River Valley Woman May 2022

Breast cancer doesn’t wait.

And neither should you — early detection saves lives. The earlier breast cancer is detected, the easier it is to treat. Mammograms are a screening tool that detect cancer before symptoms start. With convenient access, it’s time to prioritize your breast health. If you’re 40 or older, schedule your annual 3D mammogram today.

BY EILEEN MADSEN Editor

said “Love of beauty is taste. The creation of beauty is art.”

So, when we asked that mirror on the wall who’s the fairest of them all, the answer is this month’s STRUT issue, which we’ve created to showcase those in the fashion, style and beauty industry.

Cover feature Tiffany Ward is the personification of the phrase Beauty Is as Beauty Does. As owner of Indulge Salon & Tanning, she is and she does. An adamant advocate for her employees’ well being and ability to thrive in their careers, Tiffany goes above and beyond. Her philosophy of working together with others to help them succeed, recently garnered her a coveted 2022 Top 200 Salons in the U.S. award, in addition to Indulge snagging the Showstopper honors at last fall’s Raw Fusion event. Pretty. Impressive. While today we have the privilege of wearing whatever styles, whenever and wherever we wish (as big box store patronage will attest), that was not always the case. Centuries ago wealth and status used to be measured by the heights of heels on shoes. Aristocracy could freely teeter about on double digit inches, the middle class had to declare their commonness with a few measly measurements, while the poor folks didn’t even rate wearing shoes at all. Not sure where I fall on that class spectrum, based upon a recent restaurant visit. My husband and I were out for breakfast recently, happily basking in a biscuits and gravy stupor and, as people will do, covertly judging others (“how can he eat with a hoodie up over his head?...it’s 20 degrees out and she isn’t wearing socks…”). We go to pay, and something silvery and quilted catches my eye near the floor. My own feet—in slippers. In my haste to get out of the house, I failed to

change into suitable footwear. I screeched loud enough to catch the attention of a kind and stylish woman behind me, who, after I explained my fashion faux pas, declared my slippers cute, and close enough to look like shoes that she didn’t think my fuss was warranted. Regardless, I scuffed out quickly before the guy in the hoodie could comment.

Proving R.W. Emerson’s observation that creation of beauty is art, are Kari Mulvihill and Amy Stearns, owners of Cheap Chics Designs. Housed in a building with a history as unique as the items they sell, the ladies draw on their graphic design skills to create Midwest-themed clothing, accessories and other items. However, this duo isn’t afraid to push the envelope when it comes to edgy humor. Minnesota spice.

Perhaps nowhere is the beauty as art concept more evident than in those who choose to get tattoos. No longer the domain of a guy on a bender who wakes up with a heart devotion to his mother on his bicep, Makeba Ische, owner of Cactus Tattoo & Body Piercing, has been creating permanent fashion statements on the bodies of both men and women for 16 years. You name it and Makeba, along with Brie Knewson, have inked it—from meaningful to playful.

If love of beauty is taste, as Ralph implied, then it tastes like chicken. As that’s what I turned out to be. It happens every spring—I get a yen to make some changes to my look, and go for something a bit wilder. For the second time in a couple years I decided to color my blondish-ish hair a rock ‘n’ roll white. Egged on by my curly mopped, 30-something niece, and her multi-hued hair teen daughter, I boldly bought a box of Garnier hair lightener called Coconut. Opened the box, put on the gloves, then promptly lost my nerve. Again. Sigh. Maybe third time’s the charm.

One woman who is not afraid to cross the road for her hair color choices is Ann Rosenquist Fee. Our guest essayist flaunts not only her self-proclaimed colorless color, but also sports some jaw-dropping Medusa-like dreadlocks. Her lessons in embracing style extremism, whether we follow through or not, has the ultimate goal of freedom.

So whatever it is that makes you strut, you’ll wear it well. Slippers and all.

By BROOKE WOHLRABE PHOTOS BY ALICE HQ PHOTOGRAPHY

Indulge Salon & Tanning in Mankato is more than a place where people go to leave looking their best. Owner Tiffany Ward hopes the salon—and those inside it—inspire people to be their best.

Ward has owned the salon for nearly 10 years. She actually bought the business from her aunt, who first opened it in 2002. However, that didn’t mean it was that simple. Ward’s journey to owning it was fairly unique.

Tiffany attended the Cosmetology Training Center of Mankato right out of high school and was really passionate about cutting and styling hair. She ended up doing booth rental, which she saw success in.

“At that time, I was also married with two little girls, but then found myself divorced, so I was single mom,” Ward said. Even though she was seeing a steady stream of clients, Ward admitted that she still needed to work two part-time jobs to support herself and her children.

“I was working so much that my kids were being raised by my friends and families. I had to choose to leave my passion,” Tiffany said.

She went back to school for accounting and worked in that industry about six or seven years. Then one day her aunt called and asked if any of her friends wanted to buy the salon. Ward said she responded with, “Oh my gosh, I want to buy the salon.” A few months after getting remarried, she purchased it.

“My ‘why’—my everything for what I do—is to make sure that none of the professionals under my roof ever have to leave their passion, or choose between their passion and their family for financial reasons,” Ward said.

Today Indulge Salon & Tanning has 16 employees who offer a variety of services. There’s skincare including custom facials and body waxing, lash services like extensions and lash lifts. The salon also offers both indoor and spray tanning, massages, and makeup.

The main service is hair, both cuts and coloring, the former of which Ward said they’re especially gifted at.

“You can have a great color, but you have to have a good cut to go with it. It’s like having a beautiful picture and forgetting the frame,” Tiffany said.

The shop is getting more into hair extensions and working

toward being the premier salon when it comes to that.

While the salon already offers a host of services, Ward is always open to expanding.

“If one of my employees is excited about something new, I want to try to find a way to give it to them. There’s a lot of burn out in the beauty industry, so if something excites them, I want to bring it in,” Ward said.

A few years ago, Tiffany invited a client, Sharry Swart, owner of Vivian Rose Boutique, to do a pop-up shop in the salon when the business was just getting started. It went well.

“During Covid when we had to pretty much clear out our lobby, it was empty. It was so sad. At the same time, I was talking to my friends who had boutiques and they couldn’t get out to maker fairs. No one was going to those shops. People were choosy about where they would go in public,” Ward explained.

On the other hand, people were coming to the salon out of necessity so Tiffany thought they could utilize the space in their lobby to make space for some boutiques. To her, it just made sense.

Despite the loosening of COVID restrictions since, Ward has continued this at the salon, and it’s even grown. Blackbird Boutique has set up its camper in the salon parking lot, and they carry Baubles & Bobbies jewelry.

At one point, a 12-year-old girl who makes scrunchies contacted the salon and asked if she could sell them there.

“She sold them all throughout the summer. It was so cool. I was so proud of her,” Tiffany said.

As a small business owner, Ward sees no reason to be weary or territorial of other businesses. In fact, she encourages them.

“If someone does well, we all do well. I have a hard time with competition. There is so much to go around and the more you give, the more you get back,” Ward said.

At the end of February, Tiffany was shocked to learn that Indulge Salon & Tanning was named one of the Salon Today’s Top 200 Salons in the U.S.

“I had been wanting to apply for a few years but didn’t really believe we were good enough. I don’t care how confident 

 you are, I think there’s always a piece of us that always feels like we’re not good enough,” Ward said.

Tiffany bit the bullet and completed the lengthy application in the fall of 2021. Not even her team at the salon knew that she had applied. Ward said it’s not about looking at how much money a salon is bringing in, but how it’s actually run, so she had to write a couple of essays as part of the application process.

The day it was announced, another salon owner who is a mentor of Ward’s called to tell her the news.

“I lost it. I was jumping up and down and crying and my team was wondering what was going on so I told them and we were all crying,” Tiffany said.

Tens of thousands of salons across the country apply. There were just a handful of salons in the state that were selected, with the others being in the metro area.

“When I think of salons that typically get that, they’re in New York, L.A., Chicago, not our quaint little area in southern Minnesota,” Ward said.

In addition to being named a Top 200 Salon, Indulge Salon & Tanning won the Showstopper Award in the RAW Fusion fashion show last fall.

care of the guests,” Ward said.

Tiffany likes to take what she’s learned and bring it back to her staff at the salon. In fact, education is the number one core value at the salon.

“It does me no good if I’m personally successful, if my entire team and salon isn’t successful. We need everyone to feel that way and live it,” Ward said.

Each Monday morning the employees take part in a class. Sometimes they go over skincare or hair, or they go over communication and how to work with different personalities.

While stylists might not have a master’s degree or PhD, Ward said that, throughout their career, they spend the same amount of time and money on continuing education.

“I can’t speak to everyone, but for sure in my salon that’s how it is,” Tiffany said.

She said the cost and time investment on education is way more than people realize as there is a lot of science behind skincare, hair care, and tanning which is constantly changing.

“It’s not just making people look pretty,” Ward said.

That’s something every stylist wants to be able to provide, but, to do it, they really need to know what they’re doing. For example, as someone with naturally curly hair, Tiffany has a passion for it. She said she took a lot of classes and asked people who had curly hair to experiment with it.

“I just wanted to be able to do my hair,” she said with a laugh. Ward said she found the right tools and people to learn it and now there are three curly specialists on the team.

Twenty years ago, when Ward started doing hair, she said people wouldn’t come in with a photo from Pinterest of what they wanted their hair to look like.

“Now people are coming in, expecting us to look like a Kardashian and want us to do it in two hours with $200. And we can do it. But you have to know all of the things that need to be done to make it happen,” Ward said.

“The statement I wanted to make, especially coming from a salon, is that it’s about raw beauty. It’s not about changing who you are, but showing off all the best things,” Ward said.

Indulge is also a consistent recipient of the Best of Mankato Contest, which Tiffany is grateful for.

“There are a lot of fantastic salons in Mankato and so many amazing stylists all over southern Minnesota,” she said.

When asked what sets Indulge Salon & Tanning apart from other salons, Ward, without missing a beat, said it is their culture.

