Zest May 2019

MAY 2019

nI side:

New beginnings At 76, Tom Wirt has launched a new business and was the first recipient and namesake of the Hutchinson Center for the Arts’ Wirt Award

Audition for Litchfield Community Theatre’s summer production of “Beauty and the Beast” Hutchinson Health has a new president Meet the other Sondergaard

CALENDAR OF EVENTS

MAY 1950s and ’60s Music Revue It’s a blast to the past with early rock ’n’ roll music revue that pays tribute to the great voices of the 1950s and ‘60s including Roy Orbison, Patsy Cline, the Everly Brothers, Bobby Darin, Frankie Valli and others. This fundraising event for Senior Programming is at 7 p.m. Saturday, May 4, at the Hutchinson Event Center, 1005 State Highway 15 S. Tickets are $20 in advance and $25 at the door. To order tickets or for more information, call 320-234-5656.

Country Music Concert If you enjoy the music of Brenda Lee, George Jones, Marty Robbins, Johnny Cash, Porter Waggoner and other country greats, don’t miss Phyllis Hummel and the Swinging Country Band from 2 to 4 p.m. Saturday, May 4, at the Litchfield Opera House, 136 Marshall Ave. N., Litchfield. Tickets are $7 at the door. For more information, call 320-693-4878 or email conniel@CPcabs.com.

Pat Davison Super Comedy Show If you’re in the mood for laughs, don’t miss Pat Davison Super Comedy Show at 7 p.m. Saturday, May 25, at the Litchfield Opera House, 136 Marshall Ave. N., Litchfield. Tickets are $7 and will be available at the door. For more information, call 320-693-4878 or email conniel@CPcabs.com.

JUNE 77th annual Hutchinson Jaycee Water Carnival Events run from Sunday, June 9, through Sunday, June 16. For more information, call the Hutchinson Area Chamber of Commerce and Tourism at 320-587-5252 or visit watercarnival.org.

Music in the Park

The Litchfield Area Chamber of Commerce is hosting its annual Chamber Expo from 8:30 to 11:30 a.m. Saturday, May 4, at the Litchfield Civic Arena, 900 Gilman Ave. N. This year’s event includes the first BBQ Competition. For more information, call Marla Thissen at 320-693-8184.

Music in the Park begins its summer season with the Flag Day Ceremony at 6 p.m. Monday, June 10, at Library Square in downtown Hutchinson. It is followed by live music at 6:30 p.m. Dessert is served at the social.

At intermission, the public will be introduced to the Hutchinson Jaycee Water Carnival queen and junior royalty candidates. Admission is free and the public is welcome. The outdoor summer concert series continues on Mondays through Aug. 5. Admission is free and the public is welcome. Rain announcement is made by 4 p.m.

Monday on KDUZ Radio.

Civil War Roundtable

Winstock Country Music Festival

Join the Litchfield Area Civil War Roundtable at 1:30 p.m. the second Thursday of the month at the Grand Army of the Republic Hall, 308 Marshall Ave. N., Litchfield. Jim and Joyce Hinderks will speak May 10 about “The Grand Review in Washington, D.C.: May 23-24, 1865.” All meetings last approximately 2 hours with light snacks and refreshments served.

Single annual membership is $25 and a family membership is $35. For more information, call the museum at 320-693-8911.

Jason Aldean, the 2018 Entertainer of the Year, returns to Winstock as Friday’s Main Stage headliner. Joining Aldean on Friday is Kane Brown. Making their Winstock debut and headlining on the Main Stage on Saturday is the 2018 Vocal Group of the Year Old Dominion. Also performing Saturday is Brett Young, Midland and Diamond Rio. Winstock is at the Winstock Festival grounds June 14-15 in Winsted. The festival is volunteer driven with 100 percent of the net proceeds going toward youth education at Holy Trinity School.

For more information about the 26th annual country music festival, visit winstockfestival.com.

Chamber Expo 2019

Hutchinson Farmers Market The outdoor Hutchinson Farmers Market at Depot Marketplace, 25 Adams St. S.E., opens Saturday, May 18. Hours are 8 a.m. to noon. The market also meets from 2:30 to 5:30 p.m. Wednesday. Fresh produce and homemade goods are available through October.

