New Ulm Event Center mdash 301 20th St S mdash New Ulm mdash $10 mdash 507-354-4673

7-9 Mankato West Orchesis Dance Team showcase7 pm Thursday-Saturday 2 pm Saturday mdash Mankato West High School Auditorium mdash $7 adults $5 students mdash 507-381-7578

10 Mankato Symphony Orchestra Music on the Hill II ldquoMinnesota rootsrdquo2 pm mdash Chapel at Good Counselmdash Good Counsel Drive mdash Mankato mdash $17 $12 mdash wwwmankatosymphonycom

16 Handel with Caremdash Handel Goes to Italy11 ammdash YMCA Aerobics Studio mdash 1401 S Riverfront Drive mdash Mankato mdash wwwmankatosymphonycom

16 Mankato Craft beer Expo2 pm (VIP) 3 pm general mdash Verizon Wireless Center mdash $45 VIP $35 general $10 designated driver mdash wwwmankatocraftbeerexpocom

23 Joey Flip and Mike Fugazzi rockinrsquo at the Embassy9 pm mdash Blaschkorsquos Embassy Bar and Grill mdash 325 S Minnesota Ave mdash St Peter mdash 507-934-3903

24 andrea Lyn and Dick Kimmel concert730 pm mdash Elias J Halling Recital Hall mdash Minnesota State University mdash Mankato mdash $12 regular $11 current MSU students mdash wwwmnusedumusic

28-31 MSu Theatre antigone730 pm Thursday-Saturday 2 pm Sunday mdash Andreas Theatre mdash Minnesota State University mdash Mankato mdash $16 regular $14 discount $11 current MSU students mdash wwwmnsuedu

29-31 BLC Theatre Brigadoon730 Friday and Saturday 2 pm Sunday mdash Ylvisaker Fine Arts Center mdash Bethany Lutheran College mdash Mankato mdash $10 adults $6 seniors children and students mdash wwwblceduevents

29- Feb 7 Winterfest St Peter Citywide mdash wwwstpeterchamberorg

30 Church of Cash a Tribute to Johnny Cash7 pm mdash St Peter American Legion mdash 229 W Nassau St mdash St Peter mdash 507-934-6435

31 Maud Hixson and rick Carlson concert730 pmmdash Elias J Halling Recital Hall mdash Minnesota State University mdash Mankato mdash $12 regular $11 current MSU students wwmnsuedumusic

Coming attraCtions January

T - F 8am - 6pm Sun ClosedSat 9am - 4pmM 8am - 8pm

120 North Broad Street Mankato MN 507-345-4688 wwwmeyerandsonstvandappliancecom

FIND SPECIAL DEALS ON

MM p02 0116indd 44 12182015 30902 PM

MANKATO MAGAZINE  bull January 2016 bull 45

St Peter Craft amp Vendor Show

1MelinadaBussefromRapidansoldherhandmadejewelryatthecraftandvendorshow

2DarylfromElysianandhishand-carvedwoodart

3MacKennaage7hasfunatoneoftheboothsattheStPeterCraftandVendorShow

4LizEntershowsoffsomeofherproductsattheldquoItWorksrdquobooth

5DenisePetersofldquoYoungLivingrdquoessentialoilsdisplayedherproductsattheshow

Faces amp Places Photos By Sport Pix

3

5

2

1

4

T - F 8am - 6pm Sun ClosedSat 9am - 4pmM 8am - 8pm

120 North Broad Street Mankato MN 507-345-4688 wwwmeyerandsonstvandappliancecom

FIND SPECIAL DEALS ON

MM p02 0116indd 45 12222015 121536 PM

46 bull January 2016 bull MANKATO MAGAZINE

SOUTHErN MN CHrISTMAS

FESTIVAL1 A large crowd was on hand during the festivities at

the Christmas Festival2 Friesenrsquos Family Bakery amp Bistro had tons of baked

goods and soups at the Verizon Wireless Center3 A childrenrsquos choir sang for the audience at the

festival4 Ron Haefner owner of Ronrsquos Auto Repair displayed

some of his services5 Garrison Galatz dressed up as Santa for the

Christmas Festival

faCes amp PLaCes Photos By Sport Pix

4

3

1

2

5

MM p02 0116indd 46 12182015 30923 PM

MANKATO MAGAZINE  bull January 2016 bull 47

1GirlScouttroop34494waspresentedwithatrophybyKiwanisVicePresidentKyleMrozek

2SantaClausevenwentthroughtheparaderoute3(LtoR)BrooklynPomrankeAlaynaLyonsHunterPomrankeandLilyLyonsgetagroupphototakenwithSanta

4MarshaMartigtellsSantawhatshewantsforChristmas

5TheparadefloatswerealldeckedoutinChristmaslights

6Visitorswalkthepatharoundtheparktoviewthisyearrsquoslights

Kiwanis Holiday ligHtsFaces amp Places Photos By sport Pix

2

1

3

4 5

6

MM p02 0116indd 47 12222015 121616 PM

48 bull January 2016 bull MANKATO MAGAZINE

On the Occasion of a 50th Reunion

the Class of 1965

from this VaLLeYBy Pete Steiner

Peter Steiner is host of ldquoTalk of the Townrdquo weekdays at 105 pm on KTOE

I was honored to give the presentation for our 50th class reunion recently at West Highrsquos Homecoming celebration About 120 of our nearly 400-member class

showed up We Baby Boomers the children of the greatest generation had big classes in the late lsquo60rsquos that forced the building of East High Ours was a dramatic era and our class did some great things in the face of big challenges Here edited is some of what I said

I am so glad to be standing here today Therersquos an old saying

ldquoMay you live in INTErESTINg timeshelliprdquo The Class of rsquo65 certainly has Itrsquos seems like only yesterday right after lunch that we were at our desks waiting for the start of English class when our charismatic teacher Harry Fitterer strode in and said ldquoPrESIDENT KENNEDY HAS BEEN SHOT IN DALLASrdquo At first we didnrsquot believe him but it was true It was November 22 1963 We were juniors and as the song says that was THE END OF THE INNOCENCE We had lived through the last idyllic time in America

When we first arrived in the fall of 1962 America was still carefree basking in the glow of victory in WW II Everything may have seemed ldquorightrdquo but it was not Martin Luther King Jr had just visited Mankato pointing out the continuing plight of black Americans as the Civil rights movement was gaining steam The beginnings of the Vietnam War which would alter the course of many of our lives were stirring even as we studied history and government The current generation has no monopoly on forgettable pop music ndash we had a stupid 1 song called ldquoItsie Bitsie Teenie Weenie Yellow Polka Dot Bikinirdquo (unfortunately an ear worm I canrsquot forget) But a darker cultural threat was looming The BEATLES were invading from Britain and our parents were mortified because they had LONg HAIr

Some of the shock of the Kennedy assassination was eased when our wrestling team in the era when the state still had just ONE CLASS won the State Championship in front of a packed hall up at MSU some still maintain that is the greatest single athletic achievement in Mankato history We were the first high school in Mankato to put on a full-scale musical ldquoBye Bye Birdierdquo in the spring of 1964 In Fall of 1964 our football team would have won the conference championship outright except Owatonnarsquos great Noel Jenke who would go on to star for the U of M

cheated I watched him trap the touchdown pass that beat us Does cheating pay Was that a lesson for life

In lsquo65 we also had a fine basketball team that lost our chance at State when our 6-6 center fouled out at Luverne

BUT A FAr BIggEr CHALLENgE AWAITED US ALL As we rode out to Luverne to watch that game we couldnrsquot help noticing the highway was like a canyon between walls of snow The legendary St Patrickrsquos Day Blizzard had dumped two feet on top of an already large snow pack and then April brought rains on frozen ground Instead of coming here to school many of us soon got a real-life assignment to go out in our rain gear out on the dikes to battle the grEAT FLOOD OF 1965 Our school became an island as water flooded the parking lot and all of South riverfront Our spring play that year was called ironically

THE DESPErATE HOUrS We had to rehearse at roosevelt School up on higher ground

Our class produced three Merit scholars One of our classmates who did NOT qualify

for a merit scholarship nevertheless was such a whiz at physics that NASA requested a copy of a paper he wrote on rocketry as a senior We produced 12 doctors one of whom earned a fellowship at Stanford seeking how to bring telemedicine to the poor another of whom became a breakthrough cancer doctor We had entrepreneurs one who would go on to be a leader in Solar Energy (and then run for governor of New Hampshire) Another mdash a woman incidentally when

that was not common founded two bio-tech startups Many of us are still working

past normal retirement age One founded a company on the leading edge of recycling

computers whose clients include the NSA Another is chief medical officer of a company

devising a better tool for colonoscopies Yet another of our classmates recently completed a concert tour of China

We lived in challenging times just as you do today but we muddle through we make it to the other shore I remember sitting where you are 50 years ago thinking how old those folks up there looked But remember Life goes by very quickly You certainly live in interesting times as Shakespeare said ldquoPresent Mirth has Present Laughter Youthrsquos a stuff will NOT endurerdquo So I urge you live each moment to the fullest

MM p02 0116indd 48 12182015 30933 PM

MM p02 0116indd 49 12182015 30936 PM

MM p02 0116indd 50 12182015 30948 PM

Page 5: Mankatomag 116

MANKATO MAGAZINE  bull January 2016 bull 3

FEATURESJanuary 2016

Volume 11 Issue 1

Grave lessonsAuthor Rebecca Fjelland Davis finds

warmth six feet under

22Listen up

Personal trainers offer advice to start you new year off right

18

About the CoverStephanie Howe director of healthy living at the Mankato Family YMCA poses in the free weight room

She was photographed by Pat Christman

Get inspiredItrsquos January Time for a new you

14

GOLFERS FROM AROUND THE WORLD COME TO CHALLENGE THE JUDGE and the two other golf courses in Prattville at RTJ Capitol Hill Bring your clubs

and come take on Judge hole number 1 voted the favorite hole on the Trail Complete your day in luxury at the Marriott and enjoy dining fi repits and

guest rooms overlooking the Senator golf course With the Marriottrsquos 20000 square feet of meeting space 96 guest rooms and luxurious Presidential

Cottage combined with three world-class golf courses business and pleasure can defi nitely interact in Prattville

THE ROBERT TRENT JONES GOLF TRAIL AT CAPITOL HILL is home of the Yokohama Tire LPGA Classic on the Senator Course

September 18 to 24 2014 The Marriott Prattville is part of the Resort Collection on Alabamarsquos Robert Trent Jones Golf Trail

Visit wwwrtjgolfcom or call 8009494444 to learn more

for Yourselfraquo COME JUDGE for Yourself

RTJ746JudgePRATT_CNHIMagsindd 1 32814 1217 PM MM p01 0116indd 3 12182015 24424 PM

4 bull January 2016 bull MANKATO MAGAZINE

DEPARTMENTS6 From the Editor 8 This Day in History9 The Gallery Ellen Schofield

10 Beyond the Margin Let Freedom Reign

12 Day Trip Destinations Celebration of the Lakes

26 Then amp now Schuyler Colfax

29 Food Drink amp Dine 30 Food Hot cocoa

32 Wine Cabernet Sauvignon

33 Beer Light can be good

34 Food Coffee Hag v20

36 Whatrsquos Cookinrsquo Nuts

38 Thatrsquos Life My dream job

40 Garden Chat Big plans for 2016

42 your Style A lsquobalmyrsquo time of year

44 Coming attractions 45 Faces amp Places48 From This Valley 50th reunion

9

26 38

42 44

12

Coming in FebruaryCabin Fever

Relax Wersquoll get through this

When it comes to your financial future a single view-point isnrsquot always enough Our trusted advisers work as

a team providing you the benefit of multiple CFPreg professionals and decades of experience When you are

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Why Settle for Less

reg regreg

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1660 Commerce Drive Suite 2North Mankato MN 56003507-625-8452wwwedwardjonescom

Member SIPC

Schedule a complimentaryportfolio review

THE FUTURE IS YOURSTO CUSTOMIZE

WITH A COMPREHENSIVEFINANCIAL PLAN

5073876031 wwweidebai l lycomFinancial Advisor offers Investment Advisory Services through Eide Bailly Advisors LLC a Registered Investment Advisor Securities offered through United Planners Financial Services Member of FINRA and SIPC Eide Bailly Financial Services LLC is the holding company for Eide Bailly Advisors LLC Eide Bailly Financial Services and its subsidiaries are not affiliated with United Planners

Ryan Spaude Financial Advisor

MM p01 0116indd 4 12182015 24429 PM

When it comes to your financial future a single view-point isnrsquot always enough Our trusted advisers work as

a team providing you the benefit of multiple CFPreg professionals and decades of experience When you are

ready to ldquoget seriousrdquo about retirement give us a call

Why Settle for Less

reg regreg

wwwedwardjonescom

Kenneth J Klooster AAMSregFinancial Advisor

1660 Commerce Drive Suite 2North Mankato MN 56003507-625-8452wwwedwardjonescom

Member SIPC

Schedule a complimentaryportfolio review

THE FUTURE IS YOURSTO CUSTOMIZE

WITH A COMPREHENSIVEFINANCIAL PLAN

5073876031 wwweidebai l lycomFinancial Advisor offers Investment Advisory Services through Eide Bailly Advisors LLC a Registered Investment Advisor Securities offered through United Planners Financial Services Member of FINRA and SIPC Eide Bailly Financial Services LLC is the holding company for Eide Bailly Advisors LLC Eide Bailly Financial Services and its subsidiaries are not affiliated with United Planners

Ryan Spaude Financial Advisor

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6 bull bull MANKATO MAGAZINE

MM

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MANKATO MAGAZINE  bull January 2016 bull 7

xxxxxx

BUILDING AUTOMOTIONAND INTEGRATION CONTROLS

HEATING AND COOLING SYSTEMS

SECURITY

ldquoTodays leading experts to help you for a better tomorrowrdquoldquoTodays leading experts to help you for a better tomorrowrdquo

307 McKinzie Street SoMankato MN 56001507-345-4828 507-289-4874wwwpaapecom

Please call for a free consultation and estimate

KnowYourRisk

Take chargeof your healthwith monthlyself-examsand annual

mammograms

it

Mankato Clinic joins usin raising awareness ofthe importance of early

detection in the fightagainst breast cancerand the importance ofcontinued support for

breast cancer research

MM p01 0116indd 7 12182015 24435 PM

Friday January 3 1890Magnificent Showing for 1889Over $70000 Expended on Streets Waterworks and Sewers(compared to 2014 dollars this could amount to as much as $86000000 dollars)

The most important of the public works accomplished this year is the construction of a pumping station the purchase of a magnificent holly pump and the completion of the large one-million gallon reservoir The discovery of a suitable water supply was made last year but it was left to be developed this year by the sinking of two large artesian wells to a depth of more than 600 feet

The next is important as having over a mile of sewer on second street Other improvements Completion of the Tourtellotte Hospital and the purchase of additional hose for the fire department

Friday January 7 1910County Board is Wrestling with Bills in Ledbeter CaseThiel Detective Agency wants to be paid for booze and treats entertaining deputy sheriff and farmers Lady Sleuth was employed on jobThiel Detective Agency employed a woman Paid for parties on the County dime In 1910 Though not mentioned in the printed story Mrs Ledbeter was accused of murdering her husband Holland several years her elder

The County Board met this afternoon wrestling with bills that had been presented to it for services rendered in connection with the trials of Frank Smith and Mrs Grace Ledbeter

County Auditor Weaver states the cost of these trials will be between $8000 and $10000 but he wonrsquot know the exact figure for several days

The Thiel Detective Agency has put in a bill for $49835 for services largely consisting of railway fare hotel bills etc One of the items under date Nov 23-30 and Dec 1-4 is ldquodrinks cigars etc with Deputy Sheriff $405rdquo

The next item is ldquotreats and expenses with farmers and others during investigation $2215rdquo

A lady detective seems to have been employed on the case for a time making a trip to St Louis and other places

Tuesday January 3 1961Twins are first lsquoBago Births of the year

Fraternal twins were the first births in Winnebago at the Community Hospital in 1961 Mr and Mrs Eldren Jaegerrsquos boy was born at 1055 Sunday and the girl arrived at 1115 AM The boy weighed 5 pounds 8 12 ounces The girl hit the scale at 5 pounds 2 and a quarter ounces The Jaergers who operate a farm at rural Amboy have seven other children ranging in age from Sandra 18 in nursersquos training at St Josephrsquos Hospital in Mankato to 4-year-old Joel

Tuesday January 3 1928Cafes and Dance Halls Scenes of Gaiety Quiet for New Yearrsquos Police Report Cold Wave Sends Revelers Home at Early HourMinus 18 degrees Fahrenheit is just too cold to have fun on New Yearrsquos Eve

Liquor that did not flow too liberally and the extreme cold weather conspired to make the celebration of the coming of the new year in Mankato not too boisterous ldquoIt was a quiet timerdquo commented Chiefof Police Jake Hilgers ldquoProbably quieter than last yearrdquo Only one arrest was made as against 3 last New Yearrsquos The arrest was of a man found lying in the railroad yards intoxicated The tips of his fingers were frozen and itrsquos believed if he had not been discovered he would have frozen to death

This DAy in hisToryBy Jean Lundquist

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Corporate GraphicsYour Printing Solutions Company

1750 Northway DriveNorth Mankato MN 56003

800-729-7575wwwcorpgraphcom

May your 2016 be

Filled with color and

delight

MANKATO MAGAZINE  bull January 2016 bull 9

The GAllery Ellen Schofield Story by Nell Musolf

After graduat ing from the University of Minnesota in 2012 with a Masterrsquos of Fine

Arts degree in graphic design Ellen Schofield was delighted when three months later she was offered a teaching position at Minnesota State University She expected that she would have to move elsewhere and was happy that she would be able to stay in her own state

ldquoThere were about 10 positions open around the time I graduatedrdquo Schofield said ldquowhich was really quite a lot I expected that Irsquod have to move so it was great to be hired by MSUrdquo

Schofield teaches introductory level graphic design classes as well as a special concept class that helps students fire up their creativity

ldquoIn the special concept class we do mind mapping brainstorming and once a semester I bring in an improv comedian because studies have proven that improv comedians have the most creative ideas of any other professionrdquo Schofield said ldquoThe class does theater warm ups and they really seem to enjoy it We also focus on the lsquoyes andrsquo theory in that classrdquo

The ldquoyes andrdquo theory agrees with an idea and then expounds on it with enthusiasm mdash the ldquoandrdquo part

ldquoCollege students often want to look cool all the timerdquo Schofield remarked

ldquoThe lsquoyes andrsquo theory pushes past that and opens up creativityrdquo

Schofield defines graphic design as thinking made visual

ldquoGraphic design is everywhere Itrsquos logos for businesses and icons and even the tax return papers given out by the IRS are examples of graphic design and had to have been designed by some poor personrdquo Schofield said ldquoA goal of a graphic designer is to create something that anyone can understand as soon as they look at itrdquo

Before becoming a graduate student Schofield ran her own graphic design business and has continued the business on a smaller scale now that she is teaching Her personal preference in graphic design is to create icons

ldquoI tend to like iconographyrdquo Schofield said ldquoIcons can be mdash and I think should be mdash simple and elegant and tell whoever sees them something about the business they representrdquo

Schofield worked with the Childrenrsquos Museum of Southern Minnesota to create its icon an experience she enjoyed

ldquoI wanted to make it something that would appeal to kids and their parents as well The Childrenrsquos Museum has such a cool space mdash it needed an icon that would let people know what a truly cool place it isrdquo Schofield said

When working with a graphic design client Schofield likes to have ldquolots and lotsrdquo of conversations

ldquoGetting to know clients is important We talk a lot so that I can find out what a client feels passionate about when it comes to their business The goal is to find something that makes them unique and then create a graphic design that reflects thatrdquo Schofield said

Shofield said her favorite artistic tool is the art departmentrsquos laser cutter

ldquoItrsquos like the worldrsquos fanciest scissorsrdquo Schofield said ldquoIt can cut just about anything and does an amazing job Itrsquos so much fun to work withrdquo

Schofield is working with MSU colleague David Rogers on a project using the laser cutter called ldquoPaper State Flowersrdquo Schofield and Rogers are using typographic state abbreviations combined with paper flowers Their progress can be viewed at wwwpaperstateflowerscom and the final results will be shown at an art gallery in Hutchinson in October

Schofield originally planned to become an engineer but after taking a class in graphic design she changed her mind

ldquoIrsquom a visual personal and I fell in love with designrdquo Schofield said ldquoReally I canrsquot imagine doing anything elserdquo

thinking Made visualEllen Schofield teaches at Minnesota State university

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MANKATO MAGAZINE bull bull 11

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12 bull January 2016 bull MANKATO MAGAZINE

The Celebration of the Lakes has been a family tradition for Erin Thorvaldson Chisago Lakes Chamber Board Member and Community member for Celebration of the Lakes for more than 20 years Thorvaldson was about 10

years old when her grandmother introduced her to the event which takes place Jan 30 on North Center Lake in Lindstrom

DAy Trip DesTinATions Celebration of the LakesBy leTiciA GonzAles

hit the LakesLindstrom has plenty of fun waiting for you

Hot air balloons are just one of the many attractions this festival has employed over the years

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MANKATO MAGAZINE  bull January 2016 bull 13

Day Trip DesTinaTions Celebration of the LakesBy LeTicia GonzaLes

WhenJan 29-31 2016

I-35 North to Hwy 8 east to Center City Located on the North side of Hwy 8 on

North Center Lake

If youGoWhat

Celebration of the Lakes

Lindstrom MN

AdmissionFree additional admission required for some

events activities food and ridesVisit wwwchisagolakeschambercom

ldquoSo I helped way back then when she was part of the chamberrdquo said Thorvaldson ldquoAnd having a business in the community as I got older I also wanted to give backrdquo

Born and raised in the Chisago Lakes area Thorvaldson has served on the celebrationrsquos planning committee for nine years She said the event first caught her eye not only because she loves winter but because it focuses on the outdoors ldquoeven though many people in Minnesota cringe once we get to 20 degrees so it kind of gets you out and lets you do something funrdquo

Watching the celebration grow over the past two decades has also been fun for Thorvaldson

ldquoIt was very tiny at that pointrdquo she said as she reminisced about the early days of the event ldquoIt was just a few hay bales at the icerdquo

Being an active part of the planning has been equally exciting

ldquoThe committeersquos always trying to come up with more ideas that the community would perceive as something fun to do in the winter timerdquo she said ldquoThere have been the sled dogs there have been hot air balloons and there have been kitty cat races car racesrdquo

While past years have even included BMX bike races where people dressed up in costumes the snowmobile radar run and the vintage snow mobile displays have been the ldquomain staplesrdquo of the celebration Organized by the Wild River Snowmobile Club of Chisago City the snowmobile radar run features nearly 200 riders who race upwards of 120 miles per hour on a track

ldquoSometimes they will have souped-up snowmobiles that go incredibly fastrdquo Thorvaldson said ldquoWe had a world record one that raced on the track so itrsquos pretty amazing to see how fast some of them go They break them up into categories and there are prizes for the fastest one in each categoryrdquo

Originally introduced as a memorial radar run for a rotary member the radar run has become one of the celebrationrsquos most popular events

ldquoWe started with just a sheriffrsquos radar gun and now they use different timing items like cones and announcingrdquo she add ldquoItrsquos kind of something that has evolved toordquo

With the draw of the surrounding lakes in the area Thorvaldson said ice fishing has also grown in popularity and has become embedded in the annual celebration

ldquoItrsquos like little villages out on the lakerdquo she said

ldquoThat is kind of the big that that people do There are people who drive up from all over the place the Twin Cities all over just to come spend the weekend ice fishing on the lake so thatrsquos a big big thingrdquo

Greg Shaleen who has also been on the planning committee for the celebration for more than 15 years affirmed the celebrationrsquos growth when it comes to activities offered

ldquoWe have done kind of bizarre thingsrdquo he said ldquoWe do a smoosh race which is where you take 2-by-4s and strap four leather straps on it and you do a little bit of a racerdquo

Shaleen also credits the event for bringing people out to the lakes during the coldest month of the year

ldquoEveryone is all cooped up in the community and it just got to the point where they wanted to do something fun in the winter and get people out and about and enjoy the winter sportrdquo he said

From kitty races and sled dog races to a concession tent and a family fishing contest that draws anywhere from three to five hundred people Shaleen said the Celebration of the Lakes brings people together in the outdoors

ldquoWe are basically more interested in getting people out of the house visiting with friends and neighbors and visitors to the area and enjoying each otherrsquos interest in snowmobiling or ice fishing or whatever the events are taking place or going onrdquo he concluded

MM p01 0116indd 13 12222015 115930 AM

January The holidays are over along with all of the seasonrsquos excuses for overindulge in food and drink and under-indulging in any form of exercise (other than lifting onersquos hand to onersquos mouth) After stowing the presents in the

closet and taking down the tree many people choose the New Year as the perfect time to begin a serious diet and exercise program to shed the extra pounds they put on over the past few months and to begin eating more healthfully Mankato Clinic registered dietitian Erin Gonzalez says a hearty ldquoyesrdquo to healthy mindful eating and definite ldquonordquo to any extreme ldquodo or die(t)rdquo approach

According to Gonzalez 95 percent of all dieters regain the weight they lost within five years It is her belief that such yo-yo dieting only creates more frustration and stress which can lead to emotional eating and binge eating which leads to another cycle of dieting-losing-weight-gaining-weight ad infinitum

Gonzalez speaks from experience After losing 70 pounds since the time she was a teenager Gonzalez is now at a weight she considers healthy and one that she hasnrsquot deviated from in years

By Nell Musolf | Photos by Pat Christman and Darren Gibbins

Herersquos to ahealthy

new yeara healthy

new you

14 bull January 2016 bull MANKATO MAGAZINE

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MANKATO MAGAZINE  bull January 2016 bull 15

Erin Gonzalez and her son prepare a healthful meal

Erin GonzalezldquoI struggled with weight issues when I was growing

uprdquo Gonzalez said ldquoWhen I was 16 I went on my first lsquoseriousrsquo dietmdashone of the fast diets that were popular in the 1990srdquo

Gonzalez said that she stuck to her diet religiously having a shake in the morning one for lunch and a sensible meal at night just as she was instructed to do She also walked for approximately two and a half hours a day Over the course of one summer she lost 70 pounds but she was also she now realizes flirting with an eating disorder Gonzalez says this scenario is not uncommon considering research shows 35 percent of ldquooccasional dietersrdquo progress into pathological dieting (disordered eating) and as many as 25 percent advance to full-blown eating disorders

ldquoMy food intake was very restrictive and I was always extremely conscience of what I ate but just the same I slowly gained back 30 of the 70 pounds

that I lostrdquo Gonzalez said ldquoI was always looking at food as either lsquogoodrsquo or lsquobadrsquo instead of something pleasurable to be enjoyedrdquo

It wasnrsquot until she was working at her dietetic internship that she had her ldquoahardquo moment

ldquoI was blessed with a teacher who taught her students how to enjoy foodrdquo Gonzalez said ldquoinstead of being obsessed by it Gonzalez learned about a program called Am I Hungry that specializes in helping people heal their relationship with food and their bodies so they can relearn to trust their internal hunger cues instead of having to follow arbitrary rules and broken promises of diets Gonzalez facilitates a program at the Mankato Clinic that teaches the Am I Hungry philosophy

ldquoI have two childrenrdquo Gonzalez said ldquoa 10-month-old and a 4-year-old They know how to eat naturally and they stop eating when they are no longer hungry That is what most adults need

MM p01 0116indd 15 12222015 120138 PM

16 bull January 2016 bull MANKATO MAGAZINE

xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

need to relearn how to eatrdquoThe method has worked for Gonzalez Gone are

her extra 30 pounds and she no longer dietsldquoDiets simply arenrsquot sustainablerdquo she said ldquoItrsquos so

hard in our society because we are surrounded by cues to eat all of the time At buffets where you want to lsquoget your moneyrsquos worthrsquo when yoursquore out with friends when you sit down at the end of the day and turn on the television to relax and are bombarded with ads for food Food has become a reward for a bad day or a good day or anything else we can think of But if you look at how you eat as a journey instead of as a destination you can learn to enjoy food a lot morerdquo

So what should someone who wants to start the New Year in a more healthy fashion do

ldquoPause before you eatrdquo Gonzalez recommended ldquoAsk yourself if yoursquore really hungry or if yoursquore actually thirsty or stressed instead Try not to be emotionally disconnected from what you are eatingrdquo

Gonzalez emphasized that ldquomindful eating isnrsquot naive to say nutrition isnrsquot important Of course it is Mindful eating is what allows us to take charge of our decisions of why when what how and how much we choose to eat instead of battling being in or out of controlrdquo

Instead of following the latest short-lived diet Gonzalez encourages people to make the healthiest choices possible that donrsquot leave them feeling deprived

Paulette Tonn BookerFor Paulette Tonn Booker the Am I Hungry

Mindful Eating (AIHME) program has been a game changer

Said Booker ldquoIrsquove tried several diet plans over the past 40 years including some well-known plans and I lost weight on each plan However keeping the weight off eluded me and resulted in yo-yo dieting

The lsquorulesrsquo of whichever plan Booker was on became the norm and after years of trying to live by those rules Booker was no longer able to discern what her body was telling her about hunger often leading to out-of-control overeating

ldquoI always knew there was something else going on yet no one had an answer for merdquo Booker said

When Booker first heard of the AIHME program two years ago she was relieved to discover that there were other people who felt the same way when it came to healthful eating The program taught her the skills she needed to recognize her bodyrsquos hunger signals thoughts and feelings and actions to help manage the physical emotional and environmental stresses of everyday life without resorting to eating to cope with those stresses

ldquoI no longer have to be in control of everything I only need to be in charge of my decisions at any given moment When I choose to overeat (which everyone does) I no longer beat myself up I try to reflect on what happened and then plan for ways to handle the situation differently the next time it occurs Old habits are hard to break it takes concentrated effort and dedication to rewire the brain with new habits and it can be donerdquo Booker said

About weight loss as the end goal of healthful eating Booker shared the following ldquoThe only time I get on a scale is at the doctorrsquos office I know what the experts say I should weigh A number does not define a personrsquos self-worth nor does it say anything about who we are and how we feel as we make changes in how we nurture our bodies The number on the scale is just a number bodies come in all shapes and sizes as does health I will never diet again Instead I will continue to work on developing mindful skills and in the meantime eating what I love and loving what I eatrdquo

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MANKATO MAGAZINE  bull January 2016 bull 17

Eric ZiesmerFor Eric Ziesmer he is in the middle of his weight

loss journey a journey that began last July when the 32-year-old learned that he weighed 330 pounds The time had come for Ziesmer to make some healthy lifestyle changes Ziesmer decided to lose weight because of his family mdash both present and future

ldquoI have two adorable nephews and I would love to be able to chase them around the yard or pull them in a sled during the winter and basically to be active and see them as they growrdquo Ziesmer said ldquoAnd even though Irsquom currently single if it is in my cards for marriage and kids I would like to be there and not be too tired or not in shape A clean and healthy lifestyle is what I am striving for in my coming yearsrdquo

With the help of a dietician Ziesmer has started his cleaner and healthier lifestyle Since July he has lost 40 pounds and has decided to have weight loss surgery To help his post operation phase go as smoothly as possible Ziesmer eats fresh fruit every day has cut out chips and cookies among other things

ldquoI have totally cut out soda Soda was a big one to cut out In my huge climb to 300 there were days when I would consume two 2-liter bottles of pop in a single day and maybe cracking open a thirdrdquo Ziesmer said ldquoI try to listen to my stomach instead of my eyes or eat because Irsquom bored or stressed I eat slow and sip instead of being the guzzler I have always beenrdquo

Another tactic Ziesmer has adopted has been to stop drinking liquids 30 minutes before a meal and then wait 30 minutes after eating before sipping again

ldquoWhen my stomach rumbles and says itrsquos hungry I feed it When my brain or boredom drives me to want to eat I take a second to see if my stomach feels empty and if not it gets deniedrdquo Ziesmer said

Ziesmer has noticed that he is more successful at healthy eating when he eats at home When he does dine out hersquoll cut a sandwich in half eat half and save other half for a future meal

ldquoAs far as exercise goes it went from zero to at least two if not three times a week going for a 327 mile walk and have recently made my way back into the gymrdquo Ziesmer said He has been able to keep track of his walks with accuracy thanks to an app called MapMyRun

Ziesmer knows that his healthier living journey will continue for a long time

ldquoI plan on continuing to live healthy by continuing my exercise and eating right and by saying that itrsquos not only for me and feeling better but also because there are two little guys that look up to their uncle Staying motivated is at least my key to keeping up this lifestyle I want to live a long and healthier life feeling better and being there down the road for family and friends is what means mostrdquo Ziesmer said MM

Eric Ziesmer says hersquos got plenty of motivation to get healthy two nephews to whom he wants to be a good role model

MM p01 0116indd 17 12222015 120514 PM

18 bull January 2016 bull MANKATO MAGAZINE

Stephanie Howe says itrsquos best to have realistic goals when starting a fitness program

Herersquos your guideBy Robb Murray | Photos by Pat Christman

Ready for CHANGE

MM p01 0116indd 18 12182015 24506 PM

MANKATO MAGAZINE  bull January 2016 bull 19

Yoursquore ready

You ate the ham and turkey and potatoes and Christmas cookies You drank the wine beer and eggnog Yoursquove spent the last few

months pondering a life change Yoursquore on the verge of a major transformation This time itrsquos happening Yoursquore going to get healthy Itrsquos going to be a new you

And then January arrived And you have no plan

Luckily we here at Mankato Magazine have got you covered Itrsquos not uncommon for people to make a New Yearrsquos resolution or some similar vow this time of year It usually comes with goal weights and promises to hit the gym X number of times per week and trips to the produce and organic sections of the grocery store because this time yoursquore serious Right

OK easy tiger Getting healthy is a great idea and wersquore wishing you all the best But wersquore also coming at you with some sensible advice Maybe setting unrealistic goals isnrsquot the best way to go Maybe just

heading into the gym and trying to get it all done in a week isnrsquot a great way to go either

ldquoFinerdquo you say ldquothen what should I dordquoWersquore so glad you asked

Letrsquos get startedThe first thing you need to remember when

starting an exercise program is that if you want to lose weight you need to change the way you eat too

ldquoNo matter what you say you canrsquot out exercise a bad dietrdquo says Stephanie Howe director of healthy living at the Mankato YMCA

Howe works in what might be the busiest fitness hub in the Mankato area So shersquos seen her share of people come through the doors with plans to change their lives Some of them succeed Most do not

One of the biggest mistakes people make Howe says is not really having a good grasp on how much time theyrsquoll need in order to incorporate a good workout into their day It doesnrsquot have to be a two-

hour commitment every day she says It can be 30 minutes of planned effective exercise several times per week Whatrsquos more important is just getting there and thatrsquos an obstacle that is bigger than most people realize

ldquoMost people want to lsquopeople pleasersquordquo she said ldquoYou can say yoursquore going to get up and work out every day but most people are built to need external accountabilityrdquo

Think about hiring a personal trainer

ldquoWhen you spend the money on a personal trainer you have an appointment therersquos someone waiting thererdquo she says

A personal trainer is a great way to immediately know yoursquore doing exactly what yoursquore supposed to be doing and yoursquoll have no doubt whether yoursquore working hard enough There are plenty of personal trainers in town mdash at the YMCA and other gyms mdash who would love to help you Of course they donrsquot work for free and for many people the cost of a personal trainer is more than theyrsquore willing to spend

Fortunately therersquos a trend in fitness to offer the whip-crack of a personal trainer while staying Jo radlinger urges her clients to not sabotage their fitness efforts with poor eating over

the weekend

MM p01 0116indd 19 12182015 24510 PM

20 bull January 2016 bull MANKATO MAGAZINE

728 N Riverfront DriveMankato MN 56001

507-625-5163katobearscom

Pins and NeedlesAlterations

Specializing in alterations for theentire wedding party including

gown re-sizing hemming re-beadingbustles and so much more

Like us onFacebook

affordableThe Y now offers something called ldquotrainer ledrdquo

exercise sessions where you work with others in a group but have access to a trainer nearby who can push you motivate you and make sure yoursquore you know doing it right Theyrsquore $3 a class

ldquoYoursquore still expected to be there but itrsquos much cheaperrdquo Howe said ldquoThe group environment pushes you and we have tons of trainer-led classes Itrsquos the best of both worldsrdquo

Across town Jo Radlinger runs Jorsquos Garage a fitness center where shersquos the one pushing you to succeed

Radlingerrsquos goal she says is to bring out everyonersquos potential

ldquoI want to make sure everybody that comes through my door has success I want them to be the very best version of themselves that they can berdquo

Like Howe Radlinger acknowledges that the financial side of hiring a personal trainer can scare people away but she says there are several reasons why it shouldnrsquot

ldquoItrsquos never a bad investment when yoursquore investing in yourselfrdquo she said ldquoMeet with a trainer who is just as passionate about your goal My goal is not to train you intensely but to show you what yoursquore capable of and then take you to that next levelrdquo

At Jorsquos Fitness Garage there are no membership fees Radlinger doesnrsquot believe in them Instead she charges $5 per visit and in that time she said she pushes you to have a great workout

GymtimidationSetting goals is a great

idea Setting unrealistic goals is the kind of thing that results in a gym membership card laying dormant in a junk drawer by February

So set those goals but set them smartlyldquoAccountability is huge Even if you canrsquot hire

someonerdquo Howe says ldquoMake specific goals mdash say yoursquore going to workout X number of times but make those numbers realistic Set goals that are within your controlrdquo

Do this and yoursquore likely to feel a lot better about how things go

ldquoMost people just want to feel better about themselves they want to feel more confidentrdquo Howe said ldquoThis way even before any physical changes happen theyrsquoll feel better Theyrsquoll start to feel like theyrsquore in control again of their life and their choicesrdquo

Taking an exercise class is a great way to both get

your body moving while at the same time have fun and meet those people who will notice when you donrsquot show up

And about that weight room Yes it can be intimidating to walk in and see people who look like they live there But Howe says that while it can definitely be a psychological barrier focusing on those people is the wrong strategy

ldquoNo one cares what yoursquore doingrdquo Howe says ldquoFocus on yourdquo

Take it slowIt can be tempting when you finally get up the

nerve to get back in the swing of working out to go hardcore But just like setting unrealistic goals trying to achieve your fitness goals in a day is impossible

ldquoPeople start out really gung-ho and reset their diet so aggressively and most people just simply canrsquot do thisrdquo Radlinger said ldquoWhen yoursquore looking at making a lifestyle change I want you to do it slowly and incrementally rather than do it all in two monthsrdquo

Rushing into the weight room and trying to lift the same weight and number of reps and sets that you did 10 years ago is a great way to make sure you canrsquot work out for a while Going from a sedentary lifestyle to two hours of pumping iron can leave you sore enough to not be able to lift anything for days Maybe even weeks

Ease into it The gymrsquos not going anywhere Think marathon not sprint

ldquoSometimes people have an all-or-nothing attituderdquo Howe said ldquoand they make themselves sore and they canrsquot continuerdquo

Speaking of all-or-nothing Radlinger says

some people bring that kind of intensity to their food intake over the weekend Bad idea

ldquoAs trainers we help people be accountable We do success measurements help them prepare and plan And wersquoll do weigh-ins on Mondayrdquo Radlinger says ldquoWersquoll find that people do really well Monday through Friday then do what I call sabotage Saturday and Sunday At some point yoursquore going to get so sick of hitting that reset button every Mondayrdquo

Whatever you choose to do both trainers say itrsquos never a bad idea to sit down with your doctor and run your plans by himher Your personal safety should always come first and getting the green light from Doc can give you some peace of mind as you start this new chapter of your life MM

Jo radlinger runs Jorsquos Fitness Garage

MM p01 0116indd 20 12222015 120709 PM

MANKATO MAGAZINE  bull January 2016 bull 21

728 N Riverfront DriveMankato MN 56001

507-625-5163katobearscom

Pins and NeedlesAlterations

Specializing in alterations for theentire wedding party including

gown re-sizing hemming re-beadingbustles and so much more

Like us onFacebook

Live the Lifestyle

wwwmapletonmarinecom

Southern MNrsquos largestboat show on now at the

Madison East Center in Mankato

MM p01 0116indd 21 12182015 24524 PM

22 bull January 2016 bull MANKATO MAGAZINE

Thirty-three years ago I stood inside a grave A lifetime ago when I was a pastorrsquos wife

In Nebraska we served a parish of barely over one hundred members A picture-postcard white church with a hand-carved white wooden altar from Germany sat at the top of a hill next to it the parsonage and next to that the cemetery rolling down the hill toward a wooded creek

The first death in the congregation after our arrival set off a flurry of activity Irsquod never met Alma because she was in a nursing home before we arrived However my husband visited her on several occasions She was mother aunt grandmother great-aunt and great-grandmother to half the congregation so there was no question about whether or not I would attend the funeral

With my two little kids in tow I attended every event at the church every Sunday morning service of course but also every funeral every confirmation every baptism every meeting of womenrsquos circle and even every family reunion that was held in the church basement At twenty-six I perfected the art of making gracious small talk with people Irsquod never seen before and would never see again and at taking tiny portions from each confirmation buffet so I would neither be sick by the end of the day nor offend any of the mothers who had slaved away over their sumptuous spreads of food

By Rebecca Fjelland Davis

Grave Lesson in Winter

ESSay

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MANKATO MAGAZINE  bull January 2016 bull 23

Attending the little white country church was physically easy I picked up one-year-old Josh took three-year-old Nikkirsquos hand and walked out the front door down the sidewalk and next door The only things I didnrsquot have to attend were church council and the menrsquos meeting Archaic This was in the 1980s It doesnrsquot seem so long ago

All the available babysitters in the community would attend Almarsquos funeral too so this was to be my kidsrsquo first funeral

The afternoon before the service salt-snow fell Hard little crystals pelted down as if the heavens had up-ended a Mortonrsquos salt canister Within a few hours the hard snow was six inches deep and still falling

In the middle of the salt-snow the gravedigger arrived The Ditchwitch roared around the cemetery to the familyrsquos plot and my kidsrsquo noses pressed against the upstairs bedroom window pane ldquoMommy can we go watchrdquo

Glad for an excuse to get out of the parsonage I bundled them in snowsuits put them on the sled and pulled them across the house yard and garden to the fence that bordered the cemetery

The Ditchwitch made short work of the grave and all three of us were mesmerized watching the mound of gray-black dirt grow in the crystal-white snow When the hole was finished the gravedigger turned his tractor on idle He hopped off and came over to the fence His eyes twinkled in a weathered face ldquoWant to come lookrdquo

I backed up from the fence a step ldquoNo not really I think this is close enoughrdquo

ldquoYes Mommy go lookrdquo ldquoPleeeeaserdquoSo Nikki and Josh got back on the sled and I

hauled them along the fence through the gate over to the grave and looked down Six feet seemed deep bottomless Dark A sharp contrast to the pelting snowflakes all around us

ldquoWanna get down in thererdquo the gravedigger asked I shuddered hung onto the kids and backed up

again ldquoNo No thatrsquos okay This is close enough I just want to look from hererdquo

ldquoYes mommyrdquo the little ones said ldquoLetrsquosrdquoldquoNordquoldquoPleaserdquoldquoReally marsquoam I think you should Yoursquoll be

surprised I wouldnrsquot suggest it if it I didnrsquot think sordquoldquoHow would we get outrdquo The sides were deeper

than I was tall and there certainly werenrsquot footholds or a ladder built in for Almarsquos soul to use to climb out

ldquoLike thisrdquo The gravedigger laid his shovel diagonally across a top corner of the grave and jumped down He grabbed the middle of the shovel handle and swung himself back up and out with the agility of a gymnast ldquoNothinrsquo to itrdquo

ldquoI canrsquot do thatrdquoldquoYes you can Irsquoll boost you And wersquoll lift the kids

Yoursquoll be amazed I promiserdquoI shivered The idea of being inside a grave

seemed much colder than the snow crystals biting at my face

ldquoCome onrdquo he said and jumped back in Nikki and Josh willingly stepped over to him to be lifted down I had no choice but to follow I couldnrsquot let my kids alone in a grave with a man I didnrsquot even know

So I jumped The earth on the bottom made a soft landing The soil around me was warm and steamy It was moist and dark but it enfolded us in an earthy hug At least fifty degrees warmer than the air above ground it felt as if the earth were offering shelter respite a comfortable place to snuggle down and rest Tiny roots dangled full of life from the smooth edges of the hole Tears sprang to my eyes I couldnrsquot help them My eyes met the gravediggerrsquos and he smiled Gently ldquoSeerdquo he said Nothing more

I couldnrsquot speak A few minutes later he gave me a stirrup with his

hands I scrambled out and he lifted Nikki and Josh up to me Then he flipped himself out as easily as a trapeze artist

ldquoThank yourdquo I said ldquoI would never have guessedrdquoHe nodded ldquoNobody does But it helps somehow

I wanted you to feel thatrdquoWhy I wanted to ask why me You donrsquot even

know me Why were you willing to take time for usldquoThank yourdquo was all I said I shook his hand and

he hopped on the Ditchwitch and drove off into the snow

I never saw him again Someone else dug the next grave required in that cemetery

I remember only bits and pieces of the funeral Irsquom sure I baked a boxed cake mix for ldquolunchrdquo afterwards I remember answering Nikkirsquos questions about the body and sitting in the back row of the church in case Josh didnrsquot want to be quiet I do remember looking at the unfamiliar face in the casket and thinking you get to rest in a warm cozy place

Ten winters later we buried my dad on just such a day Wet snow crystals pelted us and piled up so deep the funeral home limousine got stuck in the cemetery By the time the pallbearers pushed it un-stuck their suit pants were caked in slush and mud

We stood at the graveside in the bleak wet icy day and lowered my fatherrsquos body into the ground

ldquoToo bad itrsquos such a miserable dayrdquo ldquoSorry about your dad Sorry the weatherrsquos so bad toordquo And even ldquoSuch a good man He deserves better weather than thisrdquo

But the weather I thought was just right Losing my dad my kids and their cousins losing

their grandpa my mom becoming a widow my brother losing his farming partner and best friend changed our livesmdashthat part was too heavy to carry

The only part that was okay for me was to let Dadrsquos worn-out body be wrapped in that welcoming warm enfolding soilmdashthe very soil hersquod loved to till the soil hersquod planted and tended all his life the soil that gave us all lifemdashthat was the only gratifying part of the day

The only comfort I had was letting Dad go from the cold wet biting snow into that warm and restful place

And I still wonder who that gravedigger was ten years earlier and how he knew how much I would need what he gave me that bleak winter day MM

Rebecca Fjelland Davis is an author from Mankato

MM p01 0116indd 23 12182015 24528 PM

reFlecTionsBy Pat Christman

24 bull January 2016 bull MANKATO MAGAZINE

MM p01 0116indd 24 12182015 24544 PM

reFlecTionsBy Pat Christman

MANKATO MAGAZINE  bull January 2016 bull 25

There are few things as inevitable as snow during a Minnesota winter Big

cotton ball-like snowflakes cover the ground in a white blanket whitewashing the Midwestern landscape

We struggle against it Some hope the snow never comes It always does filling the sky with floating snowflakes that cling to the ground but melt as soon as they hit the small bits of face or hands that peek out from winter clothing

It is often quite beautiful especially when viewed from someplace warm and dry MM

MM p01 0116indd 25 12182015 24548 PM

26 bull January 2016 bull MANKATO MAGAZINE

Then amp now Vice President Schuyler Colfaxrsquos Death By Bryce o sTenzel

On Jan 14 1885 one day after his death the New York Times carried a

headline that read ldquoSchuyler Colfax Dead He Drops Down in a Railway Stationrdquo While most Americans today would have tremendous difficulty in even recognizing this manrsquos name

(unless they were paying close attention to Stephen Spielbergrsquos epic movie Lincoln and made the association) Schuyler Colfax was a former Speaker of the House of Representatives and Vice President of the United States under President US Grant He died in Mankatorsquos Chicago St

Paul Minneapolis amp Omaha railroad depot from a massive heart attack

Schuyler Colfax Jr was born in New York City on March 23 1823 His father died of tuberculosis five months before Schuyler was born His sister Mary died four months after his [Schuylerrsquos]

vice President Schuyler Colfaxrsquos Death in Mankato

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MANKATO MAGAZINE  bull January 2016 bull 27

birth The young Schuyler attended school only until he was 10 He then began working to support his family Schuyler Colfax never attended any kind of secondary school or college His mother remarried when Colfax was 13 and the family moved to New Carlisle Indiana By the time he was 22 Colfax was the editor and owner of a pro-Whig newspaper He was elected to Congress in 1854 and joined the newly formed Republican Party after the Whig Party disintegrated Solidly anti-slavery his colleagues elected Colfax as Speaker of the US House of Representatives in 1863 His election came soon after the death of his wife Evelyn The couple had no children

Colfax was President Abraham Lincolnrsquos first and last visitor on the fateful day Lincoln was assassinatedmdashApril 14 1865 Early that morning Colfax arrived at the White House while the president was having breakfast Colfax wanted to know whether or not Lincoln planned to call a special session of Congress for later that summer Lincolnrsquos answer was a polite but firm ldquonordquo Lincoln preferred a lenient approach in reconstructing as well as readmitting the former Confederate states to the Union now that the Civil War was over This approach put Lincoln at odds with the more ldquoradicalrdquo congressional members of his own party who preferred harsher measures be taken against their former enemies Lincoln had already made up his mind how he wanted to proceed with reconstructing the former Confederate states and he didnrsquot want any unnecessary interference from Congress Calling a special session was the last thing Lincoln wanted to do Colfax returned that same night to see Lincoln again just before the president left for Fordrsquos Theatre and his appointment with destiny This time Colfax came upon Lincolnrsquos own request The president had a long message for the silver miners of the Comstock Lode in Nevada thanking them for their loyalty to the Union that he wanted Speaker Colfax to deliver in person since Colfax was leaving by train for the West the next day Colfax was the last person Lincoln spoke to besides his wife Mary before he

was fatally shot at 1015 pm Colfax never forgave himself for turning down Lincolnrsquos invitation to be part of the theatre party that night

In 1868 Republicans selected General Ulysses S Grant as their presidential candidate Grant a military man his entire life had no political background Colfax was placed on the ticket because of his prior experience as a congressman and Speaker of the House (he resigned the position in 1869) Grant and Colfax won an easy victory in November 1868 Only two weeks later Colfax remarriedmdashthis time to Ellen Wade (niece of Ohio Senator Benjamin Wade) Their only child son Schuyler Colfax III was born in 1870

Colfax is best remembered (if at all) for his involvement in the corruption that beset Grantrsquos entire presidency Specifically the Credit Mobilier scandal broke in 1872 just as Grant and Colfax were gearing up for their re-election campaign Colfax was suspected of accepting shares of stock and cash bribes from ldquoCredit Mobilierrdquo a dummy construction company set up by the Union Pacific Railroad He was by no means the only influential person involved in the scandal Other political figures investigated included Senators Roscoe Conkling of New York William Allison of Iowa John Logan of Illinois James Bayard of Delaware and Henry Wilson of Massachusetts Grant was less popular in 1872 than he had been four years earlier and many Republicans worried that having Colfax on the partyrsquos ticket would harm the presidentrsquos re-election chances They dumped Colfax from the ticket mdash only to replace him with the also-tainted Wilson Grant won re-election and served his second and final term from 1873-1877 After being forced out from the vice presidency Colfax traveled the country as a popular lecturer often speaking about his interactions with Abraham Lincoln during the Civil War He rebuilt his tarnished reputation and commanded speaking fees as high as $2500

At 10 am on Jan 13 1885 Schuyler Colfax arrived in Mankato aboard a train from Milwaukee Mankato was just a

brief stop for Colfax who was on his way to Iowa for a speaking engagement The Chicago Milwaukee amp St Paul as well as the Chicago St Paul Minneapolis amp Omaha railroads both had depots in Mankato but because they were separate competing railroad lines Colfax was required to change trains by walking three-quarters of a mile from the Chicago Milwaukee amp St Paul depot at the foot of Hickory Street to the Chicago St Paul Minneapolis amp Omaha depot at Fourth and Washington Streets (now Washington Park) from which the next leg of his journey would depart Despite a reported temperature of 30 degrees below zero Colfax walked from one station to the other Within five minutes after he arrived at the Omaha linersquos depot Colfax entered the waiting room looked at a map on the wall sat down and died It was 1035 am No one in the station knew who the dead man actually was until they searched his pockets and found a letter with his name on it His death was likely caused by a heart attack brought on by the physical exertion of walking almost a mile in extreme cold Colfax was only 61 when he died His remains were returned to South Bend Indiana for burial

Today few Americans are aware that anyone named Schuyler Colfax ever lived much less served as vice president of the United States In this era in which officeholders are often treated as celebrities imagine how surprised people would be to learn that a former vice president died cold alone and unrecognized in a train station 131 years ago Before 24-hour news channels smart phones and social media it was possible for public figures like Colfax to live ndash and die ndash in relative obscurity Ironically Colfax loved the railroad but in the end it was the cause of his undoing Mankato has the distinction of being the location where the last man to personally speak to Abraham Lincoln in a private conversation took his last breath

MM p01 0116indd 27 12182015 24549 PM

28 bull January 2016 bull MANKATO MAGAZINE

Mayo Clinic offers pediatric and adolescent orthopedic services right here in Mankato Todd Milbrandt MD cares for patients with a variety of needs including

bull Cerebral palsy

bull Clubfoot

bull Hip disorders

bull Spinal disorders

bull Sports injuries

bull Scoliosis

bull Spina bifida

Mayo Clinic Health System in Mankato Call 1-877-412-7575 (toll-free) to schedule an appointment

495rdquox495rdquo Mankato Magazine January

Orthopedic care for your child

Independent ampAssisted Living

EQUAL HOUSINGOPPORTUNITY

1360 Adams StreetMankato MN

PrimroseRetirementcom

reg

Key City Senior Breakfast ClubThe Key City Senior Breakfast Club meets the first Thursday of each month from 830 AM - 930 AM at Primrose Retirement Community The club gives those 55+ the opportunity to meet new friends and visit old ones socialize with Key City Officials and enjoy a delicious home-cooked breakfast To visit a Key City Senior Breakfast please call (866) 447-9636

Mark your calendar for these breakfast dates Thursday January 7th Thursday March 3rd and Thursday May 5th

刀椀渀最 椀渀 琀栀攀 

一攀眀 夀攀愀爀

㔀 㜀ⴀ㤀㐀ⴀ㐀㐀䨀甀氀攀攀猀䨀攀眀攀氀爀礀挀漀洀

椀渀 匀愀椀渀琀 倀攀琀攀爀

20765 Foley Rd Mankato MN | 5073872434 | 5077262411

Three TimeNational Award Winners

MM p02 0116indd 28 12182015 30742 PM

Mayo Clinic offers pediatric and adolescent orthopedic services right here in Mankato Todd Milbrandt MD cares for patients with a variety of needs including

bull Cerebral palsy

bull Clubfoot

bull Hip disorders

bull Spinal disorders

bull Sports injuries

bull Scoliosis

bull Spina bifida

Mayo Clinic Health System in Mankato Call 1-877-412-7575 (toll-free) to schedule an appointment

495rdquox495rdquo Mankato Magazine January

Orthopedic care for your child

Independent ampAssisted Living

EQUAL HOUSINGOPPORTUNITY

1360 Adams StreetMankato MN

PrimroseRetirementcom

reg

Key City Senior Breakfast ClubThe Key City Senior Breakfast Club meets the first Thursday of each month from 830 AM - 930 AM at Primrose Retirement Community The club gives those 55+ the opportunity to meet new friends and visit old ones socialize with Key City Officials and enjoy a delicious home-cooked breakfast To visit a Key City Senior Breakfast please call (866) 447-9636

Mark your calendar for these breakfast dates Thursday January 7th Thursday March 3rd and Thursday May 5th

OMG hellip More food and drinksOK sure

By now yoursquore probably thinking ldquoOh my gosh the last thing I want to think about right now is more food more drinking and more diningrdquo

Fair enough We get it The holidays are murder on the metabolism of many many Minnesotans

But we also know that those metabolisms are hardy and soon enough theyrsquoll be hankering for a hunk of something yummy and full of fun And whatrsquos more yummy and full of fun than a big glass of Cabernet Sauvignon Our wine guy Leigh Pomeroy takes us on a tour of all that is tasty and wonderful about big red wines the kind that leave their mark the kind that really announce their presence on your palate

And just in case yoursquore super serious about a healthy lifestyle mdash and that seriousness extends to the kind of beer you choose mdash Bert Mattson our beer guy has just the selection for you Best part is Itrsquos light

Oh and under the category of ldquoDid you hear about thisrdquo Wersquove got an update for you on the Coffee Hag Mankatorsquos original coffee house and one of the most popular hangouts in town Seriously some days itrsquos hard to find a seat in that place

EnjoyPS We know that baby itrsquos cold outside mdash thatrsquos why wersquove

thrown you our absolute best hot cocoa recipe

Enjoymdash Robb Murray Associate Editor Mankato Magazine

food drink amp dineso

uthern m

n style

20765 Foley Rd Mankato MN | 5073872434 | 5077262411

Three TimeNational Award Winners

MM p02 0116indd 29 12182015 30745 PM

MANKATO 5073854485 AMBOY 5076743355 I VERNON CENTER 5075493679

INSURANCE OFFICES LOCATED IN THE COMMUNITY BANK BUILDINGS

wwwcimankatocom

Protecting the things that matter most in your life

Let us help protect what is important to you At Community Insurance we have the ability to compare insurance from multiple companies to get you the best coverage at a great price Combine that with our insurance knowledge and friendly group of agents and we say thatrsquos a winning deal

WHERE YOUR POLICY COMES WITH AN AGENT

Christina Meyer

Food

south

ern mn style

Food

south

ern mn style

By The Washington Post

Growing up my mother always encouraged her children to cook So when

I found a recipe for hot chocolate on the side of the Hersheyrsquos Cocoa can it was easy to convince her to let me give it a try

What I discovered was that hot chocolate doesnrsquot have to come from an envelope

This recipe has been a favorite of mine to make on days when winter weather has convinced me stay home and off the roads Itrsquos the perfect way to kill time and have a nice hot drink to warm you up on those chilly days

Although you can top it with whipped cream I prefer marshmallows

FAVORITE HOT COCOAMakes 4 to 6 servings

12 cup sugar14 cup unsweetened cocoa powder

Dash of salt13 cup hot water

4 cups milk34 teaspoon vanilla extract

Whipped cream or marshmallows (optional)

Mix sugar cocoa powder salt and water in a sauce pan Stir constantly over medium heat until mixture comes to a boil (about 2 minutes) Stir in

milk and heat Bring the hot chocolate to the desired temperature but do not boil Remove from heat and

add the vanilla extract Divide into mugs and top with whipped cream or marshmallows

PERFECTLY CHOCOLATE HOT COCOA

Makes 1 serving

2 tablespoons sugar2 tablespoons unsweetened cocoa powder

Dash salt1 cup milk

14 teaspoon vanilla extractWhipped cream or marshmallows (optional)

Mix sugar cocoa powder and salt into large mug In separate microwave-safe container heat on high

for 1 to 1 frac12 minutes or until very hot Carefully and gradually add milk to dry mixture Stir well Add vanilla extract Top with whipped cream or

marshmallows

Simple homemade hot chocolate

beats the winter chill

30 bull January 2016 bull MANKATO MAGAZINE

MM p02 0116indd 30 12182015 30752 PM

MANKATO MAGAZINE  bull January 2016 bull 31

Oil Change to OverhaulWe do it all

507-387-13151620 Commerce Drive North MankatowwwAustinsAutoRepairCentercom

Voted Best Auto Repair and Best Auto Mechanic 4 Years in a Row

AUSTINrsquoS AUTO REPAIR CENTER INC

MANKATO 5073854485 AMBOY 5076743355 I VERNON CENTER 5075493679

INSURANCE OFFICES LOCATED IN THE COMMUNITY BANK BUILDINGS

wwwcimankatocom

Protecting the things that matter most in your life

Let us help protect what is important to you At Community Insurance we have the ability to compare insurance from multiple companies to get you the best coverage at a great price Combine that with our insurance knowledge and friendly group of agents and we say thatrsquos a winning deal

WHERE YOUR POLICY COMES WITH AN AGENT

Christina Meyer

MM p02 0116indd 31 12182015 30755 PM

32 bull January 2016 bull MANKATO MAGAZINE

January is Cabernet TimeWersquove celebrated nearly

every January edition of Mankato Magazine with

a paean to BIG REDS And since there are so many wonderful examples why stop now

Last year I wrote about the powerful big reds of Italy This January wersquoll focus on Cabernet Sauvignon known to many as ldquothe king of winesrdquo Most oenophiles (wine lovers) consider the quintessential representations of this grape to be the classified Bordeaux of southwest France near the city of Bordeaux The five First Growths (or best wines according to a classification made in 1855 and updated in 1973) are Ch Lafite Rothschild Ch Margaux Ch Latour Ch Haut Brion and Ch Mouton Rothschild All have a cabernet sauvignon base but they are blended with merlot and often a little bit of cabernet franc and petit verdot as well

In the early 1970s I was able to buy these wines for around $22 per bottle mdash about $120 in 2016 dollars Yet with the popularity of ldquocollectiblerdquo wines on a worldwide

basis they sell today for anywhere from $400 on up

Contrary to popular belief these wines are not that massive Rather they combine cabernet sauvignon power with

structure and finesse yielding wines that become with time elixirs that are greater than the sum of their parts

Both California and Washington state have taken up the Cabernet Sauvignon challenge and are producing world-class wines at sometimes world-class prices Napa Valley is the recognized leader in this arena and rightly so Napa Valleyrsquos top Cabernet

Wine amp B

eerso

uthern m

n style

winesBy Leigh Pomeroy

Leigh Pomeroy is a Mankato-based writer and wine lover

Cabernet Sauvignon is the black Labrador of wines mdash it comes up and licks yourdquo

mdash Winemaker Scott Rich

Sauvignons rival the great wines of Bordeaux for quality mdash Irsquove tasted them side-by-side mdashand yet can sell for a fraction of their price

One such example is the 2013 Tulocay Cabernet Sauvignon from my old friend Bill Cadman We were young bucks in Napa Valley and had a tasting group in the early 1970s along with now-famous wine luminaries Bruce Neyers (Neyers Vineyards) and Mike Richmond (co-founder of Acacia Vineyard)

Billrsquos Cabernet is from an old and relatively cool growing area east of the City of Napa called Coombsville which because of industry political issues only recently received its AVA (American Viticultural Area) designation It is priced at $60 per bottle yet compares with any top-flight Bordeaux as well as the more expensive offerings from Napa Valley which can cost from $100 on up Not currently available at wine stores or restaurants in Minnesota it can be purchased by contacting the winery directly via its website tulocaycom The winery is so small that Bill will probably answer the phone himself

There is a lot of Cabernet Sauvignon available from California but mdash caveat emptor mdash not all growing areas (or appellations) are the same The best Cabernet Sauvignons are from Napa and Sonoma Counties Cabernets simply labeled ldquoCaliforniardquo or perhaps ldquoCoastalrdquo while sometimes good values lack the complexity of the greater Cabernet Sauvignons from the more northern parts of the state

Washington state has also

established itself as a prime producer of Cabernet Sauvignon But here again quality can vary greatly depending upon the area and producer While there is no ldquogo-tordquo appellation for Cabernet Sauvignon in Washington there are producers that are able to secure fruit from the best vineyards

One such example is the tiny Willis Hall Winery owned by another good friend John Bell a former Boeing jet propulsion engineer Like Tulocay its wines are only available by calling up the winery and ordering some (See willishallcom) But there are many other top quality producers in Washington like Quilceda Creek Leonetti Betz Family and Woodward Canyon

Of course not everyone can afford Cabernet Sauvignons in the $60-plus category One excellent everyday drinking example is the Flying Cloud 2013 Paso Robles Cabernet Sauvignon made by Mankato native Stephen Dooley Normally I donrsquot like Paso Robles Cabs as they tend to be too fruity and too soft for my palate mdash almost like drinking berry jam But this one is quite restrained no doubt helped by the inclusion of 13 percent zinfandel and 9 percent petite sirah in the blend

In Mankato both the Wine Cafeacute and MGM carry the Flying Cloud but at its price and quality I wouldnrsquot count on it lasting for long especially since only 759 cases were produced

So letrsquos raise a glass of Cabernet and say ldquoCheersrdquo to the New Year

MM p02 0116indd 32 12182015 30756 PM

MANKATO MAGAZINE  bull January 2016 bull 33

Bert Mattson is a chef and writer based in St Paul He is the manager of the iconic Mickeyrsquos Diner

Beer Skinny

BeerBy Bert Mattson

Last year according to Nielsen research staying fit and healthy was

the number one New Yearrsquos resolution Losing weight was two Three was to enjoy life to the fullest Unfortunately ldquolose weight and get fitrdquo also topped Time magazinersquos list of commonly broken resolutions Is this shortfall due to tension between the top two and that third one If so craft beer may have a role in the compromise Bad news first

In the context of losing weight and staying fit beer lovers might seek solace in the fact that fat carries nine calories per gram while alcohol has only seven The wrinkle is that those seven are ldquoemptyrdquo mdash calories without nutrition as opposed to those from fat protein and carbohydrates Moreover alcoholrsquos calories are the first burned when combined with the others the human body postpones burning fat while it works on alcohol Furthermore beer (and wine and often cocktails) contains carbohydrates which release insulin and can hasten fat storage Finally many drinkers have undoubtedly observed that alcohol loosens inhibitions after which an eager indulgence in unhealthy foods often occurs (Bar menus are rarely helpful in that respect)

By now you may wonder whose side Irsquom actually on Or suspect Irsquove led you to this dark place only to offer you a Lite No worries a couple craft brewers have been considering ways to keep us true to our resolutions

Evil Twin Brewingrsquos Bikini Beer drops the alcohol to 27 percent but stays bold by way of hops A Pale Ale it hits the nose with citrus suggestive of IPA The flavor follows suit floral and lemon There is an expected absence of malt yielding to bitterness up front that fades at the finish An alternative

for those who insist on the full effect Founderrsquos Brewing Companyrsquos All Day IPA rings in at a respectable 144 calories (Evil Twinrsquos entry comes in at 81)

One strategy to beat the beer munchies and avoid costly impulse eating is to have suitable chow on hand With Bikini Beer try a salad sporting blue cheese and some sort of dried fruit Creamy blue veined cheeses echo the hops while balancing bitterness An occasional bite of dried fruit stands in for malt sweetness

Brooklyn Breweryrsquos 12 Ale weighs in at 34 percent alcohol (102 calories) It is alliteratively labeled ldquoSession Saisonrdquo It opens with a waft of citrus and spice and a little lemongrass from Sorachi Ace hops mdash a hybrid developed in East Asia The same elements are found in the flavor which is a bit more subdued than a full-sized Saison

Try it with a tangle of arugula dressed with lemon and a fruity olive oil tossed with pine nuts and topped with shaved Parmesan for effect The greens and cracked pepper reflect spicy phenolic elements in the yeast Salty cheese counters the beerrsquos lingering bitterness Maybe add a few slices of Speck cured ham and Saison share a certain funkiness

If friends show and it becomes a session you may honestly say you spent Saturday working on your six-pack

MM p02 0116indd 33 12182015 30757 PM

34 bull January 2016 bull MANKATO MAGAZINE

Food

south

ern mn style

Food

south

ern mn style

The Coffee Hag one of the arearsquos oldest (and coolest) bistros recently underwent a major expansion and remodeling journey culminating in a large and airy

seating area along with a much-improved kitchen and a new menu Mankato Magazine caught up with a very busy (and slightly exhausted) owner Jenn Melby-Kelly who weighs in on how itrsquos going

MANKATO MAGAZINE Are you personally enjoying the new updatesJENN MELBY-KELLY It Is Fabulous The new space represents so much more than a remodel to me It has brought to life a vision for my business thatrsquos been years in the making It incorporates many many good ideas from many many people I feel so fortunate to get to see that every time I walk through the door

MM How are customers reactingJMK Thatrsquos been one of the best parts The response has been overwhelmingly positive

A few of our most regular customers had the opportunity to get a glimpse of the remodel while it was underway (we gave some informal preview tours while we were operating the temporary stand outside) but many customers walk through the door now and see it all for the first time Itrsquos especially fun to see and hear that kind of wide-eyed reaction

A few people with special connections to The Hag have had even stronger emotional responses and Irsquom so touched and right there with them when I see eyes well up as they see what wersquove done Itrsquos a very big milestone for a very special place and wersquore blessed to have people that care so deeply

MM Do the employees appreciate the new spaceJMK Oh probably more than anyone There was a lot that we sought to do with the remodel but creating a bigger brighter better-equipped space for our team was certainly one of the primary goals Wersquove got an incredible team truly the most spirited and talented people anyone could hope for

Many of them have spent years with me working hard against the challenge of a small under-equipped space and just barely being able to keeping up with growing demand Itrsquos been a special blessing for them and for me to finally have state-of-the-art space thatrsquos made for the work that we do We all feel a special connection to this place and now more than ever the place reflects the good energy we all bring here every day

MM Is the new menu a hit (The Hag specializes in vegetarianvegan cuisine)JMK Yes but just wait Feedback and demand have been excellent with our food offerings already but wersquore just getting started on some of the really exciting things that are coming to our food menu

Remodeling the cafe was just the first major milestone of our two-part expansion plan Next up wersquore building a state of the art off-site commissary kitchen that will do for our incredible culinary team what the remodeled shop has done for our baristas Theyrsquove been working day and night on taking our already fantastic food offerings to a whole new level

Wersquove already introduced some amazing new menu items like the Garden Grilled Cheese panini (trust me itrsquos like nothing yoursquove had before) and some truly outstanding new vegan baked goods Wersquove also improved our classic offerings with house-made

Interview with Jenn Melby-Kelly owner of The Coffee Hag

By Sarah Johnson

MM p02 0116indd 34 12182015 30802 PM

MANKATO MAGAZINE  bull January 2016 bull 35

Happy New Year

Locally Owned amp Operated

Check Weekly Specialsmgmwineandspiritscommankato

Largest Selection ofbull Liquor bull Wine bull Beer bull

Hours Monday-Saturday 8 am - 10 pm

ATMs at all stores

Mankato201 Victory Dr

625-2420

North Mankato1755 Commerce Dr

387-2634

St Peter100 N Minnesota Ave

934-8964

sourdough and whole wheat breads But as impressive as it is already itrsquos just a taste mdash literally mdash of things to come as we bring our new kitchen online

MM Whatrsquos stayed the sameJMK Irsquom really proud to say that while wersquove touched almost every part of this 23-year-old business wersquove kept even more than we have changed From the first days of this project I made it my personal mission and responsibility to make sure that the ldquosoulrdquo of this special place was only enhanced and never lost as we made the updates

In every area of the remodel as wersquove added some necessary new layers of sophistication The Hagrsquos colorful quirky and even rebellious spirit is still very much a part of the space We did a lot to try to make sure it still looked and felt like ldquohomerdquo

And on a deeper level every step wersquove taken with the growth of our business has been chosen carefully to honor the core parts of The Coffee Hagrsquos identity Our focus on community our support for local art and music our commitment to creating a safe and welcoming space for everyone our efforts to lead the way on social and environmental issues affecting our world near and far mdash those have all stayed the same And those will always be at the heart of what we do

MM Anything elseJMK Irsquom so incredibly grateful for the support of our customers and community And whenever I talk about my business and how it has grown I really canrsquot overstate how thankful I am for my beautiful Coffee Hag family The hard work good energy and earnest contributions of so many people mdash past and present mdash have brought me and my business here An incredible amount of love has gone into this business and made this dream a reality

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36 bull January 2016 bull MANKATO MAGAZINE

xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

Food

south

ern mn style

whatrsquos Cooking By Sarah Johnson

Sarah Johnson is a cook freelance writer and chocolate addict from North Mankato with three grown kids and a couple of mutts

As I was pondering my subject matter for todayrsquos column I started wondering about all the different items the word ldquonutsrdquo can refer

to Crazy people are called nuts so are hexagonal metal objects that attach to bolts Nuts can be the end of things (as in ldquofrom soup to nutsrdquo) or they can be the beginning of them (as in ldquosperm incubatorsrdquo) Nut can also mean onersquos head or onersquos lump of something such as butter And if you accidentally get a nut of butter on your nut you can exclaim ldquoNutsrdquo

My favorite meaning of the word nut however is the dry indehiscent one-seeded fruit with a woody pericarp And I donrsquot even know what indehiscent OR pericarp means But these are the wonderful denizens of the world of edible nuts

Nuts are widely credited with all sorts of health benefits for the heart brain male reproductive system prostate cholesterol level fiber intake and avoidance of some types of cancer And while nuts do contain fat itrsquos the ldquogoodrdquo kind heart-healthy monounsaturated and polyunsaturated fat Their mix of omega-3 fatty acids protein and fiber helps you feel full and suppresses the appetite

Nuts are great in desserts and salads of course but they also shine in stir-fries casseroles soups chicken pork fish and even beverages Nut butters nut milks and nut oils add delicious options to our kitchen larders Breads cereals muffins and pancakes gain texture flavor and nutrition from the addition of nuts Basically anytime is a good time for nuts

Which is a wonderful thing because nuts taste so good you would think they had to be very very bad The reason lies deep in their oils

Walnut Oil is strong and flavorful Itrsquos best when used in uncooked sauces or salad dressing

Hazelnut Oil has a strong flavor and is great for the heart

Almond Oil is very popular and has a much milder flavor than walnut oil or hazelnut oil

Pecan Macadamia Nut Pistachio Cashew and Pine Nut Oils are flavorful and unique The freshness of the nuts used really affects the flavor

ldquoTherersquos Nuttinrsquo Nutty About Nutsrdquo

For the Baklava1 pound pistachios hazelnuts walnuts pecans andor almonds coarsely ground plus more for garnish12 teaspoon ground cinnamon1 cup breadcrumbs4 sticks unsalted butter melted16 sheets phyllo dough (thawed if frozen) cut in half

For the Syrup3 cups sugar1 6 -to-8-ounce jar honey1 frac12 cups water1 to 2 tablespoons fresh lemon juice

If yoursquore under the impression that baklava is much too labor-intensive and complicated to make at home think again Anybody can make

it no special skills equipment or exotic ingredients are required A word about phyllo dough Itrsquos sold in frozen packages so you need to remove the package from the freezer and let it thaw in the fridge 24 hours before you want to make the baklava Then about an hour beforehand remove the package from the fridge and let it sit on the counter

Walnuts or pistachios are the most traditional nuts to fill baklava but using other nuts works wonders as well Simply layer the phyllo with the nut filling and butter bake for an hour and finish with a simple honeyed syrup If you have leftover nuts from the holidays herersquos your chance to use them up

Mixed Nut Baklava

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MANKATO MAGAZINE  bull January 2016 bull 37

MONEY MATTERS WORK SMARTLET COMMUNITY BANK HELP YOUBRING THE TWO TOGETHER

MANKATO - SAINT ANDREWS DR 5073854444MANKATO - MADISON AVE 5076251551VERNON CENTER 5075493679AMBOY 5076743300

JULIE VETTERSR VICE PRESIDENTRETAIL BANKING

We support great causes like yoursAt Community Bank we know good things happen when you have a good bank So we make more possible by keeping banking simple and supportive And by giving you the power that comes with innovative solutions like our Health Savings Account It offers you tax-free savings for future medical expenses Stop by anytime Wersquore always ready to help out a great cause

Position a rack in the lower third of the oven preheat to 350 degrees Combine the nuts cinnamon and breadcrumbs in a bowl

Brush a 9x13-inch baking dish with some of the butter Layer 10 pieces of phyllo in the dish brushing each piece with butter before adding the next (keep the remaining dough covered with a damp towel) Sprinkle a quarter of the nut mixture over the dough Layer four pieces of phyllo on top brushing each with butter before adding the next sprinkle with another quarter of the nut mixture Add four more phyllo pieces on top brushing each with butter then add another quarter of the nut mixture four more pieces of phyllo with butter and the remaining nuts

Layer the remaining 10 pieces of phyllo on top of the nuts brushing each with butter brush the top piece with extra butter Cut into the baklava to make strips about 1 12 inches wide Then make diagonal slices about 1 12 inches apart to create a diamond pattern Bake until golden about one hour

Meanwhile make the syrup Bring the sugar honey and 1 12 cups water to a boil in a saucepan over medium heat and cook 10 to 15 minutes Add the lemon juice and boil 2 more minutes then let cool slightly Pour the syrup over the warm baklava let soak uncovered at least six hours or overnight Garnish with nuts

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38 bull bull MANKATO MAGAZINE

Nell Musolf is a mom and freelance writer from Mankato She blogs at nellmusolfcom

38 bull bull MANKATO MAGAZINE

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MANKATO MAGAZINE  bull January 2016 bull 39

Gear Up for WinterYear-Round amp Insulated Workwear from

Carhartt Dickies and Key

UNIFORMSUniforms fromBarco Carhartt Cherokee DickiesKoi Peaches and White Cross

AMAZED

Call 5073446336mankatomagmankatofreepresscom

Stephanie L Hylla LAc Dipl AcKayla M Sweeney MOm LAc

NEW LOCATION709 S Front Suite 5

5074694788mankatoacupuncturecom

Open House ndash Wednesday Feb 3 9-12noonCelebrating 5 years of Business New Location and the Chinese New Year

In Network with Blue Cross Blue ShieldLicensed by the MN Board of Medical Practice

Ribbon Cutting with Greater Mankato Growth at 10am

(A $250 Value)THIS VOUCHER ENTITLES NEW PATIENTS TO A

CONSULTATION EXAM amp DIGITAL X-RAYS (IF NEEDED)

wwwr igne l l fami lych i roprac t ic comMedicare Restrictions Apply Expires January 31 2016

Dr BrandonRignell DC

1351 Madison AveSuite D

Mankato MN 56001

5077797313

$2900New Patient Special

MM p02 0116indd 39 12222015 121344 PM

40 bull bull MANKATO MAGAZINE

Jean Lundquist is a master gardener who lives near Good Thunder

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MANKATO MAGAZINE  bull January 2016 bull 41

3 Increase the Value of Your Home

3 Update Your Homersquos Appearance

3 Save Money

Choose from SeveralModels Styles amp Colors

507-625-7110 or 1-800-645-36671125 Cross St North Mankato MN

Improve Your HomersquosEnergy Efficiency

422 Park Lane Mankato MN | NuStarMankatocom

(507) 381-4747Voted One of Mankatorsquos Best

DANIEL WINGERT

Make Selling Your Home Your NuYearrsquos Resolution

MM p02 0116indd 41 12182015 30839 PM

42 bull January 2016 bull MANKATO MAGAZINE

January Resolve to moisturize

Your stYLeBy Ann Rosenquist Fee

Ann Rosenquist Fee is executive director of the Arts Center of Saint Peter and a vocalist with The Frye She blogs at annrosenquistfeecom

If you have in-laws or colleagues who know you well enough to have given you holiday gifts

but not well enough to know what wouldrsquove truly made you happy congratulations Chances are yoursquore the proud owner of a bunch of brand-new lip balm

Maybe itrsquos even holiday themed Thatrsquos the best Maybe you got the candy-cane flavored kind or wintergreen with holiday graphics on the label or something like that A theme that was irrelevant the moment the stocking was unstuffed because at that exact second the holiday was over

And here you are in January with an abundance of wax

Fortunately also here you are in the early weeks of winter with rough red knuckles Probably also cracked cuticles although it might not have gone that far yet for you Irsquom sure it has for me This photo was taken back in November and even then the Band-Aids were for real Irsquove learned to cut them in half length-wise so as to retain my ability to type Irsquove also learned to play with a range of color options Flesh-toned Clear Disney characters The colorful strips shown here were gifted to me by my husband Partly why theyrsquore cut in half is that the text is obscene This is one small trick you can use to make bloody cuticles your most exciting accessory of the winter

Sources like UrbanSurvivalSitecom and WonderHowTocom will tell you that you can use lip balm for a whole variety of purposes such as coating threads of outdoor lightbulbs before screwing them into their sockets and enhancing the burn-ability of most kindling

These are great fun but they wonrsquot improve your personal style

More germane to winter beauty are the following suggestions

Keep a tube next to your bed for first-thing-in-the-morning use And I mean really truly first-thing I mean smear the stuff on each cuticle while yoursquore still lying there before you start using your fingers at all If you wake up thinking yoursquore fine and skip cuticle care next thing you know yoursquore pushing down the lever on your Keurig and the pressure is more than your screamingly dry skin can take and boom split blood on the Keurig and itrsquos gonna be a long painful day If only you had balmed your hands before you let your feet hit the floor

Keep another tube in your glove compartment If itrsquos warm enough to take off your mittens in the car mdash if yoursquore even wearing mittens given that your hands are snagging on everything these days mdash the harsh January sunlight will allow you to see cracks and flakes in high-resolution detail Yoursquoll want the balm nearby

to cover what you didnrsquot notice first thing in the morning Also a car tube is useful for when you look in the rear-view mirror and notice that your nose and upper lip are flaking as well Itrsquos because yoursquore getting over a cold and the frequent use of tissue has worn away your top layer of skin but just because you know that doesnrsquot mean everybody else wonrsquot think ldquothere is something in that noserdquo Itrsquos just a fact Itrsquos what it looks like Lip balm to the rescue Itrsquos the only thing dry enough to slick those flakes in place and nourishing enough to maybe actually get your face back to normal

Keep a couple more tubes in a nighttime kit along with sandpaper Sandpaper Yes Not a pumice stone not a lame also-gifted sugar

scrub Medium-grit sandpaper is what you need every night lightly but with conviction As follows 1) Sand taking care not to do more damage than what the elements have already done Yoursquore just trying to remove the dry dead stuff Yoursquore just being hearty and efficient about this true to the culture of this great state in which yoursquove chosen to winter You are no pansy Sand your hands 2) Wash 3) Blot dry 4) Dial up the gifted balm whisper a word of thanks to the person who put so much thought into your well-being that they stuffed your holiday stocking with this amazing gift of self-care smash a healthy amount down into your palms massage Take heart You just might find yourself with normal-textured non-cracked not-horrible-looking hands by morning

Split-open cuticles I feel you Except for these Band-Aids I feel you

Lip balms I have been gifted and these are just from last Christmas ldquolastrdquo as in 2014

Bathrooms Worth Bragging About

HoursTue amp Wed amp Fri | 9 am to 6 pmMon amp Thu | 9 am to 7 pmSaturday | 9 am to 4 pm

219 S Victory Dr | Mankato507 | 345 | 7009ipafhickorytechnetindependentpaintandflooringcom

You Deserve Comfortable Care Every Timebull Sedation - Complete Relaxation with Just a Pillbull Invisalign - Clear Alternative to Bracesbull Botox amp Fillersbull Implants - Placement and Restorationbull Cerec - One Visit Crown Technology

bull Free Whitening Programbull 3D Imaging with Fewer X-Raysbull Cosmetic Dentistrybull Drill-Free Technologybull Emergency Care

1400 Lookout Drive North Mankato507-625-CARE(2273) bull mankatodentistcom 06

1865

6124

01

Dr AngelA Schuck

Dr keith FlAck

MM p02 0116indd 42 12182015 30841 PM

MANKATO MAGAZINE  bull January 2016 bull 43

Bathrooms Worth Bragging About

HoursTue amp Wed amp Fri | 9 am to 6 pmMon amp Thu | 9 am to 7 pmSaturday | 9 am to 4 pm

219 S Victory Dr | Mankato507 | 345 | 7009ipafhickorytechnetindependentpaintandflooringcom

You Deserve Comfortable Care Every Timebull Sedation - Complete Relaxation with Just a Pillbull Invisalign - Clear Alternative to Bracesbull Botox amp Fillersbull Implants - Placement and Restorationbull Cerec - One Visit Crown Technology

bull Free Whitening Programbull 3D Imaging with Fewer X-Raysbull Cosmetic Dentistrybull Drill-Free Technologybull Emergency Care

1400 Lookout Drive North Mankato507-625-CARE(2273) bull mankatodentistcom 06

1865

6124

01

Dr AngelA Schuck

Dr keith FlAck

(944) 412-7949 | OrthoEdgeMNcom

Enjoy the season

Mankato St Peter

Be active Be healthyBe able with OrthoEdge

The OrthoEdge joint replacement

program offers superb care from your first

visit through recovery The surgeons from

the Orthopaedic amp Fracture Clinic and

the care team at Riverrsquos Edge Hospital

provide personal and professional care to

get you back to able

Why Riverrsquos Edge Hospital amp Clinic

bull Riverrsquos Edge Hospital amp Clinic has a long-

standing relationship with the Orthopaedic

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bull There are 14 private suites that feature a

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MM p02 0116indd 43 12182015 30842 PM

44 bull January 2016 bull MANKATO MAGAZINE

1 Hicktown Mafia800 pm mdash New Ulm Event Center mdash 301 20th St S mdash New Ulm mdash $10 mdash 507-354-4673

7-9 Mankato West Orchesis Dance Team showcase7 pm Thursday-Saturday 2 pm Saturday mdash Mankato West High School Auditorium mdash $7 adults $5 students mdash 507-381-7578

10 Mankato Symphony Orchestra Music on the Hill II ldquoMinnesota rootsrdquo2 pm mdash Chapel at Good Counselmdash Good Counsel Drive mdash Mankato mdash $17 $12 mdash wwwmankatosymphonycom

16 Handel with Caremdash Handel Goes to Italy11 ammdash YMCA Aerobics Studio mdash 1401 S Riverfront Drive mdash Mankato mdash wwwmankatosymphonycom

16 Mankato Craft beer Expo2 pm (VIP) 3 pm general mdash Verizon Wireless Center mdash $45 VIP $35 general $10 designated driver mdash wwwmankatocraftbeerexpocom

23 Joey Flip and Mike Fugazzi rockinrsquo at the Embassy9 pm mdash Blaschkorsquos Embassy Bar and Grill mdash 325 S Minnesota Ave mdash St Peter mdash 507-934-3903

24 andrea Lyn and Dick Kimmel concert730 pm mdash Elias J Halling Recital Hall mdash Minnesota State University mdash Mankato mdash $12 regular $11 current MSU students mdash wwwmnusedumusic

28-31 MSu Theatre antigone730 pm Thursday-Saturday 2 pm Sunday mdash Andreas Theatre mdash Minnesota State University mdash Mankato mdash $16 regular $14 discount $11 current MSU students mdash wwwmnsuedu

29-31 BLC Theatre Brigadoon730 Friday and Saturday 2 pm Sunday mdash Ylvisaker Fine Arts Center mdash Bethany Lutheran College mdash Mankato mdash $10 adults $6 seniors children and students mdash wwwblceduevents

29- Feb 7 Winterfest St Peter Citywide mdash wwwstpeterchamberorg

30 Church of Cash a Tribute to Johnny Cash7 pm mdash St Peter American Legion mdash 229 W Nassau St mdash St Peter mdash 507-934-6435

31 Maud Hixson and rick Carlson concert730 pmmdash Elias J Halling Recital Hall mdash Minnesota State University mdash Mankato mdash $12 regular $11 current MSU students wwmnsuedumusic

Coming attraCtions January

T - F 8am - 6pm Sun ClosedSat 9am - 4pmM 8am - 8pm

120 North Broad Street Mankato MN 507-345-4688 wwwmeyerandsonstvandappliancecom

FIND SPECIAL DEALS ON

MM p02 0116indd 44 12182015 30902 PM

MANKATO MAGAZINE  bull January 2016 bull 45

St Peter Craft amp Vendor Show

1MelinadaBussefromRapidansoldherhandmadejewelryatthecraftandvendorshow

2DarylfromElysianandhishand-carvedwoodart

3MacKennaage7hasfunatoneoftheboothsattheStPeterCraftandVendorShow

4LizEntershowsoffsomeofherproductsattheldquoItWorksrdquobooth

5DenisePetersofldquoYoungLivingrdquoessentialoilsdisplayedherproductsattheshow

Faces amp Places Photos By Sport Pix

3

5

2

1

4

T - F 8am - 6pm Sun ClosedSat 9am - 4pmM 8am - 8pm

120 North Broad Street Mankato MN 507-345-4688 wwwmeyerandsonstvandappliancecom

FIND SPECIAL DEALS ON

MM p02 0116indd 45 12222015 121536 PM

46 bull January 2016 bull MANKATO MAGAZINE

SOUTHErN MN CHrISTMAS

FESTIVAL1 A large crowd was on hand during the festivities at

the Christmas Festival2 Friesenrsquos Family Bakery amp Bistro had tons of baked

goods and soups at the Verizon Wireless Center3 A childrenrsquos choir sang for the audience at the

festival4 Ron Haefner owner of Ronrsquos Auto Repair displayed

some of his services5 Garrison Galatz dressed up as Santa for the

Christmas Festival

faCes amp PLaCes Photos By Sport Pix

4

3

1

2

5

MM p02 0116indd 46 12182015 30923 PM

MANKATO MAGAZINE  bull January 2016 bull 47

1GirlScouttroop34494waspresentedwithatrophybyKiwanisVicePresidentKyleMrozek

2SantaClausevenwentthroughtheparaderoute3(LtoR)BrooklynPomrankeAlaynaLyonsHunterPomrankeandLilyLyonsgetagroupphototakenwithSanta

4MarshaMartigtellsSantawhatshewantsforChristmas

5TheparadefloatswerealldeckedoutinChristmaslights

6Visitorswalkthepatharoundtheparktoviewthisyearrsquoslights

Kiwanis Holiday ligHtsFaces amp Places Photos By sport Pix

2

1

3

4 5

6

MM p02 0116indd 47 12222015 121616 PM

48 bull January 2016 bull MANKATO MAGAZINE

On the Occasion of a 50th Reunion

the Class of 1965

from this VaLLeYBy Pete Steiner

Peter Steiner is host of ldquoTalk of the Townrdquo weekdays at 105 pm on KTOE

I was honored to give the presentation for our 50th class reunion recently at West Highrsquos Homecoming celebration About 120 of our nearly 400-member class

showed up We Baby Boomers the children of the greatest generation had big classes in the late lsquo60rsquos that forced the building of East High Ours was a dramatic era and our class did some great things in the face of big challenges Here edited is some of what I said

I am so glad to be standing here today Therersquos an old saying

ldquoMay you live in INTErESTINg timeshelliprdquo The Class of rsquo65 certainly has Itrsquos seems like only yesterday right after lunch that we were at our desks waiting for the start of English class when our charismatic teacher Harry Fitterer strode in and said ldquoPrESIDENT KENNEDY HAS BEEN SHOT IN DALLASrdquo At first we didnrsquot believe him but it was true It was November 22 1963 We were juniors and as the song says that was THE END OF THE INNOCENCE We had lived through the last idyllic time in America

When we first arrived in the fall of 1962 America was still carefree basking in the glow of victory in WW II Everything may have seemed ldquorightrdquo but it was not Martin Luther King Jr had just visited Mankato pointing out the continuing plight of black Americans as the Civil rights movement was gaining steam The beginnings of the Vietnam War which would alter the course of many of our lives were stirring even as we studied history and government The current generation has no monopoly on forgettable pop music ndash we had a stupid 1 song called ldquoItsie Bitsie Teenie Weenie Yellow Polka Dot Bikinirdquo (unfortunately an ear worm I canrsquot forget) But a darker cultural threat was looming The BEATLES were invading from Britain and our parents were mortified because they had LONg HAIr

Some of the shock of the Kennedy assassination was eased when our wrestling team in the era when the state still had just ONE CLASS won the State Championship in front of a packed hall up at MSU some still maintain that is the greatest single athletic achievement in Mankato history We were the first high school in Mankato to put on a full-scale musical ldquoBye Bye Birdierdquo in the spring of 1964 In Fall of 1964 our football team would have won the conference championship outright except Owatonnarsquos great Noel Jenke who would go on to star for the U of M

cheated I watched him trap the touchdown pass that beat us Does cheating pay Was that a lesson for life

In lsquo65 we also had a fine basketball team that lost our chance at State when our 6-6 center fouled out at Luverne

BUT A FAr BIggEr CHALLENgE AWAITED US ALL As we rode out to Luverne to watch that game we couldnrsquot help noticing the highway was like a canyon between walls of snow The legendary St Patrickrsquos Day Blizzard had dumped two feet on top of an already large snow pack and then April brought rains on frozen ground Instead of coming here to school many of us soon got a real-life assignment to go out in our rain gear out on the dikes to battle the grEAT FLOOD OF 1965 Our school became an island as water flooded the parking lot and all of South riverfront Our spring play that year was called ironically

THE DESPErATE HOUrS We had to rehearse at roosevelt School up on higher ground

Our class produced three Merit scholars One of our classmates who did NOT qualify

for a merit scholarship nevertheless was such a whiz at physics that NASA requested a copy of a paper he wrote on rocketry as a senior We produced 12 doctors one of whom earned a fellowship at Stanford seeking how to bring telemedicine to the poor another of whom became a breakthrough cancer doctor We had entrepreneurs one who would go on to be a leader in Solar Energy (and then run for governor of New Hampshire) Another mdash a woman incidentally when

that was not common founded two bio-tech startups Many of us are still working

past normal retirement age One founded a company on the leading edge of recycling

computers whose clients include the NSA Another is chief medical officer of a company

devising a better tool for colonoscopies Yet another of our classmates recently completed a concert tour of China

We lived in challenging times just as you do today but we muddle through we make it to the other shore I remember sitting where you are 50 years ago thinking how old those folks up there looked But remember Life goes by very quickly You certainly live in interesting times as Shakespeare said ldquoPresent Mirth has Present Laughter Youthrsquos a stuff will NOT endurerdquo So I urge you live each moment to the fullest

MM p02 0116indd 48 12182015 30933 PM

MM p02 0116indd 49 12182015 30936 PM

MM p02 0116indd 50 12182015 30948 PM

Page 6: Mankatomag 116

4 bull January 2016 bull MANKATO MAGAZINE

DEPARTMENTS6 From the Editor 8 This Day in History9 The Gallery Ellen Schofield

10 Beyond the Margin Let Freedom Reign

12 Day Trip Destinations Celebration of the Lakes

26 Then amp now Schuyler Colfax

29 Food Drink amp Dine 30 Food Hot cocoa

32 Wine Cabernet Sauvignon

33 Beer Light can be good

34 Food Coffee Hag v20

36 Whatrsquos Cookinrsquo Nuts

38 Thatrsquos Life My dream job

40 Garden Chat Big plans for 2016

42 your Style A lsquobalmyrsquo time of year

44 Coming attractions 45 Faces amp Places48 From This Valley 50th reunion

9

26 38

42 44

12

Coming in FebruaryCabin Fever

Relax Wersquoll get through this

When it comes to your financial future a single view-point isnrsquot always enough Our trusted advisers work as

a team providing you the benefit of multiple CFPreg professionals and decades of experience When you are

ready to ldquoget seriousrdquo about retirement give us a call

Why Settle for Less

reg regreg

wwwedwardjonescom

Kenneth J Klooster AAMSregFinancial Advisor

1660 Commerce Drive Suite 2North Mankato MN 56003507-625-8452wwwedwardjonescom

Member SIPC

Schedule a complimentaryportfolio review

THE FUTURE IS YOURSTO CUSTOMIZE

WITH A COMPREHENSIVEFINANCIAL PLAN

5073876031 wwweidebai l lycomFinancial Advisor offers Investment Advisory Services through Eide Bailly Advisors LLC a Registered Investment Advisor Securities offered through United Planners Financial Services Member of FINRA and SIPC Eide Bailly Financial Services LLC is the holding company for Eide Bailly Advisors LLC Eide Bailly Financial Services and its subsidiaries are not affiliated with United Planners

Ryan Spaude Financial Advisor

MM p01 0116indd 4 12182015 24429 PM

When it comes to your financial future a single view-point isnrsquot always enough Our trusted advisers work as

a team providing you the benefit of multiple CFPreg professionals and decades of experience When you are

ready to ldquoget seriousrdquo about retirement give us a call

Why Settle for Less

reg regreg

wwwedwardjonescom

Kenneth J Klooster AAMSregFinancial Advisor

1660 Commerce Drive Suite 2North Mankato MN 56003507-625-8452wwwedwardjonescom

Member SIPC

Schedule a complimentaryportfolio review

THE FUTURE IS YOURSTO CUSTOMIZE

WITH A COMPREHENSIVEFINANCIAL PLAN

5073876031 wwweidebai l lycomFinancial Advisor offers Investment Advisory Services through Eide Bailly Advisors LLC a Registered Investment Advisor Securities offered through United Planners Financial Services Member of FINRA and SIPC Eide Bailly Financial Services LLC is the holding company for Eide Bailly Advisors LLC Eide Bailly Financial Services and its subsidiaries are not affiliated with United Planners

Ryan Spaude Financial Advisor

MM p01 0116indd 5 12222015 115613 AM

6 bull bull MANKATO MAGAZINE

MM

MM p01 0116indd 6 12222015 115714 AM

MANKATO MAGAZINE  bull January 2016 bull 7

xxxxxx

BUILDING AUTOMOTIONAND INTEGRATION CONTROLS

HEATING AND COOLING SYSTEMS

SECURITY

ldquoTodays leading experts to help you for a better tomorrowrdquoldquoTodays leading experts to help you for a better tomorrowrdquo

307 McKinzie Street SoMankato MN 56001507-345-4828 507-289-4874wwwpaapecom

Please call for a free consultation and estimate

KnowYourRisk

Take chargeof your healthwith monthlyself-examsand annual

mammograms

it

Mankato Clinic joins usin raising awareness ofthe importance of early

detection in the fightagainst breast cancerand the importance ofcontinued support for

breast cancer research

MM p01 0116indd 7 12182015 24435 PM

Friday January 3 1890Magnificent Showing for 1889Over $70000 Expended on Streets Waterworks and Sewers(compared to 2014 dollars this could amount to as much as $86000000 dollars)

The most important of the public works accomplished this year is the construction of a pumping station the purchase of a magnificent holly pump and the completion of the large one-million gallon reservoir The discovery of a suitable water supply was made last year but it was left to be developed this year by the sinking of two large artesian wells to a depth of more than 600 feet

The next is important as having over a mile of sewer on second street Other improvements Completion of the Tourtellotte Hospital and the purchase of additional hose for the fire department

Friday January 7 1910County Board is Wrestling with Bills in Ledbeter CaseThiel Detective Agency wants to be paid for booze and treats entertaining deputy sheriff and farmers Lady Sleuth was employed on jobThiel Detective Agency employed a woman Paid for parties on the County dime In 1910 Though not mentioned in the printed story Mrs Ledbeter was accused of murdering her husband Holland several years her elder

The County Board met this afternoon wrestling with bills that had been presented to it for services rendered in connection with the trials of Frank Smith and Mrs Grace Ledbeter

County Auditor Weaver states the cost of these trials will be between $8000 and $10000 but he wonrsquot know the exact figure for several days

The Thiel Detective Agency has put in a bill for $49835 for services largely consisting of railway fare hotel bills etc One of the items under date Nov 23-30 and Dec 1-4 is ldquodrinks cigars etc with Deputy Sheriff $405rdquo

The next item is ldquotreats and expenses with farmers and others during investigation $2215rdquo

A lady detective seems to have been employed on the case for a time making a trip to St Louis and other places

Tuesday January 3 1961Twins are first lsquoBago Births of the year

Fraternal twins were the first births in Winnebago at the Community Hospital in 1961 Mr and Mrs Eldren Jaegerrsquos boy was born at 1055 Sunday and the girl arrived at 1115 AM The boy weighed 5 pounds 8 12 ounces The girl hit the scale at 5 pounds 2 and a quarter ounces The Jaergers who operate a farm at rural Amboy have seven other children ranging in age from Sandra 18 in nursersquos training at St Josephrsquos Hospital in Mankato to 4-year-old Joel

Tuesday January 3 1928Cafes and Dance Halls Scenes of Gaiety Quiet for New Yearrsquos Police Report Cold Wave Sends Revelers Home at Early HourMinus 18 degrees Fahrenheit is just too cold to have fun on New Yearrsquos Eve

Liquor that did not flow too liberally and the extreme cold weather conspired to make the celebration of the coming of the new year in Mankato not too boisterous ldquoIt was a quiet timerdquo commented Chiefof Police Jake Hilgers ldquoProbably quieter than last yearrdquo Only one arrest was made as against 3 last New Yearrsquos The arrest was of a man found lying in the railroad yards intoxicated The tips of his fingers were frozen and itrsquos believed if he had not been discovered he would have frozen to death

This DAy in hisToryBy Jean Lundquist

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Corporate GraphicsYour Printing Solutions Company

1750 Northway DriveNorth Mankato MN 56003

800-729-7575wwwcorpgraphcom

May your 2016 be

Filled with color and

delight

MANKATO MAGAZINE  bull January 2016 bull 9

The GAllery Ellen Schofield Story by Nell Musolf

After graduat ing from the University of Minnesota in 2012 with a Masterrsquos of Fine

Arts degree in graphic design Ellen Schofield was delighted when three months later she was offered a teaching position at Minnesota State University She expected that she would have to move elsewhere and was happy that she would be able to stay in her own state

ldquoThere were about 10 positions open around the time I graduatedrdquo Schofield said ldquowhich was really quite a lot I expected that Irsquod have to move so it was great to be hired by MSUrdquo

Schofield teaches introductory level graphic design classes as well as a special concept class that helps students fire up their creativity

ldquoIn the special concept class we do mind mapping brainstorming and once a semester I bring in an improv comedian because studies have proven that improv comedians have the most creative ideas of any other professionrdquo Schofield said ldquoThe class does theater warm ups and they really seem to enjoy it We also focus on the lsquoyes andrsquo theory in that classrdquo

The ldquoyes andrdquo theory agrees with an idea and then expounds on it with enthusiasm mdash the ldquoandrdquo part

ldquoCollege students often want to look cool all the timerdquo Schofield remarked

ldquoThe lsquoyes andrsquo theory pushes past that and opens up creativityrdquo

Schofield defines graphic design as thinking made visual

ldquoGraphic design is everywhere Itrsquos logos for businesses and icons and even the tax return papers given out by the IRS are examples of graphic design and had to have been designed by some poor personrdquo Schofield said ldquoA goal of a graphic designer is to create something that anyone can understand as soon as they look at itrdquo

Before becoming a graduate student Schofield ran her own graphic design business and has continued the business on a smaller scale now that she is teaching Her personal preference in graphic design is to create icons

ldquoI tend to like iconographyrdquo Schofield said ldquoIcons can be mdash and I think should be mdash simple and elegant and tell whoever sees them something about the business they representrdquo

Schofield worked with the Childrenrsquos Museum of Southern Minnesota to create its icon an experience she enjoyed

ldquoI wanted to make it something that would appeal to kids and their parents as well The Childrenrsquos Museum has such a cool space mdash it needed an icon that would let people know what a truly cool place it isrdquo Schofield said

When working with a graphic design client Schofield likes to have ldquolots and lotsrdquo of conversations

ldquoGetting to know clients is important We talk a lot so that I can find out what a client feels passionate about when it comes to their business The goal is to find something that makes them unique and then create a graphic design that reflects thatrdquo Schofield said

Shofield said her favorite artistic tool is the art departmentrsquos laser cutter

ldquoItrsquos like the worldrsquos fanciest scissorsrdquo Schofield said ldquoIt can cut just about anything and does an amazing job Itrsquos so much fun to work withrdquo

Schofield is working with MSU colleague David Rogers on a project using the laser cutter called ldquoPaper State Flowersrdquo Schofield and Rogers are using typographic state abbreviations combined with paper flowers Their progress can be viewed at wwwpaperstateflowerscom and the final results will be shown at an art gallery in Hutchinson in October

Schofield originally planned to become an engineer but after taking a class in graphic design she changed her mind

ldquoIrsquom a visual personal and I fell in love with designrdquo Schofield said ldquoReally I canrsquot imagine doing anything elserdquo

thinking Made visualEllen Schofield teaches at Minnesota State university

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MANKATO MAGAZINE bull bull 11

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12 bull January 2016 bull MANKATO MAGAZINE

The Celebration of the Lakes has been a family tradition for Erin Thorvaldson Chisago Lakes Chamber Board Member and Community member for Celebration of the Lakes for more than 20 years Thorvaldson was about 10

years old when her grandmother introduced her to the event which takes place Jan 30 on North Center Lake in Lindstrom

DAy Trip DesTinATions Celebration of the LakesBy leTiciA GonzAles

hit the LakesLindstrom has plenty of fun waiting for you

Hot air balloons are just one of the many attractions this festival has employed over the years

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MANKATO MAGAZINE  bull January 2016 bull 13

Day Trip DesTinaTions Celebration of the LakesBy LeTicia GonzaLes

WhenJan 29-31 2016

I-35 North to Hwy 8 east to Center City Located on the North side of Hwy 8 on

North Center Lake

If youGoWhat

Celebration of the Lakes

Lindstrom MN

AdmissionFree additional admission required for some

events activities food and ridesVisit wwwchisagolakeschambercom

ldquoSo I helped way back then when she was part of the chamberrdquo said Thorvaldson ldquoAnd having a business in the community as I got older I also wanted to give backrdquo

Born and raised in the Chisago Lakes area Thorvaldson has served on the celebrationrsquos planning committee for nine years She said the event first caught her eye not only because she loves winter but because it focuses on the outdoors ldquoeven though many people in Minnesota cringe once we get to 20 degrees so it kind of gets you out and lets you do something funrdquo

Watching the celebration grow over the past two decades has also been fun for Thorvaldson

ldquoIt was very tiny at that pointrdquo she said as she reminisced about the early days of the event ldquoIt was just a few hay bales at the icerdquo

Being an active part of the planning has been equally exciting

ldquoThe committeersquos always trying to come up with more ideas that the community would perceive as something fun to do in the winter timerdquo she said ldquoThere have been the sled dogs there have been hot air balloons and there have been kitty cat races car racesrdquo

While past years have even included BMX bike races where people dressed up in costumes the snowmobile radar run and the vintage snow mobile displays have been the ldquomain staplesrdquo of the celebration Organized by the Wild River Snowmobile Club of Chisago City the snowmobile radar run features nearly 200 riders who race upwards of 120 miles per hour on a track

ldquoSometimes they will have souped-up snowmobiles that go incredibly fastrdquo Thorvaldson said ldquoWe had a world record one that raced on the track so itrsquos pretty amazing to see how fast some of them go They break them up into categories and there are prizes for the fastest one in each categoryrdquo

Originally introduced as a memorial radar run for a rotary member the radar run has become one of the celebrationrsquos most popular events

ldquoWe started with just a sheriffrsquos radar gun and now they use different timing items like cones and announcingrdquo she add ldquoItrsquos kind of something that has evolved toordquo

With the draw of the surrounding lakes in the area Thorvaldson said ice fishing has also grown in popularity and has become embedded in the annual celebration

ldquoItrsquos like little villages out on the lakerdquo she said

ldquoThat is kind of the big that that people do There are people who drive up from all over the place the Twin Cities all over just to come spend the weekend ice fishing on the lake so thatrsquos a big big thingrdquo

Greg Shaleen who has also been on the planning committee for the celebration for more than 15 years affirmed the celebrationrsquos growth when it comes to activities offered

ldquoWe have done kind of bizarre thingsrdquo he said ldquoWe do a smoosh race which is where you take 2-by-4s and strap four leather straps on it and you do a little bit of a racerdquo

Shaleen also credits the event for bringing people out to the lakes during the coldest month of the year

ldquoEveryone is all cooped up in the community and it just got to the point where they wanted to do something fun in the winter and get people out and about and enjoy the winter sportrdquo he said

From kitty races and sled dog races to a concession tent and a family fishing contest that draws anywhere from three to five hundred people Shaleen said the Celebration of the Lakes brings people together in the outdoors

ldquoWe are basically more interested in getting people out of the house visiting with friends and neighbors and visitors to the area and enjoying each otherrsquos interest in snowmobiling or ice fishing or whatever the events are taking place or going onrdquo he concluded

MM p01 0116indd 13 12222015 115930 AM

January The holidays are over along with all of the seasonrsquos excuses for overindulge in food and drink and under-indulging in any form of exercise (other than lifting onersquos hand to onersquos mouth) After stowing the presents in the

closet and taking down the tree many people choose the New Year as the perfect time to begin a serious diet and exercise program to shed the extra pounds they put on over the past few months and to begin eating more healthfully Mankato Clinic registered dietitian Erin Gonzalez says a hearty ldquoyesrdquo to healthy mindful eating and definite ldquonordquo to any extreme ldquodo or die(t)rdquo approach

According to Gonzalez 95 percent of all dieters regain the weight they lost within five years It is her belief that such yo-yo dieting only creates more frustration and stress which can lead to emotional eating and binge eating which leads to another cycle of dieting-losing-weight-gaining-weight ad infinitum

Gonzalez speaks from experience After losing 70 pounds since the time she was a teenager Gonzalez is now at a weight she considers healthy and one that she hasnrsquot deviated from in years

By Nell Musolf | Photos by Pat Christman and Darren Gibbins

Herersquos to ahealthy

new yeara healthy

new you

14 bull January 2016 bull MANKATO MAGAZINE

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MANKATO MAGAZINE  bull January 2016 bull 15

Erin Gonzalez and her son prepare a healthful meal

Erin GonzalezldquoI struggled with weight issues when I was growing

uprdquo Gonzalez said ldquoWhen I was 16 I went on my first lsquoseriousrsquo dietmdashone of the fast diets that were popular in the 1990srdquo

Gonzalez said that she stuck to her diet religiously having a shake in the morning one for lunch and a sensible meal at night just as she was instructed to do She also walked for approximately two and a half hours a day Over the course of one summer she lost 70 pounds but she was also she now realizes flirting with an eating disorder Gonzalez says this scenario is not uncommon considering research shows 35 percent of ldquooccasional dietersrdquo progress into pathological dieting (disordered eating) and as many as 25 percent advance to full-blown eating disorders

ldquoMy food intake was very restrictive and I was always extremely conscience of what I ate but just the same I slowly gained back 30 of the 70 pounds

that I lostrdquo Gonzalez said ldquoI was always looking at food as either lsquogoodrsquo or lsquobadrsquo instead of something pleasurable to be enjoyedrdquo

It wasnrsquot until she was working at her dietetic internship that she had her ldquoahardquo moment

ldquoI was blessed with a teacher who taught her students how to enjoy foodrdquo Gonzalez said ldquoinstead of being obsessed by it Gonzalez learned about a program called Am I Hungry that specializes in helping people heal their relationship with food and their bodies so they can relearn to trust their internal hunger cues instead of having to follow arbitrary rules and broken promises of diets Gonzalez facilitates a program at the Mankato Clinic that teaches the Am I Hungry philosophy

ldquoI have two childrenrdquo Gonzalez said ldquoa 10-month-old and a 4-year-old They know how to eat naturally and they stop eating when they are no longer hungry That is what most adults need

MM p01 0116indd 15 12222015 120138 PM

16 bull January 2016 bull MANKATO MAGAZINE

xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

need to relearn how to eatrdquoThe method has worked for Gonzalez Gone are

her extra 30 pounds and she no longer dietsldquoDiets simply arenrsquot sustainablerdquo she said ldquoItrsquos so

hard in our society because we are surrounded by cues to eat all of the time At buffets where you want to lsquoget your moneyrsquos worthrsquo when yoursquore out with friends when you sit down at the end of the day and turn on the television to relax and are bombarded with ads for food Food has become a reward for a bad day or a good day or anything else we can think of But if you look at how you eat as a journey instead of as a destination you can learn to enjoy food a lot morerdquo

So what should someone who wants to start the New Year in a more healthy fashion do

ldquoPause before you eatrdquo Gonzalez recommended ldquoAsk yourself if yoursquore really hungry or if yoursquore actually thirsty or stressed instead Try not to be emotionally disconnected from what you are eatingrdquo

Gonzalez emphasized that ldquomindful eating isnrsquot naive to say nutrition isnrsquot important Of course it is Mindful eating is what allows us to take charge of our decisions of why when what how and how much we choose to eat instead of battling being in or out of controlrdquo

Instead of following the latest short-lived diet Gonzalez encourages people to make the healthiest choices possible that donrsquot leave them feeling deprived

Paulette Tonn BookerFor Paulette Tonn Booker the Am I Hungry

Mindful Eating (AIHME) program has been a game changer

Said Booker ldquoIrsquove tried several diet plans over the past 40 years including some well-known plans and I lost weight on each plan However keeping the weight off eluded me and resulted in yo-yo dieting

The lsquorulesrsquo of whichever plan Booker was on became the norm and after years of trying to live by those rules Booker was no longer able to discern what her body was telling her about hunger often leading to out-of-control overeating

ldquoI always knew there was something else going on yet no one had an answer for merdquo Booker said

When Booker first heard of the AIHME program two years ago she was relieved to discover that there were other people who felt the same way when it came to healthful eating The program taught her the skills she needed to recognize her bodyrsquos hunger signals thoughts and feelings and actions to help manage the physical emotional and environmental stresses of everyday life without resorting to eating to cope with those stresses

ldquoI no longer have to be in control of everything I only need to be in charge of my decisions at any given moment When I choose to overeat (which everyone does) I no longer beat myself up I try to reflect on what happened and then plan for ways to handle the situation differently the next time it occurs Old habits are hard to break it takes concentrated effort and dedication to rewire the brain with new habits and it can be donerdquo Booker said

About weight loss as the end goal of healthful eating Booker shared the following ldquoThe only time I get on a scale is at the doctorrsquos office I know what the experts say I should weigh A number does not define a personrsquos self-worth nor does it say anything about who we are and how we feel as we make changes in how we nurture our bodies The number on the scale is just a number bodies come in all shapes and sizes as does health I will never diet again Instead I will continue to work on developing mindful skills and in the meantime eating what I love and loving what I eatrdquo

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MANKATO MAGAZINE  bull January 2016 bull 17

Eric ZiesmerFor Eric Ziesmer he is in the middle of his weight

loss journey a journey that began last July when the 32-year-old learned that he weighed 330 pounds The time had come for Ziesmer to make some healthy lifestyle changes Ziesmer decided to lose weight because of his family mdash both present and future

ldquoI have two adorable nephews and I would love to be able to chase them around the yard or pull them in a sled during the winter and basically to be active and see them as they growrdquo Ziesmer said ldquoAnd even though Irsquom currently single if it is in my cards for marriage and kids I would like to be there and not be too tired or not in shape A clean and healthy lifestyle is what I am striving for in my coming yearsrdquo

With the help of a dietician Ziesmer has started his cleaner and healthier lifestyle Since July he has lost 40 pounds and has decided to have weight loss surgery To help his post operation phase go as smoothly as possible Ziesmer eats fresh fruit every day has cut out chips and cookies among other things

ldquoI have totally cut out soda Soda was a big one to cut out In my huge climb to 300 there were days when I would consume two 2-liter bottles of pop in a single day and maybe cracking open a thirdrdquo Ziesmer said ldquoI try to listen to my stomach instead of my eyes or eat because Irsquom bored or stressed I eat slow and sip instead of being the guzzler I have always beenrdquo

Another tactic Ziesmer has adopted has been to stop drinking liquids 30 minutes before a meal and then wait 30 minutes after eating before sipping again

ldquoWhen my stomach rumbles and says itrsquos hungry I feed it When my brain or boredom drives me to want to eat I take a second to see if my stomach feels empty and if not it gets deniedrdquo Ziesmer said

Ziesmer has noticed that he is more successful at healthy eating when he eats at home When he does dine out hersquoll cut a sandwich in half eat half and save other half for a future meal

ldquoAs far as exercise goes it went from zero to at least two if not three times a week going for a 327 mile walk and have recently made my way back into the gymrdquo Ziesmer said He has been able to keep track of his walks with accuracy thanks to an app called MapMyRun

Ziesmer knows that his healthier living journey will continue for a long time

ldquoI plan on continuing to live healthy by continuing my exercise and eating right and by saying that itrsquos not only for me and feeling better but also because there are two little guys that look up to their uncle Staying motivated is at least my key to keeping up this lifestyle I want to live a long and healthier life feeling better and being there down the road for family and friends is what means mostrdquo Ziesmer said MM

Eric Ziesmer says hersquos got plenty of motivation to get healthy two nephews to whom he wants to be a good role model

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18 bull January 2016 bull MANKATO MAGAZINE

Stephanie Howe says itrsquos best to have realistic goals when starting a fitness program

Herersquos your guideBy Robb Murray | Photos by Pat Christman

Ready for CHANGE

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MANKATO MAGAZINE  bull January 2016 bull 19

Yoursquore ready

You ate the ham and turkey and potatoes and Christmas cookies You drank the wine beer and eggnog Yoursquove spent the last few

months pondering a life change Yoursquore on the verge of a major transformation This time itrsquos happening Yoursquore going to get healthy Itrsquos going to be a new you

And then January arrived And you have no plan

Luckily we here at Mankato Magazine have got you covered Itrsquos not uncommon for people to make a New Yearrsquos resolution or some similar vow this time of year It usually comes with goal weights and promises to hit the gym X number of times per week and trips to the produce and organic sections of the grocery store because this time yoursquore serious Right

OK easy tiger Getting healthy is a great idea and wersquore wishing you all the best But wersquore also coming at you with some sensible advice Maybe setting unrealistic goals isnrsquot the best way to go Maybe just

heading into the gym and trying to get it all done in a week isnrsquot a great way to go either

ldquoFinerdquo you say ldquothen what should I dordquoWersquore so glad you asked

Letrsquos get startedThe first thing you need to remember when

starting an exercise program is that if you want to lose weight you need to change the way you eat too

ldquoNo matter what you say you canrsquot out exercise a bad dietrdquo says Stephanie Howe director of healthy living at the Mankato YMCA

Howe works in what might be the busiest fitness hub in the Mankato area So shersquos seen her share of people come through the doors with plans to change their lives Some of them succeed Most do not

One of the biggest mistakes people make Howe says is not really having a good grasp on how much time theyrsquoll need in order to incorporate a good workout into their day It doesnrsquot have to be a two-

hour commitment every day she says It can be 30 minutes of planned effective exercise several times per week Whatrsquos more important is just getting there and thatrsquos an obstacle that is bigger than most people realize

ldquoMost people want to lsquopeople pleasersquordquo she said ldquoYou can say yoursquore going to get up and work out every day but most people are built to need external accountabilityrdquo

Think about hiring a personal trainer

ldquoWhen you spend the money on a personal trainer you have an appointment therersquos someone waiting thererdquo she says

A personal trainer is a great way to immediately know yoursquore doing exactly what yoursquore supposed to be doing and yoursquoll have no doubt whether yoursquore working hard enough There are plenty of personal trainers in town mdash at the YMCA and other gyms mdash who would love to help you Of course they donrsquot work for free and for many people the cost of a personal trainer is more than theyrsquore willing to spend

Fortunately therersquos a trend in fitness to offer the whip-crack of a personal trainer while staying Jo radlinger urges her clients to not sabotage their fitness efforts with poor eating over

the weekend

MM p01 0116indd 19 12182015 24510 PM

20 bull January 2016 bull MANKATO MAGAZINE

728 N Riverfront DriveMankato MN 56001

507-625-5163katobearscom

Pins and NeedlesAlterations

Specializing in alterations for theentire wedding party including

gown re-sizing hemming re-beadingbustles and so much more

Like us onFacebook

affordableThe Y now offers something called ldquotrainer ledrdquo

exercise sessions where you work with others in a group but have access to a trainer nearby who can push you motivate you and make sure yoursquore you know doing it right Theyrsquore $3 a class

ldquoYoursquore still expected to be there but itrsquos much cheaperrdquo Howe said ldquoThe group environment pushes you and we have tons of trainer-led classes Itrsquos the best of both worldsrdquo

Across town Jo Radlinger runs Jorsquos Garage a fitness center where shersquos the one pushing you to succeed

Radlingerrsquos goal she says is to bring out everyonersquos potential

ldquoI want to make sure everybody that comes through my door has success I want them to be the very best version of themselves that they can berdquo

Like Howe Radlinger acknowledges that the financial side of hiring a personal trainer can scare people away but she says there are several reasons why it shouldnrsquot

ldquoItrsquos never a bad investment when yoursquore investing in yourselfrdquo she said ldquoMeet with a trainer who is just as passionate about your goal My goal is not to train you intensely but to show you what yoursquore capable of and then take you to that next levelrdquo

At Jorsquos Fitness Garage there are no membership fees Radlinger doesnrsquot believe in them Instead she charges $5 per visit and in that time she said she pushes you to have a great workout

GymtimidationSetting goals is a great

idea Setting unrealistic goals is the kind of thing that results in a gym membership card laying dormant in a junk drawer by February

So set those goals but set them smartlyldquoAccountability is huge Even if you canrsquot hire

someonerdquo Howe says ldquoMake specific goals mdash say yoursquore going to workout X number of times but make those numbers realistic Set goals that are within your controlrdquo

Do this and yoursquore likely to feel a lot better about how things go

ldquoMost people just want to feel better about themselves they want to feel more confidentrdquo Howe said ldquoThis way even before any physical changes happen theyrsquoll feel better Theyrsquoll start to feel like theyrsquore in control again of their life and their choicesrdquo

Taking an exercise class is a great way to both get

your body moving while at the same time have fun and meet those people who will notice when you donrsquot show up

And about that weight room Yes it can be intimidating to walk in and see people who look like they live there But Howe says that while it can definitely be a psychological barrier focusing on those people is the wrong strategy

ldquoNo one cares what yoursquore doingrdquo Howe says ldquoFocus on yourdquo

Take it slowIt can be tempting when you finally get up the

nerve to get back in the swing of working out to go hardcore But just like setting unrealistic goals trying to achieve your fitness goals in a day is impossible

ldquoPeople start out really gung-ho and reset their diet so aggressively and most people just simply canrsquot do thisrdquo Radlinger said ldquoWhen yoursquore looking at making a lifestyle change I want you to do it slowly and incrementally rather than do it all in two monthsrdquo

Rushing into the weight room and trying to lift the same weight and number of reps and sets that you did 10 years ago is a great way to make sure you canrsquot work out for a while Going from a sedentary lifestyle to two hours of pumping iron can leave you sore enough to not be able to lift anything for days Maybe even weeks

Ease into it The gymrsquos not going anywhere Think marathon not sprint

ldquoSometimes people have an all-or-nothing attituderdquo Howe said ldquoand they make themselves sore and they canrsquot continuerdquo

Speaking of all-or-nothing Radlinger says

some people bring that kind of intensity to their food intake over the weekend Bad idea

ldquoAs trainers we help people be accountable We do success measurements help them prepare and plan And wersquoll do weigh-ins on Mondayrdquo Radlinger says ldquoWersquoll find that people do really well Monday through Friday then do what I call sabotage Saturday and Sunday At some point yoursquore going to get so sick of hitting that reset button every Mondayrdquo

Whatever you choose to do both trainers say itrsquos never a bad idea to sit down with your doctor and run your plans by himher Your personal safety should always come first and getting the green light from Doc can give you some peace of mind as you start this new chapter of your life MM

Jo radlinger runs Jorsquos Fitness Garage

MM p01 0116indd 20 12222015 120709 PM

MANKATO MAGAZINE  bull January 2016 bull 21

728 N Riverfront DriveMankato MN 56001

507-625-5163katobearscom

Pins and NeedlesAlterations

Specializing in alterations for theentire wedding party including

gown re-sizing hemming re-beadingbustles and so much more

Like us onFacebook

Live the Lifestyle

wwwmapletonmarinecom

Southern MNrsquos largestboat show on now at the

Madison East Center in Mankato

MM p01 0116indd 21 12182015 24524 PM

22 bull January 2016 bull MANKATO MAGAZINE

Thirty-three years ago I stood inside a grave A lifetime ago when I was a pastorrsquos wife

In Nebraska we served a parish of barely over one hundred members A picture-postcard white church with a hand-carved white wooden altar from Germany sat at the top of a hill next to it the parsonage and next to that the cemetery rolling down the hill toward a wooded creek

The first death in the congregation after our arrival set off a flurry of activity Irsquod never met Alma because she was in a nursing home before we arrived However my husband visited her on several occasions She was mother aunt grandmother great-aunt and great-grandmother to half the congregation so there was no question about whether or not I would attend the funeral

With my two little kids in tow I attended every event at the church every Sunday morning service of course but also every funeral every confirmation every baptism every meeting of womenrsquos circle and even every family reunion that was held in the church basement At twenty-six I perfected the art of making gracious small talk with people Irsquod never seen before and would never see again and at taking tiny portions from each confirmation buffet so I would neither be sick by the end of the day nor offend any of the mothers who had slaved away over their sumptuous spreads of food

By Rebecca Fjelland Davis

Grave Lesson in Winter

ESSay

MM p01 0116indd 22 12182015 24527 PM

MANKATO MAGAZINE  bull January 2016 bull 23

Attending the little white country church was physically easy I picked up one-year-old Josh took three-year-old Nikkirsquos hand and walked out the front door down the sidewalk and next door The only things I didnrsquot have to attend were church council and the menrsquos meeting Archaic This was in the 1980s It doesnrsquot seem so long ago

All the available babysitters in the community would attend Almarsquos funeral too so this was to be my kidsrsquo first funeral

The afternoon before the service salt-snow fell Hard little crystals pelted down as if the heavens had up-ended a Mortonrsquos salt canister Within a few hours the hard snow was six inches deep and still falling

In the middle of the salt-snow the gravedigger arrived The Ditchwitch roared around the cemetery to the familyrsquos plot and my kidsrsquo noses pressed against the upstairs bedroom window pane ldquoMommy can we go watchrdquo

Glad for an excuse to get out of the parsonage I bundled them in snowsuits put them on the sled and pulled them across the house yard and garden to the fence that bordered the cemetery

The Ditchwitch made short work of the grave and all three of us were mesmerized watching the mound of gray-black dirt grow in the crystal-white snow When the hole was finished the gravedigger turned his tractor on idle He hopped off and came over to the fence His eyes twinkled in a weathered face ldquoWant to come lookrdquo

I backed up from the fence a step ldquoNo not really I think this is close enoughrdquo

ldquoYes Mommy go lookrdquo ldquoPleeeeaserdquoSo Nikki and Josh got back on the sled and I

hauled them along the fence through the gate over to the grave and looked down Six feet seemed deep bottomless Dark A sharp contrast to the pelting snowflakes all around us

ldquoWanna get down in thererdquo the gravedigger asked I shuddered hung onto the kids and backed up

again ldquoNo No thatrsquos okay This is close enough I just want to look from hererdquo

ldquoYes mommyrdquo the little ones said ldquoLetrsquosrdquoldquoNordquoldquoPleaserdquoldquoReally marsquoam I think you should Yoursquoll be

surprised I wouldnrsquot suggest it if it I didnrsquot think sordquoldquoHow would we get outrdquo The sides were deeper

than I was tall and there certainly werenrsquot footholds or a ladder built in for Almarsquos soul to use to climb out

ldquoLike thisrdquo The gravedigger laid his shovel diagonally across a top corner of the grave and jumped down He grabbed the middle of the shovel handle and swung himself back up and out with the agility of a gymnast ldquoNothinrsquo to itrdquo

ldquoI canrsquot do thatrdquoldquoYes you can Irsquoll boost you And wersquoll lift the kids

Yoursquoll be amazed I promiserdquoI shivered The idea of being inside a grave

seemed much colder than the snow crystals biting at my face

ldquoCome onrdquo he said and jumped back in Nikki and Josh willingly stepped over to him to be lifted down I had no choice but to follow I couldnrsquot let my kids alone in a grave with a man I didnrsquot even know

So I jumped The earth on the bottom made a soft landing The soil around me was warm and steamy It was moist and dark but it enfolded us in an earthy hug At least fifty degrees warmer than the air above ground it felt as if the earth were offering shelter respite a comfortable place to snuggle down and rest Tiny roots dangled full of life from the smooth edges of the hole Tears sprang to my eyes I couldnrsquot help them My eyes met the gravediggerrsquos and he smiled Gently ldquoSeerdquo he said Nothing more

I couldnrsquot speak A few minutes later he gave me a stirrup with his

hands I scrambled out and he lifted Nikki and Josh up to me Then he flipped himself out as easily as a trapeze artist

ldquoThank yourdquo I said ldquoI would never have guessedrdquoHe nodded ldquoNobody does But it helps somehow

I wanted you to feel thatrdquoWhy I wanted to ask why me You donrsquot even

know me Why were you willing to take time for usldquoThank yourdquo was all I said I shook his hand and

he hopped on the Ditchwitch and drove off into the snow

I never saw him again Someone else dug the next grave required in that cemetery

I remember only bits and pieces of the funeral Irsquom sure I baked a boxed cake mix for ldquolunchrdquo afterwards I remember answering Nikkirsquos questions about the body and sitting in the back row of the church in case Josh didnrsquot want to be quiet I do remember looking at the unfamiliar face in the casket and thinking you get to rest in a warm cozy place

Ten winters later we buried my dad on just such a day Wet snow crystals pelted us and piled up so deep the funeral home limousine got stuck in the cemetery By the time the pallbearers pushed it un-stuck their suit pants were caked in slush and mud

We stood at the graveside in the bleak wet icy day and lowered my fatherrsquos body into the ground

ldquoToo bad itrsquos such a miserable dayrdquo ldquoSorry about your dad Sorry the weatherrsquos so bad toordquo And even ldquoSuch a good man He deserves better weather than thisrdquo

But the weather I thought was just right Losing my dad my kids and their cousins losing

their grandpa my mom becoming a widow my brother losing his farming partner and best friend changed our livesmdashthat part was too heavy to carry

The only part that was okay for me was to let Dadrsquos worn-out body be wrapped in that welcoming warm enfolding soilmdashthe very soil hersquod loved to till the soil hersquod planted and tended all his life the soil that gave us all lifemdashthat was the only gratifying part of the day

The only comfort I had was letting Dad go from the cold wet biting snow into that warm and restful place

And I still wonder who that gravedigger was ten years earlier and how he knew how much I would need what he gave me that bleak winter day MM

Rebecca Fjelland Davis is an author from Mankato

MM p01 0116indd 23 12182015 24528 PM

reFlecTionsBy Pat Christman

24 bull January 2016 bull MANKATO MAGAZINE

MM p01 0116indd 24 12182015 24544 PM

reFlecTionsBy Pat Christman

MANKATO MAGAZINE  bull January 2016 bull 25

There are few things as inevitable as snow during a Minnesota winter Big

cotton ball-like snowflakes cover the ground in a white blanket whitewashing the Midwestern landscape

We struggle against it Some hope the snow never comes It always does filling the sky with floating snowflakes that cling to the ground but melt as soon as they hit the small bits of face or hands that peek out from winter clothing

It is often quite beautiful especially when viewed from someplace warm and dry MM

MM p01 0116indd 25 12182015 24548 PM

26 bull January 2016 bull MANKATO MAGAZINE

Then amp now Vice President Schuyler Colfaxrsquos Death By Bryce o sTenzel

On Jan 14 1885 one day after his death the New York Times carried a

headline that read ldquoSchuyler Colfax Dead He Drops Down in a Railway Stationrdquo While most Americans today would have tremendous difficulty in even recognizing this manrsquos name

(unless they were paying close attention to Stephen Spielbergrsquos epic movie Lincoln and made the association) Schuyler Colfax was a former Speaker of the House of Representatives and Vice President of the United States under President US Grant He died in Mankatorsquos Chicago St

Paul Minneapolis amp Omaha railroad depot from a massive heart attack

Schuyler Colfax Jr was born in New York City on March 23 1823 His father died of tuberculosis five months before Schuyler was born His sister Mary died four months after his [Schuylerrsquos]

vice President Schuyler Colfaxrsquos Death in Mankato

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MANKATO MAGAZINE  bull January 2016 bull 27

birth The young Schuyler attended school only until he was 10 He then began working to support his family Schuyler Colfax never attended any kind of secondary school or college His mother remarried when Colfax was 13 and the family moved to New Carlisle Indiana By the time he was 22 Colfax was the editor and owner of a pro-Whig newspaper He was elected to Congress in 1854 and joined the newly formed Republican Party after the Whig Party disintegrated Solidly anti-slavery his colleagues elected Colfax as Speaker of the US House of Representatives in 1863 His election came soon after the death of his wife Evelyn The couple had no children

Colfax was President Abraham Lincolnrsquos first and last visitor on the fateful day Lincoln was assassinatedmdashApril 14 1865 Early that morning Colfax arrived at the White House while the president was having breakfast Colfax wanted to know whether or not Lincoln planned to call a special session of Congress for later that summer Lincolnrsquos answer was a polite but firm ldquonordquo Lincoln preferred a lenient approach in reconstructing as well as readmitting the former Confederate states to the Union now that the Civil War was over This approach put Lincoln at odds with the more ldquoradicalrdquo congressional members of his own party who preferred harsher measures be taken against their former enemies Lincoln had already made up his mind how he wanted to proceed with reconstructing the former Confederate states and he didnrsquot want any unnecessary interference from Congress Calling a special session was the last thing Lincoln wanted to do Colfax returned that same night to see Lincoln again just before the president left for Fordrsquos Theatre and his appointment with destiny This time Colfax came upon Lincolnrsquos own request The president had a long message for the silver miners of the Comstock Lode in Nevada thanking them for their loyalty to the Union that he wanted Speaker Colfax to deliver in person since Colfax was leaving by train for the West the next day Colfax was the last person Lincoln spoke to besides his wife Mary before he

was fatally shot at 1015 pm Colfax never forgave himself for turning down Lincolnrsquos invitation to be part of the theatre party that night

In 1868 Republicans selected General Ulysses S Grant as their presidential candidate Grant a military man his entire life had no political background Colfax was placed on the ticket because of his prior experience as a congressman and Speaker of the House (he resigned the position in 1869) Grant and Colfax won an easy victory in November 1868 Only two weeks later Colfax remarriedmdashthis time to Ellen Wade (niece of Ohio Senator Benjamin Wade) Their only child son Schuyler Colfax III was born in 1870

Colfax is best remembered (if at all) for his involvement in the corruption that beset Grantrsquos entire presidency Specifically the Credit Mobilier scandal broke in 1872 just as Grant and Colfax were gearing up for their re-election campaign Colfax was suspected of accepting shares of stock and cash bribes from ldquoCredit Mobilierrdquo a dummy construction company set up by the Union Pacific Railroad He was by no means the only influential person involved in the scandal Other political figures investigated included Senators Roscoe Conkling of New York William Allison of Iowa John Logan of Illinois James Bayard of Delaware and Henry Wilson of Massachusetts Grant was less popular in 1872 than he had been four years earlier and many Republicans worried that having Colfax on the partyrsquos ticket would harm the presidentrsquos re-election chances They dumped Colfax from the ticket mdash only to replace him with the also-tainted Wilson Grant won re-election and served his second and final term from 1873-1877 After being forced out from the vice presidency Colfax traveled the country as a popular lecturer often speaking about his interactions with Abraham Lincoln during the Civil War He rebuilt his tarnished reputation and commanded speaking fees as high as $2500

At 10 am on Jan 13 1885 Schuyler Colfax arrived in Mankato aboard a train from Milwaukee Mankato was just a

brief stop for Colfax who was on his way to Iowa for a speaking engagement The Chicago Milwaukee amp St Paul as well as the Chicago St Paul Minneapolis amp Omaha railroads both had depots in Mankato but because they were separate competing railroad lines Colfax was required to change trains by walking three-quarters of a mile from the Chicago Milwaukee amp St Paul depot at the foot of Hickory Street to the Chicago St Paul Minneapolis amp Omaha depot at Fourth and Washington Streets (now Washington Park) from which the next leg of his journey would depart Despite a reported temperature of 30 degrees below zero Colfax walked from one station to the other Within five minutes after he arrived at the Omaha linersquos depot Colfax entered the waiting room looked at a map on the wall sat down and died It was 1035 am No one in the station knew who the dead man actually was until they searched his pockets and found a letter with his name on it His death was likely caused by a heart attack brought on by the physical exertion of walking almost a mile in extreme cold Colfax was only 61 when he died His remains were returned to South Bend Indiana for burial

Today few Americans are aware that anyone named Schuyler Colfax ever lived much less served as vice president of the United States In this era in which officeholders are often treated as celebrities imagine how surprised people would be to learn that a former vice president died cold alone and unrecognized in a train station 131 years ago Before 24-hour news channels smart phones and social media it was possible for public figures like Colfax to live ndash and die ndash in relative obscurity Ironically Colfax loved the railroad but in the end it was the cause of his undoing Mankato has the distinction of being the location where the last man to personally speak to Abraham Lincoln in a private conversation took his last breath

MM p01 0116indd 27 12182015 24549 PM

28 bull January 2016 bull MANKATO MAGAZINE

Mayo Clinic offers pediatric and adolescent orthopedic services right here in Mankato Todd Milbrandt MD cares for patients with a variety of needs including

bull Cerebral palsy

bull Clubfoot

bull Hip disorders

bull Spinal disorders

bull Sports injuries

bull Scoliosis

bull Spina bifida

Mayo Clinic Health System in Mankato Call 1-877-412-7575 (toll-free) to schedule an appointment

495rdquox495rdquo Mankato Magazine January

Orthopedic care for your child

Independent ampAssisted Living

EQUAL HOUSINGOPPORTUNITY

1360 Adams StreetMankato MN

PrimroseRetirementcom

reg

Key City Senior Breakfast ClubThe Key City Senior Breakfast Club meets the first Thursday of each month from 830 AM - 930 AM at Primrose Retirement Community The club gives those 55+ the opportunity to meet new friends and visit old ones socialize with Key City Officials and enjoy a delicious home-cooked breakfast To visit a Key City Senior Breakfast please call (866) 447-9636

Mark your calendar for these breakfast dates Thursday January 7th Thursday March 3rd and Thursday May 5th

刀椀渀最 椀渀 琀栀攀 

一攀眀 夀攀愀爀

㔀 㜀ⴀ㤀㐀ⴀ㐀㐀䨀甀氀攀攀猀䨀攀眀攀氀爀礀挀漀洀

椀渀 匀愀椀渀琀 倀攀琀攀爀

20765 Foley Rd Mankato MN | 5073872434 | 5077262411

Three TimeNational Award Winners

MM p02 0116indd 28 12182015 30742 PM

Mayo Clinic offers pediatric and adolescent orthopedic services right here in Mankato Todd Milbrandt MD cares for patients with a variety of needs including

bull Cerebral palsy

bull Clubfoot

bull Hip disorders

bull Spinal disorders

bull Sports injuries

bull Scoliosis

bull Spina bifida

Mayo Clinic Health System in Mankato Call 1-877-412-7575 (toll-free) to schedule an appointment

495rdquox495rdquo Mankato Magazine January

Orthopedic care for your child

Independent ampAssisted Living

EQUAL HOUSINGOPPORTUNITY

1360 Adams StreetMankato MN

PrimroseRetirementcom

reg

Key City Senior Breakfast ClubThe Key City Senior Breakfast Club meets the first Thursday of each month from 830 AM - 930 AM at Primrose Retirement Community The club gives those 55+ the opportunity to meet new friends and visit old ones socialize with Key City Officials and enjoy a delicious home-cooked breakfast To visit a Key City Senior Breakfast please call (866) 447-9636

Mark your calendar for these breakfast dates Thursday January 7th Thursday March 3rd and Thursday May 5th

OMG hellip More food and drinksOK sure

By now yoursquore probably thinking ldquoOh my gosh the last thing I want to think about right now is more food more drinking and more diningrdquo

Fair enough We get it The holidays are murder on the metabolism of many many Minnesotans

But we also know that those metabolisms are hardy and soon enough theyrsquoll be hankering for a hunk of something yummy and full of fun And whatrsquos more yummy and full of fun than a big glass of Cabernet Sauvignon Our wine guy Leigh Pomeroy takes us on a tour of all that is tasty and wonderful about big red wines the kind that leave their mark the kind that really announce their presence on your palate

And just in case yoursquore super serious about a healthy lifestyle mdash and that seriousness extends to the kind of beer you choose mdash Bert Mattson our beer guy has just the selection for you Best part is Itrsquos light

Oh and under the category of ldquoDid you hear about thisrdquo Wersquove got an update for you on the Coffee Hag Mankatorsquos original coffee house and one of the most popular hangouts in town Seriously some days itrsquos hard to find a seat in that place

EnjoyPS We know that baby itrsquos cold outside mdash thatrsquos why wersquove

thrown you our absolute best hot cocoa recipe

Enjoymdash Robb Murray Associate Editor Mankato Magazine

food drink amp dineso

uthern m

n style

20765 Foley Rd Mankato MN | 5073872434 | 5077262411

Three TimeNational Award Winners

MM p02 0116indd 29 12182015 30745 PM

MANKATO 5073854485 AMBOY 5076743355 I VERNON CENTER 5075493679

INSURANCE OFFICES LOCATED IN THE COMMUNITY BANK BUILDINGS

wwwcimankatocom

Protecting the things that matter most in your life

Let us help protect what is important to you At Community Insurance we have the ability to compare insurance from multiple companies to get you the best coverage at a great price Combine that with our insurance knowledge and friendly group of agents and we say thatrsquos a winning deal

WHERE YOUR POLICY COMES WITH AN AGENT

Christina Meyer

Food

south

ern mn style

Food

south

ern mn style

By The Washington Post

Growing up my mother always encouraged her children to cook So when

I found a recipe for hot chocolate on the side of the Hersheyrsquos Cocoa can it was easy to convince her to let me give it a try

What I discovered was that hot chocolate doesnrsquot have to come from an envelope

This recipe has been a favorite of mine to make on days when winter weather has convinced me stay home and off the roads Itrsquos the perfect way to kill time and have a nice hot drink to warm you up on those chilly days

Although you can top it with whipped cream I prefer marshmallows

FAVORITE HOT COCOAMakes 4 to 6 servings

12 cup sugar14 cup unsweetened cocoa powder

Dash of salt13 cup hot water

4 cups milk34 teaspoon vanilla extract

Whipped cream or marshmallows (optional)

Mix sugar cocoa powder salt and water in a sauce pan Stir constantly over medium heat until mixture comes to a boil (about 2 minutes) Stir in

milk and heat Bring the hot chocolate to the desired temperature but do not boil Remove from heat and

add the vanilla extract Divide into mugs and top with whipped cream or marshmallows

PERFECTLY CHOCOLATE HOT COCOA

Makes 1 serving

2 tablespoons sugar2 tablespoons unsweetened cocoa powder

Dash salt1 cup milk

14 teaspoon vanilla extractWhipped cream or marshmallows (optional)

Mix sugar cocoa powder and salt into large mug In separate microwave-safe container heat on high

for 1 to 1 frac12 minutes or until very hot Carefully and gradually add milk to dry mixture Stir well Add vanilla extract Top with whipped cream or

marshmallows

Simple homemade hot chocolate

beats the winter chill

30 bull January 2016 bull MANKATO MAGAZINE

MM p02 0116indd 30 12182015 30752 PM

MANKATO MAGAZINE  bull January 2016 bull 31

Oil Change to OverhaulWe do it all

507-387-13151620 Commerce Drive North MankatowwwAustinsAutoRepairCentercom

Voted Best Auto Repair and Best Auto Mechanic 4 Years in a Row

AUSTINrsquoS AUTO REPAIR CENTER INC

MANKATO 5073854485 AMBOY 5076743355 I VERNON CENTER 5075493679

INSURANCE OFFICES LOCATED IN THE COMMUNITY BANK BUILDINGS

wwwcimankatocom

Protecting the things that matter most in your life

Let us help protect what is important to you At Community Insurance we have the ability to compare insurance from multiple companies to get you the best coverage at a great price Combine that with our insurance knowledge and friendly group of agents and we say thatrsquos a winning deal

WHERE YOUR POLICY COMES WITH AN AGENT

Christina Meyer

MM p02 0116indd 31 12182015 30755 PM

32 bull January 2016 bull MANKATO MAGAZINE

January is Cabernet TimeWersquove celebrated nearly

every January edition of Mankato Magazine with

a paean to BIG REDS And since there are so many wonderful examples why stop now

Last year I wrote about the powerful big reds of Italy This January wersquoll focus on Cabernet Sauvignon known to many as ldquothe king of winesrdquo Most oenophiles (wine lovers) consider the quintessential representations of this grape to be the classified Bordeaux of southwest France near the city of Bordeaux The five First Growths (or best wines according to a classification made in 1855 and updated in 1973) are Ch Lafite Rothschild Ch Margaux Ch Latour Ch Haut Brion and Ch Mouton Rothschild All have a cabernet sauvignon base but they are blended with merlot and often a little bit of cabernet franc and petit verdot as well

In the early 1970s I was able to buy these wines for around $22 per bottle mdash about $120 in 2016 dollars Yet with the popularity of ldquocollectiblerdquo wines on a worldwide

basis they sell today for anywhere from $400 on up

Contrary to popular belief these wines are not that massive Rather they combine cabernet sauvignon power with

structure and finesse yielding wines that become with time elixirs that are greater than the sum of their parts

Both California and Washington state have taken up the Cabernet Sauvignon challenge and are producing world-class wines at sometimes world-class prices Napa Valley is the recognized leader in this arena and rightly so Napa Valleyrsquos top Cabernet

Wine amp B

eerso

uthern m

n style

winesBy Leigh Pomeroy

Leigh Pomeroy is a Mankato-based writer and wine lover

Cabernet Sauvignon is the black Labrador of wines mdash it comes up and licks yourdquo

mdash Winemaker Scott Rich

Sauvignons rival the great wines of Bordeaux for quality mdash Irsquove tasted them side-by-side mdashand yet can sell for a fraction of their price

One such example is the 2013 Tulocay Cabernet Sauvignon from my old friend Bill Cadman We were young bucks in Napa Valley and had a tasting group in the early 1970s along with now-famous wine luminaries Bruce Neyers (Neyers Vineyards) and Mike Richmond (co-founder of Acacia Vineyard)

Billrsquos Cabernet is from an old and relatively cool growing area east of the City of Napa called Coombsville which because of industry political issues only recently received its AVA (American Viticultural Area) designation It is priced at $60 per bottle yet compares with any top-flight Bordeaux as well as the more expensive offerings from Napa Valley which can cost from $100 on up Not currently available at wine stores or restaurants in Minnesota it can be purchased by contacting the winery directly via its website tulocaycom The winery is so small that Bill will probably answer the phone himself

There is a lot of Cabernet Sauvignon available from California but mdash caveat emptor mdash not all growing areas (or appellations) are the same The best Cabernet Sauvignons are from Napa and Sonoma Counties Cabernets simply labeled ldquoCaliforniardquo or perhaps ldquoCoastalrdquo while sometimes good values lack the complexity of the greater Cabernet Sauvignons from the more northern parts of the state

Washington state has also

established itself as a prime producer of Cabernet Sauvignon But here again quality can vary greatly depending upon the area and producer While there is no ldquogo-tordquo appellation for Cabernet Sauvignon in Washington there are producers that are able to secure fruit from the best vineyards

One such example is the tiny Willis Hall Winery owned by another good friend John Bell a former Boeing jet propulsion engineer Like Tulocay its wines are only available by calling up the winery and ordering some (See willishallcom) But there are many other top quality producers in Washington like Quilceda Creek Leonetti Betz Family and Woodward Canyon

Of course not everyone can afford Cabernet Sauvignons in the $60-plus category One excellent everyday drinking example is the Flying Cloud 2013 Paso Robles Cabernet Sauvignon made by Mankato native Stephen Dooley Normally I donrsquot like Paso Robles Cabs as they tend to be too fruity and too soft for my palate mdash almost like drinking berry jam But this one is quite restrained no doubt helped by the inclusion of 13 percent zinfandel and 9 percent petite sirah in the blend

In Mankato both the Wine Cafeacute and MGM carry the Flying Cloud but at its price and quality I wouldnrsquot count on it lasting for long especially since only 759 cases were produced

So letrsquos raise a glass of Cabernet and say ldquoCheersrdquo to the New Year

MM p02 0116indd 32 12182015 30756 PM

MANKATO MAGAZINE  bull January 2016 bull 33

Bert Mattson is a chef and writer based in St Paul He is the manager of the iconic Mickeyrsquos Diner

Beer Skinny

BeerBy Bert Mattson

Last year according to Nielsen research staying fit and healthy was

the number one New Yearrsquos resolution Losing weight was two Three was to enjoy life to the fullest Unfortunately ldquolose weight and get fitrdquo also topped Time magazinersquos list of commonly broken resolutions Is this shortfall due to tension between the top two and that third one If so craft beer may have a role in the compromise Bad news first

In the context of losing weight and staying fit beer lovers might seek solace in the fact that fat carries nine calories per gram while alcohol has only seven The wrinkle is that those seven are ldquoemptyrdquo mdash calories without nutrition as opposed to those from fat protein and carbohydrates Moreover alcoholrsquos calories are the first burned when combined with the others the human body postpones burning fat while it works on alcohol Furthermore beer (and wine and often cocktails) contains carbohydrates which release insulin and can hasten fat storage Finally many drinkers have undoubtedly observed that alcohol loosens inhibitions after which an eager indulgence in unhealthy foods often occurs (Bar menus are rarely helpful in that respect)

By now you may wonder whose side Irsquom actually on Or suspect Irsquove led you to this dark place only to offer you a Lite No worries a couple craft brewers have been considering ways to keep us true to our resolutions

Evil Twin Brewingrsquos Bikini Beer drops the alcohol to 27 percent but stays bold by way of hops A Pale Ale it hits the nose with citrus suggestive of IPA The flavor follows suit floral and lemon There is an expected absence of malt yielding to bitterness up front that fades at the finish An alternative

for those who insist on the full effect Founderrsquos Brewing Companyrsquos All Day IPA rings in at a respectable 144 calories (Evil Twinrsquos entry comes in at 81)

One strategy to beat the beer munchies and avoid costly impulse eating is to have suitable chow on hand With Bikini Beer try a salad sporting blue cheese and some sort of dried fruit Creamy blue veined cheeses echo the hops while balancing bitterness An occasional bite of dried fruit stands in for malt sweetness

Brooklyn Breweryrsquos 12 Ale weighs in at 34 percent alcohol (102 calories) It is alliteratively labeled ldquoSession Saisonrdquo It opens with a waft of citrus and spice and a little lemongrass from Sorachi Ace hops mdash a hybrid developed in East Asia The same elements are found in the flavor which is a bit more subdued than a full-sized Saison

Try it with a tangle of arugula dressed with lemon and a fruity olive oil tossed with pine nuts and topped with shaved Parmesan for effect The greens and cracked pepper reflect spicy phenolic elements in the yeast Salty cheese counters the beerrsquos lingering bitterness Maybe add a few slices of Speck cured ham and Saison share a certain funkiness

If friends show and it becomes a session you may honestly say you spent Saturday working on your six-pack

MM p02 0116indd 33 12182015 30757 PM

34 bull January 2016 bull MANKATO MAGAZINE

Food

south

ern mn style

Food

south

ern mn style

The Coffee Hag one of the arearsquos oldest (and coolest) bistros recently underwent a major expansion and remodeling journey culminating in a large and airy

seating area along with a much-improved kitchen and a new menu Mankato Magazine caught up with a very busy (and slightly exhausted) owner Jenn Melby-Kelly who weighs in on how itrsquos going

MANKATO MAGAZINE Are you personally enjoying the new updatesJENN MELBY-KELLY It Is Fabulous The new space represents so much more than a remodel to me It has brought to life a vision for my business thatrsquos been years in the making It incorporates many many good ideas from many many people I feel so fortunate to get to see that every time I walk through the door

MM How are customers reactingJMK Thatrsquos been one of the best parts The response has been overwhelmingly positive

A few of our most regular customers had the opportunity to get a glimpse of the remodel while it was underway (we gave some informal preview tours while we were operating the temporary stand outside) but many customers walk through the door now and see it all for the first time Itrsquos especially fun to see and hear that kind of wide-eyed reaction

A few people with special connections to The Hag have had even stronger emotional responses and Irsquom so touched and right there with them when I see eyes well up as they see what wersquove done Itrsquos a very big milestone for a very special place and wersquore blessed to have people that care so deeply

MM Do the employees appreciate the new spaceJMK Oh probably more than anyone There was a lot that we sought to do with the remodel but creating a bigger brighter better-equipped space for our team was certainly one of the primary goals Wersquove got an incredible team truly the most spirited and talented people anyone could hope for

Many of them have spent years with me working hard against the challenge of a small under-equipped space and just barely being able to keeping up with growing demand Itrsquos been a special blessing for them and for me to finally have state-of-the-art space thatrsquos made for the work that we do We all feel a special connection to this place and now more than ever the place reflects the good energy we all bring here every day

MM Is the new menu a hit (The Hag specializes in vegetarianvegan cuisine)JMK Yes but just wait Feedback and demand have been excellent with our food offerings already but wersquore just getting started on some of the really exciting things that are coming to our food menu

Remodeling the cafe was just the first major milestone of our two-part expansion plan Next up wersquore building a state of the art off-site commissary kitchen that will do for our incredible culinary team what the remodeled shop has done for our baristas Theyrsquove been working day and night on taking our already fantastic food offerings to a whole new level

Wersquove already introduced some amazing new menu items like the Garden Grilled Cheese panini (trust me itrsquos like nothing yoursquove had before) and some truly outstanding new vegan baked goods Wersquove also improved our classic offerings with house-made

Interview with Jenn Melby-Kelly owner of The Coffee Hag

By Sarah Johnson

MM p02 0116indd 34 12182015 30802 PM

MANKATO MAGAZINE  bull January 2016 bull 35

Happy New Year

Locally Owned amp Operated

Check Weekly Specialsmgmwineandspiritscommankato

Largest Selection ofbull Liquor bull Wine bull Beer bull

Hours Monday-Saturday 8 am - 10 pm

ATMs at all stores

Mankato201 Victory Dr

625-2420

North Mankato1755 Commerce Dr

387-2634

St Peter100 N Minnesota Ave

934-8964

sourdough and whole wheat breads But as impressive as it is already itrsquos just a taste mdash literally mdash of things to come as we bring our new kitchen online

MM Whatrsquos stayed the sameJMK Irsquom really proud to say that while wersquove touched almost every part of this 23-year-old business wersquove kept even more than we have changed From the first days of this project I made it my personal mission and responsibility to make sure that the ldquosoulrdquo of this special place was only enhanced and never lost as we made the updates

In every area of the remodel as wersquove added some necessary new layers of sophistication The Hagrsquos colorful quirky and even rebellious spirit is still very much a part of the space We did a lot to try to make sure it still looked and felt like ldquohomerdquo

And on a deeper level every step wersquove taken with the growth of our business has been chosen carefully to honor the core parts of The Coffee Hagrsquos identity Our focus on community our support for local art and music our commitment to creating a safe and welcoming space for everyone our efforts to lead the way on social and environmental issues affecting our world near and far mdash those have all stayed the same And those will always be at the heart of what we do

MM Anything elseJMK Irsquom so incredibly grateful for the support of our customers and community And whenever I talk about my business and how it has grown I really canrsquot overstate how thankful I am for my beautiful Coffee Hag family The hard work good energy and earnest contributions of so many people mdash past and present mdash have brought me and my business here An incredible amount of love has gone into this business and made this dream a reality

MM p02 0116indd 35 12222015 121240 PM

36 bull January 2016 bull MANKATO MAGAZINE

xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

Food

south

ern mn style

whatrsquos Cooking By Sarah Johnson

Sarah Johnson is a cook freelance writer and chocolate addict from North Mankato with three grown kids and a couple of mutts

As I was pondering my subject matter for todayrsquos column I started wondering about all the different items the word ldquonutsrdquo can refer

to Crazy people are called nuts so are hexagonal metal objects that attach to bolts Nuts can be the end of things (as in ldquofrom soup to nutsrdquo) or they can be the beginning of them (as in ldquosperm incubatorsrdquo) Nut can also mean onersquos head or onersquos lump of something such as butter And if you accidentally get a nut of butter on your nut you can exclaim ldquoNutsrdquo

My favorite meaning of the word nut however is the dry indehiscent one-seeded fruit with a woody pericarp And I donrsquot even know what indehiscent OR pericarp means But these are the wonderful denizens of the world of edible nuts

Nuts are widely credited with all sorts of health benefits for the heart brain male reproductive system prostate cholesterol level fiber intake and avoidance of some types of cancer And while nuts do contain fat itrsquos the ldquogoodrdquo kind heart-healthy monounsaturated and polyunsaturated fat Their mix of omega-3 fatty acids protein and fiber helps you feel full and suppresses the appetite

Nuts are great in desserts and salads of course but they also shine in stir-fries casseroles soups chicken pork fish and even beverages Nut butters nut milks and nut oils add delicious options to our kitchen larders Breads cereals muffins and pancakes gain texture flavor and nutrition from the addition of nuts Basically anytime is a good time for nuts

Which is a wonderful thing because nuts taste so good you would think they had to be very very bad The reason lies deep in their oils

Walnut Oil is strong and flavorful Itrsquos best when used in uncooked sauces or salad dressing

Hazelnut Oil has a strong flavor and is great for the heart

Almond Oil is very popular and has a much milder flavor than walnut oil or hazelnut oil

Pecan Macadamia Nut Pistachio Cashew and Pine Nut Oils are flavorful and unique The freshness of the nuts used really affects the flavor

ldquoTherersquos Nuttinrsquo Nutty About Nutsrdquo

For the Baklava1 pound pistachios hazelnuts walnuts pecans andor almonds coarsely ground plus more for garnish12 teaspoon ground cinnamon1 cup breadcrumbs4 sticks unsalted butter melted16 sheets phyllo dough (thawed if frozen) cut in half

For the Syrup3 cups sugar1 6 -to-8-ounce jar honey1 frac12 cups water1 to 2 tablespoons fresh lemon juice

If yoursquore under the impression that baklava is much too labor-intensive and complicated to make at home think again Anybody can make

it no special skills equipment or exotic ingredients are required A word about phyllo dough Itrsquos sold in frozen packages so you need to remove the package from the freezer and let it thaw in the fridge 24 hours before you want to make the baklava Then about an hour beforehand remove the package from the fridge and let it sit on the counter

Walnuts or pistachios are the most traditional nuts to fill baklava but using other nuts works wonders as well Simply layer the phyllo with the nut filling and butter bake for an hour and finish with a simple honeyed syrup If you have leftover nuts from the holidays herersquos your chance to use them up

Mixed Nut Baklava

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MANKATO MAGAZINE  bull January 2016 bull 37

MONEY MATTERS WORK SMARTLET COMMUNITY BANK HELP YOUBRING THE TWO TOGETHER

MANKATO - SAINT ANDREWS DR 5073854444MANKATO - MADISON AVE 5076251551VERNON CENTER 5075493679AMBOY 5076743300

JULIE VETTERSR VICE PRESIDENTRETAIL BANKING

We support great causes like yoursAt Community Bank we know good things happen when you have a good bank So we make more possible by keeping banking simple and supportive And by giving you the power that comes with innovative solutions like our Health Savings Account It offers you tax-free savings for future medical expenses Stop by anytime Wersquore always ready to help out a great cause

Position a rack in the lower third of the oven preheat to 350 degrees Combine the nuts cinnamon and breadcrumbs in a bowl

Brush a 9x13-inch baking dish with some of the butter Layer 10 pieces of phyllo in the dish brushing each piece with butter before adding the next (keep the remaining dough covered with a damp towel) Sprinkle a quarter of the nut mixture over the dough Layer four pieces of phyllo on top brushing each with butter before adding the next sprinkle with another quarter of the nut mixture Add four more phyllo pieces on top brushing each with butter then add another quarter of the nut mixture four more pieces of phyllo with butter and the remaining nuts

Layer the remaining 10 pieces of phyllo on top of the nuts brushing each with butter brush the top piece with extra butter Cut into the baklava to make strips about 1 12 inches wide Then make diagonal slices about 1 12 inches apart to create a diamond pattern Bake until golden about one hour

Meanwhile make the syrup Bring the sugar honey and 1 12 cups water to a boil in a saucepan over medium heat and cook 10 to 15 minutes Add the lemon juice and boil 2 more minutes then let cool slightly Pour the syrup over the warm baklava let soak uncovered at least six hours or overnight Garnish with nuts

MM p02 0116indd 37 12182015 30817 PM

38 bull bull MANKATO MAGAZINE

Nell Musolf is a mom and freelance writer from Mankato She blogs at nellmusolfcom

38 bull bull MANKATO MAGAZINE

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MANKATO MAGAZINE  bull January 2016 bull 39

Gear Up for WinterYear-Round amp Insulated Workwear from

Carhartt Dickies and Key

UNIFORMSUniforms fromBarco Carhartt Cherokee DickiesKoi Peaches and White Cross

AMAZED

Call 5073446336mankatomagmankatofreepresscom

Stephanie L Hylla LAc Dipl AcKayla M Sweeney MOm LAc

NEW LOCATION709 S Front Suite 5

5074694788mankatoacupuncturecom

Open House ndash Wednesday Feb 3 9-12noonCelebrating 5 years of Business New Location and the Chinese New Year

In Network with Blue Cross Blue ShieldLicensed by the MN Board of Medical Practice

Ribbon Cutting with Greater Mankato Growth at 10am

(A $250 Value)THIS VOUCHER ENTITLES NEW PATIENTS TO A

CONSULTATION EXAM amp DIGITAL X-RAYS (IF NEEDED)

wwwr igne l l fami lych i roprac t ic comMedicare Restrictions Apply Expires January 31 2016

Dr BrandonRignell DC

1351 Madison AveSuite D

Mankato MN 56001

5077797313

$2900New Patient Special

MM p02 0116indd 39 12222015 121344 PM

40 bull bull MANKATO MAGAZINE

Jean Lundquist is a master gardener who lives near Good Thunder

MM p02 0116indd 40 12182015 30834 PM

MANKATO MAGAZINE  bull January 2016 bull 41

3 Increase the Value of Your Home

3 Update Your Homersquos Appearance

3 Save Money

Choose from SeveralModels Styles amp Colors

507-625-7110 or 1-800-645-36671125 Cross St North Mankato MN

Improve Your HomersquosEnergy Efficiency

422 Park Lane Mankato MN | NuStarMankatocom

(507) 381-4747Voted One of Mankatorsquos Best

DANIEL WINGERT

Make Selling Your Home Your NuYearrsquos Resolution

MM p02 0116indd 41 12182015 30839 PM

42 bull January 2016 bull MANKATO MAGAZINE

January Resolve to moisturize

Your stYLeBy Ann Rosenquist Fee

Ann Rosenquist Fee is executive director of the Arts Center of Saint Peter and a vocalist with The Frye She blogs at annrosenquistfeecom

If you have in-laws or colleagues who know you well enough to have given you holiday gifts

but not well enough to know what wouldrsquove truly made you happy congratulations Chances are yoursquore the proud owner of a bunch of brand-new lip balm

Maybe itrsquos even holiday themed Thatrsquos the best Maybe you got the candy-cane flavored kind or wintergreen with holiday graphics on the label or something like that A theme that was irrelevant the moment the stocking was unstuffed because at that exact second the holiday was over

And here you are in January with an abundance of wax

Fortunately also here you are in the early weeks of winter with rough red knuckles Probably also cracked cuticles although it might not have gone that far yet for you Irsquom sure it has for me This photo was taken back in November and even then the Band-Aids were for real Irsquove learned to cut them in half length-wise so as to retain my ability to type Irsquove also learned to play with a range of color options Flesh-toned Clear Disney characters The colorful strips shown here were gifted to me by my husband Partly why theyrsquore cut in half is that the text is obscene This is one small trick you can use to make bloody cuticles your most exciting accessory of the winter

Sources like UrbanSurvivalSitecom and WonderHowTocom will tell you that you can use lip balm for a whole variety of purposes such as coating threads of outdoor lightbulbs before screwing them into their sockets and enhancing the burn-ability of most kindling

These are great fun but they wonrsquot improve your personal style

More germane to winter beauty are the following suggestions

Keep a tube next to your bed for first-thing-in-the-morning use And I mean really truly first-thing I mean smear the stuff on each cuticle while yoursquore still lying there before you start using your fingers at all If you wake up thinking yoursquore fine and skip cuticle care next thing you know yoursquore pushing down the lever on your Keurig and the pressure is more than your screamingly dry skin can take and boom split blood on the Keurig and itrsquos gonna be a long painful day If only you had balmed your hands before you let your feet hit the floor

Keep another tube in your glove compartment If itrsquos warm enough to take off your mittens in the car mdash if yoursquore even wearing mittens given that your hands are snagging on everything these days mdash the harsh January sunlight will allow you to see cracks and flakes in high-resolution detail Yoursquoll want the balm nearby

to cover what you didnrsquot notice first thing in the morning Also a car tube is useful for when you look in the rear-view mirror and notice that your nose and upper lip are flaking as well Itrsquos because yoursquore getting over a cold and the frequent use of tissue has worn away your top layer of skin but just because you know that doesnrsquot mean everybody else wonrsquot think ldquothere is something in that noserdquo Itrsquos just a fact Itrsquos what it looks like Lip balm to the rescue Itrsquos the only thing dry enough to slick those flakes in place and nourishing enough to maybe actually get your face back to normal

Keep a couple more tubes in a nighttime kit along with sandpaper Sandpaper Yes Not a pumice stone not a lame also-gifted sugar

scrub Medium-grit sandpaper is what you need every night lightly but with conviction As follows 1) Sand taking care not to do more damage than what the elements have already done Yoursquore just trying to remove the dry dead stuff Yoursquore just being hearty and efficient about this true to the culture of this great state in which yoursquove chosen to winter You are no pansy Sand your hands 2) Wash 3) Blot dry 4) Dial up the gifted balm whisper a word of thanks to the person who put so much thought into your well-being that they stuffed your holiday stocking with this amazing gift of self-care smash a healthy amount down into your palms massage Take heart You just might find yourself with normal-textured non-cracked not-horrible-looking hands by morning

Split-open cuticles I feel you Except for these Band-Aids I feel you

Lip balms I have been gifted and these are just from last Christmas ldquolastrdquo as in 2014

Bathrooms Worth Bragging About

HoursTue amp Wed amp Fri | 9 am to 6 pmMon amp Thu | 9 am to 7 pmSaturday | 9 am to 4 pm

219 S Victory Dr | Mankato507 | 345 | 7009ipafhickorytechnetindependentpaintandflooringcom

You Deserve Comfortable Care Every Timebull Sedation - Complete Relaxation with Just a Pillbull Invisalign - Clear Alternative to Bracesbull Botox amp Fillersbull Implants - Placement and Restorationbull Cerec - One Visit Crown Technology

bull Free Whitening Programbull 3D Imaging with Fewer X-Raysbull Cosmetic Dentistrybull Drill-Free Technologybull Emergency Care

1400 Lookout Drive North Mankato507-625-CARE(2273) bull mankatodentistcom 06

1865

6124

01

Dr AngelA Schuck

Dr keith FlAck

MM p02 0116indd 42 12182015 30841 PM

MANKATO MAGAZINE  bull January 2016 bull 43

Bathrooms Worth Bragging About

HoursTue amp Wed amp Fri | 9 am to 6 pmMon amp Thu | 9 am to 7 pmSaturday | 9 am to 4 pm

219 S Victory Dr | Mankato507 | 345 | 7009ipafhickorytechnetindependentpaintandflooringcom

You Deserve Comfortable Care Every Timebull Sedation - Complete Relaxation with Just a Pillbull Invisalign - Clear Alternative to Bracesbull Botox amp Fillersbull Implants - Placement and Restorationbull Cerec - One Visit Crown Technology

bull Free Whitening Programbull 3D Imaging with Fewer X-Raysbull Cosmetic Dentistrybull Drill-Free Technologybull Emergency Care

1400 Lookout Drive North Mankato507-625-CARE(2273) bull mankatodentistcom 06

1865

6124

01

Dr AngelA Schuck

Dr keith FlAck

(944) 412-7949 | OrthoEdgeMNcom

Enjoy the season

Mankato St Peter

Be active Be healthyBe able with OrthoEdge

The OrthoEdge joint replacement

program offers superb care from your first

visit through recovery The surgeons from

the Orthopaedic amp Fracture Clinic and

the care team at Riverrsquos Edge Hospital

provide personal and professional care to

get you back to able

Why Riverrsquos Edge Hospital amp Clinic

bull Riverrsquos Edge Hospital amp Clinic has a long-

standing relationship with the Orthopaedic

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MM p02 0116indd 43 12182015 30842 PM

44 bull January 2016 bull MANKATO MAGAZINE

1 Hicktown Mafia800 pm mdash New Ulm Event Center mdash 301 20th St S mdash New Ulm mdash $10 mdash 507-354-4673

7-9 Mankato West Orchesis Dance Team showcase7 pm Thursday-Saturday 2 pm Saturday mdash Mankato West High School Auditorium mdash $7 adults $5 students mdash 507-381-7578

10 Mankato Symphony Orchestra Music on the Hill II ldquoMinnesota rootsrdquo2 pm mdash Chapel at Good Counselmdash Good Counsel Drive mdash Mankato mdash $17 $12 mdash wwwmankatosymphonycom

16 Handel with Caremdash Handel Goes to Italy11 ammdash YMCA Aerobics Studio mdash 1401 S Riverfront Drive mdash Mankato mdash wwwmankatosymphonycom

16 Mankato Craft beer Expo2 pm (VIP) 3 pm general mdash Verizon Wireless Center mdash $45 VIP $35 general $10 designated driver mdash wwwmankatocraftbeerexpocom

23 Joey Flip and Mike Fugazzi rockinrsquo at the Embassy9 pm mdash Blaschkorsquos Embassy Bar and Grill mdash 325 S Minnesota Ave mdash St Peter mdash 507-934-3903

24 andrea Lyn and Dick Kimmel concert730 pm mdash Elias J Halling Recital Hall mdash Minnesota State University mdash Mankato mdash $12 regular $11 current MSU students mdash wwwmnusedumusic

28-31 MSu Theatre antigone730 pm Thursday-Saturday 2 pm Sunday mdash Andreas Theatre mdash Minnesota State University mdash Mankato mdash $16 regular $14 discount $11 current MSU students mdash wwwmnsuedu

29-31 BLC Theatre Brigadoon730 Friday and Saturday 2 pm Sunday mdash Ylvisaker Fine Arts Center mdash Bethany Lutheran College mdash Mankato mdash $10 adults $6 seniors children and students mdash wwwblceduevents

29- Feb 7 Winterfest St Peter Citywide mdash wwwstpeterchamberorg

30 Church of Cash a Tribute to Johnny Cash7 pm mdash St Peter American Legion mdash 229 W Nassau St mdash St Peter mdash 507-934-6435

31 Maud Hixson and rick Carlson concert730 pmmdash Elias J Halling Recital Hall mdash Minnesota State University mdash Mankato mdash $12 regular $11 current MSU students wwmnsuedumusic

Coming attraCtions January

T - F 8am - 6pm Sun ClosedSat 9am - 4pmM 8am - 8pm

120 North Broad Street Mankato MN 507-345-4688 wwwmeyerandsonstvandappliancecom

FIND SPECIAL DEALS ON

MM p02 0116indd 44 12182015 30902 PM

MANKATO MAGAZINE  bull January 2016 bull 45

St Peter Craft amp Vendor Show

1MelinadaBussefromRapidansoldherhandmadejewelryatthecraftandvendorshow

2DarylfromElysianandhishand-carvedwoodart

3MacKennaage7hasfunatoneoftheboothsattheStPeterCraftandVendorShow

4LizEntershowsoffsomeofherproductsattheldquoItWorksrdquobooth

5DenisePetersofldquoYoungLivingrdquoessentialoilsdisplayedherproductsattheshow

Faces amp Places Photos By Sport Pix

3

5

2

1

4

T - F 8am - 6pm Sun ClosedSat 9am - 4pmM 8am - 8pm

120 North Broad Street Mankato MN 507-345-4688 wwwmeyerandsonstvandappliancecom

FIND SPECIAL DEALS ON

MM p02 0116indd 45 12222015 121536 PM

46 bull January 2016 bull MANKATO MAGAZINE

SOUTHErN MN CHrISTMAS

FESTIVAL1 A large crowd was on hand during the festivities at

the Christmas Festival2 Friesenrsquos Family Bakery amp Bistro had tons of baked

goods and soups at the Verizon Wireless Center3 A childrenrsquos choir sang for the audience at the

festival4 Ron Haefner owner of Ronrsquos Auto Repair displayed

some of his services5 Garrison Galatz dressed up as Santa for the

Christmas Festival

faCes amp PLaCes Photos By Sport Pix

4

3

1

2

5

MM p02 0116indd 46 12182015 30923 PM

MANKATO MAGAZINE  bull January 2016 bull 47

1GirlScouttroop34494waspresentedwithatrophybyKiwanisVicePresidentKyleMrozek

2SantaClausevenwentthroughtheparaderoute3(LtoR)BrooklynPomrankeAlaynaLyonsHunterPomrankeandLilyLyonsgetagroupphototakenwithSanta

4MarshaMartigtellsSantawhatshewantsforChristmas

5TheparadefloatswerealldeckedoutinChristmaslights

6Visitorswalkthepatharoundtheparktoviewthisyearrsquoslights

Kiwanis Holiday ligHtsFaces amp Places Photos By sport Pix

2

1

3

4 5

6

MM p02 0116indd 47 12222015 121616 PM

48 bull January 2016 bull MANKATO MAGAZINE

On the Occasion of a 50th Reunion

the Class of 1965

from this VaLLeYBy Pete Steiner

Peter Steiner is host of ldquoTalk of the Townrdquo weekdays at 105 pm on KTOE

I was honored to give the presentation for our 50th class reunion recently at West Highrsquos Homecoming celebration About 120 of our nearly 400-member class

showed up We Baby Boomers the children of the greatest generation had big classes in the late lsquo60rsquos that forced the building of East High Ours was a dramatic era and our class did some great things in the face of big challenges Here edited is some of what I said

I am so glad to be standing here today Therersquos an old saying

ldquoMay you live in INTErESTINg timeshelliprdquo The Class of rsquo65 certainly has Itrsquos seems like only yesterday right after lunch that we were at our desks waiting for the start of English class when our charismatic teacher Harry Fitterer strode in and said ldquoPrESIDENT KENNEDY HAS BEEN SHOT IN DALLASrdquo At first we didnrsquot believe him but it was true It was November 22 1963 We were juniors and as the song says that was THE END OF THE INNOCENCE We had lived through the last idyllic time in America

When we first arrived in the fall of 1962 America was still carefree basking in the glow of victory in WW II Everything may have seemed ldquorightrdquo but it was not Martin Luther King Jr had just visited Mankato pointing out the continuing plight of black Americans as the Civil rights movement was gaining steam The beginnings of the Vietnam War which would alter the course of many of our lives were stirring even as we studied history and government The current generation has no monopoly on forgettable pop music ndash we had a stupid 1 song called ldquoItsie Bitsie Teenie Weenie Yellow Polka Dot Bikinirdquo (unfortunately an ear worm I canrsquot forget) But a darker cultural threat was looming The BEATLES were invading from Britain and our parents were mortified because they had LONg HAIr

Some of the shock of the Kennedy assassination was eased when our wrestling team in the era when the state still had just ONE CLASS won the State Championship in front of a packed hall up at MSU some still maintain that is the greatest single athletic achievement in Mankato history We were the first high school in Mankato to put on a full-scale musical ldquoBye Bye Birdierdquo in the spring of 1964 In Fall of 1964 our football team would have won the conference championship outright except Owatonnarsquos great Noel Jenke who would go on to star for the U of M

cheated I watched him trap the touchdown pass that beat us Does cheating pay Was that a lesson for life

In lsquo65 we also had a fine basketball team that lost our chance at State when our 6-6 center fouled out at Luverne

BUT A FAr BIggEr CHALLENgE AWAITED US ALL As we rode out to Luverne to watch that game we couldnrsquot help noticing the highway was like a canyon between walls of snow The legendary St Patrickrsquos Day Blizzard had dumped two feet on top of an already large snow pack and then April brought rains on frozen ground Instead of coming here to school many of us soon got a real-life assignment to go out in our rain gear out on the dikes to battle the grEAT FLOOD OF 1965 Our school became an island as water flooded the parking lot and all of South riverfront Our spring play that year was called ironically

THE DESPErATE HOUrS We had to rehearse at roosevelt School up on higher ground

Our class produced three Merit scholars One of our classmates who did NOT qualify

for a merit scholarship nevertheless was such a whiz at physics that NASA requested a copy of a paper he wrote on rocketry as a senior We produced 12 doctors one of whom earned a fellowship at Stanford seeking how to bring telemedicine to the poor another of whom became a breakthrough cancer doctor We had entrepreneurs one who would go on to be a leader in Solar Energy (and then run for governor of New Hampshire) Another mdash a woman incidentally when

that was not common founded two bio-tech startups Many of us are still working

past normal retirement age One founded a company on the leading edge of recycling

computers whose clients include the NSA Another is chief medical officer of a company

devising a better tool for colonoscopies Yet another of our classmates recently completed a concert tour of China

We lived in challenging times just as you do today but we muddle through we make it to the other shore I remember sitting where you are 50 years ago thinking how old those folks up there looked But remember Life goes by very quickly You certainly live in interesting times as Shakespeare said ldquoPresent Mirth has Present Laughter Youthrsquos a stuff will NOT endurerdquo So I urge you live each moment to the fullest

MM p02 0116indd 48 12182015 30933 PM

MM p02 0116indd 49 12182015 30936 PM

MM p02 0116indd 50 12182015 30948 PM

Page 7: Mankatomag 116

When it comes to your financial future a single view-point isnrsquot always enough Our trusted advisers work as

a team providing you the benefit of multiple CFPreg professionals and decades of experience When you are

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Why Settle for Less

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1660 Commerce Drive Suite 2North Mankato MN 56003507-625-8452wwwedwardjonescom

Member SIPC

Schedule a complimentaryportfolio review

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5073876031 wwweidebai l lycomFinancial Advisor offers Investment Advisory Services through Eide Bailly Advisors LLC a Registered Investment Advisor Securities offered through United Planners Financial Services Member of FINRA and SIPC Eide Bailly Financial Services LLC is the holding company for Eide Bailly Advisors LLC Eide Bailly Financial Services and its subsidiaries are not affiliated with United Planners

Ryan Spaude Financial Advisor

MM p01 0116indd 5 12222015 115613 AM

6 bull bull MANKATO MAGAZINE

MM

MM p01 0116indd 6 12222015 115714 AM

MANKATO MAGAZINE  bull January 2016 bull 7

xxxxxx

BUILDING AUTOMOTIONAND INTEGRATION CONTROLS

HEATING AND COOLING SYSTEMS

SECURITY

ldquoTodays leading experts to help you for a better tomorrowrdquoldquoTodays leading experts to help you for a better tomorrowrdquo

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Please call for a free consultation and estimate

KnowYourRisk

Take chargeof your healthwith monthlyself-examsand annual

mammograms

it

Mankato Clinic joins usin raising awareness ofthe importance of early

detection in the fightagainst breast cancerand the importance ofcontinued support for

breast cancer research

MM p01 0116indd 7 12182015 24435 PM

Friday January 3 1890Magnificent Showing for 1889Over $70000 Expended on Streets Waterworks and Sewers(compared to 2014 dollars this could amount to as much as $86000000 dollars)

The most important of the public works accomplished this year is the construction of a pumping station the purchase of a magnificent holly pump and the completion of the large one-million gallon reservoir The discovery of a suitable water supply was made last year but it was left to be developed this year by the sinking of two large artesian wells to a depth of more than 600 feet

The next is important as having over a mile of sewer on second street Other improvements Completion of the Tourtellotte Hospital and the purchase of additional hose for the fire department

Friday January 7 1910County Board is Wrestling with Bills in Ledbeter CaseThiel Detective Agency wants to be paid for booze and treats entertaining deputy sheriff and farmers Lady Sleuth was employed on jobThiel Detective Agency employed a woman Paid for parties on the County dime In 1910 Though not mentioned in the printed story Mrs Ledbeter was accused of murdering her husband Holland several years her elder

The County Board met this afternoon wrestling with bills that had been presented to it for services rendered in connection with the trials of Frank Smith and Mrs Grace Ledbeter

County Auditor Weaver states the cost of these trials will be between $8000 and $10000 but he wonrsquot know the exact figure for several days

The Thiel Detective Agency has put in a bill for $49835 for services largely consisting of railway fare hotel bills etc One of the items under date Nov 23-30 and Dec 1-4 is ldquodrinks cigars etc with Deputy Sheriff $405rdquo

The next item is ldquotreats and expenses with farmers and others during investigation $2215rdquo

A lady detective seems to have been employed on the case for a time making a trip to St Louis and other places

Tuesday January 3 1961Twins are first lsquoBago Births of the year

Fraternal twins were the first births in Winnebago at the Community Hospital in 1961 Mr and Mrs Eldren Jaegerrsquos boy was born at 1055 Sunday and the girl arrived at 1115 AM The boy weighed 5 pounds 8 12 ounces The girl hit the scale at 5 pounds 2 and a quarter ounces The Jaergers who operate a farm at rural Amboy have seven other children ranging in age from Sandra 18 in nursersquos training at St Josephrsquos Hospital in Mankato to 4-year-old Joel

Tuesday January 3 1928Cafes and Dance Halls Scenes of Gaiety Quiet for New Yearrsquos Police Report Cold Wave Sends Revelers Home at Early HourMinus 18 degrees Fahrenheit is just too cold to have fun on New Yearrsquos Eve

Liquor that did not flow too liberally and the extreme cold weather conspired to make the celebration of the coming of the new year in Mankato not too boisterous ldquoIt was a quiet timerdquo commented Chiefof Police Jake Hilgers ldquoProbably quieter than last yearrdquo Only one arrest was made as against 3 last New Yearrsquos The arrest was of a man found lying in the railroad yards intoxicated The tips of his fingers were frozen and itrsquos believed if he had not been discovered he would have frozen to death

This DAy in hisToryBy Jean Lundquist

MM p01 0116indd 8 12182015 24437 PM

Corporate GraphicsYour Printing Solutions Company

1750 Northway DriveNorth Mankato MN 56003

800-729-7575wwwcorpgraphcom

May your 2016 be

Filled with color and

delight

MANKATO MAGAZINE  bull January 2016 bull 9

The GAllery Ellen Schofield Story by Nell Musolf

After graduat ing from the University of Minnesota in 2012 with a Masterrsquos of Fine

Arts degree in graphic design Ellen Schofield was delighted when three months later she was offered a teaching position at Minnesota State University She expected that she would have to move elsewhere and was happy that she would be able to stay in her own state

ldquoThere were about 10 positions open around the time I graduatedrdquo Schofield said ldquowhich was really quite a lot I expected that Irsquod have to move so it was great to be hired by MSUrdquo

Schofield teaches introductory level graphic design classes as well as a special concept class that helps students fire up their creativity

ldquoIn the special concept class we do mind mapping brainstorming and once a semester I bring in an improv comedian because studies have proven that improv comedians have the most creative ideas of any other professionrdquo Schofield said ldquoThe class does theater warm ups and they really seem to enjoy it We also focus on the lsquoyes andrsquo theory in that classrdquo

The ldquoyes andrdquo theory agrees with an idea and then expounds on it with enthusiasm mdash the ldquoandrdquo part

ldquoCollege students often want to look cool all the timerdquo Schofield remarked

ldquoThe lsquoyes andrsquo theory pushes past that and opens up creativityrdquo

Schofield defines graphic design as thinking made visual

ldquoGraphic design is everywhere Itrsquos logos for businesses and icons and even the tax return papers given out by the IRS are examples of graphic design and had to have been designed by some poor personrdquo Schofield said ldquoA goal of a graphic designer is to create something that anyone can understand as soon as they look at itrdquo

Before becoming a graduate student Schofield ran her own graphic design business and has continued the business on a smaller scale now that she is teaching Her personal preference in graphic design is to create icons

ldquoI tend to like iconographyrdquo Schofield said ldquoIcons can be mdash and I think should be mdash simple and elegant and tell whoever sees them something about the business they representrdquo

Schofield worked with the Childrenrsquos Museum of Southern Minnesota to create its icon an experience she enjoyed

ldquoI wanted to make it something that would appeal to kids and their parents as well The Childrenrsquos Museum has such a cool space mdash it needed an icon that would let people know what a truly cool place it isrdquo Schofield said

When working with a graphic design client Schofield likes to have ldquolots and lotsrdquo of conversations

ldquoGetting to know clients is important We talk a lot so that I can find out what a client feels passionate about when it comes to their business The goal is to find something that makes them unique and then create a graphic design that reflects thatrdquo Schofield said

Shofield said her favorite artistic tool is the art departmentrsquos laser cutter

ldquoItrsquos like the worldrsquos fanciest scissorsrdquo Schofield said ldquoIt can cut just about anything and does an amazing job Itrsquos so much fun to work withrdquo

Schofield is working with MSU colleague David Rogers on a project using the laser cutter called ldquoPaper State Flowersrdquo Schofield and Rogers are using typographic state abbreviations combined with paper flowers Their progress can be viewed at wwwpaperstateflowerscom and the final results will be shown at an art gallery in Hutchinson in October

Schofield originally planned to become an engineer but after taking a class in graphic design she changed her mind

ldquoIrsquom a visual personal and I fell in love with designrdquo Schofield said ldquoReally I canrsquot imagine doing anything elserdquo

thinking Made visualEllen Schofield teaches at Minnesota State university

MM p01 0116indd 9 12182015 24441 PM

10 bull January 2016 bull MANKATO MAGAZINE

xxxxxxxxxxxxxMM p01 0116indd 10 12182015 24444 PM

MANKATO MAGAZINE bull bull 11

MM p01 0116indd 11 12222015 115848 AM

12 bull January 2016 bull MANKATO MAGAZINE

The Celebration of the Lakes has been a family tradition for Erin Thorvaldson Chisago Lakes Chamber Board Member and Community member for Celebration of the Lakes for more than 20 years Thorvaldson was about 10

years old when her grandmother introduced her to the event which takes place Jan 30 on North Center Lake in Lindstrom

DAy Trip DesTinATions Celebration of the LakesBy leTiciA GonzAles

hit the LakesLindstrom has plenty of fun waiting for you

Hot air balloons are just one of the many attractions this festival has employed over the years

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MANKATO MAGAZINE  bull January 2016 bull 13

Day Trip DesTinaTions Celebration of the LakesBy LeTicia GonzaLes

WhenJan 29-31 2016

I-35 North to Hwy 8 east to Center City Located on the North side of Hwy 8 on

North Center Lake

If youGoWhat

Celebration of the Lakes

Lindstrom MN

AdmissionFree additional admission required for some

events activities food and ridesVisit wwwchisagolakeschambercom

ldquoSo I helped way back then when she was part of the chamberrdquo said Thorvaldson ldquoAnd having a business in the community as I got older I also wanted to give backrdquo

Born and raised in the Chisago Lakes area Thorvaldson has served on the celebrationrsquos planning committee for nine years She said the event first caught her eye not only because she loves winter but because it focuses on the outdoors ldquoeven though many people in Minnesota cringe once we get to 20 degrees so it kind of gets you out and lets you do something funrdquo

Watching the celebration grow over the past two decades has also been fun for Thorvaldson

ldquoIt was very tiny at that pointrdquo she said as she reminisced about the early days of the event ldquoIt was just a few hay bales at the icerdquo

Being an active part of the planning has been equally exciting

ldquoThe committeersquos always trying to come up with more ideas that the community would perceive as something fun to do in the winter timerdquo she said ldquoThere have been the sled dogs there have been hot air balloons and there have been kitty cat races car racesrdquo

While past years have even included BMX bike races where people dressed up in costumes the snowmobile radar run and the vintage snow mobile displays have been the ldquomain staplesrdquo of the celebration Organized by the Wild River Snowmobile Club of Chisago City the snowmobile radar run features nearly 200 riders who race upwards of 120 miles per hour on a track

ldquoSometimes they will have souped-up snowmobiles that go incredibly fastrdquo Thorvaldson said ldquoWe had a world record one that raced on the track so itrsquos pretty amazing to see how fast some of them go They break them up into categories and there are prizes for the fastest one in each categoryrdquo

Originally introduced as a memorial radar run for a rotary member the radar run has become one of the celebrationrsquos most popular events

ldquoWe started with just a sheriffrsquos radar gun and now they use different timing items like cones and announcingrdquo she add ldquoItrsquos kind of something that has evolved toordquo

With the draw of the surrounding lakes in the area Thorvaldson said ice fishing has also grown in popularity and has become embedded in the annual celebration

ldquoItrsquos like little villages out on the lakerdquo she said

ldquoThat is kind of the big that that people do There are people who drive up from all over the place the Twin Cities all over just to come spend the weekend ice fishing on the lake so thatrsquos a big big thingrdquo

Greg Shaleen who has also been on the planning committee for the celebration for more than 15 years affirmed the celebrationrsquos growth when it comes to activities offered

ldquoWe have done kind of bizarre thingsrdquo he said ldquoWe do a smoosh race which is where you take 2-by-4s and strap four leather straps on it and you do a little bit of a racerdquo

Shaleen also credits the event for bringing people out to the lakes during the coldest month of the year

ldquoEveryone is all cooped up in the community and it just got to the point where they wanted to do something fun in the winter and get people out and about and enjoy the winter sportrdquo he said

From kitty races and sled dog races to a concession tent and a family fishing contest that draws anywhere from three to five hundred people Shaleen said the Celebration of the Lakes brings people together in the outdoors

ldquoWe are basically more interested in getting people out of the house visiting with friends and neighbors and visitors to the area and enjoying each otherrsquos interest in snowmobiling or ice fishing or whatever the events are taking place or going onrdquo he concluded

MM p01 0116indd 13 12222015 115930 AM

January The holidays are over along with all of the seasonrsquos excuses for overindulge in food and drink and under-indulging in any form of exercise (other than lifting onersquos hand to onersquos mouth) After stowing the presents in the

closet and taking down the tree many people choose the New Year as the perfect time to begin a serious diet and exercise program to shed the extra pounds they put on over the past few months and to begin eating more healthfully Mankato Clinic registered dietitian Erin Gonzalez says a hearty ldquoyesrdquo to healthy mindful eating and definite ldquonordquo to any extreme ldquodo or die(t)rdquo approach

According to Gonzalez 95 percent of all dieters regain the weight they lost within five years It is her belief that such yo-yo dieting only creates more frustration and stress which can lead to emotional eating and binge eating which leads to another cycle of dieting-losing-weight-gaining-weight ad infinitum

Gonzalez speaks from experience After losing 70 pounds since the time she was a teenager Gonzalez is now at a weight she considers healthy and one that she hasnrsquot deviated from in years

By Nell Musolf | Photos by Pat Christman and Darren Gibbins

Herersquos to ahealthy

new yeara healthy

new you

14 bull January 2016 bull MANKATO MAGAZINE

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MANKATO MAGAZINE  bull January 2016 bull 15

Erin Gonzalez and her son prepare a healthful meal

Erin GonzalezldquoI struggled with weight issues when I was growing

uprdquo Gonzalez said ldquoWhen I was 16 I went on my first lsquoseriousrsquo dietmdashone of the fast diets that were popular in the 1990srdquo

Gonzalez said that she stuck to her diet religiously having a shake in the morning one for lunch and a sensible meal at night just as she was instructed to do She also walked for approximately two and a half hours a day Over the course of one summer she lost 70 pounds but she was also she now realizes flirting with an eating disorder Gonzalez says this scenario is not uncommon considering research shows 35 percent of ldquooccasional dietersrdquo progress into pathological dieting (disordered eating) and as many as 25 percent advance to full-blown eating disorders

ldquoMy food intake was very restrictive and I was always extremely conscience of what I ate but just the same I slowly gained back 30 of the 70 pounds

that I lostrdquo Gonzalez said ldquoI was always looking at food as either lsquogoodrsquo or lsquobadrsquo instead of something pleasurable to be enjoyedrdquo

It wasnrsquot until she was working at her dietetic internship that she had her ldquoahardquo moment

ldquoI was blessed with a teacher who taught her students how to enjoy foodrdquo Gonzalez said ldquoinstead of being obsessed by it Gonzalez learned about a program called Am I Hungry that specializes in helping people heal their relationship with food and their bodies so they can relearn to trust their internal hunger cues instead of having to follow arbitrary rules and broken promises of diets Gonzalez facilitates a program at the Mankato Clinic that teaches the Am I Hungry philosophy

ldquoI have two childrenrdquo Gonzalez said ldquoa 10-month-old and a 4-year-old They know how to eat naturally and they stop eating when they are no longer hungry That is what most adults need

MM p01 0116indd 15 12222015 120138 PM

16 bull January 2016 bull MANKATO MAGAZINE

xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

need to relearn how to eatrdquoThe method has worked for Gonzalez Gone are

her extra 30 pounds and she no longer dietsldquoDiets simply arenrsquot sustainablerdquo she said ldquoItrsquos so

hard in our society because we are surrounded by cues to eat all of the time At buffets where you want to lsquoget your moneyrsquos worthrsquo when yoursquore out with friends when you sit down at the end of the day and turn on the television to relax and are bombarded with ads for food Food has become a reward for a bad day or a good day or anything else we can think of But if you look at how you eat as a journey instead of as a destination you can learn to enjoy food a lot morerdquo

So what should someone who wants to start the New Year in a more healthy fashion do

ldquoPause before you eatrdquo Gonzalez recommended ldquoAsk yourself if yoursquore really hungry or if yoursquore actually thirsty or stressed instead Try not to be emotionally disconnected from what you are eatingrdquo

Gonzalez emphasized that ldquomindful eating isnrsquot naive to say nutrition isnrsquot important Of course it is Mindful eating is what allows us to take charge of our decisions of why when what how and how much we choose to eat instead of battling being in or out of controlrdquo

Instead of following the latest short-lived diet Gonzalez encourages people to make the healthiest choices possible that donrsquot leave them feeling deprived

Paulette Tonn BookerFor Paulette Tonn Booker the Am I Hungry

Mindful Eating (AIHME) program has been a game changer

Said Booker ldquoIrsquove tried several diet plans over the past 40 years including some well-known plans and I lost weight on each plan However keeping the weight off eluded me and resulted in yo-yo dieting

The lsquorulesrsquo of whichever plan Booker was on became the norm and after years of trying to live by those rules Booker was no longer able to discern what her body was telling her about hunger often leading to out-of-control overeating

ldquoI always knew there was something else going on yet no one had an answer for merdquo Booker said

When Booker first heard of the AIHME program two years ago she was relieved to discover that there were other people who felt the same way when it came to healthful eating The program taught her the skills she needed to recognize her bodyrsquos hunger signals thoughts and feelings and actions to help manage the physical emotional and environmental stresses of everyday life without resorting to eating to cope with those stresses

ldquoI no longer have to be in control of everything I only need to be in charge of my decisions at any given moment When I choose to overeat (which everyone does) I no longer beat myself up I try to reflect on what happened and then plan for ways to handle the situation differently the next time it occurs Old habits are hard to break it takes concentrated effort and dedication to rewire the brain with new habits and it can be donerdquo Booker said

About weight loss as the end goal of healthful eating Booker shared the following ldquoThe only time I get on a scale is at the doctorrsquos office I know what the experts say I should weigh A number does not define a personrsquos self-worth nor does it say anything about who we are and how we feel as we make changes in how we nurture our bodies The number on the scale is just a number bodies come in all shapes and sizes as does health I will never diet again Instead I will continue to work on developing mindful skills and in the meantime eating what I love and loving what I eatrdquo

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MANKATO MAGAZINE  bull January 2016 bull 17

Eric ZiesmerFor Eric Ziesmer he is in the middle of his weight

loss journey a journey that began last July when the 32-year-old learned that he weighed 330 pounds The time had come for Ziesmer to make some healthy lifestyle changes Ziesmer decided to lose weight because of his family mdash both present and future

ldquoI have two adorable nephews and I would love to be able to chase them around the yard or pull them in a sled during the winter and basically to be active and see them as they growrdquo Ziesmer said ldquoAnd even though Irsquom currently single if it is in my cards for marriage and kids I would like to be there and not be too tired or not in shape A clean and healthy lifestyle is what I am striving for in my coming yearsrdquo

With the help of a dietician Ziesmer has started his cleaner and healthier lifestyle Since July he has lost 40 pounds and has decided to have weight loss surgery To help his post operation phase go as smoothly as possible Ziesmer eats fresh fruit every day has cut out chips and cookies among other things

ldquoI have totally cut out soda Soda was a big one to cut out In my huge climb to 300 there were days when I would consume two 2-liter bottles of pop in a single day and maybe cracking open a thirdrdquo Ziesmer said ldquoI try to listen to my stomach instead of my eyes or eat because Irsquom bored or stressed I eat slow and sip instead of being the guzzler I have always beenrdquo

Another tactic Ziesmer has adopted has been to stop drinking liquids 30 minutes before a meal and then wait 30 minutes after eating before sipping again

ldquoWhen my stomach rumbles and says itrsquos hungry I feed it When my brain or boredom drives me to want to eat I take a second to see if my stomach feels empty and if not it gets deniedrdquo Ziesmer said

Ziesmer has noticed that he is more successful at healthy eating when he eats at home When he does dine out hersquoll cut a sandwich in half eat half and save other half for a future meal

ldquoAs far as exercise goes it went from zero to at least two if not three times a week going for a 327 mile walk and have recently made my way back into the gymrdquo Ziesmer said He has been able to keep track of his walks with accuracy thanks to an app called MapMyRun

Ziesmer knows that his healthier living journey will continue for a long time

ldquoI plan on continuing to live healthy by continuing my exercise and eating right and by saying that itrsquos not only for me and feeling better but also because there are two little guys that look up to their uncle Staying motivated is at least my key to keeping up this lifestyle I want to live a long and healthier life feeling better and being there down the road for family and friends is what means mostrdquo Ziesmer said MM

Eric Ziesmer says hersquos got plenty of motivation to get healthy two nephews to whom he wants to be a good role model

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18 bull January 2016 bull MANKATO MAGAZINE

Stephanie Howe says itrsquos best to have realistic goals when starting a fitness program

Herersquos your guideBy Robb Murray | Photos by Pat Christman

Ready for CHANGE

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MANKATO MAGAZINE  bull January 2016 bull 19

Yoursquore ready

You ate the ham and turkey and potatoes and Christmas cookies You drank the wine beer and eggnog Yoursquove spent the last few

months pondering a life change Yoursquore on the verge of a major transformation This time itrsquos happening Yoursquore going to get healthy Itrsquos going to be a new you

And then January arrived And you have no plan

Luckily we here at Mankato Magazine have got you covered Itrsquos not uncommon for people to make a New Yearrsquos resolution or some similar vow this time of year It usually comes with goal weights and promises to hit the gym X number of times per week and trips to the produce and organic sections of the grocery store because this time yoursquore serious Right

OK easy tiger Getting healthy is a great idea and wersquore wishing you all the best But wersquore also coming at you with some sensible advice Maybe setting unrealistic goals isnrsquot the best way to go Maybe just

heading into the gym and trying to get it all done in a week isnrsquot a great way to go either

ldquoFinerdquo you say ldquothen what should I dordquoWersquore so glad you asked

Letrsquos get startedThe first thing you need to remember when

starting an exercise program is that if you want to lose weight you need to change the way you eat too

ldquoNo matter what you say you canrsquot out exercise a bad dietrdquo says Stephanie Howe director of healthy living at the Mankato YMCA

Howe works in what might be the busiest fitness hub in the Mankato area So shersquos seen her share of people come through the doors with plans to change their lives Some of them succeed Most do not

One of the biggest mistakes people make Howe says is not really having a good grasp on how much time theyrsquoll need in order to incorporate a good workout into their day It doesnrsquot have to be a two-

hour commitment every day she says It can be 30 minutes of planned effective exercise several times per week Whatrsquos more important is just getting there and thatrsquos an obstacle that is bigger than most people realize

ldquoMost people want to lsquopeople pleasersquordquo she said ldquoYou can say yoursquore going to get up and work out every day but most people are built to need external accountabilityrdquo

Think about hiring a personal trainer

ldquoWhen you spend the money on a personal trainer you have an appointment therersquos someone waiting thererdquo she says

A personal trainer is a great way to immediately know yoursquore doing exactly what yoursquore supposed to be doing and yoursquoll have no doubt whether yoursquore working hard enough There are plenty of personal trainers in town mdash at the YMCA and other gyms mdash who would love to help you Of course they donrsquot work for free and for many people the cost of a personal trainer is more than theyrsquore willing to spend

Fortunately therersquos a trend in fitness to offer the whip-crack of a personal trainer while staying Jo radlinger urges her clients to not sabotage their fitness efforts with poor eating over

the weekend

MM p01 0116indd 19 12182015 24510 PM

20 bull January 2016 bull MANKATO MAGAZINE

728 N Riverfront DriveMankato MN 56001

507-625-5163katobearscom

Pins and NeedlesAlterations

Specializing in alterations for theentire wedding party including

gown re-sizing hemming re-beadingbustles and so much more

Like us onFacebook

affordableThe Y now offers something called ldquotrainer ledrdquo

exercise sessions where you work with others in a group but have access to a trainer nearby who can push you motivate you and make sure yoursquore you know doing it right Theyrsquore $3 a class

ldquoYoursquore still expected to be there but itrsquos much cheaperrdquo Howe said ldquoThe group environment pushes you and we have tons of trainer-led classes Itrsquos the best of both worldsrdquo

Across town Jo Radlinger runs Jorsquos Garage a fitness center where shersquos the one pushing you to succeed

Radlingerrsquos goal she says is to bring out everyonersquos potential

ldquoI want to make sure everybody that comes through my door has success I want them to be the very best version of themselves that they can berdquo

Like Howe Radlinger acknowledges that the financial side of hiring a personal trainer can scare people away but she says there are several reasons why it shouldnrsquot

ldquoItrsquos never a bad investment when yoursquore investing in yourselfrdquo she said ldquoMeet with a trainer who is just as passionate about your goal My goal is not to train you intensely but to show you what yoursquore capable of and then take you to that next levelrdquo

At Jorsquos Fitness Garage there are no membership fees Radlinger doesnrsquot believe in them Instead she charges $5 per visit and in that time she said she pushes you to have a great workout

GymtimidationSetting goals is a great

idea Setting unrealistic goals is the kind of thing that results in a gym membership card laying dormant in a junk drawer by February

So set those goals but set them smartlyldquoAccountability is huge Even if you canrsquot hire

someonerdquo Howe says ldquoMake specific goals mdash say yoursquore going to workout X number of times but make those numbers realistic Set goals that are within your controlrdquo

Do this and yoursquore likely to feel a lot better about how things go

ldquoMost people just want to feel better about themselves they want to feel more confidentrdquo Howe said ldquoThis way even before any physical changes happen theyrsquoll feel better Theyrsquoll start to feel like theyrsquore in control again of their life and their choicesrdquo

Taking an exercise class is a great way to both get

your body moving while at the same time have fun and meet those people who will notice when you donrsquot show up

And about that weight room Yes it can be intimidating to walk in and see people who look like they live there But Howe says that while it can definitely be a psychological barrier focusing on those people is the wrong strategy

ldquoNo one cares what yoursquore doingrdquo Howe says ldquoFocus on yourdquo

Take it slowIt can be tempting when you finally get up the

nerve to get back in the swing of working out to go hardcore But just like setting unrealistic goals trying to achieve your fitness goals in a day is impossible

ldquoPeople start out really gung-ho and reset their diet so aggressively and most people just simply canrsquot do thisrdquo Radlinger said ldquoWhen yoursquore looking at making a lifestyle change I want you to do it slowly and incrementally rather than do it all in two monthsrdquo

Rushing into the weight room and trying to lift the same weight and number of reps and sets that you did 10 years ago is a great way to make sure you canrsquot work out for a while Going from a sedentary lifestyle to two hours of pumping iron can leave you sore enough to not be able to lift anything for days Maybe even weeks

Ease into it The gymrsquos not going anywhere Think marathon not sprint

ldquoSometimes people have an all-or-nothing attituderdquo Howe said ldquoand they make themselves sore and they canrsquot continuerdquo

Speaking of all-or-nothing Radlinger says

some people bring that kind of intensity to their food intake over the weekend Bad idea

ldquoAs trainers we help people be accountable We do success measurements help them prepare and plan And wersquoll do weigh-ins on Mondayrdquo Radlinger says ldquoWersquoll find that people do really well Monday through Friday then do what I call sabotage Saturday and Sunday At some point yoursquore going to get so sick of hitting that reset button every Mondayrdquo

Whatever you choose to do both trainers say itrsquos never a bad idea to sit down with your doctor and run your plans by himher Your personal safety should always come first and getting the green light from Doc can give you some peace of mind as you start this new chapter of your life MM

Jo radlinger runs Jorsquos Fitness Garage

MM p01 0116indd 20 12222015 120709 PM

MANKATO MAGAZINE  bull January 2016 bull 21

728 N Riverfront DriveMankato MN 56001

507-625-5163katobearscom

Pins and NeedlesAlterations

Specializing in alterations for theentire wedding party including

gown re-sizing hemming re-beadingbustles and so much more

Like us onFacebook

Live the Lifestyle

wwwmapletonmarinecom

Southern MNrsquos largestboat show on now at the

Madison East Center in Mankato

MM p01 0116indd 21 12182015 24524 PM

22 bull January 2016 bull MANKATO MAGAZINE

Thirty-three years ago I stood inside a grave A lifetime ago when I was a pastorrsquos wife

In Nebraska we served a parish of barely over one hundred members A picture-postcard white church with a hand-carved white wooden altar from Germany sat at the top of a hill next to it the parsonage and next to that the cemetery rolling down the hill toward a wooded creek

The first death in the congregation after our arrival set off a flurry of activity Irsquod never met Alma because she was in a nursing home before we arrived However my husband visited her on several occasions She was mother aunt grandmother great-aunt and great-grandmother to half the congregation so there was no question about whether or not I would attend the funeral

With my two little kids in tow I attended every event at the church every Sunday morning service of course but also every funeral every confirmation every baptism every meeting of womenrsquos circle and even every family reunion that was held in the church basement At twenty-six I perfected the art of making gracious small talk with people Irsquod never seen before and would never see again and at taking tiny portions from each confirmation buffet so I would neither be sick by the end of the day nor offend any of the mothers who had slaved away over their sumptuous spreads of food

By Rebecca Fjelland Davis

Grave Lesson in Winter

ESSay

MM p01 0116indd 22 12182015 24527 PM

MANKATO MAGAZINE  bull January 2016 bull 23

Attending the little white country church was physically easy I picked up one-year-old Josh took three-year-old Nikkirsquos hand and walked out the front door down the sidewalk and next door The only things I didnrsquot have to attend were church council and the menrsquos meeting Archaic This was in the 1980s It doesnrsquot seem so long ago

All the available babysitters in the community would attend Almarsquos funeral too so this was to be my kidsrsquo first funeral

The afternoon before the service salt-snow fell Hard little crystals pelted down as if the heavens had up-ended a Mortonrsquos salt canister Within a few hours the hard snow was six inches deep and still falling

In the middle of the salt-snow the gravedigger arrived The Ditchwitch roared around the cemetery to the familyrsquos plot and my kidsrsquo noses pressed against the upstairs bedroom window pane ldquoMommy can we go watchrdquo

Glad for an excuse to get out of the parsonage I bundled them in snowsuits put them on the sled and pulled them across the house yard and garden to the fence that bordered the cemetery

The Ditchwitch made short work of the grave and all three of us were mesmerized watching the mound of gray-black dirt grow in the crystal-white snow When the hole was finished the gravedigger turned his tractor on idle He hopped off and came over to the fence His eyes twinkled in a weathered face ldquoWant to come lookrdquo

I backed up from the fence a step ldquoNo not really I think this is close enoughrdquo

ldquoYes Mommy go lookrdquo ldquoPleeeeaserdquoSo Nikki and Josh got back on the sled and I

hauled them along the fence through the gate over to the grave and looked down Six feet seemed deep bottomless Dark A sharp contrast to the pelting snowflakes all around us

ldquoWanna get down in thererdquo the gravedigger asked I shuddered hung onto the kids and backed up

again ldquoNo No thatrsquos okay This is close enough I just want to look from hererdquo

ldquoYes mommyrdquo the little ones said ldquoLetrsquosrdquoldquoNordquoldquoPleaserdquoldquoReally marsquoam I think you should Yoursquoll be

surprised I wouldnrsquot suggest it if it I didnrsquot think sordquoldquoHow would we get outrdquo The sides were deeper

than I was tall and there certainly werenrsquot footholds or a ladder built in for Almarsquos soul to use to climb out

ldquoLike thisrdquo The gravedigger laid his shovel diagonally across a top corner of the grave and jumped down He grabbed the middle of the shovel handle and swung himself back up and out with the agility of a gymnast ldquoNothinrsquo to itrdquo

ldquoI canrsquot do thatrdquoldquoYes you can Irsquoll boost you And wersquoll lift the kids

Yoursquoll be amazed I promiserdquoI shivered The idea of being inside a grave

seemed much colder than the snow crystals biting at my face

ldquoCome onrdquo he said and jumped back in Nikki and Josh willingly stepped over to him to be lifted down I had no choice but to follow I couldnrsquot let my kids alone in a grave with a man I didnrsquot even know

So I jumped The earth on the bottom made a soft landing The soil around me was warm and steamy It was moist and dark but it enfolded us in an earthy hug At least fifty degrees warmer than the air above ground it felt as if the earth were offering shelter respite a comfortable place to snuggle down and rest Tiny roots dangled full of life from the smooth edges of the hole Tears sprang to my eyes I couldnrsquot help them My eyes met the gravediggerrsquos and he smiled Gently ldquoSeerdquo he said Nothing more

I couldnrsquot speak A few minutes later he gave me a stirrup with his

hands I scrambled out and he lifted Nikki and Josh up to me Then he flipped himself out as easily as a trapeze artist

ldquoThank yourdquo I said ldquoI would never have guessedrdquoHe nodded ldquoNobody does But it helps somehow

I wanted you to feel thatrdquoWhy I wanted to ask why me You donrsquot even

know me Why were you willing to take time for usldquoThank yourdquo was all I said I shook his hand and

he hopped on the Ditchwitch and drove off into the snow

I never saw him again Someone else dug the next grave required in that cemetery

I remember only bits and pieces of the funeral Irsquom sure I baked a boxed cake mix for ldquolunchrdquo afterwards I remember answering Nikkirsquos questions about the body and sitting in the back row of the church in case Josh didnrsquot want to be quiet I do remember looking at the unfamiliar face in the casket and thinking you get to rest in a warm cozy place

Ten winters later we buried my dad on just such a day Wet snow crystals pelted us and piled up so deep the funeral home limousine got stuck in the cemetery By the time the pallbearers pushed it un-stuck their suit pants were caked in slush and mud

We stood at the graveside in the bleak wet icy day and lowered my fatherrsquos body into the ground

ldquoToo bad itrsquos such a miserable dayrdquo ldquoSorry about your dad Sorry the weatherrsquos so bad toordquo And even ldquoSuch a good man He deserves better weather than thisrdquo

But the weather I thought was just right Losing my dad my kids and their cousins losing

their grandpa my mom becoming a widow my brother losing his farming partner and best friend changed our livesmdashthat part was too heavy to carry

The only part that was okay for me was to let Dadrsquos worn-out body be wrapped in that welcoming warm enfolding soilmdashthe very soil hersquod loved to till the soil hersquod planted and tended all his life the soil that gave us all lifemdashthat was the only gratifying part of the day

The only comfort I had was letting Dad go from the cold wet biting snow into that warm and restful place

And I still wonder who that gravedigger was ten years earlier and how he knew how much I would need what he gave me that bleak winter day MM

Rebecca Fjelland Davis is an author from Mankato

MM p01 0116indd 23 12182015 24528 PM

reFlecTionsBy Pat Christman

24 bull January 2016 bull MANKATO MAGAZINE

MM p01 0116indd 24 12182015 24544 PM

reFlecTionsBy Pat Christman

MANKATO MAGAZINE  bull January 2016 bull 25

There are few things as inevitable as snow during a Minnesota winter Big

cotton ball-like snowflakes cover the ground in a white blanket whitewashing the Midwestern landscape

We struggle against it Some hope the snow never comes It always does filling the sky with floating snowflakes that cling to the ground but melt as soon as they hit the small bits of face or hands that peek out from winter clothing

It is often quite beautiful especially when viewed from someplace warm and dry MM

MM p01 0116indd 25 12182015 24548 PM

26 bull January 2016 bull MANKATO MAGAZINE

Then amp now Vice President Schuyler Colfaxrsquos Death By Bryce o sTenzel

On Jan 14 1885 one day after his death the New York Times carried a

headline that read ldquoSchuyler Colfax Dead He Drops Down in a Railway Stationrdquo While most Americans today would have tremendous difficulty in even recognizing this manrsquos name

(unless they were paying close attention to Stephen Spielbergrsquos epic movie Lincoln and made the association) Schuyler Colfax was a former Speaker of the House of Representatives and Vice President of the United States under President US Grant He died in Mankatorsquos Chicago St

Paul Minneapolis amp Omaha railroad depot from a massive heart attack

Schuyler Colfax Jr was born in New York City on March 23 1823 His father died of tuberculosis five months before Schuyler was born His sister Mary died four months after his [Schuylerrsquos]

vice President Schuyler Colfaxrsquos Death in Mankato

MM p01 0116indd 26 12182015 24549 PM

MANKATO MAGAZINE  bull January 2016 bull 27

birth The young Schuyler attended school only until he was 10 He then began working to support his family Schuyler Colfax never attended any kind of secondary school or college His mother remarried when Colfax was 13 and the family moved to New Carlisle Indiana By the time he was 22 Colfax was the editor and owner of a pro-Whig newspaper He was elected to Congress in 1854 and joined the newly formed Republican Party after the Whig Party disintegrated Solidly anti-slavery his colleagues elected Colfax as Speaker of the US House of Representatives in 1863 His election came soon after the death of his wife Evelyn The couple had no children

Colfax was President Abraham Lincolnrsquos first and last visitor on the fateful day Lincoln was assassinatedmdashApril 14 1865 Early that morning Colfax arrived at the White House while the president was having breakfast Colfax wanted to know whether or not Lincoln planned to call a special session of Congress for later that summer Lincolnrsquos answer was a polite but firm ldquonordquo Lincoln preferred a lenient approach in reconstructing as well as readmitting the former Confederate states to the Union now that the Civil War was over This approach put Lincoln at odds with the more ldquoradicalrdquo congressional members of his own party who preferred harsher measures be taken against their former enemies Lincoln had already made up his mind how he wanted to proceed with reconstructing the former Confederate states and he didnrsquot want any unnecessary interference from Congress Calling a special session was the last thing Lincoln wanted to do Colfax returned that same night to see Lincoln again just before the president left for Fordrsquos Theatre and his appointment with destiny This time Colfax came upon Lincolnrsquos own request The president had a long message for the silver miners of the Comstock Lode in Nevada thanking them for their loyalty to the Union that he wanted Speaker Colfax to deliver in person since Colfax was leaving by train for the West the next day Colfax was the last person Lincoln spoke to besides his wife Mary before he

was fatally shot at 1015 pm Colfax never forgave himself for turning down Lincolnrsquos invitation to be part of the theatre party that night

In 1868 Republicans selected General Ulysses S Grant as their presidential candidate Grant a military man his entire life had no political background Colfax was placed on the ticket because of his prior experience as a congressman and Speaker of the House (he resigned the position in 1869) Grant and Colfax won an easy victory in November 1868 Only two weeks later Colfax remarriedmdashthis time to Ellen Wade (niece of Ohio Senator Benjamin Wade) Their only child son Schuyler Colfax III was born in 1870

Colfax is best remembered (if at all) for his involvement in the corruption that beset Grantrsquos entire presidency Specifically the Credit Mobilier scandal broke in 1872 just as Grant and Colfax were gearing up for their re-election campaign Colfax was suspected of accepting shares of stock and cash bribes from ldquoCredit Mobilierrdquo a dummy construction company set up by the Union Pacific Railroad He was by no means the only influential person involved in the scandal Other political figures investigated included Senators Roscoe Conkling of New York William Allison of Iowa John Logan of Illinois James Bayard of Delaware and Henry Wilson of Massachusetts Grant was less popular in 1872 than he had been four years earlier and many Republicans worried that having Colfax on the partyrsquos ticket would harm the presidentrsquos re-election chances They dumped Colfax from the ticket mdash only to replace him with the also-tainted Wilson Grant won re-election and served his second and final term from 1873-1877 After being forced out from the vice presidency Colfax traveled the country as a popular lecturer often speaking about his interactions with Abraham Lincoln during the Civil War He rebuilt his tarnished reputation and commanded speaking fees as high as $2500

At 10 am on Jan 13 1885 Schuyler Colfax arrived in Mankato aboard a train from Milwaukee Mankato was just a

brief stop for Colfax who was on his way to Iowa for a speaking engagement The Chicago Milwaukee amp St Paul as well as the Chicago St Paul Minneapolis amp Omaha railroads both had depots in Mankato but because they were separate competing railroad lines Colfax was required to change trains by walking three-quarters of a mile from the Chicago Milwaukee amp St Paul depot at the foot of Hickory Street to the Chicago St Paul Minneapolis amp Omaha depot at Fourth and Washington Streets (now Washington Park) from which the next leg of his journey would depart Despite a reported temperature of 30 degrees below zero Colfax walked from one station to the other Within five minutes after he arrived at the Omaha linersquos depot Colfax entered the waiting room looked at a map on the wall sat down and died It was 1035 am No one in the station knew who the dead man actually was until they searched his pockets and found a letter with his name on it His death was likely caused by a heart attack brought on by the physical exertion of walking almost a mile in extreme cold Colfax was only 61 when he died His remains were returned to South Bend Indiana for burial

Today few Americans are aware that anyone named Schuyler Colfax ever lived much less served as vice president of the United States In this era in which officeholders are often treated as celebrities imagine how surprised people would be to learn that a former vice president died cold alone and unrecognized in a train station 131 years ago Before 24-hour news channels smart phones and social media it was possible for public figures like Colfax to live ndash and die ndash in relative obscurity Ironically Colfax loved the railroad but in the end it was the cause of his undoing Mankato has the distinction of being the location where the last man to personally speak to Abraham Lincoln in a private conversation took his last breath

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28 bull January 2016 bull MANKATO MAGAZINE

Mayo Clinic offers pediatric and adolescent orthopedic services right here in Mankato Todd Milbrandt MD cares for patients with a variety of needs including

bull Cerebral palsy

bull Clubfoot

bull Hip disorders

bull Spinal disorders

bull Sports injuries

bull Scoliosis

bull Spina bifida

Mayo Clinic Health System in Mankato Call 1-877-412-7575 (toll-free) to schedule an appointment

495rdquox495rdquo Mankato Magazine January

Orthopedic care for your child

Independent ampAssisted Living

EQUAL HOUSINGOPPORTUNITY

1360 Adams StreetMankato MN

PrimroseRetirementcom

reg

Key City Senior Breakfast ClubThe Key City Senior Breakfast Club meets the first Thursday of each month from 830 AM - 930 AM at Primrose Retirement Community The club gives those 55+ the opportunity to meet new friends and visit old ones socialize with Key City Officials and enjoy a delicious home-cooked breakfast To visit a Key City Senior Breakfast please call (866) 447-9636

Mark your calendar for these breakfast dates Thursday January 7th Thursday March 3rd and Thursday May 5th

刀椀渀最 椀渀 琀栀攀 

一攀眀 夀攀愀爀

㔀 㜀ⴀ㤀㐀ⴀ㐀㐀䨀甀氀攀攀猀䨀攀眀攀氀爀礀挀漀洀

椀渀 匀愀椀渀琀 倀攀琀攀爀

20765 Foley Rd Mankato MN | 5073872434 | 5077262411

Three TimeNational Award Winners

MM p02 0116indd 28 12182015 30742 PM

Mayo Clinic offers pediatric and adolescent orthopedic services right here in Mankato Todd Milbrandt MD cares for patients with a variety of needs including

bull Cerebral palsy

bull Clubfoot

bull Hip disorders

bull Spinal disorders

bull Sports injuries

bull Scoliosis

bull Spina bifida

Mayo Clinic Health System in Mankato Call 1-877-412-7575 (toll-free) to schedule an appointment

495rdquox495rdquo Mankato Magazine January

Orthopedic care for your child

Independent ampAssisted Living

EQUAL HOUSINGOPPORTUNITY

1360 Adams StreetMankato MN

PrimroseRetirementcom

reg

Key City Senior Breakfast ClubThe Key City Senior Breakfast Club meets the first Thursday of each month from 830 AM - 930 AM at Primrose Retirement Community The club gives those 55+ the opportunity to meet new friends and visit old ones socialize with Key City Officials and enjoy a delicious home-cooked breakfast To visit a Key City Senior Breakfast please call (866) 447-9636

Mark your calendar for these breakfast dates Thursday January 7th Thursday March 3rd and Thursday May 5th

OMG hellip More food and drinksOK sure

By now yoursquore probably thinking ldquoOh my gosh the last thing I want to think about right now is more food more drinking and more diningrdquo

Fair enough We get it The holidays are murder on the metabolism of many many Minnesotans

But we also know that those metabolisms are hardy and soon enough theyrsquoll be hankering for a hunk of something yummy and full of fun And whatrsquos more yummy and full of fun than a big glass of Cabernet Sauvignon Our wine guy Leigh Pomeroy takes us on a tour of all that is tasty and wonderful about big red wines the kind that leave their mark the kind that really announce their presence on your palate

And just in case yoursquore super serious about a healthy lifestyle mdash and that seriousness extends to the kind of beer you choose mdash Bert Mattson our beer guy has just the selection for you Best part is Itrsquos light

Oh and under the category of ldquoDid you hear about thisrdquo Wersquove got an update for you on the Coffee Hag Mankatorsquos original coffee house and one of the most popular hangouts in town Seriously some days itrsquos hard to find a seat in that place

EnjoyPS We know that baby itrsquos cold outside mdash thatrsquos why wersquove

thrown you our absolute best hot cocoa recipe

Enjoymdash Robb Murray Associate Editor Mankato Magazine

food drink amp dineso

uthern m

n style

20765 Foley Rd Mankato MN | 5073872434 | 5077262411

Three TimeNational Award Winners

MM p02 0116indd 29 12182015 30745 PM

MANKATO 5073854485 AMBOY 5076743355 I VERNON CENTER 5075493679

INSURANCE OFFICES LOCATED IN THE COMMUNITY BANK BUILDINGS

wwwcimankatocom

Protecting the things that matter most in your life

Let us help protect what is important to you At Community Insurance we have the ability to compare insurance from multiple companies to get you the best coverage at a great price Combine that with our insurance knowledge and friendly group of agents and we say thatrsquos a winning deal

WHERE YOUR POLICY COMES WITH AN AGENT

Christina Meyer

Food

south

ern mn style

Food

south

ern mn style

By The Washington Post

Growing up my mother always encouraged her children to cook So when

I found a recipe for hot chocolate on the side of the Hersheyrsquos Cocoa can it was easy to convince her to let me give it a try

What I discovered was that hot chocolate doesnrsquot have to come from an envelope

This recipe has been a favorite of mine to make on days when winter weather has convinced me stay home and off the roads Itrsquos the perfect way to kill time and have a nice hot drink to warm you up on those chilly days

Although you can top it with whipped cream I prefer marshmallows

FAVORITE HOT COCOAMakes 4 to 6 servings

12 cup sugar14 cup unsweetened cocoa powder

Dash of salt13 cup hot water

4 cups milk34 teaspoon vanilla extract

Whipped cream or marshmallows (optional)

Mix sugar cocoa powder salt and water in a sauce pan Stir constantly over medium heat until mixture comes to a boil (about 2 minutes) Stir in

milk and heat Bring the hot chocolate to the desired temperature but do not boil Remove from heat and

add the vanilla extract Divide into mugs and top with whipped cream or marshmallows

PERFECTLY CHOCOLATE HOT COCOA

Makes 1 serving

2 tablespoons sugar2 tablespoons unsweetened cocoa powder

Dash salt1 cup milk

14 teaspoon vanilla extractWhipped cream or marshmallows (optional)

Mix sugar cocoa powder and salt into large mug In separate microwave-safe container heat on high

for 1 to 1 frac12 minutes or until very hot Carefully and gradually add milk to dry mixture Stir well Add vanilla extract Top with whipped cream or

marshmallows

Simple homemade hot chocolate

beats the winter chill

30 bull January 2016 bull MANKATO MAGAZINE

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MANKATO MAGAZINE  bull January 2016 bull 31

Oil Change to OverhaulWe do it all

507-387-13151620 Commerce Drive North MankatowwwAustinsAutoRepairCentercom

Voted Best Auto Repair and Best Auto Mechanic 4 Years in a Row

AUSTINrsquoS AUTO REPAIR CENTER INC

MANKATO 5073854485 AMBOY 5076743355 I VERNON CENTER 5075493679

INSURANCE OFFICES LOCATED IN THE COMMUNITY BANK BUILDINGS

wwwcimankatocom

Protecting the things that matter most in your life

Let us help protect what is important to you At Community Insurance we have the ability to compare insurance from multiple companies to get you the best coverage at a great price Combine that with our insurance knowledge and friendly group of agents and we say thatrsquos a winning deal

WHERE YOUR POLICY COMES WITH AN AGENT

Christina Meyer

MM p02 0116indd 31 12182015 30755 PM

32 bull January 2016 bull MANKATO MAGAZINE

January is Cabernet TimeWersquove celebrated nearly

every January edition of Mankato Magazine with

a paean to BIG REDS And since there are so many wonderful examples why stop now

Last year I wrote about the powerful big reds of Italy This January wersquoll focus on Cabernet Sauvignon known to many as ldquothe king of winesrdquo Most oenophiles (wine lovers) consider the quintessential representations of this grape to be the classified Bordeaux of southwest France near the city of Bordeaux The five First Growths (or best wines according to a classification made in 1855 and updated in 1973) are Ch Lafite Rothschild Ch Margaux Ch Latour Ch Haut Brion and Ch Mouton Rothschild All have a cabernet sauvignon base but they are blended with merlot and often a little bit of cabernet franc and petit verdot as well

In the early 1970s I was able to buy these wines for around $22 per bottle mdash about $120 in 2016 dollars Yet with the popularity of ldquocollectiblerdquo wines on a worldwide

basis they sell today for anywhere from $400 on up

Contrary to popular belief these wines are not that massive Rather they combine cabernet sauvignon power with

structure and finesse yielding wines that become with time elixirs that are greater than the sum of their parts

Both California and Washington state have taken up the Cabernet Sauvignon challenge and are producing world-class wines at sometimes world-class prices Napa Valley is the recognized leader in this arena and rightly so Napa Valleyrsquos top Cabernet

Wine amp B

eerso

uthern m

n style

winesBy Leigh Pomeroy

Leigh Pomeroy is a Mankato-based writer and wine lover

Cabernet Sauvignon is the black Labrador of wines mdash it comes up and licks yourdquo

mdash Winemaker Scott Rich

Sauvignons rival the great wines of Bordeaux for quality mdash Irsquove tasted them side-by-side mdashand yet can sell for a fraction of their price

One such example is the 2013 Tulocay Cabernet Sauvignon from my old friend Bill Cadman We were young bucks in Napa Valley and had a tasting group in the early 1970s along with now-famous wine luminaries Bruce Neyers (Neyers Vineyards) and Mike Richmond (co-founder of Acacia Vineyard)

Billrsquos Cabernet is from an old and relatively cool growing area east of the City of Napa called Coombsville which because of industry political issues only recently received its AVA (American Viticultural Area) designation It is priced at $60 per bottle yet compares with any top-flight Bordeaux as well as the more expensive offerings from Napa Valley which can cost from $100 on up Not currently available at wine stores or restaurants in Minnesota it can be purchased by contacting the winery directly via its website tulocaycom The winery is so small that Bill will probably answer the phone himself

There is a lot of Cabernet Sauvignon available from California but mdash caveat emptor mdash not all growing areas (or appellations) are the same The best Cabernet Sauvignons are from Napa and Sonoma Counties Cabernets simply labeled ldquoCaliforniardquo or perhaps ldquoCoastalrdquo while sometimes good values lack the complexity of the greater Cabernet Sauvignons from the more northern parts of the state

Washington state has also

established itself as a prime producer of Cabernet Sauvignon But here again quality can vary greatly depending upon the area and producer While there is no ldquogo-tordquo appellation for Cabernet Sauvignon in Washington there are producers that are able to secure fruit from the best vineyards

One such example is the tiny Willis Hall Winery owned by another good friend John Bell a former Boeing jet propulsion engineer Like Tulocay its wines are only available by calling up the winery and ordering some (See willishallcom) But there are many other top quality producers in Washington like Quilceda Creek Leonetti Betz Family and Woodward Canyon

Of course not everyone can afford Cabernet Sauvignons in the $60-plus category One excellent everyday drinking example is the Flying Cloud 2013 Paso Robles Cabernet Sauvignon made by Mankato native Stephen Dooley Normally I donrsquot like Paso Robles Cabs as they tend to be too fruity and too soft for my palate mdash almost like drinking berry jam But this one is quite restrained no doubt helped by the inclusion of 13 percent zinfandel and 9 percent petite sirah in the blend

In Mankato both the Wine Cafeacute and MGM carry the Flying Cloud but at its price and quality I wouldnrsquot count on it lasting for long especially since only 759 cases were produced

So letrsquos raise a glass of Cabernet and say ldquoCheersrdquo to the New Year

MM p02 0116indd 32 12182015 30756 PM

MANKATO MAGAZINE  bull January 2016 bull 33

Bert Mattson is a chef and writer based in St Paul He is the manager of the iconic Mickeyrsquos Diner

Beer Skinny

BeerBy Bert Mattson

Last year according to Nielsen research staying fit and healthy was

the number one New Yearrsquos resolution Losing weight was two Three was to enjoy life to the fullest Unfortunately ldquolose weight and get fitrdquo also topped Time magazinersquos list of commonly broken resolutions Is this shortfall due to tension between the top two and that third one If so craft beer may have a role in the compromise Bad news first

In the context of losing weight and staying fit beer lovers might seek solace in the fact that fat carries nine calories per gram while alcohol has only seven The wrinkle is that those seven are ldquoemptyrdquo mdash calories without nutrition as opposed to those from fat protein and carbohydrates Moreover alcoholrsquos calories are the first burned when combined with the others the human body postpones burning fat while it works on alcohol Furthermore beer (and wine and often cocktails) contains carbohydrates which release insulin and can hasten fat storage Finally many drinkers have undoubtedly observed that alcohol loosens inhibitions after which an eager indulgence in unhealthy foods often occurs (Bar menus are rarely helpful in that respect)

By now you may wonder whose side Irsquom actually on Or suspect Irsquove led you to this dark place only to offer you a Lite No worries a couple craft brewers have been considering ways to keep us true to our resolutions

Evil Twin Brewingrsquos Bikini Beer drops the alcohol to 27 percent but stays bold by way of hops A Pale Ale it hits the nose with citrus suggestive of IPA The flavor follows suit floral and lemon There is an expected absence of malt yielding to bitterness up front that fades at the finish An alternative

for those who insist on the full effect Founderrsquos Brewing Companyrsquos All Day IPA rings in at a respectable 144 calories (Evil Twinrsquos entry comes in at 81)

One strategy to beat the beer munchies and avoid costly impulse eating is to have suitable chow on hand With Bikini Beer try a salad sporting blue cheese and some sort of dried fruit Creamy blue veined cheeses echo the hops while balancing bitterness An occasional bite of dried fruit stands in for malt sweetness

Brooklyn Breweryrsquos 12 Ale weighs in at 34 percent alcohol (102 calories) It is alliteratively labeled ldquoSession Saisonrdquo It opens with a waft of citrus and spice and a little lemongrass from Sorachi Ace hops mdash a hybrid developed in East Asia The same elements are found in the flavor which is a bit more subdued than a full-sized Saison

Try it with a tangle of arugula dressed with lemon and a fruity olive oil tossed with pine nuts and topped with shaved Parmesan for effect The greens and cracked pepper reflect spicy phenolic elements in the yeast Salty cheese counters the beerrsquos lingering bitterness Maybe add a few slices of Speck cured ham and Saison share a certain funkiness

If friends show and it becomes a session you may honestly say you spent Saturday working on your six-pack

MM p02 0116indd 33 12182015 30757 PM

34 bull January 2016 bull MANKATO MAGAZINE

Food

south

ern mn style

Food

south

ern mn style

The Coffee Hag one of the arearsquos oldest (and coolest) bistros recently underwent a major expansion and remodeling journey culminating in a large and airy

seating area along with a much-improved kitchen and a new menu Mankato Magazine caught up with a very busy (and slightly exhausted) owner Jenn Melby-Kelly who weighs in on how itrsquos going

MANKATO MAGAZINE Are you personally enjoying the new updatesJENN MELBY-KELLY It Is Fabulous The new space represents so much more than a remodel to me It has brought to life a vision for my business thatrsquos been years in the making It incorporates many many good ideas from many many people I feel so fortunate to get to see that every time I walk through the door

MM How are customers reactingJMK Thatrsquos been one of the best parts The response has been overwhelmingly positive

A few of our most regular customers had the opportunity to get a glimpse of the remodel while it was underway (we gave some informal preview tours while we were operating the temporary stand outside) but many customers walk through the door now and see it all for the first time Itrsquos especially fun to see and hear that kind of wide-eyed reaction

A few people with special connections to The Hag have had even stronger emotional responses and Irsquom so touched and right there with them when I see eyes well up as they see what wersquove done Itrsquos a very big milestone for a very special place and wersquore blessed to have people that care so deeply

MM Do the employees appreciate the new spaceJMK Oh probably more than anyone There was a lot that we sought to do with the remodel but creating a bigger brighter better-equipped space for our team was certainly one of the primary goals Wersquove got an incredible team truly the most spirited and talented people anyone could hope for

Many of them have spent years with me working hard against the challenge of a small under-equipped space and just barely being able to keeping up with growing demand Itrsquos been a special blessing for them and for me to finally have state-of-the-art space thatrsquos made for the work that we do We all feel a special connection to this place and now more than ever the place reflects the good energy we all bring here every day

MM Is the new menu a hit (The Hag specializes in vegetarianvegan cuisine)JMK Yes but just wait Feedback and demand have been excellent with our food offerings already but wersquore just getting started on some of the really exciting things that are coming to our food menu

Remodeling the cafe was just the first major milestone of our two-part expansion plan Next up wersquore building a state of the art off-site commissary kitchen that will do for our incredible culinary team what the remodeled shop has done for our baristas Theyrsquove been working day and night on taking our already fantastic food offerings to a whole new level

Wersquove already introduced some amazing new menu items like the Garden Grilled Cheese panini (trust me itrsquos like nothing yoursquove had before) and some truly outstanding new vegan baked goods Wersquove also improved our classic offerings with house-made

Interview with Jenn Melby-Kelly owner of The Coffee Hag

By Sarah Johnson

MM p02 0116indd 34 12182015 30802 PM

MANKATO MAGAZINE  bull January 2016 bull 35

Happy New Year

Locally Owned amp Operated

Check Weekly Specialsmgmwineandspiritscommankato

Largest Selection ofbull Liquor bull Wine bull Beer bull

Hours Monday-Saturday 8 am - 10 pm

ATMs at all stores

Mankato201 Victory Dr

625-2420

North Mankato1755 Commerce Dr

387-2634

St Peter100 N Minnesota Ave

934-8964

sourdough and whole wheat breads But as impressive as it is already itrsquos just a taste mdash literally mdash of things to come as we bring our new kitchen online

MM Whatrsquos stayed the sameJMK Irsquom really proud to say that while wersquove touched almost every part of this 23-year-old business wersquove kept even more than we have changed From the first days of this project I made it my personal mission and responsibility to make sure that the ldquosoulrdquo of this special place was only enhanced and never lost as we made the updates

In every area of the remodel as wersquove added some necessary new layers of sophistication The Hagrsquos colorful quirky and even rebellious spirit is still very much a part of the space We did a lot to try to make sure it still looked and felt like ldquohomerdquo

And on a deeper level every step wersquove taken with the growth of our business has been chosen carefully to honor the core parts of The Coffee Hagrsquos identity Our focus on community our support for local art and music our commitment to creating a safe and welcoming space for everyone our efforts to lead the way on social and environmental issues affecting our world near and far mdash those have all stayed the same And those will always be at the heart of what we do

MM Anything elseJMK Irsquom so incredibly grateful for the support of our customers and community And whenever I talk about my business and how it has grown I really canrsquot overstate how thankful I am for my beautiful Coffee Hag family The hard work good energy and earnest contributions of so many people mdash past and present mdash have brought me and my business here An incredible amount of love has gone into this business and made this dream a reality

MM p02 0116indd 35 12222015 121240 PM

36 bull January 2016 bull MANKATO MAGAZINE

xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

Food

south

ern mn style

whatrsquos Cooking By Sarah Johnson

Sarah Johnson is a cook freelance writer and chocolate addict from North Mankato with three grown kids and a couple of mutts

As I was pondering my subject matter for todayrsquos column I started wondering about all the different items the word ldquonutsrdquo can refer

to Crazy people are called nuts so are hexagonal metal objects that attach to bolts Nuts can be the end of things (as in ldquofrom soup to nutsrdquo) or they can be the beginning of them (as in ldquosperm incubatorsrdquo) Nut can also mean onersquos head or onersquos lump of something such as butter And if you accidentally get a nut of butter on your nut you can exclaim ldquoNutsrdquo

My favorite meaning of the word nut however is the dry indehiscent one-seeded fruit with a woody pericarp And I donrsquot even know what indehiscent OR pericarp means But these are the wonderful denizens of the world of edible nuts

Nuts are widely credited with all sorts of health benefits for the heart brain male reproductive system prostate cholesterol level fiber intake and avoidance of some types of cancer And while nuts do contain fat itrsquos the ldquogoodrdquo kind heart-healthy monounsaturated and polyunsaturated fat Their mix of omega-3 fatty acids protein and fiber helps you feel full and suppresses the appetite

Nuts are great in desserts and salads of course but they also shine in stir-fries casseroles soups chicken pork fish and even beverages Nut butters nut milks and nut oils add delicious options to our kitchen larders Breads cereals muffins and pancakes gain texture flavor and nutrition from the addition of nuts Basically anytime is a good time for nuts

Which is a wonderful thing because nuts taste so good you would think they had to be very very bad The reason lies deep in their oils

Walnut Oil is strong and flavorful Itrsquos best when used in uncooked sauces or salad dressing

Hazelnut Oil has a strong flavor and is great for the heart

Almond Oil is very popular and has a much milder flavor than walnut oil or hazelnut oil

Pecan Macadamia Nut Pistachio Cashew and Pine Nut Oils are flavorful and unique The freshness of the nuts used really affects the flavor

ldquoTherersquos Nuttinrsquo Nutty About Nutsrdquo

For the Baklava1 pound pistachios hazelnuts walnuts pecans andor almonds coarsely ground plus more for garnish12 teaspoon ground cinnamon1 cup breadcrumbs4 sticks unsalted butter melted16 sheets phyllo dough (thawed if frozen) cut in half

For the Syrup3 cups sugar1 6 -to-8-ounce jar honey1 frac12 cups water1 to 2 tablespoons fresh lemon juice

If yoursquore under the impression that baklava is much too labor-intensive and complicated to make at home think again Anybody can make

it no special skills equipment or exotic ingredients are required A word about phyllo dough Itrsquos sold in frozen packages so you need to remove the package from the freezer and let it thaw in the fridge 24 hours before you want to make the baklava Then about an hour beforehand remove the package from the fridge and let it sit on the counter

Walnuts or pistachios are the most traditional nuts to fill baklava but using other nuts works wonders as well Simply layer the phyllo with the nut filling and butter bake for an hour and finish with a simple honeyed syrup If you have leftover nuts from the holidays herersquos your chance to use them up

Mixed Nut Baklava

MM p02 0116indd 36 12182015 30812 PM

MANKATO MAGAZINE  bull January 2016 bull 37

MONEY MATTERS WORK SMARTLET COMMUNITY BANK HELP YOUBRING THE TWO TOGETHER

MANKATO - SAINT ANDREWS DR 5073854444MANKATO - MADISON AVE 5076251551VERNON CENTER 5075493679AMBOY 5076743300

JULIE VETTERSR VICE PRESIDENTRETAIL BANKING

We support great causes like yoursAt Community Bank we know good things happen when you have a good bank So we make more possible by keeping banking simple and supportive And by giving you the power that comes with innovative solutions like our Health Savings Account It offers you tax-free savings for future medical expenses Stop by anytime Wersquore always ready to help out a great cause

Position a rack in the lower third of the oven preheat to 350 degrees Combine the nuts cinnamon and breadcrumbs in a bowl

Brush a 9x13-inch baking dish with some of the butter Layer 10 pieces of phyllo in the dish brushing each piece with butter before adding the next (keep the remaining dough covered with a damp towel) Sprinkle a quarter of the nut mixture over the dough Layer four pieces of phyllo on top brushing each with butter before adding the next sprinkle with another quarter of the nut mixture Add four more phyllo pieces on top brushing each with butter then add another quarter of the nut mixture four more pieces of phyllo with butter and the remaining nuts

Layer the remaining 10 pieces of phyllo on top of the nuts brushing each with butter brush the top piece with extra butter Cut into the baklava to make strips about 1 12 inches wide Then make diagonal slices about 1 12 inches apart to create a diamond pattern Bake until golden about one hour

Meanwhile make the syrup Bring the sugar honey and 1 12 cups water to a boil in a saucepan over medium heat and cook 10 to 15 minutes Add the lemon juice and boil 2 more minutes then let cool slightly Pour the syrup over the warm baklava let soak uncovered at least six hours or overnight Garnish with nuts

MM p02 0116indd 37 12182015 30817 PM

38 bull bull MANKATO MAGAZINE

Nell Musolf is a mom and freelance writer from Mankato She blogs at nellmusolfcom

38 bull bull MANKATO MAGAZINE

MM p02 0116indd 38 12182015 30822 PM

MANKATO MAGAZINE  bull January 2016 bull 39

Gear Up for WinterYear-Round amp Insulated Workwear from

Carhartt Dickies and Key

UNIFORMSUniforms fromBarco Carhartt Cherokee DickiesKoi Peaches and White Cross

AMAZED

Call 5073446336mankatomagmankatofreepresscom

Stephanie L Hylla LAc Dipl AcKayla M Sweeney MOm LAc

NEW LOCATION709 S Front Suite 5

5074694788mankatoacupuncturecom

Open House ndash Wednesday Feb 3 9-12noonCelebrating 5 years of Business New Location and the Chinese New Year

In Network with Blue Cross Blue ShieldLicensed by the MN Board of Medical Practice

Ribbon Cutting with Greater Mankato Growth at 10am

(A $250 Value)THIS VOUCHER ENTITLES NEW PATIENTS TO A

CONSULTATION EXAM amp DIGITAL X-RAYS (IF NEEDED)

wwwr igne l l fami lych i roprac t ic comMedicare Restrictions Apply Expires January 31 2016

Dr BrandonRignell DC

1351 Madison AveSuite D

Mankato MN 56001

5077797313

$2900New Patient Special

MM p02 0116indd 39 12222015 121344 PM

40 bull bull MANKATO MAGAZINE

Jean Lundquist is a master gardener who lives near Good Thunder

MM p02 0116indd 40 12182015 30834 PM

MANKATO MAGAZINE  bull January 2016 bull 41

3 Increase the Value of Your Home

3 Update Your Homersquos Appearance

3 Save Money

Choose from SeveralModels Styles amp Colors

507-625-7110 or 1-800-645-36671125 Cross St North Mankato MN

Improve Your HomersquosEnergy Efficiency

422 Park Lane Mankato MN | NuStarMankatocom

(507) 381-4747Voted One of Mankatorsquos Best

DANIEL WINGERT

Make Selling Your Home Your NuYearrsquos Resolution

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42 bull January 2016 bull MANKATO MAGAZINE

January Resolve to moisturize

Your stYLeBy Ann Rosenquist Fee

Ann Rosenquist Fee is executive director of the Arts Center of Saint Peter and a vocalist with The Frye She blogs at annrosenquistfeecom

If you have in-laws or colleagues who know you well enough to have given you holiday gifts

but not well enough to know what wouldrsquove truly made you happy congratulations Chances are yoursquore the proud owner of a bunch of brand-new lip balm

Maybe itrsquos even holiday themed Thatrsquos the best Maybe you got the candy-cane flavored kind or wintergreen with holiday graphics on the label or something like that A theme that was irrelevant the moment the stocking was unstuffed because at that exact second the holiday was over

And here you are in January with an abundance of wax

Fortunately also here you are in the early weeks of winter with rough red knuckles Probably also cracked cuticles although it might not have gone that far yet for you Irsquom sure it has for me This photo was taken back in November and even then the Band-Aids were for real Irsquove learned to cut them in half length-wise so as to retain my ability to type Irsquove also learned to play with a range of color options Flesh-toned Clear Disney characters The colorful strips shown here were gifted to me by my husband Partly why theyrsquore cut in half is that the text is obscene This is one small trick you can use to make bloody cuticles your most exciting accessory of the winter

Sources like UrbanSurvivalSitecom and WonderHowTocom will tell you that you can use lip balm for a whole variety of purposes such as coating threads of outdoor lightbulbs before screwing them into their sockets and enhancing the burn-ability of most kindling

These are great fun but they wonrsquot improve your personal style

More germane to winter beauty are the following suggestions

Keep a tube next to your bed for first-thing-in-the-morning use And I mean really truly first-thing I mean smear the stuff on each cuticle while yoursquore still lying there before you start using your fingers at all If you wake up thinking yoursquore fine and skip cuticle care next thing you know yoursquore pushing down the lever on your Keurig and the pressure is more than your screamingly dry skin can take and boom split blood on the Keurig and itrsquos gonna be a long painful day If only you had balmed your hands before you let your feet hit the floor

Keep another tube in your glove compartment If itrsquos warm enough to take off your mittens in the car mdash if yoursquore even wearing mittens given that your hands are snagging on everything these days mdash the harsh January sunlight will allow you to see cracks and flakes in high-resolution detail Yoursquoll want the balm nearby

to cover what you didnrsquot notice first thing in the morning Also a car tube is useful for when you look in the rear-view mirror and notice that your nose and upper lip are flaking as well Itrsquos because yoursquore getting over a cold and the frequent use of tissue has worn away your top layer of skin but just because you know that doesnrsquot mean everybody else wonrsquot think ldquothere is something in that noserdquo Itrsquos just a fact Itrsquos what it looks like Lip balm to the rescue Itrsquos the only thing dry enough to slick those flakes in place and nourishing enough to maybe actually get your face back to normal

Keep a couple more tubes in a nighttime kit along with sandpaper Sandpaper Yes Not a pumice stone not a lame also-gifted sugar

scrub Medium-grit sandpaper is what you need every night lightly but with conviction As follows 1) Sand taking care not to do more damage than what the elements have already done Yoursquore just trying to remove the dry dead stuff Yoursquore just being hearty and efficient about this true to the culture of this great state in which yoursquove chosen to winter You are no pansy Sand your hands 2) Wash 3) Blot dry 4) Dial up the gifted balm whisper a word of thanks to the person who put so much thought into your well-being that they stuffed your holiday stocking with this amazing gift of self-care smash a healthy amount down into your palms massage Take heart You just might find yourself with normal-textured non-cracked not-horrible-looking hands by morning

Split-open cuticles I feel you Except for these Band-Aids I feel you

Lip balms I have been gifted and these are just from last Christmas ldquolastrdquo as in 2014

Bathrooms Worth Bragging About

HoursTue amp Wed amp Fri | 9 am to 6 pmMon amp Thu | 9 am to 7 pmSaturday | 9 am to 4 pm

219 S Victory Dr | Mankato507 | 345 | 7009ipafhickorytechnetindependentpaintandflooringcom

You Deserve Comfortable Care Every Timebull Sedation - Complete Relaxation with Just a Pillbull Invisalign - Clear Alternative to Bracesbull Botox amp Fillersbull Implants - Placement and Restorationbull Cerec - One Visit Crown Technology

bull Free Whitening Programbull 3D Imaging with Fewer X-Raysbull Cosmetic Dentistrybull Drill-Free Technologybull Emergency Care

1400 Lookout Drive North Mankato507-625-CARE(2273) bull mankatodentistcom 06

1865

6124

01

Dr AngelA Schuck

Dr keith FlAck

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MANKATO MAGAZINE  bull January 2016 bull 43

Bathrooms Worth Bragging About

HoursTue amp Wed amp Fri | 9 am to 6 pmMon amp Thu | 9 am to 7 pmSaturday | 9 am to 4 pm

219 S Victory Dr | Mankato507 | 345 | 7009ipafhickorytechnetindependentpaintandflooringcom

You Deserve Comfortable Care Every Timebull Sedation - Complete Relaxation with Just a Pillbull Invisalign - Clear Alternative to Bracesbull Botox amp Fillersbull Implants - Placement and Restorationbull Cerec - One Visit Crown Technology

bull Free Whitening Programbull 3D Imaging with Fewer X-Raysbull Cosmetic Dentistrybull Drill-Free Technologybull Emergency Care

1400 Lookout Drive North Mankato507-625-CARE(2273) bull mankatodentistcom 06

1865

6124

01

Dr AngelA Schuck

Dr keith FlAck

(944) 412-7949 | OrthoEdgeMNcom

Enjoy the season

Mankato St Peter

Be active Be healthyBe able with OrthoEdge

The OrthoEdge joint replacement

program offers superb care from your first

visit through recovery The surgeons from

the Orthopaedic amp Fracture Clinic and

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Why Riverrsquos Edge Hospital amp Clinic

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44 bull January 2016 bull MANKATO MAGAZINE

1 Hicktown Mafia800 pm mdash New Ulm Event Center mdash 301 20th St S mdash New Ulm mdash $10 mdash 507-354-4673

7-9 Mankato West Orchesis Dance Team showcase7 pm Thursday-Saturday 2 pm Saturday mdash Mankato West High School Auditorium mdash $7 adults $5 students mdash 507-381-7578

10 Mankato Symphony Orchestra Music on the Hill II ldquoMinnesota rootsrdquo2 pm mdash Chapel at Good Counselmdash Good Counsel Drive mdash Mankato mdash $17 $12 mdash wwwmankatosymphonycom

16 Handel with Caremdash Handel Goes to Italy11 ammdash YMCA Aerobics Studio mdash 1401 S Riverfront Drive mdash Mankato mdash wwwmankatosymphonycom

16 Mankato Craft beer Expo2 pm (VIP) 3 pm general mdash Verizon Wireless Center mdash $45 VIP $35 general $10 designated driver mdash wwwmankatocraftbeerexpocom

23 Joey Flip and Mike Fugazzi rockinrsquo at the Embassy9 pm mdash Blaschkorsquos Embassy Bar and Grill mdash 325 S Minnesota Ave mdash St Peter mdash 507-934-3903

24 andrea Lyn and Dick Kimmel concert730 pm mdash Elias J Halling Recital Hall mdash Minnesota State University mdash Mankato mdash $12 regular $11 current MSU students mdash wwwmnusedumusic

28-31 MSu Theatre antigone730 pm Thursday-Saturday 2 pm Sunday mdash Andreas Theatre mdash Minnesota State University mdash Mankato mdash $16 regular $14 discount $11 current MSU students mdash wwwmnsuedu

29-31 BLC Theatre Brigadoon730 Friday and Saturday 2 pm Sunday mdash Ylvisaker Fine Arts Center mdash Bethany Lutheran College mdash Mankato mdash $10 adults $6 seniors children and students mdash wwwblceduevents

29- Feb 7 Winterfest St Peter Citywide mdash wwwstpeterchamberorg

30 Church of Cash a Tribute to Johnny Cash7 pm mdash St Peter American Legion mdash 229 W Nassau St mdash St Peter mdash 507-934-6435

31 Maud Hixson and rick Carlson concert730 pmmdash Elias J Halling Recital Hall mdash Minnesota State University mdash Mankato mdash $12 regular $11 current MSU students wwmnsuedumusic

Coming attraCtions January

T - F 8am - 6pm Sun ClosedSat 9am - 4pmM 8am - 8pm

120 North Broad Street Mankato MN 507-345-4688 wwwmeyerandsonstvandappliancecom

FIND SPECIAL DEALS ON

MM p02 0116indd 44 12182015 30902 PM

MANKATO MAGAZINE  bull January 2016 bull 45

St Peter Craft amp Vendor Show

1MelinadaBussefromRapidansoldherhandmadejewelryatthecraftandvendorshow

2DarylfromElysianandhishand-carvedwoodart

3MacKennaage7hasfunatoneoftheboothsattheStPeterCraftandVendorShow

4LizEntershowsoffsomeofherproductsattheldquoItWorksrdquobooth

5DenisePetersofldquoYoungLivingrdquoessentialoilsdisplayedherproductsattheshow

Faces amp Places Photos By Sport Pix

3

5

2

1

4

T - F 8am - 6pm Sun ClosedSat 9am - 4pmM 8am - 8pm

120 North Broad Street Mankato MN 507-345-4688 wwwmeyerandsonstvandappliancecom

FIND SPECIAL DEALS ON

MM p02 0116indd 45 12222015 121536 PM

46 bull January 2016 bull MANKATO MAGAZINE

SOUTHErN MN CHrISTMAS

FESTIVAL1 A large crowd was on hand during the festivities at

the Christmas Festival2 Friesenrsquos Family Bakery amp Bistro had tons of baked

goods and soups at the Verizon Wireless Center3 A childrenrsquos choir sang for the audience at the

festival4 Ron Haefner owner of Ronrsquos Auto Repair displayed

some of his services5 Garrison Galatz dressed up as Santa for the

Christmas Festival

faCes amp PLaCes Photos By Sport Pix

4

3

1

2

5

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MANKATO MAGAZINE  bull January 2016 bull 47

1GirlScouttroop34494waspresentedwithatrophybyKiwanisVicePresidentKyleMrozek

2SantaClausevenwentthroughtheparaderoute3(LtoR)BrooklynPomrankeAlaynaLyonsHunterPomrankeandLilyLyonsgetagroupphototakenwithSanta

4MarshaMartigtellsSantawhatshewantsforChristmas

5TheparadefloatswerealldeckedoutinChristmaslights

6Visitorswalkthepatharoundtheparktoviewthisyearrsquoslights

Kiwanis Holiday ligHtsFaces amp Places Photos By sport Pix

2

1

3

4 5

6

MM p02 0116indd 47 12222015 121616 PM

48 bull January 2016 bull MANKATO MAGAZINE

On the Occasion of a 50th Reunion

the Class of 1965

from this VaLLeYBy Pete Steiner

Peter Steiner is host of ldquoTalk of the Townrdquo weekdays at 105 pm on KTOE

I was honored to give the presentation for our 50th class reunion recently at West Highrsquos Homecoming celebration About 120 of our nearly 400-member class

showed up We Baby Boomers the children of the greatest generation had big classes in the late lsquo60rsquos that forced the building of East High Ours was a dramatic era and our class did some great things in the face of big challenges Here edited is some of what I said

I am so glad to be standing here today Therersquos an old saying

ldquoMay you live in INTErESTINg timeshelliprdquo The Class of rsquo65 certainly has Itrsquos seems like only yesterday right after lunch that we were at our desks waiting for the start of English class when our charismatic teacher Harry Fitterer strode in and said ldquoPrESIDENT KENNEDY HAS BEEN SHOT IN DALLASrdquo At first we didnrsquot believe him but it was true It was November 22 1963 We were juniors and as the song says that was THE END OF THE INNOCENCE We had lived through the last idyllic time in America

When we first arrived in the fall of 1962 America was still carefree basking in the glow of victory in WW II Everything may have seemed ldquorightrdquo but it was not Martin Luther King Jr had just visited Mankato pointing out the continuing plight of black Americans as the Civil rights movement was gaining steam The beginnings of the Vietnam War which would alter the course of many of our lives were stirring even as we studied history and government The current generation has no monopoly on forgettable pop music ndash we had a stupid 1 song called ldquoItsie Bitsie Teenie Weenie Yellow Polka Dot Bikinirdquo (unfortunately an ear worm I canrsquot forget) But a darker cultural threat was looming The BEATLES were invading from Britain and our parents were mortified because they had LONg HAIr

Some of the shock of the Kennedy assassination was eased when our wrestling team in the era when the state still had just ONE CLASS won the State Championship in front of a packed hall up at MSU some still maintain that is the greatest single athletic achievement in Mankato history We were the first high school in Mankato to put on a full-scale musical ldquoBye Bye Birdierdquo in the spring of 1964 In Fall of 1964 our football team would have won the conference championship outright except Owatonnarsquos great Noel Jenke who would go on to star for the U of M

cheated I watched him trap the touchdown pass that beat us Does cheating pay Was that a lesson for life

In lsquo65 we also had a fine basketball team that lost our chance at State when our 6-6 center fouled out at Luverne

BUT A FAr BIggEr CHALLENgE AWAITED US ALL As we rode out to Luverne to watch that game we couldnrsquot help noticing the highway was like a canyon between walls of snow The legendary St Patrickrsquos Day Blizzard had dumped two feet on top of an already large snow pack and then April brought rains on frozen ground Instead of coming here to school many of us soon got a real-life assignment to go out in our rain gear out on the dikes to battle the grEAT FLOOD OF 1965 Our school became an island as water flooded the parking lot and all of South riverfront Our spring play that year was called ironically

THE DESPErATE HOUrS We had to rehearse at roosevelt School up on higher ground

Our class produced three Merit scholars One of our classmates who did NOT qualify

for a merit scholarship nevertheless was such a whiz at physics that NASA requested a copy of a paper he wrote on rocketry as a senior We produced 12 doctors one of whom earned a fellowship at Stanford seeking how to bring telemedicine to the poor another of whom became a breakthrough cancer doctor We had entrepreneurs one who would go on to be a leader in Solar Energy (and then run for governor of New Hampshire) Another mdash a woman incidentally when

that was not common founded two bio-tech startups Many of us are still working

past normal retirement age One founded a company on the leading edge of recycling

computers whose clients include the NSA Another is chief medical officer of a company

devising a better tool for colonoscopies Yet another of our classmates recently completed a concert tour of China

We lived in challenging times just as you do today but we muddle through we make it to the other shore I remember sitting where you are 50 years ago thinking how old those folks up there looked But remember Life goes by very quickly You certainly live in interesting times as Shakespeare said ldquoPresent Mirth has Present Laughter Youthrsquos a stuff will NOT endurerdquo So I urge you live each moment to the fullest

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Page 8: Mankatomag 116

6 bull bull MANKATO MAGAZINE

MM

MM p01 0116indd 6 12222015 115714 AM

MANKATO MAGAZINE  bull January 2016 bull 7

xxxxxx

BUILDING AUTOMOTIONAND INTEGRATION CONTROLS

HEATING AND COOLING SYSTEMS

SECURITY

ldquoTodays leading experts to help you for a better tomorrowrdquoldquoTodays leading experts to help you for a better tomorrowrdquo

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Please call for a free consultation and estimate

KnowYourRisk

Take chargeof your healthwith monthlyself-examsand annual

mammograms

it

Mankato Clinic joins usin raising awareness ofthe importance of early

detection in the fightagainst breast cancerand the importance ofcontinued support for

breast cancer research

MM p01 0116indd 7 12182015 24435 PM

Friday January 3 1890Magnificent Showing for 1889Over $70000 Expended on Streets Waterworks and Sewers(compared to 2014 dollars this could amount to as much as $86000000 dollars)

The most important of the public works accomplished this year is the construction of a pumping station the purchase of a magnificent holly pump and the completion of the large one-million gallon reservoir The discovery of a suitable water supply was made last year but it was left to be developed this year by the sinking of two large artesian wells to a depth of more than 600 feet

The next is important as having over a mile of sewer on second street Other improvements Completion of the Tourtellotte Hospital and the purchase of additional hose for the fire department

Friday January 7 1910County Board is Wrestling with Bills in Ledbeter CaseThiel Detective Agency wants to be paid for booze and treats entertaining deputy sheriff and farmers Lady Sleuth was employed on jobThiel Detective Agency employed a woman Paid for parties on the County dime In 1910 Though not mentioned in the printed story Mrs Ledbeter was accused of murdering her husband Holland several years her elder

The County Board met this afternoon wrestling with bills that had been presented to it for services rendered in connection with the trials of Frank Smith and Mrs Grace Ledbeter

County Auditor Weaver states the cost of these trials will be between $8000 and $10000 but he wonrsquot know the exact figure for several days

The Thiel Detective Agency has put in a bill for $49835 for services largely consisting of railway fare hotel bills etc One of the items under date Nov 23-30 and Dec 1-4 is ldquodrinks cigars etc with Deputy Sheriff $405rdquo

The next item is ldquotreats and expenses with farmers and others during investigation $2215rdquo

