November Facets 2018

FACETS

November 2018 The magazine for women.

business & leadership

FACETS 2 | FACETS | NOVEMBER 2018

The magazine for women.

Contributors

RONNA LAWLESS MARLYS BARKER and editorial content courtesy of StatePoint Media Design

ALEX FELKER Publisher

SCOTT ANDERSON Tribune Editor

MICHAEL CRUMB

ADVERTISERS To advertise in Facets magazine, contact Tory McKay at (515) 432-6694 PHONE (515) 663-6923 ADDRESS 317 Fifth St. Ames, IA, 50010 EMAIL news@amestrib.com ONLINE www.amestrib.com/sections/ special-sections/facets

Facets is a monthly publication of GateHouse Media Iowa Holdings.

STATEPOINT PHOTO

ON THE COVER:

Jenny Pollard, of Ames, poses by a display of her essential oils and blends she keeps in one room of her home. Pollard finds all sorts of ways to improve her life and the health of those in her family by using essential oils. PHOTO BY MARLYS BARKER

FACETS • Table of contents Business & leadership 4 5 6

Women in business

3 reasons women should consider a career in small business.

New insights and resources for small businesses

Learn about opportunities to grow your small business.

On the Cover: ‘There’s an oil for that’

Feature: Ames woman loves sharing her passions for the uses of essential oils.

11 How to turn your side hobby into a business Tips from those who’ve done it.

15 ‘A leadership experience’

Feature: Junior Auxiliary position gives Schnurstein leadership experience.

17 5 ways to blow your next job interview Preparing for an important moment.

Travel 19 Family travel five

World Heritage sites can provide impressive history lessons.

20 Travel dilemmas

Tax law can trip up your trip.

21 Where does Generation Z want to travel?

Have the trends changed much?

Savor 22 Savory chicken

An easy dish that takes only a few minutes to prepare.

23 Full steam ahead

Sake and salmon delicately flavor salmon fillets.

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Business & leadership

Women in business 3 reasons women should consider a career in small business StatePoint

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alented, dedicated and ambitious women’s entrepreneurial spirits increasingly are driving the nation forward.

Women have steadily increased their presence in the world of small-business ownership over the past 10 years.

In fact, the number of women-owned firms has grown 68 percent since 2007, compared with 47 percent for all businesses, and women-owned businesses support more than 7.9 million jobs, according to a survey commissioned by American Express.

Women have many reasons to love working for a small business, according to Aflac’s 2018 Small Business Happiness Survey, which surveyed 1,000 U.S. employees at organizations with three to 49 employees. Eighty-seven percent of all employees said it is more fun working at a small business, and that number was even higher among women.

Here are three key findings from Aflac’s survey that indicate women are finding happy, fulfilling careers at small businesses.

1. A supportive, close-knit working environment.

One of the clear benefits small businesses have over their counterparts is the ability to more easily create company cultures that make all employees feel like they belong. In fact, in this year’s survey, women employees

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ranked feeling like a family as the best part of working for a small business.

2. The benefits of greater flexibility.

While working for a small business often comes with many perks, women listed flexible scheduling as the biggest perceived benefit (29 percent). This was closely followed by feeling more appreciated and feeling like their input matters. These benefits help explain how a whopping 91 percent of all employees feel satisfied working at a small business.

However, 31 percent of female employees said the top challenge of working for a small business over a large one is salary and benefits. Adding voluntary benefits like dental, vision, accident and critical illness insurance is a proven way to not only help employees manage out-of-pocket medical costs, but also improve employee benefits satisfaction and job retention.

3. Progress and commitment toward pay equality.

Seventy-eight percent of female small-business employees believe they are compensated equally with their coworkers, and 73 percent think the small-business industry achieves success when it comes to equal pay. Still, 48 percent of male and female respondents acknowledge that there remains room for improvement. All together, these strides indicate the small-business community is on the right path forward. ·

Business & leadership

New insights and resources for small businesses StatePoint

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mall businesses are critical to powering the national economy. They are also responsible for creating two out of every three new jobs in the country each year, according to the U.S. Small Business Administration.

Are you a small business owner or looking to start your own company? Consider the following trends and developments.

Three out of four small businesses expect to increase their range of products and services in the next year, according to a recent survey commissioned

by CIT Group and conducted by The Harris Poll.

According to the survey, top priorities include expanding within current geographies (72 percent) and adjacent markets 58 percent).