“I truly believe that if you take care of your employees, they’ll take

After COVID, Tiffany had a reality check and realized she can’t do it all. She did all the business accounting, is in charge of the finances, and manages the team. So, a year ago she retired from behind the chair. That move allowed Ward to pursue being a business educator, which is something she’s always wanted to do. She is a business educator with Eufora, a brand they carry at the salon. Last month, she and 10 team members went to San Diego to attend a huge hair show that also focused on skills and personal development.

“I’m proud to be the face of the salon and the owner, but not all of the ideas come from me,” Tiffany pointed out.

Ward speaks highly of her staff, who she considers her friends. In fact, she feels lucky to work with her best friend Cherre Metcalf, who she met in school. Four years ago, Ward asked Cherre to join the salon,

Raw Fusion event Showstopper award winning costume. Model is Rachel Carpenter.

Photo by Daniel Dinsmore.

which is when Indulge started to bloom and blossom.

“It’s because of her and our leadership team here that my ideas are able to come to life,” Ward said.

Outside of her work at the salon, Ward is involved in the community. She is a supporter of the STRIVE Scholarship program through Rotary, which she benefited from when she was a student.

“I was not doing very well in high school and the STRIVE program was influential for me. I ended up graduating and raising my

GPA significantly because of it,” Tiffany said.

She said she obtained a scholarship, and confidence, through the program which allowed her to go to cosmetology school.

“Someone believed in me,” Ward said. As for the future of the salon, they purchased the building the salon is in at the end of 2021. She said she would like to double the size of the salon in order to better take care of their guests and offer her team the best environment in which to work. RVW

Favorite hair type to work with: Curly hair. I geek out over curly hair.

Must have skincare item: A moisturizer for sure. I use Eminence Firm Skin Acai Moisturizer.

Must have makeup item: 100 percent Mirabella Magic Marker Eyeliner. Updo or down hair style: I hardly ever wear my hair up. If you see me with my hair up it’s probably wash day.

Favorite inspirational quote: It’s so hard to choose just one but this is what it is right now in my life: “Always a student. Never a master.”—Don Bewley

Tiffany (Bratsch) Morris, Cherre Metcalf, Tiffany Ward, Kenyra Dehning

By RUTH KLOSSNER

shared love of thrifting led Kari Mulvihill and Amy Stearns to join forces for lunch hour searches some years ago—a venture that quickly turned into a thriving business.

Co-workers at Taylor Corp in North Mankato for seven years, Kari and Amy often spent their lunch hours and spare time “hunting for junk”— checking out thrift shops, garage sales, and more—in search of décor and vintage pieces that they could up-scale and re-sell.

“We often felt that the price was too high. We wanted to mimic that same style, but do it at an affordable price,” Kari said, to which Amy added, “It’s important that, no matter what we brought in, we wanted it to be attainable, not to break the bank for people.”

With Mulvihill living in North Mankato and Stearns in Gaylord, the two took their “finds” to their own homes to work on in their garages. They were soon selling the upcycled furniture pieces and décor at the Whiskey River Flea Market and several boutiques.

Only a year into their venture, the two decided that they needed a place where they could work and sell together. Brainstorming is a huge part of what they do—and doing it together was the best way.

And, according to Kari and Amy, their husbands were ready to kick them out of their garages!

“We were driving around Nicollet and we saw this building. It was empty, except for the apartments upstairs,” Mulvihill said. “We rented it from Greta Alms. She’s very supportive of us as a local small business.”

The building is perfect for Cheap Chics Designs. Its brick walls and character are a perfect backdrop for Mulvihill’s and Stearns’ work. On the corner of Pine and Third Streets, the building was built in 1905 and housed numerous general and grocery stores, down through the years, until October 1994 when the last grocery closed. Over the last two decades, it became Gabby’s Bar, J.F. Hunter Custom Upholstery, the Nicollet Sesquicentennial office (2006), and a thrift store.

“It’s so fun here. We hear stories about its history from the people who come in,” Stearns said. “

To that, Mulvihill added, “People enjoy the building.”

Cheap Chics occupied only a portion of the building at first, but Kari and Amy needed more space and expanded into more of the main level— and have taken over the basement (which once housed Hasse’s Hardware) for their wood shop.

“It’s perfect for what we need,” Stearns said.

After the move to the building in 2016, Amy and Kari took the leap and left Taylor Corp in 2017.

From making hand-painted signs—using their graphic arts experience and “practicing, practicing, practicing”—Kari and Amy started designing apparel.

“We started really small,” Kari recalled. “We printed only 12 of one shirt.” That’s all changed, as she noted, “Clothing is the area that’s grown significantly. It’s been so well received.”

The addition of a website (cheapchicsdesigns.com) three or four years ago has been a boon, with about 40 percent of the shop’s business now online, with orders sent all over the nation.

With increased demand—both online and in the store—Mulvihill and Stearns have expanded their lines, adding lots of accessories—baseball hats, jewelry, purses, jeans, shoes, kids’ clothing, men’s apparel, stationary, greeting cards, books, and more.

As their web site states, “We’ve branched out our studio roots to share our sarcastic, inappropriate, small-town selves with the world wide web.”

Through it all, they’ve held to the mission of being “stylish, unique, affordable, real, and sassy.” They don’t want things to be “starchy,” but rather, as their store window suggests, they offer “a little profanity, a lot of sass, all real life.”

Of their clothing lines, Mulvihill said, “We lean toward comfortable, but still being stylish and affordable. That’s hard to find these days.”

“There’s nothing better than people coming out of the dressing room and feeling comfortable,” Stearns said. “We enjoy it when people laugh!”

The shop caters to all ages—kids to 80 year-olds— and all tastes.

There’s nothing better

than people coming out of the dressing room and feeling comfortable. We enjoy it when people laugh!

The love of thrifting that brought Amy Stearns and Kari Mulvihill together for lunch hour searches soon led to the creation of the Cheap Chics Designs.

“If we’re going to bring clothing in, it will fit everybody. We carry all the way to 3X,” Amy said, to which Kari added, “We don’t bring it in if it doesn’t come in the full size range.”

“We basically listen to our customers of what they want or need,” Amy said.

Though clothing may be the fastest growing item, Kari and Amy still enjoy upscaling items that they find at thrift shops, garage sales, estate sales, online auctions, and from people who are cleaning out their attics.

“People want to clear out space. They know what we do, so they call us or drop items off,” Kari said. “They’re not so much antiques, but stuff that needs fixing—that we can give new life.”

With only Kari and Amy running the business—doing the designing, creating the items, upscaling vintage pieces, doing the

bookwork, and a whole lot more—Cheap Chics Designs is open as an occasional shop, usually once a month. They “close up shop” in the off time to use the building as a production facility.

“Our dates depend on our family schedules and events in town, like Friendship Days and car roll-ins,” Kari said.

“Our kids are different ages, mine are older and Kari’s are younger, so we can take over for each other,” Amy said.

Amy and husband Keith have two children, Morgan 21 and Hunter 18. Kari and husband Jamie also have two—Macie 4 and JR 3.

The women have had great support from their families, especially when things need cleaning or fixing.

“Our husbands are two of the most supportive people,” Amy said. 

Every day is like a dream. We’ve had a lot of learning experiences. The drive is continuous. Every day is fun…we can be creative.

 “We just need to make the call,” Kari said.

The call for help also goes out to the women’s parents—Jeanne and Leon Kettner of Nicollet and Richard and Kristine Mueller of Arlington.

“They’ll all just be available,” Kari said. Amy added, with a chuckle, “My husband has gotten very good at tagging clothes!”

Nieces, nephews, and friends have also provided a great support system.

“Without them, we’d be in the looney bin all by ourselves,” Kari said. “We’ve had many working pizza and beer parties here.”

The two have been asked about opening a second location but— with only two of them running the shop—they feel that they’re “definitely not there.”

“We feel we’re full here. Anything more than what you see here would put us over the edge,” Mulvihill said. “We’re so handson. We’re designing or painting in between our openings. Everything we bring here is so time-intensive. We touch it all —it takes time.”

She added, “We’re unique. We don’t have what every other boutique has. We have our own vibe.”

“That’s what sets us apart from other boutiques. We’re creating the majority of our items,” Amy said. While they stay cognizant of the trends, Amy said, “We go our own way.”

Kari summed up, “Every day is like a dream. We’ve had a lot of learning experiences. The drive is continuous. Every day is fun… we can be creative.” RVW

“That’s what sets us apart from other boutiques. We’re creating the majority of our items.”

With its historic structure and character, Nicollet’s old grocery store is a perfect location for Cheap Chics Designs.

Amy and Kari’s graphics arts skills are evident everywhere in the shop—including on a huge blackboard in the shop’s entryway.

By CHRISTINE NESSLER

alking into Cactus Tattoo & Body Piercing on Riverfront Drive in Mankato, you can’t help but notice the appreciation for art and beauty. The walls are covered with bright colors and unique artwork. Workspaces are adorned with items reflecting the personalities of each talented licensed tattoo artist.

This artistic space, lending itself to individuality and creativity, is the masterpiece of Makeba Ische, owner since 2006. Although tattoo and body piercing is typically a male-dominated industry, Ische has put her special touch on Cactus Tattoo, turning it into an environment that is welcoming to a wide variety of people, and breaking the mold of the stereo-typed industry.

Makeba began working the desk part-time at Cactus Tattoo in 2001, while double majoring in art and women’s studies at Minnesota State University. Between that time and when she purchased the business in 2006, Ische apprenticed and became both a piercer and a tattoo artist, learned the day-to-day responsibilities of running a business, and graduated from college.

Ische’s need for creativity and love of art has kept her in the role of tattoo artist.

Learning the behind-the-scenes of the business, as well as the trades necessary for the provided services, Ische was ready when the opportunity to assume ownership presented itself in November 2006. While her degree in art is an obvious benefit to her career, her women’s studies background reinforced her belief that as a capable human, she could accomplish anything she set her mind to. It also instilled in her the foundation of equality on which she built her business.

Makeba had always dreamed of being an artist and owning a business. She had the skill set and passion to do both, making Cactus Tattoo a perfect it. Owning the shop has allowed her to change the stigma around tattoos, piercings, and those who administer the art. Through the years, those stigmas have come a long way, shifting from a sign of deviance to a mode of self-expression.

