The Woman Today March 2020

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PROFILES

6 Stephanie Hammitt

First female president of FDLTCC

10 Katrina 'Kat' Werchouski

A champion for diversity

14 Dr. Sheryl Sandahl

Appointed dean of CSS School of Nursing

FEATURES

20 The Women of Lake Superior

24 Growing indoor plants in the winter:

Air plants and aquaponics

26 Rich mother-daughter bond is centered on Palauan cooking

Meet Magaria Marline and Heather Theisen

30 Raised by a Rosie

Two dynamic mother-daughter duos embody the spirit of Rosie the Riveter

36 Board and Brush Creative Studio

DIY girls night out

ENTERTAINMENT/ARTS

40 Arts and Events Calendar

57 Socials

HEALTH/MEDICINE

18 Essentia

Seeing the benefits of midwifery from both sides

32 St. Luke's

A day they'll never forget

FINANCIAL

34 Couples and Money

Having 'The Talk'

FASHION

35 Fashions by Sam

FOOD/NUTRITION

54 Simple and delicious recipes for St Patrick's Day

HOME TOUCHES

42 Wojtysiak home is a children's paradise

(and Mom and Dad like it, too!)

50 Kitchen remodel lets in light and space

WOMAN the today

GROUP PUBLISHER

Neal Ronquist

EXECUTIVE EDITOR

Rick Lubbers

ADVERTISING DIRECTOR

Megan Keller

ADVERTISING SALES MANAGER

Kathleen Pennington

ADVERTISING ACCOUNT EXECUTIVE

Ali Comnick

GRAPHIC DESIGNER

Renae Ronquist

PRODUCTION COORDINATOR

Julie Schulz

CONTRIBUTORS

Alison Stucke

Andrea Busche

Alex Comstock Photography

Molly Milroy

Samantha Roffers

Brent Theisen

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TO OUR READERS

It is March 2020, and winter is waning. The days are getting longer and New Year's resolutions are on the move. In this feature, we showcase several amazing women in our community, including winners of elite awards, leaders celebrating professional longevity, and the ladies who keep the Lake Superior shipping industry moving.

With each issue we publish, we truly enjoy learning about our incredible neighbors. Our community is full of movers and shakers who serve with humility, leadership and strength — and are making a difference every day. So please help

us celebrate women as a driving force in our community at our fourth annual Rosie Awards, set for Wednesday, March 18, from 5-7 p.m. at Greysolon Ballroom. We will honor six Northland women who are going above and beyond for our community.

Thank you for picking up The Woman Today. We greatly appreciate your readership and support.

Megan Keller Advertising Director

First female president of Fond du Lac Tribal and Community College

By Andrea Busche

OnNov. 20, 2019, Cloquet resident Stephanie Hammitt made history when she was named the first female president of Fond du Lac Tribal and Community College

(FDLTCC), and only the fourth president in its history. The college’s previous president, Larry Anderson, recently retired after serving 10 years in that role.

Interestingly, Hammitt’s late father, who served on the Tribal Council for the Fond du Lac Band of Lake Superior Chippewa (as both secretary/treasurer and chairman), was a member of a task force set up in the mid-1980s to determine the viability of, and need for, a college in Cloquet. FDLTCC later opened its

Stephanie Hammitt

Photo courtesy of Fond du Lac Tribal and Community College

doors in 1987.

Hammitt’s father would no doubt be proud to see his daughter at the helm of a college he helped launch.

Lifelong Cloquet resident

Hammitt and with her younger sister, Michelle, were born and raised in Cloquet. Their mother was an Indian home school liaison, and their dad served on the Tribal Council. Their mother was an enrolled member of the White Earth Band of Ojibwe, while their father was an enrolled member of the Fond du Lac Band of Lake Superior Chippewa. Hammitt’s parents made the decision to enroll both of their children in the Fond du Lac Band.

Hammitt explained a little about her childhood.

“Our family grew up both near, and on, the reservation. We didn’t go to powwows, but we did enjoy Indian foods like wild rice and fry bread. Our family wasn’t as traditional as many on the reservation. In the last 11 or 12 years, though, I’ve been learning more about our traditions, and learning the Ojibwe language.”

In her youth, Hammitt played clarinet in the school band and worked for her high school newspaper and yearbook committee. After graduating from Cloquet High School, Hammitt attended the University of MinnesotaDuluth, and earned a bachelor’s degree in accounting.

Career trajectory

Hammitt’s career progression has followed a steady trajectory of increased responsibility, beginning with a job in the Fond du Lac Reservation’s program accounting department, where she remained for two years. Another career highlight includes five years at Fonddu-Luth Casino, where she worked as the lead accountant/comptroller.

She later was hired as chief financial officer for FDLTCC. In 1996, however,

she returned to the Fond du Lac reservation, where she worked as an internal auditor, and later, comptroller.

In 2008, she returned to FDLTCC; first as chief financial officer, then, as vice president of finance and administration. Hammitt was named interim president in July 2018, and president Nov. 20, 2019.

In addition to her professional achievements, Hammitt served three years as treasurer for the Cloquet

women’s hockey auxiliary and served five years on the Cloquet School Board. She has also served on the tribal college’s board of directors, including several years as chair.

Goals as president

Hammitt has ambitious goals for her new role as president.

“I’d like us to get more involved in the community,” Hammitt said. The

Continued on page 8

pursuit of this goal will be multifaceted.

“We need to be responsive to what employers need, and think about different workshops we can host. I’d also like to continue to develop new programming to keep traditions alive, such as our 13 Moons initiative, where we host discussions on a different topic every month. The most recent one was ‘harvesting in a respectful way.’”

“And we will continue working well with the Tribe. Right now, for instance, we are working with the Tribe’s resource

management division, on reservation-owned land, to teach students and others from the reservation how to garden. They then learn to preserve and cook the foods, as well as save the seeds.”

Family

Hammitt and her husband, Brian, an electrical engineer, were married in 1986, and have four adult children: Matthew (32), Christopher (30), Jon (28), and Annika (22). The Hammitts also have three grandchildren and a family dog named Brutus.

When she isn’t working, Hammitt enjoys doing cross-stitch and needlepoint. She also loves to read and watch sporting events. The Hammitt family roots for the Minnesota Vikings, and has season tickets for Vikings games.

Remarks from the chancellor

In a recent press release, Devinder Malhotra, chancellor of Minnesota State, a system which includes 30 community and technical colleges and seven state universities, shared some remarks about Hammitt’s promotion.

“Stephanie Hammitt has performed admirably as interim president. She has continued to build on the legacy of Larry Anderson and the solid foundation of accreditation by the World Indigenous Nations Higher Education Consortium (WINHEC). She is navigating the college through reaccreditation by the Higher Learning Commission and the initial accreditation of the college’s Associate of Science Degree nursing program.

“She has earned overwhelmingly positive support from key partners and constituents including the Tribal Board of Education, the Tribal Business Council, and internal stakeholders of the college,” he continued. “She has

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emphasized to me that the best days of the college are ahead, and I have come to the conclusion that our students and the communities served by the college will be best served by the continuation of Stephanie Hammitt as president.”

Legacy

When it comes to leaving a legacy, Hammitt’s philosophy is both forward- and backward-looking.

“Indian people talk about the seventh generation,” she said. “Meaning, the decisions you make today can have longlasting consequences affecting people seven generations out. But it’s also about honoring the past, and the people who came before us.”

“At the college, there is an eagle feather stick in the president’s office, with a feather representing each president. I was given my feather to remind me to think about how I act; how to make decisions in the right way, and how to listen,” explained Hammitt.

“It’s not about me. Our work is only possible due to the Tribe, the state, our faculty and our students.” D

Andrea Busche is a Duluth freelance writer.

KATRINA ‘KAT’ WERCHOUSKI: A CHAMPION FOR DIVERSITY

By Andrea Busche

by UWS as the recipient of the Women in Color Education Award, which was a tremendous honor in her life.

Katrina

“Kat” Werchouski is a champion for people of all walks of life. She is a member of the Red Cliff Band of Lake Superior Ojibwe, with familial ties to the Leech Lake and Lac du Flambeau Ojibwe tribes, as well as the state of Jalisco, Mexico. She is a member of the LGBTQ community. And Werchouski is also a first-generation high school, and college, graduate.

While she can personally relate to the challenges faced by underserved populations, her philosophy is that of “people first,” before considering their backgrounds.

“Deep, human connection is crucial to me and how I go through life,” she said. “I recognize everyone as people first.”

As someone with such a rich, textured story, Werchouski seems to be the perfect fit for her job as director of Equity, Diversity and Inclusion at the University of WisconsinSuperior (UWS). Additionally, she was recently recognized

There is no doubt that Kat Werchouski is helping many students, and faculty for that matter, feel welcome and included at the university – exactly as they are.

Unique childhood

Werchouski was born in West Allis, Wis., a suburb of Milwaukee. While she has three older half-siblings, she was the only child in the house while growing up.

After her maternal grandmother became ill, her parents left their solid careers – her mom worked as a nurse for the VA, and her dad worked for the city – and the family moved to the Red Cliff Reservation. There, Werchouski’s parents cared for the family matriarch until her passing.

Although she has deep family ties to the Red Cliff Reservation,

UW System President Ray Cross (left) and Anny Morrobel-Sosa, UW System Vice President for Academic and Student Affairs (right), present Kat Werchouski with the Women of Color in Education Award at a ceremony in November.

and her father is also an enrolled member of the Leech Lake tribe, Werchouski shared that she wasn’t raised with Native customs and traditions.

“There’s a misconception sometimes that Native people are really tied to their community. But our family didn’t really have that connection. My grandmother never really talked about ‘being Native,’” she said.

It was only after being enrolled in the Bayfield school district, and later in college, that Werchouski learned more about Native customs and traditions. While a public school, Bayfield’s student population is about 90 percent Native American, according to Werchouski. This introduction began a lifelong passion for connecting with her heritage, and learning more about indigenous people.

As a teenager, Werchouski worked an internship, followed by a regular position, as a national park ranger at Apostle Islands National Lakeshore in Bayfield. She also played clarinet in the band, and participated in a variety of science competitions. Werchouski graduated as valedictorian in her class. She was also a first-generation high school graduate in her family.

Higher education

Werchouski’s parents knew that college was expensive, but would somehow be attainable for their bright young

daughter. They were right. With the guidance of one of her mentors, Rick Erickson, a science teacher at Bayfield High School, Werchouski was awarded the Bill Gates Millennium Scholarship, giving her a full-ride undergraduate college education.

