CULTURAL DIVERSITY — Children and adults from several countries were part of the Songs of Hope musical group that entertained on the New Richland Care Center lawn July 23rd. (Star Eagle photos by Carol Jolly)

Group representing several countries entertains at NRCC

By CAROL JOLLY

Staff Writer

"The future started yesterday and we're already late," sang 50 talented performers — from 17 different countries and five continents — who provided an opportunity to open eyes in the world, by sharing cultures through a non-stereotypical event.

On Saturday afternoon, July 23rd, Songs of Hope artists performed outside on the New Richland Care Center lawn. Songs of Hope is a six-week, overnight performing arts summer camp in Saint Paul, Minnesota, for kids age 10 and older from around the world.

The Songs of Hope camp offers participants a unique opportunity to live in a community with kids from other cultures, while learning, and performing music from many different countries. Each summer, up to 75 children and adults venture to Minnesota from Europe, Asia, Africa, Latin America, the Middle East, and the U.S. They arrive as strangers, but soon find themselves embraced in a close, supportive community as they learn popular songs and dances from each other's cultures.

RIDING FOR A CAUSE — The parents of the late Matt Felt and Dillon Gordon, from left, Doug Felt, Sandy Felt, Diane Gordon, Terry Gordon. (Star Eagle photo by Kathy Paulsen)

By KATHY PAULSEN

Staff Writer

It took many hands and many hearts to put together the 2011 Matt Felt Dillon Gordon Memorial Bike Run.

The first run was held in 2006, when a group of Matt Felt's friends started a motorcycle ride to show support and raise money to help in the fight against Leukemia, which Felt was battling. He attended the first run, and ever since, has been in the hearts and minds of many.

Felt was born on January 14, 1981, and died on the 23rd of March in 2007, at 26. In the fall of 2009, Dillon Gordon, one of the founders of the Matt Felt Run, also died, following a motorcycle accident. Gordon was born on November 9, 1980, and died on the 17th of September. He was 28. His family donated his organs to help others live.

Though these two men died, they live on with a cause — like this motorcycle run, which raises money for many beneficial projects to help others.

Event board members include Richard Grunwald, Alison Grunwald, Chris Williams, Lance Engebretson and Kim Hammer.

Hartland City Council

By JODY WYNNEMER

Staff Writer

The Hartland City Council met the day after our country’s birthday with Mayor Routh and council member Laura Chicos absent. The evening’s agenda and June meeting minutes were both approved.

City fire chief Brandon Flatness reported the department responded to two calls. The ambulance has been repaired and is ready to be put up for bid. City Clerk Krueger informed the council that there have been complaints about the old fire truck sitting outside for such a long period of time. Flatness stated they can not move it without towing it. The department plans to list the ambulance and old fire truck for sale now that the ambulance is repaired.

By JODY WYNNEMER

Staff Writer

Lack of offense plagued the New Richland Reds during their regular season. The playoffs were more of the same as the home team failed to score a single run in back-to-back 1-0 losses.

Cleveland Condors 1, Reds 0

It took 13 innings to decide the first playoff contest on Saturday, July 23. Mitch Akemann held the Cleveland Condors scoreless for nine and two-thirds innings, but couldn’t get any run support. Vinnie VanEnglenburg led the offense with two singles. Chris Somage and Jake Staloch had one hit each. 

Waterville Indians 1, Reds 0

The Indians opened the scoring with one run in the first inning and it proved to be enough as the Reds made an early exit from the 13-60 League playoffs.

Aaron Gilliland collected two hits, which included a double. Seth Seth Tukua doubled in the sixth. Bjorn Peterson led off with a single in the seventh, but the threat was terminated with three successive outs.

VanEnglenburg was masterful on the mound, going the distance while allowing only four hits and the single run.

“It was a very disappointing end to the season,” said Jason Churchill, Reds player-manager. “We struggled on offense in the regular season and couldn’t turn it around. We’re now looking forward to our 2012 season in hopes to improve the offense, and to continue playing the excellent defense as we did in the second half of this year.”

So many thoughts come to mind and all are dear to my heart.  Maybe that is why I keep thinking HEART - that little pump that keeps us going. If it stops, so do we. 