Tattooing, when done correctly, is an artform, turning the human body into a canvas. The tattoo artists at Cactus Tattoo & Body Piercing—each with varying artistic backgrounds—consult with clients to create a tattoo that will exceed the client’s initial expectation and truly become a work of art.

“Oftentimes, customers will have an idea, but they maybe don’t see the full potential of what that can be,” Ische said. “One of the things that I believe to be our job is to try to take their idea further into something that would be beyond what they are hoping for.”

The artists can take the vision of a customer and make it the best it can be by listening to the client in their communications leading up to the administration of the tattoo. But also by integrating the artistic talents and experience of the long-time tattoo artists employed at Cactus, three of whom have been working together for almost 21 years.

“In years of doing this job, you learn how a tattoo works on the body,” Ische said. “How it will enhance the design to be placed properly or using color and shading to give the tattoo dimension. Small details can bring something simplistic to life.”

Clients come to Cactus Tattoo for many reasons, each of which can be traced back to a form of expression. Perhaps they want to adorn themselves or have a representation of a specific memory or stage or life. Perhaps they want to represent an ideology or just have their body decorated with something beautiful.

In the past ten years, Ische has seen a shift in design where many people are looking for a way to express something meaningful to them. It can be very emotional for the client and the artist. Makeba was particularly moved when recalling the effect of a tattoo imprinted on a woman who came in last year requesting a tattoo of a Ukrainian embroidery pattern. Since the war started in Ukraine, this client has connected with Cactus Tattoo on more than one occasion, expressing her thankfulness to have that tattoo to represent her heritage and her support for Ukraine’s people.

Tattoos or piercings can also be a fun statement piece. Ische had a 91-yearold woman, who was a resident of a local nursing home, come in for a butterfly tattoo on her arm. 

What inspires you? Knowing I’m doing something I love.

Who is your favorite artist? Gerald Brom.

What’s on your playlist? Seether, SlipKnot, Girl in Red.

What are your hobbies? Felines, roller derby.

“Twenty-nine-year-old Cancer who adores cats.”

Brie Knewtson’s positive energy is contagious. This woman is living out her dream and sharing her passion with others daily.

From the time Knewtson was a little girl, she was interested in piercings. She saw stretched earlobes on TV when she was about five and decided that was what she wanted to do. Although her first experience of having her ears pierced as a young girl was less than magical, it didn’t deter her. She soon began piercing the ears of her stuffed animals.

In high school she was inspired by a special art teacher in the traditional arts of

 “She really just wanted to shock her family,” Ische said, laughing at the recollection. “She had fun here and would stop in every once in a while.” The client kept in touch with staff for a few years after her tattoo through visits, calls, and letters.

There are other times when a person may come in for a tattoo or piercing for the more intimate reasons of wanting to feel something besides the emotional pain they’ve experienced, to cover a scar, or because they just aren’t feeling the confidence or the love for their body that they desire.

Brie Knewtson is a licensed piercer at Cactus Tattoo. She also orders all the jewelry for the shop. She knows the desire for piercings goes below the surface.

“It’s not just about the jewelry and it’s not just about doing a piercing,” Knewtson said. “It’s about making people happy with their own bodies.”

Knewtson has personally seen many examples of how piercing can boost a person’s confidence. One common recurrence is women who after having and nursing children and are no longer happy with their breasts.

“They are ready to reclaim their bodies,” Knewtson said. “And I love doing that for them.”

drawing and painting.

Now as a licensed piercer of four years, Knewtson combines her love of art and piercings for the benefit of her clients. She consults with her clients to ensure they have just the right piercing and just the right jewelry to make them feel comfortable and happy with their bodies.

Knewtson has a love for helping her clients express themselves through their body art, just as she has done herself. She feels that body art tells the story of each person who dons it.

“I love my tattoos and piercings,” Knewtson said. “If it wasn’t for them, I wouldn’t be me.”

Whatever the reason, the staff at Cactus Tattoo are dedicated to creating a comfortable and safe experience for their clients.

Ische is very complimentary of her team which includes her three tattoo artists, two piercers, and two receptionists.

“I feel lucky to work with kind, conscientious people who truly care for the comfort of their customers and do what they can to make the experience pleasant,” Ische said.

Although Makeba noted the industry being male dominated and the perceived ideology of the male tattoo artist, she says Cactus Tattoo & Piercing breaks that mold.

“The artists here do not fit into that stereotype,” Ische said. “I certainly don’t take credit for their kindness and personalities, but I do think having a foundation of equality has helped to provide the harmony that exists here.”

As the saying goes, “happy employees mean happy customers.” That begins with valuing one another.

“We have established respect for each other and also appreciate what each of us brings,” Ische said. “We’re doing a good thing here together.”

What inspires you? Reading a book or going for a walk gets me thinking in a more creative way.

Who is your favorite style of art? Abstract, floral inspired, miniatures.

What’s on your playlist? Spanish Love Songs, Frank Turner, Connor Oberst.

What are your hobbies? Reading, crossword puzzles, knitting, to name a few.

Knewtson says seeing these women excited and in love with their bodies again makes her so happy.

Another example is of a man who had a disfigured, flat nipple that used a piercing to reshape it.

Knewtson is sensitive to the needs of all customers, whether those needs for a piercing are physical, emotional, or just decorative. Like tattoos, piercings provide a variety of options for locations on the body and styles of jewelry, so clients are able to represent themselves in very individual ways, exhibiting one’s personal story through body art.

The longevity of the staff and the returning clients tells the success story of the welcoming environment Ische aspired to create with her business.

“It’s pretty relaxed here,” Knewtson said. “Everyone seems like family.”

Whether Makeba is showcasing her artistic talent through her tattoos or leading by example through her authentic and present nature, she is impacting her community by providing a mode of self-expression that allows creative souls to thrive. This service is done in an environment built on equality and respect for one another. RVW

Ballet, Jazz, and

MBC offers a wide variety of summer sessions and classes for all ages (18 months - 18 years) and styles of dance. These can be a great way for new students to try MBC for a few weeks or for current students to stay up on their technique.

There is no registration fee for summer classes and no formal dress code. We hope that you will enjoy your classes with MBC and we look forward to welcoming you to the studio this summer.

from the

By ANN ROSENQUIST FEE

I know, you’re thinking, who does she think she is, laying down laws when she’s clearly without credentials in the realm of hair color that can be called “adventuresome?” When her own hair is the drab taupe palette of the dead trees along Highway 169 in that postwinter, not-yet-spring season when we’re all so sick of gray-brown we could put an ice-cleated boot through a saltstained car door?

All true. However, I think it’s fair to say I’ve leaned so hard into this colorless color scheme that it has the same impact, socially speaking, as a bold hue. It prompts comments from strangers often enough that I’m now at risk of smiling a particular smile in expectation of a hair-related compliment or question when a person approaches me to say a normal, not-hairrelated thing, such as “You dropped your glove” or “Paper or plastic” or “Ma’am, do you know how fast you were going in this 65-mph zone?”

Having lived all manner of the awkward and/or glorious social moments made possible by extreme style choices, I pronounce myself qualified to declare some hard-and-fast rules for use by the color-curious and anybody thinking about any out-of-comfort-zone style experiment. And here they are:

If you’ve always wanted to try a bright color, but can’t quite summon the guts—but you’re not sure why, because you really, really want to but just can’t, yet — stop fretting and give it time. Eventually you’ll book the appointment and airily declare, “Let’s do this,” without even looking through pages of a magazine or a social media feed, because you won’t care what anybody else is doing, or thinking. Your apprehensions and contingencies will have thinned out like so much collagen. According to my friend Krista, a Minneapolis colorist whose clientele ranges in age from late teens to senior citizens, this is an absolute fact of midlife maturity.

“Older women have the vibe of ‘(to heck with) it, I’ve always wanted this so I’m doing it, I don’t care what anyone thinks, try and stop me!’ It’s usually a bold color all over their head, or streaks, and not many cares as to how long it will last, maintenance, how to get it out when they’re done having their fun, or what color is flattering. They have their minds made up. It’s just, ‘Let’s do it.’”

By comparison, Krista says, “Younger babes are usually seeing a trend circulating on social media, or a celebrity trying a fun color. They’ve done a lot of pondering and have many questions. ‘How long will it last (I only want to try it for a little while)? Will it be easy to get out? Is it going to damage my hair? Cost? Can you get it to look exactly this shade, exactly this placement?’ The vibe is usually a little more apprehensive and nervous—‘I hope it looks good, and if I hate it, I can always go back, right?’ And, ha ha, they usually do.”

You see how this works, right? You get that this is a natural progression of sensibilities that transcend (but definitely include) hair color? You can visualize the time-lapsed short film of the younger woman loosening her fearful grip on external validation, relaxing into a posture of dropped shoulders and higher consciousness? You can, and if you’re struggling with a curiosity about bold hair color, but aren’t feeling ready quite yet — but you want to, but you can’t — stop ruminating and start trusting that the day will come because, honestly, there’s nothing you can do to stop the aging process, and this, thank God, is part of it.

If, on the other hand, you’re a person who has never wanted to do it because you’re happy with your natural gray (or happy maintaining a color that draws no attention, just keeps your face/hair palette freshly notgray), but you feel pelted by the message that bold color is synonymous with confidence and self-actualization. You, too, can just knock it off. The shelter-in-place feeling of needing to protect yourself from bombardments of trends will eventually fade away, no matter what you do or don’t do. As sure as menopausal night sweats, one day you’ll settle into your stylist’s chair and say, “Whoa, no idea what that shouldI-or-shouldn’t-I obsession was all about, let’s just do what feels right and keep me looking like I want to look and let the whole wide of the world of style do the same.”

In short, if it feels wrong, it’s going to look wrong. And if it feels right, then damn the trends and damn the people who’ll say you’re simply following a trend. If it feels like you, you can be sure you’ll wear it well.

Ann Rosenquist Fee is executive director of the Arts Center of Saint Peter and a vocalist with Joe Tougas & Associates and the Steely Dan tribute band Steely Ann. Her illustrated essays on fashion and tarot are at annrosenquistfee.com.

