While your calendars are marked for the Spring Valley 100 on June 5th, and the celebrated “grandaddy” of all gravel race courses, please add a mark in your activity calendar for after the race. All are invited and encouraged to pull up your zero gravity chairs and relax in Spring Creek Park, just 4 blocks from the race finish, and listen to live music (free), refuel from onsite food vendors($), and watch an outdoor classic “Sandlot” (free). Lupulin Brewing Company out of Big Lake, MN will be pouring brews($) in the park too (sponsored by the SV VFW), with all proceeds benefitting Never Surrender, Inc – Black Woods Blizzard Tour, the worlds largest snowmobile fundraising event to help defeat ALS, Lou Gehrig’s disease. Please consider joining fellow riders at the Music-in-the-Park afterglow event. We are looking forward to meeting you at the registration, start, finish… or by the beer tent. Cheers!
SV100 Race Report – The Spring Valley 100 Gravel Race is almost here!
Put some rocket sauce on that drive train and let’s get ready to rally in the valley!
SV100 Race Report – Kick the dust up!
On our most recent 75-mile (windy and uphill, both ways of course) training ride on the SV100 route, it was obvious that townships throughout the area have been busy spreading miles and miles of “fluffy” off-white gravel for all to enjoy. Equipment suggestion: Check your tires n tubes, and check ‘em twice, as Hero Gravel will be the exception this year. The abundance of gravel reminded me of the first rider tip exclaimed to me by a fellow rider during my first gravel race, the 2015 edition on the historic route. His tip came as We were navigating a tight left-hand turn at the bottom of a downhill where I found myself being sucked into a windrow of gravel that tossed me to the shoulder and brought me to an abrupt stop seconds after racing elbow-to-elbow with a large group of fellow riders: “steer where you are and not where you’re going!”; advice I will never forget. If you are planning to join us and you haven’t registered yet, please take some time to do so in advance, it’ll help with bib distro by our volunteers the night before and morning of the event. Did I just say bib numbers at a free race? But of course, who wouldn’t like some wall art to add to their collection as a reminder of one of the most epic 100-mile gravel races on two wheels. We are looking forward to your arrival. Safe travels.
Kiwanis Student Spotlight: Treyton Pokorney
Name: Treyton Pokorney
Parents: Nicole and Patrick
School Activities: National Honor Society (11th-12th), cross country (8th-12th, Captain 12th grade), Drama Club (7-12) and Drama Club President (11th-12th), Knowledge Bowl (7-12), senior class president, and one-act play and spring shows (7-12).
Activities/Work Outside of School: 4-H camp counselor at Whitewater State Park (9-12), server at Hot Chip Burger Bar in Rochester, server at Four Daughters Winery in Spring Valley, and a youth program instructor with the Youth Enrichment League.
Your Favorite Class and Why? My favorite class was my the College in the Schools (CIS) political science class. I enjoyed studying modern issues, and how to solve these problems. Mr. Thauwald helped me to think critically about the world and how to have a healthy argument. Another one of my favorite classes was my CIS Spanish class. I have always enjoyed learning languages, and the ability to formally learn it helped further my passion for other cultures and languages. I am looking forward to going to Spain (covid permitting) where I can apply what I learned in the classroom in real life.
Why is a Solid Education Important? I have a big worldview. I know that there is so much more to the world than this little town. Education has always been a way for me to learn about this world, and how others perceive their own worldview. A solid education allows you to open doors and opportunities that might not have been there before. I am always trying to learn more about other people, ideas, views, and cultures. A solid education extends beyond a high school or college, it allows you to be a leader in this world.
Immediate Plans After High School Graduation: I am attending the University of Oregon in Eugene, Oregon. I am majoring in business administration with a concentration in marketing and a minor in Spanish. I recently got accepted into the Lundquist College of Business early (normally you would have to apply after your sophomore year) due to my academic rigor. I always knew that I wanted to use college as an opportunity to explore the world beyond Minnesota and the Midwest. I am also earning my associate of arts degree before graduating high school in order to get a head start in college.
Long-term Plans/Goals: I want to work in marketing because I want to create effective campaigns for brands and companies. I have a passion for making content, and marketing is a perfect way to merge my creative and statistical sides.
