Wiki is the source of all things obscure. Really, really obscure. Take the term, Holy Cow! Wiki reports Holy Cow! is linked to other Midwest expressions like Holy Buckets!, Holy Cats!, and Holy Mike! – – all being euphemisms for a biblical reference to a certain Savior with the initials J.C.

Wisconsin Governor Tony Evers uses a similar term, Holy Mackerel!, even though mackerels are found in oceans, far from the Midwest and Great Lakes. His background as a lifelong science teacher, school principal, district superintendent, and Wisconsin’s Superintendent of Public Instruction no doubt shaped his favorite exclamation.

Longtime baseball broadcaster Harry Caray used Holy Cow! when his beloved Chicago Cubs would hit a dramatic homer or make a timely defensive play. Wiki says on other occasions Harry used the phrase to prevent himself from lapsing into vulgarity because the Cubs were a perennial bad team. Defeat was snatched from the jaws of victory on more than one occasion. Faithful Cubs fans promised, “What ‘til next year.”

Holy Cow!, the summer has flown by. Just a short while ago, school lockers and college dorms/apartments were being cleaned out. The next moment, summer rec programs ended and the last Walking Taco was consumed at one of many community festivals in Wisconsin’s St. Croix Valley.

Community elders use the telltale signs of later sunrises and earlier sunsets to mark an impending event. The event in question is not the start of NFL training camps, nor is it the upcoming archery season. It’s back to school shopping.

Moms, dads, grandpas, grandmas, children, and young adults will help make back to school/college shopping a record-setting activity in 2023. Holy Cow! This bold forecast comes from the National Retail Federation (NRF) and its mid-July press release. The NRF says back to school (K-12) spending will reach $41.5 billion, up from last year’s $36.9 billion and the previous high spending mark of $37.1 billion in 2021. Back to college spending is expected to hit $94 billion, about $20 billion more than last year’s record. Throw in a Cow! Buckets! Cats! Mike! and a Mackerel! That’s serious cash.

The NRF predicts $890 per household will be spent on K-12 back to school items and $1,367 per household for college items. Both are records and worthy of another Holy Cow!

The NRF says the increases are primarily driven by a greater demand for electronics. Total electronics spending is expected to reach $15.2 billion, making it another record. And another Holy Cow! Top purchases are laptops, tablets, and calculators. Apparently, education has come a long way since a granite slab, chisel, and candle. Big ticket items for the college crowd include electronics, dorm or apartment/home furnishings, and food plan accounts.

Back to school/college buying seems like a team effort, meaning students with part-time jobs can contribute something to the effort. While America is a country with great opportunities, the right to purchase $150 jeans cannot be found in the Declaration of Independence, Bill of Rights, or Constitution.

Whether it’s a Holy Cow! or a Mackerel!, resilient consumers are reminded to pace themselves. Bills eventually come due and paying them with interest charges is like paying twice.

Here’s to the impending first hour bell. Students, it cometh soon.

There’s a story that goes back to 1935 and involves an enterprising guy named Norman. He had a truck and a vision. Norman loaded up a team of horses and hauled them from Hudson, Wisconsin to Trempealeau, near the end of the Earth, but also in Wisconsin.

As the crow flies, meaning generally in a straight line, the one-way distance to Trempealeau is around 93 miles. Roads from Point ‘A’ to Point ‘B’ rarely follow a straight line. An online trip planning service indicates the distance is 143 miles, following an interstate, U.S. highway, and state highway route. The trip advisor service further adds the travel time is two hours and twenty-one minutes, if it’s driven nonstop. That was a big “if” in 1935. Remember, Norman was hauling horses.

Norman earned $1.50 for his delivery. Gas in 1935 was an unheard of price of nineteen cents a gallon. To save on expenses, it’s a safe bet Norman had a couple sandwiches with him. And a coffee thermos. And a blanket. And maybe a tire iron under the seat as a travel companion? Norman made it back to Hudson safely and went on to many other deliveries and adventures.

A few million miles later, the old school trucking company is now a modern supply chain company with all sorts of technology. Son Jerry followed Norman, and Jerry’s son Todd now leads the organization. Brother Eric directs contract logistics. The beat goes on.

Part of this story involves the ever-changing transportation network in Wisconsin’s St. Croix Valley. Back in 1935, Interstate 94 was an engineer’s dream – a wild one. Opening the 41 mile segment of I94 from Hudson to Menomonie did not occur until late October 1959. The portion from Menomonie to Eau Claire was partially completed and opened later. As an historical footnote, the 59 mile stretch from Hudson to Eau Claire was the largest section of the interstate system to be dedicated at the time in the U.S.

How did the interstate system get built? The Federal-Aid Highway Act was signed into law by President Dwight Eisenhower in mid-1956.  The legislation was also known as the National Interstate and Defense Highways Act. The military side of Eisenhower understood the relationship between a system of connected highways and a strong national defense. By 1992 and around 41,000 miles later, the U.S. interstate system was deemed complete.

Whether it’s the interstate, U.S. highways, state highways, county highways, or town roads, they take a pounding. I94 in Hudson carries 95,000 vehicles a day, maybe more. From semis to cycles, the hum is constant. Road maintenance and reconstruction are inevitable. Road foundations and surfaces withstand January’s bitter cold and August’s heat. Meanwhile, roads and highways get residents to work and are vital for business and industry. Elected officials from Hudson to Trempealeau and beyond have additional transportation funding at the top of their mythical Wish Lists.

Norman would likely be amazed at today’s highway network. Here’s to a man, his truck, and a vision. Here’s to good roads. Here’s to orange cones and zipper lanes. They’re signs that good roads will soon be improved. The beat goes on.

The fast talking economic development guy in Wisconsin’s St. Croix Valley has some curious habits. He tracks the date, time and location of the first robin, usually sighted in mid-March. The same process is followed when the season’s first backyard fawn is spotted. He also keeps a keen eye on the first neighborhood lemonade stand of the year.

The stand was observed a couple weeks ago and coincided with the end of the school year. The fast talker is a lemonade critic. He rarely buys. With his business development background, an assessment scorecard is used and includes factors like location (mid-block or corner), catchy name, pre-stand and post-stand signage (Lemonade Just Ahead and/or Turn Around You Missed It), enthusiasm, hours, and competitive pricing.

The stand got high marks. It was named Lightning Lemonade. It appeared to be operated by three young ladies, or maybe two, and one of them may have been settling a customer’s dispute with a headlock and scissors hold. The lack of an umbrella was a minor deduction on the scorecard. At fifty cents for a very generous glass, the price point was attractive. What, no ice cubes? Another deduction.

