School, Labor Day, and a Mural

Sunday, August 30, 2015. The school year starts Tuesday, September 1. Then, a few days later: Labor Day weekend; and school starts again on the 7th.

I took a closer look at the downtown mural this week: and noticed that the Sauk Centre in the mural has a steam engine at the depot, and a building that's not there any more, across the street. The railway depot building is still around: housing Depot Feeds.


Downtown Sauk Centre's mural: complete, apparently. (August 26, 2015)


A closer look at downtown Sauk Centre: as it was. (August 26, 2015)


A well-tended garden on Sauk Centre's south side. (August 26, 2015)

That's it for now. I'll see you next week.

Looking Ahead to School, Back at the Fair

Sunday, August 17, 2014. School starts September 2, according to the Sauk Centre Public Schools website. They've got the usual announcements about Fall sports, open house, and school supply lists.

Looking back at the Stearns County Fair, I have more photos to share.


Stearns County Fair, 4H building: photography. July 30, 2014.


Stearns County Fair, Conservation building: new bird enclosure. July 30, 2014.


Stearns County Fair, Conservation building: fish pool. July 30, 2014.

I like what they did in the Conservation building: replacing cubicles displaying various birds on the south wall with a sort of bird run. The only disadvantage I saw with the new arrangement is that it's a bit hard to tell which labels go with which birds. Maybe next year they'll have photos, or sketches, to help.

Springtime in Minnesota: Still More Snow

It's snowing again.

Schools closed at 1:00.

That's what my webscam saw, about 20 minutes ago.

Blizzard: or, Watching Trees Wave Merrily in the Wind

Sunday, January 26, 2014. A blizzard warning is on until midnight tonight. Sauk Centre schools won't open tomorrow: a welcome display of good sense. I heard that Interstate 94 is closed between Osakis and Moorhead.

I've spent the day enjoying not being outside, watching trees wave merrily in the wind.


Sunshine and snow in south Sauk Centre. January 22, 2014.


The Walmart parking lot, looking toward Coborn's and downtown. January 22, 2014.

The local Soo Bahk Do group was in the Sauk Centre Herald this week. The paper did a pretty good job of describing what our group does. I got the 'original' digital photo from the folks who gave the Sauk Herald a copy. Those are happy folks, after a tournament down in St. Cloud.


Soo Bahk Do in the newspaper. January 24, 2014.


After a tournament. December 8, 2013.

The last I heard, the blizzard is supposed to be over tonight. We don't seem to be getting any new snow, but any that's loose gets blown around. Then we're looking forward to a wind chill warning until noon on Tuesday.

I may stay inside tomorrow, too.


Saasdfnoon. January 26, 2014.

That's it for this week.

Blizzard and a Webcam

I got two phone calls early this morning, both from Sauk Centre schools' automated system. The first said that school would start two hours late. The second made more sense: no classes today.

There's a blizzard in progress here in central Minnesota. Looking through my webcam, it doesn't look too bad. The wind is still brisk, though, eagerly rearranging snow drifts and making new ones.

I plan to stay in all day.

Related posts:

• "Winter Storm and a Webcam in Central Minnesota"
  (December 28, 2013)
• "Cold Weather and Me"
  (January 5, 2014)
• "School: Late Today"
  (January 24, 2013)

Cold Weather and Me

Sunday, January 5, 2014. It's cold outside here in central Minnesota: and quite a few other places, too. Public schools in Minnesota won't open tomorrow, thanks to a decision by the Minnesota Governor.

I've been staying inside quite a bit recently, for a variety of reasons. I took these photos on Wednesday.


The eighth day of Christmas at Our Lady of Angels church. January 1, 2014.


They're hard to see from this angle, but those wise men got closer this week. At least, I assume so. January 1, 2014.

My wife told me to stay inside today. I had no problem with that idea. Like I said, it's cold outside.

Related posts, in this and another blog:

• "Break Time"
  Through One Dad's Eye (January 5, 2014)
• "Just Touching Base"
  Through One Dad's Eye (January 4, 2014)
• "Fifth Day of Christmas, and Crisp Weather"
  (December 29, 2013)
• "Winter Storm and a Webcam in Central Minnesota"
  (December 28, 2013)
• "Spilled Coffee, Reality, and a Wind Chill Advisory"
  Through One Dad's Eye (December 9, 2013)

End of a Hot Week

Sunday, September 8, 2013. It's been a hot week, until today. I've been enjoying being inside most of today, watching the occasional rain showers.


