Two TV crews

come to

New Ulm

BY SARA SYVERSON

Journal Staff Writer

NEW ULM -- A cable television crew and a news crew, both from the Metro area, spent most of Tuesday in New Ulm filming interesting places to visit and focusing on the city's history.

The cable television crew included senior citizens who are putting together their 78th tape for a series called "The Time of Our Lives." It is creating a video called "Treasures of New Ulm."

The other crew was a two-man operation from KARE 11 News from Minneapolis. It filmed New Ulm in preparation of a segment on the station's "Gopher Getaways."

The KARE 11 crew got enough footage for a 3 1/2- to four-minute clip. It will air probably Friday at 10 p.m. in the Extra's slot.

Both crews filmed various locations in town, including Schell's Brewery and Turner Hall.

Following the motto, "The Time of Our Lives," the crew's productions are done by and for older adults. They travel, film, edit, produce and promote one new film every two months. "Treasures of New Ulm" film will take approximately three months to complete.

The group has also done tours/films in Red Wing, Owatonna, Jordan, St. Cloud, Minneapolis and St. Paul. A film crew of about 20 people including three cameramen, producer, two hosts, tour guide and guests came to film the New Ulm footage.

"We try to reach out to the homebound seniors and take them to places they may not get to see," said Mary Jo Meagher, the show's producer. "We've enjoyed the hospitality and graciousness of the people of New Ulm."

Special tour guide for the tour of New Ulm was Gareth Hiebert, native of New Ulm and St. Paul Pioneer Press newspaper columnist "Oliver Towne."

"I've had a lot of fun with this group," said Hiebert, "They're a great group of people."

The two regular hosts of "The Time of Our Lives" are Jeanne Rogers and Mel Kirkpatrick. Rogers was the first person to be crowned Ms. Minnesota Senior in 1998. Two other visiting royalty of the Ms. Minnesota Senior pageant also traveled to New Ulm.

They filmed locations such as Way of the Cross, Turner Hall, the Glockenspiel, Brown County Historical Society, the Kaiserhoff, Schell's Brewery, and Wanda Gag's house. The crew will return to New Ulm to film the Cathedral of the Holy Trinity church.

"The Time of Our Lives" productions are funded by the Bloomington Public Schools Community Education Department, Lorenz Bus, and Stressfree Living.

Meagher said she will try to contact the local cable company in New Ulm to try to air Treasures of New Ulm on local cable. For a tape at a cost of $19.95 contact (612) 885-8521 or write: The Time of Our Lives, Community Education Department, Bloomington Public Schools, 8900 Portland Ave., Bloomington, or e-mail them at jolson@bloomington.k12.mn.us