It is important to realize that more people leave this world because of their heart stopping, rather than the combination of catastrophic diseases like the many cancers and diabetes.  

Your heart is the heart of everything. Nothing in your body works harder or more continuous.  So why do we do things that make its job harder when it does so much for us?  Maybe because we think it will just keep ticking  - doing its job even if we don’t.

I won’t go into should or shouldn’ts. We’ve seen them all, but sometimes we slide over them “just because” we think we’ve seen them all, or believe that it won’t happen to us.

Troubles to the heart show up in strange ways. In my father’s case, the bum leg and implant was the key that opened the door of discovery. If not for this, he might have been an expected statistic long before.

A bump on the leg and cellulitis was the trigger that set off the alarm for Judy Sibilrud; she sent my mother for an appointment thinking that she needed a pace maker, which she did.  Mom says it saved her life because she “thought” the symptoms were from Dystonia. 

We are all given hints from time to time.  Some are lucky. Some are not. But, maybe those little hints are telling you: you need that physical from time to time.  In the mean time, all that good stuff we enjoy may not be good stuff.  Work hard but don’t forget to take time off to live a good life when you can.  It is always better to prepare and take care than try to correct and cure.

We’re only human. For some unknown reason we often put off something we’d like to do, want to do, ought to do, robbing ourselves and others of precious time. In other words, we procrastinate.  

We don’t mean to. We always mean to do it, but time rolls by and seemingly faster every day.  We get so busy we don’t take time for ourselves and others.

Quit smoking.  You know you should. “Some day.” No. Do it now.

Eat right. Get a physical. “Some day. No. Do it now.

Exercise. “Kind of busy. Some day.” No. Do it now.

Visit friends. “Some day.” - No.  Do it now.

Do something special, even if just a phone call.  Surprise them. -Say “it’s me calling - for no special reason, just because, I was thinking of you.”

You’re having a birthday.  The older we get, the more we need to celebrate.  Invite a friend.  Have a party.

Write a letter.  Take a vacation.  Say Hello!  Tell someone you love them, that you really care. Tell them how much you value the little things they’ve done for you. 

  Spur of the moment - that’s the best kind.  Something says - “Do It Now.” Do it!

Someone sent me a newspaper clipping they had saved for 60 years.  Do you know how much I cared?  Someone cared enough and it made me feel so good. 

I stopped by with a birthday cake for an elderly lady I didn’t really know. My extended family does though, and it made her day.  

Count the minutes in a lifetime and realize how valuable everyone is. Don’t waste time.  We’ve always associated love with the heart. 

Love your heart.  Be like a heart.  A heart pumps good things to every cell in your body.  We can all be hearts and spread good every second of each day.  

Little things to you may mean big things to others.  Love people.  Love life.  Take care of your heart. Take care of all it stands for.  Take care of your world. A kind heart is a terrible thing to waste.

Some of our Star Eagle readers have commented that they like to read about the local happenings and family events such as family and school reunions, birthday and anniversary celebrations, and birth and wedding announcements.

In order to read about these important things, we need our faithful readers to pass along the information to us, so we can then pass along the news to you.  If you have news to share, please contact me.

Also, if our NRHEG Star Eagle readers would like to share birthdays and anniversaries of your family and friends, or you know of some that should be deleted, or names have changed, please contact me via e-mail, This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.; by postal mail, P.O. Box 192, Geneva, MN 56035 or telephone, 507-256-4405.

• Thursday, August 4th: Madysen Grace Waage, Karen Edwardson Loge, Harold Jensen, Bryce Ingvaldson, Terry Vaith, Ryan Wangsness, Michael Hanson, Tom Lang, Bethany Cooper, Rachel Reichl, Gary & Kathy Reichl, Warren & Ilsbeth Wayne.

• Friday, August 5th: Wayne Schimek, Corey Wangsness, Gabriella Lynn Olson, Gladys Johnson, John Ramlo, Annette Thostenson, Jennifer Broskoff Dutton, Andrea & Kane Malo, Christopher & Kristen Hanson.

• Saturday, August 6th: Lynn Nechanicky, Rick Cook, Matthew Miller, Andy & Mary Lerberg, Wendell & Connie Kuehni.

