Inspire(d)
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locally produced and bulk foods, as well as other products and services that are sustainable for those who consume and produce them. Build vibrant communities and ecosystems by providing organic, locally produced and bulk foods, as well as other products and services that are sustainable for those who consume and produce them. Build vibrant communities and ecosystems by providing organic, locally produced and bulk foods, as well as other products and services that are sustainable for those who consume and produce them. Build vibrant communities and ecosystems by providing organic, locally produced and bulk foods, as well as other products and services that are sustainable for those who consume and produce them. Build vibrant communities and ecosystems by providing organic, locally produced and bulk foods, as well as other products and services that are sustainable for those who consume and produce them. Build vibrant communities and ecosystems by
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WINTER 2025-26
WHAT
JAMIE SCHWABA WENDI & DIANA / LANSING
LIZ BUCHEIT / LANESBORO
PAPER PROJECT: HEARTFELT NOTES
INFOGRAPHIC: FINDING COMMON GROUND
MENTAL HEALTH: ENGAGING ACROSS DIFFERENCES
BUBBA’S FUND: TURNING GRIEF INTO GOOD
FUTURE FOCUSED: WHAT DO WE HAVE IN COMMON?
SUM BIZ: LISA LANTZ / THE GETUP
CONSERVATION: DRIFTLESS GEOLOGY
WINTER HIKING!
PROBIT: KAREN & DAN HURST
Inspire(d)
DRIFTLESS
AN EXPERIMENT IN POSITIVE NEWS
FOUNDERS
Aryn Henning Nichols / Editor-in-Chief + Designer
Benji Nichols / Head of Logistics + Advertising Sales
Sara Walters / writer
Steve Harris / writer
Tallitha Reese / writer
Clara Wodny / writer
Olivia Lynn Schnur / mental health writer
Craig Thompson / conservation writer
Mary Thompson / conservation artist
Marge Loch-Wouters / Driftless hiking writer
Scott Boylen / center spread photographer
Jamie Schwaba / cover artist
Interested in becoming a contributor? Email work samples to Aryn at aryn@iloveinspired.com, and we’ll chat!
Elsa Propson, Anya Volkmann, Viola Vrtis, Avery Garcia-Prats / Future Focused submissions
COMMUNITY PARTNERS
Inspire(d) Driftless Magazine is headquartered & created in Decorah, Iowa. We cover communities located in the NE IA, SE MN, and W WI area of the Driftless Region. Email aryn@iloveinspired.com to learn about Community Partnership opportunities in the future - we’ve got some fun ideas!
JOIN THE POSITIVE NEWS MOVEMENT
1. Buy local - We couldn’t make this magazine without our amazing advertisers and partners. Visit or shop with one (or many) of our advertisers, and let them know you saw them in Inspire(d)!
2. Become an Inspire(d) Member at iloveinspired.com/membership
3. Sign up for our Positive News Newsletter by scanning the QR code here ----- :
4. Visit us online – website and social – and share with your friends and family!
find the gnome...
G-Gnome is hiding (or peeking out) somewhere in this magazine! The first five people (no previous winners please) to send us his page location through our contact form at iloveinspired.com/contact-inspired gets a free Inspire(d) 7-Year Pen in the mail!
iloveinspired.com
facebook.com/iloveinspired @iloveinspired
What’s the name mean?
Inspire(d) – pronounced in-spy-erd... you know: inspired – stands for inspire and be inspired. The idea is that person one inspires person two. That person is now inspired. Then that person inspires person three (or person one again), who is now inspired. Then the cycle continues! That’s what those arrows around the (d) are about! We’re here to remind folks that people are good! Our mission is, ultimately, to change the world… starting with our own community. We like to call it an experiment in positive news.
Inspire(d) Magazine is published quarterly by Inspire(d) Media, LLC, 412 Oak Street, Decorah, Iowa, 52101. This issue is dated Winter 2025-26, issue 83, volume 19, Copyright 2025 by Inspire(d) Magazine.
Support Inspire(d)
We want Inspire(d) to be accessible for all, which is why it is free on stands across the Driftless! But you can support Inspire(d) through Membership! We’ll send the magazine in the mail, to you or a loved one, for $35/year. Visit the Membership page at iloveinspired.com for details, or send a check for $35 to Inspire(d) Magazine, 412 Oak St., Decorah, Iowa 52101. Thank you for your support, and for joining the positive news movement!
Want to make a comment about something you read in the magazine? Email aryn@iloveinspired.com.
At Inspire(d) Magazine, we write positive stories about neighbors doing good things. The idea is that folks will read these stories and think, “Hey, we’re not so different from that neighbor! If they can do it, so can I!” We hope readers will then be inspired to go out and create positive change in their community as well.
It’s this relatable, “we’re not so different!” part that is key to the process of inspiration. Our stories aren’t about famous or unreachable people in other parts of the world. Our stories are about people who live in our same communities, who visit the same stores and eat at the same restaurants. People who walk the same trails and send their kids to the same schools. We are all – all of us – connected in our communities in some way. And we all have much more in common than we think.
The theme for the Winter Inspire(d) is “What do we have in common? Engaging across differences.” This issue closes out an entire year of themes built on questions for our readers (watch for my recap “Looking Back/Looking Forward” post on our website this winter for musings on all those themes).
This issue’s theme morphed as the year marched on. I found myself saddened by the divisive language and defeatist attitude I’ve been seeing in my social media feeds (of course, taking all social media with a grain of salt) and in my conversations with friends. We are quick to anger, quick to blame, and quick to fall back on that age-old “us versus them” mentality. But here’s the thing: We are a “we.” And we’re not so different that we can’t find common ground and come together to make a better world.
So, we do the work. We highlight the people doing good. We see through the divisive language to the beauty of a community that comes together.
Our talented winter cover artist, Jamie Schwaba, says the Driftless community – and its beauty – is a huge source of inspiration for her art. Our two winter Community Builder stories feature great folks in that community: Diana Wilson-Thompson and Wendi Wilson-Eiden of Coffee on the River in Lansing, Iowa, and Liz Bucheit, a dedicated member and builder of the Lanesboro community for nearly 30 years.
Our mental health writer, Olivia Lynn Schnur, shares tips for engaging with others despite our differences. It’s a tough topic – and a tough thing to do – but it’s worth the effort, especially as we come together for this holiday season.
While you’re gathered together, give the young people around your table a pat on the back. Decorah Middle School students did a great job thinking about what we have in common in the Future Focused section in this issue. Eighth-grader Elsa Propson reminds us that we are all connected by wonder under the same breathtaking sky.
Winter provides a wonderful opportunity to really take in the Driftless sky and gorgeous geological features that are often hidden behind leaves and vegetation the rest of the year. Read about our unique landscape in Craig Thompson’s conservation piece, and then check out new writer Marge Loch-Wouters’ tips for winter hiking, plus a short listing of some of her favorite winter spots to hike in the Driftless.
I’m happy to highlight one of my besties for this issue’s Sum of Your Business Q&A. Lisa Lantz, owner of The Getup in Downtown Decorah, is such an inspiring business owner and friend. And finally, our probituary features a long-married couple, apt for an issue highlighting what we have in common. Fostering relationships, even with our spouses, takes work and compromise.
We believe in you all, and we believe in our mutual respect, connection, and collective power. Let’s end this year focused on these important touchstones, and start off 2026 with hope for the future.
Looking forward,
Listen to the Spotify playlist that Aryn put together while making this issue! (While you’re there, check out our Christmas playlist, too!)
It’s a region in the Midwest – Northeast Iowa, Southeast Minnesota, Southwest Wisconsin, and a wee bit of Northwest Illinois – that was skipped by the glaciers in the last ice age, leaving the area “lacking glacial drift” – i.e. Driftless. The gist of that is we get to enjoy bluffs, valleys, coulees, and other fun geographical features that don’t typically occur in other parts of our states (the Mississippi River contributes greatly to the geography as well). It’s a lovely place to live and visit, and we’re happy you’re here!
rad cover art by...
JAMIE SCHWABA • @jamieschwaba
Our super cool cover was created by Winona artist Jamie Schwaba. We love the Driftless winter vibes! Read more about Jamie & her work on page 16.
What We’re Loving right now
A LITTLE LIST OF WHAT WE THINK IS AWESOME IN THE DRIFTLESS REGION THIS WINTER...
ONEOTA FILM FESTIVAL
LANSING CAR FERRY
Lansing, Iowa, is a pretty sweet town any time of year. But with the Black Hawk Bridge now permanently out of service while a new bridge is being completed, many were faced with lengthy commutes and traverses up and down the river to get from home to work, or just to visit Lansing for regular shopping, services, and stops. Lucky enough for all, the Cassville Car Ferry has been called into service to shuttle cars across the river for the foreseeable future.
The 2026 Oneota Film Festival (OFF) will mark 16 years of film, fun, and community, March 5-8, 2026, in Decorah, Iowa. Join in Thursday, March 5 for opening night kick-off at the Hotel Winneshiek with “Pieowa - A Piece of America” from author, previous American Gothic House resident, and Pitchfork Pie Stand baker Beth Howard. The event starts with a cocktail hour from 6-7pm and the film beginning at 7pm. Films –plus fun filmmaker socials and events – continue all weekend. All of these events are free and open to the public - join in for some warm winter film and fun!
An extended series of pre-festival screenings will be hosted across the region in December, January, and February. To stay in-the-know, sign up for updates at oneotafilmfest.org (where you can also become a supporter of OFF or volunteer!).
The Oneota Film Festival is a non-profit organization that “strives to bring quality films to Decorah and surrounding communities that explore critical issues or address the great challenges of our time, such as environmental issues, community concerns, and human rights.” Here’s to that!
Want to gear up for OFF? Check out the Frozen River Film Festival in Winona, Minnesota, February 1-8, 2026. Yep, that’s right: A whole week’s worth of cinema-related fun and viewing, along the banks of the Mississippi River. Check it out: frff.org
The service is free, but there are several details to note in order to keep passengers, vehicles, and deckhands safe. The car ferry operates seven days a week, with a capacity of approximately 12 standard passenger vehicles in each direction across the river, with additional space for motorcycles, bicycles, and pedestrians. Ferry capacity and logistics do not allow for vehicles with trailers, ATVs/UTVs, RVs, buses, or vehicles over 10 tons.
• First trip: 5:30 AM from Wisconsin / 5:45 AM from Iowa
• Last trip: 9:00 PM from Wisconsin / 9:15 PM from Iowa
• Continuous trips (first-come, first-served)
• Commuter priority hours: 5:30–7:30 AM & 3:30–5:30 PM
Find all Lansing Car Ferry Information, including live Ferry WebCams at ia.iowadot.gov (under view construction projects).
In other Lansing Bridge News, the Light the Way fundraising committee is raising money to install lights on the new Black Hawk Bridge – set to be completed in late fall 2026 – so folks can continue the long-time tradition of lighting up the bridge to honor, celebrate, and remember community members, loved ones, and holidays. Lights will cost $170,000 to install, and as of this printing, the committee had raised nearly $100,000. People interested in donating can do so at lansingiowa.com/black-hawk-bridge-lights.
HOLIDAY LIGHTS, SHINING BRIGHT!
The holidays are full of traditions – some that stretch decades, while others that are created new with each passing year. No matter how you embrace the holidays, there is definitely something whimsical about Helping Service’s “Holiday Lights” drive-through display at Pulpit Rock Campground in Decorah.
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$31,000+ in donations given back through Karma Yoga Project
Scan for classes Walk-ins welcome! Half off your first 2 weeks! Now with state-of-the-art infrared heating!
For over two decades, magical light displays have delivered a family friendly opportunity to ring in the season, and support the incredible mission of Helping Services for Youth and Families.
