Maple Grove - March 2024

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M A R C H /A P R I L 2 0 2 4 Enjoy our March/April issue, which touches on the topics of family, homes and senior living. “Find your passion, and go for it. Anything is possible.” —Marcella Sharon, 92-year-old Maple Grove resident (page 20)

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March/April 2024

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D E PA RT M E N TS

12 A Piece of History A historical interpreter discusses the life and legacy of Minnesota frontiersman Pierre Bottineau.

14 Honoring June Ray Henderson finally retired at age 85, just in time to start skydiving.

18 Tackling That To-Do List TruBlue of Plymouth and Maple Grove takes nagging tasks off your plate.

F E AT U R E S

Clogged drain?

20 Under One Roof Multigenerational living is all about taking care of family.

26 Warmly Modern J Brothers Design - Build Remodel brings a homeowner’s vision to fruition.

TAST E M A K E R S

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A Taste of Ethiopian Flavors The flames of a fire create a new energy for Solomon Hailie and Rekik Abaineh.

IN E V E RY ISSU E

Photo: Chris Emeott

4 9 36 40

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Editor’s Letter Noteworthy On the Town Last Glance

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FROM THE EDITOR H ailey Almsted — hailey@localm edia.co

This issue of Maple Grove Magazine might just be my favorite of those I’ve curated over the past several months of serving as editor. These pages touch on several important topics, such as multigenerational living and global cuisine, and we meet many faces across Maple Grove, all of whom have inspired me in different ways.

Writer Kristie Smith introduces you to 95-year-old Ray Henderson, who began skydiving at age 90. Henderson offers words of wisdom for the younger generation and touches on why he started free falling. Henderson shares his own most beautiful love story and reminds us that love is a gift not to be taken for granted. Read about Henderson’s life journey on page 14.

Meet Sharon Kotula and her family. The local residents make up a unique familial blend, including foster and adopted children, as well as multigenerational living. Writer Mollee Francisco shares Kotula’s story and gets expert insight into the benefits of living with a variety of generations on page 20.

Solomon Hailie recalls the flames that destroyed his St. Paul restaurant— yet ignited a new supportive community at Bole Ethiopian Cuisine and Bole Express. Learn about the Maple Grove resident’s American dream and cuisine on page 32.

That’s not all, readers. In between these pages, you’ll find other heartwarming stories, design inspiration and more.

Cheers to spring and the gift of family,

Photo: Rachel Nadeau

On the Cover J Brothers Design - Build - Remodel, Inc. photo by Jeremy Jordan Photography, page 26 See what we’re doing behind the scenes and around town!

Maple Grove Magazine @maplegrovemagazine @maplegrovemag

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March/April 2024

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MANAGING EDITOR Hailey Almsted DIGITAL EDITOR Madeline Kopiecki COPY EDITORS Kellie Doherty, Sherri Hildebrandt STAFF WRITERS Kelly Cochrane, Mollee Francisco, Emily Gedde, Meredith Heneghan, Daniel Huss, Jennifer Pitterle, Rachel Schuehle, Josie Smith, Kristie Smith CONTRIBUTING WRITERS Gabrielle Clark, Kristina Mackousky, Nikki Steele, Katie Tomsche, Kira Vanderlan EDITORIAL INTERNS Findlay Drabrant, Morgan McFadden, Emma Mehl EDITORIAL ADVISORY BOARD Grace Becker, Osseo Area Schools; Kiley Meyhoefer, City of Maple Grove; Heidi Nelson, City of Maple Grove; Amy Seeman, Mezmira SENIOR MANAGING ART DIRECTOR Sarah Dovolos

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lo c al tip s, tidb its & insi ght s

N OT E WO RT H Y

DESIGN

UPCOMING HOME DESIGN TRENDS

Gone are the days of modern farmhouse, gray/beige color palettes and open concept living.

Interior design trends are continually changing. When designing a space, I am often asked, “What design trends are timeless (because we do not plan on making changes anytime soon)?” My answer is to go with what you are most attracted to while incorporating trends that are appealing.

What’s trending in 2024: » Blues are a popular color choice this year. Whether it is incorporated into your furnishings, painted on the walls or cabinets, or used as a décor accent, you cannot go wrong. » Herringbone is making a comeback in tile, flooring and

C R E AT E

Make a Spring Wreath From Egg Cartons

fabric patterns. The distinctive shape adds visual interest and movement. The pattern is being installed diagonally and vertically to create even more sophistication. » Character over cookie-cutter is a sure way to go with your décor. Consider whimsical

Spring is right around the corner, and what

slits down and rounding the petals.

and unexpected elements,

better way to welcome the season than

Make a variety of numbers of petals

quirky artwork, vintage accent

with a seasonal craft for the kids. Enjoy this

and shapes.

chairs or artisanal pieces.

beautiful and easy-to-make flower wreath to help celebrate the season.

Supplies: » scissors » construction paper » paint and paint brushes » cardboard or a paper plate » hot glue (best) or white glue » pom poms or stickers, optional

with safe color palettes

We used a plate to trace a circle.

or homogenous finishes.

to cut leaf shapes.

1. Cut the carton apart, so you have the egg cups and square spacers out. Cut each one into a flower shape by snipping

maplegrovemag.com

Design in 2024 is vibrant and

4. Paint the flowers, leaves

one-of-a-kind. Make it your own,

and cardboard ring.

create conversation around the

5. Use hot glue or white glue to arrange flowers and leaves around the wreath.

décor you pick and enjoy the lack of gray.

6. Add pom poms or stickers, or paint the flowers’ centers.

Instructions:

March/April 2024

Avoid mass market furnishings

paper plate. Cut a circle from the middle.

