WinnMed’s new obstetrics unit includes six LDRP rooms — or rooms suited for the labor, delivery, recovery and postpartum portions of birth. The spacious new birthing suites allow mothers and babies to remain together following birth and families to be together. Katherine and Joshua Woodhouse of Decorah are pictured here with their daughter Reese, born Jan. 2. Also pictured in the new birthing suite is the couple’s older daughter, Hannah, with grandparents Maria and Jay Mathis. (Decorah Leader photo by Samantha Ludeking)
The first baby to be born at WinnMed in Decorah arrived exactly two weeks after hospital officials held an open house to celebrate the completion of its new obstetrics unit.
The first baby of 2025 and the first baby born in the newly renovated WinnMed birthing unit was Re-
ese Dorothy Woodhouse, born Jan. 2 at 6:58 p.m. to Katherine and Joshua Woodhouse of Decorah.
The new OB unit is one of several improvements undertaken as part of WinnMed’s Transforming Tomorrow project, and staff said several aspects of the new OB unit were designed
anne Leikvold said the viewing window was one of the many design features patients requested. She noted the window provides an opportunity for large groups to see the hospital’s new arrivals without having to crowd into a patient’s room. (Decorah Leader photo by Seth Boyes)
WinnMed’s first baby of 2025, Reese, is pictured with her parents Katherine and Joshua Woodhouse and older sister Hannah. As a part of WinnMed’s Transforming Tomorrow growth and expansion project, WinnMed created a new, fully-renovated birthing unit that features all Labor, Delivery, Recovery, Postpartum (LDRP) suites, and direct access from Obstetrics to Surgery for patients needing a C-section.
(Decorah Leader photo by Samantha Ludeking)
to minimize disruptions and increase patient comfort.
“The whole goal with the labor is that we came make this so families never really have to leave the room,” said Brianne Leikvold, Win-
Dr. Dolittle opens Jan. 16
A classic tale comes to the stage in Decorah starting this week. The musical “Doctor Dolittle” by Leslie Bricuse is the New Minowa Players’ January family-friendly show, opening Jan. 16. Directed by Sheryl Sheffert, “Doctor Dolittle” is scheduled to be performed at the NMP Theatre at 906 S. Mill St. in Decorah, Jan. 16-18 at 7 p.m., Jan. 19 at 2 p.m., Jan. 24 at 7 p.m. and Jan. 25 at 2 p.m. and 7 p.m. Pictured rehearsing a scene recently are, from left: Eva Kriemelmeyer, Marlee Klimesh-Oblander, Violet Martinsen-Burrell, Laiyln McGrath and Rick Scheffert. Tickets are available at the Oneota Co-op in Decorah or online at newminowaplayers.org/tickets. (Photo by Roz Weis)
Library, Pulpit Rock Brewing to host ‘Boards and Brews’
Decorah Public Library and Pulpit Rock Brewing Company
invite adults age 21 and over to step away from their screens and step into the world of tabletop games during “Boards and Brews,” a special community-building event from 7-9 p.m. Monday, Jan. 22 at Pulpit Rock Brewing Company. The free event is to be the first in a series of community game nights and will feature a variety of classic and modern board games, along with the option for participants to bring their personal favorites
Decorah Library invites public to Toddler Thursdays
The public is invited to kick off Thursday mornings at the Decorah Public Library with two back-to-back events designed for toddlers and their caregivers. Circle Song will begin at 9:30 a.m., and attendees can groove with lively sing-alongs featuring drumming, shaking and dancing to children’s tunes. The library will then host Stay and Play at 10 a.m. Attendees may enjoy a complimentary cup of Impact Coffee while children explore social play. Toddler Thursday takes place weekly at Decorah Public Library. Programs are conducted on a drop-in basis, with no registration required.
to share and play. Beverages will be available for purchase.
“This program is all about fostering genuine human connection in a relaxed, welcoming environment,” said Zach Row-Heyveld, assistant director at Decorah Public Library. “We’re thrilled to partner with Pulpit Rock Brewing Company to offer a night of good games, great drinks, and meaningful interactions.”
