To the Albert Lea-Freeborn County Chamber of Commerce.

Thanks to donations made by people and businesses in Albert Lea and to the oversight skills of the Albert Lea-Freeborn County Chamber of Commerce, our fair city has a fine parade and a magnificent fireworks display during Independence Day weekend. If a person ever wanted to see the growing diversity of Albert Lea, don’t go to where money is being spent, like a store, a restaurant or a high school game. Go to where the event is free of charge, such as the Third of July Parade or the Fourth of July fireworks spectacle. There, it is easy to see people of many skin colors enjoy our wonderful city. Diversity is good for growth, good for the local economy and good for the life experiences children gain while growing up in this community. Thanks to the chamber’s no-charge events, diversity really stands out.

 

To the cancellation of the Battle of the Bands.

It’s too bad the United Way of Freeborn County couldn’t get more bands to sign up for the Battle of the Bands. Attractive prizes were offered, too, such as time in a recording studio. We were looking forward to printing photographs of musicians rocking out and fans going crazy. Perhaps right now the Albert Lea youth scene is lacking interest in rock bands. After all, the pop charts are littered with music that doesn’t seem to translate well to live performances or, for that matter, actual instruments. Let’s hope the trend changes in coming years.

 

To news about gas stations.

Was it National Gas Station Week or something? The area had a tankful of gas station news at the end of June and start of July. There was the new Hy-Vee Gas on Bridge Avenue in Albert Lea, which features a Caribou Coffee. There was the selling of the two Korner Mart stations, one on Front Street and one on Main Street to a Shakopee couple. And plans were announced for Casey’s to build a station at the highly visible Ellendale exit along Interstate 35. OK, there is no such thing as National Gas Station Week, but we now know when it would take place should it come into existence. The next thing you know, someone will build a gas station at Exit 8 of Interstate 35, south of the Albert Lea Lake bridges. Say, that’s not a bad business idea. The people who live near Sondergaard Park would like that, and the motorists leaving Albert Lea to go south toward Iowa would finally have a place to fill up and grab a coffee before hitting the freeway.