Stargazing - by Eli Lutgens

Chance encounters at garage sales

Like many folks, I enjoyed Waseca’s city wide garage sales this past weekend. The experience was delightful. When all was said and done I didn’t purchase many items but enjoyed the trip with friends. Among our many stops was the Stensrud estate sale, where I ran into Sarah Born-Raetz. It seems...

‘Pioneering’ has its challenges

Another week, another seven days of ‘newsing.’ As I think through the past week, nothing ‘news related’ jumps immediately to mind. I spent the majority of Thursday and Monday talking to folks, organizing future “news.” We have a new addition to our ‘newspaper team.’ Jon Lucca is now and...

Grateful for all the conversations

After I wrote last week about the carpal tunnel in my hands, my father reminded me that my column is not a diary. Sometimes I start writing and I forget to edit out things like that. Such is life. So how was my week of newsing? Ed Frederick called to tell me what a great job we did last...

Most famous person in Waseca

A lot of things jump to my mind as I sit down to write this evening. I’m pretty sure Dave Zika is famous, at least in Waseca. Compliments for Dave and his writing keep on coming. I’m grateful to have him on our team here at the paper. This week has been somewhat of an adventure in the ‘...

New phenomenon: time to think

In March of 2021 my father asked me if I wanted to buy the Star Eagle: I jumped at the opportunity. At that point in time, Dad’s health had kept him from working for most of the past two years. I had been the publisher for all that time, but not the owner. I can’t really guess why he offered me...

Finding a way to work while sick

Another week of “newsing” is in the books. I did less because I was sick, but it was still an exciting week. Monday evening I stayed home and did not attend the Waldorf City Council meeting. Normally that is Tristan’s responsibility, but she was covering the Waseca Snow Week talent show...

Is ‘newsing’ contagious?

This last week of “newsing” has really caught up to me. Literally. I came down with a nasty cold which set in Saturday evening. When I catch a cold, it typically starts in the evening. I feel like I have something in the back of my throat and it starts to get worse. But I come prepared. ...

Another week of ‘newsing’

It’s February. I think I could stop writing there and that would summarize where things stand. I, personally, have felt a bit…unsettled…for the past while. I haven’t put my finger on exactly why, but I’m reminded that it’s February: It’s cold. There’s not a lot going on, but at the same...

Life is like a box of chocolates

Barb Buker from Personalized Printing called me the other day to compliment the newspaper, among other things. She couldn’t help observing that, in a recent issue, her husband appeared on page two, her brother on another page, and a different family member in yet another spot. She also mentioned...

It’s called ‘news’ for a reason

For those who don’t know, I grew up as a neighbor to Anthony Martens. Given what I do for a living AND being his neighbor, he and I have had “one or two” interactions. I told Sheriff Jay Dulas and Tony that I don’t like writing news stories which hurt people. After Tony was offered the job of...