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Observing National Friends of the Library Week

By October 19-25 is National Friends of Libraries Week. It is a chance for libraries throughout the United States to recognize the contributions of their Friends of Libraries groups to their communities. New Ulm Public Library is grateful to have an active group of library Friends who support our collections, programming, newsletters, and more through their efforts and donations of both materials and funding. The Friends of the New Ulm Public Library is a nonprofit, tax-exempt 501(c)(3) community organization that believes in the importance of the library and its services for people of ...

Looking back at spooky times

It’s a scary time of year. That peculiar holiday called Halloween is upon us, the only occasion wherein we encourage our children to take candy from strangers — after the kiddos issue a vague threat to the homeowner. Trick-or-treating is a grand tradition that dates back centuries. I know this because I participated in trick-or-treating when I was a youngster. There were no commercially produced Halloween costumes back then. At least there weren’t for my seven siblings and me. Kitting out that many kids would have meant that my parents would have lost money in the ...

When giving becomes too much

Dear Annie: I am struggling with what feels like a small thing, but it weighs on me. I have several great-nieces and great-nephews, and over the years I’ve tried to remember birthdays with cards, little gifts or even just a phone call. Lately, though, I feel overwhelmed. Between the number of children, the cost of presents and my own busy life, I can’t keep up the way I used to. This year, two of them have birthdays coming up, and I find myself dreading it rather than looking forward to celebrating them. Part of me wonders if I should stop sending gifts altogether and just ...

Nothing like harvest time

We are in the middle of harvest. Taking time to write this and drink coffee is a great luxury. There is a grease gun calling my name right now. “Sheesh, I’ll be right out. Can’t a guy have a break?” The answer to that is no, unless it’s raining or you’re broke down. I did take a day to attend a funeral and a wedding. None of the participants were farmers. So, their lack of timing can be forgiven. There are about a half million farmers in the United States who grow corn. Many of them are in the fields now, bringing the crop in. Add spouses in support roles, elevator ...

In Ulm, um Ulm, und um Ulm herum

As I sit in the airport in Frankfurt, waiting to board my flight home from Germany, I reflect on the past three months in Ulm with an appreciation for how special the Hans Joohs Exchange is. Thinking about the people I’ve met and the experiences I’ve had in Ulm reinforces for me how important it is that New Ulm and Ulm share this friendship. Thank you, Sister Cities Commission, for facilitating this program, which sends young people from New Ulm across the Atlantic to live and work in Ulm, Germany for 12 weeks. The title of this article In Ulm, um Ulm, und um Ulm herum means ...

An embarrassment of riches

It was somewhat embarrassing. Not as mortifying as being elbowed by your wife because you were snoring in church, but still. This fall, our garden yielded an embarrassment of riches. Last winter, when I was pining for summer, I begged the garden gods to grant me just a few pumpkins and gourds. A mischievous garden god must have grinned and said, “Hold my beer.” I lost the crop about five times, which is typical for most growing seasons. First it was too warm and dry, then it became too cold and wet. This just proves the timeworn farmer’s adage that there are only five kinds ...