The Woman Today Aug/Sept 2022

Dena Hagen

MSAE’s 2022 New Special Education Leader Award

• It’s a food made out of love - Nanay’s Kitchen

• Allete earns Special Distinction Award

• AICHO, a community resource since 1993

• DIY Summer pedicure: A splash of color

St. Luke’s expert team of Pediatric Hospitalists are available 24/7 to care for your babies, kids and teens.

WOMAN the today

PROFILES

6 Tammy Rackcliffe

Impacting the lives of children and adults

10 Dena Hagen

Special education administrator

14 Beth Cañete

Nanay's Kitchen

18 Tamara Lowney

Brings international experiences home

FEATURES

22 Allete earns Special Distinction Award for equal representation

26 American Indian Community Housing Organization

29 Duluth Women of Today

ENTERTAINMENT/ARTS

36 Arts and Events Calendar

HEALTH/MEDICINE

34 Essentia

Preparing for a healthy future

38 St. Luke’s

Off to a great start at St. Luke's KIDS KORNER

55 Sloane's Suggestions

HOME TOUCHES

40 Aged cabin gets a new life

FOOD/NUTRITION

50 Brunch!

Brought to by Mount Royal Market

DIY

56 Summer pedicure: A splash of color

THE WOMAN YESTERDAY

58 Margaret Culkin Banning

WOMAN the today

Neal Ronquist

EXECUTIVE EDITOR

Rick Lubbers

ADVERTISING DIRECTOR

Megan Keller

Ali Carlson

Kim Quinones

GRAPHIC DESIGNER

Renae Ronquist

PRODUCTION COORDINATOR

Julie Schulz

CONTRIBUTORS

Abigail Blonigen

Amy Rutledge

Andrea Busche

Beth Cañete

Dena Hagen

TO OUR READERS

I enjoy looking up what special days are coming up each month. As we enter the month of August, there are some fun things to look forward to, such as National Watermelon Day on Aug. 3 and National Smile Week Aug. 5-11.

Additionally, most have heard that August is known for the dog days of summer. According to almanac.com, “dog days” traditionally refer to a period of particularly hot and humid weather occurring during the summer months of July and August in the Northern Hemisphere.

Ivy Vainio

Library of Congress

Molly Milroy

Tamara Lowney

Tony Bennett

In ancient Greece and Rome, the dog days were believed to be a time of drought, bad luck and unrest, when dogs and men alike would be driven mad by the extreme heat! Today, the phrase doesn’t conjure up such bad imagery. Instead, the dog days are associated purely with the time of summer’s peak temperatures and humidity.

I hope you all have embraced the summer; it’s been a beautiful one so far. As we look ahead, fall is coming soon — time for kids to go back to school, college students to return to their classes, and our education leaders to resume imparting their knowledge.

In this issue, you will meet some amazing women and organizations in the Northland who share their stories on history, growth and education. This edition features: American Indian Community Housing Organization: A community resource since 1993; Nanay’s Kitchen dishes up Filipino favorites; then meeting with Duluth resident Dena Hagen who was honored at a statewide recognition ceremony during the Minnesota Association of School Administrators/Minnesota Administrators for Special Education Spring Conference, which was held March 10-11. Those are just a few of the stories we are presenting to you today.

Thank you for picking up this issue of The Woman Today. We truly appreciate and value your readership and advertising support. See you in October!

Megan Keller Advertising Director

JaneCane Photography

Impacting the lives of children and adults

New Edison Charter Schools leader reflects on her career

By Tony Bennett

"I've been with Edison for 22 years," says Tammy Rackliffe, the new Head of Schools for that organization.

Given that the two schools operating under the Duluth Edison Charter Schools banner have only been around since 1997, that means Rackliffe has been working within that framework for a good portion of her entire career. It's been a wild ride for Rackliffe, who started as a classroom teacher before eventually moving into the administration side of things, and she now finds herself as the captain of the ship. Really, it's something she's been preparing for even since she was young.

"I knew I always wanted to be a teacher," Rackliffe said. "When I was a young kid, I would play school with my stuffed animals. And my mom and dad would get so frustrated with me, because, at the end of the year, when teachers would clean out their classrooms, I would come home with most of it."

Teaching was in her blood, it seems.

"I never had anything else that I was

Tammy Rackliffe delivers ice cream to a Duluth Edison Charter Schools kindergartener. "These types of activities are the best part of my job," Rackliffe said.

going to do," she said. "This was it."

Rackliffe grew up in Moose Lake, graduated from the College of St. Scholastica, and worked at a few different schools around the state, starting in 1992, before coming back to Duluth to teach for Edison. Right away, she knew she had chosen the right field.

"It was everything I wanted it to be," she said. "I love kids. When I came to Edison, my first job was teaching kindergarten. I taught half a year, and then I looped with my kids to first grade, and that's where I stayed until I went into administration.

"I have always loved teaching them to read, and finding what helps them," Rackliffe said of her students. "Those youngest kids — they're so innocent and so eager to learn. They want to please you."

Rackliffe said that when she entered the world of Duluth Edison Charter Schools, she hadn't been that aware of what the organization even was.

"It was an opportunity that arose," she explained. "I didn't know anything about charter schools, because I was in Grand Rapids and Greenway. They had the traditional public schools."

After she started working for Edison, Rackliffe said she became aware that some in the Duluth community were wary of what it was.

"I was playing volleyball," she recalled, "and there was a traditional

public school teacher that I didn't really know very well, and we were talking about what we did, and I said I worked for Duluth Edison, and she said, 'Oh, you're one of them.' My response was, 'Yes. I am one of them.'"

Back then, charter schools in Duluth had yet to be truly accepted or understood. It took time for the idea to grow on people.

"What really made the difference was who we are as a school," Rackliffe said. "I believe in our mission of personal academic excellence. I believe in the core values that we teach. I believe in the decisions that we can make. We can have an idea and go with it. We don't always have that red tape. We're one big family, and we support each other. I've been fortunate to work for the Edison charter schools for as many years as I have."

Rackliffe's predecessor, Bonnie Jorgenson, held her position for just over two decades, and Rackliffe says she was "so supportive." The initial plan was for Rackliffe to just be the interim Head of Schools for the 2020-21 year, but her destiny was to eventually take the mantle for real this year.

"I always wanted to be a principal," Rackliffe said. "But I always figured I was going to teach for a good amount of years. Twelve years ago, my principal at the time said, 'Hey, Tammy, I haven't seen your application yet for the Student

Achievement Coordinator, which was an administrative position at our new building. And I said, 'Well, I have an impact on 25 kids, and I'm happy with what I'm doing.' And he said something that's always stuck with me. He said, 'Tammy, you have the possibility of

impacting a thousand kids with student achievement.'" She took that position. With time, she climbed the administrative ladder, and she worked closely with Jorgenson, who often made comments about being succeeded by Rackliffe.

"I thought, 'No, I don't want to do that,'" Rackliffe said. "I want to be with the kids. I kept telling her 'No.' When she retired, last year, I did not apply. I had some pretty significant health concerns, and I thought (there was) no way that this stressful job would work for me."

Tammy Rackliffe is the new Head of Schools at Duluth Edison Charter Schools.

Rackliffe and Duluth Chamber of Commerce members celebrate the expansion of Snowflake, an outdoor education space at Duluth Edison Charter Schools, at a ribbon cutting ceremony.

But Edison wasn't able to find a replacement right away. And Rackliffe kept thinking about the opportunity.

"I've dedicated my teaching career to Edison, and I thought that I just can't let them give it to anybody. And so I told the school board chair at the time, 'If you choose not to hire anyone, I can be an interim. I can do anything for a year.’ The board approved me as an interim in August, and, by October, I knew that this was what I wanted to do."

She's even feeling healthier.

"This has actually worked out better," Rackliffe said, "because I can adjust my hours. I can work from home."

There are many challenges and tough decisions to make ahead of her. Edison has been in the news due to some racial tensions. COVID-19 is still a factor, as are the repercussions of how it affected kids over the last two years. Budgeting concerns are evergreen. But at the end of the day, Rackliffe says she is still the same person she always was — someone who loves to help kids learn and grow. And the 1,300 students at Edison's two locations are counting on her.

"I've dedicated my career to teaching and leading," Rackliffe said. "It's exciting to see that I and we are impacting the lives of children and adults." D

Tony Bennett is a Duluth freelance writer.

Special education administrator receives distinguished award in her field

By Andrea Busche

Working in the field of education — and, more specifically, special education — can be a highly rewarding endeavor, but it also comes with plenty of challenges. Thus, it is often said that many in the profession feel a unique calling toward their work.

This is definitely true for Duluth’s Dena Hagen, who first felt the pull toward teaching at a young age. A variety of life experiences helped define her goals even further; she eventually pursued work in special education and currently works as an administrator.

“I decided I wanted to be a teacher back in third grade,” Hagen said. “I was inspired by my third grade teacher (at Piedmont Elementary), Jude Ling.

“And I’ve always been drawn to working with kids with disabilities,” she added. “Back in kindergarten, I knew a lot of sign language from watching ‘Sesame Street.’ My kindergarten teacher asked me to pair up with two deaf

Dena Hagen, sitting third from left, and staff members of the Northern Lights Special Education. “They are a special group and I couldn't do this job without all of them!” Hagen said.

classmates and assist them with classroom activities. That experience was really helpful in deciding to become a special education teacher.”

Award

Recently, Hagen, who is currently the director of special education at Northern Lights Special Education Cooperative, based in Esko, was recognized with a unique honor: She is the recipient of the 2022 New Special Education Leader Award.

Hagen received this award for her commitment to students with disabilities and their families, along with her active involvement in professional and community affairs. She was honored at a statewide recognition ceremony during the MASA/MASE (Minnesota Association of School Administrators/Minnesota Administrators for Special Education) Spring Conference, which was held March 10-11.

Hagen was nominated for the award by a colleague and peer, Erin Toninato, who works as the special education director for the South Central Service Cooperative. In her nomination, Toninato said, “I have had the opportunity to work with Dena through the Low Incidence Project and the MASE board of directors. Dena is absolutely deserving of this award as she demonstrates a high level of professionalism, willingness to help others, and leadership. She is an exceptional addition to every organization, and is always thoughtful in her service to students."