3. Use construction paper

» 2 one-dozen or 1 18-egg carton Photo: Maple Grove Arts Center

2. Cut cardboard into a circle, or use a

Kristina Mackousky works with the Maple Grove Arts Center. View more at maplegrove artscenter.org.

Kira Vanderlan, an awardwinning interior designer, home organizer and stager, is the owner of Maple Grovebased Zestful Design. Find out more at zestful design.com.

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N OT E WO RT H Y

Berry Brûlée Galette

READ

THINNING BLOOD: A MEMOIR OF FAMILY, MYTH AND IDENTITY Thinning Blood by Leah Myers (W. W. Norton & Company, 2023) is part myth, part dream and part memoir. Myers, the likely last of her family line in the S’Klallam Tribe, tells the tale of her upbringing and fills in the histories of her matrilineal ancestors back to her great-grandmother, the last fullblooded S’Klallam in her line.

Myers tells the stories of her ancestors, using the spirit animals she’s assigned to them.

She then metaphorically builds a totem pole, using each animal as the framework for her book. Each member’s character is created from the stories or memories of the person, woven with the mythology traditionally or tangentially assigned to that spirit animal.

Thinning Blood is a poetic read that will take you into the Northwest Territories, where the S’Klallam Tribe has long lived in the Olympic Peninsula and will give you deeper understanding of the challenges related to finding one’s identity and reclaiming heritage decimated

TA S T E

by colonization.

Are you searching for a simple recipe for a

Camembert Dutch Baby looks and tastes

special occasion, such as an Easter brunch,

like a decadent treat while offering the same

bridal or baby shower? Look no further with

comforting flavors and hearty textures as a

these two recipes.

brunch staple. It pairs perfectly with leafy

This Berry Brûlée Galette comes together

greens, bacon and fruit.

quickly with puff pastry and pantry staples.

The crust is flaky, buttery and light as a

Visit maplegrovemag.com for the recipes.

feather, and the sweet-tart berries are bursting with bright flavor.

Less expected than an egg bake and far faster to make than a quiche, a savory Bacon

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Katie Tomsche is the content manager for Lunds & Byerlys.

Taste more at lundsandbyerlys.com.

March/April 2024

maplegrovemag.com

Photo: Lunds & Byerlys

Brunch is Served

Gabrielle Clark is a librarian at Hennepin County Library – Maple Grove. Read more at hclib.org.

l o ca l t i p s , t i d bits & in sig h ts

STYLE

How to Pack to Save Time and Money

As the cold temps can sometimes hang on in the springtime, many families decide to head south for a warm get away. That’s when my phone starts ringing with the question “How do I pack for my upcoming vacay?” The answer to a lot of peoples’ packing issues

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shoes, toiletries and/or clothing.

Use them to help you pack: 1. Designate each cube for a day’s worth of clothes.

2. Separate cubes into categories such as pants, tops or undergarments.

3. Assign each family member a unique packing cube color or print. This way, you can pack items in other suitcases to help consolidate luggage, avoiding charges for extra luggage bags. Plus, once you arrive, you will know whose items are whose—saving you lots of time and headaches.

On a recent trip, I unpacked my suitcase contents into the drawers of our hotel and felt confident they’d keep clean and fresh by providing a barrier between my clothes and the drawer that’s been used by many others before me.

Nikki Steele is a fashion editor, stylist and owner of Nikki Steele Style. Find more on social pages @nikkisteelestyle or nikkisteelestyle.com.

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ARCHIVES

A Piece of History A historical interpreter discusses the life and legacy of Minnesota frontiersman Pierre Bottineau.

By Emily Gedde

The Pierre Bottineau House sits in Three Rivers Park District.

WHEN MIKE MURRAY discusses Pierre Bottineau, it’s like he is talking about an old friend. The details and timeline the historical interpreter for Three Rivers Park District has of Bottineau, a man who died 128 years ago, is extensive, impressive and worth listening to.

“There’s quite a history to Bottineau,” Murray says. “He played a large role in the development of Minnesota.”

And while Bottineau’s legacy lives on through stories and history books, another piece of him still stands today to allow visitors to learn about the Minnesota frontiersman, who led treacherous expeditions throughout Minnesota and North Dakota. The Pierre Bottineau House, located near the chalet in Elm Creek Park Reserve, allows visitors to experience the life and times of the legendary Bottineau.

Through public programs or tours, visitors can explore exhibits that showcase Bottineau’s varied roles as hunter, trader and entrepreneur.

While Murray says there’s a lot to know about Bottineau, he touched on the highlights of the man, who was

Pierre Bottineau

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March/April 2024

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born in 1817 in a hunting camp near Grand Forks, North Dakota. His father was French-Canadian and his mother was an Ojibwe woman. Later in life, Murray explained, Bottineau’s heritage helped him become a renowned diplomat and translator.

“He was known as The Walking Peace Pipe,” Murray says. “He was fluent in many languages, including English, French, Ojibwe, Cree and Winnebago.”

Throughout his life as a guide, Bottineau played a key role in the settlements that became Maple Grove and Osseo, plus other towns.

Murray says it was when Bottineau ended up in the area known as Bottineaus’s Prairie on the Maple Grove/Osseo border, that he had found “paradise” and built his forever home.

“He built a house in 1854 in that area because he loved it there,” Murray says, noting the house has since moved a few times to help save the building and find an area that closely resembles the natural setting Bottineau would have experienced—woodland and open ground. It has been in its present location in Elm Creek since 2009.

While Bottineau was a unique man, his house was, too. It was the first woodframed house built in Maple Grove and resembled a Greek revival style.

