* Deb Roach, Project Joy help fight childhood hunger
* Rosie Loeffler-Kemp has the heart of a community servant
* Museum curator loves sharing veterans' stories, memories
JENNIFER LIEN IS FINDING her voice inside...
GROUP PUBLISHER
NEAL RONQUIST
EXECUTIVE EDITOR
RICK LUBBERS
ADVERTISING ACCOUNT EXECUTIVES
ALI CARLSON
KIM QUINONES
SCOTT BLATCHFORD
ALIX CRAFT
LAYOUT AND DESIGN
TASHA KENYON
PRODUCTION COORDINATOR
JULIE SCHULZ
CONTRIBUTORS
AMY CARLSON
ANDREA BUSCHE
AUDRA FLANAGAN
BETHANY KEMI
BRIANA FIANDT
CHRIS P. LIM
DEB ROACH
DEREK MONTGOMERY
JANNA GOERDT
JENNIFER LIEN
KIM QUINONES
MEGAN SHANER
MOLLY MILROY
ROSIE LOEFFLER-KEMP
TOM KROB
UNIVERSITY OF WISCONSIN-SUPERIOR
ZACHARY RUFUS
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ON THE COVER
Soprano Jennifer Lien, wanting to connect with her Asian American Identity, co-founded the Twin Ports APIDA (Asian, Pacific Islander, Desi American) Collective to help lift up that community. Lien teaches at The College of St. Scholastica.
PHOTO BY DEREK MONTGOMERY
TO OUR READERS
Hello, Woman Today readers!
I am continually amazed at the talent and precision demonstrated by our nation’s fighter pilots. That unique teamwork and aerial artistry was displayed beautifully by the United States Air Force Thunderbirds during their shows at the Duluth Air and Aviation Expo in May.
Those same traits also are demonstrated daily by the 148th Fighter Wing pilots and maintenance workers. Those flights begin and end with the 148th’s talented mechanics ensuring each incredibly high-tech jet is ready for flight and able to complete the mission at hand. They also spend countless hours poring over the aircraft after those flights and missions are completed.
In this magazine, you will meet Tech. Sgt. Kamille Korpela, Staff Sgt. Lydia Bennis and Tech. Sgt. Bethany Kemi. All three women are invaluable members of the 148th team who add their own talent and precision to the overall success of the Fighter Wing.
Thanks for picking up this issue of The Woman Today. We hope your summer is off to a great start, and we greatly appreciate you spending a part of your busy summer with our magazine. Here are some of the stories we’re excited to share with you in this issue:
• You’ll meet Jennifer Lien, a talented soprano using her incredible voice to create culture within her music.
• Project Joy exists to combat childhood hunger, and Deb Roach is one of the organization’s driving forces.
• Want to know what a community servant looks like? Meet Rosie LoefflerKemp and learn more about how she serves the Northland community.
• Learn how the University of Wisconsin-Superior has achieved a Military Friendly School designation for 15 consecutive years.
Thanks for spending some of your time reading The Woman Today. Your readership is greatly appreciated.
Rick Lubbers
Executive editor, Duluth Media Group
Looking childhood hunger in the face — and working to end it
Project
Deb Roach
Joy volunteers expand outreach programs this summer
By Janna Goerdt
Deb
Roach
knows what the face of childhood hunger looks like.
She saw it when she was a special education teacher in Cloquet. She saw it on her own mother’s face when she talked about growing up during the Depression and having very little. Today, she sees it when she volunteers with Project Joy, a nonprofit agency that gets food to hungry children.
This summer, Project Joy is expanding its outreach, partnering with the Union Gospel Mission to deliver bags of easy-to-prepare food
From left, Cathy
Deb
Katie Hagglund and Laura Plys are pictured after a Project Joy fundraiser. Project Joy works to get food to children in need in the Northland. The organization was created in memory of Laura's husband, community activist Patrick Plys. Hagglund is the director of the Union Gospel Mission, which partners with Project Joy to distribute “Joy Bags” filled with easy-to-prepare food.
Photos courtesy of Deb Roach
Rikkola,
Roach,
If you are hungry, you can’t learn.
— which they call “joy bags” — farther outside the Duluth community.
“You just don’t realize what’s around you,” Roach said. “But when you teach, you start to see (childhood hunger). It’s everywhere.”
Roach taught in the Cloquet schools for more than 31 years, retiring eight years ago. She first discovered the need to help students, even young students, find enough food to eat during her teaching career in Cloquet. She recalls a young girl who was hanging around her classroom once school had ended.
“She asked me, ‘Do you have any of your snacks left?’” Roach remembers. She spoke to the girl’s teacher and learned she had a very difficult home life, with food access being just one of the issues. After that conversation, Roach made sure to always have extra snacks on hand.
And she started to recognize the signs of child hunger. After all, she said, if you are hungry, you can’t learn. Many volunteers with Project Joy first encountered the issue in schools, she said.
Bill and Deb
After Roach retired, she continued to volunteer in the community. Roach, who lives north of Duluth, is also an avid curler. She knew the Plys family — including Patrick Plys, a well-known community activist who was “larger than life,” Roach said. Patrick Plys died in 2012 after a 17-year battle with brain cancer. His family started Project Joy in his memory, with the goal of working quickly and efficiently to get food in the hands of children who need it.
Project Joy works with area Super One grocery stores to buy $50 gift
cards, which are given to staff at local schools and the Duluth Police Department so they can be easily handed out to students who need them. That’s the kind of immediate and flexible help Project Joy can deliver, Roach said.
“It’s to get kids food when they don’t have access to food,” she said.
Project Joy has also started working closely with local social service organizations to extend their reach in the community.
This summer, volunteers will work to distribute food to children
of Duluth love to travel and engage in the community. Deb, a retired special education teacher with the Cloquet schools, volunteers many hours of her time these days to Project Joy, as well as other programs that help vulnerable people gain access to food.
From left, Laura Plys, Cathy Rikkola and Deb
of Project Joy accept a donation from the Superior Elks Club to help area children in need of food.
Left:
Roach
Right:
Roach
who need it in Carlton and Pine counties, a first for the organization.
Project Joy was initially affiliated with Second Harvest Heartland, Roach said, but for the last five years they have operated on their own. That gives them more flexibility to respond where they feel the need is greatest, Roach said.
It also means they are responsible for raising a lot more money — and that’s where the curling connection comes in.
Project Joy’s connection to the curling community has brought a lot of attention and resources to the program, Roach said. Patrick Plys’ sons, Chris and Daniel, are both involved in high-level international curling, which led to a high-level bonspiel in November to raise funds for Project Joy. People come from across the country to attend the event, Roach said, and in recent years the event has raised more than $100,000 for Project Joy.
Being able to do something as simple as get food to hungry children is satisfying, in the way that her career as a special education teacher used to be satisfying, she said. Roach taught many students with physical disabilities in the Cloquet schools. Some she still keeps in touch with, and some made a lifelong impact on her as a teacher and a community member.
She began her teaching career just as the concept of integrating special education students into traditional classrooms was beginning. Roach loved the idea almost all of the time. Once in a while, she said, a traditional classroom just wasn’t right for her students. But her students greatly benefitted from the friendships they developed with traditional students, she said. And traditional students learned compassion and acceptance of people with a wide range of abilities.
She recalls a student with Down syndrome who loved to play football, so the football team invited him to play casual games together. And another student who had grand mal seizures so often that, one day when the student had a seizure on the school tennis court, other students jumped in with the proper assistance. Roach thought that level of acceptance and responsibility from fellow students was touching and remarkable.
In her spare time, Roach also volunteers with the Groceries to
Go program, where volunteers take grocery orders from seniors over the phone, then pick up the groceries and deliver them to their door. It’s just another way to improve community access to food — and simply jump in to solve a community problem.
“It’s so rewarding,” Roach said. “And it’s not hard.”
