Zest March Edition

Zest For 50+ living

MARCH 2015

FREE!

Instilling a love of STEM Hutchinson Jaycees select Kathy Nordby as Teacher of the Year, recognizing her passion for teaching science, technology, engineering and math

Dassel History Center exhibits feature local photography & art

Local public libraries offer

programs for adults

Know the downsides of tapping retirement savings too early

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Prairie Senior Cottages

CALENDAR OF EVENTS

MARCH ‘Leading Ladies’ In this comedy two English Shakespearean actors, Jack and Leo, find themselves so down on their luck that they are performing on the Moose Lodge circuit in the Amish country of Pennsylvania. When they hear that an old lady is about to die and leave her fortune to her two long-lost English nephews, they resolve to pass themselves off as her beloved relatives and get the cash. The trouble is, they find out that the relatives aren’t nephews, but nieces. Romantic entanglements abound. Performances are at 7 p.m. March 19-21 and 26-28 at Hutchinson Center for the Arts, 15 Franklin St. SW. Doors open at 6:30 p.m. Tickets are $18 and are available at Hutchinson Center for the Arts or Hutchinson Area Chamber of Commerce and Tourism, by calling 320-5877278 or online at www.hutchtheatre.org.

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SUBMITTED PHOTO

U.S. Army Field Band: Jazz Ambassadors will perform March 23 at Dassel-Cokato Performing Arts Center.

U.S.Army Field Band The U.S. Army Field Band: Jazz Ambassadors, a 19member ensemble, is the official touring big band of the United States Army. Their diverse repertoire includes big band swing, bebop, Latin, contemporary jazz, standards, popular tunes, Dixieland, vocals, and patriotic selections.

They will perform at 7 p.m. March 23 at Dassel-Cokato Performing Arts Center, 4852 Reardon Ave. S. W. Cokato.

The concert is free, but tickets are required. Tickets will be available beginning Feb. 26. Call 320-286-4120 or go online to www.dc.k12.mn.us/ pac/index.html. Seating is general admission.

‘USO Show Across the Ages’ Litchfield Community Theatre will present “A USO Show Across the Ages: From World War II to Viet Nam.” The show, designed as a salute to soldiers and veterans, will include comedians, musicians, dancers, singers and actors performing acts from the 1940s through the 1970s.

Performances will be at 7 p.m. March 5-7 and March 13-14, as well as at 2 p.m. March 8 and 15 at Bernie Aaker Auditorium, inside Meeker County Family Service Center, 114 Holcombe Ave. N., Suite 110, Litchfield. Buy tickets online or in person at Litchfield Community Education, the Family Service Center.

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CONTENTS

Zest For 50+ living

MARCH 2015 Vol. 6 No. 1

PUBLISHED BY Litchfield Independent Review P.O. Box 921, Litchfield, MN 55355 320-693-3266 Hutchinson Leader 170 Shady Ridge Road NW, Suite 100 Hutchinson, MN 55350 320-587-5000

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an appreciation of STEM — science, technology, engineering and math — through a variety of projects and exercises L

PUBLISHER Brent Schacherer schacherer@hutchinsonleader.com 320-234-4143 EDITOR Juliana Thill thill@independentreview.net 320-593-4808 Litchfield office 320-234-4172 Hutchinson office

Senior Spotlight: Participants in 7 Hutchinson’s One Book, One Community will discuss “Ordinary Grace” in March and listen to Minnesota author William Kent Krueger talk about his book in April

CONTRIBUTING WRITERS Beth Cronk,Terry Davis, Kay Johnson

In the news: Dassel artist Robert

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ADVERTISING DIRECTOR Kevin True true@hutchinsonleader.com 320-234-4141

story: Kathy Norby instills in her kindergartners 10 Cover and first-graders at West Elementary School in Hutchinson

SUBSCRIPTION OR ADDRESS CHANGE Michelle Magnuson 320-234-4142 magnuson@hutchinsonleader.com

Wilde has a collection of his old black and white photographs of the Lake Jennie community on display at Dassel History Center

PRINTED BY Crow River Press 170 Shady Ridge Road NW Hutchinson, MN 55350

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Zest is published monthly by the Litchfield Independent Review and Hutchinson Leader newspapers. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted in any form by means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording or otherwise, without the prior consent of the publisher.

