The Woman Today Aug/Sept 2018

WOMAN today the

Pageant winner is more than meets the eye

•Safe Haven gives victims of domestic violence help, hope

•Advocating for justice on UMD campus

•Seniors safe and sound

after refinery explosion

Madison Reynolds

the kids have convinced me and “naughty is the new nice.” while…but then realized they are just itself is a valuable lesson. Little light-hearted banter would turn into family New Year’s Day party. is an opportunity to set new upcoming year. This year, thanks angle – rebranding! We looked be; for some it was ways to it was learning new hobbies

honing in some areas of your family’s interests, this issue of you covered with valuable your hopes, goals, and/or

Today and find great articles college preparations; Family Gras food fare; and Hobbies

you may enjoy our stories of new, slightly “funny,” option story of a young girl’s fresh start Ness Family opens their doors up to with a new chapter in

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EXECUTIVE EDITOR

New Year! WOMAN the

that you find great promise in back, relax, and enjoy all that year ahead.

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There is more than one way to be an advocate for the causes you care about, and the women in this issue are wonderful examples of that.

Recent college graduate Madison Reynolds sees the attention she gets from the pageant stage as an opportunity to serve her community. Workers at Safe Haven help women in domestic abuse situations find safety and empowerment. Azrin Awal is a college student who works to promote safety and acceptance for marginalized groups. Maureen Hackett was inspired by her love of the wilderness to form a group advocating the protection of wolves.

As you read this issue, we hope you’ll give some thought to the things you care about. May you be inspired to make those passions come to life!

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FOOD/NUTRITION

64 Our ever-popular Tuscan Bean Salad a healthy choice

HOME TOUCHES

48 Modern, professionally'designed 'spec home' is move-in ready in Morley Park

Providing shelter in a storm

Safe Haven gives victims of domestic violence help, hope

From left: Susan Utech, executive director of the Safe Haven Shelter & Resource Center; Heather Drees, resource center manager and Brittany Robb, shelter supervisor, stand under the signature red awning of the shelter at 414 W. First Street.

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We are called to make a healthy difference in people’s lives.

By Andrea Novel Buck

WhenRachel H. left her boyfriend for good, it was after a crazy night of arguing, listening to his lies and threats, and fighting that resulted in him pulling his arm tight around her neck.

“I walked out,” she said. She believed he had fallen asleep, but either he hadn’t, or she awakened him. “I started the car real quick and drove off.”

Five days earlier, he had threatened to kill her and had blocked her in her car so she couldn’t leave. “I sprinted down Fourth Street in the pouring rain,” she said. “He found me a block away from the gas station. I didn’t make it.” That night she stayed, resolving though, that she needed to leave.

The night she left, she drove around looking for a well-lit place with a camera where she could pull over and call the police. She was afraid he would come after her. Instead, he called the police about her, claiming she was suicidal. The police took Rachel to Safe Haven. It was 3 a.m. “It was so quiet in there,” she said.

Tucked in a Duluth neighborhood, Safe Haven’s Shelter serves about 500 victims of domestic violence each year. Its primary mission is to provide immediate safety to women and their children. Safe Haven also serves about 1,400 men, women and children each year through its secure Resource Center downtown, providing legal advocacy and programs for self-sufficiency and healing.

“We’re keeping people safe from violence in their homes,” said Executive Director Susan Utech. “Your home

should be your sanctuary.”

Immediate safety

“Call the hotline: (218) 728-6481,” Utech advised. Safe Haven started serving women 40 years ago as just that — a volunteer-staffed crisis hotline. Soon after, it opened a small shelter in a duplex. By the mid-1980s, it was operating a 16bed shelter in an old home. It built its current 39-bed shelter in 2000 and opened its Resource Center in late 2008.

The call to the hotline begins a relationship with a Safe Haven advocate and initial screening. Do they need medical help, the police, a ride to the shelter, information?

Niki Whittet, youth programs specialist, talks about offerings for children at the center while sitting in the playroom.

“Advocates are there to support survivors in whatever way they need,” said Brittany Robb, Shelter Supervisor.

On arrival at the shelter, basic needs — sleep, food, water or a cup of coffee, a shower, a clean change of clothing — are met.

Even before her boyfriend threatened to kill her, Rachel reached out to Safe Haven to check on her options. In the 2½ months she and her boyfriend lived together, the fighting had escalated quickly from name calling, throwing things and slamming doors, to breaking things and physical violence. “I emailed them right after it started getting physical,” she said. “I had to leave smart.”

The first night at the shelter, she didn’t sleep much. Her boyfriend called or texted her 50 or 60 times. She was breathless from the near-strangulation. But the bruises on her collarbone and

Continued on page 12

finger marks on her arm wouldn’t show for a day or two. “I knew there wasn’t enough proof, and people wouldn’t believe me,” she recalled thinking that night. She didn’t know what she was going to do next.

Moving forward

Her advocate helped her sort things out and explained the resources Safe Haven could offer. “I thought, I’m going to do it all, and I’m just going to heal.”

When Rachel met with police the next day at the shelter, her advocate was there. The police arrested her boyfriend on misdemeanor domestic assault then upped the charge to felony strangulation. He was released from jail two days later. Her advocate accompanied her to the Resource Center and helped write an order for protection against him.

In the days that followed, her advocate helped Rachel get her name off the lease she had signed for the apartment she shared

with her abuser. She helped her get her belongings from the apartment and put them in storage. She helped her apply for restitution for her TV and other personal property he had damaged.

Rachel stayed at the shelter 56 days, going to work as much as she could but taking time off for appointments with police, a mental health therapist, a housing advocate. “I needed to stay at the shelter until I found a place to stay I could afford,” she said.

“Usually, the shelter is the absolute last resort,” said Robb, noting that most women come there after a severe episode of violence or lengthy history of abuse. It is communal living with people you don’t know who also are in crisis, she said.

“Sometimes a woman is so badly beaten, she can barely walk. Others show no physical signs of abuse but when we talk, it’s like peeling back the layers of an onion,” Robb said.

The average stay at the shelter is 22 days. Some women may have just needed a safe place that night, then reach out to friends or relatives.

On average, a woman will leave an abusive partner seven times before she leaves for good, according to the National Domestic Violence Hotline. “When women come into the

Continued on pages 14, 16-17

Susan Utech, executive director of Safe Haven Shelter & Resource Center, describes some of the center's amenities including a hair salon.

Heather Drees, resource center manager, works at her desk at Safe Haven Shelter & Resource Center.

Your blueprint for a better loan

How to Help

Adjust behavior, attitudes: First and foremost, conform your behavior. Raise your children so they don’t use violence, said Susan Utech, executive director Safe Haven. A child who grows up in a house with domestic violence is more likely to cause domestic violence or be a victim of it. “We have too many women who came to our shelter as children and are back at our shelter as women,” she said.

Acknowledge that domestic abuse is happening in your community and understand that it is a crime. Believe the person who is experiencing it, and don’t judge them on why they are in a relationship or why they didn’t leave sooner, said Heather Drees, resource center manager at Safe Haven. “It’s so much more than just walking out of the house.”

Society still puts shame on victims of domestic violence, Utech said. Their abuser should be made to feel the shame, not the victim.

Volunteer: Volunteers are integral to Safe Haven’s operation. They serve meals at the shelter, work on-call on weekends, providing intense advocacy services such as home and hospital visits, tutor children after school or do activities with them, take people to church, clean the shelter and care for its gardens.

Donate: Only about 7 percent of Safe Haven’s $1.9 million in funding comes from local donations. But it helps keep the lights, heat and other utilities on at the Resource Center. It helps pay legal advocates and cover non-personnel costs of that program. It covers indirect expenses, such as a new lock on a survivor’s apartment door. Safe Haven’s main fundraiser is a luncheon each fall, though donations can be made at any time online. There’s also a need for old cellphones, basic women’s and children’s clothing and some household items.

For more information, go to safehavenshelter.org.

Dale Minkkinen, who does maintenance for Safe Haven Shelter & Resource Center, gets buzzed in to the center.

shelter and do not stay long, it’s because they’re not ready,” Robb said.

