ruminations
By Mavis Fodness, reporterNovember 05, 2025Marie Kondi is a professional organizer who’s developed a way to create a happy living environment by using our feelings, in particular, the feeling of joy. I find myself craving joy in my new-found widowhood, and the search for joy has been exhausting and elusive. There’s been retail therapy, emersion in each grandchild’s activities … and even a tattoo. Meanwhile, I’ve been working to…
By Mavis Fodness, reporterOctober 15, 2025Thirty-seven years ago, I stood looking out the second-story window of our rented acreage in Kanaranzi Township. A vast expanse of soybean and corn fields stretched out as far as the eye could see. A feeling of contentment filled me as I held my infant son Andrew. I briefly imagined him working in those peaceful fields, enjoying the feeling of growing something from the rich, black soil. That…
September 24, 2025As I sat in the performing arts center Friday afternoon, memories unfolded as I watched the four retired educators inducted into the Luverne Educator Hall of Fame. Laurin Carroll, Gregg Gropel, Katie Hemme and Joseph Roberts were teachers of mine at one time or another during my elementary and secondary years in Luverne Public Schools. It’s been more than 40 years (for one teacher, 50 years)…
By Mavis Fodness, reporterSeptember 03, 2025We take our eyesight for granted. Each morning we don either glasses or contacts, with the luckier ones having no assistance whatsoever, in order to see clearly. I’ve learned recently that some people need transplants in order to achieve clear sight. Two Minnesotans currently have their sight again, thanks to Bryan’s donated corneas. A letter from the Dakota Lions Sight and Health in Sioux…
By Mavis Fodness, reporterAugust 06, 2025I noticed the angels surrounding me beginning late afternoon on July 11. They’re not angels as supernatural beings with actual wings, but angels in the sense of the compassion and care they displayed in the three weeks following my husband’s motorcycle accident and resulting funeral on July 26. I’ve offered a personal thank you to many of these angels, while some I’ve yet to meet and maybe I…
By Mavis Fodness, reporterJune 25, 2025An email landed in my inbox last fall simply titled “Wind Turbine Visit.” The author was a Maple Grove dad whose daughter is enamored with wind turbines. Yes, that’s right. Those 300-plus-foot tall white metal towers affixed with three Fiberglas blades that spin to generate electricity. A turbine is a rather unusual item for a 5-year-old to like, but Deviana is not your typical kindergartner…
By Mavis Fodness, reporterMay 28, 2025Imagine running 437 miles across the state of South Dakota. In September my nephew-in-law is doing just that — running a relay race from Rapid City to Sioux Falls in five days. Izzo is one of 12 runners selected for the 437 Project, an awareness and fundraising event for the Helpline Center based in Sioux Falls. Izzo, a former Marine, is bringing attention to his fellow veterans and current…
By Mavis Fodness, reporterMay 07, 2025Yukon Cornelius is the name of the Arctic prospector in the animated holiday special, “Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer.” It’s also the name we’ve given to our new-to-us GMC Yukon sport utility vehicle. Like the animated character, our Yukon has become a trusted friend, especially after a recent drive to California to visit our youngest son. My husband and I spent nine days, 3,676 miles and an…
By Mavis Fodness, reporterMarch 26, 2025For more than four decades, the Minnesota Horse Expo offered a variety of vendors, exhibits and educational talks for horse owners and fans of the four-legged animals. I’m a huge fan of the Minnesota Horse Council-sponsored event, and I recall, probably 30 years ago, packing the kids into the minivan to spend a day at the state fairgrounds in St. Paul. We learned a few things and left with a…
By Mavis Fodness, reporterMarch 05, 2025A single clock (picture at right) can be seen clearly through the now windowless former Hills-Beaver Creek High School — its hands permanently stopped at 2 o’clock. That’s probably around the time on Oct. 19, 2011, when staff and students moved out of the 100-year-old building over the MEA break. On the following Monday, classes began in the new high school located on the northwest edge of…
By Mavis Fodness, reporterFebruary 12, 2025Just before Christmas, an obsession began in our house thanks to the office holiday party. A Star Herald gift exchange resulted in a 1,000-piece jigsaw puzzle coming home with me. The intriguing “Coca Cola memorabilia” picture ultimately led to the opening of the box and clearing off the dining room table for my husband and me to work on it. As a result, we’ve finished 10 puzzles since mid-…
By Mavis Fodness, reporterJanuary 22, 2025Madi Oye’s kindergartners embarked on a special lesson this month. She’s seeking your help in garnering postmarks from all 50 states via the mailing of Valentine’s Day cards to her Luverne classroom. So far, her students have received 17 cards and have checked a dozen states off the 50-states list. With Feb. 14 three weeks away, we need to get our cards sent to the kindergartners sooner rather…
By Mavis FodnessDecember 30, 2024Amid the excitement of this spring’s NCAA Women’s Basketball Tournament, I purchased matching “You break it, you own it” Nike T-shirts for my 6-year-old Iowa granddaughter and me to wear. The slogan was a nod to Caitlin Clark’s record-breaking basketball season. Neither of us is a diehard basketball fan — we just appreciate Clark’s athleticism and love of the game. An added bonus is that Clark…
By Mavis Fodness, reporterDecember 11, 2024Results from last month’s general election may have surprised many, but no one was more surprised than I was. Come January, my oldest son, Andrew, will be sworn in as the mayor in Lismore, and I couldn’t be more proud as he steps into a local government leadership role. He said that when he received his mail-in ballot, no candidate was listed for Lismore mayor. Concerned, he started asking…
By Mavis Fodness, reporterNovember 20, 2024Monday was a special day for the Rock County Star Herald. For a portion of the afternoon, the office was closed, and all nine of my colleagues and I traveled to the school for the annual Luverne Education Association awards announcement. We were named the LEA 2025 Friend of Education. I say “we” because even though general manager Rick Peterson in his message to those in attendance said, “…
By Mavis Fodness, reporterOctober 30, 2024As the junior member in my 37-year marriage, I’ve often joked with and about our seven-year age difference. It's always felt pretty good that I’m always going to be younger in the relationship. Recently the tables turned as he is now retired and enjoys doing his favorite activities on a daily basis and only working when it suits him. I, on the other hand, continue to work full time whether I…
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