She earned her degree, a B.S. in environmental studies (environmental public law and policy), from Northland College in Ashland, Wis. Later, she also earned a B.A. in Native American studies from the same institution. Werchouski then earned an M.S. in environmental studies (written communications) from Green Mountain College in Poultney, Vt.

For Werchouski, ongoing education remains an important part of her life. She is currently pursuing a doctoral degree (Ed.D. student affairs administration) from UW-La Crosse.

Work life

After spending 13 seasons (from age 14 to age 26) working as a park ranger, Werchouski got a job at her alma mater, Northland College, where she worked as the institution’s first Multicultural Programs coordinator, and later, director of the Indigenous Cultural Center.

“I learned a lot about culture, traditions and ceremonies there,” she said. “This was knowledge that I didn’t get from

Continued on page 12

YOURSELF

who smile often appear morelikable and competent,developing stronger interpersonal skills and healthier social bonds. Let’sbridgethe gaps.

my family.”

Two years ago, Werchouski was offered an opportunity to work at UWS. A new department, called Equity, Diversity and Inclusion (EDI) was being developed, and Werchouski was named assistant director. Today, Werchouski serves as the director of the department, and is also the senior diversity officer for UWS. She was personally appointed for this role by UWS Chancellor Dr. Renee Wachter.

Werchouski explained a bit about what her duties entail.

“As assistant director, I oversaw the First Nations Center, the Office of Multicultural Affairs, the Gender Equity Resource Center, the Veterans Center and the Office of International Programs. I also worked with a lot of first-generation students.

“As director, I directly supervise a great team of six people, along with a whole army of students,” she continued. “I help make sure all students are represented in the future planning of the university. I do a lot of advocating, to ensure our students have visibility. Our department tagline is, ‘Everyone deserves to be successful and be supported.’”

Werchouski also teaches a class at UWS – an upper-level, First Nations Studies independent research course.

A special award

In September 2019, UWS named Werchouski the recipient of the Women of Color in Education Award. This special recognition is given annually to faculty, staff, students or community members to recognize their achievements in advancing equity and inclusion for people of color within the UW System as well as communities across the state. Regents, chancellors, provosts and UW System leaders recognized Werchouski at a ceremony on Nov. 7 in Madison.

“It’s huge,” Werchouski said of the award. “It was a surprise and a huge honor to receive recognition for the work I do. It means that good work – especially in the areas of student support and diversity – is being put in the forefront and is being acknowledged and supported.”

She also noted that she wouldn’t be in her current position without the support of her parents, along with many mentors, colleagues and students along the way.

Civic duties

When she isn’t working, Werchouski performs a variety of civic duties. She was recently invited by Superior Mayor Jim

Paine to serve on the Mayor’s Commission on Communities of Color. She also returns to Bayfield many weekends to work as a volunteer ambulance driver for the city of Bayfield.

She serves on the board of directors for the Wisconsin Indian Education Association and is also their regional representative. She retains membership to the National Indian Education Association and the American Indian Science and Engineering Society.

Personal life

Werchouski and her partner of 10 years, Heather Rickerl, were married two years ago in New Orleans. They enjoyed a honeymoon in Mexico, a country where Werchouski has family ties (her grandfather was originally from Jalisco, Mexico). The couple makes their home in Superior, just a few blocks away from UWS, where they are both employed. Rickerl works as UWS’ assistant director of Career Services.

They both love to travel and attend hockey games and band concerts. Werchouski also enjoys photography, as well as spending time on the shores of Lake Superior.

Werchouski was diagnosed with chronic Lyme disease four years ago, but it was discovered early enough to be improved with treatment. But it has been an eyeopening experience.

“It’s made me grateful and helps me acknowledge the good days,” she said. “You really find out who your true supports are. It’s been a test in finding the good things.”

As far as life goals, Werchouski remains open to whatever experiences come her way.

“Personally, I want to continue to travel, and pay honor and respect to indigenous people wherever we go. Professionally, I want to model humility, honor and respect, and encourage my students to chase their dreams. I really enjoy challenging the systems that create barriers for people to succeed.”

Werchouski is fulfilled to be working in a field where all people are treated with dignity and respect.

“This wave of diversity work is so rewarding. I think we all want to see a world where we support and encourage each other.” D

Andrea Busche is a Duluth freelance writer.

The University of Wisconsin-Superior has named Kat Werchouski, assistant director of Equity, Diversity and Inclusion, the recipient of the Women of Color in Education Award.

Dr. Sheryl Sandahl appointed dean of CSS School of Nursing

By Alison Stucke

Throughout her career as a nurse educator and educational administrator, and for the past 17 years at The College of St. Scholastica here in Duluth, Dr. Sheryl Sandahl has touched the lives of hundreds of students as they have entered and progressed through the studies, challenges and growth of nursing school. Now, she takes that valuable experience and knowledge of what students and educators need to succeed in the field of nursing to a new leadership position in Duluth. Recently she was appointed Dean of the School of Nursing of The College of St. Scholastica. She’s ready for the new challenge.

What Sandahl does as dean

“I have been privileged to spend the past 17 years of my career here at St. Scholastica, where it has been my honor to have a role in training the next generation of professional nurses,” Sandahl said. “I plan to continue working hard in the critical area where administration intersects with realworld clinical experience and classroom

innovation, always keeping the student in mind at the forefront of everything we do.”

Sandahl explained that the dean leads the school in achievement of mission, vision and goals. That includes representing the school internally at the college level and externally at the local, regional, and national level.

“I work collaboratively with the other

deans at the college to facilitate the administration of programs and the college’s strategic plan and initiatives,” she said. “The dean networks with external constituents such as local healthcare organizations, other nursing schools across the state, and nationally through the American Association of Colleges of Nursing (AACN) and other national associations that guide nursing education, practice and healthcare. Internally the dean sets a vision for the school and builds a leadership team that works collaboratively to achieve faculty and student outcomes.”

Challenges of today’s nurse educators

Sandahl is aware of the challenges faced by today’s nurse educators.

“The challenges in nursing education today include the amount of knowledge nurses need, the ever-changing technology they will be working with, and how to best facilitate their learning to ‘think like a nurse,’” she said.

Dr.SandahlSheryl

Thinking like a nurse involves understanding concepts and applying them in varying situations, she said.

“We cannot teach them everything they need to know but we can teach concepts or teach conceptually,” she explained. “If they understand a concept, then they can transfer what they know to a new situation. For example, at the undergraduate and graduate levels we are working to teach students how to provide care via telehealth or virtually. The equipment changes so rapidly that by the time we purchase equipment to use in simulation, it can already be out of date. But whatever the equipment students use to practice, they learn the concepts of providing care virtually such as communication and collaboration in a virtual environment.

“Another example is the concept of infection,” she continued. “Students learn the principles of infection and then apply it to patients in a variety of situations and healthcare settings. The same with leadership as nurses are leaders at the bedside, in the organizations they work in, and in the communities where they live. The concepts inherent in leadership can be applied wherever a nurse is practicing.”

Challenges of today's nursing students

Sandahl is also aware of the challenges and rewards of today’s nursing students. The amount of information available poses a challenge.

“Nursing school today is stressful,” she said. “We have more technology and diseases and treatments than ever before and it is impossible to learn everything, whether at the undergraduate or graduate level.”

Another challenge is the potential threat of medical mishap.

“If a nurse makes a mistake there can be significant consequences for the

health ser vicesfor every woman

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patient,” Sandahl noted. “Nursing students need to be able to apply what they have learned about anatomy and physiology, human development, pathophysiology, and even the liberal arts to think through a situation or problem critically. The transition from knowledge acquisition to application and analysis using that knowledge can be challenging for students.”

Thankfully, new tools have entered the scene to help nurses learn more conveniently. Simulation is big in nursing education today.

“Today we have resources that I did not have when I was in nursing school, namely simulation,” Sandahl said. “When I was in nursing school we practiced giving shots to each other. Now in nursing school students have the opportunity to practice skills on manikins that make it more life-like. Students also have the opportunity to practice taking care of a patient as if they were in the hospital with the patient.”

Simulation creates a teaching and learning environment that’s very similar to real life, but without real-life risks.

“Through the use of high-fidelity manikins or standardized patients (actors), students actually take care of a patient for a period of time,” said Sandahl. “The patient’s condition changes based on what the student does or does not do. This gives students the opportunity to practice application and analysis as if in real-life but in a safe environment. This technology along with other active teaching strategies help the students to learn how to think like a nurse.”

Sandahl’s education, training and experience

After growing up in northern Illinois, Sandahl came to Minnesota as a first-generation college student.

"I put myself through St. Olaf College with loans and paid those loans off within seven years," said Sandahl.

She graduated with a Bachelor of Science degree in nursing.

“Northern Illinois is flat and I fell in love with the trees and lakes and especially the north shore so I stayed,” she explained. “I also met my husband by that point but didn’t know he would become my husband.”

She started her career at Mayo in Rochester in pediatrics, and from there she went to the Twin Cities and neonatal intensive care at Children’s Hospital.

“I’ve spent the majority of my clinical practice years in a role/position that I didn’t know existed when I graduated from nursing school,” she said. “Nursing is amazing in that way. There are so many opportunities to serve – you just have to be open.”

After five years as a staff nurse, she went back to school for a pediatric nurse practitioner certificate and master’s degree. She worked for 13 years as a pediatric nurse practitioner in a private practice in the southwest suburbs of the Twin Cities.

Making life changes led to a career change

“I am a breast cancer survivor and after going through all of that, my husband and I decided we needed to make some life changes,” she explained. “We love the North Shore and had purchased some acreage in the woods and had the dream of building a small cabin. We decided to make the move from St. Paul to Duluth so we could slow down and enjoy the journey.”

She contacted a nurse practitioner faculty member at the College of St. Scholastica to network for possible clinic opportunities for a pediatric nurse practitioner (PNP). Sundahl had no thought of nursing education.

“The faculty member informed me that the college was looking for a pediatric clinical instructor,” Sundahl said. “I had also inquired at St. Mary’s and learned there were no open positions for a PNP.”

It was a risky move as it was only a part-time position. Her

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husband was self-employed in St. Paul but they decided to go for it. It took him a few months to find a part-time job at Essentia which turned into a full-time job.

“It turned out to be the right decision for us,” she said. “We now have a two-room cabin only an hour-and-a half away. I have been able to develop hobbies and volunteer. I served six years on the board of directors for Animal Allies and was president of the board when we raised the funds and built the new animal shelter.”

A very rewarding career

Sandahl relishes the rewards of her career as a nurse educator.