The stand’s operators were ready for action as soon as the fast talker’s vehicle stopped. In fact, the pitcher and glass were being readied for what seemed was a sure-thing order. The fast talker urged the pourer to s-t-o-p!

Constructive comments were offered in lieu of an order. A tip jar was missing. The fast talker strongly suggested getting one and later parted with a dollar bill. He got the low-down on how business was going and where the profits would be used. He left with encouraging words, “Keep up the good work, ladies. We need more entrepreneurs.” He was not sure the sophisticated word – entrepreneur – was being processed. He clarified by saying, “We need more business people like you.”

All too soon those entrepreneurs – ahem – business people – will learn about rules and regulations, sometimes the hard way. Did they remember to apply for the necessary permits and inspections? What about the stand’s setbacks from the street? And both the county and state are expecting their own sweet taste of the action from sales tax collections.

Sometimes taxpayers wonder about commonsense action coming from Madison or Washington, D.C. But almost four years ago, Wisconsin’s governor signed a bill allowing children to legally operate lemonade stands. Anyone under the age of 18 is permitted to run them on private property without a permit and without fear of running afoul of the law. Apparently running afoul of regulations has happened in other states. No word if Lightning Lemonade was a test case. Sales in Wisconsin are limited to $2,000 per year. Oh, the law prevents kiddos from pedaling potentially hazardous foods like egg salad. Wisconsin’s bill enjoyed bipartisan support from both sides of the political aisle. Hurray!

From lemons to lifetime skills, here’s to the innocence of the neighborhood lemonade stand. Here’s to young entrepreneurs or business people if it’s more understandable. Here’s to $2,000 in summer sales. Here’s to a tip jar. Hold the egg salad.

U.S. consumers are a lot like Atlas, the character in Greek mythology. Atlas was a Titan and they ruled the universe until Zeus, a fellow Titan, joined the Olympians and defeated the Titans for control. Except for Atlas, all Titans were banished to a faraway placed called Tartarus which served as an eternal prison. Zeus enslaved Atlas and he was condemned to hold the Earth on his shoulders forever. No coffee breaks. No PTO days. No Google searches on the internet.

Consumers meanwhile are committed (condemned?) to propping up the U.S. economy. Economists say consumer spending comprises as much as 70 percent of the country’s gross domestic product (GDP). Econ 101 scholars will recall GDP is defined as the measure of the monetary value of goods and services produced in a region, state, or country over a given period of time.

While the GDP information is valuable, it is neither a headache nor heartache. Even armchair economists expect the GDP to rise from quarter to quarter or year over year. Consumers will find a way to spend, even if it hurts. Meanwhile, for months, economists have forecast headwinds in the economy while searching for the iceberg named Recession. In mid-May, one news outlet reported consumer spending in March declined compared to one year earlier. This suggests consumers are more cautious, mostly due to inflation. Prices continue to rise or have not settled back to more normal numbers. Many products are must haves and consumers continue to purchase them. Translation: Tired old Atlas continues to carry the Earth with no rest in sight, but consumers may be seeking a rest area located miles away.

Headwinds aside, consumers will find a way for purchases. Case in point was holiday shopping in 2022, starting with Black Friday through December 24th. The National Retail Federation (NRF) reported a record $936.3 billion was spent. Along came the so-called Big Football Game on February 12th, and another record of $16.5 billion was spent on everything from appetizers to team apparel. Football yielded to Valentine’s Day, just two days later, and $25.9 billion was spent, making it still another record for Cupid and romantics. Mothers got their day back on May 14th. Guess what? Another record. This time $35.7 billion was spent on well-deserving moms.

Consumer spending alert! Father’s Day is near – June 18th to be precise. As always, it’s the thought that counts, and youngsters through young adults and beyond will come through. A record of $20+ billion will be spent this year honoring dad, a/k/a pops, big guy, papi, and commander in chief.

What does dad want? In Wisconsin’s St. Croix Valley there are plenty of choices. Within easy driving distance there’s major league baseball plus a minor league affiliate, town ball, and rebel ball options. A four+ hour drive gets fans to Milwaukee and the Brewers. Try steak, seafood, and poultry on the deck at home, even if the big guy won’t yield the grilling utensils. Let him do the cooking, but agree the ala carte options fall to the younger generation. Golf. Driving range. Boating. Fishing. Breweries. Distilleries. Wineries. Ride a bike. Rent one. Try the loop trail from the Lift Bridge in Stillwater-Houlton to the St. Croix Crossing. Enjoy the views. First one to find the survey marker designating Wisconsin and Minnesota gets ice cream. The list goes on.

Regardless of the choices, know that resilient consumers as strong as Atlas will ensure a successful Father’s Day 2023.

At last count, Wisconsin was home to around 1.28 million dairy cows and 6,000 dairy farms, thus ensuring its place as America’s Dairyland, as noted on every ’sconnie license plate. The number of cows a/k/a brown eyed girls may surprise a few folks who reside in sustainable urban neighborhoods. Milk, cheese, and ice cream come from grocery stores and convenience stores, right?

Governor Tony Evers’ annual Dairy Month proclamation estimates dairy farmers in Wisconsin produced 32 billion (with a “b”) pounds of milk in 2022, representing 14 percent of all milk produced in the U.S.

Gov. Evers also estimates the dairy sector contributes $45.6 billion (“b”) to the state’s economy. That output is a full 22 percent of Wisconsin’s total gross domestic product (GDP) of $306.5 billion.

St. Croix County is home to an estimated 17,100 dairy cows, while Pierce has 15,000 and Polk has 14,000, all according to UW Extension. Add’em up. It equates to a major city.

The dairy stats keep getting better. With nearly 1,200 licensed cheesemakers, Wisconsin is also the nation’s top cheese producing state. Rhetorically, who doesn’t like a daily/weekly helping of Colby, Havarti, Asiago, or Muenster? Hold the Gouda, please! There’s a haunting fable about St. Croix’s fast-talking economic development guy having never sampled Wisconsin’s little-known sixth food group – cheese curds – until he made the move from Minnesota decades ago. He’s made up for lost opportunities, thanks in part to a certain statin prescription.

St. Croix and Pierce counties have been included in the federal definition of the 15-county Minneapolis-St. Paul-Bloomington metro area for a long time. It’s the nation’s 16th most populous region with 3.7 million residents. Nearby Polk County will likely be aligned with the Twin Cities in a few years, but the decision rests with metrics used by the federal Office of Management and Budget. Regardless, there’s plenty of rural in the valley to go along with the metro designation.

