Opinion

Advocate Tribune editor Jessica Stolen-Jacobson Question: How’s the paper been doing since CherryRoad Media took over? Jessica: Since CherryRoad took over we’ve been working on a bunch of things – big and small – to bring our content even more local, to improve the look of the paper overall, and to come up with innovative ways to bring the news to people in more ways than ever before. Having a hyper-local focus starting at the top and working its way through all areas of the newspaper’s operations has been spurring creativity among all our staff.

What is a Gruffalo? The Gruffalo is a beloved character from Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library. The Gruffalo has terrible tusks, claws, teeth and jaws, knobby knees, turned-out toes, and a poisonous wort at the end of his nose.

Last week, I managed to let everyone know how awkward I can be more than once, but the best display of this happened during the artist’s reception for the exhibit that I and Jeremy Radtke both have on display at the Granite Area Arts Council. As we were both designated time to speak at this event, there was a requirement to stand in front of everyone and talk about the project. Of course, the first thing I did was let everyone know I was nervous sweating. Apparently, my nervous coping skill is to let everyone know that, indeed, I am nervous. It was a wonderful event though, and I’m very thankful for everyone who ventured to the gallery that evening. It’s always weird to talk about something that you’ve worked on that feels so intimate, as if you’re sharing a little of yourself with many people. It’s also really hard to receive compliments (I am, after all, Minnesotan). The exhibit remains in the gallery for those still interested in seeing it. I was also told by a reader that I don’t look like my column photo at all. That made me laugh a little because my own mother has also pleaded with me to change that. Maybe someday. In the meantime, my oldest child’s daily phone calls home have been a daily countdown to his leave from Fort Drum to return to Minnesota for a short, two-week visit home. We have a routine of chatting in the morning while we are both getting ready for the day. Even though New York is in a different time zone, I’m an early riser, so this works out well. There’s always a lot to do and a lot of people to see during his visits. He’s always been my right-hand guy on projects that must be done around the house requiring more than one set of hands. So of course, last trip included removing a very large damaged tree branch without destroying the roof, this trip will involve some repair to some crumbling brick on the chimney. But this trip, in particular, will have even more activity than usual as we prepare for his wedding that will ta

I salute the Hollywood writers who went out on strike this past week but I can tell you that we essayists won’t be joining them. For one thing, the essay is deeply imbedded in our nation’s very identity (U.S.A.) but for another thing, a national essay strike would be like a National Husbands Day of Silence, most wives wouldn’t care and many wouldn’t notice.

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.

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 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.

Earlier this year, I was surprised to find that many Facebook friends apparently had new professionally- done profile pictures – portraits, rather, flattering artistic images. Somehow, they had become oil paintings or cartoons.