Good Morning from The Depot! |
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What a great week we have had here in Lanesboro! After an exciting day spent at Art in the Park on Saturday, we celebrated our community again on Monday when KTTC’s Midwest Access broadcast live from Sylvan Park.
Jonathan and I had a great time hosting Kamie and Micah from KTTC as they taped segments throughout town and put the footage together from our conference room at the visitor center. Thanks to Joe Goetzke, our LACC board president; Kara Maloney from Lanesboro Arts and Hal Cropp from the Commonweal Theatre for sharing information on the live broadcast. Also, thanks to Lance Prado (and Finn) from Root River Rod, Co., for taking the crew fishing; to Val Tindall at the Lanesboro History Museum for sharing stories from our past; Linda Egnash at E2 Boutique for highlighting our great shopping opportunities; and to Karen and Andy Heimdahl from Sylvan Brewing and Zach Lind of the Driftless Trading Post for sharing their newest endeavors. Our community should be so proud of the friendly and welcoming impression it made on this news crew. I know they would love to come back to showcase even more of what Lanesboro has to offer.
Looking back to Art in the Park - WOW - what a day that was! The park was hopping and we were able to visit with a lot of different people from near and far. Our Chamber tent was set up in a pretty great location - close to the music and the food - but also next to Lanesboro author and historian Steve Harris. He was kind enough to introduce me to a lot of new people and we had a great time discussing potential stories to share through our newsletter, our upcoming visitor guides and even newspaper articles. Again, as writers, both Steve and I love to share stories about the people we know and love in our town.
As we are looking ahead, it is not too early to mention Buffalo Bill Days, coming up the first weekend of August. Make sure to pick up your 2023 t-shirts at the city office for $18. They have sizes S to 3XL. Business owners and employees are encouraged to wear the shirts on Fridays through the summer in support and promotion of the event.
As one of the representatives from the nine Root River Trail Towns communities, I attend these meetings every month and have worked with some great people through the years as I represented both Lanesboro and Harmony. Recently, two of the town representatives have accepted positions outside of the organization, Gabby Kinneberg from Preston and Jennifer Hengel of Rushford-Peterson Valley. I just want to say thank you to these two amazing women for their contributions to this organization and to our greater southeastern Minnesota community. Both helped lead this group over the past years and their guidance will be missed. However, we still have many caring and dedicated individuals who will continue this organization’s vision and the goals we have set for the future.
Sorry, I got a little wordy today - but there was so much I wanted to say! I am very grateful for the wonderful opportunities we have in Lanesboro and am proud to help tell its story. Sharing the “Magic of Lanesboro” is a privilege and an honor and there is so much more to showcase!
Wishing you a day filled with sunshine and smiles,
~ Melissa
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Thanks to Kamie Roesler and Micah Hagen from KTTC Midwest Access for spending the day in Lanesboro on Monday! Thanks to Tom Overlie as well, who joined the live broadcast from the Fillmore County Cattlemen's annual steak fry! We hope they will come back soon and explore more of our community and enjoy more adventures in Lanesboro. (We gave them plenty of ideas for future stories and activities for spring, summer, fall and winter!)
If you missed the live broadcast, you can find footage of their interviews and stories by clicking the button below.
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Peterson is hosting Gammel Dag - A Scandinavian Midsummer Festival on Saturday, June 24, with the parade kicking off the day at 10 a.m. The day will also feature Nordic folk dancers; art demonstrations and lessons; art sales; bandstand entertainment; vendors; museum tours; vintage baseball; little league games. There will be a community bonfire from 4:30 to 6:30 p.m. and entertainment at the Legion from 8 p.m. to midnight.
Dairy Night on the Farm will be held at Trailside Holsteins, on Saturday, June 24. Hosted annually by the Fillmore County American Dairy Association, the event will feature a meal of cheeseburgers, mac and cheese and ice cream! There will be many activities for kids and farm tours. Trailside Holsteins is located at 24962 Jade Road in rural Fountain.
