Caroling, Caroling, 2008

Christmas Carolers carry tradition

Above is a clip of a wonderful tradition being carried on in Alexandria: The Christmas Carolers. This same tune was the theme music back in the 60s when Murrae Freng's Carolers went strolling through downtown Alexandria and into church basements. Today's Carolers are under the direction of Steve Deitz, and sang Friday at Ft. Alexandria. (Yup, Deitz is Lynn Dietz '65 Jorgenson's nephew. The goof ball in the back trying to get into the movie is Obert's kin.)
The a capella sound on the clip is exactly the same and so are the wishes. Thanks to the Cub for the festive clip. Just double-click on the Forward button to make it play.

Caroling, caroling, on we go,
Christmas Bells are ringing.
Caroling, caroling, through the snow,
Christmas Bells are ringing.

(Wihla Hutson / Alfred Burt)

1964-65 Carolers

Betty Larson, Carol Engstrom, Judy Anderson, Sara Smith, Bonnie Bauer, Kathy Schultz, Jeanne Pearson, Karen Schjei; back, Paul Strandberg, Steve Froemming, Randy Gaugert, Bruce Phelps, Stan Rolfsrud, Dave Overly, Robert Johnson, Bruce Carlson.

Can you say "Have a groovy Christmas?"

The trailboss writes:
We started at the bottom of Grandma and Grandpa's Christmas tree this afternoon. Emily knew exactly what to do. This will be her third Christmas, you know. (We'll go to her house for turkey and the works tomorrow.) As a very special gift to her mother, we ol' boomers are teaching Emily to say "groovy" as in, "Mom, let's have a groovy Christmas. I would like a hula hoop this year."
To see all 20 photos made in this sunset-washed session, follow this link: http://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/GjbBafwoYlFsPbBvERWMEw
Happy Thanksgiving, everyone.

A baby blue Schwinn!

One of Lynn Dietz's pals, in a fit of nostalgia, forwarded this childhood photo of Lynn Dietz to the trailboss. It was taken in front of her Alexandria home, note the "D" monogram in the screen door.

Hi Stan,
Lynn Dietz Jorgenson had to come up with a picture of herself at elementary school age for the Grandparents/Grandfriends Day at Excelsior Elementary today.
She will be visiting three grandchildren. Courtney 5th, Jonathan 3rd, Benjamin 1st. I think she looks just like her granddaughter, Courtney, in this photo. Maybe I can get her to send me a photo of Courtney so you can post and all can compare :-)

Alexandria left out of retirement story

After 35 years, the trailboss has announced his retirement. Somehow, the reporter did not mention Jefferson High School or Alexandria in his story.
Nonetheless, if you're interested in reading the whole story, here's the link.
http://docs.google.com/Doc?id=ddxx6zwf_4kt84gjdw

Nolan's blog updated

Sara has just updated Nolan's blog.

We have alot to be thankful for. We know Nolans disease can change at any time, but today we are thanking God for the good news He has given us. Enjoy your families and friends during this "thankful" season and rejoice!

Happy Thanksgiving.

Love, Carolyn & Harland Hoffland

http://www.nolansnetwork.blogspot.com/

Cub reporter receives threat

Some notes from the cub this morning, re: old business on the ice up. We'll present it just as it came in the wire:

Tom writes:
Trailboss: Forgot to mention from the cub reporter-in-training. He and Vivian moved to Alex in 1997. He said he will never forget crossing the Le Homme Dieu - Carlos bridge that winter and seeing fish houses on Le Homme Dieu and boats on Carlos. He always wishes he would have taken a picture. When he got home that day, he relayed what he saw to Vivian and said 'no' he hadn't been drinking.
- Donley strikes again.
-And, received an e-mail from Loren Berg - he was actually Alex, class of '58 (sorry). And, Mikko's last name is spelled "Cowdery." And, a belated congratulations on your retirement!! A suggestion - begin mall walking immediately for a routine.
- Cub
p.s. Don't know about the requested ice photo - I do have an arthritic back!

From: Paul Donley
To: TObert@charter.net
Sent: Saturday, November 22, 2008 11:42 AM
Subject: Blog
You are going to get it, Obert...........Alfred E. Newman

Lakes freeze overnight -- smooth as glass

Darling watcher Obert reports phenomena

You could just see the cub reporter's breath as he reported this today:

"Maybe some of you longtime lake residents have seen this before, but I have never seen a lake the size of Darling totally ice over in less than 12 hours? Last night the lake was wide open . . . and this is what it looks like this morning! Of course, the temp dropped down to about zero last night and the wind was almost calm this morning. Maybe the start of hockey season?"

