The Woman Today July 2022

WOMAN the today

PROFILES

6 Rosie Awards Winners

Jane Levenson

Deb Holman

Kathy Leonard

Amber Burns

Anndrea Ploeger

Jolene Sajac-Timmers

Abigail Boone

26 Dr. Rebekah Beach

St Luke's urologist also served in the Army National Guard

FEATURES

30 The Duluth Woman's Club highlights historic homes

32 Border Town Betties celebrate vintage fashion with modern values

ENTERTAINMENT/ARTS

34 Arts and Events Calendar

HEALTH/MEDICINE

36 St. Luke’s

Dr. Carley Udland shares how her team cares for kids in the hospital

40 Essentia

A long and winding road

FASHION

38 Fashions by Sam KIDS KORNER

41 Sloane's Suggestions

HOME TOUCHES

42 Construction-savvy homeowners build Park Point dream house

FOOD/NUTRITION

52 Wrap, Roll and Go!

brought to you by Mount Royal Market

DIY

56 Water Candle

THE WOMAN YESTERDAY

58 Veda Ponikvar

WOMAN the today

GROUP PUBLISHER

Neal Ronquist

EXECUTIVE EDITOR

Rick Lubbers

ADVERTISING DIRECTOR

Megan Keller

ADVERTISING ACCOUNT EXECUTIVE

Ali Carlson

ADVERTISING ACCOUNT EXECUTIVE

Kim Quinones

GRAPHIC DESIGNER

Renae Ronquist

PRODUCTION COORDINATOR

Julie Schulz

CONTRIBUTORS

Abigail Blonigen

Alex Messenger

Amanda Cunningham

Andrea Busche

Carla Gamradt

Comstock Creative

TO OUR READERS

July has arrived: the month of BBQs, parades, bonfires and lots of family and community activities. July is also the month where we celebrate our independence on the Fourth of July.

I love this time of year, where you can get up in the morning, grab your cup of coffee and sit outside watching the sunrises … especially since we had a winter that seemed to last over half our year, and then finished with the most rain we have seen in a long time. Fortunately it wasn’t as bad as we had experienced 10 years ago, when Duluth flooded. That’s a moment in our history that we hope never repeats itself.

Duluth News Tribune

Duluth

Paper

In this issue, we are featuring the 2022 Rosie Award winners. We hosted our fifth annual Rosie Awards in person this year, and had around 200 people in attendance. The event was held at the DECC Horizon room, where they provided a beautiful spread of appetizers to our guests. The event began with a light social hour, and then rolled into our presentation — starting with keynote speaker Amanda Cunningham, co-owner of Mike & Jen’s Cocoa Mix.

Woman’s Club

Molly Milroy

Birch Studios

Rebekah Beach

Samantha Roffers

Tony Bennett

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This year we had 47 beautifully written, strong nominations. Our panel of judges had their work cut out for them. As I read through the nominations myself, I was reminded of a quote by Fallon Taylor, world champion barrel racer: “Always remember you have within you the strength, the patience and the passion to reach for the stars and change the world.”

Each of you who were nominated this year are amazing pillars in making a change and making a difference. Congratulations to all those who were nominated and congratulations to our seven Rosie Awards winners. Thank you to all our sponsors, including our main sponsors the Duluth News Tribune and Minnesota Power Employee Credit union. And special thanks to our judges and volunteers who helped us put together this event. It means a lot to our community and The Woman Today that we have this opportunity to honor amazing women in the Northland.

ON THE COVER:

Border Town Betties posing at the Richard I. Bong Memorial Center include (front row, from left) Louren

Yzaguirre (LouLou L’Amour), Jasmine Ward (January Royale), Erin Nygaard (Lottie Luck); (middle row, from left) Kerbie Mullenix (Crimson Fox), Theresa Hamman (Rosie Sparx), Megan Hendricks (Poppy Paramour), Kara Gilbert (Rosette Papillon); (back row)

Cassandra Roschen (Kitty Carter) and Becky Scherf (Brody Bombshell); and (top) Laurie Jean Menz (Dolly Devereaux).

Historically, July is our military issue. We met with Dr. Rebekah Beach, who is currently a urologist with St. Luke’s hospital who also served in the Army National Guard. In 2001, while she was still a junior in high school, she enlisted in the Army National Guard and served until 2015. We appreciate Dr. Beach for taking the time to share her story with us. We thank you for your service.

We then took a step back in time, with The Woman Yesterday, where we feature Veda Ponikvar — also known as “The Iron Lady” — who joined the Navy after graduating in 1942. We have much more in store for you, so I will let you get to it!

Thank you for picking up this month’s issue. If you ever have a story idea to submit or want to advertise to support our magazine, please reach out magazines@duluthnews.com. See you next month!

Megan Keller Advertising Director

UMD Kathryn A. Martin Library

5th Annual ROSIE

AWARDS: WOMEN AS A DRIVING FORCE

The Woman Today hosted the 5th annual Rosie Awards May19th at the DECC's Horizon Room. Seven women were recognized for their achievements in a variety of categories, all of which celebrated "women as a driving force." Writer Andrea Busche shares their stories on the following pages.

JUDGES PANEL

THE ROSIE AWARDS 2022

Judging the many worthy Rosie Awards nominations each year is no easy task. Thank you to our esteemed judges panel for participating this year to select all of our 2022 Rosie award winners.

Judging Panel Hosts

Thanks to all of our sponsors for supporting the 2022 Rosie Awards!

Megan Keller The Woman Today Advertising Director

Ali Carson The Woman Today Advertising Account Exec.

Renae Ronquist The Woman Today Graphic Designer

Deb Otto Bremer Bank President, Duluth Market

Annie Lepper MPECU Vice President of Operations

Kimberly Stokes Previous Rosie Award Winner

Lucie Amundsen DECC, Director of Communications

Martha Bremer Duluth Chamber of Commerce, Director Fuse & Leadership Duluth

Laura Plys Project Joy Previous Rosie Award Winner

Rosie Award JANE LEVENSON

By Andrea Busche

Our namesake award, the Rosie Award, is given to a woman who simply gets stuff done.

This year’s winner, Duluth resident Jane Levenson, epitomizes what this award represents. At age 69, Levenson currently has eight children residing in her home, ranging in age from 8 months to 17 years old.

While Levenson’s biological children are grown and out of the house (she also has nine grandchildren and four greatgrandchildren), these eight are children she has either adopted, is fostering, or children whom Levenson has legal custody of.

Levenson was nominated for this award by a friend, Betsy Snow. In her nomination, Snow shared the following:

“Jane has offered foster care to countless youngsters, from babies to young adults, many of whom came from extremely difficult backgrounds. Jane has been a tireless advocate and caregiver. She deserves the respect and gratitude of our community.”

A lifetime of working with youth

Levenson grew up in Roseville, Minnesota, and moved to Duluth at age 18. She has worked with children all her life, including as a Head Start teacher, working with kids at Polinsky Rehab, and teaching swimming lessons at the YMCA.

When her children’s father passed away (Levenson has three sons), she started an in-home daycare in the early 1980s, so she could be home with her kids. She eventually became involved with Mentor Duluth, which introduced her to the idea of fostering and/or adoption. From that point forward, she has made fostering and adoption her life’s work.

“I love it,” she noted of helping children. “Personally, I was so delightfully well-parented and gifted with a loving, attentive family. And when my boys’ dad died, so many people stepped in to help me. This is my way of giving back.”

When asked how many children she has brought into her home over the years, Levenson replied, “I have absolutely no idea.”

But she knows it’s a lot.

For Levenson, the hard work and effort involved are absolutely worth it.

“Sitting down to dinner with my family, and knowing everyone is safe and happy — yet, not perfect — that just feeds my heart.”

Routines required

Levenson relies heavily on her organizational skills to raise eight kids, including strict bedtimes and routines for all that laundry. The children also pitch in to care for the family’s pets, which include two cats, a desert tortoise, a fish and a bird. Levenson uses an eight-passenger Toyota Sienna to transport her family around, which means that trips must be meticulously planned in advance.

Levenson’s kids come from a variety of backgrounds, races and ethnicities. Levenson herself is Jewish.

“Wherever we go, we bring diversity,” she noted with a laugh.

Advice

When asked for advice regarding getting involved in fostering or adopting children, Levenson shared, “I would highly recommend it. But you have to be the right person. I’d say you should be organized, flexible and non-judgmental. When you walk up to a parent or family who needs some help, you have to put your own parenting judgment in your back pocket. Nobody wants to be a bad parent, but sometimes life is messy.

“I couldn’t do any of this alone,” she added. “I have an

amazing support system of friends and family to help me.”

Levenson insists that she gets plenty of sleep, and she even finds time for hobbies on occasion. She enjoys reading, beadwork, walking, knitting and sewing.

Receiving the award

Levenson was caught off guard by receiving the Rosie Award.

“I was very surprised,” she said. “I do this work because I think it’s something everyone should do. And I do it quietly without expecting anything in return.

“The awards ceremony was one of the most fun nights I’ve had in a long time. It made me feel very special.” D

Andrea Busche is a Duluth freelance writer. Member FDIC

Silent Advocate Award DEB HOLMAN

By Andrea Busche

TheSilent Advocate Award is presented to a woman who silently helps their communities and neighbors.

This year’s winner is Deb Holman, street outreach coordinator for Duluth-based CHUM — a group of people of faith working together to provide basic necessities, foster stable lives, and organize for a just and compassionate community. Holman has been working with people experiencing homelessness since she started with CHUM in 2005. Holman also works part time at the Human Development Center, doing similar work.

