Mieska Kids

The Mieska kids are coming to visit the last weekend in May. Now it will be three times the fun with Jude coming up for his first visit.

Barry hits the paper...

In Lakeville, a classroom in and among the cloudsBy Joseph Palmersheim - Sun Newspapers(Created: Wednesday, April 30, 2008 11:46 PM CDT)
Airlake Flight Training instructor Barry Park and flight student Liza Newton, 16, look over their aircraft during a preflight check April 24. (SCOTT THEISEN
SUN NEWSPAPERS)Barry Park's students can be excused for having their heads in the clouds - with his help, that's where they can end up.Park, 26, of St. Paul, has been a flight instructor at Lakeville's Airlake Flight Training since February 2006. The Ely native let the Sun-Current follow him around on a recent rainy Thursday.It turns out that a flight instructor stays as busy on the ground as he does in the air. Park has four offices: his earthbound main office at Airlake, and the cockpits of the company's three Cessna training aircraft.Park's love of aviation goes back to when he was one of those little kids who would run around with an airplane in his hand. He always knew he wanted to fly. His first experience in an airplane came from a friend of the family who was part owner of a light airplane. After a ride of loops and dives, Park's aviation ambitions were cemented in place. During college, he took his first flight lessons at Ely Airport."It was the spring of my sophomore year," Park said. "It was pretty typical of what I would let a student do now. I'll let them do as much as they feel comfortable doing. I know the Ely area really well, and on that first flight, I knew where I was the whole time. When we landed, I was like, "Where do I sign up?'"Park continued with classes, and earned his private license in November 2002. As with any pilot, his license requirements are determined by the number of hours he has flown - it takes 60 hours for a private license and a minimum of 250 hours for a commercial license. Park said commercial airlines, until recently, required their pilots to have 1,500 hours of experience. Since he began instructing, Park has logged nearly 750 flight hours. Being a flight instructor is a way for many pilots to earn flight hours in the course of taking the next step in their careers.Before careers or instructing, all pilots begin as students - students like 16-year-old Lakeville South High School sophomore Liza Newton, who began flying lessons after her spring break. Liza, who loves to travel, is considering aviation as a possible career. After hearing stories from a family friend who used to be a Pan Am pilot, she decided to check things out for herself."My first flight was really fun," Liza said. "It was sort of weird - I thought it would be more complicated. My goal is to be a commercial pilot, or to fly in the Peace Corp, if they let people do that."Liza is strapped into the left seat of one of the school's Cessna 172 aircraft, which carries the call designation "Sierra Poppa." Low clouds hang over the field, and the plane is covered with reminders of the rainstorms that have been passing through on and off all day. Liza taxies the plane using her feet to control the brakes. When it's time to do a final check, she stops. Park goes over a series of last-minute checks."Doors closed, seatbelts on," Park says. "Instruments - check. Fuel - full mix. Mags [magnetos] - checked."He turns to Liza."Are you ready to go?"
Airlake Flight Training instructor Barry Park and flight student Liza Newton, 16, look over their aircraft during a preflight check April 24. (SCOTT THEISEN
SUN NEWSPAPERS)"Yup," she replies, nodding.Park calls control to say aircraft will be departing."Sierra Poppa, departing Runway 1-2."As she lets out the brake, Liza pushes in the throttle and the Cessna leaps to life. Airport buildings and hangars rush by as the plane gains speed; 20 seconds later, Liza and her instructor are airborne, streaking skyward. At 300 feet, the plane sways gently from side to side."This is fun," Liza says. "I love doing takeoffs.""We don't want to go much higher than this," Park says, scanning the gray horizon. "We're already losing visibility."In the next half-hour, Liza performs a few short runs around the circuit, and does a touch-and-go - landing the airplane and taking off again without stopping - before coming in for good. Park rates her landing a seven out of 10."There was a lot going on, and I tried to let her do as much as she could," he says. "It was smooth, but it was a three-point landing, meaning we came down on the nose gear, which caused us to bounce up a little bit."The lesson over, Park inspects the plane, which he just spent nearly five hours washing. He frowns when he gets to the tail section - there's mud spattered all over its upper surface."We probably picked that up on the runway," he says. "Washing an airplane is like washing a classic car - you want to make sure you don't screw it up. I spent a lot of time scrubbing winter oil grime off this plane's belly."Washing airplanes is one of many tasks Park has on the ground.In addition to making sure the company planes are taken care of (maintenance is done by trained personnel, per Federal Aviation Administration regulations), Park is a jack-of-all-trades, boxing headsets bound for factory repair one minute, and meeting with someone interested in having an event at the flight school the next. It's all part of his job description."I was brought on here as an instructor and a management guy in the office," Park said. "It's tough, because every school is on a budget. It means you have to creative when it comes to getting the word out."Future events in the works include a June fundraiser for an Apple Valley Boy Scout troop and involvement in Lakeville's Memorial Day events. Events like these cost the company nothing, and Park says the efforts are worth his time, "times five" if he can get one person interested in taking flying lessons. Park has come to enjoy teaching as well flying. Teaching isn't the end of his aviation dreams."I want to be a flying doctor," Park said. "Ideally, I would provide services to outlying communities. I know a surgeon from Crystal who flies in through here every few weeks to see patients. If that idea doesn't work, I'll be a physician who teaches people how to fly."There's a joke in the aviation world - once you get in aviation, you have to get paid to fly or make enough money to own your own plane."In November, Park will take his Medical College Admission Test (MCAT) at the University of Minnesota. His two loves, he says, are aviation and science. With changes in the aviation industry, he's "open to finding other ways to fly airplanes.""The flight school here is a way for me to get there - it's a way to help others who want to make aviation a career," he said. "Places like this are professional pilot generators."For more information on Airlake Flight Training, go to ww.flyairlake.com, or call 952-985-0475.