Half of small businesses also say improving technology is a top investment priority this year, followed by equipment upgrades (47 percent) and hiring staff (36 percent).

Despite optimism, some concerns for small business owners remain around data security, inflation, interest rates and capital costs in the coming year.

“Understanding these key trends can help small businesses innovate and contextualize potential challenges,” said John Donohue, head of CIT’s digital small business lending group. “Whether a business is updating its technology, purchasing new equipment or expanding into new markets, an experienced lender can provide the capital needed.”

Educational resources can help empower small business owners, too.

To learn more about accessing capital, building a team, cultivating a brand and more, check out free resources like the Launch and Grow series, a new video series developed out of a partnership between CIT and Operation HOPE, a global provider of financial education programs.

Individuals can follow the content and resources by visiting cit.com/launch-grow and engage on social media by following #LaunchAndGrow.

Additionally, the SBA’s Learning Center provides online courses to help you learn about the financing process and a number of other critical small business topics.

To grow your small business, learn more about opportunities and resources available to you. ·

Three out of four small businesses expect to increase their range of products and services in the next year

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Business & leadership

‘There’s an oil for that’ Ames woman loves sharing her passion for the uses of essential oils

By Marlys Barker

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Jenny Pollard finds all sorts of ways to improve her life and the health of those in her family by using essential oils. PHOTO BY MARLYS BARKER

enny Pollard’s decision to take part, back in mid-September, in the Central Iowa Junk Jaunt was a huge step forward for her as an essential oils distributor and educator.

As a full-time marketing professional for Iowa State University, Pollard was thinking about the best way to market her essential oils, a product she has not only fallen in love with, but has literally come to depend on in keeping her family and herself healthy. She wanted a place to showcase the products she has made by blending oils — products that can help with everything from headaches to allergies.

“I just needed to see how people would react to these,” she said. “I was putting my marketing hat on and asking

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myself, ‘Where would I find my target audience’ — women with families.”

Junk Jaunt, a shopping event for enthusiasts of vintage, rustic products and crafts, was a perfect opportunity for her.

“Even though I wasn’t selling junk, my price point ($10 per item) was good.” And really, if you think about it, she said, blending essential oils makes her kind of “a modern-day apothecary.” And that reference itself is kind of vintage.

Her booth of products, which she calls “Life Distilled,” was “really successful,” she said with a huge smile. She designed and displayed her products with vintage furniture POLLARD, page 9

Business & leadership

Jenny Pollard shows how she makes blends of oils and puts them in little roll-on bottles to sell to others or to use at home.

PHOTO BY MARLYS BARKER

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Business & leadership

This was one display of products at Jenny Pollard’s booth for the Junk Jaunt. Her booth was located in Gilbert in the side yard of JB Knacker.

It worked out well for her, as she had great success in sales. PHOTOS CONTRIBUTED

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Business & leadership POLLARD, continued from page 6

pieces and rustic shelving and containers. “It really fit with the rustic feel of the Junk Jaunt.”

She ran her booth just the first two of the three days of the Junk Jaunt, but being there for two days was a “breakthrough” for her. It was just the success she needed to now look at branching out and possibly getting into other juried events.

“Now that I’ve done it and I know there’s a demand,” she said, she’ll use that information for future event applications.

Pollard, 34, has a very outgoing personality, which doesn’t hurt her success in the sales department. She admits she thoroughly enjoyed having a booth and talking to people and sharing information about essential oils, something she got into a few years back after hearing positive things from friends who, like her, were mostly young moms.

Her friends were having success with essential oils, for everything from teething babies to keeping kids calm and more.

“I wanted to get into it, but I didn’t understand them (the oils),” she said.

So to start figuring it out, she bought a basic kit of the Young Living brand of oils and took every opportunity she could to use and educate herself about them.

She admits early on, she was a total skeptic, but like others, she quickly found that first big thing to make her a believer.

“For me, it was helping my kids sleep.” Pollard has three young boys, which includes a set of twins. What mother wouldn’t appreciate the need to have her kids sleep well?

“Helping them get through a night and be comfortable” was her moment of realization about the benefit of quality oils that are 100 percent therapeutic with no synthetic additives.

Pollard points out she doesn’t care what kind of oils a person chooses to use, but Young Living is just one of the brands of the highest quality.

“If you want homeopathic qualities, you have to look at high-quality oils,” she said.