Minnesota State Band Back by popular demand, the Minnesota State Band will perform at 7 p.m. Saturday, May 18, at the Litchfield Opera House, 136 Marshall Ave. N., Litchfield. Tickets are $5 at the door. For more information, call 320-693-4878 or email conniel@CPcabs.com.

2 ZEST | MAY 2019

Civil War Roundtable Join the Litchfield Area Civil War Roundtable at 1:30 p.m. the second Thursday of the month at the Grand Army of the Republic Hall, 308 Marshall Ave. N., Litchfield. Dr. Christopher Lehman will speak June 13 about “Slavery in Minnesota.” For more information, call the museum at 320-693-8911.

Fishing with Seniors The Litchfield Student Anglers Club is hosting a free Fishing with Seniors event from 4 to 6 p.m. Wednesday, June 19, at the East Landing at Lake Ripley in Litchfield. Advance registration is required by June 12. To reserve your spot, call Litchfield Community Education at 320-693-2354.

— To submit an event for this free listing, call Kay Johnson at 320-753-3641 or email johnson@hutchinsonleader.com.

CONTENTS

5 In the news:

Hutchinson Health has a new president: Jim Lyons

9 Cover story:

It’s never too late for a new beginning as Tom Wirt demonstrates with launching a new business and as the first recipient of a new arts award

May 2019 Vol. 11 No. 3 PUBLISHED BY Hutchinson Leader 170 Shady Ridge Road N.W., Suite 100 Hutchinson, MN 55350 320-753-3635 Litchfield Independent Review P.O. Box 307, Litchfield, MN 55355 320-693-3266 PUBLISHER Brent Schacherer: 320-753-3637 schacherer@hutchinsonleader.com NEWS Kay Johnson, features editor 320-753-3641 johnson@hutchinsonleader.com ADVERTISING Kevin True, advertising director 320-753-3648 true@hutchinsonleader.com Sales representatives  Ronda Kurtzweg: 320-753-3652,

kurtzweg@hutchinsonleader.com

6 Looking Back:

Everyone seems to be familiar with Litchfield’s Gale Sondergaard, the Academy Award-winning actress, but did you know her sister was also on radio and in the movies?

12 Medicare: 13 Money Matters: 14 Recipes:

Are mental health services in inpatient and outpatient settings covered?

It’s spring, so let’s spruce up the

house and finances

Spring for a tasty salad with these recipes from the Hutchinson Leader Recipe Contest

 Colleen Piechowski: 320-753-3652, piechowski@hutchinsonleader.com  Hayley Anderson: 320-753-3651, anderson@hutchinsonleader.com

SUBSCRIPTION OR ADDRESS CHANGE Toni Adams: 320-753-3657 circulation@crowrivermedia.com PRINTED BY Crow River Press 170 Shady Ridge Road N.W. Hutchinson, MN 55350

Zest is published monthly by the Hutchinson Leader and the Litchfield Independent Review 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 prior consent of the publisher.

MAY 2019 | ZEST 3

WELCOME

Happy Older Americans Month May is Older Americans Month. It was President John F. Kennedy who encouraged all Americans to pay tribute to older people across the country by designating May 1963 as Senior Citizens Month.

Every president since has issued a formal proclamation during or before the month of May in support of older Americans.

It was President Jimmy Carter in 1980, who changed the name of this observance to Older Americans Month.

This year’s theme is Connect. Create. Contribute.

I can think of no one who better exemplifies these words than Tom Wirt of Hutchinson.

At 76, he is connecting

Kay

JOHNSON ARTS AND SPECIAL PROJECTS EDITOR

with his community as a member of the Hutchinson Planning Commission. He’s also served on the board of the Hutchinson Center for the Arts and Southwest Minnesota Arts Council.

Create is what he does every day. After 22 years as co-owner of Clay Coyote, Wirt retired, but not for long.

He is back throwing clay in his new studio — New Clay Pottery in Hutchinson.

Contribute, you bet.

So much so, he was the namesake and first recipient of the Wirt Award presented in February by the Hutchinson Center for the Arts in recognition of his support for the arts.

Connect. Create.

Contribute. is what Tom Wirt is all about. This month’s cover story is a salute to all the goodness age delivers.

Things are changing at Hutchinson Health.