Harmony’s Fourth of July celebration is coming up on - well - you guessed it, July 4. There will be activities held on Saturday, Sunday and Monday, July 1, 2 and 3, but the majority of the fun is being planned for Tuesday, July 4, including good food, live music, the grand parade, games for the kids, the Ninja Anywhere course and fireworks. It will be a wonderful way to spend your day.
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Important Upcoming Meetings |
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The Minnesota Department of Transportation (MnDOT) will be holding a public meeting on Tuesday, June 27, from 4 to 6 p.m. at the Lanesboro Community Center. MnDOT is seeking feedback on several design options for the Highway 250 construction project slated to take place in 2026. Brief presentations will be held at 4:30 p.m. and 5:30 p.m. If unable to attend the meeting, one can still share thoughts by taking an online survey.
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MnDOT will also have a booth near the Windy Mesa lot on Saturday, July 1, from 1 to 3 p.m. to gather input from visitors and residents.
The project will include reconstruction of Hwy 250 from the Hwy 250 bridge over the Root River to Hwy 16. Plans include removing the entire road and replacing it with new materials. During that time, the City of Lanesboro will also replace sewer and water utilities.
Earlier this year, MnDOT conducted a survey and heard from over 110 people about their experiences with and priorities for the road. Suggestions were made to improve intersections, bike and pedestrian crossings, and sidewalks. A summary is available by clicking the button below.
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Based on this feedback, MnDOT developed options for what the redesigned Hwy 250 might look like. You can view them by clicking on the last button in this section. |
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Your feedback will advance the design for Hwy 250, which they anticipate will be ready for the community to review in the fall of this year. |
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Mark your calendars for an upcoming meeting to learn the results of the Chill-Inn Lanesboro Winter Tourism Assessment to be held Wednesday, July 19, from 6:30 to 7:45 p.m. in the Lanesboro Community Center gym. Thanks to a great response from the community, both in answering the survey and in participating in the SOAR event, this should be a very interesting presentation. This could affect the whole community, so the public is invited to attend. There will be light refreshments. We truly hope to see you there!
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SCUBA diving in the Root River? Yes, you read that correctly. Apparently, there are parts of the Root River deep enough that allow you to SCUBA dive. Just ask local business owner and SCUBA instructor Erik Gehrke, owner of Good Job Painting, Snow Removal and Lawn Care. He is also a certified SCUBA instructor with Southeast SCUBA Escape! If you've ever been curious about SCUBA diving, Erik would love to talk to you. He loves teaching SCUBA. Give him a call. (507) 450-6030 or (833) SSE-DIVE. Or go to www.SSEdive.com or email eric@ssedive.com.
Coming soon: Paddle On Coffee & Maker Emporium will be opening in downtown Lanesboro, at 115 Parkway Ave N. It will be a historic building with a modern interior.
Allie and Ryan Palmer are working as quickly as possible to bring this amenity to our beloved town. In order to open as soon as possible, they will likely be open as a store with prepackaged food and drink before they are able to do food prep in the kitchen. The coffeehouse will offer items by local makers, interested parties are welcome to send sample images of their products for the jurying process to PaddleOnCoffee@gmail.com.
Let's take a closer look at Whalan and what it has to offer! Have you been there recently? Whether you're taking the trail or driving along the Scenic Byway, a stop in Whalan is a must! The Aroma Pie Shoppe is famous for good reasons. Thousands of people grace their doorsteps every weekend to get a slice (perhaps a la mode) and a sandwich. All the pies are made from scratch with unique and tasty recipes that will, frankly, blow your mind with flavor. They have been in business for over 30 years, and it’s not hard to see why. Also you can now order pies online! https://www.aromapieshoppe.com/collections
And if you haven’t been to the Whalan Depot, you absolutely must stop by this great snack and souvenir shop located in the historic Whalan Train Depot building! They offer refreshing cold drinks, including Spring Grove pop, ice cream novelty treats, salt water taffy, homemade fudge from Valley Fudge & Candy, and many other snacks. They also have a variety of souvenirs, including Whalan Depot T-shirts and sweatshirts. The back room is full of homemade artisan gifts including natural soy candles, embroidered towels, handmade gnomes, handmade cards and postcards, quilts, handbags, outdoor garden décor, and much more. They also have a variety of bike accessories and items you may need on the trail.
