Duplicate Bridge

Nine teams played Duplicate Bridge Nov. 5 at the Senior Center in Austin. Winners were

Larry Crowe and Bill Momsen, first place; Jim Fisher and Dave Ring, second place; Joyce Crowe and Millie Siever, third place; Jen Adams and Lorraine Quinlivan, fourth place; and Sue Mann and Gail Nelson, fifth place.

Nine teams Duplicate Bridge Nov. 6 at the Senior Center in Austin. Winners were Bonnie Fritz and Loren Cleland, first place; Larry Crowe and Jim Fisher, second place; Lorraine Quinlivan and Paul Hanson, third place; Vandy Newman and Ron Peters, fourth place; and Eunice Michaelis and Dave Ring, fifth place.

Duplicate Bridge was played Nov. 12 at the Senior Center in Austin. Winners were Joyce Crowe and Millie Siever, first place; Larry Crowe and Bill Momsen, second place; Jim Fisher and Dave Ring, third place; Vandy Newman and Ron Peters, fourth place; and Edna Knobbe and Kathy Leisen, fifth place.

Duplicate Bridge was played Nov. 13 at the Senior Center in Austin. Winners were Dave Ring and Orrin Roisen, first place; Vandy Newman and Ron Peters,Lorraine Quinlivan and Paul Hanson and Bonnie Fritz and Loren Cleland, tied for second place; Barb Engebretson and Eunice Michaelis, third place; and Gail and Ray Schmidt, sixth place.

Duplicate Bridge is played at 12:30 p.m. Tuesdays and at noon Wednesdays. Players come from Adams, Austin, Albert Lea, Rose Creek, Northwood and Mason City. All bridge players are welcome to come and play. Those who need a partner can call 437-2750.

Wells Historical Society

Artist J.D. Speltz attended the Wells Historical Society meeting Nov. 4. He told the membership the historical society had completed the sales of the sesquicentennial numbered print he created, and applauded everyone for the hard work involved. He then presented the group with a check for $1,650 as the group’s profit from the project. The group also received the original painting, a Terry Redlin print and a decorative clock as incentive prizes earned throughout the campaign.

President Carmen Meyer opened the business meeting with the Pledge of Allegiance. Present were Kathy Ayers, Kelly Wassenberg, Jim Stern, Gene Hassing, Randy Bichler, Dave Meyer, Gary Kauffmann and Betsy Hermanson.

The secretary’s report approved on a motion by Dave Meyer, seconded by Bichler. The treasurer’s report was reviewed and a motion to pay the bills was approved on a motion by Ayers, seconded by Bichler.

Museum report records show over 1,000 visitors so far this year. The museum was open for Veterans Day and the November exhibit will feature World War I. November Great MN Read will be “The Wreck of the Edmund Fitzgerald” by Richard Stonehouse.

The schedule of workers was reviewed.

The group is waiting to hear on grant submitted to Minnesota Historical Society Nov. 10 for the design phase of the restoration project of the lunchroom with architects Widseth, Smith & Nolting. They have not yet completed condition assessment.

There was discussion on updates of website that they are currently unable to revise. They have a quote from MN Design Studio for $1,250. A motion by Meyer, seconded by Kauffmann authorized the board to make a decision so change can be quickly accomplished. It was approved.

Jim and Lauryne Stern visited the museum in Green Bay and brought back pictures of a caboose on display there that was built in Wells in 1889.

Larson Construction has been at the depot to work on gutters, but unsure if gutter repair is completed.

Postcard project using DP Photography pictures is still pending.

Discussion was had of problems that occurred last year with snowmobiles driving over brick pavers and damaging them. It was suggested to use orange snow fence to prevent access. Dave Meyer will speak with City Administrator CJ Holl.

Thirteen brick pavers have been made to replace the damaged ones, but it was decided to wait until spring to install them.

There being no further business, the meeting was adjourned on a motion by Kauffmann, seconded by Hassing and approved.

The next meeting of the Wells Historical Society will be at 7 p.m. Dec. 2 at Wells Depot Museum.

First Lutheran Church Women

First Lutheran Church Women met at noon Oct. 9 for the Reformation Luncheon in Bethany Hall with prelude music provided by Joan Holt. Jo Hanson, co-president, welcomed members and guests. Everyone read Blessing and Thanksgiving at Table from Luther’s Small Catechism as printed in the Reformation Luncheon Program. Lunch followed after which Bonnie Schneider read a devotion from Christ in our Home on the Reformation and ended with words from Martin Luther.

Hanson introduced the program speaker, Officer Nate Idbitz from the Albert Lea Police Department, who spoke on making your home safe. He shared statistics of criminal offenses to property from 2017. Some of the deterrents to criminal activity would include things like lighting inside and outside of your home, securing windows and doors, keeping your home visible and normal looking and not leaving evidence of being gone and creating the illusion that you are home. He discussed a program called Crime Prevention Through Environmental Design that emphasizes natural surveillance through landscaping and lighting and using territorial reinforcement. The ALPD will do a free of charge site survey for anyone wanting suggestions in finding ways to protect their property.