Her husband, A.J., was also a skeptic until he started using a roll-on that his wife made of the “allergy trio,” lavender, peppermint and lemon oils.

“Now, he uses that every day and very seldom takes his Zyrtec anymore,” she said.

Each drop of high-quality essential oil, as seen here, is like a drop “of gold” in the mind of Jenny Pollard, who uses the oils for all kinds of homeopathic remedies. PHOTO BY MARLYS BARKER

AROUND THE HOME In addition to these big ‘ah-ha’ moments with oils, there were other things Pollard started researching and using oils to treat.

With head lice always being a concern for kids who attend public school and daycares, she has made a blend of oils she sprays on her boys every day that is a preventative against head lice.

To keep them from picking up every cold that travels through school, she has a blend of oils to keep them from getting most of those bugs, and a blend that can help them recover faster if they do.

As for smells in the house, caused by kids, pets and day-to-day life, she has a go-to oil that keeps her house odor-free.

“I saw what (these oils) could do for my family … and they were helping me keep my sanity. It took me a good year to figure out POLLARD, page 10

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Business & leadership

A look at Jenny Pollard’s case of essential oils. PHOTO BY MARLYS BARKER POLLARD, continued from page 9

how to use (all the oils), but now that I have learned, I have started sharing that knowledge with others.”

Throughout the year, Pollard and a few other “oil friends” get together to make products that can help them with all kinds of things. She likes to do research online to find “recipes” that work for many common uses.

“Pinterest is actually a good resource,” she said. She also has a favorite weekly podcast she listens to.

‘NEVER-ENDING’ USES There are hundreds of oils to work with, and Young Living, she said, actually sells some blends of oils too. But with all the oils out there and all the possibilities for using them, she agrees that her personal development from studying the various uses of oils could be never-ending.

In the gatherings she and others have, they like to focus on making things that sometimes go along with the time of year.

For example, she said, “last spring we did a spring cleaning workshop…and made a natural substitute for some of the well-known common cleaners.”

They made an all-purpose cleaning spray, and also used paper towel rolls to make their own cleaning wipes. By using mason jars with baking soda and oil, they made a 10 | FACETS | NOVEMBER 2018 PHOTOS BY RONNA LAWLESS/GATEHOUSE IOWA

carpet cleaner and odor remover.

In August, she said, they had a workshop on all kinds of helpful oil blends for keeping kids healthy at school, such as some of the things she previously mentioned using for her own children.

Pollard believes that essential oils have changed her world.

And, with her success at Junk Jaunt, she’s found a way to branch out and talk to more people about the positive effect oils can have in their lives.

She has taken her experience at Junk Jaunt, and used it to apply to the Vintage & Made Fair (Holiday Edition) in Des Moines on Dec. 1.

Her fingers are crossed that she’ll make it in.

“I’m not a doctor… but there’s a lot of goodness in (these oils),” she said. “When people use the oils in the way they are really useful, that’s the value.”

She acknowledges high-quality oils can seem pricey.

But that’s because they have the best properties for health benefits.

“For the price you pay, they’d better do more than just smell good.”

You can find out more about Jenny Pollard and her opportunities with essential oils by following her on Facebook at “Life Distilled,” or by visiting her website, www.distillery9.com. ·

Business & leadership

How to turn your side hobby into a business StatePoint

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hether you’re looking to pick up a side hobby or make the leap into starting your own business, there are many ways to be your own boss.

No one knows how to trailblaze better than the motivated individuals who run their own businesses, according to Avon, the iconic beauty company with an over 130-year track record empowering women and men to be their own bosses.

That’s why the brand’s latest campaign catalog honors and features the brand’s very own Avon Representatives.

From top-sellers to accomplished leaders, the first-of-itskind catalog for the brand recognizes the Avon Representative community by highlighting the real people from across

the country who are not only the cover models but also the role models.

BE AUTHENTIC A former Marine and full-time pharmacist, Starsky Clark, of Baton Rouge, La., initially joined Avon to make some extra income as a side hustle. She quickly realized her potential to grow her business in a big way and has since forged a career as a successful representative and leader in the community.

Her recipe for success? “Be passionate about your business and the products you’re selling,” said Starsky. “Use the products yourself! That way, you’ll be able to share your authentic anecdotes with others to build personal relationships and special connections with your customers.”

