inMagazine Spring 2014

Life

Community

in Family

Spring 2014 | Complimentary

An Axe-kicking good time The Bemidji Axemen bring energy and fans into the Sanford Center

Take it outside!

Lake Bemidji State Park is the perfect venue for outdoor fitness

Hair today, gone tomorrow The ins and outs of hair donation

Life

Community

in

12

Cover story Go behind the scenes with the Bemidji Axemen.

Family

A BEMIDJI PIONEER PUBLICATION

Staff BETHANY WESLEY Editor

ABBY RANDALL Creative Director

DEBORAH BRADSETH Design Lead To contact in magazine email inmagazine@bemidjipioneer.com

Consulting Committee Mollie Burlingame Jillian Gandsey Christopher Johnson Larisa Severson Maggi Stivers Tim Webb Sarah Winkle

To Advertise 218-333-9200 inmagazine@bemidjipioneer.com

Administration Dennis Doeden, Publisher Matt Cory, Editor John Svingen, Advertising Director Tammie Brooks, Business Manager 1320 Neilson Ave. SE Bemidji, MN 56601 Volume 1, Issue 2

Copyright Š 2014 Bemidji Pioneer in magazine

All rights reserved. Although some parts of this publication may be reproduced and reprinted, we require that prior permission be obtained.

4 | in magazine

Spring 2014

Cover photo by Monte Draper

Cover: Josh Aakre #14 Above: Thomas Gordon #11

Happy spring!

Welcome back! We’re incredibly pleased to share with you our second issue of in, a quarterly lifestyle magazine celebrating life in the Northwoods of Minnesota. Here at in, we aim to offer a glimpse into the lives of the people who call the Bemidji area home, perhaps introducing you to a neighbor you have not yet met or detailing a favorite pastime of a coworker you may have always said hello to but did not really know.

In this issue we’ll introduce you to Blackduck’s Melissa Gullette, who cut off nearly a foot of hair for Locks of Love, and first-time parentsto-be Jenna and Clark Palmer, awaiting the birth of their first child. We also unveil a new occasional feature titled My Bemidji Life, which will offer a first-person account of a local resident’s life here in north central Minnesota. Kicking off this feature is contributor Marilyn Heltzer, who shares her house-sharing experiences.

Also, while they’re perhaps just temporary Bemidji residents, we also visit with a handful of the Bemidji Axemen, Bemidji’s wildly popular professional Indoor Football League team, which opened its season in February but will compete through June at the Sanford Center.

We also happily celebrate the forthcoming spring and the sunshine that will soon accompany it. We look to our own Beltrami County Master Gardeners for hardy landscaping plant suggestions and explore our beloved Lake Bemidji State Park, pondering some new ways to move our fitness routine outdoors.

From eyewear to lamb cakes to antlers, we have tried to touch on an array of springtime favorites in this issue. As you flip through these pages, we hope you will take a minute to share with us your thoughts. Because, as I said before, this may be our product, but we truly want it to be your magazine.

Bethany

Use your smartphone to scan the QR code.

Don’t have a smartphone?

Visit http://bemidjipioneer. epubs.forumprinting.com/ publication/?i=190694

Community

in Family

Spring 2014

Featured stories Waiting for baby 10 Jenna and Clark Palmer anticipate the arrival of their first child

Bemidji Axemen 12 Learn what drives the players competing on the new IFL team

Antler art

18 18

Shannon Lucas-Westrum shares how she creates antler baskets

Locks of Love 22 Explore the idea of hair-donation and learn about a program that helps cancer patients feel better about themselves

Kids Kitchen 26 A local program aims to introduce kids to cooking skills

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Landscaping Financial advice Pet adoption My Bemidji Life Easter tradition Hummus ideas in shape Chattin’ with Dennis

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in style Tips for finding your personal eyewear style

Spring 2014

in magazine | 5

going green 9

great landscaping plants

We asked the Beltrami County Master Gardeners for their top recommendations on landscaping plants that would thrive in our northern forested region of Minnesota. Photos courtesy Bailey Nurseries.

FULL SUN Peony (Paeonia lactifolia varieties): Beloved old-fashioned and long-lived shrub-like perennial with dark green leaves and fragrant, large single and double flowers in hues from white to coral to yellow to pink to red and maroon. Full sun and rich, organic soil that stays evenly moist are musts. Variety “Red Charm” is 34 to 36 inches tall with deep red bomb-type flowers and is a particular favorite.

perennial

grass shrubs

trees

FULL SUN FULL SUN FULL SUN Japanese Lilac Tree (Syringa reticulate): Long-lived, cold-tolerant; a 15 to 25-foot-tall tree with stiff, spreading branches forming a rounded crown.

Full sun required for good bloom. Dark green leaves, reddish-brown bark, early-summer panicles of scented, ivory flowers followed by interesting seedpods that create winter interest.

Recommended variety: “Ivory Silk.”

6 | in magazine

Spring 2014

Crab Apple Tree (Malus hybrids): Tough and hardy in Minnesota with various shades of green foliage with spring flowers in shades from white to dark pink beloved by Waxwings, followed by red or yellow fruit for winter interest and bird attraction. Full sun and moist soil are best for success. Variety “Indian Summer” is diseaseresistant and sports rose-red flowers with three-quarter-inch bright red fruit and is 15 to 20 feet tall and wide.

Feather Reed Grass (Calamagrostis acutiflora): Long-blooming, lowmaintenance perennial grass that creates illusion of movement in summer landscape and an accent to the snow of winter.

Grows and blooms best in well-drained, fertile soil in full sun. Variety “Karl Foerster” is 5 to 6 feet tall with a 2-foot spread and is non-invasive. Early bloom and golden color comes as it ages. Easy maintenance, only requires pruning to six inches in early spring.

Avoid invasive species such as “Miscanthus” species.

FULL SUN Red-osier Dogwood (Cornus sericea): Deciduous shrub with multiple stems that are a showy red in winter. Dark green leaves are accented with clusters of tiny white flowers that bloom over an extended period resulting in white fruits. All result in four-season interest.

Grows best in moist soil where plants can spread. It can serve as an attractive property screen. Variety “Cardinal” is 6 to 9 feet tall and 8 to 9 feet wide.

