Breaking News

Lifestyle Columns

Park & Rec Report

Swim Lesson Registration is open online or in person at the Rec Center for all sessions. Offerings/sessions can be viewed online at newulmmn.org The next sessions begin March 19 (Saturdays) and March 22 (Tuesday and Thursdays). Recreational Swim Club offers swimmers the opportunity to build muscle, speed, strength and improve endurance while swimming in a fun and safe environment! The club focuses on teaching stroke refinement and training swimmers in a team setting. Swim Club meets Tuesdays and Thursdays 3:30-5 p.m. The next session starts March 22. Participants must be at least 8 ...

Antiques & Collecting: Apple peelers were center of social ‘paring bees’

Between 1803 and 1900, approximately 250 U.S. patents were filed for designs of apple peelers. One of the first designs was in the late 1700s. Apples were a major crop in the U.S., and the evolution of kitchen tools like apple peelers significantly sped up fall harvesting chores. Apple peelers were taken to neighbors’ houses for annual “paring bees,” where men operated the hand-cranked machines, and women completed the finer work of quartering, slicing and stringing the apples for drying. Dried apple slices were stored in bags and used to make applesauce or pies or for other ...

Off the Shelf: Spring refresh

If you feel like it’s time for a decorating refresh this spring look no further than the library. The following books are full of ideas that will inspire and motivate you to make your home decorating ideas a reality. “Feels Like Home: Transforming Your Space from Uninspiring to Uniquely Yours” by Marian Parsons. DIY queen Marian Parson (a.k.a. Miss Mustard Seed) has put together a book of budget conscious tutorials, decorating ideas, and tips for handling challenges while decorating your home. “Design the Home You Love: Practical Styling Advice to Make the Most of Your ...

Antiques & Recycling: The material is crystal clear

It’s essential for designers to stay on the cutting edge of fashion, which often means finding innovative uses for new materials. Lucite, a clear acrylic resin made by DuPont, was available for commercial use by 1937. By the 1960s, it was used in furniture. Designers often added accents made of smooth, reflective materials like chrome or brass or upholstered their pieces with bright, colorful fabric. Another way to decorate Lucite pieces involved enclosing decorations, such as flowers, in the resin. The clear, shiny material made designs -- and the rooms they furnished -- look ...

Off the Shelf: How to help a struggling reader

I love reading, I am sure that comes as no surprise. You’d be hard pressed to find a librarian who dislikes reading. I love curling up with a book on a chilly morning. I love falling asleep with a book at night. I love stolen moments of the day reading, when I should really be doing something else. I read on planes, trains, and in the car as long as I’m not driving. I read in restaurants, coffee shops, and in waiting rooms. I read fiction and non-fiction from the adult shelves and the children’s room. I love young adult fiction and biographies about almost anyone. I must confess ...

Antiques & Collecting: Folk art inspires furniture maker

If the colorful panels on this cabinet remind you of a patchwork quilt, that’s exactly what the artist wanted. Jim Rose makes furniture and art objects out of aged steel. His work is original and innovative, and his inspiration comes from centuries-old American styles like folk art and Shaker furniture. This “Quilt” cabinet, which sold at Palm Beach Modern Auctions for $1,400, was inspired by quilts made in Gee’s Bend, Alabama. Gee’s Bend is a largely isolated community on the Alabama River. Its African-American residents preserve the cultural traditions of their ancestors. ...