“The corners of the building look like Greek columns,” Murray says. “The front door facing the chalet that has two side lights were also common in Greek revival style. While it had a timber frame, it also had a balloon frame.

The joke is that the building is so light, it could float away like a balloon.”

Photos: Three Rivers Park District

Visiting the Pierre Bottineau House

Murray says the best way to take advantage of various programming at the Pierre Bottineau House is to keep an eye on the Three Rivers Park District program calendar to see offerings.

“When you visit Pierre Bottineau’s house, you’ll get a broader sense of his story and the role he played in our state’s history,” Murray says. “He was really an interesting guy.” Read more at maplegrovemag.com. threeriversparks.org Three Rivers Park District

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Ray Henderson

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G E N E R AT I O N S

Honoring June Ray Henderson finally retired at age 85, just in time to start skydiving.

By Kristie Smith

Photo: Chris Emeott

EVERY YEAR, more than half a mil-

lion people in the United States skydive for the first time. These jumps are usually tandem free fall with an instructor who is attached to the same parachute system, or accelerated free fall, where instructors accompany the diver in free fall while holding on to the diver’s harness, according to the United States Parachute Organization.

Ray Henderson is getting ready for his third tandem jump in June. He was 90 when he took his first skydive at 13,000 feet (or 2 1/2 miles off the ground) in 2018 at Skydive Twin Cities in Baldwin, Wisconsin. “These parachutes are called canopies because they’re rectangular shaped,” the Maple Grove resident says, pointing at a photo from his skydive experiences. “They’ve got more control [than a parachute].

The trainer let me steer it the first time I jumped.” The second time, shortly after he turned 95, on the day of his beloved late wife, June’s, birthday, he did it again. “My knees were bothering me, so they got a guy and helped me up the steps [of the plane],” he says. “Believe it or not, we rolled out of the door together. I was very tightly strapped to the jump instructor. You free fall for the first half, and you get going pretty fast. There’s a break mechanism above our head, which collapses the chute, and then you just touch the ground.” He describes the landing quietly, reflecting on the peace he felt.

Henderson’s skydiving activity may make him seem like a bit of a daredevil,

March/April 2024

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Let us help you make it yours.

Reach out today to get connected with one of our Maple Grove agents.

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FREE FALL “It’s really cool seeing older people jump,” says Kerry McCauley, owner of Skydive Twin Cities, which was founded in 1975. Henderson completed both jumps at the Baldwin, Wisconsin, facililty.

“We get a fair amount of people in their 80s, maybe one 90-year-old each year. I jumped with Ray when he was 90, and my son, Connor, was with him this last time,” McCauley says. “Our oldest jumper here was 98.

So, Ray’s got a few years to pass him up.”

At the other end of the spectrum, minimum age is a requirement, so Henderson says he’s going to need to continue jumping until he’s at least 106. That’s when his granddaughter, Gracie June, turns 18. “She wants to do it already,” Henderson, a grandpa of seven and great-grandpa of three more, says of Grace’s goal to skydive, too.

“She’s really a sharpie.

She could do it sooner I bet; she’s a really athletic person, just like my wife was. Gracie and I are making our plans to skydive together.”

His face lights up as he sees his granddaughter’s picture on his phone. “Do you look at your door and imagine me there?” he sings out loud. “Thinking about June,” he says and begins to talk about driving ranges, putting greens and another way he stays active while spending time with the younger generations.

Learn more about Skydive Twin Cities at maplegrovemag.com.

16

March/April 2024

maplegrovemag.com

“And I do it for my wife, June, because she would do it if she was here.”

We turn your house into the home of your dreams!

Photo: Chris Emeott

Ray Henderson

but when asked why he started jumping from a plane when he turned 90, he says nonchalantly, “It was the ‘Mount Everest’ thing to do, because it’s there,” he says. “I got tired of hearing about [former President] George Bush. They always talk about how he jumped when he was 90. And I do it for my wife, June, because she would do it if she was here.” Henderson’s wife died from cancer 20 years ago.

His path to skydiving likely began shortly after meeting his future bride at North High School in Minneapolis.

“I went right into the military after graduation,” he says. He learned to fly in the United States Navy, where he says his instructor tested him with a power stall and an upside-down tailspin. “Before he flipped [the plane] over, I had my hand on my rip cord for the parachute and a seat belt across my lap,” Henderson says.

“As I was holding on, I saw him look at me in the rearview mirror, and he asked me when we landed why I was holding on to my rip cord, so I told him I didn’t trust my seatbelt.” He says it was important not to insinuate it was the pilot’s flying skills that were the real reason for his nerves.

But flying in the Navy gave Henderson confidence about heights.

“Looking back, I sat on a parachute in the military but never used one,” he says. And he jumped into life after that, spending 48 1/2 years married to June.

They raised five children together. “I still think of her when I hear the words from the Elvis version of the song Are You Lonesome Tonight? It was really popular when we met and reminds me of the two of us,” he says.

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17

ABODE

Tackling That To-Do List TruBlue of Plymouth and Maple Grove takes nagging tasks off your plate.

By Mollee Francisco

FROM DRYWALL REPAIR and light fixture installation to spring cleanup, finding someone to tackle all the annoying little projects on a to-do list can be a headache. Jeanette Lang knows the struggle all too well.

“I had been looking for handy people for a long time to come in and do little chores,” Lang says. The Plymouth resident finally stumbled across TruBlue of Plymouth and Maple Grove, which provides handyman services, home maintenance and senior modifications to residents in both cities.

“I suppose they thought they had a lot of work when they came in, and they did,” Lang says. She had the business fix a hole and install lights in her

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bathroom, plus some weather stripping.

“They were very precise,” she says.

“Right on the mark.”