In the news: Several events planned to commemorate the 150th anniversary of the end of the Civil War

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Money matters: Understand the downsides of tapping your retirement savings early

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Medicare: Know what to expect for benefits and costs in 2015

14 Recipes: A Lent option is Sesame Shrimp Stir-Fry Bowl, warm up with Vanilla Caramel Truffle Latte, enjoy Mini Spring Tarts MARCH 2015 | ZEST

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A WARM WELCOME

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fter spending a few 50-degree days in Salt Lake City in February, as temperatures in Minnesota plummeted, I am looking forward to spring’s arrival March 20.

Before I left for Utah, though, I attended the Hutchinson Chamber of Commerce’s banquet. During the banquet, the Hutchinson Jaycees announced their choice for Teacher of the Year — Kathy Nordby, 57, who has been teaching for 34 years. For the past nine years, she has focused on teaching STEM — science, technology, engineering and mathematics — to kindergartners and firstgraders at West Elementary School in Hutchinson.

Nordby was eager to share her story with Zest readers because she believes so strongly in teaching STEM concepts, even to the district’s youngest students. “Some people ... think they’re so little that they maybe don’t do much at school. I want people to be educated about what kids are learning these days. These kids absolutely love STEM,” Nordby said.

Read about what she has accomplished and her passion for teaching in this month’s magazine.

Also in this magazine, you will find short stories about events going on in the area, from a black and white photography exhibit about the Lake Jennie area to several presentations related to the Civil War. The Meeker County Historical Society, the Litchfield Opera House, and

the Hutchinson Senior Center all have events that they’re involved with in the coming months to commemorate the 150th anniversary of the end of the Civil War. For those of you who are looking for non-meat meal options on Fridays during Lent or if you simply like shrimp, be sure to try our recipe for Sesame Shrimp Stir-Fry Bowl. In addition, warm up with a Vanilla Juliana Thill Caramel Truffle Latte, and celebrate Editor spring’s arrival March 20 with Mini Spring Tarts.

Finally, if you missed our February edition of Zest, be sure to stop at the Hutchinson Leader office or the Litchfield Independent Review office to pick up a free copy for yourself and one for a friend or relative. Each February, instead of printing our regular Zest magazine, we publish a resource guide called Silver Pages, for seniors, caregivers and others to use. It has a wealth of information, stories, phone numbers, addresses and websites on subjects ranging from staying active to senior housing, and from hospice care to volunteering. We encourage you to keep Silver Pages in a handy spot and use it as a resource guide throughout the year.

IN THE NEWS

West Elementary School seeks senior listeners

Dassel History Center exhibits feature local artists’ work, photos of Lake Jennie area

West Elementary School in Hutchinson seeks 12 older adults to volunteer a little less than two hours a week to be senior listeners.

Senior listeners sit and listen to first-graders read books. The school invites senior listeners to visit on specific Fridays. Usually, two first-graders are paired up with one senior adult. The first-graders West Elementary School needs take turns reading fun senior adults who will listen to books to the senior listener first-graders read books. as a way to practice reading out loud to someone who enjoys listening.

Senior listeners are needed from 9 a.m. to 10:20 a.m. on March 27; April 10, 17 and 24; and May 1, 8, 22 and 29.

For more information or to sign up to be a senior listener, call teacher Lisa Rasmussen at 320-587-4470, ext. 3061. West Elementary School is at 875 School Road SW, Hutchinson.

Two new art exhibits, “A Portrait of Lake Jennie Church — Black and White Piezography Prints,” and “Local Expressions,” opened in February at the Dassel History Center.

Dassel artist and retired college art professor Robert Wilde recently received a grant from the Southwest Minnesota Arts Commission to print and frame a collection of his old black and white photographs of the Lake Jennie community for his exhibit, “A Portrait of Lake Jennie Church.” His collection is on level four of the History Center through the first two weeks of March Many Dassel area artists have their art on display on level three for the “Local Expressions” exhibit. The art on display is a variety of two dimensional pieces.

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IN THE NEWS Urdahl to speak about civilian life during last year of Civil War

Senior Center offers bus trip to see show about ‘Hutchinson Family Singers’

The Meeker County Historical Society will present “Civil War on the Home Front” at 1:30 p.m.

March 1, at the G.A.R. Hall, 308 N. Marshall Ave., Litchfield. State Rep. Dean Urdahl, R-Acton Township, will speak on what it was like for civilians during the last year of the Civil War. Refreshments will be served following the program.

