Connie Cox
“You can’t beat your office. Here at Itasca we have a 32,000 acre forest, and that’s my office”
Date of interview: May 22, 2015
WORKING IN ITASCA
Twenty years ago, Connie Cox saw a job posting for lead park naturalist at Itasca State Park. With prior experience working as a naturalist on private resorts along the Gunflint Trail, Connie got the job. While much of the job includes working “directly with the public, when you’re actually leading a hike or canoe trip, there’s a lot of work behind that as well—working with the media, advertising our programs, etc.”. Connie handles administration, schedules park programs, and works with volunteer groups, special request groups, and the Summer Naturalist Core—college students who are interested in becoming naturalists. She also does a lot of non-personal programming, which includes researching and developing information for interpretive panels, the signs posted near hiking sites, and exhibit projects for the Jacob V. Brower visitor center. One of Connie’s favorite parts of her job is the natural oasis she can call her workplace. “You can’t beat your office. Here at Itasca we have a 32,000 acre forest, and that’s my office,” she said. Another benefit of the position is watching visitors explore and learn something new about the second oldest state park in the nation. “When you actually see the excitement in another person that they’ve learned something or want to continue doing it, that’s the most rewarding part,” Connie said.
A PARK OF TRANSFORMATION
Captivating visitors for over a century—next year marks the park’s 125th birthday—Itasca is a transformative beauty. No matter the season, there is always something new to see and do. In the wintertime, there are lantern events for skiing and snow showing along with beginner ice fishing programs. During the cold seasons, “people just want to get outdoors. They aren't as familiar with winter recreation as they are with summer, so we do a lot of programming that way”. As snow melts into spring, birding and early wildflower programs begin. The park sees over 20 species of warblers pass through and/or remain in the park. “Each week, we report into the Northwest Area Birding Report…you can follow the migration of different species. This week the latest bird to arrive is the scarlet tanager,” Connie mentioned. When temperatures rise and summer arrives, it’s “just total chaos”. The warmest season marks the busiest time of year, as people want to hike, bike, see the baby animals, and capture the progression of the blooming flowers. With a laugh, Connie said, “Life is always better when you can wear a t-shirt and shorts”. When the leaves transform from green into golden hues, fall arrives. While weekdays become more quiet, visitors still flock to the park on weekends to camp, bike, and enjoy the fall colors (which peak the last week of September into October). A popular destination to view the colorful trees from is the 100-foot-tall fire tower, located off of Wilderness drive. A unique part of Itasca is the wide variety of trees, some being over 300 years old. “A lot of people don’t realize the park isn't just for the headwaters, but for preserving the big pine forests too,” Connie said. She also added that, “people have written in our guest books since the nineteen-teens. They have said the same things, ‘We come for the river, we return for the pines’”. Connie shared that her favorite hike in the park, Nicollet trail, is tucked in among towering red pines that are the “biggest trees I’ve seen”.
CCC: A GROUP WITH AN IMPACT
Started by Franklin Delano Roosevelt in order to provide employment for young men during the Great Depression, the CCC or Civilian Conservation Corps, was a public work relief program that aimed to conserve the nation’s natural resources and land. In Itasca State Park, specifically, there were 4 camps where the “CCC boys” lived and worked to improve and build hiking trails, replant trees, and suppress fires. Their regimented lifestyle was overseen by park management and a U.S. army commanding officer. Despite a strict schedule, the boys did make time for fun. “Over my 20 years I got to know them and they would tell stories, when they were eighteen how they would short sheet someone’s bed…they would tell all kinds of pranks they would do. They didn’t want to get caught by the commanding officer because they’d have to pick up cigarette butts or peal potatoes,” Connie said. While most of the CCC members have past on, their work remains a significant part of the park. “Some came back when they were 90 years old and walked into the building they built when they were eighteen and we’re still using it today,” Connie said. Go anywhere in Itasca, and visitors will see or use something built by the CCC, whether they realize it or not. Some of their additions include the Dr. Robert’s Trail, Deer Park, Old Timer’s Cabin, Douglas Lodge, Forest Inn, Bear Paw campground, and swim beach. Even the head waters had been improved by the group. At one point in the early 1900’s, logging companies were allowed to send logs down the river, consequently destroying the river beds. From about 1933 till 1941, the CCC boys took an old map and restored what the river used to look like in the 1830’s. Their only additions to the restoration were the wooden Headwaters posts and popular rock formation that people now use to cross the Mississippi. The project was “all because they knew the significance of this river to park visitors and felt it should have a grand beginning,” Connie said.
What is your favorite thing about living in Northern Minnesota/the Park Rapids area?
It’s Northern Minnesota. There are lakes everywhere, there’s woods. Just public space. There’s a lot of public land whether it’s Itasca State Park, if it’s state forest, county land. Just having that opportunity to go hiking, biking, ATVing, fishing, boating, swimming…anything! How can you not enjoy a place where if the fish aren't biting on one lake, you can go to another. Or if it’s windy on one lake, you can kayak on another. Or you can bike on the Heartland Trail, bike in the park. There are just so many opportunities. I personally don’t golf but with all the golf courses in the area, I said to my husband ‘I hike a lot for work, it would be fun to maybe take up golfing’. It’s a great place. There’s a lot of restaurants, unique shops that are North Woods themed. For people that are first coming, it has great cuisine, great restaurants, and just all that natural beauty. It’s like, ‘What can’t you do here?’. There is just so much cool stuff.
What is your favorite time of year to spend in the park?
That’s a tough one. Each part of the season has its nice parts, but for me, probably fall. It’s interesting when all the leaves fall off and you can see the landscape thats hidden by all the leaves during the summertime and that's pretty exciting. And when you see the different animals as they’re migrating through. Spring is pretty good too, and all the flowers blooming. You picked a hard question! We need to live somewhere like Florida where the seasons are more subtle (laughing)”
“Oh, I love the winter too. I always tell people Itasca is an amazing spot because it’s so quiet you can actually hear the snowflakes when they’re falling through the pine needles. That is amazing”
What would you recommend a first time visitor to see and do if they had only one day to spend in the park?
For sure I’d have them stop at the Jacob V. Brower visitor center to get information about the park. There are some exhibits in the park as well they can look at to get an idea, but, I would definitely suggest they stop at Preacher’s Grove, which is right along Main Park Drive. Then continue on up to the Headwaters area and explore that. I would suggest going around Wilderness Drive, maybe hiking Bohall Trail or out to the fire tower. The Dr. Robert’s Trail is very nice. If they don’t like hiking, maybe just biking. We have a 6 mile bike trail they can do and if they don’t have a bike, it’s ok. There’s a private concession in the park that rents bicycles including electric assist. So, if you had a knee replacement and need that little boost up, you can rent those or some people prefer to kayak and that same business rents kayaks. If they like recreating on their own, those are some good opportunities. Also, the Chester Charles tour boat, they do a 2 hour tour on Lake Itasca. It’s another private business they can partake in. There are naturalist programs throughout the day that are usually 45 minutes or less and then we have a full service restaurant. We have Douglas Lodge, that’s mainly in the summer from Memorial Day through early October. You can have a sit down breakfast, lunch, or dinner. If you’re touring, start your morning out and hit Main Park Drive. Do a little biking on the trail, go up to Mary Gibbs for lunch, get your souvenir, get some pizza or icecream. Now you're charged up, go around Wilderness Drive and because it ends right at Douglas Lodge, you can have a nice dinner at the lodge. Sometimes Douglas Lodge will do sunset dinner tours and cruises on the Chester Charles. If you're so pooped out where you can’t drive anywhere, we have cabins as well. We have the Itasca Suites. If you have to stay connected to TV, it even has cable. There is wifi throughout the park. We found that some people just can’t get away from work all the time. They found that having wifi here they can spend an hour or two doing work then spend the rest of the day with the family. And if you’re up at the Headwaters there is a live feed webcam. So you can pull out your smart phone, call grandma, and say ‘go on this website, I’m waving at you live from the Headwaters’
Itasca State Park: http://www.dnr.state.mn.us/state_parks/itasca/index.html
*Interview has been edited for conciseness.
Twenty years ago, Connie Cox saw a job posting for lead park naturalist at Itasca State Park. With prior experience working as a naturalist on private resorts along the Gunflint Trail, Connie got the job. While much of the job includes working “directly with the public, when you’re actually leading a hike or canoe trip, there’s a lot of work behind that as well—working with the media, advertising our programs, etc.”. Connie handles administration, schedules park programs, and works with volunteer groups, special request groups, and the Summer Naturalist Core—college students who are interested in becoming naturalists. She also does a lot of non-personal programming, which includes researching and developing information for interpretive panels, the signs posted near hiking sites, and exhibit projects for the Jacob V. Brower visitor center. One of Connie’s favorite parts of her job is the natural oasis she can call her workplace. “You can’t beat your office. Here at Itasca we have a 32,000 acre forest, and that’s my office,” she said. Another benefit of the position is watching visitors explore and learn something new about the second oldest state park in the nation. “When you actually see the excitement in another person that they’ve learned something or want to continue doing it, that’s the most rewarding part,” Connie said.
