Submitted by: Sara
Wednesday, August 29, 2007
Monday, August 27, 2007
Sunday, August 26, 2007
Wednesday, August 22, 2007
Extreme makeover: Minnetonka Edition
By Kevin Duchschere, Star Tribune
Hushed neighbors watched as the bus crept slowly up their quiet Minnetonka street and halted in front of the taupe two-story house on Park Lane. Suddenly, Ty Pennington sprang out of the bus with a bullhorn and bellowed, "Goooood morning, Swenson-Lee family!"
Nothing. No Swensons, no Lees.
The family was inside, making so much noise that they couldn't hear the news they were hoping for -- that they would get a brand-new house.
They were trying to pass the time, Vicki Seliger Swenson said, to keep from wondering if they would get a visit from ABC's popular TV show "Extreme Makeover: Home Edition." They knew they were finalists, and they knew they would find out Tuesday if they were winners.
Pennington, the show's hyperactive lead designer, tried again. This time the family poured out of the house: Vicki; her husband, Erik; their three children and the four children of her Vicki's late sister, Teri Lee.
The Swenson house, while fine for a family of four or maybe five, became a tight fit when the family unexpectedly expanded to nine following Lee's death. A widow and 3M technician, Lee, 38, was murdered nearly a year ago by her abusive ex-boyfriend in her family's Washington County home.
Erik and Vicki Swenson, both teachers at Hopkins High School, didn't think twice about taking in Teri's kids. The house, however, was another matter. With only three bedrooms, beds and dressers took over many of the living areas.
"It's one big slumber party every night," Vicki said. Added Erik: "Dinner is like eating at an elementary school lunch table, if you know what I mean."
Their students made a videotape nominating the family for a new house and sent it to the show's producers. The result is that quiet Park Lane will be a TV set for the next week, and neighbors say they couldn't be more pleased.
"We are very, very tickled," said Glenn Johnston, who lives down the street. "The kids are in such a sad situation. For what they've been through, they have such a positive attitude. They're just really good, outgoing kids."
For neighbors, who had been warned by the show of the potential invasion, it also means a chance to do some stargazing.
"I can't believe I saw Ty come out of the bus. That was, like, amazing," said 16-year-old Angela Ugorets, who with her friend Julie Christensen, also 16, began watching for the show bus at 6 a.m.
The new house, to be built by TJB Homes of Blaine and an army of volunteer carpenters and subcontractors, will be 5,600 square feet with seven bedrooms and five baths. That will give the family members more than twice as much space as they had before.
It's the show's 100th episode -- the 99th is already under way in Cheyenne, Wyo. -- and the first in Minnesota, said senior producer Diane Korman. Nearly all the materials and labor for the project are donated, she said.
Demolition of the current house will begin Thursday, followed quickly by the laying of a new foundation. Once the house is built, it will be furnished according to the needs and special tastes of each family member.
Overseeing the work will be the show's design team, led by Pennington and including show regulars Paige Hemmis, Paul DiMeo, Michael Moloney and Tracy Hutson.
Tom Budzynski, owner of TJB Homes, admitted to being a bit dazzled by the fast-paced construction schedule and compared it to being an astronaut on the launch pad. "We can build a home -- that's almost the easy part," he said. "But you're also trying to create something."
It may be a TV show, Korman said, but "this is not a movie set. This a real home, a quality home that generations will live in. We're here to take care of this family and honor them."
While the work is being done, the family will spend several days at Disneyland, courtesy of the show. By late Tuesday afternoon, they were waiting for the stretch limo to take them to the airport -- Vicki, Erik, 10-year-old Samantha, and Teri's kids: Taylor, 13; Tyler, 10; Trevor, 9, and Tara, 7.
There are also the 22-month-old twins, Stella and Olivia, and one more child on the way: Eva, who's due in early November, just in time for the show's tentative air date on Nov. 25.
Everyone will be back next Tuesday for the "reveal," as the show calls the moment when the family first sees their new home.
They know what to expect because they're longtime fans of the show. But, Vicki Swenson said, "never in a million years did we think we would be the family in need."