The lights are on every night until Christmas night, open from 5-9 pm with a free-will donation collected at the gates. All donations benefit Helping Services for Youth & Families. For the complete schedule and list of sponsors, please visit helpingservices. org/holidaylights.
DECORAH RESTAURANT WEEK
What better way to shake off late winter than cozied up in your favorite local spot, soaking up a little hospitality, and supporting local!? The Decorah Area Chamber of Commerce is pleased to host Decorah’s Restaurant Week from January 26 to February 1, 2026. From coffee shops to fine dining, casual to international cuisine, and world-class beverages, Decorah welcomes you to eat, drink, and enjoy. Support your favorite local eateries, try new ones, and revisit ones you haven’t been to in a while. Local restaurants are anchor businesses that bolster the community’s tourism experience and add vibrancy to the Decorah Area, creating a foodie destination for the region. Visit decorahareachamber.com/ events to find the Restaurant Week listing of participating venues, special dishes, and great deals all week long. Hot tip: Check your favorite Decorah restaurant’s social media for any last-minute details and updates as well!
MN DRIFTLESS HIKING TRAIL UPDATE
2025 was a milestone year for the Minnesota Driftless Hiking Trail (MDHT) - a project that is bringing a long-distance “through hiking” trail to Southeast Minnesota. The organization has partnered with around 25 landowners who are helping bring the vision to life. The team hosted three listening sessions to hear directly from residents about their ideas, hopes, and concerns for the trail, and also began on-the-ground site visits and mapping to chart the future route. They capped off the year with the first annual Trail Days fundraiser,
where 150 attendees helped raise more than $3,200 to support the project. Looking ahead, 2026 will be all about momentum: Continuing to grow landowner partnerships, working with the Minnesota DNR toward potential trail designation in the state forest, and collaborating with the communities of Chatfield, Whalan, and Caledonia to explore trail access through their downtown areas. Plus, more community events, starting with a backpacking film screening this winter to keep the trail spirit alive through the snowy season. Check it all out, keep up to date with activities, or donate to the project at mndriftlesshikingtrail.org
COURAGE FOR THE COMMON GOOD
Bold, compassionate action - yes! Luther College welcomes The Rev. Yehiel Curry, Presiding Bishop of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA), as the keynote speaker for the 2026 Martin Luther King Jr. Day Lecture, Monday, January 19, at the Center for Faith and Life Main Hall. This year’s theme, “Courage for the Common Good,” invites the community to reflect on bold, compassionate action inspired by the legacies of both Dr. King and Martin Luther. The program is also one of the first opportunities for congregations across the region to hear Curry, who was officially installed into the position this past October.
The 2026 daylong celebration begins at 10:30 am, with Bishop Curry’s keynote address, continues with an optional community lunch for guests, followed by two energizing afternoon sessions at 1:15 pm – a youth discussion with Bishop Curry, and a panel featuring regional ELCA bishops. Admission to the morning program and afternoon sessions is free and open to all. Lunch is $10 for adults and free for registered youth.
Bishop Curry brings a rich ministry history to the event, from leading the Metropolitan Chicago Synod to fostering national relationships. His leadership reflects the very courage he speaks of –faith in action for the sake of community.
Luther’s Martin Luther King Jr. Day Lectures began in 1987, and is supported by the Williams Endowment Fund, named in recognition of Lawrence and Queen Williams for their dedication and years of service to Luther. Lawrence and Queen planned and solicited funding for more than 20 of these lectures throughout Lawrence’s career as a Luther faculty member. His personal experiences with the civil rights movement and its protests allowed Lawrence to share a firsthand perspective with students, and his acquaintance with civil rights leaders brought extraordinary people to campus to share their lives and stories.
Join in celebrating Dr. King’s enduring legacy and look toward a future shaped by justice, community, and courage. Reserve seats for the day at tickets.luther.edu.
What We’re Loving right now
A LITTLE LIST OF WHAT WE THINK IS AWESOME IN THE DRIFTLESS REGION THIS WINTER...
SUPPORT LOCAL THIS WINTER!
Here at Inspire(d), we believe in the power of community. Smalltown Main (or Water!) Streets are more than just business districts – they are the heartbeat of our region. Supporting local businesses isn’t just a seasonal slogan; it’s an investment in the people who make our towns vibrant, creative, and resilient.
As entrepreneurs ourselves, we understand the passion and risk that go into running an independent small business. Every storefront you step into represents a dream and countless hours of hard work. These shops, cafés, makers, and service providers keep our main streets not only alive, but thriving. Their success strengthens the entire community –boosting the local economy, creating jobs, and ensuring that our region remains unique and welcoming. With the holiday season approaching, there’s no better time to
look local first. That perfect gift might be waiting just down the block: a handcrafted item from a local maker, a cozy sweater from your favorite boutique, a gift certificate to a beloved restaurant, the perfect book, or a piece of art created by someone who calls your town home. Shopping locally means your dollars stay in the region, circulating through schools, organizations, and other small businesses. It means supporting your neighbors – the people who sponsor local teams, volunteer at community events, and show up when help is needed. Of course, we know that not every purchase can be made locally. But making the intentional choice to support small, independent businesses whenever possible creates a ripple effect of good. This winter, let’s celebrate the charm, creativity, and character of our local businesses. Together, we can help ensure they continue to flourish for generations to come. Shop Local. Eat Local. Support Local. Your community thanks you – and so do we!
NICHOLAS C. ROWLEY COURTNEY ROWLEY DOMINIC PECHOTA LAURA THOMPSON KAREN ZAHKA
@visitdecorah
SHINE DANCE CLASS
One of Inspire(d) editor Aryn’s most favorite things to do to brighten up a gloomy day is dance. So, she was happy when she finally took the leap and attended a local SHiNE Dance Fitness class here in Decorah. Hosted by SHiNE instructor Robyn Duder, each class is like a dance club meets flash mob meets workout all in one. Aryn goes on Monday nights at Sunflower Child Development and Discovery Center (there’s a small gym inside) at 5:30 pm, and she never regrets it! There are fun disco lights and equally fun music, and attendees vary in age from teens to retirees. If you live in Decorah and love to dance, check out all of Robyn’s class times (there are several a week in different locations) on Instagram or Facebook @shinewiththedudette (or find your own class near you at shinedancefitness.com).
WINTER ADVENTURES - OUTSIDE AND INSIDE!
Winter is here – and so are the adventures that come along with a season that makes spring all the sweeter (ha!). While the holidays can bring fun and opportunities, the colder and darker months also bring their practical, physical, and mental challenges. What we know for sure, is that keeping active and engaging with others can sure help the time fly by. Here’s a short list of some favorite “Inside” and “Outside” adventures in the region.
WINTER OUTSIDE ADVENTURES!
Winter Walking with Decorah Parks & Recreation - Check out loops around Decorah that are kept plowed for walking all winter long - parks.decorahia.org
Downhill Skiing / Snowboarding - While the region may be a wee shy on mountains, the elevations are great for beginners! Those that need a fix on the board or skis will find Mt. La Crosse (just south of La Crosse, WI) and Sundown Mountain near Dubuque are great options. If you’re up for the drive, Welch Village near Red Wing offers a bit more terrain, while Afton Alps east of Minneapolis takes it all up a notch. Always check ahead for conditions and hours.
Cross Country Skiing – Few activities can engage the mind and body like cross country skiing! While most of the opportunities depend on natural snow, it’s worth taking advantage when the conditions arise. Decorah Parks & Recreation groom several areas of Van Peenen and Carlson parks, as well as segments of the Trout Run Trail. Prairie Springs just south of Cresco, Iowa, also features roughly 10K of groomed trails when nature allows. St Mary’s College in Winona has 16K+ of groomed classic and skate ski trails, and even has a 2.5K lighted loop for night skiing, as well as snowmaking. Keep an eye out for Vesterheim Norwegian American Museum’s children’s “Barnelopet” as well! Usually the first weekend of February, this kids’ ski “race” is a blast!
Winona Ice Climbing Festival – Want to really push your winter adventures? Check out the Ice Climbing scene in Winona, Minnesota! Ice is “farmed” all winter as temps allow, and opportunities are available through the winter to go out with Big River Climbing guides. To get a taste of what it’s all about, check out the Winona Ice Climbing Festival January 29 - February 1, 2026.
Busch Light Curling Tournament – Yep, you read that right – this Lansing, Iowa favorite event hosts teams of “curlers” that push 30 packs of Busch Light ever so gracefully across the river ice. February 21, 2026 is the day for festivities – take it all in at the Tiki Bar near the base of bridge(s).
Snowflake Ski Jump Tournament – Ski jumping in Westby, Wisconsin?! You betcha’! It’s the real deal: Skiers in full suits gracefully swooping down an enormous (118 Meter – seriously!) jump and sailing off the end to hover over a snow-covered hill beneath them. Really, it’s just like the Olympics – only in rural Wisconsin, and with bonfires, and music, and beverages. The 103rd Snowflake Ski Club Jumping Tournament runs February 6-7, 2026, with competitors participating from around the world. Festivities kick off with opening ceremonies, followed by competition on the lighted course, and more fun continuing Saturday during the daylight
WINTER INSIDE ADVENTURES!
Sunflower Child Development Center and Discovery Center –This indoor-based play and learning space on Decorah’s East side is open ALL WINTER for exploration!
Super cool indoor activities for kids and kids-at-heart include exploration exhibits, climbing areas, an amazing water table, indoor play area, and more. Admission helps support the larger model of providing childcare and development at Sunflower Child Development Center here in rural Northeast Iowa. Gift cards and memberships are available. Hours are currently daily but vary from afternoons to evenings. sunflowerdecorah.com
Minnesota Marine Art Museum (MMAM) - World class art awaits you in cozy galleries alongside the Mississippi River in Winona. Make sure to check out “Splish, Splash, Story: Selections for the Eric Carle Museum of Picture Book Art,” bringing enchanting illustrations from beloved children’s books, on loan from The Eric Carle Museum of Picture Book Art in Amherst, MA. This exhibit is on view beginning January 31, 2026.
Also check out MMAM’s new Waterbar Cafe + Provisions! The Waterbar is an intimate cafe located inside the museum’s atrium, that provides elevated beverages (coffee, tea, wine, beer and cocktails) and light cuisine (soups, salads, sandwiches, and pastries) Thursday through Sunday during Museum hours.
The International Owl Center – Tucked into the hills of Houston, Minnesota, this flourishing organization dedicated to our feathery friends is a hoot! Anytime is a good time to visit, but winter months feature “Neighbor Weekends” with free admission! See live owls, educational programs, and the incredible expansion plans for this great facility.
Iowa Neighbor Weekend (for Winneshiek and Allamakee counties): December 27-28, 2025
Minnesota Neighbor Weekend (for Winona, Fillmore, and Houston counties): January 10-11, 2026
Wisconsin Neighbor Weekend (for La Crosse, Trempealeau, and Vernon counties): February 14-15, 2026
National Eagle Center – Downtown Wabasha, Minnesota, is home to this unique educational center that brings you closer to eagles than you have ever been before, and allows you to explore their connections to humans in nature, history, and cultures. From meeting resident Eagle Ambassadors up close, to attending daily programs, eagle-viewing river cruises, field trips, and Behind the Scenes tours, this is a worthwhile field trip! Note that the Center is closed Tuesdays throughout the winter months - otherwise open daily. We’d be remiss if we didn’t tell you to take a moment to check out downtown Wabasha as well, and also stop by LARK Toys in nearby Kellog, Minnesota, while you’re adventuring!