Rural means room for dairies, corn and soy fields, hogs and pigs, and poultry and eggs. There’s a prohibitive wagering chance that dairies existed long before adjacent residential subdivisions. The dairy farmer, however, is less likely to call a town hall or county department to complain about noise from generators and nail guns. Don’t mess with the milking schedule for fifteen hundred brown eyed girls. They much prefer the lyrics of Santa Lucia to the steady pop-pop-pop of roofers. One cow can produce six to seven gallons of milk per day and more than 2,200 gallons per year. Pop-pop-pop messes with production. Turn up Santa Lucia, Dean the dairy farmer!

Dairy operators are deeply involved with technology. Farmer Dean’s granddaughter operates the dairy, making her the fifth generation. A 60-stall rotary milking system was recently installed. Brown eyed girls are creatures of habit, so a merry-go-round parlor came with hesitation. The ladies are more comfortable after each rotary milking. Says who? Their cud chewing is a give-away. Up the road, dairy owners Kevin and Roxann installed a sand recovery system, making it the first of its kind in the U.S. for the Danish equipment maker. A comfortable cow is a productive one and sand is considered ideal bedding. The sand is washed and separated from manure for reuse, saving the farm 750+ truckloads of sand annually. Next on the horizon is technology turning manure into renewable natural gas and fertilizer through a process called anaerobic digestion. Hint: multi-million dollar systems use bacteria to break down organic matter like manure and food waste in the absence of oxygen. Second hint: an anaerobic digester is basically a mechanical stomach. Stay tuned.

Dairies are not your father’s Oldsmobile. They are at the intersection of nature and science, driving a huge network of equipment manufacturers, processing plants, veterinarians, cooperatives, milk haulers, and genetics and software companies.

Here’s to milk, cheese, and ice cream in Wisconsin’s St. Croix Valley. Here’s to a sixth food group. Here’s to brown eyed girls on the carousel swaying to Santa Lucia.

Another one of life’s milestones await 2023 graduates, whether the grads are completing pre-K, middle school, high school (a/k/a Independence Day), or two- and four-year colleges and universities.

Grads, you made it! Some lapped the field with highest honors. Others liked the comfort in the middle of the pack. And hopefully just a very few crawled across the line after catching a belt loop in the barbed wire obstacle course. Congrats to all!

Not so fast, though. Before diplomas are in hand, there’s a commencement exercise. Superintendents, principals, and school board chairs know the routine. Procession. Greetings. Speakers. Presentation of diplomas. Caps a-flyin’. Departure procession. Hello World!

A sage speaker may explain that the term commencement is both an end and a beginning. Wait, what? The class clown wonders if 12 more years of academic rigor are ahead if this is the beginning. Fear not, class clown. You have crossed the bay.

A bay in any body of water – lake, sea, or ocean – is a safe harbor. Waters are calmer. Breezes are lighter. Leave the safe harbor and the water is deeper, the speed of the wind is stronger, and the waves roll with a predictable cadence.

Out of the bay and into the ocean. Buck it up, grads. Rough waters lie ahead.

“You have crossed the bay. The ocean lies before you.”

Those words were spoken by William O. Reece, the father of a Hudson, Wisconsin baseball dad, who grew up on the family farm in Ledyard, Iowa. In May 1946, William graduated from high school as class valedictorian. There were just nine grads in the class of ’46. Bigger isn’t always better. In his commencement speech Reece stated, “You have crossed the bay. The ocean lies before you.” It was said to have inspired his classmates.

Inspire he did. And William led the way. He served in WWII. He pursued veterinary medicine in college and was a waiter in a girl’s dorm, thus assuring himself three square meals a day. Lucky William met his future wife at the dorm. He earned a PhD and completed an accomplished 38-year career as a professor in 1998, teaching 2,000 Doctor of Veterinary Medicine students in his physiology course along the way. Perhaps best of all, Dr. Reece authored and edited several textbooks that are still used today. They are published in multiple languages.

Ending. Beginning. Bay. Ocean. It’s out there Class of 2023. Remember, there are plenty of opportunities in Wisconsin’s St. Croix Valley when you return. St. Croix cannot maintain its position as among the fastest-growing counties without young adults starting families. Choosing to lead the way here helps make the region better than it already is.

Congratulations grads at all levels. “You have crossed the bay. The ocean lies before you.”

Sunday, May 14 is a big day for moms. It’s an even bigger day for sons, daughters, in-laws, and outlaws to come through in the clutch. The term clutch is as subtle as Effort vs. Results, meaning the difference between trying and accomplishment. Just like an impatient coach, moms seek results, whether it’s on May 14 or going forward.

Does Mother’s Day spending make an economic impact? Yes, and in a big way, according to the National Retail Federation (NRF). They’re the source of all things relating to spending on special occasions. The NRF says $35.7 billion (with a “b”) will be spent this year on moms and it will be a new record, nearly $4 billion (there’s that “b” again) more than 2022’s record high of $31.7 billion.

NRF labels Mother’s Day shoppers as so-called consumers, regardless of size of age. Consumers plan to spend $274.02 per person this year, the highest in the history of the NRF survey. A freckled-face six-year old or pair of brothers could be secret consumers for mom. The six-year old just picked out a garden trowel for her momma and she’s beaming. The brothers are confident their mom will be surprised with the baseball cards they bought with allowance money. Just what mom wanted. Note to mom: slide the cards into protective sleeves in case the rookie of the year or future hall of famer is among the cards.

What are the most popular gifts this year? The NRF says flowers (74%), greeting cards (74%) and special outings such as dinner or brunch (60%) top the list. The categories with the highest spending are jewelry ($7.8 “b”), special outings ($5.6 “b”), and electronics ($4 “b”).

Thoughtful gifts in 2023 are of high priority, in other words, make them meaningful. Survey respondents said the most important factors in purchasing a Mother’s Day gift include finding items that are unique or different (47%) or those that create a special memory (42%).

Lovepop is a rapidly growing greeting card company that creates intricate pop-up cards guaranteed to stand out in the crowded field of cards. A recent Lovepop blog outlined Mother’s Day activities for nearly every sort of mom. Suggestions included day trips, a trip to the farmer’s market, a staycation, or photo-shoot. For the outdoorsy mom, there’s a picnic, cycling (try an e-bike), hiking, or gardening – with mom supervising the work. For the travel-loving mom, explore a new city together, purchase new luggage, or join her on the next travel adventure.

