The Woman Today Aug/Sept 2020

WOMAN today the

Molly Jazdzewski

• Furthering your education and accomplishing your goals

• Recipe Remake: Mouth-watering, fulfilling potato roll

• Local STEM program inspires young scientists

• One woman’s commitment to sobriety

• UWS honors staff member

PROFILES

6 Jenice Meyer

Recognized for developing new program at UWS

8 Jenna Udenberg

An advocate for people with disabilities

12 Molly Jazdzewski

Duluth nurse shares her experience with NYC front line COVID-19 care

FEATURES

18 Starbase: Mission to Mars

22 Coaching with strength

24 VertiGals encourages underrepresented climbers to reach new heights

28 Jes Golding creates community through Sober Duluth

HEALTH/MEDICINE

32 St. Luke’s Progress report on Health Forward Initiative

36 Essentia

With midwives, a home style birth in the safety of a hospital

FASHION

38 Fashions by Sam

FOOD/NUTRITION

48 Scalloped Potato Roll HOME TOUCHES

40 ‘Love at first sight’ makes owner buy spec home FINANCIAL

34 Get it in writing

WOMAN the today

GROUP PUBLISHER

Neal Ronquist

EXECUTIVE EDITOR

Rick Lubbers

ADVERTISING DIRECTOR

Megan Keller

ADVERTISING ACCOUNT EXECUTIVE

Ali Carlson

GRAPHIC DESIGNER

Renae Ronquist

PRODUCTION COORDINATOR

Julie Schulz

CONTRIBUTORS

Abigail Blonigen

Andrea Busche

Stephanie Hall

Mari Hardel

Molly Jazdzewski

Ann Klefstad

Jenice Meyer

August is a month filled with camping adventures, living the lake life, kids preparing for the fairs to show their best 4-H livestock and displays, squeezing all this in just before September when school begins. Much of this has changed this year as COVID-19 swept a furious pandemic across the United States.

One thing I have noticed is families are doing more together than ever, making the best of these moments and really getting creative. We have all seen many graduation parties, senior proms and family reunions canceled. However, I noticed on social media so much creativity that parents and families did. One high school graduate got all dressed up in her prom dress — the family took photos of her and her father as her “date.” It was absolutely beautiful. Those are the memories that will last a lifetime.

I have also seen graduation parties where you drive by, honk and someone from the family runs out with a plate of tacos! Way to make the best of these times Northland.

This is our August/September issue. Each year, we feature amazing women and businesses who are impacting our education system and our society. You will learn about the power of goals and a life coach, to the courage of two women who truly found strength to bring better support to our society.

Molly Milroy

Roxana Perdue

Samantha Roffers

Will Roffers

Jenna Udenberg

Starbase Minnesota

Kasha Stoll

Additionally, ever consider climbing? You might after you read about VertiGals. This issue encompases a variety of great reads from serious life-changing events to being fashionable for the upcoming season.

Thank you to our loyal advertisers and readership; we truly appreciate your ongoing support. If it weren’t for you, we couldn’t continue to do the work that we do.

Megan Keller Advertising Director

Alex Comstock Photography University of Wisconsin-Superior

Recognized for developing new program at UWS

By Kasha Stoll

For Superior native Jenice Meyer, a simple goal led to a surprise career: the opportunity to develop a campusdefining learning program at the University of WisconsinSuperior, and a prestigious award that makes her laugh in stunned disbelief.

Meyer is the community engagement and strategic partnership senior officer for UWS. She serves as a link between the campus and the community, finding ways for students to use their classroom studies to solve a need in local businesses and organizations.

In June, Meyer became the first UWS staff member to receive the Regents Academic Staff Excellence Award. This annual award recognizes two academic staff members out of more than 36,000 university employees for their dedicated work, vital services and outstanding contributions to their campus.

“I’m still kind of stunned,” Meyer said. “It is such an honor. I feel very humbled just to receive this award.”

Meyer said she was nominated by the university chancellor, several colleagues and about 10 community partners, including people at the Chamber of Commerce, the mayor’s office, the city of Superior and the School District of Superior.

“I knew I was being nominated, but I never really thought it would happen,” Meyer said. “I feel that community engagement and service learning is such a distinguishing feature of our campus. This is really an award for the campus, and the icing on the cake is that it came in my name.”

Meyer developed the Academic Service-Learning program at the university in 2009. AS-L enables students to use what they learn in a classroom to provide practical assistance and create tangible results for local businesses and organizations.

The program has been wildly successful. Meyer has helped develop more than 560 partnerships between the

university and area businesses, nonprofits, schools and government offices. Students from 26 disciplines across 12 academic departments at the university have participated in almost 11,700 community-based learning projects. They have spent almost 215,000 hours performing work valued at $4.2 million.

Meyer laughed in amazement when she heard those numbers read out loud.

“The numbers are impressive,” she said. “This is a distinguishing feature of our campus. It’s a point of pride for what we do in almost all of the disciplines and departments on our campus.”

A few years ago, an art teacher at UWS wanted to modify her class and enable her students to provide something that was needed in the community. Meyer approached the director of a St. Luke’s clinic in Superior to see if the clinic would be interested in partnering with the university for an AS-L experience. The answer was a definite “yes.”

“We all sat down and agreed upon what was needed,” Meyer said. “The students listened and mocked up some examples and followed up with the tangible product.”

The students created almost 60 pieces of artwork for the clinic’s waiting room. Meyer said the art helps create “more of a healing atmosphere within the clinic.”

Students in other university departments have created websites and feasibility studies for nonprofits, made recommendations for workplace wellness programs for small businesses, and mentored children in outreach programs.

“We live in a really great community that is really open to students,” Meyer said. “And we have seen some of the same partners for 11 years. That’s because they actually get something out of (the program). It helps their organization.”

While Meyer has had a profound impact on the university and the Superior community, her original career plan was much simpler.

“I have always wanted to work with and help others,” Meyer said. “I know it is cliché, but I want to leave this world better in some way than it was when I entered. I wondered, ‘What is my part in that? Do I help individuals or the community?’”

Meyer decided on a career in counseling. She received a Bachelor of Science degree in sociology and psychology, and a master’s degree in community counseling with a higher education emphasis from UWS. While she was attending the university, Meyer worked in the Office of Civil Engagement. That was when she discovered a way to help more people and have a broader impact on the community.

“I found out there was a community engagement field,” Meyer said. “I have been doing it now for almost 15 years. I work with faculty members to help them enhance their classes, and to think of more creative and innovative ways about how they could deliver their curriculum.”

Change doesn’t always come easy, though. When Meyer joined the staff at UWS and formed the AS-L program, she needed to convince instructors that experiential learning opportunities in the community would provide invaluable lessons to students.

“Students have an enhanced sense of responsibility when

they are working with a partner,” Meyer said. “It is different when you are writing a paper for a professor versus really doing something that is needed by a professional and by someone within your community.”

AS-L experiences help students better understand what they are learning in the classroom. The experiences also help students expand their network, build a portfolio, enhance their resume and build confidence.

Meyer said the university and community partners supported her vision. However, she still had an uphill climb.

“I had a mentor early on who told me you need perseverance, persistence and patience,” Meyer said. “I also added in positivity. Those are the four things that I have really relied on.

“At times progress moved slower than I wanted,” she continued, “but I just kept persisting and maintaining a positive attitude. I think when you are passionate about something and truly care about it, you just persevere and keep pushing.”

Meyer said her goal now is to create a healthier, happier and more vibrant community.

“This is where I went to school, where I live and where I raise my children,” she said. “I think these projects and this work really helps a lot of people in a lot of ways, and I am just privileged and honored to be a part of that.” D

PHOTO BY EISENMANN PHOTOGRAPHY, COURTESY OF JENICE MEYER

Kasha Stoll is a Duluth freelance writer.

Jenice and Michael Meyer with their daughter Madeline and son Dylan.

2020 Bush Fellow Jenna Udenberg: An advocate for people with disabilities

By Andrea Busche

TwoHarbors resident Jenna Udenberg, a music teacher and advocate for individuals with disabilities, was honored recently when she was named a 2020 Bush Fellow. This special recognition is bestowed by the Bush Foundation, which provides grants and investments to support organizations and people who think differently about solutions to problems in our communities.

Bush Fellows receive up to $100,000, over 12-24 months,

to pursue formal and informal learning experiences that help them develop the skills and relationships they need to become more effective. Fellows can use the funding to pursue advanced education, networking opportunities, leadership resources, workshops and training.

This year, 24 Fellows were named. All 24 hail from Minnesota, North Dakota, South Dakota and the 23 Native nations within those states.

