Residents of a senior community in Ortonville form musical group, perform to good crowds By Scott Thoma As we age, the talents we once possessed are used much less frequently, if at all. That’s the way Dennis Carlson, a resident at Fairway View Senior Communities in Ortonville, viewed it. He didn’t want to see his or anyone else’s talents go to waste just because of their advanced ages. So, the Clinton native decided to do something about it. “Just because you go into an assi

By Maggie Gray Our Fingerprints Don’t Fade From the Lives We Touch. –Judy Blume Cuban-born Carmen Herrera didn’t sell her first painting until she was 89 and held her first solo exhibition in New York at 100. Grandma Moses didn’t begin painting in earnest until her late 70s, yet her visions of rural America made her an icon. Their stories remind us that art has no timetable—that brilliance can ripen late, in the long patience of a life fully lived. In the garage attached to

Waite Park flower gardens provide beauty, healing, peace... and workouts By Nikki Rajala “When I’d be working and weeding in the Healthy Living Trail flower gardens, even though I was only a few yards away from the street, I’d feel peace. I’m always amazed because there’s busy, busy traffic on the street and I don’t hear it,” said Janice Rein, a volunteer gardener among the landscaped flower beds of the Harold P. Nelson Healthy Living Trail in Waite Park. “Visitors say the s

Couple revisits their memorable 2,147-mile trek By Bill Vossler Other than Linda breaking her arm, and John stepping on Linda’s glasses, the Pecks, of Rockville, said they would have done nothing different on their 141-day trek over 2,147 miles of the Appalachian Trail, starting in March, 1993. Walking the trail came about in two ways. “We grew up out east, so were well aware of the Appalachian Trail,” John said. “And we’ve always walked a lot, and enjoyed backpacking.” “As w

Busy bee on duty! Catherine Craddock of Mankato snapped this lovely photo of a bumblebee collecting pollen from a yellow coneflower. A moment of nature’s hard work in action. A graceful family outing. Sue Taylor of Hitterdahl caught this adorable snapshot of two adult swans escorting their fluffy cygnets across a glassy pond. The cuteness floats right along. Now that’s dedication to the shot! Ruby Graves of Clara City got creative with this fiery photo, lying low to capture t

Answers provided by Megan May, Breitenfeldt Group licensed agent What is the Annual Enrollment Period (AEP), and why is it important? A: The Annual Enrollment Period (AEP) is the time each year when Medicare beneficiaries can review and make changes to their coverage. It runs from Oct. 15 to Dec. 7, and any updates made during this time go into effect on Jan. 1 of the following year. It’s especially important if your health needs, prescriptions, budget, or current plan selec

Select the your area, or check out the stories from other parts of Minnesota and North Dakota. All the great local advertisers can be in these full papers, along with the puzzle, jokes, recipes and more for you and your friends to enjoy. Lindbergh Edition All around Mille Lacs Lake and specially tailored to the areas near Brainerd, St. Cloud, Little Falls, Princeton. Highway in bloom; Lots of vroom. Prairie Edition Focusing on Willmar, Marshall, Appleton, and nearby areas. A

Select the your area, or check out the stories from other parts of Minnesota and North Dakota. All the great local advertisers can be in...

Select the your area, or check out the stories from other parts of Minnesota and North Dakota. All the great local advertisers can be in...

A peaceful stroll through the woods makes for the perfect afternoon. Sharla and Doug Bengtson of Wood Lake captured this quiet moment of...

By Carrie Classon I’m driving back to my parents’ home from a state park on a beautiful summer day. My mother is riding shotgun; my dad...

By Chuck Vukonich of Fergus Falls The property in the hills of Erhard. Contributed photo I own some property up in the hills of Erhard...

By Jan Stadtherr Reconnecting with memories from my past has been an obsession for me in the past few months. Nostalgia is a bittersweet...

By Jim Palmer Over the years, I have thanked both our drivers and our writers in this column, but I have only given a tip of the hat to...

By Nancy Leasman It was a semi-coolish prelude to a warm and steamy July day. I was out early to put in 3,000 steps down the road and...

By Dale Zillmer of Henning After our marriage in January of 1960, we lived a life of newlywed love that can only be described as...

By Tim King Long ago, on warm August Sunday afternoons, we would tie the canoe to the top of the tan Volkswagen. Then we would drive...

By Jean Jungst of Morris There is one day in my life I will never forget. I grew up a child in England in the “war years.” World War II...

By Bill D. Ward Today’s Wisdom: “Coffee is the best thing in life because it brings people together.” – Unknown The other day I was with...

By Rachel Barduson Scenes from our Fourth of July get together. Photos by Rachel Barduson There’s something about the “board” games of...