Ann Rosenquist Fee’s credentials consist of natural crocheted dreadlocks bulked up by synthetic hair in the same non-vibrant non-rainbow of shades.

PEOPLE CARING FOR PEOPLE

Lab Services

THE WAY YOU ARE TREATED is JUST AS IMPORTANT as the TREATMENT YOU RECEIVE.

River’s Edge Hospital uses state-of-theart equipment to provide a variety of laboratory clinical testing to diagnose, monitor and prevent disease. And for your convenience, Direct Access Testing (DAT) is available so you can receive commonly asked for tests without an order from your physician. No appointment necessary!

DAT Walk-in

testing

Monday - Friday 7:30 am - 5 pm

1900 North Sunrise Drive (507) 931-2200 | www.REHC.org

From dresses to swimwear to tops, cutout culture has taken over and we’re all in.

Some say trend. Some say closet staple. Get on board and invest in a well-made ribbed tank. Dress it up, dress it down. Wear it with anything!

The key to today’s pencil skirt is to go with a less tailored look, pairing it with a fitted or cropped top. Jazz it up with some statement jewelry for a night on the town.

Accessorize to the max with bold colors, timeless elements and statement pieces.

The classic clutch is back in. The baseball hat remains the moment, just add a logo. Big beach bags with a side of sass pack a punch.

Think bright and think embellished. Stand out in bright colors this summer. Gold embellishments are the perfect statement on a solid one piece. Pair it with your favorite shades and a punchy beach bag and you’ll be set for the beach.

RIVERFRONT

410 S. Riverfront Dr. Mankato, MN 507-625-1107

HILLTOP

2010 Adams St. Mankato, MN 507-625-9070

VACCINATION HEADQUARTERS

Your Hy-Vee Pharmacy offers many vaccinations to help you stay healthy throughout the year. We offer vaccinations for COVID-19, pneumonia, shingles, tetanus, influenza, and meningitis. We offer these vaccines anytime the pharmacy is open with no appointment necessary. Stop in and talk with one of our pharmacists to discuss your vaccination needs.

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COLLAGEN

What is collagen anyway?

Collagen is the most prevalent connective tissue protein in the body. It plays a role in healthy skin, muscles, tendons, and ligaments. Basically, it’s the “glue” that holds organs in place, attaches muscle to bone, and knits skin cells into elastic sheets.

To make collagen, the body needs adequate amounts of the following nutrients.

PROTEIN

WHAT IT DOES: Protein produces lysine, proline, and other amino acids that the body uses to make collagen.

FOODS: Beef, chicken, tuna, cod, shrimp, beans, eggs, gelatin, cheese (Parmesan, Romano, Gruyere, and Swiss), roasted soybeans, tofu, and lentils.

ZINC

WHAT IT DOES: Zinc promotes cell growth, cell division, wound healing, and healthy elastic skin.

FOODS: Almonds, beans, beef, turkey, eggs, oysters, salmon, shrimp, quinoa, lentils, spinach, and pumpkin seeds.

VITAMIN C

WHAT IT DOES: Vitamin C fights damage to connective tissue caused by inflammation and free radicals.

FOODS: Oranges, grapefruit, blackberries, blueberries, raspberries, strawberries, cranberries, kiwi, watermelon, bell peppers, tomatoes, broccoli, kale, and green beans.

COPPER

WHAT IT DOES: The body requires small amounts of copper to replace damaged connective tissue.

FOODS: Liver, oysters, lobster, beef, shiitake mushrooms, cashews, almonds, sesame seeds, cooked Swiss chard, cooked spinach, pumpkin seeds.

BONE BROTH

WHAT IT DOES: Although not a nutrient, this food contains dietary collagen that has been shown beneficial for joints, skin, nails, and gut.

FOODS: Bone broth (broth made using beef, turkey, or chicken bones) is simple to make at home (see the included recipe) or you can find many prepared products on your grocery shelf.

INGREDIENTS

Leftover bones from one whole rotisserie chicken, about 2 lbs.

2 medium yellow onions, cut into 8 wedges

6 medium carrots, rinsed and coarsely chopped

8 large stalks celery, rinsed and coarsely chopped

4 clove(s) garlic, smashed

1 bunch(es) fresh parsley

4 dried bay leaves

2 tsp. Hy-Vee salt

½ tsp. Hy-Vee ground black pepper

10 c. water

DIRECTIONS

1

Add chicken bones, onions, carrots, celery, garlic, parsley, bay leaves, salt, black pepper, and water to an 8-quart Instant Pot. Place the lid on the pot and secure. Select the “Pressure” setting, adjust the time for 1 hour, and pressure cook on HIGH.

Once the bone broth has finished cooking, release the seal and allow steam to escape naturally. Once the steam has escaped, carefully remove the lid. 2 3 4

Remove the inner stainless steel bowl. Pour broth through a finemesh strainer and into a large container or bowl with a tight fitting lid; discard bones and vegetables.

Use broth immediately, or store in the refrigerator for up to one week.

Nutrition Facts per serving: 60 calories, 1g fat, 0g saturated fat, 0g trans fat, 15mg cholesterol, 550mg sodium, 8g total carbohydrate, 2g dietary fiber, 3g sugars, 0 added sugars, 6g protein. Daily values: 4% iron, 140% vitamin A, 6% calcium, 20% vitamin C.

April Graff, MS, RD, LD Hilltop Dietitian 507.625.9070

AGraff@hy-vee.com

Don’t have an Instant Pot? Place all ingredients into a slow cooker and cook on low for 12-24 hours.

IN THE KITCHEN WITH

I’ve spent most of my life in a kitchen, always sharing my love of good food—begun in 4-H as a teen giving demonstrations at the State Fair, then introducing Thanksgiving to new friends as a bride in England, later as a young mom in Malaysia giving cooking classes to expat wives, and, finally, as a catering chef with my own business in Washington, D.C. Now that I’m retired, a flaky pastry crust filled with combinations of fresh, seasonal vegetables, seafood, or smoked meats and cheeses, held together with a simple egg custard—a quiche—remains a favorite to make and share.

The pastry: Pre-rolled refrigerated pie crusts are a real time saver, or make your own using a favorite recipe.

The filling: Any combination of 2-3 C. prepared meat or seafood and vegetables plus 1-1 ½ C. of cheese.

The custard: 4 large eggs, beaten well in a 2 C. glass measure. Add half & half or whole milk to fill the measure. Season with 1 teaspoon salt, ¼ teaspoon black pepper and herbs to taste.

Classic Ham & Cheese: Dice 4-6 ounces of lean ham. Sauté 2/3 C. diced yellow onion in butter until tender. Add in the ham and cook, turning often, until any juices in ham are cooked away. Remove from the heat and cool. Pair with up to 1 ½ C./6 oz grated Swiss, and/or Gruyere cheeses. For a British twist – use Cheddar cheese and top with thin slices of one ripe plum tomato floated on top the custard before baking. Sprinkle either version with a finely sliced scallion or 1-2T. minced chives before baking.

Asparagus & Salmon: Bake or gently sauté a 6-8 oz. salmon filet, chill, remove skin and flake. Sauté ½ C. of diced onion, 2-3 finely sliced scallions and 8 oz. fresh asparagus (1 ½ C.), diced, until tender. Cool. Pair with grated 1 C./4 oz. Fontina or Swiss cheese and 2 T. fresh or 1 T. dry dillweed. For a treat— substitute 8 oz. fresh lump crab meat for the salmon.

Mediterranean Vegetable: Cube (1/2”) a combination of zucchini, eggplant or yellow squash (as desired), red peppers, and onion (total 4 C. raw), toss in olive oil and roast at 400 degrees until tender Cool. Pair with 1 C. grated Provolone or Mozzarella and ¼ C. Parmesan, ¼ C. slivered fresh basil OR 1 T. Italian herb seasoning. Garnish with 2-3 T. of diced red pepper.

Autumn Squash: Cube (1/2” cubes) 3-4 C. butternut squash and chop half a medium onion. Toss with 1-2 T. olive oil and roast on a sheet pan until tender. Cool. Pair with 4-6 oz. of crumbled soft Chevre/goat cheese and a generous pinch or two of dry or fresh thyme or 3-4 slivered sage leaves. Garnish before baking with 2-3 T. lightly toasted pinenuts or flaked almonds and a sprinkling of minced parsley.

Carol English began her interest in food in her mother’s kitchen on the Krenik family farm on Lake Jefferson, and after marrying a newly-minted U of M Ag Econ PhD, accompanied him (a souvenir?) to England, then to Malaysia, before they moved to their career home in Washington, D.C. Her husband, the very British Mr. English, had a career with the World Bank while Carol kept busy with a number of “mom jobs” while raising their three daughters before creating her catering business, Be My Guest, in 1987. Now retired, she and her husband, John, have a home in Madison Lake.

To bake: Preheat oven to 400 degrees. Unroll the crust then fit into a 9” metal or glass pie pan or use a 9-10” loose-bottom quiche tin. Crimp a decorative edge if using a pie pan. Layer in the vegetables, seafood or meat and cheeses, then pour on the custard to fill the crust. Garnish with herbs. Place the quiche on the bottom shelf of the oven and bake 35-40 minutes until the pastry has browned, custard is set and the top is attractively browned. Remove from the oven and cool for 20-30 minutes before serving. Serves 6-8.

Crickets, crickets, crickets.

I hear them all the time, even in the winter. I hear them more in one ear than the other. Sometimes they don’t sound like crickets, but a ringing, hissing, and even chirping. At times, they’re loud—really loud. I have tinnitus.

I’m not alone. Nearly 45 million people suffer from tinnitus or head noises. The sound, or sounds, may be intermittent or annoyingly continuous in one or both ears.

Mine is intermittent, catching me off guard when I least expect it. It’s especially bothersome when I’m trying to have a conversation or fall asleep.

So, what causes tinnitus? Experts believe it comes from damage to the hair cells in the inner ear. The health of these hair cells is important for sending signals to the auditory nerve and ultimately the brain. Injury to them brings on hearing loss and often tinnitus. In most cases, the tinnitus or noises will start years before any identifiable hearing loss.

