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‘Have A Good One It’s Union Made’

Lifestyle Columns

“Have A Good One -- It’s Union Made” is the slogan on this cigar store advertising sign. It could also work as a Labor Day salutation. The first Labor Day celebration, held in New York City on Tuesday, Sept. 5, 1882, was planned by the Central Labor Union. Labor activists in other states adopted the holiday, and it was signed into national law by President Grover Cleveland in 1894. At the time, the Cigar Maker’s International Union was one of the best-known and most influential trade unions in the country. This union started in 1864, about the time cigars were becoming popular ...

More space New Minnesota Valley field house complete

Lifestyle Feature

After two years when the ground was first broken, the new Minnesota Valley Lutheran field house is now complete. Named the Storm Field House after its sponsor Storm Equipment, the building encapsulates almost 2,500 square feet that includes 14 basketball hoops and three north-south facing ...

Re-created pottery keeps history alive

Lifestyle Columns

Keeping the past alive is part of the appeal of antiques. The most valuable, most desirable collectibles are original antiques, but reproductions can have their own interesting stories. This figural vase by Henriot Quimper sold for $42 at Richard Opfer Auctioneering, a low price compared to ...

Science literacy

Lifestyle Columns

One part of my daily routine is searching for the latest scientific discoveries. Biology, medicine, mathematics, space, new materials or inventions, archaeological sites, and many more keep my mind inquisitive and curious. It can be easy to learn about things that motivate us. Whether it is the positive motivation of learning a new recipe or the negative motivation of wanting to better handle finances or cleaning, there are many new pieces of information and skills that have technical aspects to them. It is always nice to find an informative book written in an easy to understand style ...

When charcoal was used for more than grilling

Lifestyle Columns

By Terry and Kim Kovel Every obsolete device was once the latest technology. A clothes iron heated by charcoal might sound laughably old-fashioned today, but it was an improvement on the earlier sadirons. “Sad” was an old word for “heavy,” and sadirons got their name from the solid ...

Riding the line

Lifestyle Feature

NEW ULM — After a long week of work, Trent Loverude hops into his stock car and hits the dirt oval on the weekends to race, a hobby he’s had since he could drive. One thing Loverude isn’t doing is masking his competitive side and his will to win. He’s been successful at showing that ...