Northern Adventures Winter 2024

FROM THE PUBLISHER

Welcome to the winter edition of Northern Adventures.

In this issue, we provide articles on information to help you celebrate the winter season and on women who have enhanced the quality of life here in northeastern Minnesota.

There’s the article about some exciting news on the forefront in the Grand Rapids area where plans are underway for the future Mad Bear Alpine Area including lodging and a great place to ski, snowboard and snow tube.

Lee Bloomquist fills us in on the popular northeastern Minnesota sport of winter fat bike riding and how exhilarating it is to get out and ride Redhead and other area trails, making northeastern Minnesota a mountain bike destination.

Scope out the articles on wellness and self-care including therapeutic massage therapists Amy Murray and Marie Hannuksela who operate out of The Cutting Edge Salon in Aurora and Seija Isaacs and Innate North (formerly Northland Chiropractic) helping patients become healthy and make better lifestyle choices.

An article on the Itasca Curling Association introduces us to a local curling club that welcomes anyone and everyone to come enjoy the sport.

A story of two women who chased their dreams and achieved success as entrepreneurs is an inspiring read, and don’t miss Jaimie Niska’s article on Nicki Johnson, the color lady, whose creative design talent has helped many with their home remodeling and building projects in her design position at Pohaki in Virginia.

In case you need a break from the winter weather, escape to Valencia with an article on a special trip to Spain.

Enjoy this issue, readers, and if you have any comments or ideas for us, please don’t hesitate to contact us.

All the best to you and yours in 2024!

Take care, Alison Stanaway

Unwinding & Therapeutic Massage in the Northland

DIFFERENT THERAPISTS AND TECHNIQUES, SAME END GOAL = HELPING OTHERS

by Jaimie Niska

THE CUTTING EDGE SALON IN AURORA IS CURRENTLY HOME TO TWO OF THE IRON RANGE’S MOST TALENTED MASSAGE THERAPISTS.

Amy Murray and Maria Hannuksela have both been part of the massage industry for years, both serving in various capacities and different salons along the way.

When it comes to wellness and self-care in the northland (well, anywhere), massage can play an important role in one’s wellness pathway.

Murray and Hannuksela offer differing massage techniques — each serving a purpose for their clients and their clientele’s needs. Yet, both have the same end goal in mind: helping others.

For this issue, we take a deeper look at each of these talented, local ladies and share a side-by-side look at each of them.

Though their massage techniques may vary, they share the same unselfish desire to help others.

Amy Murray — Unwind with Amy

HOW DID YOU GET STARTED IN MASSAGE?

“I started in massage when I was working for St Louis County 911. I really enjoyed helping people, and I wanted to find a new way to do that. I was looking for something that I could do around my family’s schedule, while continuing to help people. I started school at Duluth Business University, and after many years of part-time school and full-time work and motherhood, I graduated in 2016 and started work at Laurentian Divide Salon in Virginia. I have worked at the salon and have offered mobile massage services until I started my current business, “Unwind with Amy” located at Cutting Edge Salon in Aurora in 2023.”

HOW LONG HAVE YOU BEEN A PART OF THE MASSAGE THERAPY INDUSTRY?

“I have been active in the massage industry since 2016.”

EXPLAIN THE DIFFERENT TECHNIQUES YOU OFFER.

“I offer numerous techniques like Swedish (relaxation), deep tissue, Body Balancing (combo of myofascial and craniosacral massage), pregnancy, lymphatic massage. I prefer to personalize my massages depending on my clients’ goals and needs. Most of my massages end up being a combination of a few techniques to accomplish those goals and needs, again, based on my individual’s needs.

massage. It involves holding areas of the body, checking for places that are “stuck” and allowing the fascia to unwind. It has been described by some clients, ’like cling wrap being removed from areas.’ It can also release emotions that are held in the body, and clients may even cry during the session or after. It is a fabulous option for all ages.”

WHAT TYPES OF CONTINUED TRAINING/CLASSES DO YOU PARTAKE IN?

Along with an associate degree in medical Massage Therapy, I have completed several continuing education classes with Dynamic Body Balancing and Associated Bodywork & Massage Professionals (ABMP).

A lot of people think of Swedish massage when they think of massage, in general, and especially when they haven’t been exposed to the different techniques available. It typically consists of a full-body relaxation massage with various pressures and movements.

Deep tissue is available for relieving muscle tension or pain. It is usually focused on a specific area of the body. While some people think it means very hard pressure and sometimes painful, the techniques that I use involve moving slowly with the body until it allows me in. I have had a client tell me that I get right to the edge of painful but never push over it.

Pregnancy massage can be done safely throughout a pregnancy to help the mother with body aches and may even assist in making labor easier. Depending on when you receive the massage, it may be side lying with pillows to make you comfortable.

Lymphatic massage is a very light, slow-moving massage that helps move lymph through the body. I have given my Grannie lymphatic massage on her legs to help her deal with her restless legs. She told me she never wanted a massage before, but after I was able to help her through this particular type of massage, she told me, “Why did I wait so long?”

Body Balancing or unwinding is a technique that can be done fully clothed or incorporated into another

HOW DOES MASSAGE THERAPY CONTRIBUTE TO HEALING IN THE BODY?

“Massage helps reduce stress, can decrease headaches, relieve muscle pain, and even help people sleep better. The body is amazing at healing itself, and, as a massage therapist, I let my client’s body guide me in what it needs.”

WHEN IT COMES TO CHOOSING A MASSAGE THERAPIST, WHAT WOULD YOU TELL A CLIENT?

“No two massages or massage therapists are the same. I encourage all to try and find someone who you feel comfortable and connect with. You should talk with them about what you are looking for and what they offer. We all have different approaches so you should be able to find someone that’s a great fit for you!”

WHY SHOULD SOMEONE CONSIDER IMPLEMENTING MASSAGE INTO REGULAR SELF-CARE?

“I believe massage is a pain prevention protocol.”

Amy Murray - Unwind with Amy

ARE THERE ANY EXAMPLES OF RELIEF THAT YOUR PATIENTS HAVE EXPERIENCED?

“I have had numerous patients tell me they don’t have headaches as often; some experience their best night of sleep in years. Others are able to walk with less pain. Expectant mothers have reduced lower back pain during pregnancy. Other clients have had massage to help relieve numbness and tingling in fingers. Some have been relieved from plantar fasciitis or sciatica pain, while other clients have thankfully experienced an increased range of motion.

One of my favorite stories is about a client who told me she could finally shave her legs again. She hadn’t been able to hold a razor due to an accident that had caused lots of scarring and tension in her arm and hand. How amazing it is to be able to function normally again.”

CONTACT INFO

AND HOURS OF OPERATION: CALL OR TEXT AMY AT 218.750.7937. FIND UNWIND WITH AMY ON FACEBOOK AND INSTAGRAM.

HOURS:

EVENINGS AND LIMITED SATURDAYS BY APPOINTMENT. AVAILABILITY INCREASES IN SUMMER MONTHS.

Maria Hannuksela — Therapeutic Hands Massage & Bodywork

HOW DID YOU GET STARTED IN MASSAGE?

“Right after high school, I went into Dental Assisting and actually worked at the Gilbert Dental for more than 25 years. I would have never even imagined that I could change occupations at that point in my career, so I feel God just opened up the door for me. I was homeschooling my children at the time, and I was wanting to find a job where I could make my own hours and still homeschool if possible. After the dental office closed their doors, that’s when I prayfully pursued massage therapy training while working part time at another dental office.”

HOW LONG HAVE YOU BEEN A PART OF THE MASSAGE THERAPY INDUSTRY?

“I have been doing massage and bodywork since 2014.”

EXPLAIN THE DIFFERENT TECHNIQUES YOU OFFER.

“Each client’s needs are so different. I don’t like to get stuck in techniques. I integrate many different techniques and tailor it to my clients’ individual needs. Some integrated techniques that I incorporate (where needed) are Orthopedic advanced techniques, lymphatic draining, relaxation, deep tissue (including neuromuscular deep tissue), Myofascial, hot stone and cupping integration.

Physiokinetix TNT (table neuro training) is my new passion. This particular technique involves assessing and treating common movement dysfunctions while strengthening the brain and the body. It is a multi-modality approach to manual therapy and movement science, both increasing and extending the best possible outcomes.