Hagen was deeply touched — both by Toninato’s lovely nomination, and in winning the award.

“When I look at the list of past recipients, I’m absolutely honored to be included,” she said.

Education and career

Hagen grew up in Duluth. Her dad was a carpenter, and her mom stayed at home while Hagen and her brother were young children.

After graduating from Denfeld High School in 1996, Hagen

enrolled at the College of St. Scholastica, where she earned a bachelor’s degree in elementary education. She intended to be a regular classroom teacher, but life had other plans.

“After I graduated from CSS, I tried right away to get a teaching job, but there weren’t a lot of jobs available at that time,” she said. “So, I ended up starting to sub.”

Continued on page 12

For several years, Hagen split her time between work as a substitute teacher and teaching at Sylvan Learning Center, where she was often paired with adult students with disabilities.

Hagen was hired part time in special education for the Duluth Public School District in 2006, and worked in a variety of part-time and full-time roles at several Duluth schools until 2014. She continued advancing her education the entire time; she earned a master’s degree in special education from the University of Wisconsin-Superior in 2009, and a director of special education certification/licensure from St. Mary’s University of Minnesota in 2015.

For the 2014-2015 school year, Hagen was promoted to assistant director of special education for the Duluth Public Schools. She was promoted to her current role in the 2015-2016 school year.

Northern Lights Special Education Cooperative

The Northern Lights Special Education Cooperative consists of 12 “member” school districts, and provides special education services to students from birth to age 21 within these

districts, which include: Lake Superior, Carlton, Wrenshall, Cromwell, McGregor, Barnum, Moose Lake, Proctor, Hermantown, Cloquet, Esko and Willow River. The cooperative provides the full gamut of special education services, including those for students with hearing and visual impairments, learning disabilities, cognitive disabilities and many more.

In her role as director, Hagen directs the work of 27 staff members, and helps match special education service needs to the services available. She also ensures compliance with all Department of Education requirements.

Hagen was also instrumental in creating the affiliated Northern Lights Academy, where she serves as

superintendent. The academy is currently spaced out within three different buildings, and Hagen has dreams of securing funding for a new, separate facility someday.

Other affiliations

Hagen continues to serve her profession in a variety of ways. She is the past tournament director and former board member of the Duluth Girls Hockey Association. She has also served as a volunteer for East Select Soccer.

Currently, she serves on the Quality Control Subcommittee for the Minnesota Autism Center, and the Advisory Board for Capella University. She also remains a MASE board

Dena and Jeremy Hagen, with their daughter Addy and son Jackson.

Dena Hagen holds the MSAE’s 2022 New Special Education Leader Award.

member, and also serves on MASE’s executive board.

Private life

Hagen and her husband, Jeremy, who works for Canadian National Railway, have two children, Addy, 18, and Jackson, 17. The family also has a cat named Lucky. The Hagens live in Normanna Township on a 10-acre property. When she has a bit of downtime, Hagen enjoys gardening, traveling, camping, crafting, thrifting and antiques.

Looking ahead, Hagen maintains plenty of ambitious goals for herself.

“I really want to get a facility built for Northern Lights Academy. I also have aspirations to work at the university level in a teacher prep program for special education. And I’d like to eventually go back for my doctorate,” she said.

Future teachers

Hagen offered some words of wisdom for future educators: “It is really hard work, but I’d never discourage anyone from going into the field,” she said, noting that her daughter Addy plans to become a teacher, too.

“We need good public educators, and people who will do what’s best for kids,” Hagen added. “I’d also advise future educators to find a good, supportive network. I know I couldn’t do this job without the support of my colleagues.” D

your family and future are on the line, nothing is more important.

Andrea Busche is a Duluth freelance writer.

Nanay’s Kitchen dishes up Filipino favorites

Beth Cañete

By Abigail Blonigen

Those who frequent Rice Lake Road north of Duluth have likely passed by the Gnesen Convenience Store and Liquor.

From the outside, it looks like any convenience store you would stumble across in rural Minnesota: a few fuel pumps, a neon “open” sign and an advertisement for whichever beer is on sale. Inside is more of the same convenience store fare: a plethora of snacks, ice cream by the scoop, canned food and household goods.

But wait, there’s more. The Gnesen convenience store has not only an extensive collection of fairy garden accessories, but a pop-up restaurant serving authentic Filipino cuisine.

Beth Cañete immigrated to the United States in 1991, leaving the tropical climate of the Philippines for the harsh winters of Duluth, Minnesota.

Beth Cañete is pictured in 2021 with her daughter Keren (her oldest, a United States Air Force Msgt.), son Gian (second oldest, a United States Air Force Senior Airman), husband Grenny, grandson Ronan, son Girvin (her youngest, a junior at Duluth East High School) and son Grent (second youngest, a student in North Dakota State University's civil engineering program).

Within a couple months, she was managing the Gnesen Convenience Store.

“There wasn't a lot of window for me to learn the culture and everything,” she said. “Everything was really new, so it was really a culture shock.”

Cañete persevered, learning the ins and outs of an entirely new culture along with finances and operations for a small business. Cañete credits her degree in commerce from a university in the Philippines as vital to her eventual success.

Fast-forward to 2013, and the Philippines was decimated by Typhoon Haiyan. Wanting to help her community, Cañete decided to raise funds for typhoon victims by selling authentic Filipino food.

The fundraiser was a hit, raising nearly $10,000 in five days. Realizing there was a market for the food she made at home for her family, Cañete launched Nanay’s

Kitchen, a pop-up restaurant.

The University of Minnesota Duluth marketing program was key in Cañete launching the business, and she still has strong connections with the UMD Center for Economic Development.

“Nanay” means “mother” in the Philippines, a fitting name for Cañete’s home-cooked meals, driven by her love of cooking for others.

“It's a passion,” she said. “It's a food made out of love.”

Cañete is the proud mother of four children who inspire her to keep going.

“(My kids) are my inspiration and my driving force for everything that we do here in the store,” she said. “I could never manage a convenience store and kitchen without my kids.”

Currently, Nanay’s Kitchen is open for takeout twice a week:

Friday evenings and midday Saturday. The “food-to-go” model became very popular with the pandemic, so Nanay’s Kitchen was able to persevere.

Customers are encouraged to call at least 24 hours in advance to place their orders. Nanay’s also does catering for special events.

Despite her pop-up’s growing popularity, Cañete does not see herself opening a traditional sit-down restaurant, as it would ultimately require more time, more overhead and more hands.

“It would not be me,” she said of the prospect. “I'm very personable when it comes to my customers.”

Cañete has even begun to stock staple Asian ingredients in the store, namely Filipino, Korean and Japanese food. With international grocery options limited in Duluth, the

Continued on page 16-17

uwsuper.edu

Beth Cañete and husband Grenny gather with children Girvin, Gian, Keren and Grent and grandson Ronan in 2018.

DANIELA CA STIBLANCODIA Z PUBLIC LE ADERSHIP &INNOVATION

Nanay’s Kitchen DISHES

convenience store now provides an opportunity for community members to buy food that reminds them of home or try something completely new.

“The community is making it work, especially for smallscale businesses like us, to keep the door open,” said Cañete.

In the 30 years she has lived in the United States, Cañete has faced countless challenges with being an immigrant, a smallbusiness owner and a woman in business.

“I don’t quit,” she said. “I maybe get frustrated, I maybe get disappointed, but I don’'t quit. I know there’s always a way.”

Cañete hopes other women take the chance to come out of their shell and pursue what they love.

“Gender should not be an issue for something that you love to do,” she said. “We get so intimidated that we limit ourselves and what we do, but there’s a lot of things that you can do. You can get out of your shell and start exposing the skills on something that you love to do.”

Those interested in learning more about Nanay’s Kitchen can visit their Facebook page, “Nanay's Kitchen - Beth's Filipino Food.” The restaurant is typically open from 4-6 p.m. Fridays and 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturdays.

Gnesen Convenience Store and Liquor is located at 6049 Rice Lake Road. D

Beth Cañete and her family -- husband Grenny and children Keren, Gian, Girvin and Grent -- celebrate son Gian's graduation from Duluth East High School in 2018.

Abigail Blonigen is a Minnesota freelance writer.

Tamara Lowney BRINGS INTERNATIONAL EXPERIENCES HOME

By Abigail Blonigen

“

Think globally, act locally” is something of a mantra for those who work in the development field. This sentiment especially rings true for Tamara Lowney, world traveler and proud resident of Hill City, Minnesota.

Lowney grew up in Hill City, a town of 613 people about 20 minutes south of Grand Rapids. After graduating high school, Lowney went to college to study medicine, then archaeology, then medicine again. She changed schools a couple times, too.

“I didn't really know what I wanted to do at all at that time,” she said.

While earning her degree — she ended up choosing licensed practical nursing from Itasca Community College — Lowney began working seasonally as a housekeeper in Alaska.

Seasonal work allowed Lowney to do what she had always wanted to do — travel.

“I would work (at the resort) in the summer and then I would come home and make a little bit of money doing Christmas wreaths with my family,” she said. “Then I would spend much of the winter traveling around Europe and different areas.”

Lowney spent a year in GarmischPartenkirchen, Germany, a winter in Dublin, Ireland, and made trips to Egypt and Kenya.

Though she loved the experience of traveling, Lowney began to crave more connection to the places she was visiting

Tamara Lowney and her daughter Goldie show their Minnesota pride with matching baseball caps.

PHOTOS COURTESY OF TAMARA LOWNEY

rather than just passing through. In the meantime, Lowney had been working her way up at Aramark, the food services and hospitality company where she did her seasonal work.

Aramark just so happened to be hiring a director of operations for the 2008 Beijing Olympics, which would oversee food service for the athletes. Lowney knew she had to apply, and after a vigorous process, she was offered the position.

Lowney spent just shy of a year in Beijing, managing 1,200 employees including over 100 managers. At peak operations, they served up to 12,000 people per day.

“I loved it,” she said. “It was really challenging, but it was real eye-opening. It's so much different when you live and work somewhere versus just traveling right along.”