• Sunday, August 7th: August 7th: Shelly Mangskau, Zachery Vangen, Lori Titus, Dylan Waltz, Jack Jensen, Dakota Wayne Heideman, Kaityn Quimby, Cheyenne Bergerson, David Arbogast, Darren Casper, Allen Wacek, Tom & Katie Marlin.

• Monday, August 8th: Ian Matthew Wayne, Luke Wangsness, John Vander Stoep, Jamie Walworth, Kathy Born, Scott Crabtree, Jessica Marcus, Sharon Miller Jensen, Barb O’Conner, Gary Peterson, Emily Jensen, Marc Collins, Matthew Swift, Don Gould, Mya Glienke.

• Tuesday, August 9th: Warren & Solveig Sorenson, Aaron & Mickki Heimer, Linda Wayne, Mavis Knudtson, Steven LeRoy Christensen, Cherie Halla, Karen Holmes, Amber Nordland, Angie Reichl, Dustin Jepson, Sierra Ellen Misgen, Josiah Jeffrey Schei, Christopher Quentin Haberman.

• Wednesday, August 10th: Lynn Arends, Linda Weckwerth, Teresa Wright, Jeff Olson, Vernon Cornelius, Michelle Brandt, Richelle Butler Chapman, Melisssa Cornelius Large, Dustin Dobberstein, Thayne Nordland, Cheyenne Bergerson, Ross & Kathie Lein, Steve & Kathy Nelson, Darrin & Linda Stadheim.

• Thursday, August 11th: Nicole & Dallas Loken, Brian Broulik, Vicki Humburg, Jeremy Kaiser, Mike Plunkett, Kris Simon Freitas, Sharon Sorenson, Kim Anderson Schneider, Brian Thostenson, Irvin Jensen Jr., Kevin Avery, Luke Clark Wangsness, Pagie Sophia Kromminga.

Sending you “heartfelt” wishes for a lovely day!

In less than a month, I'll be moving to an apartment in Mankato, which is where I'll be taking full-time college classes for post-secondary. As moving day gets closer, I keep thinking about the whole idea of growing up. I'll be 18 this month, moved out, going to college and having a job. 

It's a lot of responsibility for an 18-year-old to take on, but it's not like I'll be alone. I'm moving in with my boyfriend of six months and his two roommates. Rent will only be $285 per person after utilities and everything. And as much as my dad wishes I would just stay home, we both know this day is coming — whether it's this year or next year. 

Although I'm really excited to be living on my own for the first time in my life, the thought of it also makes me sad. It's not only hard for a parent to see their child leave for college, it's hard for the child, too (at least, it is for me and others I've talked to). I used to be unable to wait until the day I got to move out, but that was when my dad and I were fighting all the time. 

We rarely fight any more, which makes leaving even harder. I was always a huge daddy's girl growing up. When I was younger, he was my best friend as well as my dad. When I turned about 15, I became more close with my mom. Obviously, being a teenage girl, I didn't always see eye to eye with my dad. 

My mom understood me more, and I could tell her anything. I spent a lot of time at my mom's house these past few years, making up for all the time I missed with her when I was younger. Because my parents divorced when I was 5, and my dad got full custody of my brothers and me, we only saw my mom every other weekend and on Tuesday nights for supper, along with the occasional weeknight where we would stay over at her house. It wasn't until I was 12 that she moved close enough to where we could stay with her whenever we wanted and still be close enough to New Richland to get to school and such.

It's going to be really hard leaving my parents, and I'm going to miss them a lot. And although moving out and supporting myself financially will be tough, it'll also be exciting. I'm really looking forward to going to college to finish out my senior year of high school, living with my boyfriend who I'm completely in love with, having a job, no longer having to ask my parents for money every time I want to go somewhere  — it's all something I've never really experienced before. 

My parents can come visit me, and I can go visit them. Mankato isn't very far away from New Richland. I would know, as I've been driving there almost every day for the past five months. This will be a really good experience for me, I know it. I'm close enough to where if I want to move back to New Richland for the year, I can.

Next year, when I go to U of M Twin Cities, that won't be an option. But I'm going to work hard and try and make this work. I want to prove to myself that I can do it. I'll still be writing a column every week for the paper, as well, because I really enjoy doing it.