For more information, contact Decorah Public Library at 563-382-3717.
DINING GUIDE
Chamber draws 20 winners in Countdown to Christmas
More than 40 of Decorah’s small businesses collaborated in the Decorah Area Chamber’s Countdown to Christmas this year. The shop local event afforded customers a chance to win gift bags for every $25 spent locally. Slips were drawn four times during the month of December, with a total of 20 winners. Each gift bag was filled with more than $200 in gift cards and prizes contributed by the local businesses.
“Our small businesses work extra hard during the holidays, create memorable in-store experiences, and take time to add holiday magic to their spaces,” said Decorah Area Chamber Director Jessical Rilling. “We are blessed to have such a diversity of stores in our town - truly making it possible to check off most of a gift list.
The Countdown to Christmas is about loving our local shops and about consumers’ commitment to buy gifts locally. We, of course, love giving out 20 gift bags, but the real gift is a strong local economy and a downtown district that can thrive.”
Winneshiek County Republicans
Karen Micheal of West
shopped
Cassie Fouts of Ossian, shopped at Magic Morpho
Anna Shewey of Decorah, shopped at Ace Kitchen Place
Mike Dahl of Cresco, shopped at Fisk Farm & Home
Dacia Bestor of Harmony, shopped at Market 52
Helen Snell of Decorah, shopped at Agora Arts
Shelly Bast of New Hampton, shopped at Rockweiler Appliance and TV
Sarah Blair of Decorah, shopped at Modish
Arlene Sinclair of Stewartville, shopped at Heavenly Made Gifts and The Gnome Store
Erica Eiken of Canton, shopped at Fisk Farm and
Home
Spencer Rix of Decorah, shopped at Cardboard Robot
Cody Mincks of Decorah, shopped at Coffee Break
Britney Todd of Decorah, shopped at Rockweiler Appliance & TV
Jeanne Gullekson of Decorah, shopped at KL Design
David Farwell of Spillville, shopped at Driftless Botanicals
Mitch Hemesath of Decorah, shopped at Fisk Farm & Home
Erica Riha of Decorah, shopped at DRiFT: Strength + Yoga Center
Tami Schmitt of Waucoma, shopped at Ace Kitchen Place
Andrew Casper of Decorah, shopped at The Perfect Edge
Jeremy Thompson of Decorah, shopped at Hammel Jewelers
The Depot Outlet in Decorah will hold its 50th Annual Meeting of Members at 1:30 p.m. Tuesday, Jan. 21 at Stone Ridge Community Church, located at 1111 Montgomery St. in Decorah. The meeting will review the financials and events of the past year and provide information regarding the grants the Depot Outlet has given to Winneshiek County organizations. The Depot Outlet will close at noon on Jan. 21 to allow staff to attend. In case of inclement weather, listen for cancellation notices on the local radio stations. The Annual Meeting of Members is open to the public, and all are welcome to attend.
(Retired Lutheran Pastor Ole Winter reminisces on his
years of life, sharing
with Driftless readers.)
The tallest tree in the grove!
For four years we lived near the “Avenue of the Giants,’ the now forever preserved great groves of colossal coastal Redwood Trees of Northern California.
Though we drove through them scores of times we never got over the feeling of awe and wonder at the majesty of these silent giants of the botany world.
Two members of our first congregation were state forest rangers and they taught me lessons about and from Redwoods. One day Ranger Ed suggested I look very closely the next time we were near that football field length in altitude tree.
“You’ll notice that it is in the very midst or center of the grove.” He explained that though Live Oaks or Madrona trees of California flourish standing alone, you never find a lone or lonely Coastal Redwood. He went on to explain that those monsters actually have a rather shallow root system and need protection from the occasional strong winter storms. Their root systems intertwine underground to support one another. They also continually challenge one another for sunlight,
while protecting each other. The most scraggily looking Redwood is on the periphery of the grove. The finest sequoia sempervirens tree is always in the heart of the grove.