There’s no specific cure for tinnitus, but it’s important that, if you start experiencing these noises, to be checked by an audiologist. The audiologist may refer you to an ear, nose, and throat specialist. These health care professionals can rule out any worrisome problems and provide management options so the sounds no longer interfere with daily living.

Tinnitus can be made worse by external factors, such as stress, anxiety, poor sleep hygiene, caffeine or sodium intake, and even nicotine use or exposure. I’ve noticed how much worse my sounds are when I’m stressed from a busy workday, or when I stayed up too late the night before.

I find a few moments of mindfulness or meditation help on those extra stressful days. I also try to get seven to eight hours of sleep each night and keep my caffeine consumption within reasonable limit.s Technically, that’s 400 mg of caffeine or about four cups of brewed coffee.

Others use sound—like a fan or a sound machine playing ocean waves or music—when falling asleep. Some who wear hearing aids to treat hearing loss notice less tinnitus while wearing their devices.

Treatment for managing tinnitus isn’t a one-size-fits-all approach. Meeting with your health care team, especially an audiologist, can identify tools that are right for you and calm those annoying crickets.

KATIE KENDHAMMER Au.D., audiologist, Mayo Clinic Health System Owatonna, Minnesota

LIVEN UP

Breakfast simply means to “break-the-fast.” Burn more calories and jump-start your metabolism by eating breakfast. Here are some tips to maximize your breakfast experience:

Start with Whole Grains

Whole-grain carbohydrates provide energy, fiber and lots of vitamins and minerals. In order to add healthy carbs to your breakfast, try oatmeal and whole-grain products such as bread, cereal, muffins, pancakes or waffles.

Add Protein

Proteins contain amino acids that build, maintain and replace tissues throughout the body. Try lean proteins such as an egg, slice of cheese, Greek yogurt, kefir, nut butters, cottage cheese, Canadian bacon or a sprinkle of wheat germ atop just about anything.

Remember Fruits and Vegetables

Fruits and vegetables are loaded with antioxidants, fiber, vitamins and minerals. It’s easy to incorporate fruits at breakfast since Mother Nature packages many of them in a ready-to-go container. Before heading out the door, grab a banana, pear, apple, orange or other seasonal selection. Frozen berries and tropical blends can be whipped into a smoothie. Chopped vegetables including spinach, broccoli, carrots and tomatoes can be added to your morning omelet or served up raw in a juice.

Easy-to-Make Breakfast Ideas

• Protein chewy granola bar; drinkable yogurt.

• String cheese wrapped with slice of deli ham; wholegrain bread wrapped around meat and cheese; 100% grape juice.

• Peanut butter spread on toasted waffles or wholegrain crackers; chocolate milk.

• Hard-boiled egg; tomato juice or spicy V8 juice.

• Whole-grain bagel with cheese; fresh orange or orange juice.

• Breakfast cookie; single-serve milk.

• Breakfast-in-a-bag: whole almonds, dried cherries or cranberries, healthy cereal. Mix and pre-portion ahead of time in snack-size bags.

• Breakfast parfait: layer strawberry yogurt, granola and sliced banana, or stir 2 tablespoons powdered peanut butter into vanilla yogurt; top with crushed graham crackers.

• Breakfast taco: 1/4 cup shredded cheddar cheese on a whole grain tortilla; microwave 30 seconds; roll while warm - add salsa, if desired; 100% juice.

HOLLY ELLISON, RD, LD Campus Dietitian MNSU – Mankato

If you’ve been an active gardener during the past decade, you’ve probably heard the phrase “Thriller, filler, spiller.” This clever little jingle is an easy way to categorize and remember three basic types of plants that combine well in container gardens.

“Thriller” refers to a large showy plant, something that’s big in both stature and attitude. This plant gives a container planting its height and overall structure, often created by tall dramatic plants such as elephant ears, dwarf papyrus, or canna lilies. The “filler” plants occupy the middle section of a planter, growing to a medium size that fills the majority of the planter’s empty soil and the space directly above it. A “spiller” is a vining plant, something that trails over the side of the planter toward the ground.

I’ve always been a big fan of this rhyming ditty and its guidelines. It’s easy to keep in mind while shopping and simple to execute. If you’re new to container design, “Thriller, filler, spiller,” is a very user-friendly place to start. But after you’ve mastered the basic structuring of a good container garden, it’s fun to keep challenging yourself and learning. There’s much more to plant design than just shape, after all. Let’s talk about elevating your container planting game beyond the basics.

Color

When it comes to color, plants provide countless opportunities. There are the flowers, of course, but foliage is also a major component. I like to pay attention to both, since you can never guarantee that a flower will remain in full bloom for the entire growing season. I usually try to coordinate flower colors within a planter while also paying attention to repetition and contrast. If you’re doubting whether two colors go together, err on the side of more harmonious choices.

Look for subtle color connections between plants, and pair accordingly. For example, a dark-leafed coleus might have a narrow yellow margin, so you could pair it with a begonia that has yellow flowers. A purple-leafed sweet potato vine could go well with calibrachoa flowers that have dark purple throats.

Don’t forget about white! White flowers brighten the other plants they’re mixed with, which can be especially effective if a container planting is located in the shade. Silver foliage has a similar

highlighting effect, and the combination of white flowers and silver foliage together is stunning.

Texture

In this context, I’ll use the word “texture” to refer to a plant’s visual qualities, rather than whether the leaves are fuzzy or smooth. (Although, tactile texture can be fun to play around with, too!) Some plants have fine, dainty textures, with tiny flowers and thin, frilly leaves. Plants with large chunky leaves—such as hostas, canna lilies, or banana plants—create a completely different visual effect. Contrasting textures within the same planting is an effective tool for all gardening, and it works especially well in container plantings. Try mixing annual grasses into your container plantings— their wispy, skinny leaves create interesting movement and variation.

Growing conditions

Never underestimate the importance of proper growing conditions to a great container garden design. Providing the correct amount of water and sunlight is critical to each individual plant’s overall success. When choosing plants for a single container, match plants with similar needs—the drought tolerant plants should go together, the water-loving plants should go together, the shade plants, etc. Do your best to provide the recommended spacing for each plant, or some of them will eventually get crowded out. (I make this mistake every year! Less is more, especially in smaller containers that will quickly get rootbound.)

Et cetera

If you’ve addressed all of the previous components and want to get even more technical, consider the shape of the container itself. Which plants would best emphasize or complement that shape? Think about where you’re placing the container in relation to other yard or garden design elements that might coordinate with it— or clash! Consider where this container is being viewed from—have you made that viewpoint the main focal point of the planting? The nuances of plant design are obnoxiously endless, but it can be a lot of fun to try to figure them out.

LAURA SCHWARZ New Ulm Native Minneapolis-based horticulturist & writer

I’ve been trying to cut back on sugar, but I’m having a really tough time. I feel irritable and anxious, and I find I can’t focus on a task for too long before I become distracted. What’s happening to me? I feel crazy!

Back away from the doughnuts, and take a deep breath. You are going to be okay. In fact, you will be better than “okay” if you can make it through the detox period. Heck yeah, I called it “detox!” Sugar is a drug, and you are going through withdrawal. And just like withdrawal from other drugs, it can be challenging. What happens in the brain that makes sugary foods so difficult to resist?

Sugar is the general term that describes a class of molecules known as “carbohydrates.” Carbs are found in almost every comfort food you can think of. Hot tip: it’s called a comfort food for a reason—it temporarily causes your brain to be flooded with a feel-good hormone known as dopamine. Dopamine is released when the reward system in the brain is activated, and it helps our subconscious mind answer the question of whether you should do that again.

Activities that bring us pleasure trigger this reward system, and drive us to repeat or seek out these pleasures to continue the reward pathway. But overacting this system can lead to a series of unfortunate events including loss of self-control, craving, and increased tolerance to sugar.

CORINNE JORDAN, MD, FACS General Surgeon Physicians Group New Ulm

Drugs like alcohol, nicotine, and heroin also trigger this pathway. That is why quitting sugar can be just as difficult as quitting smoking. Sugar is one of the rare dopamine inducing foods. Kale, broccoli, or spinach do not have this effect. Which explains why you will not find these items on a dessert menu.

You can expect your detox symptoms to last a few days to a couple of weeks, depending on how long or how badly you have become dependent on sugar. You may notice cravings will increase during times of stress and you may feel sluggish or anxious. Stick to it, and you will come out on the other side in better shape, and your body will be better off in the long run.

Swap sweetened drinks for water or unsweetened tea. Start off your day with some protein and veggies. Keep healthy snacks on hand by meal prepping and planning ahead for times when you may be drawn towards sweet treats. Cut up a bag of carrots and peppers, or apples and berries, and keep them at eye-level in the fridge for easy access. Practice mindfulness. Are you really hungry? Or are you feeding your mind and anxiety?

Lastly, show yourself some grace. Being a functional human being is hard, and sometimes we need to feed our feelings after a bad day. But do so in moderation, and try not to do it every day.

Stay healthy friends!

As women, we tend to take care of everybody else. So, who takes care of you?

One of the best things you can do for your health is to find a primary care provider you trust.

Evidence links people who see a primary care provider with good health and longevity. One reason is that primary care providers catch small health problems before they become serious.

What is a primary care provider? A primary care provider, often called a PCP, is a physician, physician assistant, or nurse practitioner who sees patients for routine check-ups, common medical issues, and when they are sick. Your primary care provider is typically in family medicine or internal medicine. For women, your PCP can also be in gynecology and children may have a pediatrician.

Prevention is still the best medicine and PCPs focus on preventing diseases. Heart disease, cancer, and diabetes are the leading causes of death and disability in the United States. Yet, these diseases can be prevented or detected early when treatment works best.

That’s why, when you see your primary care provider for an annual visit, your provider is likely to recommend vaccines and routine screenings for cancer, heart disease, and diabetes. Screenings are tests that check your body for disease before symptoms appear.

Here are the top five perks to having a primary care provider.

Trust: When you see the same primary care provider for routine check-ups and medical care, you develop a strong patient-provider relationship. The result is open and honest communication. Knowing you better and working together, your PCP can create the right treatment plan for you.