Personal platform

The Bush Foundation’s recent press release shared a bit about Udenberg’s personal platform:

“Jenna Udenberg is on a mission to make the world a more inclusive place for people with disabilities, especially her home community on the North Shore of Lake Superior. A wheelchair user from an early age, she understands the physical and intangible societal barriers facing disabilities. She wants to change attitudes, approaches and accessibility so that the North Shore of Minnesota becomes a destination for people with disabilities and a model of welcome other areas can emulate. To become both an expert and advocate for change, she needs to learn how to better tell her story to remove the chasm between the non-disabled and disabled worlds. She will also pursue advanced training in universal design and visit other locations known for cutting-edge accessibility.”

Early challenges

At age 7, Udenberg was diagnosed with juvenile rheumatoid arthritis. Later in life, in

Following a knee replacement revision surgery, Jenna Udenberg gains walking strength during physical therapy.

her early 30s, the diagnosis changed slightly — to juvenile idiopathic arthritis.

Receiving an accurate diagnosis was a relief.

“Juvenile idiopathic arthritis acts differently than regular rheumatoid arthritis,” Udenberg explained. “I was always a weird puzzle for the doctors. So, getting the correct diagnosis has been really powerful in my story.”

Udenberg has used a wheelchair since age 8. This shows just how quickly the arthritis affected her mobility.

“It only took one year for me to go from being fully ablebodied to being in a wheelchair most of the time,” she said.

Udenberg hails from a supportive family which, in addition to her parents, included three older siblings. She explained a few of the adaptations her family made to accommodate their new life.

“I wasn’t able to swallow pills, so my mom had to grind up my medications and mix them with strawberry glaze,” she said. “And we lived in a split-level house, so until we had a ramp built, my parents had to pull me up and down the stairs.”

Over the years, Udenberg has had numerous surgeries related to her arthritis, including many joint replacements. She has had both ankles and knees, her right hip and her left elbow replaced. Along with the subsequent “revision surgeries,” she has endured 17 orthopedic surgeries.

“I wouldn’t be where I am today without all of my physical and occupational therapists as well as nurses, doctors and surgeons who have been like an extended family to me all these years,” she said.

Education and career

Udenberg is a graduate from Two Harbors High School. In her youth, she developed a love of music, and against all odds, became a highly successful left-handed trumpet player.

She attended the University of Minnesota Duluth, where she earned a double-major in vocal and instrumental music education. She later earned a Master’s of Education degree from the College of St. Scholastica.

Today, Udenberg is a music teacher. She teaches K-5 music education at Minnehaha Elementary School in Two Harbors, and general music and choir for students at William Kelley High School in Silver Bay.

Additionally, she works closely with the FIRST Lego League Robotics program, which she began as a collaboration with others seven years ago.

“FLL is a great international organization that inspires students to find and solve real world problems using 21st century skills and STEM,” she said.

Continued on page 10

Wi th in ou rw alls, we ma ke ap ositiv ei mpa ct on pa tien ts ’l iv es. Fr om to ta lc om fo rt to sta te -o f- th e-art su rg ery to sa ving out-o fpo ck et co sts. Ou tp at ien ts ur ge ry ex ce llenc e –i t’ sa ll in ad ay ’s wo rk.

142 0London Ro ad ,D uluth 218-728-06 50 lak ewa lk. co m It ’s yo ur he al th. It ’s yo ur choic e.

NOWOPEN

Other civic duties

Udenberg has participated in other civic and community activities, such as the Blandin Community Leadership Program. While she was considered a general member, she was pleased to be able to provide her own unique perspective, and suggest ideas to make local festivals, such as Heritage Days, Winter Frolic and others, more accessible for people with disabilities. She is a member of her church, First Baptist Church of Two Harbors, and is also on their worship team. Additionally, she is a long-standing member of the Two Harbors City Band, where she plays the trumpet.

While she receives some assistance from friends and personal care attendants for housekeeping, errands and food preparation, Udenberg lives independently in an apartment and drives a fully renovated minivan. She enjoys hanging out with friends, playing board games, card games and fishing.

Udenberg was named a Miller Dwan Rehab Journey Award winner in 2016, and it jump-started her ambitions.

“This started the process of becoming a more vocal advocate for myself and peers with physical disabilities,” she said.

Plans for the award

As part of her unique platform as a Bush Fellow, Udenberg has big dreams for people with disabilities. And they all start with her own community.

“I would love to start taking barriers away for people with disabilities,” she said. “For instance, offering some sort of transportation on the Superior Hiking Trail for those with disabilities.”

She would also like local historic sites, such as Split Rock Lighthouse, to become more accessible. She has a few ideas which would allow remote viewing of the lighthouse that wheelchair users could enjoy, while remaining on the property.

She also has dreams for helping the hospitality world to become more friendly and welcoming.

“I want to develop a training model to address attitudinal barriers,” she said. “When you call a hotel, you should get the answers you need about each specific hotel and their amenities for those with disabilities.”

Ambitious goals

Udenberg is proud to be a newly minted Bush Fellow.

“It’s humbling,” she noted. “It was a lot of work to go through the application process, and there’s a lot of work ahead, but it’s exciting. I don’t

Jenna Udenberg enjoys fishing from an accessibility dock.

want to squander this blessing. I want to make a community-wide and regional impact.

“Ultimately,” she added, “I want a world where we can all be transparent and be ourselves; be able to ask for help when we need it, and offer help without looking for anything in return.”

Udenberg is looking forward to using this special honor to help elevate others.

“I’m super-excited to work alongside people in our community, and I want to encourage others to use their voices,” she added. D

For more information, visit bushfoundation.org.

Andrea Busche is a Duluth freelance writer.

Jenna Udenberg and her Robo Dweebs team line up for a picture with their “Core Values Award” received at the 2020 Minnesota State FIRST Lego League Robotics Competition.

Duluth nurse shares her experience with NYC front line COVID-19 care

By Andrea Busche

Thesetting for this interview, at least on our subject’s end, was unique and unprecedented. While I, the writer, placed the call from my home office in the Twin Ports, Molly Jazdzewski — our interviewee — took the call from Brooklyn Bridge Park in New York City. It was mid-June.

To set the scene even further, she had used the app Citi Bike to rent a bicycle for the afternoon, and pedaled to the park to enjoy some muchneeded fresh air and exercise. I could hear the birds chirping in the background as we chatted.

Jazdzewski

Jazdzewski, a nurse, needed a bit of a break. Her

schedule of 13-hour days working in the COVID-19specific Intensive Care Unit at SUNY Downstate Health Sciences University, a hospital in Brooklyn, New York, has been grueling.

As she neared the end of her two-month commitment at SUNY and prepared to return to her hometown of Duluth, Jazdzewski shared what she has learned — about the pandemic, certainly — but she also openly described the many hard-won life lessons she picked up along the way.

Duluthian – Born and raised Jazdzewski grew up in Duluth’s Woodland neighborhood and graduated from the former Duluth Central High School. An active child, she enjoyed sports, spending time at the family cabin just north of Duluth,

and visiting the Lakewalk.

She decided to enter the nursing profession after watching the examples set by her grandmother and her older sister, Amanda.

“My grandma was a volunteer at St. Luke’s, and my sister is a nurse,” she said. “I had an interest in the profession, but I also followed what they were doing.”

Jazdzewski, 27, graduated from the College of St. Scholastica in 2016 with a bachelor’s degree in nursing. She has worked in the St. Luke’s intensive care unit for the last four years.

Personal struggles inspire change

Shortly before life as we know it was transformed with the arrival of COVID-19, Jazdzewski was going through some personal struggles of her own. She went through a tough breakup, and, since her name wasn’t on the title of the house the couple shared, also lost her home.

Her entire life was already ripe with change and uncertainty, so Jazdzewski figured she may as well add another variation to the mix.

“Right around this time, I was hearing what was happening with COVID-19 in New York, and I wanted to be in the middle of everything. I’m kind of an adrenaline junkie,” she said. “And at the same time, I wanted to get away from all the drama at home.”

Learning of the need

Requests for medical professionals to relocate to New York City became more intense, as the city is considered one of the epicenters of the pandemic.

“One of the guys I worked with, Brian Assad, who is in the Air Force but also worked at St. Luke’s, was actually deployed to New York to serve as a nurse for COVID,” she said. “And I saw a lot of calls on Facebook looking for nurses to help.”

Jazdzewski signed up with Aya Healthcare, a nursing agency based in San Diego and a placement at SUNY was locked down in very short order. Her boss at St. Luke’s, together with their human resources team, agreed to give Jazdzewski a two-month leave of absence.

Things moved very quickly: everything was orchestrated and solidified within three days.