Perennials FULL SHADE TO SUN

SEMI SHADE FULL SUN Sedum species: Easy, full-sun plants for very well-drained sites that range from groundcover types to bold, upright species that can provide fall color and winter interest. Flowers bloom for long periods in bright yellow, white, and shades of pink and salmon, attracting bees and butterflies galore. Foliage comes in various hues from bright to blue-green to red to deep purple green in varied shapes and sizes and all have water-storing capacity. Look for Zone 3 varieties such as perennial favorite, “Autumn Joy,� the 1- to 2-foot upright plant with its grey-green succulent leaves topped with broccoli-like heads of buds that open pink and turn coppery.

Lungworts (Pulmonaria longifolia): Deer-resistant, showy plants with beautiful foliage that varies in degree of variegation.

Plants bloom early with flowers often changing hues from blue to pink over a long period in early spring. Tough, easy-care plant does well in humusy, moist, but well-drained soil in shady to dappled shade location. Variety “Raspberry Splash� is a vigorous one that spreads 1.5 to 2.5 feet and is about a foot tall.

For more landscaping and gardening tips, visit the University of Minnesota Extension website at www. extension.umn.edu/ garden/yard-garden.

FULL SUN

Hosta varieties: Another option is always the ever-popular Hosta, which has a range of varieties needing full shade to full sun.

Daylily (Hemerocallis varieties): Tough, full-sun, long-lived, colorful, butterfly-attracting perennial with myriad of colors, plant sizes and bloom times. Lance-shaped leaves form upright clumps of arching fans with bloom scapes emerging above leaves. Blooms last only a day so bud count is important to extend bloom time. Fragrant varieties available. Look for non-invasive clump style rather than stoloniferous varieties. Variety “Siloam Double Classic� is a 16-inch tall plant flaunting bright pink, 5-inch double flowers with green throats.

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Spring 2014

in magazine | 7

in

Michelle Dickey

Stylist: Marlys Michelle is an assistant manager at Christopher and Banks. Michelle, who chose two looks, is not a regular glasses wearer but uses them as an accessory. She uses glasses to either add bling to an outfit or to look like a polished professional business woman. To see both of Michelle’s looks, business, and glamour, visit inmagazine.areavoices.com.

8 | in magazine

Spring 2014

style with eyeglasses

expert tips for trendy eyewear

by Maggi

Stivers staff writer

Selecting a new pair of glasses can be an overwhelming decision with the number of frames available. But they also have the ability to make you feel comfortable and stylish. Marlys Rohde, who worked in the optical field for 32 years, has a passion for helping people select a pair of glasses that will meet all of their needs.

Marlys retired from Sanford Bemidji Eye Center more than a year ago. Throughout her career, she saw the impact of modern technology on eyeglasses and also the changes in how people are using glasses. A major change has been the gradual decrease in the thickness of the lens itself.

Also, how people are using glasses is changing as more people are thinking of them as a component of each day’s fashion choices. “You have to think of them as accessorizing just like a scarf,” Marlys says.

Marlys says her goal was to strive to make the entire experience enjoyable from start to finish. This is a goal shared by all eyewear stylists, including Barb Mullan, Kristi Gubbels and Shaaren Haanpaa, employees at Sanford Bemidji Eye Center. Barb has worked for seven years and Kristi has worked for six years at the center.

Shaaren has worked for 18 years at the downtown Bemidji location. The trio shares Marlys’ passion and always strives to make people feel comfortable while looking good.

We asked the four women to share with us and demonstrate to us how to approach an eyeglass makeover.

Shelley Johnson

Stylist: Marlys Shelley is a waitress at Raphael’s Bakery who wears glasses daily for both comfort and function.

Her old frames had thicker lenses that could be hidden with a different pair of frames. The new frames have much thinner lenses with a little bit of color to enhance the eye, however; she has petite features so a bold frame may overwhelm the face.

Here are some of Marlys’ tips:

1 2 3 4

Understand the type of lens you need. Thicker lens tend to look better if they are completely surrounded with a rim. Half-rimmed glasses typically work best with a thinner lens.

Make sure that your eyes are centered within the frame.

The best frames will split your face in half. The distance from the bottom of the frame to your forehead, and from the bottom of the frame to your chin should be roughly the same.

Do not be afraid to use color to complement your eye color, skin tone and personality.

Pictured are Sanford employees, from left, Shaaren, Kristi and Barb.

Hannah Benzie

Stylist: Barb Hannah is a senior at Bemidji State University majoring in community health and exercise science. Barb and Hannah worked together to try several different shapes and styles to see what best fit the 22-year-old’s youth and personality.

This pair was selected for a more fashionable and bolder look.

The Sanford team selects fashion-forward frames and attends annual trade shows on the east and west coast.

Matthew Winkle

Stylist: Kristi Matthew is 5 years old, a kindergartener at Lincoln Elementary. Kristi suggested that when considering a child’s first pair of frames it is best to make sure the frames are durable. It is also important to look for a frame that fits the back of the ears perfectly.

John Andringa

Stylist: Shaaren John is a producer and director at Lakeland Public Television. His glasses were chosen for a timeless and classic look. The glasses are super light and yet extremely durable.

The frames provided a professional look.

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in magazine | 9

Awaiting

baby

by Bethany

Wesley

staff writer

They’re as ready as they’re going to be.

Just weeks from welcoming their child into this world, Jenna and Clark Palmer sat at their kitchen table in their home outside of Tenstrike discussing their expectations, hopes and fears about parenthood.

“She’s going to be a great mom,” Clark, 29, said of his wife, 26, who he met about eight years ago at a classmate’s wedding in International Falls. “I’m going to have to learn how to be a great dad. It will come.”

“He’ll be a good dad,” Jenna said, rubbing her expanding belly. “He’ll learn very quickly.”

They are in a sort of limbo, not quite parents and yet not exactly not parents either.

“It goes in spurts,” Jenna said, referencing the movements she feels within herself. “She’ll kind of not be active and then all of a sudden it’s like, ‘Oh, by the way, I’m still here.’ Or as soon as I eat something sugary, she’ll be like, “Oh yeah, that

Clark and Jenna Palmer

“There’s no manual for a baby.”

Jenna Palmer was good. I like that.’”

Did you catch the she? Yes, the couple is expecting a daughter, based on images from Jenna’s second ultrasound.

“The first one, she was uncooperative,” Jenna said. “The second, she was still stubborn, her hands were over her face and then her feet over her hands. We got just a very short sneak peak that she’s a girl.”

More importantly, Clark added, they saw all her organs, fingers and toes and were assured all appeared healthy.

Jenna learned she was expecting in July, having gone out on a bike ride with her mother.

“My mom and I decided we were going to bike around the lake … but I seriously felt like I was going to fall off my bike,” she said. “I was seeing spots. I said I really needed to eat something, so we went and ate, but I still felt really crappy.”

