Culture & Community

<span style="font-size: 14px; color: #6c6b6b; ">Nearly four gallons of pure maple syrup gathered in one season by the Fryer family of Chatfield. (Photo by Julie Fryer)</span>

A Sweet Surprise in Your Own Backyard

Julie Fryer gives readers a “How To” guide to harvesting maple syrup.

<span style="font-size: 14px; color: #6c6b6b; ">Artist Mary Denzer is pictured working on Lino prints for her late husband’s book of poetry. (Photo by Delia Bell)</span>

Chiaroscuro | The Making of a Book

Delia Bell chronicles the creation of a book of poetry by the late Peter Denzer.

<span style="font-size: 14px; color: #6c6b6b; ">A foggy morning at the confluence of the North and South Branches of the Root River, captured by photographer Renee Bergstrom.</span>

Root River Song

Harmony couple create a musical elegy to the Root River.

<span style="font-size: 14px; color: #6c6b6b; ">Clay Fulton, Ann Lowe, Luke Hendrickson, and Sarah Peterson kicked off the 2024 songwriters series at the St. Mane Theatre in Lanesboro. (Submitted photo)</span>

Songwriters in the Round

Steve Harris reports on a songwriting workshop and performance series in Lanesboro.

Kelli Pierce, Activities Director at Thrifty Threads in Preston, helps Mikki hang donated clothing on the sale rack. (Photo by John Weiss)

Thrifty Threads Serves Those with Special Needs and the Community

John Weiss goes thrifting in Preston at store with special needs workers.

This owl entry came from 12 year old Jue-Hsin Huang of Taiwan, Republic of China. (Photos courtesy of International Owl Center)

Festival of Owls Kids Art Contest Draws Thousands of Entries from Around the World

Karla Bloem details the 2023-24 Festival of Owls Kids-Art-Contest.

The Root River on an autumn day inspires one to reflect on the beauty of nature. (Photo by Ella Deutchman)

Forest Bathing | Meditations on Sound and Movement

Ella Deutchman attends a forest bathing workshop led by artist Annie Hejny.

Root River valley communities benefit from the regional Paint the Town Grant program. (Photos by John Gaddo and Nancy North)

Paint The Town | Sprucing Up Our Communities

Several area communities have benefited in recent years from the Southern Minnesota Initiative Foundation’s Paint the Town grant program. We visit four of them.

Musician Will Bjorndal offers a program of fun music and dancing for kids at Spring Grove Public Library, an example of SELCO and Legacy Funds at work. (Photo by Jana Halverson)

Libraries United | The Purpose and Power of SELCO

The third in a series of articles on libraries in the Root River valley. Steve Harris reports on SELCO—Southeastern Libraries Cooperating.

The Chatfield Public Library, erected in 1915, is a Carnegie Library, one of more than 2500 such libraries constructed in the United States through Andrew Carnegie’s foundation. (All photos provided by Steve Harris)

Root River Libraries | Today’s Challenges

In a three-part series, Steve Harris explores the past, present, and future of Root River town libraries.

The author, Don Bell, is pictured by Amish Experience in Lanesboro—his grandfather’s leather shop was located on the ground floor in the 1950s. The building at one time housed the Odd Fellows Lodge.

Essay: When Summertime Was Paradise

Don Bell recalls his summers in Lanesboro as a boy.

Jo Anne Agrimson, Co-President of Fillmore County League of Women Voters, shows her support for ratifying the Equal Rights Amendment (ERA). (Photo by Renee Bergstrom)

Four Generations of Advocating for Equal Rights

Julie Fryer informs readers about the League of Women Voters efforts to amend the state constitution regarding the Equal Rights Amendment.

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