Out of her comfort zone

While she looked forward to helping with the muchneeded coronavirus efforts, Jazdzewski was apprehensive.

“I had never lived on my own, and never even traveled on my own. This is all out of my comfort zone,” she said.

Additionally, her family did not support her decision to move to New York, because they were worried about her safety. But she knew it was something she had to do.

Jazdzewski moved into an Airbnb about a mile and a half from the hospital. She walked to and from work every day. The vast majority of health care providers currently working at SUNY are travelers, Jazdzewski said, and they come from all over the United States.

“All of the different accents were hard to understand at first,” she said with a laugh.

COVID-specific

SUNY currently has three intensive care units, one of which is dedicated solely to COVID patients. Jazdzewski was assigned to the COVID unit.

Her daily personal protective equipment requirements included a respirator (provided by St. Luke’s), shoe covers, a face shield, goggles and hair cap.

Continued on page 14

“I traveled here with a full suitcase of just PPE,” she said. The conditions of COVID patients in New York were shocking to Jazdzewski.

“I never would have believed it if I hadn’t come out here,” she said. “About 95% of the patients with COVID who were on a ventilator died. No one knew how to treat these patients. Many of them were normal, healthy people until they became infected. Everyone still wears masks out here — people take it very seriously.”

She shared a story of how her efforts directly saved a patient’s life.

“So many people coded. There was not enough time, or staff, to work on people. And many people who would normally have survived passed away.

“We were still in ‘war zone’ mentality,” she continued, “and we’d give three minutes of CPR to each patient who coded and then have to move on to the next. One day a woman coded, and then two others coded a couple doors down, so after that three minutes, the doctor had to move on. This patient still had a pulse, so I said, ‘I’m going to keep working on her.’ And she survived.”

Life lessons

Jazdzewski has learned many valuable lessons through this distressing experience.

“I learned the value of life itself,” she said. “You can be here one day and gone the next. People should make peace with their problems and the people in their lives.

“Also, it’s not about material possessions or ‘stuff,’” she added. “Life is about finding happiness and peace.”

Jazdzewski plans to continue her education and continue helping as many patients as she can. First, she plans to travel to Nigeria in November to volunteer to help with openheart surgeries through the Zoom Foundation.

She is currently taking a college-level biochemistry course, which is a prerequisite for graduate school. Eventually, she also wants to earn her critical care license, and apply to certified registered nurse anesthetist school. Someday she would even like to open a rescue organization for dogs and farm animals.

Homecoming

On June 26, Jazdzewski was scheduled to be heading home. She required two weeks of self-quarantine and a negative COVID test before she can return to work at St. Luke’s. She said she looked forward to reuniting with her

While working on the COVID-19 front line in New York, Duluth nurse Molly Jazdzewski’s daily personal protective equipment included a respirator (provided by St. Luke’s), shoe covers, a face shield, goggles and hair cap, as shown on page 12.

three dogs, Kobe, Milo, and Willow, and eventually returning to the activities she loves, such as mountain biking, playing softball and visiting local breweries.

But this medical professional urges us to take it slow.

“I don’t want people to think everything’s just going to go back to normal,” she said. “I get it – we have all been cooped up and want to see our friends and family. But we need to take it slow, and respect the process.”

Jazdzewski recommends continuing to wear masks — a surgical mask or N95 if available, but otherwise, a simple cloth mask will do.

“And, I would still recommend social distancing,” she added. “We’re still doing it in New York.”

Trial by fire

After this harrowing experience, where she has witnessed a few patients live, but many more perish, Jazdzewski reflected on what the experience has taught her about her own strengths.

“I have a lot of confidence coming out of this,” she said. “I really believe in myself, and I learned that professionally, I know what I’m doing.” D

Andrea Busche is a Duluth freelance writer.

Molly Jazdzewski walked a mile and a half every day from her Airbnb to the Brooklyn hospital where she volunteered. The fight against COVID-19 is not over and Jazdzewski recommends continuing to wear masks and social distancing.

22nd annual ARTcetera: TREASURING ––––––––––––––––––

TH I S T I ME

ARTcetera2020.org – Friday, September 18, 2020

An exclusively VIRTUAL evening to benefit the Miller-Dwan Foundation’s Amberwing – Center for Youth & Family Well-Being

“More of Amberwing’s young people will be cared for AND our region will receive top-notch mental health therapists who specialize in the kind of edgy effective co-ocurring SUD/mental health care that works for youth.” – Traci Marciniak, Miller-Dwan Foundation President.

“At Amberwing we have the opportunity every day to contribute to helping youth live their best life and I am proud to be part of this fantastic care.”

– Lori Kulas, Amberwing SUD Specialist

For 21 years, the MillerDwan Foundation has hosted ARTcetera, our community’s leading fundraising event. Every year our community comes together to make the evening a remarkable, one-of-akind, extravaganza that features support from throughout our region and beyond. And this year is no exception.

While the venue will be virtual and the dress code casual, the evening will be no less spectacular. With inspiring stories, surprise guests and signature auction items, you’ll share the joy of creating greater hope and wellness for children who need mental health and substance use care.

MARK YOUR CALENDAR TODAY!

Friday, September 18, 2020

Venue: Virtual (First Ever!)

Over the years, net ARTcetera proceeds have totaled more than $3 million, filling important healthcare gaps and creating some of our area’s most meaningful healthcare options –– options like Solvay Hospice House, Polinsky Medical Rehabilitation Center, a newly renovated inpatient behavioral health unit and of course, Amberwing – Center for Youth & Family WellBeing.

These important healthcare innovations stand out our in our region, transforming lives and serving you, your employees, neighbors and loved ones. ARTcetera creates healthier people, healthier families and a

healthier community. This year, proceeds will expand Amberwing care to include a combined mental health/ substance use disorder (SUD) program and specialized clinician training program – all in keeping with the innovative programming Amberwing has to offer. Plans are already underway. All we need is you. It’s just one more way that together, we can commit to the health and wellness of our region’s youth and families.

Amberwing –A Case for New Programming

Whole-Person CoOccurring Substance Use Disorder and Psychotherapist Training Program — Expanded Substance Use Disorder Programming that’s Comprehensive and Unique.

• 4.3 million American youth use alcohol a statistic that’s ever more concerning for local psychiatrists and therapists.

• Clinicians are seeing younger and younger people using not just alcohol, but illicit drugs, aerosols and other chemicals to get a high.

• For young people, no amount of substance use is safe. Substance use can affect growth and development, especially brain development, and the earlier kids start, the greater the chance of developing addiction issues and other serious health problems later in life.

• Mental illness and substance abuse go hand-inhand, so it makes sense to treat them at the same time in the same place. That place is Amberwing.

7:00 – 8:00 p.m. We’ll gather virtually to hear uplifting stories, toast a beloved icon and bid on exquisite items and experiences that bring joy and wellness. And, you can always count on us to throw in a few exciting twists! Socially distance with a few of your favorite people or just tune in.

Dress Code: Dress up or simply don your most comfortable attire. Website: ARTcetera2020.org

To view ARTcetera’s fabulous auction items up for bid and learn more about all the fun, fancy and festive details, go to: ARTcetera2020.org

PHONE: 218-786-5829

• A lack of clinicians contributes to the barrier of treating mental illness and substance abuse at the same time. Amberwing’s clinician training component will solve that problem.

• Being at Amberwing, being identified there as someone in need, and then staying there to receive that care, may be the most important thing that happens in a young person’s life.

Starbase: Mission to Mars

By Ann Klefstad

Thekids are going to settle Mars. Some are planning and building the rocket; some are working out the design of the rover for surface exploration. Some are thinking about life support, and how the explorers would stay alive on this new planet.

It’s all happening in a classroom at the Air Guard 148th Wing base in Duluth. The Starbase program, for fifth grade students, is a week-long immersion into the science needed to explore the universe.

Charity Johnson, director of the program, describes it as “showcasing STEM (science, technology, engineering and mathematics) careers at the age when kids might start to lose interest in science.”

The storyline of the 25-hour, five-day program — the Mars mission — is to grab kids’ imaginations, she said. “They work as scientists or engineers would in the real

world,” Johnson said, “and the math and science they are doing is all wrapped up in the challenges of the activities. We see the spark of excitement with many students who might not have enjoyed those subjects before.

“Our mission is to grow that spark over the course of the week and truly show them how fulfilling and exciting a STEM career can actually be.”

Total Immersion in Tech

From the first moment the students walk in, they’re immersed in the story line. Instructors wear flight suits and have call signs — nicknames their crew knows them by, like “Maverick” or “Deuce” or “Ice Man.”

Students pick their own call signs too, and they run the gamut from favorite sports to pets: “Chipmunk,” “Stella,” “Artichoke” and “Sloth.” Kids get to become someone new on the base, to enable them to learn in ways they never have before.

