She Magazine l June/July by Kenosha News

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HER AY LETTERS FROM THE EDITORS | CONTRIBUTORS

PHOTOGRAPH BY KEVIN POIRIER

Say, “hello,” to Kathy Troher, left, and Lani Renneau and the premiere issue of She.

areful! That’s my baby you’re holding. She didn’t quite require nine months’ gestation, but let me tell you, the labor was intense. I know your time is precious, and I certainly don’t want She magazine to be one more chore for you to get to. I want you to look forward to every issue, so my goal for this issue and every issue to follow is to give you information you can’t get anywhere else. In She you’ll find stories about women in your community. Inspiring stories. Humorous stories. Stories with tips and ideas for making your life perhaps a little less stressful or a little more healthy. None of this was created in a vacuum. The She

She

staff put together an Advisory Board of dynamic women who told us what they’d like to see in a local women’s magazine. These women (meet them on Page 8) offered invaluable insight, and you’ll find their guidance throughout these pages. But before you start flipping through them to see what I mean, let me leave you with one thought: Think of She magazine as a companion on the path of discovery. Sometimes She will guide. Sometimes She will take direction from you. Always She will be there with you, making the journey more enjoyable.

n a world where time is so precious, I wanted to make sure She would deliver content relevant to your life. Although women throughout the world have many similarities, women in southeast Wisconsin have even more in common. My promise to you is that all our content will be local to the Kenosha, Lake Geneva, Pleasant Prairie and Racine area. You will read about the successes, the challenges and even at times the heartaches that women — women like you — face every day. I hope you can learn from us, laugh with us and perhaps even cry with us as we take you on a new journey with every issue. I would like to suggest that you indulge yourself with a decadent piece of chocolate or any other sinful sweet, find a place where you can hide away and begin to enjoy all that is offered within these pages. Welcome to our She family. Lani Renneau She managing director

Kathleen Troher She editor

MISSION TATEMENT

Let us introduce you to someone. She is a trailblazer. A nurturer. A guide. She is the first magazine for, by and about southeast Wisconsin women. She embodies the women

featured on her pages. Women striving to balance work, family and community commitments. Women improving themselves and those around them physically, spiritually, intellectually. Women giving their all

while maintaining their sense of self. Women finding themselves by losing their fears. Versatile. Diverse. Empowered. She is making a difference. She is you.

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STAFF & SHE NEEDS Managing director Lani Renneau Editor Kathleen Troher Design director Brian Sharkey Assistant design director Julie Vander Velden Photo editor Kevin Poirier Editorial assistants Kathy Pfaffle Suzie Hildebrandt

Want to have She

delivered to your home? If you would like to have She mailed to your home, please complete the order form below. A $15 annual subscription rate applies.

Web site coordinator Terry Maraccini

Advertising Patti Clausen pclausen@kenoshanews.com (262) 656-6231

Clip and mail to: She c/o Kenosha News 5800 7th Ave. Kenosha, WI 53140

To purchase photos: Visit our Web site at www.she-magazine.com

or call

Published by the Kenosha News 5800 Seventh Ave. Kenosha, WI 53140 Main phone: (262) 657-1000; Toll free: 800-292-2700 Web site: www.she-magazine.com © 2008 by the Kenosha News, a division of United Communications Corporation. All rights reserved.

1-800-292-2700

She wants you. She magazine is looking for women to be featured in upcoming issues. If you meet any of the criteria below and want to see your story and photo on our pages, please send an e-mail to she@kenoshanews.com. Be sure to tell us which topic is of interest to you and how we can contact you. > What’s in a name? Do you have an unusual name or an interesting story about how your parents chose your name? Tell us about it. > Are you and your husband an outgoing, fun, confident couple? Consider becoming the subject of our She and He feature, in which we ask spouses a series of questions to better understand the similarities and differences between men and women. > Do you have a child with a serious disease or one who lost a battle with illness? If you’re ready to talk about it we’d like to know where you found support and how you reach beyond the pain. > Do you have a unique collection? We’re looking for women who collect special items that are a little different from the usual Christmas village buildings or teacups. Maybe it’s vintage fabric or Tiffany lamps. We want to know.

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home for $15 a year. (6 issues)

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TABLE OF CONTENTS JUNE/JULY 2008

BODY AND SOUL

UNDERSTANDING THE SEXES

FEATURE STORY PHOTOGRAPH BY KEVIN POIRIER

43 She and He: Spouses answer questions about themselves and each other

SHE’S STEPPING OUT 45 Getaway: Take a trip to New Glarus PHOTOGRAPH BY BY KEVIN POIRIER

9 Fitness Director Jean Mikrut, center, teaches a Zumba dancing class at the Geneva Lakes Family YMCA.

Three for Me: How to improve your life physically, emotionally, intellectually

11 Kindred Spirits: Breast cancer support group gives women hope

14 Volunteer Opportunities: What you can do to help

DEFINING SUCCESS 15 A Woman of Substance: Racine lawyer Cynthia L. Murphy shares her perspective

16 Women, Wisdom and Wealth: A financial adviser offers her expertise

17 PHOTOGRAPH BY BRIAN PASSINO

In the last four years Kim Bartlett of Racine has lost a significant amount of weight and gained a love for triathlons.

Training for a triathlon Three women who never imagined they would compete in triathlons are empowered by their new-found passion. Their stories will inspire you. 20 How to complete your first triathlon 22 Dressing for triathlon success 27 Popular Wisconsin triathlons

SHE’S GOT STYLE 30 My Favorite Things: Music, movies, books, clothes, what’s near and dear to her heart? 33 Makeover Magic: Three women go from ordinary to awesome 37 Home and Garden: Selling your home in troubling times 39 How To: Plan a perfect picnic

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Jody Mikkelsen is surrounded by the purses, jewelry, clothing and other accessories that make her store, In All Her Glory, just glorious.

47 Hidden Gem: Uncover the treasures at Lake Geneva’s In All Her Glory

49 Out and About: Faces in places you know

50 Events Calendar: What’s happening, when and where

SOMETHING TO SMILE ABOUT 52 Liz Out Loud: Suntanning? What is columnist Elizabeth Snyder thinking?

54 In Her Day: A tribute to Mom SHE l JUNE/JULY 2008 l 7

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ADVISORY BOARD

Faye Akindes

Consuelo Bridgeman

Pam Carper

University of Wisconsin-Parkside director of the Center for Ethnic Studies

Hispanic Educational Resource Motivating and Navigating Academic Success mentor and adviser

Women and Children’s Horizons assistant executive director

Paula J. Clark

Jayne Herring

Adelene Greene

Kenosha County Aging and Disability Resource Center community outreach coordinator

Gateway Technical College director of marketing and communications

Kenosha County director of workforce development

Do you really love your smile? Diane Kastelic

Camisha A. Klumb

Kenosha Unified School District library media teacher consultant

Kenosha Area Convention and Visitor’s Bureau director of tourism

Monica Yuhas Pleasant Prairie trustee

United Way of Kenosha County community impact director

he magazine would not be what it is without guidance and support from its 10-member Advisory Board. These are women from the community who have helped shape the magazine by providing their insight and recommendations.

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Crista Kruse

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BODY & OUL THREE FOR ME | KINDRED SPIRITS

Take some time for yourself Three for Me is a regular feature highlighting ways for women to improve their lives physically, emotionally and intellectually. PHOTOGRAPHS BY KEVIN POIRIER

Fitness Director Jean Mikrut, center, teaches a Zumba dancing class at the Geneva Lakes Family YMCA. Inspired by Latin music, Zumba combines a good aerobic workout with merengue and salsa dance moves.

By Kris Kochman Somewhere between driving the carpool, preparing dinner and earning a paycheck, there’s little time left for “me.” It seems everyone is busy, stressed out, and, let’s admit it, more than a little irritable at times. In an effort to restore some balance, why not carve out a little time for yourself?

THREE FOR ME

Good for the body Women have been having fun with the new Zumba dance exercise class offered at the Geneva Lakes YMCA, 203 Wells St. The class combines a good aerobic workout set to Latin music and dance moves like those found in the merengue and salsa. Jean Mikrut, fitness director at the Geneva Lakes “Y,” said women enjoy that

they don’t have to be right in step to benefit from the class. “It’s more like a party atmosphere,” Mikrut said. “Anybody can do it. “Everyone’s smiling when they’re done. It’s kind of addicting.” The YMCA started offering Zumba classes last fall, and the fun will continue this summer. For more information on class dates and times, call (262) 248-6211.

Fitness Director Jean Mikrut keeps the energy level high. SHE l JUNE/JULY 2008 l 9

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Reduce stress

Stimulating reads

Treat yourself to a massage and feel the stress of the day melt away. Ellen Banish of Simply Balanced Massage Therapy, 6021 Durand Ave., Racine, said massage increases the body’s circulation and leaves people feeling energized. Some studies have shown that it improves learning ability, too. Banish, who is certified in pre-natal massage, said it’s a great treat for pregnant women to Ellen Banish get rid of the aches and pains of pregnancy. Studies have shown regular massage even can shorten the duration of labor, she said. Women often end up with stress in their shoulders if they work all day on a computer. Banish said she can feel the tension when she begins to massage that area. If time permits, she said a whole body massage offers the maximum benefit for tension relief during a 90-minute session. If you only have a half hour to spare, you’ll still reap benefits. Just promise yourself you’ll be back for more. For more information on massage, PHOTOGRAPH BY SEAN KRAJACIC visit www.simplybalancedmassage.com Massage therapist Ellen Banish eases the tension in or phone (262) 620-3594. Crystel Lyons’ shoulders and neck.

A good book is a must for lazy days at the beach or even during a break from yard work. Grab an ice tea, pull out a lounge chair and stimulate your imagination with a good read. The weeds can wait. Looking for a mystery? Try “Easy Innocence,” published in April by Chicago writer Libby Hellman, suggested Midge Green, community relations director for Barnes & Noble, 2710 A S. Green Bay Road, Racine. Green said two of her favorite Wisconsin authors have new books this spring: “Searching for Paradise in Parker, PA,” by Kris Radish and “Whistling in the Dark,” by Lesley Kagen. Green said of Radish: “She really knows women. Every one of her books is about a strong woman going through a difficult time but she comes out stronger.” “Whistling in the Dark” is a mystery set in 1959 Milwaukee and written from the point of view of a 10-year-old girl, Green said.

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Hope goes a long way Circle of Hope provides support for women who have battled breast cancer By Kathleen Troher

breast cancer diagnosis in September 2005 and subsequent surgery and treatment left Julie Gemignani in a quiet depression. Feeling unpretty and uncomfortable in clothes that no longer fit her changed body, she found a lifeline in Circle of Hope. “That night, that very first night, I felt like they were my family,” said Gemignani, of Kenosha. “This group has made me like myself again. I can’t imagine my life without them. I need them.” Circle of Hope is a support group for women who have breast cancer and are in their 20s, 30s, 40s or 50s. Consisting primarily of women who live in Kenosha County, the group formed just over three years ago, meeting at members’ homes on the last Thursday of each month. For many of the women, this isn’t their first cancer group experience. Some briefly attended meetings at hospitals, but they found the discussions too clinical, the settings too sterile. Others attempted joining groups that included older women, but the sense of belonging just wasn’t there. What they have found in Circle of Hope is a bevy of women close to each other in age and circumstances. Because most of them work and have children still at home, they have bonded on several levels. Yet their cancer experiences run the gamut. They’ve received different treatments at different hospitals and health care centers. Each heard the “you have cancer” diagnosis from doctors with vastly different bedside manners ranging from cold to compassionate. But they share their journeys openly, knowing their stories can offer an alternative or guidance or strength or hope to someone else in the room on meeting night. As a group, or in small knots of two or three gathering in a cozy corner, their discussions often turn to sensitive topics: sex, hysterectomies, breast reconstruction. And they talk about things only other women who have had breast cancer would understand. Regardless of the support they receive from other friends and family members, some of cancer’s physical and emotional challenges only can be

understood by others who have experienced the same struggles. They provide validation for each other, knowing their fears, their apprehensions and sometimes even their feelings of anger and frustration are not unique. “There are women here who are ahead of me in the journey and women who are behind me,” said Susan Schneider of Kenosha. “I can look at those who are further along and find hope and inspiration in them. And I can help those who aren’t yet where I am. “Sometimes you feel you have to be strong with other people. But here, we can be vulnerable together.” Terri Niesen, of Pleasant Prairie, said women who think they could benefit from joining the group shouldn’t be apprehensive about taking that first step. “We’re from all walks of life but we all come here and share a common bond,” she said. During meetings they chat, sometimes while eating pizza and sipping wine or ice tea. They’ve also made bears and donated them to a cancer center, and they are working on ways to raise money with the goal of assisting local women with breast cancer who might need help with medical bills or perhaps child-care costs while undergoing treatment. But Circle of Hope’s primary reason for being is to offer support to women who need it. Women like Patty Merletti of Kenosha, who

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> Page 12

PHOTOGRAPH BY KEVIN POIRIER

Show of support Empathy and understanding are the hallmarks of Circle of Hope, a support group formed by breast cancer survivors who meet monthly at the home of a member. Here they are at Debbie Misurelli’s Kenosha home. Pictured are, back row from left, America Olson of Kenosha, on couch arm, Misurelli, Linda Miller of Pleasant Prairie, Susan Schneider of Kenosha, Julie Gemignani of Kenosha, seated from left, Patty Merletti of Kenosha, Terri Niesen of Pleasant Prairie, Carmel Tahir of Gurnee, Ill., and Lisa Castelli of Pleasant Prairie, on couch arm.