In 2010, Lowney was back in China directing operations at the Asian Games, this time with even more employees than the Olympics. She was responsible for purchasing, planning, transportation, hiring, training and more.

Tamara Lowney

The Asian Games were in Guangzhou, China, the southern part of the country and Lowney was able to visit Thailand a few times during her yearlong post.

In between international gigs, Lowney returned to work in Alaska. Her next adventure was as site director at Weymouth Sailing Village for the 2012 London Olympics. There, she helped with operations for serving the athletes, coaches and employees of the facility.

The upscale nature of sailing — catering private yachts, surprise celebrity appearances (notably Kate Middleton and Prince Phillip) — made operations a bit more difficult, but living in England allowed Lowney to travel to Norway, France and Italy. By that point, Lowney decided she needed a break from the hospitality industry, so

Continued on page 20

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Tamara Lowney is the president of the Itasca Economic Development Corporation.

she decided to go back to school.

During this new chapter, Lowney met her husband, earned a bachelor’s degree in business administration and management from Bemidji State University, and gave birth to her daughter, Goldie.

In 2015, Lowney was hired as a business developer for the Area Partnership for Economic Expansion, which promotes economic development in Northeastern Minnesota and Northwestern Wisconsin.

Though economic development was new to her, Lowney immediately knew it was the right fit.

“I was like, wow this is it. I found what I really love doing,” she said. “It's interesting. There's all kinds of problems to solve. There's ways to do things better. There's a litany of things you

can do every day to help people.”

In 2019, Lowney became president and CEO of the Itasca Economic Development Corp., where she is able to apply the lessons she’s learned across the globe to her own community.

“I loved my job and I loved working abroad and working with all the different cultures. That was alway my big dream — to live and work abroad and learn so much from that,” Lowney said. “But then I could take all this stuff about human nature and how to problem solve and how to work through stressful situations and bring it all home.”

Lowney has helped lead Itasca County through the hardship of the pandemic, facilitating loan and grant programs and fostering support for local businesses. Her advocacy earned her an innovation award in 2020 from the Economic Development Association of Minnesota.

Lowney has faced a number of challenges being a woman in a leadership position. While working abroad, she had to adjust to different social and cultural expectations.

The primary challenge has been people doubting her abilities due to her gender, and she never passes up a chance to prove them wrong.

“Our journey is always going to be harder,” she said of being a woman in a leadership position. “I don't care what anybody tells you, it just is, but that doesn't mean it's not worth doing.” D

Tamara Lowney rides an elephant in Thailand in 2010 during one of her many international adventures.

Tamara Lowney and her husband Merrill pose with daughter Goldie at the Reif Performing Arts Center in Grand Rapids in 2022. Goldie starred as a munchkin in The Wizard of Oz.

Abigail Blonigen is a Minnesota freelance writer.

“I was like, wow this is it. I found what I really love doing. It's interesting. There's all kinds of problems to solve. There's ways to do things better. There's a litany of things you can do every day to help people.”

– Tamara Lowney

Special Distinction Award for equal representation

By Tony Bennett

InApril, it was announced that Duluth's Allete — the energy company that includes under its umbrella Minnesota Power and Superior Water, Light & Power, among other businesses — had been recognized for the third year in a row by St. Paul's St. Catherine University with a "Special Distinction" award for its long-running dedication to female representation in their executive ranks and on their board.

It's a recognition that Allete is proud of, but hasn't sought out. Rather, the company's long-held values are being recognized because so many other public companies in Minnesota don't manage to reflect the diversity of the state in their ranks. In fact, only 13 of Minnesota's 79 largest public companies manage to hit the 30% mark, when it comes to having women as a part of their boards or executive staff. In that sense, it seems Allete is being recognized by the St. Catherine's census for accomplishing something resembling simple equality, something that it could be argued might have been reasonably achieved by the year 2022.

At Allete, five of the nine current board members are female, as are the company's chair, president and CEO. Allete's dedication to its ranks reflecting

Jennifer Cady speaks at an ALLETE Clean Energy-Yellow Ribbon event at the Lake Benton wind site.

society as a whole and welcoming diversity is a longstanding one. Vice President and Chief Administrative Officer Nicole Johnson has been with the company for over 25 years, when she was on her way out of the University of Minnesota Duluth with an accounting degree and on the hunt for an internship. Obviously, her journey from intern to VP has been a successful one, but Johnson feels that she's lucky to have landed at such a welcoming company at such a young age.

"I am happy to say that we as an organization were very progressive, even when I started," Johnson said. "We've had women on our board for decades and decades, so this is not a new thing."

Johnson admits that she's not sure where or when this commitment to equal representation came from, but it's always been the situation.

"There's a long history, even [with] past CEOs, of providing opportunities for females in leadership roles, and it goes far beyond just the board," she said. For her, the informal mentorships she's enjoyed have been particularly helpful. "It wasn't just one person. All of our leaders are tasked with growing and developing people. I've had senior leaders be there to support me and others and always make time and provide opportunities. It's a collection of people, which is what I think makes Allete unique, and is why we have the phenomenal representation that we have today.

"It was never about gender," Johnson continued. "It was about who is able to best get the work done and providing everybody an equal opportunity, which is what you want."

It seems like a simple, fair idea — but so many Minnesotan companies miss the mark completely, even this far into the history of the state.

Minnesota Power's Director of Regulatory Affairs Jennifer Cady came to Allete from a background in the military.

"I was having a really difficult time making that transition" into the civilian world, she said. "I felt like I had a lot to

offer, but I was not making a ton of progress."

She heard from military colleagues that Minnesota Power was a great place to work, and she eventually found herself in a meeting with an executive who encouraged her to apply.

"I was like, wow, this guy didn't know me at all, and he took the time with me to give me feedback.”

Cady's been with the company for more than a decade now.

"I'm just so grateful that they were willing to take a chance on someone that didn't have the traditional background that you normally see in business," she said.

The opportunity for advancement came quite quickly for Cady.

"My first job was in purchasing and contracts, and that was a fantastic opportunity," she said, "but I knew that

Continued on page 24

PHOTO BY LYNNETTE'S PORTRAIT DESIGN

Nichole Johnson is Allete's Vice President and Chief Administrative Officer.

Jennifer Cady is Minnesota Power's Director of Regulatory Affairs.

Nicole Johnson, right, mingles with ALLETE treasurer Pat Cutshall and execituve assistant Christa Nordheim at an employee gathering at ALLETE headquarters.

Commemorating ALLETE's donation of a corporate plane to Lake Superior College are, from left, Rob Cotter, ALLETE chief pilot; Pat Mullen, (retired) ALLETE senior vice president of external affairs; Nicole Johnson, vice president and chief administrative officer; Daniel Fanning, executive director of the LSC Foundation; Patrick Johns, (retired) Lake Superior College president; and Dan Traska, director of the LSC Center for Advanced Aviation.

Jennifer Cady visits with ALLETE CEO Bethany Owen and MPUC Commissioner Matt Schuerger.

Major Jennifer Cady retired from the 148th Fighter Wing, Minnesota Air National Guard.

where I wanted to be was in the regulatory-affairs area. I only worked in purchasing for about a year and a half."

It's one thing to hire women, but another to make sure that they're being promoted as much as the men. Allete walks the walk in this way, too.

"It's one of the most supportive organizations I've ever worked for," Cady said. "They saw something in me, and I feel like that culture has continued.

"A couple things stand out, for me," Cady said of Allete's practices.

"One is that there's just so many incredible role models. Seeing other women in positions of power that are doing incredible things for the company is really inspiring. When you can see yourself in someone else, that empowers you.

"And, then," Cady continued, "I felt like the culture has always trusted me as a leader. They really trust your expertise. That kind of support is really helpful for growth."

She noted that she's never felt Allete's practice of aiming for gender equality in their ranks was for cynical reasons, or to get awards like the ones they've been getting.

"There are incredibly smart and talented people that work here," she said, “and they're also women."

"We have an outstanding culture at Allete," said Amy Rutledge, manager of corporate communications for the company. "I think our leaders lead by example. Bethany Owen, our CEO, has been an exciting role model. I could talk for days about what Allete has meant to

me and my family."

While the awards are notable, at the end of the day, the people tell the story of Allete. And the story they tell is of Allete being a place where women get the chance to be valued for their skills,

to advance as far as their ambition takes them, and to be the kind of leaders that light the way for others. D

Nestled on 40 acres with a 20-acre school forest, a greenhouse, an orchard and outdoor classrooms.

“It's one of the most supportive organizations I've ever worked for. They saw something in me, and I feel like that culture has continued.”

– Jennifer Cady

Tony Bennett is a Duluth freelance writer.

AMERICAN INDIAN Community Housing Organization: A COMMUNITY RESOURCE SINCE 1993

By Andrea Busche

In the Twin Ports and surrounding communities, there is a significant population of Indigenous residents. The Fond du Lac Band of Lake Superior Chippewa, for instance, is one of several tribes with a large presence in our region.

For generations, many local Indigenous people have practiced the sacred and traditional ways of their ancestors, regarding growing and harvesting food, creating art and producing sacred medicines.

But Indigenous people have long been oppressed. The American Indian Community Housing Organization was created in 1993 with the overarching goals of supporting this population through community action, housing options, support services and education. Located at 202 W. Second St. in Duluth, the services that AICHO provides the community center include permanent, supportive housing, a domestic violence emergency shelter, youth programming, educational offerings for all ages, legal advocacy, food and art markets and a gift shop.

AICHO’s offerings are open to the general public.

“Our services are open to anyone,” said AICHO CoExecutive Director LeAnn Littlewolf. “While we take a culturally specific approach, we are an equal opportunity

employer and have very diverse participants and staff. One of our values is generosity, and we are always looking for opportunities to bring people in.”

History

AICHO board member Tina Olson explained a bit more about the organization’s history.

“AICHO was started by a group of Indigenous women, including Vicky Ybanez, one of our original founders, who all had a social change mentality. We wanted to provide services for Native women that weren’t available in the community. It started with a shelter, and eventually we added clean, affordable housing and more.”

AICHO has 29 employees and a variety of volunteers. AICHO also maintains partnerships with True North AmeriCorps, and the AmeriCorps VISTA program, and is governed by a sixperson board of directors. Many of AICHO’s leaders and board members are women.