That’s music to Jennifer Bauernfeind’s ears. She and her husband, Tim, bought the franchise last August. “It was the perfect combination of our skills and gifts,” Bauernfeind says. “Tim is the handiest man I know.”

Together, they are on a mission to provide handyman services and help seniors age in place. “Our homes are generally our largest asset and if not properly maintained, can be very costly and in fact, lose value,” Bauernfeind says. “We want to be our clients’ ally in helping them maintain that value as well as the beauty, security, safety and

comfort of their homes.”

“There’s so much we can do for people,” Bauernfeind says. “We care for the people and the house, and it doesn’t have to be expensive.”

Trained technicians go over each project, provide quotes and help homeowners to come up with an action plan. “Everything is broken down,” Bauernfeind says. “It’s very transparent.”

The breadth of services runs the gamut from putting hoses away and trimming bushes to installing grab bars and replacing light switches.

“We take care of all of the things you can think of that might break in a home,” Bauernfeind says. “Doors, leaky

March/April 2024

maplegrovemag.com

Photo: Jennifer Bauernfeind

Tim and Jennifer Bauernfeind

faucets, lights, things that need to be replaced or upgraded.

“We all have lots of little projects,” Bauernfeind says. “The average home has 22.”

When it comes to helping seniors stay in their homes, TruBlue offers a free 100 touch point safety assessment, covering the inside and outside of a home. Specialists can help seniors identify modifications that can make living in their home easier, from lowering the height of a microwave to widening doorways to installing a taller toilet.

“Sometimes, it’s just adjusting rods in a closet,” Bauernfeind says.

TruBlue prides itself on hiring trustworthy technicians who undergo background checks and training before they begin working with clients. “We all have to trust the people that come into our homes,” Bauernfeind says.

Beyond that, Bauernfeind says they encourage their technicians to take the time to make connections with clients.

“Our guys are going to stay for that coffee,” she says.

Lang was delighted to find that she had connections through school and church with the technicians that came to work on her home. “They were very personable,” she says. Now, she’s started recommending TruBlue to her friends who have projects to tackle around their homes.

“We get a lot of, ‘Thank goodness I know who to trust now,’” Bauernfeind says. She also notes that they strive to respond quickly when contacted, with most technicians coming out to assess a project within a day or two and providing an estimate within 24 hours.

And because they tackle smaller projects, clients won’t be waiting months to get stuff done. Bauernfeind says, “We want to be there right away.”

TruBlue of Plymouth and Maple Grove; 763.400.3748; trublueally.com

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19

Under One Roof Multigenerational living is all about taking care of family.

Written by Mollee Francisco

Simply put, caring for others is just part of Sharon Kotula’s DNA. The Maple Grove resident is a member of the sandwich generation, still caring for children at home with the added responsibility of helping her elderly parent, but her situation is unique in that the children currently under her roof are the second set of children she has raised—foster children whom she adopted later in life.

It’s a rather complicated story

20

from the outside looking in, but to the 69-year-old, it just makes sense. There was a need for care, and she stepped up to the plate. It’s something she’s done for decades. It’s a way of life. “There’s certainly no lack of purpose,” Sharon says.

Growing up with five siblings, Sharon and her family moved from Minnesota to Hawaii at an early age. Her father had landed his dream job, helping the Vietnamese rebuild their war-ravaged

country, but it was too dangerous for the whole family to move to Vietnam, so they opted for Hawaii to be closer to him. After six months in Hawaii, they moved closer yet, this time to Thailand.

They would live in Thailand for two years, and it was there that Sharon’s teenage eyes were opened to the world.

On weekends, the family would visit local orphanages and sometimes take kids out for an afternoon of fun. “That’s

Photo: Chris Emeott

Left to right: Jacob Webb, Jennifer Webb, Tayvius Martin, Marcella Kotula, Daniel “DJ” Martin, Sharon Martin Kotula, Tim Martin

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1

2

4

AD 5

6

Photos: Sharon Kotula

1.

7

8

Tayvius, Sharon and DJ celebrating Sharon’s birthday.

2. Tim’s parents.

3. Marcella with Sharon as a baby.

4. Tayvius, Sharon and DJ. 5. Jennifer, DJ, Sharon, Tayvius and Jacob.

6. The first day Martin and Sharon met Tayvius (left) when he was 8.5-yearsold with DJ (right).

7. Marcella Kotula.

8. DJ, Tayvius, Sharon and Tim. 9. Jennifer Webb with DJ and Tayvius 10. Jacob, Tayvius, Sharon and DJ. 11. Tim and Sharon on July 5, 2004, the day after they wed.

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March/April 2024

maplegrovemag.com

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Photo: xxxxxxxxx

Sharon Kotula

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Photo: Chris Emeott

what planted the seed,” Sharon says.

Her mother, Marcella Kotula, agrees. “They saw how different the world was compared to the United States,” Marcella says. “It taught them compassion.”

That experience stuck with Sharon as she grew up. Married at 19, Sharon had two kids, Jennifer Webb (now 48) and Jacob Webb (now 46), over the next four years. Sharon and her first husband divorced when the kids were still young, and she began doing foster care at 23. “It was emergency care, relieving group homes,” she says.

Some kids stayed in her care longer than others. One foster daughter, who lived with her from the ages of 10 to 12, kept in touch over the years, and when she got pregnant at 20, Sharon stepped in again to help. “It was a rescue situation,” she says.

Sharon was at the baby’s birth. “I was going to play the role of a grandparent,” she says. But after four months, Sharon became the baby’s foster parent. “I ended up adopting DJ at 18 months,” she says. “I was 51.”

Sharon had remarried and had the full support of her second husband, Tim Martin, to embark on this journey.

