The Woman Today April/May 2016

Like the Mark Twain quote above, we all know how fickle spring weather can be, particularly where we live! As I write this column, I am looking out at a Currier and Ives Christmas card landscape where there was no snow left at all in my yard just a day ago. But I have faith that the daffodils in my garden are under there somewhere!

With all the whimsies of the season in mind, we still planned an issue that would be bright and springy. We start with our cover profile of Delina White and her daughters, Sage Davis and Lavender Hunt, their colorful Great Lakes Woodland Native Skirt project, and the vibrant accessories they also create.

Then take a trip with us inside the Saffron & Grey Couture Floral Design shop, where “business is blooming,” to meet sisters Layla and Abby Olson who surround themselves with fragrant flowers everyday.

We are excited to be a part of the One River, Many Voices initiative for the month of April. Many area print and visual media folks are honoring the St. Louis River, telling its story, and meeting the people who live on its banks and those whose focus is to preserve it. For The Woman Today’s part in the initiative, I was honored to interview Kris Eilers, director of the St. Louis River Alliance, and Sarah Glesner, special project coordinator, who both work every day to be guardian angels of the river.

We also feature a house on the St. Louis River where the “livin’ is easy” for Dave and Lori Nelson. They have built a beautiful home on Stryker Bay where they are looking forward to the warmer days ahead spent on their deck and patio.

Reflections Reflections

Troy Miller, from Miller Creek Lawn & Landscape, is also gearing up for another spring and summer season. He gives his insider’s view on the freshest gardening trends for 2016.

When you are ready to head out to do some spring and summer trekking, you’ll want to look for Ladona Tornabene’s Gentle Hikes books with all the information you need about the Northland’s most scenic trails.

The April-May is our yearly home and builders’ issue when we share tips and trends for those looking to do some remodeling or even building a new home. Our second feature home lets you look inside and out at Craig and Carol Carlson’s gorgeous Island Lake home as they prepare for outdoor fun with family and friends.

Happy Mother's Day to all our readers who are mothers and grandmothers! Bea Ojakangas shares some variations on elegant crepes, perfect for your Mother's Day brunch menu.

Whatever the spring months may hit us with in the crazy weather department, know that the trees are getting ready to bud, the flowers are lying in wait, and the snow-birds of the winged and human varieties are making their way back “home.”

Spring has officially sprung!

Sheryl Jensen, Managing Editor

PHOTO BY RENAE RONQUIST

“In the spring, I have counted 136 different kinds of weather inside of 24 hours.”

Mark Twain

GENERAL MANAGER

ACCOUNT REPRESENTATIVE

Stewart Hunter EDITOR

Nan Wisherd

GROUP PUBLISHER

Neal Ronquist

COPY EDITOR

PUBLISHER

Nan Wisherd

Dee Munson

PRODUCTION • GRAPHIC DESIGN

ACCOUNT EXECUTIVE

Glenda Sherman

Ali Comnick

PHOTOGRAPHY

MANAGING EDITOR

Sheryl Jensen

COVER PHOTO

Three Irish Girls Photography

COPY EDITOR

Tracy Gilsvik

INSIDE PHOTOGRAPHY

GRAPHIC DESIGN

Renae Ronquist

Derek Montgomery Photography, Three Irish Girls Photography, Robert Peters, Mary Rasch Photography

PHOTOGRAPHY

FRONT COVER

CONTRIBUTORS

Ivy Vaino

Kristina Bourne, Jessica Hehir, Angela Jones, Susan Peters, Mary Rasch, Alison Stucke, Connie Wirta

INSIDE PHOTOGRAPHY

Studio One JoAnn Jardine, David Ballard Photography, Alan Johnson Photography, LaCoursiere Photography, Bailey Aro Photography, Sternberg Studios, Shawna Vine Photography, Jeff Frey & Associates, Renae Ronquist Mad Chicken Photography

SALES

Stewart Hunter — 218-722-5998 stew@momsanddadstoday.com ADD

The Woman Today® publication does not necessarily endorse or agree with the content of articles, photography or advertising presented.

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Correction: We misindentified the photographer for the feature of Kristin Ryan in the February/March issue. The correct photographer was DeAnna Jones, Keepsake Photography.

*Study compares the average price of ever y mattress set (twin, full, queen and king sizes) on display in the mattress showrooms of the four stores Conducted by Fochs & Associates in Januar y 2016.

C ontent s C ontent s

~

White

~

Mother and Daughters Share Culture in a Colorful World of

Cloth Beadsand

by Sheryl Jensen

Delina

grandmother were beadwork artists. I learned from them, and my daughters have learned from me. The project honors that, as women, we were raised to wear skirts, a reminder that women are feminine, beautiful, and respected.”

The three women utilize their mixed media expertise with vintage fabrics and indigenous materials to the Lake Superior region on traditional attire and accessories worn by Native Woodland women of the Great Lakes region.

Sharing Her Legacy

Arts Council Technology / Equipment award.

She sees her work as a connection to both her Anishinaabe/Ojibwe history and to her ancestors. Using hand tanned leather, bones, shells, cotton, wool fabric, ribbon, glass beads, sequins, silver, brass buttons, coins, and mirrors, Delina creates and decorates stunning clothing and accessories such as pipebags, beaded jewelry, handbags, and baby moccasins.

Delina

White and her two daughters, Lavender Hunt and Sage Davis, have been brought closer together by their shared love of their Native American culture. Creating their Great Lakes Woodland Native Skirt collection has also been a vehicle for their bonding even more with each other and sharing with others their respect for the history of Native American women.

The project includes an exhibit with skirts and beaded accessories, designed and constructed by the three women. It has travelled in a fashion show and narrative program that Delina describes as “preserving our distinct styles, material forms of art, and showing their vital importance to human beings of all cultures.”

Delina shares, “This is part of who we are as a family. My mother and

An enrolled member of the Minnesota Chippewa Tribe, Delina lives on the Leech Lake Reservation. She has a Bachelor of Science degree from Bemidji State University in business administration with an emphasis in management, with a minor in management information systems.

As a result of her incredible work with traditional Woodland style beadwork, Delina has been the recipient of many awards including: the 2010 Bush Foundation Fellowship; the 2014 Five Wings Arts Council Community Arts Leadership award; the 2015 Folk and Traditional Arts award from the MN State Arts Board; the 2015 Native Arts & Culture Foundation fellowship; and the 2015 Arrowhead Regional

Delina hopes that this experience and the clothing and accessories in the collection that she and her daughters continue to create “will provide a deeper cultural experience among younger generations and broaden the awareness and access to the beauty and richness of traditional Native culture through the arts.”

Barbie Dolls to Heirlooms

Lavender, Delina’s eldest daughter, is also an enrolled member of the Minnesota Chippewa Tribe and lives on the Leech Lake Reservation. She received her degree in Culinary Arts from the LeCordon Bleu College of Minneapolis. Native dancing has been an important part of her life;

Continued on page 10

PHOTO BY DAVID BALLARD PHOTOGRAPHY

“My mother and grandmother were beadwork artists. I learned from them, and my daughters have learned from me.”

she is a champion dancer in both the United States and Canada in the categories of Contemporary and Old Style Jingle Dress.

Lavender shares, “It started with my Barbie dolls and wanting them to wear Native clothing. I would use my mother’s beads and sequins. When I saw my mother working on her beadwork, I wanted to do it too. We were all raised as dancers and were excited to wear the extravagant beaded outfits. I am especially pleased when I can make a little girl’s first jingle dress, knowing that I have made an heirloom piece.”

Passing both the techniques and love of the clothing and accessories on is also important to Lavender who has three children: Snowy, age 10; Miskwakone, age 9; and Isabella, age 7. Lavender is expecting a fourth child in May.

In making medallions for jewelry, baby bonnets, men’s side drops, earrings, royalty trophies, among many other pieces, Lavender has taken a modern sensibility combined with ancient techniques in her work. “The traditional style of my beadwork is influenced by my mother and my grandmother, combined with a more contemporary use of colors and materials with my own original designs.”

The legacy of the skirt has also been meaningful for her. “I remember my first ribbon skirt and how important it was for my grandmother to make it for me. I felt beautiful in my skirt, and I want other women to feel beautiful in their skirts, too. This project is my way of giving back for all that I have learned.”

Connection to Nature

Sage has one son, Miskwaate, age 5. Of her beaded work which include earrings, leggings, moccasins, and medallions, she notes, “I would describe my artwork as traditional, while incorporating sparkling jewels and real gemstones to make it relevant in the contemporary market. I have a tendency to make white flowers, and my favorite pieces are leaves because I like to use as many shades of green as possible!”

She adds, “For some reason, when I’m making flowers and leaves, I envision rain and morning dew drops. For me, it’s a spiritual connection between women and water. That is my contribution to the important message that we must take care of our mother the earth.”

Sage finds that sharing the love for this work with her mother and sister has added to its meaning and importance for her. “That is what makes it fun, to see our similar yet different styles work together cohesively, resulting in an exquisite finished work of art.”

Inspirations

“While we work separately at our homes, we shop together for fabrics and materials. We love seeing how naturally our visions come together to make elegant skirts and beaded jewelry. We do inspire each other, and we hope we inspire others to keep these traditions a part of our culture,” says Delina. D

A quote on their webpage sums up the three women’s connection and belief:

She explains the connection of the clothing and beading to children. “In our culture babies are loved so much. To give the baby sterling silver rattles, cradle boards, and beaded moccasins, shows that love.” Often these items become family heirlooms kept for safe keeping until the children are grown and have children of their own.

An enrolled member of the Minnesota Chippewa Tribe who also lives on the Leech Lake Reservation, Sage has a bachelor’s degree in communications, media and rhetoric from the University of Minnesota – Morris, and a master’s degree in education from the University of Minnesota – Duluth. She holds a MN eminence licensure for teaching American Indian language and culture.

“Nin zaagiiaag sa miigiwe aang enwe aang biizikonan miiniwa manidoominensag.”

“We love sharing our way of life through cloth and beads.”

For more information on their collections of one-of-a-kind items and the making of custom pieces, visit their website at iamanishinaabe.com

Gentle Hiking with the Photographer Professor

Ladona Tornabene

by Sheryl Jensen

Ladona

Tornabene’s New Orleans accent instantly engages the listener and establishes her Southern gentility and charm. A seemingly unlikely transplant to the colder climate of Northern Minnesota, she has nonetheless found a new home in Duluth and at the campus of UMD.

Ladona has a Ph.D. in health education and teaches public health education and promotion courses in the Department of Applied Human Sciences at UMD. It was the UMD job that first brought her here in the fall of 1999 but she asserts that it is the beauty

of Lake Superior and the surrounding natural beauty of the area that was the other major draw.

As a lover of the outdoors, hiking, and photography, Ladona and co-authors Melanie Morgan and Lisa Vogelsang have written three books:

Gentle Hikes of Minnesota’s North Shore: The North Shore’s Most Scenic Hikes Under 3 Miles; Gentle Hikes of Upper Michigan: Upper Michigan’s Most Scenic Lake Superior Hikes Under 3 Miles; Gentle Hikes of Northern Wisconsin: Northern Wisconsin’s Most Scenic Lake Superior Hikes Under 3 Miles.

Ladona combines her love of nature, photography, and reveling in the

great outdoors. She asserts, “I wouldn’t live where I couldn’t walk.”

Passion for Teaching

“I fell in love with teaching adults, and I enjoy promoting health and healthy lifestyles with others,” says Ladona. She received her undergraduate degree at Louisiana State University; her master’s degree at Oklahoma State; and her Ph.D. at the University of Tennessee Knoxville.

“One of my great passions in life is to promote all aspects of health including intellectual, physical, spiritual, emotional, social, environmental, and occupational,” she affirms.

“I wouldn't live where I couldn't walk.”

PHOTO BY DAVID BALLARD PHOTOGRAPHY

Ladona practices what she preaches when she says, “Find a career that you love, challenge your strength, and satisfy your heart.”

Hitting the Trails

Following her own passion for the great outdoors, she admits, “I can lose track of time being outdoors when I am in contact with nature.” Sharing that passion led to the writing of the three Gentle Hikes books.

“When Lisa and I created the books’ concept, we wanted to empower others to ‘know before they go’ and to make being in contact with nature accessible for people of all abilities,” Ladona explains.

In that endeavor, the Gentle Hikes books all give significant information about important details like the degree of difficulty and surfaces of each hike, where there are benches,

bathrooms, and scenic overlooks, and in general, the access for hiking with small children, the elderly, and people with physical limitations of any kind.

Tornabene, Morgan, and Vogelsang have hiked every walk they have written about for each of the three books. They do their own detailed and specific measuring and their own gorgeous nature photography.

Photography for Scholarships

As a fine art nature photographer, Ladona has established “The Professor As Photographer Scholarship Fund” to help nontraditional students return to school to study public health education and promotion at UMD and to help current students intern abroad in health.

With a show at Duluth’s Master Framing Gallery, she was able not only to see her own work framed and displayed for the first time, but also to raise scholarship funds. Her work

remains on permanent display there.

Revealing the macro world of nature is often her subject. One of her favorites is of a single leaf that she almost stepped on. As she looked down she saw the beautiful pattern of rain drops dappled on the purple, violet, lavender, scarlet-veined back of a leaf, and the photo that she entitled “Diversity” came to life.

In what she calls her “Seasons of the Soul” collection, a panoply of flowers, trees, trails, and of course, Lake Superior, she shares her photographic point of view with others who might not have taken the time to enjoy the breathtaking nature of the large and the small, at all times of the year. D

To view her online gallery, visit d.umn. edu/~ltornabe/photography/index.html

Dr. Luke Carlson

Dr. Brian Landrigan

Dr. Kirstin Carlson

by Melissa Maki

Business Blossoms for Creative Sisters & ~ Layla Abby

Like many young people in recent years, Layla and Abby Olson came to Duluth to attend college and decided to stay. Together the sisters established Saffron & Grey Couture Floral Design, a sought-after boutique style floral shop in the Woodland neighborhood.

Layla and Abby didn’t set out to become entrepreneurs. Layla studied history and English while Abby studied mass communication. While in school, they worked together at a flower shop and discovered they both had a proclivity for floral design.

After graduation, they worked various “grown up” jobs but were never quite content with the work. They maintained a side gig doing flowers for the weddings of friends and family on a freelance basis.

Opening Up Shop

The pair was working together in a Duluth law office when a friend contacted them to ask if they were interested in buying her floral business in Woodland. They decided to seize the opportunity. “We said ‘absolutely!’ We

didn’t even have to think about it,” says Layla. Within three weeks, they owned the shop.

They chose the name “Saffron & Grey” for their favorite colors, and they wanted something symbolic to demonstrate their business partnership as sisters but “didn’t want the shop to sound like a law firm.”

Nearly five years later, they’ve built a successful company. Saffron & Grey is a full-service floral shop offering delivery and flowers for events small and large, from dinner parties to weddings. Their shop features indoor and seasonal outdoor plants as well as gift items such as toys, homemade soaps, and candles. They also hold classes on topics such as “Wedding Floral 101” or constructing wreaths, terrariums, and other seasonal arrangements.

Layla and Abby serve as the lead creative designers and employ a design team of 6-9 people. “They’re like our sous chefs,” says Abby.

The sisters are always looking to improve their services, to offer some-

thing fresh and new. They’ve recently started doing decorative rentals for weddings. And they’re offering a weekly $10 wrap bouquet, a popular item that typically sells out.

Cultivating a Natural Aesthetic

The Olson sisters grew up in the tiny Iron Range town of Cook, surrounded by Lake Vermilion and the woods. Their childhood was influenced by outdoor activities like camping and gardening. Their parents were amateur naturalists who often took them on lengthy excursions just to see plants blooming.

“Our parents always knew where plants like lady slippers would be blooming. They made sure we took the time to enjoy seasonal things,” says Layla.

Such exposure helped Layla and Abby develop an appreciation of the natural world that’s evident in their floral design. “We like to let flowers be flowers. We don’t use dyed flowers,” explains Abby.

Saffron & Grey gets flowers from all over the world, with a focus on Holland & Southern Minnesota. They strive to use seasonal flowers when possible and make an effort to source locally when they can.

Saffron & Grey has a shop dog named Faline. Abby rescued her from Animal Allies in 2013, and the boxer mix easily became an integral part of the team. One neighbor visits regularly just to visit Faline and bring her treats. The sisters’ soft spot for animals doesn’t end there. Each Monday, if a customer brings an item to the shop from Animal Allies’ wish list, they get a free flower of their choice from the case.

Since what’s available by the season can vary quite a bit, Saffron & Grey’s creations are always unique. Layla says that keeps the work interesting.

The sisters are passionate about design and fashion. They’ve attended training at a floral design school in

“We love our jobs and that comes through because we put our all into every arrangement.”

PHOTOS BY MAD CHICKEN STUDIO

Holland, and they strive to keep up with the latest trends.

“We are completely independent, completely in charge of the design style,” says Layla. When designing an

arrangement, they take into consideration factors like a customer’s favorite color and personality.

“We do custom rather than cookie cutter arrangements,” Abby says. “We

Abby,

love our jobs and that comes through because we put our all into every arrangement.” D

Layla Olson and Faline.

Animal Allies' "Top Dog"

Brings Youth and Experience to the Table

by Andrea Busche

AsExecutive Director for Animal Allies, Lindsay Snustad’s role is multi-faceted. She is at once leader, decision-maker, and visionary for an organization that has matured by leaps and bounds over the past few years. The community stands solidly behind the youthful director and Animal Allies’ ambitious “Campaign to Zero” initiative. One could say that Duluth has “gone to the dogs.”