Said “Maximum Ride” about the experience: “STARBASE changed the way I see STEM, as something we have used for as long as mankind has walked this earth. With STEM, we have made many ways to make life easy, to get a better understanding of life, or to see if we are not alone. Learning from our failures and successes with STEM is something we use every day.”

Students have the opportunity to explore STEM careers through videos and collectible cards.

Other kids see, for the first time, how this kind of work can open up interesting lives for them.

“Chicken Nugget” remarked: “I didn’t know what STEM was until I came to Starbase. It helped me learn that I could use it in a lot of jobs.”

Living inside the story, girls and boys are introduced as scientists and engineers who are developing a mission to Mars, and they each play a role in understanding it.

Johnson described some of their problem-solving.

“How are you going to land a pod on Mars, how can you slow it down so your people aren’t damaged?” she said.

In one scenario, they’re given an egg – the Eggsternaut — and a budget to buy materials. They have to work with the constraints of budget and physics to build their restraint system for the Eggsternaut. They try it, and then they get to redesign the restraint system, using the data from failure.

“That’s the engineering design process, trying things and learning from failure. We highlight that at Starbase,” Johnson said.

“We celebrate failure here.

Students often have a very different idea of failure, and we work to change that.”

Because you can’t learn how to do new things without it.

“I am more inspired to try doing harder things and keep trying until I get it done,” said “Stella.”

At the end of the week, the kids have successful solutions to the problems they’ve been given, and can test prototype rovers and rockets, landers and life systems.

Teachers bring their kids to the base, using five days of precious class time, so instructors are very

conscious about helping students learn what they need to meet state standards for math and science.

Starbase is a program of the Department of Defense and the National Guard, as well as an educational nonprofit that delivers the program to area kids. All students in the regular school-year program are in fifth grade, as that is the age at which kids often drift away from science and math. All classes are delivered at the base, as the program incorporates robotics and technical equipment — which the Air Guard has in plenty.

Summer Program

A summer program also exists, which leads classes outdoors and incorporates more life sciences.

“The summer program is less Mars-driven. It has a general space theme and often incorporates lessons about, say, the experiments astronauts do on plants in the

You’ve earned this. We’ll handle the meals, transportation, housekeeping and, when you need it, assistance and care from our 24-hour nursingstaff. All you need to do is… enjoy your golden years!

Chemistry experiments provide students the opportunity to learn about the difference between physical and chemical changes.

International Space Station,” Johnson said.

This summer program enrolls students from the Boys and Girls Clubs, the YMCA, and other community organizations — as well as from the general public. Children from organizations that partner with the program, such as Minnesota Power, LHB and Maurices, also participate in this part of the Starbase program.

Doubling the Space, Hoping for On-Site Education

A donation of $10,000 from Maurices, whose corporate offices are in Duluth, has helped enable the 148th to double the classrooms for Starbase, from two to four. In 2019, they served 1,500 students; they are hoping for more this year. Ground was broken for this project in November 2019, and the classrooms are ready for use this fall.

Students investigate coding and robotics using several different robots.

Johnson said the instructors and administrators of the program are proceeding with caution, but will incorporate rigorous safety measures to ensure the program can be run safely during the coronavirus.

“We hope we will be able to deliver our program on-site,” she said. “Following CDC (Centers for Disease Control) and state guidelines, and partnering with the public health and environmental safety divisions on base, we will deliver the program with all the appropriate safeguards in place, including staff and student health monitoring, personal protective equipment, social distancing measures and enhanced sanitization practices.”

They are waiting for decisions about the possibility for on-site schooling to be made by the state later this summer. D

Students engineer Mars landers as part of a challenge to understand the concept of inertia and land safely on the surface of Mars.

Lego EV3 robots give students practice with coding, navigation, and graphing on the surface of Mars.

Ann Klefstad is a Duluth freelance writer.

Concepts in chemistry such as endothermic and exothermic reactions are discovered through hands-on experimentation.

CoachingStrength with

By Molly Milroy

AnnaNelson has a drive and a heart for helping others achieve their goals and live out their lives in the fullest way possible. Last year, she turned that drive into a business, one that motivates, guides, inspires and challenges others to succeed.

Nelson grew up in Duluth and graduated from Duluth East High School in 1996, followed by University Minnesota Duluth. During her senior year of college, her father had taken a year-long sabbatical in Boston to further his own educational goals. She flew out to attend the graduation ceremony.

“My grandpa suggested I consider staying out in Boston … he bought me a one-way plane ticket and said he’d buy me a one-way plane ticket back if I didn’t like it out there after one year,” Nelson said.

Not only did she like it, she ended up living in Boston for 10 years, working in financial and retail industries. While working, she decided to pursue her education further and obtained her Master of Business Administration from Simmons University in 2007. Education has always played an important role in Nelson’s life.

“It adds skills and knowledge to one’s toolkit,” she said, “and more tools equals more opportunities.”

In 2010, she decided to move back to Minnesota and settled in the Twin Cities where she worked in marketing before returning to Duluth in 2018.

“I moved back to Duluth to get my

bearings after the loss of my marriage,” Nelson explained. “When one dream ends it’s incredibly difficult to imagine that other dreams can still happen and new dreams birthed.”

Her drive and positive attitude carried her home and motivated her to help others through life coaching.

Using one’s strengths

Coaching came naturally to Nelson.

“When I found out there was an entire industry devoted to inspiring people to leverage what they’re naturally good at doing in business and in life, I realized that I had been doing that my entire life,” she said.

Her motivation to help others continues to push her forward.

“People’s life trajectories literally change for the better,” she said. “I can have one session with someone, never see them again, then hear from them months later that what we talked about changed their life. It’s both a huge responsibility and a huge reward.”

One reason Nelson decided to go into coaching was because she knew

firsthand how powerful it can be.

“Some of the most life-changing times have been because I had a coach,” Nelson said. “I ran a marathon having never run more than 3 miles before I started training. I swam the 1.2-mile swim portion of the Superior Man Triathlon because I had a coach. I was stretched faster and further because I had a coach.”

Laurie Bodisch, a client of Nelson’s, said: “The experience was truly eyeopening and as a result I’m able to create stronger relationships and improve processes in my business and everyday life. I was so impressed that immediately following our coaching session I signed-up my college senior to work with Anna, too.”

Even as a coach now, Anna has her own coach that helps her with her business goals.

“A coach provides a fresh perspective and can be the catalyst to get you to take action. Action is the only way anyone can move forward in any part of life,” Nelson explained. “Regardless of who you are, regardless

~ Anna Nelson ~

of the life or career position you’re in, regardless of your past, you need to take action and sometimes taking that big leap requires someone climbing that big hill with you.”

Education with purpose

One way Nelson inspires her clients is through encouraging them to find a path that is of interest to them.

“It’s never too late to change your life trajectory,” Nelson said.

She knows that education is an important tool and can be used to further pursue one’s goals, but she encourages her clients to figure out what they are interested in first.

“Before you go back to school or declare a major, pay really close attention to what you enjoy doing,” she explained. “We live in a society where we think the thing we struggle with is the thing we should go back to school for or people close to us in our lives pressure us to get education in something they wish they had done. Be strong and enhance what you’re good at. Get education in the area that you have an aptitude for.”

Nelson is a Gallup Certified Strengths coach and received International Coach Federation accredited coach training from the Center for Coaching Excellence.

“I went all in with additional training as a coach and created a business doing exactly what I’ve always been doing,” she said.

She has found the training to be useful for her clients, and in her own life as well.

“Anna walked me through the results of my Gallup Strengths test,” said Bodisch, “and helped me not only identify what my natural strengths are, but actually understand why I’m good at the things I’m good at.”

Drawing on her Gallup Strengths training, she encourages others to realize their top strengths and then

build upon those strengths.

“Education in something that leverages what you’re already good at is a game changer and allows you to more fully live out of your strengths,” Nelson said.

Her own life serves as a testimony to this.

“My coaching education is the education that was the most perfect fit for me,” she said.

Living it out

Coming from two large cities, Nelson is happy to be back in her hometown, where she especially enjoys the outdoors and lack of traffic.

“Every time I go walking on Park Point, I’m grateful for the wide-open space and natural beauty and can’t believe I’m walking on the shores of the largest lake in the world,” she said.

When she is not coaching people on their dreams and business goals, she spends time reading at the beach in the summer, traveling when the opportunity arises to places like France and Italy, and partaking in knitting projects.

Since coming back to Duluth and starting her business, she has created the future that she envisioned. And now she inspires others to do the same.