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Ways to help cancer patients ease their fears

> Hope, from 11

earlier this year attended her first meeting. Diagnosed with breast cancer on July 27, 2007, Merletti finished chemotherapy on Dec. 21 and attended a wine tasting in Kenosha 10 days later on News Year’s Eve. That’s where she met Niesen, who knew from Merletti’s appearance that the two had something in common. Niesen approached Merletti and invited her to a Circle of Hope meeting. “When I attended my first meeting I didn’t know anybody, I had just met Terri at the wine store,” Merletti said. “But they were so open, so caring. I felt like I’d been going there forever.” Her advice to someone contemplating joining: Go for it. “These women are friends that you don’t realize yet,” she said, noting that their discussions can be fun and easygoing — a welcomed distraction — or they can be very deep and intense — a bare-your-soul kind of thing. For Merletti, joining Circle of Hope is one more way she stands up to breast cancer. “I have no idea what’s going to happen to me. The months

When we have friends or relatives with breast cancer we often wonder what we can do to help, in what ways — big or small — can we attempt to ease their burden. We asked Circle of Hope members what helped them through their toughest times, and how family and friends can make a difference. Here are some of their suggestions: > Bring her some fresh fruit. > Take her children to the zoo or something special so she can rest, or drive her children to functions they need to attend. > Pray for her. > Offer to sit through chemo with her, and bring a People magazine so you can chuckle at the gossip. > Give her gift cards instead of flowers. Flowers are

ahead could be my last. And I have a choice. I can spend the last six months of my life hiding in my bedroom, or I can do more,” Merletti said. “I wouldn’t want anyone to walk away from my casket and say, ‘She stopped living the day she was told she had cancer.’ There’s still life ahead for me, and I’m going to live it.” That’s a sentiment shared by each of the women in the

nice but loss of job income or co-pay expenses often result in financial difficulties, and grocery cards or gas cards can go a long way. > Buy her a button-down shirt, which always is needed after surgery. > Send her thinking-of-you cards. > Send over a meal, especially when she’s going through chemo or after surgery, so she can rest. > When she is at chemo, leave a message on her answering machine letting her know you are thinking about her and praying for her. Then let her know she doesn’t need to call you back. > Don’t be afraid to talk to her about cancer. Ask questions and allow her to talk about what she is experiencing. > Bring over a care package of humorous DVDs, magazines and books

group, including Debbie Misurelli. When she was diagnosed with breast cancer three and a half years ago, the only other woman she knew with the disease had died. Despite much love and support from her husband and children, Misurelli needed another outlet for sharing her emotions. Not a joiner by nature, she was hesitant to become part of a support group,

for times spent resting. Treatment can be exhausting. > Throw her a hat party. > Do not tell stories about other people’s cancer, that is the last thing she would want to hear. > Organize a “let’s help clean her house” morning with friends, or pitch in with others to purchase a housekeeping service that will clean regularly while she’s going through chemo. > Buy her stamps and thank-you notes. > Offer to drive her to and from doctor appointments or chemo treatments. > If possible, take her somewhere for a weekend away from the house and have a girls’ weekend. > Be a really great listener. Let her cry or laugh with you.

but she took the step and will be forever grateful she did. “The greatest thing about being part of this group is not feeling alone,” said Misurelli, who now often hosts the meetings in her Kenosha home. “By talking with them, I felt there was hope.” For more information about Circle of Hope, e-mail Lisa Castelli at lcastelli2@sbcglobal.net.

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VOLUNTEER OPPORTUNITIES Thinking about donating some of your time or talents to those in need? Consider the following volunteer opportunities in your area.

RSVP RSVP offers adults 55 and older an abundance of opportunities for

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bags. Call Candy Kuehl at (262) 763-6226.

Share Your Talents at Kenosha Achievement Center

Racine Zoological Society Conservation education volunteer: Assist with programs and conduct exhibit interpretation. Call Melissa Davidson at (262) 636-9580.

For more information about RSVP, call Darleen Coleman at (262) 6583508, ext. 115.

KENOSHA Kenosha Area Family and Aging Services Inc. Meals on Wheels — Volunteers deliver meals for homebound people who are elderly, disabled or ill during the noon hour Monday through Friday. Volunteer Escort Driver Program — Volunteer drivers provide rides for elderly and disabled people who need to get to medical appointments, shopping and other essential destinations. Friendly Visitor Program — Volunteers make weekly visits to frail elderly people in their homes to provide companionship and to reduce isolation. Daybreak Program Activity Aide — Volunteers help provide stimulating and enjoyable activities for individuals with Alzheimer’s disease or related dementia while providing a much needed respite for the caregiver. Senior Dining Program — Volunteers assist with set-up, clean-up and serving meals weekdays during the noon time hour. Six site locations throughout Kenosha County. C.A.M.P. — Volunteers help with activities for people with disabilities. For more information about Kenosha Area Family and Aging Services Inc., call Dana at (262) 658-3508, ext. 120 or e-mail volunteer@ kafasi.org or visit www.kafasi.org

People who love to sing for the RSVP Master Chorus

RACINE

PHOTOGRAPH BY BRIAN PASSINO

Maryantoinette “Toni” Diaz of Kenosha, left, visits with Earlean Lambert of Kenosha through the Kenosha Area Family and Aging Services’ Friendly Visitor program. Name: Maryantoinette “Toni” Diaz of Kenosha Age: 65 Organizations for which I volunteer: Kenosha Area Family and Aging Services Inc.’s RSVP program and its Friendly Visitor program Responsibilities include: For RSVP, assisting with bulk mailings. For Friendly Visitor, providing companionship, reducing loneliness and preventing isolation experienced by older adults to improve their quality of life. There also can be shopping, light house chores, letter reading or letter writing involved. Why I volunteer: “I think this (Friendly Visitor program) is something I would like or my mother would have liked when she was living. The visits are something they look forward to. It keeps them going. And I enjoy it.” volunteer service. RSVP places volunteers at dozens of not-for-profit organizations and public agencies throughout Kenosha County, offering both on-going and periodic, one-time assignments. Volunteer opportunities include: Activity assistants in nursing homes, assisted living facilities Bingo help for the Senior Action Council Deliver library carts to inmates at

Kenosha County Jail Drop-in tutors at the Kenosha Literacy Council Greeters at Aurora Medical Center Intergenerational Faires, sharing hobbies and interests with the younger generation Meals on Wheels delivery Mentors for students in kindergarten through second grade

The Racine YMCA Empowering Women’s Center Dress for Sucess/suitings: Women needed to help low-income, abused or homeless women pick out outfits they can wear to job interviews. Call Sandy Bink or Carla Ward at (262) 989-9922. Hand to Hand receptionist: Monitor exchanges and supervised visitation. Call Cherie DeVitt at (262) 633-3274. Shelter crisis line operator: Answer incoming crisis calls. Screen complete intakes, provide information and referral, provide options, support women and children, give information on domestic violence, keep shelter logs and documentation. Call Cherie DeVitt (262) 633-3274. Helper for children’s program: Play games, read stories, do art-and-crafts activities. Call Cherie DeVitt (262) 633-3274. Girl Scouts of Wisconsin Southeast Mailing volunteer: Assist with mailings, copying, collating, labeling, etc. Call Mary Schulz at (262) 598-0909. Ellsworth Correctional Center Tutors: Assist female offenders assigned to school with GED preparation. Tutoring can occur one-on-one or in small groups. Call Margaret Done at (262) 878-6000. Love Inc. Food pantry helpers: Assist customers during food pantry hours, restock shelves, make freezer

Sexual Assault Services Sexual assault advocate: Answer 24-hour crisis line via mobile phone for victims of sexual assault, respond to hospital when a victim presents for a forensic exam; provide crisis intervention, emotional support and referrals. Call Samantha Sustachek at (262) 619-1634. LAKE GENEVA Geneva Lakes YMCA Sports coaches. Call (262) 2486211. Meals on Wheels Meal delivery drivers. Call (262) 741-3157. Geneva Lakes Area United Way Board members. Call (262) 249-1100. Big Brothers Big Sisters of America Big sisters: To mentor for at least a year commitment. Action team members: Members of the community to offer ideas to the board. Board members: Meet monthly to help guide the agency and assis with events. For more information about Big Brothers Big Sisters, call Nancy at (608) 362-8223. If you have a volunteer opportunity you would like to see listed, e-mail information to she@kenoshanews. com. Include the name of the organization, the volunteer opportunity, responsibilities and a contact name and number.

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DEFINING UCCESS A WOMAN OF SUBSTANCE | WOMEN, WISDOM & WEALTH

Paving her own road to success By Jessica Hansen Cynthia L. Murphy can look around her office, with its walls of not-quite periwinkle and bold white trim, and measure success by her 30 years as a lawyer or by the number of people she has helped avoid diabolical divorces. She can measure success with awards; she was named Volunteer of the Year in 1999, the first year the Racine Bar Association offered the honor. Or she can chart her achievements in dollars raised: nearly $70,000 over four years for the Women’s Resource Center in Racine. But as the sun filters through her office, a sliver of silver blue Lake Michigan waving on the horizon, Murphy mostly measures success in showing up every day, having a good attitude and working hard no matter what — even when she was earning $1.60 an hour running Blue Light specials at the K-Mart in Janesville. “I was not raised to be a lawyer. I wasn’t even raised to go to college,” said Murphy, 55, a partner in the law firm of Murphy, Paulson & Murphy in Racine where her cases primarily involve family law. Murphy grew up on a dairy farm in Milton, Wis. Her parents, both 83, still live on that farm, about two hours west of Racine. Murphy left the farm, quite unexpectedly, her senior year at Milton High School after an essay contest prize sent her to Washington, D.C., to study government. When she returned, Murphy got a job at K-Mart, worked as a tutor and studied history at the University of Wisconsin-Whitewater. She switched to law four years later, after she chaperoned another

In her own words

PHOTOGRAPH BY BILL SIEL

Cynthia L. Murphy, 55, a partner in the law firm of Murphy, Paulson & Murphy in Racine, grew up on a dairy farm in Milton, Wis.

A WOMAN OF SUBSTANCE essay contest winner. Murphy wanted to be like the lawyers she met in Washington, so she went to the University of Wisconsin-Madison Law School. “It was the only school I could afford,” she said. Murphy borrowed money for law school and worked two jobs, including one as a clerk for criminal defense attorney Jack McManus. A single, spitfire answer led McManus to hire Murphy, the first woman to join his staff. “He asked, ‘Do you want to be a lawyer or do you want to be a social worker?’ I can’t say the answer

without swearing, but I said, ‘I want to be a lawyer. Why the blank do you think I’m in law school?’ ” Murphy earned $3.50 an hour investigating cases, a cornerstone for her future as a trial lawyer and a constant test of her ingenuity. McManus and his wife, both pilots, would drop Murphy in a town and turn her loose, as they did in Alma, Wis., where Murphy’s work helped acquit an accused murderer in an arson-for-hire plot. “I ran around this little town and talked to the police chief, the minister, the fire department chief. I got them all to vouch for his character, and we won the trial,” Murphy said. Murphy’s pre-trial experience as an investigator proved invaluable in 1978 when she finished law school and joined the Wisconsin Public Defender’s Office.

Name: Cynthia L. Murphy Occupation: Lawyer What would you tell someone you might mentor about your profession? “It’s a very satisfying profession. Since I have my son here and I am mentoring my son, I told him his priority is to be prepared. Be nice to your clients, and return phone calls promptly. And be courteous to the other side.” What advice do you have for living life to the fullest? “That’s hard to put in a sentence or two, but I think it’s important, no matter what job you have, not to make that your whole life. Have outside interests. Otherwise, the job stress will eat you alive. Have hobbies. Have friendships and relationships. And put something into those friendships and relationships.” What gadget could you not live without? “Post-its. Because I put them on everything.” What do you do when no one is looking?