“My husband deserves a halo,” she says.

After a few years, the couple decided DJ could use a sibling, so they took in Tayvius, an 8-and-a-half-year-old, and officially adopted him at age 10.

The boys, born 21 days apart (DJ is the older one.), are now 17 and experience neurological challenges caused by prenatal toxic exposures. “It was very, very challenging,” Sharon says. “It wasn’t smooth sailing by any means.”

Sharon has become a vocal advocate for the boys, seeking out resources to help them and taking educational courses. Even on the hard days, she is comforted by the knowledge that these boys came into her life for a reason.

“They need me,” she says. “And they’ve come such a long way.

“You can’t be an effective foster parent without giving your full heart,” she adds.

On top of raising teenagers, Sharon cares for her 92-year-old mother and helps when needed with her husband’s parents, who are also in their 90s.

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March/April 2024

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Meet Marcella

Photos: Sharon Kotula

Marcella Kotula was born in 1931 and grew up the oldest of six children, living on a farm in central Minnesota. She attended school in a one-room schoolhouse where she loved to read and dreamt of becoming a teacher.

With her mother on her side, Marcella convinced her father to let her go to college. She attended St. Cloud State University, where she received her teaching degree.

Her first teaching job was at an elementary school near Red Lake, Minnesota. She taught first through third grades, while her husband, John, who was also the principal, taught fourth through sixth grades. “It was wonderful,” she recalls.

After a year at that school, the couple moved to the Iron Range in Mountain Iron, Minnesota, for a year. Over the next eight years, Marcella would birth seven babies. “I was just busy, momming and teaching,” she says.

When her husband took a job in Vietnam to help rebuild the country, the family had the opportunity to move to Hawaii to be closer to him. “Of course, the kids said, ‘Yeah,’” Marcella says. For six months, they lived in Hawaii, enjoying the sun and the surf, before moving to Thailand.

The next two years were spent in Thailand. “We loved it,” Marcella says. “It was a whole new culture. I had to learn to drive on the other side of the road.”

In 1984, Marcella loaded up their camper van for their next

teaching assignment in Bogotá, Colombia. “The school was on the side of a mountain,” Marcella says. “I taught third grade. We were treated very well there.”

One by one, their kids began to move out, but Marcella and John continued to take teaching assignments around the world. “Instead of the kids leaving home, it was mom and dad leaving,” she says. Their impressive resume includes teaching stints in The Gambia, Iran and Saudi Arabia. “We were in the Middle East for five or six years,” Marcella says. “When the news comes on now, it’s very personal. I still know people there.”

Marcella taught for 30 years before retiring. When she looks back on it all, she is still amazed.

“I wonder how I did it all,” she says. “I was just a shy farm girl.”

She credits John for getting her to take those first steps outside of Minnesota. “When we got married, he told me, ‘We’re going to travel. We’re going to see the world.’” John delivered on his promise and then some.

In 1999, after 49 years of marriage, John passed away from ALS. For a few years after his death, Marcella continued to travel the world, taking pilgrimages to Portugal, Spain and Italy.

“People ask, ‘Where are you from?’ and I say, ‘The world.

The world’s my home really,’” she says.

Though she doesn’t travel much anymore, Marcella looks back on her travels fondly. “Even at night I dream of these places,” she says while encouraging others to live their dreams.

“Find your passion, and go for it.

Anything is possible.”

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Shelly’s Interior Concepts Windows • Walls • Flooring

During the height of COVID-19, Marcella left her home at Rose Arbor in Maple Grove and came to live with the family for four months. She has since gone back to Rose Arbor, but Sharon says there may come a time when she returns, though Marcella is determined to stay living independently as long as possible. “Her plate is full as it is,” Marcella says of Sharon.

After raising a family and tackling careers in real estate and nursing, Sharon has learned how to manage a full plate. “On the days when it can be mentally exhausting, that’s when I do artwork,” she says, noting she enjoys photography and painting as stress relief. She says being on the same page as her spouse also makes a big difference. “We really have to have each other’s backs, be in tune with one another,” she says.

Call today for a free in-home design session!

763-439-8568 www.shellysinteriorconcepts.net

An Expert Weighs In

Tetyana Shippee, PhD., is a professor at the University of Minnesota School of Public Health and a social gerontologist with a focus on long-term care services and supports. Shippee says families looking at entering into a multigenerational living situation should consider privacy needs, financial issues, communication styles, space allocation and potential conflicts around roles and responsibilities.

Shippee says there are keys to making multigenerational living work, including “flexibility and compromise to accommodate diverse needs and preferences; maintaining clear communication and ensuring that everyone’s voices are heard; and regularly assessing the effectiveness of the arrangements and making adjustments, as necessary.”

When it works, multigenerational living can be a beautiful thing. Shippee knows this firsthand. “My parents and I lived with my grandparents in Ukraine until I was 6, and it was an extremely important experience to build my appreciation for the wisdom of older adults,” she says. “It fostered a very close relationship between me and my grandparents to this day, including with my grandma, who just turned 90.”

kno ledge At Crown Bank we are a team of knowledge seekers. Gaining deep knowledge into our clients’ businesses, plans, needs, and opportunities is what brings us to work every day. Because the more we know about our clients the more we can help them succeed. It's how we make the possible, possible.

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Curating a Warm and Modern Home J B ROT H E R S D E S I G N - B U I L D - R E M O D E L B R I N G S A H O M EOW N E R ’ S V I S I O N TO F R U I T I O N .

Written by Hailey Almsted — Photos by Jeremy Jordan Photography

Designer Diana Swensson has worked on several interior design projects, including work in K–12 schools, eye clinics, restaurants, offices and more— but she hadn’t completed a home design project until she worked on her own home.