“And that’s what I love about coaching,” Nelson said. “Seeing my clients have their ‘a-ha’ and pivotal moments when they can literally point to a moment in time and say, ‘That’s what moved the needle forward.’”

Find out more about Nelson and her business at annaynelson.com, on Instagram at instagram.com/ annaynelson and on Facebook at facebook.com/ annaynelson. D

Molly Milroy is a Duluth freelance writer.

VertiGals

By Abigail Blonigen

encourages underrepresented climbers to reach new heights

“Icertainly would say that I am afraid of heights,” said Mari Hardel, president of the North Shore VertiGals, a group of rock climbers from the northwoods of Minnesota and Wisconsin, “although that height at which I’m uncomfortable has been increasing the longer I’ve been climbing.”

VertiGals informally began around March 2017 when co-founders Erin Hammes and Molly Wick started hosting monthly climb nights at Vertical Endeavors to foster a community of women climbers.

Through word-of-mouth and social media, the group grew in popularity and created a board in June 2018.

“It’s an intimidating sport for people to start out,” Hardel said. “You really can’t do it by yourself, so you need somebody or a group of people to mentor you, or belay you, or to go out with you.”

The goal of VertiGals is to “strengthen our climbing community through fostering diversity and supporting climbers of all ages and skills by creating a safe space to climb, learn, and grow,” according to their website.

Diversity is important to the group, which now has 250 members on Facebook, and they make it clear in their mission statement that VertiGals is open to all women, cisgender and transgender, trans people of all genders, and gender nonconforming folks.

“We wanted this group to be inclusive of anybody who doesn’t feel like they fit in with that male-dominated culture that the sport often feels like it is,” Hardel said.

Hardel tried climbing as a freshman in college, but it didn’t stick, partially due to her fear of heights. A few years later, she met her now-husband, who was an avid climber

Continued on page 26

PHOTO COURTESY

F STEPHANIE HALL

Jenna Cavallin, a member of VertiGals, climbs at one of the group’s monthly get-togethers.

MID WIFER YC ARE

AtSt. Mary’sMedical Center in Duluth, ourcer tifiednur se midwives gi ve mother sall the support needed to make thebir thingexperienceempowering. They prov ide personalized, one- on -one suppor tand guidance throughoutplanning, pregnancy,childbir th, andhealing.

Womenwho choose a midwifehave:

n Lower rates of inductions

n Lower rates of c-section

n Higher success rates with breastfeeding

Whetherwemeet virtually or face-to-face,wewant you to feelsafe, confident, prepared, and supported during pregnancyand childbirth.

To learn moreortomeetour midwives, visit EssentiaHealth.org/services/midwifery/

and decided to give the sport another try. This time, it stuck, and Hardel has been a consistent climber for about six years.

Having climbed with both men and women, Hardel has noticed differences in how people climb based on their body type and strengths.

For example, Hardel is much shorter than her husband, which can be a disadvantage on some routes. However, she is much more flexible, which is helpful when climbing. She also has smaller hands and feet, which allow her to use smaller handholds.

These differences affect how people climb, so while men may choose routes that depend on their strength and height, women tend to choose routes that rely on flexibility and balance.

It’s like a puzzle that you have to figure out,” Hardel said. “It’s mentally engaging, which is something that I really like about sports; there’s always room to be better, to either climb more efficiently or climb harder.”

Like many climbers, Hardel has sought out cliffs across the country. She worked a few summers in Colorado, and has visited the Red River Gorge in Kentucky, Ten Sleep Canyon in Wyoming, Red Rock Canyon in Nevada, and the Black Hills of South Dakota.

The North Shore is also a hot spot for climbing — Palisade Head and Shovel Point in particular — but there are a number of lesser known cliffs that Hardel also enjoys.

VertiGals continues to host climb nights the second Friday of the month at 7 p.m. at Vertical Endeavors, though they have been on a temporary hiatus due to the COVID19 pandemic. The group also facilitates yoga for climbers at Runa Yoga in Duluth and plans a couple outdoor climbing events each summer.

A typical climb night usually draws about 10-15 people, and while there is certainly a core group of participants, there is almost always someone who is new to the group. Skill levels vary widely, so those with more experience are able to help those who are newer to the sport or who are climbing for the first time.

“You don’t have to be a climber to come,” Hardel said. “If you’re interested in trying climbing or you’ve done it a few times, or you’ve done it for years and years, it is a group and a space for anybody who wants to try, or who wants to continue developing their skills, or even help other people develop their skills.”

The VertiGals board of 10 people also meets monthly, and they have recently incorporated a subcommittee on

A climber demonstrates how to safely abseil down a cliff at Palisade Head.

diversity and inclusion to better support all genders, Black, Indigenous and people of color, and all people underrepresented in the sport and community.

For Hardel, it is not the climb itself that keeps her coming back to the wall, but the perspective she gains from it.

“I think that it’s very rewarding to challenge myself to do something that is scary for me to do, and then to realize that it was OK and I did it,” she said. “I feel like I can recognize personal growth through climbing, as I can climb harder things or taller things or be less afraid as I am climbing to higher heights.”

Those who wish to get involved with the North Shore VertiGals can follow them on social media and sign up for their newsletter at northshorevertigals.wordpress.com.

health ser vicesfor every woman

Dr.Thornton received hermedical degree from Morehouse School of Medicine,completed herresidency at Emor yUniversit yHospital,and ran herown practice in Atlanta beforejoining CMH.

Sp ec ia lT ie S in :

•Minimally-invasivesurgery

•Menopausa lmanagement.

•Managementoffibroidsand pelv ic masses.

•Premenstrual disorders.

•Infertility,abnormal bleeding, andother fema le health issues.

Abigail Blonigen is a Duluth freelance writer and photographer.

Jes Golding creates community through

By Abigail Blonigen

Alife completely free of alcohol was something Jes Golding couldn’t even imagine a couple years ago.

“I tell people that I fell in love with alcohol,” she said. “It was my constant for so long. It was my medication. It took away the pain. It was my fun. It was my chill pill. Until it wasn’t anymore.”

Golding had her last drink on March 21, 2019, after abusing alcohol since she was a teenager. Knowing she would need a strong community and support system to aid in her recovery, she founded Sober Duluth.

“Sober Duluth was founded on the need for connection and community free of substances in The Northland,” Golding said.

The group began as an Instagram and Facebook page. Golding created graphics, memes and used hashtags to reach a wider audience. Through social media and word-

of-mouth, Sober Duluth quickly evolved from casual sober meetups to occasional events to consistent pop-up dry bars.

“I’d meet up with people and we’d talk about wellness and being sober and Lake Superior and would form this connection that is hard to find in early sobriety,” she said.

The road to recovery for Golding has been a long one. She was born in Jacksonville, Florida, and was introduced to alcohol and drugs at a young age. By 16, Golding was using both alcohol and intravenous drugs as a means of coping with underlying mental health symptoms.

After a few rounds of treatment, Golding stopped using needles, but continued abusing other drugs until moving to Southern California in 2006. After less than a year there, Golding was homeless and “using vodka as a means of survival.”

Fortunately, Golding’s family intervened, and she returned to Jacksonville. Back home, she started a career in

mental health and human services, graduated from a technical college, and went through a short marriage and divorce.

“I was still getting drunk most nights out of the week, but I wasn’t doing drugs anymore, so that was progress for me,” she said.

In 2012, Golding moved to Superior, Wisconsin, with her partner at the time. She quickly fell in love with the Twin Ports, the “big small-town” feel, and the drinking culture. Golding continued drinking heavily for about a year, but began to crave something different. She started moderating her alcohol intake, established medical care, and began taking better care of her mental health.

“The more healthy I got, the more awake I became, and the life I had been living wasn’t the life I wanted anymore,” she said.

After nearly a year of sobriety, a series of difficult life changes ensued, and Golding found herself once again using alcohol to cope.

“Instead of taking the hint that I had reached rockbottom and needed help, I went full-speed ahead and in August of 2017 almost had a stroke due to alcohol consumption,” she said.

Golding spent the year and a half after this incident going back and forth between Duluth and Jacksonville, trying to find herself and get healthy.

“Sometimes that meant abstinence and sometimes that meant moderation,” she said. “I didn’t know what I was working towards, because I couldn’t imagine a life completely free of alcohol.”

Finally, in 2019, Golding committed to sobriety, packed up her SUV, and drove the 26 hours from Jacksonville to Duluth for a fresh start. Because remnants of her “old life” remained in the Northland, she was motivated to create a

Golding finishes a drink with a lemon wedge.

Advisory Banking for WomeninBusiness

community of sober folks, which evolved into Sober Duluth.