LEAN ON YOUR MENTORS Andres Taberes, of Grayson, Ga., was working in a car body shop when he met his now wife, Valeryn, and it was love at first sight. A few years ago, when they were expecting their first child, Andres realized that his long hours at the body shop would keep him from partaking in important milestones. So, he turned to his mentor for help: his mom, who happened to be a successful Avon Representative.

“My mom encouraged me to become an Avon Representative and I’ve never looked back,” said Andres. “Listening to her share her own journey and the mistakes she made helped me carve out my own path. Soon after, my wife joined as well and now we live an incredible lifestyle and still make time for our son and each other.”

DEDICATE TIME CONSISTENTLY Donna Reid-Mitchell, of Frisco, Texas, was a single mother working as a hairstylist when she joined Avon on the side. She very quickly learned that consistency was the key to an effective business. By laying the groundwork and pushing herself to continuously make time to work on and grow her business, Donna was able to transform her side hustle into a lucrative business long-term.

“As soon as I started, I found that consistency was the difference between a good business and a great business,” said Donna. “I wanted to build something that would be sustainable; an empire that I could pass on to my children. I developed a real business plan that unfolded consistently over time, and 15 years later I’m continuing to reap the benefits.” · FACETS | NOVEMBER 2018 | 11

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Business & leadership

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Business & leadership FEATURE

Junior Auxiliary position gives Schnurstein leadership experience PICTURED AT LEFT

By Ronna Lawless

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mma Schnurstein, of Story City, is a student at Roland-Story Middle School and was recently elected 6th District Junior President for the American Legion Auxiliary.

“I’m honored to have been elected for this position and be the first person from Story City to have held this office,” she said. “My year will be filled with planning different activities that junior auxiliary members can participate in or share and create ideas that they can do in their community to help and honor veterans and their families.”

When it comes to the American Legion Auxiliary, Schnurstein got started early, and now her involvement has earned her a district leadership position in the Junior Auxiliary.

“Basically, I’ve been going to Auxiliary meetings since birth,” said Schnurstein. “I’ve been attending the senior meetings my entire life.”

That’s because her mom, Angie “Basically, I’ve Schnurstein, of Story City, and her grandmother, Virginia Swenson, of Roland, are been going both actively involved with the Auxiliary in to Auxiliary Story City. meetings since “When I was nine or 10, I knew I wanted to get involved with the Junior Auxiliary,” birth.”

Schnurstein said.

Emma Schnurstein, And this summer, she honed that 6th District Junior involvement into a leadership role she has President in the 6th District, which covers Story, Polk and Warren counties.

The junior projects for the 2018-19 year include collecting pop tabs that will be used to raise money toward covering the cost of families staying at the Ronald McDonald House, while their family members are in the hospital.

“We are also collecting gently used books (children through adult), puzzles, smaller games, decks of cards and puzzle/activity books that will be donated to the Veterans’ Hospital, Veterans’ Home and care centers,” Schnurstein said.

Donated items can be brought to the Story City American Legion building at any time, as there are collection boxes set up above the coat racks in the main entry area. Or they can be taken to your local American Legion building and given to any auxiliary member.

Schnurstein already has experience with many Auxiliary projects, including making lap robes for veterans, creating wreaths for cemeteries, putting up American flags, walking in parades, attending

UPPER LEFT: Emma Schnurstein enjoys one of the many swings at her grandmother Virginia Swenson’s farm near Roland.

UPPER RIGHT: Emma Schnurstein poses with her dirt bike on her grandmother Virginia Swenson’s farm near Roland.

LOWER LEFT: Archery is one of Emma Schnurstein’s many hobbies, and she brings some flair to the sport with her pink compound bow.

LOWER RIGHT: Emma Schnurstein and her grandmother Virginia Swenson pose with some of the lap blankets they created for veterans during American Legion Auxiliary and Junior Auxiliary events.

SCHNURSTEIN, page 16 FACETS | NOVEMBER 2018 | 15

Business & leadership SCHNURSTEIN, continued from page 15

Junior Camp.

Youth development is an important mission for the American Legion Auxiliary nationwide. The organization provides “significant cash assistance and direct service, and supports legislation that affects children at the local, state, and national levels.

The Auxiliary’s youth development programs focus “on teaching responsible citizenship and love for God and Country, as well as helping the children of our veterans and servicemembers and engaging the next generation to become members of the American Legion Auxiliary.”

Junior Auxiliary members are also eligible for significant college scholarships, Schnurstein said.

But patriotism is one the main reasons Schnurstein and the women in her family are involved with the Auxiliary.