Hanson called the business meeting to order. The secretary’s minutes from the Sept. 11 meeting were approved as printed by a motion from Ruth Noren and seconded by Diane Damerow. Cindy Gandrud, treasurer, gave her report.

Corresponding secretary Bonnie Trampel read a notice from the Women of the Evangelical Church Association regarding the early bird registration discount for the 2020 gathering in Phoenix.

The Women of the ELCA Interchange newsletter was received. The Taste of Welch fundraiser was Oct. 12 at Cross of Christ Lutheran Church.

Damerow announced Nov. 23 as the date for Holidays Ahead. Cookbooks will be sold, Scrip or gift cards will be sold, baskets will be auctioned, but there will be no Accessories Avenue. All members of the church were invited to participate in making baskets. Posters went out at the end of October.

The group is still looking for chairpersons for the June salad luncheon.

Hanson referred to the upcoming events announcements.

Following the business meeting the group sang the hymn, “Amazing Grace,” accompanied by Joan Holt.

The group then read in unison Prayer by Martin Luther.

Hanson thanked greeters Damerow and Noren; hostesses co-chairpersons Janice Lestrud and Marge LaFrance and their committee of Joyce Fredin, Cindy Gandrud, Helen Lovik, Cheryl Moran, and Kathy Olson; and decorating LaFrance and Cheryl Moran.

Caring and Sharing: Chairpersons Marge Moine and Sandy Narverud and their committee served five funerals in September.

Holidays Ahead set-up day was set for Nov. 22. The event will be from 8:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Nov. 23. Coffee and goodies will be available from 8:30 to 10 a.m. and lunch will be served from 11 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. There will be baked goods, circle tables and a basket silent auction as well.

The annual meeting will be 11:45 a.m. Nov. 24 in the sanctuary.

Joy White’s 100th Birthday Open House will be from 2 to 4 p.m. Nov. 24 in Bethany Hall.

The meeting closed with the Lord’s Prayer.

Freeborn American Legion Auxiliary

Freeborn American Legion Auxiliary No. 552 met Oct. 19 at the legion. President Sandy Anderson welcomed members and led the group in the pledges. The secretary’s report and the treasurer’s report were read and accepted. A motion was made to pay for stamps for Anderson for auxiliary correspondence. The motion was accepted. A motion was made to pay the per capita and the junior dues, which totaled $130.00 to the district headquarters. The motion was accepted.

The group received a booklet from The Wagon Train telling about their trip this year. The Wagon Train, which is a group of people who travel from town to town in covered wagons and horses to raise money. The Freeborn Auxiliary hosted an evening meal for about 100 people from the wagon train. The auxiliary had homemade hot dishes, turkey, mashed potatoes, gravy, salads, desserts and drinks. The Wagon Train raised $29,000 for Minnesota Special Olympics.

Anderson sent Veterans Day cards to members of the Freeborn American Legion.

The group was set to have community coffee from 8:30 to 10 a.m. Nov. 16 at the Legion in Freeborn. Everyone was welcome.

The auxiliary will host a party night starting at 3 p.m. Dec. 1 with activities for children, including a visit from Santa, Hospice tree lighting, potluck supper and then free bingo to follow until about 8 p.m. Everyone is welcome to attend.

The group also discussed fundraisers for the next year. The next meeting was set for after community coffee.

TOPS MN Chapter 979

TOPS MN Chapter 979 has announced its division winners for September, October and November.

September division winners were Aisha Heard, Division 3; Kris Heine, Division 4; and Peggy Indrelie, Division 5.

Quarterly Division winners for the months of July through September were Heard, Division 3 and Sandi Ouederkirk, Division 4.

Weekly best losers were Pat Sorenson, week one; Heine, week two; Betty Johnson, week three; and Heard, week four.

Weekly incentive winners were Darlene Kenison, Heard and Freida Johannsen.

The September contest was a raffle. Winners were Daniel Wirkus, Sorenson, Rose Rolands and Heine.

Summer holiday contest winners Laureen Hohansee, first place and Katie Koziolek, second place. Ouderkirk and Shirley Shuster both lost one pound. KOPS winners were Darlene Hauge, Frieda Johannsen and Mary Louise Wirkus.

October KOPS winners were Frieda Johannsen, Daniel Wirkus, Mary Wirkus and Fern Rockwell.

Challenge winners were Hauge, Nancy Jenson, Barb Solberg and Heard.

Showers took place for Freida Johannsen, Nancy Jenson and Mary Louise Wirkus.

October division winners were Janice Shroeder, Division 2 and Ouderkirk, Division four.

Weekly best winners were Lorraine Wallace, week one; Shroeder, week two; Ouderkirk, week three; Betty Johnson, week four; and Hohansee, week five.

Weekly incentive winners Koziolek, Lois Goodnature, Hauge, Pat Sorenson and Darlene Kenison.

Contest winners were Freida Johannsen, Wallace and Pat Sorenson, who one once, and Hauge, Heard and Hohansee, who all won twice.

Tops — take off pounds sensibly — is a nonprofit weight loss support group. There is no diet plan, but support with others on the journey to health and wellness. Tops MN Chapter 979 meets at 9 a.m. on Thursdays in the Albert Lea Senior Center in Skyline Plaza to weigh in and learn about healthy lifestyles.