On the Street - June 22

• Author Juliana Howard will sign books and do a reading from her children’s book, Catie the Copycat, at Book World at the Viking Plaza in Alexandria on Saturday, June 23 from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m.

The book is described as a whimsical, humorous story of a universal tale of transformation that’s written for the child in all.

• The financial services firm Edward Jones was named the number-one full-service brokerage firm in the June edition of SmartMoney magazine’s annual broker survey.

“Edward Jones bounds back into the top spot in our survey, in no small part because of its stock picking in 2011,” according to SmartMoney magazine.

The magazine lauded Edward Jones for receiving high marks for client satisfaction and trust in independent studies.

“We don’t ever want technology to take the place of the relationship,” Edward Jones Managing Partner Jim Weddle told SmartMoney magazine.

Edward Jones provides financial services for individual investors in the U.S. and, through its affiliate, in Canada. The firm’s business is designed to cater to individual investors in the communities in which they live and work.

Edward Jones is headquartered in St. Louis. For more information, visit www.edwardjones.com or www.careers.edwardjones.com.

• Amy Enge, of Mid-Minnesota Federal Credit Union (MMFCU) in Brainerd, recently became financial services coordinator within the credit union organization.

Enge has been with MMFCU for 10 years, most recently as a member services specialist. As financial services coordinator, Enge will work closely with Christian Barnett, MMFCU’s investment and retirement services financial advisor/program manager, assisting members with financial planning.

“Amy is both well-respected and well-known by our members,” said Chuck Albrecht, MMFCU president and CEO. “This role is a natural fit for her, as we encourage our members to consider planning for their future. With Amy’s new role, MMFCU will be able to assist many more members in strengthening their financial futures.”

Mid-Minnesota Federal Credit Union is a member-owned financial cooperative serving central Minnesota. The credit union has full-service offices in Alexandria, Baxter, Brainerd, Little Falls, Crosby, Pequot Lakes and Staples as well as a drive-through branch in Baxter.

• Lois-Elaine Lindberg, formerly of Miltona, graduated from the Lutheran Wartburg Theological Seminary in Debuque, Iowa with a certificate in town and country church leadership. It is known as the CTL Program, which allows her to serve in a number of churches. She presently serves the First Presbyterian Church in La Feria, Texas, where she has served for more than a year. Lindberg and her husband, John, live in Harlingen, Texas.

• Chris Merten recently joined Neighborhood National Bank as a full-time teller. Having previous experience in customer service, he will assist customers with their daily banking transactions and provide customer support for electronic banking.

Merten is a lifelong resident of Alexandria and graduated from Jefferson High School in 2008. He attended Alexandria Technical College for both accounting and finance and received his degree in 2011. Currently, he is working toward a bachelor’s degree in finance.

Neighborhood National Bank is a locally owned independent bank in Alexandria.

• Jennifer Mette and Randee Hall of Ecumen Bethany Community attended “Validation: The Feil Method – Breaking through the Barrier of Dementia” in Eagan on May 3.

The session was taught by Naomi Feil, founder of the Validation Training Institute in Cleveland. The purpose of the session was to provide information and tools to strengthen communication with dementia residents and enhance the quality of the relationships between caregiver and those suffering with dementia.

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