Positive Family Role Models

Lindsay and her brother Mike grew up in Eagan; their mom was an x-ray technician (now retired) and their dad is a general contractor. “My parents are very loyal to their jobs; they have only done one thing for their entire careers,” she shares. Lindsay’s biggest source of inspiration is her late paternal grandmother, Helen, the feisty matriarch of the family.

It was a random twist of fate that encouraged Lindsay to pursue a degree in psychology from the University of Minnesota. “Psychology was the first class I got an ‘A’ in during college,” she says with a laugh. “But I also enjoyed it. A big part of what motivates me is observing human and animal behavior.”

Mixing Business with Pleasure

After college graduation, Lindsay was hired as the director for the YMCA in Eagan. During this time, she met her future husband, Andrew, in a most unconventional way.

“I was his supervisor,” she shares. “We found that we shared similar interests, such as a love for children,

Lindsay Snustad

the outdoors, and family. And the rest is history.”

The Snustads moved to Missoula, Montana in 2002, where Andrew was attending courses for his master’s program, and also working as a teaching assistant. Lindsay was hired at Missoula’s Salvation Army, as the director of social services.

PHOTO BY DAVID BALLARD PHOTOGRAPHY

Back to Minnesota – A Great Place to Raise a Family

In 2004, the couple moved to Duluth, choosing the city for its outdoorsy lifestyle and close proximity to family. Andrew got a job teaching Spanish at a few local colleges (FDLTCC and UMD), and Lindsay worked at the Women’s Health Center, later transitioning to Planned Parenthood, where she remained for seven years.

Lindsay and Andrew have three children: Taitum, nine; Averi, seven; and Jake, four. They completed their family with the adoption of a sweet tabby cat named Olive. The Snustads live in East Duluth, and the children attend Congdon Park Elementary.

“One of the reasons we love Duluth is the ease and simplicity of raising children here,” Lindsay shares. “We aren’t stuck in traffic, and everything is close.” The family enjoys spending time at Chester Bowl ski area, and the kids are involved in sports and music lessons.

When she isn’t working, Lindsay loves playing soccer, reading, sewing, and watching documentaries. One of her favorite ways to unwind is with a refreshing apricot wheat beer from the Brewhouse. She volunteers at Chester Bowl and in her children’s classrooms.

Transitioning from People to Animals

When the former executive director of Animal Allies, Rick Sailstad, retired in 2014, Lindsay jumped at the chance to lead the organization. “Un fortunately, I didn’t have the opportu nity for a mentorship with Rick, but I did meet with the Animal Allies board before I got started,” she says. “Luckily, this wasn’t my first rodeo; I’ve always worked in the non-profit sector, and in a variety of leadership roles. And I have always loved animals.”

Since she started as leader of Animal Allies, Lindsay has shown great vision and purpose, working closely

with Daryl Yankee, the director of operations. A few of the initiatives she has created or improved upon include:

• Puppy training classes — offered to community members and their dogs, as well as shelter pups

• Improvement of the foster program — allowing more free space in the shelter for homeless animals

• Creation of the “Healing Hearts and Paws Fund” — a grant to pay for medical services for shelter pets

• The addition of another annual fundraiser — the Fitger’s Frozen Fundraiser

• Continuation of the “Campaign to Zero” — Animal Allies’ initiative to eliminate the euthanizing of healthy animals

• Building strong partnerships — with other animal shelters and local veterinarians

Some of Lindsay’s other professional pursuits include membership on the Industrial Organizational Psychology Board at UMD. She is also pursuing a fund development certificate from UWS which will benefit Animal Allies in the future.

Lindsay would like her career legacy to include not only serving underprivileged people and animals, but also supporting women in leadership roles. “It’s so important for me to advocate for women,” she says. “I want my daughters to be raised as strong, principled women. I feel so lucky to have been born at a time when women in leadership are recognized and appreciated.” D

To learn more about becoming a member/supporter of Animal Allies, and for more information about this year’s Walk for Animals (June 4), visit animalallies.net.

A community of caring

At the Benedictine Living Community of Duluth, we are dedicated to serving the community by providing a full range of living options and care services. Our campus includes:

• Short-Term Care and Rehabilitation

• Long-Term Care and Respite Care

• Westwood Independent Living, Assisted Living and Memory Care

• Marywood Enhanced Assisted Living

• Early Childhood and Preschool Education

• Adult Day Services

• Outpatient Rehabilitation Services and Onsite Fitness Center

“I feel so lucky to have been born at a time when women in leadership are recognized and appreciated.”

Can you really retire if you don’t have a bazillion saved?

Yes, and people do.

We know women on average live longer than men and have far less saved and invested usually because we earn less. Time out of the work force costs us in less social security and retirement contributions.

So, if you don’t have a pile of money socked away, how will you retire?

Let’s do the math. This is how many advisors ballpark it: take your total amount saved/invested. Plan to remove 4 percent a year.

So on $500,000, that’s $20,000. On, $100,000, it’s $4,000. Along with any pensions and social security, can you live on that?

No? Or don’t have $500K invested? Consider this:

• Something IS better than nothing. Start stashing cash and IRA investments, if you qualify. Every little bit helps.

• Work until you are 70 – or beyond – if at all possible. Find something you don’t hate to do, and the sooner the better. Then, even after 70, plan to work at least part-time for as long as you are physically and mentally able. If you complain about work, change your mindset now. Believe

The Retirement Challenge for Women

that a career or purpose will keep you vibrant longer because research shows it will.

• Look at options for cheaper ways/ places to live. There are other places where housing, taxes, and utilities cost less, with fewer costs for snow blowing and down parkas.

• Look at “co-housing” – a roommate, or family members. Remember The Golden Girls? You may be seeing more of this. Many communities allow adding “granny flats,” an apartment in or separate unit near your children’s larger home. Some friends buy a lot, build individual tiny houses, and share costs.

• Revise your vision. This might mean a small apartment or condo. Or, if you are going south, the envisioned model home with a pool on the golf course may be an older mobile home in a senior community with a central swimming pool. (Look online and you will see them for as low as $40,000 or so; or rent, instead of buy). You may live there year-round, so check on monthly charges, like lot rental and community fees.

• Investment options may include annuities* that provide you with income you cannot outlive. Some have guarantees that might provide you with more than that 4 percent withdrawal rate previously mentioned. For example, Single Premium Income (or Immediate) Annuities buy income every month for the rest of your life, like a pension – but are not liquid. Get a quote to see how much you can add to your income by using part of your nest egg or home sales proceeds.

• Have a VERY frank discussion with your children. Show them your assets, talk about your concerns, and

whether you have long-term care insurance. They may be able and willing to pick up all or part of the premium if it keeps you from spending down assets for Medicaid coverage (or moving in with them!). It never ceases to amaze me that parents don’t share this information until one has died, or there is a crisis. If you are looking at a low-income apartment or welfare in your future, they need to know. No one can do anything if they don’t know. And, believe me, they are wondering.

• The discussion should include your estate plan (will or trust, durable power of attorney, and living health care directive). If you don’t know what I’m talking about, start researching now.

*Annuities are long-term investments designed for retirement purposes. Withdrawals of taxable amounts are subject to income tax and, if taken prior to age 59½, a 10 percent federal tax penalty may apply. Early withdrawals may be subject to withdrawal charges. Optional riders have limitations and are available for an additional cost through the purchase of a variable annuity contract. Guarantees are based on the claims paying ability of the issuing company. D

Laura Zahn is owner of Zahn Investment Group, Duluth. The opinions expressed are those of the author. Securities offered through Securities America, Inc, Member FINRA/SIPC. Advisory services offered through Securities America Advisors, Inc. Zahn Investment Group and SA are separate companies. These recommendations are general and not for any one person specifically. Consult your own financial, tax, and legal advisor.

Laura Zahn

by Sheryl Jensen

All of us recognize the awe-inspiring beauty of Lake Superior and its importance for tourism, recreation, shipping, and the thrill for residents living on the shores of that glittering blue gem. We sometimes, forget, however, that another body of water is also a Northland treasure, the St. Louis River.

Guardian Angels of the St. Louis River

Recognizing the importance of the St. Louis River, the One River, Many Voices initiative asked local media to focus in April on the many ways that the river impacts our lives. To include The Woman Today as part of that project, I was excited to have a chance to chat with two of the guardian angels of the river, Kris Eilers, executive director of the St. Louis River Alliance (SLRA), and Sarah Glesner, SLRA project coordinator.

The SLRA mission and vision are: “As the Voice for the River, the St. Louis River Alliance strives to protect, restore, and enhance the environmental health and economic value of the river. We envision our community living in balance with a vibrant econ omy and a healthy and vital St. Louis River and Lake Superior. The St. Louis River Alliance envisions our community members working together to

create a thriving economy that utilizes the river and keeps the water safe for swimming, fishing, and boating.”

after living in Eau Claire for twenty years, Kris Eilers moved here to be by the lake and the river. “I have Lake Superior in my blood. I wanted to work on the water contamination issues and was concerned about the pollution then flowing into Lake Superior.”

In 2011, she went to Washington D.C. for the Fresh Water Coalition and met Julene Boe, who was then the SLRA executive director. That led to Kris first becoming involved with the SLRA in 2012, working as the project manager on a five year grant for restoring a habitat for the piping plovers that did not nest here anymore.

Kris was hired for the executive director job in 2015. With the ebb and flow of funding for non-profits, Kris, with a dedicated SLRA board and volunteers, has kept the doors open and the work moving ahead. She doesn’t only think of the river and the lake as part of her job but as a place to enjoy, up close and personal. “I love to sail, kayak, and paddle board, every time I can. There are so many places to explore. I love white water rafting in Cloquet as well.”

Kris adds, “When I am on the water, I find that I can meditate and be exhilarated at the same time. I find

A Powerful Voice for the River Born in Ashland, Wisconsin, and

PHOTO BY DAVID BALLARD PHOTOGRAPHY

“We envision our community living in balance with a vibrant economy and a healthy and vital St. Louis River and Lake Superior.”

myself being present and in the moment. Water is my life.”

As a cheerleader for the Northland’s water resources, she notes, “We have the cleanest, most beautiful water resources right here. This is the perfect place for me to be.”

One of her responsibilities is to advocate for state and federal monies to work on contaminated sites that must be cleaned up. In that endeavor, she heads to the Minnesota State Legislature and to Washington D.C. often to be the most vocal advocate she can be for keeping our Northland waterways clean and pure.

Adding Her Voice to the Cause

Sarah Glesner has worked with several area non-profits including the Duluth Zoo, Hawk Ridge, and Wildwoods. She came on board at the SLRA in 2015 as a project coordinator where she now spends much of her time on educational outreach and events. She has recently been made program manager.

A hometown girl, Sarah grew up in Lakeside, but remembers summers spent on Park Point where her dad grew up. Sarah says she was connected to the water from a young age but she notes she was warned against swimming in some areas because of the contamination.

“The lake and the river are such an essential part of our lives. I am happy to be out in the community doing outreach, holding public comment meetings, and talking face to face with people who are also concerned about how contamination issues are being addressed.”

Connecting children to the water is another big facet of her job. She works with kids at the Boys and Girls Clubs and directly in the area schools. “I want increased access for kids, for them to easily find a place to get to the river. And they need the equipment to be on the water. To get kids and their families to appreciate and to use the water is important to me.”

Sarah asserts, “From the time I was small, I remember

saying, ‘I am not going to move away from Lake Superior and the River.’ I have had friends move away and realize how much they miss it and move back. It is critical to realize how important our water resources are to keep people here and to attract new people to the area.” D

To find out more about the organization, visit their website at stlouisriver.org or call (218)733-9520.

The PlacePerfect to Me et

Crystal Olson

was born at Essentia Health-St. Mary’s Medical Center.

Cherishing the “Golden Hour” After Son's Birth

by Connie Wirta

Moments after his birth, Crystal Olson looked into her son’s eyes and told him she loved him. Her husband, Nick, told him his name was Jet.

“We started talking to him and he stopped crying,” Crystal recalls. “He was listening and looking at us so intently.”

“I prayed a blessing over him,” Nick remembers.

Although Jet is their fourth son, it’s the first time the Duluth couple has

experienced the “golden hour” of bonding after birth because all their boys were delivered by cesarean section. In the past, mothers went to a recovery room after the surgery at Essentia Health-St. Mary’s Medical Center and babies were taken to the nursery. Now, mothers and babies remain together in the hospital’s Birthplace.

Dr. Anne Rogotzke, an Essentia Health-Duluth Clinic obstetrician and gynecologist, delivered Jet. A nurse quickly cleaned him up and handed him to Nick, who laid him on Crystal’s

chest. While Dr. Rogotzke completed the surgery, the parents welcomed their son into the world, and then the trio went together to their hospital room.

Crystal had read about the “golden hour” after birth and talked with friends who had had the experience. She and Nick had even watched a video of their friends’ experience posted on Facebook.

“I got to see a side of Jet that I’ll never see again – he was brand-new to

Continued on page 24

Crystal Olson of Duluth cherishes the “golden hour” that she and her husband shared after their son Jet

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the world,” Crystal says of his birth last October 1. “I was able to talk to him first, and he knew my voice.”

Crystal recalls how she had spent time in the recovery room after her earlier births and was reunited with her babies in her hospital room.

Nick and family members would be waiting with each baby. “Everyone else would have seen and held my baby and I hadn’t got to know him yet,” she says. “I knew this time was my last time, and I’m so grateful that I got the ‘golden hour’.”

Nick describes Crystal as “being at peace” as she first held Jet. “We felt the closeness between all three of us,” he says. “It helped my identity. I felt like I belonged.”

Nick also appreciated that he didn’t feel torn between staying with Crystal in recovery or leaving with his new baby to make sure everything was all right with him.

“The ‘golden hour’ is the major transition time from inside life to outside life,” Dr. Rogotzke explains. “Birth is a big transition for babies, especially for those like Jet who are born by

C-section and haven’t been through labor. It’s an abrupt way to enter the world and skin-to-skin contact is very calming for both babies and mothers.”

Dr. Rogotzke explains that skin-to-skin contact helps mother and baby physically transition from the birth. The experience helps regulate their heart rates, breathing rate, and body temperatures.

During this transition, mothers and babies start bonding. “Babies smell their mothers and look at them,” Dr. Rogotzke says. “Babies and mothers totally tune into each other. Babies really settle down when they hear their mom’s and dad’s voices. They know those voices.”

Babies often want to begin breastfeeding during this time and mothers pick up their clues. The experience helps get them off to a good start, Dr. Rogotzke says.

Crystal says Jet picked up breastfeeding within five minutes after they settled into their hospital room. “With my other kids, it took two or three days,” she says. “Even though I breast-

“I got to see a side of Jet that I'll never see again - he was brand-new to the world...”

fed them, we had to teach each of them how.”

While she had given birth at St. Mary’s just three years ago, Crystal found completely renovated rooms and many other changes at the Birthplace. She felt pampered with the new amenities and with room service, which allowed her to order meals off a new menu and have them delivered when she felt like eating.

Nick spent the first night on a comfortable couch in Crystal’s hospital room but got ill so he went home. Their daughter Haley, then 13, came the second night. “I got to spend time with Jet without my brothers there,” says the teen, who now has four brothers. A nurse taught her how to swaddle Jet. “I gained more trust in her so I wasn’t afraid to make her my hands-on helper,” Crystal says.

Crystal most appreciated that she was always with Jet in the hours after his birth. They recovered together in her room, and he stayed there because the Birthplace no longer has a nursery. “I’d never held my baby right in my arms all the way to my hospital room,” she says. “I’m really thankful that I had it this time.” D

Alison Kilpo: A Passion for Art Therapy

by Esther Piszczek

Alison Kilpo loves her job. As an art therapist and the current art junction coordinator at Udac, Inc., she embraces the opportunity to be creative and help others create.

“What I love about my job are the small daily joys. I get excited to come to work. I am grateful to be here and working with the artists. I believe if you have a passion and are willing to go through the ups and downs to work in that passion, it brings you joy.”

Art Junction

Udac, Inc. located at 500 E. 10th Street, opened in 1969 and provides day program vocational training, in-house and community job placement, fitness, art exploration, and life skills training for those experiencing physical and intellectual disabilities. The Art Junction Program began in 2000 and currently serves approximately 72 artists weekly through art wellness, open studio, individual sessions and sessions in vocational rooms.

“In Art Junction, we explore ourselves through creativity, through experimentation and therapeutically to realize self-expression and growth through

PHOTO BY DAVID BALLARD PHOTOGRAPHY

art. Open studio time is a healthy outlet to gain insight into things going on in our lives, de-stressing, or simply having fun through art,” explains Alison.

Open Studio

Alison, who grew up in Duluth, graduated from the University of Wisconsin - Superior (UWS) with a Masters in Art Therapy in December 2013. She spent three semesters as an Art Junction intern before accepting the Art Junction coordinator position, almost two years ago.

“My goal was to be creative every day or help others be creative and I get to do both,” relates Alison.

Shortly after becoming Art Junction coordinator, Alison added open studio time to the program’s activities. Twice weekly, Alison invites Udac artists to work on creative projects of their choosing.

“I recognized a decreased level of self-expression when leading planned art activities. I wanted to give artists the opportunity to self-express however they wanted.  Art Junction provides the opportunity to create just like any other artist in the community, this is their studio space.”

Artists work in a variety of media including acrylic, watercolor, and mixed media, as well as jewelry making, collage, and ceramics.

“The joy that I see when someone has the opportunity to be creative is joyful for me. Their smiles and enthusiasm are what I love the most. Participation in Art Junction is a choice, so everyone who is there wants to be there making art,” says Alison.