Click here to get to the story as well.

Mom is back home

Jesse, Ben and mom

Beth and Barry


Bonnie, Jesse, Ben, Mom, Someone hiding, Annie, Greg, Josh, Bud, Phyllis and Sue taking the photo. We had a great meal and a nice welcome home for mom.

News from Iowa

We are really enjoying the new babies down here! Ava was Baptized on the 20th with godparents Jere/Gina. Luke and Owen were on their best church behavior and Jude slept thru the whole service. Ava wore the baptismal gown that has been in my mothers' family since the late 1800's. I took the day off today to work on my garden and take care of some errands. plus I'll spend a little "Ava" time later this afternoon! Beautiful here this a.m. but supposed to storm later this evening. I will be in Louisville, KY next week for Natl. conference so hope there aren't any tornados down there! Steve has a new Wii so that has been fun and is actually getting him off the couch for a short workout in the evenings! Welcome home LaVerne. I'm sure you're getting settled back in and hopefully the nice weather will be getting to you soon. You're probably going to be busy reconnecting with your friends. Are you going to work at the church again this year? We're hoping to make it up there sometime this month but will be later.Peggy

Grandma and Grandpa Mieska

Grandpa Steve with Jude. You can see that Jude has some reservations about this situation and who can blame him? Luckily for Jude the hairline is inherited from Gina's side and not the mieska's. Beautiful Ava with mom, grandma and Great grandma.

The Ketcher Boys in Action

Click HERE to see the Ketcher Boys in action.

Chad the MTV video guy

This link will take you to a music video I just recently produced for the church youth group. It’s four fathers performing a song for their daughters. Kind of fun. Click here.
Chad

From Sue
PS, This is really cool. Check it out!!!-Sue

Blog from mom 4.20.08

I'M COMING HOME!!!

I guess you can tell by my opening statement that I'm more than a little lonesome. I'm counting the days and they can't go by too soon to suit me.

All my friends left for their homes more than a week ago and all the activities are done so time drags by.

Tuesday I visited my former neighbor, Eileen, who is now in a nursing home. She doesn't know me anymore and it is hard to see her like that but I tried to carry on a conversation with her and she would perk up when I mentioned certain things. She and Marland always teased each other so when I would talk about him, she would get a gleam in her eye. Life is not always easy and I am so fortunate that I am healthy. Seeing her is a good reminder that I am blessed.