But every time a woman comes into the shelter, she leaves a little bit stronger, building strategies to keep her safe until she leaves for the final time, Robb said. Those may include hiding an extra set of car keys or a cellphone programmed to dial 911, parking on the street, settling on a code word that alerts family and friends to call for help, identifying neighbors a child can run to for help.

“The women who are most successful in leaving their abusers are those who stay with us the longest,” Robb said. The extended time gives them the chance to make and meet goals.

So they don’t have to return

A big part of the Resource Center’s work involves legal advocacy — helping victims file for orders for protection and harassment restraining orders, documenting their injuries, accompanying them to court hearings and trials, relaying to them their rights, helping them prepare victim impact statements.

But the center also helps victims become self-sufficient and heal.

After the crisis has subsided, and sometimes even before it occurs, Safe Haven works with victims to find

Jake Fazio sits behind glass as he works the front desk at Safe Haven Shelter & Resource Center.

A member of Minnesota State

housing or employment or child care, resume their education, and connect them to public benefits and community resources. The goal is to make them self-sufficient “so they don’t have to return.”

“We are a safe place for them to work on things,” said Resource Center Manager Heather Drees. “You could want to leave and know you need to leave, but you might be losing child care or need to find housing.”

Additionally, the center offers support groups, empowerment training, healing circles and wellness days.

Rachel moved into her new apartment at the beginning of 2016. An advocate kept track of her abuser’s court appearances and was by her side when she wrote her victim impact statement. For two years, she attended support groups and wellness days consistently.

At first, she made sure her front door and bedroom door both were locked at night, checking multiple times. She hid cellphones around the apartment. She bought a clear shower curtain. She felt uncomfortable while taking a shower, the place she had experienced violence the most, or when her seat belt came too close to her neck.

Now she has a cat and leaves the

bedroom door open for it at night.

“Once I made my mind up to leave him, I knew I was going to,” she said. Safe Haven didn’t make it better, but it did make it easier. And without Safe Haven, she fears she might have ended up in another situation. “Some people don’t make it to the healing part.” D

Andrea Novel Buck, a professional journalist for 25 years, is a Duluth freelance writer and Youth Education Director at Temple Israel.

UMD student fights for inclusion on campus

Students for Justice group wants to heal 'toxic' culture

By Kelsey Roseth

When21-year-old Azrin

Awal encounters harassment, she could keep her head down and focus on her studies. When she witnesses racism, she could quietly disapprove and stay silent.

Instead, the University of Minnesota Duluth student chooses to have courage — and speak out loudly against discrimination.

“I want to create a safe space for everyone,” said Awal, who is passionately fighting for inclusion and promoting diversity on campus. “We’re paying too much money to be uncomfortable.”

PHOTO BY KELSEY ROSETH

Racist acts on UMD’s campus

Awal has considered herself an activist for a long time, though things ramped up significantly in April. That’s when two images showed up on Snapchat. They were geotagged to UMD’s story and contained derogatory comments.

One image showed a poster by the Muslim Student Association promoting Hijab Day during Islamic Awareness Week. A comment on the image said, “What’s next … build a bomb workshop?” The other image showed a poster on campus that said “Undocumented, Unapologetic, Unafraid, United we Dream.” A comment on this image asked the question: “Should we call U.S. Immigration and customs enforcement.”

On Snapchat, if someone shares an image taken on UMD’s campus, it can get added anonymously to the university’s online “story.” Images are removed only when someone flags them as offensive, which someone did in this case. Both photos were taken down.

Awal is part of six core organizers behind the unofficial group on campus called UMD Students for Justice, which includes students Farhan Ahmed, Fardowsa Abdinoor, Deiondrea VanDassor, Akquaa Courage Aloh and Ntsang Comfort Aloh. They’re working to make the group official.

As a very vocal member of the group, Awal is leading the charge. “How can the University of Minnesota, or how can any university, say they are preparing their students for their career work if it doesn’t prepare them to work with people of different backgrounds and marginalized groups?” she questioned. The group decided to hold a “Speak Out for Justice” rally on campus to bring awareness to what they call a “toxic campus culture.”

During the rally, an audience of about 60 people listened to a presentation where students and faculty members shared their experiences with offensive comments spoken on campus and microaggressions, which are intentional or unintentional insults that communicate negative messages about people in marginalized groups.

There was a slide presentation during the rally, in which one anonymous student shared a statement saying, “It’s easy to portray us gathered here today as overly-sensitive people who cannot take a joke, but that (ignores) the fact that we hear these ‘jokes’ all the time, and they’re not even funny in the first place. What’s so funny about assuming that someone is violent just because of their faith?”

Another student, who identifies as an individual of color, shared this statement, about the use of the n-word on campus. “You know it's what it means. Why do you keep saying it? You're in college. You've learned about slavery every single

Continued on page 20

school year.”

Also, a UMD faculty member contributed an anonymous report. They went into detail for the presentation about how UMD has failed to invest in opportunities to promote inclusion. “When I moved to UMD, it felt as if I were stepping back in time at least 20 years. UMD has made the conscious choice to not move forward,” the statement said.

“It’s just really frustrating,” Awal said. “It’s kind of heartbreaking to see that.”

During the rally, examples were shared of other offensive actions that took place on campus. One incident included two female students sharing a photo of themselves, possibly in blackface, talking about fried chicken and saying the n-word. Another Snapchat photo showed an African-American doll hanging from the ceiling, and other social media posts formerly shared on the College Republicans at UMD page were offensive to Awal and her peers.

“Everything I do ties back to my struggles,” she said. “I think of how important it is for our country to have so many different identities and perspectives … that’s what makes policies great.”

As part of the “Speak Out for Justice” rally,

Awal created a “Call for Change” at UMD petition, which stated “UMD students, staff, and faculty are demanding change at the University of Minnesota-Duluth immediately! We refuse to sit back and be in compliance with a culture that supports hate speech, a false sense of security, discrimination, and racism towards any group of students, staff, and faculty.” More than 100 people have signed the petition.

A young woman’s journey to activism

Awal’s journey from Bangladesh to the United States began with her father, who received a citizenship lottery years ago. He was invited to live here in an effort to generate diversity within our borders. Out of the millions who applied, Awal said, only a few hundred were granted citizenship. “That’s why I’m so passionate about giving back to my community,” she said, going on to mention her personal motto: service above self.

“I have been given an opportunity that I should be extremely grateful for, because other individuals weren’t given that opportunity back where I am from,” she said. Today, Awal identifies herself as a Muslim Bengali Asian American woman. “I came here when I was 3 years old, and I made America my home and part of my identity.”

The fourth-year student, who grew up in Maple Grove, Minn., is doublemajoring in public health promotion and education as well as psychology, and minoring in communications

and women’s studies. She also dedicates significant time to UMD’s Multicultural Center, serving as an ally for others, and works around campus to help individuals understand marginalized communities.

“It hurts,” she said, pausing to gather her thoughts. “When moments like these happen, when incidents like these happen, you become speechless, but you’re not shocked … These microaggressions and these forms of racism, even like xenophobia or Islamophobia, is stuff we have to deal with on a daily basis,” she said.

As a Muslim, Awal said she regularly experiences the racism and microaggressions regarding her religion. She said much of it boils down to the events of Sept. 11, 2001. “I think 9/11 really did change everything,” she said. “(That’s) when everyone was grieving for their country and their brethren. But on the twelfth? Every Muslim family had to justify our love for our country.”

Working to change campus culture

Today, Awal and a few other students are working to combat racism on campus, working with UMD and its chancellor, Dr. Lendley C. Black. The university did not respond to requests for a comment on this article, though Chancellor Black addressed the initial events with a letter to campus students and staff. “Over the weekend, there were several expressions found on social media and geotagged from UMD that fall short of our values and goals. We want you to know that we are aware of these incidents, along with others. We are tracking them and we are doing what we can to mitigate their harmful impact,” the statement said. The university’s policy on racial and ethnic harassment states that “the University is committed to achieving excellence through equity and diversity. A diverse student body enhances the academic and social environment for all students and prepares students to thrive in an increasingly diverse workforce and society.” It also states that it prohibits discrimination and provides information on UReport, a tool to make anonymous complaints online. D

Kelsey Roseth is a Duluth freelance multimedia journalist and writer.