Temperatures in Glenwood, from Wunderground.com. September, 2013.

School started, with the usual midafternoon exodus down south 9th.

Apart from that, I haven't noticed much going on in town. Not that I've been out much. It was that sort of a week.

School: Late Today

It's comparatively warm today. Right now, about 3:00 p.m., it's one degree above zero: Fahrenheit. With a wind of 11 miles an hour, the wind chill is minus 15 Fahrenheit.

Even so, schools started two hours late today. Maybe it was the minus-12 temperature early this morning.

Road Work, Construction, and the Start of School

Sunday, August 19, 2012. It's been a beautiful day. I grilled burgers, spent time with my family, and relaxed. Now it's time to see what I've got for this week's entry.


Resurfacing streets is routine. Looks like there's something bigger happening on South 4th Street. August 14, 2012.


The corner of South 4th and Main, looking east. There's more of that hole in the ground, below what's visible here. August 17, 2012.


Sinclair Lewis Avenue: fresh blacktop, plastic tags you can't see in this photo, showing where traffic markings should go. August 14, 2012.


Construction on south Main, across from the Hillcrest Motel, more or less. August 14, 2012.


There isn't an official 'rummage sale season,' but most of the activity seems to be between Memorial Day and Labor Day.. August 17, 2012.

The Sauk Centre Public Schools website, www.isd743.k12.mn.us, says that Open House is August 28, 6:00-8:00 p.m.; and that classes start September 4. The 28th is a week from Tuesday, so there's not much of summer vacation left.

Fundraiser, Photos, and Discrete Frogs

Sunday, August 5, 2012. I don't have much to say about Sauk Centre this week, but do have some photos.


Casino Night is a major fundraiser for Holy Family School. The sign is in Our Lady of Angels' parking lot. August 1, 2012.


St. Paul's spire, trees: a street scene in Sauk Centre. August 1, 2012.


Garden decorations: a couple of discrete frogs. August 1, 2012.


Garage sales, and signs pointing to them: a sort of summer tradition. August 5, 2012.

It's still a dry summer, although a thunderstorm got around to leaving water while roaring through town.

"Just For Fun" Band Concert: Two More Photos

When I wrote about the last band concert of the season at Sauk Centre's school, I said I might post some more photos:

• "Band Concert, Hail, and a Soo Bahk Do Tournament"
  (May 20, 2012)

I thought these might be worth sharing:


"Just For Fun" band concert at Sauk Centre school. May 14, 2012.


"Just For Fun" band concert at Sauk Centre school. May 14, 2012.

Band Concert, Hail, and a Soo Bahk Do Tournament

Sunday, May 20, 2012. I don't have a photo of the inch-and-a-quarter-size hail that came down around 11:00 Friday night. Our Lady of Angels church's Father Statz said that he'd left his car out that night: and that in the morning it looked like someone had gone over it with a ball peen hammer.

This isn't exactly a new development: but this week I noticed that Jitters Java (jittersjavacafe.com) and Main Street Theatre (mainstreettheatremn.com) have their own websites.

I heard "Just For Fun," the last grades 6-12 band concert of the school year, Monday evening. I enjoy those concerts: partly because my son plays trombone in one of the bands, partly because I like the music. They had the usual mix of styles, from "Drum Schtick" to "The Pink Panther" and "Puttin' On the Ritz." Near the end, band members did a sort of presentation/recognition for the band director, Melissa Vorderbruggen. (I sure hope I got the name right.)


"Just For Fun" band concert at Sauk Centre school. May 14, 2012.


Presentation to the band director. May 14, 2012.

Now that temperatures are summer-like, we've got yard sales and garage sales.


Summer and yard sales: part of life here in Sauk Centre. May 18, 2012.

My wife and #3 daughter went to St. Cloud on Saturday, for a Soo Bahk Do tournament. I went along as driver and photographer This one wasn't as crowded as they usually are. Maybe the looming Memorial Day weekend has something to do with that. "Looming" isn't quite the right word.