“The reward of being a nurse educator is the ability to touch many patients’ lives through the many students we serve,” she said. “I love the excitement and energy of the students. Nursing and healthcare are changing and to be able to work with students who have their whole careers ahead of them and who are going to move the profession and healthcare forward is very gratifying. Every nurse’s pathway or career is different. The students today will dream up new roles, opportunities, and new technology and I am thankful to lead the team that facilitates their journey.” D

Formorethan one hundred years, The College of St.Scholastica has been graduating holistically trained nurses, ready to serveinbothrural and urban areas, especially with underserved populations.

If advancing your degree or becoming anurse is in your future, visit us today.

7,749 nurses since1912and thereisstill room foryou. go.css.edu/todaysnurse

Alison Stucke is a Duluth freelance writer.

Seeing the benefits of midwifery from both sides

By Louie St. George III

Mary Elizabeth Winters knows all about the collaborative care model that has come to define midwifery in the 21st century. That’s because Winters herself is a certified nurse-midwife at Essentia Health-St. Mary’s Medical Center. Her appreciation for that willingness

to combine disciplines on one care team intensified during the September birth of her daughter. What started as a normal delivery morphed into a “scary situation” when the baby girl’s umbilical cord came before her head, or prolapsed. This can prevent oxygen and blood from reaching the fetus. An emergency cesarean section ensued.

Eventually, a healthy Charlotte Winters entered this world safe, sound and full of life.

That’s the beauty of a modern-day midwifery program. If things go awry, there’s a multi-faceted safety net ready to intervene. At Essentia Health, that includes an obstetrician, anesthesiologist, physician and a neonatal intensive care unit team.

“If things go great, we can work through that whole process together, but if some things don’t go as planned, they also have that trust built with us to say, ‘OK, what are your thoughts? What are my options?’” said Amity Heinbuch, Winters’ colleague at St. Mary’s and also her midwife. “And we can talk through them together. It’s not building these new relationships right at the time they’re coming in for labor or birth.”

An umbilical cord prolapse is rare.

“It is nice that when it did happen, it happened in a hospital that was fully prepared for the emergency,” Winters said.

Mary Elizabeth Winters is a certified nurse-midwife at Essentia Health-St. Mary’s Medical Center. She experienced the value of Essentia’s midwifery program as a patient in September 2019, when the birth of her daughter included complications and an emergency C-section.

That scenario bucks many of the long-held midwife misconceptions. One of the most common myths is that midwives only deliver babies at home. Others presume that they don’t have any formal education or training, or that they’re the same as a doula. And there are those who believe midwives only allow natural births, free of pain medicine.

“We’re more focused on a positive pregnancy, a positive birth experience for the patient and her baby,” said Winters, who has been a midwife for about two years. “We’re there to support the mom’s desires.”

Winters relishes the opportunity to build relationships with expectant mothers ahead of “the most phenomenal, Earth-changing time in their lives.” It’s a process that starts early in the pregnancy — if not before — and continues throughout. Midwives devote extensive time to patient education. They provide guidance on things like nutrition, exercise and overall health, and answer any questions that surface.

Those relationships allow midwives to more effectively advocate for their patients.

“It can be really comforting and reduce a lot of fear when they have someone there that they know is looking out for them and knows what their wishes are, and knows how to get them a safe and positive birth experience,” Winters said.

On average, midwifery results in higher success rates. But the practice isn’t as entrenched in the United States as it is elsewhere. A 2018 Reuters article reported that about 9 percent of 2015 births in the U.S. were “attended by certified nurse midwives with advanced training or other midwives.”

That number is between 50 and 70 percent in most other countries.

The 38-year-old Winters joined Essentia Health’s holistic midwifery program in June 2019. She’s constantly learning from her colleagues, who are generous with the knowledge they’ve accrued. That spirit of sharing benefits the team’s patients. As does Essentia’s 24/7 on-call service, which ensures that a midwife will always be available to meet the patient bedside for delivery.

Asked her favorite aspect of the job, Winters laughed.

“Just one?” she joked. “I think my favorite thing is that moment that every woman gets to right before she’s about to birth, where she feels like she can’t give anymore, that she’s ready to tap out. Being there with her and being able to give her the encouragement and watch her push through the hardest part of her birth is very special.

“Watching that warrior come through. Every woman reaches that point and every woman makes it past it.” D

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

The Women of Lake Superior

By Andrea Busche

Themajesty of Lake Superior is evident to all who live, work, or recreate near her shores. While the beauty and power of the Big Lake is obvious, many people don’t often stop to consider just how many vital industries are intertwined with life near such an important port, and what their employees do on a daily basis.

And, if we … ahem … dive a little deeper, we learn that many women are working in a variety of important and powerful roles within the many facets of the maritime industry. From leadership roles at the Seaway Port Authority to high-ranking positions within the U.S. Coast Guard and even engineering on a large vessel, women are blazing new trails on, and near, Lake Superior.

Kate Ferguson and Deb DeLuca – Seaway Port Authority

Kate Ferguson and Deb DeLuca are among the top brass at Duluth Seaway Port Authority. Ferguson works as director of

Duluth Seaway Port Authority Executive Director Deb Deluca, and Kate Ferguson, director of trade and business development.

trade and business development, while DeLuca is its executive director. DeLuca explained a bit about our region’s important port.

“We are a unique, two-state, two-city port, with 20 terminals, or docks,” she said. “The majority of the tonnage is bulk cargo, such as iron ore pellets, grain and limestone.”

DeLuca explained that our port links together several segments of transportation, including road, rail, and ship.

The Duluth Seaway Port Authority’s mission is multi-faceted: to bring business to the port; to bring economic development to the region; and to advocate for maritime transportation and the industries they serve. Part of Ferguson’s job is to educate people on the importance of our waterway, including transportation options available to businesses, along with advocacy and public relations for the port.

“We help people understand the importance of the port, our waterway, and the fact that we are a hub with global reach. I love to teach people about the importance of the Great Lakes,” Ferguson said.

Women are quickly becoming more well-known for their leadership within this industry. DeLuca said that, as of 2018,

when she took over her role as executive director, out of 83 port authorities that are members of the American Association of Port Authorities, 14 had women at the helm.

Katrina Walheim – Permanent first assistant engineer on the steamship Philip R. Clarke

Katrina Walheim, of Traverse City, Mich., has an incredibly unique perspective of the maritime industry. Her profession has her working from some of Lake Superior’s largest vessels, usually for two to three months at a time.

“Right now, I am permanent first assistant engineer on the steamship Philip R. Clarke,” she said, “which is the second

Continued on page 22

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Katrina Walheim is the permanent first assistant engineer on the steamship Philip R. Clarke Ship

highest engineer on the vessel. I am currently in the process of upgrading to my chief engineer’s license, which is the highest position in the engine room. I have my unlimited steam and diesel license, so I can sail on a vessel of any size with either type of propulsion.”

Walheim has sailed on a variety of vessels throughout her career.

“I have been on both steam and diesel ships,” she noted. “I was on the USNS Impeccable on the oceans. I have also sailed with American Steamship Company on the American Mariner, the American Integrity, and the Indiana Harbor. As far as Great Lakes Fleet vessels, I have sailed on the Cason J. Callaway, the Edwin H. Gott, the Edgar B. Speer, and the Presque Isle.”

Walheim explained a bit about her interesting job.

“My whole job is to maintain and operate the plant and the equipment on the vessel. What I love about my job is that it varies on a day-to-day basis, and you never know what’s going to happen, or break, so you have to be very versatile. One day I can spend my time on the open lake just doing lake rounds and working on simple fabricating or welding projects in the engine room. Another day, I can be maneuvering in a river system. And then the next day, I could be working outside on a deck winch or assisting with repairs to the unloading system. It’s all very hands-on and you can’t be afraid to get dirty. As engineers aboard the vessel, we are pretty much considered ‘Jacks of all trades.’ Boiler water testing, electrical troubleshooting, welding, fabricating, plumbing, operating and diagnosing engine room, galley, and deck equipment are just a few of the things that I have to do on a daily basis.”

When it comes to other women in her field, Walheim said that even though women in the industry are becoming more prevalent, there are still very few.

“In my company there are only about three permanent

license female officers,” she said. “There are quite a few cooks and second cooks who are female, though. It is not uncommon to be the only girl on the boat at a time. I am lucky, though, because on my ship, the first mate is a female and she is also the relief captain on our boat so there’s usually the two of us on board at a time.”

Commander Fran Smith, Commanding Officer, U.S. Coast Guard Marine Safety Unit-Duluth

It can be difficult to maintain a work-life balance with a career out on the Lake.

“The first few years of sailing are especially difficult,” she said. “I’ve been sailing for eight years now, so every year it gets a little easier. My friends and family understand that I’m not home all the time, but it has been hard on friendships and relationships. The ships have Wi-Fi, though, so I can usually text or send emails at all times.”

“I’m not married and I don’t have any children or pets, so the sailing life isn’t too bad for me. I think if I was to have children, I would probably stop sailing and find some kind of shore side job within the same kind of field.”

Life on the Big Lake is an exciting life, indeed.

“I’m not a ‘sit behind a desk’ kind of worker, so I enjoy the fact that I get to work on new things every day,” Walheim said. “Even if it’s something I’ve worked on before, it might be a different problem, so it’s always kind of new, which is challenging in itself. The different scenery on the lakes is also beautiful (even in the winter time!), so you can’t really beat that.”

Commander Fran Smith – United States Coast Guard

Fran Smith is commanding officer of Marine Safety UnitDuluth. She holds several Coast Guard authorities, including captain of the port, officer in charge of marine inspection, federal maritime security coordinator, and federal on-scene coordinator. In a nutshell, she is responsible for the safety, security and environmental protections of western Lake Superior.

Commander Smith works closely with other entities to accomplish her duties, including the Duluth Seaway Port Authority, a variety of terminals/docks, and the Duluth Fire and Police departments.

“Our staff does a lot of regulatory and compliance type of work, such as annual and semi-annual inspections, to ensure vessels are well-maintained in the areas of safety and crew

competency,” she said.

Smith’s duties are typically contained to office-type work, so her job is done from shore, rather than out on the lake.

Smith manages a staff of 23, including those enlisted in active duty, reservists and civilians. Of her staff, 26 percent are women.

Smith, a native of St. Louis, Mo., has been enlisted with the Coast Guard for 20 years. She has been working in Duluth for six months, and her three-year tour will end in 2022. D Andrea Busche is a Duluth freelance writer.

uwsuper.edu/ourhive

Growing indoor plants in the winter: Air plants and aquaponics

By Molly Milroy

Spring is just around the corner, we can almost feel it. Almost. If you’re anxious to get started on your gardening and landscaping, but the frozen ground is keeping you from playing in the dirt outside, try your hand at indoor plants. Here are two fresh ideas to grow indoor plants during the wintertime.

