Celebrating Creativity!

'Tis the season to be thankful for friends and food, gatherings and gaiety

By John Gaddo, John Weiss, Julie Fryer and Joe Goetzke, November 24, 2025

A musician wearing glasses and a plaid shirt plays an acoustic guitar on stage inside a warm, wood-paneled venue. He faces an audience of older adults seated at small tables, listening closely under soft string lights.

Harmony, Minn. musician Tim Little shares an original song written to lyrics by his wife, Julie, to honor words we didn’t know we loved; the crowd enthusiastically joined in for the chorus of “Baba Ganoush”. (Photo by John Weiss)

LANESBORO—It was one of those ‘bonus’ late summer-like November days across southeastern Minnesota as guests made their way to Sylvan Brewery in Lanesboro for a “meet ‘n greet”, an adult beverage and an opportunity to celebrate the arts!

Root River Current’s “Celebrating Arts & Artists” reception on November 15 welcomed over 50 artists, writers and community members from the greater Root River Valley – among them were some two dozen whose content or stories were published this year, including profiled artists, contributing writers and others who submitted original poetry, essays or photography.

Of particular note were storyteller Sandy Webb, writer Julie Little and musician Tim Little. Sandy, whose essay The Power of Storytelling was published earlier this year, engaged the audience in some original storytelling of her own, as well as thoughts about the value of storytelling.

Tim and Julie entertained with several co-written songs (Julie’s the lyricist, Tim’s the composer); Julie – who regularly contributes articles, essays and poetry to Root River Current – also recited two new poems for all to enjoy.

Sylvan Brewing graphic

We so appreciate Sandy, Tim and Julie’s willingness to share their respective talents and creations – we’re much richer for the experience! (See photos below of the performers, guests and others who attended the reception.)

Also supporting Root River Current’s celebration and recognition of the arts were Sylvan Brewing, our host for the night, and the voters of Minnesota through a grant from the Southeastern Minnesota Arts Council thanks to a legislative appropriation from the arts & cultural heritage fund.

Thank you all for celebrating this year’s Root River Current arts & artists!

A 50+ person gathering shared in the evening as Root River Current celebrated a year of Regional Arts stories. On the right wall is a large mural created by Lanesboro students featured in a 2025 story; other artists’ works and a video of story highlights were displayed on the table just beyond the mural. (Photo by John Gaddo)

Two men with nametags stand at the front of the room; one speaks into a microphone while the other watches. They are in a rustic event venue with wood-paneled walls and soft overhead lighting.

Root River Current co-publishers John Gaddo (left) and John Torgrimson (right) welcome guests to the reception at Sylvan Brewing in Lanesboro. (Photo by John Weiss)

A man with glasses and a gray beard speaks into a microphone while Audience members in the foreground watch

Root River Current Board Chair Steve Harris greets guests with a look back at our past year of inspiring stories. (Photo by Julie Fryer)

An older woman with curly white hair and a purple shawl stands and speaks to the audience in a rustic event space. People seated nearby watch her attentively while warm string lights hang overhead.

Lanesboro storyteller Sandy Webb performs the story of “how Rabbit made it to the moon.” (Photo by Julie Fryer)

A man holding a microphone speaks at the front of a gathering while a guitarist wearing a headset plays beside him. A seated woman listens as string lights glow through a large glass garage door behind them.

Singer-songwriter duo Tim Little (left) and Julie Little (right) being introduced by John Gaddo; Tim performed several original songs, including Root River Song, originally published by Root River Current. (Photo by Julie Fryer)

A woman wearing glasses and a brown outfit reads from a paper while speaking into a microphone. A musician with an acoustic guitar sits beside her, and a woman in a purple shawl looks on with a smile.

Julie Little shares one of her original poems during Root River Current’s Celebrating Arts and Artists reception. (Photo by Julie Fryer)

Guests “meet ‘n greet” during Root River Current‘s arts gathering. (Photo by Joe Goetzke)

A buffet table holds bowls of fresh apple slices, vegetables, dips, crackers, and snacks arranged on a woven tray. A woman stands nearby in a barn-style event space with warm lighting.

An impressive spread of delicious appetizers greeted guests; our thanks to Pat Torgrimson for creating our ‘snack buffet’. (Photo by Julie Fryer)

Two women sit across from each other at a wooden table engaged in conversation during a social gathering. Plates with appetizers and glasses of water sit between them, and other attendees talk in the background.

Lively conversation was had by all as the evening progressed. (Photo by John Weiss)

Guests engage in conversation about the arts, the community and each other at Root River Current‘s arts and artists reception. (Photo by Joe Goetzke)

Contributors

John Gaddo

John Gaddo is co-publisher of Root River Current. His professional career has included stints as a public media manager, journalist and audio producer.

John Weiss

John Weiss was a full-time reporter for the Rochester Post-Bulletin for 41 years and wrote the Back Roads column for more than 10 years. His passions include hunting, fishing, birding, nature photography, hiking and just kicking around.

Julie Fryer

Julie Fryer is a marketing and writing consultant who helps small businesses and nonprofits navigate the digital world. She lives in Chatfield, Minn. and is an avid gardener, sugarmaker and camper with a full bookshelf of to-be-read books. Julie is Root River Current's production manager.

Joe Goetzke

Joe Goetzke is Executive Director of the Lanesboro Area Chamber of Commerce. A former member of the Lanesboro City Council and its Economic Development Authority, he also served as the marketing director at Eagle Bluff Environmental Learning Center. Joe is currently the Digital Media Coordinator for Root River Current.