Holman was nominated for the Silent Advocate Award by Roberta Pirkola, a friend and former colleague, who noted in her comments:

“When you describe ‘angels among us,’ Deb Holman is the person you are describing. She answers the calls of the homeless 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. When there is nobody else, she is the one they can count on. I nominate Deb for her selfless commitment to those who are lost and have no voice.”

Authentic and relatable

Holman, who is originally from Cloquet, has overcome many personal obstacles herself. Her relatability and nonjudgmental approach help her work with the community she serves.

“I have experience as a juvenile being in and out of facilities and group homes,” she explained. “A social worker became a mentor of mine. And I’m an addict, too; I’ve been in treatment between six and eight times, and 30 years ago I had a heroin overdose. That was a wake-up call; I almost died. I hope this can give other people some hope.”

Service

Through her work with CHUM, Holman meets people wherever they need her, whether that be outside in a tent, at the library, or in a soup kitchen. From there, next steps depend on what each individual needs.

“We get them set up with things like food stamps, mental health treatment, income and housing,” Holman said. “But the biggest part is relationship building, so they trust you enough

to work with you.”

Although Holman has three dogs of her own, she also takes in occasional foster pets from people experiencing homelessness. Sometimes this arrangement is temporary; sometimes it is permanent. Holman noted the generous support of Dougherty Veterinary Clinics, who help her provide these beloved pets with quality care.

Personal life

When she isn’t working or spending time with her furry family, Holman enjoys being outside. She likes all outdoor activities, but particularly walking on the beach.

But her work and her pets are her true passion.

“My life is pretty much my work, and I feel an obligation to spend as much time with my pets as I can,” she said.

Advice

For those who are interested in serving their community, Holman offered some advice.

“Start by volunteering. The need is there. It doesn’t matter what background you come from, as long as you have the desire to do the work.”

There is no doubt that some sadness is inherent to working with the homeless. However, CHUM’s success stories have helped Holman remain motivated to continue this work over the years.

For instance, “We had one person on the streets for quite some time. He was formerly in the union with a good job,” she said. “Ultimately, we got him treatment and he has since purchased his own home.”

Award

Holman typically shies away from public recognition. However, she is deeply grateful to receive the Silent Advocate Award and be honored at the Rosie Awards event.

“I don’t like being nominated for stuff — it’s just not me,” she said. “But I’m very appreciative for being chosen. It means that people recognize what I do and are appreciative.”

She also wanted to express her gratitude for the entire community’s support.

“I couldn’t do this work without all the connections and

relationships in the community,” she said. “Everything from our hospitals, jails, animal control, the Clean & Safe Team, the Benedictine Monastery, Dougherty Funeral Home and our drug treatment facilities.

“Poverty and homelessness can happen to anyone, especially in this time of rising rent prices and COVID. It isn’t always due to addiction or mental health. It could happen to anybody.” D

Andrea Busche is a Duluth freelance writer.

Most Engaged Volunteer Award KATHY LEONARD

By Andrea Busche

TheMost Engaged Volunteer Award is given to a woman who goes above and beyond and works tirelessly in the region for the community.

This year’s winner is Kathy Leonard, who has been volunteering her time in a variety of capacities since she was a teenager. Leonard was nominated for this award by Liz Patronas-Abrahamson, a volunteer coordinator at St. Luke’s hospital — one of the places Leonard volunteers.

In her nomination, Patronas-Abrahamson shared, “Kathy is a dedicated volunteer and has been a huge part of the volunteer department, and most recently the COVID vaccine clinic.

“Having Kathy on our volunteer team allows staff to focus more time on patient care. All of our volunteers are truly our daily heroes, each and every one of them. Thank you, Kathy, for being especially flexible during COVID-19, and for being an amazing and much-appreciated volunteer at St. Luke’s.”

An early start

Leonard, who was born in St. Paul, Minnesota, started volunteering at an early age, after being inspired by her dad.

“I can remember my dad teaching Sunday school, and he also helped out in the soup kitchen,” she said. “He was really a role model for me.”

As a teenager, Leonard volunteered in the nursery at her church, and later as a candy striper in a hospital.

Career

Leonard earned a bachelor’s degree in dental hygiene from the University of Minnesota and later earned a master’s degree in education from the University of Minnesota Duluth. She moved to Duluth in 1976.

The entirety of Leonard’s career was spent in dental hygiene, both as a hygienist, along with teaching dental hygiene at the college level. She taught at the University of Minnesota, the University of Oklahoma and UMD. Leonard officially retired in 2020.

Volunteer resumé

Leonard enjoyed utilizing her skills and talents in the dental field to give back. She volunteered as a curriculum consultant with the American Dental Association for 20 years.

Additionally, Leonard began volunteering at St. Luke’s in

1995 and continues her work there to this day. She began at the triage desk and has subsequently volunteered in many other areas at St. Luke’s, including the breast center, gift shop, COVID clinic, human resources, Building A (where she worked in the surgery center and main entrance), and she has also rocked babies.

Leonard has helped build a house alongside Habitat for Humanity. She is a former member of the Junior League of Duluth. And she currently serves as a junior warden at her church, St. Paul’s Episcopal.

For Leonard, this work is highly enjoyable — particularly the social aspects.

“I respect and appreciate all the extraordinary volunteers I work with,” she said. “We just bond, and we have so much fun together.”

Family and hobbies

Leonard lives in Duluth’s Congdon Park neighborhood. Her late husband, Edward, passed away in 2015. Together, they created a blended family, including three adult daughters and five grandchildren, whom she sees as often as she can.

In her spare time, Leonard loves to hike and golf. She has participated in a golf league through Nemadji Golf Course in Superior for 25 years.

Advice

For those looking to give back to their community, Leonard has plenty of encouraging words.

“Any little act of volunteering is appreciated,” she said. “It doesn’t have to be big. It’s very easy to do, and it’s fun. I just really enjoy it, and it’s very rewarding. I think we all have to do what we can to make the world a better place.”

Award

Leonard was surprised to receive the Most Engaged Volunteer Award during the Rosie Awards event.

“It’s hard to put into words how I feel,” she said. “But it’s an honor. There were so many deserving people worthy of this award.” D

Con gratulations, Ka thy!

Andrea Busche is a Duluth freelance writer.

ABOVE: 5th Annual Rosie Awards winners include (front row from left) Anndrea Ploeger, Kathy Leonard, Jolene Sajac-Timmers, (back row, from left) Amber Burns, Abigail Boone, Jane Levenson and Deb Holman. BELOW and FACING PAGE: A large crowd attended the event held at the DECC's Horizon Room.

Keynote speaker: Amanda Cunningham

Celebrating Community Women

5th Annual Rosie Awards Keynote Speaker: AMANDA CUNNINGHAM

The fifth annual Rosie Awards, an event celebrating and recognizing women in the Northland, was held in May. Amanda Cunningham, owner of Mike & Jen’s Cocoa Mix, delivered the keynote address, sharing her personal journey and encouraging women to shape their own futures.

“Don't be afraid of being uncomfortable and scared,” Cunningham said. “If you don't give it a shot, you will never know what you can do.”

About Cunningham

Cunningham lives out her own advice. She graduated as the only woman in her class at St. Cloud State University for meteorology. In 2004 Cunningham moved to Duluth when she took a position working at the National Weather Service office. She was their first female lead forecaster in the office’s 130-year history.

Fire safety is one of Cunningham’s passions and she became a specially trained wildland fire weather expert for the U.S. Forest Service. During summers she would spend time on-site providing fire weather support for some of the largest wildfires across the country. Then she started her own business as a fire weather specialist, teaching fire courses in the U.S. and abroad. She is also a firefighter with the Hermantown Fire Department.

But that’s not all. Cunningham, who also owns and operates a fitness center in Duluth, is the co-owner of the ever-growing and popular hot cocoa brand Mike & Jen’s Cocoa Mix. In 2012 her childhood friend, Dean Packingham, started the cocoa brand. When the small business came to a turning point in 2016, Cunningham proposed an idea.

“I told Dean, “Let’s do this together and grow Mike & Jen’s Cocoa Mix for one year. Then we will see where we are and what kind of business we have and make a plan to go from there,” Cunningham said.

The business kept growing, as did the partnership.

“Over the year, we found we were total opposites and the perfect match as business partners. I did all the accounting and finances, as a self-proclaimed spreadsheet lover, and Dean did

the marketing and sales,” Cunningham said. “By 2018 we both quit our jobs as meteorologists at the National Weather Service, where we had been co-workers for 15 years, and we’re running Mike and Jen’s Cocoa full time.”

Mike & Jen’s Cocoa Mix is now sold in over 1,000 retail stores across the Great Lakes region. Beginning this fall, it will be carried in all Minnesota Costco locations.

Rosie Awards

Delivering the keynote address at the 2022 Rosie Awards was an honor and privilege for Cunningham.

“There are so many inspirational women doing amazing work in our community who are unknown and often underappreciated,” she said. “Events such as the Rosie Awards give a time and place to uncover these women and a chance really to say thank you.”

At the awards Cunningham met and heard stories from other local women.

“It’s so exciting and fun anytime you get to learn about who is out there in the community,” she said. “I, along with so many others, go about my daily life not knowing that all these incredible women are out there.”

As the keynote speaker, Cunningham was thrilled to share her story, and as a leader in her fields she encourages others.

“Lead by example and always do more than you expect of others,” Cunningham advocated. “You are the holder of your future.” D

Molly Milroy is a Duluth freelance writer.

By Molly Milroy PHOTO COURTESY OF AMANDA CUNNINGHAM

Amanda Cunningham is a small business owner of several entities: Mike and Jen’s Cocoa Mix, SNAP Fitness Lakeside, and Eagle Fire Weather.