Thursday I went to Applebee's with friends and Friday we went to Sour Dough Pizza with other friends. That doesn't help trying to get rid of food that I have in the freezer but I have a good friend who can use that after I leave. Saturday, I stopped at Caldwell's for a short visit. They are flying back to Minnesota a few days after me.

It's Sunday and I'm starting to pack my luggage. Looks like I'll have to send a box with UPS. I hope Jeff will watch for it if it gets there before I do.

This is my last email for awhile. I'm taking the summer off. The reason I'm writing this blog is to let my kids know what I'm up to and now I'll be where most of them are so there is no need. That doesn't mean that any and all of you that read this on a weekly basis can't email me at home. I'd like that very much.

Love Always, LaVerne

Mom's blog 4.16.08

Another blog!!!

Let me warn you---this will be a boring one!

I just got home from church and I face a long day ahead of me. Ed & Norine left yesterday, Julie & Darrell leave Tuesday and then life will really be quiet.

Al & Grace Conklin had me over for a cocktail Tuesday afternoon. Wednesday Al & Grace, Darrell & Julie, Ed & Norine and myself went to Terrace Green for beer & snacks. The snacks were complimentary and are mouths were all watering for buffalo wings. Guess what---they forgot to order enough and were all out. What to do!!! Al ordered them from Pizza Hut and we enjoyed them on Conklins patio.

Thursday morning I treated Ed & Norine to breakfast at Cobbs Restaurant. Ed has helped me with many, many jobs I couldn't do so this was my "thank you" to them. Friday evening I had them for supper cause they always have me the day I get down here in the fall. They left for their home in N.D. Saturday morning and should reach home in a day or two.

Traffic has slowed down to almost nothing here in the park so there is not even anything to watch go by the house. Guess I'll take a book up to the pool and sit in the shade and read.

Weather is predicted to be 93 degrees today and 95 tomorrow!!! Time to turn on the air conditioner.

I'm probably going to go to the movie this afternoon. "Smart People"

I told you this was going to be boring. Better luck next time.

Love, LaVerne

Mom's Blog 4.7.08

Good Morning,

It is Sunday morning and I've been to church and now the long day is ahead of me. Not much is happening these days but I'll try to fill you in on my week!!

Monday morning I took my car in for an oil change and tires rotation!! I ended up with a new brake job and new hoses put in. I guess they were the original hoses so it was time for replacement. It shook me up a little to realize that the brakes were not good and I knew I couldn't let that go. After a call to Sue, she agreed that I had to have all these things done. There went my nice tax refund(and then some) that I haven't even gotten yet!! Oh well, things could be worse. I guess I'm lucky that I have it to pay.

Wednesday, the park put on an Italian night for all the people who own their places. It was FREE. That doesn't happen more than once a year! That morning, Norine & I went for our first pedicure. It was a real treat and I think it could be habit forming!!

Thursday, Julie & I went shopping at Scottsdale. We went to the Borgatta and also Fashion Square. We saw lots of interesting and fun things but didn't buy much. We did have a great lunch. It was fun to wander through all the unique shops they have there. Scottsdale is known as the Edina in Minneapolis--pretty high end shopping.

Friday I enjoyed cocktails at Ed & Norine's with several of their friends.

Saturday I rode along with Ed & Norine to the Bass Pro Shop in Tempe. It is new in the area so there were lots of lookers. I know that if Greg were down here, he would visit that many times! He does Cabela's in Medford on a very regular basis.

Saturday afternoon I had a cocktail party and invited Maiers, Conklin's and Schmidt's. It sounds like that's all I do anymore but lots of folks are leaving for home and it's a good time to get rid of food that has accumulated. I still have 3 weeks to go but most of us have "Must go" parties. Food that "must go".

That's about it for this week. If any of you can still stand to read this--wait until next week and it will REALLY be boring, when I'm the only one left here.


Love, LaVerne