Many clients are in pain because their bodies are unstable. Physiokinetix is a treatment and training approach both right on my table and something that can be replicated by my clients at home. With Physiokinetix, my job is to make my client stable and to encourage movement at home to help with pain management. My intention with every client is to balance the body. When the head and the hips are balanced, the brain can then let go of muscle guarding.”

WHAT TYPES OF CONTINUED TRAINING/CLASSES DO YOU PARTAKE IN?

“While I love pampering my clients, most of them also want pain relief. I have always focused on classes that help prevent and manage pain. The first class I took was Myoskeletal with Erik Dalton. I am certified in Orthopedic and Pain management through James Waslaski’s Center for Pain Management, Physiokinetix with Paul Kelly and Lymphatic Mojo with Dr Perry Nickelston of Stop Chasing Pain.”

HOW DOES MASSAGE THERAPY CONTRIBUTE TO HEALING IN THE BODY?

“There could be a whole article on this one! The healing benefits are many. Massage and/or bodywork helps to increase blood flow and circulation, which deliver oxygen and nutrients to muscles. It helps to relieve pain and muscle tension. Clients say they feel more relaxed and calmer – it has a calming effect on the nervous system. Just 10 minutes of massage activates the body’s parasympathetic nervous system and increases the

heart rate variability, leading to a greater feeling of relaxation. It stimulates the vagus nerve which, when stimulated, helps get you out of fight or flight and into healing mode.

I also truly believe there is a mental benefit when it comes to massage. When clients realize the benefits of massage, especially women who are caregivers AND don’t take the time for themselves or their own self-care, they end up being so happy they finally took the time to come. We can take care of others better if we are taking care of ourselves.”

WHEN IT COMES TO CHOOSING A MASSAGE THERAPIST, WHAT WOULD YOU TELL A CLIENT?

There are so many modalities for massage I tell them to get as many massages as you can because you will find what type of massage works for you! I also feel each therapist brings their own unique gift to their client and just be willing to receive!

WHY SHOULD SOMEONE CONSIDER IMPLEMENTING MASSAGE INTO REGULAR SELF-CARE?

“I believe massage is a pain prevention protocol. Also, when we take care of ourselves, we can be better caregivers to others.

WHY DO YOU CONTINUE TO OFFER MASSAGE THERAPY FOR CLIENTS?

“I truly am in awe of the human body and how it is actually always trying to heal and to balance itself. I could talk and talk about how much I love this job – I truly am so thankful God has allowed me to be in this field. When the dental office was closing, I was actually devastated about what I should do. God led me on this path, and now I can truly say he knew what he was doing. I always say, God had to take away my key at the dental

office because I never would have left.

When God closes one door, he opens another. I also know that God is truly the only one who knows what my clients need. I have a verse in my room I always look to remind myself that He will do the work: ’I will cry unto the God most high; unto GOD that performeth all things for me. Psalms 57:2’.”

ARE THERE ANY EXAMPLES OF RELIEF THAT YOUR PATIENTS HAVE EXPERIENCED?

Some examples clients have reported relief from are help with headaches or migraines, S.I. pain, sciatic pain, neck and shoulder pain, plantar fasciitis and hip pain. When my clients do get relief from something, sometimes their body just gets “stuck,” because it is truly their body doing it. I am just facilitating their healing and reminding their body how to move or flow. And, sometimes massage and bodywork are just a part of the puzzle to their healing, as pain can be from so many things.

CONTACT INFO

AND HOURS OF OPERATION:

CALL OR TEXT MARIA AT 218.780.3994.

FIND THERAPEUTIC HANDS MASSAGE & BODYWORK ON FACEBOOK.

HOURS:

MON-FRI 8-5, BUT WILL WORK LATER IN THE EVENING OR WEEKENDS TO HELP PEOPLE GET IN.

Jaimie Niska grew up in Cherry, Minnesota, and currently resides in Mountain Iron. She’s a lifelong resident of the Iron Range and loves to find and share the positive, unique stories that make the region “home.”

Maria Hannuksela — Therapeutic Hands Massage & Bodywork

THE STORY BEHIND Mad Bear Alpine Area

By Rebekah Sutherland

JEFF

FORTUNE, A LOCAL FROM GRAND RAPIDS, MINN., STARTED SNOWBOARDING IN 1986 AND WITHIN TWO YEARS WAS SIGNED TO AN ENDORSEMENT CONTRACT WITH LOOK SNOWBOARDS. He did that for a couple of years on the Upper Midwest tour. It was a pro contract, but he humbly said that there were only 150-200 guys in the tri state area snowboarding and so his odds were good that he would get a contract.

But it was tough; it was like a second job, and it became a lot of work. “I just got burnt out, and I dipped away from the whole industry for a couple of years, enlisted in the service and joined the Navy. The ironic thing is that I left the snowboard circuit because I got tired of traveling all the time, but then I joined the Navy,” Fortune commented.

He quickly came back to snowboarding though and tried to get back into the competitive circuit but said that he missed his window. He said the younger generation had elevated the discipline of freestyle snowboarding to a level he wasn’t comfortable with. Little did he know at the time that his career for over the next 30 years would be in this environment.

The snowboarding world that Fortune grew up in looked much different than it does today. The sport was

evolving at the time, and many people looked at it like skateboarding. Many people looked at it in an unflattering way. Skiing was considered a classy, affluent sport and snowboarding a new, inferior sport that enabled “riffraff” to join.

But for Fortune and his friends, snowboarding meant doing things that people didn’t know were possible, and they became pioneers on that end of it.

Fortune touched on his history of skiing and snowboarding at Sugar Hills and Quadna Mountain. He said that he and his buddies would ski in the morning at Sugar and go find hills to hike and snowboard in the afternoon. Gary Aubrey was “instrumental” and created his own snowboard line for some time.

Fortune said he called Tom Page, manager of Quadna Mountain, and asked if they could snowboard there. Page asked what it was, and when Fortune explained it, Page said, “Come out and let me look at it.” When Page looked over the boards, he said he had no problem with them snowboarding at Quadna Mountain.

More and more people started snowboarding there until Quadna Mountain had the first snowboard competition in the Midwest as well as the first halfpipe in the Midwest. They had a sign for one run that was for snowboarders only in 1988. Fortune said, “That was the most radical thing you could have done back then.” Fortune said he was grateful for Page.

“Quadna became a place where they fostered a culture for progressive snowboarding, and they embraced it with open arms right from the get-go.”

Fortune wanted to recognize Page, Frank Allen and Brett Haugen for being instrumental for snowboarding to take root and inspired him to want to do more in the industry.

Sugar Hills closed in 1988 and Quadna Mountain in 1998, almost to the day, Fortune said.

Fortune was then led to Mount Itasca where they had rolled out the natural snow in the “old way.” It was packed, and it was exciting.

“I always feel like things you do in life prepare you for the next section of your life, the next chapter of your life."

In the spring of 1998, Fortune started his involvement with Mt. Itasca, which would lead to a twenty-four-year commitment to the business, 18 years as manager. Fortune also started the first snowboard competition at Mt. Itasca, called the Rex Montis, which is Latin for King of the Mountain. The Rex Montis series ran for 25 years, with their last event running in the spring of 2023.

— Jeff Fortune

Fortune developed his career at Mt. Itasca. He stepped up in 2003 to start running it. Fortune said that he always wanted to make money from snowboarding and thinks it’s ironic that “you think it’ll happen one way, and then it happens in a different way.” He’s thankful for the impact he’s been able to have on the area’s youth. “We put so much support behind traditional sports and rightly so, but I think we miss the opportunity on some of the alternative sports.”

“I always feel like things you do in life prepare you for the next section of your life, the next chapter of your life. Like in the military, I drove tanks for the Army for a couple of years and well, running grooming equipment is just like operating a tank. They turn the same way. So, you draw from those experiences.”

In 2018, Fortune left Mt. Itasca and went to Giants Ridge where he was hired as their Equipment Rental Shop Manager. At Giants Ridge, he found a “compartmentalized corporate structure” with a “high performance environment” and was able to learn a lot from the differences of the two businesses. All in all, Fortune feels like his past experiences have led him to be the perfect person to lead the next outdoor recreational alpine area: Mad Bear Alpine Area.