Now a registered LLC, Golding hopes to open Duluth’s first brick-and-mortar sober bar, serving mocktails, nonalcoholic beers and other spirit-free options.

Though the COVID-19 pandemic has those plans on hold, Golding is gearing up for more Sober Duluth events and pop-ups when it is safe to do so.

Golding emphasized that the sober community is diverse; there are a number of reasons people choose not to drink, drawing a wide range of people to her events.

“(Sober Duluth) provides a gap for people who don’t want to drink, whether it be just for the weekend, or they are in sobriety, or they take medication and they can’t drink alcohol,” she said.

In addition to hosting their own events, Sober Duluth also functions as a pop-up dry bar for people or businesses who want to create a more inclusive space.

In the coming months, Golding is going back to school to study cosmetology. Her partner, whom she met through the sober community on Instagram, is a barber, and the duo hope to go into business together in the near future.

To get connected with Sober Duluth and stay up to date with its events, visit facebook.com/soberduluth or follow @ soberduluth on Instagram. D

Abigail Blonigen is a Duluth freelance writer and photographer.

Sober Duluth Late Summer Sangria

Ingredients

• 6 blueberries

• A sprig of mint

• 2 peach slices

• Splash of switchel or apple cider vinegar

• White grape juice

• Sparkling water or seltzer

• Additional peach slice and mint leaf for garnish

Instructions

1. Muddle blueberries, mint and peach slides at the bottom of a tall glass. Sub in your favorite fruits if those aren’t your jam.

2. Splash with switchel or apple cider vinegar with “the mother” to give it “oomph.”

3. Fill the glass halfway with white grape juice and top off with sparkling water or seltzer.

4. Garnish with a peach slice and mint leaf.

5. Post to Instagram, tag @soberduluth and enjoy!

By Claire Kiger

Atthe height of the Victorian era, Duluth was a promising young city that was desperately lacking a hospital.

“We had lumberjacks and iron workers dying because they weren’t getting the care they needed,” Catherine Carter Huber, executive director of St. Luke’s Foundation, said.

The typhoid outbreak of 1881 finally made it impossible to continue ignoring the tremendous void.

A small group from St. Paul’s Episcopal Church took action. After only a month of preparation, they set up the humble beginnings of a hospital on the upper floor of an old blacksmith’s shop. They called it “St. Luke’s,” and within a month, they were so full that patients often had to share a bed. A few years later, the hospital relocated to a larger building, but that was soon outgrown as well.

Finally, in 1902, St. Luke’s moved for the last time to the corner of East First Street and Ninth Avenue, where it still stands today. For the past 117 years, the organization has continued to build onto this original facility in response to the region’s ever-changing needs. However, after numerous additions and updates, plans to build a brand-new St. Luke’s hospital have

When St. Luke’s Health Forward Initiative is finished in five to seven years, the size of Building A will double and a hospital tower will be added.

been set in motion.

A multi-year, three-phase plan

“There came a point where it wasn’t enough to keep investing in our old facilities,” Mike Boeselager, vice president of St. Luke’s Support Services, said. “Medicine is evolving and it’s our responsibility to provide an environment that can keep up.”

Construction plans were created to refresh the entire campus and ultimately replace the building that had been passed down for generations. Appropriately named “St. Luke’s Health Forward Initiative,” the goal of this redevelopment project is to create an environment that nurtures the future of health care in the Northland.

“We offer such a high level of health care services,” Carter Huber said. “And we have to continue to grow so we can appropriately respond to the needs of our region.”

The Initiative has been broken into three phases. This approach allows St. Luke’s to respond to a shifting economic climate, advances in technology, and changes in the way care is delivered. As part of Phase I, construction on St. Luke’s Building A was completed in 2012, followed by a

new surgery center in 2015. As operations were assessed to complete Phase I, St. Luke’s Emergency Department and Cardiac Catheterization Labs stood out.

Finishing Phase I

To create a vision for these new spaces, St. Luke’s included as many people as possible.

“We’ve spent hundreds of hours with a lot of different people working on these plans,” Boeselager said. “Basically, everyone at St. Luke’s has had a chance to provide feedback. We talked to people from housekeeping, lab, registration, diagnostic imaging and our physician group. We also involved our neighbors.”

The current ED offers 11 general treatment rooms, two trauma rooms and one behavioral health room. The new space located near 10th Avenue East and Second Street will be three times larger. This will allow for 27 general treatment rooms, four trauma rooms, four behavioral health rooms, two triage rooms and an additional area specifically for sexual assault victims.

Along with expanding ED square footage, this project will also streamline care. Two cath labs will be

built in the new space along with a relocated helistop and ambulance garage.

“By having all of these acute services in one centralized location they’ll be connected like never before,” Boeselager said. “Door-to-treatment time will be cut drastically for our patients. When you are in a life-threatening situation and you need the best care as fast as possible, it will be available right here in Duluth at St. Luke’s.”

Phase I and III: the future of St. Luke’s and Duluth

Construction began on the new ED in April 2019 and will be completed in August 2020. The rest of the Initiative will take place over the next five to seven years. Phase II will involve expanding Building A to twice its current size and during Phase III a new hospital tower will be built in the same location. When the project is completed, St. Luke’s will have a facility that is fully equipped to serve Duluth well into the future.

“St. Luke’s was born out of our community’s need,” Carter Huber said, “and that focus has been key to our success. We will continue to respond to what our region needs.”

To learn more about St. Luke’s Health Forward Initiative, visit slhduluth.com/CampusExpansion. D

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

By John Gasele

We’ve all heard the phrase: “Get it in writing!” It’s an age-old admonishment, often tossed out jokingly in response to an offer made in jest. Any lawyer will tell you, however, that it is extremely important to get your agreements in writing. Putting everything down on paper is important for several reasons. The cynical among us will immediately jump to the conclusion a signed document gives you something to use as a sword or a shield in a dispute. It is very true that a written agreement is vital evidence in any dispute, but that’s not the primary idea to have in mind when coming to an agreement. Instead, people should think of how they can make a deal work and how unexpected events will be handled. A carefully written agreement can reduce the risk of conflict, make life more predictable, and perhaps resolve a conflict before it even begins.

Let’s use the example of starting a business. Perhaps two friends are starting a new company, or taking a fun hobby into the business world. It’s important that everyone involved has a conversation about their expectations and comes to a shared

Get it in writing

understanding. Expressed in terms used in contract law, this is a meeting of the minds. Everyone understands the deal, knows their part in it and knows everyone else’s part. This doesn’t need to be a stressful or contentious process because the goal is to reach consensus.

In our example, the two future business partners need to discuss some standard items, such as roles within the company, how accounting will be handled and other issues. There are many other items that should be discussed, however. What happens if they can’t come to an agreement? Does one have enough voting power to make the decision unilaterally? What happens if someone wants to exit the business? What about the event of death or divorce? Can one owner sell their part of the business to anyone, or will there be some restrictions? If one person is going to do most of the work while the other puts up the money, what will be the metric to ensure the work is getting done fairly? How will business partners evaluate whether they are all pulling their weight and performing their duties? What happens if one person doesn’t do this?

These questions can be uncomfortable, and a frequent first reaction is to say, “That won’t happen,” or “We’ll work it out then.” In reality, nobody knows what their situation will be in the future. Relationships, financial situations and other life circumstances evolve over time.

Planning for these issues at the outset of a business relationship eliminates uncertainty down the road. If one of these events occurs, the written

document will provide guidance on how to proceed. That doesn’t mean everyone is locked into what is written. Documents can be changed and new agreements can be reached, but everyone involved will have to agree to the change.

Addressing these issues in advance doesn’t always eliminate conflict. It is, however, far easier to know what to do when there is a written agreement instead of relying on different memories of expectations and discussions. Starting a business without a written agreement leaves room for misunderstandings if things go wrong. Former business partners often end up with bruised feelings and in costly disputes as they sort through old notes, emails, and memories to try to piece together the terms of their original deal. Those memories often differ, which drags out disputes even more.

It does take a bit of time and effort to go through all of these issues in advance. But there’s another old adage that also applies here: “An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure.” It is far easier and less expensive to anticipate issues and go into a new business venture with a written agreement understood by everyone than it is to deal with issues after problems arise. You’ll save time, energy and money if you pause at the beginning to plan for the future. D

John Gasele is an attorney at the Fryberger Law Firm, where he practices general business, trademark, copyright, utility, and internet/e-commerce law. You can reach John at 218-722-0861 or through www.fryberger.com.

With midwives, a home-style birth in the safety of a hospital

By Louie St.

III

Why choose a midwife?