When bad accidents happen to good people.

Listening is key to Deb's early cancer diagnosis

By Connie Wirta

DebMitchell says the lesson of her cancer journey is the importance of listening. First, she listened to her body and then she found physicians who listened to her and to one another.

In 2014, Deb was struggling with heavy periods, migraines, anemia and fatigue. “I knew it wasn’t normal for me, that it wasn’t right,” the Duluth woman recalls.

Her primary care physician, Dr. Debrah LaBarre, listened carefully to her symptoms and decided not to try standard treatments, opting instead for a biopsy of the lining of her uterus. Dr. LeBarre also suggested she follow up with her longtime obstetrician/ gynecologist, Dr. James Sebastian. When the pathologist’s report suggested the possibility of endometrial cancer, Dr. Sebastian recommended Deb see the Northland’s only gynecological cancer specialist, Dr. Colleen Evans at the Essentia Health-Duluth Clinic.

“He knew me well enough, and he knew the pathologist well enough to know this was borderline and he wanted me to see Dr. Evans,” Deb recalls. “He trusted her so that let me trust her, too.”

Deb was nervous about her first appointment with Dr. Evans. “You hear that word ‘cancer,’ and you know it’s serious,” says Deb, who works as clinic manager for UMD Health Services. “I sank to the floor when my doctor called me with the biopsy report. I may or may not have cancer? What does that mean?”

Deb says she found herself in the

office of “a warm and welcoming doctor who was very focused on me.” Dr. Evans explained Deb had a very early stage of cancer and outlined a treatment plan that included a complete hysterectomy. She answered questions and made sure Deb understood the plan.

“Dr. Evans made me feel good about what the outcome would be because we caught it very, very early,” Deb recalls.

After her appointment, Deb and her husband, Michael, shared her diagnosis and treatment plan with their family. “My 13-year-old son, Omri, asked me, ‘Are you going to die?’ and I said, ‘No, I’m not,’’’ Deb remembers. “I wasn’t just giving him lip service, because I believed it, and knew Dr. Evans believed it. She made me believe that because of my confidence in her and what she would do.”

Dr. Evans used a robotic surgical

system to make five small incisions for Deb’s hysterectomy on Sept. 9, 2014. Doing the minimally invasive procedure helped Deb heal and recover more quickly. She and her family were relieved to hear that she had only a tiny area of cancerous cells that had not spread. Her cancer was diagnosed as the earliest possible stage, Stage 1A. She didn’t need chemotherapy or radiation treatments.

Dr. Evans credits the early diagnosis to Deb recognizing symptoms and seeking advice from her physicians, who considered endometrial cancer as a possible cause and didn’t simply opt to treat her bleeding with a hormonal regimen.

Endometrial cancer is the most common gynecological cancer in the United States, Dr. Evans explains. It is most common in postmenopausal women over age 60 so Deb’s diagnosis

Deb Mitchell plays with her granddaughter, Evianan Tony, at Lester Park.

at age 42 was unusual.

Any change in menstrual bleeding or bleeding between periods warrants a checkup with your physician, Dr. Evans advises, and any bleeding after menopause also needs to be checked out.

There is no screening test for endometrial cancer. Pap smears are a screening test for cancer of the cervix, another part of the uterus.

Deb will continue to see Dr. Evans for regular checkups until five years after her diagnosis. “I form long-term relationships with patients like Deb,” Dr. Evans says. “It’s one of the reasons that I love my work”

Dr. Evans works with medical oncologists at the Essentia Health Cancer Center and regional cancer centers to coordinate treatments even closer to home for her patients. She also collaborates with her patients’ family medicine physicians and gynecologists. “We work to keep cancer care close to home,” she says.

“If my doctors hadn’t listened to me and to one another, I could have had a completely different story,” says Deb, who has six children in her blended family and two grandchildren. “I could no longer be here to enjoy my kids and now my grandkids. I’m so grateful.” D

Connie Wirta is an editor for Essentia Health marketing. She wrote this for The Woman Today.

Cancer Specialist

Dr. Colleen Evans is the only gynecologic oncologist in the Northland. She’s part of the Obstetrics and Gynecology Department at the Essentia Health-Duluth Clinic.

Dr. Evans treats women diagnosed with cancers in their reproductive organs. Patients need a physician’s referral to see her.

A graduate of William Kelley High School in Silver Bay, Dr. Evans graduated from the University of New England College of Osteopathic Medicine in Biddeford, Maine. She did her residency in obstetrics and gynecology as well as a three-year fellowship in gynecologic oncology at the University of Minnesota Medical School.

Miss Northern Lakes

Pageant winner enjoys chance to serve her community

Madison Reynolds ~

By Andrea Busche

If you’ve ever tuned in to a beauty pageant, you know the contestants can seem larger than life. There is no question they are blessed with beauty and intelligence, but these women also have worked exceptionally hard to sharpen their talents, improve their public speaking skills and poise. If done well, pageantry is a full-time job.

Hermantown resident Madison Reynolds was crowned Miss Northern

Lakes on Sept. 23. Before winning the crown at age 20, she competed for Miss Hermantown and Miss Brainerd Lakes.

Reynolds is using her one-year term to draw attention to causes that are close to her heart, including her personal platform, Project Choice. She views her “reign” as a great opportunity to serve others. “I don’t need the crown, but the crown is a good microphone,” she said.

An entry into pageantry

Reynolds and her mom, Sherri Edberg, have always enjoyed watching pageants together. With beauty and brains to spare, along with a background in lyrical and jazz dance, it seemed pageantry was a natural transition for Reynolds.

Preparing to compete is no small feat. “These are definitely not just ‘beauty pageants,’” Reynolds said. “They

Madison Reynolds enjoys dancing and has used those skills to compete in pageants.

PHOTO BY DAVID BALLARD PHOTOGRAPHY

are also based on intelligence, talent and service.”

Edberg helped her daughter prepare by conducting pop quizzes, where Reynolds would practice thinking on her feet. Reynolds studied current events, practiced her speaking skills and honed her dancing. She also developed Project Choice, which focuses on three objectives: to give all children access to healthy food, to encourage exercise and a healthy lifestyle, and to teach children to make conscious choices.

“I want kids to know that I’m not perfect, and everything is OK in moderation,” Reynolds said. “I eat pizza. I eat doughnuts. And that’s OK. Project Choice is really about living a long and healthy life.”

Despite being a self-professed introvert, Reynolds said, “I’m at home on the stage, and I’m very comfortable in front of people. I was painfully shy when I was younger, but I can thank pageantry and dance for helping to overcome that.”

Miss Northern Lakes

The two biggest national pageants are Miss America and Miss USA. Miss USA is part of the Miss Universe Organization, the pageant formerly owned by President Donald Trump. The role of Miss Northern Lakes is

open to Minnesota-based participants north of Brainerd and falls under the Miss America umbrella.

Local pageants such as Miss Northern Lakes lead to state competitions such as Miss Minnesota, which eventually funnels up to the Miss America competition. Reynolds dreams of one day being crowned not only Miss Minnesota, but eventually Miss America. She competed for the title of Miss Minnesota in June but did not advance. Contest rules state that ladies can compete until they either win or turn 25, so Reynolds has several more opportunities to fulfill this dream.

No more swimsuits

At all levels, Miss America pageants require contestants to participate in a private interview, as well as evening gown and talent portions and an onstage question. Up until June of this year, the Miss America organization also included a swimsuit segment.

“We're changing out of our swimsuits, and into a whole new era,” Reynolds said. “Miss America is being revamped, and we are redefining what it means to be a female empowerment organization.”

Representing the

organization all receive a sash, crown and crown pin. The young women can be easily identified by their crowns, uniquely adorned with four points representing style, service, scholarship and success.

