We’ve all heard about bed-and-breakfast places, but how about bed-and-dinners? The trendiest restaurants, according to Reuters, are those that offer beds as well as traditional chairs and tables. Two of the restaurants, B.E.D. and Duvet, are already open in New York City, where residents are able to do as the Romans did and indulge in a meal out while reclining. "You sort of lose the social borders and barriers with people if you’re lying together in bed, " noted one of the restaurant owners. Diners on the beds start out "very stiff," but "half an hour later they’re leaning back and within an hour people are lying all over the bed and on each other’s bellies." As a result of this news, conscientious mothers, who have spent most of their adult years warning their daughters about the volatile combination of boys, beds and dating, will lie awake, unable to sleep, in their own beds. The new bed theme restaurants will change the way we look at going out for dinner. For starters, half of us will be able to look at a bed loaded down with food and exclaim, "What a great spread!" The other half will see beyond the food and gasp, "What a great bedspread!" Dinner conversations will be less about comfort foods and more about comforter foods. "Doesn’t the steak go well with this blue chenille?" "Roast goose and a goose down comforter — what a perfect combination!" When the crime families on TV shows such as "The Sopranos" talk about "hitting the mattresses" on a particular evening, they will be sending out mixed messages. We won’t know if they’re preparing for a showdown between warring families, if they’re tired and going to bed early, or if they’re going out for dinner. Much to the chagrin of certain parents, their daughters’ dinner dates will show up at front doors wearing pajamas and carrying their favorite pillows. Theme-related foods on the bed-restaurant menus might include pigs-in-the-blankets, spring salads, Vietnamese noodle pillows, and any meat entree served over a bed of rice or angel-hair pasta. Appropriate back-ground music in the restaurants will be offered to diners. Expect to hear the Everly Brothers’ rendition of "Wake Up, Little Susie," "Good Night Sweetheart," "Bed of Roses" with Bon Jovi and, last but not least, Madonna’s "Bedtime Story." As with any new idea, the bed-and-dinner restaurants will have their drawbacks. A dinner at B.E.D. or Duvet would be a living nightmare for anyone reluctant to eat in front of strangers. More than that little piece of spinach stuck between two front teeth thing or the fear of dropping a single, sauce-covered strand of spaghetti on its way to one’s mouth, bed dining incidents might prove to be much more serious. Humans were not designed to eat while propped up on their elbows on a shaky innerspring mattress. Worse case scenarios might include drowning in a misplaced bowl of soup of suffocating in a large tossed salad. It will also be difficult to appear poised and confident on a first date when a complete stranger lying next to you decides to rest his head on your belly.

Yes, we are protectedI am really concerned for the person that wrote the letter to the editor posted Nov. 24 in the Star Herald. I am concerned for him and people like him that feel that God does not love them and care for them. Sure, there are non-Christian nations that have existed for much longer than the United States, but God loves and cares for all people, non-Christians as well as Christians. It hurts God deeply to hear people talk against him and reject him, but God loves them anyway. God does this much the same as a parent disciplining their child. The child may say to their parent, "I hate you!" but their parent loves them anyway. The great loss of lives on Sept. 11 was and is a great tragedy, that is no doubt. I feel great sorrow for all those who lost family and friends on this day. The United States has faced many tragedies, plagues, diseases, droughts, hurricanes and other types of storms, the Depression and many different wars, one of which was fought on our own soil amongst our own people. We faced tragedy even before we were the United Sates of America. Those courageous people that set out to a new land over miles of rough oceans with faith in our God to get them through. Yes, they had little food, sometimes no water to drink, illness and death. But they went on and when they reached America they rejoiced and thanked God. Many people died on Sept. 11, but there were also many people and souls that were saved that day. There was a fourth plane headed for another target of destruction. Those brave souls on that plane prayed to God to give them courage and the strength to change the terrorist plan. Those people died that day to save others, but I believe that they live today in Heaven. Those people stood together as Americans and put their trust in God. In God We Trust!Through this tragedy and others like it many, many lives have turned to God. It is in God’s plan, even though we may not understand it. Our life on earth, family and friends, is very precious to us. Although our life on earth is only as a blink of an eye compared to our eternal life. Heaven or hell? You can either accept God or reject Him. It’s every Christian’s job to make sure that all know of Jesus’ saving grace. But it’s still your choice. Which will it be? So that’s why I’m concerned about the writer of the letter in the Nov. 24 Star Herald. If he, or someone like him, is feeling down or needs encouragement give me a call. Darrel Van AartsenLuverne