The St. Paul-based choral group, The Rose Ensemble, will present a fully staged and costumed production titled “Singing for Freedom: The Antislavery Campaign of the Hutchinson Family Singers.” The production will be at 2 p.m. May 2 in the 3M Auditorium at the Minnesota History Center, St. Paul.

The Hutchinson Senior Center is sponsoring a bus trip to see the production. Register by April 14 at the Hutchinson Event Center, 1005 State Highway 15 S. A motorcoach bus departs from the Hutchinson Event Center at 11:45 a.m. and will return about 5:30 p.m. The fee is $41, which includes transportation and a ticket to the performance.

For more information, call September Jacobsen, event center coordinator, at 320-234-5659.

Litchfield Opera House presents series of programs on Civil War Litchfield Opera House is planning events about the Civil War. April 9 marks the 150th anniversary of the end of the war, and the Opera House’s first event at 7 p.m. April 9 will be a speaker who will talk about Minnesota’s role in the war. The play, “Our American Cousin,” which President Lincoln was watching when he was assassinated, will be performed at 7 p.m. April 15. The final event will be at 7 p.m. April 21 with a soliloquy about Mark Twain and his works. Admission will be charged.

All events take place at the Opera House.

Opera House to host Civil War ball A Civil War ball will take place from 7 to 10 p.m.

March 21 at the Litchfield Opera House on North Marshall Avenue. Cost is $10 for adults, $5 for students ages 13-18, and free for children 12 and younger. Civil War attire is encouraged but not required.

All proceeds will benefit the Grand Army of the Republic Hall.

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SENIOR SPOTLIGHT

Litchfield library offers adult reading program, an adult book club

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Litchfield Public Library’s adult book club is reading “The Cuckoo’s Calling” for its March meeting.

The adult book club meets at noon on the second Tuesday of each month.

inter can be a quiet time for adults. Because of this, we hold our adult reading program in the winter instead of the summer.

You can still sign up for the winter reading program, which will run until the end of March. When you sign up, you will get a book bag, a punch card and some book review forms.

Bring back three completed book reviews, and we will punch your card and give you a choice of small prizes. While supplies last, these will include coffee mugs, pizza cutters, and book lights. Bring in three more, and we will put your name in a drawing for small gift certificates to local restaurants, sponsored by the Friends of the Litchfield Public Library.

Adult book club continues to meet at noon on the second Tuesday of each month. We have a good-sized group that has lively dis-

Lakeview Ranch changes to non-profit Lakeview Ranch, with facilities in Darwin and Dassel, has gone through a time of transition, as founder and chief executive officer Judy Berry retires, and the dementia care community transitions to operate as a nonprofit.

The non-profit under which Lakeview Ranch operates is known as the Vacker Place. “Vacker” is Swedish for “beautiful.” Members from the community will serve as board of directors to determine its future direction.

In addition to maintaining its high staff-to-resident ratio, Lakeview Ranch will commit to the model of care used since its inception. The model focuses on unique and individualized care for people with dementia with specialized services for managing challenging and aggressive behavior. Lakeview Ranch has care homes in Darwin and Dassel that can serve 32 residents combined.

Heading up Lakeview Ranch are Administrator Michelle Olson and Community Liaison Susan Marco. Both were hired in the summer to support the transitions.

“Where we are today is a wonderful place, and I do feel that the future of Lakeview Ranch is very bright,” Olson said.

For more information about Lakeview Ranch, visit www.lakeviewranch.com or contact Michelle Olson at 320-275-4611.

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cussions.

The book for March is “The Cuckoo’s Calling” by Robert Galbraith, which is a pen name of J.K. Rowling who wrote the Harry Potter fantasy series. This book will be discussed at the adult book club’s March 10 meeting.

(The April book had not been chosen before this edition of Zest went to press.

Contact the library after March 10 to find out what the April book will be.)

You are welcome to join us for one adult book club meeting or all of them. No commitment is required.

Winter is a good time for quiet indoor pursuits. Beat your cabin fever and join us for a little bit of social sharing of these reading activities.

— By Beth Cronk, head librarian at Litchfield Public Library

Cedar Crest closes facility in Hutchinson; keeps other sites open in Cosmos, Silver Lake Hutchinson lost a home for the elderly when Cedar Crest Estates closed at the end of January after 30 years of operation.