A PARK OF TRANSFORMATION
Captivating visitors for over a century—next year marks the park’s 125th birthday—Itasca is a transformative beauty. No matter the season, there is always something new to see and do. In the wintertime, there are lantern events for skiing and snow showing along with beginner ice fishing programs. During the cold seasons, “people just want to get outdoors. They aren't as familiar with winter recreation as they are with summer, so we do a lot of programming that way”. As snow melts into spring, birding and early wildflower programs begin. The park sees over 20 species of warblers pass through and/or remain in the park. “Each week, we report into the Northwest Area Birding Report…you can follow the migration of different species. This week the latest bird to arrive is the scarlet tanager,” Connie mentioned. When temperatures rise and summer arrives, it’s “just total chaos”. The warmest season marks the busiest time of year, as people want to hike, bike, see the baby animals, and capture the progression of the blooming flowers. With a laugh, Connie said, “Life is always better when you can wear a t-shirt and shorts”. When the leaves transform from green into golden hues, fall arrives. While weekdays become more quiet, visitors still flock to the park on weekends to camp, bike, and enjoy the fall colors (which peak the last week of September into October). A popular destination to view the colorful trees from is the 100-foot-tall fire tower, located off of Wilderness drive. A unique part of Itasca is the wide variety of trees, some being over 300 years old. “A lot of people don’t realize the park isn't just for the headwaters, but for preserving the big pine forests too,” Connie said. She also added that, “people have written in our guest books since the nineteen-teens. They have said the same things, ‘We come for the river, we return for the pines’”. Connie shared that her favorite hike in the park, Nicollet trail, is tucked in among towering red pines that are the “biggest trees I’ve seen”.
CCC: A GROUP WITH AN IMPACT
Started by Franklin Delano Roosevelt in order to provide employment for young men during the Great Depression, the CCC or Civilian Conservation Corps, was a public work relief program that aimed to conserve the nation’s natural resources and land. In Itasca State Park, specifically, there were 4 camps where the “CCC boys” lived and worked to improve and build hiking trails, replant trees, and suppress fires. Their regimented lifestyle was overseen by park management and a U.S. army commanding officer. Despite a strict schedule, the boys did make time for fun. “Over my 20 years I got to know them and they would tell stories, when they were eighteen how they would short sheet someone’s bed…they would tell all kinds of pranks they would do. They didn’t want to get caught by the commanding officer because they’d have to pick up cigarette butts or peal potatoes,” Connie said. While most of the CCC members have past on, their work remains a significant part of the park. “Some came back when they were 90 years old and walked into the building they built when they were eighteen and we’re still using it today,” Connie said. Go anywhere in Itasca, and visitors will see or use something built by the CCC, whether they realize it or not. Some of their additions include the Dr. Robert’s Trail, Deer Park, Old Timer’s Cabin, Douglas Lodge, Forest Inn, Bear Paw campground, and swim beach. Even the head waters had been improved by the group. At one point in the early 1900’s, logging companies were allowed to send logs down the river, consequently destroying the river beds. From about 1933 till 1941, the CCC boys took an old map and restored what the river used to look like in the 1830’s. Their only additions to the restoration were the wooden Headwaters posts and popular rock formation that people now use to cross the Mississippi. The project was “all because they knew the significance of this river to park visitors and felt it should have a grand beginning,” Connie said.
What is your favorite thing about living in Northern Minnesota/the Park Rapids area?
It’s Northern Minnesota. There are lakes everywhere, there’s woods. Just public space. There’s a lot of public land whether it’s Itasca State Park, if it’s state forest, county land. Just having that opportunity to go hiking, biking, ATVing, fishing, boating, swimming…anything! How can you not enjoy a place where if the fish aren't biting on one lake, you can go to another. Or if it’s windy on one lake, you can kayak on another. Or you can bike on the Heartland Trail, bike in the park. There are just so many opportunities. I personally don’t golf but with all the golf courses in the area, I said to my husband ‘I hike a lot for work, it would be fun to maybe take up golfing’. It’s a great place. There’s a lot of restaurants, unique shops that are North Woods themed. For people that are first coming, it has great cuisine, great restaurants, and just all that natural beauty. It’s like, ‘What can’t you do here?’. There is just so much cool stuff.
What is your favorite time of year to spend in the park?
That’s a tough one. Each part of the season has its nice parts, but for me, probably fall. It’s interesting when all the leaves fall off and you can see the landscape thats hidden by all the leaves during the summertime and that's pretty exciting. And when you see the different animals as they’re migrating through. Spring is pretty good too, and all the flowers blooming. You picked a hard question! We need to live somewhere like Florida where the seasons are more subtle (laughing)”
“Oh, I love the winter too. I always tell people Itasca is an amazing spot because it’s so quiet you can actually hear the snowflakes when they’re falling through the pine needles. That is amazing”
What would you recommend a first time visitor to see and do if they had only one day to spend in the park?
For sure I’d have them stop at the Jacob V. Brower visitor center to get information about the park. There are some exhibits in the park as well they can look at to get an idea, but, I would definitely suggest they stop at Preacher’s Grove, which is right along Main Park Drive. Then continue on up to the Headwaters area and explore that. I would suggest going around Wilderness Drive, maybe hiking Bohall Trail or out to the fire tower. The Dr. Robert’s Trail is very nice. If they don’t like hiking, maybe just biking. We have a 6 mile bike trail they can do and if they don’t have a bike, it’s ok. There’s a private concession in the park that rents bicycles including electric assist. So, if you had a knee replacement and need that little boost up, you can rent those or some people prefer to kayak and that same business rents kayaks. If they like recreating on their own, those are some good opportunities. Also, the Chester Charles tour boat, they do a 2 hour tour on Lake Itasca. It’s another private business they can partake in. There are naturalist programs throughout the day that are usually 45 minutes or less and then we have a full service restaurant. We have Douglas Lodge, that’s mainly in the summer from Memorial Day through early October. You can have a sit down breakfast, lunch, or dinner. If you’re touring, start your morning out and hit Main Park Drive. Do a little biking on the trail, go up to Mary Gibbs for lunch, get your souvenir, get some pizza or icecream. Now you're charged up, go around Wilderness Drive and because it ends right at Douglas Lodge, you can have a nice dinner at the lodge. Sometimes Douglas Lodge will do sunset dinner tours and cruises on the Chester Charles. If you're so pooped out where you can’t drive anywhere, we have cabins as well. We have the Itasca Suites. If you have to stay connected to TV, it even has cable. There is wifi throughout the park. We found that some people just can’t get away from work all the time. They found that having wifi here they can spend an hour or two doing work then spend the rest of the day with the family. And if you’re up at the Headwaters there is a live feed webcam. So you can pull out your smart phone, call grandma, and say ‘go on this website, I’m waving at you live from the Headwaters’
Itasca State Park: http://www.dnr.state.mn.us/state_parks/itasca/index.html
*Interview has been edited for conciseness.
Molly Luther
One of the reasons we wanted to open in Park Rapids was because this is our home, this is our community. We want to contribute to it.
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Date of interview: May 19, 2015
A BUSINESS VENTURE
Born and raised in Park Rapids, Molly Luther, owner of Good Life Cafe, was no stranger to running a business. “We just have a lot of entrepreneurs in our family. My mother owns her own business, both my grandparents did, so it’s in our blood to have our own thing,” she says. After growing up at her father’s business, Magoo’s Sports Bar & Grill, Molly headed to the University of Minnesota-Twin Cities to earn a Bachelor of individualized Studies in business, journalism, and legal studies. She moved to Boston for two years to work for a British software company called Imaginatik before heading back to Park Rapids in 2006 with husband, Luke. After considering the limited employment opportunities in town, Molly decided to bring her job with her. When the couple saw an opportunity for some other type of cuisine in Park Rapids, they began creating their business plan. “Luke and I were talking about doing a restaurant and then my sister ended up moving back and she was willing to help get it started. So we finished off the business plan, found a location, and did all that together,” she says. The Good Life Cafe officially opened in June of 2009. “That first summer was insane. You know, the new kid on the block, everybody’s gotta check it out. Which is good, but that is when you have your learning curve,” Molly says. The restaurant business is tough and it took time and effort to find suppliers, purchase food, create a menu, and hire a new staff. One challenge, Molly discovered, was the small market they could cater to. In a small town, there are “so few people here, you don’t have the variety you have in a city.” While the summer months are busy as visitors stroll down Main Avenue, Molly says “you just get by” in the winter months. Despite the challenges, there are many perks to owning a business in Park Rapids. The barriers to entry are lower. It is cheaper to buy a building, remodel, and obtain a license, especially in comparison to more populated cities. This past April, the Cafe was remodeled. The kitchen was expanded to make room for new equipment, more booths were added, walls and floors were finished, and the menu was updated. With their platform being American food, Molly says there is plenty of room to experiment with new ingredients and foreign flavors.; some of their more unique menu items are the Thai Peanut Butter Burger and Beer Cheese Burger on a Pretzel bun with bacon and jalapenos.
