November 18th, 2016 by Gary Osberg
A blizzard is on its way. “The morning of November 11, 1940 brought with it unseasonably high temperatures. By early afternoon, temperatures had warmed into the lower to middle 60s °F (18 °C) over most of the affected region. However, as the day wore on conditions quickly deteriorated. Temperatures dropped sharply, winds picked up and rain, followed by sleet and then snow, began to fall. An intense low pressure system had tracked from the southern plains northeastward into western Wisconsin, pulling Gulf of Mexico moisture up from the south and pulling down a cold arctic air mass from the north.
The result was a raging blizzard that would last into the next day. Snowfalls of up to 27 inches (69 cm), winds of 50 to 80 mph (80–130 km/h), 20-foot (6.1 m) snow drifts, and 50-degree Fahrenheit (28 °C) temperature drops were common over parts of the states of Nebraska, South Dakota, Iowa, Minnesota, Wisconsin, and Michigan. In Minnesota, 27 inches (69 cm) of snow fell at Collegeville, and the Twin Cities recorded 16 inches (41 cm). Record low pressures were recorded in La Crosse, Wisconsin and Duluth, Minnesota.[3] Transportation and communications were crippled, which made finding the dead and injured more difficult. The Armistice Day Blizzard ranks #2 in Minnesota’s list of the top five weather events of the 20th century.” Source: Wikipedia
This week the APHC show is making the drive west from Philadelphia to Denver, Colorado for a live broadcast from the Ellie Caulkins Opera House, with special guests Trey Anastasio, The Staves, and Tig Notaro.
Chris Thile unveils the latest Song of the Week with help from the band (vocalist Aoife O’Donovan, Rich Dworsky on keys, guitarist Chris Eldridge, Brittany Haas on fiddle, bassist Paul Kowert, and drummer Ted Poor) The Royal Academy of Radio Actors, Serena Brook, Tim Russell, and Fred Newman will entertain you plus there will be a rundown of last week’s notable musician birthdays. Join the gang on the radio Saturday at 5pm Central.
“Be kind, for everyone you meet is fighting a great battle” PHILO (20BC-50AD)
November 11th, 2016 by Gary Osberg
Today is Veterans Day. Building a monument to honor our veterans requires dedication, commitment and a team to get the job done. It takes an artist willing to spend the time researching, designing and creating the paintings. It takes a committed group of individuals to share the dream and raise the money. And most importantly, it takes donors like yourself to make it come true!
The Veterans Art Monument was commissioned by the Minnesota State Veterans Memorial Association and consists of five 8’ X 10’ oil paintings; each paying tribute to the men and women of the five branches of the U.S. Military: Army, Marine Corps, Navy, Air Force, and Coast Guard. The three finished paintings (Army, Navy and Coast Guard) are installed in the Committal Hall at the Minnesota State Veterans Cemetery north of Little Falls. The Marine Corps painting is in progress and the Air Force painting will complete the monument. The paintings tell the story of each branch of service, commemorating the sacrifices of all who have served. Besides being a memorial to our nation’s military men and women, the paintings are educational tools which will help citizens and future generations to understand the vital role that the U.S. Military plays in maintaining our freedom and democracy.
Millions of men and women have served. Many were wounded in battle. Many died to keep us free. The least that we can do is to remember them. You can help by going to www.vetsart.org and donating any amount to help finish this unique monument. https://youtu.be/gcOEvxkesZw
The APHC show this week is the first road trip of the season. It is a timely visit to the City of Brotherly Love, Philadelphia, P-A. A live broadcast from The Academy of Music with Jason Isbell, a fine songwriter with a jeweler’s eye for detail; Angélique Kidjo’s astonishing vocals bring energy and life to village traditions and African pride; the Dover Quartet, a talented, highly-acclaimed string quartet — all graduates of the Curtis Academy of Music in Philadelphia — will perform selections by fellow Curtis alum Samuel Barber; and America’s Favorite Poet, Billy Collins, adds his wisdom and wit and perhaps a few poems from his collection The Rain in Portugal. Plus: a new Song of the Week by host Chris Thile and a hand-picked band (singer Lydia Rogers of The Secret Sisters, pianist Richard Dworsky, Stuart Duncan on fiddle, guitarist Chris Eldridge, Greg Garrison on bass, and drummer Roy Wooten). But wait, there’s more! The Royal Academy of Radio Actors, Serena Brook, Tim Russell, and Fred Newman, lend their voices, characters, and sound effects to a magnificent fall evening along the Delaware River. Join Chris and the gang for a restorative two-hour break right here on the radio at 5pm Central Time tomorrow
“My fellow Americans, ask not what your country can do for you, ask what you can do for your country.” John F. Kennedy
November 3rd, 2016 by Gary Osberg
I am going to take tomorrow off. The forecast is for sunny and 63 degrees. Hard to believe that 25 years ago we were still driving on snow packed roads in the Twin Cities metro area due to the 29 inches of snow that fell on Halloween. I was in between jobs and trying to get to job interviews was impossible. The townhouse that we were living did not have great plow service and of course no one was ready for snow yet anyway.