“We have wonderful leaders, and we wouldn’t have a successful program without our staff,” Olson added. “We are truly a community. The board believes in AICHO’s leadership, and the people who work here really care and have a heart for it.”

AICHO’s annual Ojibwemowin Storytelling event with Michael Sullivan, Ph.D. (Lac Courte Oreilles Band of Ojibwe tribal member) is a cultural gathering, this one held in 2018 in AICHO’s Dr. Robert Powless Cultural Center.

Offerings

As noted, AICHO provides a variety of services. The Gimaajii Mino-Bimaadizimin offers 29 units of permanent, supportive housing. The Dabinoo’Igan domestic violence shelter is able to support 24 people. AICHO also retains a legal advocate on staff, specific to domestic violence issues.

AICHO has a community center, with event space and conference rooms. Several public events are held there, including art shows, traditional ceremonies, feasts, political debates, food drives and vaccine clinics.

There is also a rooftop garden, Indigenous Food & Art Markets, and the Indigenous First Art & Gift Shop, which works to promote the creations of Indigenous artists. From the AICHO website: “We sell quality gifts and goods with a mission of advancing, promoting, and investing in Indigenous and diverse artists and entrepreneurs.”

“We support over 80 Indigenous artists, and get to be a part

Continued on page 28

A variety of artwork is featured in the Indigenous First Art and Gift Shop, including these dolls made by Fond du Lac Band of Ojibwe tribal member and elder Joyce LaPorte and the basket made by the late Rose Shumate, tribal member of Lac Courte Oreilles Band of Ojibwe.

Red Cliff Band of Ojibwe tribal member Rita Vanderventer had a solo art exhibition featuring her paintings at AICHO in January/February 2020.

This "birchbark" basket made from paper sits in one of AICHO’s garden sites next to AICHO’s Headquarters building. Ode’imin is the Ojibwe translation for strawberry. The young children at AICHO made birchbark baskets out of paper and decorated them at an AICHO event. Ojibwe language is very important to the culture and AICHO incorporates it into a lot of their programming

of their lives,” said Khayman Goodsky, coordinator at Indigenous First Art & Gift Shop. “They create paintings, clothing, beadwork, and we also have some food producers.”

Education

Education is also a major part of what AICHO has to offer.

“At AICHO, our cultural art and cultural programming is based on Indigenous knowledge, ways, and the perspective of reconnecting and connecting folks to American Indian culture,” said Ivy Vainio, AICHO’s Art, Culture, and Communications coordinator.

“We are all about reclaiming and restoring traditional ways,” added Olson. “We like to teach healthy options for eating, including how to grow your own food. And we teach children about respecting their elders.”

At AICHO, the educational offerings are open to all ages.

“We are family friendly and intergenerational,” Littlewolf said. The opportunities to learn and explore are bountiful at AICHO. The rooftop garden space is a place for youth to learn to grow and harvest food; they can later sell their items at the market.

Field trips for children are also available.

“We’ve taken field trips to Native Wise Farm on the Fond du Lac Reservation, where kids got into canoes to harvest wild rice,” Vainio said. “And then we can teach them the entrepreneurial side by having them participate in the food and art market.”

Other educational opportunities include language symposiums, cooking demonstrations, plant walks, learning to make Indigenous healing teas, storytelling, drumming classes, discussions about suicide prevention, creating sacred traditional tobacco and foraging to create traditional medicines.

An art gallery, featuring a variety of mediums and styles, is available for public viewing. The AICHO Indigenous Food & Art Markets, held each summer, highlight the hard work of BIPOC (Black, Indigenous and people of color) food producers and artists. These markets are held at the One Roof Community Housing parking lot, located at 12 E. Fourth St. in Duluth.

Funding

AICHO receives funding through a variety of sources, including federal, state, county and local funds. Local donors and partners, including Blue Cross Blue Shield, the Northland Foundation, and many private citizens, also help support AICHO. The organization also raises funds through its Indigenous First social enterprises (such as gift shop sales), and rental income.

All are welcome

While the organization was created with the intent of supporting Indigenous people, all are welcome at AICHO.

“Everyone is welcome here,” Littlewolf said. “We are intentional at making our spaces inclusive and respectful of all people.”

“Please come in, give us a call, or follow us on our social media platforms,” Vainio added. “We also list all of our offerings on our main AICHO web page, which is aicho.org.” D

Andrea Busche is a Duluth freelance writer.

Zoey, a participant in AICHO’s Giinawiind Giginitaawigi’gomin: Together We Grow Youth program holds a tray of plants the youth grew in the AICHO Gardens and sold at the AICHO Food and Art Markets last year.

Growing Together is a black owned farm/entrepreneur business participating in AICHO’s annual series of Food and Art Markets. Each market has between 20 and 25 Indigenous and BIPOC food producers and artists.

and even has a weekly online Ojibwe Language class on Monday evenings.

DULUTH WOMEN OF TODAY promotes community volunteerism

By Abigail Blonigen

TheDuluth Women of Today is a local chapter of a national organization borne out of the United States Junior Chamber, more commonly known as the Jaycees.

According to the Minnesota Women of Today website, some Jaycee wives gathered to create the Mrs. Jaycees of Minnesota in 1950. By 1957, Minnesota had the largest Mrs. Jaycees presence in the United States with 90 chapters.

In 1984, the Supreme Court ruled that women were allowed membership within the Jaycees. The following year, the United States Jaycee Women organization was dissolved, and those who were interested reorganized as the Women of Today.

The Duluth chapter of the Women of Today was started in

“I was very quiet,” Sanders said of herself before joining the Women of Today. “I could not talk in front of people who I didn’t know. The chapter really embraced me, encouraged me to do things and stood behind my ideas to the point that within

Continued on page 30

Duluth Women of Today president Emily McDonald swears in her new board (from left): Tari Hiveley, chairman; Tara Soule, state delegate; Cindy Sanders, treasurer; Tabby Thompson, secretary; Debbie Nelson, membership VP; and Char Ostenberg, programming VP.

2004 by Cindy Sanders, previously involved with the Fridley, Minnesota, chapter.

Duluth Women of Today president Emily McDonald is sworn in by outgoing president Tari Hiveley in May of 2022.

three years I was on the district level, and then I went to the state level.”

Sanders missed the encouragement and community of the group, which is what inspired her to open a Duluth chapter.

The chapter focuses on leadership training, building friendships and volunteering in the community. Their bigger initiatives include sponsoring the Memorial Day parade and Veterans Day march and working a booth at the Duluth Air Show.

The group also participates in smaller, more personal volunteerism, such as making holiday cards for nursing homes and helping low income children get Christmas gifts for their families.

Members can choose to lead these initiatives, which is where the personal and professional development comes in.

“We start people off by working on projects and then encouraging them to take on a chair with somebody else,” Sanders said. “We see what they're really good at and build on that.”

There are opportunities to be involved with the Women of Today on the local, state and national levels, so there is always room for advancement. Sanders has served at every level; she was state president in 2011 and 2012 and national president in 2019 and 2020. She now serves as treasurer and mentor at the local level.

The friendships and sense of community provided by the

The Duluth Women of Today's bigger initiatives include sponsoring the Memorial Day parade and Veterans Day march.

Women of Today cannot be understated, and is a vital part of the organization’s mission.

“It's something that grows with you,” Sanders said. “This is where your friends are.”

Those interested in opportunities with the Duluth Women of Today can reach out via its Facebook page or website, sites. google.com/view/duluthwomenoftoday-mnwt. Membership is open to women age 18 and older, and dues are $50 per year.

Members can choose their level of involvement, whether they want to seek a leadership position or help out with one event a year.

Meetings are the first Wednesday of the month at 6:30 p.m. at West Duluth American Legion Post 71, 5814 Grand Ave.

Potential members are encouraged to reach out to the Duluth Women to meet and try it out before making the commitment.

“Everybody is welcome,” Sanders said. “It doesn't matter your age. It doesn't matter how quiet you are. Everybody is welcome to come.” D

Members of the Duluth Women of Today work at a booth at the Duluth Air Show.

Char Ostenberg (right), a Women of Today member, delivers items from their Thanksgiving food drive to the Duluth Salvation Army in 2021.

Duluth Women of Today Members pose for a "Sunday Fun Day" mini golf social event in October of 2021.

Abigail Blonigen is a Minnesota freelance writer.

Members of the Duluth Women of Today smile after their "Bylaws and Birthday Bags" event in October of 2021.

THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 22, 2022

INSIDE AND OUTSIDE AT THE GARDEN IN DULUTH, MN

THE NIGHT

Join us for the return of the region’s premier party with purpose: The Miller-Dwan Foundation’s annual gala fundraiser, ARTcetera. On this night, we will safely gather in person for a one-of-a-kind, intimate and exclusive evening where compassionate people come out to play while making a profound difference in the region’s health. Together, we’ll empower life-changing opportunities by raising funds to support the mental health needs of people of all ages.

THE CAUSE bringing mental wellness into the open

It’s time to think BIG. It’s time to rival COVID by taking care of the kids, families, and adults in our community. And it’s time to have some FUN! Over the last two years, the pandemic compounded the need for mental health care for all ages to crisis levels. Yes, CRISIS levels. You know it. I know it. We all know it.

Now, with your support, we’re going to do something about it.

With a staunch recommitment to the mental health of our region, the Miller-Dwan Foundation looks to you for your support. Together we can determine where we can curb the crisis.

You + the Miller-Dwan Foundation = Groundbreaking Impact.

By joining us for a fun and exclusive evening, you’ll be on the cutting edge of new and remarkable ways to bring more hope and healing into the open.

You + the Miller-Dwan Foundation + FUN = Saving Lives!

This year’s ARTcetera auction intentionally includes a limited number of carefully curated auction items. You’ll see some familiar silent auction sights as well as some new and exciting items.

THE FLAVOR + SCENE

Taste

exquisite cuisine throughout the evening! Bellisio’s Executive Chef Dale Conner with Mary Kay Berarducci, Event Chair, Pastry Chef and Menu Creative, are working on a dinner that’s palate pleasing and anything but ordinary. Grab a signature cocktail or mocktail while you peruse the silent auction.