Murphy never had been to Racine when she accepted the job, one of a handful at the state’s first trial office for public defenders. She never stopped learning in her seven years on the job, from mistakenly seeking information about apartments at Racine City News — a porn shop, not a newspaper stand — to her refined ability to calm even the most riotous client. After an estimated 150 jury trials, Murphy left the public defender’s office in 1985 to go into private practice. Murphy jokes that she made the switch because her student loans finally were paid off, but her motives went deeper. In one of her last cases as a public defender, Murphy represented an accused murderer, a man Murphy thought was innocent and a man Murphy believed had been framed. Jurors apparently agreed. The man was acquitted. Afterward, one juror asked Murphy whether the case’s apparently crooked investigator would be going to jail. The case was a clear violation of civil liberties, Murphy said. And it cried out for a federal suit. But state public defenders don’t do federal civil liberties cases. So, Murphy left her job and followed the case. What she found was more time with her children and a fulfillment in her work, helping people navigate the darkest of times, move on and parent their children. “It is gut-wrenching,” said Murphy, married 18 years but divorced from her first husband. “I feel like I’m helping. You do it to make a living, but I couldn’t keep doing it if I wasn’t doing something worthwhile.” That might be her greatest success.

“Probably my neck exercises, get rid of the tension during the day. The older you get, the more the stress catches up with you. And it’s important to pay attention to your body and those signs. Taking a breath is not a bad thing.” What is your favorite word? “A word I use a lot is ‘icky.’ Sounds real lawyerly, right? For example, if I’m talking to my clients, and they’re telling me what their spouse did, I say, ‘That’s icky.’” If given the chance, what would you do differently in your life? “You can always say that you’d pay more attention to your kids when they’re growing up. You’d do more for your kids. Any parent would say that. Most people think they should spend more time with their parents. “As far as my career, certainly there are cases I would have handled differently. There are clients I would have handled differently. I take that to heart if a client isn’t happy. I am a human being. If the representation doesn’t go right, I feel badly.” SHE l JUNE/JULY 2008 l 15

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Dreams can come true By Kristi L. Schaeffer When you hear the word “retirement,” do worry and concern enter your mind? Perhaps you presently are faced with early retirement options. This may lead you to wonder what choices you have with regards to your severance package. Initially, it may seem that you have a significant challenge ahead when it comes to your 401(k) or pension choices. With some careful thought and guidance, you can gain clarity in best managing your needs and goals. To gain control over your financial situation, you need to gain financial confidence. Like many women, the quality of your life may be more important to you than the living you make or bring home. There is undoubtedly an emotional aspect that affects your personal feelings about money and what makes you feel secure. However, financial well-being affects you as a whole person, so it’s very important to assess the big picture and recognize the financial com-

ponent of your life. This means taking a hard look at not only your current budget but also how you would like your assets to be allocated and passed along. Financial needs are unique, and while some can certainly be similar, most women’s goals are different depending on retirement plans. Think about what you want for yourself in the short term. What about the long term? Finally, what are the needs of others in your life’s circle? One woman’s priorities may not be applicable to another. Having a financial reality check is healthy,

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because now more than ever before it is essential for women to take charge of their financial lives. Women’s earnings are growing and longevity stretching, so it’s imperative to have a sound financial game plan. At some point in our lives, between 80 and 90 percent of us will be responsible for making financial decisions for ourselves and our families. Whether you are a new graduate starting your first real job, just getting married, or finally asserting control over your finances for the first time in your life, you need to get your financial house in order. Start by writing down all your bills, debt balances, and the present interest rate along with your monthly payment. Take time to prioritize your debts or seek assistance with them. Next, maximize your workplace benefits such as a retirement savings plan, a 401(k), a 403(b) or a thrift savings plan. From there, you may want to meet with a financial adviser to talk about other tax-advantaged options such

as IRAs versus Roth IRAs on to college savings programs for your children, grandchildren or friends. With new laws, and tax and technical information updates, be sure you qualify for the investing plans you are funding. Antoine de Saint-Exupery once said, “A goal without a plan is just a wish.” That’s why it’s important to have a team approach. Start with a discussion with your financial adviser, attorney and tax adviser to talk about your vision for your future. No matter what financial goals you may have, whether it is to buy or sell a home, educational needs for you or your children or any other unique strategies, by getting your finances organized and having a snapshot of your current financial situation, you can make your dreams a reality. Kristi L. Schaeffer is a certified senior adviser with The Schaeffer Group LLC, 2315 30th Ave., Kenosha. Securities offered through Coordinated Capital Securities Inc., a registered broker/ dealer member FINRA/SIPC.

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Trium Area women find new beginnings at the finish line By Deneen Smith Beth Slater of Racine always has been an athlete. She swam competitively and ran to keep in shape, although she is the first to admit good genes also gave her a boost when it came to keeping thin. After her mother was diagnosed with breast cancer five years ago, Slater decided competing in the Danskin Women’s Triathlon in Pleasant Prairie would be a good way to honor her mother’s fight. Finding the time was not easy. Slater is the mother of four girls, all then under 10. She also was working two jobs. A teacher in Racine, she worked as a waitress on weekends to bring in extra cash. Training meant getting up early and getting her workouts in before the job of being a mom began at the crack of dawn. She often would fit in workouts at 4 a.m. “I just did it all on my own. I read a couple of books and looked at triathlon Web sites where they had training plans,” Slater said. The challenge became more complicated when she fell and broke her wrist several weeks before the competition. Her doctor fitted her with a waterproof cast and agreed to remove it just before the race if she promised to wear a special brace during the triathlon. “I just wanted to finish, and finish in under two hours, and I did,” Slater said. One down and she was hooked. The race gave her a goal in her

Beth Slater, of Racine, will compete in her fifth Danskin triathlon this season. PHOTOGRAPH BY KEVIN POIRIER

SWIM CYCLE RUN

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Anyone can: Triathlon trainer coaches beginners By Deneen Smith

oach Ken Johnson has no doubt that you can complete a triathlon. “I really think that unless there is a serious medical issue, anyone can do this,” said Johnson, who teaches a series of triathlon training courses at the LakeView RecPlex in Pleasant Prairie, including a beginners class to get newcomers to the sport ready for the Danskin Women’s Triathlon. The sprint-length triathlon includes a half-mile swim, a 12.4-mile biking phase and a 3.1-mile run. Johnson thinks the Danskin is a perfect place to start because it has an especially supportive atmosphere, he said. But even if anyone can do it, you can’t do it without preparation. Johnson recommends beginning training at least eight to 12 weeks before an event. The key is coming up with a realistic training plan. You can do that by signing on to a beginners class, working with an experienced friend, hiring a trainer to devise a plan, or reading books or Web sites aimed at those starting in the sport. There are clinics offered by several area trainers and by Triathlon World in Kenosha. Lea Harth of Triathlon World recom-

mends the book “Your First Triathlon,” which includes a 12-week training plan to get ready for a sprint. The biggest danger of training “Getting without working a trainer or started doesn’t with class or doing some research is overhave to be training. Beginners often work too hard expensive: too quickly, causing injuries or getting You can burned out before race day. do it on a Johnson also recommends making shoestring sure you prepare for the swim by budget.” getting into a lake before the race. Most people do all Lea Harth of their training alone Triathlon World in a pool lane. On race day they get into the lake where they can’t see the bottom, and where they are getting bumped by other swimmers “and they freak out,” he said. For his training class, he gets swimmers

into Lake Andrea and makes sure they spend some time swimming in a crowd. Getting started doesn’t have to be expensive, and most experts warn that beginners should avoid investing in expensive equipment for their first race. “You can do it on a shoestring budget,” Harth said. Nearly any bicycle in good repair will do for a first sprint triathlon, just make sure the bike is equipped with a water bottle. A bike helmet is a must, and, according to Harth, it must be Consumer Product Safety Commission compliant. “There are a few things you should absolutely not scrimp on,” Harth said. Chief among those are good running shoes. Harth recommends not only buying a good pair of shoes but making sure they fit properly. Harth and Johnson both recommend investing in a tri suit. There is no time to change from a swimsuit to biking and running gear at the triathlon, and pulling on bike shorts over a wet swimsuit can get mighty uncomfortable. Tri suits are designed for swimming, biking and running, with a pad built into the seat for the bike phase. A pair of goggles and perhaps a hat and you are good to go.

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exercise routine, and played to her competitive spirit. “The second year I wanted to improve my time. I did it, and I kicked some booty. I knocked about 10 minutes off my time.” Along the way, her friends and family became inspired. By her third year, in 2007, she had picked up a group of five women friends who decided if she could do it, they could, too. Slater came up with a training plan, and the women worked together with the Danskin as their goal. “We worked hard. It was a lot of four o’clock in the morning meetings,” she said. One of the women had a pool where they would meet for swim training. They

For Beth Slater, of Racine, becoming a triathlete has boosted her fitness levels and her confidence. PHOTOGRAPH BY KEVIN POIRIER

would plan out routes through the quiet roads of Caledonia for training rides and runs. All of the women who trained together completed the race. This year Slater, now 38, is back at it. Her goal for 2008 is to cut her time to under 1 hour 35 minutes. Becoming a triathlete has given her both a boost to her fitness levels and her confidence, and also given her four daughters a new outlook as well. “They have come to every race,” Slater said. “And for some odd reason no matter how many millions of people are there I can always hear their voices yelling ‘Mom!’” > Page 23

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Lightweight biking helmet must be Consumer Product Safety Commission compliant

Hat shades triathlete from the sun and keeps her cool

Swimming mask allows for peripheral vision and is less likely to be kicked off compared with goggles

Turned out for a great race Tri suit is made of nylon, spandex, polyester for quick drying

Padding in the seat makes bike riding more comfortable

Nutrients must be replaced during a race

Race belt gives triathlete a place for her race number

Leg gripper helps tri suit stay in place

Running socks wick moisture unlike cotton socks that absorb it

No-tie laces save on transition time between disciplines

Shoe construction provides support and comfort

GEAR FROM TRIATHLON WORLD IN KENOSHA

PHOTOGRAPHS BY BRIAN PASSINO

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Finding joy in triathlon Despite its reputation as a center for ice fishing and heavy eating, Wisconsin has become an unexpected hotbed of the triathlon world. Spring through fall, there are triathlons in communities from Pleasant Prairie to Racine, from Kenosha to Lake Geneva, and farther afield into central and northern Wisconsin. During the cold winter months the LakeView RecPlex in Pleasant Prairie holds regular indoor triathlons, athletes competing on stationary bicycles, treadmills and the pool rather than on roads and lakes. Competitors will find races that range from sprint-distance contests like the Danskin, to a grueling Ironman race in Madison. The races — with their challenging combination of swimming, biking and running — have provided an inspiration and a challenge to thousands of women, from dedicated athletes looking

Janet Eppers, of Beach Park, Ill., trains for her second triathlon at the RecPlex in Pleasant Prairie.

to push themselves physically to onceupon-a-time channel-surfers like Janet Eppers who have used the sport as leverage to make a lifestyle change. Eppers remembers the first moment she considered running a triathlon, mostly because it was the last moment she thought she should be thinking about running a triathlon. Then in her late 50s, Eppers had decided on something of a whim to run a 5k race in Zion, Ill. Her son was a runner and she had gone to watch a race. She saw that some of the people participating were not particularly thin and not particularly young. So despite the fact that her exercise habits of the past 10 years consisted largely of watching television, she decided to give it a try. “I ran a race in November and I came in last. More than last,” she said. Afterward, Eppers said, she was at the finish line berating herself about her performance when she had a chance encounter. “Ken, Coach Ken, he just happened to be there and he heard me

PHOTO BY KEVIN POIRIER

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Types of triathlons

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Triathlons consist of swimming, biking and running, but the races come in many flavors, with distances that range from doable to amateurs to the truly Herculean. Although there is some variation in race distances, especially in short triathlons, most conform to the standards. Super Sprint: swim 400 meters (0.25 miles) bike 10 kilometers (6.2 miles) run 2.5 kilometers (1.5 miles) Sprint: swim 750 meters ( 0.5 miles) bike 20 kilometers (12.4 miles) run 5 kilometers (3.1 miles) Olympic: swim 1.5 kilometers (0.93 miles) bike 40 kilometers (24.8 miles) run 10 kilometers (6.2 miles) Half-Ironman: swim 1.9 kilometers (1.2 miles) bike 90 kilometers (56 miles) run 21.09 kilometers (13.1 miles)

Beth Slater trains for a run. PHOTOGRAPH BY KEVIN POIRIER

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talking to myself, saying ‘Wow, this isn’t very good. Why am I so bad at this?”’ she said. “And he came up and said, ‘You should do a triathlon. I think you could do it.’” Coach Ken Johnson trains triathletes at the RecPlex, and his line-up includes a beginners class. He encouraged Eppers to join, saying there would be an indoor triathlon at the RecPlex in a few weeks, a race that would take her 5k run and add a 12.4-mile bike ride and a half-mile swim to the total. It seemed an outrageous proposal for someone who just limped through her first 5k. But Eppers is a spunky woman, and she took his suggestion as a challenge. “So I actually did it. That was Thanksgiving 2006,” Eppers said. “I came in last. Then I got down to serious business.” Now 60 years old, Beach Park, Ill., resident Eppers has finished several triathlons, including the Danskin in Pleasant Prairie. She has become a dedicated exerciser. And although she would never describe herself as a serious athlete, she said triathlons have seriously changed her life. Back in 2006, she said, she couldn’t run from her mailbox to her front door without gasping for air. Now when she goes for a walk she often breaks into a run just for the fun of it. “I am fairly short and not thin. I’m not what you think of as a runner. I’m not. And you don’t have to be,” Eppers said. “That’s the joy of triathlon.”