Kevin Duchschere • 612-673-4455
Kevin Duchschere • kduchschere@startribune.com
Hushed neighbors watched as the bus crept slowly up their quiet Minnetonka street and halted in front of the taupe two-story house on Park Lane. Suddenly, Ty Pennington sprang out of the bus with a bullhorn and bellowed, "Goooood morning, Swenson-Lee family!"
Nothing. No Swensons, no Lees.
The family was inside, making so much noise that they couldn't hear the news they were hoping for -- that they would get a brand-new house.
They were trying to pass the time, Vicki Seliger Swenson said, to keep from wondering if they would get a visit from ABC's popular TV show "Extreme Makeover: Home Edition." They knew they were finalists, and they knew they would find out Tuesday if they were winners.
Pennington, the show's hyperactive lead designer, tried again. This time the family poured out of the house: Vicki; her husband, Erik; their three children and the four children of her Vicki's late sister, Teri Lee.
The Swenson house, while fine for a family of four or maybe five, became a tight fit when the family unexpectedly expanded to nine following Lee's death. A widow and 3M technician, Lee, 38, was murdered nearly a year ago by her abusive ex-boyfriend in her family's Washington County home.
Erik and Vicki Swenson, both teachers at Hopkins High School, didn't think twice about taking in Teri's kids. The house, however, was another matter. With only three bedrooms, beds and dressers took over many of the living areas.
"It's one big slumber party every night," Vicki said. Added Erik: "Dinner is like eating at an elementary school lunch table, if you know what I mean."
Their students made a videotape nominating the family for a new house and sent it to the show's producers. The result is that quiet Park Lane will be a TV set for the next week, and neighbors say they couldn't be more pleased.
"We are very, very tickled," said Glenn Johnston, who lives down the street. "The kids are in such a sad situation. For what they've been through, they have such a positive attitude. They're just really good, outgoing kids."
For neighbors, who had been warned by the show of the potential invasion, it also means a chance to do some stargazing.
"I can't believe I saw Ty come out of the bus. That was, like, amazing," said 16-year-old Angela Ugorets, who with her friend Julie Christensen, also 16, began watching for the show bus at 6 a.m.
The new house, to be built by TJB Homes of Blaine and an army of volunteer carpenters and subcontractors, will be 5,600 square feet with seven bedrooms and five baths. That will give the family members more than twice as much space as they had before.
It's the show's 100th episode -- the 99th is already under way in Cheyenne, Wyo. -- and the first in Minnesota, said senior producer Diane Korman. Nearly all the materials and labor for the project are donated, she said.
Demolition of the current house will begin Thursday, followed quickly by the laying of a new foundation. Once the house is built, it will be furnished according to the needs and special tastes of each family member.
Overseeing the work will be the show's design team, led by Pennington and including show regulars Paige Hemmis, Paul DiMeo, Michael Moloney and Tracy Hutson.
Tom Budzynski, owner of TJB Homes, admitted to being a bit dazzled by the fast-paced construction schedule and compared it to being an astronaut on the launch pad. "We can build a home -- that's almost the easy part," he said. "But you're also trying to create something."
It may be a TV show, Korman said, but "this is not a movie set. This a real home, a quality home that generations will live in. We're here to take care of this family and honor them."
While the work is being done, the family will spend several days at Disneyland, courtesy of the show. By late Tuesday afternoon, they were waiting for the stretch limo to take them to the airport -- Vicki, Erik, 10-year-old Samantha, and Teri's kids: Taylor, 13; Tyler, 10; Trevor, 9, and Tara, 7.
There are also the 22-month-old twins, Stella and Olivia, and one more child on the way: Eva, who's due in early November, just in time for the show's tentative air date on Nov. 25.
Everyone will be back next Tuesday for the "reveal," as the show calls the moment when the family first sees their new home.
They know what to expect because they're longtime fans of the show. But, Vicki Swenson said, "never in a million years did we think we would be the family in need."