Reynolds is proud to represent the Miss America organization by displaying these qualities wherever she goes. Service is an important aspect of her life; she has been volunteering for several charitable organizations since she was a child.

And, part of her role as Miss Northern Lakes is to make public appearances. She has visited Hermantown Elementary School three times and was a guest at the Essentia Fit-n-Fun Run, among many other events. “The year is really about what you make of it,” she said. “For me, I wanted it to be a year of service.”

Reynolds recently self-published a book, “Choosy Suzy and Lazy Larry,” and has opted to donate the proceeds to the Second Harvest Food Bank. All illustrations were drawn by students who have been a part of the Project Choice program. The book is available for purchase through Amazon.

Continued on page 26

crown Winners under the Miss America

Career goals

Reynolds graduated from the College of St. Scholastica this year with a degree in organizational behavior. After a stint as an intern last summer, she now works full time for Grandma’s Marathon, where she is training for a role as support services director.

Looking ahead, Reynolds would like to remain in the field of public relations. She plans to eventually earn a master’s degree and wants to remain in her home state. “I love Minnesota and particularly Duluth, so I’d really love to stay here,” she said.

Below: Madison Reynolds wrote a children's book and is donating proceeds to Second Harvest Food Bank.

Left: Madison Reynolds is crowned Miss Northern Lakes in September.

PHOTO BY DAVID BALLARD PHOTOGRAPHY

PHOTO BY DGL PHOTOGRAPHY

When she’s not working or doing public appearances, her life is low-key. She enjoys spending time with her two younger sisters, Brooke and Grace, and the family dog, Griffin. She still lives at home in Hermantown with her dad, Gavin Reynolds. She enjoys unwinding in the evenings with Netflix, and loves dancing, writing and reading.

Beyond the glamour

Reynolds acknowledges that there are plenty of assumptions about pageant contestants. But she insists there is much more to these “beauty queens” than meets the eye.

“We’re not just about evening gowns and hairspray,” Reynolds said. “We have our boots on the ground, and are busy doing important service work in our communities.” D

Andrea Busche is a Duluth freelance writer and frequent contributor to The Woman Today.

Safe Sound

By Andrea Busche

and

Thursday, April 26, 2018, is surely a day that Twin Ports residents will remember for years to come. This was the day Superior was rocked by an explosion at the Husky Energy oil refinery. The blast, which injured 16 people, sent a massive plume of black smoke into the air, sparked a mandatory evacuation across the city and was broadcast on national TV news.

On the bright side, there were no fatalities. The evacuation, ordered by Superior Mayor Jim Paine, was considered a success. Things certainly could have been much worse.

For many residents, evacuating was simply a matter of jumping in their cars and heading out of town. But for the vulnerable residents of Superior’s New Perspective Senior Living, which includes memory care, assisted living, independent living units and residents in hospice care, evacuation was a complicated affair.

Fortunately, staff and residents said, the evacuation went smoothly; everyone was swiftly transported to secure locations and returned safely the next day. Some of the residents even considered it a bit of an adventure.

Plans A, B and C

For Jeffrey Bergum, executive director of New Perspective Twin Ports, the day was a wild and crazy one. Their facility’s location at 1915 N.34th St. was far enough away from the refinery where the event initially went unnoticed, although a few residents and staff returning from appointments said they had felt the explosion.

After turning on the TV, it was immediately clear that Bergum needed to jump into action.

“After learning what had happened from seeing it on TV, we began monitoring the Douglas County and Superior Police Department’s social media pages very closely,” he said. “Our maintenance director began calling agencies, and I called the mayor’s office to get more information.”

Once Bergum learned that a three-mile radius around the refinery was under a mandatory evacuation order, it was time to put their emergency evacuation plan into effect. “At New Perspective, we have a Plan A, a Plan

Continued on page 30

Superior Mayor Jim Paine speaks to the press on April 26.

PHOTO BY CLINT AUSTIN/DULUTH NEWS TRIBUNE

PHOTO BY MIKE BUSCHE

Jeffrey Bergum is executive director of New Perspective Twin Ports.

B

and a Plan C,” Bergum said. “Plan A was to bring residents to Superior Middle School, which was out because of the three-mile radius. Plan B was to bring them to a local church, which we couldn’t implement for the same reason. We immediately had to jump to Plan C, which was to work with other assisted living facilities and hotels outside of the evacuation zone.”

All hands on deck

While Bergum was the leader and main point of contact for the evacuation, all staff members jumped in to help. Nursing staff, housekeeping, senior leadership, and the dining and caregiving teams all contributed to the effort.

“Many of our care staff also showed up in street clothes on what was supposed to be their day off, ready to help,” Bergum said. An employee was assigned to work the front desk, answering phones until 8:30 p.m.

New Perspective corporate headquarters, located in Eden Prairie, Minn., immediately implemented an “all hands on deck” mentality. That meant sending six buses, driven by executive directors, management and the head of finance to Superior for resident transportation.

The safety and well-being of the residents was of the utmost importance throughout the event. That included keeping them informed.

Resident Lorrie Hutchinson said, “It was not chaotic at all. At around 1 o’clock, we were told that we might possibly be evacuated, and we should think about what we’d need for an overnight stay. The evacuation went amazingly well. I was impressed.”

Meds, canes, walkers and wheelchairs

Staff worked closely with each of the 116 residents to ensure they were set up with five days’ worth of medications,

A seating area provides a welcoming entry way of New Perspective.

New Perspective Senior Living offers a variety of levels in care and service.

New Perspective Senior Living staff used buses, including this one, to evacuate residents after the Husky refinery explosion on April 26 in Superior.

unsure of how long the evacuation might last. Oxygen tanks were filled; canes, walkers and wheelchairs loaded into the buses.

Arrangements were made to transport hospice patients to Solvay Hospice House or St. Luke’s. The rest of the residents were split up between Superior Rehabilitation Center (which was outside the evacuation zone), New Perspective’s Cloquet location, and Black Bear Casino Resort Hotel. Some residents were picked up by family members. A master list of residents was closely followed for sign-outs, and plenty of support staff accompanied residents on each bus.

Fun at Black Bear

The residents who were assigned to travel to Black Bear made the best of the situation, enjoying their night of adventure. Depending on their abilities, they either dined at the buffet or enjoyed pizza delivery. Someone was even rumored to have won $270 at the casino.

“Believe it or not, New Perspective had actually planned an outing to Black

Continued on page 32

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New Perspective resident Lorrie Hutchinson.

Bear Casino the day of the explosion,” Bergum said with a chuckle. “We canceled it because not enough people had signed up.”

All residents were transported home to New Perspective the morning after the explosion, once the evacuation order was lifted. Staff members made phone calls to families, reporting their loved ones’ safety, and residents settled back in at home. After an unusual day and night, everyone was safe and sound.

A success — which will hopefully go unrepeated Bergum said he’s proud of New Perspective’s effective evacuation plan and pleased with how things went. “We’ll continue to review our plan, which we consider a living document,” he said.

“In the end,” he said, “we write up protocols, share them with state and local officials, but in the heat of the moment, we just have to go. I am so grateful both to Superior Rehab and

to New Perspective leadership, who immediately asked, ‘what do you need?’ Our community as a whole, including Duluth, worked wonderfully together.”

Lorrie Hutchinson added, “I was impressed with how things went, but I hope we don’t have to do it again.” D

Andrea Busche is a Duluth freelance writer and frequent contributor to The Woman Today.

PHOTO BY MIKE BUSCHE

On April 26, 2018, New Perspective senior living facility found itself dealing with a mandatory evacuation order after the Husky Energy oil refinery explosion.

Business owners—Do you want to save time, increase profits and hold on to the last shred of your sanity?

Outsource your accounting, payroll and tax responsibilities

not done will also improve your mental health considerably!

By Robin L. Rosenbaum

Entrepreneurs in any industry have one thing in common — they are all short on time. How do you make that final sales pitch and not miss your child’s last soccer game of the year? How do you pay your employees on time and prepare Thanksgiving dinner? Is your company profitable? Are your customers paying you timely? Was your tax return filed on time? Have payroll taxes been paid? Do you owe the state an annual report? Workers comp audit … what’s that?