With a long history of men in the family who served in

the military, including both World Wars, that patriotism feels very personal to all three women.

Schnurstein is also involved with the Junior Auxiliary because she likes to keep busy and has a huge list of hobbies.

She likes to shoot, whether it’s archery with her pink compound bow or target practice with a rifle or bb gun.

She likes to pick flowers and arrange them. She has a lovely singing voice, and even had a solo during an event at the Dorian Music Festival at Luther College this summer.

And she loves riding her dirt bike on her grandma’s farm.

“I can ride for hours. I love that powerful feeling,” Schnurstein said.

The Junior Auxiliary is open to young women under the age of 18. Schnurstein encouraged girls from Story County and across Iowa to get involved with the organization.

“It’s fun and it feels good to do things to serve veterans,” she said. ·

Junior and senior auxiliary members from Story City, Nevada and Ames met at the Story City American Legion building on Sunday, Oct. 14. They labeled books, activity books, puzzles, games and decks of cards that will be donated to the Veteran’s Hospital in Des Moines, the Veteran’s Home in Marshalltown and local care centers for veterans and their families. Pictured in this photo are (front row) Kyla Garcia, Mason Schnurstein, Emma Schnurstein, Sadie Breyfogle, Adi Shill, (back row) Dianne Swenson, MaryJo McLaughlin, Rachel Breyfogle and Linda Griffith. CONTRIBUTED PHOTO

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Business & leadership

5 ways to blow your next job interview StatePoint

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he unemployment rate in the U.S. is at an all-time low, according to Bureau of Labor Statistics, and many employers are struggling to find skilled workers. To overcome the challenge, companies are connecting with job candidates using emerging technologies, like video interviewing.

Video interviewing can be daunting, and it’s easy to make crucial mistakes that will ensure you don’t get that next job — but it doesn’t have to be!

To prepare, keep in mind these five “don’ts,” from the experts at Randstad US, one of the largest HR services and staffing companies in the country.

1. Don’t forget to wear a nice shirt.

Rather than sitting across from the person conducting your interview, you can sit in whatever quiet place you choose. However, it’s still important to dress the part. Your appearance should be similar to how you would look for an in-person interview.

“Under no circumstances should you complete a video interview in a t-shirt — or worse, without a shirt at all. Yes, we have actually seen this,” said Greg Dyer, president of Randstad Commercial Staffing.

2. Don’t choose the wrong location.

Coffee shops can be a great place to catch up on work, but they’re not so great for video interviews due to background noise and other distractions. Opt for a quieter location, like your own home. If you live somewhere close to construction or noisy sirens, look into reserving a room at your local library. And, if all else fails, consider investing in a noise-cancelling headset. Don’t let a jackhammer upstage you!

3. Don’t forget to tidy up.

Before you settle into your interview, take stock of what’s going on behind you. It may be time to take down that psychedelic band poster or toss those empty soda cans sitting around.

You should be the star of your interview — not your clutter.

4. Don’t pick your nose.

Don’t do anything during your video interview that you wouldn’t do during an in-person interview. This means picking your nose, responding to text messages, and yes, going to the restroom. Approach your video interview with the same level of professionalism that you’d approach an in-person interview. And if you live in a busy household, don’t forget to lock the door. You don’t want your family members barging in mid-interview.

5. Don’t let your battery die.

You really only need two things to successfully complete a video interview: a phone or computer with a camera and a reliable internet connection. Avoid sabotaging yourself, and make sure your device is fully charged and your internet is running without disruption prior to the start of your interview. · FACETS | NOVEMBER 2018 | 17

Travel

Machu Picchu's citadel near sunset with Huayna Picchu's sharp peak looming behind it. PHOTO BY CHRIS RIEMENSCHNEIDER/MINNEAPOLIS STAR TRIBUNE/TNS

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Travel

Family travel five: World Heritage sites provide impressive history lesson

By Lynn O’Rourke Hayes FamilyTravel.com

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he United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) protects and preserves significant and inspirational places around the world.

Locations carrying the important designation of World Heritage site provide an impressive history lesson as well as a virtual tour of many of the world’s most meaningful places.

Here are five you and your family might like to visit: 1. Strasbourg, France The French city’s old town is an island — the Grande Ile — surrounded by canals and the River Ill. Families can get a unique view of this historic enclave by paddling a canoe through the canals, including the chance to maneuver through a lock with the help of a trusted guide. You can’t miss the city’s Gothic cathedral, which rises high above Strasbourg and was said to be the world’s tallest building until 1874. Climb 320 steps to a viewing platform for a bird’s eye view. And be sure to spend time inside the cathedral, taking note of the historic stained glass windows that survived many war-torn years.