A lady detective seems to have been employed on the case for a time making a trip to St Louis and other places

Tuesday January 3 1961Twins are first lsquoBago Births of the year

Fraternal twins were the first births in Winnebago at the Community Hospital in 1961 Mr and Mrs Eldren Jaegerrsquos boy was born at 1055 Sunday and the girl arrived at 1115 AM The boy weighed 5 pounds 8 12 ounces The girl hit the scale at 5 pounds 2 and a quarter ounces The Jaergers who operate a farm at rural Amboy have seven other children ranging in age from Sandra 18 in nursersquos training at St Josephrsquos Hospital in Mankato to 4-year-old Joel

Tuesday January 3 1928Cafes and Dance Halls Scenes of Gaiety Quiet for New Yearrsquos Police Report Cold Wave Sends Revelers Home at Early HourMinus 18 degrees Fahrenheit is just too cold to have fun on New Yearrsquos Eve

Liquor that did not flow too liberally and the extreme cold weather conspired to make the celebration of the coming of the new year in Mankato not too boisterous ldquoIt was a quiet timerdquo commented Chiefof Police Jake Hilgers ldquoProbably quieter than last yearrdquo Only one arrest was made as against 3 last New Yearrsquos The arrest was of a man found lying in the railroad yards intoxicated The tips of his fingers were frozen and itrsquos believed if he had not been discovered he would have frozen to death

This DAy in hisToryBy Jean Lundquist

MM p01 0116indd 8 12182015 24437 PM

Corporate GraphicsYour Printing Solutions Company

1750 Northway DriveNorth Mankato MN 56003

800-729-7575wwwcorpgraphcom

May your 2016 be

Filled with color and

delight

MANKATO MAGAZINE  bull January 2016 bull 9

The GAllery Ellen Schofield Story by Nell Musolf

After graduat ing from the University of Minnesota in 2012 with a Masterrsquos of Fine

Arts degree in graphic design Ellen Schofield was delighted when three months later she was offered a teaching position at Minnesota State University She expected that she would have to move elsewhere and was happy that she would be able to stay in her own state

ldquoThere were about 10 positions open around the time I graduatedrdquo Schofield said ldquowhich was really quite a lot I expected that Irsquod have to move so it was great to be hired by MSUrdquo

Schofield teaches introductory level graphic design classes as well as a special concept class that helps students fire up their creativity

ldquoIn the special concept class we do mind mapping brainstorming and once a semester I bring in an improv comedian because studies have proven that improv comedians have the most creative ideas of any other professionrdquo Schofield said ldquoThe class does theater warm ups and they really seem to enjoy it We also focus on the lsquoyes andrsquo theory in that classrdquo

The ldquoyes andrdquo theory agrees with an idea and then expounds on it with enthusiasm mdash the ldquoandrdquo part

ldquoCollege students often want to look cool all the timerdquo Schofield remarked

ldquoThe lsquoyes andrsquo theory pushes past that and opens up creativityrdquo

Schofield defines graphic design as thinking made visual

ldquoGraphic design is everywhere Itrsquos logos for businesses and icons and even the tax return papers given out by the IRS are examples of graphic design and had to have been designed by some poor personrdquo Schofield said ldquoA goal of a graphic designer is to create something that anyone can understand as soon as they look at itrdquo

Before becoming a graduate student Schofield ran her own graphic design business and has continued the business on a smaller scale now that she is teaching Her personal preference in graphic design is to create icons

ldquoI tend to like iconographyrdquo Schofield said ldquoIcons can be mdash and I think should be mdash simple and elegant and tell whoever sees them something about the business they representrdquo

Schofield worked with the Childrenrsquos Museum of Southern Minnesota to create its icon an experience she enjoyed

ldquoI wanted to make it something that would appeal to kids and their parents as well The Childrenrsquos Museum has such a cool space mdash it needed an icon that would let people know what a truly cool place it isrdquo Schofield said

When working with a graphic design client Schofield likes to have ldquolots and lotsrdquo of conversations

ldquoGetting to know clients is important We talk a lot so that I can find out what a client feels passionate about when it comes to their business The goal is to find something that makes them unique and then create a graphic design that reflects thatrdquo Schofield said

Shofield said her favorite artistic tool is the art departmentrsquos laser cutter

ldquoItrsquos like the worldrsquos fanciest scissorsrdquo Schofield said ldquoIt can cut just about anything and does an amazing job Itrsquos so much fun to work withrdquo

Schofield is working with MSU colleague David Rogers on a project using the laser cutter called ldquoPaper State Flowersrdquo Schofield and Rogers are using typographic state abbreviations combined with paper flowers Their progress can be viewed at wwwpaperstateflowerscom and the final results will be shown at an art gallery in Hutchinson in October

Schofield originally planned to become an engineer but after taking a class in graphic design she changed her mind

ldquoIrsquom a visual personal and I fell in love with designrdquo Schofield said ldquoReally I canrsquot imagine doing anything elserdquo

thinking Made visualEllen Schofield teaches at Minnesota State university

MM p01 0116indd 9 12182015 24441 PM

10 bull January 2016 bull MANKATO MAGAZINE

xxxxxxxxxxxxxMM p01 0116indd 10 12182015 24444 PM

MANKATO MAGAZINE bull bull 11

MM p01 0116indd 11 12222015 115848 AM

12 bull January 2016 bull MANKATO MAGAZINE

The Celebration of the Lakes has been a family tradition for Erin Thorvaldson Chisago Lakes Chamber Board Member and Community member for Celebration of the Lakes for more than 20 years Thorvaldson was about 10

years old when her grandmother introduced her to the event which takes place Jan 30 on North Center Lake in Lindstrom

DAy Trip DesTinATions Celebration of the LakesBy leTiciA GonzAles

hit the LakesLindstrom has plenty of fun waiting for you

Hot air balloons are just one of the many attractions this festival has employed over the years

MM p01 0116indd 12 12182015 24446 PM

MANKATO MAGAZINE  bull January 2016 bull 13

Day Trip DesTinaTions Celebration of the LakesBy LeTicia GonzaLes

WhenJan 29-31 2016

I-35 North to Hwy 8 east to Center City Located on the North side of Hwy 8 on

North Center Lake

If youGoWhat

Celebration of the Lakes

Lindstrom MN

AdmissionFree additional admission required for some

events activities food and ridesVisit wwwchisagolakeschambercom

ldquoSo I helped way back then when she was part of the chamberrdquo said Thorvaldson ldquoAnd having a business in the community as I got older I also wanted to give backrdquo

Born and raised in the Chisago Lakes area Thorvaldson has served on the celebrationrsquos planning committee for nine years She said the event first caught her eye not only because she loves winter but because it focuses on the outdoors ldquoeven though many people in Minnesota cringe once we get to 20 degrees so it kind of gets you out and lets you do something funrdquo

Watching the celebration grow over the past two decades has also been fun for Thorvaldson

ldquoIt was very tiny at that pointrdquo she said as she reminisced about the early days of the event ldquoIt was just a few hay bales at the icerdquo

Being an active part of the planning has been equally exciting

ldquoThe committeersquos always trying to come up with more ideas that the community would perceive as something fun to do in the winter timerdquo she said ldquoThere have been the sled dogs there have been hot air balloons and there have been kitty cat races car racesrdquo

While past years have even included BMX bike races where people dressed up in costumes the snowmobile radar run and the vintage snow mobile displays have been the ldquomain staplesrdquo of the celebration Organized by the Wild River Snowmobile Club of Chisago City the snowmobile radar run features nearly 200 riders who race upwards of 120 miles per hour on a track

ldquoSometimes they will have souped-up snowmobiles that go incredibly fastrdquo Thorvaldson said ldquoWe had a world record one that raced on the track so itrsquos pretty amazing to see how fast some of them go They break them up into categories and there are prizes for the fastest one in each categoryrdquo

Originally introduced as a memorial radar run for a rotary member the radar run has become one of the celebrationrsquos most popular events

ldquoWe started with just a sheriffrsquos radar gun and now they use different timing items like cones and announcingrdquo she add ldquoItrsquos kind of something that has evolved toordquo

With the draw of the surrounding lakes in the area Thorvaldson said ice fishing has also grown in popularity and has become embedded in the annual celebration

ldquoItrsquos like little villages out on the lakerdquo she said

ldquoThat is kind of the big that that people do There are people who drive up from all over the place the Twin Cities all over just to come spend the weekend ice fishing on the lake so thatrsquos a big big thingrdquo

Greg Shaleen who has also been on the planning committee for the celebration for more than 15 years affirmed the celebrationrsquos growth when it comes to activities offered

ldquoWe have done kind of bizarre thingsrdquo he said ldquoWe do a smoosh race which is where you take 2-by-4s and strap four leather straps on it and you do a little bit of a racerdquo

Shaleen also credits the event for bringing people out to the lakes during the coldest month of the year

ldquoEveryone is all cooped up in the community and it just got to the point where they wanted to do something fun in the winter and get people out and about and enjoy the winter sportrdquo he said

From kitty races and sled dog races to a concession tent and a family fishing contest that draws anywhere from three to five hundred people Shaleen said the Celebration of the Lakes brings people together in the outdoors

ldquoWe are basically more interested in getting people out of the house visiting with friends and neighbors and visitors to the area and enjoying each otherrsquos interest in snowmobiling or ice fishing or whatever the events are taking place or going onrdquo he concluded

MM p01 0116indd 13 12222015 115930 AM

January The holidays are over along with all of the seasonrsquos excuses for overindulge in food and drink and under-indulging in any form of exercise (other than lifting onersquos hand to onersquos mouth) After stowing the presents in the

closet and taking down the tree many people choose the New Year as the perfect time to begin a serious diet and exercise program to shed the extra pounds they put on over the past few months and to begin eating more healthfully Mankato Clinic registered dietitian Erin Gonzalez says a hearty ldquoyesrdquo to healthy mindful eating and definite ldquonordquo to any extreme ldquodo or die(t)rdquo approach

According to Gonzalez 95 percent of all dieters regain the weight they lost within five years It is her belief that such yo-yo dieting only creates more frustration and stress which can lead to emotional eating and binge eating which leads to another cycle of dieting-losing-weight-gaining-weight ad infinitum

Gonzalez speaks from experience After losing 70 pounds since the time she was a teenager Gonzalez is now at a weight she considers healthy and one that she hasnrsquot deviated from in years

By Nell Musolf | Photos by Pat Christman and Darren Gibbins

Herersquos to ahealthy

new yeara healthy

new you

14 bull January 2016 bull MANKATO MAGAZINE

MM p01 0116indd 14 12182015 24450 PM

MANKATO MAGAZINE  bull January 2016 bull 15

Erin Gonzalez and her son prepare a healthful meal

Erin GonzalezldquoI struggled with weight issues when I was growing

uprdquo Gonzalez said ldquoWhen I was 16 I went on my first lsquoseriousrsquo dietmdashone of the fast diets that were popular in the 1990srdquo

Gonzalez said that she stuck to her diet religiously having a shake in the morning one for lunch and a sensible meal at night just as she was instructed to do She also walked for approximately two and a half hours a day Over the course of one summer she lost 70 pounds but she was also she now realizes flirting with an eating disorder Gonzalez says this scenario is not uncommon considering research shows 35 percent of ldquooccasional dietersrdquo progress into pathological dieting (disordered eating) and as many as 25 percent advance to full-blown eating disorders

ldquoMy food intake was very restrictive and I was always extremely conscience of what I ate but just the same I slowly gained back 30 of the 70 pounds

that I lostrdquo Gonzalez said ldquoI was always looking at food as either lsquogoodrsquo or lsquobadrsquo instead of something pleasurable to be enjoyedrdquo

It wasnrsquot until she was working at her dietetic internship that she had her ldquoahardquo moment

ldquoI was blessed with a teacher who taught her students how to enjoy foodrdquo Gonzalez said ldquoinstead of being obsessed by it Gonzalez learned about a program called Am I Hungry that specializes in helping people heal their relationship with food and their bodies so they can relearn to trust their internal hunger cues instead of having to follow arbitrary rules and broken promises of diets Gonzalez facilitates a program at the Mankato Clinic that teaches the Am I Hungry philosophy

ldquoI have two childrenrdquo Gonzalez said ldquoa 10-month-old and a 4-year-old They know how to eat naturally and they stop eating when they are no longer hungry That is what most adults need

MM p01 0116indd 15 12222015 120138 PM

16 bull January 2016 bull MANKATO MAGAZINE

xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

need to relearn how to eatrdquoThe method has worked for Gonzalez Gone are

her extra 30 pounds and she no longer dietsldquoDiets simply arenrsquot sustainablerdquo she said ldquoItrsquos so

hard in our society because we are surrounded by cues to eat all of the time At buffets where you want to lsquoget your moneyrsquos worthrsquo when yoursquore out with friends when you sit down at the end of the day and turn on the television to relax and are bombarded with ads for food Food has become a reward for a bad day or a good day or anything else we can think of But if you look at how you eat as a journey instead of as a destination you can learn to enjoy food a lot morerdquo

So what should someone who wants to start the New Year in a more healthy fashion do

ldquoPause before you eatrdquo Gonzalez recommended ldquoAsk yourself if yoursquore really hungry or if yoursquore actually thirsty or stressed instead Try not to be emotionally disconnected from what you are eatingrdquo

Gonzalez emphasized that ldquomindful eating isnrsquot naive to say nutrition isnrsquot important Of course it is Mindful eating is what allows us to take charge of our decisions of why when what how and how much we choose to eat instead of battling being in or out of controlrdquo

Instead of following the latest short-lived diet Gonzalez encourages people to make the healthiest choices possible that donrsquot leave them feeling deprived

Paulette Tonn BookerFor Paulette Tonn Booker the Am I Hungry

Mindful Eating (AIHME) program has been a game changer

Said Booker ldquoIrsquove tried several diet plans over the past 40 years including some well-known plans and I lost weight on each plan However keeping the weight off eluded me and resulted in yo-yo dieting

The lsquorulesrsquo of whichever plan Booker was on became the norm and after years of trying to live by those rules Booker was no longer able to discern what her body was telling her about hunger often leading to out-of-control overeating

ldquoI always knew there was something else going on yet no one had an answer for merdquo Booker said

When Booker first heard of the AIHME program two years ago she was relieved to discover that there were other people who felt the same way when it came to healthful eating The program taught her the skills she needed to recognize her bodyrsquos hunger signals thoughts and feelings and actions to help manage the physical emotional and environmental stresses of everyday life without resorting to eating to cope with those stresses

ldquoI no longer have to be in control of everything I only need to be in charge of my decisions at any given moment When I choose to overeat (which everyone does) I no longer beat myself up I try to reflect on what happened and then plan for ways to handle the situation differently the next time it occurs Old habits are hard to break it takes concentrated effort and dedication to rewire the brain with new habits and it can be donerdquo Booker said

About weight loss as the end goal of healthful eating Booker shared the following ldquoThe only time I get on a scale is at the doctorrsquos office I know what the experts say I should weigh A number does not define a personrsquos self-worth nor does it say anything about who we are and how we feel as we make changes in how we nurture our bodies The number on the scale is just a number bodies come in all shapes and sizes as does health I will never diet again Instead I will continue to work on developing mindful skills and in the meantime eating what I love and loving what I eatrdquo

MM p01 0116indd 16 12182015 24501 PM

MANKATO MAGAZINE  bull January 2016 bull 17

Eric ZiesmerFor Eric Ziesmer he is in the middle of his weight

loss journey a journey that began last July when the 32-year-old learned that he weighed 330 pounds The time had come for Ziesmer to make some healthy lifestyle changes Ziesmer decided to lose weight because of his family mdash both present and future

ldquoI have two adorable nephews and I would love to be able to chase them around the yard or pull them in a sled during the winter and basically to be active and see them as they growrdquo Ziesmer said ldquoAnd even though Irsquom currently single if it is in my cards for marriage and kids I would like to be there and not be too tired or not in shape A clean and healthy lifestyle is what I am striving for in my coming yearsrdquo

With the help of a dietician Ziesmer has started his cleaner and healthier lifestyle Since July he has lost 40 pounds and has decided to have weight loss surgery To help his post operation phase go as smoothly as possible Ziesmer eats fresh fruit every day has cut out chips and cookies among other things

ldquoI have totally cut out soda Soda was a big one to cut out In my huge climb to 300 there were days when I would consume two 2-liter bottles of pop in a single day and maybe cracking open a thirdrdquo Ziesmer said ldquoI try to listen to my stomach instead of my eyes or eat because Irsquom bored or stressed I eat slow and sip instead of being the guzzler I have always beenrdquo

Another tactic Ziesmer has adopted has been to stop drinking liquids 30 minutes before a meal and then wait 30 minutes after eating before sipping again

ldquoWhen my stomach rumbles and says itrsquos hungry I feed it When my brain or boredom drives me to want to eat I take a second to see if my stomach feels empty and if not it gets deniedrdquo Ziesmer said

Ziesmer has noticed that he is more successful at healthy eating when he eats at home When he does dine out hersquoll cut a sandwich in half eat half and save other half for a future meal

ldquoAs far as exercise goes it went from zero to at least two if not three times a week going for a 327 mile walk and have recently made my way back into the gymrdquo Ziesmer said He has been able to keep track of his walks with accuracy thanks to an app called MapMyRun

Ziesmer knows that his healthier living journey will continue for a long time

ldquoI plan on continuing to live healthy by continuing my exercise and eating right and by saying that itrsquos not only for me and feeling better but also because there are two little guys that look up to their uncle Staying motivated is at least my key to keeping up this lifestyle I want to live a long and healthier life feeling better and being there down the road for family and friends is what means mostrdquo Ziesmer said MM

Eric Ziesmer says hersquos got plenty of motivation to get healthy two nephews to whom he wants to be a good role model

MM p01 0116indd 17 12222015 120514 PM

18 bull January 2016 bull MANKATO MAGAZINE

Stephanie Howe says itrsquos best to have realistic goals when starting a fitness program

Herersquos your guideBy Robb Murray | Photos by Pat Christman

Ready for CHANGE

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MANKATO MAGAZINE  bull January 2016 bull 19

Yoursquore ready

You ate the ham and turkey and potatoes and Christmas cookies You drank the wine beer and eggnog Yoursquove spent the last few

months pondering a life change Yoursquore on the verge of a major transformation This time itrsquos happening Yoursquore going to get healthy Itrsquos going to be a new you

And then January arrived And you have no plan

Luckily we here at Mankato Magazine have got you covered Itrsquos not uncommon for people to make a New Yearrsquos resolution or some similar vow this time of year It usually comes with goal weights and promises to hit the gym X number of times per week and trips to the produce and organic sections of the grocery store because this time yoursquore serious Right

OK easy tiger Getting healthy is a great idea and wersquore wishing you all the best But wersquore also coming at you with some sensible advice Maybe setting unrealistic goals isnrsquot the best way to go Maybe just

heading into the gym and trying to get it all done in a week isnrsquot a great way to go either

ldquoFinerdquo you say ldquothen what should I dordquoWersquore so glad you asked

Letrsquos get startedThe first thing you need to remember when

starting an exercise program is that if you want to lose weight you need to change the way you eat too

ldquoNo matter what you say you canrsquot out exercise a bad dietrdquo says Stephanie Howe director of healthy living at the Mankato YMCA

Howe works in what might be the busiest fitness hub in the Mankato area So shersquos seen her share of people come through the doors with plans to change their lives Some of them succeed Most do not

One of the biggest mistakes people make Howe says is not really having a good grasp on how much time theyrsquoll need in order to incorporate a good workout into their day It doesnrsquot have to be a two-

hour commitment every day she says It can be 30 minutes of planned effective exercise several times per week Whatrsquos more important is just getting there and thatrsquos an obstacle that is bigger than most people realize

ldquoMost people want to lsquopeople pleasersquordquo she said ldquoYou can say yoursquore going to get up and work out every day but most people are built to need external accountabilityrdquo

Think about hiring a personal trainer

ldquoWhen you spend the money on a personal trainer you have an appointment therersquos someone waiting thererdquo she says

A personal trainer is a great way to immediately know yoursquore doing exactly what yoursquore supposed to be doing and yoursquoll have no doubt whether yoursquore working hard enough There are plenty of personal trainers in town mdash at the YMCA and other gyms mdash who would love to help you Of course they donrsquot work for free and for many people the cost of a personal trainer is more than theyrsquore willing to spend

Fortunately therersquos a trend in fitness to offer the whip-crack of a personal trainer while staying Jo radlinger urges her clients to not sabotage their fitness efforts with poor eating over

the weekend

MM p01 0116indd 19 12182015 24510 PM

20 bull January 2016 bull MANKATO MAGAZINE

728 N Riverfront DriveMankato MN 56001

507-625-5163katobearscom

Pins and NeedlesAlterations

Specializing in alterations for theentire wedding party including

gown re-sizing hemming re-beadingbustles and so much more

Like us onFacebook

affordableThe Y now offers something called ldquotrainer ledrdquo

exercise sessions where you work with others in a group but have access to a trainer nearby who can push you motivate you and make sure yoursquore you know doing it right Theyrsquore $3 a class

ldquoYoursquore still expected to be there but itrsquos much cheaperrdquo Howe said ldquoThe group environment pushes you and we have tons of trainer-led classes Itrsquos the best of both worldsrdquo

Across town Jo Radlinger runs Jorsquos Garage a fitness center where shersquos the one pushing you to succeed

Radlingerrsquos goal she says is to bring out everyonersquos potential

ldquoI want to make sure everybody that comes through my door has success I want them to be the very best version of themselves that they can berdquo

Like Howe Radlinger acknowledges that the financial side of hiring a personal trainer can scare people away but she says there are several reasons why it shouldnrsquot

ldquoItrsquos never a bad investment when yoursquore investing in yourselfrdquo she said ldquoMeet with a trainer who is just as passionate about your goal My goal is not to train you intensely but to show you what yoursquore capable of and then take you to that next levelrdquo

At Jorsquos Fitness Garage there are no membership fees Radlinger doesnrsquot believe in them Instead she charges $5 per visit and in that time she said she pushes you to have a great workout

GymtimidationSetting goals is a great

idea Setting unrealistic goals is the kind of thing that results in a gym membership card laying dormant in a junk drawer by February

So set those goals but set them smartlyldquoAccountability is huge Even if you canrsquot hire

someonerdquo Howe says ldquoMake specific goals mdash say yoursquore going to workout X number of times but make those numbers realistic Set goals that are within your controlrdquo

Do this and yoursquore likely to feel a lot better about how things go

ldquoMost people just want to feel better about themselves they want to feel more confidentrdquo Howe said ldquoThis way even before any physical changes happen theyrsquoll feel better Theyrsquoll start to feel like theyrsquore in control again of their life and their choicesrdquo

Taking an exercise class is a great way to both get

your body moving while at the same time have fun and meet those people who will notice when you donrsquot show up

And about that weight room Yes it can be intimidating to walk in and see people who look like they live there But Howe says that while it can definitely be a psychological barrier focusing on those people is the wrong strategy

ldquoNo one cares what yoursquore doingrdquo Howe says ldquoFocus on yourdquo

Take it slowIt can be tempting when you finally get up the

nerve to get back in the swing of working out to go hardcore But just like setting unrealistic goals trying to achieve your fitness goals in a day is impossible

ldquoPeople start out really gung-ho and reset their diet so aggressively and most people just simply canrsquot do thisrdquo Radlinger said ldquoWhen yoursquore looking at making a lifestyle change I want you to do it slowly and incrementally rather than do it all in two monthsrdquo

Rushing into the weight room and trying to lift the same weight and number of reps and sets that you did 10 years ago is a great way to make sure you canrsquot work out for a while Going from a sedentary lifestyle to two hours of pumping iron can leave you sore enough to not be able to lift anything for days Maybe even weeks

Ease into it The gymrsquos not going anywhere Think marathon not sprint

ldquoSometimes people have an all-or-nothing attituderdquo Howe said ldquoand they make themselves sore and they canrsquot continuerdquo

Speaking of all-or-nothing Radlinger says

some people bring that kind of intensity to their food intake over the weekend Bad idea

ldquoAs trainers we help people be accountable We do success measurements help them prepare and plan And wersquoll do weigh-ins on Mondayrdquo Radlinger says ldquoWersquoll find that people do really well Monday through Friday then do what I call sabotage Saturday and Sunday At some point yoursquore going to get so sick of hitting that reset button every Mondayrdquo

Whatever you choose to do both trainers say itrsquos never a bad idea to sit down with your doctor and run your plans by himher Your personal safety should always come first and getting the green light from Doc can give you some peace of mind as you start this new chapter of your life MM

Jo radlinger runs Jorsquos Fitness Garage

MM p01 0116indd 20 12222015 120709 PM

MANKATO MAGAZINE  bull January 2016 bull 21

728 N Riverfront DriveMankato MN 56001

507-625-5163katobearscom

Pins and NeedlesAlterations

Specializing in alterations for theentire wedding party including

gown re-sizing hemming re-beadingbustles and so much more

Like us onFacebook

Live the Lifestyle

wwwmapletonmarinecom

Southern MNrsquos largestboat show on now at the

Madison East Center in Mankato

MM p01 0116indd 21 12182015 24524 PM

22 bull January 2016 bull MANKATO MAGAZINE

Thirty-three years ago I stood inside a grave A lifetime ago when I was a pastorrsquos wife

In Nebraska we served a parish of barely over one hundred members A picture-postcard white church with a hand-carved white wooden altar from Germany sat at the top of a hill next to it the parsonage and next to that the cemetery rolling down the hill toward a wooded creek

The first death in the congregation after our arrival set off a flurry of activity Irsquod never met Alma because she was in a nursing home before we arrived However my husband visited her on several occasions She was mother aunt grandmother great-aunt and great-grandmother to half the congregation so there was no question about whether or not I would attend the funeral

With my two little kids in tow I attended every event at the church every Sunday morning service of course but also every funeral every confirmation every baptism every meeting of womenrsquos circle and even every family reunion that was held in the church basement At twenty-six I perfected the art of making gracious small talk with people Irsquod never seen before and would never see again and at taking tiny portions from each confirmation buffet so I would neither be sick by the end of the day nor offend any of the mothers who had slaved away over their sumptuous spreads of food

By Rebecca Fjelland Davis

Grave Lesson in Winter

ESSay

MM p01 0116indd 22 12182015 24527 PM

MANKATO MAGAZINE  bull January 2016 bull 23

Attending the little white country church was physically easy I picked up one-year-old Josh took three-year-old Nikkirsquos hand and walked out the front door down the sidewalk and next door The only things I didnrsquot have to attend were church council and the menrsquos meeting Archaic This was in the 1980s It doesnrsquot seem so long ago

All the available babysitters in the community would attend Almarsquos funeral too so this was to be my kidsrsquo first funeral

The afternoon before the service salt-snow fell Hard little crystals pelted down as if the heavens had up-ended a Mortonrsquos salt canister Within a few hours the hard snow was six inches deep and still falling

In the middle of the salt-snow the gravedigger arrived The Ditchwitch roared around the cemetery to the familyrsquos plot and my kidsrsquo noses pressed against the upstairs bedroom window pane ldquoMommy can we go watchrdquo

Glad for an excuse to get out of the parsonage I bundled them in snowsuits put them on the sled and pulled them across the house yard and garden to the fence that bordered the cemetery

The Ditchwitch made short work of the grave and all three of us were mesmerized watching the mound of gray-black dirt grow in the crystal-white snow When the hole was finished the gravedigger turned his tractor on idle He hopped off and came over to the fence His eyes twinkled in a weathered face ldquoWant to come lookrdquo

I backed up from the fence a step ldquoNo not really I think this is close enoughrdquo

ldquoYes Mommy go lookrdquo ldquoPleeeeaserdquoSo Nikki and Josh got back on the sled and I

hauled them along the fence through the gate over to the grave and looked down Six feet seemed deep bottomless Dark A sharp contrast to the pelting snowflakes all around us

ldquoWanna get down in thererdquo the gravedigger asked I shuddered hung onto the kids and backed up

again ldquoNo No thatrsquos okay This is close enough I just want to look from hererdquo

ldquoYes mommyrdquo the little ones said ldquoLetrsquosrdquoldquoNordquoldquoPleaserdquoldquoReally marsquoam I think you should Yoursquoll be

surprised I wouldnrsquot suggest it if it I didnrsquot think sordquoldquoHow would we get outrdquo The sides were deeper

than I was tall and there certainly werenrsquot footholds or a ladder built in for Almarsquos soul to use to climb out

ldquoLike thisrdquo The gravedigger laid his shovel diagonally across a top corner of the grave and jumped down He grabbed the middle of the shovel handle and swung himself back up and out with the agility of a gymnast ldquoNothinrsquo to itrdquo

ldquoI canrsquot do thatrdquoldquoYes you can Irsquoll boost you And wersquoll lift the kids

Yoursquoll be amazed I promiserdquoI shivered The idea of being inside a grave

seemed much colder than the snow crystals biting at my face

ldquoCome onrdquo he said and jumped back in Nikki and Josh willingly stepped over to him to be lifted down I had no choice but to follow I couldnrsquot let my kids alone in a grave with a man I didnrsquot even know

So I jumped The earth on the bottom made a soft landing The soil around me was warm and steamy It was moist and dark but it enfolded us in an earthy hug At least fifty degrees warmer than the air above ground it felt as if the earth were offering shelter respite a comfortable place to snuggle down and rest Tiny roots dangled full of life from the smooth edges of the hole Tears sprang to my eyes I couldnrsquot help them My eyes met the gravediggerrsquos and he smiled Gently ldquoSeerdquo he said Nothing more

I couldnrsquot speak A few minutes later he gave me a stirrup with his

hands I scrambled out and he lifted Nikki and Josh up to me Then he flipped himself out as easily as a trapeze artist

ldquoThank yourdquo I said ldquoI would never have guessedrdquoHe nodded ldquoNobody does But it helps somehow

I wanted you to feel thatrdquoWhy I wanted to ask why me You donrsquot even

know me Why were you willing to take time for usldquoThank yourdquo was all I said I shook his hand and

he hopped on the Ditchwitch and drove off into the snow

I never saw him again Someone else dug the next grave required in that cemetery

I remember only bits and pieces of the funeral Irsquom sure I baked a boxed cake mix for ldquolunchrdquo afterwards I remember answering Nikkirsquos questions about the body and sitting in the back row of the church in case Josh didnrsquot want to be quiet I do remember looking at the unfamiliar face in the casket and thinking you get to rest in a warm cozy place

Ten winters later we buried my dad on just such a day Wet snow crystals pelted us and piled up so deep the funeral home limousine got stuck in the cemetery By the time the pallbearers pushed it un-stuck their suit pants were caked in slush and mud

We stood at the graveside in the bleak wet icy day and lowered my fatherrsquos body into the ground

ldquoToo bad itrsquos such a miserable dayrdquo ldquoSorry about your dad Sorry the weatherrsquos so bad toordquo And even ldquoSuch a good man He deserves better weather than thisrdquo

But the weather I thought was just right Losing my dad my kids and their cousins losing

their grandpa my mom becoming a widow my brother losing his farming partner and best friend changed our livesmdashthat part was too heavy to carry

The only part that was okay for me was to let Dadrsquos worn-out body be wrapped in that welcoming warm enfolding soilmdashthe very soil hersquod loved to till the soil hersquod planted and tended all his life the soil that gave us all lifemdashthat was the only gratifying part of the day

The only comfort I had was letting Dad go from the cold wet biting snow into that warm and restful place

And I still wonder who that gravedigger was ten years earlier and how he knew how much I would need what he gave me that bleak winter day MM

Rebecca Fjelland Davis is an author from Mankato

MM p01 0116indd 23 12182015 24528 PM

reFlecTionsBy Pat Christman

24 bull January 2016 bull MANKATO MAGAZINE

MM p01 0116indd 24 12182015 24544 PM

reFlecTionsBy Pat Christman

MANKATO MAGAZINE  bull January 2016 bull 25

There are few things as inevitable as snow during a Minnesota winter Big

cotton ball-like snowflakes cover the ground in a white blanket whitewashing the Midwestern landscape

We struggle against it Some hope the snow never comes It always does filling the sky with floating snowflakes that cling to the ground but melt as soon as they hit the small bits of face or hands that peek out from winter clothing

It is often quite beautiful especially when viewed from someplace warm and dry MM

MM p01 0116indd 25 12182015 24548 PM

26 bull January 2016 bull MANKATO MAGAZINE

Then amp now Vice President Schuyler Colfaxrsquos Death By Bryce o sTenzel

On Jan 14 1885 one day after his death the New York Times carried a

headline that read ldquoSchuyler Colfax Dead He Drops Down in a Railway Stationrdquo While most Americans today would have tremendous difficulty in even recognizing this manrsquos name

(unless they were paying close attention to Stephen Spielbergrsquos epic movie Lincoln and made the association) Schuyler Colfax was a former Speaker of the House of Representatives and Vice President of the United States under President US Grant He died in Mankatorsquos Chicago St

Paul Minneapolis amp Omaha railroad depot from a massive heart attack

Schuyler Colfax Jr was born in New York City on March 23 1823 His father died of tuberculosis five months before Schuyler was born His sister Mary died four months after his [Schuylerrsquos]

vice President Schuyler Colfaxrsquos Death in Mankato

MM p01 0116indd 26 12182015 24549 PM

MANKATO MAGAZINE  bull January 2016 bull 27

birth The young Schuyler attended school only until he was 10 He then began working to support his family Schuyler Colfax never attended any kind of secondary school or college His mother remarried when Colfax was 13 and the family moved to New Carlisle Indiana By the time he was 22 Colfax was the editor and owner of a pro-Whig newspaper He was elected to Congress in 1854 and joined the newly formed Republican Party after the Whig Party disintegrated Solidly anti-slavery his colleagues elected Colfax as Speaker of the US House of Representatives in 1863 His election came soon after the death of his wife Evelyn The couple had no children

Colfax was President Abraham Lincolnrsquos first and last visitor on the fateful day Lincoln was assassinatedmdashApril 14 1865 Early that morning Colfax arrived at the White House while the president was having breakfast Colfax wanted to know whether or not Lincoln planned to call a special session of Congress for later that summer Lincolnrsquos answer was a polite but firm ldquonordquo Lincoln preferred a lenient approach in reconstructing as well as readmitting the former Confederate states to the Union now that the Civil War was over This approach put Lincoln at odds with the more ldquoradicalrdquo congressional members of his own party who preferred harsher measures be taken against their former enemies Lincoln had already made up his mind how he wanted to proceed with reconstructing the former Confederate states and he didnrsquot want any unnecessary interference from Congress Calling a special session was the last thing Lincoln wanted to do Colfax returned that same night to see Lincoln again just before the president left for Fordrsquos Theatre and his appointment with destiny This time Colfax came upon Lincolnrsquos own request The president had a long message for the silver miners of the Comstock Lode in Nevada thanking them for their loyalty to the Union that he wanted Speaker Colfax to deliver in person since Colfax was leaving by train for the West the next day Colfax was the last person Lincoln spoke to besides his wife Mary before he

was fatally shot at 1015 pm Colfax never forgave himself for turning down Lincolnrsquos invitation to be part of the theatre party that night

In 1868 Republicans selected General Ulysses S Grant as their presidential candidate Grant a military man his entire life had no political background Colfax was placed on the ticket because of his prior experience as a congressman and Speaker of the House (he resigned the position in 1869) Grant and Colfax won an easy victory in November 1868 Only two weeks later Colfax remarriedmdashthis time to Ellen Wade (niece of Ohio Senator Benjamin Wade) Their only child son Schuyler Colfax III was born in 1870

Colfax is best remembered (if at all) for his involvement in the corruption that beset Grantrsquos entire presidency Specifically the Credit Mobilier scandal broke in 1872 just as Grant and Colfax were gearing up for their re-election campaign Colfax was suspected of accepting shares of stock and cash bribes from ldquoCredit Mobilierrdquo a dummy construction company set up by the Union Pacific Railroad He was by no means the only influential person involved in the scandal Other political figures investigated included Senators Roscoe Conkling of New York William Allison of Iowa John Logan of Illinois James Bayard of Delaware and Henry Wilson of Massachusetts Grant was less popular in 1872 than he had been four years earlier and many Republicans worried that having Colfax on the partyrsquos ticket would harm the presidentrsquos re-election chances They dumped Colfax from the ticket mdash only to replace him with the also-tainted Wilson Grant won re-election and served his second and final term from 1873-1877 After being forced out from the vice presidency Colfax traveled the country as a popular lecturer often speaking about his interactions with Abraham Lincoln during the Civil War He rebuilt his tarnished reputation and commanded speaking fees as high as $2500

At 10 am on Jan 13 1885 Schuyler Colfax arrived in Mankato aboard a train from Milwaukee Mankato was just a

brief stop for Colfax who was on his way to Iowa for a speaking engagement The Chicago Milwaukee amp St Paul as well as the Chicago St Paul Minneapolis amp Omaha railroads both had depots in Mankato but because they were separate competing railroad lines Colfax was required to change trains by walking three-quarters of a mile from the Chicago Milwaukee amp St Paul depot at the foot of Hickory Street to the Chicago St Paul Minneapolis amp Omaha depot at Fourth and Washington Streets (now Washington Park) from which the next leg of his journey would depart Despite a reported temperature of 30 degrees below zero Colfax walked from one station to the other Within five minutes after he arrived at the Omaha linersquos depot Colfax entered the waiting room looked at a map on the wall sat down and died It was 1035 am No one in the station knew who the dead man actually was until they searched his pockets and found a letter with his name on it His death was likely caused by a heart attack brought on by the physical exertion of walking almost a mile in extreme cold Colfax was only 61 when he died His remains were returned to South Bend Indiana for burial

Today few Americans are aware that anyone named Schuyler Colfax ever lived much less served as vice president of the United States In this era in which officeholders are often treated as celebrities imagine how surprised people would be to learn that a former vice president died cold alone and unrecognized in a train station 131 years ago Before 24-hour news channels smart phones and social media it was possible for public figures like Colfax to live ndash and die ndash in relative obscurity Ironically Colfax loved the railroad but in the end it was the cause of his undoing Mankato has the distinction of being the location where the last man to personally speak to Abraham Lincoln in a private conversation took his last breath

MM p01 0116indd 27 12182015 24549 PM

28 bull January 2016 bull MANKATO MAGAZINE

Mayo Clinic offers pediatric and adolescent orthopedic services right here in Mankato Todd Milbrandt MD cares for patients with a variety of needs including

bull Cerebral palsy

bull Clubfoot

bull Hip disorders

bull Spinal disorders

bull Sports injuries

bull Scoliosis

bull Spina bifida

Mayo Clinic Health System in Mankato Call 1-877-412-7575 (toll-free) to schedule an appointment

495rdquox495rdquo Mankato Magazine January

Orthopedic care for your child

Independent ampAssisted Living

EQUAL HOUSINGOPPORTUNITY

1360 Adams StreetMankato MN

PrimroseRetirementcom

reg

Key City Senior Breakfast ClubThe Key City Senior Breakfast Club meets the first Thursday of each month from 830 AM - 930 AM at Primrose Retirement Community The club gives those 55+ the opportunity to meet new friends and visit old ones socialize with Key City Officials and enjoy a delicious home-cooked breakfast To visit a Key City Senior Breakfast please call (866) 447-9636

Mark your calendar for these breakfast dates Thursday January 7th Thursday March 3rd and Thursday May 5th

刀椀渀最 椀渀 琀栀攀 

一攀眀 夀攀愀爀

㔀 㜀ⴀ㤀㐀ⴀ㐀㐀䨀甀氀攀攀猀䨀攀眀攀氀爀礀挀漀洀

椀渀 匀愀椀渀琀 倀攀琀攀爀

20765 Foley Rd Mankato MN | 5073872434 | 5077262411

Three TimeNational Award Winners

MM p02 0116indd 28 12182015 30742 PM

Mayo Clinic offers pediatric and adolescent orthopedic services right here in Mankato Todd Milbrandt MD cares for patients with a variety of needs including

bull Cerebral palsy

bull Clubfoot

bull Hip disorders

bull Spinal disorders

bull Sports injuries

bull Scoliosis

bull Spina bifida

Mayo Clinic Health System in Mankato Call 1-877-412-7575 (toll-free) to schedule an appointment

495rdquox495rdquo Mankato Magazine January

Orthopedic care for your child

Independent ampAssisted Living

EQUAL HOUSINGOPPORTUNITY

1360 Adams StreetMankato MN

PrimroseRetirementcom

reg

Key City Senior Breakfast ClubThe Key City Senior Breakfast Club meets the first Thursday of each month from 830 AM - 930 AM at Primrose Retirement Community The club gives those 55+ the opportunity to meet new friends and visit old ones socialize with Key City Officials and enjoy a delicious home-cooked breakfast To visit a Key City Senior Breakfast please call (866) 447-9636

Mark your calendar for these breakfast dates Thursday January 7th Thursday March 3rd and Thursday May 5th

OMG hellip More food and drinksOK sure

By now yoursquore probably thinking ldquoOh my gosh the last thing I want to think about right now is more food more drinking and more diningrdquo

Fair enough We get it The holidays are murder on the metabolism of many many Minnesotans

But we also know that those metabolisms are hardy and soon enough theyrsquoll be hankering for a hunk of something yummy and full of fun And whatrsquos more yummy and full of fun than a big glass of Cabernet Sauvignon Our wine guy Leigh Pomeroy takes us on a tour of all that is tasty and wonderful about big red wines the kind that leave their mark the kind that really announce their presence on your palate

And just in case yoursquore super serious about a healthy lifestyle mdash and that seriousness extends to the kind of beer you choose mdash Bert Mattson our beer guy has just the selection for you Best part is Itrsquos light

Oh and under the category of ldquoDid you hear about thisrdquo Wersquove got an update for you on the Coffee Hag Mankatorsquos original coffee house and one of the most popular hangouts in town Seriously some days itrsquos hard to find a seat in that place

EnjoyPS We know that baby itrsquos cold outside mdash thatrsquos why wersquove

thrown you our absolute best hot cocoa recipe

Enjoymdash Robb Murray Associate Editor Mankato Magazine

food drink amp dineso

uthern m

n style

20765 Foley Rd Mankato MN | 5073872434 | 5077262411

Three TimeNational Award Winners

MM p02 0116indd 29 12182015 30745 PM

MANKATO 5073854485 AMBOY 5076743355 I VERNON CENTER 5075493679

INSURANCE OFFICES LOCATED IN THE COMMUNITY BANK BUILDINGS

wwwcimankatocom

Protecting the things that matter most in your life

Let us help protect what is important to you At Community Insurance we have the ability to compare insurance from multiple companies to get you the best coverage at a great price Combine that with our insurance knowledge and friendly group of agents and we say thatrsquos a winning deal

WHERE YOUR POLICY COMES WITH AN AGENT

Christina Meyer

Food

south

ern mn style

Food

south

ern mn style

By The Washington Post

Growing up my mother always encouraged her children to cook So when

I found a recipe for hot chocolate on the side of the Hersheyrsquos Cocoa can it was easy to convince her to let me give it a try

What I discovered was that hot chocolate doesnrsquot have to come from an envelope

This recipe has been a favorite of mine to make on days when winter weather has convinced me stay home and off the roads Itrsquos the perfect way to kill time and have a nice hot drink to warm you up on those chilly days

Although you can top it with whipped cream I prefer marshmallows

FAVORITE HOT COCOAMakes 4 to 6 servings

12 cup sugar14 cup unsweetened cocoa powder

Dash of salt13 cup hot water

4 cups milk34 teaspoon vanilla extract

Whipped cream or marshmallows (optional)

Mix sugar cocoa powder salt and water in a sauce pan Stir constantly over medium heat until mixture comes to a boil (about 2 minutes) Stir in

milk and heat Bring the hot chocolate to the desired temperature but do not boil Remove from heat and

add the vanilla extract Divide into mugs and top with whipped cream or marshmallows

PERFECTLY CHOCOLATE HOT COCOA

Makes 1 serving

2 tablespoons sugar2 tablespoons unsweetened cocoa powder

Dash salt1 cup milk

14 teaspoon vanilla extractWhipped cream or marshmallows (optional)

Mix sugar cocoa powder and salt into large mug In separate microwave-safe container heat on high

for 1 to 1 frac12 minutes or until very hot Carefully and gradually add milk to dry mixture Stir well Add vanilla extract Top with whipped cream or

marshmallows

Simple homemade hot chocolate

beats the winter chill

30 bull January 2016 bull MANKATO MAGAZINE

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MANKATO MAGAZINE  bull January 2016 bull 31

Oil Change to OverhaulWe do it all

507-387-13151620 Commerce Drive North MankatowwwAustinsAutoRepairCentercom

Voted Best Auto Repair and Best Auto Mechanic 4 Years in a Row

AUSTINrsquoS AUTO REPAIR CENTER INC

MANKATO 5073854485 AMBOY 5076743355 I VERNON CENTER 5075493679

INSURANCE OFFICES LOCATED IN THE COMMUNITY BANK BUILDINGS

wwwcimankatocom

Protecting the things that matter most in your life

Let us help protect what is important to you At Community Insurance we have the ability to compare insurance from multiple companies to get you the best coverage at a great price Combine that with our insurance knowledge and friendly group of agents and we say thatrsquos a winning deal

WHERE YOUR POLICY COMES WITH AN AGENT

Christina Meyer

MM p02 0116indd 31 12182015 30755 PM

32 bull January 2016 bull MANKATO MAGAZINE

January is Cabernet TimeWersquove celebrated nearly

every January edition of Mankato Magazine with

a paean to BIG REDS And since there are so many wonderful examples why stop now

Last year I wrote about the powerful big reds of Italy This January wersquoll focus on Cabernet Sauvignon known to many as ldquothe king of winesrdquo Most oenophiles (wine lovers) consider the quintessential representations of this grape to be the classified Bordeaux of southwest France near the city of Bordeaux The five First Growths (or best wines according to a classification made in 1855 and updated in 1973) are Ch Lafite Rothschild Ch Margaux Ch Latour Ch Haut Brion and Ch Mouton Rothschild All have a cabernet sauvignon base but they are blended with merlot and often a little bit of cabernet franc and petit verdot as well

In the early 1970s I was able to buy these wines for around $22 per bottle mdash about $120 in 2016 dollars Yet with the popularity of ldquocollectiblerdquo wines on a worldwide

basis they sell today for anywhere from $400 on up

Contrary to popular belief these wines are not that massive Rather they combine cabernet sauvignon power with

structure and finesse yielding wines that become with time elixirs that are greater than the sum of their parts

Both California and Washington state have taken up the Cabernet Sauvignon challenge and are producing world-class wines at sometimes world-class prices Napa Valley is the recognized leader in this arena and rightly so Napa Valleyrsquos top Cabernet

Wine amp B

eerso

uthern m

n style

winesBy Leigh Pomeroy

Leigh Pomeroy is a Mankato-based writer and wine lover

Cabernet Sauvignon is the black Labrador of wines mdash it comes up and licks yourdquo

mdash Winemaker Scott Rich

Sauvignons rival the great wines of Bordeaux for quality mdash Irsquove tasted them side-by-side mdashand yet can sell for a fraction of their price

One such example is the 2013 Tulocay Cabernet Sauvignon from my old friend Bill Cadman We were young bucks in Napa Valley and had a tasting group in the early 1970s along with now-famous wine luminaries Bruce Neyers (Neyers Vineyards) and Mike Richmond (co-founder of Acacia Vineyard)

Billrsquos Cabernet is from an old and relatively cool growing area east of the City of Napa called Coombsville which because of industry political issues only recently received its AVA (American Viticultural Area) designation It is priced at $60 per bottle yet compares with any top-flight Bordeaux as well as the more expensive offerings from Napa Valley which can cost from $100 on up Not currently available at wine stores or restaurants in Minnesota it can be purchased by contacting the winery directly via its website tulocaycom The winery is so small that Bill will probably answer the phone himself

There is a lot of Cabernet Sauvignon available from California but mdash caveat emptor mdash not all growing areas (or appellations) are the same The best Cabernet Sauvignons are from Napa and Sonoma Counties Cabernets simply labeled ldquoCaliforniardquo or perhaps ldquoCoastalrdquo while sometimes good values lack the complexity of the greater Cabernet Sauvignons from the more northern parts of the state

Washington state has also

established itself as a prime producer of Cabernet Sauvignon But here again quality can vary greatly depending upon the area and producer While there is no ldquogo-tordquo appellation for Cabernet Sauvignon in Washington there are producers that are able to secure fruit from the best vineyards

One such example is the tiny Willis Hall Winery owned by another good friend John Bell a former Boeing jet propulsion engineer Like Tulocay its wines are only available by calling up the winery and ordering some (See willishallcom) But there are many other top quality producers in Washington like Quilceda Creek Leonetti Betz Family and Woodward Canyon

Of course not everyone can afford Cabernet Sauvignons in the $60-plus category One excellent everyday drinking example is the Flying Cloud 2013 Paso Robles Cabernet Sauvignon made by Mankato native Stephen Dooley Normally I donrsquot like Paso Robles Cabs as they tend to be too fruity and too soft for my palate mdash almost like drinking berry jam But this one is quite restrained no doubt helped by the inclusion of 13 percent zinfandel and 9 percent petite sirah in the blend

In Mankato both the Wine Cafeacute and MGM carry the Flying Cloud but at its price and quality I wouldnrsquot count on it lasting for long especially since only 759 cases were produced

So letrsquos raise a glass of Cabernet and say ldquoCheersrdquo to the New Year

MM p02 0116indd 32 12182015 30756 PM

MANKATO MAGAZINE  bull January 2016 bull 33

Bert Mattson is a chef and writer based in St Paul He is the manager of the iconic Mickeyrsquos Diner

Beer Skinny

BeerBy Bert Mattson

Last year according to Nielsen research staying fit and healthy was

the number one New Yearrsquos resolution Losing weight was two Three was to enjoy life to the fullest Unfortunately ldquolose weight and get fitrdquo also topped Time magazinersquos list of commonly broken resolutions Is this shortfall due to tension between the top two and that third one If so craft beer may have a role in the compromise Bad news first

In the context of losing weight and staying fit beer lovers might seek solace in the fact that fat carries nine calories per gram while alcohol has only seven The wrinkle is that those seven are ldquoemptyrdquo mdash calories without nutrition as opposed to those from fat protein and carbohydrates Moreover alcoholrsquos calories are the first burned when combined with the others the human body postpones burning fat while it works on alcohol Furthermore beer (and wine and often cocktails) contains carbohydrates which release insulin and can hasten fat storage Finally many drinkers have undoubtedly observed that alcohol loosens inhibitions after which an eager indulgence in unhealthy foods often occurs (Bar menus are rarely helpful in that respect)

By now you may wonder whose side Irsquom actually on Or suspect Irsquove led you to this dark place only to offer you a Lite No worries a couple craft brewers have been considering ways to keep us true to our resolutions

Evil Twin Brewingrsquos Bikini Beer drops the alcohol to 27 percent but stays bold by way of hops A Pale Ale it hits the nose with citrus suggestive of IPA The flavor follows suit floral and lemon There is an expected absence of malt yielding to bitterness up front that fades at the finish An alternative

for those who insist on the full effect Founderrsquos Brewing Companyrsquos All Day IPA rings in at a respectable 144 calories (Evil Twinrsquos entry comes in at 81)

One strategy to beat the beer munchies and avoid costly impulse eating is to have suitable chow on hand With Bikini Beer try a salad sporting blue cheese and some sort of dried fruit Creamy blue veined cheeses echo the hops while balancing bitterness An occasional bite of dried fruit stands in for malt sweetness

Brooklyn Breweryrsquos 12 Ale weighs in at 34 percent alcohol (102 calories) It is alliteratively labeled ldquoSession Saisonrdquo It opens with a waft of citrus and spice and a little lemongrass from Sorachi Ace hops mdash a hybrid developed in East Asia The same elements are found in the flavor which is a bit more subdued than a full-sized Saison

Try it with a tangle of arugula dressed with lemon and a fruity olive oil tossed with pine nuts and topped with shaved Parmesan for effect The greens and cracked pepper reflect spicy phenolic elements in the yeast Salty cheese counters the beerrsquos lingering bitterness Maybe add a few slices of Speck cured ham and Saison share a certain funkiness

If friends show and it becomes a session you may honestly say you spent Saturday working on your six-pack

MM p02 0116indd 33 12182015 30757 PM

34 bull January 2016 bull MANKATO MAGAZINE

Food

south

ern mn style

Food

south

ern mn style

The Coffee Hag one of the arearsquos oldest (and coolest) bistros recently underwent a major expansion and remodeling journey culminating in a large and airy

seating area along with a much-improved kitchen and a new menu Mankato Magazine caught up with a very busy (and slightly exhausted) owner Jenn Melby-Kelly who weighs in on how itrsquos going

MANKATO MAGAZINE Are you personally enjoying the new updatesJENN MELBY-KELLY It Is Fabulous The new space represents so much more than a remodel to me It has brought to life a vision for my business thatrsquos been years in the making It incorporates many many good ideas from many many people I feel so fortunate to get to see that every time I walk through the door

MM How are customers reactingJMK Thatrsquos been one of the best parts The response has been overwhelmingly positive

A few of our most regular customers had the opportunity to get a glimpse of the remodel while it was underway (we gave some informal preview tours while we were operating the temporary stand outside) but many customers walk through the door now and see it all for the first time Itrsquos especially fun to see and hear that kind of wide-eyed reaction

A few people with special connections to The Hag have had even stronger emotional responses and Irsquom so touched and right there with them when I see eyes well up as they see what wersquove done Itrsquos a very big milestone for a very special place and wersquore blessed to have people that care so deeply

MM Do the employees appreciate the new spaceJMK Oh probably more than anyone There was a lot that we sought to do with the remodel but creating a bigger brighter better-equipped space for our team was certainly one of the primary goals Wersquove got an incredible team truly the most spirited and talented people anyone could hope for

Many of them have spent years with me working hard against the challenge of a small under-equipped space and just barely being able to keeping up with growing demand Itrsquos been a special blessing for them and for me to finally have state-of-the-art space thatrsquos made for the work that we do We all feel a special connection to this place and now more than ever the place reflects the good energy we all bring here every day

MM Is the new menu a hit (The Hag specializes in vegetarianvegan cuisine)JMK Yes but just wait Feedback and demand have been excellent with our food offerings already but wersquore just getting started on some of the really exciting things that are coming to our food menu

Remodeling the cafe was just the first major milestone of our two-part expansion plan Next up wersquore building a state of the art off-site commissary kitchen that will do for our incredible culinary team what the remodeled shop has done for our baristas Theyrsquove been working day and night on taking our already fantastic food offerings to a whole new level

Wersquove already introduced some amazing new menu items like the Garden Grilled Cheese panini (trust me itrsquos like nothing yoursquove had before) and some truly outstanding new vegan baked goods Wersquove also improved our classic offerings with house-made

Interview with Jenn Melby-Kelly owner of The Coffee Hag

By Sarah Johnson

MM p02 0116indd 34 12182015 30802 PM

MANKATO MAGAZINE  bull January 2016 bull 35

Happy New Year

Locally Owned amp Operated

Check Weekly Specialsmgmwineandspiritscommankato

Largest Selection ofbull Liquor bull Wine bull Beer bull

Hours Monday-Saturday 8 am - 10 pm

ATMs at all stores

Mankato201 Victory Dr

625-2420

North Mankato1755 Commerce Dr

387-2634

St Peter100 N Minnesota Ave

934-8964

sourdough and whole wheat breads But as impressive as it is already itrsquos just a taste mdash literally mdash of things to come as we bring our new kitchen online

MM Whatrsquos stayed the sameJMK Irsquom really proud to say that while wersquove touched almost every part of this 23-year-old business wersquove kept even more than we have changed From the first days of this project I made it my personal mission and responsibility to make sure that the ldquosoulrdquo of this special place was only enhanced and never lost as we made the updates

In every area of the remodel as wersquove added some necessary new layers of sophistication The Hagrsquos colorful quirky and even rebellious spirit is still very much a part of the space We did a lot to try to make sure it still looked and felt like ldquohomerdquo

And on a deeper level every step wersquove taken with the growth of our business has been chosen carefully to honor the core parts of The Coffee Hagrsquos identity Our focus on community our support for local art and music our commitment to creating a safe and welcoming space for everyone our efforts to lead the way on social and environmental issues affecting our world near and far mdash those have all stayed the same And those will always be at the heart of what we do

MM Anything elseJMK Irsquom so incredibly grateful for the support of our customers and community And whenever I talk about my business and how it has grown I really canrsquot overstate how thankful I am for my beautiful Coffee Hag family The hard work good energy and earnest contributions of so many people mdash past and present mdash have brought me and my business here An incredible amount of love has gone into this business and made this dream a reality

MM p02 0116indd 35 12222015 121240 PM

36 bull January 2016 bull MANKATO MAGAZINE

xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

Food

south

ern mn style

whatrsquos Cooking By Sarah Johnson

Sarah Johnson is a cook freelance writer and chocolate addict from North Mankato with three grown kids and a couple of mutts

As I was pondering my subject matter for todayrsquos column I started wondering about all the different items the word ldquonutsrdquo can refer

to Crazy people are called nuts so are hexagonal metal objects that attach to bolts Nuts can be the end of things (as in ldquofrom soup to nutsrdquo) or they can be the beginning of them (as in ldquosperm incubatorsrdquo) Nut can also mean onersquos head or onersquos lump of something such as butter And if you accidentally get a nut of butter on your nut you can exclaim ldquoNutsrdquo

My favorite meaning of the word nut however is the dry indehiscent one-seeded fruit with a woody pericarp And I donrsquot even know what indehiscent OR pericarp means But these are the wonderful denizens of the world of edible nuts

Nuts are widely credited with all sorts of health benefits for the heart brain male reproductive system prostate cholesterol level fiber intake and avoidance of some types of cancer And while nuts do contain fat itrsquos the ldquogoodrdquo kind heart-healthy monounsaturated and polyunsaturated fat Their mix of omega-3 fatty acids protein and fiber helps you feel full and suppresses the appetite

Nuts are great in desserts and salads of course but they also shine in stir-fries casseroles soups chicken pork fish and even beverages Nut butters nut milks and nut oils add delicious options to our kitchen larders Breads cereals muffins and pancakes gain texture flavor and nutrition from the addition of nuts Basically anytime is a good time for nuts

Which is a wonderful thing because nuts taste so good you would think they had to be very very bad The reason lies deep in their oils

Walnut Oil is strong and flavorful Itrsquos best when used in uncooked sauces or salad dressing

Hazelnut Oil has a strong flavor and is great for the heart

Almond Oil is very popular and has a much milder flavor than walnut oil or hazelnut oil

Pecan Macadamia Nut Pistachio Cashew and Pine Nut Oils are flavorful and unique The freshness of the nuts used really affects the flavor

ldquoTherersquos Nuttinrsquo Nutty About Nutsrdquo

For the Baklava1 pound pistachios hazelnuts walnuts pecans andor almonds coarsely ground plus more for garnish12 teaspoon ground cinnamon1 cup breadcrumbs4 sticks unsalted butter melted16 sheets phyllo dough (thawed if frozen) cut in half

For the Syrup3 cups sugar1 6 -to-8-ounce jar honey1 frac12 cups water1 to 2 tablespoons fresh lemon juice

If yoursquore under the impression that baklava is much too labor-intensive and complicated to make at home think again Anybody can make

it no special skills equipment or exotic ingredients are required A word about phyllo dough Itrsquos sold in frozen packages so you need to remove the package from the freezer and let it thaw in the fridge 24 hours before you want to make the baklava Then about an hour beforehand remove the package from the fridge and let it sit on the counter

Walnuts or pistachios are the most traditional nuts to fill baklava but using other nuts works wonders as well Simply layer the phyllo with the nut filling and butter bake for an hour and finish with a simple honeyed syrup If you have leftover nuts from the holidays herersquos your chance to use them up

Mixed Nut Baklava

MM p02 0116indd 36 12182015 30812 PM

MANKATO MAGAZINE  bull January 2016 bull 37

MONEY MATTERS WORK SMARTLET COMMUNITY BANK HELP YOUBRING THE TWO TOGETHER

MANKATO - SAINT ANDREWS DR 5073854444MANKATO - MADISON AVE 5076251551VERNON CENTER 5075493679AMBOY 5076743300

JULIE VETTERSR VICE PRESIDENTRETAIL BANKING

We support great causes like yoursAt Community Bank we know good things happen when you have a good bank So we make more possible by keeping banking simple and supportive And by giving you the power that comes with innovative solutions like our Health Savings Account It offers you tax-free savings for future medical expenses Stop by anytime Wersquore always ready to help out a great cause

Position a rack in the lower third of the oven preheat to 350 degrees Combine the nuts cinnamon and breadcrumbs in a bowl

Brush a 9x13-inch baking dish with some of the butter Layer 10 pieces of phyllo in the dish brushing each piece with butter before adding the next (keep the remaining dough covered with a damp towel) Sprinkle a quarter of the nut mixture over the dough Layer four pieces of phyllo on top brushing each with butter before adding the next sprinkle with another quarter of the nut mixture Add four more phyllo pieces on top brushing each with butter then add another quarter of the nut mixture four more pieces of phyllo with butter and the remaining nuts

Layer the remaining 10 pieces of phyllo on top of the nuts brushing each with butter brush the top piece with extra butter Cut into the baklava to make strips about 1 12 inches wide Then make diagonal slices about 1 12 inches apart to create a diamond pattern Bake until golden about one hour

Meanwhile make the syrup Bring the sugar honey and 1 12 cups water to a boil in a saucepan over medium heat and cook 10 to 15 minutes Add the lemon juice and boil 2 more minutes then let cool slightly Pour the syrup over the warm baklava let soak uncovered at least six hours or overnight Garnish with nuts

MM p02 0116indd 37 12182015 30817 PM

38 bull bull MANKATO MAGAZINE

Nell Musolf is a mom and freelance writer from Mankato She blogs at nellmusolfcom

38 bull bull MANKATO MAGAZINE

MM p02 0116indd 38 12182015 30822 PM

MANKATO MAGAZINE  bull January 2016 bull 39

Gear Up for WinterYear-Round amp Insulated Workwear from

Carhartt Dickies and Key

UNIFORMSUniforms fromBarco Carhartt Cherokee DickiesKoi Peaches and White Cross

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Call 5073446336mankatomagmankatofreepresscom

Stephanie L Hylla LAc Dipl AcKayla M Sweeney MOm LAc

NEW LOCATION709 S Front Suite 5

5074694788mankatoacupuncturecom

Open House ndash Wednesday Feb 3 9-12noonCelebrating 5 years of Business New Location and the Chinese New Year

In Network with Blue Cross Blue ShieldLicensed by the MN Board of Medical Practice

Ribbon Cutting with Greater Mankato Growth at 10am

(A $250 Value)THIS VOUCHER ENTITLES NEW PATIENTS TO A

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wwwr igne l l fami lych i roprac t ic comMedicare Restrictions Apply Expires January 31 2016

Dr BrandonRignell DC

1351 Madison AveSuite D

Mankato MN 56001

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$2900New Patient Special

MM p02 0116indd 39 12222015 121344 PM

40 bull bull MANKATO MAGAZINE

Jean Lundquist is a master gardener who lives near Good Thunder

MM p02 0116indd 40 12182015 30834 PM

MANKATO MAGAZINE  bull January 2016 bull 41

3 Increase the Value of Your Home

3 Update Your Homersquos Appearance

3 Save Money

Choose from SeveralModels Styles amp Colors

507-625-7110 or 1-800-645-36671125 Cross St North Mankato MN

Improve Your HomersquosEnergy Efficiency

422 Park Lane Mankato MN | NuStarMankatocom

(507) 381-4747Voted One of Mankatorsquos Best

DANIEL WINGERT

Make Selling Your Home Your NuYearrsquos Resolution

MM p02 0116indd 41 12182015 30839 PM

42 bull January 2016 bull MANKATO MAGAZINE

January Resolve to moisturize

Your stYLeBy Ann Rosenquist Fee

Ann Rosenquist Fee is executive director of the Arts Center of Saint Peter and a vocalist with The Frye She blogs at annrosenquistfeecom

If you have in-laws or colleagues who know you well enough to have given you holiday gifts

but not well enough to know what wouldrsquove truly made you happy congratulations Chances are yoursquore the proud owner of a bunch of brand-new lip balm

Maybe itrsquos even holiday themed Thatrsquos the best Maybe you got the candy-cane flavored kind or wintergreen with holiday graphics on the label or something like that A theme that was irrelevant the moment the stocking was unstuffed because at that exact second the holiday was over

And here you are in January with an abundance of wax

Fortunately also here you are in the early weeks of winter with rough red knuckles Probably also cracked cuticles although it might not have gone that far yet for you Irsquom sure it has for me This photo was taken back in November and even then the Band-Aids were for real Irsquove learned to cut them in half length-wise so as to retain my ability to type Irsquove also learned to play with a range of color options Flesh-toned Clear Disney characters The colorful strips shown here were gifted to me by my husband Partly why theyrsquore cut in half is that the text is obscene This is one small trick you can use to make bloody cuticles your most exciting accessory of the winter

Sources like UrbanSurvivalSitecom and WonderHowTocom will tell you that you can use lip balm for a whole variety of purposes such as coating threads of outdoor lightbulbs before screwing them into their sockets and enhancing the burn-ability of most kindling

These are great fun but they wonrsquot improve your personal style

More germane to winter beauty are the following suggestions

Keep a tube next to your bed for first-thing-in-the-morning use And I mean really truly first-thing I mean smear the stuff on each cuticle while yoursquore still lying there before you start using your fingers at all If you wake up thinking yoursquore fine and skip cuticle care next thing you know yoursquore pushing down the lever on your Keurig and the pressure is more than your screamingly dry skin can take and boom split blood on the Keurig and itrsquos gonna be a long painful day If only you had balmed your hands before you let your feet hit the floor

Keep another tube in your glove compartment If itrsquos warm enough to take off your mittens in the car mdash if yoursquore even wearing mittens given that your hands are snagging on everything these days mdash the harsh January sunlight will allow you to see cracks and flakes in high-resolution detail Yoursquoll want the balm nearby

to cover what you didnrsquot notice first thing in the morning Also a car tube is useful for when you look in the rear-view mirror and notice that your nose and upper lip are flaking as well Itrsquos because yoursquore getting over a cold and the frequent use of tissue has worn away your top layer of skin but just because you know that doesnrsquot mean everybody else wonrsquot think ldquothere is something in that noserdquo Itrsquos just a fact Itrsquos what it looks like Lip balm to the rescue Itrsquos the only thing dry enough to slick those flakes in place and nourishing enough to maybe actually get your face back to normal

Keep a couple more tubes in a nighttime kit along with sandpaper Sandpaper Yes Not a pumice stone not a lame also-gifted sugar

scrub Medium-grit sandpaper is what you need every night lightly but with conviction As follows 1) Sand taking care not to do more damage than what the elements have already done Yoursquore just trying to remove the dry dead stuff Yoursquore just being hearty and efficient about this true to the culture of this great state in which yoursquove chosen to winter You are no pansy Sand your hands 2) Wash 3) Blot dry 4) Dial up the gifted balm whisper a word of thanks to the person who put so much thought into your well-being that they stuffed your holiday stocking with this amazing gift of self-care smash a healthy amount down into your palms massage Take heart You just might find yourself with normal-textured non-cracked not-horrible-looking hands by morning

Split-open cuticles I feel you Except for these Band-Aids I feel you

Lip balms I have been gifted and these are just from last Christmas ldquolastrdquo as in 2014

Bathrooms Worth Bragging About

HoursTue amp Wed amp Fri | 9 am to 6 pmMon amp Thu | 9 am to 7 pmSaturday | 9 am to 4 pm

219 S Victory Dr | Mankato507 | 345 | 7009ipafhickorytechnetindependentpaintandflooringcom

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1400 Lookout Drive North Mankato507-625-CARE(2273) bull mankatodentistcom 06

1865

6124

01

Dr AngelA Schuck

Dr keith FlAck

MM p02 0116indd 42 12182015 30841 PM

MANKATO MAGAZINE  bull January 2016 bull 43

Bathrooms Worth Bragging About

HoursTue amp Wed amp Fri | 9 am to 6 pmMon amp Thu | 9 am to 7 pmSaturday | 9 am to 4 pm

219 S Victory Dr | Mankato507 | 345 | 7009ipafhickorytechnetindependentpaintandflooringcom

You Deserve Comfortable Care Every Timebull Sedation - Complete Relaxation with Just a Pillbull Invisalign - Clear Alternative to Bracesbull Botox amp Fillersbull Implants - Placement and Restorationbull Cerec - One Visit Crown Technology

bull Free Whitening Programbull 3D Imaging with Fewer X-Raysbull Cosmetic Dentistrybull Drill-Free Technologybull Emergency Care

1400 Lookout Drive North Mankato507-625-CARE(2273) bull mankatodentistcom 06

1865

6124

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Dr AngelA Schuck

Dr keith FlAck

(944) 412-7949 | OrthoEdgeMNcom

Enjoy the season

Mankato St Peter

Be active Be healthyBe able with OrthoEdge

The OrthoEdge joint replacement

program offers superb care from your first

visit through recovery The surgeons from

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the care team at Riverrsquos Edge Hospital

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get you back to able

Why Riverrsquos Edge Hospital amp Clinic

bull Riverrsquos Edge Hospital amp Clinic has a long-

standing relationship with the Orthopaedic

amp Fracture Clinic

bull There are 14 private suites that feature a

private bathroom and shower

bull Restaurant-style menu

bull Low patient to nurse ratio

bull Hospitalist on staff to provide patient

centered care 24 hours a day

bull Free WiFi for patients and guests

bull Individualized care

bull On-site Physical and Occupational Therapy

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44 bull January 2016 bull MANKATO MAGAZINE

1 Hicktown Mafia800 pm mdash New Ulm Event Center mdash 301 20th St S mdash New Ulm mdash $10 mdash 507-354-4673

7-9 Mankato West Orchesis Dance Team showcase7 pm Thursday-Saturday 2 pm Saturday mdash Mankato West High School Auditorium mdash $7 adults $5 students mdash 507-381-7578

10 Mankato Symphony Orchestra Music on the Hill II ldquoMinnesota rootsrdquo2 pm mdash Chapel at Good Counselmdash Good Counsel Drive mdash Mankato mdash $17 $12 mdash wwwmankatosymphonycom

16 Handel with Caremdash Handel Goes to Italy11 ammdash YMCA Aerobics Studio mdash 1401 S Riverfront Drive mdash Mankato mdash wwwmankatosymphonycom

16 Mankato Craft beer Expo2 pm (VIP) 3 pm general mdash Verizon Wireless Center mdash $45 VIP $35 general $10 designated driver mdash wwwmankatocraftbeerexpocom

23 Joey Flip and Mike Fugazzi rockinrsquo at the Embassy9 pm mdash Blaschkorsquos Embassy Bar and Grill mdash 325 S Minnesota Ave mdash St Peter mdash 507-934-3903

24 andrea Lyn and Dick Kimmel concert730 pm mdash Elias J Halling Recital Hall mdash Minnesota State University mdash Mankato mdash $12 regular $11 current MSU students mdash wwwmnusedumusic

28-31 MSu Theatre antigone730 pm Thursday-Saturday 2 pm Sunday mdash Andreas Theatre mdash Minnesota State University mdash Mankato mdash $16 regular $14 discount $11 current MSU students mdash wwwmnsuedu

29-31 BLC Theatre Brigadoon730 Friday and Saturday 2 pm Sunday mdash Ylvisaker Fine Arts Center mdash Bethany Lutheran College mdash Mankato mdash $10 adults $6 seniors children and students mdash wwwblceduevents

29- Feb 7 Winterfest St Peter Citywide mdash wwwstpeterchamberorg

30 Church of Cash a Tribute to Johnny Cash7 pm mdash St Peter American Legion mdash 229 W Nassau St mdash St Peter mdash 507-934-6435

31 Maud Hixson and rick Carlson concert730 pmmdash Elias J Halling Recital Hall mdash Minnesota State University mdash Mankato mdash $12 regular $11 current MSU students wwmnsuedumusic

Coming attraCtions January

T - F 8am - 6pm Sun ClosedSat 9am - 4pmM 8am - 8pm

120 North Broad Street Mankato MN 507-345-4688 wwwmeyerandsonstvandappliancecom

FIND SPECIAL DEALS ON

MM p02 0116indd 44 12182015 30902 PM

MANKATO MAGAZINE  bull January 2016 bull 45

St Peter Craft amp Vendor Show

1MelinadaBussefromRapidansoldherhandmadejewelryatthecraftandvendorshow

2DarylfromElysianandhishand-carvedwoodart

3MacKennaage7hasfunatoneoftheboothsattheStPeterCraftandVendorShow

4LizEntershowsoffsomeofherproductsattheldquoItWorksrdquobooth

5DenisePetersofldquoYoungLivingrdquoessentialoilsdisplayedherproductsattheshow

Faces amp Places Photos By Sport Pix

3

5

2

1

4

T - F 8am - 6pm Sun ClosedSat 9am - 4pmM 8am - 8pm

120 North Broad Street Mankato MN 507-345-4688 wwwmeyerandsonstvandappliancecom

FIND SPECIAL DEALS ON

MM p02 0116indd 45 12222015 121536 PM

46 bull January 2016 bull MANKATO MAGAZINE

SOUTHErN MN CHrISTMAS

FESTIVAL1 A large crowd was on hand during the festivities at

the Christmas Festival2 Friesenrsquos Family Bakery amp Bistro had tons of baked

goods and soups at the Verizon Wireless Center3 A childrenrsquos choir sang for the audience at the

festival4 Ron Haefner owner of Ronrsquos Auto Repair displayed

some of his services5 Garrison Galatz dressed up as Santa for the

Christmas Festival

faCes amp PLaCes Photos By Sport Pix

4

3

1

2

5

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MANKATO MAGAZINE  bull January 2016 bull 47

1GirlScouttroop34494waspresentedwithatrophybyKiwanisVicePresidentKyleMrozek

2SantaClausevenwentthroughtheparaderoute3(LtoR)BrooklynPomrankeAlaynaLyonsHunterPomrankeandLilyLyonsgetagroupphototakenwithSanta

4MarshaMartigtellsSantawhatshewantsforChristmas

5TheparadefloatswerealldeckedoutinChristmaslights

6Visitorswalkthepatharoundtheparktoviewthisyearrsquoslights

Kiwanis Holiday ligHtsFaces amp Places Photos By sport Pix

2

1

3

4 5

6

MM p02 0116indd 47 12222015 121616 PM

48 bull January 2016 bull MANKATO MAGAZINE

On the Occasion of a 50th Reunion

the Class of 1965

from this VaLLeYBy Pete Steiner

Peter Steiner is host of ldquoTalk of the Townrdquo weekdays at 105 pm on KTOE

I was honored to give the presentation for our 50th class reunion recently at West Highrsquos Homecoming celebration About 120 of our nearly 400-member class

showed up We Baby Boomers the children of the greatest generation had big classes in the late lsquo60rsquos that forced the building of East High Ours was a dramatic era and our class did some great things in the face of big challenges Here edited is some of what I said

I am so glad to be standing here today Therersquos an old saying

ldquoMay you live in INTErESTINg timeshelliprdquo The Class of rsquo65 certainly has Itrsquos seems like only yesterday right after lunch that we were at our desks waiting for the start of English class when our charismatic teacher Harry Fitterer strode in and said ldquoPrESIDENT KENNEDY HAS BEEN SHOT IN DALLASrdquo At first we didnrsquot believe him but it was true It was November 22 1963 We were juniors and as the song says that was THE END OF THE INNOCENCE We had lived through the last idyllic time in America

When we first arrived in the fall of 1962 America was still carefree basking in the glow of victory in WW II Everything may have seemed ldquorightrdquo but it was not Martin Luther King Jr had just visited Mankato pointing out the continuing plight of black Americans as the Civil rights movement was gaining steam The beginnings of the Vietnam War which would alter the course of many of our lives were stirring even as we studied history and government The current generation has no monopoly on forgettable pop music ndash we had a stupid 1 song called ldquoItsie Bitsie Teenie Weenie Yellow Polka Dot Bikinirdquo (unfortunately an ear worm I canrsquot forget) But a darker cultural threat was looming The BEATLES were invading from Britain and our parents were mortified because they had LONg HAIr

Some of the shock of the Kennedy assassination was eased when our wrestling team in the era when the state still had just ONE CLASS won the State Championship in front of a packed hall up at MSU some still maintain that is the greatest single athletic achievement in Mankato history We were the first high school in Mankato to put on a full-scale musical ldquoBye Bye Birdierdquo in the spring of 1964 In Fall of 1964 our football team would have won the conference championship outright except Owatonnarsquos great Noel Jenke who would go on to star for the U of M

cheated I watched him trap the touchdown pass that beat us Does cheating pay Was that a lesson for life

In lsquo65 we also had a fine basketball team that lost our chance at State when our 6-6 center fouled out at Luverne

BUT A FAr BIggEr CHALLENgE AWAITED US ALL As we rode out to Luverne to watch that game we couldnrsquot help noticing the highway was like a canyon between walls of snow The legendary St Patrickrsquos Day Blizzard had dumped two feet on top of an already large snow pack and then April brought rains on frozen ground Instead of coming here to school many of us soon got a real-life assignment to go out in our rain gear out on the dikes to battle the grEAT FLOOD OF 1965 Our school became an island as water flooded the parking lot and all of South riverfront Our spring play that year was called ironically

THE DESPErATE HOUrS We had to rehearse at roosevelt School up on higher ground

Our class produced three Merit scholars One of our classmates who did NOT qualify

for a merit scholarship nevertheless was such a whiz at physics that NASA requested a copy of a paper he wrote on rocketry as a senior We produced 12 doctors one of whom earned a fellowship at Stanford seeking how to bring telemedicine to the poor another of whom became a breakthrough cancer doctor We had entrepreneurs one who would go on to be a leader in Solar Energy (and then run for governor of New Hampshire) Another mdash a woman incidentally when

that was not common founded two bio-tech startups Many of us are still working

past normal retirement age One founded a company on the leading edge of recycling

computers whose clients include the NSA Another is chief medical officer of a company

devising a better tool for colonoscopies Yet another of our classmates recently completed a concert tour of China

We lived in challenging times just as you do today but we muddle through we make it to the other shore I remember sitting where you are 50 years ago thinking how old those folks up there looked But remember Life goes by very quickly You certainly live in interesting times as Shakespeare said ldquoPresent Mirth has Present Laughter Youthrsquos a stuff will NOT endurerdquo So I urge you live each moment to the fullest

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Page 9: Mankatomag 116

MANKATO MAGAZINE  bull January 2016 bull 7

xxxxxx

BUILDING AUTOMOTIONAND INTEGRATION CONTROLS

HEATING AND COOLING SYSTEMS

SECURITY

ldquoTodays leading experts to help you for a better tomorrowrdquoldquoTodays leading experts to help you for a better tomorrowrdquo

307 McKinzie Street SoMankato MN 56001507-345-4828 507-289-4874wwwpaapecom

Please call for a free consultation and estimate

KnowYourRisk

Take chargeof your healthwith monthlyself-examsand annual

mammograms

it

Mankato Clinic joins usin raising awareness ofthe importance of early

detection in the fightagainst breast cancerand the importance ofcontinued support for

breast cancer research

MM p01 0116indd 7 12182015 24435 PM

Friday January 3 1890Magnificent Showing for 1889Over $70000 Expended on Streets Waterworks and Sewers(compared to 2014 dollars this could amount to as much as $86000000 dollars)

The most important of the public works accomplished this year is the construction of a pumping station the purchase of a magnificent holly pump and the completion of the large one-million gallon reservoir The discovery of a suitable water supply was made last year but it was left to be developed this year by the sinking of two large artesian wells to a depth of more than 600 feet

The next is important as having over a mile of sewer on second street Other improvements Completion of the Tourtellotte Hospital and the purchase of additional hose for the fire department

Friday January 7 1910County Board is Wrestling with Bills in Ledbeter CaseThiel Detective Agency wants to be paid for booze and treats entertaining deputy sheriff and farmers Lady Sleuth was employed on jobThiel Detective Agency employed a woman Paid for parties on the County dime In 1910 Though not mentioned in the printed story Mrs Ledbeter was accused of murdering her husband Holland several years her elder

The County Board met this afternoon wrestling with bills that had been presented to it for services rendered in connection with the trials of Frank Smith and Mrs Grace Ledbeter

County Auditor Weaver states the cost of these trials will be between $8000 and $10000 but he wonrsquot know the exact figure for several days

The Thiel Detective Agency has put in a bill for $49835 for services largely consisting of railway fare hotel bills etc One of the items under date Nov 23-30 and Dec 1-4 is ldquodrinks cigars etc with Deputy Sheriff $405rdquo

The next item is ldquotreats and expenses with farmers and others during investigation $2215rdquo

A lady detective seems to have been employed on the case for a time making a trip to St Louis and other places

Tuesday January 3 1961Twins are first lsquoBago Births of the year

Fraternal twins were the first births in Winnebago at the Community Hospital in 1961 Mr and Mrs Eldren Jaegerrsquos boy was born at 1055 Sunday and the girl arrived at 1115 AM The boy weighed 5 pounds 8 12 ounces The girl hit the scale at 5 pounds 2 and a quarter ounces The Jaergers who operate a farm at rural Amboy have seven other children ranging in age from Sandra 18 in nursersquos training at St Josephrsquos Hospital in Mankato to 4-year-old Joel

Tuesday January 3 1928Cafes and Dance Halls Scenes of Gaiety Quiet for New Yearrsquos Police Report Cold Wave Sends Revelers Home at Early HourMinus 18 degrees Fahrenheit is just too cold to have fun on New Yearrsquos Eve

Liquor that did not flow too liberally and the extreme cold weather conspired to make the celebration of the coming of the new year in Mankato not too boisterous ldquoIt was a quiet timerdquo commented Chiefof Police Jake Hilgers ldquoProbably quieter than last yearrdquo Only one arrest was made as against 3 last New Yearrsquos The arrest was of a man found lying in the railroad yards intoxicated The tips of his fingers were frozen and itrsquos believed if he had not been discovered he would have frozen to death

This DAy in hisToryBy Jean Lundquist

MM p01 0116indd 8 12182015 24437 PM

Corporate GraphicsYour Printing Solutions Company

1750 Northway DriveNorth Mankato MN 56003

800-729-7575wwwcorpgraphcom

May your 2016 be

Filled with color and

delight

MANKATO MAGAZINE  bull January 2016 bull 9

The GAllery Ellen Schofield Story by Nell Musolf

After graduat ing from the University of Minnesota in 2012 with a Masterrsquos of Fine

Arts degree in graphic design Ellen Schofield was delighted when three months later she was offered a teaching position at Minnesota State University She expected that she would have to move elsewhere and was happy that she would be able to stay in her own state

ldquoThere were about 10 positions open around the time I graduatedrdquo Schofield said ldquowhich was really quite a lot I expected that Irsquod have to move so it was great to be hired by MSUrdquo

Schofield teaches introductory level graphic design classes as well as a special concept class that helps students fire up their creativity

ldquoIn the special concept class we do mind mapping brainstorming and once a semester I bring in an improv comedian because studies have proven that improv comedians have the most creative ideas of any other professionrdquo Schofield said ldquoThe class does theater warm ups and they really seem to enjoy it We also focus on the lsquoyes andrsquo theory in that classrdquo

The ldquoyes andrdquo theory agrees with an idea and then expounds on it with enthusiasm mdash the ldquoandrdquo part

ldquoCollege students often want to look cool all the timerdquo Schofield remarked

ldquoThe lsquoyes andrsquo theory pushes past that and opens up creativityrdquo

Schofield defines graphic design as thinking made visual

ldquoGraphic design is everywhere Itrsquos logos for businesses and icons and even the tax return papers given out by the IRS are examples of graphic design and had to have been designed by some poor personrdquo Schofield said ldquoA goal of a graphic designer is to create something that anyone can understand as soon as they look at itrdquo

Before becoming a graduate student Schofield ran her own graphic design business and has continued the business on a smaller scale now that she is teaching Her personal preference in graphic design is to create icons

ldquoI tend to like iconographyrdquo Schofield said ldquoIcons can be mdash and I think should be mdash simple and elegant and tell whoever sees them something about the business they representrdquo

Schofield worked with the Childrenrsquos Museum of Southern Minnesota to create its icon an experience she enjoyed

ldquoI wanted to make it something that would appeal to kids and their parents as well The Childrenrsquos Museum has such a cool space mdash it needed an icon that would let people know what a truly cool place it isrdquo Schofield said

When working with a graphic design client Schofield likes to have ldquolots and lotsrdquo of conversations

ldquoGetting to know clients is important We talk a lot so that I can find out what a client feels passionate about when it comes to their business The goal is to find something that makes them unique and then create a graphic design that reflects thatrdquo Schofield said

Shofield said her favorite artistic tool is the art departmentrsquos laser cutter

ldquoItrsquos like the worldrsquos fanciest scissorsrdquo Schofield said ldquoIt can cut just about anything and does an amazing job Itrsquos so much fun to work withrdquo

Schofield is working with MSU colleague David Rogers on a project using the laser cutter called ldquoPaper State Flowersrdquo Schofield and Rogers are using typographic state abbreviations combined with paper flowers Their progress can be viewed at wwwpaperstateflowerscom and the final results will be shown at an art gallery in Hutchinson in October

Schofield originally planned to become an engineer but after taking a class in graphic design she changed her mind

ldquoIrsquom a visual personal and I fell in love with designrdquo Schofield said ldquoReally I canrsquot imagine doing anything elserdquo

thinking Made visualEllen Schofield teaches at Minnesota State university

MM p01 0116indd 9 12182015 24441 PM

10 bull January 2016 bull MANKATO MAGAZINE

xxxxxxxxxxxxxMM p01 0116indd 10 12182015 24444 PM

MANKATO MAGAZINE bull bull 11

MM p01 0116indd 11 12222015 115848 AM

12 bull January 2016 bull MANKATO MAGAZINE

The Celebration of the Lakes has been a family tradition for Erin Thorvaldson Chisago Lakes Chamber Board Member and Community member for Celebration of the Lakes for more than 20 years Thorvaldson was about 10

years old when her grandmother introduced her to the event which takes place Jan 30 on North Center Lake in Lindstrom

DAy Trip DesTinATions Celebration of the LakesBy leTiciA GonzAles

hit the LakesLindstrom has plenty of fun waiting for you

Hot air balloons are just one of the many attractions this festival has employed over the years

MM p01 0116indd 12 12182015 24446 PM

MANKATO MAGAZINE  bull January 2016 bull 13

Day Trip DesTinaTions Celebration of the LakesBy LeTicia GonzaLes

WhenJan 29-31 2016

I-35 North to Hwy 8 east to Center City Located on the North side of Hwy 8 on

North Center Lake

If youGoWhat

Celebration of the Lakes

Lindstrom MN

AdmissionFree additional admission required for some

events activities food and ridesVisit wwwchisagolakeschambercom

ldquoSo I helped way back then when she was part of the chamberrdquo said Thorvaldson ldquoAnd having a business in the community as I got older I also wanted to give backrdquo

Born and raised in the Chisago Lakes area Thorvaldson has served on the celebrationrsquos planning committee for nine years She said the event first caught her eye not only because she loves winter but because it focuses on the outdoors ldquoeven though many people in Minnesota cringe once we get to 20 degrees so it kind of gets you out and lets you do something funrdquo

Watching the celebration grow over the past two decades has also been fun for Thorvaldson

ldquoIt was very tiny at that pointrdquo she said as she reminisced about the early days of the event ldquoIt was just a few hay bales at the icerdquo

Being an active part of the planning has been equally exciting

ldquoThe committeersquos always trying to come up with more ideas that the community would perceive as something fun to do in the winter timerdquo she said ldquoThere have been the sled dogs there have been hot air balloons and there have been kitty cat races car racesrdquo

While past years have even included BMX bike races where people dressed up in costumes the snowmobile radar run and the vintage snow mobile displays have been the ldquomain staplesrdquo of the celebration Organized by the Wild River Snowmobile Club of Chisago City the snowmobile radar run features nearly 200 riders who race upwards of 120 miles per hour on a track

ldquoSometimes they will have souped-up snowmobiles that go incredibly fastrdquo Thorvaldson said ldquoWe had a world record one that raced on the track so itrsquos pretty amazing to see how fast some of them go They break them up into categories and there are prizes for the fastest one in each categoryrdquo

Originally introduced as a memorial radar run for a rotary member the radar run has become one of the celebrationrsquos most popular events

ldquoWe started with just a sheriffrsquos radar gun and now they use different timing items like cones and announcingrdquo she add ldquoItrsquos kind of something that has evolved toordquo

With the draw of the surrounding lakes in the area Thorvaldson said ice fishing has also grown in popularity and has become embedded in the annual celebration

ldquoItrsquos like little villages out on the lakerdquo she said

ldquoThat is kind of the big that that people do There are people who drive up from all over the place the Twin Cities all over just to come spend the weekend ice fishing on the lake so thatrsquos a big big thingrdquo

Greg Shaleen who has also been on the planning committee for the celebration for more than 15 years affirmed the celebrationrsquos growth when it comes to activities offered

ldquoWe have done kind of bizarre thingsrdquo he said ldquoWe do a smoosh race which is where you take 2-by-4s and strap four leather straps on it and you do a little bit of a racerdquo

Shaleen also credits the event for bringing people out to the lakes during the coldest month of the year

ldquoEveryone is all cooped up in the community and it just got to the point where they wanted to do something fun in the winter and get people out and about and enjoy the winter sportrdquo he said

From kitty races and sled dog races to a concession tent and a family fishing contest that draws anywhere from three to five hundred people Shaleen said the Celebration of the Lakes brings people together in the outdoors

ldquoWe are basically more interested in getting people out of the house visiting with friends and neighbors and visitors to the area and enjoying each otherrsquos interest in snowmobiling or ice fishing or whatever the events are taking place or going onrdquo he concluded

MM p01 0116indd 13 12222015 115930 AM

January The holidays are over along with all of the seasonrsquos excuses for overindulge in food and drink and under-indulging in any form of exercise (other than lifting onersquos hand to onersquos mouth) After stowing the presents in the

closet and taking down the tree many people choose the New Year as the perfect time to begin a serious diet and exercise program to shed the extra pounds they put on over the past few months and to begin eating more healthfully Mankato Clinic registered dietitian Erin Gonzalez says a hearty ldquoyesrdquo to healthy mindful eating and definite ldquonordquo to any extreme ldquodo or die(t)rdquo approach

According to Gonzalez 95 percent of all dieters regain the weight they lost within five years It is her belief that such yo-yo dieting only creates more frustration and stress which can lead to emotional eating and binge eating which leads to another cycle of dieting-losing-weight-gaining-weight ad infinitum

Gonzalez speaks from experience After losing 70 pounds since the time she was a teenager Gonzalez is now at a weight she considers healthy and one that she hasnrsquot deviated from in years

By Nell Musolf | Photos by Pat Christman and Darren Gibbins

Herersquos to ahealthy

new yeara healthy

new you

14 bull January 2016 bull MANKATO MAGAZINE

MM p01 0116indd 14 12182015 24450 PM

MANKATO MAGAZINE  bull January 2016 bull 15

Erin Gonzalez and her son prepare a healthful meal

Erin GonzalezldquoI struggled with weight issues when I was growing

uprdquo Gonzalez said ldquoWhen I was 16 I went on my first lsquoseriousrsquo dietmdashone of the fast diets that were popular in the 1990srdquo

Gonzalez said that she stuck to her diet religiously having a shake in the morning one for lunch and a sensible meal at night just as she was instructed to do She also walked for approximately two and a half hours a day Over the course of one summer she lost 70 pounds but she was also she now realizes flirting with an eating disorder Gonzalez says this scenario is not uncommon considering research shows 35 percent of ldquooccasional dietersrdquo progress into pathological dieting (disordered eating) and as many as 25 percent advance to full-blown eating disorders

ldquoMy food intake was very restrictive and I was always extremely conscience of what I ate but just the same I slowly gained back 30 of the 70 pounds

that I lostrdquo Gonzalez said ldquoI was always looking at food as either lsquogoodrsquo or lsquobadrsquo instead of something pleasurable to be enjoyedrdquo

It wasnrsquot until she was working at her dietetic internship that she had her ldquoahardquo moment

ldquoI was blessed with a teacher who taught her students how to enjoy foodrdquo Gonzalez said ldquoinstead of being obsessed by it Gonzalez learned about a program called Am I Hungry that specializes in helping people heal their relationship with food and their bodies so they can relearn to trust their internal hunger cues instead of having to follow arbitrary rules and broken promises of diets Gonzalez facilitates a program at the Mankato Clinic that teaches the Am I Hungry philosophy

ldquoI have two childrenrdquo Gonzalez said ldquoa 10-month-old and a 4-year-old They know how to eat naturally and they stop eating when they are no longer hungry That is what most adults need

MM p01 0116indd 15 12222015 120138 PM

16 bull January 2016 bull MANKATO MAGAZINE

xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

need to relearn how to eatrdquoThe method has worked for Gonzalez Gone are

her extra 30 pounds and she no longer dietsldquoDiets simply arenrsquot sustainablerdquo she said ldquoItrsquos so

hard in our society because we are surrounded by cues to eat all of the time At buffets where you want to lsquoget your moneyrsquos worthrsquo when yoursquore out with friends when you sit down at the end of the day and turn on the television to relax and are bombarded with ads for food Food has become a reward for a bad day or a good day or anything else we can think of But if you look at how you eat as a journey instead of as a destination you can learn to enjoy food a lot morerdquo

So what should someone who wants to start the New Year in a more healthy fashion do

ldquoPause before you eatrdquo Gonzalez recommended ldquoAsk yourself if yoursquore really hungry or if yoursquore actually thirsty or stressed instead Try not to be emotionally disconnected from what you are eatingrdquo

Gonzalez emphasized that ldquomindful eating isnrsquot naive to say nutrition isnrsquot important Of course it is Mindful eating is what allows us to take charge of our decisions of why when what how and how much we choose to eat instead of battling being in or out of controlrdquo

Instead of following the latest short-lived diet Gonzalez encourages people to make the healthiest choices possible that donrsquot leave them feeling deprived

Paulette Tonn BookerFor Paulette Tonn Booker the Am I Hungry

Mindful Eating (AIHME) program has been a game changer

Said Booker ldquoIrsquove tried several diet plans over the past 40 years including some well-known plans and I lost weight on each plan However keeping the weight off eluded me and resulted in yo-yo dieting

The lsquorulesrsquo of whichever plan Booker was on became the norm and after years of trying to live by those rules Booker was no longer able to discern what her body was telling her about hunger often leading to out-of-control overeating

ldquoI always knew there was something else going on yet no one had an answer for merdquo Booker said

When Booker first heard of the AIHME program two years ago she was relieved to discover that there were other people who felt the same way when it came to healthful eating The program taught her the skills she needed to recognize her bodyrsquos hunger signals thoughts and feelings and actions to help manage the physical emotional and environmental stresses of everyday life without resorting to eating to cope with those stresses

ldquoI no longer have to be in control of everything I only need to be in charge of my decisions at any given moment When I choose to overeat (which everyone does) I no longer beat myself up I try to reflect on what happened and then plan for ways to handle the situation differently the next time it occurs Old habits are hard to break it takes concentrated effort and dedication to rewire the brain with new habits and it can be donerdquo Booker said

About weight loss as the end goal of healthful eating Booker shared the following ldquoThe only time I get on a scale is at the doctorrsquos office I know what the experts say I should weigh A number does not define a personrsquos self-worth nor does it say anything about who we are and how we feel as we make changes in how we nurture our bodies The number on the scale is just a number bodies come in all shapes and sizes as does health I will never diet again Instead I will continue to work on developing mindful skills and in the meantime eating what I love and loving what I eatrdquo

MM p01 0116indd 16 12182015 24501 PM

MANKATO MAGAZINE  bull January 2016 bull 17

Eric ZiesmerFor Eric Ziesmer he is in the middle of his weight

loss journey a journey that began last July when the 32-year-old learned that he weighed 330 pounds The time had come for Ziesmer to make some healthy lifestyle changes Ziesmer decided to lose weight because of his family mdash both present and future

ldquoI have two adorable nephews and I would love to be able to chase them around the yard or pull them in a sled during the winter and basically to be active and see them as they growrdquo Ziesmer said ldquoAnd even though Irsquom currently single if it is in my cards for marriage and kids I would like to be there and not be too tired or not in shape A clean and healthy lifestyle is what I am striving for in my coming yearsrdquo

With the help of a dietician Ziesmer has started his cleaner and healthier lifestyle Since July he has lost 40 pounds and has decided to have weight loss surgery To help his post operation phase go as smoothly as possible Ziesmer eats fresh fruit every day has cut out chips and cookies among other things

ldquoI have totally cut out soda Soda was a big one to cut out In my huge climb to 300 there were days when I would consume two 2-liter bottles of pop in a single day and maybe cracking open a thirdrdquo Ziesmer said ldquoI try to listen to my stomach instead of my eyes or eat because Irsquom bored or stressed I eat slow and sip instead of being the guzzler I have always beenrdquo

Another tactic Ziesmer has adopted has been to stop drinking liquids 30 minutes before a meal and then wait 30 minutes after eating before sipping again

ldquoWhen my stomach rumbles and says itrsquos hungry I feed it When my brain or boredom drives me to want to eat I take a second to see if my stomach feels empty and if not it gets deniedrdquo Ziesmer said

Ziesmer has noticed that he is more successful at healthy eating when he eats at home When he does dine out hersquoll cut a sandwich in half eat half and save other half for a future meal

ldquoAs far as exercise goes it went from zero to at least two if not three times a week going for a 327 mile walk and have recently made my way back into the gymrdquo Ziesmer said He has been able to keep track of his walks with accuracy thanks to an app called MapMyRun

Ziesmer knows that his healthier living journey will continue for a long time

ldquoI plan on continuing to live healthy by continuing my exercise and eating right and by saying that itrsquos not only for me and feeling better but also because there are two little guys that look up to their uncle Staying motivated is at least my key to keeping up this lifestyle I want to live a long and healthier life feeling better and being there down the road for family and friends is what means mostrdquo Ziesmer said MM

Eric Ziesmer says hersquos got plenty of motivation to get healthy two nephews to whom he wants to be a good role model

MM p01 0116indd 17 12222015 120514 PM

18 bull January 2016 bull MANKATO MAGAZINE

Stephanie Howe says itrsquos best to have realistic goals when starting a fitness program

Herersquos your guideBy Robb Murray | Photos by Pat Christman

Ready for CHANGE

MM p01 0116indd 18 12182015 24506 PM

MANKATO MAGAZINE  bull January 2016 bull 19

Yoursquore ready

You ate the ham and turkey and potatoes and Christmas cookies You drank the wine beer and eggnog Yoursquove spent the last few

months pondering a life change Yoursquore on the verge of a major transformation This time itrsquos happening Yoursquore going to get healthy Itrsquos going to be a new you

And then January arrived And you have no plan

Luckily we here at Mankato Magazine have got you covered Itrsquos not uncommon for people to make a New Yearrsquos resolution or some similar vow this time of year It usually comes with goal weights and promises to hit the gym X number of times per week and trips to the produce and organic sections of the grocery store because this time yoursquore serious Right

OK easy tiger Getting healthy is a great idea and wersquore wishing you all the best But wersquore also coming at you with some sensible advice Maybe setting unrealistic goals isnrsquot the best way to go Maybe just

heading into the gym and trying to get it all done in a week isnrsquot a great way to go either

ldquoFinerdquo you say ldquothen what should I dordquoWersquore so glad you asked

Letrsquos get startedThe first thing you need to remember when

starting an exercise program is that if you want to lose weight you need to change the way you eat too

ldquoNo matter what you say you canrsquot out exercise a bad dietrdquo says Stephanie Howe director of healthy living at the Mankato YMCA

Howe works in what might be the busiest fitness hub in the Mankato area So shersquos seen her share of people come through the doors with plans to change their lives Some of them succeed Most do not

One of the biggest mistakes people make Howe says is not really having a good grasp on how much time theyrsquoll need in order to incorporate a good workout into their day It doesnrsquot have to be a two-

hour commitment every day she says It can be 30 minutes of planned effective exercise several times per week Whatrsquos more important is just getting there and thatrsquos an obstacle that is bigger than most people realize

ldquoMost people want to lsquopeople pleasersquordquo she said ldquoYou can say yoursquore going to get up and work out every day but most people are built to need external accountabilityrdquo

Think about hiring a personal trainer

ldquoWhen you spend the money on a personal trainer you have an appointment therersquos someone waiting thererdquo she says

A personal trainer is a great way to immediately know yoursquore doing exactly what yoursquore supposed to be doing and yoursquoll have no doubt whether yoursquore working hard enough There are plenty of personal trainers in town mdash at the YMCA and other gyms mdash who would love to help you Of course they donrsquot work for free and for many people the cost of a personal trainer is more than theyrsquore willing to spend

Fortunately therersquos a trend in fitness to offer the whip-crack of a personal trainer while staying Jo radlinger urges her clients to not sabotage their fitness efforts with poor eating over

the weekend

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20 bull January 2016 bull MANKATO MAGAZINE

728 N Riverfront DriveMankato MN 56001

507-625-5163katobearscom

Pins and NeedlesAlterations

Specializing in alterations for theentire wedding party including

gown re-sizing hemming re-beadingbustles and so much more

Like us onFacebook

affordableThe Y now offers something called ldquotrainer ledrdquo

exercise sessions where you work with others in a group but have access to a trainer nearby who can push you motivate you and make sure yoursquore you know doing it right Theyrsquore $3 a class

ldquoYoursquore still expected to be there but itrsquos much cheaperrdquo Howe said ldquoThe group environment pushes you and we have tons of trainer-led classes Itrsquos the best of both worldsrdquo

Across town Jo Radlinger runs Jorsquos Garage a fitness center where shersquos the one pushing you to succeed

Radlingerrsquos goal she says is to bring out everyonersquos potential

ldquoI want to make sure everybody that comes through my door has success I want them to be the very best version of themselves that they can berdquo

Like Howe Radlinger acknowledges that the financial side of hiring a personal trainer can scare people away but she says there are several reasons why it shouldnrsquot

ldquoItrsquos never a bad investment when yoursquore investing in yourselfrdquo she said ldquoMeet with a trainer who is just as passionate about your goal My goal is not to train you intensely but to show you what yoursquore capable of and then take you to that next levelrdquo

At Jorsquos Fitness Garage there are no membership fees Radlinger doesnrsquot believe in them Instead she charges $5 per visit and in that time she said she pushes you to have a great workout

GymtimidationSetting goals is a great

idea Setting unrealistic goals is the kind of thing that results in a gym membership card laying dormant in a junk drawer by February

So set those goals but set them smartlyldquoAccountability is huge Even if you canrsquot hire

someonerdquo Howe says ldquoMake specific goals mdash say yoursquore going to workout X number of times but make those numbers realistic Set goals that are within your controlrdquo

Do this and yoursquore likely to feel a lot better about how things go

ldquoMost people just want to feel better about themselves they want to feel more confidentrdquo Howe said ldquoThis way even before any physical changes happen theyrsquoll feel better Theyrsquoll start to feel like theyrsquore in control again of their life and their choicesrdquo

Taking an exercise class is a great way to both get

your body moving while at the same time have fun and meet those people who will notice when you donrsquot show up

And about that weight room Yes it can be intimidating to walk in and see people who look like they live there But Howe says that while it can definitely be a psychological barrier focusing on those people is the wrong strategy

ldquoNo one cares what yoursquore doingrdquo Howe says ldquoFocus on yourdquo

Take it slowIt can be tempting when you finally get up the

nerve to get back in the swing of working out to go hardcore But just like setting unrealistic goals trying to achieve your fitness goals in a day is impossible

ldquoPeople start out really gung-ho and reset their diet so aggressively and most people just simply canrsquot do thisrdquo Radlinger said ldquoWhen yoursquore looking at making a lifestyle change I want you to do it slowly and incrementally rather than do it all in two monthsrdquo

Rushing into the weight room and trying to lift the same weight and number of reps and sets that you did 10 years ago is a great way to make sure you canrsquot work out for a while Going from a sedentary lifestyle to two hours of pumping iron can leave you sore enough to not be able to lift anything for days Maybe even weeks

Ease into it The gymrsquos not going anywhere Think marathon not sprint

ldquoSometimes people have an all-or-nothing attituderdquo Howe said ldquoand they make themselves sore and they canrsquot continuerdquo

Speaking of all-or-nothing Radlinger says

some people bring that kind of intensity to their food intake over the weekend Bad idea

ldquoAs trainers we help people be accountable We do success measurements help them prepare and plan And wersquoll do weigh-ins on Mondayrdquo Radlinger says ldquoWersquoll find that people do really well Monday through Friday then do what I call sabotage Saturday and Sunday At some point yoursquore going to get so sick of hitting that reset button every Mondayrdquo

Whatever you choose to do both trainers say itrsquos never a bad idea to sit down with your doctor and run your plans by himher Your personal safety should always come first and getting the green light from Doc can give you some peace of mind as you start this new chapter of your life MM

Jo radlinger runs Jorsquos Fitness Garage

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MANKATO MAGAZINE  bull January 2016 bull 21

728 N Riverfront DriveMankato MN 56001

507-625-5163katobearscom

Pins and NeedlesAlterations

Specializing in alterations for theentire wedding party including

gown re-sizing hemming re-beadingbustles and so much more

Like us onFacebook

Live the Lifestyle

wwwmapletonmarinecom

Southern MNrsquos largestboat show on now at the

Madison East Center in Mankato

MM p01 0116indd 21 12182015 24524 PM

22 bull January 2016 bull MANKATO MAGAZINE

Thirty-three years ago I stood inside a grave A lifetime ago when I was a pastorrsquos wife

In Nebraska we served a parish of barely over one hundred members A picture-postcard white church with a hand-carved white wooden altar from Germany sat at the top of a hill next to it the parsonage and next to that the cemetery rolling down the hill toward a wooded creek

The first death in the congregation after our arrival set off a flurry of activity Irsquod never met Alma because she was in a nursing home before we arrived However my husband visited her on several occasions She was mother aunt grandmother great-aunt and great-grandmother to half the congregation so there was no question about whether or not I would attend the funeral

With my two little kids in tow I attended every event at the church every Sunday morning service of course but also every funeral every confirmation every baptism every meeting of womenrsquos circle and even every family reunion that was held in the church basement At twenty-six I perfected the art of making gracious small talk with people Irsquod never seen before and would never see again and at taking tiny portions from each confirmation buffet so I would neither be sick by the end of the day nor offend any of the mothers who had slaved away over their sumptuous spreads of food

By Rebecca Fjelland Davis

Grave Lesson in Winter

ESSay

MM p01 0116indd 22 12182015 24527 PM

MANKATO MAGAZINE  bull January 2016 bull 23

Attending the little white country church was physically easy I picked up one-year-old Josh took three-year-old Nikkirsquos hand and walked out the front door down the sidewalk and next door The only things I didnrsquot have to attend were church council and the menrsquos meeting Archaic This was in the 1980s It doesnrsquot seem so long ago

All the available babysitters in the community would attend Almarsquos funeral too so this was to be my kidsrsquo first funeral

The afternoon before the service salt-snow fell Hard little crystals pelted down as if the heavens had up-ended a Mortonrsquos salt canister Within a few hours the hard snow was six inches deep and still falling

In the middle of the salt-snow the gravedigger arrived The Ditchwitch roared around the cemetery to the familyrsquos plot and my kidsrsquo noses pressed against the upstairs bedroom window pane ldquoMommy can we go watchrdquo

Glad for an excuse to get out of the parsonage I bundled them in snowsuits put them on the sled and pulled them across the house yard and garden to the fence that bordered the cemetery

The Ditchwitch made short work of the grave and all three of us were mesmerized watching the mound of gray-black dirt grow in the crystal-white snow When the hole was finished the gravedigger turned his tractor on idle He hopped off and came over to the fence His eyes twinkled in a weathered face ldquoWant to come lookrdquo

I backed up from the fence a step ldquoNo not really I think this is close enoughrdquo

ldquoYes Mommy go lookrdquo ldquoPleeeeaserdquoSo Nikki and Josh got back on the sled and I

hauled them along the fence through the gate over to the grave and looked down Six feet seemed deep bottomless Dark A sharp contrast to the pelting snowflakes all around us

ldquoWanna get down in thererdquo the gravedigger asked I shuddered hung onto the kids and backed up

again ldquoNo No thatrsquos okay This is close enough I just want to look from hererdquo

ldquoYes mommyrdquo the little ones said ldquoLetrsquosrdquoldquoNordquoldquoPleaserdquoldquoReally marsquoam I think you should Yoursquoll be

surprised I wouldnrsquot suggest it if it I didnrsquot think sordquoldquoHow would we get outrdquo The sides were deeper

than I was tall and there certainly werenrsquot footholds or a ladder built in for Almarsquos soul to use to climb out

ldquoLike thisrdquo The gravedigger laid his shovel diagonally across a top corner of the grave and jumped down He grabbed the middle of the shovel handle and swung himself back up and out with the agility of a gymnast ldquoNothinrsquo to itrdquo

ldquoI canrsquot do thatrdquoldquoYes you can Irsquoll boost you And wersquoll lift the kids

Yoursquoll be amazed I promiserdquoI shivered The idea of being inside a grave

seemed much colder than the snow crystals biting at my face

ldquoCome onrdquo he said and jumped back in Nikki and Josh willingly stepped over to him to be lifted down I had no choice but to follow I couldnrsquot let my kids alone in a grave with a man I didnrsquot even know

So I jumped The earth on the bottom made a soft landing The soil around me was warm and steamy It was moist and dark but it enfolded us in an earthy hug At least fifty degrees warmer than the air above ground it felt as if the earth were offering shelter respite a comfortable place to snuggle down and rest Tiny roots dangled full of life from the smooth edges of the hole Tears sprang to my eyes I couldnrsquot help them My eyes met the gravediggerrsquos and he smiled Gently ldquoSeerdquo he said Nothing more

I couldnrsquot speak A few minutes later he gave me a stirrup with his

hands I scrambled out and he lifted Nikki and Josh up to me Then he flipped himself out as easily as a trapeze artist

ldquoThank yourdquo I said ldquoI would never have guessedrdquoHe nodded ldquoNobody does But it helps somehow

I wanted you to feel thatrdquoWhy I wanted to ask why me You donrsquot even

know me Why were you willing to take time for usldquoThank yourdquo was all I said I shook his hand and

he hopped on the Ditchwitch and drove off into the snow

I never saw him again Someone else dug the next grave required in that cemetery

I remember only bits and pieces of the funeral Irsquom sure I baked a boxed cake mix for ldquolunchrdquo afterwards I remember answering Nikkirsquos questions about the body and sitting in the back row of the church in case Josh didnrsquot want to be quiet I do remember looking at the unfamiliar face in the casket and thinking you get to rest in a warm cozy place

Ten winters later we buried my dad on just such a day Wet snow crystals pelted us and piled up so deep the funeral home limousine got stuck in the cemetery By the time the pallbearers pushed it un-stuck their suit pants were caked in slush and mud

We stood at the graveside in the bleak wet icy day and lowered my fatherrsquos body into the ground

ldquoToo bad itrsquos such a miserable dayrdquo ldquoSorry about your dad Sorry the weatherrsquos so bad toordquo And even ldquoSuch a good man He deserves better weather than thisrdquo

But the weather I thought was just right Losing my dad my kids and their cousins losing

their grandpa my mom becoming a widow my brother losing his farming partner and best friend changed our livesmdashthat part was too heavy to carry

The only part that was okay for me was to let Dadrsquos worn-out body be wrapped in that welcoming warm enfolding soilmdashthe very soil hersquod loved to till the soil hersquod planted and tended all his life the soil that gave us all lifemdashthat was the only gratifying part of the day

The only comfort I had was letting Dad go from the cold wet biting snow into that warm and restful place

And I still wonder who that gravedigger was ten years earlier and how he knew how much I would need what he gave me that bleak winter day MM

Rebecca Fjelland Davis is an author from Mankato

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reFlecTionsBy Pat Christman

24 bull January 2016 bull MANKATO MAGAZINE

MM p01 0116indd 24 12182015 24544 PM

reFlecTionsBy Pat Christman

MANKATO MAGAZINE  bull January 2016 bull 25

There are few things as inevitable as snow during a Minnesota winter Big

cotton ball-like snowflakes cover the ground in a white blanket whitewashing the Midwestern landscape

We struggle against it Some hope the snow never comes It always does filling the sky with floating snowflakes that cling to the ground but melt as soon as they hit the small bits of face or hands that peek out from winter clothing

It is often quite beautiful especially when viewed from someplace warm and dry MM

MM p01 0116indd 25 12182015 24548 PM

26 bull January 2016 bull MANKATO MAGAZINE

Then amp now Vice President Schuyler Colfaxrsquos Death By Bryce o sTenzel

On Jan 14 1885 one day after his death the New York Times carried a

headline that read ldquoSchuyler Colfax Dead He Drops Down in a Railway Stationrdquo While most Americans today would have tremendous difficulty in even recognizing this manrsquos name

(unless they were paying close attention to Stephen Spielbergrsquos epic movie Lincoln and made the association) Schuyler Colfax was a former Speaker of the House of Representatives and Vice President of the United States under President US Grant He died in Mankatorsquos Chicago St

Paul Minneapolis amp Omaha railroad depot from a massive heart attack

Schuyler Colfax Jr was born in New York City on March 23 1823 His father died of tuberculosis five months before Schuyler was born His sister Mary died four months after his [Schuylerrsquos]

vice President Schuyler Colfaxrsquos Death in Mankato

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MANKATO MAGAZINE  bull January 2016 bull 27

birth The young Schuyler attended school only until he was 10 He then began working to support his family Schuyler Colfax never attended any kind of secondary school or college His mother remarried when Colfax was 13 and the family moved to New Carlisle Indiana By the time he was 22 Colfax was the editor and owner of a pro-Whig newspaper He was elected to Congress in 1854 and joined the newly formed Republican Party after the Whig Party disintegrated Solidly anti-slavery his colleagues elected Colfax as Speaker of the US House of Representatives in 1863 His election came soon after the death of his wife Evelyn The couple had no children

Colfax was President Abraham Lincolnrsquos first and last visitor on the fateful day Lincoln was assassinatedmdashApril 14 1865 Early that morning Colfax arrived at the White House while the president was having breakfast Colfax wanted to know whether or not Lincoln planned to call a special session of Congress for later that summer Lincolnrsquos answer was a polite but firm ldquonordquo Lincoln preferred a lenient approach in reconstructing as well as readmitting the former Confederate states to the Union now that the Civil War was over This approach put Lincoln at odds with the more ldquoradicalrdquo congressional members of his own party who preferred harsher measures be taken against their former enemies Lincoln had already made up his mind how he wanted to proceed with reconstructing the former Confederate states and he didnrsquot want any unnecessary interference from Congress Calling a special session was the last thing Lincoln wanted to do Colfax returned that same night to see Lincoln again just before the president left for Fordrsquos Theatre and his appointment with destiny This time Colfax came upon Lincolnrsquos own request The president had a long message for the silver miners of the Comstock Lode in Nevada thanking them for their loyalty to the Union that he wanted Speaker Colfax to deliver in person since Colfax was leaving by train for the West the next day Colfax was the last person Lincoln spoke to besides his wife Mary before he

was fatally shot at 1015 pm Colfax never forgave himself for turning down Lincolnrsquos invitation to be part of the theatre party that night

In 1868 Republicans selected General Ulysses S Grant as their presidential candidate Grant a military man his entire life had no political background Colfax was placed on the ticket because of his prior experience as a congressman and Speaker of the House (he resigned the position in 1869) Grant and Colfax won an easy victory in November 1868 Only two weeks later Colfax remarriedmdashthis time to Ellen Wade (niece of Ohio Senator Benjamin Wade) Their only child son Schuyler Colfax III was born in 1870

Colfax is best remembered (if at all) for his involvement in the corruption that beset Grantrsquos entire presidency Specifically the Credit Mobilier scandal broke in 1872 just as Grant and Colfax were gearing up for their re-election campaign Colfax was suspected of accepting shares of stock and cash bribes from ldquoCredit Mobilierrdquo a dummy construction company set up by the Union Pacific Railroad He was by no means the only influential person involved in the scandal Other political figures investigated included Senators Roscoe Conkling of New York William Allison of Iowa John Logan of Illinois James Bayard of Delaware and Henry Wilson of Massachusetts Grant was less popular in 1872 than he had been four years earlier and many Republicans worried that having Colfax on the partyrsquos ticket would harm the presidentrsquos re-election chances They dumped Colfax from the ticket mdash only to replace him with the also-tainted Wilson Grant won re-election and served his second and final term from 1873-1877 After being forced out from the vice presidency Colfax traveled the country as a popular lecturer often speaking about his interactions with Abraham Lincoln during the Civil War He rebuilt his tarnished reputation and commanded speaking fees as high as $2500

At 10 am on Jan 13 1885 Schuyler Colfax arrived in Mankato aboard a train from Milwaukee Mankato was just a

brief stop for Colfax who was on his way to Iowa for a speaking engagement The Chicago Milwaukee amp St Paul as well as the Chicago St Paul Minneapolis amp Omaha railroads both had depots in Mankato but because they were separate competing railroad lines Colfax was required to change trains by walking three-quarters of a mile from the Chicago Milwaukee amp St Paul depot at the foot of Hickory Street to the Chicago St Paul Minneapolis amp Omaha depot at Fourth and Washington Streets (now Washington Park) from which the next leg of his journey would depart Despite a reported temperature of 30 degrees below zero Colfax walked from one station to the other Within five minutes after he arrived at the Omaha linersquos depot Colfax entered the waiting room looked at a map on the wall sat down and died It was 1035 am No one in the station knew who the dead man actually was until they searched his pockets and found a letter with his name on it His death was likely caused by a heart attack brought on by the physical exertion of walking almost a mile in extreme cold Colfax was only 61 when he died His remains were returned to South Bend Indiana for burial

Today few Americans are aware that anyone named Schuyler Colfax ever lived much less served as vice president of the United States In this era in which officeholders are often treated as celebrities imagine how surprised people would be to learn that a former vice president died cold alone and unrecognized in a train station 131 years ago Before 24-hour news channels smart phones and social media it was possible for public figures like Colfax to live ndash and die ndash in relative obscurity Ironically Colfax loved the railroad but in the end it was the cause of his undoing Mankato has the distinction of being the location where the last man to personally speak to Abraham Lincoln in a private conversation took his last breath

MM p01 0116indd 27 12182015 24549 PM

28 bull January 2016 bull MANKATO MAGAZINE

Mayo Clinic offers pediatric and adolescent orthopedic services right here in Mankato Todd Milbrandt MD cares for patients with a variety of needs including

bull Cerebral palsy

bull Clubfoot

bull Hip disorders

bull Spinal disorders

bull Sports injuries

bull Scoliosis

bull Spina bifida

Mayo Clinic Health System in Mankato Call 1-877-412-7575 (toll-free) to schedule an appointment

495rdquox495rdquo Mankato Magazine January

Orthopedic care for your child

Independent ampAssisted Living

EQUAL HOUSINGOPPORTUNITY

1360 Adams StreetMankato MN

PrimroseRetirementcom

reg

Key City Senior Breakfast ClubThe Key City Senior Breakfast Club meets the first Thursday of each month from 830 AM - 930 AM at Primrose Retirement Community The club gives those 55+ the opportunity to meet new friends and visit old ones socialize with Key City Officials and enjoy a delicious home-cooked breakfast To visit a Key City Senior Breakfast please call (866) 447-9636

Mark your calendar for these breakfast dates Thursday January 7th Thursday March 3rd and Thursday May 5th

刀椀渀最 椀渀 琀栀攀 

一攀眀 夀攀愀爀

㔀 㜀ⴀ㤀㐀ⴀ㐀㐀䨀甀氀攀攀猀䨀攀眀攀氀爀礀挀漀洀

椀渀 匀愀椀渀琀 倀攀琀攀爀

20765 Foley Rd Mankato MN | 5073872434 | 5077262411

Three TimeNational Award Winners

MM p02 0116indd 28 12182015 30742 PM

Mayo Clinic offers pediatric and adolescent orthopedic services right here in Mankato Todd Milbrandt MD cares for patients with a variety of needs including

bull Cerebral palsy

bull Clubfoot

bull Hip disorders

bull Spinal disorders

bull Sports injuries

bull Scoliosis

bull Spina bifida

Mayo Clinic Health System in Mankato Call 1-877-412-7575 (toll-free) to schedule an appointment

495rdquox495rdquo Mankato Magazine January

Orthopedic care for your child

Independent ampAssisted Living

EQUAL HOUSINGOPPORTUNITY

1360 Adams StreetMankato MN

PrimroseRetirementcom

reg

Key City Senior Breakfast ClubThe Key City Senior Breakfast Club meets the first Thursday of each month from 830 AM - 930 AM at Primrose Retirement Community The club gives those 55+ the opportunity to meet new friends and visit old ones socialize with Key City Officials and enjoy a delicious home-cooked breakfast To visit a Key City Senior Breakfast please call (866) 447-9636

Mark your calendar for these breakfast dates Thursday January 7th Thursday March 3rd and Thursday May 5th

OMG hellip More food and drinksOK sure

By now yoursquore probably thinking ldquoOh my gosh the last thing I want to think about right now is more food more drinking and more diningrdquo

Fair enough We get it The holidays are murder on the metabolism of many many Minnesotans

But we also know that those metabolisms are hardy and soon enough theyrsquoll be hankering for a hunk of something yummy and full of fun And whatrsquos more yummy and full of fun than a big glass of Cabernet Sauvignon Our wine guy Leigh Pomeroy takes us on a tour of all that is tasty and wonderful about big red wines the kind that leave their mark the kind that really announce their presence on your palate

And just in case yoursquore super serious about a healthy lifestyle mdash and that seriousness extends to the kind of beer you choose mdash Bert Mattson our beer guy has just the selection for you Best part is Itrsquos light

Oh and under the category of ldquoDid you hear about thisrdquo Wersquove got an update for you on the Coffee Hag Mankatorsquos original coffee house and one of the most popular hangouts in town Seriously some days itrsquos hard to find a seat in that place

EnjoyPS We know that baby itrsquos cold outside mdash thatrsquos why wersquove

thrown you our absolute best hot cocoa recipe

Enjoymdash Robb Murray Associate Editor Mankato Magazine

food drink amp dineso

uthern m

n style

20765 Foley Rd Mankato MN | 5073872434 | 5077262411

Three TimeNational Award Winners

MM p02 0116indd 29 12182015 30745 PM

MANKATO 5073854485 AMBOY 5076743355 I VERNON CENTER 5075493679

INSURANCE OFFICES LOCATED IN THE COMMUNITY BANK BUILDINGS

wwwcimankatocom

Protecting the things that matter most in your life

Let us help protect what is important to you At Community Insurance we have the ability to compare insurance from multiple companies to get you the best coverage at a great price Combine that with our insurance knowledge and friendly group of agents and we say thatrsquos a winning deal

WHERE YOUR POLICY COMES WITH AN AGENT

Christina Meyer

Food

south

ern mn style

Food

south

ern mn style

By The Washington Post

Growing up my mother always encouraged her children to cook So when

I found a recipe for hot chocolate on the side of the Hersheyrsquos Cocoa can it was easy to convince her to let me give it a try

What I discovered was that hot chocolate doesnrsquot have to come from an envelope

This recipe has been a favorite of mine to make on days when winter weather has convinced me stay home and off the roads Itrsquos the perfect way to kill time and have a nice hot drink to warm you up on those chilly days

Although you can top it with whipped cream I prefer marshmallows

FAVORITE HOT COCOAMakes 4 to 6 servings

12 cup sugar14 cup unsweetened cocoa powder

Dash of salt13 cup hot water

4 cups milk34 teaspoon vanilla extract

Whipped cream or marshmallows (optional)

Mix sugar cocoa powder salt and water in a sauce pan Stir constantly over medium heat until mixture comes to a boil (about 2 minutes) Stir in

milk and heat Bring the hot chocolate to the desired temperature but do not boil Remove from heat and

add the vanilla extract Divide into mugs and top with whipped cream or marshmallows

PERFECTLY CHOCOLATE HOT COCOA

Makes 1 serving

2 tablespoons sugar2 tablespoons unsweetened cocoa powder

Dash salt1 cup milk

14 teaspoon vanilla extractWhipped cream or marshmallows (optional)

Mix sugar cocoa powder and salt into large mug In separate microwave-safe container heat on high

for 1 to 1 frac12 minutes or until very hot Carefully and gradually add milk to dry mixture Stir well Add vanilla extract Top with whipped cream or

marshmallows

Simple homemade hot chocolate

beats the winter chill

30 bull January 2016 bull MANKATO MAGAZINE

MM p02 0116indd 30 12182015 30752 PM

MANKATO MAGAZINE  bull January 2016 bull 31

Oil Change to OverhaulWe do it all

507-387-13151620 Commerce Drive North MankatowwwAustinsAutoRepairCentercom

Voted Best Auto Repair and Best Auto Mechanic 4 Years in a Row

AUSTINrsquoS AUTO REPAIR CENTER INC

MANKATO 5073854485 AMBOY 5076743355 I VERNON CENTER 5075493679

INSURANCE OFFICES LOCATED IN THE COMMUNITY BANK BUILDINGS

wwwcimankatocom

Protecting the things that matter most in your life

Let us help protect what is important to you At Community Insurance we have the ability to compare insurance from multiple companies to get you the best coverage at a great price Combine that with our insurance knowledge and friendly group of agents and we say thatrsquos a winning deal

WHERE YOUR POLICY COMES WITH AN AGENT

Christina Meyer

MM p02 0116indd 31 12182015 30755 PM

32 bull January 2016 bull MANKATO MAGAZINE

January is Cabernet TimeWersquove celebrated nearly

every January edition of Mankato Magazine with

a paean to BIG REDS And since there are so many wonderful examples why stop now

Last year I wrote about the powerful big reds of Italy This January wersquoll focus on Cabernet Sauvignon known to many as ldquothe king of winesrdquo Most oenophiles (wine lovers) consider the quintessential representations of this grape to be the classified Bordeaux of southwest France near the city of Bordeaux The five First Growths (or best wines according to a classification made in 1855 and updated in 1973) are Ch Lafite Rothschild Ch Margaux Ch Latour Ch Haut Brion and Ch Mouton Rothschild All have a cabernet sauvignon base but they are blended with merlot and often a little bit of cabernet franc and petit verdot as well

In the early 1970s I was able to buy these wines for around $22 per bottle mdash about $120 in 2016 dollars Yet with the popularity of ldquocollectiblerdquo wines on a worldwide

basis they sell today for anywhere from $400 on up

Contrary to popular belief these wines are not that massive Rather they combine cabernet sauvignon power with

structure and finesse yielding wines that become with time elixirs that are greater than the sum of their parts

Both California and Washington state have taken up the Cabernet Sauvignon challenge and are producing world-class wines at sometimes world-class prices Napa Valley is the recognized leader in this arena and rightly so Napa Valleyrsquos top Cabernet

Wine amp B

eerso

uthern m

n style

winesBy Leigh Pomeroy

Leigh Pomeroy is a Mankato-based writer and wine lover

Cabernet Sauvignon is the black Labrador of wines mdash it comes up and licks yourdquo

mdash Winemaker Scott Rich

Sauvignons rival the great wines of Bordeaux for quality mdash Irsquove tasted them side-by-side mdashand yet can sell for a fraction of their price

One such example is the 2013 Tulocay Cabernet Sauvignon from my old friend Bill Cadman We were young bucks in Napa Valley and had a tasting group in the early 1970s along with now-famous wine luminaries Bruce Neyers (Neyers Vineyards) and Mike Richmond (co-founder of Acacia Vineyard)

Billrsquos Cabernet is from an old and relatively cool growing area east of the City of Napa called Coombsville which because of industry political issues only recently received its AVA (American Viticultural Area) designation It is priced at $60 per bottle yet compares with any top-flight Bordeaux as well as the more expensive offerings from Napa Valley which can cost from $100 on up Not currently available at wine stores or restaurants in Minnesota it can be purchased by contacting the winery directly via its website tulocaycom The winery is so small that Bill will probably answer the phone himself

There is a lot of Cabernet Sauvignon available from California but mdash caveat emptor mdash not all growing areas (or appellations) are the same The best Cabernet Sauvignons are from Napa and Sonoma Counties Cabernets simply labeled ldquoCaliforniardquo or perhaps ldquoCoastalrdquo while sometimes good values lack the complexity of the greater Cabernet Sauvignons from the more northern parts of the state

Washington state has also

established itself as a prime producer of Cabernet Sauvignon But here again quality can vary greatly depending upon the area and producer While there is no ldquogo-tordquo appellation for Cabernet Sauvignon in Washington there are producers that are able to secure fruit from the best vineyards

One such example is the tiny Willis Hall Winery owned by another good friend John Bell a former Boeing jet propulsion engineer Like Tulocay its wines are only available by calling up the winery and ordering some (See willishallcom) But there are many other top quality producers in Washington like Quilceda Creek Leonetti Betz Family and Woodward Canyon

Of course not everyone can afford Cabernet Sauvignons in the $60-plus category One excellent everyday drinking example is the Flying Cloud 2013 Paso Robles Cabernet Sauvignon made by Mankato native Stephen Dooley Normally I donrsquot like Paso Robles Cabs as they tend to be too fruity and too soft for my palate mdash almost like drinking berry jam But this one is quite restrained no doubt helped by the inclusion of 13 percent zinfandel and 9 percent petite sirah in the blend

In Mankato both the Wine Cafeacute and MGM carry the Flying Cloud but at its price and quality I wouldnrsquot count on it lasting for long especially since only 759 cases were produced

So letrsquos raise a glass of Cabernet and say ldquoCheersrdquo to the New Year

MM p02 0116indd 32 12182015 30756 PM

MANKATO MAGAZINE  bull January 2016 bull 33

Bert Mattson is a chef and writer based in St Paul He is the manager of the iconic Mickeyrsquos Diner

Beer Skinny

BeerBy Bert Mattson

Last year according to Nielsen research staying fit and healthy was

the number one New Yearrsquos resolution Losing weight was two Three was to enjoy life to the fullest Unfortunately ldquolose weight and get fitrdquo also topped Time magazinersquos list of commonly broken resolutions Is this shortfall due to tension between the top two and that third one If so craft beer may have a role in the compromise Bad news first

In the context of losing weight and staying fit beer lovers might seek solace in the fact that fat carries nine calories per gram while alcohol has only seven The wrinkle is that those seven are ldquoemptyrdquo mdash calories without nutrition as opposed to those from fat protein and carbohydrates Moreover alcoholrsquos calories are the first burned when combined with the others the human body postpones burning fat while it works on alcohol Furthermore beer (and wine and often cocktails) contains carbohydrates which release insulin and can hasten fat storage Finally many drinkers have undoubtedly observed that alcohol loosens inhibitions after which an eager indulgence in unhealthy foods often occurs (Bar menus are rarely helpful in that respect)

By now you may wonder whose side Irsquom actually on Or suspect Irsquove led you to this dark place only to offer you a Lite No worries a couple craft brewers have been considering ways to keep us true to our resolutions

Evil Twin Brewingrsquos Bikini Beer drops the alcohol to 27 percent but stays bold by way of hops A Pale Ale it hits the nose with citrus suggestive of IPA The flavor follows suit floral and lemon There is an expected absence of malt yielding to bitterness up front that fades at the finish An alternative

for those who insist on the full effect Founderrsquos Brewing Companyrsquos All Day IPA rings in at a respectable 144 calories (Evil Twinrsquos entry comes in at 81)

One strategy to beat the beer munchies and avoid costly impulse eating is to have suitable chow on hand With Bikini Beer try a salad sporting blue cheese and some sort of dried fruit Creamy blue veined cheeses echo the hops while balancing bitterness An occasional bite of dried fruit stands in for malt sweetness

Brooklyn Breweryrsquos 12 Ale weighs in at 34 percent alcohol (102 calories) It is alliteratively labeled ldquoSession Saisonrdquo It opens with a waft of citrus and spice and a little lemongrass from Sorachi Ace hops mdash a hybrid developed in East Asia The same elements are found in the flavor which is a bit more subdued than a full-sized Saison

Try it with a tangle of arugula dressed with lemon and a fruity olive oil tossed with pine nuts and topped with shaved Parmesan for effect The greens and cracked pepper reflect spicy phenolic elements in the yeast Salty cheese counters the beerrsquos lingering bitterness Maybe add a few slices of Speck cured ham and Saison share a certain funkiness

If friends show and it becomes a session you may honestly say you spent Saturday working on your six-pack

MM p02 0116indd 33 12182015 30757 PM

34 bull January 2016 bull MANKATO MAGAZINE

Food

south

ern mn style

Food

south

ern mn style

The Coffee Hag one of the arearsquos oldest (and coolest) bistros recently underwent a major expansion and remodeling journey culminating in a large and airy

seating area along with a much-improved kitchen and a new menu Mankato Magazine caught up with a very busy (and slightly exhausted) owner Jenn Melby-Kelly who weighs in on how itrsquos going

MANKATO MAGAZINE Are you personally enjoying the new updatesJENN MELBY-KELLY It Is Fabulous The new space represents so much more than a remodel to me It has brought to life a vision for my business thatrsquos been years in the making It incorporates many many good ideas from many many people I feel so fortunate to get to see that every time I walk through the door

MM How are customers reactingJMK Thatrsquos been one of the best parts The response has been overwhelmingly positive

A few of our most regular customers had the opportunity to get a glimpse of the remodel while it was underway (we gave some informal preview tours while we were operating the temporary stand outside) but many customers walk through the door now and see it all for the first time Itrsquos especially fun to see and hear that kind of wide-eyed reaction

A few people with special connections to The Hag have had even stronger emotional responses and Irsquom so touched and right there with them when I see eyes well up as they see what wersquove done Itrsquos a very big milestone for a very special place and wersquore blessed to have people that care so deeply

MM Do the employees appreciate the new spaceJMK Oh probably more than anyone There was a lot that we sought to do with the remodel but creating a bigger brighter better-equipped space for our team was certainly one of the primary goals Wersquove got an incredible team truly the most spirited and talented people anyone could hope for

Many of them have spent years with me working hard against the challenge of a small under-equipped space and just barely being able to keeping up with growing demand Itrsquos been a special blessing for them and for me to finally have state-of-the-art space thatrsquos made for the work that we do We all feel a special connection to this place and now more than ever the place reflects the good energy we all bring here every day

MM Is the new menu a hit (The Hag specializes in vegetarianvegan cuisine)JMK Yes but just wait Feedback and demand have been excellent with our food offerings already but wersquore just getting started on some of the really exciting things that are coming to our food menu

Remodeling the cafe was just the first major milestone of our two-part expansion plan Next up wersquore building a state of the art off-site commissary kitchen that will do for our incredible culinary team what the remodeled shop has done for our baristas Theyrsquove been working day and night on taking our already fantastic food offerings to a whole new level

Wersquove already introduced some amazing new menu items like the Garden Grilled Cheese panini (trust me itrsquos like nothing yoursquove had before) and some truly outstanding new vegan baked goods Wersquove also improved our classic offerings with house-made

Interview with Jenn Melby-Kelly owner of The Coffee Hag

By Sarah Johnson

MM p02 0116indd 34 12182015 30802 PM

MANKATO MAGAZINE  bull January 2016 bull 35

Happy New Year

Locally Owned amp Operated

Check Weekly Specialsmgmwineandspiritscommankato

Largest Selection ofbull Liquor bull Wine bull Beer bull

Hours Monday-Saturday 8 am - 10 pm

ATMs at all stores

Mankato201 Victory Dr

625-2420

North Mankato1755 Commerce Dr

387-2634

St Peter100 N Minnesota Ave

934-8964

sourdough and whole wheat breads But as impressive as it is already itrsquos just a taste mdash literally mdash of things to come as we bring our new kitchen online

MM Whatrsquos stayed the sameJMK Irsquom really proud to say that while wersquove touched almost every part of this 23-year-old business wersquove kept even more than we have changed From the first days of this project I made it my personal mission and responsibility to make sure that the ldquosoulrdquo of this special place was only enhanced and never lost as we made the updates

In every area of the remodel as wersquove added some necessary new layers of sophistication The Hagrsquos colorful quirky and even rebellious spirit is still very much a part of the space We did a lot to try to make sure it still looked and felt like ldquohomerdquo

And on a deeper level every step wersquove taken with the growth of our business has been chosen carefully to honor the core parts of The Coffee Hagrsquos identity Our focus on community our support for local art and music our commitment to creating a safe and welcoming space for everyone our efforts to lead the way on social and environmental issues affecting our world near and far mdash those have all stayed the same And those will always be at the heart of what we do

MM Anything elseJMK Irsquom so incredibly grateful for the support of our customers and community And whenever I talk about my business and how it has grown I really canrsquot overstate how thankful I am for my beautiful Coffee Hag family The hard work good energy and earnest contributions of so many people mdash past and present mdash have brought me and my business here An incredible amount of love has gone into this business and made this dream a reality

MM p02 0116indd 35 12222015 121240 PM

36 bull January 2016 bull MANKATO MAGAZINE

xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

Food

south

ern mn style

whatrsquos Cooking By Sarah Johnson

Sarah Johnson is a cook freelance writer and chocolate addict from North Mankato with three grown kids and a couple of mutts

As I was pondering my subject matter for todayrsquos column I started wondering about all the different items the word ldquonutsrdquo can refer

to Crazy people are called nuts so are hexagonal metal objects that attach to bolts Nuts can be the end of things (as in ldquofrom soup to nutsrdquo) or they can be the beginning of them (as in ldquosperm incubatorsrdquo) Nut can also mean onersquos head or onersquos lump of something such as butter And if you accidentally get a nut of butter on your nut you can exclaim ldquoNutsrdquo

My favorite meaning of the word nut however is the dry indehiscent one-seeded fruit with a woody pericarp And I donrsquot even know what indehiscent OR pericarp means But these are the wonderful denizens of the world of edible nuts

Nuts are widely credited with all sorts of health benefits for the heart brain male reproductive system prostate cholesterol level fiber intake and avoidance of some types of cancer And while nuts do contain fat itrsquos the ldquogoodrdquo kind heart-healthy monounsaturated and polyunsaturated fat Their mix of omega-3 fatty acids protein and fiber helps you feel full and suppresses the appetite

Nuts are great in desserts and salads of course but they also shine in stir-fries casseroles soups chicken pork fish and even beverages Nut butters nut milks and nut oils add delicious options to our kitchen larders Breads cereals muffins and pancakes gain texture flavor and nutrition from the addition of nuts Basically anytime is a good time for nuts

Which is a wonderful thing because nuts taste so good you would think they had to be very very bad The reason lies deep in their oils

Walnut Oil is strong and flavorful Itrsquos best when used in uncooked sauces or salad dressing

Hazelnut Oil has a strong flavor and is great for the heart

Almond Oil is very popular and has a much milder flavor than walnut oil or hazelnut oil

Pecan Macadamia Nut Pistachio Cashew and Pine Nut Oils are flavorful and unique The freshness of the nuts used really affects the flavor

ldquoTherersquos Nuttinrsquo Nutty About Nutsrdquo

For the Baklava1 pound pistachios hazelnuts walnuts pecans andor almonds coarsely ground plus more for garnish12 teaspoon ground cinnamon1 cup breadcrumbs4 sticks unsalted butter melted16 sheets phyllo dough (thawed if frozen) cut in half

For the Syrup3 cups sugar1 6 -to-8-ounce jar honey1 frac12 cups water1 to 2 tablespoons fresh lemon juice

If yoursquore under the impression that baklava is much too labor-intensive and complicated to make at home think again Anybody can make

it no special skills equipment or exotic ingredients are required A word about phyllo dough Itrsquos sold in frozen packages so you need to remove the package from the freezer and let it thaw in the fridge 24 hours before you want to make the baklava Then about an hour beforehand remove the package from the fridge and let it sit on the counter

Walnuts or pistachios are the most traditional nuts to fill baklava but using other nuts works wonders as well Simply layer the phyllo with the nut filling and butter bake for an hour and finish with a simple honeyed syrup If you have leftover nuts from the holidays herersquos your chance to use them up

Mixed Nut Baklava

MM p02 0116indd 36 12182015 30812 PM

MANKATO MAGAZINE  bull January 2016 bull 37

MONEY MATTERS WORK SMARTLET COMMUNITY BANK HELP YOUBRING THE TWO TOGETHER

MANKATO - SAINT ANDREWS DR 5073854444MANKATO - MADISON AVE 5076251551VERNON CENTER 5075493679AMBOY 5076743300

JULIE VETTERSR VICE PRESIDENTRETAIL BANKING

We support great causes like yoursAt Community Bank we know good things happen when you have a good bank So we make more possible by keeping banking simple and supportive And by giving you the power that comes with innovative solutions like our Health Savings Account It offers you tax-free savings for future medical expenses Stop by anytime Wersquore always ready to help out a great cause

Position a rack in the lower third of the oven preheat to 350 degrees Combine the nuts cinnamon and breadcrumbs in a bowl

Brush a 9x13-inch baking dish with some of the butter Layer 10 pieces of phyllo in the dish brushing each piece with butter before adding the next (keep the remaining dough covered with a damp towel) Sprinkle a quarter of the nut mixture over the dough Layer four pieces of phyllo on top brushing each with butter before adding the next sprinkle with another quarter of the nut mixture Add four more phyllo pieces on top brushing each with butter then add another quarter of the nut mixture four more pieces of phyllo with butter and the remaining nuts

Layer the remaining 10 pieces of phyllo on top of the nuts brushing each with butter brush the top piece with extra butter Cut into the baklava to make strips about 1 12 inches wide Then make diagonal slices about 1 12 inches apart to create a diamond pattern Bake until golden about one hour

Meanwhile make the syrup Bring the sugar honey and 1 12 cups water to a boil in a saucepan over medium heat and cook 10 to 15 minutes Add the lemon juice and boil 2 more minutes then let cool slightly Pour the syrup over the warm baklava let soak uncovered at least six hours or overnight Garnish with nuts

MM p02 0116indd 37 12182015 30817 PM

38 bull bull MANKATO MAGAZINE

Nell Musolf is a mom and freelance writer from Mankato She blogs at nellmusolfcom

38 bull bull MANKATO MAGAZINE

MM p02 0116indd 38 12182015 30822 PM

MANKATO MAGAZINE  bull January 2016 bull 39

Gear Up for WinterYear-Round amp Insulated Workwear from

Carhartt Dickies and Key

UNIFORMSUniforms fromBarco Carhartt Cherokee DickiesKoi Peaches and White Cross

AMAZED

Call 5073446336mankatomagmankatofreepresscom

Stephanie L Hylla LAc Dipl AcKayla M Sweeney MOm LAc

NEW LOCATION709 S Front Suite 5

5074694788mankatoacupuncturecom

Open House ndash Wednesday Feb 3 9-12noonCelebrating 5 years of Business New Location and the Chinese New Year

In Network with Blue Cross Blue ShieldLicensed by the MN Board of Medical Practice

Ribbon Cutting with Greater Mankato Growth at 10am

(A $250 Value)THIS VOUCHER ENTITLES NEW PATIENTS TO A

CONSULTATION EXAM amp DIGITAL X-RAYS (IF NEEDED)

wwwr igne l l fami lych i roprac t ic comMedicare Restrictions Apply Expires January 31 2016

Dr BrandonRignell DC

1351 Madison AveSuite D

Mankato MN 56001

5077797313

$2900New Patient Special

MM p02 0116indd 39 12222015 121344 PM

40 bull bull MANKATO MAGAZINE

Jean Lundquist is a master gardener who lives near Good Thunder

MM p02 0116indd 40 12182015 30834 PM

MANKATO MAGAZINE  bull January 2016 bull 41

3 Increase the Value of Your Home

3 Update Your Homersquos Appearance

3 Save Money

Choose from SeveralModels Styles amp Colors

507-625-7110 or 1-800-645-36671125 Cross St North Mankato MN

Improve Your HomersquosEnergy Efficiency

422 Park Lane Mankato MN | NuStarMankatocom

(507) 381-4747Voted One of Mankatorsquos Best

DANIEL WINGERT

Make Selling Your Home Your NuYearrsquos Resolution

MM p02 0116indd 41 12182015 30839 PM

42 bull January 2016 bull MANKATO MAGAZINE

January Resolve to moisturize

Your stYLeBy Ann Rosenquist Fee

Ann Rosenquist Fee is executive director of the Arts Center of Saint Peter and a vocalist with The Frye She blogs at annrosenquistfeecom

If you have in-laws or colleagues who know you well enough to have given you holiday gifts

but not well enough to know what wouldrsquove truly made you happy congratulations Chances are yoursquore the proud owner of a bunch of brand-new lip balm

Maybe itrsquos even holiday themed Thatrsquos the best Maybe you got the candy-cane flavored kind or wintergreen with holiday graphics on the label or something like that A theme that was irrelevant the moment the stocking was unstuffed because at that exact second the holiday was over

And here you are in January with an abundance of wax

Fortunately also here you are in the early weeks of winter with rough red knuckles Probably also cracked cuticles although it might not have gone that far yet for you Irsquom sure it has for me This photo was taken back in November and even then the Band-Aids were for real Irsquove learned to cut them in half length-wise so as to retain my ability to type Irsquove also learned to play with a range of color options Flesh-toned Clear Disney characters The colorful strips shown here were gifted to me by my husband Partly why theyrsquore cut in half is that the text is obscene This is one small trick you can use to make bloody cuticles your most exciting accessory of the winter

Sources like UrbanSurvivalSitecom and WonderHowTocom will tell you that you can use lip balm for a whole variety of purposes such as coating threads of outdoor lightbulbs before screwing them into their sockets and enhancing the burn-ability of most kindling

These are great fun but they wonrsquot improve your personal style

More germane to winter beauty are the following suggestions

Keep a tube next to your bed for first-thing-in-the-morning use And I mean really truly first-thing I mean smear the stuff on each cuticle while yoursquore still lying there before you start using your fingers at all If you wake up thinking yoursquore fine and skip cuticle care next thing you know yoursquore pushing down the lever on your Keurig and the pressure is more than your screamingly dry skin can take and boom split blood on the Keurig and itrsquos gonna be a long painful day If only you had balmed your hands before you let your feet hit the floor

Keep another tube in your glove compartment If itrsquos warm enough to take off your mittens in the car mdash if yoursquore even wearing mittens given that your hands are snagging on everything these days mdash the harsh January sunlight will allow you to see cracks and flakes in high-resolution detail Yoursquoll want the balm nearby

to cover what you didnrsquot notice first thing in the morning Also a car tube is useful for when you look in the rear-view mirror and notice that your nose and upper lip are flaking as well Itrsquos because yoursquore getting over a cold and the frequent use of tissue has worn away your top layer of skin but just because you know that doesnrsquot mean everybody else wonrsquot think ldquothere is something in that noserdquo Itrsquos just a fact Itrsquos what it looks like Lip balm to the rescue Itrsquos the only thing dry enough to slick those flakes in place and nourishing enough to maybe actually get your face back to normal

Keep a couple more tubes in a nighttime kit along with sandpaper Sandpaper Yes Not a pumice stone not a lame also-gifted sugar

scrub Medium-grit sandpaper is what you need every night lightly but with conviction As follows 1) Sand taking care not to do more damage than what the elements have already done Yoursquore just trying to remove the dry dead stuff Yoursquore just being hearty and efficient about this true to the culture of this great state in which yoursquove chosen to winter You are no pansy Sand your hands 2) Wash 3) Blot dry 4) Dial up the gifted balm whisper a word of thanks to the person who put so much thought into your well-being that they stuffed your holiday stocking with this amazing gift of self-care smash a healthy amount down into your palms massage Take heart You just might find yourself with normal-textured non-cracked not-horrible-looking hands by morning

Split-open cuticles I feel you Except for these Band-Aids I feel you

Lip balms I have been gifted and these are just from last Christmas ldquolastrdquo as in 2014

Bathrooms Worth Bragging About

HoursTue amp Wed amp Fri | 9 am to 6 pmMon amp Thu | 9 am to 7 pmSaturday | 9 am to 4 pm

219 S Victory Dr | Mankato507 | 345 | 7009ipafhickorytechnetindependentpaintandflooringcom

You Deserve Comfortable Care Every Timebull Sedation - Complete Relaxation with Just a Pillbull Invisalign - Clear Alternative to Bracesbull Botox amp Fillersbull Implants - Placement and Restorationbull Cerec - One Visit Crown Technology

bull Free Whitening Programbull 3D Imaging with Fewer X-Raysbull Cosmetic Dentistrybull Drill-Free Technologybull Emergency Care

1400 Lookout Drive North Mankato507-625-CARE(2273) bull mankatodentistcom 06

1865

6124

01

Dr AngelA Schuck

Dr keith FlAck

MM p02 0116indd 42 12182015 30841 PM

MANKATO MAGAZINE  bull January 2016 bull 43

Bathrooms Worth Bragging About

HoursTue amp Wed amp Fri | 9 am to 6 pmMon amp Thu | 9 am to 7 pmSaturday | 9 am to 4 pm

219 S Victory Dr | Mankato507 | 345 | 7009ipafhickorytechnetindependentpaintandflooringcom

You Deserve Comfortable Care Every Timebull Sedation - Complete Relaxation with Just a Pillbull Invisalign - Clear Alternative to Bracesbull Botox amp Fillersbull Implants - Placement and Restorationbull Cerec - One Visit Crown Technology

bull Free Whitening Programbull 3D Imaging with Fewer X-Raysbull Cosmetic Dentistrybull Drill-Free Technologybull Emergency Care

1400 Lookout Drive North Mankato507-625-CARE(2273) bull mankatodentistcom 06

1865

6124

01

Dr AngelA Schuck

Dr keith FlAck

(944) 412-7949 | OrthoEdgeMNcom

Enjoy the season

Mankato St Peter

Be active Be healthyBe able with OrthoEdge

The OrthoEdge joint replacement

program offers superb care from your first

visit through recovery The surgeons from

the Orthopaedic amp Fracture Clinic and

the care team at Riverrsquos Edge Hospital

provide personal and professional care to

get you back to able

Why Riverrsquos Edge Hospital amp Clinic

bull Riverrsquos Edge Hospital amp Clinic has a long-

standing relationship with the Orthopaedic

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bull Free WiFi for patients and guests

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MM p02 0116indd 43 12182015 30842 PM

44 bull January 2016 bull MANKATO MAGAZINE

1 Hicktown Mafia800 pm mdash New Ulm Event Center mdash 301 20th St S mdash New Ulm mdash $10 mdash 507-354-4673

7-9 Mankato West Orchesis Dance Team showcase7 pm Thursday-Saturday 2 pm Saturday mdash Mankato West High School Auditorium mdash $7 adults $5 students mdash 507-381-7578

10 Mankato Symphony Orchestra Music on the Hill II ldquoMinnesota rootsrdquo2 pm mdash Chapel at Good Counselmdash Good Counsel Drive mdash Mankato mdash $17 $12 mdash wwwmankatosymphonycom

16 Handel with Caremdash Handel Goes to Italy11 ammdash YMCA Aerobics Studio mdash 1401 S Riverfront Drive mdash Mankato mdash wwwmankatosymphonycom

16 Mankato Craft beer Expo2 pm (VIP) 3 pm general mdash Verizon Wireless Center mdash $45 VIP $35 general $10 designated driver mdash wwwmankatocraftbeerexpocom

23 Joey Flip and Mike Fugazzi rockinrsquo at the Embassy9 pm mdash Blaschkorsquos Embassy Bar and Grill mdash 325 S Minnesota Ave mdash St Peter mdash 507-934-3903

24 andrea Lyn and Dick Kimmel concert730 pm mdash Elias J Halling Recital Hall mdash Minnesota State University mdash Mankato mdash $12 regular $11 current MSU students mdash wwwmnusedumusic

28-31 MSu Theatre antigone730 pm Thursday-Saturday 2 pm Sunday mdash Andreas Theatre mdash Minnesota State University mdash Mankato mdash $16 regular $14 discount $11 current MSU students mdash wwwmnsuedu

29-31 BLC Theatre Brigadoon730 Friday and Saturday 2 pm Sunday mdash Ylvisaker Fine Arts Center mdash Bethany Lutheran College mdash Mankato mdash $10 adults $6 seniors children and students mdash wwwblceduevents

29- Feb 7 Winterfest St Peter Citywide mdash wwwstpeterchamberorg

30 Church of Cash a Tribute to Johnny Cash7 pm mdash St Peter American Legion mdash 229 W Nassau St mdash St Peter mdash 507-934-6435

31 Maud Hixson and rick Carlson concert730 pmmdash Elias J Halling Recital Hall mdash Minnesota State University mdash Mankato mdash $12 regular $11 current MSU students wwmnsuedumusic

Coming attraCtions January

T - F 8am - 6pm Sun ClosedSat 9am - 4pmM 8am - 8pm

120 North Broad Street Mankato MN 507-345-4688 wwwmeyerandsonstvandappliancecom

FIND SPECIAL DEALS ON

MM p02 0116indd 44 12182015 30902 PM

MANKATO MAGAZINE  bull January 2016 bull 45

St Peter Craft amp Vendor Show

1MelinadaBussefromRapidansoldherhandmadejewelryatthecraftandvendorshow

2DarylfromElysianandhishand-carvedwoodart

3MacKennaage7hasfunatoneoftheboothsattheStPeterCraftandVendorShow

4LizEntershowsoffsomeofherproductsattheldquoItWorksrdquobooth

5DenisePetersofldquoYoungLivingrdquoessentialoilsdisplayedherproductsattheshow

Faces amp Places Photos By Sport Pix

3

5

2

1

4

T - F 8am - 6pm Sun ClosedSat 9am - 4pmM 8am - 8pm

120 North Broad Street Mankato MN 507-345-4688 wwwmeyerandsonstvandappliancecom

FIND SPECIAL DEALS ON

MM p02 0116indd 45 12222015 121536 PM

46 bull January 2016 bull MANKATO MAGAZINE

SOUTHErN MN CHrISTMAS

FESTIVAL1 A large crowd was on hand during the festivities at

the Christmas Festival2 Friesenrsquos Family Bakery amp Bistro had tons of baked

goods and soups at the Verizon Wireless Center3 A childrenrsquos choir sang for the audience at the

festival4 Ron Haefner owner of Ronrsquos Auto Repair displayed

some of his services5 Garrison Galatz dressed up as Santa for the

Christmas Festival

faCes amp PLaCes Photos By Sport Pix

4

3

1

2

5

MM p02 0116indd 46 12182015 30923 PM

MANKATO MAGAZINE  bull January 2016 bull 47

1GirlScouttroop34494waspresentedwithatrophybyKiwanisVicePresidentKyleMrozek

2SantaClausevenwentthroughtheparaderoute3(LtoR)BrooklynPomrankeAlaynaLyonsHunterPomrankeandLilyLyonsgetagroupphototakenwithSanta

4MarshaMartigtellsSantawhatshewantsforChristmas

5TheparadefloatswerealldeckedoutinChristmaslights

6Visitorswalkthepatharoundtheparktoviewthisyearrsquoslights

Kiwanis Holiday ligHtsFaces amp Places Photos By sport Pix

2

1

3

4 5

6

MM p02 0116indd 47 12222015 121616 PM

48 bull January 2016 bull MANKATO MAGAZINE

On the Occasion of a 50th Reunion

the Class of 1965

from this VaLLeYBy Pete Steiner

Peter Steiner is host of ldquoTalk of the Townrdquo weekdays at 105 pm on KTOE

I was honored to give the presentation for our 50th class reunion recently at West Highrsquos Homecoming celebration About 120 of our nearly 400-member class

showed up We Baby Boomers the children of the greatest generation had big classes in the late lsquo60rsquos that forced the building of East High Ours was a dramatic era and our class did some great things in the face of big challenges Here edited is some of what I said

I am so glad to be standing here today Therersquos an old saying

ldquoMay you live in INTErESTINg timeshelliprdquo The Class of rsquo65 certainly has Itrsquos seems like only yesterday right after lunch that we were at our desks waiting for the start of English class when our charismatic teacher Harry Fitterer strode in and said ldquoPrESIDENT KENNEDY HAS BEEN SHOT IN DALLASrdquo At first we didnrsquot believe him but it was true It was November 22 1963 We were juniors and as the song says that was THE END OF THE INNOCENCE We had lived through the last idyllic time in America

When we first arrived in the fall of 1962 America was still carefree basking in the glow of victory in WW II Everything may have seemed ldquorightrdquo but it was not Martin Luther King Jr had just visited Mankato pointing out the continuing plight of black Americans as the Civil rights movement was gaining steam The beginnings of the Vietnam War which would alter the course of many of our lives were stirring even as we studied history and government The current generation has no monopoly on forgettable pop music ndash we had a stupid 1 song called ldquoItsie Bitsie Teenie Weenie Yellow Polka Dot Bikinirdquo (unfortunately an ear worm I canrsquot forget) But a darker cultural threat was looming The BEATLES were invading from Britain and our parents were mortified because they had LONg HAIr

Some of the shock of the Kennedy assassination was eased when our wrestling team in the era when the state still had just ONE CLASS won the State Championship in front of a packed hall up at MSU some still maintain that is the greatest single athletic achievement in Mankato history We were the first high school in Mankato to put on a full-scale musical ldquoBye Bye Birdierdquo in the spring of 1964 In Fall of 1964 our football team would have won the conference championship outright except Owatonnarsquos great Noel Jenke who would go on to star for the U of M

cheated I watched him trap the touchdown pass that beat us Does cheating pay Was that a lesson for life

In lsquo65 we also had a fine basketball team that lost our chance at State when our 6-6 center fouled out at Luverne

BUT A FAr BIggEr CHALLENgE AWAITED US ALL As we rode out to Luverne to watch that game we couldnrsquot help noticing the highway was like a canyon between walls of snow The legendary St Patrickrsquos Day Blizzard had dumped two feet on top of an already large snow pack and then April brought rains on frozen ground Instead of coming here to school many of us soon got a real-life assignment to go out in our rain gear out on the dikes to battle the grEAT FLOOD OF 1965 Our school became an island as water flooded the parking lot and all of South riverfront Our spring play that year was called ironically

THE DESPErATE HOUrS We had to rehearse at roosevelt School up on higher ground

Our class produced three Merit scholars One of our classmates who did NOT qualify

for a merit scholarship nevertheless was such a whiz at physics that NASA requested a copy of a paper he wrote on rocketry as a senior We produced 12 doctors one of whom earned a fellowship at Stanford seeking how to bring telemedicine to the poor another of whom became a breakthrough cancer doctor We had entrepreneurs one who would go on to be a leader in Solar Energy (and then run for governor of New Hampshire) Another mdash a woman incidentally when

that was not common founded two bio-tech startups Many of us are still working

past normal retirement age One founded a company on the leading edge of recycling

computers whose clients include the NSA Another is chief medical officer of a company

devising a better tool for colonoscopies Yet another of our classmates recently completed a concert tour of China

We lived in challenging times just as you do today but we muddle through we make it to the other shore I remember sitting where you are 50 years ago thinking how old those folks up there looked But remember Life goes by very quickly You certainly live in interesting times as Shakespeare said ldquoPresent Mirth has Present Laughter Youthrsquos a stuff will NOT endurerdquo So I urge you live each moment to the fullest

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Page 10: Mankatomag 116

Friday January 3 1890Magnificent Showing for 1889Over $70000 Expended on Streets Waterworks and Sewers(compared to 2014 dollars this could amount to as much as $86000000 dollars)

The most important of the public works accomplished this year is the construction of a pumping station the purchase of a magnificent holly pump and the completion of the large one-million gallon reservoir The discovery of a suitable water supply was made last year but it was left to be developed this year by the sinking of two large artesian wells to a depth of more than 600 feet

The next is important as having over a mile of sewer on second street Other improvements Completion of the Tourtellotte Hospital and the purchase of additional hose for the fire department

Friday January 7 1910County Board is Wrestling with Bills in Ledbeter CaseThiel Detective Agency wants to be paid for booze and treats entertaining deputy sheriff and farmers Lady Sleuth was employed on jobThiel Detective Agency employed a woman Paid for parties on the County dime In 1910 Though not mentioned in the printed story Mrs Ledbeter was accused of murdering her husband Holland several years her elder

The County Board met this afternoon wrestling with bills that had been presented to it for services rendered in connection with the trials of Frank Smith and Mrs Grace Ledbeter

County Auditor Weaver states the cost of these trials will be between $8000 and $10000 but he wonrsquot know the exact figure for several days

The Thiel Detective Agency has put in a bill for $49835 for services largely consisting of railway fare hotel bills etc One of the items under date Nov 23-30 and Dec 1-4 is ldquodrinks cigars etc with Deputy Sheriff $405rdquo

The next item is ldquotreats and expenses with farmers and others during investigation $2215rdquo

A lady detective seems to have been employed on the case for a time making a trip to St Louis and other places

Tuesday January 3 1961Twins are first lsquoBago Births of the year

Fraternal twins were the first births in Winnebago at the Community Hospital in 1961 Mr and Mrs Eldren Jaegerrsquos boy was born at 1055 Sunday and the girl arrived at 1115 AM The boy weighed 5 pounds 8 12 ounces The girl hit the scale at 5 pounds 2 and a quarter ounces The Jaergers who operate a farm at rural Amboy have seven other children ranging in age from Sandra 18 in nursersquos training at St Josephrsquos Hospital in Mankato to 4-year-old Joel

Tuesday January 3 1928Cafes and Dance Halls Scenes of Gaiety Quiet for New Yearrsquos Police Report Cold Wave Sends Revelers Home at Early HourMinus 18 degrees Fahrenheit is just too cold to have fun on New Yearrsquos Eve

Liquor that did not flow too liberally and the extreme cold weather conspired to make the celebration of the coming of the new year in Mankato not too boisterous ldquoIt was a quiet timerdquo commented Chiefof Police Jake Hilgers ldquoProbably quieter than last yearrdquo Only one arrest was made as against 3 last New Yearrsquos The arrest was of a man found lying in the railroad yards intoxicated The tips of his fingers were frozen and itrsquos believed if he had not been discovered he would have frozen to death

This DAy in hisToryBy Jean Lundquist

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Corporate GraphicsYour Printing Solutions Company

1750 Northway DriveNorth Mankato MN 56003

800-729-7575wwwcorpgraphcom

May your 2016 be

Filled with color and

delight

MANKATO MAGAZINE  bull January 2016 bull 9

The GAllery Ellen Schofield Story by Nell Musolf

After graduat ing from the University of Minnesota in 2012 with a Masterrsquos of Fine

Arts degree in graphic design Ellen Schofield was delighted when three months later she was offered a teaching position at Minnesota State University She expected that she would have to move elsewhere and was happy that she would be able to stay in her own state

ldquoThere were about 10 positions open around the time I graduatedrdquo Schofield said ldquowhich was really quite a lot I expected that Irsquod have to move so it was great to be hired by MSUrdquo

Schofield teaches introductory level graphic design classes as well as a special concept class that helps students fire up their creativity

ldquoIn the special concept class we do mind mapping brainstorming and once a semester I bring in an improv comedian because studies have proven that improv comedians have the most creative ideas of any other professionrdquo Schofield said ldquoThe class does theater warm ups and they really seem to enjoy it We also focus on the lsquoyes andrsquo theory in that classrdquo

The ldquoyes andrdquo theory agrees with an idea and then expounds on it with enthusiasm mdash the ldquoandrdquo part

ldquoCollege students often want to look cool all the timerdquo Schofield remarked

ldquoThe lsquoyes andrsquo theory pushes past that and opens up creativityrdquo

Schofield defines graphic design as thinking made visual

ldquoGraphic design is everywhere Itrsquos logos for businesses and icons and even the tax return papers given out by the IRS are examples of graphic design and had to have been designed by some poor personrdquo Schofield said ldquoA goal of a graphic designer is to create something that anyone can understand as soon as they look at itrdquo

Before becoming a graduate student Schofield ran her own graphic design business and has continued the business on a smaller scale now that she is teaching Her personal preference in graphic design is to create icons

ldquoI tend to like iconographyrdquo Schofield said ldquoIcons can be mdash and I think should be mdash simple and elegant and tell whoever sees them something about the business they representrdquo

Schofield worked with the Childrenrsquos Museum of Southern Minnesota to create its icon an experience she enjoyed

ldquoI wanted to make it something that would appeal to kids and their parents as well The Childrenrsquos Museum has such a cool space mdash it needed an icon that would let people know what a truly cool place it isrdquo Schofield said

When working with a graphic design client Schofield likes to have ldquolots and lotsrdquo of conversations

ldquoGetting to know clients is important We talk a lot so that I can find out what a client feels passionate about when it comes to their business The goal is to find something that makes them unique and then create a graphic design that reflects thatrdquo Schofield said

Shofield said her favorite artistic tool is the art departmentrsquos laser cutter

ldquoItrsquos like the worldrsquos fanciest scissorsrdquo Schofield said ldquoIt can cut just about anything and does an amazing job Itrsquos so much fun to work withrdquo

Schofield is working with MSU colleague David Rogers on a project using the laser cutter called ldquoPaper State Flowersrdquo Schofield and Rogers are using typographic state abbreviations combined with paper flowers Their progress can be viewed at wwwpaperstateflowerscom and the final results will be shown at an art gallery in Hutchinson in October

Schofield originally planned to become an engineer but after taking a class in graphic design she changed her mind

ldquoIrsquom a visual personal and I fell in love with designrdquo Schofield said ldquoReally I canrsquot imagine doing anything elserdquo

thinking Made visualEllen Schofield teaches at Minnesota State university

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10 bull January 2016 bull MANKATO MAGAZINE

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MANKATO MAGAZINE bull bull 11

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12 bull January 2016 bull MANKATO MAGAZINE

The Celebration of the Lakes has been a family tradition for Erin Thorvaldson Chisago Lakes Chamber Board Member and Community member for Celebration of the Lakes for more than 20 years Thorvaldson was about 10

years old when her grandmother introduced her to the event which takes place Jan 30 on North Center Lake in Lindstrom

DAy Trip DesTinATions Celebration of the LakesBy leTiciA GonzAles

hit the LakesLindstrom has plenty of fun waiting for you

Hot air balloons are just one of the many attractions this festival has employed over the years

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MANKATO MAGAZINE  bull January 2016 bull 13

Day Trip DesTinaTions Celebration of the LakesBy LeTicia GonzaLes

WhenJan 29-31 2016

I-35 North to Hwy 8 east to Center City Located on the North side of Hwy 8 on

North Center Lake

If youGoWhat

Celebration of the Lakes

Lindstrom MN

AdmissionFree additional admission required for some

events activities food and ridesVisit wwwchisagolakeschambercom

ldquoSo I helped way back then when she was part of the chamberrdquo said Thorvaldson ldquoAnd having a business in the community as I got older I also wanted to give backrdquo

Born and raised in the Chisago Lakes area Thorvaldson has served on the celebrationrsquos planning committee for nine years She said the event first caught her eye not only because she loves winter but because it focuses on the outdoors ldquoeven though many people in Minnesota cringe once we get to 20 degrees so it kind of gets you out and lets you do something funrdquo

Watching the celebration grow over the past two decades has also been fun for Thorvaldson

ldquoIt was very tiny at that pointrdquo she said as she reminisced about the early days of the event ldquoIt was just a few hay bales at the icerdquo

Being an active part of the planning has been equally exciting

ldquoThe committeersquos always trying to come up with more ideas that the community would perceive as something fun to do in the winter timerdquo she said ldquoThere have been the sled dogs there have been hot air balloons and there have been kitty cat races car racesrdquo

While past years have even included BMX bike races where people dressed up in costumes the snowmobile radar run and the vintage snow mobile displays have been the ldquomain staplesrdquo of the celebration Organized by the Wild River Snowmobile Club of Chisago City the snowmobile radar run features nearly 200 riders who race upwards of 120 miles per hour on a track

ldquoSometimes they will have souped-up snowmobiles that go incredibly fastrdquo Thorvaldson said ldquoWe had a world record one that raced on the track so itrsquos pretty amazing to see how fast some of them go They break them up into categories and there are prizes for the fastest one in each categoryrdquo

Originally introduced as a memorial radar run for a rotary member the radar run has become one of the celebrationrsquos most popular events

ldquoWe started with just a sheriffrsquos radar gun and now they use different timing items like cones and announcingrdquo she add ldquoItrsquos kind of something that has evolved toordquo

With the draw of the surrounding lakes in the area Thorvaldson said ice fishing has also grown in popularity and has become embedded in the annual celebration

ldquoItrsquos like little villages out on the lakerdquo she said

ldquoThat is kind of the big that that people do There are people who drive up from all over the place the Twin Cities all over just to come spend the weekend ice fishing on the lake so thatrsquos a big big thingrdquo

Greg Shaleen who has also been on the planning committee for the celebration for more than 15 years affirmed the celebrationrsquos growth when it comes to activities offered

ldquoWe have done kind of bizarre thingsrdquo he said ldquoWe do a smoosh race which is where you take 2-by-4s and strap four leather straps on it and you do a little bit of a racerdquo

Shaleen also credits the event for bringing people out to the lakes during the coldest month of the year

ldquoEveryone is all cooped up in the community and it just got to the point where they wanted to do something fun in the winter and get people out and about and enjoy the winter sportrdquo he said

From kitty races and sled dog races to a concession tent and a family fishing contest that draws anywhere from three to five hundred people Shaleen said the Celebration of the Lakes brings people together in the outdoors

ldquoWe are basically more interested in getting people out of the house visiting with friends and neighbors and visitors to the area and enjoying each otherrsquos interest in snowmobiling or ice fishing or whatever the events are taking place or going onrdquo he concluded

MM p01 0116indd 13 12222015 115930 AM

January The holidays are over along with all of the seasonrsquos excuses for overindulge in food and drink and under-indulging in any form of exercise (other than lifting onersquos hand to onersquos mouth) After stowing the presents in the

closet and taking down the tree many people choose the New Year as the perfect time to begin a serious diet and exercise program to shed the extra pounds they put on over the past few months and to begin eating more healthfully Mankato Clinic registered dietitian Erin Gonzalez says a hearty ldquoyesrdquo to healthy mindful eating and definite ldquonordquo to any extreme ldquodo or die(t)rdquo approach

According to Gonzalez 95 percent of all dieters regain the weight they lost within five years It is her belief that such yo-yo dieting only creates more frustration and stress which can lead to emotional eating and binge eating which leads to another cycle of dieting-losing-weight-gaining-weight ad infinitum

Gonzalez speaks from experience After losing 70 pounds since the time she was a teenager Gonzalez is now at a weight she considers healthy and one that she hasnrsquot deviated from in years

By Nell Musolf | Photos by Pat Christman and Darren Gibbins

Herersquos to ahealthy

new yeara healthy

new you

14 bull January 2016 bull MANKATO MAGAZINE

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MANKATO MAGAZINE  bull January 2016 bull 15

Erin Gonzalez and her son prepare a healthful meal

Erin GonzalezldquoI struggled with weight issues when I was growing

uprdquo Gonzalez said ldquoWhen I was 16 I went on my first lsquoseriousrsquo dietmdashone of the fast diets that were popular in the 1990srdquo

Gonzalez said that she stuck to her diet religiously having a shake in the morning one for lunch and a sensible meal at night just as she was instructed to do She also walked for approximately two and a half hours a day Over the course of one summer she lost 70 pounds but she was also she now realizes flirting with an eating disorder Gonzalez says this scenario is not uncommon considering research shows 35 percent of ldquooccasional dietersrdquo progress into pathological dieting (disordered eating) and as many as 25 percent advance to full-blown eating disorders

ldquoMy food intake was very restrictive and I was always extremely conscience of what I ate but just the same I slowly gained back 30 of the 70 pounds

that I lostrdquo Gonzalez said ldquoI was always looking at food as either lsquogoodrsquo or lsquobadrsquo instead of something pleasurable to be enjoyedrdquo

It wasnrsquot until she was working at her dietetic internship that she had her ldquoahardquo moment

ldquoI was blessed with a teacher who taught her students how to enjoy foodrdquo Gonzalez said ldquoinstead of being obsessed by it Gonzalez learned about a program called Am I Hungry that specializes in helping people heal their relationship with food and their bodies so they can relearn to trust their internal hunger cues instead of having to follow arbitrary rules and broken promises of diets Gonzalez facilitates a program at the Mankato Clinic that teaches the Am I Hungry philosophy

ldquoI have two childrenrdquo Gonzalez said ldquoa 10-month-old and a 4-year-old They know how to eat naturally and they stop eating when they are no longer hungry That is what most adults need

MM p01 0116indd 15 12222015 120138 PM

16 bull January 2016 bull MANKATO MAGAZINE

xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

need to relearn how to eatrdquoThe method has worked for Gonzalez Gone are

her extra 30 pounds and she no longer dietsldquoDiets simply arenrsquot sustainablerdquo she said ldquoItrsquos so

hard in our society because we are surrounded by cues to eat all of the time At buffets where you want to lsquoget your moneyrsquos worthrsquo when yoursquore out with friends when you sit down at the end of the day and turn on the television to relax and are bombarded with ads for food Food has become a reward for a bad day or a good day or anything else we can think of But if you look at how you eat as a journey instead of as a destination you can learn to enjoy food a lot morerdquo

So what should someone who wants to start the New Year in a more healthy fashion do

ldquoPause before you eatrdquo Gonzalez recommended ldquoAsk yourself if yoursquore really hungry or if yoursquore actually thirsty or stressed instead Try not to be emotionally disconnected from what you are eatingrdquo

Gonzalez emphasized that ldquomindful eating isnrsquot naive to say nutrition isnrsquot important Of course it is Mindful eating is what allows us to take charge of our decisions of why when what how and how much we choose to eat instead of battling being in or out of controlrdquo

Instead of following the latest short-lived diet Gonzalez encourages people to make the healthiest choices possible that donrsquot leave them feeling deprived

Paulette Tonn BookerFor Paulette Tonn Booker the Am I Hungry

Mindful Eating (AIHME) program has been a game changer

Said Booker ldquoIrsquove tried several diet plans over the past 40 years including some well-known plans and I lost weight on each plan However keeping the weight off eluded me and resulted in yo-yo dieting

The lsquorulesrsquo of whichever plan Booker was on became the norm and after years of trying to live by those rules Booker was no longer able to discern what her body was telling her about hunger often leading to out-of-control overeating

ldquoI always knew there was something else going on yet no one had an answer for merdquo Booker said

When Booker first heard of the AIHME program two years ago she was relieved to discover that there were other people who felt the same way when it came to healthful eating The program taught her the skills she needed to recognize her bodyrsquos hunger signals thoughts and feelings and actions to help manage the physical emotional and environmental stresses of everyday life without resorting to eating to cope with those stresses

ldquoI no longer have to be in control of everything I only need to be in charge of my decisions at any given moment When I choose to overeat (which everyone does) I no longer beat myself up I try to reflect on what happened and then plan for ways to handle the situation differently the next time it occurs Old habits are hard to break it takes concentrated effort and dedication to rewire the brain with new habits and it can be donerdquo Booker said

About weight loss as the end goal of healthful eating Booker shared the following ldquoThe only time I get on a scale is at the doctorrsquos office I know what the experts say I should weigh A number does not define a personrsquos self-worth nor does it say anything about who we are and how we feel as we make changes in how we nurture our bodies The number on the scale is just a number bodies come in all shapes and sizes as does health I will never diet again Instead I will continue to work on developing mindful skills and in the meantime eating what I love and loving what I eatrdquo

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MANKATO MAGAZINE  bull January 2016 bull 17

Eric ZiesmerFor Eric Ziesmer he is in the middle of his weight

loss journey a journey that began last July when the 32-year-old learned that he weighed 330 pounds The time had come for Ziesmer to make some healthy lifestyle changes Ziesmer decided to lose weight because of his family mdash both present and future

ldquoI have two adorable nephews and I would love to be able to chase them around the yard or pull them in a sled during the winter and basically to be active and see them as they growrdquo Ziesmer said ldquoAnd even though Irsquom currently single if it is in my cards for marriage and kids I would like to be there and not be too tired or not in shape A clean and healthy lifestyle is what I am striving for in my coming yearsrdquo

With the help of a dietician Ziesmer has started his cleaner and healthier lifestyle Since July he has lost 40 pounds and has decided to have weight loss surgery To help his post operation phase go as smoothly as possible Ziesmer eats fresh fruit every day has cut out chips and cookies among other things

ldquoI have totally cut out soda Soda was a big one to cut out In my huge climb to 300 there were days when I would consume two 2-liter bottles of pop in a single day and maybe cracking open a thirdrdquo Ziesmer said ldquoI try to listen to my stomach instead of my eyes or eat because Irsquom bored or stressed I eat slow and sip instead of being the guzzler I have always beenrdquo

Another tactic Ziesmer has adopted has been to stop drinking liquids 30 minutes before a meal and then wait 30 minutes after eating before sipping again

ldquoWhen my stomach rumbles and says itrsquos hungry I feed it When my brain or boredom drives me to want to eat I take a second to see if my stomach feels empty and if not it gets deniedrdquo Ziesmer said

Ziesmer has noticed that he is more successful at healthy eating when he eats at home When he does dine out hersquoll cut a sandwich in half eat half and save other half for a future meal

ldquoAs far as exercise goes it went from zero to at least two if not three times a week going for a 327 mile walk and have recently made my way back into the gymrdquo Ziesmer said He has been able to keep track of his walks with accuracy thanks to an app called MapMyRun

Ziesmer knows that his healthier living journey will continue for a long time

ldquoI plan on continuing to live healthy by continuing my exercise and eating right and by saying that itrsquos not only for me and feeling better but also because there are two little guys that look up to their uncle Staying motivated is at least my key to keeping up this lifestyle I want to live a long and healthier life feeling better and being there down the road for family and friends is what means mostrdquo Ziesmer said MM

Eric Ziesmer says hersquos got plenty of motivation to get healthy two nephews to whom he wants to be a good role model

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18 bull January 2016 bull MANKATO MAGAZINE

Stephanie Howe says itrsquos best to have realistic goals when starting a fitness program

Herersquos your guideBy Robb Murray | Photos by Pat Christman

Ready for CHANGE

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MANKATO MAGAZINE  bull January 2016 bull 19

Yoursquore ready

You ate the ham and turkey and potatoes and Christmas cookies You drank the wine beer and eggnog Yoursquove spent the last few

months pondering a life change Yoursquore on the verge of a major transformation This time itrsquos happening Yoursquore going to get healthy Itrsquos going to be a new you

And then January arrived And you have no plan

Luckily we here at Mankato Magazine have got you covered Itrsquos not uncommon for people to make a New Yearrsquos resolution or some similar vow this time of year It usually comes with goal weights and promises to hit the gym X number of times per week and trips to the produce and organic sections of the grocery store because this time yoursquore serious Right

OK easy tiger Getting healthy is a great idea and wersquore wishing you all the best But wersquore also coming at you with some sensible advice Maybe setting unrealistic goals isnrsquot the best way to go Maybe just

heading into the gym and trying to get it all done in a week isnrsquot a great way to go either

ldquoFinerdquo you say ldquothen what should I dordquoWersquore so glad you asked

Letrsquos get startedThe first thing you need to remember when

starting an exercise program is that if you want to lose weight you need to change the way you eat too

ldquoNo matter what you say you canrsquot out exercise a bad dietrdquo says Stephanie Howe director of healthy living at the Mankato YMCA

Howe works in what might be the busiest fitness hub in the Mankato area So shersquos seen her share of people come through the doors with plans to change their lives Some of them succeed Most do not

One of the biggest mistakes people make Howe says is not really having a good grasp on how much time theyrsquoll need in order to incorporate a good workout into their day It doesnrsquot have to be a two-

hour commitment every day she says It can be 30 minutes of planned effective exercise several times per week Whatrsquos more important is just getting there and thatrsquos an obstacle that is bigger than most people realize

ldquoMost people want to lsquopeople pleasersquordquo she said ldquoYou can say yoursquore going to get up and work out every day but most people are built to need external accountabilityrdquo

Think about hiring a personal trainer

ldquoWhen you spend the money on a personal trainer you have an appointment therersquos someone waiting thererdquo she says

A personal trainer is a great way to immediately know yoursquore doing exactly what yoursquore supposed to be doing and yoursquoll have no doubt whether yoursquore working hard enough There are plenty of personal trainers in town mdash at the YMCA and other gyms mdash who would love to help you Of course they donrsquot work for free and for many people the cost of a personal trainer is more than theyrsquore willing to spend

Fortunately therersquos a trend in fitness to offer the whip-crack of a personal trainer while staying Jo radlinger urges her clients to not sabotage their fitness efforts with poor eating over

the weekend

MM p01 0116indd 19 12182015 24510 PM

20 bull January 2016 bull MANKATO MAGAZINE

728 N Riverfront DriveMankato MN 56001

507-625-5163katobearscom

Pins and NeedlesAlterations

Specializing in alterations for theentire wedding party including

gown re-sizing hemming re-beadingbustles and so much more

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affordableThe Y now offers something called ldquotrainer ledrdquo

exercise sessions where you work with others in a group but have access to a trainer nearby who can push you motivate you and make sure yoursquore you know doing it right Theyrsquore $3 a class

ldquoYoursquore still expected to be there but itrsquos much cheaperrdquo Howe said ldquoThe group environment pushes you and we have tons of trainer-led classes Itrsquos the best of both worldsrdquo

Across town Jo Radlinger runs Jorsquos Garage a fitness center where shersquos the one pushing you to succeed

Radlingerrsquos goal she says is to bring out everyonersquos potential

ldquoI want to make sure everybody that comes through my door has success I want them to be the very best version of themselves that they can berdquo

Like Howe Radlinger acknowledges that the financial side of hiring a personal trainer can scare people away but she says there are several reasons why it shouldnrsquot

ldquoItrsquos never a bad investment when yoursquore investing in yourselfrdquo she said ldquoMeet with a trainer who is just as passionate about your goal My goal is not to train you intensely but to show you what yoursquore capable of and then take you to that next levelrdquo

At Jorsquos Fitness Garage there are no membership fees Radlinger doesnrsquot believe in them Instead she charges $5 per visit and in that time she said she pushes you to have a great workout

GymtimidationSetting goals is a great

idea Setting unrealistic goals is the kind of thing that results in a gym membership card laying dormant in a junk drawer by February

So set those goals but set them smartlyldquoAccountability is huge Even if you canrsquot hire

someonerdquo Howe says ldquoMake specific goals mdash say yoursquore going to workout X number of times but make those numbers realistic Set goals that are within your controlrdquo

Do this and yoursquore likely to feel a lot better about how things go

ldquoMost people just want to feel better about themselves they want to feel more confidentrdquo Howe said ldquoThis way even before any physical changes happen theyrsquoll feel better Theyrsquoll start to feel like theyrsquore in control again of their life and their choicesrdquo

Taking an exercise class is a great way to both get

your body moving while at the same time have fun and meet those people who will notice when you donrsquot show up

And about that weight room Yes it can be intimidating to walk in and see people who look like they live there But Howe says that while it can definitely be a psychological barrier focusing on those people is the wrong strategy

ldquoNo one cares what yoursquore doingrdquo Howe says ldquoFocus on yourdquo

Take it slowIt can be tempting when you finally get up the

nerve to get back in the swing of working out to go hardcore But just like setting unrealistic goals trying to achieve your fitness goals in a day is impossible

ldquoPeople start out really gung-ho and reset their diet so aggressively and most people just simply canrsquot do thisrdquo Radlinger said ldquoWhen yoursquore looking at making a lifestyle change I want you to do it slowly and incrementally rather than do it all in two monthsrdquo

Rushing into the weight room and trying to lift the same weight and number of reps and sets that you did 10 years ago is a great way to make sure you canrsquot work out for a while Going from a sedentary lifestyle to two hours of pumping iron can leave you sore enough to not be able to lift anything for days Maybe even weeks

Ease into it The gymrsquos not going anywhere Think marathon not sprint

ldquoSometimes people have an all-or-nothing attituderdquo Howe said ldquoand they make themselves sore and they canrsquot continuerdquo

Speaking of all-or-nothing Radlinger says

some people bring that kind of intensity to their food intake over the weekend Bad idea

ldquoAs trainers we help people be accountable We do success measurements help them prepare and plan And wersquoll do weigh-ins on Mondayrdquo Radlinger says ldquoWersquoll find that people do really well Monday through Friday then do what I call sabotage Saturday and Sunday At some point yoursquore going to get so sick of hitting that reset button every Mondayrdquo

Whatever you choose to do both trainers say itrsquos never a bad idea to sit down with your doctor and run your plans by himher Your personal safety should always come first and getting the green light from Doc can give you some peace of mind as you start this new chapter of your life MM

Jo radlinger runs Jorsquos Fitness Garage

MM p01 0116indd 20 12222015 120709 PM

MANKATO MAGAZINE  bull January 2016 bull 21

728 N Riverfront DriveMankato MN 56001

507-625-5163katobearscom

Pins and NeedlesAlterations

Specializing in alterations for theentire wedding party including

gown re-sizing hemming re-beadingbustles and so much more

Like us onFacebook

Live the Lifestyle

wwwmapletonmarinecom

Southern MNrsquos largestboat show on now at the

Madison East Center in Mankato

MM p01 0116indd 21 12182015 24524 PM

22 bull January 2016 bull MANKATO MAGAZINE

Thirty-three years ago I stood inside a grave A lifetime ago when I was a pastorrsquos wife

In Nebraska we served a parish of barely over one hundred members A picture-postcard white church with a hand-carved white wooden altar from Germany sat at the top of a hill next to it the parsonage and next to that the cemetery rolling down the hill toward a wooded creek

The first death in the congregation after our arrival set off a flurry of activity Irsquod never met Alma because she was in a nursing home before we arrived However my husband visited her on several occasions She was mother aunt grandmother great-aunt and great-grandmother to half the congregation so there was no question about whether or not I would attend the funeral

With my two little kids in tow I attended every event at the church every Sunday morning service of course but also every funeral every confirmation every baptism every meeting of womenrsquos circle and even every family reunion that was held in the church basement At twenty-six I perfected the art of making gracious small talk with people Irsquod never seen before and would never see again and at taking tiny portions from each confirmation buffet so I would neither be sick by the end of the day nor offend any of the mothers who had slaved away over their sumptuous spreads of food

By Rebecca Fjelland Davis

Grave Lesson in Winter

ESSay

MM p01 0116indd 22 12182015 24527 PM

MANKATO MAGAZINE  bull January 2016 bull 23

Attending the little white country church was physically easy I picked up one-year-old Josh took three-year-old Nikkirsquos hand and walked out the front door down the sidewalk and next door The only things I didnrsquot have to attend were church council and the menrsquos meeting Archaic This was in the 1980s It doesnrsquot seem so long ago

All the available babysitters in the community would attend Almarsquos funeral too so this was to be my kidsrsquo first funeral

The afternoon before the service salt-snow fell Hard little crystals pelted down as if the heavens had up-ended a Mortonrsquos salt canister Within a few hours the hard snow was six inches deep and still falling

In the middle of the salt-snow the gravedigger arrived The Ditchwitch roared around the cemetery to the familyrsquos plot and my kidsrsquo noses pressed against the upstairs bedroom window pane ldquoMommy can we go watchrdquo

Glad for an excuse to get out of the parsonage I bundled them in snowsuits put them on the sled and pulled them across the house yard and garden to the fence that bordered the cemetery

The Ditchwitch made short work of the grave and all three of us were mesmerized watching the mound of gray-black dirt grow in the crystal-white snow When the hole was finished the gravedigger turned his tractor on idle He hopped off and came over to the fence His eyes twinkled in a weathered face ldquoWant to come lookrdquo

I backed up from the fence a step ldquoNo not really I think this is close enoughrdquo

ldquoYes Mommy go lookrdquo ldquoPleeeeaserdquoSo Nikki and Josh got back on the sled and I

hauled them along the fence through the gate over to the grave and looked down Six feet seemed deep bottomless Dark A sharp contrast to the pelting snowflakes all around us

ldquoWanna get down in thererdquo the gravedigger asked I shuddered hung onto the kids and backed up

again ldquoNo No thatrsquos okay This is close enough I just want to look from hererdquo

ldquoYes mommyrdquo the little ones said ldquoLetrsquosrdquoldquoNordquoldquoPleaserdquoldquoReally marsquoam I think you should Yoursquoll be

surprised I wouldnrsquot suggest it if it I didnrsquot think sordquoldquoHow would we get outrdquo The sides were deeper

than I was tall and there certainly werenrsquot footholds or a ladder built in for Almarsquos soul to use to climb out

ldquoLike thisrdquo The gravedigger laid his shovel diagonally across a top corner of the grave and jumped down He grabbed the middle of the shovel handle and swung himself back up and out with the agility of a gymnast ldquoNothinrsquo to itrdquo

ldquoI canrsquot do thatrdquoldquoYes you can Irsquoll boost you And wersquoll lift the kids

Yoursquoll be amazed I promiserdquoI shivered The idea of being inside a grave

seemed much colder than the snow crystals biting at my face

ldquoCome onrdquo he said and jumped back in Nikki and Josh willingly stepped over to him to be lifted down I had no choice but to follow I couldnrsquot let my kids alone in a grave with a man I didnrsquot even know

So I jumped The earth on the bottom made a soft landing The soil around me was warm and steamy It was moist and dark but it enfolded us in an earthy hug At least fifty degrees warmer than the air above ground it felt as if the earth were offering shelter respite a comfortable place to snuggle down and rest Tiny roots dangled full of life from the smooth edges of the hole Tears sprang to my eyes I couldnrsquot help them My eyes met the gravediggerrsquos and he smiled Gently ldquoSeerdquo he said Nothing more

I couldnrsquot speak A few minutes later he gave me a stirrup with his

hands I scrambled out and he lifted Nikki and Josh up to me Then he flipped himself out as easily as a trapeze artist

ldquoThank yourdquo I said ldquoI would never have guessedrdquoHe nodded ldquoNobody does But it helps somehow

I wanted you to feel thatrdquoWhy I wanted to ask why me You donrsquot even

know me Why were you willing to take time for usldquoThank yourdquo was all I said I shook his hand and

he hopped on the Ditchwitch and drove off into the snow

I never saw him again Someone else dug the next grave required in that cemetery

I remember only bits and pieces of the funeral Irsquom sure I baked a boxed cake mix for ldquolunchrdquo afterwards I remember answering Nikkirsquos questions about the body and sitting in the back row of the church in case Josh didnrsquot want to be quiet I do remember looking at the unfamiliar face in the casket and thinking you get to rest in a warm cozy place

Ten winters later we buried my dad on just such a day Wet snow crystals pelted us and piled up so deep the funeral home limousine got stuck in the cemetery By the time the pallbearers pushed it un-stuck their suit pants were caked in slush and mud

We stood at the graveside in the bleak wet icy day and lowered my fatherrsquos body into the ground

ldquoToo bad itrsquos such a miserable dayrdquo ldquoSorry about your dad Sorry the weatherrsquos so bad toordquo And even ldquoSuch a good man He deserves better weather than thisrdquo

But the weather I thought was just right Losing my dad my kids and their cousins losing

their grandpa my mom becoming a widow my brother losing his farming partner and best friend changed our livesmdashthat part was too heavy to carry

The only part that was okay for me was to let Dadrsquos worn-out body be wrapped in that welcoming warm enfolding soilmdashthe very soil hersquod loved to till the soil hersquod planted and tended all his life the soil that gave us all lifemdashthat was the only gratifying part of the day

The only comfort I had was letting Dad go from the cold wet biting snow into that warm and restful place

And I still wonder who that gravedigger was ten years earlier and how he knew how much I would need what he gave me that bleak winter day MM

Rebecca Fjelland Davis is an author from Mankato

MM p01 0116indd 23 12182015 24528 PM

reFlecTionsBy Pat Christman

24 bull January 2016 bull MANKATO MAGAZINE

MM p01 0116indd 24 12182015 24544 PM

reFlecTionsBy Pat Christman

MANKATO MAGAZINE  bull January 2016 bull 25

There are few things as inevitable as snow during a Minnesota winter Big

cotton ball-like snowflakes cover the ground in a white blanket whitewashing the Midwestern landscape

We struggle against it Some hope the snow never comes It always does filling the sky with floating snowflakes that cling to the ground but melt as soon as they hit the small bits of face or hands that peek out from winter clothing

It is often quite beautiful especially when viewed from someplace warm and dry MM

MM p01 0116indd 25 12182015 24548 PM

26 bull January 2016 bull MANKATO MAGAZINE

Then amp now Vice President Schuyler Colfaxrsquos Death By Bryce o sTenzel

On Jan 14 1885 one day after his death the New York Times carried a

headline that read ldquoSchuyler Colfax Dead He Drops Down in a Railway Stationrdquo While most Americans today would have tremendous difficulty in even recognizing this manrsquos name

(unless they were paying close attention to Stephen Spielbergrsquos epic movie Lincoln and made the association) Schuyler Colfax was a former Speaker of the House of Representatives and Vice President of the United States under President US Grant He died in Mankatorsquos Chicago St

Paul Minneapolis amp Omaha railroad depot from a massive heart attack

Schuyler Colfax Jr was born in New York City on March 23 1823 His father died of tuberculosis five months before Schuyler was born His sister Mary died four months after his [Schuylerrsquos]

vice President Schuyler Colfaxrsquos Death in Mankato

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MANKATO MAGAZINE  bull January 2016 bull 27

birth The young Schuyler attended school only until he was 10 He then began working to support his family Schuyler Colfax never attended any kind of secondary school or college His mother remarried when Colfax was 13 and the family moved to New Carlisle Indiana By the time he was 22 Colfax was the editor and owner of a pro-Whig newspaper He was elected to Congress in 1854 and joined the newly formed Republican Party after the Whig Party disintegrated Solidly anti-slavery his colleagues elected Colfax as Speaker of the US House of Representatives in 1863 His election came soon after the death of his wife Evelyn The couple had no children

Colfax was President Abraham Lincolnrsquos first and last visitor on the fateful day Lincoln was assassinatedmdashApril 14 1865 Early that morning Colfax arrived at the White House while the president was having breakfast Colfax wanted to know whether or not Lincoln planned to call a special session of Congress for later that summer Lincolnrsquos answer was a polite but firm ldquonordquo Lincoln preferred a lenient approach in reconstructing as well as readmitting the former Confederate states to the Union now that the Civil War was over This approach put Lincoln at odds with the more ldquoradicalrdquo congressional members of his own party who preferred harsher measures be taken against their former enemies Lincoln had already made up his mind how he wanted to proceed with reconstructing the former Confederate states and he didnrsquot want any unnecessary interference from Congress Calling a special session was the last thing Lincoln wanted to do Colfax returned that same night to see Lincoln again just before the president left for Fordrsquos Theatre and his appointment with destiny This time Colfax came upon Lincolnrsquos own request The president had a long message for the silver miners of the Comstock Lode in Nevada thanking them for their loyalty to the Union that he wanted Speaker Colfax to deliver in person since Colfax was leaving by train for the West the next day Colfax was the last person Lincoln spoke to besides his wife Mary before he

was fatally shot at 1015 pm Colfax never forgave himself for turning down Lincolnrsquos invitation to be part of the theatre party that night

In 1868 Republicans selected General Ulysses S Grant as their presidential candidate Grant a military man his entire life had no political background Colfax was placed on the ticket because of his prior experience as a congressman and Speaker of the House (he resigned the position in 1869) Grant and Colfax won an easy victory in November 1868 Only two weeks later Colfax remarriedmdashthis time to Ellen Wade (niece of Ohio Senator Benjamin Wade) Their only child son Schuyler Colfax III was born in 1870

Colfax is best remembered (if at all) for his involvement in the corruption that beset Grantrsquos entire presidency Specifically the Credit Mobilier scandal broke in 1872 just as Grant and Colfax were gearing up for their re-election campaign Colfax was suspected of accepting shares of stock and cash bribes from ldquoCredit Mobilierrdquo a dummy construction company set up by the Union Pacific Railroad He was by no means the only influential person involved in the scandal Other political figures investigated included Senators Roscoe Conkling of New York William Allison of Iowa John Logan of Illinois James Bayard of Delaware and Henry Wilson of Massachusetts Grant was less popular in 1872 than he had been four years earlier and many Republicans worried that having Colfax on the partyrsquos ticket would harm the presidentrsquos re-election chances They dumped Colfax from the ticket mdash only to replace him with the also-tainted Wilson Grant won re-election and served his second and final term from 1873-1877 After being forced out from the vice presidency Colfax traveled the country as a popular lecturer often speaking about his interactions with Abraham Lincoln during the Civil War He rebuilt his tarnished reputation and commanded speaking fees as high as $2500

At 10 am on Jan 13 1885 Schuyler Colfax arrived in Mankato aboard a train from Milwaukee Mankato was just a

brief stop for Colfax who was on his way to Iowa for a speaking engagement The Chicago Milwaukee amp St Paul as well as the Chicago St Paul Minneapolis amp Omaha railroads both had depots in Mankato but because they were separate competing railroad lines Colfax was required to change trains by walking three-quarters of a mile from the Chicago Milwaukee amp St Paul depot at the foot of Hickory Street to the Chicago St Paul Minneapolis amp Omaha depot at Fourth and Washington Streets (now Washington Park) from which the next leg of his journey would depart Despite a reported temperature of 30 degrees below zero Colfax walked from one station to the other Within five minutes after he arrived at the Omaha linersquos depot Colfax entered the waiting room looked at a map on the wall sat down and died It was 1035 am No one in the station knew who the dead man actually was until they searched his pockets and found a letter with his name on it His death was likely caused by a heart attack brought on by the physical exertion of walking almost a mile in extreme cold Colfax was only 61 when he died His remains were returned to South Bend Indiana for burial

Today few Americans are aware that anyone named Schuyler Colfax ever lived much less served as vice president of the United States In this era in which officeholders are often treated as celebrities imagine how surprised people would be to learn that a former vice president died cold alone and unrecognized in a train station 131 years ago Before 24-hour news channels smart phones and social media it was possible for public figures like Colfax to live ndash and die ndash in relative obscurity Ironically Colfax loved the railroad but in the end it was the cause of his undoing Mankato has the distinction of being the location where the last man to personally speak to Abraham Lincoln in a private conversation took his last breath

MM p01 0116indd 27 12182015 24549 PM

28 bull January 2016 bull MANKATO MAGAZINE

Mayo Clinic offers pediatric and adolescent orthopedic services right here in Mankato Todd Milbrandt MD cares for patients with a variety of needs including

bull Cerebral palsy

bull Clubfoot

bull Hip disorders

bull Spinal disorders

bull Sports injuries

bull Scoliosis

bull Spina bifida

Mayo Clinic Health System in Mankato Call 1-877-412-7575 (toll-free) to schedule an appointment

495rdquox495rdquo Mankato Magazine January

Orthopedic care for your child

Independent ampAssisted Living

EQUAL HOUSINGOPPORTUNITY

1360 Adams StreetMankato MN

PrimroseRetirementcom

reg

Key City Senior Breakfast ClubThe Key City Senior Breakfast Club meets the first Thursday of each month from 830 AM - 930 AM at Primrose Retirement Community The club gives those 55+ the opportunity to meet new friends and visit old ones socialize with Key City Officials and enjoy a delicious home-cooked breakfast To visit a Key City Senior Breakfast please call (866) 447-9636

Mark your calendar for these breakfast dates Thursday January 7th Thursday March 3rd and Thursday May 5th

刀椀渀最 椀渀 琀栀攀 

一攀眀 夀攀愀爀

㔀 㜀ⴀ㤀㐀ⴀ㐀㐀䨀甀氀攀攀猀䨀攀眀攀氀爀礀挀漀洀

椀渀 匀愀椀渀琀 倀攀琀攀爀

20765 Foley Rd Mankato MN | 5073872434 | 5077262411

Three TimeNational Award Winners

MM p02 0116indd 28 12182015 30742 PM

Mayo Clinic offers pediatric and adolescent orthopedic services right here in Mankato Todd Milbrandt MD cares for patients with a variety of needs including

bull Cerebral palsy

bull Clubfoot

bull Hip disorders

bull Spinal disorders

bull Sports injuries

bull Scoliosis

bull Spina bifida

Mayo Clinic Health System in Mankato Call 1-877-412-7575 (toll-free) to schedule an appointment

495rdquox495rdquo Mankato Magazine January

Orthopedic care for your child

Independent ampAssisted Living

EQUAL HOUSINGOPPORTUNITY

1360 Adams StreetMankato MN

PrimroseRetirementcom

reg

Key City Senior Breakfast ClubThe Key City Senior Breakfast Club meets the first Thursday of each month from 830 AM - 930 AM at Primrose Retirement Community The club gives those 55+ the opportunity to meet new friends and visit old ones socialize with Key City Officials and enjoy a delicious home-cooked breakfast To visit a Key City Senior Breakfast please call (866) 447-9636

Mark your calendar for these breakfast dates Thursday January 7th Thursday March 3rd and Thursday May 5th

OMG hellip More food and drinksOK sure

By now yoursquore probably thinking ldquoOh my gosh the last thing I want to think about right now is more food more drinking and more diningrdquo

Fair enough We get it The holidays are murder on the metabolism of many many Minnesotans

But we also know that those metabolisms are hardy and soon enough theyrsquoll be hankering for a hunk of something yummy and full of fun And whatrsquos more yummy and full of fun than a big glass of Cabernet Sauvignon Our wine guy Leigh Pomeroy takes us on a tour of all that is tasty and wonderful about big red wines the kind that leave their mark the kind that really announce their presence on your palate

And just in case yoursquore super serious about a healthy lifestyle mdash and that seriousness extends to the kind of beer you choose mdash Bert Mattson our beer guy has just the selection for you Best part is Itrsquos light

Oh and under the category of ldquoDid you hear about thisrdquo Wersquove got an update for you on the Coffee Hag Mankatorsquos original coffee house and one of the most popular hangouts in town Seriously some days itrsquos hard to find a seat in that place

EnjoyPS We know that baby itrsquos cold outside mdash thatrsquos why wersquove

thrown you our absolute best hot cocoa recipe

Enjoymdash Robb Murray Associate Editor Mankato Magazine

food drink amp dineso

uthern m

n style

20765 Foley Rd Mankato MN | 5073872434 | 5077262411

Three TimeNational Award Winners

MM p02 0116indd 29 12182015 30745 PM

MANKATO 5073854485 AMBOY 5076743355 I VERNON CENTER 5075493679

INSURANCE OFFICES LOCATED IN THE COMMUNITY BANK BUILDINGS

wwwcimankatocom

Protecting the things that matter most in your life

Let us help protect what is important to you At Community Insurance we have the ability to compare insurance from multiple companies to get you the best coverage at a great price Combine that with our insurance knowledge and friendly group of agents and we say thatrsquos a winning deal

WHERE YOUR POLICY COMES WITH AN AGENT

Christina Meyer

Food

south

ern mn style

Food

south

ern mn style

By The Washington Post

Growing up my mother always encouraged her children to cook So when

I found a recipe for hot chocolate on the side of the Hersheyrsquos Cocoa can it was easy to convince her to let me give it a try

What I discovered was that hot chocolate doesnrsquot have to come from an envelope

This recipe has been a favorite of mine to make on days when winter weather has convinced me stay home and off the roads Itrsquos the perfect way to kill time and have a nice hot drink to warm you up on those chilly days

Although you can top it with whipped cream I prefer marshmallows

FAVORITE HOT COCOAMakes 4 to 6 servings

12 cup sugar14 cup unsweetened cocoa powder

Dash of salt13 cup hot water

4 cups milk34 teaspoon vanilla extract

Whipped cream or marshmallows (optional)

Mix sugar cocoa powder salt and water in a sauce pan Stir constantly over medium heat until mixture comes to a boil (about 2 minutes) Stir in

milk and heat Bring the hot chocolate to the desired temperature but do not boil Remove from heat and

add the vanilla extract Divide into mugs and top with whipped cream or marshmallows

PERFECTLY CHOCOLATE HOT COCOA

Makes 1 serving

2 tablespoons sugar2 tablespoons unsweetened cocoa powder

Dash salt1 cup milk

14 teaspoon vanilla extractWhipped cream or marshmallows (optional)

Mix sugar cocoa powder and salt into large mug In separate microwave-safe container heat on high

for 1 to 1 frac12 minutes or until very hot Carefully and gradually add milk to dry mixture Stir well Add vanilla extract Top with whipped cream or

marshmallows

Simple homemade hot chocolate

beats the winter chill

30 bull January 2016 bull MANKATO MAGAZINE

MM p02 0116indd 30 12182015 30752 PM

MANKATO MAGAZINE  bull January 2016 bull 31

Oil Change to OverhaulWe do it all

507-387-13151620 Commerce Drive North MankatowwwAustinsAutoRepairCentercom

Voted Best Auto Repair and Best Auto Mechanic 4 Years in a Row

AUSTINrsquoS AUTO REPAIR CENTER INC

MANKATO 5073854485 AMBOY 5076743355 I VERNON CENTER 5075493679

INSURANCE OFFICES LOCATED IN THE COMMUNITY BANK BUILDINGS

wwwcimankatocom

Protecting the things that matter most in your life

Let us help protect what is important to you At Community Insurance we have the ability to compare insurance from multiple companies to get you the best coverage at a great price Combine that with our insurance knowledge and friendly group of agents and we say thatrsquos a winning deal

WHERE YOUR POLICY COMES WITH AN AGENT

Christina Meyer

MM p02 0116indd 31 12182015 30755 PM

32 bull January 2016 bull MANKATO MAGAZINE

January is Cabernet TimeWersquove celebrated nearly

every January edition of Mankato Magazine with

a paean to BIG REDS And since there are so many wonderful examples why stop now

Last year I wrote about the powerful big reds of Italy This January wersquoll focus on Cabernet Sauvignon known to many as ldquothe king of winesrdquo Most oenophiles (wine lovers) consider the quintessential representations of this grape to be the classified Bordeaux of southwest France near the city of Bordeaux The five First Growths (or best wines according to a classification made in 1855 and updated in 1973) are Ch Lafite Rothschild Ch Margaux Ch Latour Ch Haut Brion and Ch Mouton Rothschild All have a cabernet sauvignon base but they are blended with merlot and often a little bit of cabernet franc and petit verdot as well

In the early 1970s I was able to buy these wines for around $22 per bottle mdash about $120 in 2016 dollars Yet with the popularity of ldquocollectiblerdquo wines on a worldwide

basis they sell today for anywhere from $400 on up

Contrary to popular belief these wines are not that massive Rather they combine cabernet sauvignon power with

structure and finesse yielding wines that become with time elixirs that are greater than the sum of their parts

Both California and Washington state have taken up the Cabernet Sauvignon challenge and are producing world-class wines at sometimes world-class prices Napa Valley is the recognized leader in this arena and rightly so Napa Valleyrsquos top Cabernet

Wine amp B

eerso

uthern m

n style

winesBy Leigh Pomeroy

Leigh Pomeroy is a Mankato-based writer and wine lover

Cabernet Sauvignon is the black Labrador of wines mdash it comes up and licks yourdquo

mdash Winemaker Scott Rich

Sauvignons rival the great wines of Bordeaux for quality mdash Irsquove tasted them side-by-side mdashand yet can sell for a fraction of their price

One such example is the 2013 Tulocay Cabernet Sauvignon from my old friend Bill Cadman We were young bucks in Napa Valley and had a tasting group in the early 1970s along with now-famous wine luminaries Bruce Neyers (Neyers Vineyards) and Mike Richmond (co-founder of Acacia Vineyard)

Billrsquos Cabernet is from an old and relatively cool growing area east of the City of Napa called Coombsville which because of industry political issues only recently received its AVA (American Viticultural Area) designation It is priced at $60 per bottle yet compares with any top-flight Bordeaux as well as the more expensive offerings from Napa Valley which can cost from $100 on up Not currently available at wine stores or restaurants in Minnesota it can be purchased by contacting the winery directly via its website tulocaycom The winery is so small that Bill will probably answer the phone himself

There is a lot of Cabernet Sauvignon available from California but mdash caveat emptor mdash not all growing areas (or appellations) are the same The best Cabernet Sauvignons are from Napa and Sonoma Counties Cabernets simply labeled ldquoCaliforniardquo or perhaps ldquoCoastalrdquo while sometimes good values lack the complexity of the greater Cabernet Sauvignons from the more northern parts of the state

Washington state has also

established itself as a prime producer of Cabernet Sauvignon But here again quality can vary greatly depending upon the area and producer While there is no ldquogo-tordquo appellation for Cabernet Sauvignon in Washington there are producers that are able to secure fruit from the best vineyards

One such example is the tiny Willis Hall Winery owned by another good friend John Bell a former Boeing jet propulsion engineer Like Tulocay its wines are only available by calling up the winery and ordering some (See willishallcom) But there are many other top quality producers in Washington like Quilceda Creek Leonetti Betz Family and Woodward Canyon

Of course not everyone can afford Cabernet Sauvignons in the $60-plus category One excellent everyday drinking example is the Flying Cloud 2013 Paso Robles Cabernet Sauvignon made by Mankato native Stephen Dooley Normally I donrsquot like Paso Robles Cabs as they tend to be too fruity and too soft for my palate mdash almost like drinking berry jam But this one is quite restrained no doubt helped by the inclusion of 13 percent zinfandel and 9 percent petite sirah in the blend

In Mankato both the Wine Cafeacute and MGM carry the Flying Cloud but at its price and quality I wouldnrsquot count on it lasting for long especially since only 759 cases were produced

So letrsquos raise a glass of Cabernet and say ldquoCheersrdquo to the New Year

MM p02 0116indd 32 12182015 30756 PM

MANKATO MAGAZINE  bull January 2016 bull 33

Bert Mattson is a chef and writer based in St Paul He is the manager of the iconic Mickeyrsquos Diner

Beer Skinny

BeerBy Bert Mattson

Last year according to Nielsen research staying fit and healthy was

the number one New Yearrsquos resolution Losing weight was two Three was to enjoy life to the fullest Unfortunately ldquolose weight and get fitrdquo also topped Time magazinersquos list of commonly broken resolutions Is this shortfall due to tension between the top two and that third one If so craft beer may have a role in the compromise Bad news first

In the context of losing weight and staying fit beer lovers might seek solace in the fact that fat carries nine calories per gram while alcohol has only seven The wrinkle is that those seven are ldquoemptyrdquo mdash calories without nutrition as opposed to those from fat protein and carbohydrates Moreover alcoholrsquos calories are the first burned when combined with the others the human body postpones burning fat while it works on alcohol Furthermore beer (and wine and often cocktails) contains carbohydrates which release insulin and can hasten fat storage Finally many drinkers have undoubtedly observed that alcohol loosens inhibitions after which an eager indulgence in unhealthy foods often occurs (Bar menus are rarely helpful in that respect)

By now you may wonder whose side Irsquom actually on Or suspect Irsquove led you to this dark place only to offer you a Lite No worries a couple craft brewers have been considering ways to keep us true to our resolutions

Evil Twin Brewingrsquos Bikini Beer drops the alcohol to 27 percent but stays bold by way of hops A Pale Ale it hits the nose with citrus suggestive of IPA The flavor follows suit floral and lemon There is an expected absence of malt yielding to bitterness up front that fades at the finish An alternative

for those who insist on the full effect Founderrsquos Brewing Companyrsquos All Day IPA rings in at a respectable 144 calories (Evil Twinrsquos entry comes in at 81)

One strategy to beat the beer munchies and avoid costly impulse eating is to have suitable chow on hand With Bikini Beer try a salad sporting blue cheese and some sort of dried fruit Creamy blue veined cheeses echo the hops while balancing bitterness An occasional bite of dried fruit stands in for malt sweetness

Brooklyn Breweryrsquos 12 Ale weighs in at 34 percent alcohol (102 calories) It is alliteratively labeled ldquoSession Saisonrdquo It opens with a waft of citrus and spice and a little lemongrass from Sorachi Ace hops mdash a hybrid developed in East Asia The same elements are found in the flavor which is a bit more subdued than a full-sized Saison

Try it with a tangle of arugula dressed with lemon and a fruity olive oil tossed with pine nuts and topped with shaved Parmesan for effect The greens and cracked pepper reflect spicy phenolic elements in the yeast Salty cheese counters the beerrsquos lingering bitterness Maybe add a few slices of Speck cured ham and Saison share a certain funkiness

If friends show and it becomes a session you may honestly say you spent Saturday working on your six-pack

MM p02 0116indd 33 12182015 30757 PM

34 bull January 2016 bull MANKATO MAGAZINE

Food

south

ern mn style

Food

south

ern mn style

The Coffee Hag one of the arearsquos oldest (and coolest) bistros recently underwent a major expansion and remodeling journey culminating in a large and airy

seating area along with a much-improved kitchen and a new menu Mankato Magazine caught up with a very busy (and slightly exhausted) owner Jenn Melby-Kelly who weighs in on how itrsquos going

MANKATO MAGAZINE Are you personally enjoying the new updatesJENN MELBY-KELLY It Is Fabulous The new space represents so much more than a remodel to me It has brought to life a vision for my business thatrsquos been years in the making It incorporates many many good ideas from many many people I feel so fortunate to get to see that every time I walk through the door

MM How are customers reactingJMK Thatrsquos been one of the best parts The response has been overwhelmingly positive

A few of our most regular customers had the opportunity to get a glimpse of the remodel while it was underway (we gave some informal preview tours while we were operating the temporary stand outside) but many customers walk through the door now and see it all for the first time Itrsquos especially fun to see and hear that kind of wide-eyed reaction

A few people with special connections to The Hag have had even stronger emotional responses and Irsquom so touched and right there with them when I see eyes well up as they see what wersquove done Itrsquos a very big milestone for a very special place and wersquore blessed to have people that care so deeply

MM Do the employees appreciate the new spaceJMK Oh probably more than anyone There was a lot that we sought to do with the remodel but creating a bigger brighter better-equipped space for our team was certainly one of the primary goals Wersquove got an incredible team truly the most spirited and talented people anyone could hope for

Many of them have spent years with me working hard against the challenge of a small under-equipped space and just barely being able to keeping up with growing demand Itrsquos been a special blessing for them and for me to finally have state-of-the-art space thatrsquos made for the work that we do We all feel a special connection to this place and now more than ever the place reflects the good energy we all bring here every day

MM Is the new menu a hit (The Hag specializes in vegetarianvegan cuisine)JMK Yes but just wait Feedback and demand have been excellent with our food offerings already but wersquore just getting started on some of the really exciting things that are coming to our food menu

Remodeling the cafe was just the first major milestone of our two-part expansion plan Next up wersquore building a state of the art off-site commissary kitchen that will do for our incredible culinary team what the remodeled shop has done for our baristas Theyrsquove been working day and night on taking our already fantastic food offerings to a whole new level

Wersquove already introduced some amazing new menu items like the Garden Grilled Cheese panini (trust me itrsquos like nothing yoursquove had before) and some truly outstanding new vegan baked goods Wersquove also improved our classic offerings with house-made

Interview with Jenn Melby-Kelly owner of The Coffee Hag

By Sarah Johnson

MM p02 0116indd 34 12182015 30802 PM

MANKATO MAGAZINE  bull January 2016 bull 35

Happy New Year

Locally Owned amp Operated

Check Weekly Specialsmgmwineandspiritscommankato

Largest Selection ofbull Liquor bull Wine bull Beer bull

Hours Monday-Saturday 8 am - 10 pm

ATMs at all stores

Mankato201 Victory Dr

625-2420

North Mankato1755 Commerce Dr

387-2634

St Peter100 N Minnesota Ave

934-8964

sourdough and whole wheat breads But as impressive as it is already itrsquos just a taste mdash literally mdash of things to come as we bring our new kitchen online

MM Whatrsquos stayed the sameJMK Irsquom really proud to say that while wersquove touched almost every part of this 23-year-old business wersquove kept even more than we have changed From the first days of this project I made it my personal mission and responsibility to make sure that the ldquosoulrdquo of this special place was only enhanced and never lost as we made the updates

In every area of the remodel as wersquove added some necessary new layers of sophistication The Hagrsquos colorful quirky and even rebellious spirit is still very much a part of the space We did a lot to try to make sure it still looked and felt like ldquohomerdquo

And on a deeper level every step wersquove taken with the growth of our business has been chosen carefully to honor the core parts of The Coffee Hagrsquos identity Our focus on community our support for local art and music our commitment to creating a safe and welcoming space for everyone our efforts to lead the way on social and environmental issues affecting our world near and far mdash those have all stayed the same And those will always be at the heart of what we do

MM Anything elseJMK Irsquom so incredibly grateful for the support of our customers and community And whenever I talk about my business and how it has grown I really canrsquot overstate how thankful I am for my beautiful Coffee Hag family The hard work good energy and earnest contributions of so many people mdash past and present mdash have brought me and my business here An incredible amount of love has gone into this business and made this dream a reality

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36 bull January 2016 bull MANKATO MAGAZINE

xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

Food

south

ern mn style

whatrsquos Cooking By Sarah Johnson

Sarah Johnson is a cook freelance writer and chocolate addict from North Mankato with three grown kids and a couple of mutts

As I was pondering my subject matter for todayrsquos column I started wondering about all the different items the word ldquonutsrdquo can refer

to Crazy people are called nuts so are hexagonal metal objects that attach to bolts Nuts can be the end of things (as in ldquofrom soup to nutsrdquo) or they can be the beginning of them (as in ldquosperm incubatorsrdquo) Nut can also mean onersquos head or onersquos lump of something such as butter And if you accidentally get a nut of butter on your nut you can exclaim ldquoNutsrdquo

My favorite meaning of the word nut however is the dry indehiscent one-seeded fruit with a woody pericarp And I donrsquot even know what indehiscent OR pericarp means But these are the wonderful denizens of the world of edible nuts

Nuts are widely credited with all sorts of health benefits for the heart brain male reproductive system prostate cholesterol level fiber intake and avoidance of some types of cancer And while nuts do contain fat itrsquos the ldquogoodrdquo kind heart-healthy monounsaturated and polyunsaturated fat Their mix of omega-3 fatty acids protein and fiber helps you feel full and suppresses the appetite

Nuts are great in desserts and salads of course but they also shine in stir-fries casseroles soups chicken pork fish and even beverages Nut butters nut milks and nut oils add delicious options to our kitchen larders Breads cereals muffins and pancakes gain texture flavor and nutrition from the addition of nuts Basically anytime is a good time for nuts

Which is a wonderful thing because nuts taste so good you would think they had to be very very bad The reason lies deep in their oils

Walnut Oil is strong and flavorful Itrsquos best when used in uncooked sauces or salad dressing

Hazelnut Oil has a strong flavor and is great for the heart

Almond Oil is very popular and has a much milder flavor than walnut oil or hazelnut oil

Pecan Macadamia Nut Pistachio Cashew and Pine Nut Oils are flavorful and unique The freshness of the nuts used really affects the flavor

ldquoTherersquos Nuttinrsquo Nutty About Nutsrdquo

For the Baklava1 pound pistachios hazelnuts walnuts pecans andor almonds coarsely ground plus more for garnish12 teaspoon ground cinnamon1 cup breadcrumbs4 sticks unsalted butter melted16 sheets phyllo dough (thawed if frozen) cut in half

For the Syrup3 cups sugar1 6 -to-8-ounce jar honey1 frac12 cups water1 to 2 tablespoons fresh lemon juice

If yoursquore under the impression that baklava is much too labor-intensive and complicated to make at home think again Anybody can make

it no special skills equipment or exotic ingredients are required A word about phyllo dough Itrsquos sold in frozen packages so you need to remove the package from the freezer and let it thaw in the fridge 24 hours before you want to make the baklava Then about an hour beforehand remove the package from the fridge and let it sit on the counter

Walnuts or pistachios are the most traditional nuts to fill baklava but using other nuts works wonders as well Simply layer the phyllo with the nut filling and butter bake for an hour and finish with a simple honeyed syrup If you have leftover nuts from the holidays herersquos your chance to use them up

Mixed Nut Baklava

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MANKATO MAGAZINE  bull January 2016 bull 37

MONEY MATTERS WORK SMARTLET COMMUNITY BANK HELP YOUBRING THE TWO TOGETHER

MANKATO - SAINT ANDREWS DR 5073854444MANKATO - MADISON AVE 5076251551VERNON CENTER 5075493679AMBOY 5076743300

JULIE VETTERSR VICE PRESIDENTRETAIL BANKING

We support great causes like yoursAt Community Bank we know good things happen when you have a good bank So we make more possible by keeping banking simple and supportive And by giving you the power that comes with innovative solutions like our Health Savings Account It offers you tax-free savings for future medical expenses Stop by anytime Wersquore always ready to help out a great cause

Position a rack in the lower third of the oven preheat to 350 degrees Combine the nuts cinnamon and breadcrumbs in a bowl

Brush a 9x13-inch baking dish with some of the butter Layer 10 pieces of phyllo in the dish brushing each piece with butter before adding the next (keep the remaining dough covered with a damp towel) Sprinkle a quarter of the nut mixture over the dough Layer four pieces of phyllo on top brushing each with butter before adding the next sprinkle with another quarter of the nut mixture Add four more phyllo pieces on top brushing each with butter then add another quarter of the nut mixture four more pieces of phyllo with butter and the remaining nuts

Layer the remaining 10 pieces of phyllo on top of the nuts brushing each with butter brush the top piece with extra butter Cut into the baklava to make strips about 1 12 inches wide Then make diagonal slices about 1 12 inches apart to create a diamond pattern Bake until golden about one hour

Meanwhile make the syrup Bring the sugar honey and 1 12 cups water to a boil in a saucepan over medium heat and cook 10 to 15 minutes Add the lemon juice and boil 2 more minutes then let cool slightly Pour the syrup over the warm baklava let soak uncovered at least six hours or overnight Garnish with nuts

MM p02 0116indd 37 12182015 30817 PM

38 bull bull MANKATO MAGAZINE

Nell Musolf is a mom and freelance writer from Mankato She blogs at nellmusolfcom

38 bull bull MANKATO MAGAZINE

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MANKATO MAGAZINE  bull January 2016 bull 39

Gear Up for WinterYear-Round amp Insulated Workwear from

Carhartt Dickies and Key

UNIFORMSUniforms fromBarco Carhartt Cherokee DickiesKoi Peaches and White Cross

AMAZED

Call 5073446336mankatomagmankatofreepresscom

Stephanie L Hylla LAc Dipl AcKayla M Sweeney MOm LAc

NEW LOCATION709 S Front Suite 5

5074694788mankatoacupuncturecom

Open House ndash Wednesday Feb 3 9-12noonCelebrating 5 years of Business New Location and the Chinese New Year

In Network with Blue Cross Blue ShieldLicensed by the MN Board of Medical Practice

Ribbon Cutting with Greater Mankato Growth at 10am

(A $250 Value)THIS VOUCHER ENTITLES NEW PATIENTS TO A

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wwwr igne l l fami lych i roprac t ic comMedicare Restrictions Apply Expires January 31 2016

Dr BrandonRignell DC

1351 Madison AveSuite D

Mankato MN 56001

5077797313

$2900New Patient Special

MM p02 0116indd 39 12222015 121344 PM

40 bull bull MANKATO MAGAZINE

Jean Lundquist is a master gardener who lives near Good Thunder

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MANKATO MAGAZINE  bull January 2016 bull 41

3 Increase the Value of Your Home

3 Update Your Homersquos Appearance

3 Save Money

Choose from SeveralModels Styles amp Colors

507-625-7110 or 1-800-645-36671125 Cross St North Mankato MN

Improve Your HomersquosEnergy Efficiency

422 Park Lane Mankato MN | NuStarMankatocom

(507) 381-4747Voted One of Mankatorsquos Best

DANIEL WINGERT

Make Selling Your Home Your NuYearrsquos Resolution

MM p02 0116indd 41 12182015 30839 PM

42 bull January 2016 bull MANKATO MAGAZINE

January Resolve to moisturize

Your stYLeBy Ann Rosenquist Fee

Ann Rosenquist Fee is executive director of the Arts Center of Saint Peter and a vocalist with The Frye She blogs at annrosenquistfeecom

If you have in-laws or colleagues who know you well enough to have given you holiday gifts

but not well enough to know what wouldrsquove truly made you happy congratulations Chances are yoursquore the proud owner of a bunch of brand-new lip balm

Maybe itrsquos even holiday themed Thatrsquos the best Maybe you got the candy-cane flavored kind or wintergreen with holiday graphics on the label or something like that A theme that was irrelevant the moment the stocking was unstuffed because at that exact second the holiday was over

And here you are in January with an abundance of wax

Fortunately also here you are in the early weeks of winter with rough red knuckles Probably also cracked cuticles although it might not have gone that far yet for you Irsquom sure it has for me This photo was taken back in November and even then the Band-Aids were for real Irsquove learned to cut them in half length-wise so as to retain my ability to type Irsquove also learned to play with a range of color options Flesh-toned Clear Disney characters The colorful strips shown here were gifted to me by my husband Partly why theyrsquore cut in half is that the text is obscene This is one small trick you can use to make bloody cuticles your most exciting accessory of the winter

Sources like UrbanSurvivalSitecom and WonderHowTocom will tell you that you can use lip balm for a whole variety of purposes such as coating threads of outdoor lightbulbs before screwing them into their sockets and enhancing the burn-ability of most kindling

These are great fun but they wonrsquot improve your personal style

More germane to winter beauty are the following suggestions

Keep a tube next to your bed for first-thing-in-the-morning use And I mean really truly first-thing I mean smear the stuff on each cuticle while yoursquore still lying there before you start using your fingers at all If you wake up thinking yoursquore fine and skip cuticle care next thing you know yoursquore pushing down the lever on your Keurig and the pressure is more than your screamingly dry skin can take and boom split blood on the Keurig and itrsquos gonna be a long painful day If only you had balmed your hands before you let your feet hit the floor

Keep another tube in your glove compartment If itrsquos warm enough to take off your mittens in the car mdash if yoursquore even wearing mittens given that your hands are snagging on everything these days mdash the harsh January sunlight will allow you to see cracks and flakes in high-resolution detail Yoursquoll want the balm nearby

to cover what you didnrsquot notice first thing in the morning Also a car tube is useful for when you look in the rear-view mirror and notice that your nose and upper lip are flaking as well Itrsquos because yoursquore getting over a cold and the frequent use of tissue has worn away your top layer of skin but just because you know that doesnrsquot mean everybody else wonrsquot think ldquothere is something in that noserdquo Itrsquos just a fact Itrsquos what it looks like Lip balm to the rescue Itrsquos the only thing dry enough to slick those flakes in place and nourishing enough to maybe actually get your face back to normal

Keep a couple more tubes in a nighttime kit along with sandpaper Sandpaper Yes Not a pumice stone not a lame also-gifted sugar

scrub Medium-grit sandpaper is what you need every night lightly but with conviction As follows 1) Sand taking care not to do more damage than what the elements have already done Yoursquore just trying to remove the dry dead stuff Yoursquore just being hearty and efficient about this true to the culture of this great state in which yoursquove chosen to winter You are no pansy Sand your hands 2) Wash 3) Blot dry 4) Dial up the gifted balm whisper a word of thanks to the person who put so much thought into your well-being that they stuffed your holiday stocking with this amazing gift of self-care smash a healthy amount down into your palms massage Take heart You just might find yourself with normal-textured non-cracked not-horrible-looking hands by morning

Split-open cuticles I feel you Except for these Band-Aids I feel you

Lip balms I have been gifted and these are just from last Christmas ldquolastrdquo as in 2014

Bathrooms Worth Bragging About

HoursTue amp Wed amp Fri | 9 am to 6 pmMon amp Thu | 9 am to 7 pmSaturday | 9 am to 4 pm

219 S Victory Dr | Mankato507 | 345 | 7009ipafhickorytechnetindependentpaintandflooringcom

You Deserve Comfortable Care Every Timebull Sedation - Complete Relaxation with Just a Pillbull Invisalign - Clear Alternative to Bracesbull Botox amp Fillersbull Implants - Placement and Restorationbull Cerec - One Visit Crown Technology

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1400 Lookout Drive North Mankato507-625-CARE(2273) bull mankatodentistcom 06

1865

6124

01

Dr AngelA Schuck

Dr keith FlAck

MM p02 0116indd 42 12182015 30841 PM

MANKATO MAGAZINE  bull January 2016 bull 43

Bathrooms Worth Bragging About

HoursTue amp Wed amp Fri | 9 am to 6 pmMon amp Thu | 9 am to 7 pmSaturday | 9 am to 4 pm

219 S Victory Dr | Mankato507 | 345 | 7009ipafhickorytechnetindependentpaintandflooringcom

You Deserve Comfortable Care Every Timebull Sedation - Complete Relaxation with Just a Pillbull Invisalign - Clear Alternative to Bracesbull Botox amp Fillersbull Implants - Placement and Restorationbull Cerec - One Visit Crown Technology

bull Free Whitening Programbull 3D Imaging with Fewer X-Raysbull Cosmetic Dentistrybull Drill-Free Technologybull Emergency Care

1400 Lookout Drive North Mankato507-625-CARE(2273) bull mankatodentistcom 06

1865

6124

01

Dr AngelA Schuck

Dr keith FlAck

(944) 412-7949 | OrthoEdgeMNcom

Enjoy the season

Mankato St Peter

Be active Be healthyBe able with OrthoEdge

The OrthoEdge joint replacement

program offers superb care from your first

visit through recovery The surgeons from

the Orthopaedic amp Fracture Clinic and

the care team at Riverrsquos Edge Hospital

provide personal and professional care to

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Why Riverrsquos Edge Hospital amp Clinic

bull Riverrsquos Edge Hospital amp Clinic has a long-

standing relationship with the Orthopaedic

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MM p02 0116indd 43 12182015 30842 PM

44 bull January 2016 bull MANKATO MAGAZINE

1 Hicktown Mafia800 pm mdash New Ulm Event Center mdash 301 20th St S mdash New Ulm mdash $10 mdash 507-354-4673

7-9 Mankato West Orchesis Dance Team showcase7 pm Thursday-Saturday 2 pm Saturday mdash Mankato West High School Auditorium mdash $7 adults $5 students mdash 507-381-7578

10 Mankato Symphony Orchestra Music on the Hill II ldquoMinnesota rootsrdquo2 pm mdash Chapel at Good Counselmdash Good Counsel Drive mdash Mankato mdash $17 $12 mdash wwwmankatosymphonycom

16 Handel with Caremdash Handel Goes to Italy11 ammdash YMCA Aerobics Studio mdash 1401 S Riverfront Drive mdash Mankato mdash wwwmankatosymphonycom

16 Mankato Craft beer Expo2 pm (VIP) 3 pm general mdash Verizon Wireless Center mdash $45 VIP $35 general $10 designated driver mdash wwwmankatocraftbeerexpocom

23 Joey Flip and Mike Fugazzi rockinrsquo at the Embassy9 pm mdash Blaschkorsquos Embassy Bar and Grill mdash 325 S Minnesota Ave mdash St Peter mdash 507-934-3903

24 andrea Lyn and Dick Kimmel concert730 pm mdash Elias J Halling Recital Hall mdash Minnesota State University mdash Mankato mdash $12 regular $11 current MSU students mdash wwwmnusedumusic

28-31 MSu Theatre antigone730 pm Thursday-Saturday 2 pm Sunday mdash Andreas Theatre mdash Minnesota State University mdash Mankato mdash $16 regular $14 discount $11 current MSU students mdash wwwmnsuedu

29-31 BLC Theatre Brigadoon730 Friday and Saturday 2 pm Sunday mdash Ylvisaker Fine Arts Center mdash Bethany Lutheran College mdash Mankato mdash $10 adults $6 seniors children and students mdash wwwblceduevents

29- Feb 7 Winterfest St Peter Citywide mdash wwwstpeterchamberorg

30 Church of Cash a Tribute to Johnny Cash7 pm mdash St Peter American Legion mdash 229 W Nassau St mdash St Peter mdash 507-934-6435

31 Maud Hixson and rick Carlson concert730 pmmdash Elias J Halling Recital Hall mdash Minnesota State University mdash Mankato mdash $12 regular $11 current MSU students wwmnsuedumusic

Coming attraCtions January

T - F 8am - 6pm Sun ClosedSat 9am - 4pmM 8am - 8pm

120 North Broad Street Mankato MN 507-345-4688 wwwmeyerandsonstvandappliancecom

FIND SPECIAL DEALS ON

MM p02 0116indd 44 12182015 30902 PM

MANKATO MAGAZINE  bull January 2016 bull 45

St Peter Craft amp Vendor Show

1MelinadaBussefromRapidansoldherhandmadejewelryatthecraftandvendorshow

2DarylfromElysianandhishand-carvedwoodart

3MacKennaage7hasfunatoneoftheboothsattheStPeterCraftandVendorShow

4LizEntershowsoffsomeofherproductsattheldquoItWorksrdquobooth

5DenisePetersofldquoYoungLivingrdquoessentialoilsdisplayedherproductsattheshow

Faces amp Places Photos By Sport Pix

3

5

2

1

4

T - F 8am - 6pm Sun ClosedSat 9am - 4pmM 8am - 8pm

120 North Broad Street Mankato MN 507-345-4688 wwwmeyerandsonstvandappliancecom

FIND SPECIAL DEALS ON

MM p02 0116indd 45 12222015 121536 PM

46 bull January 2016 bull MANKATO MAGAZINE

SOUTHErN MN CHrISTMAS

FESTIVAL1 A large crowd was on hand during the festivities at

the Christmas Festival2 Friesenrsquos Family Bakery amp Bistro had tons of baked

goods and soups at the Verizon Wireless Center3 A childrenrsquos choir sang for the audience at the

festival4 Ron Haefner owner of Ronrsquos Auto Repair displayed

some of his services5 Garrison Galatz dressed up as Santa for the

Christmas Festival

faCes amp PLaCes Photos By Sport Pix

4

3

1

2

5

MM p02 0116indd 46 12182015 30923 PM

MANKATO MAGAZINE  bull January 2016 bull 47

1GirlScouttroop34494waspresentedwithatrophybyKiwanisVicePresidentKyleMrozek

2SantaClausevenwentthroughtheparaderoute3(LtoR)BrooklynPomrankeAlaynaLyonsHunterPomrankeandLilyLyonsgetagroupphototakenwithSanta

4MarshaMartigtellsSantawhatshewantsforChristmas

5TheparadefloatswerealldeckedoutinChristmaslights

6Visitorswalkthepatharoundtheparktoviewthisyearrsquoslights

Kiwanis Holiday ligHtsFaces amp Places Photos By sport Pix

2

1

3

4 5

6

MM p02 0116indd 47 12222015 121616 PM

48 bull January 2016 bull MANKATO MAGAZINE

On the Occasion of a 50th Reunion

the Class of 1965

from this VaLLeYBy Pete Steiner

Peter Steiner is host of ldquoTalk of the Townrdquo weekdays at 105 pm on KTOE

I was honored to give the presentation for our 50th class reunion recently at West Highrsquos Homecoming celebration About 120 of our nearly 400-member class

showed up We Baby Boomers the children of the greatest generation had big classes in the late lsquo60rsquos that forced the building of East High Ours was a dramatic era and our class did some great things in the face of big challenges Here edited is some of what I said

I am so glad to be standing here today Therersquos an old saying

ldquoMay you live in INTErESTINg timeshelliprdquo The Class of rsquo65 certainly has Itrsquos seems like only yesterday right after lunch that we were at our desks waiting for the start of English class when our charismatic teacher Harry Fitterer strode in and said ldquoPrESIDENT KENNEDY HAS BEEN SHOT IN DALLASrdquo At first we didnrsquot believe him but it was true It was November 22 1963 We were juniors and as the song says that was THE END OF THE INNOCENCE We had lived through the last idyllic time in America

When we first arrived in the fall of 1962 America was still carefree basking in the glow of victory in WW II Everything may have seemed ldquorightrdquo but it was not Martin Luther King Jr had just visited Mankato pointing out the continuing plight of black Americans as the Civil rights movement was gaining steam The beginnings of the Vietnam War which would alter the course of many of our lives were stirring even as we studied history and government The current generation has no monopoly on forgettable pop music ndash we had a stupid 1 song called ldquoItsie Bitsie Teenie Weenie Yellow Polka Dot Bikinirdquo (unfortunately an ear worm I canrsquot forget) But a darker cultural threat was looming The BEATLES were invading from Britain and our parents were mortified because they had LONg HAIr

Some of the shock of the Kennedy assassination was eased when our wrestling team in the era when the state still had just ONE CLASS won the State Championship in front of a packed hall up at MSU some still maintain that is the greatest single athletic achievement in Mankato history We were the first high school in Mankato to put on a full-scale musical ldquoBye Bye Birdierdquo in the spring of 1964 In Fall of 1964 our football team would have won the conference championship outright except Owatonnarsquos great Noel Jenke who would go on to star for the U of M

cheated I watched him trap the touchdown pass that beat us Does cheating pay Was that a lesson for life

In lsquo65 we also had a fine basketball team that lost our chance at State when our 6-6 center fouled out at Luverne

BUT A FAr BIggEr CHALLENgE AWAITED US ALL As we rode out to Luverne to watch that game we couldnrsquot help noticing the highway was like a canyon between walls of snow The legendary St Patrickrsquos Day Blizzard had dumped two feet on top of an already large snow pack and then April brought rains on frozen ground Instead of coming here to school many of us soon got a real-life assignment to go out in our rain gear out on the dikes to battle the grEAT FLOOD OF 1965 Our school became an island as water flooded the parking lot and all of South riverfront Our spring play that year was called ironically

THE DESPErATE HOUrS We had to rehearse at roosevelt School up on higher ground

Our class produced three Merit scholars One of our classmates who did NOT qualify

for a merit scholarship nevertheless was such a whiz at physics that NASA requested a copy of a paper he wrote on rocketry as a senior We produced 12 doctors one of whom earned a fellowship at Stanford seeking how to bring telemedicine to the poor another of whom became a breakthrough cancer doctor We had entrepreneurs one who would go on to be a leader in Solar Energy (and then run for governor of New Hampshire) Another mdash a woman incidentally when

that was not common founded two bio-tech startups Many of us are still working

past normal retirement age One founded a company on the leading edge of recycling

computers whose clients include the NSA Another is chief medical officer of a company

devising a better tool for colonoscopies Yet another of our classmates recently completed a concert tour of China

We lived in challenging times just as you do today but we muddle through we make it to the other shore I remember sitting where you are 50 years ago thinking how old those folks up there looked But remember Life goes by very quickly You certainly live in interesting times as Shakespeare said ldquoPresent Mirth has Present Laughter Youthrsquos a stuff will NOT endurerdquo So I urge you live each moment to the fullest

MM p02 0116indd 48 12182015 30933 PM

MM p02 0116indd 49 12182015 30936 PM

MM p02 0116indd 50 12182015 30948 PM

Page 11: Mankatomag 116

MANKATO MAGAZINE  bull January 2016 bull 9

The GAllery Ellen Schofield Story by Nell Musolf

After graduat ing from the University of Minnesota in 2012 with a Masterrsquos of Fine

Arts degree in graphic design Ellen Schofield was delighted when three months later she was offered a teaching position at Minnesota State University She expected that she would have to move elsewhere and was happy that she would be able to stay in her own state

ldquoThere were about 10 positions open around the time I graduatedrdquo Schofield said ldquowhich was really quite a lot I expected that Irsquod have to move so it was great to be hired by MSUrdquo

Schofield teaches introductory level graphic design classes as well as a special concept class that helps students fire up their creativity

ldquoIn the special concept class we do mind mapping brainstorming and once a semester I bring in an improv comedian because studies have proven that improv comedians have the most creative ideas of any other professionrdquo Schofield said ldquoThe class does theater warm ups and they really seem to enjoy it We also focus on the lsquoyes andrsquo theory in that classrdquo

The ldquoyes andrdquo theory agrees with an idea and then expounds on it with enthusiasm mdash the ldquoandrdquo part

ldquoCollege students often want to look cool all the timerdquo Schofield remarked

ldquoThe lsquoyes andrsquo theory pushes past that and opens up creativityrdquo

Schofield defines graphic design as thinking made visual

ldquoGraphic design is everywhere Itrsquos logos for businesses and icons and even the tax return papers given out by the IRS are examples of graphic design and had to have been designed by some poor personrdquo Schofield said ldquoA goal of a graphic designer is to create something that anyone can understand as soon as they look at itrdquo

Before becoming a graduate student Schofield ran her own graphic design business and has continued the business on a smaller scale now that she is teaching Her personal preference in graphic design is to create icons

ldquoI tend to like iconographyrdquo Schofield said ldquoIcons can be mdash and I think should be mdash simple and elegant and tell whoever sees them something about the business they representrdquo

Schofield worked with the Childrenrsquos Museum of Southern Minnesota to create its icon an experience she enjoyed

ldquoI wanted to make it something that would appeal to kids and their parents as well The Childrenrsquos Museum has such a cool space mdash it needed an icon that would let people know what a truly cool place it isrdquo Schofield said

When working with a graphic design client Schofield likes to have ldquolots and lotsrdquo of conversations

ldquoGetting to know clients is important We talk a lot so that I can find out what a client feels passionate about when it comes to their business The goal is to find something that makes them unique and then create a graphic design that reflects thatrdquo Schofield said

Shofield said her favorite artistic tool is the art departmentrsquos laser cutter

ldquoItrsquos like the worldrsquos fanciest scissorsrdquo Schofield said ldquoIt can cut just about anything and does an amazing job Itrsquos so much fun to work withrdquo

Schofield is working with MSU colleague David Rogers on a project using the laser cutter called ldquoPaper State Flowersrdquo Schofield and Rogers are using typographic state abbreviations combined with paper flowers Their progress can be viewed at wwwpaperstateflowerscom and the final results will be shown at an art gallery in Hutchinson in October

Schofield originally planned to become an engineer but after taking a class in graphic design she changed her mind

ldquoIrsquom a visual personal and I fell in love with designrdquo Schofield said ldquoReally I canrsquot imagine doing anything elserdquo

thinking Made visualEllen Schofield teaches at Minnesota State university

MM p01 0116indd 9 12182015 24441 PM

10 bull January 2016 bull MANKATO MAGAZINE

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MANKATO MAGAZINE bull bull 11

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12 bull January 2016 bull MANKATO MAGAZINE

The Celebration of the Lakes has been a family tradition for Erin Thorvaldson Chisago Lakes Chamber Board Member and Community member for Celebration of the Lakes for more than 20 years Thorvaldson was about 10

years old when her grandmother introduced her to the event which takes place Jan 30 on North Center Lake in Lindstrom

DAy Trip DesTinATions Celebration of the LakesBy leTiciA GonzAles

hit the LakesLindstrom has plenty of fun waiting for you

Hot air balloons are just one of the many attractions this festival has employed over the years

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MANKATO MAGAZINE  bull January 2016 bull 13

Day Trip DesTinaTions Celebration of the LakesBy LeTicia GonzaLes

WhenJan 29-31 2016

I-35 North to Hwy 8 east to Center City Located on the North side of Hwy 8 on

North Center Lake

If youGoWhat

Celebration of the Lakes

Lindstrom MN

AdmissionFree additional admission required for some

events activities food and ridesVisit wwwchisagolakeschambercom

ldquoSo I helped way back then when she was part of the chamberrdquo said Thorvaldson ldquoAnd having a business in the community as I got older I also wanted to give backrdquo

Born and raised in the Chisago Lakes area Thorvaldson has served on the celebrationrsquos planning committee for nine years She said the event first caught her eye not only because she loves winter but because it focuses on the outdoors ldquoeven though many people in Minnesota cringe once we get to 20 degrees so it kind of gets you out and lets you do something funrdquo

Watching the celebration grow over the past two decades has also been fun for Thorvaldson

ldquoIt was very tiny at that pointrdquo she said as she reminisced about the early days of the event ldquoIt was just a few hay bales at the icerdquo

Being an active part of the planning has been equally exciting

ldquoThe committeersquos always trying to come up with more ideas that the community would perceive as something fun to do in the winter timerdquo she said ldquoThere have been the sled dogs there have been hot air balloons and there have been kitty cat races car racesrdquo

While past years have even included BMX bike races where people dressed up in costumes the snowmobile radar run and the vintage snow mobile displays have been the ldquomain staplesrdquo of the celebration Organized by the Wild River Snowmobile Club of Chisago City the snowmobile radar run features nearly 200 riders who race upwards of 120 miles per hour on a track

ldquoSometimes they will have souped-up snowmobiles that go incredibly fastrdquo Thorvaldson said ldquoWe had a world record one that raced on the track so itrsquos pretty amazing to see how fast some of them go They break them up into categories and there are prizes for the fastest one in each categoryrdquo

Originally introduced as a memorial radar run for a rotary member the radar run has become one of the celebrationrsquos most popular events

ldquoWe started with just a sheriffrsquos radar gun and now they use different timing items like cones and announcingrdquo she add ldquoItrsquos kind of something that has evolved toordquo

With the draw of the surrounding lakes in the area Thorvaldson said ice fishing has also grown in popularity and has become embedded in the annual celebration

ldquoItrsquos like little villages out on the lakerdquo she said

ldquoThat is kind of the big that that people do There are people who drive up from all over the place the Twin Cities all over just to come spend the weekend ice fishing on the lake so thatrsquos a big big thingrdquo

Greg Shaleen who has also been on the planning committee for the celebration for more than 15 years affirmed the celebrationrsquos growth when it comes to activities offered

ldquoWe have done kind of bizarre thingsrdquo he said ldquoWe do a smoosh race which is where you take 2-by-4s and strap four leather straps on it and you do a little bit of a racerdquo

Shaleen also credits the event for bringing people out to the lakes during the coldest month of the year

ldquoEveryone is all cooped up in the community and it just got to the point where they wanted to do something fun in the winter and get people out and about and enjoy the winter sportrdquo he said

From kitty races and sled dog races to a concession tent and a family fishing contest that draws anywhere from three to five hundred people Shaleen said the Celebration of the Lakes brings people together in the outdoors

ldquoWe are basically more interested in getting people out of the house visiting with friends and neighbors and visitors to the area and enjoying each otherrsquos interest in snowmobiling or ice fishing or whatever the events are taking place or going onrdquo he concluded

MM p01 0116indd 13 12222015 115930 AM

January The holidays are over along with all of the seasonrsquos excuses for overindulge in food and drink and under-indulging in any form of exercise (other than lifting onersquos hand to onersquos mouth) After stowing the presents in the

closet and taking down the tree many people choose the New Year as the perfect time to begin a serious diet and exercise program to shed the extra pounds they put on over the past few months and to begin eating more healthfully Mankato Clinic registered dietitian Erin Gonzalez says a hearty ldquoyesrdquo to healthy mindful eating and definite ldquonordquo to any extreme ldquodo or die(t)rdquo approach

According to Gonzalez 95 percent of all dieters regain the weight they lost within five years It is her belief that such yo-yo dieting only creates more frustration and stress which can lead to emotional eating and binge eating which leads to another cycle of dieting-losing-weight-gaining-weight ad infinitum

Gonzalez speaks from experience After losing 70 pounds since the time she was a teenager Gonzalez is now at a weight she considers healthy and one that she hasnrsquot deviated from in years

By Nell Musolf | Photos by Pat Christman and Darren Gibbins

Herersquos to ahealthy

new yeara healthy

new you

14 bull January 2016 bull MANKATO MAGAZINE

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MANKATO MAGAZINE  bull January 2016 bull 15

Erin Gonzalez and her son prepare a healthful meal

Erin GonzalezldquoI struggled with weight issues when I was growing

uprdquo Gonzalez said ldquoWhen I was 16 I went on my first lsquoseriousrsquo dietmdashone of the fast diets that were popular in the 1990srdquo

Gonzalez said that she stuck to her diet religiously having a shake in the morning one for lunch and a sensible meal at night just as she was instructed to do She also walked for approximately two and a half hours a day Over the course of one summer she lost 70 pounds but she was also she now realizes flirting with an eating disorder Gonzalez says this scenario is not uncommon considering research shows 35 percent of ldquooccasional dietersrdquo progress into pathological dieting (disordered eating) and as many as 25 percent advance to full-blown eating disorders

ldquoMy food intake was very restrictive and I was always extremely conscience of what I ate but just the same I slowly gained back 30 of the 70 pounds

that I lostrdquo Gonzalez said ldquoI was always looking at food as either lsquogoodrsquo or lsquobadrsquo instead of something pleasurable to be enjoyedrdquo

It wasnrsquot until she was working at her dietetic internship that she had her ldquoahardquo moment

ldquoI was blessed with a teacher who taught her students how to enjoy foodrdquo Gonzalez said ldquoinstead of being obsessed by it Gonzalez learned about a program called Am I Hungry that specializes in helping people heal their relationship with food and their bodies so they can relearn to trust their internal hunger cues instead of having to follow arbitrary rules and broken promises of diets Gonzalez facilitates a program at the Mankato Clinic that teaches the Am I Hungry philosophy

ldquoI have two childrenrdquo Gonzalez said ldquoa 10-month-old and a 4-year-old They know how to eat naturally and they stop eating when they are no longer hungry That is what most adults need

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16 bull January 2016 bull MANKATO MAGAZINE

xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

need to relearn how to eatrdquoThe method has worked for Gonzalez Gone are

her extra 30 pounds and she no longer dietsldquoDiets simply arenrsquot sustainablerdquo she said ldquoItrsquos so

hard in our society because we are surrounded by cues to eat all of the time At buffets where you want to lsquoget your moneyrsquos worthrsquo when yoursquore out with friends when you sit down at the end of the day and turn on the television to relax and are bombarded with ads for food Food has become a reward for a bad day or a good day or anything else we can think of But if you look at how you eat as a journey instead of as a destination you can learn to enjoy food a lot morerdquo

So what should someone who wants to start the New Year in a more healthy fashion do

ldquoPause before you eatrdquo Gonzalez recommended ldquoAsk yourself if yoursquore really hungry or if yoursquore actually thirsty or stressed instead Try not to be emotionally disconnected from what you are eatingrdquo

Gonzalez emphasized that ldquomindful eating isnrsquot naive to say nutrition isnrsquot important Of course it is Mindful eating is what allows us to take charge of our decisions of why when what how and how much we choose to eat instead of battling being in or out of controlrdquo

Instead of following the latest short-lived diet Gonzalez encourages people to make the healthiest choices possible that donrsquot leave them feeling deprived

Paulette Tonn BookerFor Paulette Tonn Booker the Am I Hungry

Mindful Eating (AIHME) program has been a game changer

Said Booker ldquoIrsquove tried several diet plans over the past 40 years including some well-known plans and I lost weight on each plan However keeping the weight off eluded me and resulted in yo-yo dieting

The lsquorulesrsquo of whichever plan Booker was on became the norm and after years of trying to live by those rules Booker was no longer able to discern what her body was telling her about hunger often leading to out-of-control overeating

ldquoI always knew there was something else going on yet no one had an answer for merdquo Booker said

When Booker first heard of the AIHME program two years ago she was relieved to discover that there were other people who felt the same way when it came to healthful eating The program taught her the skills she needed to recognize her bodyrsquos hunger signals thoughts and feelings and actions to help manage the physical emotional and environmental stresses of everyday life without resorting to eating to cope with those stresses

ldquoI no longer have to be in control of everything I only need to be in charge of my decisions at any given moment When I choose to overeat (which everyone does) I no longer beat myself up I try to reflect on what happened and then plan for ways to handle the situation differently the next time it occurs Old habits are hard to break it takes concentrated effort and dedication to rewire the brain with new habits and it can be donerdquo Booker said

About weight loss as the end goal of healthful eating Booker shared the following ldquoThe only time I get on a scale is at the doctorrsquos office I know what the experts say I should weigh A number does not define a personrsquos self-worth nor does it say anything about who we are and how we feel as we make changes in how we nurture our bodies The number on the scale is just a number bodies come in all shapes and sizes as does health I will never diet again Instead I will continue to work on developing mindful skills and in the meantime eating what I love and loving what I eatrdquo

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MANKATO MAGAZINE  bull January 2016 bull 17

Eric ZiesmerFor Eric Ziesmer he is in the middle of his weight

loss journey a journey that began last July when the 32-year-old learned that he weighed 330 pounds The time had come for Ziesmer to make some healthy lifestyle changes Ziesmer decided to lose weight because of his family mdash both present and future

ldquoI have two adorable nephews and I would love to be able to chase them around the yard or pull them in a sled during the winter and basically to be active and see them as they growrdquo Ziesmer said ldquoAnd even though Irsquom currently single if it is in my cards for marriage and kids I would like to be there and not be too tired or not in shape A clean and healthy lifestyle is what I am striving for in my coming yearsrdquo

With the help of a dietician Ziesmer has started his cleaner and healthier lifestyle Since July he has lost 40 pounds and has decided to have weight loss surgery To help his post operation phase go as smoothly as possible Ziesmer eats fresh fruit every day has cut out chips and cookies among other things

ldquoI have totally cut out soda Soda was a big one to cut out In my huge climb to 300 there were days when I would consume two 2-liter bottles of pop in a single day and maybe cracking open a thirdrdquo Ziesmer said ldquoI try to listen to my stomach instead of my eyes or eat because Irsquom bored or stressed I eat slow and sip instead of being the guzzler I have always beenrdquo

Another tactic Ziesmer has adopted has been to stop drinking liquids 30 minutes before a meal and then wait 30 minutes after eating before sipping again

ldquoWhen my stomach rumbles and says itrsquos hungry I feed it When my brain or boredom drives me to want to eat I take a second to see if my stomach feels empty and if not it gets deniedrdquo Ziesmer said

Ziesmer has noticed that he is more successful at healthy eating when he eats at home When he does dine out hersquoll cut a sandwich in half eat half and save other half for a future meal

ldquoAs far as exercise goes it went from zero to at least two if not three times a week going for a 327 mile walk and have recently made my way back into the gymrdquo Ziesmer said He has been able to keep track of his walks with accuracy thanks to an app called MapMyRun

Ziesmer knows that his healthier living journey will continue for a long time

ldquoI plan on continuing to live healthy by continuing my exercise and eating right and by saying that itrsquos not only for me and feeling better but also because there are two little guys that look up to their uncle Staying motivated is at least my key to keeping up this lifestyle I want to live a long and healthier life feeling better and being there down the road for family and friends is what means mostrdquo Ziesmer said MM

Eric Ziesmer says hersquos got plenty of motivation to get healthy two nephews to whom he wants to be a good role model

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18 bull January 2016 bull MANKATO MAGAZINE

Stephanie Howe says itrsquos best to have realistic goals when starting a fitness program

Herersquos your guideBy Robb Murray | Photos by Pat Christman

Ready for CHANGE

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MANKATO MAGAZINE  bull January 2016 bull 19

Yoursquore ready

You ate the ham and turkey and potatoes and Christmas cookies You drank the wine beer and eggnog Yoursquove spent the last few

months pondering a life change Yoursquore on the verge of a major transformation This time itrsquos happening Yoursquore going to get healthy Itrsquos going to be a new you

And then January arrived And you have no plan

Luckily we here at Mankato Magazine have got you covered Itrsquos not uncommon for people to make a New Yearrsquos resolution or some similar vow this time of year It usually comes with goal weights and promises to hit the gym X number of times per week and trips to the produce and organic sections of the grocery store because this time yoursquore serious Right

OK easy tiger Getting healthy is a great idea and wersquore wishing you all the best But wersquore also coming at you with some sensible advice Maybe setting unrealistic goals isnrsquot the best way to go Maybe just

heading into the gym and trying to get it all done in a week isnrsquot a great way to go either

ldquoFinerdquo you say ldquothen what should I dordquoWersquore so glad you asked

Letrsquos get startedThe first thing you need to remember when

starting an exercise program is that if you want to lose weight you need to change the way you eat too

ldquoNo matter what you say you canrsquot out exercise a bad dietrdquo says Stephanie Howe director of healthy living at the Mankato YMCA

Howe works in what might be the busiest fitness hub in the Mankato area So shersquos seen her share of people come through the doors with plans to change their lives Some of them succeed Most do not

One of the biggest mistakes people make Howe says is not really having a good grasp on how much time theyrsquoll need in order to incorporate a good workout into their day It doesnrsquot have to be a two-

hour commitment every day she says It can be 30 minutes of planned effective exercise several times per week Whatrsquos more important is just getting there and thatrsquos an obstacle that is bigger than most people realize

ldquoMost people want to lsquopeople pleasersquordquo she said ldquoYou can say yoursquore going to get up and work out every day but most people are built to need external accountabilityrdquo

Think about hiring a personal trainer

ldquoWhen you spend the money on a personal trainer you have an appointment therersquos someone waiting thererdquo she says

A personal trainer is a great way to immediately know yoursquore doing exactly what yoursquore supposed to be doing and yoursquoll have no doubt whether yoursquore working hard enough There are plenty of personal trainers in town mdash at the YMCA and other gyms mdash who would love to help you Of course they donrsquot work for free and for many people the cost of a personal trainer is more than theyrsquore willing to spend

Fortunately therersquos a trend in fitness to offer the whip-crack of a personal trainer while staying Jo radlinger urges her clients to not sabotage their fitness efforts with poor eating over

the weekend

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20 bull January 2016 bull MANKATO MAGAZINE

728 N Riverfront DriveMankato MN 56001

507-625-5163katobearscom

Pins and NeedlesAlterations

Specializing in alterations for theentire wedding party including

gown re-sizing hemming re-beadingbustles and so much more

Like us onFacebook

affordableThe Y now offers something called ldquotrainer ledrdquo

exercise sessions where you work with others in a group but have access to a trainer nearby who can push you motivate you and make sure yoursquore you know doing it right Theyrsquore $3 a class

ldquoYoursquore still expected to be there but itrsquos much cheaperrdquo Howe said ldquoThe group environment pushes you and we have tons of trainer-led classes Itrsquos the best of both worldsrdquo

Across town Jo Radlinger runs Jorsquos Garage a fitness center where shersquos the one pushing you to succeed

Radlingerrsquos goal she says is to bring out everyonersquos potential

ldquoI want to make sure everybody that comes through my door has success I want them to be the very best version of themselves that they can berdquo

Like Howe Radlinger acknowledges that the financial side of hiring a personal trainer can scare people away but she says there are several reasons why it shouldnrsquot

ldquoItrsquos never a bad investment when yoursquore investing in yourselfrdquo she said ldquoMeet with a trainer who is just as passionate about your goal My goal is not to train you intensely but to show you what yoursquore capable of and then take you to that next levelrdquo

At Jorsquos Fitness Garage there are no membership fees Radlinger doesnrsquot believe in them Instead she charges $5 per visit and in that time she said she pushes you to have a great workout

GymtimidationSetting goals is a great

idea Setting unrealistic goals is the kind of thing that results in a gym membership card laying dormant in a junk drawer by February

So set those goals but set them smartlyldquoAccountability is huge Even if you canrsquot hire

someonerdquo Howe says ldquoMake specific goals mdash say yoursquore going to workout X number of times but make those numbers realistic Set goals that are within your controlrdquo

Do this and yoursquore likely to feel a lot better about how things go

ldquoMost people just want to feel better about themselves they want to feel more confidentrdquo Howe said ldquoThis way even before any physical changes happen theyrsquoll feel better Theyrsquoll start to feel like theyrsquore in control again of their life and their choicesrdquo

Taking an exercise class is a great way to both get

your body moving while at the same time have fun and meet those people who will notice when you donrsquot show up

And about that weight room Yes it can be intimidating to walk in and see people who look like they live there But Howe says that while it can definitely be a psychological barrier focusing on those people is the wrong strategy

ldquoNo one cares what yoursquore doingrdquo Howe says ldquoFocus on yourdquo

Take it slowIt can be tempting when you finally get up the

nerve to get back in the swing of working out to go hardcore But just like setting unrealistic goals trying to achieve your fitness goals in a day is impossible

ldquoPeople start out really gung-ho and reset their diet so aggressively and most people just simply canrsquot do thisrdquo Radlinger said ldquoWhen yoursquore looking at making a lifestyle change I want you to do it slowly and incrementally rather than do it all in two monthsrdquo

Rushing into the weight room and trying to lift the same weight and number of reps and sets that you did 10 years ago is a great way to make sure you canrsquot work out for a while Going from a sedentary lifestyle to two hours of pumping iron can leave you sore enough to not be able to lift anything for days Maybe even weeks

Ease into it The gymrsquos not going anywhere Think marathon not sprint

ldquoSometimes people have an all-or-nothing attituderdquo Howe said ldquoand they make themselves sore and they canrsquot continuerdquo

Speaking of all-or-nothing Radlinger says

some people bring that kind of intensity to their food intake over the weekend Bad idea

ldquoAs trainers we help people be accountable We do success measurements help them prepare and plan And wersquoll do weigh-ins on Mondayrdquo Radlinger says ldquoWersquoll find that people do really well Monday through Friday then do what I call sabotage Saturday and Sunday At some point yoursquore going to get so sick of hitting that reset button every Mondayrdquo