To learn more about Project Joy, visit www.projectjoynorthland.com or search for them on Facebook. *
Janna Goerdt is an Iron Range farmer and freelance writer.
From left, Deb Roach, Penny Derauf, The Duluth Huskies mascot, Laura Plys and Nancy Olson volunteer on behalf of Project Joy at a Duluth Huskies game. Project Joy is expanding its outreach into Carlton and Pine counties this summer to assist more children who have food access issues.
Asian American soprano singer is bringing her own culture to the stage,
and finding her true voice along the way
By Janna Goerdt
Jennifer Lien
Jennifer Lien is finally finding her voice.
Actually, she has been singing for many years, traveling across the country to bring classical opera and musical theater to the stage.
In just the past few years, the Duluth soprano has appeared on stage with the Singapore Symphony Orchestra and at the Sing Song Club in Singapore, virtually at the San Francisco International Piano Festival, and locally with her debut as the mother in “Hansel and Gretel” with the Lyric Opera of the North.
But it has only been in recent years, as Lien has leaned into her identity as an Asian American, that she has truly found her voice. Lien recently commissioned three new song cycles by Asian American composers, set to texts by Asian American writers.
The new works will be a big departure from the classical European compositions Lien has been singing for years, and she is thrilled to be lifting up her childhood culture. Lien grew up in Singapore.
“This feels extremely authentic and life-giving to me,” she said.
She will premiere the new works at an Oct. 10 performance at the Schubert Club in St. Paul, before traveling to colleges in Greater Minnesota. Lien received a grant from the Minnesota State Arts Board to commission the works.
WHERE TOMORROW IS BUILT
SPECIALISTS
• STEAM
• AMERICAN
•
• OUTDOOR EDUCATION
• ART
• PHYSICAL EDUCATION
• MUSIC
CORE SUBJECTS
• MATH
• READING
• WRITING
• SOCIAL STUDIES
• SCIENCE
Soprano Jennifer Lien works with composer Joe Hisaishi in concert with the Singapore Symphony Orchestra in 2020. Lien grew up in Singapore and has lived in Duluth for nearly 11 years.
Photos courtesy of Jennifer Lien
Called to sing
Lien didn’t start singing until she was in college. Her mother was a pop singer in the 1960s and ’70s in Taiwan and Hong Kong, performing under the stage name Gu Lan, which means “ancient orchid” in Chinese.
“When I was little, I remember watching her on TV,” Lien said. “She retired when I was a little girl, and she never wanted her children to follow in her footsteps.”
Her parents wanted her to have an education, so that’s what Lien did. After earning a degree in journalism and landing a job with The Business Times in Singapore, Lien was asked to open a new bureau in Silicon Valley for the financial newspaper.
But the life of a singer was calling her. After fulfilling her commitment to The Business Times, Lien went back to school and dove into music.
Telling her own story
She was trained to sing the Western classical style of music, “the white, male composers from long ago,” she said. Lien revels in the act of singing, of telling a story with her voice, of connecting with audiences. But about eight years ago she started to question what she was using her voice for.
“I was feeling like in some ways I had turned my back on my culture of origin,” Lien said. “I was wanting to connect with my Asian American identity.”
Lien went searching for more works by Asian American composers — but there just aren’t that many.
“There are a good number of Asian composers working today,” but the experiences aren’t the same, Lien said. “… the stories of Asian Americans are extremely distinct, because of their American history.”
As an adjunct music faculty at the College of St. Scholastica, Lien has also tried to broaden her students’ cultural experiences. For a pandemic project, Lien encouraged her students to explore the works of Black
composers and singers like Florence Price, the first Black female composer to have her music performed by a symphony orchestra in the United States. Lien’s students compiled YouTube videos of themselves in their rooms, performing Price’s works from the 1930s.
The project felt meaningful to Lien, she said. Students were expanding their repertoires and learning more
about the broad depth of music’s long history, even if some of that history has been mostly forgotten.
“Then I started looking to how I could decolonize my own repertoire, with something that represented my own experience, and I had a very hard time,” Lien said. “There was very little I could use for a recital for the Asian American experience.”
Jennifer Lien's mother was a pop singer in Hong Kong and Taiwan in the 1960s, working under the stage name Gu Lan. She did not want Lien to follow in her performance footsteps, urging her daughter to get an education instead. Lien ended up doing both.
Jennifer Lien has performed opera and other classical music on stages across the country as well as in Singapore. In recent years she has been more focused on exploring and singing music that represents the Asian American experience
Photos by Chris P. Lim
Jennifer Lien of Duluth helped found the Twin Ports APIDA Collective, which lifts up people of Asian, Pacific Islander and Desi American descent who live in the Twin Ports region. Members of APIDA paddled in the Lake Superior Dragon Boat Festival in 2023, the first time a team of people of primarily Asian and Pacific Islander descent took part in the festival. Dragon Boat racing originated in China about 2,000 years ago.
Well, Lien thought, I’ll just have to make this happen.
“The way to combat culture you don’t like is to make more culture,” and she set out to create the pieces she wanted to sing.
“I’m trying to say we should be able to tell our own stories,” she said.
Lifting up the Asian American community
That’s also what Lien and members of the Twin Ports APIDA (Asian, Pacific Islander, Desi American) Collective are trying to do in the Duluth/Superior community.
For the first six or so years that Lien and her husband lived in Duluth, “I could count the number of Asian Americans I knew on one hand,” she said. While they maintained many great friendships in the community, the couple felt culturally isolated.
In March 2021, following a shooting in Atlanta in which six of the eight people killed were women of Asian descent, Lien helped organize a vigil in Duluth to pay tribute to the victims. So many people showed up that it became clear to Lien that there is an Asian American community in the Twin Ports. Lien cofounded the collective to help lift up that community.
The collective is now in its third year. They put on an art show at the Duluth Art Institute, paddled a dragon boat — dragon boats originated in China about 2,000 years ago — at the Lake Superior Dragon Boat Festival, and often gather around food and cultural festivals. The collective works hard to make Asian American high school and college students in the Twin Ports feel they have a supportive community to turn to, in the hopes these young people will stay and make a life in the area.
Raising her voice in this way is also very meaningful, Lien said.
“This is the first time the Asian community has stepped forward in a meaningful way in the Twin Ports, Lien said. “We are here.” *
Janna Goerdt is an Iron Range farmer and freelance writer.
Members of the Twin Ports APIDA Collective gather in the fall of 2023 to cook traditional food for the fall Harvest Moon dinner.
Duluthian is next-level community servant
By Andrea Busche
Duluthian Rosie Loeffler-Kemp is always on the go. She has two jobs, many civic and volunteer engagements, and a home and family to attend to. And she wouldn’t have it any other way.
“My dad died young, and three of my brothers also died fairly young,” she noted. “So, I try to fill my days to the fullest, and live every day like it’s my last.”
Youth
Loeffler-Kemp grew up in the small rural community of Hallock, Minnesota. She was one of 10 children born to Francis and Adeline Loeffler.
While neither of her parents were high school graduates, they placed a high value on education for their children. They also built a successful construction business from scratch.
Tragically, Francis passed away when Rosie was just 14. Adeline became the rock for her family and took over running the family business. For Rosie, the lessons learned in youth have remained touchstones throughout adulthood.
Rosie LoefflerKemp
Rosie Loeffler-Kemp is pictured here with her mother, Adeline Loeffler.
Photos courtesy of Rosie Loeffler-Kemp
“I’ve gained a lot of wisdom from my mom,” she said. “She died in 2019, but I think about her every day. It was pretty impressive that she took over the construction business, especially as a woman in that day and age.”
Loeffler-Kemp met her husband, Ken, early in life. The two were high school sweethearts and have been married for 38 years. The couple decided to hyphenate their last names upon marriage; a progressive choice for rural Minnesotans in the 1970s.
