To Albert Lea centenarian Dorothy Gulbrandson.

Congratulations to Albert Lea resident Dorothy Gulbrandson, who is embarking on her 100th year of living this year.

Gulbrandson turned 100 July 25 and lives at Bancroft Creek Estates.

Over the course of her life, she has been heavily involved in 4-H and Minnesota Extension and has been an active member of Crossing Glory Church in Hartland.

We appreciate her positive demeanor and fun sense of humor and wish her the best this year.

 

To the people who organize and donate to the Tee It Up for Campers golf tournament fundraiser in Freeborn.

Thank you to all of the people who have organized the Tee It Up for Campers golf tournament at Oak View Golf Course in Freeborn over the past 19 years.

The proceeds from the tournament go to support children and adults with disabilities attending True Friends’ camps.

This year, the event raised $32,000, and over the course event, it has raised over $300,000, according to one of the organizers. 

Thank you for providing these life-changing opportunities for people with disabilities in our community.

 

To people who attended the kickoff of One Watershed, One Plan.

Thank you to community members and area officials who took time out of their schedules to attend the kickoff of One Watershed, One Plan this week.

One Watershed, One Plan is a water planning effort that groups the 10-year water plans that counties, watershed districts and soil and water conservation districts used to make separately into one plan based on watershed boundaries.

People in attendance identified the following as things they care about in the natural environment:

• Water quality, both in drinking water and the lakes

• Native plantings, trees and green spaces

• Reducing chemical usage and regulating the use of pesticides

• Creating a legacy for the next generation

They also identified several concerns facing natural resources in the area, including chemical runoff from farms, urban sprawl, uneducated citizens, a lack or urgency to act, unwillingness to change habits, invasive species and funding, among others.

We look forward to seeing how some of these priorities and challenges are addressed in the plan. It is expected to be written in 10 months.

 

To the Thirsty Fox Pub & Grill.

It is exciting to see buildings being fixed up on South Broadway and reopened to the community.

One of those is Thirsty Fox Pub & Grill, owned by Karl Milliron, who once had K&K Bakery and Pancake House at the same location.

The effort has been a dream of Milliron’s for the past four years and will be complete with craft beers from many different breweries in the region, signature cocktails and food.

We wish him the best in his new effort and are happy to see this building being used again.

Renovations and other upgrades are also underway at other buildings in that area. We hope this is only one sign of many good things to come in that part of town.