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Facelift complete at Dad’s Good Stuff, a New Richland main street icon
MAIN STREET PRIDE — Wayne Wenzel, owner of Dad’s Good Stuff in New Richland, poses for a photo in front of his newly-renovated building. The business offers antiques, paint, coffee and plenty of personality, thanks to Wenzel. (Star Eagle photo by Rachel Rietsema)
By RACHEL RIETSEMA
Staff Writer
One of New Richland’s longtime storefronts has an entirely new color scheme, and rightly so, seeing as its last facelift occurred 17 years ago.
Passersby might even wonder if it’s the same business or not. It still is, don’t worry.
“I used a Foxfire brown as the main color out in front and on the side,” said Wayne Wenzel, owner of Dad’s Good Stuff. “The top is dusty brick. There’s a cactus pine and honeybird too.”
He joked, “This place was built in 1886. I suppose when I get that old, I will need a facelift too.”
Beyond the glass panes, one will find an abundance of treasures laid out amidst the expansive floor space.
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By JESSICA LUTGENS
Editorial Assistant
In the last few hundred years, we’ve read predictions about “doomsday” in several creative works, from the Great Pyramid of Giza in Europe, to Nostradamus’s book “Prophecies,” to Leonardo Da Vinci’s drawing “The Deluge,” to Isaac Newton’s text “Observations on Daniel and the Apocalypse of St. John.”
The current theory is that on December 21, 2012, there will be some type of catastrophic event that will end the world. The story started with claims that Nibiru, or Planet X, a supposed planet discovered by the Sumerians, is headed toward earth. This catastrophe was initially predicted for May 2003, but when nothing happened the date was moved to 12/21/12 and linked to the end of one of the cycles in the ancient Mayan calendar at the winter solstice, hence the predicted doomsday date.
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NRAFF Update
By GAIL SCHMIDT
New Richland Area Foundation Representative of the Waseca Area Foundation
As we approach the Christmas and New Year seasons, it reminds us of not only the birth of our Savior, but the gift giving season. We begin to think of what we value and the kind of gifts we’ll give.
One of the best presents this season for the New Richland Area Foundation Fund has been the growth over the past year. I am proud to report that the NRAFF balance is now $371,000 and brings the Family of Funds for all of Waseca County to $6.3 million in assets through the Waseca Area Foundation.
The NRAFF balance has been built with both small and large contributions from citizens to better the community now and into the future. Dollars contributed are saved and earnings are given back through grants for needed projects and enhancements. This maintains a principal that will continue to grow and give back to our area forever.
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Ellendale City Council
By SCOTT GROTH
Contributing Writer
The Ellendale City Council met Thursday December 13 with Mayor Engel, Councilmen Helland, Reiter, Goebel and Groth present. Also in attendance were Donovan Eaker, Steve Hackett, Cindy Goebel, and City employees Steve Louks, clerk, Pete Paulson, Liquor Store manager and Roger Swearingen, maintenance.
The council held three public hearings on Thursday evening.
The first hearing was a Truth in Taxation hearing regarding the proposed city levy. Mayor Engel opened the hearing with a brief overview of the purpose of the meeting and then opened the meeting up for questions. Being none, the hearing was closed.
The second hearing, to amend Ordinance # 61, was opened at 6:45 pm. Engel again gave a brief statement about the process of the hearing and opened the floor for questions. Mayor Engel noted to the council that the word boulevard will be taken out of the new ordinance. After a few comments the hearing was adjourned.
The third hearing was a mandatory meeting to be held concerning the Municipal Liquor Store (MLS) financial losses for the year 2011. Engel explained to the audience this hearing was about the year-ending balances for the MLS as audited for 2011. By law the city must hold a hearing on the MLS if the business shows a loss in two of the last three years. The floor was opened for questions. There were several questions asked. After the allotted time for the hearing the council decided to try and get the auditor to come to a future meeting to answer some of the public’s questions.
The regular meeting was called to order at 7:30 pm.
During his monthly report, Swearingen asked the council to consider taking applications for the city maintenance position. Swearingen told the council he had been in contact with the League of Cities staff regarding him being mayor and maintenance person. Swearingen told the council that the league said he could train in someone, but cannot hold both positions. Swearingen said he will officially step down as maintenance person on January 30, 2013. However, he added, there is a lot for someone new to learn. The council agreed, as they had asked to start this process back in October. Mayor Engel told the council he would put together the questionnaire for the position. The council discussed when all applications should be in by and came up with January 7.
Swearingen continued his report by informing the council that the FEMA project is 98% done and that he is filling out the paper work for payment. Swearingen asked the council to request a night light at the new recycling site. The council passed Resolution 12-13-12-10 requesting Alliant Energy for a light. Swearingen asked the council to pay $299 for him to attend the League of Cities training for new council members. The request was approved. Groth asked Swearingen if he had any reflective posts he could put by the sand pile at the property on 8th Ave.
Paulson was next with his monthly report. Paulson passed out his report showing weekly, monthly and yearly to date numbers. Paulson had the proposal for putting in CO2 and Nitrogen tanks that could be filled by truck. The council felt the new system would be safer and approved the agreement with AirGas. Paulson informed the council that the first Sunday’s business was good and the second one was a break even.
The council went over the truck parking ordinance and moved to amend Ordinance #61 to adopt changes discussed at the public hearing.
Clerk Louks had only one item for the council’s consideration. The council approved the engagement letter to hire Hill, Larson to do the city’s 2012 audit.
Mayor Engel began his report with the job descriptions. Engel and the council went over the different job descriptions adding and removing items as needed. The council then approved the job descriptions as revised. Mayor Engel then asked the council to approve the holiday appreciation cards for city employees.
The council approved the purchase of a street sweeping broom for the price of $1,100.
The next meeting of the Ellendale City Council will be on December 27th at 7:30 p.m.
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Cafeteria project detailed at special public meeting
NEW SCHOOL COMMONS AREA – The light yellow area indicates the proposed new Cafeteria/Commons area of the New Richland school building. The building’s main entrance, to be converted to secure double entry, is at lower left. The Upper Commons is in place of the current cafeteria, and the Lower Commons (area 17) is in place of the current south portion of the Media Center. The new Lower Commons will retain two skylights inherited from the Media Center. At lower right is the diagonally-placed main door to the smaller Media Center. At top is the facing wall of the new kitchen area, indicating large service openings with drop-down firewall dividers. (Drawing detail courtesy of SGN Wendel, recolored by Star Eagle)
By REED WALER
Staff Writer
A special public meeting to display and answer questions on the proposed kitchen-commons-entryway remodeling of the New Richland school building was held last Tuesday at 7 p.m. immediately following the district’s annual Truth in Taxation hearing at 6:30.
Present were representatives of ICS Consulting and SGN Wendel Architects, to present the drawings and explain financing.
Visitors were first given a quick history of the project.
“It’s been in our minds for quite some time that the kitchen facility was aging quite rapidly,” said Supt. Kevin Wellen. “The kitchen and its equipment are over 50 years old, and the cafeteria is the same.”
History
“We involved some companies,” explained board chair Rick Schultz, “and we prioritized some other areas that could be improved.”