Air Plants

Tillandsia, otherwise known as air plants, are an excellent way to give your home a bit of greenery in the wintertime. These plants thrive on the nutrients in the air, hence their name. One of the unique traits to these plants is that they don’t require any soil and they are very low maintenance. Although, in order to thrive, they do need the right amount of water and light, along with the right temperature.

For an air plant beginner, University of Minnesota-Duluth Greenhouse Manager Matthew Jahnke explains: “Since air plants don't have roots like a typical plant does, they require daily misting. They could go a couple days without water but daily misting with a spray bottle would be best.”

Some common plants to begin with are Tillandsia Ionantha air plants and Tillandsia stricta air plants.

“Spanish moss, ironically not Spanish and not a moss, is a long, drooping, graceful one that is fairly common,” said Jahnke.

Air plants are a great addition to a home and are easy to display.

“Air plants can be mounted, displayed, or suspended in a variety of ways,” Jahnke said. “They look cool and unusual and you can get quite artistic in the way you present them.”

Many people will decorate their homes with air plants, hanging them from the ceiling, putting them on a desk or shelf near a window. You can find a variety of plants to purchase from Etsy vendors or a local flower shop.

Aquaponics

“Aquaponics combines aquaculture (growing aquatic animals like fish in a controlled setting) with hydroponics (growing plants in water instead of soil),” explained Jahnke. “The excrement of the animals is broken down into nutrients that can serve as fertilizer for the plants. This natural removal of excrement benefits the animals by providing a cleaner, less toxic aquatic environment.”

A common way to grow plants is to

have them grow on top of the water with fish living below. The roots of the plants that dangle below the water then absorbs the nutrients.

Typical plants grown include leafy greens such as kale, spinach and basil. Lettuce is one of the most common greens to grow because of their quick turnaround, in just 28 days. If you want to start small, check out the aquaponic tanks at PetSmart or Home Depot. These are the perfect way to start your aquaponic hobby. Or, if you’re interested in hydroponics, visit Duluth Hydroponics on First Street in downtown Duluth.

Indoor plants bring a lot of benefits to a home including acting as air purifiers, helping boost mood, and even improving attention. If you are looking at a way to add some green to your home before the snow melts, then try these two fun and unique ways of growing indoor plants in the wintertime. The entire household will benefit from it! D

Molly Milroy is a Duluth freelance writer.

Rich mother-daughter bond is centered on Palauan cooking

By Andrea Busche

TheRepublic of Palau is an archipelago of islands found in the South Pacific, whose nearest neighbors include Guam and the Philippines. Its gorgeous scenery includes turquoise water, lush green jungles and year-round tropical weather. Many Americans don’t know much about Palau, but those who do may remember Palau as the picturesque locale for the 10th season of CBS reality show Survivor.

While today, Magaria “Maggie” Marline considers Duluth her home, she is originally from the beautiful country of Palau. Marline moved to the United States after marriage, and her four children were born and raised here in America.

While her children haven’t always appreciated the special customs and traditions of their mom’s home country, today Marline and her adult daughter, Heather Theisen, have forged a special bond over Palauan traditions – namely, cooking Palauan-inspired dishes together. And, while it isn’t always easy to hunt down ingredients for Palauan cuisine, Marline and Theisen consider that part of the fun.

Safe, happy childhood

Maggie recalls that she had a pretty idyllic childhood, where she and her eight siblings were raised in a safe, happy place where the weather was warm all the time.

“We had a happy family with lots of customs,” Maggie said. “The women in

Magaria 'Maggie' Marline and Heather Theisen

the family made the food, and the men earned the money. My mom stayed at home, and my dad was a farmer – he grew lots of vegetables, watermelon and taro, a root vegetable. We lived by the Pacific Ocean and the jungle, and there were no wild animals.”

Maggie’s uncle, Haruo Ignacio Remeliik, was the first president of Palau.

Maggie met her husband, Howard, when he was stationed in Palau during his tenure with the Peace Corps. The two were wed in Palau in 1973, and moved to the United States – specifically, Buhl, Minn. – in 1974.

From Palau to … Buhl Surprisingly, Maggie adapted exceptionally well to Minnesota weather.

“I like snow,” she said. “When I first came here, there was a big blizzard. Howard’s dad woke me up and brought me outside at 5 a.m. to see the snow.”

To this day, Maggie insists she actually enjoys shoveling snow.

The couple lived with Howard’s parents for a time, eventually relocating to Austin,

Minn., when Howard got a job with the Social Security Administration. Another job change for Howard, this time to the IRS, brought the couple to Duluth, where they have lived for the last 30 years. While Howard is now retired, Maggie still works as a seamstress for On the Limit embroidery shop.

Howard and Maggie have four children: Shaun, Erika, Heather and Maria. While raising their children, Maggie would often prepare Palauan-inspired dishes for her family, whenever possible.

“Our kids were raised more American,” Maggie said. “It’s hard to find Palauan food here.”

For instance, it can be tricky to track down fresh coconut milk, a certain type of sweet potato native to Palau, tapioca, taro, and fresh seafood right from the Pacific Ocean, such as crab, squid and octopus.

Thus, some of the meals Maggie cooked for her growing family had Chinese, Filipino, and Hawaiian influences. She is wellknown for her Adobo chicken,

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Special bond with adult daughter

Maggie’s daughter, Heather Theisen, is now 32, with a husband, home, and dog of her own. She works as a financial analyst for IBM, and lives in Duluth.

Heather admits to not fully appreciating her mom’s unique heritage as a child. But things have changed.

“When I was in college, I became more interested in my mom’s culture,” Heather said. “And today, I find myself asking guests, ‘What do you need?’ ‘What do you want to eat?’ like my mom does. Today I enjoy it, and I feel grateful to be able to embrace the culture that I took for granted growing up.”

How much is ‘a handful?’

One thing that Heather really wants to learn more about from her mom is the art of Palauan cuisine. After many years of home cooking, however, Maggie doesn’t follow recipes, relying on instinct – and taste – to get the job done.

“Your eyes, your mouth, and the taste – that’s the recipe,” Maggie said with a laugh. “I need to write down the recipes for Heather. I’m kind of surprised that she is interested, and I am very lucky.”

“Now that I’m getting older, I realize the importance of learning my mom’s cooking,” Heather added. For instance, “she has different ways to tenderize meat and marinate foods. And I’m really trying to write her recipes down. I don’t know exactly what a ‘handful’ is.”

With lots of practice under their belts, this mother-daughter duo is well on their way to ensuring that Marline’s Palauan cooking will remain a treasured family tradition. One dish the two have crafted together is called demok soup – made with coconut milk, fresh fish, crab meat, or pork sausage, spinach (or,

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Various Palauan carvings are on display in Heather Theisen's home, including carved storyboards depicting Palauan folklore, shell spoons and a totem.

preferably taro leaves when they can get them), chicken stock, and onion. They serve this with a side dish called ongraol, which is made with tapioca.

Maggie and Heather enjoy making trips to St. Cloud or the Twin Cities, where they can shop at traditional Asian markets to find the ingredients they are looking for.

“They have both squid and octopus!” Maggie exclaimed happily.

Demok Soup

Ingredients:

10 oz. frozen chopped spinach*

One 13.54-oz. can of coconut cream

2 cups chicken stock

1/4 cup onion, thinly sliced

1 lb. crab meat**

pinch of salt & pepper

green onions, sliced small for garnish

4 Servings

Maggie tries to return to Palau every five years or so to visit family. But Theisen hasn’t been back in 13 years. This summer, they are making trip back to Palau – just the two of them. And it is something both women are eagerly anticipating.

“I really want to have that bonding experience with my mom, and learn more about her culture,” Heather said. D

Directions: Combine spinach, coconut cream, chicken stock, onion, salt and pepper in a large pot over medium heat.

Prepare the crab meat, sliced into bite sized pieces, and add to the pot. Place the cover on the pot and heat until it boils.

Once boiling, remove from heat and stir.

To serve, sprinkle green onions on individual servings of soup.

*It is typical to use taro leaves but spinach is substituted due to availability in the U.S.

**Any cooked meat can be substituted for crab meat

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Andrea Busche is a Duluth freelance writer.

Raised by a Rosie

Two dynamic mother-daughter duos embody the spirit of Rosie the Riveter

By Andrea Busche

For the fourth consecutive year, the Woman Today will present the annual Rosie Awards at a ceremony held March 18 at the Greysolon Ballroom. Here, six local women will be recognized for their efforts in a variety of arenas – from their volunteer work to their endeavors in leadership. And, the crown jewel of this special event is known as the Rosie Award.

The Rosie Award is a nod to Rosie the Riveter, an American symbol of feminism and economic power. This namesake award is presented to that woman we all know who simply works hard to get stuff done.

Right here at Duluth Media Group, which publishes the Woman Today, we are fortunate enough to have two successful women on staff who, we believe, were “raised by a Rosie.” Their moms are pillars of strength and power, who have subsequently passed these character traits on to their beloved daughters.

So, while we prepare to celebrate our Rosie Award winners, we also take a moment to recognize the special bond between

moms and daughters. And honor how the torch of strength and power is passed from one generation of women to the next.

Megan and Deb Keller

Megan Keller is the advertising director of Duluth Media Group, which publishes the Woman Today, the Duluth News Tribune and other publications. Her mother, Deb Keller, is administrative services supervisor for the University of Minnesota North Central Research and Outreach Center in Grand Rapids, Minn.

In addition to her daughter, Megan, Deb Keller is also mother to a son, Matthew, and has been married to her husband, Jamie Keller, for 46 years. Megan owns and operates a small hobby farm, and founded a dog rescue group, Nemo Paws.

Megan shared a little about her mom.

“My momma is, and always has been, someone I have looked up to. She has a drive about her that is so inspiring. I reflect on my professional career, and I am proud to say I follow in my mother's footsteps. She is an amazing mentor.

“At home, she was a heck of a strong mother,” she continued. “When she needs to be strong, there are no words to explain how solid she really is. She has watched me go through some terribly difficult times, and instead of falling apart, she held her head up and was there for me 100 percent. She was always supportive of our dreams. She allowed me to try things that maybe weren't the best for me and allowed me to fail at that. She then taught me how to pick myself up, brush it off and learn from it.

“Being vulnerable was never something to be ashamed of in our house, but Mom taught us how to not allow that to bring us down either. Learning to be vulnerable builds your best strengths,” said Megan. “She has taught me to not wallow in the bad times; we can stay there for a little while, but she always made sure that I was taking a step forward and helping me move past those hard times.”