Kevin Duchschere • 612-673-4455
Kevin Duchschere • kduchschere@startribune.com
Friday, August 10, 2007
12 things you need to watch the Perseid meteors Sunday night
Sunday night August 12 is the peak of the annual and much beloved Perseid meteor shower. Meteor showers occur when the Earth gets to a point in its orbit crossed by the orbit of debris from a comet. Comets are basically big ol’ chunks of rock and gravel held together by ice. When the comet gets near the Sun, the ice melts, and debris gets loose. Over time it spreads out along the orbit of the comet. If that orbit crosses ours, then we plow into the debris, which burns up in our atmosphere. Voila! Meteors!
Since this happens when the Earth goes past the intersection of the two orbits, it happens around the same time every year. The Perseids peak when the Earth passes through the debris left over from the comet Swift-Tuttle. The chunks are relatively dense in the debris field, so we get a lot of meteors, typically 60 or so per hour, maybe more. Only a couple of showers do better (the Geminids in December are good, for example) and since the Perseids peak in mid-August, they are a favorite for northern hemisphere folks.
Even better, there is a new moon this year, so the bright moonlight won’t wash out faint meteors. You’ll see more if you go out and look!
Important: because of the orbital geometry, the shower won’t really pick up until after local midnight (literally, the halfway point between dusk and dawn). Going out right after sunset will just be disappointing. The later you stay up after midnight the better. Incidentally, the Perseids have a broad peak: you could go out as early as Friday night or late as Monday or Tuesday night and still see some.
A lot of people don’t know how easy it is to watch a meteor shower, and think it takes a lot of prep. Nope! Here’s a simple list of what you need.
1) A wide open sky with a view to the East
This is the biggest consideration. Meteors appear in random spots on the sky and can go from horizon to horizon. The more sky you can see, the more meteors you’ll see. Try to avoid nearby buildings, tress, and so on.
If you trace the path of the meteors backward, they will appear to radiate from one point in the sky, located in the constellation Perseus (as played by Harry Hamlin). This is the same effect as when you’re driving a car through a tunnel and the lights on the walls and ceiling appear to come from the point ahead of you. A good view of Perseus will again up the odds of seeing more meteors.
Perseus is in the east pretty much all night, so a clear eastward view is good. Being able to look in that direction will increase your odds of seeing more meteors. This isn’t critical, though; just a big wide view is your best bet.
2) Dark skies
Meteors are generally not terribly bright. A few can be blazing, but most are about as bright as your average star, so you want to be away from lights. Your back yard might be fine, but make sure street lights are blocked and your house lights are off.
3) Time
Once you’re outside, it takes about 20 minutes for your eyes to get fully adapted to the dark — your pupils dilate, letting in more light, and your eye produces a light-sensitive protein called rhodopsin. Both of these take time to fully kick in. So don’t be disappointed if you see very few or no meteors right away. White light will bleach the rhodopsin, by the way, so if you need some light, use a flashlight with red cellophane covering the front. That will preserve your night vision.
4) A lounge chair
You need to be able to see a lot of the sky for minutes or hours, so you want to be comfortable. A chaise lounge or a folding beach recliner is a big plus. You can lie on the ground with a blanket if you want, but comfort is important if you’re going to be out for a while. The ground tends to be cold at night, and wet, too. Which reminds me…
5) Blankets!
Yes, it’s August, and in the northern hemisphere it can be hot, but temperatures drop at night. You won’t be moving much, either, so you won’t be generating much heat. 65 degrees Fahrenheit is cold if you’re not moving. Also…
6) A hat
You lose most of your body heat through your head, so a hat helps a lot. Plus, if you have a nearby street light, you can position your hat to block it. I’ve done that and it works! Added bonus: no mosquito bites on your head.
7) Telescope, binoculars
I recommend not using a telescope. Why not? Telescopes see only a small part of the sky, and meteors appear in random spots. I guarantee the best meteor of the night will happen while you are stooped over an eyepiece, and you’ll miss it. However, Jupiter is well positioned for viewing, so this is as good a chance as any to do some observing, and I hate to tell people to not take advantage of a nice night! But be prepared to hear everyone else gasp and then mock you for missing the best meteor evah.