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Liking herself again Kim Bartlett, 35, of Racine, was a mother of young children when she began contemplating her first triathlon four years ago. And like Slater, she had spent her high school years as a competitive swimmer. But over the years she stopped exercising, and she struggled mightily with her weight. In 2004 she was a newly divorced single mother of a 5-year-old boy and 10-year-old daughter. She had financial problems and she was depressed. “I went through a divorce and that was a life-changing experience,” Bartlett said. “I thought, ‘What do I want to do?’ I decided I wanted to like myself again. And I didn’t like myself at 300 pounds.” Bartlett enrolled in a weight-loss challenge through her employer, All Saints Healthcare, where she works as a music therapist. She lost 20 pounds through the program. Hooked, she began setting weight-loss goals for herself, and within a year she lost 80 pounds. “My children volunteered at the Spirit of Racine, which is a half-Ironman triathlon,” Bartlett said. She went with them to the race and was intrigued. “I thought, ‘Huh, that would be a good goal.’” She researched triathlons on the Internet and began to train on her own. Money was still an issue, so she planned and budgeted carefully for the expenses. Her father gave her an old 1980s Trek bicycle, and she had it tuned up. She joined a training team centered around Triathlon World, a store in Kenosha that caters to the sport. She didn’t have fancy equipment, just an old bike, a swimsuit and a pair of shorts. For a woman whose life had for years revolved around being a mother, finding time to focus on her own goals was a revelation. “What I found was an adult world away from kids with triathlon,” Bartlett said. “I found a world of people who were just so wonderful.” Triathletes will tell you that unlike other competitive sports, triathlons are all about supporting fellow athletes. During races, competitors often will stop to help people who are struggling, or come back to the finish line after finishing themselves to cheer on those still crossing the line. In that world, Bartlett found her confidence growing along with her strength and endurance, and more weight fell away. She set an ambitious goal for herself for her first time out, the High Cliff half-Ironman in Verona, Wis., in 2005. Since that first race Bartlett has completed six half-Ironman competitions, often winning

In the last four years Kim Bartlett of Racine has lost a significant amount of weight and gained a love for triathlons. PHOTOGRAPH BY BRIAN PASSINO

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or placing in her division, and now she is training for a full Ironman, the toughest race in the sport. There is little about her life now that resembles her life of five years ago. She trains each day, getting up early so she can fit in her workouts before her children Though competitive, Kim Bartlett, of Racine, wake up in the appreciates the support triathletes morning, and she give each other. often trains again in the evening PHOTOGRAPH BY BRIAN PASSINO when her schedule permits. Her son has gotten into the game. Now 9 years old, he will compete in a kids’ triathlon this year. She has met new friends, and a new partner, too, triathlete Jake Rhodes. > Page 27

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HIGH CLIFF TRIATHLON Where: Sherwood When: June 22 What: sprint distance and half-Ironman THE SPIRIT OF RACINE Where: Racine’s lakefront When: July 19-20 What: three races: a women’s only sprint, the Blue Wave Sprint, and the Spirit of Racine half-Ironman LAKE GENEVA TRIATHLON SERIES Where: Lake Geneva When: Sept. 6 What: super sprint, sprint, olympic and half-Ironman FORD IRONMAN WISCONSIN Where: Madison When: Sept. 7 What: Ironman distance

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Rhodes plans to compete in the Ford Ironman Triathlon in Madison this September. Bartlett has her sights set on the same race next year. She will compete in three halfIronman competitions this summer. “I just go out there for my own sake, for my own challenge,” Bartlett said. When she thinks back to that first race, she remembers that it was more difficult than she had imagined, but magical too. “I was slow. It was hard. But it was so empowering,” Bartlett said. “The whole time I was out there I was in pain, and during the run people were passing me right and left. But I told myself, ‘I am out here. I just lost 100 pounds. How many people can say that? Just finish the race.’ “And I did.”

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Name: Lauren Murphy Payne of Racine. A little about me: I am a 50-something professional woman. I recently got married to my sweetheart of the last 12 years. I have two grown sons — both of whom are brilliant and exceptional. My older son lives and works in Racine. My younger son is in basic training for the National Guard at Fort Sill, Okla. I have been a psychotherapist in private practice for the last 25 years and own my own practice, Lauren Murphy Payne & Associates in Racine. The music on my iPod is: a very eclectic combination of all the music that has been important to me in my lifetime — from the 1960s through today. I even have a couple of downloads from this season of “American Idol” (I’m an The swing AI junkie). Every song elicits precious memories, sensations, smiles and even in Lauren sometimes tears from events and imporMurphy tant times of my life. Of course I know Payne’s the words to every one and sing along backyard is with all of them. her favorite The movie I love to watch over and place. over again is: “Gone With the Wind.” I haven’t seen it in several years, but I have seen it more than a dozen times. I don’t really know what it is about that stores that I go to for those supplies. But I love things story that so appeals to me. I have read for organizing, and if they have a little lace or ribbon on the book more times than I’ve seen the movie! I used to them, so much the better. be able to recite the entire first page from memory (well, When I’m trying to impress my significant other that was many years ago). When I was young, my family I make sure to stop at _________ to pick up: I’m not traveled to most of the Civil War battlefields, so perhaps sure I’ve ever tried to impress my significant other! Was that influenced me. Also, it tells the story of a strong I supposed to do that? Oops, sorry honey . . . woman at a time when women were not supposed to be If I had a day with no responsibilities I would strong. I have always been a fan of strong women. spend it: doing exactly what I want to do every second The book on my bedside table is: I long ago had of the day. And I wouldn’t decide what that would be to give up keeping one book on my bedside table. I am even a minute beforehand. I love to have the freedom a book-aholic, and so one book turned into two, which to go with the idea and need of the moment. When I turned into a dangerous avalanche. I am never reading am scheduled all day, every day, just one book at a time, so I had to I can feel quite claustrophobic. get a basket to put at the bedside. My perfect day would include The book at the top of the mounsleeping late, a long, slow cup of tain today is Joan Borysenko’s “A coffee, lunch with my sweetheart Woman’s Journey to God,” which is a and/or family, going antiquing very lovely book that I read again and or boutique shopping, napping with my dogs and cats again and get something different from it each time. The piece of clothing and pair of shoes I’ll never (they are expert nappers — as am I), and then spending a quiet evening at home. part with are: The piece of clothing I’ll never part with The room in my house that makes me feel most is something I’ve never worn. It is a gown my mother centered is: not a room in my house. My most centermade out of her wedding dress for me to baptize my ing place is the wooden swing in my back yard. It sits babies in. I have a picture of her in the dress with its under a huge, old, oak tree in which there is a giant beautiful train, and I have the gown that she designed, wind chime. I love to sit and listen to the tunes that the cut and sewed. It is a treasure to me and an heirloom wind makes up. I read there, journal and re-connect that I will pass down through my family. I don’t get with myself. Many of the important struggles of my life terribly attached to my own clothes or shoes. If I don’t in the last 20 years have been weathered under that wear them I usually toss them. When I go to a store with bath, body and beauty old tree. I even put on my snuggies in winter and go sit out there just to get my “fix.” When I can’t get outside, items I always buy: beautiful hangers and boxes and though, my favorite room is my living room. baskets. I’m really a creature of habit about the prodWhen I have out-of-town visitors I like to take ucts I use for bath, body and beauty, so I have specific

MY FAVORITE THINGS

them to: the lakefront. I think we are fantastically lucky to live in such a view of Mother Nature’s glory. During the warm weather months we often take folks out onto the lake boating. The most important item in my purse is: My mini journal. In it I keep track of thoughts, ideas, people and anything I think of while I’m not at home so I won’t forget once I get home. My memory isn’t what it used to be for the little details of life, so I need a bit of help now and then. I’d be lost without: my family. When I was younger it seemed to me that accumulating “things” was very important. I often spent time thinking about the next thing I would get and how happy I’d be when I’d gotten it. Then I would get it and find that almost as soon as I got it I was on to thinking about the next thing I just had to have. I don’t think there is any “thing” I’d be lost without, but my family is a different story. I’m so lucky to have my husband, children and my parents in my life. Whenever I spend time with any of them I realize all over again how blessed I am. I try never, ever to take that time for granted because we never really know how much time we’ll have, and things can change so quickly. The best advice I ever received is: No one ever said on their deathbed, “I wish I’d spent more time at work,” which to me means: Keep work in perspective and life in balance. This is certainly not always easy, and, I think as a woman and working mother, there are always many “invitations” to get out of balance. I think trying to keep focused on the truly important things in life helps me sort out the “have to’s” and “shoulds” from the “want to’s” and “needs.” For me, it is and always will be a work in progress.

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PHOTOGRAPH BY KEVIN POIRIER

MY FAVORITE THINGS Name: Laura Zappitelli of Lake Geneva A little about me: My husband and I have five daughters ranging in age from 11 to 20, with three teenagers in between. I am a graphic artist, and I run my own business out of my house. My hobbies include traveling, painting, biking, going to various kid activities, singing in the church choir and being an occasional “rock star” in a local band. The music on my iPod is: Quite eclectic. Being a true music junkie, my iPod is typically on shuffle and the genres include: alternative, metal, classical, Celtic, Christian, folk, a little country rock, and rock. At this moment, my favorite “new” music is R.E.M’s latest CD, “Accelerate.” What fun it is to hear an amazing band go back to their roots. A driving bass line, edgy guitar and lyrics that make you think… there is nothing better! The movie I love to watch over and over again is: It is difficult to pick only one, but I would have to say “The Princess Bride.” In our house, girls severely outnumber the boys, so a princess movie with funny, sarcastic and outrageous characters definitely fits the bill. The book on my bedside table is: Seventeen hours of traveling home from our most recent vacation gave me quite a bit of time to read. There is nothing left on my bedside table. I just finished “The Pillars of the Earth” by Ken Follett, which I really enjoyed. Another book I recently finished is “The Island” by Victoria Hislop. The piece of clothing and pair of shoes I’ll never part with are: My University of Iowa jacket which I have had since I was in high school. I still wear it in the garden on a cold day. I will never part with my bright green, stiletto heeled boots. When I go to a store with bath, body and beauty items I always buy: Eye shadow and eyeliner. I love trying out different shades and colors, just for fun. Any lotions with the scents of coconut and lime usually end up in my basket as well. When I’m trying to impress my significant other I make sure to stop at RigaTony’s and our wine locker to pick up: spicy Italian sausage and a Silver Oak cabernet. If I had a day with no responsibilities I would spend it: I would go biking. Next I would spend the day at Boerner Gardens painting. I would go to an early dinner at the Coquette Café in Milwaukee and finally spend the evening at band practice, singing my heart out. The room in my house that makes me feel most centered is: The library. This room with its deep red walls, floor-to-ceiling books, fireplace and a cozy loveseat is the perfect place for a cup of tea and a good book … or a weekend nap. When I have out-of-town visitors I like to take them to: Some of my favorite haunts are: Northwinds Perennial Garden, the Fontana Beach, a walk along Geneva Lake, Geneva National for golfing and Hunt Club for dinner. The most important item in my purse is: My iPhone. It is my calendar and my link to family, friends and my business. I’d be lost without: My faith, my family, my friends and my music. The best advice I ever received is: My neighbor gave this to me and it is apropos to where I am now. Every time I want to pull my hair out with the teenage daughters I try to remember…“The only thing harder than being the parent of a 15-year-old girl, is being the 15-year-old girl.”

Laura Zappitelli enjoys her library, with its deep red walls, floor-toceiling books, fireplace and a cozy loveseat.