Dubuque Museum of Art – Downtown Dubuque continues its reinvention with the recently opened temporary two-year home of the Dubuque Museum of Art located in the Mill District. Why temporary? An amazing new project is breaking ground on the current site that will help transform the heart of the city with rich community features and a new museum space. Check it out or make a weekend of Winter fun in Dubuque with the National Mississippi River Museum & Aquarium and a night at the Hotel Julien or Grand Harbor Resort & Waterpark! future.dbqart.org
Luther College Center Stage Series - Grab tickets now and look forward to seeing two world class shows on stage this February at the Luther College CFL. tickets.luther.edu
February 13 - Catalyst Quartet, 7:30 pm Hailed by The New York Times as “invariably energetic and finely burnished,” the Grammywinning Catalyst Quartet is known for its unequaled unity and execution, while equally committed to celebrating composers of color whose works have been overlooked by the traditional canon. February 28 - Jazz at Lincoln Center Presents Great American Crooners, 7:30 pm Get ready for a stylish evening of timeless tunes and world-class talent. Relive classics like “Moon River,” “I Only Have Eyes for You” and “I’ve Got You Under My Skin” alongside incredible true stories about the superstars who made them famous.
www.perfectedgedecorah.com
JAMIE SCHWABA
Boat Houses / Artwork by Jamie Schwaba
CREATIVITY ROOTED IN THE DRIFTLESS
BY CLARA WODNY
For Jamie Schwaba, art is a necessary rhythm of life.
“I don’t feel like my day is complete if I haven’t done some form of creating,” says the Winona, Minnesotabased artist.
But she is quick to acknowledge the balancing act that comes with a full-time job, a leadership role in community theatre, a son away at college, and a beloved rescue poodle mix who expects his daily walks.
“I usually create in the evenings and on weekends,” she says. “I’m really lucky to have a supportive husband who’s okay with the fact that sometimes I need to draw or paint instead of doing the dishes.”
Though her passion and talent for her current preferred mediums – watercolors, ink, pastels – is something of a recent development (one good thing to come out of the COVID pandemic), she is a seasoned veteran and champion of the arts.
Jamie grew up in Kansas, where she fell in love with theatre and live performance. After graduating high school, she deferred college for a year to travel with the performing arts group Up With People. She then attended Carroll University near Milwaukee, earning a bachelor’s degree in theatre.
Jamie Schwaba / Photo by LEA Studios
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After 14 years in Milwaukee, Jamie started a new position as the Managing Director for the Minnesota Conservatory of the Arts. This job not only brought her family to their now-beloved home of Winona, but it was also the catalyst for her current art practice.
Though she remembers dabbling in various art forms as a kid, it had been many years since she had been able to find the time to simply create for the joy of it. Between work and family, there wasn’t much room left for the spotlight.
Until 2020, that is, when she worked with her team at the Minnesota Conservatory of the Arts to develop a series of virtual art classes designed to keep the community connected, engaged, and hopeful during a time of deep fear and uncertainty.
“We had to pivot and put everything online at the art school,” she recalls. “One of our instructors was teaching an online class in oil pastels, and I was moderating. I had never worked with them before, but I found myself following along.”
From there, her artistic curiosity took flight. She began experimenting with ink, watercolors, pan pastels, colored pencils –whatever she had access to.
Jamie’s new hometown and her love for the Driftless have been huge sources of inspiration from the start. She’s known for pieces that celebrate the area’s landscape: buildings, urban scenes, cafés, bookstores (bonus points if animals are included!), and plenty of natural spaces.
Bilbo, the Schwaba’s rescue poodle mix. / Photo courtesy Jamie Schwaba
Artwork by Jamie Schwaba
The Blue Heron Coffeehouse in Winona / Artwork by Jamie Schwaba
Jamie especially loves highlighting area businesses and initiatives she believes in. Whether it’s painting her favorite hangout spots or collaborating with small-business owners on commissions, it’s her way of saying, “Hey, this place is special, and I want you to know about it.”
One of her favorite pieces is a vibrant watercolor painting highlighting two local businesses: The Coffee Camper and Castlerock Sourdough. Located just across the bridge from Winona in Fountain City, Wisconsin, the blue and green camper-turned-coffee shop and classic red barn-turned-bakery sit just in front of a bluff, one of the best natural features of the Driftless, according to Jamie.
Pick-your-own Peonies Fresh-picked Bouquets
Photo Shoots Workshops Farm Tours
While Jamie initially painted this piece as a reflection of the people and places she calls home, it ultimately turned into a much bigger opportunity. When the owners of The Coffee Camper saw Jamie’s work, they fell in love – and decided to commission her original art. Now, Jamie’s designs exist in a larger-than-life format, applied to the side of the shop’s brand-new camper that is permanently parked in Fountain City Community Park.
Another catalyst for Jamie’s work is a connection to found materials, a joy in incorporating something that already exists with a fresh, new vision. She’ll work on top of unique surfaces like sheet music, maps, and old recipe books, layering watercolors, inks, and
Boat houses are colorful inspiration in Winona. This one was painted on an old map. / Artwork by Jamie Schwaba
The Coffee Camper and Castlerock Sourdough in Fountain City, Wisconsin. / Artwork by Jamie Schwaba
Working atop these snapshots of history feels collaborative, Jamie says, helping to alleviate the sense of isolation many artists feel while also imbuing rich stories into her work. She enjoys breathing new life into something that has been sitting on a shelf for a while but still deserves to be noticed. It also eases some creative stress.
“One of the best things about working on sheet music is that you already have a title!” Jamie says with a laugh. “The story and tone of the song heavily informs the image I create on top of it.”
One such piece, an original drawing created on sheet music from the Broadway musical, “Showboat,” was selected for the opening exhibition at the Museum of Broadway in New York City. Talk about a full-circle moment: Though her current expressions of creativity look much different now than they did 10-15 years ago, her theatre passions and talents continue to influence.
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Jamie’s artwork has been featured locally at area exhibits and on t-shirts, stickers, and more. / Artwork by Jamie Schwaba
One of Jamie’s pieces, an original drawing created on sheet music from the Broadway musical, “Showboat,” was selected for the opening exhibition at the Museum of Broadway in New York City. / Artwork by Jamie Schwaba
Beyond its manifestation in her artwork, Jamie’s love of theatre lives on through her son, Seamus, who founded Winona’s community theatre troupe, Sugarloaf Theatre, in 2022. Now that Seamus is away at college, Jamie has taken on the role of executive director. She looks forward to directing an upcoming production of Winnie the Pooh, which will be performed in late February.
Jamie’s artwork has been featured locally at area exhibits and on t-shirts, stickers, and more at Winona Visitor Center, Winona County Historical Society, and a handful of small businesses in the Driftless. The best spot to keep up with current exhibits and latest projects is on Jamie’s Instagram and Linktree.
and Seamus
Whether she’s painting plein air on a foggy day at a national wildlife refuge or reimagining a favorite ice cream shop while nestled in a cozy corner at home, Jamie Schwaba continues to reflect the heart – and the arts – of the Driftless. It’s creative, communityminded, and full of soul.
As she puts it, “I’m just passionate about the arts in every way. I can’t imagine life without it.”
Clara Wodny is a 2025 graduate of Luther College, where she fell in love with the Driftless while studying English and Visual Communications. Currently residing up north in her hometown of Duluth, Minnesota, she works in Aquatics Management at a YMCA and interns with LAMBDA Literary, a nonprofit organization whose mission is to nurture and advocate for LGBTQIA+ Writers.
When planning her cover artwork for this Winter issue of Inspire(d), Jamie knew she wanted to create an original work that captures that very sense of local, comforting, only-in-the-Driftless feeling. Made with ink, watercolor, and soft, blendable pan pastels (applied with makeup sponges!), the piece balances warmth with winter chill.
“The biggest challenge was adding color while still making it feel like winter. I think we landed in a good place.”
Learn more about Jamie Schwaba and her see her current projects at instagram.com/jamieschwaba
Jamie
posing with Jamie’s piece at the Museum of Broadway in New York City. / Photo courtesy Jamie Schwaba
Sisters Wendi, left, and Diana, right, run Coffee on the River and build community in Lansing, Iowa.
/ Photo courtesy Coffee on the River
COMMUNITY BUILDERS
Wendi Wilson-Eiden & Diana Wilson-Thompson
Lansing, IA
BY SARA WALTERS
When you walk through the door at Coffee on the River in Lansing, Iowa, you’re immersed in a feeling of historic warmth. Giant grain hoppers – original to the building, a former grain elevator – hang down from the ceiling between impressive wood beams, surrounded by thick stone walls. Built in the 1800s, the unique character and charm carry over into the personalities of the owners, sisters Wendi Wilson-Eiden and Diana Wilson-Thompson. Since September 2019, they’ve been welcoming locals and visitors alike into this must-see space.
Coffee on the River isn’t just aesthetically pleasing; it’s logistically important. To find another coffee shop, you’d need to travel 45 minutes in any direction, making Coffee on the River a caffeination necessity. But Wendi and Diana aren’t just serving up great coffee – they’ve got an amazing food and bakery menu, too. Serving both breakfast and lunch, Wendi, the menu mastermind, likes to rotate items seasonally. It’s no understatement to say that Wendi and Diana have created the “place to be” in small-town Lansing.
The sisters had always wanted to be business partners and talked about their dream for Coffee on the River for years. They both love coffee as well as the community and camaraderie of a cafe and wanted to create that warmth and fellowship themselves.
But like it does, life happened. Wendi was home with her children for 20 years in the Twin Cities while Diana lived in New Ablin, building a career as a nurse. And when Wendi found herself battling cancer, they set the dream aside. It seemed like the stars just weren’t aligned. Then, the building in Lansing became available.
About Community Builders
A community is defined as a unified body of individuals. You can build community in a neighborhood, city, region, state, nation… world, at any level. But it doesn’t have to be big to have a big impact. Building community is one of the most important things we can do in this life. Connecting with others helps us connect with our humanity, and realize we’re all in this together. Read more Community Builder stories at iloveinspired.com, and send us a note if you know someone we should feature here in the future!
“When I found this building,” says Diana, “I didn’t want to say anything to Wendi until I knew I could get things figured out. I just didn’t want to be let down.” But she knew it was just the place. “It’s a beautiful, beautiful spot right on the river near the bluffs.”
When the building was secured, the work of bringing the dream to life began –building out the spaces, working with a roaster to create their special coffee blend, planning menus, and more. The kitchen and coffee bar, situated at the back of the historic building because of the grain hoppers out front, are often staffed by additional members of the family: Wendi’s two adult daughters, Kenna and Rhissa. The oldest, Rhissa, manages the kitchen and makes all the delicious baked goods. Wendi is often in the kitchen alongside her, feeling right at home. “I started cooking as soon as I could push a chair to the stove!” she laughs. “Diana and I both have strengths and weaknesses, so I’m in the kitchen for the most part, and Diana does a lot more of the bookwork and paperwork and that kind of stuff,” Wendi says. “That allows me to be more creative in the kitchen.”
One of her favorite ways to express that creativity and create community is through Coffee on the River’s special dinner nights, generally scheduled every four to six weeks. Recently Wendi did a “forest and forage” theme with mushroom and poultry dishes. Other dinners are even five-course meals.
When Diana found the Coffee on the River building, she knew it was special. / Photo by Sara Walters
A lofted upstairs nook is a lovely spot to see the Mississippi. / Photo by Sara Walters
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“We’ve been doing dinner nights for about five years now,” Wendi says. “We had so many people who wanted to join, we had a waiting list. Then we’d have pages of people who just wanted to be called every dinner. So we have a lot of repeat offenders,” she says with a laugh. They’ve since moved to serving these special meals two nights to accommodate more interested diners. “It gives people a chance to go out to a really nice meal,” says Wendi. “People appreciate getting that caliber of food without having to drive to Dubuque or La Crosse or Minneapolis.”
During the day, patrons will find that the lunch menu shifts
seasonally, but breakfast sticks with regular fan-favorites like the breakfast flatbread, the sausage wrap with caramelized mushrooms, and the “Green Eggs and Hammy Sammy.”