Whatever you choose to do both trainers say itrsquos never a bad idea to sit down with your doctor and run your plans by himher Your personal safety should always come first and getting the green light from Doc can give you some peace of mind as you start this new chapter of your life MM

Jo radlinger runs Jorsquos Fitness Garage

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MANKATO MAGAZINE  bull January 2016 bull 21

728 N Riverfront DriveMankato MN 56001

507-625-5163katobearscom

Pins and NeedlesAlterations

Specializing in alterations for theentire wedding party including

gown re-sizing hemming re-beadingbustles and so much more

Like us onFacebook

Live the Lifestyle

wwwmapletonmarinecom

Southern MNrsquos largestboat show on now at the

Madison East Center in Mankato

MM p01 0116indd 21 12182015 24524 PM

22 bull January 2016 bull MANKATO MAGAZINE

Thirty-three years ago I stood inside a grave A lifetime ago when I was a pastorrsquos wife

In Nebraska we served a parish of barely over one hundred members A picture-postcard white church with a hand-carved white wooden altar from Germany sat at the top of a hill next to it the parsonage and next to that the cemetery rolling down the hill toward a wooded creek

The first death in the congregation after our arrival set off a flurry of activity Irsquod never met Alma because she was in a nursing home before we arrived However my husband visited her on several occasions She was mother aunt grandmother great-aunt and great-grandmother to half the congregation so there was no question about whether or not I would attend the funeral

With my two little kids in tow I attended every event at the church every Sunday morning service of course but also every funeral every confirmation every baptism every meeting of womenrsquos circle and even every family reunion that was held in the church basement At twenty-six I perfected the art of making gracious small talk with people Irsquod never seen before and would never see again and at taking tiny portions from each confirmation buffet so I would neither be sick by the end of the day nor offend any of the mothers who had slaved away over their sumptuous spreads of food

By Rebecca Fjelland Davis

Grave Lesson in Winter

ESSay

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MANKATO MAGAZINE  bull January 2016 bull 23

Attending the little white country church was physically easy I picked up one-year-old Josh took three-year-old Nikkirsquos hand and walked out the front door down the sidewalk and next door The only things I didnrsquot have to attend were church council and the menrsquos meeting Archaic This was in the 1980s It doesnrsquot seem so long ago

All the available babysitters in the community would attend Almarsquos funeral too so this was to be my kidsrsquo first funeral

The afternoon before the service salt-snow fell Hard little crystals pelted down as if the heavens had up-ended a Mortonrsquos salt canister Within a few hours the hard snow was six inches deep and still falling

In the middle of the salt-snow the gravedigger arrived The Ditchwitch roared around the cemetery to the familyrsquos plot and my kidsrsquo noses pressed against the upstairs bedroom window pane ldquoMommy can we go watchrdquo

Glad for an excuse to get out of the parsonage I bundled them in snowsuits put them on the sled and pulled them across the house yard and garden to the fence that bordered the cemetery

The Ditchwitch made short work of the grave and all three of us were mesmerized watching the mound of gray-black dirt grow in the crystal-white snow When the hole was finished the gravedigger turned his tractor on idle He hopped off and came over to the fence His eyes twinkled in a weathered face ldquoWant to come lookrdquo

I backed up from the fence a step ldquoNo not really I think this is close enoughrdquo

ldquoYes Mommy go lookrdquo ldquoPleeeeaserdquoSo Nikki and Josh got back on the sled and I

hauled them along the fence through the gate over to the grave and looked down Six feet seemed deep bottomless Dark A sharp contrast to the pelting snowflakes all around us

ldquoWanna get down in thererdquo the gravedigger asked I shuddered hung onto the kids and backed up

again ldquoNo No thatrsquos okay This is close enough I just want to look from hererdquo

ldquoYes mommyrdquo the little ones said ldquoLetrsquosrdquoldquoNordquoldquoPleaserdquoldquoReally marsquoam I think you should Yoursquoll be

surprised I wouldnrsquot suggest it if it I didnrsquot think sordquoldquoHow would we get outrdquo The sides were deeper

than I was tall and there certainly werenrsquot footholds or a ladder built in for Almarsquos soul to use to climb out

ldquoLike thisrdquo The gravedigger laid his shovel diagonally across a top corner of the grave and jumped down He grabbed the middle of the shovel handle and swung himself back up and out with the agility of a gymnast ldquoNothinrsquo to itrdquo

ldquoI canrsquot do thatrdquoldquoYes you can Irsquoll boost you And wersquoll lift the kids

Yoursquoll be amazed I promiserdquoI shivered The idea of being inside a grave

seemed much colder than the snow crystals biting at my face

ldquoCome onrdquo he said and jumped back in Nikki and Josh willingly stepped over to him to be lifted down I had no choice but to follow I couldnrsquot let my kids alone in a grave with a man I didnrsquot even know

So I jumped The earth on the bottom made a soft landing The soil around me was warm and steamy It was moist and dark but it enfolded us in an earthy hug At least fifty degrees warmer than the air above ground it felt as if the earth were offering shelter respite a comfortable place to snuggle down and rest Tiny roots dangled full of life from the smooth edges of the hole Tears sprang to my eyes I couldnrsquot help them My eyes met the gravediggerrsquos and he smiled Gently ldquoSeerdquo he said Nothing more

I couldnrsquot speak A few minutes later he gave me a stirrup with his

hands I scrambled out and he lifted Nikki and Josh up to me Then he flipped himself out as easily as a trapeze artist

ldquoThank yourdquo I said ldquoI would never have guessedrdquoHe nodded ldquoNobody does But it helps somehow

I wanted you to feel thatrdquoWhy I wanted to ask why me You donrsquot even

know me Why were you willing to take time for usldquoThank yourdquo was all I said I shook his hand and

he hopped on the Ditchwitch and drove off into the snow

I never saw him again Someone else dug the next grave required in that cemetery

I remember only bits and pieces of the funeral Irsquom sure I baked a boxed cake mix for ldquolunchrdquo afterwards I remember answering Nikkirsquos questions about the body and sitting in the back row of the church in case Josh didnrsquot want to be quiet I do remember looking at the unfamiliar face in the casket and thinking you get to rest in a warm cozy place

Ten winters later we buried my dad on just such a day Wet snow crystals pelted us and piled up so deep the funeral home limousine got stuck in the cemetery By the time the pallbearers pushed it un-stuck their suit pants were caked in slush and mud

We stood at the graveside in the bleak wet icy day and lowered my fatherrsquos body into the ground

ldquoToo bad itrsquos such a miserable dayrdquo ldquoSorry about your dad Sorry the weatherrsquos so bad toordquo And even ldquoSuch a good man He deserves better weather than thisrdquo

But the weather I thought was just right Losing my dad my kids and their cousins losing

their grandpa my mom becoming a widow my brother losing his farming partner and best friend changed our livesmdashthat part was too heavy to carry

The only part that was okay for me was to let Dadrsquos worn-out body be wrapped in that welcoming warm enfolding soilmdashthe very soil hersquod loved to till the soil hersquod planted and tended all his life the soil that gave us all lifemdashthat was the only gratifying part of the day

The only comfort I had was letting Dad go from the cold wet biting snow into that warm and restful place

And I still wonder who that gravedigger was ten years earlier and how he knew how much I would need what he gave me that bleak winter day MM

Rebecca Fjelland Davis is an author from Mankato

MM p01 0116indd 23 12182015 24528 PM

reFlecTionsBy Pat Christman

24 bull January 2016 bull MANKATO MAGAZINE

MM p01 0116indd 24 12182015 24544 PM

reFlecTionsBy Pat Christman

MANKATO MAGAZINE  bull January 2016 bull 25

There are few things as inevitable as snow during a Minnesota winter Big

cotton ball-like snowflakes cover the ground in a white blanket whitewashing the Midwestern landscape

We struggle against it Some hope the snow never comes It always does filling the sky with floating snowflakes that cling to the ground but melt as soon as they hit the small bits of face or hands that peek out from winter clothing

It is often quite beautiful especially when viewed from someplace warm and dry MM

MM p01 0116indd 25 12182015 24548 PM

26 bull January 2016 bull MANKATO MAGAZINE

Then amp now Vice President Schuyler Colfaxrsquos Death By Bryce o sTenzel

On Jan 14 1885 one day after his death the New York Times carried a

headline that read ldquoSchuyler Colfax Dead He Drops Down in a Railway Stationrdquo While most Americans today would have tremendous difficulty in even recognizing this manrsquos name

(unless they were paying close attention to Stephen Spielbergrsquos epic movie Lincoln and made the association) Schuyler Colfax was a former Speaker of the House of Representatives and Vice President of the United States under President US Grant He died in Mankatorsquos Chicago St

Paul Minneapolis amp Omaha railroad depot from a massive heart attack

Schuyler Colfax Jr was born in New York City on March 23 1823 His father died of tuberculosis five months before Schuyler was born His sister Mary died four months after his [Schuylerrsquos]

vice President Schuyler Colfaxrsquos Death in Mankato

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MANKATO MAGAZINE  bull January 2016 bull 27

birth The young Schuyler attended school only until he was 10 He then began working to support his family Schuyler Colfax never attended any kind of secondary school or college His mother remarried when Colfax was 13 and the family moved to New Carlisle Indiana By the time he was 22 Colfax was the editor and owner of a pro-Whig newspaper He was elected to Congress in 1854 and joined the newly formed Republican Party after the Whig Party disintegrated Solidly anti-slavery his colleagues elected Colfax as Speaker of the US House of Representatives in 1863 His election came soon after the death of his wife Evelyn The couple had no children

Colfax was President Abraham Lincolnrsquos first and last visitor on the fateful day Lincoln was assassinatedmdashApril 14 1865 Early that morning Colfax arrived at the White House while the president was having breakfast Colfax wanted to know whether or not Lincoln planned to call a special session of Congress for later that summer Lincolnrsquos answer was a polite but firm ldquonordquo Lincoln preferred a lenient approach in reconstructing as well as readmitting the former Confederate states to the Union now that the Civil War was over This approach put Lincoln at odds with the more ldquoradicalrdquo congressional members of his own party who preferred harsher measures be taken against their former enemies Lincoln had already made up his mind how he wanted to proceed with reconstructing the former Confederate states and he didnrsquot want any unnecessary interference from Congress Calling a special session was the last thing Lincoln wanted to do Colfax returned that same night to see Lincoln again just before the president left for Fordrsquos Theatre and his appointment with destiny This time Colfax came upon Lincolnrsquos own request The president had a long message for the silver miners of the Comstock Lode in Nevada thanking them for their loyalty to the Union that he wanted Speaker Colfax to deliver in person since Colfax was leaving by train for the West the next day Colfax was the last person Lincoln spoke to besides his wife Mary before he

was fatally shot at 1015 pm Colfax never forgave himself for turning down Lincolnrsquos invitation to be part of the theatre party that night

In 1868 Republicans selected General Ulysses S Grant as their presidential candidate Grant a military man his entire life had no political background Colfax was placed on the ticket because of his prior experience as a congressman and Speaker of the House (he resigned the position in 1869) Grant and Colfax won an easy victory in November 1868 Only two weeks later Colfax remarriedmdashthis time to Ellen Wade (niece of Ohio Senator Benjamin Wade) Their only child son Schuyler Colfax III was born in 1870

Colfax is best remembered (if at all) for his involvement in the corruption that beset Grantrsquos entire presidency Specifically the Credit Mobilier scandal broke in 1872 just as Grant and Colfax were gearing up for their re-election campaign Colfax was suspected of accepting shares of stock and cash bribes from ldquoCredit Mobilierrdquo a dummy construction company set up by the Union Pacific Railroad He was by no means the only influential person involved in the scandal Other political figures investigated included Senators Roscoe Conkling of New York William Allison of Iowa John Logan of Illinois James Bayard of Delaware and Henry Wilson of Massachusetts Grant was less popular in 1872 than he had been four years earlier and many Republicans worried that having Colfax on the partyrsquos ticket would harm the presidentrsquos re-election chances They dumped Colfax from the ticket mdash only to replace him with the also-tainted Wilson Grant won re-election and served his second and final term from 1873-1877 After being forced out from the vice presidency Colfax traveled the country as a popular lecturer often speaking about his interactions with Abraham Lincoln during the Civil War He rebuilt his tarnished reputation and commanded speaking fees as high as $2500

At 10 am on Jan 13 1885 Schuyler Colfax arrived in Mankato aboard a train from Milwaukee Mankato was just a

brief stop for Colfax who was on his way to Iowa for a speaking engagement The Chicago Milwaukee amp St Paul as well as the Chicago St Paul Minneapolis amp Omaha railroads both had depots in Mankato but because they were separate competing railroad lines Colfax was required to change trains by walking three-quarters of a mile from the Chicago Milwaukee amp St Paul depot at the foot of Hickory Street to the Chicago St Paul Minneapolis amp Omaha depot at Fourth and Washington Streets (now Washington Park) from which the next leg of his journey would depart Despite a reported temperature of 30 degrees below zero Colfax walked from one station to the other Within five minutes after he arrived at the Omaha linersquos depot Colfax entered the waiting room looked at a map on the wall sat down and died It was 1035 am No one in the station knew who the dead man actually was until they searched his pockets and found a letter with his name on it His death was likely caused by a heart attack brought on by the physical exertion of walking almost a mile in extreme cold Colfax was only 61 when he died His remains were returned to South Bend Indiana for burial

Today few Americans are aware that anyone named Schuyler Colfax ever lived much less served as vice president of the United States In this era in which officeholders are often treated as celebrities imagine how surprised people would be to learn that a former vice president died cold alone and unrecognized in a train station 131 years ago Before 24-hour news channels smart phones and social media it was possible for public figures like Colfax to live ndash and die ndash in relative obscurity Ironically Colfax loved the railroad but in the end it was the cause of his undoing Mankato has the distinction of being the location where the last man to personally speak to Abraham Lincoln in a private conversation took his last breath

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28 bull January 2016 bull MANKATO MAGAZINE

Mayo Clinic offers pediatric and adolescent orthopedic services right here in Mankato Todd Milbrandt MD cares for patients with a variety of needs including

bull Cerebral palsy

bull Clubfoot

bull Hip disorders

bull Spinal disorders

bull Sports injuries

bull Scoliosis

bull Spina bifida

Mayo Clinic Health System in Mankato Call 1-877-412-7575 (toll-free) to schedule an appointment

495rdquox495rdquo Mankato Magazine January

Orthopedic care for your child

Independent ampAssisted Living

EQUAL HOUSINGOPPORTUNITY

1360 Adams StreetMankato MN

PrimroseRetirementcom

reg

Key City Senior Breakfast ClubThe Key City Senior Breakfast Club meets the first Thursday of each month from 830 AM - 930 AM at Primrose Retirement Community The club gives those 55+ the opportunity to meet new friends and visit old ones socialize with Key City Officials and enjoy a delicious home-cooked breakfast To visit a Key City Senior Breakfast please call (866) 447-9636

Mark your calendar for these breakfast dates Thursday January 7th Thursday March 3rd and Thursday May 5th

刀椀渀最 椀渀 琀栀攀 

一攀眀 夀攀愀爀

㔀 㜀ⴀ㤀㐀ⴀ㐀㐀䨀甀氀攀攀猀䨀攀眀攀氀爀礀挀漀洀

椀渀 匀愀椀渀琀 倀攀琀攀爀

20765 Foley Rd Mankato MN | 5073872434 | 5077262411

Three TimeNational Award Winners

MM p02 0116indd 28 12182015 30742 PM

Mayo Clinic offers pediatric and adolescent orthopedic services right here in Mankato Todd Milbrandt MD cares for patients with a variety of needs including

bull Cerebral palsy

bull Clubfoot

bull Hip disorders

bull Spinal disorders

bull Sports injuries

bull Scoliosis

bull Spina bifida

Mayo Clinic Health System in Mankato Call 1-877-412-7575 (toll-free) to schedule an appointment

495rdquox495rdquo Mankato Magazine January

Orthopedic care for your child

Independent ampAssisted Living

EQUAL HOUSINGOPPORTUNITY

1360 Adams StreetMankato MN

PrimroseRetirementcom

reg

Key City Senior Breakfast ClubThe Key City Senior Breakfast Club meets the first Thursday of each month from 830 AM - 930 AM at Primrose Retirement Community The club gives those 55+ the opportunity to meet new friends and visit old ones socialize with Key City Officials and enjoy a delicious home-cooked breakfast To visit a Key City Senior Breakfast please call (866) 447-9636

Mark your calendar for these breakfast dates Thursday January 7th Thursday March 3rd and Thursday May 5th

OMG hellip More food and drinksOK sure

By now yoursquore probably thinking ldquoOh my gosh the last thing I want to think about right now is more food more drinking and more diningrdquo

Fair enough We get it The holidays are murder on the metabolism of many many Minnesotans

But we also know that those metabolisms are hardy and soon enough theyrsquoll be hankering for a hunk of something yummy and full of fun And whatrsquos more yummy and full of fun than a big glass of Cabernet Sauvignon Our wine guy Leigh Pomeroy takes us on a tour of all that is tasty and wonderful about big red wines the kind that leave their mark the kind that really announce their presence on your palate

And just in case yoursquore super serious about a healthy lifestyle mdash and that seriousness extends to the kind of beer you choose mdash Bert Mattson our beer guy has just the selection for you Best part is Itrsquos light

Oh and under the category of ldquoDid you hear about thisrdquo Wersquove got an update for you on the Coffee Hag Mankatorsquos original coffee house and one of the most popular hangouts in town Seriously some days itrsquos hard to find a seat in that place

EnjoyPS We know that baby itrsquos cold outside mdash thatrsquos why wersquove

thrown you our absolute best hot cocoa recipe

Enjoymdash Robb Murray Associate Editor Mankato Magazine

food drink amp dineso

uthern m

n style

20765 Foley Rd Mankato MN | 5073872434 | 5077262411

Three TimeNational Award Winners

MM p02 0116indd 29 12182015 30745 PM

MANKATO 5073854485 AMBOY 5076743355 I VERNON CENTER 5075493679

INSURANCE OFFICES LOCATED IN THE COMMUNITY BANK BUILDINGS

wwwcimankatocom

Protecting the things that matter most in your life

Let us help protect what is important to you At Community Insurance we have the ability to compare insurance from multiple companies to get you the best coverage at a great price Combine that with our insurance knowledge and friendly group of agents and we say thatrsquos a winning deal

WHERE YOUR POLICY COMES WITH AN AGENT

Christina Meyer

Food

south

ern mn style

Food

south

ern mn style

By The Washington Post

Growing up my mother always encouraged her children to cook So when

I found a recipe for hot chocolate on the side of the Hersheyrsquos Cocoa can it was easy to convince her to let me give it a try

What I discovered was that hot chocolate doesnrsquot have to come from an envelope

This recipe has been a favorite of mine to make on days when winter weather has convinced me stay home and off the roads Itrsquos the perfect way to kill time and have a nice hot drink to warm you up on those chilly days

Although you can top it with whipped cream I prefer marshmallows

FAVORITE HOT COCOAMakes 4 to 6 servings

12 cup sugar14 cup unsweetened cocoa powder

Dash of salt13 cup hot water

4 cups milk34 teaspoon vanilla extract

Whipped cream or marshmallows (optional)

Mix sugar cocoa powder salt and water in a sauce pan Stir constantly over medium heat until mixture comes to a boil (about 2 minutes) Stir in

milk and heat Bring the hot chocolate to the desired temperature but do not boil Remove from heat and

add the vanilla extract Divide into mugs and top with whipped cream or marshmallows

PERFECTLY CHOCOLATE HOT COCOA

Makes 1 serving

2 tablespoons sugar2 tablespoons unsweetened cocoa powder

Dash salt1 cup milk

14 teaspoon vanilla extractWhipped cream or marshmallows (optional)

Mix sugar cocoa powder and salt into large mug In separate microwave-safe container heat on high

for 1 to 1 frac12 minutes or until very hot Carefully and gradually add milk to dry mixture Stir well Add vanilla extract Top with whipped cream or

marshmallows

Simple homemade hot chocolate

beats the winter chill

30 bull January 2016 bull MANKATO MAGAZINE

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MANKATO MAGAZINE  bull January 2016 bull 31

Oil Change to OverhaulWe do it all

507-387-13151620 Commerce Drive North MankatowwwAustinsAutoRepairCentercom

Voted Best Auto Repair and Best Auto Mechanic 4 Years in a Row

AUSTINrsquoS AUTO REPAIR CENTER INC

MANKATO 5073854485 AMBOY 5076743355 I VERNON CENTER 5075493679

INSURANCE OFFICES LOCATED IN THE COMMUNITY BANK BUILDINGS

wwwcimankatocom

Protecting the things that matter most in your life

Let us help protect what is important to you At Community Insurance we have the ability to compare insurance from multiple companies to get you the best coverage at a great price Combine that with our insurance knowledge and friendly group of agents and we say thatrsquos a winning deal

WHERE YOUR POLICY COMES WITH AN AGENT

Christina Meyer

MM p02 0116indd 31 12182015 30755 PM

32 bull January 2016 bull MANKATO MAGAZINE

January is Cabernet TimeWersquove celebrated nearly

every January edition of Mankato Magazine with

a paean to BIG REDS And since there are so many wonderful examples why stop now

Last year I wrote about the powerful big reds of Italy This January wersquoll focus on Cabernet Sauvignon known to many as ldquothe king of winesrdquo Most oenophiles (wine lovers) consider the quintessential representations of this grape to be the classified Bordeaux of southwest France near the city of Bordeaux The five First Growths (or best wines according to a classification made in 1855 and updated in 1973) are Ch Lafite Rothschild Ch Margaux Ch Latour Ch Haut Brion and Ch Mouton Rothschild All have a cabernet sauvignon base but they are blended with merlot and often a little bit of cabernet franc and petit verdot as well

In the early 1970s I was able to buy these wines for around $22 per bottle mdash about $120 in 2016 dollars Yet with the popularity of ldquocollectiblerdquo wines on a worldwide

basis they sell today for anywhere from $400 on up

Contrary to popular belief these wines are not that massive Rather they combine cabernet sauvignon power with

structure and finesse yielding wines that become with time elixirs that are greater than the sum of their parts

Both California and Washington state have taken up the Cabernet Sauvignon challenge and are producing world-class wines at sometimes world-class prices Napa Valley is the recognized leader in this arena and rightly so Napa Valleyrsquos top Cabernet

Wine amp B

eerso

uthern m

n style

winesBy Leigh Pomeroy

Leigh Pomeroy is a Mankato-based writer and wine lover

Cabernet Sauvignon is the black Labrador of wines mdash it comes up and licks yourdquo

mdash Winemaker Scott Rich

Sauvignons rival the great wines of Bordeaux for quality mdash Irsquove tasted them side-by-side mdashand yet can sell for a fraction of their price

One such example is the 2013 Tulocay Cabernet Sauvignon from my old friend Bill Cadman We were young bucks in Napa Valley and had a tasting group in the early 1970s along with now-famous wine luminaries Bruce Neyers (Neyers Vineyards) and Mike Richmond (co-founder of Acacia Vineyard)

Billrsquos Cabernet is from an old and relatively cool growing area east of the City of Napa called Coombsville which because of industry political issues only recently received its AVA (American Viticultural Area) designation It is priced at $60 per bottle yet compares with any top-flight Bordeaux as well as the more expensive offerings from Napa Valley which can cost from $100 on up Not currently available at wine stores or restaurants in Minnesota it can be purchased by contacting the winery directly via its website tulocaycom The winery is so small that Bill will probably answer the phone himself

There is a lot of Cabernet Sauvignon available from California but mdash caveat emptor mdash not all growing areas (or appellations) are the same The best Cabernet Sauvignons are from Napa and Sonoma Counties Cabernets simply labeled ldquoCaliforniardquo or perhaps ldquoCoastalrdquo while sometimes good values lack the complexity of the greater Cabernet Sauvignons from the more northern parts of the state

Washington state has also

established itself as a prime producer of Cabernet Sauvignon But here again quality can vary greatly depending upon the area and producer While there is no ldquogo-tordquo appellation for Cabernet Sauvignon in Washington there are producers that are able to secure fruit from the best vineyards

One such example is the tiny Willis Hall Winery owned by another good friend John Bell a former Boeing jet propulsion engineer Like Tulocay its wines are only available by calling up the winery and ordering some (See willishallcom) But there are many other top quality producers in Washington like Quilceda Creek Leonetti Betz Family and Woodward Canyon

Of course not everyone can afford Cabernet Sauvignons in the $60-plus category One excellent everyday drinking example is the Flying Cloud 2013 Paso Robles Cabernet Sauvignon made by Mankato native Stephen Dooley Normally I donrsquot like Paso Robles Cabs as they tend to be too fruity and too soft for my palate mdash almost like drinking berry jam But this one is quite restrained no doubt helped by the inclusion of 13 percent zinfandel and 9 percent petite sirah in the blend

In Mankato both the Wine Cafeacute and MGM carry the Flying Cloud but at its price and quality I wouldnrsquot count on it lasting for long especially since only 759 cases were produced

So letrsquos raise a glass of Cabernet and say ldquoCheersrdquo to the New Year

MM p02 0116indd 32 12182015 30756 PM

MANKATO MAGAZINE  bull January 2016 bull 33

Bert Mattson is a chef and writer based in St Paul He is the manager of the iconic Mickeyrsquos Diner

Beer Skinny

BeerBy Bert Mattson

Last year according to Nielsen research staying fit and healthy was

the number one New Yearrsquos resolution Losing weight was two Three was to enjoy life to the fullest Unfortunately ldquolose weight and get fitrdquo also topped Time magazinersquos list of commonly broken resolutions Is this shortfall due to tension between the top two and that third one If so craft beer may have a role in the compromise Bad news first

In the context of losing weight and staying fit beer lovers might seek solace in the fact that fat carries nine calories per gram while alcohol has only seven The wrinkle is that those seven are ldquoemptyrdquo mdash calories without nutrition as opposed to those from fat protein and carbohydrates Moreover alcoholrsquos calories are the first burned when combined with the others the human body postpones burning fat while it works on alcohol Furthermore beer (and wine and often cocktails) contains carbohydrates which release insulin and can hasten fat storage Finally many drinkers have undoubtedly observed that alcohol loosens inhibitions after which an eager indulgence in unhealthy foods often occurs (Bar menus are rarely helpful in that respect)

By now you may wonder whose side Irsquom actually on Or suspect Irsquove led you to this dark place only to offer you a Lite No worries a couple craft brewers have been considering ways to keep us true to our resolutions

Evil Twin Brewingrsquos Bikini Beer drops the alcohol to 27 percent but stays bold by way of hops A Pale Ale it hits the nose with citrus suggestive of IPA The flavor follows suit floral and lemon There is an expected absence of malt yielding to bitterness up front that fades at the finish An alternative

for those who insist on the full effect Founderrsquos Brewing Companyrsquos All Day IPA rings in at a respectable 144 calories (Evil Twinrsquos entry comes in at 81)

One strategy to beat the beer munchies and avoid costly impulse eating is to have suitable chow on hand With Bikini Beer try a salad sporting blue cheese and some sort of dried fruit Creamy blue veined cheeses echo the hops while balancing bitterness An occasional bite of dried fruit stands in for malt sweetness

Brooklyn Breweryrsquos 12 Ale weighs in at 34 percent alcohol (102 calories) It is alliteratively labeled ldquoSession Saisonrdquo It opens with a waft of citrus and spice and a little lemongrass from Sorachi Ace hops mdash a hybrid developed in East Asia The same elements are found in the flavor which is a bit more subdued than a full-sized Saison

Try it with a tangle of arugula dressed with lemon and a fruity olive oil tossed with pine nuts and topped with shaved Parmesan for effect The greens and cracked pepper reflect spicy phenolic elements in the yeast Salty cheese counters the beerrsquos lingering bitterness Maybe add a few slices of Speck cured ham and Saison share a certain funkiness

If friends show and it becomes a session you may honestly say you spent Saturday working on your six-pack

MM p02 0116indd 33 12182015 30757 PM

34 bull January 2016 bull MANKATO MAGAZINE

Food

south

ern mn style

Food

south

ern mn style

The Coffee Hag one of the arearsquos oldest (and coolest) bistros recently underwent a major expansion and remodeling journey culminating in a large and airy

seating area along with a much-improved kitchen and a new menu Mankato Magazine caught up with a very busy (and slightly exhausted) owner Jenn Melby-Kelly who weighs in on how itrsquos going

MANKATO MAGAZINE Are you personally enjoying the new updatesJENN MELBY-KELLY It Is Fabulous The new space represents so much more than a remodel to me It has brought to life a vision for my business thatrsquos been years in the making It incorporates many many good ideas from many many people I feel so fortunate to get to see that every time I walk through the door

MM How are customers reactingJMK Thatrsquos been one of the best parts The response has been overwhelmingly positive

A few of our most regular customers had the opportunity to get a glimpse of the remodel while it was underway (we gave some informal preview tours while we were operating the temporary stand outside) but many customers walk through the door now and see it all for the first time Itrsquos especially fun to see and hear that kind of wide-eyed reaction

A few people with special connections to The Hag have had even stronger emotional responses and Irsquom so touched and right there with them when I see eyes well up as they see what wersquove done Itrsquos a very big milestone for a very special place and wersquore blessed to have people that care so deeply

MM Do the employees appreciate the new spaceJMK Oh probably more than anyone There was a lot that we sought to do with the remodel but creating a bigger brighter better-equipped space for our team was certainly one of the primary goals Wersquove got an incredible team truly the most spirited and talented people anyone could hope for

Many of them have spent years with me working hard against the challenge of a small under-equipped space and just barely being able to keeping up with growing demand Itrsquos been a special blessing for them and for me to finally have state-of-the-art space thatrsquos made for the work that we do We all feel a special connection to this place and now more than ever the place reflects the good energy we all bring here every day

MM Is the new menu a hit (The Hag specializes in vegetarianvegan cuisine)JMK Yes but just wait Feedback and demand have been excellent with our food offerings already but wersquore just getting started on some of the really exciting things that are coming to our food menu

Remodeling the cafe was just the first major milestone of our two-part expansion plan Next up wersquore building a state of the art off-site commissary kitchen that will do for our incredible culinary team what the remodeled shop has done for our baristas Theyrsquove been working day and night on taking our already fantastic food offerings to a whole new level

Wersquove already introduced some amazing new menu items like the Garden Grilled Cheese panini (trust me itrsquos like nothing yoursquove had before) and some truly outstanding new vegan baked goods Wersquove also improved our classic offerings with house-made

Interview with Jenn Melby-Kelly owner of The Coffee Hag

By Sarah Johnson

MM p02 0116indd 34 12182015 30802 PM

MANKATO MAGAZINE  bull January 2016 bull 35

Happy New Year

Locally Owned amp Operated

Check Weekly Specialsmgmwineandspiritscommankato

Largest Selection ofbull Liquor bull Wine bull Beer bull

Hours Monday-Saturday 8 am - 10 pm

ATMs at all stores

Mankato201 Victory Dr

625-2420

North Mankato1755 Commerce Dr

387-2634

St Peter100 N Minnesota Ave

934-8964

sourdough and whole wheat breads But as impressive as it is already itrsquos just a taste mdash literally mdash of things to come as we bring our new kitchen online

MM Whatrsquos stayed the sameJMK Irsquom really proud to say that while wersquove touched almost every part of this 23-year-old business wersquove kept even more than we have changed From the first days of this project I made it my personal mission and responsibility to make sure that the ldquosoulrdquo of this special place was only enhanced and never lost as we made the updates

In every area of the remodel as wersquove added some necessary new layers of sophistication The Hagrsquos colorful quirky and even rebellious spirit is still very much a part of the space We did a lot to try to make sure it still looked and felt like ldquohomerdquo

And on a deeper level every step wersquove taken with the growth of our business has been chosen carefully to honor the core parts of The Coffee Hagrsquos identity Our focus on community our support for local art and music our commitment to creating a safe and welcoming space for everyone our efforts to lead the way on social and environmental issues affecting our world near and far mdash those have all stayed the same And those will always be at the heart of what we do

MM Anything elseJMK Irsquom so incredibly grateful for the support of our customers and community And whenever I talk about my business and how it has grown I really canrsquot overstate how thankful I am for my beautiful Coffee Hag family The hard work good energy and earnest contributions of so many people mdash past and present mdash have brought me and my business here An incredible amount of love has gone into this business and made this dream a reality

MM p02 0116indd 35 12222015 121240 PM

36 bull January 2016 bull MANKATO MAGAZINE

xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

Food

south

ern mn style

whatrsquos Cooking By Sarah Johnson

Sarah Johnson is a cook freelance writer and chocolate addict from North Mankato with three grown kids and a couple of mutts

As I was pondering my subject matter for todayrsquos column I started wondering about all the different items the word ldquonutsrdquo can refer

to Crazy people are called nuts so are hexagonal metal objects that attach to bolts Nuts can be the end of things (as in ldquofrom soup to nutsrdquo) or they can be the beginning of them (as in ldquosperm incubatorsrdquo) Nut can also mean onersquos head or onersquos lump of something such as butter And if you accidentally get a nut of butter on your nut you can exclaim ldquoNutsrdquo

My favorite meaning of the word nut however is the dry indehiscent one-seeded fruit with a woody pericarp And I donrsquot even know what indehiscent OR pericarp means But these are the wonderful denizens of the world of edible nuts

Nuts are widely credited with all sorts of health benefits for the heart brain male reproductive system prostate cholesterol level fiber intake and avoidance of some types of cancer And while nuts do contain fat itrsquos the ldquogoodrdquo kind heart-healthy monounsaturated and polyunsaturated fat Their mix of omega-3 fatty acids protein and fiber helps you feel full and suppresses the appetite

Nuts are great in desserts and salads of course but they also shine in stir-fries casseroles soups chicken pork fish and even beverages Nut butters nut milks and nut oils add delicious options to our kitchen larders Breads cereals muffins and pancakes gain texture flavor and nutrition from the addition of nuts Basically anytime is a good time for nuts

Which is a wonderful thing because nuts taste so good you would think they had to be very very bad The reason lies deep in their oils

Walnut Oil is strong and flavorful Itrsquos best when used in uncooked sauces or salad dressing

Hazelnut Oil has a strong flavor and is great for the heart

Almond Oil is very popular and has a much milder flavor than walnut oil or hazelnut oil

Pecan Macadamia Nut Pistachio Cashew and Pine Nut Oils are flavorful and unique The freshness of the nuts used really affects the flavor

ldquoTherersquos Nuttinrsquo Nutty About Nutsrdquo

For the Baklava1 pound pistachios hazelnuts walnuts pecans andor almonds coarsely ground plus more for garnish12 teaspoon ground cinnamon1 cup breadcrumbs4 sticks unsalted butter melted16 sheets phyllo dough (thawed if frozen) cut in half

For the Syrup3 cups sugar1 6 -to-8-ounce jar honey1 frac12 cups water1 to 2 tablespoons fresh lemon juice

If yoursquore under the impression that baklava is much too labor-intensive and complicated to make at home think again Anybody can make

it no special skills equipment or exotic ingredients are required A word about phyllo dough Itrsquos sold in frozen packages so you need to remove the package from the freezer and let it thaw in the fridge 24 hours before you want to make the baklava Then about an hour beforehand remove the package from the fridge and let it sit on the counter

Walnuts or pistachios are the most traditional nuts to fill baklava but using other nuts works wonders as well Simply layer the phyllo with the nut filling and butter bake for an hour and finish with a simple honeyed syrup If you have leftover nuts from the holidays herersquos your chance to use them up

Mixed Nut Baklava

MM p02 0116indd 36 12182015 30812 PM

MANKATO MAGAZINE  bull January 2016 bull 37

MONEY MATTERS WORK SMARTLET COMMUNITY BANK HELP YOUBRING THE TWO TOGETHER

MANKATO - SAINT ANDREWS DR 5073854444MANKATO - MADISON AVE 5076251551VERNON CENTER 5075493679AMBOY 5076743300

JULIE VETTERSR VICE PRESIDENTRETAIL BANKING

We support great causes like yoursAt Community Bank we know good things happen when you have a good bank So we make more possible by keeping banking simple and supportive And by giving you the power that comes with innovative solutions like our Health Savings Account It offers you tax-free savings for future medical expenses Stop by anytime Wersquore always ready to help out a great cause

Position a rack in the lower third of the oven preheat to 350 degrees Combine the nuts cinnamon and breadcrumbs in a bowl

Brush a 9x13-inch baking dish with some of the butter Layer 10 pieces of phyllo in the dish brushing each piece with butter before adding the next (keep the remaining dough covered with a damp towel) Sprinkle a quarter of the nut mixture over the dough Layer four pieces of phyllo on top brushing each with butter before adding the next sprinkle with another quarter of the nut mixture Add four more phyllo pieces on top brushing each with butter then add another quarter of the nut mixture four more pieces of phyllo with butter and the remaining nuts

Layer the remaining 10 pieces of phyllo on top of the nuts brushing each with butter brush the top piece with extra butter Cut into the baklava to make strips about 1 12 inches wide Then make diagonal slices about 1 12 inches apart to create a diamond pattern Bake until golden about one hour

Meanwhile make the syrup Bring the sugar honey and 1 12 cups water to a boil in a saucepan over medium heat and cook 10 to 15 minutes Add the lemon juice and boil 2 more minutes then let cool slightly Pour the syrup over the warm baklava let soak uncovered at least six hours or overnight Garnish with nuts

MM p02 0116indd 37 12182015 30817 PM

38 bull bull MANKATO MAGAZINE

Nell Musolf is a mom and freelance writer from Mankato She blogs at nellmusolfcom

38 bull bull MANKATO MAGAZINE

MM p02 0116indd 38 12182015 30822 PM

MANKATO MAGAZINE  bull January 2016 bull 39

Gear Up for WinterYear-Round amp Insulated Workwear from

Carhartt Dickies and Key

UNIFORMSUniforms fromBarco Carhartt Cherokee DickiesKoi Peaches and White Cross

AMAZED

Call 5073446336mankatomagmankatofreepresscom

Stephanie L Hylla LAc Dipl AcKayla M Sweeney MOm LAc

NEW LOCATION709 S Front Suite 5

5074694788mankatoacupuncturecom

Open House ndash Wednesday Feb 3 9-12noonCelebrating 5 years of Business New Location and the Chinese New Year

In Network with Blue Cross Blue ShieldLicensed by the MN Board of Medical Practice

Ribbon Cutting with Greater Mankato Growth at 10am

(A $250 Value)THIS VOUCHER ENTITLES NEW PATIENTS TO A

CONSULTATION EXAM amp DIGITAL X-RAYS (IF NEEDED)

wwwr igne l l fami lych i roprac t ic comMedicare Restrictions Apply Expires January 31 2016

Dr BrandonRignell DC

1351 Madison AveSuite D

Mankato MN 56001

5077797313

$2900New Patient Special

MM p02 0116indd 39 12222015 121344 PM

40 bull bull MANKATO MAGAZINE

Jean Lundquist is a master gardener who lives near Good Thunder

MM p02 0116indd 40 12182015 30834 PM

MANKATO MAGAZINE  bull January 2016 bull 41

3 Increase the Value of Your Home

3 Update Your Homersquos Appearance

3 Save Money

Choose from SeveralModels Styles amp Colors

507-625-7110 or 1-800-645-36671125 Cross St North Mankato MN

Improve Your HomersquosEnergy Efficiency

422 Park Lane Mankato MN | NuStarMankatocom

(507) 381-4747Voted One of Mankatorsquos Best

DANIEL WINGERT

Make Selling Your Home Your NuYearrsquos Resolution

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42 bull January 2016 bull MANKATO MAGAZINE

January Resolve to moisturize

Your stYLeBy Ann Rosenquist Fee

Ann Rosenquist Fee is executive director of the Arts Center of Saint Peter and a vocalist with The Frye She blogs at annrosenquistfeecom

If you have in-laws or colleagues who know you well enough to have given you holiday gifts

but not well enough to know what wouldrsquove truly made you happy congratulations Chances are yoursquore the proud owner of a bunch of brand-new lip balm

Maybe itrsquos even holiday themed Thatrsquos the best Maybe you got the candy-cane flavored kind or wintergreen with holiday graphics on the label or something like that A theme that was irrelevant the moment the stocking was unstuffed because at that exact second the holiday was over

And here you are in January with an abundance of wax

Fortunately also here you are in the early weeks of winter with rough red knuckles Probably also cracked cuticles although it might not have gone that far yet for you Irsquom sure it has for me This photo was taken back in November and even then the Band-Aids were for real Irsquove learned to cut them in half length-wise so as to retain my ability to type Irsquove also learned to play with a range of color options Flesh-toned Clear Disney characters The colorful strips shown here were gifted to me by my husband Partly why theyrsquore cut in half is that the text is obscene This is one small trick you can use to make bloody cuticles your most exciting accessory of the winter

Sources like UrbanSurvivalSitecom and WonderHowTocom will tell you that you can use lip balm for a whole variety of purposes such as coating threads of outdoor lightbulbs before screwing them into their sockets and enhancing the burn-ability of most kindling

These are great fun but they wonrsquot improve your personal style

More germane to winter beauty are the following suggestions

Keep a tube next to your bed for first-thing-in-the-morning use And I mean really truly first-thing I mean smear the stuff on each cuticle while yoursquore still lying there before you start using your fingers at all If you wake up thinking yoursquore fine and skip cuticle care next thing you know yoursquore pushing down the lever on your Keurig and the pressure is more than your screamingly dry skin can take and boom split blood on the Keurig and itrsquos gonna be a long painful day If only you had balmed your hands before you let your feet hit the floor

Keep another tube in your glove compartment If itrsquos warm enough to take off your mittens in the car mdash if yoursquore even wearing mittens given that your hands are snagging on everything these days mdash the harsh January sunlight will allow you to see cracks and flakes in high-resolution detail Yoursquoll want the balm nearby

to cover what you didnrsquot notice first thing in the morning Also a car tube is useful for when you look in the rear-view mirror and notice that your nose and upper lip are flaking as well Itrsquos because yoursquore getting over a cold and the frequent use of tissue has worn away your top layer of skin but just because you know that doesnrsquot mean everybody else wonrsquot think ldquothere is something in that noserdquo Itrsquos just a fact Itrsquos what it looks like Lip balm to the rescue Itrsquos the only thing dry enough to slick those flakes in place and nourishing enough to maybe actually get your face back to normal

Keep a couple more tubes in a nighttime kit along with sandpaper Sandpaper Yes Not a pumice stone not a lame also-gifted sugar

scrub Medium-grit sandpaper is what you need every night lightly but with conviction As follows 1) Sand taking care not to do more damage than what the elements have already done Yoursquore just trying to remove the dry dead stuff Yoursquore just being hearty and efficient about this true to the culture of this great state in which yoursquove chosen to winter You are no pansy Sand your hands 2) Wash 3) Blot dry 4) Dial up the gifted balm whisper a word of thanks to the person who put so much thought into your well-being that they stuffed your holiday stocking with this amazing gift of self-care smash a healthy amount down into your palms massage Take heart You just might find yourself with normal-textured non-cracked not-horrible-looking hands by morning

Split-open cuticles I feel you Except for these Band-Aids I feel you

Lip balms I have been gifted and these are just from last Christmas ldquolastrdquo as in 2014

Bathrooms Worth Bragging About

HoursTue amp Wed amp Fri | 9 am to 6 pmMon amp Thu | 9 am to 7 pmSaturday | 9 am to 4 pm

219 S Victory Dr | Mankato507 | 345 | 7009ipafhickorytechnetindependentpaintandflooringcom

You Deserve Comfortable Care Every Timebull Sedation - Complete Relaxation with Just a Pillbull Invisalign - Clear Alternative to Bracesbull Botox amp Fillersbull Implants - Placement and Restorationbull Cerec - One Visit Crown Technology

bull Free Whitening Programbull 3D Imaging with Fewer X-Raysbull Cosmetic Dentistrybull Drill-Free Technologybull Emergency Care

1400 Lookout Drive North Mankato507-625-CARE(2273) bull mankatodentistcom 06

1865

6124

01

Dr AngelA Schuck

Dr keith FlAck

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MANKATO MAGAZINE  bull January 2016 bull 43

Bathrooms Worth Bragging About

HoursTue amp Wed amp Fri | 9 am to 6 pmMon amp Thu | 9 am to 7 pmSaturday | 9 am to 4 pm

219 S Victory Dr | Mankato507 | 345 | 7009ipafhickorytechnetindependentpaintandflooringcom

You Deserve Comfortable Care Every Timebull Sedation - Complete Relaxation with Just a Pillbull Invisalign - Clear Alternative to Bracesbull Botox amp Fillersbull Implants - Placement and Restorationbull Cerec - One Visit Crown Technology

bull Free Whitening Programbull 3D Imaging with Fewer X-Raysbull Cosmetic Dentistrybull Drill-Free Technologybull Emergency Care

1400 Lookout Drive North Mankato507-625-CARE(2273) bull mankatodentistcom 06

1865

6124

01

Dr AngelA Schuck

Dr keith FlAck

(944) 412-7949 | OrthoEdgeMNcom

Enjoy the season

Mankato St Peter

Be active Be healthyBe able with OrthoEdge

The OrthoEdge joint replacement

program offers superb care from your first

visit through recovery The surgeons from

the Orthopaedic amp Fracture Clinic and

the care team at Riverrsquos Edge Hospital

provide personal and professional care to

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Why Riverrsquos Edge Hospital amp Clinic

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MM p02 0116indd 43 12182015 30842 PM

44 bull January 2016 bull MANKATO MAGAZINE

1 Hicktown Mafia800 pm mdash New Ulm Event Center mdash 301 20th St S mdash New Ulm mdash $10 mdash 507-354-4673

7-9 Mankato West Orchesis Dance Team showcase7 pm Thursday-Saturday 2 pm Saturday mdash Mankato West High School Auditorium mdash $7 adults $5 students mdash 507-381-7578

10 Mankato Symphony Orchestra Music on the Hill II ldquoMinnesota rootsrdquo2 pm mdash Chapel at Good Counselmdash Good Counsel Drive mdash Mankato mdash $17 $12 mdash wwwmankatosymphonycom

16 Handel with Caremdash Handel Goes to Italy11 ammdash YMCA Aerobics Studio mdash 1401 S Riverfront Drive mdash Mankato mdash wwwmankatosymphonycom

16 Mankato Craft beer Expo2 pm (VIP) 3 pm general mdash Verizon Wireless Center mdash $45 VIP $35 general $10 designated driver mdash wwwmankatocraftbeerexpocom

23 Joey Flip and Mike Fugazzi rockinrsquo at the Embassy9 pm mdash Blaschkorsquos Embassy Bar and Grill mdash 325 S Minnesota Ave mdash St Peter mdash 507-934-3903

24 andrea Lyn and Dick Kimmel concert730 pm mdash Elias J Halling Recital Hall mdash Minnesota State University mdash Mankato mdash $12 regular $11 current MSU students mdash wwwmnusedumusic

28-31 MSu Theatre antigone730 pm Thursday-Saturday 2 pm Sunday mdash Andreas Theatre mdash Minnesota State University mdash Mankato mdash $16 regular $14 discount $11 current MSU students mdash wwwmnsuedu

29-31 BLC Theatre Brigadoon730 Friday and Saturday 2 pm Sunday mdash Ylvisaker Fine Arts Center mdash Bethany Lutheran College mdash Mankato mdash $10 adults $6 seniors children and students mdash wwwblceduevents

29- Feb 7 Winterfest St Peter Citywide mdash wwwstpeterchamberorg

30 Church of Cash a Tribute to Johnny Cash7 pm mdash St Peter American Legion mdash 229 W Nassau St mdash St Peter mdash 507-934-6435

31 Maud Hixson and rick Carlson concert730 pmmdash Elias J Halling Recital Hall mdash Minnesota State University mdash Mankato mdash $12 regular $11 current MSU students wwmnsuedumusic

Coming attraCtions January

T - F 8am - 6pm Sun ClosedSat 9am - 4pmM 8am - 8pm

120 North Broad Street Mankato MN 507-345-4688 wwwmeyerandsonstvandappliancecom

FIND SPECIAL DEALS ON

MM p02 0116indd 44 12182015 30902 PM

MANKATO MAGAZINE  bull January 2016 bull 45

St Peter Craft amp Vendor Show

1MelinadaBussefromRapidansoldherhandmadejewelryatthecraftandvendorshow

2DarylfromElysianandhishand-carvedwoodart

3MacKennaage7hasfunatoneoftheboothsattheStPeterCraftandVendorShow

4LizEntershowsoffsomeofherproductsattheldquoItWorksrdquobooth

5DenisePetersofldquoYoungLivingrdquoessentialoilsdisplayedherproductsattheshow

Faces amp Places Photos By Sport Pix

3

5

2

1

4

T - F 8am - 6pm Sun ClosedSat 9am - 4pmM 8am - 8pm

120 North Broad Street Mankato MN 507-345-4688 wwwmeyerandsonstvandappliancecom

FIND SPECIAL DEALS ON

MM p02 0116indd 45 12222015 121536 PM

46 bull January 2016 bull MANKATO MAGAZINE

SOUTHErN MN CHrISTMAS

FESTIVAL1 A large crowd was on hand during the festivities at

the Christmas Festival2 Friesenrsquos Family Bakery amp Bistro had tons of baked

goods and soups at the Verizon Wireless Center3 A childrenrsquos choir sang for the audience at the

festival4 Ron Haefner owner of Ronrsquos Auto Repair displayed

some of his services5 Garrison Galatz dressed up as Santa for the

Christmas Festival

faCes amp PLaCes Photos By Sport Pix

4

3

1

2

5

MM p02 0116indd 46 12182015 30923 PM

MANKATO MAGAZINE  bull January 2016 bull 47

1GirlScouttroop34494waspresentedwithatrophybyKiwanisVicePresidentKyleMrozek

2SantaClausevenwentthroughtheparaderoute3(LtoR)BrooklynPomrankeAlaynaLyonsHunterPomrankeandLilyLyonsgetagroupphototakenwithSanta

4MarshaMartigtellsSantawhatshewantsforChristmas

5TheparadefloatswerealldeckedoutinChristmaslights

6Visitorswalkthepatharoundtheparktoviewthisyearrsquoslights

Kiwanis Holiday ligHtsFaces amp Places Photos By sport Pix

2

1

3

4 5

6

MM p02 0116indd 47 12222015 121616 PM

48 bull January 2016 bull MANKATO MAGAZINE

On the Occasion of a 50th Reunion

the Class of 1965

from this VaLLeYBy Pete Steiner

Peter Steiner is host of ldquoTalk of the Townrdquo weekdays at 105 pm on KTOE

I was honored to give the presentation for our 50th class reunion recently at West Highrsquos Homecoming celebration About 120 of our nearly 400-member class

showed up We Baby Boomers the children of the greatest generation had big classes in the late lsquo60rsquos that forced the building of East High Ours was a dramatic era and our class did some great things in the face of big challenges Here edited is some of what I said

I am so glad to be standing here today Therersquos an old saying

ldquoMay you live in INTErESTINg timeshelliprdquo The Class of rsquo65 certainly has Itrsquos seems like only yesterday right after lunch that we were at our desks waiting for the start of English class when our charismatic teacher Harry Fitterer strode in and said ldquoPrESIDENT KENNEDY HAS BEEN SHOT IN DALLASrdquo At first we didnrsquot believe him but it was true It was November 22 1963 We were juniors and as the song says that was THE END OF THE INNOCENCE We had lived through the last idyllic time in America

When we first arrived in the fall of 1962 America was still carefree basking in the glow of victory in WW II Everything may have seemed ldquorightrdquo but it was not Martin Luther King Jr had just visited Mankato pointing out the continuing plight of black Americans as the Civil rights movement was gaining steam The beginnings of the Vietnam War which would alter the course of many of our lives were stirring even as we studied history and government The current generation has no monopoly on forgettable pop music ndash we had a stupid 1 song called ldquoItsie Bitsie Teenie Weenie Yellow Polka Dot Bikinirdquo (unfortunately an ear worm I canrsquot forget) But a darker cultural threat was looming The BEATLES were invading from Britain and our parents were mortified because they had LONg HAIr

Some of the shock of the Kennedy assassination was eased when our wrestling team in the era when the state still had just ONE CLASS won the State Championship in front of a packed hall up at MSU some still maintain that is the greatest single athletic achievement in Mankato history We were the first high school in Mankato to put on a full-scale musical ldquoBye Bye Birdierdquo in the spring of 1964 In Fall of 1964 our football team would have won the conference championship outright except Owatonnarsquos great Noel Jenke who would go on to star for the U of M

cheated I watched him trap the touchdown pass that beat us Does cheating pay Was that a lesson for life

In lsquo65 we also had a fine basketball team that lost our chance at State when our 6-6 center fouled out at Luverne

BUT A FAr BIggEr CHALLENgE AWAITED US ALL As we rode out to Luverne to watch that game we couldnrsquot help noticing the highway was like a canyon between walls of snow The legendary St Patrickrsquos Day Blizzard had dumped two feet on top of an already large snow pack and then April brought rains on frozen ground Instead of coming here to school many of us soon got a real-life assignment to go out in our rain gear out on the dikes to battle the grEAT FLOOD OF 1965 Our school became an island as water flooded the parking lot and all of South riverfront Our spring play that year was called ironically

THE DESPErATE HOUrS We had to rehearse at roosevelt School up on higher ground

Our class produced three Merit scholars One of our classmates who did NOT qualify

for a merit scholarship nevertheless was such a whiz at physics that NASA requested a copy of a paper he wrote on rocketry as a senior We produced 12 doctors one of whom earned a fellowship at Stanford seeking how to bring telemedicine to the poor another of whom became a breakthrough cancer doctor We had entrepreneurs one who would go on to be a leader in Solar Energy (and then run for governor of New Hampshire) Another mdash a woman incidentally when

that was not common founded two bio-tech startups Many of us are still working

past normal retirement age One founded a company on the leading edge of recycling

computers whose clients include the NSA Another is chief medical officer of a company

devising a better tool for colonoscopies Yet another of our classmates recently completed a concert tour of China

We lived in challenging times just as you do today but we muddle through we make it to the other shore I remember sitting where you are 50 years ago thinking how old those folks up there looked But remember Life goes by very quickly You certainly live in interesting times as Shakespeare said ldquoPresent Mirth has Present Laughter Youthrsquos a stuff will NOT endurerdquo So I urge you live each moment to the fullest

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Page 12: Mankatomag 116

10 bull January 2016 bull MANKATO MAGAZINE

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MANKATO MAGAZINE bull bull 11

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12 bull January 2016 bull MANKATO MAGAZINE

The Celebration of the Lakes has been a family tradition for Erin Thorvaldson Chisago Lakes Chamber Board Member and Community member for Celebration of the Lakes for more than 20 years Thorvaldson was about 10

years old when her grandmother introduced her to the event which takes place Jan 30 on North Center Lake in Lindstrom

DAy Trip DesTinATions Celebration of the LakesBy leTiciA GonzAles

hit the LakesLindstrom has plenty of fun waiting for you

Hot air balloons are just one of the many attractions this festival has employed over the years

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MANKATO MAGAZINE  bull January 2016 bull 13

Day Trip DesTinaTions Celebration of the LakesBy LeTicia GonzaLes

WhenJan 29-31 2016

I-35 North to Hwy 8 east to Center City Located on the North side of Hwy 8 on

North Center Lake

If youGoWhat

Celebration of the Lakes

Lindstrom MN

AdmissionFree additional admission required for some

events activities food and ridesVisit wwwchisagolakeschambercom

ldquoSo I helped way back then when she was part of the chamberrdquo said Thorvaldson ldquoAnd having a business in the community as I got older I also wanted to give backrdquo

Born and raised in the Chisago Lakes area Thorvaldson has served on the celebrationrsquos planning committee for nine years She said the event first caught her eye not only because she loves winter but because it focuses on the outdoors ldquoeven though many people in Minnesota cringe once we get to 20 degrees so it kind of gets you out and lets you do something funrdquo

Watching the celebration grow over the past two decades has also been fun for Thorvaldson

ldquoIt was very tiny at that pointrdquo she said as she reminisced about the early days of the event ldquoIt was just a few hay bales at the icerdquo

Being an active part of the planning has been equally exciting

ldquoThe committeersquos always trying to come up with more ideas that the community would perceive as something fun to do in the winter timerdquo she said ldquoThere have been the sled dogs there have been hot air balloons and there have been kitty cat races car racesrdquo

While past years have even included BMX bike races where people dressed up in costumes the snowmobile radar run and the vintage snow mobile displays have been the ldquomain staplesrdquo of the celebration Organized by the Wild River Snowmobile Club of Chisago City the snowmobile radar run features nearly 200 riders who race upwards of 120 miles per hour on a track

ldquoSometimes they will have souped-up snowmobiles that go incredibly fastrdquo Thorvaldson said ldquoWe had a world record one that raced on the track so itrsquos pretty amazing to see how fast some of them go They break them up into categories and there are prizes for the fastest one in each categoryrdquo

Originally introduced as a memorial radar run for a rotary member the radar run has become one of the celebrationrsquos most popular events

ldquoWe started with just a sheriffrsquos radar gun and now they use different timing items like cones and announcingrdquo she add ldquoItrsquos kind of something that has evolved toordquo

With the draw of the surrounding lakes in the area Thorvaldson said ice fishing has also grown in popularity and has become embedded in the annual celebration

ldquoItrsquos like little villages out on the lakerdquo she said

ldquoThat is kind of the big that that people do There are people who drive up from all over the place the Twin Cities all over just to come spend the weekend ice fishing on the lake so thatrsquos a big big thingrdquo

Greg Shaleen who has also been on the planning committee for the celebration for more than 15 years affirmed the celebrationrsquos growth when it comes to activities offered

ldquoWe have done kind of bizarre thingsrdquo he said ldquoWe do a smoosh race which is where you take 2-by-4s and strap four leather straps on it and you do a little bit of a racerdquo

Shaleen also credits the event for bringing people out to the lakes during the coldest month of the year

ldquoEveryone is all cooped up in the community and it just got to the point where they wanted to do something fun in the winter and get people out and about and enjoy the winter sportrdquo he said

From kitty races and sled dog races to a concession tent and a family fishing contest that draws anywhere from three to five hundred people Shaleen said the Celebration of the Lakes brings people together in the outdoors

ldquoWe are basically more interested in getting people out of the house visiting with friends and neighbors and visitors to the area and enjoying each otherrsquos interest in snowmobiling or ice fishing or whatever the events are taking place or going onrdquo he concluded

MM p01 0116indd 13 12222015 115930 AM

January The holidays are over along with all of the seasonrsquos excuses for overindulge in food and drink and under-indulging in any form of exercise (other than lifting onersquos hand to onersquos mouth) After stowing the presents in the

closet and taking down the tree many people choose the New Year as the perfect time to begin a serious diet and exercise program to shed the extra pounds they put on over the past few months and to begin eating more healthfully Mankato Clinic registered dietitian Erin Gonzalez says a hearty ldquoyesrdquo to healthy mindful eating and definite ldquonordquo to any extreme ldquodo or die(t)rdquo approach

According to Gonzalez 95 percent of all dieters regain the weight they lost within five years It is her belief that such yo-yo dieting only creates more frustration and stress which can lead to emotional eating and binge eating which leads to another cycle of dieting-losing-weight-gaining-weight ad infinitum

Gonzalez speaks from experience After losing 70 pounds since the time she was a teenager Gonzalez is now at a weight she considers healthy and one that she hasnrsquot deviated from in years

By Nell Musolf | Photos by Pat Christman and Darren Gibbins

Herersquos to ahealthy

new yeara healthy

new you

14 bull January 2016 bull MANKATO MAGAZINE

MM p01 0116indd 14 12182015 24450 PM

MANKATO MAGAZINE  bull January 2016 bull 15

Erin Gonzalez and her son prepare a healthful meal

Erin GonzalezldquoI struggled with weight issues when I was growing

uprdquo Gonzalez said ldquoWhen I was 16 I went on my first lsquoseriousrsquo dietmdashone of the fast diets that were popular in the 1990srdquo

Gonzalez said that she stuck to her diet religiously having a shake in the morning one for lunch and a sensible meal at night just as she was instructed to do She also walked for approximately two and a half hours a day Over the course of one summer she lost 70 pounds but she was also she now realizes flirting with an eating disorder Gonzalez says this scenario is not uncommon considering research shows 35 percent of ldquooccasional dietersrdquo progress into pathological dieting (disordered eating) and as many as 25 percent advance to full-blown eating disorders

ldquoMy food intake was very restrictive and I was always extremely conscience of what I ate but just the same I slowly gained back 30 of the 70 pounds

that I lostrdquo Gonzalez said ldquoI was always looking at food as either lsquogoodrsquo or lsquobadrsquo instead of something pleasurable to be enjoyedrdquo

It wasnrsquot until she was working at her dietetic internship that she had her ldquoahardquo moment

ldquoI was blessed with a teacher who taught her students how to enjoy foodrdquo Gonzalez said ldquoinstead of being obsessed by it Gonzalez learned about a program called Am I Hungry that specializes in helping people heal their relationship with food and their bodies so they can relearn to trust their internal hunger cues instead of having to follow arbitrary rules and broken promises of diets Gonzalez facilitates a program at the Mankato Clinic that teaches the Am I Hungry philosophy

ldquoI have two childrenrdquo Gonzalez said ldquoa 10-month-old and a 4-year-old They know how to eat naturally and they stop eating when they are no longer hungry That is what most adults need

MM p01 0116indd 15 12222015 120138 PM

16 bull January 2016 bull MANKATO MAGAZINE

xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

need to relearn how to eatrdquoThe method has worked for Gonzalez Gone are

her extra 30 pounds and she no longer dietsldquoDiets simply arenrsquot sustainablerdquo she said ldquoItrsquos so

hard in our society because we are surrounded by cues to eat all of the time At buffets where you want to lsquoget your moneyrsquos worthrsquo when yoursquore out with friends when you sit down at the end of the day and turn on the television to relax and are bombarded with ads for food Food has become a reward for a bad day or a good day or anything else we can think of But if you look at how you eat as a journey instead of as a destination you can learn to enjoy food a lot morerdquo

So what should someone who wants to start the New Year in a more healthy fashion do

ldquoPause before you eatrdquo Gonzalez recommended ldquoAsk yourself if yoursquore really hungry or if yoursquore actually thirsty or stressed instead Try not to be emotionally disconnected from what you are eatingrdquo

Gonzalez emphasized that ldquomindful eating isnrsquot naive to say nutrition isnrsquot important Of course it is Mindful eating is what allows us to take charge of our decisions of why when what how and how much we choose to eat instead of battling being in or out of controlrdquo

Instead of following the latest short-lived diet Gonzalez encourages people to make the healthiest choices possible that donrsquot leave them feeling deprived

Paulette Tonn BookerFor Paulette Tonn Booker the Am I Hungry

Mindful Eating (AIHME) program has been a game changer

Said Booker ldquoIrsquove tried several diet plans over the past 40 years including some well-known plans and I lost weight on each plan However keeping the weight off eluded me and resulted in yo-yo dieting

The lsquorulesrsquo of whichever plan Booker was on became the norm and after years of trying to live by those rules Booker was no longer able to discern what her body was telling her about hunger often leading to out-of-control overeating

ldquoI always knew there was something else going on yet no one had an answer for merdquo Booker said

When Booker first heard of the AIHME program two years ago she was relieved to discover that there were other people who felt the same way when it came to healthful eating The program taught her the skills she needed to recognize her bodyrsquos hunger signals thoughts and feelings and actions to help manage the physical emotional and environmental stresses of everyday life without resorting to eating to cope with those stresses

ldquoI no longer have to be in control of everything I only need to be in charge of my decisions at any given moment When I choose to overeat (which everyone does) I no longer beat myself up I try to reflect on what happened and then plan for ways to handle the situation differently the next time it occurs Old habits are hard to break it takes concentrated effort and dedication to rewire the brain with new habits and it can be donerdquo Booker said

About weight loss as the end goal of healthful eating Booker shared the following ldquoThe only time I get on a scale is at the doctorrsquos office I know what the experts say I should weigh A number does not define a personrsquos self-worth nor does it say anything about who we are and how we feel as we make changes in how we nurture our bodies The number on the scale is just a number bodies come in all shapes and sizes as does health I will never diet again Instead I will continue to work on developing mindful skills and in the meantime eating what I love and loving what I eatrdquo

MM p01 0116indd 16 12182015 24501 PM

MANKATO MAGAZINE  bull January 2016 bull 17

Eric ZiesmerFor Eric Ziesmer he is in the middle of his weight

loss journey a journey that began last July when the 32-year-old learned that he weighed 330 pounds The time had come for Ziesmer to make some healthy lifestyle changes Ziesmer decided to lose weight because of his family mdash both present and future

ldquoI have two adorable nephews and I would love to be able to chase them around the yard or pull them in a sled during the winter and basically to be active and see them as they growrdquo Ziesmer said ldquoAnd even though Irsquom currently single if it is in my cards for marriage and kids I would like to be there and not be too tired or not in shape A clean and healthy lifestyle is what I am striving for in my coming yearsrdquo

With the help of a dietician Ziesmer has started his cleaner and healthier lifestyle Since July he has lost 40 pounds and has decided to have weight loss surgery To help his post operation phase go as smoothly as possible Ziesmer eats fresh fruit every day has cut out chips and cookies among other things

ldquoI have totally cut out soda Soda was a big one to cut out In my huge climb to 300 there were days when I would consume two 2-liter bottles of pop in a single day and maybe cracking open a thirdrdquo Ziesmer said ldquoI try to listen to my stomach instead of my eyes or eat because Irsquom bored or stressed I eat slow and sip instead of being the guzzler I have always beenrdquo

Another tactic Ziesmer has adopted has been to stop drinking liquids 30 minutes before a meal and then wait 30 minutes after eating before sipping again

ldquoWhen my stomach rumbles and says itrsquos hungry I feed it When my brain or boredom drives me to want to eat I take a second to see if my stomach feels empty and if not it gets deniedrdquo Ziesmer said

Ziesmer has noticed that he is more successful at healthy eating when he eats at home When he does dine out hersquoll cut a sandwich in half eat half and save other half for a future meal

ldquoAs far as exercise goes it went from zero to at least two if not three times a week going for a 327 mile walk and have recently made my way back into the gymrdquo Ziesmer said He has been able to keep track of his walks with accuracy thanks to an app called MapMyRun

Ziesmer knows that his healthier living journey will continue for a long time

ldquoI plan on continuing to live healthy by continuing my exercise and eating right and by saying that itrsquos not only for me and feeling better but also because there are two little guys that look up to their uncle Staying motivated is at least my key to keeping up this lifestyle I want to live a long and healthier life feeling better and being there down the road for family and friends is what means mostrdquo Ziesmer said MM

Eric Ziesmer says hersquos got plenty of motivation to get healthy two nephews to whom he wants to be a good role model

MM p01 0116indd 17 12222015 120514 PM

18 bull January 2016 bull MANKATO MAGAZINE

Stephanie Howe says itrsquos best to have realistic goals when starting a fitness program

Herersquos your guideBy Robb Murray | Photos by Pat Christman

Ready for CHANGE

MM p01 0116indd 18 12182015 24506 PM

MANKATO MAGAZINE  bull January 2016 bull 19

Yoursquore ready

You ate the ham and turkey and potatoes and Christmas cookies You drank the wine beer and eggnog Yoursquove spent the last few

months pondering a life change Yoursquore on the verge of a major transformation This time itrsquos happening Yoursquore going to get healthy Itrsquos going to be a new you

And then January arrived And you have no plan

Luckily we here at Mankato Magazine have got you covered Itrsquos not uncommon for people to make a New Yearrsquos resolution or some similar vow this time of year It usually comes with goal weights and promises to hit the gym X number of times per week and trips to the produce and organic sections of the grocery store because this time yoursquore serious Right

OK easy tiger Getting healthy is a great idea and wersquore wishing you all the best But wersquore also coming at you with some sensible advice Maybe setting unrealistic goals isnrsquot the best way to go Maybe just

heading into the gym and trying to get it all done in a week isnrsquot a great way to go either

ldquoFinerdquo you say ldquothen what should I dordquoWersquore so glad you asked

Letrsquos get startedThe first thing you need to remember when

starting an exercise program is that if you want to lose weight you need to change the way you eat too

ldquoNo matter what you say you canrsquot out exercise a bad dietrdquo says Stephanie Howe director of healthy living at the Mankato YMCA

Howe works in what might be the busiest fitness hub in the Mankato area So shersquos seen her share of people come through the doors with plans to change their lives Some of them succeed Most do not

One of the biggest mistakes people make Howe says is not really having a good grasp on how much time theyrsquoll need in order to incorporate a good workout into their day It doesnrsquot have to be a two-

hour commitment every day she says It can be 30 minutes of planned effective exercise several times per week Whatrsquos more important is just getting there and thatrsquos an obstacle that is bigger than most people realize

ldquoMost people want to lsquopeople pleasersquordquo she said ldquoYou can say yoursquore going to get up and work out every day but most people are built to need external accountabilityrdquo

Think about hiring a personal trainer

ldquoWhen you spend the money on a personal trainer you have an appointment therersquos someone waiting thererdquo she says

A personal trainer is a great way to immediately know yoursquore doing exactly what yoursquore supposed to be doing and yoursquoll have no doubt whether yoursquore working hard enough There are plenty of personal trainers in town mdash at the YMCA and other gyms mdash who would love to help you Of course they donrsquot work for free and for many people the cost of a personal trainer is more than theyrsquore willing to spend

Fortunately therersquos a trend in fitness to offer the whip-crack of a personal trainer while staying Jo radlinger urges her clients to not sabotage their fitness efforts with poor eating over

the weekend

MM p01 0116indd 19 12182015 24510 PM

20 bull January 2016 bull MANKATO MAGAZINE

728 N Riverfront DriveMankato MN 56001

507-625-5163katobearscom

Pins and NeedlesAlterations

Specializing in alterations for theentire wedding party including

gown re-sizing hemming re-beadingbustles and so much more

Like us onFacebook

affordableThe Y now offers something called ldquotrainer ledrdquo

exercise sessions where you work with others in a group but have access to a trainer nearby who can push you motivate you and make sure yoursquore you know doing it right Theyrsquore $3 a class

ldquoYoursquore still expected to be there but itrsquos much cheaperrdquo Howe said ldquoThe group environment pushes you and we have tons of trainer-led classes Itrsquos the best of both worldsrdquo

Across town Jo Radlinger runs Jorsquos Garage a fitness center where shersquos the one pushing you to succeed

Radlingerrsquos goal she says is to bring out everyonersquos potential

ldquoI want to make sure everybody that comes through my door has success I want them to be the very best version of themselves that they can berdquo

Like Howe Radlinger acknowledges that the financial side of hiring a personal trainer can scare people away but she says there are several reasons why it shouldnrsquot

ldquoItrsquos never a bad investment when yoursquore investing in yourselfrdquo she said ldquoMeet with a trainer who is just as passionate about your goal My goal is not to train you intensely but to show you what yoursquore capable of and then take you to that next levelrdquo

At Jorsquos Fitness Garage there are no membership fees Radlinger doesnrsquot believe in them Instead she charges $5 per visit and in that time she said she pushes you to have a great workout

GymtimidationSetting goals is a great

idea Setting unrealistic goals is the kind of thing that results in a gym membership card laying dormant in a junk drawer by February

So set those goals but set them smartlyldquoAccountability is huge Even if you canrsquot hire

someonerdquo Howe says ldquoMake specific goals mdash say yoursquore going to workout X number of times but make those numbers realistic Set goals that are within your controlrdquo

Do this and yoursquore likely to feel a lot better about how things go

ldquoMost people just want to feel better about themselves they want to feel more confidentrdquo Howe said ldquoThis way even before any physical changes happen theyrsquoll feel better Theyrsquoll start to feel like theyrsquore in control again of their life and their choicesrdquo

Taking an exercise class is a great way to both get

your body moving while at the same time have fun and meet those people who will notice when you donrsquot show up

And about that weight room Yes it can be intimidating to walk in and see people who look like they live there But Howe says that while it can definitely be a psychological barrier focusing on those people is the wrong strategy

ldquoNo one cares what yoursquore doingrdquo Howe says ldquoFocus on yourdquo

Take it slowIt can be tempting when you finally get up the

nerve to get back in the swing of working out to go hardcore But just like setting unrealistic goals trying to achieve your fitness goals in a day is impossible

ldquoPeople start out really gung-ho and reset their diet so aggressively and most people just simply canrsquot do thisrdquo Radlinger said ldquoWhen yoursquore looking at making a lifestyle change I want you to do it slowly and incrementally rather than do it all in two monthsrdquo

Rushing into the weight room and trying to lift the same weight and number of reps and sets that you did 10 years ago is a great way to make sure you canrsquot work out for a while Going from a sedentary lifestyle to two hours of pumping iron can leave you sore enough to not be able to lift anything for days Maybe even weeks

Ease into it The gymrsquos not going anywhere Think marathon not sprint

ldquoSometimes people have an all-or-nothing attituderdquo Howe said ldquoand they make themselves sore and they canrsquot continuerdquo

Speaking of all-or-nothing Radlinger says

some people bring that kind of intensity to their food intake over the weekend Bad idea

ldquoAs trainers we help people be accountable We do success measurements help them prepare and plan And wersquoll do weigh-ins on Mondayrdquo Radlinger says ldquoWersquoll find that people do really well Monday through Friday then do what I call sabotage Saturday and Sunday At some point yoursquore going to get so sick of hitting that reset button every Mondayrdquo

Whatever you choose to do both trainers say itrsquos never a bad idea to sit down with your doctor and run your plans by himher Your personal safety should always come first and getting the green light from Doc can give you some peace of mind as you start this new chapter of your life MM

Jo radlinger runs Jorsquos Fitness Garage

MM p01 0116indd 20 12222015 120709 PM

MANKATO MAGAZINE  bull January 2016 bull 21

728 N Riverfront DriveMankato MN 56001

507-625-5163katobearscom

Pins and NeedlesAlterations

Specializing in alterations for theentire wedding party including

gown re-sizing hemming re-beadingbustles and so much more

Like us onFacebook

Live the Lifestyle

wwwmapletonmarinecom

Southern MNrsquos largestboat show on now at the

Madison East Center in Mankato

MM p01 0116indd 21 12182015 24524 PM

22 bull January 2016 bull MANKATO MAGAZINE

Thirty-three years ago I stood inside a grave A lifetime ago when I was a pastorrsquos wife

In Nebraska we served a parish of barely over one hundred members A picture-postcard white church with a hand-carved white wooden altar from Germany sat at the top of a hill next to it the parsonage and next to that the cemetery rolling down the hill toward a wooded creek

The first death in the congregation after our arrival set off a flurry of activity Irsquod never met Alma because she was in a nursing home before we arrived However my husband visited her on several occasions She was mother aunt grandmother great-aunt and great-grandmother to half the congregation so there was no question about whether or not I would attend the funeral

With my two little kids in tow I attended every event at the church every Sunday morning service of course but also every funeral every confirmation every baptism every meeting of womenrsquos circle and even every family reunion that was held in the church basement At twenty-six I perfected the art of making gracious small talk with people Irsquod never seen before and would never see again and at taking tiny portions from each confirmation buffet so I would neither be sick by the end of the day nor offend any of the mothers who had slaved away over their sumptuous spreads of food

By Rebecca Fjelland Davis

Grave Lesson in Winter

ESSay

MM p01 0116indd 22 12182015 24527 PM

MANKATO MAGAZINE  bull January 2016 bull 23

Attending the little white country church was physically easy I picked up one-year-old Josh took three-year-old Nikkirsquos hand and walked out the front door down the sidewalk and next door The only things I didnrsquot have to attend were church council and the menrsquos meeting Archaic This was in the 1980s It doesnrsquot seem so long ago

All the available babysitters in the community would attend Almarsquos funeral too so this was to be my kidsrsquo first funeral

The afternoon before the service salt-snow fell Hard little crystals pelted down as if the heavens had up-ended a Mortonrsquos salt canister Within a few hours the hard snow was six inches deep and still falling

In the middle of the salt-snow the gravedigger arrived The Ditchwitch roared around the cemetery to the familyrsquos plot and my kidsrsquo noses pressed against the upstairs bedroom window pane ldquoMommy can we go watchrdquo

Glad for an excuse to get out of the parsonage I bundled them in snowsuits put them on the sled and pulled them across the house yard and garden to the fence that bordered the cemetery

The Ditchwitch made short work of the grave and all three of us were mesmerized watching the mound of gray-black dirt grow in the crystal-white snow When the hole was finished the gravedigger turned his tractor on idle He hopped off and came over to the fence His eyes twinkled in a weathered face ldquoWant to come lookrdquo

I backed up from the fence a step ldquoNo not really I think this is close enoughrdquo

ldquoYes Mommy go lookrdquo ldquoPleeeeaserdquoSo Nikki and Josh got back on the sled and I

hauled them along the fence through the gate over to the grave and looked down Six feet seemed deep bottomless Dark A sharp contrast to the pelting snowflakes all around us

ldquoWanna get down in thererdquo the gravedigger asked I shuddered hung onto the kids and backed up

again ldquoNo No thatrsquos okay This is close enough I just want to look from hererdquo

ldquoYes mommyrdquo the little ones said ldquoLetrsquosrdquoldquoNordquoldquoPleaserdquoldquoReally marsquoam I think you should Yoursquoll be

surprised I wouldnrsquot suggest it if it I didnrsquot think sordquoldquoHow would we get outrdquo The sides were deeper

than I was tall and there certainly werenrsquot footholds or a ladder built in for Almarsquos soul to use to climb out

ldquoLike thisrdquo The gravedigger laid his shovel diagonally across a top corner of the grave and jumped down He grabbed the middle of the shovel handle and swung himself back up and out with the agility of a gymnast ldquoNothinrsquo to itrdquo

ldquoI canrsquot do thatrdquoldquoYes you can Irsquoll boost you And wersquoll lift the kids

Yoursquoll be amazed I promiserdquoI shivered The idea of being inside a grave

seemed much colder than the snow crystals biting at my face

ldquoCome onrdquo he said and jumped back in Nikki and Josh willingly stepped over to him to be lifted down I had no choice but to follow I couldnrsquot let my kids alone in a grave with a man I didnrsquot even know

So I jumped The earth on the bottom made a soft landing The soil around me was warm and steamy It was moist and dark but it enfolded us in an earthy hug At least fifty degrees warmer than the air above ground it felt as if the earth were offering shelter respite a comfortable place to snuggle down and rest Tiny roots dangled full of life from the smooth edges of the hole Tears sprang to my eyes I couldnrsquot help them My eyes met the gravediggerrsquos and he smiled Gently ldquoSeerdquo he said Nothing more

I couldnrsquot speak A few minutes later he gave me a stirrup with his

hands I scrambled out and he lifted Nikki and Josh up to me Then he flipped himself out as easily as a trapeze artist

ldquoThank yourdquo I said ldquoI would never have guessedrdquoHe nodded ldquoNobody does But it helps somehow

I wanted you to feel thatrdquoWhy I wanted to ask why me You donrsquot even

know me Why were you willing to take time for usldquoThank yourdquo was all I said I shook his hand and

he hopped on the Ditchwitch and drove off into the snow

I never saw him again Someone else dug the next grave required in that cemetery

I remember only bits and pieces of the funeral Irsquom sure I baked a boxed cake mix for ldquolunchrdquo afterwards I remember answering Nikkirsquos questions about the body and sitting in the back row of the church in case Josh didnrsquot want to be quiet I do remember looking at the unfamiliar face in the casket and thinking you get to rest in a warm cozy place

Ten winters later we buried my dad on just such a day Wet snow crystals pelted us and piled up so deep the funeral home limousine got stuck in the cemetery By the time the pallbearers pushed it un-stuck their suit pants were caked in slush and mud

We stood at the graveside in the bleak wet icy day and lowered my fatherrsquos body into the ground

ldquoToo bad itrsquos such a miserable dayrdquo ldquoSorry about your dad Sorry the weatherrsquos so bad toordquo And even ldquoSuch a good man He deserves better weather than thisrdquo

But the weather I thought was just right Losing my dad my kids and their cousins losing

their grandpa my mom becoming a widow my brother losing his farming partner and best friend changed our livesmdashthat part was too heavy to carry

The only part that was okay for me was to let Dadrsquos worn-out body be wrapped in that welcoming warm enfolding soilmdashthe very soil hersquod loved to till the soil hersquod planted and tended all his life the soil that gave us all lifemdashthat was the only gratifying part of the day

The only comfort I had was letting Dad go from the cold wet biting snow into that warm and restful place

And I still wonder who that gravedigger was ten years earlier and how he knew how much I would need what he gave me that bleak winter day MM

Rebecca Fjelland Davis is an author from Mankato

MM p01 0116indd 23 12182015 24528 PM

reFlecTionsBy Pat Christman

24 bull January 2016 bull MANKATO MAGAZINE

MM p01 0116indd 24 12182015 24544 PM

reFlecTionsBy Pat Christman

MANKATO MAGAZINE  bull January 2016 bull 25

There are few things as inevitable as snow during a Minnesota winter Big

cotton ball-like snowflakes cover the ground in a white blanket whitewashing the Midwestern landscape

We struggle against it Some hope the snow never comes It always does filling the sky with floating snowflakes that cling to the ground but melt as soon as they hit the small bits of face or hands that peek out from winter clothing

It is often quite beautiful especially when viewed from someplace warm and dry MM

MM p01 0116indd 25 12182015 24548 PM

26 bull January 2016 bull MANKATO MAGAZINE

Then amp now Vice President Schuyler Colfaxrsquos Death By Bryce o sTenzel

On Jan 14 1885 one day after his death the New York Times carried a

headline that read ldquoSchuyler Colfax Dead He Drops Down in a Railway Stationrdquo While most Americans today would have tremendous difficulty in even recognizing this manrsquos name

(unless they were paying close attention to Stephen Spielbergrsquos epic movie Lincoln and made the association) Schuyler Colfax was a former Speaker of the House of Representatives and Vice President of the United States under President US Grant He died in Mankatorsquos Chicago St

Paul Minneapolis amp Omaha railroad depot from a massive heart attack

Schuyler Colfax Jr was born in New York City on March 23 1823 His father died of tuberculosis five months before Schuyler was born His sister Mary died four months after his [Schuylerrsquos]

vice President Schuyler Colfaxrsquos Death in Mankato

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MANKATO MAGAZINE  bull January 2016 bull 27

birth The young Schuyler attended school only until he was 10 He then began working to support his family Schuyler Colfax never attended any kind of secondary school or college His mother remarried when Colfax was 13 and the family moved to New Carlisle Indiana By the time he was 22 Colfax was the editor and owner of a pro-Whig newspaper He was elected to Congress in 1854 and joined the newly formed Republican Party after the Whig Party disintegrated Solidly anti-slavery his colleagues elected Colfax as Speaker of the US House of Representatives in 1863 His election came soon after the death of his wife Evelyn The couple had no children

Colfax was President Abraham Lincolnrsquos first and last visitor on the fateful day Lincoln was assassinatedmdashApril 14 1865 Early that morning Colfax arrived at the White House while the president was having breakfast Colfax wanted to know whether or not Lincoln planned to call a special session of Congress for later that summer Lincolnrsquos answer was a polite but firm ldquonordquo Lincoln preferred a lenient approach in reconstructing as well as readmitting the former Confederate states to the Union now that the Civil War was over This approach put Lincoln at odds with the more ldquoradicalrdquo congressional members of his own party who preferred harsher measures be taken against their former enemies Lincoln had already made up his mind how he wanted to proceed with reconstructing the former Confederate states and he didnrsquot want any unnecessary interference from Congress Calling a special session was the last thing Lincoln wanted to do Colfax returned that same night to see Lincoln again just before the president left for Fordrsquos Theatre and his appointment with destiny This time Colfax came upon Lincolnrsquos own request The president had a long message for the silver miners of the Comstock Lode in Nevada thanking them for their loyalty to the Union that he wanted Speaker Colfax to deliver in person since Colfax was leaving by train for the West the next day Colfax was the last person Lincoln spoke to besides his wife Mary before he

was fatally shot at 1015 pm Colfax never forgave himself for turning down Lincolnrsquos invitation to be part of the theatre party that night

In 1868 Republicans selected General Ulysses S Grant as their presidential candidate Grant a military man his entire life had no political background Colfax was placed on the ticket because of his prior experience as a congressman and Speaker of the House (he resigned the position in 1869) Grant and Colfax won an easy victory in November 1868 Only two weeks later Colfax remarriedmdashthis time to Ellen Wade (niece of Ohio Senator Benjamin Wade) Their only child son Schuyler Colfax III was born in 1870

Colfax is best remembered (if at all) for his involvement in the corruption that beset Grantrsquos entire presidency Specifically the Credit Mobilier scandal broke in 1872 just as Grant and Colfax were gearing up for their re-election campaign Colfax was suspected of accepting shares of stock and cash bribes from ldquoCredit Mobilierrdquo a dummy construction company set up by the Union Pacific Railroad He was by no means the only influential person involved in the scandal Other political figures investigated included Senators Roscoe Conkling of New York William Allison of Iowa John Logan of Illinois James Bayard of Delaware and Henry Wilson of Massachusetts Grant was less popular in 1872 than he had been four years earlier and many Republicans worried that having Colfax on the partyrsquos ticket would harm the presidentrsquos re-election chances They dumped Colfax from the ticket mdash only to replace him with the also-tainted Wilson Grant won re-election and served his second and final term from 1873-1877 After being forced out from the vice presidency Colfax traveled the country as a popular lecturer often speaking about his interactions with Abraham Lincoln during the Civil War He rebuilt his tarnished reputation and commanded speaking fees as high as $2500

At 10 am on Jan 13 1885 Schuyler Colfax arrived in Mankato aboard a train from Milwaukee Mankato was just a

brief stop for Colfax who was on his way to Iowa for a speaking engagement The Chicago Milwaukee amp St Paul as well as the Chicago St Paul Minneapolis amp Omaha railroads both had depots in Mankato but because they were separate competing railroad lines Colfax was required to change trains by walking three-quarters of a mile from the Chicago Milwaukee amp St Paul depot at the foot of Hickory Street to the Chicago St Paul Minneapolis amp Omaha depot at Fourth and Washington Streets (now Washington Park) from which the next leg of his journey would depart Despite a reported temperature of 30 degrees below zero Colfax walked from one station to the other Within five minutes after he arrived at the Omaha linersquos depot Colfax entered the waiting room looked at a map on the wall sat down and died It was 1035 am No one in the station knew who the dead man actually was until they searched his pockets and found a letter with his name on it His death was likely caused by a heart attack brought on by the physical exertion of walking almost a mile in extreme cold Colfax was only 61 when he died His remains were returned to South Bend Indiana for burial

Today few Americans are aware that anyone named Schuyler Colfax ever lived much less served as vice president of the United States In this era in which officeholders are often treated as celebrities imagine how surprised people would be to learn that a former vice president died cold alone and unrecognized in a train station 131 years ago Before 24-hour news channels smart phones and social media it was possible for public figures like Colfax to live ndash and die ndash in relative obscurity Ironically Colfax loved the railroad but in the end it was the cause of his undoing Mankato has the distinction of being the location where the last man to personally speak to Abraham Lincoln in a private conversation took his last breath

MM p01 0116indd 27 12182015 24549 PM

28 bull January 2016 bull MANKATO MAGAZINE

Mayo Clinic offers pediatric and adolescent orthopedic services right here in Mankato Todd Milbrandt MD cares for patients with a variety of needs including

bull Cerebral palsy

bull Clubfoot

bull Hip disorders

bull Spinal disorders

bull Sports injuries

bull Scoliosis

bull Spina bifida

Mayo Clinic Health System in Mankato Call 1-877-412-7575 (toll-free) to schedule an appointment

495rdquox495rdquo Mankato Magazine January

Orthopedic care for your child

Independent ampAssisted Living

EQUAL HOUSINGOPPORTUNITY

1360 Adams StreetMankato MN

PrimroseRetirementcom

reg

Key City Senior Breakfast ClubThe Key City Senior Breakfast Club meets the first Thursday of each month from 830 AM - 930 AM at Primrose Retirement Community The club gives those 55+ the opportunity to meet new friends and visit old ones socialize with Key City Officials and enjoy a delicious home-cooked breakfast To visit a Key City Senior Breakfast please call (866) 447-9636

Mark your calendar for these breakfast dates Thursday January 7th Thursday March 3rd and Thursday May 5th

刀椀渀最 椀渀 琀栀攀 

一攀眀 夀攀愀爀

㔀 㜀ⴀ㤀㐀ⴀ㐀㐀䨀甀氀攀攀猀䨀攀眀攀氀爀礀挀漀洀

椀渀 匀愀椀渀琀 倀攀琀攀爀

20765 Foley Rd Mankato MN | 5073872434 | 5077262411

Three TimeNational Award Winners

MM p02 0116indd 28 12182015 30742 PM

Mayo Clinic offers pediatric and adolescent orthopedic services right here in Mankato Todd Milbrandt MD cares for patients with a variety of needs including

bull Cerebral palsy

bull Clubfoot

bull Hip disorders

bull Spinal disorders

bull Sports injuries

bull Scoliosis

bull Spina bifida

Mayo Clinic Health System in Mankato Call 1-877-412-7575 (toll-free) to schedule an appointment

495rdquox495rdquo Mankato Magazine January

Orthopedic care for your child

Independent ampAssisted Living

EQUAL HOUSINGOPPORTUNITY

1360 Adams StreetMankato MN

PrimroseRetirementcom

reg

Key City Senior Breakfast ClubThe Key City Senior Breakfast Club meets the first Thursday of each month from 830 AM - 930 AM at Primrose Retirement Community The club gives those 55+ the opportunity to meet new friends and visit old ones socialize with Key City Officials and enjoy a delicious home-cooked breakfast To visit a Key City Senior Breakfast please call (866) 447-9636

Mark your calendar for these breakfast dates Thursday January 7th Thursday March 3rd and Thursday May 5th

OMG hellip More food and drinksOK sure

By now yoursquore probably thinking ldquoOh my gosh the last thing I want to think about right now is more food more drinking and more diningrdquo

Fair enough We get it The holidays are murder on the metabolism of many many Minnesotans

But we also know that those metabolisms are hardy and soon enough theyrsquoll be hankering for a hunk of something yummy and full of fun And whatrsquos more yummy and full of fun than a big glass of Cabernet Sauvignon Our wine guy Leigh Pomeroy takes us on a tour of all that is tasty and wonderful about big red wines the kind that leave their mark the kind that really announce their presence on your palate

And just in case yoursquore super serious about a healthy lifestyle mdash and that seriousness extends to the kind of beer you choose mdash Bert Mattson our beer guy has just the selection for you Best part is Itrsquos light

Oh and under the category of ldquoDid you hear about thisrdquo Wersquove got an update for you on the Coffee Hag Mankatorsquos original coffee house and one of the most popular hangouts in town Seriously some days itrsquos hard to find a seat in that place

EnjoyPS We know that baby itrsquos cold outside mdash thatrsquos why wersquove

thrown you our absolute best hot cocoa recipe

Enjoymdash Robb Murray Associate Editor Mankato Magazine

food drink amp dineso

uthern m

n style

20765 Foley Rd Mankato MN | 5073872434 | 5077262411

Three TimeNational Award Winners

MM p02 0116indd 29 12182015 30745 PM

MANKATO 5073854485 AMBOY 5076743355 I VERNON CENTER 5075493679

INSURANCE OFFICES LOCATED IN THE COMMUNITY BANK BUILDINGS

wwwcimankatocom

Protecting the things that matter most in your life

Let us help protect what is important to you At Community Insurance we have the ability to compare insurance from multiple companies to get you the best coverage at a great price Combine that with our insurance knowledge and friendly group of agents and we say thatrsquos a winning deal

WHERE YOUR POLICY COMES WITH AN AGENT

Christina Meyer

Food

south

ern mn style

Food

south

ern mn style

By The Washington Post

Growing up my mother always encouraged her children to cook So when

I found a recipe for hot chocolate on the side of the Hersheyrsquos Cocoa can it was easy to convince her to let me give it a try

What I discovered was that hot chocolate doesnrsquot have to come from an envelope

This recipe has been a favorite of mine to make on days when winter weather has convinced me stay home and off the roads Itrsquos the perfect way to kill time and have a nice hot drink to warm you up on those chilly days

Although you can top it with whipped cream I prefer marshmallows

FAVORITE HOT COCOAMakes 4 to 6 servings

12 cup sugar14 cup unsweetened cocoa powder

Dash of salt13 cup hot water

4 cups milk34 teaspoon vanilla extract

Whipped cream or marshmallows (optional)

Mix sugar cocoa powder salt and water in a sauce pan Stir constantly over medium heat until mixture comes to a boil (about 2 minutes) Stir in

milk and heat Bring the hot chocolate to the desired temperature but do not boil Remove from heat and

add the vanilla extract Divide into mugs and top with whipped cream or marshmallows

PERFECTLY CHOCOLATE HOT COCOA

Makes 1 serving

2 tablespoons sugar2 tablespoons unsweetened cocoa powder

Dash salt1 cup milk

14 teaspoon vanilla extractWhipped cream or marshmallows (optional)

Mix sugar cocoa powder and salt into large mug In separate microwave-safe container heat on high

for 1 to 1 frac12 minutes or until very hot Carefully and gradually add milk to dry mixture Stir well Add vanilla extract Top with whipped cream or

marshmallows

Simple homemade hot chocolate

beats the winter chill

30 bull January 2016 bull MANKATO MAGAZINE

MM p02 0116indd 30 12182015 30752 PM

MANKATO MAGAZINE  bull January 2016 bull 31

Oil Change to OverhaulWe do it all

507-387-13151620 Commerce Drive North MankatowwwAustinsAutoRepairCentercom

Voted Best Auto Repair and Best Auto Mechanic 4 Years in a Row

AUSTINrsquoS AUTO REPAIR CENTER INC

MANKATO 5073854485 AMBOY 5076743355 I VERNON CENTER 5075493679

INSURANCE OFFICES LOCATED IN THE COMMUNITY BANK BUILDINGS

wwwcimankatocom

Protecting the things that matter most in your life

Let us help protect what is important to you At Community Insurance we have the ability to compare insurance from multiple companies to get you the best coverage at a great price Combine that with our insurance knowledge and friendly group of agents and we say thatrsquos a winning deal

WHERE YOUR POLICY COMES WITH AN AGENT

Christina Meyer

MM p02 0116indd 31 12182015 30755 PM

32 bull January 2016 bull MANKATO MAGAZINE

January is Cabernet TimeWersquove celebrated nearly

every January edition of Mankato Magazine with

a paean to BIG REDS And since there are so many wonderful examples why stop now

Last year I wrote about the powerful big reds of Italy This January wersquoll focus on Cabernet Sauvignon known to many as ldquothe king of winesrdquo Most oenophiles (wine lovers) consider the quintessential representations of this grape to be the classified Bordeaux of southwest France near the city of Bordeaux The five First Growths (or best wines according to a classification made in 1855 and updated in 1973) are Ch Lafite Rothschild Ch Margaux Ch Latour Ch Haut Brion and Ch Mouton Rothschild All have a cabernet sauvignon base but they are blended with merlot and often a little bit of cabernet franc and petit verdot as well

In the early 1970s I was able to buy these wines for around $22 per bottle mdash about $120 in 2016 dollars Yet with the popularity of ldquocollectiblerdquo wines on a worldwide

basis they sell today for anywhere from $400 on up

Contrary to popular belief these wines are not that massive Rather they combine cabernet sauvignon power with

structure and finesse yielding wines that become with time elixirs that are greater than the sum of their parts

Both California and Washington state have taken up the Cabernet Sauvignon challenge and are producing world-class wines at sometimes world-class prices Napa Valley is the recognized leader in this arena and rightly so Napa Valleyrsquos top Cabernet

Wine amp B

eerso

uthern m

n style

winesBy Leigh Pomeroy

Leigh Pomeroy is a Mankato-based writer and wine lover

Cabernet Sauvignon is the black Labrador of wines mdash it comes up and licks yourdquo

mdash Winemaker Scott Rich

Sauvignons rival the great wines of Bordeaux for quality mdash Irsquove tasted them side-by-side mdashand yet can sell for a fraction of their price

One such example is the 2013 Tulocay Cabernet Sauvignon from my old friend Bill Cadman We were young bucks in Napa Valley and had a tasting group in the early 1970s along with now-famous wine luminaries Bruce Neyers (Neyers Vineyards) and Mike Richmond (co-founder of Acacia Vineyard)

Billrsquos Cabernet is from an old and relatively cool growing area east of the City of Napa called Coombsville which because of industry political issues only recently received its AVA (American Viticultural Area) designation It is priced at $60 per bottle yet compares with any top-flight Bordeaux as well as the more expensive offerings from Napa Valley which can cost from $100 on up Not currently available at wine stores or restaurants in Minnesota it can be purchased by contacting the winery directly via its website tulocaycom The winery is so small that Bill will probably answer the phone himself

There is a lot of Cabernet Sauvignon available from California but mdash caveat emptor mdash not all growing areas (or appellations) are the same The best Cabernet Sauvignons are from Napa and Sonoma Counties Cabernets simply labeled ldquoCaliforniardquo or perhaps ldquoCoastalrdquo while sometimes good values lack the complexity of the greater Cabernet Sauvignons from the more northern parts of the state

Washington state has also

established itself as a prime producer of Cabernet Sauvignon But here again quality can vary greatly depending upon the area and producer While there is no ldquogo-tordquo appellation for Cabernet Sauvignon in Washington there are producers that are able to secure fruit from the best vineyards

One such example is the tiny Willis Hall Winery owned by another good friend John Bell a former Boeing jet propulsion engineer Like Tulocay its wines are only available by calling up the winery and ordering some (See willishallcom) But there are many other top quality producers in Washington like Quilceda Creek Leonetti Betz Family and Woodward Canyon

Of course not everyone can afford Cabernet Sauvignons in the $60-plus category One excellent everyday drinking example is the Flying Cloud 2013 Paso Robles Cabernet Sauvignon made by Mankato native Stephen Dooley Normally I donrsquot like Paso Robles Cabs as they tend to be too fruity and too soft for my palate mdash almost like drinking berry jam But this one is quite restrained no doubt helped by the inclusion of 13 percent zinfandel and 9 percent petite sirah in the blend

In Mankato both the Wine Cafeacute and MGM carry the Flying Cloud but at its price and quality I wouldnrsquot count on it lasting for long especially since only 759 cases were produced

So letrsquos raise a glass of Cabernet and say ldquoCheersrdquo to the New Year

MM p02 0116indd 32 12182015 30756 PM

MANKATO MAGAZINE  bull January 2016 bull 33

Bert Mattson is a chef and writer based in St Paul He is the manager of the iconic Mickeyrsquos Diner

Beer Skinny

BeerBy Bert Mattson

Last year according to Nielsen research staying fit and healthy was

the number one New Yearrsquos resolution Losing weight was two Three was to enjoy life to the fullest Unfortunately ldquolose weight and get fitrdquo also topped Time magazinersquos list of commonly broken resolutions Is this shortfall due to tension between the top two and that third one If so craft beer may have a role in the compromise Bad news first

In the context of losing weight and staying fit beer lovers might seek solace in the fact that fat carries nine calories per gram while alcohol has only seven The wrinkle is that those seven are ldquoemptyrdquo mdash calories without nutrition as opposed to those from fat protein and carbohydrates Moreover alcoholrsquos calories are the first burned when combined with the others the human body postpones burning fat while it works on alcohol Furthermore beer (and wine and often cocktails) contains carbohydrates which release insulin and can hasten fat storage Finally many drinkers have undoubtedly observed that alcohol loosens inhibitions after which an eager indulgence in unhealthy foods often occurs (Bar menus are rarely helpful in that respect)

By now you may wonder whose side Irsquom actually on Or suspect Irsquove led you to this dark place only to offer you a Lite No worries a couple craft brewers have been considering ways to keep us true to our resolutions

Evil Twin Brewingrsquos Bikini Beer drops the alcohol to 27 percent but stays bold by way of hops A Pale Ale it hits the nose with citrus suggestive of IPA The flavor follows suit floral and lemon There is an expected absence of malt yielding to bitterness up front that fades at the finish An alternative

for those who insist on the full effect Founderrsquos Brewing Companyrsquos All Day IPA rings in at a respectable 144 calories (Evil Twinrsquos entry comes in at 81)

One strategy to beat the beer munchies and avoid costly impulse eating is to have suitable chow on hand With Bikini Beer try a salad sporting blue cheese and some sort of dried fruit Creamy blue veined cheeses echo the hops while balancing bitterness An occasional bite of dried fruit stands in for malt sweetness

Brooklyn Breweryrsquos 12 Ale weighs in at 34 percent alcohol (102 calories) It is alliteratively labeled ldquoSession Saisonrdquo It opens with a waft of citrus and spice and a little lemongrass from Sorachi Ace hops mdash a hybrid developed in East Asia The same elements are found in the flavor which is a bit more subdued than a full-sized Saison

Try it with a tangle of arugula dressed with lemon and a fruity olive oil tossed with pine nuts and topped with shaved Parmesan for effect The greens and cracked pepper reflect spicy phenolic elements in the yeast Salty cheese counters the beerrsquos lingering bitterness Maybe add a few slices of Speck cured ham and Saison share a certain funkiness

If friends show and it becomes a session you may honestly say you spent Saturday working on your six-pack

MM p02 0116indd 33 12182015 30757 PM

34 bull January 2016 bull MANKATO MAGAZINE

Food

south

ern mn style

Food

south

ern mn style

The Coffee Hag one of the arearsquos oldest (and coolest) bistros recently underwent a major expansion and remodeling journey culminating in a large and airy

seating area along with a much-improved kitchen and a new menu Mankato Magazine caught up with a very busy (and slightly exhausted) owner Jenn Melby-Kelly who weighs in on how itrsquos going

MANKATO MAGAZINE Are you personally enjoying the new updatesJENN MELBY-KELLY It Is Fabulous The new space represents so much more than a remodel to me It has brought to life a vision for my business thatrsquos been years in the making It incorporates many many good ideas from many many people I feel so fortunate to get to see that every time I walk through the door

MM How are customers reactingJMK Thatrsquos been one of the best parts The response has been overwhelmingly positive

A few of our most regular customers had the opportunity to get a glimpse of the remodel while it was underway (we gave some informal preview tours while we were operating the temporary stand outside) but many customers walk through the door now and see it all for the first time Itrsquos especially fun to see and hear that kind of wide-eyed reaction

A few people with special connections to The Hag have had even stronger emotional responses and Irsquom so touched and right there with them when I see eyes well up as they see what wersquove done Itrsquos a very big milestone for a very special place and wersquore blessed to have people that care so deeply

MM Do the employees appreciate the new spaceJMK Oh probably more than anyone There was a lot that we sought to do with the remodel but creating a bigger brighter better-equipped space for our team was certainly one of the primary goals Wersquove got an incredible team truly the most spirited and talented people anyone could hope for

Many of them have spent years with me working hard against the challenge of a small under-equipped space and just barely being able to keeping up with growing demand Itrsquos been a special blessing for them and for me to finally have state-of-the-art space thatrsquos made for the work that we do We all feel a special connection to this place and now more than ever the place reflects the good energy we all bring here every day

MM Is the new menu a hit (The Hag specializes in vegetarianvegan cuisine)JMK Yes but just wait Feedback and demand have been excellent with our food offerings already but wersquore just getting started on some of the really exciting things that are coming to our food menu

Remodeling the cafe was just the first major milestone of our two-part expansion plan Next up wersquore building a state of the art off-site commissary kitchen that will do for our incredible culinary team what the remodeled shop has done for our baristas Theyrsquove been working day and night on taking our already fantastic food offerings to a whole new level

Wersquove already introduced some amazing new menu items like the Garden Grilled Cheese panini (trust me itrsquos like nothing yoursquove had before) and some truly outstanding new vegan baked goods Wersquove also improved our classic offerings with house-made

Interview with Jenn Melby-Kelly owner of The Coffee Hag

By Sarah Johnson

MM p02 0116indd 34 12182015 30802 PM

MANKATO MAGAZINE  bull January 2016 bull 35

Happy New Year

Locally Owned amp Operated

Check Weekly Specialsmgmwineandspiritscommankato

Largest Selection ofbull Liquor bull Wine bull Beer bull

Hours Monday-Saturday 8 am - 10 pm

ATMs at all stores

Mankato201 Victory Dr

625-2420

North Mankato1755 Commerce Dr

387-2634

St Peter100 N Minnesota Ave

934-8964

sourdough and whole wheat breads But as impressive as it is already itrsquos just a taste mdash literally mdash of things to come as we bring our new kitchen online

MM Whatrsquos stayed the sameJMK Irsquom really proud to say that while wersquove touched almost every part of this 23-year-old business wersquove kept even more than we have changed From the first days of this project I made it my personal mission and responsibility to make sure that the ldquosoulrdquo of this special place was only enhanced and never lost as we made the updates

In every area of the remodel as wersquove added some necessary new layers of sophistication The Hagrsquos colorful quirky and even rebellious spirit is still very much a part of the space We did a lot to try to make sure it still looked and felt like ldquohomerdquo

And on a deeper level every step wersquove taken with the growth of our business has been chosen carefully to honor the core parts of The Coffee Hagrsquos identity Our focus on community our support for local art and music our commitment to creating a safe and welcoming space for everyone our efforts to lead the way on social and environmental issues affecting our world near and far mdash those have all stayed the same And those will always be at the heart of what we do

MM Anything elseJMK Irsquom so incredibly grateful for the support of our customers and community And whenever I talk about my business and how it has grown I really canrsquot overstate how thankful I am for my beautiful Coffee Hag family The hard work good energy and earnest contributions of so many people mdash past and present mdash have brought me and my business here An incredible amount of love has gone into this business and made this dream a reality

MM p02 0116indd 35 12222015 121240 PM

36 bull January 2016 bull MANKATO MAGAZINE

xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

Food

south

ern mn style

whatrsquos Cooking By Sarah Johnson

Sarah Johnson is a cook freelance writer and chocolate addict from North Mankato with three grown kids and a couple of mutts

As I was pondering my subject matter for todayrsquos column I started wondering about all the different items the word ldquonutsrdquo can refer

to Crazy people are called nuts so are hexagonal metal objects that attach to bolts Nuts can be the end of things (as in ldquofrom soup to nutsrdquo) or they can be the beginning of them (as in ldquosperm incubatorsrdquo) Nut can also mean onersquos head or onersquos lump of something such as butter And if you accidentally get a nut of butter on your nut you can exclaim ldquoNutsrdquo

My favorite meaning of the word nut however is the dry indehiscent one-seeded fruit with a woody pericarp And I donrsquot even know what indehiscent OR pericarp means But these are the wonderful denizens of the world of edible nuts

Nuts are widely credited with all sorts of health benefits for the heart brain male reproductive system prostate cholesterol level fiber intake and avoidance of some types of cancer And while nuts do contain fat itrsquos the ldquogoodrdquo kind heart-healthy monounsaturated and polyunsaturated fat Their mix of omega-3 fatty acids protein and fiber helps you feel full and suppresses the appetite

Nuts are great in desserts and salads of course but they also shine in stir-fries casseroles soups chicken pork fish and even beverages Nut butters nut milks and nut oils add delicious options to our kitchen larders Breads cereals muffins and pancakes gain texture flavor and nutrition from the addition of nuts Basically anytime is a good time for nuts

Which is a wonderful thing because nuts taste so good you would think they had to be very very bad The reason lies deep in their oils

Walnut Oil is strong and flavorful Itrsquos best when used in uncooked sauces or salad dressing

Hazelnut Oil has a strong flavor and is great for the heart

Almond Oil is very popular and has a much milder flavor than walnut oil or hazelnut oil

Pecan Macadamia Nut Pistachio Cashew and Pine Nut Oils are flavorful and unique The freshness of the nuts used really affects the flavor

ldquoTherersquos Nuttinrsquo Nutty About Nutsrdquo

For the Baklava1 pound pistachios hazelnuts walnuts pecans andor almonds coarsely ground plus more for garnish12 teaspoon ground cinnamon1 cup breadcrumbs4 sticks unsalted butter melted16 sheets phyllo dough (thawed if frozen) cut in half

For the Syrup3 cups sugar1 6 -to-8-ounce jar honey1 frac12 cups water1 to 2 tablespoons fresh lemon juice

If yoursquore under the impression that baklava is much too labor-intensive and complicated to make at home think again Anybody can make

it no special skills equipment or exotic ingredients are required A word about phyllo dough Itrsquos sold in frozen packages so you need to remove the package from the freezer and let it thaw in the fridge 24 hours before you want to make the baklava Then about an hour beforehand remove the package from the fridge and let it sit on the counter

Walnuts or pistachios are the most traditional nuts to fill baklava but using other nuts works wonders as well Simply layer the phyllo with the nut filling and butter bake for an hour and finish with a simple honeyed syrup If you have leftover nuts from the holidays herersquos your chance to use them up

Mixed Nut Baklava

MM p02 0116indd 36 12182015 30812 PM

MANKATO MAGAZINE  bull January 2016 bull 37

MONEY MATTERS WORK SMARTLET COMMUNITY BANK HELP YOUBRING THE TWO TOGETHER

MANKATO - SAINT ANDREWS DR 5073854444MANKATO - MADISON AVE 5076251551VERNON CENTER 5075493679AMBOY 5076743300

JULIE VETTERSR VICE PRESIDENTRETAIL BANKING

We support great causes like yoursAt Community Bank we know good things happen when you have a good bank So we make more possible by keeping banking simple and supportive And by giving you the power that comes with innovative solutions like our Health Savings Account It offers you tax-free savings for future medical expenses Stop by anytime Wersquore always ready to help out a great cause

Position a rack in the lower third of the oven preheat to 350 degrees Combine the nuts cinnamon and breadcrumbs in a bowl

Brush a 9x13-inch baking dish with some of the butter Layer 10 pieces of phyllo in the dish brushing each piece with butter before adding the next (keep the remaining dough covered with a damp towel) Sprinkle a quarter of the nut mixture over the dough Layer four pieces of phyllo on top brushing each with butter before adding the next sprinkle with another quarter of the nut mixture Add four more phyllo pieces on top brushing each with butter then add another quarter of the nut mixture four more pieces of phyllo with butter and the remaining nuts

Layer the remaining 10 pieces of phyllo on top of the nuts brushing each with butter brush the top piece with extra butter Cut into the baklava to make strips about 1 12 inches wide Then make diagonal slices about 1 12 inches apart to create a diamond pattern Bake until golden about one hour

Meanwhile make the syrup Bring the sugar honey and 1 12 cups water to a boil in a saucepan over medium heat and cook 10 to 15 minutes Add the lemon juice and boil 2 more minutes then let cool slightly Pour the syrup over the warm baklava let soak uncovered at least six hours or overnight Garnish with nuts

MM p02 0116indd 37 12182015 30817 PM

38 bull bull MANKATO MAGAZINE

Nell Musolf is a mom and freelance writer from Mankato She blogs at nellmusolfcom

38 bull bull MANKATO MAGAZINE

MM p02 0116indd 38 12182015 30822 PM

MANKATO MAGAZINE  bull January 2016 bull 39

Gear Up for WinterYear-Round amp Insulated Workwear from

Carhartt Dickies and Key

UNIFORMSUniforms fromBarco Carhartt Cherokee DickiesKoi Peaches and White Cross

AMAZED

Call 5073446336mankatomagmankatofreepresscom

Stephanie L Hylla LAc Dipl AcKayla M Sweeney MOm LAc

NEW LOCATION709 S Front Suite 5

5074694788mankatoacupuncturecom

Open House ndash Wednesday Feb 3 9-12noonCelebrating 5 years of Business New Location and the Chinese New Year

In Network with Blue Cross Blue ShieldLicensed by the MN Board of Medical Practice

Ribbon Cutting with Greater Mankato Growth at 10am

(A $250 Value)THIS VOUCHER ENTITLES NEW PATIENTS TO A

CONSULTATION EXAM amp DIGITAL X-RAYS (IF NEEDED)

wwwr igne l l fami lych i roprac t ic comMedicare Restrictions Apply Expires January 31 2016

Dr BrandonRignell DC

1351 Madison AveSuite D

Mankato MN 56001

5077797313

$2900New Patient Special

MM p02 0116indd 39 12222015 121344 PM

40 bull bull MANKATO MAGAZINE

Jean Lundquist is a master gardener who lives near Good Thunder

MM p02 0116indd 40 12182015 30834 PM

MANKATO MAGAZINE  bull January 2016 bull 41

3 Increase the Value of Your Home

3 Update Your Homersquos Appearance

3 Save Money

Choose from SeveralModels Styles amp Colors

507-625-7110 or 1-800-645-36671125 Cross St North Mankato MN

Improve Your HomersquosEnergy Efficiency

422 Park Lane Mankato MN | NuStarMankatocom

(507) 381-4747Voted One of Mankatorsquos Best

DANIEL WINGERT

Make Selling Your Home Your NuYearrsquos Resolution

MM p02 0116indd 41 12182015 30839 PM

42 bull January 2016 bull MANKATO MAGAZINE

January Resolve to moisturize

Your stYLeBy Ann Rosenquist Fee

Ann Rosenquist Fee is executive director of the Arts Center of Saint Peter and a vocalist with The Frye She blogs at annrosenquistfeecom

If you have in-laws or colleagues who know you well enough to have given you holiday gifts

but not well enough to know what wouldrsquove truly made you happy congratulations Chances are yoursquore the proud owner of a bunch of brand-new lip balm

Maybe itrsquos even holiday themed Thatrsquos the best Maybe you got the candy-cane flavored kind or wintergreen with holiday graphics on the label or something like that A theme that was irrelevant the moment the stocking was unstuffed because at that exact second the holiday was over

And here you are in January with an abundance of wax

Fortunately also here you are in the early weeks of winter with rough red knuckles Probably also cracked cuticles although it might not have gone that far yet for you Irsquom sure it has for me This photo was taken back in November and even then the Band-Aids were for real Irsquove learned to cut them in half length-wise so as to retain my ability to type Irsquove also learned to play with a range of color options Flesh-toned Clear Disney characters The colorful strips shown here were gifted to me by my husband Partly why theyrsquore cut in half is that the text is obscene This is one small trick you can use to make bloody cuticles your most exciting accessory of the winter

Sources like UrbanSurvivalSitecom and WonderHowTocom will tell you that you can use lip balm for a whole variety of purposes such as coating threads of outdoor lightbulbs before screwing them into their sockets and enhancing the burn-ability of most kindling

These are great fun but they wonrsquot improve your personal style

More germane to winter beauty are the following suggestions

Keep a tube next to your bed for first-thing-in-the-morning use And I mean really truly first-thing I mean smear the stuff on each cuticle while yoursquore still lying there before you start using your fingers at all If you wake up thinking yoursquore fine and skip cuticle care next thing you know yoursquore pushing down the lever on your Keurig and the pressure is more than your screamingly dry skin can take and boom split blood on the Keurig and itrsquos gonna be a long painful day If only you had balmed your hands before you let your feet hit the floor

Keep another tube in your glove compartment If itrsquos warm enough to take off your mittens in the car mdash if yoursquore even wearing mittens given that your hands are snagging on everything these days mdash the harsh January sunlight will allow you to see cracks and flakes in high-resolution detail Yoursquoll want the balm nearby

to cover what you didnrsquot notice first thing in the morning Also a car tube is useful for when you look in the rear-view mirror and notice that your nose and upper lip are flaking as well Itrsquos because yoursquore getting over a cold and the frequent use of tissue has worn away your top layer of skin but just because you know that doesnrsquot mean everybody else wonrsquot think ldquothere is something in that noserdquo Itrsquos just a fact Itrsquos what it looks like Lip balm to the rescue Itrsquos the only thing dry enough to slick those flakes in place and nourishing enough to maybe actually get your face back to normal

Keep a couple more tubes in a nighttime kit along with sandpaper Sandpaper Yes Not a pumice stone not a lame also-gifted sugar

scrub Medium-grit sandpaper is what you need every night lightly but with conviction As follows 1) Sand taking care not to do more damage than what the elements have already done Yoursquore just trying to remove the dry dead stuff Yoursquore just being hearty and efficient about this true to the culture of this great state in which yoursquove chosen to winter You are no pansy Sand your hands 2) Wash 3) Blot dry 4) Dial up the gifted balm whisper a word of thanks to the person who put so much thought into your well-being that they stuffed your holiday stocking with this amazing gift of self-care smash a healthy amount down into your palms massage Take heart You just might find yourself with normal-textured non-cracked not-horrible-looking hands by morning

Split-open cuticles I feel you Except for these Band-Aids I feel you

Lip balms I have been gifted and these are just from last Christmas ldquolastrdquo as in 2014

Bathrooms Worth Bragging About

HoursTue amp Wed amp Fri | 9 am to 6 pmMon amp Thu | 9 am to 7 pmSaturday | 9 am to 4 pm

219 S Victory Dr | Mankato507 | 345 | 7009ipafhickorytechnetindependentpaintandflooringcom

You Deserve Comfortable Care Every Timebull Sedation - Complete Relaxation with Just a Pillbull Invisalign - Clear Alternative to Bracesbull Botox amp Fillersbull Implants - Placement and Restorationbull Cerec - One Visit Crown Technology

bull Free Whitening Programbull 3D Imaging with Fewer X-Raysbull Cosmetic Dentistrybull Drill-Free Technologybull Emergency Care

1400 Lookout Drive North Mankato507-625-CARE(2273) bull mankatodentistcom 06

1865

6124

01

Dr AngelA Schuck

Dr keith FlAck

MM p02 0116indd 42 12182015 30841 PM

MANKATO MAGAZINE  bull January 2016 bull 43

Bathrooms Worth Bragging About

HoursTue amp Wed amp Fri | 9 am to 6 pmMon amp Thu | 9 am to 7 pmSaturday | 9 am to 4 pm

219 S Victory Dr | Mankato507 | 345 | 7009ipafhickorytechnetindependentpaintandflooringcom

You Deserve Comfortable Care Every Timebull Sedation - Complete Relaxation with Just a Pillbull Invisalign - Clear Alternative to Bracesbull Botox amp Fillersbull Implants - Placement and Restorationbull Cerec - One Visit Crown Technology

bull Free Whitening Programbull 3D Imaging with Fewer X-Raysbull Cosmetic Dentistrybull Drill-Free Technologybull Emergency Care

1400 Lookout Drive North Mankato507-625-CARE(2273) bull mankatodentistcom 06

1865

6124

01

Dr AngelA Schuck

Dr keith FlAck

(944) 412-7949 | OrthoEdgeMNcom

Enjoy the season

Mankato St Peter

Be active Be healthyBe able with OrthoEdge

The OrthoEdge joint replacement

program offers superb care from your first

visit through recovery The surgeons from

the Orthopaedic amp Fracture Clinic and

the care team at Riverrsquos Edge Hospital

provide personal and professional care to

get you back to able

Why Riverrsquos Edge Hospital amp Clinic

bull Riverrsquos Edge Hospital amp Clinic has a long-

standing relationship with the Orthopaedic

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bull Free WiFi for patients and guests

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MM p02 0116indd 43 12182015 30842 PM

44 bull January 2016 bull MANKATO MAGAZINE

1 Hicktown Mafia800 pm mdash New Ulm Event Center mdash 301 20th St S mdash New Ulm mdash $10 mdash 507-354-4673

7-9 Mankato West Orchesis Dance Team showcase7 pm Thursday-Saturday 2 pm Saturday mdash Mankato West High School Auditorium mdash $7 adults $5 students mdash 507-381-7578

10 Mankato Symphony Orchestra Music on the Hill II ldquoMinnesota rootsrdquo2 pm mdash Chapel at Good Counselmdash Good Counsel Drive mdash Mankato mdash $17 $12 mdash wwwmankatosymphonycom

16 Handel with Caremdash Handel Goes to Italy11 ammdash YMCA Aerobics Studio mdash 1401 S Riverfront Drive mdash Mankato mdash wwwmankatosymphonycom

16 Mankato Craft beer Expo2 pm (VIP) 3 pm general mdash Verizon Wireless Center mdash $45 VIP $35 general $10 designated driver mdash wwwmankatocraftbeerexpocom

23 Joey Flip and Mike Fugazzi rockinrsquo at the Embassy9 pm mdash Blaschkorsquos Embassy Bar and Grill mdash 325 S Minnesota Ave mdash St Peter mdash 507-934-3903

24 andrea Lyn and Dick Kimmel concert730 pm mdash Elias J Halling Recital Hall mdash Minnesota State University mdash Mankato mdash $12 regular $11 current MSU students mdash wwwmnusedumusic

28-31 MSu Theatre antigone730 pm Thursday-Saturday 2 pm Sunday mdash Andreas Theatre mdash Minnesota State University mdash Mankato mdash $16 regular $14 discount $11 current MSU students mdash wwwmnsuedu

29-31 BLC Theatre Brigadoon730 Friday and Saturday 2 pm Sunday mdash Ylvisaker Fine Arts Center mdash Bethany Lutheran College mdash Mankato mdash $10 adults $6 seniors children and students mdash wwwblceduevents

29- Feb 7 Winterfest St Peter Citywide mdash wwwstpeterchamberorg

30 Church of Cash a Tribute to Johnny Cash7 pm mdash St Peter American Legion mdash 229 W Nassau St mdash St Peter mdash 507-934-6435

31 Maud Hixson and rick Carlson concert730 pmmdash Elias J Halling Recital Hall mdash Minnesota State University mdash Mankato mdash $12 regular $11 current MSU students wwmnsuedumusic

Coming attraCtions January

T - F 8am - 6pm Sun ClosedSat 9am - 4pmM 8am - 8pm

120 North Broad Street Mankato MN 507-345-4688 wwwmeyerandsonstvandappliancecom

FIND SPECIAL DEALS ON

MM p02 0116indd 44 12182015 30902 PM

MANKATO MAGAZINE  bull January 2016 bull 45

St Peter Craft amp Vendor Show

1MelinadaBussefromRapidansoldherhandmadejewelryatthecraftandvendorshow

2DarylfromElysianandhishand-carvedwoodart

3MacKennaage7hasfunatoneoftheboothsattheStPeterCraftandVendorShow

4LizEntershowsoffsomeofherproductsattheldquoItWorksrdquobooth

5DenisePetersofldquoYoungLivingrdquoessentialoilsdisplayedherproductsattheshow

Faces amp Places Photos By Sport Pix

3

5

2

1

4

T - F 8am - 6pm Sun ClosedSat 9am - 4pmM 8am - 8pm

120 North Broad Street Mankato MN 507-345-4688 wwwmeyerandsonstvandappliancecom

FIND SPECIAL DEALS ON

MM p02 0116indd 45 12222015 121536 PM

46 bull January 2016 bull MANKATO MAGAZINE

SOUTHErN MN CHrISTMAS

FESTIVAL1 A large crowd was on hand during the festivities at

the Christmas Festival2 Friesenrsquos Family Bakery amp Bistro had tons of baked

goods and soups at the Verizon Wireless Center3 A childrenrsquos choir sang for the audience at the

festival4 Ron Haefner owner of Ronrsquos Auto Repair displayed

some of his services5 Garrison Galatz dressed up as Santa for the

Christmas Festival

faCes amp PLaCes Photos By Sport Pix

4

3

1

2

5

MM p02 0116indd 46 12182015 30923 PM

MANKATO MAGAZINE  bull January 2016 bull 47

1GirlScouttroop34494waspresentedwithatrophybyKiwanisVicePresidentKyleMrozek

2SantaClausevenwentthroughtheparaderoute3(LtoR)BrooklynPomrankeAlaynaLyonsHunterPomrankeandLilyLyonsgetagroupphototakenwithSanta

4MarshaMartigtellsSantawhatshewantsforChristmas

5TheparadefloatswerealldeckedoutinChristmaslights

6Visitorswalkthepatharoundtheparktoviewthisyearrsquoslights

Kiwanis Holiday ligHtsFaces amp Places Photos By sport Pix

2

1

3

4 5

6

MM p02 0116indd 47 12222015 121616 PM

48 bull January 2016 bull MANKATO MAGAZINE

On the Occasion of a 50th Reunion

the Class of 1965

from this VaLLeYBy Pete Steiner

Peter Steiner is host of ldquoTalk of the Townrdquo weekdays at 105 pm on KTOE

I was honored to give the presentation for our 50th class reunion recently at West Highrsquos Homecoming celebration About 120 of our nearly 400-member class

showed up We Baby Boomers the children of the greatest generation had big classes in the late lsquo60rsquos that forced the building of East High Ours was a dramatic era and our class did some great things in the face of big challenges Here edited is some of what I said

I am so glad to be standing here today Therersquos an old saying

ldquoMay you live in INTErESTINg timeshelliprdquo The Class of rsquo65 certainly has Itrsquos seems like only yesterday right after lunch that we were at our desks waiting for the start of English class when our charismatic teacher Harry Fitterer strode in and said ldquoPrESIDENT KENNEDY HAS BEEN SHOT IN DALLASrdquo At first we didnrsquot believe him but it was true It was November 22 1963 We were juniors and as the song says that was THE END OF THE INNOCENCE We had lived through the last idyllic time in America

When we first arrived in the fall of 1962 America was still carefree basking in the glow of victory in WW II Everything may have seemed ldquorightrdquo but it was not Martin Luther King Jr had just visited Mankato pointing out the continuing plight of black Americans as the Civil rights movement was gaining steam The beginnings of the Vietnam War which would alter the course of many of our lives were stirring even as we studied history and government The current generation has no monopoly on forgettable pop music ndash we had a stupid 1 song called ldquoItsie Bitsie Teenie Weenie Yellow Polka Dot Bikinirdquo (unfortunately an ear worm I canrsquot forget) But a darker cultural threat was looming The BEATLES were invading from Britain and our parents were mortified because they had LONg HAIr

Some of the shock of the Kennedy assassination was eased when our wrestling team in the era when the state still had just ONE CLASS won the State Championship in front of a packed hall up at MSU some still maintain that is the greatest single athletic achievement in Mankato history We were the first high school in Mankato to put on a full-scale musical ldquoBye Bye Birdierdquo in the spring of 1964 In Fall of 1964 our football team would have won the conference championship outright except Owatonnarsquos great Noel Jenke who would go on to star for the U of M

cheated I watched him trap the touchdown pass that beat us Does cheating pay Was that a lesson for life

In lsquo65 we also had a fine basketball team that lost our chance at State when our 6-6 center fouled out at Luverne

BUT A FAr BIggEr CHALLENgE AWAITED US ALL As we rode out to Luverne to watch that game we couldnrsquot help noticing the highway was like a canyon between walls of snow The legendary St Patrickrsquos Day Blizzard had dumped two feet on top of an already large snow pack and then April brought rains on frozen ground Instead of coming here to school many of us soon got a real-life assignment to go out in our rain gear out on the dikes to battle the grEAT FLOOD OF 1965 Our school became an island as water flooded the parking lot and all of South riverfront Our spring play that year was called ironically

THE DESPErATE HOUrS We had to rehearse at roosevelt School up on higher ground

Our class produced three Merit scholars One of our classmates who did NOT qualify

for a merit scholarship nevertheless was such a whiz at physics that NASA requested a copy of a paper he wrote on rocketry as a senior We produced 12 doctors one of whom earned a fellowship at Stanford seeking how to bring telemedicine to the poor another of whom became a breakthrough cancer doctor We had entrepreneurs one who would go on to be a leader in Solar Energy (and then run for governor of New Hampshire) Another mdash a woman incidentally when

that was not common founded two bio-tech startups Many of us are still working

past normal retirement age One founded a company on the leading edge of recycling

computers whose clients include the NSA Another is chief medical officer of a company

devising a better tool for colonoscopies Yet another of our classmates recently completed a concert tour of China

We lived in challenging times just as you do today but we muddle through we make it to the other shore I remember sitting where you are 50 years ago thinking how old those folks up there looked But remember Life goes by very quickly You certainly live in interesting times as Shakespeare said ldquoPresent Mirth has Present Laughter Youthrsquos a stuff will NOT endurerdquo So I urge you live each moment to the fullest

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Page 13: Mankatomag 116

MANKATO MAGAZINE bull bull 11

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12 bull January 2016 bull MANKATO MAGAZINE

The Celebration of the Lakes has been a family tradition for Erin Thorvaldson Chisago Lakes Chamber Board Member and Community member for Celebration of the Lakes for more than 20 years Thorvaldson was about 10

years old when her grandmother introduced her to the event which takes place Jan 30 on North Center Lake in Lindstrom

DAy Trip DesTinATions Celebration of the LakesBy leTiciA GonzAles

hit the LakesLindstrom has plenty of fun waiting for you

Hot air balloons are just one of the many attractions this festival has employed over the years

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MANKATO MAGAZINE  bull January 2016 bull 13

Day Trip DesTinaTions Celebration of the LakesBy LeTicia GonzaLes

WhenJan 29-31 2016

I-35 North to Hwy 8 east to Center City Located on the North side of Hwy 8 on

North Center Lake

If youGoWhat

Celebration of the Lakes

Lindstrom MN

AdmissionFree additional admission required for some

events activities food and ridesVisit wwwchisagolakeschambercom

ldquoSo I helped way back then when she was part of the chamberrdquo said Thorvaldson ldquoAnd having a business in the community as I got older I also wanted to give backrdquo

Born and raised in the Chisago Lakes area Thorvaldson has served on the celebrationrsquos planning committee for nine years She said the event first caught her eye not only because she loves winter but because it focuses on the outdoors ldquoeven though many people in Minnesota cringe once we get to 20 degrees so it kind of gets you out and lets you do something funrdquo

Watching the celebration grow over the past two decades has also been fun for Thorvaldson

ldquoIt was very tiny at that pointrdquo she said as she reminisced about the early days of the event ldquoIt was just a few hay bales at the icerdquo

Being an active part of the planning has been equally exciting

ldquoThe committeersquos always trying to come up with more ideas that the community would perceive as something fun to do in the winter timerdquo she said ldquoThere have been the sled dogs there have been hot air balloons and there have been kitty cat races car racesrdquo

While past years have even included BMX bike races where people dressed up in costumes the snowmobile radar run and the vintage snow mobile displays have been the ldquomain staplesrdquo of the celebration Organized by the Wild River Snowmobile Club of Chisago City the snowmobile radar run features nearly 200 riders who race upwards of 120 miles per hour on a track

ldquoSometimes they will have souped-up snowmobiles that go incredibly fastrdquo Thorvaldson said ldquoWe had a world record one that raced on the track so itrsquos pretty amazing to see how fast some of them go They break them up into categories and there are prizes for the fastest one in each categoryrdquo

Originally introduced as a memorial radar run for a rotary member the radar run has become one of the celebrationrsquos most popular events

ldquoWe started with just a sheriffrsquos radar gun and now they use different timing items like cones and announcingrdquo she add ldquoItrsquos kind of something that has evolved toordquo

With the draw of the surrounding lakes in the area Thorvaldson said ice fishing has also grown in popularity and has become embedded in the annual celebration

ldquoItrsquos like little villages out on the lakerdquo she said

ldquoThat is kind of the big that that people do There are people who drive up from all over the place the Twin Cities all over just to come spend the weekend ice fishing on the lake so thatrsquos a big big thingrdquo

Greg Shaleen who has also been on the planning committee for the celebration for more than 15 years affirmed the celebrationrsquos growth when it comes to activities offered

ldquoWe have done kind of bizarre thingsrdquo he said ldquoWe do a smoosh race which is where you take 2-by-4s and strap four leather straps on it and you do a little bit of a racerdquo

Shaleen also credits the event for bringing people out to the lakes during the coldest month of the year

ldquoEveryone is all cooped up in the community and it just got to the point where they wanted to do something fun in the winter and get people out and about and enjoy the winter sportrdquo he said

From kitty races and sled dog races to a concession tent and a family fishing contest that draws anywhere from three to five hundred people Shaleen said the Celebration of the Lakes brings people together in the outdoors

ldquoWe are basically more interested in getting people out of the house visiting with friends and neighbors and visitors to the area and enjoying each otherrsquos interest in snowmobiling or ice fishing or whatever the events are taking place or going onrdquo he concluded

MM p01 0116indd 13 12222015 115930 AM

January The holidays are over along with all of the seasonrsquos excuses for overindulge in food and drink and under-indulging in any form of exercise (other than lifting onersquos hand to onersquos mouth) After stowing the presents in the

closet and taking down the tree many people choose the New Year as the perfect time to begin a serious diet and exercise program to shed the extra pounds they put on over the past few months and to begin eating more healthfully Mankato Clinic registered dietitian Erin Gonzalez says a hearty ldquoyesrdquo to healthy mindful eating and definite ldquonordquo to any extreme ldquodo or die(t)rdquo approach

According to Gonzalez 95 percent of all dieters regain the weight they lost within five years It is her belief that such yo-yo dieting only creates more frustration and stress which can lead to emotional eating and binge eating which leads to another cycle of dieting-losing-weight-gaining-weight ad infinitum

Gonzalez speaks from experience After losing 70 pounds since the time she was a teenager Gonzalez is now at a weight she considers healthy and one that she hasnrsquot deviated from in years

By Nell Musolf | Photos by Pat Christman and Darren Gibbins

Herersquos to ahealthy

new yeara healthy

new you

14 bull January 2016 bull MANKATO MAGAZINE

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MANKATO MAGAZINE  bull January 2016 bull 15

Erin Gonzalez and her son prepare a healthful meal

Erin GonzalezldquoI struggled with weight issues when I was growing

uprdquo Gonzalez said ldquoWhen I was 16 I went on my first lsquoseriousrsquo dietmdashone of the fast diets that were popular in the 1990srdquo

Gonzalez said that she stuck to her diet religiously having a shake in the morning one for lunch and a sensible meal at night just as she was instructed to do She also walked for approximately two and a half hours a day Over the course of one summer she lost 70 pounds but she was also she now realizes flirting with an eating disorder Gonzalez says this scenario is not uncommon considering research shows 35 percent of ldquooccasional dietersrdquo progress into pathological dieting (disordered eating) and as many as 25 percent advance to full-blown eating disorders

ldquoMy food intake was very restrictive and I was always extremely conscience of what I ate but just the same I slowly gained back 30 of the 70 pounds

that I lostrdquo Gonzalez said ldquoI was always looking at food as either lsquogoodrsquo or lsquobadrsquo instead of something pleasurable to be enjoyedrdquo

It wasnrsquot until she was working at her dietetic internship that she had her ldquoahardquo moment

ldquoI was blessed with a teacher who taught her students how to enjoy foodrdquo Gonzalez said ldquoinstead of being obsessed by it Gonzalez learned about a program called Am I Hungry that specializes in helping people heal their relationship with food and their bodies so they can relearn to trust their internal hunger cues instead of having to follow arbitrary rules and broken promises of diets Gonzalez facilitates a program at the Mankato Clinic that teaches the Am I Hungry philosophy

ldquoI have two childrenrdquo Gonzalez said ldquoa 10-month-old and a 4-year-old They know how to eat naturally and they stop eating when they are no longer hungry That is what most adults need

MM p01 0116indd 15 12222015 120138 PM

16 bull January 2016 bull MANKATO MAGAZINE

xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

need to relearn how to eatrdquoThe method has worked for Gonzalez Gone are

her extra 30 pounds and she no longer dietsldquoDiets simply arenrsquot sustainablerdquo she said ldquoItrsquos so

hard in our society because we are surrounded by cues to eat all of the time At buffets where you want to lsquoget your moneyrsquos worthrsquo when yoursquore out with friends when you sit down at the end of the day and turn on the television to relax and are bombarded with ads for food Food has become a reward for a bad day or a good day or anything else we can think of But if you look at how you eat as a journey instead of as a destination you can learn to enjoy food a lot morerdquo

So what should someone who wants to start the New Year in a more healthy fashion do

ldquoPause before you eatrdquo Gonzalez recommended ldquoAsk yourself if yoursquore really hungry or if yoursquore actually thirsty or stressed instead Try not to be emotionally disconnected from what you are eatingrdquo

Gonzalez emphasized that ldquomindful eating isnrsquot naive to say nutrition isnrsquot important Of course it is Mindful eating is what allows us to take charge of our decisions of why when what how and how much we choose to eat instead of battling being in or out of controlrdquo

Instead of following the latest short-lived diet Gonzalez encourages people to make the healthiest choices possible that donrsquot leave them feeling deprived

Paulette Tonn BookerFor Paulette Tonn Booker the Am I Hungry

Mindful Eating (AIHME) program has been a game changer

Said Booker ldquoIrsquove tried several diet plans over the past 40 years including some well-known plans and I lost weight on each plan However keeping the weight off eluded me and resulted in yo-yo dieting

The lsquorulesrsquo of whichever plan Booker was on became the norm and after years of trying to live by those rules Booker was no longer able to discern what her body was telling her about hunger often leading to out-of-control overeating

ldquoI always knew there was something else going on yet no one had an answer for merdquo Booker said

When Booker first heard of the AIHME program two years ago she was relieved to discover that there were other people who felt the same way when it came to healthful eating The program taught her the skills she needed to recognize her bodyrsquos hunger signals thoughts and feelings and actions to help manage the physical emotional and environmental stresses of everyday life without resorting to eating to cope with those stresses

ldquoI no longer have to be in control of everything I only need to be in charge of my decisions at any given moment When I choose to overeat (which everyone does) I no longer beat myself up I try to reflect on what happened and then plan for ways to handle the situation differently the next time it occurs Old habits are hard to break it takes concentrated effort and dedication to rewire the brain with new habits and it can be donerdquo Booker said

About weight loss as the end goal of healthful eating Booker shared the following ldquoThe only time I get on a scale is at the doctorrsquos office I know what the experts say I should weigh A number does not define a personrsquos self-worth nor does it say anything about who we are and how we feel as we make changes in how we nurture our bodies The number on the scale is just a number bodies come in all shapes and sizes as does health I will never diet again Instead I will continue to work on developing mindful skills and in the meantime eating what I love and loving what I eatrdquo

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MANKATO MAGAZINE  bull January 2016 bull 17

Eric ZiesmerFor Eric Ziesmer he is in the middle of his weight

loss journey a journey that began last July when the 32-year-old learned that he weighed 330 pounds The time had come for Ziesmer to make some healthy lifestyle changes Ziesmer decided to lose weight because of his family mdash both present and future

ldquoI have two adorable nephews and I would love to be able to chase them around the yard or pull them in a sled during the winter and basically to be active and see them as they growrdquo Ziesmer said ldquoAnd even though Irsquom currently single if it is in my cards for marriage and kids I would like to be there and not be too tired or not in shape A clean and healthy lifestyle is what I am striving for in my coming yearsrdquo

With the help of a dietician Ziesmer has started his cleaner and healthier lifestyle Since July he has lost 40 pounds and has decided to have weight loss surgery To help his post operation phase go as smoothly as possible Ziesmer eats fresh fruit every day has cut out chips and cookies among other things

ldquoI have totally cut out soda Soda was a big one to cut out In my huge climb to 300 there were days when I would consume two 2-liter bottles of pop in a single day and maybe cracking open a thirdrdquo Ziesmer said ldquoI try to listen to my stomach instead of my eyes or eat because Irsquom bored or stressed I eat slow and sip instead of being the guzzler I have always beenrdquo

Another tactic Ziesmer has adopted has been to stop drinking liquids 30 minutes before a meal and then wait 30 minutes after eating before sipping again

ldquoWhen my stomach rumbles and says itrsquos hungry I feed it When my brain or boredom drives me to want to eat I take a second to see if my stomach feels empty and if not it gets deniedrdquo Ziesmer said

Ziesmer has noticed that he is more successful at healthy eating when he eats at home When he does dine out hersquoll cut a sandwich in half eat half and save other half for a future meal

ldquoAs far as exercise goes it went from zero to at least two if not three times a week going for a 327 mile walk and have recently made my way back into the gymrdquo Ziesmer said He has been able to keep track of his walks with accuracy thanks to an app called MapMyRun

Ziesmer knows that his healthier living journey will continue for a long time

ldquoI plan on continuing to live healthy by continuing my exercise and eating right and by saying that itrsquos not only for me and feeling better but also because there are two little guys that look up to their uncle Staying motivated is at least my key to keeping up this lifestyle I want to live a long and healthier life feeling better and being there down the road for family and friends is what means mostrdquo Ziesmer said MM

Eric Ziesmer says hersquos got plenty of motivation to get healthy two nephews to whom he wants to be a good role model

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18 bull January 2016 bull MANKATO MAGAZINE

Stephanie Howe says itrsquos best to have realistic goals when starting a fitness program

Herersquos your guideBy Robb Murray | Photos by Pat Christman

Ready for CHANGE

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MANKATO MAGAZINE  bull January 2016 bull 19

Yoursquore ready

You ate the ham and turkey and potatoes and Christmas cookies You drank the wine beer and eggnog Yoursquove spent the last few

months pondering a life change Yoursquore on the verge of a major transformation This time itrsquos happening Yoursquore going to get healthy Itrsquos going to be a new you

And then January arrived And you have no plan

Luckily we here at Mankato Magazine have got you covered Itrsquos not uncommon for people to make a New Yearrsquos resolution or some similar vow this time of year It usually comes with goal weights and promises to hit the gym X number of times per week and trips to the produce and organic sections of the grocery store because this time yoursquore serious Right

OK easy tiger Getting healthy is a great idea and wersquore wishing you all the best But wersquore also coming at you with some sensible advice Maybe setting unrealistic goals isnrsquot the best way to go Maybe just

heading into the gym and trying to get it all done in a week isnrsquot a great way to go either

ldquoFinerdquo you say ldquothen what should I dordquoWersquore so glad you asked

Letrsquos get startedThe first thing you need to remember when

starting an exercise program is that if you want to lose weight you need to change the way you eat too

ldquoNo matter what you say you canrsquot out exercise a bad dietrdquo says Stephanie Howe director of healthy living at the Mankato YMCA

Howe works in what might be the busiest fitness hub in the Mankato area So shersquos seen her share of people come through the doors with plans to change their lives Some of them succeed Most do not

One of the biggest mistakes people make Howe says is not really having a good grasp on how much time theyrsquoll need in order to incorporate a good workout into their day It doesnrsquot have to be a two-

hour commitment every day she says It can be 30 minutes of planned effective exercise several times per week Whatrsquos more important is just getting there and thatrsquos an obstacle that is bigger than most people realize

ldquoMost people want to lsquopeople pleasersquordquo she said ldquoYou can say yoursquore going to get up and work out every day but most people are built to need external accountabilityrdquo

Think about hiring a personal trainer

ldquoWhen you spend the money on a personal trainer you have an appointment therersquos someone waiting thererdquo she says

A personal trainer is a great way to immediately know yoursquore doing exactly what yoursquore supposed to be doing and yoursquoll have no doubt whether yoursquore working hard enough There are plenty of personal trainers in town mdash at the YMCA and other gyms mdash who would love to help you Of course they donrsquot work for free and for many people the cost of a personal trainer is more than theyrsquore willing to spend

Fortunately therersquos a trend in fitness to offer the whip-crack of a personal trainer while staying Jo radlinger urges her clients to not sabotage their fitness efforts with poor eating over

the weekend

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20 bull January 2016 bull MANKATO MAGAZINE

728 N Riverfront DriveMankato MN 56001

507-625-5163katobearscom

Pins and NeedlesAlterations

Specializing in alterations for theentire wedding party including

gown re-sizing hemming re-beadingbustles and so much more

Like us onFacebook

affordableThe Y now offers something called ldquotrainer ledrdquo

exercise sessions where you work with others in a group but have access to a trainer nearby who can push you motivate you and make sure yoursquore you know doing it right Theyrsquore $3 a class

ldquoYoursquore still expected to be there but itrsquos much cheaperrdquo Howe said ldquoThe group environment pushes you and we have tons of trainer-led classes Itrsquos the best of both worldsrdquo

Across town Jo Radlinger runs Jorsquos Garage a fitness center where shersquos the one pushing you to succeed

Radlingerrsquos goal she says is to bring out everyonersquos potential

ldquoI want to make sure everybody that comes through my door has success I want them to be the very best version of themselves that they can berdquo

Like Howe Radlinger acknowledges that the financial side of hiring a personal trainer can scare people away but she says there are several reasons why it shouldnrsquot

ldquoItrsquos never a bad investment when yoursquore investing in yourselfrdquo she said ldquoMeet with a trainer who is just as passionate about your goal My goal is not to train you intensely but to show you what yoursquore capable of and then take you to that next levelrdquo

At Jorsquos Fitness Garage there are no membership fees Radlinger doesnrsquot believe in them Instead she charges $5 per visit and in that time she said she pushes you to have a great workout

GymtimidationSetting goals is a great

idea Setting unrealistic goals is the kind of thing that results in a gym membership card laying dormant in a junk drawer by February

So set those goals but set them smartlyldquoAccountability is huge Even if you canrsquot hire

someonerdquo Howe says ldquoMake specific goals mdash say yoursquore going to workout X number of times but make those numbers realistic Set goals that are within your controlrdquo

Do this and yoursquore likely to feel a lot better about how things go

ldquoMost people just want to feel better about themselves they want to feel more confidentrdquo Howe said ldquoThis way even before any physical changes happen theyrsquoll feel better Theyrsquoll start to feel like theyrsquore in control again of their life and their choicesrdquo

Taking an exercise class is a great way to both get

your body moving while at the same time have fun and meet those people who will notice when you donrsquot show up

And about that weight room Yes it can be intimidating to walk in and see people who look like they live there But Howe says that while it can definitely be a psychological barrier focusing on those people is the wrong strategy

ldquoNo one cares what yoursquore doingrdquo Howe says ldquoFocus on yourdquo

Take it slowIt can be tempting when you finally get up the

nerve to get back in the swing of working out to go hardcore But just like setting unrealistic goals trying to achieve your fitness goals in a day is impossible

ldquoPeople start out really gung-ho and reset their diet so aggressively and most people just simply canrsquot do thisrdquo Radlinger said ldquoWhen yoursquore looking at making a lifestyle change I want you to do it slowly and incrementally rather than do it all in two monthsrdquo

Rushing into the weight room and trying to lift the same weight and number of reps and sets that you did 10 years ago is a great way to make sure you canrsquot work out for a while Going from a sedentary lifestyle to two hours of pumping iron can leave you sore enough to not be able to lift anything for days Maybe even weeks

Ease into it The gymrsquos not going anywhere Think marathon not sprint

ldquoSometimes people have an all-or-nothing attituderdquo Howe said ldquoand they make themselves sore and they canrsquot continuerdquo

Speaking of all-or-nothing Radlinger says

some people bring that kind of intensity to their food intake over the weekend Bad idea

ldquoAs trainers we help people be accountable We do success measurements help them prepare and plan And wersquoll do weigh-ins on Mondayrdquo Radlinger says ldquoWersquoll find that people do really well Monday through Friday then do what I call sabotage Saturday and Sunday At some point yoursquore going to get so sick of hitting that reset button every Mondayrdquo

Whatever you choose to do both trainers say itrsquos never a bad idea to sit down with your doctor and run your plans by himher Your personal safety should always come first and getting the green light from Doc can give you some peace of mind as you start this new chapter of your life MM

Jo radlinger runs Jorsquos Fitness Garage

MM p01 0116indd 20 12222015 120709 PM

MANKATO MAGAZINE  bull January 2016 bull 21

728 N Riverfront DriveMankato MN 56001

507-625-5163katobearscom

Pins and NeedlesAlterations

Specializing in alterations for theentire wedding party including

gown re-sizing hemming re-beadingbustles and so much more

Like us onFacebook

Live the Lifestyle

wwwmapletonmarinecom

Southern MNrsquos largestboat show on now at the

Madison East Center in Mankato

MM p01 0116indd 21 12182015 24524 PM

22 bull January 2016 bull MANKATO MAGAZINE

Thirty-three years ago I stood inside a grave A lifetime ago when I was a pastorrsquos wife

In Nebraska we served a parish of barely over one hundred members A picture-postcard white church with a hand-carved white wooden altar from Germany sat at the top of a hill next to it the parsonage and next to that the cemetery rolling down the hill toward a wooded creek

The first death in the congregation after our arrival set off a flurry of activity Irsquod never met Alma because she was in a nursing home before we arrived However my husband visited her on several occasions She was mother aunt grandmother great-aunt and great-grandmother to half the congregation so there was no question about whether or not I would attend the funeral

With my two little kids in tow I attended every event at the church every Sunday morning service of course but also every funeral every confirmation every baptism every meeting of womenrsquos circle and even every family reunion that was held in the church basement At twenty-six I perfected the art of making gracious small talk with people Irsquod never seen before and would never see again and at taking tiny portions from each confirmation buffet so I would neither be sick by the end of the day nor offend any of the mothers who had slaved away over their sumptuous spreads of food

By Rebecca Fjelland Davis

Grave Lesson in Winter

ESSay

MM p01 0116indd 22 12182015 24527 PM

MANKATO MAGAZINE  bull January 2016 bull 23

Attending the little white country church was physically easy I picked up one-year-old Josh took three-year-old Nikkirsquos hand and walked out the front door down the sidewalk and next door The only things I didnrsquot have to attend were church council and the menrsquos meeting Archaic This was in the 1980s It doesnrsquot seem so long ago

All the available babysitters in the community would attend Almarsquos funeral too so this was to be my kidsrsquo first funeral

The afternoon before the service salt-snow fell Hard little crystals pelted down as if the heavens had up-ended a Mortonrsquos salt canister Within a few hours the hard snow was six inches deep and still falling

In the middle of the salt-snow the gravedigger arrived The Ditchwitch roared around the cemetery to the familyrsquos plot and my kidsrsquo noses pressed against the upstairs bedroom window pane ldquoMommy can we go watchrdquo

Glad for an excuse to get out of the parsonage I bundled them in snowsuits put them on the sled and pulled them across the house yard and garden to the fence that bordered the cemetery

The Ditchwitch made short work of the grave and all three of us were mesmerized watching the mound of gray-black dirt grow in the crystal-white snow When the hole was finished the gravedigger turned his tractor on idle He hopped off and came over to the fence His eyes twinkled in a weathered face ldquoWant to come lookrdquo

I backed up from the fence a step ldquoNo not really I think this is close enoughrdquo

ldquoYes Mommy go lookrdquo ldquoPleeeeaserdquoSo Nikki and Josh got back on the sled and I

hauled them along the fence through the gate over to the grave and looked down Six feet seemed deep bottomless Dark A sharp contrast to the pelting snowflakes all around us

ldquoWanna get down in thererdquo the gravedigger asked I shuddered hung onto the kids and backed up

again ldquoNo No thatrsquos okay This is close enough I just want to look from hererdquo

ldquoYes mommyrdquo the little ones said ldquoLetrsquosrdquoldquoNordquoldquoPleaserdquoldquoReally marsquoam I think you should Yoursquoll be

surprised I wouldnrsquot suggest it if it I didnrsquot think sordquoldquoHow would we get outrdquo The sides were deeper

than I was tall and there certainly werenrsquot footholds or a ladder built in for Almarsquos soul to use to climb out

ldquoLike thisrdquo The gravedigger laid his shovel diagonally across a top corner of the grave and jumped down He grabbed the middle of the shovel handle and swung himself back up and out with the agility of a gymnast ldquoNothinrsquo to itrdquo

ldquoI canrsquot do thatrdquoldquoYes you can Irsquoll boost you And wersquoll lift the kids

Yoursquoll be amazed I promiserdquoI shivered The idea of being inside a grave

seemed much colder than the snow crystals biting at my face

ldquoCome onrdquo he said and jumped back in Nikki and Josh willingly stepped over to him to be lifted down I had no choice but to follow I couldnrsquot let my kids alone in a grave with a man I didnrsquot even know

So I jumped The earth on the bottom made a soft landing The soil around me was warm and steamy It was moist and dark but it enfolded us in an earthy hug At least fifty degrees warmer than the air above ground it felt as if the earth were offering shelter respite a comfortable place to snuggle down and rest Tiny roots dangled full of life from the smooth edges of the hole Tears sprang to my eyes I couldnrsquot help them My eyes met the gravediggerrsquos and he smiled Gently ldquoSeerdquo he said Nothing more

I couldnrsquot speak A few minutes later he gave me a stirrup with his

hands I scrambled out and he lifted Nikki and Josh up to me Then he flipped himself out as easily as a trapeze artist

ldquoThank yourdquo I said ldquoI would never have guessedrdquoHe nodded ldquoNobody does But it helps somehow

I wanted you to feel thatrdquoWhy I wanted to ask why me You donrsquot even

know me Why were you willing to take time for usldquoThank yourdquo was all I said I shook his hand and

he hopped on the Ditchwitch and drove off into the snow

I never saw him again Someone else dug the next grave required in that cemetery

I remember only bits and pieces of the funeral Irsquom sure I baked a boxed cake mix for ldquolunchrdquo afterwards I remember answering Nikkirsquos questions about the body and sitting in the back row of the church in case Josh didnrsquot want to be quiet I do remember looking at the unfamiliar face in the casket and thinking you get to rest in a warm cozy place

Ten winters later we buried my dad on just such a day Wet snow crystals pelted us and piled up so deep the funeral home limousine got stuck in the cemetery By the time the pallbearers pushed it un-stuck their suit pants were caked in slush and mud

We stood at the graveside in the bleak wet icy day and lowered my fatherrsquos body into the ground

ldquoToo bad itrsquos such a miserable dayrdquo ldquoSorry about your dad Sorry the weatherrsquos so bad toordquo And even ldquoSuch a good man He deserves better weather than thisrdquo

But the weather I thought was just right Losing my dad my kids and their cousins losing

their grandpa my mom becoming a widow my brother losing his farming partner and best friend changed our livesmdashthat part was too heavy to carry

The only part that was okay for me was to let Dadrsquos worn-out body be wrapped in that welcoming warm enfolding soilmdashthe very soil hersquod loved to till the soil hersquod planted and tended all his life the soil that gave us all lifemdashthat was the only gratifying part of the day

The only comfort I had was letting Dad go from the cold wet biting snow into that warm and restful place

And I still wonder who that gravedigger was ten years earlier and how he knew how much I would need what he gave me that bleak winter day MM

Rebecca Fjelland Davis is an author from Mankato

MM p01 0116indd 23 12182015 24528 PM

reFlecTionsBy Pat Christman

24 bull January 2016 bull MANKATO MAGAZINE

MM p01 0116indd 24 12182015 24544 PM

reFlecTionsBy Pat Christman

MANKATO MAGAZINE  bull January 2016 bull 25

There are few things as inevitable as snow during a Minnesota winter Big

cotton ball-like snowflakes cover the ground in a white blanket whitewashing the Midwestern landscape

We struggle against it Some hope the snow never comes It always does filling the sky with floating snowflakes that cling to the ground but melt as soon as they hit the small bits of face or hands that peek out from winter clothing

It is often quite beautiful especially when viewed from someplace warm and dry MM

MM p01 0116indd 25 12182015 24548 PM

26 bull January 2016 bull MANKATO MAGAZINE

Then amp now Vice President Schuyler Colfaxrsquos Death By Bryce o sTenzel

On Jan 14 1885 one day after his death the New York Times carried a

headline that read ldquoSchuyler Colfax Dead He Drops Down in a Railway Stationrdquo While most Americans today would have tremendous difficulty in even recognizing this manrsquos name

(unless they were paying close attention to Stephen Spielbergrsquos epic movie Lincoln and made the association) Schuyler Colfax was a former Speaker of the House of Representatives and Vice President of the United States under President US Grant He died in Mankatorsquos Chicago St

Paul Minneapolis amp Omaha railroad depot from a massive heart attack

Schuyler Colfax Jr was born in New York City on March 23 1823 His father died of tuberculosis five months before Schuyler was born His sister Mary died four months after his [Schuylerrsquos]

vice President Schuyler Colfaxrsquos Death in Mankato

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MANKATO MAGAZINE  bull January 2016 bull 27

birth The young Schuyler attended school only until he was 10 He then began working to support his family Schuyler Colfax never attended any kind of secondary school or college His mother remarried when Colfax was 13 and the family moved to New Carlisle Indiana By the time he was 22 Colfax was the editor and owner of a pro-Whig newspaper He was elected to Congress in 1854 and joined the newly formed Republican Party after the Whig Party disintegrated Solidly anti-slavery his colleagues elected Colfax as Speaker of the US House of Representatives in 1863 His election came soon after the death of his wife Evelyn The couple had no children

Colfax was President Abraham Lincolnrsquos first and last visitor on the fateful day Lincoln was assassinatedmdashApril 14 1865 Early that morning Colfax arrived at the White House while the president was having breakfast Colfax wanted to know whether or not Lincoln planned to call a special session of Congress for later that summer Lincolnrsquos answer was a polite but firm ldquonordquo Lincoln preferred a lenient approach in reconstructing as well as readmitting the former Confederate states to the Union now that the Civil War was over This approach put Lincoln at odds with the more ldquoradicalrdquo congressional members of his own party who preferred harsher measures be taken against their former enemies Lincoln had already made up his mind how he wanted to proceed with reconstructing the former Confederate states and he didnrsquot want any unnecessary interference from Congress Calling a special session was the last thing Lincoln wanted to do Colfax returned that same night to see Lincoln again just before the president left for Fordrsquos Theatre and his appointment with destiny This time Colfax came upon Lincolnrsquos own request The president had a long message for the silver miners of the Comstock Lode in Nevada thanking them for their loyalty to the Union that he wanted Speaker Colfax to deliver in person since Colfax was leaving by train for the West the next day Colfax was the last person Lincoln spoke to besides his wife Mary before he

was fatally shot at 1015 pm Colfax never forgave himself for turning down Lincolnrsquos invitation to be part of the theatre party that night

In 1868 Republicans selected General Ulysses S Grant as their presidential candidate Grant a military man his entire life had no political background Colfax was placed on the ticket because of his prior experience as a congressman and Speaker of the House (he resigned the position in 1869) Grant and Colfax won an easy victory in November 1868 Only two weeks later Colfax remarriedmdashthis time to Ellen Wade (niece of Ohio Senator Benjamin Wade) Their only child son Schuyler Colfax III was born in 1870

Colfax is best remembered (if at all) for his involvement in the corruption that beset Grantrsquos entire presidency Specifically the Credit Mobilier scandal broke in 1872 just as Grant and Colfax were gearing up for their re-election campaign Colfax was suspected of accepting shares of stock and cash bribes from ldquoCredit Mobilierrdquo a dummy construction company set up by the Union Pacific Railroad He was by no means the only influential person involved in the scandal Other political figures investigated included Senators Roscoe Conkling of New York William Allison of Iowa John Logan of Illinois James Bayard of Delaware and Henry Wilson of Massachusetts Grant was less popular in 1872 than he had been four years earlier and many Republicans worried that having Colfax on the partyrsquos ticket would harm the presidentrsquos re-election chances They dumped Colfax from the ticket mdash only to replace him with the also-tainted Wilson Grant won re-election and served his second and final term from 1873-1877 After being forced out from the vice presidency Colfax traveled the country as a popular lecturer often speaking about his interactions with Abraham Lincoln during the Civil War He rebuilt his tarnished reputation and commanded speaking fees as high as $2500

At 10 am on Jan 13 1885 Schuyler Colfax arrived in Mankato aboard a train from Milwaukee Mankato was just a

brief stop for Colfax who was on his way to Iowa for a speaking engagement The Chicago Milwaukee amp St Paul as well as the Chicago St Paul Minneapolis amp Omaha railroads both had depots in Mankato but because they were separate competing railroad lines Colfax was required to change trains by walking three-quarters of a mile from the Chicago Milwaukee amp St Paul depot at the foot of Hickory Street to the Chicago St Paul Minneapolis amp Omaha depot at Fourth and Washington Streets (now Washington Park) from which the next leg of his journey would depart Despite a reported temperature of 30 degrees below zero Colfax walked from one station to the other Within five minutes after he arrived at the Omaha linersquos depot Colfax entered the waiting room looked at a map on the wall sat down and died It was 1035 am No one in the station knew who the dead man actually was until they searched his pockets and found a letter with his name on it His death was likely caused by a heart attack brought on by the physical exertion of walking almost a mile in extreme cold Colfax was only 61 when he died His remains were returned to South Bend Indiana for burial

Today few Americans are aware that anyone named Schuyler Colfax ever lived much less served as vice president of the United States In this era in which officeholders are often treated as celebrities imagine how surprised people would be to learn that a former vice president died cold alone and unrecognized in a train station 131 years ago Before 24-hour news channels smart phones and social media it was possible for public figures like Colfax to live ndash and die ndash in relative obscurity Ironically Colfax loved the railroad but in the end it was the cause of his undoing Mankato has the distinction of being the location where the last man to personally speak to Abraham Lincoln in a private conversation took his last breath

MM p01 0116indd 27 12182015 24549 PM

28 bull January 2016 bull MANKATO MAGAZINE

Mayo Clinic offers pediatric and adolescent orthopedic services right here in Mankato Todd Milbrandt MD cares for patients with a variety of needs including

bull Cerebral palsy

bull Clubfoot

bull Hip disorders

bull Spinal disorders

bull Sports injuries

bull Scoliosis

bull Spina bifida

Mayo Clinic Health System in Mankato Call 1-877-412-7575 (toll-free) to schedule an appointment

495rdquox495rdquo Mankato Magazine January

Orthopedic care for your child

Independent ampAssisted Living

EQUAL HOUSINGOPPORTUNITY

1360 Adams StreetMankato MN

PrimroseRetirementcom

reg

Key City Senior Breakfast ClubThe Key City Senior Breakfast Club meets the first Thursday of each month from 830 AM - 930 AM at Primrose Retirement Community The club gives those 55+ the opportunity to meet new friends and visit old ones socialize with Key City Officials and enjoy a delicious home-cooked breakfast To visit a Key City Senior Breakfast please call (866) 447-9636

Mark your calendar for these breakfast dates Thursday January 7th Thursday March 3rd and Thursday May 5th

刀椀渀最 椀渀 琀栀攀 

一攀眀 夀攀愀爀

㔀 㜀ⴀ㤀㐀ⴀ㐀㐀䨀甀氀攀攀猀䨀攀眀攀氀爀礀挀漀洀

椀渀 匀愀椀渀琀 倀攀琀攀爀

20765 Foley Rd Mankato MN | 5073872434 | 5077262411

Three TimeNational Award Winners

MM p02 0116indd 28 12182015 30742 PM

Mayo Clinic offers pediatric and adolescent orthopedic services right here in Mankato Todd Milbrandt MD cares for patients with a variety of needs including

bull Cerebral palsy

bull Clubfoot

bull Hip disorders

bull Spinal disorders

bull Sports injuries

bull Scoliosis

bull Spina bifida

Mayo Clinic Health System in Mankato Call 1-877-412-7575 (toll-free) to schedule an appointment

495rdquox495rdquo Mankato Magazine January

Orthopedic care for your child

Independent ampAssisted Living

EQUAL HOUSINGOPPORTUNITY

1360 Adams StreetMankato MN

PrimroseRetirementcom

reg

Key City Senior Breakfast ClubThe Key City Senior Breakfast Club meets the first Thursday of each month from 830 AM - 930 AM at Primrose Retirement Community The club gives those 55+ the opportunity to meet new friends and visit old ones socialize with Key City Officials and enjoy a delicious home-cooked breakfast To visit a Key City Senior Breakfast please call (866) 447-9636

Mark your calendar for these breakfast dates Thursday January 7th Thursday March 3rd and Thursday May 5th

OMG hellip More food and drinksOK sure

By now yoursquore probably thinking ldquoOh my gosh the last thing I want to think about right now is more food more drinking and more diningrdquo

Fair enough We get it The holidays are murder on the metabolism of many many Minnesotans

But we also know that those metabolisms are hardy and soon enough theyrsquoll be hankering for a hunk of something yummy and full of fun And whatrsquos more yummy and full of fun than a big glass of Cabernet Sauvignon Our wine guy Leigh Pomeroy takes us on a tour of all that is tasty and wonderful about big red wines the kind that leave their mark the kind that really announce their presence on your palate

And just in case yoursquore super serious about a healthy lifestyle mdash and that seriousness extends to the kind of beer you choose mdash Bert Mattson our beer guy has just the selection for you Best part is Itrsquos light

Oh and under the category of ldquoDid you hear about thisrdquo Wersquove got an update for you on the Coffee Hag Mankatorsquos original coffee house and one of the most popular hangouts in town Seriously some days itrsquos hard to find a seat in that place

EnjoyPS We know that baby itrsquos cold outside mdash thatrsquos why wersquove

thrown you our absolute best hot cocoa recipe

Enjoymdash Robb Murray Associate Editor Mankato Magazine

food drink amp dineso

uthern m

n style

20765 Foley Rd Mankato MN | 5073872434 | 5077262411

Three TimeNational Award Winners

MM p02 0116indd 29 12182015 30745 PM

MANKATO 5073854485 AMBOY 5076743355 I VERNON CENTER 5075493679

INSURANCE OFFICES LOCATED IN THE COMMUNITY BANK BUILDINGS

wwwcimankatocom

Protecting the things that matter most in your life

Let us help protect what is important to you At Community Insurance we have the ability to compare insurance from multiple companies to get you the best coverage at a great price Combine that with our insurance knowledge and friendly group of agents and we say thatrsquos a winning deal

WHERE YOUR POLICY COMES WITH AN AGENT

Christina Meyer

Food

south

ern mn style

Food

south

ern mn style

By The Washington Post

Growing up my mother always encouraged her children to cook So when

I found a recipe for hot chocolate on the side of the Hersheyrsquos Cocoa can it was easy to convince her to let me give it a try

What I discovered was that hot chocolate doesnrsquot have to come from an envelope

This recipe has been a favorite of mine to make on days when winter weather has convinced me stay home and off the roads Itrsquos the perfect way to kill time and have a nice hot drink to warm you up on those chilly days

Although you can top it with whipped cream I prefer marshmallows

FAVORITE HOT COCOAMakes 4 to 6 servings

12 cup sugar14 cup unsweetened cocoa powder

Dash of salt13 cup hot water

4 cups milk34 teaspoon vanilla extract

Whipped cream or marshmallows (optional)

Mix sugar cocoa powder salt and water in a sauce pan Stir constantly over medium heat until mixture comes to a boil (about 2 minutes) Stir in

milk and heat Bring the hot chocolate to the desired temperature but do not boil Remove from heat and

add the vanilla extract Divide into mugs and top with whipped cream or marshmallows

PERFECTLY CHOCOLATE HOT COCOA

Makes 1 serving

2 tablespoons sugar2 tablespoons unsweetened cocoa powder

Dash salt1 cup milk

14 teaspoon vanilla extractWhipped cream or marshmallows (optional)

Mix sugar cocoa powder and salt into large mug In separate microwave-safe container heat on high

for 1 to 1 frac12 minutes or until very hot Carefully and gradually add milk to dry mixture Stir well Add vanilla extract Top with whipped cream or

marshmallows

Simple homemade hot chocolate

beats the winter chill

30 bull January 2016 bull MANKATO MAGAZINE

MM p02 0116indd 30 12182015 30752 PM

MANKATO MAGAZINE  bull January 2016 bull 31

Oil Change to OverhaulWe do it all

507-387-13151620 Commerce Drive North MankatowwwAustinsAutoRepairCentercom

Voted Best Auto Repair and Best Auto Mechanic 4 Years in a Row

AUSTINrsquoS AUTO REPAIR CENTER INC

MANKATO 5073854485 AMBOY 5076743355 I VERNON CENTER 5075493679

INSURANCE OFFICES LOCATED IN THE COMMUNITY BANK BUILDINGS

wwwcimankatocom

Protecting the things that matter most in your life

Let us help protect what is important to you At Community Insurance we have the ability to compare insurance from multiple companies to get you the best coverage at a great price Combine that with our insurance knowledge and friendly group of agents and we say thatrsquos a winning deal

WHERE YOUR POLICY COMES WITH AN AGENT

Christina Meyer

MM p02 0116indd 31 12182015 30755 PM

32 bull January 2016 bull MANKATO MAGAZINE

January is Cabernet TimeWersquove celebrated nearly

every January edition of Mankato Magazine with

a paean to BIG REDS And since there are so many wonderful examples why stop now

Last year I wrote about the powerful big reds of Italy This January wersquoll focus on Cabernet Sauvignon known to many as ldquothe king of winesrdquo Most oenophiles (wine lovers) consider the quintessential representations of this grape to be the classified Bordeaux of southwest France near the city of Bordeaux The five First Growths (or best wines according to a classification made in 1855 and updated in 1973) are Ch Lafite Rothschild Ch Margaux Ch Latour Ch Haut Brion and Ch Mouton Rothschild All have a cabernet sauvignon base but they are blended with merlot and often a little bit of cabernet franc and petit verdot as well

In the early 1970s I was able to buy these wines for around $22 per bottle mdash about $120 in 2016 dollars Yet with the popularity of ldquocollectiblerdquo wines on a worldwide

basis they sell today for anywhere from $400 on up

Contrary to popular belief these wines are not that massive Rather they combine cabernet sauvignon power with

structure and finesse yielding wines that become with time elixirs that are greater than the sum of their parts

Both California and Washington state have taken up the Cabernet Sauvignon challenge and are producing world-class wines at sometimes world-class prices Napa Valley is the recognized leader in this arena and rightly so Napa Valleyrsquos top Cabernet

Wine amp B

eerso

uthern m

n style

winesBy Leigh Pomeroy

Leigh Pomeroy is a Mankato-based writer and wine lover

Cabernet Sauvignon is the black Labrador of wines mdash it comes up and licks yourdquo

mdash Winemaker Scott Rich

Sauvignons rival the great wines of Bordeaux for quality mdash Irsquove tasted them side-by-side mdashand yet can sell for a fraction of their price

One such example is the 2013 Tulocay Cabernet Sauvignon from my old friend Bill Cadman We were young bucks in Napa Valley and had a tasting group in the early 1970s along with now-famous wine luminaries Bruce Neyers (Neyers Vineyards) and Mike Richmond (co-founder of Acacia Vineyard)

Billrsquos Cabernet is from an old and relatively cool growing area east of the City of Napa called Coombsville which because of industry political issues only recently received its AVA (American Viticultural Area) designation It is priced at $60 per bottle yet compares with any top-flight Bordeaux as well as the more expensive offerings from Napa Valley which can cost from $100 on up Not currently available at wine stores or restaurants in Minnesota it can be purchased by contacting the winery directly via its website tulocaycom The winery is so small that Bill will probably answer the phone himself

There is a lot of Cabernet Sauvignon available from California but mdash caveat emptor mdash not all growing areas (or appellations) are the same The best Cabernet Sauvignons are from Napa and Sonoma Counties Cabernets simply labeled ldquoCaliforniardquo or perhaps ldquoCoastalrdquo while sometimes good values lack the complexity of the greater Cabernet Sauvignons from the more northern parts of the state

Washington state has also

established itself as a prime producer of Cabernet Sauvignon But here again quality can vary greatly depending upon the area and producer While there is no ldquogo-tordquo appellation for Cabernet Sauvignon in Washington there are producers that are able to secure fruit from the best vineyards

One such example is the tiny Willis Hall Winery owned by another good friend John Bell a former Boeing jet propulsion engineer Like Tulocay its wines are only available by calling up the winery and ordering some (See willishallcom) But there are many other top quality producers in Washington like Quilceda Creek Leonetti Betz Family and Woodward Canyon

Of course not everyone can afford Cabernet Sauvignons in the $60-plus category One excellent everyday drinking example is the Flying Cloud 2013 Paso Robles Cabernet Sauvignon made by Mankato native Stephen Dooley Normally I donrsquot like Paso Robles Cabs as they tend to be too fruity and too soft for my palate mdash almost like drinking berry jam But this one is quite restrained no doubt helped by the inclusion of 13 percent zinfandel and 9 percent petite sirah in the blend

In Mankato both the Wine Cafeacute and MGM carry the Flying Cloud but at its price and quality I wouldnrsquot count on it lasting for long especially since only 759 cases were produced

So letrsquos raise a glass of Cabernet and say ldquoCheersrdquo to the New Year

MM p02 0116indd 32 12182015 30756 PM

MANKATO MAGAZINE  bull January 2016 bull 33

Bert Mattson is a chef and writer based in St Paul He is the manager of the iconic Mickeyrsquos Diner

Beer Skinny

BeerBy Bert Mattson

Last year according to Nielsen research staying fit and healthy was

the number one New Yearrsquos resolution Losing weight was two Three was to enjoy life to the fullest Unfortunately ldquolose weight and get fitrdquo also topped Time magazinersquos list of commonly broken resolutions Is this shortfall due to tension between the top two and that third one If so craft beer may have a role in the compromise Bad news first

In the context of losing weight and staying fit beer lovers might seek solace in the fact that fat carries nine calories per gram while alcohol has only seven The wrinkle is that those seven are ldquoemptyrdquo mdash calories without nutrition as opposed to those from fat protein and carbohydrates Moreover alcoholrsquos calories are the first burned when combined with the others the human body postpones burning fat while it works on alcohol Furthermore beer (and wine and often cocktails) contains carbohydrates which release insulin and can hasten fat storage Finally many drinkers have undoubtedly observed that alcohol loosens inhibitions after which an eager indulgence in unhealthy foods often occurs (Bar menus are rarely helpful in that respect)

By now you may wonder whose side Irsquom actually on Or suspect Irsquove led you to this dark place only to offer you a Lite No worries a couple craft brewers have been considering ways to keep us true to our resolutions

Evil Twin Brewingrsquos Bikini Beer drops the alcohol to 27 percent but stays bold by way of hops A Pale Ale it hits the nose with citrus suggestive of IPA The flavor follows suit floral and lemon There is an expected absence of malt yielding to bitterness up front that fades at the finish An alternative

for those who insist on the full effect Founderrsquos Brewing Companyrsquos All Day IPA rings in at a respectable 144 calories (Evil Twinrsquos entry comes in at 81)

One strategy to beat the beer munchies and avoid costly impulse eating is to have suitable chow on hand With Bikini Beer try a salad sporting blue cheese and some sort of dried fruit Creamy blue veined cheeses echo the hops while balancing bitterness An occasional bite of dried fruit stands in for malt sweetness

Brooklyn Breweryrsquos 12 Ale weighs in at 34 percent alcohol (102 calories) It is alliteratively labeled ldquoSession Saisonrdquo It opens with a waft of citrus and spice and a little lemongrass from Sorachi Ace hops mdash a hybrid developed in East Asia The same elements are found in the flavor which is a bit more subdued than a full-sized Saison

Try it with a tangle of arugula dressed with lemon and a fruity olive oil tossed with pine nuts and topped with shaved Parmesan for effect The greens and cracked pepper reflect spicy phenolic elements in the yeast Salty cheese counters the beerrsquos lingering bitterness Maybe add a few slices of Speck cured ham and Saison share a certain funkiness

If friends show and it becomes a session you may honestly say you spent Saturday working on your six-pack

MM p02 0116indd 33 12182015 30757 PM

34 bull January 2016 bull MANKATO MAGAZINE

Food

south

ern mn style

Food

south

ern mn style

The Coffee Hag one of the arearsquos oldest (and coolest) bistros recently underwent a major expansion and remodeling journey culminating in a large and airy

seating area along with a much-improved kitchen and a new menu Mankato Magazine caught up with a very busy (and slightly exhausted) owner Jenn Melby-Kelly who weighs in on how itrsquos going

MANKATO MAGAZINE Are you personally enjoying the new updatesJENN MELBY-KELLY It Is Fabulous The new space represents so much more than a remodel to me It has brought to life a vision for my business thatrsquos been years in the making It incorporates many many good ideas from many many people I feel so fortunate to get to see that every time I walk through the door

MM How are customers reactingJMK Thatrsquos been one of the best parts The response has been overwhelmingly positive

A few of our most regular customers had the opportunity to get a glimpse of the remodel while it was underway (we gave some informal preview tours while we were operating the temporary stand outside) but many customers walk through the door now and see it all for the first time Itrsquos especially fun to see and hear that kind of wide-eyed reaction

A few people with special connections to The Hag have had even stronger emotional responses and Irsquom so touched and right there with them when I see eyes well up as they see what wersquove done Itrsquos a very big milestone for a very special place and wersquore blessed to have people that care so deeply

MM Do the employees appreciate the new spaceJMK Oh probably more than anyone There was a lot that we sought to do with the remodel but creating a bigger brighter better-equipped space for our team was certainly one of the primary goals Wersquove got an incredible team truly the most spirited and talented people anyone could hope for

Many of them have spent years with me working hard against the challenge of a small under-equipped space and just barely being able to keeping up with growing demand Itrsquos been a special blessing for them and for me to finally have state-of-the-art space thatrsquos made for the work that we do We all feel a special connection to this place and now more than ever the place reflects the good energy we all bring here every day

MM Is the new menu a hit (The Hag specializes in vegetarianvegan cuisine)JMK Yes but just wait Feedback and demand have been excellent with our food offerings already but wersquore just getting started on some of the really exciting things that are coming to our food menu

Remodeling the cafe was just the first major milestone of our two-part expansion plan Next up wersquore building a state of the art off-site commissary kitchen that will do for our incredible culinary team what the remodeled shop has done for our baristas Theyrsquove been working day and night on taking our already fantastic food offerings to a whole new level

Wersquove already introduced some amazing new menu items like the Garden Grilled Cheese panini (trust me itrsquos like nothing yoursquove had before) and some truly outstanding new vegan baked goods Wersquove also improved our classic offerings with house-made

Interview with Jenn Melby-Kelly owner of The Coffee Hag

By Sarah Johnson

MM p02 0116indd 34 12182015 30802 PM

MANKATO MAGAZINE  bull January 2016 bull 35

Happy New Year

Locally Owned amp Operated

Check Weekly Specialsmgmwineandspiritscommankato

Largest Selection ofbull Liquor bull Wine bull Beer bull

Hours Monday-Saturday 8 am - 10 pm

ATMs at all stores

Mankato201 Victory Dr

625-2420

North Mankato1755 Commerce Dr

387-2634

St Peter100 N Minnesota Ave

934-8964

sourdough and whole wheat breads But as impressive as it is already itrsquos just a taste mdash literally mdash of things to come as we bring our new kitchen online

MM Whatrsquos stayed the sameJMK Irsquom really proud to say that while wersquove touched almost every part of this 23-year-old business wersquove kept even more than we have changed From the first days of this project I made it my personal mission and responsibility to make sure that the ldquosoulrdquo of this special place was only enhanced and never lost as we made the updates

In every area of the remodel as wersquove added some necessary new layers of sophistication The Hagrsquos colorful quirky and even rebellious spirit is still very much a part of the space We did a lot to try to make sure it still looked and felt like ldquohomerdquo

And on a deeper level every step wersquove taken with the growth of our business has been chosen carefully to honor the core parts of The Coffee Hagrsquos identity Our focus on community our support for local art and music our commitment to creating a safe and welcoming space for everyone our efforts to lead the way on social and environmental issues affecting our world near and far mdash those have all stayed the same And those will always be at the heart of what we do

MM Anything elseJMK Irsquom so incredibly grateful for the support of our customers and community And whenever I talk about my business and how it has grown I really canrsquot overstate how thankful I am for my beautiful Coffee Hag family The hard work good energy and earnest contributions of so many people mdash past and present mdash have brought me and my business here An incredible amount of love has gone into this business and made this dream a reality

MM p02 0116indd 35 12222015 121240 PM

36 bull January 2016 bull MANKATO MAGAZINE

xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

Food

south

ern mn style

whatrsquos Cooking By Sarah Johnson

Sarah Johnson is a cook freelance writer and chocolate addict from North Mankato with three grown kids and a couple of mutts

As I was pondering my subject matter for todayrsquos column I started wondering about all the different items the word ldquonutsrdquo can refer

to Crazy people are called nuts so are hexagonal metal objects that attach to bolts Nuts can be the end of things (as in ldquofrom soup to nutsrdquo) or they can be the beginning of them (as in ldquosperm incubatorsrdquo) Nut can also mean onersquos head or onersquos lump of something such as butter And if you accidentally get a nut of butter on your nut you can exclaim ldquoNutsrdquo

My favorite meaning of the word nut however is the dry indehiscent one-seeded fruit with a woody pericarp And I donrsquot even know what indehiscent OR pericarp means But these are the wonderful denizens of the world of edible nuts

Nuts are widely credited with all sorts of health benefits for the heart brain male reproductive system prostate cholesterol level fiber intake and avoidance of some types of cancer And while nuts do contain fat itrsquos the ldquogoodrdquo kind heart-healthy monounsaturated and polyunsaturated fat Their mix of omega-3 fatty acids protein and fiber helps you feel full and suppresses the appetite

Nuts are great in desserts and salads of course but they also shine in stir-fries casseroles soups chicken pork fish and even beverages Nut butters nut milks and nut oils add delicious options to our kitchen larders Breads cereals muffins and pancakes gain texture flavor and nutrition from the addition of nuts Basically anytime is a good time for nuts

Which is a wonderful thing because nuts taste so good you would think they had to be very very bad The reason lies deep in their oils

Walnut Oil is strong and flavorful Itrsquos best when used in uncooked sauces or salad dressing

Hazelnut Oil has a strong flavor and is great for the heart

Almond Oil is very popular and has a much milder flavor than walnut oil or hazelnut oil

Pecan Macadamia Nut Pistachio Cashew and Pine Nut Oils are flavorful and unique The freshness of the nuts used really affects the flavor

ldquoTherersquos Nuttinrsquo Nutty About Nutsrdquo

For the Baklava1 pound pistachios hazelnuts walnuts pecans andor almonds coarsely ground plus more for garnish12 teaspoon ground cinnamon1 cup breadcrumbs4 sticks unsalted butter melted16 sheets phyllo dough (thawed if frozen) cut in half

For the Syrup3 cups sugar1 6 -to-8-ounce jar honey1 frac12 cups water1 to 2 tablespoons fresh lemon juice

If yoursquore under the impression that baklava is much too labor-intensive and complicated to make at home think again Anybody can make

it no special skills equipment or exotic ingredients are required A word about phyllo dough Itrsquos sold in frozen packages so you need to remove the package from the freezer and let it thaw in the fridge 24 hours before you want to make the baklava Then about an hour beforehand remove the package from the fridge and let it sit on the counter

Walnuts or pistachios are the most traditional nuts to fill baklava but using other nuts works wonders as well Simply layer the phyllo with the nut filling and butter bake for an hour and finish with a simple honeyed syrup If you have leftover nuts from the holidays herersquos your chance to use them up

Mixed Nut Baklava

MM p02 0116indd 36 12182015 30812 PM

MANKATO MAGAZINE  bull January 2016 bull 37

MONEY MATTERS WORK SMARTLET COMMUNITY BANK HELP YOUBRING THE TWO TOGETHER

MANKATO - SAINT ANDREWS DR 5073854444MANKATO - MADISON AVE 5076251551VERNON CENTER 5075493679AMBOY 5076743300

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We support great causes like yoursAt Community Bank we know good things happen when you have a good bank So we make more possible by keeping banking simple and supportive And by giving you the power that comes with innovative solutions like our Health Savings Account It offers you tax-free savings for future medical expenses Stop by anytime Wersquore always ready to help out a great cause

Position a rack in the lower third of the oven preheat to 350 degrees Combine the nuts cinnamon and breadcrumbs in a bowl

Brush a 9x13-inch baking dish with some of the butter Layer 10 pieces of phyllo in the dish brushing each piece with butter before adding the next (keep the remaining dough covered with a damp towel) Sprinkle a quarter of the nut mixture over the dough Layer four pieces of phyllo on top brushing each with butter before adding the next sprinkle with another quarter of the nut mixture Add four more phyllo pieces on top brushing each with butter then add another quarter of the nut mixture four more pieces of phyllo with butter and the remaining nuts

Layer the remaining 10 pieces of phyllo on top of the nuts brushing each with butter brush the top piece with extra butter Cut into the baklava to make strips about 1 12 inches wide Then make diagonal slices about 1 12 inches apart to create a diamond pattern Bake until golden about one hour

Meanwhile make the syrup Bring the sugar honey and 1 12 cups water to a boil in a saucepan over medium heat and cook 10 to 15 minutes Add the lemon juice and boil 2 more minutes then let cool slightly Pour the syrup over the warm baklava let soak uncovered at least six hours or overnight Garnish with nuts

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38 bull bull MANKATO MAGAZINE

Nell Musolf is a mom and freelance writer from Mankato She blogs at nellmusolfcom

38 bull bull MANKATO MAGAZINE

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MANKATO MAGAZINE  bull January 2016 bull 39

Gear Up for WinterYear-Round amp Insulated Workwear from

Carhartt Dickies and Key

UNIFORMSUniforms fromBarco Carhartt Cherokee DickiesKoi Peaches and White Cross

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Call 5073446336mankatomagmankatofreepresscom

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NEW LOCATION709 S Front Suite 5

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Open House ndash Wednesday Feb 3 9-12noonCelebrating 5 years of Business New Location and the Chinese New Year

In Network with Blue Cross Blue ShieldLicensed by the MN Board of Medical Practice

Ribbon Cutting with Greater Mankato Growth at 10am

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1351 Madison AveSuite D

Mankato MN 56001

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$2900New Patient Special

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40 bull bull MANKATO MAGAZINE

Jean Lundquist is a master gardener who lives near Good Thunder

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MANKATO MAGAZINE  bull January 2016 bull 41

3 Increase the Value of Your Home

3 Update Your Homersquos Appearance

3 Save Money

Choose from SeveralModels Styles amp Colors

507-625-7110 or 1-800-645-36671125 Cross St North Mankato MN

Improve Your HomersquosEnergy Efficiency

422 Park Lane Mankato MN | NuStarMankatocom

(507) 381-4747Voted One of Mankatorsquos Best

DANIEL WINGERT

Make Selling Your Home Your NuYearrsquos Resolution

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42 bull January 2016 bull MANKATO MAGAZINE

January Resolve to moisturize

Your stYLeBy Ann Rosenquist Fee

Ann Rosenquist Fee is executive director of the Arts Center of Saint Peter and a vocalist with The Frye She blogs at annrosenquistfeecom

If you have in-laws or colleagues who know you well enough to have given you holiday gifts

but not well enough to know what wouldrsquove truly made you happy congratulations Chances are yoursquore the proud owner of a bunch of brand-new lip balm

Maybe itrsquos even holiday themed Thatrsquos the best Maybe you got the candy-cane flavored kind or wintergreen with holiday graphics on the label or something like that A theme that was irrelevant the moment the stocking was unstuffed because at that exact second the holiday was over

And here you are in January with an abundance of wax

Fortunately also here you are in the early weeks of winter with rough red knuckles Probably also cracked cuticles although it might not have gone that far yet for you Irsquom sure it has for me This photo was taken back in November and even then the Band-Aids were for real Irsquove learned to cut them in half length-wise so as to retain my ability to type Irsquove also learned to play with a range of color options Flesh-toned Clear Disney characters The colorful strips shown here were gifted to me by my husband Partly why theyrsquore cut in half is that the text is obscene This is one small trick you can use to make bloody cuticles your most exciting accessory of the winter

Sources like UrbanSurvivalSitecom and WonderHowTocom will tell you that you can use lip balm for a whole variety of purposes such as coating threads of outdoor lightbulbs before screwing them into their sockets and enhancing the burn-ability of most kindling

These are great fun but they wonrsquot improve your personal style

More germane to winter beauty are the following suggestions

Keep a tube next to your bed for first-thing-in-the-morning use And I mean really truly first-thing I mean smear the stuff on each cuticle while yoursquore still lying there before you start using your fingers at all If you wake up thinking yoursquore fine and skip cuticle care next thing you know yoursquore pushing down the lever on your Keurig and the pressure is more than your screamingly dry skin can take and boom split blood on the Keurig and itrsquos gonna be a long painful day If only you had balmed your hands before you let your feet hit the floor

Keep another tube in your glove compartment If itrsquos warm enough to take off your mittens in the car mdash if yoursquore even wearing mittens given that your hands are snagging on everything these days mdash the harsh January sunlight will allow you to see cracks and flakes in high-resolution detail Yoursquoll want the balm nearby

to cover what you didnrsquot notice first thing in the morning Also a car tube is useful for when you look in the rear-view mirror and notice that your nose and upper lip are flaking as well Itrsquos because yoursquore getting over a cold and the frequent use of tissue has worn away your top layer of skin but just because you know that doesnrsquot mean everybody else wonrsquot think ldquothere is something in that noserdquo Itrsquos just a fact Itrsquos what it looks like Lip balm to the rescue Itrsquos the only thing dry enough to slick those flakes in place and nourishing enough to maybe actually get your face back to normal

Keep a couple more tubes in a nighttime kit along with sandpaper Sandpaper Yes Not a pumice stone not a lame also-gifted sugar

scrub Medium-grit sandpaper is what you need every night lightly but with conviction As follows 1) Sand taking care not to do more damage than what the elements have already done Yoursquore just trying to remove the dry dead stuff Yoursquore just being hearty and efficient about this true to the culture of this great state in which yoursquove chosen to winter You are no pansy Sand your hands 2) Wash 3) Blot dry 4) Dial up the gifted balm whisper a word of thanks to the person who put so much thought into your well-being that they stuffed your holiday stocking with this amazing gift of self-care smash a healthy amount down into your palms massage Take heart You just might find yourself with normal-textured non-cracked not-horrible-looking hands by morning

Split-open cuticles I feel you Except for these Band-Aids I feel you

Lip balms I have been gifted and these are just from last Christmas ldquolastrdquo as in 2014

Bathrooms Worth Bragging About

HoursTue amp Wed amp Fri | 9 am to 6 pmMon amp Thu | 9 am to 7 pmSaturday | 9 am to 4 pm

219 S Victory Dr | Mankato507 | 345 | 7009ipafhickorytechnetindependentpaintandflooringcom

You Deserve Comfortable Care Every Timebull Sedation - Complete Relaxation with Just a Pillbull Invisalign - Clear Alternative to Bracesbull Botox amp Fillersbull Implants - Placement and Restorationbull Cerec - One Visit Crown Technology

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1400 Lookout Drive North Mankato507-625-CARE(2273) bull mankatodentistcom 06

1865

6124

01

Dr AngelA Schuck

Dr keith FlAck

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MANKATO MAGAZINE  bull January 2016 bull 43

Bathrooms Worth Bragging About

HoursTue amp Wed amp Fri | 9 am to 6 pmMon amp Thu | 9 am to 7 pmSaturday | 9 am to 4 pm

219 S Victory Dr | Mankato507 | 345 | 7009ipafhickorytechnetindependentpaintandflooringcom

You Deserve Comfortable Care Every Timebull Sedation - Complete Relaxation with Just a Pillbull Invisalign - Clear Alternative to Bracesbull Botox amp Fillersbull Implants - Placement and Restorationbull Cerec - One Visit Crown Technology

bull Free Whitening Programbull 3D Imaging with Fewer X-Raysbull Cosmetic Dentistrybull Drill-Free Technologybull Emergency Care

1400 Lookout Drive North Mankato507-625-CARE(2273) bull mankatodentistcom 06

1865

6124

01

Dr AngelA Schuck

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(944) 412-7949 | OrthoEdgeMNcom

Enjoy the season

Mankato St Peter

Be active Be healthyBe able with OrthoEdge

The OrthoEdge joint replacement

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MM p02 0116indd 43 12182015 30842 PM

44 bull January 2016 bull MANKATO MAGAZINE

1 Hicktown Mafia800 pm mdash New Ulm Event Center mdash 301 20th St S mdash New Ulm mdash $10 mdash 507-354-4673

7-9 Mankato West Orchesis Dance Team showcase7 pm Thursday-Saturday 2 pm Saturday mdash Mankato West High School Auditorium mdash $7 adults $5 students mdash 507-381-7578

10 Mankato Symphony Orchestra Music on the Hill II ldquoMinnesota rootsrdquo2 pm mdash Chapel at Good Counselmdash Good Counsel Drive mdash Mankato mdash $17 $12 mdash wwwmankatosymphonycom

16 Handel with Caremdash Handel Goes to Italy11 ammdash YMCA Aerobics Studio mdash 1401 S Riverfront Drive mdash Mankato mdash wwwmankatosymphonycom

16 Mankato Craft beer Expo2 pm (VIP) 3 pm general mdash Verizon Wireless Center mdash $45 VIP $35 general $10 designated driver mdash wwwmankatocraftbeerexpocom

23 Joey Flip and Mike Fugazzi rockinrsquo at the Embassy9 pm mdash Blaschkorsquos Embassy Bar and Grill mdash 325 S Minnesota Ave mdash St Peter mdash 507-934-3903

24 andrea Lyn and Dick Kimmel concert730 pm mdash Elias J Halling Recital Hall mdash Minnesota State University mdash Mankato mdash $12 regular $11 current MSU students mdash wwwmnusedumusic

28-31 MSu Theatre antigone730 pm Thursday-Saturday 2 pm Sunday mdash Andreas Theatre mdash Minnesota State University mdash Mankato mdash $16 regular $14 discount $11 current MSU students mdash wwwmnsuedu

29-31 BLC Theatre Brigadoon730 Friday and Saturday 2 pm Sunday mdash Ylvisaker Fine Arts Center mdash Bethany Lutheran College mdash Mankato mdash $10 adults $6 seniors children and students mdash wwwblceduevents

29- Feb 7 Winterfest St Peter Citywide mdash wwwstpeterchamberorg

30 Church of Cash a Tribute to Johnny Cash7 pm mdash St Peter American Legion mdash 229 W Nassau St mdash St Peter mdash 507-934-6435

31 Maud Hixson and rick Carlson concert730 pmmdash Elias J Halling Recital Hall mdash Minnesota State University mdash Mankato mdash $12 regular $11 current MSU students wwmnsuedumusic

Coming attraCtions January

T - F 8am - 6pm Sun ClosedSat 9am - 4pmM 8am - 8pm

120 North Broad Street Mankato MN 507-345-4688 wwwmeyerandsonstvandappliancecom

FIND SPECIAL DEALS ON

MM p02 0116indd 44 12182015 30902 PM

MANKATO MAGAZINE  bull January 2016 bull 45

St Peter Craft amp Vendor Show

1MelinadaBussefromRapidansoldherhandmadejewelryatthecraftandvendorshow

2DarylfromElysianandhishand-carvedwoodart

3MacKennaage7hasfunatoneoftheboothsattheStPeterCraftandVendorShow

4LizEntershowsoffsomeofherproductsattheldquoItWorksrdquobooth

5DenisePetersofldquoYoungLivingrdquoessentialoilsdisplayedherproductsattheshow

Faces amp Places Photos By Sport Pix

3

5

2

1

4

T - F 8am - 6pm Sun ClosedSat 9am - 4pmM 8am - 8pm

120 North Broad Street Mankato MN 507-345-4688 wwwmeyerandsonstvandappliancecom

FIND SPECIAL DEALS ON

MM p02 0116indd 45 12222015 121536 PM

46 bull January 2016 bull MANKATO MAGAZINE

SOUTHErN MN CHrISTMAS

FESTIVAL1 A large crowd was on hand during the festivities at

the Christmas Festival2 Friesenrsquos Family Bakery amp Bistro had tons of baked

goods and soups at the Verizon Wireless Center3 A childrenrsquos choir sang for the audience at the

festival4 Ron Haefner owner of Ronrsquos Auto Repair displayed

some of his services5 Garrison Galatz dressed up as Santa for the

Christmas Festival

faCes amp PLaCes Photos By Sport Pix

4

3

1

2

5

MM p02 0116indd 46 12182015 30923 PM

MANKATO MAGAZINE  bull January 2016 bull 47

1GirlScouttroop34494waspresentedwithatrophybyKiwanisVicePresidentKyleMrozek

2SantaClausevenwentthroughtheparaderoute3(LtoR)BrooklynPomrankeAlaynaLyonsHunterPomrankeandLilyLyonsgetagroupphototakenwithSanta

4MarshaMartigtellsSantawhatshewantsforChristmas

5TheparadefloatswerealldeckedoutinChristmaslights

6Visitorswalkthepatharoundtheparktoviewthisyearrsquoslights

Kiwanis Holiday ligHtsFaces amp Places Photos By sport Pix

2

1

3

4 5

6

MM p02 0116indd 47 12222015 121616 PM

48 bull January 2016 bull MANKATO MAGAZINE

On the Occasion of a 50th Reunion

the Class of 1965

from this VaLLeYBy Pete Steiner

Peter Steiner is host of ldquoTalk of the Townrdquo weekdays at 105 pm on KTOE

I was honored to give the presentation for our 50th class reunion recently at West Highrsquos Homecoming celebration About 120 of our nearly 400-member class

showed up We Baby Boomers the children of the greatest generation had big classes in the late lsquo60rsquos that forced the building of East High Ours was a dramatic era and our class did some great things in the face of big challenges Here edited is some of what I said

I am so glad to be standing here today Therersquos an old saying

ldquoMay you live in INTErESTINg timeshelliprdquo The Class of rsquo65 certainly has Itrsquos seems like only yesterday right after lunch that we were at our desks waiting for the start of English class when our charismatic teacher Harry Fitterer strode in and said ldquoPrESIDENT KENNEDY HAS BEEN SHOT IN DALLASrdquo At first we didnrsquot believe him but it was true It was November 22 1963 We were juniors and as the song says that was THE END OF THE INNOCENCE We had lived through the last idyllic time in America

When we first arrived in the fall of 1962 America was still carefree basking in the glow of victory in WW II Everything may have seemed ldquorightrdquo but it was not Martin Luther King Jr had just visited Mankato pointing out the continuing plight of black Americans as the Civil rights movement was gaining steam The beginnings of the Vietnam War which would alter the course of many of our lives were stirring even as we studied history and government The current generation has no monopoly on forgettable pop music ndash we had a stupid 1 song called ldquoItsie Bitsie Teenie Weenie Yellow Polka Dot Bikinirdquo (unfortunately an ear worm I canrsquot forget) But a darker cultural threat was looming The BEATLES were invading from Britain and our parents were mortified because they had LONg HAIr

Some of the shock of the Kennedy assassination was eased when our wrestling team in the era when the state still had just ONE CLASS won the State Championship in front of a packed hall up at MSU some still maintain that is the greatest single athletic achievement in Mankato history We were the first high school in Mankato to put on a full-scale musical ldquoBye Bye Birdierdquo in the spring of 1964 In Fall of 1964 our football team would have won the conference championship outright except Owatonnarsquos great Noel Jenke who would go on to star for the U of M

cheated I watched him trap the touchdown pass that beat us Does cheating pay Was that a lesson for life

In lsquo65 we also had a fine basketball team that lost our chance at State when our 6-6 center fouled out at Luverne

BUT A FAr BIggEr CHALLENgE AWAITED US ALL As we rode out to Luverne to watch that game we couldnrsquot help noticing the highway was like a canyon between walls of snow The legendary St Patrickrsquos Day Blizzard had dumped two feet on top of an already large snow pack and then April brought rains on frozen ground Instead of coming here to school many of us soon got a real-life assignment to go out in our rain gear out on the dikes to battle the grEAT FLOOD OF 1965 Our school became an island as water flooded the parking lot and all of South riverfront Our spring play that year was called ironically

THE DESPErATE HOUrS We had to rehearse at roosevelt School up on higher ground

Our class produced three Merit scholars One of our classmates who did NOT qualify

for a merit scholarship nevertheless was such a whiz at physics that NASA requested a copy of a paper he wrote on rocketry as a senior We produced 12 doctors one of whom earned a fellowship at Stanford seeking how to bring telemedicine to the poor another of whom became a breakthrough cancer doctor We had entrepreneurs one who would go on to be a leader in Solar Energy (and then run for governor of New Hampshire) Another mdash a woman incidentally when

that was not common founded two bio-tech startups Many of us are still working

past normal retirement age One founded a company on the leading edge of recycling

computers whose clients include the NSA Another is chief medical officer of a company

devising a better tool for colonoscopies Yet another of our classmates recently completed a concert tour of China

We lived in challenging times just as you do today but we muddle through we make it to the other shore I remember sitting where you are 50 years ago thinking how old those folks up there looked But remember Life goes by very quickly You certainly live in interesting times as Shakespeare said ldquoPresent Mirth has Present Laughter Youthrsquos a stuff will NOT endurerdquo So I urge you live each moment to the fullest

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Page 14: Mankatomag 116

12 bull January 2016 bull MANKATO MAGAZINE

The Celebration of the Lakes has been a family tradition for Erin Thorvaldson Chisago Lakes Chamber Board Member and Community member for Celebration of the Lakes for more than 20 years Thorvaldson was about 10

years old when her grandmother introduced her to the event which takes place Jan 30 on North Center Lake in Lindstrom

DAy Trip DesTinATions Celebration of the LakesBy leTiciA GonzAles

hit the LakesLindstrom has plenty of fun waiting for you

Hot air balloons are just one of the many attractions this festival has employed over the years

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MANKATO MAGAZINE  bull January 2016 bull 13

Day Trip DesTinaTions Celebration of the LakesBy LeTicia GonzaLes

WhenJan 29-31 2016

I-35 North to Hwy 8 east to Center City Located on the North side of Hwy 8 on

North Center Lake

If youGoWhat

Celebration of the Lakes

Lindstrom MN

AdmissionFree additional admission required for some

events activities food and ridesVisit wwwchisagolakeschambercom

ldquoSo I helped way back then when she was part of the chamberrdquo said Thorvaldson ldquoAnd having a business in the community as I got older I also wanted to give backrdquo

Born and raised in the Chisago Lakes area Thorvaldson has served on the celebrationrsquos planning committee for nine years She said the event first caught her eye not only because she loves winter but because it focuses on the outdoors ldquoeven though many people in Minnesota cringe once we get to 20 degrees so it kind of gets you out and lets you do something funrdquo

Watching the celebration grow over the past two decades has also been fun for Thorvaldson

ldquoIt was very tiny at that pointrdquo she said as she reminisced about the early days of the event ldquoIt was just a few hay bales at the icerdquo

Being an active part of the planning has been equally exciting

ldquoThe committeersquos always trying to come up with more ideas that the community would perceive as something fun to do in the winter timerdquo she said ldquoThere have been the sled dogs there have been hot air balloons and there have been kitty cat races car racesrdquo

While past years have even included BMX bike races where people dressed up in costumes the snowmobile radar run and the vintage snow mobile displays have been the ldquomain staplesrdquo of the celebration Organized by the Wild River Snowmobile Club of Chisago City the snowmobile radar run features nearly 200 riders who race upwards of 120 miles per hour on a track

ldquoSometimes they will have souped-up snowmobiles that go incredibly fastrdquo Thorvaldson said ldquoWe had a world record one that raced on the track so itrsquos pretty amazing to see how fast some of them go They break them up into categories and there are prizes for the fastest one in each categoryrdquo

Originally introduced as a memorial radar run for a rotary member the radar run has become one of the celebrationrsquos most popular events

ldquoWe started with just a sheriffrsquos radar gun and now they use different timing items like cones and announcingrdquo she add ldquoItrsquos kind of something that has evolved toordquo

With the draw of the surrounding lakes in the area Thorvaldson said ice fishing has also grown in popularity and has become embedded in the annual celebration

ldquoItrsquos like little villages out on the lakerdquo she said

ldquoThat is kind of the big that that people do There are people who drive up from all over the place the Twin Cities all over just to come spend the weekend ice fishing on the lake so thatrsquos a big big thingrdquo

Greg Shaleen who has also been on the planning committee for the celebration for more than 15 years affirmed the celebrationrsquos growth when it comes to activities offered

ldquoWe have done kind of bizarre thingsrdquo he said ldquoWe do a smoosh race which is where you take 2-by-4s and strap four leather straps on it and you do a little bit of a racerdquo

Shaleen also credits the event for bringing people out to the lakes during the coldest month of the year

ldquoEveryone is all cooped up in the community and it just got to the point where they wanted to do something fun in the winter and get people out and about and enjoy the winter sportrdquo he said

From kitty races and sled dog races to a concession tent and a family fishing contest that draws anywhere from three to five hundred people Shaleen said the Celebration of the Lakes brings people together in the outdoors

ldquoWe are basically more interested in getting people out of the house visiting with friends and neighbors and visitors to the area and enjoying each otherrsquos interest in snowmobiling or ice fishing or whatever the events are taking place or going onrdquo he concluded

MM p01 0116indd 13 12222015 115930 AM

January The holidays are over along with all of the seasonrsquos excuses for overindulge in food and drink and under-indulging in any form of exercise (other than lifting onersquos hand to onersquos mouth) After stowing the presents in the

closet and taking down the tree many people choose the New Year as the perfect time to begin a serious diet and exercise program to shed the extra pounds they put on over the past few months and to begin eating more healthfully Mankato Clinic registered dietitian Erin Gonzalez says a hearty ldquoyesrdquo to healthy mindful eating and definite ldquonordquo to any extreme ldquodo or die(t)rdquo approach

According to Gonzalez 95 percent of all dieters regain the weight they lost within five years It is her belief that such yo-yo dieting only creates more frustration and stress which can lead to emotional eating and binge eating which leads to another cycle of dieting-losing-weight-gaining-weight ad infinitum

Gonzalez speaks from experience After losing 70 pounds since the time she was a teenager Gonzalez is now at a weight she considers healthy and one that she hasnrsquot deviated from in years

By Nell Musolf | Photos by Pat Christman and Darren Gibbins

Herersquos to ahealthy

new yeara healthy

new you

14 bull January 2016 bull MANKATO MAGAZINE

MM p01 0116indd 14 12182015 24450 PM

MANKATO MAGAZINE  bull January 2016 bull 15

Erin Gonzalez and her son prepare a healthful meal

Erin GonzalezldquoI struggled with weight issues when I was growing

uprdquo Gonzalez said ldquoWhen I was 16 I went on my first lsquoseriousrsquo dietmdashone of the fast diets that were popular in the 1990srdquo

Gonzalez said that she stuck to her diet religiously having a shake in the morning one for lunch and a sensible meal at night just as she was instructed to do She also walked for approximately two and a half hours a day Over the course of one summer she lost 70 pounds but she was also she now realizes flirting with an eating disorder Gonzalez says this scenario is not uncommon considering research shows 35 percent of ldquooccasional dietersrdquo progress into pathological dieting (disordered eating) and as many as 25 percent advance to full-blown eating disorders

ldquoMy food intake was very restrictive and I was always extremely conscience of what I ate but just the same I slowly gained back 30 of the 70 pounds

that I lostrdquo Gonzalez said ldquoI was always looking at food as either lsquogoodrsquo or lsquobadrsquo instead of something pleasurable to be enjoyedrdquo

It wasnrsquot until she was working at her dietetic internship that she had her ldquoahardquo moment

ldquoI was blessed with a teacher who taught her students how to enjoy foodrdquo Gonzalez said ldquoinstead of being obsessed by it Gonzalez learned about a program called Am I Hungry that specializes in helping people heal their relationship with food and their bodies so they can relearn to trust their internal hunger cues instead of having to follow arbitrary rules and broken promises of diets Gonzalez facilitates a program at the Mankato Clinic that teaches the Am I Hungry philosophy

ldquoI have two childrenrdquo Gonzalez said ldquoa 10-month-old and a 4-year-old They know how to eat naturally and they stop eating when they are no longer hungry That is what most adults need

MM p01 0116indd 15 12222015 120138 PM

16 bull January 2016 bull MANKATO MAGAZINE

xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

need to relearn how to eatrdquoThe method has worked for Gonzalez Gone are

her extra 30 pounds and she no longer dietsldquoDiets simply arenrsquot sustainablerdquo she said ldquoItrsquos so

hard in our society because we are surrounded by cues to eat all of the time At buffets where you want to lsquoget your moneyrsquos worthrsquo when yoursquore out with friends when you sit down at the end of the day and turn on the television to relax and are bombarded with ads for food Food has become a reward for a bad day or a good day or anything else we can think of But if you look at how you eat as a journey instead of as a destination you can learn to enjoy food a lot morerdquo

So what should someone who wants to start the New Year in a more healthy fashion do

ldquoPause before you eatrdquo Gonzalez recommended ldquoAsk yourself if yoursquore really hungry or if yoursquore actually thirsty or stressed instead Try not to be emotionally disconnected from what you are eatingrdquo

Gonzalez emphasized that ldquomindful eating isnrsquot naive to say nutrition isnrsquot important Of course it is Mindful eating is what allows us to take charge of our decisions of why when what how and how much we choose to eat instead of battling being in or out of controlrdquo

Instead of following the latest short-lived diet Gonzalez encourages people to make the healthiest choices possible that donrsquot leave them feeling deprived

Paulette Tonn BookerFor Paulette Tonn Booker the Am I Hungry

Mindful Eating (AIHME) program has been a game changer

Said Booker ldquoIrsquove tried several diet plans over the past 40 years including some well-known plans and I lost weight on each plan However keeping the weight off eluded me and resulted in yo-yo dieting

The lsquorulesrsquo of whichever plan Booker was on became the norm and after years of trying to live by those rules Booker was no longer able to discern what her body was telling her about hunger often leading to out-of-control overeating

ldquoI always knew there was something else going on yet no one had an answer for merdquo Booker said

When Booker first heard of the AIHME program two years ago she was relieved to discover that there were other people who felt the same way when it came to healthful eating The program taught her the skills she needed to recognize her bodyrsquos hunger signals thoughts and feelings and actions to help manage the physical emotional and environmental stresses of everyday life without resorting to eating to cope with those stresses

ldquoI no longer have to be in control of everything I only need to be in charge of my decisions at any given moment When I choose to overeat (which everyone does) I no longer beat myself up I try to reflect on what happened and then plan for ways to handle the situation differently the next time it occurs Old habits are hard to break it takes concentrated effort and dedication to rewire the brain with new habits and it can be donerdquo Booker said

About weight loss as the end goal of healthful eating Booker shared the following ldquoThe only time I get on a scale is at the doctorrsquos office I know what the experts say I should weigh A number does not define a personrsquos self-worth nor does it say anything about who we are and how we feel as we make changes in how we nurture our bodies The number on the scale is just a number bodies come in all shapes and sizes as does health I will never diet again Instead I will continue to work on developing mindful skills and in the meantime eating what I love and loving what I eatrdquo

MM p01 0116indd 16 12182015 24501 PM

MANKATO MAGAZINE  bull January 2016 bull 17

Eric ZiesmerFor Eric Ziesmer he is in the middle of his weight

loss journey a journey that began last July when the 32-year-old learned that he weighed 330 pounds The time had come for Ziesmer to make some healthy lifestyle changes Ziesmer decided to lose weight because of his family mdash both present and future

ldquoI have two adorable nephews and I would love to be able to chase them around the yard or pull them in a sled during the winter and basically to be active and see them as they growrdquo Ziesmer said ldquoAnd even though Irsquom currently single if it is in my cards for marriage and kids I would like to be there and not be too tired or not in shape A clean and healthy lifestyle is what I am striving for in my coming yearsrdquo

With the help of a dietician Ziesmer has started his cleaner and healthier lifestyle Since July he has lost 40 pounds and has decided to have weight loss surgery To help his post operation phase go as smoothly as possible Ziesmer eats fresh fruit every day has cut out chips and cookies among other things

ldquoI have totally cut out soda Soda was a big one to cut out In my huge climb to 300 there were days when I would consume two 2-liter bottles of pop in a single day and maybe cracking open a thirdrdquo Ziesmer said ldquoI try to listen to my stomach instead of my eyes or eat because Irsquom bored or stressed I eat slow and sip instead of being the guzzler I have always beenrdquo

Another tactic Ziesmer has adopted has been to stop drinking liquids 30 minutes before a meal and then wait 30 minutes after eating before sipping again

ldquoWhen my stomach rumbles and says itrsquos hungry I feed it When my brain or boredom drives me to want to eat I take a second to see if my stomach feels empty and if not it gets deniedrdquo Ziesmer said

Ziesmer has noticed that he is more successful at healthy eating when he eats at home When he does dine out hersquoll cut a sandwich in half eat half and save other half for a future meal

ldquoAs far as exercise goes it went from zero to at least two if not three times a week going for a 327 mile walk and have recently made my way back into the gymrdquo Ziesmer said He has been able to keep track of his walks with accuracy thanks to an app called MapMyRun

Ziesmer knows that his healthier living journey will continue for a long time

ldquoI plan on continuing to live healthy by continuing my exercise and eating right and by saying that itrsquos not only for me and feeling better but also because there are two little guys that look up to their uncle Staying motivated is at least my key to keeping up this lifestyle I want to live a long and healthier life feeling better and being there down the road for family and friends is what means mostrdquo Ziesmer said MM

Eric Ziesmer says hersquos got plenty of motivation to get healthy two nephews to whom he wants to be a good role model

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18 bull January 2016 bull MANKATO MAGAZINE

Stephanie Howe says itrsquos best to have realistic goals when starting a fitness program

Herersquos your guideBy Robb Murray | Photos by Pat Christman

Ready for CHANGE

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MANKATO MAGAZINE  bull January 2016 bull 19

Yoursquore ready

You ate the ham and turkey and potatoes and Christmas cookies You drank the wine beer and eggnog Yoursquove spent the last few

months pondering a life change Yoursquore on the verge of a major transformation This time itrsquos happening Yoursquore going to get healthy Itrsquos going to be a new you

And then January arrived And you have no plan

Luckily we here at Mankato Magazine have got you covered Itrsquos not uncommon for people to make a New Yearrsquos resolution or some similar vow this time of year It usually comes with goal weights and promises to hit the gym X number of times per week and trips to the produce and organic sections of the grocery store because this time yoursquore serious Right

OK easy tiger Getting healthy is a great idea and wersquore wishing you all the best But wersquore also coming at you with some sensible advice Maybe setting unrealistic goals isnrsquot the best way to go Maybe just

heading into the gym and trying to get it all done in a week isnrsquot a great way to go either

ldquoFinerdquo you say ldquothen what should I dordquoWersquore so glad you asked

Letrsquos get startedThe first thing you need to remember when

starting an exercise program is that if you want to lose weight you need to change the way you eat too

ldquoNo matter what you say you canrsquot out exercise a bad dietrdquo says Stephanie Howe director of healthy living at the Mankato YMCA

Howe works in what might be the busiest fitness hub in the Mankato area So shersquos seen her share of people come through the doors with plans to change their lives Some of them succeed Most do not

One of the biggest mistakes people make Howe says is not really having a good grasp on how much time theyrsquoll need in order to incorporate a good workout into their day It doesnrsquot have to be a two-

hour commitment every day she says It can be 30 minutes of planned effective exercise several times per week Whatrsquos more important is just getting there and thatrsquos an obstacle that is bigger than most people realize

ldquoMost people want to lsquopeople pleasersquordquo she said ldquoYou can say yoursquore going to get up and work out every day but most people are built to need external accountabilityrdquo

Think about hiring a personal trainer

ldquoWhen you spend the money on a personal trainer you have an appointment therersquos someone waiting thererdquo she says

A personal trainer is a great way to immediately know yoursquore doing exactly what yoursquore supposed to be doing and yoursquoll have no doubt whether yoursquore working hard enough There are plenty of personal trainers in town mdash at the YMCA and other gyms mdash who would love to help you Of course they donrsquot work for free and for many people the cost of a personal trainer is more than theyrsquore willing to spend

Fortunately therersquos a trend in fitness to offer the whip-crack of a personal trainer while staying Jo radlinger urges her clients to not sabotage their fitness efforts with poor eating over

the weekend

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20 bull January 2016 bull MANKATO MAGAZINE

728 N Riverfront DriveMankato MN 56001

507-625-5163katobearscom

Pins and NeedlesAlterations

Specializing in alterations for theentire wedding party including

gown re-sizing hemming re-beadingbustles and so much more

Like us onFacebook

affordableThe Y now offers something called ldquotrainer ledrdquo

exercise sessions where you work with others in a group but have access to a trainer nearby who can push you motivate you and make sure yoursquore you know doing it right Theyrsquore $3 a class

ldquoYoursquore still expected to be there but itrsquos much cheaperrdquo Howe said ldquoThe group environment pushes you and we have tons of trainer-led classes Itrsquos the best of both worldsrdquo

Across town Jo Radlinger runs Jorsquos Garage a fitness center where shersquos the one pushing you to succeed

Radlingerrsquos goal she says is to bring out everyonersquos potential

ldquoI want to make sure everybody that comes through my door has success I want them to be the very best version of themselves that they can berdquo

Like Howe Radlinger acknowledges that the financial side of hiring a personal trainer can scare people away but she says there are several reasons why it shouldnrsquot

ldquoItrsquos never a bad investment when yoursquore investing in yourselfrdquo she said ldquoMeet with a trainer who is just as passionate about your goal My goal is not to train you intensely but to show you what yoursquore capable of and then take you to that next levelrdquo

At Jorsquos Fitness Garage there are no membership fees Radlinger doesnrsquot believe in them Instead she charges $5 per visit and in that time she said she pushes you to have a great workout

GymtimidationSetting goals is a great

idea Setting unrealistic goals is the kind of thing that results in a gym membership card laying dormant in a junk drawer by February

So set those goals but set them smartlyldquoAccountability is huge Even if you canrsquot hire

someonerdquo Howe says ldquoMake specific goals mdash say yoursquore going to workout X number of times but make those numbers realistic Set goals that are within your controlrdquo

Do this and yoursquore likely to feel a lot better about how things go

ldquoMost people just want to feel better about themselves they want to feel more confidentrdquo Howe said ldquoThis way even before any physical changes happen theyrsquoll feel better Theyrsquoll start to feel like theyrsquore in control again of their life and their choicesrdquo

Taking an exercise class is a great way to both get

your body moving while at the same time have fun and meet those people who will notice when you donrsquot show up

And about that weight room Yes it can be intimidating to walk in and see people who look like they live there But Howe says that while it can definitely be a psychological barrier focusing on those people is the wrong strategy

ldquoNo one cares what yoursquore doingrdquo Howe says ldquoFocus on yourdquo

Take it slowIt can be tempting when you finally get up the

nerve to get back in the swing of working out to go hardcore But just like setting unrealistic goals trying to achieve your fitness goals in a day is impossible

ldquoPeople start out really gung-ho and reset their diet so aggressively and most people just simply canrsquot do thisrdquo Radlinger said ldquoWhen yoursquore looking at making a lifestyle change I want you to do it slowly and incrementally rather than do it all in two monthsrdquo

Rushing into the weight room and trying to lift the same weight and number of reps and sets that you did 10 years ago is a great way to make sure you canrsquot work out for a while Going from a sedentary lifestyle to two hours of pumping iron can leave you sore enough to not be able to lift anything for days Maybe even weeks

Ease into it The gymrsquos not going anywhere Think marathon not sprint

ldquoSometimes people have an all-or-nothing attituderdquo Howe said ldquoand they make themselves sore and they canrsquot continuerdquo

Speaking of all-or-nothing Radlinger says

some people bring that kind of intensity to their food intake over the weekend Bad idea

ldquoAs trainers we help people be accountable We do success measurements help them prepare and plan And wersquoll do weigh-ins on Mondayrdquo Radlinger says ldquoWersquoll find that people do really well Monday through Friday then do what I call sabotage Saturday and Sunday At some point yoursquore going to get so sick of hitting that reset button every Mondayrdquo

Whatever you choose to do both trainers say itrsquos never a bad idea to sit down with your doctor and run your plans by himher Your personal safety should always come first and getting the green light from Doc can give you some peace of mind as you start this new chapter of your life MM

Jo radlinger runs Jorsquos Fitness Garage

MM p01 0116indd 20 12222015 120709 PM

MANKATO MAGAZINE  bull January 2016 bull 21

728 N Riverfront DriveMankato MN 56001

507-625-5163katobearscom

Pins and NeedlesAlterations

Specializing in alterations for theentire wedding party including

gown re-sizing hemming re-beadingbustles and so much more

Like us onFacebook

Live the Lifestyle

wwwmapletonmarinecom

Southern MNrsquos largestboat show on now at the

Madison East Center in Mankato

MM p01 0116indd 21 12182015 24524 PM

22 bull January 2016 bull MANKATO MAGAZINE

Thirty-three years ago I stood inside a grave A lifetime ago when I was a pastorrsquos wife

In Nebraska we served a parish of barely over one hundred members A picture-postcard white church with a hand-carved white wooden altar from Germany sat at the top of a hill next to it the parsonage and next to that the cemetery rolling down the hill toward a wooded creek

The first death in the congregation after our arrival set off a flurry of activity Irsquod never met Alma because she was in a nursing home before we arrived However my husband visited her on several occasions She was mother aunt grandmother great-aunt and great-grandmother to half the congregation so there was no question about whether or not I would attend the funeral

With my two little kids in tow I attended every event at the church every Sunday morning service of course but also every funeral every confirmation every baptism every meeting of womenrsquos circle and even every family reunion that was held in the church basement At twenty-six I perfected the art of making gracious small talk with people Irsquod never seen before and would never see again and at taking tiny portions from each confirmation buffet so I would neither be sick by the end of the day nor offend any of the mothers who had slaved away over their sumptuous spreads of food

By Rebecca Fjelland Davis

Grave Lesson in Winter

ESSay

MM p01 0116indd 22 12182015 24527 PM

MANKATO MAGAZINE  bull January 2016 bull 23

Attending the little white country church was physically easy I picked up one-year-old Josh took three-year-old Nikkirsquos hand and walked out the front door down the sidewalk and next door The only things I didnrsquot have to attend were church council and the menrsquos meeting Archaic This was in the 1980s It doesnrsquot seem so long ago

All the available babysitters in the community would attend Almarsquos funeral too so this was to be my kidsrsquo first funeral

The afternoon before the service salt-snow fell Hard little crystals pelted down as if the heavens had up-ended a Mortonrsquos salt canister Within a few hours the hard snow was six inches deep and still falling

In the middle of the salt-snow the gravedigger arrived The Ditchwitch roared around the cemetery to the familyrsquos plot and my kidsrsquo noses pressed against the upstairs bedroom window pane ldquoMommy can we go watchrdquo

Glad for an excuse to get out of the parsonage I bundled them in snowsuits put them on the sled and pulled them across the house yard and garden to the fence that bordered the cemetery

The Ditchwitch made short work of the grave and all three of us were mesmerized watching the mound of gray-black dirt grow in the crystal-white snow When the hole was finished the gravedigger turned his tractor on idle He hopped off and came over to the fence His eyes twinkled in a weathered face ldquoWant to come lookrdquo

I backed up from the fence a step ldquoNo not really I think this is close enoughrdquo

ldquoYes Mommy go lookrdquo ldquoPleeeeaserdquoSo Nikki and Josh got back on the sled and I

hauled them along the fence through the gate over to the grave and looked down Six feet seemed deep bottomless Dark A sharp contrast to the pelting snowflakes all around us

ldquoWanna get down in thererdquo the gravedigger asked I shuddered hung onto the kids and backed up

again ldquoNo No thatrsquos okay This is close enough I just want to look from hererdquo

ldquoYes mommyrdquo the little ones said ldquoLetrsquosrdquoldquoNordquoldquoPleaserdquoldquoReally marsquoam I think you should Yoursquoll be

surprised I wouldnrsquot suggest it if it I didnrsquot think sordquoldquoHow would we get outrdquo The sides were deeper

than I was tall and there certainly werenrsquot footholds or a ladder built in for Almarsquos soul to use to climb out

ldquoLike thisrdquo The gravedigger laid his shovel diagonally across a top corner of the grave and jumped down He grabbed the middle of the shovel handle and swung himself back up and out with the agility of a gymnast ldquoNothinrsquo to itrdquo

ldquoI canrsquot do thatrdquoldquoYes you can Irsquoll boost you And wersquoll lift the kids

Yoursquoll be amazed I promiserdquoI shivered The idea of being inside a grave

seemed much colder than the snow crystals biting at my face

ldquoCome onrdquo he said and jumped back in Nikki and Josh willingly stepped over to him to be lifted down I had no choice but to follow I couldnrsquot let my kids alone in a grave with a man I didnrsquot even know

So I jumped The earth on the bottom made a soft landing The soil around me was warm and steamy It was moist and dark but it enfolded us in an earthy hug At least fifty degrees warmer than the air above ground it felt as if the earth were offering shelter respite a comfortable place to snuggle down and rest Tiny roots dangled full of life from the smooth edges of the hole Tears sprang to my eyes I couldnrsquot help them My eyes met the gravediggerrsquos and he smiled Gently ldquoSeerdquo he said Nothing more

I couldnrsquot speak A few minutes later he gave me a stirrup with his

hands I scrambled out and he lifted Nikki and Josh up to me Then he flipped himself out as easily as a trapeze artist

ldquoThank yourdquo I said ldquoI would never have guessedrdquoHe nodded ldquoNobody does But it helps somehow

I wanted you to feel thatrdquoWhy I wanted to ask why me You donrsquot even

know me Why were you willing to take time for usldquoThank yourdquo was all I said I shook his hand and

he hopped on the Ditchwitch and drove off into the snow

I never saw him again Someone else dug the next grave required in that cemetery

I remember only bits and pieces of the funeral Irsquom sure I baked a boxed cake mix for ldquolunchrdquo afterwards I remember answering Nikkirsquos questions about the body and sitting in the back row of the church in case Josh didnrsquot want to be quiet I do remember looking at the unfamiliar face in the casket and thinking you get to rest in a warm cozy place

Ten winters later we buried my dad on just such a day Wet snow crystals pelted us and piled up so deep the funeral home limousine got stuck in the cemetery By the time the pallbearers pushed it un-stuck their suit pants were caked in slush and mud

We stood at the graveside in the bleak wet icy day and lowered my fatherrsquos body into the ground

ldquoToo bad itrsquos such a miserable dayrdquo ldquoSorry about your dad Sorry the weatherrsquos so bad toordquo And even ldquoSuch a good man He deserves better weather than thisrdquo

But the weather I thought was just right Losing my dad my kids and their cousins losing

their grandpa my mom becoming a widow my brother losing his farming partner and best friend changed our livesmdashthat part was too heavy to carry

The only part that was okay for me was to let Dadrsquos worn-out body be wrapped in that welcoming warm enfolding soilmdashthe very soil hersquod loved to till the soil hersquod planted and tended all his life the soil that gave us all lifemdashthat was the only gratifying part of the day

The only comfort I had was letting Dad go from the cold wet biting snow into that warm and restful place

And I still wonder who that gravedigger was ten years earlier and how he knew how much I would need what he gave me that bleak winter day MM

Rebecca Fjelland Davis is an author from Mankato

MM p01 0116indd 23 12182015 24528 PM

reFlecTionsBy Pat Christman

24 bull January 2016 bull MANKATO MAGAZINE

MM p01 0116indd 24 12182015 24544 PM

reFlecTionsBy Pat Christman

MANKATO MAGAZINE  bull January 2016 bull 25

There are few things as inevitable as snow during a Minnesota winter Big

cotton ball-like snowflakes cover the ground in a white blanket whitewashing the Midwestern landscape

We struggle against it Some hope the snow never comes It always does filling the sky with floating snowflakes that cling to the ground but melt as soon as they hit the small bits of face or hands that peek out from winter clothing

It is often quite beautiful especially when viewed from someplace warm and dry MM

MM p01 0116indd 25 12182015 24548 PM

26 bull January 2016 bull MANKATO MAGAZINE

Then amp now Vice President Schuyler Colfaxrsquos Death By Bryce o sTenzel

On Jan 14 1885 one day after his death the New York Times carried a

headline that read ldquoSchuyler Colfax Dead He Drops Down in a Railway Stationrdquo While most Americans today would have tremendous difficulty in even recognizing this manrsquos name

(unless they were paying close attention to Stephen Spielbergrsquos epic movie Lincoln and made the association) Schuyler Colfax was a former Speaker of the House of Representatives and Vice President of the United States under President US Grant He died in Mankatorsquos Chicago St

Paul Minneapolis amp Omaha railroad depot from a massive heart attack

Schuyler Colfax Jr was born in New York City on March 23 1823 His father died of tuberculosis five months before Schuyler was born His sister Mary died four months after his [Schuylerrsquos]

vice President Schuyler Colfaxrsquos Death in Mankato

MM p01 0116indd 26 12182015 24549 PM

MANKATO MAGAZINE  bull January 2016 bull 27

birth The young Schuyler attended school only until he was 10 He then began working to support his family Schuyler Colfax never attended any kind of secondary school or college His mother remarried when Colfax was 13 and the family moved to New Carlisle Indiana By the time he was 22 Colfax was the editor and owner of a pro-Whig newspaper He was elected to Congress in 1854 and joined the newly formed Republican Party after the Whig Party disintegrated Solidly anti-slavery his colleagues elected Colfax as Speaker of the US House of Representatives in 1863 His election came soon after the death of his wife Evelyn The couple had no children

Colfax was President Abraham Lincolnrsquos first and last visitor on the fateful day Lincoln was assassinatedmdashApril 14 1865 Early that morning Colfax arrived at the White House while the president was having breakfast Colfax wanted to know whether or not Lincoln planned to call a special session of Congress for later that summer Lincolnrsquos answer was a polite but firm ldquonordquo Lincoln preferred a lenient approach in reconstructing as well as readmitting the former Confederate states to the Union now that the Civil War was over This approach put Lincoln at odds with the more ldquoradicalrdquo congressional members of his own party who preferred harsher measures be taken against their former enemies Lincoln had already made up his mind how he wanted to proceed with reconstructing the former Confederate states and he didnrsquot want any unnecessary interference from Congress Calling a special session was the last thing Lincoln wanted to do Colfax returned that same night to see Lincoln again just before the president left for Fordrsquos Theatre and his appointment with destiny This time Colfax came upon Lincolnrsquos own request The president had a long message for the silver miners of the Comstock Lode in Nevada thanking them for their loyalty to the Union that he wanted Speaker Colfax to deliver in person since Colfax was leaving by train for the West the next day Colfax was the last person Lincoln spoke to besides his wife Mary before he

was fatally shot at 1015 pm Colfax never forgave himself for turning down Lincolnrsquos invitation to be part of the theatre party that night

In 1868 Republicans selected General Ulysses S Grant as their presidential candidate Grant a military man his entire life had no political background Colfax was placed on the ticket because of his prior experience as a congressman and Speaker of the House (he resigned the position in 1869) Grant and Colfax won an easy victory in November 1868 Only two weeks later Colfax remarriedmdashthis time to Ellen Wade (niece of Ohio Senator Benjamin Wade) Their only child son Schuyler Colfax III was born in 1870

Colfax is best remembered (if at all) for his involvement in the corruption that beset Grantrsquos entire presidency Specifically the Credit Mobilier scandal broke in 1872 just as Grant and Colfax were gearing up for their re-election campaign Colfax was suspected of accepting shares of stock and cash bribes from ldquoCredit Mobilierrdquo a dummy construction company set up by the Union Pacific Railroad He was by no means the only influential person involved in the scandal Other political figures investigated included Senators Roscoe Conkling of New York William Allison of Iowa John Logan of Illinois James Bayard of Delaware and Henry Wilson of Massachusetts Grant was less popular in 1872 than he had been four years earlier and many Republicans worried that having Colfax on the partyrsquos ticket would harm the presidentrsquos re-election chances They dumped Colfax from the ticket mdash only to replace him with the also-tainted Wilson Grant won re-election and served his second and final term from 1873-1877 After being forced out from the vice presidency Colfax traveled the country as a popular lecturer often speaking about his interactions with Abraham Lincoln during the Civil War He rebuilt his tarnished reputation and commanded speaking fees as high as $2500

At 10 am on Jan 13 1885 Schuyler Colfax arrived in Mankato aboard a train from Milwaukee Mankato was just a

brief stop for Colfax who was on his way to Iowa for a speaking engagement The Chicago Milwaukee amp St Paul as well as the Chicago St Paul Minneapolis amp Omaha railroads both had depots in Mankato but because they were separate competing railroad lines Colfax was required to change trains by walking three-quarters of a mile from the Chicago Milwaukee amp St Paul depot at the foot of Hickory Street to the Chicago St Paul Minneapolis amp Omaha depot at Fourth and Washington Streets (now Washington Park) from which the next leg of his journey would depart Despite a reported temperature of 30 degrees below zero Colfax walked from one station to the other Within five minutes after he arrived at the Omaha linersquos depot Colfax entered the waiting room looked at a map on the wall sat down and died It was 1035 am No one in the station knew who the dead man actually was until they searched his pockets and found a letter with his name on it His death was likely caused by a heart attack brought on by the physical exertion of walking almost a mile in extreme cold Colfax was only 61 when he died His remains were returned to South Bend Indiana for burial

Today few Americans are aware that anyone named Schuyler Colfax ever lived much less served as vice president of the United States In this era in which officeholders are often treated as celebrities imagine how surprised people would be to learn that a former vice president died cold alone and unrecognized in a train station 131 years ago Before 24-hour news channels smart phones and social media it was possible for public figures like Colfax to live ndash and die ndash in relative obscurity Ironically Colfax loved the railroad but in the end it was the cause of his undoing Mankato has the distinction of being the location where the last man to personally speak to Abraham Lincoln in a private conversation took his last breath

MM p01 0116indd 27 12182015 24549 PM

28 bull January 2016 bull MANKATO MAGAZINE

Mayo Clinic offers pediatric and adolescent orthopedic services right here in Mankato Todd Milbrandt MD cares for patients with a variety of needs including

bull Cerebral palsy

bull Clubfoot

bull Hip disorders

bull Spinal disorders

bull Sports injuries

bull Scoliosis

bull Spina bifida

Mayo Clinic Health System in Mankato Call 1-877-412-7575 (toll-free) to schedule an appointment

495rdquox495rdquo Mankato Magazine January

Orthopedic care for your child

Independent ampAssisted Living

EQUAL HOUSINGOPPORTUNITY

1360 Adams StreetMankato MN

PrimroseRetirementcom

reg

Key City Senior Breakfast ClubThe Key City Senior Breakfast Club meets the first Thursday of each month from 830 AM - 930 AM at Primrose Retirement Community The club gives those 55+ the opportunity to meet new friends and visit old ones socialize with Key City Officials and enjoy a delicious home-cooked breakfast To visit a Key City Senior Breakfast please call (866) 447-9636

Mark your calendar for these breakfast dates Thursday January 7th Thursday March 3rd and Thursday May 5th

刀椀渀最 椀渀 琀栀攀 

一攀眀 夀攀愀爀

㔀 㜀ⴀ㤀㐀ⴀ㐀㐀䨀甀氀攀攀猀䨀攀眀攀氀爀礀挀漀洀

椀渀 匀愀椀渀琀 倀攀琀攀爀

20765 Foley Rd Mankato MN | 5073872434 | 5077262411

Three TimeNational Award Winners

MM p02 0116indd 28 12182015 30742 PM

Mayo Clinic offers pediatric and adolescent orthopedic services right here in Mankato Todd Milbrandt MD cares for patients with a variety of needs including

bull Cerebral palsy

bull Clubfoot

bull Hip disorders

bull Spinal disorders

bull Sports injuries

bull Scoliosis

bull Spina bifida

Mayo Clinic Health System in Mankato Call 1-877-412-7575 (toll-free) to schedule an appointment

495rdquox495rdquo Mankato Magazine January

Orthopedic care for your child

Independent ampAssisted Living

EQUAL HOUSINGOPPORTUNITY

1360 Adams StreetMankato MN

PrimroseRetirementcom

reg

Key City Senior Breakfast ClubThe Key City Senior Breakfast Club meets the first Thursday of each month from 830 AM - 930 AM at Primrose Retirement Community The club gives those 55+ the opportunity to meet new friends and visit old ones socialize with Key City Officials and enjoy a delicious home-cooked breakfast To visit a Key City Senior Breakfast please call (866) 447-9636

Mark your calendar for these breakfast dates Thursday January 7th Thursday March 3rd and Thursday May 5th

OMG hellip More food and drinksOK sure

By now yoursquore probably thinking ldquoOh my gosh the last thing I want to think about right now is more food more drinking and more diningrdquo

Fair enough We get it The holidays are murder on the metabolism of many many Minnesotans

But we also know that those metabolisms are hardy and soon enough theyrsquoll be hankering for a hunk of something yummy and full of fun And whatrsquos more yummy and full of fun than a big glass of Cabernet Sauvignon Our wine guy Leigh Pomeroy takes us on a tour of all that is tasty and wonderful about big red wines the kind that leave their mark the kind that really announce their presence on your palate

And just in case yoursquore super serious about a healthy lifestyle mdash and that seriousness extends to the kind of beer you choose mdash Bert Mattson our beer guy has just the selection for you Best part is Itrsquos light

Oh and under the category of ldquoDid you hear about thisrdquo Wersquove got an update for you on the Coffee Hag Mankatorsquos original coffee house and one of the most popular hangouts in town Seriously some days itrsquos hard to find a seat in that place

EnjoyPS We know that baby itrsquos cold outside mdash thatrsquos why wersquove

thrown you our absolute best hot cocoa recipe

Enjoymdash Robb Murray Associate Editor Mankato Magazine

food drink amp dineso

uthern m

n style

20765 Foley Rd Mankato MN | 5073872434 | 5077262411

Three TimeNational Award Winners

MM p02 0116indd 29 12182015 30745 PM

MANKATO 5073854485 AMBOY 5076743355 I VERNON CENTER 5075493679

INSURANCE OFFICES LOCATED IN THE COMMUNITY BANK BUILDINGS

wwwcimankatocom

Protecting the things that matter most in your life

Let us help protect what is important to you At Community Insurance we have the ability to compare insurance from multiple companies to get you the best coverage at a great price Combine that with our insurance knowledge and friendly group of agents and we say thatrsquos a winning deal

WHERE YOUR POLICY COMES WITH AN AGENT

Christina Meyer

Food

south

ern mn style

Food

south

ern mn style

By The Washington Post

Growing up my mother always encouraged her children to cook So when

I found a recipe for hot chocolate on the side of the Hersheyrsquos Cocoa can it was easy to convince her to let me give it a try

What I discovered was that hot chocolate doesnrsquot have to come from an envelope

This recipe has been a favorite of mine to make on days when winter weather has convinced me stay home and off the roads Itrsquos the perfect way to kill time and have a nice hot drink to warm you up on those chilly days

Although you can top it with whipped cream I prefer marshmallows

FAVORITE HOT COCOAMakes 4 to 6 servings

12 cup sugar14 cup unsweetened cocoa powder

Dash of salt13 cup hot water

4 cups milk34 teaspoon vanilla extract

Whipped cream or marshmallows (optional)

Mix sugar cocoa powder salt and water in a sauce pan Stir constantly over medium heat until mixture comes to a boil (about 2 minutes) Stir in

milk and heat Bring the hot chocolate to the desired temperature but do not boil Remove from heat and

add the vanilla extract Divide into mugs and top with whipped cream or marshmallows

PERFECTLY CHOCOLATE HOT COCOA

Makes 1 serving

2 tablespoons sugar2 tablespoons unsweetened cocoa powder

Dash salt1 cup milk

14 teaspoon vanilla extractWhipped cream or marshmallows (optional)

Mix sugar cocoa powder and salt into large mug In separate microwave-safe container heat on high

for 1 to 1 frac12 minutes or until very hot Carefully and gradually add milk to dry mixture Stir well Add vanilla extract Top with whipped cream or

marshmallows

Simple homemade hot chocolate

beats the winter chill

30 bull January 2016 bull MANKATO MAGAZINE

MM p02 0116indd 30 12182015 30752 PM

MANKATO MAGAZINE  bull January 2016 bull 31

Oil Change to OverhaulWe do it all

507-387-13151620 Commerce Drive North MankatowwwAustinsAutoRepairCentercom

Voted Best Auto Repair and Best Auto Mechanic 4 Years in a Row

AUSTINrsquoS AUTO REPAIR CENTER INC

MANKATO 5073854485 AMBOY 5076743355 I VERNON CENTER 5075493679

INSURANCE OFFICES LOCATED IN THE COMMUNITY BANK BUILDINGS

wwwcimankatocom

Protecting the things that matter most in your life

Let us help protect what is important to you At Community Insurance we have the ability to compare insurance from multiple companies to get you the best coverage at a great price Combine that with our insurance knowledge and friendly group of agents and we say thatrsquos a winning deal

WHERE YOUR POLICY COMES WITH AN AGENT

Christina Meyer

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32 bull January 2016 bull MANKATO MAGAZINE

January is Cabernet TimeWersquove celebrated nearly

every January edition of Mankato Magazine with

a paean to BIG REDS And since there are so many wonderful examples why stop now

Last year I wrote about the powerful big reds of Italy This January wersquoll focus on Cabernet Sauvignon known to many as ldquothe king of winesrdquo Most oenophiles (wine lovers) consider the quintessential representations of this grape to be the classified Bordeaux of southwest France near the city of Bordeaux The five First Growths (or best wines according to a classification made in 1855 and updated in 1973) are Ch Lafite Rothschild Ch Margaux Ch Latour Ch Haut Brion and Ch Mouton Rothschild All have a cabernet sauvignon base but they are blended with merlot and often a little bit of cabernet franc and petit verdot as well

In the early 1970s I was able to buy these wines for around $22 per bottle mdash about $120 in 2016 dollars Yet with the popularity of ldquocollectiblerdquo wines on a worldwide

basis they sell today for anywhere from $400 on up

Contrary to popular belief these wines are not that massive Rather they combine cabernet sauvignon power with

structure and finesse yielding wines that become with time elixirs that are greater than the sum of their parts

Both California and Washington state have taken up the Cabernet Sauvignon challenge and are producing world-class wines at sometimes world-class prices Napa Valley is the recognized leader in this arena and rightly so Napa Valleyrsquos top Cabernet

Wine amp B

eerso

uthern m

n style

winesBy Leigh Pomeroy

Leigh Pomeroy is a Mankato-based writer and wine lover

Cabernet Sauvignon is the black Labrador of wines mdash it comes up and licks yourdquo

mdash Winemaker Scott Rich

Sauvignons rival the great wines of Bordeaux for quality mdash Irsquove tasted them side-by-side mdashand yet can sell for a fraction of their price

One such example is the 2013 Tulocay Cabernet Sauvignon from my old friend Bill Cadman We were young bucks in Napa Valley and had a tasting group in the early 1970s along with now-famous wine luminaries Bruce Neyers (Neyers Vineyards) and Mike Richmond (co-founder of Acacia Vineyard)

Billrsquos Cabernet is from an old and relatively cool growing area east of the City of Napa called Coombsville which because of industry political issues only recently received its AVA (American Viticultural Area) designation It is priced at $60 per bottle yet compares with any top-flight Bordeaux as well as the more expensive offerings from Napa Valley which can cost from $100 on up Not currently available at wine stores or restaurants in Minnesota it can be purchased by contacting the winery directly via its website tulocaycom The winery is so small that Bill will probably answer the phone himself

There is a lot of Cabernet Sauvignon available from California but mdash caveat emptor mdash not all growing areas (or appellations) are the same The best Cabernet Sauvignons are from Napa and Sonoma Counties Cabernets simply labeled ldquoCaliforniardquo or perhaps ldquoCoastalrdquo while sometimes good values lack the complexity of the greater Cabernet Sauvignons from the more northern parts of the state

Washington state has also

established itself as a prime producer of Cabernet Sauvignon But here again quality can vary greatly depending upon the area and producer While there is no ldquogo-tordquo appellation for Cabernet Sauvignon in Washington there are producers that are able to secure fruit from the best vineyards

One such example is the tiny Willis Hall Winery owned by another good friend John Bell a former Boeing jet propulsion engineer Like Tulocay its wines are only available by calling up the winery and ordering some (See willishallcom) But there are many other top quality producers in Washington like Quilceda Creek Leonetti Betz Family and Woodward Canyon

Of course not everyone can afford Cabernet Sauvignons in the $60-plus category One excellent everyday drinking example is the Flying Cloud 2013 Paso Robles Cabernet Sauvignon made by Mankato native Stephen Dooley Normally I donrsquot like Paso Robles Cabs as they tend to be too fruity and too soft for my palate mdash almost like drinking berry jam But this one is quite restrained no doubt helped by the inclusion of 13 percent zinfandel and 9 percent petite sirah in the blend

In Mankato both the Wine Cafeacute and MGM carry the Flying Cloud but at its price and quality I wouldnrsquot count on it lasting for long especially since only 759 cases were produced

So letrsquos raise a glass of Cabernet and say ldquoCheersrdquo to the New Year

MM p02 0116indd 32 12182015 30756 PM

MANKATO MAGAZINE  bull January 2016 bull 33

Bert Mattson is a chef and writer based in St Paul He is the manager of the iconic Mickeyrsquos Diner

Beer Skinny

BeerBy Bert Mattson

Last year according to Nielsen research staying fit and healthy was

the number one New Yearrsquos resolution Losing weight was two Three was to enjoy life to the fullest Unfortunately ldquolose weight and get fitrdquo also topped Time magazinersquos list of commonly broken resolutions Is this shortfall due to tension between the top two and that third one If so craft beer may have a role in the compromise Bad news first

In the context of losing weight and staying fit beer lovers might seek solace in the fact that fat carries nine calories per gram while alcohol has only seven The wrinkle is that those seven are ldquoemptyrdquo mdash calories without nutrition as opposed to those from fat protein and carbohydrates Moreover alcoholrsquos calories are the first burned when combined with the others the human body postpones burning fat while it works on alcohol Furthermore beer (and wine and often cocktails) contains carbohydrates which release insulin and can hasten fat storage Finally many drinkers have undoubtedly observed that alcohol loosens inhibitions after which an eager indulgence in unhealthy foods often occurs (Bar menus are rarely helpful in that respect)

By now you may wonder whose side Irsquom actually on Or suspect Irsquove led you to this dark place only to offer you a Lite No worries a couple craft brewers have been considering ways to keep us true to our resolutions

Evil Twin Brewingrsquos Bikini Beer drops the alcohol to 27 percent but stays bold by way of hops A Pale Ale it hits the nose with citrus suggestive of IPA The flavor follows suit floral and lemon There is an expected absence of malt yielding to bitterness up front that fades at the finish An alternative

for those who insist on the full effect Founderrsquos Brewing Companyrsquos All Day IPA rings in at a respectable 144 calories (Evil Twinrsquos entry comes in at 81)

One strategy to beat the beer munchies and avoid costly impulse eating is to have suitable chow on hand With Bikini Beer try a salad sporting blue cheese and some sort of dried fruit Creamy blue veined cheeses echo the hops while balancing bitterness An occasional bite of dried fruit stands in for malt sweetness

Brooklyn Breweryrsquos 12 Ale weighs in at 34 percent alcohol (102 calories) It is alliteratively labeled ldquoSession Saisonrdquo It opens with a waft of citrus and spice and a little lemongrass from Sorachi Ace hops mdash a hybrid developed in East Asia The same elements are found in the flavor which is a bit more subdued than a full-sized Saison

Try it with a tangle of arugula dressed with lemon and a fruity olive oil tossed with pine nuts and topped with shaved Parmesan for effect The greens and cracked pepper reflect spicy phenolic elements in the yeast Salty cheese counters the beerrsquos lingering bitterness Maybe add a few slices of Speck cured ham and Saison share a certain funkiness

If friends show and it becomes a session you may honestly say you spent Saturday working on your six-pack

MM p02 0116indd 33 12182015 30757 PM

34 bull January 2016 bull MANKATO MAGAZINE

Food

south

ern mn style

Food

south

ern mn style

The Coffee Hag one of the arearsquos oldest (and coolest) bistros recently underwent a major expansion and remodeling journey culminating in a large and airy

seating area along with a much-improved kitchen and a new menu Mankato Magazine caught up with a very busy (and slightly exhausted) owner Jenn Melby-Kelly who weighs in on how itrsquos going

MANKATO MAGAZINE Are you personally enjoying the new updatesJENN MELBY-KELLY It Is Fabulous The new space represents so much more than a remodel to me It has brought to life a vision for my business thatrsquos been years in the making It incorporates many many good ideas from many many people I feel so fortunate to get to see that every time I walk through the door

MM How are customers reactingJMK Thatrsquos been one of the best parts The response has been overwhelmingly positive

A few of our most regular customers had the opportunity to get a glimpse of the remodel while it was underway (we gave some informal preview tours while we were operating the temporary stand outside) but many customers walk through the door now and see it all for the first time Itrsquos especially fun to see and hear that kind of wide-eyed reaction

A few people with special connections to The Hag have had even stronger emotional responses and Irsquom so touched and right there with them when I see eyes well up as they see what wersquove done Itrsquos a very big milestone for a very special place and wersquore blessed to have people that care so deeply

MM Do the employees appreciate the new spaceJMK Oh probably more than anyone There was a lot that we sought to do with the remodel but creating a bigger brighter better-equipped space for our team was certainly one of the primary goals Wersquove got an incredible team truly the most spirited and talented people anyone could hope for

Many of them have spent years with me working hard against the challenge of a small under-equipped space and just barely being able to keeping up with growing demand Itrsquos been a special blessing for them and for me to finally have state-of-the-art space thatrsquos made for the work that we do We all feel a special connection to this place and now more than ever the place reflects the good energy we all bring here every day

MM Is the new menu a hit (The Hag specializes in vegetarianvegan cuisine)JMK Yes but just wait Feedback and demand have been excellent with our food offerings already but wersquore just getting started on some of the really exciting things that are coming to our food menu

Remodeling the cafe was just the first major milestone of our two-part expansion plan Next up wersquore building a state of the art off-site commissary kitchen that will do for our incredible culinary team what the remodeled shop has done for our baristas Theyrsquove been working day and night on taking our already fantastic food offerings to a whole new level

Wersquove already introduced some amazing new menu items like the Garden Grilled Cheese panini (trust me itrsquos like nothing yoursquove had before) and some truly outstanding new vegan baked goods Wersquove also improved our classic offerings with house-made

Interview with Jenn Melby-Kelly owner of The Coffee Hag

By Sarah Johnson

MM p02 0116indd 34 12182015 30802 PM

MANKATO MAGAZINE  bull January 2016 bull 35

Happy New Year

Locally Owned amp Operated

Check Weekly Specialsmgmwineandspiritscommankato

Largest Selection ofbull Liquor bull Wine bull Beer bull

Hours Monday-Saturday 8 am - 10 pm

ATMs at all stores

Mankato201 Victory Dr

625-2420

North Mankato1755 Commerce Dr

387-2634

St Peter100 N Minnesota Ave

934-8964

sourdough and whole wheat breads But as impressive as it is already itrsquos just a taste mdash literally mdash of things to come as we bring our new kitchen online

MM Whatrsquos stayed the sameJMK Irsquom really proud to say that while wersquove touched almost every part of this 23-year-old business wersquove kept even more than we have changed From the first days of this project I made it my personal mission and responsibility to make sure that the ldquosoulrdquo of this special place was only enhanced and never lost as we made the updates

In every area of the remodel as wersquove added some necessary new layers of sophistication The Hagrsquos colorful quirky and even rebellious spirit is still very much a part of the space We did a lot to try to make sure it still looked and felt like ldquohomerdquo

And on a deeper level every step wersquove taken with the growth of our business has been chosen carefully to honor the core parts of The Coffee Hagrsquos identity Our focus on community our support for local art and music our commitment to creating a safe and welcoming space for everyone our efforts to lead the way on social and environmental issues affecting our world near and far mdash those have all stayed the same And those will always be at the heart of what we do

MM Anything elseJMK Irsquom so incredibly grateful for the support of our customers and community And whenever I talk about my business and how it has grown I really canrsquot overstate how thankful I am for my beautiful Coffee Hag family The hard work good energy and earnest contributions of so many people mdash past and present mdash have brought me and my business here An incredible amount of love has gone into this business and made this dream a reality

MM p02 0116indd 35 12222015 121240 PM

36 bull January 2016 bull MANKATO MAGAZINE

xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

Food

south

ern mn style

whatrsquos Cooking By Sarah Johnson

Sarah Johnson is a cook freelance writer and chocolate addict from North Mankato with three grown kids and a couple of mutts

As I was pondering my subject matter for todayrsquos column I started wondering about all the different items the word ldquonutsrdquo can refer

to Crazy people are called nuts so are hexagonal metal objects that attach to bolts Nuts can be the end of things (as in ldquofrom soup to nutsrdquo) or they can be the beginning of them (as in ldquosperm incubatorsrdquo) Nut can also mean onersquos head or onersquos lump of something such as butter And if you accidentally get a nut of butter on your nut you can exclaim ldquoNutsrdquo

My favorite meaning of the word nut however is the dry indehiscent one-seeded fruit with a woody pericarp And I donrsquot even know what indehiscent OR pericarp means But these are the wonderful denizens of the world of edible nuts

Nuts are widely credited with all sorts of health benefits for the heart brain male reproductive system prostate cholesterol level fiber intake and avoidance of some types of cancer And while nuts do contain fat itrsquos the ldquogoodrdquo kind heart-healthy monounsaturated and polyunsaturated fat Their mix of omega-3 fatty acids protein and fiber helps you feel full and suppresses the appetite

Nuts are great in desserts and salads of course but they also shine in stir-fries casseroles soups chicken pork fish and even beverages Nut butters nut milks and nut oils add delicious options to our kitchen larders Breads cereals muffins and pancakes gain texture flavor and nutrition from the addition of nuts Basically anytime is a good time for nuts

Which is a wonderful thing because nuts taste so good you would think they had to be very very bad The reason lies deep in their oils

Walnut Oil is strong and flavorful Itrsquos best when used in uncooked sauces or salad dressing

Hazelnut Oil has a strong flavor and is great for the heart

Almond Oil is very popular and has a much milder flavor than walnut oil or hazelnut oil

Pecan Macadamia Nut Pistachio Cashew and Pine Nut Oils are flavorful and unique The freshness of the nuts used really affects the flavor

ldquoTherersquos Nuttinrsquo Nutty About Nutsrdquo

For the Baklava1 pound pistachios hazelnuts walnuts pecans andor almonds coarsely ground plus more for garnish12 teaspoon ground cinnamon1 cup breadcrumbs4 sticks unsalted butter melted16 sheets phyllo dough (thawed if frozen) cut in half

For the Syrup3 cups sugar1 6 -to-8-ounce jar honey1 frac12 cups water1 to 2 tablespoons fresh lemon juice

If yoursquore under the impression that baklava is much too labor-intensive and complicated to make at home think again Anybody can make

it no special skills equipment or exotic ingredients are required A word about phyllo dough Itrsquos sold in frozen packages so you need to remove the package from the freezer and let it thaw in the fridge 24 hours before you want to make the baklava Then about an hour beforehand remove the package from the fridge and let it sit on the counter

Walnuts or pistachios are the most traditional nuts to fill baklava but using other nuts works wonders as well Simply layer the phyllo with the nut filling and butter bake for an hour and finish with a simple honeyed syrup If you have leftover nuts from the holidays herersquos your chance to use them up

Mixed Nut Baklava

MM p02 0116indd 36 12182015 30812 PM

MANKATO MAGAZINE  bull January 2016 bull 37

MONEY MATTERS WORK SMARTLET COMMUNITY BANK HELP YOUBRING THE TWO TOGETHER

MANKATO - SAINT ANDREWS DR 5073854444MANKATO - MADISON AVE 5076251551VERNON CENTER 5075493679AMBOY 5076743300

JULIE VETTERSR VICE PRESIDENTRETAIL BANKING

We support great causes like yoursAt Community Bank we know good things happen when you have a good bank So we make more possible by keeping banking simple and supportive And by giving you the power that comes with innovative solutions like our Health Savings Account It offers you tax-free savings for future medical expenses Stop by anytime Wersquore always ready to help out a great cause

Position a rack in the lower third of the oven preheat to 350 degrees Combine the nuts cinnamon and breadcrumbs in a bowl

Brush a 9x13-inch baking dish with some of the butter Layer 10 pieces of phyllo in the dish brushing each piece with butter before adding the next (keep the remaining dough covered with a damp towel) Sprinkle a quarter of the nut mixture over the dough Layer four pieces of phyllo on top brushing each with butter before adding the next sprinkle with another quarter of the nut mixture Add four more phyllo pieces on top brushing each with butter then add another quarter of the nut mixture four more pieces of phyllo with butter and the remaining nuts

Layer the remaining 10 pieces of phyllo on top of the nuts brushing each with butter brush the top piece with extra butter Cut into the baklava to make strips about 1 12 inches wide Then make diagonal slices about 1 12 inches apart to create a diamond pattern Bake until golden about one hour

Meanwhile make the syrup Bring the sugar honey and 1 12 cups water to a boil in a saucepan over medium heat and cook 10 to 15 minutes Add the lemon juice and boil 2 more minutes then let cool slightly Pour the syrup over the warm baklava let soak uncovered at least six hours or overnight Garnish with nuts

MM p02 0116indd 37 12182015 30817 PM

38 bull bull MANKATO MAGAZINE

Nell Musolf is a mom and freelance writer from Mankato She blogs at nellmusolfcom

38 bull bull MANKATO MAGAZINE

MM p02 0116indd 38 12182015 30822 PM

MANKATO MAGAZINE  bull January 2016 bull 39

Gear Up for WinterYear-Round amp Insulated Workwear from

Carhartt Dickies and Key

UNIFORMSUniforms fromBarco Carhartt Cherokee DickiesKoi Peaches and White Cross

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Call 5073446336mankatomagmankatofreepresscom

Stephanie L Hylla LAc Dipl AcKayla M Sweeney MOm LAc

NEW LOCATION709 S Front Suite 5

5074694788mankatoacupuncturecom

Open House ndash Wednesday Feb 3 9-12noonCelebrating 5 years of Business New Location and the Chinese New Year

In Network with Blue Cross Blue ShieldLicensed by the MN Board of Medical Practice

Ribbon Cutting with Greater Mankato Growth at 10am

(A $250 Value)THIS VOUCHER ENTITLES NEW PATIENTS TO A

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wwwr igne l l fami lych i roprac t ic comMedicare Restrictions Apply Expires January 31 2016

Dr BrandonRignell DC

1351 Madison AveSuite D

Mankato MN 56001

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$2900New Patient Special

MM p02 0116indd 39 12222015 121344 PM

40 bull bull MANKATO MAGAZINE

Jean Lundquist is a master gardener who lives near Good Thunder

MM p02 0116indd 40 12182015 30834 PM

MANKATO MAGAZINE  bull January 2016 bull 41

3 Increase the Value of Your Home

3 Update Your Homersquos Appearance

3 Save Money

Choose from SeveralModels Styles amp Colors

507-625-7110 or 1-800-645-36671125 Cross St North Mankato MN

Improve Your HomersquosEnergy Efficiency

422 Park Lane Mankato MN | NuStarMankatocom

(507) 381-4747Voted One of Mankatorsquos Best

DANIEL WINGERT

Make Selling Your Home Your NuYearrsquos Resolution

MM p02 0116indd 41 12182015 30839 PM

42 bull January 2016 bull MANKATO MAGAZINE

January Resolve to moisturize

Your stYLeBy Ann Rosenquist Fee

Ann Rosenquist Fee is executive director of the Arts Center of Saint Peter and a vocalist with The Frye She blogs at annrosenquistfeecom

If you have in-laws or colleagues who know you well enough to have given you holiday gifts

but not well enough to know what wouldrsquove truly made you happy congratulations Chances are yoursquore the proud owner of a bunch of brand-new lip balm

Maybe itrsquos even holiday themed Thatrsquos the best Maybe you got the candy-cane flavored kind or wintergreen with holiday graphics on the label or something like that A theme that was irrelevant the moment the stocking was unstuffed because at that exact second the holiday was over

And here you are in January with an abundance of wax

Fortunately also here you are in the early weeks of winter with rough red knuckles Probably also cracked cuticles although it might not have gone that far yet for you Irsquom sure it has for me This photo was taken back in November and even then the Band-Aids were for real Irsquove learned to cut them in half length-wise so as to retain my ability to type Irsquove also learned to play with a range of color options Flesh-toned Clear Disney characters The colorful strips shown here were gifted to me by my husband Partly why theyrsquore cut in half is that the text is obscene This is one small trick you can use to make bloody cuticles your most exciting accessory of the winter

Sources like UrbanSurvivalSitecom and WonderHowTocom will tell you that you can use lip balm for a whole variety of purposes such as coating threads of outdoor lightbulbs before screwing them into their sockets and enhancing the burn-ability of most kindling

These are great fun but they wonrsquot improve your personal style

More germane to winter beauty are the following suggestions

Keep a tube next to your bed for first-thing-in-the-morning use And I mean really truly first-thing I mean smear the stuff on each cuticle while yoursquore still lying there before you start using your fingers at all If you wake up thinking yoursquore fine and skip cuticle care next thing you know yoursquore pushing down the lever on your Keurig and the pressure is more than your screamingly dry skin can take and boom split blood on the Keurig and itrsquos gonna be a long painful day If only you had balmed your hands before you let your feet hit the floor