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Name: Latifa Musleh of Kenosha A little about me: I am a Muslim American and I’ve been living in Kenosha for the last 10 years. I’m a mother of three wonderful children. I’m also a grandmother of a 4-year-old boy, Isaac. As for my job, I’m a floral manager at two Piggly Wiggly locations, and I also teach floral design at the University of Wisconsin-Parkside and at the Kenosha Public Museum. I love to walk by the lake, read and create unique floral arrangements. The music on my iPod is: Old American love songs, they remind me of how things used to be. My favorite song is Tina Turner’s “I Will Survive.” It has a special meaning to me. I also enjoy Arabic music because it reminds me of Palestine and the family I have there. The movie I love to watch over and over again is: “Remember the Titans.” It warms my heart to see people overcome major differences and break through years of racial hatred, resentment and segregation. My favorite scene: Let him in, he’s my brother, can’t you see the family resemblance? It never fails to bring tears to my eyes. The book on my bedside table is: “The Measure of a Man” by Sidney Poitier. The piece of clothing and pair of shoes I’ll never part with are: I don’t get attached to things; it’s a waste of emotions. When I go to a store with bath, body and beauty items I always buy: I buy lotion and scented candles. When I’m trying to impress my significant other I make sure to stop at __________ to pick up: I don’t have a significant other, but if I did he would always be impressed simply by having me in his life. If I had a day with no responsibilities I would spend it: I’d watch a movie, read and take a walk by the lake. The room in my house that makes me feel most centered is: My bedroom. When I have out-of-town visitors I like to take them to: The museum and walk by the lake. The most important item in my purse is: My wallet. I’d be lost without: My faith because it guides me and defines me. The best advice I ever received is: Set realistic goals and upgrade as you achieve.

MY FAVORITE THINGS

5/14/2008 11:19:37 AM

Embracing change

PHOTOGRAPHS BY BRIAN PASSINO

Kathryn Peperkorn has a shorter, layered cut with a dark red color.

MAKEOVER MAGIC By Kris Kochman

athryn Peperkorn, 38, had been growing out her short, brown hair for about six months before the makeover. The mother of four children ages 4 months to 7 years, she leads an active life as a private

Laura Tucker’s new hairstyle is a shoulderlength layered bob.

Change doesn’t always come easily, particularly when our appearance is involved. Sometimes life is handing us enough new challenges: a new baby, a new job. We don’t need to adjust to a different version of ourselves in the mirror. But three Kenosha women recently decided to embrace change when offered the chance for voice teacher and singer with the Florentine Opera Chorus in Milwaukee. Updating her hairstyle wasn’t a priority last fall and winter as she balanced a busy work schedule with her growing family.

Linda Seymour likes the lighter highlights and the warm brown color of her new style.

makeovers at Ruffolo’s Hair Studio, 3519 52nd St., Kenosha. One parted with about 10 inches of her waist-length hair. Another agreed to try a bold new cut and color. A third finally heeded the advice of her teenage daughter and covered her gray locks. Their makeover experiences might inspire other women to take a chance on change.

Peperkorn told stylists Kristin Murphy and Terri Grice she was ready for a change and would let them do whatever they wanted in terms of cut and color. The stylists collaborated to create a shorter, layered cut for

Peperkorn and a dark red color, accented by golden highlights near her face. Peperkorn expressed a little reservation about going to a > Page 34 SHE l JUNE/JULY 2008 l 33

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> Makeover, from 33

dark red hair color, but trusted Murphy’s assurance it would bring attention to her blue eyes. “I’m so happy I did this,” Peperkorn said after her makeover. She liked the versatility of the cut, which could be worn in a soft, face-framing style, or shaped into a more textured look with hair products. Grice, a co-owner of the hair studio, used a comb-and-razor-cut technique toward the back of Peperkorn’s hair that gave it “a lot of movement and separation,” she said.

aura Tucker, produces and anchors the Kenosha News’ Weekday Report newscast. She hadn’t had a significant haircut in about seven years and was ready to part with her waist-length locks in favor of a short, contemporary style. “I want it to be fabulous — do whatever you think,” she told Murphy. Instead of the short cut Tucker envisioned, Murphy suggested a shoulder-length, layered bob. She said it would better suit Tucker, who looks younger than her 46 years. And Tucker would have

the option of cutting her hair even shorter later, after she adapted to the shoulder-length cut. Tucker had last worn her hair short when her now 11-year-old son was a baby. She closed her eyes as Murphy snipped off her long lengths, which she donated to the Locks of Love program to help create wigs for children with cancer. Tucker describes her personal style as a “hippie chick.” She said she was ready for a look that’s a little more glamorous but still down to earth. As Murphy layered the shoulder-length cut with a razor to add movement, Tucker was surprised to see how much fuller her hair appeared. Murphy compared the cut to a style worn by Posh Spice (Victoria Beckham). Subtle highlights and a warmer shade of brown color transformed her natural, medium-brown color. Murphy said she considers the clients’ “lifestyle, career, job and time” when working with them to create a new look.

inda Seymour, 43, works part-time as a hospital pharmacist > Page 36

Laura Tucker holds locks of her long hair after it was cut by stylist Kristin Murphy.

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Make-up artist Nia Rivera applies Linda Seymour’s eye makeup.

Makeover make-up artists keep it natural As for makeup, Ruffolo’s Hair Studio stylist Kristin Murphy and make-up artist Nia Rivera, a salon associate, collaborated to create natural looks for Laura Tucker, Linda Seymour and Kathryn Peperkorn. All three women have blue or blue-green eyes, which are best highlighted with neutral, earth-tone shades, Rivera said. Peperkorn had the most dramatic hair color, and Murphy used a bit of gold shimmer on her eyelids to bring out the gold in her hair. She chose a light, rose-colored lipstick for Peperkorn, and a more sheer gloss with neutral lipstick for the other two women. “I think eyes are what people look at,” Murphy said. For an evening look, she would make the colors just a touch darker, but stick with a neutral palette. None of the women wears much makeup in everyday life, and they seemed pleased by how their appearance was enhanced using soft pastel and earth tones to even out their complexions and draw attention to their eyes. Terri Grice layers Linda Seymour’s fine, straight hair after coloring it.

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want to end up drawing more attention to gray roots. The and is an independent consulsolution: Lighter highlights intant for Stampin’ Up, which ofterspersed with a warm brown fers decorative stamp sets and hair color. accessories for greeting cards, As the color grows out, the scrapbooking, craft projects and gray hair blends in with the home decor. She has five chillighter-colored highdren ages 3 to 16. lights. Grice said a She said her 16-year- “I like how one-hour color touchold daughter has been up would be needed nagging her for a long warm it about every six weeks; time to color the gray a full color process a strands creeping into looks. I look few times per year. her dark brown hair. Grice layered SeySeymour said she younger.” mour’s fine, straight has been in a rut, hair and added Linda Seymour wearing her hair in volume toward the basically the same crown. She trimmed style for the past 20 years. her bangs and swept them Before the makeover, her hair toward her brow. was about two inches longer She showed Seymour how to than shoulder length, layered curl her hair with the curling and curled with a curling iron. iron for the new style. Another She last had a permanent wave option involves using a curved about 18 months ago. hair straightener to achieve a Grice said Seymour was on more relaxed look. Coloring her the right track with her current hair added texture — which style, but the look could be means Seymour might find improved to better highlight less need to use a curling iron, her face. Grice noted. First, she talked with SeySeymour was thrilled with mour about hair color. Seymour her first attempt at hair color. said she had put off coloring “I like how warm it looks,” she the gray because she didn’t said. “I look younger.” > Makeover, from 34

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Furnished to sell Impress home buyers with welcoming accessories By Kris Kochman It often is said that you can’t take it with you. But sometimes you can … at least when moving to a new house. As home sellers struggle to compete in this tough real estate market, two area Realtors offered suggestions on extra touches that can make the difference in impressing would-be buyers. Instead of dropping their price by thousands of dollars, sellers might be able to show off their homes by spending several hundred dollars upgrading with new furnishings that they’ll take with them when they move. “Set a budget: $500, $1,000,” suggested Sue Causey, broker associate with Coldwell Banker in Racine. It could be money well spent to purchase new bed linens, bath towels, tablecloths and even dishes. If bath towels or bedding are mismatched or worn, they can create a negative first impression, she said. “New bed linens can make a bedroom look completely different,” she said. “A red tea kettle on the stove gives it some pizzazz.” If your budget allows, consider splurging on a new tablecloth and a set of dishes, and set the dining room table when prospective buyers are expected. Fresh flowers or a bowl of fruit add a nice touch. “Flowers are the jewelry, the accessories on the outfit,” Causey said. “You want to put on your Sunday best.” A clean, clutter-free home sets the stage for the new accessories. Causey said the front door “really needs to look spectacular.” It’s part of the all-important first impression. Diana Dahlberg with One Month Realty

HOME & GARDEN

Trying to sell your home? Why not set your dining room table as if guests are coming for Sunday dinner. A new tablecloth and napkins are an inexpensive way to add warmth and color.

> Page 38

Consider buying a few pillows to improve the look of your bedroom. Inviting décor welcomes potential buyers and encourages them to picture themselves living in your home.

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> Sell, from 37

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might be worthwhile to hire a lawn service. in Kenosha said most buyers And the exterior sets up the make a snap judgment the first expectation for what the home time they see a home’s exterior. looks like inside. “Curb appeal is very impor“Whatever the buyer sees tant,” she said. “Make sure outside, they’re going to expect the lawn is that or better well-manicured, inside,” she said. “Curb appeal is not cluttered, Other tips any painting is from the Realvery important. done.” tors: “Stand across > Well-lit Make sure the lawn homes the street, look look invitat your house,” ing. is well-manicured, she suggested. > Open blinds Don’t be the and drapes. not cluttered, any only house on > Consider the block withusing 100-watt painting is done.” out flowers just light bulbs to because you’ll be brighten things Diana Dahlberg moving. up even more. Realtor Consider fillIt’s also a good ing pots with idea to appeal colorful annual to the senses with pleasant flowers that you take along afscents. Causey favors a light ter selling the house. Even fake citrus scent; Dahlberg likes flowers add a nice shot of color vanilla or baked cookies. among perennials. Pets can be a big turn-off. “Summer’s a wonderful It’s best to take them to visit a time to be (home) shopping,” friend while the home is being Dahlberg said, adding that a shown. well-manicured yard can yield “Making sure your home is as much as $5,000 more on the in tip-top condition has never home’s price. If you’re not up been more important,” Causey to doing the work yourself, it said.

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HOW TO

Plan the perfect picnic By Terry Flores

PHOTOGRAPH BY KATHLEEN TROHER

One of southeastern Wisconsin’s most picturesque picnic destinations is Library Park overlooking Geneva Lake.

Whether at the beach, a park or even in your own back yard, picnics can be a wonderful way to bask in the sunshine, take in nature and enjoy time outdoors with family and friends. When Kenosha County Circuit Court Judge Mary Kay Wagner isn’t at the bench, she’s often picnicking at the beach or enjoying some community-style outings. “There’s nothing like the picnic at Kemper with their jazz series,” she said, speaking fondly of the music offered at Kemper Center, the Kenosha County Park along Third Avenue. Wagner and her husband, Don Moldenhauer, especially love Kenosha’s lakefront parks where natural beauty abounds. “If we’re not having the big crowd then Don and I will take our bikes and we’ll go down along the lake where the red pines are in that sort of elevated area,” she said. “It’s just the best spot.” Other picnic sites she and her husband have visited include Petrifying Springs on highways 31 and A in Somers and the cultural hub that is Ravinia Festival in Highland Park., Ill., where they’ve seen some creative and rather upscale versions of the pastime. “Oh, there are some interesting ones. Some people have candelabras, and you get some ideas watching them,” she said. “There you get inspired > Page 42

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Salad travels well MOOSEBERRY SALAD 8 cups mixed greens 1 pound grilled chicken breast strips 1 cup chopped pecans 1 1/2 cups dried cranberries 1 cup either crumbled feta cheese or shredded cheddar cheese croutons (enough to top salad) This picnic salad recipe comes from Shannon Adamczyk, who owns Savannah’s Cabin Café, 7623 Sheridan Road in Kenosha, with her husband, Sean. Mooseberry Salad is on the menu there, but Shannon kindly shared the recipe so readers can PHOTOGRAPH BY KEVIN POIRIER make it at home. Shannon Adamczyk’s “This is a nice, crisp salad that travels well in a Mooseberry Salad features cooler,” Shannon said. “It’s sure to impress your grilled chicken, cheese, picnic guests.” cranberries, pecans and Some tips from Shannon: croutons among the > I prefer a mixture of Romaine and iceberg letgreens. tuce because it makes the salad crisp. > If you’re going to grill your own chicken breast, just sprinkle with salt, pepper, garlic powder and onion powder or your favorite seasoning mixture. Grill until done, then cut into strips. If you’re strapped for time, you can cheat and buy the pre-made grilled chicken breast strips. > When the recipe calls for dried cranberries, Craisins are fantastic. > In order to avoid that “soggy cheese syndrome” don’t add the cheese until just before you’re ready to serve. You can pack it separately in your cooler. > As for the croutons, I make my own. You need just a little butter spray, garlic powder, onion powder and black pepper on cubed bread spread on a cookie sheet. Bake at 350 degrees for about 30 minutes. > Raspberry vinaigrette tastes great on top or on the side. Once again, pack it separately and add it before serving. It holds up well in warmer weather.