Being sisters in business is a balancing act and so far, Wendi and Diana have managed to keep bickering to a minimum. But there are days where they’re “stomping around a little,” they share, laughing. “I think that kind of comes with the territory of, you know, working closely with a family member,” says Wendi. Overall, they enjoy the togetherness. They even live across the street from each other, which they lovingly call “convenient and annoying.” They try to
The Coffee on the River dinner nights are popular gatherings for folks in Lansing and beyond.
/ Photos courtesy Coffee on the River
keep the work at work when they can, making time to get dinner together and talk about anything except their business.
Wendi and Diana also lend their time to local committees to help promote their town, preserve its beauty, and bring business to the area. They know the value of banding together for the sake of their shop and others, helping with Makers on Main (a local art festival), Lansing beautification projects, and more. Together with the community, Coffee on the River survived the COVID-19 pandemic and the subsequent economic fallout and made it through severe flooding in 2023.
Now, with the Lansing bridge closed until spring 2027, they’re gearing up for yet another challenge. “We try to put our best foot forward. We’re always happy and smiling – customer service is huge for us,” Wendi says. And luckily, Coffee on the River has “really fabulous customers,” Wendi continues, as well as the trifecta of a beautiful location, fantastic coffee, and phenomenal food. This combination helped get them through difficult times in the past, and hopefully, those ahead.
In the meantime, Wendi and Diana have plans for more dinners, as well as future entertainment offerings, like an open mic night and maybe a comedy night. And of course, they’ll keep brewing their delicious coffee and sharing the warmth of their shop with regulars and newcomers alike. “Don’t forget about our little community here in Lansing,” Wendi says. “Grab your girlfriends for lunch, do some shopping, look around town. There are some really unique things here and it’s a great place to spend the day.”
Sara Walters is based in La Crosse and has been a contributor to Inspire(d) since 2018. She highly recommends ordering the sausage wrap for breakfast at Coffee on the River.
The loft area overlooks the food and coffee bar. / Photo by Sara Walters
The view off the back deck is gorgeous. / Photo courtesy Coffee on the River
COMMUNITY BUILDERS
Lanesboro, MN Liz Bucheit
Creating Art, Building Community
BY STEVE HARRIS
One might assume an artist chooses a solitary path. A painter sketches a landscape alone in a studio. A solo musician quietly practices violin. A writer hunches over a computer, birthing their next novel.
The path each has selected – or been called to – places them distant from other people.
Or does it? Perhaps not always.
“Working at my bench with music playing in the background is my happy place,” artist Liz Bucheit readily admits. But she is far from isolated.
Liz, born in Decorah, Iowa, now a resident of Lanesboro, Minnesota, is an artist, a goldsmith, and an award-winning designer of exquisite jewelry. Liz is also a lover – and a builder – of community.
“Community is absolutely essential for all creatives,” she says. “Connecting with other people is part of how artists learn and find our inspiration.”
Liz graduated from the University of Iowa with a Master of Arts in Metalworking and Jewelry, and went on to develop her craft in Iowa, Minneapolis, New York, California, and even Japan, managing a jewelry department of a major department store. She eventually came back to the Midwest, establishing her own business, Crown Trout Jewelers, in 1996 in Lanesboro (and moonlighting as a jewelry expert on ShopNBC in Minnesota from 2010 to 2014).
At Crown Trout, Liz designs gorgeous pieces of jewelry for local and national clients, and even for celebrity musicians, like Cher and Prince. Recently, another famous prince received a piece of Liz’s artistry: the Crown Prince of Norway.
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“I had the singular honor to be commissioned by Vesterheim Norwegian American Museum to create a gift of jewelry for Norway’s Crown Prince Haakon and his wife, Princess Mette-Marit,” she says. “I made a blue topaz necklace for her, and a matching lapel pin for him.” Her gifts were presented to His Royal Highness on the occasion of his early October 2025 visit to Decorah, Iowa.
Liz has an entire Norwegian collection of jewelry, inspired by trips to Vesterheim Museum as a child, as well as many trips to Norway over the years. During those trips to Norway, Liz worked with different artists, creating strong bonds both professionally and personally. She is now the designated American affiliate for Sylvsmidja, Norway’s leading jewelry brand.
“People in America needing traditional silver bunad jewelry repair would normally have to send their jewelry back to Norway,” Liz says. “Now they can have me do that work here. It gives me wonderful opportunities to meet people from all over.”
And these days, visitors to Vesterheim’s National NorwegianAmerican Museum can find themselves inspired by Liz’s own work.
Anne Kari Salbu & Anders Fagerthun of Sylvsmidja, Voss, Norway, with Liz Bucheit at Vesterheim Norwegian-American Museum, Nordic Fest 2025. / Photo courtesy Liz Bucheit
Fine silver filigree & blue topaz pendant & lapel pin commissioned by Vesterheim for Crown Prince Haakon & Crown Princess Mette-Marit of Norway. / Photo courtesy Liz Bucheit
The museum recently purchased Liz’s Freya’s Tears Brooch for its permanent collection. The brooch is currently on view in the Past, Present and Future of Traditional Folk Art exhibition through January 2026.
Creativity, hard work, and special honors have given Liz a busy and multifaceted life. A favorite way she connects with others is through teaching.
“Teaching allows me to share my art by passing it along to others,” she says. “I also find I learn so much from my students! I greatly enjoy the fellowship and the interconnectivity that happens when people create together. We help each other. We also exchange stories and build friendships. When people of different ages do these kinds of activities together – adults, children, grandparents – that can be really special.”
Sámi Inspired Bracelet Class - Crossings in Zumbrota, MN. / Photo courtesy Liz Bucheit
She has taught for decades at the North House Folk School in Grand Marais and regularly leads classes and workshops at the American Swedish Institute and at Norway House, both in Minneapolis. She is actively involved at Vesterheim in Decorah, often instructing in classes there, too. And in recent years, she has begun to offer classes in partnership with Lanesboro businesses, including popular small group workshops (where pre-registration is required) at Sylvan Brewery.
“On a Sunday afternoon we’ll have about a dozen people making Saami-inspired, four-braid color bracelets,” she says. “All skill levels and always fun.”
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Freya’s Tears Brooch
Liz much prefers in-person classes over online ones. In person, folks can literally connect with each other, both in class and in the future. “You’ll often see people staying after class is over just to talk,” she says. “You can watch community forming and growing in settings like that.”
Of all the communities Liz enjoys and is helping to build, none are more meaningful to her than her local connections. Her husband, Michael, has established his own marketing business in Lanesboro, and the couple lives and shares studio and workspace in their historic building right downtown.
Last fall, Lanesboro Arts – located less than half a block away from the Crown Trout building – created a gallery exhibit of Liz’s personal work. Titled “Hand of the Huldra: The Silver Filigree Jewelry of Liz Bucheit,” the exhibit featured contemporary pieces evoking the spirit of Norwegian “Huldra,” mystical forest spirit-creatures of Scandinavian folklore.
Dozens of Liz’s friends and supporters from far and wide came to the exhibit’s opening reception.
“It was wonderful!” Liz says. “To have Lanesboro Arts create that exhibit was a heartfelt validation of my art by so many people who mean so much to me. Next year will mark 30 years that I’ve been living and working in Lanesboro. Some people think a small town with a population of less than 750 people wouldn’t be a place to do what I’ve done. But this community has been so supportive of me as an artist and of my business.”
Liz Bucheit. Individual artist, yes. Community builder, certainly. “Intentionally connecting with other people is a vital piece of all that I do, and all that I am,” she says. “I am very thankful.”
Steve Harris (sharris1962@msn.com) is a freelance writer who lives in Lanesboro with his wife, Sue, proud wearer of a Saami-inspired bracelet she created in one of Liz’s classes!
Liz demonstrating silver filigree techniques during Nordic Fest, Decorah, Iowa. / Photo courtesy Liz Bucheit
Storefront of Crown Trout Jewelers / Photo courtesy Liz Bucheit
One of the best things we can do to feel connected to others is to share the kind things we think about and hope for them. Inspired by a project at my friend, Lynsey’s, baby shower, we put together this sweet paper project where you write heartfelt notes to loved ones for the New Year or for birthdays! Happy New Year, friends!
“This is a special image for me and my family. My wife and I drove the 20 minutes to Lansing on a cold, snowy February 20, 2019, to ‘celebrate’ the birthday of our son Samson Boylen, who would have been 18 that day if he had lived that long. He died in November of 2015, and we had the Blackhawk Bridge lit up in his honor for many years on his birthday. That evening, we parked on the East side of the main channel of the Mississippi River across from Lansing, and I walked through the fresh snow downriver on the ice to find the best vantage point. It was cold and very quiet in the snow. This bridge was a great source of excitement in the lives of our children as they grew, so it held a special place, along with its elegant beauty, in my heart. When we traveled to La Crosse or into Central and Northern Wisconsin, our son and daughter would yell as I drove over this bridge as quickly as I could in order to make the vehicle jump. This image was a long exposure using a tripod. It is an image of gratitude and resilience to my mind,” says Scott. See more of Scott’s work at fineartamerica.com/profiles/scott-boylen
PHOTO BY SCOTT BOYLEN
Host your next meeting, reception, wedding, or special event in one of Vesterheim’s distinctive rental spaces!
With both indoor and outdoor options available, Vesterheim offers a setting that blends historic character with modern amenities. Whether you’re planning a small gathering, a group luncheon, or a private celebration, Vesterheim spaces provide a unique backdrop.
Learn more about available spaces and reservation details at vesterheim.org.
Shop the Museum Store for all your Scandinavianinspired gifts!
Holiday gifts and décor, one-of-a-kind folk art, jewelry, winterwear, games, books, and folk art supplies.
In-person in scenic Decorah, IA or online at store.vesterheim.org.
520 W. Water St. (563) 382-9681
It’s people’s differences that make this world a beautiful, complex, fascinating place. They can also make us feel isolated and angry. I don’t think I’ve ever experienced a time where it felt like, as a society, we were more divided. Every issue feels like a polarizing issue, every disagreement an insurmountable wall.
But it doesn’t have to be that way.
What do we have in common? Engaging across differences.
COMMON GROUND Finding
What can we do, right now?
There are more than eight billion humans living on this planet, all connected through our shared humanity. There are 23 pairs of chromosomes in the human genome. Between 1990 and 2003, all 23 pairs were fully sequenced through an international research project, the Human Genome Project (genome.gov). According to their findings, the DNA of any two human beings is 99.9 percent identical. The complexity of our DNA means that .1 percent attributes to all of our differences (whoa).
We get so worked up about those differences, we often fail to recognize just how much we have in common.
Beyond our DNA, we share the same needs within a society. Remember Maslow’s Hierarchy of Needs? Here’s a quick recap. This psychological theory says that all require, generally in this order of priority:
Survival – basic biological requirements to live: air, food, water, warmth, shelter.
Safety – security: personal safety, financial security, health, and a secure environment.
Love and Belonging – human connection and a sense of belonging, potentially through friendship, family, or romantic relationships.
Esteem – self-respect, respect from others, or a sense of accomplishment.
Self-Actualization – desire to achieve one’s potential and live a meaningful life.
That means we are all just trying to first, survive, and second, find a bit of happiness.
Of course, we won’t all want the same things, but I believe that if the things that make you happy do not hurt anyone else, you should be able to do them. The same goes for someone else.
My hope is that we will all spend some time trying to better understand each other this holiday season, this next year, and beyond, and that we will all try to approach each other with patience, empathy, compassion.
Because when we realize all that we have in common, we are much more likely to band together. And the power of the people is strong AF. Eight billion of us. Gosh, even just a fraction of that number, working together, would be astounding. Think of all the good we could accomplish! Let’s do it, friends.
Cheers to a New Year filled with common ground. We’ve got this.
