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To the start of another school year.

Students at Albert Lea Area Schools, St. Theodore Catholic School, Hollandale Christian School, Northwood-Kensett School and Lake Mills Community School returned to the classroom this week after the summer break for another year of growth and learning.

Teachers and administrators have spent the last couple weeks — and likely even months — preparing for students to come back.

While the first week is always an adjustment, we know that in a short while everyone will be back in the school routine.

Good luck to everyone on a new school year, and we wish you much success.

To no bloom this year at the Sunflower Fields of Manchester.

We were sad to hear the organizer of the Sunflower Fields of Manchester recently announce that there will be no sunflowers this year because of weather and soil conditions.

The fields, which started in 2020, have been a place of solace for many —people not only from Albert Lea and Freeborn County, but also people from neighboring counties, the Twin Cities and even other states.

It became tradition for many to visit the fields each year for family photos and for some time away from the hubbub of daily life.

In addition to being a beautiful place to go, the fields have also showed support to different groups each year, reminding many that they are not alone in their struggles.

To the Dawsons and others who put countless hours into making the fields a success, we are sorry this year’s fields did not work out, and we look forward to 2025.

We’re sure we’re not the only ones who will be excited to see the fields of yellow return at that time.

To the young entrepreneurs who participated in the Young Entrepreneurs Fair at Events at the Broadway on Sunday.

Hats off to the youth who took part in the Young Entrepreneurs event last weekend downtown in Albert Lea.

The event gave youth the opportunity to start a business, develop a brand, create a product or service, build a marketing strategy and then come and sell their products and services at the fair.
Many of you had great ideas, and we hope this event only sparked your interest in the business world.

While starting and running your own business isn’t always easy, we encourage you to keep at it.

There are many people who have been successful in starting and running their own businesses in the community, who we’re sure would be willing to help you along the journey.

We hope we will continue to see you develop new ideas or carry forward ones you already have.

Albert Lea has always had a strong entrepreneurial spirit.