Best picnic spots KENOSHA (AND KENOSHA COUNTY) Simmons Island Beach: 5001 Simmons Island Drive, Kenosha Southport Beach: 7825 First Ave., Kenosha Eichelman Park Beach: 6125 Third Ave., Kenosha Kemper Center: 6501 Third Ave., Kenosha Prairie Springs Park and Lake Andrea: 9900 Terwall Terrace, Pleasant Prairie Old Settlers Park: on Highway 50, seven miles west of Interstate 94, Paddock Lake Silver Lake Park: on Highway F, one mile south of Highway 50, Salem Bong State Recreation Area: 26313 Burlington Road, Brighton Fox River Park: on Highway F, just east of Highway W, Salem Bristol Woods Park: on Highway MB, south of Highway C, Bristol Brighton Dale Park and Golf Course: just orth of intersection of highways 75 and 142, Brighton Petrifying Springs: on Highway A, just east of Highway 31, Somers RACINE (AND RACINE COUNTY) Harbor Overlook: Christopher Columbus Causeway, Racine Cliffside Park: 7320 Michna Road, Racine Quarry Lake Park: 3540 Northwestern Ave., Racine The Root River Parkway: 3630 Rapids Court, Racine Pritchard Park: 2800 Ohio St., Racine Sanders Park: 4809 Wood Road, Racine Col. Heg Park: 6300 Heg Park Road, Wind Lake Eagle Lake: 23705 Church Road, Kansasville Fischer Park: 3326 Durand Ave., Burlington Bushnell Park: 32100 Bushnell Road, Burlington Margis Park: 7516 Fish Hatchery Road, Burlington Case-Eagle Park: 310 S. Rochester St, Rochester Wadewitz Park: 2716 Buena Park Road, Rochester LAKE GENEVA Library Park: 918 W. Main St. Flat Iron Park: Center Street and Wrigley Drive Big Foot Beach State Park: 1550 S. Lake Shore Drive

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Picnic accessories will burst with vibrant colors this year from the sophisticated moss greens and burgundies to the friendly yellows, reds and oranges, said Amy Cafazzo, a style expert for Marshalls. “The whole season is exploding with color, so why not bring that into your picnic?” Cafazzo said. While neutrals have been the norm, patterns big this year include plaids and floral prints

in everything from glasses to plates to cups to tablecloths. “What you’ll see is brightly colored acrylics with vibrant colors,” she said. “The more color the better.” You don’t have to ditch neutrals, either. “There are definitely neutrals out there too if you’d rather add the color elsewhere,” she said. Many people who have neutrals can add accents with bright colors. “You don’t have to get rid of

it all, but you can pair them up,” she said. Other good things to have are a picnic basket, utensils, corkscrews and bottle openers. Hand towels are a good idea too for those unexpected cleanups. Picnic sets are environmentally friendly as well. “You can reuse all of it,” she said. Accessories are available at Marshalls at 5914 75th St. in Kenosha and at TJ Maxx, 2310 S. Green Bay Road in Racine.

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by the elaborateness.” Picnics have been a part of Wagner’s life since her childhood growing up in Brighton where she and her siblings and friends would pack up lunches and head for League Lake. Those experiences ignited what would be a lifelong passion for the outdoors. “I just think it’s nice to have the freedom of not being confined but being outside, being able to laze around and look at the sky, watch the clouds and the shapes, like when you were a kid,” she said. “The other thing is, Don and I are big kite flyers, and we often take kites with us. And you can’t very well do that in your living room.” Flying kites is just one of the activities adults and children can enjoy at Richard Bong State Recreation Area, 26313 Burlington Road in Kansasville. Bong naturalist Beth Goeppinger said there’s no end to the activities for families who make picnicking a whole day affair. The south end of the park next to Beach Hill is the best spot for kite flying, and there is a nearby baseball field for those who

prefer a pick-up game. Fishing at the beach (remember to purchase a license before going if you’re 16 and older) is another activity she recommended. Bait is available at the park. A state park sticker is $7 daily and $25 annually for residents displaying Wisconsin license plates. That’s all that is required to enter. In June you can find wild strawberries at Bong, and July is the time for wild blackberries. They’re free for the picking at Bong, and children are encouraged to explore animal habitats — so they should bring butterfly nets, jars and creature cages, Goeppinger said. “They can catch the tadpoles, frogs and snakes, but they have to return them all before they leave,” she said. Goeppinger advised visitors to be aware of wood ticks this time of year, and to bring insect repellents to ward them away. Sunscreen and hats are also must-haves. And less trash is better for the environment. “One of the things we’re highly recommending is doing a ‘green picnic’ and bringing things that you don’t have to throw away,” she said.

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UNDERSTANDING THE EXES SHE AND HE She and He offers readers a glimpse into the male perspective. To participate in She and He, please e-mail she@ kenoshanews.com with your names and contact information.

Names: Steven Paul and Janice Tindall of Kenosha Number of years of marriage: 37 as of June 26 Number of children: 2 Number of grandchildren: 8 Who’s the boss in your relationship? Janice: I let him think he is Boss. That saves on the discussions. Steve: Neither of us. We discovered years ago that each of us brings unique strengths to our relationship and therefore we try to agree on everything. That often requires a degree of give and take, but it works.

would come to mind. Steve: An Australian sheep dog. She’s loyal, skilled, affectionate and always trying to keep the “herd” (family) together.

in the dictionary as I can and using them in proper context. I also read a lot, so I know a lot of meaningless and worthwhile trivia. “Use of commas for $500, Alex.”

Describe what your spouse did the last time you rolled your eyes over his/her behavior. Janice: He’s always doing things that make me roll my eyes. We always jokingly tell him he’s never embarrassed because we (the family) are embarrassed enough for him. Steve: Tonight. She bought some new maple syrup and, unbeknownst to me, removed the cap. I shook it up. It brought a whole new meaning to “maple wood cabinets.”

What’s the one thing your spouse thinks he/she can fix but you know he/she can’t? Janice: His computer skills are unrivaled, but when it comes to household projects he is lost. I usually say, “I need your muscle so just follow my lead.” But that doesn’t mean he doesn’t have an opinion. Steve: How to use electronics. They have always been somewhat of a mystery to her but come naturally to me. We have a home stereo system that frequently causes her grief, trying to figure out what goes on, what can stay off, and how they work together.

Would your spouse perform better on “Dancing with the Stars,” “Survivor” or “Jeopardy!”? Janice: He is a very intelligent person and likes to use $5 words. Not “Dancing with the Stars.” People used to ask if my hubby danced, and I would always reply: “I would prefer he didn’t.” But when we used to western dance he did great. Steve: “Survivor.” She is the poster child for “when life serves you lemons, make lemonade.” She can and will do whatever is necessary to make things work out, regardless of the personal cost.

What do you love most about your spouse? What’s the glue that holds you Janice: He is tall with broad together? shoulders. He makes me feel safe Janice: We tell everyone in his arms. And even if we have a we grew up together. I’m from difference in opinion he is always Wisconsin and he’s from New York. there for me when the need While he was in the Navy we only arises. He is available to his family, had each other to lean on with our children and grandchildren. YOU PHOTOGRAPH BY SEAN KRAJACIC families being so far away. CAN COUNT ON HIM! Are Janice and Steve Tindall two of a kind? Steve: Our commitment to each Steve: That she loves me. I can other. No matter what life throws in our of hers? Are you kidding? I have be extremely focused (she calls Steve: A cat. Warm, snuggly and path we remain true to each other. the fashion sense of a rock. it tunnel vision) and obtuse, and affectionate, but not afraid to bare am frequently a closet comedian (I How would you answer the her claws when necessary. If you could replace one piece When you think of your spouse, question above about yourself? believe that humor can fix almost of clothing from your spouse’s How do you think your spouse what animal comes to mind? anything). I have more than my Janice: I don’t think I’d do well wardrobe what would it be? would answer the previous Janice: The only one that it share of flaws, but through it all it still on any of them. I’m more of a Janice: His snow pants — they question about himself/herself? quiet person. could be is a tiger. He has a real melts my heart when she smiles at are so 1970s! Janice: I think he’d pick a tiger fondness for them. He is cuddly me with that look of love in her eyes. Steve: “Jeopardy!” I make a Steve: Me? Replace something but strong. because that’s the first thing that point out of using as many words Always has, always will.

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New Glarus: Stop & shop in this Swiss settlement

When visiting New Glarus, fill your picnic basket with food and other goodies from Maple Leaf Cheese and Chocolate Haus.

sandwiches, reubens, hamburgers, chicken breasts and other less-ethnic fare. Whatever you order, wash it down with some beer from the Don’t have the time or cash for hometown brewery that’s made it a trip to Switzerland? Why not do big, New Glarus Brewery Co. the next best thing if you live in If picnics are your thing, there Wisconsin: Head to New Glarus. are a couple places you should Nowhere are the state’s deep stop for fixin’s. First, head over European roots more alive than to Maple Leaf Cheese and in this Swiss settlement born of Chocolate Haus, 554 First St., economic distress in the homefor, well, cheese, chocolate and a land almost 160 years ago. whole lot more. This town wears its charmThen walk down a couple ing Swiss heritage proudly, with doors to New Glarus Bakery, many buildings constructed in the 534 First St. Warning: Don’t Alpine architectural style. Inside even go in if you’re on a diet or many of them you’ll find opportunihave some unrealistic expectation ties for shopping, shopping, eating, of buying only one treat. Next to and more shopping, shopping . . . those cream-filled donuts you’re I’ll start the tour at one of my going to see cheesecake drizzled favorite stores, The Bramble Brenda’s Blumenladen is filled with flowers, seasonal gifts and garden accessories. with chocolate and carmel, and Patch, 526 First St. Owner Carnext to that you’ll see frosted butWhen you buy your first of many ol Allen has amassed thousands ter cookies. You’ll be tempted for pieces from Carol, she’ll give you a of pieces of Polish Pottery, and sure, so go ahead, splurge a little. you‘ll find hundreds on display at pamphlet with care instructions. Take your picnic basket filled Although they feature various Brenda’s Blumenladen, 17 any given time in her beautifully colors and patterns, each of these Sixth Ave., which features home with goodies to nearby New appointed store. and garden accents that will have Glarus State Woods. The Friends Never heard of Polish Pottery? plates, bowls and other pieces of Wisconsin State Parks recently are trimmed in a deep blue, so you rethinking your budget. Ah, let me introduce you. honored the Woods with two Looking for authentic Swiss Folks in the southwestern area they’re easy to mix and match. awards: Best View of a Moonrise of Boleslawiec, Poland, have been They range in price from $11.95 knickknacks? Try Roberts European Imports, 102 Fifth Ave. and Best Playground. Votes are creating this absolutely stunning for a butter knife to $225 for a cast by campers, bikers, hikers roaster, but most of the items are The store specializes in Swiss, pottery since the 7th century usand other state park visitors. between $20 and $50. German, Austrian, Norwegian ing indigenous white clay. Since If time permits, check out the Even if you’re not ready to buy, and Russian imports. 1950 the Ceramika Artystyczna Chalet of the Golden Fleece or visit Carol’s store to admire the For lunch I’m recommendfactory has designed some of the the Swiss Historical Village. The pottery. While you’re there you ing Glarner Stube, 518 First highest quality pieces, each of Chalet features a vast collection of which is hand painted. You’ll find might be tempted by some of her St. I have two words for readers: beautiful, artistic and offbeat stuff. jewelry, or bath and beauty prod- mashed potatoes. This side dish these at The Bramble Patch. It’s open by appointment only for ucts, or award-winning maple is like a dessert. No, let me take Not only beautiful, they’re group tours of five or more people syrup. Over the last two decades that back. It’s better than desdurable too, going from freezer from April through October by callor so her family has won firstsert, and you’re reading a review to oven or microwave to table ing 1-800-527-6838. place honors internationally four from an admitted dessertaholic. to dishwasher with no problem. At the Swiss Historical Village, times with the more-than-waffle- The mashed potatoes are rich and worthy specialty item. creamy, but you’ll find some hearty there are 14 buildings including an original settler’s log home, a Swiss For jewelry, retro leather cloth- nuggets of potatoes in there too. church and a country school. If ing, Native American dolls, vases Dig in. Oh, and if you’re there on you’re making a weekend of it, be and pottery, candles, soaps and Sunday, order the sauerbraten more, visit Sugar River Gallery, special — marinated, oven roasted sure to take a bike and head over to the 23-mile Sugar River Trail. 108 Fifth Ave. Mrs. Lackovflank steak served with a sweetich’s Fine Gifts and Seasonal and-sour onion gravy. Other menu You can spend the night at Chalet Landhaus Inn, 801 Highway 69. Accents, 600 First St., features items include wiener schnitzel If you’re lucky by the time you a nice assortment of ornaments, (veal cutlets), schublig (mildly visit New Glarus the area’s newtable linens and Christmas items. spiced beef sausage) and kalberBeautiful yet durable, Polish Pottery Set aside at least 45 minutes wurst (mild veal sausage). For can be found at The Bramble Patch. > Page 46 to make it all the way through the less daring, they have steak

Story and photographs by Kathleen Troher

GETAWAYS

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> New Glarus, from 45

est destination will be open. It’s the New Glarus Brewing Co.’s new brewery, which is set for unveiling this June or July. They’ll still brew small batches and fruit beers at their old location. For more information on hours, tours and locations (of old and new facilities) call (608) 527-5850 or visit www.newglarusbrewing. com. Should you visit when the brewery is closed, stop at Roy’s Market, 600 State Highway 69, which carries a full selection of the award-winning beverage. One note, some shops are closed during the week particularly in winter, so it might be a good idea to call ahead if you’re not heading to New Glarus on a weekend.