XOXO - Aryn
INTRO & INFOGRAPHIC BY ARYN HENNING NICHOLS
…is not a failure. …takes courage. …is not impossible.
Approach conversations with empathy. Pause Breathe Stay calm and curious.
Soften your heart Connect
Listen more; speak less
According to the Human Genome Project, the DNA of any two human beings is 99.9 percent identical (genome.gov) Engage across differences
Put down your phone and talk to the people around you.
The ability to educate ourselves is a privilege. And when we know better, we can do better. Join a group or community of any size. Book club, walking group, dance class
99.9%
We are all searching for something
Here are some good things to add to your mind palace: PluralismThe existence of different types of people, who have different beliefs and opinions, within the same society. Civil discourseRespectful, intentional conversation focused on understanding different viewpoints in order to advance public interest.
COMMON GROUND Finding
What can we do, right now?
Recognize commonalities
Buy local & support your neighbors for those neighborsfor their rights, their contributions, their needs
Read & support local news Say thank you Volunteer
Being aware of what is happening in a community and how it all works creates a more invested population. When you read other people’s perspectives, try to understand where they’re coming from. your time or help someone in need (also accept help from others). It creates positive vibes for both the giver and the receiver.
Speak up to a group or organization that aligns with your values Donate
(and you’re welcome). Small (and big) appreciations matter.
ENGAGING ACROSS DIFFERENCES WHAT DO WE HAVE IN COMMON?
Mental health counselor
Olivia Lynn Schnur helps us find commonalities and develop communication skills.
BY OLIVIA LYNN SCHNUR, MA, LMHC, LPC, CYT-200
Winter transforms our homes into a cocoon of warmth and rest. We seek comfort in close quarters, drawn by the allure of a crackling fire, nourishing meal, or steaming drink.
We also tend to gather with those who offer easy, conflict-free connection. As a result, our social circles shrink, and we often end up surrounded by people who think, behave, and look a whole lot like us.
The problem with this is that comfort rarely leads to meaningful change. On the flip side, people who challenge our perspectives offer opportunities for personal and relational growth.
This season, as we gather at tables for holidays or interact with others in our day-to-day activities, consider what we have in common, and how we can engage across our differences.
WE ALL BELONG TOGETHER
We are most attracted to people who share our beliefs, values, hobbies, and even physical traits. That is partly because our early ancestors relied on the protection of groups for their survival. Greater similarities meant greater cohesion – and lower chances of being cast out of the group.
Belonging still enhances our sense of safety, even though it’s no longer necessary for our survival. It allows us to retreat from the larger world and let our guards down. Belonging can come to us in the form of friendships, romantic love, family, colleagues, and social groups. We may also find belonging in our homes, churches, and even with pets.
But sometimes we falsely believe that in order to belong, we must adjust the way we act or think. This belief can lead to people-pleasing, poor boundaries, or abandoning our sense of self to fit in. It can also lead to a distrust or hatred of “outsiders.” Bullying, hate crimes, racism, and homophobia are all rooted in a need to extinguish differences.
Attempting to drive out differences also stops us from finding an even deeper sense of belonging for ourselves. Because as long as we are fearful of differences, we will remain closed off to what makes us unique in this world.
Now, perhaps more than ever, we must come to understand, accept, and even cherish each other’s differences. This can bring a greater sense of empathy, warmth, and connection with others. When we step outside of our social circles with compassion, we can remember that we all belong to each other and this planet in our shared humanity.
HOW TO CHANGE YOUR MIND
If you realize your way of thinking has stopped you from connecting with others, it might be time for a mindset shift. In fact, many therapists operate under the assumption that change must first take place in the mind in order for it to truly take hold.
Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy (CBT), is a form of therapy developed by American psychiatrist Aaron Beck. In CBT, therapists help clients analyze, interrupt, and eventually change thought distortions, which are patterns of thinking that are inaccurate or irrational.
One common thought distortion is all-or-nothing thinking. For example, thinking that friends must agree on everything, or that people who don’t act like you can’t be trusted, or that if you don’t succeed at first, you never will.
To spot this type of thinking, look for words like, “always” or “never.” For example, “Liberals and conservatives will never see eyeto-eye” or “I will always agree with people who share my religious beliefs.”
We can start accepting differences by challenging thoughts that tell us a person’s background, political stance, or religious beliefs define who they are as a human. We can use our common humanity as a touchstone to remind us that despite our differences, we also have similarities.
STRENGTHEN YOUR SENSE OF SELF
There are three skills that can greatly enhance our ability to accept – or at least tolerate –differences in others: differentiation, self-regulation, and boundaries.
- Differentiation
Differentiation, a concept developed by American psychiatrist Murray Bowen, is the ability to connect and interact with others while staying rooted in your sense of self. The stronger your sense of differentiation, the more you will be able to tolerate perspectives that do not align with our own. We are most threatened by differences when our sense of self is weak, or our beliefs are fragile or unexamined. If you find yourself resistant to new ideas, it might be a sign that your own ideas need examining. Differentiation can help you to open up your mind to hearing new perspectives – without feeling like your sense of self is being compromised.
- Self-Regulation
When we’re confronted with beliefs and perspectives that challenge our own, self-regulation is often required. Self-regulation is the ability to manage your own emotions while working through emotionally charged conversations and conflicts. Without it, we’re prone to fits of rage or shutting down at the first sign of conflict.
The ability to self-regulate when someone does not agree with you is a form of maturity and self-control. It is a skill that takes time to learn. If you struggle with self-regulation, a therapist can help you to develop coping strategies.
- Boundaries
Losing emotional control can also signal a need to set boundaries before things escalate.
Healthy boundaries are firm yet flexible, communicating what we need and expect. When our boundaries are respected, it builds trust.
Boundaries allow us to listen to the opinions and feelings of others without taking them personally, understanding that differences are not meant to threaten our sense of self.
We will find greater peace in our communications when we accept that we cannot control or change another person by force, just as we hold the personal boundary that we will not tolerate other’s attempting to force us into change.
IMPROVE YOUR COMMUNICATION SKILLS
Once we have the internal resources necessary to connect with others despite differences, we can work on strengthening our communication skills.
- Empathy
When we approach others with curiosity, rather than an agenda, we strengthen our ability to learn. You’ll often find it’s easy to respect someone’s differences when you use empathy to understand the life experiences that shaped them.
- Active Listening
Active listening requires that we are present as much as possible, setting aside our own thoughts and feelings while listening to the thoughts and feelings of others.
This means we listen to understand instead of listening to change minds. On the flip side, we speak to feel heard instead of attempting to influence or control. The end goal is mutual understanding.
- Reflective Listening
Practice reflective listening by reflecting back the feelings and thoughts of others. Don’t repeat what they say word-for-word. Instead, reflect back the feelings you hear them expressing. You don’t have to agree with their perspective in order to understand where they’re coming from. Feelings are something we all have in common.
- Perspective Taking
Whenever you speak to someone, and especially someone you disagree with, seek to understand their point of view by asking questions about what shaped their beliefs and ideals. See the following worksheet for conversation starters and open-ended questions.
Express Care Clinic
CONFLICT RESOLUTION SKILLS
Conflict is a normal and healthy part of relationships – and can be a major source of personal and relational growth – but how you navigate it matters.
When you’re looking to resolve a conflict, both parties need to be willing to communicate, and both need the space to express feelings of hurt or remorse. Empathy, perspective-taking, and active listening are key. It’s crucial that we set our own feelings aside while we listen. We must seek to understand rather than to control the situation.
Use self-regulation in order to approach communication respectfully and set boundaries so you are able step away from the conflict if self-regulation is needed.
Once both parties feel heard and understood, the next step is to take accountability by acknowledging wrongdoing. We grow when we express what we learned through conflict. We build trust by sharing what we’ll do differently next time (and actually doing it).
WHAT DO WE HAVE IN COMMON?
“What do we have in common?” is an essential question that can open doorways to deep connectedness.
We are driven to seek out others who are most similar to us, but those similarities are often only surface level. We may find a more meaningful sense of belonging by working harder to find deeper commonalities.
When words will not suffice, we can connect through shared experiences. One way to bond is through moving our bodies together. Seek out group experiences – like running, dancing, walking, or practicing yoga – that will expose you to many different people. Notice how connection deepens through this synchronicity.
We can also bond through something called positivity resonance, a moment of shared positive emotion that strengthens connection. Seek out moments of laughter, fun, or joy in the presence of others. These universal emotions transcend language, culture, political, and religious beliefs.
GROW THROUGH DIFFERENCES
Working through differences can strengthen our connection to self and others. New perspectives offer us the opportunity to examine our own values, beliefs, and lifestyle. Change is not required, but we may find it warranted. Encountering differences may fundamentally change how we view ourselves and the world. That can feel scary at first. If it feels too difficult, a mental health professional can help. Once we work through our aversion to differences, growth is waiting on the other side. We can emerge with a stronger sense of self, a deeper connection to our values, and a more balanced understanding of our world as a whole.
Olivia Lynn Schnur holds a Master of Arts degree in Clinical Mental Health Counseling. She is a Licensed Mental Health Counselor, Licensed Professional Counselor, EMDRIA Certified EMDR Therapist, and 200-Hour Certified Yoga Teacher.
To learn more, or to book a yoga session, visit oliviaschnur.com.
PRACTICING PERSPECTIVE TAKING
Whenever you speak to someone, and especially someone you disagree with, seek to understand their point of view. This is called perspective taking – literally taking another person’s perspective into consideration. Try to keep your tone curious, not combative, when engaging across differences. You might be surprised by the meaningful conversations that follow. There is always something to be learned about others – and even ourselves – when we dive a little deeper.
Below are some questions to help with perspective taking. If you notice the person is open to listening, try sharing your own answers to some of these questions (you can note them here). See if you can work toward mutual understanding.
How did you develop your beliefs? Who taught them to you?
What life experiences shaped your current perspective?
What fears do you have about other’s beliefs?
What is most meaningful to you? How do your beliefs reflect those values?
You can also practice active and reflective listening with someone you already know and trust. Try asking them a few openended questions and see what you learn. Here are a few to get you started:
What are some religious or spiritual practices that are most meaningful to you?
Can you tell me something about your upbringing that shaped the way you view the world today?
Who had the greatest influence on your life? How does that shape the way you view your own life?
BUBBA’S FUND: TURNING GRIEF INTO GOOD
BY TALLITHA REESE
The story starts out in a familiar way: Boy meets girl. They get married. They start a family.
Alex Weber and Moran Lonning met in 2014 as students at Luther College. They married in 2023, and not long after, moved to La Crosse, where Moran was hired as head coach of the women’s basketball team for the University of Wisconsin La Crosse (UWL) and Alex would work as a pharmacist at Mayo Clinic Health System. And in June of 2024, the couple excitedly welcomed their son, Charlie Lonning Weber, into the world.
“We were just in love with him,” says Moran. “One of the most special things that we’ve experienced in our lives was bringing Charlie home and becoming a family together. Those moments the first few weeks of Charlie’s life were just completely magical.”
But when Charlie was just three months old, the story of this new family took a devastating turn. September 16, 2024, Charlie unexpectedly passed away while at daycare. His death was considered a Sudden Unexpected Infant Death (SUID) after autopsy and genetic testing could not determine a cause of death.
When tragedy happens, those left in the aftermath have choices on how to move forward. After months of grappling with grief, Alex and Moran chose to turn their grief into a legacy that would honor Charlie, who was affectionately known as Bubba. They created Bubba’s Fund, a donor advised fund committed to improving the lives of children, working under the umbrella of the La Crosse Area Community Foundation.