Contact: www.AmaWaterways.com;www.AdventuresbyDisney.com 2. Angkor Wat, Cambodia Family members who have seen the “Tomb Raider” films will particularly enjoy exploring the Angkor Archeological Park, unfolding deep within the Siem Reap province. While hundreds of archeological and artistic temples and ancient structures remain, the most familiar (it’s on the Cambodian flag) is Angkor Wat. Built in the 12th century to honor Vishnu, a Hindu god, the temple’s bas relief galleries inform modern visitors of life in ancient times.

Contact: VikingCruises.com; TourismCambodia.com.

3. Amalfi Coast, Italy Nirvana for artists, photographers and foodies, the picturesque coastal area offers a sensual mix of cultural, natural and historic wonders. While the small communities were once only accessible by mule, modern-day train travel makes it easy to visit the enchanting towns that spill toward the sea from their steep and craggy origins. During the warmer months, sailboats dot the watery landscape and boat taxis provide additional access.

Contact: RailEurope.com; AmalfiCoast.com.

4. Sydney Opera House, Sydney, Australia This iconic structure, comprised of interlocking concrete shells, anchors one of the world’s most famous harbors.

Visually stimulating and home to a menu of family-friendly performances and programs, the architectural trendsetter debuted in 1973.

Contact: SydneyOperaHouse.com.

5. Machu Picchu, Peru Make your way to this extraordinary archeological site just as the Incas did. Choose from two- or four-day treks along the Inca Trail that culminate in stunning views of the “lost city” where palaces, terraces, walls and plazas cling to the mountainside. It was not until 1911, that a Peruvian guide led Yale professor Hiram Bingham to the ancient site on the eastern slopes of the Andes. Mysteries remain as to how the Incas were able to construct the complex more than 500 years ago and why it was abandoned not long after. ·

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Travel

Travel dilemmas: Tax law can trip up your trip

By Catharine Hamm Los Angeles Times

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f you have problems with unpaid taxes and the Internal Revenue Service is involved, you have troubles enough, so no need to pile on. But if you’re thinking of taking a vacation to regroup or you need to travel abroad for business, your woes may not end there.

If the words “serious delinquent tax debt” are associated with your tax issues, your passport may be a problem as well. And, unfortunately, it’s not the only way you can get yourself into a jam when it comes to your passport; being in arrears on child support can do that too.

But let’s start with the tax issue.

If you owe money to the IRS — in this case, $51,000 or more — and you’ve done nothing to resolve the issue, your trip abroad may be a nonstarter.

That’s thanks to legislation called the Fixing America’s Surface Transportation Act, or FAST, signed by President Obama toward the end of 2015, and its name doesn’t tip its hand about the passport provision, which is just now being implemented.

“The FAST Act also requires the State Department to deny (the individual’s) passport application or deny renewals of their passport,” according to an IRS statement issued in January. “In some cases, the State Department may revoke (the) passport.”

That means, the IRS said, “Someone who owes … more than $51,000 in back taxes, penalties and interest for which the IRS has filed a Notice of Federal Tax Lien and the period to challenge it has expired, or the IRS has issued a levy.”

There are some exceptions to this, including for those whose identities have been stolen, those who are in bankruptcy or who have other mitigating circumstances.

But for the most part, this is about people who have dug a hole and now find themselves in a deeper hole.

It’s tempting, if that letter from the IRS shows up, to want to put it in a file, throw it away or generally retreat from facing this headlong, said Brian T. Lovett, a certified public accountant and a lawyer and partner with WithumSmith plus Brown, which is based in Princeton, N.J. You can do that for a day or two, but that’s not usually a successful plan for the long term.

“Don’t run and hide,” Lovett said. “It always gets worse.”

Retaining a professional who can “walk you through the available options” and can help you come up with a plan is the wisest course, no matter how difficult it is to face that, Lovett said.

The thing you don’t want to do, if you want to argue the 20 | FACETS | NOVEMBER 2018

issue, is go to the State Department. Its website makes it clear that you would be barking up the wrong tree: “We do not have any information about seriously delinquent tax debt,” its website says.

