Chris Hahn

Original article published in the Mower County Independent, Thursday, September 29, 2022.   Reprinted with permission and gratitude.

By Gretchen Mensink Lovejoy 

Andrea, Karly and Jessica are all about the velvet tableau, then renting it out for the scene serenity.

“The reason why we started this business is that Karly got married in June, and we had to go all the way to Eau Claire, Wisconsin, to return her rented furniture…Karly and Hunter were on their honeymoon, and Steve and I had to return everything that Monday morning, and we thought that it was crazy driving all that way,” recounted Andrea Atwood, pointing out the collection of brightly-hued and moody velvet couches that she, her daughter Karly Irish and daughter-in-law Jessica Atwood have rounded up to offer for rent through their company, Sweet Serenity Design & Decor, a family business that brings all the beauty to weddings and special occasions but leaves wedding and special occasion furniture and décor storage to the Atwood family, collectors of interesting household furnishings, artifacts, backdrops and props.

Avoiding the nearly-$1,000 extra charge on top of Irish’s wedding expenses was the catalyst that gave Atwood, Irish and Atwood reason to spend money as they determined they needed to provide a shop closer to home in which couples who are planning weddings could choose the furnishings they want to have at their celebration but don’t necessarily want to keep forever after the candles are extinguished and the guests have returned to their hotel rooms. The trio enlisted their husbands’ assistance – well-known carpenter Steve Atwood, groom Hunter Irish, and Nick Atwood to give the former Total Look salon in downtown Spring Valley a facelift to ready it for use as a showroom for their finds gathered at auctions, flea markets and gift markets and to serve as home of Karly’s salon, Serenity Salon by Karly. The building, currently owned by Kylie and Mitchell Tart, needed some paint and removal of three of its four hairdressing stations before it could be put to work hosting various tableaus to show potential renters that they could have that velvet couch and enjoy getting to return it closer to home, too – no road trips.

Andrea related, “Steve came in and started demolition in here, and we’ve been shopping at auctions, marketplaces, sale stuff, getting stuff by word of mouth. I think we have a pretty good se- lection – we’ve got church pews for outdoor weddings, we’ve got some old chairs…somebody wanted gallon jugs, so we ordered those and rented them out twice already. We have a lot of vintage and boho-style things, and we have things for all colors of weddings – we try to accommodate everybody’s colors. We’ve got things for rustic and vintage weddings, for boho-modern weddings. We’ve got signs, arches, couches, rugs, candles and goblets, cake stands, neon lights, vases, table runners, a buffet that we’ve rented out, old windows to write wording on, table linens, lights for tents, the bouquets from Karly’s wed- ding–we have ten bouquets. We have just about everything. We’ve driven to La Crosse to find things, and we like to go shopping. We do offer delivery for parties–we deliver décor so that there’s one less thing for people to worry about. Right now, we’re not setting things up, but maybe in the future, we’ll try that. But it’s still one less thing for people to worry about.”

Andrea went on to point out, “It’s not just wedding things; we have baby and bridal things. I have a vintage baby buggy that I’m excited to bring in.”

Jessica contributed that while the family goes on shopping excursions and has brought home a small mountain of furniture – a collection that Andrea explained is also housed in the Thrivent building across the street–they’re always shopping for more or taking donations if someone has something that they’re not quite ready to permanently dispose of but feel is quirky, attractive and portable enough to be part of a reception or party’s scenery.

Andrea commented, “We can always use more couches, chairs, more colors. We never have enough stuff. We’ve already outgrown the spot we’re renting in the Thrivent building where we keep the arches and windows. We try to keep the basic stuff here. We want to really expand so it is not just wedding – so that it’s baby and bridal. And we rent out our couches and settings to photographers if they want to rent them for photos.”