Her mother suggested she might be pregnant but Jenna brushed it off, saying she had just taken a pregnancy test and it was negative.

Two days later, it was positive.

“It’s been really good,” Jenna said of her pregnancy, well into its final month at the time. “I didn’t have any morning sickness at all.”

The couple are easy-going parents-to-be, not deadset on things they will or will not do.

“We’re hoping to nurse and then pump and bottle feed so that she is used to that for daycare, to make it so it is not a whole terror of an experience for the daycare lady and the baby,” Jenna said. “That’s the intention. Hopefully it works out that way, but there’s no manual for a baby.”

Jenna is a nurse at Sanford Bemidji and Clark is a union iron worker. They married three and a half years ago in St. Cloud. Now, awaiting the birth of their child, they look forward to their new family dynamic.

“I’m excited to not be pregnant anymore,” Jenna said, “to be able to breathe like I’m supposed to and to be able to roll over in bed like I’m supposed to.

“But mainly, I’m excited to just have her here.”

Editor’s note In recognition of Mother’s Day (Sunday, May 11), we sat down with a pair of first-time parents-to-be. Since the interview, conducted in early February, their newborn was safely delivered into the world. Visit our website at inmagazine.areavoices. com to meet the newest Palmer and hear from Jenna on what the first few weeks of mommyhood have been like.

10 | in magazine

Spring 2014

kids corner

Cones Spring & Easter

Materials Needed:

• Paper Mache cones • Patterned paper 12”x12” -orange for carrot (green ribbon) -pink & light pink for bunny (white pipe cleaners, pink pom pom, googly eyes, pink ribbon) -yellow & orange for chick (googly eyes, yellow ribbon) • Ultra Seal • Hot glue

Project idea courtesy Ben Franklin in downtown Bemidji

Instructions: Start by covering the paper mache cone with Ultra 1 Seal. Use a 12”x12” piece of paper to cover the cone by wrapping the paper around it. Use Ultra Seal to glue the edge of wrapped paper. Trim remaining paper so it matches the shape of the cone.

2

Using a sharp object, poke one hole in the cone about a half-inch away from the open part. Now poke another hole directly across from that one.

String ribbon through from the outside in and tie a knot on the inside. This will make the handle.

3

Decorate to desired theme. The bunny gets ear cut from paper, whiskers from pipe cleaners. Glue on ears, whiskers, pom pom nose and eyes with hot glue.

4

The chick gets wings and a beak cut from orange paper. Use hot glue to apply wings, beak and eyes.

Spring 2014

in magazine | 11

MAKING THE CUT

by Zach Kayser, staff writer Photos by Monte Draper

The young men competing to become part of the new Bemidji Axemen indoor football team hail from all corners of the country. As professional football players, they play under the pressure of being cut at any time.

They play to impress, in the hopes of capturing the attention of NFL or CFL (Canadian Football League) recruiters.

But while they’re here, they play to give their Bemidji fans the best show possible.

In the weeks before their inaugural game, they talked about where they come from and why they’ve traveled to Bemidji to form something new.

Hunter Wanket is gunning for the coveted quarterback spot on the team. Originally from San Diego, he played 12 | in magazine

Spring 2014

junior college football at Palomar Junior College and college football at Central Connecticut State, winning a conference championship for the first time in school history.

After taking time off to be with his family, he then played for the Nebraska Danger – an indoor team – for two months, and after that, the Lehigh Valley Steelhawks in Pennsylvania. He signed with the Spokane Shock in Washington state but found out his contract would be renegotiated in January.

Left scrambling to find a team to call home, his old Steelhawks coach put him in touch with Bob Fuller, the Axemen coach.

“I liked his philosophy, and I said ‘Coach, I’m coming

“It is imperative that we do a good job of getting involved in the community because those (people) are the ones that are at our game.”

-Hunter Wanket, quarterback

out there,’” Wanket said. “He’s very family-oriented, that’s kind of his mentality: Football is a family.”

Although Wanket said many IFL players participate simply to get noticed, hoping to get a contract with the NFL or the CFL, the players realize they need to rely on each other in order to achieve that goal by winning games.

“Obviously these lower leagues are an avenue for people to get exposure and move up,” he said of the IFL. “It’s

not individuals trying to just move up, we’re trying to achieve something together to allow ourselves as individuals to be seen.”

While players are in the IFL, Wanket said, they get to experience a much closer relationship with the fans.

“I think the fans are substantially the biggest thing for this league,” Wanket said. “It is imperative that we do a good job of getting involved in the community because those

2014 BEMIDJI AXEMEN SCHEDULE March 15 vs. Wyoming Cavalry March 21 vs. Nebraska Danger March 29 at Cedar Rapids Titans April 11 at Wyoming Cavalry April 19 at Cedar Rapids Titans April 26 vs. Green Bay Blizzard May 3 at Green Bay Blizzard May 10 vs. Tri-Cities Fever May 17 at Sioux Falls Storm May 31 vs. Texas Revolution June 7 vs. Cedar Rapids Titans June 13 at Green Bay Blizzard

Spring 2014

in magazine | 13

“Any time you get to play football after college, it’s an absolute blessing. I’m definitely enjoying where I’m at right now, but I can definitely say that the goal would be an NFL team.�

-Cory Svihla, linebacker

(people) are the ones that are at our game ... they’re literally four feet away from us on the field, we’re talking to them, slapping hands with them all game.�

Wanket said the scenery around Bemidji, particularly around the Bena resort where the team is quartered, is easier on the eyes than the steel mills of Pennsylvania. “I will have stories of living in negative-degree weather for the rest of my life,� he said. “The snow out here is beautiful compared to the snow in the city.�

Linebacker Cory Svihla comes from Foley, Minn., and played for Bethel University. Like Wanket, he wants to move up to a higher league eventually but said he’s grateful for what he’s got right now.

“Any time you get to play football after college, it’s an absolute blessing,� he said. “I’m definitely enjoying where I’m at right now, but I can definitely say that the goal would be an NFL team.�

Svihla echoed Wanket’s assertion that the team is like a family. Although the players compete with each other to stay employed throughout training camp and the season itself, they work to help the same people they’re aiming to edge out. “Even though everybody’s competing for a job every single day, it’s kind of like going to college for the first time,� Svihla said of camp.

Wide receiver Maurice Patterson was born into a

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military family in Hopkinsville, Ky., then moved to San Diego when he was 2 years old. After playing at the University of Nevada, he went pro with the Arena Football League team the San Jose Sabercats.