“This was my first,” the Maple Grove resident says. The mother of three decided she wanted to get back into the world of design after staying home for the past 10 years, and found their home to be the perfect place to start. “My husband, Chuck, and I had been in our [previous] home for 10 years, and we both thought we’d been there forever and we need a change,” Swensson says. “When my husband and I were looking at homes during the pandemic … We toured a bunch of different homes.”

When they walked into what is now their

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home, Chuck said it was too big a project to take on. The home featured cherry walnut wood floors throughout, yellow Tuscany-inspired overhead lighting and outdated tile. “I thought it had a ton of potential,” Swensson says. They officially purchased the Maple Grove home in June 2021 and started renovations within six months of moving in, working with Mitch and Carrie Johnson from J Brothers Design - Build - Remodel, Inc., to bring the Swenssons’ vision to life.

“Working with Carrie and J Brothers was amazing,” Swensson says. “I had all these ideas, and I said, ‘This is what I want.’ And that’s not always easy for [a firm] … They respected the fact that I’m a designer and respected the vision I wanted. They brought it to life.”

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The Kitchen “I love the modern farmhouse style,” Swensson says. “That was my inspiration for the space, and I didn’t want a full white kitchen.”

Swensson and the J Brothers team opted to mix together bright whites with more neutral tones,

creating a contrasting statement.

“She came to us with the threetone kitchen, and I thought, ‘You know, I feel like I’m more boring than that,’” Carrie says, with Mitch adding, “It’s a risk, but it looks really nice.”

The final look features bright white alongside natural white oak

The Staircase With a staircase as large and welcoming as the Swenssons’, it is sure to serve as a focal point for the living space—but it hadn’t always been that way.

cabinets and a stark black island.

Each set of cabinets and the island feature different hardware, including gold and black cabinet pulls. “When it came to picking the tiles and all of that, I wanted a mix of materials,” Swensson says.

“I didn’t want it to be cookie cutter or matchy-matchy.”

Prior to the remodel, it was an eyesore. “All the woodwork in there was a cherry walnut-ish [wood]. It was dark,” Swensson says. Although the J Brothers team ultimately decided to keep the wrought iron balusters, the

rest of the staircase received a makeover. “I had an idea and thought the black would be stunning against the white,” Swensson says. The final product showcases newly painted black banisters against the carpeted stairs.

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The Arches “There are so many arches in the house that if you got rid of some, the other ones would look out of place,” Carrie says. Prior to the remodel, the home included six archways—a feature that the Swenssons liked but wanted to downplay. Two arches were removed to open the living room to the kitchen.

“Even the cabinets next to the TV area have arches in it, too, and originally, I was going to have them remove those completely and do floating shelves,” Swensson says. “But Carrie thought, ‘Let’s keep what we have and make it more what you want.’ So I had J Brothers do a two-tone on the cabinets.”

Although the two-tone was a bit out of the box for the J Brothers team, Carrie says it paid off in the end. “[Diana’s] design perspective pushed us to do something different than what we would usually do,” she says. “It made it a better end project …”

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Upon moving in, Swensson says the first thing to be changed was all the lighting throughout the home.

“Even before the kitchen remodel,” she says. The previous lighting was “very yellow glass with the bronze type of finishes,” Swennson says.

After diligently researching lighting fixtures, Swensson handpicked each fixture featured throughout the living space.

“I didn’t want them to be matchy-matchy,” she says. “I wanted them to be unique to each space and have certain elements that are the same. They’re very different light fixtures.”

J Brothers Design - Build - Remodel, Inc., 10025 County Road 116, Corcoran; 763.732.8731; jbrothershi.com J Brothers Design- Build- Remodel, Inc. @jbrothers_design_build_remodel J Brothers Design Build Remodel, Inc.

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The Lighting

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TA S T E M A K E R S

Taste of Ethiopian Flavors The flames of a fire create a new energy for Solomon Hailie and Rekik Abaineh.

Photo: xxxxxxxxx

Written by Kristie Smith — Photos by Chris Emeott

Midway Tibs

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MA P LE G R OV E COUP L E SOLOM ON HA ILIE A N D R EKI K A BA IN EH are taking

their passion and talented cooking skills in a new direction with their Bole Ethiopian Cuisine restaurants after a fire and the verge of closing their doors ground everything to a halt. “My wife and I were just doing the cooking,” Hailie says about the tragic fire that occurred at the original Bole location in St. Paul. “Our mindset was on fire. We couldn’t see from the outside in.” The love of community the two felt in that desperate moment reset their path, and they finally felt their culinary calling.

Their vision changed, and Bole Express in Minneapolis’ Seward neighborhood opened its doors. Great reviews about the food, which Hailie says can be credited to his berbere and injera, are keeping his doors open and customers happy at both the Minneapolis location and the reopened location of Bole Ethiopian Cuisine in a new location in St. Paul.

Hailie says his Berbere combines 15 ingredients and helps make all of his dishes truly Ethiopian, while the injera, a type of flatbread, is used like a utensil in Ethiopian culture.

“Americans are open to new food and culture,” Hailie says. “When you come in, you see half of the guests are Ethiopian, [and] they really relate to the dishes we create. Our main goal is to encourage a connection to this food, so people can learn more about what they don’t know yet.”

Both Hailie and Abaineh came to Minnesota from a small town called Bole in Ethiopia, which Hailie says is akin to a city like Maple Grove. “I won the lottery,” he says, about obtaining a visa to immigrate here. “The business is my hard work, my American Dream.”