Keep another tube in your glove compartment If itrsquos warm enough to take off your mittens in the car mdash if yoursquore even wearing mittens given that your hands are snagging on everything these days mdash the harsh January sunlight will allow you to see cracks and flakes in high-resolution detail Yoursquoll want the balm nearby

to cover what you didnrsquot notice first thing in the morning Also a car tube is useful for when you look in the rear-view mirror and notice that your nose and upper lip are flaking as well Itrsquos because yoursquore getting over a cold and the frequent use of tissue has worn away your top layer of skin but just because you know that doesnrsquot mean everybody else wonrsquot think ldquothere is something in that noserdquo Itrsquos just a fact Itrsquos what it looks like Lip balm to the rescue Itrsquos the only thing dry enough to slick those flakes in place and nourishing enough to maybe actually get your face back to normal

Keep a couple more tubes in a nighttime kit along with sandpaper Sandpaper Yes Not a pumice stone not a lame also-gifted sugar

scrub Medium-grit sandpaper is what you need every night lightly but with conviction As follows 1) Sand taking care not to do more damage than what the elements have already done Yoursquore just trying to remove the dry dead stuff Yoursquore just being hearty and efficient about this true to the culture of this great state in which yoursquove chosen to winter You are no pansy Sand your hands 2) Wash 3) Blot dry 4) Dial up the gifted balm whisper a word of thanks to the person who put so much thought into your well-being that they stuffed your holiday stocking with this amazing gift of self-care smash a healthy amount down into your palms massage Take heart You just might find yourself with normal-textured non-cracked not-horrible-looking hands by morning

Split-open cuticles I feel you Except for these Band-Aids I feel you

Lip balms I have been gifted and these are just from last Christmas ldquolastrdquo as in 2014

Bathrooms Worth Bragging About

HoursTue amp Wed amp Fri | 9 am to 6 pmMon amp Thu | 9 am to 7 pmSaturday | 9 am to 4 pm

219 S Victory Dr | Mankato507 | 345 | 7009ipafhickorytechnetindependentpaintandflooringcom

You Deserve Comfortable Care Every Timebull Sedation - Complete Relaxation with Just a Pillbull Invisalign - Clear Alternative to Bracesbull Botox amp Fillersbull Implants - Placement and Restorationbull Cerec - One Visit Crown Technology

bull Free Whitening Programbull 3D Imaging with Fewer X-Raysbull Cosmetic Dentistrybull Drill-Free Technologybull Emergency Care

1400 Lookout Drive North Mankato507-625-CARE(2273) bull mankatodentistcom 06

1865

6124

01

Dr AngelA Schuck

Dr keith FlAck

MM p02 0116indd 42 12182015 30841 PM

MANKATO MAGAZINE  bull January 2016 bull 43

Bathrooms Worth Bragging About

HoursTue amp Wed amp Fri | 9 am to 6 pmMon amp Thu | 9 am to 7 pmSaturday | 9 am to 4 pm

219 S Victory Dr | Mankato507 | 345 | 7009ipafhickorytechnetindependentpaintandflooringcom

You Deserve Comfortable Care Every Timebull Sedation - Complete Relaxation with Just a Pillbull Invisalign - Clear Alternative to Bracesbull Botox amp Fillersbull Implants - Placement and Restorationbull Cerec - One Visit Crown Technology

bull Free Whitening Programbull 3D Imaging with Fewer X-Raysbull Cosmetic Dentistrybull Drill-Free Technologybull Emergency Care

1400 Lookout Drive North Mankato507-625-CARE(2273) bull mankatodentistcom 06

1865

6124

01

Dr AngelA Schuck

Dr keith FlAck

(944) 412-7949 | OrthoEdgeMNcom

Enjoy the season

Mankato St Peter

Be active Be healthyBe able with OrthoEdge

The OrthoEdge joint replacement

program offers superb care from your first

visit through recovery The surgeons from

the Orthopaedic amp Fracture Clinic and

the care team at Riverrsquos Edge Hospital

provide personal and professional care to

get you back to able

Why Riverrsquos Edge Hospital amp Clinic

bull Riverrsquos Edge Hospital amp Clinic has a long-

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MM p02 0116indd 43 12182015 30842 PM

44 bull January 2016 bull MANKATO MAGAZINE

1 Hicktown Mafia800 pm mdash New Ulm Event Center mdash 301 20th St S mdash New Ulm mdash $10 mdash 507-354-4673

7-9 Mankato West Orchesis Dance Team showcase7 pm Thursday-Saturday 2 pm Saturday mdash Mankato West High School Auditorium mdash $7 adults $5 students mdash 507-381-7578

10 Mankato Symphony Orchestra Music on the Hill II ldquoMinnesota rootsrdquo2 pm mdash Chapel at Good Counselmdash Good Counsel Drive mdash Mankato mdash $17 $12 mdash wwwmankatosymphonycom

16 Handel with Caremdash Handel Goes to Italy11 ammdash YMCA Aerobics Studio mdash 1401 S Riverfront Drive mdash Mankato mdash wwwmankatosymphonycom

16 Mankato Craft beer Expo2 pm (VIP) 3 pm general mdash Verizon Wireless Center mdash $45 VIP $35 general $10 designated driver mdash wwwmankatocraftbeerexpocom

23 Joey Flip and Mike Fugazzi rockinrsquo at the Embassy9 pm mdash Blaschkorsquos Embassy Bar and Grill mdash 325 S Minnesota Ave mdash St Peter mdash 507-934-3903

24 andrea Lyn and Dick Kimmel concert730 pm mdash Elias J Halling Recital Hall mdash Minnesota State University mdash Mankato mdash $12 regular $11 current MSU students mdash wwwmnusedumusic

28-31 MSu Theatre antigone730 pm Thursday-Saturday 2 pm Sunday mdash Andreas Theatre mdash Minnesota State University mdash Mankato mdash $16 regular $14 discount $11 current MSU students mdash wwwmnsuedu

29-31 BLC Theatre Brigadoon730 Friday and Saturday 2 pm Sunday mdash Ylvisaker Fine Arts Center mdash Bethany Lutheran College mdash Mankato mdash $10 adults $6 seniors children and students mdash wwwblceduevents

29- Feb 7 Winterfest St Peter Citywide mdash wwwstpeterchamberorg

30 Church of Cash a Tribute to Johnny Cash7 pm mdash St Peter American Legion mdash 229 W Nassau St mdash St Peter mdash 507-934-6435

31 Maud Hixson and rick Carlson concert730 pmmdash Elias J Halling Recital Hall mdash Minnesota State University mdash Mankato mdash $12 regular $11 current MSU students wwmnsuedumusic

Coming attraCtions January

T - F 8am - 6pm Sun ClosedSat 9am - 4pmM 8am - 8pm

120 North Broad Street Mankato MN 507-345-4688 wwwmeyerandsonstvandappliancecom

FIND SPECIAL DEALS ON

MM p02 0116indd 44 12182015 30902 PM

MANKATO MAGAZINE  bull January 2016 bull 45

St Peter Craft amp Vendor Show

1MelinadaBussefromRapidansoldherhandmadejewelryatthecraftandvendorshow

2DarylfromElysianandhishand-carvedwoodart

3MacKennaage7hasfunatoneoftheboothsattheStPeterCraftandVendorShow

4LizEntershowsoffsomeofherproductsattheldquoItWorksrdquobooth

5DenisePetersofldquoYoungLivingrdquoessentialoilsdisplayedherproductsattheshow

Faces amp Places Photos By Sport Pix

3

5

2

1

4

T - F 8am - 6pm Sun ClosedSat 9am - 4pmM 8am - 8pm

120 North Broad Street Mankato MN 507-345-4688 wwwmeyerandsonstvandappliancecom

FIND SPECIAL DEALS ON

MM p02 0116indd 45 12222015 121536 PM

46 bull January 2016 bull MANKATO MAGAZINE

SOUTHErN MN CHrISTMAS

FESTIVAL1 A large crowd was on hand during the festivities at

the Christmas Festival2 Friesenrsquos Family Bakery amp Bistro had tons of baked

goods and soups at the Verizon Wireless Center3 A childrenrsquos choir sang for the audience at the

festival4 Ron Haefner owner of Ronrsquos Auto Repair displayed

some of his services5 Garrison Galatz dressed up as Santa for the

Christmas Festival

faCes amp PLaCes Photos By Sport Pix

4

3

1

2

5

MM p02 0116indd 46 12182015 30923 PM

MANKATO MAGAZINE  bull January 2016 bull 47

1GirlScouttroop34494waspresentedwithatrophybyKiwanisVicePresidentKyleMrozek

2SantaClausevenwentthroughtheparaderoute3(LtoR)BrooklynPomrankeAlaynaLyonsHunterPomrankeandLilyLyonsgetagroupphototakenwithSanta

4MarshaMartigtellsSantawhatshewantsforChristmas

5TheparadefloatswerealldeckedoutinChristmaslights

6Visitorswalkthepatharoundtheparktoviewthisyearrsquoslights

Kiwanis Holiday ligHtsFaces amp Places Photos By sport Pix

2

1

3

4 5

6

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48 bull January 2016 bull MANKATO MAGAZINE

On the Occasion of a 50th Reunion

the Class of 1965

from this VaLLeYBy Pete Steiner

Peter Steiner is host of ldquoTalk of the Townrdquo weekdays at 105 pm on KTOE

I was honored to give the presentation for our 50th class reunion recently at West Highrsquos Homecoming celebration About 120 of our nearly 400-member class

showed up We Baby Boomers the children of the greatest generation had big classes in the late lsquo60rsquos that forced the building of East High Ours was a dramatic era and our class did some great things in the face of big challenges Here edited is some of what I said

I am so glad to be standing here today Therersquos an old saying

ldquoMay you live in INTErESTINg timeshelliprdquo The Class of rsquo65 certainly has Itrsquos seems like only yesterday right after lunch that we were at our desks waiting for the start of English class when our charismatic teacher Harry Fitterer strode in and said ldquoPrESIDENT KENNEDY HAS BEEN SHOT IN DALLASrdquo At first we didnrsquot believe him but it was true It was November 22 1963 We were juniors and as the song says that was THE END OF THE INNOCENCE We had lived through the last idyllic time in America

When we first arrived in the fall of 1962 America was still carefree basking in the glow of victory in WW II Everything may have seemed ldquorightrdquo but it was not Martin Luther King Jr had just visited Mankato pointing out the continuing plight of black Americans as the Civil rights movement was gaining steam The beginnings of the Vietnam War which would alter the course of many of our lives were stirring even as we studied history and government The current generation has no monopoly on forgettable pop music ndash we had a stupid 1 song called ldquoItsie Bitsie Teenie Weenie Yellow Polka Dot Bikinirdquo (unfortunately an ear worm I canrsquot forget) But a darker cultural threat was looming The BEATLES were invading from Britain and our parents were mortified because they had LONg HAIr

Some of the shock of the Kennedy assassination was eased when our wrestling team in the era when the state still had just ONE CLASS won the State Championship in front of a packed hall up at MSU some still maintain that is the greatest single athletic achievement in Mankato history We were the first high school in Mankato to put on a full-scale musical ldquoBye Bye Birdierdquo in the spring of 1964 In Fall of 1964 our football team would have won the conference championship outright except Owatonnarsquos great Noel Jenke who would go on to star for the U of M

cheated I watched him trap the touchdown pass that beat us Does cheating pay Was that a lesson for life

In lsquo65 we also had a fine basketball team that lost our chance at State when our 6-6 center fouled out at Luverne

BUT A FAr BIggEr CHALLENgE AWAITED US ALL As we rode out to Luverne to watch that game we couldnrsquot help noticing the highway was like a canyon between walls of snow The legendary St Patrickrsquos Day Blizzard had dumped two feet on top of an already large snow pack and then April brought rains on frozen ground Instead of coming here to school many of us soon got a real-life assignment to go out in our rain gear out on the dikes to battle the grEAT FLOOD OF 1965 Our school became an island as water flooded the parking lot and all of South riverfront Our spring play that year was called ironically

THE DESPErATE HOUrS We had to rehearse at roosevelt School up on higher ground

Our class produced three Merit scholars One of our classmates who did NOT qualify

for a merit scholarship nevertheless was such a whiz at physics that NASA requested a copy of a paper he wrote on rocketry as a senior We produced 12 doctors one of whom earned a fellowship at Stanford seeking how to bring telemedicine to the poor another of whom became a breakthrough cancer doctor We had entrepreneurs one who would go on to be a leader in Solar Energy (and then run for governor of New Hampshire) Another mdash a woman incidentally when

that was not common founded two bio-tech startups Many of us are still working

past normal retirement age One founded a company on the leading edge of recycling

computers whose clients include the NSA Another is chief medical officer of a company

devising a better tool for colonoscopies Yet another of our classmates recently completed a concert tour of China

We lived in challenging times just as you do today but we muddle through we make it to the other shore I remember sitting where you are 50 years ago thinking how old those folks up there looked But remember Life goes by very quickly You certainly live in interesting times as Shakespeare said ldquoPresent Mirth has Present Laughter Youthrsquos a stuff will NOT endurerdquo So I urge you live each moment to the fullest

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Page 15: Mankatomag 116

MANKATO MAGAZINE  bull January 2016 bull 13

Day Trip DesTinaTions Celebration of the LakesBy LeTicia GonzaLes

WhenJan 29-31 2016

I-35 North to Hwy 8 east to Center City Located on the North side of Hwy 8 on

North Center Lake

If youGoWhat

Celebration of the Lakes

Lindstrom MN

AdmissionFree additional admission required for some

events activities food and ridesVisit wwwchisagolakeschambercom

ldquoSo I helped way back then when she was part of the chamberrdquo said Thorvaldson ldquoAnd having a business in the community as I got older I also wanted to give backrdquo

Born and raised in the Chisago Lakes area Thorvaldson has served on the celebrationrsquos planning committee for nine years She said the event first caught her eye not only because she loves winter but because it focuses on the outdoors ldquoeven though many people in Minnesota cringe once we get to 20 degrees so it kind of gets you out and lets you do something funrdquo

Watching the celebration grow over the past two decades has also been fun for Thorvaldson

ldquoIt was very tiny at that pointrdquo she said as she reminisced about the early days of the event ldquoIt was just a few hay bales at the icerdquo

Being an active part of the planning has been equally exciting

ldquoThe committeersquos always trying to come up with more ideas that the community would perceive as something fun to do in the winter timerdquo she said ldquoThere have been the sled dogs there have been hot air balloons and there have been kitty cat races car racesrdquo

While past years have even included BMX bike races where people dressed up in costumes the snowmobile radar run and the vintage snow mobile displays have been the ldquomain staplesrdquo of the celebration Organized by the Wild River Snowmobile Club of Chisago City the snowmobile radar run features nearly 200 riders who race upwards of 120 miles per hour on a track

ldquoSometimes they will have souped-up snowmobiles that go incredibly fastrdquo Thorvaldson said ldquoWe had a world record one that raced on the track so itrsquos pretty amazing to see how fast some of them go They break them up into categories and there are prizes for the fastest one in each categoryrdquo

Originally introduced as a memorial radar run for a rotary member the radar run has become one of the celebrationrsquos most popular events

ldquoWe started with just a sheriffrsquos radar gun and now they use different timing items like cones and announcingrdquo she add ldquoItrsquos kind of something that has evolved toordquo

With the draw of the surrounding lakes in the area Thorvaldson said ice fishing has also grown in popularity and has become embedded in the annual celebration

ldquoItrsquos like little villages out on the lakerdquo she said

ldquoThat is kind of the big that that people do There are people who drive up from all over the place the Twin Cities all over just to come spend the weekend ice fishing on the lake so thatrsquos a big big thingrdquo

Greg Shaleen who has also been on the planning committee for the celebration for more than 15 years affirmed the celebrationrsquos growth when it comes to activities offered

ldquoWe have done kind of bizarre thingsrdquo he said ldquoWe do a smoosh race which is where you take 2-by-4s and strap four leather straps on it and you do a little bit of a racerdquo

Shaleen also credits the event for bringing people out to the lakes during the coldest month of the year

ldquoEveryone is all cooped up in the community and it just got to the point where they wanted to do something fun in the winter and get people out and about and enjoy the winter sportrdquo he said

From kitty races and sled dog races to a concession tent and a family fishing contest that draws anywhere from three to five hundred people Shaleen said the Celebration of the Lakes brings people together in the outdoors

ldquoWe are basically more interested in getting people out of the house visiting with friends and neighbors and visitors to the area and enjoying each otherrsquos interest in snowmobiling or ice fishing or whatever the events are taking place or going onrdquo he concluded

MM p01 0116indd 13 12222015 115930 AM

January The holidays are over along with all of the seasonrsquos excuses for overindulge in food and drink and under-indulging in any form of exercise (other than lifting onersquos hand to onersquos mouth) After stowing the presents in the

closet and taking down the tree many people choose the New Year as the perfect time to begin a serious diet and exercise program to shed the extra pounds they put on over the past few months and to begin eating more healthfully Mankato Clinic registered dietitian Erin Gonzalez says a hearty ldquoyesrdquo to healthy mindful eating and definite ldquonordquo to any extreme ldquodo or die(t)rdquo approach

According to Gonzalez 95 percent of all dieters regain the weight they lost within five years It is her belief that such yo-yo dieting only creates more frustration and stress which can lead to emotional eating and binge eating which leads to another cycle of dieting-losing-weight-gaining-weight ad infinitum

Gonzalez speaks from experience After losing 70 pounds since the time she was a teenager Gonzalez is now at a weight she considers healthy and one that she hasnrsquot deviated from in years

By Nell Musolf | Photos by Pat Christman and Darren Gibbins

Herersquos to ahealthy

new yeara healthy

new you

14 bull January 2016 bull MANKATO MAGAZINE

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MANKATO MAGAZINE  bull January 2016 bull 15

Erin Gonzalez and her son prepare a healthful meal

Erin GonzalezldquoI struggled with weight issues when I was growing

uprdquo Gonzalez said ldquoWhen I was 16 I went on my first lsquoseriousrsquo dietmdashone of the fast diets that were popular in the 1990srdquo

Gonzalez said that she stuck to her diet religiously having a shake in the morning one for lunch and a sensible meal at night just as she was instructed to do She also walked for approximately two and a half hours a day Over the course of one summer she lost 70 pounds but she was also she now realizes flirting with an eating disorder Gonzalez says this scenario is not uncommon considering research shows 35 percent of ldquooccasional dietersrdquo progress into pathological dieting (disordered eating) and as many as 25 percent advance to full-blown eating disorders

ldquoMy food intake was very restrictive and I was always extremely conscience of what I ate but just the same I slowly gained back 30 of the 70 pounds

that I lostrdquo Gonzalez said ldquoI was always looking at food as either lsquogoodrsquo or lsquobadrsquo instead of something pleasurable to be enjoyedrdquo

It wasnrsquot until she was working at her dietetic internship that she had her ldquoahardquo moment

ldquoI was blessed with a teacher who taught her students how to enjoy foodrdquo Gonzalez said ldquoinstead of being obsessed by it Gonzalez learned about a program called Am I Hungry that specializes in helping people heal their relationship with food and their bodies so they can relearn to trust their internal hunger cues instead of having to follow arbitrary rules and broken promises of diets Gonzalez facilitates a program at the Mankato Clinic that teaches the Am I Hungry philosophy

ldquoI have two childrenrdquo Gonzalez said ldquoa 10-month-old and a 4-year-old They know how to eat naturally and they stop eating when they are no longer hungry That is what most adults need

MM p01 0116indd 15 12222015 120138 PM

16 bull January 2016 bull MANKATO MAGAZINE

xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

need to relearn how to eatrdquoThe method has worked for Gonzalez Gone are

her extra 30 pounds and she no longer dietsldquoDiets simply arenrsquot sustainablerdquo she said ldquoItrsquos so

hard in our society because we are surrounded by cues to eat all of the time At buffets where you want to lsquoget your moneyrsquos worthrsquo when yoursquore out with friends when you sit down at the end of the day and turn on the television to relax and are bombarded with ads for food Food has become a reward for a bad day or a good day or anything else we can think of But if you look at how you eat as a journey instead of as a destination you can learn to enjoy food a lot morerdquo

So what should someone who wants to start the New Year in a more healthy fashion do

ldquoPause before you eatrdquo Gonzalez recommended ldquoAsk yourself if yoursquore really hungry or if yoursquore actually thirsty or stressed instead Try not to be emotionally disconnected from what you are eatingrdquo

Gonzalez emphasized that ldquomindful eating isnrsquot naive to say nutrition isnrsquot important Of course it is Mindful eating is what allows us to take charge of our decisions of why when what how and how much we choose to eat instead of battling being in or out of controlrdquo

Instead of following the latest short-lived diet Gonzalez encourages people to make the healthiest choices possible that donrsquot leave them feeling deprived

Paulette Tonn BookerFor Paulette Tonn Booker the Am I Hungry

Mindful Eating (AIHME) program has been a game changer

Said Booker ldquoIrsquove tried several diet plans over the past 40 years including some well-known plans and I lost weight on each plan However keeping the weight off eluded me and resulted in yo-yo dieting

The lsquorulesrsquo of whichever plan Booker was on became the norm and after years of trying to live by those rules Booker was no longer able to discern what her body was telling her about hunger often leading to out-of-control overeating

ldquoI always knew there was something else going on yet no one had an answer for merdquo Booker said

When Booker first heard of the AIHME program two years ago she was relieved to discover that there were other people who felt the same way when it came to healthful eating The program taught her the skills she needed to recognize her bodyrsquos hunger signals thoughts and feelings and actions to help manage the physical emotional and environmental stresses of everyday life without resorting to eating to cope with those stresses

ldquoI no longer have to be in control of everything I only need to be in charge of my decisions at any given moment When I choose to overeat (which everyone does) I no longer beat myself up I try to reflect on what happened and then plan for ways to handle the situation differently the next time it occurs Old habits are hard to break it takes concentrated effort and dedication to rewire the brain with new habits and it can be donerdquo Booker said

About weight loss as the end goal of healthful eating Booker shared the following ldquoThe only time I get on a scale is at the doctorrsquos office I know what the experts say I should weigh A number does not define a personrsquos self-worth nor does it say anything about who we are and how we feel as we make changes in how we nurture our bodies The number on the scale is just a number bodies come in all shapes and sizes as does health I will never diet again Instead I will continue to work on developing mindful skills and in the meantime eating what I love and loving what I eatrdquo

MM p01 0116indd 16 12182015 24501 PM

MANKATO MAGAZINE  bull January 2016 bull 17

Eric ZiesmerFor Eric Ziesmer he is in the middle of his weight

loss journey a journey that began last July when the 32-year-old learned that he weighed 330 pounds The time had come for Ziesmer to make some healthy lifestyle changes Ziesmer decided to lose weight because of his family mdash both present and future

ldquoI have two adorable nephews and I would love to be able to chase them around the yard or pull them in a sled during the winter and basically to be active and see them as they growrdquo Ziesmer said ldquoAnd even though Irsquom currently single if it is in my cards for marriage and kids I would like to be there and not be too tired or not in shape A clean and healthy lifestyle is what I am striving for in my coming yearsrdquo

With the help of a dietician Ziesmer has started his cleaner and healthier lifestyle Since July he has lost 40 pounds and has decided to have weight loss surgery To help his post operation phase go as smoothly as possible Ziesmer eats fresh fruit every day has cut out chips and cookies among other things

ldquoI have totally cut out soda Soda was a big one to cut out In my huge climb to 300 there were days when I would consume two 2-liter bottles of pop in a single day and maybe cracking open a thirdrdquo Ziesmer said ldquoI try to listen to my stomach instead of my eyes or eat because Irsquom bored or stressed I eat slow and sip instead of being the guzzler I have always beenrdquo

Another tactic Ziesmer has adopted has been to stop drinking liquids 30 minutes before a meal and then wait 30 minutes after eating before sipping again

ldquoWhen my stomach rumbles and says itrsquos hungry I feed it When my brain or boredom drives me to want to eat I take a second to see if my stomach feels empty and if not it gets deniedrdquo Ziesmer said

Ziesmer has noticed that he is more successful at healthy eating when he eats at home When he does dine out hersquoll cut a sandwich in half eat half and save other half for a future meal

ldquoAs far as exercise goes it went from zero to at least two if not three times a week going for a 327 mile walk and have recently made my way back into the gymrdquo Ziesmer said He has been able to keep track of his walks with accuracy thanks to an app called MapMyRun

Ziesmer knows that his healthier living journey will continue for a long time

ldquoI plan on continuing to live healthy by continuing my exercise and eating right and by saying that itrsquos not only for me and feeling better but also because there are two little guys that look up to their uncle Staying motivated is at least my key to keeping up this lifestyle I want to live a long and healthier life feeling better and being there down the road for family and friends is what means mostrdquo Ziesmer said MM

Eric Ziesmer says hersquos got plenty of motivation to get healthy two nephews to whom he wants to be a good role model

MM p01 0116indd 17 12222015 120514 PM

18 bull January 2016 bull MANKATO MAGAZINE

Stephanie Howe says itrsquos best to have realistic goals when starting a fitness program

Herersquos your guideBy Robb Murray | Photos by Pat Christman

Ready for CHANGE

MM p01 0116indd 18 12182015 24506 PM

MANKATO MAGAZINE  bull January 2016 bull 19

Yoursquore ready

You ate the ham and turkey and potatoes and Christmas cookies You drank the wine beer and eggnog Yoursquove spent the last few

months pondering a life change Yoursquore on the verge of a major transformation This time itrsquos happening Yoursquore going to get healthy Itrsquos going to be a new you

And then January arrived And you have no plan

Luckily we here at Mankato Magazine have got you covered Itrsquos not uncommon for people to make a New Yearrsquos resolution or some similar vow this time of year It usually comes with goal weights and promises to hit the gym X number of times per week and trips to the produce and organic sections of the grocery store because this time yoursquore serious Right

OK easy tiger Getting healthy is a great idea and wersquore wishing you all the best But wersquore also coming at you with some sensible advice Maybe setting unrealistic goals isnrsquot the best way to go Maybe just

heading into the gym and trying to get it all done in a week isnrsquot a great way to go either

ldquoFinerdquo you say ldquothen what should I dordquoWersquore so glad you asked

Letrsquos get startedThe first thing you need to remember when

starting an exercise program is that if you want to lose weight you need to change the way you eat too

ldquoNo matter what you say you canrsquot out exercise a bad dietrdquo says Stephanie Howe director of healthy living at the Mankato YMCA

Howe works in what might be the busiest fitness hub in the Mankato area So shersquos seen her share of people come through the doors with plans to change their lives Some of them succeed Most do not

One of the biggest mistakes people make Howe says is not really having a good grasp on how much time theyrsquoll need in order to incorporate a good workout into their day It doesnrsquot have to be a two-

hour commitment every day she says It can be 30 minutes of planned effective exercise several times per week Whatrsquos more important is just getting there and thatrsquos an obstacle that is bigger than most people realize

ldquoMost people want to lsquopeople pleasersquordquo she said ldquoYou can say yoursquore going to get up and work out every day but most people are built to need external accountabilityrdquo

Think about hiring a personal trainer

ldquoWhen you spend the money on a personal trainer you have an appointment therersquos someone waiting thererdquo she says

A personal trainer is a great way to immediately know yoursquore doing exactly what yoursquore supposed to be doing and yoursquoll have no doubt whether yoursquore working hard enough There are plenty of personal trainers in town mdash at the YMCA and other gyms mdash who would love to help you Of course they donrsquot work for free and for many people the cost of a personal trainer is more than theyrsquore willing to spend

Fortunately therersquos a trend in fitness to offer the whip-crack of a personal trainer while staying Jo radlinger urges her clients to not sabotage their fitness efforts with poor eating over

the weekend

MM p01 0116indd 19 12182015 24510 PM

20 bull January 2016 bull MANKATO MAGAZINE

728 N Riverfront DriveMankato MN 56001

507-625-5163katobearscom

Pins and NeedlesAlterations

Specializing in alterations for theentire wedding party including

gown re-sizing hemming re-beadingbustles and so much more

Like us onFacebook

affordableThe Y now offers something called ldquotrainer ledrdquo

exercise sessions where you work with others in a group but have access to a trainer nearby who can push you motivate you and make sure yoursquore you know doing it right Theyrsquore $3 a class

ldquoYoursquore still expected to be there but itrsquos much cheaperrdquo Howe said ldquoThe group environment pushes you and we have tons of trainer-led classes Itrsquos the best of both worldsrdquo

Across town Jo Radlinger runs Jorsquos Garage a fitness center where shersquos the one pushing you to succeed

Radlingerrsquos goal she says is to bring out everyonersquos potential

ldquoI want to make sure everybody that comes through my door has success I want them to be the very best version of themselves that they can berdquo

Like Howe Radlinger acknowledges that the financial side of hiring a personal trainer can scare people away but she says there are several reasons why it shouldnrsquot

ldquoItrsquos never a bad investment when yoursquore investing in yourselfrdquo she said ldquoMeet with a trainer who is just as passionate about your goal My goal is not to train you intensely but to show you what yoursquore capable of and then take you to that next levelrdquo

At Jorsquos Fitness Garage there are no membership fees Radlinger doesnrsquot believe in them Instead she charges $5 per visit and in that time she said she pushes you to have a great workout

GymtimidationSetting goals is a great

idea Setting unrealistic goals is the kind of thing that results in a gym membership card laying dormant in a junk drawer by February

So set those goals but set them smartlyldquoAccountability is huge Even if you canrsquot hire

someonerdquo Howe says ldquoMake specific goals mdash say yoursquore going to workout X number of times but make those numbers realistic Set goals that are within your controlrdquo

Do this and yoursquore likely to feel a lot better about how things go

ldquoMost people just want to feel better about themselves they want to feel more confidentrdquo Howe said ldquoThis way even before any physical changes happen theyrsquoll feel better Theyrsquoll start to feel like theyrsquore in control again of their life and their choicesrdquo

Taking an exercise class is a great way to both get

your body moving while at the same time have fun and meet those people who will notice when you donrsquot show up

And about that weight room Yes it can be intimidating to walk in and see people who look like they live there But Howe says that while it can definitely be a psychological barrier focusing on those people is the wrong strategy

ldquoNo one cares what yoursquore doingrdquo Howe says ldquoFocus on yourdquo

Take it slowIt can be tempting when you finally get up the

nerve to get back in the swing of working out to go hardcore But just like setting unrealistic goals trying to achieve your fitness goals in a day is impossible

ldquoPeople start out really gung-ho and reset their diet so aggressively and most people just simply canrsquot do thisrdquo Radlinger said ldquoWhen yoursquore looking at making a lifestyle change I want you to do it slowly and incrementally rather than do it all in two monthsrdquo

Rushing into the weight room and trying to lift the same weight and number of reps and sets that you did 10 years ago is a great way to make sure you canrsquot work out for a while Going from a sedentary lifestyle to two hours of pumping iron can leave you sore enough to not be able to lift anything for days Maybe even weeks

Ease into it The gymrsquos not going anywhere Think marathon not sprint

ldquoSometimes people have an all-or-nothing attituderdquo Howe said ldquoand they make themselves sore and they canrsquot continuerdquo

Speaking of all-or-nothing Radlinger says

some people bring that kind of intensity to their food intake over the weekend Bad idea

ldquoAs trainers we help people be accountable We do success measurements help them prepare and plan And wersquoll do weigh-ins on Mondayrdquo Radlinger says ldquoWersquoll find that people do really well Monday through Friday then do what I call sabotage Saturday and Sunday At some point yoursquore going to get so sick of hitting that reset button every Mondayrdquo

Whatever you choose to do both trainers say itrsquos never a bad idea to sit down with your doctor and run your plans by himher Your personal safety should always come first and getting the green light from Doc can give you some peace of mind as you start this new chapter of your life MM

Jo radlinger runs Jorsquos Fitness Garage

MM p01 0116indd 20 12222015 120709 PM

MANKATO MAGAZINE  bull January 2016 bull 21

728 N Riverfront DriveMankato MN 56001

507-625-5163katobearscom

Pins and NeedlesAlterations

Specializing in alterations for theentire wedding party including

gown re-sizing hemming re-beadingbustles and so much more

Like us onFacebook

Live the Lifestyle

wwwmapletonmarinecom

Southern MNrsquos largestboat show on now at the

Madison East Center in Mankato

MM p01 0116indd 21 12182015 24524 PM

22 bull January 2016 bull MANKATO MAGAZINE

Thirty-three years ago I stood inside a grave A lifetime ago when I was a pastorrsquos wife

In Nebraska we served a parish of barely over one hundred members A picture-postcard white church with a hand-carved white wooden altar from Germany sat at the top of a hill next to it the parsonage and next to that the cemetery rolling down the hill toward a wooded creek

The first death in the congregation after our arrival set off a flurry of activity Irsquod never met Alma because she was in a nursing home before we arrived However my husband visited her on several occasions She was mother aunt grandmother great-aunt and great-grandmother to half the congregation so there was no question about whether or not I would attend the funeral

With my two little kids in tow I attended every event at the church every Sunday morning service of course but also every funeral every confirmation every baptism every meeting of womenrsquos circle and even every family reunion that was held in the church basement At twenty-six I perfected the art of making gracious small talk with people Irsquod never seen before and would never see again and at taking tiny portions from each confirmation buffet so I would neither be sick by the end of the day nor offend any of the mothers who had slaved away over their sumptuous spreads of food

By Rebecca Fjelland Davis

Grave Lesson in Winter

ESSay

MM p01 0116indd 22 12182015 24527 PM

MANKATO MAGAZINE  bull January 2016 bull 23

Attending the little white country church was physically easy I picked up one-year-old Josh took three-year-old Nikkirsquos hand and walked out the front door down the sidewalk and next door The only things I didnrsquot have to attend were church council and the menrsquos meeting Archaic This was in the 1980s It doesnrsquot seem so long ago

All the available babysitters in the community would attend Almarsquos funeral too so this was to be my kidsrsquo first funeral

The afternoon before the service salt-snow fell Hard little crystals pelted down as if the heavens had up-ended a Mortonrsquos salt canister Within a few hours the hard snow was six inches deep and still falling

In the middle of the salt-snow the gravedigger arrived The Ditchwitch roared around the cemetery to the familyrsquos plot and my kidsrsquo noses pressed against the upstairs bedroom window pane ldquoMommy can we go watchrdquo

Glad for an excuse to get out of the parsonage I bundled them in snowsuits put them on the sled and pulled them across the house yard and garden to the fence that bordered the cemetery

The Ditchwitch made short work of the grave and all three of us were mesmerized watching the mound of gray-black dirt grow in the crystal-white snow When the hole was finished the gravedigger turned his tractor on idle He hopped off and came over to the fence His eyes twinkled in a weathered face ldquoWant to come lookrdquo

I backed up from the fence a step ldquoNo not really I think this is close enoughrdquo

ldquoYes Mommy go lookrdquo ldquoPleeeeaserdquoSo Nikki and Josh got back on the sled and I

hauled them along the fence through the gate over to the grave and looked down Six feet seemed deep bottomless Dark A sharp contrast to the pelting snowflakes all around us

ldquoWanna get down in thererdquo the gravedigger asked I shuddered hung onto the kids and backed up

again ldquoNo No thatrsquos okay This is close enough I just want to look from hererdquo

ldquoYes mommyrdquo the little ones said ldquoLetrsquosrdquoldquoNordquoldquoPleaserdquoldquoReally marsquoam I think you should Yoursquoll be

surprised I wouldnrsquot suggest it if it I didnrsquot think sordquoldquoHow would we get outrdquo The sides were deeper

than I was tall and there certainly werenrsquot footholds or a ladder built in for Almarsquos soul to use to climb out

ldquoLike thisrdquo The gravedigger laid his shovel diagonally across a top corner of the grave and jumped down He grabbed the middle of the shovel handle and swung himself back up and out with the agility of a gymnast ldquoNothinrsquo to itrdquo

ldquoI canrsquot do thatrdquoldquoYes you can Irsquoll boost you And wersquoll lift the kids

Yoursquoll be amazed I promiserdquoI shivered The idea of being inside a grave

seemed much colder than the snow crystals biting at my face

ldquoCome onrdquo he said and jumped back in Nikki and Josh willingly stepped over to him to be lifted down I had no choice but to follow I couldnrsquot let my kids alone in a grave with a man I didnrsquot even know

So I jumped The earth on the bottom made a soft landing The soil around me was warm and steamy It was moist and dark but it enfolded us in an earthy hug At least fifty degrees warmer than the air above ground it felt as if the earth were offering shelter respite a comfortable place to snuggle down and rest Tiny roots dangled full of life from the smooth edges of the hole Tears sprang to my eyes I couldnrsquot help them My eyes met the gravediggerrsquos and he smiled Gently ldquoSeerdquo he said Nothing more

I couldnrsquot speak A few minutes later he gave me a stirrup with his

hands I scrambled out and he lifted Nikki and Josh up to me Then he flipped himself out as easily as a trapeze artist

ldquoThank yourdquo I said ldquoI would never have guessedrdquoHe nodded ldquoNobody does But it helps somehow

I wanted you to feel thatrdquoWhy I wanted to ask why me You donrsquot even

know me Why were you willing to take time for usldquoThank yourdquo was all I said I shook his hand and

he hopped on the Ditchwitch and drove off into the snow

I never saw him again Someone else dug the next grave required in that cemetery

I remember only bits and pieces of the funeral Irsquom sure I baked a boxed cake mix for ldquolunchrdquo afterwards I remember answering Nikkirsquos questions about the body and sitting in the back row of the church in case Josh didnrsquot want to be quiet I do remember looking at the unfamiliar face in the casket and thinking you get to rest in a warm cozy place

Ten winters later we buried my dad on just such a day Wet snow crystals pelted us and piled up so deep the funeral home limousine got stuck in the cemetery By the time the pallbearers pushed it un-stuck their suit pants were caked in slush and mud

We stood at the graveside in the bleak wet icy day and lowered my fatherrsquos body into the ground

ldquoToo bad itrsquos such a miserable dayrdquo ldquoSorry about your dad Sorry the weatherrsquos so bad toordquo And even ldquoSuch a good man He deserves better weather than thisrdquo

But the weather I thought was just right Losing my dad my kids and their cousins losing

their grandpa my mom becoming a widow my brother losing his farming partner and best friend changed our livesmdashthat part was too heavy to carry

The only part that was okay for me was to let Dadrsquos worn-out body be wrapped in that welcoming warm enfolding soilmdashthe very soil hersquod loved to till the soil hersquod planted and tended all his life the soil that gave us all lifemdashthat was the only gratifying part of the day

The only comfort I had was letting Dad go from the cold wet biting snow into that warm and restful place

And I still wonder who that gravedigger was ten years earlier and how he knew how much I would need what he gave me that bleak winter day MM

Rebecca Fjelland Davis is an author from Mankato

MM p01 0116indd 23 12182015 24528 PM

reFlecTionsBy Pat Christman

24 bull January 2016 bull MANKATO MAGAZINE

MM p01 0116indd 24 12182015 24544 PM

reFlecTionsBy Pat Christman

MANKATO MAGAZINE  bull January 2016 bull 25

There are few things as inevitable as snow during a Minnesota winter Big

cotton ball-like snowflakes cover the ground in a white blanket whitewashing the Midwestern landscape

We struggle against it Some hope the snow never comes It always does filling the sky with floating snowflakes that cling to the ground but melt as soon as they hit the small bits of face or hands that peek out from winter clothing

It is often quite beautiful especially when viewed from someplace warm and dry MM

MM p01 0116indd 25 12182015 24548 PM

26 bull January 2016 bull MANKATO MAGAZINE

Then amp now Vice President Schuyler Colfaxrsquos Death By Bryce o sTenzel

On Jan 14 1885 one day after his death the New York Times carried a

headline that read ldquoSchuyler Colfax Dead He Drops Down in a Railway Stationrdquo While most Americans today would have tremendous difficulty in even recognizing this manrsquos name

(unless they were paying close attention to Stephen Spielbergrsquos epic movie Lincoln and made the association) Schuyler Colfax was a former Speaker of the House of Representatives and Vice President of the United States under President US Grant He died in Mankatorsquos Chicago St

Paul Minneapolis amp Omaha railroad depot from a massive heart attack

Schuyler Colfax Jr was born in New York City on March 23 1823 His father died of tuberculosis five months before Schuyler was born His sister Mary died four months after his [Schuylerrsquos]

vice President Schuyler Colfaxrsquos Death in Mankato

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MANKATO MAGAZINE  bull January 2016 bull 27

birth The young Schuyler attended school only until he was 10 He then began working to support his family Schuyler Colfax never attended any kind of secondary school or college His mother remarried when Colfax was 13 and the family moved to New Carlisle Indiana By the time he was 22 Colfax was the editor and owner of a pro-Whig newspaper He was elected to Congress in 1854 and joined the newly formed Republican Party after the Whig Party disintegrated Solidly anti-slavery his colleagues elected Colfax as Speaker of the US House of Representatives in 1863 His election came soon after the death of his wife Evelyn The couple had no children

Colfax was President Abraham Lincolnrsquos first and last visitor on the fateful day Lincoln was assassinatedmdashApril 14 1865 Early that morning Colfax arrived at the White House while the president was having breakfast Colfax wanted to know whether or not Lincoln planned to call a special session of Congress for later that summer Lincolnrsquos answer was a polite but firm ldquonordquo Lincoln preferred a lenient approach in reconstructing as well as readmitting the former Confederate states to the Union now that the Civil War was over This approach put Lincoln at odds with the more ldquoradicalrdquo congressional members of his own party who preferred harsher measures be taken against their former enemies Lincoln had already made up his mind how he wanted to proceed with reconstructing the former Confederate states and he didnrsquot want any unnecessary interference from Congress Calling a special session was the last thing Lincoln wanted to do Colfax returned that same night to see Lincoln again just before the president left for Fordrsquos Theatre and his appointment with destiny This time Colfax came upon Lincolnrsquos own request The president had a long message for the silver miners of the Comstock Lode in Nevada thanking them for their loyalty to the Union that he wanted Speaker Colfax to deliver in person since Colfax was leaving by train for the West the next day Colfax was the last person Lincoln spoke to besides his wife Mary before he

was fatally shot at 1015 pm Colfax never forgave himself for turning down Lincolnrsquos invitation to be part of the theatre party that night

In 1868 Republicans selected General Ulysses S Grant as their presidential candidate Grant a military man his entire life had no political background Colfax was placed on the ticket because of his prior experience as a congressman and Speaker of the House (he resigned the position in 1869) Grant and Colfax won an easy victory in November 1868 Only two weeks later Colfax remarriedmdashthis time to Ellen Wade (niece of Ohio Senator Benjamin Wade) Their only child son Schuyler Colfax III was born in 1870

Colfax is best remembered (if at all) for his involvement in the corruption that beset Grantrsquos entire presidency Specifically the Credit Mobilier scandal broke in 1872 just as Grant and Colfax were gearing up for their re-election campaign Colfax was suspected of accepting shares of stock and cash bribes from ldquoCredit Mobilierrdquo a dummy construction company set up by the Union Pacific Railroad He was by no means the only influential person involved in the scandal Other political figures investigated included Senators Roscoe Conkling of New York William Allison of Iowa John Logan of Illinois James Bayard of Delaware and Henry Wilson of Massachusetts Grant was less popular in 1872 than he had been four years earlier and many Republicans worried that having Colfax on the partyrsquos ticket would harm the presidentrsquos re-election chances They dumped Colfax from the ticket mdash only to replace him with the also-tainted Wilson Grant won re-election and served his second and final term from 1873-1877 After being forced out from the vice presidency Colfax traveled the country as a popular lecturer often speaking about his interactions with Abraham Lincoln during the Civil War He rebuilt his tarnished reputation and commanded speaking fees as high as $2500

At 10 am on Jan 13 1885 Schuyler Colfax arrived in Mankato aboard a train from Milwaukee Mankato was just a

brief stop for Colfax who was on his way to Iowa for a speaking engagement The Chicago Milwaukee amp St Paul as well as the Chicago St Paul Minneapolis amp Omaha railroads both had depots in Mankato but because they were separate competing railroad lines Colfax was required to change trains by walking three-quarters of a mile from the Chicago Milwaukee amp St Paul depot at the foot of Hickory Street to the Chicago St Paul Minneapolis amp Omaha depot at Fourth and Washington Streets (now Washington Park) from which the next leg of his journey would depart Despite a reported temperature of 30 degrees below zero Colfax walked from one station to the other Within five minutes after he arrived at the Omaha linersquos depot Colfax entered the waiting room looked at a map on the wall sat down and died It was 1035 am No one in the station knew who the dead man actually was until they searched his pockets and found a letter with his name on it His death was likely caused by a heart attack brought on by the physical exertion of walking almost a mile in extreme cold Colfax was only 61 when he died His remains were returned to South Bend Indiana for burial

Today few Americans are aware that anyone named Schuyler Colfax ever lived much less served as vice president of the United States In this era in which officeholders are often treated as celebrities imagine how surprised people would be to learn that a former vice president died cold alone and unrecognized in a train station 131 years ago Before 24-hour news channels smart phones and social media it was possible for public figures like Colfax to live ndash and die ndash in relative obscurity Ironically Colfax loved the railroad but in the end it was the cause of his undoing Mankato has the distinction of being the location where the last man to personally speak to Abraham Lincoln in a private conversation took his last breath

MM p01 0116indd 27 12182015 24549 PM

28 bull January 2016 bull MANKATO MAGAZINE

Mayo Clinic offers pediatric and adolescent orthopedic services right here in Mankato Todd Milbrandt MD cares for patients with a variety of needs including

bull Cerebral palsy

bull Clubfoot

bull Hip disorders

bull Spinal disorders

bull Sports injuries

bull Scoliosis

bull Spina bifida

Mayo Clinic Health System in Mankato Call 1-877-412-7575 (toll-free) to schedule an appointment

495rdquox495rdquo Mankato Magazine January

Orthopedic care for your child

Independent ampAssisted Living

EQUAL HOUSINGOPPORTUNITY

1360 Adams StreetMankato MN

PrimroseRetirementcom

reg

Key City Senior Breakfast ClubThe Key City Senior Breakfast Club meets the first Thursday of each month from 830 AM - 930 AM at Primrose Retirement Community The club gives those 55+ the opportunity to meet new friends and visit old ones socialize with Key City Officials and enjoy a delicious home-cooked breakfast To visit a Key City Senior Breakfast please call (866) 447-9636

Mark your calendar for these breakfast dates Thursday January 7th Thursday March 3rd and Thursday May 5th

刀椀渀最 椀渀 琀栀攀 

一攀眀 夀攀愀爀

㔀 㜀ⴀ㤀㐀ⴀ㐀㐀䨀甀氀攀攀猀䨀攀眀攀氀爀礀挀漀洀

椀渀 匀愀椀渀琀 倀攀琀攀爀

20765 Foley Rd Mankato MN | 5073872434 | 5077262411

Three TimeNational Award Winners

MM p02 0116indd 28 12182015 30742 PM

Mayo Clinic offers pediatric and adolescent orthopedic services right here in Mankato Todd Milbrandt MD cares for patients with a variety of needs including

bull Cerebral palsy

bull Clubfoot

bull Hip disorders

bull Spinal disorders

bull Sports injuries

bull Scoliosis

bull Spina bifida

Mayo Clinic Health System in Mankato Call 1-877-412-7575 (toll-free) to schedule an appointment

495rdquox495rdquo Mankato Magazine January

Orthopedic care for your child

Independent ampAssisted Living

EQUAL HOUSINGOPPORTUNITY

1360 Adams StreetMankato MN

PrimroseRetirementcom

reg

Key City Senior Breakfast ClubThe Key City Senior Breakfast Club meets the first Thursday of each month from 830 AM - 930 AM at Primrose Retirement Community The club gives those 55+ the opportunity to meet new friends and visit old ones socialize with Key City Officials and enjoy a delicious home-cooked breakfast To visit a Key City Senior Breakfast please call (866) 447-9636

Mark your calendar for these breakfast dates Thursday January 7th Thursday March 3rd and Thursday May 5th

OMG hellip More food and drinksOK sure

By now yoursquore probably thinking ldquoOh my gosh the last thing I want to think about right now is more food more drinking and more diningrdquo

Fair enough We get it The holidays are murder on the metabolism of many many Minnesotans

But we also know that those metabolisms are hardy and soon enough theyrsquoll be hankering for a hunk of something yummy and full of fun And whatrsquos more yummy and full of fun than a big glass of Cabernet Sauvignon Our wine guy Leigh Pomeroy takes us on a tour of all that is tasty and wonderful about big red wines the kind that leave their mark the kind that really announce their presence on your palate

And just in case yoursquore super serious about a healthy lifestyle mdash and that seriousness extends to the kind of beer you choose mdash Bert Mattson our beer guy has just the selection for you Best part is Itrsquos light

Oh and under the category of ldquoDid you hear about thisrdquo Wersquove got an update for you on the Coffee Hag Mankatorsquos original coffee house and one of the most popular hangouts in town Seriously some days itrsquos hard to find a seat in that place

EnjoyPS We know that baby itrsquos cold outside mdash thatrsquos why wersquove

thrown you our absolute best hot cocoa recipe

Enjoymdash Robb Murray Associate Editor Mankato Magazine

food drink amp dineso

uthern m

n style

20765 Foley Rd Mankato MN | 5073872434 | 5077262411

Three TimeNational Award Winners

MM p02 0116indd 29 12182015 30745 PM

MANKATO 5073854485 AMBOY 5076743355 I VERNON CENTER 5075493679

INSURANCE OFFICES LOCATED IN THE COMMUNITY BANK BUILDINGS

wwwcimankatocom

Protecting the things that matter most in your life

Let us help protect what is important to you At Community Insurance we have the ability to compare insurance from multiple companies to get you the best coverage at a great price Combine that with our insurance knowledge and friendly group of agents and we say thatrsquos a winning deal

WHERE YOUR POLICY COMES WITH AN AGENT

Christina Meyer

Food

south

ern mn style

Food

south

ern mn style

By The Washington Post

Growing up my mother always encouraged her children to cook So when

I found a recipe for hot chocolate on the side of the Hersheyrsquos Cocoa can it was easy to convince her to let me give it a try

What I discovered was that hot chocolate doesnrsquot have to come from an envelope

This recipe has been a favorite of mine to make on days when winter weather has convinced me stay home and off the roads Itrsquos the perfect way to kill time and have a nice hot drink to warm you up on those chilly days

Although you can top it with whipped cream I prefer marshmallows

FAVORITE HOT COCOAMakes 4 to 6 servings

12 cup sugar14 cup unsweetened cocoa powder

Dash of salt13 cup hot water

4 cups milk34 teaspoon vanilla extract

Whipped cream or marshmallows (optional)

Mix sugar cocoa powder salt and water in a sauce pan Stir constantly over medium heat until mixture comes to a boil (about 2 minutes) Stir in

milk and heat Bring the hot chocolate to the desired temperature but do not boil Remove from heat and

add the vanilla extract Divide into mugs and top with whipped cream or marshmallows

PERFECTLY CHOCOLATE HOT COCOA

Makes 1 serving

2 tablespoons sugar2 tablespoons unsweetened cocoa powder

Dash salt1 cup milk

14 teaspoon vanilla extractWhipped cream or marshmallows (optional)

Mix sugar cocoa powder and salt into large mug In separate microwave-safe container heat on high

for 1 to 1 frac12 minutes or until very hot Carefully and gradually add milk to dry mixture Stir well Add vanilla extract Top with whipped cream or

marshmallows

Simple homemade hot chocolate

beats the winter chill

30 bull January 2016 bull MANKATO MAGAZINE

MM p02 0116indd 30 12182015 30752 PM

MANKATO MAGAZINE  bull January 2016 bull 31

Oil Change to OverhaulWe do it all

507-387-13151620 Commerce Drive North MankatowwwAustinsAutoRepairCentercom

Voted Best Auto Repair and Best Auto Mechanic 4 Years in a Row

AUSTINrsquoS AUTO REPAIR CENTER INC

MANKATO 5073854485 AMBOY 5076743355 I VERNON CENTER 5075493679

INSURANCE OFFICES LOCATED IN THE COMMUNITY BANK BUILDINGS

wwwcimankatocom

Protecting the things that matter most in your life

Let us help protect what is important to you At Community Insurance we have the ability to compare insurance from multiple companies to get you the best coverage at a great price Combine that with our insurance knowledge and friendly group of agents and we say thatrsquos a winning deal

WHERE YOUR POLICY COMES WITH AN AGENT

Christina Meyer

MM p02 0116indd 31 12182015 30755 PM

32 bull January 2016 bull MANKATO MAGAZINE

January is Cabernet TimeWersquove celebrated nearly

every January edition of Mankato Magazine with

a paean to BIG REDS And since there are so many wonderful examples why stop now

Last year I wrote about the powerful big reds of Italy This January wersquoll focus on Cabernet Sauvignon known to many as ldquothe king of winesrdquo Most oenophiles (wine lovers) consider the quintessential representations of this grape to be the classified Bordeaux of southwest France near the city of Bordeaux The five First Growths (or best wines according to a classification made in 1855 and updated in 1973) are Ch Lafite Rothschild Ch Margaux Ch Latour Ch Haut Brion and Ch Mouton Rothschild All have a cabernet sauvignon base but they are blended with merlot and often a little bit of cabernet franc and petit verdot as well

In the early 1970s I was able to buy these wines for around $22 per bottle mdash about $120 in 2016 dollars Yet with the popularity of ldquocollectiblerdquo wines on a worldwide

basis they sell today for anywhere from $400 on up

Contrary to popular belief these wines are not that massive Rather they combine cabernet sauvignon power with

structure and finesse yielding wines that become with time elixirs that are greater than the sum of their parts

Both California and Washington state have taken up the Cabernet Sauvignon challenge and are producing world-class wines at sometimes world-class prices Napa Valley is the recognized leader in this arena and rightly so Napa Valleyrsquos top Cabernet

Wine amp B

eerso

uthern m

n style

winesBy Leigh Pomeroy

Leigh Pomeroy is a Mankato-based writer and wine lover

Cabernet Sauvignon is the black Labrador of wines mdash it comes up and licks yourdquo

mdash Winemaker Scott Rich

Sauvignons rival the great wines of Bordeaux for quality mdash Irsquove tasted them side-by-side mdashand yet can sell for a fraction of their price

One such example is the 2013 Tulocay Cabernet Sauvignon from my old friend Bill Cadman We were young bucks in Napa Valley and had a tasting group in the early 1970s along with now-famous wine luminaries Bruce Neyers (Neyers Vineyards) and Mike Richmond (co-founder of Acacia Vineyard)

Billrsquos Cabernet is from an old and relatively cool growing area east of the City of Napa called Coombsville which because of industry political issues only recently received its AVA (American Viticultural Area) designation It is priced at $60 per bottle yet compares with any top-flight Bordeaux as well as the more expensive offerings from Napa Valley which can cost from $100 on up Not currently available at wine stores or restaurants in Minnesota it can be purchased by contacting the winery directly via its website tulocaycom The winery is so small that Bill will probably answer the phone himself

There is a lot of Cabernet Sauvignon available from California but mdash caveat emptor mdash not all growing areas (or appellations) are the same The best Cabernet Sauvignons are from Napa and Sonoma Counties Cabernets simply labeled ldquoCaliforniardquo or perhaps ldquoCoastalrdquo while sometimes good values lack the complexity of the greater Cabernet Sauvignons from the more northern parts of the state

Washington state has also

established itself as a prime producer of Cabernet Sauvignon But here again quality can vary greatly depending upon the area and producer While there is no ldquogo-tordquo appellation for Cabernet Sauvignon in Washington there are producers that are able to secure fruit from the best vineyards

One such example is the tiny Willis Hall Winery owned by another good friend John Bell a former Boeing jet propulsion engineer Like Tulocay its wines are only available by calling up the winery and ordering some (See willishallcom) But there are many other top quality producers in Washington like Quilceda Creek Leonetti Betz Family and Woodward Canyon

Of course not everyone can afford Cabernet Sauvignons in the $60-plus category One excellent everyday drinking example is the Flying Cloud 2013 Paso Robles Cabernet Sauvignon made by Mankato native Stephen Dooley Normally I donrsquot like Paso Robles Cabs as they tend to be too fruity and too soft for my palate mdash almost like drinking berry jam But this one is quite restrained no doubt helped by the inclusion of 13 percent zinfandel and 9 percent petite sirah in the blend

In Mankato both the Wine Cafeacute and MGM carry the Flying Cloud but at its price and quality I wouldnrsquot count on it lasting for long especially since only 759 cases were produced

So letrsquos raise a glass of Cabernet and say ldquoCheersrdquo to the New Year

MM p02 0116indd 32 12182015 30756 PM

MANKATO MAGAZINE  bull January 2016 bull 33

Bert Mattson is a chef and writer based in St Paul He is the manager of the iconic Mickeyrsquos Diner

Beer Skinny

BeerBy Bert Mattson

Last year according to Nielsen research staying fit and healthy was

the number one New Yearrsquos resolution Losing weight was two Three was to enjoy life to the fullest Unfortunately ldquolose weight and get fitrdquo also topped Time magazinersquos list of commonly broken resolutions Is this shortfall due to tension between the top two and that third one If so craft beer may have a role in the compromise Bad news first

In the context of losing weight and staying fit beer lovers might seek solace in the fact that fat carries nine calories per gram while alcohol has only seven The wrinkle is that those seven are ldquoemptyrdquo mdash calories without nutrition as opposed to those from fat protein and carbohydrates Moreover alcoholrsquos calories are the first burned when combined with the others the human body postpones burning fat while it works on alcohol Furthermore beer (and wine and often cocktails) contains carbohydrates which release insulin and can hasten fat storage Finally many drinkers have undoubtedly observed that alcohol loosens inhibitions after which an eager indulgence in unhealthy foods often occurs (Bar menus are rarely helpful in that respect)

By now you may wonder whose side Irsquom actually on Or suspect Irsquove led you to this dark place only to offer you a Lite No worries a couple craft brewers have been considering ways to keep us true to our resolutions

Evil Twin Brewingrsquos Bikini Beer drops the alcohol to 27 percent but stays bold by way of hops A Pale Ale it hits the nose with citrus suggestive of IPA The flavor follows suit floral and lemon There is an expected absence of malt yielding to bitterness up front that fades at the finish An alternative

for those who insist on the full effect Founderrsquos Brewing Companyrsquos All Day IPA rings in at a respectable 144 calories (Evil Twinrsquos entry comes in at 81)

One strategy to beat the beer munchies and avoid costly impulse eating is to have suitable chow on hand With Bikini Beer try a salad sporting blue cheese and some sort of dried fruit Creamy blue veined cheeses echo the hops while balancing bitterness An occasional bite of dried fruit stands in for malt sweetness

Brooklyn Breweryrsquos 12 Ale weighs in at 34 percent alcohol (102 calories) It is alliteratively labeled ldquoSession Saisonrdquo It opens with a waft of citrus and spice and a little lemongrass from Sorachi Ace hops mdash a hybrid developed in East Asia The same elements are found in the flavor which is a bit more subdued than a full-sized Saison

Try it with a tangle of arugula dressed with lemon and a fruity olive oil tossed with pine nuts and topped with shaved Parmesan for effect The greens and cracked pepper reflect spicy phenolic elements in the yeast Salty cheese counters the beerrsquos lingering bitterness Maybe add a few slices of Speck cured ham and Saison share a certain funkiness

If friends show and it becomes a session you may honestly say you spent Saturday working on your six-pack

MM p02 0116indd 33 12182015 30757 PM

34 bull January 2016 bull MANKATO MAGAZINE

Food

south

ern mn style

Food

south

ern mn style

The Coffee Hag one of the arearsquos oldest (and coolest) bistros recently underwent a major expansion and remodeling journey culminating in a large and airy

seating area along with a much-improved kitchen and a new menu Mankato Magazine caught up with a very busy (and slightly exhausted) owner Jenn Melby-Kelly who weighs in on how itrsquos going

MANKATO MAGAZINE Are you personally enjoying the new updatesJENN MELBY-KELLY It Is Fabulous The new space represents so much more than a remodel to me It has brought to life a vision for my business thatrsquos been years in the making It incorporates many many good ideas from many many people I feel so fortunate to get to see that every time I walk through the door

MM How are customers reactingJMK Thatrsquos been one of the best parts The response has been overwhelmingly positive

A few of our most regular customers had the opportunity to get a glimpse of the remodel while it was underway (we gave some informal preview tours while we were operating the temporary stand outside) but many customers walk through the door now and see it all for the first time Itrsquos especially fun to see and hear that kind of wide-eyed reaction

A few people with special connections to The Hag have had even stronger emotional responses and Irsquom so touched and right there with them when I see eyes well up as they see what wersquove done Itrsquos a very big milestone for a very special place and wersquore blessed to have people that care so deeply

MM Do the employees appreciate the new spaceJMK Oh probably more than anyone There was a lot that we sought to do with the remodel but creating a bigger brighter better-equipped space for our team was certainly one of the primary goals Wersquove got an incredible team truly the most spirited and talented people anyone could hope for

Many of them have spent years with me working hard against the challenge of a small under-equipped space and just barely being able to keeping up with growing demand Itrsquos been a special blessing for them and for me to finally have state-of-the-art space thatrsquos made for the work that we do We all feel a special connection to this place and now more than ever the place reflects the good energy we all bring here every day

MM Is the new menu a hit (The Hag specializes in vegetarianvegan cuisine)JMK Yes but just wait Feedback and demand have been excellent with our food offerings already but wersquore just getting started on some of the really exciting things that are coming to our food menu

Remodeling the cafe was just the first major milestone of our two-part expansion plan Next up wersquore building a state of the art off-site commissary kitchen that will do for our incredible culinary team what the remodeled shop has done for our baristas Theyrsquove been working day and night on taking our already fantastic food offerings to a whole new level

Wersquove already introduced some amazing new menu items like the Garden Grilled Cheese panini (trust me itrsquos like nothing yoursquove had before) and some truly outstanding new vegan baked goods Wersquove also improved our classic offerings with house-made

Interview with Jenn Melby-Kelly owner of The Coffee Hag

By Sarah Johnson

MM p02 0116indd 34 12182015 30802 PM

MANKATO MAGAZINE  bull January 2016 bull 35

Happy New Year

Locally Owned amp Operated

Check Weekly Specialsmgmwineandspiritscommankato

Largest Selection ofbull Liquor bull Wine bull Beer bull

Hours Monday-Saturday 8 am - 10 pm

ATMs at all stores

Mankato201 Victory Dr

625-2420

North Mankato1755 Commerce Dr

387-2634

St Peter100 N Minnesota Ave

934-8964

sourdough and whole wheat breads But as impressive as it is already itrsquos just a taste mdash literally mdash of things to come as we bring our new kitchen online

MM Whatrsquos stayed the sameJMK Irsquom really proud to say that while wersquove touched almost every part of this 23-year-old business wersquove kept even more than we have changed From the first days of this project I made it my personal mission and responsibility to make sure that the ldquosoulrdquo of this special place was only enhanced and never lost as we made the updates

In every area of the remodel as wersquove added some necessary new layers of sophistication The Hagrsquos colorful quirky and even rebellious spirit is still very much a part of the space We did a lot to try to make sure it still looked and felt like ldquohomerdquo

And on a deeper level every step wersquove taken with the growth of our business has been chosen carefully to honor the core parts of The Coffee Hagrsquos identity Our focus on community our support for local art and music our commitment to creating a safe and welcoming space for everyone our efforts to lead the way on social and environmental issues affecting our world near and far mdash those have all stayed the same And those will always be at the heart of what we do

MM Anything elseJMK Irsquom so incredibly grateful for the support of our customers and community And whenever I talk about my business and how it has grown I really canrsquot overstate how thankful I am for my beautiful Coffee Hag family The hard work good energy and earnest contributions of so many people mdash past and present mdash have brought me and my business here An incredible amount of love has gone into this business and made this dream a reality

MM p02 0116indd 35 12222015 121240 PM

36 bull January 2016 bull MANKATO MAGAZINE

xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

Food

south

ern mn style

whatrsquos Cooking By Sarah Johnson

Sarah Johnson is a cook freelance writer and chocolate addict from North Mankato with three grown kids and a couple of mutts

As I was pondering my subject matter for todayrsquos column I started wondering about all the different items the word ldquonutsrdquo can refer

to Crazy people are called nuts so are hexagonal metal objects that attach to bolts Nuts can be the end of things (as in ldquofrom soup to nutsrdquo) or they can be the beginning of them (as in ldquosperm incubatorsrdquo) Nut can also mean onersquos head or onersquos lump of something such as butter And if you accidentally get a nut of butter on your nut you can exclaim ldquoNutsrdquo

My favorite meaning of the word nut however is the dry indehiscent one-seeded fruit with a woody pericarp And I donrsquot even know what indehiscent OR pericarp means But these are the wonderful denizens of the world of edible nuts

Nuts are widely credited with all sorts of health benefits for the heart brain male reproductive system prostate cholesterol level fiber intake and avoidance of some types of cancer And while nuts do contain fat itrsquos the ldquogoodrdquo kind heart-healthy monounsaturated and polyunsaturated fat Their mix of omega-3 fatty acids protein and fiber helps you feel full and suppresses the appetite

Nuts are great in desserts and salads of course but they also shine in stir-fries casseroles soups chicken pork fish and even beverages Nut butters nut milks and nut oils add delicious options to our kitchen larders Breads cereals muffins and pancakes gain texture flavor and nutrition from the addition of nuts Basically anytime is a good time for nuts

Which is a wonderful thing because nuts taste so good you would think they had to be very very bad The reason lies deep in their oils

Walnut Oil is strong and flavorful Itrsquos best when used in uncooked sauces or salad dressing

Hazelnut Oil has a strong flavor and is great for the heart

Almond Oil is very popular and has a much milder flavor than walnut oil or hazelnut oil

Pecan Macadamia Nut Pistachio Cashew and Pine Nut Oils are flavorful and unique The freshness of the nuts used really affects the flavor

ldquoTherersquos Nuttinrsquo Nutty About Nutsrdquo

For the Baklava1 pound pistachios hazelnuts walnuts pecans andor almonds coarsely ground plus more for garnish12 teaspoon ground cinnamon1 cup breadcrumbs4 sticks unsalted butter melted16 sheets phyllo dough (thawed if frozen) cut in half

For the Syrup3 cups sugar1 6 -to-8-ounce jar honey1 frac12 cups water1 to 2 tablespoons fresh lemon juice

If yoursquore under the impression that baklava is much too labor-intensive and complicated to make at home think again Anybody can make

it no special skills equipment or exotic ingredients are required A word about phyllo dough Itrsquos sold in frozen packages so you need to remove the package from the freezer and let it thaw in the fridge 24 hours before you want to make the baklava Then about an hour beforehand remove the package from the fridge and let it sit on the counter

Walnuts or pistachios are the most traditional nuts to fill baklava but using other nuts works wonders as well Simply layer the phyllo with the nut filling and butter bake for an hour and finish with a simple honeyed syrup If you have leftover nuts from the holidays herersquos your chance to use them up

Mixed Nut Baklava

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MANKATO MAGAZINE  bull January 2016 bull 37

MONEY MATTERS WORK SMARTLET COMMUNITY BANK HELP YOUBRING THE TWO TOGETHER

MANKATO - SAINT ANDREWS DR 5073854444MANKATO - MADISON AVE 5076251551VERNON CENTER 5075493679AMBOY 5076743300

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We support great causes like yoursAt Community Bank we know good things happen when you have a good bank So we make more possible by keeping banking simple and supportive And by giving you the power that comes with innovative solutions like our Health Savings Account It offers you tax-free savings for future medical expenses Stop by anytime Wersquore always ready to help out a great cause

Position a rack in the lower third of the oven preheat to 350 degrees Combine the nuts cinnamon and breadcrumbs in a bowl

Brush a 9x13-inch baking dish with some of the butter Layer 10 pieces of phyllo in the dish brushing each piece with butter before adding the next (keep the remaining dough covered with a damp towel) Sprinkle a quarter of the nut mixture over the dough Layer four pieces of phyllo on top brushing each with butter before adding the next sprinkle with another quarter of the nut mixture Add four more phyllo pieces on top brushing each with butter then add another quarter of the nut mixture four more pieces of phyllo with butter and the remaining nuts

Layer the remaining 10 pieces of phyllo on top of the nuts brushing each with butter brush the top piece with extra butter Cut into the baklava to make strips about 1 12 inches wide Then make diagonal slices about 1 12 inches apart to create a diamond pattern Bake until golden about one hour

Meanwhile make the syrup Bring the sugar honey and 1 12 cups water to a boil in a saucepan over medium heat and cook 10 to 15 minutes Add the lemon juice and boil 2 more minutes then let cool slightly Pour the syrup over the warm baklava let soak uncovered at least six hours or overnight Garnish with nuts

MM p02 0116indd 37 12182015 30817 PM

38 bull bull MANKATO MAGAZINE

Nell Musolf is a mom and freelance writer from Mankato She blogs at nellmusolfcom

38 bull bull MANKATO MAGAZINE

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MANKATO MAGAZINE  bull January 2016 bull 39

Gear Up for WinterYear-Round amp Insulated Workwear from

Carhartt Dickies and Key

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Call 5073446336mankatomagmankatofreepresscom

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NEW LOCATION709 S Front Suite 5

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Open House ndash Wednesday Feb 3 9-12noonCelebrating 5 years of Business New Location and the Chinese New Year

In Network with Blue Cross Blue ShieldLicensed by the MN Board of Medical Practice

Ribbon Cutting with Greater Mankato Growth at 10am

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Dr BrandonRignell DC

1351 Madison AveSuite D

Mankato MN 56001

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$2900New Patient Special

MM p02 0116indd 39 12222015 121344 PM

40 bull bull MANKATO MAGAZINE

Jean Lundquist is a master gardener who lives near Good Thunder

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MANKATO MAGAZINE  bull January 2016 bull 41

3 Increase the Value of Your Home

3 Update Your Homersquos Appearance

3 Save Money

Choose from SeveralModels Styles amp Colors

507-625-7110 or 1-800-645-36671125 Cross St North Mankato MN

Improve Your HomersquosEnergy Efficiency

422 Park Lane Mankato MN | NuStarMankatocom

(507) 381-4747Voted One of Mankatorsquos Best

DANIEL WINGERT

Make Selling Your Home Your NuYearrsquos Resolution

MM p02 0116indd 41 12182015 30839 PM

42 bull January 2016 bull MANKATO MAGAZINE

January Resolve to moisturize

Your stYLeBy Ann Rosenquist Fee

Ann Rosenquist Fee is executive director of the Arts Center of Saint Peter and a vocalist with The Frye She blogs at annrosenquistfeecom

If you have in-laws or colleagues who know you well enough to have given you holiday gifts

but not well enough to know what wouldrsquove truly made you happy congratulations Chances are yoursquore the proud owner of a bunch of brand-new lip balm

Maybe itrsquos even holiday themed Thatrsquos the best Maybe you got the candy-cane flavored kind or wintergreen with holiday graphics on the label or something like that A theme that was irrelevant the moment the stocking was unstuffed because at that exact second the holiday was over

And here you are in January with an abundance of wax

Fortunately also here you are in the early weeks of winter with rough red knuckles Probably also cracked cuticles although it might not have gone that far yet for you Irsquom sure it has for me This photo was taken back in November and even then the Band-Aids were for real Irsquove learned to cut them in half length-wise so as to retain my ability to type Irsquove also learned to play with a range of color options Flesh-toned Clear Disney characters The colorful strips shown here were gifted to me by my husband Partly why theyrsquore cut in half is that the text is obscene This is one small trick you can use to make bloody cuticles your most exciting accessory of the winter

Sources like UrbanSurvivalSitecom and WonderHowTocom will tell you that you can use lip balm for a whole variety of purposes such as coating threads of outdoor lightbulbs before screwing them into their sockets and enhancing the burn-ability of most kindling

These are great fun but they wonrsquot improve your personal style

More germane to winter beauty are the following suggestions

Keep a tube next to your bed for first-thing-in-the-morning use And I mean really truly first-thing I mean smear the stuff on each cuticle while yoursquore still lying there before you start using your fingers at all If you wake up thinking yoursquore fine and skip cuticle care next thing you know yoursquore pushing down the lever on your Keurig and the pressure is more than your screamingly dry skin can take and boom split blood on the Keurig and itrsquos gonna be a long painful day If only you had balmed your hands before you let your feet hit the floor

Keep another tube in your glove compartment If itrsquos warm enough to take off your mittens in the car mdash if yoursquore even wearing mittens given that your hands are snagging on everything these days mdash the harsh January sunlight will allow you to see cracks and flakes in high-resolution detail Yoursquoll want the balm nearby

to cover what you didnrsquot notice first thing in the morning Also a car tube is useful for when you look in the rear-view mirror and notice that your nose and upper lip are flaking as well Itrsquos because yoursquore getting over a cold and the frequent use of tissue has worn away your top layer of skin but just because you know that doesnrsquot mean everybody else wonrsquot think ldquothere is something in that noserdquo Itrsquos just a fact Itrsquos what it looks like Lip balm to the rescue Itrsquos the only thing dry enough to slick those flakes in place and nourishing enough to maybe actually get your face back to normal

Keep a couple more tubes in a nighttime kit along with sandpaper Sandpaper Yes Not a pumice stone not a lame also-gifted sugar

scrub Medium-grit sandpaper is what you need every night lightly but with conviction As follows 1) Sand taking care not to do more damage than what the elements have already done Yoursquore just trying to remove the dry dead stuff Yoursquore just being hearty and efficient about this true to the culture of this great state in which yoursquove chosen to winter You are no pansy Sand your hands 2) Wash 3) Blot dry 4) Dial up the gifted balm whisper a word of thanks to the person who put so much thought into your well-being that they stuffed your holiday stocking with this amazing gift of self-care smash a healthy amount down into your palms massage Take heart You just might find yourself with normal-textured non-cracked not-horrible-looking hands by morning

Split-open cuticles I feel you Except for these Band-Aids I feel you

Lip balms I have been gifted and these are just from last Christmas ldquolastrdquo as in 2014

Bathrooms Worth Bragging About

HoursTue amp Wed amp Fri | 9 am to 6 pmMon amp Thu | 9 am to 7 pmSaturday | 9 am to 4 pm

219 S Victory Dr | Mankato507 | 345 | 7009ipafhickorytechnetindependentpaintandflooringcom

You Deserve Comfortable Care Every Timebull Sedation - Complete Relaxation with Just a Pillbull Invisalign - Clear Alternative to Bracesbull Botox amp Fillersbull Implants - Placement and Restorationbull Cerec - One Visit Crown Technology

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1400 Lookout Drive North Mankato507-625-CARE(2273) bull mankatodentistcom 06

1865

6124

01

Dr AngelA Schuck

Dr keith FlAck

MM p02 0116indd 42 12182015 30841 PM

MANKATO MAGAZINE  bull January 2016 bull 43

Bathrooms Worth Bragging About

HoursTue amp Wed amp Fri | 9 am to 6 pmMon amp Thu | 9 am to 7 pmSaturday | 9 am to 4 pm

219 S Victory Dr | Mankato507 | 345 | 7009ipafhickorytechnetindependentpaintandflooringcom

You Deserve Comfortable Care Every Timebull Sedation - Complete Relaxation with Just a Pillbull Invisalign - Clear Alternative to Bracesbull Botox amp Fillersbull Implants - Placement and Restorationbull Cerec - One Visit Crown Technology

bull Free Whitening Programbull 3D Imaging with Fewer X-Raysbull Cosmetic Dentistrybull Drill-Free Technologybull Emergency Care

1400 Lookout Drive North Mankato507-625-CARE(2273) bull mankatodentistcom 06

1865

6124

01

Dr AngelA Schuck

Dr keith FlAck

(944) 412-7949 | OrthoEdgeMNcom

Enjoy the season

Mankato St Peter

Be active Be healthyBe able with OrthoEdge

The OrthoEdge joint replacement

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MM p02 0116indd 43 12182015 30842 PM

44 bull January 2016 bull MANKATO MAGAZINE

1 Hicktown Mafia800 pm mdash New Ulm Event Center mdash 301 20th St S mdash New Ulm mdash $10 mdash 507-354-4673

7-9 Mankato West Orchesis Dance Team showcase7 pm Thursday-Saturday 2 pm Saturday mdash Mankato West High School Auditorium mdash $7 adults $5 students mdash 507-381-7578

10 Mankato Symphony Orchestra Music on the Hill II ldquoMinnesota rootsrdquo2 pm mdash Chapel at Good Counselmdash Good Counsel Drive mdash Mankato mdash $17 $12 mdash wwwmankatosymphonycom

16 Handel with Caremdash Handel Goes to Italy11 ammdash YMCA Aerobics Studio mdash 1401 S Riverfront Drive mdash Mankato mdash wwwmankatosymphonycom

16 Mankato Craft beer Expo2 pm (VIP) 3 pm general mdash Verizon Wireless Center mdash $45 VIP $35 general $10 designated driver mdash wwwmankatocraftbeerexpocom

23 Joey Flip and Mike Fugazzi rockinrsquo at the Embassy9 pm mdash Blaschkorsquos Embassy Bar and Grill mdash 325 S Minnesota Ave mdash St Peter mdash 507-934-3903

24 andrea Lyn and Dick Kimmel concert730 pm mdash Elias J Halling Recital Hall mdash Minnesota State University mdash Mankato mdash $12 regular $11 current MSU students mdash wwwmnusedumusic

28-31 MSu Theatre antigone730 pm Thursday-Saturday 2 pm Sunday mdash Andreas Theatre mdash Minnesota State University mdash Mankato mdash $16 regular $14 discount $11 current MSU students mdash wwwmnsuedu

29-31 BLC Theatre Brigadoon730 Friday and Saturday 2 pm Sunday mdash Ylvisaker Fine Arts Center mdash Bethany Lutheran College mdash Mankato mdash $10 adults $6 seniors children and students mdash wwwblceduevents

29- Feb 7 Winterfest St Peter Citywide mdash wwwstpeterchamberorg

30 Church of Cash a Tribute to Johnny Cash7 pm mdash St Peter American Legion mdash 229 W Nassau St mdash St Peter mdash 507-934-6435

31 Maud Hixson and rick Carlson concert730 pmmdash Elias J Halling Recital Hall mdash Minnesota State University mdash Mankato mdash $12 regular $11 current MSU students wwmnsuedumusic

Coming attraCtions January

T - F 8am - 6pm Sun ClosedSat 9am - 4pmM 8am - 8pm

120 North Broad Street Mankato MN 507-345-4688 wwwmeyerandsonstvandappliancecom

FIND SPECIAL DEALS ON

MM p02 0116indd 44 12182015 30902 PM

MANKATO MAGAZINE  bull January 2016 bull 45

St Peter Craft amp Vendor Show

1MelinadaBussefromRapidansoldherhandmadejewelryatthecraftandvendorshow

2DarylfromElysianandhishand-carvedwoodart

3MacKennaage7hasfunatoneoftheboothsattheStPeterCraftandVendorShow

4LizEntershowsoffsomeofherproductsattheldquoItWorksrdquobooth

5DenisePetersofldquoYoungLivingrdquoessentialoilsdisplayedherproductsattheshow

Faces amp Places Photos By Sport Pix

3

5

2

1

4

T - F 8am - 6pm Sun ClosedSat 9am - 4pmM 8am - 8pm

120 North Broad Street Mankato MN 507-345-4688 wwwmeyerandsonstvandappliancecom

FIND SPECIAL DEALS ON

MM p02 0116indd 45 12222015 121536 PM

46 bull January 2016 bull MANKATO MAGAZINE

SOUTHErN MN CHrISTMAS

FESTIVAL1 A large crowd was on hand during the festivities at

the Christmas Festival2 Friesenrsquos Family Bakery amp Bistro had tons of baked

goods and soups at the Verizon Wireless Center3 A childrenrsquos choir sang for the audience at the

festival4 Ron Haefner owner of Ronrsquos Auto Repair displayed

some of his services5 Garrison Galatz dressed up as Santa for the

Christmas Festival

faCes amp PLaCes Photos By Sport Pix

4

3

1

2

5

MM p02 0116indd 46 12182015 30923 PM

MANKATO MAGAZINE  bull January 2016 bull 47

1GirlScouttroop34494waspresentedwithatrophybyKiwanisVicePresidentKyleMrozek

2SantaClausevenwentthroughtheparaderoute3(LtoR)BrooklynPomrankeAlaynaLyonsHunterPomrankeandLilyLyonsgetagroupphototakenwithSanta

4MarshaMartigtellsSantawhatshewantsforChristmas

5TheparadefloatswerealldeckedoutinChristmaslights

6Visitorswalkthepatharoundtheparktoviewthisyearrsquoslights

Kiwanis Holiday ligHtsFaces amp Places Photos By sport Pix

2

1

3

4 5

6

MM p02 0116indd 47 12222015 121616 PM

48 bull January 2016 bull MANKATO MAGAZINE

On the Occasion of a 50th Reunion

the Class of 1965

from this VaLLeYBy Pete Steiner

Peter Steiner is host of ldquoTalk of the Townrdquo weekdays at 105 pm on KTOE

I was honored to give the presentation for our 50th class reunion recently at West Highrsquos Homecoming celebration About 120 of our nearly 400-member class

showed up We Baby Boomers the children of the greatest generation had big classes in the late lsquo60rsquos that forced the building of East High Ours was a dramatic era and our class did some great things in the face of big challenges Here edited is some of what I said

I am so glad to be standing here today Therersquos an old saying

ldquoMay you live in INTErESTINg timeshelliprdquo The Class of rsquo65 certainly has Itrsquos seems like only yesterday right after lunch that we were at our desks waiting for the start of English class when our charismatic teacher Harry Fitterer strode in and said ldquoPrESIDENT KENNEDY HAS BEEN SHOT IN DALLASrdquo At first we didnrsquot believe him but it was true It was November 22 1963 We were juniors and as the song says that was THE END OF THE INNOCENCE We had lived through the last idyllic time in America

When we first arrived in the fall of 1962 America was still carefree basking in the glow of victory in WW II Everything may have seemed ldquorightrdquo but it was not Martin Luther King Jr had just visited Mankato pointing out the continuing plight of black Americans as the Civil rights movement was gaining steam The beginnings of the Vietnam War which would alter the course of many of our lives were stirring even as we studied history and government The current generation has no monopoly on forgettable pop music ndash we had a stupid 1 song called ldquoItsie Bitsie Teenie Weenie Yellow Polka Dot Bikinirdquo (unfortunately an ear worm I canrsquot forget) But a darker cultural threat was looming The BEATLES were invading from Britain and our parents were mortified because they had LONg HAIr

Some of the shock of the Kennedy assassination was eased when our wrestling team in the era when the state still had just ONE CLASS won the State Championship in front of a packed hall up at MSU some still maintain that is the greatest single athletic achievement in Mankato history We were the first high school in Mankato to put on a full-scale musical ldquoBye Bye Birdierdquo in the spring of 1964 In Fall of 1964 our football team would have won the conference championship outright except Owatonnarsquos great Noel Jenke who would go on to star for the U of M

cheated I watched him trap the touchdown pass that beat us Does cheating pay Was that a lesson for life

In lsquo65 we also had a fine basketball team that lost our chance at State when our 6-6 center fouled out at Luverne

BUT A FAr BIggEr CHALLENgE AWAITED US ALL As we rode out to Luverne to watch that game we couldnrsquot help noticing the highway was like a canyon between walls of snow The legendary St Patrickrsquos Day Blizzard had dumped two feet on top of an already large snow pack and then April brought rains on frozen ground Instead of coming here to school many of us soon got a real-life assignment to go out in our rain gear out on the dikes to battle the grEAT FLOOD OF 1965 Our school became an island as water flooded the parking lot and all of South riverfront Our spring play that year was called ironically

THE DESPErATE HOUrS We had to rehearse at roosevelt School up on higher ground

Our class produced three Merit scholars One of our classmates who did NOT qualify

for a merit scholarship nevertheless was such a whiz at physics that NASA requested a copy of a paper he wrote on rocketry as a senior We produced 12 doctors one of whom earned a fellowship at Stanford seeking how to bring telemedicine to the poor another of whom became a breakthrough cancer doctor We had entrepreneurs one who would go on to be a leader in Solar Energy (and then run for governor of New Hampshire) Another mdash a woman incidentally when

that was not common founded two bio-tech startups Many of us are still working

past normal retirement age One founded a company on the leading edge of recycling

computers whose clients include the NSA Another is chief medical officer of a company

devising a better tool for colonoscopies Yet another of our classmates recently completed a concert tour of China

We lived in challenging times just as you do today but we muddle through we make it to the other shore I remember sitting where you are 50 years ago thinking how old those folks up there looked But remember Life goes by very quickly You certainly live in interesting times as Shakespeare said ldquoPresent Mirth has Present Laughter Youthrsquos a stuff will NOT endurerdquo So I urge you live each moment to the fullest

MM p02 0116indd 48 12182015 30933 PM

MM p02 0116indd 49 12182015 30936 PM

MM p02 0116indd 50 12182015 30948 PM

Page 16: Mankatomag 116

January The holidays are over along with all of the seasonrsquos excuses for overindulge in food and drink and under-indulging in any form of exercise (other than lifting onersquos hand to onersquos mouth) After stowing the presents in the

closet and taking down the tree many people choose the New Year as the perfect time to begin a serious diet and exercise program to shed the extra pounds they put on over the past few months and to begin eating more healthfully Mankato Clinic registered dietitian Erin Gonzalez says a hearty ldquoyesrdquo to healthy mindful eating and definite ldquonordquo to any extreme ldquodo or die(t)rdquo approach

According to Gonzalez 95 percent of all dieters regain the weight they lost within five years It is her belief that such yo-yo dieting only creates more frustration and stress which can lead to emotional eating and binge eating which leads to another cycle of dieting-losing-weight-gaining-weight ad infinitum

Gonzalez speaks from experience After losing 70 pounds since the time she was a teenager Gonzalez is now at a weight she considers healthy and one that she hasnrsquot deviated from in years

By Nell Musolf | Photos by Pat Christman and Darren Gibbins

Herersquos to ahealthy

new yeara healthy

new you

14 bull January 2016 bull MANKATO MAGAZINE

MM p01 0116indd 14 12182015 24450 PM

MANKATO MAGAZINE  bull January 2016 bull 15

Erin Gonzalez and her son prepare a healthful meal

Erin GonzalezldquoI struggled with weight issues when I was growing

uprdquo Gonzalez said ldquoWhen I was 16 I went on my first lsquoseriousrsquo dietmdashone of the fast diets that were popular in the 1990srdquo

Gonzalez said that she stuck to her diet religiously having a shake in the morning one for lunch and a sensible meal at night just as she was instructed to do She also walked for approximately two and a half hours a day Over the course of one summer she lost 70 pounds but she was also she now realizes flirting with an eating disorder Gonzalez says this scenario is not uncommon considering research shows 35 percent of ldquooccasional dietersrdquo progress into pathological dieting (disordered eating) and as many as 25 percent advance to full-blown eating disorders

ldquoMy food intake was very restrictive and I was always extremely conscience of what I ate but just the same I slowly gained back 30 of the 70 pounds

that I lostrdquo Gonzalez said ldquoI was always looking at food as either lsquogoodrsquo or lsquobadrsquo instead of something pleasurable to be enjoyedrdquo

It wasnrsquot until she was working at her dietetic internship that she had her ldquoahardquo moment

ldquoI was blessed with a teacher who taught her students how to enjoy foodrdquo Gonzalez said ldquoinstead of being obsessed by it Gonzalez learned about a program called Am I Hungry that specializes in helping people heal their relationship with food and their bodies so they can relearn to trust their internal hunger cues instead of having to follow arbitrary rules and broken promises of diets Gonzalez facilitates a program at the Mankato Clinic that teaches the Am I Hungry philosophy

ldquoI have two childrenrdquo Gonzalez said ldquoa 10-month-old and a 4-year-old They know how to eat naturally and they stop eating when they are no longer hungry That is what most adults need

MM p01 0116indd 15 12222015 120138 PM

16 bull January 2016 bull MANKATO MAGAZINE

xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

need to relearn how to eatrdquoThe method has worked for Gonzalez Gone are

her extra 30 pounds and she no longer dietsldquoDiets simply arenrsquot sustainablerdquo she said ldquoItrsquos so

hard in our society because we are surrounded by cues to eat all of the time At buffets where you want to lsquoget your moneyrsquos worthrsquo when yoursquore out with friends when you sit down at the end of the day and turn on the television to relax and are bombarded with ads for food Food has become a reward for a bad day or a good day or anything else we can think of But if you look at how you eat as a journey instead of as a destination you can learn to enjoy food a lot morerdquo

So what should someone who wants to start the New Year in a more healthy fashion do

ldquoPause before you eatrdquo Gonzalez recommended ldquoAsk yourself if yoursquore really hungry or if yoursquore actually thirsty or stressed instead Try not to be emotionally disconnected from what you are eatingrdquo

Gonzalez emphasized that ldquomindful eating isnrsquot naive to say nutrition isnrsquot important Of course it is Mindful eating is what allows us to take charge of our decisions of why when what how and how much we choose to eat instead of battling being in or out of controlrdquo

Instead of following the latest short-lived diet Gonzalez encourages people to make the healthiest choices possible that donrsquot leave them feeling deprived

Paulette Tonn BookerFor Paulette Tonn Booker the Am I Hungry

Mindful Eating (AIHME) program has been a game changer

Said Booker ldquoIrsquove tried several diet plans over the past 40 years including some well-known plans and I lost weight on each plan However keeping the weight off eluded me and resulted in yo-yo dieting

The lsquorulesrsquo of whichever plan Booker was on became the norm and after years of trying to live by those rules Booker was no longer able to discern what her body was telling her about hunger often leading to out-of-control overeating

ldquoI always knew there was something else going on yet no one had an answer for merdquo Booker said

When Booker first heard of the AIHME program two years ago she was relieved to discover that there were other people who felt the same way when it came to healthful eating The program taught her the skills she needed to recognize her bodyrsquos hunger signals thoughts and feelings and actions to help manage the physical emotional and environmental stresses of everyday life without resorting to eating to cope with those stresses

ldquoI no longer have to be in control of everything I only need to be in charge of my decisions at any given moment When I choose to overeat (which everyone does) I no longer beat myself up I try to reflect on what happened and then plan for ways to handle the situation differently the next time it occurs Old habits are hard to break it takes concentrated effort and dedication to rewire the brain with new habits and it can be donerdquo Booker said

About weight loss as the end goal of healthful eating Booker shared the following ldquoThe only time I get on a scale is at the doctorrsquos office I know what the experts say I should weigh A number does not define a personrsquos self-worth nor does it say anything about who we are and how we feel as we make changes in how we nurture our bodies The number on the scale is just a number bodies come in all shapes and sizes as does health I will never diet again Instead I will continue to work on developing mindful skills and in the meantime eating what I love and loving what I eatrdquo

MM p01 0116indd 16 12182015 24501 PM

MANKATO MAGAZINE  bull January 2016 bull 17

Eric ZiesmerFor Eric Ziesmer he is in the middle of his weight

loss journey a journey that began last July when the 32-year-old learned that he weighed 330 pounds The time had come for Ziesmer to make some healthy lifestyle changes Ziesmer decided to lose weight because of his family mdash both present and future

ldquoI have two adorable nephews and I would love to be able to chase them around the yard or pull them in a sled during the winter and basically to be active and see them as they growrdquo Ziesmer said ldquoAnd even though Irsquom currently single if it is in my cards for marriage and kids I would like to be there and not be too tired or not in shape A clean and healthy lifestyle is what I am striving for in my coming yearsrdquo

With the help of a dietician Ziesmer has started his cleaner and healthier lifestyle Since July he has lost 40 pounds and has decided to have weight loss surgery To help his post operation phase go as smoothly as possible Ziesmer eats fresh fruit every day has cut out chips and cookies among other things

ldquoI have totally cut out soda Soda was a big one to cut out In my huge climb to 300 there were days when I would consume two 2-liter bottles of pop in a single day and maybe cracking open a thirdrdquo Ziesmer said ldquoI try to listen to my stomach instead of my eyes or eat because Irsquom bored or stressed I eat slow and sip instead of being the guzzler I have always beenrdquo

Another tactic Ziesmer has adopted has been to stop drinking liquids 30 minutes before a meal and then wait 30 minutes after eating before sipping again

ldquoWhen my stomach rumbles and says itrsquos hungry I feed it When my brain or boredom drives me to want to eat I take a second to see if my stomach feels empty and if not it gets deniedrdquo Ziesmer said

Ziesmer has noticed that he is more successful at healthy eating when he eats at home When he does dine out hersquoll cut a sandwich in half eat half and save other half for a future meal

ldquoAs far as exercise goes it went from zero to at least two if not three times a week going for a 327 mile walk and have recently made my way back into the gymrdquo Ziesmer said He has been able to keep track of his walks with accuracy thanks to an app called MapMyRun

Ziesmer knows that his healthier living journey will continue for a long time

ldquoI plan on continuing to live healthy by continuing my exercise and eating right and by saying that itrsquos not only for me and feeling better but also because there are two little guys that look up to their uncle Staying motivated is at least my key to keeping up this lifestyle I want to live a long and healthier life feeling better and being there down the road for family and friends is what means mostrdquo Ziesmer said MM

Eric Ziesmer says hersquos got plenty of motivation to get healthy two nephews to whom he wants to be a good role model

MM p01 0116indd 17 12222015 120514 PM

18 bull January 2016 bull MANKATO MAGAZINE

Stephanie Howe says itrsquos best to have realistic goals when starting a fitness program

Herersquos your guideBy Robb Murray | Photos by Pat Christman

Ready for CHANGE

MM p01 0116indd 18 12182015 24506 PM

MANKATO MAGAZINE  bull January 2016 bull 19

Yoursquore ready

You ate the ham and turkey and potatoes and Christmas cookies You drank the wine beer and eggnog Yoursquove spent the last few

months pondering a life change Yoursquore on the verge of a major transformation This time itrsquos happening Yoursquore going to get healthy Itrsquos going to be a new you

And then January arrived And you have no plan

Luckily we here at Mankato Magazine have got you covered Itrsquos not uncommon for people to make a New Yearrsquos resolution or some similar vow this time of year It usually comes with goal weights and promises to hit the gym X number of times per week and trips to the produce and organic sections of the grocery store because this time yoursquore serious Right

OK easy tiger Getting healthy is a great idea and wersquore wishing you all the best But wersquore also coming at you with some sensible advice Maybe setting unrealistic goals isnrsquot the best way to go Maybe just

heading into the gym and trying to get it all done in a week isnrsquot a great way to go either

ldquoFinerdquo you say ldquothen what should I dordquoWersquore so glad you asked

Letrsquos get startedThe first thing you need to remember when

starting an exercise program is that if you want to lose weight you need to change the way you eat too

ldquoNo matter what you say you canrsquot out exercise a bad dietrdquo says Stephanie Howe director of healthy living at the Mankato YMCA

Howe works in what might be the busiest fitness hub in the Mankato area So shersquos seen her share of people come through the doors with plans to change their lives Some of them succeed Most do not

One of the biggest mistakes people make Howe says is not really having a good grasp on how much time theyrsquoll need in order to incorporate a good workout into their day It doesnrsquot have to be a two-

hour commitment every day she says It can be 30 minutes of planned effective exercise several times per week Whatrsquos more important is just getting there and thatrsquos an obstacle that is bigger than most people realize

ldquoMost people want to lsquopeople pleasersquordquo she said ldquoYou can say yoursquore going to get up and work out every day but most people are built to need external accountabilityrdquo

Think about hiring a personal trainer

ldquoWhen you spend the money on a personal trainer you have an appointment therersquos someone waiting thererdquo she says

A personal trainer is a great way to immediately know yoursquore doing exactly what yoursquore supposed to be doing and yoursquoll have no doubt whether yoursquore working hard enough There are plenty of personal trainers in town mdash at the YMCA and other gyms mdash who would love to help you Of course they donrsquot work for free and for many people the cost of a personal trainer is more than theyrsquore willing to spend

Fortunately therersquos a trend in fitness to offer the whip-crack of a personal trainer while staying Jo radlinger urges her clients to not sabotage their fitness efforts with poor eating over

the weekend

MM p01 0116indd 19 12182015 24510 PM

20 bull January 2016 bull MANKATO MAGAZINE

728 N Riverfront DriveMankato MN 56001

507-625-5163katobearscom

Pins and NeedlesAlterations

Specializing in alterations for theentire wedding party including

gown re-sizing hemming re-beadingbustles and so much more

Like us onFacebook

affordableThe Y now offers something called ldquotrainer ledrdquo

exercise sessions where you work with others in a group but have access to a trainer nearby who can push you motivate you and make sure yoursquore you know doing it right Theyrsquore $3 a class

ldquoYoursquore still expected to be there but itrsquos much cheaperrdquo Howe said ldquoThe group environment pushes you and we have tons of trainer-led classes Itrsquos the best of both worldsrdquo

Across town Jo Radlinger runs Jorsquos Garage a fitness center where shersquos the one pushing you to succeed

Radlingerrsquos goal she says is to bring out everyonersquos potential

ldquoI want to make sure everybody that comes through my door has success I want them to be the very best version of themselves that they can berdquo

Like Howe Radlinger acknowledges that the financial side of hiring a personal trainer can scare people away but she says there are several reasons why it shouldnrsquot

ldquoItrsquos never a bad investment when yoursquore investing in yourselfrdquo she said ldquoMeet with a trainer who is just as passionate about your goal My goal is not to train you intensely but to show you what yoursquore capable of and then take you to that next levelrdquo

At Jorsquos Fitness Garage there are no membership fees Radlinger doesnrsquot believe in them Instead she charges $5 per visit and in that time she said she pushes you to have a great workout

GymtimidationSetting goals is a great

idea Setting unrealistic goals is the kind of thing that results in a gym membership card laying dormant in a junk drawer by February

So set those goals but set them smartlyldquoAccountability is huge Even if you canrsquot hire

someonerdquo Howe says ldquoMake specific goals mdash say yoursquore going to workout X number of times but make those numbers realistic Set goals that are within your controlrdquo

Do this and yoursquore likely to feel a lot better about how things go

ldquoMost people just want to feel better about themselves they want to feel more confidentrdquo Howe said ldquoThis way even before any physical changes happen theyrsquoll feel better Theyrsquoll start to feel like theyrsquore in control again of their life and their choicesrdquo

Taking an exercise class is a great way to both get

your body moving while at the same time have fun and meet those people who will notice when you donrsquot show up

And about that weight room Yes it can be intimidating to walk in and see people who look like they live there But Howe says that while it can definitely be a psychological barrier focusing on those people is the wrong strategy

ldquoNo one cares what yoursquore doingrdquo Howe says ldquoFocus on yourdquo

Take it slowIt can be tempting when you finally get up the

nerve to get back in the swing of working out to go hardcore But just like setting unrealistic goals trying to achieve your fitness goals in a day is impossible

ldquoPeople start out really gung-ho and reset their diet so aggressively and most people just simply canrsquot do thisrdquo Radlinger said ldquoWhen yoursquore looking at making a lifestyle change I want you to do it slowly and incrementally rather than do it all in two monthsrdquo

Rushing into the weight room and trying to lift the same weight and number of reps and sets that you did 10 years ago is a great way to make sure you canrsquot work out for a while Going from a sedentary lifestyle to two hours of pumping iron can leave you sore enough to not be able to lift anything for days Maybe even weeks

Ease into it The gymrsquos not going anywhere Think marathon not sprint

ldquoSometimes people have an all-or-nothing attituderdquo Howe said ldquoand they make themselves sore and they canrsquot continuerdquo

Speaking of all-or-nothing Radlinger says

some people bring that kind of intensity to their food intake over the weekend Bad idea

ldquoAs trainers we help people be accountable We do success measurements help them prepare and plan And wersquoll do weigh-ins on Mondayrdquo Radlinger says ldquoWersquoll find that people do really well Monday through Friday then do what I call sabotage Saturday and Sunday At some point yoursquore going to get so sick of hitting that reset button every Mondayrdquo

Whatever you choose to do both trainers say itrsquos never a bad idea to sit down with your doctor and run your plans by himher Your personal safety should always come first and getting the green light from Doc can give you some peace of mind as you start this new chapter of your life MM

Jo radlinger runs Jorsquos Fitness Garage

MM p01 0116indd 20 12222015 120709 PM

MANKATO MAGAZINE  bull January 2016 bull 21

728 N Riverfront DriveMankato MN 56001

507-625-5163katobearscom

Pins and NeedlesAlterations

Specializing in alterations for theentire wedding party including

gown re-sizing hemming re-beadingbustles and so much more

Like us onFacebook

Live the Lifestyle

wwwmapletonmarinecom

Southern MNrsquos largestboat show on now at the

Madison East Center in Mankato

MM p01 0116indd 21 12182015 24524 PM

22 bull January 2016 bull MANKATO MAGAZINE

Thirty-three years ago I stood inside a grave A lifetime ago when I was a pastorrsquos wife

In Nebraska we served a parish of barely over one hundred members A picture-postcard white church with a hand-carved white wooden altar from Germany sat at the top of a hill next to it the parsonage and next to that the cemetery rolling down the hill toward a wooded creek

The first death in the congregation after our arrival set off a flurry of activity Irsquod never met Alma because she was in a nursing home before we arrived However my husband visited her on several occasions She was mother aunt grandmother great-aunt and great-grandmother to half the congregation so there was no question about whether or not I would attend the funeral

With my two little kids in tow I attended every event at the church every Sunday morning service of course but also every funeral every confirmation every baptism every meeting of womenrsquos circle and even every family reunion that was held in the church basement At twenty-six I perfected the art of making gracious small talk with people Irsquod never seen before and would never see again and at taking tiny portions from each confirmation buffet so I would neither be sick by the end of the day nor offend any of the mothers who had slaved away over their sumptuous spreads of food

By Rebecca Fjelland Davis

Grave Lesson in Winter

ESSay

MM p01 0116indd 22 12182015 24527 PM

MANKATO MAGAZINE  bull January 2016 bull 23

Attending the little white country church was physically easy I picked up one-year-old Josh took three-year-old Nikkirsquos hand and walked out the front door down the sidewalk and next door The only things I didnrsquot have to attend were church council and the menrsquos meeting Archaic This was in the 1980s It doesnrsquot seem so long ago

All the available babysitters in the community would attend Almarsquos funeral too so this was to be my kidsrsquo first funeral

The afternoon before the service salt-snow fell Hard little crystals pelted down as if the heavens had up-ended a Mortonrsquos salt canister Within a few hours the hard snow was six inches deep and still falling

In the middle of the salt-snow the gravedigger arrived The Ditchwitch roared around the cemetery to the familyrsquos plot and my kidsrsquo noses pressed against the upstairs bedroom window pane ldquoMommy can we go watchrdquo

Glad for an excuse to get out of the parsonage I bundled them in snowsuits put them on the sled and pulled them across the house yard and garden to the fence that bordered the cemetery

The Ditchwitch made short work of the grave and all three of us were mesmerized watching the mound of gray-black dirt grow in the crystal-white snow When the hole was finished the gravedigger turned his tractor on idle He hopped off and came over to the fence His eyes twinkled in a weathered face ldquoWant to come lookrdquo

I backed up from the fence a step ldquoNo not really I think this is close enoughrdquo

ldquoYes Mommy go lookrdquo ldquoPleeeeaserdquoSo Nikki and Josh got back on the sled and I

hauled them along the fence through the gate over to the grave and looked down Six feet seemed deep bottomless Dark A sharp contrast to the pelting snowflakes all around us

ldquoWanna get down in thererdquo the gravedigger asked I shuddered hung onto the kids and backed up

again ldquoNo No thatrsquos okay This is close enough I just want to look from hererdquo

ldquoYes mommyrdquo the little ones said ldquoLetrsquosrdquoldquoNordquoldquoPleaserdquoldquoReally marsquoam I think you should Yoursquoll be

surprised I wouldnrsquot suggest it if it I didnrsquot think sordquoldquoHow would we get outrdquo The sides were deeper

than I was tall and there certainly werenrsquot footholds or a ladder built in for Almarsquos soul to use to climb out

ldquoLike thisrdquo The gravedigger laid his shovel diagonally across a top corner of the grave and jumped down He grabbed the middle of the shovel handle and swung himself back up and out with the agility of a gymnast ldquoNothinrsquo to itrdquo

ldquoI canrsquot do thatrdquoldquoYes you can Irsquoll boost you And wersquoll lift the kids

Yoursquoll be amazed I promiserdquoI shivered The idea of being inside a grave

seemed much colder than the snow crystals biting at my face

ldquoCome onrdquo he said and jumped back in Nikki and Josh willingly stepped over to him to be lifted down I had no choice but to follow I couldnrsquot let my kids alone in a grave with a man I didnrsquot even know

So I jumped The earth on the bottom made a soft landing The soil around me was warm and steamy It was moist and dark but it enfolded us in an earthy hug At least fifty degrees warmer than the air above ground it felt as if the earth were offering shelter respite a comfortable place to snuggle down and rest Tiny roots dangled full of life from the smooth edges of the hole Tears sprang to my eyes I couldnrsquot help them My eyes met the gravediggerrsquos and he smiled Gently ldquoSeerdquo he said Nothing more

I couldnrsquot speak A few minutes later he gave me a stirrup with his

hands I scrambled out and he lifted Nikki and Josh up to me Then he flipped himself out as easily as a trapeze artist

ldquoThank yourdquo I said ldquoI would never have guessedrdquoHe nodded ldquoNobody does But it helps somehow

I wanted you to feel thatrdquoWhy I wanted to ask why me You donrsquot even

know me Why were you willing to take time for usldquoThank yourdquo was all I said I shook his hand and

he hopped on the Ditchwitch and drove off into the snow

I never saw him again Someone else dug the next grave required in that cemetery

I remember only bits and pieces of the funeral Irsquom sure I baked a boxed cake mix for ldquolunchrdquo afterwards I remember answering Nikkirsquos questions about the body and sitting in the back row of the church in case Josh didnrsquot want to be quiet I do remember looking at the unfamiliar face in the casket and thinking you get to rest in a warm cozy place

Ten winters later we buried my dad on just such a day Wet snow crystals pelted us and piled up so deep the funeral home limousine got stuck in the cemetery By the time the pallbearers pushed it un-stuck their suit pants were caked in slush and mud

We stood at the graveside in the bleak wet icy day and lowered my fatherrsquos body into the ground

ldquoToo bad itrsquos such a miserable dayrdquo ldquoSorry about your dad Sorry the weatherrsquos so bad toordquo And even ldquoSuch a good man He deserves better weather than thisrdquo

But the weather I thought was just right Losing my dad my kids and their cousins losing

their grandpa my mom becoming a widow my brother losing his farming partner and best friend changed our livesmdashthat part was too heavy to carry

The only part that was okay for me was to let Dadrsquos worn-out body be wrapped in that welcoming warm enfolding soilmdashthe very soil hersquod loved to till the soil hersquod planted and tended all his life the soil that gave us all lifemdashthat was the only gratifying part of the day

The only comfort I had was letting Dad go from the cold wet biting snow into that warm and restful place

And I still wonder who that gravedigger was ten years earlier and how he knew how much I would need what he gave me that bleak winter day MM

Rebecca Fjelland Davis is an author from Mankato

MM p01 0116indd 23 12182015 24528 PM

reFlecTionsBy Pat Christman

24 bull January 2016 bull MANKATO MAGAZINE

MM p01 0116indd 24 12182015 24544 PM

reFlecTionsBy Pat Christman

MANKATO MAGAZINE  bull January 2016 bull 25

There are few things as inevitable as snow during a Minnesota winter Big

cotton ball-like snowflakes cover the ground in a white blanket whitewashing the Midwestern landscape

We struggle against it Some hope the snow never comes It always does filling the sky with floating snowflakes that cling to the ground but melt as soon as they hit the small bits of face or hands that peek out from winter clothing

It is often quite beautiful especially when viewed from someplace warm and dry MM

MM p01 0116indd 25 12182015 24548 PM

26 bull January 2016 bull MANKATO MAGAZINE

Then amp now Vice President Schuyler Colfaxrsquos Death By Bryce o sTenzel

On Jan 14 1885 one day after his death the New York Times carried a

headline that read ldquoSchuyler Colfax Dead He Drops Down in a Railway Stationrdquo While most Americans today would have tremendous difficulty in even recognizing this manrsquos name

(unless they were paying close attention to Stephen Spielbergrsquos epic movie Lincoln and made the association) Schuyler Colfax was a former Speaker of the House of Representatives and Vice President of the United States under President US Grant He died in Mankatorsquos Chicago St

Paul Minneapolis amp Omaha railroad depot from a massive heart attack

Schuyler Colfax Jr was born in New York City on March 23 1823 His father died of tuberculosis five months before Schuyler was born His sister Mary died four months after his [Schuylerrsquos]

vice President Schuyler Colfaxrsquos Death in Mankato

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MANKATO MAGAZINE  bull January 2016 bull 27

birth The young Schuyler attended school only until he was 10 He then began working to support his family Schuyler Colfax never attended any kind of secondary school or college His mother remarried when Colfax was 13 and the family moved to New Carlisle Indiana By the time he was 22 Colfax was the editor and owner of a pro-Whig newspaper He was elected to Congress in 1854 and joined the newly formed Republican Party after the Whig Party disintegrated Solidly anti-slavery his colleagues elected Colfax as Speaker of the US House of Representatives in 1863 His election came soon after the death of his wife Evelyn The couple had no children

Colfax was President Abraham Lincolnrsquos first and last visitor on the fateful day Lincoln was assassinatedmdashApril 14 1865 Early that morning Colfax arrived at the White House while the president was having breakfast Colfax wanted to know whether or not Lincoln planned to call a special session of Congress for later that summer Lincolnrsquos answer was a polite but firm ldquonordquo Lincoln preferred a lenient approach in reconstructing as well as readmitting the former Confederate states to the Union now that the Civil War was over This approach put Lincoln at odds with the more ldquoradicalrdquo congressional members of his own party who preferred harsher measures be taken against their former enemies Lincoln had already made up his mind how he wanted to proceed with reconstructing the former Confederate states and he didnrsquot want any unnecessary interference from Congress Calling a special session was the last thing Lincoln wanted to do Colfax returned that same night to see Lincoln again just before the president left for Fordrsquos Theatre and his appointment with destiny This time Colfax came upon Lincolnrsquos own request The president had a long message for the silver miners of the Comstock Lode in Nevada thanking them for their loyalty to the Union that he wanted Speaker Colfax to deliver in person since Colfax was leaving by train for the West the next day Colfax was the last person Lincoln spoke to besides his wife Mary before he

was fatally shot at 1015 pm Colfax never forgave himself for turning down Lincolnrsquos invitation to be part of the theatre party that night

In 1868 Republicans selected General Ulysses S Grant as their presidential candidate Grant a military man his entire life had no political background Colfax was placed on the ticket because of his prior experience as a congressman and Speaker of the House (he resigned the position in 1869) Grant and Colfax won an easy victory in November 1868 Only two weeks later Colfax remarriedmdashthis time to Ellen Wade (niece of Ohio Senator Benjamin Wade) Their only child son Schuyler Colfax III was born in 1870

Colfax is best remembered (if at all) for his involvement in the corruption that beset Grantrsquos entire presidency Specifically the Credit Mobilier scandal broke in 1872 just as Grant and Colfax were gearing up for their re-election campaign Colfax was suspected of accepting shares of stock and cash bribes from ldquoCredit Mobilierrdquo a dummy construction company set up by the Union Pacific Railroad He was by no means the only influential person involved in the scandal Other political figures investigated included Senators Roscoe Conkling of New York William Allison of Iowa John Logan of Illinois James Bayard of Delaware and Henry Wilson of Massachusetts Grant was less popular in 1872 than he had been four years earlier and many Republicans worried that having Colfax on the partyrsquos ticket would harm the presidentrsquos re-election chances They dumped Colfax from the ticket mdash only to replace him with the also-tainted Wilson Grant won re-election and served his second and final term from 1873-1877 After being forced out from the vice presidency Colfax traveled the country as a popular lecturer often speaking about his interactions with Abraham Lincoln during the Civil War He rebuilt his tarnished reputation and commanded speaking fees as high as $2500

At 10 am on Jan 13 1885 Schuyler Colfax arrived in Mankato aboard a train from Milwaukee Mankato was just a

brief stop for Colfax who was on his way to Iowa for a speaking engagement The Chicago Milwaukee amp St Paul as well as the Chicago St Paul Minneapolis amp Omaha railroads both had depots in Mankato but because they were separate competing railroad lines Colfax was required to change trains by walking three-quarters of a mile from the Chicago Milwaukee amp St Paul depot at the foot of Hickory Street to the Chicago St Paul Minneapolis amp Omaha depot at Fourth and Washington Streets (now Washington Park) from which the next leg of his journey would depart Despite a reported temperature of 30 degrees below zero Colfax walked from one station to the other Within five minutes after he arrived at the Omaha linersquos depot Colfax entered the waiting room looked at a map on the wall sat down and died It was 1035 am No one in the station knew who the dead man actually was until they searched his pockets and found a letter with his name on it His death was likely caused by a heart attack brought on by the physical exertion of walking almost a mile in extreme cold Colfax was only 61 when he died His remains were returned to South Bend Indiana for burial

Today few Americans are aware that anyone named Schuyler Colfax ever lived much less served as vice president of the United States In this era in which officeholders are often treated as celebrities imagine how surprised people would be to learn that a former vice president died cold alone and unrecognized in a train station 131 years ago Before 24-hour news channels smart phones and social media it was possible for public figures like Colfax to live ndash and die ndash in relative obscurity Ironically Colfax loved the railroad but in the end it was the cause of his undoing Mankato has the distinction of being the location where the last man to personally speak to Abraham Lincoln in a private conversation took his last breath

MM p01 0116indd 27 12182015 24549 PM

28 bull January 2016 bull MANKATO MAGAZINE

Mayo Clinic offers pediatric and adolescent orthopedic services right here in Mankato Todd Milbrandt MD cares for patients with a variety of needs including

bull Cerebral palsy

bull Clubfoot

bull Hip disorders

bull Spinal disorders

bull Sports injuries

bull Scoliosis

bull Spina bifida

Mayo Clinic Health System in Mankato Call 1-877-412-7575 (toll-free) to schedule an appointment

495rdquox495rdquo Mankato Magazine January

Orthopedic care for your child

Independent ampAssisted Living

EQUAL HOUSINGOPPORTUNITY

1360 Adams StreetMankato MN

PrimroseRetirementcom

reg

Key City Senior Breakfast ClubThe Key City Senior Breakfast Club meets the first Thursday of each month from 830 AM - 930 AM at Primrose Retirement Community The club gives those 55+ the opportunity to meet new friends and visit old ones socialize with Key City Officials and enjoy a delicious home-cooked breakfast To visit a Key City Senior Breakfast please call (866) 447-9636

Mark your calendar for these breakfast dates Thursday January 7th Thursday March 3rd and Thursday May 5th

刀椀渀最 椀渀 琀栀攀 

一攀眀 夀攀愀爀

㔀 㜀ⴀ㤀㐀ⴀ㐀㐀䨀甀氀攀攀猀䨀攀眀攀氀爀礀挀漀洀

椀渀 匀愀椀渀琀 倀攀琀攀爀

20765 Foley Rd Mankato MN | 5073872434 | 5077262411

Three TimeNational Award Winners

MM p02 0116indd 28 12182015 30742 PM

Mayo Clinic offers pediatric and adolescent orthopedic services right here in Mankato Todd Milbrandt MD cares for patients with a variety of needs including

bull Cerebral palsy

bull Clubfoot

bull Hip disorders

bull Spinal disorders

bull Sports injuries

bull Scoliosis

bull Spina bifida

Mayo Clinic Health System in Mankato Call 1-877-412-7575 (toll-free) to schedule an appointment

495rdquox495rdquo Mankato Magazine January

Orthopedic care for your child

Independent ampAssisted Living

EQUAL HOUSINGOPPORTUNITY

1360 Adams StreetMankato MN

PrimroseRetirementcom

reg

Key City Senior Breakfast ClubThe Key City Senior Breakfast Club meets the first Thursday of each month from 830 AM - 930 AM at Primrose Retirement Community The club gives those 55+ the opportunity to meet new friends and visit old ones socialize with Key City Officials and enjoy a delicious home-cooked breakfast To visit a Key City Senior Breakfast please call (866) 447-9636

Mark your calendar for these breakfast dates Thursday January 7th Thursday March 3rd and Thursday May 5th

OMG hellip More food and drinksOK sure

By now yoursquore probably thinking ldquoOh my gosh the last thing I want to think about right now is more food more drinking and more diningrdquo

Fair enough We get it The holidays are murder on the metabolism of many many Minnesotans

But we also know that those metabolisms are hardy and soon enough theyrsquoll be hankering for a hunk of something yummy and full of fun And whatrsquos more yummy and full of fun than a big glass of Cabernet Sauvignon Our wine guy Leigh Pomeroy takes us on a tour of all that is tasty and wonderful about big red wines the kind that leave their mark the kind that really announce their presence on your palate

And just in case yoursquore super serious about a healthy lifestyle mdash and that seriousness extends to the kind of beer you choose mdash Bert Mattson our beer guy has just the selection for you Best part is Itrsquos light

Oh and under the category of ldquoDid you hear about thisrdquo Wersquove got an update for you on the Coffee Hag Mankatorsquos original coffee house and one of the most popular hangouts in town Seriously some days itrsquos hard to find a seat in that place

EnjoyPS We know that baby itrsquos cold outside mdash thatrsquos why wersquove

thrown you our absolute best hot cocoa recipe

Enjoymdash Robb Murray Associate Editor Mankato Magazine

food drink amp dineso

uthern m

n style

20765 Foley Rd Mankato MN | 5073872434 | 5077262411

Three TimeNational Award Winners

MM p02 0116indd 29 12182015 30745 PM

MANKATO 5073854485 AMBOY 5076743355 I VERNON CENTER 5075493679

INSURANCE OFFICES LOCATED IN THE COMMUNITY BANK BUILDINGS

wwwcimankatocom

Protecting the things that matter most in your life

Let us help protect what is important to you At Community Insurance we have the ability to compare insurance from multiple companies to get you the best coverage at a great price Combine that with our insurance knowledge and friendly group of agents and we say thatrsquos a winning deal

WHERE YOUR POLICY COMES WITH AN AGENT

Christina Meyer

Food

south

ern mn style

Food

south

ern mn style

By The Washington Post

Growing up my mother always encouraged her children to cook So when

I found a recipe for hot chocolate on the side of the Hersheyrsquos Cocoa can it was easy to convince her to let me give it a try

What I discovered was that hot chocolate doesnrsquot have to come from an envelope

This recipe has been a favorite of mine to make on days when winter weather has convinced me stay home and off the roads Itrsquos the perfect way to kill time and have a nice hot drink to warm you up on those chilly days

Although you can top it with whipped cream I prefer marshmallows

FAVORITE HOT COCOAMakes 4 to 6 servings

12 cup sugar14 cup unsweetened cocoa powder

Dash of salt13 cup hot water

4 cups milk34 teaspoon vanilla extract

Whipped cream or marshmallows (optional)

Mix sugar cocoa powder salt and water in a sauce pan Stir constantly over medium heat until mixture comes to a boil (about 2 minutes) Stir in

milk and heat Bring the hot chocolate to the desired temperature but do not boil Remove from heat and

add the vanilla extract Divide into mugs and top with whipped cream or marshmallows

PERFECTLY CHOCOLATE HOT COCOA

Makes 1 serving

2 tablespoons sugar2 tablespoons unsweetened cocoa powder

Dash salt1 cup milk

14 teaspoon vanilla extractWhipped cream or marshmallows (optional)

Mix sugar cocoa powder and salt into large mug In separate microwave-safe container heat on high

for 1 to 1 frac12 minutes or until very hot Carefully and gradually add milk to dry mixture Stir well Add vanilla extract Top with whipped cream or

marshmallows

Simple homemade hot chocolate

beats the winter chill

30 bull January 2016 bull MANKATO MAGAZINE

MM p02 0116indd 30 12182015 30752 PM

MANKATO MAGAZINE  bull January 2016 bull 31

Oil Change to OverhaulWe do it all

507-387-13151620 Commerce Drive North MankatowwwAustinsAutoRepairCentercom

Voted Best Auto Repair and Best Auto Mechanic 4 Years in a Row

AUSTINrsquoS AUTO REPAIR CENTER INC

MANKATO 5073854485 AMBOY 5076743355 I VERNON CENTER 5075493679

INSURANCE OFFICES LOCATED IN THE COMMUNITY BANK BUILDINGS

wwwcimankatocom

Protecting the things that matter most in your life

Let us help protect what is important to you At Community Insurance we have the ability to compare insurance from multiple companies to get you the best coverage at a great price Combine that with our insurance knowledge and friendly group of agents and we say thatrsquos a winning deal

WHERE YOUR POLICY COMES WITH AN AGENT

Christina Meyer

MM p02 0116indd 31 12182015 30755 PM

32 bull January 2016 bull MANKATO MAGAZINE

January is Cabernet TimeWersquove celebrated nearly

every January edition of Mankato Magazine with

a paean to BIG REDS And since there are so many wonderful examples why stop now

Last year I wrote about the powerful big reds of Italy This January wersquoll focus on Cabernet Sauvignon known to many as ldquothe king of winesrdquo Most oenophiles (wine lovers) consider the quintessential representations of this grape to be the classified Bordeaux of southwest France near the city of Bordeaux The five First Growths (or best wines according to a classification made in 1855 and updated in 1973) are Ch Lafite Rothschild Ch Margaux Ch Latour Ch Haut Brion and Ch Mouton Rothschild All have a cabernet sauvignon base but they are blended with merlot and often a little bit of cabernet franc and petit verdot as well

In the early 1970s I was able to buy these wines for around $22 per bottle mdash about $120 in 2016 dollars Yet with the popularity of ldquocollectiblerdquo wines on a worldwide

basis they sell today for anywhere from $400 on up

Contrary to popular belief these wines are not that massive Rather they combine cabernet sauvignon power with

structure and finesse yielding wines that become with time elixirs that are greater than the sum of their parts

Both California and Washington state have taken up the Cabernet Sauvignon challenge and are producing world-class wines at sometimes world-class prices Napa Valley is the recognized leader in this arena and rightly so Napa Valleyrsquos top Cabernet

Wine amp B

eerso

uthern m

n style

winesBy Leigh Pomeroy

Leigh Pomeroy is a Mankato-based writer and wine lover

Cabernet Sauvignon is the black Labrador of wines mdash it comes up and licks yourdquo

mdash Winemaker Scott Rich

Sauvignons rival the great wines of Bordeaux for quality mdash Irsquove tasted them side-by-side mdashand yet can sell for a fraction of their price

One such example is the 2013 Tulocay Cabernet Sauvignon from my old friend Bill Cadman We were young bucks in Napa Valley and had a tasting group in the early 1970s along with now-famous wine luminaries Bruce Neyers (Neyers Vineyards) and Mike Richmond (co-founder of Acacia Vineyard)

Billrsquos Cabernet is from an old and relatively cool growing area east of the City of Napa called Coombsville which because of industry political issues only recently received its AVA (American Viticultural Area) designation It is priced at $60 per bottle yet compares with any top-flight Bordeaux as well as the more expensive offerings from Napa Valley which can cost from $100 on up Not currently available at wine stores or restaurants in Minnesota it can be purchased by contacting the winery directly via its website tulocaycom The winery is so small that Bill will probably answer the phone himself

There is a lot of Cabernet Sauvignon available from California but mdash caveat emptor mdash not all growing areas (or appellations) are the same The best Cabernet Sauvignons are from Napa and Sonoma Counties Cabernets simply labeled ldquoCaliforniardquo or perhaps ldquoCoastalrdquo while sometimes good values lack the complexity of the greater Cabernet Sauvignons from the more northern parts of the state

Washington state has also

established itself as a prime producer of Cabernet Sauvignon But here again quality can vary greatly depending upon the area and producer While there is no ldquogo-tordquo appellation for Cabernet Sauvignon in Washington there are producers that are able to secure fruit from the best vineyards

One such example is the tiny Willis Hall Winery owned by another good friend John Bell a former Boeing jet propulsion engineer Like Tulocay its wines are only available by calling up the winery and ordering some (See willishallcom) But there are many other top quality producers in Washington like Quilceda Creek Leonetti Betz Family and Woodward Canyon

Of course not everyone can afford Cabernet Sauvignons in the $60-plus category One excellent everyday drinking example is the Flying Cloud 2013 Paso Robles Cabernet Sauvignon made by Mankato native Stephen Dooley Normally I donrsquot like Paso Robles Cabs as they tend to be too fruity and too soft for my palate mdash almost like drinking berry jam But this one is quite restrained no doubt helped by the inclusion of 13 percent zinfandel and 9 percent petite sirah in the blend

In Mankato both the Wine Cafeacute and MGM carry the Flying Cloud but at its price and quality I wouldnrsquot count on it lasting for long especially since only 759 cases were produced

So letrsquos raise a glass of Cabernet and say ldquoCheersrdquo to the New Year

MM p02 0116indd 32 12182015 30756 PM

MANKATO MAGAZINE  bull January 2016 bull 33

Bert Mattson is a chef and writer based in St Paul He is the manager of the iconic Mickeyrsquos Diner

Beer Skinny

BeerBy Bert Mattson

Last year according to Nielsen research staying fit and healthy was

the number one New Yearrsquos resolution Losing weight was two Three was to enjoy life to the fullest Unfortunately ldquolose weight and get fitrdquo also topped Time magazinersquos list of commonly broken resolutions Is this shortfall due to tension between the top two and that third one If so craft beer may have a role in the compromise Bad news first

In the context of losing weight and staying fit beer lovers might seek solace in the fact that fat carries nine calories per gram while alcohol has only seven The wrinkle is that those seven are ldquoemptyrdquo mdash calories without nutrition as opposed to those from fat protein and carbohydrates Moreover alcoholrsquos calories are the first burned when combined with the others the human body postpones burning fat while it works on alcohol Furthermore beer (and wine and often cocktails) contains carbohydrates which release insulin and can hasten fat storage Finally many drinkers have undoubtedly observed that alcohol loosens inhibitions after which an eager indulgence in unhealthy foods often occurs (Bar menus are rarely helpful in that respect)

By now you may wonder whose side Irsquom actually on Or suspect Irsquove led you to this dark place only to offer you a Lite No worries a couple craft brewers have been considering ways to keep us true to our resolutions

Evil Twin Brewingrsquos Bikini Beer drops the alcohol to 27 percent but stays bold by way of hops A Pale Ale it hits the nose with citrus suggestive of IPA The flavor follows suit floral and lemon There is an expected absence of malt yielding to bitterness up front that fades at the finish An alternative

for those who insist on the full effect Founderrsquos Brewing Companyrsquos All Day IPA rings in at a respectable 144 calories (Evil Twinrsquos entry comes in at 81)

One strategy to beat the beer munchies and avoid costly impulse eating is to have suitable chow on hand With Bikini Beer try a salad sporting blue cheese and some sort of dried fruit Creamy blue veined cheeses echo the hops while balancing bitterness An occasional bite of dried fruit stands in for malt sweetness

Brooklyn Breweryrsquos 12 Ale weighs in at 34 percent alcohol (102 calories) It is alliteratively labeled ldquoSession Saisonrdquo It opens with a waft of citrus and spice and a little lemongrass from Sorachi Ace hops mdash a hybrid developed in East Asia The same elements are found in the flavor which is a bit more subdued than a full-sized Saison

Try it with a tangle of arugula dressed with lemon and a fruity olive oil tossed with pine nuts and topped with shaved Parmesan for effect The greens and cracked pepper reflect spicy phenolic elements in the yeast Salty cheese counters the beerrsquos lingering bitterness Maybe add a few slices of Speck cured ham and Saison share a certain funkiness

If friends show and it becomes a session you may honestly say you spent Saturday working on your six-pack

MM p02 0116indd 33 12182015 30757 PM

34 bull January 2016 bull MANKATO MAGAZINE

Food

south

ern mn style

Food

south

ern mn style

The Coffee Hag one of the arearsquos oldest (and coolest) bistros recently underwent a major expansion and remodeling journey culminating in a large and airy

seating area along with a much-improved kitchen and a new menu Mankato Magazine caught up with a very busy (and slightly exhausted) owner Jenn Melby-Kelly who weighs in on how itrsquos going

MANKATO MAGAZINE Are you personally enjoying the new updatesJENN MELBY-KELLY It Is Fabulous The new space represents so much more than a remodel to me It has brought to life a vision for my business thatrsquos been years in the making It incorporates many many good ideas from many many people I feel so fortunate to get to see that every time I walk through the door

MM How are customers reactingJMK Thatrsquos been one of the best parts The response has been overwhelmingly positive

A few of our most regular customers had the opportunity to get a glimpse of the remodel while it was underway (we gave some informal preview tours while we were operating the temporary stand outside) but many customers walk through the door now and see it all for the first time Itrsquos especially fun to see and hear that kind of wide-eyed reaction

A few people with special connections to The Hag have had even stronger emotional responses and Irsquom so touched and right there with them when I see eyes well up as they see what wersquove done Itrsquos a very big milestone for a very special place and wersquore blessed to have people that care so deeply

MM Do the employees appreciate the new spaceJMK Oh probably more than anyone There was a lot that we sought to do with the remodel but creating a bigger brighter better-equipped space for our team was certainly one of the primary goals Wersquove got an incredible team truly the most spirited and talented people anyone could hope for

Many of them have spent years with me working hard against the challenge of a small under-equipped space and just barely being able to keeping up with growing demand Itrsquos been a special blessing for them and for me to finally have state-of-the-art space thatrsquos made for the work that we do We all feel a special connection to this place and now more than ever the place reflects the good energy we all bring here every day

MM Is the new menu a hit (The Hag specializes in vegetarianvegan cuisine)JMK Yes but just wait Feedback and demand have been excellent with our food offerings already but wersquore just getting started on some of the really exciting things that are coming to our food menu

Remodeling the cafe was just the first major milestone of our two-part expansion plan Next up wersquore building a state of the art off-site commissary kitchen that will do for our incredible culinary team what the remodeled shop has done for our baristas Theyrsquove been working day and night on taking our already fantastic food offerings to a whole new level

Wersquove already introduced some amazing new menu items like the Garden Grilled Cheese panini (trust me itrsquos like nothing yoursquove had before) and some truly outstanding new vegan baked goods Wersquove also improved our classic offerings with house-made

Interview with Jenn Melby-Kelly owner of The Coffee Hag

By Sarah Johnson

MM p02 0116indd 34 12182015 30802 PM

MANKATO MAGAZINE  bull January 2016 bull 35

Happy New Year

Locally Owned amp Operated

Check Weekly Specialsmgmwineandspiritscommankato

Largest Selection ofbull Liquor bull Wine bull Beer bull

Hours Monday-Saturday 8 am - 10 pm

ATMs at all stores

Mankato201 Victory Dr

625-2420

North Mankato1755 Commerce Dr

387-2634

St Peter100 N Minnesota Ave

934-8964

sourdough and whole wheat breads But as impressive as it is already itrsquos just a taste mdash literally mdash of things to come as we bring our new kitchen online

MM Whatrsquos stayed the sameJMK Irsquom really proud to say that while wersquove touched almost every part of this 23-year-old business wersquove kept even more than we have changed From the first days of this project I made it my personal mission and responsibility to make sure that the ldquosoulrdquo of this special place was only enhanced and never lost as we made the updates

In every area of the remodel as wersquove added some necessary new layers of sophistication The Hagrsquos colorful quirky and even rebellious spirit is still very much a part of the space We did a lot to try to make sure it still looked and felt like ldquohomerdquo

And on a deeper level every step wersquove taken with the growth of our business has been chosen carefully to honor the core parts of The Coffee Hagrsquos identity Our focus on community our support for local art and music our commitment to creating a safe and welcoming space for everyone our efforts to lead the way on social and environmental issues affecting our world near and far mdash those have all stayed the same And those will always be at the heart of what we do

MM Anything elseJMK Irsquom so incredibly grateful for the support of our customers and community And whenever I talk about my business and how it has grown I really canrsquot overstate how thankful I am for my beautiful Coffee Hag family The hard work good energy and earnest contributions of so many people mdash past and present mdash have brought me and my business here An incredible amount of love has gone into this business and made this dream a reality

MM p02 0116indd 35 12222015 121240 PM

36 bull January 2016 bull MANKATO MAGAZINE

xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

Food

south

ern mn style

whatrsquos Cooking By Sarah Johnson

Sarah Johnson is a cook freelance writer and chocolate addict from North Mankato with three grown kids and a couple of mutts

As I was pondering my subject matter for todayrsquos column I started wondering about all the different items the word ldquonutsrdquo can refer

to Crazy people are called nuts so are hexagonal metal objects that attach to bolts Nuts can be the end of things (as in ldquofrom soup to nutsrdquo) or they can be the beginning of them (as in ldquosperm incubatorsrdquo) Nut can also mean onersquos head or onersquos lump of something such as butter And if you accidentally get a nut of butter on your nut you can exclaim ldquoNutsrdquo

My favorite meaning of the word nut however is the dry indehiscent one-seeded fruit with a woody pericarp And I donrsquot even know what indehiscent OR pericarp means But these are the wonderful denizens of the world of edible nuts

Nuts are widely credited with all sorts of health benefits for the heart brain male reproductive system prostate cholesterol level fiber intake and avoidance of some types of cancer And while nuts do contain fat itrsquos the ldquogoodrdquo kind heart-healthy monounsaturated and polyunsaturated fat Their mix of omega-3 fatty acids protein and fiber helps you feel full and suppresses the appetite

Nuts are great in desserts and salads of course but they also shine in stir-fries casseroles soups chicken pork fish and even beverages Nut butters nut milks and nut oils add delicious options to our kitchen larders Breads cereals muffins and pancakes gain texture flavor and nutrition from the addition of nuts Basically anytime is a good time for nuts

Which is a wonderful thing because nuts taste so good you would think they had to be very very bad The reason lies deep in their oils

Walnut Oil is strong and flavorful Itrsquos best when used in uncooked sauces or salad dressing

Hazelnut Oil has a strong flavor and is great for the heart

Almond Oil is very popular and has a much milder flavor than walnut oil or hazelnut oil

Pecan Macadamia Nut Pistachio Cashew and Pine Nut Oils are flavorful and unique The freshness of the nuts used really affects the flavor

ldquoTherersquos Nuttinrsquo Nutty About Nutsrdquo

For the Baklava1 pound pistachios hazelnuts walnuts pecans andor almonds coarsely ground plus more for garnish12 teaspoon ground cinnamon1 cup breadcrumbs4 sticks unsalted butter melted16 sheets phyllo dough (thawed if frozen) cut in half

For the Syrup3 cups sugar1 6 -to-8-ounce jar honey1 frac12 cups water1 to 2 tablespoons fresh lemon juice

If yoursquore under the impression that baklava is much too labor-intensive and complicated to make at home think again Anybody can make

it no special skills equipment or exotic ingredients are required A word about phyllo dough Itrsquos sold in frozen packages so you need to remove the package from the freezer and let it thaw in the fridge 24 hours before you want to make the baklava Then about an hour beforehand remove the package from the fridge and let it sit on the counter

Walnuts or pistachios are the most traditional nuts to fill baklava but using other nuts works wonders as well Simply layer the phyllo with the nut filling and butter bake for an hour and finish with a simple honeyed syrup If you have leftover nuts from the holidays herersquos your chance to use them up

Mixed Nut Baklava

MM p02 0116indd 36 12182015 30812 PM

MANKATO MAGAZINE  bull January 2016 bull 37

MONEY MATTERS WORK SMARTLET COMMUNITY BANK HELP YOUBRING THE TWO TOGETHER

MANKATO - SAINT ANDREWS DR 5073854444MANKATO - MADISON AVE 5076251551VERNON CENTER 5075493679AMBOY 5076743300

JULIE VETTERSR VICE PRESIDENTRETAIL BANKING

We support great causes like yoursAt Community Bank we know good things happen when you have a good bank So we make more possible by keeping banking simple and supportive And by giving you the power that comes with innovative solutions like our Health Savings Account It offers you tax-free savings for future medical expenses Stop by anytime Wersquore always ready to help out a great cause

Position a rack in the lower third of the oven preheat to 350 degrees Combine the nuts cinnamon and breadcrumbs in a bowl

Brush a 9x13-inch baking dish with some of the butter Layer 10 pieces of phyllo in the dish brushing each piece with butter before adding the next (keep the remaining dough covered with a damp towel) Sprinkle a quarter of the nut mixture over the dough Layer four pieces of phyllo on top brushing each with butter before adding the next sprinkle with another quarter of the nut mixture Add four more phyllo pieces on top brushing each with butter then add another quarter of the nut mixture four more pieces of phyllo with butter and the remaining nuts

Layer the remaining 10 pieces of phyllo on top of the nuts brushing each with butter brush the top piece with extra butter Cut into the baklava to make strips about 1 12 inches wide Then make diagonal slices about 1 12 inches apart to create a diamond pattern Bake until golden about one hour

Meanwhile make the syrup Bring the sugar honey and 1 12 cups water to a boil in a saucepan over medium heat and cook 10 to 15 minutes Add the lemon juice and boil 2 more minutes then let cool slightly Pour the syrup over the warm baklava let soak uncovered at least six hours or overnight Garnish with nuts

MM p02 0116indd 37 12182015 30817 PM

38 bull bull MANKATO MAGAZINE

Nell Musolf is a mom and freelance writer from Mankato She blogs at nellmusolfcom

38 bull bull MANKATO MAGAZINE

MM p02 0116indd 38 12182015 30822 PM

MANKATO MAGAZINE  bull January 2016 bull 39

Gear Up for WinterYear-Round amp Insulated Workwear from

Carhartt Dickies and Key

UNIFORMSUniforms fromBarco Carhartt Cherokee DickiesKoi Peaches and White Cross

AMAZED

Call 5073446336mankatomagmankatofreepresscom

Stephanie L Hylla LAc Dipl AcKayla M Sweeney MOm LAc

NEW LOCATION709 S Front Suite 5

5074694788mankatoacupuncturecom

Open House ndash Wednesday Feb 3 9-12noonCelebrating 5 years of Business New Location and the Chinese New Year

In Network with Blue Cross Blue ShieldLicensed by the MN Board of Medical Practice

Ribbon Cutting with Greater Mankato Growth at 10am

(A $250 Value)THIS VOUCHER ENTITLES NEW PATIENTS TO A

CONSULTATION EXAM amp DIGITAL X-RAYS (IF NEEDED)

wwwr igne l l fami lych i roprac t ic comMedicare Restrictions Apply Expires January 31 2016

Dr BrandonRignell DC

1351 Madison AveSuite D

Mankato MN 56001

5077797313

$2900New Patient Special

MM p02 0116indd 39 12222015 121344 PM

40 bull bull MANKATO MAGAZINE

Jean Lundquist is a master gardener who lives near Good Thunder

MM p02 0116indd 40 12182015 30834 PM

MANKATO MAGAZINE  bull January 2016 bull 41

3 Increase the Value of Your Home

3 Update Your Homersquos Appearance

3 Save Money

Choose from SeveralModels Styles amp Colors

507-625-7110 or 1-800-645-36671125 Cross St North Mankato MN

Improve Your HomersquosEnergy Efficiency

422 Park Lane Mankato MN | NuStarMankatocom

(507) 381-4747Voted One of Mankatorsquos Best

DANIEL WINGERT

Make Selling Your Home Your NuYearrsquos Resolution

MM p02 0116indd 41 12182015 30839 PM

42 bull January 2016 bull MANKATO MAGAZINE

January Resolve to moisturize

Your stYLeBy Ann Rosenquist Fee

Ann Rosenquist Fee is executive director of the Arts Center of Saint Peter and a vocalist with The Frye She blogs at annrosenquistfeecom

If you have in-laws or colleagues who know you well enough to have given you holiday gifts

but not well enough to know what wouldrsquove truly made you happy congratulations Chances are yoursquore the proud owner of a bunch of brand-new lip balm

Maybe itrsquos even holiday themed Thatrsquos the best Maybe you got the candy-cane flavored kind or wintergreen with holiday graphics on the label or something like that A theme that was irrelevant the moment the stocking was unstuffed because at that exact second the holiday was over

And here you are in January with an abundance of wax

Fortunately also here you are in the early weeks of winter with rough red knuckles Probably also cracked cuticles although it might not have gone that far yet for you Irsquom sure it has for me This photo was taken back in November and even then the Band-Aids were for real Irsquove learned to cut them in half length-wise so as to retain my ability to type Irsquove also learned to play with a range of color options Flesh-toned Clear Disney characters The colorful strips shown here were gifted to me by my husband Partly why theyrsquore cut in half is that the text is obscene This is one small trick you can use to make bloody cuticles your most exciting accessory of the winter

Sources like UrbanSurvivalSitecom and WonderHowTocom will tell you that you can use lip balm for a whole variety of purposes such as coating threads of outdoor lightbulbs before screwing them into their sockets and enhancing the burn-ability of most kindling

These are great fun but they wonrsquot improve your personal style

More germane to winter beauty are the following suggestions

Keep a tube next to your bed for first-thing-in-the-morning use And I mean really truly first-thing I mean smear the stuff on each cuticle while yoursquore still lying there before you start using your fingers at all If you wake up thinking yoursquore fine and skip cuticle care next thing you know yoursquore pushing down the lever on your Keurig and the pressure is more than your screamingly dry skin can take and boom split blood on the Keurig and itrsquos gonna be a long painful day If only you had balmed your hands before you let your feet hit the floor

Keep another tube in your glove compartment If itrsquos warm enough to take off your mittens in the car mdash if yoursquore even wearing mittens given that your hands are snagging on everything these days mdash the harsh January sunlight will allow you to see cracks and flakes in high-resolution detail Yoursquoll want the balm nearby

to cover what you didnrsquot notice first thing in the morning Also a car tube is useful for when you look in the rear-view mirror and notice that your nose and upper lip are flaking as well Itrsquos because yoursquore getting over a cold and the frequent use of tissue has worn away your top layer of skin but just because you know that doesnrsquot mean everybody else wonrsquot think ldquothere is something in that noserdquo Itrsquos just a fact Itrsquos what it looks like Lip balm to the rescue Itrsquos the only thing dry enough to slick those flakes in place and nourishing enough to maybe actually get your face back to normal

Keep a couple more tubes in a nighttime kit along with sandpaper Sandpaper Yes Not a pumice stone not a lame also-gifted sugar

scrub Medium-grit sandpaper is what you need every night lightly but with conviction As follows 1) Sand taking care not to do more damage than what the elements have already done Yoursquore just trying to remove the dry dead stuff Yoursquore just being hearty and efficient about this true to the culture of this great state in which yoursquove chosen to winter You are no pansy Sand your hands 2) Wash 3) Blot dry 4) Dial up the gifted balm whisper a word of thanks to the person who put so much thought into your well-being that they stuffed your holiday stocking with this amazing gift of self-care smash a healthy amount down into your palms massage Take heart You just might find yourself with normal-textured non-cracked not-horrible-looking hands by morning

Split-open cuticles I feel you Except for these Band-Aids I feel you

Lip balms I have been gifted and these are just from last Christmas ldquolastrdquo as in 2014

Bathrooms Worth Bragging About

HoursTue amp Wed amp Fri | 9 am to 6 pmMon amp Thu | 9 am to 7 pmSaturday | 9 am to 4 pm

219 S Victory Dr | Mankato507 | 345 | 7009ipafhickorytechnetindependentpaintandflooringcom

You Deserve Comfortable Care Every Timebull Sedation - Complete Relaxation with Just a Pillbull Invisalign - Clear Alternative to Bracesbull Botox amp Fillersbull Implants - Placement and Restorationbull Cerec - One Visit Crown Technology

bull Free Whitening Programbull 3D Imaging with Fewer X-Raysbull Cosmetic Dentistrybull Drill-Free Technologybull Emergency Care

1400 Lookout Drive North Mankato507-625-CARE(2273) bull mankatodentistcom 06

1865

6124

01

Dr AngelA Schuck

Dr keith FlAck

MM p02 0116indd 42 12182015 30841 PM

MANKATO MAGAZINE  bull January 2016 bull 43

Bathrooms Worth Bragging About

HoursTue amp Wed amp Fri | 9 am to 6 pmMon amp Thu | 9 am to 7 pmSaturday | 9 am to 4 pm

219 S Victory Dr | Mankato507 | 345 | 7009ipafhickorytechnetindependentpaintandflooringcom

You Deserve Comfortable Care Every Timebull Sedation - Complete Relaxation with Just a Pillbull Invisalign - Clear Alternative to Bracesbull Botox amp Fillersbull Implants - Placement and Restorationbull Cerec - One Visit Crown Technology

bull Free Whitening Programbull 3D Imaging with Fewer X-Raysbull Cosmetic Dentistrybull Drill-Free Technologybull Emergency Care

1400 Lookout Drive North Mankato507-625-CARE(2273) bull mankatodentistcom 06

1865

6124

01

Dr AngelA Schuck

Dr keith FlAck

(944) 412-7949 | OrthoEdgeMNcom

Enjoy the season

Mankato St Peter

Be active Be healthyBe able with OrthoEdge

The OrthoEdge joint replacement

program offers superb care from your first

visit through recovery The surgeons from

the Orthopaedic amp Fracture Clinic and

the care team at Riverrsquos Edge Hospital

provide personal and professional care to

get you back to able

Why Riverrsquos Edge Hospital amp Clinic

bull Riverrsquos Edge Hospital amp Clinic has a long-

standing relationship with the Orthopaedic

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MM p02 0116indd 43 12182015 30842 PM

44 bull January 2016 bull MANKATO MAGAZINE

1 Hicktown Mafia800 pm mdash New Ulm Event Center mdash 301 20th St S mdash New Ulm mdash $10 mdash 507-354-4673

7-9 Mankato West Orchesis Dance Team showcase7 pm Thursday-Saturday 2 pm Saturday mdash Mankato West High School Auditorium mdash $7 adults $5 students mdash 507-381-7578

10 Mankato Symphony Orchestra Music on the Hill II ldquoMinnesota rootsrdquo2 pm mdash Chapel at Good Counselmdash Good Counsel Drive mdash Mankato mdash $17 $12 mdash wwwmankatosymphonycom

16 Handel with Caremdash Handel Goes to Italy11 ammdash YMCA Aerobics Studio mdash 1401 S Riverfront Drive mdash Mankato mdash wwwmankatosymphonycom

16 Mankato Craft beer Expo2 pm (VIP) 3 pm general mdash Verizon Wireless Center mdash $45 VIP $35 general $10 designated driver mdash wwwmankatocraftbeerexpocom

23 Joey Flip and Mike Fugazzi rockinrsquo at the Embassy9 pm mdash Blaschkorsquos Embassy Bar and Grill mdash 325 S Minnesota Ave mdash St Peter mdash 507-934-3903

24 andrea Lyn and Dick Kimmel concert730 pm mdash Elias J Halling Recital Hall mdash Minnesota State University mdash Mankato mdash $12 regular $11 current MSU students mdash wwwmnusedumusic

28-31 MSu Theatre antigone730 pm Thursday-Saturday 2 pm Sunday mdash Andreas Theatre mdash Minnesota State University mdash Mankato mdash $16 regular $14 discount $11 current MSU students mdash wwwmnsuedu

29-31 BLC Theatre Brigadoon730 Friday and Saturday 2 pm Sunday mdash Ylvisaker Fine Arts Center mdash Bethany Lutheran College mdash Mankato mdash $10 adults $6 seniors children and students mdash wwwblceduevents

29- Feb 7 Winterfest St Peter Citywide mdash wwwstpeterchamberorg

30 Church of Cash a Tribute to Johnny Cash7 pm mdash St Peter American Legion mdash 229 W Nassau St mdash St Peter mdash 507-934-6435

31 Maud Hixson and rick Carlson concert730 pmmdash Elias J Halling Recital Hall mdash Minnesota State University mdash Mankato mdash $12 regular $11 current MSU students wwmnsuedumusic

Coming attraCtions January

T - F 8am - 6pm Sun ClosedSat 9am - 4pmM 8am - 8pm

120 North Broad Street Mankato MN 507-345-4688 wwwmeyerandsonstvandappliancecom

FIND SPECIAL DEALS ON

MM p02 0116indd 44 12182015 30902 PM

MANKATO MAGAZINE  bull January 2016 bull 45

St Peter Craft amp Vendor Show

1MelinadaBussefromRapidansoldherhandmadejewelryatthecraftandvendorshow

2DarylfromElysianandhishand-carvedwoodart

3MacKennaage7hasfunatoneoftheboothsattheStPeterCraftandVendorShow

4LizEntershowsoffsomeofherproductsattheldquoItWorksrdquobooth

5DenisePetersofldquoYoungLivingrdquoessentialoilsdisplayedherproductsattheshow

Faces amp Places Photos By Sport Pix

3

5

2

1

4

T - F 8am - 6pm Sun ClosedSat 9am - 4pmM 8am - 8pm

120 North Broad Street Mankato MN 507-345-4688 wwwmeyerandsonstvandappliancecom

FIND SPECIAL DEALS ON

MM p02 0116indd 45 12222015 121536 PM

46 bull January 2016 bull MANKATO MAGAZINE

SOUTHErN MN CHrISTMAS

FESTIVAL1 A large crowd was on hand during the festivities at

the Christmas Festival2 Friesenrsquos Family Bakery amp Bistro had tons of baked

goods and soups at the Verizon Wireless Center3 A childrenrsquos choir sang for the audience at the

festival4 Ron Haefner owner of Ronrsquos Auto Repair displayed

some of his services5 Garrison Galatz dressed up as Santa for the

Christmas Festival

faCes amp PLaCes Photos By Sport Pix

4

3

1

2

5

MM p02 0116indd 46 12182015 30923 PM

MANKATO MAGAZINE  bull January 2016 bull 47

1GirlScouttroop34494waspresentedwithatrophybyKiwanisVicePresidentKyleMrozek

2SantaClausevenwentthroughtheparaderoute3(LtoR)BrooklynPomrankeAlaynaLyonsHunterPomrankeandLilyLyonsgetagroupphototakenwithSanta

4MarshaMartigtellsSantawhatshewantsforChristmas

5TheparadefloatswerealldeckedoutinChristmaslights

6Visitorswalkthepatharoundtheparktoviewthisyearrsquoslights

Kiwanis Holiday ligHtsFaces amp Places Photos By sport Pix

2

1

3

4 5

6

MM p02 0116indd 47 12222015 121616 PM

48 bull January 2016 bull MANKATO MAGAZINE

On the Occasion of a 50th Reunion

the Class of 1965

from this VaLLeYBy Pete Steiner

Peter Steiner is host of ldquoTalk of the Townrdquo weekdays at 105 pm on KTOE

I was honored to give the presentation for our 50th class reunion recently at West Highrsquos Homecoming celebration About 120 of our nearly 400-member class

showed up We Baby Boomers the children of the greatest generation had big classes in the late lsquo60rsquos that forced the building of East High Ours was a dramatic era and our class did some great things in the face of big challenges Here edited is some of what I said

I am so glad to be standing here today Therersquos an old saying

ldquoMay you live in INTErESTINg timeshelliprdquo The Class of rsquo65 certainly has Itrsquos seems like only yesterday right after lunch that we were at our desks waiting for the start of English class when our charismatic teacher Harry Fitterer strode in and said ldquoPrESIDENT KENNEDY HAS BEEN SHOT IN DALLASrdquo At first we didnrsquot believe him but it was true It was November 22 1963 We were juniors and as the song says that was THE END OF THE INNOCENCE We had lived through the last idyllic time in America

When we first arrived in the fall of 1962 America was still carefree basking in the glow of victory in WW II Everything may have seemed ldquorightrdquo but it was not Martin Luther King Jr had just visited Mankato pointing out the continuing plight of black Americans as the Civil rights movement was gaining steam The beginnings of the Vietnam War which would alter the course of many of our lives were stirring even as we studied history and government The current generation has no monopoly on forgettable pop music ndash we had a stupid 1 song called ldquoItsie Bitsie Teenie Weenie Yellow Polka Dot Bikinirdquo (unfortunately an ear worm I canrsquot forget) But a darker cultural threat was looming The BEATLES were invading from Britain and our parents were mortified because they had LONg HAIr

Some of the shock of the Kennedy assassination was eased when our wrestling team in the era when the state still had just ONE CLASS won the State Championship in front of a packed hall up at MSU some still maintain that is the greatest single athletic achievement in Mankato history We were the first high school in Mankato to put on a full-scale musical ldquoBye Bye Birdierdquo in the spring of 1964 In Fall of 1964 our football team would have won the conference championship outright except Owatonnarsquos great Noel Jenke who would go on to star for the U of M

cheated I watched him trap the touchdown pass that beat us Does cheating pay Was that a lesson for life

In lsquo65 we also had a fine basketball team that lost our chance at State when our 6-6 center fouled out at Luverne

BUT A FAr BIggEr CHALLENgE AWAITED US ALL As we rode out to Luverne to watch that game we couldnrsquot help noticing the highway was like a canyon between walls of snow The legendary St Patrickrsquos Day Blizzard had dumped two feet on top of an already large snow pack and then April brought rains on frozen ground Instead of coming here to school many of us soon got a real-life assignment to go out in our rain gear out on the dikes to battle the grEAT FLOOD OF 1965 Our school became an island as water flooded the parking lot and all of South riverfront Our spring play that year was called ironically

THE DESPErATE HOUrS We had to rehearse at roosevelt School up on higher ground

Our class produced three Merit scholars One of our classmates who did NOT qualify

for a merit scholarship nevertheless was such a whiz at physics that NASA requested a copy of a paper he wrote on rocketry as a senior We produced 12 doctors one of whom earned a fellowship at Stanford seeking how to bring telemedicine to the poor another of whom became a breakthrough cancer doctor We had entrepreneurs one who would go on to be a leader in Solar Energy (and then run for governor of New Hampshire) Another mdash a woman incidentally when

that was not common founded two bio-tech startups Many of us are still working

past normal retirement age One founded a company on the leading edge of recycling

computers whose clients include the NSA Another is chief medical officer of a company

devising a better tool for colonoscopies Yet another of our classmates recently completed a concert tour of China

We lived in challenging times just as you do today but we muddle through we make it to the other shore I remember sitting where you are 50 years ago thinking how old those folks up there looked But remember Life goes by very quickly You certainly live in interesting times as Shakespeare said ldquoPresent Mirth has Present Laughter Youthrsquos a stuff will NOT endurerdquo So I urge you live each moment to the fullest

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Page 17: Mankatomag 116

MANKATO MAGAZINE  bull January 2016 bull 15

Erin Gonzalez and her son prepare a healthful meal

Erin GonzalezldquoI struggled with weight issues when I was growing

uprdquo Gonzalez said ldquoWhen I was 16 I went on my first lsquoseriousrsquo dietmdashone of the fast diets that were popular in the 1990srdquo

Gonzalez said that she stuck to her diet religiously having a shake in the morning one for lunch and a sensible meal at night just as she was instructed to do She also walked for approximately two and a half hours a day Over the course of one summer she lost 70 pounds but she was also she now realizes flirting with an eating disorder Gonzalez says this scenario is not uncommon considering research shows 35 percent of ldquooccasional dietersrdquo progress into pathological dieting (disordered eating) and as many as 25 percent advance to full-blown eating disorders

ldquoMy food intake was very restrictive and I was always extremely conscience of what I ate but just the same I slowly gained back 30 of the 70 pounds

that I lostrdquo Gonzalez said ldquoI was always looking at food as either lsquogoodrsquo or lsquobadrsquo instead of something pleasurable to be enjoyedrdquo

It wasnrsquot until she was working at her dietetic internship that she had her ldquoahardquo moment

ldquoI was blessed with a teacher who taught her students how to enjoy foodrdquo Gonzalez said ldquoinstead of being obsessed by it Gonzalez learned about a program called Am I Hungry that specializes in helping people heal their relationship with food and their bodies so they can relearn to trust their internal hunger cues instead of having to follow arbitrary rules and broken promises of diets Gonzalez facilitates a program at the Mankato Clinic that teaches the Am I Hungry philosophy

ldquoI have two childrenrdquo Gonzalez said ldquoa 10-month-old and a 4-year-old They know how to eat naturally and they stop eating when they are no longer hungry That is what most adults need

MM p01 0116indd 15 12222015 120138 PM

16 bull January 2016 bull MANKATO MAGAZINE

xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

need to relearn how to eatrdquoThe method has worked for Gonzalez Gone are

her extra 30 pounds and she no longer dietsldquoDiets simply arenrsquot sustainablerdquo she said ldquoItrsquos so

hard in our society because we are surrounded by cues to eat all of the time At buffets where you want to lsquoget your moneyrsquos worthrsquo when yoursquore out with friends when you sit down at the end of the day and turn on the television to relax and are bombarded with ads for food Food has become a reward for a bad day or a good day or anything else we can think of But if you look at how you eat as a journey instead of as a destination you can learn to enjoy food a lot morerdquo

So what should someone who wants to start the New Year in a more healthy fashion do

ldquoPause before you eatrdquo Gonzalez recommended ldquoAsk yourself if yoursquore really hungry or if yoursquore actually thirsty or stressed instead Try not to be emotionally disconnected from what you are eatingrdquo

Gonzalez emphasized that ldquomindful eating isnrsquot naive to say nutrition isnrsquot important Of course it is Mindful eating is what allows us to take charge of our decisions of why when what how and how much we choose to eat instead of battling being in or out of controlrdquo

Instead of following the latest short-lived diet Gonzalez encourages people to make the healthiest choices possible that donrsquot leave them feeling deprived

Paulette Tonn BookerFor Paulette Tonn Booker the Am I Hungry

Mindful Eating (AIHME) program has been a game changer

Said Booker ldquoIrsquove tried several diet plans over the past 40 years including some well-known plans and I lost weight on each plan However keeping the weight off eluded me and resulted in yo-yo dieting

The lsquorulesrsquo of whichever plan Booker was on became the norm and after years of trying to live by those rules Booker was no longer able to discern what her body was telling her about hunger often leading to out-of-control overeating

ldquoI always knew there was something else going on yet no one had an answer for merdquo Booker said

When Booker first heard of the AIHME program two years ago she was relieved to discover that there were other people who felt the same way when it came to healthful eating The program taught her the skills she needed to recognize her bodyrsquos hunger signals thoughts and feelings and actions to help manage the physical emotional and environmental stresses of everyday life without resorting to eating to cope with those stresses

ldquoI no longer have to be in control of everything I only need to be in charge of my decisions at any given moment When I choose to overeat (which everyone does) I no longer beat myself up I try to reflect on what happened and then plan for ways to handle the situation differently the next time it occurs Old habits are hard to break it takes concentrated effort and dedication to rewire the brain with new habits and it can be donerdquo Booker said

About weight loss as the end goal of healthful eating Booker shared the following ldquoThe only time I get on a scale is at the doctorrsquos office I know what the experts say I should weigh A number does not define a personrsquos self-worth nor does it say anything about who we are and how we feel as we make changes in how we nurture our bodies The number on the scale is just a number bodies come in all shapes and sizes as does health I will never diet again Instead I will continue to work on developing mindful skills and in the meantime eating what I love and loving what I eatrdquo

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MANKATO MAGAZINE  bull January 2016 bull 17

Eric ZiesmerFor Eric Ziesmer he is in the middle of his weight

loss journey a journey that began last July when the 32-year-old learned that he weighed 330 pounds The time had come for Ziesmer to make some healthy lifestyle changes Ziesmer decided to lose weight because of his family mdash both present and future

ldquoI have two adorable nephews and I would love to be able to chase them around the yard or pull them in a sled during the winter and basically to be active and see them as they growrdquo Ziesmer said ldquoAnd even though Irsquom currently single if it is in my cards for marriage and kids I would like to be there and not be too tired or not in shape A clean and healthy lifestyle is what I am striving for in my coming yearsrdquo

With the help of a dietician Ziesmer has started his cleaner and healthier lifestyle Since July he has lost 40 pounds and has decided to have weight loss surgery To help his post operation phase go as smoothly as possible Ziesmer eats fresh fruit every day has cut out chips and cookies among other things

ldquoI have totally cut out soda Soda was a big one to cut out In my huge climb to 300 there were days when I would consume two 2-liter bottles of pop in a single day and maybe cracking open a thirdrdquo Ziesmer said ldquoI try to listen to my stomach instead of my eyes or eat because Irsquom bored or stressed I eat slow and sip instead of being the guzzler I have always beenrdquo

Another tactic Ziesmer has adopted has been to stop drinking liquids 30 minutes before a meal and then wait 30 minutes after eating before sipping again

ldquoWhen my stomach rumbles and says itrsquos hungry I feed it When my brain or boredom drives me to want to eat I take a second to see if my stomach feels empty and if not it gets deniedrdquo Ziesmer said

Ziesmer has noticed that he is more successful at healthy eating when he eats at home When he does dine out hersquoll cut a sandwich in half eat half and save other half for a future meal

ldquoAs far as exercise goes it went from zero to at least two if not three times a week going for a 327 mile walk and have recently made my way back into the gymrdquo Ziesmer said He has been able to keep track of his walks with accuracy thanks to an app called MapMyRun

Ziesmer knows that his healthier living journey will continue for a long time

ldquoI plan on continuing to live healthy by continuing my exercise and eating right and by saying that itrsquos not only for me and feeling better but also because there are two little guys that look up to their uncle Staying motivated is at least my key to keeping up this lifestyle I want to live a long and healthier life feeling better and being there down the road for family and friends is what means mostrdquo Ziesmer said MM

Eric Ziesmer says hersquos got plenty of motivation to get healthy two nephews to whom he wants to be a good role model

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18 bull January 2016 bull MANKATO MAGAZINE

Stephanie Howe says itrsquos best to have realistic goals when starting a fitness program

Herersquos your guideBy Robb Murray | Photos by Pat Christman

Ready for CHANGE

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MANKATO MAGAZINE  bull January 2016 bull 19

Yoursquore ready

You ate the ham and turkey and potatoes and Christmas cookies You drank the wine beer and eggnog Yoursquove spent the last few

months pondering a life change Yoursquore on the verge of a major transformation This time itrsquos happening Yoursquore going to get healthy Itrsquos going to be a new you

And then January arrived And you have no plan

Luckily we here at Mankato Magazine have got you covered Itrsquos not uncommon for people to make a New Yearrsquos resolution or some similar vow this time of year It usually comes with goal weights and promises to hit the gym X number of times per week and trips to the produce and organic sections of the grocery store because this time yoursquore serious Right

OK easy tiger Getting healthy is a great idea and wersquore wishing you all the best But wersquore also coming at you with some sensible advice Maybe setting unrealistic goals isnrsquot the best way to go Maybe just

heading into the gym and trying to get it all done in a week isnrsquot a great way to go either

ldquoFinerdquo you say ldquothen what should I dordquoWersquore so glad you asked

Letrsquos get startedThe first thing you need to remember when

starting an exercise program is that if you want to lose weight you need to change the way you eat too

ldquoNo matter what you say you canrsquot out exercise a bad dietrdquo says Stephanie Howe director of healthy living at the Mankato YMCA

Howe works in what might be the busiest fitness hub in the Mankato area So shersquos seen her share of people come through the doors with plans to change their lives Some of them succeed Most do not

One of the biggest mistakes people make Howe says is not really having a good grasp on how much time theyrsquoll need in order to incorporate a good workout into their day It doesnrsquot have to be a two-

hour commitment every day she says It can be 30 minutes of planned effective exercise several times per week Whatrsquos more important is just getting there and thatrsquos an obstacle that is bigger than most people realize

ldquoMost people want to lsquopeople pleasersquordquo she said ldquoYou can say yoursquore going to get up and work out every day but most people are built to need external accountabilityrdquo

Think about hiring a personal trainer

ldquoWhen you spend the money on a personal trainer you have an appointment therersquos someone waiting thererdquo she says

A personal trainer is a great way to immediately know yoursquore doing exactly what yoursquore supposed to be doing and yoursquoll have no doubt whether yoursquore working hard enough There are plenty of personal trainers in town mdash at the YMCA and other gyms mdash who would love to help you Of course they donrsquot work for free and for many people the cost of a personal trainer is more than theyrsquore willing to spend

Fortunately therersquos a trend in fitness to offer the whip-crack of a personal trainer while staying Jo radlinger urges her clients to not sabotage their fitness efforts with poor eating over

the weekend

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20 bull January 2016 bull MANKATO MAGAZINE

728 N Riverfront DriveMankato MN 56001

507-625-5163katobearscom

Pins and NeedlesAlterations

Specializing in alterations for theentire wedding party including

gown re-sizing hemming re-beadingbustles and so much more

Like us onFacebook

affordableThe Y now offers something called ldquotrainer ledrdquo

exercise sessions where you work with others in a group but have access to a trainer nearby who can push you motivate you and make sure yoursquore you know doing it right Theyrsquore $3 a class

ldquoYoursquore still expected to be there but itrsquos much cheaperrdquo Howe said ldquoThe group environment pushes you and we have tons of trainer-led classes Itrsquos the best of both worldsrdquo

Across town Jo Radlinger runs Jorsquos Garage a fitness center where shersquos the one pushing you to succeed

Radlingerrsquos goal she says is to bring out everyonersquos potential

ldquoI want to make sure everybody that comes through my door has success I want them to be the very best version of themselves that they can berdquo

Like Howe Radlinger acknowledges that the financial side of hiring a personal trainer can scare people away but she says there are several reasons why it shouldnrsquot

ldquoItrsquos never a bad investment when yoursquore investing in yourselfrdquo she said ldquoMeet with a trainer who is just as passionate about your goal My goal is not to train you intensely but to show you what yoursquore capable of and then take you to that next levelrdquo

At Jorsquos Fitness Garage there are no membership fees Radlinger doesnrsquot believe in them Instead she charges $5 per visit and in that time she said she pushes you to have a great workout

GymtimidationSetting goals is a great

idea Setting unrealistic goals is the kind of thing that results in a gym membership card laying dormant in a junk drawer by February

So set those goals but set them smartlyldquoAccountability is huge Even if you canrsquot hire

someonerdquo Howe says ldquoMake specific goals mdash say yoursquore going to workout X number of times but make those numbers realistic Set goals that are within your controlrdquo

Do this and yoursquore likely to feel a lot better about how things go

ldquoMost people just want to feel better about themselves they want to feel more confidentrdquo Howe said ldquoThis way even before any physical changes happen theyrsquoll feel better Theyrsquoll start to feel like theyrsquore in control again of their life and their choicesrdquo

Taking an exercise class is a great way to both get

your body moving while at the same time have fun and meet those people who will notice when you donrsquot show up

And about that weight room Yes it can be intimidating to walk in and see people who look like they live there But Howe says that while it can definitely be a psychological barrier focusing on those people is the wrong strategy

ldquoNo one cares what yoursquore doingrdquo Howe says ldquoFocus on yourdquo

Take it slowIt can be tempting when you finally get up the

nerve to get back in the swing of working out to go hardcore But just like setting unrealistic goals trying to achieve your fitness goals in a day is impossible

ldquoPeople start out really gung-ho and reset their diet so aggressively and most people just simply canrsquot do thisrdquo Radlinger said ldquoWhen yoursquore looking at making a lifestyle change I want you to do it slowly and incrementally rather than do it all in two monthsrdquo

Rushing into the weight room and trying to lift the same weight and number of reps and sets that you did 10 years ago is a great way to make sure you canrsquot work out for a while Going from a sedentary lifestyle to two hours of pumping iron can leave you sore enough to not be able to lift anything for days Maybe even weeks

Ease into it The gymrsquos not going anywhere Think marathon not sprint

ldquoSometimes people have an all-or-nothing attituderdquo Howe said ldquoand they make themselves sore and they canrsquot continuerdquo

Speaking of all-or-nothing Radlinger says

some people bring that kind of intensity to their food intake over the weekend Bad idea

ldquoAs trainers we help people be accountable We do success measurements help them prepare and plan And wersquoll do weigh-ins on Mondayrdquo Radlinger says ldquoWersquoll find that people do really well Monday through Friday then do what I call sabotage Saturday and Sunday At some point yoursquore going to get so sick of hitting that reset button every Mondayrdquo

Whatever you choose to do both trainers say itrsquos never a bad idea to sit down with your doctor and run your plans by himher Your personal safety should always come first and getting the green light from Doc can give you some peace of mind as you start this new chapter of your life MM

Jo radlinger runs Jorsquos Fitness Garage

MM p01 0116indd 20 12222015 120709 PM

MANKATO MAGAZINE  bull January 2016 bull 21

728 N Riverfront DriveMankato MN 56001

507-625-5163katobearscom

Pins and NeedlesAlterations

Specializing in alterations for theentire wedding party including

gown re-sizing hemming re-beadingbustles and so much more

Like us onFacebook

Live the Lifestyle

wwwmapletonmarinecom

Southern MNrsquos largestboat show on now at the

Madison East Center in Mankato

MM p01 0116indd 21 12182015 24524 PM

22 bull January 2016 bull MANKATO MAGAZINE

Thirty-three years ago I stood inside a grave A lifetime ago when I was a pastorrsquos wife

In Nebraska we served a parish of barely over one hundred members A picture-postcard white church with a hand-carved white wooden altar from Germany sat at the top of a hill next to it the parsonage and next to that the cemetery rolling down the hill toward a wooded creek

The first death in the congregation after our arrival set off a flurry of activity Irsquod never met Alma because she was in a nursing home before we arrived However my husband visited her on several occasions She was mother aunt grandmother great-aunt and great-grandmother to half the congregation so there was no question about whether or not I would attend the funeral

With my two little kids in tow I attended every event at the church every Sunday morning service of course but also every funeral every confirmation every baptism every meeting of womenrsquos circle and even every family reunion that was held in the church basement At twenty-six I perfected the art of making gracious small talk with people Irsquod never seen before and would never see again and at taking tiny portions from each confirmation buffet so I would neither be sick by the end of the day nor offend any of the mothers who had slaved away over their sumptuous spreads of food

By Rebecca Fjelland Davis

Grave Lesson in Winter

ESSay

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MANKATO MAGAZINE  bull January 2016 bull 23

Attending the little white country church was physically easy I picked up one-year-old Josh took three-year-old Nikkirsquos hand and walked out the front door down the sidewalk and next door The only things I didnrsquot have to attend were church council and the menrsquos meeting Archaic This was in the 1980s It doesnrsquot seem so long ago

All the available babysitters in the community would attend Almarsquos funeral too so this was to be my kidsrsquo first funeral

The afternoon before the service salt-snow fell Hard little crystals pelted down as if the heavens had up-ended a Mortonrsquos salt canister Within a few hours the hard snow was six inches deep and still falling

In the middle of the salt-snow the gravedigger arrived The Ditchwitch roared around the cemetery to the familyrsquos plot and my kidsrsquo noses pressed against the upstairs bedroom window pane ldquoMommy can we go watchrdquo

Glad for an excuse to get out of the parsonage I bundled them in snowsuits put them on the sled and pulled them across the house yard and garden to the fence that bordered the cemetery

The Ditchwitch made short work of the grave and all three of us were mesmerized watching the mound of gray-black dirt grow in the crystal-white snow When the hole was finished the gravedigger turned his tractor on idle He hopped off and came over to the fence His eyes twinkled in a weathered face ldquoWant to come lookrdquo

I backed up from the fence a step ldquoNo not really I think this is close enoughrdquo

ldquoYes Mommy go lookrdquo ldquoPleeeeaserdquoSo Nikki and Josh got back on the sled and I

hauled them along the fence through the gate over to the grave and looked down Six feet seemed deep bottomless Dark A sharp contrast to the pelting snowflakes all around us

ldquoWanna get down in thererdquo the gravedigger asked I shuddered hung onto the kids and backed up

again ldquoNo No thatrsquos okay This is close enough I just want to look from hererdquo

ldquoYes mommyrdquo the little ones said ldquoLetrsquosrdquoldquoNordquoldquoPleaserdquoldquoReally marsquoam I think you should Yoursquoll be

surprised I wouldnrsquot suggest it if it I didnrsquot think sordquoldquoHow would we get outrdquo The sides were deeper

than I was tall and there certainly werenrsquot footholds or a ladder built in for Almarsquos soul to use to climb out

ldquoLike thisrdquo The gravedigger laid his shovel diagonally across a top corner of the grave and jumped down He grabbed the middle of the shovel handle and swung himself back up and out with the agility of a gymnast ldquoNothinrsquo to itrdquo

ldquoI canrsquot do thatrdquoldquoYes you can Irsquoll boost you And wersquoll lift the kids

Yoursquoll be amazed I promiserdquoI shivered The idea of being inside a grave

seemed much colder than the snow crystals biting at my face

ldquoCome onrdquo he said and jumped back in Nikki and Josh willingly stepped over to him to be lifted down I had no choice but to follow I couldnrsquot let my kids alone in a grave with a man I didnrsquot even know

So I jumped The earth on the bottom made a soft landing The soil around me was warm and steamy It was moist and dark but it enfolded us in an earthy hug At least fifty degrees warmer than the air above ground it felt as if the earth were offering shelter respite a comfortable place to snuggle down and rest Tiny roots dangled full of life from the smooth edges of the hole Tears sprang to my eyes I couldnrsquot help them My eyes met the gravediggerrsquos and he smiled Gently ldquoSeerdquo he said Nothing more

I couldnrsquot speak A few minutes later he gave me a stirrup with his

hands I scrambled out and he lifted Nikki and Josh up to me Then he flipped himself out as easily as a trapeze artist

ldquoThank yourdquo I said ldquoI would never have guessedrdquoHe nodded ldquoNobody does But it helps somehow

I wanted you to feel thatrdquoWhy I wanted to ask why me You donrsquot even

know me Why were you willing to take time for usldquoThank yourdquo was all I said I shook his hand and

he hopped on the Ditchwitch and drove off into the snow

I never saw him again Someone else dug the next grave required in that cemetery

I remember only bits and pieces of the funeral Irsquom sure I baked a boxed cake mix for ldquolunchrdquo afterwards I remember answering Nikkirsquos questions about the body and sitting in the back row of the church in case Josh didnrsquot want to be quiet I do remember looking at the unfamiliar face in the casket and thinking you get to rest in a warm cozy place

Ten winters later we buried my dad on just such a day Wet snow crystals pelted us and piled up so deep the funeral home limousine got stuck in the cemetery By the time the pallbearers pushed it un-stuck their suit pants were caked in slush and mud

We stood at the graveside in the bleak wet icy day and lowered my fatherrsquos body into the ground

ldquoToo bad itrsquos such a miserable dayrdquo ldquoSorry about your dad Sorry the weatherrsquos so bad toordquo And even ldquoSuch a good man He deserves better weather than thisrdquo

But the weather I thought was just right Losing my dad my kids and their cousins losing

their grandpa my mom becoming a widow my brother losing his farming partner and best friend changed our livesmdashthat part was too heavy to carry

The only part that was okay for me was to let Dadrsquos worn-out body be wrapped in that welcoming warm enfolding soilmdashthe very soil hersquod loved to till the soil hersquod planted and tended all his life the soil that gave us all lifemdashthat was the only gratifying part of the day

The only comfort I had was letting Dad go from the cold wet biting snow into that warm and restful place

And I still wonder who that gravedigger was ten years earlier and how he knew how much I would need what he gave me that bleak winter day MM

Rebecca Fjelland Davis is an author from Mankato

MM p01 0116indd 23 12182015 24528 PM

reFlecTionsBy Pat Christman

24 bull January 2016 bull MANKATO MAGAZINE

MM p01 0116indd 24 12182015 24544 PM

reFlecTionsBy Pat Christman

MANKATO MAGAZINE  bull January 2016 bull 25

There are few things as inevitable as snow during a Minnesota winter Big

cotton ball-like snowflakes cover the ground in a white blanket whitewashing the Midwestern landscape

We struggle against it Some hope the snow never comes It always does filling the sky with floating snowflakes that cling to the ground but melt as soon as they hit the small bits of face or hands that peek out from winter clothing

It is often quite beautiful especially when viewed from someplace warm and dry MM

MM p01 0116indd 25 12182015 24548 PM

26 bull January 2016 bull MANKATO MAGAZINE

Then amp now Vice President Schuyler Colfaxrsquos Death By Bryce o sTenzel

On Jan 14 1885 one day after his death the New York Times carried a

headline that read ldquoSchuyler Colfax Dead He Drops Down in a Railway Stationrdquo While most Americans today would have tremendous difficulty in even recognizing this manrsquos name

(unless they were paying close attention to Stephen Spielbergrsquos epic movie Lincoln and made the association) Schuyler Colfax was a former Speaker of the House of Representatives and Vice President of the United States under President US Grant He died in Mankatorsquos Chicago St

Paul Minneapolis amp Omaha railroad depot from a massive heart attack

Schuyler Colfax Jr was born in New York City on March 23 1823 His father died of tuberculosis five months before Schuyler was born His sister Mary died four months after his [Schuylerrsquos]

vice President Schuyler Colfaxrsquos Death in Mankato

MM p01 0116indd 26 12182015 24549 PM

MANKATO MAGAZINE  bull January 2016 bull 27

birth The young Schuyler attended school only until he was 10 He then began working to support his family Schuyler Colfax never attended any kind of secondary school or college His mother remarried when Colfax was 13 and the family moved to New Carlisle Indiana By the time he was 22 Colfax was the editor and owner of a pro-Whig newspaper He was elected to Congress in 1854 and joined the newly formed Republican Party after the Whig Party disintegrated Solidly anti-slavery his colleagues elected Colfax as Speaker of the US House of Representatives in 1863 His election came soon after the death of his wife Evelyn The couple had no children

Colfax was President Abraham Lincolnrsquos first and last visitor on the fateful day Lincoln was assassinatedmdashApril 14 1865 Early that morning Colfax arrived at the White House while the president was having breakfast Colfax wanted to know whether or not Lincoln planned to call a special session of Congress for later that summer Lincolnrsquos answer was a polite but firm ldquonordquo Lincoln preferred a lenient approach in reconstructing as well as readmitting the former Confederate states to the Union now that the Civil War was over This approach put Lincoln at odds with the more ldquoradicalrdquo congressional members of his own party who preferred harsher measures be taken against their former enemies Lincoln had already made up his mind how he wanted to proceed with reconstructing the former Confederate states and he didnrsquot want any unnecessary interference from Congress Calling a special session was the last thing Lincoln wanted to do Colfax returned that same night to see Lincoln again just before the president left for Fordrsquos Theatre and his appointment with destiny This time Colfax came upon Lincolnrsquos own request The president had a long message for the silver miners of the Comstock Lode in Nevada thanking them for their loyalty to the Union that he wanted Speaker Colfax to deliver in person since Colfax was leaving by train for the West the next day Colfax was the last person Lincoln spoke to besides his wife Mary before he

was fatally shot at 1015 pm Colfax never forgave himself for turning down Lincolnrsquos invitation to be part of the theatre party that night

In 1868 Republicans selected General Ulysses S Grant as their presidential candidate Grant a military man his entire life had no political background Colfax was placed on the ticket because of his prior experience as a congressman and Speaker of the House (he resigned the position in 1869) Grant and Colfax won an easy victory in November 1868 Only two weeks later Colfax remarriedmdashthis time to Ellen Wade (niece of Ohio Senator Benjamin Wade) Their only child son Schuyler Colfax III was born in 1870

Colfax is best remembered (if at all) for his involvement in the corruption that beset Grantrsquos entire presidency Specifically the Credit Mobilier scandal broke in 1872 just as Grant and Colfax were gearing up for their re-election campaign Colfax was suspected of accepting shares of stock and cash bribes from ldquoCredit Mobilierrdquo a dummy construction company set up by the Union Pacific Railroad He was by no means the only influential person involved in the scandal Other political figures investigated included Senators Roscoe Conkling of New York William Allison of Iowa John Logan of Illinois James Bayard of Delaware and Henry Wilson of Massachusetts Grant was less popular in 1872 than he had been four years earlier and many Republicans worried that having Colfax on the partyrsquos ticket would harm the presidentrsquos re-election chances They dumped Colfax from the ticket mdash only to replace him with the also-tainted Wilson Grant won re-election and served his second and final term from 1873-1877 After being forced out from the vice presidency Colfax traveled the country as a popular lecturer often speaking about his interactions with Abraham Lincoln during the Civil War He rebuilt his tarnished reputation and commanded speaking fees as high as $2500

At 10 am on Jan 13 1885 Schuyler Colfax arrived in Mankato aboard a train from Milwaukee Mankato was just a

brief stop for Colfax who was on his way to Iowa for a speaking engagement The Chicago Milwaukee amp St Paul as well as the Chicago St Paul Minneapolis amp Omaha railroads both had depots in Mankato but because they were separate competing railroad lines Colfax was required to change trains by walking three-quarters of a mile from the Chicago Milwaukee amp St Paul depot at the foot of Hickory Street to the Chicago St Paul Minneapolis amp Omaha depot at Fourth and Washington Streets (now Washington Park) from which the next leg of his journey would depart Despite a reported temperature of 30 degrees below zero Colfax walked from one station to the other Within five minutes after he arrived at the Omaha linersquos depot Colfax entered the waiting room looked at a map on the wall sat down and died It was 1035 am No one in the station knew who the dead man actually was until they searched his pockets and found a letter with his name on it His death was likely caused by a heart attack brought on by the physical exertion of walking almost a mile in extreme cold Colfax was only 61 when he died His remains were returned to South Bend Indiana for burial

Today few Americans are aware that anyone named Schuyler Colfax ever lived much less served as vice president of the United States In this era in which officeholders are often treated as celebrities imagine how surprised people would be to learn that a former vice president died cold alone and unrecognized in a train station 131 years ago Before 24-hour news channels smart phones and social media it was possible for public figures like Colfax to live ndash and die ndash in relative obscurity Ironically Colfax loved the railroad but in the end it was the cause of his undoing Mankato has the distinction of being the location where the last man to personally speak to Abraham Lincoln in a private conversation took his last breath

MM p01 0116indd 27 12182015 24549 PM

28 bull January 2016 bull MANKATO MAGAZINE

Mayo Clinic offers pediatric and adolescent orthopedic services right here in Mankato Todd Milbrandt MD cares for patients with a variety of needs including

bull Cerebral palsy

bull Clubfoot

bull Hip disorders

bull Spinal disorders

bull Sports injuries

bull Scoliosis

bull Spina bifida

Mayo Clinic Health System in Mankato Call 1-877-412-7575 (toll-free) to schedule an appointment

495rdquox495rdquo Mankato Magazine January

Orthopedic care for your child

Independent ampAssisted Living

EQUAL HOUSINGOPPORTUNITY

1360 Adams StreetMankato MN

PrimroseRetirementcom

reg

Key City Senior Breakfast ClubThe Key City Senior Breakfast Club meets the first Thursday of each month from 830 AM - 930 AM at Primrose Retirement Community The club gives those 55+ the opportunity to meet new friends and visit old ones socialize with Key City Officials and enjoy a delicious home-cooked breakfast To visit a Key City Senior Breakfast please call (866) 447-9636

Mark your calendar for these breakfast dates Thursday January 7th Thursday March 3rd and Thursday May 5th

刀椀渀最 椀渀 琀栀攀 

一攀眀 夀攀愀爀

㔀 㜀ⴀ㤀㐀ⴀ㐀㐀䨀甀氀攀攀猀䨀攀眀攀氀爀礀挀漀洀

椀渀 匀愀椀渀琀 倀攀琀攀爀

20765 Foley Rd Mankato MN | 5073872434 | 5077262411

Three TimeNational Award Winners

MM p02 0116indd 28 12182015 30742 PM

Mayo Clinic offers pediatric and adolescent orthopedic services right here in Mankato Todd Milbrandt MD cares for patients with a variety of needs including

bull Cerebral palsy

bull Clubfoot

bull Hip disorders

bull Spinal disorders

bull Sports injuries

bull Scoliosis

bull Spina bifida

Mayo Clinic Health System in Mankato Call 1-877-412-7575 (toll-free) to schedule an appointment

495rdquox495rdquo Mankato Magazine January

Orthopedic care for your child

Independent ampAssisted Living

EQUAL HOUSINGOPPORTUNITY

1360 Adams StreetMankato MN

PrimroseRetirementcom

reg

Key City Senior Breakfast ClubThe Key City Senior Breakfast Club meets the first Thursday of each month from 830 AM - 930 AM at Primrose Retirement Community The club gives those 55+ the opportunity to meet new friends and visit old ones socialize with Key City Officials and enjoy a delicious home-cooked breakfast To visit a Key City Senior Breakfast please call (866) 447-9636

Mark your calendar for these breakfast dates Thursday January 7th Thursday March 3rd and Thursday May 5th

OMG hellip More food and drinksOK sure

By now yoursquore probably thinking ldquoOh my gosh the last thing I want to think about right now is more food more drinking and more diningrdquo

Fair enough We get it The holidays are murder on the metabolism of many many Minnesotans

But we also know that those metabolisms are hardy and soon enough theyrsquoll be hankering for a hunk of something yummy and full of fun And whatrsquos more yummy and full of fun than a big glass of Cabernet Sauvignon Our wine guy Leigh Pomeroy takes us on a tour of all that is tasty and wonderful about big red wines the kind that leave their mark the kind that really announce their presence on your palate

And just in case yoursquore super serious about a healthy lifestyle mdash and that seriousness extends to the kind of beer you choose mdash Bert Mattson our beer guy has just the selection for you Best part is Itrsquos light

Oh and under the category of ldquoDid you hear about thisrdquo Wersquove got an update for you on the Coffee Hag Mankatorsquos original coffee house and one of the most popular hangouts in town Seriously some days itrsquos hard to find a seat in that place

EnjoyPS We know that baby itrsquos cold outside mdash thatrsquos why wersquove

thrown you our absolute best hot cocoa recipe

Enjoymdash Robb Murray Associate Editor Mankato Magazine

food drink amp dineso

uthern m

n style

20765 Foley Rd Mankato MN | 5073872434 | 5077262411

Three TimeNational Award Winners

MM p02 0116indd 29 12182015 30745 PM

MANKATO 5073854485 AMBOY 5076743355 I VERNON CENTER 5075493679

INSURANCE OFFICES LOCATED IN THE COMMUNITY BANK BUILDINGS

wwwcimankatocom

Protecting the things that matter most in your life

Let us help protect what is important to you At Community Insurance we have the ability to compare insurance from multiple companies to get you the best coverage at a great price Combine that with our insurance knowledge and friendly group of agents and we say thatrsquos a winning deal

WHERE YOUR POLICY COMES WITH AN AGENT

Christina Meyer

Food

south

ern mn style

Food

south

ern mn style

By The Washington Post

Growing up my mother always encouraged her children to cook So when

I found a recipe for hot chocolate on the side of the Hersheyrsquos Cocoa can it was easy to convince her to let me give it a try

What I discovered was that hot chocolate doesnrsquot have to come from an envelope

This recipe has been a favorite of mine to make on days when winter weather has convinced me stay home and off the roads Itrsquos the perfect way to kill time and have a nice hot drink to warm you up on those chilly days

Although you can top it with whipped cream I prefer marshmallows

FAVORITE HOT COCOAMakes 4 to 6 servings

12 cup sugar14 cup unsweetened cocoa powder

Dash of salt13 cup hot water

4 cups milk34 teaspoon vanilla extract

Whipped cream or marshmallows (optional)

Mix sugar cocoa powder salt and water in a sauce pan Stir constantly over medium heat until mixture comes to a boil (about 2 minutes) Stir in

milk and heat Bring the hot chocolate to the desired temperature but do not boil Remove from heat and

add the vanilla extract Divide into mugs and top with whipped cream or marshmallows

PERFECTLY CHOCOLATE HOT COCOA

Makes 1 serving

2 tablespoons sugar2 tablespoons unsweetened cocoa powder

Dash salt1 cup milk

14 teaspoon vanilla extractWhipped cream or marshmallows (optional)

Mix sugar cocoa powder and salt into large mug In separate microwave-safe container heat on high

for 1 to 1 frac12 minutes or until very hot Carefully and gradually add milk to dry mixture Stir well Add vanilla extract Top with whipped cream or

marshmallows

Simple homemade hot chocolate

beats the winter chill

30 bull January 2016 bull MANKATO MAGAZINE

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MANKATO MAGAZINE  bull January 2016 bull 31

Oil Change to OverhaulWe do it all

507-387-13151620 Commerce Drive North MankatowwwAustinsAutoRepairCentercom

Voted Best Auto Repair and Best Auto Mechanic 4 Years in a Row

AUSTINrsquoS AUTO REPAIR CENTER INC

MANKATO 5073854485 AMBOY 5076743355 I VERNON CENTER 5075493679

INSURANCE OFFICES LOCATED IN THE COMMUNITY BANK BUILDINGS

wwwcimankatocom

Protecting the things that matter most in your life

Let us help protect what is important to you At Community Insurance we have the ability to compare insurance from multiple companies to get you the best coverage at a great price Combine that with our insurance knowledge and friendly group of agents and we say thatrsquos a winning deal

WHERE YOUR POLICY COMES WITH AN AGENT

Christina Meyer

MM p02 0116indd 31 12182015 30755 PM

32 bull January 2016 bull MANKATO MAGAZINE

January is Cabernet TimeWersquove celebrated nearly

every January edition of Mankato Magazine with

a paean to BIG REDS And since there are so many wonderful examples why stop now

Last year I wrote about the powerful big reds of Italy This January wersquoll focus on Cabernet Sauvignon known to many as ldquothe king of winesrdquo Most oenophiles (wine lovers) consider the quintessential representations of this grape to be the classified Bordeaux of southwest France near the city of Bordeaux The five First Growths (or best wines according to a classification made in 1855 and updated in 1973) are Ch Lafite Rothschild Ch Margaux Ch Latour Ch Haut Brion and Ch Mouton Rothschild All have a cabernet sauvignon base but they are blended with merlot and often a little bit of cabernet franc and petit verdot as well

In the early 1970s I was able to buy these wines for around $22 per bottle mdash about $120 in 2016 dollars Yet with the popularity of ldquocollectiblerdquo wines on a worldwide

basis they sell today for anywhere from $400 on up

Contrary to popular belief these wines are not that massive Rather they combine cabernet sauvignon power with

structure and finesse yielding wines that become with time elixirs that are greater than the sum of their parts

Both California and Washington state have taken up the Cabernet Sauvignon challenge and are producing world-class wines at sometimes world-class prices Napa Valley is the recognized leader in this arena and rightly so Napa Valleyrsquos top Cabernet

Wine amp B

eerso

uthern m

n style

winesBy Leigh Pomeroy

Leigh Pomeroy is a Mankato-based writer and wine lover

Cabernet Sauvignon is the black Labrador of wines mdash it comes up and licks yourdquo

mdash Winemaker Scott Rich

Sauvignons rival the great wines of Bordeaux for quality mdash Irsquove tasted them side-by-side mdashand yet can sell for a fraction of their price

One such example is the 2013 Tulocay Cabernet Sauvignon from my old friend Bill Cadman We were young bucks in Napa Valley and had a tasting group in the early 1970s along with now-famous wine luminaries Bruce Neyers (Neyers Vineyards) and Mike Richmond (co-founder of Acacia Vineyard)

Billrsquos Cabernet is from an old and relatively cool growing area east of the City of Napa called Coombsville which because of industry political issues only recently received its AVA (American Viticultural Area) designation It is priced at $60 per bottle yet compares with any top-flight Bordeaux as well as the more expensive offerings from Napa Valley which can cost from $100 on up Not currently available at wine stores or restaurants in Minnesota it can be purchased by contacting the winery directly via its website tulocaycom The winery is so small that Bill will probably answer the phone himself

There is a lot of Cabernet Sauvignon available from California but mdash caveat emptor mdash not all growing areas (or appellations) are the same The best Cabernet Sauvignons are from Napa and Sonoma Counties Cabernets simply labeled ldquoCaliforniardquo or perhaps ldquoCoastalrdquo while sometimes good values lack the complexity of the greater Cabernet Sauvignons from the more northern parts of the state

Washington state has also

established itself as a prime producer of Cabernet Sauvignon But here again quality can vary greatly depending upon the area and producer While there is no ldquogo-tordquo appellation for Cabernet Sauvignon in Washington there are producers that are able to secure fruit from the best vineyards

One such example is the tiny Willis Hall Winery owned by another good friend John Bell a former Boeing jet propulsion engineer Like Tulocay its wines are only available by calling up the winery and ordering some (See willishallcom) But there are many other top quality producers in Washington like Quilceda Creek Leonetti Betz Family and Woodward Canyon

Of course not everyone can afford Cabernet Sauvignons in the $60-plus category One excellent everyday drinking example is the Flying Cloud 2013 Paso Robles Cabernet Sauvignon made by Mankato native Stephen Dooley Normally I donrsquot like Paso Robles Cabs as they tend to be too fruity and too soft for my palate mdash almost like drinking berry jam But this one is quite restrained no doubt helped by the inclusion of 13 percent zinfandel and 9 percent petite sirah in the blend

In Mankato both the Wine Cafeacute and MGM carry the Flying Cloud but at its price and quality I wouldnrsquot count on it lasting for long especially since only 759 cases were produced

So letrsquos raise a glass of Cabernet and say ldquoCheersrdquo to the New Year

MM p02 0116indd 32 12182015 30756 PM

MANKATO MAGAZINE  bull January 2016 bull 33

Bert Mattson is a chef and writer based in St Paul He is the manager of the iconic Mickeyrsquos Diner

Beer Skinny

BeerBy Bert Mattson

Last year according to Nielsen research staying fit and healthy was

the number one New Yearrsquos resolution Losing weight was two Three was to enjoy life to the fullest Unfortunately ldquolose weight and get fitrdquo also topped Time magazinersquos list of commonly broken resolutions Is this shortfall due to tension between the top two and that third one If so craft beer may have a role in the compromise Bad news first

In the context of losing weight and staying fit beer lovers might seek solace in the fact that fat carries nine calories per gram while alcohol has only seven The wrinkle is that those seven are ldquoemptyrdquo mdash calories without nutrition as opposed to those from fat protein and carbohydrates Moreover alcoholrsquos calories are the first burned when combined with the others the human body postpones burning fat while it works on alcohol Furthermore beer (and wine and often cocktails) contains carbohydrates which release insulin and can hasten fat storage Finally many drinkers have undoubtedly observed that alcohol loosens inhibitions after which an eager indulgence in unhealthy foods often occurs (Bar menus are rarely helpful in that respect)

By now you may wonder whose side Irsquom actually on Or suspect Irsquove led you to this dark place only to offer you a Lite No worries a couple craft brewers have been considering ways to keep us true to our resolutions

Evil Twin Brewingrsquos Bikini Beer drops the alcohol to 27 percent but stays bold by way of hops A Pale Ale it hits the nose with citrus suggestive of IPA The flavor follows suit floral and lemon There is an expected absence of malt yielding to bitterness up front that fades at the finish An alternative

for those who insist on the full effect Founderrsquos Brewing Companyrsquos All Day IPA rings in at a respectable 144 calories (Evil Twinrsquos entry comes in at 81)

One strategy to beat the beer munchies and avoid costly impulse eating is to have suitable chow on hand With Bikini Beer try a salad sporting blue cheese and some sort of dried fruit Creamy blue veined cheeses echo the hops while balancing bitterness An occasional bite of dried fruit stands in for malt sweetness

Brooklyn Breweryrsquos 12 Ale weighs in at 34 percent alcohol (102 calories) It is alliteratively labeled ldquoSession Saisonrdquo It opens with a waft of citrus and spice and a little lemongrass from Sorachi Ace hops mdash a hybrid developed in East Asia The same elements are found in the flavor which is a bit more subdued than a full-sized Saison

Try it with a tangle of arugula dressed with lemon and a fruity olive oil tossed with pine nuts and topped with shaved Parmesan for effect The greens and cracked pepper reflect spicy phenolic elements in the yeast Salty cheese counters the beerrsquos lingering bitterness Maybe add a few slices of Speck cured ham and Saison share a certain funkiness

If friends show and it becomes a session you may honestly say you spent Saturday working on your six-pack

MM p02 0116indd 33 12182015 30757 PM

34 bull January 2016 bull MANKATO MAGAZINE

Food

south

ern mn style

Food

south

ern mn style

The Coffee Hag one of the arearsquos oldest (and coolest) bistros recently underwent a major expansion and remodeling journey culminating in a large and airy

seating area along with a much-improved kitchen and a new menu Mankato Magazine caught up with a very busy (and slightly exhausted) owner Jenn Melby-Kelly who weighs in on how itrsquos going

MANKATO MAGAZINE Are you personally enjoying the new updatesJENN MELBY-KELLY It Is Fabulous The new space represents so much more than a remodel to me It has brought to life a vision for my business thatrsquos been years in the making It incorporates many many good ideas from many many people I feel so fortunate to get to see that every time I walk through the door

MM How are customers reactingJMK Thatrsquos been one of the best parts The response has been overwhelmingly positive

A few of our most regular customers had the opportunity to get a glimpse of the remodel while it was underway (we gave some informal preview tours while we were operating the temporary stand outside) but many customers walk through the door now and see it all for the first time Itrsquos especially fun to see and hear that kind of wide-eyed reaction

A few people with special connections to The Hag have had even stronger emotional responses and Irsquom so touched and right there with them when I see eyes well up as they see what wersquove done Itrsquos a very big milestone for a very special place and wersquore blessed to have people that care so deeply

MM Do the employees appreciate the new spaceJMK Oh probably more than anyone There was a lot that we sought to do with the remodel but creating a bigger brighter better-equipped space for our team was certainly one of the primary goals Wersquove got an incredible team truly the most spirited and talented people anyone could hope for

Many of them have spent years with me working hard against the challenge of a small under-equipped space and just barely being able to keeping up with growing demand Itrsquos been a special blessing for them and for me to finally have state-of-the-art space thatrsquos made for the work that we do We all feel a special connection to this place and now more than ever the place reflects the good energy we all bring here every day

MM Is the new menu a hit (The Hag specializes in vegetarianvegan cuisine)JMK Yes but just wait Feedback and demand have been excellent with our food offerings already but wersquore just getting started on some of the really exciting things that are coming to our food menu

Remodeling the cafe was just the first major milestone of our two-part expansion plan Next up wersquore building a state of the art off-site commissary kitchen that will do for our incredible culinary team what the remodeled shop has done for our baristas Theyrsquove been working day and night on taking our already fantastic food offerings to a whole new level

Wersquove already introduced some amazing new menu items like the Garden Grilled Cheese panini (trust me itrsquos like nothing yoursquove had before) and some truly outstanding new vegan baked goods Wersquove also improved our classic offerings with house-made

Interview with Jenn Melby-Kelly owner of The Coffee Hag

By Sarah Johnson

MM p02 0116indd 34 12182015 30802 PM

MANKATO MAGAZINE  bull January 2016 bull 35

Happy New Year

Locally Owned amp Operated

Check Weekly Specialsmgmwineandspiritscommankato

Largest Selection ofbull Liquor bull Wine bull Beer bull

Hours Monday-Saturday 8 am - 10 pm

ATMs at all stores

Mankato201 Victory Dr

625-2420

North Mankato1755 Commerce Dr

387-2634

St Peter100 N Minnesota Ave

934-8964

sourdough and whole wheat breads But as impressive as it is already itrsquos just a taste mdash literally mdash of things to come as we bring our new kitchen online

MM Whatrsquos stayed the sameJMK Irsquom really proud to say that while wersquove touched almost every part of this 23-year-old business wersquove kept even more than we have changed From the first days of this project I made it my personal mission and responsibility to make sure that the ldquosoulrdquo of this special place was only enhanced and never lost as we made the updates

In every area of the remodel as wersquove added some necessary new layers of sophistication The Hagrsquos colorful quirky and even rebellious spirit is still very much a part of the space We did a lot to try to make sure it still looked and felt like ldquohomerdquo

And on a deeper level every step wersquove taken with the growth of our business has been chosen carefully to honor the core parts of The Coffee Hagrsquos identity Our focus on community our support for local art and music our commitment to creating a safe and welcoming space for everyone our efforts to lead the way on social and environmental issues affecting our world near and far mdash those have all stayed the same And those will always be at the heart of what we do

MM Anything elseJMK Irsquom so incredibly grateful for the support of our customers and community And whenever I talk about my business and how it has grown I really canrsquot overstate how thankful I am for my beautiful Coffee Hag family The hard work good energy and earnest contributions of so many people mdash past and present mdash have brought me and my business here An incredible amount of love has gone into this business and made this dream a reality

MM p02 0116indd 35 12222015 121240 PM

36 bull January 2016 bull MANKATO MAGAZINE

xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

Food

south

ern mn style

whatrsquos Cooking By Sarah Johnson

Sarah Johnson is a cook freelance writer and chocolate addict from North Mankato with three grown kids and a couple of mutts

As I was pondering my subject matter for todayrsquos column I started wondering about all the different items the word ldquonutsrdquo can refer

to Crazy people are called nuts so are hexagonal metal objects that attach to bolts Nuts can be the end of things (as in ldquofrom soup to nutsrdquo) or they can be the beginning of them (as in ldquosperm incubatorsrdquo) Nut can also mean onersquos head or onersquos lump of something such as butter And if you accidentally get a nut of butter on your nut you can exclaim ldquoNutsrdquo

My favorite meaning of the word nut however is the dry indehiscent one-seeded fruit with a woody pericarp And I donrsquot even know what indehiscent OR pericarp means But these are the wonderful denizens of the world of edible nuts

Nuts are widely credited with all sorts of health benefits for the heart brain male reproductive system prostate cholesterol level fiber intake and avoidance of some types of cancer And while nuts do contain fat itrsquos the ldquogoodrdquo kind heart-healthy monounsaturated and polyunsaturated fat Their mix of omega-3 fatty acids protein and fiber helps you feel full and suppresses the appetite

Nuts are great in desserts and salads of course but they also shine in stir-fries casseroles soups chicken pork fish and even beverages Nut butters nut milks and nut oils add delicious options to our kitchen larders Breads cereals muffins and pancakes gain texture flavor and nutrition from the addition of nuts Basically anytime is a good time for nuts

Which is a wonderful thing because nuts taste so good you would think they had to be very very bad The reason lies deep in their oils

Walnut Oil is strong and flavorful Itrsquos best when used in uncooked sauces or salad dressing

Hazelnut Oil has a strong flavor and is great for the heart

Almond Oil is very popular and has a much milder flavor than walnut oil or hazelnut oil

Pecan Macadamia Nut Pistachio Cashew and Pine Nut Oils are flavorful and unique The freshness of the nuts used really affects the flavor

ldquoTherersquos Nuttinrsquo Nutty About Nutsrdquo

For the Baklava1 pound pistachios hazelnuts walnuts pecans andor almonds coarsely ground plus more for garnish12 teaspoon ground cinnamon1 cup breadcrumbs4 sticks unsalted butter melted16 sheets phyllo dough (thawed if frozen) cut in half

For the Syrup3 cups sugar1 6 -to-8-ounce jar honey1 frac12 cups water1 to 2 tablespoons fresh lemon juice

If yoursquore under the impression that baklava is much too labor-intensive and complicated to make at home think again Anybody can make

it no special skills equipment or exotic ingredients are required A word about phyllo dough Itrsquos sold in frozen packages so you need to remove the package from the freezer and let it thaw in the fridge 24 hours before you want to make the baklava Then about an hour beforehand remove the package from the fridge and let it sit on the counter

Walnuts or pistachios are the most traditional nuts to fill baklava but using other nuts works wonders as well Simply layer the phyllo with the nut filling and butter bake for an hour and finish with a simple honeyed syrup If you have leftover nuts from the holidays herersquos your chance to use them up

Mixed Nut Baklava

MM p02 0116indd 36 12182015 30812 PM

MANKATO MAGAZINE  bull January 2016 bull 37

MONEY MATTERS WORK SMARTLET COMMUNITY BANK HELP YOUBRING THE TWO TOGETHER

MANKATO - SAINT ANDREWS DR 5073854444MANKATO - MADISON AVE 5076251551VERNON CENTER 5075493679AMBOY 5076743300

JULIE VETTERSR VICE PRESIDENTRETAIL BANKING

We support great causes like yoursAt Community Bank we know good things happen when you have a good bank So we make more possible by keeping banking simple and supportive And by giving you the power that comes with innovative solutions like our Health Savings Account It offers you tax-free savings for future medical expenses Stop by anytime Wersquore always ready to help out a great cause

Position a rack in the lower third of the oven preheat to 350 degrees Combine the nuts cinnamon and breadcrumbs in a bowl

Brush a 9x13-inch baking dish with some of the butter Layer 10 pieces of phyllo in the dish brushing each piece with butter before adding the next (keep the remaining dough covered with a damp towel) Sprinkle a quarter of the nut mixture over the dough Layer four pieces of phyllo on top brushing each with butter before adding the next sprinkle with another quarter of the nut mixture Add four more phyllo pieces on top brushing each with butter then add another quarter of the nut mixture four more pieces of phyllo with butter and the remaining nuts

Layer the remaining 10 pieces of phyllo on top of the nuts brushing each with butter brush the top piece with extra butter Cut into the baklava to make strips about 1 12 inches wide Then make diagonal slices about 1 12 inches apart to create a diamond pattern Bake until golden about one hour

Meanwhile make the syrup Bring the sugar honey and 1 12 cups water to a boil in a saucepan over medium heat and cook 10 to 15 minutes Add the lemon juice and boil 2 more minutes then let cool slightly Pour the syrup over the warm baklava let soak uncovered at least six hours or overnight Garnish with nuts

MM p02 0116indd 37 12182015 30817 PM

38 bull bull MANKATO MAGAZINE

Nell Musolf is a mom and freelance writer from Mankato She blogs at nellmusolfcom

38 bull bull MANKATO MAGAZINE

MM p02 0116indd 38 12182015 30822 PM

MANKATO MAGAZINE  bull January 2016 bull 39

Gear Up for WinterYear-Round amp Insulated Workwear from

Carhartt Dickies and Key

UNIFORMSUniforms fromBarco Carhartt Cherokee DickiesKoi Peaches and White Cross

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Call 5073446336mankatomagmankatofreepresscom

Stephanie L Hylla LAc Dipl AcKayla M Sweeney MOm LAc

NEW LOCATION709 S Front Suite 5

5074694788mankatoacupuncturecom

Open House ndash Wednesday Feb 3 9-12noonCelebrating 5 years of Business New Location and the Chinese New Year

In Network with Blue Cross Blue ShieldLicensed by the MN Board of Medical Practice

Ribbon Cutting with Greater Mankato Growth at 10am

(A $250 Value)THIS VOUCHER ENTITLES NEW PATIENTS TO A

CONSULTATION EXAM amp DIGITAL X-RAYS (IF NEEDED)

wwwr igne l l fami lych i roprac t ic comMedicare Restrictions Apply Expires January 31 2016

Dr BrandonRignell DC

1351 Madison AveSuite D

Mankato MN 56001

5077797313

$2900New Patient Special

MM p02 0116indd 39 12222015 121344 PM

40 bull bull MANKATO MAGAZINE

Jean Lundquist is a master gardener who lives near Good Thunder

MM p02 0116indd 40 12182015 30834 PM

MANKATO MAGAZINE  bull January 2016 bull 41

3 Increase the Value of Your Home

3 Update Your Homersquos Appearance

3 Save Money

Choose from SeveralModels Styles amp Colors

507-625-7110 or 1-800-645-36671125 Cross St North Mankato MN

Improve Your HomersquosEnergy Efficiency

422 Park Lane Mankato MN | NuStarMankatocom

(507) 381-4747Voted One of Mankatorsquos Best

DANIEL WINGERT

Make Selling Your Home Your NuYearrsquos Resolution

MM p02 0116indd 41 12182015 30839 PM

42 bull January 2016 bull MANKATO MAGAZINE

January Resolve to moisturize

Your stYLeBy Ann Rosenquist Fee

Ann Rosenquist Fee is executive director of the Arts Center of Saint Peter and a vocalist with The Frye She blogs at annrosenquistfeecom

If you have in-laws or colleagues who know you well enough to have given you holiday gifts

but not well enough to know what wouldrsquove truly made you happy congratulations Chances are yoursquore the proud owner of a bunch of brand-new lip balm

Maybe itrsquos even holiday themed Thatrsquos the best Maybe you got the candy-cane flavored kind or wintergreen with holiday graphics on the label or something like that A theme that was irrelevant the moment the stocking was unstuffed because at that exact second the holiday was over

And here you are in January with an abundance of wax

Fortunately also here you are in the early weeks of winter with rough red knuckles Probably also cracked cuticles although it might not have gone that far yet for you Irsquom sure it has for me This photo was taken back in November and even then the Band-Aids were for real Irsquove learned to cut them in half length-wise so as to retain my ability to type Irsquove also learned to play with a range of color options Flesh-toned Clear Disney characters The colorful strips shown here were gifted to me by my husband Partly why theyrsquore cut in half is that the text is obscene This is one small trick you can use to make bloody cuticles your most exciting accessory of the winter

Sources like UrbanSurvivalSitecom and WonderHowTocom will tell you that you can use lip balm for a whole variety of purposes such as coating threads of outdoor lightbulbs before screwing them into their sockets and enhancing the burn-ability of most kindling

These are great fun but they wonrsquot improve your personal style

More germane to winter beauty are the following suggestions

Keep a tube next to your bed for first-thing-in-the-morning use And I mean really truly first-thing I mean smear the stuff on each cuticle while yoursquore still lying there before you start using your fingers at all If you wake up thinking yoursquore fine and skip cuticle care next thing you know yoursquore pushing down the lever on your Keurig and the pressure is more than your screamingly dry skin can take and boom split blood on the Keurig and itrsquos gonna be a long painful day If only you had balmed your hands before you let your feet hit the floor

Keep another tube in your glove compartment If itrsquos warm enough to take off your mittens in the car mdash if yoursquore even wearing mittens given that your hands are snagging on everything these days mdash the harsh January sunlight will allow you to see cracks and flakes in high-resolution detail Yoursquoll want the balm nearby

to cover what you didnrsquot notice first thing in the morning Also a car tube is useful for when you look in the rear-view mirror and notice that your nose and upper lip are flaking as well Itrsquos because yoursquore getting over a cold and the frequent use of tissue has worn away your top layer of skin but just because you know that doesnrsquot mean everybody else wonrsquot think ldquothere is something in that noserdquo Itrsquos just a fact Itrsquos what it looks like Lip balm to the rescue Itrsquos the only thing dry enough to slick those flakes in place and nourishing enough to maybe actually get your face back to normal

Keep a couple more tubes in a nighttime kit along with sandpaper Sandpaper Yes Not a pumice stone not a lame also-gifted sugar

scrub Medium-grit sandpaper is what you need every night lightly but with conviction As follows 1) Sand taking care not to do more damage than what the elements have already done Yoursquore just trying to remove the dry dead stuff Yoursquore just being hearty and efficient about this true to the culture of this great state in which yoursquove chosen to winter You are no pansy Sand your hands 2) Wash 3) Blot dry 4) Dial up the gifted balm whisper a word of thanks to the person who put so much thought into your well-being that they stuffed your holiday stocking with this amazing gift of self-care smash a healthy amount down into your palms massage Take heart You just might find yourself with normal-textured non-cracked not-horrible-looking hands by morning

Split-open cuticles I feel you Except for these Band-Aids I feel you

Lip balms I have been gifted and these are just from last Christmas ldquolastrdquo as in 2014

Bathrooms Worth Bragging About

HoursTue amp Wed amp Fri | 9 am to 6 pmMon amp Thu | 9 am to 7 pmSaturday | 9 am to 4 pm

219 S Victory Dr | Mankato507 | 345 | 7009ipafhickorytechnetindependentpaintandflooringcom

You Deserve Comfortable Care Every Timebull Sedation - Complete Relaxation with Just a Pillbull Invisalign - Clear Alternative to Bracesbull Botox amp Fillersbull Implants - Placement and Restorationbull Cerec - One Visit Crown Technology

bull Free Whitening Programbull 3D Imaging with Fewer X-Raysbull Cosmetic Dentistrybull Drill-Free Technologybull Emergency Care

1400 Lookout Drive North Mankato507-625-CARE(2273) bull mankatodentistcom 06

1865

6124

01

Dr AngelA Schuck

Dr keith FlAck

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MANKATO MAGAZINE  bull January 2016 bull 43

Bathrooms Worth Bragging About

HoursTue amp Wed amp Fri | 9 am to 6 pmMon amp Thu | 9 am to 7 pmSaturday | 9 am to 4 pm

219 S Victory Dr | Mankato507 | 345 | 7009ipafhickorytechnetindependentpaintandflooringcom

You Deserve Comfortable Care Every Timebull Sedation - Complete Relaxation with Just a Pillbull Invisalign - Clear Alternative to Bracesbull Botox amp Fillersbull Implants - Placement and Restorationbull Cerec - One Visit Crown Technology

bull Free Whitening Programbull 3D Imaging with Fewer X-Raysbull Cosmetic Dentistrybull Drill-Free Technologybull Emergency Care

1400 Lookout Drive North Mankato507-625-CARE(2273) bull mankatodentistcom 06

1865

6124

01

Dr AngelA Schuck

Dr keith FlAck

(944) 412-7949 | OrthoEdgeMNcom

Enjoy the season

Mankato St Peter

Be active Be healthyBe able with OrthoEdge

The OrthoEdge joint replacement

program offers superb care from your first

visit through recovery The surgeons from

the Orthopaedic amp Fracture Clinic and

the care team at Riverrsquos Edge Hospital

provide personal and professional care to

get you back to able

Why Riverrsquos Edge Hospital amp Clinic

bull Riverrsquos Edge Hospital amp Clinic has a long-

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MM p02 0116indd 43 12182015 30842 PM

44 bull January 2016 bull MANKATO MAGAZINE

1 Hicktown Mafia800 pm mdash New Ulm Event Center mdash 301 20th St S mdash New Ulm mdash $10 mdash 507-354-4673

7-9 Mankato West Orchesis Dance Team showcase7 pm Thursday-Saturday 2 pm Saturday mdash Mankato West High School Auditorium mdash $7 adults $5 students mdash 507-381-7578

10 Mankato Symphony Orchestra Music on the Hill II ldquoMinnesota rootsrdquo2 pm mdash Chapel at Good Counselmdash Good Counsel Drive mdash Mankato mdash $17 $12 mdash wwwmankatosymphonycom

16 Handel with Caremdash Handel Goes to Italy11 ammdash YMCA Aerobics Studio mdash 1401 S Riverfront Drive mdash Mankato mdash wwwmankatosymphonycom

16 Mankato Craft beer Expo2 pm (VIP) 3 pm general mdash Verizon Wireless Center mdash $45 VIP $35 general $10 designated driver mdash wwwmankatocraftbeerexpocom

23 Joey Flip and Mike Fugazzi rockinrsquo at the Embassy9 pm mdash Blaschkorsquos Embassy Bar and Grill mdash 325 S Minnesota Ave mdash St Peter mdash 507-934-3903

24 andrea Lyn and Dick Kimmel concert730 pm mdash Elias J Halling Recital Hall mdash Minnesota State University mdash Mankato mdash $12 regular $11 current MSU students mdash wwwmnusedumusic

28-31 MSu Theatre antigone730 pm Thursday-Saturday 2 pm Sunday mdash Andreas Theatre mdash Minnesota State University mdash Mankato mdash $16 regular $14 discount $11 current MSU students mdash wwwmnsuedu

29-31 BLC Theatre Brigadoon730 Friday and Saturday 2 pm Sunday mdash Ylvisaker Fine Arts Center mdash Bethany Lutheran College mdash Mankato mdash $10 adults $6 seniors children and students mdash wwwblceduevents

29- Feb 7 Winterfest St Peter Citywide mdash wwwstpeterchamberorg

30 Church of Cash a Tribute to Johnny Cash7 pm mdash St Peter American Legion mdash 229 W Nassau St mdash St Peter mdash 507-934-6435

31 Maud Hixson and rick Carlson concert730 pmmdash Elias J Halling Recital Hall mdash Minnesota State University mdash Mankato mdash $12 regular $11 current MSU students wwmnsuedumusic

Coming attraCtions January

T - F 8am - 6pm Sun ClosedSat 9am - 4pmM 8am - 8pm

120 North Broad Street Mankato MN 507-345-4688 wwwmeyerandsonstvandappliancecom

FIND SPECIAL DEALS ON

MM p02 0116indd 44 12182015 30902 PM

MANKATO MAGAZINE  bull January 2016 bull 45

St Peter Craft amp Vendor Show

1MelinadaBussefromRapidansoldherhandmadejewelryatthecraftandvendorshow

2DarylfromElysianandhishand-carvedwoodart

3MacKennaage7hasfunatoneoftheboothsattheStPeterCraftandVendorShow

4LizEntershowsoffsomeofherproductsattheldquoItWorksrdquobooth

5DenisePetersofldquoYoungLivingrdquoessentialoilsdisplayedherproductsattheshow

Faces amp Places Photos By Sport Pix

3

5

2

1

4

T - F 8am - 6pm Sun ClosedSat 9am - 4pmM 8am - 8pm

120 North Broad Street Mankato MN 507-345-4688 wwwmeyerandsonstvandappliancecom

FIND SPECIAL DEALS ON

MM p02 0116indd 45 12222015 121536 PM

46 bull January 2016 bull MANKATO MAGAZINE

SOUTHErN MN CHrISTMAS

FESTIVAL1 A large crowd was on hand during the festivities at

the Christmas Festival2 Friesenrsquos Family Bakery amp Bistro had tons of baked

goods and soups at the Verizon Wireless Center3 A childrenrsquos choir sang for the audience at the

festival4 Ron Haefner owner of Ronrsquos Auto Repair displayed

some of his services5 Garrison Galatz dressed up as Santa for the

Christmas Festival

faCes amp PLaCes Photos By Sport Pix

4

3

1

2

5

MM p02 0116indd 46 12182015 30923 PM

MANKATO MAGAZINE  bull January 2016 bull 47

1GirlScouttroop34494waspresentedwithatrophybyKiwanisVicePresidentKyleMrozek

2SantaClausevenwentthroughtheparaderoute3(LtoR)BrooklynPomrankeAlaynaLyonsHunterPomrankeandLilyLyonsgetagroupphototakenwithSanta

4MarshaMartigtellsSantawhatshewantsforChristmas

5TheparadefloatswerealldeckedoutinChristmaslights

6Visitorswalkthepatharoundtheparktoviewthisyearrsquoslights

Kiwanis Holiday ligHtsFaces amp Places Photos By sport Pix

2

1

3

4 5

6

MM p02 0116indd 47 12222015 121616 PM

48 bull January 2016 bull MANKATO MAGAZINE

On the Occasion of a 50th Reunion

the Class of 1965

from this VaLLeYBy Pete Steiner

Peter Steiner is host of ldquoTalk of the Townrdquo weekdays at 105 pm on KTOE

I was honored to give the presentation for our 50th class reunion recently at West Highrsquos Homecoming celebration About 120 of our nearly 400-member class

showed up We Baby Boomers the children of the greatest generation had big classes in the late lsquo60rsquos that forced the building of East High Ours was a dramatic era and our class did some great things in the face of big challenges Here edited is some of what I said

I am so glad to be standing here today Therersquos an old saying

ldquoMay you live in INTErESTINg timeshelliprdquo The Class of rsquo65 certainly has Itrsquos seems like only yesterday right after lunch that we were at our desks waiting for the start of English class when our charismatic teacher Harry Fitterer strode in and said ldquoPrESIDENT KENNEDY HAS BEEN SHOT IN DALLASrdquo At first we didnrsquot believe him but it was true It was November 22 1963 We were juniors and as the song says that was THE END OF THE INNOCENCE We had lived through the last idyllic time in America

When we first arrived in the fall of 1962 America was still carefree basking in the glow of victory in WW II Everything may have seemed ldquorightrdquo but it was not Martin Luther King Jr had just visited Mankato pointing out the continuing plight of black Americans as the Civil rights movement was gaining steam The beginnings of the Vietnam War which would alter the course of many of our lives were stirring even as we studied history and government The current generation has no monopoly on forgettable pop music ndash we had a stupid 1 song called ldquoItsie Bitsie Teenie Weenie Yellow Polka Dot Bikinirdquo (unfortunately an ear worm I canrsquot forget) But a darker cultural threat was looming The BEATLES were invading from Britain and our parents were mortified because they had LONg HAIr

Some of the shock of the Kennedy assassination was eased when our wrestling team in the era when the state still had just ONE CLASS won the State Championship in front of a packed hall up at MSU some still maintain that is the greatest single athletic achievement in Mankato history We were the first high school in Mankato to put on a full-scale musical ldquoBye Bye Birdierdquo in the spring of 1964 In Fall of 1964 our football team would have won the conference championship outright except Owatonnarsquos great Noel Jenke who would go on to star for the U of M

cheated I watched him trap the touchdown pass that beat us Does cheating pay Was that a lesson for life

In lsquo65 we also had a fine basketball team that lost our chance at State when our 6-6 center fouled out at Luverne

BUT A FAr BIggEr CHALLENgE AWAITED US ALL As we rode out to Luverne to watch that game we couldnrsquot help noticing the highway was like a canyon between walls of snow The legendary St Patrickrsquos Day Blizzard had dumped two feet on top of an already large snow pack and then April brought rains on frozen ground Instead of coming here to school many of us soon got a real-life assignment to go out in our rain gear out on the dikes to battle the grEAT FLOOD OF 1965 Our school became an island as water flooded the parking lot and all of South riverfront Our spring play that year was called ironically

THE DESPErATE HOUrS We had to rehearse at roosevelt School up on higher ground

Our class produced three Merit scholars One of our classmates who did NOT qualify

for a merit scholarship nevertheless was such a whiz at physics that NASA requested a copy of a paper he wrote on rocketry as a senior We produced 12 doctors one of whom earned a fellowship at Stanford seeking how to bring telemedicine to the poor another of whom became a breakthrough cancer doctor We had entrepreneurs one who would go on to be a leader in Solar Energy (and then run for governor of New Hampshire) Another mdash a woman incidentally when

that was not common founded two bio-tech startups Many of us are still working

past normal retirement age One founded a company on the leading edge of recycling

computers whose clients include the NSA Another is chief medical officer of a company

devising a better tool for colonoscopies Yet another of our classmates recently completed a concert tour of China

We lived in challenging times just as you do today but we muddle through we make it to the other shore I remember sitting where you are 50 years ago thinking how old those folks up there looked But remember Life goes by very quickly You certainly live in interesting times as Shakespeare said ldquoPresent Mirth has Present Laughter Youthrsquos a stuff will NOT endurerdquo So I urge you live each moment to the fullest

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Page 18: Mankatomag 116

16 bull January 2016 bull MANKATO MAGAZINE

xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

need to relearn how to eatrdquoThe method has worked for Gonzalez Gone are

her extra 30 pounds and she no longer dietsldquoDiets simply arenrsquot sustainablerdquo she said ldquoItrsquos so

hard in our society because we are surrounded by cues to eat all of the time At buffets where you want to lsquoget your moneyrsquos worthrsquo when yoursquore out with friends when you sit down at the end of the day and turn on the television to relax and are bombarded with ads for food Food has become a reward for a bad day or a good day or anything else we can think of But if you look at how you eat as a journey instead of as a destination you can learn to enjoy food a lot morerdquo

So what should someone who wants to start the New Year in a more healthy fashion do

ldquoPause before you eatrdquo Gonzalez recommended ldquoAsk yourself if yoursquore really hungry or if yoursquore actually thirsty or stressed instead Try not to be emotionally disconnected from what you are eatingrdquo

Gonzalez emphasized that ldquomindful eating isnrsquot naive to say nutrition isnrsquot important Of course it is Mindful eating is what allows us to take charge of our decisions of why when what how and how much we choose to eat instead of battling being in or out of controlrdquo

Instead of following the latest short-lived diet Gonzalez encourages people to make the healthiest choices possible that donrsquot leave them feeling deprived

Paulette Tonn BookerFor Paulette Tonn Booker the Am I Hungry

Mindful Eating (AIHME) program has been a game changer

Said Booker ldquoIrsquove tried several diet plans over the past 40 years including some well-known plans and I lost weight on each plan However keeping the weight off eluded me and resulted in yo-yo dieting

The lsquorulesrsquo of whichever plan Booker was on became the norm and after years of trying to live by those rules Booker was no longer able to discern what her body was telling her about hunger often leading to out-of-control overeating

ldquoI always knew there was something else going on yet no one had an answer for merdquo Booker said

When Booker first heard of the AIHME program two years ago she was relieved to discover that there were other people who felt the same way when it came to healthful eating The program taught her the skills she needed to recognize her bodyrsquos hunger signals thoughts and feelings and actions to help manage the physical emotional and environmental stresses of everyday life without resorting to eating to cope with those stresses

ldquoI no longer have to be in control of everything I only need to be in charge of my decisions at any given moment When I choose to overeat (which everyone does) I no longer beat myself up I try to reflect on what happened and then plan for ways to handle the situation differently the next time it occurs Old habits are hard to break it takes concentrated effort and dedication to rewire the brain with new habits and it can be donerdquo Booker said

About weight loss as the end goal of healthful eating Booker shared the following ldquoThe only time I get on a scale is at the doctorrsquos office I know what the experts say I should weigh A number does not define a personrsquos self-worth nor does it say anything about who we are and how we feel as we make changes in how we nurture our bodies The number on the scale is just a number bodies come in all shapes and sizes as does health I will never diet again Instead I will continue to work on developing mindful skills and in the meantime eating what I love and loving what I eatrdquo

MM p01 0116indd 16 12182015 24501 PM

MANKATO MAGAZINE  bull January 2016 bull 17

Eric ZiesmerFor Eric Ziesmer he is in the middle of his weight

loss journey a journey that began last July when the 32-year-old learned that he weighed 330 pounds The time had come for Ziesmer to make some healthy lifestyle changes Ziesmer decided to lose weight because of his family mdash both present and future

ldquoI have two adorable nephews and I would love to be able to chase them around the yard or pull them in a sled during the winter and basically to be active and see them as they growrdquo Ziesmer said ldquoAnd even though Irsquom currently single if it is in my cards for marriage and kids I would like to be there and not be too tired or not in shape A clean and healthy lifestyle is what I am striving for in my coming yearsrdquo

With the help of a dietician Ziesmer has started his cleaner and healthier lifestyle Since July he has lost 40 pounds and has decided to have weight loss surgery To help his post operation phase go as smoothly as possible Ziesmer eats fresh fruit every day has cut out chips and cookies among other things

ldquoI have totally cut out soda Soda was a big one to cut out In my huge climb to 300 there were days when I would consume two 2-liter bottles of pop in a single day and maybe cracking open a thirdrdquo Ziesmer said ldquoI try to listen to my stomach instead of my eyes or eat because Irsquom bored or stressed I eat slow and sip instead of being the guzzler I have always beenrdquo

Another tactic Ziesmer has adopted has been to stop drinking liquids 30 minutes before a meal and then wait 30 minutes after eating before sipping again

ldquoWhen my stomach rumbles and says itrsquos hungry I feed it When my brain or boredom drives me to want to eat I take a second to see if my stomach feels empty and if not it gets deniedrdquo Ziesmer said

Ziesmer has noticed that he is more successful at healthy eating when he eats at home When he does dine out hersquoll cut a sandwich in half eat half and save other half for a future meal

ldquoAs far as exercise goes it went from zero to at least two if not three times a week going for a 327 mile walk and have recently made my way back into the gymrdquo Ziesmer said He has been able to keep track of his walks with accuracy thanks to an app called MapMyRun

Ziesmer knows that his healthier living journey will continue for a long time

ldquoI plan on continuing to live healthy by continuing my exercise and eating right and by saying that itrsquos not only for me and feeling better but also because there are two little guys that look up to their uncle Staying motivated is at least my key to keeping up this lifestyle I want to live a long and healthier life feeling better and being there down the road for family and friends is what means mostrdquo Ziesmer said MM

Eric Ziesmer says hersquos got plenty of motivation to get healthy two nephews to whom he wants to be a good role model

MM p01 0116indd 17 12222015 120514 PM

18 bull January 2016 bull MANKATO MAGAZINE

Stephanie Howe says itrsquos best to have realistic goals when starting a fitness program

Herersquos your guideBy Robb Murray | Photos by Pat Christman

Ready for CHANGE

MM p01 0116indd 18 12182015 24506 PM

MANKATO MAGAZINE  bull January 2016 bull 19

Yoursquore ready

You ate the ham and turkey and potatoes and Christmas cookies You drank the wine beer and eggnog Yoursquove spent the last few

months pondering a life change Yoursquore on the verge of a major transformation This time itrsquos happening Yoursquore going to get healthy Itrsquos going to be a new you

And then January arrived And you have no plan

Luckily we here at Mankato Magazine have got you covered Itrsquos not uncommon for people to make a New Yearrsquos resolution or some similar vow this time of year It usually comes with goal weights and promises to hit the gym X number of times per week and trips to the produce and organic sections of the grocery store because this time yoursquore serious Right

OK easy tiger Getting healthy is a great idea and wersquore wishing you all the best But wersquore also coming at you with some sensible advice Maybe setting unrealistic goals isnrsquot the best way to go Maybe just

heading into the gym and trying to get it all done in a week isnrsquot a great way to go either

ldquoFinerdquo you say ldquothen what should I dordquoWersquore so glad you asked

Letrsquos get startedThe first thing you need to remember when

starting an exercise program is that if you want to lose weight you need to change the way you eat too

ldquoNo matter what you say you canrsquot out exercise a bad dietrdquo says Stephanie Howe director of healthy living at the Mankato YMCA

Howe works in what might be the busiest fitness hub in the Mankato area So shersquos seen her share of people come through the doors with plans to change their lives Some of them succeed Most do not

One of the biggest mistakes people make Howe says is not really having a good grasp on how much time theyrsquoll need in order to incorporate a good workout into their day It doesnrsquot have to be a two-

hour commitment every day she says It can be 30 minutes of planned effective exercise several times per week Whatrsquos more important is just getting there and thatrsquos an obstacle that is bigger than most people realize

ldquoMost people want to lsquopeople pleasersquordquo she said ldquoYou can say yoursquore going to get up and work out every day but most people are built to need external accountabilityrdquo

Think about hiring a personal trainer

ldquoWhen you spend the money on a personal trainer you have an appointment therersquos someone waiting thererdquo she says

A personal trainer is a great way to immediately know yoursquore doing exactly what yoursquore supposed to be doing and yoursquoll have no doubt whether yoursquore working hard enough There are plenty of personal trainers in town mdash at the YMCA and other gyms mdash who would love to help you Of course they donrsquot work for free and for many people the cost of a personal trainer is more than theyrsquore willing to spend

Fortunately therersquos a trend in fitness to offer the whip-crack of a personal trainer while staying Jo radlinger urges her clients to not sabotage their fitness efforts with poor eating over

the weekend

MM p01 0116indd 19 12182015 24510 PM

20 bull January 2016 bull MANKATO MAGAZINE

728 N Riverfront DriveMankato MN 56001

507-625-5163katobearscom

Pins and NeedlesAlterations

Specializing in alterations for theentire wedding party including

gown re-sizing hemming re-beadingbustles and so much more

Like us onFacebook

affordableThe Y now offers something called ldquotrainer ledrdquo

exercise sessions where you work with others in a group but have access to a trainer nearby who can push you motivate you and make sure yoursquore you know doing it right Theyrsquore $3 a class

ldquoYoursquore still expected to be there but itrsquos much cheaperrdquo Howe said ldquoThe group environment pushes you and we have tons of trainer-led classes Itrsquos the best of both worldsrdquo

Across town Jo Radlinger runs Jorsquos Garage a fitness center where shersquos the one pushing you to succeed

Radlingerrsquos goal she says is to bring out everyonersquos potential

ldquoI want to make sure everybody that comes through my door has success I want them to be the very best version of themselves that they can berdquo

Like Howe Radlinger acknowledges that the financial side of hiring a personal trainer can scare people away but she says there are several reasons why it shouldnrsquot

ldquoItrsquos never a bad investment when yoursquore investing in yourselfrdquo she said ldquoMeet with a trainer who is just as passionate about your goal My goal is not to train you intensely but to show you what yoursquore capable of and then take you to that next levelrdquo

At Jorsquos Fitness Garage there are no membership fees Radlinger doesnrsquot believe in them Instead she charges $5 per visit and in that time she said she pushes you to have a great workout

GymtimidationSetting goals is a great

idea Setting unrealistic goals is the kind of thing that results in a gym membership card laying dormant in a junk drawer by February

So set those goals but set them smartlyldquoAccountability is huge Even if you canrsquot hire

someonerdquo Howe says ldquoMake specific goals mdash say yoursquore going to workout X number of times but make those numbers realistic Set goals that are within your controlrdquo

Do this and yoursquore likely to feel a lot better about how things go

ldquoMost people just want to feel better about themselves they want to feel more confidentrdquo Howe said ldquoThis way even before any physical changes happen theyrsquoll feel better Theyrsquoll start to feel like theyrsquore in control again of their life and their choicesrdquo

Taking an exercise class is a great way to both get

your body moving while at the same time have fun and meet those people who will notice when you donrsquot show up

And about that weight room Yes it can be intimidating to walk in and see people who look like they live there But Howe says that while it can definitely be a psychological barrier focusing on those people is the wrong strategy

ldquoNo one cares what yoursquore doingrdquo Howe says ldquoFocus on yourdquo

Take it slowIt can be tempting when you finally get up the

nerve to get back in the swing of working out to go hardcore But just like setting unrealistic goals trying to achieve your fitness goals in a day is impossible

ldquoPeople start out really gung-ho and reset their diet so aggressively and most people just simply canrsquot do thisrdquo Radlinger said ldquoWhen yoursquore looking at making a lifestyle change I want you to do it slowly and incrementally rather than do it all in two monthsrdquo

Rushing into the weight room and trying to lift the same weight and number of reps and sets that you did 10 years ago is a great way to make sure you canrsquot work out for a while Going from a sedentary lifestyle to two hours of pumping iron can leave you sore enough to not be able to lift anything for days Maybe even weeks

Ease into it The gymrsquos not going anywhere Think marathon not sprint

ldquoSometimes people have an all-or-nothing attituderdquo Howe said ldquoand they make themselves sore and they canrsquot continuerdquo

Speaking of all-or-nothing Radlinger says

some people bring that kind of intensity to their food intake over the weekend Bad idea

ldquoAs trainers we help people be accountable We do success measurements help them prepare and plan And wersquoll do weigh-ins on Mondayrdquo Radlinger says ldquoWersquoll find that people do really well Monday through Friday then do what I call sabotage Saturday and Sunday At some point yoursquore going to get so sick of hitting that reset button every Mondayrdquo

Whatever you choose to do both trainers say itrsquos never a bad idea to sit down with your doctor and run your plans by himher Your personal safety should always come first and getting the green light from Doc can give you some peace of mind as you start this new chapter of your life MM

Jo radlinger runs Jorsquos Fitness Garage

MM p01 0116indd 20 12222015 120709 PM

MANKATO MAGAZINE  bull January 2016 bull 21

728 N Riverfront DriveMankato MN 56001

507-625-5163katobearscom

Pins and NeedlesAlterations

Specializing in alterations for theentire wedding party including

gown re-sizing hemming re-beadingbustles and so much more

Like us onFacebook

Live the Lifestyle

wwwmapletonmarinecom

Southern MNrsquos largestboat show on now at the

Madison East Center in Mankato

MM p01 0116indd 21 12182015 24524 PM

22 bull January 2016 bull MANKATO MAGAZINE

Thirty-three years ago I stood inside a grave A lifetime ago when I was a pastorrsquos wife

In Nebraska we served a parish of barely over one hundred members A picture-postcard white church with a hand-carved white wooden altar from Germany sat at the top of a hill next to it the parsonage and next to that the cemetery rolling down the hill toward a wooded creek

The first death in the congregation after our arrival set off a flurry of activity Irsquod never met Alma because she was in a nursing home before we arrived However my husband visited her on several occasions She was mother aunt grandmother great-aunt and great-grandmother to half the congregation so there was no question about whether or not I would attend the funeral

With my two little kids in tow I attended every event at the church every Sunday morning service of course but also every funeral every confirmation every baptism every meeting of womenrsquos circle and even every family reunion that was held in the church basement At twenty-six I perfected the art of making gracious small talk with people Irsquod never seen before and would never see again and at taking tiny portions from each confirmation buffet so I would neither be sick by the end of the day nor offend any of the mothers who had slaved away over their sumptuous spreads of food

By Rebecca Fjelland Davis

Grave Lesson in Winter

ESSay

MM p01 0116indd 22 12182015 24527 PM

MANKATO MAGAZINE  bull January 2016 bull 23

Attending the little white country church was physically easy I picked up one-year-old Josh took three-year-old Nikkirsquos hand and walked out the front door down the sidewalk and next door The only things I didnrsquot have to attend were church council and the menrsquos meeting Archaic This was in the 1980s It doesnrsquot seem so long ago

All the available babysitters in the community would attend Almarsquos funeral too so this was to be my kidsrsquo first funeral

The afternoon before the service salt-snow fell Hard little crystals pelted down as if the heavens had up-ended a Mortonrsquos salt canister Within a few hours the hard snow was six inches deep and still falling

In the middle of the salt-snow the gravedigger arrived The Ditchwitch roared around the cemetery to the familyrsquos plot and my kidsrsquo noses pressed against the upstairs bedroom window pane ldquoMommy can we go watchrdquo

Glad for an excuse to get out of the parsonage I bundled them in snowsuits put them on the sled and pulled them across the house yard and garden to the fence that bordered the cemetery

The Ditchwitch made short work of the grave and all three of us were mesmerized watching the mound of gray-black dirt grow in the crystal-white snow When the hole was finished the gravedigger turned his tractor on idle He hopped off and came over to the fence His eyes twinkled in a weathered face ldquoWant to come lookrdquo

I backed up from the fence a step ldquoNo not really I think this is close enoughrdquo

ldquoYes Mommy go lookrdquo ldquoPleeeeaserdquoSo Nikki and Josh got back on the sled and I

hauled them along the fence through the gate over to the grave and looked down Six feet seemed deep bottomless Dark A sharp contrast to the pelting snowflakes all around us

ldquoWanna get down in thererdquo the gravedigger asked I shuddered hung onto the kids and backed up

again ldquoNo No thatrsquos okay This is close enough I just want to look from hererdquo

ldquoYes mommyrdquo the little ones said ldquoLetrsquosrdquoldquoNordquoldquoPleaserdquoldquoReally marsquoam I think you should Yoursquoll be

surprised I wouldnrsquot suggest it if it I didnrsquot think sordquoldquoHow would we get outrdquo The sides were deeper

than I was tall and there certainly werenrsquot footholds or a ladder built in for Almarsquos soul to use to climb out

ldquoLike thisrdquo The gravedigger laid his shovel diagonally across a top corner of the grave and jumped down He grabbed the middle of the shovel handle and swung himself back up and out with the agility of a gymnast ldquoNothinrsquo to itrdquo

ldquoI canrsquot do thatrdquoldquoYes you can Irsquoll boost you And wersquoll lift the kids

Yoursquoll be amazed I promiserdquoI shivered The idea of being inside a grave

seemed much colder than the snow crystals biting at my face

ldquoCome onrdquo he said and jumped back in Nikki and Josh willingly stepped over to him to be lifted down I had no choice but to follow I couldnrsquot let my kids alone in a grave with a man I didnrsquot even know

So I jumped The earth on the bottom made a soft landing The soil around me was warm and steamy It was moist and dark but it enfolded us in an earthy hug At least fifty degrees warmer than the air above ground it felt as if the earth were offering shelter respite a comfortable place to snuggle down and rest Tiny roots dangled full of life from the smooth edges of the hole Tears sprang to my eyes I couldnrsquot help them My eyes met the gravediggerrsquos and he smiled Gently ldquoSeerdquo he said Nothing more

I couldnrsquot speak A few minutes later he gave me a stirrup with his

hands I scrambled out and he lifted Nikki and Josh up to me Then he flipped himself out as easily as a trapeze artist

ldquoThank yourdquo I said ldquoI would never have guessedrdquoHe nodded ldquoNobody does But it helps somehow

I wanted you to feel thatrdquoWhy I wanted to ask why me You donrsquot even

know me Why were you willing to take time for usldquoThank yourdquo was all I said I shook his hand and

he hopped on the Ditchwitch and drove off into the snow

I never saw him again Someone else dug the next grave required in that cemetery

I remember only bits and pieces of the funeral Irsquom sure I baked a boxed cake mix for ldquolunchrdquo afterwards I remember answering Nikkirsquos questions about the body and sitting in the back row of the church in case Josh didnrsquot want to be quiet I do remember looking at the unfamiliar face in the casket and thinking you get to rest in a warm cozy place

Ten winters later we buried my dad on just such a day Wet snow crystals pelted us and piled up so deep the funeral home limousine got stuck in the cemetery By the time the pallbearers pushed it un-stuck their suit pants were caked in slush and mud

We stood at the graveside in the bleak wet icy day and lowered my fatherrsquos body into the ground

ldquoToo bad itrsquos such a miserable dayrdquo ldquoSorry about your dad Sorry the weatherrsquos so bad toordquo And even ldquoSuch a good man He deserves better weather than thisrdquo

But the weather I thought was just right Losing my dad my kids and their cousins losing

their grandpa my mom becoming a widow my brother losing his farming partner and best friend changed our livesmdashthat part was too heavy to carry

The only part that was okay for me was to let Dadrsquos worn-out body be wrapped in that welcoming warm enfolding soilmdashthe very soil hersquod loved to till the soil hersquod planted and tended all his life the soil that gave us all lifemdashthat was the only gratifying part of the day

The only comfort I had was letting Dad go from the cold wet biting snow into that warm and restful place

And I still wonder who that gravedigger was ten years earlier and how he knew how much I would need what he gave me that bleak winter day MM

Rebecca Fjelland Davis is an author from Mankato

MM p01 0116indd 23 12182015 24528 PM

reFlecTionsBy Pat Christman

24 bull January 2016 bull MANKATO MAGAZINE

MM p01 0116indd 24 12182015 24544 PM

reFlecTionsBy Pat Christman

MANKATO MAGAZINE  bull January 2016 bull 25

There are few things as inevitable as snow during a Minnesota winter Big

cotton ball-like snowflakes cover the ground in a white blanket whitewashing the Midwestern landscape

We struggle against it Some hope the snow never comes It always does filling the sky with floating snowflakes that cling to the ground but melt as soon as they hit the small bits of face or hands that peek out from winter clothing

It is often quite beautiful especially when viewed from someplace warm and dry MM

MM p01 0116indd 25 12182015 24548 PM

26 bull January 2016 bull MANKATO MAGAZINE

Then amp now Vice President Schuyler Colfaxrsquos Death By Bryce o sTenzel

On Jan 14 1885 one day after his death the New York Times carried a

headline that read ldquoSchuyler Colfax Dead He Drops Down in a Railway Stationrdquo While most Americans today would have tremendous difficulty in even recognizing this manrsquos name

(unless they were paying close attention to Stephen Spielbergrsquos epic movie Lincoln and made the association) Schuyler Colfax was a former Speaker of the House of Representatives and Vice President of the United States under President US Grant He died in Mankatorsquos Chicago St

Paul Minneapolis amp Omaha railroad depot from a massive heart attack

Schuyler Colfax Jr was born in New York City on March 23 1823 His father died of tuberculosis five months before Schuyler was born His sister Mary died four months after his [Schuylerrsquos]

vice President Schuyler Colfaxrsquos Death in Mankato

MM p01 0116indd 26 12182015 24549 PM

MANKATO MAGAZINE  bull January 2016 bull 27

birth The young Schuyler attended school only until he was 10 He then began working to support his family Schuyler Colfax never attended any kind of secondary school or college His mother remarried when Colfax was 13 and the family moved to New Carlisle Indiana By the time he was 22 Colfax was the editor and owner of a pro-Whig newspaper He was elected to Congress in 1854 and joined the newly formed Republican Party after the Whig Party disintegrated Solidly anti-slavery his colleagues elected Colfax as Speaker of the US House of Representatives in 1863 His election came soon after the death of his wife Evelyn The couple had no children

Colfax was President Abraham Lincolnrsquos first and last visitor on the fateful day Lincoln was assassinatedmdashApril 14 1865 Early that morning Colfax arrived at the White House while the president was having breakfast Colfax wanted to know whether or not Lincoln planned to call a special session of Congress for later that summer Lincolnrsquos answer was a polite but firm ldquonordquo Lincoln preferred a lenient approach in reconstructing as well as readmitting the former Confederate states to the Union now that the Civil War was over This approach put Lincoln at odds with the more ldquoradicalrdquo congressional members of his own party who preferred harsher measures be taken against their former enemies Lincoln had already made up his mind how he wanted to proceed with reconstructing the former Confederate states and he didnrsquot want any unnecessary interference from Congress Calling a special session was the last thing Lincoln wanted to do Colfax returned that same night to see Lincoln again just before the president left for Fordrsquos Theatre and his appointment with destiny This time Colfax came upon Lincolnrsquos own request The president had a long message for the silver miners of the Comstock Lode in Nevada thanking them for their loyalty to the Union that he wanted Speaker Colfax to deliver in person since Colfax was leaving by train for the West the next day Colfax was the last person Lincoln spoke to besides his wife Mary before he

was fatally shot at 1015 pm Colfax never forgave himself for turning down Lincolnrsquos invitation to be part of the theatre party that night

In 1868 Republicans selected General Ulysses S Grant as their presidential candidate Grant a military man his entire life had no political background Colfax was placed on the ticket because of his prior experience as a congressman and Speaker of the House (he resigned the position in 1869) Grant and Colfax won an easy victory in November 1868 Only two weeks later Colfax remarriedmdashthis time to Ellen Wade (niece of Ohio Senator Benjamin Wade) Their only child son Schuyler Colfax III was born in 1870

Colfax is best remembered (if at all) for his involvement in the corruption that beset Grantrsquos entire presidency Specifically the Credit Mobilier scandal broke in 1872 just as Grant and Colfax were gearing up for their re-election campaign Colfax was suspected of accepting shares of stock and cash bribes from ldquoCredit Mobilierrdquo a dummy construction company set up by the Union Pacific Railroad He was by no means the only influential person involved in the scandal Other political figures investigated included Senators Roscoe Conkling of New York William Allison of Iowa John Logan of Illinois James Bayard of Delaware and Henry Wilson of Massachusetts Grant was less popular in 1872 than he had been four years earlier and many Republicans worried that having Colfax on the partyrsquos ticket would harm the presidentrsquos re-election chances They dumped Colfax from the ticket mdash only to replace him with the also-tainted Wilson Grant won re-election and served his second and final term from 1873-1877 After being forced out from the vice presidency Colfax traveled the country as a popular lecturer often speaking about his interactions with Abraham Lincoln during the Civil War He rebuilt his tarnished reputation and commanded speaking fees as high as $2500

At 10 am on Jan 13 1885 Schuyler Colfax arrived in Mankato aboard a train from Milwaukee Mankato was just a

brief stop for Colfax who was on his way to Iowa for a speaking engagement The Chicago Milwaukee amp St Paul as well as the Chicago St Paul Minneapolis amp Omaha railroads both had depots in Mankato but because they were separate competing railroad lines Colfax was required to change trains by walking three-quarters of a mile from the Chicago Milwaukee amp St Paul depot at the foot of Hickory Street to the Chicago St Paul Minneapolis amp Omaha depot at Fourth and Washington Streets (now Washington Park) from which the next leg of his journey would depart Despite a reported temperature of 30 degrees below zero Colfax walked from one station to the other Within five minutes after he arrived at the Omaha linersquos depot Colfax entered the waiting room looked at a map on the wall sat down and died It was 1035 am No one in the station knew who the dead man actually was until they searched his pockets and found a letter with his name on it His death was likely caused by a heart attack brought on by the physical exertion of walking almost a mile in extreme cold Colfax was only 61 when he died His remains were returned to South Bend Indiana for burial

Today few Americans are aware that anyone named Schuyler Colfax ever lived much less served as vice president of the United States In this era in which officeholders are often treated as celebrities imagine how surprised people would be to learn that a former vice president died cold alone and unrecognized in a train station 131 years ago Before 24-hour news channels smart phones and social media it was possible for public figures like Colfax to live ndash and die ndash in relative obscurity Ironically Colfax loved the railroad but in the end it was the cause of his undoing Mankato has the distinction of being the location where the last man to personally speak to Abraham Lincoln in a private conversation took his last breath

MM p01 0116indd 27 12182015 24549 PM

28 bull January 2016 bull MANKATO MAGAZINE

Mayo Clinic offers pediatric and adolescent orthopedic services right here in Mankato Todd Milbrandt MD cares for patients with a variety of needs including

bull Cerebral palsy

bull Clubfoot

bull Hip disorders

bull Spinal disorders

bull Sports injuries

bull Scoliosis

bull Spina bifida

Mayo Clinic Health System in Mankato Call 1-877-412-7575 (toll-free) to schedule an appointment

495rdquox495rdquo Mankato Magazine January

Orthopedic care for your child

Independent ampAssisted Living

EQUAL HOUSINGOPPORTUNITY

1360 Adams StreetMankato MN

PrimroseRetirementcom

reg

Key City Senior Breakfast ClubThe Key City Senior Breakfast Club meets the first Thursday of each month from 830 AM - 930 AM at Primrose Retirement Community The club gives those 55+ the opportunity to meet new friends and visit old ones socialize with Key City Officials and enjoy a delicious home-cooked breakfast To visit a Key City Senior Breakfast please call (866) 447-9636

Mark your calendar for these breakfast dates Thursday January 7th Thursday March 3rd and Thursday May 5th

刀椀渀最 椀渀 琀栀攀 

一攀眀 夀攀愀爀

㔀 㜀ⴀ㤀㐀ⴀ㐀㐀䨀甀氀攀攀猀䨀攀眀攀氀爀礀挀漀洀

椀渀 匀愀椀渀琀 倀攀琀攀爀

20765 Foley Rd Mankato MN | 5073872434 | 5077262411

Three TimeNational Award Winners

MM p02 0116indd 28 12182015 30742 PM

Mayo Clinic offers pediatric and adolescent orthopedic services right here in Mankato Todd Milbrandt MD cares for patients with a variety of needs including

bull Cerebral palsy

bull Clubfoot

bull Hip disorders

bull Spinal disorders

bull Sports injuries

bull Scoliosis

bull Spina bifida

Mayo Clinic Health System in Mankato Call 1-877-412-7575 (toll-free) to schedule an appointment

495rdquox495rdquo Mankato Magazine January

Orthopedic care for your child

Independent ampAssisted Living

EQUAL HOUSINGOPPORTUNITY

1360 Adams StreetMankato MN

PrimroseRetirementcom

reg

Key City Senior Breakfast ClubThe Key City Senior Breakfast Club meets the first Thursday of each month from 830 AM - 930 AM at Primrose Retirement Community The club gives those 55+ the opportunity to meet new friends and visit old ones socialize with Key City Officials and enjoy a delicious home-cooked breakfast To visit a Key City Senior Breakfast please call (866) 447-9636

Mark your calendar for these breakfast dates Thursday January 7th Thursday March 3rd and Thursday May 5th

OMG hellip More food and drinksOK sure

By now yoursquore probably thinking ldquoOh my gosh the last thing I want to think about right now is more food more drinking and more diningrdquo

Fair enough We get it The holidays are murder on the metabolism of many many Minnesotans

But we also know that those metabolisms are hardy and soon enough theyrsquoll be hankering for a hunk of something yummy and full of fun And whatrsquos more yummy and full of fun than a big glass of Cabernet Sauvignon Our wine guy Leigh Pomeroy takes us on a tour of all that is tasty and wonderful about big red wines the kind that leave their mark the kind that really announce their presence on your palate

And just in case yoursquore super serious about a healthy lifestyle mdash and that seriousness extends to the kind of beer you choose mdash Bert Mattson our beer guy has just the selection for you Best part is Itrsquos light

Oh and under the category of ldquoDid you hear about thisrdquo Wersquove got an update for you on the Coffee Hag Mankatorsquos original coffee house and one of the most popular hangouts in town Seriously some days itrsquos hard to find a seat in that place

EnjoyPS We know that baby itrsquos cold outside mdash thatrsquos why wersquove

thrown you our absolute best hot cocoa recipe

Enjoymdash Robb Murray Associate Editor Mankato Magazine

food drink amp dineso

uthern m

n style

20765 Foley Rd Mankato MN | 5073872434 | 5077262411

Three TimeNational Award Winners

MM p02 0116indd 29 12182015 30745 PM

MANKATO 5073854485 AMBOY 5076743355 I VERNON CENTER 5075493679

INSURANCE OFFICES LOCATED IN THE COMMUNITY BANK BUILDINGS

wwwcimankatocom

Protecting the things that matter most in your life

Let us help protect what is important to you At Community Insurance we have the ability to compare insurance from multiple companies to get you the best coverage at a great price Combine that with our insurance knowledge and friendly group of agents and we say thatrsquos a winning deal

WHERE YOUR POLICY COMES WITH AN AGENT

Christina Meyer

Food

south

ern mn style

Food

south

ern mn style

By The Washington Post

Growing up my mother always encouraged her children to cook So when

I found a recipe for hot chocolate on the side of the Hersheyrsquos Cocoa can it was easy to convince her to let me give it a try

What I discovered was that hot chocolate doesnrsquot have to come from an envelope

This recipe has been a favorite of mine to make on days when winter weather has convinced me stay home and off the roads Itrsquos the perfect way to kill time and have a nice hot drink to warm you up on those chilly days

Although you can top it with whipped cream I prefer marshmallows

FAVORITE HOT COCOAMakes 4 to 6 servings

12 cup sugar14 cup unsweetened cocoa powder

Dash of salt13 cup hot water

4 cups milk34 teaspoon vanilla extract

Whipped cream or marshmallows (optional)

Mix sugar cocoa powder salt and water in a sauce pan Stir constantly over medium heat until mixture comes to a boil (about 2 minutes) Stir in

milk and heat Bring the hot chocolate to the desired temperature but do not boil Remove from heat and

add the vanilla extract Divide into mugs and top with whipped cream or marshmallows

PERFECTLY CHOCOLATE HOT COCOA

Makes 1 serving

2 tablespoons sugar2 tablespoons unsweetened cocoa powder

Dash salt1 cup milk

14 teaspoon vanilla extractWhipped cream or marshmallows (optional)

Mix sugar cocoa powder and salt into large mug In separate microwave-safe container heat on high

for 1 to 1 frac12 minutes or until very hot Carefully and gradually add milk to dry mixture Stir well Add vanilla extract Top with whipped cream or

marshmallows

Simple homemade hot chocolate

beats the winter chill

30 bull January 2016 bull MANKATO MAGAZINE

MM p02 0116indd 30 12182015 30752 PM

MANKATO MAGAZINE  bull January 2016 bull 31

Oil Change to OverhaulWe do it all

507-387-13151620 Commerce Drive North MankatowwwAustinsAutoRepairCentercom

Voted Best Auto Repair and Best Auto Mechanic 4 Years in a Row

AUSTINrsquoS AUTO REPAIR CENTER INC

MANKATO 5073854485 AMBOY 5076743355 I VERNON CENTER 5075493679

INSURANCE OFFICES LOCATED IN THE COMMUNITY BANK BUILDINGS

wwwcimankatocom

Protecting the things that matter most in your life

Let us help protect what is important to you At Community Insurance we have the ability to compare insurance from multiple companies to get you the best coverage at a great price Combine that with our insurance knowledge and friendly group of agents and we say thatrsquos a winning deal

WHERE YOUR POLICY COMES WITH AN AGENT

Christina Meyer

MM p02 0116indd 31 12182015 30755 PM

32 bull January 2016 bull MANKATO MAGAZINE

January is Cabernet TimeWersquove celebrated nearly

every January edition of Mankato Magazine with

a paean to BIG REDS And since there are so many wonderful examples why stop now

Last year I wrote about the powerful big reds of Italy This January wersquoll focus on Cabernet Sauvignon known to many as ldquothe king of winesrdquo Most oenophiles (wine lovers) consider the quintessential representations of this grape to be the classified Bordeaux of southwest France near the city of Bordeaux The five First Growths (or best wines according to a classification made in 1855 and updated in 1973) are Ch Lafite Rothschild Ch Margaux Ch Latour Ch Haut Brion and Ch Mouton Rothschild All have a cabernet sauvignon base but they are blended with merlot and often a little bit of cabernet franc and petit verdot as well

In the early 1970s I was able to buy these wines for around $22 per bottle mdash about $120 in 2016 dollars Yet with the popularity of ldquocollectiblerdquo wines on a worldwide

basis they sell today for anywhere from $400 on up

Contrary to popular belief these wines are not that massive Rather they combine cabernet sauvignon power with

structure and finesse yielding wines that become with time elixirs that are greater than the sum of their parts

Both California and Washington state have taken up the Cabernet Sauvignon challenge and are producing world-class wines at sometimes world-class prices Napa Valley is the recognized leader in this arena and rightly so Napa Valleyrsquos top Cabernet

Wine amp B

eerso

uthern m

n style

winesBy Leigh Pomeroy

Leigh Pomeroy is a Mankato-based writer and wine lover

Cabernet Sauvignon is the black Labrador of wines mdash it comes up and licks yourdquo

mdash Winemaker Scott Rich

Sauvignons rival the great wines of Bordeaux for quality mdash Irsquove tasted them side-by-side mdashand yet can sell for a fraction of their price

One such example is the 2013 Tulocay Cabernet Sauvignon from my old friend Bill Cadman We were young bucks in Napa Valley and had a tasting group in the early 1970s along with now-famous wine luminaries Bruce Neyers (Neyers Vineyards) and Mike Richmond (co-founder of Acacia Vineyard)

Billrsquos Cabernet is from an old and relatively cool growing area east of the City of Napa called Coombsville which because of industry political issues only recently received its AVA (American Viticultural Area) designation It is priced at $60 per bottle yet compares with any top-flight Bordeaux as well as the more expensive offerings from Napa Valley which can cost from $100 on up Not currently available at wine stores or restaurants in Minnesota it can be purchased by contacting the winery directly via its website tulocaycom The winery is so small that Bill will probably answer the phone himself

There is a lot of Cabernet Sauvignon available from California but mdash caveat emptor mdash not all growing areas (or appellations) are the same The best Cabernet Sauvignons are from Napa and Sonoma Counties Cabernets simply labeled ldquoCaliforniardquo or perhaps ldquoCoastalrdquo while sometimes good values lack the complexity of the greater Cabernet Sauvignons from the more northern parts of the state

Washington state has also

established itself as a prime producer of Cabernet Sauvignon But here again quality can vary greatly depending upon the area and producer While there is no ldquogo-tordquo appellation for Cabernet Sauvignon in Washington there are producers that are able to secure fruit from the best vineyards

One such example is the tiny Willis Hall Winery owned by another good friend John Bell a former Boeing jet propulsion engineer Like Tulocay its wines are only available by calling up the winery and ordering some (See willishallcom) But there are many other top quality producers in Washington like Quilceda Creek Leonetti Betz Family and Woodward Canyon

Of course not everyone can afford Cabernet Sauvignons in the $60-plus category One excellent everyday drinking example is the Flying Cloud 2013 Paso Robles Cabernet Sauvignon made by Mankato native Stephen Dooley Normally I donrsquot like Paso Robles Cabs as they tend to be too fruity and too soft for my palate mdash almost like drinking berry jam But this one is quite restrained no doubt helped by the inclusion of 13 percent zinfandel and 9 percent petite sirah in the blend

In Mankato both the Wine Cafeacute and MGM carry the Flying Cloud but at its price and quality I wouldnrsquot count on it lasting for long especially since only 759 cases were produced

So letrsquos raise a glass of Cabernet and say ldquoCheersrdquo to the New Year

MM p02 0116indd 32 12182015 30756 PM

MANKATO MAGAZINE  bull January 2016 bull 33

Bert Mattson is a chef and writer based in St Paul He is the manager of the iconic Mickeyrsquos Diner

Beer Skinny

BeerBy Bert Mattson

Last year according to Nielsen research staying fit and healthy was

the number one New Yearrsquos resolution Losing weight was two Three was to enjoy life to the fullest Unfortunately ldquolose weight and get fitrdquo also topped Time magazinersquos list of commonly broken resolutions Is this shortfall due to tension between the top two and that third one If so craft beer may have a role in the compromise Bad news first

In the context of losing weight and staying fit beer lovers might seek solace in the fact that fat carries nine calories per gram while alcohol has only seven The wrinkle is that those seven are ldquoemptyrdquo mdash calories without nutrition as opposed to those from fat protein and carbohydrates Moreover alcoholrsquos calories are the first burned when combined with the others the human body postpones burning fat while it works on alcohol Furthermore beer (and wine and often cocktails) contains carbohydrates which release insulin and can hasten fat storage Finally many drinkers have undoubtedly observed that alcohol loosens inhibitions after which an eager indulgence in unhealthy foods often occurs (Bar menus are rarely helpful in that respect)

By now you may wonder whose side Irsquom actually on Or suspect Irsquove led you to this dark place only to offer you a Lite No worries a couple craft brewers have been considering ways to keep us true to our resolutions