Our mission is reflected in the work we do every day. And it’s the people of this place who inspire us. Here, we share our lives, our work, our stories. It’s people like Paige, who helps patients gain back the confidence they thought they lost, that make this place unlike any other. We are called to make a healthy difference in people’s lives.

Leadership AwardAMBER BURNS

By Andrea Busche

The Leadership Award is presented to a woman who represents outstanding achievement in their field of endeavor.

This award was presented to Amber Burns, whose leadership spans the entire artistic spectrum through her work at the Duluth Playhouse. Additionally, she is an artist herself and possesses talents as an actress, singer, dancer, choreographer and painter.

Burns received nominations for the award from Ann Primozich and BreAnn Graber, both of whom have children enrolled in programming at the Playhouse. Their nominations included the following highlights:

“As a true leader, Amber empowers those around her to do good work, and is always overly humble when given

compliments or kudos for her efforts.”

“Excellence in leadership is ultimately defined by the ways in which your leadership influences others, how well you demonstrate inclusion for all, and how well you have cultivated the relationships around you. This is Amber.”

Duluth Playhouse

In her role as artistic director of the family theater and education programming for the Duluth Playhouse, which also includes work for the NorShor Theatre and St. Louis County Depot, Burns wears many hats.

“My job is twofold,” she explained. “I oversee all of the family theater productions. I get the kids auditioning and assemble a team.

“I also run the educational programming. This is mainly to help students and young actors with being in a play or musical. We teach artistic habits that they can use in everyday life, such as confidence and collaboration. We also teach things like stage direction, choreography and more.”

The Playhouse shut down operations during the pandemic. However, Burns continued teaching dance classes and workout classes — virtually — throughout this time.

“I wanted to continue engaging our audience,” she said.

Burns and her team are looking forward to their upcoming productions, which will be presented this coming summer: “James and the Giant Peach,” and “High School Musical.”

A perfect fit

For Burns, her current job is a perfect fit. Originally from the Chaska/Chanhassen, Minnesota area, she earned a bachelor’s degree in art education from the University of Minnesota Duluth, and later, a master’s degree in arts administration from the University of Denver online.

“I kind of fell into this position,” Burns said of her current job. “I’m very passionate about art in general, and this opportunity came up. It’s everything I love in one job.”

Burns has also served on the board for the Arrowhead Regional Arts Council. She is still involved with this organization, now serving as a grant reviewer and community panelist. She has also worked as a grant reviewer for the Minnesota State Arts Board, and as a spotlight evaluator for the Hennepin Theatre Trust.

Art and other interests

Additionally, Burns is an artist herself. She enjoys acting, singing, dancing, choreography and painting. She has personally performed in productions of “42nd Street,” “Mamma Mia,” and “Singing in the Rain.”

She and her husband, Bryan, share their home with several

pets. They have a dog named Dugger, a cat named Pepper, and a tank full of freshwater fish. In her spare time, Burns also enjoys running and yoga.

Advice

For other people, and specifically women, who want to take on a leadership role in their profession, Burns said, “Start by knowing your own values and what you believe in. Always ask questions and ask for help and support. Finally, seek out guidance and find a mentor.”

Award

Burns wasn’t expecting to receive the Leadership Award at the recent Rosie Awards.

“I was very surprised, and I feel so humbled,” she said. “My job is very big, and to know that people recognize that I put in a lot of work and care so much means a lot to me.” D

Andrea Busche is a Duluth freelance writer.

Spirit Award ANNDREA PLOEGER

By Andrea Busche

TheSpirit Award is presented to a woman who has shown exceptional courage and determination. Anndrea Ploeger, this year’s winner at the Rosie Awards, was nominated by her husband, Mark Johnson.

In October 2019, the couple experienced the tragic death of their son, River, during childbirth. To honor their beloved child, Ploeger has discovered many ways to give back to the community, sharing her experience of a home birth, helping other parents through infant and child loss, and raising money for the St. Louis River Alliance — all in River’s name.

In his nomination, Johnson shared, “I’m nominating my wife, Anndrea Ploeger, because she deserves to be recognized for the work she has done. She is a role model to others. She has experienced the greatest loss anyone can imagine.”

River

Ploeger, who co-owns two Superior, Wisconsin-based businesses — Blue Arrow Boutique and SPACES by Blue Arrow — at first experienced a happy, healthy pregnancy. She and her husband chose to have a home birth, and hired a certified nurse midwife, along with a doula who was also certified as a midwife.

Tragically, baby River died during childbirth, the cause of which is still unexplained.

“Everything was normal,” Ploeger said. “The autopsy results and placenta testing told us he was a healthy, normal little boy.”

Looking back, Ploeger and Johnson wish they would have chosen a hospital birth, which they later did for the arrival of their son, August (“Gus”), who was born in December 2020.

“I would not ever recommend a home birth,” Ploeger said. “A hospital birth is the safest.”

Giving back

Eventually, Ploeger knew she wanted to give back. In 2009, she had started selling her homemade jewelry on Etsy, under the name “Anndrea’s Art.” She has since created a tab on her website, which reads “FORIVER,” where she sells stickers and sweatshirts featuring River’s handprint.

The proceeds from these sales, along with the money received for River’s memorial — which had to be postponed due to the COVID-19 pandemic — were donated to the St. Louis River Alliance.

“It has his name in it, it’s important to us, and it touches a lot of people,” Ploeger explained about why they selected that organization.

Additionally, Ploeger has connected with other parents through St. Luke’s hospital and the St. Luke’s Foundation. In October 2021, she gave a talk about infant and child loss at St. Luke’s. And, starting this July, Anndrea and Mark will be volunteering their time to lead a grief group, specifically for parents who have lost a child.

Gus

Ploeger and Johnson’s son Gus has brought much joy to their lives. But River will always be present, too.

“Gus is very happy and outgoing,” Ploeger said. “He’s a little spark of life. But we are living a life of joy and grief. For every ‘first’ that Gus experiences, we are very aware that River didn’t get that.”

Ploeger and Johnson are making sure Gus always knows who his brother was.

“We have River’s photos up in our home, and models of his hands and feet,” Ploeger said.

Advice

Ploeger offered her perspective to other parents who have lost an infant or child.

“It’s OK to talk about your child,” she said. “And sometimes there isn’t an answer about why they died. I would tell other moms not to blame themselves.”

Ploeger also recommends talk therapy as a way to process through grief.

“It’s a lot of work, but definitely worth it,” she said.

Award

Ploeger is honored to receive the Spirit Award. However, she acknowledges there are some mixed feelings involved.

“It was hard to hear people tell me ‘congratulations,’” she said. “After all, if River was here, I wouldn’t have won this award. But I’m so grateful to be acknowledged for what I’m doing to honor his memory. And for Mark to take the time to honor this experience

by nominating me just fills my heart. This award gives me a bigger voice to share the work that I’m doing.” D

Andrea Busche is a Duluth freelance writer.

Mentor Award JOLENE SAJEC-TIMMERS

can achieve when your heart is in it.”

By Andrea Busche

The Mentor Award is presented to a woman who has acted as an experienced and trusted adviser to those around her.

This year’s winner is entrepreneur and cosmetologist Jolene Sajec-Timmers, who received nominations from her lifelong friend, Dee Myers; her sister, Jessica Matson; former employee, Heather Kolodzeske; and business partner, Raya Horst.

Here are a few of the comments included within these nominations:

“Jolene has shaped my career in every way.”

“She has taught me everything I know.”

“Jolene made me feel not only welcome and at home, but she planted a new seed of excitement and possibility in my mindset.”

“Jolene has shown me there are no limitations to what you

“Jolene’s leadership skills are proven by the enormous growth in her businesses, and respect she has from her colleagues.”

Her businesses

Sajec-Timmers began her career as a certified cosmetologist. She is trained to treat nails, skin, hair, eyelashes and more.

In 2010, she opened her first business, Serenity Spa and Salon in Superior (1705 Tower Ave.). She later added Superior Salon Suites, Twin Ports Laser and Cosmetic, and Posh Affair Boutique to her empire.

Over the years, Sajec-Timmers has mentored many other women, including her own employees. In fact, she is aware of at least seven women who were initially stylists and have since branched out to become independent business owners.

“I always wanted to create a facility where my stylists would have an opportunity to grow,” she said.

Other initiatives

Additionally, Sajec-Timmers has inspired others through her community service. She previously served as an ambassador for the SuperiorDouglas County Area Chamber of Commerce, and also served on the WITC Advisory Board for the School of Cosmetology.

She has been involved with Harbor House Crisis Shelters, March of Dimes, The Center Against Sexual and Domestic Abuse (CASDA), and many other initiatives. She also required that each of her employees participate in two community events per year.

“It’s important to give back to the community, because the community does so much for us,” she explained.

Education is also very important to her. Sajec-Timmers has continued her training and certifications throughout her career, and has made the same opportunities available for her employees.

She has created a scholarship to help young people succeed. The Serenity Spa and Salon Scholarship was created in 2013 for students entering the barber/cosmetology program at WITC (now Northwood Technical College), with a GPA of 2.5 or better.

Personal

Sajec-Timmers and her husband, Steven, split their time between Solon Springs, Wisconsin, and Florida. They have two sons, Steven, 25, and Trevor, 23, along with two Shih Tzu dogs, Eddie and Esther. In her time off, Sajec-Timmers enjoys kayaking, reading and getting plenty of “beach time.”

Recently, Sajec-Timmers sold three of her four businesses. Her next business venture is a new product line — Vivid Beauty and Wellness — which will specialize in skin care, lashes and teeth-whitening products.

Advice

Sajec-Timmers shared that she has relied on a team of experts to get where she is today.