Living in Maple Grove has helped the couple craft their menus. “We invited our neighbors over to try our foods and tell us what they thought,” Hailie says. “We love our neighbors, and we just keep talking.”

The menus at both restaurants are vegan focused and include traditional stews as well as dishes like the Miser, a split lentil dish, and Sambusas, which are pastries that can also include beef. Hailie’s favorite dish is Kitfo, a prime beef tartare, that is a traditional dish originating from the Southwest Ethiopian Gurage tribe, Hailie says.

As Hailie continues trying new recipes with his neighborhood tasting parties, he also has his sights set on expansion of his restaurant

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locations. Along with the Bole Express location in Minneapolis, his larger restaurant in St. Paul moved after the fire from Midway to the Como neighborhood. “Our Bole Express is one of five, fast-casual counter service restaurants we are working to open,” he says. “Bole Express will be the primary cooking location, and we will transport to other locations.”

In the meantime, Hailie says his wife is the “superwoman” behind the business, and her baking skills are even better than her cooking. “I love her desserts. It’s not our tradition, but people are loving them,” Hailie says. You’ll see Millefoglie, or Mille-feuille, a French word that means one thousand leaves, which is a dessert made with layers of puff pastry and freshly made vanilla cream on the menu on weekends, along with seasonal desserts like Crème Brulee, Baklava and Ricotta Pie.

Solomon Hailie and Rekik Abaineh

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Half & Half

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Take a Sneak Peek at the Menu • Berbere: A versatile blend of dried spices, including besobela seed, chili pepper, coriander, garlic, ginger and paprika. It creates a spicy chili tang balanced with a sweet, citrusy note.

• Injera: A pancake-like, fermented bread made with teff (see below).

• Kitfo: A prime beef tartare, seasoned with butter, herbs and mitmita.

• Millefoglie: A dessert made of puff pastry and vanilla cream, also known as Mille-feuille.

• Miser: A split lentil dish simmered in oil, onions, garlic, curry, ginger and berbere.

• Mitmita: An orange-red spice blend typically made from chili, cloves, korarima and salt.

• Sambusa: A stuffed triangular pastry that can be filled with beef or vegetables.

• Teff: An ancient, Ethiopian superfood-like grain, resembling the size of a poppy seed. It is glutenfree, mild in flavor and packed with calcium and a resistant starch that’s said to benefit blood sugar, weight control and colon health.

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Hailie says perhaps someday soon he will bring one of his fast-casual Ethiopian spots to Maple Grove. For now, everyone is invited to join him in his backyard to taste new creations and learn about each other. “I know the restaurant business tells you not to bring work home, but we can’t help but talk about it,” he says. “At a time like this, it really pays off to have human support.

We all have a lot to give.”

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GROOMING

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O N T H E TOW N

From remodeling to interior design, the Maple Grove Home Show covers it all.

M A KE YO U R WAY to the Maple Grove Community Center, 12951

Weaver Lake Road, for the biannual Maple Grove Home Show from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. on March 16. The free event, sponsored by Minnesota Home Shows, includes resources, savings and more than 120 professionals in several different areas, such as landscaping and gardening, patios and decks, heating and air, solar, remodeling and new construction, kitchens, baths, home furnishings, windows and doors and more.

If you’re one of the first 100 attendees, expect to receive a goodie bag with items from participating exhibitors. Prize giveaways will also happen throughout the day. —Hailey Almsted

Compiled by Findlay Drabrant and Hailey Almsted

LOCAL EVENTS

March Wine Dinner 03/10 Join the Lookout Bar and Grill for its wine dinner. The March menu includes Irish Leek and Potato Soup, Reuben Egg Rolls, Guinness Braised Beef Pot Pie and Baileys

To learn more, visit minnesotahomeshows.com, or call 952.232.1765.

Cake Truffles. All ages. Reservations required.

Lookout Bar and Grill, 8672 Pineview Lane N.; 763.424.4365; lookoutbarandgrill.com

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iStock.com/vVictoriiaKovalchuk

CURATE YOUR HOME

l o ca l t h i n g s to se e a n d d o

Meet

American Sewing Guild 03/18 Join the Maple Grove/Plymouth American Sewing Guild in its March project, Sewing for Service. Meetings include tips, show and tell of projects and mentorship. All

ages. Free. 6–8 p.m. Maple Grove Library, 8001 Main St.; 763.439.4642; asg-mpls-stpaul.org

Abstract Opening Reception 03/28 The Maple Grove Arts Center opens its spring media show, including pieces on colors, shape, placement and playfulness.

The show runs from March 19 through May 3. All ages. 6:30–8:30 p.m. Maple Grove Arts Center, 11666 Fountains Drive; 763.370.3003; maplegroveartscenter.org

Under the Tuscan Sun 04/11 and 04/13 Join Total Wine in Maple Grove in experiencing the taste of the Tuscan countryside.

Explore the history of Tuscany’s beverages and sample hand-picked red and white wines. Ages 21 and older. $20/person.

6:30–8:30 p.m. Total Wine & More, 12795 Elm Creek Blvd. N.; 763.488.3300; totalwine.com

Tape, Shake, Scrape 04/14 The Maple Grove Library hosts a percussion instruments class for babies, preschoolers and toddlers. Enjoy and respond to classical music led by early childhood music specialists. Ages 0–5. Free. 1–2 p.m.

Maple Grove Library, 8001 Main St. N.; 612.543.6450; hclib.bibliocommons.com

Magnus Veterans Foundation Benefit Concert

Madeline Kopiecki digital editor

04/20 Award-winning vocalist Cindi Scheffler and pianist Peter Schultz perform songs from the great American songbook and Broadway in support of the Magnus Veterans Foundation. Ages 18 and older. Prices vary, call for a group reservation. 6–7 p.m. St. Joseph the Worker,, 7180 Hemlock Lane N.; 763.639.2035; magnusveteransfoundation.org

Young Professionals Group Happy Hour 04/25 Build connections, hear how to get

Q: How do you like to unwind?