Live Longer: One study shows adults who have a primary care provider have 19 percent lower odds of premature death than those who only see specialists. Primary care providers often catch health issues early in routine checkups. Early treatment can prevent more serious problems and improve your overall health.

Your Healthcare Coach: With a diagnosis such as depression, diabetes or heart disease, your primary care provider can refer you to specialists who can best address specific issues. Your primary care provider is like a coach who can see the whole field and will continue to oversee your overall health, coordinate your medical care, and follow your treatment.

Boost Your Health History: When you have a primary care provider, your health history will be more comprehensive. Your health history contains important information—current medications, family history, medical conditions, immunizations, past medical issues, and so much more. A comprehensive health history gives you and your provider the big picture.

Prevent Disease: Primary care providers prevent disease by giving you vaccines, ordering routine blood tests for diabetes and cholesterol, and recommending preventive screenings. To prevent health conditions, primary care providers encourage patients to eat healthy, exercise and maintain a healthy weight.

Happy Mother’s Day!

SAGAN DOBIE PA-C North Mankato Family Medicine

It is finally spring and we are not the only ones excited to get outside. Most of us have been in the position where we have found a baby “orphaned” animal and just want to help. But, unlike humans, these moms don’t have babysitters and have to trust them to stay home alone. We have all heard the myths of “If you touch it, their mom won’t come back.” This is very untrue but the question is, what IS the right thing to do? In our community the most commonly found “orphaned” babies are birds, squirrels, bunnies, deer, opossums, and raccoons.

If you find a baby bird on the ground, look up into the tree and place them back in the nest if you can find it. If the baby does not have feathers, it is likely that it fell out by accident. If you find a nest and other baby birds around it, place the nest back in the tree and put the baby birds back in. Mom will come back and is likely hanging around watching you. If the bird has feathers, it is likely they are learning to fly and have not yet been successful or can’t fly high enough to their nest. These kids could spend days hopping around the tree, but mom is probably nearby and feeding them. Watch from a friendly distance. Do not attempt to feed or water these guys, as it is easy for them to aspirate (inhale the water) and this could be deadly. Baby ducks, geese, or swans should be rescued if found by themselves as their mom will not return for them.

Although not babies, one billion birds die from glass collisions (that’s some good Windex) per year in the United States. If you see a bird hit the window and they are still alive, place them in a carboard box with a paper towel so their claws do not get stuck and wait an hour before releasing them. You can do your part by hanging window clings and avoiding bird feeders by windows.

Rabbits usually make very shallow nests in the ground and are often found by accident or by a family pet. The moms only come around in the early morning and the evening. They might stop by for a quick five-minute feeding once during the day, otherwise they keep their distance to avoid predators. A good way to test to see

if this mamma has abandoned them is to leave a string over the nest. If the string has moved in the last 24 hours, mom has been there. A five-inch baby bunny is independent enough to be on their own. Baby bunnies are very difficult to raise successfully by us humans as they stress very easily.

Baby squirrels (or as my son calls them, “tree puppies”) are frequently found by families under a tree in the yard. These mamas feed their babies every two to four hours when they are tiny, but the babies leave their nests at ten to 12 weeks, and are likely eating solid food at this point. Most of the time, baby squirrels are on the ground because they fell out of the nest or followed mom down and couldn’t get back. Give them a chance to reunite with mom before intervening.

Fawns are another baby animal that seem to be unsupervised by their moms. These babies can be left up to three days without mom coming back. Even though these moms seem to be missing in action, they tend to be hanging close by.

Raccoons stay with their mom for the entire first year, returning at dusk and dawn to feed them. They are excellent moms and will return for their young. If they have large litters, they may even need to feed during the day to produce enough milk.

Besides finding small babies, you are probably seeing other forms of wildlife in your backyard.

Opossums tend to be feared creatures but are beneficial to have. They eat beetles, slugs, snails, mice, rats, snakes, and 5,000 ticks each year by themselves. They don’t dig holes and they are incapable of carrying rabies. They carry tiny babies in their pouch and—as they grow—they ride on their backs. Moms are less attentive to their babies once they leave their pouch. If a baby is found, it is likely that it fell off mom and mom will not return. If the baby is less then 10 inches long, they do need help.

Usually, all these babies have a mom that is looking from afar but, if you have been watching and have not seen a mom, please intervene by putting the baby in a cardboard box with unscented paper towel and place the box on a warm water bottle or heating pad. These little babies tend to be at risk for hypothermia. Do not feed or water them and limit your interaction as these little babies stress easily and stress can quickly become deadly. After getting them in a safe place, call the Wildlife Rehabilitation Center in Roseville at 651-4869453. In general, “If you care, leave them there,” until you can be sure mom is not nearby.

NICOLE LUECK, CVT MN Valley Pet Hospital Mankato

TO HAVE YOUR EVENT LISTED

To have your event listed, please email Ruth Klossner at cowladyruth@gmail.com by the 5th of the previous month. Listings are generally for events that are free to the public, or are fund-raisers. Listings will be published as space allows and at the discretion of the editor.

Fri, May 6

• Gustavus Symphony Orchestra, Christ Chapel, Gustavus Adolphus College, St. Peter, 7:30 pm. Info: 507-933-7013.

• Salad Luncheon, First Congregational Church, 503 2nd Ave NE, Waseca, 11 am-1 pm. Info: wasecachamber.com/events.

• Super Duos—The Music of Simon & Garfunkel, Paradise Center for the Arts, 321 Central Ave N, Faribault, 7:30 pm. Info: 507-332-7372 or info@paradisecenterforthearts.org.

Fri-Sat, May 6-7

• City-wide Garage Sales, Courtland.

• City Wide Garage Sales, Lake Crystal.

• City-wide Garage Sales, Fairfax.

• Community Garage Sales, Henderson. 8 am-7 pm Fri, 8 amnoon Sat. Info: hendersonmn. com/chatter1/.

• Rummage Sale & Lunch during Citywide Garage Sales, Centennial Lutheran Church, 701 Locust St, Henderson. 8 am-7 pm Fri, 8 am-noon Sat. Info: 507-248-3834 or marjorose@ frontier.com.

• Gaylord Citywide Garage Sales. Info: jackie@marklundstrom.com, 507-237-2966 or exploregaylord.org/event/gaylord-city-garage-sales/.

• Craft & Vendor Fair, American Legion, 229 Nassau St, St Peter, 9 am-1 pm. Info: auxiliarypost37@gmail.com or 507-9346435.

Fri-Sun, May 6-8

• Annie the Musical presented by MVL, State Street Theater, New Ulm. 7 pm Fri & Sat, 2 pm Sun. Info: statestreetnewulm.org.

Sat, May 7

• Choral Showcase, Christ Chapel, Gustavus Adolphus College, St. Peter, 7:30 pm. Info: 507-9337013.

GO. BE. DO. CON NECT.

• Craft & Vendor Fair, American Legion Post 37, 229 W Nassau St, St. Peter, 9 am-1 pm. Info: 507934-6435. 507-934-6435.

• Maple Syrup Fun Run, River Bend Nature Center, 1000 Rustad Road, Faribault. Info: visitfaribault.com/calendar/.

• Maifest, Morgan Creek Vineyards, 23707 478th Ave, New Ulm. Info: morgancreekvineyards.com/.

• Babysitter Training - Boys and girls ages 10 and up, Washington Learning Center, New Ulm, 9:30 am-1 pm. Info & registration: 507-233-8307, cfleck@ newulm.k12.mn.us or newulm. ce.eleyo.com/.

• Rustic Mama’s Spring Craft Show, Four Seasons Centre, 1525 S Cedar Ave, Owatonna. Info: 507-456-4024.

• Maple Syrup Fun Run & Pancake Brunch, River Bend Nature Center, 1000 Rustad Rd, Faribault, 7 am. Info: 507-332-7151 or rbncinfo@rbnc.org.

• Spring City Wide Garage Sales, Hutchinson.

• Vineyard Chris Cakes Pancake Fundraiser, Fairgrounds, Agribition Building, 840 Century Ave SW, Hutchinson, 10 am-1 pm. Info: vineyardchurchhutchinson.org, 320-587-2200 or office@vineyardchurchhutchinson.org.

Thurs-Sat, May 12-14

• Springfield Citywide Garage Sales. Info: springfieldmnchamber.org/.

Thurs, May 12

• BCHS—A Tribute to Mothers Luncheon: Tea Steeped with Totally Exquisite Aprons, Turner Hall, 102 S State St, New Ulm, 12 pm. Info & tickets: 507- 233-2621 or email education@browncountyhistorymn.org

• New Ulm Concert Association— Josh Young & Emily Padgett, State Street Theater, New Ulm, 7:30 p.m. Info & membership: 507-766-1900 or 507-766-0725.

Thurs, May 12 & 26, Jun 9 & 23

• Cruisin’ on Pine & 99, downtown Nicollet. Info: nicollet.org/ crusin-on-pine-99.

Fri, May 13 & Jun 10

• Chicken Dinner, American Legion, 600 Co Rd 20, Lake Crystal, 5-7 pm. Info: lakecrystalchamber.com/events.

• Joyann Parker as Patsy Cline, Paradise Center for the Arts, 321 Central Ave N, Faribault, 7:30 pm. Info: 507-332-7372 or info@ paradisecenterforthearts.org.

Sat, May 14

• Citizens Bank Minnesota Race 2 Raise 5K, Back parking lot, New Ulm, 5:45 am. Info: 507-3543165, sseifert@citizensmn.bank or Facebook.

• MVL Prism Concerts, Minnesota Valley Lutheran High School, 45638 561st Ave, New Ulm, 5 & 8 pm. Info: mvl.org or 507-3546851.

• Hot Dog Days, 1st Ave S, St. James, 11 am-1 pm. Info: discoverstjamesmn.com.

• Real Big Band, Ylvisaker Fine Arts Center, Bethany Lutheran College, Luther Ct, Mankato, 7-9:30 pm. Info & tickets: tickettailor.com/events/southernminnesotarealbigband/664768.