Keep watching the lake, Tom. Please wait a bit before lacing on the skates.

(The cub is filing regular reports and photos on Alex girl's winter sports again this year. If you'd like to receive the super fan reports, send us a note and we'll see that you're included on the group email list.)

----

Patty Wicken writes:
I have seen it. It is such a gift from God when the lakes freeze smooth as glass before the snow falls and the wind blows. I remember ice skating across Latoka, the lake like a mirror, not a wrinkle in the surface or a flake of snow anywhere, the ice about 8" thick, cracking and popping in long slices in front of me with the weeds, logs and even fish clearly visible. Incredible. Let's hope we don't get any snow to speak of for a few days. Fingers crossed I am so there!
Patty

------

Diane writes:

I'm with you Patti....growing up on Le Homme Dieu I couldn't wait to get home from school to skate.... Once I spotted my sailor's hat that had blown off that past summer. Thanks Tommy for bringing back that fond memory...

Diane Hoffman O'Brien

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Obert writes:

We have received a response from Mr. Donley here. He says "Lake Carlos (the "A" lake on the chain [his description]) is not frozen over due to the purity of its homeowners."

-----

Mikko writes,

Back in the mid-'90s, a bit later in the season, we had such a smooth surface on Lake Osakis, completely unobstructed by snow, that I drove to Minneapolis to purchase an ice-bicycle. It had a long front fork with an ice-skate blade at the bottom, in place of a front wheel. The back wheel was covered with a metal rim with metal studs all over it. It worked like a charm, and I still cherish the blissful notions that were dancing in my brain as I pedaled across the smooth ice on that gorgeous and sunshiney January day. Then in a nano-second the little skate blade dropped into a crack in the ice and the bike stopped - but I continued forward at about 20 mph, finally touching down in a perfect three point landing (one chin & two feet) a good ten yards from the crashed bicycle. Ahh the blessed memories of Winter in Minnesota. - Mikko Cowderey

---

Jane writes:

I was also stunned! But with that nasty wind chill yesterday.....
Get your ice house ready!
Jane Lillestol

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Sara writes from California
Remember when we attached toboggans to the guys' cars and flew across the lakes driving the ice fishermen crazy? Well, this smooth (definitely a big deal!!!) ice would have been fantastic.
Sara Smith Sevey

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Loren Berg, Alex class of '58, writes:
A response from the apprentice cub-reporter. I am happy to report that the ponds on the golf course here in Arizona did not freeze over last night. Also, as a summer resident who happens to reside on Lake Carlos, I concur with Mr. Donley’s assessment.
Hope things are going well!
Loren Berg

----------------

Assignment to cub reporter from the editor

Cub.

What we need to really sell this story is a photo looking through the polished ice at some interesting object beneath it. I know it is a bit early to be venturing out on the ice. Could you just tie your camera to the end of a long stick, set it on time delay, then have it go off as you suspend it over the lake, perhaps pointed at some submerged item, like the outboard motor that fell off the dock last summer?

If the sun is at your back, it should work. Just don’t fall in. After your last assignment, we can't get insurance anymore.

Ed.

We haven't had an Ole and Sven joke for a while

Apparently noting the dearth of new information on the Alex Boomers site, retired boomer George C. Schultz sends this along. Normally we don't repost what could pass as internet spam, but because George put his personal touch to it, we offer this, without projecting anything into it.

BTW, remember Sharon Cassida Shaw? She's working up a note to post here. She'd like to contact with old friends from JHS. Stay tuned for that. And how about a word from some of you folks who haven't sent anything for a while. Holidays are coming. Time to reconnect. What are you doing? trailboss@swpub.com

COUNSELING - MINNESOTA STYLE

Ole and Sven are quietly sitting in a boat fishing, drinking beer, when suddenly Sven says, "I think I'm gonna divorce my wife - she ain't spoke to me in over 2 months."
Ole sips his beer and says, "Better think it over... women like that are hard to find."

You're invited!