A: I love finding new recipes to try, particularly homemade ingredients such as quick pickles, red pepper flakes and homegrown herb blends.

Q: What’s currently sparking your interest?

A: I’ve been experimenting with growing different herbs with my AeroGarden. I’m well versed with staples like basil and thyme, but currently I’m trying out chervil and marjoram.

(Which, of course, also leads to new recipes to try.)

involved and enjoy pizza and beer with Maple Grove’s I-94 West Chamber.

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lo c al things to se e an d do

O N T H E TOW N

Hairspray

Ages 21 and older. Free. 3:30–4:30 p.m.

Omni Brewing Co., 9462 Deerwood Lane N.; i94westchamber.org

vary. Times vary. 600 First Ave. N., Mpls.; 612.673.1300; targetcenter.com

Hairspray

event will have a 5K and a 10K and a free race for kids. All ages. $0–$54. 8:45

a.m. NE Main Street and Third Avenue NE, Mpls.; 651.289.7700; tcmevents.org

03/12–03/17

Nordic Village 03/01–03/31 The Four Seasons Hotel Minneapolis is

Hairspray production features 16-year-

Giselle

old Tracy Turnblad, who takes on 1960s

03/23–03/24

Baltimore, hoping to be featured on a

The Metropolitan Ballet of Minneapolis

popular TV show. All ages. $44–$162.

and St. Paul presents Giselle, the story

Times vary. Ordway, 345 Washington St., St. Paul; 651.224.4222; ordway.org

offering a cozy winter dining expericabins available to rent for dinners, private events and buyouts Wednesdays

03/13–03/17

through Sundays through March 31.

Experience the excitement of seeing some

All ages. Prices vary. 5 p.m. Four Seasons Hotel Minneapolis, 245 Hennepin Ave., Mpls.; 612.895.5700; fourseasons.com

of the nation’s best NCAA Division I bas-

Big Ten Women’s Basketball Tournament

heart is broken when she discovers the man she adores is engaged to some-

Big Ten Men’s Basketball Tournament

ence with seasonally decorated cedar

of a young girl in the 19th century whose

one else. All ages. Prices vary. Times vary.

Northrop Auditorium, 84 Church St. SE, Mpls.; 612.625.6600; northrop.umn.edu

ketball teams play at the Target Center.

All ages. Prices vary. Times vary. 600 First Ave. N., Mpls.; 612.673.1300; targetcenter.com

Hot Dash

To have your event considered: email maplegrovemag@localmedia.co by the 10th of the month three months prior to publication. Please note that

03/06–03/10

03/23

some events/dates and even some busi-

See one of the biggest postseason

Tackle the cold in true Minnesota fash-

ness operations may have changed since

events in women’s basketball at the

ion and race around the Mississippi

these pages went to print. Please visit

Target Center. All ages. Ticket prices

River with Twin Cities in Motion. This

affiliated websites for updates.

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Photo: Jeremy Daniel

AREA EVENTS

DONATO’S FLORAL EST. 1988

LIFE CHANGING COMMUNITY Surrounding yourself with people who will be there for you creates lasting change.

Together, we charge forward to change the conversation about fitness. At Burn Boot Camp, we build each other up.

Donato’s Floral is a family owned business. We have been a part of this community for over 35 wonderful years. We deliver daily joy with natural botanicals.

Maple Grove Resident for 26+ Years 1,715+ thrilled clients Voted #1 Realtor in Maple Grove Scan QR code for latest offers!

Burn Boot Camp 14500 Weaver Lake Road 651.600.1517 burnbootcamp.com/maple-grove-mn

Donato’s Floral 10200 73rd Ave. N. Suite #102 763.416.0488 donatosfloral.com

Jarrod Peterson Real Estate Group 7767 Elm Creek Blvd.

763.258.4400 askjarrodheknows.com

We are a local family business of licensed health insurance agents dedicated to help you with all your health insurance needs.

Medicare Prescription Drug Individual/Family Health Small Group

Maranatha Christian Academy is an innovative PK-Grade 12 school that prepares your child for college, career and life.

TruBlue is ready to help with any handyman or home modification services. We strive to be your most trusted, accessible home ally in protecting and maintaining your home.

Twin Cities Health Insurance Solutions, Inc 7044 East Fish Lake Road 763.280.8882 medicareoptionsmn.com

Enroll today.

License# BC807459 Maranatha Christian Academy 9201 75th Ave. N. 763.488.7900 mcamustangs.org

TruBlue Home Service Ally Plymouth & Maple Grove 763.400.3748 trublueally.com/plymouth-maple-grove 39

LAST GLANCE

Beauty in All Seasons Reflect on the transformative power of nature.

“I photograph blooms and plants in their prime for Bailey Nurseries marketing and advertising. I enjoy finding and bringing out beauty in the details of each plant and get lost in those experiences making connecting with what I see. Here, I wanted to show that, even after life is drained from plant cells, beauty still exists in the skeleton that remains. Beauty in all seasons,” says professional photographer Tracy Walsh. —Hailey Almsted

Photographer: Tracy Walsh

Title: Magnolia Skeleton Leaf

Equipment: Canon EOS R5 with a 100 mm lens Location: Walsh’s Maple Grove home Category: Abstract Award: First

View Magnolia Skeleton Leaf at the Maple Grove Arts Center through March 8.

To view other Focus on Maple Grove photo contest winners, visit maplegrovemag.com.

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