Rosalind Ewald, who opened Cedar Crest in 1984, said the decision to close the senior living facility was because it no longer met the needs of seniors.

“The reason is, the rooms are too small and the bathrooms are not attached to them,” Ewald said of the decision to close the Hutchinson facility at 225 Shady Ridge Road NW. “It would have cost more to remodel it than to build new.”

The Hutchinson facility once housed 33 senior citizens. However, the number had been declining.

Those who were still living in the facility were moved to other senior care facilities. Several transferred to Cedar Crest’s facilities in Cosmos or Silver Lake, Ewald said.

— By Terry Davis, staff writer at the Hutchinson Leader

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SENIOR SPOTLIGHT L

One Book, One Community events include a discussion March 22, author presentation April 19

Community book discussion to focus on ‘Ordinary Grace’

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utchinson’s One Book, One Community program will bring people together in March to discuss this year’s selected book, “Ordinary Grace,” by William Kent Krueger.

Following the format established in 2014, “Ordinary Grace” will be the subject of three public events.

The first event, a screening of the PBS documentary, “The Sixties,” took place in early February.

The documentary provided readers with a sense of the period and issues that shaped Krueger’s story and characters. In this case, the turbulent 1960s.

“The story takes place in 1961 in a small Minnesota town,” said Lori Pikell-Stangel, executive director of the McLeod County Historical Museum.

Pikell-Stangel sees a parallel between the main character who comes of age during “Ordinary Grace,” and the United States during the 1960s.

“Suppressed issues such as civil rights, women’s liberation, homosexuality are all addressed in this

book,” she said. “How did he pack so much in one little book without being blatant about it?”

The next One Book, One Community event will be a community discussion at 2 p.m. March 22 at Hutchinson Public Library, 50 Hassan St. SE. The third and final event will be at 2 p.m. April 19 when Krueger will speak at the Hutchinson Event Center, 1005 State Highway 15 S. Copies of “Ordinary Grace” might be available to borrow at Hutchinson Public Library by calling 320-587-2368.

Heart of Hutch’s Connect Wholeheartedly Committee coordinates the One Book, One Community program. For more information, go online to heartofhutch.com/bookread.

— By Kay Johnson, staff writer at the Hutchinson Leader

Author William Kent Krueger will visit Hutchinson April 19.

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MONEY MATTERS

Be aware of downsides before tapping retirement savings early

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have yet to meet anyone who thinks they’re saving too much money for retirement. On the contrary, most people admit they’re probably setting aside too little.

Retirement accounts must compete with daily expenses, saving up for a home, college and unexpected emergencies for every precious dollar.

If taking money out of your IRA, 401(k) or other tax-sheltered plan is your best or only option, you should be aware of the possible impacts on your taxes and long-term savings objectives before raiding your nest egg:

401(k) loans Many 401(k) plans allow participants to borrow from their account to buy a home, pay for education, medical expenses or other special circumstances. Generally, you may be allowed to borrow up to half your vested balance up to a maximum of $50,000 — or a reduced amount if you have other outstanding plan loans.

Loans usually must be repaid within five years, although you may have longer if you’re using the loan to purchase your primary residence.

Potential drawbacks to 401(k) loans include: N If you leave your job, even involuntarily, you must pay off the loan immediately (usually within 30 to 90 days) or you’ll owe income tax on the remainder — as well as a 10 percent early distribution penalty if you’re under age 59 1/2.

N Loans cannot be rolled over into a new account.

N Some plans don’t allow new contributions until outstanding loans are repaid.

Jason Alderman Senior director of financial education programs at Visa Inc.

N Many people, faced with a monthly loan payment, reduce their 401(k) contributions, thereby significantly reducing their potential longterm account balance and earnings.

N Your account value will be lower while repaying your loan, which means you’ll miss out on market upswings.

401(k) and IRA withdrawals Many 401(k) plans allow hardship withdrawals to pay for certain medical or higher education expenses, funerals, buying or repairing your home or to prevent eviction or foreclosure. You’ll owe income tax on the withdrawal – plus an additional 10 percent penalty if you’re younger than 59 1/2, in most cases.

N Traditional IRAs allow withdrawals at any time for any reason.

However, you’ll pay income tax on the withdrawal – plus the 10 percent penalty as well, with certain exceptions. With Roth IRAs, you can withdraw contributions at any time, since they’ve already been taxed.