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The route: From Interstate 94 and Highway 50 in Kenosha County the trip is roughly 99 miles. Take Highway 50 west to U.S. Highway 14 (in Delavan). Continue northwest on Highway 14. When you drive through Evansville, Highway 14 turns right at the stop sign at Union. Instead of turning, continue straight through downtown Evansville for roughly 7/10th of a mile to County Route C. Turn right onto C. When you reach the “T” intersection of

Upcoming festivals, events in New Glarus June 13 - 15: 7th annual Roger Bright Memorial Polkafest June 27 - 29: Heidi Festival and A Taste of New Glarus July 11 - 13: Maxwell Street Days Aug. 2: Fireman’s 106th Anniversary celebration Aug. 3: Volksfest (Swiss Independence Day) Aug. 29 - 31: Wilhelm Tell Festival Sept. 26 - 28: Oktoberfest

C and 104 you’re going to wonder which way to turn because there’s no sign to tell you where C goes. C jogs left and then right (trust me). Continue on C. Between here and New Glarus this ribbon of road weaves through some of the prettiest rolling countryside you’ll ever see in this state or any other. When you reach Main Street in Monticello, C turns left. Instead, continue straight to the next stop sign, which is Highway 69. Turn right onto 69. Drive five miles to Highway 39. Turn left onto 39 and you’re there. For more information, call 800-527-6838 or go to www.swisstown.com.

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Jody Mikkelsen is surrounded by the purses, jewelry, clothing and other accessories that make her Lake Geneva boutique, In All Her Glory, just glorious. PHOTOGRAPHS BY KEVIN POIRIER

How glorious

HIDDEN GEMS

Lake Geneva boutique owner brings high-end fashion, accessories to In All Her Glory By Kathleen Troher You have to love a store that carries this sign: “Sing, dance, wear red lipstick.” You can find the plaque at In All Her Glory, a Lake Geneva boutique where that empowering sentiment is shared by owner Jody Mikkelsen. She’s responsible for selecting the shop’s stunning merchandise, which includes the kinds of purses, clothing and jewelry that make women feel special. “I think we have something for everyone,” Mikkelsen, 50, said, stressing that by “everyone” she is referring to every

Name of store: In All Her Glory Address: 727 Geneva St. (in Geneva Village Shops) Lake Geneva Specializing in: Purses, jewelry, accessories for women Call: (262) 248-3950 woman because her boutique most certainly is the epitome of femininity. Just about everywhere in the cozy shop — lining shelves, hanging on racks, positioned on tables — customers will find art in the form of eye-catching purses, most of them, handcrafted from the studio of San Francisco-area designer Mary

Frances. With a unique blend of bright patterns and uncommon textures, these beaded beauties drip with style, their rich, glistening colors immediately grabbing shoppers’ attention. But the handbags are just the beginning. Mikkelsen also carries Olivia Rose shoes, seasonal dresses and light jackets, many in silk and some hand-painted. Then there is the jewelry. If you can’t find a piece to suit your taste then, honey, you’re just in a bad mood. Displayed on tables and inside glass curios, the necklaces, ear> Page 48

In All Her Glory carries Masha Archer necklaces. SHE l JUNE/JULY 2008 l 47

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rings and bracelets range from delicate to downright daring. Among the most appealing line Mikkelsen carries is Masha Archer, whose works of artistry have graced the necks of celebrities including Oprah Winfrey, Barbara Walters and Gladys Knight. Jade, shells, rich-colored glass are but a few of the materials used to create these dramatic pieces. Found almost exclusively at Saks Fifth Avenue and at upscale boutiques in some of the country’s most high profile tourist destinations, these one-of-a-kind pieces are available only at select locations. Because the items Mikkelsen carries are so eclectic, they can be paired with almost any outfit. “I have things that go with jeans and things you can wear with your wedding dress,” said Mikkelsen, who opened the boutique roughly four years ago. In All Her Glory is one small piece of Mikkelsen’s entrepreneurial empire, which includes ownership of other stores in the Geneva Village Shops building and ownership of the building — a former Baptist church that still features breathtaking stained glass — itself. The other GeIn All Her Glory carries several lines of jewelry, giving shoppers a wide variety from which to choose for prices, colors and styles.

PHOTOGRAPHS BY KEVIN POIRIER

> In All Her Glory, from 47

Unique earrings and purses are among the special items you’ll find at In All Her Glory. neva Village Shops she owns are the Parsonage (home décor), Doodlebugs (children’s clothing), and Geneva Java (coffee, desserts, light lunch foods). Her two tenants in the building are Raining Cats and Dogs (pet supplies) and Lake Geneva School of Cooking (culinary instruction). As if those responsibilities aren’t time-consuming enough, Mikkelsen also has a booth in a Walworth antiques mall, and she’s controller at Mikkelsen Graphic Engineering in the Lake Geneva business park. Mikkelsen Graphic is owned by her husband of 28 years, Steen, a native of Denmark. The couple has three children, Nikolai, 27, Melanie, 25, and Alisa, 20, and a

granddaughter, Scarlett Rose, the bestdressed 2-year-old in town thanks to grandma’s Doodlebugs shop. For Jody, the retail businesses have filled a void left vacant as her children grew up and left home. They also provide her with an opportunity to exercise her creative muscles, the ones that get a workout selecting trendy accessories and displaying them in imaginative ways. With her love for retail so evident, it’s no wonder Mikkelsen’s professional philosophy can be summed up in a simple sentence. “I live my life by one single motto,” Mikkelsen said, the corners or her lips curling up into a smile. “‘She with the most shoes wins.’”

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OUT & ABOUT

The Student Nurse Association at the University of Wisconsin-Parkside held its second annual Charity Gala on May 3 at Marina Shores in Kenosha. The association raised money for the Juvenile Diabetes Foundation. Among those in attendance are Julia Snethen, from left, assistant professor, of Kenosha, and her friends, Shirley Brando and Judy Courchesne, both of Grayslake, Ill.

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PHOTOGRAPH BY JIM BOVIN

Also in attendance at the Student Nurse Association Charity Gala at UW-Parkside are Keri Olson, from left, association vice president, of Racine, Katie Rommelfaenger, association secretary, of Racine, Rochelle Nelson, adviser, of Racine, and Cari Shuart, association treasurer, of Racine. PHOTOGRAPH BY KATHLEEN TROHER PHOTOGRAPH BY JIM BOVIN

This year’s Kentucky Derby was celebrated in grand style in Lake Geneva with a fund-raiser for Horticultural Hall. Among those at the May 3 event are, Charlene Klein, from left, Horticultural Hall board vice president, Janet Hill, board member, Martha Nolan, friend of the Hall and Yolanda Cruz Chamberlain, board member.

Among those celebrating Cinco de Mayo at The Spanish Center of Kenosha’s Fiesta after Five fundraiser on May 2 are Jennifer VargasTobon of Kenosha, from left, Viola Hagen of Kenosha, Jamie Lampos of Powers Lake, and Janis Hagerty of Kenosha.

Out & About features women attending local special events. If you have photos you would like to submit for consideration, please e-mail them to she@kenoshanews.com.

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EVENTS CALENDAR ONGOING Hatching the Past: Dinosaur Eggs and Babies - A Special Exhibit Through June 8 at Kenosha Public Museum, (262) 653-4141; www.kenoshapublicmuseum.org Voices of World War II 1941-1945: Kenosha County Remembers the War - A Special Exhibit Through Sept. 28 at Kenosha History Center, (262) 6545770; www.kenoshahistorycenter.org Peanut Butter & Jam Noontime and After-Hours Concert Series Thursdays, July 10 - Aug. 28 at Veterans Memorial Park, (262) 653-4005; www. kenoshaevents.com Aquanut Water Shows at Lance Park, Twin Lakes, (262) 877-2348; www. aquanutwatershows.com First Fridays — More than 50 downtown Racine shops, galleries and restaurants are open late on the first Friday of the month. Enjoy music in the stores and on the sidewalks, horsedrawn carriage rides, outdoor dining and more. Main Street and Sixth Street from 6 to 9 p.m., (262) 634-6002 June through August — “Sphere Madness” 2008 public art event in downtown Racine. View 75 one-of-akind art pieces decorated by local artists and on display throughout downtown Racine, (262) 634-6002 June 29, 26 and July 3, 10, 17, 24, 31, Aug. 7 — Music and More free noontime concert series at First Presbyterian Church in Racine at noon, (262) 632-1686

June 6, 13, 20, 27 July 11, 18, 25, Aug. 1, 8, 15, 22, 29 — Music on the Monument, free outdoor concert from 11:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. at Monument Square in downtown Racine, (262) 634-6002 June 6 through Aug. 31 — Celebrating Birds and Blooms, the Geneva Lake Art Association’s summer exhibit, (262) 2497988; www.genevalakeart.org.

14-15 — Monument Square Art Fair on the Lake, juried fine arts fair, at Festival Park in Racine from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., (262) 639-6555

July 4 — Fourth of July Fireworks, Grand Geneva Resort & Spa, Lake Geneva, (262) 248-8811; www.grandgeneva.com

15 — Kenosha Car Club Annual Car Show at Baker Park, (262) 652-5641 19-21 — Bob Uecker Invitational Fishing Tournament, pro-celebrity fishing contest with all proceeds to benefit Make-A-Wish Foundation of Wisconsin at Reefpoint Marina, (262) 781-4445

Thursdays in July and August — Concerts at the Lakefront in Flat Iron Park in Lake Geneva at 7 p.m., (262) 248-4416

21 — Walworth County Farm Bureau Dairy Breakfast at Walworth County Fairgrounds, Elkhorn, (262) 742-2613

JUNE

4 — Star Spangled Spectacular at Harbor Park and Wolfenbuttel Park, Kenosha, (262) 653-4005; www.kenoshaevents.com 4 — Racine Fourth Fest Parade along Main Street in downtown Racine at 9 a.m., (262) 634-1931 5 — Lemon Street Gallery Special Event: LemonAid at Lemon Street Gallery, Kenosha, (262) 605-4745; www. lemonstreetgallery.org

1 — Good Old Summertime Art Fair at Civic Center Park, (262) 654-0065; www.KenoshaArtAssoc.org

21 — Lighthouse Run following Racine’s Lake Michigan shoreline, (262) 634-1994; www.lighthouserun.com

1 — Kenosha YMCA Triathlon/Duathlon at Richard Bong State Recreation Area, (262) 654-9622 ext. 205; www. kenoshaymca.org

21-22 — Native American Festival with 17th annual Traditional Pow-Wow at Dunn Field in Lake Geneva, (262) 248-2784.