COMMUNITY AT THE CAFE
It is said that food brings people together. At the Good Life Cafe, community is key to the restaurant’s success. “One of the reasons we wanted to open in Park Rapids was because this is our home, this is our community. We want to contribute to it. In Boston and Minneapolis, you’re just kind of a number. In Park Rapids, you feel you can have an impact,” Molly says. The Cafe sees both regulars—wine & book clubs, knitting groups, softball teams—and newcomers on a daily basis. With a laugh, Molly mentioned that some people come to the restaurant and say ‘Oh my gosh! I was just here for lunch and now I’m back for dinner’. Her response is always: “This is great! That’s what we’re here for.” She also makes it a priority to make every visitor feel like a regular. “We make sure to say hi the minute they walk through the door…we try and make their one hour meal as special as we can. To do that you have to have friendly, good-hearted people up front,” Molly says. Outside of the restaurant, Molly serves as Co-Chair of the Park Rapids Downtown Business Association. The group organizes community events such as Bite of Park Rapids and Second Street Stage, a series of ten concerts presented throughout the summer. The groups main goal is to bring people, visitors and locals alike, downtown. “We stage events on Main Street to give the locals something to do, a reason to come downtown and see what we have,” she says. Always busy and involved, Molly owns another business in town: Molly Poppin’s Gourmet Snacks. In addition to 20 flavors of popcorn, the store sells 12 flavors of jersey, 12 assorted candy nuts, and 25 flavors of infused balsamic vinegars and oils. The store has now expanded to Dorset. A new store opened on May 22 that sells the same delicious snacks.
A TOWN HELPING OTHERS
During our interview, Molly brought up an issue that is very prevalent in the community: “Hubbard county is a very poor county. There is a lot of poverty in Park Rapids. And there are a lot of wonderful organizations that are looking at how to address that.” She mentioned the organization Mahube-Otwa, a community action agency with the mission of assisting low income families and the elderly in the counties of Mahnomen, Hubbard, Becker, Otter Tail, and Wadena. While there are many affluent people living in the community, there are many who are “living pay check to pay check” and whose “voices don’t always get captured.” Molly wanted to note that the community and leadership recognize this issue of poverty and make a huge effort to solve the problem. Whether it is a school program that provides children with the meals and clothes they need or an agency like Mahube-Otwa, the community of Park Rapids is not “ignoring the issue or turning their back to it.” Rather, they are looking at ways to improve the lives of those that struggle most.
What is your favorite thing about living in Park Rapids?
“Well there’s a lot of things. Of course, my family is here. Other than that, I get to do whatever I want. I get to start businesses, take a mini vacation to Itasca; we just went up there the other weekend to spend one night just to get away real quick. You have control over your life, you can do as much or as little with it as you want. There's people that live here because it’s super simple. They can go to a nice job, 9-5, Monday thru Friday. They have the nice weekends to enjoy the great trails and outdoors, they like to hunt, fish, and do all that stuff. It’s perfect for them. And then there are people who like to be busy. I think it’s important to realize, when you’re looking at the whole community, that not everyone wants that. A lot of the people are here for the serenity. Having hobbies and enjoying the outdoors, you know, not everyone is booked solid seven days a week
If someone was visiting Park Rapids for the first time, what would you recommend for them to see and do?
“I would say they definitely have to come to Main Street, it is one of the nicest aspects of Park Rapids and the surrounding communities. Visitors can walk the streets, the sidewalks are so nice, the shops are so great, there’s 3 blocks of things to do, there’s lots of restaurants and shops, so you definitely have to come to Main Street. People love to see the parking in the middle of the road. And the community is proud of it as a quirk. It’s a weird thing not many places have anymore. Then I would say they have to go to Itasca. It’s a beautiful park and resource; the Headwaters, Douglas Lodge, the trails are amazing. I would recommend visiting Dorset, another nice little shopping and dining experience. I would rent a bike and get on the Heartland Trail. I would, if you could, book a stay at one of the local resorts. The "ma and pa" feel of a resort is just something special, you know? You've got a family there, they’re hosting you, taking care of you. You get to stay at a nice little rustic, well not always rustic, cabin. They’ve got kitchens and cable and internet if you want all that. If you don’t, you can just ignore it. So, I think the resort is one of the nicest ways to get on the lake. They have boats for you too"
What is your favorite time of year in Park Rapids?
"The fall, absolutely. The weather is perfect, it’s dry and cooler. The leaves are changing and its still busy, busy enough to be fun and entertaining. It’s not so busy where it's chaos. Fall is real chill and awesome. And then the winter is too cold and the spring is too muddy so that’s why I don’t like those (with a laugh)”
Good Life Cafe: http://www.thegoodlifecafepr.com/
Park Rapids Downtown Business Association: http://www.parkrapidsdowntown.com/index.php
Born and raised in Park Rapids, Molly Luther, owner of Good Life Cafe, was no stranger to running a business. “We just have a lot of entrepreneurs in our family. My mother owns her own business, both my grandparents did, so it’s in our blood to have our own thing,” she says. After growing up at her father’s business, Magoo’s Sports Bar & Grill, Molly headed to the University of Minnesota-Twin Cities to earn a Bachelor of individualized Studies in business, journalism, and legal studies. She moved to Boston for two years to work for a British software company called Imaginatik before heading back to Park Rapids in 2006 with husband, Luke. After considering the limited employment opportunities in town, Molly decided to bring her job with her. When the couple saw an opportunity for some other type of cuisine in Park Rapids, they began creating their business plan. “Luke and I were talking about doing a restaurant and then my sister ended up moving back and she was willing to help get it started. So we finished off the business plan, found a location, and did all that together,” she says. The Good Life Cafe officially opened in June of 2009. “That first summer was insane. You know, the new kid on the block, everybody’s gotta check it out. Which is good, but that is when you have your learning curve,” Molly says. The restaurant business is tough and it took time and effort to find suppliers, purchase food, create a menu, and hire a new staff. One challenge, Molly discovered, was the small market they could cater to. In a small town, there are “so few people here, you don’t have the variety you have in a city.” While the summer months are busy as visitors stroll down Main Avenue, Molly says “you just get by” in the winter months. Despite the challenges, there are many perks to owning a business in Park Rapids. The barriers to entry are lower. It is cheaper to buy a building, remodel, and obtain a license, especially in comparison to more populated cities. This past April, the Cafe was remodeled. The kitchen was expanded to make room for new equipment, more booths were added, walls and floors were finished, and the menu was updated. With their platform being American food, Molly says there is plenty of room to experiment with new ingredients and foreign flavors.; some of their more unique menu items are the Thai Peanut Butter Burger and Beer Cheese Burger on a Pretzel bun with bacon and jalapenos.
COMMUNITY AT THE CAFE
It is said that food brings people together. At the Good Life Cafe, community is key to the restaurant’s success. “One of the reasons we wanted to open in Park Rapids was because this is our home, this is our community. We want to contribute to it. In Boston and Minneapolis, you’re just kind of a number. In Park Rapids, you feel you can have an impact,” Molly says. The Cafe sees both regulars—wine & book clubs, knitting groups, softball teams—and newcomers on a daily basis. With a laugh, Molly mentioned that some people come to the restaurant and say ‘Oh my gosh! I was just here for lunch and now I’m back for dinner’. Her response is always: “This is great! That’s what we’re here for.” She also makes it a priority to make every visitor feel like a regular. “We make sure to say hi the minute they walk through the door…we try and make their one hour meal as special as we can. To do that you have to have friendly, good-hearted people up front,” Molly says. Outside of the restaurant, Molly serves as Co-Chair of the Park Rapids Downtown Business Association. The group organizes community events such as Bite of Park Rapids and Second Street Stage, a series of ten concerts presented throughout the summer. The groups main goal is to bring people, visitors and locals alike, downtown. “We stage events on Main Street to give the locals something to do, a reason to come downtown and see what we have,” she says. Always busy and involved, Molly owns another business in town: Molly Poppin’s Gourmet Snacks. In addition to 20 flavors of popcorn, the store sells 12 flavors of jersey, 12 assorted candy nuts, and 25 flavors of infused balsamic vinegars and oils. The store has now expanded to Dorset. A new store opened on May 22 that sells the same delicious snacks.
A TOWN HELPING OTHERS
During our interview, Molly brought up an issue that is very prevalent in the community: “Hubbard county is a very poor county. There is a lot of poverty in Park Rapids. And there are a lot of wonderful organizations that are looking at how to address that.” She mentioned the organization Mahube-Otwa, a community action agency with the mission of assisting low income families and the elderly in the counties of Mahnomen, Hubbard, Becker, Otter Tail, and Wadena. While there are many affluent people living in the community, there are many who are “living pay check to pay check” and whose “voices don’t always get captured.” Molly wanted to note that the community and leadership recognize this issue of poverty and make a huge effort to solve the problem. Whether it is a school program that provides children with the meals and clothes they need or an agency like Mahube-Otwa, the community of Park Rapids is not “ignoring the issue or turning their back to it.” Rather, they are looking at ways to improve the lives of those that struggle most.