His goal is to have 1,000 receiving yards this year but he appreciates just having the chance to be here.

“I’m just thankful to be playing football still, and professionally,” he said.

As to the style of play, Patterson said it’s action-packed.

“It’s a show, it’s a very intense

game,” he said of the indoor league.

Axemen co-owner Ross Ladehoff agreed, “You’re going to be right there, you’re going to be in front of everything. You’re going to have a player fall into your lap. When the footballs go into the stands, you’re going to be able to keep them. We just ask that you give the players back.”

Ladehoff said the team has already received lots of requests to appear at local events, which he wants to make happen as much as possible.

“This is Bemidji’s team,” he said. “It’s the first professional team in Bemidji, and we look to be in the community as much as possible.”

·

Spring 2014

in magazine | 15

A penny saved... is a penny earned

...and other financial lessons

If the recent financial turmoil has taught us anything, it’s that maybe we should pay attention to the age-old clichés that our parents and grandparents passed on to us. Take it one day at a time … that is the new reality for most Americans when it comes to financial recovery. Don’t put all your eggs in one basket … that could be the poster child for diversification.

You get the idea. So keeping the “what’s old is new again” mantra in mind, here are some famous clichés from generations before that could serve us well this year and beyond.

Don’t cry over spilled milk. The recession is over and it is time to start putting the pieces back together. It might take a while, but you need to start somewhere.

lifestyle? Could they stay in the house so the kids would not have to move and switch schools? The time to protect your family is now.

Home is where the heart is. It’s also where much of your equity probably is too. Look into home-equity loans to help you consolidate debt and get back on your feet. Lending standards are now tighter, but banks want your business and will work with you to meet your needs.

Save for a rainy day. Call it an emergency savings fund, rainy day fund, or what you will.

The idea is simple, but changing our behavior is not. It is time to slow down on spending and start saving.

Also, resist the temptation to raid your savings! While most Americans have plenty of credit card debt (and the issue needs to be addressed as part of your financial picture), resist the temptation to raid the savings to pay it all off. Also, resist the desire to raid the savings for cash purchases. If you succumb, whenever the fund is used, the amount withdrawn should be replenished as soon as possible.

A penny saved is a penny earned. For an emergency savings fund, a standard savings account or money market account should meet your needs. However, thinking even longer-term, consider certificates of deposit.

CDs help force you to commit your money for a period of time, so they can help you start to make your savings a more permanent habit. It should be noted that the money is not accessible for the term.

You’re walking on thin ice. The economy got bad enough that some of us had to sacrifice the standard financial protection that we always took for granted. If you terminated your life insurance contract, now is the time to begin shopping around for a new one.

It’s hard to think about, but if something happened to you would your family be able to maintain their current 16 | in magazine

Spring 2014

$

Another day, another dollar. Unless you are sick as a dog. While your savings should help protect you if you lose your job, what happens if you get sick or injured and cannot work for a period of time? Consider disability income insurance to help cover living expenses and protect your savings should that happen.

Lend a helping hand. Reach out to others in need through charitable giving and by volunteering your time and talents. There is plenty of need out there right now and every little bit helps.

Stop and smell the roses. We have all been through a lot the past several years, virtually none of us untouched by the financial turmoil.

Perhaps your most important investment is time spent with family and friends.

This article was prepared by Thrivent Financial for use by local area representatives Allen Zutz (pictured), Wayne Tieman and Dano Stephens. They have an office at 403 Fourth St. NW, Suite 115, in Bemidji and can be contacted by phone at 444-0202.

A ‘Happy Tail’ FROM THE BELTRAMI HUMANE SOCIETY

On Nov. 17, 2012, a young woman brought a small black be very difficult to identify the sex of a kitten because kitten into the Beltrami Humane Society. This kitten was identifying parts have not yet fully developed. Especially not much bigger than the size of her hand, smelled badly, in very young kittens, it can be almost impossible to see and would not stop crying. or feel the difference between a male or female.)

The young woman had found this kitten on the side of The family didn’t mind and was convinced that she was the highway and couldn’t stand to leave it in the road. still the right cat for them and renamed her Black Jackie.

Upon arriving at the Today, Black Jackie is shelter, we initially told her living well in her forever that we just didn’t have home with a loving family. room for this kitten, and Her adoptive parents believe the truth was, we didn’t. she came to them at just However, after making a the right time after having few phone calls, we found lost their former pet. a foster home for this little “Black Jackie has brought kitten. so much joy to our lives,” We named him Black Jack said Melissa Kloehn. “She because we felt he was a loves to cuddle and has a gambler and had some good special time of day for each luck to have been found and of us. She is so precious placed in our shelter. and we love her. She is truly Black Jack was given a blessing in our lives.” needed vaccinations, Black Jackie is a true de-wormed, and treated example of a “happy tail,” for fleas and ticks. He then a successful adoption Melissa Kloehn and Darren Carpenter adopted went to a foster home, through the Beltrami Black Jackie in March 2013. Now in her forever where he was well taken Human Society. Black Jackie home, Black Jackie is thriving and providing her care of for a few weeks. beat the odds and now lives family with lots of love.

Once he was strong to bring joy every day to her enough, Black Jack came adoptive family. We, at the back to the shelter and was made available for adoption.

Beltrami Humane Society, feel so blessed to be part of After a few months, the perfect family for Black Jack this wonderful story! came to the shelter and fell in love with him.

Before he could go home, Black Jack needed to be Brandon Mustful is the executive director of the neutered. It was only then, at his neuter appointment that Beltrami Humane Society. He can be reached via we learned that Black Jack was actually a female! (It can email at bhsoc@paulbunyan.net Thinking of adopting a pet? Brandon suggests five points a family should first consider.

Find them on our blog at inmagazine.areavoices.com

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Spring 2014

in magazine | 17

“You can’t make an antler do what you want it to do, you have to follow the antler.”

Shannon Lucas-Westrum

18 | in magazine

Spring 2014

Art

Antler

by Maggi

photo by Monte Draper

Everyone knows that one person who has a set of deer antlers mounted on their wall, but Shannon Lucas-Westrum has a different plan for the sets of antlers that end up in her hands.

Shannon, the owner of Shannon’s Art and Soul in downtown Bemidji, has been experimenting with using deer antlers as decor for at least a decade.

It all started when Shannon signed up for a class that simply involved weaving a basket that included adding an antler on as a handle.

“I wasn’t really fond of that,” Shannon said.