The freckled-face girl and card trading brothers signed a pledge for Mother’s Day 2023. They called upon classmates, playmates, Instagram followers, and LinkedIn connections to honor the pledge: No IOU’s to moms in Wisconsin’s St. Croix Valley. Card shops, main street shops, and gift card purveyors stand ready. Garden centers and nurseries, river excursion tours, coffee shops, bakeries, ice cream shops, restaurants, and parks are expected to report record sales days on May 14th.

Happy Mother’s Day 2023.

Residents in Wisconsin’s St. Croix Valley are high achievers on several fronts, including academic advancement and high earning power. It starts at an early age. Kiddos learn their A-B-C’s and 1, 2, 3’s. Some move on to Do-Re-Mi. Athletes learn X’s and O’s for TD’s and PAT’s. Some become PhDs.

High achievement sometimes revolves around education merging with opportunity. Back-to-the-Basics supporters emphasize Reading, ’riting, and ’rithmetic, meaning core content and subjects. More modern education has evolved to three newer R’s – Rigor, Relevance, and Relationships. With Rigor, teachers get to know their students as learners, and in doing so, instruction is tailored to meet their respective needs. Understanding the ‘Why’ behind learning aligns with Relevance. As students understand the connections between the subject matter they’re learning and practical applications, they become motivated to learn even more. Relationships boil down to a sense of connection between teachers and students. The class clown, however, may seek a couple Recess sessions to go with Rigor, Relevance, and Relationships for even greater balance.

What about Financial Literacy? Do valley residents, students, and wage earners overachieve with this discipline? Financial literacy may seem like a Greek language. If so, it’s pronounced along the lines, fa-nan(t)-shel li-t(a-)ra se. If it’s still Greek, the School of Hard Knocks Dictionary explains it as the ability to understand and effectively use various financial skills, including personal financial management, budgeting, and investing.

Why the worry and hand wringing? An uncertain economy is impacting how Americans are able to save for emergencies. Less is available for higher and higher expenses. About a year ago, 49 percent of Americans said they were ill-equipped to cover a $400 emergency expense, according to a YouGov survey for the Economic Security Project. In a February 2023 Bankrate survey, 49 percent of U.S. adults had fewer savings compared to a year ago and ten percent had no savings. The same Bankrate survey indicated 25 percent of people would use a credit card for an unexpected $1,000 expense and pay it off over time. It’s the largest percentage relying on a credit card option in the history of Bankrate’s survey since 2014. On the brighter side, 43 percent of survey respondents said they’d pay the $1,000 emergency expense from savings.

An old timer named Aesop has a favorite fable that involves resourceful ants storing food ahead of winter and a grasshopper that spent the summer singing and dancing. When winter arrived, the grasshopper was in need of food and the ants had a stockpile. The moral: Work today for what you’ll need tomorrow.

While public schools in Wisconsin provide or require a financial literacy course, it’s not mandatory. Assembly Bill 109 has been introduced in Madison. If enacted, high school students must earn a half-credit on personal financial literacy in order to graduate. A half-credit is a good start but it’s the tip of the iceberg.

In many schools, volunteer-led Junior Achievement (JA) programs help connect students to basic economic principles, including work readiness, entrepreneurship, and financial literacy. JA says its alums are more likely to have a college degree, feel confident managing money, have career success, and have started a business as an adult.

Today’s K-12 students are challenged mightily to learn financial discipline. Be an ant and not a grasshopper. Once they get it, they get it, as high achievers often do. Sometimes it takes a self-made business owner, civic leader, mayor, banker or retired grandparent to answer the call as a JA mentor/volunteer. It’s something to consider for the next school year. Chances are, JA is a learning experience for both volunteers and students. Who’s in?

For better or worse, another rite of passage for senior high students is prom. Just like the first robin in mid-March, residents of Wisconsin’s St. Croix Valley will soon witness well-dressed young adults filling up tables and booths at high-end restaurants. For those on a budget, Culver’s, Mikey D’s, and Arby’s are just fine too.

Rising inflation has impacted prom. A few crisp Ben Franklin’s don’t go as far as they used to. Meanwhile, D-A-D or M-O-M is still spelled A-T-M, so just like the freshman who was called-up to the varsity basketball team, both will come through in the clutch. Dads, moms, and the freshman will experience nothing-but-the-net at the most critical moment.

AMARRA is a high-end retailer of formal wear. AMARRA’s website answers their own question, “How much will attending Prom 2023 Cost?” They note anywhere from $150 to $2,000 which is why it’s important to start with a budget as a way to plan where to spend big and where to be thrifty.

According to AMARRA, prom costs should include the following:
-Prom Tickets ($50 to $120) usually determined by the venue and if dinner is catered
-The Proposal ($40 to $330) i.e. the bouquet of roses, miniature pony parade, or other
-Prom Dress ($85 to $700) it’s most likely the most expensive item for prom
-Tux Rental ($60 to $130) dressing to the nines means a modern look, traditional, or trendy
-Shoes ($30 to $150) note that Chuck Taylor canvass shoes are a stellar option
-Jewelry and Accessories ($45 to $200) apparently prom jewelry creates a cohesive look
-Corsage or Boutonniere ($15 to $60) the floral tradition may be a little dated but makes a magical occasion even more special
-Hair, Makeup, Nails and Skincare ($50 to $350) DYI means a big savings, or a professional salon means it adds to the prom costs
-Grand Total: costs are not the same for every young lady or man. On average, a girl attending prom will spend $900 to $1,000 (M-O-M or D-A-D equals ATM)

Meanwhile, $900 or $1,000 is money that could be put toward college, Hello World! Numerous websites suggest shopping for gently-used and vintage dresses at consignment or thrift stores. Better yet, borrow a dress or swap a dress with a friend or relative who may attend a different school or lives a time zone away. With the popularity of YouTube and Tik Tok there are tutorials floating around on hair styling and makeup. Instead of a school-sponsored dinner or pricey restaurant experience, consider gathering with other couples at M-O-M or D-A-D’s home. Dear Old D-A-D still knows his way around the grill.

For an over-the-top expense saver, there’s the reliable duct tape option for apparel. Duckbrands.com awards scholarships for the best use of their products on gowns or tuxes. First place is a $10,000 cash scholarship for both the dress/gown and tux categories. Eight runner-up prizes of $500 are also awarded.

Remember, prom is da bomb. Prom participants in Wisconsin’s St. Croix Valley are determined to make their evenings memorable. Have fun. Make memories. Come back to M-O-M and D-A-D safe.