Note: The Spring Valley Kiwanis Club annually recognizes the top academic performers at Kingsland High School. Due to COVID-19 restrictions, the plans to honor the students in person are still unknown. Typically, they attend a meeting of Kiwanis with their parents for recognition.
Kiwanis Student Spotlight: Merredith Farlinger
Name: Merredith Farlinger
Parents: Darcy and Ranee Farlinger
School Activities: Cross Country, Basketball, and National Honor Society.
Activities/Work Outside of School: Youth group, youth band, Just for Kix, and Sunday school helper.
Your Favorite Class and Why? I like being a teaching assistant for Mrs. Noble because I enjoy working with the kids.
Why is a Solid Education Important? A solid education is important because it is creating a foundation for my future.
Immediate Plans After High School Graduation: I’m going to attend college at University Wisconsin – Eau Claire. I am either going to college for social work or elementary education.
Long-term Plans/Goals: After completing my four-year degree, finding a job in my chosen field.
Note: The Spring Valley Kiwanis Club annually recognizes the top academic performers at Kingsland High School. Due to COVID-19 restrictions, the plans to honor the students in person are still unknown. Typically, they attend a meeting of Kiwanis with their parents for recognition.
Governor Walz Announces Timeline to End State COVID-19 Restrictions. Capacity restrictions to end on May 28, masking requirement to end by July 1.
(Original story retrieved from the Office of the Governor Website. For the original story with quotes from the Governor, click here: Governor Walz Announces Timeline to End State COVID-19 Restrictions (mn.gov)
[ST. PAUL, MN] – Governor Tim Walz today announced a three-step timeline to end nearly all state COVID-19 restrictions by May 28, and end the statewide masking requirement once 70% of Minnesotans age 16 years and older get their vaccine, or by July 1. The announcement comes as more than 2.6 million Minnesotans have gotten their shot and the state is on track to vaccinate 70 percent of Minnesotans by the end of June.
The most at-risk Minnesotans – seniors, long-term care residents, assisted living residents, educators, and front-line workers – have gotten their vaccines. Nearly 90 percent of Minnesotans over the age of 65 have gotten at least one dose.
Since mid-April, COVID-19 cases have declined. Hospitals are seeing fewer admissions and vaccination progress has relentlessly pushed forward. Vaccines held COVID-19 variants at bay and avoided having them overwhelm our state.
The three-step process will end nearly all state COVID-19 restrictions by May 28, and end the statewide masking requirement by July 1 at the latest.
Step one takes place at noon on May 7. It includes initial steps to relax some restrictions, primarily in outdoor settings.
- Removes limits for outdoor dining, events, and other get-togethers, and ends the mask requirement outdoors except at large venues with over 500 people.
- Eliminates the state-established mandatory closing time for bars, restaurants, and food and beverage service at other places of public accommodation.
The second step begins on May 28. Remaining capacity and distancing limits will come to an end, including for indoor events and gatherings. The requirements that will remain include:
- Face coverings indoors and for outdoor events that exceed 500 people.
- There will be no new safety requirements for businesses, though they must maintain their plans to keep their employees and customers safe – as they have from the beginning of the pandemic – guided only by a minimal universal state guidance document.
The third step takes place once 70 percent of Minnesotans age 16 years and older – 3,087,404 Minnesotans – get at least one dose of the vaccine, but no later than July 1.
- The remaining face covering requirement and the requirement for preparedness plans will end. Work on vaccines will continue, and local jurisdictions and entities may set their own mask policies.
Because the youngest Minnesotans are not yet eligible for the vaccine, the Safe Learning Plan for schools will continue until the end of the school year to protect students, teachers, and staff in schools.
Additional protections will remain, including the eviction moratorium, a ban on price gouging, and eligibility exemptions for people who receive state services. The State will continue its emergency efforts to get Minnesotans tested and vaccinated and will continue to monitor the virus and the growth of variants in the months to come.
Additionally, local jurisdictions and businesses may still require masks and have other requirements beyond July 1.
Minnesotans can visit VaccineConnector.mn.gov to make a vaccine appointment at a Community Vaccination Program site or use the Find Vaccine Locations map to locate a provider near them.
Executive Order 21-21 is effective immediately upon approval by the Minnesota Executive Council, which is made up of Governor Walz, Lt. Governor Flanagan, Attorney General Keith Ellison, Secretary of State Steve Simon, and State Auditor Julie Blaha.