Moran Lonning (left) & Alex Weber with Charlie after his birth. / Photo courtesy Bubba’s Fund
An example of an automated external defibrillator (AED). / Photo courtesy Bubba’s Fund
CREATING THE LEGACY
Charlie passed away two weeks before the start of the 2024-2025 basketball season, Moran’s second year coaching for UWL. The basketball community rallied around her and Alex with an outpouring of support.
“Our community of loved ones stretches across the country, and they all have been so important and continue to walk with us through this journey,” explains Moran. “But the La Crosse community, specifically UWL and La Crosse area women’s basketball community, completely enveloped us with love and lifted us up with support. My players sat with me, cried with me, talked about Charlie with me, found signs from heaven for me everywhere we went. They let me show up just as I was every day and met me where I was.”
Moran and Alex also found a great deal of support and comfort from their church community, as well as support from an unexpected source: Wisconsin State Senator Brad Pfaff. Senator Pfaff attended Charlie’s funeral unannounced to express his personal condolences to Moran and Alex and said to let him know if there was anything he could do.
“When tragedies strike, it is truly amazing to see and feel the love and power that overflows,” says Alex. “We are so grateful for the comfort and compassion that continues to help us every single day as we continue to miss Charlie.”
In November of 2024, the UWL women’s basketball team hosted the first Bubba’s Youth Night in honor of Charlie. Before the game, Alex and Moran spoke to the audience, honoring their son and recognizing the support of the community. It was announced that Charlie would be the team’s Forever Sixth Man (a term describing a member of the team who, though not a starter, is essential to the team’s success). Through free will donations, approximately $1,800 was raised for Rising Athletes Organization, a non-profit that provides support and assistance to youth athletes in the La Crosse region.
That whole season was one defined by resilience, community, and heart. The team earned a spot in the Wisconsin Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (WIAC) tournament but were eliminated in the opening round. Then, they received the final at-large bid to the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) Division III tournament – UWL’s first NCAA tournament appearance since 2020. They won the first round, bringing home their first NCAA tournament win in 37 years, before falling in a close game to UW-Whitewater.
After the basketball season ended, Moran and Alex began to explore how they wanted to continue memorializing their son’s life.
Charlie unexpectedly passed away when he was just three months old. / Photo courtesy Bubba’s Fund
The UWL women’s basketball team hosted the first Bubba’s Youth Night in honor of Charlie in November of 2024. They brought in $1,800 for Rising Athletes Organization. / Photos courtesy Bubba’s Fund
Alex and Moran will always live with the grief of Charlie’s passing, but creating Bubba’s Fund helps channel that grief into something good. / Photo courtesy Bubba’s Fund
“We knew we wanted to honor Charlie’s life very soon after his passing,” says Moran. “But during the pain and shock of his loss, we weren’t quite sure what that would look like.”
In the spring of 2025, Tony Ayala, a family friend of Alex and Moran, and Moran’s brother, Connor Lonning, suggested they start with a fundraising event inspired by Bubba’s Youth Night with the UWL women’s basketball team. “The warmth and energy from that night became the spark that ultimately led to the creation of Bubba’s Fund,” explains Tony.
In alignment with the mission to empower the lives of children in the La Crosse area, they decided to start the fund through the La Crosse Area Community Foundation, a well-established resource that already supports local organizations. And after some research, they realized that though each state-licensed childcare center in Wisconsin is required to have providers certified in CPR and usage of automated external defibrillators (AEDs), there is no law mandating that AEDs be present in the facilities. While Alex and Moran will never know if an AED could have saved Charlie, knowing that childcare facilities would have the equipment on-hand felt like an important step in preparedness. The connection clicked.
“We saw a gap there and knew we could do something about it,” says Tony. “We wanted to offer that equipment to all state-licensed childcare facilities in the city of La Crosse.”
Bubba’s Fund partnered with 7 Rivers Cardiac Arrest Preparedness and Education (CAPE) to work towards that goal.
“We can’t do everything, but we can do a little,” says Tony. “And with the help of already established organizations, like the 7 Rivers CAPE, we can do even more together.”
The group began planning the First Annual Benefit for Bubba’s Fund for August 27, 2025, with the goal of raising $20,000 through a pledge system. They also launched a petition to have August 27 proclaimed as “‘For Charlie. For Children.’ Day” in the city of La Crosse. Mayor Shaundel WashingtonSpivey officially announced the proclamation on August 25, two days before the inaugural Benefit for Bubba’s Fund.
The benefit, held at the Rivoli Theatre in La Crosse, featured storytelling, tributes, and live music by The Weber Brothers, a band comprised of Alex Weber and his brothers. As they often do, they performed many covers of the Avett Brothers – a group whose music is deeply important to Alex and Moran.
The evening also featured a video of Senator Pfaff, announcing a proposed bill – titled Bubba’s Law – that would provide a way for statelicensed childcare facilities to
acquire AEDs without an overwhelming financial burden. He began drafting the bill upon learning of the fundraising efforts of Bubba’s Fund. Bubba’s Law would make partial funding grants available for AED equipment and maintenance. At the benefit, they ended up far surpassing their initial $20,000 fundraising goal, bringing in $62,405 – the majority of which came from contributions of individuals and families. It was a true show of community. And that feeling of community didn’t end that night.
In what seemed like fate to Alex and Moran, the Avett Brothers were performing in La Crosse on August 28 – the day after the benefit for Bubba’s Fund. The group reached out to the band ahead of time to extend an invitation to the fundraiser, but they weren’t scheduled to arrive in La Crosse until the day of their concert. However, Alex, Moran, and around 30 friends and family members from Bubba’s Fund attended the concert together. Alex and Moran delivered handwritten notes and Bubba’s Fund t-shirts to the band after the performance, receiving a signed setlist from the band in return. Later the band’s cellist, Joe Kwon, posted an Instagram story stating: “I played for you tonight, Charlie. Rest in Power.” The quiet recognition meant a great deal to Alex, Moran, and the entire Bubba’s Fund team.
Continued on next page
The first Benefit for Bubba’s Fund was held on August 27, 2025, at the Rivoli Theatre in La Crosse, Wisconsin. / Photo courtesy Bubba’s Fund
THE SPIRIT OF BUBBA’S FUND
The next Bubba’s Fund event is Bubba’s Youth Night with the UWL women’s basketball team on January 10, 2026. This year the group hopes to add a kids’ festival starting at noon until the game tip off at 3 pm.
After the success of their first initiative to bring more AED access to local childcare centers, they now plan to partner with Rising Athletes Organization to help fundraise for youth from low-income backgrounds to secure access to sports.
“Participating in youth athletics has been a pivotal part of both of our lives,” says Alex. “Rising Athletes is an amazing local organization that reduces the financial barrier for children who are unable to participate in sports.”
“Kids learn invaluable lessons of adversity and grit through participating in sports programs that we feel is difficult to replicate otherwise,” adds Moran. “Besides the life-changing lessons learned, the joy of playing sports is something we feel all kids should have the opportunity to have – and Rising Athletes aims to ensure kids are not left on the sideline.”
Though Bubba’s Fund will continue to operate under the La Crosse Area Community Foundation for now, the goal is to eventually achieve their own 501(c)(3) status, hopefully by the end of 2026, says Tony. “And we want to continue working, continue with event planning, and expand events to the broader community as we move forward.”
Though Charlie’s life was much too short, his legacy has already begun to inspire lasting change in La Crosse and across the state of Wisconsin. By taking action to ensure the safety, opportunity, and well-being of children, Bubba’s Fund has turned grief into good and heartbreak into hope.
Opposite page, top: Alex Weber sings (with brothers) in the Weber Brothers Band at the inaugural Benefit for Bubba’s Fund in August of 2025. Opposite page, bottom: The night was filled with music, memories of Charlie, and heartfelt appreciation for the support of Bubba’s Fund. This page: Alex grew up in Mason City, Iowa, and Moran spent most of her childhood in Decorah. They met at Luther College in Decorah, and moved to La Crosse, Wisconsin, shortly after marrying. The La Crosse community has been incredibly supportive of this young family through the tragedy of losing Charlie. / Photos courtesy Bubba’s Fund
“Grief became part of our life the day we lost Charlie and continues to be and will certainly be a part of our lives forever,” says Moran. “No matter how much good comes from starting Bubba’s Fund, we will always grieve our Charlie. It was difficult to venture into something so public surrounding his life, even though we believed our community would benefit from it. We thought, though, that it was important to honor both Charlie’s life and to pay back this amazing community of La Crosse for how they supported us during this tender time of our lives. That’s what keeps us moving forward. That’s the spirit of Bubba’s Fund.”
Tallitha Reese is a freelance writer and content manager based in Cashton, WI. She owns Words By Reese and you can find out more about her and her work at www.wordsbyreese.com.
Learn more about Bubba’s Fund, get involved, or donate at www.bubbasfund.org.
LISTENING
TO THE
NEXT
GENERATION
BUTTERFLIES
BY VIOLA VRTIS, AGE 13
MWHAT DO WE HAVE IN COMMON?
axine, a small eight-year-old girl with black hair in two braids flying behind her, ran through the sprinkler in her yard, chasing a monarch butterfly. She giggled, tumbling through the tall grasses, racing to catch the fluttering bug before it had a chance to fly away, or worse, her mom could call her in without Maxine seeing where the butterfly flew off to. She ran and ran, unaware that she had crossed the invisible border into her neighbor Mr. Clay’s yard.
“Get out of my yard, you little rascal!” yelled a loud, gravelly voice from the porch. Maxine stopped short, nearly falling straight into the carefully organized flower beds. She glanced up and saw Mr. Clay standing and leaning on his cane, wrinkled face scowling.
“S-sorry!” She squeaked out before she ran back into her yard. She could see he was still out on his porch, so she decided to go back inside. Dinner would be ready soon anyways. Maxine sat on a tall honey-colored stool in the window of her kitchen while her dad finished cooking fried rice for dinner. She sat up straight and leaned close to the glass when she saw the butterfly fluttering by her window. Maxine knew it was the same one because of the swirl mark on its lower wings. She watched it fly away, becoming a little orange dot flitting across the yard, until it flew behind a large flowering bush near the edge of Mr. Clay’s yard, and she couldn’t see it anymore.
The next morning, Maxine’s mother held a tray full of her signature chocolate chip oatmeal cookies. “These are for Mr. Clay. Go run them over to him, okay?”
“Okay,” she said. I hope he’s not still mad. She thought.
She walked over to his house, hoping in secret that he wasn’t home. Unfortunately, he was out in his front garden, planting milkweed.
“Mr. Clay,” Maxine started.
“What do you want?” he growled.
“Um, these a-are for you,” she said. “What are you planting?”
“Milkweed. For the–”
“Butterflies!” she exclaimed.
“Why, yes!” he said, taken aback. “I love to watch them fly around.”
“Me too!”
“Shhhh. Here comes one now!” he whispered.
Maxine watched the butterfly drinking from the milkweed flowers. She recognized the swirl-winged monarch from yesterday.
The two sat and talked, watching the butterflies and eating cookies together. It became their Sunday morning tradition which they continued and celebrated for years to come.
Viola Vrtis is a 13-year-old 7th grader at DMS. She enjoys reading, writing, drawing, playing violin, piano, and ukulele, and spending time with family and friends.
We created Future Focused, a new Inspire(d) column written by pre-teens and teens, to help give the next generation an opportunity to share their voices. Partnering with Dana Hogan, the Extended Learning Program teacher at Decorah Middle School, we offered prompts around the question, “What do we have in common?” Students submitted some really great work, and four were chosen for this Inspire(d). You can read all the Future Focused pieces published so far at iloveinspired.com/category/future-focused.
Here’s to Listening to the Next Generation! - Aryn
SAME SKY
BY ELSA PROPSON, AGE 14
SLISTENING TO THE NEXT GENERATION
taring into the silver-gleaming night sky, you’re met with something endless. Stars shimmer like distant memories, scattered across the darkness, while the moon hangs quietly, watching over the silent world. Planets wander like drifting souls, each carrying stories we may never know. In that moment, as your eyes trace the constellations, there is something that shifts inside of you.