Soo Bahk Do tournament in St. Cloud. May 19, 2012.

That's about if for this week. Unless I decide to post a few more photos of the Soo Bahk Do thing on the Sauk Centre Journal Blog.

Advertising in School Hallways, Blue Skies, and Valentine's Day on Tuesday

Sunday, February 12, 2012. It felt like April this weekend. The good news is that heating bills shouldn't be too bad for this month. The bad news is that at this rate what snow is left will melt off long before April and May finally make an appearance. I don't like 'open winters.' Happily, I haven't noticed blowing dust.


Sauk Lake public landing in Sauk Centre. We've had some picture-postcard days this week. February 10, 2012.

More good news: these crystal-clear blue skies are nice to look at.

I see in this week's Sauk Centre Herald that the public school may put advertising up in the hallways. ("Hallways as billboards?" Randy Olson (February 8, 2012))

The idea is that private/non-school advertisers would pay to have their advertisements posted, with profits going into the school's general fund. Maybe it's crass commercialism: but it also sounds like a reasonable way to help keep the school running. As for the affect on students?

At the lower elementary grades, it might not be the best idea. For the teen population in the school? I spent my adolescence in the '60s: and my classmates were reasonably media-savvy then. I seriously doubt that grades seven-through-12 in the Sauk Centre Public School are any less able to tell the difference between advertising and school announcements.

It looks like the school board is taking time to collect information and think: which I think is a good thing.

One more thing: Valentine's Day comes on TUESDAY of THIS WEEK?!

Oh, wait: I've already taken care of what I'll give my wife.

Whew!

Next stop on the holiday calendar is Ash Wednesday.

Telephone Cramming Links, Summer Clouds, and Enjoying Summer

Sunday, August 21, 2011. The Sauk Centre Herald is running a story about a scam that's costing us about $2,000,000,000 dollars. That's nationally: The Chicago Sun-Times published an editorial about cramming, and why Congress should let the FCC get the new rules they want. (Chicago Sun-Times (August 3, 2011))

Basically, cramming is a company getting your telephone service provider to add a little to your bill. Cramming companies often work through a middleman, and keep their bogus charges low enough to avoid getting noticed. That's the idea, anyway: checking your monthly bill for charges you didn't authorize is a good idea.

Here's more about telephone cramming:

• FCC
  • "Cramming - Unauthorized, Misleading, or Deceptive Charges Placed on Your Telephone Bill"
    Fact sheet
• Office of the Attorney General, Minnesota, Lori Swanson
  • "Attorney General Swanson Sues Telephone Bill 'Crammer'"
    Press Release (January 7, 2011)
  • "Your Legal Rights: Don't Get 'Crammed'--Avoid Unwanted Charges on Your Phone Bill"
    Fact sheet

Enough of the 'public service announcement.'

Once again, I've got photos to show off.


Much depends on what a person decides to notice. There's an empty sidewalk, a lawn with some bare ground: but look closer - - -. August 21, 2011.


- - - There's also a set of cheerful sunflowers in bloom. August 21, 2011.


This morning at Our Lady of Angels church. Just
one word: Aww. August 21, 2011.


Summer clouds south of the Sauk Centre School. August 21, 2011.

I see that Sauk Centre Public School's
open house is August 30: a week from Tuesday. Classes start September 6 - and the first two-day vacation is October 20 and 21. Why there's a vacation there I
didn't see.

I plan to get out and enjoy summer while it's still here. Maybe next week will have more days like today. Or, maybe not.

Another Beautiful Day: Or, Not Much to Say

Monday, May 16, 2011. Another beautiful day. I've been distracted by the clear blue sky, and a few tasks around the house.

Then, this evening, I went to the last band concert of the school year. I might even have a photo or two for Sunday's entry. Or, not. We'll see how that turns out. Folks filled the auditorium, someone at the back was making a video of the concert, and they were out of programs by the time I arrived. I enjoyed the music, anyway.

Besides: It's not all that easy to read in the dark.

Easter, 2011; and School Budget Decisions

Sunday, April 24, 2011. Easter Sunday. It's been one of those spring days that live up to the season's 'flowers that bloom in the spring, tra-la' reputation: clear blue sky, not all that cool, and enough breeze to keep smoke out of my eyes when I grilled burgers this noon.