It provides a phone number, domestic or international, and an address to write a letter about your issue, which you can find at lat.ms/IRScontactinfo.

An address? Well, yes, and if we may take a detour for a moment, the use of U.S. mail is also key to solving another IRS problem: the caller on the other end of the phone who insists that you have an IRS issue, even when you don’t.

We’ve all received the calls that say, fraudulently, that you have a tax problem and that you’d better call back or you’ll face arrest. Please hang up. If you have a problem, the IRS will contact you by mail, Lovett said.

The IRS isn’t the only federal agency communicating with the State Department on passport matters; so is the Office of Child Support Enforcement, part of the Federal Collections and Enforcement Program of the Department of Health and Human Services.

If you are behind in child support by $2,500 or more, your information will be forwarded to the State Department, based on information provided by your state.

As a result, “The State Department denies the parents U.S. passports upon application or the use of a passport service,” the Office of Child Support Enforcement website says.

Again, the State Department insists that “we have no information about your child support obligation, just if you have arrears greater than $2,500.”

If your passport has been revoked, you should be notified by mail.

Even if you have paid down your child support obligations, you don’t automatically get out of passport Hades.

You’ll need to be in touch with the state agency’s child support staff that deals with “passport denial inquiries.”

You can find that list at lat.ms/stateagencycontacts.

If you have just paid off what you owe, your name will be removed, but it can take three weeks or more.

Neither of these issues is easy to resolve and may take time, perhaps more than you think, because those who hold the cards generally get to set the rules and the timetable.

But if you must travel for work or you just want to exercise your freedom to go at will, buckling down and settling up is the right — and, in this case, perhaps the only — way to go. ·

Where does Generation Z want to travel?

By Janeen Christoff TravelPulse

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he next generation of travelers is busy making plans — so where will they be headed?

New research from the U.K.’s Holiday Place finds that the travel whims of this up-and-coming group of world wanderers don’t stray too far from the desires of previous generations, however, there is definitely a difference between what younger travelers and older travelers are looking for when they get to their desired destinations.

Similar to Millennials, Gen-Z grew up with Smartphone in hand.

These travelers are fluent with Facebook, Instagram, Snapchat and more and when they travel, they look for connectivity, adventure and uninhabited spaces rather than all-inclusive poolside retreats previously popular with their older peers.

Italy took the top spot on the list for Generation Z in part because of its Instagram score, where there are 89,456,465 hashtags representing the country.

Italy also offers top adventure-related activities for offthe-beaten-path adventures.

Additionally, the country scored high for its eco-friendliness and social consciousness.

The U.S. was the second most popular spot for Generation Z travelers, ranking high in all categories, including budget, Instagrammability, social consciousness, eco-friendliness and adventure.

Japan, Spain and Canada rounded out the top five destinations for Gen-Z. All ranked high for budget-friendliness.

Of the three, Japan had the highest Instagram score.

Canada was seen as the most adventurous and Spain offered the most off-the-beaten-path adventures.

Germany, Poland, Romania, Mexico and New Zealand were all in the top 10. ·

FACETS | NOVEMBER 2018 | 21

Savor

Savory chicken dish only takes a few minutes to prepare

By Linda Gassenheimer, Tribune News Service

R

oasted chicken flavored with sage and vermouth accompanied by zucchini and tomato rice is a superspeed supper. This recipe calls for buying a roasted chicken breast and adding a sage and flour coating. It only takes 2 minutes to warm through. The vermouth sauce is another quick touch, adding flavor without fuss.

Boneless, skinless roasted chicken breasts come ready packaged and can be found in the meat case of the supermarket. Or, use rotisserie-roasted chicken breasts.

For the Zucchini and Tomato Rice, I cook the zucchini right in with the rice saving time and another pot to wash.

The tomatoes are added after the rice has been drained.

They slightly cook in the heat of the rice. This gives the dish a refreshing flavor and variation of textures.

Helpful Hints: n White wine can be substituted for vermouth. n Any type of cooked chicken can be used.

Countdown: n Prepare all ingredients. n Start rice. n Make chicken. n Complete rice.

Shopping List: To buy: 1 medium tomato, { pound zucchini, 2 6-ounce roasted boneless, skinless chicken breasts, 1 small bottle dry vermouth, 1 small jar ground sage and 1 small package shredded, part-skim milk mozzarella cheese.

Staples: flour, olive oil, long-grain white rice, salt and black peppercorns.