Mad Bear was the front-runner of the old Sugar Hills facility, and Fortune wanted to pay homage to it; and thus, they came up with the name Mad Bear Alpine Area LLC. They were particular to use alpine in the name because the area will encompass everything –

skiing, snowboarding, tubing, mountain biking, telemark skiing, anything that they want to do on the hill that is related to the alpine mountain culture.

The Mad Bear project came about over a pint of beer. Fortune was sitting at a bar with a couple of guys a decade ago. They were sharing nostalgic memories, and Ryan Mogan, who is Fortune’s partner with this project, was as excited about the prospect of a new venture as Fortune was.

it; it airs up your hillside. We have a perfect drop where we’re going to put it. We’ll be the only ones east of Salt Lake City, Utah to have this.” Fortune was very excited about this because they will be able to use that in the summer and spring time, which is part of their goal, to make the alpine area a year-round facility with more than just mountain biking.

They went on several different paths to try to access the old area at Sugar Hills. And then four years back, what they thought was tax forfeited property was county owned, and a possibility opened. It came up for bids in October 2021; they won the bid. Once they acquired the property, the project was set in motion.

The land that they acquired has “about 1,650 feet of elevation, which will be a legitimate drop for a ski area. When you walk the property and see the property, it commands respect. The problem is that the topography does not lend itself to be easily logged. While we were anticipating having most of that done within the last year, it hasn’t happened.” They have had four different logging operations look at it. Fortune said that they want to cut trails where most of the loggers want to take everything, all the timber.

One of the goals is preservation. Fortune said that they have taken a page from the playbook of Mount Bohemia in Michigan. “We’re going to do a couple of cleared runs for a snowboarding terrain park, the Mountain Lab section, that will have high speed rope tow access, as early as 2024. The rest of it is going to be taking and removing the smaller trees and leaving the larger growth, called glade style skiing or snowboarding. You’re essentially tree skiing; it’s not open runs but open enough to negotiate around the trees.”

For 2024, the immediate business plan is restructured to accommodate putting in the snowboard terrain park and “a big airbag component, which is a giant landing platform for skiing and snowboarding. What’s beautiful about that is you don’t have to make any snow underneath

Planning for yurt-styled chalet, yurt-styled minimalist lodging, Fortune is looking to do something that nobody else is doing, “the whole thing is going to be an entirely different feel from, let’s say, going to a larger commercial ski area.”

2025 is a “realistic expectation” to have some of their other projects done, like snow tubing and the runs cleared. They have been looking for an aerial lift but that will be five to seven years out.

“We’re counting on the nostalgia from the Sugar Hills community and seeing interest in investment opportunities and excitement from the public,” Fortune said.

As well as lodging and a great place to ski and snowboard, they are also planning on having a first-rate restaurant and chef for their chalet.

“For me, Mad Bear is completing the circle and going back to where I learned to fall in love with the sport,” Fortune said. The first snowboard he had was one his dad made with makeshift bindings, and that’s what he learned to snowboard on.

When his friend asked if he was nervous about building Mad Bear Alpine, Fortune said yes, to which his friend replied, “Good, then you know you are going in the right direction.” Fortune believes that the things in life that are difficult are the worthwhile things, and he knows that this is going to take a lot of work but is excited to bring something new and exciting to the community and surrounding communities that “leaves an impact on people.”

Rebekah Sutherland is the editor of Grand Rapids Herald Review.

G loria Dei Lutheran Church - LCMS 6959 Hwy 169, Virginia 218-741-1977

Pastor Zachar y Klumpp

Ser vice Time 9:00 am

Communion ever y Sunday

Redeemer Lutheran Church - LCMS 500WCentral Ave, Aurora, MN 218-229-3208 or 218-741-1977

Pastor Zachar y Klumpp

Ser vice Time 11:00 am

ST. MARK’S LUTHERAN CHURCH, PALO

4096 Highway 100, Aurora, MN 55705 218-638-2222 • stmarkslutheranpalo@gmail.com

Pastor Jeanne Madsen

WORSHIP SERVICE 8:30 AM

Ser vices are also available on Facebook at StMarks LutheranChurch-Palo, and “drive-in” worship on 99.3 FM radio Gethsemane Lutheran Church ELCA

Saturday 4:30 p.m.

Sunday ...... 8:00 a.m. & 10:00 a.m. DAILY MASS TIMES

Monday - Friday ............. 8:30 a.m.

MCS Middle School M-Th 10:45 a.m. (when schools in session) CONFESSIONS

Hours: Mon.-Thurs., 8:00 a.m.-3:00 p.m. | Closed Fridays www.holyspiritvirginia.com Please call the parish for Holy Day and liturgical season time changes. WEEKEND MASS TIMES

Wednesday 4:45 p.m. Saturday ............................. 3:00 p.m. EUCHARISTIC ADORATION Tuesday ....... 9:00 a.m. to 9:00 p.m. Thursday ..... 9:00 a.m. to 9:00 p.m.

Marquette Catholic School 23-24 school year PreK - 8th grade PARISH OFFICE

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Virginia

Burn your “fat” at Redhead, other area bike parks

TEN MILES OF FAT BIKE TRAILS OPEN AT REDHEAD FOR WINTER RIDING

By Lee Bloomquist

JOEL SJOGREN SEES IT EVERY DAY AT THE 30WEST BIKE SHOP HE CO-OWNS AT MINNESOTA DISCOVERY CENTER IN CHISHOLM.

“Biking culture on the Range is growing,” Sjogren said. “I think geographically we’re in a unique spot because of all the opportunities. We’ve really seen it grow in the shop in the last few years.”

30West rents, sells, and assembles bicycles, sells accessories at its shop a few hundred feet from the Redhead Mountain Bike Park Trailhead.

Redhead, along with Tioga Recreation Area in Cohasset, Giants Ridge in Biwabik, and Cuyuna Country State Recreation Area in Crosby, have turned northeastern Minnesota into a mountain bike destination.

And now, Redhead is offering riders an expanded experience.

Miles of groomed winter fat bike trails are open for biking.

“We’re going to have up to 10 miles on the north side of the park near the trailhead,” Jordan Metsa, Minnesota Discovery Center Development and Marketing director, said. “We’re excited to have another season here and extend the (biking) season.”

Mountain bike riding at the four northeastern Minnesota bike parks has exploded in the last few years.

“Biking is a growing sport, and we’re excited to show this nationally known park,” Briana Sterle, an Iron Range Off-Road Cyclists member said of Redhead. “The word is getting out, and we’re going to see more trails. As more amenities pop up in our region and places for people to stay, we’ll see more traffic.”

In Chisholm, adjacent to Redhead, an increase in bicycle tourism traffic has been visible, say city officials.

“Anecdotally, we’ve seen more bikes in downtown,” Bridgit Maruska, city of Chisholm Parks, Trails and Recreation director said. “We’re seeing a lot of people out of the Minneapolis area. We’re hearing the Twin Cities is the area where most are coming from, and they are spending the night. They go to Tioga and Redhead when they come up here.”

Mountain biking draws the most visitors to the park during warmer weather.

But with winter here, it’s fat biking that’s now in season.

Fat bikes feature wide tires with aggressive tread that allows riders to ride on snow.

Most fat bikes have four-inch-wide tires.

Some have five-inch-wide tires.

Fat bikes mean bicycle enthusiasts who ride mountain bikes, hybrids, or road bikes during spring, summer and fall, can extend their riding season on a fat bike.

Riding in the glimmering snow within one of the

state’s most stunning bike parks is a thrill, Metsa said.

Snowshoeing is also open at Redhead on the same trails used by fat bikers.

Snowshoeing on the trails early in the snow season helps pack the trails for fat biking, Metsa said.

Redhead is built in and around a former Iron Range natural iron ore mine.

“Winter riding at Redhead is an experience worth coming here for,” Metsa said. “You’re going to see these beautiful cliffs, shimmering snow and beautiful mining vistas where there’s trees without leaves on them.”

Jordan Metsa — Minnesota Discovery Center Development and Marketing director

The rugged, sheer mine walls, deep mine pit, myriad of winding trails and abundant trees, make for a postcard-like picture.

“Winter riding at Redhead is an experience worth coming here for,” Metsa said. “You’re going to see these beautiful cliffs, shimmering snow and beautiful mining vistas where there’s trees without leaves on them.”

It’s not just hard-core riders who love winter fat biking, Metsa said.