Many know The Miracle Worker as an acclaimed three-act play that premiered on Broadway in October 1959. It’s based on the true story of Helen Keller, a blind and deaf girl from Alabama and Anne Sullivan, a Bostonian, who teaches her language. Anne, or Annie, is also blind. The Kellers spoiled an undisciplined Helen out of pity and hire Annie to teach her. Patty Duke played Helen and Anne Bancroft played Annie. The two later starred in the 1962 movie with the same title.

Fast forward to another spring in the Midwest. The freeze-thaw-freeze-thaw cycle has taken a toll on anything asphalt- or concrete-based. The cycle does not discriminate – highways, byways, one-ways, and alleys are fair game. The result? Behold, the nasty pothole, some seemingly deep enough to hold a compact car for ransom. Yep, spring is here and public works directors and street maintenance workers are challenged to do their best. Miracle workers, they are.

Today’s city engineers or public works directors may have names like Helen or Anne. Some carry the P.E. designation as a Professional Engineer, licensed by a state board of registration. Other pioneering ladies worked their way up the ranks to become public works directors without the P.E. designation. Less than 15 percent of all P.E.’s are female and less than nine percent are public works directors. The numbers for both are growing, thanks to STEM initiatives (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math) at earlier ages. Come spring, P.E.’s, public works directors, and maintenance workers are united in their fight against pot holes. Miracle workers, they are.

Some communities and states battle pot holes with levity. Take Michigan and Detroit as examples. Their punchlines include:
-Dodging potholes in Michigan: A Michigan Sport
-Breaking Fake News: The Lost City of Atlantis found in a Detroit pothole
-Five Seasons in Michigan (Winter, Potholes, Spring, Summer, and Fall)
-Step-by-step guide to hitting a pothole:
1. Hit pothole
2. Death grip steering wheel
3. Squeeze eyes shut
4. Pray for your life
5. Open eyes carefully
6. Turn off music
7. Drive silently to destination

A report card from the American Society of Civil Engineers shows 43 percent of U.S. roads are in poor or mediocre condition. According to the society, the vast majority of roads in need of maintenance tend to be urban and rural collector roads, meaning low-to-moderate capacity routes which move vehicles from local streets to more major ones. Motorists spend nearly $130 billion annually on extra repairs to vehicles and operating costs due to deteriorating roads. Ouch! U.S. roadways have been underfunded for many years and the price tag to address the backlog is likely over one trillion dollars. The bulk of the backlog involves repairing existing roads, not building new ones.

Enacted in November 2021, the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law provides $550 billion through fiscal year 2026 in new federal infrastructure investments, including roads, bridges, mass transit, water infrastructure, resilience, and broadband. Resilience? Resiliency and patience are at a premium. Hopefully Wisconsin’s St. Croix Valley will benefit from federal infrastructure funds.

Back to Helen and Anne, the P.E. and public works director. Street departments in 2023 face daunting tasks. They do more with less, sometimes patching potholes that were repaired days and weeks earlier. Wish them well. Miracle workers, they are.

While the winter of 2022-23 marches on (and on), Girl Scout Cookie sales last a mere six weeks. Poof. It ends in April.

The annual sales are billed as local efforts – it’s the young lady from the neighborhood going door-to-door with a wagon or sled filled with goodies labeled Adventurefuls®, PB Patties/Tagalongs®, Lemon-Ups®, and Girl Scout Smores®. Careful eyes will note the trademarks as a way for the scouts to protect ideas, names, or symbols from knock-off competitors. The legal profession calls it IP for intellectual property. In short, the scouts own the brands they’ve worked so hard on and the trademark gives them protection just like the protection enjoyed by Big and Small Business.

While local, it’s global, too. The cookie program has become the world’s largest entrepreneurial program for girls. It teaches scouts important lifelong skills, including financial literacy, planning, budgeting, teamwork, critical thinking, and decision making. Add confidence to that list. Even with a mom or dad towing the inventory, it takes a whole lot of confidence to ring door bells and make a sales pitch. Sales professionals may tell a tired, down-and-out scout, “That last no means you’re one step closer to a yes.”

A couple years ago, a fast-talking economic development guy in Wisconsin’s St. Croix Valley promised a girl scout she’d earn a sale if she could recite the five P’s of a business plan. She looked to her mom for help. The fast talker gave them a hint, Product, Price, People, Place, and Promotion. Her mom jumped in, noting her daughter had cookies as the product; the price was $5 a box, the people consisted of a daughter-mother team, they were selling in a lobby as the place, and a double-sided sign served as their promotion. A sale was made and the tip jar got a George Washington, too. George was smiling.

Just like in real business, there’s no resting on laurels for the scouts. The Raspberry Rally® cookie is new for 2023. It’s offered exclusively online and includes direct shipping only. The roll-out was intended to enhance the scouts’ e-commerce sales and entrepreneurial skills. Are e-sales in 2023 the forerunner of a digital future for all cookie sales? Stay tuned. The so-called free market responded to the Raspberry Rally® in a big way. News outlets are reporting the limited edition treats are resold on eBay and other channels for up to $100 a box. Scouts aren’t happy. Call it the Cruelty of e-commerce 101.

Why support the cookie sales? Net profits from the sales stay local. Funded activities extend beyond summer camps. They include important service projects that vary from locale to locale. In a world short of big thinking entrepreneurs, the annual cookie sale effort pays big dividends. Really big dividends. Business Ethics. People Skills. Money Management. Decision Making. Goal Setting. Those foundational building blocks are listed on each cookie box.

Here’s to a cookie. When the doorbell rings or as a makeshift booth is sighted, consider stopping. Listen to their pitches. In the St. Croix Valley and elsewhere, the Girl Scout Mission is laser clear, “Girl Scouting builds girls of courage, confidence, and character, who make the world a better place.”

With the Luck of the Irish, St. Patrick’s Day 2023 falls on a Friday. Write your own punchline. There could be two- and three-day celebrations. Write your own itinerary. Parades. Toasts. Cabbage. Irish soda bread. Corned beef. Toasts. Shephard’s pie. Toasts. More Toasts. We’re all Irish for a day. Heck, even our Pepper Festival friends in North Hudson, Wisconsin, known for a heavy emphasis on Italian lineage, will tip their derbies and darbies to neighbors claiming the Emerald Isle as their own. Ditto for the Dutch contingent in Baldwin.