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Be sure to let us know what you have going on to add it to our "Ear to the Ground" section! We’d love to add it to our list. Members can simply post an event to the online calendar through the member portal or email office@lanesboro.com.
It’s Trivia tonight, Thursday, June 22, at Karst Brewing in Fountain. We’ve got a fifth Thursday, so we’ll have to see what those crazy sink-hole loving kids come up with! Be surprised with us on June 29!
Eagle Bluff Root River Canoeing - a Guided Experience is TOMORROW! Friday, June 23, 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. Guides will lead a 3.5-mile paddle down the scenic waters of the Root River! Trained instructors will prepare paddlers of all ages for this adventure by reviewing how to read a river, equipment and paddle strokes. Instructors will also point out interesting natural history features along the way including natural springs and wildlife. All equipment will be provided and no prior canoe experience is required. Lunch will be provided along the route. Youth under the age of 18 must be accompanied by an adult. Register in advance on eaglebluff.org/events.
The Lanesboro Barn Dance will take place this Friday, June 23, at DreamAcres near Wykoff. The fun starts at 7:30 p.m. and will feature calling by Pop Wagner/Shawn Glidden and music by Pop, Shawn and Bob Bovee. It will be a raucous square dance that’s still fun for the whole family. Live music and live calling make for a fun, interactive night of dance and fun.
“Bernhardt/Hamlet” at the Commonweal Theatre - (Only two shows left!): Friday, June 23, is the last night performance, but there is also a Saturday matinee at 1:30 p.m.. If you have not seen this show, take one of these opportunities to see a truly amazing show. It’s moving, funny, charming and poignant. Legendary diva is aging out of all the juicy roles. Ditching the dresses, she risks everything to play Hamlet! High comedy and human drama collide in this dynamic backstage account of a real-life superstar. Get tickets by Clicking Here.
Remember, the Farmers Market is open every Saturday morning, from 9 a.m. to 12 p.m., in Sylvan Park, from now through October. Find produce, baked goods, plants, canned goods and so much more!
Eagle Bluff Summer High Ropes Challenge opportunities take place from 1 to 4 p.m. on Saturdays, June 24 and July 8, and Monday, July 10. Buy tickets in advance on eaglebluff.org/events. Maneuver 30 feet in the air through a series of towers connected by various cables, ropes and log events! Do this all while enjoying the best view of southeastern Minnesota!
Sinkhole Saturday is in full swing at Karst Brewing in Fountain June 24, River Crossing will be playing. And just around the corner is Justin Jacobson and True Smoke BBQ on July 8.
Joel Ward will be singing soul and sharing acoustic guitar pickin’ stylings to the High Court Pub on Saturday, June 24, starting at 7 p.m. Tim Dallman will be blending rock, pop, country and folk into his show on June 30. Shows start at 7 p.m.
Summer Sundays are back at Sylvan Brewing! Every Sunday will include delicious farm-to-table food from the Driftless Trading Post. Live music will be featured all summer long as well. Most weekends, the music will start at 4 p.m. Bruce Greenwood will perform on Sunday, June 25, tickling the ivories and rocking out on the guitar. Clay Fulton will be bringing his unique talents to the brewery on Sunday, July 2, and the recently unretired Greg Gall is all about that acoustic folk and rock from the ‘70s and beyond and will perform on Sunday, July 7. On these hot summer days, grab a nice refreshing Lanesbrew, and a sandwich from the Driftless Trading Post, (I’m really digging the Cuban) and enjoy the tunes!
Tuesday Trivia at the High Court Pub brings in the ol’ English Invasion, innit govnah? Starting at 7 p.m. on Tuesday, June 27, but new topics are introduced every Tuesday.