As a resident of Luverne who has had the pleasure of having Fledgling Field in my backyard for the past 23 years, it was painful to watch its century-old trees destroyed. How ironic that these trees survived the "storm of the century" only to be cut down by our own city workers.Contrary to the article in the Nov. 24 Star Herald, the majority of these trees were not unhealthy (had the photographer walked around the field she could have photographed the healthy stumps) and were no more unsightly than hundreds of other leafless trees in the winter. Almost more baffling is why the city felt it necessary to cut down the row of smaller trees on the east border of Fledgling Field. It would seem these trees were bothering no one and surely were more attractive than the backs of our houses. At any rate, the trees are gone forever and cannot be restored. Let’s hope that the city makes decisions of a more positive nature in the future. Lona KlosterbuerLuverne

PROBATE COURTDISTRICT COURT—COUNTY COURTPROBATE DIVISIONORDER AND NOTICE OF HEARING FOR FORMAL PROBATE OF WILL AND APPOINTMENT OF PERSONAL REPRESENTATIVE IN SUPERVISED ADMINISTRATION AND NOTICE TO CREDITORSSTATE OF MINNESOTACOUNTY OF ROCKIn Re: Estate ofHarriet E. Faber, DeceasedTO ALL INTERESTED PERSONS AND CREDITORS:It is Ordered and Notice is hereby given that on the 20th day of December, 2004, at 9:00 O’clock A.M., a hearing will be held in the above named Court at Rock County Courthouse, Luverne, Minnesota, for the formal probate of an instrument purporting to be the will of the above named deceased, dated April 25, 1996, and for the appointment of Audrey DeSmet, whose address is 305 Church, Hills, Minnesota 56138, as personal representative of the estate of the above named decedent in supervised administration, and that any objections thereto must be filed with the Court. That, if proper, and no objections are filed, said personal representatives will be appointed to administer the estate, to collect all assets, pay all legal debts, claims, taxes and expenses, and sell real and personal property, and do all necessary acts for the estate. Upon completion of the administration, the representative shall file a final account for the allowance and shall distribute the estate to the persons thereto entitled as ordered by the Court, and close the estate. Notice is further given that ALL CREDITORS having claims against said estate are required to present the same to said personal representatives or to the Court Administrator within four months after the date of this notice or said claims will be barred. Dated: November 24, 2004 /s/ Timothy K. ConnellTimothy K. ConnellDistrict Court Judge/s/ Douglas E. Eisma /s/ Sandra L. VrtacnikDouglas E. Eisma Court AdministratorAttorney for PetitionerEisma and Eisma130 East Main, Box 625Luverne, MN 56156(507)283-4828I.D. #158343(12-2, 12-9)

The City of HillsThe Hills city council will hold a public hearing on its budget and on the amount of property taxes it is proposing to collect to pay for the costs of services the city will provide in 2005.Attend the Public HearingAll Hills city residents are invited to attend the public hearing of the city council to express their opinions on the budget and on the proposed amount of 2005 property taxes. The hearing will be held on:Tuesday, December 14th, at 6:00 P.M.Hills City Office301 South MainHills(12-2)

10 years ago (1994)"The Hills Economic Development Authority gave the approving nod to construct a four-plex apartment in the City of Hills. The four-plex will be located south of the Hills City Park. Tom Serie of F&L Management, Luverne, was hired as the developer for the project."25 years ago (1979)"Six months working on a swine farm in Gotne, Sweden, is giving Hills youth, Terry Van Wyhe an increased understanding of this nation’s ‘grass roots.’ Terry, son of Mr. and Mrs. Chris Van Wyhe, Hills, is one of 45 Future Farmers of America members to take part in the Work Experience Abroad program.Terry is learning about the culture as well as the agriculture by living with a Swedish family. He is actively involved in the farm operation."50 years ago (1954)"124 Hills voters chose to re-elect Burdell Bush as their councilman Tuesday by giving him a plurality of 96 votes to 26 for Herman Van Englenhoven and one write-in vote for S.O. Bly. There was only one spoiled ballot in the contest. Bush, the incumbent and Van Englenhoven had both filed for the job. Thus, there will be no change in the council for the ensuing year."75 years ago (1929)"W.W. Bell and son Dean, of Valley Springs, were in Hills last Monday afternoon to get health certificates for their North Star Sheep that will be shipped to Dickinson, N.D. They make a specialty of shipping this breed of sheep to all parts of the northwest. This is a great industry for Rock County, and Bell & Son are making a success at it." 100 years ago (1904)"Mr. and Mrs. H. R. Ohs were over from Beaver Creek Sunday. The people of Beaver Creek are figuring on building a new four-room school house to take the place of the present structure, which is out of keeping with the times and inadequate for the present needs of town. With this proposition in mind Mr. Ohs made a thorough inspection of our school building and he was well pleased with its construction, and complimented the people of Hills in having so fine a structure."