• Spring Flea Market, Rice County Hist Soc, 1814 2nd Ave NW, Faribault, 8 am-2 pm. Info: visitfaribault.com/calendar/.

• Midwest All-Star Wrestling, American Legion, 112 5th St NE, Faribault, 6-10 pm. Info: visitfaribault.com/calendar/.

• Cornhole Tourney & My Happy Haven Fundraiser, Circle Inn, 232 Belgrade Ave, No Mankato, 11 am-4 pm.

• Weaving Stronger Communities Spring Gala, Country Club, 1991 Lemond Rd, Owatonna, 6-9 pm. Info: visitowatonna.org/calendar-of-events/.

• St. Anastasia Kid’s Garage Sale, 400 Lake St, Hutchinson, 9 am-7 pm. Info: StAnastasiaSchool.net or denise.m.klatt@gmail.com.

• Minnesota Dance Conservatory of Southern Minnesota, State Street Theater, 1 N State St, New Ulm. Info: 507-625-2005 or dcsmdance.com/.

Sat, May 14 & Jun 11

• Made Rights @ The Legion, American Legion, 13 S Minnesota St, New Ulm, 10:30 am-1 pm. Info: 507-354-4016 or AmericanLegionPost132@gmail.com.

• Intro to Kettlebells Class, Washington Learning Center, New Ulm, 9-10 am. Info & registration: 507-233-8307, cfleck@ newulm.k12.mn.us or newulm. ce.eleyo.com/.

• End of Life Planning (& Taxes) 101, Washington Learning Center, New Ulm, 9-11:30 am. Info & registration: 507-233-8307, cfleck@newulm.k12.mn.us or newulm.ce.eleyo.com/.

Sun, May 15

• Ridgeview Ambulance Drive-Thru Breakfast, EMS Bldg, 220 Jefferson Ave E, Gaylord, 9 am-1 pm. Info: exploregaylord.org/ category/upcoming-events/.

Thurs, May 19

• Gustavus Choir Home Concert, Christ Chapel, Gustavus Adolphus College, St. Peter, 7:30 pm. Info: 507-933-7013.

• Nitty Gritty Dirt Band, Vetter Stone Amphitheater, 309 West Rock St, Mankato, 7-10 pm. Info & tickets: vetterstoneamphitheater.com or 507-389-3000.

Thurs-Sat, May 19-21

• Rummage sale, Christ The King Lutheran Church, 1040 So Grade Rd, Hutchinson. 3-7 pm Thurs, 9 am-4 pm Fri, 9 am-12 pm Sat. Info: 320-587-2776 or Bt.neubauer@hotmail.com.

Fri, May 20

• Her Crooked Heart, Paradise Center for the Arts, 321 Central Ave N, Faribault, 7:30 pm. Info: 507-332-7372 or info@paradisecenterforthearts.org.

• Downtown Car Cruise-In/Show Night, Faribault, 6-9 pm. Info: visitfaribault.com/calendar/.

• Furry Friends of Waseca Burger Fry & Silent Auction, American Legion, Waseca, 5:30-7:30 pm. Info: 507-304-3015.

• Gustavus Wind Orchestra Finale Concert, Christ Chapel, Gustavus Adolphus College, St. Peter, 7 pm. Info: 507-933-7013.

Fri-Sat, May 20-21

• Foundation Farm’s Annual Rummage Sale, 1706 So German St, New Ulm. Info: foundationfarm. org or Facebook.

Sat, May 21

• Syttende Mai Smorgasbord, Norseland Lutheran Church, Hwy 22, 8 mi west of St. Peter, 4-7:30 pm. Info: Facebook or norselandparish.com.

• Can Do Canines Open House, 9440 Science Center Dr, New Hope, 12-2 pm. Info: candocanines.org, 763-331-3000 or candocanines.org.

• Plant Yourself in Gaylord, downtown, Gaylord. Info: 507995-7683, angieweber724@ gmail.com or exploregaylord. org/2022/02/2022-plant-yourself-in-gaylord/.

• Build Your Own Pollinator Sanctuary, River Bend Nature Center, 1000 Rustad Road, Faribault, 10 am-2 pm. Info: visitfaribault. com/calendar/.

• Bacchus Festival, Morgan Creek Vineyards, 23707 478th Ave, New Ulm. Info: morgancreekvineyards.com/ or 507947-3547.

• Booking on Belgrade Nearly 5K Family Fun Run & Walk, 1001 Belgrade Ave, No Mankato, 8-10 am. Info: Facebook or 507-3455120.

• Street Dance with The Whitesidewalls, Neisens Bar, Main St, Gaylord, 3 pm. Info: Facebook (Street Dance in Gaylord).

Sat, May 21 & Jun 18

• Pork Chop Fry, Conservation Club, 46045 471st Ln, Nicollet, 5-8 pm. Info: nicolletconservationclub.com.

Sun, May 22

• Watonwan County Relay of Life Kickoff Breakfast, American Legion, St. James, 9 am-1 pm. Info: discoverstjamesmn.com.

Thurs, May 26

• Hungrytown Folk Music Concert, Public Library mtg room, New Ulm, 7-9 pm. Info: newulmlibrary.org or 507-359-8331.

Sat, May 28

• Nature Hike, Flandrau State Park, 1300 Summit Ave., New Ulm, 3 pm. Info: 507-384-8890 or scott.kudelka@state.mn.us

• MN State Parks Program, Minneopa State Park, 5 mi W of Mankato off Hwy 68/169, 7 pm. Info: 507-384-8890 or scott. kudelka@state.mn.us

• Archery, Fort Ridgely State Park, Fort Ridgely State Park, 72404 Co Rd 30, Fairfax, 10 am. Info: 507-384-8890 or scott.kudelka@ state.mn.us.

Sat, May 28

• Biker Breakfast, Harley-Davidson, 2704 W Airport Dr, Faribault, 9-11 am. Info: visitfaribault. com/calendar/.

• Nature Hike, Flandrau State Park, 1300 Summit Ave., New Ulm, 3-4:30 pm. Info: 507-3848890 or scott.kudelka@state. mn.us

• Archery, Fort Ridgely State Park, 72404 Co Rd 30, Fairfax, 10 am-2 pm. Info: 507-384-8890 or scott. kudelka@state.mn.us

• Minnesota State Parks, Minneopa State Park, 5 mi W of Mankato off Hwy 68/169, 7-8 pm. Info: 507-384-8890 or scott.kudelka@ state.mn.us.

Sun, May 29

• S.A.L. Omelet Breakfast, American Legion, 715 N 3rd St, Nicollet, 8:30 am-12:30 pm. Info: AmericanLegionPost132@gmail. com or 507-354-4016.

• Hilltop Happenings, Hilltop Hall, 206 First St N, Montgomery, 4 pm. Info: wendyzaske@yahoo. com or HilltopHall.wordpress. com.

• Swan Lake Paddle, Minneopa State Park, 5 mi W of Mankato off Hwy 68/169, 9-11 am. Info: 507-384-8890 or scott.kudelka@ state.mn.us

Mon, May 30

• American Bison Experience, Minneopa State Park, 5 mi W of Mankato off Hwy 68/169, 1 pm. Info: 507-384-8890 or scott. kudelka@state.mn.us

Tues, May 31-Sept 27

• Henderson Classic Car Roll-in, downtown, Henderson, 5-8 pm. Info: hendersonrollin@gmail. com or hendersonrollin.com.

Thurs, Jun 2

• Dairy Days & Ag Appreciation, empty lot on Greeley Ave & 11th St, Glencoe, 4:30-7:30 pm. Info: glencoechamber.com/annual-events-2/.

Thurs, June 2, Jul 7, Aug 4

• ‘Downtown Thursday,’ Owatonna Mainstreet & Central Park, N Cedar Ave, Owatonna, 5-8 pm. Info: owatonna.org/downtown-thursdays/.

Thurs, Jun 2-Aug 11

• 11@7 Concert Series, Central Park-Downtown, Owatonna, 7-8 pm. Info: 507-451-7970, 800423-6466, oacct@owatonna.org or visitowatonna.org.

Fri-Sun, Jun 2-4

• Smokin’ in Steele BBQ & Blues Festival, Four Seasons Bldg, 1525 S Elm Ave, Owatonna. Info: 507-455-1428 or smokininsteele. com.

Fri, Jun 3

• Programs at Fort Ridgely State Park, 72404 Co Rd 30, Fairfax: Archery 4-5:30 pm, Explore Ft Ridgely Creek, 7-8 pm. Info: 507-384-8890 or scott.kudelka@ state.mn.us

• Dairy Day, Library Square Park, Hutchinson, 11 am-1 pm. Info: explorehutchinson.com/.

Sat, June 4

• St. Raphael Catholic School Fundraiser ‘A Night In Havana,’ 20 W Van Dusen St, Springfield, 5 pm. Info: Facebook.

Sun, Jun 5

• Programs at Minneopa State Park, 5 mi W of Mankato off Hwy 68/169: Archery, 10-11:30; Geocaching, 1-2 pm; Mn State Park Story, 3-4 pm. Info: 507384-8890 or scott.kudelka@ state.mn.us.

Wed, Jun 8

• Bernadotte Lutheran WELCA Pie & Ice Cream Social & Band Concert, Church Park, 34122 515th Ave., Lafayette, 5:30 p.m. Info: 507-240-0048.

• Social Security (& Taxes) 101, Washington Learning Center, New Ulm, 6-7:30 pm. Info & registration: 507-233-8307, cfleck@ newulm.k12.mn.us or newulm. ce.eleyo.com/.

Fri, Jun 10

• Schell’s Summer Series: Ocho & Friends, Schell’s Bier Garden, New Ulm, 6-8 pm. Info: cvanasten@schellsbrewery.com or schellsbrewery.com/.

• Programs at Fort Ridgely State Park, 72404 Co Rd 30, Fairfax: Archery 4-5:30 pm, Explore Ft Ridgely Creek, 7-8 pm. Info: 507-384-8890 or scott.kudelka@ state.mn.us.

• Programs at Minneopa State Park, 5 mi W of Mankato off Hwy 68/169: Archery, 4-5:30; Owls of Minnesota, 7-8 pm. Info: 507-384-8890 or scott.kudelka@ state.mn.us.