“We’re seeing more and more families,” Metsa said. “Snowshoeing is kind of the big thing for families, but now that we are offering bike rentals, we hope to see more families biking.”

30West is all geared up for Redhead’s fat bike season, Sjogren said.

“One of the brands we represent is Rocky Mountain Bikes,” Sjogren said. “We’re kind of an exclusive dealer for them in our area. We have three of their e-fat bikes and a fleet of acoustic (non-electric) fat bikes.”

Fat bike rentals at 30West are available for two- or four-hour timeframes from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Thursdays through Sundays, Sjogren said.

“There’s kind of a good mix of beginner trails next to the trailhead and a lot of intermediate trails that will all be groomed,” Sjogren said. “There are some that are beginner friendly, but there’s also some that are advanced.”

Fat biking on an e-bike in the snow is a real boost for riders, Sjogren said.

“Having e-bikes at 30West I think will help,” Sjogren said. “Your power on an e-bike will multiply what you can output times four. The Rocky Mountain bikes have the highest torque in the industry.”

Maruska said the city of Chisholm, which oversees operation of Redhead, is working with Iron Range Off-Road Cyclists and Minnesota Discovery Center to develop the ideal winter trails for riding.

“We’ve learned over the course of the past couple years the struggles and barriers to having good trails,” Maruska said. “So, we’ve learned

which trails work. I think they’ve come up with good ideas for the trail system so that trails don’t get blown over with snow when the wind blows. The north rim over to a new trail system called the Pines is protected from the wind. With the rentals available now, I think people will have plenty of opportunities to learn it in small bouts in good weather. But hard-core bikers will ride anytime.”

Additional improvements at Redhead are ahead, Maruska said.

“Biking culture on the Range is growing.

I think geographically we’re in a unique spot because of all the opportunities. We’ve really seen it grow in the shop in the last few years.”

Joel Sjogren

A 12-mile trail expansion along the south side of the park, more amenities, maintenance work, a master plan and connecting the park to Chisholm, is in the works, Maruska said.

Funding for the improvements comes from the Legislative-Citizen Commission on Minnesota Resources, the state and the Minnesota Department of Iron Range Resources and Rehabilitation, Maruska said.

Winter fat biking is also available at Tioga Recreation Center, Giants Ridge and Cuyuna Country Recreation Area.

Tioga offers about 26 miles of winter fat bike trails, according to Stephanie Kessler, city of Cohasset Parks and Recreation coordinator.

Giants Ridge gives fat bike riders a choice of a total of about 10 miles of cross-country trails and down-hill gravity-fed runs, Benji Neff, Giants Ridge Mountain Sports director said.

Cuyuna Country State Recreation Area, the “grandfather” of northeastern Minnesota bike parks, has 40 miles of winter fat bike trails, including trails for adaptive cyclists, Aaron Hautala, president of Cuyuna.com said.

Together, the four parks give bikers the opportunity to ride different terrain and spend days and dollars in the region.

“You can come up for the day or for a week, and you’ll have a fun time,” Metsa said.

Prime time for winter fat biking begins in January when temperatures turn colder, and the snow firms up, Metsa said.

Bike Shop

“We do encourage people to try out a fat bike and pay attention to (tire) pressures,” Metsa said. “You need higher pressures when the trails are harder and softer pressures when trails are soft.”

Riding Redhead in the winter is an unforgettable experience, Sterle said.

“The environment is transformed into a winter wonderland,” Sterle said. “I think you can relate it to cross-country skiing with glittery and beautiful trees.”

So instead of hibernating inside all winter, Sjogren says to get out and ride.

“Being on a fat bike is a lot more fun than being on a trainer in front of a screen,” Sjogren said.

Lee Bloomquist covered the Iron Range for 24 years as a reporter for the Mesabi Daily News, Hibbing Daily Tribune and Duluth News Tribune. He also worked at Minntac Mine and 9 ½ years as an information specialist for Iron Range Resources and Rehabilitation.

— Co-Owner of 30West

By Jonathan Ryan

IN WHAT IS USUALLY THOUGHT OF AS A “HOCKEY-TOWN,” THERE IS ANOTHER WINTER SPORT PLAYED ON ICE, AND THIS TIME, ICE SKATES AREN’T REQUIRED.

Tucked away on the west side of Grand Rapids is the Itasca Curling Association (ICA), a local curling club that welcomes anyone and everyone to come and enjoy the sport.

Known as the “Friendliest Club in Minnesota,” the ICA offers opportunities to curl for all ages and levels of competitors. The ICA features four sheets of new, high-quality ice that is open for curling from early November through March, and beginners are encouraged to come and learn, or just to have fun.

The ICA has several options to curl for anyone interested in the sport. There are several leagues within the ICA where similar skill or age levels compete against each other, including senior league, casual and competitive.

The ICA offers learning opportunities for new curlers also, offering “Learn to Curl” opportunities, equipmentuse, and multiple “casual” league nights so that everyone can enjoy the sport at their respective levels.

Individuals can register to become members for access to the facility, and teams of two to four can then register to enter leagues to play one to two nights during the week. Currently, there are about 14-18 teams and openings for more. Besides “casual,” league nights, there are also senior and competitive league timeslots

throughout the week. Teams within their respective leagues generally play for around 21 weeks. For those who would like to register during the active season, ICA offers other membership options, such as a halfmembership at half-price.

ICA also hosts several “bonspiels” throughout their season, providing more opportunities for more people to gather and play. Bonspiel is a Dutch word that means “a curling tournament.” The word comes from the word “spiel,” which means game in Dutch.

The Bonspiels on the schedule for 2024 include the Junior Spiel for beginning players 21 and under, Senior Spiel for 55 and up; Caddyshack is their golf-themed tournament, and second to last, their end-of-the-year tournament and party. Teams can register for the bonspiels on the ICA’s website: itascacurling.com.

“The bonspiel experience is fantastic,” says Jordan Stejskal, the vice president of the ICA Board, who said fees also cover food and drinks for tournament participants.

Stejskal, who has only been curling for a handful of years himself, encourages anyone and everyone to come down to the club and experience curling.

“Curling is for everyone,” he says. “It’s like chess on ice - but it doesn’t matter how old you are, what your fitness level is - you can come and compete. Everybody is welcome, and it’s a fun game in that regard.”

Stejskal says if you are new to the game and would like to come and join, all you need is clean shoes on the ice and dress in athletic layers so you are comfortable while playing.

“It’s a great way to break up the winter. It gives you something to look forward to during the week,” said Stejskal.

The Itasca Curling Association is located at 902 Hale Lake Pointe in Grand Rapids. For questions regarding membership, leagues, bonspiels, or club rental, email curl@itascacurling.com, or visit itascacurling.com. To book a social event or ice rentals, visit itascacurling. com/rentals or call Jordan at 218-398-2210.

902 Hale Lake Pointe PO Box 863

Grand Rapids, MN 55744

curl@itascacurling.com

AS I DROVE UP TO THE HOME OF MY SUBJECT, NICKI JOHNSON, FOR THIS STORY, SOMETHING IN THE LOOK AND FEEL OF THE EXTERIOR OF THE HOUSE JUST FELT OFF TO ME.

I thought to myself, “Uh, this doesn’t seem like it would be Nicki’s house.” After knocking on the door of the (wrong) home, I turned around and took another look at the street sign. It wasn’t Nicki’s home.

As I approached the proper home along the same avenue, one street up, it all started to make sense.

by Jaimie

I saw a classic, large, older home brightened by a lively, yet timeless jeweltoned blue (with the slightest hint of green). White windows. Black shutters. And then I saw it…the pop of chartreuse on the front door.

Yep. This is Nicki.

Long known as “the color lady” by those familiar with Johnson’s personal design style, the colors of choice on the exterior of her family’s north side Virginia home come as no surprise.

As one enters the Johnson family home, Nicki’s love for all things design is evident from the entryway inward.

Temporarily hanging on the entryway wall, a sample piece of chartreuse wallpaper with a bold, modern navy and creamy white design, next to a piece of sample fabric — different design, similar in color. It’s really no surprise that these kinds of creative decisions might be scattered across the home of a creative mind, like Nicki’s.

She led me to her favorite room of her home — filled with windows, houseplants, piles of magazines and books, a pair of modern blue chairs, a vintage stool and a mustard yellow accent piece. A simple lamp between the two chairs was topped with a vintage flour sack-wrapped shade. Vintage wooden family-heirloom soda cases sat on the floor.