“For anyone starting a new business, I would refer them to a variety of professionals who helped me,” she explained. “This includes Mike Lattery with the Entrepreneur Fund, Parrish Jones, my attorney, and Jodi Rochon with the Superior Business

Improvement District, among others. It can be hard to build a foundation, and I love referring people to those who have helped me.”

An unexpected honor

Receiving the Mentor Award during the Rosie Awards was a deeply moving experience for Sajec-Timmers.

“It was really emotional,” she said. “I have always wanted to help ‘my girls,’ but you don’t really see it happening when you’re doing it. I often forgot how my work has impacted other stylists, and how they can use it to grow their own businesses.” D

Andrea

WOMEN’S

Busche is a Duluth freelance writer.

Trailblazer Award ABIGAIL BOONE

By Andrea Busche

TheWoman Today presented a brandnew category within the “Rosie Award” family this year — the Trailblazer Award. This award honors a woman who blazes the path for others to follow.

The inaugural winner of the Trailblazer Award is Abigail Boone. She started at Duluth-based Kivi Bros Trucking in 2019 as a flatbed driver. Today, Boone works as a heavy-haul driver. With this promotion, Boone has the distinction of being the first female heavy-haul driver in Kivi’s history, and only the seventh female heavy-haul driver in the United States.

Boone was nominated for the Trailblazer Award by a colleague, Erin Wakefield, who shared:

“Abigail is an astounding example of what drive, perseverance and fearlessness looks like. Already in the minority as a woman in trucking, Abigail never let that stop her for a second. In two short years, she has worked her way into our most elite division and is now one of our heavy-haul drivers, and the first woman in our company's history to become one.

“She also never stops encouraging other women in trucking to push harder for their goals. She encourages them not to be afraid and to go for their biggest dreams. She has forever changed my perception of women in this industry and what we are able to achieve.”

Previous roles

Boone is originally from central Oregon, and moved to the Twin Ports three years ago to work for Kivi. She was raised on a farm and learned to work hard at an early age.

“I used to hate it,” she said. “But now, I say to my parents, ‘Thank you for raising me tough.’”

Boone’s father was also a truck driver, and an early inspiration to her.

“I love trucks, tractors and any kind of machinery. Trucking is in my blood,” she said.

Prior to becoming a truck driver, Boone worked in juvenile corrections, as a veterinary assistant, and as a wildlife

firefighter. She has a bachelor’s degree in criminal justice from Southern Oregon University.

Challenges

In her 43 years, Boone has overcome many challenges. She has lost three infants — twin daughters and a son. She has survived cervical cancer — twice. She is proud to have 20 years of sobriety from a heroin addiction. And she currently has a condition called ankylosing spondylitis, a type of arthritis affecting the back and spine.

“I’ve had some serious struggles,” she said. “I like telling other women, ‘You can do this no matter what.’ It just depends on how much we want to fight. For me, my body may have difficulties, but I have a fighting spirit.”

Trucking

When Boone’s adult son, Wyatt, was pursuing a welding degree, Boone asked herself what she wanted to do with her life. The answer was trucking. She began by taking an unpaid course at CR England (a well-known trucking company and training school), followed by an apprenticeship, where she also earned her commercial driver’s license.

She was then hired by Kivi Bros in 2019 as a flatbed truck driver, where she transported plywood, shingles and small machinery across the region. Today, in her role as a heavy-haul driver, she hauls large machinery valued in the millions of dollars. Depending on the freight, her travels take her across the Lower 48.

“To be a heavy-haul driver, you have to have a different kind of intellect and a different skill set,” she said. “We’re heavy,

bulky and need five lanes just to make a turn. I always … drive slow and steady. I watch and try to predict others’ movements. I’m responsible for everyone’s lives around me, whether they’re aware of it or not.”

Family and enjoyment

Boone and her husband, David, have been married for five years. He works as a mobile mechanic for Northern Clearing in New York.

In her spare time, Boone enjoys being in the woods. She also likes drinking wine on her mom’s porch in Oregon, and spending time with her grandson, Hank, who lives in Montana.

Advice

Boone happily shared a few words of wisdom for women

who want to enter the trucking industry.

“I would say just blend in,” she said. “We don’t need to use our femininity to be powerful — you don’t have to be pretty or cute. We can use our hearts and minds.”

Award

Boone is humbled and proud to receive the inaugural Trailblazer Award.

“It’s like a beacon of hope for everyone out there who’s been told they can’t do something,” she said. “As women, we can overcome anything.” D

Andrea Busche is a Duluth freelance writer.

MAY VP /Busine ss Ba nker

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St. Luke’s urologist also served in Army National Guard

By Andrea Busche

Dr. Rebekah Beach grew up on a dairy farm in the tiny town of Clontarf, Minnesota — population 175. Beach was ambitious, but wondered how she would pay for college. While her parents were hard-working farmers, she came from a family of modest means.

It was through the Minnesota Army National Guard that Beach was introduced to the world at large, and all of its possibilities. Ultimately, the military helped her receive an education, see the world, visit the White House, and even introduced her to her husband, Gregory.

Today, Beach is a physician — a urologist at St. Luke’s hospital in Duluth, Minnesota. Although she is now retired from the military, she is grateful for the plethora of opportunities it brought her way.

Life on the farm

Beach, along with her brother and sister, pitched in on the family farm.

“My parents would do the morning chores, and the expectation was that we’d do the evening chores,” she said.

Interestingly, it was through life on the farm that she became interested in medicine.

“I got into medicine because my dad

Rebekah Beach holds newborn Henry in 2014. Daughter Lydia was born in 2016.

is a big, tough dairy farmer — except when it comes to blood,” she noted with a chuckle. “So, my dad taught me to do the vaccines and assist the vet. So, I became interested in medicine at an early age.”

Military

In 2001, while still a junior at Benson High School, Beach enlisted in the Army National Guard, where she would ultimately serve until 2015. Joining the military was actually a bit of a fluke for her.

“I had a foster sister who was interested in joining the Army,” Beach said. “We had a recruiter at the house who was talking to my sister about being an Army medic. September 11th had just happened, and everyone was feeling kind of rocked by that. I hadn’t thought about enlisting until then.”

Beach attended basic training at Fort Leonard Wood, Missouri, in the summer between her junior and senior years of high school. She explained the dramatic effect basic training had on her.

“I came home a completely different person,” she said. “When I left, I was a shy, overweight, not very confident

Continued on page 28

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person, and through the military, I became incredibly disciplined, fit and confident. It was an incredible experience that pushed me to mature. Prior to that, I had only been on an airplane once, and I had barely even left the state.”

After high school graduation, she went through medic training at Fort Sam Houston, Texas. While Beach wasn’t allowed to be deployed to a combat zone at that time due to being a woman (a fact that disappointed her), she enjoyed serving one weekend a

month and two weeks a year with the National Guard. Some of her assignments included a two-week mission to Louisiana after Hurricane Katrina, and a cold weather survival session in Norway.

Later, while enrolled at North Dakota State University, Beach joined the Army ROTC, where she spent two and a half years — eventually becoming a medical officer. A highlight of this time was being selected to be sworn-in at the White House — a rare honor, as each state only selected one representative.

While in the ROTC, Beach met her husband, Gregory, a transportation officer, who was originally from the Twin Cities. The two were married in 2010.

Education and medical career

Beach graduated with a bachelor’s degree in dietetics, and attended medical school at the University of Minnesota Duluth. At first, Beach thought she’d become a primary care physician, but found she enjoyed the field of urology after completing a rotation with the urologist on duty.

“A patient would come in with a stone, and we could immediately help them the same day,” she said. Beach also shared another contributing motivation — her grandmother had survived kidney cancer, and ultimately lived to be a “robust, 89-year-old lady.”

Beach completed her urology residency at the University of Michigan in 2016. The couple moved back to Duluth when she was offered a job at St. Luke’s, and she’s been there ever since. Interestingly, three out of the urology department’s five physicians are women.

As a junior in high school, Rebekah Syverson enlisted in the Army National Guard in 2001 and served until 2015.

Rebekah Syverson met her future husband, Gregory Beach, in the military and the couple married in 2010.

As a urologist, Beach treats a variety of issues, including kidney stones, incontinence, cancers affecting the kidney, bladder and prostate, and many other conditions. Beach sees patients of all ages and genders.

“It’s so rewarding how close I get to my patients,” she said. “They come to me to ask about the most intimate aspects of their lives. It’s such a privilege to be able to help them with what are sometimes embarrassing conditions. I work hard to develop a good rapport with my patients and earn their trust.”

Family

Beach and her husband have two children: Henry, born in 2014, and Lydia, who was born in 2016. Both Rebekah and Gregory Beach are retired from the military. Gregory worked as a police officer for a time, but is now a stay-at-home dad and prolific volunteer.

Together, the family enjoys camping, fishing, biking and traveling back to Clontarf to help with the family farm. Beach also enjoys hiking, baking and is a novice curler. The Beach family lives in Hermantown.

Advice

Beach offered some words of wisdom for youth who are considering either military service or a career in medicine.

“When it comes to the military, I would say do it,” she said. “You won’t find an experience on the civilian side that will compare to it. The military has made me a much more confident person, and I’m able to stand up for my personal beliefs.

“And, when it comes to the field of medicine, if that’s what your heart pulls you to do, then do it. You’ll never find another job as rewarding as being entrusted to care for another human being.” D

Andrea Busche is a Duluth freelance writer.

NOTJUST A LOOK, IT’S A

The Duluth Woman’s Club highlights historic homes

By Abigail Blonigen

The Duluth Women’s Club has been bringing women together for nearly 100 years under the tagline “See what women working together can do.”