Megan admires her mother in many ways.

“I admire her incredible strength and how she uses it when needed most by others. My mother is so selfless and loyal to our

Megan and Deb Keller

family and friends. My mother has so much pride and has never been ashamed of anything that has happened to this family. No matter what, she stands tall and her head is always held high. I truly admire that about her.”

And, for Deb, the admiration goes both ways.

“Megan’s work ethic and drive to do her best is unwavering. She has amazing gut instincts and has learned to trust them in her life and career. She inspires so many. She is just a beautiful soul inside and out!

“I admire her strength and her belief in herself that she can accomplish anything she puts her mind to,” Deb continued. “From training and racing barrel horses, her dog rescues, and most importantly, her strong work ethic, she is not a quitter! No matter what curve balls life has thrown at her – and there have been many – she rises above them to be better and stronger, yet keeps her happy spirit. I am so proud of her.”

Amy Trethewey and Carol (Endrizzi) Trethewey

Amy Trethewey works in classified advertising for Duluth Media Group. Her mother, Carol Trethewey, was an elementary school teacher for 38 years. Carol is now retired and lives at Duluth’s Pines III with her husband, Ron.

Amy shared a few things she admires about her mom.

“My mom grew up in a family that really struggled financially, but her parents made sure that their two girls went to college and became ‘career women.’ My mom worked full-time as a teacher while also being an amazing wife and mother.

“My mom is so strong, both physically and emotionally,” continued Amy, “and she's always giving of herself. Early on in

her teaching career, she left her job in the Twin Cities to move back home to take care of her mother after her father passed away. In the 1970s, she lost two babies (a miscarriage and an almost full-term stillborn). And, in 2012, she almost lost her life to a sudden and unexplained brain illness. Through all of this, she's never given up. I have never heard her say ‘I can't.’

“My mom taught me that ‘tomorrow is another day.’ If today was terrible, tomorrow might be better. Keep praying and keep trying, no matter what.”

Amy added, “I'd like my mom to know that she's my best friend and my hero.”

And, Carol shared what she admires most about her daughter, Amy.

“For me, a good example of a ‘Rosie’ is a woman who is determined to overcome physical and emotional challenges. And Amy possesses the ability to handle both financial and health issues, and she looks after the general well-being of me and Ron. My daughter is the most compassionate person I've ever known.”

Passing the torch

With a tenacious attitude which thrives in the face of life’s challenges, these four women are powerful examples of the “Rosie spirit.” And, while the daughters initially learned so many life lessons from their mothers, it is so inspiring to see that, in adulthood, the respect flows both ways.

For more information about the Rosie Awards, please visit thewomantoday.com. D

Andrea Busche is a Duluth freelance writer.

Carol (Endrizzi) Trethewey and Amy Trethewey

A day they’ll never forget

By Claire Kiger

TheBennetts, Millers and Vegas are three families that all gave birth at St. Luke’s. They each had a unique, customized experience and have memories they’ll never forget. Now, they want to share their stories.

The Bennetts

After their third miscarriage, John and Megan Bennett were starting to wonder if they’d ever have children. Once her St. Luke’s OB-GYN diagnosed her with a uterine septum, she had a small surgery to address the problem.

“Soon we were pregnant again, the surgery giving us some hope that this fourth pregnancy might end joyously.”

Thirty-six weeks later, Megan was still happily pregnant. Due to minor complications, she was induced at 37 weeks and prepared for delivery. However, after a day of being on Pitocin, a medication used to induce labor, she was only 3 centimeters (cm) dilated. Since it was late in the evening and she wasn’t progressing, the staff gave her the choice to rest for the night or keep going.

“One thing that really stuck with us was the Birthing Center staff’s willingness to share the pros and cons of any decisions we had to make,” Megan said.

They decided to take a break and started on Pitocin again the next morning. Around 4 p.m., Megan’s water broke and her contractions got more intense. At 10:30 p.m., she was ready to push. Two hours later she finally heard: “It’s a boy!” and at six pounds, seven ounces, George was finally born.

“I got to hold him for the first time and it’s hard to describe

how amazing those first moments were as a family of three!” said Megan. “It felt like so many years of grief were instantly erased!”

The Millers

For Alyssa Miller, she knew her second delivery was going to be a quick one and that she wanted an epidural.

“I had tried to make it without one when I delivered my firstborn,” she said. “But then I got an epidural and it was literally life-changing! So, going in with my second, I knew I wanted one.”

However, her second came so fast that things didn’t go quite as planned. After being in labor a few hours, her body started shaking all over because she was progressing so rapidly. Before long, it was time for her to deliver.

“It was a pretty crazy experience, and my nurses were awesome. They told me I could do it without an epidural, and they started coaching me.”

However, when St. Luke’s OB-GYN Dr. VanStraaten came, Alyssa still wasn’t convinced.

“At that point, it was pretty painful and I kept thinking: I can’t do this,” she said.

Dr. VanStraaten checked Alyssa’s progress.

“She looked at me and said, ‘I think you just need to give me

John and Megan Bennett with George (from left), Felipe and Nancy Vega with Kenzie, and Ryan and Alyssa Miller and with Scarlett all chose St. Luke’s for their childbirthing experience.

St. Luke’s Birthing Center makes each birth as special as it should be

three good pushes!’ in a confident, reassuring way,” said Alyssa. “Then, literally three pushes later, the pain was suddenly all gone. At 7:47 pm. they laid Scarlett on my chest and I just started bawling.”

The Vegas

As a first-time mom, Nancy Vega did not know what to expect. To prepare themselves, she and her husband, Felipe, took childbirth classes at St. Luke’s, asked a lot of questions, and did their best to learn what they could about parenthood.

A week after her due date, her water broke. She labored for over 20 hours and finally at 12:03 a.m., Kenzie was born.

“The second I heard her cry, everyone just faded into the background,” said Nancy. “They brought her to me, put her right on my chest and everything just seemed to pause.”

After that it was time for Nancy to put into practice all that she had learned, but was still feeling a bit nervous, especially when it came to breastfeeding.

“I was so worried about not knowing what to do,” she said.

The lactation consultants at St. Luke’s stepped in to help right away.

“They made me feel so comfortable,” Nancy said. “I felt really supported. It was the best thing.”

The St. Luke’s birth experience

St. Luke’s Birthing Center strives to provide all options a mom would want during labor and delivery.

“Our entire team is dedicated to giving new parents the experience they are hoping for,” said Lori Swanson, St. Luke’s Maternal Child Health Service Line manager. “The Birthing Center provides a calm setting with private patient rooms, and the staff take pride in providing personalized, high-quality care for each family.”

“Overall, we just felt so loved and cared for at St. Luke’s by these nurses that I had never even met before,” said Nancy. “To see them take such great care of us and go out of their way to make us feel comfortable was just great. It was something I’ll never forget!”

To read full stories from each of these moms and learn more about St. Luke’s Birthing Center, visit StLukesBaby.com. D

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

By Annie Lepper

Wedding season is on its way and while the fun (and stress!) of planning a wedding is important, there’s another topic which is also important. Arguably even more important — how are you going to manage money as a couple?

Even if you aren’t getting married and are just living with your significant other, the “money talk” is a crucial one. Chances are you are planning a future together, at least in the short to medium term, and money is going to be central to running your household.

Money is the number one reason couples divorce or break up. Financial problems or having different approaches and expectations to financial goals cause friction. At its core, money is just a tool for getting what you want and where you want to be in life. But there is so many more attributes piled upon it. Money is power, control, freedom, etc. Strip it back to what it is — a tool. And if you and your partner aren’t working out of the same toolbox, problems will inevitably arise.

Set aside some time and have “the money talk.” No one really likes

Couples and Money: Having 'The Talk'

to talk about money, so don’t stress about feeling awkward, it’s completely normal. Communication is key in any relationship and the money topic is one which should NEVER be off limits. With the talk, it makes sense to bring a list with all the inflow and outflow you have both as a household and as individuals. The accomplishes two things — it gives you a basis to discuss and eliminates putting off the talk due to unknowns (i.e. “I THINK I take home about $780 every two weeks). With the list, you know how much your checks are and how much your average monthly bills are.

Before you start plowing through the bills and how to divvy them up, brainstorm about your goals and how you individually approach money. Knowing right at the start of the talk whether or not you have similar approaches or are polar opposites will help set up a more constructive dialogue. Are you a saver and your significant other is a spender? Are you both a bit scatterbrained and tend to pay your bills late? Having an idea of what each other’s strengths and weaknesses are with money can make the talk go a little smoother and suggest natural “roles” for each of you to fill. This might also indicate whether a joint account, separate accounts, or a “yours, mine, and ours” accounts are the best fit for your patterns.

When it comes to goals, be honest and realistic. Do you have a goal as a couple to have a down payment for a home? Do you want to have a trust fund for future grandkids? Whatever

your goals are individually and as a pair, write them down and make them a part of your game plan to achieve.

A note about the money talk: If you find one or both of you getting judgmental or defensive — STOP. This is where you need to re-center the conversation that money is just a tool and ultimately the pair of you want to be successful using that tool to achieve goals and avoid relationship friction.

Once you know how much is coming into the household and flowing out, have an idea of each other’s approach to money, and have your goals laid out, it’s time to get to work. Figure out what works best for you as a couple — splitting the bills 50/50 might not work if someone out earns the other by a large margin or has several more personal debts than the other. Make a realistic plan for who is responsible for what. Make sure you make room for achieving goals and “assign” responsibilities for maximizing ones’ strengths or areas of oversight.

Put your plan into motion. As ever, the best budget is the one you stick to. If you find there are things you planned as a couple which don’t work, modify them.

Building up a good base for a financial future with your significant other does require a bit of work and, in many cases, compromises. But, smoothing out the road to avoid future friction is a worthwhile endeavor! D

Annie Lepper is vice president of operations/marketing for Minnesota Power Employees’ Credit Union (MPECU).

By Samantha Roffers

Helloeveryone and a very warm welcome! My name is Samantha Rof fers, I am 28 years old and I was born and raised in this beautiful tundra we call The Northland. I am a wife, mother, animal lover, barrel racer and hospital receptionist. I live on an 11-acre hobby farm in Moose Lake, Minn., with my hus band Will, our two children Henry (8) and Riley June (2), three horses (Jay, Spin and Willa), a pony (Scout), three dogs (Bella, Roper and Moto), 13 chickens and two roosters. My husband and I stay very busy caring for all our animals (although I think there are always room for more).

