Have you rubbed noses with your cats today? Even though they choose to ignore you when called and live in a world almost entirely their own, they need affection like a dutch rub from time to time or a good brushing, combing and pedicure if they still have their claws.

Cats let you know when they want to be petted and when it is time to stop. Remember cat time is not people's time. Their attention span is appallingly short. They do not like to be awakened abruptly from a nap even if you feel the urgent need for some affection at the moment.

Being fed on time with a menu they like is the primary task of whoever is in charge of providing them with all creature comforts. They also like to have their water dish clean and full at all times with fresh water. A bowl of warm milk is a nice change of diet for them as well. They prefer it at room temperature, not right out of the refrigerator, I know from experience.

Fishing isn't bad on Lake Minnewaska

Crappie - Ice Fishing on Minnewaska
Photo by: Cedar Bait, Starbuck

All lakes in the Pope County area offer enough ice for ATV’s and most have enough to support cars and trucks.  Primary fishing areas are averaging 16 inches of ice at the time of this report.

Early morning and late afternoons are still peak bite times.  17 to 19 feet of water offers a good bite to anglers out from the DNR public water access on the north-east side of the lake and in various areas down the north shoreline on Lake Minnewaska.

Photo By: Corbin CorsonDate: 2008.12.08

Sun Dogs as seen from Starbuck looking over Lake Minnewaska.

The cold, snowy weather of the last couple weeks has provided the area with multiple chances to see Sun Dogs in the morning and evening sky.

A sun dog is a common bright circular spot on a solar halo. It is an atmospheric optical phenomenon primarily associated with the reflection or refraction of sunlight by small ice crystals making up cirrus or cirrostratus clouds. Often, two sun dogs can be seen (one on each side of the sun) simultaneously. (wikipedia)

Ice Fishing Camps are developing on area lakes

Most area lakes offer enough ice to walk on and there are some ATVs being used on a few small lakes.

On Lake Minnewaska, the walleye’s are hitting along the weed-lines down Starbuck’s north shore in about 16 to 17 feet.  The primary bite occurs during the early morning and evening hours.

You can find a good amount of largemouth bass and northern pike action in these same areas during the day.  The same depth offers a good bite to anglers out from the DNR public water access on the north-east side of the lake.  Jigging spoons or plain hooks and minnows are reported to be the bait of choice.  Ice conditions vary greatly on Minnewaska but primary fishing areas are averaging 6 to 9 inches at the time of this report.

The Sheldon Theater Brass Band, a 30 member performance group of top notch musicians from the Twin Cities and Red Wing area will present a Holiday concert entilted Yuletide Brass at Central Square Cultural and Civic Center in Glenwood, on Sunday, November 23rd at 3:00pm. Their program will include a variety of great marches, overtures, popular jazz tunes and Holiday favorites. Their instrumentation includes cornets, flugelhorns, tenor horns, baritones, euphoniums, trombones, tubas and percussion.

Dear Chamber Members,

Yesterday (Sunday) we had a lot of fun at the Battle of the Businesses Bowling Event with twenty teams participating this year.  The new Team Championship goes to Good Samaritan-Lakeview Team #1 and last years champion came in second (Tom’s/Cenex) with a 6 pin difference between the teams.  Good Samaritan – Lakeview will move on to the Championship between the Glenwood Area and Alexandria Area businesses.  The Alexandria Champion has yet to be named, but the Championship game will be at the Garden Center on Sunday, November 30th at 4 PM.  Congratulations to Alice Bolen, Jan Danielson, Nancy Ward and Shirley Zemke for their Championship!!!

A reminder to all Chamber members that we are finishing the 2009 Community Calendar for the Minnewaska Guide this week.  If you have not already submitted your event, please do so in the next few days.  We include major community events in the calendar in the Minnewaska Guide.  We do not include events which are primarily Pope County (such as Church Dinner or an Open House).  Those events may also be submitted and they will be listed on our Calendar on our website at www.GlenwoodLakesArea.Info. We encourage you to submit those event listings as well by choosing the “submit an event” tab on the Glenwood Chamber calendar page and filling in the short form with the information.

Finally, we have received some nominations for Board of Directors for Board terms beginning January 1, 2009 through December 31, 2011.  (Terms are three years.)  We will have four openings this year and if you or someone you know would like to serve on the Board, please email, call, or let us or one of our current Board members know.  Board members may be anyone who is a Chamber member including staff members for any of our Chamber businesses.  Please let us know in the next few days so we may get the ballots out to Chamber Members!

Please get back to us this week about Calendar events and Board Nominees for 2009.  Once again, Congratulations to Good Samaritan-Lakeview on their Championship!!

Have a great week!

Scott Formo & Cody Rogahn

Glenwood Lakes Area Chamber