Evil Twin Brewingrsquos Bikini Beer drops the alcohol to 27 percent but stays bold by way of hops A Pale Ale it hits the nose with citrus suggestive of IPA The flavor follows suit floral and lemon There is an expected absence of malt yielding to bitterness up front that fades at the finish An alternative

for those who insist on the full effect Founderrsquos Brewing Companyrsquos All Day IPA rings in at a respectable 144 calories (Evil Twinrsquos entry comes in at 81)

One strategy to beat the beer munchies and avoid costly impulse eating is to have suitable chow on hand With Bikini Beer try a salad sporting blue cheese and some sort of dried fruit Creamy blue veined cheeses echo the hops while balancing bitterness An occasional bite of dried fruit stands in for malt sweetness

Brooklyn Breweryrsquos 12 Ale weighs in at 34 percent alcohol (102 calories) It is alliteratively labeled ldquoSession Saisonrdquo It opens with a waft of citrus and spice and a little lemongrass from Sorachi Ace hops mdash a hybrid developed in East Asia The same elements are found in the flavor which is a bit more subdued than a full-sized Saison

Try it with a tangle of arugula dressed with lemon and a fruity olive oil tossed with pine nuts and topped with shaved Parmesan for effect The greens and cracked pepper reflect spicy phenolic elements in the yeast Salty cheese counters the beerrsquos lingering bitterness Maybe add a few slices of Speck cured ham and Saison share a certain funkiness

If friends show and it becomes a session you may honestly say you spent Saturday working on your six-pack

MM p02 0116indd 33 12182015 30757 PM

34 bull January 2016 bull MANKATO MAGAZINE

Food

south

ern mn style

Food

south

ern mn style

The Coffee Hag one of the arearsquos oldest (and coolest) bistros recently underwent a major expansion and remodeling journey culminating in a large and airy

seating area along with a much-improved kitchen and a new menu Mankato Magazine caught up with a very busy (and slightly exhausted) owner Jenn Melby-Kelly who weighs in on how itrsquos going

MANKATO MAGAZINE Are you personally enjoying the new updatesJENN MELBY-KELLY It Is Fabulous The new space represents so much more than a remodel to me It has brought to life a vision for my business thatrsquos been years in the making It incorporates many many good ideas from many many people I feel so fortunate to get to see that every time I walk through the door

MM How are customers reactingJMK Thatrsquos been one of the best parts The response has been overwhelmingly positive

A few of our most regular customers had the opportunity to get a glimpse of the remodel while it was underway (we gave some informal preview tours while we were operating the temporary stand outside) but many customers walk through the door now and see it all for the first time Itrsquos especially fun to see and hear that kind of wide-eyed reaction

A few people with special connections to The Hag have had even stronger emotional responses and Irsquom so touched and right there with them when I see eyes well up as they see what wersquove done Itrsquos a very big milestone for a very special place and wersquore blessed to have people that care so deeply

MM Do the employees appreciate the new spaceJMK Oh probably more than anyone There was a lot that we sought to do with the remodel but creating a bigger brighter better-equipped space for our team was certainly one of the primary goals Wersquove got an incredible team truly the most spirited and talented people anyone could hope for

Many of them have spent years with me working hard against the challenge of a small under-equipped space and just barely being able to keeping up with growing demand Itrsquos been a special blessing for them and for me to finally have state-of-the-art space thatrsquos made for the work that we do We all feel a special connection to this place and now more than ever the place reflects the good energy we all bring here every day

MM Is the new menu a hit (The Hag specializes in vegetarianvegan cuisine)JMK Yes but just wait Feedback and demand have been excellent with our food offerings already but wersquore just getting started on some of the really exciting things that are coming to our food menu

Remodeling the cafe was just the first major milestone of our two-part expansion plan Next up wersquore building a state of the art off-site commissary kitchen that will do for our incredible culinary team what the remodeled shop has done for our baristas Theyrsquove been working day and night on taking our already fantastic food offerings to a whole new level

Wersquove already introduced some amazing new menu items like the Garden Grilled Cheese panini (trust me itrsquos like nothing yoursquove had before) and some truly outstanding new vegan baked goods Wersquove also improved our classic offerings with house-made

Interview with Jenn Melby-Kelly owner of The Coffee Hag

By Sarah Johnson

MM p02 0116indd 34 12182015 30802 PM

MANKATO MAGAZINE  bull January 2016 bull 35

Happy New Year

Locally Owned amp Operated

Check Weekly Specialsmgmwineandspiritscommankato

Largest Selection ofbull Liquor bull Wine bull Beer bull

Hours Monday-Saturday 8 am - 10 pm

ATMs at all stores

Mankato201 Victory Dr

625-2420

North Mankato1755 Commerce Dr

387-2634

St Peter100 N Minnesota Ave

934-8964

sourdough and whole wheat breads But as impressive as it is already itrsquos just a taste mdash literally mdash of things to come as we bring our new kitchen online

MM Whatrsquos stayed the sameJMK Irsquom really proud to say that while wersquove touched almost every part of this 23-year-old business wersquove kept even more than we have changed From the first days of this project I made it my personal mission and responsibility to make sure that the ldquosoulrdquo of this special place was only enhanced and never lost as we made the updates

In every area of the remodel as wersquove added some necessary new layers of sophistication The Hagrsquos colorful quirky and even rebellious spirit is still very much a part of the space We did a lot to try to make sure it still looked and felt like ldquohomerdquo

And on a deeper level every step wersquove taken with the growth of our business has been chosen carefully to honor the core parts of The Coffee Hagrsquos identity Our focus on community our support for local art and music our commitment to creating a safe and welcoming space for everyone our efforts to lead the way on social and environmental issues affecting our world near and far mdash those have all stayed the same And those will always be at the heart of what we do

MM Anything elseJMK Irsquom so incredibly grateful for the support of our customers and community And whenever I talk about my business and how it has grown I really canrsquot overstate how thankful I am for my beautiful Coffee Hag family The hard work good energy and earnest contributions of so many people mdash past and present mdash have brought me and my business here An incredible amount of love has gone into this business and made this dream a reality

MM p02 0116indd 35 12222015 121240 PM

36 bull January 2016 bull MANKATO MAGAZINE

xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

Food

south

ern mn style

whatrsquos Cooking By Sarah Johnson

Sarah Johnson is a cook freelance writer and chocolate addict from North Mankato with three grown kids and a couple of mutts

As I was pondering my subject matter for todayrsquos column I started wondering about all the different items the word ldquonutsrdquo can refer

to Crazy people are called nuts so are hexagonal metal objects that attach to bolts Nuts can be the end of things (as in ldquofrom soup to nutsrdquo) or they can be the beginning of them (as in ldquosperm incubatorsrdquo) Nut can also mean onersquos head or onersquos lump of something such as butter And if you accidentally get a nut of butter on your nut you can exclaim ldquoNutsrdquo

My favorite meaning of the word nut however is the dry indehiscent one-seeded fruit with a woody pericarp And I donrsquot even know what indehiscent OR pericarp means But these are the wonderful denizens of the world of edible nuts

Nuts are widely credited with all sorts of health benefits for the heart brain male reproductive system prostate cholesterol level fiber intake and avoidance of some types of cancer And while nuts do contain fat itrsquos the ldquogoodrdquo kind heart-healthy monounsaturated and polyunsaturated fat Their mix of omega-3 fatty acids protein and fiber helps you feel full and suppresses the appetite

Nuts are great in desserts and salads of course but they also shine in stir-fries casseroles soups chicken pork fish and even beverages Nut butters nut milks and nut oils add delicious options to our kitchen larders Breads cereals muffins and pancakes gain texture flavor and nutrition from the addition of nuts Basically anytime is a good time for nuts

Which is a wonderful thing because nuts taste so good you would think they had to be very very bad The reason lies deep in their oils

Walnut Oil is strong and flavorful Itrsquos best when used in uncooked sauces or salad dressing

Hazelnut Oil has a strong flavor and is great for the heart

Almond Oil is very popular and has a much milder flavor than walnut oil or hazelnut oil

Pecan Macadamia Nut Pistachio Cashew and Pine Nut Oils are flavorful and unique The freshness of the nuts used really affects the flavor

ldquoTherersquos Nuttinrsquo Nutty About Nutsrdquo

For the Baklava1 pound pistachios hazelnuts walnuts pecans andor almonds coarsely ground plus more for garnish12 teaspoon ground cinnamon1 cup breadcrumbs4 sticks unsalted butter melted16 sheets phyllo dough (thawed if frozen) cut in half

For the Syrup3 cups sugar1 6 -to-8-ounce jar honey1 frac12 cups water1 to 2 tablespoons fresh lemon juice

If yoursquore under the impression that baklava is much too labor-intensive and complicated to make at home think again Anybody can make

it no special skills equipment or exotic ingredients are required A word about phyllo dough Itrsquos sold in frozen packages so you need to remove the package from the freezer and let it thaw in the fridge 24 hours before you want to make the baklava Then about an hour beforehand remove the package from the fridge and let it sit on the counter

Walnuts or pistachios are the most traditional nuts to fill baklava but using other nuts works wonders as well Simply layer the phyllo with the nut filling and butter bake for an hour and finish with a simple honeyed syrup If you have leftover nuts from the holidays herersquos your chance to use them up

Mixed Nut Baklava

MM p02 0116indd 36 12182015 30812 PM

MANKATO MAGAZINE  bull January 2016 bull 37

MONEY MATTERS WORK SMARTLET COMMUNITY BANK HELP YOUBRING THE TWO TOGETHER

MANKATO - SAINT ANDREWS DR 5073854444MANKATO - MADISON AVE 5076251551VERNON CENTER 5075493679AMBOY 5076743300

JULIE VETTERSR VICE PRESIDENTRETAIL BANKING

We support great causes like yoursAt Community Bank we know good things happen when you have a good bank So we make more possible by keeping banking simple and supportive And by giving you the power that comes with innovative solutions like our Health Savings Account It offers you tax-free savings for future medical expenses Stop by anytime Wersquore always ready to help out a great cause

Position a rack in the lower third of the oven preheat to 350 degrees Combine the nuts cinnamon and breadcrumbs in a bowl

Brush a 9x13-inch baking dish with some of the butter Layer 10 pieces of phyllo in the dish brushing each piece with butter before adding the next (keep the remaining dough covered with a damp towel) Sprinkle a quarter of the nut mixture over the dough Layer four pieces of phyllo on top brushing each with butter before adding the next sprinkle with another quarter of the nut mixture Add four more phyllo pieces on top brushing each with butter then add another quarter of the nut mixture four more pieces of phyllo with butter and the remaining nuts

Layer the remaining 10 pieces of phyllo on top of the nuts brushing each with butter brush the top piece with extra butter Cut into the baklava to make strips about 1 12 inches wide Then make diagonal slices about 1 12 inches apart to create a diamond pattern Bake until golden about one hour

Meanwhile make the syrup Bring the sugar honey and 1 12 cups water to a boil in a saucepan over medium heat and cook 10 to 15 minutes Add the lemon juice and boil 2 more minutes then let cool slightly Pour the syrup over the warm baklava let soak uncovered at least six hours or overnight Garnish with nuts

MM p02 0116indd 37 12182015 30817 PM

38 bull bull MANKATO MAGAZINE

Nell Musolf is a mom and freelance writer from Mankato She blogs at nellmusolfcom

38 bull bull MANKATO MAGAZINE

MM p02 0116indd 38 12182015 30822 PM

MANKATO MAGAZINE  bull January 2016 bull 39

Gear Up for WinterYear-Round amp Insulated Workwear from

Carhartt Dickies and Key

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Call 5073446336mankatomagmankatofreepresscom

Stephanie L Hylla LAc Dipl AcKayla M Sweeney MOm LAc

NEW LOCATION709 S Front Suite 5

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Open House ndash Wednesday Feb 3 9-12noonCelebrating 5 years of Business New Location and the Chinese New Year

In Network with Blue Cross Blue ShieldLicensed by the MN Board of Medical Practice

Ribbon Cutting with Greater Mankato Growth at 10am

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Dr BrandonRignell DC

1351 Madison AveSuite D

Mankato MN 56001

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$2900New Patient Special

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40 bull bull MANKATO MAGAZINE

Jean Lundquist is a master gardener who lives near Good Thunder

MM p02 0116indd 40 12182015 30834 PM

MANKATO MAGAZINE  bull January 2016 bull 41

3 Increase the Value of Your Home

3 Update Your Homersquos Appearance

3 Save Money

Choose from SeveralModels Styles amp Colors

507-625-7110 or 1-800-645-36671125 Cross St North Mankato MN

Improve Your HomersquosEnergy Efficiency

422 Park Lane Mankato MN | NuStarMankatocom

(507) 381-4747Voted One of Mankatorsquos Best

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Make Selling Your Home Your NuYearrsquos Resolution

MM p02 0116indd 41 12182015 30839 PM

42 bull January 2016 bull MANKATO MAGAZINE

January Resolve to moisturize

Your stYLeBy Ann Rosenquist Fee

Ann Rosenquist Fee is executive director of the Arts Center of Saint Peter and a vocalist with The Frye She blogs at annrosenquistfeecom

If you have in-laws or colleagues who know you well enough to have given you holiday gifts

but not well enough to know what wouldrsquove truly made you happy congratulations Chances are yoursquore the proud owner of a bunch of brand-new lip balm

Maybe itrsquos even holiday themed Thatrsquos the best Maybe you got the candy-cane flavored kind or wintergreen with holiday graphics on the label or something like that A theme that was irrelevant the moment the stocking was unstuffed because at that exact second the holiday was over

And here you are in January with an abundance of wax

Fortunately also here you are in the early weeks of winter with rough red knuckles Probably also cracked cuticles although it might not have gone that far yet for you Irsquom sure it has for me This photo was taken back in November and even then the Band-Aids were for real Irsquove learned to cut them in half length-wise so as to retain my ability to type Irsquove also learned to play with a range of color options Flesh-toned Clear Disney characters The colorful strips shown here were gifted to me by my husband Partly why theyrsquore cut in half is that the text is obscene This is one small trick you can use to make bloody cuticles your most exciting accessory of the winter

Sources like UrbanSurvivalSitecom and WonderHowTocom will tell you that you can use lip balm for a whole variety of purposes such as coating threads of outdoor lightbulbs before screwing them into their sockets and enhancing the burn-ability of most kindling

These are great fun but they wonrsquot improve your personal style

More germane to winter beauty are the following suggestions

Keep a tube next to your bed for first-thing-in-the-morning use And I mean really truly first-thing I mean smear the stuff on each cuticle while yoursquore still lying there before you start using your fingers at all If you wake up thinking yoursquore fine and skip cuticle care next thing you know yoursquore pushing down the lever on your Keurig and the pressure is more than your screamingly dry skin can take and boom split blood on the Keurig and itrsquos gonna be a long painful day If only you had balmed your hands before you let your feet hit the floor

Keep another tube in your glove compartment If itrsquos warm enough to take off your mittens in the car mdash if yoursquore even wearing mittens given that your hands are snagging on everything these days mdash the harsh January sunlight will allow you to see cracks and flakes in high-resolution detail Yoursquoll want the balm nearby

to cover what you didnrsquot notice first thing in the morning Also a car tube is useful for when you look in the rear-view mirror and notice that your nose and upper lip are flaking as well Itrsquos because yoursquore getting over a cold and the frequent use of tissue has worn away your top layer of skin but just because you know that doesnrsquot mean everybody else wonrsquot think ldquothere is something in that noserdquo Itrsquos just a fact Itrsquos what it looks like Lip balm to the rescue Itrsquos the only thing dry enough to slick those flakes in place and nourishing enough to maybe actually get your face back to normal

Keep a couple more tubes in a nighttime kit along with sandpaper Sandpaper Yes Not a pumice stone not a lame also-gifted sugar

scrub Medium-grit sandpaper is what you need every night lightly but with conviction As follows 1) Sand taking care not to do more damage than what the elements have already done Yoursquore just trying to remove the dry dead stuff Yoursquore just being hearty and efficient about this true to the culture of this great state in which yoursquove chosen to winter You are no pansy Sand your hands 2) Wash 3) Blot dry 4) Dial up the gifted balm whisper a word of thanks to the person who put so much thought into your well-being that they stuffed your holiday stocking with this amazing gift of self-care smash a healthy amount down into your palms massage Take heart You just might find yourself with normal-textured non-cracked not-horrible-looking hands by morning

Split-open cuticles I feel you Except for these Band-Aids I feel you

Lip balms I have been gifted and these are just from last Christmas ldquolastrdquo as in 2014

Bathrooms Worth Bragging About

HoursTue amp Wed amp Fri | 9 am to 6 pmMon amp Thu | 9 am to 7 pmSaturday | 9 am to 4 pm

219 S Victory Dr | Mankato507 | 345 | 7009ipafhickorytechnetindependentpaintandflooringcom

You Deserve Comfortable Care Every Timebull Sedation - Complete Relaxation with Just a Pillbull Invisalign - Clear Alternative to Bracesbull Botox amp Fillersbull Implants - Placement and Restorationbull Cerec - One Visit Crown Technology

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1400 Lookout Drive North Mankato507-625-CARE(2273) bull mankatodentistcom 06

1865

6124

01

Dr AngelA Schuck

Dr keith FlAck

MM p02 0116indd 42 12182015 30841 PM

MANKATO MAGAZINE  bull January 2016 bull 43

Bathrooms Worth Bragging About

HoursTue amp Wed amp Fri | 9 am to 6 pmMon amp Thu | 9 am to 7 pmSaturday | 9 am to 4 pm

219 S Victory Dr | Mankato507 | 345 | 7009ipafhickorytechnetindependentpaintandflooringcom

You Deserve Comfortable Care Every Timebull Sedation - Complete Relaxation with Just a Pillbull Invisalign - Clear Alternative to Bracesbull Botox amp Fillersbull Implants - Placement and Restorationbull Cerec - One Visit Crown Technology

bull Free Whitening Programbull 3D Imaging with Fewer X-Raysbull Cosmetic Dentistrybull Drill-Free Technologybull Emergency Care

1400 Lookout Drive North Mankato507-625-CARE(2273) bull mankatodentistcom 06

1865

6124

01

Dr AngelA Schuck

Dr keith FlAck

(944) 412-7949 | OrthoEdgeMNcom

Enjoy the season

Mankato St Peter

Be active Be healthyBe able with OrthoEdge

The OrthoEdge joint replacement

program offers superb care from your first

visit through recovery The surgeons from

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Why Riverrsquos Edge Hospital amp Clinic

bull Riverrsquos Edge Hospital amp Clinic has a long-

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MM p02 0116indd 43 12182015 30842 PM

44 bull January 2016 bull MANKATO MAGAZINE

1 Hicktown Mafia800 pm mdash New Ulm Event Center mdash 301 20th St S mdash New Ulm mdash $10 mdash 507-354-4673

7-9 Mankato West Orchesis Dance Team showcase7 pm Thursday-Saturday 2 pm Saturday mdash Mankato West High School Auditorium mdash $7 adults $5 students mdash 507-381-7578

10 Mankato Symphony Orchestra Music on the Hill II ldquoMinnesota rootsrdquo2 pm mdash Chapel at Good Counselmdash Good Counsel Drive mdash Mankato mdash $17 $12 mdash wwwmankatosymphonycom

16 Handel with Caremdash Handel Goes to Italy11 ammdash YMCA Aerobics Studio mdash 1401 S Riverfront Drive mdash Mankato mdash wwwmankatosymphonycom

16 Mankato Craft beer Expo2 pm (VIP) 3 pm general mdash Verizon Wireless Center mdash $45 VIP $35 general $10 designated driver mdash wwwmankatocraftbeerexpocom

23 Joey Flip and Mike Fugazzi rockinrsquo at the Embassy9 pm mdash Blaschkorsquos Embassy Bar and Grill mdash 325 S Minnesota Ave mdash St Peter mdash 507-934-3903

24 andrea Lyn and Dick Kimmel concert730 pm mdash Elias J Halling Recital Hall mdash Minnesota State University mdash Mankato mdash $12 regular $11 current MSU students mdash wwwmnusedumusic

28-31 MSu Theatre antigone730 pm Thursday-Saturday 2 pm Sunday mdash Andreas Theatre mdash Minnesota State University mdash Mankato mdash $16 regular $14 discount $11 current MSU students mdash wwwmnsuedu

29-31 BLC Theatre Brigadoon730 Friday and Saturday 2 pm Sunday mdash Ylvisaker Fine Arts Center mdash Bethany Lutheran College mdash Mankato mdash $10 adults $6 seniors children and students mdash wwwblceduevents

29- Feb 7 Winterfest St Peter Citywide mdash wwwstpeterchamberorg

30 Church of Cash a Tribute to Johnny Cash7 pm mdash St Peter American Legion mdash 229 W Nassau St mdash St Peter mdash 507-934-6435

31 Maud Hixson and rick Carlson concert730 pmmdash Elias J Halling Recital Hall mdash Minnesota State University mdash Mankato mdash $12 regular $11 current MSU students wwmnsuedumusic

Coming attraCtions January

T - F 8am - 6pm Sun ClosedSat 9am - 4pmM 8am - 8pm

120 North Broad Street Mankato MN 507-345-4688 wwwmeyerandsonstvandappliancecom

FIND SPECIAL DEALS ON

MM p02 0116indd 44 12182015 30902 PM

MANKATO MAGAZINE  bull January 2016 bull 45

St Peter Craft amp Vendor Show

1MelinadaBussefromRapidansoldherhandmadejewelryatthecraftandvendorshow

2DarylfromElysianandhishand-carvedwoodart

3MacKennaage7hasfunatoneoftheboothsattheStPeterCraftandVendorShow

4LizEntershowsoffsomeofherproductsattheldquoItWorksrdquobooth

5DenisePetersofldquoYoungLivingrdquoessentialoilsdisplayedherproductsattheshow

Faces amp Places Photos By Sport Pix

3

5

2

1

4

T - F 8am - 6pm Sun ClosedSat 9am - 4pmM 8am - 8pm

120 North Broad Street Mankato MN 507-345-4688 wwwmeyerandsonstvandappliancecom

FIND SPECIAL DEALS ON

MM p02 0116indd 45 12222015 121536 PM

46 bull January 2016 bull MANKATO MAGAZINE

SOUTHErN MN CHrISTMAS

FESTIVAL1 A large crowd was on hand during the festivities at

the Christmas Festival2 Friesenrsquos Family Bakery amp Bistro had tons of baked

goods and soups at the Verizon Wireless Center3 A childrenrsquos choir sang for the audience at the

festival4 Ron Haefner owner of Ronrsquos Auto Repair displayed

some of his services5 Garrison Galatz dressed up as Santa for the

Christmas Festival

faCes amp PLaCes Photos By Sport Pix

4

3

1

2

5

MM p02 0116indd 46 12182015 30923 PM

MANKATO MAGAZINE  bull January 2016 bull 47

1GirlScouttroop34494waspresentedwithatrophybyKiwanisVicePresidentKyleMrozek

2SantaClausevenwentthroughtheparaderoute3(LtoR)BrooklynPomrankeAlaynaLyonsHunterPomrankeandLilyLyonsgetagroupphototakenwithSanta

4MarshaMartigtellsSantawhatshewantsforChristmas

5TheparadefloatswerealldeckedoutinChristmaslights

6Visitorswalkthepatharoundtheparktoviewthisyearrsquoslights

Kiwanis Holiday ligHtsFaces amp Places Photos By sport Pix

2

1

3

4 5

6

MM p02 0116indd 47 12222015 121616 PM

48 bull January 2016 bull MANKATO MAGAZINE

On the Occasion of a 50th Reunion

the Class of 1965

from this VaLLeYBy Pete Steiner

Peter Steiner is host of ldquoTalk of the Townrdquo weekdays at 105 pm on KTOE

I was honored to give the presentation for our 50th class reunion recently at West Highrsquos Homecoming celebration About 120 of our nearly 400-member class

showed up We Baby Boomers the children of the greatest generation had big classes in the late lsquo60rsquos that forced the building of East High Ours was a dramatic era and our class did some great things in the face of big challenges Here edited is some of what I said

I am so glad to be standing here today Therersquos an old saying

ldquoMay you live in INTErESTINg timeshelliprdquo The Class of rsquo65 certainly has Itrsquos seems like only yesterday right after lunch that we were at our desks waiting for the start of English class when our charismatic teacher Harry Fitterer strode in and said ldquoPrESIDENT KENNEDY HAS BEEN SHOT IN DALLASrdquo At first we didnrsquot believe him but it was true It was November 22 1963 We were juniors and as the song says that was THE END OF THE INNOCENCE We had lived through the last idyllic time in America

When we first arrived in the fall of 1962 America was still carefree basking in the glow of victory in WW II Everything may have seemed ldquorightrdquo but it was not Martin Luther King Jr had just visited Mankato pointing out the continuing plight of black Americans as the Civil rights movement was gaining steam The beginnings of the Vietnam War which would alter the course of many of our lives were stirring even as we studied history and government The current generation has no monopoly on forgettable pop music ndash we had a stupid 1 song called ldquoItsie Bitsie Teenie Weenie Yellow Polka Dot Bikinirdquo (unfortunately an ear worm I canrsquot forget) But a darker cultural threat was looming The BEATLES were invading from Britain and our parents were mortified because they had LONg HAIr

Some of the shock of the Kennedy assassination was eased when our wrestling team in the era when the state still had just ONE CLASS won the State Championship in front of a packed hall up at MSU some still maintain that is the greatest single athletic achievement in Mankato history We were the first high school in Mankato to put on a full-scale musical ldquoBye Bye Birdierdquo in the spring of 1964 In Fall of 1964 our football team would have won the conference championship outright except Owatonnarsquos great Noel Jenke who would go on to star for the U of M

cheated I watched him trap the touchdown pass that beat us Does cheating pay Was that a lesson for life

In lsquo65 we also had a fine basketball team that lost our chance at State when our 6-6 center fouled out at Luverne

BUT A FAr BIggEr CHALLENgE AWAITED US ALL As we rode out to Luverne to watch that game we couldnrsquot help noticing the highway was like a canyon between walls of snow The legendary St Patrickrsquos Day Blizzard had dumped two feet on top of an already large snow pack and then April brought rains on frozen ground Instead of coming here to school many of us soon got a real-life assignment to go out in our rain gear out on the dikes to battle the grEAT FLOOD OF 1965 Our school became an island as water flooded the parking lot and all of South riverfront Our spring play that year was called ironically

THE DESPErATE HOUrS We had to rehearse at roosevelt School up on higher ground

Our class produced three Merit scholars One of our classmates who did NOT qualify

for a merit scholarship nevertheless was such a whiz at physics that NASA requested a copy of a paper he wrote on rocketry as a senior We produced 12 doctors one of whom earned a fellowship at Stanford seeking how to bring telemedicine to the poor another of whom became a breakthrough cancer doctor We had entrepreneurs one who would go on to be a leader in Solar Energy (and then run for governor of New Hampshire) Another mdash a woman incidentally when

that was not common founded two bio-tech startups Many of us are still working

past normal retirement age One founded a company on the leading edge of recycling

computers whose clients include the NSA Another is chief medical officer of a company

devising a better tool for colonoscopies Yet another of our classmates recently completed a concert tour of China

We lived in challenging times just as you do today but we muddle through we make it to the other shore I remember sitting where you are 50 years ago thinking how old those folks up there looked But remember Life goes by very quickly You certainly live in interesting times as Shakespeare said ldquoPresent Mirth has Present Laughter Youthrsquos a stuff will NOT endurerdquo So I urge you live each moment to the fullest

MM p02 0116indd 48 12182015 30933 PM

MM p02 0116indd 49 12182015 30936 PM

MM p02 0116indd 50 12182015 30948 PM

Page 19: Mankatomag 116

MANKATO MAGAZINE  bull January 2016 bull 17

Eric ZiesmerFor Eric Ziesmer he is in the middle of his weight

loss journey a journey that began last July when the 32-year-old learned that he weighed 330 pounds The time had come for Ziesmer to make some healthy lifestyle changes Ziesmer decided to lose weight because of his family mdash both present and future

ldquoI have two adorable nephews and I would love to be able to chase them around the yard or pull them in a sled during the winter and basically to be active and see them as they growrdquo Ziesmer said ldquoAnd even though Irsquom currently single if it is in my cards for marriage and kids I would like to be there and not be too tired or not in shape A clean and healthy lifestyle is what I am striving for in my coming yearsrdquo

With the help of a dietician Ziesmer has started his cleaner and healthier lifestyle Since July he has lost 40 pounds and has decided to have weight loss surgery To help his post operation phase go as smoothly as possible Ziesmer eats fresh fruit every day has cut out chips and cookies among other things

ldquoI have totally cut out soda Soda was a big one to cut out In my huge climb to 300 there were days when I would consume two 2-liter bottles of pop in a single day and maybe cracking open a thirdrdquo Ziesmer said ldquoI try to listen to my stomach instead of my eyes or eat because Irsquom bored or stressed I eat slow and sip instead of being the guzzler I have always beenrdquo

Another tactic Ziesmer has adopted has been to stop drinking liquids 30 minutes before a meal and then wait 30 minutes after eating before sipping again

ldquoWhen my stomach rumbles and says itrsquos hungry I feed it When my brain or boredom drives me to want to eat I take a second to see if my stomach feels empty and if not it gets deniedrdquo Ziesmer said

Ziesmer has noticed that he is more successful at healthy eating when he eats at home When he does dine out hersquoll cut a sandwich in half eat half and save other half for a future meal

ldquoAs far as exercise goes it went from zero to at least two if not three times a week going for a 327 mile walk and have recently made my way back into the gymrdquo Ziesmer said He has been able to keep track of his walks with accuracy thanks to an app called MapMyRun

Ziesmer knows that his healthier living journey will continue for a long time

ldquoI plan on continuing to live healthy by continuing my exercise and eating right and by saying that itrsquos not only for me and feeling better but also because there are two little guys that look up to their uncle Staying motivated is at least my key to keeping up this lifestyle I want to live a long and healthier life feeling better and being there down the road for family and friends is what means mostrdquo Ziesmer said MM

Eric Ziesmer says hersquos got plenty of motivation to get healthy two nephews to whom he wants to be a good role model

MM p01 0116indd 17 12222015 120514 PM

18 bull January 2016 bull MANKATO MAGAZINE

Stephanie Howe says itrsquos best to have realistic goals when starting a fitness program

Herersquos your guideBy Robb Murray | Photos by Pat Christman

Ready for CHANGE

MM p01 0116indd 18 12182015 24506 PM

MANKATO MAGAZINE  bull January 2016 bull 19

Yoursquore ready

You ate the ham and turkey and potatoes and Christmas cookies You drank the wine beer and eggnog Yoursquove spent the last few

months pondering a life change Yoursquore on the verge of a major transformation This time itrsquos happening Yoursquore going to get healthy Itrsquos going to be a new you

And then January arrived And you have no plan

Luckily we here at Mankato Magazine have got you covered Itrsquos not uncommon for people to make a New Yearrsquos resolution or some similar vow this time of year It usually comes with goal weights and promises to hit the gym X number of times per week and trips to the produce and organic sections of the grocery store because this time yoursquore serious Right

OK easy tiger Getting healthy is a great idea and wersquore wishing you all the best But wersquore also coming at you with some sensible advice Maybe setting unrealistic goals isnrsquot the best way to go Maybe just

heading into the gym and trying to get it all done in a week isnrsquot a great way to go either

ldquoFinerdquo you say ldquothen what should I dordquoWersquore so glad you asked

Letrsquos get startedThe first thing you need to remember when

starting an exercise program is that if you want to lose weight you need to change the way you eat too

ldquoNo matter what you say you canrsquot out exercise a bad dietrdquo says Stephanie Howe director of healthy living at the Mankato YMCA

Howe works in what might be the busiest fitness hub in the Mankato area So shersquos seen her share of people come through the doors with plans to change their lives Some of them succeed Most do not

One of the biggest mistakes people make Howe says is not really having a good grasp on how much time theyrsquoll need in order to incorporate a good workout into their day It doesnrsquot have to be a two-

hour commitment every day she says It can be 30 minutes of planned effective exercise several times per week Whatrsquos more important is just getting there and thatrsquos an obstacle that is bigger than most people realize

ldquoMost people want to lsquopeople pleasersquordquo she said ldquoYou can say yoursquore going to get up and work out every day but most people are built to need external accountabilityrdquo

Think about hiring a personal trainer

ldquoWhen you spend the money on a personal trainer you have an appointment therersquos someone waiting thererdquo she says

A personal trainer is a great way to immediately know yoursquore doing exactly what yoursquore supposed to be doing and yoursquoll have no doubt whether yoursquore working hard enough There are plenty of personal trainers in town mdash at the YMCA and other gyms mdash who would love to help you Of course they donrsquot work for free and for many people the cost of a personal trainer is more than theyrsquore willing to spend

Fortunately therersquos a trend in fitness to offer the whip-crack of a personal trainer while staying Jo radlinger urges her clients to not sabotage their fitness efforts with poor eating over

the weekend

MM p01 0116indd 19 12182015 24510 PM

20 bull January 2016 bull MANKATO MAGAZINE

728 N Riverfront DriveMankato MN 56001

507-625-5163katobearscom

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Like us onFacebook

affordableThe Y now offers something called ldquotrainer ledrdquo

exercise sessions where you work with others in a group but have access to a trainer nearby who can push you motivate you and make sure yoursquore you know doing it right Theyrsquore $3 a class

ldquoYoursquore still expected to be there but itrsquos much cheaperrdquo Howe said ldquoThe group environment pushes you and we have tons of trainer-led classes Itrsquos the best of both worldsrdquo

Across town Jo Radlinger runs Jorsquos Garage a fitness center where shersquos the one pushing you to succeed

Radlingerrsquos goal she says is to bring out everyonersquos potential

ldquoI want to make sure everybody that comes through my door has success I want them to be the very best version of themselves that they can berdquo

Like Howe Radlinger acknowledges that the financial side of hiring a personal trainer can scare people away but she says there are several reasons why it shouldnrsquot

ldquoItrsquos never a bad investment when yoursquore investing in yourselfrdquo she said ldquoMeet with a trainer who is just as passionate about your goal My goal is not to train you intensely but to show you what yoursquore capable of and then take you to that next levelrdquo

At Jorsquos Fitness Garage there are no membership fees Radlinger doesnrsquot believe in them Instead she charges $5 per visit and in that time she said she pushes you to have a great workout

GymtimidationSetting goals is a great

idea Setting unrealistic goals is the kind of thing that results in a gym membership card laying dormant in a junk drawer by February

So set those goals but set them smartlyldquoAccountability is huge Even if you canrsquot hire

someonerdquo Howe says ldquoMake specific goals mdash say yoursquore going to workout X number of times but make those numbers realistic Set goals that are within your controlrdquo

Do this and yoursquore likely to feel a lot better about how things go

ldquoMost people just want to feel better about themselves they want to feel more confidentrdquo Howe said ldquoThis way even before any physical changes happen theyrsquoll feel better Theyrsquoll start to feel like theyrsquore in control again of their life and their choicesrdquo

Taking an exercise class is a great way to both get

your body moving while at the same time have fun and meet those people who will notice when you donrsquot show up

And about that weight room Yes it can be intimidating to walk in and see people who look like they live there But Howe says that while it can definitely be a psychological barrier focusing on those people is the wrong strategy

ldquoNo one cares what yoursquore doingrdquo Howe says ldquoFocus on yourdquo

Take it slowIt can be tempting when you finally get up the

nerve to get back in the swing of working out to go hardcore But just like setting unrealistic goals trying to achieve your fitness goals in a day is impossible

ldquoPeople start out really gung-ho and reset their diet so aggressively and most people just simply canrsquot do thisrdquo Radlinger said ldquoWhen yoursquore looking at making a lifestyle change I want you to do it slowly and incrementally rather than do it all in two monthsrdquo

Rushing into the weight room and trying to lift the same weight and number of reps and sets that you did 10 years ago is a great way to make sure you canrsquot work out for a while Going from a sedentary lifestyle to two hours of pumping iron can leave you sore enough to not be able to lift anything for days Maybe even weeks

Ease into it The gymrsquos not going anywhere Think marathon not sprint

ldquoSometimes people have an all-or-nothing attituderdquo Howe said ldquoand they make themselves sore and they canrsquot continuerdquo

Speaking of all-or-nothing Radlinger says

some people bring that kind of intensity to their food intake over the weekend Bad idea

ldquoAs trainers we help people be accountable We do success measurements help them prepare and plan And wersquoll do weigh-ins on Mondayrdquo Radlinger says ldquoWersquoll find that people do really well Monday through Friday then do what I call sabotage Saturday and Sunday At some point yoursquore going to get so sick of hitting that reset button every Mondayrdquo

Whatever you choose to do both trainers say itrsquos never a bad idea to sit down with your doctor and run your plans by himher Your personal safety should always come first and getting the green light from Doc can give you some peace of mind as you start this new chapter of your life MM

Jo radlinger runs Jorsquos Fitness Garage

MM p01 0116indd 20 12222015 120709 PM

MANKATO MAGAZINE  bull January 2016 bull 21

728 N Riverfront DriveMankato MN 56001

507-625-5163katobearscom

Pins and NeedlesAlterations

Specializing in alterations for theentire wedding party including

gown re-sizing hemming re-beadingbustles and so much more

Like us onFacebook

Live the Lifestyle

wwwmapletonmarinecom

Southern MNrsquos largestboat show on now at the

Madison East Center in Mankato

MM p01 0116indd 21 12182015 24524 PM

22 bull January 2016 bull MANKATO MAGAZINE

Thirty-three years ago I stood inside a grave A lifetime ago when I was a pastorrsquos wife

In Nebraska we served a parish of barely over one hundred members A picture-postcard white church with a hand-carved white wooden altar from Germany sat at the top of a hill next to it the parsonage and next to that the cemetery rolling down the hill toward a wooded creek

The first death in the congregation after our arrival set off a flurry of activity Irsquod never met Alma because she was in a nursing home before we arrived However my husband visited her on several occasions She was mother aunt grandmother great-aunt and great-grandmother to half the congregation so there was no question about whether or not I would attend the funeral

With my two little kids in tow I attended every event at the church every Sunday morning service of course but also every funeral every confirmation every baptism every meeting of womenrsquos circle and even every family reunion that was held in the church basement At twenty-six I perfected the art of making gracious small talk with people Irsquod never seen before and would never see again and at taking tiny portions from each confirmation buffet so I would neither be sick by the end of the day nor offend any of the mothers who had slaved away over their sumptuous spreads of food

By Rebecca Fjelland Davis

Grave Lesson in Winter

ESSay

MM p01 0116indd 22 12182015 24527 PM

MANKATO MAGAZINE  bull January 2016 bull 23

Attending the little white country church was physically easy I picked up one-year-old Josh took three-year-old Nikkirsquos hand and walked out the front door down the sidewalk and next door The only things I didnrsquot have to attend were church council and the menrsquos meeting Archaic This was in the 1980s It doesnrsquot seem so long ago

All the available babysitters in the community would attend Almarsquos funeral too so this was to be my kidsrsquo first funeral

The afternoon before the service salt-snow fell Hard little crystals pelted down as if the heavens had up-ended a Mortonrsquos salt canister Within a few hours the hard snow was six inches deep and still falling

In the middle of the salt-snow the gravedigger arrived The Ditchwitch roared around the cemetery to the familyrsquos plot and my kidsrsquo noses pressed against the upstairs bedroom window pane ldquoMommy can we go watchrdquo

Glad for an excuse to get out of the parsonage I bundled them in snowsuits put them on the sled and pulled them across the house yard and garden to the fence that bordered the cemetery

The Ditchwitch made short work of the grave and all three of us were mesmerized watching the mound of gray-black dirt grow in the crystal-white snow When the hole was finished the gravedigger turned his tractor on idle He hopped off and came over to the fence His eyes twinkled in a weathered face ldquoWant to come lookrdquo

I backed up from the fence a step ldquoNo not really I think this is close enoughrdquo

ldquoYes Mommy go lookrdquo ldquoPleeeeaserdquoSo Nikki and Josh got back on the sled and I

hauled them along the fence through the gate over to the grave and looked down Six feet seemed deep bottomless Dark A sharp contrast to the pelting snowflakes all around us

ldquoWanna get down in thererdquo the gravedigger asked I shuddered hung onto the kids and backed up

again ldquoNo No thatrsquos okay This is close enough I just want to look from hererdquo

ldquoYes mommyrdquo the little ones said ldquoLetrsquosrdquoldquoNordquoldquoPleaserdquoldquoReally marsquoam I think you should Yoursquoll be

surprised I wouldnrsquot suggest it if it I didnrsquot think sordquoldquoHow would we get outrdquo The sides were deeper

than I was tall and there certainly werenrsquot footholds or a ladder built in for Almarsquos soul to use to climb out

ldquoLike thisrdquo The gravedigger laid his shovel diagonally across a top corner of the grave and jumped down He grabbed the middle of the shovel handle and swung himself back up and out with the agility of a gymnast ldquoNothinrsquo to itrdquo

ldquoI canrsquot do thatrdquoldquoYes you can Irsquoll boost you And wersquoll lift the kids

Yoursquoll be amazed I promiserdquoI shivered The idea of being inside a grave

seemed much colder than the snow crystals biting at my face

ldquoCome onrdquo he said and jumped back in Nikki and Josh willingly stepped over to him to be lifted down I had no choice but to follow I couldnrsquot let my kids alone in a grave with a man I didnrsquot even know

So I jumped The earth on the bottom made a soft landing The soil around me was warm and steamy It was moist and dark but it enfolded us in an earthy hug At least fifty degrees warmer than the air above ground it felt as if the earth were offering shelter respite a comfortable place to snuggle down and rest Tiny roots dangled full of life from the smooth edges of the hole Tears sprang to my eyes I couldnrsquot help them My eyes met the gravediggerrsquos and he smiled Gently ldquoSeerdquo he said Nothing more

I couldnrsquot speak A few minutes later he gave me a stirrup with his

hands I scrambled out and he lifted Nikki and Josh up to me Then he flipped himself out as easily as a trapeze artist

ldquoThank yourdquo I said ldquoI would never have guessedrdquoHe nodded ldquoNobody does But it helps somehow

I wanted you to feel thatrdquoWhy I wanted to ask why me You donrsquot even

know me Why were you willing to take time for usldquoThank yourdquo was all I said I shook his hand and

he hopped on the Ditchwitch and drove off into the snow

I never saw him again Someone else dug the next grave required in that cemetery

I remember only bits and pieces of the funeral Irsquom sure I baked a boxed cake mix for ldquolunchrdquo afterwards I remember answering Nikkirsquos questions about the body and sitting in the back row of the church in case Josh didnrsquot want to be quiet I do remember looking at the unfamiliar face in the casket and thinking you get to rest in a warm cozy place

Ten winters later we buried my dad on just such a day Wet snow crystals pelted us and piled up so deep the funeral home limousine got stuck in the cemetery By the time the pallbearers pushed it un-stuck their suit pants were caked in slush and mud

We stood at the graveside in the bleak wet icy day and lowered my fatherrsquos body into the ground

ldquoToo bad itrsquos such a miserable dayrdquo ldquoSorry about your dad Sorry the weatherrsquos so bad toordquo And even ldquoSuch a good man He deserves better weather than thisrdquo

But the weather I thought was just right Losing my dad my kids and their cousins losing

their grandpa my mom becoming a widow my brother losing his farming partner and best friend changed our livesmdashthat part was too heavy to carry

The only part that was okay for me was to let Dadrsquos worn-out body be wrapped in that welcoming warm enfolding soilmdashthe very soil hersquod loved to till the soil hersquod planted and tended all his life the soil that gave us all lifemdashthat was the only gratifying part of the day

The only comfort I had was letting Dad go from the cold wet biting snow into that warm and restful place

And I still wonder who that gravedigger was ten years earlier and how he knew how much I would need what he gave me that bleak winter day MM

Rebecca Fjelland Davis is an author from Mankato

MM p01 0116indd 23 12182015 24528 PM

reFlecTionsBy Pat Christman

24 bull January 2016 bull MANKATO MAGAZINE

MM p01 0116indd 24 12182015 24544 PM

reFlecTionsBy Pat Christman

MANKATO MAGAZINE  bull January 2016 bull 25

There are few things as inevitable as snow during a Minnesota winter Big

cotton ball-like snowflakes cover the ground in a white blanket whitewashing the Midwestern landscape

We struggle against it Some hope the snow never comes It always does filling the sky with floating snowflakes that cling to the ground but melt as soon as they hit the small bits of face or hands that peek out from winter clothing

It is often quite beautiful especially when viewed from someplace warm and dry MM

MM p01 0116indd 25 12182015 24548 PM

26 bull January 2016 bull MANKATO MAGAZINE

Then amp now Vice President Schuyler Colfaxrsquos Death By Bryce o sTenzel

On Jan 14 1885 one day after his death the New York Times carried a

headline that read ldquoSchuyler Colfax Dead He Drops Down in a Railway Stationrdquo While most Americans today would have tremendous difficulty in even recognizing this manrsquos name

(unless they were paying close attention to Stephen Spielbergrsquos epic movie Lincoln and made the association) Schuyler Colfax was a former Speaker of the House of Representatives and Vice President of the United States under President US Grant He died in Mankatorsquos Chicago St

Paul Minneapolis amp Omaha railroad depot from a massive heart attack

Schuyler Colfax Jr was born in New York City on March 23 1823 His father died of tuberculosis five months before Schuyler was born His sister Mary died four months after his [Schuylerrsquos]

vice President Schuyler Colfaxrsquos Death in Mankato

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MANKATO MAGAZINE  bull January 2016 bull 27

birth The young Schuyler attended school only until he was 10 He then began working to support his family Schuyler Colfax never attended any kind of secondary school or college His mother remarried when Colfax was 13 and the family moved to New Carlisle Indiana By the time he was 22 Colfax was the editor and owner of a pro-Whig newspaper He was elected to Congress in 1854 and joined the newly formed Republican Party after the Whig Party disintegrated Solidly anti-slavery his colleagues elected Colfax as Speaker of the US House of Representatives in 1863 His election came soon after the death of his wife Evelyn The couple had no children

Colfax was President Abraham Lincolnrsquos first and last visitor on the fateful day Lincoln was assassinatedmdashApril 14 1865 Early that morning Colfax arrived at the White House while the president was having breakfast Colfax wanted to know whether or not Lincoln planned to call a special session of Congress for later that summer Lincolnrsquos answer was a polite but firm ldquonordquo Lincoln preferred a lenient approach in reconstructing as well as readmitting the former Confederate states to the Union now that the Civil War was over This approach put Lincoln at odds with the more ldquoradicalrdquo congressional members of his own party who preferred harsher measures be taken against their former enemies Lincoln had already made up his mind how he wanted to proceed with reconstructing the former Confederate states and he didnrsquot want any unnecessary interference from Congress Calling a special session was the last thing Lincoln wanted to do Colfax returned that same night to see Lincoln again just before the president left for Fordrsquos Theatre and his appointment with destiny This time Colfax came upon Lincolnrsquos own request The president had a long message for the silver miners of the Comstock Lode in Nevada thanking them for their loyalty to the Union that he wanted Speaker Colfax to deliver in person since Colfax was leaving by train for the West the next day Colfax was the last person Lincoln spoke to besides his wife Mary before he

was fatally shot at 1015 pm Colfax never forgave himself for turning down Lincolnrsquos invitation to be part of the theatre party that night

In 1868 Republicans selected General Ulysses S Grant as their presidential candidate Grant a military man his entire life had no political background Colfax was placed on the ticket because of his prior experience as a congressman and Speaker of the House (he resigned the position in 1869) Grant and Colfax won an easy victory in November 1868 Only two weeks later Colfax remarriedmdashthis time to Ellen Wade (niece of Ohio Senator Benjamin Wade) Their only child son Schuyler Colfax III was born in 1870

Colfax is best remembered (if at all) for his involvement in the corruption that beset Grantrsquos entire presidency Specifically the Credit Mobilier scandal broke in 1872 just as Grant and Colfax were gearing up for their re-election campaign Colfax was suspected of accepting shares of stock and cash bribes from ldquoCredit Mobilierrdquo a dummy construction company set up by the Union Pacific Railroad He was by no means the only influential person involved in the scandal Other political figures investigated included Senators Roscoe Conkling of New York William Allison of Iowa John Logan of Illinois James Bayard of Delaware and Henry Wilson of Massachusetts Grant was less popular in 1872 than he had been four years earlier and many Republicans worried that having Colfax on the partyrsquos ticket would harm the presidentrsquos re-election chances They dumped Colfax from the ticket mdash only to replace him with the also-tainted Wilson Grant won re-election and served his second and final term from 1873-1877 After being forced out from the vice presidency Colfax traveled the country as a popular lecturer often speaking about his interactions with Abraham Lincoln during the Civil War He rebuilt his tarnished reputation and commanded speaking fees as high as $2500

At 10 am on Jan 13 1885 Schuyler Colfax arrived in Mankato aboard a train from Milwaukee Mankato was just a

brief stop for Colfax who was on his way to Iowa for a speaking engagement The Chicago Milwaukee amp St Paul as well as the Chicago St Paul Minneapolis amp Omaha railroads both had depots in Mankato but because they were separate competing railroad lines Colfax was required to change trains by walking three-quarters of a mile from the Chicago Milwaukee amp St Paul depot at the foot of Hickory Street to the Chicago St Paul Minneapolis amp Omaha depot at Fourth and Washington Streets (now Washington Park) from which the next leg of his journey would depart Despite a reported temperature of 30 degrees below zero Colfax walked from one station to the other Within five minutes after he arrived at the Omaha linersquos depot Colfax entered the waiting room looked at a map on the wall sat down and died It was 1035 am No one in the station knew who the dead man actually was until they searched his pockets and found a letter with his name on it His death was likely caused by a heart attack brought on by the physical exertion of walking almost a mile in extreme cold Colfax was only 61 when he died His remains were returned to South Bend Indiana for burial

Today few Americans are aware that anyone named Schuyler Colfax ever lived much less served as vice president of the United States In this era in which officeholders are often treated as celebrities imagine how surprised people would be to learn that a former vice president died cold alone and unrecognized in a train station 131 years ago Before 24-hour news channels smart phones and social media it was possible for public figures like Colfax to live ndash and die ndash in relative obscurity Ironically Colfax loved the railroad but in the end it was the cause of his undoing Mankato has the distinction of being the location where the last man to personally speak to Abraham Lincoln in a private conversation took his last breath

MM p01 0116indd 27 12182015 24549 PM

28 bull January 2016 bull MANKATO MAGAZINE

Mayo Clinic offers pediatric and adolescent orthopedic services right here in Mankato Todd Milbrandt MD cares for patients with a variety of needs including

bull Cerebral palsy

bull Clubfoot

bull Hip disorders

bull Spinal disorders

bull Sports injuries

bull Scoliosis

bull Spina bifida

Mayo Clinic Health System in Mankato Call 1-877-412-7575 (toll-free) to schedule an appointment

495rdquox495rdquo Mankato Magazine January

Orthopedic care for your child

Independent ampAssisted Living

EQUAL HOUSINGOPPORTUNITY

1360 Adams StreetMankato MN

PrimroseRetirementcom

reg

Key City Senior Breakfast ClubThe Key City Senior Breakfast Club meets the first Thursday of each month from 830 AM - 930 AM at Primrose Retirement Community The club gives those 55+ the opportunity to meet new friends and visit old ones socialize with Key City Officials and enjoy a delicious home-cooked breakfast To visit a Key City Senior Breakfast please call (866) 447-9636

Mark your calendar for these breakfast dates Thursday January 7th Thursday March 3rd and Thursday May 5th

刀椀渀最 椀渀 琀栀攀 

一攀眀 夀攀愀爀

㔀 㜀ⴀ㤀㐀ⴀ㐀㐀䨀甀氀攀攀猀䨀攀眀攀氀爀礀挀漀洀

椀渀 匀愀椀渀琀 倀攀琀攀爀

20765 Foley Rd Mankato MN | 5073872434 | 5077262411

Three TimeNational Award Winners

MM p02 0116indd 28 12182015 30742 PM

Mayo Clinic offers pediatric and adolescent orthopedic services right here in Mankato Todd Milbrandt MD cares for patients with a variety of needs including

bull Cerebral palsy

bull Clubfoot

bull Hip disorders

bull Spinal disorders

bull Sports injuries

bull Scoliosis

bull Spina bifida

Mayo Clinic Health System in Mankato Call 1-877-412-7575 (toll-free) to schedule an appointment

495rdquox495rdquo Mankato Magazine January

Orthopedic care for your child

Independent ampAssisted Living

EQUAL HOUSINGOPPORTUNITY

1360 Adams StreetMankato MN

PrimroseRetirementcom

reg

Key City Senior Breakfast ClubThe Key City Senior Breakfast Club meets the first Thursday of each month from 830 AM - 930 AM at Primrose Retirement Community The club gives those 55+ the opportunity to meet new friends and visit old ones socialize with Key City Officials and enjoy a delicious home-cooked breakfast To visit a Key City Senior Breakfast please call (866) 447-9636

Mark your calendar for these breakfast dates Thursday January 7th Thursday March 3rd and Thursday May 5th

OMG hellip More food and drinksOK sure

By now yoursquore probably thinking ldquoOh my gosh the last thing I want to think about right now is more food more drinking and more diningrdquo

Fair enough We get it The holidays are murder on the metabolism of many many Minnesotans

But we also know that those metabolisms are hardy and soon enough theyrsquoll be hankering for a hunk of something yummy and full of fun And whatrsquos more yummy and full of fun than a big glass of Cabernet Sauvignon Our wine guy Leigh Pomeroy takes us on a tour of all that is tasty and wonderful about big red wines the kind that leave their mark the kind that really announce their presence on your palate

And just in case yoursquore super serious about a healthy lifestyle mdash and that seriousness extends to the kind of beer you choose mdash Bert Mattson our beer guy has just the selection for you Best part is Itrsquos light

Oh and under the category of ldquoDid you hear about thisrdquo Wersquove got an update for you on the Coffee Hag Mankatorsquos original coffee house and one of the most popular hangouts in town Seriously some days itrsquos hard to find a seat in that place

EnjoyPS We know that baby itrsquos cold outside mdash thatrsquos why wersquove

thrown you our absolute best hot cocoa recipe

Enjoymdash Robb Murray Associate Editor Mankato Magazine

food drink amp dineso

uthern m

n style

20765 Foley Rd Mankato MN | 5073872434 | 5077262411

Three TimeNational Award Winners

MM p02 0116indd 29 12182015 30745 PM

MANKATO 5073854485 AMBOY 5076743355 I VERNON CENTER 5075493679

INSURANCE OFFICES LOCATED IN THE COMMUNITY BANK BUILDINGS

wwwcimankatocom

Protecting the things that matter most in your life

Let us help protect what is important to you At Community Insurance we have the ability to compare insurance from multiple companies to get you the best coverage at a great price Combine that with our insurance knowledge and friendly group of agents and we say thatrsquos a winning deal

WHERE YOUR POLICY COMES WITH AN AGENT

Christina Meyer

Food

south

ern mn style

Food

south

ern mn style

By The Washington Post

Growing up my mother always encouraged her children to cook So when

I found a recipe for hot chocolate on the side of the Hersheyrsquos Cocoa can it was easy to convince her to let me give it a try

What I discovered was that hot chocolate doesnrsquot have to come from an envelope

This recipe has been a favorite of mine to make on days when winter weather has convinced me stay home and off the roads Itrsquos the perfect way to kill time and have a nice hot drink to warm you up on those chilly days

Although you can top it with whipped cream I prefer marshmallows

FAVORITE HOT COCOAMakes 4 to 6 servings

12 cup sugar14 cup unsweetened cocoa powder

Dash of salt13 cup hot water

4 cups milk34 teaspoon vanilla extract

Whipped cream or marshmallows (optional)

Mix sugar cocoa powder salt and water in a sauce pan Stir constantly over medium heat until mixture comes to a boil (about 2 minutes) Stir in

milk and heat Bring the hot chocolate to the desired temperature but do not boil Remove from heat and

add the vanilla extract Divide into mugs and top with whipped cream or marshmallows

PERFECTLY CHOCOLATE HOT COCOA

Makes 1 serving

2 tablespoons sugar2 tablespoons unsweetened cocoa powder

Dash salt1 cup milk

14 teaspoon vanilla extractWhipped cream or marshmallows (optional)

Mix sugar cocoa powder and salt into large mug In separate microwave-safe container heat on high

for 1 to 1 frac12 minutes or until very hot Carefully and gradually add milk to dry mixture Stir well Add vanilla extract Top with whipped cream or

marshmallows

Simple homemade hot chocolate

beats the winter chill

30 bull January 2016 bull MANKATO MAGAZINE

MM p02 0116indd 30 12182015 30752 PM

MANKATO MAGAZINE  bull January 2016 bull 31

Oil Change to OverhaulWe do it all

507-387-13151620 Commerce Drive North MankatowwwAustinsAutoRepairCentercom

Voted Best Auto Repair and Best Auto Mechanic 4 Years in a Row

AUSTINrsquoS AUTO REPAIR CENTER INC

MANKATO 5073854485 AMBOY 5076743355 I VERNON CENTER 5075493679

INSURANCE OFFICES LOCATED IN THE COMMUNITY BANK BUILDINGS

wwwcimankatocom

Protecting the things that matter most in your life

Let us help protect what is important to you At Community Insurance we have the ability to compare insurance from multiple companies to get you the best coverage at a great price Combine that with our insurance knowledge and friendly group of agents and we say thatrsquos a winning deal

WHERE YOUR POLICY COMES WITH AN AGENT

Christina Meyer

MM p02 0116indd 31 12182015 30755 PM

32 bull January 2016 bull MANKATO MAGAZINE

January is Cabernet TimeWersquove celebrated nearly

every January edition of Mankato Magazine with

a paean to BIG REDS And since there are so many wonderful examples why stop now

Last year I wrote about the powerful big reds of Italy This January wersquoll focus on Cabernet Sauvignon known to many as ldquothe king of winesrdquo Most oenophiles (wine lovers) consider the quintessential representations of this grape to be the classified Bordeaux of southwest France near the city of Bordeaux The five First Growths (or best wines according to a classification made in 1855 and updated in 1973) are Ch Lafite Rothschild Ch Margaux Ch Latour Ch Haut Brion and Ch Mouton Rothschild All have a cabernet sauvignon base but they are blended with merlot and often a little bit of cabernet franc and petit verdot as well

In the early 1970s I was able to buy these wines for around $22 per bottle mdash about $120 in 2016 dollars Yet with the popularity of ldquocollectiblerdquo wines on a worldwide

basis they sell today for anywhere from $400 on up

Contrary to popular belief these wines are not that massive Rather they combine cabernet sauvignon power with

structure and finesse yielding wines that become with time elixirs that are greater than the sum of their parts

Both California and Washington state have taken up the Cabernet Sauvignon challenge and are producing world-class wines at sometimes world-class prices Napa Valley is the recognized leader in this arena and rightly so Napa Valleyrsquos top Cabernet

Wine amp B

eerso

uthern m

n style

winesBy Leigh Pomeroy

Leigh Pomeroy is a Mankato-based writer and wine lover

Cabernet Sauvignon is the black Labrador of wines mdash it comes up and licks yourdquo

mdash Winemaker Scott Rich

Sauvignons rival the great wines of Bordeaux for quality mdash Irsquove tasted them side-by-side mdashand yet can sell for a fraction of their price

One such example is the 2013 Tulocay Cabernet Sauvignon from my old friend Bill Cadman We were young bucks in Napa Valley and had a tasting group in the early 1970s along with now-famous wine luminaries Bruce Neyers (Neyers Vineyards) and Mike Richmond (co-founder of Acacia Vineyard)

Billrsquos Cabernet is from an old and relatively cool growing area east of the City of Napa called Coombsville which because of industry political issues only recently received its AVA (American Viticultural Area) designation It is priced at $60 per bottle yet compares with any top-flight Bordeaux as well as the more expensive offerings from Napa Valley which can cost from $100 on up Not currently available at wine stores or restaurants in Minnesota it can be purchased by contacting the winery directly via its website tulocaycom The winery is so small that Bill will probably answer the phone himself

There is a lot of Cabernet Sauvignon available from California but mdash caveat emptor mdash not all growing areas (or appellations) are the same The best Cabernet Sauvignons are from Napa and Sonoma Counties Cabernets simply labeled ldquoCaliforniardquo or perhaps ldquoCoastalrdquo while sometimes good values lack the complexity of the greater Cabernet Sauvignons from the more northern parts of the state

Washington state has also

established itself as a prime producer of Cabernet Sauvignon But here again quality can vary greatly depending upon the area and producer While there is no ldquogo-tordquo appellation for Cabernet Sauvignon in Washington there are producers that are able to secure fruit from the best vineyards

One such example is the tiny Willis Hall Winery owned by another good friend John Bell a former Boeing jet propulsion engineer Like Tulocay its wines are only available by calling up the winery and ordering some (See willishallcom) But there are many other top quality producers in Washington like Quilceda Creek Leonetti Betz Family and Woodward Canyon

Of course not everyone can afford Cabernet Sauvignons in the $60-plus category One excellent everyday drinking example is the Flying Cloud 2013 Paso Robles Cabernet Sauvignon made by Mankato native Stephen Dooley Normally I donrsquot like Paso Robles Cabs as they tend to be too fruity and too soft for my palate mdash almost like drinking berry jam But this one is quite restrained no doubt helped by the inclusion of 13 percent zinfandel and 9 percent petite sirah in the blend

In Mankato both the Wine Cafeacute and MGM carry the Flying Cloud but at its price and quality I wouldnrsquot count on it lasting for long especially since only 759 cases were produced

So letrsquos raise a glass of Cabernet and say ldquoCheersrdquo to the New Year

MM p02 0116indd 32 12182015 30756 PM

MANKATO MAGAZINE  bull January 2016 bull 33

Bert Mattson is a chef and writer based in St Paul He is the manager of the iconic Mickeyrsquos Diner

Beer Skinny

BeerBy Bert Mattson

Last year according to Nielsen research staying fit and healthy was

the number one New Yearrsquos resolution Losing weight was two Three was to enjoy life to the fullest Unfortunately ldquolose weight and get fitrdquo also topped Time magazinersquos list of commonly broken resolutions Is this shortfall due to tension between the top two and that third one If so craft beer may have a role in the compromise Bad news first

In the context of losing weight and staying fit beer lovers might seek solace in the fact that fat carries nine calories per gram while alcohol has only seven The wrinkle is that those seven are ldquoemptyrdquo mdash calories without nutrition as opposed to those from fat protein and carbohydrates Moreover alcoholrsquos calories are the first burned when combined with the others the human body postpones burning fat while it works on alcohol Furthermore beer (and wine and often cocktails) contains carbohydrates which release insulin and can hasten fat storage Finally many drinkers have undoubtedly observed that alcohol loosens inhibitions after which an eager indulgence in unhealthy foods often occurs (Bar menus are rarely helpful in that respect)

By now you may wonder whose side Irsquom actually on Or suspect Irsquove led you to this dark place only to offer you a Lite No worries a couple craft brewers have been considering ways to keep us true to our resolutions

Evil Twin Brewingrsquos Bikini Beer drops the alcohol to 27 percent but stays bold by way of hops A Pale Ale it hits the nose with citrus suggestive of IPA The flavor follows suit floral and lemon There is an expected absence of malt yielding to bitterness up front that fades at the finish An alternative

for those who insist on the full effect Founderrsquos Brewing Companyrsquos All Day IPA rings in at a respectable 144 calories (Evil Twinrsquos entry comes in at 81)

One strategy to beat the beer munchies and avoid costly impulse eating is to have suitable chow on hand With Bikini Beer try a salad sporting blue cheese and some sort of dried fruit Creamy blue veined cheeses echo the hops while balancing bitterness An occasional bite of dried fruit stands in for malt sweetness

Brooklyn Breweryrsquos 12 Ale weighs in at 34 percent alcohol (102 calories) It is alliteratively labeled ldquoSession Saisonrdquo It opens with a waft of citrus and spice and a little lemongrass from Sorachi Ace hops mdash a hybrid developed in East Asia The same elements are found in the flavor which is a bit more subdued than a full-sized Saison

Try it with a tangle of arugula dressed with lemon and a fruity olive oil tossed with pine nuts and topped with shaved Parmesan for effect The greens and cracked pepper reflect spicy phenolic elements in the yeast Salty cheese counters the beerrsquos lingering bitterness Maybe add a few slices of Speck cured ham and Saison share a certain funkiness

If friends show and it becomes a session you may honestly say you spent Saturday working on your six-pack

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34 bull January 2016 bull MANKATO MAGAZINE

Food

south

ern mn style

Food

south

ern mn style

The Coffee Hag one of the arearsquos oldest (and coolest) bistros recently underwent a major expansion and remodeling journey culminating in a large and airy

seating area along with a much-improved kitchen and a new menu Mankato Magazine caught up with a very busy (and slightly exhausted) owner Jenn Melby-Kelly who weighs in on how itrsquos going

MANKATO MAGAZINE Are you personally enjoying the new updatesJENN MELBY-KELLY It Is Fabulous The new space represents so much more than a remodel to me It has brought to life a vision for my business thatrsquos been years in the making It incorporates many many good ideas from many many people I feel so fortunate to get to see that every time I walk through the door

MM How are customers reactingJMK Thatrsquos been one of the best parts The response has been overwhelmingly positive

A few of our most regular customers had the opportunity to get a glimpse of the remodel while it was underway (we gave some informal preview tours while we were operating the temporary stand outside) but many customers walk through the door now and see it all for the first time Itrsquos especially fun to see and hear that kind of wide-eyed reaction

A few people with special connections to The Hag have had even stronger emotional responses and Irsquom so touched and right there with them when I see eyes well up as they see what wersquove done Itrsquos a very big milestone for a very special place and wersquore blessed to have people that care so deeply

MM Do the employees appreciate the new spaceJMK Oh probably more than anyone There was a lot that we sought to do with the remodel but creating a bigger brighter better-equipped space for our team was certainly one of the primary goals Wersquove got an incredible team truly the most spirited and talented people anyone could hope for

Many of them have spent years with me working hard against the challenge of a small under-equipped space and just barely being able to keeping up with growing demand Itrsquos been a special blessing for them and for me to finally have state-of-the-art space thatrsquos made for the work that we do We all feel a special connection to this place and now more than ever the place reflects the good energy we all bring here every day

MM Is the new menu a hit (The Hag specializes in vegetarianvegan cuisine)JMK Yes but just wait Feedback and demand have been excellent with our food offerings already but wersquore just getting started on some of the really exciting things that are coming to our food menu

Remodeling the cafe was just the first major milestone of our two-part expansion plan Next up wersquore building a state of the art off-site commissary kitchen that will do for our incredible culinary team what the remodeled shop has done for our baristas Theyrsquove been working day and night on taking our already fantastic food offerings to a whole new level

Wersquove already introduced some amazing new menu items like the Garden Grilled Cheese panini (trust me itrsquos like nothing yoursquove had before) and some truly outstanding new vegan baked goods Wersquove also improved our classic offerings with house-made

Interview with Jenn Melby-Kelly owner of The Coffee Hag

By Sarah Johnson

MM p02 0116indd 34 12182015 30802 PM

MANKATO MAGAZINE  bull January 2016 bull 35

Happy New Year

Locally Owned amp Operated

Check Weekly Specialsmgmwineandspiritscommankato

Largest Selection ofbull Liquor bull Wine bull Beer bull

Hours Monday-Saturday 8 am - 10 pm

ATMs at all stores

Mankato201 Victory Dr

625-2420

North Mankato1755 Commerce Dr

387-2634

St Peter100 N Minnesota Ave

934-8964

sourdough and whole wheat breads But as impressive as it is already itrsquos just a taste mdash literally mdash of things to come as we bring our new kitchen online

MM Whatrsquos stayed the sameJMK Irsquom really proud to say that while wersquove touched almost every part of this 23-year-old business wersquove kept even more than we have changed From the first days of this project I made it my personal mission and responsibility to make sure that the ldquosoulrdquo of this special place was only enhanced and never lost as we made the updates

In every area of the remodel as wersquove added some necessary new layers of sophistication The Hagrsquos colorful quirky and even rebellious spirit is still very much a part of the space We did a lot to try to make sure it still looked and felt like ldquohomerdquo

And on a deeper level every step wersquove taken with the growth of our business has been chosen carefully to honor the core parts of The Coffee Hagrsquos identity Our focus on community our support for local art and music our commitment to creating a safe and welcoming space for everyone our efforts to lead the way on social and environmental issues affecting our world near and far mdash those have all stayed the same And those will always be at the heart of what we do

MM Anything elseJMK Irsquom so incredibly grateful for the support of our customers and community And whenever I talk about my business and how it has grown I really canrsquot overstate how thankful I am for my beautiful Coffee Hag family The hard work good energy and earnest contributions of so many people mdash past and present mdash have brought me and my business here An incredible amount of love has gone into this business and made this dream a reality

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36 bull January 2016 bull MANKATO MAGAZINE

xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

Food

south

ern mn style

whatrsquos Cooking By Sarah Johnson

Sarah Johnson is a cook freelance writer and chocolate addict from North Mankato with three grown kids and a couple of mutts

As I was pondering my subject matter for todayrsquos column I started wondering about all the different items the word ldquonutsrdquo can refer

to Crazy people are called nuts so are hexagonal metal objects that attach to bolts Nuts can be the end of things (as in ldquofrom soup to nutsrdquo) or they can be the beginning of them (as in ldquosperm incubatorsrdquo) Nut can also mean onersquos head or onersquos lump of something such as butter And if you accidentally get a nut of butter on your nut you can exclaim ldquoNutsrdquo

My favorite meaning of the word nut however is the dry indehiscent one-seeded fruit with a woody pericarp And I donrsquot even know what indehiscent OR pericarp means But these are the wonderful denizens of the world of edible nuts

Nuts are widely credited with all sorts of health benefits for the heart brain male reproductive system prostate cholesterol level fiber intake and avoidance of some types of cancer And while nuts do contain fat itrsquos the ldquogoodrdquo kind heart-healthy monounsaturated and polyunsaturated fat Their mix of omega-3 fatty acids protein and fiber helps you feel full and suppresses the appetite

Nuts are great in desserts and salads of course but they also shine in stir-fries casseroles soups chicken pork fish and even beverages Nut butters nut milks and nut oils add delicious options to our kitchen larders Breads cereals muffins and pancakes gain texture flavor and nutrition from the addition of nuts Basically anytime is a good time for nuts

Which is a wonderful thing because nuts taste so good you would think they had to be very very bad The reason lies deep in their oils

Walnut Oil is strong and flavorful Itrsquos best when used in uncooked sauces or salad dressing

Hazelnut Oil has a strong flavor and is great for the heart

Almond Oil is very popular and has a much milder flavor than walnut oil or hazelnut oil

Pecan Macadamia Nut Pistachio Cashew and Pine Nut Oils are flavorful and unique The freshness of the nuts used really affects the flavor

ldquoTherersquos Nuttinrsquo Nutty About Nutsrdquo

For the Baklava1 pound pistachios hazelnuts walnuts pecans andor almonds coarsely ground plus more for garnish12 teaspoon ground cinnamon1 cup breadcrumbs4 sticks unsalted butter melted16 sheets phyllo dough (thawed if frozen) cut in half

For the Syrup3 cups sugar1 6 -to-8-ounce jar honey1 frac12 cups water1 to 2 tablespoons fresh lemon juice

If yoursquore under the impression that baklava is much too labor-intensive and complicated to make at home think again Anybody can make

it no special skills equipment or exotic ingredients are required A word about phyllo dough Itrsquos sold in frozen packages so you need to remove the package from the freezer and let it thaw in the fridge 24 hours before you want to make the baklava Then about an hour beforehand remove the package from the fridge and let it sit on the counter

Walnuts or pistachios are the most traditional nuts to fill baklava but using other nuts works wonders as well Simply layer the phyllo with the nut filling and butter bake for an hour and finish with a simple honeyed syrup If you have leftover nuts from the holidays herersquos your chance to use them up

Mixed Nut Baklava

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MANKATO MAGAZINE  bull January 2016 bull 37

MONEY MATTERS WORK SMARTLET COMMUNITY BANK HELP YOUBRING THE TWO TOGETHER

MANKATO - SAINT ANDREWS DR 5073854444MANKATO - MADISON AVE 5076251551VERNON CENTER 5075493679AMBOY 5076743300

JULIE VETTERSR VICE PRESIDENTRETAIL BANKING

We support great causes like yoursAt Community Bank we know good things happen when you have a good bank So we make more possible by keeping banking simple and supportive And by giving you the power that comes with innovative solutions like our Health Savings Account It offers you tax-free savings for future medical expenses Stop by anytime Wersquore always ready to help out a great cause

Position a rack in the lower third of the oven preheat to 350 degrees Combine the nuts cinnamon and breadcrumbs in a bowl

Brush a 9x13-inch baking dish with some of the butter Layer 10 pieces of phyllo in the dish brushing each piece with butter before adding the next (keep the remaining dough covered with a damp towel) Sprinkle a quarter of the nut mixture over the dough Layer four pieces of phyllo on top brushing each with butter before adding the next sprinkle with another quarter of the nut mixture Add four more phyllo pieces on top brushing each with butter then add another quarter of the nut mixture four more pieces of phyllo with butter and the remaining nuts

Layer the remaining 10 pieces of phyllo on top of the nuts brushing each with butter brush the top piece with extra butter Cut into the baklava to make strips about 1 12 inches wide Then make diagonal slices about 1 12 inches apart to create a diamond pattern Bake until golden about one hour

Meanwhile make the syrup Bring the sugar honey and 1 12 cups water to a boil in a saucepan over medium heat and cook 10 to 15 minutes Add the lemon juice and boil 2 more minutes then let cool slightly Pour the syrup over the warm baklava let soak uncovered at least six hours or overnight Garnish with nuts

MM p02 0116indd 37 12182015 30817 PM

38 bull bull MANKATO MAGAZINE

Nell Musolf is a mom and freelance writer from Mankato She blogs at nellmusolfcom

38 bull bull MANKATO MAGAZINE

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MANKATO MAGAZINE  bull January 2016 bull 39

Gear Up for WinterYear-Round amp Insulated Workwear from

Carhartt Dickies and Key

UNIFORMSUniforms fromBarco Carhartt Cherokee DickiesKoi Peaches and White Cross

AMAZED

Call 5073446336mankatomagmankatofreepresscom

Stephanie L Hylla LAc Dipl AcKayla M Sweeney MOm LAc

NEW LOCATION709 S Front Suite 5

5074694788mankatoacupuncturecom

Open House ndash Wednesday Feb 3 9-12noonCelebrating 5 years of Business New Location and the Chinese New Year

In Network with Blue Cross Blue ShieldLicensed by the MN Board of Medical Practice

Ribbon Cutting with Greater Mankato Growth at 10am

(A $250 Value)THIS VOUCHER ENTITLES NEW PATIENTS TO A

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wwwr igne l l fami lych i roprac t ic comMedicare Restrictions Apply Expires January 31 2016

Dr BrandonRignell DC

1351 Madison AveSuite D

Mankato MN 56001

5077797313

$2900New Patient Special

MM p02 0116indd 39 12222015 121344 PM

40 bull bull MANKATO MAGAZINE

Jean Lundquist is a master gardener who lives near Good Thunder

MM p02 0116indd 40 12182015 30834 PM

MANKATO MAGAZINE  bull January 2016 bull 41

3 Increase the Value of Your Home

3 Update Your Homersquos Appearance

3 Save Money

Choose from SeveralModels Styles amp Colors

507-625-7110 or 1-800-645-36671125 Cross St North Mankato MN

Improve Your HomersquosEnergy Efficiency

422 Park Lane Mankato MN | NuStarMankatocom

(507) 381-4747Voted One of Mankatorsquos Best

DANIEL WINGERT

Make Selling Your Home Your NuYearrsquos Resolution

MM p02 0116indd 41 12182015 30839 PM

42 bull January 2016 bull MANKATO MAGAZINE

January Resolve to moisturize

Your stYLeBy Ann Rosenquist Fee

Ann Rosenquist Fee is executive director of the Arts Center of Saint Peter and a vocalist with The Frye She blogs at annrosenquistfeecom

If you have in-laws or colleagues who know you well enough to have given you holiday gifts

but not well enough to know what wouldrsquove truly made you happy congratulations Chances are yoursquore the proud owner of a bunch of brand-new lip balm

Maybe itrsquos even holiday themed Thatrsquos the best Maybe you got the candy-cane flavored kind or wintergreen with holiday graphics on the label or something like that A theme that was irrelevant the moment the stocking was unstuffed because at that exact second the holiday was over

And here you are in January with an abundance of wax

Fortunately also here you are in the early weeks of winter with rough red knuckles Probably also cracked cuticles although it might not have gone that far yet for you Irsquom sure it has for me This photo was taken back in November and even then the Band-Aids were for real Irsquove learned to cut them in half length-wise so as to retain my ability to type Irsquove also learned to play with a range of color options Flesh-toned Clear Disney characters The colorful strips shown here were gifted to me by my husband Partly why theyrsquore cut in half is that the text is obscene This is one small trick you can use to make bloody cuticles your most exciting accessory of the winter

Sources like UrbanSurvivalSitecom and WonderHowTocom will tell you that you can use lip balm for a whole variety of purposes such as coating threads of outdoor lightbulbs before screwing them into their sockets and enhancing the burn-ability of most kindling

These are great fun but they wonrsquot improve your personal style

More germane to winter beauty are the following suggestions

Keep a tube next to your bed for first-thing-in-the-morning use And I mean really truly first-thing I mean smear the stuff on each cuticle while yoursquore still lying there before you start using your fingers at all If you wake up thinking yoursquore fine and skip cuticle care next thing you know yoursquore pushing down the lever on your Keurig and the pressure is more than your screamingly dry skin can take and boom split blood on the Keurig and itrsquos gonna be a long painful day If only you had balmed your hands before you let your feet hit the floor

Keep another tube in your glove compartment If itrsquos warm enough to take off your mittens in the car mdash if yoursquore even wearing mittens given that your hands are snagging on everything these days mdash the harsh January sunlight will allow you to see cracks and flakes in high-resolution detail Yoursquoll want the balm nearby

to cover what you didnrsquot notice first thing in the morning Also a car tube is useful for when you look in the rear-view mirror and notice that your nose and upper lip are flaking as well Itrsquos because yoursquore getting over a cold and the frequent use of tissue has worn away your top layer of skin but just because you know that doesnrsquot mean everybody else wonrsquot think ldquothere is something in that noserdquo Itrsquos just a fact Itrsquos what it looks like Lip balm to the rescue Itrsquos the only thing dry enough to slick those flakes in place and nourishing enough to maybe actually get your face back to normal

Keep a couple more tubes in a nighttime kit along with sandpaper Sandpaper Yes Not a pumice stone not a lame also-gifted sugar

scrub Medium-grit sandpaper is what you need every night lightly but with conviction As follows 1) Sand taking care not to do more damage than what the elements have already done Yoursquore just trying to remove the dry dead stuff Yoursquore just being hearty and efficient about this true to the culture of this great state in which yoursquove chosen to winter You are no pansy Sand your hands 2) Wash 3) Blot dry 4) Dial up the gifted balm whisper a word of thanks to the person who put so much thought into your well-being that they stuffed your holiday stocking with this amazing gift of self-care smash a healthy amount down into your palms massage Take heart You just might find yourself with normal-textured non-cracked not-horrible-looking hands by morning

Split-open cuticles I feel you Except for these Band-Aids I feel you

Lip balms I have been gifted and these are just from last Christmas ldquolastrdquo as in 2014

Bathrooms Worth Bragging About

HoursTue amp Wed amp Fri | 9 am to 6 pmMon amp Thu | 9 am to 7 pmSaturday | 9 am to 4 pm

219 S Victory Dr | Mankato507 | 345 | 7009ipafhickorytechnetindependentpaintandflooringcom

You Deserve Comfortable Care Every Timebull Sedation - Complete Relaxation with Just a Pillbull Invisalign - Clear Alternative to Bracesbull Botox amp Fillersbull Implants - Placement and Restorationbull Cerec - One Visit Crown Technology

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1400 Lookout Drive North Mankato507-625-CARE(2273) bull mankatodentistcom 06

1865

6124

01

Dr AngelA Schuck

Dr keith FlAck

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MANKATO MAGAZINE  bull January 2016 bull 43

Bathrooms Worth Bragging About

HoursTue amp Wed amp Fri | 9 am to 6 pmMon amp Thu | 9 am to 7 pmSaturday | 9 am to 4 pm

219 S Victory Dr | Mankato507 | 345 | 7009ipafhickorytechnetindependentpaintandflooringcom

You Deserve Comfortable Care Every Timebull Sedation - Complete Relaxation with Just a Pillbull Invisalign - Clear Alternative to Bracesbull Botox amp Fillersbull Implants - Placement and Restorationbull Cerec - One Visit Crown Technology

bull Free Whitening Programbull 3D Imaging with Fewer X-Raysbull Cosmetic Dentistrybull Drill-Free Technologybull Emergency Care

1400 Lookout Drive North Mankato507-625-CARE(2273) bull mankatodentistcom 06

1865

6124

01

Dr AngelA Schuck

Dr keith FlAck

(944) 412-7949 | OrthoEdgeMNcom

Enjoy the season

Mankato St Peter

Be active Be healthyBe able with OrthoEdge

The OrthoEdge joint replacement

program offers superb care from your first

visit through recovery The surgeons from

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the care team at Riverrsquos Edge Hospital

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Why Riverrsquos Edge Hospital amp Clinic

bull Riverrsquos Edge Hospital amp Clinic has a long-

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MM p02 0116indd 43 12182015 30842 PM

44 bull January 2016 bull MANKATO MAGAZINE

1 Hicktown Mafia800 pm mdash New Ulm Event Center mdash 301 20th St S mdash New Ulm mdash $10 mdash 507-354-4673

7-9 Mankato West Orchesis Dance Team showcase7 pm Thursday-Saturday 2 pm Saturday mdash Mankato West High School Auditorium mdash $7 adults $5 students mdash 507-381-7578

10 Mankato Symphony Orchestra Music on the Hill II ldquoMinnesota rootsrdquo2 pm mdash Chapel at Good Counselmdash Good Counsel Drive mdash Mankato mdash $17 $12 mdash wwwmankatosymphonycom

16 Handel with Caremdash Handel Goes to Italy11 ammdash YMCA Aerobics Studio mdash 1401 S Riverfront Drive mdash Mankato mdash wwwmankatosymphonycom

16 Mankato Craft beer Expo2 pm (VIP) 3 pm general mdash Verizon Wireless Center mdash $45 VIP $35 general $10 designated driver mdash wwwmankatocraftbeerexpocom

23 Joey Flip and Mike Fugazzi rockinrsquo at the Embassy9 pm mdash Blaschkorsquos Embassy Bar and Grill mdash 325 S Minnesota Ave mdash St Peter mdash 507-934-3903

24 andrea Lyn and Dick Kimmel concert730 pm mdash Elias J Halling Recital Hall mdash Minnesota State University mdash Mankato mdash $12 regular $11 current MSU students mdash wwwmnusedumusic

28-31 MSu Theatre antigone730 pm Thursday-Saturday 2 pm Sunday mdash Andreas Theatre mdash Minnesota State University mdash Mankato mdash $16 regular $14 discount $11 current MSU students mdash wwwmnsuedu

29-31 BLC Theatre Brigadoon730 Friday and Saturday 2 pm Sunday mdash Ylvisaker Fine Arts Center mdash Bethany Lutheran College mdash Mankato mdash $10 adults $6 seniors children and students mdash wwwblceduevents

29- Feb 7 Winterfest St Peter Citywide mdash wwwstpeterchamberorg

30 Church of Cash a Tribute to Johnny Cash7 pm mdash St Peter American Legion mdash 229 W Nassau St mdash St Peter mdash 507-934-6435

31 Maud Hixson and rick Carlson concert730 pmmdash Elias J Halling Recital Hall mdash Minnesota State University mdash Mankato mdash $12 regular $11 current MSU students wwmnsuedumusic

Coming attraCtions January

T - F 8am - 6pm Sun ClosedSat 9am - 4pmM 8am - 8pm

120 North Broad Street Mankato MN 507-345-4688 wwwmeyerandsonstvandappliancecom

FIND SPECIAL DEALS ON

MM p02 0116indd 44 12182015 30902 PM

MANKATO MAGAZINE  bull January 2016 bull 45

St Peter Craft amp Vendor Show

1MelinadaBussefromRapidansoldherhandmadejewelryatthecraftandvendorshow

2DarylfromElysianandhishand-carvedwoodart

3MacKennaage7hasfunatoneoftheboothsattheStPeterCraftandVendorShow

4LizEntershowsoffsomeofherproductsattheldquoItWorksrdquobooth

5DenisePetersofldquoYoungLivingrdquoessentialoilsdisplayedherproductsattheshow

Faces amp Places Photos By Sport Pix

3

5

2

1

4

T - F 8am - 6pm Sun ClosedSat 9am - 4pmM 8am - 8pm

120 North Broad Street Mankato MN 507-345-4688 wwwmeyerandsonstvandappliancecom

FIND SPECIAL DEALS ON

MM p02 0116indd 45 12222015 121536 PM

46 bull January 2016 bull MANKATO MAGAZINE

SOUTHErN MN CHrISTMAS

FESTIVAL1 A large crowd was on hand during the festivities at

the Christmas Festival2 Friesenrsquos Family Bakery amp Bistro had tons of baked

goods and soups at the Verizon Wireless Center3 A childrenrsquos choir sang for the audience at the

festival4 Ron Haefner owner of Ronrsquos Auto Repair displayed

some of his services5 Garrison Galatz dressed up as Santa for the

Christmas Festival

faCes amp PLaCes Photos By Sport Pix

4

3

1

2

5

MM p02 0116indd 46 12182015 30923 PM

MANKATO MAGAZINE  bull January 2016 bull 47

1GirlScouttroop34494waspresentedwithatrophybyKiwanisVicePresidentKyleMrozek

2SantaClausevenwentthroughtheparaderoute3(LtoR)BrooklynPomrankeAlaynaLyonsHunterPomrankeandLilyLyonsgetagroupphototakenwithSanta

4MarshaMartigtellsSantawhatshewantsforChristmas

5TheparadefloatswerealldeckedoutinChristmaslights

6Visitorswalkthepatharoundtheparktoviewthisyearrsquoslights

Kiwanis Holiday ligHtsFaces amp Places Photos By sport Pix

2

1

3

4 5

6

MM p02 0116indd 47 12222015 121616 PM

48 bull January 2016 bull MANKATO MAGAZINE

On the Occasion of a 50th Reunion

the Class of 1965

from this VaLLeYBy Pete Steiner

Peter Steiner is host of ldquoTalk of the Townrdquo weekdays at 105 pm on KTOE

I was honored to give the presentation for our 50th class reunion recently at West Highrsquos Homecoming celebration About 120 of our nearly 400-member class

showed up We Baby Boomers the children of the greatest generation had big classes in the late lsquo60rsquos that forced the building of East High Ours was a dramatic era and our class did some great things in the face of big challenges Here edited is some of what I said

I am so glad to be standing here today Therersquos an old saying

ldquoMay you live in INTErESTINg timeshelliprdquo The Class of rsquo65 certainly has Itrsquos seems like only yesterday right after lunch that we were at our desks waiting for the start of English class when our charismatic teacher Harry Fitterer strode in and said ldquoPrESIDENT KENNEDY HAS BEEN SHOT IN DALLASrdquo At first we didnrsquot believe him but it was true It was November 22 1963 We were juniors and as the song says that was THE END OF THE INNOCENCE We had lived through the last idyllic time in America

When we first arrived in the fall of 1962 America was still carefree basking in the glow of victory in WW II Everything may have seemed ldquorightrdquo but it was not Martin Luther King Jr had just visited Mankato pointing out the continuing plight of black Americans as the Civil rights movement was gaining steam The beginnings of the Vietnam War which would alter the course of many of our lives were stirring even as we studied history and government The current generation has no monopoly on forgettable pop music ndash we had a stupid 1 song called ldquoItsie Bitsie Teenie Weenie Yellow Polka Dot Bikinirdquo (unfortunately an ear worm I canrsquot forget) But a darker cultural threat was looming The BEATLES were invading from Britain and our parents were mortified because they had LONg HAIr

Some of the shock of the Kennedy assassination was eased when our wrestling team in the era when the state still had just ONE CLASS won the State Championship in front of a packed hall up at MSU some still maintain that is the greatest single athletic achievement in Mankato history We were the first high school in Mankato to put on a full-scale musical ldquoBye Bye Birdierdquo in the spring of 1964 In Fall of 1964 our football team would have won the conference championship outright except Owatonnarsquos great Noel Jenke who would go on to star for the U of M

cheated I watched him trap the touchdown pass that beat us Does cheating pay Was that a lesson for life

In lsquo65 we also had a fine basketball team that lost our chance at State when our 6-6 center fouled out at Luverne

BUT A FAr BIggEr CHALLENgE AWAITED US ALL As we rode out to Luverne to watch that game we couldnrsquot help noticing the highway was like a canyon between walls of snow The legendary St Patrickrsquos Day Blizzard had dumped two feet on top of an already large snow pack and then April brought rains on frozen ground Instead of coming here to school many of us soon got a real-life assignment to go out in our rain gear out on the dikes to battle the grEAT FLOOD OF 1965 Our school became an island as water flooded the parking lot and all of South riverfront Our spring play that year was called ironically

THE DESPErATE HOUrS We had to rehearse at roosevelt School up on higher ground

Our class produced three Merit scholars One of our classmates who did NOT qualify

for a merit scholarship nevertheless was such a whiz at physics that NASA requested a copy of a paper he wrote on rocketry as a senior We produced 12 doctors one of whom earned a fellowship at Stanford seeking how to bring telemedicine to the poor another of whom became a breakthrough cancer doctor We had entrepreneurs one who would go on to be a leader in Solar Energy (and then run for governor of New Hampshire) Another mdash a woman incidentally when

that was not common founded two bio-tech startups Many of us are still working

past normal retirement age One founded a company on the leading edge of recycling

computers whose clients include the NSA Another is chief medical officer of a company

devising a better tool for colonoscopies Yet another of our classmates recently completed a concert tour of China

We lived in challenging times just as you do today but we muddle through we make it to the other shore I remember sitting where you are 50 years ago thinking how old those folks up there looked But remember Life goes by very quickly You certainly live in interesting times as Shakespeare said ldquoPresent Mirth has Present Laughter Youthrsquos a stuff will NOT endurerdquo So I urge you live each moment to the fullest

MM p02 0116indd 48 12182015 30933 PM

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MM p02 0116indd 50 12182015 30948 PM

Page 20: Mankatomag 116

18 bull January 2016 bull MANKATO MAGAZINE

Stephanie Howe says itrsquos best to have realistic goals when starting a fitness program

Herersquos your guideBy Robb Murray | Photos by Pat Christman

Ready for CHANGE

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MANKATO MAGAZINE  bull January 2016 bull 19

Yoursquore ready

You ate the ham and turkey and potatoes and Christmas cookies You drank the wine beer and eggnog Yoursquove spent the last few

months pondering a life change Yoursquore on the verge of a major transformation This time itrsquos happening Yoursquore going to get healthy Itrsquos going to be a new you

And then January arrived And you have no plan

Luckily we here at Mankato Magazine have got you covered Itrsquos not uncommon for people to make a New Yearrsquos resolution or some similar vow this time of year It usually comes with goal weights and promises to hit the gym X number of times per week and trips to the produce and organic sections of the grocery store because this time yoursquore serious Right

OK easy tiger Getting healthy is a great idea and wersquore wishing you all the best But wersquore also coming at you with some sensible advice Maybe setting unrealistic goals isnrsquot the best way to go Maybe just

heading into the gym and trying to get it all done in a week isnrsquot a great way to go either

ldquoFinerdquo you say ldquothen what should I dordquoWersquore so glad you asked

Letrsquos get startedThe first thing you need to remember when

starting an exercise program is that if you want to lose weight you need to change the way you eat too

ldquoNo matter what you say you canrsquot out exercise a bad dietrdquo says Stephanie Howe director of healthy living at the Mankato YMCA

Howe works in what might be the busiest fitness hub in the Mankato area So shersquos seen her share of people come through the doors with plans to change their lives Some of them succeed Most do not

One of the biggest mistakes people make Howe says is not really having a good grasp on how much time theyrsquoll need in order to incorporate a good workout into their day It doesnrsquot have to be a two-

hour commitment every day she says It can be 30 minutes of planned effective exercise several times per week Whatrsquos more important is just getting there and thatrsquos an obstacle that is bigger than most people realize

ldquoMost people want to lsquopeople pleasersquordquo she said ldquoYou can say yoursquore going to get up and work out every day but most people are built to need external accountabilityrdquo

Think about hiring a personal trainer

ldquoWhen you spend the money on a personal trainer you have an appointment therersquos someone waiting thererdquo she says

A personal trainer is a great way to immediately know yoursquore doing exactly what yoursquore supposed to be doing and yoursquoll have no doubt whether yoursquore working hard enough There are plenty of personal trainers in town mdash at the YMCA and other gyms mdash who would love to help you Of course they donrsquot work for free and for many people the cost of a personal trainer is more than theyrsquore willing to spend

Fortunately therersquos a trend in fitness to offer the whip-crack of a personal trainer while staying Jo radlinger urges her clients to not sabotage their fitness efforts with poor eating over

the weekend

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20 bull January 2016 bull MANKATO MAGAZINE

728 N Riverfront DriveMankato MN 56001

507-625-5163katobearscom

Pins and NeedlesAlterations

Specializing in alterations for theentire wedding party including

gown re-sizing hemming re-beadingbustles and so much more

Like us onFacebook

affordableThe Y now offers something called ldquotrainer ledrdquo

exercise sessions where you work with others in a group but have access to a trainer nearby who can push you motivate you and make sure yoursquore you know doing it right Theyrsquore $3 a class

ldquoYoursquore still expected to be there but itrsquos much cheaperrdquo Howe said ldquoThe group environment pushes you and we have tons of trainer-led classes Itrsquos the best of both worldsrdquo

Across town Jo Radlinger runs Jorsquos Garage a fitness center where shersquos the one pushing you to succeed

Radlingerrsquos goal she says is to bring out everyonersquos potential

ldquoI want to make sure everybody that comes through my door has success I want them to be the very best version of themselves that they can berdquo

Like Howe Radlinger acknowledges that the financial side of hiring a personal trainer can scare people away but she says there are several reasons why it shouldnrsquot

ldquoItrsquos never a bad investment when yoursquore investing in yourselfrdquo she said ldquoMeet with a trainer who is just as passionate about your goal My goal is not to train you intensely but to show you what yoursquore capable of and then take you to that next levelrdquo

At Jorsquos Fitness Garage there are no membership fees Radlinger doesnrsquot believe in them Instead she charges $5 per visit and in that time she said she pushes you to have a great workout

GymtimidationSetting goals is a great

idea Setting unrealistic goals is the kind of thing that results in a gym membership card laying dormant in a junk drawer by February

So set those goals but set them smartlyldquoAccountability is huge Even if you canrsquot hire

someonerdquo Howe says ldquoMake specific goals mdash say yoursquore going to workout X number of times but make those numbers realistic Set goals that are within your controlrdquo

Do this and yoursquore likely to feel a lot better about how things go

ldquoMost people just want to feel better about themselves they want to feel more confidentrdquo Howe said ldquoThis way even before any physical changes happen theyrsquoll feel better Theyrsquoll start to feel like theyrsquore in control again of their life and their choicesrdquo

Taking an exercise class is a great way to both get

your body moving while at the same time have fun and meet those people who will notice when you donrsquot show up

And about that weight room Yes it can be intimidating to walk in and see people who look like they live there But Howe says that while it can definitely be a psychological barrier focusing on those people is the wrong strategy

ldquoNo one cares what yoursquore doingrdquo Howe says ldquoFocus on yourdquo

Take it slowIt can be tempting when you finally get up the

nerve to get back in the swing of working out to go hardcore But just like setting unrealistic goals trying to achieve your fitness goals in a day is impossible

ldquoPeople start out really gung-ho and reset their diet so aggressively and most people just simply canrsquot do thisrdquo Radlinger said ldquoWhen yoursquore looking at making a lifestyle change I want you to do it slowly and incrementally rather than do it all in two monthsrdquo

Rushing into the weight room and trying to lift the same weight and number of reps and sets that you did 10 years ago is a great way to make sure you canrsquot work out for a while Going from a sedentary lifestyle to two hours of pumping iron can leave you sore enough to not be able to lift anything for days Maybe even weeks

Ease into it The gymrsquos not going anywhere Think marathon not sprint

ldquoSometimes people have an all-or-nothing attituderdquo Howe said ldquoand they make themselves sore and they canrsquot continuerdquo

Speaking of all-or-nothing Radlinger says

some people bring that kind of intensity to their food intake over the weekend Bad idea

ldquoAs trainers we help people be accountable We do success measurements help them prepare and plan And wersquoll do weigh-ins on Mondayrdquo Radlinger says ldquoWersquoll find that people do really well Monday through Friday then do what I call sabotage Saturday and Sunday At some point yoursquore going to get so sick of hitting that reset button every Mondayrdquo

Whatever you choose to do both trainers say itrsquos never a bad idea to sit down with your doctor and run your plans by himher Your personal safety should always come first and getting the green light from Doc can give you some peace of mind as you start this new chapter of your life MM

Jo radlinger runs Jorsquos Fitness Garage

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MANKATO MAGAZINE  bull January 2016 bull 21

728 N Riverfront DriveMankato MN 56001

507-625-5163katobearscom

Pins and NeedlesAlterations

Specializing in alterations for theentire wedding party including

gown re-sizing hemming re-beadingbustles and so much more

Like us onFacebook

Live the Lifestyle

wwwmapletonmarinecom

Southern MNrsquos largestboat show on now at the

Madison East Center in Mankato

MM p01 0116indd 21 12182015 24524 PM

22 bull January 2016 bull MANKATO MAGAZINE

Thirty-three years ago I stood inside a grave A lifetime ago when I was a pastorrsquos wife

In Nebraska we served a parish of barely over one hundred members A picture-postcard white church with a hand-carved white wooden altar from Germany sat at the top of a hill next to it the parsonage and next to that the cemetery rolling down the hill toward a wooded creek

The first death in the congregation after our arrival set off a flurry of activity Irsquod never met Alma because she was in a nursing home before we arrived However my husband visited her on several occasions She was mother aunt grandmother great-aunt and great-grandmother to half the congregation so there was no question about whether or not I would attend the funeral

With my two little kids in tow I attended every event at the church every Sunday morning service of course but also every funeral every confirmation every baptism every meeting of womenrsquos circle and even every family reunion that was held in the church basement At twenty-six I perfected the art of making gracious small talk with people Irsquod never seen before and would never see again and at taking tiny portions from each confirmation buffet so I would neither be sick by the end of the day nor offend any of the mothers who had slaved away over their sumptuous spreads of food

By Rebecca Fjelland Davis

Grave Lesson in Winter

ESSay

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MANKATO MAGAZINE  bull January 2016 bull 23

Attending the little white country church was physically easy I picked up one-year-old Josh took three-year-old Nikkirsquos hand and walked out the front door down the sidewalk and next door The only things I didnrsquot have to attend were church council and the menrsquos meeting Archaic This was in the 1980s It doesnrsquot seem so long ago

All the available babysitters in the community would attend Almarsquos funeral too so this was to be my kidsrsquo first funeral

The afternoon before the service salt-snow fell Hard little crystals pelted down as if the heavens had up-ended a Mortonrsquos salt canister Within a few hours the hard snow was six inches deep and still falling

In the middle of the salt-snow the gravedigger arrived The Ditchwitch roared around the cemetery to the familyrsquos plot and my kidsrsquo noses pressed against the upstairs bedroom window pane ldquoMommy can we go watchrdquo

Glad for an excuse to get out of the parsonage I bundled them in snowsuits put them on the sled and pulled them across the house yard and garden to the fence that bordered the cemetery

The Ditchwitch made short work of the grave and all three of us were mesmerized watching the mound of gray-black dirt grow in the crystal-white snow When the hole was finished the gravedigger turned his tractor on idle He hopped off and came over to the fence His eyes twinkled in a weathered face ldquoWant to come lookrdquo

I backed up from the fence a step ldquoNo not really I think this is close enoughrdquo

ldquoYes Mommy go lookrdquo ldquoPleeeeaserdquoSo Nikki and Josh got back on the sled and I

hauled them along the fence through the gate over to the grave and looked down Six feet seemed deep bottomless Dark A sharp contrast to the pelting snowflakes all around us

ldquoWanna get down in thererdquo the gravedigger asked I shuddered hung onto the kids and backed up

again ldquoNo No thatrsquos okay This is close enough I just want to look from hererdquo

ldquoYes mommyrdquo the little ones said ldquoLetrsquosrdquoldquoNordquoldquoPleaserdquoldquoReally marsquoam I think you should Yoursquoll be

surprised I wouldnrsquot suggest it if it I didnrsquot think sordquoldquoHow would we get outrdquo The sides were deeper

than I was tall and there certainly werenrsquot footholds or a ladder built in for Almarsquos soul to use to climb out

ldquoLike thisrdquo The gravedigger laid his shovel diagonally across a top corner of the grave and jumped down He grabbed the middle of the shovel handle and swung himself back up and out with the agility of a gymnast ldquoNothinrsquo to itrdquo

ldquoI canrsquot do thatrdquoldquoYes you can Irsquoll boost you And wersquoll lift the kids

Yoursquoll be amazed I promiserdquoI shivered The idea of being inside a grave

seemed much colder than the snow crystals biting at my face

ldquoCome onrdquo he said and jumped back in Nikki and Josh willingly stepped over to him to be lifted down I had no choice but to follow I couldnrsquot let my kids alone in a grave with a man I didnrsquot even know

So I jumped The earth on the bottom made a soft landing The soil around me was warm and steamy It was moist and dark but it enfolded us in an earthy hug At least fifty degrees warmer than the air above ground it felt as if the earth were offering shelter respite a comfortable place to snuggle down and rest Tiny roots dangled full of life from the smooth edges of the hole Tears sprang to my eyes I couldnrsquot help them My eyes met the gravediggerrsquos and he smiled Gently ldquoSeerdquo he said Nothing more

I couldnrsquot speak A few minutes later he gave me a stirrup with his

hands I scrambled out and he lifted Nikki and Josh up to me Then he flipped himself out as easily as a trapeze artist

ldquoThank yourdquo I said ldquoI would never have guessedrdquoHe nodded ldquoNobody does But it helps somehow

I wanted you to feel thatrdquoWhy I wanted to ask why me You donrsquot even

know me Why were you willing to take time for usldquoThank yourdquo was all I said I shook his hand and

he hopped on the Ditchwitch and drove off into the snow

I never saw him again Someone else dug the next grave required in that cemetery

I remember only bits and pieces of the funeral Irsquom sure I baked a boxed cake mix for ldquolunchrdquo afterwards I remember answering Nikkirsquos questions about the body and sitting in the back row of the church in case Josh didnrsquot want to be quiet I do remember looking at the unfamiliar face in the casket and thinking you get to rest in a warm cozy place

Ten winters later we buried my dad on just such a day Wet snow crystals pelted us and piled up so deep the funeral home limousine got stuck in the cemetery By the time the pallbearers pushed it un-stuck their suit pants were caked in slush and mud

We stood at the graveside in the bleak wet icy day and lowered my fatherrsquos body into the ground

ldquoToo bad itrsquos such a miserable dayrdquo ldquoSorry about your dad Sorry the weatherrsquos so bad toordquo And even ldquoSuch a good man He deserves better weather than thisrdquo

But the weather I thought was just right Losing my dad my kids and their cousins losing

their grandpa my mom becoming a widow my brother losing his farming partner and best friend changed our livesmdashthat part was too heavy to carry

The only part that was okay for me was to let Dadrsquos worn-out body be wrapped in that welcoming warm enfolding soilmdashthe very soil hersquod loved to till the soil hersquod planted and tended all his life the soil that gave us all lifemdashthat was the only gratifying part of the day

The only comfort I had was letting Dad go from the cold wet biting snow into that warm and restful place

And I still wonder who that gravedigger was ten years earlier and how he knew how much I would need what he gave me that bleak winter day MM

Rebecca Fjelland Davis is an author from Mankato

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reFlecTionsBy Pat Christman

24 bull January 2016 bull MANKATO MAGAZINE

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reFlecTionsBy Pat Christman

MANKATO MAGAZINE  bull January 2016 bull 25

There are few things as inevitable as snow during a Minnesota winter Big

cotton ball-like snowflakes cover the ground in a white blanket whitewashing the Midwestern landscape

We struggle against it Some hope the snow never comes It always does filling the sky with floating snowflakes that cling to the ground but melt as soon as they hit the small bits of face or hands that peek out from winter clothing

It is often quite beautiful especially when viewed from someplace warm and dry MM

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26 bull January 2016 bull MANKATO MAGAZINE

Then amp now Vice President Schuyler Colfaxrsquos Death By Bryce o sTenzel

On Jan 14 1885 one day after his death the New York Times carried a

headline that read ldquoSchuyler Colfax Dead He Drops Down in a Railway Stationrdquo While most Americans today would have tremendous difficulty in even recognizing this manrsquos name

(unless they were paying close attention to Stephen Spielbergrsquos epic movie Lincoln and made the association) Schuyler Colfax was a former Speaker of the House of Representatives and Vice President of the United States under President US Grant He died in Mankatorsquos Chicago St

Paul Minneapolis amp Omaha railroad depot from a massive heart attack

Schuyler Colfax Jr was born in New York City on March 23 1823 His father died of tuberculosis five months before Schuyler was born His sister Mary died four months after his [Schuylerrsquos]

vice President Schuyler Colfaxrsquos Death in Mankato

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MANKATO MAGAZINE  bull January 2016 bull 27

birth The young Schuyler attended school only until he was 10 He then began working to support his family Schuyler Colfax never attended any kind of secondary school or college His mother remarried when Colfax was 13 and the family moved to New Carlisle Indiana By the time he was 22 Colfax was the editor and owner of a pro-Whig newspaper He was elected to Congress in 1854 and joined the newly formed Republican Party after the Whig Party disintegrated Solidly anti-slavery his colleagues elected Colfax as Speaker of the US House of Representatives in 1863 His election came soon after the death of his wife Evelyn The couple had no children

Colfax was President Abraham Lincolnrsquos first and last visitor on the fateful day Lincoln was assassinatedmdashApril 14 1865 Early that morning Colfax arrived at the White House while the president was having breakfast Colfax wanted to know whether or not Lincoln planned to call a special session of Congress for later that summer Lincolnrsquos answer was a polite but firm ldquonordquo Lincoln preferred a lenient approach in reconstructing as well as readmitting the former Confederate states to the Union now that the Civil War was over This approach put Lincoln at odds with the more ldquoradicalrdquo congressional members of his own party who preferred harsher measures be taken against their former enemies Lincoln had already made up his mind how he wanted to proceed with reconstructing the former Confederate states and he didnrsquot want any unnecessary interference from Congress Calling a special session was the last thing Lincoln wanted to do Colfax returned that same night to see Lincoln again just before the president left for Fordrsquos Theatre and his appointment with destiny This time Colfax came upon Lincolnrsquos own request The president had a long message for the silver miners of the Comstock Lode in Nevada thanking them for their loyalty to the Union that he wanted Speaker Colfax to deliver in person since Colfax was leaving by train for the West the next day Colfax was the last person Lincoln spoke to besides his wife Mary before he

was fatally shot at 1015 pm Colfax never forgave himself for turning down Lincolnrsquos invitation to be part of the theatre party that night

In 1868 Republicans selected General Ulysses S Grant as their presidential candidate Grant a military man his entire life had no political background Colfax was placed on the ticket because of his prior experience as a congressman and Speaker of the House (he resigned the position in 1869) Grant and Colfax won an easy victory in November 1868 Only two weeks later Colfax remarriedmdashthis time to Ellen Wade (niece of Ohio Senator Benjamin Wade) Their only child son Schuyler Colfax III was born in 1870

Colfax is best remembered (if at all) for his involvement in the corruption that beset Grantrsquos entire presidency Specifically the Credit Mobilier scandal broke in 1872 just as Grant and Colfax were gearing up for their re-election campaign Colfax was suspected of accepting shares of stock and cash bribes from ldquoCredit Mobilierrdquo a dummy construction company set up by the Union Pacific Railroad He was by no means the only influential person involved in the scandal Other political figures investigated included Senators Roscoe Conkling of New York William Allison of Iowa John Logan of Illinois James Bayard of Delaware and Henry Wilson of Massachusetts Grant was less popular in 1872 than he had been four years earlier and many Republicans worried that having Colfax on the partyrsquos ticket would harm the presidentrsquos re-election chances They dumped Colfax from the ticket mdash only to replace him with the also-tainted Wilson Grant won re-election and served his second and final term from 1873-1877 After being forced out from the vice presidency Colfax traveled the country as a popular lecturer often speaking about his interactions with Abraham Lincoln during the Civil War He rebuilt his tarnished reputation and commanded speaking fees as high as $2500

At 10 am on Jan 13 1885 Schuyler Colfax arrived in Mankato aboard a train from Milwaukee Mankato was just a

brief stop for Colfax who was on his way to Iowa for a speaking engagement The Chicago Milwaukee amp St Paul as well as the Chicago St Paul Minneapolis amp Omaha railroads both had depots in Mankato but because they were separate competing railroad lines Colfax was required to change trains by walking three-quarters of a mile from the Chicago Milwaukee amp St Paul depot at the foot of Hickory Street to the Chicago St Paul Minneapolis amp Omaha depot at Fourth and Washington Streets (now Washington Park) from which the next leg of his journey would depart Despite a reported temperature of 30 degrees below zero Colfax walked from one station to the other Within five minutes after he arrived at the Omaha linersquos depot Colfax entered the waiting room looked at a map on the wall sat down and died It was 1035 am No one in the station knew who the dead man actually was until they searched his pockets and found a letter with his name on it His death was likely caused by a heart attack brought on by the physical exertion of walking almost a mile in extreme cold Colfax was only 61 when he died His remains were returned to South Bend Indiana for burial

Today few Americans are aware that anyone named Schuyler Colfax ever lived much less served as vice president of the United States In this era in which officeholders are often treated as celebrities imagine how surprised people would be to learn that a former vice president died cold alone and unrecognized in a train station 131 years ago Before 24-hour news channels smart phones and social media it was possible for public figures like Colfax to live ndash and die ndash in relative obscurity Ironically Colfax loved the railroad but in the end it was the cause of his undoing Mankato has the distinction of being the location where the last man to personally speak to Abraham Lincoln in a private conversation took his last breath

MM p01 0116indd 27 12182015 24549 PM

28 bull January 2016 bull MANKATO MAGAZINE

Mayo Clinic offers pediatric and adolescent orthopedic services right here in Mankato Todd Milbrandt MD cares for patients with a variety of needs including

bull Cerebral palsy

bull Clubfoot

bull Hip disorders

bull Spinal disorders

bull Sports injuries

bull Scoliosis

bull Spina bifida

Mayo Clinic Health System in Mankato Call 1-877-412-7575 (toll-free) to schedule an appointment

495rdquox495rdquo Mankato Magazine January

Orthopedic care for your child

Independent ampAssisted Living

EQUAL HOUSINGOPPORTUNITY

1360 Adams StreetMankato MN

PrimroseRetirementcom

reg

Key City Senior Breakfast ClubThe Key City Senior Breakfast Club meets the first Thursday of each month from 830 AM - 930 AM at Primrose Retirement Community The club gives those 55+ the opportunity to meet new friends and visit old ones socialize with Key City Officials and enjoy a delicious home-cooked breakfast To visit a Key City Senior Breakfast please call (866) 447-9636

Mark your calendar for these breakfast dates Thursday January 7th Thursday March 3rd and Thursday May 5th

刀椀渀最 椀渀 琀栀攀 

一攀眀 夀攀愀爀

㔀 㜀ⴀ㤀㐀ⴀ㐀㐀䨀甀氀攀攀猀䨀攀眀攀氀爀礀挀漀洀

椀渀 匀愀椀渀琀 倀攀琀攀爀

20765 Foley Rd Mankato MN | 5073872434 | 5077262411

Three TimeNational Award Winners

MM p02 0116indd 28 12182015 30742 PM

Mayo Clinic offers pediatric and adolescent orthopedic services right here in Mankato Todd Milbrandt MD cares for patients with a variety of needs including

bull Cerebral palsy

bull Clubfoot

bull Hip disorders

bull Spinal disorders

bull Sports injuries

bull Scoliosis

bull Spina bifida

Mayo Clinic Health System in Mankato Call 1-877-412-7575 (toll-free) to schedule an appointment

495rdquox495rdquo Mankato Magazine January

Orthopedic care for your child

Independent ampAssisted Living

EQUAL HOUSINGOPPORTUNITY

1360 Adams StreetMankato MN

PrimroseRetirementcom

reg

Key City Senior Breakfast ClubThe Key City Senior Breakfast Club meets the first Thursday of each month from 830 AM - 930 AM at Primrose Retirement Community The club gives those 55+ the opportunity to meet new friends and visit old ones socialize with Key City Officials and enjoy a delicious home-cooked breakfast To visit a Key City Senior Breakfast please call (866) 447-9636

Mark your calendar for these breakfast dates Thursday January 7th Thursday March 3rd and Thursday May 5th

OMG hellip More food and drinksOK sure

By now yoursquore probably thinking ldquoOh my gosh the last thing I want to think about right now is more food more drinking and more diningrdquo

Fair enough We get it The holidays are murder on the metabolism of many many Minnesotans

But we also know that those metabolisms are hardy and soon enough theyrsquoll be hankering for a hunk of something yummy and full of fun And whatrsquos more yummy and full of fun than a big glass of Cabernet Sauvignon Our wine guy Leigh Pomeroy takes us on a tour of all that is tasty and wonderful about big red wines the kind that leave their mark the kind that really announce their presence on your palate

And just in case yoursquore super serious about a healthy lifestyle mdash and that seriousness extends to the kind of beer you choose mdash Bert Mattson our beer guy has just the selection for you Best part is Itrsquos light

Oh and under the category of ldquoDid you hear about thisrdquo Wersquove got an update for you on the Coffee Hag Mankatorsquos original coffee house and one of the most popular hangouts in town Seriously some days itrsquos hard to find a seat in that place

EnjoyPS We know that baby itrsquos cold outside mdash thatrsquos why wersquove

thrown you our absolute best hot cocoa recipe

Enjoymdash Robb Murray Associate Editor Mankato Magazine

food drink amp dineso

uthern m

n style

20765 Foley Rd Mankato MN | 5073872434 | 5077262411

Three TimeNational Award Winners

MM p02 0116indd 29 12182015 30745 PM

MANKATO 5073854485 AMBOY 5076743355 I VERNON CENTER 5075493679

INSURANCE OFFICES LOCATED IN THE COMMUNITY BANK BUILDINGS

wwwcimankatocom

Protecting the things that matter most in your life

Let us help protect what is important to you At Community Insurance we have the ability to compare insurance from multiple companies to get you the best coverage at a great price Combine that with our insurance knowledge and friendly group of agents and we say thatrsquos a winning deal

WHERE YOUR POLICY COMES WITH AN AGENT

Christina Meyer

Food

south

ern mn style

Food

south

ern mn style

By The Washington Post

Growing up my mother always encouraged her children to cook So when

I found a recipe for hot chocolate on the side of the Hersheyrsquos Cocoa can it was easy to convince her to let me give it a try

What I discovered was that hot chocolate doesnrsquot have to come from an envelope

This recipe has been a favorite of mine to make on days when winter weather has convinced me stay home and off the roads Itrsquos the perfect way to kill time and have a nice hot drink to warm you up on those chilly days

Although you can top it with whipped cream I prefer marshmallows

FAVORITE HOT COCOAMakes 4 to 6 servings

12 cup sugar14 cup unsweetened cocoa powder

Dash of salt13 cup hot water

4 cups milk34 teaspoon vanilla extract

Whipped cream or marshmallows (optional)

Mix sugar cocoa powder salt and water in a sauce pan Stir constantly over medium heat until mixture comes to a boil (about 2 minutes) Stir in

milk and heat Bring the hot chocolate to the desired temperature but do not boil Remove from heat and

add the vanilla extract Divide into mugs and top with whipped cream or marshmallows

PERFECTLY CHOCOLATE HOT COCOA

Makes 1 serving

2 tablespoons sugar2 tablespoons unsweetened cocoa powder

Dash salt1 cup milk

14 teaspoon vanilla extractWhipped cream or marshmallows (optional)

Mix sugar cocoa powder and salt into large mug In separate microwave-safe container heat on high

for 1 to 1 frac12 minutes or until very hot Carefully and gradually add milk to dry mixture Stir well Add vanilla extract Top with whipped cream or

marshmallows

Simple homemade hot chocolate

beats the winter chill

30 bull January 2016 bull MANKATO MAGAZINE

MM p02 0116indd 30 12182015 30752 PM

MANKATO MAGAZINE  bull January 2016 bull 31

Oil Change to OverhaulWe do it all

507-387-13151620 Commerce Drive North MankatowwwAustinsAutoRepairCentercom

Voted Best Auto Repair and Best Auto Mechanic 4 Years in a Row

AUSTINrsquoS AUTO REPAIR CENTER INC

MANKATO 5073854485 AMBOY 5076743355 I VERNON CENTER 5075493679

INSURANCE OFFICES LOCATED IN THE COMMUNITY BANK BUILDINGS

wwwcimankatocom

Protecting the things that matter most in your life

Let us help protect what is important to you At Community Insurance we have the ability to compare insurance from multiple companies to get you the best coverage at a great price Combine that with our insurance knowledge and friendly group of agents and we say thatrsquos a winning deal

WHERE YOUR POLICY COMES WITH AN AGENT

Christina Meyer

MM p02 0116indd 31 12182015 30755 PM

32 bull January 2016 bull MANKATO MAGAZINE

January is Cabernet TimeWersquove celebrated nearly

every January edition of Mankato Magazine with

a paean to BIG REDS And since there are so many wonderful examples why stop now

Last year I wrote about the powerful big reds of Italy This January wersquoll focus on Cabernet Sauvignon known to many as ldquothe king of winesrdquo Most oenophiles (wine lovers) consider the quintessential representations of this grape to be the classified Bordeaux of southwest France near the city of Bordeaux The five First Growths (or best wines according to a classification made in 1855 and updated in 1973) are Ch Lafite Rothschild Ch Margaux Ch Latour Ch Haut Brion and Ch Mouton Rothschild All have a cabernet sauvignon base but they are blended with merlot and often a little bit of cabernet franc and petit verdot as well

In the early 1970s I was able to buy these wines for around $22 per bottle mdash about $120 in 2016 dollars Yet with the popularity of ldquocollectiblerdquo wines on a worldwide

basis they sell today for anywhere from $400 on up

Contrary to popular belief these wines are not that massive Rather they combine cabernet sauvignon power with

structure and finesse yielding wines that become with time elixirs that are greater than the sum of their parts

Both California and Washington state have taken up the Cabernet Sauvignon challenge and are producing world-class wines at sometimes world-class prices Napa Valley is the recognized leader in this arena and rightly so Napa Valleyrsquos top Cabernet

Wine amp B

eerso

uthern m

n style

winesBy Leigh Pomeroy

Leigh Pomeroy is a Mankato-based writer and wine lover

Cabernet Sauvignon is the black Labrador of wines mdash it comes up and licks yourdquo

mdash Winemaker Scott Rich

Sauvignons rival the great wines of Bordeaux for quality mdash Irsquove tasted them side-by-side mdashand yet can sell for a fraction of their price

One such example is the 2013 Tulocay Cabernet Sauvignon from my old friend Bill Cadman We were young bucks in Napa Valley and had a tasting group in the early 1970s along with now-famous wine luminaries Bruce Neyers (Neyers Vineyards) and Mike Richmond (co-founder of Acacia Vineyard)

Billrsquos Cabernet is from an old and relatively cool growing area east of the City of Napa called Coombsville which because of industry political issues only recently received its AVA (American Viticultural Area) designation It is priced at $60 per bottle yet compares with any top-flight Bordeaux as well as the more expensive offerings from Napa Valley which can cost from $100 on up Not currently available at wine stores or restaurants in Minnesota it can be purchased by contacting the winery directly via its website tulocaycom The winery is so small that Bill will probably answer the phone himself

There is a lot of Cabernet Sauvignon available from California but mdash caveat emptor mdash not all growing areas (or appellations) are the same The best Cabernet Sauvignons are from Napa and Sonoma Counties Cabernets simply labeled ldquoCaliforniardquo or perhaps ldquoCoastalrdquo while sometimes good values lack the complexity of the greater Cabernet Sauvignons from the more northern parts of the state

Washington state has also

established itself as a prime producer of Cabernet Sauvignon But here again quality can vary greatly depending upon the area and producer While there is no ldquogo-tordquo appellation for Cabernet Sauvignon in Washington there are producers that are able to secure fruit from the best vineyards

One such example is the tiny Willis Hall Winery owned by another good friend John Bell a former Boeing jet propulsion engineer Like Tulocay its wines are only available by calling up the winery and ordering some (See willishallcom) But there are many other top quality producers in Washington like Quilceda Creek Leonetti Betz Family and Woodward Canyon

Of course not everyone can afford Cabernet Sauvignons in the $60-plus category One excellent everyday drinking example is the Flying Cloud 2013 Paso Robles Cabernet Sauvignon made by Mankato native Stephen Dooley Normally I donrsquot like Paso Robles Cabs as they tend to be too fruity and too soft for my palate mdash almost like drinking berry jam But this one is quite restrained no doubt helped by the inclusion of 13 percent zinfandel and 9 percent petite sirah in the blend

In Mankato both the Wine Cafeacute and MGM carry the Flying Cloud but at its price and quality I wouldnrsquot count on it lasting for long especially since only 759 cases were produced

So letrsquos raise a glass of Cabernet and say ldquoCheersrdquo to the New Year

MM p02 0116indd 32 12182015 30756 PM

MANKATO MAGAZINE  bull January 2016 bull 33

Bert Mattson is a chef and writer based in St Paul He is the manager of the iconic Mickeyrsquos Diner

Beer Skinny

BeerBy Bert Mattson

Last year according to Nielsen research staying fit and healthy was

the number one New Yearrsquos resolution Losing weight was two Three was to enjoy life to the fullest Unfortunately ldquolose weight and get fitrdquo also topped Time magazinersquos list of commonly broken resolutions Is this shortfall due to tension between the top two and that third one If so craft beer may have a role in the compromise Bad news first

In the context of losing weight and staying fit beer lovers might seek solace in the fact that fat carries nine calories per gram while alcohol has only seven The wrinkle is that those seven are ldquoemptyrdquo mdash calories without nutrition as opposed to those from fat protein and carbohydrates Moreover alcoholrsquos calories are the first burned when combined with the others the human body postpones burning fat while it works on alcohol Furthermore beer (and wine and often cocktails) contains carbohydrates which release insulin and can hasten fat storage Finally many drinkers have undoubtedly observed that alcohol loosens inhibitions after which an eager indulgence in unhealthy foods often occurs (Bar menus are rarely helpful in that respect)

By now you may wonder whose side Irsquom actually on Or suspect Irsquove led you to this dark place only to offer you a Lite No worries a couple craft brewers have been considering ways to keep us true to our resolutions

Evil Twin Brewingrsquos Bikini Beer drops the alcohol to 27 percent but stays bold by way of hops A Pale Ale it hits the nose with citrus suggestive of IPA The flavor follows suit floral and lemon There is an expected absence of malt yielding to bitterness up front that fades at the finish An alternative

for those who insist on the full effect Founderrsquos Brewing Companyrsquos All Day IPA rings in at a respectable 144 calories (Evil Twinrsquos entry comes in at 81)

One strategy to beat the beer munchies and avoid costly impulse eating is to have suitable chow on hand With Bikini Beer try a salad sporting blue cheese and some sort of dried fruit Creamy blue veined cheeses echo the hops while balancing bitterness An occasional bite of dried fruit stands in for malt sweetness

Brooklyn Breweryrsquos 12 Ale weighs in at 34 percent alcohol (102 calories) It is alliteratively labeled ldquoSession Saisonrdquo It opens with a waft of citrus and spice and a little lemongrass from Sorachi Ace hops mdash a hybrid developed in East Asia The same elements are found in the flavor which is a bit more subdued than a full-sized Saison

Try it with a tangle of arugula dressed with lemon and a fruity olive oil tossed with pine nuts and topped with shaved Parmesan for effect The greens and cracked pepper reflect spicy phenolic elements in the yeast Salty cheese counters the beerrsquos lingering bitterness Maybe add a few slices of Speck cured ham and Saison share a certain funkiness

If friends show and it becomes a session you may honestly say you spent Saturday working on your six-pack

MM p02 0116indd 33 12182015 30757 PM

34 bull January 2016 bull MANKATO MAGAZINE

Food

south

ern mn style

Food

south

ern mn style

The Coffee Hag one of the arearsquos oldest (and coolest) bistros recently underwent a major expansion and remodeling journey culminating in a large and airy

seating area along with a much-improved kitchen and a new menu Mankato Magazine caught up with a very busy (and slightly exhausted) owner Jenn Melby-Kelly who weighs in on how itrsquos going

MANKATO MAGAZINE Are you personally enjoying the new updatesJENN MELBY-KELLY It Is Fabulous The new space represents so much more than a remodel to me It has brought to life a vision for my business thatrsquos been years in the making It incorporates many many good ideas from many many people I feel so fortunate to get to see that every time I walk through the door

MM How are customers reactingJMK Thatrsquos been one of the best parts The response has been overwhelmingly positive

A few of our most regular customers had the opportunity to get a glimpse of the remodel while it was underway (we gave some informal preview tours while we were operating the temporary stand outside) but many customers walk through the door now and see it all for the first time Itrsquos especially fun to see and hear that kind of wide-eyed reaction

A few people with special connections to The Hag have had even stronger emotional responses and Irsquom so touched and right there with them when I see eyes well up as they see what wersquove done Itrsquos a very big milestone for a very special place and wersquore blessed to have people that care so deeply

MM Do the employees appreciate the new spaceJMK Oh probably more than anyone There was a lot that we sought to do with the remodel but creating a bigger brighter better-equipped space for our team was certainly one of the primary goals Wersquove got an incredible team truly the most spirited and talented people anyone could hope for

Many of them have spent years with me working hard against the challenge of a small under-equipped space and just barely being able to keeping up with growing demand Itrsquos been a special blessing for them and for me to finally have state-of-the-art space thatrsquos made for the work that we do We all feel a special connection to this place and now more than ever the place reflects the good energy we all bring here every day

MM Is the new menu a hit (The Hag specializes in vegetarianvegan cuisine)JMK Yes but just wait Feedback and demand have been excellent with our food offerings already but wersquore just getting started on some of the really exciting things that are coming to our food menu

Remodeling the cafe was just the first major milestone of our two-part expansion plan Next up wersquore building a state of the art off-site commissary kitchen that will do for our incredible culinary team what the remodeled shop has done for our baristas Theyrsquove been working day and night on taking our already fantastic food offerings to a whole new level

Wersquove already introduced some amazing new menu items like the Garden Grilled Cheese panini (trust me itrsquos like nothing yoursquove had before) and some truly outstanding new vegan baked goods Wersquove also improved our classic offerings with house-made

Interview with Jenn Melby-Kelly owner of The Coffee Hag

By Sarah Johnson

MM p02 0116indd 34 12182015 30802 PM

MANKATO MAGAZINE  bull January 2016 bull 35

Happy New Year

Locally Owned amp Operated

Check Weekly Specialsmgmwineandspiritscommankato

Largest Selection ofbull Liquor bull Wine bull Beer bull

Hours Monday-Saturday 8 am - 10 pm

ATMs at all stores

Mankato201 Victory Dr

625-2420

North Mankato1755 Commerce Dr

387-2634

St Peter100 N Minnesota Ave

934-8964

sourdough and whole wheat breads But as impressive as it is already itrsquos just a taste mdash literally mdash of things to come as we bring our new kitchen online

MM Whatrsquos stayed the sameJMK Irsquom really proud to say that while wersquove touched almost every part of this 23-year-old business wersquove kept even more than we have changed From the first days of this project I made it my personal mission and responsibility to make sure that the ldquosoulrdquo of this special place was only enhanced and never lost as we made the updates

In every area of the remodel as wersquove added some necessary new layers of sophistication The Hagrsquos colorful quirky and even rebellious spirit is still very much a part of the space We did a lot to try to make sure it still looked and felt like ldquohomerdquo

And on a deeper level every step wersquove taken with the growth of our business has been chosen carefully to honor the core parts of The Coffee Hagrsquos identity Our focus on community our support for local art and music our commitment to creating a safe and welcoming space for everyone our efforts to lead the way on social and environmental issues affecting our world near and far mdash those have all stayed the same And those will always be at the heart of what we do

MM Anything elseJMK Irsquom so incredibly grateful for the support of our customers and community And whenever I talk about my business and how it has grown I really canrsquot overstate how thankful I am for my beautiful Coffee Hag family The hard work good energy and earnest contributions of so many people mdash past and present mdash have brought me and my business here An incredible amount of love has gone into this business and made this dream a reality

MM p02 0116indd 35 12222015 121240 PM

36 bull January 2016 bull MANKATO MAGAZINE

xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

Food

south

ern mn style

whatrsquos Cooking By Sarah Johnson

Sarah Johnson is a cook freelance writer and chocolate addict from North Mankato with three grown kids and a couple of mutts

As I was pondering my subject matter for todayrsquos column I started wondering about all the different items the word ldquonutsrdquo can refer

to Crazy people are called nuts so are hexagonal metal objects that attach to bolts Nuts can be the end of things (as in ldquofrom soup to nutsrdquo) or they can be the beginning of them (as in ldquosperm incubatorsrdquo) Nut can also mean onersquos head or onersquos lump of something such as butter And if you accidentally get a nut of butter on your nut you can exclaim ldquoNutsrdquo

My favorite meaning of the word nut however is the dry indehiscent one-seeded fruit with a woody pericarp And I donrsquot even know what indehiscent OR pericarp means But these are the wonderful denizens of the world of edible nuts

Nuts are widely credited with all sorts of health benefits for the heart brain male reproductive system prostate cholesterol level fiber intake and avoidance of some types of cancer And while nuts do contain fat itrsquos the ldquogoodrdquo kind heart-healthy monounsaturated and polyunsaturated fat Their mix of omega-3 fatty acids protein and fiber helps you feel full and suppresses the appetite

Nuts are great in desserts and salads of course but they also shine in stir-fries casseroles soups chicken pork fish and even beverages Nut butters nut milks and nut oils add delicious options to our kitchen larders Breads cereals muffins and pancakes gain texture flavor and nutrition from the addition of nuts Basically anytime is a good time for nuts

Which is a wonderful thing because nuts taste so good you would think they had to be very very bad The reason lies deep in their oils

Walnut Oil is strong and flavorful Itrsquos best when used in uncooked sauces or salad dressing

Hazelnut Oil has a strong flavor and is great for the heart

Almond Oil is very popular and has a much milder flavor than walnut oil or hazelnut oil

Pecan Macadamia Nut Pistachio Cashew and Pine Nut Oils are flavorful and unique The freshness of the nuts used really affects the flavor

ldquoTherersquos Nuttinrsquo Nutty About Nutsrdquo

For the Baklava1 pound pistachios hazelnuts walnuts pecans andor almonds coarsely ground plus more for garnish12 teaspoon ground cinnamon1 cup breadcrumbs4 sticks unsalted butter melted16 sheets phyllo dough (thawed if frozen) cut in half

For the Syrup3 cups sugar1 6 -to-8-ounce jar honey1 frac12 cups water1 to 2 tablespoons fresh lemon juice

If yoursquore under the impression that baklava is much too labor-intensive and complicated to make at home think again Anybody can make

it no special skills equipment or exotic ingredients are required A word about phyllo dough Itrsquos sold in frozen packages so you need to remove the package from the freezer and let it thaw in the fridge 24 hours before you want to make the baklava Then about an hour beforehand remove the package from the fridge and let it sit on the counter

Walnuts or pistachios are the most traditional nuts to fill baklava but using other nuts works wonders as well Simply layer the phyllo with the nut filling and butter bake for an hour and finish with a simple honeyed syrup If you have leftover nuts from the holidays herersquos your chance to use them up

Mixed Nut Baklava

MM p02 0116indd 36 12182015 30812 PM

MANKATO MAGAZINE  bull January 2016 bull 37

MONEY MATTERS WORK SMARTLET COMMUNITY BANK HELP YOUBRING THE TWO TOGETHER

MANKATO - SAINT ANDREWS DR 5073854444MANKATO - MADISON AVE 5076251551VERNON CENTER 5075493679AMBOY 5076743300

JULIE VETTERSR VICE PRESIDENTRETAIL BANKING

We support great causes like yoursAt Community Bank we know good things happen when you have a good bank So we make more possible by keeping banking simple and supportive And by giving you the power that comes with innovative solutions like our Health Savings Account It offers you tax-free savings for future medical expenses Stop by anytime Wersquore always ready to help out a great cause

Position a rack in the lower third of the oven preheat to 350 degrees Combine the nuts cinnamon and breadcrumbs in a bowl

Brush a 9x13-inch baking dish with some of the butter Layer 10 pieces of phyllo in the dish brushing each piece with butter before adding the next (keep the remaining dough covered with a damp towel) Sprinkle a quarter of the nut mixture over the dough Layer four pieces of phyllo on top brushing each with butter before adding the next sprinkle with another quarter of the nut mixture Add four more phyllo pieces on top brushing each with butter then add another quarter of the nut mixture four more pieces of phyllo with butter and the remaining nuts

Layer the remaining 10 pieces of phyllo on top of the nuts brushing each with butter brush the top piece with extra butter Cut into the baklava to make strips about 1 12 inches wide Then make diagonal slices about 1 12 inches apart to create a diamond pattern Bake until golden about one hour

Meanwhile make the syrup Bring the sugar honey and 1 12 cups water to a boil in a saucepan over medium heat and cook 10 to 15 minutes Add the lemon juice and boil 2 more minutes then let cool slightly Pour the syrup over the warm baklava let soak uncovered at least six hours or overnight Garnish with nuts

MM p02 0116indd 37 12182015 30817 PM

38 bull bull MANKATO MAGAZINE

Nell Musolf is a mom and freelance writer from Mankato She blogs at nellmusolfcom

38 bull bull MANKATO MAGAZINE

MM p02 0116indd 38 12182015 30822 PM

MANKATO MAGAZINE  bull January 2016 bull 39

Gear Up for WinterYear-Round amp Insulated Workwear from

Carhartt Dickies and Key

UNIFORMSUniforms fromBarco Carhartt Cherokee DickiesKoi Peaches and White Cross

AMAZED

Call 5073446336mankatomagmankatofreepresscom

Stephanie L Hylla LAc Dipl AcKayla M Sweeney MOm LAc

NEW LOCATION709 S Front Suite 5

5074694788mankatoacupuncturecom

Open House ndash Wednesday Feb 3 9-12noonCelebrating 5 years of Business New Location and the Chinese New Year

In Network with Blue Cross Blue ShieldLicensed by the MN Board of Medical Practice

Ribbon Cutting with Greater Mankato Growth at 10am

(A $250 Value)THIS VOUCHER ENTITLES NEW PATIENTS TO A

CONSULTATION EXAM amp DIGITAL X-RAYS (IF NEEDED)

wwwr igne l l fami lych i roprac t ic comMedicare Restrictions Apply Expires January 31 2016

Dr BrandonRignell DC

1351 Madison AveSuite D

Mankato MN 56001

5077797313

$2900New Patient Special

MM p02 0116indd 39 12222015 121344 PM

40 bull bull MANKATO MAGAZINE

Jean Lundquist is a master gardener who lives near Good Thunder

MM p02 0116indd 40 12182015 30834 PM

MANKATO MAGAZINE  bull January 2016 bull 41

3 Increase the Value of Your Home

3 Update Your Homersquos Appearance

3 Save Money

Choose from SeveralModels Styles amp Colors

507-625-7110 or 1-800-645-36671125 Cross St North Mankato MN

Improve Your HomersquosEnergy Efficiency

422 Park Lane Mankato MN | NuStarMankatocom

(507) 381-4747Voted One of Mankatorsquos Best

DANIEL WINGERT

Make Selling Your Home Your NuYearrsquos Resolution

MM p02 0116indd 41 12182015 30839 PM

42 bull January 2016 bull MANKATO MAGAZINE

January Resolve to moisturize

Your stYLeBy Ann Rosenquist Fee

Ann Rosenquist Fee is executive director of the Arts Center of Saint Peter and a vocalist with The Frye She blogs at annrosenquistfeecom

If you have in-laws or colleagues who know you well enough to have given you holiday gifts

but not well enough to know what wouldrsquove truly made you happy congratulations Chances are yoursquore the proud owner of a bunch of brand-new lip balm

Maybe itrsquos even holiday themed Thatrsquos the best Maybe you got the candy-cane flavored kind or wintergreen with holiday graphics on the label or something like that A theme that was irrelevant the moment the stocking was unstuffed because at that exact second the holiday was over

And here you are in January with an abundance of wax

Fortunately also here you are in the early weeks of winter with rough red knuckles Probably also cracked cuticles although it might not have gone that far yet for you Irsquom sure it has for me This photo was taken back in November and even then the Band-Aids were for real Irsquove learned to cut them in half length-wise so as to retain my ability to type Irsquove also learned to play with a range of color options Flesh-toned Clear Disney characters The colorful strips shown here were gifted to me by my husband Partly why theyrsquore cut in half is that the text is obscene This is one small trick you can use to make bloody cuticles your most exciting accessory of the winter

Sources like UrbanSurvivalSitecom and WonderHowTocom will tell you that you can use lip balm for a whole variety of purposes such as coating threads of outdoor lightbulbs before screwing them into their sockets and enhancing the burn-ability of most kindling

These are great fun but they wonrsquot improve your personal style

More germane to winter beauty are the following suggestions

Keep a tube next to your bed for first-thing-in-the-morning use And I mean really truly first-thing I mean smear the stuff on each cuticle while yoursquore still lying there before you start using your fingers at all If you wake up thinking yoursquore fine and skip cuticle care next thing you know yoursquore pushing down the lever on your Keurig and the pressure is more than your screamingly dry skin can take and boom split blood on the Keurig and itrsquos gonna be a long painful day If only you had balmed your hands before you let your feet hit the floor

Keep another tube in your glove compartment If itrsquos warm enough to take off your mittens in the car mdash if yoursquore even wearing mittens given that your hands are snagging on everything these days mdash the harsh January sunlight will allow you to see cracks and flakes in high-resolution detail Yoursquoll want the balm nearby

to cover what you didnrsquot notice first thing in the morning Also a car tube is useful for when you look in the rear-view mirror and notice that your nose and upper lip are flaking as well Itrsquos because yoursquore getting over a cold and the frequent use of tissue has worn away your top layer of skin but just because you know that doesnrsquot mean everybody else wonrsquot think ldquothere is something in that noserdquo Itrsquos just a fact Itrsquos what it looks like Lip balm to the rescue Itrsquos the only thing dry enough to slick those flakes in place and nourishing enough to maybe actually get your face back to normal

Keep a couple more tubes in a nighttime kit along with sandpaper Sandpaper Yes Not a pumice stone not a lame also-gifted sugar

scrub Medium-grit sandpaper is what you need every night lightly but with conviction As follows 1) Sand taking care not to do more damage than what the elements have already done Yoursquore just trying to remove the dry dead stuff Yoursquore just being hearty and efficient about this true to the culture of this great state in which yoursquove chosen to winter You are no pansy Sand your hands 2) Wash 3) Blot dry 4) Dial up the gifted balm whisper a word of thanks to the person who put so much thought into your well-being that they stuffed your holiday stocking with this amazing gift of self-care smash a healthy amount down into your palms massage Take heart You just might find yourself with normal-textured non-cracked not-horrible-looking hands by morning

Split-open cuticles I feel you Except for these Band-Aids I feel you

Lip balms I have been gifted and these are just from last Christmas ldquolastrdquo as in 2014

Bathrooms Worth Bragging About

HoursTue amp Wed amp Fri | 9 am to 6 pmMon amp Thu | 9 am to 7 pmSaturday | 9 am to 4 pm

219 S Victory Dr | Mankato507 | 345 | 7009ipafhickorytechnetindependentpaintandflooringcom

You Deserve Comfortable Care Every Timebull Sedation - Complete Relaxation with Just a Pillbull Invisalign - Clear Alternative to Bracesbull Botox amp Fillersbull Implants - Placement and Restorationbull Cerec - One Visit Crown Technology

bull Free Whitening Programbull 3D Imaging with Fewer X-Raysbull Cosmetic Dentistrybull Drill-Free Technologybull Emergency Care

1400 Lookout Drive North Mankato507-625-CARE(2273) bull mankatodentistcom 06

1865

6124

01

Dr AngelA Schuck

Dr keith FlAck

MM p02 0116indd 42 12182015 30841 PM

MANKATO MAGAZINE  bull January 2016 bull 43

Bathrooms Worth Bragging About

HoursTue amp Wed amp Fri | 9 am to 6 pmMon amp Thu | 9 am to 7 pmSaturday | 9 am to 4 pm

219 S Victory Dr | Mankato507 | 345 | 7009ipafhickorytechnetindependentpaintandflooringcom

You Deserve Comfortable Care Every Timebull Sedation - Complete Relaxation with Just a Pillbull Invisalign - Clear Alternative to Bracesbull Botox amp Fillersbull Implants - Placement and Restorationbull Cerec - One Visit Crown Technology

bull Free Whitening Programbull 3D Imaging with Fewer X-Raysbull Cosmetic Dentistrybull Drill-Free Technologybull Emergency Care

1400 Lookout Drive North Mankato507-625-CARE(2273) bull mankatodentistcom 06

1865

6124

01

Dr AngelA Schuck

Dr keith FlAck

(944) 412-7949 | OrthoEdgeMNcom

Enjoy the season

Mankato St Peter

Be active Be healthyBe able with OrthoEdge

The OrthoEdge joint replacement

program offers superb care from your first

visit through recovery The surgeons from

the Orthopaedic amp Fracture Clinic and

the care team at Riverrsquos Edge Hospital

provide personal and professional care to

get you back to able

Why Riverrsquos Edge Hospital amp Clinic

bull Riverrsquos Edge Hospital amp Clinic has a long-

standing relationship with the Orthopaedic

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bull Free WiFi for patients and guests

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MM p02 0116indd 43 12182015 30842 PM

44 bull January 2016 bull MANKATO MAGAZINE

1 Hicktown Mafia800 pm mdash New Ulm Event Center mdash 301 20th St S mdash New Ulm mdash $10 mdash 507-354-4673

7-9 Mankato West Orchesis Dance Team showcase7 pm Thursday-Saturday 2 pm Saturday mdash Mankato West High School Auditorium mdash $7 adults $5 students mdash 507-381-7578

10 Mankato Symphony Orchestra Music on the Hill II ldquoMinnesota rootsrdquo2 pm mdash Chapel at Good Counselmdash Good Counsel Drive mdash Mankato mdash $17 $12 mdash wwwmankatosymphonycom

16 Handel with Caremdash Handel Goes to Italy11 ammdash YMCA Aerobics Studio mdash 1401 S Riverfront Drive mdash Mankato mdash wwwmankatosymphonycom

16 Mankato Craft beer Expo2 pm (VIP) 3 pm general mdash Verizon Wireless Center mdash $45 VIP $35 general $10 designated driver mdash wwwmankatocraftbeerexpocom

23 Joey Flip and Mike Fugazzi rockinrsquo at the Embassy9 pm mdash Blaschkorsquos Embassy Bar and Grill mdash 325 S Minnesota Ave mdash St Peter mdash 507-934-3903

24 andrea Lyn and Dick Kimmel concert730 pm mdash Elias J Halling Recital Hall mdash Minnesota State University mdash Mankato mdash $12 regular $11 current MSU students mdash wwwmnusedumusic

28-31 MSu Theatre antigone730 pm Thursday-Saturday 2 pm Sunday mdash Andreas Theatre mdash Minnesota State University mdash Mankato mdash $16 regular $14 discount $11 current MSU students mdash wwwmnsuedu

29-31 BLC Theatre Brigadoon730 Friday and Saturday 2 pm Sunday mdash Ylvisaker Fine Arts Center mdash Bethany Lutheran College mdash Mankato mdash $10 adults $6 seniors children and students mdash wwwblceduevents

29- Feb 7 Winterfest St Peter Citywide mdash wwwstpeterchamberorg

30 Church of Cash a Tribute to Johnny Cash7 pm mdash St Peter American Legion mdash 229 W Nassau St mdash St Peter mdash 507-934-6435

31 Maud Hixson and rick Carlson concert730 pmmdash Elias J Halling Recital Hall mdash Minnesota State University mdash Mankato mdash $12 regular $11 current MSU students wwmnsuedumusic

Coming attraCtions January

T - F 8am - 6pm Sun ClosedSat 9am - 4pmM 8am - 8pm

120 North Broad Street Mankato MN 507-345-4688 wwwmeyerandsonstvandappliancecom

FIND SPECIAL DEALS ON

MM p02 0116indd 44 12182015 30902 PM

MANKATO MAGAZINE  bull January 2016 bull 45

St Peter Craft amp Vendor Show

1MelinadaBussefromRapidansoldherhandmadejewelryatthecraftandvendorshow

2DarylfromElysianandhishand-carvedwoodart

3MacKennaage7hasfunatoneoftheboothsattheStPeterCraftandVendorShow

4LizEntershowsoffsomeofherproductsattheldquoItWorksrdquobooth

5DenisePetersofldquoYoungLivingrdquoessentialoilsdisplayedherproductsattheshow

Faces amp Places Photos By Sport Pix

3

5

2

1

4

T - F 8am - 6pm Sun ClosedSat 9am - 4pmM 8am - 8pm

120 North Broad Street Mankato MN 507-345-4688 wwwmeyerandsonstvandappliancecom

FIND SPECIAL DEALS ON

MM p02 0116indd 45 12222015 121536 PM

46 bull January 2016 bull MANKATO MAGAZINE

SOUTHErN MN CHrISTMAS

FESTIVAL1 A large crowd was on hand during the festivities at

the Christmas Festival2 Friesenrsquos Family Bakery amp Bistro had tons of baked

goods and soups at the Verizon Wireless Center3 A childrenrsquos choir sang for the audience at the

festival4 Ron Haefner owner of Ronrsquos Auto Repair displayed

some of his services5 Garrison Galatz dressed up as Santa for the

Christmas Festival

faCes amp PLaCes Photos By Sport Pix

4

3

1

2

5

MM p02 0116indd 46 12182015 30923 PM

MANKATO MAGAZINE  bull January 2016 bull 47

1GirlScouttroop34494waspresentedwithatrophybyKiwanisVicePresidentKyleMrozek

2SantaClausevenwentthroughtheparaderoute3(LtoR)BrooklynPomrankeAlaynaLyonsHunterPomrankeandLilyLyonsgetagroupphototakenwithSanta

4MarshaMartigtellsSantawhatshewantsforChristmas

5TheparadefloatswerealldeckedoutinChristmaslights

6Visitorswalkthepatharoundtheparktoviewthisyearrsquoslights

Kiwanis Holiday ligHtsFaces amp Places Photos By sport Pix

2

1

3

4 5

6

MM p02 0116indd 47 12222015 121616 PM

48 bull January 2016 bull MANKATO MAGAZINE

On the Occasion of a 50th Reunion

the Class of 1965

from this VaLLeYBy Pete Steiner

Peter Steiner is host of ldquoTalk of the Townrdquo weekdays at 105 pm on KTOE

I was honored to give the presentation for our 50th class reunion recently at West Highrsquos Homecoming celebration About 120 of our nearly 400-member class

showed up We Baby Boomers the children of the greatest generation had big classes in the late lsquo60rsquos that forced the building of East High Ours was a dramatic era and our class did some great things in the face of big challenges Here edited is some of what I said

I am so glad to be standing here today Therersquos an old saying

ldquoMay you live in INTErESTINg timeshelliprdquo The Class of rsquo65 certainly has Itrsquos seems like only yesterday right after lunch that we were at our desks waiting for the start of English class when our charismatic teacher Harry Fitterer strode in and said ldquoPrESIDENT KENNEDY HAS BEEN SHOT IN DALLASrdquo At first we didnrsquot believe him but it was true It was November 22 1963 We were juniors and as the song says that was THE END OF THE INNOCENCE We had lived through the last idyllic time in America

When we first arrived in the fall of 1962 America was still carefree basking in the glow of victory in WW II Everything may have seemed ldquorightrdquo but it was not Martin Luther King Jr had just visited Mankato pointing out the continuing plight of black Americans as the Civil rights movement was gaining steam The beginnings of the Vietnam War which would alter the course of many of our lives were stirring even as we studied history and government The current generation has no monopoly on forgettable pop music ndash we had a stupid 1 song called ldquoItsie Bitsie Teenie Weenie Yellow Polka Dot Bikinirdquo (unfortunately an ear worm I canrsquot forget) But a darker cultural threat was looming The BEATLES were invading from Britain and our parents were mortified because they had LONg HAIr

Some of the shock of the Kennedy assassination was eased when our wrestling team in the era when the state still had just ONE CLASS won the State Championship in front of a packed hall up at MSU some still maintain that is the greatest single athletic achievement in Mankato history We were the first high school in Mankato to put on a full-scale musical ldquoBye Bye Birdierdquo in the spring of 1964 In Fall of 1964 our football team would have won the conference championship outright except Owatonnarsquos great Noel Jenke who would go on to star for the U of M

cheated I watched him trap the touchdown pass that beat us Does cheating pay Was that a lesson for life

In lsquo65 we also had a fine basketball team that lost our chance at State when our 6-6 center fouled out at Luverne

BUT A FAr BIggEr CHALLENgE AWAITED US ALL As we rode out to Luverne to watch that game we couldnrsquot help noticing the highway was like a canyon between walls of snow The legendary St Patrickrsquos Day Blizzard had dumped two feet on top of an already large snow pack and then April brought rains on frozen ground Instead of coming here to school many of us soon got a real-life assignment to go out in our rain gear out on the dikes to battle the grEAT FLOOD OF 1965 Our school became an island as water flooded the parking lot and all of South riverfront Our spring play that year was called ironically

THE DESPErATE HOUrS We had to rehearse at roosevelt School up on higher ground

Our class produced three Merit scholars One of our classmates who did NOT qualify

for a merit scholarship nevertheless was such a whiz at physics that NASA requested a copy of a paper he wrote on rocketry as a senior We produced 12 doctors one of whom earned a fellowship at Stanford seeking how to bring telemedicine to the poor another of whom became a breakthrough cancer doctor We had entrepreneurs one who would go on to be a leader in Solar Energy (and then run for governor of New Hampshire) Another mdash a woman incidentally when

that was not common founded two bio-tech startups Many of us are still working

past normal retirement age One founded a company on the leading edge of recycling

computers whose clients include the NSA Another is chief medical officer of a company

devising a better tool for colonoscopies Yet another of our classmates recently completed a concert tour of China

We lived in challenging times just as you do today but we muddle through we make it to the other shore I remember sitting where you are 50 years ago thinking how old those folks up there looked But remember Life goes by very quickly You certainly live in interesting times as Shakespeare said ldquoPresent Mirth has Present Laughter Youthrsquos a stuff will NOT endurerdquo So I urge you live each moment to the fullest

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Page 21: Mankatomag 116

MANKATO MAGAZINE  bull January 2016 bull 19

Yoursquore ready

You ate the ham and turkey and potatoes and Christmas cookies You drank the wine beer and eggnog Yoursquove spent the last few

months pondering a life change Yoursquore on the verge of a major transformation This time itrsquos happening Yoursquore going to get healthy Itrsquos going to be a new you

And then January arrived And you have no plan

Luckily we here at Mankato Magazine have got you covered Itrsquos not uncommon for people to make a New Yearrsquos resolution or some similar vow this time of year It usually comes with goal weights and promises to hit the gym X number of times per week and trips to the produce and organic sections of the grocery store because this time yoursquore serious Right

OK easy tiger Getting healthy is a great idea and wersquore wishing you all the best But wersquore also coming at you with some sensible advice Maybe setting unrealistic goals isnrsquot the best way to go Maybe just

heading into the gym and trying to get it all done in a week isnrsquot a great way to go either

ldquoFinerdquo you say ldquothen what should I dordquoWersquore so glad you asked

Letrsquos get startedThe first thing you need to remember when

starting an exercise program is that if you want to lose weight you need to change the way you eat too

ldquoNo matter what you say you canrsquot out exercise a bad dietrdquo says Stephanie Howe director of healthy living at the Mankato YMCA

Howe works in what might be the busiest fitness hub in the Mankato area So shersquos seen her share of people come through the doors with plans to change their lives Some of them succeed Most do not

One of the biggest mistakes people make Howe says is not really having a good grasp on how much time theyrsquoll need in order to incorporate a good workout into their day It doesnrsquot have to be a two-

hour commitment every day she says It can be 30 minutes of planned effective exercise several times per week Whatrsquos more important is just getting there and thatrsquos an obstacle that is bigger than most people realize

ldquoMost people want to lsquopeople pleasersquordquo she said ldquoYou can say yoursquore going to get up and work out every day but most people are built to need external accountabilityrdquo

Think about hiring a personal trainer

ldquoWhen you spend the money on a personal trainer you have an appointment therersquos someone waiting thererdquo she says

A personal trainer is a great way to immediately know yoursquore doing exactly what yoursquore supposed to be doing and yoursquoll have no doubt whether yoursquore working hard enough There are plenty of personal trainers in town mdash at the YMCA and other gyms mdash who would love to help you Of course they donrsquot work for free and for many people the cost of a personal trainer is more than theyrsquore willing to spend

Fortunately therersquos a trend in fitness to offer the whip-crack of a personal trainer while staying Jo radlinger urges her clients to not sabotage their fitness efforts with poor eating over

the weekend

MM p01 0116indd 19 12182015 24510 PM

20 bull January 2016 bull MANKATO MAGAZINE

728 N Riverfront DriveMankato MN 56001

507-625-5163katobearscom

Pins and NeedlesAlterations

Specializing in alterations for theentire wedding party including

gown re-sizing hemming re-beadingbustles and so much more

Like us onFacebook

affordableThe Y now offers something called ldquotrainer ledrdquo

exercise sessions where you work with others in a group but have access to a trainer nearby who can push you motivate you and make sure yoursquore you know doing it right Theyrsquore $3 a class

ldquoYoursquore still expected to be there but itrsquos much cheaperrdquo Howe said ldquoThe group environment pushes you and we have tons of trainer-led classes Itrsquos the best of both worldsrdquo

Across town Jo Radlinger runs Jorsquos Garage a fitness center where shersquos the one pushing you to succeed

Radlingerrsquos goal she says is to bring out everyonersquos potential

ldquoI want to make sure everybody that comes through my door has success I want them to be the very best version of themselves that they can berdquo

Like Howe Radlinger acknowledges that the financial side of hiring a personal trainer can scare people away but she says there are several reasons why it shouldnrsquot

ldquoItrsquos never a bad investment when yoursquore investing in yourselfrdquo she said ldquoMeet with a trainer who is just as passionate about your goal My goal is not to train you intensely but to show you what yoursquore capable of and then take you to that next levelrdquo

At Jorsquos Fitness Garage there are no membership fees Radlinger doesnrsquot believe in them Instead she charges $5 per visit and in that time she said she pushes you to have a great workout

GymtimidationSetting goals is a great

idea Setting unrealistic goals is the kind of thing that results in a gym membership card laying dormant in a junk drawer by February

So set those goals but set them smartlyldquoAccountability is huge Even if you canrsquot hire

someonerdquo Howe says ldquoMake specific goals mdash say yoursquore going to workout X number of times but make those numbers realistic Set goals that are within your controlrdquo

Do this and yoursquore likely to feel a lot better about how things go

ldquoMost people just want to feel better about themselves they want to feel more confidentrdquo Howe said ldquoThis way even before any physical changes happen theyrsquoll feel better Theyrsquoll start to feel like theyrsquore in control again of their life and their choicesrdquo

Taking an exercise class is a great way to both get

your body moving while at the same time have fun and meet those people who will notice when you donrsquot show up

And about that weight room Yes it can be intimidating to walk in and see people who look like they live there But Howe says that while it can definitely be a psychological barrier focusing on those people is the wrong strategy

ldquoNo one cares what yoursquore doingrdquo Howe says ldquoFocus on yourdquo

Take it slowIt can be tempting when you finally get up the

nerve to get back in the swing of working out to go hardcore But just like setting unrealistic goals trying to achieve your fitness goals in a day is impossible

ldquoPeople start out really gung-ho and reset their diet so aggressively and most people just simply canrsquot do thisrdquo Radlinger said ldquoWhen yoursquore looking at making a lifestyle change I want you to do it slowly and incrementally rather than do it all in two monthsrdquo

Rushing into the weight room and trying to lift the same weight and number of reps and sets that you did 10 years ago is a great way to make sure you canrsquot work out for a while Going from a sedentary lifestyle to two hours of pumping iron can leave you sore enough to not be able to lift anything for days Maybe even weeks

Ease into it The gymrsquos not going anywhere Think marathon not sprint

ldquoSometimes people have an all-or-nothing attituderdquo Howe said ldquoand they make themselves sore and they canrsquot continuerdquo

Speaking of all-or-nothing Radlinger says

some people bring that kind of intensity to their food intake over the weekend Bad idea

ldquoAs trainers we help people be accountable We do success measurements help them prepare and plan And wersquoll do weigh-ins on Mondayrdquo Radlinger says ldquoWersquoll find that people do really well Monday through Friday then do what I call sabotage Saturday and Sunday At some point yoursquore going to get so sick of hitting that reset button every Mondayrdquo

Whatever you choose to do both trainers say itrsquos never a bad idea to sit down with your doctor and run your plans by himher Your personal safety should always come first and getting the green light from Doc can give you some peace of mind as you start this new chapter of your life MM

Jo radlinger runs Jorsquos Fitness Garage

MM p01 0116indd 20 12222015 120709 PM

MANKATO MAGAZINE  bull January 2016 bull 21

728 N Riverfront DriveMankato MN 56001

507-625-5163katobearscom

Pins and NeedlesAlterations

Specializing in alterations for theentire wedding party including

gown re-sizing hemming re-beadingbustles and so much more

Like us onFacebook

Live the Lifestyle

wwwmapletonmarinecom

Southern MNrsquos largestboat show on now at the

Madison East Center in Mankato

MM p01 0116indd 21 12182015 24524 PM

22 bull January 2016 bull MANKATO MAGAZINE

Thirty-three years ago I stood inside a grave A lifetime ago when I was a pastorrsquos wife

In Nebraska we served a parish of barely over one hundred members A picture-postcard white church with a hand-carved white wooden altar from Germany sat at the top of a hill next to it the parsonage and next to that the cemetery rolling down the hill toward a wooded creek

The first death in the congregation after our arrival set off a flurry of activity Irsquod never met Alma because she was in a nursing home before we arrived However my husband visited her on several occasions She was mother aunt grandmother great-aunt and great-grandmother to half the congregation so there was no question about whether or not I would attend the funeral

With my two little kids in tow I attended every event at the church every Sunday morning service of course but also every funeral every confirmation every baptism every meeting of womenrsquos circle and even every family reunion that was held in the church basement At twenty-six I perfected the art of making gracious small talk with people Irsquod never seen before and would never see again and at taking tiny portions from each confirmation buffet so I would neither be sick by the end of the day nor offend any of the mothers who had slaved away over their sumptuous spreads of food

By Rebecca Fjelland Davis

Grave Lesson in Winter

ESSay

MM p01 0116indd 22 12182015 24527 PM

MANKATO MAGAZINE  bull January 2016 bull 23

Attending the little white country church was physically easy I picked up one-year-old Josh took three-year-old Nikkirsquos hand and walked out the front door down the sidewalk and next door The only things I didnrsquot have to attend were church council and the menrsquos meeting Archaic This was in the 1980s It doesnrsquot seem so long ago

All the available babysitters in the community would attend Almarsquos funeral too so this was to be my kidsrsquo first funeral

The afternoon before the service salt-snow fell Hard little crystals pelted down as if the heavens had up-ended a Mortonrsquos salt canister Within a few hours the hard snow was six inches deep and still falling

In the middle of the salt-snow the gravedigger arrived The Ditchwitch roared around the cemetery to the familyrsquos plot and my kidsrsquo noses pressed against the upstairs bedroom window pane ldquoMommy can we go watchrdquo

Glad for an excuse to get out of the parsonage I bundled them in snowsuits put them on the sled and pulled them across the house yard and garden to the fence that bordered the cemetery

The Ditchwitch made short work of the grave and all three of us were mesmerized watching the mound of gray-black dirt grow in the crystal-white snow When the hole was finished the gravedigger turned his tractor on idle He hopped off and came over to the fence His eyes twinkled in a weathered face ldquoWant to come lookrdquo

I backed up from the fence a step ldquoNo not really I think this is close enoughrdquo

ldquoYes Mommy go lookrdquo ldquoPleeeeaserdquoSo Nikki and Josh got back on the sled and I

hauled them along the fence through the gate over to the grave and looked down Six feet seemed deep bottomless Dark A sharp contrast to the pelting snowflakes all around us

ldquoWanna get down in thererdquo the gravedigger asked I shuddered hung onto the kids and backed up

again ldquoNo No thatrsquos okay This is close enough I just want to look from hererdquo

ldquoYes mommyrdquo the little ones said ldquoLetrsquosrdquoldquoNordquoldquoPleaserdquoldquoReally marsquoam I think you should Yoursquoll be

surprised I wouldnrsquot suggest it if it I didnrsquot think sordquoldquoHow would we get outrdquo The sides were deeper

than I was tall and there certainly werenrsquot footholds or a ladder built in for Almarsquos soul to use to climb out

ldquoLike thisrdquo The gravedigger laid his shovel diagonally across a top corner of the grave and jumped down He grabbed the middle of the shovel handle and swung himself back up and out with the agility of a gymnast ldquoNothinrsquo to itrdquo

ldquoI canrsquot do thatrdquoldquoYes you can Irsquoll boost you And wersquoll lift the kids

Yoursquoll be amazed I promiserdquoI shivered The idea of being inside a grave

seemed much colder than the snow crystals biting at my face

ldquoCome onrdquo he said and jumped back in Nikki and Josh willingly stepped over to him to be lifted down I had no choice but to follow I couldnrsquot let my kids alone in a grave with a man I didnrsquot even know

So I jumped The earth on the bottom made a soft landing The soil around me was warm and steamy It was moist and dark but it enfolded us in an earthy hug At least fifty degrees warmer than the air above ground it felt as if the earth were offering shelter respite a comfortable place to snuggle down and rest Tiny roots dangled full of life from the smooth edges of the hole Tears sprang to my eyes I couldnrsquot help them My eyes met the gravediggerrsquos and he smiled Gently ldquoSeerdquo he said Nothing more

I couldnrsquot speak A few minutes later he gave me a stirrup with his

hands I scrambled out and he lifted Nikki and Josh up to me Then he flipped himself out as easily as a trapeze artist

ldquoThank yourdquo I said ldquoI would never have guessedrdquoHe nodded ldquoNobody does But it helps somehow

I wanted you to feel thatrdquoWhy I wanted to ask why me You donrsquot even

know me Why were you willing to take time for usldquoThank yourdquo was all I said I shook his hand and

he hopped on the Ditchwitch and drove off into the snow

I never saw him again Someone else dug the next grave required in that cemetery

I remember only bits and pieces of the funeral Irsquom sure I baked a boxed cake mix for ldquolunchrdquo afterwards I remember answering Nikkirsquos questions about the body and sitting in the back row of the church in case Josh didnrsquot want to be quiet I do remember looking at the unfamiliar face in the casket and thinking you get to rest in a warm cozy place

Ten winters later we buried my dad on just such a day Wet snow crystals pelted us and piled up so deep the funeral home limousine got stuck in the cemetery By the time the pallbearers pushed it un-stuck their suit pants were caked in slush and mud

We stood at the graveside in the bleak wet icy day and lowered my fatherrsquos body into the ground

ldquoToo bad itrsquos such a miserable dayrdquo ldquoSorry about your dad Sorry the weatherrsquos so bad toordquo And even ldquoSuch a good man He deserves better weather than thisrdquo

But the weather I thought was just right Losing my dad my kids and their cousins losing

their grandpa my mom becoming a widow my brother losing his farming partner and best friend changed our livesmdashthat part was too heavy to carry

The only part that was okay for me was to let Dadrsquos worn-out body be wrapped in that welcoming warm enfolding soilmdashthe very soil hersquod loved to till the soil hersquod planted and tended all his life the soil that gave us all lifemdashthat was the only gratifying part of the day

The only comfort I had was letting Dad go from the cold wet biting snow into that warm and restful place

And I still wonder who that gravedigger was ten years earlier and how he knew how much I would need what he gave me that bleak winter day MM

Rebecca Fjelland Davis is an author from Mankato

MM p01 0116indd 23 12182015 24528 PM

reFlecTionsBy Pat Christman

24 bull January 2016 bull MANKATO MAGAZINE

MM p01 0116indd 24 12182015 24544 PM

reFlecTionsBy Pat Christman

MANKATO MAGAZINE  bull January 2016 bull 25

There are few things as inevitable as snow during a Minnesota winter Big

cotton ball-like snowflakes cover the ground in a white blanket whitewashing the Midwestern landscape

We struggle against it Some hope the snow never comes It always does filling the sky with floating snowflakes that cling to the ground but melt as soon as they hit the small bits of face or hands that peek out from winter clothing

It is often quite beautiful especially when viewed from someplace warm and dry MM

MM p01 0116indd 25 12182015 24548 PM

26 bull January 2016 bull MANKATO MAGAZINE

Then amp now Vice President Schuyler Colfaxrsquos Death By Bryce o sTenzel

On Jan 14 1885 one day after his death the New York Times carried a

headline that read ldquoSchuyler Colfax Dead He Drops Down in a Railway Stationrdquo While most Americans today would have tremendous difficulty in even recognizing this manrsquos name

(unless they were paying close attention to Stephen Spielbergrsquos epic movie Lincoln and made the association) Schuyler Colfax was a former Speaker of the House of Representatives and Vice President of the United States under President US Grant He died in Mankatorsquos Chicago St

Paul Minneapolis amp Omaha railroad depot from a massive heart attack

Schuyler Colfax Jr was born in New York City on March 23 1823 His father died of tuberculosis five months before Schuyler was born His sister Mary died four months after his [Schuylerrsquos]

vice President Schuyler Colfaxrsquos Death in Mankato

MM p01 0116indd 26 12182015 24549 PM

MANKATO MAGAZINE  bull January 2016 bull 27

birth The young Schuyler attended school only until he was 10 He then began working to support his family Schuyler Colfax never attended any kind of secondary school or college His mother remarried when Colfax was 13 and the family moved to New Carlisle Indiana By the time he was 22 Colfax was the editor and owner of a pro-Whig newspaper He was elected to Congress in 1854 and joined the newly formed Republican Party after the Whig Party disintegrated Solidly anti-slavery his colleagues elected Colfax as Speaker of the US House of Representatives in 1863 His election came soon after the death of his wife Evelyn The couple had no children

Colfax was President Abraham Lincolnrsquos first and last visitor on the fateful day Lincoln was assassinatedmdashApril 14 1865 Early that morning Colfax arrived at the White House while the president was having breakfast Colfax wanted to know whether or not Lincoln planned to call a special session of Congress for later that summer Lincolnrsquos answer was a polite but firm ldquonordquo Lincoln preferred a lenient approach in reconstructing as well as readmitting the former Confederate states to the Union now that the Civil War was over This approach put Lincoln at odds with the more ldquoradicalrdquo congressional members of his own party who preferred harsher measures be taken against their former enemies Lincoln had already made up his mind how he wanted to proceed with reconstructing the former Confederate states and he didnrsquot want any unnecessary interference from Congress Calling a special session was the last thing Lincoln wanted to do Colfax returned that same night to see Lincoln again just before the president left for Fordrsquos Theatre and his appointment with destiny This time Colfax came upon Lincolnrsquos own request The president had a long message for the silver miners of the Comstock Lode in Nevada thanking them for their loyalty to the Union that he wanted Speaker Colfax to deliver in person since Colfax was leaving by train for the West the next day Colfax was the last person Lincoln spoke to besides his wife Mary before he

was fatally shot at 1015 pm Colfax never forgave himself for turning down Lincolnrsquos invitation to be part of the theatre party that night

In 1868 Republicans selected General Ulysses S Grant as their presidential candidate Grant a military man his entire life had no political background Colfax was placed on the ticket because of his prior experience as a congressman and Speaker of the House (he resigned the position in 1869) Grant and Colfax won an easy victory in November 1868 Only two weeks later Colfax remarriedmdashthis time to Ellen Wade (niece of Ohio Senator Benjamin Wade) Their only child son Schuyler Colfax III was born in 1870

Colfax is best remembered (if at all) for his involvement in the corruption that beset Grantrsquos entire presidency Specifically the Credit Mobilier scandal broke in 1872 just as Grant and Colfax were gearing up for their re-election campaign Colfax was suspected of accepting shares of stock and cash bribes from ldquoCredit Mobilierrdquo a dummy construction company set up by the Union Pacific Railroad He was by no means the only influential person involved in the scandal Other political figures investigated included Senators Roscoe Conkling of New York William Allison of Iowa John Logan of Illinois James Bayard of Delaware and Henry Wilson of Massachusetts Grant was less popular in 1872 than he had been four years earlier and many Republicans worried that having Colfax on the partyrsquos ticket would harm the presidentrsquos re-election chances They dumped Colfax from the ticket mdash only to replace him with the also-tainted Wilson Grant won re-election and served his second and final term from 1873-1877 After being forced out from the vice presidency Colfax traveled the country as a popular lecturer often speaking about his interactions with Abraham Lincoln during the Civil War He rebuilt his tarnished reputation and commanded speaking fees as high as $2500

At 10 am on Jan 13 1885 Schuyler Colfax arrived in Mankato aboard a train from Milwaukee Mankato was just a

brief stop for Colfax who was on his way to Iowa for a speaking engagement The Chicago Milwaukee amp St Paul as well as the Chicago St Paul Minneapolis amp Omaha railroads both had depots in Mankato but because they were separate competing railroad lines Colfax was required to change trains by walking three-quarters of a mile from the Chicago Milwaukee amp St Paul depot at the foot of Hickory Street to the Chicago St Paul Minneapolis amp Omaha depot at Fourth and Washington Streets (now Washington Park) from which the next leg of his journey would depart Despite a reported temperature of 30 degrees below zero Colfax walked from one station to the other Within five minutes after he arrived at the Omaha linersquos depot Colfax entered the waiting room looked at a map on the wall sat down and died It was 1035 am No one in the station knew who the dead man actually was until they searched his pockets and found a letter with his name on it His death was likely caused by a heart attack brought on by the physical exertion of walking almost a mile in extreme cold Colfax was only 61 when he died His remains were returned to South Bend Indiana for burial

Today few Americans are aware that anyone named Schuyler Colfax ever lived much less served as vice president of the United States In this era in which officeholders are often treated as celebrities imagine how surprised people would be to learn that a former vice president died cold alone and unrecognized in a train station 131 years ago Before 24-hour news channels smart phones and social media it was possible for public figures like Colfax to live ndash and die ndash in relative obscurity Ironically Colfax loved the railroad but in the end it was the cause of his undoing Mankato has the distinction of being the location where the last man to personally speak to Abraham Lincoln in a private conversation took his last breath

MM p01 0116indd 27 12182015 24549 PM

28 bull January 2016 bull MANKATO MAGAZINE

Mayo Clinic offers pediatric and adolescent orthopedic services right here in Mankato Todd Milbrandt MD cares for patients with a variety of needs including

bull Cerebral palsy

bull Clubfoot

bull Hip disorders

bull Spinal disorders

bull Sports injuries

bull Scoliosis

bull Spina bifida

Mayo Clinic Health System in Mankato Call 1-877-412-7575 (toll-free) to schedule an appointment

495rdquox495rdquo Mankato Magazine January

Orthopedic care for your child

Independent ampAssisted Living

EQUAL HOUSINGOPPORTUNITY

1360 Adams StreetMankato MN

PrimroseRetirementcom

reg

Key City Senior Breakfast ClubThe Key City Senior Breakfast Club meets the first Thursday of each month from 830 AM - 930 AM at Primrose Retirement Community The club gives those 55+ the opportunity to meet new friends and visit old ones socialize with Key City Officials and enjoy a delicious home-cooked breakfast To visit a Key City Senior Breakfast please call (866) 447-9636

Mark your calendar for these breakfast dates Thursday January 7th Thursday March 3rd and Thursday May 5th

刀椀渀最 椀渀 琀栀攀 

一攀眀 夀攀愀爀

㔀 㜀ⴀ㤀㐀ⴀ㐀㐀䨀甀氀攀攀猀䨀攀眀攀氀爀礀挀漀洀

椀渀 匀愀椀渀琀 倀攀琀攀爀

20765 Foley Rd Mankato MN | 5073872434 | 5077262411

Three TimeNational Award Winners

MM p02 0116indd 28 12182015 30742 PM

Mayo Clinic offers pediatric and adolescent orthopedic services right here in Mankato Todd Milbrandt MD cares for patients with a variety of needs including

bull Cerebral palsy

bull Clubfoot

bull Hip disorders

bull Spinal disorders

bull Sports injuries

bull Scoliosis

bull Spina bifida

Mayo Clinic Health System in Mankato Call 1-877-412-7575 (toll-free) to schedule an appointment

495rdquox495rdquo Mankato Magazine January

Orthopedic care for your child

Independent ampAssisted Living

EQUAL HOUSINGOPPORTUNITY

1360 Adams StreetMankato MN

PrimroseRetirementcom

reg

Key City Senior Breakfast ClubThe Key City Senior Breakfast Club meets the first Thursday of each month from 830 AM - 930 AM at Primrose Retirement Community The club gives those 55+ the opportunity to meet new friends and visit old ones socialize with Key City Officials and enjoy a delicious home-cooked breakfast To visit a Key City Senior Breakfast please call (866) 447-9636

Mark your calendar for these breakfast dates Thursday January 7th Thursday March 3rd and Thursday May 5th

OMG hellip More food and drinksOK sure

By now yoursquore probably thinking ldquoOh my gosh the last thing I want to think about right now is more food more drinking and more diningrdquo

Fair enough We get it The holidays are murder on the metabolism of many many Minnesotans

But we also know that those metabolisms are hardy and soon enough theyrsquoll be hankering for a hunk of something yummy and full of fun And whatrsquos more yummy and full of fun than a big glass of Cabernet Sauvignon Our wine guy Leigh Pomeroy takes us on a tour of all that is tasty and wonderful about big red wines the kind that leave their mark the kind that really announce their presence on your palate

And just in case yoursquore super serious about a healthy lifestyle mdash and that seriousness extends to the kind of beer you choose mdash Bert Mattson our beer guy has just the selection for you Best part is Itrsquos light

Oh and under the category of ldquoDid you hear about thisrdquo Wersquove got an update for you on the Coffee Hag Mankatorsquos original coffee house and one of the most popular hangouts in town Seriously some days itrsquos hard to find a seat in that place

EnjoyPS We know that baby itrsquos cold outside mdash thatrsquos why wersquove

thrown you our absolute best hot cocoa recipe

Enjoymdash Robb Murray Associate Editor Mankato Magazine

food drink amp dineso

uthern m

n style

20765 Foley Rd Mankato MN | 5073872434 | 5077262411

Three TimeNational Award Winners

MM p02 0116indd 29 12182015 30745 PM

MANKATO 5073854485 AMBOY 5076743355 I VERNON CENTER 5075493679

INSURANCE OFFICES LOCATED IN THE COMMUNITY BANK BUILDINGS

wwwcimankatocom

Protecting the things that matter most in your life

Let us help protect what is important to you At Community Insurance we have the ability to compare insurance from multiple companies to get you the best coverage at a great price Combine that with our insurance knowledge and friendly group of agents and we say thatrsquos a winning deal

WHERE YOUR POLICY COMES WITH AN AGENT

Christina Meyer

Food

south

ern mn style

Food

south

ern mn style

By The Washington Post

Growing up my mother always encouraged her children to cook So when

I found a recipe for hot chocolate on the side of the Hersheyrsquos Cocoa can it was easy to convince her to let me give it a try

What I discovered was that hot chocolate doesnrsquot have to come from an envelope

This recipe has been a favorite of mine to make on days when winter weather has convinced me stay home and off the roads Itrsquos the perfect way to kill time and have a nice hot drink to warm you up on those chilly days

Although you can top it with whipped cream I prefer marshmallows

FAVORITE HOT COCOAMakes 4 to 6 servings

12 cup sugar14 cup unsweetened cocoa powder

Dash of salt13 cup hot water

4 cups milk34 teaspoon vanilla extract

Whipped cream or marshmallows (optional)

Mix sugar cocoa powder salt and water in a sauce pan Stir constantly over medium heat until mixture comes to a boil (about 2 minutes) Stir in

milk and heat Bring the hot chocolate to the desired temperature but do not boil Remove from heat and

add the vanilla extract Divide into mugs and top with whipped cream or marshmallows

PERFECTLY CHOCOLATE HOT COCOA

Makes 1 serving

2 tablespoons sugar2 tablespoons unsweetened cocoa powder

Dash salt1 cup milk

14 teaspoon vanilla extractWhipped cream or marshmallows (optional)

Mix sugar cocoa powder and salt into large mug In separate microwave-safe container heat on high

for 1 to 1 frac12 minutes or until very hot Carefully and gradually add milk to dry mixture Stir well Add vanilla extract Top with whipped cream or

marshmallows

Simple homemade hot chocolate

beats the winter chill

30 bull January 2016 bull MANKATO MAGAZINE

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MANKATO MAGAZINE  bull January 2016 bull 31

Oil Change to OverhaulWe do it all

507-387-13151620 Commerce Drive North MankatowwwAustinsAutoRepairCentercom

Voted Best Auto Repair and Best Auto Mechanic 4 Years in a Row

AUSTINrsquoS AUTO REPAIR CENTER INC

MANKATO 5073854485 AMBOY 5076743355 I VERNON CENTER 5075493679

INSURANCE OFFICES LOCATED IN THE COMMUNITY BANK BUILDINGS

wwwcimankatocom

Protecting the things that matter most in your life

Let us help protect what is important to you At Community Insurance we have the ability to compare insurance from multiple companies to get you the best coverage at a great price Combine that with our insurance knowledge and friendly group of agents and we say thatrsquos a winning deal

WHERE YOUR POLICY COMES WITH AN AGENT

Christina Meyer

MM p02 0116indd 31 12182015 30755 PM

32 bull January 2016 bull MANKATO MAGAZINE

January is Cabernet TimeWersquove celebrated nearly

every January edition of Mankato Magazine with

a paean to BIG REDS And since there are so many wonderful examples why stop now

Last year I wrote about the powerful big reds of Italy This January wersquoll focus on Cabernet Sauvignon known to many as ldquothe king of winesrdquo Most oenophiles (wine lovers) consider the quintessential representations of this grape to be the classified Bordeaux of southwest France near the city of Bordeaux The five First Growths (or best wines according to a classification made in 1855 and updated in 1973) are Ch Lafite Rothschild Ch Margaux Ch Latour Ch Haut Brion and Ch Mouton Rothschild All have a cabernet sauvignon base but they are blended with merlot and often a little bit of cabernet franc and petit verdot as well

In the early 1970s I was able to buy these wines for around $22 per bottle mdash about $120 in 2016 dollars Yet with the popularity of ldquocollectiblerdquo wines on a worldwide

basis they sell today for anywhere from $400 on up

Contrary to popular belief these wines are not that massive Rather they combine cabernet sauvignon power with

structure and finesse yielding wines that become with time elixirs that are greater than the sum of their parts

Both California and Washington state have taken up the Cabernet Sauvignon challenge and are producing world-class wines at sometimes world-class prices Napa Valley is the recognized leader in this arena and rightly so Napa Valleyrsquos top Cabernet

Wine amp B

eerso

uthern m

n style

winesBy Leigh Pomeroy

Leigh Pomeroy is a Mankato-based writer and wine lover

Cabernet Sauvignon is the black Labrador of wines mdash it comes up and licks yourdquo

mdash Winemaker Scott Rich

Sauvignons rival the great wines of Bordeaux for quality mdash Irsquove tasted them side-by-side mdashand yet can sell for a fraction of their price

One such example is the 2013 Tulocay Cabernet Sauvignon from my old friend Bill Cadman We were young bucks in Napa Valley and had a tasting group in the early 1970s along with now-famous wine luminaries Bruce Neyers (Neyers Vineyards) and Mike Richmond (co-founder of Acacia Vineyard)

Billrsquos Cabernet is from an old and relatively cool growing area east of the City of Napa called Coombsville which because of industry political issues only recently received its AVA (American Viticultural Area) designation It is priced at $60 per bottle yet compares with any top-flight Bordeaux as well as the more expensive offerings from Napa Valley which can cost from $100 on up Not currently available at wine stores or restaurants in Minnesota it can be purchased by contacting the winery directly via its website tulocaycom The winery is so small that Bill will probably answer the phone himself

There is a lot of Cabernet Sauvignon available from California but mdash caveat emptor mdash not all growing areas (or appellations) are the same The best Cabernet Sauvignons are from Napa and Sonoma Counties Cabernets simply labeled ldquoCaliforniardquo or perhaps ldquoCoastalrdquo while sometimes good values lack the complexity of the greater Cabernet Sauvignons from the more northern parts of the state

Washington state has also

established itself as a prime producer of Cabernet Sauvignon But here again quality can vary greatly depending upon the area and producer While there is no ldquogo-tordquo appellation for Cabernet Sauvignon in Washington there are producers that are able to secure fruit from the best vineyards

One such example is the tiny Willis Hall Winery owned by another good friend John Bell a former Boeing jet propulsion engineer Like Tulocay its wines are only available by calling up the winery and ordering some (See willishallcom) But there are many other top quality producers in Washington like Quilceda Creek Leonetti Betz Family and Woodward Canyon

Of course not everyone can afford Cabernet Sauvignons in the $60-plus category One excellent everyday drinking example is the Flying Cloud 2013 Paso Robles Cabernet Sauvignon made by Mankato native Stephen Dooley Normally I donrsquot like Paso Robles Cabs as they tend to be too fruity and too soft for my palate mdash almost like drinking berry jam But this one is quite restrained no doubt helped by the inclusion of 13 percent zinfandel and 9 percent petite sirah in the blend

In Mankato both the Wine Cafeacute and MGM carry the Flying Cloud but at its price and quality I wouldnrsquot count on it lasting for long especially since only 759 cases were produced

So letrsquos raise a glass of Cabernet and say ldquoCheersrdquo to the New Year

MM p02 0116indd 32 12182015 30756 PM

MANKATO MAGAZINE  bull January 2016 bull 33

Bert Mattson is a chef and writer based in St Paul He is the manager of the iconic Mickeyrsquos Diner

Beer Skinny

BeerBy Bert Mattson

Last year according to Nielsen research staying fit and healthy was

the number one New Yearrsquos resolution Losing weight was two Three was to enjoy life to the fullest Unfortunately ldquolose weight and get fitrdquo also topped Time magazinersquos list of commonly broken resolutions Is this shortfall due to tension between the top two and that third one If so craft beer may have a role in the compromise Bad news first

In the context of losing weight and staying fit beer lovers might seek solace in the fact that fat carries nine calories per gram while alcohol has only seven The wrinkle is that those seven are ldquoemptyrdquo mdash calories without nutrition as opposed to those from fat protein and carbohydrates Moreover alcoholrsquos calories are the first burned when combined with the others the human body postpones burning fat while it works on alcohol Furthermore beer (and wine and often cocktails) contains carbohydrates which release insulin and can hasten fat storage Finally many drinkers have undoubtedly observed that alcohol loosens inhibitions after which an eager indulgence in unhealthy foods often occurs (Bar menus are rarely helpful in that respect)

By now you may wonder whose side Irsquom actually on Or suspect Irsquove led you to this dark place only to offer you a Lite No worries a couple craft brewers have been considering ways to keep us true to our resolutions

Evil Twin Brewingrsquos Bikini Beer drops the alcohol to 27 percent but stays bold by way of hops A Pale Ale it hits the nose with citrus suggestive of IPA The flavor follows suit floral and lemon There is an expected absence of malt yielding to bitterness up front that fades at the finish An alternative

for those who insist on the full effect Founderrsquos Brewing Companyrsquos All Day IPA rings in at a respectable 144 calories (Evil Twinrsquos entry comes in at 81)

One strategy to beat the beer munchies and avoid costly impulse eating is to have suitable chow on hand With Bikini Beer try a salad sporting blue cheese and some sort of dried fruit Creamy blue veined cheeses echo the hops while balancing bitterness An occasional bite of dried fruit stands in for malt sweetness

Brooklyn Breweryrsquos 12 Ale weighs in at 34 percent alcohol (102 calories) It is alliteratively labeled ldquoSession Saisonrdquo It opens with a waft of citrus and spice and a little lemongrass from Sorachi Ace hops mdash a hybrid developed in East Asia The same elements are found in the flavor which is a bit more subdued than a full-sized Saison

Try it with a tangle of arugula dressed with lemon and a fruity olive oil tossed with pine nuts and topped with shaved Parmesan for effect The greens and cracked pepper reflect spicy phenolic elements in the yeast Salty cheese counters the beerrsquos lingering bitterness Maybe add a few slices of Speck cured ham and Saison share a certain funkiness

If friends show and it becomes a session you may honestly say you spent Saturday working on your six-pack

MM p02 0116indd 33 12182015 30757 PM

34 bull January 2016 bull MANKATO MAGAZINE

Food

south

ern mn style

Food

south

ern mn style

The Coffee Hag one of the arearsquos oldest (and coolest) bistros recently underwent a major expansion and remodeling journey culminating in a large and airy

seating area along with a much-improved kitchen and a new menu Mankato Magazine caught up with a very busy (and slightly exhausted) owner Jenn Melby-Kelly who weighs in on how itrsquos going

MANKATO MAGAZINE Are you personally enjoying the new updatesJENN MELBY-KELLY It Is Fabulous The new space represents so much more than a remodel to me It has brought to life a vision for my business thatrsquos been years in the making It incorporates many many good ideas from many many people I feel so fortunate to get to see that every time I walk through the door

MM How are customers reactingJMK Thatrsquos been one of the best parts The response has been overwhelmingly positive

A few of our most regular customers had the opportunity to get a glimpse of the remodel while it was underway (we gave some informal preview tours while we were operating the temporary stand outside) but many customers walk through the door now and see it all for the first time Itrsquos especially fun to see and hear that kind of wide-eyed reaction

A few people with special connections to The Hag have had even stronger emotional responses and Irsquom so touched and right there with them when I see eyes well up as they see what wersquove done Itrsquos a very big milestone for a very special place and wersquore blessed to have people that care so deeply

MM Do the employees appreciate the new spaceJMK Oh probably more than anyone There was a lot that we sought to do with the remodel but creating a bigger brighter better-equipped space for our team was certainly one of the primary goals Wersquove got an incredible team truly the most spirited and talented people anyone could hope for

Many of them have spent years with me working hard against the challenge of a small under-equipped space and just barely being able to keeping up with growing demand Itrsquos been a special blessing for them and for me to finally have state-of-the-art space thatrsquos made for the work that we do We all feel a special connection to this place and now more than ever the place reflects the good energy we all bring here every day

MM Is the new menu a hit (The Hag specializes in vegetarianvegan cuisine)JMK Yes but just wait Feedback and demand have been excellent with our food offerings already but wersquore just getting started on some of the really exciting things that are coming to our food menu

Remodeling the cafe was just the first major milestone of our two-part expansion plan Next up wersquore building a state of the art off-site commissary kitchen that will do for our incredible culinary team what the remodeled shop has done for our baristas Theyrsquove been working day and night on taking our already fantastic food offerings to a whole new level

Wersquove already introduced some amazing new menu items like the Garden Grilled Cheese panini (trust me itrsquos like nothing yoursquove had before) and some truly outstanding new vegan baked goods Wersquove also improved our classic offerings with house-made

Interview with Jenn Melby-Kelly owner of The Coffee Hag

By Sarah Johnson

MM p02 0116indd 34 12182015 30802 PM

MANKATO MAGAZINE  bull January 2016 bull 35

Happy New Year

Locally Owned amp Operated

Check Weekly Specialsmgmwineandspiritscommankato

Largest Selection ofbull Liquor bull Wine bull Beer bull

Hours Monday-Saturday 8 am - 10 pm

ATMs at all stores

Mankato201 Victory Dr

625-2420

North Mankato1755 Commerce Dr

387-2634

St Peter100 N Minnesota Ave

934-8964

sourdough and whole wheat breads But as impressive as it is already itrsquos just a taste mdash literally mdash of things to come as we bring our new kitchen online

MM Whatrsquos stayed the sameJMK Irsquom really proud to say that while wersquove touched almost every part of this 23-year-old business wersquove kept even more than we have changed From the first days of this project I made it my personal mission and responsibility to make sure that the ldquosoulrdquo of this special place was only enhanced and never lost as we made the updates

In every area of the remodel as wersquove added some necessary new layers of sophistication The Hagrsquos colorful quirky and even rebellious spirit is still very much a part of the space We did a lot to try to make sure it still looked and felt like ldquohomerdquo

And on a deeper level every step wersquove taken with the growth of our business has been chosen carefully to honor the core parts of The Coffee Hagrsquos identity Our focus on community our support for local art and music our commitment to creating a safe and welcoming space for everyone our efforts to lead the way on social and environmental issues affecting our world near and far mdash those have all stayed the same And those will always be at the heart of what we do

MM Anything elseJMK Irsquom so incredibly grateful for the support of our customers and community And whenever I talk about my business and how it has grown I really canrsquot overstate how thankful I am for my beautiful Coffee Hag family The hard work good energy and earnest contributions of so many people mdash past and present mdash have brought me and my business here An incredible amount of love has gone into this business and made this dream a reality

MM p02 0116indd 35 12222015 121240 PM

36 bull January 2016 bull MANKATO MAGAZINE

xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

Food

south

ern mn style

whatrsquos Cooking By Sarah Johnson

Sarah Johnson is a cook freelance writer and chocolate addict from North Mankato with three grown kids and a couple of mutts

As I was pondering my subject matter for todayrsquos column I started wondering about all the different items the word ldquonutsrdquo can refer

to Crazy people are called nuts so are hexagonal metal objects that attach to bolts Nuts can be the end of things (as in ldquofrom soup to nutsrdquo) or they can be the beginning of them (as in ldquosperm incubatorsrdquo) Nut can also mean onersquos head or onersquos lump of something such as butter And if you accidentally get a nut of butter on your nut you can exclaim ldquoNutsrdquo

My favorite meaning of the word nut however is the dry indehiscent one-seeded fruit with a woody pericarp And I donrsquot even know what indehiscent OR pericarp means But these are the wonderful denizens of the world of edible nuts

Nuts are widely credited with all sorts of health benefits for the heart brain male reproductive system prostate cholesterol level fiber intake and avoidance of some types of cancer And while nuts do contain fat itrsquos the ldquogoodrdquo kind heart-healthy monounsaturated and polyunsaturated fat Their mix of omega-3 fatty acids protein and fiber helps you feel full and suppresses the appetite

Nuts are great in desserts and salads of course but they also shine in stir-fries casseroles soups chicken pork fish and even beverages Nut butters nut milks and nut oils add delicious options to our kitchen larders Breads cereals muffins and pancakes gain texture flavor and nutrition from the addition of nuts Basically anytime is a good time for nuts

Which is a wonderful thing because nuts taste so good you would think they had to be very very bad The reason lies deep in their oils

Walnut Oil is strong and flavorful Itrsquos best when used in uncooked sauces or salad dressing

Hazelnut Oil has a strong flavor and is great for the heart

Almond Oil is very popular and has a much milder flavor than walnut oil or hazelnut oil

Pecan Macadamia Nut Pistachio Cashew and Pine Nut Oils are flavorful and unique The freshness of the nuts used really affects the flavor

ldquoTherersquos Nuttinrsquo Nutty About Nutsrdquo

For the Baklava1 pound pistachios hazelnuts walnuts pecans andor almonds coarsely ground plus more for garnish12 teaspoon ground cinnamon1 cup breadcrumbs4 sticks unsalted butter melted16 sheets phyllo dough (thawed if frozen) cut in half

For the Syrup3 cups sugar1 6 -to-8-ounce jar honey1 frac12 cups water1 to 2 tablespoons fresh lemon juice

If yoursquore under the impression that baklava is much too labor-intensive and complicated to make at home think again Anybody can make

it no special skills equipment or exotic ingredients are required A word about phyllo dough Itrsquos sold in frozen packages so you need to remove the package from the freezer and let it thaw in the fridge 24 hours before you want to make the baklava Then about an hour beforehand remove the package from the fridge and let it sit on the counter

Walnuts or pistachios are the most traditional nuts to fill baklava but using other nuts works wonders as well Simply layer the phyllo with the nut filling and butter bake for an hour and finish with a simple honeyed syrup If you have leftover nuts from the holidays herersquos your chance to use them up

Mixed Nut Baklava

MM p02 0116indd 36 12182015 30812 PM

MANKATO MAGAZINE  bull January 2016 bull 37

MONEY MATTERS WORK SMARTLET COMMUNITY BANK HELP YOUBRING THE TWO TOGETHER

MANKATO - SAINT ANDREWS DR 5073854444MANKATO - MADISON AVE 5076251551VERNON CENTER 5075493679AMBOY 5076743300

JULIE VETTERSR VICE PRESIDENTRETAIL BANKING

We support great causes like yoursAt Community Bank we know good things happen when you have a good bank So we make more possible by keeping banking simple and supportive And by giving you the power that comes with innovative solutions like our Health Savings Account It offers you tax-free savings for future medical expenses Stop by anytime Wersquore always ready to help out a great cause

Position a rack in the lower third of the oven preheat to 350 degrees Combine the nuts cinnamon and breadcrumbs in a bowl

Brush a 9x13-inch baking dish with some of the butter Layer 10 pieces of phyllo in the dish brushing each piece with butter before adding the next (keep the remaining dough covered with a damp towel) Sprinkle a quarter of the nut mixture over the dough Layer four pieces of phyllo on top brushing each with butter before adding the next sprinkle with another quarter of the nut mixture Add four more phyllo pieces on top brushing each with butter then add another quarter of the nut mixture four more pieces of phyllo with butter and the remaining nuts

Layer the remaining 10 pieces of phyllo on top of the nuts brushing each with butter brush the top piece with extra butter Cut into the baklava to make strips about 1 12 inches wide Then make diagonal slices about 1 12 inches apart to create a diamond pattern Bake until golden about one hour

Meanwhile make the syrup Bring the sugar honey and 1 12 cups water to a boil in a saucepan over medium heat and cook 10 to 15 minutes Add the lemon juice and boil 2 more minutes then let cool slightly Pour the syrup over the warm baklava let soak uncovered at least six hours or overnight Garnish with nuts

MM p02 0116indd 37 12182015 30817 PM

38 bull bull MANKATO MAGAZINE

Nell Musolf is a mom and freelance writer from Mankato She blogs at nellmusolfcom

38 bull bull MANKATO MAGAZINE

MM p02 0116indd 38 12182015 30822 PM

MANKATO MAGAZINE  bull January 2016 bull 39

Gear Up for WinterYear-Round amp Insulated Workwear from

Carhartt Dickies and Key

UNIFORMSUniforms fromBarco Carhartt Cherokee DickiesKoi Peaches and White Cross

AMAZED

Call 5073446336mankatomagmankatofreepresscom

Stephanie L Hylla LAc Dipl AcKayla M Sweeney MOm LAc

NEW LOCATION709 S Front Suite 5

5074694788mankatoacupuncturecom

Open House ndash Wednesday Feb 3 9-12noonCelebrating 5 years of Business New Location and the Chinese New Year

In Network with Blue Cross Blue ShieldLicensed by the MN Board of Medical Practice

Ribbon Cutting with Greater Mankato Growth at 10am

(A $250 Value)THIS VOUCHER ENTITLES NEW PATIENTS TO A

CONSULTATION EXAM amp DIGITAL X-RAYS (IF NEEDED)

wwwr igne l l fami lych i roprac t ic comMedicare Restrictions Apply Expires January 31 2016

Dr BrandonRignell DC

1351 Madison AveSuite D

Mankato MN 56001

5077797313

$2900New Patient Special

MM p02 0116indd 39 12222015 121344 PM

40 bull bull MANKATO MAGAZINE

Jean Lundquist is a master gardener who lives near Good Thunder

MM p02 0116indd 40 12182015 30834 PM

MANKATO MAGAZINE  bull January 2016 bull 41

3 Increase the Value of Your Home

3 Update Your Homersquos Appearance

3 Save Money

Choose from SeveralModels Styles amp Colors

507-625-7110 or 1-800-645-36671125 Cross St North Mankato MN

Improve Your HomersquosEnergy Efficiency

422 Park Lane Mankato MN | NuStarMankatocom

(507) 381-4747Voted One of Mankatorsquos Best

DANIEL WINGERT

Make Selling Your Home Your NuYearrsquos Resolution

MM p02 0116indd 41 12182015 30839 PM

42 bull January 2016 bull MANKATO MAGAZINE

January Resolve to moisturize

Your stYLeBy Ann Rosenquist Fee

Ann Rosenquist Fee is executive director of the Arts Center of Saint Peter and a vocalist with The Frye She blogs at annrosenquistfeecom

If you have in-laws or colleagues who know you well enough to have given you holiday gifts

but not well enough to know what wouldrsquove truly made you happy congratulations Chances are yoursquore the proud owner of a bunch of brand-new lip balm

Maybe itrsquos even holiday themed Thatrsquos the best Maybe you got the candy-cane flavored kind or wintergreen with holiday graphics on the label or something like that A theme that was irrelevant the moment the stocking was unstuffed because at that exact second the holiday was over

And here you are in January with an abundance of wax

Fortunately also here you are in the early weeks of winter with rough red knuckles Probably also cracked cuticles although it might not have gone that far yet for you Irsquom sure it has for me This photo was taken back in November and even then the Band-Aids were for real Irsquove learned to cut them in half length-wise so as to retain my ability to type Irsquove also learned to play with a range of color options Flesh-toned Clear Disney characters The colorful strips shown here were gifted to me by my husband Partly why theyrsquore cut in half is that the text is obscene This is one small trick you can use to make bloody cuticles your most exciting accessory of the winter

Sources like UrbanSurvivalSitecom and WonderHowTocom will tell you that you can use lip balm for a whole variety of purposes such as coating threads of outdoor lightbulbs before screwing them into their sockets and enhancing the burn-ability of most kindling

These are great fun but they wonrsquot improve your personal style

More germane to winter beauty are the following suggestions

Keep a tube next to your bed for first-thing-in-the-morning use And I mean really truly first-thing I mean smear the stuff on each cuticle while yoursquore still lying there before you start using your fingers at all If you wake up thinking yoursquore fine and skip cuticle care next thing you know yoursquore pushing down the lever on your Keurig and the pressure is more than your screamingly dry skin can take and boom split blood on the Keurig and itrsquos gonna be a long painful day If only you had balmed your hands before you let your feet hit the floor

Keep another tube in your glove compartment If itrsquos warm enough to take off your mittens in the car mdash if yoursquore even wearing mittens given that your hands are snagging on everything these days mdash the harsh January sunlight will allow you to see cracks and flakes in high-resolution detail Yoursquoll want the balm nearby

to cover what you didnrsquot notice first thing in the morning Also a car tube is useful for when you look in the rear-view mirror and notice that your nose and upper lip are flaking as well Itrsquos because yoursquore getting over a cold and the frequent use of tissue has worn away your top layer of skin but just because you know that doesnrsquot mean everybody else wonrsquot think ldquothere is something in that noserdquo Itrsquos just a fact Itrsquos what it looks like Lip balm to the rescue Itrsquos the only thing dry enough to slick those flakes in place and nourishing enough to maybe actually get your face back to normal

Keep a couple more tubes in a nighttime kit along with sandpaper Sandpaper Yes Not a pumice stone not a lame also-gifted sugar

scrub Medium-grit sandpaper is what you need every night lightly but with conviction As follows 1) Sand taking care not to do more damage than what the elements have already done Yoursquore just trying to remove the dry dead stuff Yoursquore just being hearty and efficient about this true to the culture of this great state in which yoursquove chosen to winter You are no pansy Sand your hands 2) Wash 3) Blot dry 4) Dial up the gifted balm whisper a word of thanks to the person who put so much thought into your well-being that they stuffed your holiday stocking with this amazing gift of self-care smash a healthy amount down into your palms massage Take heart You just might find yourself with normal-textured non-cracked not-horrible-looking hands by morning

Split-open cuticles I feel you Except for these Band-Aids I feel you

Lip balms I have been gifted and these are just from last Christmas ldquolastrdquo as in 2014

Bathrooms Worth Bragging About

HoursTue amp Wed amp Fri | 9 am to 6 pmMon amp Thu | 9 am to 7 pmSaturday | 9 am to 4 pm

219 S Victory Dr | Mankato507 | 345 | 7009ipafhickorytechnetindependentpaintandflooringcom

You Deserve Comfortable Care Every Timebull Sedation - Complete Relaxation with Just a Pillbull Invisalign - Clear Alternative to Bracesbull Botox amp Fillersbull Implants - Placement and Restorationbull Cerec - One Visit Crown Technology

bull Free Whitening Programbull 3D Imaging with Fewer X-Raysbull Cosmetic Dentistrybull Drill-Free Technologybull Emergency Care

1400 Lookout Drive North Mankato507-625-CARE(2273) bull mankatodentistcom 06

1865

6124

01

Dr AngelA Schuck

Dr keith FlAck

MM p02 0116indd 42 12182015 30841 PM

MANKATO MAGAZINE  bull January 2016 bull 43

Bathrooms Worth Bragging About

HoursTue amp Wed amp Fri | 9 am to 6 pmMon amp Thu | 9 am to 7 pmSaturday | 9 am to 4 pm

219 S Victory Dr | Mankato507 | 345 | 7009ipafhickorytechnetindependentpaintandflooringcom

You Deserve Comfortable Care Every Timebull Sedation - Complete Relaxation with Just a Pillbull Invisalign - Clear Alternative to Bracesbull Botox amp Fillersbull Implants - Placement and Restorationbull Cerec - One Visit Crown Technology

bull Free Whitening Programbull 3D Imaging with Fewer X-Raysbull Cosmetic Dentistrybull Drill-Free Technologybull Emergency Care

1400 Lookout Drive North Mankato507-625-CARE(2273) bull mankatodentistcom 06

1865

6124

01

Dr AngelA Schuck

Dr keith FlAck

(944) 412-7949 | OrthoEdgeMNcom

Enjoy the season

Mankato St Peter

Be active Be healthyBe able with OrthoEdge

The OrthoEdge joint replacement

program offers superb care from your first

visit through recovery The surgeons from

the Orthopaedic amp Fracture Clinic and

the care team at Riverrsquos Edge Hospital

provide personal and professional care to

get you back to able

Why Riverrsquos Edge Hospital amp Clinic

bull Riverrsquos Edge Hospital amp Clinic has a long-

standing relationship with the Orthopaedic

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bull Restaurant-style menu

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bull Free WiFi for patients and guests

bull Individualized care

bull On-site Physical and Occupational Therapy

MM p02 0116indd 43 12182015 30842 PM

44 bull January 2016 bull MANKATO MAGAZINE

1 Hicktown Mafia800 pm mdash New Ulm Event Center mdash 301 20th St S mdash New Ulm mdash $10 mdash 507-354-4673

7-9 Mankato West Orchesis Dance Team showcase7 pm Thursday-Saturday 2 pm Saturday mdash Mankato West High School Auditorium mdash $7 adults $5 students mdash 507-381-7578

10 Mankato Symphony Orchestra Music on the Hill II ldquoMinnesota rootsrdquo2 pm mdash Chapel at Good Counselmdash Good Counsel Drive mdash Mankato mdash $17 $12 mdash wwwmankatosymphonycom

16 Handel with Caremdash Handel Goes to Italy11 ammdash YMCA Aerobics Studio mdash 1401 S Riverfront Drive mdash Mankato mdash wwwmankatosymphonycom

16 Mankato Craft beer Expo2 pm (VIP) 3 pm general mdash Verizon Wireless Center mdash $45 VIP $35 general $10 designated driver mdash wwwmankatocraftbeerexpocom

23 Joey Flip and Mike Fugazzi rockinrsquo at the Embassy9 pm mdash Blaschkorsquos Embassy Bar and Grill mdash 325 S Minnesota Ave mdash St Peter mdash 507-934-3903

24 andrea Lyn and Dick Kimmel concert730 pm mdash Elias J Halling Recital Hall mdash Minnesota State University mdash Mankato mdash $12 regular $11 current MSU students mdash wwwmnusedumusic

28-31 MSu Theatre antigone730 pm Thursday-Saturday 2 pm Sunday mdash Andreas Theatre mdash Minnesota State University mdash Mankato mdash $16 regular $14 discount $11 current MSU students mdash wwwmnsuedu

29-31 BLC Theatre Brigadoon730 Friday and Saturday 2 pm Sunday mdash Ylvisaker Fine Arts Center mdash Bethany Lutheran College mdash Mankato mdash $10 adults $6 seniors children and students mdash wwwblceduevents

29- Feb 7 Winterfest St Peter Citywide mdash wwwstpeterchamberorg

30 Church of Cash a Tribute to Johnny Cash7 pm mdash St Peter American Legion mdash 229 W Nassau St mdash St Peter mdash 507-934-6435

31 Maud Hixson and rick Carlson concert730 pmmdash Elias J Halling Recital Hall mdash Minnesota State University mdash Mankato mdash $12 regular $11 current MSU students wwmnsuedumusic

Coming attraCtions January

T - F 8am - 6pm Sun ClosedSat 9am - 4pmM 8am - 8pm

120 North Broad Street Mankato MN 507-345-4688 wwwmeyerandsonstvandappliancecom

FIND SPECIAL DEALS ON

MM p02 0116indd 44 12182015 30902 PM

MANKATO MAGAZINE  bull January 2016 bull 45

St Peter Craft amp Vendor Show

1MelinadaBussefromRapidansoldherhandmadejewelryatthecraftandvendorshow

2DarylfromElysianandhishand-carvedwoodart

3MacKennaage7hasfunatoneoftheboothsattheStPeterCraftandVendorShow

4LizEntershowsoffsomeofherproductsattheldquoItWorksrdquobooth

5DenisePetersofldquoYoungLivingrdquoessentialoilsdisplayedherproductsattheshow

Faces amp Places Photos By Sport Pix

3

5

2

1

4

T - F 8am - 6pm Sun ClosedSat 9am - 4pmM 8am - 8pm

120 North Broad Street Mankato MN 507-345-4688 wwwmeyerandsonstvandappliancecom

FIND SPECIAL DEALS ON

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46 bull January 2016 bull MANKATO MAGAZINE

SOUTHErN MN CHrISTMAS

FESTIVAL1 A large crowd was on hand during the festivities at

the Christmas Festival2 Friesenrsquos Family Bakery amp Bistro had tons of baked

goods and soups at the Verizon Wireless Center3 A childrenrsquos choir sang for the audience at the

festival4 Ron Haefner owner of Ronrsquos Auto Repair displayed

some of his services5 Garrison Galatz dressed up as Santa for the

Christmas Festival

faCes amp PLaCes Photos By Sport Pix

4

3

1

2

5

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MANKATO MAGAZINE  bull January 2016 bull 47

1GirlScouttroop34494waspresentedwithatrophybyKiwanisVicePresidentKyleMrozek

2SantaClausevenwentthroughtheparaderoute3(LtoR)BrooklynPomrankeAlaynaLyonsHunterPomrankeandLilyLyonsgetagroupphototakenwithSanta

4MarshaMartigtellsSantawhatshewantsforChristmas

5TheparadefloatswerealldeckedoutinChristmaslights

6Visitorswalkthepatharoundtheparktoviewthisyearrsquoslights

Kiwanis Holiday ligHtsFaces amp Places Photos By sport Pix

2

1

3

4 5

6

MM p02 0116indd 47 12222015 121616 PM

48 bull January 2016 bull MANKATO MAGAZINE

On the Occasion of a 50th Reunion

the Class of 1965

from this VaLLeYBy Pete Steiner

Peter Steiner is host of ldquoTalk of the Townrdquo weekdays at 105 pm on KTOE

I was honored to give the presentation for our 50th class reunion recently at West Highrsquos Homecoming celebration About 120 of our nearly 400-member class

showed up We Baby Boomers the children of the greatest generation had big classes in the late lsquo60rsquos that forced the building of East High Ours was a dramatic era and our class did some great things in the face of big challenges Here edited is some of what I said

I am so glad to be standing here today Therersquos an old saying

ldquoMay you live in INTErESTINg timeshelliprdquo The Class of rsquo65 certainly has Itrsquos seems like only yesterday right after lunch that we were at our desks waiting for the start of English class when our charismatic teacher Harry Fitterer strode in and said ldquoPrESIDENT KENNEDY HAS BEEN SHOT IN DALLASrdquo At first we didnrsquot believe him but it was true It was November 22 1963 We were juniors and as the song says that was THE END OF THE INNOCENCE We had lived through the last idyllic time in America

When we first arrived in the fall of 1962 America was still carefree basking in the glow of victory in WW II Everything may have seemed ldquorightrdquo but it was not Martin Luther King Jr had just visited Mankato pointing out the continuing plight of black Americans as the Civil rights movement was gaining steam The beginnings of the Vietnam War which would alter the course of many of our lives were stirring even as we studied history and government The current generation has no monopoly on forgettable pop music ndash we had a stupid 1 song called ldquoItsie Bitsie Teenie Weenie Yellow Polka Dot Bikinirdquo (unfortunately an ear worm I canrsquot forget) But a darker cultural threat was looming The BEATLES were invading from Britain and our parents were mortified because they had LONg HAIr

Some of the shock of the Kennedy assassination was eased when our wrestling team in the era when the state still had just ONE CLASS won the State Championship in front of a packed hall up at MSU some still maintain that is the greatest single athletic achievement in Mankato history We were the first high school in Mankato to put on a full-scale musical ldquoBye Bye Birdierdquo in the spring of 1964 In Fall of 1964 our football team would have won the conference championship outright except Owatonnarsquos great Noel Jenke who would go on to star for the U of M

cheated I watched him trap the touchdown pass that beat us Does cheating pay Was that a lesson for life

In lsquo65 we also had a fine basketball team that lost our chance at State when our 6-6 center fouled out at Luverne

BUT A FAr BIggEr CHALLENgE AWAITED US ALL As we rode out to Luverne to watch that game we couldnrsquot help noticing the highway was like a canyon between walls of snow The legendary St Patrickrsquos Day Blizzard had dumped two feet on top of an already large snow pack and then April brought rains on frozen ground Instead of coming here to school many of us soon got a real-life assignment to go out in our rain gear out on the dikes to battle the grEAT FLOOD OF 1965 Our school became an island as water flooded the parking lot and all of South riverfront Our spring play that year was called ironically

THE DESPErATE HOUrS We had to rehearse at roosevelt School up on higher ground

Our class produced three Merit scholars One of our classmates who did NOT qualify

for a merit scholarship nevertheless was such a whiz at physics that NASA requested a copy of a paper he wrote on rocketry as a senior We produced 12 doctors one of whom earned a fellowship at Stanford seeking how to bring telemedicine to the poor another of whom became a breakthrough cancer doctor We had entrepreneurs one who would go on to be a leader in Solar Energy (and then run for governor of New Hampshire) Another mdash a woman incidentally when

that was not common founded two bio-tech startups Many of us are still working

past normal retirement age One founded a company on the leading edge of recycling

computers whose clients include the NSA Another is chief medical officer of a company

devising a better tool for colonoscopies Yet another of our classmates recently completed a concert tour of China

We lived in challenging times just as you do today but we muddle through we make it to the other shore I remember sitting where you are 50 years ago thinking how old those folks up there looked But remember Life goes by very quickly You certainly live in interesting times as Shakespeare said ldquoPresent Mirth has Present Laughter Youthrsquos a stuff will NOT endurerdquo So I urge you live each moment to the fullest

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Page 22: Mankatomag 116

20 bull January 2016 bull MANKATO MAGAZINE

728 N Riverfront DriveMankato MN 56001

507-625-5163katobearscom

Pins and NeedlesAlterations

Specializing in alterations for theentire wedding party including

gown re-sizing hemming re-beadingbustles and so much more

Like us onFacebook

affordableThe Y now offers something called ldquotrainer ledrdquo

exercise sessions where you work with others in a group but have access to a trainer nearby who can push you motivate you and make sure yoursquore you know doing it right Theyrsquore $3 a class

ldquoYoursquore still expected to be there but itrsquos much cheaperrdquo Howe said ldquoThe group environment pushes you and we have tons of trainer-led classes Itrsquos the best of both worldsrdquo

Across town Jo Radlinger runs Jorsquos Garage a fitness center where shersquos the one pushing you to succeed

Radlingerrsquos goal she says is to bring out everyonersquos potential

ldquoI want to make sure everybody that comes through my door has success I want them to be the very best version of themselves that they can berdquo

Like Howe Radlinger acknowledges that the financial side of hiring a personal trainer can scare people away but she says there are several reasons why it shouldnrsquot

ldquoItrsquos never a bad investment when yoursquore investing in yourselfrdquo she said ldquoMeet with a trainer who is just as passionate about your goal My goal is not to train you intensely but to show you what yoursquore capable of and then take you to that next levelrdquo

At Jorsquos Fitness Garage there are no membership fees Radlinger doesnrsquot believe in them Instead she charges $5 per visit and in that time she said she pushes you to have a great workout

GymtimidationSetting goals is a great

idea Setting unrealistic goals is the kind of thing that results in a gym membership card laying dormant in a junk drawer by February

So set those goals but set them smartlyldquoAccountability is huge Even if you canrsquot hire

someonerdquo Howe says ldquoMake specific goals mdash say yoursquore going to workout X number of times but make those numbers realistic Set goals that are within your controlrdquo

Do this and yoursquore likely to feel a lot better about how things go

ldquoMost people just want to feel better about themselves they want to feel more confidentrdquo Howe said ldquoThis way even before any physical changes happen theyrsquoll feel better Theyrsquoll start to feel like theyrsquore in control again of their life and their choicesrdquo

Taking an exercise class is a great way to both get

your body moving while at the same time have fun and meet those people who will notice when you donrsquot show up

And about that weight room Yes it can be intimidating to walk in and see people who look like they live there But Howe says that while it can definitely be a psychological barrier focusing on those people is the wrong strategy

ldquoNo one cares what yoursquore doingrdquo Howe says ldquoFocus on yourdquo

Take it slowIt can be tempting when you finally get up the

nerve to get back in the swing of working out to go hardcore But just like setting unrealistic goals trying to achieve your fitness goals in a day is impossible

ldquoPeople start out really gung-ho and reset their diet so aggressively and most people just simply canrsquot do thisrdquo Radlinger said ldquoWhen yoursquore looking at making a lifestyle change I want you to do it slowly and incrementally rather than do it all in two monthsrdquo

Rushing into the weight room and trying to lift the same weight and number of reps and sets that you did 10 years ago is a great way to make sure you canrsquot work out for a while Going from a sedentary lifestyle to two hours of pumping iron can leave you sore enough to not be able to lift anything for days Maybe even weeks

Ease into it The gymrsquos not going anywhere Think marathon not sprint

ldquoSometimes people have an all-or-nothing attituderdquo Howe said ldquoand they make themselves sore and they canrsquot continuerdquo

Speaking of all-or-nothing Radlinger says

some people bring that kind of intensity to their food intake over the weekend Bad idea

ldquoAs trainers we help people be accountable We do success measurements help them prepare and plan And wersquoll do weigh-ins on Mondayrdquo Radlinger says ldquoWersquoll find that people do really well Monday through Friday then do what I call sabotage Saturday and Sunday At some point yoursquore going to get so sick of hitting that reset button every Mondayrdquo

Whatever you choose to do both trainers say itrsquos never a bad idea to sit down with your doctor and run your plans by himher Your personal safety should always come first and getting the green light from Doc can give you some peace of mind as you start this new chapter of your life MM

Jo radlinger runs Jorsquos Fitness Garage

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MANKATO MAGAZINE  bull January 2016 bull 21

728 N Riverfront DriveMankato MN 56001

507-625-5163katobearscom

Pins and NeedlesAlterations

Specializing in alterations for theentire wedding party including

gown re-sizing hemming re-beadingbustles and so much more

Like us onFacebook

Live the Lifestyle

wwwmapletonmarinecom

Southern MNrsquos largestboat show on now at the

Madison East Center in Mankato

MM p01 0116indd 21 12182015 24524 PM

22 bull January 2016 bull MANKATO MAGAZINE

Thirty-three years ago I stood inside a grave A lifetime ago when I was a pastorrsquos wife

In Nebraska we served a parish of barely over one hundred members A picture-postcard white church with a hand-carved white wooden altar from Germany sat at the top of a hill next to it the parsonage and next to that the cemetery rolling down the hill toward a wooded creek

The first death in the congregation after our arrival set off a flurry of activity Irsquod never met Alma because she was in a nursing home before we arrived However my husband visited her on several occasions She was mother aunt grandmother great-aunt and great-grandmother to half the congregation so there was no question about whether or not I would attend the funeral

With my two little kids in tow I attended every event at the church every Sunday morning service of course but also every funeral every confirmation every baptism every meeting of womenrsquos circle and even every family reunion that was held in the church basement At twenty-six I perfected the art of making gracious small talk with people Irsquod never seen before and would never see again and at taking tiny portions from each confirmation buffet so I would neither be sick by the end of the day nor offend any of the mothers who had slaved away over their sumptuous spreads of food

By Rebecca Fjelland Davis

Grave Lesson in Winter

ESSay

MM p01 0116indd 22 12182015 24527 PM

MANKATO MAGAZINE  bull January 2016 bull 23

Attending the little white country church was physically easy I picked up one-year-old Josh took three-year-old Nikkirsquos hand and walked out the front door down the sidewalk and next door The only things I didnrsquot have to attend were church council and the menrsquos meeting Archaic This was in the 1980s It doesnrsquot seem so long ago

All the available babysitters in the community would attend Almarsquos funeral too so this was to be my kidsrsquo first funeral

The afternoon before the service salt-snow fell Hard little crystals pelted down as if the heavens had up-ended a Mortonrsquos salt canister Within a few hours the hard snow was six inches deep and still falling

In the middle of the salt-snow the gravedigger arrived The Ditchwitch roared around the cemetery to the familyrsquos plot and my kidsrsquo noses pressed against the upstairs bedroom window pane ldquoMommy can we go watchrdquo

Glad for an excuse to get out of the parsonage I bundled them in snowsuits put them on the sled and pulled them across the house yard and garden to the fence that bordered the cemetery

The Ditchwitch made short work of the grave and all three of us were mesmerized watching the mound of gray-black dirt grow in the crystal-white snow When the hole was finished the gravedigger turned his tractor on idle He hopped off and came over to the fence His eyes twinkled in a weathered face ldquoWant to come lookrdquo

I backed up from the fence a step ldquoNo not really I think this is close enoughrdquo

ldquoYes Mommy go lookrdquo ldquoPleeeeaserdquoSo Nikki and Josh got back on the sled and I

hauled them along the fence through the gate over to the grave and looked down Six feet seemed deep bottomless Dark A sharp contrast to the pelting snowflakes all around us

ldquoWanna get down in thererdquo the gravedigger asked I shuddered hung onto the kids and backed up

again ldquoNo No thatrsquos okay This is close enough I just want to look from hererdquo

ldquoYes mommyrdquo the little ones said ldquoLetrsquosrdquoldquoNordquoldquoPleaserdquoldquoReally marsquoam I think you should Yoursquoll be

surprised I wouldnrsquot suggest it if it I didnrsquot think sordquoldquoHow would we get outrdquo The sides were deeper

than I was tall and there certainly werenrsquot footholds or a ladder built in for Almarsquos soul to use to climb out

ldquoLike thisrdquo The gravedigger laid his shovel diagonally across a top corner of the grave and jumped down He grabbed the middle of the shovel handle and swung himself back up and out with the agility of a gymnast ldquoNothinrsquo to itrdquo

ldquoI canrsquot do thatrdquoldquoYes you can Irsquoll boost you And wersquoll lift the kids

Yoursquoll be amazed I promiserdquoI shivered The idea of being inside a grave

seemed much colder than the snow crystals biting at my face

ldquoCome onrdquo he said and jumped back in Nikki and Josh willingly stepped over to him to be lifted down I had no choice but to follow I couldnrsquot let my kids alone in a grave with a man I didnrsquot even know

So I jumped The earth on the bottom made a soft landing The soil around me was warm and steamy It was moist and dark but it enfolded us in an earthy hug At least fifty degrees warmer than the air above ground it felt as if the earth were offering shelter respite a comfortable place to snuggle down and rest Tiny roots dangled full of life from the smooth edges of the hole Tears sprang to my eyes I couldnrsquot help them My eyes met the gravediggerrsquos and he smiled Gently ldquoSeerdquo he said Nothing more

I couldnrsquot speak A few minutes later he gave me a stirrup with his

hands I scrambled out and he lifted Nikki and Josh up to me Then he flipped himself out as easily as a trapeze artist

ldquoThank yourdquo I said ldquoI would never have guessedrdquoHe nodded ldquoNobody does But it helps somehow

I wanted you to feel thatrdquoWhy I wanted to ask why me You donrsquot even

know me Why were you willing to take time for usldquoThank yourdquo was all I said I shook his hand and

he hopped on the Ditchwitch and drove off into the snow

I never saw him again Someone else dug the next grave required in that cemetery

I remember only bits and pieces of the funeral Irsquom sure I baked a boxed cake mix for ldquolunchrdquo afterwards I remember answering Nikkirsquos questions about the body and sitting in the back row of the church in case Josh didnrsquot want to be quiet I do remember looking at the unfamiliar face in the casket and thinking you get to rest in a warm cozy place

Ten winters later we buried my dad on just such a day Wet snow crystals pelted us and piled up so deep the funeral home limousine got stuck in the cemetery By the time the pallbearers pushed it un-stuck their suit pants were caked in slush and mud

We stood at the graveside in the bleak wet icy day and lowered my fatherrsquos body into the ground

ldquoToo bad itrsquos such a miserable dayrdquo ldquoSorry about your dad Sorry the weatherrsquos so bad toordquo And even ldquoSuch a good man He deserves better weather than thisrdquo

But the weather I thought was just right Losing my dad my kids and their cousins losing

their grandpa my mom becoming a widow my brother losing his farming partner and best friend changed our livesmdashthat part was too heavy to carry

The only part that was okay for me was to let Dadrsquos worn-out body be wrapped in that welcoming warm enfolding soilmdashthe very soil hersquod loved to till the soil hersquod planted and tended all his life the soil that gave us all lifemdashthat was the only gratifying part of the day

The only comfort I had was letting Dad go from the cold wet biting snow into that warm and restful place

And I still wonder who that gravedigger was ten years earlier and how he knew how much I would need what he gave me that bleak winter day MM

Rebecca Fjelland Davis is an author from Mankato

MM p01 0116indd 23 12182015 24528 PM

reFlecTionsBy Pat Christman

24 bull January 2016 bull MANKATO MAGAZINE

MM p01 0116indd 24 12182015 24544 PM

reFlecTionsBy Pat Christman

MANKATO MAGAZINE  bull January 2016 bull 25

There are few things as inevitable as snow during a Minnesota winter Big

cotton ball-like snowflakes cover the ground in a white blanket whitewashing the Midwestern landscape

We struggle against it Some hope the snow never comes It always does filling the sky with floating snowflakes that cling to the ground but melt as soon as they hit the small bits of face or hands that peek out from winter clothing

It is often quite beautiful especially when viewed from someplace warm and dry MM

MM p01 0116indd 25 12182015 24548 PM

26 bull January 2016 bull MANKATO MAGAZINE

Then amp now Vice President Schuyler Colfaxrsquos Death By Bryce o sTenzel

On Jan 14 1885 one day after his death the New York Times carried a

headline that read ldquoSchuyler Colfax Dead He Drops Down in a Railway Stationrdquo While most Americans today would have tremendous difficulty in even recognizing this manrsquos name

(unless they were paying close attention to Stephen Spielbergrsquos epic movie Lincoln and made the association) Schuyler Colfax was a former Speaker of the House of Representatives and Vice President of the United States under President US Grant He died in Mankatorsquos Chicago St

Paul Minneapolis amp Omaha railroad depot from a massive heart attack

Schuyler Colfax Jr was born in New York City on March 23 1823 His father died of tuberculosis five months before Schuyler was born His sister Mary died four months after his [Schuylerrsquos]

vice President Schuyler Colfaxrsquos Death in Mankato

MM p01 0116indd 26 12182015 24549 PM

MANKATO MAGAZINE  bull January 2016 bull 27

birth The young Schuyler attended school only until he was 10 He then began working to support his family Schuyler Colfax never attended any kind of secondary school or college His mother remarried when Colfax was 13 and the family moved to New Carlisle Indiana By the time he was 22 Colfax was the editor and owner of a pro-Whig newspaper He was elected to Congress in 1854 and joined the newly formed Republican Party after the Whig Party disintegrated Solidly anti-slavery his colleagues elected Colfax as Speaker of the US House of Representatives in 1863 His election came soon after the death of his wife Evelyn The couple had no children

Colfax was President Abraham Lincolnrsquos first and last visitor on the fateful day Lincoln was assassinatedmdashApril 14 1865 Early that morning Colfax arrived at the White House while the president was having breakfast Colfax wanted to know whether or not Lincoln planned to call a special session of Congress for later that summer Lincolnrsquos answer was a polite but firm ldquonordquo Lincoln preferred a lenient approach in reconstructing as well as readmitting the former Confederate states to the Union now that the Civil War was over This approach put Lincoln at odds with the more ldquoradicalrdquo congressional members of his own party who preferred harsher measures be taken against their former enemies Lincoln had already made up his mind how he wanted to proceed with reconstructing the former Confederate states and he didnrsquot want any unnecessary interference from Congress Calling a special session was the last thing Lincoln wanted to do Colfax returned that same night to see Lincoln again just before the president left for Fordrsquos Theatre and his appointment with destiny This time Colfax came upon Lincolnrsquos own request The president had a long message for the silver miners of the Comstock Lode in Nevada thanking them for their loyalty to the Union that he wanted Speaker Colfax to deliver in person since Colfax was leaving by train for the West the next day Colfax was the last person Lincoln spoke to besides his wife Mary before he

was fatally shot at 1015 pm Colfax never forgave himself for turning down Lincolnrsquos invitation to be part of the theatre party that night

In 1868 Republicans selected General Ulysses S Grant as their presidential candidate Grant a military man his entire life had no political background Colfax was placed on the ticket because of his prior experience as a congressman and Speaker of the House (he resigned the position in 1869) Grant and Colfax won an easy victory in November 1868 Only two weeks later Colfax remarriedmdashthis time to Ellen Wade (niece of Ohio Senator Benjamin Wade) Their only child son Schuyler Colfax III was born in 1870

Colfax is best remembered (if at all) for his involvement in the corruption that beset Grantrsquos entire presidency Specifically the Credit Mobilier scandal broke in 1872 just as Grant and Colfax were gearing up for their re-election campaign Colfax was suspected of accepting shares of stock and cash bribes from ldquoCredit Mobilierrdquo a dummy construction company set up by the Union Pacific Railroad He was by no means the only influential person involved in the scandal Other political figures investigated included Senators Roscoe Conkling of New York William Allison of Iowa John Logan of Illinois James Bayard of Delaware and Henry Wilson of Massachusetts Grant was less popular in 1872 than he had been four years earlier and many Republicans worried that having Colfax on the partyrsquos ticket would harm the presidentrsquos re-election chances They dumped Colfax from the ticket mdash only to replace him with the also-tainted Wilson Grant won re-election and served his second and final term from 1873-1877 After being forced out from the vice presidency Colfax traveled the country as a popular lecturer often speaking about his interactions with Abraham Lincoln during the Civil War He rebuilt his tarnished reputation and commanded speaking fees as high as $2500

At 10 am on Jan 13 1885 Schuyler Colfax arrived in Mankato aboard a train from Milwaukee Mankato was just a

brief stop for Colfax who was on his way to Iowa for a speaking engagement The Chicago Milwaukee amp St Paul as well as the Chicago St Paul Minneapolis amp Omaha railroads both had depots in Mankato but because they were separate competing railroad lines Colfax was required to change trains by walking three-quarters of a mile from the Chicago Milwaukee amp St Paul depot at the foot of Hickory Street to the Chicago St Paul Minneapolis amp Omaha depot at Fourth and Washington Streets (now Washington Park) from which the next leg of his journey would depart Despite a reported temperature of 30 degrees below zero Colfax walked from one station to the other Within five minutes after he arrived at the Omaha linersquos depot Colfax entered the waiting room looked at a map on the wall sat down and died It was 1035 am No one in the station knew who the dead man actually was until they searched his pockets and found a letter with his name on it His death was likely caused by a heart attack brought on by the physical exertion of walking almost a mile in extreme cold Colfax was only 61 when he died His remains were returned to South Bend Indiana for burial

Today few Americans are aware that anyone named Schuyler Colfax ever lived much less served as vice president of the United States In this era in which officeholders are often treated as celebrities imagine how surprised people would be to learn that a former vice president died cold alone and unrecognized in a train station 131 years ago Before 24-hour news channels smart phones and social media it was possible for public figures like Colfax to live ndash and die ndash in relative obscurity Ironically Colfax loved the railroad but in the end it was the cause of his undoing Mankato has the distinction of being the location where the last man to personally speak to Abraham Lincoln in a private conversation took his last breath

MM p01 0116indd 27 12182015 24549 PM

28 bull January 2016 bull MANKATO MAGAZINE

Mayo Clinic offers pediatric and adolescent orthopedic services right here in Mankato Todd Milbrandt MD cares for patients with a variety of needs including

bull Cerebral palsy

bull Clubfoot

bull Hip disorders

bull Spinal disorders

bull Sports injuries

bull Scoliosis

bull Spina bifida

Mayo Clinic Health System in Mankato Call 1-877-412-7575 (toll-free) to schedule an appointment

495rdquox495rdquo Mankato Magazine January

Orthopedic care for your child

Independent ampAssisted Living

EQUAL HOUSINGOPPORTUNITY

1360 Adams StreetMankato MN

PrimroseRetirementcom

reg

Key City Senior Breakfast ClubThe Key City Senior Breakfast Club meets the first Thursday of each month from 830 AM - 930 AM at Primrose Retirement Community The club gives those 55+ the opportunity to meet new friends and visit old ones socialize with Key City Officials and enjoy a delicious home-cooked breakfast To visit a Key City Senior Breakfast please call (866) 447-9636

Mark your calendar for these breakfast dates Thursday January 7th Thursday March 3rd and Thursday May 5th

刀椀渀最 椀渀 琀栀攀 

一攀眀 夀攀愀爀

㔀 㜀ⴀ㤀㐀ⴀ㐀㐀䨀甀氀攀攀猀䨀攀眀攀氀爀礀挀漀洀

椀渀 匀愀椀渀琀 倀攀琀攀爀

20765 Foley Rd Mankato MN | 5073872434 | 5077262411

Three TimeNational Award Winners

MM p02 0116indd 28 12182015 30742 PM

Mayo Clinic offers pediatric and adolescent orthopedic services right here in Mankato Todd Milbrandt MD cares for patients with a variety of needs including

bull Cerebral palsy

bull Clubfoot

bull Hip disorders

bull Spinal disorders

bull Sports injuries

bull Scoliosis

bull Spina bifida

Mayo Clinic Health System in Mankato Call 1-877-412-7575 (toll-free) to schedule an appointment

495rdquox495rdquo Mankato Magazine January

Orthopedic care for your child

Independent ampAssisted Living

EQUAL HOUSINGOPPORTUNITY

1360 Adams StreetMankato MN

PrimroseRetirementcom

reg

Key City Senior Breakfast ClubThe Key City Senior Breakfast Club meets the first Thursday of each month from 830 AM - 930 AM at Primrose Retirement Community The club gives those 55+ the opportunity to meet new friends and visit old ones socialize with Key City Officials and enjoy a delicious home-cooked breakfast To visit a Key City Senior Breakfast please call (866) 447-9636

Mark your calendar for these breakfast dates Thursday January 7th Thursday March 3rd and Thursday May 5th

OMG hellip More food and drinksOK sure

By now yoursquore probably thinking ldquoOh my gosh the last thing I want to think about right now is more food more drinking and more diningrdquo

Fair enough We get it The holidays are murder on the metabolism of many many Minnesotans

But we also know that those metabolisms are hardy and soon enough theyrsquoll be hankering for a hunk of something yummy and full of fun And whatrsquos more yummy and full of fun than a big glass of Cabernet Sauvignon Our wine guy Leigh Pomeroy takes us on a tour of all that is tasty and wonderful about big red wines the kind that leave their mark the kind that really announce their presence on your palate

And just in case yoursquore super serious about a healthy lifestyle mdash and that seriousness extends to the kind of beer you choose mdash Bert Mattson our beer guy has just the selection for you Best part is Itrsquos light

Oh and under the category of ldquoDid you hear about thisrdquo Wersquove got an update for you on the Coffee Hag Mankatorsquos original coffee house and one of the most popular hangouts in town Seriously some days itrsquos hard to find a seat in that place

EnjoyPS We know that baby itrsquos cold outside mdash thatrsquos why wersquove

thrown you our absolute best hot cocoa recipe

Enjoymdash Robb Murray Associate Editor Mankato Magazine

food drink amp dineso

uthern m

n style

20765 Foley Rd Mankato MN | 5073872434 | 5077262411

Three TimeNational Award Winners

MM p02 0116indd 29 12182015 30745 PM

MANKATO 5073854485 AMBOY 5076743355 I VERNON CENTER 5075493679

INSURANCE OFFICES LOCATED IN THE COMMUNITY BANK BUILDINGS

wwwcimankatocom

Protecting the things that matter most in your life

Let us help protect what is important to you At Community Insurance we have the ability to compare insurance from multiple companies to get you the best coverage at a great price Combine that with our insurance knowledge and friendly group of agents and we say thatrsquos a winning deal

WHERE YOUR POLICY COMES WITH AN AGENT

Christina Meyer

Food

south

ern mn style

Food

south

ern mn style

By The Washington Post

Growing up my mother always encouraged her children to cook So when

I found a recipe for hot chocolate on the side of the Hersheyrsquos Cocoa can it was easy to convince her to let me give it a try

What I discovered was that hot chocolate doesnrsquot have to come from an envelope

This recipe has been a favorite of mine to make on days when winter weather has convinced me stay home and off the roads Itrsquos the perfect way to kill time and have a nice hot drink to warm you up on those chilly days

Although you can top it with whipped cream I prefer marshmallows

FAVORITE HOT COCOAMakes 4 to 6 servings

12 cup sugar14 cup unsweetened cocoa powder

Dash of salt13 cup hot water

4 cups milk34 teaspoon vanilla extract

Whipped cream or marshmallows (optional)

Mix sugar cocoa powder salt and water in a sauce pan Stir constantly over medium heat until mixture comes to a boil (about 2 minutes) Stir in

milk and heat Bring the hot chocolate to the desired temperature but do not boil Remove from heat and

add the vanilla extract Divide into mugs and top with whipped cream or marshmallows

PERFECTLY CHOCOLATE HOT COCOA

Makes 1 serving

2 tablespoons sugar2 tablespoons unsweetened cocoa powder

Dash salt1 cup milk

14 teaspoon vanilla extractWhipped cream or marshmallows (optional)

Mix sugar cocoa powder and salt into large mug In separate microwave-safe container heat on high

for 1 to 1 frac12 minutes or until very hot Carefully and gradually add milk to dry mixture Stir well Add vanilla extract Top with whipped cream or

marshmallows

Simple homemade hot chocolate

beats the winter chill

30 bull January 2016 bull MANKATO MAGAZINE

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MANKATO MAGAZINE  bull January 2016 bull 31

Oil Change to OverhaulWe do it all

507-387-13151620 Commerce Drive North MankatowwwAustinsAutoRepairCentercom

Voted Best Auto Repair and Best Auto Mechanic 4 Years in a Row

AUSTINrsquoS AUTO REPAIR CENTER INC

MANKATO 5073854485 AMBOY 5076743355 I VERNON CENTER 5075493679

INSURANCE OFFICES LOCATED IN THE COMMUNITY BANK BUILDINGS

wwwcimankatocom

Protecting the things that matter most in your life

Let us help protect what is important to you At Community Insurance we have the ability to compare insurance from multiple companies to get you the best coverage at a great price Combine that with our insurance knowledge and friendly group of agents and we say thatrsquos a winning deal

WHERE YOUR POLICY COMES WITH AN AGENT

Christina Meyer

MM p02 0116indd 31 12182015 30755 PM

32 bull January 2016 bull MANKATO MAGAZINE

January is Cabernet TimeWersquove celebrated nearly

every January edition of Mankato Magazine with

a paean to BIG REDS And since there are so many wonderful examples why stop now

Last year I wrote about the powerful big reds of Italy This January wersquoll focus on Cabernet Sauvignon known to many as ldquothe king of winesrdquo Most oenophiles (wine lovers) consider the quintessential representations of this grape to be the classified Bordeaux of southwest France near the city of Bordeaux The five First Growths (or best wines according to a classification made in 1855 and updated in 1973) are Ch Lafite Rothschild Ch Margaux Ch Latour Ch Haut Brion and Ch Mouton Rothschild All have a cabernet sauvignon base but they are blended with merlot and often a little bit of cabernet franc and petit verdot as well

In the early 1970s I was able to buy these wines for around $22 per bottle mdash about $120 in 2016 dollars Yet with the popularity of ldquocollectiblerdquo wines on a worldwide

basis they sell today for anywhere from $400 on up

Contrary to popular belief these wines are not that massive Rather they combine cabernet sauvignon power with

structure and finesse yielding wines that become with time elixirs that are greater than the sum of their parts

Both California and Washington state have taken up the Cabernet Sauvignon challenge and are producing world-class wines at sometimes world-class prices Napa Valley is the recognized leader in this arena and rightly so Napa Valleyrsquos top Cabernet

Wine amp B

eerso

uthern m

n style

winesBy Leigh Pomeroy

Leigh Pomeroy is a Mankato-based writer and wine lover

Cabernet Sauvignon is the black Labrador of wines mdash it comes up and licks yourdquo

mdash Winemaker Scott Rich

Sauvignons rival the great wines of Bordeaux for quality mdash Irsquove tasted them side-by-side mdashand yet can sell for a fraction of their price

One such example is the 2013 Tulocay Cabernet Sauvignon from my old friend Bill Cadman We were young bucks in Napa Valley and had a tasting group in the early 1970s along with now-famous wine luminaries Bruce Neyers (Neyers Vineyards) and Mike Richmond (co-founder of Acacia Vineyard)

Billrsquos Cabernet is from an old and relatively cool growing area east of the City of Napa called Coombsville which because of industry political issues only recently received its AVA (American Viticultural Area) designation It is priced at $60 per bottle yet compares with any top-flight Bordeaux as well as the more expensive offerings from Napa Valley which can cost from $100 on up Not currently available at wine stores or restaurants in Minnesota it can be purchased by contacting the winery directly via its website tulocaycom The winery is so small that Bill will probably answer the phone himself

There is a lot of Cabernet Sauvignon available from California but mdash caveat emptor mdash not all growing areas (or appellations) are the same The best Cabernet Sauvignons are from Napa and Sonoma Counties Cabernets simply labeled ldquoCaliforniardquo or perhaps ldquoCoastalrdquo while sometimes good values lack the complexity of the greater Cabernet Sauvignons from the more northern parts of the state

Washington state has also

established itself as a prime producer of Cabernet Sauvignon But here again quality can vary greatly depending upon the area and producer While there is no ldquogo-tordquo appellation for Cabernet Sauvignon in Washington there are producers that are able to secure fruit from the best vineyards

One such example is the tiny Willis Hall Winery owned by another good friend John Bell a former Boeing jet propulsion engineer Like Tulocay its wines are only available by calling up the winery and ordering some (See willishallcom) But there are many other top quality producers in Washington like Quilceda Creek Leonetti Betz Family and Woodward Canyon

Of course not everyone can afford Cabernet Sauvignons in the $60-plus category One excellent everyday drinking example is the Flying Cloud 2013 Paso Robles Cabernet Sauvignon made by Mankato native Stephen Dooley Normally I donrsquot like Paso Robles Cabs as they tend to be too fruity and too soft for my palate mdash almost like drinking berry jam But this one is quite restrained no doubt helped by the inclusion of 13 percent zinfandel and 9 percent petite sirah in the blend

In Mankato both the Wine Cafeacute and MGM carry the Flying Cloud but at its price and quality I wouldnrsquot count on it lasting for long especially since only 759 cases were produced

So letrsquos raise a glass of Cabernet and say ldquoCheersrdquo to the New Year

MM p02 0116indd 32 12182015 30756 PM

MANKATO MAGAZINE  bull January 2016 bull 33

Bert Mattson is a chef and writer based in St Paul He is the manager of the iconic Mickeyrsquos Diner

Beer Skinny

BeerBy Bert Mattson

Last year according to Nielsen research staying fit and healthy was

the number one New Yearrsquos resolution Losing weight was two Three was to enjoy life to the fullest Unfortunately ldquolose weight and get fitrdquo also topped Time magazinersquos list of commonly broken resolutions Is this shortfall due to tension between the top two and that third one If so craft beer may have a role in the compromise Bad news first

In the context of losing weight and staying fit beer lovers might seek solace in the fact that fat carries nine calories per gram while alcohol has only seven The wrinkle is that those seven are ldquoemptyrdquo mdash calories without nutrition as opposed to those from fat protein and carbohydrates Moreover alcoholrsquos calories are the first burned when combined with the others the human body postpones burning fat while it works on alcohol Furthermore beer (and wine and often cocktails) contains carbohydrates which release insulin and can hasten fat storage Finally many drinkers have undoubtedly observed that alcohol loosens inhibitions after which an eager indulgence in unhealthy foods often occurs (Bar menus are rarely helpful in that respect)

By now you may wonder whose side Irsquom actually on Or suspect Irsquove led you to this dark place only to offer you a Lite No worries a couple craft brewers have been considering ways to keep us true to our resolutions

Evil Twin Brewingrsquos Bikini Beer drops the alcohol to 27 percent but stays bold by way of hops A Pale Ale it hits the nose with citrus suggestive of IPA The flavor follows suit floral and lemon There is an expected absence of malt yielding to bitterness up front that fades at the finish An alternative

for those who insist on the full effect Founderrsquos Brewing Companyrsquos All Day IPA rings in at a respectable 144 calories (Evil Twinrsquos entry comes in at 81)

One strategy to beat the beer munchies and avoid costly impulse eating is to have suitable chow on hand With Bikini Beer try a salad sporting blue cheese and some sort of dried fruit Creamy blue veined cheeses echo the hops while balancing bitterness An occasional bite of dried fruit stands in for malt sweetness

Brooklyn Breweryrsquos 12 Ale weighs in at 34 percent alcohol (102 calories) It is alliteratively labeled ldquoSession Saisonrdquo It opens with a waft of citrus and spice and a little lemongrass from Sorachi Ace hops mdash a hybrid developed in East Asia The same elements are found in the flavor which is a bit more subdued than a full-sized Saison

Try it with a tangle of arugula dressed with lemon and a fruity olive oil tossed with pine nuts and topped with shaved Parmesan for effect The greens and cracked pepper reflect spicy phenolic elements in the yeast Salty cheese counters the beerrsquos lingering bitterness Maybe add a few slices of Speck cured ham and Saison share a certain funkiness

If friends show and it becomes a session you may honestly say you spent Saturday working on your six-pack

MM p02 0116indd 33 12182015 30757 PM

34 bull January 2016 bull MANKATO MAGAZINE

Food

south

ern mn style

Food

south

ern mn style

The Coffee Hag one of the arearsquos oldest (and coolest) bistros recently underwent a major expansion and remodeling journey culminating in a large and airy

seating area along with a much-improved kitchen and a new menu Mankato Magazine caught up with a very busy (and slightly exhausted) owner Jenn Melby-Kelly who weighs in on how itrsquos going

MANKATO MAGAZINE Are you personally enjoying the new updatesJENN MELBY-KELLY It Is Fabulous The new space represents so much more than a remodel to me It has brought to life a vision for my business thatrsquos been years in the making It incorporates many many good ideas from many many people I feel so fortunate to get to see that every time I walk through the door

MM How are customers reactingJMK Thatrsquos been one of the best parts The response has been overwhelmingly positive

A few of our most regular customers had the opportunity to get a glimpse of the remodel while it was underway (we gave some informal preview tours while we were operating the temporary stand outside) but many customers walk through the door now and see it all for the first time Itrsquos especially fun to see and hear that kind of wide-eyed reaction

A few people with special connections to The Hag have had even stronger emotional responses and Irsquom so touched and right there with them when I see eyes well up as they see what wersquove done Itrsquos a very big milestone for a very special place and wersquore blessed to have people that care so deeply

MM Do the employees appreciate the new spaceJMK Oh probably more than anyone There was a lot that we sought to do with the remodel but creating a bigger brighter better-equipped space for our team was certainly one of the primary goals Wersquove got an incredible team truly the most spirited and talented people anyone could hope for

Many of them have spent years with me working hard against the challenge of a small under-equipped space and just barely being able to keeping up with growing demand Itrsquos been a special blessing for them and for me to finally have state-of-the-art space thatrsquos made for the work that we do We all feel a special connection to this place and now more than ever the place reflects the good energy we all bring here every day

MM Is the new menu a hit (The Hag specializes in vegetarianvegan cuisine)JMK Yes but just wait Feedback and demand have been excellent with our food offerings already but wersquore just getting started on some of the really exciting things that are coming to our food menu

Remodeling the cafe was just the first major milestone of our two-part expansion plan Next up wersquore building a state of the art off-site commissary kitchen that will do for our incredible culinary team what the remodeled shop has done for our baristas Theyrsquove been working day and night on taking our already fantastic food offerings to a whole new level

Wersquove already introduced some amazing new menu items like the Garden Grilled Cheese panini (trust me itrsquos like nothing yoursquove had before) and some truly outstanding new vegan baked goods Wersquove also improved our classic offerings with house-made

Interview with Jenn Melby-Kelly owner of The Coffee Hag

By Sarah Johnson

MM p02 0116indd 34 12182015 30802 PM

MANKATO MAGAZINE  bull January 2016 bull 35

Happy New Year

Locally Owned amp Operated

Check Weekly Specialsmgmwineandspiritscommankato

Largest Selection ofbull Liquor bull Wine bull Beer bull

Hours Monday-Saturday 8 am - 10 pm

ATMs at all stores

Mankato201 Victory Dr

625-2420

North Mankato1755 Commerce Dr

387-2634

St Peter100 N Minnesota Ave

934-8964

sourdough and whole wheat breads But as impressive as it is already itrsquos just a taste mdash literally mdash of things to come as we bring our new kitchen online

MM Whatrsquos stayed the sameJMK Irsquom really proud to say that while wersquove touched almost every part of this 23-year-old business wersquove kept even more than we have changed From the first days of this project I made it my personal mission and responsibility to make sure that the ldquosoulrdquo of this special place was only enhanced and never lost as we made the updates

In every area of the remodel as wersquove added some necessary new layers of sophistication The Hagrsquos colorful quirky and even rebellious spirit is still very much a part of the space We did a lot to try to make sure it still looked and felt like ldquohomerdquo

And on a deeper level every step wersquove taken with the growth of our business has been chosen carefully to honor the core parts of The Coffee Hagrsquos identity Our focus on community our support for local art and music our commitment to creating a safe and welcoming space for everyone our efforts to lead the way on social and environmental issues affecting our world near and far mdash those have all stayed the same And those will always be at the heart of what we do

MM Anything elseJMK Irsquom so incredibly grateful for the support of our customers and community And whenever I talk about my business and how it has grown I really canrsquot overstate how thankful I am for my beautiful Coffee Hag family The hard work good energy and earnest contributions of so many people mdash past and present mdash have brought me and my business here An incredible amount of love has gone into this business and made this dream a reality

MM p02 0116indd 35 12222015 121240 PM

36 bull January 2016 bull MANKATO MAGAZINE

xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

Food

south

ern mn style

whatrsquos Cooking By Sarah Johnson

Sarah Johnson is a cook freelance writer and chocolate addict from North Mankato with three grown kids and a couple of mutts

As I was pondering my subject matter for todayrsquos column I started wondering about all the different items the word ldquonutsrdquo can refer

to Crazy people are called nuts so are hexagonal metal objects that attach to bolts Nuts can be the end of things (as in ldquofrom soup to nutsrdquo) or they can be the beginning of them (as in ldquosperm incubatorsrdquo) Nut can also mean onersquos head or onersquos lump of something such as butter And if you accidentally get a nut of butter on your nut you can exclaim ldquoNutsrdquo

My favorite meaning of the word nut however is the dry indehiscent one-seeded fruit with a woody pericarp And I donrsquot even know what indehiscent OR pericarp means But these are the wonderful denizens of the world of edible nuts

Nuts are widely credited with all sorts of health benefits for the heart brain male reproductive system prostate cholesterol level fiber intake and avoidance of some types of cancer And while nuts do contain fat itrsquos the ldquogoodrdquo kind heart-healthy monounsaturated and polyunsaturated fat Their mix of omega-3 fatty acids protein and fiber helps you feel full and suppresses the appetite

Nuts are great in desserts and salads of course but they also shine in stir-fries casseroles soups chicken pork fish and even beverages Nut butters nut milks and nut oils add delicious options to our kitchen larders Breads cereals muffins and pancakes gain texture flavor and nutrition from the addition of nuts Basically anytime is a good time for nuts

Which is a wonderful thing because nuts taste so good you would think they had to be very very bad The reason lies deep in their oils

Walnut Oil is strong and flavorful Itrsquos best when used in uncooked sauces or salad dressing

Hazelnut Oil has a strong flavor and is great for the heart

Almond Oil is very popular and has a much milder flavor than walnut oil or hazelnut oil

Pecan Macadamia Nut Pistachio Cashew and Pine Nut Oils are flavorful and unique The freshness of the nuts used really affects the flavor

ldquoTherersquos Nuttinrsquo Nutty About Nutsrdquo

For the Baklava1 pound pistachios hazelnuts walnuts pecans andor almonds coarsely ground plus more for garnish12 teaspoon ground cinnamon1 cup breadcrumbs4 sticks unsalted butter melted16 sheets phyllo dough (thawed if frozen) cut in half

For the Syrup3 cups sugar1 6 -to-8-ounce jar honey1 frac12 cups water1 to 2 tablespoons fresh lemon juice

If yoursquore under the impression that baklava is much too labor-intensive and complicated to make at home think again Anybody can make

it no special skills equipment or exotic ingredients are required A word about phyllo dough Itrsquos sold in frozen packages so you need to remove the package from the freezer and let it thaw in the fridge 24 hours before you want to make the baklava Then about an hour beforehand remove the package from the fridge and let it sit on the counter

Walnuts or pistachios are the most traditional nuts to fill baklava but using other nuts works wonders as well Simply layer the phyllo with the nut filling and butter bake for an hour and finish with a simple honeyed syrup If you have leftover nuts from the holidays herersquos your chance to use them up

Mixed Nut Baklava

MM p02 0116indd 36 12182015 30812 PM

MANKATO MAGAZINE  bull January 2016 bull 37

MONEY MATTERS WORK SMARTLET COMMUNITY BANK HELP YOUBRING THE TWO TOGETHER

MANKATO - SAINT ANDREWS DR 5073854444MANKATO - MADISON AVE 5076251551VERNON CENTER 5075493679AMBOY 5076743300

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We support great causes like yoursAt Community Bank we know good things happen when you have a good bank So we make more possible by keeping banking simple and supportive And by giving you the power that comes with innovative solutions like our Health Savings Account It offers you tax-free savings for future medical expenses Stop by anytime Wersquore always ready to help out a great cause

Position a rack in the lower third of the oven preheat to 350 degrees Combine the nuts cinnamon and breadcrumbs in a bowl

Brush a 9x13-inch baking dish with some of the butter Layer 10 pieces of phyllo in the dish brushing each piece with butter before adding the next (keep the remaining dough covered with a damp towel) Sprinkle a quarter of the nut mixture over the dough Layer four pieces of phyllo on top brushing each with butter before adding the next sprinkle with another quarter of the nut mixture Add four more phyllo pieces on top brushing each with butter then add another quarter of the nut mixture four more pieces of phyllo with butter and the remaining nuts

Layer the remaining 10 pieces of phyllo on top of the nuts brushing each with butter brush the top piece with extra butter Cut into the baklava to make strips about 1 12 inches wide Then make diagonal slices about 1 12 inches apart to create a diamond pattern Bake until golden about one hour

Meanwhile make the syrup Bring the sugar honey and 1 12 cups water to a boil in a saucepan over medium heat and cook 10 to 15 minutes Add the lemon juice and boil 2 more minutes then let cool slightly Pour the syrup over the warm baklava let soak uncovered at least six hours or overnight Garnish with nuts

MM p02 0116indd 37 12182015 30817 PM

38 bull bull MANKATO MAGAZINE

Nell Musolf is a mom and freelance writer from Mankato She blogs at nellmusolfcom

38 bull bull MANKATO MAGAZINE

MM p02 0116indd 38 12182015 30822 PM

MANKATO MAGAZINE  bull January 2016 bull 39

Gear Up for WinterYear-Round amp Insulated Workwear from

Carhartt Dickies and Key

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Stephanie L Hylla LAc Dipl AcKayla M Sweeney MOm LAc

NEW LOCATION709 S Front Suite 5

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Open House ndash Wednesday Feb 3 9-12noonCelebrating 5 years of Business New Location and the Chinese New Year

In Network with Blue Cross Blue ShieldLicensed by the MN Board of Medical Practice

Ribbon Cutting with Greater Mankato Growth at 10am

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Dr BrandonRignell DC

1351 Madison AveSuite D

Mankato MN 56001

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$2900New Patient Special

MM p02 0116indd 39 12222015 121344 PM

40 bull bull MANKATO MAGAZINE

Jean Lundquist is a master gardener who lives near Good Thunder

MM p02 0116indd 40 12182015 30834 PM

MANKATO MAGAZINE  bull January 2016 bull 41

3 Increase the Value of Your Home

3 Update Your Homersquos Appearance

3 Save Money

Choose from SeveralModels Styles amp Colors

507-625-7110 or 1-800-645-36671125 Cross St North Mankato MN

Improve Your HomersquosEnergy Efficiency

422 Park Lane Mankato MN | NuStarMankatocom

(507) 381-4747Voted One of Mankatorsquos Best

DANIEL WINGERT

Make Selling Your Home Your NuYearrsquos Resolution

MM p02 0116indd 41 12182015 30839 PM

42 bull January 2016 bull MANKATO MAGAZINE

January Resolve to moisturize

Your stYLeBy Ann Rosenquist Fee

Ann Rosenquist Fee is executive director of the Arts Center of Saint Peter and a vocalist with The Frye She blogs at annrosenquistfeecom

If you have in-laws or colleagues who know you well enough to have given you holiday gifts

but not well enough to know what wouldrsquove truly made you happy congratulations Chances are yoursquore the proud owner of a bunch of brand-new lip balm

Maybe itrsquos even holiday themed Thatrsquos the best Maybe you got the candy-cane flavored kind or wintergreen with holiday graphics on the label or something like that A theme that was irrelevant the moment the stocking was unstuffed because at that exact second the holiday was over

And here you are in January with an abundance of wax

Fortunately also here you are in the early weeks of winter with rough red knuckles Probably also cracked cuticles although it might not have gone that far yet for you Irsquom sure it has for me This photo was taken back in November and even then the Band-Aids were for real Irsquove learned to cut them in half length-wise so as to retain my ability to type Irsquove also learned to play with a range of color options Flesh-toned Clear Disney characters The colorful strips shown here were gifted to me by my husband Partly why theyrsquore cut in half is that the text is obscene This is one small trick you can use to make bloody cuticles your most exciting accessory of the winter

Sources like UrbanSurvivalSitecom and WonderHowTocom will tell you that you can use lip balm for a whole variety of purposes such as coating threads of outdoor lightbulbs before screwing them into their sockets and enhancing the burn-ability of most kindling

These are great fun but they wonrsquot improve your personal style

More germane to winter beauty are the following suggestions

Keep a tube next to your bed for first-thing-in-the-morning use And I mean really truly first-thing I mean smear the stuff on each cuticle while yoursquore still lying there before you start using your fingers at all If you wake up thinking yoursquore fine and skip cuticle care next thing you know yoursquore pushing down the lever on your Keurig and the pressure is more than your screamingly dry skin can take and boom split blood on the Keurig and itrsquos gonna be a long painful day If only you had balmed your hands before you let your feet hit the floor

Keep another tube in your glove compartment If itrsquos warm enough to take off your mittens in the car mdash if yoursquore even wearing mittens given that your hands are snagging on everything these days mdash the harsh January sunlight will allow you to see cracks and flakes in high-resolution detail Yoursquoll want the balm nearby

to cover what you didnrsquot notice first thing in the morning Also a car tube is useful for when you look in the rear-view mirror and notice that your nose and upper lip are flaking as well Itrsquos because yoursquore getting over a cold and the frequent use of tissue has worn away your top layer of skin but just because you know that doesnrsquot mean everybody else wonrsquot think ldquothere is something in that noserdquo Itrsquos just a fact Itrsquos what it looks like Lip balm to the rescue Itrsquos the only thing dry enough to slick those flakes in place and nourishing enough to maybe actually get your face back to normal

Keep a couple more tubes in a nighttime kit along with sandpaper Sandpaper Yes Not a pumice stone not a lame also-gifted sugar

scrub Medium-grit sandpaper is what you need every night lightly but with conviction As follows 1) Sand taking care not to do more damage than what the elements have already done Yoursquore just trying to remove the dry dead stuff Yoursquore just being hearty and efficient about this true to the culture of this great state in which yoursquove chosen to winter You are no pansy Sand your hands 2) Wash 3) Blot dry 4) Dial up the gifted balm whisper a word of thanks to the person who put so much thought into your well-being that they stuffed your holiday stocking with this amazing gift of self-care smash a healthy amount down into your palms massage Take heart You just might find yourself with normal-textured non-cracked not-horrible-looking hands by morning

Split-open cuticles I feel you Except for these Band-Aids I feel you

Lip balms I have been gifted and these are just from last Christmas ldquolastrdquo as in 2014

Bathrooms Worth Bragging About

HoursTue amp Wed amp Fri | 9 am to 6 pmMon amp Thu | 9 am to 7 pmSaturday | 9 am to 4 pm

219 S Victory Dr | Mankato507 | 345 | 7009ipafhickorytechnetindependentpaintandflooringcom

You Deserve Comfortable Care Every Timebull Sedation - Complete Relaxation with Just a Pillbull Invisalign - Clear Alternative to Bracesbull Botox amp Fillersbull Implants - Placement and Restorationbull Cerec - One Visit Crown Technology

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1400 Lookout Drive North Mankato507-625-CARE(2273) bull mankatodentistcom 06

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6124

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Dr keith FlAck

MM p02 0116indd 42 12182015 30841 PM

MANKATO MAGAZINE  bull January 2016 bull 43

Bathrooms Worth Bragging About

HoursTue amp Wed amp Fri | 9 am to 6 pmMon amp Thu | 9 am to 7 pmSaturday | 9 am to 4 pm

219 S Victory Dr | Mankato507 | 345 | 7009ipafhickorytechnetindependentpaintandflooringcom

You Deserve Comfortable Care Every Timebull Sedation - Complete Relaxation with Just a Pillbull Invisalign - Clear Alternative to Bracesbull Botox amp Fillersbull Implants - Placement and Restorationbull Cerec - One Visit Crown Technology

bull Free Whitening Programbull 3D Imaging with Fewer X-Raysbull Cosmetic Dentistrybull Drill-Free Technologybull Emergency Care

1400 Lookout Drive North Mankato507-625-CARE(2273) bull mankatodentistcom 06

1865

6124

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Dr AngelA Schuck

Dr keith FlAck

(944) 412-7949 | OrthoEdgeMNcom

Enjoy the season

Mankato St Peter

Be active Be healthyBe able with OrthoEdge

The OrthoEdge joint replacement

program offers superb care from your first

visit through recovery The surgeons from

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MM p02 0116indd 43 12182015 30842 PM