Along with our little farm my husband and I work full time in town and try to keep up with our kids, who are growing up entirely too fast. Through the spring, summer and fall most of our free time is dedicated to traveling the Midwest for barrel races and rodeos. Horses are a great passion in life (my family would probably call it an obsession) and competing with them is an indescribable adrenaline rush. When I’m not on the back of a horse or chasing my kids around I enjoy taking pictures, traveling and cooking new recipes.

I draw a lot of inspiration for my fashion choices through the western lifestyle. I love bold prints, leather, fringe, denim and items that are functional as well as fashionable. I believe turquoise jewelry and red lipstick can be the best accessory to any outfit. I truly think fashion should always be fun, it’s a great way to express yourself and connect with people around you. Your outfit can be an awesome conversation starter by wearing pieces with personal meaning. I love clothes and accessories that can go from the farm to an office setting without too much hassle. I really enjoy digging through the clearance racks as well, you can find a timeless piece of

by Sam

clothing for a fraction of the full price if you know what to look for.

It’s so important to shop for things you love and feel comfortable in. Everyone’s style is unique and that’s what makes it so special. When we are young, we spend a lot of our time trying to blend in, but we soon realize the real beauty is being true to ourselves, even if it makes us stand out in a crowd. There are so many great places to shop in the Northland that offer stylish clothing without sacrificing comfort, fashion or durability. It’s important that the clothes we wear up here can keep up with the ever-changing Minnesota seasons.

I am very excited to be doing this piece with The Woman Today, and I sincerely look forward to sharing fun and fashionable ideas with you all. D

PHOTO BY NORTH CO. PHOTOPGRAHY

Samantha Roffers of Moose Lake enjoys barrel racing and rodeos, as well as traveling, photography and cooking.

SUBMITTED PHOTO

Brush

& CREATIVE STUDIO

DIY girl's night out

By Molly Milroy

Looking for a fun girl’s night out? Need to let out some aggression? Are you crafty and want to try your hands at something new? Or perhaps you are not crafty but want to surprise yourself in your hidden talents. Check out Board and Brush Creative Studio, which offers a custom DIY experience through creating a home décor project. It’s a fun and rewarding way to spend an evening with friends, co-workers, or family members. With over 400 designs to choose from, you’ll be sure to find one that suits your style.

After attending a workshop in the Milwaukee area, owner Kristen Sawyer knew Duluth would be a perfect spot for a studio.

“I fell in love with the process and the atmosphere,” she explained.

After securing franchise rights, she opened the studio, located on the corner of East 4th Street and North 8th Avenue East in Duluth, in February 2018. Our group, co-workers from The Woman Today, tried our hands at it this past January. Overall, we were surprised at how quickly the night went by and were pleased with the outcomes of our boards.

“I really enjoyed the relaxing environment, we were able to laugh, chat, eat snacks and enjoy each other’s company,” said Ali Comnick, account executive at the magazine.

Kristine Jokela and her daughter Kaitlyn Sande have attended multiple workshops.

“It’s one of those things you think ‘I can do this at home’, but you can’t,” said Jokela.

“It’s convenient, everything is available right here,” added Sande.

Dominique Menard (top) instructs participants of a DIY class at Board & Brush Creative Studio in Duluth. Kathleen Pennington (middle) distresses her board with a hammer for her project. Renae Ronquist (bottom) paints the stencil design on her board.

“This is a DIY night, with the emphasis on ‘Y,’” explained employee Dominique Menard.

The process takes three hours. Five of us co-workers sprawled out on our high-top table. Our first task was distressing the boards. Using hammers, meat mallets, chicken wire, nails, and other tools, we pounded our boards.

“All of these can be used to create different impressions,” Menard explained. “And if you’ve had a stressful week, it’s a great time to let any aggression out.”

Jokela added, “You don’t realize how much work you

DIY

have to do to make it look like that, to make it look weathered and give it character.”

After distressing we spent time sanding the boards, followed by choosing one of the variety of stains. When the staining process was complete, we let our boards dry and took a little break to indulge ourselves in the snacks and beverages we brought in. Once the board was dry, it was time to place our stencil on it and paint over it. The design you choose from their selection found online can be altered by several different stain options and a multitude of paint colors.

For those of you who are not as crafty, this is the place to be!

“I was surprised at how easy it was,” Comnick said. “I thought that I would need more help from the B&B team, but I was able to do my board completely on my own.”

Led step by step, it’s an easy to follow process and there are staff available to answer questions or assist when needed. “The process is very forgiving,” said Menard.

Workshops

Workshops are offered every Thursday, Friday, and Saturday, but you can also book private parties, including bachelorette parties and parties for children 6 years old and older.

Jokela and Sande find that it’s a great mother-daughter night out.

“We’re best friends,” said Jokela, “and it’s a great way to spend time together.”

“I love it,” added Sande. “It’s therapeutic.”

“It is,” Jokela continued. “Working with your hands, it’s almost like coloring, it’s a great outlet.”

Each workshop can host up to 20 people, with four large tables to work on.

“Not only are you going home with a beautiful piece of home décor, but you also get to spend time with your girlfriends,” Sawyer said.

If You Go

• Select Your Design Online: When you sign up, you select one out of hundreds of designs. Be sure to check the size of the board as some are much larger than others. You can choose to use a different stain or paint color than the one in the online image.

• Wear Older Clothing: Although they supply aprons, it can be a messy process and you will be sanding and staining. As a precaution, be sure to dress in clothes you don’t mind getting dust or stain on.

• BYOB: The studio allows you to bring in food and beverages of your choice. They even have a small refrigerator where you can keep your beverages and they supply some of their own. Our group brought in a cheese and cracker tray, fruit, chips and salsa.

Board & Brush Creative Studio is the perfect night out for socializing, having fun, and making a chic home décor piece. The atmosphere is upbeat with great music and high energy from the employees. You’ll be surprised at how fast the three hours goes by, leaving you with wanting to come back for more.

“You are left with a beautiful finished product,” Comnick exclaimed. “I will for sure be taking another class.”

To sign up for a workshop and browse the designs, visit https://boardandbrush. com/duluth. D

Ali Comnick applies a stencil (top) to her board, paints it a crisp white, and reveals the finished product -- a snowman welcome sign.

Molly Milroy is a Duluth freelance writer.

Why a non-Catholic family chose Catholic education at Stella Maris Academy

By Teresa Kenney

The Choice

With so many choices for families in education today, selecting a school can seem like a daunting decision. For parents Shar and Adam Riutta, the choice seemed clear. Growing up, Shar’s mother was a dedicated public school teacher. Because of this, when it came time to enroll their eldest child in kindergarten, the Riuttas were confident that their neighborhood public school was the best fit for their family. The couple had considered other school options and despite having enjoyed a tour of Holy Rosary Catholic School, decided to continue with their plan to enroll their daughter, Ella in the public school system at ISD 709.

“We had no reason not to try our local public school, especially because we are not a Catholic family,” she said.

Three years later, and with their second child, Hadley entering first grade, the Riuttas found themselves searching again for the right school for their family. According to Shar, their public school experience was adequate. They didn’t have any specific complaints, other than becoming increasingly concerned with large class sizes. Weeks before the start of a new school year, however, they felt a pull for something more. Their hearts and minds went back to the tour they made at Holy Rosary. Shar and Adam decided that this Catholic school was offering the experience they were looking for. This time, the opportunity to find something more for their family was worth overcoming any feelings of trepidation they had over trying something new.

On Being Non-Catholic

“My biggest concern was if my girls would feel left out since they aren’t Catholic,” explained Shar. “Would Adam and I feel left out, too? The biggest surprise is that we never felt left out.”

Angela Haas, a second-grade teacher, sums up this sentiment beautifully: “It's rare that I'm able to tell Catholic kids apart from non-Catholic kids in my room. I make it my goal to highlight the traditions and customs of different denominations in my room. It gives all the students a chance to shine.”

Shar would agree.

“There are differences in the way we practice our faith, but it opens the door for communication at home about these topics,” she said. “We learned that there is another way to practice faith. It teaches inclusion.”

At Holy Rosary, Shar and Adam quickly noticed this culture of inclusion also leads to cooperation, collaboration, and a strong sense of community. Any concerns they may have had quickly evaporated.

True Partnership

At their new school, the Riuttas discovered that partnerships and strong relationships are formed at all levels, and smaller class sizes did in fact make a big difference. Jodi Altonen, Hadley’s first-grade teacher, noticed very quickly that Hadley was not focused on her classwork. She partnered with Shar and Adam to improve Hadley’s habits, which led to some big changes.

“Hadley’s test scores skyrocketed,” she said.

Shar and Adam attended conferences that fall and found the kids were thriving. Extra attention and care didn’t stop at the classroom. Shar was slightly mortified when her eldest daughter, Ella came home one day and announced that she had invited her third-grade teacher, Ms. Zanardi, to attend her next basketball game. Shar said, “Ella, you can’t do that! You can’t expect that from your teacher.” Ms. Zanardi had other ideas though, and showed up at Ella’s game to cheer her on. Shar said she immediately went home afterwards and said, “Adam, I love this school!” The following year, when the Holy Rosary school combined with St. John’s and St. James schools to form Stella Maris Academy, the Riuttas were firmly on board with Catholic education.

Whole-Child Learning

Stella Maris Academy focuses not just on academics but on whole-child learning. Part of the mission of Stella Maris Academy is to prepare life-long learners who lead, love and serve. For Shar and Adam, life-long learning and academics are important. Both

Shar and Adam are college graduates. Adam is a physician currently practicing emergency medicine at Essentia Health. They have been pleased to find that while their girls have been at different levels academically, both have received the individualized care and attention they need. While one child needed and received additional time and care, the other has been challenged and motivated. Not only that, but the school’s focus on leading, loving and serving has provided many opportunities for personal growth throughout the year; whether it’s serving the community through Sentinel Service Day, learning to lead at a school Mass, or working together to organize an annual food drive. Shar loves that their confidence in public speaking has developed through leading Mass; “It’s what you do here at a very young age.” It was clear to Shar and Adam that the expectations Stella Maris Academy has for every student to find and become the very best versions of themselves are set confidently and encouragingly high.

TOTAL STUDENTS

Finding a Family

From those first days as a brand new family until today, Stella Maris Academy has felt like a family to the Riuttas.

“Teachers know the whole family. They care deeply about one another’s well-being,” said Shar. “When my children have been sick and have been well-cared for, when I get a thank you card from our president for helping out, when the school principal says he can drop our daughter off at home from her after-school activity, and from the time when the entire class prayed for an injured classmate, it has felt like a family.”

Shar notes how the school has been just as good for her as a mom. Shar says with a laugh, “I’ve made friends, too!”