Earlier this year, a new $20 million building project was unveiled and just a couple of week ago, a new president took the reins. Jim Lyons who has been long associated

with Hutchinson Health is following in the footsteps of Dr. Steve Mulder who is retiring after 24 years.

If you’re a fan of movies, you’re probably familiar with Academy Awardwinning actress Gale Sondergaard of Litchfield.

What you may not know is her sister, Hester, was also an actress performing on radio, stage and screen.

Learn more about the other Sondergaard in Zest’s Looking Back feature.

Happy spring. I am jubilant to be able to write those words. After our long and dreary winter, it’s wonderful to see the sun and celebrate green grass, blue skies and warmer temperatures.

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IN THE NEWS

Hutchinson Health names Jim Lyons as new president

BY STEPHEN WIBLEMO wiblemo@hutchinsonleader.com

James Lyons has been named the next president of Hutchinson Health. He is taking over for Dr. Steve Mulder, who announced his retirement back in August after more than 24 years with the organization.

Lyons, who has been with Hutchinson Health since 1996, has served in multiple roles including chief of clinic operations. He is also a past board member for the Institute for Clinical Systems Improvement and continues to serve as a member of its audit and finance committee. He spent eight years as a steering committee member for Heart of Hutch and has been a board

member and vice chair of the I.J. Burich Family Foundation for 10 years.

“We are excited for Jim to step into his new role,” said Andrea Walsh, president and CEO of HealthPartners, a Bloomington-based health system Hutchinson Health officially became affiliated with last April. “In his 20plus years at Hutchinson Health, Jim has been committed to improving the health and quality of life for the people of Hutchinson and the surrounding communities. He’s a great addition to a team of 26,000 colleagues working together to make care simpler and more affordable.”

Lyons stepped into his new role as the hospital’s

president on April 12 when Mulder retired. His experience extends from the Twin Cities, to Hutchinson and to Wisconsin throughout the 1990s. His journey brought him back here.

“I prefer living in a community the size of Hutchinson,” he said. “It’s the right balance of a community with an identity. We really work collectively in this community to improve everything: health, infrastructure, services. It’s a coordinated effort.”

An executive leader in the community for the past 22 years — alongside Mulder himself — Lyons said he feels supported and prepared to assume his new responsibilities.

“At Hutchinson Health, we have excellent staff who

STAFF PHOTO BY JACK HAMMETT

James Lyons is the new president of Hutchinson Health. focus on the right things,” he said. “When it comes to care and community wellness, having the relationship with HealthPartners provides support and knowledge to tap into. With that and my background, I feel confident we’re going to continue the work.”

Audition for ‘Beauty and the Beast’

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Free memory care fitness classes A new partnership with Prairie Senior Cottages of Hutchinson and Live 2 B Healthy is hosting free memory care fitness classes for local seniors.

According to the Alzheimer’s Association, exercise at the mid-stages of Alzheimer’s disease helps patients maintain independent living skills and muscle memory, reduces fall risk and promotes balance and mobility. Exercise also helps reduce stress, anxiety, depresion and insomnia — problems that often affect people in the mid-stages of Alzheimer’s.

Prairie Senior Cottages, 1310 Bradford St. S.E., Hutchinson, is offering this new program to its community residents, and also welcomes area seniors to participate.

Classes are at 9:15 a.m. Monday, Wednesday and Friday. For more information or to join the class, call Curtis Bergsholm at 952-715-1239 or email cbergsholm@live2bhealthy.com.

Litch field Community Theatre is presenting “Disney’s Beauty and the Beast” as its summer musical. It’s the story of Belle, a young woman in a small town, and the Beast, who is really a young prince trapped in a spell of an enchantress. If the Beast can learn to love and be loved, the curse is broken and he will be transformed into his former self. Time, however, is running out. If the Beast doesn’t learn his lesson soon, he and his household will be doomed for all eternity.

If you’re looking to try something new, how about auditioning for this popular musical?

The original Broadway production ran for more than 13 years and was nominated for nine Tony awards including Best Musical. Audition dates are from 6 to 8 p.m. Tuesday, May

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28, and Thursday, May 30, at Bernie Aaker Auditorium, 114 N. Holcombe Ave., Litchfield.

Call backs are Friday, May 31.

Actors must be age 8 or older to audition. To reserve a time slot, call Litchfield Community Education at 320-693-2354.

“Disney’s Beauty and the Beast” will be staged at 7 p.m.