However, to withdraw earnings without penalty you must be at least 59 1/2 and the funds must have been in the

>> If you are considering taking money out of your IRA, 401(k) or other tax-sheltered plan, be aware of the possible impacts on your taxes and long-term savings objectives before raiding your nest egg.

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account for at least five years.

To learn more about how the IRS treats 401(k) and IRA loans and withdrawals, visit www.irs.gov.

Further financial implications With 401(k) and traditional IRA withdrawals, the money is added to your taxable income, which could bump you into a higher tax bracket or even jeopardize certain tax credits, deductions and exemptions that are tied to your adjusted gross income. All told, you could end up paying half or more of your withdrawal in taxes, penalties and lost or reduced tax benefits.

Losing compound earnings Finally, if you borrow or withdraw your retirement savings, you’ll sacrifice the power of compounding, where interest earned on your savings is reinvested and in turn generates more earnings. You’ll forfeit any gains those funds would have earned for you, which over a couple of decades could add up to tens or hundreds of thousands of dollars in lost income.

Bottom line: Carefully consider the potential downsides before tapping your retirement savings for anything other than retirement itself. If that’s your only recourse, consult a financial professional about the tax implications.

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MEDICARE

Medicare benefits and costs to remain stable in 2015 Dear Marci, Can you give me a brief summary of any major changes to Medicare in 2015? I have read information in a few different places, but I want to make sure I am not missing anything at the start of the New Year.

— Ruth Dear Ruth, In 2015, Medicare benefits and costs will remain stable, although some small changes occurred when the year began. For example, Original Medicare costs mostly stayed the same. For Part B, the monthly premium and deductible will remain the same in 2015. You can expect to continue paying $104.90 per month for your Part B premium. The deductible remains at $147. Additionally, if you pay a higher Part B premium due to income adjustments , these premiums remain the same, as well.

For Part A, most people do not need to pay a monthly premium because they have or their spouse has worked in the United States for 10 years or more. If you have worked in the “Dear Marci” United States for 7.5 to 10 years, is a service of the you pay a premium of $224 per Medicare Rights month for Part A in 2015. If you have worked in the United States Center, the largest for less than 7.5 years, you pay a independent premium of $407 per month for source of Medicare Part A. The Part A deductible is information and $1,260 in 2015. Once you meet assistance in the this deductible, days 1-60 spent United States. For as a hospital inpatient in each more information, benefit period still have a $0 cogo online to www. payment in 2015. A benefit period medicarerights.org. begins the day you enter the hospital as an inpatient. It ends when you have not received inpatient hospital or skilled nursing facility care for 60 days in a row. Days 61-90 as a hospital inpatient have a daily co-payment of $315. Your co-payment during your 60 lifetime reserve days is $630.

These days can only be used once in your lifetime; they are non-renewable.

These costs relate to Original Medicare. Medicare Advantage plans can change their premiums, co-payments, and deductibles, as well as their plans, from year to year.

In 2015, your costs and coverage for your Part D plan might have changed. Medicare beneficiaries with Part D plans pay less in 2015 when they hit the coverage gap, also called the doughnut hole. In 2015, you enter the doughnut hole after your total drug costs reach $2,960.

Once you are in the doughnut hole, you pay 45 percent of the cost for brand-name drugs, and 65 percent of the cost for generic drugs. You exit the doughnut hole and enter catastrophic coverage once you have spent $4,700 in outof-pocket costs.

— Marci

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MARCH 2015 | ZEST

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PHOTOS BY JULIANA THILL

Kathy Nordby, 57, who has been specifically teaching science, technology, engineering and math skills to kindergartners and first-graders at West Elementary School in Hutchinson for the past nine years, recently was recognized for her efforts when the Hutchinson Jaycees named her Teacher of the Year.

Instilling a love for learning W STEM

Kathy Nordby sees the importance of teaching science, technology, engineering and math at a young age to prepare students for the future

By Juliana Thill EDITOR

hen Kathy Nordby teaches her students about matter — liquids, solids and gases — she uses a variety of learning tools. Inside her room at West Elementary School in Hutchinson, tubs of water sit on tables for her students to use with their measuring spoons, cups and eyedroppers.

Meanwhile students in another part of the room access an electronic SMART Table to identify and match the types of matter in their original form to the form it can change into.