Also, in 1991, the Twins won game 7 of the World Series in the Metro Dome. The Atlanta Braves pitcher had intentionally walked both Kirby Puckett and Kent Hrbek to get to Gene Larkin who was nursing an injured knee, but had one hit in three pinch hit at bats in Games 3–5. On the first pitch he saw, Larkin drove a single into deep left-center over the drawn-in outfield, scoring Dan Gladden with the series-winning run and giving the Twins their second world championship since moving to Minnesota.
Last night I went to bed when the grounds crew started rolling out the tarp because of the rain. I woke up to find out that the Chicago Cubs had won the game 8 to 7. I should have hung in there.
Chris Thile and the APHC show is taking a Saturday off to gear up for their first tour show of the season, November 12 in Philadelphia, They will be taking a look back to a show Chris Thile guest-hosted back in January at Saint Paul’s Fitzgerald Theater. Ben Folds performs “Yes Man” and “Army” (with Chris helping out on mandolin); Brandi Carlile sings “Things I Regret” and “The Eye”; and Ed Helms shares a story about a pesky cricket and he also joins the Royal Academy of Radio Actors for a few scripts. Plus: Chris premieres “The Mississippi is Frozen,” and he teams up with his fellow Punch Brothers for “Sleek White Baby” and “Magnet,” Chris also sings “Footprints in the Snow” with Sarah Jarosz. It’s all brought to you by the most trustworthy sponsors, Powdermilk Biscuits and the Catchup Advisory board. You can find it on your local public radio station. Tune in.
The final Downtown Art Crawl is Friday from 5 until 9. It should be a great night for strolling, dining, drinking and buying great art in downtown St. Cloud. I hope that you can make it.
Yesterday we celebrated the life of Bobby Vee and so in tribute to a kind and talented fellow I submit: “ If when your life is over, you can smile at where you have been, you’ve accomplished all that matters in the end.” Robert Thomas Velline
October 28th, 2016 by Gary Osberg
I was only 2 years old the last time that the Chicago Cubs were in a World Series game. Tonight they will be trying to win game 3 in Chicago.
During the sixties my dad worked as a night desk clerk at the Radisson Hotel in downtown Minneapolis. I was attending high school in Upsala, so Ma would ship me down to spend some time with him once in a while. The first thing he would do is send me to the barber shop in the lower level of the hotel for a haircut and a shoe shine. He would put me up in a room at the hotel or at the YMCA.
Fifty-one years ago, the Twins were halfway to a World Series Championship on October 12th. “Mudcat” Grant was the ace pitcher of the 1965 Twins. The Twins beat the Dodgers in both home games but the road trip to LA was a bust. The Dodgers swept three games on October 9, 10 & 11. Back in Bloomington, Mudcat started game 6 in the Metropolitan Stadium and the Twins beat the Dodgers 5-1 to even the Series.
Dad was able to get me a press pass for game 7. I was worried about being challenged, so I stopped at a drug store and bought a note pad and a nice ball point pen. The press pass worked and they even gave me a box lunch. Sandy Koufax shut the Twins out in game 7, allowing only three hits and striking out 10. The final score was 2-0.