Lea Christine, infant daughter of Chris and Joy Birens, was baptized Sunday at Bethlehem Lutheran Church. Her sponsors were Colleen and Phillip McCollan, Iona. The Birens hosted a dinner in their home for relatives and friends as well.Brenda and Tim Plimpton, Jayme and Stuart, gathered on Thanksgiving Day with members of the McCormick families in Lennox, S.D.Cyndi and Gregg Ebert had their first Thanksgiving dinner in their new home on Lake Abert in South Dakota. Also present were Matt Ebert, a student at the University of Minnesota in Minneapolis, and Scott and Kristin Ebert, Hannah and Molly of Harrisburg, S.D.Cheryl Elbers and family, Valley Springs, S.D., and Tom and Twila Walker, Luverne, were Thanksgiving dinner guests in the home of Betty and Wilmer Elbers. Darwin and Kim Elbers, Sioux Falls, were evening guests.Spending Thanksgiving with Dennis Roning were Denise and Bill Swanson and Lucy, Big Fork, Paul and Gina Swanson and Sadie, and Dennis Swanson, all of Plymouth, and Matt Swanson and boys, Duluth. Deb, Luke, Dylan and Alisia, Heron Lake, Lindy and Ted Pulman, Riley and Jessica, Lakefield, were Thanksgiving Day guests in the Bob Kirsch home. Mark, Karen, Ian and Tom Sandager and Fran Sandager were Thanksgiving guests at the Homer Prunty home in Brookings, S.D.Enjoying dinner Thanksgiving Day in the Wendell Erickson home were Margaret Erickson, the Charles Erickson family, Kirsten Anderson and family, Anna Gilman and family and Hans Erickson and family. Ericka and Nicole Anderson have returned to the West Coast for their studies. The Gerald Haak families had their Thanksgiving gathering at the home of Brian and Darla Kraayenhof. Friday night the families were entertained by Henrietta Vander Kooi in Worthington. Brad and Jil Vaughn and children spent from Thursday until Sunday in the home of his parents, Don and Lou Vaughn at Colome, S.D., along with his brother and family from Mitchell, S.D.Guests in the home of Jack and Pat Paulsen were Lloyd and Ruth Anderson, Belview.Jan Solberg visited her mother, Hattie Walz in Wheaton Saturday and Ron visited his mother at Fosston. Pastor Lowell and Sonja Berg and Amy were present at the home of Sonja’s sister, Kristie and Brian Hoelker, in Sioux Falls for Thanksgiving along with other family members. Guests in the home of Dana and Kay Dahlquist for Thanksgiving were Kay’s mother, Luella Lewellen and Dick, Wessington Springs, S.D., Kim Dahlquist and Tim Hansen, Tea, S.D., and Adam Dahlquist and son Avery, Luverne.Rick and Michele Nester and family, Winona, Mark and Brenda Hadler and family, Edgerton, and Tom Goehle came to the home of Joanne Goehle on Wednesday evening. On Thursday Steve and Leanne Carmany and family, Tyler, and Dorothea Hamann and Vivian Holst, Luverne, also joined Joanne Goehle for Thanksgiving Day. The Nesters, Carmanys and Hadlers spent until Friday afternoon, when they all returned to their respective homes. Harriet Skattum spent from Friday until Saturday in the home of her daughter, Margo and Dewayne Edwards at Forestburg, S.D.John and Tamme Berdahl came from Scottsdale, Ariz., to spend Thanksgiving in the home of his parents, Al and Joan Berdahl. All attended a gathering at Al’s sister, Mary and Bruce Boyd in Sioux Falls. Lee Jackson came Wednesday from the University of Minnesota to spend until Sunday morning in the home of his parents, Roger and Ruth Jackson. Carole Lonkey came Thursday morning from Brooklyn Center to spend until Sunday morning with her mother, Martha Lindrud. There was a Thanksgiving gathering at the Gene and Carol Scheerhorn home. Present were Jeff and Lori Enger and family, Jasper, Steve and Patti Vugteveen and Kristine, Valley Springs, Austin Cragoe, Brookings, S.D., and the Doug and Sheri Scheerhorn family. Luella Schlueter spent Thanksgiving with her family, the Gerry Schlueter family, Lake Park, Brian and Bonnie Olson and Laurie and John Hynes and family in the Cities. Erma Schubbe spent over Thanksgiving