The Redwood Trees teach by analogy, as in the phrase, “It takes a village to raise a child.” We humans are also, in many ways, very shallow rooted. Our long time of childhood makes us dependent on our parents and later those who are surrogate parents and mentors.! I am so thankful that even though I grew up in a small “grove,’ it was a safe, yet challenging place.
And through the years I can think of dozens of peers, elders, companions, mentors and friends that looked after me, challenged me to continue to grow and stuck with me when I needed assistance. Most of us prosper when we unashamedly, and with great satisfaction, are surrounded by others and we grow together. We do have a problem that those Redwoods do not. They are mostly silent and never seem to argue about how to support one another. The just do it. Maybe we should study those trees a bit more to learn how to improve our “grove”. Let’s keep working at it.
How to help children safely navigate social media
Social media has its fair share of proponents and detractors. For proof of the former, one need look no further than numbers, as the advisory firm Kepios reported there were 5.22 billion social media users around the world at the start of October 2024. That translates to roughly 64 percent of the global population, a percentage that might upset detractors who see social media as a largely divisive entity that research has found can have an adverse effect on the physical and mental health of its users.
Social media certainly has its ups and downs, which is perhaps why so many parents feel like governing children’s usage of platforms like Snapchat and Instagram is akin to walking a tightrope every day. Helping children safely navigate social media is no small task, but finding a way to do so can have a profound impact on youngsters’ health. The American Psychological Association offers the following recommendations to parents and caregivers concerned about the safety of youngsters using social media.
• Recognize social media
features that can be especially harmful. The APA notes that children can learn new social skills and communication strategies on social media. That’s a notable benefit of social media usage, but there are some harmful components that can be particularly detrimental to children’s still-developing brains. The APA highlights like buttons and the use of artificial intelligence as particularly harmful features because they promote excessive scrolling. Adolescents may be especially vulnerable in this regard, as the APA notes that the brain undergoes dramatic developmental changes during adolescence, when areas of the brain associated with a desire for attention from peers become more and
The impact of reading on cognitive decline
Aging and change go hand in hand. Although some may bemoan the gray hairs that start to arrive or stiffness in the knees that seems to sneak up on a person in middle age, such concerns are not necessarily enough to lose sleep over. However, many people 50 or older are nervous about the potential for cognitive issues like dementia as they grow older.
The Alzheimer’s Association estimates that 6.7 million people have Alzheimer’s disease in the United States. The Alzheimer Society of Cana-
da estimates that there were 733,040 people living with dementia in the country as of January 1, 2024. Alzheimer’s disease and other dementias can rob people of their memories, personalities and abilities to live satisfying, independent lives. While it may not be impossible to prevent all cognitive issues completely, there is reason to believe that reading could be an ally in cognitive care.
The American Academy of Neurology says that reading stimulates the brain and has been shown to slow down
more sensitive. Social media can exploit that need, which is even more dangerous because the parts of the brain that govern self-control do not fully develop until early adulthood. Parents can limit usage of platforms that tally likes and set screen limits to minimize excessive scrolling.
• Monitor usage and maintain a dialogue about it. The APA urges parents to monitor their children’s social media usage, particularly during early adolescence. But it’s equally important to maintain a dialogue with children about their social media usage. The APA notes studies have found that engaging in ongoing discussions with adolescents about safe social media usage can help them navigate its dangers more
effectively. Engaging youngsters each week also can make them feel more safe and not as though they’re being judged about their usage. Discuss what they see and their understanding of what they see. Parents also can present hypothetical situations that may unfold on social media and ask them how they would respond.
• Lead by example. Children learn many of their behaviors from their parents, so if Mom and Dad exhibit poor social media habits, then youngsters are more likely to follow suit. The APA urges parents to avoid scanning social media during meals and family time. Parents also can self-govern their own usage, setting the same limits on time as they set for children. Periodic breaks from social media usage also can show children how it’s alright to take a holiday from the platforms every once in a while. Parents have a tall task ahead of them in regard to helping kids safely navigate social media. But various strategies can increase the chances kids have a positive social media experience.
cognitive decline in old age. Reading also may help slow down memory loss.