I'd like to thank everyone for all the compliments on my column. They're what keeps me motivated to continue writing, and I appreciate immensely all the support from the readers. I'd also like to apologize for not having a column written last week. 

As most everyone in town knows, Rodney Arnold passed away last Friday. However, many people don't know that he was my grandpa (he was my mom's biological dad). It was a really hard thing to go through. He's the second close grandparent I've lost in less than a year. 

Although Grandpa Rodney didn't see my brothers and I as much in the past few years, he did still love us. I remember all the Christmases and birthdays that he came to. In the two-hour home video of my first birthday party, he was there the whole time. 

I've watched that tape many times, and it always made me happy to see Grandpa Rodney (or as we used to call him as kids, Papa Rodney) holding my hands and walking me around the lawn with a big smile on his face. He was always so happy, and he was taken away much too soon. 

I, as well as many, many others, will miss him very much. I know he's in a better place now, watching over us all. I love you, Grandpa Rodney, I miss you, and I'll see you again one day. While you're up in Heaven, please also watch over my Grandma Millie (my dad's mom), as well. I'm praying for the both of you.

Our Minnesota big time sports scene is unsettled. The Minnesota football Gophers are embarking on their second rebuilding effort in recent years under new coach Jerry Kill. I never thought the Gophers would be trying to get back to the glory years of Glen Mason. Not exactly glory years, but the Gophers under Mason were a representative Big Ten team. They went to bowl games and usually put up an exciting effort before losing.

New Gopher coach Jerry Kill has been impressive during his short tenure. He has kept a low profile and the little news that has come out of the Gopher Nation has been good. Recently a prize recruit from Blue Earth, 6-foot, 9-inch, close to 300-pounds Jonah Pirsig, declared for Minnesota over Iowa, Wisconsin, Michigan and Ohio State among others of the who’s who of college football. It was a big boost for the team when the best prep lineman in Minnesota decided for the Gophers. It bodes well for coach Jerry Kill and the Gopher future.

Staying with football, the Minnesota Vikings decided not to lay in the weeds this season and traded for quarterback Donovan McNabb. It looks like the Vikings will again try to contend with an aging, previously successful quarterback. Kind of a Brett Favre ll. McNabb has good credentials. In fact, I was quite surprised to learn that McNabb has led the Philadelphia Eagles to five NFC championship games and one Super Bowl. He hasn’t been very successful in winning the big one, but still you have to play well to get to the big game.

McNabb appears to be the poor man’s Brett Favre. But he is seven years younger and if he can regain his previous form he will be an exciting player for this year’s version of the Vikings. Evidently the Vikings are not going to be content to just finish above the Detroit lions this year. It’s possible they can contend if the veterans can come together for one last gasp.

Also in a state of flux are our Minnesota Timberwolves. There is no doubt about their status. They are rebuilding and have been doing so since Kevin Garnett left. When you lose as many games as the Timberwolves, the best you can say about your team is that they are rebuilding.

I hope the team hires an experienced hard-nosed coach that can point operations head David Kahn and the team players in a definite direction. Give him the reins and turn him loose.

Our Minnesota Twins continue to hang in there. Almost out of contention, but not quite. Considering the starting pitching they have been receiving, it’s remarkable they are only seven games back. Starting pitching brought them back from the brink and is threatening to return them. The Twins need a dominating pitcher and may have to let one or two of their outfielders go in the future. Right now they are carrying six outfielders with a couple of their best prospects in the minors, also outfielders. I would think there is an obvious move for general manager Bill Smith. Trade an outfielder or two for a pitcher. Sounds like a plan to me.

Smith’s lack of movement before the trade deadline reflects the team. The Twins are kind of stuck in limbo — neither a buyer or seller of players. Not really in contention to buy and not completely out of contention in order to justify trading established players for prospects.

We may soon find what this year holds for the Twins. If they continue to play .500 ball, it won’t take very long until we start talking about next year.

In last week's column, I mentioned the trip north with my friend Mark and grandsons Trevor and Taylor. This was a fun week of fishing and working around our property. Even with the little setback of the truck breakdown on the way home, it was a very good trip. Meeting nice helpful people along the way was a plus.