Hi Stan,
A few of us are gathering for dinner and would like to extend the invitation to any Blog watchers and JHS classmates in the area...
Tues, Nov 18 6pm at Golden Valley Golf Club
Widstrom, Wadsworth, Sherry and possibly Roers and Van Kempen.

Cheers!
Kathy

ps Thanks again and again for the blog!!

One of our faves, Rusty Rolandson

The Cub Reporter, a/k/a, Joe, the Paparazzo, ran across a 65Roundup.com favorite, Rusty Rolandson, at the Sixth Avenue Wine and Ale tonight. Those of age will recall Rusty was a star athlete in several sports for the Alexandria Cardinals and an All-American shortstop for the Gophers in the late 60's - I spent many a time watching him perform at Siebert Field. He has moved back to Alex full-time, though still working as a manufacturer's rep, and was mightily impressed by the musical talent of the evening: [From l - r] Erik Schultz, Tom Mulder, and Al Lieffort (for Rusty's sake).

Veterans Day, 2008

Thank you for your service, Jefferson High veterans.


October 31, 2008
A Proclamation by the President of the United States of America
On Veterans Day, we pay tribute to the service and sacrifice of the men and women who in defense of our freedom have bravely worn the uniform of the United States.

From the fields and forests of war-torn Europe to the jungles of Southeast Asia, from the deserts of Iraq to the mountains of Afghanistan, brave patriots have protected our Nation's ideals, rescued millions from tyranny, and helped spread freedom around the globe. America's veterans answered the call when asked to protect our Nation from some of the most brutal and ruthless tyrants, terrorists, and militaries the world has ever known. They stood tall in the face of grave danger and enabled our Nation to become the greatest force for freedom in human history. Members of the Army, Navy, Air Force, Marines, and Coast Guard have answered a high calling to serve and have helped secure America at every turn. Our country is forever indebted to our veterans for their quiet courage and exemplary service. We also remember and honor those who laid down their lives in freedom's defense. These brave men and women made the ultimate sacrifice for our benefit. On Veterans Day, we remember these heroes for their valor, their loyalty, and their dedication. Their selfless sacrifices continue to inspire us today as we work to advance peace and extend freedom around the world.

With respect for and in recognition of the contributions our service members have made to the cause of peace and freedom around the world, the Congress has provided (5 U.S.C. 6103(a)) that November 11 of each year shall be set aside as a legal public holiday to honor America's veterans.

NOW, THEREFORE, I, GEORGE W. BUSH, President of the United States of America, do hereby proclaim November 11, 2008, as Veterans Day and urge all Americans to observe November 9 through November 15, 2008, as National Veterans Awareness Week. I encourage all Americans to recognize the bravery and sacrifice of our veterans through ceremonies and prayers. I call upon Federal, State, and local officials to display the flag of the United States and to support and participate in patriotic activities in their communities. I invite civic and fraternal organizations, places of worship, schools, businesses, unions, and the media to support this national observance with commemorative expressions and programs.

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand this thirty-first day of October, in the year of our Lord two thousand eight, and of the Independence of the United States of America the two hundred and thirty-third.