College
Loeffler-Kemp attended Mayville State University for two years. Later, both Ken and Rosie attended St. Cloud State University. Ken earned a degree in economics, and Rosie in social work.
Studying in Denmark for a year during college was transformative for Loeffler-Kemp.
“I really grew a lot during that experience. It helped me understand the world,” she said.
Loeffler-Kemp later returned to college, earning a master’s degree in social work from the University of Minnesota Duluth in 2015.
Duluth
After college, the Loeffler-Kemps moved to the Twin Cities. Rosie got a job in nonprofit political advocacy at Clean Water Action. Later, her job transfers brought the family to Rochester and, finally, in 1994, Duluth.
“We had both spent time here, and called relocating to Duluth our ‘strategic move,’” she explained. “Duluth has great public schools, Lake Superior and was a great place to raise a family.”
The family settled in the Lester Park neighborhood, where they remain today.
Career
Loeffler-Kemp remained at Clean Water Action until 2009. Next, she worked as a tutor and volunteer coordinator for the Minnesota Reading Corps, and did some contract work for a couple of environmental nonprofits.
Today, she works at Gayle Koop Foster Care, where she provides services for at-risk children and teens. She also works as the local
Rosie Loeffler-Kemp is shown here with Annie Harala, a St. Louis County Commissioner and former Duluth Public Schools board member. Harala has been active with Citizens In Action, and she has joined Loeffler-Kemp on the planning committee and as an opening speaker and facilitator.
coordinator for Education First — an organization that facilitates high school foreign exchange programs.
She explained her passion for this work. “Ken and I have hosted several exchange students over the years,” Loeffler-Kemp said. “We think it’s a wonderful way to build international diplomacy and relationships with students and families from around the world.
“I also enjoy giving back in this way after my experience in Denmark,” she added. “I am still in touch with some of the people I met there in 1982-1983.”
Civic engagements
Upon moving to Duluth, LoefflerKemp knew she wanted to become deeply involved in her new community. She started with what she knew: organizations that affected her own family.
She became active with the PTA at Lester Park Elementary, Ordean Middle School and Duluth East High School; also serving on the PTA’s state board and as the Minnesota state president. She got involved in the Girl Scouts, too, where she ultimately served as a troop leader for 20 years.
CONTINUED ON PAGE 24
As a Duluth Public Schools board member, Rosie enjoys spending time with the students. She is shown here with East High School junior Mia Patronas, left, and senior Ella Abenth.
Skin Care Products
She became an active member of the League of Women Voters, and later, a co-president. In 1999, Loeffler-Kemp founded the league’s annual Citizens in Action event (held each January) and has chaired the event every year since.
She was elected to serve on the ISD 709 School Board in 2013 and remains in this role today.
“It’s an honor and a privilege to serve as a School Board member,” she said. “It goes back to the story of my parents not having their high school diplomas, but deeply valuing education. Being a first-generation college student is a big part of my story.”
Other engagements include volunteer work for her church, Lutheran Church of the Good Shepherd, and serving
on the boards for Community Action Duluth (2015-2021) and the Great Lakes Aquarium (2017-present).
Of her prolific service, LoefflerKemp said, “I value service and what makes a community a great one. I think a great community is one where all citizens are actively engaged.”
Personal
Rosie and Ken have four adult children and one grandchild. They also enjoy spending time with their extensive “adopted family” in Duluth.
“We’ve never lived where we had extended family,” Loeffler-Kemp said. “So we create family wherever we go. We’re so grateful for how welcoming Duluth has been to us. I cherish the rich diversity of people in my life.”
In her spare time, she enjoys baking, snowshoeing and reading. The couple also enjoys tent camping — particularly at state parks. They recently returned from Austin, Texas, where they traveled to watch the solar eclipse on April 8.
Ken works as a field representative and negotiator for the AFSCME Union. Both are also very committed to their church.
Advice
For those who want to give back, it can be a challenge to determine where to give our time. LoefflerKemp shared a few tidbits of wisdom on the topic.
“I would say think about what you’re passionate about and then find an organization to get involved with,” she said. “There are so many great organizations in Duluth and the region. Just know that you’ll get so much back by stepping outside of your comfort zone and volunteering.” *
Andrea Busche is a Duluth-based freelance writer and small-business owner. She has been a frequent contributor to The Woman Today since 2008.
Moving to Duluth brought Rosie Loeffler-Kemp and her husband, Ken, closer to Lake Superior where they spend a lot of time at Brighton Beach.
Rosie Loeffler-Kemp and her husband, Ken, are shown here with part of their family: Mariah, Seth and Hannah.
Essentia Health neurology team ‘saved my life’
By Anthony Matt
The morning of Nov. 11, 2022, started out like most for 59-yearold Kari Budge — on the porch with coffee in one hand and a cigarette in the other.
For weeks Kari had been experiencing blurry vision and dizziness. When she went back inside, she felt a sudden, hot pain moving up her neck, culminating in a “thunderclap” headache.
“I called my daughter Erin immediately; I knew something wasn’t right,” Kari said.
The last thing she remembers is saying “help” before passing out.
Kari was rushed to a nearby hospital emergency department. A CT scan showed she had suffered a ruptured brain aneurysm, a type of stroke that involves bleeding and requires a high level of care. She was taken to Essentia Health-St. Mary’s Medical Center in Duluth, where the stroke and interventional neurology team sprang into action.
“I spent the drive to Duluth worried we’d be planning her funeral,” said Emily, one of Kari’s four daughters. “We lost our dad when we were young, and the thought of losing our mom was more than any of us could handle.”
Fortunately, Dr. Vikram Jadhav (“Dr. Vic”), an interventional neurologist at St. Mary’s, and his team were ready to help.
A ruptured brain aneurysm is lifethreatening. It needs to be treated quickly, and St. Mary’s provides this potentially life-saving care around the clock.
Upon being contacted by the first hospital that treated Kari, Dr. Vic said, “We immediately reviewed Kari’s CT scans remotely and provided specific recommendations in realtime for initial medical care and for EMS during her transfer. Our multidisciplinary team was ready as soon as she arrived at St. Mary’s. Kari was stabilized in the Neuro ICU and immediately taken for endovascular treatment.”
“Dr. Vic and his care team saved my life,” Kari said.
Kari was treated by having a small web mesh-like device (Woven EndoBridge or WEB) inserted directly into the aneurysm. This minimally invasive procedure is accomplished by gaining access into a blood vessel in the arm or groin using a catheter, and then advancing a microcatheter into the brain aneurysm using fluoroscopic guidance. St. Mary’s is the first hospital in the Northland to use WEB technology to treat brain aneurysms. Essentia Health-St. Mary’s Medical Center is a certified Advanced Thrombectomy Capable Stroke Center. As a nationally recognized stroke center, we have the ability to care for the most severe types of strokes and offer new treatments.
“Kari had an excellent recovery due to timely interventions and exceptional care in the Neuro ICU,” Dr. Vic said.
“Everyone at Essentia did their job to help me, but they also got to know me as a person and not just a patient,” Kari said. “They listened to all my questions and made sure I was taken care of.”
Kari is back to 100%, something she attributes to Essentia’s stroke and interventional neurology program led by Dr. Vic. Kari was discharged from the hospital to stroke rehab, where she worked with a multifaceted team that helps patients with strokes and brain injuries gain functional independence.
“My aftercare is wonderful,” Kari said. “My therapy team has worked so closely with me to make sure I’m on track and doing what I need to be doing to have a full recovery.”
At the urging of Dr. Vic, Kari has quit smoking and cut back on drinking — both risk factors for suffering a stroke. She said she’s feeling better every day and wants people to understand their health is important.
“You’re not just one person,” Kari said. “You’re a family member and a friend. People need you. It’s easy to get so busy getting through your dayto-day that you forget to live — but find time to go to the doctor and take care of your health.”