This week the APHC gang will complete the fall trifecta of live broadcasts from the famed Fitzgerald Theater, before heading off to Philadelphia on November 12. Bassist, singer, and composer Esperanza Spalding brings her unique gifts and versatile ensemble to the Fitz for music that will make your radio dance right off the shelf. Dawes will add their road-honed Southern California rock’n’roll to a Hallowe’en cauldron that’s bubbling over; and comedian and writer Aparna Nancherla joins Chris from the Biggest Apple. Plus: host Chris Thile will debut another original song of the week with The First-Call Radio Players (singer Gaby Moreno, Rich Dworsky on keys, bassist Alan Hampton, Alex Hargreaves on fiddle, guitarist Julian Lage, and Ted Poor on drums) and there’ll be comedy, drama, and assorted nonsense from the extra-Royal Academy of Radio Actors — Serena Brook, Tim Russell, Sue Scott, and Fred Newman. It’s two hours of live radio on an autumn Saturday evening, and a perfect warm-up for the World Series, if you like that kind of thing. Catch the show on your local public radio station or watch live (Saturday, 5pm – 7pm Central Time) at prairiehome.org.
“I believe we have two lives, the life that we learn with and the one that we live after that.” Glenn Close to Robert Redford in the movie “The Natural”
October 21st, 2016 by Gary Osberg
This has been one of the longest growing seasons in recent memory. The Butternut squash is very much appreciated. What a great deal. All you have to do is turn over a little plot of soil, plant some seeds, apply water and a little Miracle Grow and three months later you have the makings of a great soup. Oh, I forgot, you have to pull some weeds. Now it is time to clean up the refuse to make it easier to start the whole circle of life over again in the spring. One year, there was only one fruit created per vine, so I harvested two 25 pound squash and one giant 40 pounder. I donated them to the Senior Center in Upsala. Let me know if you want our recipe for vegan squash soup made from Butternut squash.
The APHC show this week will be celebrating the beautiful Minnesota autumn weather with another live broadcast from indoors at the Fitzgerald Theater on Exchange Street in downtown Saint Paul. There will be music from Nathaniel Rateliff & The Night Sweats — a blast of rock’n’roll with roots in Missouri, the Rocky Mountains, and the classic Stax sound — and folksinger, songwriter, and composer Anaïs Mitchell; plus expertise and observations from writer, comedian, and adjudicator John Hodgman. Host Chris Thile will debut a new song, hot off the press, with a little help from The First-Call Radio Players (Richard Dworsky on piano, guitarist Chris Eldridge, Brittany Haas on fiddle, Sarah Jarosz singing and, playing banjo and octave mandolin, bassist Paul Kowert, along with drummer Ted Poor. The Royal Academy of Radio Actors, Tim Russell, Serena Brook, and Fred Newman, will round things out with a few scripts and sponsor messages. Grab yourself a Powdermilk Biscuit or two — heavens, they’re tasty and expeditious! — and join the gang down at the public radio end of the dial, or watch live (Saturday, 5pm – 7pm Central Time) at prairiehome.org.
“The excellent companies were, above all, brilliant on the basics. Tools didn’t substitute for thinking. Intellect didn’t overpower wisdom. Analysis didn’t impede action. Rather, these companies worked hard to keep things simple in a complex world. They persisted. They insisted on top quality. They fawned on their customers. They listened to their employees and treated them like adults.” Tom Peters and Robert Waterman
October 14th, 2016 by Gary Osberg
If you enjoy “Great Art”, head up the road to Little Falls tonight. Charles Gilbert Kapsner will be at the Great River Arts gallery from 6pm until 8pm presenting his annual salon, “Collaborations”. Details are at www.greatart.org Little Falls is another one of the gems that folks can enjoy as they take in the fall colors.
A Prairie Home Companion opens a new season and a new era as Chris Thile steps to the mic to host a live broadcast from home base, the Fitzgerald Theater in Saint Paul, Minnesota. Singer, songwriter, guitarist, rock star, and man-about-Nashville, Jack White, joins in for a few acoustic tunes. Chris will welcome Brooklyn’s Lake Street Dive back to the land of 10,000 lakes — they’re sure to light up Exchange Street with an infectious blend of pop, soul, and jazz. Comedian Maeve Higgins from County Cork, by way of New York City joins in. Plus: scripts, scenes, and sound effects from the Royal Academy of Radio Actors, Tim Russell, Serena Brook, and Fred Newman; and music from The First-Call Radio Players: Richard Dworsky on piano, guitarist Chris Eldridge, Brittany Haas on fiddle, Sarah Jarosz singing and playing banjo and octave mandolin, bassist Paul Kowert, and Ted Poor on — *gasp* — drums. All that, and a never-before-heard song from Mr. Thile, brought to you by Powdermilk Biscuits, the Catchup Advisory Board, and Bee-bop-a-ree-bop Rhubarb Pie and Frozen Rhubarb Pie Filling. Tune in on your local public radio station or watch live (Saturday, 5pm – 7pm Central Time) at prairiehome.org.