For Sky Rogers, a certified nurse midwife at Essentia Health-St. Mary’s Medical Center, the answer is easy — you get the best of both worlds. It’s a decision that ensures a more personal relationship with your provider while also guaranteeing a safety net that, at SMDC, exists within the region’s only Level I Adult Trauma Center.

Essentia’s midwifery program combines “homelike maternity care while affording the additional physical safety of birthing in a hospital,” Rogers said.

“We seek to provide down-to-earth, patient-centered, kind and well-informed prenatal and birth care,” Rogers added.

Rogers, like so many of her colleagues, knows all about the misconceptions that surround her profession. Many people think midwives are a thing of the past; that they only attend home births; or they won’t allow the use of medication during delivery. Not true, Rogers said.

In fact, here are five things expectant mothers might be particularly interested to know:

• Certified nurse midwives are formally educated and highly trained. They are required to hold a master’s degree in nursing and pass a nationally recognized certification exam.

• Approximately 96% of midwife-assisted deliveries happen in a hospital, where obstetrician physicians are always nearby if complications arise.

• Midwifery services are on the rise. Though physicianattended births are still the majority, the demand for midwives has nearly doubled in the last two decades. In 2019, about 300,000 births were attended by midwives alone, accounting for nearly 7% of all births in the United States.

• Midwives do more than just assist with pregnancy and

birth care. Beyond providing a more intimate and personalized birth experience, certified nurse midwives also are qualified to provide primary care services related to women’s health issues, such as gynecological exams, screenings, vaccinations, fertility counseling, family planning and menopausal care.

• Midwives can administer pain-relief medication during birth. While most midwives rely on natural comfort methods first, certified nurse midwives respect your right to choose medical intervention. They can prescribe pain medication and administer epidurals.

Of course, if the patient prefers a non-medicated delivery, there are various pain-coping mechanisms. At Essentia, those include aromatherapy; birthing balls; breathing strategies; heat and cold therapy; hydrotherapy in a whirlpool tub; massage; movement and positioning techniques; nitrous oxide; and relaxation tips such as guided imagery.

It is, as Rogers says, all about the patient and maximizing moms’ comfort level during what’s already a stressful event. Midwives take the time to develop relationships that allow them to advocate for their patients. They ask and answer questions, listen to concerns and share resources. Eventually, they come to learn their patients’ priorities and values, and use that knowledge to deliver the most effective holistic care possible.

It’s one reason that success rates with midwifery outstrip those of traditional births.

“Choosing a certified nurse midwife is a great option for women who desire a more personal relationship with their

George

Sky Rogers, a certified nurse midwife at Essentia Health-St. Mary’s Medical Center, says “midwifery care itself makes people feel at home.”

care provider,” Rogers said, “and for those who desire bedside support from their delivering provider during labor.”

Essentia’s safety net includes an obstetrician, anesthesiologist, physician and a neonatal intensive care unit team, among others. The hope is that none of those specialists are needed and the birth occurs as expected. But it is comforting to know that there’s a dedicated group of midwifery-friendly obstetricians, anesthesiologists and nurses ready to support patients should surgical or medical intervention become necessary.

For example, if a patient needs to birth via cesarean section, “we will stay by your side and one of our wonderful MD colleagues will provide you with this service,” Rogers said.

Essentia’s collaborative care model, which offers 24/7 midwifery support, revolves around the patient. One of the goals is to foster a “home-style birth.”

As Rogers said, “midwifery care itself makes people feel at home.” D

Louie St. George III is a media relations specialist at Essentia Health.

By Samantha Roffers

Hellodear readers! I hope you are all savoring this beautiful summer weather we are having! If you’re like me and love the heat I know you’re enjoying it! As we cruise along I can’t help but think about back to school and the eventual return of cooler weather. Now is the time when I love to stock up on summer clothes for the following year. Everyone slashes their prices to make room for back to school clothing and you can land some great deals. Thanks to

by Sam

online shopping and in store pickup, supporting local businesses from the comfort of your own home has never been easier! I headed to my chicken coop (it’s like my zen garden), cozied up in a comfy chair and got to shopping!

I will never forget how excited I was when Cloquet got a Maurices. Up until that point, anytime I needed to go shopping it entailed a well thought out and planned day trip to Duluth. Maurices is one of those stores that has everything! If you need a new interview outfit, jeans, a date night

Samantha Roffers, a Moose Lake writer, believes it’s important to shop for things you love and feel comfortable in. Everyone’s style is unique and that’s what makes it so special.

outfit, footwear, comfy clothes, accessories or even a gift they have you covered.

One of the best things about shopping at Maurices in my opinion is their website. It is hands down one of the easiest to navigate. They post all reviews, upload photos of real people wearing their clothes and have a free ship to store option! I went through their website and noticed they have taken steps to make shopping safer amidst the current pandemic. They have ramped up their cleaning and even give the option to come in for a personal styling session! In the past, the people working at Maurices have always been so great about checking their inventory when I call with a style number. I am definitely someone who likes to shop with a purpose. I love to find one item I love and build a couple outfits around it. It’s a great way to piece multiple outfits together without getting overwhelmed. Most of the time I have my kids in tow and I try my very best to get in and get out as painlessly as possible.

When I shop online I like to try and find stores who take photos of real customers or employees wearing an item, it’s a huge plus for me. Stay tuned for the next issue of The

Woman Today where I head to the store and show you some of the

adorable outfits I was able to find while shopping online! D

‘Love at first sight’ makes owner buy spec home

By Alison Stucke

Amy and Brandon Lund had been house hunting for 3 1/2 years. They couldn’t find anything they liked until they walked into the “spec home” built by general contractor Rochelle “Shelly” Zupetz. Upon entering the house, Amy knew immediately that she and her husband had found their future home.

“The second I walked in, I knew it was my dream home,” Amy said. “It was a love-atfirst-sight kind of thing. We ended up making an offer.”

Finding this home was meant to be

Amy said finding this special home was definitely “meant to be.” She and Brandon had married in July 2019. After having looked at already-built homes for so long, they were patiently

The kitchen of Amy and Brandon Lund’s new home features 10-foot ceilings, a lengthy 9-foot island, stainless steel appliances and a crisp color palette of navy blue and white, with gold hardware accents.

waiting for the schedule of a builder recommended by a friend to free up so he could work on building their home. That builder was Jeff Nelson with Nelson Builders of Duluth. To give them an idea of his work style, Jeff suggested they look at a “spec home” that he built in the Coffee Creek area of Duluth. General contractor was Jeff’s sister, Zupetz.

When Amy and Brandon viewed the spec home, they knew their search was over. Details and design elements incorporated by Zupetz fit right in with the couple’s style.

“Even my furniture went with what she had in the home,” Amy said. “My furniture was gray, navy blue and gold. She had silver, blue and gold throughout the home. The architect said, ‘Where did you find furniture to match?’ But it was what I already had.”

Because the home wasn’t quite completed yet, Amy and Brandon were able to make final selections including two bathroom countertops, the glass shower door in the master bath, the stainless range hood, tiled backsplash behind the stove, subway tile in the kitchen, and iron railings for the deck.

“It had already been painted inside, but all the colors were exactly what we would have picked,” Amy said.

Building one ‘spec home’ per year

Zupetz works as a nurse at Essentia. She builds one spec house each year “for fun.”

“I have been building spec houses for the last 10 years,” Zupetz said. “It’s my hobby.”

Zupetz explained the meaning of the term “spec home.”

“A spec home is a home built with no buyer,” she said. “As the builder, I’m picking everything out. I usually always wait until the house is 100% complete before I put it on the market, so all decisions are made by me.

“I do it this way because then it keeps it more a hobby and not so much a business. The part I like most is seeing my vision come to life and being in control of how it all comes together.”

This particular home was built on land purchased from Menards Real Estate. Someone who purchases land there and wants to build on it is required to purchase as much as possible from the Menards store, or pay a fee to be released from the agreement. Zupetz chose to purchase her supplies from Menards.

“Working with them has been really easy,” she said. “I need to give a shout out to the Menards crew that helped me along the way, and to John and both Toms at the front counter who were so helpful.”

Continued on page 42

Building the Coffee Creek home

Zupetz purchased the land for this Coffee Creek house over a year ago. Then she worked with architectural designer Heather Hiner and with her brother, Jeff Nelson.

“I knew I wanted to build a more modern contemporary home,” Zupetz said. “It has always been on my bucket list. All my other homes have been more traditional or farm/industrial-looking. Heather has drawn my plans for all my houses I have built.”

Zupetz explained that, once she gets the final plans from Hiner, she gives copies to subcontractors to get bids for work to be done. The contractor and subcontractors work off the plans while building. Zupetz works as the general contractor getting all the bids, doing the ordering, and picking out décor items. She uses the plans to order windows, doors, lumber, flooring, lighting and plumbing.