Binoculars are better. You can scan the sky, look for interesting things, and still be able to look around quickly if a bright meteor appears.
8) Star chart
Hey, you’re outside! Why not get familiar with the sky? You can find charts at local bookstores, and online if you do a little searching. Sagittarius, Scorpius, Hercules… this is a fine time of year to be out looking for cosmic landmarks.
9) Rest
Oh boy, is this one important. It’s after midnight, you’re lying down, snuggled in a blanket, it’s dark, and your eyes are focused on infinity. You start daydreaming a bit… and the next thing you know, the Sun is rising and you’re covered in mosquito bites.
Take a nap Sunday afternoon.
10) Friends, family, neighbors
Having other folks with you will help you stay awake, and honestly, the joy and beauty of a meteor shower is best shared. One of my favorite times ever with The Little Astronomer was watching the Leonids shower years ago. She had a blast, and not just because she got to stay up until 3:00 a.m. with her dad… but then again, that’s a big part of it, too.
11) An appreciation of what you are seeing.
Read up on meteor showers, what they are, what we’ve learned from them. Comets orbit the Sun for billions of years, and you’re seeing tiny parts of them — most no bigger than a grain of sand — as they slam into our atmosphere a hundred miles away at speeds of up to 40 miles per second. How cool is that?
12) Wonder
This may be the best thing to bring, and the easiest. Meteor showers are simply wonderful. It’s a cosmic show, and it’s free, and it’s very, very cool.
Enjoy.
Since this happens when the Earth goes past the intersection of the two orbits, it happens around the same time every year. The Perseids peak when the Earth passes through the debris left over from the comet Swift-Tuttle. The chunks are relatively dense in the debris field, so we get a lot of meteors, typically 60 or so per hour, maybe more. Only a couple of showers do better (the Geminids in December are good, for example) and since the Perseids peak in mid-August, they are a favorite for northern hemisphere folks.
Even better, there is a new moon this year, so the bright moonlight won’t wash out faint meteors. You’ll see more if you go out and look!
Important: because of the orbital geometry, the shower won’t really pick up until after local midnight (literally, the halfway point between dusk and dawn). Going out right after sunset will just be disappointing. The later you stay up after midnight the better. Incidentally, the Perseids have a broad peak: you could go out as early as Friday night or late as Monday or Tuesday night and still see some.
A lot of people don’t know how easy it is to watch a meteor shower, and think it takes a lot of prep. Nope! Here’s a simple list of what you need.
1) A wide open sky with a view to the East
This is the biggest consideration. Meteors appear in random spots on the sky and can go from horizon to horizon. The more sky you can see, the more meteors you’ll see. Try to avoid nearby buildings, tress, and so on.
If you trace the path of the meteors backward, they will appear to radiate from one point in the sky, located in the constellation Perseus (as played by Harry Hamlin). This is the same effect as when you’re driving a car through a tunnel and the lights on the walls and ceiling appear to come from the point ahead of you. A good view of Perseus will again up the odds of seeing more meteors.
Perseus is in the east pretty much all night, so a clear eastward view is good. Being able to look in that direction will increase your odds of seeing more meteors. This isn’t critical, though; just a big wide view is your best bet.
2) Dark skies
Meteors are generally not terribly bright. A few can be blazing, but most are about as bright as your average star, so you want to be away from lights. Your back yard might be fine, but make sure street lights are blocked and your house lights are off.
3) Time
Once you’re outside, it takes about 20 minutes for your eyes to get fully adapted to the dark — your pupils dilate, letting in more light, and your eye produces a light-sensitive protein called rhodopsin. Both of these take time to fully kick in. So don’t be disappointed if you see very few or no meteors right away. White light will bleach the rhodopsin, by the way, so if you need some light, use a flashlight with red cellophane covering the front. That will preserve your night vision.
