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LOUDER THAN EXPECTED - Noris and Brant Hemingway, and daughter Aracelis Sepulveda proudly stand outside the new Geneva Cafe. The family has been overwhelmed with support since the family ‘quietly’ opened in July, 2021.
Star Eagle photo by Deb Bently
By MELANIE PILTINGSRUD AND DEB BENTLY, Staff Writers
The Hemingway family, namely Noris and her daughter Aracelis, are the faces behind Noris Cuisine, the new “Little Cafe,” in downtown Geneva.
After a quiet, ‘soft opening’ in July, the new franchise is already turning into a customer favorite. Noris, a Venezuelan native who moved to Minnesota 19 years ago, says their attempt at a soft opening was anything but quiet. It got busy right away.
“We’ve been very pleased with the amount of business,” says Aracelis Sepulveda, Noris’s daughter and a second-year college student. “We work very hard to give people a dining experience that they’ll enjoy.”
The atmosphere of Noris Cafe is charming. Wooden tables and chairs and even a comfortable sofa invite customers to stay a while, enjoy a meal, or sip their coffee or tea in colorful 12 and 16 oz. mugs. A lighted sign on the wall reminds everyone there are “Good Days Ahead” and large windows overlook an outdoor seating area, and the city park beyond.
With about 35 indoor seats and another 16 or so outside, it might be tempting to think of it as a small-scale operation, but that’s not how it feels as people come and go.
“It's pretty hard to stay out of here,” says Dewayne Jensen, owner of Jensen Plumbing & Heating, who insists with enthusiasm that everything on the menu is good; “You can't go wrong.”
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SIGHT TO BEHOLD — A dozen or more large-scale kites, some measuring up to 140 feet long, flew over Clear Lake in Waseca Sunday as part of the city's annual Sleigh and Cutter Event. Star Eagle photo by Deb Bently
By DEB BENTLY
Staff Writer
For nearly everyone involved, Sunday’s kite festival over Clear Lake in Waseca was an “eye-opening” event.
Most significantly, there were over 1,000 spectators, most of whom were experiencing giant kites for the first time. Somewhere around 15 gigantic kites, the largest of which measured about 140 feet long, were rotated in and out of the skies during the five-hour show. Shaped like whales, tigers, dogs, horses, octopuses and more, the kites created a colorful spectacle visible from all around the lake.
“It was amazing,” says Waseca Sleigh and Cutter planning committee member Molly Kopischke, who coordinated the show. “The kites were so beautiful and so fun. It was great to see the expressions on people’s faces as they watched everything going on.
“We had such a positive response, we’re already making plans for next year.”
For Sean Beaver, owner/operator of Great American Kites and Events out of Kansas City, the Clear Lake showing was a new experience on many levels. “Two weeks ago, I hadn’t even heard of Waseca,” he says. “Now I know it’s a warm community with real heart and filled with a lot of people dedicated to making good things happen.”
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By REED WALLER
Staff Writer
Masks not required
Despite the recommendation from the state, the NRHEG Board of Education moved to relax the mask ruling inside the school.
This was the decision of the newly-formed COVID Planning Team who met on August 4.
The revised Safe Return To School Plan now states: “The district will recommend students and staff to wear masks in the building, but at this time there will not be a requirement to wear a mask when at school.”
Other key points of the plan:
“Masks are federally mandated to be worn while using school transportation.
“Contract Tracing will take place when we are made aware of a positive case in school or in school vehicles/busses.
“NRHEG Schools will not be providing distance learning options.
“Students interested in online options should contact their principal.
“All our neighboring school districts have plans that are very similar to this plan,” said Supt. Michael Meihak, “most notably the section recommending masks, but not requiring them.”
Meihak stressed that “This is a live document; mandates may yet come along to change it.”
Motion passed Y:6, N:1.
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By AL BATT
Contributing writer
How do you get a farmer to a meeting?
The same way you get nonfarmers to a meeting. Attendees seek wisdom, useful information, good company, food and door prizes.
The 22nd Annual Ag Summit, presented by Americana Insurance Group and Commerce Bank, held at Wedgewood Cove in Albert Lea (because all roads don’t lead to Rome) on February 1, provided all those necessary things. Sponsors were AgriSompo North America, Nationwide and Farmers Mutual Insurance Company (in suburban Manchester).
Farming isn’t rocket science. It’s more complicated than that. Every enthusiastic speaker deserved my attention and got it.
Tom Sorenson, Agency Director of Americana Insurance Group, gave a compilation of 2021 statistics, trends and averages for Americana Insurance Group because without numbers, things don’t add up.
The presenters were kind enough to draft their thoughts and takeaways to make my job easier.
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By JESSICA LUTGENS
Staff Writer
The Ellendale City Council kept its first meeting of the month on Thursday, Aug. 12, for which Mayor Matt Bartsch was absent, rather short. A main topic of discussion took place during the public input portion of the meeting, with one local resident present with a question regarding the possible re-zoning of a property in town. The individual is interested in purchasing the property with his wife in order to open a child center and asked for clarification on whether a business could be run on a residential zoned property.
The council, while not opposed to the idea, noted that the property may need to be purchased by the individual before any re-zoning can be done.
“Childcare is desperately needed,” said Councilperson Steph Kibler.
City Clerk Steve Engel agreed to look into the matter, and the council agreed to follow up at a later date.