“There will always be people who have so much more than you, but don’t forget to look behind you and see that there are even more people who have less than you.” Bee Osberg
October 7th, 2016 by Gary Osberg
Snow was in the weather forecast for the first time this week. The fall colors are remarkable. This would be a good weekend to hit the road and visit some apple orchards and pumpkin patches. If you have never been to “The City on the Pond”, New London, Minnesota, you are missing a real gem. The Goat Ridge Brewing Company is having a party tomorrow night. Their outdoor space is on the river and there is even a band stage. “The Brothers Burn Mountain” are headlining at 8 PM. Details are at www.goatridgebrewing.com
In March of 1974, Garrison spent a week in Nashville writing a piece about the Grand Ole Opry for The New Yorker. The Opry is the oldest radio show in the country. It made him think of starting a radio show in Minnesota. That night, in the Sam Davis Hotel, Garrison made a list of musicians that he might invite to join him on stage. Vern Sutton, Bill Hinkley, Judy Larson and Butch Thompson all came to mind. Garrison went home and talked to Bill Kling about the idea. In Garrison’s words: “ He took it hook, line and sinker – no committee meetings, no exchange of memos, no long discussions, just a plain yes – and A Prairie Home Companion went on the air July 6, 1974”. The first broadcast, the musicians and crew outnumbered the audience in the hall.
Tomorrow at 5 pm, the last re-broadcast of a show will air before the new kid, Chris Thile, takes over on October 15th. It is a trip back to 2014 and the October 4th broadcast from the Fitzgerald Theater in Saint Paul, Minnesota. Ellis brings a batch of songs across the river from Minneapolis, including “Red Light” and “I’ve Got a Thing for You,” and bluegrass ambassadors The Gibson Brothers play “They Called it Music” and “Eastbound Train.” Plus: Dusty and Lefty tangle with Big Messer in a “state capitals” contest; a visit to the Cafe Boeuf St. Paul; and in Lake Wobegon, the Lutheran Church holds its Senior Banquet. Enjoy the show.
“Some Saturdays when the show drags, the jokes fall flat, the musicians struggle, I consider that I may have been cut out to be a listener. I’m a good one.” Garrison Keillor from his “5th Anniversary Album” jacket.
September 30th, 2016 by Gary Osberg
Today is homecoming in Upsala. In my day it was the Upsala `Cardinals’, but some time ago Upsala football merged with Swanville and now it is the USA (Upsala Swanville Area) `Patriots’.
Some of my favorite memories of football games are those played in the mud. I was an overweight freshman on the Upsala Cardinal team in 1957. Freshmen wore the old uniforms and helmets and we did not win any fashion awards. John Atkinson, a senior running back, ran with his knees pumping up and down high and hard. He still managed to make yardage. In practice, I would simply bounce off of his knees. The memory of the pain is still with me. That was the year when no other team even scored on the Upsala team. Clarissa got to our three yard line, but our defense held.
A couple of years ago, the 1957 Upsala football team was inducted into the Upsala Sports Hall of Fame. I was one of nine of the twenty-nine original members of the 1957 Upsala Cardinal football team who showed up for our induction into the Sports Hall of Fame. One of the guys, Dave Chuba, came all the way from Ohio. Our quarterback, Bob Soltis, was named All-State that year. It was the second year that inductees were chosen. Bob’s brother Ralph was chosen the previous year and another brother John was a junior on the 1957 football team. John accepted an individual award for his brother Bob. There were lots of Soltis boys and they all played football. No one lifted weights in those days, they just threw bales of hay all summer. Us “village kids” had a tough time keeping up.
The APHC show this week is a rebroadcast of a show originally broadcast in October of 2004. Special guests include Mark Knopfler, Geoff Muldaur and Dan Newton. Enjoy the show.
“Man’s finest hour is the moment when he has worked his heart out in a good cause and lies exhausted on the field of battle victorious.” Vince Lombardi’’
September 23rd, 2016 by Gary Osberg
Fall is upon us. The days are getting shorter and football is back. The Tommies are coming to St. John’s tomorrow, so it will be a little rowdy in St. Joe on Saturday night. Sunday morning there will be a service for Jacob Wetterling at the College of St. Benedict followed by the Millstream Arts Festival in downtown St. Joseph, which runs from 11 until 5. I hope that the weather clears up.