4) A lounge chair
You need to be able to see a lot of the sky for minutes or hours, so you want to be comfortable. A chaise lounge or a folding beach recliner is a big plus. You can lie on the ground with a blanket if you want, but comfort is important if you’re going to be out for a while. The ground tends to be cold at night, and wet, too. Which reminds me…
5) Blankets!
Yes, it’s August, and in the northern hemisphere it can be hot, but temperatures drop at night. You won’t be moving much, either, so you won’t be generating much heat. 65 degrees Fahrenheit is cold if you’re not moving. Also…
6) A hat
You lose most of your body heat through your head, so a hat helps a lot. Plus, if you have a nearby street light, you can position your hat to block it. I’ve done that and it works! Added bonus: no mosquito bites on your head.
7) Telescope, binoculars
I recommend not using a telescope. Why not? Telescopes see only a small part of the sky, and meteors appear in random spots. I guarantee the best meteor of the night will happen while you are stooped over an eyepiece, and you’ll miss it. However, Jupiter is well positioned for viewing, so this is as good a chance as any to do some observing, and I hate to tell people to not take advantage of a nice night! But be prepared to hear everyone else gasp and then mock you for missing the best meteor evah.
Binoculars are better. You can scan the sky, look for interesting things, and still be able to look around quickly if a bright meteor appears.
8) Star chart
Hey, you’re outside! Why not get familiar with the sky? You can find charts at local bookstores, and online if you do a little searching. Sagittarius, Scorpius, Hercules… this is a fine time of year to be out looking for cosmic landmarks.
9) Rest
Oh boy, is this one important. It’s after midnight, you’re lying down, snuggled in a blanket, it’s dark, and your eyes are focused on infinity. You start daydreaming a bit… and the next thing you know, the Sun is rising and you’re covered in mosquito bites.
Take a nap Sunday afternoon.
10) Friends, family, neighbors
Having other folks with you will help you stay awake, and honestly, the joy and beauty of a meteor shower is best shared. One of my favorite times ever with The Little Astronomer was watching the Leonids shower years ago. She had a blast, and not just because she got to stay up until 3:00 a.m. with her dad… but then again, that’s a big part of it, too.
11) An appreciation of what you are seeing.
Read up on meteor showers, what they are, what we’ve learned from them. Comets orbit the Sun for billions of years, and you’re seeing tiny parts of them — most no bigger than a grain of sand — as they slam into our atmosphere a hundred miles away at speeds of up to 40 miles per second. How cool is that?
12) Wonder
This may be the best thing to bring, and the easiest. Meteor showers are simply wonderful. It’s a cosmic show, and it’s free, and it’s very, very cool.
Enjoy.
Thursday, August 09, 2007
Wednesday, August 08, 2007
Century-old remains found in Detroit Lakes
Associated Press
Last update: August 08, 2007 – 10:47 AM
DETROIT LAKES, Minn. — Construction workers unearthed an unmarked grave with human remains while working on an expansion project for the Becker County Development Achievement Center in Detroit Lakes.
Construction was halted and police were called.
Detroit Lakes police chief Kal Keena said the remains are about 100 years old. Keena said the remains could be those of an early settler, trapper or someone traveling through the area on their way west.
The remains were gathered and reburied after being photographed and cataloged.
Detroit Lakes is about 45 miles east of Moorhead.
Last update: August 08, 2007 – 10:47 AM
DETROIT LAKES, Minn. — Construction workers unearthed an unmarked grave with human remains while working on an expansion project for the Becker County Development Achievement Center in Detroit Lakes.
Construction was halted and police were called.
Detroit Lakes police chief Kal Keena said the remains are about 100 years old. Keena said the remains could be those of an early settler, trapper or someone traveling through the area on their way west.
The remains were gathered and reburied after being photographed and cataloged.
Detroit Lakes is about 45 miles east of Moorhead.
Sunday, August 05, 2007
Bridge Collapse
Here are some pictures I took of the bridge collapse on Thursday August 2, 2007. There are two views of the river. A beautiful day in one direction, unspeakable sadness in the other.
Submitted by: Sara
Submitted by: Sara
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)