The next class was a little different, encouraging students to use the antler to make a functional basket but also a sculpture.

From there, Shannon’s antler art took on a life of its own.

Each antler that Shannon receives is different and will eventually become a one-of-a-kind creation, most often a basket.

But it all depends on the shape and condition of the antler. Shannon’s dad, who does a lot of trail-grooming and often finds antler sheds, once found antlers that had half the tines chewed off. It was too small for a basket, so Shannon turned it into a jewelry tray.

Shannon described her antler art as more of a sculpture.

“You can’t make an antler do what you want it to do, you have to follow the antler,” she said.

Each antler has its own personality and will “lead to a completely different shape of basket,” Shannon said. She described the process as the antler has offered her a hint and it is her job to study the shape to figure out exactly which way it can grow

Stivers staff writer

into something more.

Shapes that Shannon has made so far include a cornucopia, trays, pouch baskets and vertical baskets.

“One lady told me she’s using hers as her fall centerpiece for all her decor,” Shannon said, adding that some customers have placed dried flowers inside theirs while others set them on a bookshelf.

Shannon herself has never found her own deer antler shed, but several people have dropped them off at the store.

“I don’t necessarily want something that’s big enough that you want to mount,” she said.

She also had a friend who found a vintage antler wall mount in her closet which she plans to use.

She has yet to try to use more than one antler in a project but has always had the idea brewing.

Shannon has made around 30 antler baskets, with each one taking between six and twelve hours. Still, she has several goals regarding her antler art: she wants to be able to add more locally harvested accents to the final product and wants to also include different colors and textures.

Her ultimate goal is to be able to learn how to make the antler the natural focus and have it stand out.

“If I build it the right way, you could use it for anything,” she said, stating that the possibilities are endless.

Shannon spends a lot time thinking about how exactly to form the shapes within the antler long before she acts.

Sometimes there are several options for one set of antlers.

“They are great because their shapes kind of dictate what you are going to make out of it,” she said.

Spring 2014

in magazine | 19

Beyond baskets Paul Reimer,

in rural Cass Lake, creates intricate antler products, from lamps to chandeliers to clocks.

20 | in magazine

Spring 2014

His largest chandelier – composed of whitetail deer antlers and four elk antlers – boasts 190 points. Having put in more than 160 hours into it, he has listed it for sale at $4,500 through Craigslist.

Additionally, he has created lamps that

use antlers as a base and a wall clock.

To date, he has used antlers he has collected himself throughout 40 years of hunting in the region, but is open to contract work as well. He can be contacted at 218-821-8686.

My Bemidji Life The ‘people in my basement’

by Marilyn Heltzer

There comes a time in life when house-sharing is a good idea. Maybe it’s about money. Maybe it’s living closer to where you work or study. And maybe it never happens to you, but here’s my house-sharing story.

It happened after my husband died, but before I wanted to sell my house at the end of a township road in the country. And while Sunshine, my big black dog, was good company, she didn’t talk. Having real people in the house seemed like a good idea.

It was especially attractive to my three daughters, who all live hours away, still in Minnesota, but not close enough to attend to old mom every day.

My daughters insisted on a bracelet on my wrist that will, with the press of a button, summon help in case I fall at the bottom of the stairs and can’t get up. A cheery woman says, “Is everything all right, Marilyn?” She even knows my name. So far I’ve responded, “I’m fine. Just testing my system.”

There is, however, nothing like other people in the house. Enter a young married couple, Brendan and Noelle. I like to describe their living quarters as a lowerlevel apartment. But the fact of the matter is that it’s a very big room into which they’ve moved their furniture.

I’ve moved my stuff out. They have a bathroom and an outside entrance.

We’ve established a routine. Every morning, Brendan, who is a senior at Bemidji State University, takes Noelle to Sanford Eye on Anne Street, where she works as a technician.

I have the house to myself much of the day. I do get to town for errands and interactions with people. And in the evening, they come home, and we exchange stories about our days while the two of them work together in the kitchen, fixing their dinner.

It works out well. I’ve asked other folks about their experiences with house-sharing. Relatives don’t count.

House-sharing that lasts less than six months doesn’t either. Some have never done it. Now, in case housesharing comes into your life, I offer these things to consider: 1. Money. Who pays for what? Work it out ahead of time, so all involved know what the deal is. My folks live here rent-free. I pay heat and light bills. They walk my dog in the wintertime, and helped me plant the garden last spring. They’ll do chores around the house. All I have

Photo by Monte Draper Marilyn Heltzer, left, is pictured in her home alongside Noelle and Brendan McCarthy, who live in Marilyn’s basement in a successful house-sharing arrangement.

to do is ask.

2. Smoking/drinking. Both are important in the lives of some people. But not in mine, and not in Brendan’s and Noelle’s. But it’s important to know one another’s proclivities.

3. Coming and going. We don’t check with one another, and we lead very independent lives. But I leave a note when I’ll be out late.

4. Heat/AC. Who controls the thermostat?

5. And here’s the most important one of all: talk it out.

Don’t let things fester. Be kind. Don’t argue. But do talk it out early on.

Having others in the house, their voices and other sounds is reassuring. So is the security of routines, coming and going. And the sharing: Did you see that sunrise? Wow, it really rained last night. How was your trip? I’m so glad you’re home!

I never thought that house-sharing would come into my life. But I’m oh so happy it did!

Spring 2014

in magazine | 21

cut r a fo

Acause

by Jillian

Gandsey staff writer

We all know someone who has hair that seems to grow faster than our front lawn does in July, and unless we are that person, we tend to envy them: They can cut off a healthy lot of it and still have a decent hairdo.

But what we should really be, perhaps, is appreciative.

Because many of us also know, or are acquainted with, someone who could benefit from those extra inches of hair through organizations such as Locks of Love or Pantene Beautiful Lengths.

Melissa Gullette of Blackduck is one of those gracious people, someone who has let her hair grow to donate it to the Locks of Love, a nonprofit that provides hairpieces to financially disadvantaged children.

Melissa and her daughter Kaydre, 10, had decided to let their hair grow out together and in mid-January, Melissa’s was ready for the cut. She visited Classic Cuts Hair and Body Salon in Bemidji, had her hair put into several small ponytails and one by one they were snipped off.

Melissa said that she was about six months ahead of her daughter, who came up with the idea.

“My daughter is a very considerate person,” Melissa said with a proud smile. “She thinks of others.”

Melissa said her hair has been cut short before.

Although, she did joke that maybe it hadn’t been quite that short previously, she was still happy to donate to a worthy cause.