The powers of reading were noticed more than 10 years ago when a 2013 study from researchers at Emory University measured readers’ MRI scans as they read books. They found the deeper readers went into a story, the more areas of their brains were activated.
This activity remained elevated for several days after participants finished their books.
The more a person reads, the stronger complex networks in the brain become.
Additional evidence that reading can help the brain was noted by researchers at the Texas A&M School of Public
Health. A 2024 study suggests that older people with mild cognitive impairment who engage in high levels of activities like reading, hobbies and word games have better memory, working memory, attention, and processing speed than those who do not take part in such endeavors. Furthermore, a 2021 study published in Neurology found that high levels of cognitive activity, like reading and writing letters, can delay the onset of Alzheimer’s disease by five years among those age 80 and over. Reading can keep brains functioning optimally and potentially delay age-related cognitive decline.
P ZZLE driftless
All About Cats
100 Years Ago This Month: Historical events from January 1925
independence.
The month of January has been home to many historical events over the years. Here’s a look at some that helped to shape the world in January 1925.
• Christiania, the capital city of Norway, is renamed “Oslo” on January 1.
• Violence plagues Italy on January 2 as part of the fallout of Benito Mussolini’s crackdown on opposition newspapers. Though King Victor Emmanuel III refuses to grant Mussolini the dictatorial powers the latter requested, he grants the Prime Minister tacit permission to respond to the violence how he sees fit.
• The British submarine HMS L24 sinks in the English channel on January 10. The submarine had collided with the Royal Navy battleship HMS Resolution, killing all 43 men aboard the L24.
• Al Capone survives an assassination attempt made by the North Side Gang on January 12 in Chicago. Capone was conducting business inside a State Street restaurant when the rival gang riddled his car with bullets, prompting the mobster to order a bulletproof Cadillac.
• Huddie Ledbetter, better known as “Lead Belly,” is granted a full pardon by Texas governor Pat Morris Neff on January 16. The blues musician had served seven years of his prison sentence after being found guilty of killing a relative over a fight for a woman.
Down
• Nellie Tayloe Ross is inaugurated as the Governor of Wyoming on January 5, becoming the first woman elected to a gubernatorial office in United States history.
• Bhanupratap Deo is proclaimed as the new Raja of the princely state of Kanker within British India on January 8. The 3-year-old would rule until 1947, when the princely states are abolished as India gains its
What domestic cat was bred to resemble a tiger? Goddess did ancient Egyptians worship?
1. All cats are born with what color eyes? 2. How many teeth does an adult cat have? 4. How many cats did Abraham Lincoln have in the White House? 5. What cat is nicknamed “the gentle giant”? 8. Which U.S. State had a cat for a mayor for almost
years? 10. Who was the first cartoon cat?
Optometric Technician
• Joseph Stalin fires Leon Trotsky as Commissar for Military and Navy Affairs on January 15. A prominent critic of Stalin, Trotsky is eventually murdered at his home in Mexico City by a Stalinist agent in 1940.
• “The Gentleman Bandit” Gerald Chapman is arrested in Muncie, Indiana on January 18. Chapman is apprehended thanks in part to informant Ben Hance, who is murdered in August in a killing that is believed to have been performed as retaliation for Chapman’s incarceration.
Tips to foster positive attitudes in kids
Great parents provide children with tools to help them grow and develop into successful adults. These tools often include healthy meals on the table, opportunities to hang out and socialize with friends, a good education, a feeling of safety and security, and much more. Yet some parents may overlook another key resource that could lead to a happier and more successful life: positivity.
According to Informed Families/The Florida Family Partnership, a positive attitude is an important attribute for children
to develop and maintain. A positive mindset can help kids feel more confident and capable. A positive attitude also may assist kids when they’re faced with adversity and stressful situations. Some people are naturally glasshalf-full types, while others may need a little reassurance to embrace a positive attitude. A positive attitude is marked by optimism, enthusiasm and a sense of possibility.
A child does not need to brim with positivity all of the time. Sadness, shame and guilt can help individuals process difficult times and show they are human.
