Sledding festival

Steve Schurtter, of Montreal, Wis., pilots a sled as Mary Mattson, of Iron Belt, goes for a ride at Little Finland's midwinter Laskiainen, or sledding festival, Sunday afternoon in Kimball. A few dozen folks showed up for the festival brunch of kropsua (oven pancake) and pea soup. The kitchen was busy, the coffee was flowing and there were many warm conversations among friends around tables that basked in the sunlight through the windows of Little Finland's hall. The kick sled hangs on the wall of the hall all year and gets out for a spin at least once a year at the Finnish festival.