"Where Fillmore County News Comes First"
Online Edition
Thursday, May 23rd, 2013
Volume ∞ Issue ∞
One Moment, Please... Inspiring Youth
 
Spring Valley views new ambulance equipment
 
Catch-up week
 
Mock Crash has an impact on Lanesboro students
 
Chatfield moves forward to create Capital Improvement Plan
 
 
 
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“Joining Julie” during her presentation in Harmony

By Barb Jeffers

Fri, Apr 12th, 2013
Posted in Harmony Features

It is no mystery why a group of more than forty people attended a book-signing event and presentation by author Julie Kramer at the Harmony Public Library in Harmony, Minn. on Saturday, April 6, 2013.

Kramer started her presentation by stating she was excited to be in Harmony… “the scene of the crime,” which drew a large chuckle from the crowd. Julie Kramer’s latest book, titled Shunning Sarah, has ties to the area which makes it especially interesting for local readers.

In Shunning Sarah a homicide is being investigated by TV reporter Riley Spartz and it is discovered that the murdered woman was a member of the local Amish community. The police have a hard time investigating the woman’s death as the Amish community prefer to handle their problems within their community and prefer to keep things private.

Julie grew up on the Minnesota-Iowa state line where she had some experience with the Amish and their way of life. She did research for her book by visiting many Amish farms in the area and talked with the Amish while purchasing their wares including baskets, potholders, cashew crunch, and also an Amish doll which she uses as a prop while speaking to audiences. Julie stayed at the Amish Bed and Breakfast to get a sense of living the way the Amish live.

Julie mentions the Fillmore County area in Shunning Sarah specifically naming the Village Square and Quarter/quarter of Harmony. In the acknowledgements of the book she also mentions Richard Scrabeck of the Amish Tours of Harmony and the Amish Bed and Breakfast near Canton, Minn. Julie states that she enjoys the research she does for her writing saying “when you are writing books you always want to have a new adventure” which can give the writer a new perspective to draw from when writing. She says she “gets inspiration from all sorts of places” and stated she is “highly influenced by happenings around me” which can be used in her writing as well. Julie had a “new adventure” while staying at the Asahi Loft of Harmony during her visit and thanked owner Cindy Ofstedal for the hospitality.

Julie Kramer said she moved “from journalist to author” having once worked as a freelance news producer to NBC and CBS and also ran the WCCO-TV I-Team in Minneapolis, Minn. where she received many national investigative awards. Since stepping into the role of author Julie has continued to receive accolades for her work inc .....
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Relay for Life returns to Harmony after 17 years

By Jade Sexton

Fri, Feb 8th, 2013
Posted in Harmony Features
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It has been seventeen years since Relay for Life started up in Fillmore County, and seventeen years since the annual event was held in Harmony. LaVonne Mensink has been a part of the organization since the beginning, but this is the first year she i ..... 
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R&J Amish Furniture celebrates 20 years in Harmony

By Jade Sexton

Fri, Jan 25th, 2013
Posted in Harmony Features
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Brothers Reuben and Jake Hershberger started their wood furniture business in Harmony 20 years ago, and since then things have grown and changed. For the first three and a half years of their business, the two men built custom furniture for peopl ..... 
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Harmony native writes about love in anthology

By Jade Sexton

Fri, Jan 25th, 2013
Posted in Harmony Features
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Amy Hahn of Rochester started writing stories when she was a child growing up in Harmony. Throughout school she always had several notebooks with her and was always reading or writing something. She knew that was what she wanted to do with her life. ..... 
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Harmony “Empty Bowls” event fills hearts

By Barb Jeffers

Fri, Nov 16th, 2012
Posted in Harmony Features
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The third annual “Empty Bowls” event took place on Sunday, November 11, 2012, at the Harmony Community Center in Harmony, Minn., from 11:00 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. The event raises money to feed the hungry and to help the community become more aware ..... 
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A change to Harmony Main Street

By Barb Jeffers

Fri, Nov 16th, 2012
Posted in Harmony Features
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By Barb Jeffers The First Southeast Bank of Harmony, Minn. has started work on a major project which includes an addition and renovation. According to bank President Chris Skaalen, the addition and eventual renovation has been contemplated for six ..... 
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A touch of Japan in Harmony

By Barb Jeffers

Fri, Nov 9th, 2012
Posted in Harmony Features
Comments(2)

Peace, tranquility, and relaxation. These are just three of the many words used to describe Asahi Loft by guests. Asahi Loft of Harmony, Minn. was opened in June of 2011 by Innkeepers Cindy and Doug Ofstedal. Once a guest arrives at Asahi Loft they ..... 
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Habitat Wall Raising celebration in Harmony on November 17

By News Team

Fri, Nov 2nd, 2012
Posted in Harmony Features
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Harmony, Minn. – Habitat for Humanity Winona – Fillmore Counties will be having a wall raising celebration at its Harmony house on Saturday, November 17. Habitat broke ground on the house last spring, and they are now celebrating the new family ..... 
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Harmony approves Girl Scout project

By Jade Sexton

Fri, Oct 12th, 2012
Posted in Harmony Features
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By Jade Sexton Aubrey Johnson was at the Harmony City Council meeting on October 9 to get permission from the city for a project being done by her Girl Scout troop on Oct. 13. Girl Scouts all around the area are getting together that day to cle ..... 
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