by Ken Haggerty

The Cannon River Winery and the Grow Cannon Falls group hosted an open house at the Winery’s upstairs meeting space on November 30 to welcome and celebrate some of the businesses looking to expand in Cannon Falls in the coming year. Over 100 people stopped by and visited with the businesses at informational tables set up around the room. Each business gave a short presentation as well. Ron Stowell, founder of Rainier Capital based out of the Twin Cities, has purchased a majority ownership stake in the Winery from founders John and Maureen Maloney, who remain minority owners. Stowell talked about work already underway at the Vineyards in the Sogn Valley that will will allow growth from 9,000 vines to 20,000 vines. Stowell also discussed plans for a major expansion of the Winery in downtown Cannon Falls on the property to the west of the existing

space. He would like to incorporate an outdoor seating area as part of that expansion. He also mentioned remodeling the bar area in the current space and creating space for some simple food offerings. David Olson, who owns Avalon Express trucking on the south end of Cannon Falls, spoke about his purchase of the former Grandpa’s Garage site. Olson said he would like to create a nice retail space for selling local meats, cheeses, and dairy products. He said the plan calls for an area to make pizza, paninis, and such. Olson would also like to sell beer and wine and have an outdoor seating area. His goal is to be up and going by the Summer of 2017. Deanne Lufkin, one of the three founders (all from the area) of CannonBelles Cheese, also spoke. She said CannonBelles Cheese is considering using space in Olson’s planned redevelopment for producing cheese. Lufkin said they are continuing to ramp up production working at facilities at the University

of Minnesota for now. They plan on adding some gouda and cheddar options to the curds and queso they are already selling at spots like Ferndale Market, the Winery, Althoff Hardware, Woody’s in Randolph, Coborn’s in Hastings and Ziggy’s in Northfield. They hope to be producing in Cannon Falls in 2017. Nathan Sieve of Blue Sky Hospitality out of Elk River spoke on the plans for the new GrandStay hotel on a site just north of the farthest west roundabout. Sieve’s firm will be developing and managing the hotel. He called it similar to ten other properties they have in the region. It will have 46 rooms, three-stories and will have space for a 50-60 person meeting room, a beer/wine/pizza lounge, and four extended stay suites. He thinks it could be up and going by July of 2017 and would employ about 15 people, including a local full-time general manager. Chris Larson, one of the three founders of Tilion Brewing Co., was also on hand with beer samples and talked about plans for their building across from the Winery. The group is looking to close its investment offering at the end of the year. They hope to have 20 beers on tap for a Memorial Day weekend opening, with six flagship beers and many seasonal rotating beers. Stowell and Larson both mentioned they think the two businesses will complement each other well. The Cannon Arts Board also had a table set up at the open house. The group has facilities in the space next to the VFW that it has been renovating and hopes to work together with its neighbors at the Winery and Brewery on future events.

20161876

OUR 141st YEAR

THURSDAYDecember 8, 2016

No. 19

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by Sandy Hadler

Goodhue County Land Use Manager Lisa Hanni announced at the November 1 County Board meeting that the Cannon Valley Trail has been selected to be on the National Geographic website. She explained that last spring she and her staff had met with National Geographic officials in Red Wing. “They were trying to get people to add to their website,” Hanni said, “They were doing a Destination Mississippi River project from Nanchez to the start of the Mississippi River.” Hanni said she and others thought the Cannon Valley Trail would be an excellent candidate to be featured on the National Geographic website. So the County’s GIS staff put together information about the Cannon Valley Trail, and it has now been added to the National Geographic Destination Mississippi website. The trail was dedicated in 1986 and is a multi-use trail. It is open year round for biking, hiking and cross country skiing. The trail connects Cannon Falls, Welch and Red Wing. Hanni explained that anyone can nominate themselves to be included in the website. For example, a week ago at the EDA meeting, a woman spoke about her quilt shop. Hanni said that woman could nominate herself to be on the National Geographic website. National Geographic has a group of people who look at the information, and make sure it fits their criteria, and if it qualifies, that information is put on their website. Hanni said, “The Cannon Valley Trail website has always been popular. This will make it even more popular. It is another good advertising tool, and an added bonus because the Cannon Valley Trail will now be co-granted with National Geographic.” Hanni said last Thursday, she went to the kick-off event for this end of the river, and received a certificate for the Cannon Valley Trail. Chairman Dan Rechtzigel read the certificate, which said, “The Mississippi River Geo-tourism Program recognizes the Cannon Valley Trail for its valuable contribution to the Mississippi Geotourism Program and for support in sustaining and enhancing the geographic character of the region, for the commitment to aesthetic culture and environment, heritage, and the well-being of the region’s residents.” It was signed by