Community Involvement

Udac artists are active in the community. Their artwork is permanently on display at Residential Services Inc. in Piedmont and decorates Udac’s hall-

Continued on page 28

ways. Home décor, tote bags, earrings, necklaces, and magnets made and decorated by Udac artists using recycled materials are sold at the Treasures of the Earth, Green Art Fair held each March by WendyUpNorth.

In the fall, Art Junction and

CHOICE, unlimited, a non-profit that assists individuals with disabilities, create a visual art show that hangs in the Zeitgeist Arts Atrium. Artists from both non-profits contribute individual and collaborative artwork that augments the Sprout Film Festival.

The festival showcases films created by or starring persons with developmental disabilities to raise awareness and celebrate differences. Arc Northland, also a non-profit that assists those with disabilities, brought the festival to Duluth for the past four years.

A Post Graduate Goal

The time Alison spends interacting with Udac artists moves her toward her post education goal of becoming a Registered Art Therapist (ATR), a professional credential granted by the Art Therapy Credentials Board. Alison has 1070 contact hours logged toward

her 1500 hour requirement. Alison’s UWS professor Gloria Eslinger and her employer supervise her progress.

“I’m fortunate in that my job allows me to be involved in art and the creative process. I’m able to log hours consistently because my job requires interaction every day,” explains Alison.

However, neither the ATR credential, nor her art therapy degree is required for her position at Udac. “Art therapy is a hard field to get a job. I’m fortunate to bring it into my work here. It’s such a new field, there is a lot of potential yet to be explored with art therapy,” notes Alison.

Interns Bring New Ideas

Alison also supervises three interns who are studying art therapy at UWS.

“It’s really great having the interns because they help out one-on-one. They provide fresh, new ideas and insights and get along really well with the artists. Their presence brings a new energy to the group.”

When the interns need experience leading groups, they switch roles with Alison.

“When I step back and become an observer, I learn a different way to work with someone. It’s insightful for me to step back and observe instead of lead,” reflects Alison. D

For more information on Udac’s Art Junction program, other services, or to make a donation, visit udac.org or facebook.com/UdacDuluth.

“The joy that I see when someone has the opportunity to be creative is joyful for me. Their smiles and enthusiasm are what I love the most.”

Annie Lepper

Ah,the joys of spring! After a season being cooped up indoors, we can take time to refresh our living spaces with the tradition of annual decluttering and deep cleaning. Whether you love it or loathe it, you must admit there is something satisfying when the job’s all done.

Spring Cleaning Your Finances

In the season of cleaning, have you stopped to think about doing a spring cleaning on your finances? Whether you do it in the springtime or choose another time of the year, an annual review and checkup of your finances is critical to keeping your financial life in shape.

Where do you start? Get it all out on the table. Gather statements and documents of savings accounts, loan obligations, investment information, and any other accounts which are designed to help you protect your finances and lifestyle

(i.e. insurance, health directives, any wills or estate planning tools). Sort it. Make a pile of where you have money saved, where you owe money, and what you have in place to keep yourself protected. Review it. Roll up your sleeves; this is where the work is. Since it is literally “all out on the table” it is the best time to go through and see what you’ve got going on. If you are prone not to really take an active interest in your finances, this is a good point to see where you can streamline and potentially simplify it all.

Have an old

savings account that’s collecting dust (or worse, inactivity fees)? Make a plan to close it out and move the money to an account you use regularly. Have an old store credit card account you haven’t used in ages? Consider closing it out in order to have one less open line of credit.

Take out your auto, health, and life insurance papers and see if your current coverages still meet your needs. You may find yourself under or over insured in some areas. Also take a look at any account beneficiaries or vital contact information with your paperwork. Make a plan to update those as well.

Prioritize

We all have financial goals, whether we actively work towards them and monitor our progress or not. Perhaps after your clean out you realize you’d like to pay down debt in the coming year. Maybe it’s bulking up your savings account or something like taking more of an active role in your retirement savings or investments.

It might be something as simple as doing something with that old 401(k) account that’s been collecting dust from two job moves ago. In all likelihood, you are going to find areas of “lazy money”—where your money isn’t working as efficiently as possible for you. It’s time to pull together a plan.

Creating a Financial Plan

Unless you very actively manage your financial life, chances are you’re finding a few things which surprise you, or at the very least you’d like to improve upon. Draft a financial plan which covers your savings, debts, re-

“Getting your financial life organized and committing to a plan is worth the time and effort involved.”

tirement, and insurance needs. A good financial plan encompasses:

• Defining your financial goals— What do you want out of life and how can your money help you get there? Write down what it is you’d like to have out of your financial life. Goals can be short, mid, and long term in nature. Write them all down.

• Your current money situation— Once you have a handle on the inflow and outflow of your money, can your current money situation support your financial goals? How can you bridge the gap between the two? If you see any bad patterns in your spending or saving, add a solution to your goals list.

• A plan with benchmarks—Looking at what you want versus what you’ve got will expose some areas that you need to work on now. Are you making some money mistakes such as paying a high interest rate on loans or credit cards? Are you not paying yourself first by putting money aside in a savings account? Pull together a plan with benchmarks and a timeline to get you working towards those goals.

• Assess your risk—Do you have areas where you are exposed to risk? Are your investments appropriately diversified or invested in stocks compatible with your comfort level? Do you need more life insurance? A better handle on what you’re setting aside for retirement? Do you have a health directive or will in the event something should happen to you? Now is the time to evaluate and plan.

After you’ve dusted off all the paperwork and you’ve got a plan, put it in motion! Revisit and revamp it as needed in the coming months to keep yourself on track as your goals evolve. Getting your financial life organized and committing to a plan is worth the time and effort involved. D

Annie Lepper is the vice president of operations/marketing with the Minnesota Power Employees Credit Union.

With a Girlfriends’ Getaway

by Andrea Busche

If there is one thing I can rely on my best friend for, it’s a good laugh. Laughter and friendship are a few of life’s most beautiful treasures. Like mine, most female friendships revolve around intimate conversation, laughter, and plenty of fun. But with the busy pace of modern life, it can be tough to squeeze in more than a quick phone call or text.

Now imagine the joy of spending an entire weekend with your best friends (or sisters, daughters, nieces, etc.). Add in a dose of spiritual healing, or a glass of wine and a massage, or a fun crafting activity, and you have the perfect “girlfriends’ getaway.” To make it a true girlfriends’ getaway, there is one simple rule: no men or children allowed!

Yoga/Spiritual Retreat

In addition to their regular yoga classes, Duluth’s Yoga North offers several options for a lengthier retreat. During the week of July 6th – 10th, well-known Yogi Indu Arora will be a featured guest teacher at Yoga North, and she will lead an informative week about therapeutic Yoga and Ayurveda. Par ticipants can sign up for one day, several days, or the entire week, and friends are encouraged to attend togeth er. Evenings/ overnights will be unscheduled so you can spend time with your companions and explore

everything Duluth has to offer.

Yoga North also offers help planning personalized yoga weekends. Director Jodi Christensen shares, “If you live in town or are staying in a hotel, let us know; we are more than happy to bring Yoga to you. We’ve also held weekend retreats at Camp Miller (in Sturgeon Lake, MN), and Camp Amnicon (located just outside of Superior), where we can teach Yoga to you and your friends, or help you learn how to prepare vegetarian or Ayurvedic meals.”

Luxury Getaway

Perhaps you and your favorite ladies are looking to step out of the daily grind for a few days and enjoy a taste of the good life. Consider booking a stay at Lutsen Resort on Lake Superior.

Lutsen features a full restaurant serving breakfast, lunch, and dinner, an on-site spa, and plenty of outdoor activities. They offer guided tours ranging from sea kayaking, hiking, biking, paddle boarding, cross-country skiing and snow-shoeing, and every night year-round, Lutsen warms up with a huge bonfire on the beach. Many Lutsen guests make a day trip up to Grand Marais for shopping and dining. If you are feeling more low-key, however, you could

“To make it a true girlfriends' getaway, there is one simple rule: no men or children allowed!”

simply relax with a glass of wine and some sparkling conversation.

Owner Nancy Burns shares, “We offer a women’s getaway package that includes dinner, champagne in your room, a one-hour massage, along with a two or more nights stay. Or, you can feel free to create your own!” Lutsen’s accommodations range from simple lodge rooms to a large townhome that can comfortably sleep eight to nine people.

Crafty Weekend

Many women bond over their love of crafting. Heritage Place, located three miles north of Hinckley, was built about twelve years ago. Owner Nancy Devine shares that it is a regular house, but has been specifically designed with scrapbooking in mind.

“Heritage Place is primarily a

Continued on page 34

“We can accommodate sixteen overnight guests at one time.” While Heritage Place offers all the comforts of

home, guests should plan to bring and prepare their own food.

The former three-car garage has been converted into a craft room, featuring long work benches, scrapbooking tools, a computer and wireless printer, and high speed Internet. With their combination of hand tools and lightning-fast Internet, Heritage Place offers something for old-fashioned crafters as well as those who prefer online scrapbooking options, such as Shutterfly.

In addition to crafting weekends, Heritage Place has hosted family reunions, holiday celebrations, and groups of business people. Devine shares that she recently

hosted a group of male business owners when they needed a space to hold a board meeting.

Whether you and your BFFs enjoy the soul-nourishing aspects of Yoga, the posh amenities of a full-service resort, or the satisfaction of creating something beautiful with your own two hands, the perfect girlfriends’ getaway is waiting just for you. Fun and laughter are almost guaranteed. So, call your favorite ladies today, and make yourselves a date! D

For further information:

Yoga North - contact Jodi Christensen at jodi@yoganorthduluth.com, or visit yoganorthduluth.com.

Lutsen Resort - lutsenresort.com.

Heritage Place – heritageplacemnnet. Heritage Place will also offer a 10 percent discount if you mention that you saw this article in The Woman Today!

001380329r1

Dr. Mary Boylan

Whenwe think of women’s health, we might first consider breast cancer screenings or an annual physical. And those are both very important. What we sometimes forget is that heart disease is the number one killer of women, and that some lifestyle choices can have an impact on that statistic — if we make heart health a priority.

For St. Luke’s Cardiologist Dr. Disha Mookherjee and Cardiothoracic Surgeon Dr. Mary Boylan, heart health is always on their minds, especially when it comes to female patients.

“Women often set the standard for health in their family,” explains Dr. Boylan. “But at the same time, they’re also more likely to focus on others’ health first.”

The key to getting women to prioritize their health, says Dr. Mookherjee, is to educate them about their risk. “My goal is to prevent a first event. The nice thing is there’s a lot you can do to reduce your risk of heart disease.”

Staving off Heart Disease

Prevention starts with knowing yourself and what changes to make. As Dr. Boylan states, “An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure.”

Here are some steps you can take to help lower your risk.

Making Your Heart the Priority

Helpful Tips for Preventing Heart Disease

1. Know your blood pressure.

According to the CDC, more than 67 million Americans have high blood pressure. The problem is that not everyone knows it. Schedule a well-woman visit today to discuss blood pressure, family history, and lifestyle with your doctor.

2. Make time to move.

Once you have an understanding of your personal health, you can start making changes to improve it. Physical activity, for one, is great for controlling blood pressure, cholesterol, weight, and

even your mental outlook.

To introduce physical activity into your life, Dr. Mookherjee suggests gathering support around you, starting small and setting a deadline by signing up for an event such as a 1-mile or 5K run/walk.

“Ultimately, the best exercise is the one a person will do,” Dr. Boylan explains. That can mean walking, climbing the stairs, skiing, swimming or yoga.

3. Fill your fridge with goodness. What does it mean to “eat well?”

“What we sometimes forget is that heart disease is the number one killer of women, and that some lifestyle choices can have an impact on that statistic...”

To Dr. Mookherjee, it’s about cooking at home. “Start with fresh produce and single ingredients, and cook from scratch instead of buying things that only require you to add water, heat, and serve.”

4. Schedule time to unwind.

“A huge part of heart health is taking time for yourself,” says Dr. Mookherjee. “Life’s stressors — worrying about our kids, our jobs, or putting food on the table — puts your fight-orflight response through the roof.”

Meditating, taking time to calm your body and mind, and simply breathing can be beneficial for stress management. Of course, making time isn’t always easy.

Dr. Mookherjee suggests that just as you train your body to exercise, you should train yourself to calm down and be restful. “If you don’t take care of yourself, you can’t take care of people around you.”

5. Know the signs of a heart attack.

Women may experience heart attacks differently than men, so knowing what a heart attack might look like is critical. Women may feel discomfort in their chest, between shoulder blades or in the neck and jaw; sudden and severe fatigue; sweating; nausea or vomiting,

or not feeling like themselves. If you notice one or all of these symptoms, don’t hesitate, call 911.

Dr. Mookherjee explains that too many people ignore their symptoms. When a person is having a heart attack, time is muscle. The sooner blood flow can be restored, the better the outcome will be.

Small Choices for Lasting Change

Change doesn’t happen overnight, but little improvements can have a big impact. There will never be a better time than now to eat better, exercise more, and quit smoking.

“Choose a smaller portion. Choose to take the stairs. Choose to go to bed earlier,” says Dr. Boylan. “Make the choice for your own health to do something instead of thinking about it as limiting or restricting your life.”

“When we live healthier, our families get the benefit,” adds Dr. Boylan. “We can model healthy behaviors for our kids.” D

Patricia Wollack A Woman Ahead of Her Time

by Andrea Busche

Patricia

“Pat” Wollack is a woman who has it all. Her life is full of friends, family, and plenty of activities to keep her fulfilled. When she has a moment to spare, she spends time fondly reminiscing about her successful career which spanned several decades and a multitude of interesting professions.

Pat grew up in the East end of Duluth. She and her two brothers, Howard and Warren, attended St. Anthony’s Elementary School. Their mother stayed at home, and their dad managed Town and Country Appliances.

It is clear that Pat was ahead of her time, even in her youth. During high school, she would have loved to be on a baseball team, but Cathedral didn’t offer girls’ teams at that time. “You could be a cheerleader, but that didn’t interest me,” she says. So, Pat got a job working behind the counter at Kresge’s dime store.

After graduation, Pat earned her Associate of Arts degree from UMD. Around this time, she was hired at WDSM TV, where she was a copy writer. She also worked with Pat Cadigan on a radio show called Dig for Dough.

Pat later worked at KDAL as a copy writer, and en-

Other BANKERS HEAR RISK. WE HEAR OPPORTUNIT Y.

PHOTO BY JOANN JARDINE PHOTOGRAPHY

joyed doing some modeling for several downtown department stores.

She met her future husband, Jim Wollack, on a blind date. At the time, Jim was in the Navy, but also owned some rental properties in town. The Wollacks were wed in Duluth on September 12, 1964. They moved into one of Jim’s rental units downtown, where they started their married life together.

Jim was contemplating the future of his career, and decided that his next move was to purchase either a bulldozer or a lake cruiser. He ended up with the bulldozer which would alter the course of the couple’s entire future.

With his prized bulldozer, Jim broke ground on several businesses that the couple would own over the years. Jim owned land in Hermantown, and their first business venture was to build a miniature golf course, driving range, and par-3 golf course on that site. Pat was the bookkeeper and worked in the pro shop.

The Wollacks have five children: Kim, Michelle, Chris, Tricia, and James. According to Pat, “Growing up the kids had a choice. Jim told them, ‘You can either play golf or work.’” The four girls became incredibly talented golfers, and were referred to as the “fearsome foursome” of Hermantown.

At one point, some of their golf

balls rolled into the lumber yard that was adjacent to the golf business. “So, naturally, we decided to buy the lumber yard to keep the peace,” Pat says with a grin.

From Lumber to Liquor

After a few years, more lumber yards started coming to town and the Wollack’s smaller, family business couldn’t compete. They lobbied for a liquor license, and the former lumber yard became a night club, aptly named “Ye Olde Sawmill.”

Fedo, managing a complaint line. Then, she got an administrative job for the Department of Transportation. Finally, she found her perfect niche when she was hired at UMD in the environmental health and safety area as an executive assistant. She remained in that role for twenty-five years until her retirement in 2012.

After forty-five years of marriage, Jim passed away in 2009. Pat remained in their Hermantown home for several years, moving to Keystone Bluffs one year ago. She sees her children, as well as six grandchildren and one great-grandchild, often.

An Active Retirement

The nightclub was a great success. The Wollacks brought in live bands, and had a huge dance floor for guests to enjoy. Pat remembers working in just about every role at the club, from bartender to janitor.

After many years as business owners, the Wollacks made the difficult decision to close all of their businesses. They were aging, and Jim’s health was beginning to fail. But, Pat’s career was just warming up.

Pat’s career then transitioned as she worked at city hall under Mayor

Acne

Acne is one of the most common skin issues affecting teens and adults. We treat acne both medically and aesthetically. A consultation with one of our dermatology providers is the first step to determine the best course of action. Come see us this spring for a clear outlook for back to school this fall.

Pat loves the ease of living offered at Keystone, sharing that she enjoys their happy hour, delicious meals, hand and neck massages, and pontoon excursions. She is an avid Vikings fan, and enjoys meeting her friends for lunch. She is clearly squeezing every precious drop out of life.

With a decades-long career as a model, business woman, and administrative professional, as well as a wife and mother, Pat Wollack is a woman ahead of her time. She is a great role model for women of today’s generation who truly want to have it all. D

“She is a great role model for women of today's generation who truly want to have it all.”

by Mia E. Thibodeau

In 2015, the Minnesota legislature made the first substantial modification to Minnesota law on trusts since 1989. The new law was effective January 1, 2016 and is referred to as the “Minnesota Trust Code” (Minnesota Statutes Section 501C). What might the new Minnesota Trust Code mean for the average Minnesotan? The following are some common questions that may be affected by the new law.