Fishing was a little slow at times, but whenever we had an overcast day, the fishing always seemed a little bit better. I think the clarity of the northern lakes has much to do with that. The weather for the week was just about perfect, as we enjoyed mostly mild days and comfortably cool nights.

Each year, I try to revisit my old favorite, Spider Lake, at least one time. We had decided we would get an early start on Tuesday, so we were up at 4:30 a.m. and soon on the road. When we first arrived at the landing, there was not another boat to be seen and Trevor, as usual, was out of the truck and casting off the dock. He was already landing fish before I could even get the boat ready. 

Once we had launched the boat, it wasn’t long before Mark caught a nice pike. The boys soon followed suit. As we fished the lake, they continued to bring in fish after fish. For the most part, there were plenty of fish caught on this day, but I on the other hand was only to land the dreaded “skunk” on this trip. All three of my passengers were able to catch numerous fish but, alas, the skipper of the barge was unable to attract a single fish. I was almost in a funk when they tried to alibi for me by saying the guy driving the boat is at a disadvantage. Thanks guys for the support, but I just don’t think it was my day.

After a few hours, more and more boats appeared on the lake, so we eventually decided to call it a day. As we reached the landing, I thought that I could at least catch a sunnie or perch from the dock. That was not to be; I couldn’t even entice a fish to bite there. I finally decided to call it a day and begrudgingly put my fishing pole in the boat and we headed back to the cabin.

I was mystified because after all, I always have considered Spider “my lake,” or at least my favorite lake. The one that I could always find fish on, even when others could not. I guess you could say that I found the fish alright – just not for myself. This will not deter me from trying my favorite lake again another day.

The next day, I was back in the groove and catching my share of fish once again – just not on “my lake.” We have so many nice lakes within a few miles of our cabin; it is almost like a fisherman’s smorgasbord when it comes to picking one to fish. I have a couple of favorites, but choosing a set favorite would be tough. Now that I think of it, the boys were catching fish on every lake we tried, so maybe this was telling me that there was a changing of the guard taking place.

Back at the cabin, I asked my fellow fishermen what lake they’d like to try the next day. Mark said he didn’t care. Trevor thought it would be fun to try a lake that we’d not fished before. He chose Grave Lake which lies south of Marcell off of Hwy. 38.

It is known for its huge bluegills. The lake has a 5 fish limit on their “gills,” so we thought it would be worth a try. We were fishing this lake for the very first time and actually had some pretty good luck. This time it was Mark’s turn to almost catch the skunk. Even though I was catching more than my share of fish, I kind of felt sorry for him. I guess it was just his turn to watch the other guys land the fish. It’s funny how that works. It just goes to show that fishing is sometimes a fickle sport, and that there is always a certain amount of luck involved.

On this day, we didn’t see any of those “monster” bluegills. We did manage to catch some walleye, quite a few nice northern and some bass. Mark and the boys wanted to take some fish home.

Having already eaten a nice meal of fish. it was time to bring a few home to share with family. We brought home some northern, walleye, crappie and bluegill. So, I’d have to consider this a pretty good week.

We have quite a few bird feeders at the cabin. I really do enjoy watching the many different birds that come to feed. This is great, but we found out that there are some four-legged critters that consider this their feeding ground. They come in the middle of the night and knock down whatever feeders they can and run off with whatever they can. 

Trevor sat up a couple of nights in hopes of catching them in the act. One night as he sat in a recliner facing the patio door, there was a raccoon looking directly at him. But, as he got out of the chair, the critter scurried a little ways away and stopped turning to see if he was chasing him. It then fled off into the night, almost teasing him. 

Some may consider them “cute,” but they can trash a bunch of bird feeders in a hurry and will also run off with the suit blocks. Those “wascally wittle cwitters!” Maybe I’ll have to get me a bluetick hound and tie him under the tree as a deterrent. Oh well, there never is a dull moment when spending time in the north woods and that’s just fine with me.

All-in-all, this was what I considered a good week of time spent in the north woods. We caught fish, did some work around the place and ate like “kings” thanks to Marks gourmet cooking. The boys definitely enjoyed the meals and hopefully it won’t be too much of a letdown when they have to spend time at the cabin eating grandpa’s cooking.

Despite a small setback with the truck breakdown on the trip home and all, this was indeed a good week and one that I know the boys will remember. It’s all about having fun and making memories. We surely did both.