The APHC show is another fall rebroadcast from the Fitzgerald Theater in Saint Paul, Minnesota, this one originally from October 2009. The boys of Wilco stop by to play “One By One” and “Passenger Side” and add a touch of rock’n’roll to the corner of Exchange and Wabasha, and a blast of bluegrass from singer Patty Loveless, including “The Bramble and the Rose” and “Prisoner’s Tears.” Plus: the Royal Academy of Radio Actors with a message from Beebopareebop Rhubarb Pie featuring the revolutionary Thermal Thong, Dusty and Lefty head out of Minnesota just before winter descends, and Rich Dworsky and The Guy’s All-Star Shoe Band play “Rockin’ Past Bedtime.” In Lake Wobegon, the host recalls an autumn morning that changed him forever.
The Outdoor Report TV show on Fox Sports North and Fox Sports Wisconsin will air the final episode of the season tomorrow at 8:30 am. There will be a look back at some of the best stories of the season and a special “Savory Goodness” segment. My son Erik has done a marvelous job and it has been a real treat to watch my grandson “Walleye Willie” shine. You can watch all of shows on www.theoutdoorreport.com
“The secret of success is constancy to purpose.” Benjamin Disraeli
September 16th, 2016 by Gary Osberg
43 years ago yesterday I attended an auction on the Gust and Agnes Olson farm located on the north shore of Cedar Lake west of Upsala. I ended up as the high bidder on an old farmstead on the lake. The trick to winning at an auction is to never hesitate. When it is your turn, simply nod your head. I didn’t even have the required $3,000 cashier’s check, but the banker was a good friend of the family and he allowed me to bid with the promise that I would go to town afterward and get the money. My god-father took me on a walk around the property after the auction was over and I remember stopping at one fence line only to find out that there was another 400 feet beyond that fence included in the deal. We had no clue how we were going to pay for it, but it turned out that my brother-in-law was ready to retire and he was willing to move back to Minnesota from California and become a partner in the deal. Needless to say it had a profound effect on our lives. We were able to enjoy “going to the lake” for many years. I still love the sound of a slamming screen door. If you ever get the chance to own a cabin, go for it.
The new owners have torn down the old barn and are putting up a new one. Bill kept hitting his head on the low ceiling just as I had. He rescued some artwork from the barn that he figured was created by one of my children. The one with Charlie Brown and Snoopy was used as a hiding place for a key to the cabin. I was happy to have them back. I have been invited to stop by and see the progress on the new barn and I am looking forward to seeing the old place.
The APHC show this week is a rebroadcast of a show which first aired on October 2, 2004 from The Fitzgerald Theater in downtown St. Paul. This week’s guests include singer, songwriter and guitarist Mark Knopfler. Blues singer Geoff Muldaur performs “The Whale Swallowed Jonah”. Accordionist Dan Newton sits in with the Guy’s All-Star Shoe Band. In Lake Wobegon, the host wades into frigid water to help Uncle Dean and Aunt Evelyn bring the dock in. Enjoy the show.
The Outdoor Report TV show tomorrow is about the elk herd in Minnesota. Enjoy that show also. The show airs on Fox Sports North and Fox Sports Wisconsin at 8:30 am.
“Closing the Cabin” by Thom Tammaro
In the yawn of dusk,
We drift home in Minnesota autumn,
Reciting the litany once more:
Dock in; boathouse latched;
Rugs rolled; plugs pulled;
Windows hinged; floors swept;
Pilots out; pipes drained;
Faucets opened; doors locked;
Hummingbird feeder taken down;
Key hanging in its secret place.
In the flicker of lights near the city’s edge
We talk easily, gather within
All that the summer has given:
A great fish, slender and shiny,
Diving for bottom; loons calling
In the still afternoon;
Stars swirling above the rooftops.
Near home, vees of geese circle,
Circle in the shadows above us.
Later that night, we pause
On the stairs — winterward —
Unlock that other season
Where little puffs of winter dust
Rise when we open the door. “Closing the Cabin” by Thom Tammaro, from Closing the Cabin. © Stellar Press, 1989. Reprinted on Writer’s Almanac with permission
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