What is your favorite thing about living in Park Rapids?
“Well there’s a lot of things. Of course, my family is here. Other than that, I get to do whatever I want. I get to start businesses, take a mini vacation to Itasca; we just went up there the other weekend to spend one night just to get away real quick. You have control over your life, you can do as much or as little with it as you want. There's people that live here because it’s super simple. They can go to a nice job, 9-5, Monday thru Friday. They have the nice weekends to enjoy the great trails and outdoors, they like to hunt, fish, and do all that stuff. It’s perfect for them. And then there are people who like to be busy. I think it’s important to realize, when you’re looking at the whole community, that not everyone wants that. A lot of the people are here for the serenity. Having hobbies and enjoying the outdoors, you know, not everyone is booked solid seven days a week
If someone was visiting Park Rapids for the first time, what would you recommend for them to see and do?
“I would say they definitely have to come to Main Street, it is one of the nicest aspects of Park Rapids and the surrounding communities. Visitors can walk the streets, the sidewalks are so nice, the shops are so great, there’s 3 blocks of things to do, there’s lots of restaurants and shops, so you definitely have to come to Main Street. People love to see the parking in the middle of the road. And the community is proud of it as a quirk. It’s a weird thing not many places have anymore. Then I would say they have to go to Itasca. It’s a beautiful park and resource; the Headwaters, Douglas Lodge, the trails are amazing. I would recommend visiting Dorset, another nice little shopping and dining experience. I would rent a bike and get on the Heartland Trail. I would, if you could, book a stay at one of the local resorts. The "ma and pa" feel of a resort is just something special, you know? You've got a family there, they’re hosting you, taking care of you. You get to stay at a nice little rustic, well not always rustic, cabin. They’ve got kitchens and cable and internet if you want all that. If you don’t, you can just ignore it. So, I think the resort is one of the nicest ways to get on the lake. They have boats for you too"
What is your favorite time of year in Park Rapids?
"The fall, absolutely. The weather is perfect, it’s dry and cooler. The leaves are changing and its still busy, busy enough to be fun and entertaining. It’s not so busy where it's chaos. Fall is real chill and awesome. And then the winter is too cold and the spring is too muddy so that’s why I don’t like those (with a laugh)”
Good Life Cafe: http://www.thegoodlifecafepr.com/
Park Rapids Downtown Business Association: http://www.parkrapidsdowntown.com/index.php
Jennifer Wills Geraedts
“I’ve loved reading my whole life, grew up reading, but I never thought I could do it for a job”
Date of interview: May 19, 2015
OWNING A BOOKSTORE
Famous author Ray Bradbury once said, “Love what you do and do what you love.” For Jennifer Wills, co-owner of Beagle and Wolf Books & Bindery, this couldn’t be more true. In 2007, Jennifer and her parents, Sally Wizik Wills and Bob Wills purchased Beagle Books from previous owners Jill and Deane Johnson. At the time, the Wills already owned Sister Wolf Books in Dorset. Just this past year, after Sister Wolf celebrated 20 years, the two stores combined. The grand reopening took place over Memorial Day weekend. When the family purchased Beagle Books, Jennifer became the manager, a job that involves a passion for books and a lot of interaction with the community of Park Rapids. One of the perks of owning a small business, Jennifer says, is knowing the customers. “You know, if a book comes in that would be super appealing to someone, I might email them and say, ‘Hey! I got this in and you might be interested in it.’’’ Another benefit is “having the power to do what we want…If I have an idea I want to do today or tomorrow, I just do it.” Hosting special events like the annual Fourth of July Pie baking contest and auction, the store makes itself an integral part of the community. “We’ve become the box office for any tickets…if you want to buy a ticket to Northern Light Opera Company, Long Lake Theater, we have them,” Jennifer says. The store also hosts book signings— notable author visits to the store include William Kent Krueger, Kate DiCamillo, Cathy Wurzer, and Nathan Jorgeson—and book clubs for women, men, kids (5th-7th grade), current events, faith talks, and poetry. Beagle and Wolf works collaboratively with the other businesses in town as well. This year, the bookstore and chamber are working closely to help organize Park Rapids for small business Saturday. “It’s a special day where we are promoting people to go support their local businesses, whether it’s a hardware store or the shoe store or the bookstore, or whatever your local independents are,” Jennifer says.
BINDING BOOKS
If you have a worn book that has been passed down for five generations and is in need of repair, take it to Jennifer. She will rebind it, new cover and all. Jennifer learned the unique skill of bookbinding in Detroit Lakes from a man “in his 80’s and willing to take on an apprentice.” After applying for and receiving a grant from the Region 2 Arts Council, Jennifer learned how to repair any type of book, the two most common being Bibles and cookbooks. About halfway through the apprenticeship, the man passed away. “After he died, his family called me and said ‘we’re getting phone calls, people want to buy pieces of the bindery, but would you buy the whole thing?’ and the price was affordable. The equipment I work on now is the equipment I learned on. A lot of it is 100-200 years old,” Jennifer said. While repairing books might be more common, Jennifer can also build books. “If someone comes up to me and says they want their thesis bound up, they can bring the pages and I’ll put it into a book,” she says.
Famous author Ray Bradbury once said, “Love what you do and do what you love.” For Jennifer Wills, co-owner of Beagle and Wolf Books & Bindery, this couldn’t be more true. In 2007, Jennifer and her parents, Sally Wizik Wills and Bob Wills purchased Beagle Books from previous owners Jill and Deane Johnson. At the time, the Wills already owned Sister Wolf Books in Dorset. Just this past year, after Sister Wolf celebrated 20 years, the two stores combined. The grand reopening took place over Memorial Day weekend. When the family purchased Beagle Books, Jennifer became the manager, a job that involves a passion for books and a lot of interaction with the community of Park Rapids. One of the perks of owning a small business, Jennifer says, is knowing the customers. “You know, if a book comes in that would be super appealing to someone, I might email them and say, ‘Hey! I got this in and you might be interested in it.’’’ Another benefit is “having the power to do what we want…If I have an idea I want to do today or tomorrow, I just do it.” Hosting special events like the annual Fourth of July Pie baking contest and auction, the store makes itself an integral part of the community. “We’ve become the box office for any tickets…if you want to buy a ticket to Northern Light Opera Company, Long Lake Theater, we have them,” Jennifer says. The store also hosts book signings— notable author visits to the store include William Kent Krueger, Kate DiCamillo, Cathy Wurzer, and Nathan Jorgeson—and book clubs for women, men, kids (5th-7th grade), current events, faith talks, and poetry. Beagle and Wolf works collaboratively with the other businesses in town as well. This year, the bookstore and chamber are working closely to help organize Park Rapids for small business Saturday. “It’s a special day where we are promoting people to go support their local businesses, whether it’s a hardware store or the shoe store or the bookstore, or whatever your local independents are,” Jennifer says.
BINDING BOOKS
If you have a worn book that has been passed down for five generations and is in need of repair, take it to Jennifer. She will rebind it, new cover and all. Jennifer learned the unique skill of bookbinding in Detroit Lakes from a man “in his 80’s and willing to take on an apprentice.” After applying for and receiving a grant from the Region 2 Arts Council, Jennifer learned how to repair any type of book, the two most common being Bibles and cookbooks. About halfway through the apprenticeship, the man passed away. “After he died, his family called me and said ‘we’re getting phone calls, people want to buy pieces of the bindery, but would you buy the whole thing?’ and the price was affordable. The equipment I work on now is the equipment I learned on. A lot of it is 100-200 years old,” Jennifer said. While repairing books might be more common, Jennifer can also build books. “If someone comes up to me and says they want their thesis bound up, they can bring the pages and I’ll put it into a book,” she says.
THE GOOD IN BOOKS
Through books, Jennifer has found a way to give back to the community. Each year, she donates books to the annual Bingo for Books event and libraries in the area. A member of Friends of the Library, Jennifer says the group’s main mission is to raise funds and save money for when the time comes to build a new library. They hold four sales each year, which are always very successful. Jennifer is also involved with the Kinship program. “I’m in a program called Reading Buddies, which is where adults go in and work with first graders struggling to read. There are a number of schools in the area; I do it out in Nevis,” she says. Jennifer enjoys sharing her passion for books with others, saying, “I’ve loved reading my whole life, grew up reading, but I never thought I could do it for a job.” Another more recent passion of Jennifer’s is directing! She is currently directing her second show, Almost Maine. Jennifer worked her way up to director, first learning tech and then becoming a stage manager. On being a director, she says, “I love it. Absolutely love it.” The comedy will take place from June 10 till July 11 at Long Lake Theater.
What is your favorite thing about living in Park Rapids?