Jessica is also a photographer, so she understands that oftentimes, when someone wants to have their photos professionally taken, they want to bring the “fancy” to their family memories, but for photographers themselves, keeping all the furniture and props on hand isn’t always feasible. Therefore, the benefit of having an outlet from which to rent a couch, perhaps some gauzy arch, autumn pumpkin props and that “just right” goblet for pictures of a young Halloween knight in training lies in being able to put some money down, take it out for a ride to the right place and bring it back when done with it.

The challenges of incorporating a business have shown themselves in the process of renovation, shopping, preparing items and managing schedules. Andrea acknowledged, “Our free time…with us all having busy schedules….”

Jessica picked up where her mother-in-law left off. “We all have our own other jobs, kids…everybody has their own opinions, and we’re doing business with family.”

Karly concurred that the management part of the endeavor proves itself to be the most notable challenge, but her mother stated that once the family has a moment together to round up tasks and tables and delegate who’s delivering the furniture and dishware to a wedding or other event, things work out.

Jessica observed that “it’s scary, exciting, nerve-wracking” to be venturing into commerce but that she’s optimistic, and Andrea said, “This is adventurous…an exciting journey. We want to offer southeast Minnesota and northeast Iowa an easier option for special occasion rentals. It’s an honor if we can help someone with their special day.”

The hardest part of becoming merchants of Sweet Serenity for a wedding or other celebration is remaining serene themselves as they await the moment they step back and survey that what they’ve gathered and assembled is inextricably present in a couple’s or family’s forever memories, their photos. It’s just too much excitement to bear.

Jessica concluded, “We’re here, and I can’t wait to see the weddings, the events … I can’t wait to see the photographs.”

Sweet Serenity Design & Décor is located at 122 N. Broadway Ave., Spring Valley and is available by appointment unless otherwise noted. For more information, log onto Facebook at @sweet- serenitydesign, e-mail sweetserenity122@yahoo.com, or call Andrea Atwood at 507-517-0574.

Courtesy of the Mower County Independent, 135 E Main St. LeRoy, MN 55951, (507)-324-5325

Original article published in the Mower County Independent, Thursday, September 22, 2022.   Reprinted with permission and gratitude.

By Gretchen Mensink Lovejoy 

The whisper of wings on a brick wall…speaking a million volumes.

“The angel wings spoke to me because of what they stood for. They were initially painted as a reminder to humanity that we are the angels of this earth. I fell in love with the idea that people travel all over the world to see the different murals, and I thought it was a great way to put Spring Valley on the map, as well as utilizing it as a tool to jump-start a stronger art connection in our town,” said Spring Valley Business Alliance (SVBA) member Jenn Slifka, remarking on the wide set of wings recently painted on the north side of Hop & Barrel in downtown Spring Valley by local mural artist Andrea Hindt, a span that will likely be posted to Facebook, Instagram, Twitter and Tiktok as it captivates the attention of passersby who stop for a photograph of the moment in which they are living.

Slifka explained that the just feathered brick has an intended mission. “The angel wing mural is a project of the Spring Valley Business Alliance, known as the ‘SVBA Angel Wing Project.’ SVBA is a newly formed group of entrepreneurs that are working together to bring new projects, ideas and concepts to achieve growth in our community through additional tourism, as well as building a stronger town pride and ‘shop local’ feel amongst our local residents. Our mission is to bring business owners together to support a stronger business community and a stronger town. The SVBA Angel Wing Project is a fundraiser to kickstart our group, and people can purchase a feather on the mural which can be dedicated to a person, a business, a family name or anything that speaks ‘Spring Valley’ and our community. The vision was that from far away, you can see a gorgeous mural of angel wings, but once you get up close, you can see all of the names of families, businesses and organizations who have donated to be a part of our town’s story.”

She recounted that she’d suggested the project during a charter SVBA meeting because the membership was seeking direction and an effort on which to collaborate.

“I had initially seen pictures of the Global Angel Wing Project out in Los Angeles, and the artist, Collette Miller, has also painted them in different locations all over the world. There is a set in Nashville which has probably brought the most attention to the concept.”