*Number reflects results from Northwest Evaluation Association (NWEA), a national standardized exam

Grades PreK – 8

Stella Maris Academy offers Pre-Kindergarten through eighth grade. All are welcome. Parents and prospective families can call at any time to schedule a tour at St. James, Holy Rosary or St. John’s campus. For more information, contact Admissions Director Sarah Pennings at sma.admissions@stellamaris.academy or 218-623-6253.

Arts & Events Calendar

ST. MICHAELS Lakeside Early Learning

Seussville Family Fun Night

March 5

You would not, could not, should not miss this free family event. Meet the Cat in the Hat, Thing One and Thing Two and watch for Sneeches snooping about from 4-7 p.m. at the Jim Dan Hill Library on the campus of the University of Wisconsin-Superior. Receive a free book (while supplies last).

Mother Son Dance

March 7

Superheroes unite! Take a break from saving the world and enjoy a night of food, dancing, activities and more. This event, brought to you by A Sweet Event, will be held from 5-8 p.m. Saturday, March 7, at the Holiday Inn & Suites, downtown Duluth. Tickets are $25 and can be purchased through www.eventbrite.com.

Winter Foods Festival

March 7

Hosted by the Lake Superior Sustainable Farming Association, this event will be held from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. at Clyde Iron Works in Duluth. Sip, sample, and stock up; eat and drink local, even in the winter months! Support your local farmers, artisans, valueadders, brewers, fermenters, preservers, bakers and makers. For more information, visit www.sfa-mn.org.

Saint Fennessy 4K

March 14

Get your green on and dash through Hermantown! This festive 4K brings you right to the party with live music and tasty beverages. All the action happens in Hermantown Square including an entertainment tent. All net proceeds benefit the Young Athletes Foundation (YAF), which was developed by Grandma’s Marathon in 1990 to assist with the promotion and development of healthy and active lifestyles for youth throughout Carlton, Cook, Douglas, Lake and St. Louis Counties. Visit www. grandmasmarathon.com for more details.

Farmers Take the State

March 20

Local farmers show off their varied talents from 7-9 p.m. at the Duluth Folk School. Food and drink are available for purchase from the Dovetail Cafe. The performers will all be Lake Superior Sustainable Farming Association members. Contact Joel Rosen to sign up: parklakefarm@gmail.com. The suggested donation at the door is $15. The event is a fundraiser for the Lake Superior Sustainable Farming Association.

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.

Have an event for the calendar? Submit your event information to: magazines@duluthnews.com at least two months before your event.

Mustache March Run

March 21

The Mustache March Run, presented by Rex Bar, starts at 5 p.m. Saturday, March 21, at Fitger’s in Duluth. Check-in is from 3-4:45 p.m, awards begin at 6 p.m., and the Best Mustache Contest will be judged at 6:30 p.m. at the Rex, including pizza. Every registrant will get a Mustache March Run gift. Cost is $25. For more information and to register, visit www. mustachemarchrun.com.

Taste at Fitger’s

March 27

Come celebrate 26 years of Taste! From 6-9 p.m. Friday, March 27, over 40 of the area’s finest local restaurants and beverage vendors will serve up their tastiest culinary masterpieces, beers and most exquisite wines. All proceeds support Second Harvest Northern Lakes Food bank. Tickets are available by calling 218-722-8826.

March Madness Craft & Direct Sales Show

March 28

This fourth annual event will be held from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday, March 28, at the Aad Shrine Meeting & Event Center, 5152 Miller Trunk Highway, Duluth. There will be approximately 50 vendors, mostly crafters, with a nice selection of your favorite direct sellers. Lunch will be available by Daughters of the Nile. For details, see www.facebook.com/ events.

Arrowhead Home & Builder Show

April 1-5

The 54th annual event will be held at the Duluth Entertainment and Convention Center. Hundreds of exhibitors will bring the newest, most exciting products on the market from home design to better living to landscaping. Whether you are designing and building a new home, remodeling your present home, landscaping your outdoor spaces or replacing those old appliances, furniture and decorations with bright new ones, then this is the place for you. Visit www.homeshowmn. com.

High Tea Fundraiser

April 18

This annual fundraiser, sponsored by Our Savior’s Evangelical Lutheran Church, 4831 Grand Ave., West Duluth, will be held at 1 p.m. Saturday, April 18, to benefit Lutheran Social Services for homeless youth. Tables will be elegantly set with China, and guests will be served tea sandwiches and desserts by butlers. There will be a silent auction featuring over 40 baskets as well as a raffle table. For details, contact coordinator Jennifer Conboy at 218-624-2264.

Arts & Events Calendar

Come Sing With US thiS SUmmer

Ages 7-11 (grades 2-5)

First Lutheran Church

Monday-Thursday, 9:00am - 4:00pm

Registration: $150 (includes t-shirt, lunch, and snacks!)

www.lsyouthchorus.org

Wojtysiak home is a children’s paradise (and

By Alison Stucke

Severalyears back, Scott and Micki Wojtysiak lived in Saginaw and worked in Hermantown. Their three children, now ages 12, 9, and 5, attended school in Hermantown. The family was growing tired of the commute and the time it took away from being home, so Scott and Micki started looking for a piece of land closer to work and school. They found the right spot, and with careful planning and excellent professionals, they built the home they all wanted.

In September 2018, Scott and Micki, along with their three children and three small dogs, moved into their new home in Hermantown.

Mom and Dad like it, too!)

A little slice of country

“It’s a nice little slice of country back here,” Micki said of the 6-1/2-acre plot they found, “and it’s just 5 minutes from work and school.”

“We wanted a kid-friendly, durable home,” Scott explained, “and when the kids move on and they do come home, there will still be space for them. Plus everything is on the main level for us for later years. We knew going into this that this is it — we don’t want to build and move again.”

Scott and Micki had built their previous home in Saginaw, so they had a better idea of what they wanted and didn’t want this time around. Just like in their last project, they worked with architectural designer Heather Hiner.

“Ten years ago I designed a craftsman style home for this

With a gigantic floating island as its focal point, the kitchen in the Scott and Micki Wojtysiak home is the perfect place to gather -- for family meals, to make cookies, or to just hang out.

homeowner, so when they came to me wanting to build again they were leaning towards doing something different in the modern farmhouse style,” Hiner said. “To compliment this style they wanted an open two-story great room to take advantage of the southern views and sunlight, and they shared an image they found of a feature staircase leading to an upper level loft overlook. This image became the design inspiration and it's not far off to say that the rest of the house was designed around it. The result is a beautiful sun-filled great room with the feature stair and loft overlook connecting the lower level to the upper level.”

Wood showpieces in the great room

Troy Berg of Berg Custom Builders installed the breathtaking staircase of the great room.

The Tongue and Groove Store made all stair and railing parts. Arrowhead Iron fabricated the steel banisters.

“It’s the showpiece of the home,” Scott said of the staircase. “It’s like a piece of art.”

The tall staircase required that the great room’s ceiling be built a majestic 20 feet in height. On two opposite walls, triple windows are stacked two sets high, bringing in beautiful sunlight or moonlight, depending on the time of day.

Another showpiece downstairs is a long wood table made of pine from the Iron Range and purchased from LiliAna of Duluth.

“It was made by a gentleman in Hoyt Lakes, and it has a waxed finish,” Micki explained. “It can be re-sanded.”

The family uses it as a dining table when company visits, and the kids do homework there.

“It can be passed down as an heirloom piece for our family,” Scott

Continued on page 44

wanted an open concept, two-story great room, with lots of windows to let in natural light, in their new Hermantown home. Left: The dining table, which provides extra space for company, is made of pine and custom built by a Hoyt Lakes man. The airy yet grounded staircase, featuring steel banisters, leads up to a loft and overlook on the second floor.

Above: Scott and Micki Wojtysiak

said. “It’s got a farmhouse feel.”

Pieces throughout the home repeat the wheat shades of this table, including the kitchen cupboards, the distressed wood mantel (from Woodruff in Duluth) at the fireplace, wood posts outside and inside, and more. Wood plank tile flooring installed by Hedley Construction, the fireplace with stacked stone limestone hearth, and the unique range hood are all in shades of “griege.” Darker gray benches (also found at LiliAna) and the mission-style five-panel coat closet doors provide additional contrast.

A kitchen designed for making more cookies

Highlights of the Wojtysiak kitchen include a floating island with five stools that allow the entire family to share meals together, plus double convection ovens for faster, more efficient baking when the kids want cookies. Double stacked cabinets provide extra storage space. A fabulous pantry includes butcher block counter and timer sensor lighting

“Katie Story of Arrowhead Supply designed our entire kitchen,” Micki said.

The ground level of the home also includes the master bedroom, bath and closet, as well as a powder room, laundry room, exercise room, home office and attached garage.

A very special second story

Ascend the spectacular staircase to find a unique and child-friendly second floor, designed especially with Scott and Micki’s three kids (two girls and one boy) in mind.

“The upper level is a kid zone complete with a homework nook in the loft, separate bedrooms for each child, Jack-and-Jill bath, and living space above the garage perfect for hanging out with friends,” said Hiner.

Continued on page 46

Left: The entire second floor of the Wojtysiak home is dedicated to the kids. In addition to the kids' bedrooms and Jack-and-Jill bathroom, it features a wood-beam counter/desk that serves as a computer station for homework in the loft area. The bonus room, located above the attached garage, features a big screen TV, a large sevenseat couch and plenty of space for friends to hang out. The home office is located on the first floor.

Right: The master bedroom and bathroom are wood-centric, creating a warm feel. The Wojtysiaks used woodplank flooring, ship lap on the walls, a barnwood headboard and barn door in the bedroom and a mission-style five-panel closet door in the bathroom.

At the top of the stairs is another beam of wood from Woodruff made into a desk/counter/computer station. Not only do the kids enjoy doing their homework there, but Scott says it’s a great location to catch up on work and peer over the guardrail to watch a football game on the large screen TV over the fireplace downstairs.

Down the hall with the blackand-white salt-and-pepper sprinkled carpeting is a Jack-and-Jill bathroom with separate doors leading to the girls’ rooms and to the boy’s room.

Each child’s bedroom contains their favorite things and décor. One daughter’s room gives a view of the hockey rink that’s made in the yard during the winter months. Each room includes a small walk-in closet.

Everyone loves the bonus room

The truly ingenious design element of the top level of the home is the “bonus room” above the attached garage — a spacious, comfortable area with big screen TV and soft, expansive furniture, but still plenty of space to move around, spread out, entertain and play games.

Continued on page 48

Scott and Micki Wojtysiak, their three children and three dogs, formerly of Saginaw, moved into their new home on a 6-1/2-acre lot in the Hermantown area in September 2018. In the winter, the backyard is flooded for a hockey rink.