And the two-hour long conversation that filled the air that autumn evening? A fellow creative gal’s dream.

Creative Genes Run Deep

Nicki Johnson, a native Virginia resident, comes from a long history of retail, design and creative genes. She grew up in a retail environment with her parents,

Niska

Nicki Johnson - Design Services Expert, Pohaki

went on to partner with a fellow framing fanatic, and eventually owned her own framing storefront, which closed when Nicki was offered the job of her dreams as a Design Services expert at Pohaki, most recently.

“I was born into retail,” Johnson reflected. “I think that a lot of my skills today stem back to the customer service world that I grew up in.”

Though Johnson’s creativity is found in the homes of friends and neighbors across the northland today, her crazy good design skills weren’t taught but learned along the way.

“Everyone always assumes I was an art major,” said Johnson. “I was always really interested in graphic design. And I know this seems weird, but I was also interested in criminal justice; and that’s what I was trained in.”

With dreams of landing a federal job in criminal justice after college, Johnson studied under individuals who were part of the FBI, including a stint abroad.

“When I graduated,” said Johnson, “I decided I didn’t want to move from federal job to federal job, so I

eventually moved back home and started to help with the family framing business.”

And that’s when the Iron Range began to take notice of and tap into Nicki’s design talent.

“My family is very artistic, very hands on and very artsy and creative,” said Johnson. “Anyone who knows my Mom knows how passionate she is about the same kind of stuff… and my Dad was very artistic and creative himself – that ran within his family.”

A Gift for Design and Color

To this day, with a talented eye for all things color and design, Johnson questions why she didn’t pursue official training within the field, but to the benefit of the Iron Range, her talent comes naturally.

“I’ve always had the creative and artistic side to me, said Johnson. “I don’t know why I didn’t go to college for it, but I didn’t. I just wound up in it.”

Johnson credits her time spent in framing to the knowledge and experience under her belt today.

“I can equally get excited about all different styles. I can dance with all of it. I really love tapping into the client and figuring out what they’re into. ”

Nicki Johnson — Design Sevices Expert, Pohaki

“The whole ‘color lady’ nickname thing came from framing,” said Nicki. “I’d be helping someone with framing, and the conversation would just morph into the next thing – from framing and sofas to wall color and siding, I’d have people come to me because someone would refer them to me and say, ‘Go ask Nicki.’”

For Johnson, when it comes to color, specifically, it’s just something she sees.

“I can see stuff like color undertones and not everyone can, and that’s okay,” Johnson said. “I’ve spent years staring at art and color, so I can spot things a little easier.”

When seeing color is not someone’s strength, they appreciate the help and talent of Johnson.

“I think it’s a natural thing that I was just gifted,” she humbly added.

A Sense of Her Own Style

When asked about the favorite room in her own home, without hesitation, Johnson replied, “my little plant room right here.”

“I love to just sit here and read all the magazines with my coffee,” Johnson added. “I’m happy if I’m at home hanging out with my family, plants, my dogs and my magazines. I love being in my own space surrounded by everything that inspires me.”

Johnson’s personality and flair for décor and design are evident throughout her home, with a lot of interesting and unexpected things yet sprinkled with pieces from family from years gone by.

“I have a thing for everything vintage,” said Johnson. “But I like to mix a little modern aesthetic with things like vintage wood boxes and family heirlooms like this old typing table, but I love a nice piece of nicely framed art with a 100-year-old buffet pulled out of an old bar, too.”

When it comes to design inspiration for her own home, Johnson loves to spend hours at good vintage flea markets or junk hunts by herself – to channel her inner design being.

Mixing modern elements with old accent pieces and even some classic, traditional staple pieces gives the Johnson home character.

“It shows my personality, and it has more comfort,” Johnson added. “It makes my soul happy. Vintage stuff does that for me.”

“Some People look for a beautiful space. Others make a place beautiful.” – Hazrat Khan

A Flair for Helping Others

When it comes to helping others with their home remodels or builds in her current Design Services position at Pohaki, Johnson is taking notice of trends yet is cognizant of the wishes and design styles of her clients.

“In kitchen design or anywhere right now, I’m seeing and loving colors like blues, blacks or greens mixed with wood,” explained Johnson. “That’s a big trend right now. Everything you’re seeing right now is two toned somewhere, somehow.”

According to Johnson, sometimes it’s an island or stove top accent with a really cool tiled backsplash.

When it comes to Johnson’s clients, it’s not about her design style but about her client’s wishes, their style and the longevity of the design and materials.

“I appreciate trends like everyone else. But I like a little character and finding out what someone really likes and what they’re going to like for a long time.”

Nicki’s appreciation for her clients’ dreams is evident in a few major ongoing projects.

“I have a few kitchen projects in the works, and I recently visited a property that I’m really excited about,” added Johnson. “They want to incorporate a special piece in their kitchen design and keep a certain layout.”

For this project, Johnson is working to integrate log into the kitchen design, making for a lot of character within the project.

“In the end, they really want this gorgeous kitchen,” said Johnson. “For this client, it’s more about design. They have a special piece that they really want to incorporate. And, for me, it’s really about making sure the final design goes with the whole aesthetic of the home. It’s going to be a challenge, but I’m super excited about it.”

Admittedly, Johnson noted that there are certain styles that aren’t always her favorites. However, she recognizes and appreciates the styles of others.

“I can equally get excited about all different styles,” Johnson said. “I can dance with all of it. I really love tapping into the client and figuring out what they’re into. The thing about me is that my appreciation for all things design is all over the map. And maybe that’s why I work well with people.”

Perhaps that’s what’s best when it comes to working with and trusting someone like Nicki when it comes to home design and decor here in the northland.

“Designing houses and decorating houses…it all just speaks to my soul.”

Nicki Johnson, Design Services Expert, can be reached at 218.741.3014 or by email at: nicki@pohaki.com.

Jaimie Niska grew up in Cherry, Minnesota, and currently resides in Mountain Iron. She’s a lifelong resident of the Iron Range and loves to find and share the positive, unique stories that make the region “home.”

By Megan Uhan

BECOMING AN ENTREPRENEUR IS DAUNTING… BECOMING AN ENTREPRENEUR IN A RURAL AREA IS EVEN MORE DAUNTING… AND BECOMING AN ENTREPRENEUR IN A RURAL AREA AS A WOMAN IS TERRIFYING.

The evolution of women in the workforce is fascinating, and the number of female entrepreneurs continues to grow. According to a report from the University of Minnesota, in 1997, 70% of Minnesota women were employed in the waged workforce, but only 1 in 10 were in top corporate positions, and only 6.25% held corporate board of director seats. Fast forward to 2022, and 41% of Minnesota businesses are owned by women. Not only have women made a move in the workforce, but many have taken the leap into business ownership.

Jodee Micheletti and Brittany Debeltz, two of our fellow Iron Range ladies, are prime examples of how women have moved into business ownership on the Iron Range.

Jodee Micheletti, of Embarrass, Owner and CEO of Northeast Title Company, began her journey in entrepreneurship in 2004. Jodee never envisioned being a business owner, but her work in the title and real estate industries gave her the exposure she needed to realize that this was her passion. She loved the diversity of the work as well as the constant challenges and changes presented by the real estate world. In 2004, at the age of 27, Jodee was presented with the opportunity to purchase a title company. At the time, Jodee was a single mom, faced with the opportunity of a lifetime. She knew that to succeed, she would need to “continue to work hard and be fearless,” and she recognized that this opportunity would allow her to grow the team and the company. Her passion for the title industry, combined with her work ethic and determination, helped her to make the decision to pursue this opportunity and purchase Northeast Title Company.

Jodee dove in headfirst taking over the staff, hiring more people and even adding a location within the first two years. Throughout the next decade as a business owner, Jodee got married, had two more children and continued to grow her business, running between multiple locations to provide her teams with the support they needed. Juggling work and family was a daily challenge for Jodee, and she attributes much of her success and ability to balance work and family to her wonderful husband, Dan. “He carried me through that time.” There were hard days, days she wondered what she had gotten herself into, but also so many joyous days where she watched her team members learn, built relationships with clients and could see her vision coming to fruition.

