Thumbs up for soil conservation. Tom Cotter has made a name for himself in recent years for his work in soil conservation and soil health efforts. Recently he was honored for that work with the prestigious Leopold Conservation Award, which came with a substantial cash prize. In a world where people seek instant gratification, Cotter and farmers like him have embarked on a path that leads not only to a better agricultural platform, but a better overall world across a broad spectrum.
Thumbs up for being a hero. On Tuesday, Austin High School’s Ali Muzik was one of the youth honored for being a Hormel 10 under 20 Food Hero. It is a laudable honor because it recognizes the work of youth who are actively trying to change the world in big ways, which in and of itself is something to applaud, but the fact that these initiatives are youth-led makes the achievements that much more notable. At home, Muzik has infused the Packer Pantry with even more life as it heads out on a mission of making sure that Austin students have what they need to get through a productive school day.
Thumbs up for new owners. This past weekend, it was announced that Aaron Moore and Sarah Orth are the new owners of the popular breakfast destination in Austin — The Sunny Spot. Moore and Orth certainly have the energy to continue the restaurant’s success and have cast eyes to the future in order to expand The Sunny Spot’s offerings and by extension successes. Best of luck to the new owners as The Sunny Spot continues being that great way to start a morning.
Thumbs up to a start to the holidays. Congratulations are in order for another successful kick-off to the holiday season last Friday night when the Austin Enhancement Group hosted its annual Hometown Christmas. It was a familiar and welcoming way to get people out with their neighbors to celebrate the holidays. With Santa Claus on hand, it was hard not to be swept up in the songs and sights of this yearly holiday event.
Thumbs up to water testing efforts. A story we ran this week revealed that private wells in Mower County showed traces of arsenic and manganese, and no, this is not what we’re giving the thumbs up for. That is for the free testing that is available for people to test their own wells. This testing is part of the Tap-In Initiative that allows people to test for things like arsenic, manganese, nitrate, coliform bacteria and lead. It’s well worth the effort to see if your water is in danger.