A strange and powerful stillness washes over your heart, a quiet so deep it drowns out your sorrows, regrets, and even time itself. The weight of the past, the anxiety of things that never were and never more will be, the noise of the day – all of it dissolves. You’re left with only awe, held between the earth and the heavens. It feels as though you are the only person alive, like this sky was made just for you. Almost as if the universe stopped, holding its gasping breath while you gaze upwards. And for that moment, the world doesn’t feel small, or broken, or empty – it feels yours.
But as your mind wanders, you begin to remember: this sky, this breathtaking, infinite canopy of specks, is not yours alone. It stretches across oceans, mountains, and borders, bumping up against the lives of billions. Somewhere, on the other side of the world, someone is looking up too, with their eyes wide, their heart open, carrying their own burdens, and singing along to their own tune. They gaze into the same endless sky, seeking the same answers, and hold the same delicate hope.
And in that shared moment, across miles and time zones, languages and communities, you are connected, not necessarily by words, but by wonder. The sky doesn’t belong to anyone, but still, it belongs to everyone. A silent witness to our wonders and griefs, to every fleeting life and every lasting dream. And when we look up, we are reminded that we are never truly alone.
Elsa Propson (daughter of Kristin and Scott Propson), an 8th Grader at Decorah Middle School, enjoys participating in extracurricular activities such as wrestling, cross country, track and field, swimming, mock trial, orchestra, and choir.
MIRROR, WINDOW
BY ANYA VOLKMANN, AGE 13
You love waking up early, ready to go, But I would rather sleep in and move kind of slow.
You talk super loud, your words fill the space, I keep my thoughts quiet, at a softer pace.
You’re always prepared, your locker and backpack are perfectly neat, Mine is full of papers crumpled at my feet.
You race to the front, never scared to be seen, I linger in the back, caught somewhere between.
But we both laugh hard til our stomachs ache, And share all the secrets we never could fake.
When the world feels too heavy and we start to cry,
You pull me in close, and neither asks why.
Our tears mix with laughter, both tangled and true, Because no one gets me quite like you do.
We both dream big, and even though our paths might twist,
We both want a world that feels like this.
We’re different like night and day in the same sky,
But side by side, we see eye to eye.
Anya Volkmann is in 8th grade and is a writer, athlete, and adventurer at heart. Whether she’s running track, competing in cross country, playing soccer, or shooting hoops on the basketball court, she brings energy and determination to everything she does.
BY AVERY GARCIA-PRATS, AGE 13
We both smile, we both weep
We both have secrets we hate to keep
We both overthink and cannot lie
We both dance when we want to cry
We both know that we’re not the same
We both know our stories align in some frame
We both love with all our hearts
We both break because of different parts
We both fight away the dark
We both have a secret little spark
We both need each other right now We both have a secret path only we allow
We both are strong through the fall We both smile because we give it our all
Avery Garcia-Prats is an 8th grader at Decorah Middle School. She loves reading, playing soccer, and listening to music. She spends a lot of her time with her family and friends, who play a significant role in her life.
LISA LANTZ of SUM BUSINESS
INSPIRING ENTREPRENEURS IN THE DRIFTLESS
INTERVIEW & INTRODUCTION BY ARYN HENNING NICHOLS
Lisa Lantz, owner of The Getup in Downtown Decorah, is a total ray of sunshine. So it’s no surprise that her resale store feels like a warm, welcoming, totally fun place to shop.
Founded in 2017, The Getup is a sustainable boutique that buys and sells gently-loved clothing, accessories, and gear for kids and adults. Whether you want to call it thrifting or secondhand shopping, it’s the hunt for the perfect thing that’s often the best part. Thus, The Getup team works hard to make sure they buy high quality brands and styles they know their customers love, bringing great clothing, shoes, and gear to the community at a truly affordable price. In general, shoppers can purchase like-new items for 40 percent (and sometimes even as low as 20 percent) of retail cost.
Another big benefit to secondhand shopping is its sustainability, which is a huge part of The Getup mission. Resale business models are built around the notion of a circular economy, meaning gently loved clothing
circles around from person to person instead of going directly from person to landfill. Quality clothing is much more likely to continue within the cycle of a circular economy – and that’s great for both the planet and our wallets.
It was around 2015 when Lisa started thinking about making a career change. She had spent nearly two decades as a college professor in costume design and production and wanted to take her love of clothing and design into a business that brought value to the community. Plus, she and her husband, Scott Bassford, saw a need for clothing in the Decorah area – especially for kids – after the local JC Penney closed in 2017. The Getup opened its doors that same year, first in a rented spot on Water Street near the Hotel Winneshiek. They got to work, initially buying like-new kids’ items in current styles, then quickly expanded to include adult clothing, as well. Sellers to The Getup receive either cash or store credit, and have the option of taking back any items that are not purchased by The Getup for resale, or having The Getup team handle donating them to organizations in need.
The community welcomed this new store with open arms, and The Getup began to outgrow its space. In 2022, Lisa and Scott had the opportunity to purchase their own building on Water Street, just a few blocks down from
their original location. “We almost doubled our square footage, but we’re still working on doubling our revenues,” Lisa says with a wry laugh. “There are so many complexities to growing your business and the reality is that when you grow, you temporarily sag before you grow back up to surpass your previous benchmarks. I have an incredible team though and we ARE growing!”
Part of that growth involves constantly innovating to enhance The Getup shopping experience. They occasionally offer fun events like bringing in pros to do color analysis or hosting sewing or mending classes. They also sell cool merchandise by regional makers like Hello Adorn and Coffey & Clay, and support other local business owners through pop-up shops – Honey Head Vintage and Driftless Outdoors – that exist within The Getup space.
Finally, The Getup fills a gap in need by bringing in some new things for purchase, like children’s winter boots, snowpants, and gear, a small collection of new toys and games, plus other brands they really love, like Versa Tote. It’s a carefully curated mix that allows shoppers to lock in on their own fun style while still supporting a small business. Plus, folks not local to the area can also shop The Getup online!
Read on to learn more about Lisa’s path to building and growing The Getup in this Sum of Your Business Q&A.
Continued on next page
The Getup sells a great variety of adult and kids clothing and gear.
/ Photo by Aryn Henning Nichols
The Getup building on Water St. in Decorah. Below: Hello Adorn. / Photos courtesy The Getup
RESONANT HEART
The Basics:
Name: Lisa Lantz
Age: 50!
Business: The Getup Year Business Established: 2017
Business address: 212 W Water St Website: www.getupdecorah.com
Tell us about the “leap” moment. When/how did you decide to jump in and become your own boss?
In 2015, I was working in higher education and feeling like I needed a change. I wasn’t sure what I wanted to do, only that I needed something different. It took several years for me to come to terms with the thought of leaving the career I had worked so hard to achieve, but once I determined a need in our community, created a business plan, and then made the decision to make a career change, there was no looking back.
What’s the best thing about being your own boss?
The best thing about being your own boss is that you call the shots. If something isn’t serving you and your business, you have the ability to change that.
How about the worst?
Wearing all of the hats that would be shared in a corporate business model. YOU are responsible for it all - and delegating is hard!!
Was there ever a hurdle where you just thought, “I can’t do this?” How did you overcome it?
I feel like I encounter those hurdles every other day! When I feel overwhelmed and like I just can’t take it all on – I, first, make a list, and then I remind myself that in the grand scheme of things, my problems and tasks are minor. If I just keep moving forward and continue to do the work, things will work out. And, if they don’t, maybe it wasn’t meant to be! In other words, I try to take a moment to put it all in perspective.
Any mentors/role models you look to/have looked to?
There are so many!! I have an amazing family that supports me
Lisa Lantz / Photo courtesy The Getup
and listens when I need to vent or share my successes. That is HUGE!
I am forever grateful for the incredible business community in Decorah and how generous people are with their time and advice. I lean on fellow business owners a lot!!
I have also connected with other resale businesses owners and belong to resale organizations that have been integral to the success and growth of my business.
What’s the one thing you wish you had known before you started?
The knowledge that it’s going to take a while to establish yourself and your brand. Be patient and do the work and it will happen! Knowing that would have eased my worry and insecurities when I started out.
What keeps you inspired?
How do you manage your life/work balance?
I’m not sure that I do manage it all that well, honestly! I make a lot of lists and keep a shared google calendar and prioritize time with
I’m continually humbled, delighted, inspired, and in awe of the support from our community. We created The Getup with community at the core of what we do and why we do it!
One side of the store is dedicated to baby and kids clothing, gear, and toys. / Photo by Aryn Henning Nichols
Little lifts me up more than spending time in my store and chatting up our customers!
I’m also lifted up by the people I get to work with every day! I have an incredible team of employees who are all so committed to the mission of the business. Every single person who works at The Getup puts in their all and I know I can rely on them to help me run and grow the business. They inspire me every day!
Tell us more about your business motto: Community Powered Sustainable Styles.
Community is, of course, at the core of what we do, but we’re also dedicated to the sustainability of a circular economy. What drew me to the circular economy model was the idea of keeping things in a cycle of use – within our community! So, like our name says, our sustainable styles are powered by our community!
What is one of your favorite things you’ve gotten from The Getup?!
Oh my goodness - that’s hard! I love the things that come into our store and, let me tell you, it’s a struggle everyday to not take home everything!! I really have to restrain myself! If I had to pick one thing, it would probably be my Frye boots even though I don’t wear them very often. They are so classic and badass, and I love having the option to wear them when I want to!
Top: Honey Head Vintage is a super-fun pop-up shop in The Getup. Bottom: The Getup stocks new Oakiwear boots. / Photos by Aryn Henning Nichols
Can you tell us about the ways The Getup supports others and other communities through your work?
The give-back aspect of our business sometimes feels like it has a life of its own AND it nestles right in with our mission. We listen to the needs of our community and always try to find ways to do what I call “connecting the abundance with the need.” There is so much abundance out there that there shouldn’t be need in the first place. I’m always trying to make that connection through our business model. Luckily, my team believes in this too, so everyone is on board to help out whenever someone comes to us with an idea or a need. When items come in that we decide not to purchase – maybe they’re not the brands we’re looking for or don’t fit the current styles – sellers can choose to either come back in and take home the things we passed on, or have our team add them to our donations stock. We have a fantastic volunteer, Nichole Hotvedt, who goes through and organizes the donated items. Then, our amazing store manager, Siri Steven, organizes and operates the clothing and gear giveaway to local schools in Decorah and surrounding towns on an as-needed basis, usually through social
workers or school administrative assistants or through Helping Services, Kid’s Closet, The Depot Outlet, and several other local organizations. And finally, Decorah resident Anne Juergens has a connection to St. Paul’s Catholic Church in Marty, South Dakota, that serves the Yankton Sioux tribe there. Anne and a huge team of friends work with us to take approximately 500 kitchen sized garbage bags of clothing per year to St. Paul’s.
THE GETUP SELLING HOW-TOS
In advance: Check getupdecorah.com for any buying pauses and for info on what season of clothing they’re currently buying.
1. Go through your closet and pick out up to 25 of your best, like-new items in current styles
2. Drop-off your items. Options:
- Monday from 10 AM - 4:30 PM, no appointment necessary. Due to the high volume of Monday drop-offs, you will not receive your offer the same day. The Getup will text you with your offer when it’s ready – this may take 2-3 weeks.
- OR make an appointment online for times Tues- Friday (appt.thegetupdecorah.com/appt) New appointment slots open every Sunday at 5 PM CST for the following week.