Jodee Micheletti — Owner and CEO, Northeast Title Company

During that time, Jodee had a core group of people she could lean on. Attorneys, her accountant, consultant friends and a solid network of people who were her cheerleaders and genuinely wanted to see her business succeed.

One of Jodee’s main goals as a leader and business owner was to create a positive work environment for her employees that allowed flexibility for family. Jodee believes “Kids and family have to come first,” so she worked hard to build a strong team culture, and she continues to maintain the belief that family is the priority. She is proud of growing her business, but even more proud of the environment she has built for her team. Naturally, there have been ups and downs, and things are never perfect; but building a positive family friendly working environment was Jodee’s goal and continues to be her focus. The title industry has a high burnout rate after 10 years, and Jodee has been doing title work for almost 20 years. “My employees and my team keep me going.” Jodee has 12 employees on staff, including two sisters and a nephew, and she takes great pride in watching each one of her employees grow in their careers. “It’s mind blowing to see how far they have come.”

“Some days, she’ll have no idea how she’ll do it, but every single day it still gets done.”

— Unknown

high school program that focused on math and science to ultimately set herself up for a nursing path in college. She quickly learned that, not only did she want to be a nurse, but she also wanted to be a nurse practitioner. She wanted more autonomy with her patients, and she felt passionately about looking at the patient. After grad school, Brittany gained experience working at two health care facilities where her passion for patient care deepened, while her confidence in the traditional medical process deteriorated. Brittany was discouraged by the barriers and gaps in patient care from poor availability, decreased access to care, limited time spent with patients, insurance limitations to orders and prescriptions and cost of care. Brittany wanted to bridge these gaps in healthcare which ultimately led her to name her practice, “Bridge to Health.”

Business ownership requires the ability to wear many hats, shift gears when needed, evolve with the times and the market and be resilient. Motherhood requires very similar characteristics. Combine the two and you have, what I like to call… a Superhero.

The woman who follows the crowd will usually go no further than the crowd. The woman who walks alone is likely to find herself in places no one has ever been before.

– Albert Einstein

Brittany Debeltz, DNP APRN, FNP-BC, of Cook, is another fellow Iron Range gal who has taken the leap into entrepreneurship. Brittany knew from a young age that she wanted to be a nurse. She went through an accelerated

Brittany had always envisioned the possibility of having her own practice, but making the jump was extremely intimidating. She was confident in her medical knowledge and nursing abilities, but starting a practice required far more. She would be required to find a location, apply for a business license, file for an NPI (National Provider Identifier), create a business model, decide if she would take insurance, etc. The entire idea seemed overwhelming, but a mentor and fellow entrepreneur told Brittany “Don’t get paralysis by analysis; once you start analyzing everything, you’ll get paralyzed by the risk and the fear.” This advice resonated with her, and she decided to move forward, putting the business together piece by piece.

After finding a building that was a perfect fit and built to suit, Brittany opened the doors to Bridge to Health November 2021. She had an influx of patients right out of the gate, and 1.5 years later, she continues to receive new patients. Much to her surprise, Brittany realized there was a whole population of people who weren’t seeking medical care. People who felt like they were being pressured to do things they didn’t want to do or those who felt like they weren’t being heard, had resorted to avoiding medical care all together. “I would have never imagined there was such

a large population of people who weren’t seeking care because they didn’t trust. I wasn’t expecting that. These people weren’t being helped.”

Brittany finds it extremely rewarding to have adequate time to listen to her patients, build trust with them and service a population of people who were not being seen. She can evaluate people “as a whole” rather than treat one symptom at a time. The outpouring of support from the community has been huge and has helped Brittany immensely as she continues to grow her practice.

Like Jodee and many other female entrepreneurs, Brittany is a mom juggling work and family. Since opening her business, Brittany has had a baby girl, who is now 8 months old, so she continues to strive for balance between providing outstanding care to her patients, at all hours of the day, with being an active and present mom. As the sole employee of her business, Brittany wears ALL the hats. She’s the front desk, the scheduler, the billing department, the lab tech, the medical records and the provider. On one hand, she knows every aspect of what is going on with her patients, but on the other hand she has a lot of tasks to manage. Combine this with being a mom,

and the struggle is real. The juggle is real.

Despite the challenges of finding balance, Brittany is humbled by the success she has seen and what she’s been able to accomplish so far with her practice. Supportive community members, mentor and key partners have helped Brittany on this journey, and she’s grateful to have followed her heart. “There is never a good time, never a perfect time, and I knew if I didn’t pursue this, I’d always wonder what if.”

As a mother of girls, I love sharing stories like these, of Jodee and Brittany, to show my girls that anything is possible if you put your mind to it. Daunting things, hard things, can lead you to accomplishing your dreams and give you the opportunity to support and lead in your very own community. These two women show us that, even though they were reluctant, and they knew huge obstacles lied ahead, the rewards are great if you persevere. Ladies, thank you for being an inspiration to all women young and old!

Iron Range native Megan Uhan is a freelance writer living in Aurora with her husband, two daughters and son.

Brittany Debeltz, DNP, APRN, FNP-BC — Owner, Bridge to Health

Bob Dylan

eisure time can seem like a luxury for many adults. While it can seem like there’s little time in the day to do more than tend to responsibilities at work and at home, people may have more time to pursue leisure activities than they realize.

In its 2018 American Time Use Survey, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics found that 96 percent of people aged 15 and over engaged in some sort of leisure activity on an average day. Leisure time also seems part and parcel of daily life in Canada, where the average person aged 15 and overspent roughly one hour per day engaging in active leisure, which includes activities like drawing, playing an instrument and dancing, and more than two hours per day on passive leisure, such as watching television or reading books. How people spend their leisure time might affect their perceptions about that time. For example, few people may consider watching television an “activity,” though the American Time Use Survey found that watching TV occupied more leisure time, nearly three hours per day, than any other leisure activity.

Finding new hobbies that encourage active participation can make leisure time more memorable.

• Think back to your childhood. Hobbies you once enjoyed as a child may have long since been forgotten, but it can be fun to reimmerse yourself in such interests. Adults who loved to play sports as a child can no doubt find adult leagues in their area, while once budding artists might want to dust off their easels and visit a local paint and sip facility.

• Reinvent something you’re already doing. Another way to find a new hobby is to consider

the things you already do and see if there’s ways to make them better. For example, cooking for a family each night might be made more enjoyable by enrolling in a cooking class, where you can meet fellow foodies while finetuning your culinary skills. If you love to read, start a community book club.

• Expand your horizons. It’s easy for anyone to say “no” to something new, but especially so for adults accustomed to their routines. But men and women who are willing to try anything are more likely to find something new to be passionate about than those who shy away from the unknown. You don’t have to make a big initial commitment when trying a new hobby but approach any new ideas or suggestions with an open mind.

Finding a new hobby as an adult can be tricky. But approaching activities with an open mind may help people uncover new hobbies they can be passionate about.

By Jaimie Niska

FOR SEIJA ISAACS, BEING A PART OF INNATE NORTH (FORMERLY CALLED NORTHLAND CHIROPRACTIC) HAS BEEN LIKE COMING HOME.

Isaacs, who initially started as a patient of Dr. Angela Renner years ago, has joined Innate North as a Nutrition Response Testing™ Practitioner.

Infertility then Immeasurable Joy

More than a handful of years ago, Isaacs and her husband were trying to get pregnant and had done everything medically possible at the time, other than in vitro fertilization.

“We had been through a lot,” said Issacs. “So, we decided to just take a break from trying to get pregnant.”

The Issacs had been prior chiropractic patients of Dr. Renner’s, and it wasn’t long after that Seija’s husband suggested they both try nutrition response testing.

“My husband, who very much came from a western medicine world, took me by surprise when he suggested Nutrition Response Testing™,” said Isaacs. “But, for me, it was like coming home.”

Issac’s mother had taken her and her siblings through a nutrition response program as a child -- which she was a part of from about the age of 10.

“Honestly, I didn’t do anything for a long time, other than chiropractic care when I moved away from my family,” admitted Isaacs. “But the struggle to start a family was real. We started doing Nutrition Response Testing™ together at the same time.”

Ten months into the program, the Issacs were pregnant with their first child – a girl.

Though their first child’s birth was traumatic, the Isaacs found hope through NRT™.

“We had a traumatic birth with my daughter,” said Isaacs. “She had a stroke in utero, had a hematoma and had seizures after she was born.”