“I think it’s just that sense of community and knowing each other and caring about each other. It’s a small enough town that I feel like, without feeling like people that I don’t want knowing my business, you know what I mean, sometimes a town can be too small. But I think it’s a nice size town”
If someone was visiting Park Rapids for the first time, what would you recommend for them to see and do?
“They should catch some sort of local theater, whether it’s the Woodtick, NLOC, Long Lake Theater, or even in the summer, there are these little lunch hour concerts. They are just half an hour, you bring your lunch. There is some absolutely outstanding talent, you know, singing and dancing. So definitely take in some local performance. I would eat at one of our local restaurants, probably my favorite is the Good Life Cafe. People should walk around Park Rapids. It’s beautiful, we really make an effort to be hanging baskets of flowers and it’s just absolutely gorgeous. There’s some neat slabs in the sidewalk from when we had construction a few years ago. And of course they should hit the lake, go fishing and swimming. And go shopping, of course”
What is your favorite time of year in Park Rapids?
“Summer. Christmas is fun too, but summer is my favorite”
Are there any community events coming up this summer that you’re excited for?
“There’s a lot going on. It’s sort of ironic because there’s times of the year where its so quiet here and there’s so much to do in the summer that you can’t do it all. It’s like, ‘If we could just spread this out’" (with a laugh)
“We get a lot of snowbirds that live here in the summer so it’s always fun to welcome back those people that have been gone all winter. And the stuff that happens on the 4th of July and the Where’s Waldo stuff, there’s a lot going on”
Beagle and Wolf Books & Bindery: http://beagleandwolf.com/
Long Lake Theater: http://www.longlaketheater.com/
Kinship of Park Rapids: http://www.kinshipparkrapids.org/index.php
Through books, Jennifer has found a way to give back to the community. Each year, she donates books to the annual Bingo for Books event and libraries in the area. A member of Friends of the Library, Jennifer says the group’s main mission is to raise funds and save money for when the time comes to build a new library. They hold four sales each year, which are always very successful. Jennifer is also involved with the Kinship program. “I’m in a program called Reading Buddies, which is where adults go in and work with first graders struggling to read. There are a number of schools in the area; I do it out in Nevis,” she says. Jennifer enjoys sharing her passion for books with others, saying, “I’ve loved reading my whole life, grew up reading, but I never thought I could do it for a job.” Another more recent passion of Jennifer’s is directing! She is currently directing her second show, Almost Maine. Jennifer worked her way up to director, first learning tech and then becoming a stage manager. On being a director, she says, “I love it. Absolutely love it.” The comedy will take place from June 10 till July 11 at Long Lake Theater.
What is your favorite thing about living in Park Rapids?
“I think it’s just that sense of community and knowing each other and caring about each other. It’s a small enough town that I feel like, without feeling like people that I don’t want knowing my business, you know what I mean, sometimes a town can be too small. But I think it’s a nice size town”
If someone was visiting Park Rapids for the first time, what would you recommend for them to see and do?
“They should catch some sort of local theater, whether it’s the Woodtick, NLOC, Long Lake Theater, or even in the summer, there are these little lunch hour concerts. They are just half an hour, you bring your lunch. There is some absolutely outstanding talent, you know, singing and dancing. So definitely take in some local performance. I would eat at one of our local restaurants, probably my favorite is the Good Life Cafe. People should walk around Park Rapids. It’s beautiful, we really make an effort to be hanging baskets of flowers and it’s just absolutely gorgeous. There’s some neat slabs in the sidewalk from when we had construction a few years ago. And of course they should hit the lake, go fishing and swimming. And go shopping, of course”
What is your favorite time of year in Park Rapids?
“Summer. Christmas is fun too, but summer is my favorite”
Are there any community events coming up this summer that you’re excited for?
“There’s a lot going on. It’s sort of ironic because there’s times of the year where its so quiet here and there’s so much to do in the summer that you can’t do it all. It’s like, ‘If we could just spread this out’" (with a laugh)
“We get a lot of snowbirds that live here in the summer so it’s always fun to welcome back those people that have been gone all winter. And the stuff that happens on the 4th of July and the Where’s Waldo stuff, there’s a lot going on”
Beagle and Wolf Books & Bindery: http://beagleandwolf.com/
Long Lake Theater: http://www.longlaketheater.com/
Kinship of Park Rapids: http://www.kinshipparkrapids.org/index.php
Paul Dove
“Park Rapids has given me, and a lot of people, a reason to get up in the morning”
Date of interview: May 18, 2015
FROM VACATION SPOT TO HOME
For many, Park Rapids serves as a summer spot for lazy days on the lake. Since 1976, Paul Dove and his wife Pat would travel up north from Evansville, Indiana to enjoy lake life. Paul was a professor of music at the University of Evansville. When he retired in 2000, they decided to sell their house, come up to Park Rapids, and then figure out where they would actually move—“We weren’t going to retire here,” Paul said, “too cold.” However, Paul and Pat decided to remain in Park Rapids. “We got involved, you make home where get involved,” Paul said.
OPERA UP NORTH
Paul helped start the Northern Light Opera Company in 2001. As artistic and music director, this summer marks his fourteenth year and eighteenth show with the company. Paul’s daughter, a Juilliard theater grad, and son-in-law, a theater professional, come up each summer to do the stage directing and technical directing, respectively. “It becomes as professional as we can get here,” he says. When asked if he has a favorite show, he said, “I think, they’re all different. Guys and Dolls last summer was really quite good.” From July 31 till August 8, the company will be putting on the lively and fast-paced West Side Story. In the past, the pit has had around 10 people. This show has sixteen, with “four parts requiring the instrumentalists to play at least 2 or 3 other instruments.” There’s no denying, the music is very difficult. For this show, Paul says “we’ll have to have another 4 rehearsals because the music is so hard.” With the amount of talent in this town, the show is bound to be a favorite. As for other upcoming showcases of talent, there will be a 10th anniversary concert for the Park Rapids Lakes Area Arts Council on September 26. The concert will feature music from the Park Rapids Community Band and Classic Chorale and readings by writers from Jackpine Writers Bloc. The Northern Light Opera Company’s contribution is a 12 minute opera entitled A Hand of Bridge by Samuel Barber. Besides putting on a good show, the NLOC makes community members active participants in music and theater. The company started NLOKids, a “2 week workshop for children ages 9-13 where they write their own musical, own text, own music, and build costumes.” The program was inspired by similar kids programs in New York City and brought to Minnesota by his daughter and son-in-law.
A HOME FOR THE ARTS
There is finally a home for the arts in Park Rapids. Located in downtown Park Rapids, Armory Square is a redeveloped historical building (built in 1922) that can serve as a performance hall, community, and arts center. While renovations are still ongoing, the multifunctional space has already hosted performances of Good Man Charlie Brown and Amahl and the Night Visitors. Just last week, there were 120 people there to see Norwegian Hardanger Fiddlers, a concert presented by the library. Having a place to present such a variety of the arts “makes it possible for people to do things that are historically significant and not necessarily commercially significant, where they’re going to sell out a crowd,” Paul said. When the project is completely funded, Paul’s vision is that there will be a collapsible seating system. This would make room for trade shows, banquets, and meetings when concerts are not taking place. He would also like to see a room serve as a ticket office, coffee shop, and place for artists to display their work. With support from the community, Paul has high hopes for the center of the arts. “I think Park Rapids is an interesting community in the way that the people who take part in the arts, a lot of them are retirees and Park Rapids has grown as a retired community, and they have an interest in preserving these things,” Paul said.
What is your favorite thing about living in Park Rapids?
“It has given me, and a lot of people, a reason to get up in the morning. That are lots of things to do. It is really an interesting thing that can happen here…at the meeting with the Park Rapids Arts and Culture Commission this afternoon, we were going to go to the city and ask if there is any way we can dedicate a park to art. But the city planner did us one better and said that’s good, but rather than just have art in that one park, what about having an art trail that went from one end of the city to the other along the Heartland Bike trail. So every 200 feet there would be another piece of artwork. Having those possible projects is really quite a fun idea”
“You know the old trestle bridge? That is going to be removed. What we’re hoping, this came up at the Arts and Culture Commission, is how can we work it so we can create public art using the materials from that bridge in a public sculpture memorializing the railroad connection to the city. And the city is so receptive to this, I love that”
If someone was visiting Park Rapids for the first time, what would you recommend for them to see and do?
“Go to the lakes, first of all. You go up north to go up to the lake. If you come up in the wintertime, there are things happening. like Sunday afternoon there was a community band concert. it has players that come from 100 miles away just to play in the band. These sorts of things don’t happen in small towns. I think they need to visit Main Street, because they’ll find it charming and that people really do park down the center of the street. Visit the Bella Cafe”
What is your favorite time of year in Park Rapids?
“I think fall is one of the most beautiful times. Summers are always good, but we’re too busy in the summer to really enjoy it. So fall is my favorite right now. I don’t mind the winter, you can always put on clothes. If it gets too cold, you can stay inside”
Are there any traditions in the town?