A pressure to think positively all of the time and be constantly cheerful can turn happiness into a burden, according to Danish psychologist and researcher Svend Brinkmann. Rather, parents can teach kids to accept all emotions and process them in healthy ways while encouraging positive thinking. Here are some ideas for get started.
• Help others. Helping others through volunteerism can help children learn to associate doing positive things with feeling good
about oneself. It is hard for children to be in a bad mood when they see the smiles on the faces of people on the receiving end of their compassion and support.
• Be a good role model. Children learn many behaviors from watching and listening to their parents. Children who see Mom and Dad bouncing back from setbacks and exhibiting a willingness to give things another try are more likely to do the same.
• Brainstorm other options. Children tend to see things in black and white. The adults in their lives can help them see ways around obstacles rather than just throwing in the towel. One option is to set small goals that are achieveable so they can celebrate small successess rather than aiming entirely for the end goal.
• Surround oneself with posi-
tive messaging. Listening to music, reading books or watching movies with positive messages can reinforce positive affirmations and thoughts. It’s easier to maintain a positive attitude when that’s all you know.
• Practice affirmations as a family. Life throws challenges at everyone, but some supportive words along the way can make all the difference. Big Life Journal, which offers tools for parents, teachers and counselors to help kids grow up confident, says affirmations like “I am enough” or “I am kind” can change attitudes. And everyone should remember failing is not always a negative. Failure can be the first step toward learning an important lesson.
Fostering a positive mindset in children may take a little time, but it can be achieved and ultimately pay numerous dividends.
Healing Wounds Faster.
Oneota Valley Community Orchestra held an out-of-this-world performance Sunday, Jan. 5, at Decorah High School as they tackled songs from big screen science fiction movies including “E.T. the Extraterrestrial,” “Alien,” “Apollo 13,” “Star Wars” and “Star Trek.” Picture here: “Princess Leia” Anastasia Rocksvold’s only hope is her stormtrooper son, Russel Rocksvold (Decorah Leader photo by Denise Lana) More photos from the performance can be found in the January 9 Decorah Leader in print and online at decorahleader.com.
JANUARY CLEARANCE! JANUARY
Vesterheim Museum to host online talk with
‘Leading with Our Hearts’ exhibit artists
(Photos submitted)
Closeouts, Floor Samples, and Overstocks!
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Sale Prices on Special Order Items Included!
Vesterheim, the National Norwegian-American Museum and Folk Art School, will host an online conversation at 1 p.m. Jan. 12 with the artists of the museum’s exhibit, “Leading with Our Hearts: Nordic, Sami, and Ojibwe Designs From Nature.” The public may register for a Zoom link to this free event by visiting vesterheim.org/program/ leading-with-our-hearts-conversation-artists.
Artists Alison Aune, Chi Ma’iingan, Laurel Sanders, Wendy Savage and Marlene Wisuri will talk about their contributions to the exhibit as well as the cultural and ancestral roots of their work in textiles, wood and paint.
Influenced by her experiences as an art professor and interest in and study of ancestral Nordic folk art, Alison Aune of Duluth, Minnesota, creates contemporary pattern-filled and color-rich paintings depicting individuals, symbolic artifacts and floral imagery. A former chief of police for the Fond du Lac
Reservation from Cloquet, Minnesota, Chi Ma’iingan is a designer and maker of contemporary fabric-appliquéd Ojibwe regalia. Laurel Sanders of Duluth is an art educator and recipient of a 2024 American-Scandinavian Foundation Fellowship to study Sami band-weaving in Norway. Sanders is a board member of the Sami Cultural Center of North America in Duluth. Wendy Savage of Duluth is an art educator and contemporary Ojibwe artist, who shares the stories through her paint and fabric creations. Marlene Wisuri of Duluth is of Finnish-Sami heritage. Wisuri is an author and photographer as well as the director of the Sámi Cultural Center of North America in Duluth.
The “Leading with Our Hearts” exhibit is open through April 13 at Vesterheim and is made possible by a gift to the Vesterheim Annual Fund in memory of Floy Anderson Sauey by her daughters.