The summer reading program is underway at the Lanesboro Public Library! Join them every Tuesday morning at 10 a.m. for family activities and on Fridays at 9:30 a.m. for a summer storytime series. Some of the fun family programs coming up include Z Puppets on June 27; Creature Teacher on July 11; and the National Eagle Center on July 25.
Jokes on Tap returns to Sylvan Brewing on Friday, June 30. Comics Ryan Stock and Andy Holt host this hilarious night of goofs and gags. The line-up ranges from seasoned stand-ups to newbies. Head over to the tap room at 8 p.m. to get your laughs on!
Previews for “Women in Jeopardy” start July 1 at the Commonweal Theatre. It’s "Murder She Wrote" meets "Sex and the City!" Mary Jo and Liz are divorced, single and loving it! But is Liz’s new boyfriend a serial killer? Be sure to take advantage of Fillmore County Free Night on July 6, Pay what you can on July 13, and Burro Business discounts! Get tickets by Clicking Here!
Norwegian Movie Night will be held on Thursday, July 6, from 7 to 9:30 p.m. at the Sons of Norway Hall. Free and open to the public, this annual movie night promises to be a fun time with light refreshments provided.
Rhythms on the Root is back on Saturday, July 8. Enjoy the beauty of Gateway Park, right on the Root River, with Sleeping Jesus. Sleeping Jesus has various tracks that all tether back to some big emotions, like feeling out of place in your own life. Despite the depths of their messages, their spin on pop music has been uplifting listeners for many years as they have continued to develop in their style. The concert takes place from 6 to 7:30 p.m. Tickets are $20 general admission for individuals age 13+ and $15 for Lanesboro Arts Members (free for 12 and under, but ticket still required). Click Here for tickets. Seating will be first-come, first-served general admission. Bring your own lawn chair or blanket to sit on in the park!
Planning ahead?
Audacious Raw Theatre has been bringing original work to Lanesboro for the last seven years. They gather artists from all walks of life, and teach devised theatre making. This year they are partnering with Lanesboro Arts and Eagle Bluff Environmental Learning Center to bring folks together to a Common Ground. The first theme is Surf and Turf - Stories of Water and the Earth, focusing on stories of land and water stewardship. Performances are Friday, July 14, 7 p.m. to Sunset with an encore on Sunday, July 16, from 1 to 2:30 p.m. Get tickets by Clicking Here.
Lanesboro Arts Gallery is celebrating its 30th Anniversary with a juried group show of some of the hundreds of the region's most talented creators who have shown their work at the galleries at Lanesboro Arts (and Cornucopia Gallery before that). The show runs through August 13 with a special anniversary reception the evening of Saturday, July 15.
The Lanesboro Community Theater is currently rehearsing for its upcoming production of “The Sound of Music” on July 21, 22 and 23, as well as the following weekend, July 28, 29 and 30. Come and enjoy laughter, sadness, drama and wonderful music as the actors recreate a fascinating musical. Tickets are available by Clicking Here or paper tickets can be purchased at the Parkway Market and Coffeehouse.
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Important Reminders for Members |
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The Lanesboro Area Chamber of Commerce will be starting its 2024 Membership Drive in July this year, beginning a transition back to the former timeline of summer renewals and a January delivery of the visitor guide. Look for your preliminary packet of information to arrive in your emails on July 17.
There is an opening on our LACC Board of Directors. Any member, or employee of a member, is eligible to serve. If you care about the business community and Lanesboro as a regional destination, please contact us to be considered as a candidate. You can email office@lanesboro.com to start the process. Basic expectations include attending monthly board meetings, serving on one of our talent teams (finance, marketing, membership and community engagement) and providing guidance to the Chamber staff.
Tuesday Tune Ups are offered every second Tuesday of the month at 11 a.m. Members are welcome to come to the Chamber office for training sessions for ChamberMaster tasks, such as how to update your hours, profile information and post events to our calendar. The next session will be July 11.
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Join us again, for another Depot Delivery, on Thursday, July 6. If you have something to include, please email office@lanesboro.com. |
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Melissa Vander Plas
Executive Director
Jonathan Levine
Office Administrator
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