If you have special dietary needs, please call us at (218) 786-5829.

Experience

a setting that’s sophisticated and elegant yet easy. Socialize and lounge outside under a big top marquee with harbor views, or simply stroll inside the newly renovated Garden.

Open up to a shared cause, and discover why we do this as author and TED speaker Nora McInerny shares a moving story of overcoming life’s challenges with wit, humor and heart.

THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 22, 2022

INSIDE AND OUTSIDE AT THE GARDEN IN DULUTH, MN EVENT CHAIR: MARY KAY BERARDUCCI

5 pm: Social Hour & Silent Auction

6:30 pm: Dinner

8 pm: Program

RSVP BY SEPTEMBER 2, 2022

SEATING IS LIMITED.

FOR IMMEDIATE RESERVATIONS, PLEASE CALL (218) 786-5829 OR VISIT MDFOUNDATION.ORG

Tickets $175. Gather your table of eight and get ready for an incredible evening. Reserve or learn more at mdfoundation.org or call (218) 786-5829. Complimentary valet services will be available.

COCKTAIL ATTIRE SUGGESTED

Auction

This year’s ARTcetera auction intentionally includes a limited number of carefully curated auction items. You’ll see some familiar silent auction sights as well as some new and exciting items.

This year, more than ever, we need your financial support to help address our region’s mental health epidemic. So please join us, enjoy yourself, and consider making an outright Fund-a-Cause donation. Your generosity can change a life.

Visit mdfoundation.org/ARTcetera-2022 to learn more and purchase tickets.

ANNIVER YRAS

Amberwing - Center for Youth & Family Well-Being was created by the Miller-Dwan Foundation and brings together the combined resources of a community philanthropy and a health system to create a national model for effective mental health care.

This year, we celebrate the 10-year anniversary of Amberwing. More than 4,500 kids and families have had their lives changed because of the programming and skills taught at Amberwing. Evidence-based Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT) coping skills are same skills we use throughout our mental health system, amongst ourselves and in our own families.

EVENT SPONSORS

Essentia Health

Hailey Sault

Api Group

The Jamar Company

LeJeune Steel maurices

Kurt Johnson

Auctioneering

The Lion Hotel Group

AW Kuettel & Sons, Inc.

Morgan StanleyGraystone Consulting

RSM

MMC

Viking Automatic Sprinklers

Northland Constructors

Duluth Landfill Superior

Thank you!

Lulu the Custom Travel Trailer: 1962 Winnebago Trailer (donated by Maude Dornfeld) Completely renovated by Knutson Construction, with funding from Waterfront Plaza and Marine Iron.

Preparing for a healthy future

By Anthony Matt

It’s nearly October, which means Breast Cancer Awareness Month is right around the corner, making now the optimum time to consider scheduling exams that are able to detect breast cancer earlier when it is easier to treat.

Essentia Health recommends having a clinical breast exam performed by your primary care provider or gynecologist every year. Between these appointments, physicians recommend self-breast awareness, which is knowing how your breasts normally look and feel.

According to the American Cancer Society, on average, early detection of Stage 1 breast cancer has a 99% five-year relative survival rate.

“People who get annual screening mammograms will have earlier detection and a better prognosis,” said Carolyn Olson, an advanced practice registered nurse in Essentia Health’s breast health program. “This means less-aggressive surgery, less likely to need chemotherapy and a better survival rate.”

Olson said you should see a provider if you are experiencing any of the following symptoms:

• Changes in the size or shape of the breast.

• A painful or itchy nipple.

• Discharge from the nipple without squeezing.

• Swelling, redness, warmth or darkening of the breast.

• Lumps or thickening in the breast or underarm area.

• A change in skin texture.

• A changing of the nipple position or shape.

• New pain in one spot that does not go away.

“These can all be easily self-observed, and while it doesn’t mean you have breast cancer, it certainly is something we want to look at and rule out that possibility,” Olson said.

Essentia recommends women get a screening mammogram

every year once they turn 40. These can be scheduled with your primary care provider. Essentia offers digital 2-D and 3-D mammograms. Additionally, ultrasounds and breast MRIs can be used if further imaging is needed.

“We will do our best to meet their needs and ensure they feel comfortable whether we are providing a clinical breast exam, mammogram or breast biopsy,” Olson said.

Essentia also offers a High-Risk Breast Cancer Program. This focuses on identifying and helping patients understand their risk for developing breast cancer. Patients will undergo a thorough assessment and evaluation while partnering with a breast health specialist to formulate a personalized plan of care.

• Those who should consider this high-risk program are women who have any of the following:

• Several close relatives on the same side of the family with breast cancer.

• A mother, sister or daughter with breast cancer at age 50 or younger.

• Two first-degree relatives with breast cancer at any age.

• A close male relative with breast cancer.

“The average woman has a 12-13% lifetime risk of developing breast cancer, and a woman found to be at high risk will have a greater than 20% lifetime risk,” Olson said. “There are a number of factors that can contribute to being high-risk.

Carolyn Olson is an advanced practice registered nurse in Essentia Health’s breast health program.

If you have questions, we are here to help and walk you through your risk factors to determine if this program is right for you.”

Essentia also offers genetic testing and counseling to work with patients whose families have a history of cancer, genetic diseases or medical disorders and who are concerned about the risk of developing medical conditions or passing them on to their children.

Genetic counselors work with patients and their families to discuss risk factors and test for genetic diseases and disorders that may be passed down through a person’s bloodline.

You should consider a genetic counselor if you have a close relative with hereditary cancers such as breast, ovarian or colon cancer.

“Essentia is well-equipped to handle patients’ concerns from a variety of different resources,” Olson said. “We want to make it easy for the patient to come in, determine their risks, if any, and establish the best possible path forward to ensure a healthy outcome.”

Patients can lower their breast cancer risk by doing some of the following:

• Maintain a healthy weight.

• Exercise regularly.

• Limit alcohol intake.

• Limit hormone use.

• Breastfeed if possible.

• Don’t smoke.

Essentia is known for its high-quality, evidence-based breast care. Our breast health programs in Brainerd, Duluth and Fargo are accredited by the National Accreditation Program for Breast Centers. This accreditation is granted to programs that are committed to providing the best possible care to patients with breast diseases.

You can make an appointment by calling 844-663-1068 (or 218-786-1019 if you are in the Duluth area) or schedule a virtual visit online at essentiahealth.org/services/breasthealth. D

Anthony Matt is the media relations specialist at Essentia Health.

Arts & Events Calendar

Chester Creek Concert Series

6:30 p.m. Tuesdays in August

Concerts are free at Chester Creek Park: Aug. 2 - B-Listers (blues/classic rock); Aug. 9Jaggedease (folk/rock/jazz); Aug. 16 - Boxcar (Americana); Aug. 23 - Rain Date. Visit www. chesterbowl.org/uncategorized/chestercreek-concert-series-2022.

Bayside Sounds Around Town Concert Series

6pm Wednesdays in August

Aug. 3Mackie Brothers (variety rock) at Central Park; Aug. 10 - John & Andy (acoustic) at Webster Dream Park;

Aug. 17 0 Moors & McCumber (Americana) at Billings Park; Aug. 24 - South of Superior (pop) at Barker’s Island Festival Park, with Volunteer Appreciation; Aug. 31 - Whiskey Trail (country) at Barker’s Island Festival Park. See www.ci.superior.wi.us/215/BaysideSounds-Concerts.

The West Theatre Events

Thursdays in August and September

Aug.

4 - Tish Hinojosa (folk/ country/ Latino/ pop);

Aug. 13 - Marc Cohn (R&B/soul/gospel);

Aug. 24 - Deke Dickerson (rockabilly); Aug. 25 - The Slambovian Circus of Dreams (folk rock/Americana); Sept. 15 - Lizz Winstead - Everything’s Awful: A Comedy Show; Sept. 29 - Albert Cummings (blues). Visit thewesttheatre/events.com.

Movies in the Park

Fridays in August

Movies are free at Leif Erickson Park:

Aug. 5 at 8:35 p.m. - Scoob!;

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.

Clue

August 12-21

CLUE is a hilarious farce-meets-murder mystery. Performances are held at the Norshore Theatre. Visit www. duluthplayhouse.org/norshor-theatre.

Aug. 12 at 8:25 p.m. - The Little Rascals; Aug. 19 at 8:10 p.m. - Trolls World Tour; Aug. 26 at 8 p.m. - Men In Black. Visit www. downtownduluth.com/movies-in-the-park.

City of the Hill Music Fest

August 5-6

Join other people of faith for two days of fellowship, music and praise for all ages at Bayfront Festival Park. The top-notch lineup is tailored to a Christian fanbase. www.cityonthehillmusicfest.com/.

Disney’s High School Musical

August 5-14

East High students Troy (the jock), Gabriella (the brain) and the rest of the class must deal with issues of first love, friends and family while balancing their classes and extracurricular activities. For ages 8 and up. Visit www.duluthplayhouse.org/familytheatre.

Bayfront Blues Festival

August 12-14

One of the largest outdoor music events in the upper Midwest, this 33rd annual event features over 30 different acts on two stages in Bayfront Festival Park. Visit www.bayfrontblues.com/menu.

Vatican Unveiled: An Exploration of Legacies

August 19-21

The largest papal artifacts collection outside of Rome will be on display for the second time in Duluth, at the DECC from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Friday and Saturday, and 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Sunday. Visit www.vaticanunveiled.com.

Art in Bayfront Park

August 20-21

Over 100 artists fill Bayfront Festival Park with juried works of art at this annual free event, set for 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday and 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Sunday. Visit www. artinbayfrontpark.com.

Lake Superior Dragon Boat Festival

August 26-27

This event is organized, operated and staffed by Rotary Club of Superior for the good of our community. Members are local residents and created this family fun event to better the community and experiences of the people within it. This year’s charitable partner is 23rd Veteran. The event is family friendly and has no admission fee for spectators. Visit www.superiordragons.org or email info@ superiordragons.org.

The Tribute Fest

August 26-27

This fundraiser for homeless and jobless veterans features a variety of tribute bands at Bayfront Festival park. Free admission for all veterans and active duty military members and their families. Visit www. thetributefest.com.