These are kindergartners and first-graders Nordby is

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COVER STORY I want people to be educated about what kids are learning these days.

These kids absolutely love STEM. It’s not above them. They know what STEM stands for. They can understand it. They can do it.

KATHY NORDBY, who teaches science, technology, engineering and math to kindergartners and first-graders at West Elementary School in Hutchinson and was recently named Teacher of the Year by the Hutchinson Jaycees

The STEM room has since become a teaching about matter. They’re explor“thriving and educational classroom full of ing, absorbing, touching, seeing and fun, exciting manipulatives designed to prohaving fun while learning. vide the students at West Elementary with “You think to yourself, ‘Wow. Can an amazing learning experience rooted in they understand that some things are math and science,” Fink said solid, some are liquid, some are gas?’

While some people might think kinderThey love it. We did lots of experiments gartners and first-graders don’t do much at with snow and water and ice. We talk school other than color, Nordby said, “I want about what happens when you mix a people to be educated about what kids are liquid with a solid, and some things learning these days. These kids absolutely dissolve; temperature, how matter love STEM. I’ll say, ‘We’re going to learn changes, with freezing and melting,” about science today.’ Or, ‘We’re going to be Nordby said. engineers today — we’re going to to do the E At the SMART Table, similar to a in STEM.’ It’s not above them. They know large iPad that six students can use at what STEM stands for. They can understand the same time, students learn to work it. They can do it.” together as a team to match pictures At West Elementary, which houses only such as a frozen popsicle and a melted kindergartners and first-graders, Nordby one, that show how it changed from a teaches STEM for one-half hour to nine secsolid to a liquid. tions of kindergarten every other day and to “I try to find something on the 10 sections of first-graders on the opposite SMART Table that goes along with what we’re doing,” she said. “It’s very The Hutchinson Jaycees pre- days, for a total of 19 classes. fun. They are soaking it up. They are sented Kathy Nordby with so interested; it’s very easy to keep the Teacher of the Year award Teaching career evolves their attention because they can’t get Jan. 23 during the Hutchinson Teaching STEM brings many of Nordby’s Chamber of Commerce’s passions together. enough of it. They just love it all.”

Nordby’s passion for teaching sci- annual banquet.

Nordby, 57, lives in Brownton with her ence, technology, engineering and husband, Kevin, who is originally from math — which create the acronym Litchfield. They have four grown children, STEM — is evident in her classroom, three boys, Karsten, 33, Lukas, 30, Bryant, enjoyed by her students, appreciated by parents and recog- 26, and one daughter, Amanda, 24. nized by her peers.

She grew up on a farm one mile south of Brownton, Her work recently drew the attention of the Hutchinson where her parents still live, and has been teaching for 34 Jaycees, who presented her with their annual Teacher of years.

“I always wanted to be a teacher. I remember my mom the Year award during the Hutchinson Chamber of telling me she wanted to be a teacher and didn’t get that Commerce banquet in January.

“When the students at West are asked to name their opportunity, and I always thought, ‘I want to be a teacher.’ favorite subject, with most 6- and 7-year-olds, you would My sister is a teacher, too,” she said.

Nordby’s first job out of college was teaching second grade think they would say recess or phy ed, but now STEM ranks right at the top of the list,” Hutchinson Jaycees in Willmar. She then taught preschool at Crackerjack President Adam Fink said before presenting Nordby with Nursery School in Litchfield, followed by teaching fifth grade in Hector. the Teacher of the Year award.

She then was a sixth-grade teacher at Park Elementary “She has created both a STEM room and its curriculum with very little supplies and resources from the very begin- School in Hutchinson for seven years before moving to West Elementary School, where she taught first grade for 12 ning,” he said.

MARCH 2015 | ZEST

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COVER STORY

years. Then, nine years ago, the STEM teaching opportunity arose.

The room where Nordby teaches started out as a math and science room.

“It was kind of a brainstorm of a lot of people here at West. The principal at the time had this vision of beefing up our science. We all came together and decided we wanted this math and science room,” she said.

She applied for the teaching job and they offered it to her.

“I covered all the science standards, and math was really easy to bring in, because math is right there — you’re counting, you’re patterning, you’re doing all those concepts.

In 2011, the state came out with science and engineering standards. So all of a sudden, we needed to make sure our kids got engineering skills also. That was real easy for me to do because this was the science and math room. Last summer, I talked to the principal, Ann Broderius, and I said, ‘I think we should call this room the STEM room because we are doing the science. We’re doing the math and the engineering. And the technology is here,’” she said, pointing to the SMART Table nearby.