44 bull January 2016 bull MANKATO MAGAZINE

1 Hicktown Mafia800 pm mdash New Ulm Event Center mdash 301 20th St S mdash New Ulm mdash $10 mdash 507-354-4673

7-9 Mankato West Orchesis Dance Team showcase7 pm Thursday-Saturday 2 pm Saturday mdash Mankato West High School Auditorium mdash $7 adults $5 students mdash 507-381-7578

10 Mankato Symphony Orchestra Music on the Hill II ldquoMinnesota rootsrdquo2 pm mdash Chapel at Good Counselmdash Good Counsel Drive mdash Mankato mdash $17 $12 mdash wwwmankatosymphonycom

16 Handel with Caremdash Handel Goes to Italy11 ammdash YMCA Aerobics Studio mdash 1401 S Riverfront Drive mdash Mankato mdash wwwmankatosymphonycom

16 Mankato Craft beer Expo2 pm (VIP) 3 pm general mdash Verizon Wireless Center mdash $45 VIP $35 general $10 designated driver mdash wwwmankatocraftbeerexpocom

23 Joey Flip and Mike Fugazzi rockinrsquo at the Embassy9 pm mdash Blaschkorsquos Embassy Bar and Grill mdash 325 S Minnesota Ave mdash St Peter mdash 507-934-3903

24 andrea Lyn and Dick Kimmel concert730 pm mdash Elias J Halling Recital Hall mdash Minnesota State University mdash Mankato mdash $12 regular $11 current MSU students mdash wwwmnusedumusic

28-31 MSu Theatre antigone730 pm Thursday-Saturday 2 pm Sunday mdash Andreas Theatre mdash Minnesota State University mdash Mankato mdash $16 regular $14 discount $11 current MSU students mdash wwwmnsuedu

29-31 BLC Theatre Brigadoon730 Friday and Saturday 2 pm Sunday mdash Ylvisaker Fine Arts Center mdash Bethany Lutheran College mdash Mankato mdash $10 adults $6 seniors children and students mdash wwwblceduevents

29- Feb 7 Winterfest St Peter Citywide mdash wwwstpeterchamberorg

30 Church of Cash a Tribute to Johnny Cash7 pm mdash St Peter American Legion mdash 229 W Nassau St mdash St Peter mdash 507-934-6435

31 Maud Hixson and rick Carlson concert730 pmmdash Elias J Halling Recital Hall mdash Minnesota State University mdash Mankato mdash $12 regular $11 current MSU students wwmnsuedumusic

Coming attraCtions January

T - F 8am - 6pm Sun ClosedSat 9am - 4pmM 8am - 8pm

120 North Broad Street Mankato MN 507-345-4688 wwwmeyerandsonstvandappliancecom

FIND SPECIAL DEALS ON

MM p02 0116indd 44 12182015 30902 PM

MANKATO MAGAZINE  bull January 2016 bull 45

St Peter Craft amp Vendor Show

1MelinadaBussefromRapidansoldherhandmadejewelryatthecraftandvendorshow

2DarylfromElysianandhishand-carvedwoodart

3MacKennaage7hasfunatoneoftheboothsattheStPeterCraftandVendorShow

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5DenisePetersofldquoYoungLivingrdquoessentialoilsdisplayedherproductsattheshow

Faces amp Places Photos By Sport Pix

3

5

2

1

4

T - F 8am - 6pm Sun ClosedSat 9am - 4pmM 8am - 8pm

120 North Broad Street Mankato MN 507-345-4688 wwwmeyerandsonstvandappliancecom

FIND SPECIAL DEALS ON

MM p02 0116indd 45 12222015 121536 PM

46 bull January 2016 bull MANKATO MAGAZINE

SOUTHErN MN CHrISTMAS

FESTIVAL1 A large crowd was on hand during the festivities at

the Christmas Festival2 Friesenrsquos Family Bakery amp Bistro had tons of baked

goods and soups at the Verizon Wireless Center3 A childrenrsquos choir sang for the audience at the

festival4 Ron Haefner owner of Ronrsquos Auto Repair displayed

some of his services5 Garrison Galatz dressed up as Santa for the

Christmas Festival

faCes amp PLaCes Photos By Sport Pix

4

3

1

2

5

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MANKATO MAGAZINE  bull January 2016 bull 47

1GirlScouttroop34494waspresentedwithatrophybyKiwanisVicePresidentKyleMrozek

2SantaClausevenwentthroughtheparaderoute3(LtoR)BrooklynPomrankeAlaynaLyonsHunterPomrankeandLilyLyonsgetagroupphototakenwithSanta

4MarshaMartigtellsSantawhatshewantsforChristmas

5TheparadefloatswerealldeckedoutinChristmaslights

6Visitorswalkthepatharoundtheparktoviewthisyearrsquoslights

Kiwanis Holiday ligHtsFaces amp Places Photos By sport Pix

2

1

3

4 5

6

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48 bull January 2016 bull MANKATO MAGAZINE

On the Occasion of a 50th Reunion

the Class of 1965

from this VaLLeYBy Pete Steiner

Peter Steiner is host of ldquoTalk of the Townrdquo weekdays at 105 pm on KTOE

I was honored to give the presentation for our 50th class reunion recently at West Highrsquos Homecoming celebration About 120 of our nearly 400-member class

showed up We Baby Boomers the children of the greatest generation had big classes in the late lsquo60rsquos that forced the building of East High Ours was a dramatic era and our class did some great things in the face of big challenges Here edited is some of what I said

I am so glad to be standing here today Therersquos an old saying

ldquoMay you live in INTErESTINg timeshelliprdquo The Class of rsquo65 certainly has Itrsquos seems like only yesterday right after lunch that we were at our desks waiting for the start of English class when our charismatic teacher Harry Fitterer strode in and said ldquoPrESIDENT KENNEDY HAS BEEN SHOT IN DALLASrdquo At first we didnrsquot believe him but it was true It was November 22 1963 We were juniors and as the song says that was THE END OF THE INNOCENCE We had lived through the last idyllic time in America

When we first arrived in the fall of 1962 America was still carefree basking in the glow of victory in WW II Everything may have seemed ldquorightrdquo but it was not Martin Luther King Jr had just visited Mankato pointing out the continuing plight of black Americans as the Civil rights movement was gaining steam The beginnings of the Vietnam War which would alter the course of many of our lives were stirring even as we studied history and government The current generation has no monopoly on forgettable pop music ndash we had a stupid 1 song called ldquoItsie Bitsie Teenie Weenie Yellow Polka Dot Bikinirdquo (unfortunately an ear worm I canrsquot forget) But a darker cultural threat was looming The BEATLES were invading from Britain and our parents were mortified because they had LONg HAIr

Some of the shock of the Kennedy assassination was eased when our wrestling team in the era when the state still had just ONE CLASS won the State Championship in front of a packed hall up at MSU some still maintain that is the greatest single athletic achievement in Mankato history We were the first high school in Mankato to put on a full-scale musical ldquoBye Bye Birdierdquo in the spring of 1964 In Fall of 1964 our football team would have won the conference championship outright except Owatonnarsquos great Noel Jenke who would go on to star for the U of M

cheated I watched him trap the touchdown pass that beat us Does cheating pay Was that a lesson for life

In lsquo65 we also had a fine basketball team that lost our chance at State when our 6-6 center fouled out at Luverne

BUT A FAr BIggEr CHALLENgE AWAITED US ALL As we rode out to Luverne to watch that game we couldnrsquot help noticing the highway was like a canyon between walls of snow The legendary St Patrickrsquos Day Blizzard had dumped two feet on top of an already large snow pack and then April brought rains on frozen ground Instead of coming here to school many of us soon got a real-life assignment to go out in our rain gear out on the dikes to battle the grEAT FLOOD OF 1965 Our school became an island as water flooded the parking lot and all of South riverfront Our spring play that year was called ironically

THE DESPErATE HOUrS We had to rehearse at roosevelt School up on higher ground

Our class produced three Merit scholars One of our classmates who did NOT qualify

for a merit scholarship nevertheless was such a whiz at physics that NASA requested a copy of a paper he wrote on rocketry as a senior We produced 12 doctors one of whom earned a fellowship at Stanford seeking how to bring telemedicine to the poor another of whom became a breakthrough cancer doctor We had entrepreneurs one who would go on to be a leader in Solar Energy (and then run for governor of New Hampshire) Another mdash a woman incidentally when

that was not common founded two bio-tech startups Many of us are still working

past normal retirement age One founded a company on the leading edge of recycling

computers whose clients include the NSA Another is chief medical officer of a company

devising a better tool for colonoscopies Yet another of our classmates recently completed a concert tour of China

We lived in challenging times just as you do today but we muddle through we make it to the other shore I remember sitting where you are 50 years ago thinking how old those folks up there looked But remember Life goes by very quickly You certainly live in interesting times as Shakespeare said ldquoPresent Mirth has Present Laughter Youthrsquos a stuff will NOT endurerdquo So I urge you live each moment to the fullest

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Page 23: Mankatomag 116

MANKATO MAGAZINE  bull January 2016 bull 21

728 N Riverfront DriveMankato MN 56001

507-625-5163katobearscom

Pins and NeedlesAlterations

Specializing in alterations for theentire wedding party including

gown re-sizing hemming re-beadingbustles and so much more

Like us onFacebook

Live the Lifestyle

wwwmapletonmarinecom

Southern MNrsquos largestboat show on now at the

Madison East Center in Mankato

MM p01 0116indd 21 12182015 24524 PM

22 bull January 2016 bull MANKATO MAGAZINE

Thirty-three years ago I stood inside a grave A lifetime ago when I was a pastorrsquos wife

In Nebraska we served a parish of barely over one hundred members A picture-postcard white church with a hand-carved white wooden altar from Germany sat at the top of a hill next to it the parsonage and next to that the cemetery rolling down the hill toward a wooded creek

The first death in the congregation after our arrival set off a flurry of activity Irsquod never met Alma because she was in a nursing home before we arrived However my husband visited her on several occasions She was mother aunt grandmother great-aunt and great-grandmother to half the congregation so there was no question about whether or not I would attend the funeral

With my two little kids in tow I attended every event at the church every Sunday morning service of course but also every funeral every confirmation every baptism every meeting of womenrsquos circle and even every family reunion that was held in the church basement At twenty-six I perfected the art of making gracious small talk with people Irsquod never seen before and would never see again and at taking tiny portions from each confirmation buffet so I would neither be sick by the end of the day nor offend any of the mothers who had slaved away over their sumptuous spreads of food

By Rebecca Fjelland Davis

Grave Lesson in Winter

ESSay

MM p01 0116indd 22 12182015 24527 PM

MANKATO MAGAZINE  bull January 2016 bull 23

Attending the little white country church was physically easy I picked up one-year-old Josh took three-year-old Nikkirsquos hand and walked out the front door down the sidewalk and next door The only things I didnrsquot have to attend were church council and the menrsquos meeting Archaic This was in the 1980s It doesnrsquot seem so long ago

All the available babysitters in the community would attend Almarsquos funeral too so this was to be my kidsrsquo first funeral

The afternoon before the service salt-snow fell Hard little crystals pelted down as if the heavens had up-ended a Mortonrsquos salt canister Within a few hours the hard snow was six inches deep and still falling

In the middle of the salt-snow the gravedigger arrived The Ditchwitch roared around the cemetery to the familyrsquos plot and my kidsrsquo noses pressed against the upstairs bedroom window pane ldquoMommy can we go watchrdquo

Glad for an excuse to get out of the parsonage I bundled them in snowsuits put them on the sled and pulled them across the house yard and garden to the fence that bordered the cemetery

The Ditchwitch made short work of the grave and all three of us were mesmerized watching the mound of gray-black dirt grow in the crystal-white snow When the hole was finished the gravedigger turned his tractor on idle He hopped off and came over to the fence His eyes twinkled in a weathered face ldquoWant to come lookrdquo

I backed up from the fence a step ldquoNo not really I think this is close enoughrdquo

ldquoYes Mommy go lookrdquo ldquoPleeeeaserdquoSo Nikki and Josh got back on the sled and I

hauled them along the fence through the gate over to the grave and looked down Six feet seemed deep bottomless Dark A sharp contrast to the pelting snowflakes all around us

ldquoWanna get down in thererdquo the gravedigger asked I shuddered hung onto the kids and backed up

again ldquoNo No thatrsquos okay This is close enough I just want to look from hererdquo

ldquoYes mommyrdquo the little ones said ldquoLetrsquosrdquoldquoNordquoldquoPleaserdquoldquoReally marsquoam I think you should Yoursquoll be

surprised I wouldnrsquot suggest it if it I didnrsquot think sordquoldquoHow would we get outrdquo The sides were deeper

than I was tall and there certainly werenrsquot footholds or a ladder built in for Almarsquos soul to use to climb out

ldquoLike thisrdquo The gravedigger laid his shovel diagonally across a top corner of the grave and jumped down He grabbed the middle of the shovel handle and swung himself back up and out with the agility of a gymnast ldquoNothinrsquo to itrdquo

ldquoI canrsquot do thatrdquoldquoYes you can Irsquoll boost you And wersquoll lift the kids

Yoursquoll be amazed I promiserdquoI shivered The idea of being inside a grave

seemed much colder than the snow crystals biting at my face

ldquoCome onrdquo he said and jumped back in Nikki and Josh willingly stepped over to him to be lifted down I had no choice but to follow I couldnrsquot let my kids alone in a grave with a man I didnrsquot even know

So I jumped The earth on the bottom made a soft landing The soil around me was warm and steamy It was moist and dark but it enfolded us in an earthy hug At least fifty degrees warmer than the air above ground it felt as if the earth were offering shelter respite a comfortable place to snuggle down and rest Tiny roots dangled full of life from the smooth edges of the hole Tears sprang to my eyes I couldnrsquot help them My eyes met the gravediggerrsquos and he smiled Gently ldquoSeerdquo he said Nothing more

I couldnrsquot speak A few minutes later he gave me a stirrup with his

hands I scrambled out and he lifted Nikki and Josh up to me Then he flipped himself out as easily as a trapeze artist

ldquoThank yourdquo I said ldquoI would never have guessedrdquoHe nodded ldquoNobody does But it helps somehow

I wanted you to feel thatrdquoWhy I wanted to ask why me You donrsquot even

know me Why were you willing to take time for usldquoThank yourdquo was all I said I shook his hand and

he hopped on the Ditchwitch and drove off into the snow

I never saw him again Someone else dug the next grave required in that cemetery

I remember only bits and pieces of the funeral Irsquom sure I baked a boxed cake mix for ldquolunchrdquo afterwards I remember answering Nikkirsquos questions about the body and sitting in the back row of the church in case Josh didnrsquot want to be quiet I do remember looking at the unfamiliar face in the casket and thinking you get to rest in a warm cozy place

Ten winters later we buried my dad on just such a day Wet snow crystals pelted us and piled up so deep the funeral home limousine got stuck in the cemetery By the time the pallbearers pushed it un-stuck their suit pants were caked in slush and mud

We stood at the graveside in the bleak wet icy day and lowered my fatherrsquos body into the ground

ldquoToo bad itrsquos such a miserable dayrdquo ldquoSorry about your dad Sorry the weatherrsquos so bad toordquo And even ldquoSuch a good man He deserves better weather than thisrdquo

But the weather I thought was just right Losing my dad my kids and their cousins losing

their grandpa my mom becoming a widow my brother losing his farming partner and best friend changed our livesmdashthat part was too heavy to carry

The only part that was okay for me was to let Dadrsquos worn-out body be wrapped in that welcoming warm enfolding soilmdashthe very soil hersquod loved to till the soil hersquod planted and tended all his life the soil that gave us all lifemdashthat was the only gratifying part of the day

The only comfort I had was letting Dad go from the cold wet biting snow into that warm and restful place

And I still wonder who that gravedigger was ten years earlier and how he knew how much I would need what he gave me that bleak winter day MM

Rebecca Fjelland Davis is an author from Mankato

MM p01 0116indd 23 12182015 24528 PM

reFlecTionsBy Pat Christman

24 bull January 2016 bull MANKATO MAGAZINE

MM p01 0116indd 24 12182015 24544 PM

reFlecTionsBy Pat Christman

MANKATO MAGAZINE  bull January 2016 bull 25

There are few things as inevitable as snow during a Minnesota winter Big

cotton ball-like snowflakes cover the ground in a white blanket whitewashing the Midwestern landscape

We struggle against it Some hope the snow never comes It always does filling the sky with floating snowflakes that cling to the ground but melt as soon as they hit the small bits of face or hands that peek out from winter clothing

It is often quite beautiful especially when viewed from someplace warm and dry MM

MM p01 0116indd 25 12182015 24548 PM

26 bull January 2016 bull MANKATO MAGAZINE

Then amp now Vice President Schuyler Colfaxrsquos Death By Bryce o sTenzel

On Jan 14 1885 one day after his death the New York Times carried a

headline that read ldquoSchuyler Colfax Dead He Drops Down in a Railway Stationrdquo While most Americans today would have tremendous difficulty in even recognizing this manrsquos name

(unless they were paying close attention to Stephen Spielbergrsquos epic movie Lincoln and made the association) Schuyler Colfax was a former Speaker of the House of Representatives and Vice President of the United States under President US Grant He died in Mankatorsquos Chicago St

Paul Minneapolis amp Omaha railroad depot from a massive heart attack

Schuyler Colfax Jr was born in New York City on March 23 1823 His father died of tuberculosis five months before Schuyler was born His sister Mary died four months after his [Schuylerrsquos]

vice President Schuyler Colfaxrsquos Death in Mankato

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MANKATO MAGAZINE  bull January 2016 bull 27

birth The young Schuyler attended school only until he was 10 He then began working to support his family Schuyler Colfax never attended any kind of secondary school or college His mother remarried when Colfax was 13 and the family moved to New Carlisle Indiana By the time he was 22 Colfax was the editor and owner of a pro-Whig newspaper He was elected to Congress in 1854 and joined the newly formed Republican Party after the Whig Party disintegrated Solidly anti-slavery his colleagues elected Colfax as Speaker of the US House of Representatives in 1863 His election came soon after the death of his wife Evelyn The couple had no children

Colfax was President Abraham Lincolnrsquos first and last visitor on the fateful day Lincoln was assassinatedmdashApril 14 1865 Early that morning Colfax arrived at the White House while the president was having breakfast Colfax wanted to know whether or not Lincoln planned to call a special session of Congress for later that summer Lincolnrsquos answer was a polite but firm ldquonordquo Lincoln preferred a lenient approach in reconstructing as well as readmitting the former Confederate states to the Union now that the Civil War was over This approach put Lincoln at odds with the more ldquoradicalrdquo congressional members of his own party who preferred harsher measures be taken against their former enemies Lincoln had already made up his mind how he wanted to proceed with reconstructing the former Confederate states and he didnrsquot want any unnecessary interference from Congress Calling a special session was the last thing Lincoln wanted to do Colfax returned that same night to see Lincoln again just before the president left for Fordrsquos Theatre and his appointment with destiny This time Colfax came upon Lincolnrsquos own request The president had a long message for the silver miners of the Comstock Lode in Nevada thanking them for their loyalty to the Union that he wanted Speaker Colfax to deliver in person since Colfax was leaving by train for the West the next day Colfax was the last person Lincoln spoke to besides his wife Mary before he

was fatally shot at 1015 pm Colfax never forgave himself for turning down Lincolnrsquos invitation to be part of the theatre party that night

In 1868 Republicans selected General Ulysses S Grant as their presidential candidate Grant a military man his entire life had no political background Colfax was placed on the ticket because of his prior experience as a congressman and Speaker of the House (he resigned the position in 1869) Grant and Colfax won an easy victory in November 1868 Only two weeks later Colfax remarriedmdashthis time to Ellen Wade (niece of Ohio Senator Benjamin Wade) Their only child son Schuyler Colfax III was born in 1870

Colfax is best remembered (if at all) for his involvement in the corruption that beset Grantrsquos entire presidency Specifically the Credit Mobilier scandal broke in 1872 just as Grant and Colfax were gearing up for their re-election campaign Colfax was suspected of accepting shares of stock and cash bribes from ldquoCredit Mobilierrdquo a dummy construction company set up by the Union Pacific Railroad He was by no means the only influential person involved in the scandal Other political figures investigated included Senators Roscoe Conkling of New York William Allison of Iowa John Logan of Illinois James Bayard of Delaware and Henry Wilson of Massachusetts Grant was less popular in 1872 than he had been four years earlier and many Republicans worried that having Colfax on the partyrsquos ticket would harm the presidentrsquos re-election chances They dumped Colfax from the ticket mdash only to replace him with the also-tainted Wilson Grant won re-election and served his second and final term from 1873-1877 After being forced out from the vice presidency Colfax traveled the country as a popular lecturer often speaking about his interactions with Abraham Lincoln during the Civil War He rebuilt his tarnished reputation and commanded speaking fees as high as $2500

At 10 am on Jan 13 1885 Schuyler Colfax arrived in Mankato aboard a train from Milwaukee Mankato was just a

brief stop for Colfax who was on his way to Iowa for a speaking engagement The Chicago Milwaukee amp St Paul as well as the Chicago St Paul Minneapolis amp Omaha railroads both had depots in Mankato but because they were separate competing railroad lines Colfax was required to change trains by walking three-quarters of a mile from the Chicago Milwaukee amp St Paul depot at the foot of Hickory Street to the Chicago St Paul Minneapolis amp Omaha depot at Fourth and Washington Streets (now Washington Park) from which the next leg of his journey would depart Despite a reported temperature of 30 degrees below zero Colfax walked from one station to the other Within five minutes after he arrived at the Omaha linersquos depot Colfax entered the waiting room looked at a map on the wall sat down and died It was 1035 am No one in the station knew who the dead man actually was until they searched his pockets and found a letter with his name on it His death was likely caused by a heart attack brought on by the physical exertion of walking almost a mile in extreme cold Colfax was only 61 when he died His remains were returned to South Bend Indiana for burial

Today few Americans are aware that anyone named Schuyler Colfax ever lived much less served as vice president of the United States In this era in which officeholders are often treated as celebrities imagine how surprised people would be to learn that a former vice president died cold alone and unrecognized in a train station 131 years ago Before 24-hour news channels smart phones and social media it was possible for public figures like Colfax to live ndash and die ndash in relative obscurity Ironically Colfax loved the railroad but in the end it was the cause of his undoing Mankato has the distinction of being the location where the last man to personally speak to Abraham Lincoln in a private conversation took his last breath

MM p01 0116indd 27 12182015 24549 PM

28 bull January 2016 bull MANKATO MAGAZINE

Mayo Clinic offers pediatric and adolescent orthopedic services right here in Mankato Todd Milbrandt MD cares for patients with a variety of needs including

bull Cerebral palsy

bull Clubfoot

bull Hip disorders

bull Spinal disorders

bull Sports injuries

bull Scoliosis

bull Spina bifida

Mayo Clinic Health System in Mankato Call 1-877-412-7575 (toll-free) to schedule an appointment

495rdquox495rdquo Mankato Magazine January

Orthopedic care for your child

Independent ampAssisted Living

EQUAL HOUSINGOPPORTUNITY

1360 Adams StreetMankato MN

PrimroseRetirementcom

reg

Key City Senior Breakfast ClubThe Key City Senior Breakfast Club meets the first Thursday of each month from 830 AM - 930 AM at Primrose Retirement Community The club gives those 55+ the opportunity to meet new friends and visit old ones socialize with Key City Officials and enjoy a delicious home-cooked breakfast To visit a Key City Senior Breakfast please call (866) 447-9636

Mark your calendar for these breakfast dates Thursday January 7th Thursday March 3rd and Thursday May 5th

刀椀渀最 椀渀 琀栀攀 

一攀眀 夀攀愀爀

㔀 㜀ⴀ㤀㐀ⴀ㐀㐀䨀甀氀攀攀猀䨀攀眀攀氀爀礀挀漀洀

椀渀 匀愀椀渀琀 倀攀琀攀爀

20765 Foley Rd Mankato MN | 5073872434 | 5077262411

Three TimeNational Award Winners

MM p02 0116indd 28 12182015 30742 PM

Mayo Clinic offers pediatric and adolescent orthopedic services right here in Mankato Todd Milbrandt MD cares for patients with a variety of needs including

bull Cerebral palsy

bull Clubfoot

bull Hip disorders

bull Spinal disorders

bull Sports injuries

bull Scoliosis

bull Spina bifida

Mayo Clinic Health System in Mankato Call 1-877-412-7575 (toll-free) to schedule an appointment

495rdquox495rdquo Mankato Magazine January

Orthopedic care for your child

Independent ampAssisted Living

EQUAL HOUSINGOPPORTUNITY

1360 Adams StreetMankato MN

PrimroseRetirementcom

reg

Key City Senior Breakfast ClubThe Key City Senior Breakfast Club meets the first Thursday of each month from 830 AM - 930 AM at Primrose Retirement Community The club gives those 55+ the opportunity to meet new friends and visit old ones socialize with Key City Officials and enjoy a delicious home-cooked breakfast To visit a Key City Senior Breakfast please call (866) 447-9636

Mark your calendar for these breakfast dates Thursday January 7th Thursday March 3rd and Thursday May 5th

OMG hellip More food and drinksOK sure

By now yoursquore probably thinking ldquoOh my gosh the last thing I want to think about right now is more food more drinking and more diningrdquo

Fair enough We get it The holidays are murder on the metabolism of many many Minnesotans

But we also know that those metabolisms are hardy and soon enough theyrsquoll be hankering for a hunk of something yummy and full of fun And whatrsquos more yummy and full of fun than a big glass of Cabernet Sauvignon Our wine guy Leigh Pomeroy takes us on a tour of all that is tasty and wonderful about big red wines the kind that leave their mark the kind that really announce their presence on your palate

And just in case yoursquore super serious about a healthy lifestyle mdash and that seriousness extends to the kind of beer you choose mdash Bert Mattson our beer guy has just the selection for you Best part is Itrsquos light

Oh and under the category of ldquoDid you hear about thisrdquo Wersquove got an update for you on the Coffee Hag Mankatorsquos original coffee house and one of the most popular hangouts in town Seriously some days itrsquos hard to find a seat in that place

EnjoyPS We know that baby itrsquos cold outside mdash thatrsquos why wersquove

thrown you our absolute best hot cocoa recipe

Enjoymdash Robb Murray Associate Editor Mankato Magazine

food drink amp dineso

uthern m

n style

20765 Foley Rd Mankato MN | 5073872434 | 5077262411

Three TimeNational Award Winners

MM p02 0116indd 29 12182015 30745 PM

MANKATO 5073854485 AMBOY 5076743355 I VERNON CENTER 5075493679

INSURANCE OFFICES LOCATED IN THE COMMUNITY BANK BUILDINGS

wwwcimankatocom

Protecting the things that matter most in your life

Let us help protect what is important to you At Community Insurance we have the ability to compare insurance from multiple companies to get you the best coverage at a great price Combine that with our insurance knowledge and friendly group of agents and we say thatrsquos a winning deal

WHERE YOUR POLICY COMES WITH AN AGENT

Christina Meyer

Food

south

ern mn style

Food

south

ern mn style

By The Washington Post

Growing up my mother always encouraged her children to cook So when

I found a recipe for hot chocolate on the side of the Hersheyrsquos Cocoa can it was easy to convince her to let me give it a try

What I discovered was that hot chocolate doesnrsquot have to come from an envelope

This recipe has been a favorite of mine to make on days when winter weather has convinced me stay home and off the roads Itrsquos the perfect way to kill time and have a nice hot drink to warm you up on those chilly days

Although you can top it with whipped cream I prefer marshmallows

FAVORITE HOT COCOAMakes 4 to 6 servings

12 cup sugar14 cup unsweetened cocoa powder

Dash of salt13 cup hot water

4 cups milk34 teaspoon vanilla extract

Whipped cream or marshmallows (optional)

Mix sugar cocoa powder salt and water in a sauce pan Stir constantly over medium heat until mixture comes to a boil (about 2 minutes) Stir in

milk and heat Bring the hot chocolate to the desired temperature but do not boil Remove from heat and

add the vanilla extract Divide into mugs and top with whipped cream or marshmallows

PERFECTLY CHOCOLATE HOT COCOA

Makes 1 serving

2 tablespoons sugar2 tablespoons unsweetened cocoa powder

Dash salt1 cup milk

14 teaspoon vanilla extractWhipped cream or marshmallows (optional)

Mix sugar cocoa powder and salt into large mug In separate microwave-safe container heat on high

for 1 to 1 frac12 minutes or until very hot Carefully and gradually add milk to dry mixture Stir well Add vanilla extract Top with whipped cream or

marshmallows

Simple homemade hot chocolate

beats the winter chill

30 bull January 2016 bull MANKATO MAGAZINE

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MANKATO MAGAZINE  bull January 2016 bull 31

Oil Change to OverhaulWe do it all

507-387-13151620 Commerce Drive North MankatowwwAustinsAutoRepairCentercom

Voted Best Auto Repair and Best Auto Mechanic 4 Years in a Row

AUSTINrsquoS AUTO REPAIR CENTER INC

MANKATO 5073854485 AMBOY 5076743355 I VERNON CENTER 5075493679

INSURANCE OFFICES LOCATED IN THE COMMUNITY BANK BUILDINGS

wwwcimankatocom

Protecting the things that matter most in your life

Let us help protect what is important to you At Community Insurance we have the ability to compare insurance from multiple companies to get you the best coverage at a great price Combine that with our insurance knowledge and friendly group of agents and we say thatrsquos a winning deal

WHERE YOUR POLICY COMES WITH AN AGENT

Christina Meyer

MM p02 0116indd 31 12182015 30755 PM

32 bull January 2016 bull MANKATO MAGAZINE

January is Cabernet TimeWersquove celebrated nearly

every January edition of Mankato Magazine with

a paean to BIG REDS And since there are so many wonderful examples why stop now

Last year I wrote about the powerful big reds of Italy This January wersquoll focus on Cabernet Sauvignon known to many as ldquothe king of winesrdquo Most oenophiles (wine lovers) consider the quintessential representations of this grape to be the classified Bordeaux of southwest France near the city of Bordeaux The five First Growths (or best wines according to a classification made in 1855 and updated in 1973) are Ch Lafite Rothschild Ch Margaux Ch Latour Ch Haut Brion and Ch Mouton Rothschild All have a cabernet sauvignon base but they are blended with merlot and often a little bit of cabernet franc and petit verdot as well

In the early 1970s I was able to buy these wines for around $22 per bottle mdash about $120 in 2016 dollars Yet with the popularity of ldquocollectiblerdquo wines on a worldwide

basis they sell today for anywhere from $400 on up

Contrary to popular belief these wines are not that massive Rather they combine cabernet sauvignon power with

structure and finesse yielding wines that become with time elixirs that are greater than the sum of their parts

Both California and Washington state have taken up the Cabernet Sauvignon challenge and are producing world-class wines at sometimes world-class prices Napa Valley is the recognized leader in this arena and rightly so Napa Valleyrsquos top Cabernet

Wine amp B

eerso

uthern m

n style

winesBy Leigh Pomeroy

Leigh Pomeroy is a Mankato-based writer and wine lover

Cabernet Sauvignon is the black Labrador of wines mdash it comes up and licks yourdquo

mdash Winemaker Scott Rich

Sauvignons rival the great wines of Bordeaux for quality mdash Irsquove tasted them side-by-side mdashand yet can sell for a fraction of their price

One such example is the 2013 Tulocay Cabernet Sauvignon from my old friend Bill Cadman We were young bucks in Napa Valley and had a tasting group in the early 1970s along with now-famous wine luminaries Bruce Neyers (Neyers Vineyards) and Mike Richmond (co-founder of Acacia Vineyard)

Billrsquos Cabernet is from an old and relatively cool growing area east of the City of Napa called Coombsville which because of industry political issues only recently received its AVA (American Viticultural Area) designation It is priced at $60 per bottle yet compares with any top-flight Bordeaux as well as the more expensive offerings from Napa Valley which can cost from $100 on up Not currently available at wine stores or restaurants in Minnesota it can be purchased by contacting the winery directly via its website tulocaycom The winery is so small that Bill will probably answer the phone himself

There is a lot of Cabernet Sauvignon available from California but mdash caveat emptor mdash not all growing areas (or appellations) are the same The best Cabernet Sauvignons are from Napa and Sonoma Counties Cabernets simply labeled ldquoCaliforniardquo or perhaps ldquoCoastalrdquo while sometimes good values lack the complexity of the greater Cabernet Sauvignons from the more northern parts of the state

Washington state has also

established itself as a prime producer of Cabernet Sauvignon But here again quality can vary greatly depending upon the area and producer While there is no ldquogo-tordquo appellation for Cabernet Sauvignon in Washington there are producers that are able to secure fruit from the best vineyards

One such example is the tiny Willis Hall Winery owned by another good friend John Bell a former Boeing jet propulsion engineer Like Tulocay its wines are only available by calling up the winery and ordering some (See willishallcom) But there are many other top quality producers in Washington like Quilceda Creek Leonetti Betz Family and Woodward Canyon

Of course not everyone can afford Cabernet Sauvignons in the $60-plus category One excellent everyday drinking example is the Flying Cloud 2013 Paso Robles Cabernet Sauvignon made by Mankato native Stephen Dooley Normally I donrsquot like Paso Robles Cabs as they tend to be too fruity and too soft for my palate mdash almost like drinking berry jam But this one is quite restrained no doubt helped by the inclusion of 13 percent zinfandel and 9 percent petite sirah in the blend

In Mankato both the Wine Cafeacute and MGM carry the Flying Cloud but at its price and quality I wouldnrsquot count on it lasting for long especially since only 759 cases were produced

So letrsquos raise a glass of Cabernet and say ldquoCheersrdquo to the New Year

MM p02 0116indd 32 12182015 30756 PM

MANKATO MAGAZINE  bull January 2016 bull 33

Bert Mattson is a chef and writer based in St Paul He is the manager of the iconic Mickeyrsquos Diner

Beer Skinny

BeerBy Bert Mattson

Last year according to Nielsen research staying fit and healthy was

the number one New Yearrsquos resolution Losing weight was two Three was to enjoy life to the fullest Unfortunately ldquolose weight and get fitrdquo also topped Time magazinersquos list of commonly broken resolutions Is this shortfall due to tension between the top two and that third one If so craft beer may have a role in the compromise Bad news first

In the context of losing weight and staying fit beer lovers might seek solace in the fact that fat carries nine calories per gram while alcohol has only seven The wrinkle is that those seven are ldquoemptyrdquo mdash calories without nutrition as opposed to those from fat protein and carbohydrates Moreover alcoholrsquos calories are the first burned when combined with the others the human body postpones burning fat while it works on alcohol Furthermore beer (and wine and often cocktails) contains carbohydrates which release insulin and can hasten fat storage Finally many drinkers have undoubtedly observed that alcohol loosens inhibitions after which an eager indulgence in unhealthy foods often occurs (Bar menus are rarely helpful in that respect)

By now you may wonder whose side Irsquom actually on Or suspect Irsquove led you to this dark place only to offer you a Lite No worries a couple craft brewers have been considering ways to keep us true to our resolutions

Evil Twin Brewingrsquos Bikini Beer drops the alcohol to 27 percent but stays bold by way of hops A Pale Ale it hits the nose with citrus suggestive of IPA The flavor follows suit floral and lemon There is an expected absence of malt yielding to bitterness up front that fades at the finish An alternative

for those who insist on the full effect Founderrsquos Brewing Companyrsquos All Day IPA rings in at a respectable 144 calories (Evil Twinrsquos entry comes in at 81)

One strategy to beat the beer munchies and avoid costly impulse eating is to have suitable chow on hand With Bikini Beer try a salad sporting blue cheese and some sort of dried fruit Creamy blue veined cheeses echo the hops while balancing bitterness An occasional bite of dried fruit stands in for malt sweetness

Brooklyn Breweryrsquos 12 Ale weighs in at 34 percent alcohol (102 calories) It is alliteratively labeled ldquoSession Saisonrdquo It opens with a waft of citrus and spice and a little lemongrass from Sorachi Ace hops mdash a hybrid developed in East Asia The same elements are found in the flavor which is a bit more subdued than a full-sized Saison

Try it with a tangle of arugula dressed with lemon and a fruity olive oil tossed with pine nuts and topped with shaved Parmesan for effect The greens and cracked pepper reflect spicy phenolic elements in the yeast Salty cheese counters the beerrsquos lingering bitterness Maybe add a few slices of Speck cured ham and Saison share a certain funkiness

If friends show and it becomes a session you may honestly say you spent Saturday working on your six-pack

MM p02 0116indd 33 12182015 30757 PM

34 bull January 2016 bull MANKATO MAGAZINE

Food

south

ern mn style

Food

south

ern mn style

The Coffee Hag one of the arearsquos oldest (and coolest) bistros recently underwent a major expansion and remodeling journey culminating in a large and airy

seating area along with a much-improved kitchen and a new menu Mankato Magazine caught up with a very busy (and slightly exhausted) owner Jenn Melby-Kelly who weighs in on how itrsquos going

MANKATO MAGAZINE Are you personally enjoying the new updatesJENN MELBY-KELLY It Is Fabulous The new space represents so much more than a remodel to me It has brought to life a vision for my business thatrsquos been years in the making It incorporates many many good ideas from many many people I feel so fortunate to get to see that every time I walk through the door

MM How are customers reactingJMK Thatrsquos been one of the best parts The response has been overwhelmingly positive

A few of our most regular customers had the opportunity to get a glimpse of the remodel while it was underway (we gave some informal preview tours while we were operating the temporary stand outside) but many customers walk through the door now and see it all for the first time Itrsquos especially fun to see and hear that kind of wide-eyed reaction

A few people with special connections to The Hag have had even stronger emotional responses and Irsquom so touched and right there with them when I see eyes well up as they see what wersquove done Itrsquos a very big milestone for a very special place and wersquore blessed to have people that care so deeply

MM Do the employees appreciate the new spaceJMK Oh probably more than anyone There was a lot that we sought to do with the remodel but creating a bigger brighter better-equipped space for our team was certainly one of the primary goals Wersquove got an incredible team truly the most spirited and talented people anyone could hope for

Many of them have spent years with me working hard against the challenge of a small under-equipped space and just barely being able to keeping up with growing demand Itrsquos been a special blessing for them and for me to finally have state-of-the-art space thatrsquos made for the work that we do We all feel a special connection to this place and now more than ever the place reflects the good energy we all bring here every day

MM Is the new menu a hit (The Hag specializes in vegetarianvegan cuisine)JMK Yes but just wait Feedback and demand have been excellent with our food offerings already but wersquore just getting started on some of the really exciting things that are coming to our food menu

Remodeling the cafe was just the first major milestone of our two-part expansion plan Next up wersquore building a state of the art off-site commissary kitchen that will do for our incredible culinary team what the remodeled shop has done for our baristas Theyrsquove been working day and night on taking our already fantastic food offerings to a whole new level

Wersquove already introduced some amazing new menu items like the Garden Grilled Cheese panini (trust me itrsquos like nothing yoursquove had before) and some truly outstanding new vegan baked goods Wersquove also improved our classic offerings with house-made

Interview with Jenn Melby-Kelly owner of The Coffee Hag

By Sarah Johnson

MM p02 0116indd 34 12182015 30802 PM

MANKATO MAGAZINE  bull January 2016 bull 35

Happy New Year

Locally Owned amp Operated

Check Weekly Specialsmgmwineandspiritscommankato

Largest Selection ofbull Liquor bull Wine bull Beer bull

Hours Monday-Saturday 8 am - 10 pm

ATMs at all stores

Mankato201 Victory Dr

625-2420

North Mankato1755 Commerce Dr

387-2634

St Peter100 N Minnesota Ave

934-8964

sourdough and whole wheat breads But as impressive as it is already itrsquos just a taste mdash literally mdash of things to come as we bring our new kitchen online

MM Whatrsquos stayed the sameJMK Irsquom really proud to say that while wersquove touched almost every part of this 23-year-old business wersquove kept even more than we have changed From the first days of this project I made it my personal mission and responsibility to make sure that the ldquosoulrdquo of this special place was only enhanced and never lost as we made the updates

In every area of the remodel as wersquove added some necessary new layers of sophistication The Hagrsquos colorful quirky and even rebellious spirit is still very much a part of the space We did a lot to try to make sure it still looked and felt like ldquohomerdquo

And on a deeper level every step wersquove taken with the growth of our business has been chosen carefully to honor the core parts of The Coffee Hagrsquos identity Our focus on community our support for local art and music our commitment to creating a safe and welcoming space for everyone our efforts to lead the way on social and environmental issues affecting our world near and far mdash those have all stayed the same And those will always be at the heart of what we do

MM Anything elseJMK Irsquom so incredibly grateful for the support of our customers and community And whenever I talk about my business and how it has grown I really canrsquot overstate how thankful I am for my beautiful Coffee Hag family The hard work good energy and earnest contributions of so many people mdash past and present mdash have brought me and my business here An incredible amount of love has gone into this business and made this dream a reality

MM p02 0116indd 35 12222015 121240 PM

36 bull January 2016 bull MANKATO MAGAZINE

xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

Food

south

ern mn style

whatrsquos Cooking By Sarah Johnson

Sarah Johnson is a cook freelance writer and chocolate addict from North Mankato with three grown kids and a couple of mutts

As I was pondering my subject matter for todayrsquos column I started wondering about all the different items the word ldquonutsrdquo can refer

to Crazy people are called nuts so are hexagonal metal objects that attach to bolts Nuts can be the end of things (as in ldquofrom soup to nutsrdquo) or they can be the beginning of them (as in ldquosperm incubatorsrdquo) Nut can also mean onersquos head or onersquos lump of something such as butter And if you accidentally get a nut of butter on your nut you can exclaim ldquoNutsrdquo

My favorite meaning of the word nut however is the dry indehiscent one-seeded fruit with a woody pericarp And I donrsquot even know what indehiscent OR pericarp means But these are the wonderful denizens of the world of edible nuts

Nuts are widely credited with all sorts of health benefits for the heart brain male reproductive system prostate cholesterol level fiber intake and avoidance of some types of cancer And while nuts do contain fat itrsquos the ldquogoodrdquo kind heart-healthy monounsaturated and polyunsaturated fat Their mix of omega-3 fatty acids protein and fiber helps you feel full and suppresses the appetite

Nuts are great in desserts and salads of course but they also shine in stir-fries casseroles soups chicken pork fish and even beverages Nut butters nut milks and nut oils add delicious options to our kitchen larders Breads cereals muffins and pancakes gain texture flavor and nutrition from the addition of nuts Basically anytime is a good time for nuts

Which is a wonderful thing because nuts taste so good you would think they had to be very very bad The reason lies deep in their oils

Walnut Oil is strong and flavorful Itrsquos best when used in uncooked sauces or salad dressing

Hazelnut Oil has a strong flavor and is great for the heart

Almond Oil is very popular and has a much milder flavor than walnut oil or hazelnut oil

Pecan Macadamia Nut Pistachio Cashew and Pine Nut Oils are flavorful and unique The freshness of the nuts used really affects the flavor

ldquoTherersquos Nuttinrsquo Nutty About Nutsrdquo

For the Baklava1 pound pistachios hazelnuts walnuts pecans andor almonds coarsely ground plus more for garnish12 teaspoon ground cinnamon1 cup breadcrumbs4 sticks unsalted butter melted16 sheets phyllo dough (thawed if frozen) cut in half

For the Syrup3 cups sugar1 6 -to-8-ounce jar honey1 frac12 cups water1 to 2 tablespoons fresh lemon juice

If yoursquore under the impression that baklava is much too labor-intensive and complicated to make at home think again Anybody can make

it no special skills equipment or exotic ingredients are required A word about phyllo dough Itrsquos sold in frozen packages so you need to remove the package from the freezer and let it thaw in the fridge 24 hours before you want to make the baklava Then about an hour beforehand remove the package from the fridge and let it sit on the counter

Walnuts or pistachios are the most traditional nuts to fill baklava but using other nuts works wonders as well Simply layer the phyllo with the nut filling and butter bake for an hour and finish with a simple honeyed syrup If you have leftover nuts from the holidays herersquos your chance to use them up

Mixed Nut Baklava

MM p02 0116indd 36 12182015 30812 PM

MANKATO MAGAZINE  bull January 2016 bull 37

MONEY MATTERS WORK SMARTLET COMMUNITY BANK HELP YOUBRING THE TWO TOGETHER

MANKATO - SAINT ANDREWS DR 5073854444MANKATO - MADISON AVE 5076251551VERNON CENTER 5075493679AMBOY 5076743300

JULIE VETTERSR VICE PRESIDENTRETAIL BANKING

We support great causes like yoursAt Community Bank we know good things happen when you have a good bank So we make more possible by keeping banking simple and supportive And by giving you the power that comes with innovative solutions like our Health Savings Account It offers you tax-free savings for future medical expenses Stop by anytime Wersquore always ready to help out a great cause

Position a rack in the lower third of the oven preheat to 350 degrees Combine the nuts cinnamon and breadcrumbs in a bowl

Brush a 9x13-inch baking dish with some of the butter Layer 10 pieces of phyllo in the dish brushing each piece with butter before adding the next (keep the remaining dough covered with a damp towel) Sprinkle a quarter of the nut mixture over the dough Layer four pieces of phyllo on top brushing each with butter before adding the next sprinkle with another quarter of the nut mixture Add four more phyllo pieces on top brushing each with butter then add another quarter of the nut mixture four more pieces of phyllo with butter and the remaining nuts

Layer the remaining 10 pieces of phyllo on top of the nuts brushing each with butter brush the top piece with extra butter Cut into the baklava to make strips about 1 12 inches wide Then make diagonal slices about 1 12 inches apart to create a diamond pattern Bake until golden about one hour

Meanwhile make the syrup Bring the sugar honey and 1 12 cups water to a boil in a saucepan over medium heat and cook 10 to 15 minutes Add the lemon juice and boil 2 more minutes then let cool slightly Pour the syrup over the warm baklava let soak uncovered at least six hours or overnight Garnish with nuts

MM p02 0116indd 37 12182015 30817 PM

38 bull bull MANKATO MAGAZINE

Nell Musolf is a mom and freelance writer from Mankato She blogs at nellmusolfcom

38 bull bull MANKATO MAGAZINE

MM p02 0116indd 38 12182015 30822 PM

MANKATO MAGAZINE  bull January 2016 bull 39

Gear Up for WinterYear-Round amp Insulated Workwear from

Carhartt Dickies and Key

UNIFORMSUniforms fromBarco Carhartt Cherokee DickiesKoi Peaches and White Cross

AMAZED

Call 5073446336mankatomagmankatofreepresscom

Stephanie L Hylla LAc Dipl AcKayla M Sweeney MOm LAc

NEW LOCATION709 S Front Suite 5

5074694788mankatoacupuncturecom

Open House ndash Wednesday Feb 3 9-12noonCelebrating 5 years of Business New Location and the Chinese New Year

In Network with Blue Cross Blue ShieldLicensed by the MN Board of Medical Practice

Ribbon Cutting with Greater Mankato Growth at 10am

(A $250 Value)THIS VOUCHER ENTITLES NEW PATIENTS TO A

CONSULTATION EXAM amp DIGITAL X-RAYS (IF NEEDED)

wwwr igne l l fami lych i roprac t ic comMedicare Restrictions Apply Expires January 31 2016

Dr BrandonRignell DC

1351 Madison AveSuite D

Mankato MN 56001

5077797313

$2900New Patient Special

MM p02 0116indd 39 12222015 121344 PM

40 bull bull MANKATO MAGAZINE

Jean Lundquist is a master gardener who lives near Good Thunder

MM p02 0116indd 40 12182015 30834 PM

MANKATO MAGAZINE  bull January 2016 bull 41

3 Increase the Value of Your Home

3 Update Your Homersquos Appearance

3 Save Money

Choose from SeveralModels Styles amp Colors

507-625-7110 or 1-800-645-36671125 Cross St North Mankato MN

Improve Your HomersquosEnergy Efficiency

422 Park Lane Mankato MN | NuStarMankatocom

(507) 381-4747Voted One of Mankatorsquos Best

DANIEL WINGERT

Make Selling Your Home Your NuYearrsquos Resolution

MM p02 0116indd 41 12182015 30839 PM

42 bull January 2016 bull MANKATO MAGAZINE

January Resolve to moisturize

Your stYLeBy Ann Rosenquist Fee

Ann Rosenquist Fee is executive director of the Arts Center of Saint Peter and a vocalist with The Frye She blogs at annrosenquistfeecom

If you have in-laws or colleagues who know you well enough to have given you holiday gifts

but not well enough to know what wouldrsquove truly made you happy congratulations Chances are yoursquore the proud owner of a bunch of brand-new lip balm

Maybe itrsquos even holiday themed Thatrsquos the best Maybe you got the candy-cane flavored kind or wintergreen with holiday graphics on the label or something like that A theme that was irrelevant the moment the stocking was unstuffed because at that exact second the holiday was over

And here you are in January with an abundance of wax

Fortunately also here you are in the early weeks of winter with rough red knuckles Probably also cracked cuticles although it might not have gone that far yet for you Irsquom sure it has for me This photo was taken back in November and even then the Band-Aids were for real Irsquove learned to cut them in half length-wise so as to retain my ability to type Irsquove also learned to play with a range of color options Flesh-toned Clear Disney characters The colorful strips shown here were gifted to me by my husband Partly why theyrsquore cut in half is that the text is obscene This is one small trick you can use to make bloody cuticles your most exciting accessory of the winter

Sources like UrbanSurvivalSitecom and WonderHowTocom will tell you that you can use lip balm for a whole variety of purposes such as coating threads of outdoor lightbulbs before screwing them into their sockets and enhancing the burn-ability of most kindling

These are great fun but they wonrsquot improve your personal style

More germane to winter beauty are the following suggestions

Keep a tube next to your bed for first-thing-in-the-morning use And I mean really truly first-thing I mean smear the stuff on each cuticle while yoursquore still lying there before you start using your fingers at all If you wake up thinking yoursquore fine and skip cuticle care next thing you know yoursquore pushing down the lever on your Keurig and the pressure is more than your screamingly dry skin can take and boom split blood on the Keurig and itrsquos gonna be a long painful day If only you had balmed your hands before you let your feet hit the floor

Keep another tube in your glove compartment If itrsquos warm enough to take off your mittens in the car mdash if yoursquore even wearing mittens given that your hands are snagging on everything these days mdash the harsh January sunlight will allow you to see cracks and flakes in high-resolution detail Yoursquoll want the balm nearby

to cover what you didnrsquot notice first thing in the morning Also a car tube is useful for when you look in the rear-view mirror and notice that your nose and upper lip are flaking as well Itrsquos because yoursquore getting over a cold and the frequent use of tissue has worn away your top layer of skin but just because you know that doesnrsquot mean everybody else wonrsquot think ldquothere is something in that noserdquo Itrsquos just a fact Itrsquos what it looks like Lip balm to the rescue Itrsquos the only thing dry enough to slick those flakes in place and nourishing enough to maybe actually get your face back to normal

Keep a couple more tubes in a nighttime kit along with sandpaper Sandpaper Yes Not a pumice stone not a lame also-gifted sugar

scrub Medium-grit sandpaper is what you need every night lightly but with conviction As follows 1) Sand taking care not to do more damage than what the elements have already done Yoursquore just trying to remove the dry dead stuff Yoursquore just being hearty and efficient about this true to the culture of this great state in which yoursquove chosen to winter You are no pansy Sand your hands 2) Wash 3) Blot dry 4) Dial up the gifted balm whisper a word of thanks to the person who put so much thought into your well-being that they stuffed your holiday stocking with this amazing gift of self-care smash a healthy amount down into your palms massage Take heart You just might find yourself with normal-textured non-cracked not-horrible-looking hands by morning

Split-open cuticles I feel you Except for these Band-Aids I feel you

Lip balms I have been gifted and these are just from last Christmas ldquolastrdquo as in 2014

Bathrooms Worth Bragging About

HoursTue amp Wed amp Fri | 9 am to 6 pmMon amp Thu | 9 am to 7 pmSaturday | 9 am to 4 pm

219 S Victory Dr | Mankato507 | 345 | 7009ipafhickorytechnetindependentpaintandflooringcom

You Deserve Comfortable Care Every Timebull Sedation - Complete Relaxation with Just a Pillbull Invisalign - Clear Alternative to Bracesbull Botox amp Fillersbull Implants - Placement and Restorationbull Cerec - One Visit Crown Technology

bull Free Whitening Programbull 3D Imaging with Fewer X-Raysbull Cosmetic Dentistrybull Drill-Free Technologybull Emergency Care

1400 Lookout Drive North Mankato507-625-CARE(2273) bull mankatodentistcom 06

1865

6124

01

Dr AngelA Schuck

Dr keith FlAck

MM p02 0116indd 42 12182015 30841 PM

MANKATO MAGAZINE  bull January 2016 bull 43

Bathrooms Worth Bragging About

HoursTue amp Wed amp Fri | 9 am to 6 pmMon amp Thu | 9 am to 7 pmSaturday | 9 am to 4 pm

219 S Victory Dr | Mankato507 | 345 | 7009ipafhickorytechnetindependentpaintandflooringcom

You Deserve Comfortable Care Every Timebull Sedation - Complete Relaxation with Just a Pillbull Invisalign - Clear Alternative to Bracesbull Botox amp Fillersbull Implants - Placement and Restorationbull Cerec - One Visit Crown Technology

bull Free Whitening Programbull 3D Imaging with Fewer X-Raysbull Cosmetic Dentistrybull Drill-Free Technologybull Emergency Care

1400 Lookout Drive North Mankato507-625-CARE(2273) bull mankatodentistcom 06

1865

6124

01

Dr AngelA Schuck

Dr keith FlAck

(944) 412-7949 | OrthoEdgeMNcom

Enjoy the season

Mankato St Peter

Be active Be healthyBe able with OrthoEdge

The OrthoEdge joint replacement

program offers superb care from your first

visit through recovery The surgeons from

the Orthopaedic amp Fracture Clinic and

the care team at Riverrsquos Edge Hospital

provide personal and professional care to

get you back to able

Why Riverrsquos Edge Hospital amp Clinic

bull Riverrsquos Edge Hospital amp Clinic has a long-

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MM p02 0116indd 43 12182015 30842 PM

44 bull January 2016 bull MANKATO MAGAZINE

1 Hicktown Mafia800 pm mdash New Ulm Event Center mdash 301 20th St S mdash New Ulm mdash $10 mdash 507-354-4673

7-9 Mankato West Orchesis Dance Team showcase7 pm Thursday-Saturday 2 pm Saturday mdash Mankato West High School Auditorium mdash $7 adults $5 students mdash 507-381-7578

10 Mankato Symphony Orchestra Music on the Hill II ldquoMinnesota rootsrdquo2 pm mdash Chapel at Good Counselmdash Good Counsel Drive mdash Mankato mdash $17 $12 mdash wwwmankatosymphonycom

16 Handel with Caremdash Handel Goes to Italy11 ammdash YMCA Aerobics Studio mdash 1401 S Riverfront Drive mdash Mankato mdash wwwmankatosymphonycom

16 Mankato Craft beer Expo2 pm (VIP) 3 pm general mdash Verizon Wireless Center mdash $45 VIP $35 general $10 designated driver mdash wwwmankatocraftbeerexpocom

23 Joey Flip and Mike Fugazzi rockinrsquo at the Embassy9 pm mdash Blaschkorsquos Embassy Bar and Grill mdash 325 S Minnesota Ave mdash St Peter mdash 507-934-3903

24 andrea Lyn and Dick Kimmel concert730 pm mdash Elias J Halling Recital Hall mdash Minnesota State University mdash Mankato mdash $12 regular $11 current MSU students mdash wwwmnusedumusic

28-31 MSu Theatre antigone730 pm Thursday-Saturday 2 pm Sunday mdash Andreas Theatre mdash Minnesota State University mdash Mankato mdash $16 regular $14 discount $11 current MSU students mdash wwwmnsuedu

29-31 BLC Theatre Brigadoon730 Friday and Saturday 2 pm Sunday mdash Ylvisaker Fine Arts Center mdash Bethany Lutheran College mdash Mankato mdash $10 adults $6 seniors children and students mdash wwwblceduevents

29- Feb 7 Winterfest St Peter Citywide mdash wwwstpeterchamberorg

30 Church of Cash a Tribute to Johnny Cash7 pm mdash St Peter American Legion mdash 229 W Nassau St mdash St Peter mdash 507-934-6435

31 Maud Hixson and rick Carlson concert730 pmmdash Elias J Halling Recital Hall mdash Minnesota State University mdash Mankato mdash $12 regular $11 current MSU students wwmnsuedumusic

Coming attraCtions January

T - F 8am - 6pm Sun ClosedSat 9am - 4pmM 8am - 8pm

120 North Broad Street Mankato MN 507-345-4688 wwwmeyerandsonstvandappliancecom

FIND SPECIAL DEALS ON

MM p02 0116indd 44 12182015 30902 PM

MANKATO MAGAZINE  bull January 2016 bull 45

St Peter Craft amp Vendor Show

1MelinadaBussefromRapidansoldherhandmadejewelryatthecraftandvendorshow

2DarylfromElysianandhishand-carvedwoodart

3MacKennaage7hasfunatoneoftheboothsattheStPeterCraftandVendorShow

4LizEntershowsoffsomeofherproductsattheldquoItWorksrdquobooth

5DenisePetersofldquoYoungLivingrdquoessentialoilsdisplayedherproductsattheshow

Faces amp Places Photos By Sport Pix

3

5

2

1

4

T - F 8am - 6pm Sun ClosedSat 9am - 4pmM 8am - 8pm

120 North Broad Street Mankato MN 507-345-4688 wwwmeyerandsonstvandappliancecom

FIND SPECIAL DEALS ON

MM p02 0116indd 45 12222015 121536 PM

46 bull January 2016 bull MANKATO MAGAZINE

SOUTHErN MN CHrISTMAS

FESTIVAL1 A large crowd was on hand during the festivities at

the Christmas Festival2 Friesenrsquos Family Bakery amp Bistro had tons of baked

goods and soups at the Verizon Wireless Center3 A childrenrsquos choir sang for the audience at the

festival4 Ron Haefner owner of Ronrsquos Auto Repair displayed

some of his services5 Garrison Galatz dressed up as Santa for the

Christmas Festival

faCes amp PLaCes Photos By Sport Pix

4

3

1

2

5

MM p02 0116indd 46 12182015 30923 PM

MANKATO MAGAZINE  bull January 2016 bull 47

1GirlScouttroop34494waspresentedwithatrophybyKiwanisVicePresidentKyleMrozek

2SantaClausevenwentthroughtheparaderoute3(LtoR)BrooklynPomrankeAlaynaLyonsHunterPomrankeandLilyLyonsgetagroupphototakenwithSanta

4MarshaMartigtellsSantawhatshewantsforChristmas

5TheparadefloatswerealldeckedoutinChristmaslights

6Visitorswalkthepatharoundtheparktoviewthisyearrsquoslights

Kiwanis Holiday ligHtsFaces amp Places Photos By sport Pix

2

1

3

4 5

6

MM p02 0116indd 47 12222015 121616 PM

48 bull January 2016 bull MANKATO MAGAZINE

On the Occasion of a 50th Reunion

the Class of 1965

from this VaLLeYBy Pete Steiner

Peter Steiner is host of ldquoTalk of the Townrdquo weekdays at 105 pm on KTOE

I was honored to give the presentation for our 50th class reunion recently at West Highrsquos Homecoming celebration About 120 of our nearly 400-member class

showed up We Baby Boomers the children of the greatest generation had big classes in the late lsquo60rsquos that forced the building of East High Ours was a dramatic era and our class did some great things in the face of big challenges Here edited is some of what I said

I am so glad to be standing here today Therersquos an old saying

ldquoMay you live in INTErESTINg timeshelliprdquo The Class of rsquo65 certainly has Itrsquos seems like only yesterday right after lunch that we were at our desks waiting for the start of English class when our charismatic teacher Harry Fitterer strode in and said ldquoPrESIDENT KENNEDY HAS BEEN SHOT IN DALLASrdquo At first we didnrsquot believe him but it was true It was November 22 1963 We were juniors and as the song says that was THE END OF THE INNOCENCE We had lived through the last idyllic time in America

When we first arrived in the fall of 1962 America was still carefree basking in the glow of victory in WW II Everything may have seemed ldquorightrdquo but it was not Martin Luther King Jr had just visited Mankato pointing out the continuing plight of black Americans as the Civil rights movement was gaining steam The beginnings of the Vietnam War which would alter the course of many of our lives were stirring even as we studied history and government The current generation has no monopoly on forgettable pop music ndash we had a stupid 1 song called ldquoItsie Bitsie Teenie Weenie Yellow Polka Dot Bikinirdquo (unfortunately an ear worm I canrsquot forget) But a darker cultural threat was looming The BEATLES were invading from Britain and our parents were mortified because they had LONg HAIr

Some of the shock of the Kennedy assassination was eased when our wrestling team in the era when the state still had just ONE CLASS won the State Championship in front of a packed hall up at MSU some still maintain that is the greatest single athletic achievement in Mankato history We were the first high school in Mankato to put on a full-scale musical ldquoBye Bye Birdierdquo in the spring of 1964 In Fall of 1964 our football team would have won the conference championship outright except Owatonnarsquos great Noel Jenke who would go on to star for the U of M

cheated I watched him trap the touchdown pass that beat us Does cheating pay Was that a lesson for life

In lsquo65 we also had a fine basketball team that lost our chance at State when our 6-6 center fouled out at Luverne

BUT A FAr BIggEr CHALLENgE AWAITED US ALL As we rode out to Luverne to watch that game we couldnrsquot help noticing the highway was like a canyon between walls of snow The legendary St Patrickrsquos Day Blizzard had dumped two feet on top of an already large snow pack and then April brought rains on frozen ground Instead of coming here to school many of us soon got a real-life assignment to go out in our rain gear out on the dikes to battle the grEAT FLOOD OF 1965 Our school became an island as water flooded the parking lot and all of South riverfront Our spring play that year was called ironically

THE DESPErATE HOUrS We had to rehearse at roosevelt School up on higher ground

Our class produced three Merit scholars One of our classmates who did NOT qualify

for a merit scholarship nevertheless was such a whiz at physics that NASA requested a copy of a paper he wrote on rocketry as a senior We produced 12 doctors one of whom earned a fellowship at Stanford seeking how to bring telemedicine to the poor another of whom became a breakthrough cancer doctor We had entrepreneurs one who would go on to be a leader in Solar Energy (and then run for governor of New Hampshire) Another mdash a woman incidentally when

that was not common founded two bio-tech startups Many of us are still working

past normal retirement age One founded a company on the leading edge of recycling

computers whose clients include the NSA Another is chief medical officer of a company

devising a better tool for colonoscopies Yet another of our classmates recently completed a concert tour of China

We lived in challenging times just as you do today but we muddle through we make it to the other shore I remember sitting where you are 50 years ago thinking how old those folks up there looked But remember Life goes by very quickly You certainly live in interesting times as Shakespeare said ldquoPresent Mirth has Present Laughter Youthrsquos a stuff will NOT endurerdquo So I urge you live each moment to the fullest

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Page 24: Mankatomag 116

22 bull January 2016 bull MANKATO MAGAZINE

Thirty-three years ago I stood inside a grave A lifetime ago when I was a pastorrsquos wife

In Nebraska we served a parish of barely over one hundred members A picture-postcard white church with a hand-carved white wooden altar from Germany sat at the top of a hill next to it the parsonage and next to that the cemetery rolling down the hill toward a wooded creek

The first death in the congregation after our arrival set off a flurry of activity Irsquod never met Alma because she was in a nursing home before we arrived However my husband visited her on several occasions She was mother aunt grandmother great-aunt and great-grandmother to half the congregation so there was no question about whether or not I would attend the funeral

With my two little kids in tow I attended every event at the church every Sunday morning service of course but also every funeral every confirmation every baptism every meeting of womenrsquos circle and even every family reunion that was held in the church basement At twenty-six I perfected the art of making gracious small talk with people Irsquod never seen before and would never see again and at taking tiny portions from each confirmation buffet so I would neither be sick by the end of the day nor offend any of the mothers who had slaved away over their sumptuous spreads of food

By Rebecca Fjelland Davis

Grave Lesson in Winter

ESSay

MM p01 0116indd 22 12182015 24527 PM

MANKATO MAGAZINE  bull January 2016 bull 23

Attending the little white country church was physically easy I picked up one-year-old Josh took three-year-old Nikkirsquos hand and walked out the front door down the sidewalk and next door The only things I didnrsquot have to attend were church council and the menrsquos meeting Archaic This was in the 1980s It doesnrsquot seem so long ago

All the available babysitters in the community would attend Almarsquos funeral too so this was to be my kidsrsquo first funeral

The afternoon before the service salt-snow fell Hard little crystals pelted down as if the heavens had up-ended a Mortonrsquos salt canister Within a few hours the hard snow was six inches deep and still falling

In the middle of the salt-snow the gravedigger arrived The Ditchwitch roared around the cemetery to the familyrsquos plot and my kidsrsquo noses pressed against the upstairs bedroom window pane ldquoMommy can we go watchrdquo

Glad for an excuse to get out of the parsonage I bundled them in snowsuits put them on the sled and pulled them across the house yard and garden to the fence that bordered the cemetery

The Ditchwitch made short work of the grave and all three of us were mesmerized watching the mound of gray-black dirt grow in the crystal-white snow When the hole was finished the gravedigger turned his tractor on idle He hopped off and came over to the fence His eyes twinkled in a weathered face ldquoWant to come lookrdquo

I backed up from the fence a step ldquoNo not really I think this is close enoughrdquo

ldquoYes Mommy go lookrdquo ldquoPleeeeaserdquoSo Nikki and Josh got back on the sled and I

hauled them along the fence through the gate over to the grave and looked down Six feet seemed deep bottomless Dark A sharp contrast to the pelting snowflakes all around us

ldquoWanna get down in thererdquo the gravedigger asked I shuddered hung onto the kids and backed up

again ldquoNo No thatrsquos okay This is close enough I just want to look from hererdquo

ldquoYes mommyrdquo the little ones said ldquoLetrsquosrdquoldquoNordquoldquoPleaserdquoldquoReally marsquoam I think you should Yoursquoll be

surprised I wouldnrsquot suggest it if it I didnrsquot think sordquoldquoHow would we get outrdquo The sides were deeper

than I was tall and there certainly werenrsquot footholds or a ladder built in for Almarsquos soul to use to climb out

ldquoLike thisrdquo The gravedigger laid his shovel diagonally across a top corner of the grave and jumped down He grabbed the middle of the shovel handle and swung himself back up and out with the agility of a gymnast ldquoNothinrsquo to itrdquo

ldquoI canrsquot do thatrdquoldquoYes you can Irsquoll boost you And wersquoll lift the kids

Yoursquoll be amazed I promiserdquoI shivered The idea of being inside a grave

seemed much colder than the snow crystals biting at my face

ldquoCome onrdquo he said and jumped back in Nikki and Josh willingly stepped over to him to be lifted down I had no choice but to follow I couldnrsquot let my kids alone in a grave with a man I didnrsquot even know

So I jumped The earth on the bottom made a soft landing The soil around me was warm and steamy It was moist and dark but it enfolded us in an earthy hug At least fifty degrees warmer than the air above ground it felt as if the earth were offering shelter respite a comfortable place to snuggle down and rest Tiny roots dangled full of life from the smooth edges of the hole Tears sprang to my eyes I couldnrsquot help them My eyes met the gravediggerrsquos and he smiled Gently ldquoSeerdquo he said Nothing more

I couldnrsquot speak A few minutes later he gave me a stirrup with his

hands I scrambled out and he lifted Nikki and Josh up to me Then he flipped himself out as easily as a trapeze artist

ldquoThank yourdquo I said ldquoI would never have guessedrdquoHe nodded ldquoNobody does But it helps somehow

I wanted you to feel thatrdquoWhy I wanted to ask why me You donrsquot even

know me Why were you willing to take time for usldquoThank yourdquo was all I said I shook his hand and

he hopped on the Ditchwitch and drove off into the snow

I never saw him again Someone else dug the next grave required in that cemetery

I remember only bits and pieces of the funeral Irsquom sure I baked a boxed cake mix for ldquolunchrdquo afterwards I remember answering Nikkirsquos questions about the body and sitting in the back row of the church in case Josh didnrsquot want to be quiet I do remember looking at the unfamiliar face in the casket and thinking you get to rest in a warm cozy place

Ten winters later we buried my dad on just such a day Wet snow crystals pelted us and piled up so deep the funeral home limousine got stuck in the cemetery By the time the pallbearers pushed it un-stuck their suit pants were caked in slush and mud

We stood at the graveside in the bleak wet icy day and lowered my fatherrsquos body into the ground

ldquoToo bad itrsquos such a miserable dayrdquo ldquoSorry about your dad Sorry the weatherrsquos so bad toordquo And even ldquoSuch a good man He deserves better weather than thisrdquo

But the weather I thought was just right Losing my dad my kids and their cousins losing

their grandpa my mom becoming a widow my brother losing his farming partner and best friend changed our livesmdashthat part was too heavy to carry

The only part that was okay for me was to let Dadrsquos worn-out body be wrapped in that welcoming warm enfolding soilmdashthe very soil hersquod loved to till the soil hersquod planted and tended all his life the soil that gave us all lifemdashthat was the only gratifying part of the day

The only comfort I had was letting Dad go from the cold wet biting snow into that warm and restful place

And I still wonder who that gravedigger was ten years earlier and how he knew how much I would need what he gave me that bleak winter day MM

Rebecca Fjelland Davis is an author from Mankato

MM p01 0116indd 23 12182015 24528 PM

reFlecTionsBy Pat Christman

24 bull January 2016 bull MANKATO MAGAZINE

MM p01 0116indd 24 12182015 24544 PM

reFlecTionsBy Pat Christman

MANKATO MAGAZINE  bull January 2016 bull 25

There are few things as inevitable as snow during a Minnesota winter Big

cotton ball-like snowflakes cover the ground in a white blanket whitewashing the Midwestern landscape

We struggle against it Some hope the snow never comes It always does filling the sky with floating snowflakes that cling to the ground but melt as soon as they hit the small bits of face or hands that peek out from winter clothing

It is often quite beautiful especially when viewed from someplace warm and dry MM

MM p01 0116indd 25 12182015 24548 PM

26 bull January 2016 bull MANKATO MAGAZINE

Then amp now Vice President Schuyler Colfaxrsquos Death By Bryce o sTenzel

On Jan 14 1885 one day after his death the New York Times carried a

headline that read ldquoSchuyler Colfax Dead He Drops Down in a Railway Stationrdquo While most Americans today would have tremendous difficulty in even recognizing this manrsquos name

(unless they were paying close attention to Stephen Spielbergrsquos epic movie Lincoln and made the association) Schuyler Colfax was a former Speaker of the House of Representatives and Vice President of the United States under President US Grant He died in Mankatorsquos Chicago St

Paul Minneapolis amp Omaha railroad depot from a massive heart attack

Schuyler Colfax Jr was born in New York City on March 23 1823 His father died of tuberculosis five months before Schuyler was born His sister Mary died four months after his [Schuylerrsquos]

vice President Schuyler Colfaxrsquos Death in Mankato

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MANKATO MAGAZINE  bull January 2016 bull 27

birth The young Schuyler attended school only until he was 10 He then began working to support his family Schuyler Colfax never attended any kind of secondary school or college His mother remarried when Colfax was 13 and the family moved to New Carlisle Indiana By the time he was 22 Colfax was the editor and owner of a pro-Whig newspaper He was elected to Congress in 1854 and joined the newly formed Republican Party after the Whig Party disintegrated Solidly anti-slavery his colleagues elected Colfax as Speaker of the US House of Representatives in 1863 His election came soon after the death of his wife Evelyn The couple had no children

Colfax was President Abraham Lincolnrsquos first and last visitor on the fateful day Lincoln was assassinatedmdashApril 14 1865 Early that morning Colfax arrived at the White House while the president was having breakfast Colfax wanted to know whether or not Lincoln planned to call a special session of Congress for later that summer Lincolnrsquos answer was a polite but firm ldquonordquo Lincoln preferred a lenient approach in reconstructing as well as readmitting the former Confederate states to the Union now that the Civil War was over This approach put Lincoln at odds with the more ldquoradicalrdquo congressional members of his own party who preferred harsher measures be taken against their former enemies Lincoln had already made up his mind how he wanted to proceed with reconstructing the former Confederate states and he didnrsquot want any unnecessary interference from Congress Calling a special session was the last thing Lincoln wanted to do Colfax returned that same night to see Lincoln again just before the president left for Fordrsquos Theatre and his appointment with destiny This time Colfax came upon Lincolnrsquos own request The president had a long message for the silver miners of the Comstock Lode in Nevada thanking them for their loyalty to the Union that he wanted Speaker Colfax to deliver in person since Colfax was leaving by train for the West the next day Colfax was the last person Lincoln spoke to besides his wife Mary before he

was fatally shot at 1015 pm Colfax never forgave himself for turning down Lincolnrsquos invitation to be part of the theatre party that night

In 1868 Republicans selected General Ulysses S Grant as their presidential candidate Grant a military man his entire life had no political background Colfax was placed on the ticket because of his prior experience as a congressman and Speaker of the House (he resigned the position in 1869) Grant and Colfax won an easy victory in November 1868 Only two weeks later Colfax remarriedmdashthis time to Ellen Wade (niece of Ohio Senator Benjamin Wade) Their only child son Schuyler Colfax III was born in 1870

Colfax is best remembered (if at all) for his involvement in the corruption that beset Grantrsquos entire presidency Specifically the Credit Mobilier scandal broke in 1872 just as Grant and Colfax were gearing up for their re-election campaign Colfax was suspected of accepting shares of stock and cash bribes from ldquoCredit Mobilierrdquo a dummy construction company set up by the Union Pacific Railroad He was by no means the only influential person involved in the scandal Other political figures investigated included Senators Roscoe Conkling of New York William Allison of Iowa John Logan of Illinois James Bayard of Delaware and Henry Wilson of Massachusetts Grant was less popular in 1872 than he had been four years earlier and many Republicans worried that having Colfax on the partyrsquos ticket would harm the presidentrsquos re-election chances They dumped Colfax from the ticket mdash only to replace him with the also-tainted Wilson Grant won re-election and served his second and final term from 1873-1877 After being forced out from the vice presidency Colfax traveled the country as a popular lecturer often speaking about his interactions with Abraham Lincoln during the Civil War He rebuilt his tarnished reputation and commanded speaking fees as high as $2500

At 10 am on Jan 13 1885 Schuyler Colfax arrived in Mankato aboard a train from Milwaukee Mankato was just a

brief stop for Colfax who was on his way to Iowa for a speaking engagement The Chicago Milwaukee amp St Paul as well as the Chicago St Paul Minneapolis amp Omaha railroads both had depots in Mankato but because they were separate competing railroad lines Colfax was required to change trains by walking three-quarters of a mile from the Chicago Milwaukee amp St Paul depot at the foot of Hickory Street to the Chicago St Paul Minneapolis amp Omaha depot at Fourth and Washington Streets (now Washington Park) from which the next leg of his journey would depart Despite a reported temperature of 30 degrees below zero Colfax walked from one station to the other Within five minutes after he arrived at the Omaha linersquos depot Colfax entered the waiting room looked at a map on the wall sat down and died It was 1035 am No one in the station knew who the dead man actually was until they searched his pockets and found a letter with his name on it His death was likely caused by a heart attack brought on by the physical exertion of walking almost a mile in extreme cold Colfax was only 61 when he died His remains were returned to South Bend Indiana for burial

Today few Americans are aware that anyone named Schuyler Colfax ever lived much less served as vice president of the United States In this era in which officeholders are often treated as celebrities imagine how surprised people would be to learn that a former vice president died cold alone and unrecognized in a train station 131 years ago Before 24-hour news channels smart phones and social media it was possible for public figures like Colfax to live ndash and die ndash in relative obscurity Ironically Colfax loved the railroad but in the end it was the cause of his undoing Mankato has the distinction of being the location where the last man to personally speak to Abraham Lincoln in a private conversation took his last breath

MM p01 0116indd 27 12182015 24549 PM

28 bull January 2016 bull MANKATO MAGAZINE

Mayo Clinic offers pediatric and adolescent orthopedic services right here in Mankato Todd Milbrandt MD cares for patients with a variety of needs including

bull Cerebral palsy

bull Clubfoot

bull Hip disorders

bull Spinal disorders

bull Sports injuries

bull Scoliosis

bull Spina bifida

Mayo Clinic Health System in Mankato Call 1-877-412-7575 (toll-free) to schedule an appointment

495rdquox495rdquo Mankato Magazine January

Orthopedic care for your child

Independent ampAssisted Living

EQUAL HOUSINGOPPORTUNITY

1360 Adams StreetMankato MN

PrimroseRetirementcom

reg

Key City Senior Breakfast ClubThe Key City Senior Breakfast Club meets the first Thursday of each month from 830 AM - 930 AM at Primrose Retirement Community The club gives those 55+ the opportunity to meet new friends and visit old ones socialize with Key City Officials and enjoy a delicious home-cooked breakfast To visit a Key City Senior Breakfast please call (866) 447-9636

Mark your calendar for these breakfast dates Thursday January 7th Thursday March 3rd and Thursday May 5th

刀椀渀最 椀渀 琀栀攀 

一攀眀 夀攀愀爀

㔀 㜀ⴀ㤀㐀ⴀ㐀㐀䨀甀氀攀攀猀䨀攀眀攀氀爀礀挀漀洀

椀渀 匀愀椀渀琀 倀攀琀攀爀

20765 Foley Rd Mankato MN | 5073872434 | 5077262411

Three TimeNational Award Winners

MM p02 0116indd 28 12182015 30742 PM

Mayo Clinic offers pediatric and adolescent orthopedic services right here in Mankato Todd Milbrandt MD cares for patients with a variety of needs including

bull Cerebral palsy

bull Clubfoot

bull Hip disorders

bull Spinal disorders

bull Sports injuries

bull Scoliosis

bull Spina bifida

Mayo Clinic Health System in Mankato Call 1-877-412-7575 (toll-free) to schedule an appointment

495rdquox495rdquo Mankato Magazine January

Orthopedic care for your child

Independent ampAssisted Living

EQUAL HOUSINGOPPORTUNITY

1360 Adams StreetMankato MN

PrimroseRetirementcom

reg

Key City Senior Breakfast ClubThe Key City Senior Breakfast Club meets the first Thursday of each month from 830 AM - 930 AM at Primrose Retirement Community The club gives those 55+ the opportunity to meet new friends and visit old ones socialize with Key City Officials and enjoy a delicious home-cooked breakfast To visit a Key City Senior Breakfast please call (866) 447-9636

Mark your calendar for these breakfast dates Thursday January 7th Thursday March 3rd and Thursday May 5th

OMG hellip More food and drinksOK sure

By now yoursquore probably thinking ldquoOh my gosh the last thing I want to think about right now is more food more drinking and more diningrdquo

Fair enough We get it The holidays are murder on the metabolism of many many Minnesotans

But we also know that those metabolisms are hardy and soon enough theyrsquoll be hankering for a hunk of something yummy and full of fun And whatrsquos more yummy and full of fun than a big glass of Cabernet Sauvignon Our wine guy Leigh Pomeroy takes us on a tour of all that is tasty and wonderful about big red wines the kind that leave their mark the kind that really announce their presence on your palate

And just in case yoursquore super serious about a healthy lifestyle mdash and that seriousness extends to the kind of beer you choose mdash Bert Mattson our beer guy has just the selection for you Best part is Itrsquos light

Oh and under the category of ldquoDid you hear about thisrdquo Wersquove got an update for you on the Coffee Hag Mankatorsquos original coffee house and one of the most popular hangouts in town Seriously some days itrsquos hard to find a seat in that place

EnjoyPS We know that baby itrsquos cold outside mdash thatrsquos why wersquove

thrown you our absolute best hot cocoa recipe

Enjoymdash Robb Murray Associate Editor Mankato Magazine

food drink amp dineso

uthern m

n style

20765 Foley Rd Mankato MN | 5073872434 | 5077262411

Three TimeNational Award Winners

MM p02 0116indd 29 12182015 30745 PM

MANKATO 5073854485 AMBOY 5076743355 I VERNON CENTER 5075493679

INSURANCE OFFICES LOCATED IN THE COMMUNITY BANK BUILDINGS

wwwcimankatocom

Protecting the things that matter most in your life

Let us help protect what is important to you At Community Insurance we have the ability to compare insurance from multiple companies to get you the best coverage at a great price Combine that with our insurance knowledge and friendly group of agents and we say thatrsquos a winning deal

WHERE YOUR POLICY COMES WITH AN AGENT

Christina Meyer

Food

south

ern mn style

Food

south

ern mn style

By The Washington Post

Growing up my mother always encouraged her children to cook So when

I found a recipe for hot chocolate on the side of the Hersheyrsquos Cocoa can it was easy to convince her to let me give it a try

What I discovered was that hot chocolate doesnrsquot have to come from an envelope

This recipe has been a favorite of mine to make on days when winter weather has convinced me stay home and off the roads Itrsquos the perfect way to kill time and have a nice hot drink to warm you up on those chilly days

Although you can top it with whipped cream I prefer marshmallows

FAVORITE HOT COCOAMakes 4 to 6 servings

12 cup sugar14 cup unsweetened cocoa powder

Dash of salt13 cup hot water

4 cups milk34 teaspoon vanilla extract

Whipped cream or marshmallows (optional)

Mix sugar cocoa powder salt and water in a sauce pan Stir constantly over medium heat until mixture comes to a boil (about 2 minutes) Stir in

milk and heat Bring the hot chocolate to the desired temperature but do not boil Remove from heat and

add the vanilla extract Divide into mugs and top with whipped cream or marshmallows

PERFECTLY CHOCOLATE HOT COCOA

Makes 1 serving

2 tablespoons sugar2 tablespoons unsweetened cocoa powder

Dash salt1 cup milk

14 teaspoon vanilla extractWhipped cream or marshmallows (optional)

Mix sugar cocoa powder and salt into large mug In separate microwave-safe container heat on high

for 1 to 1 frac12 minutes or until very hot Carefully and gradually add milk to dry mixture Stir well Add vanilla extract Top with whipped cream or

marshmallows

Simple homemade hot chocolate

beats the winter chill

30 bull January 2016 bull MANKATO MAGAZINE

MM p02 0116indd 30 12182015 30752 PM

MANKATO MAGAZINE  bull January 2016 bull 31

Oil Change to OverhaulWe do it all

507-387-13151620 Commerce Drive North MankatowwwAustinsAutoRepairCentercom

Voted Best Auto Repair and Best Auto Mechanic 4 Years in a Row

AUSTINrsquoS AUTO REPAIR CENTER INC

MANKATO 5073854485 AMBOY 5076743355 I VERNON CENTER 5075493679

INSURANCE OFFICES LOCATED IN THE COMMUNITY BANK BUILDINGS

wwwcimankatocom

Protecting the things that matter most in your life

Let us help protect what is important to you At Community Insurance we have the ability to compare insurance from multiple companies to get you the best coverage at a great price Combine that with our insurance knowledge and friendly group of agents and we say thatrsquos a winning deal

WHERE YOUR POLICY COMES WITH AN AGENT

Christina Meyer

MM p02 0116indd 31 12182015 30755 PM

32 bull January 2016 bull MANKATO MAGAZINE

January is Cabernet TimeWersquove celebrated nearly

every January edition of Mankato Magazine with

a paean to BIG REDS And since there are so many wonderful examples why stop now

Last year I wrote about the powerful big reds of Italy This January wersquoll focus on Cabernet Sauvignon known to many as ldquothe king of winesrdquo Most oenophiles (wine lovers) consider the quintessential representations of this grape to be the classified Bordeaux of southwest France near the city of Bordeaux The five First Growths (or best wines according to a classification made in 1855 and updated in 1973) are Ch Lafite Rothschild Ch Margaux Ch Latour Ch Haut Brion and Ch Mouton Rothschild All have a cabernet sauvignon base but they are blended with merlot and often a little bit of cabernet franc and petit verdot as well

In the early 1970s I was able to buy these wines for around $22 per bottle mdash about $120 in 2016 dollars Yet with the popularity of ldquocollectiblerdquo wines on a worldwide

basis they sell today for anywhere from $400 on up

Contrary to popular belief these wines are not that massive Rather they combine cabernet sauvignon power with

structure and finesse yielding wines that become with time elixirs that are greater than the sum of their parts

Both California and Washington state have taken up the Cabernet Sauvignon challenge and are producing world-class wines at sometimes world-class prices Napa Valley is the recognized leader in this arena and rightly so Napa Valleyrsquos top Cabernet

Wine amp B

eerso

uthern m

n style

winesBy Leigh Pomeroy

Leigh Pomeroy is a Mankato-based writer and wine lover

Cabernet Sauvignon is the black Labrador of wines mdash it comes up and licks yourdquo

mdash Winemaker Scott Rich

Sauvignons rival the great wines of Bordeaux for quality mdash Irsquove tasted them side-by-side mdashand yet can sell for a fraction of their price

One such example is the 2013 Tulocay Cabernet Sauvignon from my old friend Bill Cadman We were young bucks in Napa Valley and had a tasting group in the early 1970s along with now-famous wine luminaries Bruce Neyers (Neyers Vineyards) and Mike Richmond (co-founder of Acacia Vineyard)

Billrsquos Cabernet is from an old and relatively cool growing area east of the City of Napa called Coombsville which because of industry political issues only recently received its AVA (American Viticultural Area) designation It is priced at $60 per bottle yet compares with any top-flight Bordeaux as well as the more expensive offerings from Napa Valley which can cost from $100 on up Not currently available at wine stores or restaurants in Minnesota it can be purchased by contacting the winery directly via its website tulocaycom The winery is so small that Bill will probably answer the phone himself

There is a lot of Cabernet Sauvignon available from California but mdash caveat emptor mdash not all growing areas (or appellations) are the same The best Cabernet Sauvignons are from Napa and Sonoma Counties Cabernets simply labeled ldquoCaliforniardquo or perhaps ldquoCoastalrdquo while sometimes good values lack the complexity of the greater Cabernet Sauvignons from the more northern parts of the state

Washington state has also

established itself as a prime producer of Cabernet Sauvignon But here again quality can vary greatly depending upon the area and producer While there is no ldquogo-tordquo appellation for Cabernet Sauvignon in Washington there are producers that are able to secure fruit from the best vineyards

One such example is the tiny Willis Hall Winery owned by another good friend John Bell a former Boeing jet propulsion engineer Like Tulocay its wines are only available by calling up the winery and ordering some (See willishallcom) But there are many other top quality producers in Washington like Quilceda Creek Leonetti Betz Family and Woodward Canyon

Of course not everyone can afford Cabernet Sauvignons in the $60-plus category One excellent everyday drinking example is the Flying Cloud 2013 Paso Robles Cabernet Sauvignon made by Mankato native Stephen Dooley Normally I donrsquot like Paso Robles Cabs as they tend to be too fruity and too soft for my palate mdash almost like drinking berry jam But this one is quite restrained no doubt helped by the inclusion of 13 percent zinfandel and 9 percent petite sirah in the blend

In Mankato both the Wine Cafeacute and MGM carry the Flying Cloud but at its price and quality I wouldnrsquot count on it lasting for long especially since only 759 cases were produced

So letrsquos raise a glass of Cabernet and say ldquoCheersrdquo to the New Year

MM p02 0116indd 32 12182015 30756 PM

MANKATO MAGAZINE  bull January 2016 bull 33

Bert Mattson is a chef and writer based in St Paul He is the manager of the iconic Mickeyrsquos Diner

Beer Skinny

BeerBy Bert Mattson

Last year according to Nielsen research staying fit and healthy was

the number one New Yearrsquos resolution Losing weight was two Three was to enjoy life to the fullest Unfortunately ldquolose weight and get fitrdquo also topped Time magazinersquos list of commonly broken resolutions Is this shortfall due to tension between the top two and that third one If so craft beer may have a role in the compromise Bad news first

In the context of losing weight and staying fit beer lovers might seek solace in the fact that fat carries nine calories per gram while alcohol has only seven The wrinkle is that those seven are ldquoemptyrdquo mdash calories without nutrition as opposed to those from fat protein and carbohydrates Moreover alcoholrsquos calories are the first burned when combined with the others the human body postpones burning fat while it works on alcohol Furthermore beer (and wine and often cocktails) contains carbohydrates which release insulin and can hasten fat storage Finally many drinkers have undoubtedly observed that alcohol loosens inhibitions after which an eager indulgence in unhealthy foods often occurs (Bar menus are rarely helpful in that respect)

By now you may wonder whose side Irsquom actually on Or suspect Irsquove led you to this dark place only to offer you a Lite No worries a couple craft brewers have been considering ways to keep us true to our resolutions

Evil Twin Brewingrsquos Bikini Beer drops the alcohol to 27 percent but stays bold by way of hops A Pale Ale it hits the nose with citrus suggestive of IPA The flavor follows suit floral and lemon There is an expected absence of malt yielding to bitterness up front that fades at the finish An alternative

for those who insist on the full effect Founderrsquos Brewing Companyrsquos All Day IPA rings in at a respectable 144 calories (Evil Twinrsquos entry comes in at 81)

One strategy to beat the beer munchies and avoid costly impulse eating is to have suitable chow on hand With Bikini Beer try a salad sporting blue cheese and some sort of dried fruit Creamy blue veined cheeses echo the hops while balancing bitterness An occasional bite of dried fruit stands in for malt sweetness

Brooklyn Breweryrsquos 12 Ale weighs in at 34 percent alcohol (102 calories) It is alliteratively labeled ldquoSession Saisonrdquo It opens with a waft of citrus and spice and a little lemongrass from Sorachi Ace hops mdash a hybrid developed in East Asia The same elements are found in the flavor which is a bit more subdued than a full-sized Saison

Try it with a tangle of arugula dressed with lemon and a fruity olive oil tossed with pine nuts and topped with shaved Parmesan for effect The greens and cracked pepper reflect spicy phenolic elements in the yeast Salty cheese counters the beerrsquos lingering bitterness Maybe add a few slices of Speck cured ham and Saison share a certain funkiness

If friends show and it becomes a session you may honestly say you spent Saturday working on your six-pack

MM p02 0116indd 33 12182015 30757 PM

34 bull January 2016 bull MANKATO MAGAZINE

Food

south

ern mn style

Food

south

ern mn style

The Coffee Hag one of the arearsquos oldest (and coolest) bistros recently underwent a major expansion and remodeling journey culminating in a large and airy

seating area along with a much-improved kitchen and a new menu Mankato Magazine caught up with a very busy (and slightly exhausted) owner Jenn Melby-Kelly who weighs in on how itrsquos going

MANKATO MAGAZINE Are you personally enjoying the new updatesJENN MELBY-KELLY It Is Fabulous The new space represents so much more than a remodel to me It has brought to life a vision for my business thatrsquos been years in the making It incorporates many many good ideas from many many people I feel so fortunate to get to see that every time I walk through the door

MM How are customers reactingJMK Thatrsquos been one of the best parts The response has been overwhelmingly positive

A few of our most regular customers had the opportunity to get a glimpse of the remodel while it was underway (we gave some informal preview tours while we were operating the temporary stand outside) but many customers walk through the door now and see it all for the first time Itrsquos especially fun to see and hear that kind of wide-eyed reaction

A few people with special connections to The Hag have had even stronger emotional responses and Irsquom so touched and right there with them when I see eyes well up as they see what wersquove done Itrsquos a very big milestone for a very special place and wersquore blessed to have people that care so deeply

MM Do the employees appreciate the new spaceJMK Oh probably more than anyone There was a lot that we sought to do with the remodel but creating a bigger brighter better-equipped space for our team was certainly one of the primary goals Wersquove got an incredible team truly the most spirited and talented people anyone could hope for

Many of them have spent years with me working hard against the challenge of a small under-equipped space and just barely being able to keeping up with growing demand Itrsquos been a special blessing for them and for me to finally have state-of-the-art space thatrsquos made for the work that we do We all feel a special connection to this place and now more than ever the place reflects the good energy we all bring here every day

MM Is the new menu a hit (The Hag specializes in vegetarianvegan cuisine)JMK Yes but just wait Feedback and demand have been excellent with our food offerings already but wersquore just getting started on some of the really exciting things that are coming to our food menu

Remodeling the cafe was just the first major milestone of our two-part expansion plan Next up wersquore building a state of the art off-site commissary kitchen that will do for our incredible culinary team what the remodeled shop has done for our baristas Theyrsquove been working day and night on taking our already fantastic food offerings to a whole new level

Wersquove already introduced some amazing new menu items like the Garden Grilled Cheese panini (trust me itrsquos like nothing yoursquove had before) and some truly outstanding new vegan baked goods Wersquove also improved our classic offerings with house-made

Interview with Jenn Melby-Kelly owner of The Coffee Hag

By Sarah Johnson

MM p02 0116indd 34 12182015 30802 PM

MANKATO MAGAZINE  bull January 2016 bull 35

Happy New Year

Locally Owned amp Operated

Check Weekly Specialsmgmwineandspiritscommankato

Largest Selection ofbull Liquor bull Wine bull Beer bull

Hours Monday-Saturday 8 am - 10 pm

ATMs at all stores

Mankato201 Victory Dr

625-2420

North Mankato1755 Commerce Dr

387-2634

St Peter100 N Minnesota Ave

934-8964

sourdough and whole wheat breads But as impressive as it is already itrsquos just a taste mdash literally mdash of things to come as we bring our new kitchen online

MM Whatrsquos stayed the sameJMK Irsquom really proud to say that while wersquove touched almost every part of this 23-year-old business wersquove kept even more than we have changed From the first days of this project I made it my personal mission and responsibility to make sure that the ldquosoulrdquo of this special place was only enhanced and never lost as we made the updates

In every area of the remodel as wersquove added some necessary new layers of sophistication The Hagrsquos colorful quirky and even rebellious spirit is still very much a part of the space We did a lot to try to make sure it still looked and felt like ldquohomerdquo

And on a deeper level every step wersquove taken with the growth of our business has been chosen carefully to honor the core parts of The Coffee Hagrsquos identity Our focus on community our support for local art and music our commitment to creating a safe and welcoming space for everyone our efforts to lead the way on social and environmental issues affecting our world near and far mdash those have all stayed the same And those will always be at the heart of what we do

MM Anything elseJMK Irsquom so incredibly grateful for the support of our customers and community And whenever I talk about my business and how it has grown I really canrsquot overstate how thankful I am for my beautiful Coffee Hag family The hard work good energy and earnest contributions of so many people mdash past and present mdash have brought me and my business here An incredible amount of love has gone into this business and made this dream a reality

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36 bull January 2016 bull MANKATO MAGAZINE

xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

Food

south

ern mn style

whatrsquos Cooking By Sarah Johnson

Sarah Johnson is a cook freelance writer and chocolate addict from North Mankato with three grown kids and a couple of mutts

As I was pondering my subject matter for todayrsquos column I started wondering about all the different items the word ldquonutsrdquo can refer

to Crazy people are called nuts so are hexagonal metal objects that attach to bolts Nuts can be the end of things (as in ldquofrom soup to nutsrdquo) or they can be the beginning of them (as in ldquosperm incubatorsrdquo) Nut can also mean onersquos head or onersquos lump of something such as butter And if you accidentally get a nut of butter on your nut you can exclaim ldquoNutsrdquo

My favorite meaning of the word nut however is the dry indehiscent one-seeded fruit with a woody pericarp And I donrsquot even know what indehiscent OR pericarp means But these are the wonderful denizens of the world of edible nuts

Nuts are widely credited with all sorts of health benefits for the heart brain male reproductive system prostate cholesterol level fiber intake and avoidance of some types of cancer And while nuts do contain fat itrsquos the ldquogoodrdquo kind heart-healthy monounsaturated and polyunsaturated fat Their mix of omega-3 fatty acids protein and fiber helps you feel full and suppresses the appetite

Nuts are great in desserts and salads of course but they also shine in stir-fries casseroles soups chicken pork fish and even beverages Nut butters nut milks and nut oils add delicious options to our kitchen larders Breads cereals muffins and pancakes gain texture flavor and nutrition from the addition of nuts Basically anytime is a good time for nuts

Which is a wonderful thing because nuts taste so good you would think they had to be very very bad The reason lies deep in their oils

Walnut Oil is strong and flavorful Itrsquos best when used in uncooked sauces or salad dressing

Hazelnut Oil has a strong flavor and is great for the heart

Almond Oil is very popular and has a much milder flavor than walnut oil or hazelnut oil

Pecan Macadamia Nut Pistachio Cashew and Pine Nut Oils are flavorful and unique The freshness of the nuts used really affects the flavor

ldquoTherersquos Nuttinrsquo Nutty About Nutsrdquo

For the Baklava1 pound pistachios hazelnuts walnuts pecans andor almonds coarsely ground plus more for garnish12 teaspoon ground cinnamon1 cup breadcrumbs4 sticks unsalted butter melted16 sheets phyllo dough (thawed if frozen) cut in half

For the Syrup3 cups sugar1 6 -to-8-ounce jar honey1 frac12 cups water1 to 2 tablespoons fresh lemon juice

If yoursquore under the impression that baklava is much too labor-intensive and complicated to make at home think again Anybody can make

it no special skills equipment or exotic ingredients are required A word about phyllo dough Itrsquos sold in frozen packages so you need to remove the package from the freezer and let it thaw in the fridge 24 hours before you want to make the baklava Then about an hour beforehand remove the package from the fridge and let it sit on the counter

Walnuts or pistachios are the most traditional nuts to fill baklava but using other nuts works wonders as well Simply layer the phyllo with the nut filling and butter bake for an hour and finish with a simple honeyed syrup If you have leftover nuts from the holidays herersquos your chance to use them up

Mixed Nut Baklava

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MANKATO MAGAZINE  bull January 2016 bull 37

MONEY MATTERS WORK SMARTLET COMMUNITY BANK HELP YOUBRING THE TWO TOGETHER

MANKATO - SAINT ANDREWS DR 5073854444MANKATO - MADISON AVE 5076251551VERNON CENTER 5075493679AMBOY 5076743300

JULIE VETTERSR VICE PRESIDENTRETAIL BANKING

We support great causes like yoursAt Community Bank we know good things happen when you have a good bank So we make more possible by keeping banking simple and supportive And by giving you the power that comes with innovative solutions like our Health Savings Account It offers you tax-free savings for future medical expenses Stop by anytime Wersquore always ready to help out a great cause

Position a rack in the lower third of the oven preheat to 350 degrees Combine the nuts cinnamon and breadcrumbs in a bowl

Brush a 9x13-inch baking dish with some of the butter Layer 10 pieces of phyllo in the dish brushing each piece with butter before adding the next (keep the remaining dough covered with a damp towel) Sprinkle a quarter of the nut mixture over the dough Layer four pieces of phyllo on top brushing each with butter before adding the next sprinkle with another quarter of the nut mixture Add four more phyllo pieces on top brushing each with butter then add another quarter of the nut mixture four more pieces of phyllo with butter and the remaining nuts

Layer the remaining 10 pieces of phyllo on top of the nuts brushing each with butter brush the top piece with extra butter Cut into the baklava to make strips about 1 12 inches wide Then make diagonal slices about 1 12 inches apart to create a diamond pattern Bake until golden about one hour

Meanwhile make the syrup Bring the sugar honey and 1 12 cups water to a boil in a saucepan over medium heat and cook 10 to 15 minutes Add the lemon juice and boil 2 more minutes then let cool slightly Pour the syrup over the warm baklava let soak uncovered at least six hours or overnight Garnish with nuts

MM p02 0116indd 37 12182015 30817 PM

38 bull bull MANKATO MAGAZINE

Nell Musolf is a mom and freelance writer from Mankato She blogs at nellmusolfcom

38 bull bull MANKATO MAGAZINE

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MANKATO MAGAZINE  bull January 2016 bull 39

Gear Up for WinterYear-Round amp Insulated Workwear from

Carhartt Dickies and Key

UNIFORMSUniforms fromBarco Carhartt Cherokee DickiesKoi Peaches and White Cross

AMAZED

Call 5073446336mankatomagmankatofreepresscom

Stephanie L Hylla LAc Dipl AcKayla M Sweeney MOm LAc

NEW LOCATION709 S Front Suite 5

5074694788mankatoacupuncturecom

Open House ndash Wednesday Feb 3 9-12noonCelebrating 5 years of Business New Location and the Chinese New Year

In Network with Blue Cross Blue ShieldLicensed by the MN Board of Medical Practice

Ribbon Cutting with Greater Mankato Growth at 10am

(A $250 Value)THIS VOUCHER ENTITLES NEW PATIENTS TO A

CONSULTATION EXAM amp DIGITAL X-RAYS (IF NEEDED)

wwwr igne l l fami lych i roprac t ic comMedicare Restrictions Apply Expires January 31 2016

Dr BrandonRignell DC

1351 Madison AveSuite D

Mankato MN 56001

5077797313

$2900New Patient Special

MM p02 0116indd 39 12222015 121344 PM

40 bull bull MANKATO MAGAZINE

Jean Lundquist is a master gardener who lives near Good Thunder

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MANKATO MAGAZINE  bull January 2016 bull 41

3 Increase the Value of Your Home

3 Update Your Homersquos Appearance

3 Save Money

Choose from SeveralModels Styles amp Colors

507-625-7110 or 1-800-645-36671125 Cross St North Mankato MN

Improve Your HomersquosEnergy Efficiency

422 Park Lane Mankato MN | NuStarMankatocom

(507) 381-4747Voted One of Mankatorsquos Best

DANIEL WINGERT

Make Selling Your Home Your NuYearrsquos Resolution

MM p02 0116indd 41 12182015 30839 PM

42 bull January 2016 bull MANKATO MAGAZINE

January Resolve to moisturize

Your stYLeBy Ann Rosenquist Fee

Ann Rosenquist Fee is executive director of the Arts Center of Saint Peter and a vocalist with The Frye She blogs at annrosenquistfeecom

If you have in-laws or colleagues who know you well enough to have given you holiday gifts

but not well enough to know what wouldrsquove truly made you happy congratulations Chances are yoursquore the proud owner of a bunch of brand-new lip balm

Maybe itrsquos even holiday themed Thatrsquos the best Maybe you got the candy-cane flavored kind or wintergreen with holiday graphics on the label or something like that A theme that was irrelevant the moment the stocking was unstuffed because at that exact second the holiday was over

And here you are in January with an abundance of wax

Fortunately also here you are in the early weeks of winter with rough red knuckles Probably also cracked cuticles although it might not have gone that far yet for you Irsquom sure it has for me This photo was taken back in November and even then the Band-Aids were for real Irsquove learned to cut them in half length-wise so as to retain my ability to type Irsquove also learned to play with a range of color options Flesh-toned Clear Disney characters The colorful strips shown here were gifted to me by my husband Partly why theyrsquore cut in half is that the text is obscene This is one small trick you can use to make bloody cuticles your most exciting accessory of the winter

Sources like UrbanSurvivalSitecom and WonderHowTocom will tell you that you can use lip balm for a whole variety of purposes such as coating threads of outdoor lightbulbs before screwing them into their sockets and enhancing the burn-ability of most kindling

These are great fun but they wonrsquot improve your personal style

More germane to winter beauty are the following suggestions

Keep a tube next to your bed for first-thing-in-the-morning use And I mean really truly first-thing I mean smear the stuff on each cuticle while yoursquore still lying there before you start using your fingers at all If you wake up thinking yoursquore fine and skip cuticle care next thing you know yoursquore pushing down the lever on your Keurig and the pressure is more than your screamingly dry skin can take and boom split blood on the Keurig and itrsquos gonna be a long painful day If only you had balmed your hands before you let your feet hit the floor

Keep another tube in your glove compartment If itrsquos warm enough to take off your mittens in the car mdash if yoursquore even wearing mittens given that your hands are snagging on everything these days mdash the harsh January sunlight will allow you to see cracks and flakes in high-resolution detail Yoursquoll want the balm nearby

to cover what you didnrsquot notice first thing in the morning Also a car tube is useful for when you look in the rear-view mirror and notice that your nose and upper lip are flaking as well Itrsquos because yoursquore getting over a cold and the frequent use of tissue has worn away your top layer of skin but just because you know that doesnrsquot mean everybody else wonrsquot think ldquothere is something in that noserdquo Itrsquos just a fact Itrsquos what it looks like Lip balm to the rescue Itrsquos the only thing dry enough to slick those flakes in place and nourishing enough to maybe actually get your face back to normal

Keep a couple more tubes in a nighttime kit along with sandpaper Sandpaper Yes Not a pumice stone not a lame also-gifted sugar

scrub Medium-grit sandpaper is what you need every night lightly but with conviction As follows 1) Sand taking care not to do more damage than what the elements have already done Yoursquore just trying to remove the dry dead stuff Yoursquore just being hearty and efficient about this true to the culture of this great state in which yoursquove chosen to winter You are no pansy Sand your hands 2) Wash 3) Blot dry 4) Dial up the gifted balm whisper a word of thanks to the person who put so much thought into your well-being that they stuffed your holiday stocking with this amazing gift of self-care smash a healthy amount down into your palms massage Take heart You just might find yourself with normal-textured non-cracked not-horrible-looking hands by morning

Split-open cuticles I feel you Except for these Band-Aids I feel you

Lip balms I have been gifted and these are just from last Christmas ldquolastrdquo as in 2014

Bathrooms Worth Bragging About

HoursTue amp Wed amp Fri | 9 am to 6 pmMon amp Thu | 9 am to 7 pmSaturday | 9 am to 4 pm

219 S Victory Dr | Mankato507 | 345 | 7009ipafhickorytechnetindependentpaintandflooringcom

You Deserve Comfortable Care Every Timebull Sedation - Complete Relaxation with Just a Pillbull Invisalign - Clear Alternative to Bracesbull Botox amp Fillersbull Implants - Placement and Restorationbull Cerec - One Visit Crown Technology

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1400 Lookout Drive North Mankato507-625-CARE(2273) bull mankatodentistcom 06

1865

6124

01

Dr AngelA Schuck

Dr keith FlAck

MM p02 0116indd 42 12182015 30841 PM

MANKATO MAGAZINE  bull January 2016 bull 43

Bathrooms Worth Bragging About

HoursTue amp Wed amp Fri | 9 am to 6 pmMon amp Thu | 9 am to 7 pmSaturday | 9 am to 4 pm

219 S Victory Dr | Mankato507 | 345 | 7009ipafhickorytechnetindependentpaintandflooringcom

You Deserve Comfortable Care Every Timebull Sedation - Complete Relaxation with Just a Pillbull Invisalign - Clear Alternative to Bracesbull Botox amp Fillersbull Implants - Placement and Restorationbull Cerec - One Visit Crown Technology

bull Free Whitening Programbull 3D Imaging with Fewer X-Raysbull Cosmetic Dentistrybull Drill-Free Technologybull Emergency Care

1400 Lookout Drive North Mankato507-625-CARE(2273) bull mankatodentistcom 06

1865

6124

01

Dr AngelA Schuck

Dr keith FlAck

(944) 412-7949 | OrthoEdgeMNcom

Enjoy the season

Mankato St Peter

Be active Be healthyBe able with OrthoEdge

The OrthoEdge joint replacement

program offers superb care from your first

visit through recovery The surgeons from

the Orthopaedic amp Fracture Clinic and

the care team at Riverrsquos Edge Hospital

provide personal and professional care to

get you back to able

Why Riverrsquos Edge Hospital amp Clinic

bull Riverrsquos Edge Hospital amp Clinic has a long-

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MM p02 0116indd 43 12182015 30842 PM

44 bull January 2016 bull MANKATO MAGAZINE

1 Hicktown Mafia800 pm mdash New Ulm Event Center mdash 301 20th St S mdash New Ulm mdash $10 mdash 507-354-4673

7-9 Mankato West Orchesis Dance Team showcase7 pm Thursday-Saturday 2 pm Saturday mdash Mankato West High School Auditorium mdash $7 adults $5 students mdash 507-381-7578

10 Mankato Symphony Orchestra Music on the Hill II ldquoMinnesota rootsrdquo2 pm mdash Chapel at Good Counselmdash Good Counsel Drive mdash Mankato mdash $17 $12 mdash wwwmankatosymphonycom

16 Handel with Caremdash Handel Goes to Italy11 ammdash YMCA Aerobics Studio mdash 1401 S Riverfront Drive mdash Mankato mdash wwwmankatosymphonycom

16 Mankato Craft beer Expo2 pm (VIP) 3 pm general mdash Verizon Wireless Center mdash $45 VIP $35 general $10 designated driver mdash wwwmankatocraftbeerexpocom

23 Joey Flip and Mike Fugazzi rockinrsquo at the Embassy9 pm mdash Blaschkorsquos Embassy Bar and Grill mdash 325 S Minnesota Ave mdash St Peter mdash 507-934-3903

24 andrea Lyn and Dick Kimmel concert730 pm mdash Elias J Halling Recital Hall mdash Minnesota State University mdash Mankato mdash $12 regular $11 current MSU students mdash wwwmnusedumusic

28-31 MSu Theatre antigone730 pm Thursday-Saturday 2 pm Sunday mdash Andreas Theatre mdash Minnesota State University mdash Mankato mdash $16 regular $14 discount $11 current MSU students mdash wwwmnsuedu

29-31 BLC Theatre Brigadoon730 Friday and Saturday 2 pm Sunday mdash Ylvisaker Fine Arts Center mdash Bethany Lutheran College mdash Mankato mdash $10 adults $6 seniors children and students mdash wwwblceduevents

29- Feb 7 Winterfest St Peter Citywide mdash wwwstpeterchamberorg

30 Church of Cash a Tribute to Johnny Cash7 pm mdash St Peter American Legion mdash 229 W Nassau St mdash St Peter mdash 507-934-6435

31 Maud Hixson and rick Carlson concert730 pmmdash Elias J Halling Recital Hall mdash Minnesota State University mdash Mankato mdash $12 regular $11 current MSU students wwmnsuedumusic

Coming attraCtions January

T - F 8am - 6pm Sun ClosedSat 9am - 4pmM 8am - 8pm

120 North Broad Street Mankato MN 507-345-4688 wwwmeyerandsonstvandappliancecom

FIND SPECIAL DEALS ON

MM p02 0116indd 44 12182015 30902 PM

MANKATO MAGAZINE  bull January 2016 bull 45

St Peter Craft amp Vendor Show

1MelinadaBussefromRapidansoldherhandmadejewelryatthecraftandvendorshow

2DarylfromElysianandhishand-carvedwoodart

3MacKennaage7hasfunatoneoftheboothsattheStPeterCraftandVendorShow

4LizEntershowsoffsomeofherproductsattheldquoItWorksrdquobooth

5DenisePetersofldquoYoungLivingrdquoessentialoilsdisplayedherproductsattheshow

Faces amp Places Photos By Sport Pix

3

5

2

1

4

T - F 8am - 6pm Sun ClosedSat 9am - 4pmM 8am - 8pm

120 North Broad Street Mankato MN 507-345-4688 wwwmeyerandsonstvandappliancecom

FIND SPECIAL DEALS ON

MM p02 0116indd 45 12222015 121536 PM

46 bull January 2016 bull MANKATO MAGAZINE

SOUTHErN MN CHrISTMAS

FESTIVAL1 A large crowd was on hand during the festivities at

the Christmas Festival2 Friesenrsquos Family Bakery amp Bistro had tons of baked

goods and soups at the Verizon Wireless Center3 A childrenrsquos choir sang for the audience at the

festival4 Ron Haefner owner of Ronrsquos Auto Repair displayed

some of his services5 Garrison Galatz dressed up as Santa for the

Christmas Festival

faCes amp PLaCes Photos By Sport Pix

4

3

1

2

5

MM p02 0116indd 46 12182015 30923 PM

MANKATO MAGAZINE  bull January 2016 bull 47

1GirlScouttroop34494waspresentedwithatrophybyKiwanisVicePresidentKyleMrozek

2SantaClausevenwentthroughtheparaderoute3(LtoR)BrooklynPomrankeAlaynaLyonsHunterPomrankeandLilyLyonsgetagroupphototakenwithSanta

4MarshaMartigtellsSantawhatshewantsforChristmas

5TheparadefloatswerealldeckedoutinChristmaslights

6Visitorswalkthepatharoundtheparktoviewthisyearrsquoslights

Kiwanis Holiday ligHtsFaces amp Places Photos By sport Pix

2

1

3

4 5

6

MM p02 0116indd 47 12222015 121616 PM

48 bull January 2016 bull MANKATO MAGAZINE

On the Occasion of a 50th Reunion

the Class of 1965

from this VaLLeYBy Pete Steiner

Peter Steiner is host of ldquoTalk of the Townrdquo weekdays at 105 pm on KTOE

I was honored to give the presentation for our 50th class reunion recently at West Highrsquos Homecoming celebration About 120 of our nearly 400-member class

showed up We Baby Boomers the children of the greatest generation had big classes in the late lsquo60rsquos that forced the building of East High Ours was a dramatic era and our class did some great things in the face of big challenges Here edited is some of what I said

I am so glad to be standing here today Therersquos an old saying

ldquoMay you live in INTErESTINg timeshelliprdquo The Class of rsquo65 certainly has Itrsquos seems like only yesterday right after lunch that we were at our desks waiting for the start of English class when our charismatic teacher Harry Fitterer strode in and said ldquoPrESIDENT KENNEDY HAS BEEN SHOT IN DALLASrdquo At first we didnrsquot believe him but it was true It was November 22 1963 We were juniors and as the song says that was THE END OF THE INNOCENCE We had lived through the last idyllic time in America

When we first arrived in the fall of 1962 America was still carefree basking in the glow of victory in WW II Everything may have seemed ldquorightrdquo but it was not Martin Luther King Jr had just visited Mankato pointing out the continuing plight of black Americans as the Civil rights movement was gaining steam The beginnings of the Vietnam War which would alter the course of many of our lives were stirring even as we studied history and government The current generation has no monopoly on forgettable pop music ndash we had a stupid 1 song called ldquoItsie Bitsie Teenie Weenie Yellow Polka Dot Bikinirdquo (unfortunately an ear worm I canrsquot forget) But a darker cultural threat was looming The BEATLES were invading from Britain and our parents were mortified because they had LONg HAIr

Some of the shock of the Kennedy assassination was eased when our wrestling team in the era when the state still had just ONE CLASS won the State Championship in front of a packed hall up at MSU some still maintain that is the greatest single athletic achievement in Mankato history We were the first high school in Mankato to put on a full-scale musical ldquoBye Bye Birdierdquo in the spring of 1964 In Fall of 1964 our football team would have won the conference championship outright except Owatonnarsquos great Noel Jenke who would go on to star for the U of M

cheated I watched him trap the touchdown pass that beat us Does cheating pay Was that a lesson for life

In lsquo65 we also had a fine basketball team that lost our chance at State when our 6-6 center fouled out at Luverne

BUT A FAr BIggEr CHALLENgE AWAITED US ALL As we rode out to Luverne to watch that game we couldnrsquot help noticing the highway was like a canyon between walls of snow The legendary St Patrickrsquos Day Blizzard had dumped two feet on top of an already large snow pack and then April brought rains on frozen ground Instead of coming here to school many of us soon got a real-life assignment to go out in our rain gear out on the dikes to battle the grEAT FLOOD OF 1965 Our school became an island as water flooded the parking lot and all of South riverfront Our spring play that year was called ironically

THE DESPErATE HOUrS We had to rehearse at roosevelt School up on higher ground

Our class produced three Merit scholars One of our classmates who did NOT qualify

for a merit scholarship nevertheless was such a whiz at physics that NASA requested a copy of a paper he wrote on rocketry as a senior We produced 12 doctors one of whom earned a fellowship at Stanford seeking how to bring telemedicine to the poor another of whom became a breakthrough cancer doctor We had entrepreneurs one who would go on to be a leader in Solar Energy (and then run for governor of New Hampshire) Another mdash a woman incidentally when

that was not common founded two bio-tech startups Many of us are still working

past normal retirement age One founded a company on the leading edge of recycling

computers whose clients include the NSA Another is chief medical officer of a company

devising a better tool for colonoscopies Yet another of our classmates recently completed a concert tour of China

We lived in challenging times just as you do today but we muddle through we make it to the other shore I remember sitting where you are 50 years ago thinking how old those folks up there looked But remember Life goes by very quickly You certainly live in interesting times as Shakespeare said ldquoPresent Mirth has Present Laughter Youthrsquos a stuff will NOT endurerdquo So I urge you live each moment to the fullest

MM p02 0116indd 48 12182015 30933 PM

MM p02 0116indd 49 12182015 30936 PM

MM p02 0116indd 50 12182015 30948 PM

Page 25: Mankatomag 116

MANKATO MAGAZINE  bull January 2016 bull 23

Attending the little white country church was physically easy I picked up one-year-old Josh took three-year-old Nikkirsquos hand and walked out the front door down the sidewalk and next door The only things I didnrsquot have to attend were church council and the menrsquos meeting Archaic This was in the 1980s It doesnrsquot seem so long ago

All the available babysitters in the community would attend Almarsquos funeral too so this was to be my kidsrsquo first funeral

The afternoon before the service salt-snow fell Hard little crystals pelted down as if the heavens had up-ended a Mortonrsquos salt canister Within a few hours the hard snow was six inches deep and still falling

In the middle of the salt-snow the gravedigger arrived The Ditchwitch roared around the cemetery to the familyrsquos plot and my kidsrsquo noses pressed against the upstairs bedroom window pane ldquoMommy can we go watchrdquo

Glad for an excuse to get out of the parsonage I bundled them in snowsuits put them on the sled and pulled them across the house yard and garden to the fence that bordered the cemetery

The Ditchwitch made short work of the grave and all three of us were mesmerized watching the mound of gray-black dirt grow in the crystal-white snow When the hole was finished the gravedigger turned his tractor on idle He hopped off and came over to the fence His eyes twinkled in a weathered face ldquoWant to come lookrdquo

I backed up from the fence a step ldquoNo not really I think this is close enoughrdquo

ldquoYes Mommy go lookrdquo ldquoPleeeeaserdquoSo Nikki and Josh got back on the sled and I

hauled them along the fence through the gate over to the grave and looked down Six feet seemed deep bottomless Dark A sharp contrast to the pelting snowflakes all around us

ldquoWanna get down in thererdquo the gravedigger asked I shuddered hung onto the kids and backed up

again ldquoNo No thatrsquos okay This is close enough I just want to look from hererdquo

ldquoYes mommyrdquo the little ones said ldquoLetrsquosrdquoldquoNordquoldquoPleaserdquoldquoReally marsquoam I think you should Yoursquoll be

surprised I wouldnrsquot suggest it if it I didnrsquot think sordquoldquoHow would we get outrdquo The sides were deeper

than I was tall and there certainly werenrsquot footholds or a ladder built in for Almarsquos soul to use to climb out

ldquoLike thisrdquo The gravedigger laid his shovel diagonally across a top corner of the grave and jumped down He grabbed the middle of the shovel handle and swung himself back up and out with the agility of a gymnast ldquoNothinrsquo to itrdquo

ldquoI canrsquot do thatrdquoldquoYes you can Irsquoll boost you And wersquoll lift the kids

Yoursquoll be amazed I promiserdquoI shivered The idea of being inside a grave

seemed much colder than the snow crystals biting at my face

ldquoCome onrdquo he said and jumped back in Nikki and Josh willingly stepped over to him to be lifted down I had no choice but to follow I couldnrsquot let my kids alone in a grave with a man I didnrsquot even know

So I jumped The earth on the bottom made a soft landing The soil around me was warm and steamy It was moist and dark but it enfolded us in an earthy hug At least fifty degrees warmer than the air above ground it felt as if the earth were offering shelter respite a comfortable place to snuggle down and rest Tiny roots dangled full of life from the smooth edges of the hole Tears sprang to my eyes I couldnrsquot help them My eyes met the gravediggerrsquos and he smiled Gently ldquoSeerdquo he said Nothing more

I couldnrsquot speak A few minutes later he gave me a stirrup with his

hands I scrambled out and he lifted Nikki and Josh up to me Then he flipped himself out as easily as a trapeze artist

ldquoThank yourdquo I said ldquoI would never have guessedrdquoHe nodded ldquoNobody does But it helps somehow

I wanted you to feel thatrdquoWhy I wanted to ask why me You donrsquot even

know me Why were you willing to take time for usldquoThank yourdquo was all I said I shook his hand and

he hopped on the Ditchwitch and drove off into the snow

I never saw him again Someone else dug the next grave required in that cemetery

I remember only bits and pieces of the funeral Irsquom sure I baked a boxed cake mix for ldquolunchrdquo afterwards I remember answering Nikkirsquos questions about the body and sitting in the back row of the church in case Josh didnrsquot want to be quiet I do remember looking at the unfamiliar face in the casket and thinking you get to rest in a warm cozy place

Ten winters later we buried my dad on just such a day Wet snow crystals pelted us and piled up so deep the funeral home limousine got stuck in the cemetery By the time the pallbearers pushed it un-stuck their suit pants were caked in slush and mud

We stood at the graveside in the bleak wet icy day and lowered my fatherrsquos body into the ground

ldquoToo bad itrsquos such a miserable dayrdquo ldquoSorry about your dad Sorry the weatherrsquos so bad toordquo And even ldquoSuch a good man He deserves better weather than thisrdquo

But the weather I thought was just right Losing my dad my kids and their cousins losing

their grandpa my mom becoming a widow my brother losing his farming partner and best friend changed our livesmdashthat part was too heavy to carry

The only part that was okay for me was to let Dadrsquos worn-out body be wrapped in that welcoming warm enfolding soilmdashthe very soil hersquod loved to till the soil hersquod planted and tended all his life the soil that gave us all lifemdashthat was the only gratifying part of the day

The only comfort I had was letting Dad go from the cold wet biting snow into that warm and restful place

And I still wonder who that gravedigger was ten years earlier and how he knew how much I would need what he gave me that bleak winter day MM

Rebecca Fjelland Davis is an author from Mankato

MM p01 0116indd 23 12182015 24528 PM

reFlecTionsBy Pat Christman

24 bull January 2016 bull MANKATO MAGAZINE

MM p01 0116indd 24 12182015 24544 PM

reFlecTionsBy Pat Christman

MANKATO MAGAZINE  bull January 2016 bull 25

There are few things as inevitable as snow during a Minnesota winter Big

cotton ball-like snowflakes cover the ground in a white blanket whitewashing the Midwestern landscape

We struggle against it Some hope the snow never comes It always does filling the sky with floating snowflakes that cling to the ground but melt as soon as they hit the small bits of face or hands that peek out from winter clothing

It is often quite beautiful especially when viewed from someplace warm and dry MM

MM p01 0116indd 25 12182015 24548 PM

26 bull January 2016 bull MANKATO MAGAZINE

Then amp now Vice President Schuyler Colfaxrsquos Death By Bryce o sTenzel

On Jan 14 1885 one day after his death the New York Times carried a

headline that read ldquoSchuyler Colfax Dead He Drops Down in a Railway Stationrdquo While most Americans today would have tremendous difficulty in even recognizing this manrsquos name

(unless they were paying close attention to Stephen Spielbergrsquos epic movie Lincoln and made the association) Schuyler Colfax was a former Speaker of the House of Representatives and Vice President of the United States under President US Grant He died in Mankatorsquos Chicago St

Paul Minneapolis amp Omaha railroad depot from a massive heart attack

Schuyler Colfax Jr was born in New York City on March 23 1823 His father died of tuberculosis five months before Schuyler was born His sister Mary died four months after his [Schuylerrsquos]

vice President Schuyler Colfaxrsquos Death in Mankato

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MANKATO MAGAZINE  bull January 2016 bull 27

birth The young Schuyler attended school only until he was 10 He then began working to support his family Schuyler Colfax never attended any kind of secondary school or college His mother remarried when Colfax was 13 and the family moved to New Carlisle Indiana By the time he was 22 Colfax was the editor and owner of a pro-Whig newspaper He was elected to Congress in 1854 and joined the newly formed Republican Party after the Whig Party disintegrated Solidly anti-slavery his colleagues elected Colfax as Speaker of the US House of Representatives in 1863 His election came soon after the death of his wife Evelyn The couple had no children

Colfax was President Abraham Lincolnrsquos first and last visitor on the fateful day Lincoln was assassinatedmdashApril 14 1865 Early that morning Colfax arrived at the White House while the president was having breakfast Colfax wanted to know whether or not Lincoln planned to call a special session of Congress for later that summer Lincolnrsquos answer was a polite but firm ldquonordquo Lincoln preferred a lenient approach in reconstructing as well as readmitting the former Confederate states to the Union now that the Civil War was over This approach put Lincoln at odds with the more ldquoradicalrdquo congressional members of his own party who preferred harsher measures be taken against their former enemies Lincoln had already made up his mind how he wanted to proceed with reconstructing the former Confederate states and he didnrsquot want any unnecessary interference from Congress Calling a special session was the last thing Lincoln wanted to do Colfax returned that same night to see Lincoln again just before the president left for Fordrsquos Theatre and his appointment with destiny This time Colfax came upon Lincolnrsquos own request The president had a long message for the silver miners of the Comstock Lode in Nevada thanking them for their loyalty to the Union that he wanted Speaker Colfax to deliver in person since Colfax was leaving by train for the West the next day Colfax was the last person Lincoln spoke to besides his wife Mary before he

was fatally shot at 1015 pm Colfax never forgave himself for turning down Lincolnrsquos invitation to be part of the theatre party that night

In 1868 Republicans selected General Ulysses S Grant as their presidential candidate Grant a military man his entire life had no political background Colfax was placed on the ticket because of his prior experience as a congressman and Speaker of the House (he resigned the position in 1869) Grant and Colfax won an easy victory in November 1868 Only two weeks later Colfax remarriedmdashthis time to Ellen Wade (niece of Ohio Senator Benjamin Wade) Their only child son Schuyler Colfax III was born in 1870

Colfax is best remembered (if at all) for his involvement in the corruption that beset Grantrsquos entire presidency Specifically the Credit Mobilier scandal broke in 1872 just as Grant and Colfax were gearing up for their re-election campaign Colfax was suspected of accepting shares of stock and cash bribes from ldquoCredit Mobilierrdquo a dummy construction company set up by the Union Pacific Railroad He was by no means the only influential person involved in the scandal Other political figures investigated included Senators Roscoe Conkling of New York William Allison of Iowa John Logan of Illinois James Bayard of Delaware and Henry Wilson of Massachusetts Grant was less popular in 1872 than he had been four years earlier and many Republicans worried that having Colfax on the partyrsquos ticket would harm the presidentrsquos re-election chances They dumped Colfax from the ticket mdash only to replace him with the also-tainted Wilson Grant won re-election and served his second and final term from 1873-1877 After being forced out from the vice presidency Colfax traveled the country as a popular lecturer often speaking about his interactions with Abraham Lincoln during the Civil War He rebuilt his tarnished reputation and commanded speaking fees as high as $2500

At 10 am on Jan 13 1885 Schuyler Colfax arrived in Mankato aboard a train from Milwaukee Mankato was just a

brief stop for Colfax who was on his way to Iowa for a speaking engagement The Chicago Milwaukee amp St Paul as well as the Chicago St Paul Minneapolis amp Omaha railroads both had depots in Mankato but because they were separate competing railroad lines Colfax was required to change trains by walking three-quarters of a mile from the Chicago Milwaukee amp St Paul depot at the foot of Hickory Street to the Chicago St Paul Minneapolis amp Omaha depot at Fourth and Washington Streets (now Washington Park) from which the next leg of his journey would depart Despite a reported temperature of 30 degrees below zero Colfax walked from one station to the other Within five minutes after he arrived at the Omaha linersquos depot Colfax entered the waiting room looked at a map on the wall sat down and died It was 1035 am No one in the station knew who the dead man actually was until they searched his pockets and found a letter with his name on it His death was likely caused by a heart attack brought on by the physical exertion of walking almost a mile in extreme cold Colfax was only 61 when he died His remains were returned to South Bend Indiana for burial

Today few Americans are aware that anyone named Schuyler Colfax ever lived much less served as vice president of the United States In this era in which officeholders are often treated as celebrities imagine how surprised people would be to learn that a former vice president died cold alone and unrecognized in a train station 131 years ago Before 24-hour news channels smart phones and social media it was possible for public figures like Colfax to live ndash and die ndash in relative obscurity Ironically Colfax loved the railroad but in the end it was the cause of his undoing Mankato has the distinction of being the location where the last man to personally speak to Abraham Lincoln in a private conversation took his last breath

MM p01 0116indd 27 12182015 24549 PM

28 bull January 2016 bull MANKATO MAGAZINE

Mayo Clinic offers pediatric and adolescent orthopedic services right here in Mankato Todd Milbrandt MD cares for patients with a variety of needs including

bull Cerebral palsy

bull Clubfoot

bull Hip disorders

bull Spinal disorders

bull Sports injuries

bull Scoliosis

bull Spina bifida

Mayo Clinic Health System in Mankato Call 1-877-412-7575 (toll-free) to schedule an appointment

495rdquox495rdquo Mankato Magazine January

Orthopedic care for your child

Independent ampAssisted Living

EQUAL HOUSINGOPPORTUNITY

1360 Adams StreetMankato MN

PrimroseRetirementcom

reg

Key City Senior Breakfast ClubThe Key City Senior Breakfast Club meets the first Thursday of each month from 830 AM - 930 AM at Primrose Retirement Community The club gives those 55+ the opportunity to meet new friends and visit old ones socialize with Key City Officials and enjoy a delicious home-cooked breakfast To visit a Key City Senior Breakfast please call (866) 447-9636

Mark your calendar for these breakfast dates Thursday January 7th Thursday March 3rd and Thursday May 5th

刀椀渀最 椀渀 琀栀攀 

一攀眀 夀攀愀爀

㔀 㜀ⴀ㤀㐀ⴀ㐀㐀䨀甀氀攀攀猀䨀攀眀攀氀爀礀挀漀洀

椀渀 匀愀椀渀琀 倀攀琀攀爀

20765 Foley Rd Mankato MN | 5073872434 | 5077262411

Three TimeNational Award Winners

MM p02 0116indd 28 12182015 30742 PM

Mayo Clinic offers pediatric and adolescent orthopedic services right here in Mankato Todd Milbrandt MD cares for patients with a variety of needs including

bull Cerebral palsy

bull Clubfoot

bull Hip disorders

bull Spinal disorders

bull Sports injuries

bull Scoliosis

bull Spina bifida

Mayo Clinic Health System in Mankato Call 1-877-412-7575 (toll-free) to schedule an appointment

495rdquox495rdquo Mankato Magazine January

Orthopedic care for your child

Independent ampAssisted Living

EQUAL HOUSINGOPPORTUNITY

1360 Adams StreetMankato MN

PrimroseRetirementcom

reg

Key City Senior Breakfast ClubThe Key City Senior Breakfast Club meets the first Thursday of each month from 830 AM - 930 AM at Primrose Retirement Community The club gives those 55+ the opportunity to meet new friends and visit old ones socialize with Key City Officials and enjoy a delicious home-cooked breakfast To visit a Key City Senior Breakfast please call (866) 447-9636

Mark your calendar for these breakfast dates Thursday January 7th Thursday March 3rd and Thursday May 5th

OMG hellip More food and drinksOK sure

By now yoursquore probably thinking ldquoOh my gosh the last thing I want to think about right now is more food more drinking and more diningrdquo

Fair enough We get it The holidays are murder on the metabolism of many many Minnesotans

But we also know that those metabolisms are hardy and soon enough theyrsquoll be hankering for a hunk of something yummy and full of fun And whatrsquos more yummy and full of fun than a big glass of Cabernet Sauvignon Our wine guy Leigh Pomeroy takes us on a tour of all that is tasty and wonderful about big red wines the kind that leave their mark the kind that really announce their presence on your palate

And just in case yoursquore super serious about a healthy lifestyle mdash and that seriousness extends to the kind of beer you choose mdash Bert Mattson our beer guy has just the selection for you Best part is Itrsquos light

Oh and under the category of ldquoDid you hear about thisrdquo Wersquove got an update for you on the Coffee Hag Mankatorsquos original coffee house and one of the most popular hangouts in town Seriously some days itrsquos hard to find a seat in that place

EnjoyPS We know that baby itrsquos cold outside mdash thatrsquos why wersquove

thrown you our absolute best hot cocoa recipe

Enjoymdash Robb Murray Associate Editor Mankato Magazine

food drink amp dineso

uthern m

n style

20765 Foley Rd Mankato MN | 5073872434 | 5077262411

Three TimeNational Award Winners

MM p02 0116indd 29 12182015 30745 PM

MANKATO 5073854485 AMBOY 5076743355 I VERNON CENTER 5075493679

INSURANCE OFFICES LOCATED IN THE COMMUNITY BANK BUILDINGS

wwwcimankatocom

Protecting the things that matter most in your life

Let us help protect what is important to you At Community Insurance we have the ability to compare insurance from multiple companies to get you the best coverage at a great price Combine that with our insurance knowledge and friendly group of agents and we say thatrsquos a winning deal

WHERE YOUR POLICY COMES WITH AN AGENT

Christina Meyer

Food

south

ern mn style

Food

south

ern mn style

By The Washington Post

Growing up my mother always encouraged her children to cook So when

I found a recipe for hot chocolate on the side of the Hersheyrsquos Cocoa can it was easy to convince her to let me give it a try

What I discovered was that hot chocolate doesnrsquot have to come from an envelope

This recipe has been a favorite of mine to make on days when winter weather has convinced me stay home and off the roads Itrsquos the perfect way to kill time and have a nice hot drink to warm you up on those chilly days

Although you can top it with whipped cream I prefer marshmallows

FAVORITE HOT COCOAMakes 4 to 6 servings

12 cup sugar14 cup unsweetened cocoa powder

Dash of salt13 cup hot water

4 cups milk34 teaspoon vanilla extract

Whipped cream or marshmallows (optional)

Mix sugar cocoa powder salt and water in a sauce pan Stir constantly over medium heat until mixture comes to a boil (about 2 minutes) Stir in

milk and heat Bring the hot chocolate to the desired temperature but do not boil Remove from heat and

add the vanilla extract Divide into mugs and top with whipped cream or marshmallows

PERFECTLY CHOCOLATE HOT COCOA

Makes 1 serving

2 tablespoons sugar2 tablespoons unsweetened cocoa powder

Dash salt1 cup milk

14 teaspoon vanilla extractWhipped cream or marshmallows (optional)

Mix sugar cocoa powder and salt into large mug In separate microwave-safe container heat on high

for 1 to 1 frac12 minutes or until very hot Carefully and gradually add milk to dry mixture Stir well Add vanilla extract Top with whipped cream or

marshmallows

Simple homemade hot chocolate

beats the winter chill

30 bull January 2016 bull MANKATO MAGAZINE

MM p02 0116indd 30 12182015 30752 PM

MANKATO MAGAZINE  bull January 2016 bull 31

Oil Change to OverhaulWe do it all

507-387-13151620 Commerce Drive North MankatowwwAustinsAutoRepairCentercom

Voted Best Auto Repair and Best Auto Mechanic 4 Years in a Row

AUSTINrsquoS AUTO REPAIR CENTER INC

MANKATO 5073854485 AMBOY 5076743355 I VERNON CENTER 5075493679

INSURANCE OFFICES LOCATED IN THE COMMUNITY BANK BUILDINGS

wwwcimankatocom

Protecting the things that matter most in your life

Let us help protect what is important to you At Community Insurance we have the ability to compare insurance from multiple companies to get you the best coverage at a great price Combine that with our insurance knowledge and friendly group of agents and we say thatrsquos a winning deal

WHERE YOUR POLICY COMES WITH AN AGENT

Christina Meyer

MM p02 0116indd 31 12182015 30755 PM

32 bull January 2016 bull MANKATO MAGAZINE

January is Cabernet TimeWersquove celebrated nearly

every January edition of Mankato Magazine with

a paean to BIG REDS And since there are so many wonderful examples why stop now

Last year I wrote about the powerful big reds of Italy This January wersquoll focus on Cabernet Sauvignon known to many as ldquothe king of winesrdquo Most oenophiles (wine lovers) consider the quintessential representations of this grape to be the classified Bordeaux of southwest France near the city of Bordeaux The five First Growths (or best wines according to a classification made in 1855 and updated in 1973) are Ch Lafite Rothschild Ch Margaux Ch Latour Ch Haut Brion and Ch Mouton Rothschild All have a cabernet sauvignon base but they are blended with merlot and often a little bit of cabernet franc and petit verdot as well

In the early 1970s I was able to buy these wines for around $22 per bottle mdash about $120 in 2016 dollars Yet with the popularity of ldquocollectiblerdquo wines on a worldwide

basis they sell today for anywhere from $400 on up

Contrary to popular belief these wines are not that massive Rather they combine cabernet sauvignon power with

structure and finesse yielding wines that become with time elixirs that are greater than the sum of their parts

Both California and Washington state have taken up the Cabernet Sauvignon challenge and are producing world-class wines at sometimes world-class prices Napa Valley is the recognized leader in this arena and rightly so Napa Valleyrsquos top Cabernet

Wine amp B

eerso

uthern m

n style

winesBy Leigh Pomeroy

Leigh Pomeroy is a Mankato-based writer and wine lover

Cabernet Sauvignon is the black Labrador of wines mdash it comes up and licks yourdquo

mdash Winemaker Scott Rich

Sauvignons rival the great wines of Bordeaux for quality mdash Irsquove tasted them side-by-side mdashand yet can sell for a fraction of their price

One such example is the 2013 Tulocay Cabernet Sauvignon from my old friend Bill Cadman We were young bucks in Napa Valley and had a tasting group in the early 1970s along with now-famous wine luminaries Bruce Neyers (Neyers Vineyards) and Mike Richmond (co-founder of Acacia Vineyard)

Billrsquos Cabernet is from an old and relatively cool growing area east of the City of Napa called Coombsville which because of industry political issues only recently received its AVA (American Viticultural Area) designation It is priced at $60 per bottle yet compares with any top-flight Bordeaux as well as the more expensive offerings from Napa Valley which can cost from $100 on up Not currently available at wine stores or restaurants in Minnesota it can be purchased by contacting the winery directly via its website tulocaycom The winery is so small that Bill will probably answer the phone himself

There is a lot of Cabernet Sauvignon available from California but mdash caveat emptor mdash not all growing areas (or appellations) are the same The best Cabernet Sauvignons are from Napa and Sonoma Counties Cabernets simply labeled ldquoCaliforniardquo or perhaps ldquoCoastalrdquo while sometimes good values lack the complexity of the greater Cabernet Sauvignons from the more northern parts of the state

Washington state has also

established itself as a prime producer of Cabernet Sauvignon But here again quality can vary greatly depending upon the area and producer While there is no ldquogo-tordquo appellation for Cabernet Sauvignon in Washington there are producers that are able to secure fruit from the best vineyards

One such example is the tiny Willis Hall Winery owned by another good friend John Bell a former Boeing jet propulsion engineer Like Tulocay its wines are only available by calling up the winery and ordering some (See willishallcom) But there are many other top quality producers in Washington like Quilceda Creek Leonetti Betz Family and Woodward Canyon

Of course not everyone can afford Cabernet Sauvignons in the $60-plus category One excellent everyday drinking example is the Flying Cloud 2013 Paso Robles Cabernet Sauvignon made by Mankato native Stephen Dooley Normally I donrsquot like Paso Robles Cabs as they tend to be too fruity and too soft for my palate mdash almost like drinking berry jam But this one is quite restrained no doubt helped by the inclusion of 13 percent zinfandel and 9 percent petite sirah in the blend

In Mankato both the Wine Cafeacute and MGM carry the Flying Cloud but at its price and quality I wouldnrsquot count on it lasting for long especially since only 759 cases were produced

So letrsquos raise a glass of Cabernet and say ldquoCheersrdquo to the New Year

MM p02 0116indd 32 12182015 30756 PM

MANKATO MAGAZINE  bull January 2016 bull 33

Bert Mattson is a chef and writer based in St Paul He is the manager of the iconic Mickeyrsquos Diner

Beer Skinny

BeerBy Bert Mattson

Last year according to Nielsen research staying fit and healthy was

the number one New Yearrsquos resolution Losing weight was two Three was to enjoy life to the fullest Unfortunately ldquolose weight and get fitrdquo also topped Time magazinersquos list of commonly broken resolutions Is this shortfall due to tension between the top two and that third one If so craft beer may have a role in the compromise Bad news first

In the context of losing weight and staying fit beer lovers might seek solace in the fact that fat carries nine calories per gram while alcohol has only seven The wrinkle is that those seven are ldquoemptyrdquo mdash calories without nutrition as opposed to those from fat protein and carbohydrates Moreover alcoholrsquos calories are the first burned when combined with the others the human body postpones burning fat while it works on alcohol Furthermore beer (and wine and often cocktails) contains carbohydrates which release insulin and can hasten fat storage Finally many drinkers have undoubtedly observed that alcohol loosens inhibitions after which an eager indulgence in unhealthy foods often occurs (Bar menus are rarely helpful in that respect)

By now you may wonder whose side Irsquom actually on Or suspect Irsquove led you to this dark place only to offer you a Lite No worries a couple craft brewers have been considering ways to keep us true to our resolutions

Evil Twin Brewingrsquos Bikini Beer drops the alcohol to 27 percent but stays bold by way of hops A Pale Ale it hits the nose with citrus suggestive of IPA The flavor follows suit floral and lemon There is an expected absence of malt yielding to bitterness up front that fades at the finish An alternative

for those who insist on the full effect Founderrsquos Brewing Companyrsquos All Day IPA rings in at a respectable 144 calories (Evil Twinrsquos entry comes in at 81)

One strategy to beat the beer munchies and avoid costly impulse eating is to have suitable chow on hand With Bikini Beer try a salad sporting blue cheese and some sort of dried fruit Creamy blue veined cheeses echo the hops while balancing bitterness An occasional bite of dried fruit stands in for malt sweetness

Brooklyn Breweryrsquos 12 Ale weighs in at 34 percent alcohol (102 calories) It is alliteratively labeled ldquoSession Saisonrdquo It opens with a waft of citrus and spice and a little lemongrass from Sorachi Ace hops mdash a hybrid developed in East Asia The same elements are found in the flavor which is a bit more subdued than a full-sized Saison

Try it with a tangle of arugula dressed with lemon and a fruity olive oil tossed with pine nuts and topped with shaved Parmesan for effect The greens and cracked pepper reflect spicy phenolic elements in the yeast Salty cheese counters the beerrsquos lingering bitterness Maybe add a few slices of Speck cured ham and Saison share a certain funkiness

If friends show and it becomes a session you may honestly say you spent Saturday working on your six-pack

MM p02 0116indd 33 12182015 30757 PM

34 bull January 2016 bull MANKATO MAGAZINE

Food

south

ern mn style

Food

south

ern mn style

The Coffee Hag one of the arearsquos oldest (and coolest) bistros recently underwent a major expansion and remodeling journey culminating in a large and airy

seating area along with a much-improved kitchen and a new menu Mankato Magazine caught up with a very busy (and slightly exhausted) owner Jenn Melby-Kelly who weighs in on how itrsquos going

MANKATO MAGAZINE Are you personally enjoying the new updatesJENN MELBY-KELLY It Is Fabulous The new space represents so much more than a remodel to me It has brought to life a vision for my business thatrsquos been years in the making It incorporates many many good ideas from many many people I feel so fortunate to get to see that every time I walk through the door

MM How are customers reactingJMK Thatrsquos been one of the best parts The response has been overwhelmingly positive

A few of our most regular customers had the opportunity to get a glimpse of the remodel while it was underway (we gave some informal preview tours while we were operating the temporary stand outside) but many customers walk through the door now and see it all for the first time Itrsquos especially fun to see and hear that kind of wide-eyed reaction

A few people with special connections to The Hag have had even stronger emotional responses and Irsquom so touched and right there with them when I see eyes well up as they see what wersquove done Itrsquos a very big milestone for a very special place and wersquore blessed to have people that care so deeply

MM Do the employees appreciate the new spaceJMK Oh probably more than anyone There was a lot that we sought to do with the remodel but creating a bigger brighter better-equipped space for our team was certainly one of the primary goals Wersquove got an incredible team truly the most spirited and talented people anyone could hope for

Many of them have spent years with me working hard against the challenge of a small under-equipped space and just barely being able to keeping up with growing demand Itrsquos been a special blessing for them and for me to finally have state-of-the-art space thatrsquos made for the work that we do We all feel a special connection to this place and now more than ever the place reflects the good energy we all bring here every day

MM Is the new menu a hit (The Hag specializes in vegetarianvegan cuisine)JMK Yes but just wait Feedback and demand have been excellent with our food offerings already but wersquore just getting started on some of the really exciting things that are coming to our food menu

Remodeling the cafe was just the first major milestone of our two-part expansion plan Next up wersquore building a state of the art off-site commissary kitchen that will do for our incredible culinary team what the remodeled shop has done for our baristas Theyrsquove been working day and night on taking our already fantastic food offerings to a whole new level

Wersquove already introduced some amazing new menu items like the Garden Grilled Cheese panini (trust me itrsquos like nothing yoursquove had before) and some truly outstanding new vegan baked goods Wersquove also improved our classic offerings with house-made

Interview with Jenn Melby-Kelly owner of The Coffee Hag

By Sarah Johnson

MM p02 0116indd 34 12182015 30802 PM

MANKATO MAGAZINE  bull January 2016 bull 35

Happy New Year

Locally Owned amp Operated

Check Weekly Specialsmgmwineandspiritscommankato

Largest Selection ofbull Liquor bull Wine bull Beer bull

Hours Monday-Saturday 8 am - 10 pm

ATMs at all stores

Mankato201 Victory Dr

625-2420

North Mankato1755 Commerce Dr

387-2634

St Peter100 N Minnesota Ave

934-8964

sourdough and whole wheat breads But as impressive as it is already itrsquos just a taste mdash literally mdash of things to come as we bring our new kitchen online

MM Whatrsquos stayed the sameJMK Irsquom really proud to say that while wersquove touched almost every part of this 23-year-old business wersquove kept even more than we have changed From the first days of this project I made it my personal mission and responsibility to make sure that the ldquosoulrdquo of this special place was only enhanced and never lost as we made the updates

In every area of the remodel as wersquove added some necessary new layers of sophistication The Hagrsquos colorful quirky and even rebellious spirit is still very much a part of the space We did a lot to try to make sure it still looked and felt like ldquohomerdquo

And on a deeper level every step wersquove taken with the growth of our business has been chosen carefully to honor the core parts of The Coffee Hagrsquos identity Our focus on community our support for local art and music our commitment to creating a safe and welcoming space for everyone our efforts to lead the way on social and environmental issues affecting our world near and far mdash those have all stayed the same And those will always be at the heart of what we do

MM Anything elseJMK Irsquom so incredibly grateful for the support of our customers and community And whenever I talk about my business and how it has grown I really canrsquot overstate how thankful I am for my beautiful Coffee Hag family The hard work good energy and earnest contributions of so many people mdash past and present mdash have brought me and my business here An incredible amount of love has gone into this business and made this dream a reality

MM p02 0116indd 35 12222015 121240 PM

36 bull January 2016 bull MANKATO MAGAZINE

xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

Food

south

ern mn style

whatrsquos Cooking By Sarah Johnson

Sarah Johnson is a cook freelance writer and chocolate addict from North Mankato with three grown kids and a couple of mutts

As I was pondering my subject matter for todayrsquos column I started wondering about all the different items the word ldquonutsrdquo can refer

to Crazy people are called nuts so are hexagonal metal objects that attach to bolts Nuts can be the end of things (as in ldquofrom soup to nutsrdquo) or they can be the beginning of them (as in ldquosperm incubatorsrdquo) Nut can also mean onersquos head or onersquos lump of something such as butter And if you accidentally get a nut of butter on your nut you can exclaim ldquoNutsrdquo

My favorite meaning of the word nut however is the dry indehiscent one-seeded fruit with a woody pericarp And I donrsquot even know what indehiscent OR pericarp means But these are the wonderful denizens of the world of edible nuts

Nuts are widely credited with all sorts of health benefits for the heart brain male reproductive system prostate cholesterol level fiber intake and avoidance of some types of cancer And while nuts do contain fat itrsquos the ldquogoodrdquo kind heart-healthy monounsaturated and polyunsaturated fat Their mix of omega-3 fatty acids protein and fiber helps you feel full and suppresses the appetite

Nuts are great in desserts and salads of course but they also shine in stir-fries casseroles soups chicken pork fish and even beverages Nut butters nut milks and nut oils add delicious options to our kitchen larders Breads cereals muffins and pancakes gain texture flavor and nutrition from the addition of nuts Basically anytime is a good time for nuts

Which is a wonderful thing because nuts taste so good you would think they had to be very very bad The reason lies deep in their oils

Walnut Oil is strong and flavorful Itrsquos best when used in uncooked sauces or salad dressing

Hazelnut Oil has a strong flavor and is great for the heart

Almond Oil is very popular and has a much milder flavor than walnut oil or hazelnut oil

Pecan Macadamia Nut Pistachio Cashew and Pine Nut Oils are flavorful and unique The freshness of the nuts used really affects the flavor

ldquoTherersquos Nuttinrsquo Nutty About Nutsrdquo

For the Baklava1 pound pistachios hazelnuts walnuts pecans andor almonds coarsely ground plus more for garnish12 teaspoon ground cinnamon1 cup breadcrumbs4 sticks unsalted butter melted16 sheets phyllo dough (thawed if frozen) cut in half

For the Syrup3 cups sugar1 6 -to-8-ounce jar honey1 frac12 cups water1 to 2 tablespoons fresh lemon juice

If yoursquore under the impression that baklava is much too labor-intensive and complicated to make at home think again Anybody can make

it no special skills equipment or exotic ingredients are required A word about phyllo dough Itrsquos sold in frozen packages so you need to remove the package from the freezer and let it thaw in the fridge 24 hours before you want to make the baklava Then about an hour beforehand remove the package from the fridge and let it sit on the counter

Walnuts or pistachios are the most traditional nuts to fill baklava but using other nuts works wonders as well Simply layer the phyllo with the nut filling and butter bake for an hour and finish with a simple honeyed syrup If you have leftover nuts from the holidays herersquos your chance to use them up

Mixed Nut Baklava

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MANKATO MAGAZINE  bull January 2016 bull 37

MONEY MATTERS WORK SMARTLET COMMUNITY BANK HELP YOUBRING THE TWO TOGETHER

MANKATO - SAINT ANDREWS DR 5073854444MANKATO - MADISON AVE 5076251551VERNON CENTER 5075493679AMBOY 5076743300

JULIE VETTERSR VICE PRESIDENTRETAIL BANKING

We support great causes like yoursAt Community Bank we know good things happen when you have a good bank So we make more possible by keeping banking simple and supportive And by giving you the power that comes with innovative solutions like our Health Savings Account It offers you tax-free savings for future medical expenses Stop by anytime Wersquore always ready to help out a great cause

Position a rack in the lower third of the oven preheat to 350 degrees Combine the nuts cinnamon and breadcrumbs in a bowl

Brush a 9x13-inch baking dish with some of the butter Layer 10 pieces of phyllo in the dish brushing each piece with butter before adding the next (keep the remaining dough covered with a damp towel) Sprinkle a quarter of the nut mixture over the dough Layer four pieces of phyllo on top brushing each with butter before adding the next sprinkle with another quarter of the nut mixture Add four more phyllo pieces on top brushing each with butter then add another quarter of the nut mixture four more pieces of phyllo with butter and the remaining nuts

Layer the remaining 10 pieces of phyllo on top of the nuts brushing each with butter brush the top piece with extra butter Cut into the baklava to make strips about 1 12 inches wide Then make diagonal slices about 1 12 inches apart to create a diamond pattern Bake until golden about one hour

Meanwhile make the syrup Bring the sugar honey and 1 12 cups water to a boil in a saucepan over medium heat and cook 10 to 15 minutes Add the lemon juice and boil 2 more minutes then let cool slightly Pour the syrup over the warm baklava let soak uncovered at least six hours or overnight Garnish with nuts

MM p02 0116indd 37 12182015 30817 PM

38 bull bull MANKATO MAGAZINE

Nell Musolf is a mom and freelance writer from Mankato She blogs at nellmusolfcom

38 bull bull MANKATO MAGAZINE

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MANKATO MAGAZINE  bull January 2016 bull 39

Gear Up for WinterYear-Round amp Insulated Workwear from

Carhartt Dickies and Key

UNIFORMSUniforms fromBarco Carhartt Cherokee DickiesKoi Peaches and White Cross

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Call 5073446336mankatomagmankatofreepresscom

Stephanie L Hylla LAc Dipl AcKayla M Sweeney MOm LAc

NEW LOCATION709 S Front Suite 5

5074694788mankatoacupuncturecom

Open House ndash Wednesday Feb 3 9-12noonCelebrating 5 years of Business New Location and the Chinese New Year

In Network with Blue Cross Blue ShieldLicensed by the MN Board of Medical Practice

Ribbon Cutting with Greater Mankato Growth at 10am

(A $250 Value)THIS VOUCHER ENTITLES NEW PATIENTS TO A

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wwwr igne l l fami lych i roprac t ic comMedicare Restrictions Apply Expires January 31 2016

Dr BrandonRignell DC

1351 Madison AveSuite D

Mankato MN 56001

5077797313

$2900New Patient Special

MM p02 0116indd 39 12222015 121344 PM

40 bull bull MANKATO MAGAZINE

Jean Lundquist is a master gardener who lives near Good Thunder

MM p02 0116indd 40 12182015 30834 PM

MANKATO MAGAZINE  bull January 2016 bull 41

3 Increase the Value of Your Home

3 Update Your Homersquos Appearance

3 Save Money

Choose from SeveralModels Styles amp Colors

507-625-7110 or 1-800-645-36671125 Cross St North Mankato MN

Improve Your HomersquosEnergy Efficiency

422 Park Lane Mankato MN | NuStarMankatocom

(507) 381-4747Voted One of Mankatorsquos Best

DANIEL WINGERT

Make Selling Your Home Your NuYearrsquos Resolution

MM p02 0116indd 41 12182015 30839 PM

42 bull January 2016 bull MANKATO MAGAZINE

January Resolve to moisturize

Your stYLeBy Ann Rosenquist Fee

Ann Rosenquist Fee is executive director of the Arts Center of Saint Peter and a vocalist with The Frye She blogs at annrosenquistfeecom

If you have in-laws or colleagues who know you well enough to have given you holiday gifts

but not well enough to know what wouldrsquove truly made you happy congratulations Chances are yoursquore the proud owner of a bunch of brand-new lip balm

Maybe itrsquos even holiday themed Thatrsquos the best Maybe you got the candy-cane flavored kind or wintergreen with holiday graphics on the label or something like that A theme that was irrelevant the moment the stocking was unstuffed because at that exact second the holiday was over

And here you are in January with an abundance of wax

Fortunately also here you are in the early weeks of winter with rough red knuckles Probably also cracked cuticles although it might not have gone that far yet for you Irsquom sure it has for me This photo was taken back in November and even then the Band-Aids were for real Irsquove learned to cut them in half length-wise so as to retain my ability to type Irsquove also learned to play with a range of color options Flesh-toned Clear Disney characters The colorful strips shown here were gifted to me by my husband Partly why theyrsquore cut in half is that the text is obscene This is one small trick you can use to make bloody cuticles your most exciting accessory of the winter

Sources like UrbanSurvivalSitecom and WonderHowTocom will tell you that you can use lip balm for a whole variety of purposes such as coating threads of outdoor lightbulbs before screwing them into their sockets and enhancing the burn-ability of most kindling

These are great fun but they wonrsquot improve your personal style

More germane to winter beauty are the following suggestions

Keep a tube next to your bed for first-thing-in-the-morning use And I mean really truly first-thing I mean smear the stuff on each cuticle while yoursquore still lying there before you start using your fingers at all If you wake up thinking yoursquore fine and skip cuticle care next thing you know yoursquore pushing down the lever on your Keurig and the pressure is more than your screamingly dry skin can take and boom split blood on the Keurig and itrsquos gonna be a long painful day If only you had balmed your hands before you let your feet hit the floor

Keep another tube in your glove compartment If itrsquos warm enough to take off your mittens in the car mdash if yoursquore even wearing mittens given that your hands are snagging on everything these days mdash the harsh January sunlight will allow you to see cracks and flakes in high-resolution detail Yoursquoll want the balm nearby

to cover what you didnrsquot notice first thing in the morning Also a car tube is useful for when you look in the rear-view mirror and notice that your nose and upper lip are flaking as well Itrsquos because yoursquore getting over a cold and the frequent use of tissue has worn away your top layer of skin but just because you know that doesnrsquot mean everybody else wonrsquot think ldquothere is something in that noserdquo Itrsquos just a fact Itrsquos what it looks like Lip balm to the rescue Itrsquos the only thing dry enough to slick those flakes in place and nourishing enough to maybe actually get your face back to normal

Keep a couple more tubes in a nighttime kit along with sandpaper Sandpaper Yes Not a pumice stone not a lame also-gifted sugar

scrub Medium-grit sandpaper is what you need every night lightly but with conviction As follows 1) Sand taking care not to do more damage than what the elements have already done Yoursquore just trying to remove the dry dead stuff Yoursquore just being hearty and efficient about this true to the culture of this great state in which yoursquove chosen to winter You are no pansy Sand your hands 2) Wash 3) Blot dry 4) Dial up the gifted balm whisper a word of thanks to the person who put so much thought into your well-being that they stuffed your holiday stocking with this amazing gift of self-care smash a healthy amount down into your palms massage Take heart You just might find yourself with normal-textured non-cracked not-horrible-looking hands by morning

Split-open cuticles I feel you Except for these Band-Aids I feel you

Lip balms I have been gifted and these are just from last Christmas ldquolastrdquo as in 2014

Bathrooms Worth Bragging About

HoursTue amp Wed amp Fri | 9 am to 6 pmMon amp Thu | 9 am to 7 pmSaturday | 9 am to 4 pm

219 S Victory Dr | Mankato507 | 345 | 7009ipafhickorytechnetindependentpaintandflooringcom

You Deserve Comfortable Care Every Timebull Sedation - Complete Relaxation with Just a Pillbull Invisalign - Clear Alternative to Bracesbull Botox amp Fillersbull Implants - Placement and Restorationbull Cerec - One Visit Crown Technology

bull Free Whitening Programbull 3D Imaging with Fewer X-Raysbull Cosmetic Dentistrybull Drill-Free Technologybull Emergency Care

1400 Lookout Drive North Mankato507-625-CARE(2273) bull mankatodentistcom 06

1865

6124

01

Dr AngelA Schuck

Dr keith FlAck

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MANKATO MAGAZINE  bull January 2016 bull 43

Bathrooms Worth Bragging About

HoursTue amp Wed amp Fri | 9 am to 6 pmMon amp Thu | 9 am to 7 pmSaturday | 9 am to 4 pm

219 S Victory Dr | Mankato507 | 345 | 7009ipafhickorytechnetindependentpaintandflooringcom

You Deserve Comfortable Care Every Timebull Sedation - Complete Relaxation with Just a Pillbull Invisalign - Clear Alternative to Bracesbull Botox amp Fillersbull Implants - Placement and Restorationbull Cerec - One Visit Crown Technology

bull Free Whitening Programbull 3D Imaging with Fewer X-Raysbull Cosmetic Dentistrybull Drill-Free Technologybull Emergency Care

1400 Lookout Drive North Mankato507-625-CARE(2273) bull mankatodentistcom 06

1865

6124

01

Dr AngelA Schuck

Dr keith FlAck

(944) 412-7949 | OrthoEdgeMNcom

Enjoy the season

Mankato St Peter

Be active Be healthyBe able with OrthoEdge

The OrthoEdge joint replacement

program offers superb care from your first

visit through recovery The surgeons from

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the care team at Riverrsquos Edge Hospital

provide personal and professional care to

get you back to able

Why Riverrsquos Edge Hospital amp Clinic

bull Riverrsquos Edge Hospital amp Clinic has a long-

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44 bull January 2016 bull MANKATO MAGAZINE

1 Hicktown Mafia800 pm mdash New Ulm Event Center mdash 301 20th St S mdash New Ulm mdash $10 mdash 507-354-4673

7-9 Mankato West Orchesis Dance Team showcase7 pm Thursday-Saturday 2 pm Saturday mdash Mankato West High School Auditorium mdash $7 adults $5 students mdash 507-381-7578

10 Mankato Symphony Orchestra Music on the Hill II ldquoMinnesota rootsrdquo2 pm mdash Chapel at Good Counselmdash Good Counsel Drive mdash Mankato mdash $17 $12 mdash wwwmankatosymphonycom

16 Handel with Caremdash Handel Goes to Italy11 ammdash YMCA Aerobics Studio mdash 1401 S Riverfront Drive mdash Mankato mdash wwwmankatosymphonycom

16 Mankato Craft beer Expo2 pm (VIP) 3 pm general mdash Verizon Wireless Center mdash $45 VIP $35 general $10 designated driver mdash wwwmankatocraftbeerexpocom

23 Joey Flip and Mike Fugazzi rockinrsquo at the Embassy9 pm mdash Blaschkorsquos Embassy Bar and Grill mdash 325 S Minnesota Ave mdash St Peter mdash 507-934-3903

24 andrea Lyn and Dick Kimmel concert730 pm mdash Elias J Halling Recital Hall mdash Minnesota State University mdash Mankato mdash $12 regular $11 current MSU students mdash wwwmnusedumusic

28-31 MSu Theatre antigone730 pm Thursday-Saturday 2 pm Sunday mdash Andreas Theatre mdash Minnesota State University mdash Mankato mdash $16 regular $14 discount $11 current MSU students mdash wwwmnsuedu

29-31 BLC Theatre Brigadoon730 Friday and Saturday 2 pm Sunday mdash Ylvisaker Fine Arts Center mdash Bethany Lutheran College mdash Mankato mdash $10 adults $6 seniors children and students mdash wwwblceduevents

29- Feb 7 Winterfest St Peter Citywide mdash wwwstpeterchamberorg

30 Church of Cash a Tribute to Johnny Cash7 pm mdash St Peter American Legion mdash 229 W Nassau St mdash St Peter mdash 507-934-6435

31 Maud Hixson and rick Carlson concert730 pmmdash Elias J Halling Recital Hall mdash Minnesota State University mdash Mankato mdash $12 regular $11 current MSU students wwmnsuedumusic

Coming attraCtions January

T - F 8am - 6pm Sun ClosedSat 9am - 4pmM 8am - 8pm

120 North Broad Street Mankato MN 507-345-4688 wwwmeyerandsonstvandappliancecom

FIND SPECIAL DEALS ON

MM p02 0116indd 44 12182015 30902 PM

MANKATO MAGAZINE  bull January 2016 bull 45

St Peter Craft amp Vendor Show

1MelinadaBussefromRapidansoldherhandmadejewelryatthecraftandvendorshow

2DarylfromElysianandhishand-carvedwoodart

3MacKennaage7hasfunatoneoftheboothsattheStPeterCraftandVendorShow

4LizEntershowsoffsomeofherproductsattheldquoItWorksrdquobooth

5DenisePetersofldquoYoungLivingrdquoessentialoilsdisplayedherproductsattheshow

Faces amp Places Photos By Sport Pix

3

5

2

1

4

T - F 8am - 6pm Sun ClosedSat 9am - 4pmM 8am - 8pm

120 North Broad Street Mankato MN 507-345-4688 wwwmeyerandsonstvandappliancecom

FIND SPECIAL DEALS ON

MM p02 0116indd 45 12222015 121536 PM

46 bull January 2016 bull MANKATO MAGAZINE

SOUTHErN MN CHrISTMAS

FESTIVAL1 A large crowd was on hand during the festivities at

the Christmas Festival2 Friesenrsquos Family Bakery amp Bistro had tons of baked

goods and soups at the Verizon Wireless Center3 A childrenrsquos choir sang for the audience at the

festival4 Ron Haefner owner of Ronrsquos Auto Repair displayed

some of his services5 Garrison Galatz dressed up as Santa for the

Christmas Festival

faCes amp PLaCes Photos By Sport Pix

4

3

1

2

5

MM p02 0116indd 46 12182015 30923 PM

MANKATO MAGAZINE  bull January 2016 bull 47

1GirlScouttroop34494waspresentedwithatrophybyKiwanisVicePresidentKyleMrozek

2SantaClausevenwentthroughtheparaderoute3(LtoR)BrooklynPomrankeAlaynaLyonsHunterPomrankeandLilyLyonsgetagroupphototakenwithSanta

4MarshaMartigtellsSantawhatshewantsforChristmas

5TheparadefloatswerealldeckedoutinChristmaslights

6Visitorswalkthepatharoundtheparktoviewthisyearrsquoslights

Kiwanis Holiday ligHtsFaces amp Places Photos By sport Pix

2

1

3

4 5

6

MM p02 0116indd 47 12222015 121616 PM

48 bull January 2016 bull MANKATO MAGAZINE

On the Occasion of a 50th Reunion

the Class of 1965

from this VaLLeYBy Pete Steiner

Peter Steiner is host of ldquoTalk of the Townrdquo weekdays at 105 pm on KTOE

I was honored to give the presentation for our 50th class reunion recently at West Highrsquos Homecoming celebration About 120 of our nearly 400-member class

showed up We Baby Boomers the children of the greatest generation had big classes in the late lsquo60rsquos that forced the building of East High Ours was a dramatic era and our class did some great things in the face of big challenges Here edited is some of what I said

I am so glad to be standing here today Therersquos an old saying

ldquoMay you live in INTErESTINg timeshelliprdquo The Class of rsquo65 certainly has Itrsquos seems like only yesterday right after lunch that we were at our desks waiting for the start of English class when our charismatic teacher Harry Fitterer strode in and said ldquoPrESIDENT KENNEDY HAS BEEN SHOT IN DALLASrdquo At first we didnrsquot believe him but it was true It was November 22 1963 We were juniors and as the song says that was THE END OF THE INNOCENCE We had lived through the last idyllic time in America

When we first arrived in the fall of 1962 America was still carefree basking in the glow of victory in WW II Everything may have seemed ldquorightrdquo but it was not Martin Luther King Jr had just visited Mankato pointing out the continuing plight of black Americans as the Civil rights movement was gaining steam The beginnings of the Vietnam War which would alter the course of many of our lives were stirring even as we studied history and government The current generation has no monopoly on forgettable pop music ndash we had a stupid 1 song called ldquoItsie Bitsie Teenie Weenie Yellow Polka Dot Bikinirdquo (unfortunately an ear worm I canrsquot forget) But a darker cultural threat was looming The BEATLES were invading from Britain and our parents were mortified because they had LONg HAIr

Some of the shock of the Kennedy assassination was eased when our wrestling team in the era when the state still had just ONE CLASS won the State Championship in front of a packed hall up at MSU some still maintain that is the greatest single athletic achievement in Mankato history We were the first high school in Mankato to put on a full-scale musical ldquoBye Bye Birdierdquo in the spring of 1964 In Fall of 1964 our football team would have won the conference championship outright except Owatonnarsquos great Noel Jenke who would go on to star for the U of M

cheated I watched him trap the touchdown pass that beat us Does cheating pay Was that a lesson for life

In lsquo65 we also had a fine basketball team that lost our chance at State when our 6-6 center fouled out at Luverne

BUT A FAr BIggEr CHALLENgE AWAITED US ALL As we rode out to Luverne to watch that game we couldnrsquot help noticing the highway was like a canyon between walls of snow The legendary St Patrickrsquos Day Blizzard had dumped two feet on top of an already large snow pack and then April brought rains on frozen ground Instead of coming here to school many of us soon got a real-life assignment to go out in our rain gear out on the dikes to battle the grEAT FLOOD OF 1965 Our school became an island as water flooded the parking lot and all of South riverfront Our spring play that year was called ironically

THE DESPErATE HOUrS We had to rehearse at roosevelt School up on higher ground

Our class produced three Merit scholars One of our classmates who did NOT qualify

for a merit scholarship nevertheless was such a whiz at physics that NASA requested a copy of a paper he wrote on rocketry as a senior We produced 12 doctors one of whom earned a fellowship at Stanford seeking how to bring telemedicine to the poor another of whom became a breakthrough cancer doctor We had entrepreneurs one who would go on to be a leader in Solar Energy (and then run for governor of New Hampshire) Another mdash a woman incidentally when

that was not common founded two bio-tech startups Many of us are still working

past normal retirement age One founded a company on the leading edge of recycling

computers whose clients include the NSA Another is chief medical officer of a company

devising a better tool for colonoscopies Yet another of our classmates recently completed a concert tour of China

We lived in challenging times just as you do today but we muddle through we make it to the other shore I remember sitting where you are 50 years ago thinking how old those folks up there looked But remember Life goes by very quickly You certainly live in interesting times as Shakespeare said ldquoPresent Mirth has Present Laughter Youthrsquos a stuff will NOT endurerdquo So I urge you live each moment to the fullest

MM p02 0116indd 48 12182015 30933 PM

MM p02 0116indd 49 12182015 30936 PM

MM p02 0116indd 50 12182015 30948 PM

Page 26: Mankatomag 116

reFlecTionsBy Pat Christman

24 bull January 2016 bull MANKATO MAGAZINE

MM p01 0116indd 24 12182015 24544 PM

reFlecTionsBy Pat Christman

MANKATO MAGAZINE  bull January 2016 bull 25

There are few things as inevitable as snow during a Minnesota winter Big

cotton ball-like snowflakes cover the ground in a white blanket whitewashing the Midwestern landscape

We struggle against it Some hope the snow never comes It always does filling the sky with floating snowflakes that cling to the ground but melt as soon as they hit the small bits of face or hands that peek out from winter clothing

It is often quite beautiful especially when viewed from someplace warm and dry MM

MM p01 0116indd 25 12182015 24548 PM

26 bull January 2016 bull MANKATO MAGAZINE

Then amp now Vice President Schuyler Colfaxrsquos Death By Bryce o sTenzel

On Jan 14 1885 one day after his death the New York Times carried a

headline that read ldquoSchuyler Colfax Dead He Drops Down in a Railway Stationrdquo While most Americans today would have tremendous difficulty in even recognizing this manrsquos name

(unless they were paying close attention to Stephen Spielbergrsquos epic movie Lincoln and made the association) Schuyler Colfax was a former Speaker of the House of Representatives and Vice President of the United States under President US Grant He died in Mankatorsquos Chicago St

Paul Minneapolis amp Omaha railroad depot from a massive heart attack

Schuyler Colfax Jr was born in New York City on March 23 1823 His father died of tuberculosis five months before Schuyler was born His sister Mary died four months after his [Schuylerrsquos]

vice President Schuyler Colfaxrsquos Death in Mankato

MM p01 0116indd 26 12182015 24549 PM

MANKATO MAGAZINE  bull January 2016 bull 27

birth The young Schuyler attended school only until he was 10 He then began working to support his family Schuyler Colfax never attended any kind of secondary school or college His mother remarried when Colfax was 13 and the family moved to New Carlisle Indiana By the time he was 22 Colfax was the editor and owner of a pro-Whig newspaper He was elected to Congress in 1854 and joined the newly formed Republican Party after the Whig Party disintegrated Solidly anti-slavery his colleagues elected Colfax as Speaker of the US House of Representatives in 1863 His election came soon after the death of his wife Evelyn The couple had no children

Colfax was President Abraham Lincolnrsquos first and last visitor on the fateful day Lincoln was assassinatedmdashApril 14 1865 Early that morning Colfax arrived at the White House while the president was having breakfast Colfax wanted to know whether or not Lincoln planned to call a special session of Congress for later that summer Lincolnrsquos answer was a polite but firm ldquonordquo Lincoln preferred a lenient approach in reconstructing as well as readmitting the former Confederate states to the Union now that the Civil War was over This approach put Lincoln at odds with the more ldquoradicalrdquo congressional members of his own party who preferred harsher measures be taken against their former enemies Lincoln had already made up his mind how he wanted to proceed with reconstructing the former Confederate states and he didnrsquot want any unnecessary interference from Congress Calling a special session was the last thing Lincoln wanted to do Colfax returned that same night to see Lincoln again just before the president left for Fordrsquos Theatre and his appointment with destiny This time Colfax came upon Lincolnrsquos own request The president had a long message for the silver miners of the Comstock Lode in Nevada thanking them for their loyalty to the Union that he wanted Speaker Colfax to deliver in person since Colfax was leaving by train for the West the next day Colfax was the last person Lincoln spoke to besides his wife Mary before he

was fatally shot at 1015 pm Colfax never forgave himself for turning down Lincolnrsquos invitation to be part of the theatre party that night

In 1868 Republicans selected General Ulysses S Grant as their presidential candidate Grant a military man his entire life had no political background Colfax was placed on the ticket because of his prior experience as a congressman and Speaker of the House (he resigned the position in 1869) Grant and Colfax won an easy victory in November 1868 Only two weeks later Colfax remarriedmdashthis time to Ellen Wade (niece of Ohio Senator Benjamin Wade) Their only child son Schuyler Colfax III was born in 1870

Colfax is best remembered (if at all) for his involvement in the corruption that beset Grantrsquos entire presidency Specifically the Credit Mobilier scandal broke in 1872 just as Grant and Colfax were gearing up for their re-election campaign Colfax was suspected of accepting shares of stock and cash bribes from ldquoCredit Mobilierrdquo a dummy construction company set up by the Union Pacific Railroad He was by no means the only influential person involved in the scandal Other political figures investigated included Senators Roscoe Conkling of New York William Allison of Iowa John Logan of Illinois James Bayard of Delaware and Henry Wilson of Massachusetts Grant was less popular in 1872 than he had been four years earlier and many Republicans worried that having Colfax on the partyrsquos ticket would harm the presidentrsquos re-election chances They dumped Colfax from the ticket mdash only to replace him with the also-tainted Wilson Grant won re-election and served his second and final term from 1873-1877 After being forced out from the vice presidency Colfax traveled the country as a popular lecturer often speaking about his interactions with Abraham Lincoln during the Civil War He rebuilt his tarnished reputation and commanded speaking fees as high as $2500

At 10 am on Jan 13 1885 Schuyler Colfax arrived in Mankato aboard a train from Milwaukee Mankato was just a

brief stop for Colfax who was on his way to Iowa for a speaking engagement The Chicago Milwaukee amp St Paul as well as the Chicago St Paul Minneapolis amp Omaha railroads both had depots in Mankato but because they were separate competing railroad lines Colfax was required to change trains by walking three-quarters of a mile from the Chicago Milwaukee amp St Paul depot at the foot of Hickory Street to the Chicago St Paul Minneapolis amp Omaha depot at Fourth and Washington Streets (now Washington Park) from which the next leg of his journey would depart Despite a reported temperature of 30 degrees below zero Colfax walked from one station to the other Within five minutes after he arrived at the Omaha linersquos depot Colfax entered the waiting room looked at a map on the wall sat down and died It was 1035 am No one in the station knew who the dead man actually was until they searched his pockets and found a letter with his name on it His death was likely caused by a heart attack brought on by the physical exertion of walking almost a mile in extreme cold Colfax was only 61 when he died His remains were returned to South Bend Indiana for burial

Today few Americans are aware that anyone named Schuyler Colfax ever lived much less served as vice president of the United States In this era in which officeholders are often treated as celebrities imagine how surprised people would be to learn that a former vice president died cold alone and unrecognized in a train station 131 years ago Before 24-hour news channels smart phones and social media it was possible for public figures like Colfax to live ndash and die ndash in relative obscurity Ironically Colfax loved the railroad but in the end it was the cause of his undoing Mankato has the distinction of being the location where the last man to personally speak to Abraham Lincoln in a private conversation took his last breath

MM p01 0116indd 27 12182015 24549 PM

28 bull January 2016 bull MANKATO MAGAZINE

Mayo Clinic offers pediatric and adolescent orthopedic services right here in Mankato Todd Milbrandt MD cares for patients with a variety of needs including

bull Cerebral palsy

bull Clubfoot

bull Hip disorders

bull Spinal disorders

bull Sports injuries

bull Scoliosis

bull Spina bifida

Mayo Clinic Health System in Mankato Call 1-877-412-7575 (toll-free) to schedule an appointment

495rdquox495rdquo Mankato Magazine January

Orthopedic care for your child

Independent ampAssisted Living

EQUAL HOUSINGOPPORTUNITY

1360 Adams StreetMankato MN

PrimroseRetirementcom

reg

Key City Senior Breakfast ClubThe Key City Senior Breakfast Club meets the first Thursday of each month from 830 AM - 930 AM at Primrose Retirement Community The club gives those 55+ the opportunity to meet new friends and visit old ones socialize with Key City Officials and enjoy a delicious home-cooked breakfast To visit a Key City Senior Breakfast please call (866) 447-9636

Mark your calendar for these breakfast dates Thursday January 7th Thursday March 3rd and Thursday May 5th

刀椀渀最 椀渀 琀栀攀 

一攀眀 夀攀愀爀

㔀 㜀ⴀ㤀㐀ⴀ㐀㐀䨀甀氀攀攀猀䨀攀眀攀氀爀礀挀漀洀

椀渀 匀愀椀渀琀 倀攀琀攀爀

20765 Foley Rd Mankato MN | 5073872434 | 5077262411

Three TimeNational Award Winners

MM p02 0116indd 28 12182015 30742 PM

Mayo Clinic offers pediatric and adolescent orthopedic services right here in Mankato Todd Milbrandt MD cares for patients with a variety of needs including

bull Cerebral palsy

bull Clubfoot

bull Hip disorders

bull Spinal disorders

bull Sports injuries

bull Scoliosis

bull Spina bifida

Mayo Clinic Health System in Mankato Call 1-877-412-7575 (toll-free) to schedule an appointment

495rdquox495rdquo Mankato Magazine January

Orthopedic care for your child

Independent ampAssisted Living

EQUAL HOUSINGOPPORTUNITY

1360 Adams StreetMankato MN

PrimroseRetirementcom

reg

Key City Senior Breakfast ClubThe Key City Senior Breakfast Club meets the first Thursday of each month from 830 AM - 930 AM at Primrose Retirement Community The club gives those 55+ the opportunity to meet new friends and visit old ones socialize with Key City Officials and enjoy a delicious home-cooked breakfast To visit a Key City Senior Breakfast please call (866) 447-9636

Mark your calendar for these breakfast dates Thursday January 7th Thursday March 3rd and Thursday May 5th

OMG hellip More food and drinksOK sure

By now yoursquore probably thinking ldquoOh my gosh the last thing I want to think about right now is more food more drinking and more diningrdquo

Fair enough We get it The holidays are murder on the metabolism of many many Minnesotans

But we also know that those metabolisms are hardy and soon enough theyrsquoll be hankering for a hunk of something yummy and full of fun And whatrsquos more yummy and full of fun than a big glass of Cabernet Sauvignon Our wine guy Leigh Pomeroy takes us on a tour of all that is tasty and wonderful about big red wines the kind that leave their mark the kind that really announce their presence on your palate

And just in case yoursquore super serious about a healthy lifestyle mdash and that seriousness extends to the kind of beer you choose mdash Bert Mattson our beer guy has just the selection for you Best part is Itrsquos light

Oh and under the category of ldquoDid you hear about thisrdquo Wersquove got an update for you on the Coffee Hag Mankatorsquos original coffee house and one of the most popular hangouts in town Seriously some days itrsquos hard to find a seat in that place

EnjoyPS We know that baby itrsquos cold outside mdash thatrsquos why wersquove

thrown you our absolute best hot cocoa recipe

Enjoymdash Robb Murray Associate Editor Mankato Magazine

food drink amp dineso

uthern m

n style

20765 Foley Rd Mankato MN | 5073872434 | 5077262411

Three TimeNational Award Winners

MM p02 0116indd 29 12182015 30745 PM

MANKATO 5073854485 AMBOY 5076743355 I VERNON CENTER 5075493679

INSURANCE OFFICES LOCATED IN THE COMMUNITY BANK BUILDINGS

wwwcimankatocom

Protecting the things that matter most in your life

Let us help protect what is important to you At Community Insurance we have the ability to compare insurance from multiple companies to get you the best coverage at a great price Combine that with our insurance knowledge and friendly group of agents and we say thatrsquos a winning deal

WHERE YOUR POLICY COMES WITH AN AGENT

Christina Meyer

Food

south

ern mn style

Food

south

ern mn style

By The Washington Post

Growing up my mother always encouraged her children to cook So when

I found a recipe for hot chocolate on the side of the Hersheyrsquos Cocoa can it was easy to convince her to let me give it a try

What I discovered was that hot chocolate doesnrsquot have to come from an envelope

This recipe has been a favorite of mine to make on days when winter weather has convinced me stay home and off the roads Itrsquos the perfect way to kill time and have a nice hot drink to warm you up on those chilly days

Although you can top it with whipped cream I prefer marshmallows

FAVORITE HOT COCOAMakes 4 to 6 servings

12 cup sugar14 cup unsweetened cocoa powder

Dash of salt13 cup hot water

4 cups milk34 teaspoon vanilla extract

Whipped cream or marshmallows (optional)

Mix sugar cocoa powder salt and water in a sauce pan Stir constantly over medium heat until mixture comes to a boil (about 2 minutes) Stir in

milk and heat Bring the hot chocolate to the desired temperature but do not boil Remove from heat and

add the vanilla extract Divide into mugs and top with whipped cream or marshmallows

PERFECTLY CHOCOLATE HOT COCOA

Makes 1 serving

2 tablespoons sugar2 tablespoons unsweetened cocoa powder

Dash salt1 cup milk

14 teaspoon vanilla extractWhipped cream or marshmallows (optional)

Mix sugar cocoa powder and salt into large mug In separate microwave-safe container heat on high

for 1 to 1 frac12 minutes or until very hot Carefully and gradually add milk to dry mixture Stir well Add vanilla extract Top with whipped cream or

marshmallows

Simple homemade hot chocolate

beats the winter chill

30 bull January 2016 bull MANKATO MAGAZINE

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MANKATO MAGAZINE  bull January 2016 bull 31

Oil Change to OverhaulWe do it all

507-387-13151620 Commerce Drive North MankatowwwAustinsAutoRepairCentercom

Voted Best Auto Repair and Best Auto Mechanic 4 Years in a Row

AUSTINrsquoS AUTO REPAIR CENTER INC

MANKATO 5073854485 AMBOY 5076743355 I VERNON CENTER 5075493679

INSURANCE OFFICES LOCATED IN THE COMMUNITY BANK BUILDINGS

wwwcimankatocom

Protecting the things that matter most in your life

Let us help protect what is important to you At Community Insurance we have the ability to compare insurance from multiple companies to get you the best coverage at a great price Combine that with our insurance knowledge and friendly group of agents and we say thatrsquos a winning deal

WHERE YOUR POLICY COMES WITH AN AGENT

Christina Meyer

MM p02 0116indd 31 12182015 30755 PM

32 bull January 2016 bull MANKATO MAGAZINE

January is Cabernet TimeWersquove celebrated nearly

every January edition of Mankato Magazine with

a paean to BIG REDS And since there are so many wonderful examples why stop now

Last year I wrote about the powerful big reds of Italy This January wersquoll focus on Cabernet Sauvignon known to many as ldquothe king of winesrdquo Most oenophiles (wine lovers) consider the quintessential representations of this grape to be the classified Bordeaux of southwest France near the city of Bordeaux The five First Growths (or best wines according to a classification made in 1855 and updated in 1973) are Ch Lafite Rothschild Ch Margaux Ch Latour Ch Haut Brion and Ch Mouton Rothschild All have a cabernet sauvignon base but they are blended with merlot and often a little bit of cabernet franc and petit verdot as well

In the early 1970s I was able to buy these wines for around $22 per bottle mdash about $120 in 2016 dollars Yet with the popularity of ldquocollectiblerdquo wines on a worldwide

basis they sell today for anywhere from $400 on up

Contrary to popular belief these wines are not that massive Rather they combine cabernet sauvignon power with

structure and finesse yielding wines that become with time elixirs that are greater than the sum of their parts

Both California and Washington state have taken up the Cabernet Sauvignon challenge and are producing world-class wines at sometimes world-class prices Napa Valley is the recognized leader in this arena and rightly so Napa Valleyrsquos top Cabernet

Wine amp B

eerso

uthern m

n style

winesBy Leigh Pomeroy

Leigh Pomeroy is a Mankato-based writer and wine lover

Cabernet Sauvignon is the black Labrador of wines mdash it comes up and licks yourdquo

mdash Winemaker Scott Rich

Sauvignons rival the great wines of Bordeaux for quality mdash Irsquove tasted them side-by-side mdashand yet can sell for a fraction of their price

One such example is the 2013 Tulocay Cabernet Sauvignon from my old friend Bill Cadman We were young bucks in Napa Valley and had a tasting group in the early 1970s along with now-famous wine luminaries Bruce Neyers (Neyers Vineyards) and Mike Richmond (co-founder of Acacia Vineyard)

Billrsquos Cabernet is from an old and relatively cool growing area east of the City of Napa called Coombsville which because of industry political issues only recently received its AVA (American Viticultural Area) designation It is priced at $60 per bottle yet compares with any top-flight Bordeaux as well as the more expensive offerings from Napa Valley which can cost from $100 on up Not currently available at wine stores or restaurants in Minnesota it can be purchased by contacting the winery directly via its website tulocaycom The winery is so small that Bill will probably answer the phone himself

There is a lot of Cabernet Sauvignon available from California but mdash caveat emptor mdash not all growing areas (or appellations) are the same The best Cabernet Sauvignons are from Napa and Sonoma Counties Cabernets simply labeled ldquoCaliforniardquo or perhaps ldquoCoastalrdquo while sometimes good values lack the complexity of the greater Cabernet Sauvignons from the more northern parts of the state

Washington state has also

established itself as a prime producer of Cabernet Sauvignon But here again quality can vary greatly depending upon the area and producer While there is no ldquogo-tordquo appellation for Cabernet Sauvignon in Washington there are producers that are able to secure fruit from the best vineyards

One such example is the tiny Willis Hall Winery owned by another good friend John Bell a former Boeing jet propulsion engineer Like Tulocay its wines are only available by calling up the winery and ordering some (See willishallcom) But there are many other top quality producers in Washington like Quilceda Creek Leonetti Betz Family and Woodward Canyon

Of course not everyone can afford Cabernet Sauvignons in the $60-plus category One excellent everyday drinking example is the Flying Cloud 2013 Paso Robles Cabernet Sauvignon made by Mankato native Stephen Dooley Normally I donrsquot like Paso Robles Cabs as they tend to be too fruity and too soft for my palate mdash almost like drinking berry jam But this one is quite restrained no doubt helped by the inclusion of 13 percent zinfandel and 9 percent petite sirah in the blend

In Mankato both the Wine Cafeacute and MGM carry the Flying Cloud but at its price and quality I wouldnrsquot count on it lasting for long especially since only 759 cases were produced

So letrsquos raise a glass of Cabernet and say ldquoCheersrdquo to the New Year

MM p02 0116indd 32 12182015 30756 PM

MANKATO MAGAZINE  bull January 2016 bull 33

Bert Mattson is a chef and writer based in St Paul He is the manager of the iconic Mickeyrsquos Diner

Beer Skinny

BeerBy Bert Mattson

Last year according to Nielsen research staying fit and healthy was

the number one New Yearrsquos resolution Losing weight was two Three was to enjoy life to the fullest Unfortunately ldquolose weight and get fitrdquo also topped Time magazinersquos list of commonly broken resolutions Is this shortfall due to tension between the top two and that third one If so craft beer may have a role in the compromise Bad news first

In the context of losing weight and staying fit beer lovers might seek solace in the fact that fat carries nine calories per gram while alcohol has only seven The wrinkle is that those seven are ldquoemptyrdquo mdash calories without nutrition as opposed to those from fat protein and carbohydrates Moreover alcoholrsquos calories are the first burned when combined with the others the human body postpones burning fat while it works on alcohol Furthermore beer (and wine and often cocktails) contains carbohydrates which release insulin and can hasten fat storage Finally many drinkers have undoubtedly observed that alcohol loosens inhibitions after which an eager indulgence in unhealthy foods often occurs (Bar menus are rarely helpful in that respect)

By now you may wonder whose side Irsquom actually on Or suspect Irsquove led you to this dark place only to offer you a Lite No worries a couple craft brewers have been considering ways to keep us true to our resolutions

Evil Twin Brewingrsquos Bikini Beer drops the alcohol to 27 percent but stays bold by way of hops A Pale Ale it hits the nose with citrus suggestive of IPA The flavor follows suit floral and lemon There is an expected absence of malt yielding to bitterness up front that fades at the finish An alternative

for those who insist on the full effect Founderrsquos Brewing Companyrsquos All Day IPA rings in at a respectable 144 calories (Evil Twinrsquos entry comes in at 81)

One strategy to beat the beer munchies and avoid costly impulse eating is to have suitable chow on hand With Bikini Beer try a salad sporting blue cheese and some sort of dried fruit Creamy blue veined cheeses echo the hops while balancing bitterness An occasional bite of dried fruit stands in for malt sweetness

Brooklyn Breweryrsquos 12 Ale weighs in at 34 percent alcohol (102 calories) It is alliteratively labeled ldquoSession Saisonrdquo It opens with a waft of citrus and spice and a little lemongrass from Sorachi Ace hops mdash a hybrid developed in East Asia The same elements are found in the flavor which is a bit more subdued than a full-sized Saison

Try it with a tangle of arugula dressed with lemon and a fruity olive oil tossed with pine nuts and topped with shaved Parmesan for effect The greens and cracked pepper reflect spicy phenolic elements in the yeast Salty cheese counters the beerrsquos lingering bitterness Maybe add a few slices of Speck cured ham and Saison share a certain funkiness

If friends show and it becomes a session you may honestly say you spent Saturday working on your six-pack

MM p02 0116indd 33 12182015 30757 PM

34 bull January 2016 bull MANKATO MAGAZINE

Food

south

ern mn style

Food

south

ern mn style

The Coffee Hag one of the arearsquos oldest (and coolest) bistros recently underwent a major expansion and remodeling journey culminating in a large and airy

seating area along with a much-improved kitchen and a new menu Mankato Magazine caught up with a very busy (and slightly exhausted) owner Jenn Melby-Kelly who weighs in on how itrsquos going

MANKATO MAGAZINE Are you personally enjoying the new updatesJENN MELBY-KELLY It Is Fabulous The new space represents so much more than a remodel to me It has brought to life a vision for my business thatrsquos been years in the making It incorporates many many good ideas from many many people I feel so fortunate to get to see that every time I walk through the door

MM How are customers reactingJMK Thatrsquos been one of the best parts The response has been overwhelmingly positive

A few of our most regular customers had the opportunity to get a glimpse of the remodel while it was underway (we gave some informal preview tours while we were operating the temporary stand outside) but many customers walk through the door now and see it all for the first time Itrsquos especially fun to see and hear that kind of wide-eyed reaction

A few people with special connections to The Hag have had even stronger emotional responses and Irsquom so touched and right there with them when I see eyes well up as they see what wersquove done Itrsquos a very big milestone for a very special place and wersquore blessed to have people that care so deeply

MM Do the employees appreciate the new spaceJMK Oh probably more than anyone There was a lot that we sought to do with the remodel but creating a bigger brighter better-equipped space for our team was certainly one of the primary goals Wersquove got an incredible team truly the most spirited and talented people anyone could hope for

Many of them have spent years with me working hard against the challenge of a small under-equipped space and just barely being able to keeping up with growing demand Itrsquos been a special blessing for them and for me to finally have state-of-the-art space thatrsquos made for the work that we do We all feel a special connection to this place and now more than ever the place reflects the good energy we all bring here every day

MM Is the new menu a hit (The Hag specializes in vegetarianvegan cuisine)JMK Yes but just wait Feedback and demand have been excellent with our food offerings already but wersquore just getting started on some of the really exciting things that are coming to our food menu

Remodeling the cafe was just the first major milestone of our two-part expansion plan Next up wersquore building a state of the art off-site commissary kitchen that will do for our incredible culinary team what the remodeled shop has done for our baristas Theyrsquove been working day and night on taking our already fantastic food offerings to a whole new level

Wersquove already introduced some amazing new menu items like the Garden Grilled Cheese panini (trust me itrsquos like nothing yoursquove had before) and some truly outstanding new vegan baked goods Wersquove also improved our classic offerings with house-made

Interview with Jenn Melby-Kelly owner of The Coffee Hag

By Sarah Johnson

MM p02 0116indd 34 12182015 30802 PM

MANKATO MAGAZINE  bull January 2016 bull 35

Happy New Year

Locally Owned amp Operated

Check Weekly Specialsmgmwineandspiritscommankato

Largest Selection ofbull Liquor bull Wine bull Beer bull

Hours Monday-Saturday 8 am - 10 pm

ATMs at all stores

Mankato201 Victory Dr

625-2420

North Mankato1755 Commerce Dr

387-2634

St Peter100 N Minnesota Ave

934-8964

sourdough and whole wheat breads But as impressive as it is already itrsquos just a taste mdash literally mdash of things to come as we bring our new kitchen online

MM Whatrsquos stayed the sameJMK Irsquom really proud to say that while wersquove touched almost every part of this 23-year-old business wersquove kept even more than we have changed From the first days of this project I made it my personal mission and responsibility to make sure that the ldquosoulrdquo of this special place was only enhanced and never lost as we made the updates

In every area of the remodel as wersquove added some necessary new layers of sophistication The Hagrsquos colorful quirky and even rebellious spirit is still very much a part of the space We did a lot to try to make sure it still looked and felt like ldquohomerdquo

And on a deeper level every step wersquove taken with the growth of our business has been chosen carefully to honor the core parts of The Coffee Hagrsquos identity Our focus on community our support for local art and music our commitment to creating a safe and welcoming space for everyone our efforts to lead the way on social and environmental issues affecting our world near and far mdash those have all stayed the same And those will always be at the heart of what we do

MM Anything elseJMK Irsquom so incredibly grateful for the support of our customers and community And whenever I talk about my business and how it has grown I really canrsquot overstate how thankful I am for my beautiful Coffee Hag family The hard work good energy and earnest contributions of so many people mdash past and present mdash have brought me and my business here An incredible amount of love has gone into this business and made this dream a reality

MM p02 0116indd 35 12222015 121240 PM

36 bull January 2016 bull MANKATO MAGAZINE

xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

Food

south

ern mn style

whatrsquos Cooking By Sarah Johnson

Sarah Johnson is a cook freelance writer and chocolate addict from North Mankato with three grown kids and a couple of mutts

As I was pondering my subject matter for todayrsquos column I started wondering about all the different items the word ldquonutsrdquo can refer

to Crazy people are called nuts so are hexagonal metal objects that attach to bolts Nuts can be the end of things (as in ldquofrom soup to nutsrdquo) or they can be the beginning of them (as in ldquosperm incubatorsrdquo) Nut can also mean onersquos head or onersquos lump of something such as butter And if you accidentally get a nut of butter on your nut you can exclaim ldquoNutsrdquo

My favorite meaning of the word nut however is the dry indehiscent one-seeded fruit with a woody pericarp And I donrsquot even know what indehiscent OR pericarp means But these are the wonderful denizens of the world of edible nuts

Nuts are widely credited with all sorts of health benefits for the heart brain male reproductive system prostate cholesterol level fiber intake and avoidance of some types of cancer And while nuts do contain fat itrsquos the ldquogoodrdquo kind heart-healthy monounsaturated and polyunsaturated fat Their mix of omega-3 fatty acids protein and fiber helps you feel full and suppresses the appetite

Nuts are great in desserts and salads of course but they also shine in stir-fries casseroles soups chicken pork fish and even beverages Nut butters nut milks and nut oils add delicious options to our kitchen larders Breads cereals muffins and pancakes gain texture flavor and nutrition from the addition of nuts Basically anytime is a good time for nuts

Which is a wonderful thing because nuts taste so good you would think they had to be very very bad The reason lies deep in their oils

Walnut Oil is strong and flavorful Itrsquos best when used in uncooked sauces or salad dressing

Hazelnut Oil has a strong flavor and is great for the heart

Almond Oil is very popular and has a much milder flavor than walnut oil or hazelnut oil

Pecan Macadamia Nut Pistachio Cashew and Pine Nut Oils are flavorful and unique The freshness of the nuts used really affects the flavor

ldquoTherersquos Nuttinrsquo Nutty About Nutsrdquo

For the Baklava1 pound pistachios hazelnuts walnuts pecans andor almonds coarsely ground plus more for garnish12 teaspoon ground cinnamon1 cup breadcrumbs4 sticks unsalted butter melted16 sheets phyllo dough (thawed if frozen) cut in half

For the Syrup3 cups sugar1 6 -to-8-ounce jar honey1 frac12 cups water1 to 2 tablespoons fresh lemon juice

If yoursquore under the impression that baklava is much too labor-intensive and complicated to make at home think again Anybody can make

it no special skills equipment or exotic ingredients are required A word about phyllo dough Itrsquos sold in frozen packages so you need to remove the package from the freezer and let it thaw in the fridge 24 hours before you want to make the baklava Then about an hour beforehand remove the package from the fridge and let it sit on the counter

Walnuts or pistachios are the most traditional nuts to fill baklava but using other nuts works wonders as well Simply layer the phyllo with the nut filling and butter bake for an hour and finish with a simple honeyed syrup If you have leftover nuts from the holidays herersquos your chance to use them up

Mixed Nut Baklava

MM p02 0116indd 36 12182015 30812 PM

MANKATO MAGAZINE  bull January 2016 bull 37

MONEY MATTERS WORK SMARTLET COMMUNITY BANK HELP YOUBRING THE TWO TOGETHER

MANKATO - SAINT ANDREWS DR 5073854444MANKATO - MADISON AVE 5076251551VERNON CENTER 5075493679AMBOY 5076743300

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We support great causes like yoursAt Community Bank we know good things happen when you have a good bank So we make more possible by keeping banking simple and supportive And by giving you the power that comes with innovative solutions like our Health Savings Account It offers you tax-free savings for future medical expenses Stop by anytime Wersquore always ready to help out a great cause

Position a rack in the lower third of the oven preheat to 350 degrees Combine the nuts cinnamon and breadcrumbs in a bowl

Brush a 9x13-inch baking dish with some of the butter Layer 10 pieces of phyllo in the dish brushing each piece with butter before adding the next (keep the remaining dough covered with a damp towel) Sprinkle a quarter of the nut mixture over the dough Layer four pieces of phyllo on top brushing each with butter before adding the next sprinkle with another quarter of the nut mixture Add four more phyllo pieces on top brushing each with butter then add another quarter of the nut mixture four more pieces of phyllo with butter and the remaining nuts

Layer the remaining 10 pieces of phyllo on top of the nuts brushing each with butter brush the top piece with extra butter Cut into the baklava to make strips about 1 12 inches wide Then make diagonal slices about 1 12 inches apart to create a diamond pattern Bake until golden about one hour

Meanwhile make the syrup Bring the sugar honey and 1 12 cups water to a boil in a saucepan over medium heat and cook 10 to 15 minutes Add the lemon juice and boil 2 more minutes then let cool slightly Pour the syrup over the warm baklava let soak uncovered at least six hours or overnight Garnish with nuts

MM p02 0116indd 37 12182015 30817 PM

38 bull bull MANKATO MAGAZINE

Nell Musolf is a mom and freelance writer from Mankato She blogs at nellmusolfcom

38 bull bull MANKATO MAGAZINE

MM p02 0116indd 38 12182015 30822 PM

MANKATO MAGAZINE  bull January 2016 bull 39

Gear Up for WinterYear-Round amp Insulated Workwear from

Carhartt Dickies and Key

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Call 5073446336mankatomagmankatofreepresscom

Stephanie L Hylla LAc Dipl AcKayla M Sweeney MOm LAc

NEW LOCATION709 S Front Suite 5

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Open House ndash Wednesday Feb 3 9-12noonCelebrating 5 years of Business New Location and the Chinese New Year

In Network with Blue Cross Blue ShieldLicensed by the MN Board of Medical Practice

Ribbon Cutting with Greater Mankato Growth at 10am

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wwwr igne l l fami lych i roprac t ic comMedicare Restrictions Apply Expires January 31 2016

Dr BrandonRignell DC

1351 Madison AveSuite D

Mankato MN 56001

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$2900New Patient Special

MM p02 0116indd 39 12222015 121344 PM

40 bull bull MANKATO MAGAZINE

Jean Lundquist is a master gardener who lives near Good Thunder

MM p02 0116indd 40 12182015 30834 PM

MANKATO MAGAZINE  bull January 2016 bull 41

3 Increase the Value of Your Home

3 Update Your Homersquos Appearance

3 Save Money

Choose from SeveralModels Styles amp Colors

507-625-7110 or 1-800-645-36671125 Cross St North Mankato MN

Improve Your HomersquosEnergy Efficiency

422 Park Lane Mankato MN | NuStarMankatocom

(507) 381-4747Voted One of Mankatorsquos Best

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Make Selling Your Home Your NuYearrsquos Resolution

MM p02 0116indd 41 12182015 30839 PM

42 bull January 2016 bull MANKATO MAGAZINE

January Resolve to moisturize

Your stYLeBy Ann Rosenquist Fee

Ann Rosenquist Fee is executive director of the Arts Center of Saint Peter and a vocalist with The Frye She blogs at annrosenquistfeecom

If you have in-laws or colleagues who know you well enough to have given you holiday gifts

but not well enough to know what wouldrsquove truly made you happy congratulations Chances are yoursquore the proud owner of a bunch of brand-new lip balm

Maybe itrsquos even holiday themed Thatrsquos the best Maybe you got the candy-cane flavored kind or wintergreen with holiday graphics on the label or something like that A theme that was irrelevant the moment the stocking was unstuffed because at that exact second the holiday was over

And here you are in January with an abundance of wax

Fortunately also here you are in the early weeks of winter with rough red knuckles Probably also cracked cuticles although it might not have gone that far yet for you Irsquom sure it has for me This photo was taken back in November and even then the Band-Aids were for real Irsquove learned to cut them in half length-wise so as to retain my ability to type Irsquove also learned to play with a range of color options Flesh-toned Clear Disney characters The colorful strips shown here were gifted to me by my husband Partly why theyrsquore cut in half is that the text is obscene This is one small trick you can use to make bloody cuticles your most exciting accessory of the winter

Sources like UrbanSurvivalSitecom and WonderHowTocom will tell you that you can use lip balm for a whole variety of purposes such as coating threads of outdoor lightbulbs before screwing them into their sockets and enhancing the burn-ability of most kindling

These are great fun but they wonrsquot improve your personal style

More germane to winter beauty are the following suggestions

Keep a tube next to your bed for first-thing-in-the-morning use And I mean really truly first-thing I mean smear the stuff on each cuticle while yoursquore still lying there before you start using your fingers at all If you wake up thinking yoursquore fine and skip cuticle care next thing you know yoursquore pushing down the lever on your Keurig and the pressure is more than your screamingly dry skin can take and boom split blood on the Keurig and itrsquos gonna be a long painful day If only you had balmed your hands before you let your feet hit the floor

Keep another tube in your glove compartment If itrsquos warm enough to take off your mittens in the car mdash if yoursquore even wearing mittens given that your hands are snagging on everything these days mdash the harsh January sunlight will allow you to see cracks and flakes in high-resolution detail Yoursquoll want the balm nearby

to cover what you didnrsquot notice first thing in the morning Also a car tube is useful for when you look in the rear-view mirror and notice that your nose and upper lip are flaking as well Itrsquos because yoursquore getting over a cold and the frequent use of tissue has worn away your top layer of skin but just because you know that doesnrsquot mean everybody else wonrsquot think ldquothere is something in that noserdquo Itrsquos just a fact Itrsquos what it looks like Lip balm to the rescue Itrsquos the only thing dry enough to slick those flakes in place and nourishing enough to maybe actually get your face back to normal

Keep a couple more tubes in a nighttime kit along with sandpaper Sandpaper Yes Not a pumice stone not a lame also-gifted sugar

scrub Medium-grit sandpaper is what you need every night lightly but with conviction As follows 1) Sand taking care not to do more damage than what the elements have already done Yoursquore just trying to remove the dry dead stuff Yoursquore just being hearty and efficient about this true to the culture of this great state in which yoursquove chosen to winter You are no pansy Sand your hands 2) Wash 3) Blot dry 4) Dial up the gifted balm whisper a word of thanks to the person who put so much thought into your well-being that they stuffed your holiday stocking with this amazing gift of self-care smash a healthy amount down into your palms massage Take heart You just might find yourself with normal-textured non-cracked not-horrible-looking hands by morning

Split-open cuticles I feel you Except for these Band-Aids I feel you

Lip balms I have been gifted and these are just from last Christmas ldquolastrdquo as in 2014

Bathrooms Worth Bragging About

HoursTue amp Wed amp Fri | 9 am to 6 pmMon amp Thu | 9 am to 7 pmSaturday | 9 am to 4 pm

219 S Victory Dr | Mankato507 | 345 | 7009ipafhickorytechnetindependentpaintandflooringcom

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1400 Lookout Drive North Mankato507-625-CARE(2273) bull mankatodentistcom 06

1865

6124

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Dr AngelA Schuck

Dr keith FlAck

MM p02 0116indd 42 12182015 30841 PM

MANKATO MAGAZINE  bull January 2016 bull 43

Bathrooms Worth Bragging About

HoursTue amp Wed amp Fri | 9 am to 6 pmMon amp Thu | 9 am to 7 pmSaturday | 9 am to 4 pm

219 S Victory Dr | Mankato507 | 345 | 7009ipafhickorytechnetindependentpaintandflooringcom

You Deserve Comfortable Care Every Timebull Sedation - Complete Relaxation with Just a Pillbull Invisalign - Clear Alternative to Bracesbull Botox amp Fillersbull Implants - Placement and Restorationbull Cerec - One Visit Crown Technology

bull Free Whitening Programbull 3D Imaging with Fewer X-Raysbull Cosmetic Dentistrybull Drill-Free Technologybull Emergency Care

1400 Lookout Drive North Mankato507-625-CARE(2273) bull mankatodentistcom 06

1865

6124

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Dr AngelA Schuck

Dr keith FlAck

(944) 412-7949 | OrthoEdgeMNcom

Enjoy the season

Mankato St Peter

Be active Be healthyBe able with OrthoEdge

The OrthoEdge joint replacement

program offers superb care from your first

visit through recovery The surgeons from

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MM p02 0116indd 43 12182015 30842 PM

44 bull January 2016 bull MANKATO MAGAZINE

1 Hicktown Mafia800 pm mdash New Ulm Event Center mdash 301 20th St S mdash New Ulm mdash $10 mdash 507-354-4673

7-9 Mankato West Orchesis Dance Team showcase7 pm Thursday-Saturday 2 pm Saturday mdash Mankato West High School Auditorium mdash $7 adults $5 students mdash 507-381-7578

10 Mankato Symphony Orchestra Music on the Hill II ldquoMinnesota rootsrdquo2 pm mdash Chapel at Good Counselmdash Good Counsel Drive mdash Mankato mdash $17 $12 mdash wwwmankatosymphonycom

16 Handel with Caremdash Handel Goes to Italy11 ammdash YMCA Aerobics Studio mdash 1401 S Riverfront Drive mdash Mankato mdash wwwmankatosymphonycom

16 Mankato Craft beer Expo2 pm (VIP) 3 pm general mdash Verizon Wireless Center mdash $45 VIP $35 general $10 designated driver mdash wwwmankatocraftbeerexpocom

23 Joey Flip and Mike Fugazzi rockinrsquo at the Embassy9 pm mdash Blaschkorsquos Embassy Bar and Grill mdash 325 S Minnesota Ave mdash St Peter mdash 507-934-3903

24 andrea Lyn and Dick Kimmel concert730 pm mdash Elias J Halling Recital Hall mdash Minnesota State University mdash Mankato mdash $12 regular $11 current MSU students mdash wwwmnusedumusic

28-31 MSu Theatre antigone730 pm Thursday-Saturday 2 pm Sunday mdash Andreas Theatre mdash Minnesota State University mdash Mankato mdash $16 regular $14 discount $11 current MSU students mdash wwwmnsuedu

29-31 BLC Theatre Brigadoon730 Friday and Saturday 2 pm Sunday mdash Ylvisaker Fine Arts Center mdash Bethany Lutheran College mdash Mankato mdash $10 adults $6 seniors children and students mdash wwwblceduevents

29- Feb 7 Winterfest St Peter Citywide mdash wwwstpeterchamberorg

30 Church of Cash a Tribute to Johnny Cash7 pm mdash St Peter American Legion mdash 229 W Nassau St mdash St Peter mdash 507-934-6435

31 Maud Hixson and rick Carlson concert730 pmmdash Elias J Halling Recital Hall mdash Minnesota State University mdash Mankato mdash $12 regular $11 current MSU students wwmnsuedumusic

Coming attraCtions January

T - F 8am - 6pm Sun ClosedSat 9am - 4pmM 8am - 8pm

120 North Broad Street Mankato MN 507-345-4688 wwwmeyerandsonstvandappliancecom

FIND SPECIAL DEALS ON

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MANKATO MAGAZINE  bull January 2016 bull 45

St Peter Craft amp Vendor Show

1MelinadaBussefromRapidansoldherhandmadejewelryatthecraftandvendorshow

2DarylfromElysianandhishand-carvedwoodart

3MacKennaage7hasfunatoneoftheboothsattheStPeterCraftandVendorShow

4LizEntershowsoffsomeofherproductsattheldquoItWorksrdquobooth

5DenisePetersofldquoYoungLivingrdquoessentialoilsdisplayedherproductsattheshow

Faces amp Places Photos By Sport Pix

3

5

2

1

4

T - F 8am - 6pm Sun ClosedSat 9am - 4pmM 8am - 8pm

120 North Broad Street Mankato MN 507-345-4688 wwwmeyerandsonstvandappliancecom

FIND SPECIAL DEALS ON

MM p02 0116indd 45 12222015 121536 PM

46 bull January 2016 bull MANKATO MAGAZINE

SOUTHErN MN CHrISTMAS

FESTIVAL1 A large crowd was on hand during the festivities at

the Christmas Festival2 Friesenrsquos Family Bakery amp Bistro had tons of baked

goods and soups at the Verizon Wireless Center3 A childrenrsquos choir sang for the audience at the

festival4 Ron Haefner owner of Ronrsquos Auto Repair displayed

some of his services5 Garrison Galatz dressed up as Santa for the

Christmas Festival

faCes amp PLaCes Photos By Sport Pix

4

3

1

2

5

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MANKATO MAGAZINE  bull January 2016 bull 47

1GirlScouttroop34494waspresentedwithatrophybyKiwanisVicePresidentKyleMrozek

2SantaClausevenwentthroughtheparaderoute3(LtoR)BrooklynPomrankeAlaynaLyonsHunterPomrankeandLilyLyonsgetagroupphototakenwithSanta

4MarshaMartigtellsSantawhatshewantsforChristmas

5TheparadefloatswerealldeckedoutinChristmaslights

6Visitorswalkthepatharoundtheparktoviewthisyearrsquoslights

Kiwanis Holiday ligHtsFaces amp Places Photos By sport Pix

2

1

3

4 5

6

MM p02 0116indd 47 12222015 121616 PM

48 bull January 2016 bull MANKATO MAGAZINE

On the Occasion of a 50th Reunion

the Class of 1965

from this VaLLeYBy Pete Steiner

Peter Steiner is host of ldquoTalk of the Townrdquo weekdays at 105 pm on KTOE

I was honored to give the presentation for our 50th class reunion recently at West Highrsquos Homecoming celebration About 120 of our nearly 400-member class

showed up We Baby Boomers the children of the greatest generation had big classes in the late lsquo60rsquos that forced the building of East High Ours was a dramatic era and our class did some great things in the face of big challenges Here edited is some of what I said

I am so glad to be standing here today Therersquos an old saying

ldquoMay you live in INTErESTINg timeshelliprdquo The Class of rsquo65 certainly has Itrsquos seems like only yesterday right after lunch that we were at our desks waiting for the start of English class when our charismatic teacher Harry Fitterer strode in and said ldquoPrESIDENT KENNEDY HAS BEEN SHOT IN DALLASrdquo At first we didnrsquot believe him but it was true It was November 22 1963 We were juniors and as the song says that was THE END OF THE INNOCENCE We had lived through the last idyllic time in America

When we first arrived in the fall of 1962 America was still carefree basking in the glow of victory in WW II Everything may have seemed ldquorightrdquo but it was not Martin Luther King Jr had just visited Mankato pointing out the continuing plight of black Americans as the Civil rights movement was gaining steam The beginnings of the Vietnam War which would alter the course of many of our lives were stirring even as we studied history and government The current generation has no monopoly on forgettable pop music ndash we had a stupid 1 song called ldquoItsie Bitsie Teenie Weenie Yellow Polka Dot Bikinirdquo (unfortunately an ear worm I canrsquot forget) But a darker cultural threat was looming The BEATLES were invading from Britain and our parents were mortified because they had LONg HAIr

Some of the shock of the Kennedy assassination was eased when our wrestling team in the era when the state still had just ONE CLASS won the State Championship in front of a packed hall up at MSU some still maintain that is the greatest single athletic achievement in Mankato history We were the first high school in Mankato to put on a full-scale musical ldquoBye Bye Birdierdquo in the spring of 1964 In Fall of 1964 our football team would have won the conference championship outright except Owatonnarsquos great Noel Jenke who would go on to star for the U of M

cheated I watched him trap the touchdown pass that beat us Does cheating pay Was that a lesson for life

In lsquo65 we also had a fine basketball team that lost our chance at State when our 6-6 center fouled out at Luverne

BUT A FAr BIggEr CHALLENgE AWAITED US ALL As we rode out to Luverne to watch that game we couldnrsquot help noticing the highway was like a canyon between walls of snow The legendary St Patrickrsquos Day Blizzard had dumped two feet on top of an already large snow pack and then April brought rains on frozen ground Instead of coming here to school many of us soon got a real-life assignment to go out in our rain gear out on the dikes to battle the grEAT FLOOD OF 1965 Our school became an island as water flooded the parking lot and all of South riverfront Our spring play that year was called ironically

THE DESPErATE HOUrS We had to rehearse at roosevelt School up on higher ground

Our class produced three Merit scholars One of our classmates who did NOT qualify

for a merit scholarship nevertheless was such a whiz at physics that NASA requested a copy of a paper he wrote on rocketry as a senior We produced 12 doctors one of whom earned a fellowship at Stanford seeking how to bring telemedicine to the poor another of whom became a breakthrough cancer doctor We had entrepreneurs one who would go on to be a leader in Solar Energy (and then run for governor of New Hampshire) Another mdash a woman incidentally when

that was not common founded two bio-tech startups Many of us are still working

past normal retirement age One founded a company on the leading edge of recycling

computers whose clients include the NSA Another is chief medical officer of a company

devising a better tool for colonoscopies Yet another of our classmates recently completed a concert tour of China

We lived in challenging times just as you do today but we muddle through we make it to the other shore I remember sitting where you are 50 years ago thinking how old those folks up there looked But remember Life goes by very quickly You certainly live in interesting times as Shakespeare said ldquoPresent Mirth has Present Laughter Youthrsquos a stuff will NOT endurerdquo So I urge you live each moment to the fullest

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Page 27: Mankatomag 116

reFlecTionsBy Pat Christman

MANKATO MAGAZINE  bull January 2016 bull 25

There are few things as inevitable as snow during a Minnesota winter Big

cotton ball-like snowflakes cover the ground in a white blanket whitewashing the Midwestern landscape

We struggle against it Some hope the snow never comes It always does filling the sky with floating snowflakes that cling to the ground but melt as soon as they hit the small bits of face or hands that peek out from winter clothing

It is often quite beautiful especially when viewed from someplace warm and dry MM

MM p01 0116indd 25 12182015 24548 PM

26 bull January 2016 bull MANKATO MAGAZINE

Then amp now Vice President Schuyler Colfaxrsquos Death By Bryce o sTenzel

On Jan 14 1885 one day after his death the New York Times carried a

headline that read ldquoSchuyler Colfax Dead He Drops Down in a Railway Stationrdquo While most Americans today would have tremendous difficulty in even recognizing this manrsquos name

(unless they were paying close attention to Stephen Spielbergrsquos epic movie Lincoln and made the association) Schuyler Colfax was a former Speaker of the House of Representatives and Vice President of the United States under President US Grant He died in Mankatorsquos Chicago St

Paul Minneapolis amp Omaha railroad depot from a massive heart attack

Schuyler Colfax Jr was born in New York City on March 23 1823 His father died of tuberculosis five months before Schuyler was born His sister Mary died four months after his [Schuylerrsquos]

vice President Schuyler Colfaxrsquos Death in Mankato

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MANKATO MAGAZINE  bull January 2016 bull 27

birth The young Schuyler attended school only until he was 10 He then began working to support his family Schuyler Colfax never attended any kind of secondary school or college His mother remarried when Colfax was 13 and the family moved to New Carlisle Indiana By the time he was 22 Colfax was the editor and owner of a pro-Whig newspaper He was elected to Congress in 1854 and joined the newly formed Republican Party after the Whig Party disintegrated Solidly anti-slavery his colleagues elected Colfax as Speaker of the US House of Representatives in 1863 His election came soon after the death of his wife Evelyn The couple had no children

Colfax was President Abraham Lincolnrsquos first and last visitor on the fateful day Lincoln was assassinatedmdashApril 14 1865 Early that morning Colfax arrived at the White House while the president was having breakfast Colfax wanted to know whether or not Lincoln planned to call a special session of Congress for later that summer Lincolnrsquos answer was a polite but firm ldquonordquo Lincoln preferred a lenient approach in reconstructing as well as readmitting the former Confederate states to the Union now that the Civil War was over This approach put Lincoln at odds with the more ldquoradicalrdquo congressional members of his own party who preferred harsher measures be taken against their former enemies Lincoln had already made up his mind how he wanted to proceed with reconstructing the former Confederate states and he didnrsquot want any unnecessary interference from Congress Calling a special session was the last thing Lincoln wanted to do Colfax returned that same night to see Lincoln again just before the president left for Fordrsquos Theatre and his appointment with destiny This time Colfax came upon Lincolnrsquos own request The president had a long message for the silver miners of the Comstock Lode in Nevada thanking them for their loyalty to the Union that he wanted Speaker Colfax to deliver in person since Colfax was leaving by train for the West the next day Colfax was the last person Lincoln spoke to besides his wife Mary before he

was fatally shot at 1015 pm Colfax never forgave himself for turning down Lincolnrsquos invitation to be part of the theatre party that night

In 1868 Republicans selected General Ulysses S Grant as their presidential candidate Grant a military man his entire life had no political background Colfax was placed on the ticket because of his prior experience as a congressman and Speaker of the House (he resigned the position in 1869) Grant and Colfax won an easy victory in November 1868 Only two weeks later Colfax remarriedmdashthis time to Ellen Wade (niece of Ohio Senator Benjamin Wade) Their only child son Schuyler Colfax III was born in 1870

Colfax is best remembered (if at all) for his involvement in the corruption that beset Grantrsquos entire presidency Specifically the Credit Mobilier scandal broke in 1872 just as Grant and Colfax were gearing up for their re-election campaign Colfax was suspected of accepting shares of stock and cash bribes from ldquoCredit Mobilierrdquo a dummy construction company set up by the Union Pacific Railroad He was by no means the only influential person involved in the scandal Other political figures investigated included Senators Roscoe Conkling of New York William Allison of Iowa John Logan of Illinois James Bayard of Delaware and Henry Wilson of Massachusetts Grant was less popular in 1872 than he had been four years earlier and many Republicans worried that having Colfax on the partyrsquos ticket would harm the presidentrsquos re-election chances They dumped Colfax from the ticket mdash only to replace him with the also-tainted Wilson Grant won re-election and served his second and final term from 1873-1877 After being forced out from the vice presidency Colfax traveled the country as a popular lecturer often speaking about his interactions with Abraham Lincoln during the Civil War He rebuilt his tarnished reputation and commanded speaking fees as high as $2500

At 10 am on Jan 13 1885 Schuyler Colfax arrived in Mankato aboard a train from Milwaukee Mankato was just a

brief stop for Colfax who was on his way to Iowa for a speaking engagement The Chicago Milwaukee amp St Paul as well as the Chicago St Paul Minneapolis amp Omaha railroads both had depots in Mankato but because they were separate competing railroad lines Colfax was required to change trains by walking three-quarters of a mile from the Chicago Milwaukee amp St Paul depot at the foot of Hickory Street to the Chicago St Paul Minneapolis amp Omaha depot at Fourth and Washington Streets (now Washington Park) from which the next leg of his journey would depart Despite a reported temperature of 30 degrees below zero Colfax walked from one station to the other Within five minutes after he arrived at the Omaha linersquos depot Colfax entered the waiting room looked at a map on the wall sat down and died It was 1035 am No one in the station knew who the dead man actually was until they searched his pockets and found a letter with his name on it His death was likely caused by a heart attack brought on by the physical exertion of walking almost a mile in extreme cold Colfax was only 61 when he died His remains were returned to South Bend Indiana for burial

Today few Americans are aware that anyone named Schuyler Colfax ever lived much less served as vice president of the United States In this era in which officeholders are often treated as celebrities imagine how surprised people would be to learn that a former vice president died cold alone and unrecognized in a train station 131 years ago Before 24-hour news channels smart phones and social media it was possible for public figures like Colfax to live ndash and die ndash in relative obscurity Ironically Colfax loved the railroad but in the end it was the cause of his undoing Mankato has the distinction of being the location where the last man to personally speak to Abraham Lincoln in a private conversation took his last breath

MM p01 0116indd 27 12182015 24549 PM

28 bull January 2016 bull MANKATO MAGAZINE

Mayo Clinic offers pediatric and adolescent orthopedic services right here in Mankato Todd Milbrandt MD cares for patients with a variety of needs including

bull Cerebral palsy

bull Clubfoot

bull Hip disorders

bull Spinal disorders

bull Sports injuries

bull Scoliosis

bull Spina bifida

Mayo Clinic Health System in Mankato Call 1-877-412-7575 (toll-free) to schedule an appointment

495rdquox495rdquo Mankato Magazine January

Orthopedic care for your child

Independent ampAssisted Living

EQUAL HOUSINGOPPORTUNITY

1360 Adams StreetMankato MN

PrimroseRetirementcom

reg

Key City Senior Breakfast ClubThe Key City Senior Breakfast Club meets the first Thursday of each month from 830 AM - 930 AM at Primrose Retirement Community The club gives those 55+ the opportunity to meet new friends and visit old ones socialize with Key City Officials and enjoy a delicious home-cooked breakfast To visit a Key City Senior Breakfast please call (866) 447-9636

Mark your calendar for these breakfast dates Thursday January 7th Thursday March 3rd and Thursday May 5th

刀椀渀最 椀渀 琀栀攀 

一攀眀 夀攀愀爀

㔀 㜀ⴀ㤀㐀ⴀ㐀㐀䨀甀氀攀攀猀䨀攀眀攀氀爀礀挀漀洀

椀渀 匀愀椀渀琀 倀攀琀攀爀

20765 Foley Rd Mankato MN | 5073872434 | 5077262411

Three TimeNational Award Winners

MM p02 0116indd 28 12182015 30742 PM

Mayo Clinic offers pediatric and adolescent orthopedic services right here in Mankato Todd Milbrandt MD cares for patients with a variety of needs including

bull Cerebral palsy

bull Clubfoot

bull Hip disorders

bull Spinal disorders

bull Sports injuries

bull Scoliosis

bull Spina bifida

Mayo Clinic Health System in Mankato Call 1-877-412-7575 (toll-free) to schedule an appointment

495rdquox495rdquo Mankato Magazine January

Orthopedic care for your child

Independent ampAssisted Living

EQUAL HOUSINGOPPORTUNITY

1360 Adams StreetMankato MN

PrimroseRetirementcom

reg

Key City Senior Breakfast ClubThe Key City Senior Breakfast Club meets the first Thursday of each month from 830 AM - 930 AM at Primrose Retirement Community The club gives those 55+ the opportunity to meet new friends and visit old ones socialize with Key City Officials and enjoy a delicious home-cooked breakfast To visit a Key City Senior Breakfast please call (866) 447-9636

Mark your calendar for these breakfast dates Thursday January 7th Thursday March 3rd and Thursday May 5th

OMG hellip More food and drinksOK sure

By now yoursquore probably thinking ldquoOh my gosh the last thing I want to think about right now is more food more drinking and more diningrdquo

Fair enough We get it The holidays are murder on the metabolism of many many Minnesotans

But we also know that those metabolisms are hardy and soon enough theyrsquoll be hankering for a hunk of something yummy and full of fun And whatrsquos more yummy and full of fun than a big glass of Cabernet Sauvignon Our wine guy Leigh Pomeroy takes us on a tour of all that is tasty and wonderful about big red wines the kind that leave their mark the kind that really announce their presence on your palate

And just in case yoursquore super serious about a healthy lifestyle mdash and that seriousness extends to the kind of beer you choose mdash Bert Mattson our beer guy has just the selection for you Best part is Itrsquos light

Oh and under the category of ldquoDid you hear about thisrdquo Wersquove got an update for you on the Coffee Hag Mankatorsquos original coffee house and one of the most popular hangouts in town Seriously some days itrsquos hard to find a seat in that place

EnjoyPS We know that baby itrsquos cold outside mdash thatrsquos why wersquove

thrown you our absolute best hot cocoa recipe

Enjoymdash Robb Murray Associate Editor Mankato Magazine

food drink amp dineso

uthern m

n style

20765 Foley Rd Mankato MN | 5073872434 | 5077262411

Three TimeNational Award Winners

MM p02 0116indd 29 12182015 30745 PM

MANKATO 5073854485 AMBOY 5076743355 I VERNON CENTER 5075493679

INSURANCE OFFICES LOCATED IN THE COMMUNITY BANK BUILDINGS

wwwcimankatocom

Protecting the things that matter most in your life

Let us help protect what is important to you At Community Insurance we have the ability to compare insurance from multiple companies to get you the best coverage at a great price Combine that with our insurance knowledge and friendly group of agents and we say thatrsquos a winning deal

WHERE YOUR POLICY COMES WITH AN AGENT

Christina Meyer

Food

south

ern mn style

Food

south

ern mn style

By The Washington Post

Growing up my mother always encouraged her children to cook So when

I found a recipe for hot chocolate on the side of the Hersheyrsquos Cocoa can it was easy to convince her to let me give it a try

What I discovered was that hot chocolate doesnrsquot have to come from an envelope

This recipe has been a favorite of mine to make on days when winter weather has convinced me stay home and off the roads Itrsquos the perfect way to kill time and have a nice hot drink to warm you up on those chilly days

Although you can top it with whipped cream I prefer marshmallows

FAVORITE HOT COCOAMakes 4 to 6 servings

12 cup sugar14 cup unsweetened cocoa powder

Dash of salt13 cup hot water

4 cups milk34 teaspoon vanilla extract

Whipped cream or marshmallows (optional)

Mix sugar cocoa powder salt and water in a sauce pan Stir constantly over medium heat until mixture comes to a boil (about 2 minutes) Stir in

milk and heat Bring the hot chocolate to the desired temperature but do not boil Remove from heat and

add the vanilla extract Divide into mugs and top with whipped cream or marshmallows

PERFECTLY CHOCOLATE HOT COCOA

Makes 1 serving

2 tablespoons sugar2 tablespoons unsweetened cocoa powder

Dash salt1 cup milk

14 teaspoon vanilla extractWhipped cream or marshmallows (optional)

Mix sugar cocoa powder and salt into large mug In separate microwave-safe container heat on high

for 1 to 1 frac12 minutes or until very hot Carefully and gradually add milk to dry mixture Stir well Add vanilla extract Top with whipped cream or

marshmallows

Simple homemade hot chocolate

beats the winter chill

30 bull January 2016 bull MANKATO MAGAZINE

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MANKATO MAGAZINE  bull January 2016 bull 31

Oil Change to OverhaulWe do it all

507-387-13151620 Commerce Drive North MankatowwwAustinsAutoRepairCentercom

Voted Best Auto Repair and Best Auto Mechanic 4 Years in a Row

AUSTINrsquoS AUTO REPAIR CENTER INC

MANKATO 5073854485 AMBOY 5076743355 I VERNON CENTER 5075493679

INSURANCE OFFICES LOCATED IN THE COMMUNITY BANK BUILDINGS

wwwcimankatocom

Protecting the things that matter most in your life

Let us help protect what is important to you At Community Insurance we have the ability to compare insurance from multiple companies to get you the best coverage at a great price Combine that with our insurance knowledge and friendly group of agents and we say thatrsquos a winning deal

WHERE YOUR POLICY COMES WITH AN AGENT

Christina Meyer

MM p02 0116indd 31 12182015 30755 PM

32 bull January 2016 bull MANKATO MAGAZINE

January is Cabernet TimeWersquove celebrated nearly

every January edition of Mankato Magazine with

a paean to BIG REDS And since there are so many wonderful examples why stop now

Last year I wrote about the powerful big reds of Italy This January wersquoll focus on Cabernet Sauvignon known to many as ldquothe king of winesrdquo Most oenophiles (wine lovers) consider the quintessential representations of this grape to be the classified Bordeaux of southwest France near the city of Bordeaux The five First Growths (or best wines according to a classification made in 1855 and updated in 1973) are Ch Lafite Rothschild Ch Margaux Ch Latour Ch Haut Brion and Ch Mouton Rothschild All have a cabernet sauvignon base but they are blended with merlot and often a little bit of cabernet franc and petit verdot as well

In the early 1970s I was able to buy these wines for around $22 per bottle mdash about $120 in 2016 dollars Yet with the popularity of ldquocollectiblerdquo wines on a worldwide

basis they sell today for anywhere from $400 on up

Contrary to popular belief these wines are not that massive Rather they combine cabernet sauvignon power with

structure and finesse yielding wines that become with time elixirs that are greater than the sum of their parts

Both California and Washington state have taken up the Cabernet Sauvignon challenge and are producing world-class wines at sometimes world-class prices Napa Valley is the recognized leader in this arena and rightly so Napa Valleyrsquos top Cabernet

Wine amp B

eerso

uthern m

n style

winesBy Leigh Pomeroy

Leigh Pomeroy is a Mankato-based writer and wine lover

Cabernet Sauvignon is the black Labrador of wines mdash it comes up and licks yourdquo

mdash Winemaker Scott Rich

Sauvignons rival the great wines of Bordeaux for quality mdash Irsquove tasted them side-by-side mdashand yet can sell for a fraction of their price

One such example is the 2013 Tulocay Cabernet Sauvignon from my old friend Bill Cadman We were young bucks in Napa Valley and had a tasting group in the early 1970s along with now-famous wine luminaries Bruce Neyers (Neyers Vineyards) and Mike Richmond (co-founder of Acacia Vineyard)

Billrsquos Cabernet is from an old and relatively cool growing area east of the City of Napa called Coombsville which because of industry political issues only recently received its AVA (American Viticultural Area) designation It is priced at $60 per bottle yet compares with any top-flight Bordeaux as well as the more expensive offerings from Napa Valley which can cost from $100 on up Not currently available at wine stores or restaurants in Minnesota it can be purchased by contacting the winery directly via its website tulocaycom The winery is so small that Bill will probably answer the phone himself

There is a lot of Cabernet Sauvignon available from California but mdash caveat emptor mdash not all growing areas (or appellations) are the same The best Cabernet Sauvignons are from Napa and Sonoma Counties Cabernets simply labeled ldquoCaliforniardquo or perhaps ldquoCoastalrdquo while sometimes good values lack the complexity of the greater Cabernet Sauvignons from the more northern parts of the state

Washington state has also

established itself as a prime producer of Cabernet Sauvignon But here again quality can vary greatly depending upon the area and producer While there is no ldquogo-tordquo appellation for Cabernet Sauvignon in Washington there are producers that are able to secure fruit from the best vineyards

One such example is the tiny Willis Hall Winery owned by another good friend John Bell a former Boeing jet propulsion engineer Like Tulocay its wines are only available by calling up the winery and ordering some (See willishallcom) But there are many other top quality producers in Washington like Quilceda Creek Leonetti Betz Family and Woodward Canyon

Of course not everyone can afford Cabernet Sauvignons in the $60-plus category One excellent everyday drinking example is the Flying Cloud 2013 Paso Robles Cabernet Sauvignon made by Mankato native Stephen Dooley Normally I donrsquot like Paso Robles Cabs as they tend to be too fruity and too soft for my palate mdash almost like drinking berry jam But this one is quite restrained no doubt helped by the inclusion of 13 percent zinfandel and 9 percent petite sirah in the blend

In Mankato both the Wine Cafeacute and MGM carry the Flying Cloud but at its price and quality I wouldnrsquot count on it lasting for long especially since only 759 cases were produced

So letrsquos raise a glass of Cabernet and say ldquoCheersrdquo to the New Year

MM p02 0116indd 32 12182015 30756 PM

MANKATO MAGAZINE  bull January 2016 bull 33

Bert Mattson is a chef and writer based in St Paul He is the manager of the iconic Mickeyrsquos Diner

Beer Skinny

BeerBy Bert Mattson

Last year according to Nielsen research staying fit and healthy was

the number one New Yearrsquos resolution Losing weight was two Three was to enjoy life to the fullest Unfortunately ldquolose weight and get fitrdquo also topped Time magazinersquos list of commonly broken resolutions Is this shortfall due to tension between the top two and that third one If so craft beer may have a role in the compromise Bad news first

In the context of losing weight and staying fit beer lovers might seek solace in the fact that fat carries nine calories per gram while alcohol has only seven The wrinkle is that those seven are ldquoemptyrdquo mdash calories without nutrition as opposed to those from fat protein and carbohydrates Moreover alcoholrsquos calories are the first burned when combined with the others the human body postpones burning fat while it works on alcohol Furthermore beer (and wine and often cocktails) contains carbohydrates which release insulin and can hasten fat storage Finally many drinkers have undoubtedly observed that alcohol loosens inhibitions after which an eager indulgence in unhealthy foods often occurs (Bar menus are rarely helpful in that respect)

By now you may wonder whose side Irsquom actually on Or suspect Irsquove led you to this dark place only to offer you a Lite No worries a couple craft brewers have been considering ways to keep us true to our resolutions

Evil Twin Brewingrsquos Bikini Beer drops the alcohol to 27 percent but stays bold by way of hops A Pale Ale it hits the nose with citrus suggestive of IPA The flavor follows suit floral and lemon There is an expected absence of malt yielding to bitterness up front that fades at the finish An alternative

for those who insist on the full effect Founderrsquos Brewing Companyrsquos All Day IPA rings in at a respectable 144 calories (Evil Twinrsquos entry comes in at 81)

One strategy to beat the beer munchies and avoid costly impulse eating is to have suitable chow on hand With Bikini Beer try a salad sporting blue cheese and some sort of dried fruit Creamy blue veined cheeses echo the hops while balancing bitterness An occasional bite of dried fruit stands in for malt sweetness

Brooklyn Breweryrsquos 12 Ale weighs in at 34 percent alcohol (102 calories) It is alliteratively labeled ldquoSession Saisonrdquo It opens with a waft of citrus and spice and a little lemongrass from Sorachi Ace hops mdash a hybrid developed in East Asia The same elements are found in the flavor which is a bit more subdued than a full-sized Saison

Try it with a tangle of arugula dressed with lemon and a fruity olive oil tossed with pine nuts and topped with shaved Parmesan for effect The greens and cracked pepper reflect spicy phenolic elements in the yeast Salty cheese counters the beerrsquos lingering bitterness Maybe add a few slices of Speck cured ham and Saison share a certain funkiness

If friends show and it becomes a session you may honestly say you spent Saturday working on your six-pack

MM p02 0116indd 33 12182015 30757 PM

34 bull January 2016 bull MANKATO MAGAZINE

Food

south

ern mn style

Food

south

ern mn style

The Coffee Hag one of the arearsquos oldest (and coolest) bistros recently underwent a major expansion and remodeling journey culminating in a large and airy

seating area along with a much-improved kitchen and a new menu Mankato Magazine caught up with a very busy (and slightly exhausted) owner Jenn Melby-Kelly who weighs in on how itrsquos going

MANKATO MAGAZINE Are you personally enjoying the new updatesJENN MELBY-KELLY It Is Fabulous The new space represents so much more than a remodel to me It has brought to life a vision for my business thatrsquos been years in the making It incorporates many many good ideas from many many people I feel so fortunate to get to see that every time I walk through the door

MM How are customers reactingJMK Thatrsquos been one of the best parts The response has been overwhelmingly positive

A few of our most regular customers had the opportunity to get a glimpse of the remodel while it was underway (we gave some informal preview tours while we were operating the temporary stand outside) but many customers walk through the door now and see it all for the first time Itrsquos especially fun to see and hear that kind of wide-eyed reaction

A few people with special connections to The Hag have had even stronger emotional responses and Irsquom so touched and right there with them when I see eyes well up as they see what wersquove done Itrsquos a very big milestone for a very special place and wersquore blessed to have people that care so deeply

MM Do the employees appreciate the new spaceJMK Oh probably more than anyone There was a lot that we sought to do with the remodel but creating a bigger brighter better-equipped space for our team was certainly one of the primary goals Wersquove got an incredible team truly the most spirited and talented people anyone could hope for

Many of them have spent years with me working hard against the challenge of a small under-equipped space and just barely being able to keeping up with growing demand Itrsquos been a special blessing for them and for me to finally have state-of-the-art space thatrsquos made for the work that we do We all feel a special connection to this place and now more than ever the place reflects the good energy we all bring here every day

MM Is the new menu a hit (The Hag specializes in vegetarianvegan cuisine)JMK Yes but just wait Feedback and demand have been excellent with our food offerings already but wersquore just getting started on some of the really exciting things that are coming to our food menu

Remodeling the cafe was just the first major milestone of our two-part expansion plan Next up wersquore building a state of the art off-site commissary kitchen that will do for our incredible culinary team what the remodeled shop has done for our baristas Theyrsquove been working day and night on taking our already fantastic food offerings to a whole new level

Wersquove already introduced some amazing new menu items like the Garden Grilled Cheese panini (trust me itrsquos like nothing yoursquove had before) and some truly outstanding new vegan baked goods Wersquove also improved our classic offerings with house-made

Interview with Jenn Melby-Kelly owner of The Coffee Hag

By Sarah Johnson

MM p02 0116indd 34 12182015 30802 PM

MANKATO MAGAZINE  bull January 2016 bull 35

Happy New Year

Locally Owned amp Operated

Check Weekly Specialsmgmwineandspiritscommankato

Largest Selection ofbull Liquor bull Wine bull Beer bull

Hours Monday-Saturday 8 am - 10 pm

ATMs at all stores

Mankato201 Victory Dr

625-2420

North Mankato1755 Commerce Dr

387-2634

St Peter100 N Minnesota Ave

934-8964

sourdough and whole wheat breads But as impressive as it is already itrsquos just a taste mdash literally mdash of things to come as we bring our new kitchen online

MM Whatrsquos stayed the sameJMK Irsquom really proud to say that while wersquove touched almost every part of this 23-year-old business wersquove kept even more than we have changed From the first days of this project I made it my personal mission and responsibility to make sure that the ldquosoulrdquo of this special place was only enhanced and never lost as we made the updates

In every area of the remodel as wersquove added some necessary new layers of sophistication The Hagrsquos colorful quirky and even rebellious spirit is still very much a part of the space We did a lot to try to make sure it still looked and felt like ldquohomerdquo

And on a deeper level every step wersquove taken with the growth of our business has been chosen carefully to honor the core parts of The Coffee Hagrsquos identity Our focus on community our support for local art and music our commitment to creating a safe and welcoming space for everyone our efforts to lead the way on social and environmental issues affecting our world near and far mdash those have all stayed the same And those will always be at the heart of what we do

MM Anything elseJMK Irsquom so incredibly grateful for the support of our customers and community And whenever I talk about my business and how it has grown I really canrsquot overstate how thankful I am for my beautiful Coffee Hag family The hard work good energy and earnest contributions of so many people mdash past and present mdash have brought me and my business here An incredible amount of love has gone into this business and made this dream a reality

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36 bull January 2016 bull MANKATO MAGAZINE

xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

Food

south

ern mn style

whatrsquos Cooking By Sarah Johnson

Sarah Johnson is a cook freelance writer and chocolate addict from North Mankato with three grown kids and a couple of mutts

As I was pondering my subject matter for todayrsquos column I started wondering about all the different items the word ldquonutsrdquo can refer

to Crazy people are called nuts so are hexagonal metal objects that attach to bolts Nuts can be the end of things (as in ldquofrom soup to nutsrdquo) or they can be the beginning of them (as in ldquosperm incubatorsrdquo) Nut can also mean onersquos head or onersquos lump of something such as butter And if you accidentally get a nut of butter on your nut you can exclaim ldquoNutsrdquo

My favorite meaning of the word nut however is the dry indehiscent one-seeded fruit with a woody pericarp And I donrsquot even know what indehiscent OR pericarp means But these are the wonderful denizens of the world of edible nuts

Nuts are widely credited with all sorts of health benefits for the heart brain male reproductive system prostate cholesterol level fiber intake and avoidance of some types of cancer And while nuts do contain fat itrsquos the ldquogoodrdquo kind heart-healthy monounsaturated and polyunsaturated fat Their mix of omega-3 fatty acids protein and fiber helps you feel full and suppresses the appetite

Nuts are great in desserts and salads of course but they also shine in stir-fries casseroles soups chicken pork fish and even beverages Nut butters nut milks and nut oils add delicious options to our kitchen larders Breads cereals muffins and pancakes gain texture flavor and nutrition from the addition of nuts Basically anytime is a good time for nuts

Which is a wonderful thing because nuts taste so good you would think they had to be very very bad The reason lies deep in their oils

Walnut Oil is strong and flavorful Itrsquos best when used in uncooked sauces or salad dressing

Hazelnut Oil has a strong flavor and is great for the heart

Almond Oil is very popular and has a much milder flavor than walnut oil or hazelnut oil

Pecan Macadamia Nut Pistachio Cashew and Pine Nut Oils are flavorful and unique The freshness of the nuts used really affects the flavor

ldquoTherersquos Nuttinrsquo Nutty About Nutsrdquo

For the Baklava1 pound pistachios hazelnuts walnuts pecans andor almonds coarsely ground plus more for garnish12 teaspoon ground cinnamon1 cup breadcrumbs4 sticks unsalted butter melted16 sheets phyllo dough (thawed if frozen) cut in half

For the Syrup3 cups sugar1 6 -to-8-ounce jar honey1 frac12 cups water1 to 2 tablespoons fresh lemon juice

If yoursquore under the impression that baklava is much too labor-intensive and complicated to make at home think again Anybody can make

it no special skills equipment or exotic ingredients are required A word about phyllo dough Itrsquos sold in frozen packages so you need to remove the package from the freezer and let it thaw in the fridge 24 hours before you want to make the baklava Then about an hour beforehand remove the package from the fridge and let it sit on the counter

Walnuts or pistachios are the most traditional nuts to fill baklava but using other nuts works wonders as well Simply layer the phyllo with the nut filling and butter bake for an hour and finish with a simple honeyed syrup If you have leftover nuts from the holidays herersquos your chance to use them up

Mixed Nut Baklava

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MANKATO MAGAZINE  bull January 2016 bull 37

MONEY MATTERS WORK SMARTLET COMMUNITY BANK HELP YOUBRING THE TWO TOGETHER

MANKATO - SAINT ANDREWS DR 5073854444MANKATO - MADISON AVE 5076251551VERNON CENTER 5075493679AMBOY 5076743300

JULIE VETTERSR VICE PRESIDENTRETAIL BANKING

We support great causes like yoursAt Community Bank we know good things happen when you have a good bank So we make more possible by keeping banking simple and supportive And by giving you the power that comes with innovative solutions like our Health Savings Account It offers you tax-free savings for future medical expenses Stop by anytime Wersquore always ready to help out a great cause

Position a rack in the lower third of the oven preheat to 350 degrees Combine the nuts cinnamon and breadcrumbs in a bowl

Brush a 9x13-inch baking dish with some of the butter Layer 10 pieces of phyllo in the dish brushing each piece with butter before adding the next (keep the remaining dough covered with a damp towel) Sprinkle a quarter of the nut mixture over the dough Layer four pieces of phyllo on top brushing each with butter before adding the next sprinkle with another quarter of the nut mixture Add four more phyllo pieces on top brushing each with butter then add another quarter of the nut mixture four more pieces of phyllo with butter and the remaining nuts

Layer the remaining 10 pieces of phyllo on top of the nuts brushing each with butter brush the top piece with extra butter Cut into the baklava to make strips about 1 12 inches wide Then make diagonal slices about 1 12 inches apart to create a diamond pattern Bake until golden about one hour

Meanwhile make the syrup Bring the sugar honey and 1 12 cups water to a boil in a saucepan over medium heat and cook 10 to 15 minutes Add the lemon juice and boil 2 more minutes then let cool slightly Pour the syrup over the warm baklava let soak uncovered at least six hours or overnight Garnish with nuts

MM p02 0116indd 37 12182015 30817 PM

38 bull bull MANKATO MAGAZINE

Nell Musolf is a mom and freelance writer from Mankato She blogs at nellmusolfcom

38 bull bull MANKATO MAGAZINE

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MANKATO MAGAZINE  bull January 2016 bull 39

Gear Up for WinterYear-Round amp Insulated Workwear from

Carhartt Dickies and Key

UNIFORMSUniforms fromBarco Carhartt Cherokee DickiesKoi Peaches and White Cross

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Call 5073446336mankatomagmankatofreepresscom

Stephanie L Hylla LAc Dipl AcKayla M Sweeney MOm LAc

NEW LOCATION709 S Front Suite 5

5074694788mankatoacupuncturecom

Open House ndash Wednesday Feb 3 9-12noonCelebrating 5 years of Business New Location and the Chinese New Year

In Network with Blue Cross Blue ShieldLicensed by the MN Board of Medical Practice

Ribbon Cutting with Greater Mankato Growth at 10am

(A $250 Value)THIS VOUCHER ENTITLES NEW PATIENTS TO A

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wwwr igne l l fami lych i roprac t ic comMedicare Restrictions Apply Expires January 31 2016

Dr BrandonRignell DC

1351 Madison AveSuite D

Mankato MN 56001

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$2900New Patient Special

MM p02 0116indd 39 12222015 121344 PM

40 bull bull MANKATO MAGAZINE

Jean Lundquist is a master gardener who lives near Good Thunder

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MANKATO MAGAZINE  bull January 2016 bull 41

3 Increase the Value of Your Home

3 Update Your Homersquos Appearance

3 Save Money

Choose from SeveralModels Styles amp Colors

507-625-7110 or 1-800-645-36671125 Cross St North Mankato MN

Improve Your HomersquosEnergy Efficiency

422 Park Lane Mankato MN | NuStarMankatocom

(507) 381-4747Voted One of Mankatorsquos Best

DANIEL WINGERT

Make Selling Your Home Your NuYearrsquos Resolution

MM p02 0116indd 41 12182015 30839 PM

42 bull January 2016 bull MANKATO MAGAZINE

January Resolve to moisturize

Your stYLeBy Ann Rosenquist Fee

Ann Rosenquist Fee is executive director of the Arts Center of Saint Peter and a vocalist with The Frye She blogs at annrosenquistfeecom

If you have in-laws or colleagues who know you well enough to have given you holiday gifts

but not well enough to know what wouldrsquove truly made you happy congratulations Chances are yoursquore the proud owner of a bunch of brand-new lip balm

Maybe itrsquos even holiday themed Thatrsquos the best Maybe you got the candy-cane flavored kind or wintergreen with holiday graphics on the label or something like that A theme that was irrelevant the moment the stocking was unstuffed because at that exact second the holiday was over

And here you are in January with an abundance of wax

Fortunately also here you are in the early weeks of winter with rough red knuckles Probably also cracked cuticles although it might not have gone that far yet for you Irsquom sure it has for me This photo was taken back in November and even then the Band-Aids were for real Irsquove learned to cut them in half length-wise so as to retain my ability to type Irsquove also learned to play with a range of color options Flesh-toned Clear Disney characters The colorful strips shown here were gifted to me by my husband Partly why theyrsquore cut in half is that the text is obscene This is one small trick you can use to make bloody cuticles your most exciting accessory of the winter

Sources like UrbanSurvivalSitecom and WonderHowTocom will tell you that you can use lip balm for a whole variety of purposes such as coating threads of outdoor lightbulbs before screwing them into their sockets and enhancing the burn-ability of most kindling

These are great fun but they wonrsquot improve your personal style

More germane to winter beauty are the following suggestions

Keep a tube next to your bed for first-thing-in-the-morning use And I mean really truly first-thing I mean smear the stuff on each cuticle while yoursquore still lying there before you start using your fingers at all If you wake up thinking yoursquore fine and skip cuticle care next thing you know yoursquore pushing down the lever on your Keurig and the pressure is more than your screamingly dry skin can take and boom split blood on the Keurig and itrsquos gonna be a long painful day If only you had balmed your hands before you let your feet hit the floor

Keep another tube in your glove compartment If itrsquos warm enough to take off your mittens in the car mdash if yoursquore even wearing mittens given that your hands are snagging on everything these days mdash the harsh January sunlight will allow you to see cracks and flakes in high-resolution detail Yoursquoll want the balm nearby

to cover what you didnrsquot notice first thing in the morning Also a car tube is useful for when you look in the rear-view mirror and notice that your nose and upper lip are flaking as well Itrsquos because yoursquore getting over a cold and the frequent use of tissue has worn away your top layer of skin but just because you know that doesnrsquot mean everybody else wonrsquot think ldquothere is something in that noserdquo Itrsquos just a fact Itrsquos what it looks like Lip balm to the rescue Itrsquos the only thing dry enough to slick those flakes in place and nourishing enough to maybe actually get your face back to normal

Keep a couple more tubes in a nighttime kit along with sandpaper Sandpaper Yes Not a pumice stone not a lame also-gifted sugar

scrub Medium-grit sandpaper is what you need every night lightly but with conviction As follows 1) Sand taking care not to do more damage than what the elements have already done Yoursquore just trying to remove the dry dead stuff Yoursquore just being hearty and efficient about this true to the culture of this great state in which yoursquove chosen to winter You are no pansy Sand your hands 2) Wash 3) Blot dry 4) Dial up the gifted balm whisper a word of thanks to the person who put so much thought into your well-being that they stuffed your holiday stocking with this amazing gift of self-care smash a healthy amount down into your palms massage Take heart You just might find yourself with normal-textured non-cracked not-horrible-looking hands by morning

Split-open cuticles I feel you Except for these Band-Aids I feel you

Lip balms I have been gifted and these are just from last Christmas ldquolastrdquo as in 2014

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HoursTue amp Wed amp Fri | 9 am to 6 pmMon amp Thu | 9 am to 7 pmSaturday | 9 am to 4 pm

219 S Victory Dr | Mankato507 | 345 | 7009ipafhickorytechnetindependentpaintandflooringcom

You Deserve Comfortable Care Every Timebull Sedation - Complete Relaxation with Just a Pillbull Invisalign - Clear Alternative to Bracesbull Botox amp Fillersbull Implants - Placement and Restorationbull Cerec - One Visit Crown Technology

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1400 Lookout Drive North Mankato507-625-CARE(2273) bull mankatodentistcom 06

1865

6124

01

Dr AngelA Schuck

Dr keith FlAck

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MANKATO MAGAZINE  bull January 2016 bull 43

Bathrooms Worth Bragging About

HoursTue amp Wed amp Fri | 9 am to 6 pmMon amp Thu | 9 am to 7 pmSaturday | 9 am to 4 pm

219 S Victory Dr | Mankato507 | 345 | 7009ipafhickorytechnetindependentpaintandflooringcom

You Deserve Comfortable Care Every Timebull Sedation - Complete Relaxation with Just a Pillbull Invisalign - Clear Alternative to Bracesbull Botox amp Fillersbull Implants - Placement and Restorationbull Cerec - One Visit Crown Technology

bull Free Whitening Programbull 3D Imaging with Fewer X-Raysbull Cosmetic Dentistrybull Drill-Free Technologybull Emergency Care

1400 Lookout Drive North Mankato507-625-CARE(2273) bull mankatodentistcom 06

1865

6124

01

Dr AngelA Schuck

Dr keith FlAck

(944) 412-7949 | OrthoEdgeMNcom

Enjoy the season

Mankato St Peter

Be active Be healthyBe able with OrthoEdge

The OrthoEdge joint replacement

program offers superb care from your first

visit through recovery The surgeons from

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Why Riverrsquos Edge Hospital amp Clinic

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MM p02 0116indd 43 12182015 30842 PM

44 bull January 2016 bull MANKATO MAGAZINE

1 Hicktown Mafia800 pm mdash New Ulm Event Center mdash 301 20th St S mdash New Ulm mdash $10 mdash 507-354-4673

7-9 Mankato West Orchesis Dance Team showcase7 pm Thursday-Saturday 2 pm Saturday mdash Mankato West High School Auditorium mdash $7 adults $5 students mdash 507-381-7578

10 Mankato Symphony Orchestra Music on the Hill II ldquoMinnesota rootsrdquo2 pm mdash Chapel at Good Counselmdash Good Counsel Drive mdash Mankato mdash $17 $12 mdash wwwmankatosymphonycom

16 Handel with Caremdash Handel Goes to Italy11 ammdash YMCA Aerobics Studio mdash 1401 S Riverfront Drive mdash Mankato mdash wwwmankatosymphonycom

16 Mankato Craft beer Expo2 pm (VIP) 3 pm general mdash Verizon Wireless Center mdash $45 VIP $35 general $10 designated driver mdash wwwmankatocraftbeerexpocom

23 Joey Flip and Mike Fugazzi rockinrsquo at the Embassy9 pm mdash Blaschkorsquos Embassy Bar and Grill mdash 325 S Minnesota Ave mdash St Peter mdash 507-934-3903

24 andrea Lyn and Dick Kimmel concert730 pm mdash Elias J Halling Recital Hall mdash Minnesota State University mdash Mankato mdash $12 regular $11 current MSU students mdash wwwmnusedumusic

28-31 MSu Theatre antigone730 pm Thursday-Saturday 2 pm Sunday mdash Andreas Theatre mdash Minnesota State University mdash Mankato mdash $16 regular $14 discount $11 current MSU students mdash wwwmnsuedu

29-31 BLC Theatre Brigadoon730 Friday and Saturday 2 pm Sunday mdash Ylvisaker Fine Arts Center mdash Bethany Lutheran College mdash Mankato mdash $10 adults $6 seniors children and students mdash wwwblceduevents

29- Feb 7 Winterfest St Peter Citywide mdash wwwstpeterchamberorg

30 Church of Cash a Tribute to Johnny Cash7 pm mdash St Peter American Legion mdash 229 W Nassau St mdash St Peter mdash 507-934-6435

31 Maud Hixson and rick Carlson concert730 pmmdash Elias J Halling Recital Hall mdash Minnesota State University mdash Mankato mdash $12 regular $11 current MSU students wwmnsuedumusic

Coming attraCtions January

T - F 8am - 6pm Sun ClosedSat 9am - 4pmM 8am - 8pm

120 North Broad Street Mankato MN 507-345-4688 wwwmeyerandsonstvandappliancecom

FIND SPECIAL DEALS ON

MM p02 0116indd 44 12182015 30902 PM

MANKATO MAGAZINE  bull January 2016 bull 45

St Peter Craft amp Vendor Show

1MelinadaBussefromRapidansoldherhandmadejewelryatthecraftandvendorshow

2DarylfromElysianandhishand-carvedwoodart

3MacKennaage7hasfunatoneoftheboothsattheStPeterCraftandVendorShow

4LizEntershowsoffsomeofherproductsattheldquoItWorksrdquobooth

5DenisePetersofldquoYoungLivingrdquoessentialoilsdisplayedherproductsattheshow

Faces amp Places Photos By Sport Pix

3

5

2

1

4

T - F 8am - 6pm Sun ClosedSat 9am - 4pmM 8am - 8pm

120 North Broad Street Mankato MN 507-345-4688 wwwmeyerandsonstvandappliancecom

FIND SPECIAL DEALS ON

MM p02 0116indd 45 12222015 121536 PM

46 bull January 2016 bull MANKATO MAGAZINE

SOUTHErN MN CHrISTMAS

FESTIVAL1 A large crowd was on hand during the festivities at

the Christmas Festival2 Friesenrsquos Family Bakery amp Bistro had tons of baked

goods and soups at the Verizon Wireless Center3 A childrenrsquos choir sang for the audience at the

festival4 Ron Haefner owner of Ronrsquos Auto Repair displayed

some of his services5 Garrison Galatz dressed up as Santa for the

Christmas Festival

faCes amp PLaCes Photos By Sport Pix

4

3

1

2

5

MM p02 0116indd 46 12182015 30923 PM

MANKATO MAGAZINE  bull January 2016 bull 47

1GirlScouttroop34494waspresentedwithatrophybyKiwanisVicePresidentKyleMrozek

2SantaClausevenwentthroughtheparaderoute3(LtoR)BrooklynPomrankeAlaynaLyonsHunterPomrankeandLilyLyonsgetagroupphototakenwithSanta

4MarshaMartigtellsSantawhatshewantsforChristmas

5TheparadefloatswerealldeckedoutinChristmaslights

6Visitorswalkthepatharoundtheparktoviewthisyearrsquoslights

Kiwanis Holiday ligHtsFaces amp Places Photos By sport Pix

2

1

3

4 5

6

MM p02 0116indd 47 12222015 121616 PM

48 bull January 2016 bull MANKATO MAGAZINE

On the Occasion of a 50th Reunion

the Class of 1965

from this VaLLeYBy Pete Steiner

Peter Steiner is host of ldquoTalk of the Townrdquo weekdays at 105 pm on KTOE

I was honored to give the presentation for our 50th class reunion recently at West Highrsquos Homecoming celebration About 120 of our nearly 400-member class

showed up We Baby Boomers the children of the greatest generation had big classes in the late lsquo60rsquos that forced the building of East High Ours was a dramatic era and our class did some great things in the face of big challenges Here edited is some of what I said

I am so glad to be standing here today Therersquos an old saying

ldquoMay you live in INTErESTINg timeshelliprdquo The Class of rsquo65 certainly has Itrsquos seems like only yesterday right after lunch that we were at our desks waiting for the start of English class when our charismatic teacher Harry Fitterer strode in and said ldquoPrESIDENT KENNEDY HAS BEEN SHOT IN DALLASrdquo At first we didnrsquot believe him but it was true It was November 22 1963 We were juniors and as the song says that was THE END OF THE INNOCENCE We had lived through the last idyllic time in America

When we first arrived in the fall of 1962 America was still carefree basking in the glow of victory in WW II Everything may have seemed ldquorightrdquo but it was not Martin Luther King Jr had just visited Mankato pointing out the continuing plight of black Americans as the Civil rights movement was gaining steam The beginnings of the Vietnam War which would alter the course of many of our lives were stirring even as we studied history and government The current generation has no monopoly on forgettable pop music ndash we had a stupid 1 song called ldquoItsie Bitsie Teenie Weenie Yellow Polka Dot Bikinirdquo (unfortunately an ear worm I canrsquot forget) But a darker cultural threat was looming The BEATLES were invading from Britain and our parents were mortified because they had LONg HAIr

Some of the shock of the Kennedy assassination was eased when our wrestling team in the era when the state still had just ONE CLASS won the State Championship in front of a packed hall up at MSU some still maintain that is the greatest single athletic achievement in Mankato history We were the first high school in Mankato to put on a full-scale musical ldquoBye Bye Birdierdquo in the spring of 1964 In Fall of 1964 our football team would have won the conference championship outright except Owatonnarsquos great Noel Jenke who would go on to star for the U of M

cheated I watched him trap the touchdown pass that beat us Does cheating pay Was that a lesson for life

In lsquo65 we also had a fine basketball team that lost our chance at State when our 6-6 center fouled out at Luverne

BUT A FAr BIggEr CHALLENgE AWAITED US ALL As we rode out to Luverne to watch that game we couldnrsquot help noticing the highway was like a canyon between walls of snow The legendary St Patrickrsquos Day Blizzard had dumped two feet on top of an already large snow pack and then April brought rains on frozen ground Instead of coming here to school many of us soon got a real-life assignment to go out in our rain gear out on the dikes to battle the grEAT FLOOD OF 1965 Our school became an island as water flooded the parking lot and all of South riverfront Our spring play that year was called ironically

THE DESPErATE HOUrS We had to rehearse at roosevelt School up on higher ground

Our class produced three Merit scholars One of our classmates who did NOT qualify

for a merit scholarship nevertheless was such a whiz at physics that NASA requested a copy of a paper he wrote on rocketry as a senior We produced 12 doctors one of whom earned a fellowship at Stanford seeking how to bring telemedicine to the poor another of whom became a breakthrough cancer doctor We had entrepreneurs one who would go on to be a leader in Solar Energy (and then run for governor of New Hampshire) Another mdash a woman incidentally when

that was not common founded two bio-tech startups Many of us are still working

past normal retirement age One founded a company on the leading edge of recycling

computers whose clients include the NSA Another is chief medical officer of a company

devising a better tool for colonoscopies Yet another of our classmates recently completed a concert tour of China