Irish for a day. Celtic music will be played as close as New Richmond, Wisconsin or in nearby hamlets of Cylon, Erin Prairie and Emerald. Keep an eye out for musicians carrying flutes, fiddles, tin whistles, Bodhrán drums, and Uilliean pipes – – Ireland’s national bagpipes. Follow them to their gig.

Irish for a day. In saloons, there’s undoubtedly an old timer at the bar disguised as a leprechaun. The red hair may be faded but the freckles are give-aways. Shout out a last name like Moore, Donahue, Ring, Casey, Geraghty, or O’Keefe and watch for a flinch. Out of nowhere, the leprechaun may belt out a version of Danny Boy. The din yields to the soulful tenor. Patrons may join in. Tears flow freely.

Irish for a day. Danny Boy for a day. Danny Boy is Ireland’s ballad. It was written over one hundred years ago – by an English songwriter named Fred Weatherly who’d never been to Ireland. The product was so-so. Weatherly’s sister in-law, an Irish immigrant, introduced him to the melody of The Londonderry Aire, an old Irish tune. Weatherly put his Danny Boy words to Londonderry’s melody and the rest is history.

The words are haunting:
O Danny Boy, the pipes, the pipes are calling
From glen to glen and down the mountainside
The summer’s gone and all the roses falling
’Tis you, ’tis you must go and I must bide
But come ye back when summer’s in the meadow
Or when the valley’s hushed and white with snow
’Tis I’ll be here in sunshine or in shadow
O Danny boy, O Danny boy, I love you so

Many interpret Danny Boy as a message from a parent to a son, wishing a safe return from war or distant travels, perhaps to America. Danny’s return is uncertain. The final line, ‘And I shall sleep in peace until you come to me!’ brings a sense of hope of meeting again, one way or another.

Danny Boy has been universally performed, including by Sinéad O’Connor, Eric Clapton, Celtic Woman, and yes, Johnny Cash, the son of an Arkansas cotton farmer. It was played at the funerals of President John F. Kennedy, Elvis Presley, and numerous Irish-American police and firefighters, who died following the September 11 attacks in 2001. Twenty plus years ago, the Diocese in Providence, Rhode Island banned Danny Boy and other secular songs from funeral Masses. To that, retired police officer Charlie McKenna wrote, “I want ‘Danny Boy’ sung at my funeral Mass and if it isn’t, I’m going to get up and walk out.”

Irish for a day. There’ll be plenty of revelry in Wisconsin’s St. Croix Valley on March 17th. A Public Service Announcement is offered: Pace yourself. And when the tenor leprechaun hits the high notes of Danny Boy, it’ll be a moment to remember. Erin go Bragh – Ireland Forever

It may be a sign of impending old age, but a few residents in Wisconsin’s St. Croix Valley still get excited finding a wheat penny. In fact, a fast talking community booster recently freed a penny from an icy tomb in a parking lot. Too shiny for a wheat cent, it still found a place in a coat pocket.

The wheat penny or wheat cent has a special place with U.S. currency. It’s a coveted treasure. The distinctive penny gets its name from the two wheat stalks or sheaves on the reverse side of the coin, with ONE CENT and UNITED STATES OF AMERICA between the wheat. And of course, E PLURISBUS UNUM – Latin for out of many, one – is along the top. The front of the penny features the likeness of President Abraham Lincoln.

Wheat pennies were produced from 1909 through 1958. 1909 marked the 100th anniversary of Lincoln’s birth, and the roll-out of the wheatie was the first time a president was featured on a circulating U.S. coin. Commemorating the 150th anniversary of Abe’s birth, the design was changed to include the Lincoln Memorial. Fifty years of wheat sheaves was a good run.

Pennies are tied to many phrases:
-penny saved is a penny earned (money not spent now may be spent later)
-bad penny (unpleasant or unwanted person or thing)
-penny wise and pound foolish (don’t focus on the little things and lose sight of the big picture)
-in for a penny, in for a pound (all-in on something)
-penny for your thoughts (to ask what a person is thinking)
-worth every penny (completely worthwhile)
-penny pincher (a frugal person)
-cost a pretty penny (very expensive)
-shiny as a new penny (extremely bright and clean)
-pennies from heaven (unexpected good fortune, a windfall)

Whether it’s a penny, nickel or dime, experts say the use of spare change is in decline. Fewer Americans find a useful purpose for change. Credit cards and other hip electronic payment methods are seemingly more attractive than cash options. Using cash results in an unwanted quarter, dime and three pennies in spare change.

Does nearly $20 million in sales tax distributions from the Wisconsin Department of Revenue to St. Croix, Polk, and Pierce counties put the lowly penny in better standing? All three counties collect an extra half-cent on top of the state’s five cents assessed to taxable goods and services. On a $100 taxable purchase, merchants collect an extra $5.50. Our friends in Madison keep five dollars and return fifty cents to the county where the purchase occurred. In 2022, St. Croix earned $11.9 million (rounded) from Revenue; Pierce got $3.23 million and Polk received $4.83 million. All three counties use the distributions in different ways, but most importantly, they lower property tax bills. Rather than borrow money, special projects are paid for with cash. The interest charged on borrowing is avoided.

The lowly penny has great value. Tourists and travelers in the St. Croix Valley are encouraged to spend away. Ten percent of the sales tax revenue will find its way back. Old Abe would be proud of how a coin bearing his likeness provides ongoing benefits, one cent or a half-cent at a time.

And they say true romance is on a hiatus or perhaps faces the same headwinds as the economy. Both romance and the economy are fragile. Buckle up. Even with dark skies and turbulence, they shall prevail.

The all-knowing National Retail Federation (NRF), a trade association promoting the importance of retail, recently predicted consumers will spend almost $26 billion (with a “b”) on Valentine’s Day this year. In 2022, romantics-consumers shelled out almost $24 billion. The $2 billion increase is akin to local innkeepers and steakhouses holding the winning lottery ticket. For them, true loves may celebrate on, say, Friday through Sunday rather than on Tuesday, February 14th, a work day for many. Their cash registers will likely ring a little louder for a few days in what otherwise could be a quiet, mid-winter weekend.

Maybe the same innkeepers and steakhouses upgraded their lottery ticket with the Power Play option at the point of purchase? This means cash prizes double on matched numbers other than the grand prize. If they can’t win the entire lottery, there’s a double-down option to win something extra. Innkeepers and steakhouses are savvy players. They’ll be ready.

Those savvy players looked at February’s calendar a long time ago. They choose the Power Play option. Super Bowl LVII, a/k/a the Big Game, will be contested on Sunday, February 12th. So it’s a Big Game – Romantics celebration over the course of a couple days. Cash registers will really ring.