“It’s like a great big iPad — that’s what the kids call it — but it’s multi-touch. They can all touch it at the same time.

It really focuses on team work. I can stand six kids around it, and they have to work together to get the job done. And that’s what engineers want, they want kids who can do teamwork. So, that’s a great piece of technology,” Nordby said.

She uses her school computer to select the activities she wants the students to do, and then transfers them onto the SMART Table.

Nordby knows many of her students are more comfortable with computers and new technology than she is.

However, that hasn’t stopped her from continuing to learn with the students.

Often, the kids want to start the program on the SMART Table before she can finish introducing the lesson.

“I’m more apprehensive, definitely, (than the students),” she said. However, “with the SMART Table, I’ve been really bold about it. I’m the only one at school who has one, so I’m the only one who’s been trained on it. So I have to give it a go. I have to do it,” she said.

Nordby also has digital microscopes in her room that are on every day for the children to use. Yet, the high-tech gadgets aren’t the only technology she uses for teaching.

“As far as technology goes, everything is technology. A pencil is technology. When we add that T to STEM, it’s in this room in so many ways,” she said.

Expanding the STEM program To enrich the STEM program, Nordby has written and received eight grants from 3M to help pay for learning tools in her room, including the digital microscopes, Lego kits students use to learn engineering skills, as well as Bee Bots, which are robots about the size of a grapefruit that students can program to go left, right, forward and backward on a grid.

“3M has really supported this program 100 percent. I’ve asked for a grant every single year ... and they’ve given me whatever I’ve asked for. It’s really been nice,” she said.

In addition, Nordby brings in 3M engineers, science

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ZEST | MARCH 2015

West Elementary School teacher Kathy Nordby sits at the SMART Table in her classroom. It has a 42-inch screen that serves as the table top. The table stands about 25 inches high, is about 28 inches wide and 46 inches long.“It’s like a great big iPad — that’s what the kids call it — but it’s multi-touch. They can all touch it at the same time. It really focuses on team work. I can stand six kids around it, and they have to work together to get the job done,” Nordby said. teachers and high school students, to help with STEM family night in the fall with 11 stations around the school with a 3M engineer at each station leading a STEM activity. The 3M engineers returned in February and this year helped teach a lesson about gravity called, Toys in Space, and another lesson on programming robots using the Bee Bots.

Nordby also focuses on teaching specific skills in class that will become lifelong skills, including how to observe, classify, measure, compare, predict and investigate — “all those good things that scientists do,” she said.

“I teach them the skills and use everything else as a vehicle to get there. That’s what you want them to learn is the skill, so they can take that with them and use it for the rest

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COVER STORY

of their lives. A lot of times, kids will say, ‘Why do we have to learn that. I’m never going to use that anyway.’ Well, maybe not, but that skill you learned, that’s what you’re going to use,” Nordby said.

STEM skills are becoming increasingly important, she said, and it’s not too early to start teaching them to children.

“The fastest-growing job market is in STEM. Over the past 10 years, the growth in STEM jobs was three times greater than that of any other non-STEM job,” Nordby said, citing statistics from the Minnesota Department of Employment and Economic Development. “So, as far as them needing this in the future, yes. These are all good things. Why teach STEM education? What’s so great about it? Well, it’s because that’s how our world is moving.

Anything in the medical field is STEM. Anything in agricultural, forestry, anything that’s research-based is all STEM. “It’s not too early to start (teaching) in kindergarten.

When they play, they’re already engineers, they’re building, figuring out things. It’s been really good for the kids to have all of these experiences,” Nordby said. “I wish there were more schools that could have a room like this. It’s so good for the kids. They need it.”

To receive the Teacher of the Year award was meaningful, Nordby said, as she sat in her STEM classroom after school one day. “I feel appreciated. I feel like this program is appreciated. I want the public to be educated about it. I want people to know that little kids are learning a lot.” I

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FOOD & FUN

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Whether you’re looking for a new dish for dinner, or an alternative to fish patties on Fridays during Lent, here’s a recipe to tempt your taste buds.

Sesame Shrimp Stir-Fry Bowl 2 tablespoons peanut oil 1/2 teaspoon fresh minced garlic 3 cups fresh or frozen chopped vegetables, such as colorful bell peppers, bok choy, celery, broccoli, red onions, etc.