3. Collect your cash OR store credit! Learn more at thegetupdecorah.com.
A volunteer crew after loading clothing into a U-Haul heading for South Dakota. / Photo courtesy The Getup
THE DRIFTLESS
A GEOLOGIC DOUGHNUT HOLE
BY CRAIG THOMPSON • ARTWORK BY MARY THOMPSON
During the last ice age – 20,000 years ago give or take a few years – the ebb and flow of glaciers forever changed the complexion of the Upper Midwest. The sheer weight of the mammoth ice sheets, some up to a mile thick, literally ground off underlying layers of bedrock as they crawled across the country.
As the climate warmed and the ice sheets retreated for the last time, they left enormous deposits of glacial drift (unconsolidated silt, sand, gravel, and boulders) in their slow-motion wake. The result was a gently rolling topography extending from Canada to southern Illinois. There was, however, an area in Wisconsin, Minnesota, Iowa, and Illinois that remained untouched by the glaciers, a geologic doughnut hole as it were, in an otherwise reconstituted landscape. For reasons unknown to geologists, the region – most commonly called the Driftless Area, but alternatively known as bluff country, the coulee region, or the Ocooch Mountains – retained its signature rocky features, free of glacial drift.
A bird’s eye view of the “Driftless” during summer reveals a landscape resembling a rumpled throw rug, verdant corrugations extending as far as the eye can see. In late autumn, after the final bursts of color fall to the forest floor, the geologic underpinnings are manifest. Come winter, the uneven landscape emerges in stark relief, showing off the unique topography and gorgeous vistas under a veneer of snow (if we’re lucky).
Gin-clear streams trickle from the highest reaches of deeply incised valleys, coalescing into creeks and ultimately rivers that feed the Mississippi River. Flaxen prairies perched on impossibly steep bluffs wave in contrast to leafless oaks and hickories standing sentry nearby. Dense patches of red cedar, blue-green during the growing season, turn reddish-bronze with the onset of cold weather, punctuating bark-gray blufflands with color and texture. Rocky bluffs towering hundreds of feet over the mighty Mississippi reflect cold sunlight, revealing previously concealed crags, fissures, and caves.
Driftless ruggedness is a testament to the powerful erosional effects of water flowing over millions of years, cutting through sedimentary rocks formed during the Paleozoic Era, well before dinosaurs thundered across Mesozoic plains. Eighteenth century French fur traders coined the term coulee region (a derivation of the French verb couler – “to run like a river”) in recognition of the landscape’s abundant, flowing surface waters.
Below the surface, fractured limestone bedrock facilitated formation of caves, sinkholes, disappearing streams, and cold-water springs. Karst geology, known simply as karst in scientific shorthand, is a defining feature of the Driftless Area. Karst gives rise to an abundance of cold-water streams that in turn support a world class Driftless trout fishery. It also supports a rare, fragile ecosystem known as an algific talus slope. Algific refers to cold producing, while a talus slope is a jumble of rocks at the base of a bluff.
In rare instances, Karst derived ice caves and fissures vent cold air through talus slopes, creating perpetually cool microclimates. The associated microhabitat supports plants and animals that found refuge in the Driftless Area during repeated glacial episodes. Today, species like the Iowa Pleistocene snail and northern monkshood, a rare member of the buttercup family, are considered “glacial relicts,” providing a living record of Pleistocene ecosystems and serving as bellwethers for climate change.
There is no place on Earth like the Driftless. Its weathered beauty inspires awe, wonder, and a reverence for the land, and winter provides a wonderful opportunity to take it all in. Thank goodness the glaciers missed us.
Mary and Craig Thompson live at the base of a dolomite bluff in western Wisconsin. They don’t take Driftless geology for granite.
Lukes
Photography
THE WONDERS OF WINTER HIKING
BY MARGE LOCH-WOUTERS
Marge Loch-Wouters is a Minnesota Master Naturalist whose passion is the outdoors and hiking in the Driftless region. Her blog, Hiking the Driftless Trails, publishes trail reviews, gear and safety tips, suggested seasonal hikes, essays on nature, and observations of insect, plant, and animal life. Her goal is to ensure everyone can enjoy the wonder of hiking in the Driftless, no matter one’s age or physical condition. hikingdriftlesstrails.blogspot.com
Brrr…it’s cold outside! That means it’s time to get out the snowshoes, the skis, and the hiking boots. Wait, hiking boots?!?
Absolutely! With the right gear and some planning, the winter months can be a wonderful time for hiking. While flora, fauna, and fungi are tucked away, bare trees open up views of vistas and geological features often hidden in leafier seasons. Brush dies back, making previously overgrown, lesser-used trails easier to explore. And, uh, no bugs.
Indeed, this season provides a whole new world of hiking experiences and choices. There are four main components to a successful winter hike: finding the right hike for the weather, wearing the right layers, having the right gear, and dealing with thawing trails.
PLANNING FOR WINTER HIKES
To begin your winter hiking, choose start times in the “heat” of the day. Look for trails that have views of the river, interesting rock formations, nearby bluffs, or deer trails to explore. On a windy day, try coniferous forests or bluffside hikes that take you below the rims to gain protection. If you have a sunny day with little wind, choose a blufftop and enjoy the vistas.
If you are hiking in snow on shared trails, remember trail etiquette. Avoid freshly groomed trails used for cross-country skiing or winter biking. Stay to the right or left of the groomed trail. When crossing ski or bike tracks, lift your feet (or snowshoes) high to avoid disturbing them – it’s a helpful art to learn, and winter adventurers will thank you!
LAYERS
The key to comfort while hiking is dryness, lightness, and breathability in your clothes and outerwear. Choose light wool or synthetics for your base layer that help wick away moisture. Add an additional shirt and light/heavy sweater on top of that layer, depending on the temperature.
For outer layers, think light and wind/ water resistant. You don’t need bulky pants, jackets, or vests if you have the right base and mid layers. This allows for more freedom of movement as you hike.
A neck gaiter or balaclava is a versatile way to protect your neck and lower face. If it’s a windy day, consider using a protective lotion or Vaseline on exposed skin. Wear a warm hat (or ear-warmer, if you run hot). Hiking with a small backpack lets you add/subtract layers as you hike.
Writer Marge Loch-Wouters encourages folks to get out on the trails, no matter the weather or your age.
/ All photos courtesy Marge Loch-Wouters
Look for waterproof, insulated hiking boots like my favorites – Merrells’ Thermo Kiruna 2 Waterproof boots –that keep your feet warm but are still light and flexible.
A great purchase that can really open the world of winter hiking is a set of microspikes for traction. They slip on over boots, providing stability and grip on icy or slippery snow surfaces. Ice cleats and ice walkers are a less expensive alternative.
If you are hiking during hunting seasons, wear blaze orange – hat, vest, jacket – so you can be easily seen.
WINTER THAWS
We have been experiencing more frequent periods of winter thaws. This means more freeze-thaw cycles on trails. Boot prints that are left on muddy, thawing trails contribute to erosion and trail degradation. If you are leaving boot prints on a thawed trail, please turn back. Instead, temporarily hike trails that are paved, gravel, or grassy until the ground firms up again.
CHECK
OUT
A FEW DRIFTLESS WINTER HIKING TRAILS:
Yellow River Forest – Luster Heights Unit (IA) Relatively flat area with some rolling hills and magnificent views of the Mississippi River. Spectacular rocks too! 5 miles south of Harper’s Ferry, turn left off IA Hwy 364 onto Luster Height Road. Parking lot is one mile in on the left. GPS: 43.136979, -91.187074
Great River Bluffs State Park (MN) - Many iconic overlooks on forested trails. Some steep and rolling spots on south trails, so cool weather is your friend. 43605 Kipp Dr, Winona, MN
Upper Hixon Forest Trails (WI) - Bluffside trails below the rim offer great wind protection and wide views in winter’s “see-through” season. N2788 County Road FA - La Crosse, WI
Reno Quarry (MN) - Head up the short quarry trail for expansive Mississippi River views. Then head down and north for incredible sandstone rock formations on the bluffs edge. 7.6 miles north of New Albin, Iowa, turn left at Reno Recreation Area sign (Hillside Rd). Go 1.4 miles to small parking lot on right. GPS: 43.61773, -91.27451
Beaver Creek Valley State Park (MN) - The rim trails are full of dramatic rocks; also beautiful is the trail that runs on either side of the trout stream. With leaves down, the rocks and narrow valley walls are breathtaking. 15954 County Rd 1, Caledonia, MN See you on the winter trails!
Marge Loch-Wouters is a Minnesota Master Naturalist living in La Crescent. Her Hiking the Driftless Trails blog encourages everyone to head out on the trails, no matter your age or physical condition.
Scan this QR code to check out Marge’s blog and some great hiking trails in the Driftless!
Be mindful of trail conditions before heading out. / Photo courtesy Marge Loch-Wouters
Karen & Dan Hurst
Interviewed by their grandchildren – the Davis family kids: Alistar, age 13; Henrietta, age 11; Ivan, age 6
Grandma Karen and Grandpa Dan have been married for almost 50 years. They have five kids and eleven grandchildren. They were married on March 18, 1977, and have taught their family so many things about love and life and laughing. Here is an interview with the best grandparents ever. The Davis family kids (who live in La Crosse) interviewed both of them for this piece because, after all, they are inseparable. To Grandma Karen and Grandpa Dan from all of your family: We love you; you know that.
What’s the best advice anyone ever gave you? (GK- Grandma Karen, GD- Grandpa Dan) GD: Never go to bed angry. GK: Always measure your words, because once they are out you can’t take them back. My dad told me that. GD: He was right, too!
Name one thing you could not live without.
How about the worst? GK: My band teacher told me not to take typing because I wouldn’t be good at it. That made me feel like I was not good at it before I even started! GD: When your Aunt Hannah was born, someone told me, “Now you’ll need more money, and you’ll need to work more so that you can have more money in the family.” It was not good advice because the most important thing is to be there with your kids, not the cost to pay for things.
What did you want to be when you grew up?
GK: A teacher or a nurse… and in the end, I was a teacher and a nurse because I was a mom.
GD: A job where I worked with people, not machines, and I could help them. Maybe a counselor.
GK: And in the end, he did because he was a counselor to five kids…
GD: And to Grandma Karen, too.
If you were stranded on a desert island, what three things would you want with you?
GD: My Bible, a solar powered recording of my favorite music, and Grandma.
GK: My Bible, my glasses because I can’t hear anything without my glasses on, pictures of my family. Henrietta: Maybe you guys could share a Bible…?
Try to describe the other person in one sentence.
GK: Grandpa is a wise, compassionate, comforting, strong, helpful partner.
GD: I read a line from Emily Dickinson yesterday and I said, “Grandma, this sounds just like you.” She said to herself, “I am small, like the wren, and my hair is bold, like the chestnut bur, and my eyes are like the sherry in the glass that the guest leaves.” That is your Grandma.
If you could eat anything every day for the rest of your life, what would it be?
GK: POPCORN! GD: A New York strip.
GK: Grandpa. Actually… popcorn. GD: Oxygen. On a more serious note…coffee.
Tell us about your wedding day.
GD: The day of our wedding, my boss called me and said they had a person call in sick and asked if I could come in, to which I said, “I don’t know if you remember but I am getting married today.”
Do you know someone you’d love to interview for this page? Let us know!
aryn@iloveinspired.com
GK: We had a blizzard the night before and I was worried that no one could come. I got my hair done and my dress on and then we went out and everything was white and beautiful. The snow had melted on the sidewalks, and everyone was there.
GD: We pulled away from the church in a black and gold 1977 Pontiac Firebird and we listened to the song, Fly like an Eagle by the Steve Miller Band
Advice to your kids and grandkids.
GK: Be strong in your convictions, trust in the Lord, and be kind to others.
GD: Honor your mother and father and when you have questions on whether something is right or wrong, you go and you talk to your mom and dad. Always honor your mom and dad.