“There’s the fishing contest. I think we need to expand it so it becomes a community event for more people other than the fisherman. An interesting thing in Hubbard, they have a sleigh festival in February, that will be, I’m hoping will grow. It brings people together, gives them something to do. They do sleigh rides, ice sculptures…it is something to become an event. And the city has something in the summer called Second Street Stage. Every Thursday night they have a new band coming through. People in the community can come downtown and listen to bands that are brought in to celebrate the whole idea of downtown. That is going to be a bigger thing as it goes. They set up an outdoor concert facility. All ages come”
Northern Light Opera Company: http://www.northernlightopera.org/
Park Rapids Lake Area Art Council: http://www.prlaac.org/
Park Rapids Community Development Corporation: http://www.parkrapidscdc.org/prcdc-mission.html
Armory Square: http://www.parkrapidscdc.org/armory-about.html
For many, Park Rapids serves as a summer spot for lazy days on the lake. Since 1976, Paul Dove and his wife Pat would travel up north from Evansville, Indiana to enjoy lake life. Paul was a professor of music at the University of Evansville. When he retired in 2000, they decided to sell their house, come up to Park Rapids, and then figure out where they would actually move—“We weren’t going to retire here,” Paul said, “too cold.” However, Paul and Pat decided to remain in Park Rapids. “We got involved, you make home where get involved,” Paul said.
OPERA UP NORTH
Paul helped start the Northern Light Opera Company in 2001. As artistic and music director, this summer marks his fourteenth year and eighteenth show with the company. Paul’s daughter, a Juilliard theater grad, and son-in-law, a theater professional, come up each summer to do the stage directing and technical directing, respectively. “It becomes as professional as we can get here,” he says. When asked if he has a favorite show, he said, “I think, they’re all different. Guys and Dolls last summer was really quite good.” From July 31 till August 8, the company will be putting on the lively and fast-paced West Side Story. In the past, the pit has had around 10 people. This show has sixteen, with “four parts requiring the instrumentalists to play at least 2 or 3 other instruments.” There’s no denying, the music is very difficult. For this show, Paul says “we’ll have to have another 4 rehearsals because the music is so hard.” With the amount of talent in this town, the show is bound to be a favorite. As for other upcoming showcases of talent, there will be a 10th anniversary concert for the Park Rapids Lakes Area Arts Council on September 26. The concert will feature music from the Park Rapids Community Band and Classic Chorale and readings by writers from Jackpine Writers Bloc. The Northern Light Opera Company’s contribution is a 12 minute opera entitled A Hand of Bridge by Samuel Barber. Besides putting on a good show, the NLOC makes community members active participants in music and theater. The company started NLOKids, a “2 week workshop for children ages 9-13 where they write their own musical, own text, own music, and build costumes.” The program was inspired by similar kids programs in New York City and brought to Minnesota by his daughter and son-in-law.
A HOME FOR THE ARTS
There is finally a home for the arts in Park Rapids. Located in downtown Park Rapids, Armory Square is a redeveloped historical building (built in 1922) that can serve as a performance hall, community, and arts center. While renovations are still ongoing, the multifunctional space has already hosted performances of Good Man Charlie Brown and Amahl and the Night Visitors. Just last week, there were 120 people there to see Norwegian Hardanger Fiddlers, a concert presented by the library. Having a place to present such a variety of the arts “makes it possible for people to do things that are historically significant and not necessarily commercially significant, where they’re going to sell out a crowd,” Paul said. When the project is completely funded, Paul’s vision is that there will be a collapsible seating system. This would make room for trade shows, banquets, and meetings when concerts are not taking place. He would also like to see a room serve as a ticket office, coffee shop, and place for artists to display their work. With support from the community, Paul has high hopes for the center of the arts. “I think Park Rapids is an interesting community in the way that the people who take part in the arts, a lot of them are retirees and Park Rapids has grown as a retired community, and they have an interest in preserving these things,” Paul said.
What is your favorite thing about living in Park Rapids?
“It has given me, and a lot of people, a reason to get up in the morning. That are lots of things to do. It is really an interesting thing that can happen here…at the meeting with the Park Rapids Arts and Culture Commission this afternoon, we were going to go to the city and ask if there is any way we can dedicate a park to art. But the city planner did us one better and said that’s good, but rather than just have art in that one park, what about having an art trail that went from one end of the city to the other along the Heartland Bike trail. So every 200 feet there would be another piece of artwork. Having those possible projects is really quite a fun idea”
“You know the old trestle bridge? That is going to be removed. What we’re hoping, this came up at the Arts and Culture Commission, is how can we work it so we can create public art using the materials from that bridge in a public sculpture memorializing the railroad connection to the city. And the city is so receptive to this, I love that”
If someone was visiting Park Rapids for the first time, what would you recommend for them to see and do?
“Go to the lakes, first of all. You go up north to go up to the lake. If you come up in the wintertime, there are things happening. like Sunday afternoon there was a community band concert. it has players that come from 100 miles away just to play in the band. These sorts of things don’t happen in small towns. I think they need to visit Main Street, because they’ll find it charming and that people really do park down the center of the street. Visit the Bella Cafe”
What is your favorite time of year in Park Rapids?
“I think fall is one of the most beautiful times. Summers are always good, but we’re too busy in the summer to really enjoy it. So fall is my favorite right now. I don’t mind the winter, you can always put on clothes. If it gets too cold, you can stay inside”
Are there any traditions in the town?
“There’s the fishing contest. I think we need to expand it so it becomes a community event for more people other than the fisherman. An interesting thing in Hubbard, they have a sleigh festival in February, that will be, I’m hoping will grow. It brings people together, gives them something to do. They do sleigh rides, ice sculptures…it is something to become an event. And the city has something in the summer called Second Street Stage. Every Thursday night they have a new band coming through. People in the community can come downtown and listen to bands that are brought in to celebrate the whole idea of downtown. That is going to be a bigger thing as it goes. They set up an outdoor concert facility. All ages come”
Northern Light Opera Company: http://www.northernlightopera.org/
Park Rapids Lake Area Art Council: http://www.prlaac.org/
Park Rapids Community Development Corporation: http://www.parkrapidscdc.org/prcdc-mission.html
Armory Square: http://www.parkrapidscdc.org/armory-about.html
Lu Ann Hurd-Lof
“I still think there is no greater satisfaction in the world than writing and covering things”
Date of interview: May 18, 2015
FROM REPORTER TO EDITOR
Born and raised in Eldora, Iowa, Lu Ann Hurd-Lof attended Iowa State for a Bachelor’s degree in Home Economics and Journalism. She began writing for a chain of newspapers in the Northern suburbs of Chicago. By the time she was hired and began work, the newspaper had been bought out by a well known publishing company. “My first job out of college was with TIME INC,” she said with a laugh, adding that it looked good on her resume. Another perk of the job was the weekly and free copies of TIME and Sports Illustrated magazine. In the fall of 1972, LuAnn moved to Park Rapids. The following year, she became a reporter at the Park Rapids Enterprise. Lu Ann rose through the ranks until she took on the responsibility of editor, a job that she adored—“It was a wonderful job, I absolutely loved it and I met so many wonderful people.” After resigning in 1982, she became a sheriff’s dispatcher and did some freelance writing until heading back to the Enterprise in 1986 for the second time. Over the next twenty-two years (till 2008), she watched the town expand and grew as an editor. Covering everything from the huge fire in 1976 to the “whole buildup of irrigation and agriculture in the area” and the “potato plant that still employs a ton of people”, Lu Ann found her job both “exciting and wonderful.” When asked to give advice to young, aspiring journalists, like myself, she said “I still think there is no greater satisfaction in the world than writing and covering things.” She expanded on the fact that today, there are more options for journalists; that jobs now range from digital to political journalism.
A SUPPORTER OF THE ARTS
If you walk around the town of Park Rapids, it is obvious that the arts play a big role. Whether it is the Tube Dude sculpture in Red Bridge Park or the detailed Lakes that sprinkle the pavement on Main Street, the town places a huge emphasis on supporting the arts. In regards to the community, Lu Ann says “they are very supportive. They are good audience members and good participants…and financially supportive as well.” She also added that Park Rapids has “one of the schools that hasn’t cut the arts, like band, choir, and art.” Lu Ann serves as coordinator for the Park Rapids Lakes Area Art Council. The group puts together Art Leap, an event where people can tour local artists’ studios. This year, Art Leap will take place on September 26th and 27th. The council is also sponsoring two productions of the outdoor show Nature, environmental-themed performances that focus on the writings of Emerson and Thoreau. The performances of Nature will take place on July 15th at the Park Rapids Antique Tractor Club Grounds. Two other shows, sponsored by the Lake Itasca Region Pioneer Farmers, will take place on July 17th at the Lake Itasca Region Pioneer Farmers Grounds. Lu Ann is also apart of the Arts and Council Advisory Commission. The Commission’s past projects include getting a grant to build a sculpture in the library (which was dedicated last summer) and adding benches and other improvements to Main Street. Currently, they are discussing an idea for an art walk that features various sculptures throughout town.