Palm Sunday in Our Lady of the Angels church. With - what else? - palms. April 17, 2011.

There's been more greenery in Our Lady of the Angels church, where I go, than any other season - except for Christmas. Palm Sunday's the most spectacular, in its own way, with those palm - leaves? fronds? whatever you call those shrub-size things.


Easter Sunday in Our Lady of the Angels Church: Not so much green, but a whole lot of lilies. April 24, 2011.

This week's Sauk Centre Herald's front page story was "Sauk Centre school board hears more public input on budget cut proposals." I gather that, one way or another, there isn't going to be as much money available for the public school: and none of the options are particularly fun. Aside from state and national economics, I gather that there just aren't as many students in the schools as there were a few years ago.

One of the cost-cutting ideas is to cut some administrative positions. My opinion is that I'm glad I'm not the one having to make the hard decisions. One set of folks or another is going to be displeased, no matter what, I suspect.

Also in the online Herald is a short piece about Main Street Gallery - a new business. I haven't been out for, well, a few weeks: so that's news to me.

Now that it's warming up, I gotta get out more.

Charlie Company Being Deployed

Sunday, February 27, 2011. I took advantage of today's warmer weather - comparatively warmer, that it - and grilled burgers this noon. What with one thing and another, it's been a while since I've done that.

The big deal that I know about at the moment is Our Lady of the Angels' Lenten Parish Mission with Steve Ray: that's March 13th and 14th, a Sunday and Monday. The Sunday thing is at the Sauk Centre High School auditorium. I'll probably be writing more about that: but not just now.

I am determined to get a flu shot next season: I didn't this year, and that may be part of why I've been sincerely off my feed for so long.

I see in the paper that Charlie Company will be deployed (again) May 27. They tell about Beyond the Yellow Ribbon - a program that encourages folks in the community to help families of deployed soldiers. 'They' being the Sauk Herald, that is.
Then there's Snow Week Royalty at Sauk Centre public schools: Maren Greenwaldt and Dillon Dean.

It's late, and I'm determined to get a good night's sleep: so, goodnight!

Winter Storm, School's Out: at About 1:20 p.m

The Sauk Centre public schools got the word out at about 1:20 this afternoon: now that the kids are in town, they're closing schools early.

#2 daughter and her husband knew about the winter storm, as of late yesterday, kept an eye on it, and decided to lay over here another 36 hours. As of yesterday, early evening, the warning was effective starting 6:00 a.m. today and running 24 hours.

Anyway: The weather isn't all that bad here at the corner of South 9th and Ash, but I'm glad me and mine don't have to go out today.

The announcement came just in time to keep my son from leaving, for band: an activity he's involved with at the school.

Now, a bit of self-promotion. A window on a Sauk Centre south side neighborhood:

• Small Town America: Minnesota
  • Sauk Centre, Minnesota, near the corner of Ash Street and South 9th.

Very Safe School Bus Drivers

Sunday, November 7, 2010. Halloween's over: and after almost a quarter-century of living here, I still haven't seen the inside of "Monster Manor," in the fairgrounds across from Coborn's.

The midterm election's over, too: for which I'm duly grateful. The political ads for the state and national races - - - Well, it's over, and we've got a breather before the next one. I read in the Sauk Centre Herald that we had a pretty good turnout: 68% of the registered voters, ten points higher than the state average. I've suspected that we're a tad more likely to give a rip about what happens in our community: but I'll admit to a bias.

I love it here.

Take the front page headlines of this week's paper, for example. The first thing I saw was that Sauk Centre school bus drivers were "recognized for the superior procedures" after a surprise inspection. It's nice to live in a town where good news on the front page isn't a rarity.

Also in this week's Herald: Walt Junkin has played taps at military funerals here for 54 years. There's a pretty good write-up in the paper. And in the online edition. Something I didn't know: The VFW and American Legion posts here have a mechanical bugler.

Sirens and a Band Concert

Wednesday, November 3, 2010. The emergency sirens went off today, at 1:00 p.m., right on schedule. I don't know whether to call that a tradition, a routine, or what. In practical terms, it's a good idea to test a system like that periodically: so maybe I should call it 'routine maintenance.'

Then there was last night's band concert at the high school. I'll get back to that
tomorrow.