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Family Living Focus: Ways to achieve a healthy, happy New Year

When we cry out “Happy New Year!” we mean it. Just about everyone wants to be happy in the new year. As we age, happiness stems less from material possessions and more from health, good relationships and fulfilling activities that keep us engaged in life. In fact, older adults say losing their health is their greatest worry. You can take action to have both health and happiness in the new year. Get active. Not just physically active, but intellectually and socially active, too. You will feel better, improve your health, and attitude, and keep your brain working. That will make you ...

Antiques & Collecting: Celebrating the New Year

The “New Year” is celebrated in many ways, but in the United States, there are always midnight celebrations with pictures of an old man representing the past and a baby, the new year. The other popular symbol is a clock of almost any style with the hands at midnight. The early Greek idea of Baby New Year was a baby paraded around in a basket to welcome the new year. Then it became pictures of the Baby Jesus or a Baby New Year. But pictures were created for publications, and each year from 1907 to 1943, Joseph Leyendecker drew a different, humorous illustration of a Baby New Year for ...

Off the Shelf: Time like the turning of a page

In his early play, “Love’s Labour’s Lost,” William Shakespeare gave us this thought on time. In the opening act, Lord Berowne speaking to King Navarre declares, “At Christmas, I no more desire a rose, than wish a snow in May’s new-fangled mirth; but like of each thing that in season grows.” Such is one of only three references to Christmas in all of Shakespeare’s works. It is interesting that he chooses to tie Christmas to time. Centuries after Shakespeare but almost two centuries before today, Charles Dickens also connected Christmas with time by haunting Ebenezer ...

Park & Rec Report

The New Ulm Recreation Reopening - We are excited to announce that Governor Walz’s Executive Order allows us to re-open the Rec Center on Saturday, Dec. 19 under the following conditions: 1. Masks must be worn at all times, including during exercise 2. Self screening before entering is required and if you answer yes to any of the questions, do not enter building 3. Members must check in at the Welcome desk prior to exercising 4. 12 feet physical distance required when exercising and 6 feet during all other times 5. Please utilize our sanitation wipes to disinfect equipment ...

Off the Shelf: New DVDs at the library

Get the popcorn and comfy attire ready! New Ulm Public Library has added several new DVDs to our collection and you will want to stop in and pick some up! Today I’m going to talk about some of the recent nonfiction additions to the library. There are many other new releases arriving too. I’m sure you have heard of the infamous Hatfield and McCoy feud. The PBS documentary “The Feud” (975.4404 Feud) will take you “beyond the myth to show how the feud was ignited.” Also of historical interest is “American West Season 1” (978.02 America 1). These are the unknown stories of ...

Public Health Corner: Maintain your physical and mental health during difficult times

In this unprecedented time of working from and staying home, here are some tips to maintain your physical and mental health: 1. Create routines, both personal and work-related. Wake up and get ready at the same time, as if you are going to work or class. Make time for yourself before jumping into school or work demands, even if it is just a quick cup of coffee, while you plan the day. Even though it is tempting, get out of your pajamas. Showering and getting ready for the day, can help you feel focused and energized. 2. Designate a regular, quiet workspace and keep it organized. Keep ...