1. My [cousin, uncle, brother, aunt] has asked me to be the trustee of his/her trust, should I accept?

New Minnesota Trust Code What Might It Mean For You?

Some of the normal questions asked in this situation include: what are my responsibilities if I accept, what is my liability, and will there be other trustees of the trust? Article 7 of the new law addresses many of the duties and responsibilities of a trustee.

A. What can and can’t I do as a trustee?

A trustee of a trust has great authority and conversely many duties. Previously, powers granted to a trustee had to be specifically listed or incorporated by reference into the trust document. However, the new law enumerates certain powers that are conferred automatically without having to list such powers in the trust document. The new law also codifies many duties that existed under prior Minnesota law, including the duty to administer the trust (follow terms of trust), the duty of loyalty (put beneficiaries’

interests first), the duty of impartiality (can’t favor one beneficiary), the duty of prudent administration (exercise reasonable care), and the “prudent investor rule” (invest and manage as a prudent investor would – diversify and don’t speculate).

B. What is my liability as a trustee?

If a trustee breaches one of the duties listed above, it may result in liability to the trustee. When a trustee gets sued, it is usually by a beneficiary and often relates to the trustee’s investment decisions or distribution decisions. The new law provides some potentially reduced liability for lawsuits relating to breach of trust duties. The time period during which a beneficiary may sue for breach of trust is shortened (from 6 years to 3 years), if a trustee sends a report to the beneficiary that adequately discloses the existence of a potential

claim. Moreover, the new law permits a new type of trust called a “directed trust” which will allow a trustee to hire experts to provide advice on investments and distributions and know they are protected when the advice is followed. For a layperson asked to act as a trustee, this type of trust could significantly limit liability.

C.

Another change under the new law is that when co-trustees are unable to reach a unanimous decision, they may now take action by a majority vote. Under prior law, trustees were required to act unanimously. Notably, this provision does not remedy the situation where two trustees cannot agree (a court would have to resolve such disagreement). The new law also permits a trustee to delegate authority to other co-trustees and provides protection for a co-trustee who does not participate in a decision or who dissents from the action taken by the majority if notice is provided by the dissenting trustee prior to the action.

2. My sibling is trustee of our mother’s trust and is taking trust assets, what can I do?

The new law provides that a court has the power to take actions and exercise such jurisdiction over the trust as is necessary. Therefore, a lawsuit could be initiated in a court with proper venue. However, as is the case with any litigation, if the case can be settled out of court, the parties (the trust and beneficiaries) will save a lot of money. The new law greatly expands the opportunities in which a nonjudicial settlement agreement can be utilized. A nonjudicial settlement is a binding agreement executed by all parties outside of a court proceeding. Under the old law, only six circumstances existed where a nonjudicial settlement agreement could be utilized – and now there are at least 24 circumstances (Minn. Stat. §501C.0202).

If I am creating a trust, do I have to transfer assets to the trust immediately?

The new law changes the common law requirement that to create a trust, property must be transferred to the trustee contemporaneous to execution of the trust instrument. The new law permits a trust to be created if the person creating the trust has the capacity to transfer property, indicates an intention to create the trust (normally

in the trust document), the trust names a definite beneficiary, and the trustee has duties to perform.

3. My child is a spendthrift, does he have to know he is the beneficiary of my trust?

The general rule is that the trustee has an obligation to inform all beneficiaries of an irrevocable trust about the administration of the trust and all material facts a beneficiary would need to know to protect their interests. However, under the new law, a settlor may opt out of the general rule by specifically stating in the trust instrument that the rule does not apply and naming another person that the trustee must keep informed.

This article describes just a few of the important provisions included in the new Minnesota Trust Code. If you or a family member is considering creating a trust or has questions regarding the administration of a trust, it is important that you speak with an estate planning attorney. D

Mia E. Thibodeau is an attorney with Fryberger, Buchanan, Smith & Frederick, P.A., and practices in the areas of family law, estate planning, real estate and municipal law.

Your Oral & Maxillofacial Surgeons and their team are ready to assist you in making the best decisions for a healthy mouth and lasting smile. We have a wide scope practice to offer, including:

What if my uncooperative cousin will serve as another trustee?

Alexis Grinde Mom, Scientist, and Professor

by June Breneman

Attaining the top rung of education – a doctorate degree – is a challenge tackled by less than one percent of the population. It is a rigorous, intellectual pursuit. Alexis Grinde was conferred her Ph.D. from the University of Minnesota Duluth in May 2015. But what’s remarkable about her story is everything else she was doing at the same time.

Wife, mother of a 5-year-old, professor, and working scientist, Grinde got very little sleep when she started on her doctorate in 2011. An added challenge was that she and her young family lived in Pine City where she taught biology courses at Pine Technical and Community College.

“The first year of the doctorate pro-

gram, we had classes every day at UMD so that’s an hour and a half commute each way,” she says. “I’d be in class until five o’clock at night and hopefully get home before my daughter went to bed.”

But Grinde wouldn’t see her own pillow until she graded papers, went through emails, and studied. It was usually one or two a.m. “Then I’d get up and do it again, praying for Friday

to come!” she laughs.

If that sounds exhausting enough, Grinde also does these things really well. In 2015, she was one of 15 faculty chosen nationwide to participate in a prestigious mentorship and training opportunity, recognized as an Ecological Society of America Scholar and nominated as Outstanding Educator in the Systemwide Minnesota State Colleges and University award program.

Today, with child number two due in May, this full-time professor, parttime scientist, and mom feels like she has “100 percent freedom.”

A Passion for Nature

Grinde’s passion for biological sciences started at Bemidji State University when she was undecided about a major. “But then I took mammology and biology classes and conservation issues really excited me,” she says.

Her advisor lined her up for a researcher’s dream job – studying endangered geese in Hawaii’s Volcano National Park. “It intrigued me that we could actually do something to fix problems caused by humans and keep

PHOTO BY JOANN JARDINE

species from declining,” she says. “I knew what I wanted to do for my career.”

In 2003, she was accepted into the master’s degree program at the University of North Dakota, and got a job bartending to pay the bills. It was there she met bar manager Rob Fosaaen and the two fell in love. Grinde took on a research project in California, studying the effect of wild pigs on the oak woodland ecosystem. The couple married in 2004.

The master’s thesis project required long stretches away from home, hiking California’s back country, and sleeping in tents. During her last months of field work, Grinde found out she was pregnant.

“I worked with a crew of guys and it was pretty demanding, but I didn’t want them to know I was pregnant,” she says. “I remember throwing up out the back of my tent.”

Baby Makes Three

Luckily, her daughter arrived after Grinde wrote and defended her master’s thesis. A part time adjunct professor position allowed her time with baby Amaya.

After nine months, she accepted a full-time professor position at Pine Technical College, spending summer months on bird research for UMD’s Natural Resources Research Institute. She learned of UMD’s intriguing doctorate program in Integrated Biological Sciences and enrolled to expand her teaching opportunities.

If not for her work-from-home husband, Grinde says she would never have attempted it. After missing her daughter’s first day of kindergarten she cried when she finally brought her to school on her third day.

“During that first year, especially, there was the constant feeling of needing to be somewhere else and not be 100 percent for any one thing,” she says. “I’d think, ‘when was the last time I did dishes or laundry?’ My husband was amazing.”

By the second and third years of her Ph.D. program, the class schedule lessened and her time was more flexible. Many parents tire of shuttling their kids around, but Grinde relished having the time to drive her daughter to school in the mornings.

Lessons Learned

Throughout her studies, Grinde would talk to her daughter about the work she was doing. When she had to dig deep and focus completely on a project, Amaya was promised a fun family activity when it was done.

“This really helped because she would encourage me to get the work done so we could spend time together,” says

Grinde. “And then we would not sit on the couch. We really valued our family time.”

And now, with the academic accomplishment in hand, the pay-off for Grinde’s efforts comes in more than career opportunities. It’s Amaya telling her that she’s glad her mom is teaching people about the environment and birds. D

“It intrigued me that we could actually do something to fix problems caused by humans and keep species from declining....”

by Sheryl Jensen

Living in the Northland where we often have overcast skies and the summer season is short, many of us live under the misconception that we do not have to worry about sunscreens or sun protection.

“My grandparent’s generation had excessive sun exposure from not knowing the importance of sun protection. My generation is a generation of tanning booths and sun bathing despite the warnings given. Everyday more and more younger people undergo invasive skin procedures to remove skin cancers,” explains Katie Hipsher, APRN at Essentia Health.

had a spot on her nose that she decided to ask about when she had her son in to see a dermatologist to have some warts removed. After a biopsy, she was diagnosed with basal cell carcinoma. Thankfully, she has not had a recurrence in the twenty-five years since.

Burkhart notes, “I am so thankful that I decided to ask the doctor. I have been vigilant about skin check-

Street (First Floor).

Patients will have a 10-minute skin check appointment with one of the dermatology providers. “Anyone who has an issue found during these exams will then go to their regular doctor for a biopsy, treatment of the spot, or referral to Dermatology,” says John Slettedahl, APRN at Essentia Health.

Skin Cancer Detect anD Protect

“For people who have spots on their skin that they may be concerned about, this is a quick way for them to find out,” says Slettedahl. “Then it will be up to them to arrange to have the spot further evaluated or treated where they choose to receive their regular medical care.”

Skin renewal

Hipsher adds, “Skin cancer does not discriminate by age, gender, or race. Most people think of skin cancer in the elderly population. Unfortunately, I have been seeing more and more patients in their 20, 30s, and 40s with precancerous or cancerous lesions.”

According to the American Academy of Dermatology (AAD)

• Skin cancer is the most common cancer in the United States.

• Current estimates are that 1 in 5 Americans will develop skin cancer in their lifetime.

• It is estimated that 144,860 new cases of melanoma, 68,480 noninvasive and 76,380 invasive, will be diagnosed in the U.S. in 2016

• Melanoma rates in the United States doubled from 1982 to 2011

• One American dies from melanoma nearly every hour

Vigilance Important

Superior resident Wendy Burkhart

up appointments and mindful about watching for anything I see on my skin ever since. I feel lucky that I asked the doctor to take a look at what could have gone on to be something worse.”

Cynthia Eaton, APRN at Essentia Health, says, “The nurse practitioners and dermatologists work closely with one another to meet the needs of our patients. We routinely perform skin cancer checks, treat pre-cancers, and surgically remove skin cancers.”

Melanoma Monday

May is Melanoma/Skin Cancer Detection and Prevention Month. The American Academy of Dermatology, AAD, designates the first Monday in May as Melanoma Monday “to raise awareness of melanoma and other types of skin cancer, and to encourage early detection through self-exams.”

On Monday May 2, 2016, Essentia Health’s dermatology providers will host free skin cancer screenings from 8 am to 4 pm at Essentia Health’s Skin Renewal department, 400 E. Third

estheticians and laser technicians will also be on hand to answer any skincare and sun protection questions, along with representatives from EltaMD and Colorscience. All participants will receive a gift bag with sunscreen samples and other skin care products.

Common Sense Prevention

Essentia Health Dermatologist

Dr. Susan Ash warns, “You don’t have to live in a sun belt to develop skin cancer. Many people in this area have fair Scandinavian skin with less natural pigment to avoid getting really bad sunburns.”

The Skin Cancer Foundation’s Prevention Guidelines are:

• Seek the shade, especially between 10 am and 4 pm.

• Do not burn.

• Avoid tanning and UV tanning beds.

• Cover up with clothing, including a broad-brimmed hat and UV-blocking sunglasses.

• Use a broad spectrum (UVA/ UVB) sunscreen with an SPF of 15 or higher every day.

• For extended outdoor activity, use a water-resistant, broad spectrum (UVA/UVB) sunscreen with an SPF of 30 or higher.

• Keep newborns out of the sun. Sunscreens should be used on babies over the age of six months.

• Examine your skin head-to-toe every month.

• See your physician every year for a professional skin exam.

“It is so important that people understand that skin cancer is increasing and learn how to protect themselves, how to spot them, and who to seek for help. Most skin cancers are easily treated when found early,” adds Dr. Ash. D

Essentia Health’s Melanoma Monday free skin cancer screenings are by appointment only. Call (218) 786-3468 to schedule or for more information.

Girl’s night, ouch.

When your feet hurt, life’s pleasures become painful. If you have pain in your heels or the balls of your feet, get relief from the experts at Northern Foot & Ankle Associates It’s time to strut your stuff, pain-free.

• Referrals usually not necessary

• Most types of insurance accepted

Come see one of our ABPS board-certified podiatrists:

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fat, and reset your hypothalamus gland which regulates how and where you store fat in the future - that’s why so many people don’t gain any weight back years later

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By Dr. Sara K. Downs Au.D.

TheAmerican Academy of Audiology promotes May as “Better Hearing Month” and reminds us that it’s time to have a baseline hearing test and to protect ears from loud noises. Hearing technology and tinnitus are hot research topics right now.

Hearing Technology Helps Keep the Mind Sharp

Listening is hard work! For people who have untreated hearing loss, listening is major work. In fact, the brain of a person with untreated hearing loss must work twice as hard to process incoming information.

Imagine the stress if you were asked to transcribe an important voicemail from someone whose phone

IT’S BETTER HEARING MONTH HEAR WELL!

was cutting out. This missing letter situation increases listening effort and has been shown in recent research literature to contribute to earlier cognitive decline. Other factors that contribute to listening effort are background noise, clarity of the signal, and speech processing.

Much of the research and development for hearing technology has been focused on reducing listening effort. One promising study concluded that people who have treated hearing loss (people who wore hearing aids) have the same rate and age of onset for dementia as those who have normal hearing, while people with untreated hearing loss had a higher rate and earlier onset for dementia. When listening effort is reduced by wearing hearing aids, the brain has more processing power for other important things like memory.

Treating hearing loss is not just for the ears. Many people think that they can get by with some hearing loss but don’t understand the impact living

with it can have on their overall health. Wearing hearing technology fills in the blanks, reduces listening effort and improves quality of life.

New Techniques for Tinnitus

People who have tinnitus or ringing in the ears fall into two categories: those who have tinnitus and are not bothered by it and those who are debilitated by the ringing in their ears. Only twenty percent of people who have tinnitus find it debilitating. Researchers have been hard at work trying to figure out why tinnitus is only bothersome to most people and debilitating to others.

The answer lies within the nervous system and how the nervous system responds to the tinnitus. Many tinnitus researchers have been using imaging (fMRI) to study how the brain is responding to ringing in the ears. It has been surprising to see that the areas of the brain most active with tinnitus are not the areas that process sound but also the areas responsible for emotions such as fear.

A recently published study indicates that people who have debilitating tinnitus actually process emotions differently in the brain. Tinnitus treatment methods should follow suit.

This research is confirming that sound therapy alone is not enough to address the cases of debilitating tinnitus. In cases where tinnitus is just bothersome, sound therapy and counseling often does the trick. However,

for people with debilitating tinnitus, the reaction of the nervous system and emotional distress must also be addressed. Mind-body medicine and mindfulness based tinnitus reduction have shown a lot of promise in this area.

Hearing Wellness Center is sponsoring two free educational events for “Better Hearing Month” which explores the topics of this article further. Contact Hearing Wellness Center to reserve your spot today! D

Dr. Downs practices at Hearing Wellness Center.

Nick & April Witzke

Photos by Alan Johnson Photography

Jesse & Andrea Mehrhoff

Photos by Alan Johnson Photography

Bob & Chrissy Davidson

Photos by Alan Johnson Photography

Emily & Zachary Via

Photos by LaCoursiere Photography

Steve & Chelsea Balamut

Photos by Alan Johnson Photography

Jon & Jalena Campbell

Photos by Shawna Vine Photography

Peter & Katrina Baker

Photos by Shawna Vine Photography

207 W Superior Street, Suites 220 & 222

SpringFASHION STYLES

1.

1. Lotus on the Lake-supplied

2. Mainstream Boutique-supplied

3. Urban Forest

Model-Ashley

Frames-Kats Eyes Optical

Shoes & Purse-Benders Shoes

4. Urban Forest

Model-Charlie

Frames-Kats Eyes Optical

Shoes-Benders Shoes

5. Marine General

Model-Jana

3.

4.

5.

where to SHOP

Bagley

Kat’s

1016 Woodland Ave katseyesoptical.com

Urban Forest 4960 Miller Trunk Hwy urbanforestmn.com

2116 Maple Grove Rd bendersshoes.com

Eyes Optical

Lotus on the Lake Fitger’s 600 E. Superior St lotusonthelake.net

Wood Magic 5105 Miller Trunk Hwy woodmagic.org

Marine General 1501 London Rd marinegeneral.com

& Company Jewelers 315 W. Superior St bagleyandcompany.com

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.

Apr 1

Arts & Events Calendar

On the first Friday of every month, head on down to Clyde Iron Works for Fractal Fridays. Enjoy a great night with friends, good music, with no cover charge. 8-11 pm at 2920 West Michigan Street. (218) 727-1150.

