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National Library Week

The first library I can remember going to was the public library when I was about eight years old. I can still remember my excitement in exploring the children’s section (and everywhere else I could find). I’d look for some of my favorite characters like the Boxcar Children or Encyclopedia Brown to try and solve their mysteries. I found fairy tales and books on animals and plants, space, and the earth. I would ride bike there after school or on a Saturday to spend quiet moments reading or looking at the latest art or exhibit on display. I am grateful that the library has always been ...

Silver takes the gold when it comes to decorative pieces

You probably have seen a “swinger” clock but never guessed how it worked. Most are small metal statues standing on a base while holding a long baseball bat, pendulum or other long, thin rod that is topped by a clock or a globe. It keeps time and the pendulum keeps swinging, but there is no sign of an electric plug or other power source. The first “mystery clock” was made by a French magician, Jean Robert-Houdin, in 1845. Many other versions followed. Junghans, a German clock factory, made most of those seen today. Ansonia, an American clock company, also made these unusual ...

Legion Riders Thank Sponsors

The American Legion Riders Post 132 would like to thank the following businesses for contributing to our annual Omelet in a Bag fundraiser: AMPI, Farasyns, Happy Joes, HyVee, Kwik Trip, Michaels Foods, Perkins.

A spring refresh for book club bags

This month, nicer weather brought more visitors into the library and increased conversations with library visitors. Those conversations provided welcome, thoughtful community feedback about Book Club resources at other libraries as well as compelling suggestions for growing our Book Club Bag collection here at the New Ulm Public Library. The information spurned me to evaluate our well-loved Book Club Bag collection. The outcome? It is time to do some weeding to make way for a spruced up collection of fresh, book club materials! If you are looking for a book club to join, the New Ulm ...

Cocktail shaker makes happy hour hoppy

At first glance, this silver standing rabbit chewing on a silver carrot has a few things in common with Easter collectibles. It’s metal, like the tin or iron Easter bunnies made as toys or doorstops. Like a candy container, it is hollow with a removable lid so it can hold a consumable treat. But unlike most Easter collectibles, which tend to be made for children, this rabbit has a decidedly adult purpose: It’s a cocktail shaker. The word “cocktail” appeared in print to refer to a mixed drink about 1806. Today’s cocktails and cocktail shakers have their roots in the ...

In Appreciation

Junior Achievement thanks fundraising sponsors The Board Members of Junior Achievement North in the New Ulm area would like to send out a thank you to all of the local businesses for the time put forth to make our annual Play for JA bigBowl fundraiser a success. The funds raised will be used to supplement the cost of JA programming materials for schools in New Ulm, Sleepy Eye and Nicollet. Junior Achievement classroom programs run on volunteer hours and funds raised throughout the year by the kindness within the communities we serve. A special thank you to these businesses for ...