Are these the thoughts that are keeping you up at night? If you would rather spend these hours planning your next vacation (or even actually sleeping) it might be time to outsource your accounting, payroll and tax responsibilities.

Regaining valuable time is the first benefit to outsourcing these duties. This will give you more time to focus on growing your company. Time can be spent on clients, projects and marketing instead of doing the work yourself or hiring, training and reviewing the work being done by internal help. Freeing yourself of the worry over what is or is

Another benefit of outsourcing is gaining the ability to make decisions based on facts — facts gained from accurate, timely and actionable financial statements. These facts can be used to make timely decisions such as changing marketing plans, decreasing expenses, or even being aware of which customers owe you money.

Improvements to your bottom line financial results will also come from outsourcing. Payroll, sales and income tax payments and returns filed timely will reduce your company’s exposure to penalties and fines. Relying on the expertise of the experts you hire will help you interpret financial reporting as well as becoming aware of the trends of your industry. Your company will not be absorbing the costs of internal hires who don’t have the same level of training and/or education as those in the outsourced firm do. Reduce your tax liability by proper planning and maybe even setting up a retirement plan for your business.

As an added bonus, this increased profitability will also increase the value of your company.

As you move from writing checks to the big-picture view, you will begin operating from a place of knowledge and strength. Isn’t it funny how setting goals using budgeting and planning bring you closer to attaining these goals than if they are never set in the first place?

Give it a try — find a financial partner you like to work with and set the bar high! Take your fingers off the computer keys and give yourself a chance to remember why you chose this path in the first place. D

Robin L. Rosenbaum is vice president of JMR Financial Group, Inc. in Duluth. She wrote this for The Woman Today.

Speaking for the wolves Passion

By Kayla Felien

for nature spurs wolf advocacy

Dr.Maureen Hackett has seen her childhood love of nature grow into activism as founder of Howling for Wolves, a group dedicated to protecting the species in Minnesota’s wild.

As a girl growing up in the suburbs of southern Minnesota, she enjoyed looking for frogs and being outside. Her love of nature expanded during a dog sled expedition in the Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness, where she felt a personal connection to wolves and their environment.

“We followed wolf tracks and heard wolf howls” Hackett said of her time up north.

Being in the wild had the feel of a Jack London novel. To see tracks and

hear wolves running as a family pack in their natural habitat captivated her imagination and touched her heart, she said.

“It was a small group and expedition style, meaning we set up at a new site every day and travelled pretty far into the Boundary Waters and parts of Canada,” she said. “Heavy snow in

in forensics. In 2003, she successfully lobbied at the Minnesota legislature for a law prohibiting the use of tobacco products on Minnesota hospital properties. In subsequent years, she put her passion for animals and her experiences with politics to work.

The Minnesota legislature decided in 2011 to allow the Minnesota DNR to commence planning for a wolf hunting season. Recreational wolf trophy hunting would be allowed after removal from the Endangered Species List in January 2012. By early 2012, the DNR had begun discussing holding a hunting season with regulations and licenses. That year, Hackett founded Howling for Wolves in response to the changes. As of December 2014, wolves living in Minnesota were still considered a threatened species.

“The wolf was not represented,” said Hackett of the proposed hunt season. “I didn’t intend on getting in a federal fight.”

March, 41 dogs and six people.”

Since then, Hackett has become a physician and professor, specializing in psychiatry and with an added focus

Hackett felt strongly about giving a voice to the wolves, especially since a hunt was being scheduled soon after the delisting. Some advocates had hoped for a five-year deferment of the hunt to see how packs would fare. They also wanted more accurate counts of the population, and to establish rules and regulations for an eventual hunt. They saw a need to study the wolf population

PHOTO BY

The group Howling for Wolves protests the Minnesota wolf hunt during a protest at Lake Superior Plaza in downtown Duluth in 2012.

and to educate people about the environmental and economic benefits of having a strong wolf population.

Hackett’s colleague, Leslie Rosendahl, called her the driving force behind Howling for Wolves.

“The organization has been particularly successful and influential because of her ‘never give up’ attitude,” Rosendahl said.

For the past four years, Rosendahl has worked with Hackett and Howling for Wolves, assisting with communications. “This large organization is special because of the passion of its leader and many advocates,” she said. “We feel so strongly in support of the wolf and wildlife and want to help speak for them.”

Gray wolves used to live across the United States, but in the late 19th and early 20th centuries, they were hunted out of the lower 48 states except for Minnesota, according to the howlingforwolves.org. As wolves are killed, there is a devastating disruption of the pack’s social structure, Hackett said. With only one litter per pack, any death takes a toll. For example, when an adult wolf is killed, younger wolves may not have learned all the necessary skills to survive.

Wolves have been known to kill

farm animals, but the numbers are low. In 2017, 76 livestock animals were killed by wolves, according to information from the U.S. Department of Agriculture.

“Wolves are an incredible part of our ecology and culture in Minnesota, and it’s also key to recognize how unique and important they are. Wolves, which have come back from near extinction (but are still on the Endangered Species List so they can recover), live in packs and are very social, just like humans,” Rosendahl said. “For these reasons, it’s against common sense to trophy hunt the wolf, which is why I became involved with Howling For Wolves.”

Howling for Wolves’ intention is to advocate, educate on the need for protection, and engage people in discussion and action. Group members oppose the recreational hunting and trapping of wolves and snaring of all wildlife. Numerous volunteers and donors have stepped up to lend their voices and talents.

Volunteers write letters, connect

with lawmakers, give talks at schools, participate in peaceful demonstrations and host educational booths at both county and state fairs. Every year since 2014, volunteers attend wolf day at the capitol. Advocates are working to sway public opinion to agreeing that killing wolves should be a last resort, using instead nonlethal prevention measures.

“If you want to have an impact, figure out where you can have an effect on the decision-making,” Hackett said. “Get involved politically. Be aware of the system and how it works.”

“Don’t give up on the system yet,” she added. “Get the right candidates in.” Visit howlingforwolves.org for more information. D

child, Kindergarten-8thgrade.Students applyingfor kindergartenmustbefive years oldbySeptember 1, 2018,and Minnesotaresidents. To apply,visit www.duluthedison.org

Kayla Felien is a Duluth freelance writer.

ALLETE recognized for its

Women In Leadership Positions

By Andrea Busche

Whenyou turn on a light or plug in your phone, you probably aren’t thinking about the people working behind the scenes to provide the energy. In this region, it’s a company that recently earned an honor roll ranking for the percentages of women in leadership positions.

The 2017 Minnesota Census of Women in Corporate Leadership, conducted by St. Catherine University in St. Paul, credited Allete as 19th among 72 public companies in Minnesota with women representing at least 20 percent of corporate directors and 20 percent of executive officers, according to a news release from the company.

Four of Allete’s 12 board members are women, and three of nine executive officers are women.

Although you might be more

familiar with the name Minnesota Power, Duluth-headquartered Allete, along with the various companies that fall under its umbrella — which also includes Superior Water, Light & Power, Allete Clean Energy, U.S. Water and others — provides energy to customers in the upper Midwest. Minnesota Power electric utility serves 145,000 residents, 16 municipalities and some of the nation’s largest industrial customers.

Allete isn’t following a trend, according to Laura Schauer, Allete Clean Energy chief financial officer. She was hired in 1987.

“I’m so proud of the representation of women on our board of directors,” she said. “But this is not new to Allete. During my 20-plus year career, women have been a part of the board. Additionally, the senior leadership at Allete has meaningful female

representation.”

Schauer credited the company’s CEO Al Hodnik, along with the executive leadership, with asking the right questions to ensure that all employees are given opportunities without compromising standards.

“This comes from the top down — an important part of why it is a good place to work,” she said.

Nicole Johnson, who has been with the company since 1996, started at Allete through an internship program when she was a student at the University of Minnesota Duluth. She is now the vice president of Allete human resources.

She said the company is a learning environment and that there are

Laura Schauer

Nicole Johnson

opportunities to broaden strengths and take on new roles and responsibilities. There is a tuition program, support for certifications and licenses, and business-sponsored memberships and subscriptions.