James Dion of the National Geographic Geotourism Program. Cannon Valley Trail Manager Scott Roepke thanked Hanni for her hard work. He said, “She’s worked not only on this, but on other things for the trail. Without her help, it wouldn’t get done.” Roepke was complimented by Commissioner Ron Allen for probably running the best trail in the state, and also for being the County’s best grant writer. Commission Brad Anderson said, “You think of things happening in Red Wing, Cannon Falls, Zumbrota and even over to Northfield, and on the other side of the river down Highway 35. That area is huge as a driver of economic activity.” He asked how the website works. Hanni explained that National Geographic is looking for Mom and Pop businesses and cultural things to feature on their website. She said, “Basically the website helps people to plan trips along the Mississippi River.” Hanni said Goodhue County staff had asked Cannon Falls and Red Wing for information about things to do in their areas, places to stay, and even information about bike repair shops. Both cities gave the County a list of websites, and Hanni said they put them on the County website, which is now incorporated into the National Geographic website. She said, “That doesn’t preclude them from nominating themselves to get into the National Geographic website. Those interested in being on the website can send in information and pictures about what they want featured on the website, and the National Geographic will determine whether it fits their criteria.” Hanni said that National Geographic is looking for many more people to populate the website and to get out the word about their businesses and places of interest along the Mississippi. She added, “We should probably send this out to our EDA people to tell them that this is a good opportunity to get co-granted with National Geographic.” Rechtzigel concluded, “It is a great program. That trail has always been a labor of love.” He added, “Scott, you are the leader of that group. It is great to get this national recognition, and a little more of a spotlight for Goodhue County’s aesthetics.”

Cannon Valley Trail on National Geographic page

Plans for Winery, GrandStay, Brewery, Grandpa’s Garage, CannonBelles discussed

David Olson had drawings and plans on hand for viewing at a November 30 open house for new Cannon Falls businesses at the Cannon River Winery. Olson, President of Avalon Express, has purchased the Grandpa’s Garage building and would like to open

a retail space for local meats, cheeses, and dairy products. The remodel/renovation plan calls for an outdoor seating area where visitors could enjoy pizza, paninis, beer and wine. Local start-up cheese makers, CannonBelles Cheese, is a possible tenant at the site.

by Ken Haggerty

Economic Initiatives of Cannon Falls, Inc. has developed an entrepreneurial grant of up to $10,000 for the purpose of attracting new business development to the Cannon Falls area. The offer is for a limited time with plans and resumes to be submitted by March 15 of 2017 to growcannonfalls@gmail.com. The group hopes to spur people who have a business idea to take action. Economic Initiatives is a private non-profit group that has a pool of money that it uses to help businesses in Cannon Falls. It has helped finance projects with Brewster’s, Chuggers, Olmsted Medical, and Cannon Falls Canoe in recent years. Current board members are Jim Althoff (Berkshire Hathaway Home Services), Dan Massett (Merchants Bank), Greg Wulf (First Farmers & Merchants Bank), Pat Green (Raw Bistro), Jeff Reinhardt (Interstate Building/Rhino’s), Keith Meyers (Keith Meyers Financial), Mike Lorentz (Lorentz Meats), Randy Nicolai (Frontier Ag), Randy Rechtzigel (Rechtzigel Construction). Go to www.growcannonfalls.com for more information.

Economic Initiatives offers $10,000 grant

“It’s beginning to look a lot like…..”Well, not exactly, but thoughts of Christmas are on the minds of Beacon staff as we get ready for our annual Christmas greeting issue.

We’ve got some good story ideas, but to make this a really GREAT issue we’re going to need your help. “Christmas Traditions” is the theme we’re working with, and we’d love to hear what your family does every holiday season to make things special. Examples might be things like certain dinner items, wrapping paper, ornaments – the list is really endless.

If you’ve got a great tradition going – or if you’ve got another story idea – please contact Mike at the Beacon: 263-3991, or mike@can-nonfalls.com.

by Ken Haggerty

Juniors Tatum Pickar and James Watson have been named Cannon Falls High School’s Minnesota State High School League ExCEL 2016-17 Award winners. ExCEL - Excellence in Community, Education and Leadership - is a pro-gram designed to recognize Minneso-ta high school juniors who are active in school activities, who show leadership qualities, and who work voluntarily in their community. They must partici-pate in a MSHSL sanctioned activitiy. Pickar is a regular on the “A” Honor Roll and carries a 3.9 GPA while tak-ing a challenging course load includ-ing AP Physics and AP Composition. She was recognized by the CFHS Art Department during last Spring’s awards and achievement program for her stand out work. She especially en-joys work in ceramics and pastels. Pickar is a three-sport athlete who has been all-conference twice in vol-leyball and all-state this year. She has been honorable mention all-confer-ence twice in basketball. She was all-conference in softball last year. Pickar does volunteer activities with St. Ansgar’s Church, the National Honor Society, and the student coun-cil.