Fri-Sun, Jun 10-12

• Annual Shakespeare Series— All’s Well that Ends Well, State Street Theater Co, 1 N State St, New Ulm. 7 pm Fri & Sat, 2 pm Sun. Info: christina@statestreetnewulm.org or statestreetnewulm.org.

• Bullhead Days, Downtown, Waterville. Info: info@watervillemn.com.

Fri-Sun, Jun 10-12 & 17-19

• LTO—The Color of Stars, Little Theatre of Owatonna, 560 Dunnell Dr # A, Owatonna. 7:30 Fri & Sat, 2 pm Sun. Info & tickets: visitowatonna.org/calendar-of-events/.

Sat, Jun 11

• LTC (& Taxes) 101: Little Known Strategies to Fund Long-term Care, Washington Learning Center, New Ulm, 9-10:30 am. Info & registration: 507-233-8307, cfleck@newulm.k12.mn.us or newulm.ce.eleyo.com/.

• Home Alone, Washington Learning Center, New Ulm, 9:30-11 am. Info & registration: 507-233-8307, cfleck@newulm. k12.mn.us or newulm.ce.eleyo. com/.

• Old Town Art Fair, Mankato. Info: Facebook or oldtownmankatomn.com/events.html.

• Music for Memories—Jay Allen, Downtown, Gibbon, 7 pm. Info: 507-276-1252 or Facebook (Gibbon Funfest)

• Programs at Flandrau State Park, 1300 Summit Ave., New Ulm: Archery, 1-2:30 pm; Digital Photograph, 4-5 pm; Wild About Wildlife, 708 pm. Info: 507-384-8890 or scott.kudelka@ state.mn.us

• Pollinator Plant Sale, Nicollet Co Hist Soc, Treaty Site History Center, 1851 N Minnesota Ave, St Peter, 9 am-noon. Info: nchsmn. org/events/.

Tues, Jun 14

• Youth Focused First Aid Training, Washington Learning Center, New Ulm, 1-2;30 pm. Info & registration: 507-2338307, cfleck@newulm.k12.mn.us or newulm.ce.eleyo.com/.

• Sibley County Senior Expo, SE Elementary, Gaylord, 9 am-2 pm. Info: jdose@umn.edu or 507-237-4100.

Wed-Sat, Jun 15-18

• Faribault Heritage Days. Info: faribaultheritagedays.com. https://www.faribaultheritagedays.com.

Thurs, Jun 16

• Rockin’ on the Hill, 145 Good Counsel Dr, Mankato, 7-11 pm. Info: rockinonthehill.com.

• Crow River Habitat for Humanity Roaring 20s Gala, Country Club, 915 Colorado St NW, Hutchinson, 5:30-9 pm. Info: crhfh.org or bayley@crhfh.org.

By RUTH KLOSSNER

They call themselves the 100 Women Who Care, but they’re actually 110 strong and looking to grow even more.

100 Women Who Care New Ulm Area was organized less than a year ago, from a concept borrowed from similar organizations around the U.S.

Michelle Markgraf brought the idea to New Ulm, after belonging to a similar group in Sioux Falls, South Dakota. She talked to a few local people about it and the idea took root. The local group held its first meeting in October 2021 and its second April 3, 2022.

100 Women Who Care is a local, philanthropic group of women who contribute locally and connect personally to benefit deserving charities in the New Ulm area.

As the group’s web page states, “We are community-minded women who gather twice each year to learn about local charities, write checks for $100, and—together—donate a substantial sum to a local not-forprofit organization.”

The donation comes from each woman writing a blank check for $100, then filling in the name of the non-profit after it’s selected at the gathering. Each member can nominate a charitable organization that benefits the Brown County area. Three charities are then chosen at random from a hat, and the nominating member has five minutes to explain why that group deserves the donation. After discussion, one charity is chosen by member vote—and each member writes their check to that charity. Each meeting has the potential to generate $10,000 for a local charity. One hundred percent of the donations go directly to the charitable organization.

100 Women Who Care provides an opportunity for participants to learn about, or let other women know about, the great work done by local non-profits. It’s a way for women to make an immediate, direct, and positive impact.

The meetings are limited to one hour in length, so it’s a time efficient manner to select a charity—but some members come to the meetings early or stay late to socialize and network.

At the April 3 gathering, the Tea for Cancer Foundation was selected as the recipient of New Ulm’s second 100 Women Who Care donation.

Following that selection, Kristine Rueckert of Tea for Cancer shared information about the group.

Rueckert explained that the goal of Tea for Cancer is to raise funds for disbursement to New Ulm area residents diagnosed with cancer. Qualified applicants are awarded $100 to $1,000 to assist with transportation to/from treatment, utility/household expenses, mortgage/rent payments, etc. The foundation’s goal is to assist families financially so they can focus attention on beating the disease.

Tea for Cancer’s next event will be an authentic afternoon high tea Sunday, October 2, 2022 at the Best Western in New Ulm. It will include inspirational speakers, a Rockstar Runway Fashion Show, and showering cancer survivors with love and great clothes as Heroes for the Day.

To learn more about the program, visit Teaforcancer. org or Facebook.

Enterprise North of New Ulm was selected as the recipient of New Ulm’s first 100 Women Who Care donation last October.

For more on 100 Women Who Care, visit 100womennewulm.org or Facebook.

Additional members are welcome. 100 Women Who Care will meet next at 6:00 p.m., Sunday, October 16 at Turner Hall in New Ulm. There the members will select their third honoree.

Kristine Rueckert shares information about the winning non-profit, Tea for Cancer.

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Supervised Parenting Time and Exchanges 101

CADA offers supervised parenting time and supervised exchanges through our Keep Me Safe Centers, but these are services that few people know about or understand. Supervised visitation and exchange services help keep our communities safer and help survivors of relationship abuse stay safe. May is Supervised Visitation Awareness Month and it is a great time to answer some frequently asked questions about this crucial service CADA provides.

Q: What are supervised visits?

A: Supervised visits allow non-custodial parents or caregivers to visit with their child or children in a safe and conflict-free environment. Supervised visits at CADA occur in one of our Keep Me Safe Centers. Our centers are stocked with games, toys, and activities for children and young people. Visitations are overseen by a monitor who ensures that everyone is safe throughout the visit.

Q: What about supervised exchanges?

A: Supervised exchanges are when a non-custodial parent can pick up their child for parenting time and drop their child off with the custodial parent at the end of the agreed-upon parenting time. CADA arranges supervised exchanges so that the two parents or caregivers do not meet or come into contact with one another to ensure everyone’s safety and ensure the child or children are not witnessing or experiencing conflict between caregivers.

Q: Who needs supervised visits?

A: Many people may be in situations where supervised parenting time or exchanges could be beneficial. Supervised visits or exchanges are something to consider if:

• There is a history of relationship abuse

• There has been a long separation between a child and a caregiver, for example, if a caregiver was incarcerated

• A family is working with child protection

• There is a history of drug or alcohol issues

Supervised parenting time or exchanges can be voluntary or mandated by a court order.

Q: Why should someone do visits or exchanges at a center?

A: A benefit to doing parenting time or exchanges at a supervised visitation center is that these are spaces that are designed for the safety and confidentiality of everyone involved. Many centers, including CADA’s Keep Me Safe Centers, have secure facilities and policies to ensure children and parents are as safe as possible. Families who do not use supervised parenting time and exchange centers may be having a non-custodial parent visit with children in people’s homes or at a mutual friend or family member’s home. This may not be a safe option for families, depending on their unique circumstances. Furthermore, many families do exchanges for parenting time weekends at public spaces like parking lots or law enforcement centers. While there are many people in these spaces, they’re not ideal. At a center, staff are trained and well-

versed in the family dynamics of visiting families and can keep an eye out for concerning behaviors that put people at risk.

Q: How does this service help families?

A: Supervised parenting time centers offer families a neutral and safe place to have children visit with non-custodial parents. Often, without access to centers, families will do parenting time with a mutual friend or family member, leading to conflict. Supervised parenting time centers can offer age-appropriate activities, secure facilities, and trained staff onsite. Parenting time centers can work with court orders, child protection workers, or other systems that your family may be working with. Parenting time centers can get to know the family dynamics or safety concerns and make detailed plans to reduce conflict or problems.

Q: What are the benefits to children?

A: Supervised parenting time is extremely beneficial to children who may otherwise go without seeing a caregiver or would get caught in the middle of conflict between caregivers or parents. Some benefits to children include:

• Lessens the child’s feeling of rejection

• It helps decrease the child’s fear of not seeing a parent or caregiver again

• Decreases self-blame the child may be feeling

• Helps to rebuild or strengthen a relationship that may have been disrupted

Visits are very child-centered and monitors respect children’s voices and autonomy.

Q: What does a monitor do?

A: At CADA, a parenting time monitor is a staff person trained in the intricacies of relationship abuse or family dynamics families might be navigating. Parenting time monitors are neutral, non-biased third parties who work with both caregivers and maintain confidentiality. Parenting time monitors do not evaluate parenting skills, make parenting suggestions, or take part in a visit unless there is a reason to intervene to uphold policies. They observe and document visits. Monitors are familiar with each family’s unique situations and treat each family member with respect and without judgment. Furthermore, monitors go through an orientation with each family member and introduce children to the space so they’re comfortable when a visit happens.

KRISTEN WALTERS Development & Communications Manager CADA, Mankato

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Tami: My fave pair of jeans!

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WHAT’S YOUR BEST FASHION OR BEAUTY TIP?

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Danielle: “Swishing” with a teaspoon of coconut oil can help with overall oral health.

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Kathy: Preparation H reduces puffiness under eyes and gets rid of dark circles.

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“I go entire days without thinking about my hip.”

JOINT REPLACEMENT SURGERY IMPORTANT CHOICE, EASY DECISION

River’s Edge Hospital has been recognized as a DNV GL Healthcare certified Orthopaedic Center of Excellence for:

• Hip & Knee Replacement

• Shoulder Surgery

• Spine Surgery

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Plus, River’s Edge Hospital is top rated for patient experience!

DR. KYLE SWANSON