Kari and her daughters are so thankful for Dr. Vic that they held an “I survived” party on the one-year anniversary of her aneurysm. To mark the occasion, her four daughters made custom T-shirts with Dr. Vic’s face on them and some of the words of wisdom he’d imparted on them during those emotional weeks.
“We kind of fight over who gets to take our mom to her appointments with Dr. Vic,” said Kara, another of Kari’s daughters. “But I’ve invited him to my wedding so I’m sure I’m his favorite now.” *
Anthony Matt is the media relations specialist at Essentia Health.
Kari Budget celebrates her one-year survivor party with three of her four daughters: Kara, Kenna and Erin.
Photo courtesy of Essentia
Arts & Entertainment Calendar
Music in the Park Concert Series
TUESDAYS IN JULY
Free concerts take place from 6:30-8 p.m. July 2 - Sydney Hansen (country/rock) at Chester Bowl Park; July 9 - Cyr and the Cosmonauts (eclectic Americanan) at Chester Bowl Park; July 16 - Mary Bue & the Monarchy (indie rock) at Chester Bowl Park; July 23Big Wave Dave and the Ripples (funk/soul) at Lincoln Park; July 30 - Slapdash Bluegrass at Lincoln Park. Visit chesterbowl.org.
Movies in the Park
JULY-AUGUST
This eight-week series features free, familyfriendly movies shown on a giant outdoor screen in Leif Erikson Park on Fridays: July 12 - Barbie; July 19 - E.T.; July 26 - Back to the Future; Aug. 2 - Trolls Band Together; Aug. 9 - The Color Purple (2023); Aug. 16 - Kung Fu Panda; Aug. 23 - Wonka; Aug. 30 - Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Mutant Mayhem. Visit downtownduluth.com/movies-in-the-park.
Duluth Fourth Fest
4 P.M. JULY 4
Duluth’s annual celebration at Bayfront Festival Park features live music throughout the day and fireworks at 10:10 p.m. Visit visitduluth.com.
Duluth Taco Festival
1 P.M. JULY 6
Party in the Park with Hairball
4 P.M. JULY 3
Hairball performs its 13th annual Party in the Park at Bayfront Festival Park. Visit bayfrontfestivalpark.com.
Concerts on the Pier
JULY-AUGUST
Held
Wednesdays at Glensheen, concerts are free and open to the public. See lineup at glensheen.org/concerts.
We make every effort to ensure the accuracy of this information. However, you should always call ahead to confirm dates, times, location, and other information.
Enjoy tacos, a cash bar, live music, and some of the best views of Duluth from the DECC’s Pioneer Hall, right by the William A. Irvin. There will be up to 20 different varieties of tacos. Visit decc.org.
Trampled by Turtles
6 P.M. JULY 6
Duluth’s own hometown boys return to Bayfront Festival Park with Houndmouth. Visit decc.org.
Downtown Duluth Sidewalk Days
JULY 10-12
Superior Street shuts down to traffic for three days of sidewalk shopping, food, entertainment and fun. Highlights include the Classic Car Show, the YMCA Sidewalk Shuffle 5K, the Duluth Children’s Museum Imagination Playground, the Lake Superior Zoo’s Zoomobile and more. Visit downtownduluth.com.
9 to 5: The Musical
JULY 12-28
The hit Broadway musical, based on the iconic 1980 movie, comes to the Duluth Playhouse. Visit duluthplayhouse.org.
Festival by the Lake
11 A.M. JULY 13
This annual event features ethic and American food, plenty of live music, craft and business vendors and lots of family fun, all at Bayfront Festival Park. Visit festivalbythelake.com.
Grand Marais Arts Festival
JULY 13-14
This juried fine-arts festival features over 60 artisans showing their work in downtown Grand Marais. Visit grandmaraisartcolony.org/ events/arts-festival.
Tour
of
Homes & Gardens
10 A.M. JULY 17
The 56th annual event will feature five homes including the Duluth Woman’s Club house, the Cotton Mansion, and three gardens. Get maps and directions with a ticket purchase. Visit duluthwomansclub.com or call 218-724-3186.
Brantley Gilbert
6 P.M. JULY 18
With back-to-back Platinum albums and a grassroots following millions strong, Brantley Gilbert will perform his Off The Rails Tour at Bayfront Festival Park. Visit decc.org.
Lutsong Music Festival
JULY 19-21
This third annual outdoor event will feature artisans, musicians, vendors, food, drink and fun on the North Shore at Caribou Highlands. Visit lutsongmusicfestival.com.
50th Anniversary of Prairie Home Companion
7 P.M. JULY 19
Celebrate the 50th anniversary of this classic live radio variety show with Garrison Keillor at Bayfront Festival Park. Visit jadepresents.com.
Bayfront Reggae & World Music Festival
NOON JULY 20
This 18th annual event is a celebration of world music whose artists spread the message of love, hope and equality for all people worldwide. Bring your flag and wave it proudly. Visit bayfrontworldmusic.com.
Straight No Chaser Summer: The 90s
7 P.M. JULY 24
This nine-man a cappella group, who recently celebrated their 25th anniversary, will perform at the DECC’s Symphony Hall. Visit decc.org.
Finn Fest 2024
JULY 24-28
Välkommen! This 41st annual event celebrates Finnish and Finnish American culture with tours, dances, films, seminars, games, music, art, workshops, demonstrations and more, all at the DECC. Visit finnfest.us.
All Pints North Summer Brewfest
3:30 P.M. JULY 27
Enjoy great Minnesotamade beer and beverages, live music and entertainment at Bayfront Festival Park. Visit mncraftbrew.org/events/ all-pints-north.
Spirit Valley Days
AUG. 1-3
This annual three-day extravaganza celebrates the neighborhood of West Duluth with a pageant, parade, craft and vendor fair, music, pancake breakfast and car show. Visit spiritvalleydays.com.
City on the Hill Music Festival AUG. 2-3
Enjoy Christian, faith-based music at Bayfront Festival Park. Visit: cityonthehillmusicfest.com.
ONGOING:
Duluth Children’s Museum 115 S. 29th Ave. W., Duluth 218-733-7543 duluthchildrensmuseum.org
Duluth Depot 506 W. Michigan St., Duluth 218-727-8025 duluthdepot.org
Douglas County Historical Society 1101 John Ave., Superior 715-392-8449 douglashistory.org
Glensheen Historic Estate 3300 London Road, Duluth 218-726-8910 glensheen.org
Great Lakes Aquarium
353 Harbor Dr., Duluth 218-740-3474 glaquarium.org
The birth of the Plus One Doula Program
A collaboration between Aspirus St. Luke’s and Doulas of Duluth breaks down barriers
By Claire Kiger
W
hen Willem Cummings was born, his parents feared the worst.
“He was given an Apgar (a measurement of a newborn baby’s overall health) score of 2, when 7 to 10 is normal,” said his mom, Mallory Cummings, RN, Aspirus St. Luke’s Maternal Child Health Project manager. “It was absolutely awful. We didn’t know if he was going to make it.”
Even after Willem’s condition improved, Mallory found herself haunted by the traumatic experience. When asked what she would have done differently, she said, “My
birthing team did such a great job, but I would have loved to have had a doula as a birth witness to process things afterwards. It would have made a huge difference.”
Doulas offer numerous benefits, including improved patient experience, reduced risk of complications and negative outcomes, lower likelihood of maternal mental health issues, quicker labor progression, and up to a 40% decrease in the need for C-sections, along with fewer interventions.
The problem? Not everyone can afford a doula.
“In 2021, there wasn’t anyone in the Duluth area providing this service who could be reimbursed through Medicaid. That left nearly half of the birthing population without access,” Mallory explained. “Having a doula was a privilege, and I knew we could do better than that. So I set out to find a way to make this service more accessible.”