The roots of the Duluth Woman’s Club date back to 1889, becoming official in 1923 with the merger of the Saturday Club and the Duluth Woman’s Club Council. The newfound Woman’s Club aimed to provide both social and civic opportunities for women by creating a “non-political, permanent citywide central headquarters for women and to awaken a wider interest in public affairs,” according to its website.

Mrs. J. L. Washburn was instrumental in organizing the club, and Mrs. F. A. Patrick served as the first president. Their first major initiative was to purchase a physical space for the group’s meetings and events.

In 1936, the club purchased the Alexander and Katherine Hartman house, built in 1910 and designed by architect Frederick Perkins. The Hartmans were the original owners

of the red brick Tudor home, which sold for $18,000 at the time.

Since then, the Duluth Women’s Club has been caring for the home, making updates as necessary and preserving its historical features. In 2017, the home was officially designated as a Duluth Heritage Preservation Landmark by the City’s Heritage Preservation Commission.

“I'm very pleased to know that our beautiful clubhouse will be maintained the way it was when the Hartmans owned it,” said former Woman’s Club president — and current building and grounds chair — Ellie Dryer.

In addition to the upkeep of the Woman’s Club building, the club hosts games, weekly lunches with presentations, day trips and a variety of special events. They also volunteer as a group for organizations such as Safe Haven, Bentleyville and the Salvation Army.

The largest event the club hosts is its annual Tour of Homes and Gardens. Each year, on the third Wednesday in

Duluth Woman's Club volunteers gather at the 2021 Fall Bazaar, one of the fundraisers that enable the club to maintain the historic 1910 home. Members host weekly lunches with presentations, games, day trips, and volunteer throughout the community as well. Their largest fundraiser is the annual Tour of Homes and Gardens.

The Duluth Woman’s Club home, a 1910 red brick Tudor at 2400 East Superior Street in Duluth, was built in 1910, designed by architect Frederick Perkins, and purchased by the Duluth Woman’s Club in 1936. In 2017, the home was designated a Duluth Heritage Preservation Landmark by the City’s Heritage Preservation Commission.

July, the tour features a handful of historic homes and several beautiful gardens in Duluth, drawing an average of around 500 participants.

“Planning gets to be a challenge after a while when we've used them all,” said Dryer. “But I don't think we'll ever run out because Duluth has so many gorgeous, gorgeous homes.”

The tour is open to the public and self-guided, so participants are welcome to go at their own pace. This year’s Home and Garden Tour will be from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday, July 20. The tour is the club’s largest fundraiser of the year; the proceeds help with repairs of the home and

funding for club events.

Women of all ages, backgrounds and interests are welcome to join the Duluth Woman’s Club. There are no specific membership requirements outside of the yearly fee, and members are welcome to participate as much as they are able to commit.

One can apply to become a member online at duluthwomansclub.com. There is also an option for a free twomonth trial membership. D

Abigail Blonigen is a Minnesota freelance writer.

Border Town Betties celebrate vintage fashion with modern values

By Abigail Blonigen

“

Vintage fashion, not vintage values” is a common saying in the pin-up subculture, which local businesswoman Becky Sherf has been acquainted with for nearly 20 years.

Scherf has always been drawn to vintage fashion and started collecting it at a young age. Dressing in her unique style introduced her to others who were into vintage and pin-up. Sherf now co-owns Wrong Side of the Bridge Vintage in Superior.

She is also co-founder and president of Border Town Betties, a Duluth-Superior organization whose mission is “to celebrate the beauty of all women and empowering women to share it with our community with boldness, poise, energy and outreach,” according to their website.

The term “pin-up girl” came around in the 1940s, as

soldiers in World War II would “pin up” posters of beautiful women to boost morale. Pin-up girls were even painted on the exterior of airplane bombers.

“It kind of just became a subculture again — in the ’90s into the early 2000s — with rockabilly music and as a way for women to reclaim femininity in a powerful way,” Sherf said.

For many, the pin-up girl is seen as a symbol of women’s liberation, as it became more socially acceptable to wear formfitting or skimpy clothing. Women’s bodies were being celebrated instead of hidden under layers of fabric. Additionally, according to History Collection, illustrations and photos of pin-up girls showed women in a variety of careers as women were entering the workforce during the war.

On the other hand, the popularization of the perfect pin-up girl also led to the objectification and commercialization of the female body. As stated in History Collection, brands quickly

Border Town Betties include (from left to right) Louren Yzaguirre (LouLou L’Amour), Theresa Hamman (Rosie Sparx), Lela Wright-Landsverk (Lela Bells), Becky Scherf (Brody Bombshell) and Kerbie Mullenix (Crimson Fox).

realized that sexiness sells, so pin-up girls were used to promote everything from war bonds to magazines to CocaCola, reducing the woman in the picture to a marketing tactic.

Border Town Betties, along with many modern pin-up groups, reject the outdated values associated with the ’40s and ’50s and instead focus on uplifting each other and their community while sporting the fun pin-up style.

“The pin-up culture is based on female empowerment and body positivity in a way to take (the narrative) back, whereas back in the day, women didn't really get to do that,” Scherf said.

Border Town Betties was founded in 2019 by Scherf and Molly Stonesifer. Their inaugural event was the Miss Motorhead Pin-up Contest. Similar to drag, each member adopts a name and persona to go with their pin-up persona.

The Betties host a handful of contests each year, which are pageant-style events where participants are judged on vintage fashion, makeup and stage presence. The second round asks a question of contestants where they are judged on the content of their answer.

Some of the contests have themes: Miss Liberty for the Fourth of July car show in Superior, trains for the Proctor car show in honor of the railroad, rockabilly greaser style for Miss RockaBettie Rendezvous Pin-up Contest in Mahtowa, whereas

others — such as Miss Motorhead in Duluth — are general pin-up fashion.

To stay true to their mission of uplifting the community, the Betties participate in charity events year round. They have hosted benefits for organizations such as the Center Against Sexual & Domestic Abuse and St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital and for more direct community needs like medical bills and Christmas shopping.

This year they hosted a “fashion through the ages” show at the Douglas County Historical Society. Recently, the group shot a pin-up calendar to support the Richard I. Bong Veterans Historical Center.

Border Town Betties is in the process of becoming an official nonprofit organization. The group — which is currently about 30 strong — is open to anyone passionate or curious about vintage fashion. Members pay a small yearly fee and participate in as much as they are able to commit to.

Keep up with the Border Town Betties at bordertownbetties. com or on social media @bordertownbetties. D

Border Town Betties include (from left to right) Kara Gilbert (Rosette Papillon), Louren Yzaguirre (LouLou L’Amour), Becky Scherf (Brody Bombshell), Stephanie Thayer (Rowena Rogue), and Theresa Hamman (Rosie Sparx).

Abigail Blonigen is a Minnesota freelance writer.

Arts & Events Calendar

Movies in the Park

Fridays in July

Movies are free at Leif Erickson Park:

July 8 at 9:05 p.m. - Sing 2; July 17 at 9 p.m. - Beethoven; July 22 at 8:55 p.m. - Clifford the Big Red Dog; July 29 at 8:45 p.m. - 42. Visit www. downtownduluth.com/movies-in-the-park.

Chester Creek Concert Series

7 p.m. Tuesdays in July

Concerts are free at Chester Creek Park: July 5 - Boss Moma and the Jebberhooch (soul/ country); July 12 - Laura Velvet (funk/R&B); July 19 - Jojo Green (pop fusion); July 26Windjammers (big band/swing). Visit www. chesterbowl.org/uncategorized/chestercreek-concert-series-2022.

Bayfront Festival Park Concerts

July 1 - Bayfront Country Jam; July 3 - Hairball; July 9 - Trampled by Turtles with Jenny Lewis; July 16 - Bayfront Reggae & World Music Festival. Visit www. bayfrontfestivalpark.com/events-calendar.

Superior 4th of July Celebration

Monday, July 4

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.

The 24th annual event will feature a car and motorcycle show, parade, live music at Barker’s Island and fireworks. Visit www.ci.superior. wi.us/529/Fourth-of-July.

Duluth Fourth Fest

Monday, July 4

Enjoy live music throughout the day at Bayfront Festival Park and cap off the night with fireworks. Visit www. bayfrontfestivalpark. com.

Nice Girls of the North Arts & Crafts Show

10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday, July 9

A collaborative of artists sell handcrafted items, with the artists on hand as personal shoppers and a central checkout. Visit www. nicegirlsofthenorth. com.

Travis Tritt

Jurassic Quest

July 1-3

The largest and most realistic dinosaur exhibit in North America is coming to the DECC! The self-guided exhibit includes life-like dinosaurs, dinosaur-themed rides and attractions, live dinosaur shows, interactive science and art activities, a soft play area for toddlers, photo opportunities and more. Visit www.decc.org/event/jurassic-quest.

Footloose

July 1-17

The ’80s are back with this rockin’ musical, jam packed with all your favorite powerhouse hit songs from the era. Performances are held at the Norshore Theatre. Visit www.duluthplayhouse.org/ norshor-theatre.

7 p.m. Sunday, July 10 CMA and Grammy award-winning country artist Travis Tritt will perform his biggest hits with his band at the DECC. Visit www.decc.org/ event/travis-tritt.

‘Weird Al’ Yankovic

7:30 p.m. Monday, July 11

“The Unfortunate Return of the Ridiculously Self-Indulgent, IllAdvised Vanity Tour” will be held at the DECC. Visit www. decc.org/event/ weird-al-yankovic.