Apr 1-3

At the Golden Anniversary of the Annual Arrowhead Home & Builders Show, hundreds of enthusiastic vendors are eager to show you their goods and services. Whether you are looking to buy and/or sell an existing home, build that new dream home, remodel or update your current home, go for that new landscaping look, or replace those old appliances with new, state-of-the-art ones, find it all there under one roof at the Duluth Entertainment Convention Center. shamrockprod.com

Apr 1-10

Dixie Swim Club is a hilarious and touching comedy about five Southern women whose friendships began many years ago on their college swim team. They set aside a long weekend every August to recharge those relationships. As their lives unfold and the years pass, these women increasingly rely on one another to get through the challenges that life flings at them. Thursday – Saturday performances at 7 pm with Sunday matinees at 2 pm at Cloquet’s County Seat Theater. (218) 878-0071. countyseattheater.com/

Apr 1-May

29

The Tweed Museum of Art features a new site-specific, multi-disciplinary installation in the Sax Gallery by internationally known artist, Sharon Louden, entitled “Windows.” This solo exhibition brings together sculpture, paintings, music, and theatrical lighting. Event is free and held at 1201 Ordean Court on the Campus of the University of MinnesotaDuluth. (218) 726-8222. d.umn.edu/tma

Apr 1-31

Renegade Improv at Teatro Zuccone is held every Friday and Saturday at 10:30 pm. Catch the hilarious show that’s been selling out for the past three years. Two teams of improvisers compete for points (which they earn from the referee) and laughter (which they earn from you)! That’s two nights of fast-paced, smart,

entertaining comedy from some of the finest talent our region has to offer.

April 5

The 7th Annual Northland Job Fair provides job seekers with one-on-one visits with resume and job search experts, information about education opportunities, networking with employers, and possible interviews for positions on site. Employers from Northern Minnesota and Northwest Wisconsin will have displays and details about open and future opportunities. 10 am-3 pm at the DECC. (218) 302-8406.

Apr 6, 13, 20 & 27

The Duluth Parks and Recreation's FREE Open Skating at the Duluth Heritage Center offers an evening of family fun almost every Wednesday evening on days when school is in session from 6:30-8 pm and during scheduled school release days. Limited skates are available to use for free. Information on special events and school release skating hours are available at duluthmn.gov/parks/programsandactivities.

Apr 7

John Mellencamp and his Critically Acclaimed Plain Spoken Tour will feature Mellencamp performing songs from 2015’s Plain Spoken, his 22nd studio album and one of the most lauded in his 40-year career, as well as his catalog of fan favorites. 7 pm in the DECC Auditorium. (218) 723-7000. mellencamp.com

Apr 8

The College of St. Scholastica’s 3rd Annual Local Bands, Local Brews event features sample beers from local breweries and tunes from some of Duluth's most talented musicians. 7 pm at Somers Lounge at The College of St. Scholastica. (218) 723-7000.

Apr 8

The Galactic Cowboy Orchestra stretches their own musical limits with album after album of intensely energetic ART-ROCK. The GCO combines their love of a good riff, hummable melody, and a groovy jam over a jazz/jazzrock musical bedrock in an intensely energetic live performance. 7:30 pm at the Sacred Heart Music Center. (218) 723-1895. sacredheartmusic.org

Apr 8-10

The 70th Annual AAD Shrine Circus will once again play Duluth this April with four shows. The funds raised from the circus go back to the AAD Shrine to help fund the organizations day-to-day expenses and is their primary

fundraiser. Tickets at the DECC Ticket Office or at (800)745-3000. decc.org/event/70th-annual-aad-shrine-circus/

Apr 9

In honor of the lengthening days, the DSSO looks to Persephone, the goddess of springtime for their latest concert, Elysium Fields. Brahms and Stravinsky’s masterpieces evoke budding leaves, blooming wildflowers and warm sunshine in this heavenly concert. Pianist David Kadouch’s will dazzle on Ravel’s Piano Concerto in G. 7 pm in the DECC’s Symphony Hall. 218) 623-3776.

Apr 9

At the Nice Girls of the North Second Saturday Market enjoy free coffee, cookies, door prizes, and lively music. Browse a collection of handcrafted clothing and bags, pottery, jewelry, stained glass, photography, personal care products, baby items and much more. Artists are on hand to help you select just the right one-of a kind gift for every occasion. 10-3 pm at the Lakeside Lester Park Community Center. nicegirlsofthenorth.com

Apr 10

Experience a day on campus at The College of St. Scholastica Open House Days, geared toward first-year students. Participants will explore the beautiful campus and meet admissions staff, faculty, and students; learn about financial aid options; and experience campus life with the option to do an overnight stay in student housing. Register at visit. css.edu or call the admissions office at (800) 249-6412.

Apr 11

Empty Bowl “Sea of Bowls,” a preview of the Empty Bowls event, is held the evening prior to the traditional event. Choose your handcrafted bowl at the gallery-style showing. Enjoy a wine and cheese reception and a “meet and greet” with local artists and potters. Proceeds benefit Second Harvest Northern Lakes Food Bank. 5-7 pm at the Duluth Depot. (218) 727-5653. northernlakesfoodbank.org/

Apr 12

At Duluth’s premiere charitable arts and hunger event, the 23rd Annual Empty Bowl, choose a handcrafted bowl created by area professional artists, school children, and community members. Dine on delicious soup, bread, and beverage donated by some of the region’s best chefs and purveyors. Participate in the silent auction featuring the works of professional regional artists, and enjoy local entertainment.

Proceeds benefit

Second Harvest Northern Lakes Food Bank. 10 am-6:30 pm. (218) 727-5653. northernlakesfoodbank.org/

Apr 14

At the Landscaping and Gardens 101 event, talk with Eric Grussendorf of Grussendorf Nursery and Landscaping, who will take you through the basic steps of planning your valuable outdoor space, including choosing trees and shrubs, evaluating the soil, the best times to plant, caring for your trees and shrubs,

pruning, zones, and, of course, the ever-important topic in our neck of the woods, deer repellant. 6-8 pm at Fairlawn Mansion. (715) 394-5712. superiorpublicmuseums.org

Apr 14-23

Thrilling audiences since 2006, Spring Awakening powerfully reimagines musical storytelling, with a passionate rock score that illuminates the hearts and minds of its teenage characters’ tumultuous journey from innocence to experience. Performances are held Thursday - Saturday at 7:30 pm and Sunday at 2 pm on the Mainstage Theatre at UMD. Call (218) 726-8561.

Apr 15-24

SUDS, the Rocking 60's Musical has it all. Suicide by laundry, guardian angels and rocking 60s music. SUDS will have you out of your seat singing and rocking to the best music of the 60’s. Friday and Saturday performances are at 7:30 pm and Sunday matinees at 2 pm at the Holden Fine Arts Center, Manion Theatre of UWS. (715) 394-8380.

Apr 15-24

CSS Theatre presents: Boy Gets Girl Theresa is a smart, successful woman. What happens when a blind date turns into a nightmare? This story revolves around ideas of sexism, romance, and extreme stalking and follows the effects stalking can have on the victim and those around her. Boy Gets Girl will be followed by a panel discussion related to stalking and sexual violence as a part of Sexual Assault Awareness Month. Performances are held at The College of St. Scholastica at 7:30 pm on

Friday and Saturdays and at 2 pm on Sundays. (218) 723-7000. css.edu

Apr 16

Plan to have a fun night with friends at the Wessman Arena in Superior sampling great foods and new brews at the Gitchee Gumee BrewFest, a Superior Jaycees fundraising event. All the proceeds stay within the community and help support many organizations throughout the year. Tickets are $25 for general admission or $50 for VIP. 4-8 pm. GGBrewfest.com

Apr 20

Enjoy an evening on the town in Zeitgeist Arts Atrium for their “Art & Wine Nights.” Learn how to create your very own take-home masterpiece from the talented instructors from On The Rocks. Enjoy great food and drink while you get creative in a beautiful downtown location. 6 pm at 222 East Superior Street. (218) 336-1416.

April 21 – May 8

42nd Street, on stage at the Duluth Playhouse is a big, bold musical set in 1933, celebrating the stuff dreams are made of. Peggy Sawyer arrives in New York City from Allenstown, PA with her sight set on becoming a Broadway star. Facing adversity from all directions, the young, talented performer learns about show

business and discovers which relationships are most important in life. Wednesday – Saturday performances at 7:30 pm and Sunday matinees at 2 pm. (218) 733-7555. duluthplayhouse.org

April 22

The 7th Annual Ball for Boys and Girls will be held at the Greysolon Ballroom by Black Woods, 231 East Superior Street. Enjoy an evening with friends and help to raise money for an organization that changes lives. Elegant food, beverages, silent and live auction, and a very inspiring program! bgcnorth.org

Apr 22-24

Northlanders get a chance to buy and sell used bikes at the 10th Annual Bike Swap at Continental Ski & Bike, 1305 E. 1st Street in Duluth, while supporting Head of the Lakes United Way. (218) 728-4466 or hlunitedway. org.

Apr 22 – May 21

The Nordic Center in Duluth offers a series of free public events and Scandinavian folk art classes taught by internationally acclaimed artists, including Folk Art for Kids, Folk Artists’ Reception, and An Evening of Sharing Student Folk Art Projects, Scandinavian style wood carving class, sewing a Nordic heritage shirt class, and a Sami jewelry making class. Dates, times and locations vary. For more information, call (218) 393-7320.nordiccenterduluth.org

Apr 23

The 10th Annual Paws for Love fundraiser for the Humane Society of Douglas Co.,

Arts & Events Calendar

Inc. features a gourmet dinner with drink ticket, silent and live auction, as well as the ever-popular dessert auctions and wine toss at the UW-Superior Yellowjacket Union. All proceeds benefit homeless animals. For reservations, call Jacie at (218) 393-3138 by April 16. hsdcpets.com

Apr 23

Twelve top international pros from the FMX and BMX pro circuit in the 2016 “NITRO” Freestyle Motocross World Tour are coming to Duluth in a thrilling production of extreme action sports competition that was formed to tour, USA, Canada, Mexico and select European countries. 7:30 pm at AMSOIL Arena. Call (218) 722-5573.

Apr 23

Taking part in the “March for Babies” is more than just support. You’re changing the future for babies and making the world a better place. It takes just a few moments to sign up and join millions of people raising funds – and hope – to families across the country. 9 am at Duluth Heritage Sports Center. Marchforbabies.org

Apr 24

The Minnesota Ballet’s Dance Day at the Depot celebrates National Dance Week with a costume display, demonstrations of dance techniques, presentations by upper-level students, and social dance for all. This event

is free and held from 1:30-3:30 pm in the Depot’s Great Hall. (218) 529-3742 or visit mnballet.org.

Apr 28

“Wine and Chee’s” is more than a great chance to sample wines and micro beers, nibble on hors d’oeuvres, and bid on all sorts of items from fun opportunities to gourmet gift baskets. Cheng-Khee Chee, signature member of the American Watercolor Society, will be on hand to sign his prints up for bid. 5:30-8:30 pm at the Depot Great Hall. (218) 529-3744. minnesotaballet.org

April 29

Multi-instrumentalist, David Lindley is on stage at the Sacred Heart Music Center, performing music that redefines the word “eclectic.” The David Lindley electro-acoustic performance combines American folk, blues, and bluegrass traditions with elements from African, Arabic, Asian, Celtic, Malagasy, and Turkish musical sources. 7:30 pm at the Sacred Heart Music Center. (218) 723-1895. sacredheartmusic.org

April 29-30

Pick up some great reads at the Friends of the Library Book Sale at the Superior Public Library including “new” gently used books,

• Carpeting

• Wood Flooring

• Luxur y Vinyl Plank & Tile

• Ceramic

• Vinyl

of Lake Superior Chippewa

and operated by the Fond du Lac Band

40 W CENTRAL ENTRANCE

DVDs, magazines, and more at the annual book sale. In the library’s classroom and meeting room Friday from 9 am-7 pm and Saturday from10 am-2 pm. (715) 394-8860.

Apr 30

Fitger’s and “A Place for Fido” have teamed up to bring canines and their owners their own event: Fitger’s Canine Carnival. Bring your dogs out, gain some knowledge, and have some fun! 11 am-3 pm. (218) 722-8826. fitgers. com

Apr 30

Enjoy delicious deep-fried, battered fish, Captain Ken’s Firehouse beans, cole-slaw, bread, relishes, and homemade desserts at the 60th Annual Herbster Smelt Fry. Enter to win raffle and door prizes up to $500! 3-7 pm at the Historic Log Gym in Herbster, WI. herbstercommunityclub.org

May 1

Wildwoods Wildlife Rehabilitation is holding its third annual fundraiser, featuring live music, great local food, craft beers & wine, silent auction, and raffle. Enjoy great music by Black River Revue and Teague Alexy; food by New Scenic Cafe, Duluth Grill, Beaner’s Central Coffeehouse; drinks by Castle Danger Brewery, Vikre Distillery, Bent Paddle, and White Winter Winery; and desserts by How Sweet It Is, 185 Chocolat, Zenith Bread, and Mike and Jen’s Cocoa. 3-7 pm, at Clyde Iron Works. (218) 4913604. wildwoodsrehab.org

May 1-8

The Homegrown Music Festival is Duluth’s annual showcase of rock and roll. It began as a simple birthday party with a handful of bands and a bunch of beer. Now it’s a complete bureaucracy, run by a volunteer steering committee and a board of directors, featuring 200 musical acts, along with a few filmmakers and other artists in venues all across Duluth. Tickets are available at the door, in advance online at duluthhomegrown.org or in person at the Electric Fetus. (218) 590-1210.

May 3

The Upper Lakes Foods Spring Food Show offers insights and ideas to ignite your culinary craftsmanship. Find tools to feed your creativity with interactive demonstrations,

captivating seminars, fresh products, local vendors, national vendors and incredible promotions. 9 am-4 pm at the DECC. decc.org

May 4

The Annual Port Cities luncheon will be held on Wednesday, May 4, at noon at the Radisson Hotel-Harborview Room in Duluth. The guest speaker will be former Duluth Mayor, Don Ness, who will speak on family, faith, and community. The Port Cities Woman of the Year will be announced at the luncheon. To reserve tickets, call Marcia Semerau at 218-722-1042.

May 4, 11, 18 & 25

The Duluth Parks and Recreation’s FREE Open Skating at the Duluth Heritage Center offers an evening of family fun almost every Wednesday evening on days when school is in session from 6:30-8 pm and during scheduled school release days. Limited skates are available to use for free. Information on specific events and school release skating hours are available at duluthmn.gov/parks/programsandactivities.

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We believe you deserve a financial partner that’s invested in you —one that’s willing to earn your trust.

We’re welcoming Beacon Bank to the Alerus family, and we’re excited to meet all our new neighbors.

Find us at alerus.com, 218.722.0238 or just stop on by.

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Arts & Events Calendar

May 6

Northern Lights Foundation will hold their 3rd Annual Dinner & Silent Auction in the Greysolon Ballroom. The evening will begin at 5:30 pm with all proceeds benefitting the Northern Lights Foundation and their support of children who are facing life-threatening illnesses. northernlightsfoundation.org.

May 6

The first Friday of every month, head on down to Clyde Iron Works for Fractal Fridays. Enjoy a great night with friends, good music, with no cover charge. 8-11 pm at Clyde Iron Works, 2920 West Michigan Street. (218) 727-1150.

May 6-28

Renegade Improv is held every Friday and Saturday at 10:30 pm at Teatro Zuccone. Catch the hilarious show that’s been selling out for the past three years. Two teams of improvisers compete for points (which they earn from the referee) and laughter (which they earn from you)! That’s two nights of fastpaced, smart, entertaining comedy from some of the finest talent our region has to offer.

May 7

Duluth Superior Symphony Orchestra presents: Heaven & Earth. As the messenger of the Greek gods, Hermes traveled between men and gods routinely. Explore the vast distance between both in this concert. Respighi’s Church Windows is an ode to Biblical stories inscribed on stained glass windows from all around Italy. Then the DSSO Chorus joins the orchestra on Orff’s Carmina Burana, inspired by 12th-century poems divulging the unsaintly delights of men. 7 pm in the DECC’s Symphony Hall. (218) 623-3776. dsso.com

May 7

The YWCA's Annual Mother's Day Walk Run features the Betty Brasgala 5K Run for women promoting women’s health and breast cancer awareness; the Two Mile Walk and Youth Fun Run promoting family engagement and youth fitness; and the ever-expanding Vendor Expo featuring dozens of area businesses supporting women and youth. 8 am-noon at the

DECC and Bayfront Festival Park. (218) 7227425. ywcaduluth.org

May 8

Celebrate Mother’s Day in grand style at Greysolon Ballroom by Black Woods. Featuring everything your mom loves from chef-carved ham, their signature champagne chicken, endless salads, and desserts. Seating at 11am and 1 pm. Parking is available behind the Sheraton Hotel in the 1st Street parking ramp. (218) 722-7466. Reservations required.

May 13-14

Find some one-of-a-kind treasures at the Duluth Junk Hunt! This semi-annual sale features an array of different “junk” vendors from Duluth, the Twin Cities, and around the area showcasing all things vintage, antique & re-purposed! (And with more vendors than ever, this promises to be the biggest & best Junk Hunt yet!) A fun two day, indoor market held inside the Duluth Heritage Sports Center in west Duluth. (Free parking!) $5 admission, which is good for both days. Food, beverag-

es, t-shirts & totes will also be available for purchase. Visit duluthjunkhunt.com for more info, and follow us on Facebook! Open Friday (8-10 AM / early birds, 10 AM – 5 PM / regular admission) and Saturday (9 AM – 4 PM).