SAVORY SAGE CHICKEN Recipe by Linda Gassenheimer n 2 tablespoons flour n 2 teaspoons ground sage n Salt and freshly ground black pepper n 2 6-ounce roasted, boneless, skinless chicken breasts 22 | FACETS | NOVEMBER 2018

n 1 teaspoon olive oil n 1/4 cup dry vermouth n 1/4 cup water Mix together flour, sage and salt and pepper to taste.

Roll chicken in mixture pressing flour into chicken on both sides. Heat a nonstick skillet over medium-high heat. Add chicken to skillet and cook 1 minute; turn over and cook 1 minute.

Remove to a plate and raise heat to high. Add vermouth and water and reduce for 2 to 3 minutes. Pour the sauce over chicken.

Yield 2 servings.

Per serving: 322 calories (21 percent from fat), 7.6 g fat (1.5 g saturated, 2.5 g monounsaturated), 147 mg cholesterol, 45.2 g protein, 7.5 g carbohydrates, 0.4 g fiber, 91 mg sodium

ZUCCHINI AND TOMATO RICE Recipe by Linda Gassenheimer n 1/2 cup long-grain white rice n 1/2 pound zucchini sliced, (about 2 cups) n 1 medium tomato, cut into 1-inch pieces (about 1 cup) n 1 teaspoon olive oil n 2 tablespoons, shredded, part-skim milk mozzarella cheese n Salt and freshly ground black pepper Bring a large saucepan with 2 to 3 quarts of water to a boil. Add the rice and boil 5 minutes. Add the zucchini and continue to boil 5 minutes. Drain and return rice and zucchini to the pan. Add the tomato, olive oil, mozzarella cheese and salt and pepper to taste. Toss well.

Yield 2 servings.

Per serving: 248 calories (17 percent from fat), 4.6 g fat (1.5 g saturated, 1.6 g monounsaturated), 6 mg cholesterol, 7.8 g protein, 44.3 g carbohydrates, 2.8 g fiber, 74 mg sodium ¡

Savor

ABEL URIBE/CHICAGO TRIBUNE/TNS

Full steam ahead: Sake and salmon delicately flavor salmon fillets

T

he water cycle mandates that rain drop to earth, meander through rivers, evaporate into clouds. Over and over and over. Any student with a blue crayon can sketch the schematic.

But water doesn’t care. Lately it’s been plummeting from the sky, gushing through the roof, streaming across the floor. It’s been pulling down branches, pooling in the flowerbed, rising through the sidewalk. Where’s the decorum? What happened to the cycle, with its pause between deluge and steam bath? Where’s the garden party? Indoors.

There, sullen and sodden, we think wistfully of the way puddles used to shrink. Pulling out the steamer pot, we build a model: liquid below, fish in the center, lid on top. We spike the groundwater with sake and lemon, letting the science of evaporation carry flavor to and through the salmon.

The result is a dish that’s neither dry nor wet, but perfectly moist. We smile at the stovetop ecosystem, hoping someone up there takes note, someone with a sunshine-yellow crayon.

By Leah Eskin Chicago Tribune

STEAMED SALMON Prep: 15 minutes Rest: 1 hour Cook: 9 minutes Makes: 2 servings n 1 lemon n 1/2 teaspoon kosher salt n 1/4 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper n 1/8 teaspoon sugar n 2 center-cut portions salmon fillet (6 ounces each), skin and bones removed n 6 ounces sake (1 single-serve can, 180 millliliters, would do nicely) n Warm rice or cold salad, for serving 1. Rub: Finely zest the lemon. Rub zest together with salt, pepper and sugar; set aside. Juice the lemon.

2. Marinate: Settle salmon, would-be-skin-side down, in a glass container that offers a snug fit, say the off-duty brownie pan. Pour lemon juice over salmon. Pour sake over salmon, leaving the top flesh exposed (not submerged). Set aside any unused sake. Spread lemon rub over the exposed salmon. Cover and chill, 1 hour to 1 day.

3. Steam: Lift salmon out of its marinade and settle in a steamer basket. Set aside. Pour marinade and any remaining sake into the bottom of the steamer pot. Pour in water to raise liquid to a depth of 1 inch. Bring to a boil. Fit in steamer basket, cover, lower heat to a simmer and steam until salmon is just cooked through, about 9 minutes. Lift out salmon.

4. Serve: Nice warm over rice or cold over salad. · FACETS | NOVEMBER 2018 | 23