Bayside Sounds Around Town Concert Series

6pm Wednesdays July 13-Aug. 31

July 13 - Last Call (rock/country variety) at Billings Park; July 20 - The Fractals (surf and British invasion) at Fairlawn Museum,

with Ice Cream Social from 7-9 p.m.; July 27 - Woodblind (ska/reggae) at Kelly Park; Aug. 3 - Mackie Brothers (variety rock) at Central Park; Aug. 10 - John & Andy (acoustic) at Webster Dream Park; Aug. 17 0 Moors & McCumber (Americana) at Billings Park; Aug. 24 - South of Superior (pop) at Barker’s Island Festival Park, with Volunteer Appreciation; Aug. 31 - Whiskey Trail (country) at Barker’s Island Festival Park. See www.ci.superior.wi.us/215/Bayside-SoundsConcerts.

Sidewalk Days Festival

July 13-15

This threeday event includes live entertainment, food, music and fun for all ages in the heart of downtown Duluth. For a complete list of event details, visit www. downtownduluth.com.

James and the Giant Peach Jr.

July 15-24

Based on Roald Dahl’s quirky original tale, this show is best for ages 7 and up. Performances are held at the Duluth Playhouse. Visit https:// duluthplayhouse.org/family-theatre/.

Duluth Airshow

July 16-17

This event at the Duluth International Airport features the U.S. Air Force Thunderbirds and the U.S. Air Force F-35 Demonstration Team, as well as the YAK 110, Craig Gifford, Ken Pietsch, Mike Wiskus and more, and one of the largest displays of military aircraft in the Midwest. Visit www.duluthairshow.com.

Tour of Homes and Gardens

10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Wednesday, July 20

This day-long self-guided tour of Duluth’s historic and new homes includes five homes and three gardens. A map is provided. Tickets, $40, are available at duluthwomansclub. com. New members are always welcome; apply on website. A two-month, free trial membership is available.

Festival by the Lake 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. Saturday, July 23

Enjoy a full day of live music, exhibitors, shopping, food and fun at Bayfront Festival Park. Visit www. festivalbythelake.com.

The West Theatre Events

Thursdays in July

July 28: Walter Trout: Live at The West. Visit thewesttheatre/ events.com.

ONGOING:

Duluth Children’s Museum

115 S. 29th Ave. W., Duluth 218-733-7543

duluthchildrensmuseum.org

Duluth Depot

506 W. Michigan St., Duluth 218-727-8025

duluthdepot.org

Douglas County Historical Society 1101 John Ave., Superior 715-392-8449

douglashistory.org

Glensheen Historic Estate

3300 London Road, Duluth 218-726-8910

glensheen.org

Great Lakes Aquarium 353 Harbor Dr., Duluth 218-740-3474

glaquarium.org

Lake Superior Zoo 7210 Fremont St., Duluth 218-730-4500

lszooduluth.org

North Shore Scenic Railroad 506 W. Michigan St., Duluth 218-722-1273

duluthtrains.com

The Lake Superior & Mississippi Railroad 6930 Fremont St., Duluth 218-624-7549

lsmrr.org

Safe at St. Luke’s

Dr. Carley Udland shares how her team cares for kids in the hospital

By Claire Kiger

“Iwasalready a mom when I started medical school,” said Dr. Carley Udland, pediatric hospitalist at St. Luke’s. “So, I’ve never been a doctor without also being a mom.”

Now having three children with her husband, John, Dr. Udland understands the experience of parenthood on an even deeper level. “I completely get it,” she said. “All the complexities, joys, fears and questions that come with being a mom – I’ve been there. I’m still there! Raising kids is like having your whole heart outside your body.”

Dr. Udland knows how important it is for parents to be certain that their kids are safe. That’s why she’s proud to be part of a team of pediatric hospitalists. By offering 24/7 specialized pediatric care, this team makes sure that every baby, kid and teen gets the care they need at St. Luke’s.

What’s a pediatric hospitalist?

Many doctors split their time between seeing patients in clinic and in the hospital. However, a hospitalist is a doctor who focuses on caring for patients who need to be hospitalized. A pediatric hospitalist has specialized training to care for children in the hospital.

“Our job is to help kids who need to stay overnight at St.

Luke’s,” she said. “That covers everyone from healthy newborns to 17-year-old trauma patients.”

Dr. Udland’s team is committed to being on the leading edge of the most current hospital-based testing, diagnosis and treatment of pediatric conditions.

Pediatric hospitalists can be found throughout St. Luke’s. They care for patients in the Pediatric Inpatient Unit, attend every C-section, and consult in the Emergency Department as well as anywhere else a pediatric patient may be in the hospital. Much of their focus is on newborns in the Birthing Center.

Expert care for newborns

“One of the best parts of the job is working with new families,” said Dr. Udland. “We greet each newborn when they come into the world by doing routine checkups and talking with the parents. It helps everyone get started on the right foot.”

They provide additional care for babies who need extra attention.

“We can treat complications like respiratory issues and neonatal abstinence syndrome, offer high flow oxygen therapy and administer IV medications.”

This nursery is currently being remodeled with additional features and improved technology.

Pediatric Hospitalist Dr. Carley Udland cares for a patient in St. Luke’s Pediatric Inpatient Unit.

“We’re all really excited for the remodel,” said Dr. Udland. “One of the best features is the private parent and baby suites. So, if you come to St. Luke’s and your baby needs extra care, you won’t have to be separated from them. You’ll have a suite right in the nursery.”

St. Luke’s Specialized Care Nursery is scheduled to open in summer 2022.

Caring for kids at St. Luke’s

After working with several other healthcare systems in different parts of the country, Dr. Udland is proud to be at St.

Luke’s.

“We’re always adapting to what our community needs,” Dr. Udland said, “and people notice it. I meet lots of families who feel really cared for by St. Luke’s. I really appreciate being part of something like that.”

She also appreciates the team of pediatric hospitalists with whom she works.

“They are a great group,” she said. “We all work together for the good of our patients.”

This group includes Drs. Jordan Blessing, Maria Obaid and Emily Korman. Each of them is a parent, and each shares Dr. Udland’s passion for caring for children.

All this means that compassionate, expert care is always atthe-ready for kids at St. Luke’s – no matter what their age. From the moment they come to the hospital to the moment they leave, they will have immediate, safe and attentive care from a specially trained pediatric hospitalist and from other expert caregivers. So, parents can rest easy knowing that their kids are safe at St. Luke’s.

To learn more about inpatient care for children at St. Luke’s or meet the team of pediatric hospitalists, visit slhduluth.com/ CareforKids. D

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

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.

By Samantha Roffers

Hello, dear readers!

Welcome back to another fabulous issue of The Woman Today. I hope this issue finds you well. I am happy to say I think summer has officially made its way to the Northland. Everything is so green from our very rainy April and May. The birds are chirping in the morning, and the frogs are chirping at night. My garden seems to double in size every day and the chickens are happy to scratch the earth again. The lawn is back to weekly mowing and the kids are out of school for the summer. There is something so rewarding about spring for us Minnesotans. It’s almost as if we can all let out a collective sigh of relief, we made it through another winter! I truly think no one appreciates a warm spring day quite like us Northerners. Time to have fun in the sun and soak up all that Vitamin D that we possibly can. For this issue we pick up from where we left off in our May/June issue with more looks from our visit to Benders in Duluth. We found so many adorable outfits it was impossible to fit them all into one issue! Enjoy. D

by Sam

This look is so bright and fun — the ultimate lounging look, in my opinion. This vibrant button-down with frayed edges pairs perfectly with these funky capris. The capris feature a gorgeous beading around the bottom, light wash, frayed edges and offers a generous amount of stretch. This outfit is perfect for any occasion. I paired this with these solid black sandals. These are so comfortable and feature a hidden velcro adjustment, a perfect way to accommodate many different foot shapes.

2This outfit is absolutely stunning. This coral and floral bombshell top is so fun and gorgeous. It features an adorable tied waist at the bottom, three-quarter sleeves and a beautiful, flowy detail on the neckline. This top has a perfect fit and pairs wonderfully with jeans. You could easily pair this top with shorts for a casual spring day or slacks for work. This color and pattern is sure to brighten your day! I paired it with black flats with adorable detailing.

3This third look is so beautiful. You could easily wear this outfit during the spring, summer, fall and winter. This comfy cardigan with its beautiful sage color and adorable detailing can be paired with many different colors and patterns. It is thick enough to keep you warm on a chilly morning, but is also soft and breathable. This floral sleeveless top I paired it with is adorable and so flattering. It is a perfect spring and summer top and could be worn alone or with your favorite jacket or sweater. I kept the black flats from the previous outfit, giving it a perfect business casual feel. You could dress this whole look up or down — either way you are sure to be complimented.

A long and winding road

By Anthony Matt

If you take one look at 17-year-old Carson Schulte of Duluth, you’d see a pretty typical teenager — a senior at Denfeld High School, soccer captain plus a member of the tennis and hockey teams, as well. An independent kid learning his way through life, he desires a lot of autonomy, has a positive attitude and a desire to help others.

“He’s very strong and determined,” said Carson’s mom, Kristi. “You’d never know he has gone through some of the things he has experienced in his life already.”

At about 6 months old, Carson was diagnosed with Crohn’s Disease — a chronic disease that causes inflammation in your digestive tract and at times can be life-threatening. There is no known cure, but doctors can reduce the symptoms through treatment.

Because he was doing so well, Carson was able to stop taking medication, and did so without issue for the next 10 years — until January 2021.

“He was showing some pretty typical signs and symptoms of a flare-up for a couple of weeks,” Kristi said, “so we made an appointment at Essentia Health, but he ended up in the ER before that appointment came.”

A colonoscopy confirmed Carson was, indeed, dealing with a resurgence of his Crohn’s Disease. He was admitted to the hospital on March 3. Four days later, his colon ruptured, and he was rushed into emergency surgery to have it removed.

