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Library partnerships

Summer is going by quickly, and the library has had some great events as part of our annual children’s Summer Reading Program, along with some exciting events for adults. We’re very grateful for the opportunity we have to connect with individuals and organizations in our area to bring services and activities to our community. As a community gathering place, the library is uniquely placed to be able to bring together resources and opportunities provided by a wide variety of partners. Some of the most important partnerships we have are with other libraries! The Traverse des Sioux ...

A moose in the garden without risk to plants

By Terry and Kim Kovel There are few things in nature more majestic than a moose, but that doesn’t mean you would want one visiting your garden! A typical adult bull moose is about 6 feet tall and weighs over 1,000 pounds, making the species the largest member of the deer family. Most of ...

Library card design contest winners

The New Ulm Public Library (NUPL) art contest to select three new library card designs has ended. The deadline to submit artwork was June 1. Online and in-person public voting began the week of June 17 and three winners have been selected by the public. What a hard decision and what a close ...

Nantucket baskets are sturdy and decorative

What’s the difference between a lightship basket and a friendship basket? You may have seen both terms applied to the famous wood and rattan woven baskets made in Nantucket. Lightship baskets, the original name given to this distinctive style, were originally made by the crews of lightships, which were essentially floating lighthouses, in the late 1800s. The work left the crew with long stretches of time with little to do, so they turned their attention to making baskets in the time-honored tradition of sailors making crafts to pass the time at sea. “Friendship basket” is a ...

Summertime

Here we are at the start of July. Summer seems to be flying by. I hope by the time you read this the rain has stopped and the flooding has subsided. We have a couple sweet summertime cookbooks coming soon. How does a cold, frosty popsicle or some ice cream sound on a hot summer day? Both of these treats are easy to make at home. The first one is “Awesome Ice Pops: 70 Cool Treats” by Andrew Chase. These recipes cover everything from sweet to cocktail inspired frozen treats. “Wanderlust Creamery Presents the World of Ice Cream” by Adrienne Borlongan is definitely more involved ...

Score hits and win with Jennings slot machine

“Base Ball: The Nation’s Greatest Amusement.” So says this 1930s Jennings slot machine, and we expect few people would disagree. And in terms of great amusements, games of chance aren’t far behind. The O.D. Jennings Company brought them together for a trade stimulator, or as they call it, “Silent Salesman.” This restored example sold at Morphy Auctions for $3,840. The machine tracks outs, runs and innings, but “hits” are made by spinning a combination of symbols. Play to win a roll of Jennings’ Superior Mints. * * * Q: We were wondering about an interesting hall ...