An evening at Wedgewood Cove

Ready for action

Good input!

Chatting with potential voters

Angie Hanson & Joe Staloch

Business After Hours is back!

Business After Hours is back! Got to have a campaign table, along with Angie Hanson and Joe Staloch, for attendees to “meet and greet” before and after the “Future of Freeborn” Community Forum.

Once again, Charles asked people to respond to the statement: "I want Albert Lea to..."

+Procure a full-service hospital

+Healthcare & affordable options

+Roller skating

+Affordable housing including Tiny Homes

+Finish the bike trail to Austin

+Growth!

+Kids things

+Bowling

+Affordable housing for single occupants

+Raise private tax base from businesses and get property taxes down

+Young adult transition services

+Provide more crosswalks near schools

+We need a tiny home community with amenities

+Industry appropriate apprenticeships

+Rentals for jet skis, boats, paddle boats

+Lower taxes & more businesses

+Develop freeway corridor

Tractors, horses, and corn, oh my!

43 years and counting

Loving the late summer weather!

Broom making!

Plowing by horse

Getting the next generation into tractors

Charles drove to Kiester, Minnesota (1/2 hour southwest of Albert Lea) this morning to take in the 43rd Annual Farming of Yesteryear event. There was so much to see! Watching ice cream, apple cider, sorghum syrup, and more getting made. Horse-drawn plows working the field and single-row corn harvesting made for interesting viewing. Seeing brooms getting made and a working sawmill creating boards and shingles was fun to see.

Doodle art in Albert Lea

Charles was among the community members who gathered in the alley behind the Albert Lea Art Center this morning to create a "doodle wall." This is part of the process that will eventually become a beautiful mural!

In the news

Charles was interviewed by our local newspaper for an article about the 25th anniversary of 9/11. Charles shared his experiences as a Navy chaplain assigned to the Naval Hospital - Camp Lejeune (NC). Read the article at this link.

More paintings!

Gift to Ryan Kettleson

Gift to Kailee Phillips

Gift to Kailee Phillips

Gift to Linda Hughes-Foyte

Gift to Linda Hughes-Foyte

Charles presented five new paintings to three Thorne Crest staff members this week. Ryan, Kailee, and Linda were pleased with Charles' creations which is always a joy to hear when painting go to their new home.

Daisy Fest!

We had a delightful time today at Central Park in Albert Lea for the seventh annual Daisy Fest (sponsored by Daisy Blue Naturals). Charles had a booth, promoting his candidacy for Albert Lea City Council, getting to know potential voters, and offering "swag."

Charles asked attendees to write down what they wanted to see (or not see) in Albert Lea.

Here are the results to "I want Albert Lea to..."

+Businesses that can afford to stay

+Be happy

+More kid-friendly activities

+Community events

+Animals (pets) need to stay in their own yard

+Home-free healthcare

+More bike paths

+Upgrade parks

+Be kinder to landlords

+More mental health services (2 times)

+No data centers

+Help for the homeless (3 times)

+Be kind

+Bring in more retail businesses

+Get more clothing stores (3 times)

+Be amazing

+Help animals

+Service/companion dogs are treated equally!

+Mountains

One year and counting!

Belinda one-year work anniversary was celebrated at work today by the staff of the Albert Lea-Freeborn County Chamber of Commerce, Albert Lea Economic Development Agency, and the Albert Lea Convention & Visitors Bureau.