Tina Haase Findlay is returning to Algona to reach out to young musicians and others in the surrounding community. She will fill the air with the sounds of jazz, blues and pop on Nov. 15 at the Wilcox Performing Arts Center
During the day Friday, Haase Findlay will provide music clinics at Algona schools for both high school and middle school students and for the jazz choirs of Bishop Garrigan. The students will have a short concert at the end of the school day.

Lavonne Lindhorst celebrates her 98th birthday today. But, on display in her room is a gift she received two weeks ago from Garrett Schmidt, a longtime friend and a senior at Algona High School. He is also a member of the unbeaten Bulldogs football team.
"The seniors for senior night gave their away jerseys to somebody that's made a difference in their lives or somebody that's really important to them," Garrett said.

Mirrors are amazing things, really. They allow us to do things that would otherwise be really difficult.
For instance, plucking eyebrows or – sorry about this one – nose hairs, is pretty difficult without looking at a reflection. Combing one's hair is aided by a mirror. I'm sure we could make really long lists of things that are easier when we can see our reflections.
Read the rest of On the Side in the Nov. 7 Advance.

I fell off the face of the earth last week. At least, that's what seemed to happen. Actually, I was alive and well and drinking coffee at Cafe Boutique with some of my pals. However, I wasn't supposed to be drinking coffee with some of my pals then. I was supposed to be playing bridge in the hospital round robin. At nine in the morning. Not one in the afternoon, as I thought.

Sue and I were on one of our anniversary weekend excursions – a three-day weekend exploring some part of Iowa. That particular year we were in Newton, and it was on the heels of the closing of the Maytag production facilities there after the company was purchased by Whirlpool.
To say the community suffered an immediate economic sucker punch is putting it mildly.
Read the rest of On the Side in the Oct. 31 Advance.

I hate to say this, but sometimes it's not about you.
When it comes to taking care of ourselves, it's easy to put off preventive medicine for other pressing issues and life in general. There are times, however, when our choices can impact others. Getting the seasonal flu is a great example.
Read the complete editorial in the Oct. 31 Kossuth County Advance.

A pretty smart fellow stopped by my office a few weeks ago to let me know a few things, one of which was that he thought the Advance was stirring the pot with regard to the ongoing controversy over potential new wind energy projects in Kossuth County.

If you haven't been exposed to foster care, you might think that the best thing for children is for them to be rescued from a bad environment and removed from their home permanently. But that's not true.
Foster care isn't a quick, easy avenue to adoption. It's loving, temporary care for children while their parents receive the support they need to welcome them home.
Read the entire editorial in the Sept. 19 Advance.

The students are back in the classroom. They can't wait to learn, meet new teachers, see their friends, and, er... sell you some stuff.
That's right. It's time to usher in a whole new 2019-20 year of fundraising. Now, before you run and hide whenever you see a youngster in a backpack approaching, consider the impact your generosity makes.
Read the complete column in the Sept. 12 Kossuth County Advance.

Sept. 17 starts the national celebration of Constitution Week. The commemoration of America's most important document is one of our country's least-known observances. Our Constitution stands as a testament to the tenacity of Americans throughout history to maintain their liberties and freedom.

Travel by air is never boring. At least, not for me.
Some readers may recall I wrote about losing my wallet in Los Angeles last spring, just before flying home from LAX. I always carry my wallet in a pocket, rather than in a purse, because that just seems handier. Not so much, though, when wallet and pocket fail to meet.
Read Molly's Ink Spots in the Sept. 12 Advance.

Recently, I re-watched the movie, "Field of Dreams." This year is the film's 30th anniversary. Many of you will recall that "Field of Dreams" is a baseball movie that was filmed near Dyersville and that the field still exists. I visited there once in the 1990s, and my son and his family visited there just this year.

Eight hundred hamburger buns and another 200 hot dog buns, barbecue sauce, chips, cookies, watermelon, pulled pork, hot dogs and water – all free – are awaiting those who attend the first Public Safety Night Out.
So are some heroes.
Read more in the Sept. 5 Kossuth County Advance.

Let's get this straight. Kossuth County Auditor Amber Garman delivered an agenda for the Aug. 27 board of supervisors meeting on time and met the requirements of the Code of Iowa.

I have written previously about my cat cafeteria, but I will reprise here what I wrote then in case some of you don't memorize my columns.
A couple of years ago, I started putting food out for a neighborhood kitty who seemed to be homeless – and wild. Efforts to have her come to me were fruitless. However, she was happy to dine on my open porch, even eventually sitting impatiently on the steps meowing if I was a little late with her breakfast.