The NRF also forecasts spending on the Big Game. An estimated $16.5 billion will be shelled out this year and includes purchases on things like hosting a party, attending one, watching at a bar, stocking up at liquor stores, team apparel, and even new TVs.

Why is $42.5 billion in spending for two events important? Consumer spending, even when consumers are disguised as romantics and sports fans, accounts for about 70% of the U.S. economy. Every 90 days, consumer spending in the U.S. totals as much as $14 trillion (with a “t”). That’s a lot of appetizers, football shaped desserts, office pools, greeting cards, flowers, dinners, get-aways, and even treats for special four-legged friends.

Romantics and sports fans may wish to know if they’re above the spending norm or below it. The NRF says as much as $190 per person may be spent on celebrating Valentine’s Day this year. Likewise, a little over $85 per adult will be spent on the Big Game. Cupid doesn’t dish out IOUs and neither do unsympathetic employers who expect high productivity versus sick days immediately following the Super Bowl.

In Wisconsin’s St. Croix Valley, innkeepers and steakhouses offer plenty of options for either day or both. Dine-in or take-out. Add a selection from a local winery, distillery or brewery. Local, family-owned butcher shops are not marriage counselors, but they can offer tips on premium cuts and how to prepare them. Regardless of the locale, Cupid will be there. So will Packer and Viking fans, even when they are part of the same family. If an innkeeper can win the lottery based on sales volume, then true romantics and sports fans can do the same in their enjoyment of special occasions. Above the norm or below, here’s to mid-February’s special spending days in the St. Croix Valley.

Wiki says George Strait is one of the most influential and popular recording artists of all time. His authentic cowboy image and back-to-roots sound earned him the title, King of Country Music.

One of Strait’s best known songs is Amarillo by Morning. It’s a tale of a rodeo cowboy and his life on the road. The song goes, “Amarillo by mornin’, up from San Antone. Everything that I got is just what I’ve got on. I ain’t got a dime, but what I’ve got is mine; I ain’t rich, but Lord, I’m free. Amarillo by Morning, Amarillo’s where I’ll be.”

There is no evidence, however, that Strait ever spent any time inside the state capitol in Madison. Maybe his entourage passed through Madison’s belt line in the middle of the night, but the tour bus was not sighted inside Capitol Square, framed by the capitol and a series of one-way streets.

Meanwhile, about four hours northwest of downtown Madison is the St. Croix Valley. Residents and businesses in St. Croix, Polk, and Pierce counties enjoy an exceptional quality of life and pro-business advantages. Two of the three counties, St. Croix and Pierce, are included in the federal definition of the 15-county Twin Cities Metro Area. Polk County may be added to the metro area in the near future. The 3.75 million residents of the Twin Cities include a few rodeo cowboys, trailers, bucking stock, and wannabe urban cowboys.

A metro area encompassing two states is not without confusion. Does Minnesota claim St. Croix and Pierce? St. Croix and Pierce claim nothing west of the pristine St. Croix River. Wisconsinites have long said, “Nice place to visit, but (fill-in-the-blank with a metro punchline).” The late Kitty Rhoades of Hudson proudly called her legislative district Winnesota. Former State Rep. Dean Knudson, also from Hudson, reminded capitol colleagues he represented the most populated area of the state, in reference to the Twin Cities metro area. Take that Milwaukee. You too, Madison.

Growing regions like the St. Croix Valley invariably have long lists of wants and needs. Many require assistance beyond the hometown legislators. The wish-list includes funding for transportation projects, broadband, health and human services, and even modernizing how state aid is distributed to units of local government in the form of shared revenue.

About this time each year, civic-led advocacy groups begin their respective treks to Madison. Examples include Superior Days and the Chippewa Valley Rally. In the fall, La Crosse promotes Oktoberfest in the Capitol. All pound their drums and this includes folks with the St. Croix Valley Legislative Day effort, whether individually or as a group. The St. Croix Valley has great senators and representatives. Several have earned leadership roles in key committees, but they cannot do it alone. They need civic groups to spread the word and pound the drum.

One long-time participant of the St. Croix Valley’s advocacy effort insists he’s working on a tune even the King of Country Music would admire. It has the working title, Madison in My Rear View Mirror. If Strait’s rodeo character can make it to Amarillo, then Winnesota’s brave souls can safely return to the St. Croix Valley’s twinkling lights after six hours in the capitol. Wish them luck.

Good news for Strait fans. He’ll be playing at American Family Field in Milwaukee this June after a two decade absence. No word if his playlist includes Madison in My Rear View Mirror.

With the refrains of Auld Lang Syne still fresh, political cartoons will continue a tradition of depicting a sash-wearing Baby New Year morphing into a haggard Father Time over the course of 365 days, 52 weeks, or 12 months. The days are long but the years are short.

The days are long but the years are short. What does that mean? A New Yorker by way of Kansas City, Missouri named Gretchen Rubin (no relation) is credited with this inspiring quote. Wiki says Rubin studies and writes on topics like habits, happiness, and human nature. Interesting, but the quote? It first appeared in Rubin’s 2009 book, The Happiness Project, subtitled, Or, Why I Spent a Year Trying to Sing in the Morning, Clean My Closets, Fight Right, Read Aristotle, and Generally Have More Fun. “Happiness” spent two years on the New York Times bestseller list and millions of copies have been sold.

The days are long but the years are short. When writing the book, Rubin created a short story she turned into a one-minute video called The Years Are Short. It’s easily found and viewed on the web. Rubin’s revelation began when she rode a city bus with her young daughter on their way to school. Sometimes Rubin tugged her daughter to the bus stop. Most times it was an impatient ride. Meanwhile, her daughter found wonderment in the treasures of The Big City. One morning with great excitement the daughter pointed out an ordinary dog on a leash and Rubin discovered “It”. The bus ride was parenthood and those experiences helped comprise the childhood of her daughter. It was life itself. Rubin determined that in the not-too-distant-future, they’d no longer ride the bus. She made a point to think, “Thank goodness, another chance to ride the bus.” Fast forward and the two began walking to school. Years later, both recalled the rides. “I loved that bus,” said the daughter. “So did I,” Rubin said. With that, “The days are long, but the years are short” was born.

In a blink, infants become teenagers and then young adults. Coulda-woulda-shoulda resolutions are forgotten and fall by the wayside. Life happens, all within the reality of long days and short years.