with the Tom Schubbe family and the Carolyn and Paul Randall family in the Cities area.Friday evening the Dick Boeve family who live in the area had a gathering at Steen Reformed Church Fellowship Hall. Karen DeBoer, Mathias and Micah, Garner, Iowa, spent Thanksgiving weekend in the Chuck DeBoer home. Dick and Audrey Heidenson took a bus tour sponsored by South Dakota Public Television to Branson, Mo. They were gone four days. Mary Carter spent from Thursday until Saturday in the home of Marilyn and Alf Metzger at Alcester, Iowa. The Berents had a family gathering Thanksgiving in Orange City, Iowa. Attending were Marie Walraven and Del, Bob and Shirley Walraven and Sarah and Mark Dodge and baby Bryce, Hartley, Iowa. Ray and Lois Nelson and daughter, Vicki, Mankato, spent Wednesday through Friday with Lois’ brother Bob and Bonnie Oleson in Waconia for Thanksgiving. Vicki returned to Hills to spend the weekend, leaving by bus on Monday for Mankato. Camella Astrup Bourquin left Chicago O’Hare Airport on Wednesday for her home in Howick, Natal, South Africa.

When we awoke early Saturday morning we were greeted with a snow white landscape which I thought was snow. But no! I was wrong! It was a heavy white frost covering rooftops, lawns and fields. It made me wonder if Old Man Winter was getting anxious to get on the job. If he is, then it will be snow for sure. I guess we had better appreciate what we have and what we do not have (as yet). We have had some cold windy days but nothing else to complain about. So — we had better enjoy and appreciate what we have as long as we possibly can!The Steen Opportunity Extension Club met at the Marlene De Yager home Tuesday afternoon. The lesson was on aging and its various steps. Lunch was served by Jane Bosch. Pastor Dan and Karen Ramaker will host "Christmas at the Parsonage" open house from 3 to 8 p.m. Friday, Dec. 10, for the Steen Reformed Church congregation. Millie Klarenbeek underwent surgery on Monday at Luverne Community Hospital. We wish her a speedy recovery.Jo and Joyce Aykens were Thanksgiving Day dinner guests at the Paul and Carole Aykens home in Orange City, Iowa.There were several names omitted last week from those who had attended the Senior Center dinner in honor of Pastor Dan and Karen Ramaker in Luverne. They are Rich and Greta Bosch, Anna Schouwenburg, Malena Boeve, Henrietta Huenink, Bernice Bartels, Bernice Barstad and Leonard and Henrietta Bajema.The Elizabeth Elbers family enjoyed their Thanksgiving dinner together with Elizabeth Elbers at Tuff Home in Hills where she makes her home. Those who came were her children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren. I am sure it was a Happy Thanksgiving for everyone!Thanksgiving Day dinner guests in the Joan Hoogeveen home were the Hoogeveen and Niessink families. The Orrin Aukes family gathered at the Mary and Clair Crawford home Thanksgiving Day to enjoy Thanksgiving dinner together. Those attending were Carolyn Crawford, Orrin and Bernice Aukes and Jeff and friend Sheila Sarutski, Orlie and Linda Aukes, Brian, Dan and friend, Amy Fopma, Jan Hoogland, Lisa Telford and daughter, Taylor, all from Sioux Falls, Terry and Christy Aukes, Larchwood, Iowa, Isaac Crawford, St. Louis, Mo., Steve and Nancy Willers, Shilo, Gina and Dusty, Fairmont, and Tom and Tess Linn, Houston, Minn.On Friday, Joyce and Jo Aykens met other members of their family in Sioux Falls at the Royal Fork where they enjoyed dinner together. Those coming were Paul and Carole Aykens, Andrea, Susan and Jayden Veldkamp, and Vince, Laurie and Mckenzie Kurtz, all from Orange City. Mary Crawford and Orin and Bernice Aukes attended the Christmas concert at First Methodist Church in Worthington Sunday evening.Thanksgiving Day dinner guests in the Joan Hoogeveen home were Janice and Jerry Peters, Chandler, and Rick and Audrey De Boer and daughters, Tea, S.D.Personally I think we have been serious long enough in this column so this