We lived in challenging times just as you do today but we muddle through we make it to the other shore I remember sitting where you are 50 years ago thinking how old those folks up there looked But remember Life goes by very quickly You certainly live in interesting times as Shakespeare said ldquoPresent Mirth has Present Laughter Youthrsquos a stuff will NOT endurerdquo So I urge you live each moment to the fullest

MM p02 0116indd 48 12182015 30933 PM

MM p02 0116indd 49 12182015 30936 PM

MM p02 0116indd 50 12182015 30948 PM

Page 28: Mankatomag 116

26 bull January 2016 bull MANKATO MAGAZINE

Then amp now Vice President Schuyler Colfaxrsquos Death By Bryce o sTenzel

On Jan 14 1885 one day after his death the New York Times carried a

headline that read ldquoSchuyler Colfax Dead He Drops Down in a Railway Stationrdquo While most Americans today would have tremendous difficulty in even recognizing this manrsquos name

(unless they were paying close attention to Stephen Spielbergrsquos epic movie Lincoln and made the association) Schuyler Colfax was a former Speaker of the House of Representatives and Vice President of the United States under President US Grant He died in Mankatorsquos Chicago St

Paul Minneapolis amp Omaha railroad depot from a massive heart attack

Schuyler Colfax Jr was born in New York City on March 23 1823 His father died of tuberculosis five months before Schuyler was born His sister Mary died four months after his [Schuylerrsquos]

vice President Schuyler Colfaxrsquos Death in Mankato

MM p01 0116indd 26 12182015 24549 PM

MANKATO MAGAZINE  bull January 2016 bull 27

birth The young Schuyler attended school only until he was 10 He then began working to support his family Schuyler Colfax never attended any kind of secondary school or college His mother remarried when Colfax was 13 and the family moved to New Carlisle Indiana By the time he was 22 Colfax was the editor and owner of a pro-Whig newspaper He was elected to Congress in 1854 and joined the newly formed Republican Party after the Whig Party disintegrated Solidly anti-slavery his colleagues elected Colfax as Speaker of the US House of Representatives in 1863 His election came soon after the death of his wife Evelyn The couple had no children

Colfax was President Abraham Lincolnrsquos first and last visitor on the fateful day Lincoln was assassinatedmdashApril 14 1865 Early that morning Colfax arrived at the White House while the president was having breakfast Colfax wanted to know whether or not Lincoln planned to call a special session of Congress for later that summer Lincolnrsquos answer was a polite but firm ldquonordquo Lincoln preferred a lenient approach in reconstructing as well as readmitting the former Confederate states to the Union now that the Civil War was over This approach put Lincoln at odds with the more ldquoradicalrdquo congressional members of his own party who preferred harsher measures be taken against their former enemies Lincoln had already made up his mind how he wanted to proceed with reconstructing the former Confederate states and he didnrsquot want any unnecessary interference from Congress Calling a special session was the last thing Lincoln wanted to do Colfax returned that same night to see Lincoln again just before the president left for Fordrsquos Theatre and his appointment with destiny This time Colfax came upon Lincolnrsquos own request The president had a long message for the silver miners of the Comstock Lode in Nevada thanking them for their loyalty to the Union that he wanted Speaker Colfax to deliver in person since Colfax was leaving by train for the West the next day Colfax was the last person Lincoln spoke to besides his wife Mary before he

was fatally shot at 1015 pm Colfax never forgave himself for turning down Lincolnrsquos invitation to be part of the theatre party that night

In 1868 Republicans selected General Ulysses S Grant as their presidential candidate Grant a military man his entire life had no political background Colfax was placed on the ticket because of his prior experience as a congressman and Speaker of the House (he resigned the position in 1869) Grant and Colfax won an easy victory in November 1868 Only two weeks later Colfax remarriedmdashthis time to Ellen Wade (niece of Ohio Senator Benjamin Wade) Their only child son Schuyler Colfax III was born in 1870

Colfax is best remembered (if at all) for his involvement in the corruption that beset Grantrsquos entire presidency Specifically the Credit Mobilier scandal broke in 1872 just as Grant and Colfax were gearing up for their re-election campaign Colfax was suspected of accepting shares of stock and cash bribes from ldquoCredit Mobilierrdquo a dummy construction company set up by the Union Pacific Railroad He was by no means the only influential person involved in the scandal Other political figures investigated included Senators Roscoe Conkling of New York William Allison of Iowa John Logan of Illinois James Bayard of Delaware and Henry Wilson of Massachusetts Grant was less popular in 1872 than he had been four years earlier and many Republicans worried that having Colfax on the partyrsquos ticket would harm the presidentrsquos re-election chances They dumped Colfax from the ticket mdash only to replace him with the also-tainted Wilson Grant won re-election and served his second and final term from 1873-1877 After being forced out from the vice presidency Colfax traveled the country as a popular lecturer often speaking about his interactions with Abraham Lincoln during the Civil War He rebuilt his tarnished reputation and commanded speaking fees as high as $2500

At 10 am on Jan 13 1885 Schuyler Colfax arrived in Mankato aboard a train from Milwaukee Mankato was just a

brief stop for Colfax who was on his way to Iowa for a speaking engagement The Chicago Milwaukee amp St Paul as well as the Chicago St Paul Minneapolis amp Omaha railroads both had depots in Mankato but because they were separate competing railroad lines Colfax was required to change trains by walking three-quarters of a mile from the Chicago Milwaukee amp St Paul depot at the foot of Hickory Street to the Chicago St Paul Minneapolis amp Omaha depot at Fourth and Washington Streets (now Washington Park) from which the next leg of his journey would depart Despite a reported temperature of 30 degrees below zero Colfax walked from one station to the other Within five minutes after he arrived at the Omaha linersquos depot Colfax entered the waiting room looked at a map on the wall sat down and died It was 1035 am No one in the station knew who the dead man actually was until they searched his pockets and found a letter with his name on it His death was likely caused by a heart attack brought on by the physical exertion of walking almost a mile in extreme cold Colfax was only 61 when he died His remains were returned to South Bend Indiana for burial

Today few Americans are aware that anyone named Schuyler Colfax ever lived much less served as vice president of the United States In this era in which officeholders are often treated as celebrities imagine how surprised people would be to learn that a former vice president died cold alone and unrecognized in a train station 131 years ago Before 24-hour news channels smart phones and social media it was possible for public figures like Colfax to live ndash and die ndash in relative obscurity Ironically Colfax loved the railroad but in the end it was the cause of his undoing Mankato has the distinction of being the location where the last man to personally speak to Abraham Lincoln in a private conversation took his last breath

MM p01 0116indd 27 12182015 24549 PM

28 bull January 2016 bull MANKATO MAGAZINE

Mayo Clinic offers pediatric and adolescent orthopedic services right here in Mankato Todd Milbrandt MD cares for patients with a variety of needs including

bull Cerebral palsy

bull Clubfoot

bull Hip disorders

bull Spinal disorders

bull Sports injuries

bull Scoliosis

bull Spina bifida

Mayo Clinic Health System in Mankato Call 1-877-412-7575 (toll-free) to schedule an appointment

495rdquox495rdquo Mankato Magazine January

Orthopedic care for your child

Independent ampAssisted Living

EQUAL HOUSINGOPPORTUNITY

1360 Adams StreetMankato MN

PrimroseRetirementcom

reg

Key City Senior Breakfast ClubThe Key City Senior Breakfast Club meets the first Thursday of each month from 830 AM - 930 AM at Primrose Retirement Community The club gives those 55+ the opportunity to meet new friends and visit old ones socialize with Key City Officials and enjoy a delicious home-cooked breakfast To visit a Key City Senior Breakfast please call (866) 447-9636

Mark your calendar for these breakfast dates Thursday January 7th Thursday March 3rd and Thursday May 5th

刀椀渀最 椀渀 琀栀攀 

一攀眀 夀攀愀爀

㔀 㜀ⴀ㤀㐀ⴀ㐀㐀䨀甀氀攀攀猀䨀攀眀攀氀爀礀挀漀洀

椀渀 匀愀椀渀琀 倀攀琀攀爀

20765 Foley Rd Mankato MN | 5073872434 | 5077262411

Three TimeNational Award Winners

MM p02 0116indd 28 12182015 30742 PM

Mayo Clinic offers pediatric and adolescent orthopedic services right here in Mankato Todd Milbrandt MD cares for patients with a variety of needs including

bull Cerebral palsy

bull Clubfoot

bull Hip disorders

bull Spinal disorders

bull Sports injuries

bull Scoliosis

bull Spina bifida

Mayo Clinic Health System in Mankato Call 1-877-412-7575 (toll-free) to schedule an appointment

495rdquox495rdquo Mankato Magazine January

Orthopedic care for your child

Independent ampAssisted Living

EQUAL HOUSINGOPPORTUNITY

1360 Adams StreetMankato MN

PrimroseRetirementcom

reg

Key City Senior Breakfast ClubThe Key City Senior Breakfast Club meets the first Thursday of each month from 830 AM - 930 AM at Primrose Retirement Community The club gives those 55+ the opportunity to meet new friends and visit old ones socialize with Key City Officials and enjoy a delicious home-cooked breakfast To visit a Key City Senior Breakfast please call (866) 447-9636

Mark your calendar for these breakfast dates Thursday January 7th Thursday March 3rd and Thursday May 5th

OMG hellip More food and drinksOK sure

By now yoursquore probably thinking ldquoOh my gosh the last thing I want to think about right now is more food more drinking and more diningrdquo

Fair enough We get it The holidays are murder on the metabolism of many many Minnesotans

But we also know that those metabolisms are hardy and soon enough theyrsquoll be hankering for a hunk of something yummy and full of fun And whatrsquos more yummy and full of fun than a big glass of Cabernet Sauvignon Our wine guy Leigh Pomeroy takes us on a tour of all that is tasty and wonderful about big red wines the kind that leave their mark the kind that really announce their presence on your palate

And just in case yoursquore super serious about a healthy lifestyle mdash and that seriousness extends to the kind of beer you choose mdash Bert Mattson our beer guy has just the selection for you Best part is Itrsquos light

Oh and under the category of ldquoDid you hear about thisrdquo Wersquove got an update for you on the Coffee Hag Mankatorsquos original coffee house and one of the most popular hangouts in town Seriously some days itrsquos hard to find a seat in that place

EnjoyPS We know that baby itrsquos cold outside mdash thatrsquos why wersquove

thrown you our absolute best hot cocoa recipe

Enjoymdash Robb Murray Associate Editor Mankato Magazine

food drink amp dineso

uthern m

n style

20765 Foley Rd Mankato MN | 5073872434 | 5077262411

Three TimeNational Award Winners

MM p02 0116indd 29 12182015 30745 PM

MANKATO 5073854485 AMBOY 5076743355 I VERNON CENTER 5075493679

INSURANCE OFFICES LOCATED IN THE COMMUNITY BANK BUILDINGS

wwwcimankatocom

Protecting the things that matter most in your life

Let us help protect what is important to you At Community Insurance we have the ability to compare insurance from multiple companies to get you the best coverage at a great price Combine that with our insurance knowledge and friendly group of agents and we say thatrsquos a winning deal

WHERE YOUR POLICY COMES WITH AN AGENT

Christina Meyer

Food

south

ern mn style

Food

south

ern mn style

By The Washington Post

Growing up my mother always encouraged her children to cook So when

I found a recipe for hot chocolate on the side of the Hersheyrsquos Cocoa can it was easy to convince her to let me give it a try

What I discovered was that hot chocolate doesnrsquot have to come from an envelope

This recipe has been a favorite of mine to make on days when winter weather has convinced me stay home and off the roads Itrsquos the perfect way to kill time and have a nice hot drink to warm you up on those chilly days

Although you can top it with whipped cream I prefer marshmallows

FAVORITE HOT COCOAMakes 4 to 6 servings

12 cup sugar14 cup unsweetened cocoa powder

Dash of salt13 cup hot water

4 cups milk34 teaspoon vanilla extract

Whipped cream or marshmallows (optional)

Mix sugar cocoa powder salt and water in a sauce pan Stir constantly over medium heat until mixture comes to a boil (about 2 minutes) Stir in

milk and heat Bring the hot chocolate to the desired temperature but do not boil Remove from heat and

add the vanilla extract Divide into mugs and top with whipped cream or marshmallows

PERFECTLY CHOCOLATE HOT COCOA

Makes 1 serving

2 tablespoons sugar2 tablespoons unsweetened cocoa powder

Dash salt1 cup milk

14 teaspoon vanilla extractWhipped cream or marshmallows (optional)

Mix sugar cocoa powder and salt into large mug In separate microwave-safe container heat on high

for 1 to 1 frac12 minutes or until very hot Carefully and gradually add milk to dry mixture Stir well Add vanilla extract Top with whipped cream or

marshmallows

Simple homemade hot chocolate

beats the winter chill

30 bull January 2016 bull MANKATO MAGAZINE

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MANKATO MAGAZINE  bull January 2016 bull 31

Oil Change to OverhaulWe do it all

507-387-13151620 Commerce Drive North MankatowwwAustinsAutoRepairCentercom

Voted Best Auto Repair and Best Auto Mechanic 4 Years in a Row

AUSTINrsquoS AUTO REPAIR CENTER INC

MANKATO 5073854485 AMBOY 5076743355 I VERNON CENTER 5075493679

INSURANCE OFFICES LOCATED IN THE COMMUNITY BANK BUILDINGS

wwwcimankatocom

Protecting the things that matter most in your life

Let us help protect what is important to you At Community Insurance we have the ability to compare insurance from multiple companies to get you the best coverage at a great price Combine that with our insurance knowledge and friendly group of agents and we say thatrsquos a winning deal

WHERE YOUR POLICY COMES WITH AN AGENT

Christina Meyer

MM p02 0116indd 31 12182015 30755 PM

32 bull January 2016 bull MANKATO MAGAZINE

January is Cabernet TimeWersquove celebrated nearly

every January edition of Mankato Magazine with

a paean to BIG REDS And since there are so many wonderful examples why stop now

Last year I wrote about the powerful big reds of Italy This January wersquoll focus on Cabernet Sauvignon known to many as ldquothe king of winesrdquo Most oenophiles (wine lovers) consider the quintessential representations of this grape to be the classified Bordeaux of southwest France near the city of Bordeaux The five First Growths (or best wines according to a classification made in 1855 and updated in 1973) are Ch Lafite Rothschild Ch Margaux Ch Latour Ch Haut Brion and Ch Mouton Rothschild All have a cabernet sauvignon base but they are blended with merlot and often a little bit of cabernet franc and petit verdot as well

In the early 1970s I was able to buy these wines for around $22 per bottle mdash about $120 in 2016 dollars Yet with the popularity of ldquocollectiblerdquo wines on a worldwide

basis they sell today for anywhere from $400 on up

Contrary to popular belief these wines are not that massive Rather they combine cabernet sauvignon power with

structure and finesse yielding wines that become with time elixirs that are greater than the sum of their parts

Both California and Washington state have taken up the Cabernet Sauvignon challenge and are producing world-class wines at sometimes world-class prices Napa Valley is the recognized leader in this arena and rightly so Napa Valleyrsquos top Cabernet

Wine amp B

eerso

uthern m

n style

winesBy Leigh Pomeroy

Leigh Pomeroy is a Mankato-based writer and wine lover

Cabernet Sauvignon is the black Labrador of wines mdash it comes up and licks yourdquo

mdash Winemaker Scott Rich

Sauvignons rival the great wines of Bordeaux for quality mdash Irsquove tasted them side-by-side mdashand yet can sell for a fraction of their price

One such example is the 2013 Tulocay Cabernet Sauvignon from my old friend Bill Cadman We were young bucks in Napa Valley and had a tasting group in the early 1970s along with now-famous wine luminaries Bruce Neyers (Neyers Vineyards) and Mike Richmond (co-founder of Acacia Vineyard)

Billrsquos Cabernet is from an old and relatively cool growing area east of the City of Napa called Coombsville which because of industry political issues only recently received its AVA (American Viticultural Area) designation It is priced at $60 per bottle yet compares with any top-flight Bordeaux as well as the more expensive offerings from Napa Valley which can cost from $100 on up Not currently available at wine stores or restaurants in Minnesota it can be purchased by contacting the winery directly via its website tulocaycom The winery is so small that Bill will probably answer the phone himself

There is a lot of Cabernet Sauvignon available from California but mdash caveat emptor mdash not all growing areas (or appellations) are the same The best Cabernet Sauvignons are from Napa and Sonoma Counties Cabernets simply labeled ldquoCaliforniardquo or perhaps ldquoCoastalrdquo while sometimes good values lack the complexity of the greater Cabernet Sauvignons from the more northern parts of the state

Washington state has also

established itself as a prime producer of Cabernet Sauvignon But here again quality can vary greatly depending upon the area and producer While there is no ldquogo-tordquo appellation for Cabernet Sauvignon in Washington there are producers that are able to secure fruit from the best vineyards

One such example is the tiny Willis Hall Winery owned by another good friend John Bell a former Boeing jet propulsion engineer Like Tulocay its wines are only available by calling up the winery and ordering some (See willishallcom) But there are many other top quality producers in Washington like Quilceda Creek Leonetti Betz Family and Woodward Canyon

Of course not everyone can afford Cabernet Sauvignons in the $60-plus category One excellent everyday drinking example is the Flying Cloud 2013 Paso Robles Cabernet Sauvignon made by Mankato native Stephen Dooley Normally I donrsquot like Paso Robles Cabs as they tend to be too fruity and too soft for my palate mdash almost like drinking berry jam But this one is quite restrained no doubt helped by the inclusion of 13 percent zinfandel and 9 percent petite sirah in the blend

In Mankato both the Wine Cafeacute and MGM carry the Flying Cloud but at its price and quality I wouldnrsquot count on it lasting for long especially since only 759 cases were produced

So letrsquos raise a glass of Cabernet and say ldquoCheersrdquo to the New Year

MM p02 0116indd 32 12182015 30756 PM

MANKATO MAGAZINE  bull January 2016 bull 33

Bert Mattson is a chef and writer based in St Paul He is the manager of the iconic Mickeyrsquos Diner

Beer Skinny

BeerBy Bert Mattson

Last year according to Nielsen research staying fit and healthy was

the number one New Yearrsquos resolution Losing weight was two Three was to enjoy life to the fullest Unfortunately ldquolose weight and get fitrdquo also topped Time magazinersquos list of commonly broken resolutions Is this shortfall due to tension between the top two and that third one If so craft beer may have a role in the compromise Bad news first

In the context of losing weight and staying fit beer lovers might seek solace in the fact that fat carries nine calories per gram while alcohol has only seven The wrinkle is that those seven are ldquoemptyrdquo mdash calories without nutrition as opposed to those from fat protein and carbohydrates Moreover alcoholrsquos calories are the first burned when combined with the others the human body postpones burning fat while it works on alcohol Furthermore beer (and wine and often cocktails) contains carbohydrates which release insulin and can hasten fat storage Finally many drinkers have undoubtedly observed that alcohol loosens inhibitions after which an eager indulgence in unhealthy foods often occurs (Bar menus are rarely helpful in that respect)

By now you may wonder whose side Irsquom actually on Or suspect Irsquove led you to this dark place only to offer you a Lite No worries a couple craft brewers have been considering ways to keep us true to our resolutions

Evil Twin Brewingrsquos Bikini Beer drops the alcohol to 27 percent but stays bold by way of hops A Pale Ale it hits the nose with citrus suggestive of IPA The flavor follows suit floral and lemon There is an expected absence of malt yielding to bitterness up front that fades at the finish An alternative

for those who insist on the full effect Founderrsquos Brewing Companyrsquos All Day IPA rings in at a respectable 144 calories (Evil Twinrsquos entry comes in at 81)

One strategy to beat the beer munchies and avoid costly impulse eating is to have suitable chow on hand With Bikini Beer try a salad sporting blue cheese and some sort of dried fruit Creamy blue veined cheeses echo the hops while balancing bitterness An occasional bite of dried fruit stands in for malt sweetness

Brooklyn Breweryrsquos 12 Ale weighs in at 34 percent alcohol (102 calories) It is alliteratively labeled ldquoSession Saisonrdquo It opens with a waft of citrus and spice and a little lemongrass from Sorachi Ace hops mdash a hybrid developed in East Asia The same elements are found in the flavor which is a bit more subdued than a full-sized Saison

Try it with a tangle of arugula dressed with lemon and a fruity olive oil tossed with pine nuts and topped with shaved Parmesan for effect The greens and cracked pepper reflect spicy phenolic elements in the yeast Salty cheese counters the beerrsquos lingering bitterness Maybe add a few slices of Speck cured ham and Saison share a certain funkiness

If friends show and it becomes a session you may honestly say you spent Saturday working on your six-pack

MM p02 0116indd 33 12182015 30757 PM

34 bull January 2016 bull MANKATO MAGAZINE

Food

south

ern mn style

Food

south

ern mn style

The Coffee Hag one of the arearsquos oldest (and coolest) bistros recently underwent a major expansion and remodeling journey culminating in a large and airy

seating area along with a much-improved kitchen and a new menu Mankato Magazine caught up with a very busy (and slightly exhausted) owner Jenn Melby-Kelly who weighs in on how itrsquos going

MANKATO MAGAZINE Are you personally enjoying the new updatesJENN MELBY-KELLY It Is Fabulous The new space represents so much more than a remodel to me It has brought to life a vision for my business thatrsquos been years in the making It incorporates many many good ideas from many many people I feel so fortunate to get to see that every time I walk through the door

MM How are customers reactingJMK Thatrsquos been one of the best parts The response has been overwhelmingly positive

A few of our most regular customers had the opportunity to get a glimpse of the remodel while it was underway (we gave some informal preview tours while we were operating the temporary stand outside) but many customers walk through the door now and see it all for the first time Itrsquos especially fun to see and hear that kind of wide-eyed reaction

A few people with special connections to The Hag have had even stronger emotional responses and Irsquom so touched and right there with them when I see eyes well up as they see what wersquove done Itrsquos a very big milestone for a very special place and wersquore blessed to have people that care so deeply

MM Do the employees appreciate the new spaceJMK Oh probably more than anyone There was a lot that we sought to do with the remodel but creating a bigger brighter better-equipped space for our team was certainly one of the primary goals Wersquove got an incredible team truly the most spirited and talented people anyone could hope for

Many of them have spent years with me working hard against the challenge of a small under-equipped space and just barely being able to keeping up with growing demand Itrsquos been a special blessing for them and for me to finally have state-of-the-art space thatrsquos made for the work that we do We all feel a special connection to this place and now more than ever the place reflects the good energy we all bring here every day

MM Is the new menu a hit (The Hag specializes in vegetarianvegan cuisine)JMK Yes but just wait Feedback and demand have been excellent with our food offerings already but wersquore just getting started on some of the really exciting things that are coming to our food menu

Remodeling the cafe was just the first major milestone of our two-part expansion plan Next up wersquore building a state of the art off-site commissary kitchen that will do for our incredible culinary team what the remodeled shop has done for our baristas Theyrsquove been working day and night on taking our already fantastic food offerings to a whole new level

Wersquove already introduced some amazing new menu items like the Garden Grilled Cheese panini (trust me itrsquos like nothing yoursquove had before) and some truly outstanding new vegan baked goods Wersquove also improved our classic offerings with house-made

Interview with Jenn Melby-Kelly owner of The Coffee Hag

By Sarah Johnson

MM p02 0116indd 34 12182015 30802 PM

MANKATO MAGAZINE  bull January 2016 bull 35

Happy New Year

Locally Owned amp Operated

Check Weekly Specialsmgmwineandspiritscommankato

Largest Selection ofbull Liquor bull Wine bull Beer bull

Hours Monday-Saturday 8 am - 10 pm

ATMs at all stores

Mankato201 Victory Dr

625-2420

North Mankato1755 Commerce Dr

387-2634

St Peter100 N Minnesota Ave

934-8964

sourdough and whole wheat breads But as impressive as it is already itrsquos just a taste mdash literally mdash of things to come as we bring our new kitchen online

MM Whatrsquos stayed the sameJMK Irsquom really proud to say that while wersquove touched almost every part of this 23-year-old business wersquove kept even more than we have changed From the first days of this project I made it my personal mission and responsibility to make sure that the ldquosoulrdquo of this special place was only enhanced and never lost as we made the updates

In every area of the remodel as wersquove added some necessary new layers of sophistication The Hagrsquos colorful quirky and even rebellious spirit is still very much a part of the space We did a lot to try to make sure it still looked and felt like ldquohomerdquo

And on a deeper level every step wersquove taken with the growth of our business has been chosen carefully to honor the core parts of The Coffee Hagrsquos identity Our focus on community our support for local art and music our commitment to creating a safe and welcoming space for everyone our efforts to lead the way on social and environmental issues affecting our world near and far mdash those have all stayed the same And those will always be at the heart of what we do

MM Anything elseJMK Irsquom so incredibly grateful for the support of our customers and community And whenever I talk about my business and how it has grown I really canrsquot overstate how thankful I am for my beautiful Coffee Hag family The hard work good energy and earnest contributions of so many people mdash past and present mdash have brought me and my business here An incredible amount of love has gone into this business and made this dream a reality

MM p02 0116indd 35 12222015 121240 PM

36 bull January 2016 bull MANKATO MAGAZINE

xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

Food

south

ern mn style

whatrsquos Cooking By Sarah Johnson

Sarah Johnson is a cook freelance writer and chocolate addict from North Mankato with three grown kids and a couple of mutts

As I was pondering my subject matter for todayrsquos column I started wondering about all the different items the word ldquonutsrdquo can refer

to Crazy people are called nuts so are hexagonal metal objects that attach to bolts Nuts can be the end of things (as in ldquofrom soup to nutsrdquo) or they can be the beginning of them (as in ldquosperm incubatorsrdquo) Nut can also mean onersquos head or onersquos lump of something such as butter And if you accidentally get a nut of butter on your nut you can exclaim ldquoNutsrdquo

My favorite meaning of the word nut however is the dry indehiscent one-seeded fruit with a woody pericarp And I donrsquot even know what indehiscent OR pericarp means But these are the wonderful denizens of the world of edible nuts

Nuts are widely credited with all sorts of health benefits for the heart brain male reproductive system prostate cholesterol level fiber intake and avoidance of some types of cancer And while nuts do contain fat itrsquos the ldquogoodrdquo kind heart-healthy monounsaturated and polyunsaturated fat Their mix of omega-3 fatty acids protein and fiber helps you feel full and suppresses the appetite

Nuts are great in desserts and salads of course but they also shine in stir-fries casseroles soups chicken pork fish and even beverages Nut butters nut milks and nut oils add delicious options to our kitchen larders Breads cereals muffins and pancakes gain texture flavor and nutrition from the addition of nuts Basically anytime is a good time for nuts

Which is a wonderful thing because nuts taste so good you would think they had to be very very bad The reason lies deep in their oils

Walnut Oil is strong and flavorful Itrsquos best when used in uncooked sauces or salad dressing

Hazelnut Oil has a strong flavor and is great for the heart

Almond Oil is very popular and has a much milder flavor than walnut oil or hazelnut oil

Pecan Macadamia Nut Pistachio Cashew and Pine Nut Oils are flavorful and unique The freshness of the nuts used really affects the flavor

ldquoTherersquos Nuttinrsquo Nutty About Nutsrdquo

For the Baklava1 pound pistachios hazelnuts walnuts pecans andor almonds coarsely ground plus more for garnish12 teaspoon ground cinnamon1 cup breadcrumbs4 sticks unsalted butter melted16 sheets phyllo dough (thawed if frozen) cut in half

For the Syrup3 cups sugar1 6 -to-8-ounce jar honey1 frac12 cups water1 to 2 tablespoons fresh lemon juice

If yoursquore under the impression that baklava is much too labor-intensive and complicated to make at home think again Anybody can make

it no special skills equipment or exotic ingredients are required A word about phyllo dough Itrsquos sold in frozen packages so you need to remove the package from the freezer and let it thaw in the fridge 24 hours before you want to make the baklava Then about an hour beforehand remove the package from the fridge and let it sit on the counter

Walnuts or pistachios are the most traditional nuts to fill baklava but using other nuts works wonders as well Simply layer the phyllo with the nut filling and butter bake for an hour and finish with a simple honeyed syrup If you have leftover nuts from the holidays herersquos your chance to use them up

Mixed Nut Baklava

MM p02 0116indd 36 12182015 30812 PM

MANKATO MAGAZINE  bull January 2016 bull 37

MONEY MATTERS WORK SMARTLET COMMUNITY BANK HELP YOUBRING THE TWO TOGETHER

MANKATO - SAINT ANDREWS DR 5073854444MANKATO - MADISON AVE 5076251551VERNON CENTER 5075493679AMBOY 5076743300

JULIE VETTERSR VICE PRESIDENTRETAIL BANKING

We support great causes like yoursAt Community Bank we know good things happen when you have a good bank So we make more possible by keeping banking simple and supportive And by giving you the power that comes with innovative solutions like our Health Savings Account It offers you tax-free savings for future medical expenses Stop by anytime Wersquore always ready to help out a great cause

Position a rack in the lower third of the oven preheat to 350 degrees Combine the nuts cinnamon and breadcrumbs in a bowl

Brush a 9x13-inch baking dish with some of the butter Layer 10 pieces of phyllo in the dish brushing each piece with butter before adding the next (keep the remaining dough covered with a damp towel) Sprinkle a quarter of the nut mixture over the dough Layer four pieces of phyllo on top brushing each with butter before adding the next sprinkle with another quarter of the nut mixture Add four more phyllo pieces on top brushing each with butter then add another quarter of the nut mixture four more pieces of phyllo with butter and the remaining nuts

Layer the remaining 10 pieces of phyllo on top of the nuts brushing each with butter brush the top piece with extra butter Cut into the baklava to make strips about 1 12 inches wide Then make diagonal slices about 1 12 inches apart to create a diamond pattern Bake until golden about one hour

Meanwhile make the syrup Bring the sugar honey and 1 12 cups water to a boil in a saucepan over medium heat and cook 10 to 15 minutes Add the lemon juice and boil 2 more minutes then let cool slightly Pour the syrup over the warm baklava let soak uncovered at least six hours or overnight Garnish with nuts

MM p02 0116indd 37 12182015 30817 PM

38 bull bull MANKATO MAGAZINE

Nell Musolf is a mom and freelance writer from Mankato She blogs at nellmusolfcom

38 bull bull MANKATO MAGAZINE

MM p02 0116indd 38 12182015 30822 PM

MANKATO MAGAZINE  bull January 2016 bull 39

Gear Up for WinterYear-Round amp Insulated Workwear from

Carhartt Dickies and Key

UNIFORMSUniforms fromBarco Carhartt Cherokee DickiesKoi Peaches and White Cross

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Call 5073446336mankatomagmankatofreepresscom

Stephanie L Hylla LAc Dipl AcKayla M Sweeney MOm LAc

NEW LOCATION709 S Front Suite 5

5074694788mankatoacupuncturecom

Open House ndash Wednesday Feb 3 9-12noonCelebrating 5 years of Business New Location and the Chinese New Year

In Network with Blue Cross Blue ShieldLicensed by the MN Board of Medical Practice

Ribbon Cutting with Greater Mankato Growth at 10am

(A $250 Value)THIS VOUCHER ENTITLES NEW PATIENTS TO A

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wwwr igne l l fami lych i roprac t ic comMedicare Restrictions Apply Expires January 31 2016

Dr BrandonRignell DC

1351 Madison AveSuite D

Mankato MN 56001

5077797313

$2900New Patient Special

MM p02 0116indd 39 12222015 121344 PM

40 bull bull MANKATO MAGAZINE

Jean Lundquist is a master gardener who lives near Good Thunder

MM p02 0116indd 40 12182015 30834 PM

MANKATO MAGAZINE  bull January 2016 bull 41

3 Increase the Value of Your Home

3 Update Your Homersquos Appearance

3 Save Money

Choose from SeveralModels Styles amp Colors

507-625-7110 or 1-800-645-36671125 Cross St North Mankato MN

Improve Your HomersquosEnergy Efficiency

422 Park Lane Mankato MN | NuStarMankatocom

(507) 381-4747Voted One of Mankatorsquos Best

DANIEL WINGERT

Make Selling Your Home Your NuYearrsquos Resolution

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42 bull January 2016 bull MANKATO MAGAZINE

January Resolve to moisturize

Your stYLeBy Ann Rosenquist Fee

Ann Rosenquist Fee is executive director of the Arts Center of Saint Peter and a vocalist with The Frye She blogs at annrosenquistfeecom

If you have in-laws or colleagues who know you well enough to have given you holiday gifts

but not well enough to know what wouldrsquove truly made you happy congratulations Chances are yoursquore the proud owner of a bunch of brand-new lip balm

Maybe itrsquos even holiday themed Thatrsquos the best Maybe you got the candy-cane flavored kind or wintergreen with holiday graphics on the label or something like that A theme that was irrelevant the moment the stocking was unstuffed because at that exact second the holiday was over

And here you are in January with an abundance of wax

Fortunately also here you are in the early weeks of winter with rough red knuckles Probably also cracked cuticles although it might not have gone that far yet for you Irsquom sure it has for me This photo was taken back in November and even then the Band-Aids were for real Irsquove learned to cut them in half length-wise so as to retain my ability to type Irsquove also learned to play with a range of color options Flesh-toned Clear Disney characters The colorful strips shown here were gifted to me by my husband Partly why theyrsquore cut in half is that the text is obscene This is one small trick you can use to make bloody cuticles your most exciting accessory of the winter

Sources like UrbanSurvivalSitecom and WonderHowTocom will tell you that you can use lip balm for a whole variety of purposes such as coating threads of outdoor lightbulbs before screwing them into their sockets and enhancing the burn-ability of most kindling

These are great fun but they wonrsquot improve your personal style

More germane to winter beauty are the following suggestions

Keep a tube next to your bed for first-thing-in-the-morning use And I mean really truly first-thing I mean smear the stuff on each cuticle while yoursquore still lying there before you start using your fingers at all If you wake up thinking yoursquore fine and skip cuticle care next thing you know yoursquore pushing down the lever on your Keurig and the pressure is more than your screamingly dry skin can take and boom split blood on the Keurig and itrsquos gonna be a long painful day If only you had balmed your hands before you let your feet hit the floor

Keep another tube in your glove compartment If itrsquos warm enough to take off your mittens in the car mdash if yoursquore even wearing mittens given that your hands are snagging on everything these days mdash the harsh January sunlight will allow you to see cracks and flakes in high-resolution detail Yoursquoll want the balm nearby

to cover what you didnrsquot notice first thing in the morning Also a car tube is useful for when you look in the rear-view mirror and notice that your nose and upper lip are flaking as well Itrsquos because yoursquore getting over a cold and the frequent use of tissue has worn away your top layer of skin but just because you know that doesnrsquot mean everybody else wonrsquot think ldquothere is something in that noserdquo Itrsquos just a fact Itrsquos what it looks like Lip balm to the rescue Itrsquos the only thing dry enough to slick those flakes in place and nourishing enough to maybe actually get your face back to normal

Keep a couple more tubes in a nighttime kit along with sandpaper Sandpaper Yes Not a pumice stone not a lame also-gifted sugar

scrub Medium-grit sandpaper is what you need every night lightly but with conviction As follows 1) Sand taking care not to do more damage than what the elements have already done Yoursquore just trying to remove the dry dead stuff Yoursquore just being hearty and efficient about this true to the culture of this great state in which yoursquove chosen to winter You are no pansy Sand your hands 2) Wash 3) Blot dry 4) Dial up the gifted balm whisper a word of thanks to the person who put so much thought into your well-being that they stuffed your holiday stocking with this amazing gift of self-care smash a healthy amount down into your palms massage Take heart You just might find yourself with normal-textured non-cracked not-horrible-looking hands by morning

Split-open cuticles I feel you Except for these Band-Aids I feel you

Lip balms I have been gifted and these are just from last Christmas ldquolastrdquo as in 2014

Bathrooms Worth Bragging About

HoursTue amp Wed amp Fri | 9 am to 6 pmMon amp Thu | 9 am to 7 pmSaturday | 9 am to 4 pm

219 S Victory Dr | Mankato507 | 345 | 7009ipafhickorytechnetindependentpaintandflooringcom

You Deserve Comfortable Care Every Timebull Sedation - Complete Relaxation with Just a Pillbull Invisalign - Clear Alternative to Bracesbull Botox amp Fillersbull Implants - Placement and Restorationbull Cerec - One Visit Crown Technology

bull Free Whitening Programbull 3D Imaging with Fewer X-Raysbull Cosmetic Dentistrybull Drill-Free Technologybull Emergency Care

1400 Lookout Drive North Mankato507-625-CARE(2273) bull mankatodentistcom 06

1865

6124

01

Dr AngelA Schuck

Dr keith FlAck

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MANKATO MAGAZINE  bull January 2016 bull 43

Bathrooms Worth Bragging About

HoursTue amp Wed amp Fri | 9 am to 6 pmMon amp Thu | 9 am to 7 pmSaturday | 9 am to 4 pm

219 S Victory Dr | Mankato507 | 345 | 7009ipafhickorytechnetindependentpaintandflooringcom

You Deserve Comfortable Care Every Timebull Sedation - Complete Relaxation with Just a Pillbull Invisalign - Clear Alternative to Bracesbull Botox amp Fillersbull Implants - Placement and Restorationbull Cerec - One Visit Crown Technology

bull Free Whitening Programbull 3D Imaging with Fewer X-Raysbull Cosmetic Dentistrybull Drill-Free Technologybull Emergency Care

1400 Lookout Drive North Mankato507-625-CARE(2273) bull mankatodentistcom 06

1865

6124

01

Dr AngelA Schuck

Dr keith FlAck

(944) 412-7949 | OrthoEdgeMNcom

Enjoy the season

Mankato St Peter

Be active Be healthyBe able with OrthoEdge

The OrthoEdge joint replacement

program offers superb care from your first

visit through recovery The surgeons from

the Orthopaedic amp Fracture Clinic and

the care team at Riverrsquos Edge Hospital

provide personal and professional care to

get you back to able

Why Riverrsquos Edge Hospital amp Clinic

bull Riverrsquos Edge Hospital amp Clinic has a long-

standing relationship with the Orthopaedic

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bull There are 14 private suites that feature a

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MM p02 0116indd 43 12182015 30842 PM

44 bull January 2016 bull MANKATO MAGAZINE

1 Hicktown Mafia800 pm mdash New Ulm Event Center mdash 301 20th St S mdash New Ulm mdash $10 mdash 507-354-4673

7-9 Mankato West Orchesis Dance Team showcase7 pm Thursday-Saturday 2 pm Saturday mdash Mankato West High School Auditorium mdash $7 adults $5 students mdash 507-381-7578

10 Mankato Symphony Orchestra Music on the Hill II ldquoMinnesota rootsrdquo2 pm mdash Chapel at Good Counselmdash Good Counsel Drive mdash Mankato mdash $17 $12 mdash wwwmankatosymphonycom

16 Handel with Caremdash Handel Goes to Italy11 ammdash YMCA Aerobics Studio mdash 1401 S Riverfront Drive mdash Mankato mdash wwwmankatosymphonycom

16 Mankato Craft beer Expo2 pm (VIP) 3 pm general mdash Verizon Wireless Center mdash $45 VIP $35 general $10 designated driver mdash wwwmankatocraftbeerexpocom

23 Joey Flip and Mike Fugazzi rockinrsquo at the Embassy9 pm mdash Blaschkorsquos Embassy Bar and Grill mdash 325 S Minnesota Ave mdash St Peter mdash 507-934-3903

24 andrea Lyn and Dick Kimmel concert730 pm mdash Elias J Halling Recital Hall mdash Minnesota State University mdash Mankato mdash $12 regular $11 current MSU students mdash wwwmnusedumusic

28-31 MSu Theatre antigone730 pm Thursday-Saturday 2 pm Sunday mdash Andreas Theatre mdash Minnesota State University mdash Mankato mdash $16 regular $14 discount $11 current MSU students mdash wwwmnsuedu

29-31 BLC Theatre Brigadoon730 Friday and Saturday 2 pm Sunday mdash Ylvisaker Fine Arts Center mdash Bethany Lutheran College mdash Mankato mdash $10 adults $6 seniors children and students mdash wwwblceduevents

29- Feb 7 Winterfest St Peter Citywide mdash wwwstpeterchamberorg

30 Church of Cash a Tribute to Johnny Cash7 pm mdash St Peter American Legion mdash 229 W Nassau St mdash St Peter mdash 507-934-6435

31 Maud Hixson and rick Carlson concert730 pmmdash Elias J Halling Recital Hall mdash Minnesota State University mdash Mankato mdash $12 regular $11 current MSU students wwmnsuedumusic

Coming attraCtions January

T - F 8am - 6pm Sun ClosedSat 9am - 4pmM 8am - 8pm

120 North Broad Street Mankato MN 507-345-4688 wwwmeyerandsonstvandappliancecom

FIND SPECIAL DEALS ON

MM p02 0116indd 44 12182015 30902 PM

MANKATO MAGAZINE  bull January 2016 bull 45

St Peter Craft amp Vendor Show

1MelinadaBussefromRapidansoldherhandmadejewelryatthecraftandvendorshow

2DarylfromElysianandhishand-carvedwoodart

3MacKennaage7hasfunatoneoftheboothsattheStPeterCraftandVendorShow

4LizEntershowsoffsomeofherproductsattheldquoItWorksrdquobooth

5DenisePetersofldquoYoungLivingrdquoessentialoilsdisplayedherproductsattheshow

Faces amp Places Photos By Sport Pix

3

5

2

1

4

T - F 8am - 6pm Sun ClosedSat 9am - 4pmM 8am - 8pm

120 North Broad Street Mankato MN 507-345-4688 wwwmeyerandsonstvandappliancecom

FIND SPECIAL DEALS ON

MM p02 0116indd 45 12222015 121536 PM

46 bull January 2016 bull MANKATO MAGAZINE

SOUTHErN MN CHrISTMAS

FESTIVAL1 A large crowd was on hand during the festivities at

the Christmas Festival2 Friesenrsquos Family Bakery amp Bistro had tons of baked

goods and soups at the Verizon Wireless Center3 A childrenrsquos choir sang for the audience at the

festival4 Ron Haefner owner of Ronrsquos Auto Repair displayed

some of his services5 Garrison Galatz dressed up as Santa for the

Christmas Festival

faCes amp PLaCes Photos By Sport Pix

4

3

1

2

5

MM p02 0116indd 46 12182015 30923 PM

MANKATO MAGAZINE  bull January 2016 bull 47

1GirlScouttroop34494waspresentedwithatrophybyKiwanisVicePresidentKyleMrozek

2SantaClausevenwentthroughtheparaderoute3(LtoR)BrooklynPomrankeAlaynaLyonsHunterPomrankeandLilyLyonsgetagroupphototakenwithSanta

4MarshaMartigtellsSantawhatshewantsforChristmas

5TheparadefloatswerealldeckedoutinChristmaslights

6Visitorswalkthepatharoundtheparktoviewthisyearrsquoslights

Kiwanis Holiday ligHtsFaces amp Places Photos By sport Pix

2

1

3

4 5

6

MM p02 0116indd 47 12222015 121616 PM

48 bull January 2016 bull MANKATO MAGAZINE

On the Occasion of a 50th Reunion

the Class of 1965

from this VaLLeYBy Pete Steiner

Peter Steiner is host of ldquoTalk of the Townrdquo weekdays at 105 pm on KTOE

I was honored to give the presentation for our 50th class reunion recently at West Highrsquos Homecoming celebration About 120 of our nearly 400-member class

showed up We Baby Boomers the children of the greatest generation had big classes in the late lsquo60rsquos that forced the building of East High Ours was a dramatic era and our class did some great things in the face of big challenges Here edited is some of what I said

I am so glad to be standing here today Therersquos an old saying

ldquoMay you live in INTErESTINg timeshelliprdquo The Class of rsquo65 certainly has Itrsquos seems like only yesterday right after lunch that we were at our desks waiting for the start of English class when our charismatic teacher Harry Fitterer strode in and said ldquoPrESIDENT KENNEDY HAS BEEN SHOT IN DALLASrdquo At first we didnrsquot believe him but it was true It was November 22 1963 We were juniors and as the song says that was THE END OF THE INNOCENCE We had lived through the last idyllic time in America

When we first arrived in the fall of 1962 America was still carefree basking in the glow of victory in WW II Everything may have seemed ldquorightrdquo but it was not Martin Luther King Jr had just visited Mankato pointing out the continuing plight of black Americans as the Civil rights movement was gaining steam The beginnings of the Vietnam War which would alter the course of many of our lives were stirring even as we studied history and government The current generation has no monopoly on forgettable pop music ndash we had a stupid 1 song called ldquoItsie Bitsie Teenie Weenie Yellow Polka Dot Bikinirdquo (unfortunately an ear worm I canrsquot forget) But a darker cultural threat was looming The BEATLES were invading from Britain and our parents were mortified because they had LONg HAIr

Some of the shock of the Kennedy assassination was eased when our wrestling team in the era when the state still had just ONE CLASS won the State Championship in front of a packed hall up at MSU some still maintain that is the greatest single athletic achievement in Mankato history We were the first high school in Mankato to put on a full-scale musical ldquoBye Bye Birdierdquo in the spring of 1964 In Fall of 1964 our football team would have won the conference championship outright except Owatonnarsquos great Noel Jenke who would go on to star for the U of M

cheated I watched him trap the touchdown pass that beat us Does cheating pay Was that a lesson for life

In lsquo65 we also had a fine basketball team that lost our chance at State when our 6-6 center fouled out at Luverne

BUT A FAr BIggEr CHALLENgE AWAITED US ALL As we rode out to Luverne to watch that game we couldnrsquot help noticing the highway was like a canyon between walls of snow The legendary St Patrickrsquos Day Blizzard had dumped two feet on top of an already large snow pack and then April brought rains on frozen ground Instead of coming here to school many of us soon got a real-life assignment to go out in our rain gear out on the dikes to battle the grEAT FLOOD OF 1965 Our school became an island as water flooded the parking lot and all of South riverfront Our spring play that year was called ironically

THE DESPErATE HOUrS We had to rehearse at roosevelt School up on higher ground

Our class produced three Merit scholars One of our classmates who did NOT qualify

for a merit scholarship nevertheless was such a whiz at physics that NASA requested a copy of a paper he wrote on rocketry as a senior We produced 12 doctors one of whom earned a fellowship at Stanford seeking how to bring telemedicine to the poor another of whom became a breakthrough cancer doctor We had entrepreneurs one who would go on to be a leader in Solar Energy (and then run for governor of New Hampshire) Another mdash a woman incidentally when

that was not common founded two bio-tech startups Many of us are still working

past normal retirement age One founded a company on the leading edge of recycling

computers whose clients include the NSA Another is chief medical officer of a company

devising a better tool for colonoscopies Yet another of our classmates recently completed a concert tour of China

We lived in challenging times just as you do today but we muddle through we make it to the other shore I remember sitting where you are 50 years ago thinking how old those folks up there looked But remember Life goes by very quickly You certainly live in interesting times as Shakespeare said ldquoPresent Mirth has Present Laughter Youthrsquos a stuff will NOT endurerdquo So I urge you live each moment to the fullest

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Page 29: Mankatomag 116

MANKATO MAGAZINE  bull January 2016 bull 27

birth The young Schuyler attended school only until he was 10 He then began working to support his family Schuyler Colfax never attended any kind of secondary school or college His mother remarried when Colfax was 13 and the family moved to New Carlisle Indiana By the time he was 22 Colfax was the editor and owner of a pro-Whig newspaper He was elected to Congress in 1854 and joined the newly formed Republican Party after the Whig Party disintegrated Solidly anti-slavery his colleagues elected Colfax as Speaker of the US House of Representatives in 1863 His election came soon after the death of his wife Evelyn The couple had no children

Colfax was President Abraham Lincolnrsquos first and last visitor on the fateful day Lincoln was assassinatedmdashApril 14 1865 Early that morning Colfax arrived at the White House while the president was having breakfast Colfax wanted to know whether or not Lincoln planned to call a special session of Congress for later that summer Lincolnrsquos answer was a polite but firm ldquonordquo Lincoln preferred a lenient approach in reconstructing as well as readmitting the former Confederate states to the Union now that the Civil War was over This approach put Lincoln at odds with the more ldquoradicalrdquo congressional members of his own party who preferred harsher measures be taken against their former enemies Lincoln had already made up his mind how he wanted to proceed with reconstructing the former Confederate states and he didnrsquot want any unnecessary interference from Congress Calling a special session was the last thing Lincoln wanted to do Colfax returned that same night to see Lincoln again just before the president left for Fordrsquos Theatre and his appointment with destiny This time Colfax came upon Lincolnrsquos own request The president had a long message for the silver miners of the Comstock Lode in Nevada thanking them for their loyalty to the Union that he wanted Speaker Colfax to deliver in person since Colfax was leaving by train for the West the next day Colfax was the last person Lincoln spoke to besides his wife Mary before he

was fatally shot at 1015 pm Colfax never forgave himself for turning down Lincolnrsquos invitation to be part of the theatre party that night

In 1868 Republicans selected General Ulysses S Grant as their presidential candidate Grant a military man his entire life had no political background Colfax was placed on the ticket because of his prior experience as a congressman and Speaker of the House (he resigned the position in 1869) Grant and Colfax won an easy victory in November 1868 Only two weeks later Colfax remarriedmdashthis time to Ellen Wade (niece of Ohio Senator Benjamin Wade) Their only child son Schuyler Colfax III was born in 1870

Colfax is best remembered (if at all) for his involvement in the corruption that beset Grantrsquos entire presidency Specifically the Credit Mobilier scandal broke in 1872 just as Grant and Colfax were gearing up for their re-election campaign Colfax was suspected of accepting shares of stock and cash bribes from ldquoCredit Mobilierrdquo a dummy construction company set up by the Union Pacific Railroad He was by no means the only influential person involved in the scandal Other political figures investigated included Senators Roscoe Conkling of New York William Allison of Iowa John Logan of Illinois James Bayard of Delaware and Henry Wilson of Massachusetts Grant was less popular in 1872 than he had been four years earlier and many Republicans worried that having Colfax on the partyrsquos ticket would harm the presidentrsquos re-election chances They dumped Colfax from the ticket mdash only to replace him with the also-tainted Wilson Grant won re-election and served his second and final term from 1873-1877 After being forced out from the vice presidency Colfax traveled the country as a popular lecturer often speaking about his interactions with Abraham Lincoln during the Civil War He rebuilt his tarnished reputation and commanded speaking fees as high as $2500

At 10 am on Jan 13 1885 Schuyler Colfax arrived in Mankato aboard a train from Milwaukee Mankato was just a

brief stop for Colfax who was on his way to Iowa for a speaking engagement The Chicago Milwaukee amp St Paul as well as the Chicago St Paul Minneapolis amp Omaha railroads both had depots in Mankato but because they were separate competing railroad lines Colfax was required to change trains by walking three-quarters of a mile from the Chicago Milwaukee amp St Paul depot at the foot of Hickory Street to the Chicago St Paul Minneapolis amp Omaha depot at Fourth and Washington Streets (now Washington Park) from which the next leg of his journey would depart Despite a reported temperature of 30 degrees below zero Colfax walked from one station to the other Within five minutes after he arrived at the Omaha linersquos depot Colfax entered the waiting room looked at a map on the wall sat down and died It was 1035 am No one in the station knew who the dead man actually was until they searched his pockets and found a letter with his name on it His death was likely caused by a heart attack brought on by the physical exertion of walking almost a mile in extreme cold Colfax was only 61 when he died His remains were returned to South Bend Indiana for burial

Today few Americans are aware that anyone named Schuyler Colfax ever lived much less served as vice president of the United States In this era in which officeholders are often treated as celebrities imagine how surprised people would be to learn that a former vice president died cold alone and unrecognized in a train station 131 years ago Before 24-hour news channels smart phones and social media it was possible for public figures like Colfax to live ndash and die ndash in relative obscurity Ironically Colfax loved the railroad but in the end it was the cause of his undoing Mankato has the distinction of being the location where the last man to personally speak to Abraham Lincoln in a private conversation took his last breath

MM p01 0116indd 27 12182015 24549 PM

28 bull January 2016 bull MANKATO MAGAZINE

Mayo Clinic offers pediatric and adolescent orthopedic services right here in Mankato Todd Milbrandt MD cares for patients with a variety of needs including

bull Cerebral palsy

bull Clubfoot

bull Hip disorders

bull Spinal disorders

bull Sports injuries

bull Scoliosis

bull Spina bifida

Mayo Clinic Health System in Mankato Call 1-877-412-7575 (toll-free) to schedule an appointment

495rdquox495rdquo Mankato Magazine January

Orthopedic care for your child

Independent ampAssisted Living

EQUAL HOUSINGOPPORTUNITY

1360 Adams StreetMankato MN

PrimroseRetirementcom

reg

Key City Senior Breakfast ClubThe Key City Senior Breakfast Club meets the first Thursday of each month from 830 AM - 930 AM at Primrose Retirement Community The club gives those 55+ the opportunity to meet new friends and visit old ones socialize with Key City Officials and enjoy a delicious home-cooked breakfast To visit a Key City Senior Breakfast please call (866) 447-9636

Mark your calendar for these breakfast dates Thursday January 7th Thursday March 3rd and Thursday May 5th

刀椀渀最 椀渀 琀栀攀 

一攀眀 夀攀愀爀

㔀 㜀ⴀ㤀㐀ⴀ㐀㐀䨀甀氀攀攀猀䨀攀眀攀氀爀礀挀漀洀

椀渀 匀愀椀渀琀 倀攀琀攀爀

20765 Foley Rd Mankato MN | 5073872434 | 5077262411

Three TimeNational Award Winners

MM p02 0116indd 28 12182015 30742 PM

Mayo Clinic offers pediatric and adolescent orthopedic services right here in Mankato Todd Milbrandt MD cares for patients with a variety of needs including

bull Cerebral palsy

bull Clubfoot

bull Hip disorders

bull Spinal disorders

bull Sports injuries

bull Scoliosis

bull Spina bifida

Mayo Clinic Health System in Mankato Call 1-877-412-7575 (toll-free) to schedule an appointment

495rdquox495rdquo Mankato Magazine January

Orthopedic care for your child

Independent ampAssisted Living

EQUAL HOUSINGOPPORTUNITY

1360 Adams StreetMankato MN

PrimroseRetirementcom

reg

Key City Senior Breakfast ClubThe Key City Senior Breakfast Club meets the first Thursday of each month from 830 AM - 930 AM at Primrose Retirement Community The club gives those 55+ the opportunity to meet new friends and visit old ones socialize with Key City Officials and enjoy a delicious home-cooked breakfast To visit a Key City Senior Breakfast please call (866) 447-9636

Mark your calendar for these breakfast dates Thursday January 7th Thursday March 3rd and Thursday May 5th

OMG hellip More food and drinksOK sure

By now yoursquore probably thinking ldquoOh my gosh the last thing I want to think about right now is more food more drinking and more diningrdquo

Fair enough We get it The holidays are murder on the metabolism of many many Minnesotans

But we also know that those metabolisms are hardy and soon enough theyrsquoll be hankering for a hunk of something yummy and full of fun And whatrsquos more yummy and full of fun than a big glass of Cabernet Sauvignon Our wine guy Leigh Pomeroy takes us on a tour of all that is tasty and wonderful about big red wines the kind that leave their mark the kind that really announce their presence on your palate

And just in case yoursquore super serious about a healthy lifestyle mdash and that seriousness extends to the kind of beer you choose mdash Bert Mattson our beer guy has just the selection for you Best part is Itrsquos light

Oh and under the category of ldquoDid you hear about thisrdquo Wersquove got an update for you on the Coffee Hag Mankatorsquos original coffee house and one of the most popular hangouts in town Seriously some days itrsquos hard to find a seat in that place

EnjoyPS We know that baby itrsquos cold outside mdash thatrsquos why wersquove

thrown you our absolute best hot cocoa recipe

Enjoymdash Robb Murray Associate Editor Mankato Magazine

food drink amp dineso

uthern m

n style

20765 Foley Rd Mankato MN | 5073872434 | 5077262411

Three TimeNational Award Winners

MM p02 0116indd 29 12182015 30745 PM

MANKATO 5073854485 AMBOY 5076743355 I VERNON CENTER 5075493679

INSURANCE OFFICES LOCATED IN THE COMMUNITY BANK BUILDINGS

wwwcimankatocom

Protecting the things that matter most in your life

Let us help protect what is important to you At Community Insurance we have the ability to compare insurance from multiple companies to get you the best coverage at a great price Combine that with our insurance knowledge and friendly group of agents and we say thatrsquos a winning deal

WHERE YOUR POLICY COMES WITH AN AGENT

Christina Meyer

Food

south

ern mn style

Food

south

ern mn style

By The Washington Post

Growing up my mother always encouraged her children to cook So when

I found a recipe for hot chocolate on the side of the Hersheyrsquos Cocoa can it was easy to convince her to let me give it a try

What I discovered was that hot chocolate doesnrsquot have to come from an envelope

This recipe has been a favorite of mine to make on days when winter weather has convinced me stay home and off the roads Itrsquos the perfect way to kill time and have a nice hot drink to warm you up on those chilly days

Although you can top it with whipped cream I prefer marshmallows

FAVORITE HOT COCOAMakes 4 to 6 servings

12 cup sugar14 cup unsweetened cocoa powder

Dash of salt13 cup hot water

4 cups milk34 teaspoon vanilla extract

Whipped cream or marshmallows (optional)

Mix sugar cocoa powder salt and water in a sauce pan Stir constantly over medium heat until mixture comes to a boil (about 2 minutes) Stir in

milk and heat Bring the hot chocolate to the desired temperature but do not boil Remove from heat and

add the vanilla extract Divide into mugs and top with whipped cream or marshmallows

PERFECTLY CHOCOLATE HOT COCOA

Makes 1 serving

2 tablespoons sugar2 tablespoons unsweetened cocoa powder

Dash salt1 cup milk

14 teaspoon vanilla extractWhipped cream or marshmallows (optional)

Mix sugar cocoa powder and salt into large mug In separate microwave-safe container heat on high

for 1 to 1 frac12 minutes or until very hot Carefully and gradually add milk to dry mixture Stir well Add vanilla extract Top with whipped cream or

marshmallows

Simple homemade hot chocolate

beats the winter chill

30 bull January 2016 bull MANKATO MAGAZINE

MM p02 0116indd 30 12182015 30752 PM

MANKATO MAGAZINE  bull January 2016 bull 31

Oil Change to OverhaulWe do it all

507-387-13151620 Commerce Drive North MankatowwwAustinsAutoRepairCentercom

Voted Best Auto Repair and Best Auto Mechanic 4 Years in a Row

AUSTINrsquoS AUTO REPAIR CENTER INC

MANKATO 5073854485 AMBOY 5076743355 I VERNON CENTER 5075493679

INSURANCE OFFICES LOCATED IN THE COMMUNITY BANK BUILDINGS

wwwcimankatocom

Protecting the things that matter most in your life

Let us help protect what is important to you At Community Insurance we have the ability to compare insurance from multiple companies to get you the best coverage at a great price Combine that with our insurance knowledge and friendly group of agents and we say thatrsquos a winning deal

WHERE YOUR POLICY COMES WITH AN AGENT

Christina Meyer

MM p02 0116indd 31 12182015 30755 PM

32 bull January 2016 bull MANKATO MAGAZINE

January is Cabernet TimeWersquove celebrated nearly

every January edition of Mankato Magazine with

a paean to BIG REDS And since there are so many wonderful examples why stop now

Last year I wrote about the powerful big reds of Italy This January wersquoll focus on Cabernet Sauvignon known to many as ldquothe king of winesrdquo Most oenophiles (wine lovers) consider the quintessential representations of this grape to be the classified Bordeaux of southwest France near the city of Bordeaux The five First Growths (or best wines according to a classification made in 1855 and updated in 1973) are Ch Lafite Rothschild Ch Margaux Ch Latour Ch Haut Brion and Ch Mouton Rothschild All have a cabernet sauvignon base but they are blended with merlot and often a little bit of cabernet franc and petit verdot as well

In the early 1970s I was able to buy these wines for around $22 per bottle mdash about $120 in 2016 dollars Yet with the popularity of ldquocollectiblerdquo wines on a worldwide

basis they sell today for anywhere from $400 on up

Contrary to popular belief these wines are not that massive Rather they combine cabernet sauvignon power with

structure and finesse yielding wines that become with time elixirs that are greater than the sum of their parts

Both California and Washington state have taken up the Cabernet Sauvignon challenge and are producing world-class wines at sometimes world-class prices Napa Valley is the recognized leader in this arena and rightly so Napa Valleyrsquos top Cabernet

Wine amp B

eerso

uthern m

n style

winesBy Leigh Pomeroy

Leigh Pomeroy is a Mankato-based writer and wine lover

Cabernet Sauvignon is the black Labrador of wines mdash it comes up and licks yourdquo

mdash Winemaker Scott Rich

Sauvignons rival the great wines of Bordeaux for quality mdash Irsquove tasted them side-by-side mdashand yet can sell for a fraction of their price

One such example is the 2013 Tulocay Cabernet Sauvignon from my old friend Bill Cadman We were young bucks in Napa Valley and had a tasting group in the early 1970s along with now-famous wine luminaries Bruce Neyers (Neyers Vineyards) and Mike Richmond (co-founder of Acacia Vineyard)

Billrsquos Cabernet is from an old and relatively cool growing area east of the City of Napa called Coombsville which because of industry political issues only recently received its AVA (American Viticultural Area) designation It is priced at $60 per bottle yet compares with any top-flight Bordeaux as well as the more expensive offerings from Napa Valley which can cost from $100 on up Not currently available at wine stores or restaurants in Minnesota it can be purchased by contacting the winery directly via its website tulocaycom The winery is so small that Bill will probably answer the phone himself

There is a lot of Cabernet Sauvignon available from California but mdash caveat emptor mdash not all growing areas (or appellations) are the same The best Cabernet Sauvignons are from Napa and Sonoma Counties Cabernets simply labeled ldquoCaliforniardquo or perhaps ldquoCoastalrdquo while sometimes good values lack the complexity of the greater Cabernet Sauvignons from the more northern parts of the state

Washington state has also

established itself as a prime producer of Cabernet Sauvignon But here again quality can vary greatly depending upon the area and producer While there is no ldquogo-tordquo appellation for Cabernet Sauvignon in Washington there are producers that are able to secure fruit from the best vineyards

One such example is the tiny Willis Hall Winery owned by another good friend John Bell a former Boeing jet propulsion engineer Like Tulocay its wines are only available by calling up the winery and ordering some (See willishallcom) But there are many other top quality producers in Washington like Quilceda Creek Leonetti Betz Family and Woodward Canyon

Of course not everyone can afford Cabernet Sauvignons in the $60-plus category One excellent everyday drinking example is the Flying Cloud 2013 Paso Robles Cabernet Sauvignon made by Mankato native Stephen Dooley Normally I donrsquot like Paso Robles Cabs as they tend to be too fruity and too soft for my palate mdash almost like drinking berry jam But this one is quite restrained no doubt helped by the inclusion of 13 percent zinfandel and 9 percent petite sirah in the blend

In Mankato both the Wine Cafeacute and MGM carry the Flying Cloud but at its price and quality I wouldnrsquot count on it lasting for long especially since only 759 cases were produced

So letrsquos raise a glass of Cabernet and say ldquoCheersrdquo to the New Year

MM p02 0116indd 32 12182015 30756 PM

MANKATO MAGAZINE  bull January 2016 bull 33

Bert Mattson is a chef and writer based in St Paul He is the manager of the iconic Mickeyrsquos Diner

Beer Skinny

BeerBy Bert Mattson

Last year according to Nielsen research staying fit and healthy was

the number one New Yearrsquos resolution Losing weight was two Three was to enjoy life to the fullest Unfortunately ldquolose weight and get fitrdquo also topped Time magazinersquos list of commonly broken resolutions Is this shortfall due to tension between the top two and that third one If so craft beer may have a role in the compromise Bad news first

In the context of losing weight and staying fit beer lovers might seek solace in the fact that fat carries nine calories per gram while alcohol has only seven The wrinkle is that those seven are ldquoemptyrdquo mdash calories without nutrition as opposed to those from fat protein and carbohydrates Moreover alcoholrsquos calories are the first burned when combined with the others the human body postpones burning fat while it works on alcohol Furthermore beer (and wine and often cocktails) contains carbohydrates which release insulin and can hasten fat storage Finally many drinkers have undoubtedly observed that alcohol loosens inhibitions after which an eager indulgence in unhealthy foods often occurs (Bar menus are rarely helpful in that respect)

By now you may wonder whose side Irsquom actually on Or suspect Irsquove led you to this dark place only to offer you a Lite No worries a couple craft brewers have been considering ways to keep us true to our resolutions

Evil Twin Brewingrsquos Bikini Beer drops the alcohol to 27 percent but stays bold by way of hops A Pale Ale it hits the nose with citrus suggestive of IPA The flavor follows suit floral and lemon There is an expected absence of malt yielding to bitterness up front that fades at the finish An alternative

for those who insist on the full effect Founderrsquos Brewing Companyrsquos All Day IPA rings in at a respectable 144 calories (Evil Twinrsquos entry comes in at 81)

One strategy to beat the beer munchies and avoid costly impulse eating is to have suitable chow on hand With Bikini Beer try a salad sporting blue cheese and some sort of dried fruit Creamy blue veined cheeses echo the hops while balancing bitterness An occasional bite of dried fruit stands in for malt sweetness

Brooklyn Breweryrsquos 12 Ale weighs in at 34 percent alcohol (102 calories) It is alliteratively labeled ldquoSession Saisonrdquo It opens with a waft of citrus and spice and a little lemongrass from Sorachi Ace hops mdash a hybrid developed in East Asia The same elements are found in the flavor which is a bit more subdued than a full-sized Saison

Try it with a tangle of arugula dressed with lemon and a fruity olive oil tossed with pine nuts and topped with shaved Parmesan for effect The greens and cracked pepper reflect spicy phenolic elements in the yeast Salty cheese counters the beerrsquos lingering bitterness Maybe add a few slices of Speck cured ham and Saison share a certain funkiness

If friends show and it becomes a session you may honestly say you spent Saturday working on your six-pack

MM p02 0116indd 33 12182015 30757 PM

34 bull January 2016 bull MANKATO MAGAZINE

Food

south

ern mn style

Food

south

ern mn style

The Coffee Hag one of the arearsquos oldest (and coolest) bistros recently underwent a major expansion and remodeling journey culminating in a large and airy

seating area along with a much-improved kitchen and a new menu Mankato Magazine caught up with a very busy (and slightly exhausted) owner Jenn Melby-Kelly who weighs in on how itrsquos going

MANKATO MAGAZINE Are you personally enjoying the new updatesJENN MELBY-KELLY It Is Fabulous The new space represents so much more than a remodel to me It has brought to life a vision for my business thatrsquos been years in the making It incorporates many many good ideas from many many people I feel so fortunate to get to see that every time I walk through the door

MM How are customers reactingJMK Thatrsquos been one of the best parts The response has been overwhelmingly positive

A few of our most regular customers had the opportunity to get a glimpse of the remodel while it was underway (we gave some informal preview tours while we were operating the temporary stand outside) but many customers walk through the door now and see it all for the first time Itrsquos especially fun to see and hear that kind of wide-eyed reaction

A few people with special connections to The Hag have had even stronger emotional responses and Irsquom so touched and right there with them when I see eyes well up as they see what wersquove done Itrsquos a very big milestone for a very special place and wersquore blessed to have people that care so deeply

MM Do the employees appreciate the new spaceJMK Oh probably more than anyone There was a lot that we sought to do with the remodel but creating a bigger brighter better-equipped space for our team was certainly one of the primary goals Wersquove got an incredible team truly the most spirited and talented people anyone could hope for

Many of them have spent years with me working hard against the challenge of a small under-equipped space and just barely being able to keeping up with growing demand Itrsquos been a special blessing for them and for me to finally have state-of-the-art space thatrsquos made for the work that we do We all feel a special connection to this place and now more than ever the place reflects the good energy we all bring here every day

MM Is the new menu a hit (The Hag specializes in vegetarianvegan cuisine)JMK Yes but just wait Feedback and demand have been excellent with our food offerings already but wersquore just getting started on some of the really exciting things that are coming to our food menu

Remodeling the cafe was just the first major milestone of our two-part expansion plan Next up wersquore building a state of the art off-site commissary kitchen that will do for our incredible culinary team what the remodeled shop has done for our baristas Theyrsquove been working day and night on taking our already fantastic food offerings to a whole new level

Wersquove already introduced some amazing new menu items like the Garden Grilled Cheese panini (trust me itrsquos like nothing yoursquove had before) and some truly outstanding new vegan baked goods Wersquove also improved our classic offerings with house-made

Interview with Jenn Melby-Kelly owner of The Coffee Hag

By Sarah Johnson

MM p02 0116indd 34 12182015 30802 PM

MANKATO MAGAZINE  bull January 2016 bull 35

Happy New Year

Locally Owned amp Operated

Check Weekly Specialsmgmwineandspiritscommankato

Largest Selection ofbull Liquor bull Wine bull Beer bull

Hours Monday-Saturday 8 am - 10 pm

ATMs at all stores

Mankato201 Victory Dr

625-2420

North Mankato1755 Commerce Dr

387-2634

St Peter100 N Minnesota Ave

934-8964

sourdough and whole wheat breads But as impressive as it is already itrsquos just a taste mdash literally mdash of things to come as we bring our new kitchen online

MM Whatrsquos stayed the sameJMK Irsquom really proud to say that while wersquove touched almost every part of this 23-year-old business wersquove kept even more than we have changed From the first days of this project I made it my personal mission and responsibility to make sure that the ldquosoulrdquo of this special place was only enhanced and never lost as we made the updates

In every area of the remodel as wersquove added some necessary new layers of sophistication The Hagrsquos colorful quirky and even rebellious spirit is still very much a part of the space We did a lot to try to make sure it still looked and felt like ldquohomerdquo

And on a deeper level every step wersquove taken with the growth of our business has been chosen carefully to honor the core parts of The Coffee Hagrsquos identity Our focus on community our support for local art and music our commitment to creating a safe and welcoming space for everyone our efforts to lead the way on social and environmental issues affecting our world near and far mdash those have all stayed the same And those will always be at the heart of what we do

MM Anything elseJMK Irsquom so incredibly grateful for the support of our customers and community And whenever I talk about my business and how it has grown I really canrsquot overstate how thankful I am for my beautiful Coffee Hag family The hard work good energy and earnest contributions of so many people mdash past and present mdash have brought me and my business here An incredible amount of love has gone into this business and made this dream a reality

MM p02 0116indd 35 12222015 121240 PM

36 bull January 2016 bull MANKATO MAGAZINE

xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

Food

south

ern mn style

whatrsquos Cooking By Sarah Johnson

Sarah Johnson is a cook freelance writer and chocolate addict from North Mankato with three grown kids and a couple of mutts

As I was pondering my subject matter for todayrsquos column I started wondering about all the different items the word ldquonutsrdquo can refer

to Crazy people are called nuts so are hexagonal metal objects that attach to bolts Nuts can be the end of things (as in ldquofrom soup to nutsrdquo) or they can be the beginning of them (as in ldquosperm incubatorsrdquo) Nut can also mean onersquos head or onersquos lump of something such as butter And if you accidentally get a nut of butter on your nut you can exclaim ldquoNutsrdquo

My favorite meaning of the word nut however is the dry indehiscent one-seeded fruit with a woody pericarp And I donrsquot even know what indehiscent OR pericarp means But these are the wonderful denizens of the world of edible nuts

Nuts are widely credited with all sorts of health benefits for the heart brain male reproductive system prostate cholesterol level fiber intake and avoidance of some types of cancer And while nuts do contain fat itrsquos the ldquogoodrdquo kind heart-healthy monounsaturated and polyunsaturated fat Their mix of omega-3 fatty acids protein and fiber helps you feel full and suppresses the appetite

Nuts are great in desserts and salads of course but they also shine in stir-fries casseroles soups chicken pork fish and even beverages Nut butters nut milks and nut oils add delicious options to our kitchen larders Breads cereals muffins and pancakes gain texture flavor and nutrition from the addition of nuts Basically anytime is a good time for nuts

Which is a wonderful thing because nuts taste so good you would think they had to be very very bad The reason lies deep in their oils

Walnut Oil is strong and flavorful Itrsquos best when used in uncooked sauces or salad dressing

Hazelnut Oil has a strong flavor and is great for the heart

Almond Oil is very popular and has a much milder flavor than walnut oil or hazelnut oil

Pecan Macadamia Nut Pistachio Cashew and Pine Nut Oils are flavorful and unique The freshness of the nuts used really affects the flavor

ldquoTherersquos Nuttinrsquo Nutty About Nutsrdquo

For the Baklava1 pound pistachios hazelnuts walnuts pecans andor almonds coarsely ground plus more for garnish12 teaspoon ground cinnamon1 cup breadcrumbs4 sticks unsalted butter melted16 sheets phyllo dough (thawed if frozen) cut in half

For the Syrup3 cups sugar1 6 -to-8-ounce jar honey1 frac12 cups water1 to 2 tablespoons fresh lemon juice

If yoursquore under the impression that baklava is much too labor-intensive and complicated to make at home think again Anybody can make

it no special skills equipment or exotic ingredients are required A word about phyllo dough Itrsquos sold in frozen packages so you need to remove the package from the freezer and let it thaw in the fridge 24 hours before you want to make the baklava Then about an hour beforehand remove the package from the fridge and let it sit on the counter

Walnuts or pistachios are the most traditional nuts to fill baklava but using other nuts works wonders as well Simply layer the phyllo with the nut filling and butter bake for an hour and finish with a simple honeyed syrup If you have leftover nuts from the holidays herersquos your chance to use them up

Mixed Nut Baklava

MM p02 0116indd 36 12182015 30812 PM

MANKATO MAGAZINE  bull January 2016 bull 37

MONEY MATTERS WORK SMARTLET COMMUNITY BANK HELP YOUBRING THE TWO TOGETHER

MANKATO - SAINT ANDREWS DR 5073854444MANKATO - MADISON AVE 5076251551VERNON CENTER 5075493679AMBOY 5076743300

JULIE VETTERSR VICE PRESIDENTRETAIL BANKING

We support great causes like yoursAt Community Bank we know good things happen when you have a good bank So we make more possible by keeping banking simple and supportive And by giving you the power that comes with innovative solutions like our Health Savings Account It offers you tax-free savings for future medical expenses Stop by anytime Wersquore always ready to help out a great cause

Position a rack in the lower third of the oven preheat to 350 degrees Combine the nuts cinnamon and breadcrumbs in a bowl

Brush a 9x13-inch baking dish with some of the butter Layer 10 pieces of phyllo in the dish brushing each piece with butter before adding the next (keep the remaining dough covered with a damp towel) Sprinkle a quarter of the nut mixture over the dough Layer four pieces of phyllo on top brushing each with butter before adding the next sprinkle with another quarter of the nut mixture Add four more phyllo pieces on top brushing each with butter then add another quarter of the nut mixture four more pieces of phyllo with butter and the remaining nuts

Layer the remaining 10 pieces of phyllo on top of the nuts brushing each with butter brush the top piece with extra butter Cut into the baklava to make strips about 1 12 inches wide Then make diagonal slices about 1 12 inches apart to create a diamond pattern Bake until golden about one hour

Meanwhile make the syrup Bring the sugar honey and 1 12 cups water to a boil in a saucepan over medium heat and cook 10 to 15 minutes Add the lemon juice and boil 2 more minutes then let cool slightly Pour the syrup over the warm baklava let soak uncovered at least six hours or overnight Garnish with nuts

MM p02 0116indd 37 12182015 30817 PM

38 bull bull MANKATO MAGAZINE

Nell Musolf is a mom and freelance writer from Mankato She blogs at nellmusolfcom

38 bull bull MANKATO MAGAZINE

MM p02 0116indd 38 12182015 30822 PM

MANKATO MAGAZINE  bull January 2016 bull 39

Gear Up for WinterYear-Round amp Insulated Workwear from

Carhartt Dickies and Key

UNIFORMSUniforms fromBarco Carhartt Cherokee DickiesKoi Peaches and White Cross

AMAZED

Call 5073446336mankatomagmankatofreepresscom

Stephanie L Hylla LAc Dipl AcKayla M Sweeney MOm LAc

NEW LOCATION709 S Front Suite 5

5074694788mankatoacupuncturecom

Open House ndash Wednesday Feb 3 9-12noonCelebrating 5 years of Business New Location and the Chinese New Year

In Network with Blue Cross Blue ShieldLicensed by the MN Board of Medical Practice

Ribbon Cutting with Greater Mankato Growth at 10am

(A $250 Value)THIS VOUCHER ENTITLES NEW PATIENTS TO A

CONSULTATION EXAM amp DIGITAL X-RAYS (IF NEEDED)

wwwr igne l l fami lych i roprac t ic comMedicare Restrictions Apply Expires January 31 2016

Dr BrandonRignell DC

1351 Madison AveSuite D

Mankato MN 56001

5077797313

$2900New Patient Special

MM p02 0116indd 39 12222015 121344 PM

40 bull bull MANKATO MAGAZINE

Jean Lundquist is a master gardener who lives near Good Thunder

MM p02 0116indd 40 12182015 30834 PM

MANKATO MAGAZINE  bull January 2016 bull 41

3 Increase the Value of Your Home

3 Update Your Homersquos Appearance

3 Save Money

Choose from SeveralModels Styles amp Colors

507-625-7110 or 1-800-645-36671125 Cross St North Mankato MN

Improve Your HomersquosEnergy Efficiency

422 Park Lane Mankato MN | NuStarMankatocom

(507) 381-4747Voted One of Mankatorsquos Best

DANIEL WINGERT

Make Selling Your Home Your NuYearrsquos Resolution

MM p02 0116indd 41 12182015 30839 PM

42 bull January 2016 bull MANKATO MAGAZINE

January Resolve to moisturize

Your stYLeBy Ann Rosenquist Fee

Ann Rosenquist Fee is executive director of the Arts Center of Saint Peter and a vocalist with The Frye She blogs at annrosenquistfeecom

If you have in-laws or colleagues who know you well enough to have given you holiday gifts

but not well enough to know what wouldrsquove truly made you happy congratulations Chances are yoursquore the proud owner of a bunch of brand-new lip balm

Maybe itrsquos even holiday themed Thatrsquos the best Maybe you got the candy-cane flavored kind or wintergreen with holiday graphics on the label or something like that A theme that was irrelevant the moment the stocking was unstuffed because at that exact second the holiday was over

And here you are in January with an abundance of wax

Fortunately also here you are in the early weeks of winter with rough red knuckles Probably also cracked cuticles although it might not have gone that far yet for you Irsquom sure it has for me This photo was taken back in November and even then the Band-Aids were for real Irsquove learned to cut them in half length-wise so as to retain my ability to type Irsquove also learned to play with a range of color options Flesh-toned Clear Disney characters The colorful strips shown here were gifted to me by my husband Partly why theyrsquore cut in half is that the text is obscene This is one small trick you can use to make bloody cuticles your most exciting accessory of the winter

Sources like UrbanSurvivalSitecom and WonderHowTocom will tell you that you can use lip balm for a whole variety of purposes such as coating threads of outdoor lightbulbs before screwing them into their sockets and enhancing the burn-ability of most kindling

These are great fun but they wonrsquot improve your personal style

More germane to winter beauty are the following suggestions

Keep a tube next to your bed for first-thing-in-the-morning use And I mean really truly first-thing I mean smear the stuff on each cuticle while yoursquore still lying there before you start using your fingers at all If you wake up thinking yoursquore fine and skip cuticle care next thing you know yoursquore pushing down the lever on your Keurig and the pressure is more than your screamingly dry skin can take and boom split blood on the Keurig and itrsquos gonna be a long painful day If only you had balmed your hands before you let your feet hit the floor

Keep another tube in your glove compartment If itrsquos warm enough to take off your mittens in the car mdash if yoursquore even wearing mittens given that your hands are snagging on everything these days mdash the harsh January sunlight will allow you to see cracks and flakes in high-resolution detail Yoursquoll want the balm nearby

to cover what you didnrsquot notice first thing in the morning Also a car tube is useful for when you look in the rear-view mirror and notice that your nose and upper lip are flaking as well Itrsquos because yoursquore getting over a cold and the frequent use of tissue has worn away your top layer of skin but just because you know that doesnrsquot mean everybody else wonrsquot think ldquothere is something in that noserdquo Itrsquos just a fact Itrsquos what it looks like Lip balm to the rescue Itrsquos the only thing dry enough to slick those flakes in place and nourishing enough to maybe actually get your face back to normal

Keep a couple more tubes in a nighttime kit along with sandpaper Sandpaper Yes Not a pumice stone not a lame also-gifted sugar

scrub Medium-grit sandpaper is what you need every night lightly but with conviction As follows 1) Sand taking care not to do more damage than what the elements have already done Yoursquore just trying to remove the dry dead stuff Yoursquore just being hearty and efficient about this true to the culture of this great state in which yoursquove chosen to winter You are no pansy Sand your hands 2) Wash 3) Blot dry 4) Dial up the gifted balm whisper a word of thanks to the person who put so much thought into your well-being that they stuffed your holiday stocking with this amazing gift of self-care smash a healthy amount down into your palms massage Take heart You just might find yourself with normal-textured non-cracked not-horrible-looking hands by morning

Split-open cuticles I feel you Except for these Band-Aids I feel you

Lip balms I have been gifted and these are just from last Christmas ldquolastrdquo as in 2014

Bathrooms Worth Bragging About

HoursTue amp Wed amp Fri | 9 am to 6 pmMon amp Thu | 9 am to 7 pmSaturday | 9 am to 4 pm

219 S Victory Dr | Mankato507 | 345 | 7009ipafhickorytechnetindependentpaintandflooringcom

You Deserve Comfortable Care Every Timebull Sedation - Complete Relaxation with Just a Pillbull Invisalign - Clear Alternative to Bracesbull Botox amp Fillersbull Implants - Placement and Restorationbull Cerec - One Visit Crown Technology

bull Free Whitening Programbull 3D Imaging with Fewer X-Raysbull Cosmetic Dentistrybull Drill-Free Technologybull Emergency Care

1400 Lookout Drive North Mankato507-625-CARE(2273) bull mankatodentistcom 06

1865

6124

01

Dr AngelA Schuck

Dr keith FlAck

MM p02 0116indd 42 12182015 30841 PM

MANKATO MAGAZINE  bull January 2016 bull 43

Bathrooms Worth Bragging About

HoursTue amp Wed amp Fri | 9 am to 6 pmMon amp Thu | 9 am to 7 pmSaturday | 9 am to 4 pm

219 S Victory Dr | Mankato507 | 345 | 7009ipafhickorytechnetindependentpaintandflooringcom

You Deserve Comfortable Care Every Timebull Sedation - Complete Relaxation with Just a Pillbull Invisalign - Clear Alternative to Bracesbull Botox amp Fillersbull Implants - Placement and Restorationbull Cerec - One Visit Crown Technology

bull Free Whitening Programbull 3D Imaging with Fewer X-Raysbull Cosmetic Dentistrybull Drill-Free Technologybull Emergency Care

1400 Lookout Drive North Mankato507-625-CARE(2273) bull mankatodentistcom 06

1865

6124

01

Dr AngelA Schuck

Dr keith FlAck

(944) 412-7949 | OrthoEdgeMNcom

Enjoy the season

Mankato St Peter

Be active Be healthyBe able with OrthoEdge

The OrthoEdge joint replacement

program offers superb care from your first

visit through recovery The surgeons from

the Orthopaedic amp Fracture Clinic and

the care team at Riverrsquos Edge Hospital

provide personal and professional care to

get you back to able

Why Riverrsquos Edge Hospital amp Clinic

bull Riverrsquos Edge Hospital amp Clinic has a long-

standing relationship with the Orthopaedic

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bull Free WiFi for patients and guests

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MM p02 0116indd 43 12182015 30842 PM

44 bull January 2016 bull MANKATO MAGAZINE

1 Hicktown Mafia800 pm mdash New Ulm Event Center mdash 301 20th St S mdash New Ulm mdash $10 mdash 507-354-4673

7-9 Mankato West Orchesis Dance Team showcase7 pm Thursday-Saturday 2 pm Saturday mdash Mankato West High School Auditorium mdash $7 adults $5 students mdash 507-381-7578

10 Mankato Symphony Orchestra Music on the Hill II ldquoMinnesota rootsrdquo2 pm mdash Chapel at Good Counselmdash Good Counsel Drive mdash Mankato mdash $17 $12 mdash wwwmankatosymphonycom

16 Handel with Caremdash Handel Goes to Italy11 ammdash YMCA Aerobics Studio mdash 1401 S Riverfront Drive mdash Mankato mdash wwwmankatosymphonycom

16 Mankato Craft beer Expo2 pm (VIP) 3 pm general mdash Verizon Wireless Center mdash $45 VIP $35 general $10 designated driver mdash wwwmankatocraftbeerexpocom

23 Joey Flip and Mike Fugazzi rockinrsquo at the Embassy9 pm mdash Blaschkorsquos Embassy Bar and Grill mdash 325 S Minnesota Ave mdash St Peter mdash 507-934-3903

24 andrea Lyn and Dick Kimmel concert730 pm mdash Elias J Halling Recital Hall mdash Minnesota State University mdash Mankato mdash $12 regular $11 current MSU students mdash wwwmnusedumusic

28-31 MSu Theatre antigone730 pm Thursday-Saturday 2 pm Sunday mdash Andreas Theatre mdash Minnesota State University mdash Mankato mdash $16 regular $14 discount $11 current MSU students mdash wwwmnsuedu

29-31 BLC Theatre Brigadoon730 Friday and Saturday 2 pm Sunday mdash Ylvisaker Fine Arts Center mdash Bethany Lutheran College mdash Mankato mdash $10 adults $6 seniors children and students mdash wwwblceduevents

29- Feb 7 Winterfest St Peter Citywide mdash wwwstpeterchamberorg

30 Church of Cash a Tribute to Johnny Cash7 pm mdash St Peter American Legion mdash 229 W Nassau St mdash St Peter mdash 507-934-6435

31 Maud Hixson and rick Carlson concert730 pmmdash Elias J Halling Recital Hall mdash Minnesota State University mdash Mankato mdash $12 regular $11 current MSU students wwmnsuedumusic

Coming attraCtions January

T - F 8am - 6pm Sun ClosedSat 9am - 4pmM 8am - 8pm

120 North Broad Street Mankato MN 507-345-4688 wwwmeyerandsonstvandappliancecom

FIND SPECIAL DEALS ON

MM p02 0116indd 44 12182015 30902 PM

MANKATO MAGAZINE  bull January 2016 bull 45

St Peter Craft amp Vendor Show

1MelinadaBussefromRapidansoldherhandmadejewelryatthecraftandvendorshow

2DarylfromElysianandhishand-carvedwoodart

3MacKennaage7hasfunatoneoftheboothsattheStPeterCraftandVendorShow

4LizEntershowsoffsomeofherproductsattheldquoItWorksrdquobooth

5DenisePetersofldquoYoungLivingrdquoessentialoilsdisplayedherproductsattheshow

Faces amp Places Photos By Sport Pix

3

5

2

1

4

T - F 8am - 6pm Sun ClosedSat 9am - 4pmM 8am - 8pm

120 North Broad Street Mankato MN 507-345-4688 wwwmeyerandsonstvandappliancecom

FIND SPECIAL DEALS ON

MM p02 0116indd 45 12222015 121536 PM

46 bull January 2016 bull MANKATO MAGAZINE

SOUTHErN MN CHrISTMAS

FESTIVAL1 A large crowd was on hand during the festivities at

the Christmas Festival2 Friesenrsquos Family Bakery amp Bistro had tons of baked

goods and soups at the Verizon Wireless Center3 A childrenrsquos choir sang for the audience at the

festival4 Ron Haefner owner of Ronrsquos Auto Repair displayed

some of his services5 Garrison Galatz dressed up as Santa for the

Christmas Festival

faCes amp PLaCes Photos By Sport Pix

4

3

1

2

5

MM p02 0116indd 46 12182015 30923 PM

MANKATO MAGAZINE  bull January 2016 bull 47

1GirlScouttroop34494waspresentedwithatrophybyKiwanisVicePresidentKyleMrozek

2SantaClausevenwentthroughtheparaderoute3(LtoR)BrooklynPomrankeAlaynaLyonsHunterPomrankeandLilyLyonsgetagroupphototakenwithSanta

4MarshaMartigtellsSantawhatshewantsforChristmas

5TheparadefloatswerealldeckedoutinChristmaslights

6Visitorswalkthepatharoundtheparktoviewthisyearrsquoslights

Kiwanis Holiday ligHtsFaces amp Places Photos By sport Pix

2

1

3

4 5

6

MM p02 0116indd 47 12222015 121616 PM

48 bull January 2016 bull MANKATO MAGAZINE

On the Occasion of a 50th Reunion

the Class of 1965

from this VaLLeYBy Pete Steiner

Peter Steiner is host of ldquoTalk of the Townrdquo weekdays at 105 pm on KTOE

I was honored to give the presentation for our 50th class reunion recently at West Highrsquos Homecoming celebration About 120 of our nearly 400-member class

showed up We Baby Boomers the children of the greatest generation had big classes in the late lsquo60rsquos that forced the building of East High Ours was a dramatic era and our class did some great things in the face of big challenges Here edited is some of what I said

I am so glad to be standing here today Therersquos an old saying

ldquoMay you live in INTErESTINg timeshelliprdquo The Class of rsquo65 certainly has Itrsquos seems like only yesterday right after lunch that we were at our desks waiting for the start of English class when our charismatic teacher Harry Fitterer strode in and said ldquoPrESIDENT KENNEDY HAS BEEN SHOT IN DALLASrdquo At first we didnrsquot believe him but it was true It was November 22 1963 We were juniors and as the song says that was THE END OF THE INNOCENCE We had lived through the last idyllic time in America

When we first arrived in the fall of 1962 America was still carefree basking in the glow of victory in WW II Everything may have seemed ldquorightrdquo but it was not Martin Luther King Jr had just visited Mankato pointing out the continuing plight of black Americans as the Civil rights movement was gaining steam The beginnings of the Vietnam War which would alter the course of many of our lives were stirring even as we studied history and government The current generation has no monopoly on forgettable pop music ndash we had a stupid 1 song called ldquoItsie Bitsie Teenie Weenie Yellow Polka Dot Bikinirdquo (unfortunately an ear worm I canrsquot forget) But a darker cultural threat was looming The BEATLES were invading from Britain and our parents were mortified because they had LONg HAIr

Some of the shock of the Kennedy assassination was eased when our wrestling team in the era when the state still had just ONE CLASS won the State Championship in front of a packed hall up at MSU some still maintain that is the greatest single athletic achievement in Mankato history We were the first high school in Mankato to put on a full-scale musical ldquoBye Bye Birdierdquo in the spring of 1964 In Fall of 1964 our football team would have won the conference championship outright except Owatonnarsquos great Noel Jenke who would go on to star for the U of M

cheated I watched him trap the touchdown pass that beat us Does cheating pay Was that a lesson for life

In lsquo65 we also had a fine basketball team that lost our chance at State when our 6-6 center fouled out at Luverne

BUT A FAr BIggEr CHALLENgE AWAITED US ALL As we rode out to Luverne to watch that game we couldnrsquot help noticing the highway was like a canyon between walls of snow The legendary St Patrickrsquos Day Blizzard had dumped two feet on top of an already large snow pack and then April brought rains on frozen ground Instead of coming here to school many of us soon got a real-life assignment to go out in our rain gear out on the dikes to battle the grEAT FLOOD OF 1965 Our school became an island as water flooded the parking lot and all of South riverfront Our spring play that year was called ironically

THE DESPErATE HOUrS We had to rehearse at roosevelt School up on higher ground

Our class produced three Merit scholars One of our classmates who did NOT qualify

for a merit scholarship nevertheless was such a whiz at physics that NASA requested a copy of a paper he wrote on rocketry as a senior We produced 12 doctors one of whom earned a fellowship at Stanford seeking how to bring telemedicine to the poor another of whom became a breakthrough cancer doctor We had entrepreneurs one who would go on to be a leader in Solar Energy (and then run for governor of New Hampshire) Another mdash a woman incidentally when

that was not common founded two bio-tech startups Many of us are still working

past normal retirement age One founded a company on the leading edge of recycling

computers whose clients include the NSA Another is chief medical officer of a company

devising a better tool for colonoscopies Yet another of our classmates recently completed a concert tour of China

We lived in challenging times just as you do today but we muddle through we make it to the other shore I remember sitting where you are 50 years ago thinking how old those folks up there looked But remember Life goes by very quickly You certainly live in interesting times as Shakespeare said ldquoPresent Mirth has Present Laughter Youthrsquos a stuff will NOT endurerdquo So I urge you live each moment to the fullest

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Page 30: Mankatomag 116

28 bull January 2016 bull MANKATO MAGAZINE

Mayo Clinic offers pediatric and adolescent orthopedic services right here in Mankato Todd Milbrandt MD cares for patients with a variety of needs including

bull Cerebral palsy

bull Clubfoot

bull Hip disorders

bull Spinal disorders

bull Sports injuries

bull Scoliosis

bull Spina bifida

Mayo Clinic Health System in Mankato Call 1-877-412-7575 (toll-free) to schedule an appointment

495rdquox495rdquo Mankato Magazine January

Orthopedic care for your child

Independent ampAssisted Living

EQUAL HOUSINGOPPORTUNITY

1360 Adams StreetMankato MN

PrimroseRetirementcom

reg

Key City Senior Breakfast ClubThe Key City Senior Breakfast Club meets the first Thursday of each month from 830 AM - 930 AM at Primrose Retirement Community The club gives those 55+ the opportunity to meet new friends and visit old ones socialize with Key City Officials and enjoy a delicious home-cooked breakfast To visit a Key City Senior Breakfast please call (866) 447-9636

Mark your calendar for these breakfast dates Thursday January 7th Thursday March 3rd and Thursday May 5th

刀椀渀最 椀渀 琀栀攀 

一攀眀 夀攀愀爀

㔀 㜀ⴀ㤀㐀ⴀ㐀㐀䨀甀氀攀攀猀䨀攀眀攀氀爀礀挀漀洀

椀渀 匀愀椀渀琀 倀攀琀攀爀

20765 Foley Rd Mankato MN | 5073872434 | 5077262411

Three TimeNational Award Winners

MM p02 0116indd 28 12182015 30742 PM

Mayo Clinic offers pediatric and adolescent orthopedic services right here in Mankato Todd Milbrandt MD cares for patients with a variety of needs including

bull Cerebral palsy

bull Clubfoot

bull Hip disorders

bull Spinal disorders

bull Sports injuries

bull Scoliosis

bull Spina bifida

Mayo Clinic Health System in Mankato Call 1-877-412-7575 (toll-free) to schedule an appointment

495rdquox495rdquo Mankato Magazine January

Orthopedic care for your child

Independent ampAssisted Living

EQUAL HOUSINGOPPORTUNITY

1360 Adams StreetMankato MN

PrimroseRetirementcom

reg

Key City Senior Breakfast ClubThe Key City Senior Breakfast Club meets the first Thursday of each month from 830 AM - 930 AM at Primrose Retirement Community The club gives those 55+ the opportunity to meet new friends and visit old ones socialize with Key City Officials and enjoy a delicious home-cooked breakfast To visit a Key City Senior Breakfast please call (866) 447-9636

Mark your calendar for these breakfast dates Thursday January 7th Thursday March 3rd and Thursday May 5th

OMG hellip More food and drinksOK sure

By now yoursquore probably thinking ldquoOh my gosh the last thing I want to think about right now is more food more drinking and more diningrdquo

Fair enough We get it The holidays are murder on the metabolism of many many Minnesotans

But we also know that those metabolisms are hardy and soon enough theyrsquoll be hankering for a hunk of something yummy and full of fun And whatrsquos more yummy and full of fun than a big glass of Cabernet Sauvignon Our wine guy Leigh Pomeroy takes us on a tour of all that is tasty and wonderful about big red wines the kind that leave their mark the kind that really announce their presence on your palate

And just in case yoursquore super serious about a healthy lifestyle mdash and that seriousness extends to the kind of beer you choose mdash Bert Mattson our beer guy has just the selection for you Best part is Itrsquos light

Oh and under the category of ldquoDid you hear about thisrdquo Wersquove got an update for you on the Coffee Hag Mankatorsquos original coffee house and one of the most popular hangouts in town Seriously some days itrsquos hard to find a seat in that place

EnjoyPS We know that baby itrsquos cold outside mdash thatrsquos why wersquove

thrown you our absolute best hot cocoa recipe

Enjoymdash Robb Murray Associate Editor Mankato Magazine

food drink amp dineso

uthern m

n style

20765 Foley Rd Mankato MN | 5073872434 | 5077262411

Three TimeNational Award Winners

MM p02 0116indd 29 12182015 30745 PM

MANKATO 5073854485 AMBOY 5076743355 I VERNON CENTER 5075493679

INSURANCE OFFICES LOCATED IN THE COMMUNITY BANK BUILDINGS

wwwcimankatocom

Protecting the things that matter most in your life

Let us help protect what is important to you At Community Insurance we have the ability to compare insurance from multiple companies to get you the best coverage at a great price Combine that with our insurance knowledge and friendly group of agents and we say thatrsquos a winning deal

WHERE YOUR POLICY COMES WITH AN AGENT

Christina Meyer

Food

south

ern mn style

Food

south

ern mn style

By The Washington Post

Growing up my mother always encouraged her children to cook So when

I found a recipe for hot chocolate on the side of the Hersheyrsquos Cocoa can it was easy to convince her to let me give it a try

What I discovered was that hot chocolate doesnrsquot have to come from an envelope

This recipe has been a favorite of mine to make on days when winter weather has convinced me stay home and off the roads Itrsquos the perfect way to kill time and have a nice hot drink to warm you up on those chilly days

Although you can top it with whipped cream I prefer marshmallows

FAVORITE HOT COCOAMakes 4 to 6 servings

12 cup sugar14 cup unsweetened cocoa powder

Dash of salt13 cup hot water

4 cups milk34 teaspoon vanilla extract

Whipped cream or marshmallows (optional)

Mix sugar cocoa powder salt and water in a sauce pan Stir constantly over medium heat until mixture comes to a boil (about 2 minutes) Stir in

milk and heat Bring the hot chocolate to the desired temperature but do not boil Remove from heat and

add the vanilla extract Divide into mugs and top with whipped cream or marshmallows

PERFECTLY CHOCOLATE HOT COCOA

Makes 1 serving

2 tablespoons sugar2 tablespoons unsweetened cocoa powder

Dash salt1 cup milk

14 teaspoon vanilla extractWhipped cream or marshmallows (optional)

Mix sugar cocoa powder and salt into large mug In separate microwave-safe container heat on high

for 1 to 1 frac12 minutes or until very hot Carefully and gradually add milk to dry mixture Stir well Add vanilla extract Top with whipped cream or

marshmallows

Simple homemade hot chocolate

beats the winter chill

30 bull January 2016 bull MANKATO MAGAZINE

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MANKATO MAGAZINE  bull January 2016 bull 31

Oil Change to OverhaulWe do it all

507-387-13151620 Commerce Drive North MankatowwwAustinsAutoRepairCentercom

Voted Best Auto Repair and Best Auto Mechanic 4 Years in a Row

AUSTINrsquoS AUTO REPAIR CENTER INC

MANKATO 5073854485 AMBOY 5076743355 I VERNON CENTER 5075493679

INSURANCE OFFICES LOCATED IN THE COMMUNITY BANK BUILDINGS

wwwcimankatocom

Protecting the things that matter most in your life

Let us help protect what is important to you At Community Insurance we have the ability to compare insurance from multiple companies to get you the best coverage at a great price Combine that with our insurance knowledge and friendly group of agents and we say thatrsquos a winning deal

WHERE YOUR POLICY COMES WITH AN AGENT

Christina Meyer

MM p02 0116indd 31 12182015 30755 PM

32 bull January 2016 bull MANKATO MAGAZINE

January is Cabernet TimeWersquove celebrated nearly

every January edition of Mankato Magazine with

a paean to BIG REDS And since there are so many wonderful examples why stop now

Last year I wrote about the powerful big reds of Italy This January wersquoll focus on Cabernet Sauvignon known to many as ldquothe king of winesrdquo Most oenophiles (wine lovers) consider the quintessential representations of this grape to be the classified Bordeaux of southwest France near the city of Bordeaux The five First Growths (or best wines according to a classification made in 1855 and updated in 1973) are Ch Lafite Rothschild Ch Margaux Ch Latour Ch Haut Brion and Ch Mouton Rothschild All have a cabernet sauvignon base but they are blended with merlot and often a little bit of cabernet franc and petit verdot as well

In the early 1970s I was able to buy these wines for around $22 per bottle mdash about $120 in 2016 dollars Yet with the popularity of ldquocollectiblerdquo wines on a worldwide

basis they sell today for anywhere from $400 on up

Contrary to popular belief these wines are not that massive Rather they combine cabernet sauvignon power with

structure and finesse yielding wines that become with time elixirs that are greater than the sum of their parts

Both California and Washington state have taken up the Cabernet Sauvignon challenge and are producing world-class wines at sometimes world-class prices Napa Valley is the recognized leader in this arena and rightly so Napa Valleyrsquos top Cabernet

Wine amp B

eerso

uthern m

n style

winesBy Leigh Pomeroy

Leigh Pomeroy is a Mankato-based writer and wine lover

Cabernet Sauvignon is the black Labrador of wines mdash it comes up and licks yourdquo

mdash Winemaker Scott Rich

Sauvignons rival the great wines of Bordeaux for quality mdash Irsquove tasted them side-by-side mdashand yet can sell for a fraction of their price

One such example is the 2013 Tulocay Cabernet Sauvignon from my old friend Bill Cadman We were young bucks in Napa Valley and had a tasting group in the early 1970s along with now-famous wine luminaries Bruce Neyers (Neyers Vineyards) and Mike Richmond (co-founder of Acacia Vineyard)

Billrsquos Cabernet is from an old and relatively cool growing area east of the City of Napa called Coombsville which because of industry political issues only recently received its AVA (American Viticultural Area) designation It is priced at $60 per bottle yet compares with any top-flight Bordeaux as well as the more expensive offerings from Napa Valley which can cost from $100 on up Not currently available at wine stores or restaurants in Minnesota it can be purchased by contacting the winery directly via its website tulocaycom The winery is so small that Bill will probably answer the phone himself

There is a lot of Cabernet Sauvignon available from California but mdash caveat emptor mdash not all growing areas (or appellations) are the same The best Cabernet Sauvignons are from Napa and Sonoma Counties Cabernets simply labeled ldquoCaliforniardquo or perhaps ldquoCoastalrdquo while sometimes good values lack the complexity of the greater Cabernet Sauvignons from the more northern parts of the state

Washington state has also

established itself as a prime producer of Cabernet Sauvignon But here again quality can vary greatly depending upon the area and producer While there is no ldquogo-tordquo appellation for Cabernet Sauvignon in Washington there are producers that are able to secure fruit from the best vineyards

One such example is the tiny Willis Hall Winery owned by another good friend John Bell a former Boeing jet propulsion engineer Like Tulocay its wines are only available by calling up the winery and ordering some (See willishallcom) But there are many other top quality producers in Washington like Quilceda Creek Leonetti Betz Family and Woodward Canyon

Of course not everyone can afford Cabernet Sauvignons in the $60-plus category One excellent everyday drinking example is the Flying Cloud 2013 Paso Robles Cabernet Sauvignon made by Mankato native Stephen Dooley Normally I donrsquot like Paso Robles Cabs as they tend to be too fruity and too soft for my palate mdash almost like drinking berry jam But this one is quite restrained no doubt helped by the inclusion of 13 percent zinfandel and 9 percent petite sirah in the blend

In Mankato both the Wine Cafeacute and MGM carry the Flying Cloud but at its price and quality I wouldnrsquot count on it lasting for long especially since only 759 cases were produced

So letrsquos raise a glass of Cabernet and say ldquoCheersrdquo to the New Year

MM p02 0116indd 32 12182015 30756 PM

MANKATO MAGAZINE  bull January 2016 bull 33

Bert Mattson is a chef and writer based in St Paul He is the manager of the iconic Mickeyrsquos Diner

Beer Skinny

BeerBy Bert Mattson

Last year according to Nielsen research staying fit and healthy was

the number one New Yearrsquos resolution Losing weight was two Three was to enjoy life to the fullest Unfortunately ldquolose weight and get fitrdquo also topped Time magazinersquos list of commonly broken resolutions Is this shortfall due to tension between the top two and that third one If so craft beer may have a role in the compromise Bad news first

In the context of losing weight and staying fit beer lovers might seek solace in the fact that fat carries nine calories per gram while alcohol has only seven The wrinkle is that those seven are ldquoemptyrdquo mdash calories without nutrition as opposed to those from fat protein and carbohydrates Moreover alcoholrsquos calories are the first burned when combined with the others the human body postpones burning fat while it works on alcohol Furthermore beer (and wine and often cocktails) contains carbohydrates which release insulin and can hasten fat storage Finally many drinkers have undoubtedly observed that alcohol loosens inhibitions after which an eager indulgence in unhealthy foods often occurs (Bar menus are rarely helpful in that respect)

By now you may wonder whose side Irsquom actually on Or suspect Irsquove led you to this dark place only to offer you a Lite No worries a couple craft brewers have been considering ways to keep us true to our resolutions

Evil Twin Brewingrsquos Bikini Beer drops the alcohol to 27 percent but stays bold by way of hops A Pale Ale it hits the nose with citrus suggestive of IPA The flavor follows suit floral and lemon There is an expected absence of malt yielding to bitterness up front that fades at the finish An alternative

for those who insist on the full effect Founderrsquos Brewing Companyrsquos All Day IPA rings in at a respectable 144 calories (Evil Twinrsquos entry comes in at 81)

One strategy to beat the beer munchies and avoid costly impulse eating is to have suitable chow on hand With Bikini Beer try a salad sporting blue cheese and some sort of dried fruit Creamy blue veined cheeses echo the hops while balancing bitterness An occasional bite of dried fruit stands in for malt sweetness

Brooklyn Breweryrsquos 12 Ale weighs in at 34 percent alcohol (102 calories) It is alliteratively labeled ldquoSession Saisonrdquo It opens with a waft of citrus and spice and a little lemongrass from Sorachi Ace hops mdash a hybrid developed in East Asia The same elements are found in the flavor which is a bit more subdued than a full-sized Saison

Try it with a tangle of arugula dressed with lemon and a fruity olive oil tossed with pine nuts and topped with shaved Parmesan for effect The greens and cracked pepper reflect spicy phenolic elements in the yeast Salty cheese counters the beerrsquos lingering bitterness Maybe add a few slices of Speck cured ham and Saison share a certain funkiness

If friends show and it becomes a session you may honestly say you spent Saturday working on your six-pack

MM p02 0116indd 33 12182015 30757 PM

34 bull January 2016 bull MANKATO MAGAZINE

Food

south

ern mn style

Food

south

ern mn style

The Coffee Hag one of the arearsquos oldest (and coolest) bistros recently underwent a major expansion and remodeling journey culminating in a large and airy

seating area along with a much-improved kitchen and a new menu Mankato Magazine caught up with a very busy (and slightly exhausted) owner Jenn Melby-Kelly who weighs in on how itrsquos going

MANKATO MAGAZINE Are you personally enjoying the new updatesJENN MELBY-KELLY It Is Fabulous The new space represents so much more than a remodel to me It has brought to life a vision for my business thatrsquos been years in the making It incorporates many many good ideas from many many people I feel so fortunate to get to see that every time I walk through the door

MM How are customers reactingJMK Thatrsquos been one of the best parts The response has been overwhelmingly positive

A few of our most regular customers had the opportunity to get a glimpse of the remodel while it was underway (we gave some informal preview tours while we were operating the temporary stand outside) but many customers walk through the door now and see it all for the first time Itrsquos especially fun to see and hear that kind of wide-eyed reaction

A few people with special connections to The Hag have had even stronger emotional responses and Irsquom so touched and right there with them when I see eyes well up as they see what wersquove done Itrsquos a very big milestone for a very special place and wersquore blessed to have people that care so deeply

MM Do the employees appreciate the new spaceJMK Oh probably more than anyone There was a lot that we sought to do with the remodel but creating a bigger brighter better-equipped space for our team was certainly one of the primary goals Wersquove got an incredible team truly the most spirited and talented people anyone could hope for

Many of them have spent years with me working hard against the challenge of a small under-equipped space and just barely being able to keeping up with growing demand Itrsquos been a special blessing for them and for me to finally have state-of-the-art space thatrsquos made for the work that we do We all feel a special connection to this place and now more than ever the place reflects the good energy we all bring here every day

MM Is the new menu a hit (The Hag specializes in vegetarianvegan cuisine)JMK Yes but just wait Feedback and demand have been excellent with our food offerings already but wersquore just getting started on some of the really exciting things that are coming to our food menu

Remodeling the cafe was just the first major milestone of our two-part expansion plan Next up wersquore building a state of the art off-site commissary kitchen that will do for our incredible culinary team what the remodeled shop has done for our baristas Theyrsquove been working day and night on taking our already fantastic food offerings to a whole new level

Wersquove already introduced some amazing new menu items like the Garden Grilled Cheese panini (trust me itrsquos like nothing yoursquove had before) and some truly outstanding new vegan baked goods Wersquove also improved our classic offerings with house-made

Interview with Jenn Melby-Kelly owner of The Coffee Hag

By Sarah Johnson

MM p02 0116indd 34 12182015 30802 PM

MANKATO MAGAZINE  bull January 2016 bull 35

Happy New Year

Locally Owned amp Operated

Check Weekly Specialsmgmwineandspiritscommankato

Largest Selection ofbull Liquor bull Wine bull Beer bull

Hours Monday-Saturday 8 am - 10 pm

ATMs at all stores

Mankato201 Victory Dr

625-2420

North Mankato1755 Commerce Dr

387-2634

St Peter100 N Minnesota Ave

934-8964

sourdough and whole wheat breads But as impressive as it is already itrsquos just a taste mdash literally mdash of things to come as we bring our new kitchen online

MM Whatrsquos stayed the sameJMK Irsquom really proud to say that while wersquove touched almost every part of this 23-year-old business wersquove kept even more than we have changed From the first days of this project I made it my personal mission and responsibility to make sure that the ldquosoulrdquo of this special place was only enhanced and never lost as we made the updates

In every area of the remodel as wersquove added some necessary new layers of sophistication The Hagrsquos colorful quirky and even rebellious spirit is still very much a part of the space We did a lot to try to make sure it still looked and felt like ldquohomerdquo

And on a deeper level every step wersquove taken with the growth of our business has been chosen carefully to honor the core parts of The Coffee Hagrsquos identity Our focus on community our support for local art and music our commitment to creating a safe and welcoming space for everyone our efforts to lead the way on social and environmental issues affecting our world near and far mdash those have all stayed the same And those will always be at the heart of what we do

MM Anything elseJMK Irsquom so incredibly grateful for the support of our customers and community And whenever I talk about my business and how it has grown I really canrsquot overstate how thankful I am for my beautiful Coffee Hag family The hard work good energy and earnest contributions of so many people mdash past and present mdash have brought me and my business here An incredible amount of love has gone into this business and made this dream a reality

MM p02 0116indd 35 12222015 121240 PM

36 bull January 2016 bull MANKATO MAGAZINE

xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

Food

south

ern mn style

whatrsquos Cooking By Sarah Johnson

Sarah Johnson is a cook freelance writer and chocolate addict from North Mankato with three grown kids and a couple of mutts

As I was pondering my subject matter for todayrsquos column I started wondering about all the different items the word ldquonutsrdquo can refer

to Crazy people are called nuts so are hexagonal metal objects that attach to bolts Nuts can be the end of things (as in ldquofrom soup to nutsrdquo) or they can be the beginning of them (as in ldquosperm incubatorsrdquo) Nut can also mean onersquos head or onersquos lump of something such as butter And if you accidentally get a nut of butter on your nut you can exclaim ldquoNutsrdquo

My favorite meaning of the word nut however is the dry indehiscent one-seeded fruit with a woody pericarp And I donrsquot even know what indehiscent OR pericarp means But these are the wonderful denizens of the world of edible nuts

Nuts are widely credited with all sorts of health benefits for the heart brain male reproductive system prostate cholesterol level fiber intake and avoidance of some types of cancer And while nuts do contain fat itrsquos the ldquogoodrdquo kind heart-healthy monounsaturated and polyunsaturated fat Their mix of omega-3 fatty acids protein and fiber helps you feel full and suppresses the appetite

Nuts are great in desserts and salads of course but they also shine in stir-fries casseroles soups chicken pork fish and even beverages Nut butters nut milks and nut oils add delicious options to our kitchen larders Breads cereals muffins and pancakes gain texture flavor and nutrition from the addition of nuts Basically anytime is a good time for nuts

Which is a wonderful thing because nuts taste so good you would think they had to be very very bad The reason lies deep in their oils

Walnut Oil is strong and flavorful Itrsquos best when used in uncooked sauces or salad dressing

Hazelnut Oil has a strong flavor and is great for the heart

Almond Oil is very popular and has a much milder flavor than walnut oil or hazelnut oil

Pecan Macadamia Nut Pistachio Cashew and Pine Nut Oils are flavorful and unique The freshness of the nuts used really affects the flavor

ldquoTherersquos Nuttinrsquo Nutty About Nutsrdquo

For the Baklava1 pound pistachios hazelnuts walnuts pecans andor almonds coarsely ground plus more for garnish12 teaspoon ground cinnamon1 cup breadcrumbs4 sticks unsalted butter melted16 sheets phyllo dough (thawed if frozen) cut in half

For the Syrup3 cups sugar1 6 -to-8-ounce jar honey1 frac12 cups water1 to 2 tablespoons fresh lemon juice

If yoursquore under the impression that baklava is much too labor-intensive and complicated to make at home think again Anybody can make

it no special skills equipment or exotic ingredients are required A word about phyllo dough Itrsquos sold in frozen packages so you need to remove the package from the freezer and let it thaw in the fridge 24 hours before you want to make the baklava Then about an hour beforehand remove the package from the fridge and let it sit on the counter

Walnuts or pistachios are the most traditional nuts to fill baklava but using other nuts works wonders as well Simply layer the phyllo with the nut filling and butter bake for an hour and finish with a simple honeyed syrup If you have leftover nuts from the holidays herersquos your chance to use them up

Mixed Nut Baklava

MM p02 0116indd 36 12182015 30812 PM

MANKATO MAGAZINE  bull January 2016 bull 37

MONEY MATTERS WORK SMARTLET COMMUNITY BANK HELP YOUBRING THE TWO TOGETHER

MANKATO - SAINT ANDREWS DR 5073854444MANKATO - MADISON AVE 5076251551VERNON CENTER 5075493679AMBOY 5076743300

JULIE VETTERSR VICE PRESIDENTRETAIL BANKING

We support great causes like yoursAt Community Bank we know good things happen when you have a good bank So we make more possible by keeping banking simple and supportive And by giving you the power that comes with innovative solutions like our Health Savings Account It offers you tax-free savings for future medical expenses Stop by anytime Wersquore always ready to help out a great cause

Position a rack in the lower third of the oven preheat to 350 degrees Combine the nuts cinnamon and breadcrumbs in a bowl

Brush a 9x13-inch baking dish with some of the butter Layer 10 pieces of phyllo in the dish brushing each piece with butter before adding the next (keep the remaining dough covered with a damp towel) Sprinkle a quarter of the nut mixture over the dough Layer four pieces of phyllo on top brushing each with butter before adding the next sprinkle with another quarter of the nut mixture Add four more phyllo pieces on top brushing each with butter then add another quarter of the nut mixture four more pieces of phyllo with butter and the remaining nuts

Layer the remaining 10 pieces of phyllo on top of the nuts brushing each with butter brush the top piece with extra butter Cut into the baklava to make strips about 1 12 inches wide Then make diagonal slices about 1 12 inches apart to create a diamond pattern Bake until golden about one hour

Meanwhile make the syrup Bring the sugar honey and 1 12 cups water to a boil in a saucepan over medium heat and cook 10 to 15 minutes Add the lemon juice and boil 2 more minutes then let cool slightly Pour the syrup over the warm baklava let soak uncovered at least six hours or overnight Garnish with nuts

MM p02 0116indd 37 12182015 30817 PM

38 bull bull MANKATO MAGAZINE

Nell Musolf is a mom and freelance writer from Mankato She blogs at nellmusolfcom

38 bull bull MANKATO MAGAZINE

MM p02 0116indd 38 12182015 30822 PM

MANKATO MAGAZINE  bull January 2016 bull 39

Gear Up for WinterYear-Round amp Insulated Workwear from

Carhartt Dickies and Key

UNIFORMSUniforms fromBarco Carhartt Cherokee DickiesKoi Peaches and White Cross

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Call 5073446336mankatomagmankatofreepresscom

Stephanie L Hylla LAc Dipl AcKayla M Sweeney MOm LAc

NEW LOCATION709 S Front Suite 5

5074694788mankatoacupuncturecom

Open House ndash Wednesday Feb 3 9-12noonCelebrating 5 years of Business New Location and the Chinese New Year

In Network with Blue Cross Blue ShieldLicensed by the MN Board of Medical Practice

Ribbon Cutting with Greater Mankato Growth at 10am

(A $250 Value)THIS VOUCHER ENTITLES NEW PATIENTS TO A

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wwwr igne l l fami lych i roprac t ic comMedicare Restrictions Apply Expires January 31 2016

Dr BrandonRignell DC

1351 Madison AveSuite D

Mankato MN 56001

5077797313

$2900New Patient Special

MM p02 0116indd 39 12222015 121344 PM

40 bull bull MANKATO MAGAZINE

Jean Lundquist is a master gardener who lives near Good Thunder

MM p02 0116indd 40 12182015 30834 PM

MANKATO MAGAZINE  bull January 2016 bull 41

3 Increase the Value of Your Home

3 Update Your Homersquos Appearance

3 Save Money

Choose from SeveralModels Styles amp Colors

507-625-7110 or 1-800-645-36671125 Cross St North Mankato MN

Improve Your HomersquosEnergy Efficiency

422 Park Lane Mankato MN | NuStarMankatocom

(507) 381-4747Voted One of Mankatorsquos Best

DANIEL WINGERT

Make Selling Your Home Your NuYearrsquos Resolution

MM p02 0116indd 41 12182015 30839 PM

42 bull January 2016 bull MANKATO MAGAZINE

January Resolve to moisturize

Your stYLeBy Ann Rosenquist Fee

Ann Rosenquist Fee is executive director of the Arts Center of Saint Peter and a vocalist with The Frye She blogs at annrosenquistfeecom

If you have in-laws or colleagues who know you well enough to have given you holiday gifts

but not well enough to know what wouldrsquove truly made you happy congratulations Chances are yoursquore the proud owner of a bunch of brand-new lip balm

Maybe itrsquos even holiday themed Thatrsquos the best Maybe you got the candy-cane flavored kind or wintergreen with holiday graphics on the label or something like that A theme that was irrelevant the moment the stocking was unstuffed because at that exact second the holiday was over

And here you are in January with an abundance of wax

Fortunately also here you are in the early weeks of winter with rough red knuckles Probably also cracked cuticles although it might not have gone that far yet for you Irsquom sure it has for me This photo was taken back in November and even then the Band-Aids were for real Irsquove learned to cut them in half length-wise so as to retain my ability to type Irsquove also learned to play with a range of color options Flesh-toned Clear Disney characters The colorful strips shown here were gifted to me by my husband Partly why theyrsquore cut in half is that the text is obscene This is one small trick you can use to make bloody cuticles your most exciting accessory of the winter

Sources like UrbanSurvivalSitecom and WonderHowTocom will tell you that you can use lip balm for a whole variety of purposes such as coating threads of outdoor lightbulbs before screwing them into their sockets and enhancing the burn-ability of most kindling

These are great fun but they wonrsquot improve your personal style

More germane to winter beauty are the following suggestions

Keep a tube next to your bed for first-thing-in-the-morning use And I mean really truly first-thing I mean smear the stuff on each cuticle while yoursquore still lying there before you start using your fingers at all If you wake up thinking yoursquore fine and skip cuticle care next thing you know yoursquore pushing down the lever on your Keurig and the pressure is more than your screamingly dry skin can take and boom split blood on the Keurig and itrsquos gonna be a long painful day If only you had balmed your hands before you let your feet hit the floor

Keep another tube in your glove compartment If itrsquos warm enough to take off your mittens in the car mdash if yoursquore even wearing mittens given that your hands are snagging on everything these days mdash the harsh January sunlight will allow you to see cracks and flakes in high-resolution detail Yoursquoll want the balm nearby

to cover what you didnrsquot notice first thing in the morning Also a car tube is useful for when you look in the rear-view mirror and notice that your nose and upper lip are flaking as well Itrsquos because yoursquore getting over a cold and the frequent use of tissue has worn away your top layer of skin but just because you know that doesnrsquot mean everybody else wonrsquot think ldquothere is something in that noserdquo Itrsquos just a fact Itrsquos what it looks like Lip balm to the rescue Itrsquos the only thing dry enough to slick those flakes in place and nourishing enough to maybe actually get your face back to normal

Keep a couple more tubes in a nighttime kit along with sandpaper Sandpaper Yes Not a pumice stone not a lame also-gifted sugar

scrub Medium-grit sandpaper is what you need every night lightly but with conviction As follows 1) Sand taking care not to do more damage than what the elements have already done Yoursquore just trying to remove the dry dead stuff Yoursquore just being hearty and efficient about this true to the culture of this great state in which yoursquove chosen to winter You are no pansy Sand your hands 2) Wash 3) Blot dry 4) Dial up the gifted balm whisper a word of thanks to the person who put so much thought into your well-being that they stuffed your holiday stocking with this amazing gift of self-care smash a healthy amount down into your palms massage Take heart You just might find yourself with normal-textured non-cracked not-horrible-looking hands by morning

Split-open cuticles I feel you Except for these Band-Aids I feel you

Lip balms I have been gifted and these are just from last Christmas ldquolastrdquo as in 2014

Bathrooms Worth Bragging About

HoursTue amp Wed amp Fri | 9 am to 6 pmMon amp Thu | 9 am to 7 pmSaturday | 9 am to 4 pm

219 S Victory Dr | Mankato507 | 345 | 7009ipafhickorytechnetindependentpaintandflooringcom

You Deserve Comfortable Care Every Timebull Sedation - Complete Relaxation with Just a Pillbull Invisalign - Clear Alternative to Bracesbull Botox amp Fillersbull Implants - Placement and Restorationbull Cerec - One Visit Crown Technology

bull Free Whitening Programbull 3D Imaging with Fewer X-Raysbull Cosmetic Dentistrybull Drill-Free Technologybull Emergency Care

1400 Lookout Drive North Mankato507-625-CARE(2273) bull mankatodentistcom 06

1865

6124

01

Dr AngelA Schuck

Dr keith FlAck

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MANKATO MAGAZINE  bull January 2016 bull 43

Bathrooms Worth Bragging About

HoursTue amp Wed amp Fri | 9 am to 6 pmMon amp Thu | 9 am to 7 pmSaturday | 9 am to 4 pm

219 S Victory Dr | Mankato507 | 345 | 7009ipafhickorytechnetindependentpaintandflooringcom

You Deserve Comfortable Care Every Timebull Sedation - Complete Relaxation with Just a Pillbull Invisalign - Clear Alternative to Bracesbull Botox amp Fillersbull Implants - Placement and Restorationbull Cerec - One Visit Crown Technology

bull Free Whitening Programbull 3D Imaging with Fewer X-Raysbull Cosmetic Dentistrybull Drill-Free Technologybull Emergency Care

1400 Lookout Drive North Mankato507-625-CARE(2273) bull mankatodentistcom 06

1865

6124

01

Dr AngelA Schuck

Dr keith FlAck

(944) 412-7949 | OrthoEdgeMNcom

Enjoy the season

Mankato St Peter

Be active Be healthyBe able with OrthoEdge

The OrthoEdge joint replacement

program offers superb care from your first

visit through recovery The surgeons from

the Orthopaedic amp Fracture Clinic and

the care team at Riverrsquos Edge Hospital

provide personal and professional care to

get you back to able

Why Riverrsquos Edge Hospital amp Clinic

bull Riverrsquos Edge Hospital amp Clinic has a long-

standing relationship with the Orthopaedic

amp Fracture Clinic

bull There are 14 private suites that feature a

private bathroom and shower

bull Restaurant-style menu

bull Low patient to nurse ratio

bull Hospitalist on staff to provide patient

centered care 24 hours a day

bull Free WiFi for patients and guests

bull Individualized care

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MM p02 0116indd 43 12182015 30842 PM

44 bull January 2016 bull MANKATO MAGAZINE

1 Hicktown Mafia800 pm mdash New Ulm Event Center mdash 301 20th St S mdash New Ulm mdash $10 mdash 507-354-4673

7-9 Mankato West Orchesis Dance Team showcase7 pm Thursday-Saturday 2 pm Saturday mdash Mankato West High School Auditorium mdash $7 adults $5 students mdash 507-381-7578

10 Mankato Symphony Orchestra Music on the Hill II ldquoMinnesota rootsrdquo2 pm mdash Chapel at Good Counselmdash Good Counsel Drive mdash Mankato mdash $17 $12 mdash wwwmankatosymphonycom

16 Handel with Caremdash Handel Goes to Italy11 ammdash YMCA Aerobics Studio mdash 1401 S Riverfront Drive mdash Mankato mdash wwwmankatosymphonycom

16 Mankato Craft beer Expo2 pm (VIP) 3 pm general mdash Verizon Wireless Center mdash $45 VIP $35 general $10 designated driver mdash wwwmankatocraftbeerexpocom

23 Joey Flip and Mike Fugazzi rockinrsquo at the Embassy9 pm mdash Blaschkorsquos Embassy Bar and Grill mdash 325 S Minnesota Ave mdash St Peter mdash 507-934-3903

24 andrea Lyn and Dick Kimmel concert730 pm mdash Elias J Halling Recital Hall mdash Minnesota State University mdash Mankato mdash $12 regular $11 current MSU students mdash wwwmnusedumusic

28-31 MSu Theatre antigone730 pm Thursday-Saturday 2 pm Sunday mdash Andreas Theatre mdash Minnesota State University mdash Mankato mdash $16 regular $14 discount $11 current MSU students mdash wwwmnsuedu

29-31 BLC Theatre Brigadoon730 Friday and Saturday 2 pm Sunday mdash Ylvisaker Fine Arts Center mdash Bethany Lutheran College mdash Mankato mdash $10 adults $6 seniors children and students mdash wwwblceduevents

29- Feb 7 Winterfest St Peter Citywide mdash wwwstpeterchamberorg

30 Church of Cash a Tribute to Johnny Cash7 pm mdash St Peter American Legion mdash 229 W Nassau St mdash St Peter mdash 507-934-6435

31 Maud Hixson and rick Carlson concert730 pmmdash Elias J Halling Recital Hall mdash Minnesota State University mdash Mankato mdash $12 regular $11 current MSU students wwmnsuedumusic

Coming attraCtions January

T - F 8am - 6pm Sun ClosedSat 9am - 4pmM 8am - 8pm

120 North Broad Street Mankato MN 507-345-4688 wwwmeyerandsonstvandappliancecom

FIND SPECIAL DEALS ON

MM p02 0116indd 44 12182015 30902 PM

MANKATO MAGAZINE  bull January 2016 bull 45

St Peter Craft amp Vendor Show

1MelinadaBussefromRapidansoldherhandmadejewelryatthecraftandvendorshow

2DarylfromElysianandhishand-carvedwoodart

3MacKennaage7hasfunatoneoftheboothsattheStPeterCraftandVendorShow

4LizEntershowsoffsomeofherproductsattheldquoItWorksrdquobooth

5DenisePetersofldquoYoungLivingrdquoessentialoilsdisplayedherproductsattheshow

Faces amp Places Photos By Sport Pix

3

5

2

1

4

T - F 8am - 6pm Sun ClosedSat 9am - 4pmM 8am - 8pm

120 North Broad Street Mankato MN 507-345-4688 wwwmeyerandsonstvandappliancecom

FIND SPECIAL DEALS ON

MM p02 0116indd 45 12222015 121536 PM

46 bull January 2016 bull MANKATO MAGAZINE

SOUTHErN MN CHrISTMAS

FESTIVAL1 A large crowd was on hand during the festivities at

the Christmas Festival2 Friesenrsquos Family Bakery amp Bistro had tons of baked

goods and soups at the Verizon Wireless Center3 A childrenrsquos choir sang for the audience at the

festival4 Ron Haefner owner of Ronrsquos Auto Repair displayed

some of his services5 Garrison Galatz dressed up as Santa for the

Christmas Festival

faCes amp PLaCes Photos By Sport Pix

4

3

1

2

5

MM p02 0116indd 46 12182015 30923 PM

MANKATO MAGAZINE  bull January 2016 bull 47

1GirlScouttroop34494waspresentedwithatrophybyKiwanisVicePresidentKyleMrozek

2SantaClausevenwentthroughtheparaderoute3(LtoR)BrooklynPomrankeAlaynaLyonsHunterPomrankeandLilyLyonsgetagroupphototakenwithSanta

4MarshaMartigtellsSantawhatshewantsforChristmas

5TheparadefloatswerealldeckedoutinChristmaslights

6Visitorswalkthepatharoundtheparktoviewthisyearrsquoslights

Kiwanis Holiday ligHtsFaces amp Places Photos By sport Pix

2

1

3

4 5

6

MM p02 0116indd 47 12222015 121616 PM

48 bull January 2016 bull MANKATO MAGAZINE

On the Occasion of a 50th Reunion

the Class of 1965

from this VaLLeYBy Pete Steiner

Peter Steiner is host of ldquoTalk of the Townrdquo weekdays at 105 pm on KTOE

I was honored to give the presentation for our 50th class reunion recently at West Highrsquos Homecoming celebration About 120 of our nearly 400-member class

showed up We Baby Boomers the children of the greatest generation had big classes in the late lsquo60rsquos that forced the building of East High Ours was a dramatic era and our class did some great things in the face of big challenges Here edited is some of what I said

I am so glad to be standing here today Therersquos an old saying

ldquoMay you live in INTErESTINg timeshelliprdquo The Class of rsquo65 certainly has Itrsquos seems like only yesterday right after lunch that we were at our desks waiting for the start of English class when our charismatic teacher Harry Fitterer strode in and said ldquoPrESIDENT KENNEDY HAS BEEN SHOT IN DALLASrdquo At first we didnrsquot believe him but it was true It was November 22 1963 We were juniors and as the song says that was THE END OF THE INNOCENCE We had lived through the last idyllic time in America

When we first arrived in the fall of 1962 America was still carefree basking in the glow of victory in WW II Everything may have seemed ldquorightrdquo but it was not Martin Luther King Jr had just visited Mankato pointing out the continuing plight of black Americans as the Civil rights movement was gaining steam The beginnings of the Vietnam War which would alter the course of many of our lives were stirring even as we studied history and government The current generation has no monopoly on forgettable pop music ndash we had a stupid 1 song called ldquoItsie Bitsie Teenie Weenie Yellow Polka Dot Bikinirdquo (unfortunately an ear worm I canrsquot forget) But a darker cultural threat was looming The BEATLES were invading from Britain and our parents were mortified because they had LONg HAIr

Some of the shock of the Kennedy assassination was eased when our wrestling team in the era when the state still had just ONE CLASS won the State Championship in front of a packed hall up at MSU some still maintain that is the greatest single athletic achievement in Mankato history We were the first high school in Mankato to put on a full-scale musical ldquoBye Bye Birdierdquo in the spring of 1964 In Fall of 1964 our football team would have won the conference championship outright except Owatonnarsquos great Noel Jenke who would go on to star for the U of M

cheated I watched him trap the touchdown pass that beat us Does cheating pay Was that a lesson for life

In lsquo65 we also had a fine basketball team that lost our chance at State when our 6-6 center fouled out at Luverne

BUT A FAr BIggEr CHALLENgE AWAITED US ALL As we rode out to Luverne to watch that game we couldnrsquot help noticing the highway was like a canyon between walls of snow The legendary St Patrickrsquos Day Blizzard had dumped two feet on top of an already large snow pack and then April brought rains on frozen ground Instead of coming here to school many of us soon got a real-life assignment to go out in our rain gear out on the dikes to battle the grEAT FLOOD OF 1965 Our school became an island as water flooded the parking lot and all of South riverfront Our spring play that year was called ironically

THE DESPErATE HOUrS We had to rehearse at roosevelt School up on higher ground

Our class produced three Merit scholars One of our classmates who did NOT qualify

for a merit scholarship nevertheless was such a whiz at physics that NASA requested a copy of a paper he wrote on rocketry as a senior We produced 12 doctors one of whom earned a fellowship at Stanford seeking how to bring telemedicine to the poor another of whom became a breakthrough cancer doctor We had entrepreneurs one who would go on to be a leader in Solar Energy (and then run for governor of New Hampshire) Another mdash a woman incidentally when

that was not common founded two bio-tech startups Many of us are still working

past normal retirement age One founded a company on the leading edge of recycling

computers whose clients include the NSA Another is chief medical officer of a company

devising a better tool for colonoscopies Yet another of our classmates recently completed a concert tour of China

We lived in challenging times just as you do today but we muddle through we make it to the other shore I remember sitting where you are 50 years ago thinking how old those folks up there looked But remember Life goes by very quickly You certainly live in interesting times as Shakespeare said ldquoPresent Mirth has Present Laughter Youthrsquos a stuff will NOT endurerdquo So I urge you live each moment to the fullest

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MM p02 0116indd 49 12182015 30936 PM

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Page 31: Mankatomag 116

Mayo Clinic offers pediatric and adolescent orthopedic services right here in Mankato Todd Milbrandt MD cares for patients with a variety of needs including

bull Cerebral palsy

bull Clubfoot

bull Hip disorders

bull Spinal disorders

bull Sports injuries

bull Scoliosis

bull Spina bifida

Mayo Clinic Health System in Mankato Call 1-877-412-7575 (toll-free) to schedule an appointment

495rdquox495rdquo Mankato Magazine January

Orthopedic care for your child

Independent ampAssisted Living

EQUAL HOUSINGOPPORTUNITY

1360 Adams StreetMankato MN

PrimroseRetirementcom

reg

Key City Senior Breakfast ClubThe Key City Senior Breakfast Club meets the first Thursday of each month from 830 AM - 930 AM at Primrose Retirement Community The club gives those 55+ the opportunity to meet new friends and visit old ones socialize with Key City Officials and enjoy a delicious home-cooked breakfast To visit a Key City Senior Breakfast please call (866) 447-9636

Mark your calendar for these breakfast dates Thursday January 7th Thursday March 3rd and Thursday May 5th

OMG hellip More food and drinksOK sure

By now yoursquore probably thinking ldquoOh my gosh the last thing I want to think about right now is more food more drinking and more diningrdquo

Fair enough We get it The holidays are murder on the metabolism of many many Minnesotans

But we also know that those metabolisms are hardy and soon enough theyrsquoll be hankering for a hunk of something yummy and full of fun And whatrsquos more yummy and full of fun than a big glass of Cabernet Sauvignon Our wine guy Leigh Pomeroy takes us on a tour of all that is tasty and wonderful about big red wines the kind that leave their mark the kind that really announce their presence on your palate

And just in case yoursquore super serious about a healthy lifestyle mdash and that seriousness extends to the kind of beer you choose mdash Bert Mattson our beer guy has just the selection for you Best part is Itrsquos light

Oh and under the category of ldquoDid you hear about thisrdquo Wersquove got an update for you on the Coffee Hag Mankatorsquos original coffee house and one of the most popular hangouts in town Seriously some days itrsquos hard to find a seat in that place

EnjoyPS We know that baby itrsquos cold outside mdash thatrsquos why wersquove

thrown you our absolute best hot cocoa recipe

Enjoymdash Robb Murray Associate Editor Mankato Magazine

food drink amp dineso

uthern m

n style

20765 Foley Rd Mankato MN | 5073872434 | 5077262411

Three TimeNational Award Winners

MM p02 0116indd 29 12182015 30745 PM

MANKATO 5073854485 AMBOY 5076743355 I VERNON CENTER 5075493679

INSURANCE OFFICES LOCATED IN THE COMMUNITY BANK BUILDINGS

wwwcimankatocom

Protecting the things that matter most in your life

Let us help protect what is important to you At Community Insurance we have the ability to compare insurance from multiple companies to get you the best coverage at a great price Combine that with our insurance knowledge and friendly group of agents and we say thatrsquos a winning deal

WHERE YOUR POLICY COMES WITH AN AGENT

Christina Meyer

Food

south

ern mn style

Food

south

ern mn style

By The Washington Post

Growing up my mother always encouraged her children to cook So when

I found a recipe for hot chocolate on the side of the Hersheyrsquos Cocoa can it was easy to convince her to let me give it a try

What I discovered was that hot chocolate doesnrsquot have to come from an envelope

This recipe has been a favorite of mine to make on days when winter weather has convinced me stay home and off the roads Itrsquos the perfect way to kill time and have a nice hot drink to warm you up on those chilly days

Although you can top it with whipped cream I prefer marshmallows

FAVORITE HOT COCOAMakes 4 to 6 servings

12 cup sugar14 cup unsweetened cocoa powder

Dash of salt13 cup hot water

4 cups milk34 teaspoon vanilla extract

Whipped cream or marshmallows (optional)

Mix sugar cocoa powder salt and water in a sauce pan Stir constantly over medium heat until mixture comes to a boil (about 2 minutes) Stir in

milk and heat Bring the hot chocolate to the desired temperature but do not boil Remove from heat and

add the vanilla extract Divide into mugs and top with whipped cream or marshmallows

PERFECTLY CHOCOLATE HOT COCOA

Makes 1 serving

2 tablespoons sugar2 tablespoons unsweetened cocoa powder

Dash salt1 cup milk

14 teaspoon vanilla extractWhipped cream or marshmallows (optional)

Mix sugar cocoa powder and salt into large mug In separate microwave-safe container heat on high

for 1 to 1 frac12 minutes or until very hot Carefully and gradually add milk to dry mixture Stir well Add vanilla extract Top with whipped cream or

marshmallows

Simple homemade hot chocolate

beats the winter chill

30 bull January 2016 bull MANKATO MAGAZINE

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MANKATO MAGAZINE  bull January 2016 bull 31

Oil Change to OverhaulWe do it all

507-387-13151620 Commerce Drive North MankatowwwAustinsAutoRepairCentercom

Voted Best Auto Repair and Best Auto Mechanic 4 Years in a Row

AUSTINrsquoS AUTO REPAIR CENTER INC

MANKATO 5073854485 AMBOY 5076743355 I VERNON CENTER 5075493679

INSURANCE OFFICES LOCATED IN THE COMMUNITY BANK BUILDINGS

wwwcimankatocom

Protecting the things that matter most in your life

Let us help protect what is important to you At Community Insurance we have the ability to compare insurance from multiple companies to get you the best coverage at a great price Combine that with our insurance knowledge and friendly group of agents and we say thatrsquos a winning deal

WHERE YOUR POLICY COMES WITH AN AGENT

Christina Meyer

MM p02 0116indd 31 12182015 30755 PM

32 bull January 2016 bull MANKATO MAGAZINE

January is Cabernet TimeWersquove celebrated nearly

every January edition of Mankato Magazine with

a paean to BIG REDS And since there are so many wonderful examples why stop now

Last year I wrote about the powerful big reds of Italy This January wersquoll focus on Cabernet Sauvignon known to many as ldquothe king of winesrdquo Most oenophiles (wine lovers) consider the quintessential representations of this grape to be the classified Bordeaux of southwest France near the city of Bordeaux The five First Growths (or best wines according to a classification made in 1855 and updated in 1973) are Ch Lafite Rothschild Ch Margaux Ch Latour Ch Haut Brion and Ch Mouton Rothschild All have a cabernet sauvignon base but they are blended with merlot and often a little bit of cabernet franc and petit verdot as well

In the early 1970s I was able to buy these wines for around $22 per bottle mdash about $120 in 2016 dollars Yet with the popularity of ldquocollectiblerdquo wines on a worldwide

basis they sell today for anywhere from $400 on up

Contrary to popular belief these wines are not that massive Rather they combine cabernet sauvignon power with

structure and finesse yielding wines that become with time elixirs that are greater than the sum of their parts

Both California and Washington state have taken up the Cabernet Sauvignon challenge and are producing world-class wines at sometimes world-class prices Napa Valley is the recognized leader in this arena and rightly so Napa Valleyrsquos top Cabernet

Wine amp B

eerso

uthern m

n style

winesBy Leigh Pomeroy

Leigh Pomeroy is a Mankato-based writer and wine lover

Cabernet Sauvignon is the black Labrador of wines mdash it comes up and licks yourdquo

mdash Winemaker Scott Rich

Sauvignons rival the great wines of Bordeaux for quality mdash Irsquove tasted them side-by-side mdashand yet can sell for a fraction of their price

One such example is the 2013 Tulocay Cabernet Sauvignon from my old friend Bill Cadman We were young bucks in Napa Valley and had a tasting group in the early 1970s along with now-famous wine luminaries Bruce Neyers (Neyers Vineyards) and Mike Richmond (co-founder of Acacia Vineyard)

Billrsquos Cabernet is from an old and relatively cool growing area east of the City of Napa called Coombsville which because of industry political issues only recently received its AVA (American Viticultural Area) designation It is priced at $60 per bottle yet compares with any top-flight Bordeaux as well as the more expensive offerings from Napa Valley which can cost from $100 on up Not currently available at wine stores or restaurants in Minnesota it can be purchased by contacting the winery directly via its website tulocaycom The winery is so small that Bill will probably answer the phone himself

There is a lot of Cabernet Sauvignon available from California but mdash caveat emptor mdash not all growing areas (or appellations) are the same The best Cabernet Sauvignons are from Napa and Sonoma Counties Cabernets simply labeled ldquoCaliforniardquo or perhaps ldquoCoastalrdquo while sometimes good values lack the complexity of the greater Cabernet Sauvignons from the more northern parts of the state

Washington state has also

established itself as a prime producer of Cabernet Sauvignon But here again quality can vary greatly depending upon the area and producer While there is no ldquogo-tordquo appellation for Cabernet Sauvignon in Washington there are producers that are able to secure fruit from the best vineyards

One such example is the tiny Willis Hall Winery owned by another good friend John Bell a former Boeing jet propulsion engineer Like Tulocay its wines are only available by calling up the winery and ordering some (See willishallcom) But there are many other top quality producers in Washington like Quilceda Creek Leonetti Betz Family and Woodward Canyon

Of course not everyone can afford Cabernet Sauvignons in the $60-plus category One excellent everyday drinking example is the Flying Cloud 2013 Paso Robles Cabernet Sauvignon made by Mankato native Stephen Dooley Normally I donrsquot like Paso Robles Cabs as they tend to be too fruity and too soft for my palate mdash almost like drinking berry jam But this one is quite restrained no doubt helped by the inclusion of 13 percent zinfandel and 9 percent petite sirah in the blend

In Mankato both the Wine Cafeacute and MGM carry the Flying Cloud but at its price and quality I wouldnrsquot count on it lasting for long especially since only 759 cases were produced

So letrsquos raise a glass of Cabernet and say ldquoCheersrdquo to the New Year

MM p02 0116indd 32 12182015 30756 PM

MANKATO MAGAZINE  bull January 2016 bull 33

Bert Mattson is a chef and writer based in St Paul He is the manager of the iconic Mickeyrsquos Diner

Beer Skinny

BeerBy Bert Mattson

Last year according to Nielsen research staying fit and healthy was

the number one New Yearrsquos resolution Losing weight was two Three was to enjoy life to the fullest Unfortunately ldquolose weight and get fitrdquo also topped Time magazinersquos list of commonly broken resolutions Is this shortfall due to tension between the top two and that third one If so craft beer may have a role in the compromise Bad news first

In the context of losing weight and staying fit beer lovers might seek solace in the fact that fat carries nine calories per gram while alcohol has only seven The wrinkle is that those seven are ldquoemptyrdquo mdash calories without nutrition as opposed to those from fat protein and carbohydrates Moreover alcoholrsquos calories are the first burned when combined with the others the human body postpones burning fat while it works on alcohol Furthermore beer (and wine and often cocktails) contains carbohydrates which release insulin and can hasten fat storage Finally many drinkers have undoubtedly observed that alcohol loosens inhibitions after which an eager indulgence in unhealthy foods often occurs (Bar menus are rarely helpful in that respect)

By now you may wonder whose side Irsquom actually on Or suspect Irsquove led you to this dark place only to offer you a Lite No worries a couple craft brewers have been considering ways to keep us true to our resolutions

Evil Twin Brewingrsquos Bikini Beer drops the alcohol to 27 percent but stays bold by way of hops A Pale Ale it hits the nose with citrus suggestive of IPA The flavor follows suit floral and lemon There is an expected absence of malt yielding to bitterness up front that fades at the finish An alternative

for those who insist on the full effect Founderrsquos Brewing Companyrsquos All Day IPA rings in at a respectable 144 calories (Evil Twinrsquos entry comes in at 81)

One strategy to beat the beer munchies and avoid costly impulse eating is to have suitable chow on hand With Bikini Beer try a salad sporting blue cheese and some sort of dried fruit Creamy blue veined cheeses echo the hops while balancing bitterness An occasional bite of dried fruit stands in for malt sweetness

Brooklyn Breweryrsquos 12 Ale weighs in at 34 percent alcohol (102 calories) It is alliteratively labeled ldquoSession Saisonrdquo It opens with a waft of citrus and spice and a little lemongrass from Sorachi Ace hops mdash a hybrid developed in East Asia The same elements are found in the flavor which is a bit more subdued than a full-sized Saison

Try it with a tangle of arugula dressed with lemon and a fruity olive oil tossed with pine nuts and topped with shaved Parmesan for effect The greens and cracked pepper reflect spicy phenolic elements in the yeast Salty cheese counters the beerrsquos lingering bitterness Maybe add a few slices of Speck cured ham and Saison share a certain funkiness

If friends show and it becomes a session you may honestly say you spent Saturday working on your six-pack

MM p02 0116indd 33 12182015 30757 PM

34 bull January 2016 bull MANKATO MAGAZINE

Food

south

ern mn style

Food

south

ern mn style

The Coffee Hag one of the arearsquos oldest (and coolest) bistros recently underwent a major expansion and remodeling journey culminating in a large and airy

seating area along with a much-improved kitchen and a new menu Mankato Magazine caught up with a very busy (and slightly exhausted) owner Jenn Melby-Kelly who weighs in on how itrsquos going

MANKATO MAGAZINE Are you personally enjoying the new updatesJENN MELBY-KELLY It Is Fabulous The new space represents so much more than a remodel to me It has brought to life a vision for my business thatrsquos been years in the making It incorporates many many good ideas from many many people I feel so fortunate to get to see that every time I walk through the door

MM How are customers reactingJMK Thatrsquos been one of the best parts The response has been overwhelmingly positive

A few of our most regular customers had the opportunity to get a glimpse of the remodel while it was underway (we gave some informal preview tours while we were operating the temporary stand outside) but many customers walk through the door now and see it all for the first time Itrsquos especially fun to see and hear that kind of wide-eyed reaction

A few people with special connections to The Hag have had even stronger emotional responses and Irsquom so touched and right there with them when I see eyes well up as they see what wersquove done Itrsquos a very big milestone for a very special place and wersquore blessed to have people that care so deeply

MM Do the employees appreciate the new spaceJMK Oh probably more than anyone There was a lot that we sought to do with the remodel but creating a bigger brighter better-equipped space for our team was certainly one of the primary goals Wersquove got an incredible team truly the most spirited and talented people anyone could hope for

Many of them have spent years with me working hard against the challenge of a small under-equipped space and just barely being able to keeping up with growing demand Itrsquos been a special blessing for them and for me to finally have state-of-the-art space thatrsquos made for the work that we do We all feel a special connection to this place and now more than ever the place reflects the good energy we all bring here every day

MM Is the new menu a hit (The Hag specializes in vegetarianvegan cuisine)JMK Yes but just wait Feedback and demand have been excellent with our food offerings already but wersquore just getting started on some of the really exciting things that are coming to our food menu

Remodeling the cafe was just the first major milestone of our two-part expansion plan Next up wersquore building a state of the art off-site commissary kitchen that will do for our incredible culinary team what the remodeled shop has done for our baristas Theyrsquove been working day and night on taking our already fantastic food offerings to a whole new level

Wersquove already introduced some amazing new menu items like the Garden Grilled Cheese panini (trust me itrsquos like nothing yoursquove had before) and some truly outstanding new vegan baked goods Wersquove also improved our classic offerings with house-made

Interview with Jenn Melby-Kelly owner of The Coffee Hag

By Sarah Johnson

MM p02 0116indd 34 12182015 30802 PM

MANKATO MAGAZINE  bull January 2016 bull 35

Happy New Year

Locally Owned amp Operated

Check Weekly Specialsmgmwineandspiritscommankato

Largest Selection ofbull Liquor bull Wine bull Beer bull

Hours Monday-Saturday 8 am - 10 pm

ATMs at all stores

Mankato201 Victory Dr

625-2420

North Mankato1755 Commerce Dr

387-2634

St Peter100 N Minnesota Ave

934-8964

sourdough and whole wheat breads But as impressive as it is already itrsquos just a taste mdash literally mdash of things to come as we bring our new kitchen online

MM Whatrsquos stayed the sameJMK Irsquom really proud to say that while wersquove touched almost every part of this 23-year-old business wersquove kept even more than we have changed From the first days of this project I made it my personal mission and responsibility to make sure that the ldquosoulrdquo of this special place was only enhanced and never lost as we made the updates

In every area of the remodel as wersquove added some necessary new layers of sophistication The Hagrsquos colorful quirky and even rebellious spirit is still very much a part of the space We did a lot to try to make sure it still looked and felt like ldquohomerdquo

And on a deeper level every step wersquove taken with the growth of our business has been chosen carefully to honor the core parts of The Coffee Hagrsquos identity Our focus on community our support for local art and music our commitment to creating a safe and welcoming space for everyone our efforts to lead the way on social and environmental issues affecting our world near and far mdash those have all stayed the same And those will always be at the heart of what we do

MM Anything elseJMK Irsquom so incredibly grateful for the support of our customers and community And whenever I talk about my business and how it has grown I really canrsquot overstate how thankful I am for my beautiful Coffee Hag family The hard work good energy and earnest contributions of so many people mdash past and present mdash have brought me and my business here An incredible amount of love has gone into this business and made this dream a reality

MM p02 0116indd 35 12222015 121240 PM

36 bull January 2016 bull MANKATO MAGAZINE

xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

Food

south

ern mn style

whatrsquos Cooking By Sarah Johnson

Sarah Johnson is a cook freelance writer and chocolate addict from North Mankato with three grown kids and a couple of mutts

As I was pondering my subject matter for todayrsquos column I started wondering about all the different items the word ldquonutsrdquo can refer

to Crazy people are called nuts so are hexagonal metal objects that attach to bolts Nuts can be the end of things (as in ldquofrom soup to nutsrdquo) or they can be the beginning of them (as in ldquosperm incubatorsrdquo) Nut can also mean onersquos head or onersquos lump of something such as butter And if you accidentally get a nut of butter on your nut you can exclaim ldquoNutsrdquo

My favorite meaning of the word nut however is the dry indehiscent one-seeded fruit with a woody pericarp And I donrsquot even know what indehiscent OR pericarp means But these are the wonderful denizens of the world of edible nuts

Nuts are widely credited with all sorts of health benefits for the heart brain male reproductive system prostate cholesterol level fiber intake and avoidance of some types of cancer And while nuts do contain fat itrsquos the ldquogoodrdquo kind heart-healthy monounsaturated and polyunsaturated fat Their mix of omega-3 fatty acids protein and fiber helps you feel full and suppresses the appetite

Nuts are great in desserts and salads of course but they also shine in stir-fries casseroles soups chicken pork fish and even beverages Nut butters nut milks and nut oils add delicious options to our kitchen larders Breads cereals muffins and pancakes gain texture flavor and nutrition from the addition of nuts Basically anytime is a good time for nuts

Which is a wonderful thing because nuts taste so good you would think they had to be very very bad The reason lies deep in their oils

Walnut Oil is strong and flavorful Itrsquos best when used in uncooked sauces or salad dressing

Hazelnut Oil has a strong flavor and is great for the heart

Almond Oil is very popular and has a much milder flavor than walnut oil or hazelnut oil

Pecan Macadamia Nut Pistachio Cashew and Pine Nut Oils are flavorful and unique The freshness of the nuts used really affects the flavor

ldquoTherersquos Nuttinrsquo Nutty About Nutsrdquo

For the Baklava1 pound pistachios hazelnuts walnuts pecans andor almonds coarsely ground plus more for garnish12 teaspoon ground cinnamon1 cup breadcrumbs4 sticks unsalted butter melted16 sheets phyllo dough (thawed if frozen) cut in half

For the Syrup3 cups sugar1 6 -to-8-ounce jar honey1 frac12 cups water1 to 2 tablespoons fresh lemon juice

If yoursquore under the impression that baklava is much too labor-intensive and complicated to make at home think again Anybody can make

it no special skills equipment or exotic ingredients are required A word about phyllo dough Itrsquos sold in frozen packages so you need to remove the package from the freezer and let it thaw in the fridge 24 hours before you want to make the baklava Then about an hour beforehand remove the package from the fridge and let it sit on the counter

Walnuts or pistachios are the most traditional nuts to fill baklava but using other nuts works wonders as well Simply layer the phyllo with the nut filling and butter bake for an hour and finish with a simple honeyed syrup If you have leftover nuts from the holidays herersquos your chance to use them up

Mixed Nut Baklava

MM p02 0116indd 36 12182015 30812 PM

MANKATO MAGAZINE  bull January 2016 bull 37

MONEY MATTERS WORK SMARTLET COMMUNITY BANK HELP YOUBRING THE TWO TOGETHER

MANKATO - SAINT ANDREWS DR 5073854444MANKATO - MADISON AVE 5076251551VERNON CENTER 5075493679AMBOY 5076743300

JULIE VETTERSR VICE PRESIDENTRETAIL BANKING

We support great causes like yoursAt Community Bank we know good things happen when you have a good bank So we make more possible by keeping banking simple and supportive And by giving you the power that comes with innovative solutions like our Health Savings Account It offers you tax-free savings for future medical expenses Stop by anytime Wersquore always ready to help out a great cause

Position a rack in the lower third of the oven preheat to 350 degrees Combine the nuts cinnamon and breadcrumbs in a bowl

Brush a 9x13-inch baking dish with some of the butter Layer 10 pieces of phyllo in the dish brushing each piece with butter before adding the next (keep the remaining dough covered with a damp towel) Sprinkle a quarter of the nut mixture over the dough Layer four pieces of phyllo on top brushing each with butter before adding the next sprinkle with another quarter of the nut mixture Add four more phyllo pieces on top brushing each with butter then add another quarter of the nut mixture four more pieces of phyllo with butter and the remaining nuts

Layer the remaining 10 pieces of phyllo on top of the nuts brushing each with butter brush the top piece with extra butter Cut into the baklava to make strips about 1 12 inches wide Then make diagonal slices about 1 12 inches apart to create a diamond pattern Bake until golden about one hour

Meanwhile make the syrup Bring the sugar honey and 1 12 cups water to a boil in a saucepan over medium heat and cook 10 to 15 minutes Add the lemon juice and boil 2 more minutes then let cool slightly Pour the syrup over the warm baklava let soak uncovered at least six hours or overnight Garnish with nuts

MM p02 0116indd 37 12182015 30817 PM

38 bull bull MANKATO MAGAZINE

Nell Musolf is a mom and freelance writer from Mankato She blogs at nellmusolfcom

38 bull bull MANKATO MAGAZINE

MM p02 0116indd 38 12182015 30822 PM

MANKATO MAGAZINE  bull January 2016 bull 39

Gear Up for WinterYear-Round amp Insulated Workwear from

Carhartt Dickies and Key

UNIFORMSUniforms fromBarco Carhartt Cherokee DickiesKoi Peaches and White Cross

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Call 5073446336mankatomagmankatofreepresscom

Stephanie L Hylla LAc Dipl AcKayla M Sweeney MOm LAc

NEW LOCATION709 S Front Suite 5

5074694788mankatoacupuncturecom

Open House ndash Wednesday Feb 3 9-12noonCelebrating 5 years of Business New Location and the Chinese New Year

In Network with Blue Cross Blue ShieldLicensed by the MN Board of Medical Practice

Ribbon Cutting with Greater Mankato Growth at 10am

(A $250 Value)THIS VOUCHER ENTITLES NEW PATIENTS TO A

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wwwr igne l l fami lych i roprac t ic comMedicare Restrictions Apply Expires January 31 2016

Dr BrandonRignell DC

1351 Madison AveSuite D

Mankato MN 56001

5077797313

$2900New Patient Special

MM p02 0116indd 39 12222015 121344 PM

40 bull bull MANKATO MAGAZINE

Jean Lundquist is a master gardener who lives near Good Thunder

MM p02 0116indd 40 12182015 30834 PM

MANKATO MAGAZINE  bull January 2016 bull 41

3 Increase the Value of Your Home

3 Update Your Homersquos Appearance

3 Save Money

Choose from SeveralModels Styles amp Colors

507-625-7110 or 1-800-645-36671125 Cross St North Mankato MN

Improve Your HomersquosEnergy Efficiency

422 Park Lane Mankato MN | NuStarMankatocom

(507) 381-4747Voted One of Mankatorsquos Best

DANIEL WINGERT

Make Selling Your Home Your NuYearrsquos Resolution

MM p02 0116indd 41 12182015 30839 PM

42 bull January 2016 bull MANKATO MAGAZINE

January Resolve to moisturize

Your stYLeBy Ann Rosenquist Fee

Ann Rosenquist Fee is executive director of the Arts Center of Saint Peter and a vocalist with The Frye She blogs at annrosenquistfeecom

If you have in-laws or colleagues who know you well enough to have given you holiday gifts

but not well enough to know what wouldrsquove truly made you happy congratulations Chances are yoursquore the proud owner of a bunch of brand-new lip balm

Maybe itrsquos even holiday themed Thatrsquos the best Maybe you got the candy-cane flavored kind or wintergreen with holiday graphics on the label or something like that A theme that was irrelevant the moment the stocking was unstuffed because at that exact second the holiday was over

And here you are in January with an abundance of wax

Fortunately also here you are in the early weeks of winter with rough red knuckles Probably also cracked cuticles although it might not have gone that far yet for you Irsquom sure it has for me This photo was taken back in November and even then the Band-Aids were for real Irsquove learned to cut them in half length-wise so as to retain my ability to type Irsquove also learned to play with a range of color options Flesh-toned Clear Disney characters The colorful strips shown here were gifted to me by my husband Partly why theyrsquore cut in half is that the text is obscene This is one small trick you can use to make bloody cuticles your most exciting accessory of the winter

Sources like UrbanSurvivalSitecom and WonderHowTocom will tell you that you can use lip balm for a whole variety of purposes such as coating threads of outdoor lightbulbs before screwing them into their sockets and enhancing the burn-ability of most kindling

These are great fun but they wonrsquot improve your personal style

More germane to winter beauty are the following suggestions

Keep a tube next to your bed for first-thing-in-the-morning use And I mean really truly first-thing I mean smear the stuff on each cuticle while yoursquore still lying there before you start using your fingers at all If you wake up thinking yoursquore fine and skip cuticle care next thing you know yoursquore pushing down the lever on your Keurig and the pressure is more than your screamingly dry skin can take and boom split blood on the Keurig and itrsquos gonna be a long painful day If only you had balmed your hands before you let your feet hit the floor

Keep another tube in your glove compartment If itrsquos warm enough to take off your mittens in the car mdash if yoursquore even wearing mittens given that your hands are snagging on everything these days mdash the harsh January sunlight will allow you to see cracks and flakes in high-resolution detail Yoursquoll want the balm nearby

to cover what you didnrsquot notice first thing in the morning Also a car tube is useful for when you look in the rear-view mirror and notice that your nose and upper lip are flaking as well Itrsquos because yoursquore getting over a cold and the frequent use of tissue has worn away your top layer of skin but just because you know that doesnrsquot mean everybody else wonrsquot think ldquothere is something in that noserdquo Itrsquos just a fact Itrsquos what it looks like Lip balm to the rescue Itrsquos the only thing dry enough to slick those flakes in place and nourishing enough to maybe actually get your face back to normal

Keep a couple more tubes in a nighttime kit along with sandpaper Sandpaper Yes Not a pumice stone not a lame also-gifted sugar

scrub Medium-grit sandpaper is what you need every night lightly but with conviction As follows 1) Sand taking care not to do more damage than what the elements have already done Yoursquore just trying to remove the dry dead stuff Yoursquore just being hearty and efficient about this true to the culture of this great state in which yoursquove chosen to winter You are no pansy Sand your hands 2) Wash 3) Blot dry 4) Dial up the gifted balm whisper a word of thanks to the person who put so much thought into your well-being that they stuffed your holiday stocking with this amazing gift of self-care smash a healthy amount down into your palms massage Take heart You just might find yourself with normal-textured non-cracked not-horrible-looking hands by morning

Split-open cuticles I feel you Except for these Band-Aids I feel you

Lip balms I have been gifted and these are just from last Christmas ldquolastrdquo as in 2014

Bathrooms Worth Bragging About

HoursTue amp Wed amp Fri | 9 am to 6 pmMon amp Thu | 9 am to 7 pmSaturday | 9 am to 4 pm

219 S Victory Dr | Mankato507 | 345 | 7009ipafhickorytechnetindependentpaintandflooringcom

You Deserve Comfortable Care Every Timebull Sedation - Complete Relaxation with Just a Pillbull Invisalign - Clear Alternative to Bracesbull Botox amp Fillersbull Implants - Placement and Restorationbull Cerec - One Visit Crown Technology

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1400 Lookout Drive North Mankato507-625-CARE(2273) bull mankatodentistcom 06

1865

6124

01

Dr AngelA Schuck

Dr keith FlAck

MM p02 0116indd 42 12182015 30841 PM

MANKATO MAGAZINE  bull January 2016 bull 43

Bathrooms Worth Bragging About

HoursTue amp Wed amp Fri | 9 am to 6 pmMon amp Thu | 9 am to 7 pmSaturday | 9 am to 4 pm

219 S Victory Dr | Mankato507 | 345 | 7009ipafhickorytechnetindependentpaintandflooringcom

You Deserve Comfortable Care Every Timebull Sedation - Complete Relaxation with Just a Pillbull Invisalign - Clear Alternative to Bracesbull Botox amp Fillersbull Implants - Placement and Restorationbull Cerec - One Visit Crown Technology

bull Free Whitening Programbull 3D Imaging with Fewer X-Raysbull Cosmetic Dentistrybull Drill-Free Technologybull Emergency Care

1400 Lookout Drive North Mankato507-625-CARE(2273) bull mankatodentistcom 06

1865

6124

01

Dr AngelA Schuck

Dr keith FlAck

(944) 412-7949 | OrthoEdgeMNcom

Enjoy the season

Mankato St Peter

Be active Be healthyBe able with OrthoEdge

The OrthoEdge joint replacement

program offers superb care from your first

visit through recovery The surgeons from

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the care team at Riverrsquos Edge Hospital

provide personal and professional care to

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Why Riverrsquos Edge Hospital amp Clinic

bull Riverrsquos Edge Hospital amp Clinic has a long-

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MM p02 0116indd 43 12182015 30842 PM

44 bull January 2016 bull MANKATO MAGAZINE

1 Hicktown Mafia800 pm mdash New Ulm Event Center mdash 301 20th St S mdash New Ulm mdash $10 mdash 507-354-4673

7-9 Mankato West Orchesis Dance Team showcase7 pm Thursday-Saturday 2 pm Saturday mdash Mankato West High School Auditorium mdash $7 adults $5 students mdash 507-381-7578

10 Mankato Symphony Orchestra Music on the Hill II ldquoMinnesota rootsrdquo2 pm mdash Chapel at Good Counselmdash Good Counsel Drive mdash Mankato mdash $17 $12 mdash wwwmankatosymphonycom

16 Handel with Caremdash Handel Goes to Italy11 ammdash YMCA Aerobics Studio mdash 1401 S Riverfront Drive mdash Mankato mdash wwwmankatosymphonycom

16 Mankato Craft beer Expo2 pm (VIP) 3 pm general mdash Verizon Wireless Center mdash $45 VIP $35 general $10 designated driver mdash wwwmankatocraftbeerexpocom

23 Joey Flip and Mike Fugazzi rockinrsquo at the Embassy9 pm mdash Blaschkorsquos Embassy Bar and Grill mdash 325 S Minnesota Ave mdash St Peter mdash 507-934-3903

24 andrea Lyn and Dick Kimmel concert730 pm mdash Elias J Halling Recital Hall mdash Minnesota State University mdash Mankato mdash $12 regular $11 current MSU students mdash wwwmnusedumusic

28-31 MSu Theatre antigone730 pm Thursday-Saturday 2 pm Sunday mdash Andreas Theatre mdash Minnesota State University mdash Mankato mdash $16 regular $14 discount $11 current MSU students mdash wwwmnsuedu

29-31 BLC Theatre Brigadoon730 Friday and Saturday 2 pm Sunday mdash Ylvisaker Fine Arts Center mdash Bethany Lutheran College mdash Mankato mdash $10 adults $6 seniors children and students mdash wwwblceduevents

29- Feb 7 Winterfest St Peter Citywide mdash wwwstpeterchamberorg

30 Church of Cash a Tribute to Johnny Cash7 pm mdash St Peter American Legion mdash 229 W Nassau St mdash St Peter mdash 507-934-6435

31 Maud Hixson and rick Carlson concert730 pmmdash Elias J Halling Recital Hall mdash Minnesota State University mdash Mankato mdash $12 regular $11 current MSU students wwmnsuedumusic

Coming attraCtions January

T - F 8am - 6pm Sun ClosedSat 9am - 4pmM 8am - 8pm

120 North Broad Street Mankato MN 507-345-4688 wwwmeyerandsonstvandappliancecom

FIND SPECIAL DEALS ON

MM p02 0116indd 44 12182015 30902 PM

MANKATO MAGAZINE  bull January 2016 bull 45

St Peter Craft amp Vendor Show

1MelinadaBussefromRapidansoldherhandmadejewelryatthecraftandvendorshow

2DarylfromElysianandhishand-carvedwoodart

3MacKennaage7hasfunatoneoftheboothsattheStPeterCraftandVendorShow

4LizEntershowsoffsomeofherproductsattheldquoItWorksrdquobooth

5DenisePetersofldquoYoungLivingrdquoessentialoilsdisplayedherproductsattheshow

Faces amp Places Photos By Sport Pix

3

5

2

1

4

T - F 8am - 6pm Sun ClosedSat 9am - 4pmM 8am - 8pm

120 North Broad Street Mankato MN 507-345-4688 wwwmeyerandsonstvandappliancecom

FIND SPECIAL DEALS ON

MM p02 0116indd 45 12222015 121536 PM

46 bull January 2016 bull MANKATO MAGAZINE

SOUTHErN MN CHrISTMAS

FESTIVAL1 A large crowd was on hand during the festivities at

the Christmas Festival2 Friesenrsquos Family Bakery amp Bistro had tons of baked

goods and soups at the Verizon Wireless Center3 A childrenrsquos choir sang for the audience at the

festival4 Ron Haefner owner of Ronrsquos Auto Repair displayed

some of his services5 Garrison Galatz dressed up as Santa for the

Christmas Festival

faCes amp PLaCes Photos By Sport Pix

4

3

1

2

5

MM p02 0116indd 46 12182015 30923 PM

MANKATO MAGAZINE  bull January 2016 bull 47

1GirlScouttroop34494waspresentedwithatrophybyKiwanisVicePresidentKyleMrozek

2SantaClausevenwentthroughtheparaderoute3(LtoR)BrooklynPomrankeAlaynaLyonsHunterPomrankeandLilyLyonsgetagroupphototakenwithSanta

4MarshaMartigtellsSantawhatshewantsforChristmas

5TheparadefloatswerealldeckedoutinChristmaslights

6Visitorswalkthepatharoundtheparktoviewthisyearrsquoslights

Kiwanis Holiday ligHtsFaces amp Places Photos By sport Pix

2

1

3

4 5

6

MM p02 0116indd 47 12222015 121616 PM

48 bull January 2016 bull MANKATO MAGAZINE

On the Occasion of a 50th Reunion

the Class of 1965

from this VaLLeYBy Pete Steiner

Peter Steiner is host of ldquoTalk of the Townrdquo weekdays at 105 pm on KTOE

I was honored to give the presentation for our 50th class reunion recently at West Highrsquos Homecoming celebration About 120 of our nearly 400-member class

showed up We Baby Boomers the children of the greatest generation had big classes in the late lsquo60rsquos that forced the building of East High Ours was a dramatic era and our class did some great things in the face of big challenges Here edited is some of what I said

I am so glad to be standing here today Therersquos an old saying

ldquoMay you live in INTErESTINg timeshelliprdquo The Class of rsquo65 certainly has Itrsquos seems like only yesterday right after lunch that we were at our desks waiting for the start of English class when our charismatic teacher Harry Fitterer strode in and said ldquoPrESIDENT KENNEDY HAS BEEN SHOT IN DALLASrdquo At first we didnrsquot believe him but it was true It was November 22 1963 We were juniors and as the song says that was THE END OF THE INNOCENCE We had lived through the last idyllic time in America

When we first arrived in the fall of 1962 America was still carefree basking in the glow of victory in WW II Everything may have seemed ldquorightrdquo but it was not Martin Luther King Jr had just visited Mankato pointing out the continuing plight of black Americans as the Civil rights movement was gaining steam The beginnings of the Vietnam War which would alter the course of many of our lives were stirring even as we studied history and government The current generation has no monopoly on forgettable pop music ndash we had a stupid 1 song called ldquoItsie Bitsie Teenie Weenie Yellow Polka Dot Bikinirdquo (unfortunately an ear worm I canrsquot forget) But a darker cultural threat was looming The BEATLES were invading from Britain and our parents were mortified because they had LONg HAIr

Some of the shock of the Kennedy assassination was eased when our wrestling team in the era when the state still had just ONE CLASS won the State Championship in front of a packed hall up at MSU some still maintain that is the greatest single athletic achievement in Mankato history We were the first high school in Mankato to put on a full-scale musical ldquoBye Bye Birdierdquo in the spring of 1964 In Fall of 1964 our football team would have won the conference championship outright except Owatonnarsquos great Noel Jenke who would go on to star for the U of M

cheated I watched him trap the touchdown pass that beat us Does cheating pay Was that a lesson for life

In lsquo65 we also had a fine basketball team that lost our chance at State when our 6-6 center fouled out at Luverne

BUT A FAr BIggEr CHALLENgE AWAITED US ALL As we rode out to Luverne to watch that game we couldnrsquot help noticing the highway was like a canyon between walls of snow The legendary St Patrickrsquos Day Blizzard had dumped two feet on top of an already large snow pack and then April brought rains on frozen ground Instead of coming here to school many of us soon got a real-life assignment to go out in our rain gear out on the dikes to battle the grEAT FLOOD OF 1965 Our school became an island as water flooded the parking lot and all of South riverfront Our spring play that year was called ironically

THE DESPErATE HOUrS We had to rehearse at roosevelt School up on higher ground

Our class produced three Merit scholars One of our classmates who did NOT qualify

for a merit scholarship nevertheless was such a whiz at physics that NASA requested a copy of a paper he wrote on rocketry as a senior We produced 12 doctors one of whom earned a fellowship at Stanford seeking how to bring telemedicine to the poor another of whom became a breakthrough cancer doctor We had entrepreneurs one who would go on to be a leader in Solar Energy (and then run for governor of New Hampshire) Another mdash a woman incidentally when

that was not common founded two bio-tech startups Many of us are still working

past normal retirement age One founded a company on the leading edge of recycling

computers whose clients include the NSA Another is chief medical officer of a company

devising a better tool for colonoscopies Yet another of our classmates recently completed a concert tour of China

We lived in challenging times just as you do today but we muddle through we make it to the other shore I remember sitting where you are 50 years ago thinking how old those folks up there looked But remember Life goes by very quickly You certainly live in interesting times as Shakespeare said ldquoPresent Mirth has Present Laughter Youthrsquos a stuff will NOT endurerdquo So I urge you live each moment to the fullest

MM p02 0116indd 48 12182015 30933 PM

MM p02 0116indd 49 12182015 30936 PM

MM p02 0116indd 50 12182015 30948 PM

Page 32: Mankatomag 116

MANKATO 5073854485 AMBOY 5076743355 I VERNON CENTER 5075493679

INSURANCE OFFICES LOCATED IN THE COMMUNITY BANK BUILDINGS

wwwcimankatocom

Protecting the things that matter most in your life

Let us help protect what is important to you At Community Insurance we have the ability to compare insurance from multiple companies to get you the best coverage at a great price Combine that with our insurance knowledge and friendly group of agents and we say thatrsquos a winning deal

WHERE YOUR POLICY COMES WITH AN AGENT

Christina Meyer

Food

south

ern mn style

Food

south

ern mn style

By The Washington Post

Growing up my mother always encouraged her children to cook So when

I found a recipe for hot chocolate on the side of the Hersheyrsquos Cocoa can it was easy to convince her to let me give it a try

What I discovered was that hot chocolate doesnrsquot have to come from an envelope

This recipe has been a favorite of mine to make on days when winter weather has convinced me stay home and off the roads Itrsquos the perfect way to kill time and have a nice hot drink to warm you up on those chilly days

Although you can top it with whipped cream I prefer marshmallows

FAVORITE HOT COCOAMakes 4 to 6 servings

12 cup sugar14 cup unsweetened cocoa powder

Dash of salt13 cup hot water

4 cups milk34 teaspoon vanilla extract

Whipped cream or marshmallows (optional)

Mix sugar cocoa powder salt and water in a sauce pan Stir constantly over medium heat until mixture comes to a boil (about 2 minutes) Stir in

milk and heat Bring the hot chocolate to the desired temperature but do not boil Remove from heat and

add the vanilla extract Divide into mugs and top with whipped cream or marshmallows

PERFECTLY CHOCOLATE HOT COCOA

Makes 1 serving

2 tablespoons sugar2 tablespoons unsweetened cocoa powder

Dash salt1 cup milk

14 teaspoon vanilla extractWhipped cream or marshmallows (optional)

Mix sugar cocoa powder and salt into large mug In separate microwave-safe container heat on high

for 1 to 1 frac12 minutes or until very hot Carefully and gradually add milk to dry mixture Stir well Add vanilla extract Top with whipped cream or

marshmallows

Simple homemade hot chocolate

beats the winter chill

30 bull January 2016 bull MANKATO MAGAZINE

MM p02 0116indd 30 12182015 30752 PM

MANKATO MAGAZINE  bull January 2016 bull 31

Oil Change to OverhaulWe do it all

507-387-13151620 Commerce Drive North MankatowwwAustinsAutoRepairCentercom

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INSURANCE OFFICES LOCATED IN THE COMMUNITY BANK BUILDINGS

wwwcimankatocom

Protecting the things that matter most in your life

Let us help protect what is important to you At Community Insurance we have the ability to compare insurance from multiple companies to get you the best coverage at a great price Combine that with our insurance knowledge and friendly group of agents and we say thatrsquos a winning deal

WHERE YOUR POLICY COMES WITH AN AGENT

Christina Meyer

MM p02 0116indd 31 12182015 30755 PM

32 bull January 2016 bull MANKATO MAGAZINE

January is Cabernet TimeWersquove celebrated nearly

every January edition of Mankato Magazine with

a paean to BIG REDS And since there are so many wonderful examples why stop now

Last year I wrote about the powerful big reds of Italy This January wersquoll focus on Cabernet Sauvignon known to many as ldquothe king of winesrdquo Most oenophiles (wine lovers) consider the quintessential representations of this grape to be the classified Bordeaux of southwest France near the city of Bordeaux The five First Growths (or best wines according to a classification made in 1855 and updated in 1973) are Ch Lafite Rothschild Ch Margaux Ch Latour Ch Haut Brion and Ch Mouton Rothschild All have a cabernet sauvignon base but they are blended with merlot and often a little bit of cabernet franc and petit verdot as well

In the early 1970s I was able to buy these wines for around $22 per bottle mdash about $120 in 2016 dollars Yet with the popularity of ldquocollectiblerdquo wines on a worldwide

basis they sell today for anywhere from $400 on up

Contrary to popular belief these wines are not that massive Rather they combine cabernet sauvignon power with

structure and finesse yielding wines that become with time elixirs that are greater than the sum of their parts

Both California and Washington state have taken up the Cabernet Sauvignon challenge and are producing world-class wines at sometimes world-class prices Napa Valley is the recognized leader in this arena and rightly so Napa Valleyrsquos top Cabernet

Wine amp B

eerso

uthern m

n style

winesBy Leigh Pomeroy

Leigh Pomeroy is a Mankato-based writer and wine lover

Cabernet Sauvignon is the black Labrador of wines mdash it comes up and licks yourdquo

mdash Winemaker Scott Rich

Sauvignons rival the great wines of Bordeaux for quality mdash Irsquove tasted them side-by-side mdashand yet can sell for a fraction of their price

One such example is the 2013 Tulocay Cabernet Sauvignon from my old friend Bill Cadman We were young bucks in Napa Valley and had a tasting group in the early 1970s along with now-famous wine luminaries Bruce Neyers (Neyers Vineyards) and Mike Richmond (co-founder of Acacia Vineyard)

Billrsquos Cabernet is from an old and relatively cool growing area east of the City of Napa called Coombsville which because of industry political issues only recently received its AVA (American Viticultural Area) designation It is priced at $60 per bottle yet compares with any top-flight Bordeaux as well as the more expensive offerings from Napa Valley which can cost from $100 on up Not currently available at wine stores or restaurants in Minnesota it can be purchased by contacting the winery directly via its website tulocaycom The winery is so small that Bill will probably answer the phone himself

There is a lot of Cabernet Sauvignon available from California but mdash caveat emptor mdash not all growing areas (or appellations) are the same The best Cabernet Sauvignons are from Napa and Sonoma Counties Cabernets simply labeled ldquoCaliforniardquo or perhaps ldquoCoastalrdquo while sometimes good values lack the complexity of the greater Cabernet Sauvignons from the more northern parts of the state

Washington state has also

established itself as a prime producer of Cabernet Sauvignon But here again quality can vary greatly depending upon the area and producer While there is no ldquogo-tordquo appellation for Cabernet Sauvignon in Washington there are producers that are able to secure fruit from the best vineyards

One such example is the tiny Willis Hall Winery owned by another good friend John Bell a former Boeing jet propulsion engineer Like Tulocay its wines are only available by calling up the winery and ordering some (See willishallcom) But there are many other top quality producers in Washington like Quilceda Creek Leonetti Betz Family and Woodward Canyon

Of course not everyone can afford Cabernet Sauvignons in the $60-plus category One excellent everyday drinking example is the Flying Cloud 2013 Paso Robles Cabernet Sauvignon made by Mankato native Stephen Dooley Normally I donrsquot like Paso Robles Cabs as they tend to be too fruity and too soft for my palate mdash almost like drinking berry jam But this one is quite restrained no doubt helped by the inclusion of 13 percent zinfandel and 9 percent petite sirah in the blend

In Mankato both the Wine Cafeacute and MGM carry the Flying Cloud but at its price and quality I wouldnrsquot count on it lasting for long especially since only 759 cases were produced

So letrsquos raise a glass of Cabernet and say ldquoCheersrdquo to the New Year

MM p02 0116indd 32 12182015 30756 PM

MANKATO MAGAZINE  bull January 2016 bull 33

Bert Mattson is a chef and writer based in St Paul He is the manager of the iconic Mickeyrsquos Diner

Beer Skinny

BeerBy Bert Mattson

Last year according to Nielsen research staying fit and healthy was

the number one New Yearrsquos resolution Losing weight was two Three was to enjoy life to the fullest Unfortunately ldquolose weight and get fitrdquo also topped Time magazinersquos list of commonly broken resolutions Is this shortfall due to tension between the top two and that third one If so craft beer may have a role in the compromise Bad news first

In the context of losing weight and staying fit beer lovers might seek solace in the fact that fat carries nine calories per gram while alcohol has only seven The wrinkle is that those seven are ldquoemptyrdquo mdash calories without nutrition as opposed to those from fat protein and carbohydrates Moreover alcoholrsquos calories are the first burned when combined with the others the human body postpones burning fat while it works on alcohol Furthermore beer (and wine and often cocktails) contains carbohydrates which release insulin and can hasten fat storage Finally many drinkers have undoubtedly observed that alcohol loosens inhibitions after which an eager indulgence in unhealthy foods often occurs (Bar menus are rarely helpful in that respect)

By now you may wonder whose side Irsquom actually on Or suspect Irsquove led you to this dark place only to offer you a Lite No worries a couple craft brewers have been considering ways to keep us true to our resolutions

Evil Twin Brewingrsquos Bikini Beer drops the alcohol to 27 percent but stays bold by way of hops A Pale Ale it hits the nose with citrus suggestive of IPA The flavor follows suit floral and lemon There is an expected absence of malt yielding to bitterness up front that fades at the finish An alternative

for those who insist on the full effect Founderrsquos Brewing Companyrsquos All Day IPA rings in at a respectable 144 calories (Evil Twinrsquos entry comes in at 81)

One strategy to beat the beer munchies and avoid costly impulse eating is to have suitable chow on hand With Bikini Beer try a salad sporting blue cheese and some sort of dried fruit Creamy blue veined cheeses echo the hops while balancing bitterness An occasional bite of dried fruit stands in for malt sweetness

Brooklyn Breweryrsquos 12 Ale weighs in at 34 percent alcohol (102 calories) It is alliteratively labeled ldquoSession Saisonrdquo It opens with a waft of citrus and spice and a little lemongrass from Sorachi Ace hops mdash a hybrid developed in East Asia The same elements are found in the flavor which is a bit more subdued than a full-sized Saison

Try it with a tangle of arugula dressed with lemon and a fruity olive oil tossed with pine nuts and topped with shaved Parmesan for effect The greens and cracked pepper reflect spicy phenolic elements in the yeast Salty cheese counters the beerrsquos lingering bitterness Maybe add a few slices of Speck cured ham and Saison share a certain funkiness

If friends show and it becomes a session you may honestly say you spent Saturday working on your six-pack

MM p02 0116indd 33 12182015 30757 PM

34 bull January 2016 bull MANKATO MAGAZINE

Food

south

ern mn style

Food

south

ern mn style

The Coffee Hag one of the arearsquos oldest (and coolest) bistros recently underwent a major expansion and remodeling journey culminating in a large and airy

seating area along with a much-improved kitchen and a new menu Mankato Magazine caught up with a very busy (and slightly exhausted) owner Jenn Melby-Kelly who weighs in on how itrsquos going

MANKATO MAGAZINE Are you personally enjoying the new updatesJENN MELBY-KELLY It Is Fabulous The new space represents so much more than a remodel to me It has brought to life a vision for my business thatrsquos been years in the making It incorporates many many good ideas from many many people I feel so fortunate to get to see that every time I walk through the door

MM How are customers reactingJMK Thatrsquos been one of the best parts The response has been overwhelmingly positive

A few of our most regular customers had the opportunity to get a glimpse of the remodel while it was underway (we gave some informal preview tours while we were operating the temporary stand outside) but many customers walk through the door now and see it all for the first time Itrsquos especially fun to see and hear that kind of wide-eyed reaction

A few people with special connections to The Hag have had even stronger emotional responses and Irsquom so touched and right there with them when I see eyes well up as they see what wersquove done Itrsquos a very big milestone for a very special place and wersquore blessed to have people that care so deeply

MM Do the employees appreciate the new spaceJMK Oh probably more than anyone There was a lot that we sought to do with the remodel but creating a bigger brighter better-equipped space for our team was certainly one of the primary goals Wersquove got an incredible team truly the most spirited and talented people anyone could hope for

Many of them have spent years with me working hard against the challenge of a small under-equipped space and just barely being able to keeping up with growing demand Itrsquos been a special blessing for them and for me to finally have state-of-the-art space thatrsquos made for the work that we do We all feel a special connection to this place and now more than ever the place reflects the good energy we all bring here every day

MM Is the new menu a hit (The Hag specializes in vegetarianvegan cuisine)JMK Yes but just wait Feedback and demand have been excellent with our food offerings already but wersquore just getting started on some of the really exciting things that are coming to our food menu

Remodeling the cafe was just the first major milestone of our two-part expansion plan Next up wersquore building a state of the art off-site commissary kitchen that will do for our incredible culinary team what the remodeled shop has done for our baristas Theyrsquove been working day and night on taking our already fantastic food offerings to a whole new level

Wersquove already introduced some amazing new menu items like the Garden Grilled Cheese panini (trust me itrsquos like nothing yoursquove had before) and some truly outstanding new vegan baked goods Wersquove also improved our classic offerings with house-made

Interview with Jenn Melby-Kelly owner of The Coffee Hag

By Sarah Johnson

MM p02 0116indd 34 12182015 30802 PM

MANKATO MAGAZINE  bull January 2016 bull 35

Happy New Year

Locally Owned amp Operated

Check Weekly Specialsmgmwineandspiritscommankato

Largest Selection ofbull Liquor bull Wine bull Beer bull

Hours Monday-Saturday 8 am - 10 pm

ATMs at all stores

Mankato201 Victory Dr

625-2420

North Mankato1755 Commerce Dr

387-2634

St Peter100 N Minnesota Ave

934-8964

sourdough and whole wheat breads But as impressive as it is already itrsquos just a taste mdash literally mdash of things to come as we bring our new kitchen online

MM Whatrsquos stayed the sameJMK Irsquom really proud to say that while wersquove touched almost every part of this 23-year-old business wersquove kept even more than we have changed From the first days of this project I made it my personal mission and responsibility to make sure that the ldquosoulrdquo of this special place was only enhanced and never lost as we made the updates

In every area of the remodel as wersquove added some necessary new layers of sophistication The Hagrsquos colorful quirky and even rebellious spirit is still very much a part of the space We did a lot to try to make sure it still looked and felt like ldquohomerdquo

And on a deeper level every step wersquove taken with the growth of our business has been chosen carefully to honor the core parts of The Coffee Hagrsquos identity Our focus on community our support for local art and music our commitment to creating a safe and welcoming space for everyone our efforts to lead the way on social and environmental issues affecting our world near and far mdash those have all stayed the same And those will always be at the heart of what we do

MM Anything elseJMK Irsquom so incredibly grateful for the support of our customers and community And whenever I talk about my business and how it has grown I really canrsquot overstate how thankful I am for my beautiful Coffee Hag family The hard work good energy and earnest contributions of so many people mdash past and present mdash have brought me and my business here An incredible amount of love has gone into this business and made this dream a reality

MM p02 0116indd 35 12222015 121240 PM

36 bull January 2016 bull MANKATO MAGAZINE

xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

Food

south

ern mn style

whatrsquos Cooking By Sarah Johnson

Sarah Johnson is a cook freelance writer and chocolate addict from North Mankato with three grown kids and a couple of mutts

As I was pondering my subject matter for todayrsquos column I started wondering about all the different items the word ldquonutsrdquo can refer

to Crazy people are called nuts so are hexagonal metal objects that attach to bolts Nuts can be the end of things (as in ldquofrom soup to nutsrdquo) or they can be the beginning of them (as in ldquosperm incubatorsrdquo) Nut can also mean onersquos head or onersquos lump of something such as butter And if you accidentally get a nut of butter on your nut you can exclaim ldquoNutsrdquo

My favorite meaning of the word nut however is the dry indehiscent one-seeded fruit with a woody pericarp And I donrsquot even know what indehiscent OR pericarp means But these are the wonderful denizens of the world of edible nuts

Nuts are widely credited with all sorts of health benefits for the heart brain male reproductive system prostate cholesterol level fiber intake and avoidance of some types of cancer And while nuts do contain fat itrsquos the ldquogoodrdquo kind heart-healthy monounsaturated and polyunsaturated fat Their mix of omega-3 fatty acids protein and fiber helps you feel full and suppresses the appetite

Nuts are great in desserts and salads of course but they also shine in stir-fries casseroles soups chicken pork fish and even beverages Nut butters nut milks and nut oils add delicious options to our kitchen larders Breads cereals muffins and pancakes gain texture flavor and nutrition from the addition of nuts Basically anytime is a good time for nuts

Which is a wonderful thing because nuts taste so good you would think they had to be very very bad The reason lies deep in their oils

Walnut Oil is strong and flavorful Itrsquos best when used in uncooked sauces or salad dressing

Hazelnut Oil has a strong flavor and is great for the heart

Almond Oil is very popular and has a much milder flavor than walnut oil or hazelnut oil

Pecan Macadamia Nut Pistachio Cashew and Pine Nut Oils are flavorful and unique The freshness of the nuts used really affects the flavor

ldquoTherersquos Nuttinrsquo Nutty About Nutsrdquo

For the Baklava1 pound pistachios hazelnuts walnuts pecans andor almonds coarsely ground plus more for garnish12 teaspoon ground cinnamon1 cup breadcrumbs4 sticks unsalted butter melted16 sheets phyllo dough (thawed if frozen) cut in half

For the Syrup3 cups sugar1 6 -to-8-ounce jar honey1 frac12 cups water1 to 2 tablespoons fresh lemon juice

If yoursquore under the impression that baklava is much too labor-intensive and complicated to make at home think again Anybody can make

it no special skills equipment or exotic ingredients are required A word about phyllo dough Itrsquos sold in frozen packages so you need to remove the package from the freezer and let it thaw in the fridge 24 hours before you want to make the baklava Then about an hour beforehand remove the package from the fridge and let it sit on the counter

Walnuts or pistachios are the most traditional nuts to fill baklava but using other nuts works wonders as well Simply layer the phyllo with the nut filling and butter bake for an hour and finish with a simple honeyed syrup If you have leftover nuts from the holidays herersquos your chance to use them up

Mixed Nut Baklava

MM p02 0116indd 36 12182015 30812 PM

MANKATO MAGAZINE  bull January 2016 bull 37

MONEY MATTERS WORK SMARTLET COMMUNITY BANK HELP YOUBRING THE TWO TOGETHER

MANKATO - SAINT ANDREWS DR 5073854444MANKATO - MADISON AVE 5076251551VERNON CENTER 5075493679AMBOY 5076743300

JULIE VETTERSR VICE PRESIDENTRETAIL BANKING

We support great causes like yoursAt Community Bank we know good things happen when you have a good bank So we make more possible by keeping banking simple and supportive And by giving you the power that comes with innovative solutions like our Health Savings Account It offers you tax-free savings for future medical expenses Stop by anytime Wersquore always ready to help out a great cause

Position a rack in the lower third of the oven preheat to 350 degrees Combine the nuts cinnamon and breadcrumbs in a bowl

Brush a 9x13-inch baking dish with some of the butter Layer 10 pieces of phyllo in the dish brushing each piece with butter before adding the next (keep the remaining dough covered with a damp towel) Sprinkle a quarter of the nut mixture over the dough Layer four pieces of phyllo on top brushing each with butter before adding the next sprinkle with another quarter of the nut mixture Add four more phyllo pieces on top brushing each with butter then add another quarter of the nut mixture four more pieces of phyllo with butter and the remaining nuts

Layer the remaining 10 pieces of phyllo on top of the nuts brushing each with butter brush the top piece with extra butter Cut into the baklava to make strips about 1 12 inches wide Then make diagonal slices about 1 12 inches apart to create a diamond pattern Bake until golden about one hour

Meanwhile make the syrup Bring the sugar honey and 1 12 cups water to a boil in a saucepan over medium heat and cook 10 to 15 minutes Add the lemon juice and boil 2 more minutes then let cool slightly Pour the syrup over the warm baklava let soak uncovered at least six hours or overnight Garnish with nuts

MM p02 0116indd 37 12182015 30817 PM

38 bull bull MANKATO MAGAZINE

Nell Musolf is a mom and freelance writer from Mankato She blogs at nellmusolfcom

38 bull bull MANKATO MAGAZINE

MM p02 0116indd 38 12182015 30822 PM

MANKATO MAGAZINE  bull January 2016 bull 39

Gear Up for WinterYear-Round amp Insulated Workwear from

Carhartt Dickies and Key

UNIFORMSUniforms fromBarco Carhartt Cherokee DickiesKoi Peaches and White Cross

AMAZED

Call 5073446336mankatomagmankatofreepresscom

Stephanie L Hylla LAc Dipl AcKayla M Sweeney MOm LAc

NEW LOCATION709 S Front Suite 5

5074694788mankatoacupuncturecom

Open House ndash Wednesday Feb 3 9-12noonCelebrating 5 years of Business New Location and the Chinese New Year

In Network with Blue Cross Blue ShieldLicensed by the MN Board of Medical Practice

Ribbon Cutting with Greater Mankato Growth at 10am

(A $250 Value)THIS VOUCHER ENTITLES NEW PATIENTS TO A

CONSULTATION EXAM amp DIGITAL X-RAYS (IF NEEDED)

wwwr igne l l fami lych i roprac t ic comMedicare Restrictions Apply Expires January 31 2016

Dr BrandonRignell DC

1351 Madison AveSuite D

Mankato MN 56001

5077797313

$2900New Patient Special

MM p02 0116indd 39 12222015 121344 PM

40 bull bull MANKATO MAGAZINE

Jean Lundquist is a master gardener who lives near Good Thunder

MM p02 0116indd 40 12182015 30834 PM

MANKATO MAGAZINE  bull January 2016 bull 41

3 Increase the Value of Your Home

3 Update Your Homersquos Appearance

3 Save Money

Choose from SeveralModels Styles amp Colors

507-625-7110 or 1-800-645-36671125 Cross St North Mankato MN

Improve Your HomersquosEnergy Efficiency

422 Park Lane Mankato MN | NuStarMankatocom

(507) 381-4747Voted One of Mankatorsquos Best

DANIEL WINGERT

Make Selling Your Home Your NuYearrsquos Resolution

MM p02 0116indd 41 12182015 30839 PM

42 bull January 2016 bull MANKATO MAGAZINE

January Resolve to moisturize

Your stYLeBy Ann Rosenquist Fee

Ann Rosenquist Fee is executive director of the Arts Center of Saint Peter and a vocalist with The Frye She blogs at annrosenquistfeecom

If you have in-laws or colleagues who know you well enough to have given you holiday gifts

but not well enough to know what wouldrsquove truly made you happy congratulations Chances are yoursquore the proud owner of a bunch of brand-new lip balm

Maybe itrsquos even holiday themed Thatrsquos the best Maybe you got the candy-cane flavored kind or wintergreen with holiday graphics on the label or something like that A theme that was irrelevant the moment the stocking was unstuffed because at that exact second the holiday was over

And here you are in January with an abundance of wax

Fortunately also here you are in the early weeks of winter with rough red knuckles Probably also cracked cuticles although it might not have gone that far yet for you Irsquom sure it has for me This photo was taken back in November and even then the Band-Aids were for real Irsquove learned to cut them in half length-wise so as to retain my ability to type Irsquove also learned to play with a range of color options Flesh-toned Clear Disney characters The colorful strips shown here were gifted to me by my husband Partly why theyrsquore cut in half is that the text is obscene This is one small trick you can use to make bloody cuticles your most exciting accessory of the winter

Sources like UrbanSurvivalSitecom and WonderHowTocom will tell you that you can use lip balm for a whole variety of purposes such as coating threads of outdoor lightbulbs before screwing them into their sockets and enhancing the burn-ability of most kindling

These are great fun but they wonrsquot improve your personal style

More germane to winter beauty are the following suggestions

Keep a tube next to your bed for first-thing-in-the-morning use And I mean really truly first-thing I mean smear the stuff on each cuticle while yoursquore still lying there before you start using your fingers at all If you wake up thinking yoursquore fine and skip cuticle care next thing you know yoursquore pushing down the lever on your Keurig and the pressure is more than your screamingly dry skin can take and boom split blood on the Keurig and itrsquos gonna be a long painful day If only you had balmed your hands before you let your feet hit the floor

Keep another tube in your glove compartment If itrsquos warm enough to take off your mittens in the car mdash if yoursquore even wearing mittens given that your hands are snagging on everything these days mdash the harsh January sunlight will allow you to see cracks and flakes in high-resolution detail Yoursquoll want the balm nearby

to cover what you didnrsquot notice first thing in the morning Also a car tube is useful for when you look in the rear-view mirror and notice that your nose and upper lip are flaking as well Itrsquos because yoursquore getting over a cold and the frequent use of tissue has worn away your top layer of skin but just because you know that doesnrsquot mean everybody else wonrsquot think ldquothere is something in that noserdquo Itrsquos just a fact Itrsquos what it looks like Lip balm to the rescue Itrsquos the only thing dry enough to slick those flakes in place and nourishing enough to maybe actually get your face back to normal

Keep a couple more tubes in a nighttime kit along with sandpaper Sandpaper Yes Not a pumice stone not a lame also-gifted sugar

scrub Medium-grit sandpaper is what you need every night lightly but with conviction As follows 1) Sand taking care not to do more damage than what the elements have already done Yoursquore just trying to remove the dry dead stuff Yoursquore just being hearty and efficient about this true to the culture of this great state in which yoursquove chosen to winter You are no pansy Sand your hands 2) Wash 3) Blot dry 4) Dial up the gifted balm whisper a word of thanks to the person who put so much thought into your well-being that they stuffed your holiday stocking with this amazing gift of self-care smash a healthy amount down into your palms massage Take heart You just might find yourself with normal-textured non-cracked not-horrible-looking hands by morning

Split-open cuticles I feel you Except for these Band-Aids I feel you

Lip balms I have been gifted and these are just from last Christmas ldquolastrdquo as in 2014

Bathrooms Worth Bragging About

HoursTue amp Wed amp Fri | 9 am to 6 pmMon amp Thu | 9 am to 7 pmSaturday | 9 am to 4 pm

219 S Victory Dr | Mankato507 | 345 | 7009ipafhickorytechnetindependentpaintandflooringcom

You Deserve Comfortable Care Every Timebull Sedation - Complete Relaxation with Just a Pillbull Invisalign - Clear Alternative to Bracesbull Botox amp Fillersbull Implants - Placement and Restorationbull Cerec - One Visit Crown Technology

bull Free Whitening Programbull 3D Imaging with Fewer X-Raysbull Cosmetic Dentistrybull Drill-Free Technologybull Emergency Care

1400 Lookout Drive North Mankato507-625-CARE(2273) bull mankatodentistcom 06

1865

6124

01

Dr AngelA Schuck

Dr keith FlAck

MM p02 0116indd 42 12182015 30841 PM

MANKATO MAGAZINE  bull January 2016 bull 43

Bathrooms Worth Bragging About

HoursTue amp Wed amp Fri | 9 am to 6 pmMon amp Thu | 9 am to 7 pmSaturday | 9 am to 4 pm

219 S Victory Dr | Mankato507 | 345 | 7009ipafhickorytechnetindependentpaintandflooringcom

You Deserve Comfortable Care Every Timebull Sedation - Complete Relaxation with Just a Pillbull Invisalign - Clear Alternative to Bracesbull Botox amp Fillersbull Implants - Placement and Restorationbull Cerec - One Visit Crown Technology

bull Free Whitening Programbull 3D Imaging with Fewer X-Raysbull Cosmetic Dentistrybull Drill-Free Technologybull Emergency Care

1400 Lookout Drive North Mankato507-625-CARE(2273) bull mankatodentistcom 06

1865

6124

01

Dr AngelA Schuck

Dr keith FlAck

(944) 412-7949 | OrthoEdgeMNcom

Enjoy the season

Mankato St Peter

Be active Be healthyBe able with OrthoEdge

The OrthoEdge joint replacement

program offers superb care from your first

visit through recovery The surgeons from

the Orthopaedic amp Fracture Clinic and

the care team at Riverrsquos Edge Hospital

provide personal and professional care to

get you back to able

Why Riverrsquos Edge Hospital amp Clinic

bull Riverrsquos Edge Hospital amp Clinic has a long-

standing relationship with the Orthopaedic

amp Fracture Clinic

bull There are 14 private suites that feature a

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bull Free WiFi for patients and guests

bull Individualized care

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MM p02 0116indd 43 12182015 30842 PM

44 bull January 2016 bull MANKATO MAGAZINE

1 Hicktown Mafia800 pm mdash New Ulm Event Center mdash 301 20th St S mdash New Ulm mdash $10 mdash 507-354-4673

7-9 Mankato West Orchesis Dance Team showcase7 pm Thursday-Saturday 2 pm Saturday mdash Mankato West High School Auditorium mdash $7 adults $5 students mdash 507-381-7578

10 Mankato Symphony Orchestra Music on the Hill II ldquoMinnesota rootsrdquo2 pm mdash Chapel at Good Counselmdash Good Counsel Drive mdash Mankato mdash $17 $12 mdash wwwmankatosymphonycom

16 Handel with Caremdash Handel Goes to Italy11 ammdash YMCA Aerobics Studio mdash 1401 S Riverfront Drive mdash Mankato mdash wwwmankatosymphonycom

16 Mankato Craft beer Expo2 pm (VIP) 3 pm general mdash Verizon Wireless Center mdash $45 VIP $35 general $10 designated driver mdash wwwmankatocraftbeerexpocom

23 Joey Flip and Mike Fugazzi rockinrsquo at the Embassy9 pm mdash Blaschkorsquos Embassy Bar and Grill mdash 325 S Minnesota Ave mdash St Peter mdash 507-934-3903

24 andrea Lyn and Dick Kimmel concert730 pm mdash Elias J Halling Recital Hall mdash Minnesota State University mdash Mankato mdash $12 regular $11 current MSU students mdash wwwmnusedumusic

28-31 MSu Theatre antigone730 pm Thursday-Saturday 2 pm Sunday mdash Andreas Theatre mdash Minnesota State University mdash Mankato mdash $16 regular $14 discount $11 current MSU students mdash wwwmnsuedu

29-31 BLC Theatre Brigadoon730 Friday and Saturday 2 pm Sunday mdash Ylvisaker Fine Arts Center mdash Bethany Lutheran College mdash Mankato mdash $10 adults $6 seniors children and students mdash wwwblceduevents

29- Feb 7 Winterfest St Peter Citywide mdash wwwstpeterchamberorg

30 Church of Cash a Tribute to Johnny Cash7 pm mdash St Peter American Legion mdash 229 W Nassau St mdash St Peter mdash 507-934-6435

31 Maud Hixson and rick Carlson concert730 pmmdash Elias J Halling Recital Hall mdash Minnesota State University mdash Mankato mdash $12 regular $11 current MSU students wwmnsuedumusic

Coming attraCtions January

T - F 8am - 6pm Sun ClosedSat 9am - 4pmM 8am - 8pm

120 North Broad Street Mankato MN 507-345-4688 wwwmeyerandsonstvandappliancecom

FIND SPECIAL DEALS ON

MM p02 0116indd 44 12182015 30902 PM

MANKATO MAGAZINE  bull January 2016 bull 45

St Peter Craft amp Vendor Show

1MelinadaBussefromRapidansoldherhandmadejewelryatthecraftandvendorshow

2DarylfromElysianandhishand-carvedwoodart

3MacKennaage7hasfunatoneoftheboothsattheStPeterCraftandVendorShow

4LizEntershowsoffsomeofherproductsattheldquoItWorksrdquobooth

5DenisePetersofldquoYoungLivingrdquoessentialoilsdisplayedherproductsattheshow

Faces amp Places Photos By Sport Pix

3

5

2

1

4

T - F 8am - 6pm Sun ClosedSat 9am - 4pmM 8am - 8pm

120 North Broad Street Mankato MN 507-345-4688 wwwmeyerandsonstvandappliancecom

FIND SPECIAL DEALS ON

MM p02 0116indd 45 12222015 121536 PM

46 bull January 2016 bull MANKATO MAGAZINE

SOUTHErN MN CHrISTMAS

FESTIVAL1 A large crowd was on hand during the festivities at

the Christmas Festival2 Friesenrsquos Family Bakery amp Bistro had tons of baked

goods and soups at the Verizon Wireless Center3 A childrenrsquos choir sang for the audience at the

festival4 Ron Haefner owner of Ronrsquos Auto Repair displayed

some of his services5 Garrison Galatz dressed up as Santa for the

Christmas Festival

faCes amp PLaCes Photos By Sport Pix

4

3

1

2

5

MM p02 0116indd 46 12182015 30923 PM

MANKATO MAGAZINE  bull January 2016 bull 47

1GirlScouttroop34494waspresentedwithatrophybyKiwanisVicePresidentKyleMrozek

2SantaClausevenwentthroughtheparaderoute3(LtoR)BrooklynPomrankeAlaynaLyonsHunterPomrankeandLilyLyonsgetagroupphototakenwithSanta

4MarshaMartigtellsSantawhatshewantsforChristmas

5TheparadefloatswerealldeckedoutinChristmaslights

6Visitorswalkthepatharoundtheparktoviewthisyearrsquoslights

Kiwanis Holiday ligHtsFaces amp Places Photos By sport Pix

2

1

3

4 5

6

MM p02 0116indd 47 12222015 121616 PM

48 bull January 2016 bull MANKATO MAGAZINE

On the Occasion of a 50th Reunion

the Class of 1965

from this VaLLeYBy Pete Steiner

Peter Steiner is host of ldquoTalk of the Townrdquo weekdays at 105 pm on KTOE

I was honored to give the presentation for our 50th class reunion recently at West Highrsquos Homecoming celebration About 120 of our nearly 400-member class

showed up We Baby Boomers the children of the greatest generation had big classes in the late lsquo60rsquos that forced the building of East High Ours was a dramatic era and our class did some great things in the face of big challenges Here edited is some of what I said

I am so glad to be standing here today Therersquos an old saying

ldquoMay you live in INTErESTINg timeshelliprdquo The Class of rsquo65 certainly has Itrsquos seems like only yesterday right after lunch that we were at our desks waiting for the start of English class when our charismatic teacher Harry Fitterer strode in and said ldquoPrESIDENT KENNEDY HAS BEEN SHOT IN DALLASrdquo At first we didnrsquot believe him but it was true It was November 22 1963 We were juniors and as the song says that was THE END OF THE INNOCENCE We had lived through the last idyllic time in America

When we first arrived in the fall of 1962 America was still carefree basking in the glow of victory in WW II Everything may have seemed ldquorightrdquo but it was not Martin Luther King Jr had just visited Mankato pointing out the continuing plight of black Americans as the Civil rights movement was gaining steam The beginnings of the Vietnam War which would alter the course of many of our lives were stirring even as we studied history and government The current generation has no monopoly on forgettable pop music ndash we had a stupid 1 song called ldquoItsie Bitsie Teenie Weenie Yellow Polka Dot Bikinirdquo (unfortunately an ear worm I canrsquot forget) But a darker cultural threat was looming The BEATLES were invading from Britain and our parents were mortified because they had LONg HAIr

Some of the shock of the Kennedy assassination was eased when our wrestling team in the era when the state still had just ONE CLASS won the State Championship in front of a packed hall up at MSU some still maintain that is the greatest single athletic achievement in Mankato history We were the first high school in Mankato to put on a full-scale musical ldquoBye Bye Birdierdquo in the spring of 1964 In Fall of 1964 our football team would have won the conference championship outright except Owatonnarsquos great Noel Jenke who would go on to star for the U of M

cheated I watched him trap the touchdown pass that beat us Does cheating pay Was that a lesson for life

In lsquo65 we also had a fine basketball team that lost our chance at State when our 6-6 center fouled out at Luverne

BUT A FAr BIggEr CHALLENgE AWAITED US ALL As we rode out to Luverne to watch that game we couldnrsquot help noticing the highway was like a canyon between walls of snow The legendary St Patrickrsquos Day Blizzard had dumped two feet on top of an already large snow pack and then April brought rains on frozen ground Instead of coming here to school many of us soon got a real-life assignment to go out in our rain gear out on the dikes to battle the grEAT FLOOD OF 1965 Our school became an island as water flooded the parking lot and all of South riverfront Our spring play that year was called ironically

THE DESPErATE HOUrS We had to rehearse at roosevelt School up on higher ground

Our class produced three Merit scholars One of our classmates who did NOT qualify

for a merit scholarship nevertheless was such a whiz at physics that NASA requested a copy of a paper he wrote on rocketry as a senior We produced 12 doctors one of whom earned a fellowship at Stanford seeking how to bring telemedicine to the poor another of whom became a breakthrough cancer doctor We had entrepreneurs one who would go on to be a leader in Solar Energy (and then run for governor of New Hampshire) Another mdash a woman incidentally when

that was not common founded two bio-tech startups Many of us are still working

past normal retirement age One founded a company on the leading edge of recycling

computers whose clients include the NSA Another is chief medical officer of a company

devising a better tool for colonoscopies Yet another of our classmates recently completed a concert tour of China

We lived in challenging times just as you do today but we muddle through we make it to the other shore I remember sitting where you are 50 years ago thinking how old those folks up there looked But remember Life goes by very quickly You certainly live in interesting times as Shakespeare said ldquoPresent Mirth has Present Laughter Youthrsquos a stuff will NOT endurerdquo So I urge you live each moment to the fullest

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MM p02 0116indd 49 12182015 30936 PM

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Page 33: Mankatomag 116

MANKATO MAGAZINE  bull January 2016 bull 31

Oil Change to OverhaulWe do it all

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WHERE YOUR POLICY COMES WITH AN AGENT

Christina Meyer

MM p02 0116indd 31 12182015 30755 PM

32 bull January 2016 bull MANKATO MAGAZINE

January is Cabernet TimeWersquove celebrated nearly

every January edition of Mankato Magazine with

a paean to BIG REDS And since there are so many wonderful examples why stop now

Last year I wrote about the powerful big reds of Italy This January wersquoll focus on Cabernet Sauvignon known to many as ldquothe king of winesrdquo Most oenophiles (wine lovers) consider the quintessential representations of this grape to be the classified Bordeaux of southwest France near the city of Bordeaux The five First Growths (or best wines according to a classification made in 1855 and updated in 1973) are Ch Lafite Rothschild Ch Margaux Ch Latour Ch Haut Brion and Ch Mouton Rothschild All have a cabernet sauvignon base but they are blended with merlot and often a little bit of cabernet franc and petit verdot as well

In the early 1970s I was able to buy these wines for around $22 per bottle mdash about $120 in 2016 dollars Yet with the popularity of ldquocollectiblerdquo wines on a worldwide

basis they sell today for anywhere from $400 on up

Contrary to popular belief these wines are not that massive Rather they combine cabernet sauvignon power with

structure and finesse yielding wines that become with time elixirs that are greater than the sum of their parts

Both California and Washington state have taken up the Cabernet Sauvignon challenge and are producing world-class wines at sometimes world-class prices Napa Valley is the recognized leader in this arena and rightly so Napa Valleyrsquos top Cabernet

Wine amp B

eerso

uthern m

n style

winesBy Leigh Pomeroy

Leigh Pomeroy is a Mankato-based writer and wine lover

Cabernet Sauvignon is the black Labrador of wines mdash it comes up and licks yourdquo

mdash Winemaker Scott Rich

Sauvignons rival the great wines of Bordeaux for quality mdash Irsquove tasted them side-by-side mdashand yet can sell for a fraction of their price

One such example is the 2013 Tulocay Cabernet Sauvignon from my old friend Bill Cadman We were young bucks in Napa Valley and had a tasting group in the early 1970s along with now-famous wine luminaries Bruce Neyers (Neyers Vineyards) and Mike Richmond (co-founder of Acacia Vineyard)

Billrsquos Cabernet is from an old and relatively cool growing area east of the City of Napa called Coombsville which because of industry political issues only recently received its AVA (American Viticultural Area) designation It is priced at $60 per bottle yet compares with any top-flight Bordeaux as well as the more expensive offerings from Napa Valley which can cost from $100 on up Not currently available at wine stores or restaurants in Minnesota it can be purchased by contacting the winery directly via its website tulocaycom The winery is so small that Bill will probably answer the phone himself

There is a lot of Cabernet Sauvignon available from California but mdash caveat emptor mdash not all growing areas (or appellations) are the same The best Cabernet Sauvignons are from Napa and Sonoma Counties Cabernets simply labeled ldquoCaliforniardquo or perhaps ldquoCoastalrdquo while sometimes good values lack the complexity of the greater Cabernet Sauvignons from the more northern parts of the state

Washington state has also

established itself as a prime producer of Cabernet Sauvignon But here again quality can vary greatly depending upon the area and producer While there is no ldquogo-tordquo appellation for Cabernet Sauvignon in Washington there are producers that are able to secure fruit from the best vineyards

One such example is the tiny Willis Hall Winery owned by another good friend John Bell a former Boeing jet propulsion engineer Like Tulocay its wines are only available by calling up the winery and ordering some (See willishallcom) But there are many other top quality producers in Washington like Quilceda Creek Leonetti Betz Family and Woodward Canyon

Of course not everyone can afford Cabernet Sauvignons in the $60-plus category One excellent everyday drinking example is the Flying Cloud 2013 Paso Robles Cabernet Sauvignon made by Mankato native Stephen Dooley Normally I donrsquot like Paso Robles Cabs as they tend to be too fruity and too soft for my palate mdash almost like drinking berry jam But this one is quite restrained no doubt helped by the inclusion of 13 percent zinfandel and 9 percent petite sirah in the blend

In Mankato both the Wine Cafeacute and MGM carry the Flying Cloud but at its price and quality I wouldnrsquot count on it lasting for long especially since only 759 cases were produced

So letrsquos raise a glass of Cabernet and say ldquoCheersrdquo to the New Year

MM p02 0116indd 32 12182015 30756 PM

MANKATO MAGAZINE  bull January 2016 bull 33

Bert Mattson is a chef and writer based in St Paul He is the manager of the iconic Mickeyrsquos Diner

Beer Skinny

BeerBy Bert Mattson

Last year according to Nielsen research staying fit and healthy was

the number one New Yearrsquos resolution Losing weight was two Three was to enjoy life to the fullest Unfortunately ldquolose weight and get fitrdquo also topped Time magazinersquos list of commonly broken resolutions Is this shortfall due to tension between the top two and that third one If so craft beer may have a role in the compromise Bad news first

In the context of losing weight and staying fit beer lovers might seek solace in the fact that fat carries nine calories per gram while alcohol has only seven The wrinkle is that those seven are ldquoemptyrdquo mdash calories without nutrition as opposed to those from fat protein and carbohydrates Moreover alcoholrsquos calories are the first burned when combined with the others the human body postpones burning fat while it works on alcohol Furthermore beer (and wine and often cocktails) contains carbohydrates which release insulin and can hasten fat storage Finally many drinkers have undoubtedly observed that alcohol loosens inhibitions after which an eager indulgence in unhealthy foods often occurs (Bar menus are rarely helpful in that respect)

By now you may wonder whose side Irsquom actually on Or suspect Irsquove led you to this dark place only to offer you a Lite No worries a couple craft brewers have been considering ways to keep us true to our resolutions

Evil Twin Brewingrsquos Bikini Beer drops the alcohol to 27 percent but stays bold by way of hops A Pale Ale it hits the nose with citrus suggestive of IPA The flavor follows suit floral and lemon There is an expected absence of malt yielding to bitterness up front that fades at the finish An alternative

for those who insist on the full effect Founderrsquos Brewing Companyrsquos All Day IPA rings in at a respectable 144 calories (Evil Twinrsquos entry comes in at 81)

One strategy to beat the beer munchies and avoid costly impulse eating is to have suitable chow on hand With Bikini Beer try a salad sporting blue cheese and some sort of dried fruit Creamy blue veined cheeses echo the hops while balancing bitterness An occasional bite of dried fruit stands in for malt sweetness

Brooklyn Breweryrsquos 12 Ale weighs in at 34 percent alcohol (102 calories) It is alliteratively labeled ldquoSession Saisonrdquo It opens with a waft of citrus and spice and a little lemongrass from Sorachi Ace hops mdash a hybrid developed in East Asia The same elements are found in the flavor which is a bit more subdued than a full-sized Saison

Try it with a tangle of arugula dressed with lemon and a fruity olive oil tossed with pine nuts and topped with shaved Parmesan for effect The greens and cracked pepper reflect spicy phenolic elements in the yeast Salty cheese counters the beerrsquos lingering bitterness Maybe add a few slices of Speck cured ham and Saison share a certain funkiness

If friends show and it becomes a session you may honestly say you spent Saturday working on your six-pack

MM p02 0116indd 33 12182015 30757 PM

34 bull January 2016 bull MANKATO MAGAZINE

Food

south

ern mn style

Food

south

ern mn style

The Coffee Hag one of the arearsquos oldest (and coolest) bistros recently underwent a major expansion and remodeling journey culminating in a large and airy

seating area along with a much-improved kitchen and a new menu Mankato Magazine caught up with a very busy (and slightly exhausted) owner Jenn Melby-Kelly who weighs in on how itrsquos going

MANKATO MAGAZINE Are you personally enjoying the new updatesJENN MELBY-KELLY It Is Fabulous The new space represents so much more than a remodel to me It has brought to life a vision for my business thatrsquos been years in the making It incorporates many many good ideas from many many people I feel so fortunate to get to see that every time I walk through the door

MM How are customers reactingJMK Thatrsquos been one of the best parts The response has been overwhelmingly positive

A few of our most regular customers had the opportunity to get a glimpse of the remodel while it was underway (we gave some informal preview tours while we were operating the temporary stand outside) but many customers walk through the door now and see it all for the first time Itrsquos especially fun to see and hear that kind of wide-eyed reaction

A few people with special connections to The Hag have had even stronger emotional responses and Irsquom so touched and right there with them when I see eyes well up as they see what wersquove done Itrsquos a very big milestone for a very special place and wersquore blessed to have people that care so deeply

MM Do the employees appreciate the new spaceJMK Oh probably more than anyone There was a lot that we sought to do with the remodel but creating a bigger brighter better-equipped space for our team was certainly one of the primary goals Wersquove got an incredible team truly the most spirited and talented people anyone could hope for

Many of them have spent years with me working hard against the challenge of a small under-equipped space and just barely being able to keeping up with growing demand Itrsquos been a special blessing for them and for me to finally have state-of-the-art space thatrsquos made for the work that we do We all feel a special connection to this place and now more than ever the place reflects the good energy we all bring here every day

MM Is the new menu a hit (The Hag specializes in vegetarianvegan cuisine)JMK Yes but just wait Feedback and demand have been excellent with our food offerings already but wersquore just getting started on some of the really exciting things that are coming to our food menu

Remodeling the cafe was just the first major milestone of our two-part expansion plan Next up wersquore building a state of the art off-site commissary kitchen that will do for our incredible culinary team what the remodeled shop has done for our baristas Theyrsquove been working day and night on taking our already fantastic food offerings to a whole new level

Wersquove already introduced some amazing new menu items like the Garden Grilled Cheese panini (trust me itrsquos like nothing yoursquove had before) and some truly outstanding new vegan baked goods Wersquove also improved our classic offerings with house-made

Interview with Jenn Melby-Kelly owner of The Coffee Hag

By Sarah Johnson

MM p02 0116indd 34 12182015 30802 PM

MANKATO MAGAZINE  bull January 2016 bull 35

Happy New Year

Locally Owned amp Operated

Check Weekly Specialsmgmwineandspiritscommankato

Largest Selection ofbull Liquor bull Wine bull Beer bull

Hours Monday-Saturday 8 am - 10 pm

ATMs at all stores

Mankato201 Victory Dr

625-2420

North Mankato1755 Commerce Dr

387-2634

St Peter100 N Minnesota Ave

934-8964

sourdough and whole wheat breads But as impressive as it is already itrsquos just a taste mdash literally mdash of things to come as we bring our new kitchen online

MM Whatrsquos stayed the sameJMK Irsquom really proud to say that while wersquove touched almost every part of this 23-year-old business wersquove kept even more than we have changed From the first days of this project I made it my personal mission and responsibility to make sure that the ldquosoulrdquo of this special place was only enhanced and never lost as we made the updates

In every area of the remodel as wersquove added some necessary new layers of sophistication The Hagrsquos colorful quirky and even rebellious spirit is still very much a part of the space We did a lot to try to make sure it still looked and felt like ldquohomerdquo

And on a deeper level every step wersquove taken with the growth of our business has been chosen carefully to honor the core parts of The Coffee Hagrsquos identity Our focus on community our support for local art and music our commitment to creating a safe and welcoming space for everyone our efforts to lead the way on social and environmental issues affecting our world near and far mdash those have all stayed the same And those will always be at the heart of what we do

MM Anything elseJMK Irsquom so incredibly grateful for the support of our customers and community And whenever I talk about my business and how it has grown I really canrsquot overstate how thankful I am for my beautiful Coffee Hag family The hard work good energy and earnest contributions of so many people mdash past and present mdash have brought me and my business here An incredible amount of love has gone into this business and made this dream a reality

MM p02 0116indd 35 12222015 121240 PM

36 bull January 2016 bull MANKATO MAGAZINE

xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

Food

south

ern mn style

whatrsquos Cooking By Sarah Johnson

Sarah Johnson is a cook freelance writer and chocolate addict from North Mankato with three grown kids and a couple of mutts

As I was pondering my subject matter for todayrsquos column I started wondering about all the different items the word ldquonutsrdquo can refer

to Crazy people are called nuts so are hexagonal metal objects that attach to bolts Nuts can be the end of things (as in ldquofrom soup to nutsrdquo) or they can be the beginning of them (as in ldquosperm incubatorsrdquo) Nut can also mean onersquos head or onersquos lump of something such as butter And if you accidentally get a nut of butter on your nut you can exclaim ldquoNutsrdquo

My favorite meaning of the word nut however is the dry indehiscent one-seeded fruit with a woody pericarp And I donrsquot even know what indehiscent OR pericarp means But these are the wonderful denizens of the world of edible nuts

Nuts are widely credited with all sorts of health benefits for the heart brain male reproductive system prostate cholesterol level fiber intake and avoidance of some types of cancer And while nuts do contain fat itrsquos the ldquogoodrdquo kind heart-healthy monounsaturated and polyunsaturated fat Their mix of omega-3 fatty acids protein and fiber helps you feel full and suppresses the appetite

Nuts are great in desserts and salads of course but they also shine in stir-fries casseroles soups chicken pork fish and even beverages Nut butters nut milks and nut oils add delicious options to our kitchen larders Breads cereals muffins and pancakes gain texture flavor and nutrition from the addition of nuts Basically anytime is a good time for nuts

Which is a wonderful thing because nuts taste so good you would think they had to be very very bad The reason lies deep in their oils

Walnut Oil is strong and flavorful Itrsquos best when used in uncooked sauces or salad dressing

Hazelnut Oil has a strong flavor and is great for the heart

Almond Oil is very popular and has a much milder flavor than walnut oil or hazelnut oil

Pecan Macadamia Nut Pistachio Cashew and Pine Nut Oils are flavorful and unique The freshness of the nuts used really affects the flavor

ldquoTherersquos Nuttinrsquo Nutty About Nutsrdquo

For the Baklava1 pound pistachios hazelnuts walnuts pecans andor almonds coarsely ground plus more for garnish12 teaspoon ground cinnamon1 cup breadcrumbs4 sticks unsalted butter melted16 sheets phyllo dough (thawed if frozen) cut in half

For the Syrup3 cups sugar1 6 -to-8-ounce jar honey1 frac12 cups water1 to 2 tablespoons fresh lemon juice

If yoursquore under the impression that baklava is much too labor-intensive and complicated to make at home think again Anybody can make

it no special skills equipment or exotic ingredients are required A word about phyllo dough Itrsquos sold in frozen packages so you need to remove the package from the freezer and let it thaw in the fridge 24 hours before you want to make the baklava Then about an hour beforehand remove the package from the fridge and let it sit on the counter

Walnuts or pistachios are the most traditional nuts to fill baklava but using other nuts works wonders as well Simply layer the phyllo with the nut filling and butter bake for an hour and finish with a simple honeyed syrup If you have leftover nuts from the holidays herersquos your chance to use them up

Mixed Nut Baklava

MM p02 0116indd 36 12182015 30812 PM

MANKATO MAGAZINE  bull January 2016 bull 37

MONEY MATTERS WORK SMARTLET COMMUNITY BANK HELP YOUBRING THE TWO TOGETHER

MANKATO - SAINT ANDREWS DR 5073854444MANKATO - MADISON AVE 5076251551VERNON CENTER 5075493679AMBOY 5076743300

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We support great causes like yoursAt Community Bank we know good things happen when you have a good bank So we make more possible by keeping banking simple and supportive And by giving you the power that comes with innovative solutions like our Health Savings Account It offers you tax-free savings for future medical expenses Stop by anytime Wersquore always ready to help out a great cause

Position a rack in the lower third of the oven preheat to 350 degrees Combine the nuts cinnamon and breadcrumbs in a bowl

Brush a 9x13-inch baking dish with some of the butter Layer 10 pieces of phyllo in the dish brushing each piece with butter before adding the next (keep the remaining dough covered with a damp towel) Sprinkle a quarter of the nut mixture over the dough Layer four pieces of phyllo on top brushing each with butter before adding the next sprinkle with another quarter of the nut mixture Add four more phyllo pieces on top brushing each with butter then add another quarter of the nut mixture four more pieces of phyllo with butter and the remaining nuts

Layer the remaining 10 pieces of phyllo on top of the nuts brushing each with butter brush the top piece with extra butter Cut into the baklava to make strips about 1 12 inches wide Then make diagonal slices about 1 12 inches apart to create a diamond pattern Bake until golden about one hour

Meanwhile make the syrup Bring the sugar honey and 1 12 cups water to a boil in a saucepan over medium heat and cook 10 to 15 minutes Add the lemon juice and boil 2 more minutes then let cool slightly Pour the syrup over the warm baklava let soak uncovered at least six hours or overnight Garnish with nuts

MM p02 0116indd 37 12182015 30817 PM

38 bull bull MANKATO MAGAZINE

Nell Musolf is a mom and freelance writer from Mankato She blogs at nellmusolfcom

38 bull bull MANKATO MAGAZINE

MM p02 0116indd 38 12182015 30822 PM

MANKATO MAGAZINE  bull January 2016 bull 39

Gear Up for WinterYear-Round amp Insulated Workwear from

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MM p02 0116indd 39 12222015 121344 PM

40 bull bull MANKATO MAGAZINE

Jean Lundquist is a master gardener who lives near Good Thunder

MM p02 0116indd 40 12182015 30834 PM

MANKATO MAGAZINE  bull January 2016 bull 41

3 Increase the Value of Your Home

3 Update Your Homersquos Appearance

3 Save Money

Choose from SeveralModels Styles amp Colors

507-625-7110 or 1-800-645-36671125 Cross St North Mankato MN

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Make Selling Your Home Your NuYearrsquos Resolution

MM p02 0116indd 41 12182015 30839 PM

42 bull January 2016 bull MANKATO MAGAZINE

January Resolve to moisturize

Your stYLeBy Ann Rosenquist Fee

Ann Rosenquist Fee is executive director of the Arts Center of Saint Peter and a vocalist with The Frye She blogs at annrosenquistfeecom

If you have in-laws or colleagues who know you well enough to have given you holiday gifts

but not well enough to know what wouldrsquove truly made you happy congratulations Chances are yoursquore the proud owner of a bunch of brand-new lip balm

Maybe itrsquos even holiday themed Thatrsquos the best Maybe you got the candy-cane flavored kind or wintergreen with holiday graphics on the label or something like that A theme that was irrelevant the moment the stocking was unstuffed because at that exact second the holiday was over

And here you are in January with an abundance of wax

Fortunately also here you are in the early weeks of winter with rough red knuckles Probably also cracked cuticles although it might not have gone that far yet for you Irsquom sure it has for me This photo was taken back in November and even then the Band-Aids were for real Irsquove learned to cut them in half length-wise so as to retain my ability to type Irsquove also learned to play with a range of color options Flesh-toned Clear Disney characters The colorful strips shown here were gifted to me by my husband Partly why theyrsquore cut in half is that the text is obscene This is one small trick you can use to make bloody cuticles your most exciting accessory of the winter

Sources like UrbanSurvivalSitecom and WonderHowTocom will tell you that you can use lip balm for a whole variety of purposes such as coating threads of outdoor lightbulbs before screwing them into their sockets and enhancing the burn-ability of most kindling

These are great fun but they wonrsquot improve your personal style

More germane to winter beauty are the following suggestions

Keep a tube next to your bed for first-thing-in-the-morning use And I mean really truly first-thing I mean smear the stuff on each cuticle while yoursquore still lying there before you start using your fingers at all If you wake up thinking yoursquore fine and skip cuticle care next thing you know yoursquore pushing down the lever on your Keurig and the pressure is more than your screamingly dry skin can take and boom split blood on the Keurig and itrsquos gonna be a long painful day If only you had balmed your hands before you let your feet hit the floor

Keep another tube in your glove compartment If itrsquos warm enough to take off your mittens in the car mdash if yoursquore even wearing mittens given that your hands are snagging on everything these days mdash the harsh January sunlight will allow you to see cracks and flakes in high-resolution detail Yoursquoll want the balm nearby

to cover what you didnrsquot notice first thing in the morning Also a car tube is useful for when you look in the rear-view mirror and notice that your nose and upper lip are flaking as well Itrsquos because yoursquore getting over a cold and the frequent use of tissue has worn away your top layer of skin but just because you know that doesnrsquot mean everybody else wonrsquot think ldquothere is something in that noserdquo Itrsquos just a fact Itrsquos what it looks like Lip balm to the rescue Itrsquos the only thing dry enough to slick those flakes in place and nourishing enough to maybe actually get your face back to normal

Keep a couple more tubes in a nighttime kit along with sandpaper Sandpaper Yes Not a pumice stone not a lame also-gifted sugar

scrub Medium-grit sandpaper is what you need every night lightly but with conviction As follows 1) Sand taking care not to do more damage than what the elements have already done Yoursquore just trying to remove the dry dead stuff Yoursquore just being hearty and efficient about this true to the culture of this great state in which yoursquove chosen to winter You are no pansy Sand your hands 2) Wash 3) Blot dry 4) Dial up the gifted balm whisper a word of thanks to the person who put so much thought into your well-being that they stuffed your holiday stocking with this amazing gift of self-care smash a healthy amount down into your palms massage Take heart You just might find yourself with normal-textured non-cracked not-horrible-looking hands by morning

Split-open cuticles I feel you Except for these Band-Aids I feel you

Lip balms I have been gifted and these are just from last Christmas ldquolastrdquo as in 2014

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HoursTue amp Wed amp Fri | 9 am to 6 pmMon amp Thu | 9 am to 7 pmSaturday | 9 am to 4 pm

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1865

6124

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Dr AngelA Schuck

Dr keith FlAck

MM p02 0116indd 42 12182015 30841 PM

MANKATO MAGAZINE  bull January 2016 bull 43

Bathrooms Worth Bragging About

HoursTue amp Wed amp Fri | 9 am to 6 pmMon amp Thu | 9 am to 7 pmSaturday | 9 am to 4 pm

219 S Victory Dr | Mankato507 | 345 | 7009ipafhickorytechnetindependentpaintandflooringcom

You Deserve Comfortable Care Every Timebull Sedation - Complete Relaxation with Just a Pillbull Invisalign - Clear Alternative to Bracesbull Botox amp Fillersbull Implants - Placement and Restorationbull Cerec - One Visit Crown Technology

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1400 Lookout Drive North Mankato507-625-CARE(2273) bull mankatodentistcom 06

1865

6124

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Dr AngelA Schuck

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Enjoy the season

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The OrthoEdge joint replacement

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MM p02 0116indd 43 12182015 30842 PM

44 bull January 2016 bull MANKATO MAGAZINE

1 Hicktown Mafia800 pm mdash New Ulm Event Center mdash 301 20th St S mdash New Ulm mdash $10 mdash 507-354-4673

7-9 Mankato West Orchesis Dance Team showcase7 pm Thursday-Saturday 2 pm Saturday mdash Mankato West High School Auditorium mdash $7 adults $5 students mdash 507-381-7578

10 Mankato Symphony Orchestra Music on the Hill II ldquoMinnesota rootsrdquo2 pm mdash Chapel at Good Counselmdash Good Counsel Drive mdash Mankato mdash $17 $12 mdash wwwmankatosymphonycom

16 Handel with Caremdash Handel Goes to Italy11 ammdash YMCA Aerobics Studio mdash 1401 S Riverfront Drive mdash Mankato mdash wwwmankatosymphonycom

16 Mankato Craft beer Expo2 pm (VIP) 3 pm general mdash Verizon Wireless Center mdash $45 VIP $35 general $10 designated driver mdash wwwmankatocraftbeerexpocom

23 Joey Flip and Mike Fugazzi rockinrsquo at the Embassy9 pm mdash Blaschkorsquos Embassy Bar and Grill mdash 325 S Minnesota Ave mdash St Peter mdash 507-934-3903

24 andrea Lyn and Dick Kimmel concert730 pm mdash Elias J Halling Recital Hall mdash Minnesota State University mdash Mankato mdash $12 regular $11 current MSU students mdash wwwmnusedumusic

28-31 MSu Theatre antigone730 pm Thursday-Saturday 2 pm Sunday mdash Andreas Theatre mdash Minnesota State University mdash Mankato mdash $16 regular $14 discount $11 current MSU students mdash wwwmnsuedu

29-31 BLC Theatre Brigadoon730 Friday and Saturday 2 pm Sunday mdash Ylvisaker Fine Arts Center mdash Bethany Lutheran College mdash Mankato mdash $10 adults $6 seniors children and students mdash wwwblceduevents

29- Feb 7 Winterfest St Peter Citywide mdash wwwstpeterchamberorg

30 Church of Cash a Tribute to Johnny Cash7 pm mdash St Peter American Legion mdash 229 W Nassau St mdash St Peter mdash 507-934-6435

31 Maud Hixson and rick Carlson concert730 pmmdash Elias J Halling Recital Hall mdash Minnesota State University mdash Mankato mdash $12 regular $11 current MSU students wwmnsuedumusic

Coming attraCtions January

T - F 8am - 6pm Sun ClosedSat 9am - 4pmM 8am - 8pm

120 North Broad Street Mankato MN 507-345-4688 wwwmeyerandsonstvandappliancecom

FIND SPECIAL DEALS ON

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MANKATO MAGAZINE  bull January 2016 bull 45

St Peter Craft amp Vendor Show

1MelinadaBussefromRapidansoldherhandmadejewelryatthecraftandvendorshow

2DarylfromElysianandhishand-carvedwoodart

3MacKennaage7hasfunatoneoftheboothsattheStPeterCraftandVendorShow

4LizEntershowsoffsomeofherproductsattheldquoItWorksrdquobooth

5DenisePetersofldquoYoungLivingrdquoessentialoilsdisplayedherproductsattheshow

Faces amp Places Photos By Sport Pix

3

5

2

1

4

T - F 8am - 6pm Sun ClosedSat 9am - 4pmM 8am - 8pm

120 North Broad Street Mankato MN 507-345-4688 wwwmeyerandsonstvandappliancecom

FIND SPECIAL DEALS ON

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46 bull January 2016 bull MANKATO MAGAZINE

SOUTHErN MN CHrISTMAS

FESTIVAL1 A large crowd was on hand during the festivities at

the Christmas Festival2 Friesenrsquos Family Bakery amp Bistro had tons of baked

goods and soups at the Verizon Wireless Center3 A childrenrsquos choir sang for the audience at the

festival4 Ron Haefner owner of Ronrsquos Auto Repair displayed

some of his services5 Garrison Galatz dressed up as Santa for the

Christmas Festival

faCes amp PLaCes Photos By Sport Pix

4

3

1

2

5

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MANKATO MAGAZINE  bull January 2016 bull 47

1GirlScouttroop34494waspresentedwithatrophybyKiwanisVicePresidentKyleMrozek

2SantaClausevenwentthroughtheparaderoute3(LtoR)BrooklynPomrankeAlaynaLyonsHunterPomrankeandLilyLyonsgetagroupphototakenwithSanta

4MarshaMartigtellsSantawhatshewantsforChristmas

5TheparadefloatswerealldeckedoutinChristmaslights

6Visitorswalkthepatharoundtheparktoviewthisyearrsquoslights

Kiwanis Holiday ligHtsFaces amp Places Photos By sport Pix

2

1

3

4 5

6

MM p02 0116indd 47 12222015 121616 PM

48 bull January 2016 bull MANKATO MAGAZINE

On the Occasion of a 50th Reunion

the Class of 1965

from this VaLLeYBy Pete Steiner

Peter Steiner is host of ldquoTalk of the Townrdquo weekdays at 105 pm on KTOE

I was honored to give the presentation for our 50th class reunion recently at West Highrsquos Homecoming celebration About 120 of our nearly 400-member class

showed up We Baby Boomers the children of the greatest generation had big classes in the late lsquo60rsquos that forced the building of East High Ours was a dramatic era and our class did some great things in the face of big challenges Here edited is some of what I said

I am so glad to be standing here today Therersquos an old saying

ldquoMay you live in INTErESTINg timeshelliprdquo The Class of rsquo65 certainly has Itrsquos seems like only yesterday right after lunch that we were at our desks waiting for the start of English class when our charismatic teacher Harry Fitterer strode in and said ldquoPrESIDENT KENNEDY HAS BEEN SHOT IN DALLASrdquo At first we didnrsquot believe him but it was true It was November 22 1963 We were juniors and as the song says that was THE END OF THE INNOCENCE We had lived through the last idyllic time in America

When we first arrived in the fall of 1962 America was still carefree basking in the glow of victory in WW II Everything may have seemed ldquorightrdquo but it was not Martin Luther King Jr had just visited Mankato pointing out the continuing plight of black Americans as the Civil rights movement was gaining steam The beginnings of the Vietnam War which would alter the course of many of our lives were stirring even as we studied history and government The current generation has no monopoly on forgettable pop music ndash we had a stupid 1 song called ldquoItsie Bitsie Teenie Weenie Yellow Polka Dot Bikinirdquo (unfortunately an ear worm I canrsquot forget) But a darker cultural threat was looming The BEATLES were invading from Britain and our parents were mortified because they had LONg HAIr

Some of the shock of the Kennedy assassination was eased when our wrestling team in the era when the state still had just ONE CLASS won the State Championship in front of a packed hall up at MSU some still maintain that is the greatest single athletic achievement in Mankato history We were the first high school in Mankato to put on a full-scale musical ldquoBye Bye Birdierdquo in the spring of 1964 In Fall of 1964 our football team would have won the conference championship outright except Owatonnarsquos great Noel Jenke who would go on to star for the U of M

cheated I watched him trap the touchdown pass that beat us Does cheating pay Was that a lesson for life

In lsquo65 we also had a fine basketball team that lost our chance at State when our 6-6 center fouled out at Luverne

BUT A FAr BIggEr CHALLENgE AWAITED US ALL As we rode out to Luverne to watch that game we couldnrsquot help noticing the highway was like a canyon between walls of snow The legendary St Patrickrsquos Day Blizzard had dumped two feet on top of an already large snow pack and then April brought rains on frozen ground Instead of coming here to school many of us soon got a real-life assignment to go out in our rain gear out on the dikes to battle the grEAT FLOOD OF 1965 Our school became an island as water flooded the parking lot and all of South riverfront Our spring play that year was called ironically

THE DESPErATE HOUrS We had to rehearse at roosevelt School up on higher ground

Our class produced three Merit scholars One of our classmates who did NOT qualify

for a merit scholarship nevertheless was such a whiz at physics that NASA requested a copy of a paper he wrote on rocketry as a senior We produced 12 doctors one of whom earned a fellowship at Stanford seeking how to bring telemedicine to the poor another of whom became a breakthrough cancer doctor We had entrepreneurs one who would go on to be a leader in Solar Energy (and then run for governor of New Hampshire) Another mdash a woman incidentally when

that was not common founded two bio-tech startups Many of us are still working

past normal retirement age One founded a company on the leading edge of recycling

computers whose clients include the NSA Another is chief medical officer of a company

devising a better tool for colonoscopies Yet another of our classmates recently completed a concert tour of China

We lived in challenging times just as you do today but we muddle through we make it to the other shore I remember sitting where you are 50 years ago thinking how old those folks up there looked But remember Life goes by very quickly You certainly live in interesting times as Shakespeare said ldquoPresent Mirth has Present Laughter Youthrsquos a stuff will NOT endurerdquo So I urge you live each moment to the fullest

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Page 34: Mankatomag 116

32 bull January 2016 bull MANKATO MAGAZINE

January is Cabernet TimeWersquove celebrated nearly

every January edition of Mankato Magazine with

a paean to BIG REDS And since there are so many wonderful examples why stop now

Last year I wrote about the powerful big reds of Italy This January wersquoll focus on Cabernet Sauvignon known to many as ldquothe king of winesrdquo Most oenophiles (wine lovers) consider the quintessential representations of this grape to be the classified Bordeaux of southwest France near the city of Bordeaux The five First Growths (or best wines according to a classification made in 1855 and updated in 1973) are Ch Lafite Rothschild Ch Margaux Ch Latour Ch Haut Brion and Ch Mouton Rothschild All have a cabernet sauvignon base but they are blended with merlot and often a little bit of cabernet franc and petit verdot as well

In the early 1970s I was able to buy these wines for around $22 per bottle mdash about $120 in 2016 dollars Yet with the popularity of ldquocollectiblerdquo wines on a worldwide

basis they sell today for anywhere from $400 on up

Contrary to popular belief these wines are not that massive Rather they combine cabernet sauvignon power with

structure and finesse yielding wines that become with time elixirs that are greater than the sum of their parts

Both California and Washington state have taken up the Cabernet Sauvignon challenge and are producing world-class wines at sometimes world-class prices Napa Valley is the recognized leader in this arena and rightly so Napa Valleyrsquos top Cabernet

Wine amp B

eerso

uthern m

n style

winesBy Leigh Pomeroy

Leigh Pomeroy is a Mankato-based writer and wine lover

Cabernet Sauvignon is the black Labrador of wines mdash it comes up and licks yourdquo

mdash Winemaker Scott Rich

Sauvignons rival the great wines of Bordeaux for quality mdash Irsquove tasted them side-by-side mdashand yet can sell for a fraction of their price

One such example is the 2013 Tulocay Cabernet Sauvignon from my old friend Bill Cadman We were young bucks in Napa Valley and had a tasting group in the early 1970s along with now-famous wine luminaries Bruce Neyers (Neyers Vineyards) and Mike Richmond (co-founder of Acacia Vineyard)

Billrsquos Cabernet is from an old and relatively cool growing area east of the City of Napa called Coombsville which because of industry political issues only recently received its AVA (American Viticultural Area) designation It is priced at $60 per bottle yet compares with any top-flight Bordeaux as well as the more expensive offerings from Napa Valley which can cost from $100 on up Not currently available at wine stores or restaurants in Minnesota it can be purchased by contacting the winery directly via its website tulocaycom The winery is so small that Bill will probably answer the phone himself

There is a lot of Cabernet Sauvignon available from California but mdash caveat emptor mdash not all growing areas (or appellations) are the same The best Cabernet Sauvignons are from Napa and Sonoma Counties Cabernets simply labeled ldquoCaliforniardquo or perhaps ldquoCoastalrdquo while sometimes good values lack the complexity of the greater Cabernet Sauvignons from the more northern parts of the state

Washington state has also

established itself as a prime producer of Cabernet Sauvignon But here again quality can vary greatly depending upon the area and producer While there is no ldquogo-tordquo appellation for Cabernet Sauvignon in Washington there are producers that are able to secure fruit from the best vineyards

One such example is the tiny Willis Hall Winery owned by another good friend John Bell a former Boeing jet propulsion engineer Like Tulocay its wines are only available by calling up the winery and ordering some (See willishallcom) But there are many other top quality producers in Washington like Quilceda Creek Leonetti Betz Family and Woodward Canyon

Of course not everyone can afford Cabernet Sauvignons in the $60-plus category One excellent everyday drinking example is the Flying Cloud 2013 Paso Robles Cabernet Sauvignon made by Mankato native Stephen Dooley Normally I donrsquot like Paso Robles Cabs as they tend to be too fruity and too soft for my palate mdash almost like drinking berry jam But this one is quite restrained no doubt helped by the inclusion of 13 percent zinfandel and 9 percent petite sirah in the blend

In Mankato both the Wine Cafeacute and MGM carry the Flying Cloud but at its price and quality I wouldnrsquot count on it lasting for long especially since only 759 cases were produced

So letrsquos raise a glass of Cabernet and say ldquoCheersrdquo to the New Year

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MANKATO MAGAZINE  bull January 2016 bull 33

Bert Mattson is a chef and writer based in St Paul He is the manager of the iconic Mickeyrsquos Diner

Beer Skinny

BeerBy Bert Mattson

Last year according to Nielsen research staying fit and healthy was

the number one New Yearrsquos resolution Losing weight was two Three was to enjoy life to the fullest Unfortunately ldquolose weight and get fitrdquo also topped Time magazinersquos list of commonly broken resolutions Is this shortfall due to tension between the top two and that third one If so craft beer may have a role in the compromise Bad news first

In the context of losing weight and staying fit beer lovers might seek solace in the fact that fat carries nine calories per gram while alcohol has only seven The wrinkle is that those seven are ldquoemptyrdquo mdash calories without nutrition as opposed to those from fat protein and carbohydrates Moreover alcoholrsquos calories are the first burned when combined with the others the human body postpones burning fat while it works on alcohol Furthermore beer (and wine and often cocktails) contains carbohydrates which release insulin and can hasten fat storage Finally many drinkers have undoubtedly observed that alcohol loosens inhibitions after which an eager indulgence in unhealthy foods often occurs (Bar menus are rarely helpful in that respect)

By now you may wonder whose side Irsquom actually on Or suspect Irsquove led you to this dark place only to offer you a Lite No worries a couple craft brewers have been considering ways to keep us true to our resolutions

Evil Twin Brewingrsquos Bikini Beer drops the alcohol to 27 percent but stays bold by way of hops A Pale Ale it hits the nose with citrus suggestive of IPA The flavor follows suit floral and lemon There is an expected absence of malt yielding to bitterness up front that fades at the finish An alternative

for those who insist on the full effect Founderrsquos Brewing Companyrsquos All Day IPA rings in at a respectable 144 calories (Evil Twinrsquos entry comes in at 81)

One strategy to beat the beer munchies and avoid costly impulse eating is to have suitable chow on hand With Bikini Beer try a salad sporting blue cheese and some sort of dried fruit Creamy blue veined cheeses echo the hops while balancing bitterness An occasional bite of dried fruit stands in for malt sweetness

Brooklyn Breweryrsquos 12 Ale weighs in at 34 percent alcohol (102 calories) It is alliteratively labeled ldquoSession Saisonrdquo It opens with a waft of citrus and spice and a little lemongrass from Sorachi Ace hops mdash a hybrid developed in East Asia The same elements are found in the flavor which is a bit more subdued than a full-sized Saison

Try it with a tangle of arugula dressed with lemon and a fruity olive oil tossed with pine nuts and topped with shaved Parmesan for effect The greens and cracked pepper reflect spicy phenolic elements in the yeast Salty cheese counters the beerrsquos lingering bitterness Maybe add a few slices of Speck cured ham and Saison share a certain funkiness

If friends show and it becomes a session you may honestly say you spent Saturday working on your six-pack

MM p02 0116indd 33 12182015 30757 PM

34 bull January 2016 bull MANKATO MAGAZINE

Food

south

ern mn style

Food

south

ern mn style

The Coffee Hag one of the arearsquos oldest (and coolest) bistros recently underwent a major expansion and remodeling journey culminating in a large and airy

seating area along with a much-improved kitchen and a new menu Mankato Magazine caught up with a very busy (and slightly exhausted) owner Jenn Melby-Kelly who weighs in on how itrsquos going

MANKATO MAGAZINE Are you personally enjoying the new updatesJENN MELBY-KELLY It Is Fabulous The new space represents so much more than a remodel to me It has brought to life a vision for my business thatrsquos been years in the making It incorporates many many good ideas from many many people I feel so fortunate to get to see that every time I walk through the door

MM How are customers reactingJMK Thatrsquos been one of the best parts The response has been overwhelmingly positive

A few of our most regular customers had the opportunity to get a glimpse of the remodel while it was underway (we gave some informal preview tours while we were operating the temporary stand outside) but many customers walk through the door now and see it all for the first time Itrsquos especially fun to see and hear that kind of wide-eyed reaction

A few people with special connections to The Hag have had even stronger emotional responses and Irsquom so touched and right there with them when I see eyes well up as they see what wersquove done Itrsquos a very big milestone for a very special place and wersquore blessed to have people that care so deeply

MM Do the employees appreciate the new spaceJMK Oh probably more than anyone There was a lot that we sought to do with the remodel but creating a bigger brighter better-equipped space for our team was certainly one of the primary goals Wersquove got an incredible team truly the most spirited and talented people anyone could hope for

Many of them have spent years with me working hard against the challenge of a small under-equipped space and just barely being able to keeping up with growing demand Itrsquos been a special blessing for them and for me to finally have state-of-the-art space thatrsquos made for the work that we do We all feel a special connection to this place and now more than ever the place reflects the good energy we all bring here every day

MM Is the new menu a hit (The Hag specializes in vegetarianvegan cuisine)JMK Yes but just wait Feedback and demand have been excellent with our food offerings already but wersquore just getting started on some of the really exciting things that are coming to our food menu

Remodeling the cafe was just the first major milestone of our two-part expansion plan Next up wersquore building a state of the art off-site commissary kitchen that will do for our incredible culinary team what the remodeled shop has done for our baristas Theyrsquove been working day and night on taking our already fantastic food offerings to a whole new level

Wersquove already introduced some amazing new menu items like the Garden Grilled Cheese panini (trust me itrsquos like nothing yoursquove had before) and some truly outstanding new vegan baked goods Wersquove also improved our classic offerings with house-made

Interview with Jenn Melby-Kelly owner of The Coffee Hag

By Sarah Johnson

MM p02 0116indd 34 12182015 30802 PM

MANKATO MAGAZINE  bull January 2016 bull 35

Happy New Year

Locally Owned amp Operated

Check Weekly Specialsmgmwineandspiritscommankato

Largest Selection ofbull Liquor bull Wine bull Beer bull

Hours Monday-Saturday 8 am - 10 pm

ATMs at all stores

Mankato201 Victory Dr

625-2420

North Mankato1755 Commerce Dr

387-2634

St Peter100 N Minnesota Ave

934-8964

sourdough and whole wheat breads But as impressive as it is already itrsquos just a taste mdash literally mdash of things to come as we bring our new kitchen online

MM Whatrsquos stayed the sameJMK Irsquom really proud to say that while wersquove touched almost every part of this 23-year-old business wersquove kept even more than we have changed From the first days of this project I made it my personal mission and responsibility to make sure that the ldquosoulrdquo of this special place was only enhanced and never lost as we made the updates

In every area of the remodel as wersquove added some necessary new layers of sophistication The Hagrsquos colorful quirky and even rebellious spirit is still very much a part of the space We did a lot to try to make sure it still looked and felt like ldquohomerdquo

And on a deeper level every step wersquove taken with the growth of our business has been chosen carefully to honor the core parts of The Coffee Hagrsquos identity Our focus on community our support for local art and music our commitment to creating a safe and welcoming space for everyone our efforts to lead the way on social and environmental issues affecting our world near and far mdash those have all stayed the same And those will always be at the heart of what we do

MM Anything elseJMK Irsquom so incredibly grateful for the support of our customers and community And whenever I talk about my business and how it has grown I really canrsquot overstate how thankful I am for my beautiful Coffee Hag family The hard work good energy and earnest contributions of so many people mdash past and present mdash have brought me and my business here An incredible amount of love has gone into this business and made this dream a reality

MM p02 0116indd 35 12222015 121240 PM

36 bull January 2016 bull MANKATO MAGAZINE

xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

Food

south

ern mn style

whatrsquos Cooking By Sarah Johnson

Sarah Johnson is a cook freelance writer and chocolate addict from North Mankato with three grown kids and a couple of mutts

As I was pondering my subject matter for todayrsquos column I started wondering about all the different items the word ldquonutsrdquo can refer

to Crazy people are called nuts so are hexagonal metal objects that attach to bolts Nuts can be the end of things (as in ldquofrom soup to nutsrdquo) or they can be the beginning of them (as in ldquosperm incubatorsrdquo) Nut can also mean onersquos head or onersquos lump of something such as butter And if you accidentally get a nut of butter on your nut you can exclaim ldquoNutsrdquo

My favorite meaning of the word nut however is the dry indehiscent one-seeded fruit with a woody pericarp And I donrsquot even know what indehiscent OR pericarp means But these are the wonderful denizens of the world of edible nuts

Nuts are widely credited with all sorts of health benefits for the heart brain male reproductive system prostate cholesterol level fiber intake and avoidance of some types of cancer And while nuts do contain fat itrsquos the ldquogoodrdquo kind heart-healthy monounsaturated and polyunsaturated fat Their mix of omega-3 fatty acids protein and fiber helps you feel full and suppresses the appetite

Nuts are great in desserts and salads of course but they also shine in stir-fries casseroles soups chicken pork fish and even beverages Nut butters nut milks and nut oils add delicious options to our kitchen larders Breads cereals muffins and pancakes gain texture flavor and nutrition from the addition of nuts Basically anytime is a good time for nuts

Which is a wonderful thing because nuts taste so good you would think they had to be very very bad The reason lies deep in their oils

Walnut Oil is strong and flavorful Itrsquos best when used in uncooked sauces or salad dressing

Hazelnut Oil has a strong flavor and is great for the heart

Almond Oil is very popular and has a much milder flavor than walnut oil or hazelnut oil

Pecan Macadamia Nut Pistachio Cashew and Pine Nut Oils are flavorful and unique The freshness of the nuts used really affects the flavor

ldquoTherersquos Nuttinrsquo Nutty About Nutsrdquo

For the Baklava1 pound pistachios hazelnuts walnuts pecans andor almonds coarsely ground plus more for garnish12 teaspoon ground cinnamon1 cup breadcrumbs4 sticks unsalted butter melted16 sheets phyllo dough (thawed if frozen) cut in half

For the Syrup3 cups sugar1 6 -to-8-ounce jar honey1 frac12 cups water1 to 2 tablespoons fresh lemon juice

If yoursquore under the impression that baklava is much too labor-intensive and complicated to make at home think again Anybody can make

it no special skills equipment or exotic ingredients are required A word about phyllo dough Itrsquos sold in frozen packages so you need to remove the package from the freezer and let it thaw in the fridge 24 hours before you want to make the baklava Then about an hour beforehand remove the package from the fridge and let it sit on the counter

Walnuts or pistachios are the most traditional nuts to fill baklava but using other nuts works wonders as well Simply layer the phyllo with the nut filling and butter bake for an hour and finish with a simple honeyed syrup If you have leftover nuts from the holidays herersquos your chance to use them up

Mixed Nut Baklava

MM p02 0116indd 36 12182015 30812 PM

MANKATO MAGAZINE  bull January 2016 bull 37

MONEY MATTERS WORK SMARTLET COMMUNITY BANK HELP YOUBRING THE TWO TOGETHER

MANKATO - SAINT ANDREWS DR 5073854444MANKATO - MADISON AVE 5076251551VERNON CENTER 5075493679AMBOY 5076743300

JULIE VETTERSR VICE PRESIDENTRETAIL BANKING

We support great causes like yoursAt Community Bank we know good things happen when you have a good bank So we make more possible by keeping banking simple and supportive And by giving you the power that comes with innovative solutions like our Health Savings Account It offers you tax-free savings for future medical expenses Stop by anytime Wersquore always ready to help out a great cause

Position a rack in the lower third of the oven preheat to 350 degrees Combine the nuts cinnamon and breadcrumbs in a bowl

Brush a 9x13-inch baking dish with some of the butter Layer 10 pieces of phyllo in the dish brushing each piece with butter before adding the next (keep the remaining dough covered with a damp towel) Sprinkle a quarter of the nut mixture over the dough Layer four pieces of phyllo on top brushing each with butter before adding the next sprinkle with another quarter of the nut mixture Add four more phyllo pieces on top brushing each with butter then add another quarter of the nut mixture four more pieces of phyllo with butter and the remaining nuts

Layer the remaining 10 pieces of phyllo on top of the nuts brushing each with butter brush the top piece with extra butter Cut into the baklava to make strips about 1 12 inches wide Then make diagonal slices about 1 12 inches apart to create a diamond pattern Bake until golden about one hour

Meanwhile make the syrup Bring the sugar honey and 1 12 cups water to a boil in a saucepan over medium heat and cook 10 to 15 minutes Add the lemon juice and boil 2 more minutes then let cool slightly Pour the syrup over the warm baklava let soak uncovered at least six hours or overnight Garnish with nuts

MM p02 0116indd 37 12182015 30817 PM

38 bull bull MANKATO MAGAZINE

Nell Musolf is a mom and freelance writer from Mankato She blogs at nellmusolfcom

38 bull bull MANKATO MAGAZINE

MM p02 0116indd 38 12182015 30822 PM

MANKATO MAGAZINE  bull January 2016 bull 39

Gear Up for WinterYear-Round amp Insulated Workwear from

Carhartt Dickies and Key

UNIFORMSUniforms fromBarco Carhartt Cherokee DickiesKoi Peaches and White Cross

AMAZED

Call 5073446336mankatomagmankatofreepresscom

Stephanie L Hylla LAc Dipl AcKayla M Sweeney MOm LAc

NEW LOCATION709 S Front Suite 5

5074694788mankatoacupuncturecom

Open House ndash Wednesday Feb 3 9-12noonCelebrating 5 years of Business New Location and the Chinese New Year

In Network with Blue Cross Blue ShieldLicensed by the MN Board of Medical Practice

Ribbon Cutting with Greater Mankato Growth at 10am

(A $250 Value)THIS VOUCHER ENTITLES NEW PATIENTS TO A

CONSULTATION EXAM amp DIGITAL X-RAYS (IF NEEDED)

wwwr igne l l fami lych i roprac t ic comMedicare Restrictions Apply Expires January 31 2016

Dr BrandonRignell DC

1351 Madison AveSuite D

Mankato MN 56001

5077797313

$2900New Patient Special

MM p02 0116indd 39 12222015 121344 PM

40 bull bull MANKATO MAGAZINE

Jean Lundquist is a master gardener who lives near Good Thunder

MM p02 0116indd 40 12182015 30834 PM

MANKATO MAGAZINE  bull January 2016 bull 41

3 Increase the Value of Your Home

3 Update Your Homersquos Appearance

3 Save Money

Choose from SeveralModels Styles amp Colors

507-625-7110 or 1-800-645-36671125 Cross St North Mankato MN

Improve Your HomersquosEnergy Efficiency

422 Park Lane Mankato MN | NuStarMankatocom

(507) 381-4747Voted One of Mankatorsquos Best

DANIEL WINGERT

Make Selling Your Home Your NuYearrsquos Resolution

MM p02 0116indd 41 12182015 30839 PM

42 bull January 2016 bull MANKATO MAGAZINE

January Resolve to moisturize

Your stYLeBy Ann Rosenquist Fee

Ann Rosenquist Fee is executive director of the Arts Center of Saint Peter and a vocalist with The Frye She blogs at annrosenquistfeecom

If you have in-laws or colleagues who know you well enough to have given you holiday gifts

but not well enough to know what wouldrsquove truly made you happy congratulations Chances are yoursquore the proud owner of a bunch of brand-new lip balm

Maybe itrsquos even holiday themed Thatrsquos the best Maybe you got the candy-cane flavored kind or wintergreen with holiday graphics on the label or something like that A theme that was irrelevant the moment the stocking was unstuffed because at that exact second the holiday was over

And here you are in January with an abundance of wax

Fortunately also here you are in the early weeks of winter with rough red knuckles Probably also cracked cuticles although it might not have gone that far yet for you Irsquom sure it has for me This photo was taken back in November and even then the Band-Aids were for real Irsquove learned to cut them in half length-wise so as to retain my ability to type Irsquove also learned to play with a range of color options Flesh-toned Clear Disney characters The colorful strips shown here were gifted to me by my husband Partly why theyrsquore cut in half is that the text is obscene This is one small trick you can use to make bloody cuticles your most exciting accessory of the winter