Through her writing, Rubin is quoted extensively. They have the same relevance on January 1st as they do on December 31st. Many stand out:
-“What you do every day matters more than what you do once in a while.”
-“Work harder to appreciate your ordinary day.”
-“I can DO ANYTHING I want, but I can’t DO EVERYTHING I want.”
-“Never start a sentence with the words, ‘No offense.’”
-“One of the best ways to make yourself happy is to make other people happy. One of the best ways to make other people happy is to be happy yourself.”
-“The things that go wrong often make the best memories.”

Even in Wisconsin’s St. Croix Valley, there are still 12 months, 52 weeks, and 365 days in a year. The days are long but the years are short. Make the most of them. Happy 2023.

Before the wishbone from the Thanksgiving Bird was pulled in two, the National Retail Federation (NRF) released its forecast of record breaking holiday spending in America this season, to the tune of $942.6 – $960.4 billion. NRF said this year’s sales increase could be between six and eight percent over 2021’s $889.3 billion, soon to be just another record breaking number. What’s a couple of percentage points between hardy shoppers when billions are at stake? For starters, billions are at stake, and sometimes the thin margin is the subtle difference between retailers realizing a good year or great one.

NRF noted consumers (“us”) were feeling the pressure of inflation and higher prices in this shopping season. Alas, the NRF concluded consumers (“us”) remained resilient and continued to engage in commerce (“spending”). Thanks for the pep talk, NRF.

Crowded main streets, bistros, and stores? Slow broadband service? You-we-us (“consumers”) were likely shopping after Thanksgiving, mano-a-mano style. NRF predicted as many as 180 million Americans shopped during a five-day span between Thanksgiving and Cyber Monday. Keep in mind the U.S. population is around 332 million.

If post-Thanksgiving shopping days were reindeers, the Jolly Old Man would shout out, “On Blackie (Black Friday), now Tiny (Small Business Saturday), and onward Cybie (Cyber Monday)!” Those three reindeers are like the center and two guards of an offensive line in football. They pave the way for consumers and shoppers (“us”) to make big plays in electronics, sporting goods, or toy aisles. News outlets reported a record $9.12 billion was spent online during Black Friday (online!). Foot traffic at brick and mortar Big Box stores was reportedly down, leading one 70-something male shopper to proclaim, “If the product ain’t online, I ain’t buying it.” Analytics from Small Business Saturday in the U.S. estimated local spending at $17.9 billion. Cyber Monday racked up a reported $11.3 billion in sales. The beat, with a “b” for billions, goes on.

Intelligence from the NRF says shoppers (“us”) plan to spend around $833 on gifts and holiday items, which is in line with the average over the last ten years. A competing forecast from PricewaterhouseCoopers put the average spending at $1,430 for gifts, travel, and entertainment. PwC’s estimate is up 20 percent from the dark days of 2020 and more than 10 percent over 2019 spending.

Cash, credit, debit, or ‘other’? In 2015, PwC first inquired about consumer payment methods. Surprise! Cash was the most popular method, and 80 percent of polled consumers ranked it among their top three choices. So-called contactless payment options are the most popular in today’s shopping circles. The top three preferred methods are debit cards at 60 percent, credit cards at 53 percent, and cash, holding its own, also at 53 percent. The 70-something hipster may be on the leading edge of other methods, including Apple Pay/Android Pay at 19 percent, other mobile payments at 16 percent, and “buy now, pay later platforms” (hint: the old hipster says pay later platforms are options using downloaded app’s).

Enjoy the hectic days ahead. Whether it’s a new hoodie, a coffee card, holiday travel, jewelry, or electronics, here’s to a memory-filled holiday season in Wisconsin’s St. Croix Valley. We’ll do it again in 11 months.

It’s a poorly kept secret that Mr. Grinch resides in Wisconsin’s St. Croix Valley. He is relieved Halloween is in the books. From mid-September through November 1st an inflatable Scary Grinch competed with Holiday Grinch for both shelf space and attention in Big Box stores. At ground-level, the cart-pushing real Grinch was mesmerized by his likenesses, causing shoppers to gather. Alas, Grinch left the Big Box in a huff. Can a Happy New Year Grinch be far behind?

Grinch shares many traits with neighbors and fellow consumers. He is not cheap or tight fisted. He watches for discounts and cuts occasional coupons. And, he embraced his Inner Nerd long ago. A three dollar item at one store purchased for two dollars elsewhere is not just a one dollar savings, it’s a thirty-three percent savings! The extra dollar is tucked into a secret coffee and taproom account, reportedly Grinch’s only known vices. Unspent change is designated for holiday shopping in November and December. Climbing out of a two-year pandemic, main street grills and shops in Whoville could use a boost and hometown booster Grinch will be the first in line.

Before official holiday shopping, Grinch will join his family for Thanksgiving. The headlines are foreboding: higher farm labor costs, soaring feed prices, another round of avian flu, supply chain woes, logistics and fuel spikes, and of course, inflation. Just like Halloween candy increasing 13 percent, the price of turkey is a reported $1.99 per pound. In 2021, the price was $1.15. Inner Nerds, that’s not just eighty-four cents, it’s a 73 percent increase! For a ten pound bird, Grinch will pay $8.40 more, meaning a likely withdrawal from the secret account, causing a chain reaction. A teetering domino tips toward fewer holiday shopping dollars, which tips another domino toward fewer transactions locally.

Grinch was reminded of other meal options. Frozen turkeys cost less than fresh ones. Alternative proteins like chicken or pork are less expensive but are not immune to rising costs. According to September’s Consumer Price Index, the price of chicken is up over 17 percent from 2021 and pork is up almost seven percent.

Other essentials for Thanksgiving dinners in Whoville are higher too, including the price of eggs (up 32.5 percent), butter (up 25.8 percent), flour (up 17.1 percent), fruits/vegetables (up only 7.3 percent), and pie, presumably pumpkin, is up over 20 percent. No word on the green bean casserole price index.

Do not despair St. Croix Valley residents. During his time here, Grinch knows valley residents are resilient. And giving. They find a way. They share their bounty, including an extra plate for the ‘seasoned’ citizens up the street or those unable to travel. Grinch pledges less coffee and taproom stops in the next couple of weeks. He’ll use the savings for the family feast, and in true Grinch fashion, he’ll put slices of pie on the neighbor’s top step and knock lightly. They’ll never know.

The adage of too many cooks in the kitchen still applies. Neither Martha Stewart nor the Grinch endorse anything overcooked. Here’s to a memorable Thanksgiving 2022.