There is also a concerted effort to make sure women are represented, she said.

“Through community engagement and industry networks, our employees are active in a variety of ways of supporting women, including mentoring women and girls traditionally in male dominated fields, such as science, technology, engineering and math careers,” Johnson said. “Collectively, we are making a difference.”

Allete’s board of directors includes four women — including Heidi Jimmerson and Madeleine Ludlow, who joined the board in 2004 and are its longest-serving members.

“Having women in key leadership roles to challenge thinking and offer varying points of view is imperative for our continued success,” Jimmerson said. “I’m proud of Allete’s strong track record of diversity and inclusion and know that talented, capable women at all levels of the company will help drive our growth and attract the next generation of leaders.”

Allete was also recognized for championing gender diversity on its board of directors by 2020 Women on Boards, a national campaign to increase the number of women on corporate boards to at least 20 percent by 2020. Allete is one of 1,151 companies in the campaign’s database of 3,192 companies to achieve this recognition. It is the seventh consecutive year Allete has been recognized as a “Winning Company” by the campaign. D

Andrea Busche is a Duluth freelance writer and frequent contributor to The Woman Today.

By Jessica Stauber

Divine intervention. That’s what

Alexsis Saarela, a Cloquet wife and mother of two, said led her to one of the best decisions of her life: having weight loss surgery.

Alexsis saw a friend’s Facebook post and learned she had lost 150 pounds. Having only known this friend as thin, Alexsis was intrigued. “I sent her a message saying, ‘I have that much

Lost 130 Pounds, Gained New Energy for Life

Cloquet woman's success after weight loss surgery at St. Luke's

weight to lose, and I would love to hear your story.’”

The friend revealed she’d had weight loss surgery. “I immediately told her I’d be way too scared,” recalls Alexsis. “But then my friend looked at me very seriously and said, ‘you’re going to die from obesity-related complications before you ever die from this surgery.’”

Grateful for the unvarnished truth, Alexsis boldly moved forward. She went to a surgical weight loss information session at St. Luke’s the following week, and had her initial consultation with a surgeon a week later. That was in March 2017, and it kicked off a six-month journey to prepare for surgery.

A well-planned journey

“Having weight loss surgery is a big decision, and we partner with patients to make sure it’s right for them,” explains Dr. John Bollins, St. Luke’s Surgical Associates. Bollins and fellow surgeon Dr. Jennifer Witt, lead St. Luke’s Surgical Weight Loss Program. They follow a proven process of preparing patients for weight loss surgery, focused on appointments with

doctors, dietitians and psychologists. “We need to know patients are committed to following the liquid diet for the two weeks before and after surgery, and that they understand the lifestyle changes that will come after weight loss surgery,” says Dr. Bollins. “We also want them to know that, if they are the right candidate, how incredibly positive this surgery can be

Alexsis Saarela shared this photo of her before weight loss surgery. She said she is happy to have made a change for her health.

Alexsis Saarela has lost more than 130 pounds since having gastric sleeve surgery at St. Luke’s.

for their lifelong health.”

Alexsis recalls how smooth her journey was, “When I make a decision, I’m all in. I told myself it was going to be really hard, but it actually felt super easy.”

Support of family

“My family was not in favor of this surgery at first, so I included them in the process,” says Alexsis. “My mom went to the info session with me and said she was so sad it’s come to this, and I just looked at her and said, ‘This isn’t sad for me. This is super empowering, and I’m so excited.’”

Since that day, her mom has been her biggest cheerleader.

Biggest fears not realized, but biggest dreams are

Alexsis had gastric sleeve surgery at St. Luke’s on November 9, 2017. During the two-hour operation, the surgeon removed about 80 percent of her stomach. That decreases the amount of food the stomach can hold — and the number of calories that can be consumed.

“In addition, the part of the stomach removed is where the hormones that stimulate hunger, control blood sugar, and the sensation of fullness are made,” explains Dr. Witt. “So when those hormones are no longer being secreted, there is less hunger, more feeling full, and better blood sugar control.”

Alexsis went home the day after surgery, and has never looked back.

“One of my biggest fears was that world around me would be enjoying life and I would feel super deprived,” recalls Alexsis. “But I never felt that. I don’t feel one ounce of deprivation. If I want something, I have it, in such a small amount yet it is so satisfying. One bite of cheeseburger gives me the same satisfaction eating a whole cheeseburger used to.”

Her dreams of losing weight have been realized tenfold. She’s shed more than 130 pounds and is still losing weight. She has more energy to care for her husband and two daughters, which was one of her biggest goals. “My daughters are 4 and 8, and my older daughter has cerebral palsy,” explains Alexsis. “She uses a wheelchair and I do her lifting and transferring. Being physically able to care for her and meet her needs is essential.”

Notable changes

Alexsis notices little things every day that make her smile, as she realizes how different her life is in less than a year. “I drive a minivan and before, having to squeeze into the back seat to move a car seat was so difficult. Now I fly back there with ease. We have a cabin, and we’d have all the regular chairs sitting outside along with my special chair that could hold extra weight. It seemed like someone was always sitting in my chair, and I’d have to ask them to move. That was

always so uncomfortable. Now I don’t have to worry about it,” says Alexsis.

Alexsis shares her story because she is proud of herself. “I’m living my best life. I look good, I feel good.”

St. Luke’s surgeons say there is nothing more rewarding than helping patients like Alexsis. “There are many people who make the dietary and lifestyle changes to become a healthier weight and just need another tool to reach their goals or keep the weight off. The gastric sleeve is a very potent and sustainable tool to fill that niche,” says Dr. Witt. “It’s an honor to help patients achieve their goals if the sleeve is the tool they’ve been needing.” D

To learn more or sign up for a free info session, visit slhduluth. com/weightloss.

Jessica Stauber is director of marketing and business planning for St. Luke’s. She wrote this for The Woman Today.

where to SHOP

Liliana Timeless Furnishings 2214MountainShadowDr. Duluth,MN

Bender’s Shoes

2116 Maple Grove Rd. bendersshoes.com

Harley-Davidson Sports Center 4355 Stebner Rd. hdduluth.com

White Cedar Studio 916 Hammond Ave., Superior, WI whitecedarstudio.com

Kat’s Eyes Optical 1016 Woodland Ave katseyesoptical.com

Wood Magic 5105 Miller Trunk Hwy woodmagic.org

Arts & Events Calendar

Duluth Huskies Baseball

The season is in full swing at this familyfriendly venue. Prices range from $8-$30. Wade Stadium, 101 N. 35th Ave. W. Check northwoodsleague.

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.

com/duluth-huskies/ to see when the home games are.

Movies in the Park

Family-friendly films projected onto a screen at Leif Erikson park at sunset on Fridays all summer. 11th Avenue and London Road. Free.

Aug. 3: Wonder, 8:45 p.m.

Aug. 10: Footloose, 8:35 p.m.

Aug. 17: Jumanji, 8:25 p.m.

Aug. 24: La La Land, 8:10 p.m.

Aug. 31: Despicable Me 3, 8 p.m.

“Beatles Forever”

Aug. 7, 14; Sept. 6

The Superior Singers perform the songs of the Fab Four.

Zion Lutheran Church, 2022 E. 2nd St., Superior. 7 p.m. Free.

Aug. 14, United Presbyterian Church, 229 N. 28th St., Superior. 7 p.m. Free.

Sept. 6, Sacred Heart Music Center, 201 W. Fourth St., Duluth. 7:30 p.m. $10

Romeo & Juliet

Aug. 9, 11, 6, 18

West Side Story

Aug. 10, 13, 17, 19

The Duluth Playhouse’s Children’s Theatre Arts

RELAXED ATMOSPHERE FAMILY FRIENDLY WELCOMING AMBIENCE POSITIVE VIBE

Arts & Events

presents the showcase performances from its summer intensive classes for ages 13-18. Casts and technical crews are all teenage students. R&J is 7 p.m. Thursdays and Saturdays; West Side Story is Fridays at 7 p.m., Sundays at 2 p.m. 506 W. Michigan St. $15-$17. duluthplayhouse.org

Duluth-Superior Pride

Aug. 30-Sept. 2

Labor Day weekend will see a variety of events for and in support of the LGBT community. Includes a mayor’s reception, train ride, free music and more at Bayfront Festival park, art exhibit, 5K race, worship service and more. Visit dspride.com for more information.

