Opinion

Making art can be an expensive proposition but for some creators, it is necessary for their health and wellbeing. Most artists barely make enough in sales to cover their expenses. The Minnesota State Legislature has made financial assistance to artists possible through Heritage Fund dollars distributed to eleven regional arts councils across the state. These dollars are then dispersed to regional artists and arts organizations through grant-funded projects.

Have you ever heard the saying, “you can’t teach an old dog new tricks?” According to Dictionary. com, this proverb means that “people are often reluctant or unwilling to change old habits or long-held beliefs.” Oxford Languages states the idiom means “you cannot make people change their established patterns of opinion or behavior.” Regardless of whether you are familiar with the saying or not, you no doubt have seen this happen.

Sometimes we think we have more time than we do. As was the case with my entire week last week, planning to write this very column Sunday evening to allow for the week to play out enough that I may have something of local interest to talk about. Alas, sometimes the weekend goes to chaos, such as this one did for me, and Monday morning I’m struggling to collect a single, useful thought before the deadline for the first newspaper jumps up to grab this column that hasn’t yet been written.

Last weekend saw showers and thunderstorms push across parts of the region. Southern Minnesota even had a slight risk of severe weather due to the warm temperatures, elevated dew points, and a cold-front pushing through that moist environment. It is that time of the year for severe weather possibilities.

Question- Are drivers required to use turn signals when entering or exiting a roundabout? With a newly constructed roundabout very recently opened in town, I have not once observed a turn signal used. What is the law? Answer-This is a great question as we are seeing more roundabouts in the state of Minnesota.

Last year around this time I remember scrambling around looking for my flashlight (it was in my car!) and then realizing the batteries in it were dead all the while receiving weather notifications and texts from people saying, “GET IN YOUR BASEMENT NOW!” I was fortunate to escape harm and my power was only out for a short while but that awful feeling of being caught unprepared stuck with me. That weekend, I went on a shopping trip to get a few more flashlights, batteries, and a weather radio.

Well, Mother Nature tricked me once again. I put my long underwear pants and shirts in the washing machine and she cooled the temps down and added a nasty cold north wind. And, of course, I was too stubborn to put clean underwear on for just 1 or 2 days. So, instead, I will just complain that I’m cold when I take Patton for the walk. So that’s what I’m doing. Haven’t looked at the forecast to see if it’s worth putting warms on again.

Our Chippewa County MN Arts, Artists, & Events Facebook page has 41 followers but little activity. Can we get the numbers up and our artists participating? I want to send out a survey to learn more about our county artists.