7-8 — An Outta Sight Kite Flight at Kennedy Park, (262) 653-4005; www. kenoshaevents.com

27 — Racine Symphony Orchestra Summer Pops Concert on Racine’s lakefront at Festival Hall at 7 p.m., (262) 636-9285

11-12 — Great Midwest Dragon Boat Festival, at Samuel Meyers Park, Racine, (262) 632-0530; www.midwestdragonboatfestival.com

28 — Kenosha YMCA Firecracker 5K & 10K Run/Walk at Kenosha YMCA Downtown and Third Avenue Historic District, (262) 654-9622 ext. 205; www. kenoshaymca.org

11-13 — The Ultimate Kid Fest at Kenosha County Fairgrounds; www. ultimatekidfest.com

14 — 2008 Kenosha County Dairy Breakfast, Lois Brothers’ Farm, 7601 368th Ave. (County Highway O), 6 to 10 a.m., (262) 206-8149. 14 — Summer Nights at the Square, a series of free outdoor evening concerts featuring regional performers offering a wide range of music at Monument Square in downtown Racine at 7 p.m. , (262) 634-6002 14-15 — Civil War Museum Grand Opening at Civil War Museum, Kenosha, (262) 653-4140; www.thecivilwarmuseum.org

7-18 — Movie Stunt Mania at Stunts Are Us, (262) 859-2379; www.stuntsareus.org

28 — Summer Arts and Craft Festival at University of Wisconsin-Parkside, east of main building complex, (262) 595-2581; www.uwp.edu 29 — Antique Flea Market at Walworth County Fairgrounds, Elkhorn, (414) 5250820; www.nlpromotionsllc.com

14-15 — 8th Annual Paint-in, downtown Lake Geneva, (262) 249-7988; www.genevalakeart.org

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5-6 — Bristol Renaissance Faire Opening Weekend just west of Interstate 94 at the Ill/Wis. border, (847) 395-7773; www. RenFair.com

11-13 — Bristol Progress Days at Hansen Park in Bristol, (262) 857-2447 12 — Summer Nights at the Square, free outdoor concerts at Monument Square in downtown Racine at 7 p.m., (262) 634-6002 12-13 — Civil War Days: Road to Freedom East of the Civil War Museum parking lot, Kenosha, (262) 653-4140; www.thecivilwarmuseum.org

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9-10 — All Breed Dog Show at Pershing Park in downtown Racine, (414) 418-0099

12-20 — Big Fish Bash, fishing event at Festival Park in Racine, (262) 634-1931; www.bigfishbash.com

10 — Antique Flea Market at Walworth County Fairgrounds in Elkhorn, (414) 5250820; www.nlpromotionsllc.com

13 — Danskin Women’s Triathlon at Prairie Springs Park & Lake Andrea, (800) 452-9526; www.tri-PleasantPrairie.com

10 — Sand Castles, sculpting and demonstrations at Samuel Myers Park, Racine, (262) 635-0261

16-19 — Country Thunder USA at Shadow Hill Ranch, Randall, (262) 2796960; www.countrythunder.com

13-17 — Kenosha County Fair at Kenosha County Fairgrounds, Wilmot, (262) 843-2016 or (262) 862-6121 after July 1; www.kenoshacofair.com

19 — Downtown Gallery Night in downtown Racine from 6 to 9 p.m., (262) 634-6002

13-17 — Venetian Festival in Flat Iron Park, Lake Geneva; www.lakegenevajaycees.org

19 — Racine Yacht Club Hook Race, sailboats race from Racine to Sturgeon Bay at Racine Yacht Club at 10 a.m., (262) 681-3009

County fairs

20 — Friends of the Kenosha Public Museums Art Fair in Library Park at Library Park, (262) 653-4140; www. kenoshapublicmuseum.org

July 23 - 27: Racine County Fair at Racine County Fairgrounds, Union Grove, (262) 878-3895; www.racinecountyfair.com Aug. 13-17: Kenosha County Fair at Kenosha County Fairgrounds, Wilmot, (262) 843-2016 or (262) 862-6121 after July 1; www.kenoshacofair.com

25 — Food Folks & Spokes at Library Park and surrounding streets, (262) 6549622 ext. 133; www.kenoshaymca.org 25-26 — Maxwell Street Days, downtown Burlington, (262) 763-6044; www.burlingtonchamber.org 25-27 — Italian Festival at Festival Park in Racine, (262) 898-1694 26 — Micros on the Monument, display of vintage Micro cars from the 50s and 60s at Monument Square in downtown Racine from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m., (262) 634-6002

Aug. 27 - Sept. 1: 159th Annual Walworth County Fair at Walworth County Fairgrounds in Elkhorn, (262) 723-3228; www.walworthcountyfair.com 2 — Chair-i-ties, Racine youth decorate furniture for auction at 11 a.m. at Monument Square in downtown Racine, (262) 636-0261 3 — Starving Artists Fair, juried art fair at Gateway Campus from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m., (262) 639-3340

8-9 — 51st Annual Antique Show and Sale at Horticultural Hall in Lake Geneva, (262) 248-7731 8-10 — Prairie Family Days at Prairie Springs Park & Lake Andrea, (262) 9256735; www.PleasantPrairieEvents.com 8-10 — Fiesta Mexicana at Festival Hall in Racine, (262) 637-7429

August

3 — Job’s Daughters Bethel #22 Craft Fair at Masonic Center in Racine from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m., (262) 634-6562

1 — Racine Symphony Orchestra Summer Pops Concert, at Festival Hall in Racine at 7 p.m., (262) 636-9285

3 — Armenian Fest at Festival Park in Racine, (262) 639-6076

9 — Summer Nights at the Square, free outdoor concerts at Monument Square in downtown Racine at 7 p.m., (262) 634-6002

1-3 — Pike River Rendezvous at Simmons Island Park, (262) 653-4140; www. kenoshapublicmuseum.org

7-10 — Racine Boat Show at Reefpoint Marina in Racine, (262) 916-5577; www. racineboatshow.com

9-10 — 28th Annual Art in the Park at Library Park in Lake Geneva, (262) 249-7988

16 — Pleasant Prairie Junior Triathlon at Prairie Springs Park and Lake Andrea, (262) 947-0437; www.tri-PleasantPrairie. com 17 — Pleasant Prairie Triathlon at Prairie Springs Park and Lake Andrea, (262) 9470437; www.tri-PleasantPrairie.com 22-24 — Maxwell Street Days in downtown Lake Geneva, (262) 248-4416 22-24 — 19th Annual Book & Bake Sale at Lake Geneva Museum in Lake Geneva, (262) 248-6060; www.genevalakemuseum.org 23 — HarborPark Jazz & Blues Festival at HarborPark’s Celebration Place, (262) 654-2412; www.mahonefund.org 27-Sept. 1 — 159th Annual Walworth County Fair at Walworth County Fairgrounds in Elkhorn, (262) 723-3228; www. walworthcountyfair.com 29 — Racine Symphony Orchestra Summer Pops Concert at Festival Hall in Racine at 7 p.m., (262) 636-9285

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SOMETHING TO MILE ABOUT LIZ OUT LOUD | IN HER DAY

Color only goes skin deep By Elizabeth Snyder

ife used to be simpler. And with that came simple pleasures. Like a good, juicy, medium-rare steak, which you could eat without someone telling you about the dangers of red meat and high cholesterol. Nowadays, I can’t even go for a walk without worrying about my carbon footprint. I soldier on, with my fair trade coffee, sweatshopfree organic cotton T-shirts and hybrid hedge trimmer, but sometimes I just want to kick back and do something really evil. By which I mean, lying on my deck and getting a bit of a — dare I say it? — suntan. With summer rapidly approaching, I think back to my teen years, when we coated our arms and legs with baby oil and fried ourselves like boneless, skinless, chicken breasts. I had friends who, though they never willingly rose before 11 a.m. any other time of the year, were out in the summer sun by 8 a.m., turning themselves every few hours as if on a rotisserie, going for an even, golden tan. Alas, those days are gone, now that we know the dangers of UV rays and melanoma.

And I was perfectly OK with that. I had learned to embrace my pasty skin tone and “winter white” thighs. Who cares if I look like a Kabuki actress at the beach? I was so past having to look like a bronzed goddess. Pale was the new black. I like to think this new anti-tan attitude was getting back to the classics. We had learned in elementary school that the upper classes — who we saw in Old Masters paintings — were pale and plump on purpose. They weren’t lazy Oreo fiends. No, they were considered the beautiful people of their time because a tan, toned, body meant one had to work in the fields. By contrast, a porcelain face and soft belly signaled that one had enough money to pay for food and indoor lodging. All this changed sometime after the industrial revolution. Now a tan meant you had enough money to pay for a vacation someplace where the sun was shining. And that toned body? The sign of someone with the means to log some serious Pilates time, maybe even hire a personal trainer. I went about my business for several years, covered head to toe in SPF 30 sunscreen and feeling

LIZ OUT LOUD

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quite virtuous about giving up my need to flaunt a summer glow. Then the jerks who run the cosmetic/skin care industry ruined everything. A few years back, the Jergens Company came out with moisturizers that promised “fabulous natural-looking summer color.” By the next week, the drug store shelves were filled with similar products, all boasting of creating that “sun-kissed glow” in a healthy way. The catch? You have to use it every day. Every day. I’m a once-a-week-at-the-most moisturizer, so having to apply this stuff seven times a week is asking a lot. I can barely keep my daily commitment to my teeth, let alone adding in the time to moisturize my arms and legs. And, with daily use year-round, no woman has to appear in public without a tan ever again. It may sound like a wonderful idea — a tan without the harmful side effect of skin cancer — but it’s really just another way to make women feel inadequate. Now if I don’t have that “healthly glow” in mid-February, it’s because I’m too lazy (and cheap; this stuff ain’t free) to

slather on a self-tanner every night before going to bed. And now, in addition to body lotions that make you look somewhat tan, there are moisturizers that promise “clinically proven firming benefits to improve skin elasticity” along with that added color. Sagging, pale skin is so 2005. Today, “a subtle skin darkening complex” is in. Thanks to the same people who want us all to believe that a “line filler” can really make wrinkles disappear, I now have a daily regimen that includes — on most days, unless I’m really, really tired — a self-tanning moisturizer. Maybe it makes me look better; maybe it just makes me think I look better. Which, at my age, is pretty much the same thing. Still, in these warm, sunny months, I can’t catch a whiff of cocoa-butter without instinctively wanting to fire up the old boombox and rock out to Journey while catching a few rays. A suntan. Such a simple summer pleasure of the past, and one that required no physical exertion at all. If I promise to order my pizza without cheese, can I lay out in the sun for just an hour?

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IN HER DAY

Sign of appreciation With every encounter, daughter continues to be inspired by her 86-year-old mother

PHOTOGRAPH BY BRIAN PASSINO

By Maria Scott; As told to Diane Giles

y Mom, Fran Scott, has had a long-standing date on Friday nights. Mom, who is 86, still folk dances on Friday nights downtown at the Racine Arts Council. Sometimes there are three generations of our family there with her dancing to music from all over the world. More than 35 years ago, my older sisters, Andrea and Lisa, and I would go with her. Family is important to my mom, who learned her mothering at a very young age. She was born in Sicily and came here as an infant. Grandma died when mom was just 5 years old. Mom had three younger sisters, Maria Scott and grandpa was able to keep the and her family together. My mom took on mother, the caregiver role at that tender age, and to this day my aunts see her as Fran Scott the person who raised them. Mom was an independent thinker, and she allowed us to be the same. To think for ourselves was part of our neighborhood kids to not be mean. Unitarian Universalist upbringing. Mom helped others overcome their adverForty-five years ago when I was an infant, sarial tendencies and to become inclusive. she joined the UU Church and that had quite Years later, my mom is still influencing me an impact on her. She was — and is — very on how I treat other people. She has shown politically active and into social justice. me the phenomenal importance of kindness From as early as I can remember, she was and respect. active in the peace movement. She joined the Kindness is really important. We use the Another Mother for Peace group, word, but I don’t think we really “I also have a and I can remember going on understand it. There’s such a peace marches with her when I deep appreciation thing as generosity of spirit. It’s was 8 or 9 years old. a spiritual way of treating people for all she allowed and not judging them. During one Vietnam War protest we were on West Boulevard You might think with such an us to experience. in Racine in a huge crowd, with easy-going mother, our relationblocks and blocks of people. Evship would have been smooth. It She trusted us eryone was singing John Lennon’s wasn’t. to make the “Give Peace a Chance.” When I was in my teens and But it was more than big 20s, I did not get along with my right decisions.” marches. mother. It was a classic motherDo you remember the song with the words daughter thing, I guess. “Let there be peace on earth and let it begin It took a lot of time for us to be able to be with me?” She really believed that. Her kind in a loving relationship. The last five or 10 of peace started on a much smaller scale. years I have grown to have a deep, deep love She was the one who helped our whole and respect for her. neighborhood accept differences among I also have a deep appreciation for all she people in regards to race and abilities. allowed us to experience. She trusted us to We had a neighbor who had about five make the right decisions. mentally challenged boys, and my mom stood She and dad taught us how to think for up for them against some of the other famiourselves and use that small voice inside to lies in the neighborhood. We were encourguide us. aged to be friendly to them and to help other I think she used her own small voice

— that and her tenaciousness — to get through her recent health problems. She’s a very optimistic person and doesn’t dwell on hurtful things. Lately, I sit and talk to mom and I find myself re-inspired by her. We visit every Wednesday after I get off work. We just hang out and talk for two or three hours. She’s tickled pink, and I miss it on the days when she’s busy. And on Saturdays we go to the movies, usually the foreign film series at Parkside. My family also has another long-standing date, although not as long standing as mom with her folk dancing. This one is on Sundays, and it’s rare if we miss it. It started about five years before my dad died. Every Sunday for the past 10 years, all of us — my brother in Chicago and his family, our sisters here in Racine and their families and I — get together for a meal. Mom loves it. Of all the things mom has taught me, I think the most important is appreciation of family. She says she’s so very lucky that she has her four children so close. I say we’re the lucky ones to have her for a mom. In Her Day allows readers to share stories of the many ways their mothers, grandmothers or other female relatives influenced and inspired them.

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