On Wednesday, August 2nd, the WLP group will meet up in Old Frontenac and walk to the Episcopal Church on Westervelt Avenue Way. Kerby Rigelman, who designed and constructed an outdoor amphitheater on the church grounds met the group at the church and shared his mission in building this outdoor worship space.

This Wednesday August 2nd  if you want to drive there independently you can do so. Please arrive by 6:30 parking on Wells St. See previous Facebook post and follow Hwy 61 detour.

If you would like to carpool on August 2 meet at the Lake City Hospital parking lot at 6:15. We will carpool driving along Territorial Road to County 2 just outside of Frontenac. Please note Territorial Rd is a gravel road. The County 5 to County 2 detour is paved if you want to drive that.
 
Next week, Wednesday, August 9, the Walking Lake Pepin group will meet at 6:30 pm at the Schleicher Funeral Home parking lot on Hwy 61 and will walk along Camp Lakeview Rd to South Oak and to the site of the Camp Lakeview National Guard Training Camp.
 
Andru Peters, who has written a history of the Camp Lakeview training site will talk to the WLP group about the history of this encampment that was located in Lake City from 1818 to 1931. All community members are invited to attend whether or not you have signed up for WLP.
Continue to watch for Walking Lake Pepin updates in the LC Graphic, on Facebook and on the website; walkinglakepepin.com. Question contact Patty Svien 345-4383.
 

​“Walking Lake Pepin” (WLP) group walk participants are excited to be invited once again out to Manawa Prairie Farm on July 19th to walk the trails and learn about sustainable agriculture.
Deirdre Flesche and Dag Knudsen are caretakers of the Manawa Prairie Farm and are champions for sustainable farming that conserves both water and soil, protects pollinators and increases carbon storage in the soil.
During the group walk Dag will share his passion for saving soil, improving water quality and growing healthy nutrient-rich plants. The walkers are also hoping to see a variety of wildflowers blooming along the trail.
Dag and his wife Dierdre have established a scholarship endowment to support students studying sustainable agriculture and forestry. More information about this fund and to find out how to support this effort can be found at https://www.protectourresources.org/index.html .
Walking Lake Pepin participants and interested community members will meet at Roschen Park on Hwy 61 on Wednesday July 19 at 6:30 pm and carpool out to the farm. The trail will be an uneven surface so walking poles are suggested. All are welcome.
Watch Facebook “Walking Lake Pepin” for change in schedule due to weather or air quality. Contact Patty Svien, 345-4383, with questions.

July 12th the Walking Lake Pepin walkers met at Underwood Park for a walk through the site of the Jewel Nursery which operated in Lake City from 1868 until 1996. Dr. Phineas Jewel started the nursery planting and grafting fruit trees and eventually growing shade trees, evergreens and ornamentals for sale.
 
The Jewel Nursery grew from 10 acres in 1868 to 1500 acres in 1923 and with the Underwoods becoming leading horticulturists of the early 1900s.  The Lindemeier family took control of the nursery until 1997 when the final 800 acres were sold to the developers of the Mississippi Jewel.
 
The walk included a visit to the site of the former green house that had 50,000 square feet of glass covered plant beds.   They also discussed the root cellars that covered 1 acre of storage space in a space that was dug out of the bluff and stayed at a constant temperature year-round.  
 
During the group walk former employees; Jim Schreck, Joe and Sandy Kirkwood and David Danckwart shared stories of their time working at the Jewel during the 1950-60’s.
 
Many of Lakes City’s youngest citizens had their first jobs at the Jewel Nursery.  It was hard work as they often worked on their hands and knees pulling weeds.  But worth it when they were able to buy a bike at the end of the season with their earnings.
 
On Wednesday, July 26th, the WLP group will meet up in Old Frontenac parking on Wells Street off County Rd 2 at 6:30 pm.  The group will walk to the Episcopal Church to look their new outdoor amphitheater.
 
All WLP participants and community members are invited to attend.  Watch for updates on Facebook, “Walking Lake Pepin. Questions call Patty Svien 345-4383 

​After a successful Walking Lake Pepin (WLP) group walk at Wacouta on June 21 the WLP group walk was cancelled due to poor air quality and storm predictions on June 28.  The cancelled WLP group walk was planned along South Oak Street to the Camp Lakeview National Guard site. Andru Peters was scheduled to talk to the group about the history of Camp Lakeview and will be re-scheduled later in August.
In a June 9 news release from the Mayo Clinic it was recommended to pay attention to the air quality alerts in your area and heed the warning.
Wild fire smoke contains respiratory irritants of which the most dangerous are the ultrafine particles that can be inhaled deep into the lungs. 
To avoid exposure recommendations include; closing windows, staying inside, using the air condition to filter the air, staying hydrated and taking medication for lung function as prescribed.
A standard dusk mask is not adequate to filter the wild fire air.  The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommends using an N95 mask as used with COVID 19, as it may offer some protection.
There will no be WLP group walk on July 5.  The next group walk will be on Wednesday July 12 through a part of the historic Jewel Nursery site.  This a walk that is done each year with WLP as there is a rich history to share about this once thriving nursery in Lake City. Former employees of the Jewel Nursery will join the WLP group and share their stories.
WLP participants and all community members are invited to the group walk on July 12.  The group will meet at Underwood Park on 10th Street at 6:30 pm at the shelter near the parking lot,
It is hoped that air quality issues will not be a factor on July 12.  Updates and announcement of cancellation can be found on Facebook (Walking Lake Pepin).  Questions call Patty Svien 345-4383.