Artist Hindt has already shown her talent throughout downtown Spring Valley, as she originally painted several murals on the west side of Slifka’s business buildings to uplift their aging presentations. Slifka pointed out, “I have been talking with Andrea for quite a few years about angel wings. We just needed a place where they were a perfect fit. We joke that Andrea is our in-house artist because every idea we come up with, she is on top of it instantly. She is very passionate about what she does, and it shows in her work. This is the ninth project she has done for us—if not more—and we will always find more ideas for her to bring to life.”

California transplant Slifka, who is a Kingsland High School alum and proprietor and co-proprietor of Spring Valley’s “mini-mall” of businesses, including Chateau de Chic Salon, the Chic by Chateau clothing store and Stellar 181 Taphouse, is proud to watch her longtime adopted hometown garner attention as the formerly empty storefronts fill up with revived commerce, and from that has arisen the SVBA and downtown events and improvements such as monthly Wednesdays on Broadway evenings of entertainment and shopping along the two blocks of Broadway just off Highways 16 and 63 and the installation of paintings and other works of art.

“Wednesdays on Broadway is blanketed under the Spring Valley Business Alliance. Our group is new and growing, but we have so much passion in our group that you will be seeing a lot more of our ideas coming to life very soon. I think Wednesdays on Broadway has strongly shown how amazing of a community we really are.” She continued, “The mural is right at the top of our historic downtown, and it is a draw and a reason for people to stop, get out and check out our downtown area. I absolutely love coming downtown and seeing people posing in front of it, seeing people’s pictures on social media. People’s first response is ‘Where are you? Where is that?’ and the reply is ‘Spring Valley, Minnesota.’ Our hashtag for social media is #SVBAAngelWingProject. People can also tag Spring Valley, MN.”

The wispy white mural was produced through the generosity of private funding. “For people who are interested, it is a $50 donation to the business alliance, and we can dedicate a feather and have it painted with whatever you would like. The mural itself was commissioned and paid for privately, so 100% of the proceeds of the SVBA Angel Wing Project goes toward future projects of the SVBA. As I said before, it could be a person, a family name, a business name, organization, or even something of our town history that helps paint a picture of Spring Valley. Anyone interested can get in contact with me.”

She added, “I think it would be amazing to see a huge response in people who want to be a part of putting their names on the mural. I think that, in itself, will be proof of how strong our community is, to rally behind something that is timeless. And then they can be a part of the story that is told every time someone takes their picture in front of it. The angel wings are just the start of the full mural, so you will see a lot happening on that wall to build upon what Andrea has started. The wings were just the beginning.”

The SVBA Angel Wing Project is an alighting point for the organization’s fundraising and community endeavors. “We have lots of ideas we want to see come to life. We have a growing group of excited and creative entrepreneurs who have great ideas and visions for our town. For so long, the outlying small towns around Rochester have been labeled ‘bedroom communities,’ and we are more than that. We have a lot of great things here to be proud of. I think the more we do things like this, we are setting ourselves up to be a destination, not just a small town along the highway.”

Slifka feels that a strong breeze is coming with Spring Valley’s new wings and with its business alliance. “I have always said that business owners are movers and shakers, free-thinking and creative planners. I think we need to step up and bring our assets to the table—whatever they may be—and support the community that supports us. Spring Valley is an amazing little town full of amazing people, and we want to bring everyone together to show how great we really are.”

For more information on how to donate, contact Jenn Slifka at 507-272-3005

Courtesy of the Mower County Independent, 135 E Main St. LeRoy, MN 55951, (507)-324-5325

Original article published in the Mower County Independent, Thursday, September 1, 2022.   Reprinted with permission and gratitude.

By Gretchen Mensink Lovejoy 

“I will be teaching fifth-grade in the elementary school,” said new Kingsland teacher Rollins, elaborating on the reason he chose to stand before an array of young people who have achieved status of being in grade five in the course of their public educations, and admitting that his job ahead will mean that he’s got plenty of too-honest stories from youngsters that will likely be worthy of standup comedy— but probably not repeatable if he hopes to spare some parents embarrassment—adding, “While student-teaching in fifth-grade at Byron, I had a great experience. I anticipate that I will feel the same here at Kingsland. Fifth grade is one of my favorite grades because fifth graders are hilarious!”