SERVICE ABOVE SELF
The second woman to join Rotary in Park Rapids, Lu Ann is quite the trailblazer. The club did not accept women until the court forced them in the 1980’s, and not everyone was happy when the opposite gender was allowed to join. When Lu Ann joined, some men even quit. Now, she is in charge of publicity for the club. Today, the Park Rapids Rotary club has seventy-some members and is a recent winner of the Best Club in the District award. Upholding the club’s mission “Service above Self”, members used their first Rotary grant to build a fitness park by the Century school. After adding some final touches, the park will be dedicated sometime this spring. Another successful Rotary project is the exchange student program. Through the Rotary, students are able to spend the year learning abroad. Right now, the group is hosting a student from Germany. Next year, there will be a student coming from Ecuador and an outbound student heading to Denmark. When asked where LuAnn would suggest a first-time Park Rapids visitor to go, she says the “first thing is Itasca State Park.” Lu Ann, a member of Friends of Itasca State Park, has taken many exchange students to events at the park so that they are able to see it at least once.
What is your favorite thing about living in Park Rapids?
“I just like the small town atmosphere, knowing people, and then our natural surroundings and how quiet and peaceful it can be”
Do you live on a lake?
“No, I live in the woods, but I’m a gardener, that is my hobby”
“When the kids were little, we used to go camping and biking on the Heartland Trail, it’s a great place to raise kids”
What do you grow in your garden?
“I grow tomatoes, beans, cucumbers, sweet corn, radishes, lettuce, raspberries, strawberries, all that fun stuff. I have a fence, you need that. Then I have flower beds, perennials and herbs in pots”
What is your favorite time of year in Park Rapids?
“Fall, it’s so beautiful and (with a laugh) the mosquitos are gone”
Park Rapids Rotary Club: http://portal.clubrunner.ca/1338/
Park Rapids Lakes Area Art Council: http://www.prlaac.org/index.php
Born and raised in Eldora, Iowa, Lu Ann Hurd-Lof attended Iowa State for a Bachelor’s degree in Home Economics and Journalism. She began writing for a chain of newspapers in the Northern suburbs of Chicago. By the time she was hired and began work, the newspaper had been bought out by a well known publishing company. “My first job out of college was with TIME INC,” she said with a laugh, adding that it looked good on her resume. Another perk of the job was the weekly and free copies of TIME and Sports Illustrated magazine. In the fall of 1972, LuAnn moved to Park Rapids. The following year, she became a reporter at the Park Rapids Enterprise. Lu Ann rose through the ranks until she took on the responsibility of editor, a job that she adored—“It was a wonderful job, I absolutely loved it and I met so many wonderful people.” After resigning in 1982, she became a sheriff’s dispatcher and did some freelance writing until heading back to the Enterprise in 1986 for the second time. Over the next twenty-two years (till 2008), she watched the town expand and grew as an editor. Covering everything from the huge fire in 1976 to the “whole buildup of irrigation and agriculture in the area” and the “potato plant that still employs a ton of people”, Lu Ann found her job both “exciting and wonderful.” When asked to give advice to young, aspiring journalists, like myself, she said “I still think there is no greater satisfaction in the world than writing and covering things.” She expanded on the fact that today, there are more options for journalists; that jobs now range from digital to political journalism.
A SUPPORTER OF THE ARTS
If you walk around the town of Park Rapids, it is obvious that the arts play a big role. Whether it is the Tube Dude sculpture in Red Bridge Park or the detailed Lakes that sprinkle the pavement on Main Street, the town places a huge emphasis on supporting the arts. In regards to the community, Lu Ann says “they are very supportive. They are good audience members and good participants…and financially supportive as well.” She also added that Park Rapids has “one of the schools that hasn’t cut the arts, like band, choir, and art.” Lu Ann serves as coordinator for the Park Rapids Lakes Area Art Council. The group puts together Art Leap, an event where people can tour local artists’ studios. This year, Art Leap will take place on September 26th and 27th. The council is also sponsoring two productions of the outdoor show Nature, environmental-themed performances that focus on the writings of Emerson and Thoreau. The performances of Nature will take place on July 15th at the Park Rapids Antique Tractor Club Grounds. Two other shows, sponsored by the Lake Itasca Region Pioneer Farmers, will take place on July 17th at the Lake Itasca Region Pioneer Farmers Grounds. Lu Ann is also apart of the Arts and Council Advisory Commission. The Commission’s past projects include getting a grant to build a sculpture in the library (which was dedicated last summer) and adding benches and other improvements to Main Street. Currently, they are discussing an idea for an art walk that features various sculptures throughout town.
SERVICE ABOVE SELF
The second woman to join Rotary in Park Rapids, Lu Ann is quite the trailblazer. The club did not accept women until the court forced them in the 1980’s, and not everyone was happy when the opposite gender was allowed to join. When Lu Ann joined, some men even quit. Now, she is in charge of publicity for the club. Today, the Park Rapids Rotary club has seventy-some members and is a recent winner of the Best Club in the District award. Upholding the club’s mission “Service above Self”, members used their first Rotary grant to build a fitness park by the Century school. After adding some final touches, the park will be dedicated sometime this spring. Another successful Rotary project is the exchange student program. Through the Rotary, students are able to spend the year learning abroad. Right now, the group is hosting a student from Germany. Next year, there will be a student coming from Ecuador and an outbound student heading to Denmark. When asked where LuAnn would suggest a first-time Park Rapids visitor to go, she says the “first thing is Itasca State Park.” Lu Ann, a member of Friends of Itasca State Park, has taken many exchange students to events at the park so that they are able to see it at least once.
What is your favorite thing about living in Park Rapids?
“I just like the small town atmosphere, knowing people, and then our natural surroundings and how quiet and peaceful it can be”
Do you live on a lake?
“No, I live in the woods, but I’m a gardener, that is my hobby”
“When the kids were little, we used to go camping and biking on the Heartland Trail, it’s a great place to raise kids”
What do you grow in your garden?
“I grow tomatoes, beans, cucumbers, sweet corn, radishes, lettuce, raspberries, strawberries, all that fun stuff. I have a fence, you need that. Then I have flower beds, perennials and herbs in pots”
What is your favorite time of year in Park Rapids?
“Fall, it’s so beautiful and (with a laugh) the mosquitos are gone”
Park Rapids Rotary Club: http://portal.clubrunner.ca/1338/
Park Rapids Lakes Area Art Council: http://www.prlaac.org/index.php
Jill and Deane Johnson
“Most small towns have lost their Main Street, but Park Rapids has managed to keep it.
And not only keep it, but grow it and expand it and make it beautiful” |
Date of interview: May 18, 2015
BEGINNINGS & BOOKS
Before calling Park Rapids home in 1980, Jill and Deane Johnson lived all across the map. Midwest natives, the two attended University of North Dakota—Jill for a degree in Physical Therapy and Deane for two years of medical school. He finished his degree in Denver, CO, where the couple stayed for two years. “It was such a treat for us, after growing up in North Dakota and Minnesota,” Jill said, also adding that she “didn’t know it was possible to have sixty degrees in February and be able to drive to the mountains and ski.” When in Park Rapids, Deane worked as a family physician and Jill as a physical therapist. From 1988-89, Deane was given a Bush Fellowship. This opportunity allowed the couple to move to England for a summer so that Deane could study hospice and bring the program back to Park Rapids. After that summer, the two moved to Northfield, MN, where Deane served as a visiting clinician at Mayo Clinic. Back in Park Rapids, Jill’s dream of opening a bookstore came true when they bought an empty building and contacted a book warehouse—called Bookmen at the time—in Minneapolis. After picking their own favorites and filling the store with books and other extras, such as Inuit art and music, Beagle Books officially opened in 2001. One fond memory they have is meeting famous author, Kate DiCamillo; she is best known for her book Because of Winn-Dixie. Jill and Deane said they “had her out at the store, she spent the night at our house, and played scrabble with us”. After six years, the couple sold it to the current owners, the Wills family.