Kim Nelson, owner of Classic Cuts Hair and Body Salon in Bemidji, was the cosmetologist who gave Melissa her new do.

Owning a salon that participates in Locks of Love isn’t the only way Kim has supported those in need. She has also led the Look Good Feel Better program, which is offered at Sanford Bemidji Medical Center in Bemidji, without missing a single class for 11 years.

“I just feel like it’s something I need to do,” Kim said.

Look Good Feel Better is a program offered by the American Cancer Society and funded by the Relay For Life. It is designed for women dealing with hair loss and skin changes from chemotherapy and radiation. Kim noted that men can attend the class too.

“I’ve heard nothing but good things about the Look

Look Good Feel Better Look Good Feel Better is a program offered by the American Cancer Society. It is designed for women dealing with hair loss and skin changes from chemotherapy and radiation.

The program is offered 3-5 p.m. on the first Monday of every other month. Future dates are April 7, June 2, Aug. 4, Oct. 6, and Dec. 1. Registration is required.

For more information visit www.lookgoodfeelbetter.org.

Good Feel Better program here in Bemidji,” said Denae Alamano of the American Cancer Society. “Kim Nelson has been instrumental in making cancer survivors feel beautiful while they are going through many changes in their life.”

It goes hand-in-hand that Kim, a cosmetologist, got involved in the Look Good Feel Better program, which is volunteer work for her. She has manikin heads set up at the class for participants to learn with. They practice how to do makeup, including eyeliner; and how to draw in eyebrows. They also learn about wig care, nail care and how to tie scarves in a fashionable way on their heads.

“It’s a fun way to put aside worry and fear and enjoy some pampering,” Alamano said.

Kim has had three family members diagnosed with cancer and her son has lost four people in the past five

Spring 2014

in magazine | 23

years to the disease. “It’s on my side of the family,” Kim said.

Cancer patients who participate in the Look Good Feel Better can take their makeup kit home with them. A complimentary wig cut is also offered.

“A lot of people are apprehensive of going and then they get there and they get to meet other people,” Kim said. “The class should be packed.”

The class is available for any diagnosis, form or age.

Kim said that she has had participants ranging in age from 14 to 96.

“For a female to have total hair loss within a matter of days is a big deal,” Kim said. “It’s the one thing I can do to give back.”

·

Locks of Love vs.

Pantene Beautiful Lengths The two most well-known hair-donation programs are Locks of Love and Pantene Beautiful Lengths. Both are nonprofit organizations based in the United States, but each work a little differently.

Locks of Love provides hairpieces to financially disadvantaged children younger than 21 who suffer from long-term hair loss from any diagnosis.

According to the organization’s website, the majority of the children who benefit from Locks of Love suffer from a condition called alopecia areata, which is an autoimmune skin disease that results in loss of hair on the scalp and elsewhere.

The children receive wigs for free or on a sliding scale, based on financial need.

Donated hair must be at least 10 inches long for Locks of Love.

One common misconception is that hair cannot be donated if it has been previously dyed. As long as it has not been bleached, Locks of Love will accept it.

Pantene Beautiful Lengths is a partnership between Pantene and the American Cancer Society.

This organization benefits adult women who are battling cancer and will provide them with a wig free of charge.

Donated hair must be at least eight inches long for Pantene Beautiful Lengths.

Pantene Beautiful Lengths will accept hair if it has not been bleached, permanently dyed or chemically treated.

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Spring 2014

A family tradition:

Easter Lamb Cake As told by

Larisa Severson

Easter Lamb Cake

1 stick butter, softened 3 beaten egg yolks 1 c. powdered sugar ¼ c. milk 1½ c. flour ½ tsp. baking powder ½ tsp. vanilla 3 egg whites, stiffly beaten 1 lamb form (available at Ben Franklin in Bemidji) 1-2 cans of fluffy white frosting

Preheat oven to 350 degrees.

In a large bowl cream the butter, sugar and egg yolks together. In a small bowl combine the flour and baking powder. Alternately add the milk and flour mixture to the creamed butter. After all is combined, fold in the three egg whites and add the vanilla.

Grease and flour the lamb form well and place the form face-down on a cookie sheet. Fill only to the top of the front form, making sure to get the batter into the ears.

Then put the back side of the form on and bake at 350 degrees for 45 minutes, remove back and test. Caketester should come out clean.

Let sit 3-5 minutes and then remove from mold and completely cool before frosting.

My Grandma Tillie first made this Easter Lamb Cake for my dad when he was little. By the time I was born, my mom was making this same Easter lamb cake using the same recipe and forms that my Grandma used.

I loved the cake so much that my mom also started making it for my birthday.

Once I got married, I began making the cake for my family – using the same recipe card and forms – and now my children expect to have a lamb cake on the table every year at Easter.

In recent years, after the cake has completely cooled, I’ve simply frosted the cake, since my kids are not coconut fans. But, as you can see in the photo, carefully patting coconut on top of the frosting adds a wooly appearance. For the grass, I added green food coloring to the coconut. I also used chocolate chips for eyes and a little pink candy for the nose, though I have before taken the time to frost a little brown nose.

If the recipe itself is too daunting, or if you don’t have the time or ingredients, you also can use a boxed pound cake mixture. I’ve done that myself, though I do doctor it up, adding a bit of vanilla and almond extract.

The trickiest part of making the cake is getting it out of the form, so be sure to really grease and flour the form before you pour the batter in. Occasionally, the cake may crack as it bakes or as you take it out of the mold, but a few carefully placed skewers and liberal amounts of frosting will cover it right up. Just take your time and have some fun with it. The cake will make an incredible centerpiece for your annual Easter gathering.

Spring 2014

in magazine | 25

kids corner

Who wants a

squid dog?

by Bethany staff writer

photo by Monte

Wesley

Draper

What are they, you ask?

A third of a hot dog, pierced the long ways through with uncooked spaghetti noodles and then boiled until the noodles are tender.

Squid dogs. Also known as stringy sausages, squidlings or pasta dogs.

They may not be your idea of fine dining. But you’re probably not 8 years old.

On a Friday evening, not too long ago, about a dozen children filed into a Bemidji kitchen to learn to make squid dogs, veggie pizza, mac and cheese minis, and Oreo surprise cupcakes.

“Some of them, they’ve never even handled a knife before,” said Shaylee Stately, who works with Novo, the new restaurant from Lueken’s Village Foods, which sponsors a monthly Kids Kitchen program through Bemidji Parks and Recreation. The programs are offered through March and will kick off again in the fall.