“They do their own thing up here,” Micki said. “They can run around, have fun and be crazy. This has been a good thing for our young kids.”

Scott and Micki said the bonus room has also been a good thing for them because the kids can play while they can get some quiet time. Since the attached garage is below, any noise from the kids’ running and playing travels down to that space where it doesn’t matter if things get loud.

“The house functions extremely well for this young family to gather in the great room and enjoy time around the large kitchen island,” said Hiner. “Yet when everyone needs their space, the kids can retreat to their upper level hangout while the parents can enjoy solitude in their luxurious main level master suite, home office, and large workout room.”

Working with neighbors, friends, and family

The builder of this home was actually Scott’s uncle, Art Wojtysiak with Wojtysiak Construction. Scott said it was fun to joke with the crew during the building, and that every now and then he would even “jump on the ladder” to lend a hand when needed.

Scott and Micki said all the professionals who worked on their home were excellent.

“Art is really known for getting things done right,” Scott said. “We’re extremely proud to showcase the work of professionals who worked on our house. Everyone who worked on our project took extreme care.”

“We all know each other, our kids go to school together, and we all live and work together,” Micki said. “It’s great to be able to work with our neighbors, friends, and family.” D

Alison Stucke is a Duluth freelance writer.

Architectural designer Heather Hiner incorporated a spacious workout room into the home designed for Scott and Micki Wojtysiak in Hermantown. Scott's uncle, Art Wojtysiak of Wojtysiak Construction, was the builder.

Kitchen remodel lets in light and space

By Alison Stucke

WhenSam and Mary Heiken purchased their home two years ago, they knew they had their work cut out for them. They wanted to change and update many areas of their new home. The galley kitchen was first on the list of areas to remodel.

“We bought the home knowing we would do this kitchen project along with many others,” Sam said. “After purchasing

the home, we immediately started working on it.”

Sam explained that all work on the project was done by himself, Mary, and Sam’s dad Doug.

“We tore a wall down between the living room and the kitchen area,” Sam said. “That really opened up the space. To the west the whole wall is windows. To the east is a big window. We see the sunrise in the morning and sunset at night.”

Opening up the kitchen allowed the couple to add important new areas to the room.

For Sam and Mary Heiken, a total gut of their kitchen was the first priority after purchasing their home just two years ago. They removed a wall between their living and dining rooms to allow for more light and space. They have all new cabinets and appliances, along with a large island with a walnut butcher block top and a buffet and dining area.

“We were able to put in an island, and we installed a buffet and dining area off one side of the kitchen,” Sam said.

The island added space to prepare meals.

“Although we’re pretty utilitarian in our cooking, we cook a fair amount,” Sam said. “It definitely made the kitchen more functional as far as cooking goes.”

The buffet area, which includes a dining table, gave additional space for dining and entertaining.

“It’s given us the opportunity to host larger parties and family events,” Sam said.

During the demolition stage, the entire kitchen was gutted. Now, everything in the room is brand new, including new cabinets, appliances, stove, dishwasher and refrigerator.

“The previous owners wouldn’t recognize the place,” Sam said. “It’s 100 percent different. Brian Timm from Maureen’s LLC picked out everything. He came up with a really good design. We went into their show room and he laid out what he had picked out. What he had picked out was perfect. It was exactly what we didn’t know we wanted. We loved it. We chose to go with everything he selected.”

The new buffet area features an upper cabinet with frosted glass, a floating display shelf and bottom cabinetry in a shaker style, all painted a darker blue-gray to contrast with the white shiplap wall. The dining table has a custom-made laminate top with birch edging and modern matte black supports; a bench was made to match.

“It was great to work with Sam and Mary,” said Timm. “They both had an idea of what they were looking for but trusted me to nudge them in the right direction. They went with a darker blue-gray cabinet from Shiloh Cabinetry with a shaker door style. Very modern and crisp. We opened up the wall between the living room and dining room to allow for more light and give a larger sense of space. We added a

A unique feature in the new kitchen of Sam and Mary Heiken's home is a large utensil "drawer" conveniently located next to the stove, with a slot to store a variety of knives.

white quartz countertop with light blue veining flowing through it. To keep a sense of modern warmth we used a large walnut butcher block top to compliment the white countertops and the dark gray cabinets. Sam had a custom-made laminate top with a Baltic birch edging and attached modern matte black table supports to it. We also made a bench to match.”

Sam said that most people who walk into the kitchen first notice the island’s butcher block countertops and the built-in gas stove. The Blanco sink is beautiful and practical. In the kitchen area, the floor is ceramic tile in the finish that Timm picked out in shades of gray.

As for appliances, Sam and Mary enjoy their under-thecounter microwave drawer.

“It’s super usable and kind of tucked away in its spot,” Sam said.

The couple also appreciates design features that provide smart storage space.

“There’s a lot of storage, including a nice big pantry with a cabinet built into it for storage,” Sam said. “Next to the stove there’s a utensil drawer with an organizer and a slot to stick knives in, which is really nice touch.”

In the dining area is a wall of pre-painted ship lap made by Tongue and Groove Store of Duluth. St. Germain’s Cabinets created a custom-made tabletop and bench top for the dining

table, made of layered plywood and white Formica top.

“We used a floating shelf in the bar/buffet piece along with frosted glass cabinets that are illuminated from inside to show shapes of the items inside,” Timm explained. “We used the same countertop as the perimeter of the kitchen to maintain continuity. It’s perfect for entertaining and any overflow for serving.”

Flooring in the buffet area is the original hardwood floor that Sam and Mary had refinished.

Sam and Mary adore their spacious new kitchen and buffet and the inviting environment it provides for everyday living and for entertaining. D

There's lots of storage in the Heikens' new kitchen, especially in the large pantry-like cabinet with easy pull-out shelves, located next to the refrigerator.

Andrea Busche is a Duluth freelance writer.

Simple and delicious recipes for St. Patrick’s Day

WhenMarch rolls around it gets me thinking about the traditional Irish dish: corned beef and cabbage. The first time I had this traditional dish I was in my early 20s. I’m not Irish, so this wasn’t something my mom made for us growing up. But ever since, I look forward to making it for my family in celebration of St. Patrick’s Day.

So, when it was my turn to make the March issue’s Recipe Remake, naturally I thought of making corned beef and cabbage, but what other Irish foods were out there that I hadn’t tried making yet? After spinning the wheel of Pinterest I landed on Reuben Nachos. These sounded yummy and easy! So easy that I decided to make a dessert too: Bailey’s Irish Cream Cake. Both recipes were simple to make and satisfying.

The Rueben Nachos are perfect for game day or a St. Patrick’s Day appetizer. My initial thought was, “Won’t the bagel chips get soggy?” But they turned out perfect with just enough softness in the centers, while the edges stayed crisp. The horseradish gave it that nice bite. I had never had Russian dressing before. It’s very similar to Thousand Island dressing, so if you are unable to find it, Thousand Island would be a perfect substitute. As a cheese lover, I would add more Swiss cheese to the Reuben Nachos.

If you’re looking for a super simple, moist cake, I encourage you to give this Bailey’s Irish Cream Bundt Cake a try! It’s best served warm, with a scoop of vanilla ice cream or whipped topping. Yum!! Who can’t resist a warm sweet dessert? I included a recipe for Irish coffee, which is very good with this cake too!

Taste Tester Comments

Reuben Nachos: “A good substitute/change from traditional nachos.” “Like a mini Rueben in every bite.”

Bailey’s Irish Cream Cake: “It’s 'terrible.' I should eat it all for you!” “I like how the cake is moist on the inside with crisp edges and little bit of crunch from the pecans.” “This would be good for breakfast.”

By Renae Ronquist

The Woman Today

Reuben Nachos

Serves 8

Ready in 15 minutes

Ingredients:

1 large bag bagel chips

1/2 lb. deli corned beef, chopped into bite-size pieces

1/2 cup sauerkraut

1 1/2 cup shredded Swiss cheese (7 oz. brick)

1 Tbsp. horseradish

Russian dressing, for serving

2 Tbsp. chives, finely chopped

Directions:

Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Scatter an even layer of bagel chips on a large rimmed baking sheet. (I used two 7 oz. bags of Stacy’s simply naked bagel chips, one for each layer.) Top with about half of the corned beef, sauerkraut, cheese and horseradish. Add a second layer of bagel chips. Top with remaining corned beef, sauerkraut, cheese and horseradish.

Bake until cheese is melted and the bagel chips are slightly golden, about 10-15 minutes. Drizzle nachos with Russian

dressing and garnish with chives. Serve warm.

Bailey’s Irish Cream Cake

Ingredients:

1 cup chopped pecans

1 box yellow cake mix

1 3.4-oz. package vanilla instant pudding

4 eggs

¼ cup water*

½ cup vegetable oil

¾ cup Irish cream liqueur*

For the glaze:

1 stick butter

¼ cup water

1 cup sugar

¼ cup Irish cream liqueur

Cake Instructions:

Preheat oven to 325 degrees. Grease/flour bundt pan, then sprinkle nuts over bottom of pan.

In large bowl, combine cake mix, pudding, eggs, water, oil, Irish cream. Beat for 5 minutes on high, then pour

batter over nuts in pan.

Bake in oven for about 60 minutes, until toothpick inserted in center comes out clean. Remove from oven, let cool for 10 minutes, then invert on serving platter. Poke holes over cake (I didn’t have skewers so I used a meat thermometer). Spoon glaze over cake and let it absorb into cake.

Glaze Instructions:

While cake is cooling, make the

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glaze by melting butter in a saucepan. Add water and sugar and bring to boil. Continue to boil for 5 minutes while stirring constantly. Remove from heat and stir in Irish cream. Be careful, it will steam when adding the Irish cream!

* To make this a rum cake, increase the water to ½ cup and replace the Irish cream with ½ cup of rum. For the glaze, replace the Irish cream with rum.

Also, instead of making the glaze, you could always just top the cake with a mixture of powdered sugar and Irish cream for a glaze. Using a ratio of 2:1 powdered sugar to liquid.

Bailey’s Irish Coffee

Ingredients:

1 cup coffee

1 shot Irish whisky

1 shot Bailey’s Irish Cream

1 Tbsp. whipped cream

Pour shots of Irish whiskey and Bailey’s Irish Cream into coffee. Top with whipped cream and enjoy! D

Duluth News Tribune Membership Event

The Duluth Media Group hosted a members-only "Meet the Newsroom" event at the Inn on Lake Superior in January, featuring a Q-and-A session and raffle drawing. Watch your email for upcoming Membership events.