He’s a recent graduate of public education himself, having rounded out his post-secondary lessons this past spring. “I graduated from high school in 2018, from Triton High School, and I graduated from Winona State Rochester in May 2022. This is my first year teaching, and elementary is the only teaching that I have done. Before coming to Kingsland, I did my student teaching in Rochester and Byron. I have also done coaching in high school and middle school. I chose to become an elementary teacher because I like keeping the same students all day. Having the same students all day allows me to get to know the students a lot better.”

Rollins stated that he decided upon Kingsland “because it is a small district and close to home.” “I anticipate that I will have a blast working on the Kingsland staff because the staff have made me feel very welcomed, and so have the students.

I anticipate that my first year is going to be a challenge because I have a lot to learn.”

He’ll be taking lessons from his students and teaching them at the same time, as he believes that interaction with others is very important to students’ betterment. “I believe that one of the most important things for students to learn while in school is how to communicate and work with others well. I hope that I create an environment for students that feels safe and welcoming. I also hope that I can create a positive relationship with each student that will last for a very long time. I am excited to get back in the classroom with my own group of students for the first time – I am excited to go to Whitewater for the fifth-grade field trip, and I also plan on spending a lot of time outside with my students before and after the snow – and I believe that this will be a year that I will never forget.”

Rollins moved south from his hometown to shorten the commute to his fifth-grade court jesters. “I have recently moved to Rochester to be closer to Kingsland. My mom, dad and brother live in Claremont where I grew up. I also have a couple dogs, goats, and a cat. In my spare time, I like to hang out with friends, hunt, fish and go on trips to state parks with my girlfriend, Madi, and my German shorthair pointer, Mav.”

He rounded out his statement about becoming a Kingsland instructor by declaring, “Go Knights!”

Courtesy of the Mower County Independent, 135 E Main St. LeRoy, MN 55951, (507)-324-5325

Original article published in the Mower County Independent, Thursday, September 1, 2022.   Reprinted with permission and gratitude.

By Gretchen Mensink Lovejoy 

“I’ll be in the elementary side of the school, teaching early childhood special education. I chose to teach early childhood because young children are so fun and happy to work with. I chose to become a teacher because I want to make connections with students and make sure school is a fun and safe place as it was for me,” stated the new Kingsland Elementary School instructor, highlighting that she’s especially ready to go back to preschool after getting her college diploma this spring.

Palkowski shared, “I graduated high school in May of 2018 from Eleva-Strum High School in Wisconsin and graduated from Winona State University this May. This is my first year teaching, so it’s my first school district as well. I have not taught any other subjects, but I was placed in a sixth-grade classroom while student teaching. Before coming to Kingsland, I student-taught in Cochran-Fountain City, Wisconsin, for one semester. I decided to come to Kingsland because it’s in a small community that reminded me of my hometown.”

She looks forward to the first day of school and getting to meet her new students. “I anticipate that I will work well with the fellow Kingsland staff, and I anticipate helping my students learn and grow. Most challenges I anticipate revolve around me being a first-year teacher with lots to learn, but I anticipate sharing many laughs while working with my students. I think the most important thing for children to learn while in school is to find joy and excitement in learning. I hope to make school fun a fun and safe place for my students. I want them to be excited to come to school each day.”

Palkowski currently lives with her boyfriend in Stewartville. “My parents and younger brother live in Wisconsin. I also have an older sister living in California and an older brother living in Colorado. In my spare time, I like to read, go for walks, try new restaurants and attend local events. I hope to attend some sporting events this school year.”

She concluded with enthusiasm, saying, “I am so happy to join the Kingsland community and can’t wait for a great year.”

Courtesy of the Mower County Independent, 135 E Main St. LeRoy, MN 55951, (507)-324-5325