Touch pools

Sept. 1-30

New animal encounters at the Great Lakes Aquarium feature sharks, crabs, sea stars and more. 353 Harbor Drive. Glaquarium.org.

Duluth AFL-CIO Labor Day Picnic

Sept. 3

Hear speakers and enjoy a free lunch at Bayfront Festival Park during this laborfriendly event. 350 Harbor Drive. Noon to 4 p.m.

Shoot for Fun

Sept. 8

Support Courage Kenny during a fun day of shooting, food, fun and games for the family. Old Vermilion Trail Hunting Preserve. Call (218) 726-4762 or email eric.larson@allina. com.

Arts & Events Calendar

Lake Superior Harvest Festival

Sept. 8

Enjoy the bounty of the season and more, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. at Bayfront Festival Park. One of the best and largest farmers’ markets in the region, live music, crafts, nonprofit showcase, educational exhibits, family activities and more. Free. 350 Harbor Drive.

North Shore Inline Marathon

Sept. 15

Watch 2,500 inline skaters race the shore of Lake Superior — or get into the race yourself! Visit northshoreinline.com.

FEmnFEST

Sept. 21-22

A weekend of music at Sacred Heart. What organizers call “an unapologetically feminist festival. More womxn. More feminism.” In its second year. 201 W 4th St. Tickets at ticketfly. com.

Scandinavian Festival

Sept. 22

Drag Races & Car Show

Sept. 8-9

Watch cars race on an eighth-mile strip down Garfield Avenue. Features car show, music and vendors. Visit kernkompany.com.

Duluth Hot Air Balloon Festival

Sept. 14-16

Three days of family fun will fill Bayfront Festival Park. Craft beers, kite flying, 5K color run and more. Visit kernkompany.com.

Scandinavian music, demonstrations and treats. Rosemaling, lefse, wood carving, spinning and knitted things for sale. Twin Ports Rosemaling Society. 9 a.m.-3 p.m. at the Proctor Area Community Center, 100 Pionk Dr., Proctor. $4; 12 and younger free.

Sept.

28

Take in the art across the spectrum. Learn about what the area’s artists have been up to. Includes exhibits, gallery talks, art demonstrations and music. Visit the group’s Facebook page, facebook.com/ DuluthArtsWalk/.

Downtown Duluth Arts Walk

Modern,

'spec home' Morley Park

By Andrea Busche

is move-in ready in

How is it possible to design and build a home without knowing who will ultimately occupy the residence?

For builders J&R Sundberg Construction, Inc., the answer is threefold:

1) Construct the property using universal design (more on that later).

2) Make it super energy-efficient. Who wouldn’t want lower energy bills?

3) Utilize a professional designer to make the space beautiful.

Spec home

Located in Duluth’s Morley Park neighborhood, 545 Glenwood St. was built “on spec.” This means it was designed and constructed with the belief that a buyer would eventually come along and purchase the home after it was built.

This new home offers 1,838 square feet of one-level,

Top: This home offers one-level living, where the residents can age in place. Builders, J&R Sundberg, selected Maintenance free and durable materials throughout the home.

Above: A seating area for 2 is set-up in the nook between the attached garage and front entrance of the house.

energy-efficient living. It has three bedrooms and two bathrooms and sits on a 69-by-174-foot lot with a two-car garage. The home is built on a slab with no basement.

Ty Sundberg, Project Manager with J&R Sundberg, said 545 Glenwood is the 25-year-old company’s first spec home. He isn’t too concerned that the home, which is listed at $450,000, will sell. “The Duluth real estate market seems pretty solid right now,” he said.

The property was part of the recent Parade of Homes, and Sundberg said the feedback has been incredibly positive. “Customers have been asking for one-level, energy-efficient

professionally-designed

homes with an open floor plan,” he said. And although the exterior is modern, featuring black siding and natural, thin veneer stone, almost everyone who sees it loves it.

Universal design

The home was constructed using universal design, meaning while it’s not designed specifically for people with disabilities, it also will be comfortable for seniors and people with disabilities.

“A home with many levels doesn’t appeal to people at retirement age,” Sundberg said. “This home offers onelevel living, where the residents can age in place. There are no stairs, and the home has large doorways. The tile shower can even be accessed with a wheelchair.”

The home would be equally safe and comfortable for people who aren’t elderly or disabled but are interested in convenient, easy living. The exterior siding is constructed of maintenance-

Continued on page 50

The talented, creative designers at BradleyInteriors areproud to design withStarMarkCabinetry, crafted withcareinSiouxFalls, SouthDakota. StarMarkCabinetryisacomplete line,withover900,000 combinations of doors, wood types and colors, including custom colors. Theywill matchapaintcolor,orapiece of

Continued on page 52

Top: The master bedroom is a cozy sanctuary with bedroom set from Amish Furniture Haus

Above: Master bedroom's walk-in closet with barn-style sliding door.

Above: A quartztopped vanity with double sinks, perfect for a couple sharing the space.

Left: "The juxtaposition of the rock with the white tile really gives the shower and eclectic look." Linda Beeman

free steel, and the flooring and countertop materials were specifically chosen for durability and ease of use.

Although vacant, the entire home is staged and features beautiful furnishings from Amish Furniture Haus. All interior touches, including rugs, lamps, cabinetry, flooring and artwork, have been provided from Bradley Interiors.

Interior design

While J&R already had a building plan in mind, interior designer Linda Beeman of Bradley Interiors designed all aspects of the home.

“I handled the cabinetry, layout of the furniture, flooring, tile and lighting, and then we also added a few elements of my original design, such as a wall constructed of wood batten, laid out in a grid pattern,” said Beeman, who has 30 years’ experience in the profession.

“Normally, when you’re working with a client, you know their wants and specific tastes,” she said. “This was my first time working on a spec home. While Duluth is a relatively conservative area, we wanted the home to have a somewhat contemporary look. I like a classic design that transcends time, and I think we pulled it off.”

Master suite

Beeman used chrome fixtures in the kitchen and bathrooms. “Chrome is a classic finish,” she said. “I’m told that in Europe, they only use chrome.”

The master bath offers a large, quartz-topped vanity with double sinks, perfect for a couple sharing the space. A small window between the sinks allows plenty of natural light into the room. Simple concrete-looking porcelain tile on the floor abuts a walk-in “curbless” shower featuring a shower pipe mechanism, a rainfall shower head and a detachable handheld shower head.

Large white tile, 12-by-24 inches, with a faint gray veining was used inside the shower, with a lovely mosaic of sliced rock

lining the shower floor. One interior shower wall has textured tiles that mimic the look of waves. “The juxtaposition of the rock with the white tile really gives the shower an eclectic look,” Beeman said.

The attached master bedroom is a cozy sanctuary, offering three windows, a walk-in closet and pendant light fixtures on either side of the bed. This room also features the unique

Continued on page 54

accent wall Beeman dreamed up, made of 2-inch boards arranged in a grid pattern. Purposely located at a distance from the rest of the home, the master suite provides plenty of privacy.

Great room

The home’s great room features an office (which also could be used as a bedroom) connected off to the left by a set of French doors. An open-concept living-dining-kitchen area

takes up the rest of the space.

The great room is bright and airy with a tray ceiling and a clerestory window sitting just below the ceiling line, providing plenty of natural light. A stone-veneered natural gas fireplace is adorned with a simple, clean-looking floating timber mantel. Flooring throughout the home (except in the master bath) utilizes luxury vinyl tile (LVT), providing a dark, natural wood look with easy care. The entire home is painted in a warm, soft shade of gray.

The dining area offers intimate seating and a large window. A rustic light fixture, with a rectangular “cage” housing several Edison bulbs, hangs above the dining table.