GEORGE W. BUSH

Riki Olson ('66) Scheela gets Wellstone award

Nursing professor wins Wellstone Social Justice Award
BEMIDJI, Minn. - Dr. Rochelle "Riki" Scheela, professor of nursing at Bemidji State University, has been awarded the Paul and Sheila Wellstone Social Justice Award by the Minnesota Nurses Association.
[Sheela is a 1966 graduate of Jefferson High School, the daughter of "Shorty" and "Bee" Olson.]
Scheela received the award on Sunday, Oct. 12, in conjunction with the Minnesota Nurses Association's 2008 annual convention in Duluth, Minn.
"This is such a great honor to me for several reasons," Scheela said. "Work with sex offenders is not always valued or respected, so having my work and research recognized in the context of social justice is so affirming.
"In my experience, the vast majority of sex offenders have been abused themselves, are remorseful for what they have done and don't want to ever hurt anyone again," Scheela said. "For those who have successfully completed treatment at Upper Mississippi Mental Health Center, less than five percent reoffend. Research demonstrates similar statistics elsewhere in the state and across the nation. Working with sex offenders contributes to the welfare of offenders and to the safety of victims and the community."
The Paul and Sheila Wellstone Social Justice Award honors the nurse, elected official or community leader who demonstrates a lifetime achievement of working to better the lives of others by increasing their access to quality health care. According to the Minnesota Nurses Association, the recipient of the award is one who:
---speaks out courageously and consistently for others, as the Wellstones did during their careers in politics and activism.
---offers an unwavering voice on behalf of those who have none; a voice that is clear and undiminished by political tides.
---exemplifies the words of Paul Wellstone when he said, "we should never separate the lives we live from the words we speak."
Scheela joined the Bemidji State University faculty in 1983, and served as chair of the Department of Nursing from 1999 to 2007. She also has worked in the sexual abuse treatment program at Bemidji's Upper Mississippi Mental Health Center since 1984.
She has become an internationally-reknowned expert on sexual abuse and sex offenders, giving dozens of presentations around the world. She has focused her work on the treatment of male sex offenders and has done extensive research on sex abuse in Vietnam. As part of this research, she spent nine months on sabbatical in Vietnam and adopted six "shoeshine boys" into her family, providing them with meals and clothing and interacting with them on a daily basis. Her research and experience have led her to develop a multi-disciplinary course on sexual abuse.
Scheela has been a member of the Minnesota Nurses Association since 1970, and also holds memberships in the National League for Nursing, the American Holistic Nurses' Association, the American Psychiatric Nurses Association and the American Association of Colleagues of Nursing. She is also a member of numerous international nursing organizations and is on the executive board of the Minnesota Association of Colleges of Nursing.
Scheela earned her bachelor of arts in nursing from the College of St. Catherine, earned master's degrees at the College of St. Thomas and the University of Minnesota and was awarded her Ph.D. in nursing from the University of Texas in 1991. She holds licensure as a registered nurse from the Minnesota Board of Nursing.
Nominations for the Wellstone Social Justice Award may be made by individual members or member groups of the Minnesota Nurses Association. The award, which made its debut in 2003, was developed to honor Senator Paul Wellstone and his wife Sheila, who died in Oct. 2002. The Wellstones had a long-standing relationship with the Minnesota Nurses Association and often spoke eloquently on behalf of nurses and the nursing profession.
"Dr. Scheela has demonstrated a lifetime of respectful interactions with her clients and co-workers," said Dr. Jeanine Gangeness, associate professor of nursing at Bemidji State who nominated Scheela for the award. "She has an extraordinary capacity to forgive and care for all individuals regardless of their history or current condition. The Paul and Sheila Wellstone Social Justice Award is given to individuals who have an ‘unwavering voice on behalf of those who have none;' there are few individuals that fit this description as well as Dr. Riki Scheela."
"I have tremendous admiration for who Paul and Sheila Wellstone were as people, what they stood for and the important work they did," Scheela said. "To be associated with them in some small way is a tremendous honor and very humbling."

Jingle Bells now World Wide

Remember Jingle Bells? It's still going on and it's bigger than ever. Got this note from KXRA's Patty Wicken today:

Stan:
The 59th Annual Jingle Bells telethon will be held Saturday, December 13 beginning at 5:30 pm (CST) live from the Lake Geneva Christian Center in Alexandria, Minnesota. Hubbard Broadcasting has given prime time to Jingle Bells this year.
No longer will sleepy youngsters be plopped in the middle of the living room floor surrounded by glasses of coke on ice and bowls of popcorn trying to keep their eyes open while they wait for the dollar-amount tree ornaments to reach the top of the tree.
Remember when we were thrilled at the $1000 ornament? Jingle Bells raised $500 in 1949 when it was broadcast the first time on KXRA-Radio. In 2007 Jingle Bells raised over $100,000!!!! Donations came in from all around the United States.
I am writing to ask you to let the Class of '65 know that Jingle Bells will be available on the internet at www.ksax.com and donations can be sent to Alex Jaycees c/o Jingle Bells, PO Box 131, Alexandria, MN 56308.
Jingle Bells typically helps over 1,000 families with food and gift baskets and with hardship funds throughout the year (house fires, cancer benefits, disabling accidents, etc.)
On Sunday, December 14, hundreds of volunteers will pack gift baskets with food (the fixings for a holiday meal along with flour, sugar, cereal, pie ingredients, you name it) and age-appropriate gifts for children in the family.
It's sometimes a little corny but it's the very best of small town/big hearts....and sometimes it's good for our kids and grandkids to see a little bit of what we knew growing up. This year more then ever the need will be great. Thanks, Stan.
Patty Wicken