Building partnerships and securing support
Mallory’s first step was contacting Dana Morrison, owner of Doulas of Duluth. The two had become well acquainted during Mallory’s five years as a labor and delivery nurse.
“When Mallory told me she wanted to create a program that gives more women the chance to benefit from the care of a doula, I was so excited,” Dana said. “We wanted to help in any way we could.”
With a community partner secured, Mallory’s next step was acquiring internal support and approval to explore funding. She began searching and came across the Bush Foundation’s Community Innovation Grant. Soon, she and a team from St. Luke’s and St. Luke’s Foundation met with a grantmaking officer at the Bush Foundation.
Mallory Cummings and Dana Morrison are proud to be part of increasing birth equity in the Duluth area
Photo by Rendulich Photography, courtesy of St. Luke’s.
“About a year later, we received a $1.7 million grant,” Mallory said. “We were all thrilled.”
How the program works
Today, all qualifying Aspirus St. Luke’s patients can receive financial assistance to hire a doula. They simply need to plan to deliver at Aspirus St. Luke’s Birthing Center and be less than 28 weeks gestation when they apply. With a partial scholarship, they will only be responsible for $650. Limited full scholarships are also available for those experiencing financial hardships.
Care begins with a free consultation with Doulas of Duluth. This helps patients pick the right doula. Before their delivery, they’ll have a few meetings with their doula to build rapport, discuss birth preferences and receive education.
The doula will be with the patient throughout labor, offering support.
They’ll also stay a couple of hours post-birth to ensure the patient is comfortable. The doula will then visit the patient’s home several times after the baby is born.
Dana, who has been recruiting and training to expand her team, now works with a diverse group of 12 from all different walks of life.
“I’m extremely proud to stand next to each doula on our team,” she said. “They’re all connecting with people in their specific communities and making such a difference.”
Bringing birth equity to Duluth and beyond
However, Mallory’s and Dana’s goals are aimed higher than simply making a difference in their local community. Ultimately, they hope to change Minnesota legislation.
“Rhode Island became the first state where doulas are covered –
regardless of your insurance,” Mallory said. “Why can’t we do that here? If we can show through our outcomes that increasing access makes birth more equitable, that will give us a strong platform to speak from.”
For Dana, this partnership builds appreciation for the people at Aspirus St. Luke’s who’ve worked hard to bring this opportunity to the community.
“It shows me that they care about more than just turning a profit,”
Dana said. “They care about people’s experiences and outcomes.
“We need to be supporting all patients, but especially the most vulnerable and marginalized people in our communities. The Plus One Doula Program is a practical way to do that. It’s a beautiful thing and I’m proud to partner with Aspirus St. Luke’s.”
Learn more at slhduluth.com/ PlusOne. *
Claire Kiger is a writer and marketing specialist at St. Luke’s.
University of WisconsinSuperior honored as Military Friendly School
By Andrea Busche
For the 15th consecutive year, the University of WisconsinSuperior has been designated a “Military Friendly Gold School” through the publication G.I. Jobs. This distinction recognizes the university’s efforts in assisting military personnel, veterans and their family members in completing a college education.
“This ranking shows that during the past 15 years our institution has invested in serving our veterans and military-connected students,” said Salisa Hochstetler, UW-Superior
director of Equity, Diversity and Inclusion. “From having a knowledgeable benefit coordinator, like Lynn Karna, to having a military policy to accommodate veterans and their families, we have shown that we see the value of student veterans, and we strive to do better every day.”
“It is an honor to receive this award,” added Karna, UW-Superior Veterans Benefit associate. “We have spent countless hours making our university a welcoming place for veterans and military-connected students.”
Incredible support system
Through its research, the Military Friendly Schools survey found UWS to be deeply dedicated to assisting military members by providing a variety of helpful services to meet their needs. For instance, a dedicated staff at the university is available to assist students with things like securing GI Bill benefits and navigating the admissions process. Another benefit is that, based on academic policies, veteran
the 2024 SALUTE Veterans National
at the University of Wisconsin
include, from
Administration & Finance; Harry Anderson,
Michelle White, U.S. Army veteran student; Mechalle Poppy, U.S. Army veteran student; Chase Murphy, U.S. Navy veteran student; Nick Gillund, U.S. Army veteran student; and Joe Eickman, UWS Chief of Police. The SALUTE Veterans National Honor Society is the only national honor society in the nation recognizing and honoring the service and the scholastic achievements of this generation’s greatest veterans. See more at salute.colostate.edu.
Photos courtesy of University of Wisconsin-Superior
students at UWS can receive transfer credit for education — and certain specialized trainings — completed while in the military.
With a veteran center on campus, UWS student veterans can enjoy a relaxing atmosphere, a comfortable place to study and resources that answer questions about campus and community support. UWS also offers a Veteran’s Transition class to help ensure every veteran has the tools and
support to succeed at UW-Superior.
Additionally, UW-Superior received high marks for its academic policies and compliance, admissions and orientation, culture and commitment, and financial aid and assistance.
UWS features an on-site Veteran and Nontraditional Student Center, which provides a wide range of support programming for veterans of all ages.
Karna expanded on these points and highlighted a few more.
Our practice has a brand new look but our team remains dedicated to assisting you in making the best decisions for a healthy mouth and a lasting smile.
We offer a wide scope of patient care including: Wisdom Teeth Extractions
3D Imaging
Dental Implants & Bone Grafting
Pre-Prosthetic Surgery
Sedation & Local Anesthesia
“We have a center on campus and a designated staff to help our student veterans. Each year, we apply for the Wisconsin Department of Veteran Affairs grant, and with that grant we’re able to assist veterans with additional costs, such as textbooks and parking passes.
“With that grant, we are also able to collaborate with other organizations
Attending
Honor Society Induction Ceremony
Superior
left, Jeff Kahler, Vice Chancellor for
Associate Vice Chancellor for Student Affairs;
to support our veteran students and veterans in the Twin Ports area,” she added. “For example, each year we participate in Superior’s Dragon Boat Festival to raise money for the Rotary Club of Superior and 23rd Veteran (a nonprofit program helping military personnel and veterans living with trauma). We also work with the Douglas County Veterans Services Office to provide a veteran expo, to share information and resources for veterans.
“Additionally,” Karna continued, “our academic advisers and the registrar’s office work closely with veteran students to evaluate credit for prior learning, to transfer their military/ACE credits. Our veteran students also receive priority registration for classes. And each year we also host a Veterans Day ceremony and recognize veterans by awarding our Henry Blomberg Excellence in Service Awards.”
Henry Blomberg Excellence in Service Awards
This notable award mentioned by Karna is named for Lt. Henry Blomberg, a UWS alum who was born in Superior in 1892. Blomberg joined the Wisconsin National Guard after graduation in 1916. After registering for the draft, he soon found himself on a boat to France with the 32nd Division amid World War I.
During the Battle of the Argonne in October 1918, Blomberg was seriously wounded. He was posthumously awarded the Distinguished Service Cross, the second-highest military honor.
Statistics
Karna shared some interesting statistics about UW-Superior’s current military population.
“Our students represent all branches of the military,” she said. “For the spring 2024 semester, we have 493 students who are either veterans, active duty or military-connected (such as a dependent, spouse or parent). Of
To support veteran students and veterans in the Twin Ports area, UWS collaborates with other organizations such as the Dragon Boat Festival, shown here in 2019, to raise money for the Rotary Club of Superior and 23rd Veteran (a nonprofit program helping military personnel and veterans living with trauma).
University of Wisconsin Superior students receiving the 2023 Henry Blomberg Excellence in Service Award include Adalia Ortiz, Sergeant, U.S. Army; Nick Gillund, Private First Class, U.S. Army; Chase Murphy, Petty Officer First Class, U.S. Navy; and Jadon Stone, Senior Airman, U.S. Air Force.