The kids, ages 7-14, come to the Public Works Facility and learn to cook, making dishes ranging from potato and cheese soup to Paninis to cookies. Once, they made pasta and salad, creating their own homemade dressing.

Stately said the idea is to get kids into the kitchen early on so they develop cooking skills to benefit them long into adulthood.

“We go through the recipes together,” she said. “We measure it out, we teach them what a half a cup is, a tablespoon, a teaspoon. A lot of them, they don’t even know how to hold a knife (at first).”

The program is offered on the second Friday of each month during the school year.

“I like it,” said 7-year-old Donny Robertson, who attended January’s Kids Kitchen with his own snowflakethemed apron and chef’s hat. “I’m learning to like to cook.”

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Spring 2014

Kids Kitchen

Recipes Cool Veggie etizer Pizza Appetizer recipe provided by Shaylee Stately courtesy of Kraft Foods

Ingredients

2 cans (8 oz each) refrigerated crescent dinner rolls 1 pkg cream cheese, softened ½ c. Miracle Whip dressing 1 tsp. dill weed ½ tsp. onion salt 1 c. broccoli florets 1 c. chopped green pepper 1 c. chopped seeded tomato ½ c. sliced pitted black olives ¼ c. chopped onion

Directions

Preheat oven to 375 degrees. Separate dough into four rectangles. Press onto bottom and up the sides of a 15x10x1 baking pan to form a crust. Bake 11-13 minutes, or until golden brown; cool. Mix cream cheese, dressing, dill and onion salt until well blended.

Spread over the crust; top with remaining ingredients. Refrigerate. Cut into squares.

Mini Oreo Surprise Cupcakes recipe provided by Shaylee Stately courtesy of Kraft Foods

Ingredients

1 pkg chocolate cake mix (a two-layer size) 1 pkg (8 oz) cream cheese, softened 1 egg 2 tbsp. sugar 48 mini Oreos 1 ½ c. thawed whipped topping

Directions

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Line muffin pans with cupcake paper liners. Prepare cake batter in a large bowl as directed Set aside. Whisk together cream cheese, egg and sugar is a small bowl until well blended. Scoop cake batter, using a onefourth measuring cup, into muffin cups, filling just about half full. Spoon ½ tbsp. of cream cheese mixture over the batter in the center of each muffin cup. Top with one mini Oreo cookie. Cover evenly with cake batter. Bake 19 to 22 minutes, or until toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean. Cool 5 minutes, remove from pans to wire racks, and cool completely. Top cupcakes with dollop of whipped topping and remaining cookies just before serving. Makes 24 servings.

Spring 2014

in magazine | 27

ALL ABOUT

Let this Middle Eastern blend of chickpeas, tahini, and fresh garlic tempt your senses. It’s tasty, cheap, and appeals to health gurus and flavor fans alike.

HUMMUS Here are a few of hummus’ better attributes:

1

The science:

Hummus is packed with protein and fiber, without the drawback of saturated fat found in other protein sources like red meat.

It is low in sodium, high in magnesium, has significant amounts of iron, and a serving of hummus has 25 percent of your daily value of vitamin B-6, which is an important enzyme that assists your body in its fat-burning process.

2

The flavor: Really, it tastes great. The nuttiness of chickpeas and tahini (sesame seed butter) combined with a bit of fresh garlic and a hint of brightness from fresh lemon juice make for a delicious healthy food. At Harmony Co-op we sell a variety of fresh hummus, including roasted red pepper, artichoke, and green olive. You can eat it with chips, pita, on veggies, or spread it on a sandwich. Where hummus is concerned, the sky is the limit.

On a sandwich: Add another layer of healthy protein and flavor by spreading this on your bread as you make your sandwich for the day.

3

The convenience: It’s easy and quick. Finding fast, healthy, economical meals can be a challenge. Hummus is your answer, whether you decide to make it at home or buy it at the store.

Here are a few of our favorite ways to consume this delectable dish

On toasted pita: Traditionally, hummus was eaten with pita, and there’s good reason why.

Try toasting and slicing up triangles of pita bread, drizzling them with olive oil, and then dipping them in hummus for a taste bud extravaganza!

As a veggie dip: Place sliced carrots, celery, cauliflower, and cherry tomatoes on a platter with hummus as its dip – far healthier (and tastier) than the usual fatty, preservative-laden Ranch dressing.

Have a favorite way to eat hummus and want to share, or have more questions about how to work hummus into your life? Email us at harmonycoopdeli@gmail.com with your questions and comments. Happy hummus-ing!

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Spring 2014

Katie Houg is the Harmony Co-op deli manager. Harmony Natural Foods Co-op, located at 301 Irvine Ave. NW, is a member-owned cooperative grocery store that welcomes everyone to shop its selection of fresh foods and goods.

Fresh gift ideas from hometown businesses!

Buy any hot or cold specialty drink & receive the second of equal size for FREE! 2-for-1 drinks Take a friend for a drink!

in SPRING

GIFT GUIDE

CODE: INMAGAZINE

Moodstruck 3D Fiber Lash System A 300% increase in thickness & volume.

L&M Fleet Supply Great gifts for dad! Located 2740 Paul Bunyan Dr. NW, Bemidji (218) 751-3237.

Younique A natural hypoallergenic cosmetic company. We’re gluten, paraben, carcinogen, chemical and cruelty-free.

Tanya Goossen, Younique Presenter www.youniqueproducts.com/fabulous

Gifts for your Pets!

Custom indoor and outdoor decor What better way to wait for spring than with a lovely lush terrarium! Many in store ready-to-go or be creative and build your own. Moss, rocks, baby plants and more. Stop in and smell the dirt!

Consignment store Consign and buy gently used pet toys and supplies.

Proceeds benefit petfixer.org Inventory changes from day to day!

196 Anne Street NW, Bemidji Spring 2014

in magazine | 29

in

shape

A family fitness day at

Lake Bemidji State Park Spring is the perfect time to move your workout outdoors, to get some fresh air and also include your family in your fitness routine. An ideal location is Lake Bemidji State Park, which boasts miles of trails for hiking, bicycling and running.

Here’s a pre-planned itinerary to get you started.

Morning

Start out with a family bike ride along Paul Bunyan State Trail leading you directly into the state park. If you have wee ones, attach a bicycle trailer for an added challenge and added fun for the kids. They can sit back, relax, and watch the scenery pass by while you clock some miles to get your heart rate up.

The state park is 6.5 miles from the Sanford Center – which would be a great starting point perhaps – but be sure to choose a route that would be most comfortable for everyone in the family.