Thursday, Friday and Saturday, July 25-27 and at 2 p.m.

Sunday, July 28, at Bernie Aaker Auditorium. For ticket information, call Community Education.

MAY 2019 | ZEST 5

LOOKING BACK

HESTER, the other Sondergaard Learn more about this Litchfield radio personality, stage performer and movie actress

BY ROBYN RICHARDSON

M

any are familiar with t he works a nd t a lent of Litchfield native and Academy Awardwinning actress Gale Sondergaard, but few are aware of the success of her younger sister as a voice and stage actress.

He st er S onder g a a r d’s story starts with her par-

ents. In 1890, Hester’s father, Hans Tjellesen Smidt Sondergaard, immigrated from Rodding, Denmark, to America where he met and married Danish immigrant Anna Kirsten Holm.

Hans worked at the Litchfield Creamery and was known to be a master butter maker. In 1898, he mentored 16-year-old immigrant, Alfred Anderson, founder of Anderson Chemical, and

taught him everything h e n e e d e d t o k n ow ab out t he c r e a mer y business and the craft of making butter. Hester was born on July 5, 1903, in Litchfield. In 1912, Hans accepted a position as a federal butter inspector, and the family moved to Mi n neapolis where Hester attended Cent ra l High School.

Taking after her father, Hester played the violin and

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CBS PHOTO ARCHIVE/GETTY IMAGES

A portrait of Hester Sondergaard taken on April 5, 1944, in New York. At the time, she was a regular performer on the CBS Radio series, “Columbia Hester to 7 Presents Corwin.”

LOOKING BACK

PHOTO COURTESY OF JAN SONDERGAARD

Hester Sondergaard’s parents, Hans and Anna Sondergaard.

HESTER continued from 6

was a member of the high school orchestra. She was also vice president of the Central Confederation of Clubs, associate editor of the school newspaper, “Central High News,” and a member of the Girl’s Athletic Association and Girl’s French Club. Upon graduation in 1920, Hester enrolled at the University of Minnesota.

Like her older sister, Hester dreamed of being an actress and was a member of the U of M’s Masquers Dramatic Club.

She played many supporting roles, but in her junior year, she landed the lead role of Madame X in “The Stronger.” In her senior year, Hester joined Paint and Patches, a dramatic club that presented one-act plays at the U of M’s Shevlin Hall. She starred in two of the three productions performed that year.

W hile a college student, Hester served as secretary-treasurer on the board of the Music Club and played the violin in the University Symphony Orchestra.

Hester was a member of the Women’s Athletic Association, Trailer Club and played women’s hockey. In her junior year, she became the team’s field hockey manager. She was a natural choice when the U of M selected student leaders for the stadium drive. The campaign successfully raised money to build an outdoor athletic stadium, which came to be known as Memorial Stadium — the home of the Minnesota Gophers football team for 58 years.

Hester graduated with a Bachelor of Science degree from the University of Minnesota in 1925. In pursuit of her dream to become an actress, she moved to New York where her sister, Gale, was already working in radio

and on Broadway. It wasn’t long before Hester began to land small parts in Broadway shows.

One of the Broadway productions she appeared in was “Mother” where she worked with Lee J. Cobb, John Carradine and Francis Bavier. In 1936, she appeared in 61 performances of “Bitter Stream,” with Lee J. Cobb and Francis Bavier. She worked with Bavier again in the 1939 Theatre Guild Broadway production “My Heart’s in the Highlands” where Hester spoke in Armenian. In 1941, she sang a solo in Marc Blitzstein’s two-act socialist opera, “No For An Answer.” Carol Channing made her debut in this opera. The “New York Times” and “Herald Tribune” hailed the production as “thrilling!”

Between plays, Hester found work as a regular in radio dramas and was Hester to 8

MAY 2019 | ZEST 7

HESTER Dr. Shirley Fors

continued from 7

Licensed Audiologist

a frequent supporting player on Fletcher Markle’s Studio One and Ford Theatre Radio Drama anthology programs.

During the golden age of radio, Hester also worked for CBS Columbia Presents Corwin, NBC Mystery Theatre and NBC’s Arch Obeler’s Radio Hall of Fame.