“It all happened so fast,” Kristi said. “We live right in town and he was in surgery before my husband, John, could make it from home to St. Mary’s Medical Center. But that quick thinking saved Carson’s life.”

The rupture was severe enough that a kidney specialist was called in to assist with surgery. Overall, three surgeons were involved.

“It was very scary,” Kristi said. “He had also gone into septic shock, and anytime you hear that your mind immediately imagines the worst-case scenario.”

Fortunately, the surgery was a success. But Carson would need to spend six weeks in the ICU recovering. Kristi said despite the difficult circumstances, she couldn’t have been more pleased with Carson’s care team.

“We owe them his life, we really do,” she said. “We were able to put full trust in the decisions of the doctors because each and every one of them was on the same page.”

One of the things Kristi was most pleased with was the ability of all the doctors and nurses on Carson’s care team to communicate clearly and efficiently to ensure he was always receiving the best care possible.

“I really appreciate the vast variety of specialties Essentia offers right here in Duluth,” Kristi said. “It’s so nice to not have to travel for Carson’s care and it wasn’t even a thought to bring him to another hospital because we knew he was receiving topnotch care at Essentia.”

Now, Carson is hoping to bring awareness to the disease. Because he knows just how scary it can be when faced with serious medical concerns, he aims to spread joy around Essentia’s pediatrics department by creating cards, sending well wishes and keeping the spirits up for all the young patients and their families.

“Carson is an amazing person and gives definition to the word resiliency,” said Dr. Amy Garcia, Carson’s gastroenterologist. “He always kept a positive attitude and that really helped him heal and get back to the soccer field as quick as he did. He has a bright future ahead of him and I am so grateful to have been able to help him keep moving forward.” D

Anthony Matt is the media relations specialist at Essentia Health.

Carson Schulte and his parents, John and Kristi, pose at Denfeld High School where Carson played soccer, tennis and hockey.

k i d skorner

By Ali Carlson

Sponsored by:

Summer is finally here and in full swing! Every year it seems to go by in the blink of an eye, and we, like most families, are going to try to take full advantage of it! There are so many fun summer camps available for kids — Sloane is participating in her first set of swimming lessons in July! Get out, get dirty, get wet, and enjoy the summer!

SLOanE’s Suggestions

Let’s Skate

At the Depot

Museum exhibits. Educational programming. Family events. The St. Louis County Depot is a welcoming space for all. Follow us on social media or visit our website to find all there is to experience inside this wonderous building. ExperienceTheDepot.org or “St. Louis Count Depot” on Facebook & Instagram.

At the Zoo

Birthdays are back!

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

Build Your Birthday Party Package!

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

At the Aquarium

Water Striders 1/2-day Camp

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

Construction-savvy homeowners build

Park Point dream house

By Tony Bennett

Onething’s for sure: When Heather Grazzini-Sims and her husband, Patrick Sims, set out to build a house for themselves on Duluth’s Park Point, they knew exactly what they wanted. Because, as it happens, they each build things for a living.

“I’m a part-owner in a specialty commercial-subcontracting company based out of the Twin Cities,” Grazzini-Sims said.

“I work for a general contractor, Adolfson & Peterson Construction, and I’m the director of operations for our Duluth office,” Sims said.

Early on in the pandemic, Grazzini-Sims was in Duluth with her husband.

“I went for a run one morning,” she said, “and I came back and told him, ‘I think we need to buy a house on Park Point.’”

Just like that.

“And my response was, ‘Maybe we should have something

up the shore, further along the lake,’” Sims said.

Grazzini-Sims, in the end, won out. The ability to run and ride her bike all over town seemed alluring to her. She also had a strong sense that there was an opportunity for some vacation rentals as well.

The couple said they both dove into the project with enthusiasm.

“For the most part, we divided the responsibilities. Heather’s more on the design side of things — what the house looks like, how the house functions, the different types of rooms, colors, finishes,” Sims said. “I’m on the construction side. I’m dealing more with the permitting from the city and gaining the variances that we needed to build on top of the foundation, getting building permits, hiring contractors and subcontractors.”

One’s a little bit country, one’s a little bit rock and roll,

Continued on page 43-49

With Lake Superior right off their back deck, Park Point homeowners Heather Grazzini-Sims and Patrick Sims enjoy the beautiful views of the lake on a daily basis.

The home’s foundation determined the footprint of the home, and due to variance restrictions, the homeowners had to build up, adding a second floor for bedrooms. The Craftsmaninspired design includes stacked windows in the living room that echo the steep pitch of the roofline. There’s easy access to the deck overlooking the lake side of the home, and a circular metal staircase from the deck to the yard and patio saves space and adds a modern touch.

In the kitchen, gold-tone quartz countertops from Cambria give a luxurious feel to the space that also includes a unique light set over the island, wide window and door trim, wood floors, and pops of color on the cabinets, stools and front door. The main space defines “open concept” to a tee: there are no barriers between the kitchen, dining and living room, and large windows and a sliding door provide expansive views of Lake Superior, visually pulling the outside in and expanding the space even more.

Maple cabinets line the kitchen walls in a bold but soothing green tone, balanced by white glassy tile. The light fixture over the island was designed from a piece of driftwood found in the yard when the home was purchased. A craftsman at Robinwood Reclaim in Minnetonka helped design and fabricate it into a light fixture that would complement the adjacent lights in the foyer and dining room.

A second-floor addition provides space for bedrooms and a bath, where the focus is on the view: window treatments are unnecessary when the black-framed windows by Marvin, sourced from Lampert Lumber, are encased in beautiful Craftsman-style wood trim. The bathroom features Cambria countertops with a subtle marble effect, and penny tile flooring.

Donny and Marie Osmond might’ve said. In any event, once the couple had their build plan, they reached out to Heather Hiner of Hiner Home Designs LLC to draw up the blueprints.

“I am the first stop for homeowners looking to build new, renovate, or add on to an existing home,” Hiner said. “My job is to bring ideas to the table and create design solutions for their project, considering factors such as budget, site restrictions and style preferences. I then document that design in a set of blueprints that a contractor can build from.

“This project is unique,” Hiner said, “because the footprint of the house was established before I was hired. The homeowner determined that the existing wood structure was beyond repair, but verified that the existing concrete-block foundation was structurally sound and could be saved. They went through the steps to obtain a variance, which enabled them to add on to the foundation, which then determined the exact perimeter in which I had to design within.

“My role was to create a vacation home for my client that would make the best use of the variance-approved footprint,” Hiner continued. “Because of the limited main floor area, a second level was needed to accommodate the bedrooms. So, instead of a traditional two-story roofline, a combination shed and offset-gable roofline was used to create architectural interest. What developed was a Craftsman-inspired design that takes full advantage of the proximity and views of the

Kelsey Hiner Heather Hiner ARCHITECTURAL DESIGN INTERIOR DESIGN

bay, with stacked great-room windows along a high, sloped ceiling with an open stair and balcony overlook from above. The open-concept design is perfect for entertaining and has direct access to a deck on the water’s edge. The upstairs is dedicated to sleeping space and has a cute little bunkroom with beds tucked under a sloped ceiling space.”

The project went smoothly, Hiner said, but there are always puzzles to solve.

“One challenge with this project was that the existing foundation determined the height of the main level, so steps were needed between the street level and front door, as well as between the garage and house,” she explained. “Because of that, the front porch is set up quite a bit higher than street level, and it was important that the design not look top-heavy, so I added a lower shed roof above the garage door to hide some of that height difference.”

Those that Grazzini-Sims and Sims worked with on the project have good things to say about the experience.

“She was pretty easy, as far as clients go,” said Calley Oetterer of GrazziniSims. Oetterer is design assistant at Maureen's, LLC in Duluth, and she assisted the couple with finding countertops. “She came in and knew what she was looking for and what she wanted. I kind of just facilitated getting her price quotes, setting up the templating date, setting up the install date.

“She chose for her kitchen the Cambria Quartz color called Britannica Gold. It’s a warmer countertop, with a lot of thick veining,” Oetterer added. “In her two bathrooms, she had two different vanities. She picked Cambria Swanbridge for those. A cooler tone, kind of a marbled effect. Light gray and charcoal.”

Heather Hiner feels good about how the project all came together, and she said that Grazzini-Sims and Sims have been very forthcoming with praise for her work.

“After I toured the completed home, I received an email from the homeowner

that said ‘I am so glad you got to see it finished. We are very pleased with how it all came together. We had a great experience with you, and I have mentioned your name several times.’”

The couple is thrilled with their finished product, which is roughly 2,300 square feet and boasts three bedrooms and two-and-a-half bathrooms. It’s the

Park Point house they dreamed of — the perfect place to sit and watch the big ships come in. D

Bennett is a Duluth freelance writer.

Tony

Paul Bunyan Communications ~Grand Rapids, MN

The living room is anchored in old-world charm with thick natural wood window trim, baseboards, flooring and fireplace surround, and filled with classic leather pieces. Lots of natural light floods the space from the lake-side wall of the home. The open staircase includes a unique balcony overlook.

Mediterranean Chickpea Salad

Dressing:

2 Garlic cloves, minced

1 Lemon, zested and juiced

2 oz. Extra Virgin Olive Oil (EVOO)

1 Tbsp. Kosher salt

½ Tbsp. Black pepper

½ Tbsp. Ground cumin

Salad:

2-3 Cans chickpeas, drained and rinsed

1 pint Cherry tomatoes, halved

6 Medjool dates, deseeded and minced

2 Hydro English cucumbers, deseeded, halved and cut into ½ inch slices

6 oz. Roasted red pepper, julienned

¼ bunch Fresh parsley, chopped

½ bunch Fresh mint, chopped

6 sprigs Fresh dill, chopped

1 Honey Chevre goat cheese, put aside a small amount for garnish

Mix dressing in a large bowl and then add remaining salad ingredients. Gently fold together. Season to taste. A splash of lemon juice may be required.