AP Composition teacher John Foga-rty said Tatum displays a great work ethic in class and CFHS Principal Tim Hodges says her coaches note the same quality in practice and games. Tatum is the daughter of Amy and Mark Pickar of Cannon Falls. Watson carries a 4.2 GPA while studying AP Physics, AP Literature, Humanities, Advanced Math, and Ad-vanced Spanish. He has done volunteer work with youth soccer, True North Church, Riverwood Church, the Fellowship of Christian Athletes, Feed My Starving Children, and the National Honor So-ciety. An accomplished trumpeter, Watson has been an Honors Band member for three years. He is involved in the high school symphony band as well as steel drum, jazz, pit and pep bands. James was in cross country and soc-cer this Fall, and will be in robotics and math league this winter. He is also involved in the one act play presenta-tion.He will be a captain of the CFHS Speech team in the Spring. Fogarty calls Watson one of the most enthusiastic and accomodating kids he has ever worked with. “He is willing to take on a project on short notice and always does great work.” James is the son of Nathaniel and Shannon Watson of Cannon Falls.

Pickar, Watson areCF ExCEL students

by Ken Haggerty

The Cannon River Winery and the Grow Cannon Falls group hosted an open house at the Winery’s upstairs meeting space on November 30 to welcome and celebrate some of the businesses looking to expand in Cannon Falls in the coming year. Over 100 people stopped by and visited with the businesses at informational tables set up around the room. Each business gave a short presentation as well. Ron Stowell, founder of Rainier Capital based out of the Twin Cities, has purchased a majority ownership stake in the Winery from founders John and Maureen Maloney, who remain minority owners. Stowell talked about work already underway at the Vineyards in the Sogn Valley that will will allow growth from 9,000 vines to 20,000 vines. Stowell also discussed plans for a major expansion of the Winery in downtown Cannon Falls on the property to the west of the existing space. He would like to incorporate an outdoor seating area as part of that expansion. He also mentioned remodeling the bar area in the current space and creating space for some simple food offerings.

David Olson, who owns Avalon Express trucking on the south end of Cannon Falls, spoke about his purchase of the former Grandpa’s Garage site. Olson said he would like to create a nice retail space for selling local meats, cheeses, and dairy products. He said the plan calls for an area to make pizza, paninis, and such. Olson would also like to sell beer and wine and have an outdoor seating area. His goal is to be up and going by the Summer of 2017. Deanne Lufkin, one of the three founders (all from the area) of CannonBelles Cheese, also spoke. She said CannonBelles Cheese is considering using space in Olson’s planned redevelopment for producing cheese. Lufkin said they are continuing to ramp up production working at facilities at the University of Minnesota for now. They plan on adding some gouda and cheddar options to the curds and queso they are already selling at spots like Ferndale Market, the Winery, Althoff Hardware, Woody’s in Randolph, Coborn’s in Hastings and Ziggy’s in Northfield. They hope to be producing in Cannon Falls in 2017. Nathan Sieve of Blue Sky Hospitality out of Elk River spoke on the plans for the new GrandStay hotel on a site just

north of the farthest west roundabout. Sieve’s firm will be developing and managing the hotel. He called it similar to ten other properties they have in the region. It will have 46 rooms, three-stories and will have space for a 50-60 person meeting room, a beer/wine/pizza lounge, and four extended stay suites. He thinks it could be up and going by July of 2017 and would employ about 15 people, including a local full-time general manager. Chris Larson, one of the three founders of Tilion Brewing Co., was also on hand with beer samples and talked about plans for their building across from the Winery. The group is looking to close its investment offering at the end of the year. They hope to have 20 beers on tap for a Memorial Day weekend opening, with six flagship beers and many seasonal rotating beers. Stowell and Larson both mentioned they think the two businesses will complement each other well. The Cannon Arts Board also had a table set up at the open house. The group has facilities in the space next to the VFW that it has been renovating and hopes to work together with its neighbors at the Winery and Brewery on future events.

Plans for Winery, GrandStay, Brewery, Grandpa’s Garage, CannonBelles discussed