The Lima News reported on Aug. 12, 1939, “Miss Sondergaard won considerable acclaim in the Group Theatre — Theatre Guild production, ‘My Heart’s in the Highlands’ as well as in Oboler’s ‘Another World.’”

Some of the notable radio actors Hester worked with included Marlene Dietrich, James Cagney, Gene Kelly, Robert Mitchum, Burgess Meredith, Anne Seymour, Robert Young and Glenn Ford. Many of Hester’s radio shows can be heard and purchased online.

By 194 3, Hester began landing small parts in New York feature films. Her first movie role was in “Seeds of Freedom.” Her next movie role in 1948 was in “The Naked City” where she played a nurse. In 1949, she played M rs. Ma x Borg worki ng alongside Henry Fonda and Burgess Meredith. Her last film was in 1953. She played an agency girl in the film, “The Big Break.”

Hester met her future husband, former Congressm a n E mer s on D e L ac y, while he was on a business trip to New York. The couple married in 1952, but their marriage was put to the test in 1954 when Howard Costigan declared in sworn testimony before the House Un-A meric a n Ac tivities Committee that he and De Lacy sat on the governing Bureau of the Seattle Dis-

Doctor of Audiology, Pennsylvania 2007, Highest Honors Master of Arts in Audiology, U of MN 1986, Honors Hutchinson High School, Highest Honors President, MN Academy of Audiology, 2004

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trict Communist Party USA from 1937 to 1939. Hester was labeled a “red sympathizer” and placed on the Hollywood blacklist, which denied employment to actors, directors, musicians and screenwriters. The Sondergaard sisters were both blacklisted. Gale had been blacklisted in 1951 when she invoked her Fifth Amendment rights and refused to answer questions about her political affiliations during a House Un-American Activities Committee hearing.

The De Lacys moved to California in 1959, but their marriage ended in divorce in 1960. Hester did not have a ny chi ld ren a nd never remarried. With her acting career over, she decided to go back to school and become a licensed speech pathologist.

Hester and Gale remained close throughout their lives.

When Gale became too ill to take care of her personal affairs, Hester lent a helping hand by answering requests for interviews with handwritten letters. Sadly, Hester lost her beloved sister and friend on Aug. 14, 1985, and Gale’s ashes were scattered in the Pacific Ocean.

The old-time radio and Broadway star that once walked the streets of Litchfield as a young girl lived a long and fascinating life.

When Hester lost her acting career, she became successful in an entirely different field. Hester died at the age of 90 on Feb. 26, 1994, in Torrance, California. Her last wish was to be cremated and have her ashes scattered in the Pacific Ocean in the same location as her sister near Santa Monica, California.

Robyn Richardson is a Litchfield resident and historian.

COVER STORY

SUBMITTED PHOTO

Tom Wirt set up his studio, NewClay Pottery, in a three-car garage on his property at 1058 Jefferson St. S.E. in Hutchinson. He’s looking forward to having the time now to add more decoration to his pots and develop custom designs. The pots he makes will be available for purchase at the studio.

NEW BEGINNINGS

BY KAY JOHNSON johnson@hutchinsonleader.com

A

f ter 2 2 yea rs as co-owner of C l ay C o y o t e Ga l ler y and Pottery in rural Hutchinson, Tom Wirt retired in 2016. At that time, his future plans included a move to a new home, shoulder surgery and a new studio.

His timetable took a hit when he developed a litany

of health problems including heart issues and a hand injury. With the help of Hutchinson Health, he came back from those setbacks with a renewed enthusiasm for throwing pots. So much so he created a new business — NewClay Pottery in Hutchinson.

“I knew I wanted to keep making some pots,” Wirt said. “Ive had quite a few past customers ask if they would be able to get pot-

tery from me. I said, ‘Sure, once I get set up.’ Of course, that set up has taken nearly three years. Things just didn’t happen the way I had planned. Do they ever?”

Wirt acknowledged another reason it’s taken longer to set up the studio is that there’s a lot more to it than he realized. During his Clay Coyote days, he threw pots while his partner, Betsy Price, perfected the glazes, glazing techniques

and firing processes.

“I’ll never get to her level of perfection and I’ve had to do all that learning from scratch,” he said. “I thought I was ready to go in December 2017. After a lot of time on the learning curve, I finally got the kiln in shape in February 2019. I had one more test firing in March and then I was able to get to work.”