If that’s not for you, depending on where you live, you can bike right into the park or load the bikes into your vehicle and purchase a vehicle pass for the day, if you don’t already have an annual state park pass.

Mid-morning The kids, if riding the trip, will be more than ready to burn off some energy, so head on over to the playground, where they can run around for a bit while their parents get a bit of water.

Then, the adults can focus on stretching and core strength while keeping an eye on the kids.

If running is part of your current fitness plan, have “The state park is Mom and Dad take turns 6.5 miles from the running along the nearby Sanford Center trails while the kids are which is a great busy at the playground. starting point” We suggest a run heading out toward Rocky Point, but loop north around the campground on the Homestead and Balsam trails, returning to the playground area for a total of about 2 miles (maps are always available at the Visitor Center and office). It’s a pretty, rolling and grassy trail that travels through the beautiful mixed forests found within Lake Bemidji State Park.

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Spring 2014

Lunch time Claim one of the many available picnic tables and grab a healthful bite to eat, both to offer a break and replenish your body. (For ideas on great lunch suggestions, see Page 32.)

After lunch, get some special family time as you check out the Visitor Center, located just off of the playground, to learn more about the native wildlife and plants that call Lake Bemidji State Park home.

The kids (and parents) will love watching the fish in the aquarium, climbing inside the life-size beaver lodge, and checking out the touch-screen computer displays.

Afternoon Take a family hike to the Rocky Point Overlook, approximately a half-mile from the Visitor Center, easy enough for small legs.

With its spectacular view high over Lake Bemidji, Rocky Point is one of the most popular destinations in the park. The Rocky Point Trail runs along the lakeshore, gaining in elevation as it rises to the bluff.

Take time to enjoy the observation deck and rest on the benches. It might also be a great time to play with the timer on your digital camera and capture a family photo to preserve the memories of your day (and, then email the photo to us at in so we can share in your adventures!).

Mid-afternoon Explore the swimming beach.

If it’s hot enough, wade through the water or jump on in.

If it’s not quite warm enough yet, look for some interesting rocks or play “I Spy” with the kids.

This is a great time to drink plenty of water and have a snack!

To cap it off Take a one-mile hike (one-way) to the beautiful Total distance quarter-mile boardwalk covered: that leads into the bog.

This incredible feature 18.25 miles! reveals Big Bog Lake and the unique world of sphagnum moss, insect-eating pitcher plants, black spruce, and slow-moving tea-colored water.

Interpretive displays along the way will introduce you to the bog’s hydrology, plant, and animal species.

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in magazine | 31

Picnic Perfect with

Head home Now, back on your bikes to head home, or load them up to return.

Hopefully everyone is worn out from a fun-filled day at Lake Bemidji State Park. The best part is that it’s right here in Bemidji and you can easily come again next weekend or next month.

See you next time!

·

For more information on Lake Bemidji State Park or to peruse its maps and event schedule, visit the website at www.dnr.state.mn.us/state _ parks/lake _ bemidji/index.html

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Spring 2014

Kelly Jo

Here are some simple, healthy lunch ideas to pack: • Whole-wheat sandwiches or tortilla wraps filled with your favorites: leftover chicken or turkey breast, avocado spread, and vegetables. Or, even just the staple of peanut butter (or other nut butter spread) and jelly or honey.

• Fruit and vegetables – pack lots of them! Bring cut-up carrots and celery sticks with dip and/or peanut butter or try hummus dip! Grapes, berries, apples, and bananas are super quick too.

• Make your own trail mix to finish off your lunch.

It can also be a power-packed snack. Mix your favorite nuts (unsalted), crunchy granola, dried fruit and add some chocolate if you’d like some sweetness.

• Water! Don’t forget to bring your own refillable bottle!

Kelly Jo Zellmann, is a registered, licensed dietitian/nutritionist and is a certifi ed LEAP therapist with Nutritious Weighs/Northland Nutrition Consulting, LLC. She can be reached via email at kellyjo@nutritiousweighs.com.

Chattin’ with Dennis “Retirement? Are you kidding?”

Ann Daley is retired in name only. The Bemidji woman is busier now at age 83 than she was during her long career as a nurse and patient educator. During her “tour of duty” at the former Bemidji Clinic she was instrumental in the development of the Diabetes Resource Center and the hospice program.

Ann enjoys singing and playing piano at nursing homes and retirement centers. She also has volunteered with the Paul Bunyan Senior Activity Center, the RSVP/America Reads program, Northwoods Interfaith Caregivers, Adult Day Services, Bemidji Community Food Shelf, United Way of Bemidji Area, First City Lions …

Ann Daley and more.

Photo by We visited with Ann Monte Draper about her busy life. in: How did you envision your retirement years?

AD: I always enjoyed my work. It was challenging and rewarding, so I guess I never thought about the time when I would actually “hang it all up.” During my working years I did plenty of volunteering, like doing fundraisers to get programs started and such. Seems like nothing changes. So as for retirement, I don’t think I ever planned to just hang around the house, but I really didn’t think I would be as busy as I am.

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Spring 2014

in: How has volunteering impacted you?

AD: Whoever came up with the phrase “one thing leads to another” was right on. What started with my playing a few tunes for my mother and the other residents in the nursing home where she lived ended up being a “lifetime” of volunteering for me. I play by ear and have hundreds of songs stored in my head.

The rest is history. I have played “Name That Tune” at almost every retirement home in town.

It is a good memory exercise for the residents and good practice for me. But there’s even more to my “career.” My special gig is doing a monthly church service at WoodsEdge Senior Living.

So has my volunteering blessed me or what?

It has impacted my life in every way. I have met many new friends, I’ve been able to use the gifts I have and some I didn’t know I had, like writing. Most of all, hopefully I have brought some joy into someone’s otherwise humdrum life, at least for a little while. in: Do you ever think, “I am too tired for this”?

AD: After all these years of doing music around town you would think I would be too tired to continue entertaining at all. But then I think maybe people are tired of listening to me, too.

But I think when it comes to singing or playing I go with a positive attitude. And when I get there and the residents are all in their places, ready for “showtime,” I can easily get into it, have fun and be glad I came. Every once in a while it does cross my mind to not show up. And then I think it’s not about me. It’s about them. Some folks say “you are so lucky to have a reason to get out of the house.” And I am. One thing I know for sure: Music is indeed the universal language.

Dennis Doeden, a news reporter at heart, is the Publisher of The Bemidji Pioneer.

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