Duluth Superior Pride Festival

September 1-4

The Duluth-Superior GLBTAQI+ Pride Festival will offer events all around the Twin Ports starting with the Mayor's Reception at the Duluth Depot on Thursday. The main event is the festival at Bayfront Park all day Saturday, followed by a parade on Sunday. Visit www.duluthsuperiorpride.com.

Duluth Oktoberfestival

September 16-18

This third annual event, at Bayfront Festival Park, will feature cold German bier, Bavarian food, authentic live music, tons of games and activities and much more. Visit www. duluthoktoberfestival.com.

Monty Python’s Spamalot

September 17-October 3

Lovingly ripped off from the iconic motion picture, Monty Python and the Holy Grail, Spamalot is a lively musical and an irreverent parody of King

REO Speedwagon & Styx

6:45 p.m. September 3

REO Speedwagon and Styx will bring their rock and roll classics to the masses, this time with special guest Loverboy for the “Live & UnZoomed” tour at Amsoil Arena. Visit www. decc.org/event/reo-speedwagon-styx.

North Country EV Show & Tell

4-7:30 p.m. September 8

Several types of electric vehicles (EVs) will be available to the public for viewing during this electric cooperativesponsored event at Bayfront Festival park. There will be food and beverage vendors, a discussion panel, and live concert by Mason Dixon Line. See EVs up close and visit with EV experts. Visit www.lakecountrypower. coop/north-country-ev-show-and-tell.

Lake Superior Harvest Festival

10 a.m. to 4 p.m. September 10

This 28th annual event will include a farmers market, energy fair, exhibitors, artisans and food vendors, education and family activities and music. Visit www.sfa-mn. org/harvestfestival.

Arthur and his Knights of the Round Table. Visit www.duluthplayhouse.org/norshortheatre.

Tom Segura: I’m Coming Everywhere World Tour 7 p.m. September 28

Actor/ comedian/ writer Tom Segura is one of the biggest names in the comedy business, and is best known for his Netflix specials. The performance will be held at the DECC’s Symphony Hall. Visit www.decc.org/ event/tom-segura-im-coming-everywhereworld-tour.

Off to a great start at St. Luke’s

Why immunizations and Well Child Visits are so important

By Claire Kiger

Chances are, you don’t live in fear of measles. However, it’s one of the world’s most contagious viruses. There is no treatment, and for those under the age of 5 it can be deadly.

Fortunately, measles was declared as eliminated in the United States more than 20 years ago, thanks to vaccination.

“Herd immunity for measles is thought to be reached when 95% of the population is vaccinated,” said Katie Albert, Northeast Minnesota Immunization Information Connection (MIIC) regional coordinator.

“However, things can get out of hand pretty fast,” she said. “Right now, in northeastern Minnesota only 85% of our 2-year-olds are up to date on their measles, mumps and rubella (MMR) vaccine. That means the threat of a measles outbreak is a reality.”

Dropping immunization rates

Nationally, immunization rates have dropped throughout the pandemic.

“What’s interesting is, at least for Minnesota, we are not seeing an increase of exemptions,” Albert said. “That means people aren’t intentionally choosing to not vaccinate. They’re probably just not getting their kids in to see their doctors.”

When the pandemic started, it was recommended that everyone stay home and avoid non-urgent medical appointments. Now, families are encouraged to catch up on any health care they may have missed during that time.

“If kids don’t receive the recommended vaccinations we could see an increase of vaccine-preventable diseases,” said St. Luke’s Pediatrician Dr. Amanda Webb. “That’s really serious. The younger kids are, the more vulnerable they are. If there’s an outbreak, kids are at risk of life-altering complications or even death.”

Keeping kids healthy is Katie Albert’s passion as the Northeast Minnesota Immunization Information Connection Regional Coordinator. Here, she spends time with her husband and their three daughters, who all see St. Luke’s Pediatrician Dr. Amanda Webb as their primary care provider.

What parents can do

The solution is simple: Keep your kids on track with their Well Child Visits. During these appointments, children can receive the immunizations they need as well as check in with their doctor. This is the recommended schedule:

• 1 month: No immunizations. Ask about Vitamin D drops (if breastfeeding), when to call the doctor, and use of pacifiers.

• 2 months: HepB, RV, DTaP, Hib, PCV13, IPV immunizations. Ask about how much tummy time baby should be getting.

• 4 months: RV, DTaP, Hib, PCV13 and IPV

immunizations. Ask about when to start solids.

• 6 months: HepB, RV, DTaP, Hib, PCV13, IPV and flu immunizations. Ask about cleaning baby’s teeth and “baby-proofing” your home.

• 9 months: No immunizations, unless baby missed previous ones. Ask about patience with baby, how often to say “no,” and the use of a highchair.

• 12 months: Hib, PCV13, MMR, VAR, HepA and flu immunizations. Ask about praising good behavior, screen time, and including baby at mealtimes.

• 15 months: HepB, DTaP, Hib, PCV13, IPV, MMR and VAR immunizations. Ask about reading, bedtime routine and sleeping, and home, car and outdoor safety.

• 18 months: HepB, DTaP, IPV and HepA immunizations. Ask about describing things using simple words and toilet-learning readiness.

• 24 months: HepA and flu immunizations. Ask about sharing and

getting along with others, toilet-learning readiness, the importance of reading, and playing instead of screen time.

Keeping kids on track at St. Luke’s

“This vaccine schedule has been proven safe and effective,” Dr. Webb said. “Parents should stick to it as best they can.” However, if you’ve lost track somewhere along the way, don’t worry. Just call your child’s doctor and they will be able to help you move forward.

Albert, whose children all see Dr. Webb as their primary care doctor, has seen the benefits of keeping her girls on track with their Well Child Visits.

“Not only has it kept them happy and healthy as they receive all the immunizations they need,” she said, “it’s also given them a chance to build a relationship with Dr. Webb. I think that’s so important.”

To learn more about childhood immunizations and Well Child Visits at St. Luke’s, visit slhduluth. D

Claire Kiger is a marketing specialist and writer for St. Luke’s.

St. Luke’s pediatrician Dr. Amanda Webb encourages parents to follow the recommended schedule for their children’s Well Child Visits.

Aged cabin gets a new life

By Tony Bennett

For many people, a dream home on a private lake is just that: a dream. Not many can make such a dream come true. But when you have the means, you make the necessary sacrifices, and you execute a plan over a long stretch of time. It can be done.

"We're on a small, private lake north of Duluth," said one of the two homeowners who have recently embarked upon and completed this very journey. (Both of them have chosen to remain anonymous for this story.) "Our house was a very small cabin up until probably the ’80s, at which time the previous owners put on an addition and then another addition. We acquired it from the bank at some point, and then we kind of really took it to the next level and then renovated it, again. We took it from a home that had been added onto again and again, which created a lot of issues with mechanical stuff: plumbing, electrical."

At one stage, the couple realized they had to strip the house way back and start not from scratch, but from a scratch-adjacent point.

What

or

is now a beautiful, expansive Duluth lake home. Part of the exterior of the original cabin was left open and incorporated into the home’s entryway. The covered porch is flanked with Douglas fir beams and a tongue and groove cedar ceiling. A skylight keeps the porch and entrance filled with natural light. The front wainscotting black stone and pillars was sourced from Great Lakes Stone and laid by Split Rock during the renovation.

"We had a vision for what we wanted," said one of the homeowners, "but we also had a need to really update the mechanical part of our home if we wanted to stay there long term, because things were starting to fail or were going to fail if we didn't do something about it."

Aerial views of completed cabin.

started as a lake cabin in the 1940s

‘50s

The history of the now-home/former cabin is murky. When the couple acquired it 20 years ago, it had been a bank repossession. It had been fixed up enough to be in a salable condition, but its past was unclear. The assumption the couple goes on is that the core of the house was a cabin that had its origins in the 1940s or ’50s.

"We know the cabin is on the side of the house," one of the homeowners said. "We actually found the exterior of the original cabin, which we left open and is now part of our entryway. We took that original cabin and we left it open as, like, an accent wall. Even the bedroom and the little fireplace that we have in our home — it's all (from the) original cabin with original cedar. I only have one photo of what the cabin looked like, and then we have our house now — it's really kind of a very interesting story."

Many people may have just driven a bulldozer over the whole thing and started fresh, but this couple was interested in retaining some of the "charm" that the original structure had.

"A lot of people can't believe (we didn't tear it down)," said one of the homeowners. "There was something about walking in here 20 years ago — there was a feeling. I just loved the feeling I got from it, and I really wanted to maintain that. We love being here. We've been here for a long time and we want to be here another 20 or 30 years. The lake-life and originalcabin aesthetics (were important)."

The couple went so far as to reject a contractor's suggestion of cutting some of the original cedar for insulation purposes, and they painstakingly removed the wood bit by bit so that it could later be reinstalled.

"I spent hours taking down the cedar and labeling it and numbering it, so that we could put it all back up exactly how it was," said one of the homeowners, "and that was worth the time to me, because I really feel it was valuable."

One of the biggest items on the docket for the couple was getting a new garage (with an upstairs living space) that could serve many purposes, including being a boat/snowmobile launching point.

"We had a one-stall garage that didn't even comfortably fit one vehicle in it," said one of the homeowners, "let alone a lawnmower or workbench or other things. It was a tuck-under garage — small, crowded. We really wanted garage space. We both wanted to park inside. One of the things we hated the most was, one of us would have to get up in the morning in the winter and go out to our car and scrape it off and warm it up. That really detracted from our quality of life here, so we had to figure out a way around that."

The couple goes out of their way to praise the people who worked on their home project. Every contractor is one they

Continued on page 43

The original cabin has unknown origins, but it’s estimated to be from the 1940s or ’50s.

This view of the cabin as seen from the lake is from about 20 years ago, after some additions were made in the 1980s.

This is the cabin before renovation and exterior paint were completed.