Wirt’s reputation as a Pottery to 10

MAY 2019 | ZEST 9

SUBMITTED PHOTO

If you’re a mug collector, Tom Wirt is throwing some interesting new shapes featuring the Starry Night glaze.

POTTERY continued from 9

potter was based on his functional work, which he plans to continue. He also expects to downsize some versions of his pots.

“A lot of my customers are empty nesters and don’t need that family-sized pot — a veggie steam for two rather than four to six,” he said.

The pots he makes will be for sale at his home studio at 1058 Jefferson St. S.E. in Hutchinson.

“It’s the old farmhouse with the red roof,” he said.

“The studio is in a three-car garage in back. The drive goes all the way around the house, which makes getting back on Jefferson much easier and safer.”

More than 2 0 years of experience co-operating a small business, plus his corporate business experience, provided Wirt with a wealth of knowledge, which he is applying to his own career

10

ZEST | MAY 2019

as well as helping others.

To do this, he started serving as a consultant for the Minnesota Small Business Development Center.

“I probably got started consulting because of the experience of working with Duane (Hoversten, a Minnesota SBDC consultant) as we got into the Clay Coyote Pottery business,” he said.

“I had corporate strategic planning experience and training, and Betsy (Price) had run both her own businesses and managed Baker’s Square restaurants. But it was valuable to have another pair of eyes looking at what we were doing and watching over our shoulder.”

SERVING OTHERS While NewClay and consulting work is keeping him engaged in business, Wirt continues to serve his community as a member of the Hutchinson Planning Commission. He was an early promoter of the Hutchin-

son Center for the Arts and served on its board, plus he served on the grant panels and board of the Southwest Minnesota Arts Council.

He is a former member of the Hutchinson Township Board of Supervisors and the Hutchinson Joint Planning Commission. He also helped organize the Hutchinson Public Arts Commission under the leadership of Mayor Steve Cook, and co-founded with Price the Minnesota Pottery Festival.

As a longtime advocate of the arts, Wirt was an early supporter of bringing all the local arts groups together under an umbrella entity.

By doing, this he believed it would provide access to larger grants and money would be saved by efficiencies such as shared equipment, database management, ticket sales, advertising and fundraising.

Wirt and a loose-knit steering committee promoted the idea, launching the first art

“It isn’t just money.

Just being there for events and exhibits shows support and shows the community that it’s important. A lot of volunteers put in a huge amount of time, and our showing up shows them we care.”

Tom Wirt, potter and recipient of the inaugural Wirt Award center at 28 Main St. N. in March 2011. It wasn’t long before larger quarters were needed, so when the space at 15 Franklin St. S.W. became available, the center moved to its present site in July 2012.

Today the Hutchinson Center for the Arts has 13 Pottery to 11

SUBMITTED PHOTOS

Opening the kiln after firing a load of pottery is exciting for the potter. Think of it as unwrapping a Christmas present. Here, Tom Wirt, unveils his NewClay work.

POTTERY continued from 10

partner organizations and is the hub for local art activities. The center is host to a busy schedule of events ranging from art exhibits and children’s classes to meetings, rentals and stage productions.

In recognition of his longtime support of the arts, Wirt was recognized in February as the first recipient of the Wirt Award. It was presented at the annual arts gala, a fundraiser for the art center.

“It’s both gratifying and humbling,” he said of the namesake award. “My first thought is that it’s not just me but a whole team of people who made this happen including all the people in the partner organizations. It’s a lot of folks who believe in the importance of having art in our lives.”

With so many people in the community advocating for the arts, Lisa Bergh, executive director of the Hutchinson Center for the Arts, said it seemed fitting to begin recognizing them and what better person than

When he was fi rst told about the Wirt Award, Tom Wirt, left, said, “It’s not just me but a whole team of people who made this happen including all the people in the partner organizations.” Among those that stepped up early on in support of an art center were LuAnn Drazkowski and Corey Stearns, pictured here with Wirt.

Wirt to name the award after.

“We are fortunate to have so many committed to the arts in this community,” she said.

Wirt believes the future of the arts in the Hutchinson area depends on people supporting the organizations.

“It isn’t just money. Just being there for events and exhibits shows support and shows the community that it’s important,” he said. “A lot of volunteers put in a huge amount of time, and our showing up shows them we care.”

