When Jeremy DeFlorian and his wife Rita moved from Galesville, Wis., to the southeast Minnesota area due to his job with Mad City Windows and Bath, Jeremy knew he wanted to open a business here. Back in Galesville, Jeremy had owned a small boutique called Serenity River Creations & Boutique with his sister Tammi DeFlorian and a friend. Rita and Jeremy began looking for a … [Read more...]
Bluff Country Singers Spring Concert – End of an Era for the Grandalls
The Bluff Country Singers’ Spring Concert on April 26, 2026, directed by Elliott Grandall, will feature a variety of songs, instrumental accompanists, and the vibrant voices of many Fillmore County residents. This non-auditioned community choir which has been rehearsing together twice a month since January has a bittersweet tone with the realization that it will be the last … [Read more...]
Pieces of Beauty
Rushford artist Nicole Burk, owner of Sequential Glass Art Mosaic, brings flowers, insects, pets, and fantasy creatures to life in colorful stained glass, evoking the feel of a garden in bloom. Burk’s artist statement is the first thing you will see on her website sequentialglass.com. “Artists do not make beauty; they participate in beauty. They perceive the beauty inherent … [Read more...]
Chicāhuac, Mexican Women’s Stories of Strength and Sacrifice
The Chicāhuac Exhibition, currently on display at the Driftless Fiber Arts Collective in Lanesboro, highlights the strength and sacrifices of six incredible women from Mexico: Oligaria, Doña Conchita, Fatima, Concepciona, Veronica and Doña Teresa. The word chicāhuac means strong, robust and powerful in Nahuatl, an indigenous language of Mexico and the first language of many of … [Read more...]
Kalla Lily Floral Blooms in Spring Valley
Flowers have long been the symbol for the coming of spring. They can spark an array of emotions and be used for many different occasions. Local floral shops are a great place to celebrate the joy of flowers year-round. Now a few months in business, Kalla Lily Floral in Spring Valley, Minn., offers beautiful floral arrangements and gifts. At the age of 14, Kara Brenner, … [Read more...]
Memories of Wes Stevens
In early February, Jeff Zondlo reached out to the Peterson American Legion Post 526 via Facebook Messenger, searching for any remaining family members of Wes Stevens. Jeff and Wes had been close buddies, serving in Vietnam; Jeff had identified Wes when he was killed in action; he wanted to reconnect with Wes’ family now and share memories of Wes. The president/secretary of … [Read more...]
SEMAC Announces Recent Grant Awards
On January 13, 2026, the Southeastern Minnesota Arts Council (SEMAC) Board of Directors awarded four Artists & Culture Bearers in the Schools grants, and five General Operating Support grants for a total of $40,950 in funding to organizations throughout southeastern Minnesota. Grants were awarded to the following organizations, listed by county: Fillmore County … [Read more...]
Lanesboro Arts Hosts High School Exhibition
On a dark, snowy evening in January, Lanesboro Arts presented a sparkly contrast to the night. The well-lit gallery was humming with people of all ages strolling around to check out a wide variety of art created by high school students from area schools. January 10 was the opening reception for the annual high school art exhibition. Art work from over 40 high school … [Read more...]
Kelly Ristau: An Artist’s Journey
Earlier this year, I sat down with Preston Native Kelly Ristau, at Paddle on Coffee & Maker Emporium in Lanesboro, Minn. for an interview. The assignment was to write a story about Kelly work as a muralist. It did not take long to realize that there was much more to this artist, and what began as a conversation about murals evolved into a much richer portrait of a young … [Read more...]
Driftless Dreamers, A Unique 4-H Club
The 4-H Club Driftless Dreamers is unique in that it was created for homeschool families. While other clubs form based on interests, activities or location to a certain school district, this club was established to tie 4-H into the existing homeschool peer groups. Driftless Dreamers held its first meeting in June 2023. The families of the homeschool groups already cooperated … [Read more...]