Trex

was sourced from Campbell Lumber and Supply Company in Superior. The design and layout were conceived by the homeowners, and Campbell’s was able to create the two-level deck using two different colors. The garage door is capped by a gable metal accent roof with cedar shakes, supported by Douglas fir beams. The tiered landscaping between the house and lake is Versa-Lok and was done about 15 years ago.

have good things to say about, whether their touches were large or small. A suggestion by Carlson Duluth to add a simple sink in the garage while they were already running plumbing turned out to be a lifesaver, for instance.

"We started to think about it, and we said, 'You're right,'” said one of the homeowners. "We use the sink all the time."

Heather Hiner of Hiner Home Designs LLC was the designer behind the project. She found it to be as unique a challenge as the couple building the home did.

"I was hired by the homeowner to create a design that expanded the garage

Continued on page 44

Transcend decking

space with a new master suite and guest bedroom above, provide a dedicated mechanical room rather than the small, cramped mechanical closet they currently had, and give the home a more prominent front entry with curb appeal," Hiner said. "The footprint of the enlarged structure was limited to a 24-foot-wide addition off the side that couldn’t project further toward the lake than the existing house and was limited to no more than 16 feet toward the street side due to the existing septic.

“Within those parameters, I drew up a design that bumped the existing garage out 14 feet to create a full-depth parking

stall with the other half dedicated to a mechanical room, laundry, mud room and half-bath, and I pulled the existing foyer forward with a covered porch to give the house some charm and style. The 24-foot addition to the side was then dedicated to additional garage space below and bedrooms above.”

Hiner’s most daunting hurdle was making the designs flow naturally.

"The biggest challenge with this project was to create a

Continued on page 46

The steam shower tile, installed by Hedley Construction, features classic subway tile with an inlaid chevron pattern, with a Calcutta marble hexagon floor. Clear glass doors were installed by Mesabi Glass. The master bath vanity is walnut with black Nero soapstone counter, finished with polished nickel hardware and Kohler lighted-mirror wall cabinets.

The spacious master suite features a fireplace with Nero soapstone surround and a mantle from a beam from the Globe grain elevator from North Shore Wood Products. The master closet and bath have polished porcelain Calcutta marble floors. The closet system that the homeowners designed and installed is from IKEA. Having the washer/dryer in the master suite makes laundry a breeze.

The bathrooms incorporate nature by using natural Travertine stone with Turkish marble floors, clear glass to maintain light (Mesabi Glass), and walnut cabinetry.

The “old master” bedroom, upper right, has a small secondfloor deck overlooking the lake that offers gorgeous sunrise and moonrise views.

Another bedroom, lower right, is the original cabin (main floor) room, and the paint was colormatched in the original cabin exterior color. The room features the original ceiling beam and cedar tongue and groove.

The original main cabin room is open to the dining room and kitchen and features original tongue and groove and a brick wall. The chimney was moved to allow the front porch addition. The room, which retains the original cabin charm and feel, is perfect for reading, warming up from outdoor winter activities, or playing board games.

cohesive design that didn’t look like an existing house with a big garage addition," Hiner said. "The addition of the front porch, with a cozy sitting area and a gable roof over the double garage door, helps to break up the tall wall and create exterior interest. Another challenge was tying in the new addition to the various levels, heights and rooflines of the existing home, which the contractor did a great job of verifying and implementing.

"I really enjoyed working with the

homeowners. They were very receptive to my ideas and excited to see their dream come alive. They sent photos as the project progressed and were so complimentary once everything was complete."

Frank Gerard of Campbell Lumber and Supply Co. in Superior was another person who helped to make this dream home a reality.

"I was involved mainly on the design and layout of the deck project," he said. One of the homeowners "brought in

dimensions and some simple sketches and, together, we came up with a plan for this amazing two-level deck using two different colors.

"The product is Trex decking with ‘tiki torch’ as the main color and ‘spiced rum’ as the picture frame and dividers," Gerard said. "Spiced-rum risers and fascia create a stunning contrast. It's finished with an aluminum rail system from Westbury Railing. We had to work through some minor challenges with the ledger board fasteners, but everything worked out just fine. This was a fun project and they were great to work with."

So, while the project was a long time coming and just so happened to dovetail with a global COVID-19 pandemic, the result is one that has brought the couple — who now live in the completed home — great satisfaction.

"We literally lived in a camper for

A slightly sunken living room with a dry bar accesses the deck and faces the lake, offering a perfect lake view and movie watching. The feature wall is a pallet wall finished in walnut stain and was completed by the homeowners seven years ago. Prior to the remodel, it had a garage service door in it.

six months in our yard while our house was uninhabitable," said one of the homeowners. "And, of course, nobody anticipated COVID, so that made it harder, especially for (my partner), who then had to work from home, which means we're living in a tiny camper. We really had a fun adventure. We laugh a lot about that. There's not a week that goes by where one of us doesn't mention how grateful we are and how happy we are and how fortunate we are to live in this home and have gone through this." D

Luxury vinyl plank flooring covers the home gym; the windows face the forest outside. The main floor mudroom/ laundry is right off the garage. It has a farmhouse style sink, antique style soap faucet, walnut butcher block counters, powder room, closet, white cabinets to keep space light, and a darkly painted ceiling for style. The stained concrete floors make cleaning easy.

Tony Bennett is a Duluth freelance writer.

To maintain a natural and light feel to the kitchen, the homeowners balanced lower walnut cabinets with white uppers featuring clear glass doors and lighting on the top to display antique coffee grinders. Cabinetry was sourced from Hermantown Millwork. The marble counter’s waterfall edge, full back splashes and window sills, by Great Lakes Stone, balance the light and dark of the cabinets.

The hardwood floors, which the homeowners laid themselves, go throughout the entry, kitchen, dining room, main floor bedroom, and living room.

The house maintains the open concept kitchen, dining room and living room while allowing for enough separation for different activities.

Large patio doors flanked by large “hoppers,” by Marvin Windows, give the dining room area access to the deck and maximizes the lake vistas. The hopper windows are designed to catch the breeze for cross ventilation even if it’s raining.

Coming through the front entryway, the eye is drawn straight to the lake through the open space. If you stand in the middle of the room, you can see lake or trees from almost all angles.

5191 Miller Trunk Hwy 218-729-5373 | Mon-Fri 9am-5pm

Kelsey Hiner Heather Hiner

BRUNCH!

CLASSIC FAVORITES WITH A TWIST

Recipes prepared by Chef Teal - Mount Royal Market Deli

Mother Sauce

3 Egg yolks

½ Lemon, juiced

1 tsp. Salt

1 tsp. Ground black pepper

¼ tsp. Cayenne pepper

½ cup Butter

In a small bowl, whisk together egg yolks, lemon juice, cold water, salt and pepper. Melt butter in a saucepan over low heat. Gradually whisk yolk mixture into butter. Continue whisking over low heat for 8 minutes, or until sauce is thickened. Serve immediately

Flavor variations:

Spicy Citrus: Add juice and zest of lemon and lime, add 1 each diced fresno and serrano.

Maltaise: Omit the lemon from mother sauce and replace with blood oranges

Choron Sauce: In a saucepan,

combine ¼ cup vinegar, ¼ cup wine, 8 peppercorns, 1 shallot, 1 Tbsp. tarragon, and 2 Tbsp. tomato paste. Bring the liquid to a boil and reduce to 1 Tbsp. Next, stir in 1 Tbsp. of tomato paste into the reduction. Add the 3 egg yolks and whisk, over low heat, until frothy, about 3 to 4 minutes. In a steady stream,

add the ½ cup butter until the sauce thickens.

Béarnaise: Same as Choron sauce, but omit tomato paste and peppercorns and add 1 Tbsp. of parsley.

Continued on page 52

Bringing you “Affordable Delicious”

Soy-Cured Salmon, Pear, & Cilantro Crème Fraîche

RECIPE BY: JEAN-GEORGES VONGERICHTEN

SOURCE: ASIAN FLAVORS OF JEAN-GEORGES

VONGERICHTEN

This Asian version of gravlax uses soy sauce to cure the salmon in place of salt. The result is a rich sweet-saltiness in the fish, punctuated by the heat of the ginger and chile. The crème fraîche dipping sauce counters with a cooling effect, as does the crunchy Asian pear.

4 Servings

Ingredients:

1 cup Light soy sauce

1 cup Fresh cilantro leaves

One 2-in. piece Fresh young ginger, peeled and chopped

1 Fresh green Thai chile, chopped

One 9-oz Salmon fillet, skinned, trimmed, and halved lengthwise

½ cup plus 2 Tbsp. Crème fraîche

2 Scallions, white parts only, thinly sliced

⅓ cup Fresh cilantro leaves, sliced

1 Tbsp. Fresh lime zest, plus more for garnish

¼ tsp. Fresh green Thai chile, minced

2 Tbsp. Fresh lime juice

1 tsp. Salt

¼ cup Asian pear, diced

Directions:

To make the salmon: Put the soy sauce, cilantro, ginger, and chile in a blender and purée until the mixture is blended, but still chunky. Transfer to a shallow bowl, submerge the salmon completely in the brine, cover with plastic wrap, and refrigerate for 20 hours.

Remove the salmon from the brine and rinse thoroughly in cold water. Pat dry with paper towels and cut crosswise into ¼-inch-thick slices.

To make the sauce: Put the crème fraîche, scallions, cilantro, lime zest, and chile in a small mixing bowl and mix well. Stir in the lime juice and salt.

Spoon a pool of the sauce onto each serving plate. Decoratively lay the salmon slices on top of the sauce and garnish with the Asian pear and lime zest. Serve immediately.

PLAIN SALMON BRINES

COLD SMOKED

BLUEBERRY CORIANDER

SOY-CURED

Blueberry Coriander Gravlax

RECIPE BY: NIK SHARMA

SOURCE: TASTE, Gravlax at the Source

7 Servings

Ingredients:

1 1/2 lb. Salmon with skin, pin-bones removed

1/4 cup Kosher salt - preferably, Crystal Diamond

1/4 cup Brown sugar

2 Tbsp. Vodka

1 cup Blueberries

1 Tbsp. Coriander seeds

1 Tbsp. Cracked black pepper

1 tsp. Fresh lime zest

Directions:

Pat the salmon dry with a clean paper towel and place flesh side up on a large sheet of parchment paper. Mix the salt and sugar in a small bowl and rub both sides of the fish with it. Now drizzle the vodka over the flesh of the fish. In a mortar and pestle, crush the blueberries with the coriander seeds until coarse and stir in the black pepper and lime zest. Spoon the mixture over the surface of the fish. Wrap the fish with the ends of the parchment paper and

Cold Smoked Salmon

1 deboned and filleted salmon, freshwater and locally recommended. Place salmon fillet flat into a deep pan.