NewClay Pottery Studio hours: 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Saturday, or by appointment Where: 1058 Jefferson St. S.E. in Hutchinson, view pots in the studio in the garage and on the back porch For more information: Call Tom Wirt at 320583-1062 or visit newclaypottery.com

MAY 2019 | ZEST 11

MEDICARE

Medicare covers necessary mental health care services

D

ear Marci, I am new to Medicare.

I have been receivi ng treatment for depression and anxiety for several years, and have gotten treatment in both inpatient and outpatient settings.

Will these services be covered under Medicare? How much will they cost?

Beau Dear Beau, Medicare covers medically necessary mental health care — services and programs that are intended to help diagnose and treat mental health conditions.

If you have Original Medicare, Part A, it covers inpatient mental health services that you receive in either a psychiatric hospital (a hospital that only treats mental health patients) or a general hospital. Your provider should determine which hospital setting you need. If you receive care in a psychiatric hospital, Medicare covers up to 190 days of inpatient care in your lifetime. If you have used your lifetime days but need additional mental health care, Medicare may cover your additional inpatient care at a general hospital.

Be aware that you will have the same out-of-pocket costs with Original Medicare whether you receive care in a general or psychiatric hospital:  The Part A deductible: Before Medicare covers the cost of inpatient care, you have to meet the deductible for the benefit period. In 2018, the deductible is $1,340.  Days 1-60: After you meet the deductible, Medicare pays in full for the first 60 days of your care.  Days 61-90: Medicare pays part of the cost, and you are responsible for a daily coinsurance. In 2018, the coinsurance is $335.  Lifetime reserve days: For up to 60 lifetime reserve days, Medicare pays part of the cost, and you are re-

12

ZEST | MAY 2019

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sponsible for a daily coinsurance. The coinsurance in 2018 is $670.

Medicare Part B covers outpatient mental health care, including the following services:  Individual and group therapy,  Substance abuse treatment,  Tests to make sure you are getting the right care,  Occupational therapy,  Activity therapies such as art, dance or music therapy,  Training and education (such as training on how to inject a needed medication or education about your condition),  Family counseling to help with your treatment,  Laboratory tests,  Prescription drugs that you cannot administer yourself, such as injections that a doctor must give you.  An annual depression screening that you receive in a primary care setting. Speak to your doctor or primary care provider for more information.

The depression screening is considered a preventive service, and Medicare covers depression screenings at 100 percent of the Medicare-approved amount.

Original Medicare covers these outpatient mental health services

(with the exception of the annual depression screening) at 80 percent of the Medicare-approved amount.

This means that as long as you receive services from a provider who accepts assig nment (meaning they accept Medicare’s approved amount as full payment for a service), you will pay a 20 percent coinsurance after you meet your Part B deductible.

Medicare Part B also covers partial hospitalization for mental health treatment for people who meet coverage requirements. Partial hospitalization programs provide care that is more intensive than other forms of mental health care, but less intensive than inpatient care.

If you have a Medicare Advantage Plan, your plan must cover the same inpatient and outpatient mental health services as Original Medicare, but they may impose di f ferent r u les, restrictions and costs. If you need information about a plan’s costs and coverage rules, or if you are experiencing problems, contact your Medicare Advantage Plan.

— Marci “Dear Marci” is a service of the Medicare Rights Center. For more information, call 800-333-4114.

MONEY MATTERS

It’s time for some home and financial spring cleaning

BY FINANCIAL FOCUS

By Edward Jones

Spring is here. For many of us that means it’s time for some spring cleaning. This year, in addition to tidying up your home, why not try brightening your financial environment? Consider these suggestions: Get rid of clutter. When you go through your closets, attic, basement or other areas, you may find many items you no longer need. And as you review your portfolio, you might also encounter “clutter” in the form of investments that may be redundant to others you own.

If so, you might consider selling these investments and using the proceeds to purchase new ones, which may help you broaden your portfolio.

Protect yourself from hazards.

As you go about your spring cleaning, you may well encounter hazardous sub-

stances. You can reduce the possible danger from these materials by recycling or disposing of them in an environmentally safe way. Your overall financial situation has hazards, too, in the form of illness or injury preventing you from working. To protect yourself, you may need appropriate insurance, including disability and long-term care.