week I will use some quotations from a column titled "It Has Been Said."Fame is a vapor; popularity an accident, riches takes wings. Those who cheer today will curse tomorrow, only one thing endures — character. (Howard Greely)The pleasant things in life are pleasant thoughts, and the goal in life is to have as many of them as possible. Do you love life? Then do not squander time, for that is the stuff life is made of. (Benjamin Franklin)The world is full of willing people; some willing to work, the rest willing to let them. It is not only what we do but also why we do it but also what we do not do, for which we are accountable. In nature there are neither rewards nor punishments, there are consequences. There are three ways to get something done, do it yourself, have someone do it for you, or for your kids to do it. I think that is enough "Words of Wisdom" for one week. I hope you enjoy them.

We’ve all heard about bed-and-breakfast places, but how about bed-and-dinners? The trendiest restaurants, according to Reuters, are those that offer beds as well as traditional chairs and tables. Two of the restaurants, B.E.D. and Duvet, are already open in New York City, where residents are able to do as the Romans did and indulge in a meal out while reclining. "You sort of lose the social borders and barriers with people if you’re lying together in bed, " noted one of the restaurant owners. Diners on the beds start out "very stiff," but "half an hour later they’re leaning back and within an hour people are lying all over the bed and on each other’s bellies." As a result of this news, conscientious mothers, who have spent most of their adult years warning their daughters about the volatile combination of boys, beds and dating, will lie awake, unable to sleep, in their own beds. The new bed theme restaurants will change the way we look at going out for dinner. For starters, half of us will be able to look at a bed loaded down with food and exclaim, "What a great spread!" The other half will see beyond the food and gasp, "What a great bedspread!" Dinner conversations will be less about comfort foods and more about comforter foods. "Doesn’t the steak go well with this blue chenille?" "Roast goose and a goose down comforter — what a perfect combination!" When the crime families on TV shows such as "The Sopranos" talk about "hitting the mattresses" on a particular evening, they will be sending out mixed messages. We won’t know if they’re preparing for a showdown between warring families, if they’re tired and going to bed early, or if they’re going out for dinner. Much to the chagrin of certain parents, their daughters’ dinner dates will show up at front doors wearing pajamas and carrying their favorite pillows. Theme-related foods on the bed-restaurant menus might include pigs-in-the-blankets, spring salads, Vietnamese noodle pillows, and any meat entree served over a bed of rice or angel-hair pasta. Appropriate back-ground music in the restaurants will be offered to diners. Expect to hear the Everly Brothers’ rendition of "Wake Up, Little Susie," "Good Night Sweetheart," "Bed of Roses" with Bon Jovi and, last but not least, Madonna’s "Bedtime Story." As with any new idea, the bed-and-dinner restaurants will have their drawbacks. A dinner at B.E.D. or Duvet would be a living nightmare for anyone reluctant to eat in front of strangers. More than that little piece of spinach stuck between two front teeth thing or the fear of dropping a single, sauce-covered strand of spaghetti on its way to one’s mouth, bed dining incidents might prove to be much more serious. Humans were not designed to eat while propped up on their elbows on a shaky innerspring mattress. Worse case scenarios might include drowning in a misplaced bowl of soup of suffocating in a large tossed salad. It will also be difficult to appear poised and confident on a first date when a complete stranger lying next to you decides to rest his head on your belly.