1 (3.53-ounce) pouch Chicken of the Sea Premium Shrimp, drained 3 cups hot cooked brown or white rice Teriyaki sauce Chopped fresh cilantro Sesame seeds

In large skillet, heat oil over high heat.

Sauté garlic until golden brown; add chopped vegetables and cook until crisptender. Gently fold in shrimp; stir-fry one minute longer. Divide hot rice into bowls.

Top with shrimp stir-fry and drizzle with teriyaki sauce to taste. Garnish stir-fry bowls with cilantro and sesame seeds.

Makes two servings.

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Crossword puzzle Across 1.“A Nightmare on ___ Street” 4. Not honored 10.“A jealous mistress”: Emerson 13. Certain surgeon’s “patient” 14. Sartre novel 15. ___ constrictor 16. Face-to-face exam 17. Flowering plant’s reproductive organ 18. Certain digital watch face, for short 19. Fir tree seed producers 21.Australian runner 23.“Come in!”

24.Weightlifting maneuver 27.“I” problem 28. Bull markets 31. Of more dubious character 32. Note prolongation 34. Bamboozles 35. Unwanted item (2 wds) 38. Lentil curry 39. Sudden outburst (hyphenated) 40. Logarithmic unit of sound intensity 42.“To ___ is human ...”

43. Crumb 46. One who twists threads 47.“M*A*S*H” role 49. Baby carrier?

14

Crossword puzzle answer on Page 15 50.Telephone circuit connecting multiple subscribers (2 wds) 54. Elephant’s weight, maybe 56. Masked man with a stick 58. Keats, for one 59.“That’s ___ ...”

60. Chronicles 61. Colors 62. Oolong, for one 63.Wish undone

ZEST | MARCH 2015

64. Balaam’s mount

Down 1.Astray 2. Shack (hyphenated) 3. Donnybrook 4. So unusual as to be surprising 5. Indian bread 6.“No problem!”

7. Federal agency for mail delivery (abbrev.)

8. Formerly known as 9. Lead sulfide 10. Ritual hand washing 11. ___ v.Wade 12. Bit 13. Pith hat 20. Salad oil holder 22. Like the Marx Brothers 24.Woodworking tool 25. Copper 26.“48___” 29. Favor 30. Common sense?

31.About 1.3 cubic yards 32. Entering a legl document into public record 33. C.S.A. state (abbrev.)

35.“That was close!”

36. Main house on a ranch (Spanish) 37.“Faster!”

38.“Silent Spring” subject (abbrev.)

41. Pauper 43. Loathsome 44.Wife of a rajah (pl.)

45.Allowances for waste after deduction for tare 48. Beginning 50. Qualm 51.Apple spray 52.Anger, with “up” 53. Makeup, e.g.

54.“Sesame Street” watcher 55.“___ to Billie Joe” 57.“___ moment”

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FOOD & FUN Vanilla Caramel Truffle Latte

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Mini Spring Tarts 2 (4-ounce) packages ready-crust single serve graham cracker crusts (12 crusts) 1 (8-ounce) package cream cheese, softened 1 (14-ounce) can Eagle Brand Sweetened Condensed Milk (NOT evaporated milk) 1/2 cup frozen lemonade concentrate, thawed Red, yellow or green food coloring, optional 1 1/2 cups non-dairy whipped topping, thawed SOURCE: WWW.CULINARY. NET/ Fresh sliced fruit, nuts EAGLE BRAND SWEETENED CONDENSED MILK or assorted candies In large bowl, beat cheese until fluffy. Gradually beat in Eagle Brand until smooth. Stir in lemonade concentrate.

Add food coloring if desired. Gently stir in whipped topping. Spoon into crusts. Chill three hours. Top with fruit, nuts or candies. Refrigerate leftovers. Makes 12 servings.

Answer to Crossword Puzzle published on Page 14

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1 cup water 1 cup milk 2 cinnamon sticks 3 Lipton Pyramid Vanilla Caramel Truffle tea bags 2 tablespoons sugar In one-quart saucepan, bring water, milk and cinnamon sticks just to a boil. Remove from heat and add pyramid tea bags. Brew three minutes; remove pyramid tea bags and cinnamon sticks.

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DINING & entertainment

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Regional Eye Center

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