Find new uses for existing possessions. When you are sprucing up your home, you may rediscover uses for things you already have. You might be able to get more mileage out of some of your existing investments, too. If some of your stocks are paying you dividends, which you take as cash. If you don’t really need this income to support your lifestyle, you might consider reinvesting the dividends so that you can own more shares of the dividend-paying stocks.

Establish new habits. Spring cleaning doesn’t have to be just about physical

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It’s spring so roll up your sleeves and dig in. While it’s customary to shake the rugs and wash the windows, how about going one step further and tackle your finances? Spring is a good time to tidy them up, too. activities — it can also involve a new set of habits on your part. For example, instead of placing your unread magazines in an ever-expanding pile, try to read and recycle them quickly. You can also develop some positive habits as an investor, such as “paying yourself first” by regularly putting some money in an investment account each month, even before paying all your bills.

Doing some spring cleaning can make you feel better about your living space and your financial situation.

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To learn why consolidating your retirement accounts to Edward Jones makes sense, contact your Edward Jones financial advisor today.

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FOOD & FUN Chef’s tip: If desired, other fruits such as strawberries and blueberries can be added or substituted.

Cashew Chicken Rotini Salad Submitted by Cynthia Ettel, Glencoe Ingredients: 1 (16-ounce) package rotini pasta 4 cups cubed, cooked chicken 1 cup seedless green grapes, halved 1 cup seedless red grapes, halved 1 (5-ounce) package dried cranberries 2 to 3 green onions, chopped 1 cup (8-ounce can) pineapple tidbits 1 cup ranch salad dressing 3/4 cup mayonnaise 2 cups salted cashews Directions: Cook the pasta according to the package instructions. Drain pasta and rinse in cold water. In a large bowl combine chicken, grapes, pineapple, cranberries and green onions. In a small bowl whisk ranch dressing and mayonnaise together. Pour over salad and toss to coat. Cover and refrigerate at least 1 hour. Just before serving, stir in cashews.

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Submitted by Jan Mackenthun, Brownton Ingredients for Poppy Seed Vinaigrette: 1/2 cup white wine vinegar or cider vinegar 1/2 cup sugar 1/2 teaspoon ground mustard 1/4 teaspoon onion powder 1/2 teaspoon salt 1/4 cup chopped onion 1 teaspoon poppy seeds Ingredients for salad: 1 (6-ounce) package fresh baby spinach 2 cups seeded, cubed watermelon 1 cup halved grapes 1 cup fresh raspberries 1/4 cup sliced almonds, toasted Directions: For salad dressing: Combine vinegar,

sugar, mustard mustard, onion powsugar pow der and salt in a jar or other container with a tight lid. Shake well. Add oil and shake. Add onion and poppy seeds and shake until well blended. For the salad, in a bowl, combine the spinach, watermelon, grapes and raspberries.

Sprinkle with almonds. Serve with vinaigrette.

Chef’s tips: Make only what you think you will eat. This salad becomes soggy. If there are leftovers, drain excess dressing from salad before refrigerating. Do not put dressing on salad until you are ready to eat.

— The recipes featured in this month’s Zest magazine were submitted for the Leader Recipe Contest this past fall.

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Summer is right around the corner. Just as we use lotion to protect our skin from the UV rays, lets not also forget to protect our eyes. Although wearing a hat or cap reduces the amount of UV rays directly to the eyes, they do not protect our eyes as well as a pair of sunglasses.

REGIONAL EYE CENTER has a good selection of Plano Sunwear which can also be used to put on your current eyeglasses prescription. Bring your prescription in and let our Opticians assist you in making the best choice of frames for your sunglass needs.

Schedule your appointment today!

Serving Hutchinson, Litchfield, Glencoe, Cokato and the surrounding areas.

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We’re growing to give you more The partnership between Hutchinson Health, HealthPartners and Park Nicollet gives you access to more of the best care.

And it’s all right here in Hutchinson.

In the last year, we’ve made major changes here in town. We opened Hutchinson Health Cancer Center and expanded Hutchinson Health Urgent Care. We want families to have convenient access to essential care and services.

More changes are coming in 2019.

This year we’re adding new specialty services, including plastic surgery, pulmonology, rheumatology and more. We’re also adding a new wing with more patient rooms for medical and surgical inpatient care.

Learn more or schedule an appointment today.

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