Mechalle Poppy, a veteran of the U.S. Army pursuing an undergraduate degree in criminal justice at the University of Wisconsin-Superior, appreciates the efforts UWS makes to be supportive to military personnel.
Right: Lynn Karna, UW-Superior Veterans Benefit associate, presents SALUTE certification to U.S. Army veteran and UWS student Daniel Nelson in 2024.
these, 170 are utilizing Veteran Affairs educational benefits.”
One such veteran student is Mechalle Poppy, who served in the Army as an E-5 Sergeant from 2011-2019. Poppy is pursuing an undergraduate degree in criminal justice and is expected to graduate in the spring 2026 semester.
Poppy shared some thoughts about UW-Superior and its robust support for the military.
“There are several things that make UWS a supportive school for military personnel,” she said. “A few examples are the services provided by the Veteran and Nontraditional Student Center, good (and free!) veteranowned coffee within the space, and the Green Zone training that is offered to the campus community.”
Honoring military is a top priority
Receiving this special recognition — going on 15 consecutive years — demonstrates UW-Superior’s dedication to “military friendliness” for its student population and the military community at large.
“Our campus values diverse-lived experiences, and we believe that
military students bring in unique perspectives and a unique worldview to our campus,” Karna said. “We understand that there may be some challenges in transitioning to higher education. So it’s important for us to be able to create an environment where our military students feel welcome.” *
The Military Friendly Schools list is recreated each year. It is based on extensive research using public data
sources for more than 8,800 schools nationwide, input from student veterans and responses to the proprietary, datadriven Military Friendly Schools survey from participating institutions. Criteria for consideration can be found at militaryfriendly.com.
Andrea Busche is a Duluth-based freelance writer and small-business owner. She has been a frequent contributor to The Woman Today since 2008.
Nor th S hor e
Women of the 148th
Attracted by the benefits, staying on for love of the job
By Janna Goerdt
It’s a fairly common sight to see the F-16 fighter jets based at the 148th Fighter Wing Air National Guard base in Duluth whooshing through the air as pilots train.
And when those fighter jets return to their base, it’s become a common sight to see women crew chiefs working them over, making sure they remain safe to fly. And women armament specialists, who make sure the weapons systems onboard the F-16s are fully operational. And women everywhere else on the base, all finding their places in the Air National Guard. Here are a few of their stories.
Kamille Korpela
Tech. Sgt. Kamille Korpela was initially interested in joining the 148th Fighter Wing because of the educational benefits, she said. Members of the Minnesota National Guard are eligible for tuition reimbursement at accredited colleges. But after Korpela began working in the armaments department, she found herself at home.
“I fell in love with the job,” Korpela said. “I really enjoy looking
at the technical stuff, using my brain to take stuff apart and see how it works.”
Korpela decided to re-up with the 148th Fighter Wing two years ago, adding another six years to her term. That she took so well to the job was a bit of a surprise, Korpela said.
“I was not very mechanically savvy when I enlisted,” she said. “I wasn’t sure how it would go. But the instructors are awesome, and the onthe-job training was great.”
Jets and other equipment at the 148th are routinely — and minutely — inspected on a regular rotation. Korpela helps to deconstruct and then rebuild equipment to make sure it is in top working order. That sense of order and perfection appeals to her.
Tech. Sgt. Kamille Korpela
Photos courtesy of Master Sgt. Megan Shaner
Tech. Sgt. Kamille Korpela
Photo courtesy of Master Sgt. Megan Shaner
“I like that everything has its place, and how everything comes together to form a fluid piece of equipment,” Korpela said. “I love checking off those boxes.”
Korpela works in the release shop, where crews inspect and repair the bomb racks and missile launchers that attach to the F-16s.
She loves the working environment, she said, as well as the adventures the job can offer. Korpela volunteered to deploy to Kuwait on short notice, shipping out to a land of sandstorms and high winds when she was 20 years old.
She also volunteered for winter survival training in Norway, where she and others cross-country skied into the snowy wilderness for an extended outdoor camping stay. That was an “amazing” experience, she said.
Korpela worked the traditional National Guard shift of one weekend per month and 15 days out of the year until recently when she volunteered for full-time employment at the base. Five days a week she travels from her home in Mahtowa to the base, joining a cadre of men and women working in the shop.
“There’s always something to wrench on,” Korpela said.
And lately, she thinks she might want to make that her career. She had been considering a career in nursing. Now she is passionate about nursing — and continuing with the 148th.
“Now that I’m working here, I love it so much that I can see myself doing 20 years in the military.”
Lydia Bennis
Staff Sgt. Lydia Bennis had also planned on joining the 148th Fighter Wing primarily for the educational benefits.
And, like Korpela, Bennis fell in love with her work as a crew chief on the base.
“It’s honestly a new adventure every day,” she said. “I’m constantly learning.”
Bennis works at the base full time inspecting, testing and troubleshooting all components of the F-16 aircraft. Crew chiefs are the last people that touch the planes
before they take off from the base, and the first to examine them upon their return.
“We are making sure the jets are good to go for the pilots,” Bennis said.
Bennis grew up helping her dad tinker with projects in their garage, but “I was never super interested in being what my dad would call a ‘grease monkey,’” she said.
In college, Bennis considered going into sales. But Bennis loves “the challenge of always having something new,” she said. “If a jet breaks, I have to figure out what’s wrong with it.”
Staff Sgt. Lydia Bennis Photo courtesy of Master Sgt. Megan Shaner
She feels at home working around the noise of jet engines and the smell of jet fuel, making sure the jets are ready to head into the skies.
Bethany Kemi
Tech. Sgt. Bethany Kemi also enlisted to make use of the National Guard’s educational benefits. She first enlisted as an aircraft armament specialist.
“I thought loading bombs and missiles would be a cool job,” Kemi said. “I did that, but then I realized I like working on things that are more hands-on, mechanical work.”
Kemi cross-trained to work in the engine shop for the F-16, a job she enjoyed. She eventually decided to make it a full-time job, hiring on with the crew chiefs. Kemi has been enlisted for nine years now.
“The people in the 148th were like a family, and I wanted to be part of the family,” she said. She also enjoys being a crew chief.
“You go where the jets go,” Kemi said. “I had big ambitions to travel, and I like maintaining things,” and this job checked both boxes.
Kemi has deployed to Korea, Kuwait, and Saudi Arabia in various roles, as well as a lot of domestic travel for various reasons.
The general public doesn’t understand many things about serving
in the military, Kemi said. While her father grew up as an “Air Force brat,” moving from base to base around the world, Kemi’s mother was apprehensive when Kemi enlisted with the 148th.
“My grandpa is the most proud,” Kemi said. The two love to talk about how things have changed — or not changed — in the military, she said. And her mother soon grew comfortable with her new job.
“My little sister enlisted at the same base as me,” Kemi said. Her sister, soon to be 19 years old, will be working with aircraft ammunition with the 148th.
“It’s cool to have a sibling that will be able to go on deployments with me, and travel with me,” Kemi said.*
Janna Goerdt is an Iron Range farmer and freelance writer.
Staff Sgt. Lydia Bennis works on a large-scale flying training deployment called Red Flag at Nellis Air Force Base in January 2022.
Photo courtesy of Airman 1st Class Zachary Rufus
Tech. Sgt. Bethany Kemi Photos courtesy of Master Sgt. Megan Shaner
As a youngster, Bethany Kemi sits in an F-16 from the 148th Fighter Wing at the Duluth Airshow in 2001.
Photo courtesy of Bethany Kemi
148TH FIGHTER WING
The 148th Fighter Wing of the Minnesota Air National Guard was established in 1948 and provides mission-ready airmen and equipment to maintain wartime readiness and the ability to mobilize and deploy expeditiously to carry out tactical air missions or combat support activities in the event of a war or military emergency. After the terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001, members of the 148th protected the U.S. by patrolling the skies of the Midwest, the airspace over the national Capitol and over special events such as space shuttle launches and Super Bowls. Airmen and the F-16s they fly have been deployed overseas seven times since 2005. Airmen fly the F-16CM Fighting Falcon, the newest F-16 in the U.S. Air Force Fleet. Marleen Young was the first woman enlisted in the 148th, in 1972.