BECOMING AUTHORS
The idea for Jill and Deane’s first book, Little Minnesota: 100 Towns around 100, began when Jill’s father was invited to a 50th class reunion. The class had been his first teaching job in the little town of Strandquist, MN. Upon returning from the trip, he told Jill that “these towns won’t be around much longer”. From that point forward, Jill and Deane made it their mission to find the 100 smallest towns in Minnesota. The only requirements were that each had a mayor and population near or less than one hundred. The goal took just over a year, with Deane having to return to the same spot in Minneiska to capture the perfect photo for the book’s cover. “If you walk into a town and one of you has a clipboard and the other has a huge camera, you get immediate attention. And typically, the mayor or town snoop or historian—sometimes they are all the same person—will come out and start talking to you,” Deane mentioned. One of their favorite towns is Whalan. The 63-person town is unique not only for their wonderful pie shop, but for their stand still parade. “Each year, the spectators do the walking, and parade members stand still,” Jill said. The annual procession has gotten a lot of national television coverage in the past. Over the year, Jill and Deane discovered that the towns have what they call The Holy Trinity: a church, a bar, and a baseball field. “Needless to say, we ate at a lot of bars” and “had a lot of Bud Light,” they joked. The finished book was published in November of 2011. The next publication, The Best of Itasca: A Guide to Minnesota’s Oldest State Park, came about when Deane took a Master Naturalist course to become an official volunteer at Itasca State Park. When he went to the bookstore to buy a guidebook and the guy said that there wasn’t one, Deane said, “Oh, I’ll write one. What should I put in it?” That summer he hiked every trail multiple times, took photographs, and checked and rechecked the distances on his GPS. Deane took most of the photos for the book during the fall of 2012, which he said had fall color “unequaled in the last 20 years.” Some of his favorite trails are the Dr. Robert’s Trail (which he has staked out 100 plants on and “hiked probably 40 times”) and the more obscure Beaver Trail. Other beautiful spots are Bohall Trail, which cuts through 300-year old trees and Deer Park Trail, which passes by pristine lakes. Jill’s favorite spot is the Ozawindib trail, where she enjoys cross country skiing in the winter months. The final guidebook, which features a natural history section and trail guides, was published in April of 2014. In conjunction with the novel, Dean will be giving a talk about Itasca’s Top 10 Secrets on August 31, 2015, in town.
MUSIC AND MORE
A member of the community band, Bemidji Symphony, classical chorale, and a jazz band that plays every Sunday in the summer, Deane loves being involved with music in the Park Rapids area. He is currently in the pit orchestra for the Northern Light Opera Company’s upcoming production of West Side Story, a show with incredibly upbeat music. He says the popular song “Mambo” seems to “go 230 mph.” Performances start on July 31 and go through August 8 at the Armory Square. As for all the upcoming events in Park Rapids, Deane says “There is so much going on here below the surface. It’s amazing.” Chair of the Library Board and member of the Region 2 Arts Council, Jill is currently working on writing another book about the men in Little Minnesota who died during the war. She “was astounded at the number of guys who had died, really a disproportionate number compared to the cities” and is now “tracing World War II through their service and deaths.”
If someone was visiting Park Rapids for the first time, what would you recommend for them to see and do?
D: “Itasca, everything Itasca”
J: “I would say take a stroll downtown. Enjoy a historic Main Street that is increasingly a rare experience. Because most small towns have lost their Main Street, but Park Rapids has managed to keep it. And not only keep it, but grow it and expand it and make it beautiful”
D: “Take a walk through Red Bridge Park and across the bridge and down the Heartland Trail for aways, stop at our house for a cup of coffee” (with a laugh)
J: “Make sure you bike or walk the Heartland Trail”
What is your favorite thing about living in Park Rapids?
J: “I like the quality of life, the clean air, the I know the lack of industry is probably not good for economic growth, but you do have good quality of air”
D: “Clean air, clean water, wildlife, lots of lakes, natural beauty”
J: “Things that are increasingly hard to find, places have become more and more polluted and we have been pretty much exempt from that up here”
What is your favorite time of year in Park Rapids?
D: “Spring”
J: “Fall”
D: “I like Fall here more than I have anywhere else, it can be really nice.”
Little Minnesota and The Best of Itasca: http://www.littleminnesota.org/
Northern Light Opera Company: http://www.northernlightopera.org/
Before calling Park Rapids home in 1980, Jill and Deane Johnson lived all across the map. Midwest natives, the two attended University of North Dakota—Jill for a degree in Physical Therapy and Deane for two years of medical school. He finished his degree in Denver, CO, where the couple stayed for two years. “It was such a treat for us, after growing up in North Dakota and Minnesota,” Jill said, also adding that she “didn’t know it was possible to have sixty degrees in February and be able to drive to the mountains and ski.” When in Park Rapids, Deane worked as a family physician and Jill as a physical therapist. From 1988-89, Deane was given a Bush Fellowship. This opportunity allowed the couple to move to England for a summer so that Deane could study hospice and bring the program back to Park Rapids. After that summer, the two moved to Northfield, MN, where Deane served as a visiting clinician at Mayo Clinic. Back in Park Rapids, Jill’s dream of opening a bookstore came true when they bought an empty building and contacted a book warehouse—called Bookmen at the time—in Minneapolis. After picking their own favorites and filling the store with books and other extras, such as Inuit art and music, Beagle Books officially opened in 2001. One fond memory they have is meeting famous author, Kate DiCamillo; she is best known for her book Because of Winn-Dixie. Jill and Deane said they “had her out at the store, she spent the night at our house, and played scrabble with us”. After six years, the couple sold it to the current owners, the Wills family.
BECOMING AUTHORS
The idea for Jill and Deane’s first book, Little Minnesota: 100 Towns around 100, began when Jill’s father was invited to a 50th class reunion. The class had been his first teaching job in the little town of Strandquist, MN. Upon returning from the trip, he told Jill that “these towns won’t be around much longer”. From that point forward, Jill and Deane made it their mission to find the 100 smallest towns in Minnesota. The only requirements were that each had a mayor and population near or less than one hundred. The goal took just over a year, with Deane having to return to the same spot in Minneiska to capture the perfect photo for the book’s cover. “If you walk into a town and one of you has a clipboard and the other has a huge camera, you get immediate attention. And typically, the mayor or town snoop or historian—sometimes they are all the same person—will come out and start talking to you,” Deane mentioned. One of their favorite towns is Whalan. The 63-person town is unique not only for their wonderful pie shop, but for their stand still parade. “Each year, the spectators do the walking, and parade members stand still,” Jill said. The annual procession has gotten a lot of national television coverage in the past. Over the year, Jill and Deane discovered that the towns have what they call The Holy Trinity: a church, a bar, and a baseball field. “Needless to say, we ate at a lot of bars” and “had a lot of Bud Light,” they joked. The finished book was published in November of 2011. The next publication, The Best of Itasca: A Guide to Minnesota’s Oldest State Park, came about when Deane took a Master Naturalist course to become an official volunteer at Itasca State Park. When he went to the bookstore to buy a guidebook and the guy said that there wasn’t one, Deane said, “Oh, I’ll write one. What should I put in it?” That summer he hiked every trail multiple times, took photographs, and checked and rechecked the distances on his GPS. Deane took most of the photos for the book during the fall of 2012, which he said had fall color “unequaled in the last 20 years.” Some of his favorite trails are the Dr. Robert’s Trail (which he has staked out 100 plants on and “hiked probably 40 times”) and the more obscure Beaver Trail. Other beautiful spots are Bohall Trail, which cuts through 300-year old trees and Deer Park Trail, which passes by pristine lakes. Jill’s favorite spot is the Ozawindib trail, where she enjoys cross country skiing in the winter months. The final guidebook, which features a natural history section and trail guides, was published in April of 2014. In conjunction with the novel, Dean will be giving a talk about Itasca’s Top 10 Secrets on August 31, 2015, in town.
MUSIC AND MORE
A member of the community band, Bemidji Symphony, classical chorale, and a jazz band that plays every Sunday in the summer, Deane loves being involved with music in the Park Rapids area. He is currently in the pit orchestra for the Northern Light Opera Company’s upcoming production of West Side Story, a show with incredibly upbeat music. He says the popular song “Mambo” seems to “go 230 mph.” Performances start on July 31 and go through August 8 at the Armory Square. As for all the upcoming events in Park Rapids, Deane says “There is so much going on here below the surface. It’s amazing.” Chair of the Library Board and member of the Region 2 Arts Council, Jill is currently working on writing another book about the men in Little Minnesota who died during the war. She “was astounded at the number of guys who had died, really a disproportionate number compared to the cities” and is now “tracing World War II through their service and deaths.”
If someone was visiting Park Rapids for the first time, what would you recommend for them to see and do?
D: “Itasca, everything Itasca”
J: “I would say take a stroll downtown. Enjoy a historic Main Street that is increasingly a rare experience. Because most small towns have lost their Main Street, but Park Rapids has managed to keep it. And not only keep it, but grow it and expand it and make it beautiful”
D: “Take a walk through Red Bridge Park and across the bridge and down the Heartland Trail for aways, stop at our house for a cup of coffee” (with a laugh)
J: “Make sure you bike or walk the Heartland Trail”
What is your favorite thing about living in Park Rapids?
J: “I like the quality of life, the clean air, the I know the lack of industry is probably not good for economic growth, but you do have good quality of air”
D: “Clean air, clean water, wildlife, lots of lakes, natural beauty”
J: “Things that are increasingly hard to find, places have become more and more polluted and we have been pretty much exempt from that up here”
What is your favorite time of year in Park Rapids?
D: “Spring”
J: “Fall”
D: “I like Fall here more than I have anywhere else, it can be really nice.”
Little Minnesota and The Best of Itasca: http://www.littleminnesota.org/
Northern Light Opera Company: http://www.northernlightopera.org/