“Easier than Basic Training!”

Cannon Falls Fitness Trail

Improving the health of individuals of many fitness levels by adding upper-body stretching and exercise equipment to complement the aerobic effect of walking or jogging on the six miles of the Cannon Falls city trail is on its way to succeeding with the donations by several area partners.

Featured this week is the Cannon Falls Nelson-Scofield VFW Post 4452 sponsoring the Stretch equipment.

Dave Bremer of the VFW chuckled, “It’s easier than basic training!”

  Dave added: When I saw an article in the Beacon explaining what was proposed I thought it would be a good idea for the VFW to sponsor a piece of equipment for the Fitness Trail.

Representing the Cannon Falls VFW are: 

(l-r)  Sam Landon, Dave Bremer, Dewey Hermanson and Mike Landon.

“The VFW has an obligation to assist veterans, their widows and children and this is a good way for us to make a donation that not only fulfills that obligation, but it also benefits the entire community.

“The VFW donates quite a bit of money to the local area, and most of it is not visible. Here is something that everyone can see, use and appreciate.”

 The goal is to provide several pieces of equipment along the trail which will be the first one so identified in Minnesota.

By adding exercise equipment along the trail you are providing a way to exercise in an outdoor environment at the level chosen by the individual with no cost to them.

Sponsors will be noted on site with a special plaque from the city of Cannon Falls.  The city public works department with director Tom Bergeson will facilitate the development of the sites and their care.  

The first sponsor featured was Dr. Karl Molenaar, associated with the Olmsted Medical Center - Cannon Falls Branch Clinic.

Interested sponsors may contact Public Works Director Bergeson at 507.263.4626.

See updates on the Cannon Falls Fitness Trail on Facebook.

 

 

First sponsor for exercise equipment along city jogging trail

Cannon Falls Trail is first in Minnesota 

with upper body exercise equipment!

Improving the health of individuals of many fitness levels by adding upper-body stretching and exercise equipment to complement the aerobic effect of walking or jogging on the six miles of the Cannon Falls city trail is on its way to succeeding with the donations by several area partners.

Featured this week is Dr. Karl Molenaar, associated with the  Olmsted Medical Center, Cannon Falls Branch Clinic, who chose to sponsor the “Ab Crunch/leg lift”.

Dr. Karl explained that he has been “a part of the community most my life graduating in 1972.”  
He added, “I have always been active both personally and in discussion with my patients about the importance of regular aerobic activities/exercise.”  
Dr. Karl’s participation in sponsoring a piece of exercise equipment “is a way of giving back to the community.  The bike trail is a significant addition to the community, not just for the local community members but also as a way of attracting tourists and as such enhancing the trail with these exercise stations adds to the experience.”

The goal is to provide several pieces of equipment along the trail which will be the first one so identified in Minnesota.

This provides a way to exercise in an outdoor environment at the level chosen by the individual with no cost to them.

Sponsors will be noted on site with a special plaque from the city of Cannon Falls.  The city public works department with director Tom Bergeson will facilitate the development of the sites and their care.  
Interested sponsors may contact Public Works Director Bergeson at 507.263.4626.

Next to be featured will be the donation from the Cannon Falls VFW.

Is there more than what you "see"?

A six petaled Dwarf Trout Lily, rather than the usual 4-5 petals, the endangered species that only grows in this area and no where else in the world. 

Is there more than what we see?

  The chattering rippling sound of a small river as it flows over its rocky bottom...   the feel of the soft petals of a flower in your hand... the pungent odor of an herbal leaf... even the taste of wild leeks.

There are five senses used by a human being for physical knowledge.  Did you notice that one was left out?  That of sight.

Marlys Stevens is blind.  She has been since she was 24 years old due to diabetes.  Now she is in her 70’s.

For the past several years she has come to see the endangered species of wildflower, the dwarf trout lily.  She just likes being in the woodland, she says.

How do you "see"?

        She has never “seen” this flower in the normal sense.  But she has fine-tuned some of her other senses to help her enjoy what the rest of us view.

Recently another reporter and I decided to focus on Marlys and her “view” of nature.

Marlys explained that since she had previously had several years of sight, her memory helps her visualize what she can’t see.  

Memory…

Marlys recalled that “as a kid we took field trips to look at the flowers... Bloodroot, Dutchmen’s Britches, Jack in the Pulpit... and poison oak!”  Did I tell you she has a sense of humor?

Marlys continued... I remember all the flowers.  And today my memory is much better.  Actually I’m using more of my memory now because I can’t see.  I just enjoy being out here.

What do you "see"?  Rochester Post Bulletin reporter, John Weiss, interviews (l-r) Kay Molstrom and Marlys Stevens to learn what a blind person can "see" in the woodlands.

 
A friend helps too…

Walking through the woodlands and visualizing the flowers was facilitated by her friend, Kay Molstom, who narrated what she was seeing along the trail.

Kay picked a flower and asked Marlys to smell it.

Then Marlys felt it.

With her guide dog leading her she felt safe, even at one point where we were close to a precipice over the river.  Although after the walk her dog enjoyed a little nap at her feet.

Sensory impaired persons can include a variety of limitations.  Blindness is just one.

How about you?

But once in a while I will sit by the river and close my eyes to see if I pick up anything I was missing.  To focus my concentration.  

Basically I just hear the ringing in my ears as it becomes louder!  But it’s not bad and soon I start picking up other sounds.

The two tones of the frogs are particularly noisy right now.  Or are they crickets?  Actually, I don’t have to identify what I’m hearing... just notice it.

  I wonder what the responding calls of birds mean to each other.

I smell the odor of the citronella oil I put on my shoes as an attempt to keep woodticks off me.  (It’s worth a try!)

Wonderment…

Then I begin to wonder philosophically... are we humans missing any other senses?  Maybe because over the generations we didn’t use them... or we forgot them.  We hear stories of the ancients or tribes who just "knew" things.  Can we tap into that too?  Maybe we just need to pay more attention to other "senses".

  

Marlys Stevens' faithful guide dog takes a moment to relax at her feet after their jaunt along the wooded trail.