After her birth, their daughter was rushed to the NICU for neurological testing. Miraculously, she started to heal well on her own. Though their daughter was taking an antiseizure medication right after birth, the Issacs started Nutrition Response Testing™ (NRT) and chiropractic care and were able to wean their infant daughter off the medication, and she has never had another seizure.

Seija Isaacs — Innate North Nutrition Response Testing™ Practitioner

18 months later, the Isaacs found themselves pregnant with another child – a boy – after years of struggling to conceive.

Their son, like many newborns are, was fussy but overall was very healthy. The Isaacs immediately drove up to the Range to have their son tested and discovered that gluten was affecting him.

“Being that I was feeding my son, I stopped eating gluten, and he was a totally different baby two days later,” explained Isaacs.

All Roads Lead Home

The Issacs have lived through parts of the Midwest but came back to the Range after living in the Twin Cities for a stint.

“As soon as I knew we were moving back to the Range, I texted Dr. Renner to put us on her list,” said Isaacs.

Issacs first-hand knowledge and experience of the benefits of NRT™ made the ideal fit for expansion of the Innate North team.

“On my first or second visit, Dr. Renner asked me if I wanted to do this,” explained Isaacs. “We moved back in September, and I jumped in headfirst in January.”

Extensive and thorough training through the likes of Ulan Nutrition has helped to lead Isaacs and elevate the team at Innate North.

“Our goal is to help to make the whole Iron Range healthy again,” said Issacs. “I just can’t go back to doing other things, knowing what I do.”

Mission: Helping the Iron Range (and beyond)

Though Isaacs and Innate North cannot claim to heal anything, they do look at the root cause of things to try to make things better for patients.

Through Nutrition Response Testing™, Issacs and the Innate North team address whatever a patient’s body tells us it needs.

According to Isaacs, “We use muscle testing, which shows whether you are weak or are strong. Your body communicates with me, the tester, via a locked or unlocked muscle in your arm.”

“We look at the autonomic nervous system to see if it’s blocked, which means that your body’s healing process is slow and that you’re stuck,” explained Issacs. “If you’re blocked, we have to handle that first.”

Isaacs further explained that there’s also ‘switching’ of the autonomic nervous system – meaning if you’re ‘on,’ your body is healing. If you’re “off,” you’re blocked and stuck, and it’s going to make you feel the opposite of where you should be.

From there, Isaacs determines which organs in the body are stressed and figures out the priority of the organs within your body that need to be addressed.

“There might be five things that are stressed but we find the first priority and then the next,” said Isaacs. “When we work on them, we discover which whole food supplements are going to be best for helping that particular stressed organ and what other external factors could be affecting it.”

Isaacs grew up in the Upper Peninsula of Michigan, which is very similar to northern Minnesota. Much like the U.P., Iron Range residents (and really people all across the country) are faced with environmental stressors, like poor food, immune system challenges, chemicals, metals, etc., that can all negatively affect things within the body.

“Here, so many of us are around industries like mining all the time, and, honestly, there are a lot of metals and chemicals in our world, just by default,” said Isaacs.

Due to the ruralness and sheer climate and location of the region, the availability of fresh foods is minimal – unless it’s growing season. The food we are buying

in stores is primarily shipped here. Because of this, residents of the region have to eat with what is available at the time.

According to Isaacs, this is not necessarily a bad thing, when one is choosing the proper nutritious foods that are “in season.”

Additionally, the Range has a sizable amount of population that’s historically considered to be lower income, making it more difficult to get the proper education and better nutrition and food to these families.

Overall, according to Isaacs, “At the core, we, as a society don’t have a proper education when it comes to overall nutrition. So many people think it costs more to eat real whole foods, when, in the end, it evens out. As they say, we can pay for health now or disease later.”

“We just have so much toxic load, and everyone’s toxic load balance is different,” said Issacs. “Here, you can use me as a tool to help balance that load and ultimately, hopefully, start to feel better through education and whole food supplements.”

No One-Size-Fits-All Approach

Being a part of the Innate North team has provided Isaacs with the opportunity to help her patients make better lifestyle choices, no matter age or condition.

“I think that it’s important for people to realize that they are not their diagnosis,” added Isaacs. “You can heal yourself.”

Whether patients have received a diagnosis elsewhere or just know they aren’t functioning at their best, Isaacs and the team at Innate North is more than willing to help.

“Here, you get to start a healing journey,” Isaacs said. “We can help with infertility issues, previously ‘diagnosed’ ADHD, Autism, food sensitivities, gout, migraines, heart health, hot flashes, hormonal imbalances and so much more.”

According to Isaacs, it is not uncommon to see females facing stage-of-life changes like menopause or perimenopause. During that time period in life, Isaacs stated, “anytime that one can balance the nervous system through chiropractic care, that’s a plus…and then we’re going to help to balance the autonomic nervous system through Nutrition Response Testing™ -- helping to minimize symptoms in this stage of life.

It’s not a one-size-fits-all approach, according to Isaacs. Every individual is different.

“Again, your body literally tells us what it needs,” said Isaacs. “You might think it’s your thyroid when it’s really your heart or your liver…it’s not necessarily a super obvious answer all the time. It’s not always going straight to the thyroid or female organs because that’s what you think it should be, when it’s other things going on in your body.”

Through the NRT™ process, added Isaacs, “We’re getting down to the root cause of things.”

Starting Your Healing Journey

Innate North prides itself on the quality of the whole food supplements offered at their northside Virginia location.

With supplements from the likes of Standard Process®, Systemic Formulas, and CellCore, among

others, everything is organically grown — in some cases within topsoil that’s nine feet deep.

“The supplements that we carry at Innate North aren’t loaded with synthetic fillers like you’ll often find at big box stores,” said Isaacs. “All of our supplements are whole food supplements that support your body, so your organs remember how to function properly.”

`The general public is welcome to purchase supplements at Innate North whether one is a patient or not.

`“We’d love for our community to come in and get something like a whole food-based vitamin C supplement here, if that’s what they need,” added Isaacs. “We even offer things like a multivitamin to help the immune system, with cold and flu season around the corner.”

`With the aforementioned cold and flu season ahead, there are small approaches that one can make in order to help avoid illness, according to Isaacs.

`“In general, get rid of seed oils in your diet,” recommended Isaacs. “They cause massive inflammation in the body, often times even worse than sugar. Avoid vegetable, soybean, canola, sunflower, grapeseed, cottonseed oils at all costs.”

Instead, Issacs recommends choosing oils like avocado oil, olive, ghee, duck fat, quality butter and tallow.

Isaacs encouragingly added, “If you’re going to change anything at home, start small with eliminating seed oils and then sugar.”

“You personally need to figure out for yourself where you’re at. If you’re drinking too much soda at home, start small by cutting back on that. Start with making small changes,” she said.

High inflammation, according to Isaacs, is at the root cause of most dis-ease (a body not at ease).

“Your body has this innate knowledge on how to handle things and do the best that it can,” said Isaacs.

“Your body is made to innately heal itself. I know that. And it’s just something you learn when you start feeling better.”

Learn more about Seija and Innate North by calling 218.741.1888.

Jaimie Niska grew up in Cherry, Minnesota, and currently resides in Mountain Iron. She’s a lifelong resident of the Iron Range and loves to find and share the positive, unique stories that make the region “home.”

By Kristin Rantala

WE HAD PLANNED TO TRAVEL TO SPAIN IN 2021 TO CELEBRATE OUR 25TH WEDDING ANNIVERSARY. WE HAD OUR TICKETS AND HOTEL BOOKED, BUT COVID STARTED SPIKING UP IN EUROPE THE MONTH BEFORE WE WERE SUPPOSED TO LEAVE; SO, WE CANCELLED OUR TRIP. Delta issued credits for our flights, and we had until 12/31/2023 to use those credits before they expired. We were motivated to use those credits versus lose them.

Our younger son left for college in August, and we became empty nesters in September when our older son went back to school. I knew that I needed something to pull me through the transition to empty nesting. Travel gives me great joy, so a trip seemed to be the perfect distraction to get me through.