May 14

At Dulcimer Day in Duluth folk music festival, choose between classes, concerts, and vendors. This festival specializes in mountain and hammered dulcimers but also will have workshops in other instruments as well. Spend a fun day making and learning about traditional music. Hear wonderful old-time live music. Advanced registration is recommended for classes. Concerts at 1 pm and 7 pm at First United Methodist Church. (218) 525-5098. DulcimersInDuluth.com

May 14

At the Nice Girls of the North Second Saturday Market enjoy free coffee, cookies, door prizes, and lively music. Browse a collection of handcrafted clothing and bags, pottery, jewelry, stained glass, photography, personal care products, baby items and much more. Artists are on hand to help you select just the right one-of a kind gift for every occasion. 10-3 pm at the Lakeside Lester Park Community Center. nicegirlsofthenorth.com

May 14

The St. Louis County Historical Society invites the public to participate in the VMH 5K Fun Run/Walk, a fundraiser for its Veterans’ Memorial Hall Program. The race begins at 9 am at the Twig Bakery, 3930 East Calvary Road, Duluth. Free parking is available for

participants across the street in the Voyageur Bus Company lot.   thehistorypeople.org/ events.asp.

May 14

The 7th Annual Lumberjack Laps features eight different race divisions for kids and adults of all ages in addition to a local mascot race. Included are an opening flag ceremony, concessions, kids’ fun area, door prizes, silent auction, and awards ceremony. 10 am at the Cloquet High School Outdoors

Track. Visit the website for a complete list of races. (218) 879-3369 ext. 5082. lumberjacklaps.com

May 14-29

Some Sneaky Sheep and Other Tales is a world premiere original script following the adventures of Chico Bon Bon, Bug on a Bike, Sneaky Sheep, and other beloved characters created by Duluth author, Chris Monroe where the beloved illustrations come to life. Performances held in the Underground at 1 pm and 4 pm on Saturdays and at 2 pm on Sundays. (218) 733-7555. duluthplayhouse.org

May 17

Kid GO Round and the Cloquet Area Fire Department host a Child Car Seat Safety Clinic. No appointments are necessary. First come, first serve basis. Allow up to 30 minutes per seat check. Families are welcome to have their car seats inspected by a certified car seat safety technician. The technicians will be able to help you properly install and answer

Annual Port Cities Luncheon

Wednesday May 4, 2016 at Noon

Radisson Hotel-Harborview Duluth

Speaker: Don Ness

Author, Business Owner, Former Mayor Theme: Family, Faith & Community

Purpose: To name a Woman of the Year - an outstanding woman volunteer from the Port Cities area.

Tickets $20, to reserve call Marcia Semerau at 722-1042

any questions you have about car seat safety. Event is held near the rear mall entrance of the Super One Mall - Cloquet from 4-6 pm. (218) 878-0543.

June 1

James Taylor and his All-Star Band are coming to AMSOIL Arena for one intimate and memorable night. As a recording and touring artist, James Taylor has touched people with a warm baritone voice and distinctive style of guitar-playing for more than 40 years, while setting a precedent to which countless young musicians have aspired. 8 pm at the AMSOIL Arena. Call 1-800-745-3000.

June 1-5

The Duluth Superior Film Festival is an incredible annual 5-day event. DSFF screens numerous independent films, produces music performances, and hosts parties in an extravaganza of film, music, and art. DSFF brings film directors and industry professionals to the Twin Ports for receptions, Q & A sessions after screenings, and panel discussions. (612) 2278015. ds-ff.com

June 2-12

Annapurna is on stage at the Duluth Playhouse. Twenty years ago, Emma walked out on her husband, cowboy-poet Ulysses, leaving behind their marriage in the middle of the night. Now, hearing he’s in dire straits, she tracks him down in the wilds of Colorado

Arts & Events Calendar

to find him living in a grungy trailer. Their reunion, charged by rage and compassion, rekindles the bond, which brought them together all those years ago. Wednesday – Saturday performances at 7:30 pm and Sunday Matinees at 2 pm. (218) 733-7555. duluthplayhouse.org

June 3-4

“Cast for a Cause,” the 21st Annual Kolar Toyota ALS Walleye Tournament, will be held on Island Lake, in Duluth. Enjoy a pre-tournament party and opening reception on Friday, and find out how you could win fabulous items for participating - including CASH PRIZES! Anglers

cont.

will compete for the title in the Big Walleye Bonanza or the Bass Challenge. (888) 6720484. kolartoyotawalleye.com

June 3-12

Dearly Departed is on stage at Cloquet’s County Seat Theater. In the Baptist backwoods of the Bible Belt, the beleaguered Turpin family proves that living and dying in the South are seldom tidy and always hilarious. Despite their earnest efforts to pull themselves together for their father’s funeral, the Turpin’s other problems keep overshadowing the solemn occasion. (218) 878-0071. countyseattheater. com

June 8

Enjoy the 6th Annual Community Open House at the Richard I. Bong Veterans Historical

Center. They will serve free burgers and hot dogs. 9 am-5 pm. Call (715) 392-7151. bvhcenter.org

June 11

Enjoy the beauty and history of Minnesota’s North Shore during an open house at Split Rock Lighthouse and State Park. Admission is FREE to both sites. Tour the light station, keeper’s house, and fog signal building. Stop by the Visitor Center to see exhibits on the North Shore’s tourism and commercial fishing industries, and view a film about the early shipping industry on Lake Superior. 10 am-6 pm. (218) 226-6372.

HOMEgarden and

Life is Better at the Lake for the Carlsons

by Sheryl Jensen

Carol Carlson has fond memories of idyllic childhood summers spent on Island Lake at her family’s cabin. Craig and Carol Carlson have built a home on the same lakefront property that her mom and dad pitched a tent on in the late 1950’s before there was any kind of road access. It was in the early 1960s, when the primitive road was plowed in, that they built the cabin with cedar trees from the property.

Carol says, “Too many fond memories and family traditions were created here. So getting rid of the cabin was not an option.”

The little cabin is now a bunkhouse which is being moved to the back of the property for the grandkids. The Carlson’s built their new year-round home to enjoy with friends and family

to create new memories.

Design Details

The Carlsons had done their homework and had much of their design and decorating plans in mind. To iron out some details, they also worked with designer Heather Hiner from Hiner Home Designs.

Hiner explains, “The Carlsons came to me with a project where the footprint was already determined as a building permit had already been obtained. They were having difficulty getting the interior layout and exterior to work and were looking to me for help. My involvement then was fine tuning their design into a full set of construction blueprints.”

She adds, “They wanted to have the front door and porch roof centered on the house, but that was creating a less than ideal interior layout . . . shifting the front door down still created the exterior look they were going for and gave them more flexibility for the interior layout. I was then able to design for them a more functional kitchen and dining area than would have been possible with the door location they proposed. It's small things like this that make a huge impact on the final design.”

The couple’s design featured a rustic lodge look and, with the extensive use of wood, rock, and a tall wall of windows overlooking the lake, they accomplished just that. At the same

PHOTOS BY DAVID BALLARD PHOTOGRAPHY

A warm lodge-style ambiance makes the Great Room a cozy place to be for the Carlson’s family and friends. a

time, the home has an ease of use for when it is just the two of them or when they have family and guests staying with them.

Their contractor, Earl Heisel from Northwoods Construction in Virginia, likes how the overall look of the house turned out with its varied colors and textures. He acknowledges that adding the large rough sawn beams, after the interior construction was complete, made for a difficult task. The beams were taken off the property, much the same as the original little cabin, and milled to fit their decor. Heisel says, “I love the look of them after we were done.”

Great Room Central

With its towering ceiling and the mammoth elk mount high atop the St. Croix Stone fireplace wall, the great room really does evoke a lodge room of times gone by. Craig, talking about his hunting trip to Idaho with his boys where he bagged the 900 pound elk, adds with a laugh, “The ceiling height was designed with the trophy elk in mind.”

Comfortable leather sofas provide a hearthside gathering space and a place to watch the lake, fire, or television. A large custom made dining table and chairs, crafted from 300 year-old reclaimed timber from the Globe Elevator, provides plenty of space for family get-togethers and meals.

The dream kitchen has all the bells and whistles anyone could wish for, including a built-in wine rack, lighted curio cabinets, large center island, Cambria countertops, an appliance garage, and ample storage “We wanted a kitchen where we could cook and gather, see everyone, and have a great view of the lake,” says Carol.

Convenience of Main Floor Living

In addition to the great room, the downstairs level includes the master suite with the bedroom set, dresser and

side chairs, again custom made by using reclaimed lumber. The master bath features an air-jet tub, a large walk-in shower, and a double vanity. The spacious custom walk-in closet completes the suite

Also located on the main level is a guest bedroom, designed around wildlife scenes and decorated with more custom furniture. There is a full guest bathroom with an antique-look hammered copper pinecone sink set on a vanity made of massive timbers. A laundry room is another convenient main floor feature with spacious cabinetry, large closets, and the washer and dryer raised for ease of use.

The Carlsons planned ahead in making the main floor completely accessible as they age. Three-foot wide doorways and no stairs make it accessible for those using walkers or wheelchairs. Keeping the upstairs loft for family and guests means it does not need to be accessed on a daily basis.

The entire upstairs is a fun space perfect for everyone which includes a third full bath, bunk beds for the grandkids, foosball table, large TVs, and a wet bar. The loft area has a fabulous view down to the main level and out to the lake through the 26' tall

window wall.

Outdoor Domain

The Carlsons built a garage on the site in 2008 as a place to use while the new home was under construction and for additional space once the project was completed. A bonus room upstairs of the garage gives extra guest space in a big open room that has in-floor radiant heat and air conditioning for year-round comfort.

A beautiful screened in gazebo on an elevated point overlooking the water extends their outdoor living space. With 200 feet of lake frontage, the family puts to good use their fishing boats, pontoon, kayaks, and paddle boat. Craig notes, “To keep the work load simple, we are constructing a permanent dock with a large sun deck and boat lifts. With the DNR permits in place, we are just waiting for the ice to be gone.”

The family loves to go fishing and grouse and deer hunting. Snowmobiling, snowshoeing, fat biking, and four-wheeling are other fun pastimes they enjoy at their favorite slice of heaven in the Northland.

The beauty of living in a fabulous new home on the lake has lived up to its billing for the Carlson family. “I love getting up every morning and looking out to the lake,” says Carol as she takes in the view.

The entire upstairs is a fun space perfect for everyone which includes

a third full bath, bunk beds for the grandkids, foosball table, large TVs, and a wet bar. The loft area has a fabulous view down to the main level

and out to the lake through the 26' tall window wall. D

Continued on page 65 & 66

The kitchen section of the Great Room has a large island for food preparation and additional space for guest dining. A custom-built dining table was made for the room.

(left) Tall windows on the home’s lake side provide towering views from the Great Room and the loft space.

(bottom left) A bonus room above the garage has additional space for guests in a large open room.

(bottom right) A sunny seating area offers a beautiful lake vista. The walkway leads to a screened-in gazebo.

(above) Handcrafted furniture including the headboard, dresser, and side chair adds to the cabin-style coziness of the master suite.

(right) An air-jet tub and large walk-in shower help create a spa ambiance in the master bath.

(below right) The convenience of a double vanity is a master bath feature the Carlsons enjoy

General Contractor:

Northwoods Construction Subcontractors:

Northshore Wood Products - Custom made wood furnishings

Ryan's Rustic Railings - Custom log furniture

J&B Home Counselors - Kitchen Cabinetry and Countertops

EAS Interiors - Flooring

Northstar Insulating - Insulation

Duluth Stove & Fireplace - Fireplaces

Heather Hiner - Home Design

Heather Hiner (218) 721-4396

hhiner@msn.com

hinerhomedesigns.com

Troy’s Take On Gardening Trends for 2016

by Troy Grohsman

I’mtaking advantage of this end of winter/early spring time to prepare for the upcoming landscape and gardening season. On my mind today is what is new and trending. Easyto-love new plants with a dash of romance, a cleaner, simpler color palette, crisp geometric design, and accessible technology, all add up to a fresh take on gardening in 2016.

Gardeners and landscapers will “wow” their neighbors with plants that have supersized returns, such as larger blooms, number of blooms, a tendency to bloom two or three times each season, intense fragrance or flavors, and/or bi- or tri-color flowers.

Also trending is the continued adaptation to wild weather, smaller lot sizes, changing lifestyles, and less free time by planting landscapes that are easier to maintain.

Mobile apps, accessible technology, sharing communities and the power of social media, will continue to change the landscape of gardening, making everything from getting the scoop on the must-have plants, to watering, lighting, and anything else in between, easier.

New plants are a huge part of our industry as they feed our clients’ appetite for something new, to be different and flat out interesting. Plants you can trust and are reliable for our climate are what truly make a difference and what I am interested in bringing to our clients.

Another simple, elegant trend are subdued color palettes with whites, creams and “dirty whites.” These plants include: Incrediball® Hydrangea shrub, Boulevard® Chelsea™ Clematis for a climber, Bride’s Dream Peony perennial, and Fire Light™ Hydrangea shrub which transforms from white to a rich pomegranate red. All these plants bring a level of simple sophistication and optimism to our hectic world, creating a place of solace and peace to our backyards.

In every design, we pay special attention to using space wisely and including easy-to-care-for dwarf, compact shrubs in the landscape. These plants continue to dominate and we expect more varieties to keep coming.

Here are a few of my favorites: Lemon Candy Ninebark, Firestorm Rhododendron, and the Golden Duchess® Eastern Hemlock. Do not underestimate the power and impact of containers for what they provide to your home or office. A few of my favorite new varieties of annual flowers are Campfire™ Fireburst Bidens, Superbells® Holy Moly!™ and Superbena® Sparkling Ruby Verbena.

With all of the increasing headlines regarding food safety, record numbers of people are growing what they eat. Edibles are our number one sellers, second only to our spectacular hanging basket combinations. The BrazelBerries® Jelly Bean™ Blueberry was tough to keep in stock as it is a fantastic blueberry that is not only bountiful, but beautiful in the garden.

Apple trees are also very popular.

KinderKrisp, parent to the Honeycrisp, and the First Editions®

take on gardening in 2016.”

Sweet Cherry Pie™ cherry trees are set to be the hot ones this year, according to Natasha Strand, Miller Creek’s director of operations.

Celebrating 150 years of service to humanity, the Mayo Clinic has selected a brilliant yellow Coreopsis as the Mayo Clinic Flower of Hope™, to symbolize the spirit of hope and healing through beauty and nature. Electric yellow flowers cover dark green, threadlike foliage from early summer through fall.

Photos and details of all of the plants in this article can be found at houzz.com/pro/ millercreek. D

“Easy-to-love new plants with a dash of romance, a cleaner, simpler color palette, crisp geometric design, and accessible technology, all add up to a fresh

Troy Grohsman is the CEO/senior designer at Miller Creek Lawn & Landscape.

by Sheryl Jensen

WhenDave and Lori Nelson went to a St. Louis County land auction, they had just planned to “get the lay of the land” as to how the whole auction thing worked. They did, how-

Livin’ is Easy On the River

ever, have their eyes on a piece of land on Stryker Bay on the St. Louis River. Strangely enough, when that very piece of land came up at the auction, no one bid. Dave got so excited, he dropped his auction number, scrambled to pick it up, stood up, and raised

his number in the air. Dave and Lori were the only bidders, and, as Dave says with a chuckle, “We looked at each other and said, ‘What did we just do?’”

Dave is an avid fisherman and president of the Twin Ports Walleye Association. The thought of being able

PHOTOES BY JOANN JARDINE

to fish from his backyard or to hop in a boat and be out on the river in minutes to throw a line in the water was a dream that could come true in a house on their newly acquired piece of land.

Dave is also one of the co-owners of Northern Trends Building & Design and was very hands-on for the design and build of his own new home. The Nelsons worked with Armella Monahan, formerly on the design staff at Northern Trends, as well.

“We really loved our other home just one block from here, but it was too small for entertaining,” says Lori. Both she and Dave have large extended families, so having a party or holiday meal with over fifty people is now completely doable with all the extra square feet.

The open floor plan of their new home allows for the addition of extra tables for parties as well as for one level upstairs living for as long as Dave and Lori might choose to live here.

The Nelsons are also enjoying the energy efficiency of their new home.

“We are thrilled to have a home two times as big as our old house and have it cost half as much to heat,” says Dave.

Planning and Design

the home’s orientation.

Everything the couple needs is on the upstairs level including the open great room, laundry room, master suite, and access to the attached garage. Accessibility for long-term living was the plan. The master bath has a walk-in shower with no lip. A small slope on the tiled floor inside the shower allows for water drainage.

The kitchen was designed with easy access for food preparation as well as entertaining. Lori especially likes her built-in spice drawer under the stovetop. She also enjoys her walk-in pantry but wishes it were a little larger for storing some extra equipment like crockpots.

Cherry wood cabinetry, cherry flooring, and granite countertops give the kitchen its elegant and clean look. Under-cabinet and over-cabinet lighting in the kitchen provide a warm ambiance at night.

“Our best views out to the bay and river are to the south and east. We also wanted to take advantage of the sun as much as possible,” says Dave explaining

The great room is uncluttered and open. Its clean aesthetic reflects both the Mission and Amish influences in

Continued on page 72

“We have everything we need right here... When we are on our deck or patio, it is like being at a cabin.”

(left and above) Dave’s downstairs man-cave, called “Jake’s Place,” was named for a beloved family dog. It includes a mini-kitchen, bar, seating area, and multiple televisions to keep track of several sporting events.

their furniture and design choices. A cozy seating arrangement oriented to the gas fireplace and the wall mounted television provides for a place to enjoy when Dave and Lori are home alone or with family and friends.

Both Lori and Dave like Mission style design and that is reflected in their use of built-in cabinets and hutches, window framing, and furniture style. Classic racetrack designs in the ceilings are modeled after an old plaster technique. These give visual interest to the ceilings and also provide a retro look to the home.