Sources like UrbanSurvivalSitecom and WonderHowTocom will tell you that you can use lip balm for a whole variety of purposes such as coating threads of outdoor lightbulbs before screwing them into their sockets and enhancing the burn-ability of most kindling

These are great fun but they wonrsquot improve your personal style

More germane to winter beauty are the following suggestions

Keep a tube next to your bed for first-thing-in-the-morning use And I mean really truly first-thing I mean smear the stuff on each cuticle while yoursquore still lying there before you start using your fingers at all If you wake up thinking yoursquore fine and skip cuticle care next thing you know yoursquore pushing down the lever on your Keurig and the pressure is more than your screamingly dry skin can take and boom split blood on the Keurig and itrsquos gonna be a long painful day If only you had balmed your hands before you let your feet hit the floor

Keep another tube in your glove compartment If itrsquos warm enough to take off your mittens in the car mdash if yoursquore even wearing mittens given that your hands are snagging on everything these days mdash the harsh January sunlight will allow you to see cracks and flakes in high-resolution detail Yoursquoll want the balm nearby

to cover what you didnrsquot notice first thing in the morning Also a car tube is useful for when you look in the rear-view mirror and notice that your nose and upper lip are flaking as well Itrsquos because yoursquore getting over a cold and the frequent use of tissue has worn away your top layer of skin but just because you know that doesnrsquot mean everybody else wonrsquot think ldquothere is something in that noserdquo Itrsquos just a fact Itrsquos what it looks like Lip balm to the rescue Itrsquos the only thing dry enough to slick those flakes in place and nourishing enough to maybe actually get your face back to normal

Keep a couple more tubes in a nighttime kit along with sandpaper Sandpaper Yes Not a pumice stone not a lame also-gifted sugar

scrub Medium-grit sandpaper is what you need every night lightly but with conviction As follows 1) Sand taking care not to do more damage than what the elements have already done Yoursquore just trying to remove the dry dead stuff Yoursquore just being hearty and efficient about this true to the culture of this great state in which yoursquove chosen to winter You are no pansy Sand your hands 2) Wash 3) Blot dry 4) Dial up the gifted balm whisper a word of thanks to the person who put so much thought into your well-being that they stuffed your holiday stocking with this amazing gift of self-care smash a healthy amount down into your palms massage Take heart You just might find yourself with normal-textured non-cracked not-horrible-looking hands by morning

Split-open cuticles I feel you Except for these Band-Aids I feel you

Lip balms I have been gifted and these are just from last Christmas ldquolastrdquo as in 2014

Bathrooms Worth Bragging About

HoursTue amp Wed amp Fri | 9 am to 6 pmMon amp Thu | 9 am to 7 pmSaturday | 9 am to 4 pm

219 S Victory Dr | Mankato507 | 345 | 7009ipafhickorytechnetindependentpaintandflooringcom

You Deserve Comfortable Care Every Timebull Sedation - Complete Relaxation with Just a Pillbull Invisalign - Clear Alternative to Bracesbull Botox amp Fillersbull Implants - Placement and Restorationbull Cerec - One Visit Crown Technology

bull Free Whitening Programbull 3D Imaging with Fewer X-Raysbull Cosmetic Dentistrybull Drill-Free Technologybull Emergency Care

1400 Lookout Drive North Mankato507-625-CARE(2273) bull mankatodentistcom 06

1865

6124

01

Dr AngelA Schuck

Dr keith FlAck

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MANKATO MAGAZINE  bull January 2016 bull 43

Bathrooms Worth Bragging About

HoursTue amp Wed amp Fri | 9 am to 6 pmMon amp Thu | 9 am to 7 pmSaturday | 9 am to 4 pm

219 S Victory Dr | Mankato507 | 345 | 7009ipafhickorytechnetindependentpaintandflooringcom

You Deserve Comfortable Care Every Timebull Sedation - Complete Relaxation with Just a Pillbull Invisalign - Clear Alternative to Bracesbull Botox amp Fillersbull Implants - Placement and Restorationbull Cerec - One Visit Crown Technology

bull Free Whitening Programbull 3D Imaging with Fewer X-Raysbull Cosmetic Dentistrybull Drill-Free Technologybull Emergency Care

1400 Lookout Drive North Mankato507-625-CARE(2273) bull mankatodentistcom 06

1865

6124

01

Dr AngelA Schuck

Dr keith FlAck

(944) 412-7949 | OrthoEdgeMNcom

Enjoy the season

Mankato St Peter

Be active Be healthyBe able with OrthoEdge

The OrthoEdge joint replacement

program offers superb care from your first

visit through recovery The surgeons from

the Orthopaedic amp Fracture Clinic and

the care team at Riverrsquos Edge Hospital

provide personal and professional care to

get you back to able

Why Riverrsquos Edge Hospital amp Clinic

bull Riverrsquos Edge Hospital amp Clinic has a long-

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MM p02 0116indd 43 12182015 30842 PM

44 bull January 2016 bull MANKATO MAGAZINE

1 Hicktown Mafia800 pm mdash New Ulm Event Center mdash 301 20th St S mdash New Ulm mdash $10 mdash 507-354-4673

7-9 Mankato West Orchesis Dance Team showcase7 pm Thursday-Saturday 2 pm Saturday mdash Mankato West High School Auditorium mdash $7 adults $5 students mdash 507-381-7578

10 Mankato Symphony Orchestra Music on the Hill II ldquoMinnesota rootsrdquo2 pm mdash Chapel at Good Counselmdash Good Counsel Drive mdash Mankato mdash $17 $12 mdash wwwmankatosymphonycom

16 Handel with Caremdash Handel Goes to Italy11 ammdash YMCA Aerobics Studio mdash 1401 S Riverfront Drive mdash Mankato mdash wwwmankatosymphonycom

16 Mankato Craft beer Expo2 pm (VIP) 3 pm general mdash Verizon Wireless Center mdash $45 VIP $35 general $10 designated driver mdash wwwmankatocraftbeerexpocom

23 Joey Flip and Mike Fugazzi rockinrsquo at the Embassy9 pm mdash Blaschkorsquos Embassy Bar and Grill mdash 325 S Minnesota Ave mdash St Peter mdash 507-934-3903

24 andrea Lyn and Dick Kimmel concert730 pm mdash Elias J Halling Recital Hall mdash Minnesota State University mdash Mankato mdash $12 regular $11 current MSU students mdash wwwmnusedumusic

28-31 MSu Theatre antigone730 pm Thursday-Saturday 2 pm Sunday mdash Andreas Theatre mdash Minnesota State University mdash Mankato mdash $16 regular $14 discount $11 current MSU students mdash wwwmnsuedu

29-31 BLC Theatre Brigadoon730 Friday and Saturday 2 pm Sunday mdash Ylvisaker Fine Arts Center mdash Bethany Lutheran College mdash Mankato mdash $10 adults $6 seniors children and students mdash wwwblceduevents

29- Feb 7 Winterfest St Peter Citywide mdash wwwstpeterchamberorg

30 Church of Cash a Tribute to Johnny Cash7 pm mdash St Peter American Legion mdash 229 W Nassau St mdash St Peter mdash 507-934-6435

31 Maud Hixson and rick Carlson concert730 pmmdash Elias J Halling Recital Hall mdash Minnesota State University mdash Mankato mdash $12 regular $11 current MSU students wwmnsuedumusic

Coming attraCtions January

T - F 8am - 6pm Sun ClosedSat 9am - 4pmM 8am - 8pm

120 North Broad Street Mankato MN 507-345-4688 wwwmeyerandsonstvandappliancecom

FIND SPECIAL DEALS ON

MM p02 0116indd 44 12182015 30902 PM

MANKATO MAGAZINE  bull January 2016 bull 45

St Peter Craft amp Vendor Show

1MelinadaBussefromRapidansoldherhandmadejewelryatthecraftandvendorshow

2DarylfromElysianandhishand-carvedwoodart

3MacKennaage7hasfunatoneoftheboothsattheStPeterCraftandVendorShow

4LizEntershowsoffsomeofherproductsattheldquoItWorksrdquobooth

5DenisePetersofldquoYoungLivingrdquoessentialoilsdisplayedherproductsattheshow

Faces amp Places Photos By Sport Pix

3

5

2

1

4

T - F 8am - 6pm Sun ClosedSat 9am - 4pmM 8am - 8pm

120 North Broad Street Mankato MN 507-345-4688 wwwmeyerandsonstvandappliancecom

FIND SPECIAL DEALS ON

MM p02 0116indd 45 12222015 121536 PM

46 bull January 2016 bull MANKATO MAGAZINE

SOUTHErN MN CHrISTMAS

FESTIVAL1 A large crowd was on hand during the festivities at

the Christmas Festival2 Friesenrsquos Family Bakery amp Bistro had tons of baked

goods and soups at the Verizon Wireless Center3 A childrenrsquos choir sang for the audience at the

festival4 Ron Haefner owner of Ronrsquos Auto Repair displayed

some of his services5 Garrison Galatz dressed up as Santa for the

Christmas Festival

faCes amp PLaCes Photos By Sport Pix

4

3

1

2

5

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MANKATO MAGAZINE  bull January 2016 bull 47

1GirlScouttroop34494waspresentedwithatrophybyKiwanisVicePresidentKyleMrozek

2SantaClausevenwentthroughtheparaderoute3(LtoR)BrooklynPomrankeAlaynaLyonsHunterPomrankeandLilyLyonsgetagroupphototakenwithSanta

4MarshaMartigtellsSantawhatshewantsforChristmas

5TheparadefloatswerealldeckedoutinChristmaslights

6Visitorswalkthepatharoundtheparktoviewthisyearrsquoslights

Kiwanis Holiday ligHtsFaces amp Places Photos By sport Pix

2

1

3

4 5

6

MM p02 0116indd 47 12222015 121616 PM

48 bull January 2016 bull MANKATO MAGAZINE

On the Occasion of a 50th Reunion

the Class of 1965

from this VaLLeYBy Pete Steiner

Peter Steiner is host of ldquoTalk of the Townrdquo weekdays at 105 pm on KTOE

I was honored to give the presentation for our 50th class reunion recently at West Highrsquos Homecoming celebration About 120 of our nearly 400-member class

showed up We Baby Boomers the children of the greatest generation had big classes in the late lsquo60rsquos that forced the building of East High Ours was a dramatic era and our class did some great things in the face of big challenges Here edited is some of what I said

I am so glad to be standing here today Therersquos an old saying

ldquoMay you live in INTErESTINg timeshelliprdquo The Class of rsquo65 certainly has Itrsquos seems like only yesterday right after lunch that we were at our desks waiting for the start of English class when our charismatic teacher Harry Fitterer strode in and said ldquoPrESIDENT KENNEDY HAS BEEN SHOT IN DALLASrdquo At first we didnrsquot believe him but it was true It was November 22 1963 We were juniors and as the song says that was THE END OF THE INNOCENCE We had lived through the last idyllic time in America

When we first arrived in the fall of 1962 America was still carefree basking in the glow of victory in WW II Everything may have seemed ldquorightrdquo but it was not Martin Luther King Jr had just visited Mankato pointing out the continuing plight of black Americans as the Civil rights movement was gaining steam The beginnings of the Vietnam War which would alter the course of many of our lives were stirring even as we studied history and government The current generation has no monopoly on forgettable pop music ndash we had a stupid 1 song called ldquoItsie Bitsie Teenie Weenie Yellow Polka Dot Bikinirdquo (unfortunately an ear worm I canrsquot forget) But a darker cultural threat was looming The BEATLES were invading from Britain and our parents were mortified because they had LONg HAIr

Some of the shock of the Kennedy assassination was eased when our wrestling team in the era when the state still had just ONE CLASS won the State Championship in front of a packed hall up at MSU some still maintain that is the greatest single athletic achievement in Mankato history We were the first high school in Mankato to put on a full-scale musical ldquoBye Bye Birdierdquo in the spring of 1964 In Fall of 1964 our football team would have won the conference championship outright except Owatonnarsquos great Noel Jenke who would go on to star for the U of M

cheated I watched him trap the touchdown pass that beat us Does cheating pay Was that a lesson for life

In lsquo65 we also had a fine basketball team that lost our chance at State when our 6-6 center fouled out at Luverne

BUT A FAr BIggEr CHALLENgE AWAITED US ALL As we rode out to Luverne to watch that game we couldnrsquot help noticing the highway was like a canyon between walls of snow The legendary St Patrickrsquos Day Blizzard had dumped two feet on top of an already large snow pack and then April brought rains on frozen ground Instead of coming here to school many of us soon got a real-life assignment to go out in our rain gear out on the dikes to battle the grEAT FLOOD OF 1965 Our school became an island as water flooded the parking lot and all of South riverfront Our spring play that year was called ironically

THE DESPErATE HOUrS We had to rehearse at roosevelt School up on higher ground

Our class produced three Merit scholars One of our classmates who did NOT qualify

for a merit scholarship nevertheless was such a whiz at physics that NASA requested a copy of a paper he wrote on rocketry as a senior We produced 12 doctors one of whom earned a fellowship at Stanford seeking how to bring telemedicine to the poor another of whom became a breakthrough cancer doctor We had entrepreneurs one who would go on to be a leader in Solar Energy (and then run for governor of New Hampshire) Another mdash a woman incidentally when

that was not common founded two bio-tech startups Many of us are still working

past normal retirement age One founded a company on the leading edge of recycling

computers whose clients include the NSA Another is chief medical officer of a company

devising a better tool for colonoscopies Yet another of our classmates recently completed a concert tour of China

We lived in challenging times just as you do today but we muddle through we make it to the other shore I remember sitting where you are 50 years ago thinking how old those folks up there looked But remember Life goes by very quickly You certainly live in interesting times as Shakespeare said ldquoPresent Mirth has Present Laughter Youthrsquos a stuff will NOT endurerdquo So I urge you live each moment to the fullest

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Page 35: Mankatomag 116

MANKATO MAGAZINE  bull January 2016 bull 33

Bert Mattson is a chef and writer based in St Paul He is the manager of the iconic Mickeyrsquos Diner

Beer Skinny

BeerBy Bert Mattson

Last year according to Nielsen research staying fit and healthy was

the number one New Yearrsquos resolution Losing weight was two Three was to enjoy life to the fullest Unfortunately ldquolose weight and get fitrdquo also topped Time magazinersquos list of commonly broken resolutions Is this shortfall due to tension between the top two and that third one If so craft beer may have a role in the compromise Bad news first

In the context of losing weight and staying fit beer lovers might seek solace in the fact that fat carries nine calories per gram while alcohol has only seven The wrinkle is that those seven are ldquoemptyrdquo mdash calories without nutrition as opposed to those from fat protein and carbohydrates Moreover alcoholrsquos calories are the first burned when combined with the others the human body postpones burning fat while it works on alcohol Furthermore beer (and wine and often cocktails) contains carbohydrates which release insulin and can hasten fat storage Finally many drinkers have undoubtedly observed that alcohol loosens inhibitions after which an eager indulgence in unhealthy foods often occurs (Bar menus are rarely helpful in that respect)

By now you may wonder whose side Irsquom actually on Or suspect Irsquove led you to this dark place only to offer you a Lite No worries a couple craft brewers have been considering ways to keep us true to our resolutions

Evil Twin Brewingrsquos Bikini Beer drops the alcohol to 27 percent but stays bold by way of hops A Pale Ale it hits the nose with citrus suggestive of IPA The flavor follows suit floral and lemon There is an expected absence of malt yielding to bitterness up front that fades at the finish An alternative

for those who insist on the full effect Founderrsquos Brewing Companyrsquos All Day IPA rings in at a respectable 144 calories (Evil Twinrsquos entry comes in at 81)

One strategy to beat the beer munchies and avoid costly impulse eating is to have suitable chow on hand With Bikini Beer try a salad sporting blue cheese and some sort of dried fruit Creamy blue veined cheeses echo the hops while balancing bitterness An occasional bite of dried fruit stands in for malt sweetness

Brooklyn Breweryrsquos 12 Ale weighs in at 34 percent alcohol (102 calories) It is alliteratively labeled ldquoSession Saisonrdquo It opens with a waft of citrus and spice and a little lemongrass from Sorachi Ace hops mdash a hybrid developed in East Asia The same elements are found in the flavor which is a bit more subdued than a full-sized Saison

Try it with a tangle of arugula dressed with lemon and a fruity olive oil tossed with pine nuts and topped with shaved Parmesan for effect The greens and cracked pepper reflect spicy phenolic elements in the yeast Salty cheese counters the beerrsquos lingering bitterness Maybe add a few slices of Speck cured ham and Saison share a certain funkiness

If friends show and it becomes a session you may honestly say you spent Saturday working on your six-pack

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34 bull January 2016 bull MANKATO MAGAZINE

Food

south

ern mn style

Food

south

ern mn style

The Coffee Hag one of the arearsquos oldest (and coolest) bistros recently underwent a major expansion and remodeling journey culminating in a large and airy

seating area along with a much-improved kitchen and a new menu Mankato Magazine caught up with a very busy (and slightly exhausted) owner Jenn Melby-Kelly who weighs in on how itrsquos going

MANKATO MAGAZINE Are you personally enjoying the new updatesJENN MELBY-KELLY It Is Fabulous The new space represents so much more than a remodel to me It has brought to life a vision for my business thatrsquos been years in the making It incorporates many many good ideas from many many people I feel so fortunate to get to see that every time I walk through the door

MM How are customers reactingJMK Thatrsquos been one of the best parts The response has been overwhelmingly positive

A few of our most regular customers had the opportunity to get a glimpse of the remodel while it was underway (we gave some informal preview tours while we were operating the temporary stand outside) but many customers walk through the door now and see it all for the first time Itrsquos especially fun to see and hear that kind of wide-eyed reaction

A few people with special connections to The Hag have had even stronger emotional responses and Irsquom so touched and right there with them when I see eyes well up as they see what wersquove done Itrsquos a very big milestone for a very special place and wersquore blessed to have people that care so deeply

MM Do the employees appreciate the new spaceJMK Oh probably more than anyone There was a lot that we sought to do with the remodel but creating a bigger brighter better-equipped space for our team was certainly one of the primary goals Wersquove got an incredible team truly the most spirited and talented people anyone could hope for

Many of them have spent years with me working hard against the challenge of a small under-equipped space and just barely being able to keeping up with growing demand Itrsquos been a special blessing for them and for me to finally have state-of-the-art space thatrsquos made for the work that we do We all feel a special connection to this place and now more than ever the place reflects the good energy we all bring here every day

MM Is the new menu a hit (The Hag specializes in vegetarianvegan cuisine)JMK Yes but just wait Feedback and demand have been excellent with our food offerings already but wersquore just getting started on some of the really exciting things that are coming to our food menu

Remodeling the cafe was just the first major milestone of our two-part expansion plan Next up wersquore building a state of the art off-site commissary kitchen that will do for our incredible culinary team what the remodeled shop has done for our baristas Theyrsquove been working day and night on taking our already fantastic food offerings to a whole new level

Wersquove already introduced some amazing new menu items like the Garden Grilled Cheese panini (trust me itrsquos like nothing yoursquove had before) and some truly outstanding new vegan baked goods Wersquove also improved our classic offerings with house-made

Interview with Jenn Melby-Kelly owner of The Coffee Hag

By Sarah Johnson

MM p02 0116indd 34 12182015 30802 PM

MANKATO MAGAZINE  bull January 2016 bull 35

Happy New Year

Locally Owned amp Operated

Check Weekly Specialsmgmwineandspiritscommankato

Largest Selection ofbull Liquor bull Wine bull Beer bull

Hours Monday-Saturday 8 am - 10 pm

ATMs at all stores

Mankato201 Victory Dr

625-2420

North Mankato1755 Commerce Dr

387-2634

St Peter100 N Minnesota Ave

934-8964

sourdough and whole wheat breads But as impressive as it is already itrsquos just a taste mdash literally mdash of things to come as we bring our new kitchen online

MM Whatrsquos stayed the sameJMK Irsquom really proud to say that while wersquove touched almost every part of this 23-year-old business wersquove kept even more than we have changed From the first days of this project I made it my personal mission and responsibility to make sure that the ldquosoulrdquo of this special place was only enhanced and never lost as we made the updates

In every area of the remodel as wersquove added some necessary new layers of sophistication The Hagrsquos colorful quirky and even rebellious spirit is still very much a part of the space We did a lot to try to make sure it still looked and felt like ldquohomerdquo

And on a deeper level every step wersquove taken with the growth of our business has been chosen carefully to honor the core parts of The Coffee Hagrsquos identity Our focus on community our support for local art and music our commitment to creating a safe and welcoming space for everyone our efforts to lead the way on social and environmental issues affecting our world near and far mdash those have all stayed the same And those will always be at the heart of what we do

MM Anything elseJMK Irsquom so incredibly grateful for the support of our customers and community And whenever I talk about my business and how it has grown I really canrsquot overstate how thankful I am for my beautiful Coffee Hag family The hard work good energy and earnest contributions of so many people mdash past and present mdash have brought me and my business here An incredible amount of love has gone into this business and made this dream a reality

MM p02 0116indd 35 12222015 121240 PM

36 bull January 2016 bull MANKATO MAGAZINE

xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

Food

south

ern mn style

whatrsquos Cooking By Sarah Johnson

Sarah Johnson is a cook freelance writer and chocolate addict from North Mankato with three grown kids and a couple of mutts

As I was pondering my subject matter for todayrsquos column I started wondering about all the different items the word ldquonutsrdquo can refer

to Crazy people are called nuts so are hexagonal metal objects that attach to bolts Nuts can be the end of things (as in ldquofrom soup to nutsrdquo) or they can be the beginning of them (as in ldquosperm incubatorsrdquo) Nut can also mean onersquos head or onersquos lump of something such as butter And if you accidentally get a nut of butter on your nut you can exclaim ldquoNutsrdquo

My favorite meaning of the word nut however is the dry indehiscent one-seeded fruit with a woody pericarp And I donrsquot even know what indehiscent OR pericarp means But these are the wonderful denizens of the world of edible nuts

Nuts are widely credited with all sorts of health benefits for the heart brain male reproductive system prostate cholesterol level fiber intake and avoidance of some types of cancer And while nuts do contain fat itrsquos the ldquogoodrdquo kind heart-healthy monounsaturated and polyunsaturated fat Their mix of omega-3 fatty acids protein and fiber helps you feel full and suppresses the appetite

Nuts are great in desserts and salads of course but they also shine in stir-fries casseroles soups chicken pork fish and even beverages Nut butters nut milks and nut oils add delicious options to our kitchen larders Breads cereals muffins and pancakes gain texture flavor and nutrition from the addition of nuts Basically anytime is a good time for nuts

Which is a wonderful thing because nuts taste so good you would think they had to be very very bad The reason lies deep in their oils

Walnut Oil is strong and flavorful Itrsquos best when used in uncooked sauces or salad dressing

Hazelnut Oil has a strong flavor and is great for the heart

Almond Oil is very popular and has a much milder flavor than walnut oil or hazelnut oil

Pecan Macadamia Nut Pistachio Cashew and Pine Nut Oils are flavorful and unique The freshness of the nuts used really affects the flavor

ldquoTherersquos Nuttinrsquo Nutty About Nutsrdquo

For the Baklava1 pound pistachios hazelnuts walnuts pecans andor almonds coarsely ground plus more for garnish12 teaspoon ground cinnamon1 cup breadcrumbs4 sticks unsalted butter melted16 sheets phyllo dough (thawed if frozen) cut in half

For the Syrup3 cups sugar1 6 -to-8-ounce jar honey1 frac12 cups water1 to 2 tablespoons fresh lemon juice

If yoursquore under the impression that baklava is much too labor-intensive and complicated to make at home think again Anybody can make

it no special skills equipment or exotic ingredients are required A word about phyllo dough Itrsquos sold in frozen packages so you need to remove the package from the freezer and let it thaw in the fridge 24 hours before you want to make the baklava Then about an hour beforehand remove the package from the fridge and let it sit on the counter

Walnuts or pistachios are the most traditional nuts to fill baklava but using other nuts works wonders as well Simply layer the phyllo with the nut filling and butter bake for an hour and finish with a simple honeyed syrup If you have leftover nuts from the holidays herersquos your chance to use them up

Mixed Nut Baklava

MM p02 0116indd 36 12182015 30812 PM

MANKATO MAGAZINE  bull January 2016 bull 37

MONEY MATTERS WORK SMARTLET COMMUNITY BANK HELP YOUBRING THE TWO TOGETHER

MANKATO - SAINT ANDREWS DR 5073854444MANKATO - MADISON AVE 5076251551VERNON CENTER 5075493679AMBOY 5076743300

JULIE VETTERSR VICE PRESIDENTRETAIL BANKING

We support great causes like yoursAt Community Bank we know good things happen when you have a good bank So we make more possible by keeping banking simple and supportive And by giving you the power that comes with innovative solutions like our Health Savings Account It offers you tax-free savings for future medical expenses Stop by anytime Wersquore always ready to help out a great cause

Position a rack in the lower third of the oven preheat to 350 degrees Combine the nuts cinnamon and breadcrumbs in a bowl

Brush a 9x13-inch baking dish with some of the butter Layer 10 pieces of phyllo in the dish brushing each piece with butter before adding the next (keep the remaining dough covered with a damp towel) Sprinkle a quarter of the nut mixture over the dough Layer four pieces of phyllo on top brushing each with butter before adding the next sprinkle with another quarter of the nut mixture Add four more phyllo pieces on top brushing each with butter then add another quarter of the nut mixture four more pieces of phyllo with butter and the remaining nuts

Layer the remaining 10 pieces of phyllo on top of the nuts brushing each with butter brush the top piece with extra butter Cut into the baklava to make strips about 1 12 inches wide Then make diagonal slices about 1 12 inches apart to create a diamond pattern Bake until golden about one hour

Meanwhile make the syrup Bring the sugar honey and 1 12 cups water to a boil in a saucepan over medium heat and cook 10 to 15 minutes Add the lemon juice and boil 2 more minutes then let cool slightly Pour the syrup over the warm baklava let soak uncovered at least six hours or overnight Garnish with nuts

MM p02 0116indd 37 12182015 30817 PM

38 bull bull MANKATO MAGAZINE

Nell Musolf is a mom and freelance writer from Mankato She blogs at nellmusolfcom

38 bull bull MANKATO MAGAZINE

MM p02 0116indd 38 12182015 30822 PM

MANKATO MAGAZINE  bull January 2016 bull 39

Gear Up for WinterYear-Round amp Insulated Workwear from

Carhartt Dickies and Key

UNIFORMSUniforms fromBarco Carhartt Cherokee DickiesKoi Peaches and White Cross

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Call 5073446336mankatomagmankatofreepresscom

Stephanie L Hylla LAc Dipl AcKayla M Sweeney MOm LAc

NEW LOCATION709 S Front Suite 5

5074694788mankatoacupuncturecom

Open House ndash Wednesday Feb 3 9-12noonCelebrating 5 years of Business New Location and the Chinese New Year

In Network with Blue Cross Blue ShieldLicensed by the MN Board of Medical Practice

Ribbon Cutting with Greater Mankato Growth at 10am

(A $250 Value)THIS VOUCHER ENTITLES NEW PATIENTS TO A

CONSULTATION EXAM amp DIGITAL X-RAYS (IF NEEDED)

wwwr igne l l fami lych i roprac t ic comMedicare Restrictions Apply Expires January 31 2016

Dr BrandonRignell DC

1351 Madison AveSuite D

Mankato MN 56001

5077797313

$2900New Patient Special

MM p02 0116indd 39 12222015 121344 PM

40 bull bull MANKATO MAGAZINE

Jean Lundquist is a master gardener who lives near Good Thunder

MM p02 0116indd 40 12182015 30834 PM

MANKATO MAGAZINE  bull January 2016 bull 41

3 Increase the Value of Your Home

3 Update Your Homersquos Appearance

3 Save Money

Choose from SeveralModels Styles amp Colors

507-625-7110 or 1-800-645-36671125 Cross St North Mankato MN

Improve Your HomersquosEnergy Efficiency

422 Park Lane Mankato MN | NuStarMankatocom

(507) 381-4747Voted One of Mankatorsquos Best

DANIEL WINGERT

Make Selling Your Home Your NuYearrsquos Resolution

MM p02 0116indd 41 12182015 30839 PM

42 bull January 2016 bull MANKATO MAGAZINE

January Resolve to moisturize

Your stYLeBy Ann Rosenquist Fee

Ann Rosenquist Fee is executive director of the Arts Center of Saint Peter and a vocalist with The Frye She blogs at annrosenquistfeecom

If you have in-laws or colleagues who know you well enough to have given you holiday gifts

but not well enough to know what wouldrsquove truly made you happy congratulations Chances are yoursquore the proud owner of a bunch of brand-new lip balm

Maybe itrsquos even holiday themed Thatrsquos the best Maybe you got the candy-cane flavored kind or wintergreen with holiday graphics on the label or something like that A theme that was irrelevant the moment the stocking was unstuffed because at that exact second the holiday was over

And here you are in January with an abundance of wax

Fortunately also here you are in the early weeks of winter with rough red knuckles Probably also cracked cuticles although it might not have gone that far yet for you Irsquom sure it has for me This photo was taken back in November and even then the Band-Aids were for real Irsquove learned to cut them in half length-wise so as to retain my ability to type Irsquove also learned to play with a range of color options Flesh-toned Clear Disney characters The colorful strips shown here were gifted to me by my husband Partly why theyrsquore cut in half is that the text is obscene This is one small trick you can use to make bloody cuticles your most exciting accessory of the winter

Sources like UrbanSurvivalSitecom and WonderHowTocom will tell you that you can use lip balm for a whole variety of purposes such as coating threads of outdoor lightbulbs before screwing them into their sockets and enhancing the burn-ability of most kindling

These are great fun but they wonrsquot improve your personal style

More germane to winter beauty are the following suggestions

Keep a tube next to your bed for first-thing-in-the-morning use And I mean really truly first-thing I mean smear the stuff on each cuticle while yoursquore still lying there before you start using your fingers at all If you wake up thinking yoursquore fine and skip cuticle care next thing you know yoursquore pushing down the lever on your Keurig and the pressure is more than your screamingly dry skin can take and boom split blood on the Keurig and itrsquos gonna be a long painful day If only you had balmed your hands before you let your feet hit the floor

Keep another tube in your glove compartment If itrsquos warm enough to take off your mittens in the car mdash if yoursquore even wearing mittens given that your hands are snagging on everything these days mdash the harsh January sunlight will allow you to see cracks and flakes in high-resolution detail Yoursquoll want the balm nearby

to cover what you didnrsquot notice first thing in the morning Also a car tube is useful for when you look in the rear-view mirror and notice that your nose and upper lip are flaking as well Itrsquos because yoursquore getting over a cold and the frequent use of tissue has worn away your top layer of skin but just because you know that doesnrsquot mean everybody else wonrsquot think ldquothere is something in that noserdquo Itrsquos just a fact Itrsquos what it looks like Lip balm to the rescue Itrsquos the only thing dry enough to slick those flakes in place and nourishing enough to maybe actually get your face back to normal

Keep a couple more tubes in a nighttime kit along with sandpaper Sandpaper Yes Not a pumice stone not a lame also-gifted sugar

scrub Medium-grit sandpaper is what you need every night lightly but with conviction As follows 1) Sand taking care not to do more damage than what the elements have already done Yoursquore just trying to remove the dry dead stuff Yoursquore just being hearty and efficient about this true to the culture of this great state in which yoursquove chosen to winter You are no pansy Sand your hands 2) Wash 3) Blot dry 4) Dial up the gifted balm whisper a word of thanks to the person who put so much thought into your well-being that they stuffed your holiday stocking with this amazing gift of self-care smash a healthy amount down into your palms massage Take heart You just might find yourself with normal-textured non-cracked not-horrible-looking hands by morning

Split-open cuticles I feel you Except for these Band-Aids I feel you

Lip balms I have been gifted and these are just from last Christmas ldquolastrdquo as in 2014

Bathrooms Worth Bragging About

HoursTue amp Wed amp Fri | 9 am to 6 pmMon amp Thu | 9 am to 7 pmSaturday | 9 am to 4 pm

219 S Victory Dr | Mankato507 | 345 | 7009ipafhickorytechnetindependentpaintandflooringcom

You Deserve Comfortable Care Every Timebull Sedation - Complete Relaxation with Just a Pillbull Invisalign - Clear Alternative to Bracesbull Botox amp Fillersbull Implants - Placement and Restorationbull Cerec - One Visit Crown Technology

bull Free Whitening Programbull 3D Imaging with Fewer X-Raysbull Cosmetic Dentistrybull Drill-Free Technologybull Emergency Care

1400 Lookout Drive North Mankato507-625-CARE(2273) bull mankatodentistcom 06

1865

6124

01

Dr AngelA Schuck

Dr keith FlAck

MM p02 0116indd 42 12182015 30841 PM

MANKATO MAGAZINE  bull January 2016 bull 43

Bathrooms Worth Bragging About

HoursTue amp Wed amp Fri | 9 am to 6 pmMon amp Thu | 9 am to 7 pmSaturday | 9 am to 4 pm

219 S Victory Dr | Mankato507 | 345 | 7009ipafhickorytechnetindependentpaintandflooringcom

You Deserve Comfortable Care Every Timebull Sedation - Complete Relaxation with Just a Pillbull Invisalign - Clear Alternative to Bracesbull Botox amp Fillersbull Implants - Placement and Restorationbull Cerec - One Visit Crown Technology

bull Free Whitening Programbull 3D Imaging with Fewer X-Raysbull Cosmetic Dentistrybull Drill-Free Technologybull Emergency Care

1400 Lookout Drive North Mankato507-625-CARE(2273) bull mankatodentistcom 06

1865

6124

01

Dr AngelA Schuck

Dr keith FlAck

(944) 412-7949 | OrthoEdgeMNcom

Enjoy the season

Mankato St Peter

Be active Be healthyBe able with OrthoEdge

The OrthoEdge joint replacement

program offers superb care from your first

visit through recovery The surgeons from

the Orthopaedic amp Fracture Clinic and

the care team at Riverrsquos Edge Hospital

provide personal and professional care to

get you back to able

Why Riverrsquos Edge Hospital amp Clinic

bull Riverrsquos Edge Hospital amp Clinic has a long-

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MM p02 0116indd 43 12182015 30842 PM

44 bull January 2016 bull MANKATO MAGAZINE

1 Hicktown Mafia800 pm mdash New Ulm Event Center mdash 301 20th St S mdash New Ulm mdash $10 mdash 507-354-4673

7-9 Mankato West Orchesis Dance Team showcase7 pm Thursday-Saturday 2 pm Saturday mdash Mankato West High School Auditorium mdash $7 adults $5 students mdash 507-381-7578

10 Mankato Symphony Orchestra Music on the Hill II ldquoMinnesota rootsrdquo2 pm mdash Chapel at Good Counselmdash Good Counsel Drive mdash Mankato mdash $17 $12 mdash wwwmankatosymphonycom

16 Handel with Caremdash Handel Goes to Italy11 ammdash YMCA Aerobics Studio mdash 1401 S Riverfront Drive mdash Mankato mdash wwwmankatosymphonycom

16 Mankato Craft beer Expo2 pm (VIP) 3 pm general mdash Verizon Wireless Center mdash $45 VIP $35 general $10 designated driver mdash wwwmankatocraftbeerexpocom

23 Joey Flip and Mike Fugazzi rockinrsquo at the Embassy9 pm mdash Blaschkorsquos Embassy Bar and Grill mdash 325 S Minnesota Ave mdash St Peter mdash 507-934-3903

24 andrea Lyn and Dick Kimmel concert730 pm mdash Elias J Halling Recital Hall mdash Minnesota State University mdash Mankato mdash $12 regular $11 current MSU students mdash wwwmnusedumusic

28-31 MSu Theatre antigone730 pm Thursday-Saturday 2 pm Sunday mdash Andreas Theatre mdash Minnesota State University mdash Mankato mdash $16 regular $14 discount $11 current MSU students mdash wwwmnsuedu

29-31 BLC Theatre Brigadoon730 Friday and Saturday 2 pm Sunday mdash Ylvisaker Fine Arts Center mdash Bethany Lutheran College mdash Mankato mdash $10 adults $6 seniors children and students mdash wwwblceduevents

29- Feb 7 Winterfest St Peter Citywide mdash wwwstpeterchamberorg

30 Church of Cash a Tribute to Johnny Cash7 pm mdash St Peter American Legion mdash 229 W Nassau St mdash St Peter mdash 507-934-6435

31 Maud Hixson and rick Carlson concert730 pmmdash Elias J Halling Recital Hall mdash Minnesota State University mdash Mankato mdash $12 regular $11 current MSU students wwmnsuedumusic

Coming attraCtions January

T - F 8am - 6pm Sun ClosedSat 9am - 4pmM 8am - 8pm

120 North Broad Street Mankato MN 507-345-4688 wwwmeyerandsonstvandappliancecom

FIND SPECIAL DEALS ON

MM p02 0116indd 44 12182015 30902 PM

MANKATO MAGAZINE  bull January 2016 bull 45

St Peter Craft amp Vendor Show

1MelinadaBussefromRapidansoldherhandmadejewelryatthecraftandvendorshow

2DarylfromElysianandhishand-carvedwoodart

3MacKennaage7hasfunatoneoftheboothsattheStPeterCraftandVendorShow

4LizEntershowsoffsomeofherproductsattheldquoItWorksrdquobooth

5DenisePetersofldquoYoungLivingrdquoessentialoilsdisplayedherproductsattheshow

Faces amp Places Photos By Sport Pix

3

5

2

1

4

T - F 8am - 6pm Sun ClosedSat 9am - 4pmM 8am - 8pm

120 North Broad Street Mankato MN 507-345-4688 wwwmeyerandsonstvandappliancecom

FIND SPECIAL DEALS ON

MM p02 0116indd 45 12222015 121536 PM

46 bull January 2016 bull MANKATO MAGAZINE

SOUTHErN MN CHrISTMAS

FESTIVAL1 A large crowd was on hand during the festivities at

the Christmas Festival2 Friesenrsquos Family Bakery amp Bistro had tons of baked

goods and soups at the Verizon Wireless Center3 A childrenrsquos choir sang for the audience at the

festival4 Ron Haefner owner of Ronrsquos Auto Repair displayed

some of his services5 Garrison Galatz dressed up as Santa for the

Christmas Festival

faCes amp PLaCes Photos By Sport Pix

4

3

1

2

5

MM p02 0116indd 46 12182015 30923 PM

MANKATO MAGAZINE  bull January 2016 bull 47

1GirlScouttroop34494waspresentedwithatrophybyKiwanisVicePresidentKyleMrozek

2SantaClausevenwentthroughtheparaderoute3(LtoR)BrooklynPomrankeAlaynaLyonsHunterPomrankeandLilyLyonsgetagroupphototakenwithSanta

4MarshaMartigtellsSantawhatshewantsforChristmas

5TheparadefloatswerealldeckedoutinChristmaslights

6Visitorswalkthepatharoundtheparktoviewthisyearrsquoslights

Kiwanis Holiday ligHtsFaces amp Places Photos By sport Pix

2

1

3

4 5

6

MM p02 0116indd 47 12222015 121616 PM

48 bull January 2016 bull MANKATO MAGAZINE

On the Occasion of a 50th Reunion

the Class of 1965

from this VaLLeYBy Pete Steiner

Peter Steiner is host of ldquoTalk of the Townrdquo weekdays at 105 pm on KTOE

I was honored to give the presentation for our 50th class reunion recently at West Highrsquos Homecoming celebration About 120 of our nearly 400-member class

showed up We Baby Boomers the children of the greatest generation had big classes in the late lsquo60rsquos that forced the building of East High Ours was a dramatic era and our class did some great things in the face of big challenges Here edited is some of what I said

I am so glad to be standing here today Therersquos an old saying

ldquoMay you live in INTErESTINg timeshelliprdquo The Class of rsquo65 certainly has Itrsquos seems like only yesterday right after lunch that we were at our desks waiting for the start of English class when our charismatic teacher Harry Fitterer strode in and said ldquoPrESIDENT KENNEDY HAS BEEN SHOT IN DALLASrdquo At first we didnrsquot believe him but it was true It was November 22 1963 We were juniors and as the song says that was THE END OF THE INNOCENCE We had lived through the last idyllic time in America

When we first arrived in the fall of 1962 America was still carefree basking in the glow of victory in WW II Everything may have seemed ldquorightrdquo but it was not Martin Luther King Jr had just visited Mankato pointing out the continuing plight of black Americans as the Civil rights movement was gaining steam The beginnings of the Vietnam War which would alter the course of many of our lives were stirring even as we studied history and government The current generation has no monopoly on forgettable pop music ndash we had a stupid 1 song called ldquoItsie Bitsie Teenie Weenie Yellow Polka Dot Bikinirdquo (unfortunately an ear worm I canrsquot forget) But a darker cultural threat was looming The BEATLES were invading from Britain and our parents were mortified because they had LONg HAIr

Some of the shock of the Kennedy assassination was eased when our wrestling team in the era when the state still had just ONE CLASS won the State Championship in front of a packed hall up at MSU some still maintain that is the greatest single athletic achievement in Mankato history We were the first high school in Mankato to put on a full-scale musical ldquoBye Bye Birdierdquo in the spring of 1964 In Fall of 1964 our football team would have won the conference championship outright except Owatonnarsquos great Noel Jenke who would go on to star for the U of M

cheated I watched him trap the touchdown pass that beat us Does cheating pay Was that a lesson for life

In lsquo65 we also had a fine basketball team that lost our chance at State when our 6-6 center fouled out at Luverne

BUT A FAr BIggEr CHALLENgE AWAITED US ALL As we rode out to Luverne to watch that game we couldnrsquot help noticing the highway was like a canyon between walls of snow The legendary St Patrickrsquos Day Blizzard had dumped two feet on top of an already large snow pack and then April brought rains on frozen ground Instead of coming here to school many of us soon got a real-life assignment to go out in our rain gear out on the dikes to battle the grEAT FLOOD OF 1965 Our school became an island as water flooded the parking lot and all of South riverfront Our spring play that year was called ironically

THE DESPErATE HOUrS We had to rehearse at roosevelt School up on higher ground

Our class produced three Merit scholars One of our classmates who did NOT qualify

for a merit scholarship nevertheless was such a whiz at physics that NASA requested a copy of a paper he wrote on rocketry as a senior We produced 12 doctors one of whom earned a fellowship at Stanford seeking how to bring telemedicine to the poor another of whom became a breakthrough cancer doctor We had entrepreneurs one who would go on to be a leader in Solar Energy (and then run for governor of New Hampshire) Another mdash a woman incidentally when

that was not common founded two bio-tech startups Many of us are still working

past normal retirement age One founded a company on the leading edge of recycling

computers whose clients include the NSA Another is chief medical officer of a company

devising a better tool for colonoscopies Yet another of our classmates recently completed a concert tour of China

We lived in challenging times just as you do today but we muddle through we make it to the other shore I remember sitting where you are 50 years ago thinking how old those folks up there looked But remember Life goes by very quickly You certainly live in interesting times as Shakespeare said ldquoPresent Mirth has Present Laughter Youthrsquos a stuff will NOT endurerdquo So I urge you live each moment to the fullest

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Page 36: Mankatomag 116

34 bull January 2016 bull MANKATO MAGAZINE

Food

south

ern mn style

Food

south

ern mn style

The Coffee Hag one of the arearsquos oldest (and coolest) bistros recently underwent a major expansion and remodeling journey culminating in a large and airy

seating area along with a much-improved kitchen and a new menu Mankato Magazine caught up with a very busy (and slightly exhausted) owner Jenn Melby-Kelly who weighs in on how itrsquos going

MANKATO MAGAZINE Are you personally enjoying the new updatesJENN MELBY-KELLY It Is Fabulous The new space represents so much more than a remodel to me It has brought to life a vision for my business thatrsquos been years in the making It incorporates many many good ideas from many many people I feel so fortunate to get to see that every time I walk through the door

MM How are customers reactingJMK Thatrsquos been one of the best parts The response has been overwhelmingly positive

A few of our most regular customers had the opportunity to get a glimpse of the remodel while it was underway (we gave some informal preview tours while we were operating the temporary stand outside) but many customers walk through the door now and see it all for the first time Itrsquos especially fun to see and hear that kind of wide-eyed reaction

A few people with special connections to The Hag have had even stronger emotional responses and Irsquom so touched and right there with them when I see eyes well up as they see what wersquove done Itrsquos a very big milestone for a very special place and wersquore blessed to have people that care so deeply

MM Do the employees appreciate the new spaceJMK Oh probably more than anyone There was a lot that we sought to do with the remodel but creating a bigger brighter better-equipped space for our team was certainly one of the primary goals Wersquove got an incredible team truly the most spirited and talented people anyone could hope for

Many of them have spent years with me working hard against the challenge of a small under-equipped space and just barely being able to keeping up with growing demand Itrsquos been a special blessing for them and for me to finally have state-of-the-art space thatrsquos made for the work that we do We all feel a special connection to this place and now more than ever the place reflects the good energy we all bring here every day

MM Is the new menu a hit (The Hag specializes in vegetarianvegan cuisine)JMK Yes but just wait Feedback and demand have been excellent with our food offerings already but wersquore just getting started on some of the really exciting things that are coming to our food menu

Remodeling the cafe was just the first major milestone of our two-part expansion plan Next up wersquore building a state of the art off-site commissary kitchen that will do for our incredible culinary team what the remodeled shop has done for our baristas Theyrsquove been working day and night on taking our already fantastic food offerings to a whole new level

Wersquove already introduced some amazing new menu items like the Garden Grilled Cheese panini (trust me itrsquos like nothing yoursquove had before) and some truly outstanding new vegan baked goods Wersquove also improved our classic offerings with house-made

Interview with Jenn Melby-Kelly owner of The Coffee Hag

By Sarah Johnson

MM p02 0116indd 34 12182015 30802 PM

MANKATO MAGAZINE  bull January 2016 bull 35

Happy New Year

Locally Owned amp Operated

Check Weekly Specialsmgmwineandspiritscommankato

Largest Selection ofbull Liquor bull Wine bull Beer bull

Hours Monday-Saturday 8 am - 10 pm

ATMs at all stores

Mankato201 Victory Dr

625-2420

North Mankato1755 Commerce Dr

387-2634

St Peter100 N Minnesota Ave

934-8964

sourdough and whole wheat breads But as impressive as it is already itrsquos just a taste mdash literally mdash of things to come as we bring our new kitchen online

MM Whatrsquos stayed the sameJMK Irsquom really proud to say that while wersquove touched almost every part of this 23-year-old business wersquove kept even more than we have changed From the first days of this project I made it my personal mission and responsibility to make sure that the ldquosoulrdquo of this special place was only enhanced and never lost as we made the updates

In every area of the remodel as wersquove added some necessary new layers of sophistication The Hagrsquos colorful quirky and even rebellious spirit is still very much a part of the space We did a lot to try to make sure it still looked and felt like ldquohomerdquo

And on a deeper level every step wersquove taken with the growth of our business has been chosen carefully to honor the core parts of The Coffee Hagrsquos identity Our focus on community our support for local art and music our commitment to creating a safe and welcoming space for everyone our efforts to lead the way on social and environmental issues affecting our world near and far mdash those have all stayed the same And those will always be at the heart of what we do

MM Anything elseJMK Irsquom so incredibly grateful for the support of our customers and community And whenever I talk about my business and how it has grown I really canrsquot overstate how thankful I am for my beautiful Coffee Hag family The hard work good energy and earnest contributions of so many people mdash past and present mdash have brought me and my business here An incredible amount of love has gone into this business and made this dream a reality

MM p02 0116indd 35 12222015 121240 PM

36 bull January 2016 bull MANKATO MAGAZINE

xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

Food

south

ern mn style

whatrsquos Cooking By Sarah Johnson

Sarah Johnson is a cook freelance writer and chocolate addict from North Mankato with three grown kids and a couple of mutts

As I was pondering my subject matter for todayrsquos column I started wondering about all the different items the word ldquonutsrdquo can refer

to Crazy people are called nuts so are hexagonal metal objects that attach to bolts Nuts can be the end of things (as in ldquofrom soup to nutsrdquo) or they can be the beginning of them (as in ldquosperm incubatorsrdquo) Nut can also mean onersquos head or onersquos lump of something such as butter And if you accidentally get a nut of butter on your nut you can exclaim ldquoNutsrdquo

My favorite meaning of the word nut however is the dry indehiscent one-seeded fruit with a woody pericarp And I donrsquot even know what indehiscent OR pericarp means But these are the wonderful denizens of the world of edible nuts

Nuts are widely credited with all sorts of health benefits for the heart brain male reproductive system prostate cholesterol level fiber intake and avoidance of some types of cancer And while nuts do contain fat itrsquos the ldquogoodrdquo kind heart-healthy monounsaturated and polyunsaturated fat Their mix of omega-3 fatty acids protein and fiber helps you feel full and suppresses the appetite

Nuts are great in desserts and salads of course but they also shine in stir-fries casseroles soups chicken pork fish and even beverages Nut butters nut milks and nut oils add delicious options to our kitchen larders Breads cereals muffins and pancakes gain texture flavor and nutrition from the addition of nuts Basically anytime is a good time for nuts

Which is a wonderful thing because nuts taste so good you would think they had to be very very bad The reason lies deep in their oils

Walnut Oil is strong and flavorful Itrsquos best when used in uncooked sauces or salad dressing

Hazelnut Oil has a strong flavor and is great for the heart

Almond Oil is very popular and has a much milder flavor than walnut oil or hazelnut oil

Pecan Macadamia Nut Pistachio Cashew and Pine Nut Oils are flavorful and unique The freshness of the nuts used really affects the flavor

ldquoTherersquos Nuttinrsquo Nutty About Nutsrdquo

For the Baklava1 pound pistachios hazelnuts walnuts pecans andor almonds coarsely ground plus more for garnish12 teaspoon ground cinnamon1 cup breadcrumbs4 sticks unsalted butter melted16 sheets phyllo dough (thawed if frozen) cut in half

For the Syrup3 cups sugar1 6 -to-8-ounce jar honey1 frac12 cups water1 to 2 tablespoons fresh lemon juice

If yoursquore under the impression that baklava is much too labor-intensive and complicated to make at home think again Anybody can make

it no special skills equipment or exotic ingredients are required A word about phyllo dough Itrsquos sold in frozen packages so you need to remove the package from the freezer and let it thaw in the fridge 24 hours before you want to make the baklava Then about an hour beforehand remove the package from the fridge and let it sit on the counter

Walnuts or pistachios are the most traditional nuts to fill baklava but using other nuts works wonders as well Simply layer the phyllo with the nut filling and butter bake for an hour and finish with a simple honeyed syrup If you have leftover nuts from the holidays herersquos your chance to use them up

Mixed Nut Baklava

MM p02 0116indd 36 12182015 30812 PM

MANKATO MAGAZINE  bull January 2016 bull 37

MONEY MATTERS WORK SMARTLET COMMUNITY BANK HELP YOUBRING THE TWO TOGETHER

MANKATO - SAINT ANDREWS DR 5073854444MANKATO - MADISON AVE 5076251551VERNON CENTER 5075493679AMBOY 5076743300

JULIE VETTERSR VICE PRESIDENTRETAIL BANKING

We support great causes like yoursAt Community Bank we know good things happen when you have a good bank So we make more possible by keeping banking simple and supportive And by giving you the power that comes with innovative solutions like our Health Savings Account It offers you tax-free savings for future medical expenses Stop by anytime Wersquore always ready to help out a great cause

Position a rack in the lower third of the oven preheat to 350 degrees Combine the nuts cinnamon and breadcrumbs in a bowl

Brush a 9x13-inch baking dish with some of the butter Layer 10 pieces of phyllo in the dish brushing each piece with butter before adding the next (keep the remaining dough covered with a damp towel) Sprinkle a quarter of the nut mixture over the dough Layer four pieces of phyllo on top brushing each with butter before adding the next sprinkle with another quarter of the nut mixture Add four more phyllo pieces on top brushing each with butter then add another quarter of the nut mixture four more pieces of phyllo with butter and the remaining nuts

Layer the remaining 10 pieces of phyllo on top of the nuts brushing each with butter brush the top piece with extra butter Cut into the baklava to make strips about 1 12 inches wide Then make diagonal slices about 1 12 inches apart to create a diamond pattern Bake until golden about one hour

Meanwhile make the syrup Bring the sugar honey and 1 12 cups water to a boil in a saucepan over medium heat and cook 10 to 15 minutes Add the lemon juice and boil 2 more minutes then let cool slightly Pour the syrup over the warm baklava let soak uncovered at least six hours or overnight Garnish with nuts

MM p02 0116indd 37 12182015 30817 PM

38 bull bull MANKATO MAGAZINE

Nell Musolf is a mom and freelance writer from Mankato She blogs at nellmusolfcom

38 bull bull MANKATO MAGAZINE

MM p02 0116indd 38 12182015 30822 PM

MANKATO MAGAZINE  bull January 2016 bull 39

Gear Up for WinterYear-Round amp Insulated Workwear from

Carhartt Dickies and Key

UNIFORMSUniforms fromBarco Carhartt Cherokee DickiesKoi Peaches and White Cross

AMAZED

Call 5073446336mankatomagmankatofreepresscom

Stephanie L Hylla LAc Dipl AcKayla M Sweeney MOm LAc

NEW LOCATION709 S Front Suite 5

5074694788mankatoacupuncturecom

Open House ndash Wednesday Feb 3 9-12noonCelebrating 5 years of Business New Location and the Chinese New Year

In Network with Blue Cross Blue ShieldLicensed by the MN Board of Medical Practice

Ribbon Cutting with Greater Mankato Growth at 10am

(A $250 Value)THIS VOUCHER ENTITLES NEW PATIENTS TO A

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wwwr igne l l fami lych i roprac t ic comMedicare Restrictions Apply Expires January 31 2016

Dr BrandonRignell DC

1351 Madison AveSuite D

Mankato MN 56001

5077797313

$2900New Patient Special

MM p02 0116indd 39 12222015 121344 PM

40 bull bull MANKATO MAGAZINE

Jean Lundquist is a master gardener who lives near Good Thunder

MM p02 0116indd 40 12182015 30834 PM

MANKATO MAGAZINE  bull January 2016 bull 41

3 Increase the Value of Your Home

3 Update Your Homersquos Appearance

3 Save Money

Choose from SeveralModels Styles amp Colors

507-625-7110 or 1-800-645-36671125 Cross St North Mankato MN

Improve Your HomersquosEnergy Efficiency

422 Park Lane Mankato MN | NuStarMankatocom

(507) 381-4747Voted One of Mankatorsquos Best

DANIEL WINGERT

Make Selling Your Home Your NuYearrsquos Resolution

MM p02 0116indd 41 12182015 30839 PM

42 bull January 2016 bull MANKATO MAGAZINE

January Resolve to moisturize

Your stYLeBy Ann Rosenquist Fee

Ann Rosenquist Fee is executive director of the Arts Center of Saint Peter and a vocalist with The Frye She blogs at annrosenquistfeecom

If you have in-laws or colleagues who know you well enough to have given you holiday gifts

but not well enough to know what wouldrsquove truly made you happy congratulations Chances are yoursquore the proud owner of a bunch of brand-new lip balm

Maybe itrsquos even holiday themed Thatrsquos the best Maybe you got the candy-cane flavored kind or wintergreen with holiday graphics on the label or something like that A theme that was irrelevant the moment the stocking was unstuffed because at that exact second the holiday was over

And here you are in January with an abundance of wax

Fortunately also here you are in the early weeks of winter with rough red knuckles Probably also cracked cuticles although it might not have gone that far yet for you Irsquom sure it has for me This photo was taken back in November and even then the Band-Aids were for real Irsquove learned to cut them in half length-wise so as to retain my ability to type Irsquove also learned to play with a range of color options Flesh-toned Clear Disney characters The colorful strips shown here were gifted to me by my husband Partly why theyrsquore cut in half is that the text is obscene This is one small trick you can use to make bloody cuticles your most exciting accessory of the winter

Sources like UrbanSurvivalSitecom and WonderHowTocom will tell you that you can use lip balm for a whole variety of purposes such as coating threads of outdoor lightbulbs before screwing them into their sockets and enhancing the burn-ability of most kindling

These are great fun but they wonrsquot improve your personal style

More germane to winter beauty are the following suggestions

Keep a tube next to your bed for first-thing-in-the-morning use And I mean really truly first-thing I mean smear the stuff on each cuticle while yoursquore still lying there before you start using your fingers at all If you wake up thinking yoursquore fine and skip cuticle care next thing you know yoursquore pushing down the lever on your Keurig and the pressure is more than your screamingly dry skin can take and boom split blood on the Keurig and itrsquos gonna be a long painful day If only you had balmed your hands before you let your feet hit the floor

Keep another tube in your glove compartment If itrsquos warm enough to take off your mittens in the car mdash if yoursquore even wearing mittens given that your hands are snagging on everything these days mdash the harsh January sunlight will allow you to see cracks and flakes in high-resolution detail Yoursquoll want the balm nearby

to cover what you didnrsquot notice first thing in the morning Also a car tube is useful for when you look in the rear-view mirror and notice that your nose and upper lip are flaking as well Itrsquos because yoursquore getting over a cold and the frequent use of tissue has worn away your top layer of skin but just because you know that doesnrsquot mean everybody else wonrsquot think ldquothere is something in that noserdquo Itrsquos just a fact Itrsquos what it looks like Lip balm to the rescue Itrsquos the only thing dry enough to slick those flakes in place and nourishing enough to maybe actually get your face back to normal

Keep a couple more tubes in a nighttime kit along with sandpaper Sandpaper Yes Not a pumice stone not a lame also-gifted sugar

scrub Medium-grit sandpaper is what you need every night lightly but with conviction As follows 1) Sand taking care not to do more damage than what the elements have already done Yoursquore just trying to remove the dry dead stuff Yoursquore just being hearty and efficient about this true to the culture of this great state in which yoursquove chosen to winter You are no pansy Sand your hands 2) Wash 3) Blot dry 4) Dial up the gifted balm whisper a word of thanks to the person who put so much thought into your well-being that they stuffed your holiday stocking with this amazing gift of self-care smash a healthy amount down into your palms massage Take heart You just might find yourself with normal-textured non-cracked not-horrible-looking hands by morning

Split-open cuticles I feel you Except for these Band-Aids I feel you

Lip balms I have been gifted and these are just from last Christmas ldquolastrdquo as in 2014

Bathrooms Worth Bragging About

HoursTue amp Wed amp Fri | 9 am to 6 pmMon amp Thu | 9 am to 7 pmSaturday | 9 am to 4 pm

219 S Victory Dr | Mankato507 | 345 | 7009ipafhickorytechnetindependentpaintandflooringcom

You Deserve Comfortable Care Every Timebull Sedation - Complete Relaxation with Just a Pillbull Invisalign - Clear Alternative to Bracesbull Botox amp Fillersbull Implants - Placement and Restorationbull Cerec - One Visit Crown Technology

bull Free Whitening Programbull 3D Imaging with Fewer X-Raysbull Cosmetic Dentistrybull Drill-Free Technologybull Emergency Care

1400 Lookout Drive North Mankato507-625-CARE(2273) bull mankatodentistcom 06

1865

6124

01

Dr AngelA Schuck

Dr keith FlAck

MM p02 0116indd 42 12182015 30841 PM

MANKATO MAGAZINE  bull January 2016 bull 43

Bathrooms Worth Bragging About

HoursTue amp Wed amp Fri | 9 am to 6 pmMon amp Thu | 9 am to 7 pmSaturday | 9 am to 4 pm

219 S Victory Dr | Mankato507 | 345 | 7009ipafhickorytechnetindependentpaintandflooringcom

You Deserve Comfortable Care Every Timebull Sedation - Complete Relaxation with Just a Pillbull Invisalign - Clear Alternative to Bracesbull Botox amp Fillersbull Implants - Placement and Restorationbull Cerec - One Visit Crown Technology

bull Free Whitening Programbull 3D Imaging with Fewer X-Raysbull Cosmetic Dentistrybull Drill-Free Technologybull Emergency Care

1400 Lookout Drive North Mankato507-625-CARE(2273) bull mankatodentistcom 06

1865

6124

01

Dr AngelA Schuck

Dr keith FlAck

(944) 412-7949 | OrthoEdgeMNcom

Enjoy the season

Mankato St Peter

Be active Be healthyBe able with OrthoEdge

The OrthoEdge joint replacement

program offers superb care from your first

visit through recovery The surgeons from

the Orthopaedic amp Fracture Clinic and

the care team at Riverrsquos Edge Hospital

provide personal and professional care to

get you back to able

Why Riverrsquos Edge Hospital amp Clinic

bull Riverrsquos Edge Hospital amp Clinic has a long-

standing relationship with the Orthopaedic

amp Fracture Clinic

bull There are 14 private suites that feature a

private bathroom and shower

bull Restaurant-style menu

bull Low patient to nurse ratio

bull Hospitalist on staff to provide patient

centered care 24 hours a day

bull Free WiFi for patients and guests

bull Individualized care

bull On-site Physical and Occupational Therapy

MM p02 0116indd 43 12182015 30842 PM

44 bull January 2016 bull MANKATO MAGAZINE

1 Hicktown Mafia800 pm mdash New Ulm Event Center mdash 301 20th St S mdash New Ulm mdash $10 mdash 507-354-4673

7-9 Mankato West Orchesis Dance Team showcase7 pm Thursday-Saturday 2 pm Saturday mdash Mankato West High School Auditorium mdash $7 adults $5 students mdash 507-381-7578

10 Mankato Symphony Orchestra Music on the Hill II ldquoMinnesota rootsrdquo2 pm mdash Chapel at Good Counselmdash Good Counsel Drive mdash Mankato mdash $17 $12 mdash wwwmankatosymphonycom

16 Handel with Caremdash Handel Goes to Italy11 ammdash YMCA Aerobics Studio mdash 1401 S Riverfront Drive mdash Mankato mdash wwwmankatosymphonycom

16 Mankato Craft beer Expo2 pm (VIP) 3 pm general mdash Verizon Wireless Center mdash $45 VIP $35 general $10 designated driver mdash wwwmankatocraftbeerexpocom

23 Joey Flip and Mike Fugazzi rockinrsquo at the Embassy9 pm mdash Blaschkorsquos Embassy Bar and Grill mdash 325 S Minnesota Ave mdash St Peter mdash 507-934-3903

24 andrea Lyn and Dick Kimmel concert730 pm mdash Elias J Halling Recital Hall mdash Minnesota State University mdash Mankato mdash $12 regular $11 current MSU students mdash wwwmnusedumusic

28-31 MSu Theatre antigone730 pm Thursday-Saturday 2 pm Sunday mdash Andreas Theatre mdash Minnesota State University mdash Mankato mdash $16 regular $14 discount $11 current MSU students mdash wwwmnsuedu

29-31 BLC Theatre Brigadoon730 Friday and Saturday 2 pm Sunday mdash Ylvisaker Fine Arts Center mdash Bethany Lutheran College mdash Mankato mdash $10 adults $6 seniors children and students mdash wwwblceduevents

29- Feb 7 Winterfest St Peter Citywide mdash wwwstpeterchamberorg

30 Church of Cash a Tribute to Johnny Cash7 pm mdash St Peter American Legion mdash 229 W Nassau St mdash St Peter mdash 507-934-6435

31 Maud Hixson and rick Carlson concert730 pmmdash Elias J Halling Recital Hall mdash Minnesota State University mdash Mankato mdash $12 regular $11 current MSU students wwmnsuedumusic

Coming attraCtions January

T - F 8am - 6pm Sun ClosedSat 9am - 4pmM 8am - 8pm

120 North Broad Street Mankato MN 507-345-4688 wwwmeyerandsonstvandappliancecom

FIND SPECIAL DEALS ON

MM p02 0116indd 44 12182015 30902 PM

MANKATO MAGAZINE  bull January 2016 bull 45

St Peter Craft amp Vendor Show

1MelinadaBussefromRapidansoldherhandmadejewelryatthecraftandvendorshow

2DarylfromElysianandhishand-carvedwoodart

3MacKennaage7hasfunatoneoftheboothsattheStPeterCraftandVendorShow

4LizEntershowsoffsomeofherproductsattheldquoItWorksrdquobooth

5DenisePetersofldquoYoungLivingrdquoessentialoilsdisplayedherproductsattheshow

Faces amp Places Photos By Sport Pix

3

5

2

1

4

T - F 8am - 6pm Sun ClosedSat 9am - 4pmM 8am - 8pm

120 North Broad Street Mankato MN 507-345-4688 wwwmeyerandsonstvandappliancecom

FIND SPECIAL DEALS ON

MM p02 0116indd 45 12222015 121536 PM

46 bull January 2016 bull MANKATO MAGAZINE

SOUTHErN MN CHrISTMAS

FESTIVAL1 A large crowd was on hand during the festivities at

the Christmas Festival2 Friesenrsquos Family Bakery amp Bistro had tons of baked

goods and soups at the Verizon Wireless Center3 A childrenrsquos choir sang for the audience at the

festival4 Ron Haefner owner of Ronrsquos Auto Repair displayed

some of his services5 Garrison Galatz dressed up as Santa for the

Christmas Festival

faCes amp PLaCes Photos By Sport Pix

4

3

1

2

5

MM p02 0116indd 46 12182015 30923 PM

MANKATO MAGAZINE  bull January 2016 bull 47

1GirlScouttroop34494waspresentedwithatrophybyKiwanisVicePresidentKyleMrozek

2SantaClausevenwentthroughtheparaderoute3(LtoR)BrooklynPomrankeAlaynaLyonsHunterPomrankeandLilyLyonsgetagroupphototakenwithSanta

4MarshaMartigtellsSantawhatshewantsforChristmas

5TheparadefloatswerealldeckedoutinChristmaslights

6Visitorswalkthepatharoundtheparktoviewthisyearrsquoslights

Kiwanis Holiday ligHtsFaces amp Places Photos By sport Pix

2

1

3

4 5

6

MM p02 0116indd 47 12222015 121616 PM

48 bull January 2016 bull MANKATO MAGAZINE

On the Occasion of a 50th Reunion

the Class of 1965

from this VaLLeYBy Pete Steiner

Peter Steiner is host of ldquoTalk of the Townrdquo weekdays at 105 pm on KTOE

I was honored to give the presentation for our 50th class reunion recently at West Highrsquos Homecoming celebration About 120 of our nearly 400-member class

showed up We Baby Boomers the children of the greatest generation had big classes in the late lsquo60rsquos that forced the building of East High Ours was a dramatic era and our class did some great things in the face of big challenges Here edited is some of what I said

I am so glad to be standing here today Therersquos an old saying

ldquoMay you live in INTErESTINg timeshelliprdquo The Class of rsquo65 certainly has Itrsquos seems like only yesterday right after lunch that we were at our desks waiting for the start of English class when our charismatic teacher Harry Fitterer strode in and said ldquoPrESIDENT KENNEDY HAS BEEN SHOT IN DALLASrdquo At first we didnrsquot believe him but it was true It was November 22 1963 We were juniors and as the song says that was THE END OF THE INNOCENCE We had lived through the last idyllic time in America

When we first arrived in the fall of 1962 America was still carefree basking in the glow of victory in WW II Everything may have seemed ldquorightrdquo but it was not Martin Luther King Jr had just visited Mankato pointing out the continuing plight of black Americans as the Civil rights movement was gaining steam The beginnings of the Vietnam War which would alter the course of many of our lives were stirring even as we studied history and government The current generation has no monopoly on forgettable pop music ndash we had a stupid 1 song called ldquoItsie Bitsie Teenie Weenie Yellow Polka Dot Bikinirdquo (unfortunately an ear worm I canrsquot forget) But a darker cultural threat was looming The BEATLES were invading from Britain and our parents were mortified because they had LONg HAIr

Some of the shock of the Kennedy assassination was eased when our wrestling team in the era when the state still had just ONE CLASS won the State Championship in front of a packed hall up at MSU some still maintain that is the greatest single athletic achievement in Mankato history We were the first high school in Mankato to put on a full-scale musical ldquoBye Bye Birdierdquo in the spring of 1964 In Fall of 1964 our football team would have won the conference championship outright except Owatonnarsquos great Noel Jenke who would go on to star for the U of M

cheated I watched him trap the touchdown pass that beat us Does cheating pay Was that a lesson for life

In lsquo65 we also had a fine basketball team that lost our chance at State when our 6-6 center fouled out at Luverne

BUT A FAr BIggEr CHALLENgE AWAITED US ALL As we rode out to Luverne to watch that game we couldnrsquot help noticing the highway was like a canyon between walls of snow The legendary St Patrickrsquos Day Blizzard had dumped two feet on top of an already large snow pack and then April brought rains on frozen ground Instead of coming here to school many of us soon got a real-life assignment to go out in our rain gear out on the dikes to battle the grEAT FLOOD OF 1965 Our school became an island as water flooded the parking lot and all of South riverfront Our spring play that year was called ironically

THE DESPErATE HOUrS We had to rehearse at roosevelt School up on higher ground

Our class produced three Merit scholars One of our classmates who did NOT qualify

for a merit scholarship nevertheless was such a whiz at physics that NASA requested a copy of a paper he wrote on rocketry as a senior We produced 12 doctors one of whom earned a fellowship at Stanford seeking how to bring telemedicine to the poor another of whom became a breakthrough cancer doctor We had entrepreneurs one who would go on to be a leader in Solar Energy (and then run for governor of New Hampshire) Another mdash a woman incidentally when

that was not common founded two bio-tech startups Many of us are still working

past normal retirement age One founded a company on the leading edge of recycling

computers whose clients include the NSA Another is chief medical officer of a company

devising a better tool for colonoscopies Yet another of our classmates recently completed a concert tour of China

We lived in challenging times just as you do today but we muddle through we make it to the other shore I remember sitting where you are 50 years ago thinking how old those folks up there looked But remember Life goes by very quickly You certainly live in interesting times as Shakespeare said ldquoPresent Mirth has Present Laughter Youthrsquos a stuff will NOT endurerdquo So I urge you live each moment to the fullest

MM p02 0116indd 48 12182015 30933 PM

MM p02 0116indd 49 12182015 30936 PM

MM p02 0116indd 50 12182015 30948 PM

Page 37: Mankatomag 116

MANKATO MAGAZINE  bull January 2016 bull 35

Happy New Year

Locally Owned amp Operated

Check Weekly Specialsmgmwineandspiritscommankato

Largest Selection ofbull Liquor bull Wine bull Beer bull

Hours Monday-Saturday 8 am - 10 pm

ATMs at all stores

Mankato201 Victory Dr

625-2420

North Mankato1755 Commerce Dr

387-2634

St Peter100 N Minnesota Ave

934-8964

sourdough and whole wheat breads But as impressive as it is already itrsquos just a taste mdash literally mdash of things to come as we bring our new kitchen online

MM Whatrsquos stayed the sameJMK Irsquom really proud to say that while wersquove touched almost every part of this 23-year-old business wersquove kept even more than we have changed From the first days of this project I made it my personal mission and responsibility to make sure that the ldquosoulrdquo of this special place was only enhanced and never lost as we made the updates

In every area of the remodel as wersquove added some necessary new layers of sophistication The Hagrsquos colorful quirky and even rebellious spirit is still very much a part of the space We did a lot to try to make sure it still looked and felt like ldquohomerdquo

And on a deeper level every step wersquove taken with the growth of our business has been chosen carefully to honor the core parts of The Coffee Hagrsquos identity Our focus on community our support for local art and music our commitment to creating a safe and welcoming space for everyone our efforts to lead the way on social and environmental issues affecting our world near and far mdash those have all stayed the same And those will always be at the heart of what we do

MM Anything elseJMK Irsquom so incredibly grateful for the support of our customers and community And whenever I talk about my business and how it has grown I really canrsquot overstate how thankful I am for my beautiful Coffee Hag family The hard work good energy and earnest contributions of so many people mdash past and present mdash have brought me and my business here An incredible amount of love has gone into this business and made this dream a reality

MM p02 0116indd 35 12222015 121240 PM

36 bull January 2016 bull MANKATO MAGAZINE

xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

Food

south

ern mn style

whatrsquos Cooking By Sarah Johnson

Sarah Johnson is a cook freelance writer and chocolate addict from North Mankato with three grown kids and a couple of mutts

As I was pondering my subject matter for todayrsquos column I started wondering about all the different items the word ldquonutsrdquo can refer

to Crazy people are called nuts so are hexagonal metal objects that attach to bolts Nuts can be the end of things (as in ldquofrom soup to nutsrdquo) or they can be the beginning of them (as in ldquosperm incubatorsrdquo) Nut can also mean onersquos head or onersquos lump of something such as butter And if you accidentally get a nut of butter on your nut you can exclaim ldquoNutsrdquo

My favorite meaning of the word nut however is the dry indehiscent one-seeded fruit with a woody pericarp And I donrsquot even know what indehiscent OR pericarp means But these are the wonderful denizens of the world of edible nuts

Nuts are widely credited with all sorts of health benefits for the heart brain male reproductive system prostate cholesterol level fiber intake and avoidance of some types of cancer And while nuts do contain fat itrsquos the ldquogoodrdquo kind heart-healthy monounsaturated and polyunsaturated fat Their mix of omega-3 fatty acids protein and fiber helps you feel full and suppresses the appetite

Nuts are great in desserts and salads of course but they also shine in stir-fries casseroles soups chicken pork fish and even beverages Nut butters nut milks and nut oils add delicious options to our kitchen larders Breads cereals muffins and pancakes gain texture flavor and nutrition from the addition of nuts Basically anytime is a good time for nuts

Which is a wonderful thing because nuts taste so good you would think they had to be very very bad The reason lies deep in their oils

Walnut Oil is strong and flavorful Itrsquos best when used in uncooked sauces or salad dressing

Hazelnut Oil has a strong flavor and is great for the heart

Almond Oil is very popular and has a much milder flavor than walnut oil or hazelnut oil

Pecan Macadamia Nut Pistachio Cashew and Pine Nut Oils are flavorful and unique The freshness of the nuts used really affects the flavor

ldquoTherersquos Nuttinrsquo Nutty About Nutsrdquo

For the Baklava1 pound pistachios hazelnuts walnuts pecans andor almonds coarsely ground plus more for garnish12 teaspoon ground cinnamon1 cup breadcrumbs4 sticks unsalted butter melted16 sheets phyllo dough (thawed if frozen) cut in half

For the Syrup3 cups sugar1 6 -to-8-ounce jar honey1 frac12 cups water1 to 2 tablespoons fresh lemon juice

If yoursquore under the impression that baklava is much too labor-intensive and complicated to make at home think again Anybody can make

it no special skills equipment or exotic ingredients are required A word about phyllo dough Itrsquos sold in frozen packages so you need to remove the package from the freezer and let it thaw in the fridge 24 hours before you want to make the baklava Then about an hour beforehand remove the package from the fridge and let it sit on the counter

Walnuts or pistachios are the most traditional nuts to fill baklava but using other nuts works wonders as well Simply layer the phyllo with the nut filling and butter bake for an hour and finish with a simple honeyed syrup If you have leftover nuts from the holidays herersquos your chance to use them up

Mixed Nut Baklava

MM p02 0116indd 36 12182015 30812 PM

MANKATO MAGAZINE  bull January 2016 bull 37

MONEY MATTERS WORK SMARTLET COMMUNITY BANK HELP YOUBRING THE TWO TOGETHER

MANKATO - SAINT ANDREWS DR 5073854444MANKATO - MADISON AVE 5076251551VERNON CENTER 5075493679AMBOY 5076743300

JULIE VETTERSR VICE PRESIDENTRETAIL BANKING

We support great causes like yoursAt Community Bank we know good things happen when you have a good bank So we make more possible by keeping banking simple and supportive And by giving you the power that comes with innovative solutions like our Health Savings Account It offers you tax-free savings for future medical expenses Stop by anytime Wersquore always ready to help out a great cause

Position a rack in the lower third of the oven preheat to 350 degrees Combine the nuts cinnamon and breadcrumbs in a bowl

Brush a 9x13-inch baking dish with some of the butter Layer 10 pieces of phyllo in the dish brushing each piece with butter before adding the next (keep the remaining dough covered with a damp towel) Sprinkle a quarter of the nut mixture over the dough Layer four pieces of phyllo on top brushing each with butter before adding the next sprinkle with another quarter of the nut mixture Add four more phyllo pieces on top brushing each with butter then add another quarter of the nut mixture four more pieces of phyllo with butter and the remaining nuts

Layer the remaining 10 pieces of phyllo on top of the nuts brushing each with butter brush the top piece with extra butter Cut into the baklava to make strips about 1 12 inches wide Then make diagonal slices about 1 12 inches apart to create a diamond pattern Bake until golden about one hour

Meanwhile make the syrup Bring the sugar honey and 1 12 cups water to a boil in a saucepan over medium heat and cook 10 to 15 minutes Add the lemon juice and boil 2 more minutes then let cool slightly Pour the syrup over the warm baklava let soak uncovered at least six hours or overnight Garnish with nuts

MM p02 0116indd 37 12182015 30817 PM

38 bull bull MANKATO MAGAZINE

Nell Musolf is a mom and freelance writer from Mankato She blogs at nellmusolfcom

38 bull bull MANKATO MAGAZINE

MM p02 0116indd 38 12182015 30822 PM

MANKATO MAGAZINE  bull January 2016 bull 39

Gear Up for WinterYear-Round amp Insulated Workwear from

Carhartt Dickies and Key

UNIFORMSUniforms fromBarco Carhartt Cherokee DickiesKoi Peaches and White Cross

AMAZED

Call 5073446336mankatomagmankatofreepresscom

Stephanie L Hylla LAc Dipl AcKayla M Sweeney MOm LAc

NEW LOCATION709 S Front Suite 5

5074694788mankatoacupuncturecom

Open House ndash Wednesday Feb 3 9-12noonCelebrating 5 years of Business New Location and the Chinese New Year

In Network with Blue Cross Blue ShieldLicensed by the MN Board of Medical Practice

Ribbon Cutting with Greater Mankato Growth at 10am

(A $250 Value)THIS VOUCHER ENTITLES NEW PATIENTS TO A

CONSULTATION EXAM amp DIGITAL X-RAYS (IF NEEDED)

wwwr igne l l fami lych i roprac t ic comMedicare Restrictions Apply Expires January 31 2016

Dr BrandonRignell DC

1351 Madison AveSuite D

Mankato MN 56001

5077797313

$2900New Patient Special

MM p02 0116indd 39 12222015 121344 PM

40 bull bull MANKATO MAGAZINE

Jean Lundquist is a master gardener who lives near Good Thunder

MM p02 0116indd 40 12182015 30834 PM

MANKATO MAGAZINE  bull January 2016 bull 41

3 Increase the Value of Your Home

3 Update Your Homersquos Appearance

3 Save Money

Choose from SeveralModels Styles amp Colors

507-625-7110 or 1-800-645-36671125 Cross St North Mankato MN

Improve Your HomersquosEnergy Efficiency

422 Park Lane Mankato MN | NuStarMankatocom

(507) 381-4747Voted One of Mankatorsquos Best

DANIEL WINGERT

Make Selling Your Home Your NuYearrsquos Resolution

MM p02 0116indd 41 12182015 30839 PM

42 bull January 2016 bull MANKATO MAGAZINE

January Resolve to moisturize

Your stYLeBy Ann Rosenquist Fee

Ann Rosenquist Fee is executive director of the Arts Center of Saint Peter and a vocalist with The Frye She blogs at annrosenquistfeecom

If you have in-laws or colleagues who know you well enough to have given you holiday gifts

but not well enough to know what wouldrsquove truly made you happy congratulations Chances are yoursquore the proud owner of a bunch of brand-new lip balm

Maybe itrsquos even holiday themed Thatrsquos the best Maybe you got the candy-cane flavored kind or wintergreen with holiday graphics on the label or something like that A theme that was irrelevant the moment the stocking was unstuffed because at that exact second the holiday was over

And here you are in January with an abundance of wax

Fortunately also here you are in the early weeks of winter with rough red knuckles Probably also cracked cuticles although it might not have gone that far yet for you Irsquom sure it has for me This photo was taken back in November and even then the Band-Aids were for real Irsquove learned to cut them in half length-wise so as to retain my ability to type Irsquove also learned to play with a range of color options Flesh-toned Clear Disney characters The colorful strips shown here were gifted to me by my husband Partly why theyrsquore cut in half is that the text is obscene This is one small trick you can use to make bloody cuticles your most exciting accessory of the winter

Sources like UrbanSurvivalSitecom and WonderHowTocom will tell you that you can use lip balm for a whole variety of purposes such as coating threads of outdoor lightbulbs before screwing them into their sockets and enhancing the burn-ability of most kindling

These are great fun but they wonrsquot improve your personal style

More germane to winter beauty are the following suggestions

Keep a tube next to your bed for first-thing-in-the-morning use And I mean really truly first-thing I mean smear the stuff on each cuticle while yoursquore still lying there before you start using your fingers at all If you wake up thinking yoursquore fine and skip cuticle care next thing you know yoursquore pushing down the lever on your Keurig and the pressure is more than your screamingly dry skin can take and boom split blood on the Keurig and itrsquos gonna be a long painful day If only you had balmed your hands before you let your feet hit the floor

Keep another tube in your glove compartment If itrsquos warm enough to take off your mittens in the car mdash if yoursquore even wearing mittens given that your hands are snagging on everything these days mdash the harsh January sunlight will allow you to see cracks and flakes in high-resolution detail Yoursquoll want the balm nearby

to cover what you didnrsquot notice first thing in the morning Also a car tube is useful for when you look in the rear-view mirror and notice that your nose and upper lip are flaking as well Itrsquos because yoursquore getting over a cold and the frequent use of tissue has worn away your top layer of skin but just because you know that doesnrsquot mean everybody else wonrsquot think ldquothere is something in that noserdquo Itrsquos just a fact Itrsquos what it looks like Lip balm to the rescue Itrsquos the only thing dry enough to slick those flakes in place and nourishing enough to maybe actually get your face back to normal

Keep a couple more tubes in a nighttime kit along with sandpaper Sandpaper Yes Not a pumice stone not a lame also-gifted sugar

scrub Medium-grit sandpaper is what you need every night lightly but with conviction As follows 1) Sand taking care not to do more damage than what the elements have already done Yoursquore just trying to remove the dry dead stuff Yoursquore just being hearty and efficient about this true to the culture of this great state in which yoursquove chosen to winter You are no pansy Sand your hands 2) Wash 3) Blot dry 4) Dial up the gifted balm whisper a word of thanks to the person who put so much thought into your well-being that they stuffed your holiday stocking with this amazing gift of self-care smash a healthy amount down into your palms massage Take heart You just might find yourself with normal-textured non-cracked not-horrible-looking hands by morning

Split-open cuticles I feel you Except for these Band-Aids I feel you

Lip balms I have been gifted and these are just from last Christmas ldquolastrdquo as in 2014

Bathrooms Worth Bragging About

HoursTue amp Wed amp Fri | 9 am to 6 pmMon amp Thu | 9 am to 7 pmSaturday | 9 am to 4 pm

219 S Victory Dr | Mankato507 | 345 | 7009ipafhickorytechnetindependentpaintandflooringcom

You Deserve Comfortable Care Every Timebull Sedation - Complete Relaxation with Just a Pillbull Invisalign - Clear Alternative to Bracesbull Botox amp Fillersbull Implants - Placement and Restorationbull Cerec - One Visit Crown Technology

bull Free Whitening Programbull 3D Imaging with Fewer X-Raysbull Cosmetic Dentistrybull Drill-Free Technologybull Emergency Care

1400 Lookout Drive North Mankato507-625-CARE(2273) bull mankatodentistcom 06

1865

6124

01

Dr AngelA Schuck

Dr keith FlAck

MM p02 0116indd 42 12182015 30841 PM

MANKATO MAGAZINE  bull January 2016 bull 43

Bathrooms Worth Bragging About

HoursTue amp Wed amp Fri | 9 am to 6 pmMon amp Thu | 9 am to 7 pmSaturday | 9 am to 4 pm

219 S Victory Dr | Mankato507 | 345 | 7009ipafhickorytechnetindependentpaintandflooringcom

You Deserve Comfortable Care Every Timebull Sedation - Complete Relaxation with Just a Pillbull Invisalign - Clear Alternative to Bracesbull Botox amp Fillersbull Implants - Placement and Restorationbull Cerec - One Visit Crown Technology

bull Free Whitening Programbull 3D Imaging with Fewer X-Raysbull Cosmetic Dentistrybull Drill-Free Technologybull Emergency Care

1400 Lookout Drive North Mankato507-625-CARE(2273) bull mankatodentistcom 06

1865

6124

01

Dr AngelA Schuck

Dr keith FlAck

(944) 412-7949 | OrthoEdgeMNcom

Enjoy the season

Mankato St Peter

Be active Be healthyBe able with OrthoEdge

The OrthoEdge joint replacement

program offers superb care from your first

visit through recovery The surgeons from

the Orthopaedic amp Fracture Clinic and

the care team at Riverrsquos Edge Hospital

provide personal and professional care to

get you back to able

Why Riverrsquos Edge Hospital amp Clinic

bull Riverrsquos Edge Hospital amp Clinic has a long-

standing relationship with the Orthopaedic

amp Fracture Clinic

bull There are 14 private suites that feature a

private bathroom and shower

bull Restaurant-style menu

bull Low patient to nurse ratio

bull Hospitalist on staff to provide patient

centered care 24 hours a day

bull Free WiFi for patients and guests

bull Individualized care

bull On-site Physical and Occupational Therapy

MM p02 0116indd 43 12182015 30842 PM

44 bull January 2016 bull MANKATO MAGAZINE

1 Hicktown Mafia800 pm mdash New Ulm Event Center mdash 301 20th St S mdash New Ulm mdash $10 mdash 507-354-4673

7-9 Mankato West Orchesis Dance Team showcase7 pm Thursday-Saturday 2 pm Saturday mdash Mankato West High School Auditorium mdash $7 adults $5 students mdash 507-381-7578

10 Mankato Symphony Orchestra Music on the Hill II ldquoMinnesota rootsrdquo2 pm mdash Chapel at Good Counselmdash Good Counsel Drive mdash Mankato mdash $17 $12 mdash wwwmankatosymphonycom

16 Handel with Caremdash Handel Goes to Italy11 ammdash YMCA Aerobics Studio mdash 1401 S Riverfront Drive mdash Mankato mdash wwwmankatosymphonycom

16 Mankato Craft beer Expo2 pm (VIP) 3 pm general mdash Verizon Wireless Center mdash $45 VIP $35 general $10 designated driver mdash wwwmankatocraftbeerexpocom

23 Joey Flip and Mike Fugazzi rockinrsquo at the Embassy9 pm mdash Blaschkorsquos Embassy Bar and Grill mdash 325 S Minnesota Ave mdash St Peter mdash 507-934-3903

24 andrea Lyn and Dick Kimmel concert730 pm mdash Elias J Halling Recital Hall mdash Minnesota State University mdash Mankato mdash $12 regular $11 current MSU students mdash wwwmnusedumusic

28-31 MSu Theatre antigone730 pm Thursday-Saturday 2 pm Sunday mdash Andreas Theatre mdash Minnesota State University mdash Mankato mdash $16 regular $14 discount $11 current MSU students mdash wwwmnsuedu

29-31 BLC Theatre Brigadoon730 Friday and Saturday 2 pm Sunday mdash Ylvisaker Fine Arts Center mdash Bethany Lutheran College mdash Mankato mdash $10 adults $6 seniors children and students mdash wwwblceduevents

29- Feb 7 Winterfest St Peter Citywide mdash wwwstpeterchamberorg

30 Church of Cash a Tribute to Johnny Cash7 pm mdash St Peter American Legion mdash 229 W Nassau St mdash St Peter mdash 507-934-6435

31 Maud Hixson and rick Carlson concert730 pmmdash Elias J Halling Recital Hall mdash Minnesota State University mdash Mankato mdash $12 regular $11 current MSU students wwmnsuedumusic

Coming attraCtions January

T - F 8am - 6pm Sun ClosedSat 9am - 4pmM 8am - 8pm

120 North Broad Street Mankato MN 507-345-4688 wwwmeyerandsonstvandappliancecom

FIND SPECIAL DEALS ON

MM p02 0116indd 44 12182015 30902 PM

MANKATO MAGAZINE  bull January 2016 bull 45

St Peter Craft amp Vendor Show

1MelinadaBussefromRapidansoldherhandmadejewelryatthecraftandvendorshow

2DarylfromElysianandhishand-carvedwoodart

3MacKennaage7hasfunatoneoftheboothsattheStPeterCraftandVendorShow

4LizEntershowsoffsomeofherproductsattheldquoItWorksrdquobooth

5DenisePetersofldquoYoungLivingrdquoessentialoilsdisplayedherproductsattheshow

Faces amp Places Photos By Sport Pix

3

5

2

1

4

T - F 8am - 6pm Sun ClosedSat 9am - 4pmM 8am - 8pm

120 North Broad Street Mankato MN 507-345-4688 wwwmeyerandsonstvandappliancecom

FIND SPECIAL DEALS ON

MM p02 0116indd 45 12222015 121536 PM

46 bull January 2016 bull MANKATO MAGAZINE

SOUTHErN MN CHrISTMAS

FESTIVAL1 A large crowd was on hand during the festivities at

the Christmas Festival2 Friesenrsquos Family Bakery amp Bistro had tons of baked

goods and soups at the Verizon Wireless Center3 A childrenrsquos choir sang for the audience at the

festival4 Ron Haefner owner of Ronrsquos Auto Repair displayed

some of his services5 Garrison Galatz dressed up as Santa for the

Christmas Festival

faCes amp PLaCes Photos By Sport Pix

4

3

1

2

5

MM p02 0116indd 46 12182015 30923 PM

MANKATO MAGAZINE  bull January 2016 bull 47

1GirlScouttroop34494waspresentedwithatrophybyKiwanisVicePresidentKyleMrozek

2SantaClausevenwentthroughtheparaderoute3(LtoR)BrooklynPomrankeAlaynaLyonsHunterPomrankeandLilyLyonsgetagroupphototakenwithSanta

4MarshaMartigtellsSantawhatshewantsforChristmas

5TheparadefloatswerealldeckedoutinChristmaslights

6Visitorswalkthepatharoundtheparktoviewthisyearrsquoslights

Kiwanis Holiday ligHtsFaces amp Places Photos By sport Pix

2

1

3

4 5

6

MM p02 0116indd 47 12222015 121616 PM

48 bull January 2016 bull MANKATO MAGAZINE

On the Occasion of a 50th Reunion

the Class of 1965

from this VaLLeYBy Pete Steiner

Peter Steiner is host of ldquoTalk of the Townrdquo weekdays at 105 pm on KTOE

I was honored to give the presentation for our 50th class reunion recently at West Highrsquos Homecoming celebration About 120 of our nearly 400-member class

showed up We Baby Boomers the children of the greatest generation had big classes in the late lsquo60rsquos that forced the building of East High Ours was a dramatic era and our class did some great things in the face of big challenges Here edited is some of what I said

I am so glad to be standing here today Therersquos an old saying

ldquoMay you live in INTErESTINg timeshelliprdquo The Class of rsquo65 certainly has Itrsquos seems like only yesterday right after lunch that we were at our desks waiting for the start of English class when our charismatic teacher Harry Fitterer strode in and said ldquoPrESIDENT KENNEDY HAS BEEN SHOT IN DALLASrdquo At first we didnrsquot believe him but it was true It was November 22 1963 We were juniors and as the song says that was THE END OF THE INNOCENCE We had lived through the last idyllic time in America

When we first arrived in the fall of 1962 America was still carefree basking in the glow of victory in WW II Everything may have seemed ldquorightrdquo but it was not Martin Luther King Jr had just visited Mankato pointing out the continuing plight of black Americans as the Civil rights movement was gaining steam The beginnings of the Vietnam War which would alter the course of many of our lives were stirring even as we studied history and government The current generation has no monopoly on forgettable pop music ndash we had a stupid 1 song called ldquoItsie Bitsie Teenie Weenie Yellow Polka Dot Bikinirdquo (unfortunately an ear worm I canrsquot forget) But a darker cultural threat was looming The BEATLES were invading from Britain and our parents were mortified because they had LONg HAIr

Some of the shock of the Kennedy assassination was eased when our wrestling team in the era when the state still had just ONE CLASS won the State Championship in front of a packed hall up at MSU some still maintain that is the greatest single athletic achievement in Mankato history We were the first high school in Mankato to put on a full-scale musical ldquoBye Bye Birdierdquo in the spring of 1964 In Fall of 1964 our football team would have won the conference championship outright except Owatonnarsquos great Noel Jenke who would go on to star for the U of M

cheated I watched him trap the touchdown pass that beat us Does cheating pay Was that a lesson for life

In lsquo65 we also had a fine basketball team that lost our chance at State when our 6-6 center fouled out at Luverne

BUT A FAr BIggEr CHALLENgE AWAITED US ALL As we rode out to Luverne to watch that game we couldnrsquot help noticing the highway was like a canyon between walls of snow The legendary St Patrickrsquos Day Blizzard had dumped two feet on top of an already large snow pack and then April brought rains on frozen ground Instead of coming here to school many of us soon got a real-life assignment to go out in our rain gear out on the dikes to battle the grEAT FLOOD OF 1965 Our school became an island as water flooded the parking lot and all of South riverfront Our spring play that year was called ironically

THE DESPErATE HOUrS We had to rehearse at roosevelt School up on higher ground

Our class produced three Merit scholars One of our classmates who did NOT qualify

for a merit scholarship nevertheless was such a whiz at physics that NASA requested a copy of a paper he wrote on rocketry as a senior We produced 12 doctors one of whom earned a fellowship at Stanford seeking how to bring telemedicine to the poor another of whom became a breakthrough cancer doctor We had entrepreneurs one who would go on to be a leader in Solar Energy (and then run for governor of New Hampshire) Another mdash a woman incidentally when

that was not common founded two bio-tech startups Many of us are still working

past normal retirement age One founded a company on the leading edge of recycling

computers whose clients include the NSA Another is chief medical officer of a company

devising a better tool for colonoscopies Yet another of our classmates recently completed a concert tour of China

We lived in challenging times just as you do today but we muddle through we make it to the other shore I remember sitting where you are 50 years ago thinking how old those folks up there looked But remember Life goes by very quickly You certainly live in interesting times as Shakespeare said ldquoPresent Mirth has Present Laughter Youthrsquos a stuff will NOT endurerdquo So I urge you live each moment to the fullest

MM p02 0116indd 48 12182015 30933 PM

MM p02 0116indd 49 12182015 30936 PM

MM p02 0116indd 50 12182015 30948 PM

Page 38: Mankatomag 116

36 bull January 2016 bull MANKATO MAGAZINE

xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

Food

south

ern mn style

whatrsquos Cooking By Sarah Johnson

Sarah Johnson is a cook freelance writer and chocolate addict from North Mankato with three grown kids and a couple of mutts

As I was pondering my subject matter for todayrsquos column I started wondering about all the different items the word ldquonutsrdquo can refer

to Crazy people are called nuts so are hexagonal metal objects that attach to bolts Nuts can be the end of things (as in ldquofrom soup to nutsrdquo) or they can be the beginning of them (as in ldquosperm incubatorsrdquo) Nut can also mean onersquos head or onersquos lump of something such as butter And if you accidentally get a nut of butter on your nut you can exclaim ldquoNutsrdquo

My favorite meaning of the word nut however is the dry indehiscent one-seeded fruit with a woody pericarp And I donrsquot even know what indehiscent OR pericarp means But these are the wonderful denizens of the world of edible nuts

Nuts are widely credited with all sorts of health benefits for the heart brain male reproductive system prostate cholesterol level fiber intake and avoidance of some types of cancer And while nuts do contain fat itrsquos the ldquogoodrdquo kind heart-healthy monounsaturated and polyunsaturated fat Their mix of omega-3 fatty acids protein and fiber helps you feel full and suppresses the appetite

Nuts are great in desserts and salads of course but they also shine in stir-fries casseroles soups chicken pork fish and even beverages Nut butters nut milks and nut oils add delicious options to our kitchen larders Breads cereals muffins and pancakes gain texture flavor and nutrition from the addition of nuts Basically anytime is a good time for nuts

Which is a wonderful thing because nuts taste so good you would think they had to be very very bad The reason lies deep in their oils

Walnut Oil is strong and flavorful Itrsquos best when used in uncooked sauces or salad dressing

Hazelnut Oil has a strong flavor and is great for the heart

Almond Oil is very popular and has a much milder flavor than walnut oil or hazelnut oil

Pecan Macadamia Nut Pistachio Cashew and Pine Nut Oils are flavorful and unique The freshness of the nuts used really affects the flavor

ldquoTherersquos Nuttinrsquo Nutty About Nutsrdquo

For the Baklava1 pound pistachios hazelnuts walnuts pecans andor almonds coarsely ground plus more for garnish12 teaspoon ground cinnamon1 cup breadcrumbs4 sticks unsalted butter melted16 sheets phyllo dough (thawed if frozen) cut in half

For the Syrup3 cups sugar1 6 -to-8-ounce jar honey1 frac12 cups water1 to 2 tablespoons fresh lemon juice

If yoursquore under the impression that baklava is much too labor-intensive and complicated to make at home think again Anybody can make

it no special skills equipment or exotic ingredients are required A word about phyllo dough Itrsquos sold in frozen packages so you need to remove the package from the freezer and let it thaw in the fridge 24 hours before you want to make the baklava Then about an hour beforehand remove the package from the fridge and let it sit on the counter

Walnuts or pistachios are the most traditional nuts to fill baklava but using other nuts works wonders as well Simply layer the phyllo with the nut filling and butter bake for an hour and finish with a simple honeyed syrup If you have leftover nuts from the holidays herersquos your chance to use them up

Mixed Nut Baklava

MM p02 0116indd 36 12182015 30812 PM

MANKATO MAGAZINE  bull January 2016 bull 37

MONEY MATTERS WORK SMARTLET COMMUNITY BANK HELP YOUBRING THE TWO TOGETHER

MANKATO - SAINT ANDREWS DR 5073854444MANKATO - MADISON AVE 5076251551VERNON CENTER 5075493679AMBOY 5076743300

JULIE VETTERSR VICE PRESIDENTRETAIL BANKING

We support great causes like yoursAt Community Bank we know good things happen when you have a good bank So we make more possible by keeping banking simple and supportive And by giving you the power that comes with innovative solutions like our Health Savings Account It offers you tax-free savings for future medical expenses Stop by anytime Wersquore always ready to help out a great cause

Position a rack in the lower third of the oven preheat to 350 degrees Combine the nuts cinnamon and breadcrumbs in a bowl

Brush a 9x13-inch baking dish with some of the butter Layer 10 pieces of phyllo in the dish brushing each piece with butter before adding the next (keep the remaining dough covered with a damp towel) Sprinkle a quarter of the nut mixture over the dough Layer four pieces of phyllo on top brushing each with butter before adding the next sprinkle with another quarter of the nut mixture Add four more phyllo pieces on top brushing each with butter then add another quarter of the nut mixture four more pieces of phyllo with butter and the remaining nuts

Layer the remaining 10 pieces of phyllo on top of the nuts brushing each with butter brush the top piece with extra butter Cut into the baklava to make strips about 1 12 inches wide Then make diagonal slices about 1 12 inches apart to create a diamond pattern Bake until golden about one hour

Meanwhile make the syrup Bring the sugar honey and 1 12 cups water to a boil in a saucepan over medium heat and cook 10 to 15 minutes Add the lemon juice and boil 2 more minutes then let cool slightly Pour the syrup over the warm baklava let soak uncovered at least six hours or overnight Garnish with nuts

MM p02 0116indd 37 12182015 30817 PM

38 bull bull MANKATO MAGAZINE

Nell Musolf is a mom and freelance writer from Mankato She blogs at nellmusolfcom

38 bull bull MANKATO MAGAZINE

MM p02 0116indd 38 12182015 30822 PM

MANKATO MAGAZINE  bull January 2016 bull 39

Gear Up for WinterYear-Round amp Insulated Workwear from

Carhartt Dickies and Key

UNIFORMSUniforms fromBarco Carhartt Cherokee DickiesKoi Peaches and White Cross

AMAZED

Call 5073446336mankatomagmankatofreepresscom

Stephanie L Hylla LAc Dipl AcKayla M Sweeney MOm LAc

NEW LOCATION709 S Front Suite 5

5074694788mankatoacupuncturecom

Open House ndash Wednesday Feb 3 9-12noonCelebrating 5 years of Business New Location and the Chinese New Year

In Network with Blue Cross Blue ShieldLicensed by the MN Board of Medical Practice

Ribbon Cutting with Greater Mankato Growth at 10am

(A $250 Value)THIS VOUCHER ENTITLES NEW PATIENTS TO A

CONSULTATION EXAM amp DIGITAL X-RAYS (IF NEEDED)

wwwr igne l l fami lych i roprac t ic comMedicare Restrictions Apply Expires January 31 2016

Dr BrandonRignell DC

1351 Madison AveSuite D

Mankato MN 56001

5077797313

$2900New Patient Special

MM p02 0116indd 39 12222015 121344 PM

40 bull bull MANKATO MAGAZINE

Jean Lundquist is a master gardener who lives near Good Thunder

MM p02 0116indd 40 12182015 30834 PM

MANKATO MAGAZINE  bull January 2016 bull 41

3 Increase the Value of Your Home

3 Update Your Homersquos Appearance

3 Save Money

Choose from SeveralModels Styles amp Colors

507-625-7110 or 1-800-645-36671125 Cross St North Mankato MN

Improve Your HomersquosEnergy Efficiency

422 Park Lane Mankato MN | NuStarMankatocom

(507) 381-4747Voted One of Mankatorsquos Best

DANIEL WINGERT

Make Selling Your Home Your NuYearrsquos Resolution

MM p02 0116indd 41 12182015 30839 PM

42 bull January 2016 bull MANKATO MAGAZINE

January Resolve to moisturize

Your stYLeBy Ann Rosenquist Fee

Ann Rosenquist Fee is executive director of the Arts Center of Saint Peter and a vocalist with The Frye She blogs at annrosenquistfeecom

If you have in-laws or colleagues who know you well enough to have given you holiday gifts

but not well enough to know what wouldrsquove truly made you happy congratulations Chances are yoursquore the proud owner of a bunch of brand-new lip balm

Maybe itrsquos even holiday themed Thatrsquos the best Maybe you got the candy-cane flavored kind or wintergreen with holiday graphics on the label or something like that A theme that was irrelevant the moment the stocking was unstuffed because at that exact second the holiday was over

And here you are in January with an abundance of wax

Fortunately also here you are in the early weeks of winter with rough red knuckles Probably also cracked cuticles although it might not have gone that far yet for you Irsquom sure it has for me This photo was taken back in November and even then the Band-Aids were for real Irsquove learned to cut them in half length-wise so as to retain my ability to type Irsquove also learned to play with a range of color options Flesh-toned Clear Disney characters The colorful strips shown here were gifted to me by my husband Partly why theyrsquore cut in half is that the text is obscene This is one small trick you can use to make bloody cuticles your most exciting accessory of the winter

Sources like UrbanSurvivalSitecom and WonderHowTocom will tell you that you can use lip balm for a whole variety of purposes such as coating threads of outdoor lightbulbs before screwing them into their sockets and enhancing the burn-ability of most kindling

These are great fun but they wonrsquot improve your personal style

More germane to winter beauty are the following suggestions

Keep a tube next to your bed for first-thing-in-the-morning use And I mean really truly first-thing I mean smear the stuff on each cuticle while yoursquore still lying there before you start using your fingers at all If you wake up thinking yoursquore fine and skip cuticle care next thing you know yoursquore pushing down the lever on your Keurig and the pressure is more than your screamingly dry skin can take and boom split blood on the Keurig and itrsquos gonna be a long painful day If only you had balmed your hands before you let your feet hit the floor

Keep another tube in your glove compartment If itrsquos warm enough to take off your mittens in the car mdash if yoursquore even wearing mittens given that your hands are snagging on everything these days mdash the harsh January sunlight will allow you to see cracks and flakes in high-resolution detail Yoursquoll want the balm nearby

to cover what you didnrsquot notice first thing in the morning Also a car tube is useful for when you look in the rear-view mirror and notice that your nose and upper lip are flaking as well Itrsquos because yoursquore getting over a cold and the frequent use of tissue has worn away your top layer of skin but just because you know that doesnrsquot mean everybody else wonrsquot think ldquothere is something in that noserdquo Itrsquos just a fact Itrsquos what it looks like Lip balm to the rescue Itrsquos the only thing dry enough to slick those flakes in place and nourishing enough to maybe actually get your face back to normal

Keep a couple more tubes in a nighttime kit along with sandpaper Sandpaper Yes Not a pumice stone not a lame also-gifted sugar

scrub Medium-grit sandpaper is what you need every night lightly but with conviction As follows 1) Sand taking care not to do more damage than what the elements have already done Yoursquore just trying to remove the dry dead stuff Yoursquore just being hearty and efficient about this true to the culture of this great state in which yoursquove chosen to winter You are no pansy Sand your hands 2) Wash 3) Blot dry 4) Dial up the gifted balm whisper a word of thanks to the person who put so much thought into your well-being that they stuffed your holiday stocking with this amazing gift of self-care smash a healthy amount down into your palms massage Take heart You just might find yourself with normal-textured non-cracked not-horrible-looking hands by morning

Split-open cuticles I feel you Except for these Band-Aids I feel you

Lip balms I have been gifted and these are just from last Christmas ldquolastrdquo as in 2014

Bathrooms Worth Bragging About

HoursTue amp Wed amp Fri | 9 am to 6 pmMon amp Thu | 9 am to 7 pmSaturday | 9 am to 4 pm

219 S Victory Dr | Mankato507 | 345 | 7009ipafhickorytechnetindependentpaintandflooringcom

You Deserve Comfortable Care Every Timebull Sedation - Complete Relaxation with Just a Pillbull Invisalign - Clear Alternative to Bracesbull Botox amp Fillersbull Implants - Placement and Restorationbull Cerec - One Visit Crown Technology

bull Free Whitening Programbull 3D Imaging with Fewer X-Raysbull Cosmetic Dentistrybull Drill-Free Technologybull Emergency Care

1400 Lookout Drive North Mankato507-625-CARE(2273) bull mankatodentistcom 06

1865

6124

01

Dr AngelA Schuck

Dr keith FlAck

MM p02 0116indd 42 12182015 30841 PM

MANKATO MAGAZINE  bull January 2016 bull 43

Bathrooms Worth Bragging About

HoursTue amp Wed amp Fri | 9 am to 6 pmMon amp Thu | 9 am to 7 pmSaturday | 9 am to 4 pm

219 S Victory Dr | Mankato507 | 345 | 7009ipafhickorytechnetindependentpaintandflooringcom

You Deserve Comfortable Care Every Timebull Sedation - Complete Relaxation with Just a Pillbull Invisalign - Clear Alternative to Bracesbull Botox amp Fillersbull Implants - Placement and Restorationbull Cerec - One Visit Crown Technology

bull Free Whitening Programbull 3D Imaging with Fewer X-Raysbull Cosmetic Dentistrybull Drill-Free Technologybull Emergency Care

1400 Lookout Drive North Mankato507-625-CARE(2273) bull mankatodentistcom 06

1865

6124

01

Dr AngelA Schuck

Dr keith FlAck

(944) 412-7949 | OrthoEdgeMNcom

Enjoy the season

Mankato St Peter

Be active Be healthyBe able with OrthoEdge

The OrthoEdge joint replacement

program offers superb care from your first

visit through recovery The surgeons from

the Orthopaedic amp Fracture Clinic and

the care team at Riverrsquos Edge Hospital

provide personal and professional care to

get you back to able

Why Riverrsquos Edge Hospital amp Clinic

bull Riverrsquos Edge Hospital amp Clinic has a long-

standing relationship with the Orthopaedic

amp Fracture Clinic

bull There are 14 private suites that feature a

private bathroom and shower

bull Restaurant-style menu

bull Low patient to nurse ratio

bull Hospitalist on staff to provide patient

centered care 24 hours a day

bull Free WiFi for patients and guests

bull Individualized care

bull On-site Physical and Occupational Therapy

MM p02 0116indd 43 12182015 30842 PM

44 bull January 2016 bull MANKATO MAGAZINE

1 Hicktown Mafia800 pm mdash New Ulm Event Center mdash 301 20th St S mdash New Ulm mdash $10 mdash 507-354-4673

7-9 Mankato West Orchesis Dance Team showcase7 pm Thursday-Saturday 2 pm Saturday mdash Mankato West High School Auditorium mdash $7 adults $5 students mdash 507-381-7578

10 Mankato Symphony Orchestra Music on the Hill II ldquoMinnesota rootsrdquo2 pm mdash Chapel at Good Counselmdash Good Counsel Drive mdash Mankato mdash $17 $12 mdash wwwmankatosymphonycom

16 Handel with Caremdash Handel Goes to Italy11 ammdash YMCA Aerobics Studio mdash 1401 S Riverfront Drive mdash Mankato mdash wwwmankatosymphonycom

16 Mankato Craft beer Expo2 pm (VIP) 3 pm general mdash Verizon Wireless Center mdash $45 VIP $35 general $10 designated driver mdash wwwmankatocraftbeerexpocom

23 Joey Flip and Mike Fugazzi rockinrsquo at the Embassy9 pm mdash Blaschkorsquos Embassy Bar and Grill mdash 325 S Minnesota Ave mdash St Peter mdash 507-934-3903

24 andrea Lyn and Dick Kimmel concert730 pm mdash Elias J Halling Recital Hall mdash Minnesota State University mdash Mankato mdash $12 regular $11 current MSU students mdash wwwmnusedumusic

28-31 MSu Theatre antigone730 pm Thursday-Saturday 2 pm Sunday mdash Andreas Theatre mdash Minnesota State University mdash Mankato mdash $16 regular $14 discount $11 current MSU students mdash wwwmnsuedu

29-31 BLC Theatre Brigadoon730 Friday and Saturday 2 pm Sunday mdash Ylvisaker Fine Arts Center mdash Bethany Lutheran College mdash Mankato mdash $10 adults $6 seniors children and students mdash wwwblceduevents

29- Feb 7 Winterfest St Peter Citywide mdash wwwstpeterchamberorg

30 Church of Cash a Tribute to Johnny Cash7 pm mdash St Peter American Legion mdash 229 W Nassau St mdash St Peter mdash 507-934-6435

31 Maud Hixson and rick Carlson concert730 pmmdash Elias J Halling Recital Hall mdash Minnesota State University mdash Mankato mdash $12 regular $11 current MSU students wwmnsuedumusic

Coming attraCtions January

T - F 8am - 6pm Sun ClosedSat 9am - 4pmM 8am - 8pm

120 North Broad Street Mankato MN 507-345-4688 wwwmeyerandsonstvandappliancecom

FIND SPECIAL DEALS ON

MM p02 0116indd 44 12182015 30902 PM

MANKATO MAGAZINE  bull January 2016 bull 45

St Peter Craft amp Vendor Show

1MelinadaBussefromRapidansoldherhandmadejewelryatthecraftandvendorshow

2DarylfromElysianandhishand-carvedwoodart

3MacKennaage7hasfunatoneoftheboothsattheStPeterCraftandVendorShow

4LizEntershowsoffsomeofherproductsattheldquoItWorksrdquobooth

5DenisePetersofldquoYoungLivingrdquoessentialoilsdisplayedherproductsattheshow

Faces amp Places Photos By Sport Pix

3

5

2

1

4

T - F 8am - 6pm Sun ClosedSat 9am - 4pmM 8am - 8pm

120 North Broad Street Mankato MN 507-345-4688 wwwmeyerandsonstvandappliancecom

FIND SPECIAL DEALS ON

MM p02 0116indd 45 12222015 121536 PM

46 bull January 2016 bull MANKATO MAGAZINE

SOUTHErN MN CHrISTMAS

FESTIVAL1 A large crowd was on hand during the festivities at

the Christmas Festival2 Friesenrsquos Family Bakery amp Bistro had tons of baked

goods and soups at the Verizon Wireless Center3 A childrenrsquos choir sang for the audience at the

festival4 Ron Haefner owner of Ronrsquos Auto Repair displayed

some of his services5 Garrison Galatz dressed up as Santa for the

Christmas Festival

faCes amp PLaCes Photos By Sport Pix

4

3

1

2

5

MM p02 0116indd 46 12182015 30923 PM

MANKATO MAGAZINE  bull January 2016 bull 47

1GirlScouttroop34494waspresentedwithatrophybyKiwanisVicePresidentKyleMrozek

2SantaClausevenwentthroughtheparaderoute3(LtoR)BrooklynPomrankeAlaynaLyonsHunterPomrankeandLilyLyonsgetagroupphototakenwithSanta

4MarshaMartigtellsSantawhatshewantsforChristmas

5TheparadefloatswerealldeckedoutinChristmaslights

6Visitorswalkthepatharoundtheparktoviewthisyearrsquoslights

Kiwanis Holiday ligHtsFaces amp Places Photos By sport Pix

2

1

3

4 5

6

MM p02 0116indd 47 12222015 121616 PM

48 bull January 2016 bull MANKATO MAGAZINE

On the Occasion of a 50th Reunion

the Class of 1965

from this VaLLeYBy Pete Steiner

Peter Steiner is host of ldquoTalk of the Townrdquo weekdays at 105 pm on KTOE

I was honored to give the presentation for our 50th class reunion recently at West Highrsquos Homecoming celebration About 120 of our nearly 400-member class

showed up We Baby Boomers the children of the greatest generation had big classes in the late lsquo60rsquos that forced the building of East High Ours was a dramatic era and our class did some great things in the face of big challenges Here edited is some of what I said

I am so glad to be standing here today Therersquos an old saying

ldquoMay you live in INTErESTINg timeshelliprdquo The Class of rsquo65 certainly has Itrsquos seems like only yesterday right after lunch that we were at our desks waiting for the start of English class when our charismatic teacher Harry Fitterer strode in and said ldquoPrESIDENT KENNEDY HAS BEEN SHOT IN DALLASrdquo At first we didnrsquot believe him but it was true It was November 22 1963 We were juniors and as the song says that was THE END OF THE INNOCENCE We had lived through the last idyllic time in America

When we first arrived in the fall of 1962 America was still carefree basking in the glow of victory in WW II Everything may have seemed ldquorightrdquo but it was not Martin Luther King Jr had just visited Mankato pointing out the continuing plight of black Americans as the Civil rights movement was gaining steam The beginnings of the Vietnam War which would alter the course of many of our lives were stirring even as we studied history and government The current generation has no monopoly on forgettable pop music ndash we had a stupid 1 song called ldquoItsie Bitsie Teenie Weenie Yellow Polka Dot Bikinirdquo (unfortunately an ear worm I canrsquot forget) But a darker cultural threat was looming The BEATLES were invading from Britain and our parents were mortified because they had LONg HAIr

Some of the shock of the Kennedy assassination was eased when our wrestling team in the era when the state still had just ONE CLASS won the State Championship in front of a packed hall up at MSU some still maintain that is the greatest single athletic achievement in Mankato history We were the first high school in Mankato to put on a full-scale musical ldquoBye Bye Birdierdquo in the spring of 1964 In Fall of 1964 our football team would have won the conference championship outright except Owatonnarsquos great Noel Jenke who would go on to star for the U of M

cheated I watched him trap the touchdown pass that beat us Does cheating pay Was that a lesson for life

In lsquo65 we also had a fine basketball team that lost our chance at State when our 6-6 center fouled out at Luverne

BUT A FAr BIggEr CHALLENgE AWAITED US ALL As we rode out to Luverne to watch that game we couldnrsquot help noticing the highway was like a canyon between walls of snow The legendary St Patrickrsquos Day Blizzard had dumped two feet on top of an already large snow pack and then April brought rains on frozen ground Instead of coming here to school many of us soon got a real-life assignment to go out in our rain gear out on the dikes to battle the grEAT FLOOD OF 1965 Our school became an island as water flooded the parking lot and all of South riverfront Our spring play that year was called ironically

THE DESPErATE HOUrS We had to rehearse at roosevelt School up on higher ground

Our class produced three Merit scholars One of our classmates who did NOT qualify

for a merit scholarship nevertheless was such a whiz at physics that NASA requested a copy of a paper he wrote on rocketry as a senior We produced 12 doctors one of whom earned a fellowship at Stanford seeking how to bring telemedicine to the poor another of whom became a breakthrough cancer doctor We had entrepreneurs one who would go on to be a leader in Solar Energy (and then run for governor of New Hampshire) Another mdash a woman incidentally when

that was not common founded two bio-tech startups Many of us are still working

past normal retirement age One founded a company on the leading edge of recycling

computers whose clients include the NSA Another is chief medical officer of a company

devising a better tool for colonoscopies Yet another of our classmates recently completed a concert tour of China

We lived in challenging times just as you do today but we muddle through we make it to the other shore I remember sitting where you are 50 years ago thinking how old those folks up there looked But remember Life goes by very quickly You certainly live in interesting times as Shakespeare said ldquoPresent Mirth has Present Laughter Youthrsquos a stuff will NOT endurerdquo So I urge you live each moment to the fullest

MM p02 0116indd 48 12182015 30933 PM

MM p02 0116indd 49 12182015 30936 PM

MM p02 0116indd 50 12182015 30948 PM

Page 39: Mankatomag 116

MANKATO MAGAZINE  bull January 2016 bull 37

MONEY MATTERS WORK SMARTLET COMMUNITY BANK HELP YOUBRING THE TWO TOGETHER

MANKATO - SAINT ANDREWS DR 5073854444MANKATO - MADISON AVE 5076251551VERNON CENTER 5075493679AMBOY 5076743300

JULIE VETTERSR VICE PRESIDENTRETAIL BANKING

We support great causes like yoursAt Community Bank we know good things happen when you have a good bank So we make more possible by keeping banking simple and supportive And by giving you the power that comes with innovative solutions like our Health Savings Account It offers you tax-free savings for future medical expenses Stop by anytime Wersquore always ready to help out a great cause

Position a rack in the lower third of the oven preheat to 350 degrees Combine the nuts cinnamon and breadcrumbs in a bowl

Brush a 9x13-inch baking dish with some of the butter Layer 10 pieces of phyllo in the dish brushing each piece with butter before adding the next (keep the remaining dough covered with a damp towel) Sprinkle a quarter of the nut mixture over the dough Layer four pieces of phyllo on top brushing each with butter before adding the next sprinkle with another quarter of the nut mixture Add four more phyllo pieces on top brushing each with butter then add another quarter of the nut mixture four more pieces of phyllo with butter and the remaining nuts

Layer the remaining 10 pieces of phyllo on top of the nuts brushing each with butter brush the top piece with extra butter Cut into the baklava to make strips about 1 12 inches wide Then make diagonal slices about 1 12 inches apart to create a diamond pattern Bake until golden about one hour

Meanwhile make the syrup Bring the sugar honey and 1 12 cups water to a boil in a saucepan over medium heat and cook 10 to 15 minutes Add the lemon juice and boil 2 more minutes then let cool slightly Pour the syrup over the warm baklava let soak uncovered at least six hours or overnight Garnish with nuts

MM p02 0116indd 37 12182015 30817 PM

38 bull bull MANKATO MAGAZINE

Nell Musolf is a mom and freelance writer from Mankato She blogs at nellmusolfcom

38 bull bull MANKATO MAGAZINE

MM p02 0116indd 38 12182015 30822 PM

MANKATO MAGAZINE  bull January 2016 bull 39

Gear Up for WinterYear-Round amp Insulated Workwear from

Carhartt Dickies and Key

UNIFORMSUniforms fromBarco Carhartt Cherokee DickiesKoi Peaches and White Cross

AMAZED

Call 5073446336mankatomagmankatofreepresscom

Stephanie L Hylla LAc Dipl AcKayla M Sweeney MOm LAc

NEW LOCATION709 S Front Suite 5

5074694788mankatoacupuncturecom

Open House ndash Wednesday Feb 3 9-12noonCelebrating 5 years of Business New Location and the Chinese New Year

In Network with Blue Cross Blue ShieldLicensed by the MN Board of Medical Practice

Ribbon Cutting with Greater Mankato Growth at 10am

(A $250 Value)THIS VOUCHER ENTITLES NEW PATIENTS TO A

CONSULTATION EXAM amp DIGITAL X-RAYS (IF NEEDED)

wwwr igne l l fami lych i roprac t ic comMedicare Restrictions Apply Expires January 31 2016

Dr BrandonRignell DC

1351 Madison AveSuite D

Mankato MN 56001

5077797313

$2900New Patient Special

MM p02 0116indd 39 12222015 121344 PM

40 bull bull MANKATO MAGAZINE

Jean Lundquist is a master gardener who lives near Good Thunder

MM p02 0116indd 40 12182015 30834 PM

MANKATO MAGAZINE  bull January 2016 bull 41

3 Increase the Value of Your Home

3 Update Your Homersquos Appearance

3 Save Money

Choose from SeveralModels Styles amp Colors

507-625-7110 or 1-800-645-36671125 Cross St North Mankato MN

Improve Your HomersquosEnergy Efficiency

422 Park Lane Mankato MN | NuStarMankatocom

(507) 381-4747Voted One of Mankatorsquos Best

DANIEL WINGERT

Make Selling Your Home Your NuYearrsquos Resolution

MM p02 0116indd 41 12182015 30839 PM

42 bull January 2016 bull MANKATO MAGAZINE

January Resolve to moisturize

Your stYLeBy Ann Rosenquist Fee

Ann Rosenquist Fee is executive director of the Arts Center of Saint Peter and a vocalist with The Frye She blogs at annrosenquistfeecom

If you have in-laws or colleagues who know you well enough to have given you holiday gifts

but not well enough to know what wouldrsquove truly made you happy congratulations Chances are yoursquore the proud owner of a bunch of brand-new lip balm

Maybe itrsquos even holiday themed Thatrsquos the best Maybe you got the candy-cane flavored kind or wintergreen with holiday graphics on the label or something like that A theme that was irrelevant the moment the stocking was unstuffed because at that exact second the holiday was over

And here you are in January with an abundance of wax

Fortunately also here you are in the early weeks of winter with rough red knuckles Probably also cracked cuticles although it might not have gone that far yet for you Irsquom sure it has for me This photo was taken back in November and even then the Band-Aids were for real Irsquove learned to cut them in half length-wise so as to retain my ability to type Irsquove also learned to play with a range of color options Flesh-toned Clear Disney characters The colorful strips shown here were gifted to me by my husband Partly why theyrsquore cut in half is that the text is obscene This is one small trick you can use to make bloody cuticles your most exciting accessory of the winter

Sources like UrbanSurvivalSitecom and WonderHowTocom will tell you that you can use lip balm for a whole variety of purposes such as coating threads of outdoor lightbulbs before screwing them into their sockets and enhancing the burn-ability of most kindling

These are great fun but they wonrsquot improve your personal style

More germane to winter beauty are the following suggestions

Keep a tube next to your bed for first-thing-in-the-morning use And I mean really truly first-thing I mean smear the stuff on each cuticle while yoursquore still lying there before you start using your fingers at all If you wake up thinking yoursquore fine and skip cuticle care next thing you know yoursquore pushing down the lever on your Keurig and the pressure is more than your screamingly dry skin can take and boom split blood on the Keurig and itrsquos gonna be a long painful day If only you had balmed your hands before you let your feet hit the floor

Keep another tube in your glove compartment If itrsquos warm enough to take off your mittens in the car mdash if yoursquore even wearing mittens given that your hands are snagging on everything these days mdash the harsh January sunlight will allow you to see cracks and flakes in high-resolution detail Yoursquoll want the balm nearby

to cover what you didnrsquot notice first thing in the morning Also a car tube is useful for when you look in the rear-view mirror and notice that your nose and upper lip are flaking as well Itrsquos because yoursquore getting over a cold and the frequent use of tissue has worn away your top layer of skin but just because you know that doesnrsquot mean everybody else wonrsquot think ldquothere is something in that noserdquo Itrsquos just a fact Itrsquos what it looks like Lip balm to the rescue Itrsquos the only thing dry enough to slick those flakes in place and nourishing enough to maybe actually get your face back to normal

Keep a couple more tubes in a nighttime kit along with sandpaper Sandpaper Yes Not a pumice stone not a lame also-gifted sugar

scrub Medium-grit sandpaper is what you need every night lightly but with conviction As follows 1) Sand taking care not to do more damage than what the elements have already done Yoursquore just trying to remove the dry dead stuff Yoursquore just being hearty and efficient about this true to the culture of this great state in which yoursquove chosen to winter You are no pansy Sand your hands 2) Wash 3) Blot dry 4) Dial up the gifted balm whisper a word of thanks to the person who put so much thought into your well-being that they stuffed your holiday stocking with this amazing gift of self-care smash a healthy amount down into your palms massage Take heart You just might find yourself with normal-textured non-cracked not-horrible-looking hands by morning

Split-open cuticles I feel you Except for these Band-Aids I feel you

Lip balms I have been gifted and these are just from last Christmas ldquolastrdquo as in 2014

Bathrooms Worth Bragging About

HoursTue amp Wed amp Fri | 9 am to 6 pmMon amp Thu | 9 am to 7 pmSaturday | 9 am to 4 pm

219 S Victory Dr | Mankato507 | 345 | 7009ipafhickorytechnetindependentpaintandflooringcom

You Deserve Comfortable Care Every Timebull Sedation - Complete Relaxation with Just a Pillbull Invisalign - Clear Alternative to Bracesbull Botox amp Fillersbull Implants - Placement and Restorationbull Cerec - One Visit Crown Technology

bull Free Whitening Programbull 3D Imaging with Fewer X-Raysbull Cosmetic Dentistrybull Drill-Free Technologybull Emergency Care

1400 Lookout Drive North Mankato507-625-CARE(2273) bull mankatodentistcom 06

1865

6124

01

Dr AngelA Schuck

Dr keith FlAck

MM p02 0116indd 42 12182015 30841 PM

MANKATO MAGAZINE  bull January 2016 bull 43

Bathrooms Worth Bragging About

HoursTue amp Wed amp Fri | 9 am to 6 pmMon amp Thu | 9 am to 7 pmSaturday | 9 am to 4 pm

219 S Victory Dr | Mankato507 | 345 | 7009ipafhickorytechnetindependentpaintandflooringcom

You Deserve Comfortable Care Every Timebull Sedation - Complete Relaxation with Just a Pillbull Invisalign - Clear Alternative to Bracesbull Botox amp Fillersbull Implants - Placement and Restorationbull Cerec - One Visit Crown Technology

bull Free Whitening Programbull 3D Imaging with Fewer X-Raysbull Cosmetic Dentistrybull Drill-Free Technologybull Emergency Care

1400 Lookout Drive North Mankato507-625-CARE(2273) bull mankatodentistcom 06

1865

6124

01

Dr AngelA Schuck

Dr keith FlAck

(944) 412-7949 | OrthoEdgeMNcom

Enjoy the season

Mankato St Peter

Be active Be healthyBe able with OrthoEdge

The OrthoEdge joint replacement

program offers superb care from your first

visit through recovery The surgeons from

the Orthopaedic amp Fracture Clinic and

the care team at Riverrsquos Edge Hospital

provide personal and professional care to

get you back to able

Why Riverrsquos Edge Hospital amp Clinic

bull Riverrsquos Edge Hospital amp Clinic has a long-

standing relationship with the Orthopaedic

amp Fracture Clinic

bull There are 14 private suites that feature a

private bathroom and shower

bull Restaurant-style menu

bull Low patient to nurse ratio

bull Hospitalist on staff to provide patient

centered care 24 hours a day

bull Free WiFi for patients and guests

bull Individualized care

bull On-site Physical and Occupational Therapy

MM p02 0116indd 43 12182015 30842 PM

44 bull January 2016 bull MANKATO MAGAZINE

1 Hicktown Mafia800 pm mdash New Ulm Event Center mdash 301 20th St S mdash New Ulm mdash $10 mdash 507-354-4673

7-9 Mankato West Orchesis Dance Team showcase7 pm Thursday-Saturday 2 pm Saturday mdash Mankato West High School Auditorium mdash $7 adults $5 students mdash 507-381-7578

10 Mankato Symphony Orchestra Music on the Hill II ldquoMinnesota rootsrdquo2 pm mdash Chapel at Good Counselmdash Good Counsel Drive mdash Mankato mdash $17 $12 mdash wwwmankatosymphonycom

16 Handel with Caremdash Handel Goes to Italy11 ammdash YMCA Aerobics Studio mdash 1401 S Riverfront Drive mdash Mankato mdash wwwmankatosymphonycom

16 Mankato Craft beer Expo2 pm (VIP) 3 pm general mdash Verizon Wireless Center mdash $45 VIP $35 general $10 designated driver mdash wwwmankatocraftbeerexpocom

23 Joey Flip and Mike Fugazzi rockinrsquo at the Embassy9 pm mdash Blaschkorsquos Embassy Bar and Grill mdash 325 S Minnesota Ave mdash St Peter mdash 507-934-3903

24 andrea Lyn and Dick Kimmel concert730 pm mdash Elias J Halling Recital Hall mdash Minnesota State University mdash Mankato mdash $12 regular $11 current MSU students mdash wwwmnusedumusic

28-31 MSu Theatre antigone730 pm Thursday-Saturday 2 pm Sunday mdash Andreas Theatre mdash Minnesota State University mdash Mankato mdash $16 regular $14 discount $11 current MSU students mdash wwwmnsuedu

29-31 BLC Theatre Brigadoon730 Friday and Saturday 2 pm Sunday mdash Ylvisaker Fine Arts Center mdash Bethany Lutheran College mdash Mankato mdash $10 adults $6 seniors children and students mdash wwwblceduevents

29- Feb 7 Winterfest St Peter Citywide mdash wwwstpeterchamberorg

30 Church of Cash a Tribute to Johnny Cash7 pm mdash St Peter American Legion mdash 229 W Nassau St mdash St Peter mdash 507-934-6435

31 Maud Hixson and rick Carlson concert730 pmmdash Elias J Halling Recital Hall mdash Minnesota State University mdash Mankato mdash $12 regular $11 current MSU students wwmnsuedumusic

Coming attraCtions January

T - F 8am - 6pm Sun ClosedSat 9am - 4pmM 8am - 8pm

120 North Broad Street Mankato MN 507-345-4688 wwwmeyerandsonstvandappliancecom

FIND SPECIAL DEALS ON

MM p02 0116indd 44 12182015 30902 PM

MANKATO MAGAZINE  bull January 2016 bull 45

St Peter Craft amp Vendor Show

1MelinadaBussefromRapidansoldherhandmadejewelryatthecraftandvendorshow

2DarylfromElysianandhishand-carvedwoodart

3MacKennaage7hasfunatoneoftheboothsattheStPeterCraftandVendorShow

4LizEntershowsoffsomeofherproductsattheldquoItWorksrdquobooth

5DenisePetersofldquoYoungLivingrdquoessentialoilsdisplayedherproductsattheshow

Faces amp Places Photos By Sport Pix

3

5

2

1

4

T - F 8am - 6pm Sun ClosedSat 9am - 4pmM 8am - 8pm

120 North Broad Street Mankato MN 507-345-4688 wwwmeyerandsonstvandappliancecom

FIND SPECIAL DEALS ON

MM p02 0116indd 45 12222015 121536 PM

46 bull January 2016 bull MANKATO MAGAZINE

SOUTHErN MN CHrISTMAS

FESTIVAL1 A large crowd was on hand during the festivities at

the Christmas Festival2 Friesenrsquos Family Bakery amp Bistro had tons of baked

goods and soups at the Verizon Wireless Center3 A childrenrsquos choir sang for the audience at the

festival4 Ron Haefner owner of Ronrsquos Auto Repair displayed

some of his services5 Garrison Galatz dressed up as Santa for the

Christmas Festival

faCes amp PLaCes Photos By Sport Pix

4

3

1

2

5

MM p02 0116indd 46 12182015 30923 PM

MANKATO MAGAZINE  bull January 2016 bull 47

1GirlScouttroop34494waspresentedwithatrophybyKiwanisVicePresidentKyleMrozek

2SantaClausevenwentthroughtheparaderoute3(LtoR)BrooklynPomrankeAlaynaLyonsHunterPomrankeandLilyLyonsgetagroupphototakenwithSanta

4MarshaMartigtellsSantawhatshewantsforChristmas

5TheparadefloatswerealldeckedoutinChristmaslights

6Visitorswalkthepatharoundtheparktoviewthisyearrsquoslights

Kiwanis Holiday ligHtsFaces amp Places Photos By sport Pix

2

1

3

4 5

6

MM p02 0116indd 47 12222015 121616 PM

48 bull January 2016 bull MANKATO MAGAZINE

On the Occasion of a 50th Reunion

the Class of 1965

from this VaLLeYBy Pete Steiner

Peter Steiner is host of ldquoTalk of the Townrdquo weekdays at 105 pm on KTOE

I was honored to give the presentation for our 50th class reunion recently at West Highrsquos Homecoming celebration About 120 of our nearly 400-member class

showed up We Baby Boomers the children of the greatest generation had big classes in the late lsquo60rsquos that forced the building of East High Ours was a dramatic era and our class did some great things in the face of big challenges Here edited is some of what I said

I am so glad to be standing here today Therersquos an old saying

ldquoMay you live in INTErESTINg timeshelliprdquo The Class of rsquo65 certainly has Itrsquos seems like only yesterday right after lunch that we were at our desks waiting for the start of English class when our charismatic teacher Harry Fitterer strode in and said ldquoPrESIDENT KENNEDY HAS BEEN SHOT IN DALLASrdquo At first we didnrsquot believe him but it was true It was November 22 1963 We were juniors and as the song says that was THE END OF THE INNOCENCE We had lived through the last idyllic time in America

When we first arrived in the fall of 1962 America was still carefree basking in the glow of victory in WW II Everything may have seemed ldquorightrdquo but it was not Martin Luther King Jr had just visited Mankato pointing out the continuing plight of black Americans as the Civil rights movement was gaining steam The beginnings of the Vietnam War which would alter the course of many of our lives were stirring even as we studied history and government The current generation has no monopoly on forgettable pop music ndash we had a stupid 1 song called ldquoItsie Bitsie Teenie Weenie Yellow Polka Dot Bikinirdquo (unfortunately an ear worm I canrsquot forget) But a darker cultural threat was looming The BEATLES were invading from Britain and our parents were mortified because they had LONg HAIr

Some of the shock of the Kennedy assassination was eased when our wrestling team in the era when the state still had just ONE CLASS won the State Championship in front of a packed hall up at MSU some still maintain that is the greatest single athletic achievement in Mankato history We were the first high school in Mankato to put on a full-scale musical ldquoBye Bye Birdierdquo in the spring of 1964 In Fall of 1964 our football team would have won the conference championship outright except Owatonnarsquos great Noel Jenke who would go on to star for the U of M

cheated I watched him trap the touchdown pass that beat us Does cheating pay Was that a lesson for life

In lsquo65 we also had a fine basketball team that lost our chance at State when our 6-6 center fouled out at Luverne

BUT A FAr BIggEr CHALLENgE AWAITED US ALL As we rode out to Luverne to watch that game we couldnrsquot help noticing the highway was like a canyon between walls of snow The legendary St Patrickrsquos Day Blizzard had dumped two feet on top of an already large snow pack and then April brought rains on frozen ground Instead of coming here to school many of us soon got a real-life assignment to go out in our rain gear out on the dikes to battle the grEAT FLOOD OF 1965 Our school became an island as water flooded the parking lot and all of South riverfront Our spring play that year was called ironically

THE DESPErATE HOUrS We had to rehearse at roosevelt School up on higher ground

Our class produced three Merit scholars One of our classmates who did NOT qualify

for a merit scholarship nevertheless was such a whiz at physics that NASA requested a copy of a paper he wrote on rocketry as a senior We produced 12 doctors one of whom earned a fellowship at Stanford seeking how to bring telemedicine to the poor another of whom became a breakthrough cancer doctor We had entrepreneurs one who would go on to be a leader in Solar Energy (and then run for governor of New Hampshire) Another mdash a woman incidentally when

that was not common founded two bio-tech startups Many of us are still working

past normal retirement age One founded a company on the leading edge of recycling

computers whose clients include the NSA Another is chief medical officer of a company

devising a better tool for colonoscopies Yet another of our classmates recently completed a concert tour of China

We lived in challenging times just as you do today but we muddle through we make it to the other shore I remember sitting where you are 50 years ago thinking how old those folks up there looked But remember Life goes by very quickly You certainly live in interesting times as Shakespeare said ldquoPresent Mirth has Present Laughter Youthrsquos a stuff will NOT endurerdquo So I urge you live each moment to the fullest

MM p02 0116indd 48 12182015 30933 PM

MM p02 0116indd 49 12182015 30936 PM

MM p02 0116indd 50 12182015 30948 PM

Page 40: Mankatomag 116

38 bull bull MANKATO MAGAZINE

Nell Musolf is a mom and freelance writer from Mankato She blogs at nellmusolfcom

38 bull bull MANKATO MAGAZINE

MM p02 0116indd 38 12182015 30822 PM

MANKATO MAGAZINE  bull January 2016 bull 39

Gear Up for WinterYear-Round amp Insulated Workwear from

Carhartt Dickies and Key

UNIFORMSUniforms fromBarco Carhartt Cherokee DickiesKoi Peaches and White Cross

AMAZED

Call 5073446336mankatomagmankatofreepresscom

Stephanie L Hylla LAc Dipl AcKayla M Sweeney MOm LAc

NEW LOCATION709 S Front Suite 5

5074694788mankatoacupuncturecom

Open House ndash Wednesday Feb 3 9-12noonCelebrating 5 years of Business New Location and the Chinese New Year

In Network with Blue Cross Blue ShieldLicensed by the MN Board of Medical Practice

Ribbon Cutting with Greater Mankato Growth at 10am

(A $250 Value)THIS VOUCHER ENTITLES NEW PATIENTS TO A

CONSULTATION EXAM amp DIGITAL X-RAYS (IF NEEDED)

wwwr igne l l fami lych i roprac t ic comMedicare Restrictions Apply Expires January 31 2016

Dr BrandonRignell DC

1351 Madison AveSuite D

Mankato MN 56001

5077797313

$2900New Patient Special

MM p02 0116indd 39 12222015 121344 PM

40 bull bull MANKATO MAGAZINE

Jean Lundquist is a master gardener who lives near Good Thunder

MM p02 0116indd 40 12182015 30834 PM

MANKATO MAGAZINE  bull January 2016 bull 41

3 Increase the Value of Your Home

3 Update Your Homersquos Appearance

3 Save Money

Choose from SeveralModels Styles amp Colors

507-625-7110 or 1-800-645-36671125 Cross St North Mankato MN

Improve Your HomersquosEnergy Efficiency

422 Park Lane Mankato MN | NuStarMankatocom

(507) 381-4747Voted One of Mankatorsquos Best

DANIEL WINGERT

Make Selling Your Home Your NuYearrsquos Resolution

MM p02 0116indd 41 12182015 30839 PM

42 bull January 2016 bull MANKATO MAGAZINE

January Resolve to moisturize

Your stYLeBy Ann Rosenquist Fee

Ann Rosenquist Fee is executive director of the Arts Center of Saint Peter and a vocalist with The Frye She blogs at annrosenquistfeecom

If you have in-laws or colleagues who know you well enough to have given you holiday gifts

but not well enough to know what wouldrsquove truly made you happy congratulations Chances are yoursquore the proud owner of a bunch of brand-new lip balm

Maybe itrsquos even holiday themed Thatrsquos the best Maybe you got the candy-cane flavored kind or wintergreen with holiday graphics on the label or something like that A theme that was irrelevant the moment the stocking was unstuffed because at that exact second the holiday was over

And here you are in January with an abundance of wax

Fortunately also here you are in the early weeks of winter with rough red knuckles Probably also cracked cuticles although it might not have gone that far yet for you Irsquom sure it has for me This photo was taken back in November and even then the Band-Aids were for real Irsquove learned to cut them in half length-wise so as to retain my ability to type Irsquove also learned to play with a range of color options Flesh-toned Clear Disney characters The colorful strips shown here were gifted to me by my husband Partly why theyrsquore cut in half is that the text is obscene This is one small trick you can use to make bloody cuticles your most exciting accessory of the winter

Sources like UrbanSurvivalSitecom and WonderHowTocom will tell you that you can use lip balm for a whole variety of purposes such as coating threads of outdoor lightbulbs before screwing them into their sockets and enhancing the burn-ability of most kindling

These are great fun but they wonrsquot improve your personal style

More germane to winter beauty are the following suggestions

Keep a tube next to your bed for first-thing-in-the-morning use And I mean really truly first-thing I mean smear the stuff on each cuticle while yoursquore still lying there before you start using your fingers at all If you wake up thinking yoursquore fine and skip cuticle care next thing you know yoursquore pushing down the lever on your Keurig and the pressure is more than your screamingly dry skin can take and boom split blood on the Keurig and itrsquos gonna be a long painful day If only you had balmed your hands before you let your feet hit the floor

Keep another tube in your glove compartment If itrsquos warm enough to take off your mittens in the car mdash if yoursquore even wearing mittens given that your hands are snagging on everything these days mdash the harsh January sunlight will allow you to see cracks and flakes in high-resolution detail Yoursquoll want the balm nearby

to cover what you didnrsquot notice first thing in the morning Also a car tube is useful for when you look in the rear-view mirror and notice that your nose and upper lip are flaking as well Itrsquos because yoursquore getting over a cold and the frequent use of tissue has worn away your top layer of skin but just because you know that doesnrsquot mean everybody else wonrsquot think ldquothere is something in that noserdquo Itrsquos just a fact Itrsquos what it looks like Lip balm to the rescue Itrsquos the only thing dry enough to slick those flakes in place and nourishing enough to maybe actually get your face back to normal

Keep a couple more tubes in a nighttime kit along with sandpaper Sandpaper Yes Not a pumice stone not a lame also-gifted sugar

scrub Medium-grit sandpaper is what you need every night lightly but with conviction As follows 1) Sand taking care not to do more damage than what the elements have already done Yoursquore just trying to remove the dry dead stuff Yoursquore just being hearty and efficient about this true to the culture of this great state in which yoursquove chosen to winter You are no pansy Sand your hands 2) Wash 3) Blot dry 4) Dial up the gifted balm whisper a word of thanks to the person who put so much thought into your well-being that they stuffed your holiday stocking with this amazing gift of self-care smash a healthy amount down into your palms massage Take heart You just might find yourself with normal-textured non-cracked not-horrible-looking hands by morning

Split-open cuticles I feel you Except for these Band-Aids I feel you

Lip balms I have been gifted and these are just from last Christmas ldquolastrdquo as in 2014

Bathrooms Worth Bragging About

HoursTue amp Wed amp Fri | 9 am to 6 pmMon amp Thu | 9 am to 7 pmSaturday | 9 am to 4 pm

219 S Victory Dr | Mankato507 | 345 | 7009ipafhickorytechnetindependentpaintandflooringcom

You Deserve Comfortable Care Every Timebull Sedation - Complete Relaxation with Just a Pillbull Invisalign - Clear Alternative to Bracesbull Botox amp Fillersbull Implants - Placement and Restorationbull Cerec - One Visit Crown Technology

bull Free Whitening Programbull 3D Imaging with Fewer X-Raysbull Cosmetic Dentistrybull Drill-Free Technologybull Emergency Care

1400 Lookout Drive North Mankato507-625-CARE(2273) bull mankatodentistcom 06

1865

6124

01

Dr AngelA Schuck

Dr keith FlAck

MM p02 0116indd 42 12182015 30841 PM

MANKATO MAGAZINE  bull January 2016 bull 43

Bathrooms Worth Bragging About

HoursTue amp Wed amp Fri | 9 am to 6 pmMon amp Thu | 9 am to 7 pmSaturday | 9 am to 4 pm

219 S Victory Dr | Mankato507 | 345 | 7009ipafhickorytechnetindependentpaintandflooringcom

You Deserve Comfortable Care Every Timebull Sedation - Complete Relaxation with Just a Pillbull Invisalign - Clear Alternative to Bracesbull Botox amp Fillersbull Implants - Placement and Restorationbull Cerec - One Visit Crown Technology

bull Free Whitening Programbull 3D Imaging with Fewer X-Raysbull Cosmetic Dentistrybull Drill-Free Technologybull Emergency Care

1400 Lookout Drive North Mankato507-625-CARE(2273) bull mankatodentistcom 06

1865

6124

01

Dr AngelA Schuck

Dr keith FlAck

(944) 412-7949 | OrthoEdgeMNcom

Enjoy the season

Mankato St Peter

Be active Be healthyBe able with OrthoEdge

The OrthoEdge joint replacement

program offers superb care from your first

visit through recovery The surgeons from

the Orthopaedic amp Fracture Clinic and

the care team at Riverrsquos Edge Hospital

provide personal and professional care to

get you back to able

Why Riverrsquos Edge Hospital amp Clinic

bull Riverrsquos Edge Hospital amp Clinic has a long-

standing relationship with the Orthopaedic

amp Fracture Clinic

bull There are 14 private suites that feature a

private bathroom and shower

bull Restaurant-style menu

bull Low patient to nurse ratio

bull Hospitalist on staff to provide patient

centered care 24 hours a day

bull Free WiFi for patients and guests

bull Individualized care

bull On-site Physical and Occupational Therapy

MM p02 0116indd 43 12182015 30842 PM

44 bull January 2016 bull MANKATO MAGAZINE

1 Hicktown Mafia800 pm mdash New Ulm Event Center mdash 301 20th St S mdash New Ulm mdash $10 mdash 507-354-4673

7-9 Mankato West Orchesis Dance Team showcase7 pm Thursday-Saturday 2 pm Saturday mdash Mankato West High School Auditorium mdash $7 adults $5 students mdash 507-381-7578

10 Mankato Symphony Orchestra Music on the Hill II ldquoMinnesota rootsrdquo2 pm mdash Chapel at Good Counselmdash Good Counsel Drive mdash Mankato mdash $17 $12 mdash wwwmankatosymphonycom

16 Handel with Caremdash Handel Goes to Italy11 ammdash YMCA Aerobics Studio mdash 1401 S Riverfront Drive mdash Mankato mdash wwwmankatosymphonycom

16 Mankato Craft beer Expo2 pm (VIP) 3 pm general mdash Verizon Wireless Center mdash $45 VIP $35 general $10 designated driver mdash wwwmankatocraftbeerexpocom

23 Joey Flip and Mike Fugazzi rockinrsquo at the Embassy9 pm mdash Blaschkorsquos Embassy Bar and Grill mdash 325 S Minnesota Ave mdash St Peter mdash 507-934-3903

24 andrea Lyn and Dick Kimmel concert730 pm mdash Elias J Halling Recital Hall mdash Minnesota State University mdash Mankato mdash $12 regular $11 current MSU students mdash wwwmnusedumusic

28-31 MSu Theatre antigone730 pm Thursday-Saturday 2 pm Sunday mdash Andreas Theatre mdash Minnesota State University mdash Mankato mdash $16 regular $14 discount $11 current MSU students mdash wwwmnsuedu

29-31 BLC Theatre Brigadoon730 Friday and Saturday 2 pm Sunday mdash Ylvisaker Fine Arts Center mdash Bethany Lutheran College mdash Mankato mdash $10 adults $6 seniors children and students mdash wwwblceduevents

29- Feb 7 Winterfest St Peter Citywide mdash wwwstpeterchamberorg

30 Church of Cash a Tribute to Johnny Cash7 pm mdash St Peter American Legion mdash 229 W Nassau St mdash St Peter mdash 507-934-6435

31 Maud Hixson and rick Carlson concert730 pmmdash Elias J Halling Recital Hall mdash Minnesota State University mdash Mankato mdash $12 regular $11 current MSU students wwmnsuedumusic

Coming attraCtions January

T - F 8am - 6pm Sun ClosedSat 9am - 4pmM 8am - 8pm

120 North Broad Street Mankato MN 507-345-4688 wwwmeyerandsonstvandappliancecom

FIND SPECIAL DEALS ON

MM p02 0116indd 44 12182015 30902 PM

MANKATO MAGAZINE  bull January 2016 bull 45

St Peter Craft amp Vendor Show

1MelinadaBussefromRapidansoldherhandmadejewelryatthecraftandvendorshow

2DarylfromElysianandhishand-carvedwoodart

3MacKennaage7hasfunatoneoftheboothsattheStPeterCraftandVendorShow

4LizEntershowsoffsomeofherproductsattheldquoItWorksrdquobooth

5DenisePetersofldquoYoungLivingrdquoessentialoilsdisplayedherproductsattheshow

Faces amp Places Photos By Sport Pix

3

5

2

1

4

T - F 8am - 6pm Sun ClosedSat 9am - 4pmM 8am - 8pm

120 North Broad Street Mankato MN 507-345-4688 wwwmeyerandsonstvandappliancecom

FIND SPECIAL DEALS ON

MM p02 0116indd 45 12222015 121536 PM

46 bull January 2016 bull MANKATO MAGAZINE

SOUTHErN MN CHrISTMAS

FESTIVAL1 A large crowd was on hand during the festivities at

the Christmas Festival2 Friesenrsquos Family Bakery amp Bistro had tons of baked

goods and soups at the Verizon Wireless Center3 A childrenrsquos choir sang for the audience at the

festival4 Ron Haefner owner of Ronrsquos Auto Repair displayed

some of his services5 Garrison Galatz dressed up as Santa for the

Christmas Festival

faCes amp PLaCes Photos By Sport Pix

4

3

1

2

5

MM p02 0116indd 46 12182015 30923 PM

MANKATO MAGAZINE  bull January 2016 bull 47

1GirlScouttroop34494waspresentedwithatrophybyKiwanisVicePresidentKyleMrozek

2SantaClausevenwentthroughtheparaderoute3(LtoR)BrooklynPomrankeAlaynaLyonsHunterPomrankeandLilyLyonsgetagroupphototakenwithSanta

4MarshaMartigtellsSantawhatshewantsforChristmas

5TheparadefloatswerealldeckedoutinChristmaslights

6Visitorswalkthepatharoundtheparktoviewthisyearrsquoslights

Kiwanis Holiday ligHtsFaces amp Places Photos By sport Pix

2

1

3

4 5

6

MM p02 0116indd 47 12222015 121616 PM

48 bull January 2016 bull MANKATO MAGAZINE

On the Occasion of a 50th Reunion

the Class of 1965

from this VaLLeYBy Pete Steiner

Peter Steiner is host of ldquoTalk of the Townrdquo weekdays at 105 pm on KTOE

I was honored to give the presentation for our 50th class reunion recently at West Highrsquos Homecoming celebration About 120 of our nearly 400-member class

showed up We Baby Boomers the children of the greatest generation had big classes in the late lsquo60rsquos that forced the building of East High Ours was a dramatic era and our class did some great things in the face of big challenges Here edited is some of what I said

I am so glad to be standing here today Therersquos an old saying

ldquoMay you live in INTErESTINg timeshelliprdquo The Class of rsquo65 certainly has Itrsquos seems like only yesterday right after lunch that we were at our desks waiting for the start of English class when our charismatic teacher Harry Fitterer strode in and said ldquoPrESIDENT KENNEDY HAS BEEN SHOT IN DALLASrdquo At first we didnrsquot believe him but it was true It was November 22 1963 We were juniors and as the song says that was THE END OF THE INNOCENCE We had lived through the last idyllic time in America

When we first arrived in the fall of 1962 America was still carefree basking in the glow of victory in WW II Everything may have seemed ldquorightrdquo but it was not Martin Luther King Jr had just visited Mankato pointing out the continuing plight of black Americans as the Civil rights movement was gaining steam The beginnings of the Vietnam War which would alter the course of many of our lives were stirring even as we studied history and government The current generation has no monopoly on forgettable pop music ndash we had a stupid 1 song called ldquoItsie Bitsie Teenie Weenie Yellow Polka Dot Bikinirdquo (unfortunately an ear worm I canrsquot forget) But a darker cultural threat was looming The BEATLES were invading from Britain and our parents were mortified because they had LONg HAIr

Some of the shock of the Kennedy assassination was eased when our wrestling team in the era when the state still had just ONE CLASS won the State Championship in front of a packed hall up at MSU some still maintain that is the greatest single athletic achievement in Mankato history We were the first high school in Mankato to put on a full-scale musical ldquoBye Bye Birdierdquo in the spring of 1964 In Fall of 1964 our football team would have won the conference championship outright except Owatonnarsquos great Noel Jenke who would go on to star for the U of M

cheated I watched him trap the touchdown pass that beat us Does cheating pay Was that a lesson for life

In lsquo65 we also had a fine basketball team that lost our chance at State when our 6-6 center fouled out at Luverne

BUT A FAr BIggEr CHALLENgE AWAITED US ALL As we rode out to Luverne to watch that game we couldnrsquot help noticing the highway was like a canyon between walls of snow The legendary St Patrickrsquos Day Blizzard had dumped two feet on top of an already large snow pack and then April brought rains on frozen ground Instead of coming here to school many of us soon got a real-life assignment to go out in our rain gear out on the dikes to battle the grEAT FLOOD OF 1965 Our school became an island as water flooded the parking lot and all of South riverfront Our spring play that year was called ironically

THE DESPErATE HOUrS We had to rehearse at roosevelt School up on higher ground

Our class produced three Merit scholars One of our classmates who did NOT qualify

for a merit scholarship nevertheless was such a whiz at physics that NASA requested a copy of a paper he wrote on rocketry as a senior We produced 12 doctors one of whom earned a fellowship at Stanford seeking how to bring telemedicine to the poor another of whom became a breakthrough cancer doctor We had entrepreneurs one who would go on to be a leader in Solar Energy (and then run for governor of New Hampshire) Another mdash a woman incidentally when

that was not common founded two bio-tech startups Many of us are still working

past normal retirement age One founded a company on the leading edge of recycling

computers whose clients include the NSA Another is chief medical officer of a company

devising a better tool for colonoscopies Yet another of our classmates recently completed a concert tour of China

We lived in challenging times just as you do today but we muddle through we make it to the other shore I remember sitting where you are 50 years ago thinking how old those folks up there looked But remember Life goes by very quickly You certainly live in interesting times as Shakespeare said ldquoPresent Mirth has Present Laughter Youthrsquos a stuff will NOT endurerdquo So I urge you live each moment to the fullest

MM p02 0116indd 48 12182015 30933 PM

MM p02 0116indd 49 12182015 30936 PM

MM p02 0116indd 50 12182015 30948 PM

Page 41: Mankatomag 116

MANKATO MAGAZINE  bull January 2016 bull 39

Gear Up for WinterYear-Round amp Insulated Workwear from

Carhartt Dickies and Key

UNIFORMSUniforms fromBarco Carhartt Cherokee DickiesKoi Peaches and White Cross

AMAZED

Call 5073446336mankatomagmankatofreepresscom

Stephanie L Hylla LAc Dipl AcKayla M Sweeney MOm LAc

NEW LOCATION709 S Front Suite 5

5074694788mankatoacupuncturecom

Open House ndash Wednesday Feb 3 9-12noonCelebrating 5 years of Business New Location and the Chinese New Year

In Network with Blue Cross Blue ShieldLicensed by the MN Board of Medical Practice

Ribbon Cutting with Greater Mankato Growth at 10am

(A $250 Value)THIS VOUCHER ENTITLES NEW PATIENTS TO A

CONSULTATION EXAM amp DIGITAL X-RAYS (IF NEEDED)

wwwr igne l l fami lych i roprac t ic comMedicare Restrictions Apply Expires January 31 2016

Dr BrandonRignell DC

1351 Madison AveSuite D

Mankato MN 56001

5077797313

$2900New Patient Special

MM p02 0116indd 39 12222015 121344 PM

40 bull bull MANKATO MAGAZINE

Jean Lundquist is a master gardener who lives near Good Thunder

MM p02 0116indd 40 12182015 30834 PM

MANKATO MAGAZINE  bull January 2016 bull 41

3 Increase the Value of Your Home

3 Update Your Homersquos Appearance

3 Save Money

Choose from SeveralModels Styles amp Colors

507-625-7110 or 1-800-645-36671125 Cross St North Mankato MN

Improve Your HomersquosEnergy Efficiency

422 Park Lane Mankato MN | NuStarMankatocom

(507) 381-4747Voted One of Mankatorsquos Best

DANIEL WINGERT

Make Selling Your Home Your NuYearrsquos Resolution

MM p02 0116indd 41 12182015 30839 PM

42 bull January 2016 bull MANKATO MAGAZINE

January Resolve to moisturize

Your stYLeBy Ann Rosenquist Fee

Ann Rosenquist Fee is executive director of the Arts Center of Saint Peter and a vocalist with The Frye She blogs at annrosenquistfeecom

If you have in-laws or colleagues who know you well enough to have given you holiday gifts

but not well enough to know what wouldrsquove truly made you happy congratulations Chances are yoursquore the proud owner of a bunch of brand-new lip balm

Maybe itrsquos even holiday themed Thatrsquos the best Maybe you got the candy-cane flavored kind or wintergreen with holiday graphics on the label or something like that A theme that was irrelevant the moment the stocking was unstuffed because at that exact second the holiday was over

And here you are in January with an abundance of wax

Fortunately also here you are in the early weeks of winter with rough red knuckles Probably also cracked cuticles although it might not have gone that far yet for you Irsquom sure it has for me This photo was taken back in November and even then the Band-Aids were for real Irsquove learned to cut them in half length-wise so as to retain my ability to type Irsquove also learned to play with a range of color options Flesh-toned Clear Disney characters The colorful strips shown here were gifted to me by my husband Partly why theyrsquore cut in half is that the text is obscene This is one small trick you can use to make bloody cuticles your most exciting accessory of the winter

Sources like UrbanSurvivalSitecom and WonderHowTocom will tell you that you can use lip balm for a whole variety of purposes such as coating threads of outdoor lightbulbs before screwing them into their sockets and enhancing the burn-ability of most kindling

These are great fun but they wonrsquot improve your personal style

More germane to winter beauty are the following suggestions

Keep a tube next to your bed for first-thing-in-the-morning use And I mean really truly first-thing I mean smear the stuff on each cuticle while yoursquore still lying there before you start using your fingers at all If you wake up thinking yoursquore fine and skip cuticle care next thing you know yoursquore pushing down the lever on your Keurig and the pressure is more than your screamingly dry skin can take and boom split blood on the Keurig and itrsquos gonna be a long painful day If only you had balmed your hands before you let your feet hit the floor

Keep another tube in your glove compartment If itrsquos warm enough to take off your mittens in the car mdash if yoursquore even wearing mittens given that your hands are snagging on everything these days mdash the harsh January sunlight will allow you to see cracks and flakes in high-resolution detail Yoursquoll want the balm nearby

to cover what you didnrsquot notice first thing in the morning Also a car tube is useful for when you look in the rear-view mirror and notice that your nose and upper lip are flaking as well Itrsquos because yoursquore getting over a cold and the frequent use of tissue has worn away your top layer of skin but just because you know that doesnrsquot mean everybody else wonrsquot think ldquothere is something in that noserdquo Itrsquos just a fact Itrsquos what it looks like Lip balm to the rescue Itrsquos the only thing dry enough to slick those flakes in place and nourishing enough to maybe actually get your face back to normal

Keep a couple more tubes in a nighttime kit along with sandpaper Sandpaper Yes Not a pumice stone not a lame also-gifted sugar

scrub Medium-grit sandpaper is what you need every night lightly but with conviction As follows 1) Sand taking care not to do more damage than what the elements have already done Yoursquore just trying to remove the dry dead stuff Yoursquore just being hearty and efficient about this true to the culture of this great state in which yoursquove chosen to winter You are no pansy Sand your hands 2) Wash 3) Blot dry 4) Dial up the gifted balm whisper a word of thanks to the person who put so much thought into your well-being that they stuffed your holiday stocking with this amazing gift of self-care smash a healthy amount down into your palms massage Take heart You just might find yourself with normal-textured non-cracked not-horrible-looking hands by morning

Split-open cuticles I feel you Except for these Band-Aids I feel you

Lip balms I have been gifted and these are just from last Christmas ldquolastrdquo as in 2014

Bathrooms Worth Bragging About

HoursTue amp Wed amp Fri | 9 am to 6 pmMon amp Thu | 9 am to 7 pmSaturday | 9 am to 4 pm

219 S Victory Dr | Mankato507 | 345 | 7009ipafhickorytechnetindependentpaintandflooringcom

You Deserve Comfortable Care Every Timebull Sedation - Complete Relaxation with Just a Pillbull Invisalign - Clear Alternative to Bracesbull Botox amp Fillersbull Implants - Placement and Restorationbull Cerec - One Visit Crown Technology

bull Free Whitening Programbull 3D Imaging with Fewer X-Raysbull Cosmetic Dentistrybull Drill-Free Technologybull Emergency Care

1400 Lookout Drive North Mankato507-625-CARE(2273) bull mankatodentistcom 06

1865

6124

01

Dr AngelA Schuck

Dr keith FlAck

MM p02 0116indd 42 12182015 30841 PM

MANKATO MAGAZINE  bull January 2016 bull 43

Bathrooms Worth Bragging About

HoursTue amp Wed amp Fri | 9 am to 6 pmMon amp Thu | 9 am to 7 pmSaturday | 9 am to 4 pm

219 S Victory Dr | Mankato507 | 345 | 7009ipafhickorytechnetindependentpaintandflooringcom

You Deserve Comfortable Care Every Timebull Sedation - Complete Relaxation with Just a Pillbull Invisalign - Clear Alternative to Bracesbull Botox amp Fillersbull Implants - Placement and Restorationbull Cerec - One Visit Crown Technology

bull Free Whitening Programbull 3D Imaging with Fewer X-Raysbull Cosmetic Dentistrybull Drill-Free Technologybull Emergency Care

1400 Lookout Drive North Mankato507-625-CARE(2273) bull mankatodentistcom 06

1865

6124

01

Dr AngelA Schuck

Dr keith FlAck

(944) 412-7949 | OrthoEdgeMNcom

Enjoy the season

Mankato St Peter

Be active Be healthyBe able with OrthoEdge

The OrthoEdge joint replacement

program offers superb care from your first

visit through recovery The surgeons from

the Orthopaedic amp Fracture Clinic and

the care team at Riverrsquos Edge Hospital

provide personal and professional care to

get you back to able

Why Riverrsquos Edge Hospital amp Clinic

bull Riverrsquos Edge Hospital amp Clinic has a long-

standing relationship with the Orthopaedic

amp Fracture Clinic

bull There are 14 private suites that feature a

private bathroom and shower

bull Restaurant-style menu

bull Low patient to nurse ratio

bull Hospitalist on staff to provide patient

centered care 24 hours a day

bull Free WiFi for patients and guests

bull Individualized care

bull On-site Physical and Occupational Therapy

MM p02 0116indd 43 12182015 30842 PM

44 bull January 2016 bull MANKATO MAGAZINE

1 Hicktown Mafia800 pm mdash New Ulm Event Center mdash 301 20th St S mdash New Ulm mdash $10 mdash 507-354-4673

7-9 Mankato West Orchesis Dance Team showcase7 pm Thursday-Saturday 2 pm Saturday mdash Mankato West High School Auditorium mdash $7 adults $5 students mdash 507-381-7578

10 Mankato Symphony Orchestra Music on the Hill II ldquoMinnesota rootsrdquo2 pm mdash Chapel at Good Counselmdash Good Counsel Drive mdash Mankato mdash $17 $12 mdash wwwmankatosymphonycom

16 Handel with Caremdash Handel Goes to Italy11 ammdash YMCA Aerobics Studio mdash 1401 S Riverfront Drive mdash Mankato mdash wwwmankatosymphonycom

16 Mankato Craft beer Expo2 pm (VIP) 3 pm general mdash Verizon Wireless Center mdash $45 VIP $35 general $10 designated driver mdash wwwmankatocraftbeerexpocom

23 Joey Flip and Mike Fugazzi rockinrsquo at the Embassy9 pm mdash Blaschkorsquos Embassy Bar and Grill mdash 325 S Minnesota Ave mdash St Peter mdash 507-934-3903

24 andrea Lyn and Dick Kimmel concert730 pm mdash Elias J Halling Recital Hall mdash Minnesota State University mdash Mankato mdash $12 regular $11 current MSU students mdash wwwmnusedumusic

28-31 MSu Theatre antigone730 pm Thursday-Saturday 2 pm Sunday mdash Andreas Theatre mdash Minnesota State University mdash Mankato mdash $16 regular $14 discount $11 current MSU students mdash wwwmnsuedu

29-31 BLC Theatre Brigadoon730 Friday and Saturday 2 pm Sunday mdash Ylvisaker Fine Arts Center mdash Bethany Lutheran College mdash Mankato mdash $10 adults $6 seniors children and students mdash wwwblceduevents

29- Feb 7 Winterfest St Peter Citywide mdash wwwstpeterchamberorg

30 Church of Cash a Tribute to Johnny Cash7 pm mdash St Peter American Legion mdash 229 W Nassau St mdash St Peter mdash 507-934-6435

31 Maud Hixson and rick Carlson concert730 pmmdash Elias J Halling Recital Hall mdash Minnesota State University mdash Mankato mdash $12 regular $11 current MSU students wwmnsuedumusic

Coming attraCtions January

T - F 8am - 6pm Sun ClosedSat 9am - 4pmM 8am - 8pm

120 North Broad Street Mankato MN 507-345-4688 wwwmeyerandsonstvandappliancecom

FIND SPECIAL DEALS ON

MM p02 0116indd 44 12182015 30902 PM

MANKATO MAGAZINE  bull January 2016 bull 45

St Peter Craft amp Vendor Show

1MelinadaBussefromRapidansoldherhandmadejewelryatthecraftandvendorshow

2DarylfromElysianandhishand-carvedwoodart

3MacKennaage7hasfunatoneoftheboothsattheStPeterCraftandVendorShow

4LizEntershowsoffsomeofherproductsattheldquoItWorksrdquobooth

5DenisePetersofldquoYoungLivingrdquoessentialoilsdisplayedherproductsattheshow

Faces amp Places Photos By Sport Pix

3

5

2

1

4

T - F 8am - 6pm Sun ClosedSat 9am - 4pmM 8am - 8pm

120 North Broad Street Mankato MN 507-345-4688 wwwmeyerandsonstvandappliancecom

FIND SPECIAL DEALS ON

MM p02 0116indd 45 12222015 121536 PM

46 bull January 2016 bull MANKATO MAGAZINE

SOUTHErN MN CHrISTMAS

FESTIVAL1 A large crowd was on hand during the festivities at

the Christmas Festival2 Friesenrsquos Family Bakery amp Bistro had tons of baked

goods and soups at the Verizon Wireless Center3 A childrenrsquos choir sang for the audience at the

festival4 Ron Haefner owner of Ronrsquos Auto Repair displayed

some of his services5 Garrison Galatz dressed up as Santa for the

Christmas Festival

faCes amp PLaCes Photos By Sport Pix

4

3

1

2

5

MM p02 0116indd 46 12182015 30923 PM

MANKATO MAGAZINE  bull January 2016 bull 47

1GirlScouttroop34494waspresentedwithatrophybyKiwanisVicePresidentKyleMrozek

2SantaClausevenwentthroughtheparaderoute3(LtoR)BrooklynPomrankeAlaynaLyonsHunterPomrankeandLilyLyonsgetagroupphototakenwithSanta

4MarshaMartigtellsSantawhatshewantsforChristmas

5TheparadefloatswerealldeckedoutinChristmaslights

6Visitorswalkthepatharoundtheparktoviewthisyearrsquoslights

Kiwanis Holiday ligHtsFaces amp Places Photos By sport Pix

2

1

3

4 5

6

MM p02 0116indd 47 12222015 121616 PM

48 bull January 2016 bull MANKATO MAGAZINE

On the Occasion of a 50th Reunion

the Class of 1965

from this VaLLeYBy Pete Steiner

Peter Steiner is host of ldquoTalk of the Townrdquo weekdays at 105 pm on KTOE

I was honored to give the presentation for our 50th class reunion recently at West Highrsquos Homecoming celebration About 120 of our nearly 400-member class

showed up We Baby Boomers the children of the greatest generation had big classes in the late lsquo60rsquos that forced the building of East High Ours was a dramatic era and our class did some great things in the face of big challenges Here edited is some of what I said

I am so glad to be standing here today Therersquos an old saying

ldquoMay you live in INTErESTINg timeshelliprdquo The Class of rsquo65 certainly has Itrsquos seems like only yesterday right after lunch that we were at our desks waiting for the start of English class when our charismatic teacher Harry Fitterer strode in and said ldquoPrESIDENT KENNEDY HAS BEEN SHOT IN DALLASrdquo At first we didnrsquot believe him but it was true It was November 22 1963 We were juniors and as the song says that was THE END OF THE INNOCENCE We had lived through the last idyllic time in America

When we first arrived in the fall of 1962 America was still carefree basking in the glow of victory in WW II Everything may have seemed ldquorightrdquo but it was not Martin Luther King Jr had just visited Mankato pointing out the continuing plight of black Americans as the Civil rights movement was gaining steam The beginnings of the Vietnam War which would alter the course of many of our lives were stirring even as we studied history and government The current generation has no monopoly on forgettable pop music ndash we had a stupid 1 song called ldquoItsie Bitsie Teenie Weenie Yellow Polka Dot Bikinirdquo (unfortunately an ear worm I canrsquot forget) But a darker cultural threat was looming The BEATLES were invading from Britain and our parents were mortified because they had LONg HAIr

Some of the shock of the Kennedy assassination was eased when our wrestling team in the era when the state still had just ONE CLASS won the State Championship in front of a packed hall up at MSU some still maintain that is the greatest single athletic achievement in Mankato history We were the first high school in Mankato to put on a full-scale musical ldquoBye Bye Birdierdquo in the spring of 1964 In Fall of 1964 our football team would have won the conference championship outright except Owatonnarsquos great Noel Jenke who would go on to star for the U of M

cheated I watched him trap the touchdown pass that beat us Does cheating pay Was that a lesson for life

In lsquo65 we also had a fine basketball team that lost our chance at State when our 6-6 center fouled out at Luverne

BUT A FAr BIggEr CHALLENgE AWAITED US ALL As we rode out to Luverne to watch that game we couldnrsquot help noticing the highway was like a canyon between walls of snow The legendary St Patrickrsquos Day Blizzard had dumped two feet on top of an already large snow pack and then April brought rains on frozen ground Instead of coming here to school many of us soon got a real-life assignment to go out in our rain gear out on the dikes to battle the grEAT FLOOD OF 1965 Our school became an island as water flooded the parking lot and all of South riverfront Our spring play that year was called ironically

THE DESPErATE HOUrS We had to rehearse at roosevelt School up on higher ground

Our class produced three Merit scholars One of our classmates who did NOT qualify

for a merit scholarship nevertheless was such a whiz at physics that NASA requested a copy of a paper he wrote on rocketry as a senior We produced 12 doctors one of whom earned a fellowship at Stanford seeking how to bring telemedicine to the poor another of whom became a breakthrough cancer doctor We had entrepreneurs one who would go on to be a leader in Solar Energy (and then run for governor of New Hampshire) Another mdash a woman incidentally when

that was not common founded two bio-tech startups Many of us are still working

past normal retirement age One founded a company on the leading edge of recycling

computers whose clients include the NSA Another is chief medical officer of a company

devising a better tool for colonoscopies Yet another of our classmates recently completed a concert tour of China

We lived in challenging times just as you do today but we muddle through we make it to the other shore I remember sitting where you are 50 years ago thinking how old those folks up there looked But remember Life goes by very quickly You certainly live in interesting times as Shakespeare said ldquoPresent Mirth has Present Laughter Youthrsquos a stuff will NOT endurerdquo So I urge you live each moment to the fullest

MM p02 0116indd 48 12182015 30933 PM

MM p02 0116indd 49 12182015 30936 PM

MM p02 0116indd 50 12182015 30948 PM

Page 42: Mankatomag 116

40 bull bull MANKATO MAGAZINE

Jean Lundquist is a master gardener who lives near Good Thunder

MM p02 0116indd 40 12182015 30834 PM

MANKATO MAGAZINE  bull January 2016 bull 41

3 Increase the Value of Your Home

3 Update Your Homersquos Appearance

3 Save Money

Choose from SeveralModels Styles amp Colors

507-625-7110 or 1-800-645-36671125 Cross St North Mankato MN

Improve Your HomersquosEnergy Efficiency

422 Park Lane Mankato MN | NuStarMankatocom

(507) 381-4747Voted One of Mankatorsquos Best

DANIEL WINGERT

Make Selling Your Home Your NuYearrsquos Resolution

MM p02 0116indd 41 12182015 30839 PM

42 bull January 2016 bull MANKATO MAGAZINE

January Resolve to moisturize

Your stYLeBy Ann Rosenquist Fee

Ann Rosenquist Fee is executive director of the Arts Center of Saint Peter and a vocalist with The Frye She blogs at annrosenquistfeecom

If you have in-laws or colleagues who know you well enough to have given you holiday gifts

but not well enough to know what wouldrsquove truly made you happy congratulations Chances are yoursquore the proud owner of a bunch of brand-new lip balm

Maybe itrsquos even holiday themed Thatrsquos the best Maybe you got the candy-cane flavored kind or wintergreen with holiday graphics on the label or something like that A theme that was irrelevant the moment the stocking was unstuffed because at that exact second the holiday was over

And here you are in January with an abundance of wax

Fortunately also here you are in the early weeks of winter with rough red knuckles Probably also cracked cuticles although it might not have gone that far yet for you Irsquom sure it has for me This photo was taken back in November and even then the Band-Aids were for real Irsquove learned to cut them in half length-wise so as to retain my ability to type Irsquove also learned to play with a range of color options Flesh-toned Clear Disney characters The colorful strips shown here were gifted to me by my husband Partly why theyrsquore cut in half is that the text is obscene This is one small trick you can use to make bloody cuticles your most exciting accessory of the winter

Sources like UrbanSurvivalSitecom and WonderHowTocom will tell you that you can use lip balm for a whole variety of purposes such as coating threads of outdoor lightbulbs before screwing them into their sockets and enhancing the burn-ability of most kindling

These are great fun but they wonrsquot improve your personal style

More germane to winter beauty are the following suggestions

Keep a tube next to your bed for first-thing-in-the-morning use And I mean really truly first-thing I mean smear the stuff on each cuticle while yoursquore still lying there before you start using your fingers at all If you wake up thinking yoursquore fine and skip cuticle care next thing you know yoursquore pushing down the lever on your Keurig and the pressure is more than your screamingly dry skin can take and boom split blood on the Keurig and itrsquos gonna be a long painful day If only you had balmed your hands before you let your feet hit the floor

Keep another tube in your glove compartment If itrsquos warm enough to take off your mittens in the car mdash if yoursquore even wearing mittens given that your hands are snagging on everything these days mdash the harsh January sunlight will allow you to see cracks and flakes in high-resolution detail Yoursquoll want the balm nearby

to cover what you didnrsquot notice first thing in the morning Also a car tube is useful for when you look in the rear-view mirror and notice that your nose and upper lip are flaking as well Itrsquos because yoursquore getting over a cold and the frequent use of tissue has worn away your top layer of skin but just because you know that doesnrsquot mean everybody else wonrsquot think ldquothere is something in that noserdquo Itrsquos just a fact Itrsquos what it looks like Lip balm to the rescue Itrsquos the only thing dry enough to slick those flakes in place and nourishing enough to maybe actually get your face back to normal

Keep a couple more tubes in a nighttime kit along with sandpaper Sandpaper Yes Not a pumice stone not a lame also-gifted sugar

scrub Medium-grit sandpaper is what you need every night lightly but with conviction As follows 1) Sand taking care not to do more damage than what the elements have already done Yoursquore just trying to remove the dry dead stuff Yoursquore just being hearty and efficient about this true to the culture of this great state in which yoursquove chosen to winter You are no pansy Sand your hands 2) Wash 3) Blot dry 4) Dial up the gifted balm whisper a word of thanks to the person who put so much thought into your well-being that they stuffed your holiday stocking with this amazing gift of self-care smash a healthy amount down into your palms massage Take heart You just might find yourself with normal-textured non-cracked not-horrible-looking hands by morning

Split-open cuticles I feel you Except for these Band-Aids I feel you

Lip balms I have been gifted and these are just from last Christmas ldquolastrdquo as in 2014

Bathrooms Worth Bragging About

HoursTue amp Wed amp Fri | 9 am to 6 pmMon amp Thu | 9 am to 7 pmSaturday | 9 am to 4 pm

219 S Victory Dr | Mankato507 | 345 | 7009ipafhickorytechnetindependentpaintandflooringcom

You Deserve Comfortable Care Every Timebull Sedation - Complete Relaxation with Just a Pillbull Invisalign - Clear Alternative to Bracesbull Botox amp Fillersbull Implants - Placement and Restorationbull Cerec - One Visit Crown Technology

bull Free Whitening Programbull 3D Imaging with Fewer X-Raysbull Cosmetic Dentistrybull Drill-Free Technologybull Emergency Care

1400 Lookout Drive North Mankato507-625-CARE(2273) bull mankatodentistcom 06

1865

6124

01

Dr AngelA Schuck

Dr keith FlAck

MM p02 0116indd 42 12182015 30841 PM

MANKATO MAGAZINE  bull January 2016 bull 43

Bathrooms Worth Bragging About

HoursTue amp Wed amp Fri | 9 am to 6 pmMon amp Thu | 9 am to 7 pmSaturday | 9 am to 4 pm

219 S Victory Dr | Mankato507 | 345 | 7009ipafhickorytechnetindependentpaintandflooringcom

You Deserve Comfortable Care Every Timebull Sedation - Complete Relaxation with Just a Pillbull Invisalign - Clear Alternative to Bracesbull Botox amp Fillersbull Implants - Placement and Restorationbull Cerec - One Visit Crown Technology

bull Free Whitening Programbull 3D Imaging with Fewer X-Raysbull Cosmetic Dentistrybull Drill-Free Technologybull Emergency Care

1400 Lookout Drive North Mankato507-625-CARE(2273) bull mankatodentistcom 06

1865

6124

01

Dr AngelA Schuck

Dr keith FlAck

(944) 412-7949 | OrthoEdgeMNcom

Enjoy the season

Mankato St Peter

Be active Be healthyBe able with OrthoEdge

The OrthoEdge joint replacement

program offers superb care from your first

visit through recovery The surgeons from

the Orthopaedic amp Fracture Clinic and

the care team at Riverrsquos Edge Hospital

provide personal and professional care to

get you back to able

Why Riverrsquos Edge Hospital amp Clinic

bull Riverrsquos Edge Hospital amp Clinic has a long-

standing relationship with the Orthopaedic

amp Fracture Clinic

bull There are 14 private suites that feature a

private bathroom and shower

bull Restaurant-style menu

bull Low patient to nurse ratio

bull Hospitalist on staff to provide patient

centered care 24 hours a day

bull Free WiFi for patients and guests

bull Individualized care

bull On-site Physical and Occupational Therapy

MM p02 0116indd 43 12182015 30842 PM

44 bull January 2016 bull MANKATO MAGAZINE

1 Hicktown Mafia800 pm mdash New Ulm Event Center mdash 301 20th St S mdash New Ulm mdash $10 mdash 507-354-4673

7-9 Mankato West Orchesis Dance Team showcase7 pm Thursday-Saturday 2 pm Saturday mdash Mankato West High School Auditorium mdash $7 adults $5 students mdash 507-381-7578

10 Mankato Symphony Orchestra Music on the Hill II ldquoMinnesota rootsrdquo2 pm mdash Chapel at Good Counselmdash Good Counsel Drive mdash Mankato mdash $17 $12 mdash wwwmankatosymphonycom

16 Handel with Caremdash Handel Goes to Italy11 ammdash YMCA Aerobics Studio mdash 1401 S Riverfront Drive mdash Mankato mdash wwwmankatosymphonycom

16 Mankato Craft beer Expo2 pm (VIP) 3 pm general mdash Verizon Wireless Center mdash $45 VIP $35 general $10 designated driver mdash wwwmankatocraftbeerexpocom

23 Joey Flip and Mike Fugazzi rockinrsquo at the Embassy9 pm mdash Blaschkorsquos Embassy Bar and Grill mdash 325 S Minnesota Ave mdash St Peter mdash 507-934-3903

24 andrea Lyn and Dick Kimmel concert730 pm mdash Elias J Halling Recital Hall mdash Minnesota State University mdash Mankato mdash $12 regular $11 current MSU students mdash wwwmnusedumusic

28-31 MSu Theatre antigone730 pm Thursday-Saturday 2 pm Sunday mdash Andreas Theatre mdash Minnesota State University mdash Mankato mdash $16 regular $14 discount $11 current MSU students mdash wwwmnsuedu

29-31 BLC Theatre Brigadoon730 Friday and Saturday 2 pm Sunday mdash Ylvisaker Fine Arts Center mdash Bethany Lutheran College mdash Mankato mdash $10 adults $6 seniors children and students mdash wwwblceduevents

29- Feb 7 Winterfest St Peter Citywide mdash wwwstpeterchamberorg

30 Church of Cash a Tribute to Johnny Cash7 pm mdash St Peter American Legion mdash 229 W Nassau St mdash St Peter mdash 507-934-6435

31 Maud Hixson and rick Carlson concert730 pmmdash Elias J Halling Recital Hall mdash Minnesota State University mdash Mankato mdash $12 regular $11 current MSU students wwmnsuedumusic

Coming attraCtions January

T - F 8am - 6pm Sun ClosedSat 9am - 4pmM 8am - 8pm

120 North Broad Street Mankato MN 507-345-4688 wwwmeyerandsonstvandappliancecom

FIND SPECIAL DEALS ON

MM p02 0116indd 44 12182015 30902 PM

MANKATO MAGAZINE  bull January 2016 bull 45

St Peter Craft amp Vendor Show

1MelinadaBussefromRapidansoldherhandmadejewelryatthecraftandvendorshow

2DarylfromElysianandhishand-carvedwoodart

3MacKennaage7hasfunatoneoftheboothsattheStPeterCraftandVendorShow

4LizEntershowsoffsomeofherproductsattheldquoItWorksrdquobooth

5DenisePetersofldquoYoungLivingrdquoessentialoilsdisplayedherproductsattheshow

Faces amp Places Photos By Sport Pix

3

5

2

1

4

T - F 8am - 6pm Sun ClosedSat 9am - 4pmM 8am - 8pm

120 North Broad Street Mankato MN 507-345-4688 wwwmeyerandsonstvandappliancecom

FIND SPECIAL DEALS ON

MM p02 0116indd 45 12222015 121536 PM

46 bull January 2016 bull MANKATO MAGAZINE

SOUTHErN MN CHrISTMAS

FESTIVAL1 A large crowd was on hand during the festivities at

the Christmas Festival2 Friesenrsquos Family Bakery amp Bistro had tons of baked

goods and soups at the Verizon Wireless Center3 A childrenrsquos choir sang for the audience at the

festival4 Ron Haefner owner of Ronrsquos Auto Repair displayed

some of his services5 Garrison Galatz dressed up as Santa for the

Christmas Festival

faCes amp PLaCes Photos By Sport Pix

4

3

1

2

5

MM p02 0116indd 46 12182015 30923 PM

MANKATO MAGAZINE  bull January 2016 bull 47

1GirlScouttroop34494waspresentedwithatrophybyKiwanisVicePresidentKyleMrozek

2SantaClausevenwentthroughtheparaderoute3(LtoR)BrooklynPomrankeAlaynaLyonsHunterPomrankeandLilyLyonsgetagroupphototakenwithSanta

4MarshaMartigtellsSantawhatshewantsforChristmas

5TheparadefloatswerealldeckedoutinChristmaslights

6Visitorswalkthepatharoundtheparktoviewthisyearrsquoslights

Kiwanis Holiday ligHtsFaces amp Places Photos By sport Pix

2

1

3

4 5

6

MM p02 0116indd 47 12222015 121616 PM

48 bull January 2016 bull MANKATO MAGAZINE

On the Occasion of a 50th Reunion

the Class of 1965

from this VaLLeYBy Pete Steiner

Peter Steiner is host of ldquoTalk of the Townrdquo weekdays at 105 pm on KTOE

I was honored to give the presentation for our 50th class reunion recently at West Highrsquos Homecoming celebration About 120 of our nearly 400-member class

showed up We Baby Boomers the children of the greatest generation had big classes in the late lsquo60rsquos that forced the building of East High Ours was a dramatic era and our class did some great things in the face of big challenges Here edited is some of what I said

I am so glad to be standing here today Therersquos an old saying

ldquoMay you live in INTErESTINg timeshelliprdquo The Class of rsquo65 certainly has Itrsquos seems like only yesterday right after lunch that we were at our desks waiting for the start of English class when our charismatic teacher Harry Fitterer strode in and said ldquoPrESIDENT KENNEDY HAS BEEN SHOT IN DALLASrdquo At first we didnrsquot believe him but it was true It was November 22 1963 We were juniors and as the song says that was THE END OF THE INNOCENCE We had lived through the last idyllic time in America

When we first arrived in the fall of 1962 America was still carefree basking in the glow of victory in WW II Everything may have seemed ldquorightrdquo but it was not Martin Luther King Jr had just visited Mankato pointing out the continuing plight of black Americans as the Civil rights movement was gaining steam The beginnings of the Vietnam War which would alter the course of many of our lives were stirring even as we studied history and government The current generation has no monopoly on forgettable pop music ndash we had a stupid 1 song called ldquoItsie Bitsie Teenie Weenie Yellow Polka Dot Bikinirdquo (unfortunately an ear worm I canrsquot forget) But a darker cultural threat was looming The BEATLES were invading from Britain and our parents were mortified because they had LONg HAIr

Some of the shock of the Kennedy assassination was eased when our wrestling team in the era when the state still had just ONE CLASS won the State Championship in front of a packed hall up at MSU some still maintain that is the greatest single athletic achievement in Mankato history We were the first high school in Mankato to put on a full-scale musical ldquoBye Bye Birdierdquo in the spring of 1964 In Fall of 1964 our football team would have won the conference championship outright except Owatonnarsquos great Noel Jenke who would go on to star for the U of M

cheated I watched him trap the touchdown pass that beat us Does cheating pay Was that a lesson for life

In lsquo65 we also had a fine basketball team that lost our chance at State when our 6-6 center fouled out at Luverne

BUT A FAr BIggEr CHALLENgE AWAITED US ALL As we rode out to Luverne to watch that game we couldnrsquot help noticing the highway was like a canyon between walls of snow The legendary St Patrickrsquos Day Blizzard had dumped two feet on top of an already large snow pack and then April brought rains on frozen ground Instead of coming here to school many of us soon got a real-life assignment to go out in our rain gear out on the dikes to battle the grEAT FLOOD OF 1965 Our school became an island as water flooded the parking lot and all of South riverfront Our spring play that year was called ironically

THE DESPErATE HOUrS We had to rehearse at roosevelt School up on higher ground

Our class produced three Merit scholars One of our classmates who did NOT qualify

for a merit scholarship nevertheless was such a whiz at physics that NASA requested a copy of a paper he wrote on rocketry as a senior We produced 12 doctors one of whom earned a fellowship at Stanford seeking how to bring telemedicine to the poor another of whom became a breakthrough cancer doctor We had entrepreneurs one who would go on to be a leader in Solar Energy (and then run for governor of New Hampshire) Another mdash a woman incidentally when

that was not common founded two bio-tech startups Many of us are still working

past normal retirement age One founded a company on the leading edge of recycling

computers whose clients include the NSA Another is chief medical officer of a company

devising a better tool for colonoscopies Yet another of our classmates recently completed a concert tour of China

We lived in challenging times just as you do today but we muddle through we make it to the other shore I remember sitting where you are 50 years ago thinking how old those folks up there looked But remember Life goes by very quickly You certainly live in interesting times as Shakespeare said ldquoPresent Mirth has Present Laughter Youthrsquos a stuff will NOT endurerdquo So I urge you live each moment to the fullest

MM p02 0116indd 48 12182015 30933 PM

MM p02 0116indd 49 12182015 30936 PM

MM p02 0116indd 50 12182015 30948 PM

Page 43: Mankatomag 116

MANKATO MAGAZINE  bull January 2016 bull 41

3 Increase the Value of Your Home

3 Update Your Homersquos Appearance

3 Save Money

Choose from SeveralModels Styles amp Colors

507-625-7110 or 1-800-645-36671125 Cross St North Mankato MN

Improve Your HomersquosEnergy Efficiency

422 Park Lane Mankato MN | NuStarMankatocom

(507) 381-4747Voted One of Mankatorsquos Best

DANIEL WINGERT

Make Selling Your Home Your NuYearrsquos Resolution

MM p02 0116indd 41 12182015 30839 PM

42 bull January 2016 bull MANKATO MAGAZINE

January Resolve to moisturize

Your stYLeBy Ann Rosenquist Fee

Ann Rosenquist Fee is executive director of the Arts Center of Saint Peter and a vocalist with The Frye She blogs at annrosenquistfeecom

If you have in-laws or colleagues who know you well enough to have given you holiday gifts

but not well enough to know what wouldrsquove truly made you happy congratulations Chances are yoursquore the proud owner of a bunch of brand-new lip balm

Maybe itrsquos even holiday themed Thatrsquos the best Maybe you got the candy-cane flavored kind or wintergreen with holiday graphics on the label or something like that A theme that was irrelevant the moment the stocking was unstuffed because at that exact second the holiday was over

And here you are in January with an abundance of wax

Fortunately also here you are in the early weeks of winter with rough red knuckles Probably also cracked cuticles although it might not have gone that far yet for you Irsquom sure it has for me This photo was taken back in November and even then the Band-Aids were for real Irsquove learned to cut them in half length-wise so as to retain my ability to type Irsquove also learned to play with a range of color options Flesh-toned Clear Disney characters The colorful strips shown here were gifted to me by my husband Partly why theyrsquore cut in half is that the text is obscene This is one small trick you can use to make bloody cuticles your most exciting accessory of the winter

Sources like UrbanSurvivalSitecom and WonderHowTocom will tell you that you can use lip balm for a whole variety of purposes such as coating threads of outdoor lightbulbs before screwing them into their sockets and enhancing the burn-ability of most kindling

These are great fun but they wonrsquot improve your personal style

More germane to winter beauty are the following suggestions

Keep a tube next to your bed for first-thing-in-the-morning use And I mean really truly first-thing I mean smear the stuff on each cuticle while yoursquore still lying there before you start using your fingers at all If you wake up thinking yoursquore fine and skip cuticle care next thing you know yoursquore pushing down the lever on your Keurig and the pressure is more than your screamingly dry skin can take and boom split blood on the Keurig and itrsquos gonna be a long painful day If only you had balmed your hands before you let your feet hit the floor

Keep another tube in your glove compartment If itrsquos warm enough to take off your mittens in the car mdash if yoursquore even wearing mittens given that your hands are snagging on everything these days mdash the harsh January sunlight will allow you to see cracks and flakes in high-resolution detail Yoursquoll want the balm nearby

to cover what you didnrsquot notice first thing in the morning Also a car tube is useful for when you look in the rear-view mirror and notice that your nose and upper lip are flaking as well Itrsquos because yoursquore getting over a cold and the frequent use of tissue has worn away your top layer of skin but just because you know that doesnrsquot mean everybody else wonrsquot think ldquothere is something in that noserdquo Itrsquos just a fact Itrsquos what it looks like Lip balm to the rescue Itrsquos the only thing dry enough to slick those flakes in place and nourishing enough to maybe actually get your face back to normal

Keep a couple more tubes in a nighttime kit along with sandpaper Sandpaper Yes Not a pumice stone not a lame also-gifted sugar

scrub Medium-grit sandpaper is what you need every night lightly but with conviction As follows 1) Sand taking care not to do more damage than what the elements have already done Yoursquore just trying to remove the dry dead stuff Yoursquore just being hearty and efficient about this true to the culture of this great state in which yoursquove chosen to winter You are no pansy Sand your hands 2) Wash 3) Blot dry 4) Dial up the gifted balm whisper a word of thanks to the person who put so much thought into your well-being that they stuffed your holiday stocking with this amazing gift of self-care smash a healthy amount down into your palms massage Take heart You just might find yourself with normal-textured non-cracked not-horrible-looking hands by morning

Split-open cuticles I feel you Except for these Band-Aids I feel you

Lip balms I have been gifted and these are just from last Christmas ldquolastrdquo as in 2014

Bathrooms Worth Bragging About

HoursTue amp Wed amp Fri | 9 am to 6 pmMon amp Thu | 9 am to 7 pmSaturday | 9 am to 4 pm

219 S Victory Dr | Mankato507 | 345 | 7009ipafhickorytechnetindependentpaintandflooringcom

You Deserve Comfortable Care Every Timebull Sedation - Complete Relaxation with Just a Pillbull Invisalign - Clear Alternative to Bracesbull Botox amp Fillersbull Implants - Placement and Restorationbull Cerec - One Visit Crown Technology

bull Free Whitening Programbull 3D Imaging with Fewer X-Raysbull Cosmetic Dentistrybull Drill-Free Technologybull Emergency Care

1400 Lookout Drive North Mankato507-625-CARE(2273) bull mankatodentistcom 06

1865

6124

01

Dr AngelA Schuck

Dr keith FlAck

MM p02 0116indd 42 12182015 30841 PM

MANKATO MAGAZINE  bull January 2016 bull 43

Bathrooms Worth Bragging About

HoursTue amp Wed amp Fri | 9 am to 6 pmMon amp Thu | 9 am to 7 pmSaturday | 9 am to 4 pm

219 S Victory Dr | Mankato507 | 345 | 7009ipafhickorytechnetindependentpaintandflooringcom

You Deserve Comfortable Care Every Timebull Sedation - Complete Relaxation with Just a Pillbull Invisalign - Clear Alternative to Bracesbull Botox amp Fillersbull Implants - Placement and Restorationbull Cerec - One Visit Crown Technology

bull Free Whitening Programbull 3D Imaging with Fewer X-Raysbull Cosmetic Dentistrybull Drill-Free Technologybull Emergency Care

1400 Lookout Drive North Mankato507-625-CARE(2273) bull mankatodentistcom 06

1865

6124

01

Dr AngelA Schuck

Dr keith FlAck

(944) 412-7949 | OrthoEdgeMNcom

Enjoy the season

Mankato St Peter

Be active Be healthyBe able with OrthoEdge

The OrthoEdge joint replacement

program offers superb care from your first

visit through recovery The surgeons from

the Orthopaedic amp Fracture Clinic and

the care team at Riverrsquos Edge Hospital

provide personal and professional care to

get you back to able

Why Riverrsquos Edge Hospital amp Clinic

bull Riverrsquos Edge Hospital amp Clinic has a long-

standing relationship with the Orthopaedic

amp Fracture Clinic

bull There are 14 private suites that feature a

private bathroom and shower

bull Restaurant-style menu

bull Low patient to nurse ratio

bull Hospitalist on staff to provide patient

centered care 24 hours a day

bull Free WiFi for patients and guests

bull Individualized care

bull On-site Physical and Occupational Therapy

MM p02 0116indd 43 12182015 30842 PM

44 bull January 2016 bull MANKATO MAGAZINE

1 Hicktown Mafia800 pm mdash New Ulm Event Center mdash 301 20th St S mdash New Ulm mdash $10 mdash 507-354-4673

7-9 Mankato West Orchesis Dance Team showcase7 pm Thursday-Saturday 2 pm Saturday mdash Mankato West High School Auditorium mdash $7 adults $5 students mdash 507-381-7578

10 Mankato Symphony Orchestra Music on the Hill II ldquoMinnesota rootsrdquo2 pm mdash Chapel at Good Counselmdash Good Counsel Drive mdash Mankato mdash $17 $12 mdash wwwmankatosymphonycom

16 Handel with Caremdash Handel Goes to Italy11 ammdash YMCA Aerobics Studio mdash 1401 S Riverfront Drive mdash Mankato mdash wwwmankatosymphonycom

16 Mankato Craft beer Expo2 pm (VIP) 3 pm general mdash Verizon Wireless Center mdash $45 VIP $35 general $10 designated driver mdash wwwmankatocraftbeerexpocom

23 Joey Flip and Mike Fugazzi rockinrsquo at the Embassy9 pm mdash Blaschkorsquos Embassy Bar and Grill mdash 325 S Minnesota Ave mdash St Peter mdash 507-934-3903

24 andrea Lyn and Dick Kimmel concert730 pm mdash Elias J Halling Recital Hall mdash Minnesota State University mdash Mankato mdash $12 regular $11 current MSU students mdash wwwmnusedumusic

28-31 MSu Theatre antigone730 pm Thursday-Saturday 2 pm Sunday mdash Andreas Theatre mdash Minnesota State University mdash Mankato mdash $16 regular $14 discount $11 current MSU students mdash wwwmnsuedu

29-31 BLC Theatre Brigadoon730 Friday and Saturday 2 pm Sunday mdash Ylvisaker Fine Arts Center mdash Bethany Lutheran College mdash Mankato mdash $10 adults $6 seniors children and students mdash wwwblceduevents

29- Feb 7 Winterfest St Peter Citywide mdash wwwstpeterchamberorg

30 Church of Cash a Tribute to Johnny Cash7 pm mdash St Peter American Legion mdash 229 W Nassau St mdash St Peter mdash 507-934-6435

31 Maud Hixson and rick Carlson concert730 pmmdash Elias J Halling Recital Hall mdash Minnesota State University mdash Mankato mdash $12 regular $11 current MSU students wwmnsuedumusic

Coming attraCtions January

T - F 8am - 6pm Sun ClosedSat 9am - 4pmM 8am - 8pm

120 North Broad Street Mankato MN 507-345-4688 wwwmeyerandsonstvandappliancecom

FIND SPECIAL DEALS ON

MM p02 0116indd 44 12182015 30902 PM

MANKATO MAGAZINE  bull January 2016 bull 45

St Peter Craft amp Vendor Show

1MelinadaBussefromRapidansoldherhandmadejewelryatthecraftandvendorshow

2DarylfromElysianandhishand-carvedwoodart

3MacKennaage7hasfunatoneoftheboothsattheStPeterCraftandVendorShow

4LizEntershowsoffsomeofherproductsattheldquoItWorksrdquobooth

5DenisePetersofldquoYoungLivingrdquoessentialoilsdisplayedherproductsattheshow

Faces amp Places Photos By Sport Pix

3

5

2

1

4

T - F 8am - 6pm Sun ClosedSat 9am - 4pmM 8am - 8pm

120 North Broad Street Mankato MN 507-345-4688 wwwmeyerandsonstvandappliancecom

FIND SPECIAL DEALS ON

MM p02 0116indd 45 12222015 121536 PM

46 bull January 2016 bull MANKATO MAGAZINE

SOUTHErN MN CHrISTMAS

FESTIVAL1 A large crowd was on hand during the festivities at

the Christmas Festival2 Friesenrsquos Family Bakery amp Bistro had tons of baked

goods and soups at the Verizon Wireless Center3 A childrenrsquos choir sang for the audience at the

festival4 Ron Haefner owner of Ronrsquos Auto Repair displayed

some of his services5 Garrison Galatz dressed up as Santa for the

Christmas Festival

faCes amp PLaCes Photos By Sport Pix

4

3

1

2

5

MM p02 0116indd 46 12182015 30923 PM

MANKATO MAGAZINE  bull January 2016 bull 47

1GirlScouttroop34494waspresentedwithatrophybyKiwanisVicePresidentKyleMrozek

2SantaClausevenwentthroughtheparaderoute3(LtoR)BrooklynPomrankeAlaynaLyonsHunterPomrankeandLilyLyonsgetagroupphototakenwithSanta

4MarshaMartigtellsSantawhatshewantsforChristmas

5TheparadefloatswerealldeckedoutinChristmaslights

6Visitorswalkthepatharoundtheparktoviewthisyearrsquoslights

Kiwanis Holiday ligHtsFaces amp Places Photos By sport Pix

2

1

3

4 5

6

MM p02 0116indd 47 12222015 121616 PM

48 bull January 2016 bull MANKATO MAGAZINE

On the Occasion of a 50th Reunion

the Class of 1965

from this VaLLeYBy Pete Steiner

Peter Steiner is host of ldquoTalk of the Townrdquo weekdays at 105 pm on KTOE

I was honored to give the presentation for our 50th class reunion recently at West Highrsquos Homecoming celebration About 120 of our nearly 400-member class

showed up We Baby Boomers the children of the greatest generation had big classes in the late lsquo60rsquos that forced the building of East High Ours was a dramatic era and our class did some great things in the face of big challenges Here edited is some of what I said

I am so glad to be standing here today Therersquos an old saying

ldquoMay you live in INTErESTINg timeshelliprdquo The Class of rsquo65 certainly has Itrsquos seems like only yesterday right after lunch that we were at our desks waiting for the start of English class when our charismatic teacher Harry Fitterer strode in and said ldquoPrESIDENT KENNEDY HAS BEEN SHOT IN DALLASrdquo At first we didnrsquot believe him but it was true It was November 22 1963 We were juniors and as the song says that was THE END OF THE INNOCENCE We had lived through the last idyllic time in America

When we first arrived in the fall of 1962 America was still carefree basking in the glow of victory in WW II Everything may have seemed ldquorightrdquo but it was not Martin Luther King Jr had just visited Mankato pointing out the continuing plight of black Americans as the Civil rights movement was gaining steam The beginnings of the Vietnam War which would alter the course of many of our lives were stirring even as we studied history and government The current generation has no monopoly on forgettable pop music ndash we had a stupid 1 song called ldquoItsie Bitsie Teenie Weenie Yellow Polka Dot Bikinirdquo (unfortunately an ear worm I canrsquot forget) But a darker cultural threat was looming The BEATLES were invading from Britain and our parents were mortified because they had LONg HAIr

Some of the shock of the Kennedy assassination was eased when our wrestling team in the era when the state still had just ONE CLASS won the State Championship in front of a packed hall up at MSU some still maintain that is the greatest single athletic achievement in Mankato history We were the first high school in Mankato to put on a full-scale musical ldquoBye Bye Birdierdquo in the spring of 1964 In Fall of 1964 our football team would have won the conference championship outright except Owatonnarsquos great Noel Jenke who would go on to star for the U of M

cheated I watched him trap the touchdown pass that beat us Does cheating pay Was that a lesson for life

In lsquo65 we also had a fine basketball team that lost our chance at State when our 6-6 center fouled out at Luverne

BUT A FAr BIggEr CHALLENgE AWAITED US ALL As we rode out to Luverne to watch that game we couldnrsquot help noticing the highway was like a canyon between walls of snow The legendary St Patrickrsquos Day Blizzard had dumped two feet on top of an already large snow pack and then April brought rains on frozen ground Instead of coming here to school many of us soon got a real-life assignment to go out in our rain gear out on the dikes to battle the grEAT FLOOD OF 1965 Our school became an island as water flooded the parking lot and all of South riverfront Our spring play that year was called ironically

THE DESPErATE HOUrS We had to rehearse at roosevelt School up on higher ground

Our class produced three Merit scholars One of our classmates who did NOT qualify

for a merit scholarship nevertheless was such a whiz at physics that NASA requested a copy of a paper he wrote on rocketry as a senior We produced 12 doctors one of whom earned a fellowship at Stanford seeking how to bring telemedicine to the poor another of whom became a breakthrough cancer doctor We had entrepreneurs one who would go on to be a leader in Solar Energy (and then run for governor of New Hampshire) Another mdash a woman incidentally when

that was not common founded two bio-tech startups Many of us are still working

past normal retirement age One founded a company on the leading edge of recycling

computers whose clients include the NSA Another is chief medical officer of a company

devising a better tool for colonoscopies Yet another of our classmates recently completed a concert tour of China

We lived in challenging times just as you do today but we muddle through we make it to the other shore I remember sitting where you are 50 years ago thinking how old those folks up there looked But remember Life goes by very quickly You certainly live in interesting times as Shakespeare said ldquoPresent Mirth has Present Laughter Youthrsquos a stuff will NOT endurerdquo So I urge you live each moment to the fullest

MM p02 0116indd 48 12182015 30933 PM

MM p02 0116indd 49 12182015 30936 PM

MM p02 0116indd 50 12182015 30948 PM

Page 44: Mankatomag 116

42 bull January 2016 bull MANKATO MAGAZINE

January Resolve to moisturize

Your stYLeBy Ann Rosenquist Fee

Ann Rosenquist Fee is executive director of the Arts Center of Saint Peter and a vocalist with The Frye She blogs at annrosenquistfeecom

If you have in-laws or colleagues who know you well enough to have given you holiday gifts

but not well enough to know what wouldrsquove truly made you happy congratulations Chances are yoursquore the proud owner of a bunch of brand-new lip balm

Maybe itrsquos even holiday themed Thatrsquos the best Maybe you got the candy-cane flavored kind or wintergreen with holiday graphics on the label or something like that A theme that was irrelevant the moment the stocking was unstuffed because at that exact second the holiday was over

And here you are in January with an abundance of wax

Fortunately also here you are in the early weeks of winter with rough red knuckles Probably also cracked cuticles although it might not have gone that far yet for you Irsquom sure it has for me This photo was taken back in November and even then the Band-Aids were for real Irsquove learned to cut them in half length-wise so as to retain my ability to type Irsquove also learned to play with a range of color options Flesh-toned Clear Disney characters The colorful strips shown here were gifted to me by my husband Partly why theyrsquore cut in half is that the text is obscene This is one small trick you can use to make bloody cuticles your most exciting accessory of the winter

Sources like UrbanSurvivalSitecom and WonderHowTocom will tell you that you can use lip balm for a whole variety of purposes such as coating threads of outdoor lightbulbs before screwing them into their sockets and enhancing the burn-ability of most kindling

These are great fun but they wonrsquot improve your personal style

More germane to winter beauty are the following suggestions

Keep a tube next to your bed for first-thing-in-the-morning use And I mean really truly first-thing I mean smear the stuff on each cuticle while yoursquore still lying there before you start using your fingers at all If you wake up thinking yoursquore fine and skip cuticle care next thing you know yoursquore pushing down the lever on your Keurig and the pressure is more than your screamingly dry skin can take and boom split blood on the Keurig and itrsquos gonna be a long painful day If only you had balmed your hands before you let your feet hit the floor

Keep another tube in your glove compartment If itrsquos warm enough to take off your mittens in the car mdash if yoursquore even wearing mittens given that your hands are snagging on everything these days mdash the harsh January sunlight will allow you to see cracks and flakes in high-resolution detail Yoursquoll want the balm nearby

to cover what you didnrsquot notice first thing in the morning Also a car tube is useful for when you look in the rear-view mirror and notice that your nose and upper lip are flaking as well Itrsquos because yoursquore getting over a cold and the frequent use of tissue has worn away your top layer of skin but just because you know that doesnrsquot mean everybody else wonrsquot think ldquothere is something in that noserdquo Itrsquos just a fact Itrsquos what it looks like Lip balm to the rescue Itrsquos the only thing dry enough to slick those flakes in place and nourishing enough to maybe actually get your face back to normal

Keep a couple more tubes in a nighttime kit along with sandpaper Sandpaper Yes Not a pumice stone not a lame also-gifted sugar

scrub Medium-grit sandpaper is what you need every night lightly but with conviction As follows 1) Sand taking care not to do more damage than what the elements have already done Yoursquore just trying to remove the dry dead stuff Yoursquore just being hearty and efficient about this true to the culture of this great state in which yoursquove chosen to winter You are no pansy Sand your hands 2) Wash 3) Blot dry 4) Dial up the gifted balm whisper a word of thanks to the person who put so much thought into your well-being that they stuffed your holiday stocking with this amazing gift of self-care smash a healthy amount down into your palms massage Take heart You just might find yourself with normal-textured non-cracked not-horrible-looking hands by morning

Split-open cuticles I feel you Except for these Band-Aids I feel you

Lip balms I have been gifted and these are just from last Christmas ldquolastrdquo as in 2014

Bathrooms Worth Bragging About

HoursTue amp Wed amp Fri | 9 am to 6 pmMon amp Thu | 9 am to 7 pmSaturday | 9 am to 4 pm

219 S Victory Dr | Mankato507 | 345 | 7009ipafhickorytechnetindependentpaintandflooringcom

You Deserve Comfortable Care Every Timebull Sedation - Complete Relaxation with Just a Pillbull Invisalign - Clear Alternative to Bracesbull Botox amp Fillersbull Implants - Placement and Restorationbull Cerec - One Visit Crown Technology

bull Free Whitening Programbull 3D Imaging with Fewer X-Raysbull Cosmetic Dentistrybull Drill-Free Technologybull Emergency Care

1400 Lookout Drive North Mankato507-625-CARE(2273) bull mankatodentistcom 06

1865

6124

01

Dr AngelA Schuck

Dr keith FlAck

MM p02 0116indd 42 12182015 30841 PM

MANKATO MAGAZINE  bull January 2016 bull 43

Bathrooms Worth Bragging About

HoursTue amp Wed amp Fri | 9 am to 6 pmMon amp Thu | 9 am to 7 pmSaturday | 9 am to 4 pm

219 S Victory Dr | Mankato507 | 345 | 7009ipafhickorytechnetindependentpaintandflooringcom

You Deserve Comfortable Care Every Timebull Sedation - Complete Relaxation with Just a Pillbull Invisalign - Clear Alternative to Bracesbull Botox amp Fillersbull Implants - Placement and Restorationbull Cerec - One Visit Crown Technology

bull Free Whitening Programbull 3D Imaging with Fewer X-Raysbull Cosmetic Dentistrybull Drill-Free Technologybull Emergency Care

1400 Lookout Drive North Mankato507-625-CARE(2273) bull mankatodentistcom 06

1865

6124

01

Dr AngelA Schuck

Dr keith FlAck

(944) 412-7949 | OrthoEdgeMNcom

Enjoy the season

Mankato St Peter

Be active Be healthyBe able with OrthoEdge

The OrthoEdge joint replacement

program offers superb care from your first

visit through recovery The surgeons from

the Orthopaedic amp Fracture Clinic and

the care team at Riverrsquos Edge Hospital

provide personal and professional care to

get you back to able

Why Riverrsquos Edge Hospital amp Clinic

bull Riverrsquos Edge Hospital amp Clinic has a long-

standing relationship with the Orthopaedic

amp Fracture Clinic

bull There are 14 private suites that feature a

private bathroom and shower

bull Restaurant-style menu

bull Low patient to nurse ratio

bull Hospitalist on staff to provide patient

centered care 24 hours a day

bull Free WiFi for patients and guests

bull Individualized care

bull On-site Physical and Occupational Therapy

MM p02 0116indd 43 12182015 30842 PM

44 bull January 2016 bull MANKATO MAGAZINE

1 Hicktown Mafia800 pm mdash New Ulm Event Center mdash 301 20th St S mdash New Ulm mdash $10 mdash 507-354-4673

7-9 Mankato West Orchesis Dance Team showcase7 pm Thursday-Saturday 2 pm Saturday mdash Mankato West High School Auditorium mdash $7 adults $5 students mdash 507-381-7578

10 Mankato Symphony Orchestra Music on the Hill II ldquoMinnesota rootsrdquo2 pm mdash Chapel at Good Counselmdash Good Counsel Drive mdash Mankato mdash $17 $12 mdash wwwmankatosymphonycom

16 Handel with Caremdash Handel Goes to Italy11 ammdash YMCA Aerobics Studio mdash 1401 S Riverfront Drive mdash Mankato mdash wwwmankatosymphonycom

16 Mankato Craft beer Expo2 pm (VIP) 3 pm general mdash Verizon Wireless Center mdash $45 VIP $35 general $10 designated driver mdash wwwmankatocraftbeerexpocom

23 Joey Flip and Mike Fugazzi rockinrsquo at the Embassy9 pm mdash Blaschkorsquos Embassy Bar and Grill mdash 325 S Minnesota Ave mdash St Peter mdash 507-934-3903

24 andrea Lyn and Dick Kimmel concert730 pm mdash Elias J Halling Recital Hall mdash Minnesota State University mdash Mankato mdash $12 regular $11 current MSU students mdash wwwmnusedumusic

28-31 MSu Theatre antigone730 pm Thursday-Saturday 2 pm Sunday mdash Andreas Theatre mdash Minnesota State University mdash Mankato mdash $16 regular $14 discount $11 current MSU students mdash wwwmnsuedu

29-31 BLC Theatre Brigadoon730 Friday and Saturday 2 pm Sunday mdash Ylvisaker Fine Arts Center mdash Bethany Lutheran College mdash Mankato mdash $10 adults $6 seniors children and students mdash wwwblceduevents

29- Feb 7 Winterfest St Peter Citywide mdash wwwstpeterchamberorg

30 Church of Cash a Tribute to Johnny Cash7 pm mdash St Peter American Legion mdash 229 W Nassau St mdash St Peter mdash 507-934-6435

31 Maud Hixson and rick Carlson concert730 pmmdash Elias J Halling Recital Hall mdash Minnesota State University mdash Mankato mdash $12 regular $11 current MSU students wwmnsuedumusic

Coming attraCtions January

T - F 8am - 6pm Sun ClosedSat 9am - 4pmM 8am - 8pm

120 North Broad Street Mankato MN 507-345-4688 wwwmeyerandsonstvandappliancecom

FIND SPECIAL DEALS ON

MM p02 0116indd 44 12182015 30902 PM

MANKATO MAGAZINE  bull January 2016 bull 45

St Peter Craft amp Vendor Show

1MelinadaBussefromRapidansoldherhandmadejewelryatthecraftandvendorshow

2DarylfromElysianandhishand-carvedwoodart

3MacKennaage7hasfunatoneoftheboothsattheStPeterCraftandVendorShow

4LizEntershowsoffsomeofherproductsattheldquoItWorksrdquobooth

5DenisePetersofldquoYoungLivingrdquoessentialoilsdisplayedherproductsattheshow

Faces amp Places Photos By Sport Pix

3

5

2

1

4

T - F 8am - 6pm Sun ClosedSat 9am - 4pmM 8am - 8pm

120 North Broad Street Mankato MN 507-345-4688 wwwmeyerandsonstvandappliancecom

FIND SPECIAL DEALS ON

MM p02 0116indd 45 12222015 121536 PM

46 bull January 2016 bull MANKATO MAGAZINE

SOUTHErN MN CHrISTMAS

FESTIVAL1 A large crowd was on hand during the festivities at

the Christmas Festival2 Friesenrsquos Family Bakery amp Bistro had tons of baked

goods and soups at the Verizon Wireless Center3 A childrenrsquos choir sang for the audience at the

festival4 Ron Haefner owner of Ronrsquos Auto Repair displayed

some of his services5 Garrison Galatz dressed up as Santa for the

Christmas Festival

faCes amp PLaCes Photos By Sport Pix

4

3

1

2

5

MM p02 0116indd 46 12182015 30923 PM

MANKATO MAGAZINE  bull January 2016 bull 47

1GirlScouttroop34494waspresentedwithatrophybyKiwanisVicePresidentKyleMrozek

2SantaClausevenwentthroughtheparaderoute3(LtoR)BrooklynPomrankeAlaynaLyonsHunterPomrankeandLilyLyonsgetagroupphototakenwithSanta

4MarshaMartigtellsSantawhatshewantsforChristmas

5TheparadefloatswerealldeckedoutinChristmaslights

6Visitorswalkthepatharoundtheparktoviewthisyearrsquoslights

Kiwanis Holiday ligHtsFaces amp Places Photos By sport Pix

2

1

3

4 5

6

MM p02 0116indd 47 12222015 121616 PM

48 bull January 2016 bull MANKATO MAGAZINE

On the Occasion of a 50th Reunion

the Class of 1965

from this VaLLeYBy Pete Steiner

Peter Steiner is host of ldquoTalk of the Townrdquo weekdays at 105 pm on KTOE

I was honored to give the presentation for our 50th class reunion recently at West Highrsquos Homecoming celebration About 120 of our nearly 400-member class

showed up We Baby Boomers the children of the greatest generation had big classes in the late lsquo60rsquos that forced the building of East High Ours was a dramatic era and our class did some great things in the face of big challenges Here edited is some of what I said

I am so glad to be standing here today Therersquos an old saying

ldquoMay you live in INTErESTINg timeshelliprdquo The Class of rsquo65 certainly has Itrsquos seems like only yesterday right after lunch that we were at our desks waiting for the start of English class when our charismatic teacher Harry Fitterer strode in and said ldquoPrESIDENT KENNEDY HAS BEEN SHOT IN DALLASrdquo At first we didnrsquot believe him but it was true It was November 22 1963 We were juniors and as the song says that was THE END OF THE INNOCENCE We had lived through the last idyllic time in America

When we first arrived in the fall of 1962 America was still carefree basking in the glow of victory in WW II Everything may have seemed ldquorightrdquo but it was not Martin Luther King Jr had just visited Mankato pointing out the continuing plight of black Americans as the Civil rights movement was gaining steam The beginnings of the Vietnam War which would alter the course of many of our lives were stirring even as we studied history and government The current generation has no monopoly on forgettable pop music ndash we had a stupid 1 song called ldquoItsie Bitsie Teenie Weenie Yellow Polka Dot Bikinirdquo (unfortunately an ear worm I canrsquot forget) But a darker cultural threat was looming The BEATLES were invading from Britain and our parents were mortified because they had LONg HAIr

Some of the shock of the Kennedy assassination was eased when our wrestling team in the era when the state still had just ONE CLASS won the State Championship in front of a packed hall up at MSU some still maintain that is the greatest single athletic achievement in Mankato history We were the first high school in Mankato to put on a full-scale musical ldquoBye Bye Birdierdquo in the spring of 1964 In Fall of 1964 our football team would have won the conference championship outright except Owatonnarsquos great Noel Jenke who would go on to star for the U of M

cheated I watched him trap the touchdown pass that beat us Does cheating pay Was that a lesson for life

In lsquo65 we also had a fine basketball team that lost our chance at State when our 6-6 center fouled out at Luverne

BUT A FAr BIggEr CHALLENgE AWAITED US ALL As we rode out to Luverne to watch that game we couldnrsquot help noticing the highway was like a canyon between walls of snow The legendary St Patrickrsquos Day Blizzard had dumped two feet on top of an already large snow pack and then April brought rains on frozen ground Instead of coming here to school many of us soon got a real-life assignment to go out in our rain gear out on the dikes to battle the grEAT FLOOD OF 1965 Our school became an island as water flooded the parking lot and all of South riverfront Our spring play that year was called ironically

THE DESPErATE HOUrS We had to rehearse at roosevelt School up on higher ground

Our class produced three Merit scholars One of our classmates who did NOT qualify

for a merit scholarship nevertheless was such a whiz at physics that NASA requested a copy of a paper he wrote on rocketry as a senior We produced 12 doctors one of whom earned a fellowship at Stanford seeking how to bring telemedicine to the poor another of whom became a breakthrough cancer doctor We had entrepreneurs one who would go on to be a leader in Solar Energy (and then run for governor of New Hampshire) Another mdash a woman incidentally when

that was not common founded two bio-tech startups Many of us are still working

past normal retirement age One founded a company on the leading edge of recycling

computers whose clients include the NSA Another is chief medical officer of a company

devising a better tool for colonoscopies Yet another of our classmates recently completed a concert tour of China

We lived in challenging times just as you do today but we muddle through we make it to the other shore I remember sitting where you are 50 years ago thinking how old those folks up there looked But remember Life goes by very quickly You certainly live in interesting times as Shakespeare said ldquoPresent Mirth has Present Laughter Youthrsquos a stuff will NOT endurerdquo So I urge you live each moment to the fullest

MM p02 0116indd 48 12182015 30933 PM

MM p02 0116indd 49 12182015 30936 PM

MM p02 0116indd 50 12182015 30948 PM

Page 45: Mankatomag 116

MANKATO MAGAZINE  bull January 2016 bull 43

Bathrooms Worth Bragging About

HoursTue amp Wed amp Fri | 9 am to 6 pmMon amp Thu | 9 am to 7 pmSaturday | 9 am to 4 pm

219 S Victory Dr | Mankato507 | 345 | 7009ipafhickorytechnetindependentpaintandflooringcom

You Deserve Comfortable Care Every Timebull Sedation - Complete Relaxation with Just a Pillbull Invisalign - Clear Alternative to Bracesbull Botox amp Fillersbull Implants - Placement and Restorationbull Cerec - One Visit Crown Technology

bull Free Whitening Programbull 3D Imaging with Fewer X-Raysbull Cosmetic Dentistrybull Drill-Free Technologybull Emergency Care

1400 Lookout Drive North Mankato507-625-CARE(2273) bull mankatodentistcom 06

1865

6124

01

Dr AngelA Schuck

Dr keith FlAck

(944) 412-7949 | OrthoEdgeMNcom

Enjoy the season

Mankato St Peter

Be active Be healthyBe able with OrthoEdge

The OrthoEdge joint replacement

program offers superb care from your first

visit through recovery The surgeons from

the Orthopaedic amp Fracture Clinic and

the care team at Riverrsquos Edge Hospital

provide personal and professional care to

get you back to able

Why Riverrsquos Edge Hospital amp Clinic

bull Riverrsquos Edge Hospital amp Clinic has a long-

standing relationship with the Orthopaedic

amp Fracture Clinic

bull There are 14 private suites that feature a

private bathroom and shower

bull Restaurant-style menu

bull Low patient to nurse ratio

bull Hospitalist on staff to provide patient

centered care 24 hours a day

bull Free WiFi for patients and guests

bull Individualized care

bull On-site Physical and Occupational Therapy

MM p02 0116indd 43 12182015 30842 PM

44 bull January 2016 bull MANKATO MAGAZINE

1 Hicktown Mafia800 pm mdash New Ulm Event Center mdash 301 20th St S mdash New Ulm mdash $10 mdash 507-354-4673

7-9 Mankato West Orchesis Dance Team showcase7 pm Thursday-Saturday 2 pm Saturday mdash Mankato West High School Auditorium mdash $7 adults $5 students mdash 507-381-7578

10 Mankato Symphony Orchestra Music on the Hill II ldquoMinnesota rootsrdquo2 pm mdash Chapel at Good Counselmdash Good Counsel Drive mdash Mankato mdash $17 $12 mdash wwwmankatosymphonycom

16 Handel with Caremdash Handel Goes to Italy11 ammdash YMCA Aerobics Studio mdash 1401 S Riverfront Drive mdash Mankato mdash wwwmankatosymphonycom

16 Mankato Craft beer Expo2 pm (VIP) 3 pm general mdash Verizon Wireless Center mdash $45 VIP $35 general $10 designated driver mdash wwwmankatocraftbeerexpocom

23 Joey Flip and Mike Fugazzi rockinrsquo at the Embassy9 pm mdash Blaschkorsquos Embassy Bar and Grill mdash 325 S Minnesota Ave mdash St Peter mdash 507-934-3903

24 andrea Lyn and Dick Kimmel concert730 pm mdash Elias J Halling Recital Hall mdash Minnesota State University mdash Mankato mdash $12 regular $11 current MSU students mdash wwwmnusedumusic

28-31 MSu Theatre antigone730 pm Thursday-Saturday 2 pm Sunday mdash Andreas Theatre mdash Minnesota State University mdash Mankato mdash $16 regular $14 discount $11 current MSU students mdash wwwmnsuedu

29-31 BLC Theatre Brigadoon730 Friday and Saturday 2 pm Sunday mdash Ylvisaker Fine Arts Center mdash Bethany Lutheran College mdash Mankato mdash $10 adults $6 seniors children and students mdash wwwblceduevents

29- Feb 7 Winterfest St Peter Citywide mdash wwwstpeterchamberorg

30 Church of Cash a Tribute to Johnny Cash7 pm mdash St Peter American Legion mdash 229 W Nassau St mdash St Peter mdash 507-934-6435

31 Maud Hixson and rick Carlson concert730 pmmdash Elias J Halling Recital Hall mdash Minnesota State University mdash Mankato mdash $12 regular $11 current MSU students wwmnsuedumusic

Coming attraCtions January

T - F 8am - 6pm Sun ClosedSat 9am - 4pmM 8am - 8pm

120 North Broad Street Mankato MN 507-345-4688 wwwmeyerandsonstvandappliancecom

FIND SPECIAL DEALS ON

MM p02 0116indd 44 12182015 30902 PM

MANKATO MAGAZINE  bull January 2016 bull 45

St Peter Craft amp Vendor Show

1MelinadaBussefromRapidansoldherhandmadejewelryatthecraftandvendorshow

2DarylfromElysianandhishand-carvedwoodart

3MacKennaage7hasfunatoneoftheboothsattheStPeterCraftandVendorShow

4LizEntershowsoffsomeofherproductsattheldquoItWorksrdquobooth

5DenisePetersofldquoYoungLivingrdquoessentialoilsdisplayedherproductsattheshow

Faces amp Places Photos By Sport Pix

3

5

2

1

4

T - F 8am - 6pm Sun ClosedSat 9am - 4pmM 8am - 8pm

120 North Broad Street Mankato MN 507-345-4688 wwwmeyerandsonstvandappliancecom

FIND SPECIAL DEALS ON

MM p02 0116indd 45 12222015 121536 PM

46 bull January 2016 bull MANKATO MAGAZINE

SOUTHErN MN CHrISTMAS

FESTIVAL1 A large crowd was on hand during the festivities at

the Christmas Festival2 Friesenrsquos Family Bakery amp Bistro had tons of baked

goods and soups at the Verizon Wireless Center3 A childrenrsquos choir sang for the audience at the

festival4 Ron Haefner owner of Ronrsquos Auto Repair displayed

some of his services5 Garrison Galatz dressed up as Santa for the

Christmas Festival

faCes amp PLaCes Photos By Sport Pix

4

3

1

2

5

MM p02 0116indd 46 12182015 30923 PM

MANKATO MAGAZINE  bull January 2016 bull 47

1GirlScouttroop34494waspresentedwithatrophybyKiwanisVicePresidentKyleMrozek

2SantaClausevenwentthroughtheparaderoute3(LtoR)BrooklynPomrankeAlaynaLyonsHunterPomrankeandLilyLyonsgetagroupphototakenwithSanta

4MarshaMartigtellsSantawhatshewantsforChristmas

5TheparadefloatswerealldeckedoutinChristmaslights

6Visitorswalkthepatharoundtheparktoviewthisyearrsquoslights

Kiwanis Holiday ligHtsFaces amp Places Photos By sport Pix

2

1

3

4 5

6

MM p02 0116indd 47 12222015 121616 PM

48 bull January 2016 bull MANKATO MAGAZINE

On the Occasion of a 50th Reunion

the Class of 1965

from this VaLLeYBy Pete Steiner

Peter Steiner is host of ldquoTalk of the Townrdquo weekdays at 105 pm on KTOE

I was honored to give the presentation for our 50th class reunion recently at West Highrsquos Homecoming celebration About 120 of our nearly 400-member class

showed up We Baby Boomers the children of the greatest generation had big classes in the late lsquo60rsquos that forced the building of East High Ours was a dramatic era and our class did some great things in the face of big challenges Here edited is some of what I said

I am so glad to be standing here today Therersquos an old saying

ldquoMay you live in INTErESTINg timeshelliprdquo The Class of rsquo65 certainly has Itrsquos seems like only yesterday right after lunch that we were at our desks waiting for the start of English class when our charismatic teacher Harry Fitterer strode in and said ldquoPrESIDENT KENNEDY HAS BEEN SHOT IN DALLASrdquo At first we didnrsquot believe him but it was true It was November 22 1963 We were juniors and as the song says that was THE END OF THE INNOCENCE We had lived through the last idyllic time in America

When we first arrived in the fall of 1962 America was still carefree basking in the glow of victory in WW II Everything may have seemed ldquorightrdquo but it was not Martin Luther King Jr had just visited Mankato pointing out the continuing plight of black Americans as the Civil rights movement was gaining steam The beginnings of the Vietnam War which would alter the course of many of our lives were stirring even as we studied history and government The current generation has no monopoly on forgettable pop music ndash we had a stupid 1 song called ldquoItsie Bitsie Teenie Weenie Yellow Polka Dot Bikinirdquo (unfortunately an ear worm I canrsquot forget) But a darker cultural threat was looming The BEATLES were invading from Britain and our parents were mortified because they had LONg HAIr

Some of the shock of the Kennedy assassination was eased when our wrestling team in the era when the state still had just ONE CLASS won the State Championship in front of a packed hall up at MSU some still maintain that is the greatest single athletic achievement in Mankato history We were the first high school in Mankato to put on a full-scale musical ldquoBye Bye Birdierdquo in the spring of 1964 In Fall of 1964 our football team would have won the conference championship outright except Owatonnarsquos great Noel Jenke who would go on to star for the U of M

cheated I watched him trap the touchdown pass that beat us Does cheating pay Was that a lesson for life

In lsquo65 we also had a fine basketball team that lost our chance at State when our 6-6 center fouled out at Luverne

BUT A FAr BIggEr CHALLENgE AWAITED US ALL As we rode out to Luverne to watch that game we couldnrsquot help noticing the highway was like a canyon between walls of snow The legendary St Patrickrsquos Day Blizzard had dumped two feet on top of an already large snow pack and then April brought rains on frozen ground Instead of coming here to school many of us soon got a real-life assignment to go out in our rain gear out on the dikes to battle the grEAT FLOOD OF 1965 Our school became an island as water flooded the parking lot and all of South riverfront Our spring play that year was called ironically

THE DESPErATE HOUrS We had to rehearse at roosevelt School up on higher ground

Our class produced three Merit scholars One of our classmates who did NOT qualify

for a merit scholarship nevertheless was such a whiz at physics that NASA requested a copy of a paper he wrote on rocketry as a senior We produced 12 doctors one of whom earned a fellowship at Stanford seeking how to bring telemedicine to the poor another of whom became a breakthrough cancer doctor We had entrepreneurs one who would go on to be a leader in Solar Energy (and then run for governor of New Hampshire) Another mdash a woman incidentally when

that was not common founded two bio-tech startups Many of us are still working

past normal retirement age One founded a company on the leading edge of recycling

computers whose clients include the NSA Another is chief medical officer of a company

devising a better tool for colonoscopies Yet another of our classmates recently completed a concert tour of China

We lived in challenging times just as you do today but we muddle through we make it to the other shore I remember sitting where you are 50 years ago thinking how old those folks up there looked But remember Life goes by very quickly You certainly live in interesting times as Shakespeare said ldquoPresent Mirth has Present Laughter Youthrsquos a stuff will NOT endurerdquo So I urge you live each moment to the fullest

MM p02 0116indd 48 12182015 30933 PM

MM p02 0116indd 49 12182015 30936 PM

MM p02 0116indd 50 12182015 30948 PM

Page 46: Mankatomag 116

44 bull January 2016 bull MANKATO MAGAZINE

1 Hicktown Mafia800 pm mdash New Ulm Event Center mdash 301 20th St S mdash New Ulm mdash $10 mdash 507-354-4673

7-9 Mankato West Orchesis Dance Team showcase7 pm Thursday-Saturday 2 pm Saturday mdash Mankato West High School Auditorium mdash $7 adults $5 students mdash 507-381-7578

10 Mankato Symphony Orchestra Music on the Hill II ldquoMinnesota rootsrdquo2 pm mdash Chapel at Good Counselmdash Good Counsel Drive mdash Mankato mdash $17 $12 mdash wwwmankatosymphonycom

16 Handel with Caremdash Handel Goes to Italy11 ammdash YMCA Aerobics Studio mdash 1401 S Riverfront Drive mdash Mankato mdash wwwmankatosymphonycom

16 Mankato Craft beer Expo2 pm (VIP) 3 pm general mdash Verizon Wireless Center mdash $45 VIP $35 general $10 designated driver mdash wwwmankatocraftbeerexpocom

23 Joey Flip and Mike Fugazzi rockinrsquo at the Embassy9 pm mdash Blaschkorsquos Embassy Bar and Grill mdash 325 S Minnesota Ave mdash St Peter mdash 507-934-3903

24 andrea Lyn and Dick Kimmel concert730 pm mdash Elias J Halling Recital Hall mdash Minnesota State University mdash Mankato mdash $12 regular $11 current MSU students mdash wwwmnusedumusic

28-31 MSu Theatre antigone730 pm Thursday-Saturday 2 pm Sunday mdash Andreas Theatre mdash Minnesota State University mdash Mankato mdash $16 regular $14 discount $11 current MSU students mdash wwwmnsuedu

29-31 BLC Theatre Brigadoon730 Friday and Saturday 2 pm Sunday mdash Ylvisaker Fine Arts Center mdash Bethany Lutheran College mdash Mankato mdash $10 adults $6 seniors children and students mdash wwwblceduevents

29- Feb 7 Winterfest St Peter Citywide mdash wwwstpeterchamberorg

30 Church of Cash a Tribute to Johnny Cash7 pm mdash St Peter American Legion mdash 229 W Nassau St mdash St Peter mdash 507-934-6435

31 Maud Hixson and rick Carlson concert730 pmmdash Elias J Halling Recital Hall mdash Minnesota State University mdash Mankato mdash $12 regular $11 current MSU students wwmnsuedumusic

Coming attraCtions January

T - F 8am - 6pm Sun ClosedSat 9am - 4pmM 8am - 8pm

120 North Broad Street Mankato MN 507-345-4688 wwwmeyerandsonstvandappliancecom

FIND SPECIAL DEALS ON

MM p02 0116indd 44 12182015 30902 PM

MANKATO MAGAZINE  bull January 2016 bull 45

St Peter Craft amp Vendor Show

1MelinadaBussefromRapidansoldherhandmadejewelryatthecraftandvendorshow

2DarylfromElysianandhishand-carvedwoodart

3MacKennaage7hasfunatoneoftheboothsattheStPeterCraftandVendorShow

4LizEntershowsoffsomeofherproductsattheldquoItWorksrdquobooth

5DenisePetersofldquoYoungLivingrdquoessentialoilsdisplayedherproductsattheshow

Faces amp Places Photos By Sport Pix

3

5

2

1

4

T - F 8am - 6pm Sun ClosedSat 9am - 4pmM 8am - 8pm

120 North Broad Street Mankato MN 507-345-4688 wwwmeyerandsonstvandappliancecom

FIND SPECIAL DEALS ON

MM p02 0116indd 45 12222015 121536 PM

46 bull January 2016 bull MANKATO MAGAZINE

SOUTHErN MN CHrISTMAS

FESTIVAL1 A large crowd was on hand during the festivities at

the Christmas Festival2 Friesenrsquos Family Bakery amp Bistro had tons of baked

goods and soups at the Verizon Wireless Center3 A childrenrsquos choir sang for the audience at the

festival4 Ron Haefner owner of Ronrsquos Auto Repair displayed

some of his services5 Garrison Galatz dressed up as Santa for the

Christmas Festival

faCes amp PLaCes Photos By Sport Pix

4

3

1

2

5

MM p02 0116indd 46 12182015 30923 PM

MANKATO MAGAZINE  bull January 2016 bull 47

1GirlScouttroop34494waspresentedwithatrophybyKiwanisVicePresidentKyleMrozek

2SantaClausevenwentthroughtheparaderoute3(LtoR)BrooklynPomrankeAlaynaLyonsHunterPomrankeandLilyLyonsgetagroupphototakenwithSanta

4MarshaMartigtellsSantawhatshewantsforChristmas

5TheparadefloatswerealldeckedoutinChristmaslights

6Visitorswalkthepatharoundtheparktoviewthisyearrsquoslights

Kiwanis Holiday ligHtsFaces amp Places Photos By sport Pix

2

1

3

4 5

6

MM p02 0116indd 47 12222015 121616 PM

48 bull January 2016 bull MANKATO MAGAZINE

On the Occasion of a 50th Reunion

the Class of 1965

from this VaLLeYBy Pete Steiner

Peter Steiner is host of ldquoTalk of the Townrdquo weekdays at 105 pm on KTOE

I was honored to give the presentation for our 50th class reunion recently at West Highrsquos Homecoming celebration About 120 of our nearly 400-member class

showed up We Baby Boomers the children of the greatest generation had big classes in the late lsquo60rsquos that forced the building of East High Ours was a dramatic era and our class did some great things in the face of big challenges Here edited is some of what I said

I am so glad to be standing here today Therersquos an old saying

ldquoMay you live in INTErESTINg timeshelliprdquo The Class of rsquo65 certainly has Itrsquos seems like only yesterday right after lunch that we were at our desks waiting for the start of English class when our charismatic teacher Harry Fitterer strode in and said ldquoPrESIDENT KENNEDY HAS BEEN SHOT IN DALLASrdquo At first we didnrsquot believe him but it was true It was November 22 1963 We were juniors and as the song says that was THE END OF THE INNOCENCE We had lived through the last idyllic time in America

When we first arrived in the fall of 1962 America was still carefree basking in the glow of victory in WW II Everything may have seemed ldquorightrdquo but it was not Martin Luther King Jr had just visited Mankato pointing out the continuing plight of black Americans as the Civil rights movement was gaining steam The beginnings of the Vietnam War which would alter the course of many of our lives were stirring even as we studied history and government The current generation has no monopoly on forgettable pop music ndash we had a stupid 1 song called ldquoItsie Bitsie Teenie Weenie Yellow Polka Dot Bikinirdquo (unfortunately an ear worm I canrsquot forget) But a darker cultural threat was looming The BEATLES were invading from Britain and our parents were mortified because they had LONg HAIr

Some of the shock of the Kennedy assassination was eased when our wrestling team in the era when the state still had just ONE CLASS won the State Championship in front of a packed hall up at MSU some still maintain that is the greatest single athletic achievement in Mankato history We were the first high school in Mankato to put on a full-scale musical ldquoBye Bye Birdierdquo in the spring of 1964 In Fall of 1964 our football team would have won the conference championship outright except Owatonnarsquos great Noel Jenke who would go on to star for the U of M

cheated I watched him trap the touchdown pass that beat us Does cheating pay Was that a lesson for life

In lsquo65 we also had a fine basketball team that lost our chance at State when our 6-6 center fouled out at Luverne

BUT A FAr BIggEr CHALLENgE AWAITED US ALL As we rode out to Luverne to watch that game we couldnrsquot help noticing the highway was like a canyon between walls of snow The legendary St Patrickrsquos Day Blizzard had dumped two feet on top of an already large snow pack and then April brought rains on frozen ground Instead of coming here to school many of us soon got a real-life assignment to go out in our rain gear out on the dikes to battle the grEAT FLOOD OF 1965 Our school became an island as water flooded the parking lot and all of South riverfront Our spring play that year was called ironically

THE DESPErATE HOUrS We had to rehearse at roosevelt School up on higher ground

Our class produced three Merit scholars One of our classmates who did NOT qualify

for a merit scholarship nevertheless was such a whiz at physics that NASA requested a copy of a paper he wrote on rocketry as a senior We produced 12 doctors one of whom earned a fellowship at Stanford seeking how to bring telemedicine to the poor another of whom became a breakthrough cancer doctor We had entrepreneurs one who would go on to be a leader in Solar Energy (and then run for governor of New Hampshire) Another mdash a woman incidentally when

that was not common founded two bio-tech startups Many of us are still working

past normal retirement age One founded a company on the leading edge of recycling

computers whose clients include the NSA Another is chief medical officer of a company

devising a better tool for colonoscopies Yet another of our classmates recently completed a concert tour of China

We lived in challenging times just as you do today but we muddle through we make it to the other shore I remember sitting where you are 50 years ago thinking how old those folks up there looked But remember Life goes by very quickly You certainly live in interesting times as Shakespeare said ldquoPresent Mirth has Present Laughter Youthrsquos a stuff will NOT endurerdquo So I urge you live each moment to the fullest

MM p02 0116indd 48 12182015 30933 PM

MM p02 0116indd 49 12182015 30936 PM

MM p02 0116indd 50 12182015 30948 PM

Page 47: Mankatomag 116

MANKATO MAGAZINE  bull January 2016 bull 45

St Peter Craft amp Vendor Show

1MelinadaBussefromRapidansoldherhandmadejewelryatthecraftandvendorshow

2DarylfromElysianandhishand-carvedwoodart

3MacKennaage7hasfunatoneoftheboothsattheStPeterCraftandVendorShow

4LizEntershowsoffsomeofherproductsattheldquoItWorksrdquobooth

5DenisePetersofldquoYoungLivingrdquoessentialoilsdisplayedherproductsattheshow

Faces amp Places Photos By Sport Pix

3

5

2

1

4

T - F 8am - 6pm Sun ClosedSat 9am - 4pmM 8am - 8pm

120 North Broad Street Mankato MN 507-345-4688 wwwmeyerandsonstvandappliancecom

FIND SPECIAL DEALS ON

MM p02 0116indd 45 12222015 121536 PM

46 bull January 2016 bull MANKATO MAGAZINE

SOUTHErN MN CHrISTMAS

FESTIVAL1 A large crowd was on hand during the festivities at

the Christmas Festival2 Friesenrsquos Family Bakery amp Bistro had tons of baked

goods and soups at the Verizon Wireless Center3 A childrenrsquos choir sang for the audience at the

festival4 Ron Haefner owner of Ronrsquos Auto Repair displayed

some of his services5 Garrison Galatz dressed up as Santa for the

Christmas Festival

faCes amp PLaCes Photos By Sport Pix

4

3

1

2

5

MM p02 0116indd 46 12182015 30923 PM

MANKATO MAGAZINE  bull January 2016 bull 47

1GirlScouttroop34494waspresentedwithatrophybyKiwanisVicePresidentKyleMrozek

2SantaClausevenwentthroughtheparaderoute3(LtoR)BrooklynPomrankeAlaynaLyonsHunterPomrankeandLilyLyonsgetagroupphototakenwithSanta

4MarshaMartigtellsSantawhatshewantsforChristmas

5TheparadefloatswerealldeckedoutinChristmaslights

6Visitorswalkthepatharoundtheparktoviewthisyearrsquoslights

Kiwanis Holiday ligHtsFaces amp Places Photos By sport Pix

2

1

3

4 5

6

MM p02 0116indd 47 12222015 121616 PM

48 bull January 2016 bull MANKATO MAGAZINE

On the Occasion of a 50th Reunion

the Class of 1965

from this VaLLeYBy Pete Steiner

Peter Steiner is host of ldquoTalk of the Townrdquo weekdays at 105 pm on KTOE

I was honored to give the presentation for our 50th class reunion recently at West Highrsquos Homecoming celebration About 120 of our nearly 400-member class

showed up We Baby Boomers the children of the greatest generation had big classes in the late lsquo60rsquos that forced the building of East High Ours was a dramatic era and our class did some great things in the face of big challenges Here edited is some of what I said

I am so glad to be standing here today Therersquos an old saying

ldquoMay you live in INTErESTINg timeshelliprdquo The Class of rsquo65 certainly has Itrsquos seems like only yesterday right after lunch that we were at our desks waiting for the start of English class when our charismatic teacher Harry Fitterer strode in and said ldquoPrESIDENT KENNEDY HAS BEEN SHOT IN DALLASrdquo At first we didnrsquot believe him but it was true It was November 22 1963 We were juniors and as the song says that was THE END OF THE INNOCENCE We had lived through the last idyllic time in America

When we first arrived in the fall of 1962 America was still carefree basking in the glow of victory in WW II Everything may have seemed ldquorightrdquo but it was not Martin Luther King Jr had just visited Mankato pointing out the continuing plight of black Americans as the Civil rights movement was gaining steam The beginnings of the Vietnam War which would alter the course of many of our lives were stirring even as we studied history and government The current generation has no monopoly on forgettable pop music ndash we had a stupid 1 song called ldquoItsie Bitsie Teenie Weenie Yellow Polka Dot Bikinirdquo (unfortunately an ear worm I canrsquot forget) But a darker cultural threat was looming The BEATLES were invading from Britain and our parents were mortified because they had LONg HAIr

Some of the shock of the Kennedy assassination was eased when our wrestling team in the era when the state still had just ONE CLASS won the State Championship in front of a packed hall up at MSU some still maintain that is the greatest single athletic achievement in Mankato history We were the first high school in Mankato to put on a full-scale musical ldquoBye Bye Birdierdquo in the spring of 1964 In Fall of 1964 our football team would have won the conference championship outright except Owatonnarsquos great Noel Jenke who would go on to star for the U of M

cheated I watched him trap the touchdown pass that beat us Does cheating pay Was that a lesson for life

In lsquo65 we also had a fine basketball team that lost our chance at State when our 6-6 center fouled out at Luverne

BUT A FAr BIggEr CHALLENgE AWAITED US ALL As we rode out to Luverne to watch that game we couldnrsquot help noticing the highway was like a canyon between walls of snow The legendary St Patrickrsquos Day Blizzard had dumped two feet on top of an already large snow pack and then April brought rains on frozen ground Instead of coming here to school many of us soon got a real-life assignment to go out in our rain gear out on the dikes to battle the grEAT FLOOD OF 1965 Our school became an island as water flooded the parking lot and all of South riverfront Our spring play that year was called ironically

THE DESPErATE HOUrS We had to rehearse at roosevelt School up on higher ground

Our class produced three Merit scholars One of our classmates who did NOT qualify

for a merit scholarship nevertheless was such a whiz at physics that NASA requested a copy of a paper he wrote on rocketry as a senior We produced 12 doctors one of whom earned a fellowship at Stanford seeking how to bring telemedicine to the poor another of whom became a breakthrough cancer doctor We had entrepreneurs one who would go on to be a leader in Solar Energy (and then run for governor of New Hampshire) Another mdash a woman incidentally when

that was not common founded two bio-tech startups Many of us are still working

past normal retirement age One founded a company on the leading edge of recycling

computers whose clients include the NSA Another is chief medical officer of a company

devising a better tool for colonoscopies Yet another of our classmates recently completed a concert tour of China

We lived in challenging times just as you do today but we muddle through we make it to the other shore I remember sitting where you are 50 years ago thinking how old those folks up there looked But remember Life goes by very quickly You certainly live in interesting times as Shakespeare said ldquoPresent Mirth has Present Laughter Youthrsquos a stuff will NOT endurerdquo So I urge you live each moment to the fullest

MM p02 0116indd 48 12182015 30933 PM

MM p02 0116indd 49 12182015 30936 PM

MM p02 0116indd 50 12182015 30948 PM

Page 48: Mankatomag 116

46 bull January 2016 bull MANKATO MAGAZINE

SOUTHErN MN CHrISTMAS

FESTIVAL1 A large crowd was on hand during the festivities at

the Christmas Festival2 Friesenrsquos Family Bakery amp Bistro had tons of baked

goods and soups at the Verizon Wireless Center3 A childrenrsquos choir sang for the audience at the

festival4 Ron Haefner owner of Ronrsquos Auto Repair displayed

some of his services5 Garrison Galatz dressed up as Santa for the

Christmas Festival

faCes amp PLaCes Photos By Sport Pix

4

3

1

2

5

MM p02 0116indd 46 12182015 30923 PM

MANKATO MAGAZINE  bull January 2016 bull 47

1GirlScouttroop34494waspresentedwithatrophybyKiwanisVicePresidentKyleMrozek

2SantaClausevenwentthroughtheparaderoute3(LtoR)BrooklynPomrankeAlaynaLyonsHunterPomrankeandLilyLyonsgetagroupphototakenwithSanta

4MarshaMartigtellsSantawhatshewantsforChristmas

5TheparadefloatswerealldeckedoutinChristmaslights

6Visitorswalkthepatharoundtheparktoviewthisyearrsquoslights

Kiwanis Holiday ligHtsFaces amp Places Photos By sport Pix

2

1

3

4 5

6

MM p02 0116indd 47 12222015 121616 PM

48 bull January 2016 bull MANKATO MAGAZINE

On the Occasion of a 50th Reunion

the Class of 1965

from this VaLLeYBy Pete Steiner

Peter Steiner is host of ldquoTalk of the Townrdquo weekdays at 105 pm on KTOE

I was honored to give the presentation for our 50th class reunion recently at West Highrsquos Homecoming celebration About 120 of our nearly 400-member class

showed up We Baby Boomers the children of the greatest generation had big classes in the late lsquo60rsquos that forced the building of East High Ours was a dramatic era and our class did some great things in the face of big challenges Here edited is some of what I said

I am so glad to be standing here today Therersquos an old saying

ldquoMay you live in INTErESTINg timeshelliprdquo The Class of rsquo65 certainly has Itrsquos seems like only yesterday right after lunch that we were at our desks waiting for the start of English class when our charismatic teacher Harry Fitterer strode in and said ldquoPrESIDENT KENNEDY HAS BEEN SHOT IN DALLASrdquo At first we didnrsquot believe him but it was true It was November 22 1963 We were juniors and as the song says that was THE END OF THE INNOCENCE We had lived through the last idyllic time in America

When we first arrived in the fall of 1962 America was still carefree basking in the glow of victory in WW II Everything may have seemed ldquorightrdquo but it was not Martin Luther King Jr had just visited Mankato pointing out the continuing plight of black Americans as the Civil rights movement was gaining steam The beginnings of the Vietnam War which would alter the course of many of our lives were stirring even as we studied history and government The current generation has no monopoly on forgettable pop music ndash we had a stupid 1 song called ldquoItsie Bitsie Teenie Weenie Yellow Polka Dot Bikinirdquo (unfortunately an ear worm I canrsquot forget) But a darker cultural threat was looming The BEATLES were invading from Britain and our parents were mortified because they had LONg HAIr

Some of the shock of the Kennedy assassination was eased when our wrestling team in the era when the state still had just ONE CLASS won the State Championship in front of a packed hall up at MSU some still maintain that is the greatest single athletic achievement in Mankato history We were the first high school in Mankato to put on a full-scale musical ldquoBye Bye Birdierdquo in the spring of 1964 In Fall of 1964 our football team would have won the conference championship outright except Owatonnarsquos great Noel Jenke who would go on to star for the U of M

cheated I watched him trap the touchdown pass that beat us Does cheating pay Was that a lesson for life

In lsquo65 we also had a fine basketball team that lost our chance at State when our 6-6 center fouled out at Luverne

BUT A FAr BIggEr CHALLENgE AWAITED US ALL As we rode out to Luverne to watch that game we couldnrsquot help noticing the highway was like a canyon between walls of snow The legendary St Patrickrsquos Day Blizzard had dumped two feet on top of an already large snow pack and then April brought rains on frozen ground Instead of coming here to school many of us soon got a real-life assignment to go out in our rain gear out on the dikes to battle the grEAT FLOOD OF 1965 Our school became an island as water flooded the parking lot and all of South riverfront Our spring play that year was called ironically

THE DESPErATE HOUrS We had to rehearse at roosevelt School up on higher ground

Our class produced three Merit scholars One of our classmates who did NOT qualify

for a merit scholarship nevertheless was such a whiz at physics that NASA requested a copy of a paper he wrote on rocketry as a senior We produced 12 doctors one of whom earned a fellowship at Stanford seeking how to bring telemedicine to the poor another of whom became a breakthrough cancer doctor We had entrepreneurs one who would go on to be a leader in Solar Energy (and then run for governor of New Hampshire) Another mdash a woman incidentally when

that was not common founded two bio-tech startups Many of us are still working

past normal retirement age One founded a company on the leading edge of recycling

computers whose clients include the NSA Another is chief medical officer of a company

devising a better tool for colonoscopies Yet another of our classmates recently completed a concert tour of China

We lived in challenging times just as you do today but we muddle through we make it to the other shore I remember sitting where you are 50 years ago thinking how old those folks up there looked But remember Life goes by very quickly You certainly live in interesting times as Shakespeare said ldquoPresent Mirth has Present Laughter Youthrsquos a stuff will NOT endurerdquo So I urge you live each moment to the fullest

MM p02 0116indd 48 12182015 30933 PM

MM p02 0116indd 49 12182015 30936 PM

MM p02 0116indd 50 12182015 30948 PM

Page 49: Mankatomag 116

MANKATO MAGAZINE  bull January 2016 bull 47

1GirlScouttroop34494waspresentedwithatrophybyKiwanisVicePresidentKyleMrozek

2SantaClausevenwentthroughtheparaderoute3(LtoR)BrooklynPomrankeAlaynaLyonsHunterPomrankeandLilyLyonsgetagroupphototakenwithSanta

4MarshaMartigtellsSantawhatshewantsforChristmas

5TheparadefloatswerealldeckedoutinChristmaslights

6Visitorswalkthepatharoundtheparktoviewthisyearrsquoslights

Kiwanis Holiday ligHtsFaces amp Places Photos By sport Pix

2

1

3

4 5

6

MM p02 0116indd 47 12222015 121616 PM

48 bull January 2016 bull MANKATO MAGAZINE

On the Occasion of a 50th Reunion

the Class of 1965

from this VaLLeYBy Pete Steiner

Peter Steiner is host of ldquoTalk of the Townrdquo weekdays at 105 pm on KTOE

I was honored to give the presentation for our 50th class reunion recently at West Highrsquos Homecoming celebration About 120 of our nearly 400-member class

showed up We Baby Boomers the children of the greatest generation had big classes in the late lsquo60rsquos that forced the building of East High Ours was a dramatic era and our class did some great things in the face of big challenges Here edited is some of what I said

I am so glad to be standing here today Therersquos an old saying

ldquoMay you live in INTErESTINg timeshelliprdquo The Class of rsquo65 certainly has Itrsquos seems like only yesterday right after lunch that we were at our desks waiting for the start of English class when our charismatic teacher Harry Fitterer strode in and said ldquoPrESIDENT KENNEDY HAS BEEN SHOT IN DALLASrdquo At first we didnrsquot believe him but it was true It was November 22 1963 We were juniors and as the song says that was THE END OF THE INNOCENCE We had lived through the last idyllic time in America

When we first arrived in the fall of 1962 America was still carefree basking in the glow of victory in WW II Everything may have seemed ldquorightrdquo but it was not Martin Luther King Jr had just visited Mankato pointing out the continuing plight of black Americans as the Civil rights movement was gaining steam The beginnings of the Vietnam War which would alter the course of many of our lives were stirring even as we studied history and government The current generation has no monopoly on forgettable pop music ndash we had a stupid 1 song called ldquoItsie Bitsie Teenie Weenie Yellow Polka Dot Bikinirdquo (unfortunately an ear worm I canrsquot forget) But a darker cultural threat was looming The BEATLES were invading from Britain and our parents were mortified because they had LONg HAIr

Some of the shock of the Kennedy assassination was eased when our wrestling team in the era when the state still had just ONE CLASS won the State Championship in front of a packed hall up at MSU some still maintain that is the greatest single athletic achievement in Mankato history We were the first high school in Mankato to put on a full-scale musical ldquoBye Bye Birdierdquo in the spring of 1964 In Fall of 1964 our football team would have won the conference championship outright except Owatonnarsquos great Noel Jenke who would go on to star for the U of M

cheated I watched him trap the touchdown pass that beat us Does cheating pay Was that a lesson for life

In lsquo65 we also had a fine basketball team that lost our chance at State when our 6-6 center fouled out at Luverne

BUT A FAr BIggEr CHALLENgE AWAITED US ALL As we rode out to Luverne to watch that game we couldnrsquot help noticing the highway was like a canyon between walls of snow The legendary St Patrickrsquos Day Blizzard had dumped two feet on top of an already large snow pack and then April brought rains on frozen ground Instead of coming here to school many of us soon got a real-life assignment to go out in our rain gear out on the dikes to battle the grEAT FLOOD OF 1965 Our school became an island as water flooded the parking lot and all of South riverfront Our spring play that year was called ironically

THE DESPErATE HOUrS We had to rehearse at roosevelt School up on higher ground

Our class produced three Merit scholars One of our classmates who did NOT qualify

for a merit scholarship nevertheless was such a whiz at physics that NASA requested a copy of a paper he wrote on rocketry as a senior We produced 12 doctors one of whom earned a fellowship at Stanford seeking how to bring telemedicine to the poor another of whom became a breakthrough cancer doctor We had entrepreneurs one who would go on to be a leader in Solar Energy (and then run for governor of New Hampshire) Another mdash a woman incidentally when

that was not common founded two bio-tech startups Many of us are still working

past normal retirement age One founded a company on the leading edge of recycling

computers whose clients include the NSA Another is chief medical officer of a company

devising a better tool for colonoscopies Yet another of our classmates recently completed a concert tour of China

We lived in challenging times just as you do today but we muddle through we make it to the other shore I remember sitting where you are 50 years ago thinking how old those folks up there looked But remember Life goes by very quickly You certainly live in interesting times as Shakespeare said ldquoPresent Mirth has Present Laughter Youthrsquos a stuff will NOT endurerdquo So I urge you live each moment to the fullest

MM p02 0116indd 48 12182015 30933 PM

MM p02 0116indd 49 12182015 30936 PM

MM p02 0116indd 50 12182015 30948 PM

Page 50: Mankatomag 116

48 bull January 2016 bull MANKATO MAGAZINE

On the Occasion of a 50th Reunion

the Class of 1965

from this VaLLeYBy Pete Steiner

Peter Steiner is host of ldquoTalk of the Townrdquo weekdays at 105 pm on KTOE

I was honored to give the presentation for our 50th class reunion recently at West Highrsquos Homecoming celebration About 120 of our nearly 400-member class

showed up We Baby Boomers the children of the greatest generation had big classes in the late lsquo60rsquos that forced the building of East High Ours was a dramatic era and our class did some great things in the face of big challenges Here edited is some of what I said

I am so glad to be standing here today Therersquos an old saying

ldquoMay you live in INTErESTINg timeshelliprdquo The Class of rsquo65 certainly has Itrsquos seems like only yesterday right after lunch that we were at our desks waiting for the start of English class when our charismatic teacher Harry Fitterer strode in and said ldquoPrESIDENT KENNEDY HAS BEEN SHOT IN DALLASrdquo At first we didnrsquot believe him but it was true It was November 22 1963 We were juniors and as the song says that was THE END OF THE INNOCENCE We had lived through the last idyllic time in America

When we first arrived in the fall of 1962 America was still carefree basking in the glow of victory in WW II Everything may have seemed ldquorightrdquo but it was not Martin Luther King Jr had just visited Mankato pointing out the continuing plight of black Americans as the Civil rights movement was gaining steam The beginnings of the Vietnam War which would alter the course of many of our lives were stirring even as we studied history and government The current generation has no monopoly on forgettable pop music ndash we had a stupid 1 song called ldquoItsie Bitsie Teenie Weenie Yellow Polka Dot Bikinirdquo (unfortunately an ear worm I canrsquot forget) But a darker cultural threat was looming The BEATLES were invading from Britain and our parents were mortified because they had LONg HAIr

Some of the shock of the Kennedy assassination was eased when our wrestling team in the era when the state still had just ONE CLASS won the State Championship in front of a packed hall up at MSU some still maintain that is the greatest single athletic achievement in Mankato history We were the first high school in Mankato to put on a full-scale musical ldquoBye Bye Birdierdquo in the spring of 1964 In Fall of 1964 our football team would have won the conference championship outright except Owatonnarsquos great Noel Jenke who would go on to star for the U of M

cheated I watched him trap the touchdown pass that beat us Does cheating pay Was that a lesson for life

In lsquo65 we also had a fine basketball team that lost our chance at State when our 6-6 center fouled out at Luverne

BUT A FAr BIggEr CHALLENgE AWAITED US ALL As we rode out to Luverne to watch that game we couldnrsquot help noticing the highway was like a canyon between walls of snow The legendary St Patrickrsquos Day Blizzard had dumped two feet on top of an already large snow pack and then April brought rains on frozen ground Instead of coming here to school many of us soon got a real-life assignment to go out in our rain gear out on the dikes to battle the grEAT FLOOD OF 1965 Our school became an island as water flooded the parking lot and all of South riverfront Our spring play that year was called ironically

THE DESPErATE HOUrS We had to rehearse at roosevelt School up on higher ground

Our class produced three Merit scholars One of our classmates who did NOT qualify

for a merit scholarship nevertheless was such a whiz at physics that NASA requested a copy of a paper he wrote on rocketry as a senior We produced 12 doctors one of whom earned a fellowship at Stanford seeking how to bring telemedicine to the poor another of whom became a breakthrough cancer doctor We had entrepreneurs one who would go on to be a leader in Solar Energy (and then run for governor of New Hampshire) Another mdash a woman incidentally when

that was not common founded two bio-tech startups Many of us are still working

past normal retirement age One founded a company on the leading edge of recycling

computers whose clients include the NSA Another is chief medical officer of a company

devising a better tool for colonoscopies Yet another of our classmates recently completed a concert tour of China

We lived in challenging times just as you do today but we muddle through we make it to the other shore I remember sitting where you are 50 years ago thinking how old those folks up there looked But remember Life goes by very quickly You certainly live in interesting times as Shakespeare said ldquoPresent Mirth has Present Laughter Youthrsquos a stuff will NOT endurerdquo So I urge you live each moment to the fullest

MM p02 0116indd 48 12182015 30933 PM

MM p02 0116indd 49 12182015 30936 PM

MM p02 0116indd 50 12182015 30948 PM

Page 51: Mankatomag 116

MM p02 0116indd 49 12182015 30936 PM

MM p02 0116indd 50 12182015 30948 PM

Page 52: Mankatomag 116

MM p02 0116indd 50 12182015 30948 PM