Is there such a thing as too much change? Here in Albert Lea and amongst other towns not too far from here, there has been much change. There are places that are changing to accommodate the modern world and other places that hold family traditions being destroyed and transformed. I believe we need to find a way to keep older traditions alive in a changing world and not lose sight on the simple things.

A while back a well-known store closed. Donut Hut was a family tradition for my family. We would go here on Easter morning and other various holidays as a small treat. Now the store is closed due to not enough income, and I believe this is because younger generations just aren’t as caring about older things. Even when walking down the center of the town, you see many shops closing or changing into something new, and this is happening all over, not just in Albert Lea.

We as a community need to not lose sight of simple pleasures like a donut on a Sunday morning before or after church, or sitting down in a small deli like the one at the gas station outside of Ellendale. These places, amongst many others, hold cherished memories for many people and should not be taken for granted. We need to keep more than world history alive, but community and personal history as well.

Amber Bergland

Albert Lea High School

English class

Albert Lea

Editor’s note: The Bunnells sold the Donut Hut for the sake of retirement and they had a buyer for the building, not because the business was failing.