The galley kitchen is long and narrow, with a wall of sleek, contemporary dark oak cabinets and an island. The kitchen area also has a generous pantry. The countertops are constructed of white quartz with gray veining, resembling Carrara marble. Quartz is harder and more durable than granite and requires no sealing. Pendant-style light fixtures mounted above the kitchen island resemble gallon water jugs. The kitchen features black stainless Samsung appliances from Johnson Mertz.

Laundry area and back hallway

The laundry room is well-appointed with a sink, undercounter basket and plenty of hanging space. The navy blue cabinetry contrasts nicely with white laminate counters where the homeowners can comfortably fold their laundry. The Samsung washer and dryer were provided by Johnson Mertz.

The home’s back hallway area features an open closet system with a bench. This provides a convenient “drop off”

Continued on page 56, 58-61

Overhead storage keeps clutter out of the way.

Below: Garage features a neat and clean floor coating.

Left: Work area in the attached garage.

A convenient

location for personal accouterments

location for personal accoutrements as you enter the home from the two-car attached garage.

Main bathroom and spare bedrooms

The home’s “main” bathroom features white subway tile, dark oak cabinetry, and LVT flooring consistent with the rest of the home. The additional bedroom is comfortable for children or overnight guests. The room currently set up as an office could easily be converted into an additional bedroom.

"drop-off"

Above: In the laundry room the blue cabinetry contrasts nicely with the white laminate counter tops

Exterior

The maintenance-free, seamless steel siding and natural, thin veneer stone of the home’s exterior is complemented by stone paver edging, rock mulch around the perimeter, a large natural stone retaining wall, stamped concrete walks and a spacious back patio. There is a doorway leading from the back patio directly into the great room, providing convenient access to and from the outdoor space.

Energy efficient

The home is incredibly energy efficient, outfitted with a luxurious infloor heating system, powered by an air source heat pump. This system also cools the house.

This ductless mini-split system is used until temperatures dip below zero, when the high-efficiency natural gas boiler system kicks in. Three separate “zones” provide the ability to control temperatures in different areas of the house. It’s easy to switch between heating and air conditioning. After all, “In the same 24-hour period in Duluth, you can be heating and cooling your home,” Sundberg said.

The home’s windows are tripleglazed Marvin windows, providing an additional layer of quiet in addition to energy efficiency. The attic is insulated above code to R60, using blown cellulose recycled newsprint insulation. The exterior walls are also rated above code and insulated to R26. Energy sipping LED lights have been utilized throughout the house.

Awaiting its occupants

With beauty, functionality and energy efficiency to spare, 545 Glenwood St. is a fully move-in ready

house, simply awaiting its new family in order to make it a home. The folks at J&R Sundberg are incredibly pleased with how this project turned out, and are considering other spec homes in the future. They even welcomed a new addition to their business during the process; they were so happy with Linda Beeman’s work as interior designer that they hired her to come on board! Whether you’re in the market for this particular house, or want to

build your own, J&R Sundberg offers comprehensive service from the first initial contact to handing over your new house keys. They offer home remodeling, too. And with interior design services included in their pricing, your home can absolutely become the home of your dreams. D

For more information, please visit jrsundberg.com or bradleyinteriorsmn. com.

Weddings

Sarah & Max Perkins

Photo by LaCoursiere Photography

Briana & Matt Sherrer

Photo by From the Woods Photography

Claire Woit & Mike Frahm

Photo by Shawna Vine Photography

Gabriel & Samantha Goranson

Photo by Alan Johnson Photography

Rachel & Tyler Narveson

Photo by LaCoursiere Photography

Daniel & Nicole White

Photo by Alan Johnson Photography

Rachel & Paul Tuura

Photo by Shawna Vine Photography

Kari & Curt Wyman

Photo by Alan Johnson Photography

Our ever-popular

Tuscan Bean Salad

a healthy choice

By Sarah Nasello

Welcome to one of our favorite recipes for healthy: The amazing and flavorful Tuscan Bean Salad.

Tony’s Tuscan Bean Salad is a great blend of flavors, featuring cannellini beans, sun-dried tomatoes, red onions and celery, all pulled together with the tanginess of balsamic vinegar.

This super-healthy salad is terrific when paired with chicken, grilled or poached salmon, or any mild, white fish. It’s also great as an appetizer when served atop a toasted crostini or on an Asian spoon for easy enjoyment. It’s easy to double the recipe and can be

made in advance, which makes it ideal for entertaining. We can think of few healthy dishes more flavorful and satisfying than this Tuscan Bean Salad. It’s a crowd-pleaser no matter how it’s served.

Tuscan Bean Salad

Serves: 4 to 6

1 15 oz. can of cannellini beans, drained and rinsed (great northern beans or navy beans may also be used)

¼ cup sun-dried tomatoes, cut lengthwise into strips (use either oil-packed or good

quality dried variety)

1 stalk of celery, sliced

¼ red onion, diced

1 oz. extra virgin olive oil

½ oz. balsamic vinegar

Salt and pepper to taste

1 ear of corn, grilled and cut from the cob (seasonal summer option)

Combine all ingredients in a medium-sized bowl and mix well, being careful not to break the beans. Refrigerate for at least one hour. For best results, allow the salad to come to room temperature before serving.

To store: Cover leftovers with plastic or store in airtight container in refrigerator for up to three days.

Tony’s tip: This salad can be prepared up to 24 hours in advance. Just wait to add the olive oil, vinegar, salt and pepper until about one to two hours before serving to preserve the crispness of the vegetables.

Sarah Nasello’s blog, “Home With the Lost Italian,” features recipes by her husband, Tony Nasello, and is a product of Forum Communications Company. D

American Association of University Women

The American Association of University Women held its annual meeting on May 15 at the Lake Superior Zoo pavilion. Life coach Angela Orman Stocke presented. AAUW Duluth Branch gives scholarships to local women pursuing graduate degrees, encourages young women to study STEM courses and is involved in the anti-trafficking force.

Cook County Emergency Services Awards —

Northeastern MN Book Awards —

Authors, book sellers and readers mingled at the Northeastern Minnesota Book Awards on May 24. The evening included a book fair and reception at the Northland Country Club. This year marked 30 years of the awards. Winners were named in fiction, poetry, children's literature, memoir and nonfiction. Author William Kent Krueger served as the featured speaker, and former Duluth poet laureate Barton Sutter announced the winners.

Many dedicated emergency services personnel were recognized at an annual dinner banquet in Grand Marais on April 28. Emergency Management Director Valerie Marasco presented awards in several categories.

Gloria Ziegler, Andrea Knutson and Angela Orman Stocke

Valerie Marasco and Keck Melby, Emergency Service Provider of the Year.

Rose and John Schloot, Dolly Johnson Friend of Emergency Services Award. Presented by Kelly Roberts, daughter of the late Dolly Johnson.

Jackie Moran, Judy Selgia–Punyko and Sara Lorbiecki-Brown

Renee and Garry Gamble, awarded for years of coordinating food for the Emergency Services Conference.

Valerie Marasco and Nancy Koss, Outstanding Career Recognition.

Kate and Sara Baldwin

Alice Marks, Sandi Johnson and Sam Marks

Angel and Bob Dobrow of Zenith Bookstore

William and Barbara Durbin

Deborah Cooper and Charlene Brown

Lisa Wheeler and Gail Tyrgastad Marty Sozansky, Cheryl Reitan and Claire Kirch

Mary “Molly” Negus and Marie Zhuikov Nancy Nelson and Tony Dierckins

Richard Hoeg and Susan Larson Kidd Barton Sutter and Margi Preus

PHOTO BY VALERIE MARASCO

Bill Sozansky, Liz Benson Johnson and Matt Rosendahl

Carter Meland and Paul Kilgore

Lisa McKahann, Julie Seidelmann, and Karen Keanan

Marilyn Toscano Dorothy Annway and Marie Owens

MaryAnn Lucas and Maxine Jacks Milissa Brooks-Ojibway and Rebecca Bischoff

Shin Ping Tucker, Marilyn Toscano and Wendy Williamson