Brine:

1 cup Kosher salt

1 cup Sugar

2qts Water

4 sprigs Fresh rosemary

8 sprigs Fresh thyme

¼ cup Peppercorns

Place in a pot and bring to a boil, completely cool and pour over salmon and refrigerate for 24-48 hours. Rinse off and air dry before putting into the smoker.

Outdoor Smoker:

Smoked at 200 degrees for 4 hours using apple wood smoking chips.

Chef’s note: Achieve a variety of flavors by brushing a line of different sauces across the salmon fillet during the smoking process.

Chef Teal brushed the sauce on twice while smoking.

The idea is to smoke using a lower temperature for a finished product that is extremely moist and not dried out.

Marinades, sauces, infused simple syrups, and just about any spice or syrup can be used. Be creative.

then wrap with a sheet of aluminum foil. Place the wrapped salmon in a tray and then place a flat 3-lb weight, such as a small cast-iron or ceramic dish, over the fish. Place it in the refrigerator and flip the fish every 8 to 12 hours. The gravlax will be ready within 36 to 48 hours when it is firm to touch.

Flavors used in this recipe:

Bourbon sauce

Sweet chili

Caribbean jerk

Sashimi Togarashi spice blend

Zesty orange

Honey bourbon BBQ

Honey sriracha

As for the garnish, head to Mount Royal Market and grab an assortment of crackers.

Quiche

Ingredients

9-inch-deep dish Pillsbury pie crust

8 oz. Shredded Swiss or other cheese

4 Eggs

12 oz. Heavy cream

½ Tbsp. Kosher salt

½ tsp. White pepper

8 oz. Filling*, optional

Chef’s note: Once again, the sky's the limit, be creative and try different proteins, and vegetables.

*Chef Teal used these fillings per quiche: Spinach; Wild Rice; Bacon and Green Onions; Ham, Broccoli and

Cheddar; Denver; 3 Meat (sausage, bacon, and pepperoni). Fillings are not necessary; you can have an allegg quiche, too!Whisk eggs, salt, pepper, and heavy cream together until completely mixed. Place ingredients in pie crust and pour mixture over. Spread cheese over the top and cook for 34 minutes in a preheated convection oven set to 320 degrees. Oven times may vary, the finished product will be golden brown and it's normal for the pie to deflate when removed from the oven. Let cooked pie rest for 20 minutes before slicing, this will ensure that the pie slices will stay intact when serving.

k i d skorner

By Ali Carlson

Sponsored by:

August is upon us, which means Sloane will be celebrating her second birthday! We have been spending all available moments outside, and Sloane has loved picking fresh fruit this summer and eating her pickings every day.

SLOanE’s Suggestions

If you are looking for a super fun place to hold a birthday party like we are, check out some of our wonderful local venues to help celebrate. Animals, water, family and friends — Sloane couldn't ask for anything more to help bring in the terrific-twos!

At the Depot

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.

At the Zoo

Birthdays are back!

We throw the “wildest” birth parties in Duluth! Birthday party and event rental space starts at $50 per hour, with a $25 non-refundable deposit required to reserve your date. All party attendees must pay for Zoo admission. For more information go to https://lszooduluth.org.

Let’s Skate

Build Your Birthday Party Package!

Includes: NEW Party Room for 1 hour and 45 minutes, the ability to bring in birthday cake or cupcakes, admission and skate rentals for birthday person and nine guests, and much more! Visit https:// wowskatecenter. com/

At the Aquarium

Water Striders 1/2-day Camp

In this preschool camp, discoveries await under every rock and around every corner! Campers will use a variety of tools for discovery to practice observation skills and develop a sense of wonder while we play inside and outside the Aquarium, meet animals and explore new things. Campers will need to provide their own healthy snacks. For 3- to 5-yearolds, sign up for either Aug. 22-26 or Aug. 20 to Sept. 2. Visit https:// glaquarium.org/education/forfamilies/camp/ for times, cost and other details. Registration now open!

Summer pedicure: A splash of color

By Molly Milroy The Woman Today

Summertime is here in the Northland! The winter boots and wool socks are put away and it’s time for your feet and toes to dance free in the sun. Think long walks on the beach, swimming at the lake, and wearing those cute sandals you scored on sale last fall. It’s time to pamper your footsies and add some sparkle to your toes with a DIY summer pedicure.

Items needed: basin, warm/hot water, Epsom salt, essential oil and carrier oil, towel, pumice stone, nail clippers, nail file, buffer, lotion, toe separator or cotton balls, base coat polish, toenail polish, nail polish remover, cotton swabs, top coat polish.

Foot soak and massage

The first step in a DIY pedicure is pampering yourself with a soothing foot soak. Take a basin large enough for both feet and add warm to hot water, depending on your preference. Next add ½ cup of Epsom salt to the water. In a separate bowl, mix 3-5 drops of essential oil with 1 tablespoon of carrier oil. Then add this mixture to the basin water. The Epsom salt and essential oil mixture will help soothe the feet. Soak your feet for 10-15 minutes while

listening to Harry Styles, Aretha Franklin, or whomever is your current jam.

After you’re done with the soak, pat dry with a towel. Then take a pumice stone focusing on your heels and any part of your foot that has callouses. Make sure not to scrape too hard, as you want to keep your feet smooth, not raw.

The next step to your summer pedicure is trimming your toes. Clipping your nails straight across and then shaping them with a nail file is recommended. Stroke the nail file in one direction instead of back and forth. Next buff the top of the nails with the buffer, creating a smoother texture on the nail bed.

My favorite part of a pedicure, other than colorful toes of course, comes next. Use a foot cream or moisturizer and give yourself a mini foot massage. If you are feeling like a queen, massage your ankles and calves, too. Oh, so soothing!

Colorful toes

Finally, it’s time to paint those toes. But wait, before adding that splash of color to your little piggies, make sure to apply a base coat layer. This will prevent the nail polish from touching your nails, keeping them healthier. It will

also ensure your pedicure lasts longer, and it will keep the colored polish from staining your nails after removal.

Once the base coat is dry, it’s time to paint! Using a toe separator may make it easier, or simply place cotton balls between the toes. First roll the bottle of nail polish in your hands to get the air bubbles out. Then start with a thin coat of paint in the middle of the toe making your way to the sides. Typically, three strokes will suffice. Applying two coats of paint will give it a cleaner, fresher look. Use a cotton swab and nail polish remover to dab away at any polish that got on the skin. Lastly, add a top coat to seal the nail polish, helping the pedicure last longer as well.

To enhance the experience, make it into a party and invite some girlfriends, your mom, or a niece over. Sit outside on the porch and enjoy the sunshine, while sipping on a cold glass of lemonade. If it’s too breezy or colder out that day, move the party indoors and add scented candles and relaxing music. This will give it more of a spa-like experience. By adding a splash of color to your toes, it will make those summer days that much brighter.

In addition to a basin, warm water, Epsom salt and towel, items needed for your pedicure include essential oil and carrier oil, pumice stone, nail clippers, nail file, buffer, lotion, toe separator or cotton balls, base coat polish, toenail polish, nail polish remover, cotton swabs,and top coat polish.

Give

Epsom salt helps soothe achy feet.

Using a base coat and top coat protects the nail bed and will help your pedicure last longer.

Molly Milroy is a Duluth freelance writer.

The Woman Yesterday

Margaret Culkin Banning (1891-1982)

By Abigail Blonigen

Margaret Culkin was born in Buffalo, Minnesota, on March 18, 1891. Her family moved to the Northland when she was young after her father — a lawyer and politician — was appointed to the Register of the Land Office in Duluth, according to Zenith City Online.

“We always had a great many books in our house, most of them standard sets, and I was an early and omnivorous reader. Anything that was in print was my meat,” she wrote for the 1960 Book of Catholic Writers. “I do not remember when I consciously began to think of writing myself, but it must have been about that time.”

Culkin graduated from Duluth Central High School in 1907. She then moved out to New York, where she had family, to study economics and creative writing at Vassar College. Her interests in writing and social problems inspired her to continue her education in Chicago, focusing on social work.

Culkin briefly returned to Duluth to work on the Duluth Social Center, which Zenith City Online describes as “a popular program that used schools as community gathering places for lectures, physical activities, and entertainment.”

In 1914, Culkin married Archibald T. Banning, whose work took the couple to England. Culkin stayed in London while her husband traveled, writing and working part time for the Red Cross, according to Catholic Writers.

The couple returned to Duluth to start a family and had four children, two of whom survived to adulthood. She and her husband eventually separated, but she continued to use his name for her writings.

In 1920, Culkin published her first novel, “The Marrying.” Over the course of her career, she published nearly 40 novels and more than 400 articles and short stories.

Culkin was an advocate for women’s rights, and her stories portrayed women in non-traditional roles, according to the Minnesota Historical Society.

“She often wrote on controversial topics for the times, such as birth control, working women, and mixed marriage,” wrote Tony Dierckins of Zenith City Online.

Her work on social issues took her to Austria and Germany after World War II, where she assisted at refugee and displaced person camps, said the Historical Society.

Culkin continued to be active in the Duluth community throughout her life and was the first woman to be inducted into the Duluth Hall of Fame. The city declared May 21, 1981, as “Margaret Culkin Banning Day.”

Her last novel was published in 1979. She was working on another when she died Jan. 4, 1982. D

Margaret Culkin Banning, Elizabeth Wells Leopold Baker, First Lady Eleanor Roosevelt and Mina Miller Edison meet at a presidential address around 1934.

Portrait of Margaret Culkin Banning from Who's Who Among Minnesota Women, 1924, page 18.

PHOTO BY HARRIS & EWING, COURTESY OF THE LIBRARY OF CONGRESS

Abigail Blonigen is a Minnesota freelance writer.