People have been commenting about city of Luverne leadership for a few weeks. Whether those comments are favorable or not (or whether they should be favorable or not) isn’t a part of my column this week.However, I do think that our leadership needs to hear ideas and comments from all of us now, because there’s a lot happening … or about to happen. There’s plenty of business on the city table that requires decisions: private garbage collection, private pool management, new city attorney, old buildings, plans for business growth, vacant properties, and the list goes on.All of these issues require solid leadership to achieve results that are good for all of us. Our city leaders should prefer to hear opinions now, rather than after things are decided, because, by then, what could have been useful comments turn into futile complaints. Of course, all of this is easy for me to say; I’m not a leader. I’m one who sits on the lower rung, spitting out facts and occasionally offering my view. That’s why it’s important for those who are in leadership to do it well and with good intentions … because the rest of us are trusting them with a big part of our lives — the place in which we live. As good leaders, they should listen. They should leave their egos at the door. They shouldn’t place their pride above their citizens. Dwight D. Eisenhower said it all better than I could, though: "You do not lead by hitting people over the head — that's assault, not leadership."Gobble, gobbleWhat’s the key to a great Thanksgiving dinner? The turKEY, of course.I’ve just been alerted that I’m playing host for Thanksgiving this year. It will save my husband and me a long drive to North Dakota, and it’s always fun to fill our little home with family. So the fact that we’re hosting is great news.But what about the turkey?When I hosted Christmas last year, it was a little easier because we had meatballs and gravy over mashed potatoes for our main dish. But I just can’t get away with a Thanksgiving minus the perfect bird … and all the complicated side dishes that go next to it. I’ve already been thinking about the turkey and remembering all the little tips people mention that I somehow remember.There are those that recommend hourly basting. Some people swear by those oven bags. Others lay strips of bacon across the breast for moisture and flavor. My Dad likes to inject it with flavorful broths. Mom’s traditional turkey is baked with a plain old lid on the roaster, and it always seemed moist.I have a strong sense that I won’t be the only cook in the kitchen, so it’s probably not going to be up to me.If all else fails, I’ll rely on my charm and tasteful humor to make it up to the crowd. I can distract people eating dry turkey with a fitting joke like: Why can’t you bring the turkey to church? Because they use fowl language. Drum roll please … or maybe just a drum stick.