Lower Level with Jake’s Place

The home’s family room on the lower level was designed to be the ultimate “man-cave” with a bar/kitchen complete with refrigerator, microwave, and dishwasher. Dave calls the large room his personal sports bar because he has three mounted televisions so he can watch three different sporting events at the same time.

Continued on page 74

General Contractor: Northern Trends

Subcontractors:

Bradley Interiors - Wood Flooring, Bathroom

Duluth Stove & Fireplace - Fireplaces

Johnson Mertz - Appliances

(above) Lori likes the convenience of her main floor laundry room with an elevated platform for the washer and dryer. (right) A convenient foyer hutch provides a place for coats and seating for ease of removing boots and shoes.

A painted sign over the bar reads “Jake’s Place” and includes a likeness of Jake, the couple’s chocolate lab who passed away a year ago. Jake was Dave’s best duck hunting buddy. When the Nelsons moved to the new house, Jake was too old to go up and down the stairs, so his “home” was on the lower level.

The room’s built-in shelving and a gas fireplace also give the room its relaxed ambiance. Bar stools, a separate small high pub table with two chairs,

and comfortable furniture make the room a perfect place for family and friends to gather.

The downstairs also includes the couple’s home offices, and a guest room and bath. Dave and Lori have three young grand-daughters who have a play area downstairs and who enjoy sleeping over. The two oldest sleep in the duck-motif guest room and the youngest in an adorable small toddler

Continued on page 76

(above) A cozy master bedroom has views out to Stryker Bay on the St. Louis River.

(left) The Nelsons planned ahead with a walk-in shower with no lip, providing for accessibility as needed as the couple ages in place.

Creating Your Outdoor

bed in the office.

A walkout door leads to the expansive patio space. Dave bought a huge stamp with a compass that they stamped on the patio’s concrete. “It is aimed correctly north too,” he says.

Enjoying the River and Trails

Stryker Bay, as a part of the St. Louis River Restoration Initiative, was entirely cleaned out and dredged to establish fresh habitat. Where before no swimming was recommended, now it is clean and clear for swimming and for fishing.

Dave plans to put in a dock to launch his fishing boat. “We have caught perch, walleye, and catfish here,” he says. He laughs when relating how much his young grand-daughter was a bit disgusted and taken aback by her catfish catch.

The family also enjoys going on nature hunts, walking, biking, and snowmobiling on the nearby trails. “We have everything we need right here,” says Dave. “When we are on our deck or patio, it is like being at a cabin.” D

(top) The front entrance of the Nelson home, with its covered porch, is an inviting entryway.

(above) Making maximum use of their riverfront views, the Nelsons have many windows in the back of the home, a deck off the Great Room, and a patio accessed from the downstairs “man cave.”

The Love of Design Creating the Perfect Home Environment

by Jamie Sams

For the last twelve years, I have been part of the house building process. It all started out as the simple first home that my husband and I decided to build. We were just starting out after buying our first house and knew that with our growing family we needed something a bit bigger.

One house grew into another, and we found ourselves building and moving every few years. All of the sudden, we started helping others build and design their homes. We really enjoyed the process, the creativity, and the result, and always took pride in what we did.

Over the course of those twelve years, I realized that as much as I liked to build, (with the help of the best contractors), what I really liked the most was the interior design aspect. I love to be creative and not spend a lot of money doing it.

I really think that building can be fun and exciting; however, at the same time, it can be challenging and overwhelming. There are so many things you have to think about and put into place before you start. With so many questions you have to answer when building, it can become incredibly stressful.

Some important items to list and prioritize before you build:

• What important things do you need and which can you go without?

• Will your family be expanding or will your children be leaving home?

• Do you entertain often or host overnight guests regularly?

• Have you put a realistic budget into place?

Aside from answering those questions, you have to pick out all the small design elements as well. You will need to consider what style you want to incorporate, the types of flooring, trims, kitchen layout, paint colors, etc. The list can go on and on.

Working with a Designer

My experience with being so involved in the building process for my own homes and doing my own interior designing got me to thinking that I could do this as a business. With the help of Heather Hiner, who I do a lot of design work with, I got really excited about helping people build and take the stress out of the process. I also thought that it would be great to help clients find ways to save money while making their homes beautiful.

Good designers will:

• Sit down with their clients to find out first what they love.

• Put aside their own initial thoughts of what they think clients should do and just listen to what they like and don’t like.

• Set aside their own style, making that always secondary to the client’s lifestyle.

• Use a new set of criteria every time they meet with a client for the first time.

• Do more listening than talking.

• Keep it fun and exciting by trying fresh and inventive forms of design.

• Think outside the box and give each client a unique style.

One of the biggest accomplishments in a project is helping create a sense of warmth and safety in the home

of every client. Each project should help create a space that is somewhere the homeowners want to be and not

somewhere they want to escape from at the end of the day.

No matter the space, whether old or new, there are always ways to make it beautiful. A good designer’s expertise can help to make that happen. D

“One of the biggest accomplishments in a project is helping to create a sense of warmth and safety in the home of every client.”

Jamie Sams is the owner of Sams’ Building and Design Consultants

Sharing is Caring Try Before you Buy

by AJ Axtell

Thinking of starting a new project?

Ready to get out there and explore the outdoors? Have kids that always need new gear? So many of our activities come with a host of stuff to weigh you down.

Why not take a different approach? Make friends, not trash! Take “try before you buy” to the next level. Sharing equipment, tools, gear, and other household goods can be a huge saving when it comes to cost, space, and resources. Luckily, there are many options in the Northland for you to check out.

Thinking of trying a new sport? Resist the urge to start out with a full set of shiny, new gear. Check with friends and family to see if anyone has a set of skis and boots for you to test out for a few runs before fully committing to your ski bum status.

Rentals are another great way to test the waters. Investigate local ski swaps or resale sites for used equipment once you’ve decide that you’re ready to get into the game. If your child’s sport involves a club or a league, check with parents from the next age group to see if you can

purchase outgrown equipment. Interested in quilting or sewing? Find out what you’re made of when it comes to back stitching and button holes before you load up on fabric and thimbles. Reach out to friends who might have a sewing machine that they’d be willing to loan you for a test run. You can even re-use when it comes to fabric. Old sheets and pillow cases make for great practice material when you’re learning your craft. Planning to do some canning after the upcoming growing season?

first go round, borrow canning equipment from your fellow gardeners. The Duluth Community Garden program even loans out equipment for your test driving needs.

Ready to take the plunge? Consider sharing your canning supplies with a few others since you’ll only need them once a year. Also, remind the recipients of your goods to return jars for refilling.

Many have high hopes of becoming the next pickle czar, only to end up with a case of mushy cucumbers and broken

Feeling the urge to get creative in a big way? Blacksmithing, metal working, and wood working can be functional and rewarding hobbies, but they’re not for everyone. Why not take a class through a local college or community education program before investing in your very own welding helmet? Once you’ve decided you love it, seek out a club or a group of hobbyists who are willing to share their goods.

The Duluth Maker Space (du-

“Sharing equipment, tools, gear, and other household goods can be a huge saving when it comes to cost, space, and resources.”

PHOTO BY WLSSD

luthmakerspace.com) has an open shop for your welding and crafting needs. They also have a wood shop if you’re more of a functional artist. Try your hand at a coffee table or a new bookshelf without having to purchase a single saw or clamp.

Finally getting around to that kitchen remodel this summer? Ask around to see if you can borrow a tile saw for your spiffy, new tile back splash. No sense in buying one when you’ll only use it once. Rentals may even be an option for larger equipment.

Check out WLSSD’s Household Hazardous Waste facility for free paints and stains — perfect for trim or cabinet refinishing. The Habitat for Humanity ReStore might just have those perfect knobs that you’ve been looking for. Or, check out print or online classified ads for supplies and materials. With all of these reuse options, you could get your dream kitchen for a steal!

There are many ways for you to avoid the stockpile of stuff that comes with all of our hobbies and interests. Just think of all the space you’ll save in the garage and in your closets when you don’t have the ghosts of new ventures gone bad weighing you down. Network with friends, family members, co-workers, and fellow parents to share as many saws, stock pots, and ski boots as you can. D

AJ Axtell is the Environmental Program coordinator for the Western Lake Superior Sanitary District.

Best Home ~Trends~ Inspirations for Building and Remodeling

by Chelle Eliason

TheNational Association of Home Builders annually announces the winners of the Best in American Living Awards – a prestigious award program that spotlights design excellence for the entire residential building industry.

Award recipients are lauded as the most creative and inventive builders, remodelers, architects, developers, land planners, and interior designers in the nation.

Take a look at the newest trends in design that home buyers will see over the next several years based on submissions from the winners. Then get inspired to incorporate your favorite trend in your own home.

Get-Away Rooms: Whether it is a room with a view or a game room, creating “escapes” is increasingly popular. These spaces are designed to encourage relaxation, family time, or

provide room for hobbies.

Wine Rooms and Bars: Wine displays under the stairs stylishly fill spaces that may otherwise go to waste. Full rooms dedicated to wine or liquors are no longer just for the avid collector. Wet-bar nooks are adding to the overall encouragement of relaxing and enjoying time at home.

Indoor-Outdoor Living: No matter their location, home buyers are attracted to designs that offer space on the roof to give them a great view while soaking in the surroundings. Indoor-outdoor transitional spaces are also showing up where weather permits by using screens and removable or foldable walls.

White-on-White Kitchens: This continuing trend can be seen in both traditional and modern-style homes. Think white cabinets topped with white countertops and finished off with white back splashes and white trim.

Smaller Entries: Entries are still very well designed, but the amount of space allocated to the entrance is shrinking. Large pivoting doors are making grand statements, but open immediately into the main living space of the home.

Double-Island Kitchens: Back-to-back and side-by-side islands are showing up in all styles of homes. Often one island is used for cooking and preparing food and the other for serving food and dining. The second island may also take the place of a more formal dining room table. D

by Chelle Eliason

Electricity is such a fundamental part of our everyday lives that we hardly ever think about how it works or any safety issues that could occur as a result of our plugged-in homes. Here are five electrical safety facts that you should know to protect your family and your home.

1. If lights flicker or dim repeatedly, you should call an electrician.

Flickering or dimming lights signifies an overload and a professional should be contacted. Power outages due to power line accidents, strong wind, storms, or extreme heat also can cause brief interruptions. You can call your power company to find out details on the situation, or check your circuit boxes for those outages. You also should call your electrician if you are constantly resetting circuit breakers or changing fuses, smell burning electricity, or need to replace faulty wiring.

2. If you do lose power, turn off all appliances to prevent a circuit overload when electricity is restored. Your house may temporarily lose

Five Electrical Safety Facts Every Home Owner Should Know

power due to weather issues or even on hot summer days of high demand. If you experience an outage, it is important to turn off all of the appliances in your house to prevent a circuit overload or even another outage when the power is restored. Electric companies recommend leaving one lamp on so that you'll know when the power is back.

3. House wiring eventually needs to be replaced.

Depending on the amount of use, insulation on house wires can become frayed or broken, creating a fire hazard. If you have any doubts about your wiring, have a qualified electrician perform a complete inspection. Houses

built between 1965 and 1973, in particular, are at risk because many were built with aluminum wiring, which the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission says is 55 times more likely to reach “fire hazard conditions” than regular copper wire.

4. A circuit breaker is not designed to protect against a ground fault.

Circuit breakers are designed to protect against high levels of electrical current caused by a short circuit. Ground fault circuit interrupters (GFCIs) protect against ground faults, when current leaking from an appliance goes to ground through a person touching the appliance. Even a small amount of current passing through a person this way can be lethal; a GFCI will trip if there’s a ground fault, whereas a circuit breaker won’t.

5. You can damage a power tool by using the wrong size extension cord.

If your electric lawn mower, hedge trimmer, or leaf blower doesn’t get enough power, either because the extension cord is too thin or too long, the motor can be damaged and eventually destroyed. Also, overloading an extension cord can cause a fire or shock hazard. Be sure to use a cord rated to provide the proper amperage the tool requires, which is listed on the tool. Just a little electrical knowledge can go a long way. Remember, when dealing with electrical issues in your home, safety should be your number one priority. D

Chelle Eliason is the executive officer for the Arrowhead Builders’ Association. For more information, contact Arrowhead Builders Association at (218)722-5707 or visit their website at abamn.org Some material in this article was provided by the Leviton Institute.

BUILDING YOUR HOME Custom, Semi-Custom or Production?

by Chelle Eliason

Whenyou start thinking about buying a brand-new home, it can sometimes be confusing knowing what kind of home builder you need to hire in order to get the home that best fits your family’s needs and budget. Here’s a brief explanation of the types of home builders and some of the differences in working with each.

Custom Home Builders

Custom homes are generally single-family homes that are built to the buyer’s specifications on land the buyer owns. A custom home is one-of-a-kind, and won’t look like any other home in the neighborhood.

The buyer works closely with the builder and architect to design and construct a home with all the features and elements that they want. Because

of this personalization, custom homes are generally higher-end and take longer to build.

Alterations can be made at any point in the building process, which

Semi-Custom Home Builders

Semi-custom home builders build homes based on existing blueprints, but the home buyer is typically able to change the plans prior to construction to conform to their personal preferences. Once construction has begun, however, there is less flexibility to make changes.

The home can be built on land the builder or the buyer owns. Because the home is not being designed from scratch, it often costs less and is completed in a faster timeframe than a full custom home.

Production Home Builders

could cause the total cost to build the home to increase dramatically. Custom home builders typically build 25 or fewer homes a year.

Production home builders build a large volume of homes, generally more than 25 and up to hundreds a year. The homes are built in developments, on land the builder owns. Many different

types of homes are available, including single-family, condominiums, and town houses.

Production builders use standard plans, but often offer a variety of plan choices and options, such as different floor plans and elevations. There will likely be multiple homes in the neighborhood that look similar to each other.

A range of decoration and feature options including flooring, appliances, cabinets, countertops, and trim is also often offered. These options may or may not increase the base home price, but they enable the buyer to pick items that they desire. However, the builder may or may not offer a selection of options that conform exactly to what the buyer wants.

Production homes are built in a range of price points, so production homes can be found in entry level, move up, and luxury price ranges. The home is generally built in a fast timeframe, since the builder has already obtained the necessary permits for the plans.

However, making alterations to structural elements, such as the foundation walls, will require re-engineering the plans and resubmitting them for new permits which could lengthen the completion date. D

Chelle Eliason is the executive officer for the Arrowhead Builders’ Association. For more information, contact Arrowhead Builders Association at (218)722-5707 or visit their website at abamn.org

OUR GOAL IS TO CREATE A PLACE THAT ENGAGES EACH CHILD.

New Homes Benefit More than Just Buyers and Builders

by Chelle Eliason

Theonly people who benefit when a house is built are the family members who get to live there, and the builder who constructed and sold the home, right?

Wrong. The positive impact of new residential construction is far-reaching, bringing benefits to families, businesses, and services throughout a community immediately, as well as for years to come.

According to economists at the National Association of Home Builders (NAHB), the one-year estimated local impacts of building 100 single-family homes in a typical metro area include $28.7 million in local income, $3.6 million in taxes and other local government revenue, and 394 local jobs.

But what does that economic impact mean in the real, day-to-day lives of community residents?

Just think about it. When a family moves to a community and buys a new house, they will likely shop at local stores to buy furniture and accessories to decorate the home. They will fill their car’s gas tank at local gas stations so they can get to the stores, have local mechanics work on the car when it breaks down or needs the oil changed, or buy a new car at a local dealer when it’s time to replace the old one.

The family may need to hire local companies for regular services to maintain their home, such as landscaping, house cleaning, pet sitters or pool upkeep.

The children will enroll in local schools. This increases enrollment, meaning more teachers, janitors, cafeteria workers, and other school support staff will be hired. Those kids will also join sports leagues and other activities, buy equipment and pay registration fees that provide stipends for referees and coaches.

All of this economic activity puts income into the pockets of local business owners and their families, who can then afford to go out and spend money themselves, which recycles even more money into the community’s economy.

The new family also pays local and state taxes. These tax revenues help pay for a wide range of government services, including school teachers, police departments, refuse collection, parks maintenance, and road repairs.

Over the long term, as the families who move into new homes become part of the community, their positive impact continues. NAHB estimates that those 100 new homes also provide the

community with additional, annually-recurring impacts of $4.1 million in local income, $1 million in taxes and other revenue for local governments, and 69 local jobs.

Families who buy a newly built home enjoy benefits including safety, amenities, energy efficiency, and floor plans to fit a modern lifestyle. But the advantages of new homes extend far beyond the buyers and the builders — residential construction has a positive, direct impact on the local community

for years. D

Chelle Eliason is the executive officer for the Arrowhead Builders’ Association. For more information, contact Arrowhead Builders Association at (218)722-5707 or visit their website at abamn.org

Ainsley

How to Speak Remodeling Terms You Need to Know

by Chelle Eliason

Thehome building industry celebrates National Remodeling Month in May, but remodeling is popular yearround, and the industry is growing every year. Whether it’s a small cosmetic remodel such as replacing bathroom fixtures, a major down-to-the- wall-studs overhaul of your kitchen, or adding new space to your home, understanding the terminology your professional remodeler is using can be very helpful to ensure you get the finished project you want.

As you interview potential contractors, this glossary of common terms used by builders and remodelers will help you understand the language of your remodeling project — and help you avoid miscommunication with your contractor.

CALL-BACK: An informal term for a return visit by the contractor to repair or replace items the home owner has found to be unsatisfactory or that require service under the warranty.

