About Freeborn County, MN

AARP/Blue Zones Vitality Project

Albert Lea, Minnesota will be the center of an innovative, research-backed 10-month pilot project designed to improve the health and projected life expectancy of people of all ages who live and work in the city. The goal is to add at least 10,000 years of projected life expectancy to the people of Albert Lea (that's at least two years of projected life expectancy per participant) through environmental and individual changes.

Instead of focusing on a diet and exercise program, the project encourages the best practices of the world's longest-lived populations with strategies such as making it easier to get around on foot or by bicycle; encouraging the development of social networks; and providing healthier fast-food options, among others.

Between now and October, the project will work with Albert Lea community leaders to create the kind of community wherein healthy habits naturally ensue. These efforts will engage Albert Lea's residents in making personal changes that will improve their health and increase their longevity in ways that require little or no ongoing effort. The project will combine AARP's expertise related to healthy behaviors and Blue Zones' expertise in longevity to empower Albert Lea to make simple but impactful changes to behaviors and environments. The AARP/Blue Zones Vitality Project is sponsored by the United Health Foundation.

Visit the Vitality Project page at AARP.

Albert Lea is located in southeast Minnesota about 90 miles south of the Twin Cities on I-35. Our Coldwell Banker Holtan real estate agents can help you find the right home. Contact them today at info@holtan.com or 507-373-8963.

Strange question, eh? The other day I was in front of a group of people with my fly down. Pretty embarrassing. I thought no one noticed since no one brought it to my attention. Later that morning I casually brought it up in conversation to someone in the group that had seen me. I said, "My fly was down but it's a good thing no one noticed."... She told me that she noticed but was to embarrassed to tell me. I think it was much more embarrassing for me. Would a real friend not be so afraid? Have you ever done something like that? Maybe have a piece if broccoli in your teeth or something dangling from your nose and not find out until looking in the mirror some time later.

Sometimes I think I'll wear my fly down or eat broccoli just to see who my real friends are....

My neighbors play jokes on each other. One day one neighbor (Jeff) went into the house of another (Tom) and loosened all the light bulbs. Tom retaliated by planting corn in the flower beds. Water hoses have knots in them and sometimes lawn furniture is "rearranged".

I took inspiration from them and one day smeared a happy face on the windshield of my friend Sam's car. I did it with a frosted cupcake. It looked really cute. I didn't tell him it was me that did it, but he found out. Now all my salad forks are missing. He says he didn't take them. I don't think he'd be that creative, so I'm wondering if he had help from somebody else.?

Anyway, I need a new practical joke that I can play on him. I was thinking of wrapping his car in plastic wrap or aluminum foil. I need some suggestions and I will update as the battle escalates.