Source: Audra Flanagan, retired lieutenant colonel and current chief of public affairs for the 148th Fighter Wing.
Tech. Sgt. Bethany Kemi works on an aircraft at Prince Sultan Air Base, Saudi Arabia, in July 2022.
Photo courtesy of Master Sgt. Tom Krob
Staff Sgt. Lydia Bennis supports a large-scale flying training exercise called Northern Lightning at Volk Field, Wis., in August 2023.
Photo courtesy of GS-11
Retired Lt. Col. Audra Flanagan
Honoring veterans is her life’s work
By Andrea Busche
For Superior resident Briana Fiandt, who serves as curator of collections and exhibits at the Richard I. Bong Veterans Historical Center, her passion for history started early.
“I’ve always loved history,” she said. “My dad did, too. Even as a kid, on family vacations we stopped at every historical marker. I grew up going to museums, too.”
Her devotion for military veterans, however, developed later.
“My passion for veterans started after I got this job and began working with our volunteers; many of whom are veterans,” Fiandt said.
Her current role is an amalgamation of both of her strongest interests, making Fiandt the perfect person for the job.
Well-educated
Fiandt grew up in Cambridge, Wisconsin, and has one younger brother, Bill. Her father, Mike, worked in biotech. And her mother, Barbara, handled event planning for the University of Wisconsin-Madison.
Mike had grown up in Superior and the Fiandt family visited often. So when Fiandt was considering college locations, the Northland was on her radar.
First, she attended Northland College in Ashland, where she earned her general credits. Later, she transferred to the University of Minnesota-Duluth, where she earned a bachelor’s degree in history.
Finally, she earned a master’s degree in library science (with a concentration in archives) from the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee’s
Briana Fiandt
online program. While she completed this degree, she worked as the Bong Veterans Historical Center’s gift shop manager.
Career path
After earning her master’s degree, Fiandt took a job at the University of Wisconsin-River Falls, where she worked in the library’s circulation department. After three years in this role, she took a vacation to Santa Fe, New Mexico, which changed her life.
“I just loved Santa Fe,” she explained. “I decided to look up jobs there and found a library job at Santa Fe Community College. I got the job, got rid of everything I owned, and loaded up what I could fit into my truck (including my two cats) and moved.” While living in New Mexico, however, Fiandt received a very important phone call.
“Bob Fuhrman, former executive director at BVHC, called to tell me the curator job was open,” she said. “I had been in Santa Fe for three years when Bob called. I loved it there, but I was homesick. And my dream job was to get into a museum.”
She accepted the job and moved back to Superior in 2014.
Fiandt’s current role varies, but it all has one purpose — to honor veterans.
“I handle things like donor relations, artifacts, creating exhibits and setting up a speaker series,” she said. “I also work with a collections committee to process items that come in.”
She works closely with a team of dedicated BVHC volunteers — most of whom are veterans themselves — on her many projects.
“We have a team of 25-30 fantastic volunteers, who are so committed,” she said. “I couldn’t do this work without them.”
Briana Fiandt stands in front of the Home Front exhibit at The Richard I. Bong Veterans Historical Center.
Photos courtesy of Briana Fiandt
Donations for Bong Veterans Historical Center exhibits most often come from veterans or their family members, and they are all veteran- and military-themed.
“Some of my favorites in our collection are Rosie-type artifacts,” Fiandt explained. “We have overalls that the women wore when they did shipbuilding during World War II. We also have toolboxes and welding helmets that belonged to some of these women.”
Another important aspect of her work is to record oral histories, where the veterans are invited to do audio or video recordings of their stories.
Visitors to the Bong Veterans Historical Center can listen to these stories, told in the veterans’ own voices.
Fiandt also works to put on an annual free Thanksgiving dinner for veterans in partnership with the Pattison Park Lions Club and the Manitou Inn. Veterans can choose to eat at the Bong center, enjoy a takeout meal or opt for delivery.
Personal
Fiandt lives in Superior with her dog and two cats. She is a former foster parent; a role she maintained for four years.
In her spare time, she enjoys gardening, creating watercolor art, thrifting and traveling. Some of her favorite travel destinations have included England, Scotland and Peru.
Rewarding
Fiandt finds her work honoring veterans to be incredibly rewarding.
Fiandt’s boss, BVHC Executive Director John Gidley, also arranges a special annual trip for veterans: a peaceful visit to the Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness. The trip occurs around Independence Day every year — at a time when many veterans may experience negative
emotions when hearing fireworks and are in need of some peace and quiet.
Extracurriculars
Fiandt also serves in a volunteer capacity for Glensheen’s collections committee. She is also a steering committee member for the Lake Superior Libraries Symposium.
Another one of Fiandt’s extracurricular activities is as a class leader for UMD’s University for Seniors program. Here, she teaches one class per spring on veterans’ stories that are presented in their own words.
W. Superior St., Suite 330, Duluth (218) 215-8990 duluthplasticsurgerycenter.com
“I feel the museum is a place where veterans can come and meet other people who understand what they’re going through,” she said. “Vietnam vets, for example; many of them didn’t feel welcome when they came home after the war. I’m happy we can provide a place they can come to find healing.
“It’s very moving to me when I give tours and talk to people in the museum, and they become emotional,” she added. “I think that can be a good thing. It tells me we have told the veterans’ stories honorably.” For more information, visit bongcenter.org. *
Andrea Busche is a Duluth-based freelance writer and small-business owner. She has been a frequent contributor to The Woman Today since 2008.
Products
Briana Fiandt poses with volunteer Debbie Ritzinger at The Bong Center’s new Rosie selfie station.
DIY Sunshine Door Décor Summer Wreath
By Molly Milroy
Add a pop of summertime to your front door with this bright and cheery DIY summer wreath. This craft is easy and fun for small children to participate in. So, gather the little ones and head to your favorite discount store. From selecting supplies to decorating the wreath, all ages can join in the fun.
STEP-BY-STEP GUIDE:
1. Prepare the wire ring: Using wire cutters, create an opening in the wire wreath where the loofahs will pass through.
2. Prep the loofah sponges: Locate the middle thread of each loofah and cut it off, enabling the loofah to be unraveled. Completely unravel the mesh fabric of each loofah.
3. Create openings: Turn a tall glass or vase upside down. Place the loofah on top of the glass and bunch it down around the glass to create a hole or middle opening. Ensure the middle opening remains clear. Go to step 4. Then repeat steps 3 and 4 until the loofahs cover the entire wire ring.
4. Secure loofahs to the ring: Insert each loofah’s middle opening through the wire ring’s opening. Watch out for snags as you go!
Materials needed:
▶ Wire ring
▶ Multiple loofah sponges
▶ Summertime decorative items
▶ Duct tape
▶ Scissors
▶ Glass or vase
▶ Hot glue gun with glue sticks
▶ Wreath hanger hook for door
5. Enclose the ring: Once the ring is covered, use duct tape to seal each end of the wreath and then duct tape those ends together, forming and securing a complete circle. Conceal the taped portion by gathering the loofah material around it.
6. Add summertime decor: Arrange your chosen summertime decorative items on the wreath, experimenting with different layouts until you’ve found the look you want. Secure the items in place using hot glue.
7. Final touches: After hot gluing all decorations, hang the wreath on your door or indoors to showcase your summer vibe.