It’s GrillinG Time

At Mount Royal Market, we offer a superior pork product by providing the Duroc heritage breed. This consistent breeding, along with high-quality growing practices, ensures that we provide the best eating experience.

Duroc pork is:

• Antibiotic-free, no added hormones, all-natural and traceable back multiple generations.

• Chefs seek out this heritage breed for its more favorable properties.

• Known for its deep color, mouthwatering texture, richly flavored pork, superior tenderness, and natural juiciness.

• Dubbed by many as the Black Angus of the Pork world

Continued on page 54

Hye Rollers and Wrapped Pickle Spears

1 Tortilla, any flavor (spinach, sundried tomato, jalapeno, plain, gluten free)

As needed Cream cheese spread *See Chef’s Note

2 Leaves of lettuce; any greens will do. Be creative!

3-5 Slices of Boar’s Head deli meats *See Chef’s Note

3-5 Slices of Boar’s Head cheeses

1 Pickle spear, any desired flavor

Hye Rollers

1. Lay down the tortilla and completely cover the surface with cream cheese spread.

2. Lay down greens on bottom half, then evenly layer meats across greens and repeat the process with sliced cheese.

3. To wrap, start with the bottom and firmly and tightly roll up the tortilla. The tighter the roll, the more consistent the inside will look when slicing. Cut into 1-inch slices.

Wrapped Pickle Spears

1. Pickle wraps have the same procedure but will be placed before the sliced cheese. Rest in the refrigerator for 20 minutes so ingredients can properly set.

2. Remove from the refrigerator and cut into 1-inch slices. Layer on the tray in a creative manner to display an array of flavors.

Wrapped Green Onions and Cream Cheese

1 Green onion, bottom roots sliced off and tops cut on a consistent bias, preferable total length 5-6 inches

1 dollop Cream cheese *See Chef’s Note

1 slice Boar’s Head deli meat *See Chef’s Note

Lay out a slice of deli meat. Place a dollop of cream cheese at the bottom of the meat. Place green onion bottom into the cream cheese. Wrap meat up tightly and serve.

*Chef’s Note:

There are over 30 types of meats available at the Mount Royal Deli. Experiment with curry chicken, London broil, rosemary ham or cracked peppermill turkey. The more varieties used, the better the finished presentation will be.

Vary your flavor profile or even make multiple batches of whipped cream cheese with a variety of flavors. Chef Teal used “Alouette” and “Boursin” cheese spread. Varieties such as basil and shallot, garlic and herb, jalapeno, roasted red pepper, spinach, cracked black pepper and original are also good. Experiment — the flavors are endless!

ROLLS BEFORE CUT

LAYERING OF ROLLS BEFORE CUT

Ricotta Cheese with Truffle Oil and Honey

1 quart Whole milk ricotta

½ Tbsp. Fresh cracked black pepper

Drizzle Truffle oil, preferably a high end one that actually uses white or black truffles; otherwise, truffle extract will do

Drizzle Honey (Chef Teal used Mitica Wild Lavender Honey)

1 Baguette, sliced on a bias

2 oz. Melted butter or olive oil, brushed on sliced bread

5 Sprigs fresh thyme, chopped

As needed Salt and pepper, sprinkled over slices

Directions:

1. Place ricotta in a bowl and sprinkle pepper over ricotta. Drizzle the truffle oil and honey over ricotta (Note: A little bit of truffle oil goes a long way).

2. Brush melted butter or olive oil on baguette slices. Season with thyme, salt and pepper.

3. Place sliced bread on the grill until the bread is done and has nice grill marks, usually 1-2 minutes.

4. Place grilled bread into ricotta and serve.

Watermelon Gazpacho

Chef’s Note: This cold soup can be served smooth or, for desired crunch, a little of each ingredient can be cut into ⅛- to ¼-inch pieces and added to each bowl before serving. Crunch is highly recommended.

1 Watermelon, seedless, cut into chunks

1 Honeydew melon, cut into chunks

3 Plump tomatoes, cut into chunks

2 Cucumber, cut into chunks

1 Lemon grass stock, cut into 1-inch pieces

¼ bunch Fresh basil

¼ bunch Fresh mint

1 Red and yellow pepper, cut into chunks

1 Fresno or other desired pepper for heat (heat highly recommended)

1 Tbsp. Kosher salt

1 oz. Red wine vinegar or any specialty vinegar. Chef Teal used a sweet rose wine vinegar, “De Nigris” brand

Directions:

1. Place all ingredients except vinegar and salt into a blender or food processor. Blend until smooth and strain using cheesecloth or fine mesh strainer. For a clear soup, let gravity and time do the work for you, which can take up to eight hours. Otherwise, gently push down on the mixture to extract the liquid. The soup will taste just as good if some of the pulp gets pushed through and becomes cloudy.

2. To finish, stir in the salt and vinegar and serve chilled. If you prepared some diced ingredients for crunch, stir them in as well.

Bacon Wrapped Shrimp with Avocado and Honey

16 Wild caught Gulf shrimp, large 13-15 per pound, tail on, peeled and deveined

16 Slices of Boar’s Head Bacon

1 Avocado

8 Sprigs of fresh thyme, rough chopped

As needed Kosher salt

As needed Cracked black pepper

As needed Mitica honey

As needed Extra virgin olive oil

Directions:

1. Tightly wrap shrimp with bacon starting at the tail end and work it around the shrimp. Season with fresh thyme, salt and pepper.

2. Place on the grill or in the oven and cook until bacon is nice and crispy. Oven set to 400 degrees for about 15 minutes. If grilling, use the top shelf and flip once. Cooking times will vary.

3. To make the sliced, fanned out avocado: Cut the avocado in half and remove the pit, scoop out the avocado using a large spoon and place on a cutting board. Starting from the middle, slice all the way through, then for the right half, slice all the way down but leave ½ inch from top so it stays connected. Repeat this process until the end of the avocado half is about four to five slices. Hold sliced avocado and fan out to create a nest for the shrimp to rest on.

4. To serve: Place fanned avocado on the plate, put two grilled shrimp together by intertwining the tails. Repeat this process again but cradle the next layer of shrimp by going across the first layer. The shrimp should be interlocked and formed a tower. Drizzle EVOO and honey over the shrimp.

Water Candle

By Ali Carlson

The Woman Today

Materials

Glass candle holder

Water

Glass beads/gems

Plastic container, such as a food container

Birthday candle

Vegetable oil

Instructions

1. Place your glass beads/gems in the bottom of your glass and fill with water, leaving roughly 2 inches room at the top.

2. Cut a circle out of your plastic food container, sized to fit inside your glass or a bit smaller, and carefully cut a small hole in the center of the plastic piece for the wick.

3. Remove the wax around the birthday candle so you are left with just the wick, and soak the wick in vegetable oil for 2 minutes.

4. Place the wick in the hole you made in the plastic piece.

5. Pour an inch or so of vegetable oil in your glass on top of the water.

6. Place the plastic piece in the glass with the exposed wick on top.

7. Light the exposed wick and enjoy. Note after making this project:

This project was cheap and very easy to make; however, the candle burned for only seconds. It was very aesthetically pleasing, but not functional. Maybe you will have better luck! ~ Ali D

The Woman Yesterday

Veda Ponikvar “The Iron Lady” (1919-2015)

By Abigail Blonigen

nce you get that printer’s ink in your veins, you can’t replace it,” Veda Ponikvar once said, according to the Minneapolis Star Tribune. “It isn’t blood — it’s ink. I really mean that.”

Ponikvar was born and raised in Chisholm, Minnesota in a Slovenian family. She knew at a young age that she wanted to become a journalist, so she attended Drake University in Des Moines, Iowa in pursuit of a newspaper career.

According to Minnesota Brown writer Aaron Brown, Ponikvar was distraught over the bombing of Pearl Harbor, so she joined the Navy after graduating in 1942. Her Slovenian heritage and language skills came in handy for the war effort, and she soon became one of the only women working in naval cryptography intelligence.

In 1946, Ponikvar was honorably discharged as a lieutenant commander and returned home to Chisholm to pursue her newspaper dream, launching the Chisholm Free Press.

About a decade later, Ponikvar bought out the Chisholm Tribune Press and made a point to highlight the experience of the mining employees as opposed to the perspectives of the mining companies which previously dominated the press, according to the Star Tribune.

Ponikvar ran the newspapers for decades, becoming an

integral part of the community and politics of the Iron Range. In her career, she published nearly 5,000 articles, though the exact number could be higher.

Her legacy even led to a small appearance in Hollywood. According to Brown, novelist W.P. Kinsella visited the Iron Range while researching Dr. Archibald “Moonlight” Graham who briefly played in Major League Baseball. The subsequent novel, “Shoeless Joe,” became the 1989 film adaptation “Field of Dreams,” which included this snippet of Graham’s obituary, written by Ponikvar:

“As the community grew, Doc became an integral part of the population. There were good years and lean ones. There were times when children could not afford eyeglasses, or milk, or clothing because of the economic upheavals, strikes and depressions. Yet no child was ever denied these essentials, because in the background, there was a benevolent, understanding Doctor Graham. Without a word, without any fanfare or publicity, the glasses or the milk, or the ticket to the ball game found their way into the child's pocket.”

In 2015, Ponikvar passed away at the age of 96, fondly known by her community as the “Iron Lady.” D

Veda Ponikvar at her Chisholm Free Press office, circa 1988.

Abigail Blonigen is a Minnesota freelance writer.