There were 26 members of the family of Anders Jensen who gathered for a reunion at Cutty’s last week. They were commemorating the 137th anniversary of his arrival in the United States, emigrating from Denmark. That is a really great reason for a reunion, isn't it?...

Congratulations go out to Larry and Dee Truman from Milford. They celebrated their 10th wedding anniversary with a party at Table 316 Steakhouse this week. They are well known locals as Larry works in the produce department at Hy-Vee and Dee sells real estate. They love to dance so chose to celebrate with Jessie James and the Outlaws providing the entertainment. Happy Anniversary Larry and Dee!...

My mother and I went on an interesting excursion Sunday afternoon to the Iowa Lakeside Lab. The Friends of the Lakeside Lab had brought in the touring company of “Nature: A Walking Play” to enlighten us about preserving nature and getting along with our fellow man. ...

Thank you to all of you who contacted me to let me know that Tim the Corn Man is finally here for the rest of the summer with his delicious sweet corn and other veggies! He is back at his usual parking place in the parking lot of the former Methodist Church in Arnolds Park...

There is a special concert coming up on Sunday afternoon. The Northwest Iowa Concert Band will play in the Pavilion at Arnolds Park at 2 p.m. Can you believe this band is playing its 28th summer concert in The Park? That is the information I received from Rich Nicklay, the band’s director. That is nearly three decades of giving us a wonderful afternoon of music. Thank you to all the musicians who participate in this band as well as Rich...

This is the seventh year that Kansas City native Sam Cordes has come to the Iowa Great Lakes Region to act in productions at the Okoboji Summer Theatre. He started here as a Stephens College student. After graduation he went on to earn his Masters in Theatre at the University of Nevada. Each summer he would come back here to act in at least one play...

I got an email the other day from local entertainer Bill Carpenter. A few years back he had encouraged a young singer from Nashville to come here to perform and now recording artist Neil Dover is coming back to the Lakes Area this month. According to Carpenter, Dover is promoting his new album "Kiss Me Mama, I Gotta Go." My guess is that it is a country album. ...

I had an opportunity to visit with Melanie Banning Campbell the other day. She told me her great-grandmother lived on Dam Road in Arnolds Park and now her children and grandchildren are enjoying it as well. That makes them a six-generation Arnolds Park family. What a wonderful legacy to pass down for the generations to come!...

The month of June is flying by at, what seems to me, a record pace. Okoboji Summer Theatre is off to a fantastic start. Boji Bantam is in its first production of the summer, "Treasure Island." Rehearsals are in full swing for the opening show at Treasure Village Family Theatre. ...

I had the opportunity to chat with Bob and Karen Stewart the other night. They are here at their summer residence for a few months. The Stewarts call the Des Moines area home but love to travel. According to Bob, last fall's adventure was a boat excursion down the Rhine River in Europe. ...

The British are coming! The British are coming!! Well, that is not exactly true. It is a band called The Brits. Many of you will recognize some of their faces. Three of the band members were in the popular Rumbles who played all over this part of the state for five decades. The Rumbles played the old Roof Garden more than any other band: 44 or 45 times (I lost count)!...

Happy birthday (on Memorial Day) to our editor Russ Mitchell. He worked on his birthday so there was no celebration. When you see him, give him a happy birthday greeting. He doesn’t look a year older at all! Tom and Molly Bedell are back in their West Lake Okoboji home for most of the summer. ...

Congratulations to Dean Aakhus of Milford and Terry Yarns of Spirit Lake on their induction into the Iowa Rock ’n Roll Music Association Hall of Fame over Labor Day weekend. They were inducted into the Hall with the band called The Torkays. It was great to see them perform again too. Also congratulations to Spirit Lake native Mike Butterworth on his induction with The Nadas. This group is still performing a very busy schedule and I really enjoyed their performance...

It was a joy to see Rev. R.D. and Dee Streeter visiting the Lakes Region. He was the pastor at Calvary United Methodist Church in Arnolds Park back about 14 years ago. The couple now lives in Colfax where he is a half-time minister. Can't seem to totally retire R.D.? They spent a week here visiting old friends and enjoying the Lakes Region they have loved for many years. We look forward to your next visit!...

All of us Okoboji Summer Theatre patrons send a Happy Birthday shout out to OST Artistic Director Stephen Brotebeck. He left for his home in California the day after the season ended. He was going to drive as far as Colorado to celebrate his birthday. We hope he had a great one and we look forward to seeing him next June!...

I ran into Kirby and Monica Clark a couple of days ago and they gave me all the information about their big 50th wedding anniversary celebration coming up on Saturday, Sept. 8. It is a trifecta of sorts as their cousins Martin and Sandy Stofferan, Bill and Julie Stofferan are also marking their golden anniversary. ...

Have you all noticed the beautiful flower beds in front of the main theatre building at Okoboji Summer Theatre? They are just gorgeous! I found out that Dick and Marsha Swanson of Spirit Lake are keeping those gardens beautiful. Dick told me they have some volunteers who come to help them as well. ...

It was wonderful to run into Jan Lucas out at Treasure Village the other day. I have known her all her life as Jan Neisess of the Neisess family who own and operate Treasure Village. Jan lives in LaCrosse, Wisconsin now. As a part-time hobby she is the coordinator for creating pickle ball courts and teaching people to play that sport in the LaCrosse area. ...

David Schmidt, vice president of the Old Iron Company car club is very excited that plans are being finalized for the annual "Micro Mini Nationals — Roddin on the River" at Spencer this year. It is hard to believe but this is the 40th anniversary for this event. ...

I hope everyone enjoyed their Fourth of July holiday, whichever part of the week or weekends you chose for celebrating. I personally have been enjoying a two-week stay by my 14-year-old grandson Quinn Masek. He lives in Sioux Falls but is on stage in "The MIracle Worker" at the Okoboji Summer Theatre so gets to live with me during rehearsals and performances. ...