CUSTOMIZE THE LOOK
2
Make each wreath unique with your choice of loofahs and decorative items. Stick to a single-color scheme or mix and match various colored loofahs. Each person can choose their own creative way to showcase their summer vibe. Hang on the front door or another door in the house to add a special summer feel for family and guests alike. 1 3a
Korner k i d s ’
By Ali Carlson
SLOanE’s Suggestions
Summer is off to a great start! Sloane has been soaking up every ounce of sunshine she can get — even some of the rain :) Our song for this wet season is “Rain, rain go away. Sloanie wants to go outside and play!” Have fun and get out and enjoy what our community has to offer!
GREAT LAKES AQUARIUM WHIRLIGIGS PRESCHOOL
This preschool encourages exploration and learning while promoting a deep connection to nature. These one-and-a-half-hour drop-off classes are designed for the 3- to 5-year-old learner. There are multiple days and times to suit your family’s schedule. Classes start in September. Registration opens in August. www.glaquarium.org/education
MUSEUM EXHIBITS
Educational programming. Family events. The St. Louis County Depot is a welcoming space for all. Follow us on social media or visit our website to find all there is to experience inside this wonderous building. ExperienceTheDepot.org or “St. Louis Count Depot” on Facebook & Instagram.
10 admissions and roller skate rentals, birthday place settings, 1 free pass per guest and a birthday T-shirt for the birthday person for $18495 with more options
Easy Make and Take Dishes
Cookouts, Potlucks or Picnics
By Kim Quinones
THE WOMAN TODAY
Photos Courtesy of Kim Quinones
BLUEBERRY COBBLER
Ingredients:
1 lb. Frozen Blueberries, thawed, drained, save juice
½ cup + 2 Tbsp. Sugar
¼ cup + 2 Tbsp. Butter, softened
1 cup Flour
2 tsp. Baking powder
¼ tsp. Salt
¼ tsp. Cinnamon
½ cup Milk
Directions:
▶ Preheat the oven to 375 degrees Fahrenheit. Defrost and drain the blueberries and reserve the juice.
▶ In a medium bowl, cream the ½ cup sugar and ¼ cup butter together until fluffy.
▶ In a separate bowl, sift flour, baking powder, salt and cinnamon together.
▶ Add the flour mixture to the sugar and butter mixture alternating the milk addition with the flour mixture mixing until smooth.
▶ Place 2 Tbsp. butter in a 1-1/2 quart casserole dish and place into the oven. Once melted, remove the dish from the oven using oven mitts and swirl the butter around to coat the bottom and sides of the pan.
▶ Pour the batter into the buttered dish and spread evenly across the bottom.
▶ Sprinkle the blueberries on top of the batter leaving gaps of batter showing. Lightly top the berries with 2 Tbsp. of sugar.
▶ Bake for 35-45 minutes until the batter rises and is browned and the blueberries are bubbling.
▶ Remove from the oven and cool for 15-20 minutes before serving topped with ice cream or whipped cream.
PORTOBELLO MUSHROOM AND ASPARAGUS PASTA SALAD
Ingredients:
2 large Portobello mushroom caps, cleaned and cut into 1" chunks
12 stalks Asparagus, fresh, sliced into 2’’ lengths
8 large Green olives, sliced
1-½ cups Radicchio lettuce, thinly sliced
1/2 lb. Cavatappi pasta or another spiral shaped pasta cooked to al dente, drained and coat with olive oil
8 oz. Garbanzo beans, rinsed, drained and patted dried with a paper towel
1/2 cup Whole pistachios
1/2 cup Parmesan cheese, fresh, shaved
Vinaigrette:
3/4 cup Olive Oil
1/4 cup Red wine vinegar
1 Tbsp. Dijon mustard
1 clove Garlic, minced or put through a garlic press
1 tsp. Black pepper
3 Tbsp. Olive brine from olive jar
1 Tbsp. Dried Italian seasoning
▶ Place all ingredients in a jar with a tight fitting lid and shake to blend. Chill until ready to assemble salad.
Directions:
▶ Cook pasta per package directions. Drain and coat with 2 Tbsps. olive oil. Set aside.
▶ In a skillet, heat 2 Tbsp. olive oil, then place mushrooms and asparagus into the pan and saute until crisp tender. Remove from the pan and set aside.
▶ Next place garbanzo beans and pistachios into the skillet and saute until lightly toasted. Remove from heat and set aside.
▶ Assembly: Set aside parmesan cheese and pistachios. Place remaining ingredients into a large bowl and toss to coat.
▶ Top with parmesan cheese and pistachios. Can be served immediately or chill overnight.
SOUTHWEST LAYERED SALAD
Ingredients:
1 box recipe Cornbread, baked and crumbled
8 oz. can Pinto Beans, rinsed and drained
8 oz. can Corn drained
2 cups Cherry tomatoes, sliced in half
2 cups Cheddar cheese, shredded
3 stalks Green onion sliced thin, divided
8 slices Bacon, cooked crisp and crumbled
Dressing
1 cup Mayonnaise
1 cup Sour Cream
1 packet Ranch Salad Dressing or 1 packet taco seasoning
Directions:
▶ Prepare cornbread per the box directions. Cool and crumble.
▶ Line up prepped ingredients for easy salad assembly, setting aside green onion tops and crumbled bacon. These will top the salad.
▶ In the bottom of a clear glass trifle dish or large clear glass bowl, layer a third of the cornbread crumbles, then continue with a third of the pinto beans, tomatoes, corn, cheese, white portion of the onion, and dressing. Continue in the same order until all ingredients are assembled to the top of the dish or bowl. End with a layer of salad dressing topped with slices of green onion tops and crumbled bacon. Chill for 30 minutes prior to serving.
▶ Add a layer of cooked and shredded chicken for added protein.
Adapted from a Taste of Home recipe.
The Woman Yesterday
Dr. Elizabeth Colville Bagley (1904-1998)
By Amy Carlson
Elizabeth Colville Bagley was born in Duluth in 1904 and became a pioneer in the medical field as one of the first women to practice medicine in Duluth. She graduated from Central High School in 1921 and attended Carleton College (Northfield, Minnesota) for two years, earning her medical degree from the University of Michigan in 1927, where she worked until returning to Duluth in 1931.
Dr. Bagley was hired as a general physician by her father, Dr. William R. Bagley, but she continued to perform surgeries and was Duluth’s first female surgeon. She was named chief of surgery and the Duluth News Tribune reported that she became the first female chief of staff at St. Luke’s hospital in 1961, one of the few women to serve in that position anywhere in the country at that time.
As the guiding force behind the formation of St. Luke’s Hospital Home Care, she also became the first recipient of the Dr. Elizabeth Colville Bagley Award, named in her honor by the St. Louis County
Medical Society in recognition for service to society, according to WikiTree.com.
Also active in the community, the Budgeteer News reported that Dr. Bagley was a longtime supporter of the Duluth Superior Symphony Orchestra, and together with her family, donated the 17-acre hardwood forest known as Rock Hill to UMD in 1953, creating Bagley Nature Area.
Well-respected and well-liked, Dr. Bagley and her friend Justine Kerfoot (also a female pioneer of the Gunflint Trail) took many canoe trips into the Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness and delivered all of Kerfoot’s children.
Kerfoot said, “I never met a person who gave so much of herself for others. She was extremely thoughtful and took tender loving care of anyone in need of medical attention.”
She was fondly referred to as “Dr. Elizabeth” by those who knew her well, according to a 1962 article in the Duluth News Tribune. Dr. Bagley died in Duluth in 1998 at the age of 93. *
Elizabeth Colville Bagley’s senior photo in the 1921 Duluth Central High School yearbook.
Photo: wikitree.com/wiki/Bagley-1654
Top photo: Duluth Budgeteer News, 7-19-98 (obituary)
Our mission is reflected in the work we do every day. And it’s the people of this place who inspire us. Here, we share our lives, our work, our stories. It’s people like Sara, who bring a passion to make a difference in patients’ lives, that make this place unlike any other.
We are called to make a healthy difference in people’s lives.
