December 2022

Rob’s Advent Calendar©

Every year around this time, some well-meaning aunt sends my children an advent calendar. Not one of the cool, new, weird advent calendars. Not the advent calendars with booze or beauty products or fishing tackles or coffee or rocks or the one for your pet. (Fun Fact: If there currently isn’t enough friction in your marriage, you can even get your spouse a workout advent calendar.) Nooo. This well-meaning aunt gets my kids an advent calendar with chocolate. So, come December, every morning, like clockwork, my kids start their day right out of the gate with, sigh, chocolate.

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Lions Club Student of the Month for November – GUNNY COULSON

Gunny Coulson is a senior at Sleepy Eye High School. He plays hockey and baseball and is in Pepband and Concert Band. Gunny is on the Knowledge Bowl team (which was 8th in the state last year) and belongs to FFA and the Minnesota Honor Society. He is Senior Class President and also serves on the Trinity Church Youth Board. Gunny volunteers with the Weekend Backpack program and the Blizzard bag project. Gunny does lawn mowing and also works at Mark Thomas Company.

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Lions Club Student of the Month for November – ISABELLA HOFFMANN

Isabella Hoffmann is a senior at St. Mary’s High School. She plays volleyball and softball and is in the school musicals. She belongs to the YES! Team, Minnesota Honor Society, and yearbook staff. Isabella serves on the Student Council, this year as treasurer and was captain of the volleyball team and dance captain for the musical. She volunteers as a Mass Server and helps with Food for Kidz. Isabella works as a barista at the Sleepy Eye Coffee Company.

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Remnants

Dust rose as the silent hoof beats settled into the sand and taking the lead was no stranger. Chosen by God, Joseph made his way gently guiding those in his charge. Sandals tossed over shoulder as the cool of the day had taken hold, was nothing short of a burden lifted…another day done. Barefoot was a mark of triumph as the day would soon be behind them.

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Ellanor Teddy Bears spreading Christmas cheer

The Knights of Columbus donated 50 Ellanor Teddy Bears to the City of Sleepy Eye to be used by first responders to help comfort children in a time of need. The Knights of Columbus are donating these bears to first responders from all the communities who helped with the Teddy Bear Drive this past year. Ellanor Siefkes continues to do very well with her bone marrow transplant. Pictured from left: Brian Braun, District Deputy Mario De Souza, Grand Knight Russ McCabe, Mayor Wayne Pelzel and Randy Reinarts. Submitted

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Koozie Group and employees donate to Santa’s Closet

Koozie Group recently presented their annual donation to Santa’s Closet. It included a $1,779 cash donation raised from various activities throughout the year, along with hundreds of toys donated by the company and employees. Pictured from left: Kim Maninga, Jenna Zuhlsdorf, Donna Dewanz, Nathan Pearson (Santa’s Closet/Sertoma Club representative), Sue Becker, and Lana Heinrich. Submitted

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Christensen Farms donates to food banks for the holidays

Over the holiday season, Christensen Farms, one of the largest family- owned pork producers in the country, is donating over $15,000 to food banks across the Midwest. The organization collaborates with local food banks in 18 communities in which it operates, to provide pork certificates to those in need, which included a donation of a $1,000 pork certificate to the Sleepy Eye Area Food Shelf.

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