Until next time do a little fishing, take a little time to relax and get out and explore our great Minnesota outdoors.

Please remember to keep our troops in your thoughts and prayers during the coming year.

Echoes from the Loafers’ Club Meeting

“You’re late.”

“Sorry, I forgot to set my alarm clock ahead for Daylight Saving Time.”

“You were supposed to do that in March.”

“Wow! I’m later than I thought.”

Driving by the Bruces

I have two wonderful neighbors— both named Bruce — who live across the road from each other. Whenever I pass their driveways, thoughts occur to me, such as: who has time to procrastinate?

Things I’ve learned

1. If pudding is on the salad bar, it’s a vegetable.

2. It’s never the right temperature outside.

3. A person can never have too many passwords.

Cereal box cards

There were baseball cards on the backs of Post breakfast cereal boxes. I pestered my mother into buying Post cereal. She was happy to oblige. She knew that cereal was better for me than the bubble gum that came with other kinds of baseball cards. I wanted to grab a scissors and cut the cards from the boxes as soon as they got into the house, but I was ordered to wait until the box was emptied of the cereal first. I ate a lot of Post cereals. Duplicate baseball cards were traded or ended their lives clothespinned to the spokes of my bicycle as I pretended it was a motorcycle. I could get riboflavin and niacinamide with other cereals, but with Post, I got baseball cards. And the cards were loaded with fiber.

The boat swallows

I was speaking on a tour boat on a lovely lake. As we left the dock, barn swallows had a collective cow. I quickly discovered the reason for the swallows’ distress. Two young barn swallows, newly fledged, were stowaways. The parents followed the boat for some distance before giving up and heading back to shore. The juvenile swallows perched silently upon a boat’s speaker and gazed at their shipmates. When the short tour ended and the boat returned to the dock, it was greeted by loud and happy sounds of not only the parent swallows but also of their friends and neighbors. The baby swallows chirped gleefully in response.

Uffda

The woman told me her daughter reported that her brother had said “Uffda” in school.

The mother was unsure as to why that was a problem.

“He can’t say that there,” said the daughter.

“Why not?” asked the mother.

The daughter sighed and replied, “He goes to a Christian school.”

A retired teacher likely said “Uffda” when she received a note from one of her former grade school students. He had probably taken a seminar that told him to send a note of appreciation to those who had bettered his life. Perhaps he’d had a life-changing event. Anyway, he sent her a note and referenced a school play from long ago. His note ended, “Thanks for letting me be a tree.”

Revenge is best served with weeds

The woman said that when she was a girl, the man next door was a cantankerous sort who screamed at any child who set foot upon his meticulous lawn. If a ball rested for a moment in his yard, he kept it forever.

She enacted her revenge upon the man by blowing the seed heads of dandelions in the direction of his perfect lawn.

It’s not the heat, it’s the temperature

I turned off the lights in my office and peered outside into the darkness. I put many lights in my office because I feared the windows would let in a lot of dark. The darkness looked hot. Not long before dusk, the temperature read 91 degrees — without the windchill factor.

The summer has been hot. I’ve been hotter. I fell for the “it’s a dry heat” line and worked in Yuma, Arizona. The temperatures there could best be described as volcanic. They hit numbers unknown to my home thermometer. My saliva evaporated the minute I stepped outdoors. The residents of Yuma were pleasant. They constantly reminded me that it was a dry heat. So is the inside of a microwave oven, but I’m not sure I could live there.

Nature notes

Common mullein is a biennial, taking two years to bloom. It grows seven feet high, has bright yellow flowers on a spike, and is also called flannel leaf or torch plant. Settlers brought mullein from Europe. Leaves of mullein were used as lamp wicks, placed inside shoes for warmth, and Quaker women, forbidden to use makeup, rubbed leaves on their cheeks to give the appearance of rouge. Romans used plants dipped in fat as torches and it was smoked in the treatment of coughs.

In gratitude

I encountered customers of this column while I spoke to Our Gang from Waseca, Faribault County Fair, Iowa Storytelling Festival, Hormel Nature Center, Hidden Creek, Evie’s Travel, and Leisure Tours. Thank you for being readers.

Meeting adjourned

A kind remark never requires an apology.