My husband had never been to Europe, and I wanted him to have a great time (with my goal of getting him hooked on overseas travel). So, I floated options of places I wanted to visit and would tick the boxes for him – the destinations needed to: 1) be on the water, 2) be less than 13 hours travel time, 3) have daytime temperatures in the 70s/80s and 4) have a hotel with a fitness center. I pitched three options – Dubrovnik, Croatia; Valencia, Spain and Cascais, Portugal. All three locations offered not only “beach time” but also the opportunity for cultural exploration.

We landed in Valencia, Spain. Valencia snuggles up to the Mediterranean Sea and is the third largest city in Spain. Our all-in travel time was about 12 hours

(including a three-hour layover in Amsterdam). We flew in Premium Select class – it’s a relatively new class of flight offered by Delta. It is about half the price of Delta One (where they have the lay-down/ flatbed seats). Whilst it doesn’t offer lay-down seats, it does have larger seats with more recline, extra food and beverage options and little travel kits as compared to coach seating. It made for a more comfortable travel experience.

We arrived in Valencia in early October which is a perfect time to visit Spain. The summer crowds and heat are gone. Additionally, airfare and hotel costs are much lower than they are in the summer.

Valencia has miles of beaches that are (many times) boarded by long promenades and, seemingly, hundreds of beach volleyball courts. The beach sand was like powdered sugar; it made for lovely long walks on the beach. The beaches are topless, and the topless aesthetic is embraced by all ages and sizes. It was refreshing to see women of all shapes, sizes and ages so comfortable with their bodies.

I did a good bit of research before choosing a hotel. We ended up staying at Hotel Balneario Las Arenas. it was music to my ears when we got into the taxi at the airport, and our driver said, “That is the best hotel in Valencia.” The property was completed walled in and abutted the promenade and was about 30 yards from the sea. It had a fantastic European breakfast available each morning – eggs to order, bread, vegetables, ham and sausages of all kinds, fruits, pastries, empanadas, yogurts and fresh squeezed orange juice. I was fascinated by the “magic” orange juice machine. They poured whole oranges, complete with peels, into the top of the machine, and there was a spigot on the bottom that dispensed orange juice. Of note, the coffee was lovely, but it was very strong and was served in little cups. That made for multiple trips to the coffee bar every morning. Additionally, I discovered a new favorite pastry. I am a big fan of almond croissants and pan de chocolates, but in Valencia, they have “fartons”. I mean, how can you not try a beautiful pastry called “farton?”

Fartons are cigar-shaped sweet bread traditional to the

region of Valencia. (They are typically served with the tiger nut drink called horchata (but I had them with coffee).

Another traditional Valencian food is paella. We saw it everywhere; every restaurant seemed to have its own take on paella. Paella is made of saffron-flavored rice, meats, seafood and vegetables. It’s made in a wide shallow pan over an open fire. Traditional Valencian paella is made with chicken and rabbit. We tried chicken and rabbit paella as well as paella de verduras (paella with vegetables). Our hotel made an amazing paella de verduras which we thoroughly enjoyed a couple of times.

The city of Valencia is a fascinating mix of old and new. The Cathedral de Valencia is a stunning example of old Valencia and is in the Plaza de la Reina. The cathedral is probably best known for its claim of holding the Holy Grail. Construction of the cathedral started around 1238. It was built on the site of a former mosque and displays a dizzying number of architectural styles, including Romanesque, Baroque and Gothic. We visited the cathedral on a weekday and arrived shortly after it opened. We waited in line for less than five minutes to get in; there is an entrance fee (around $10 USD) to enter

the cathedral. The entrance fee includes an audio guide that narrates your walk around the interior of the cathedral. The Holy Grail is enshrined on an altar in a side chapel off the main sanctuary. The ceiling in this side chapel is truly something to behold; it looks like an eight-armed starfish.

Mercado Centrale is a couple of blocks from the Plaza de la Reina. Whilst it is very close to the Cathedral, we managed to get turned around a couple of times and had to ask for directions with my very, very basic understanding of Spanish and my husband’s desire to use too many words. The Mercado Centrale is one of the oldest food markets in Europe and houses more than 1,200 different vendors. They sell an amazing variety of food and other goods at the market – seafood, wine, beer, pastries, fruits, vegetables, pasta, olive oil; you name it, they have it. It was crowded when we visited; it was like wading through Target on Black Friday. We purchased some olive oil, bananas and a pastry that was packed full of pistachios. While all the stalls accepted cards, it was faster and easier to pay with cash. Outside the market, there were many other vendors; most of them seemed to be selling clothes. In fact, there was a vendor

selling underwear (just women’s underwear) immediately as we exited the market.

We also visited the Ciudad de las Artes y las Ciencias. This massive complex is made up of a series of futuristic buildings that are mostly the work of the Valencian architect Santiago Calatrava. There is an opera house, a science museum, a 3D movie theatre and an aquarium. It almost looked like we had landed in the middle of a big Star Trek set. We wandered through the complex (truth be told we got lost again) for a good bit before finding the ticket counter. We ended up at the aquarium (which reminded me of the Minnesota Zoo) for a couple of hours.

dinner (including wine) for the two of us, was typically in the range of $50 USD, and cabs were amazingly inexpensive (it was around $5 USD each way to go to the Cathedral and the Mercado Centrale). We were within walking distance of a small grocery store and found that produce, wine, crackers, etc. were much cheaper than they are here. We were able to get very good wine for less than $9 USD a bottle.

I call this trip a success. My husband is excited to travel to Europe again – I am starting to draw up another list of options for consideration.

We were in Valencia for nine days. I would have happily stayed for nine more. Except for one drizzly, gray afternoon, the days were sunny and in the mid-70s. It was surprisingly reasonable from a cost perspective; due to the time of year, our hotel was much less expensive than it would have been at peak season (and our room rate included that phenomenal breakfast);

Kristin, a native of Embarrass, Minn., now lives in Cedar, Minn., with her husband and blonde dachshund Chloe and is recently an empty nester.

he common cold can strike at any time of year, but most people likely associate colds with winter. Colds tend to spread more easily in winter, when people typically spend more time indoors with windows closed, thus making it easier for colds and other viruses to spread.

Many people have their own remedies when it comes to treating colds, and those strategies may include a daily glass of tea. Tea has been a beloved beverage for quite some time.

According to the UK Tea & Infusions Association, tea can be traced all the way back to 2737 B.C. in China. As the legend has it, Chinese Emperor Shen Nung was sitting beneath a tree when some leaves blew into some boiled drinking water his servant had been preparing for him. The emperor tried the concoction, and the rest is history.

Since tea was first (accidentally) consumed, it has become an integral part of many people’s daily lives. That’s even more so when people feel a little under the weather, which might prompt some to wonder if tea boasts any medicinal properties or if it’s all just legend. According to Penn Medicine, various types of tea do, in fact, provide some notable health benefits.

White tea

A comparative study published in the Journal of Food Science in 2010 found that white tea might be the most effective cancer-fighting tea thanks to its robust antioxidant content. Penn Medicine also notes white tea is a source of fluoride, catechins and tannins, which means it could help to strengthen teeth and fight plaque.

Herbal tea

Harvard Medical School notes the curious distinction that herbal teas are not technically tea, as they typically

lack the leaves or leaf buds of tea plants. Herbal teas are in fact made from tisanes, which are blends or infusions of dried fruits, flowers, spices, or herbs. Harvard Medical School advises speaking with a physician prior to drinking herbal teas, as they can cause problems among individuals with certain medical conditions. If a doctor gives the green light for herbal teas, people may be happy to learn that they’ve been linked to a host of health benefits, including improved sleep, reduced stress and lower blood pressure, among others.

Green tea

Penn Medicine notes that green tea is high in flavonoids, which are a type of metabolite found in plants. Flavonoids have been linked to improved heart health because they can help to lower levels of bad cholesterol and reduce blood clotting. In addition, a 2014 study published in the European Journal of Nutrition concluded that green tea and its catechins can help to improve blood pressure.

Should certain teas be avoided?

Though white tea, herbal tea, green tea, and other forms of the popular beverage have been linked to various health benefits, Penn Medicine notes other types of tea are best avoided. For example, detox teas, which Penn Medicine notes are often laced with laxatives, can be harmful to overall health. Bubble teas also tend to be high in sugar and calories. In general, it’s best to discuss tea with a physician before making it a part of your daily routine.

Tea can provide a host of health benefits, and individuals are urged to discuss those properties with a physician as they look to turn over a healthier leaf.

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