“I hire my brother to do the framing and finishing work,” Zupetz said. “We both use the same subcontractors that we have used for over 10 years.”

The final results of this team’s work was a house that Amy and Brandon would call “home” after their first viewing.

“I have designed several homes for Shelly in the past, all of which were in the craftsman style, but this time she wanted to branch into modern architecture,” Hiner said. “She had a photo of an exterior with very simple modern lines and a shed roof which became our ‘inspiration image.’ Designing a spec house is different than designing for a client because you make assumptions on what homeowners want and would be attracted to when buying a house and then incorporate those ‘guesses’ into a set of blueprints.

“This project was a great team effort with my

The Lunds’ open concept floor plan incorporates lots of large, low windows that overlook the woods, Enger Tower and Lake Superior.

The clean, modern lines of this home’s exterior are not the usual for general contractor Rochelle “Shelly” Zupetz, but she was up for the challenge and worked with homeowners Amy and Brandon Lund, Nelson Builders of Duluth and interior designer Heather Hiner to make it all work.

knowledge of efficient floor plan layouts and rooflines, Shelly’s sense of style and interior finish selections, and the quality construction provided by Nelson Builders,” Hiner said.

“After the house was complete, I had a chance to meet the new homeowner and even though she didn’t have a hand in the design and selection process, it was as if the house was built just for her!” Zupetz said.

Continued on page 44

The foyer provides a great drop zone with a high shelf, plenty of coat hooks and several cubbies under the bench seating, with a large coat closet (not shown) to the right.

Amy’s favorite elements of the home

The home is open-concept in style, with the kitchen, dining room, living room and master bed and bath on the main floor, and two bedrooms, bathroom and family/ rec room on the lower level.

The large kitchen has 10-foot ceilings and a 9-foot island with a microwave drawer. All kitchen appliances, including the stove, have bluetooth capability. Amy loves the kitchen’s mixed metals look of stainless appliances, gold handles and navy-blue cabinets. White and gray

The master bedroom en suite features carpeting that looks like a patterned tile floor, a walk-in shower, double vanity, and the continued color palette of blue, silver and white with gold accents.

marbled quartz countertops really pop. The color scheme of blue and gold repeats throughout the entire home.

“It all really flows well,” she said.

Throughout the open-concept area are many windows offering views of Lake Superior and Enger Tower.

“There’s only one place where you can see a neighbor,” Amy said. “Otherwise, the view looks like all country woods.”

Sliding barn doors with five panels of frosted glass appear near the living room, dining room, and kitchen, as well as in the lower level by the rec room.

“The laundry room and mudroom coming in from the garage have a built-in cabinet area with hooks, a custom-built bench and lots of closet space,” Amy said.

Engineered hardwood flooring throughout most of the upper level provides beauty and easy care. In the master bedroom is unique carpeting.

“It almost looks like a patternedtile floor, kind of like the new stuff you see on HGTV,” Amy said.

Continued on page 46

Locally owned and operated by the Pearson Brothers

“Everybody comments on it and likes this floor.”

The master bath also features the navy-blue color scheme along with gold cabinet hardware and large gold mirrors. The downstairs bathroom is roomy, trimmed with all three metals and subway tile, and has a spacious linen cabinet.

Downstairs, the recreation room is large with a sliding barn door and gas fireplace. There’s also a walk-out to the backyard.

“What I love about this house is the design for this piece of property,” Zupetz said. “It’s a walkout but it sits high up on the property, so you actually have a view of Enger Tower. This house stands out above the rest and it really has a beautiful view off the large deck.”

Another thing that Amy really liked about the home was that she didn’t need to wait for it to be built. She and Brandon walked through it, and they knew they were home sweet home.

“It was perfect!” Amy said. D

A large deck on the back of the house overlooks the backyard with a fire pit built on a brick patio. A walkout “basement” provides easy access from the lower level. Because this “spec home” was built on land purchased from Menards Real Estate, the builder is required to purchase as much as possible from Menards, and that’s exactly what general contractor Shelly Zupetz and Nelson Builders of Duluth did. When Amy and Brandon Lund viewed the home, it was love at first sight and they made an offer on it immediately.

Alison Stucke is a Duluth freelance writer.

Scalloped Potato Roll

By Julie Schulz The Woman Today

Well,always up for a cooking challenge, I dove into this dish expecting it to have its complications, but was surprised to find it wasn’t that hard — just putsy. There are lots of steps and prep-as-you-go, so be prepared to have many things going at once (potatoes in the oven, meat in one pan, spinach in another, all cooking at the same time!). If you like “easy,” this probably isn’t for you, but if you’re ready for the challenge, then by all means go for it! The directions are easy to follow, and I’ll offer these “observations:”

1. My potatoes split apart when I rolled it, so I thought maybe use more Parmesan cheese both underneath and on top of the potatoes to really make a good solid, connective base that really sticks everything together. Perhaps I didn’t overlap my potatoes enough, too, it’s

hard to know for sure why it split.

2. The potato “bottom” also seemed soggy or greasy, I’m guessing from the cheese, so perhaps it should have baked longer — or maybe it would’ve helped to pat the potato slices dry before arranging them on the pan.

3. Be sure to drain the tomatoes and squeeze out any juice from the wilted spinach. I forgot to drain the tomatoes, so my meat mixture was quite wet and I knew that couldn’t be good for the roll, so I tilted the pan to separate the juice.

4. I would’ve liked a bigger punch of spice. I love Italian flavors, and my heart expected it to taste like that, but without basil or an Italian seasoning, of course it wouldn’t and it seemed like it needed more kick. Maybe just more pepper? Of course, my spices might have been left behind in the juice in the pan!

5. Finally, I accidentally put in double the amount of spinach. I read the “serving size/servings per bag”

wrong and used two bags, which was the equivalent of 12 cups. However, I don’t think that made a difference in the end. But I would suggest that you squeeze the juice out of the wilted spinach as best you can, too, before adding it to the ricotta.

6. After baking the roll in the oven for 15 minutes, it didn’t appear browned enough, so instead of keeping it in the oven longer, I put it under the broiler to get that crispy golden top.

The finished Scalloped Potato Roll looks massive on a serving platter, but it sliced well and easily transferred to a plate, and the leftovers reheated very nicely. It says it serves eight and I can believe that! Start this about two hours before serving time — slicing those potatoes so thin was time-consuming. D

Scalloped Potato Roll

Ingredients for 8 servings

6 potatoes, peeled

2 cups grated Parmesan cheese, divided

3 teaspoons salt, divided

4 tablespoons olive oil, divided

1 sweet onion, diced

1 pound ground beef

14½-oz can diced tomatoes, drained

4 tablespoons fresh parsley, chopped, divided

1 teaspoon paprika

½ teaspoon pepper

6 cups spinach

2 cloves garlic, minced

1 cup ricotta cheese

1 cup shredded mozzarella cheese

Directions:

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees.

2. Using a knife or mandolin, cut the potatoes into slices one-eighth-inch thick.

3. On a parchment paper-lined baking sheet, sprinkle half of the Parmesan cheese and spread until it is evenly covering the parchment paper.

4. Place the potatoes over the Parmesan so each potato is overlapping the previous potato both vertically and horizontally. Continue until the entire pan is filled with potatoes.

5. Sprinkle the rest of the Parmesan evenly over the potatoes. Season with 1 teaspoon of salt. Bake for 30 minutes, until golden and the potatoes are flexible and slightly crispy.

6. In a skillet, heat 2 tablespoons of olive oil over medium

heat. Once the oil begins to shimmer, add the onions, and cook until caramelized, about 15 minutes.

7. Add the beef, breaking it up and mixing with the onion until cooked. Mix in the drained tomatoes, 3 tablespoons of parsley, paprika, 1 teaspoon of salt and pepper. Stir, cooking until the beef is browned and cooked through. Remove from heat.

8. In a skillet heat 2 tablespoons of olive oil over medium heat. Add the spinach, cook until wilted. Add 1 teaspoon of salt and the garlic. Stir to combine. Remove from heat.

9. In a bowl, combine the spinach mixture and the ricotta.

10. Evenly spread the spinach mixture over the cooked potato sheet.

11. Evenly spread the beef mixture over the spinach. Sprinkle mozzarella over the beef.

12. Take one end of the potato sheet and, holding the parchment paper, begin rolling upward, making sure the ingredients are not coming out the ends.

13. Once it is completely rolled, place the potato roll on the parchment paper and bake for 15 minutes.

14. Sprinkle with parsley for garnish. Slice and serve immediately.

Recipe courtesy of tasty.co/recipe/scalloped-potato-roll.