CHANGE ORDER: A written authorization to the contractor to make a change or addition to the work described in the original contract. The change order should reflect any changes in cost.

COST-PLUS CONTRACT: A contract between a contractor and home owner that is based on the accrued cost of labor and materials, plus a percentage for profit and overhead, also known as a time-and-materials contract.

DRAW: A designated payment that is “drawn” from the total project budget to pay for services completed to date. A draw schedule is typically established in the contract.

LIEN RELEASE: A document that voids the legal right of a contractor, subcontractor, or supplier to place a lien against your property. A lien release assures you that the remodeler has paid subcontractors and suppliers in full for labor and materials.

MECHANIC’S LIEN: A lien obtained by an unpaid subcontractor or supplier through the courts. When enforced, real property, such as your home, can be sold to pay the subcontractor or supplier. If a subcontractor or supplier signed a lien release, then this lien cannot be enforced.

PUNCH LIST: A list of work items to be completed or corrected by the contractor, typically near or at the end of a project.

Chelle Eliason is the executive officer for the Arrowhead Builders’ Association. For more information, contact Arrowhead Builders Association at (218)722-5707 or visit their website at abamn.org

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Remember

Filled Crepes A Mother’s Day Brunch

when crepes were all the rage?

There were crepes for breakfast, lunch, and dinner. There were crepes for appetizers, main dishes, and desserts. It was in the seventies, and I had a barrel of fun teaching friends how to make, fill, and serve crepes. We made dozens of variations.

Crepes were so popular that there were special pans made so that you could simply heat the inverted pan, dip it into the thin, eggy batter and cook a thin-skinned crepe coating. I think I bought mine for about eight dollars and sold it later in a rummage sale for a dime.

Crepes are still a terrific base for a Mother’s Day brunch menu, mainly because there are so many ways you can go with them. The crepes can be made ahead, and you can choose many different ways to fill and serve them.

Here are a couple of fun ideas for a special brunch. Just make a bunch of crepes ahead and freeze them as I direct here. Then, fill them and bake them.

Basic Crepes

edges look dry and the crepe begins to brown on the bottom side. Loosen the edge of the crepe with a rubber spatula, then with your fingertips, quickly flip and cook about a half minute more. Slide out from the pan and repeat. You can stack the crepes one on top of the other until you are finished.

If you wish to store the crepes, wrap the finished crepes airtight in a zip top baggie and refrigerate or freeze for later use. It is handy to place a piece of waxed paper between crepes so that when you wish to take out only a certain number from the freezer, it is easier to do so by just counting them out and lifting out the right number. Otherwise, just let crepes thaw in the refrigerator for a few hours, remove what you need, rewrap, and refreeze.

Ham and Egg Brunch Crepes

Makes 4 breakfast or brunch servings

4 crepes

8 slices very thinly sliced ham or prosciutto

4 large eggs

Salt and freshly ground pepper

1 tablespoon vegetable oil

2 skinless, boneless chicken breasts, diced ½ sweet onion, chopped

8 crepes

1 ½ cups shredded Monterey Jack cheese or Mexican blend cheese, divided ¼ cup butter

¼ cup all-purpose flour

1 (15 ounce) can chicken broth

1 cup sour cream

1 (4 ounce) can chopped green chilies, drained

Place a 10 or 12-inch skillet over medium-high heat and drizzle the oil into the pan. Add the chicken and onion and cook, stirring, until the chicken has turned white and the onion is soft.

Coat a 9 by 13-inch baking dish with nonstick spray and preheat the oven to 400°F.

3 eggs

½ cup each cold milk and water

1 cup all-purpose flour

2 tablespoons melted butter

Measure all the ingredients into a blender and process at top speed until the flour is worked in, scraping sides of blender as you go. Cover and refrigerate at least 2 hours.

Place an 8-inch crepe or omelet pan over medium-high heat until a drop of water sizzles when dropped into it. Lightly butter or grease the pan. Pour batter into the pan, swoosh it around quickly then pour out the excess batter (do this quickly to get a thin crepe.)

Place over heat again and cook until the

Chopped fresh chives

Preheat the oven to 350°F. Place 4 crepes on a rimmed baking sheet. Place 2 slices of ham on each crepe. Crack 1 egg into the center of each and fold the edges toward the center. Season with salt and pepper.

Bake about 12 minutes until the egg white is set but the yolk is still soft. Top with chives and serve.

Chicken Chile Crepes

Makes 4 dinner servings, 2 filled crepes apiece

You can use leftover chicken here, simply add to the sautéed onion and proceed.

Divide the cooked chicken and onion mixture evenly between the 8 crepes. Add 1 ½ tablespoons cheese to each and roll each up to enclose the filling. Place seam-side down into the prepared baking dish.

Melt the butter in a medium saucepan; stir in flour to make a roux; stir and cook until bubbly; gradually whisk in the chicken broth and bring to boiling, stirring. Cook until thickened.

Remove from the heat and stir in the sour cream and green chilies; pour the sauce evenly over the crepes in the pan. Sprinkle with remaining cheese. Bake for 20 minutes until the cheese is melted and sauce near the edges of the baking dish is bubbly. Visit

Beatrice Ojakangas

PHOTOES BY DAVID BALLARD PHOTOGRAPHY

Preserving Potica For the Next Generation

by Melissa Maki

The approaching Easter holiday brings to mind an amalgam of secular, religious, and ethnic traditions. For me, potica, a delectable rolled pastry filled with walnut-honey paste, is chief among them.

Potica (pronounced po-teet-sa) has Eastern European, and particularly Slavic, roots. Those who understand the care that goes into making potica know that when it is served, it is to be savored.

I’ve always been fascinated by ethnic food traditions, but this one is particularly dear to my heart. I grew up on the Iron Range, where one’s ethnic heritage is still a point of personal pride. For those with Slavic heritage, potica is not only a delicacy; it’s an integral piece of culture from the Old World we’re trying to preserve.

It’s often reserved for special occasions such as weddings and holidays. Growing up in the Catholic tradition, potica was always a part of the food basket we would have blessed by the priest to eat along with ham, boiled eggs, and oranges on Easter morning.

For years, my Slovenian grandmother has been carrying on the tradition of making potica for our family. Now, my mother has begun to take on the task. It’s a critical skill to pass on; everyone in my family would agree that it’s not really a celebration if the potica is missing.

There are a number of potica variations. All begin with yeasty sweet dough, but the

dough’s texture varies — as does the filling. Walnut filling is the standard for potica on the Iron Range, but there are many other varieties.

The dough is stretched over a large floured bed sheet. The skill and dexterity with which my grandmother rolls out and stretches the potica dough is astounding. It’s as if she’s channeling an ancient cultural memory. I’ve taken a couple of lessons from her but it’s still daunting.

Making potica is an elaborate, all-day process, but since it is one of the last remnants of my Slovenian heritage, I’m committed to learning and carrying on this delicious tradition. A

version of this article previously appeared in Honest Cooking

Jean Korsman’s Slovenian Walnut Potica

Yeast Mixture

5 teaspoons dry yeast (or 2 packets quick rise yeast)

1 tablespoon sugar

1/2 cup warm water

In a 1 cup measuring cup, dissolve yeast in warm water. Add sugar, stir and let bubbles to top.

Dough Mixture

1 ½ cup scalded milk (1 minute in microwave — can use half canned milk or halfand-half cream)

½ cup sugar

1 teaspoon salt

1 stick margarine

2 large beaten eggs

6 ½ to 7 cups flour (I use Gold Medal regular)

Scald milk and margarine in microwave for 1 minute. Add sugar, salt, eggs, and yeast mixture. Stir and add 6 cups flour, gradually add more flour until dough is no longer

sticky.

Knead by hand on floured board for about 20 minutes until smooth. You can also knead in a standard mixer with the dough hook (I do half with dough hook at a time, and then knead all for several minutes to combine).

Place in well-greased large bowl, cover and let rise in warm place or put bowl in hot tap water bath, changing water frequently to keep hot (no kneading after dough is risen to top). Let rise about 2 hours.

Line three pans with parchment paper. (I make three strips using 14-inch pans out of one batch, as my table is 42 inches.) Spray paper with cooking spray.

Filling

6 cups ground walnuts (about 1 ½ lbs.)

1 cup white sugar

1 cup brown sugar

1 teaspoon cinnamon

3 large eggs beaten with 1 teaspoon almond flavoring

1 cup scalded cream or canned milk with 1 stick real butter melted in, and ½ cup honey

Add hot liquid to ground walnuts that have been mixed with sugars and cinnamon. Stir well, add eggs.

Carefully dump dough onto table that has been covered with a twin sheet or tablecloth and lightly floured. Start by rolling dough out with floured rolling pin to a rectangle about 2 by 3 feet. Then stretch dough to 42 by 60 inches, or to your table size. Cut off any thicker edges.

Drop filling by large spoonfuls over two-thirds of the dough (spread filling with hands, it’s easiest and most uniform). Spread evenly to edges. Pick up short edge of cloth and gently roll over and over itself.

Cut into pan-size strips and patch with leftover thin dough or cut with a small plate and pinch ends shut. Place in prepared pans and prick with cake tester (or turkey pin) to prevent air bubbles. Cover and let rise about 40 minutes.

Preheat oven to 325° F or 350° F depending on oven. Bake 35 to 45 minutes until golden brown. (I do mine at 340° F for about 35 minutes). Remove from oven and let cool in pans for 20 minutes.

Carefully dump out in hand, remove paper, and set on a cooling rack. Cover with a cotton cloth and cool. Eat fresh or freeze immediately (I wrap mine in plastic wrap and then freezer foil). Freezes well for up to six months.

PHOTOES BY JOANN JARDINE

Improving the Local Economy One Business at a Time

Weat The Woman Today magazine have long recognized that the heart of the economic climate is vitally linked to the success of locally owned businesses. In this issue and going forward, we want to continue to focus on area businesses who are hiring new employees, adding to their buildings, moving to a different location, bringing in new products, or otherwise enhancing the business climate in the area.

Avinity Living with Spirit

mantown and Proctor.

Laura Lokken, founder and registered nurse, opened Golden Oaks to meet the needs of her own mother. Laura’s vision was to provide a personalized, home-like environment for seniors with higher level care needs. Lokken has joined the Avinity leadership team as director of nursing and quality care, and the Golden Oaks employees will become members of the Avinity family.

Avinity, a nonprofit, faith-based organization with a mission to create communities for older adults that nurture body, soul, and spirit has entered the Duluth market with its purchase of Golden Oaks Advanced Assisted Living in Her-

Northern Waters

New Mount Royal Eatery

Northern Waters Smokehaus, in the Dewitt Seitz Building, has long been a Northland favorite for smoked fish and meats. Area diners are excited about a new neighborhood hotspot (from the same owner Eric Goerdt) to check out in Woodland’s Mount Royal Shopping Center. Northern Waters has a varied and eclectic menu and offers wine and beer to go along with their signature choices.

General Manager Greg Conley says, “We have had a great opening! We already have regulars who stop by a few times a week. Some favorites on the menu so far include our pork shoulder tacos, the Iowa pork tenderloin sandwich, and fish dishes such as the Lake Trout Vera Cruz. We feature locally sourced foods with our classical preparation.” Conley also notes that the restaurant is the first in Duluth where the waitstaff does not accept tips. D

Dale Fagre, Avinity CEO, welcomed Golden Oaks to Avinity saying, “Laura and her team have established Golden Oaks as a premier provider for advanced assisted living services. We look forward to continuing to provide exceptional care to the residents while perpetuating the strong legacy and vision on which Golden Oaks was built.” D

For more information, go to avinityseniorliving.org

For more information call (218)249-1957.

Members of the Duluth Aviation Institute were looking for ways to fund the Path to Aviation program for 900 area 6th graders. “We decided to open the Lark Café and

have the profits go to the school aviation science program,” says Sandra Ettestad, one of three owners, along with her husband Mark Marino, and Don Monaco.

Their downtown corner location, in the historic arts and theater district, is perfect for people out shopping, going to the movies or theater across the street at Zeitgeist or eventually the Norshor, and for people coming from the Lakewalk.

They offer fresh deli fare, soups, ice cream, smoothies, specialty coffee drinks, beer, and wine. The café features a beautiful mural of the historic Lark of Duluth biplane.

The Lark Café is located in the Greysolon Plaza at 231 East Superior Street. D

For more information, visit their website at larkcafeduluth.com

Mainstream Boutique

Kris Anvid relates how her world came crashing down a few months ago when a pickup truck came plowing through the front of her Mainstream Boutique in Cloquet. Not only did the accident wreck the front window, door, and flooring of the shop, but also, because of the glass that shattered everywhere, all of the inventory that was on the floor had to be thrown out.

It has been a difficult road back to get the storefront repaired and all the inventory of unique women’s fashion apparel, accessories, and jewelry replaced.

Owner Kristin Anvid says, “We had our grand reopening on February 26. We are excited about all our new inventory of spring fashions. We work to stay ahead of the fashion trends, and this year’s spring clothes are spectacular.”

For more information, call (218)879-5544 or visit their website at cloquet.mainstreamboutique.com

Mainstream Boutique is located at 1306 Cloquet Ave. in Cloquet. D

2015 Veterans Remembrance Dinner — Dec. 3, 2015

The St. Louis County Historical Society and its Veterans’ Memorial Hall program held their 11th annual Veterans’ Remembrance Dinner on Thursday, December 3. The theme of this year’s event was the “Year of the Servicewoman: A Salute to Women in the Military.” The evening included the presentation of the Mike Colalillo Medal of Honor Scholarship and keynote speaker, former Chief Master Sergeant Jodi

East Hall of Fame — Oct. 3, 2015

The Duluth East Hall of Fame Fifth Annual Induction Dinner and Ceremony was held on October 3 in the East High School Mezzanine. The 2015 inductees are: Dukes Knutson, Kristi Duncan Plante, Glenn Rolle, Judy Smith, and Phil Verchota. Sponsored by the Duluth East Foundation, proceeds from the event go toward the Foundation’s work for the school.

WITC Wishing Tree — Feb. 12, 2016

The Wishing Tree is a community art participation project. Thirteen welding students from WITC-Superior were asked to create a 7’ sculptural metal tree. The Superior Business Improvement District, Wisconsin Arts Board, the National Endowment for the Arts, and the welding students unveiled their public sculpture in a ceremony on Friday, February 12th in the vacant lot next to Sclavi’s Restaurant.

Luann & Kevin Hopkins, Carla & Mike Bodeen Dan Krisak, Nan Sauter, Luke Krisak

Kylie Cochrane, Scott Markle, Randy Freeman

Michelle & Greg Wegler, Terry Lundberg

Mary Jo Manion, Carol Banker

Taylor Joyal, Ernesto Soto, Taylor Phillips

Joe Krieg, Toby Marcovich, Bob Patterson

Stauber.

Caset Peterson, Sandy Harty, Breanna Fiandt, Janet Tokar

Jessica Hehir, Shane Hehir, Bonny Copenhaver, Alan Copenhaver

Lindsey Jacobson, Alison Price

Travis Ennen

Matt Sisko, Aleasha Hladilek

Derek Plante, Kristi Plante Zam Plante, Victor Plante, Max Plante

Phil Rolle, Jane Rolle Back: Jack Palmisano, Katie Verchota , Bob Verchota, Allie Verchota Front: Bobby Verchota, Julie Verchota Phil Verchota, Phyllis Verchota, Gwen Verchota

Sheryl Jensen, Ken Jensen, Lisa Shefchik Pratt, Steve Patronas, Dr. Jeff Engelsgjerd Mike Miernicki, Shawn Roed

Jon Flaa, Ken Jensen

Patrick Skrivanek

Bob Smith, Judy Smith, Mitch Smith, Valerie Smith, Front: Ben Smith

Nicole Knutson, Linda Hoff, Jane KIrkwood, Ezra McPhail, Steve Knutson, Dukes Knutson, John Knutson, Renee Knutson

2015 DSSO 1700’s Era Fundraiser — Jan. 23, 2016

On January 23, National Bank of Commerce and Swim Creative hosted “Party Like It’s 1799,” a Beethoven-themed party. Guests dressed up in their best 1799 garb; invites were delivered via scrolls, and delicious and period-appropriate cuisine was served. After the party, everyone enjoyed the DSSO’s Immortal Beethoven concert in Symphony Hall.

LOON Opera Event — Feb. 14, 2016

The Lyric Opera of the North(LOON) held their elegant Valentine Soiree on February 14 in the Great Hall. The evening included “sumptuous singing and decadent dinner and desserts.” This was LOON’s one fundraising event for the year with proceeds going toward their season programming.

Lurene Buhrmann, Jean Jacobson, Hope Heikkonen

Joe Guenther, Paula Nelson-Guenther

Vicki Fingelson, Sarah Lawrence

Patty Salo-Downs, Cal Metts

Shawna Weaver, Matt Hinnenkamp

Kay & Walt Gower

Jan & Stan Burns

Bob & Barbara Hjort

Lisa Mandelin, Charlotte Taylor

Sylvia Jamar, Carol Oleson

PHOTOS BY JOANN JARDINE

Shawn & Cammy Hansen

Steve Burgess, Saundra & Buzz Palmer

Jim & Maria Wood

Valerie Blanchenay, Jen Ryan

Jeff Elliot, Elaine Killen, Betsy Mason

Brian & Sandy Winek, Stan Augustine, Dean Bruss

Jan & Bill Arezzo

PHOTOS BY JOANN JARDINE

Taylor Martin Romme, Patrice Bradley, Richard Stevens

Amber & David Sadowski

Dennis Lamkin, Rebecca Peterson, Jon Niemi