Generations - June 2022

1

JUNE 2022

SAIL class enhances senior fitness Lorie Skarpness Park Rapids Enterprise AIL is a nationwide program that is helping older adults maintain fitness so they can enjoy doing what they love.

SAIL stands for “Stay Active & Independent for Life.” It is an evidence-based program that helps increase strength, improve health and increase balance to reduce fall risks.

Dona Skinness is an instructor for the program in Park Rapids that meets twice a week. Each session is an hour long and includes stretches to warm up, chair exercises and weight lifting.

Skinness started out as a participant at a class in Akeley and found it so beneficial she went on to become a certified instructor.

“I joined because I wanted to get in better shape,” she said. “I wanted to stay more physically active. I like being part of a group.

Right away, I noticed a difference in my balance. The next winter I was much more confident walking on ice.”

While women make up the

Using weights to maintain and build strength is an important comoponent of the the nationally recognized SAIL program for older adults.

S

SEE GENERATIONS AND ART BEAT IN THIS ISSUE

PHOTOS BY SHANNON GEISEN/ PARK RAPIDS ENTERPRISE

Park Rapids SAIL instructor Dona Skinness leads class members in an exercise called the flamingo. Like the graceful bird, participants stike a one-legged pose to look like the flamingo bird, holding on to a chair for support if needed. The exercise is designed to help improve balance. majority of the group, a few men attend as well. “One of the men who attends is a farmer, and he wanted to stay in shape for farm-

ing,” she said.

Her husband, Jerry, also participates in the class. After having

SAIL: Page 2

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3 'Avon calling' 4 Family Circle column 9 Lost Italian 10 Savvy Senior 11 Growing Together 12 Minding Our Elders column

J u n e 2 02 2

2 SAIL From Page 1

two hip replacements, his goal is to get back on the golf course. He said the class, which he started attending about six months ago, is helping him get ready for that.

“The movements stretch your muscles so you can be more limber,” he said. “That’s the best part for me, especially since my surgeries. I think more men should give SAIL a try. I think going to the class gives me more energy, too, so I can do activities I enjoy longer.”

Exercises anyone can do

The class is adaptable to any fitness level.

Classes begin with five minutes of warm-up stretches.

Skinness guides participants with step-by-step instructions. There are also easy aerobics and stretching to improve range of motion in the neck and shoulders.

The exercise routine also includes squats, marching in place for a minute and walking, either outdoors or in the church auditorium where the class is held.

There are 18 people signed up for the Park Rapids class.

“It’s a group workout that covers your whole body,” Skinness said. “We start out with toe taps and end up with massaging on the forehead. It’s about a 45-minute session.

“A lot of the exercises if a person feels like they can’t really do them standing up can be adapted to do in a chair,” she said. “It’s really set to be easy on people yet cover a lot of basic parts of the body.”’

She said the exercises can also help people after shoulder, hip or knee surgeries. “Usually they have to go to physical therapy after surgery,” she said. “When they come back to class they notice some of the exercises are the same.”

Improving balance

Skinness said improving balance is an important part of the routine as seniors are at a higher risk for falls.

“We have an exercise we call the flamingo,” she said. “When standing behind our chairs holding on, we have one arm up in the air and the opposite leg back so we look like a flamingo

PHOTOS BY SHANNON GEISEN / PARK RAPIDS ENTERPRISE

Stretching to stay flexible is another important benefit of the SAIL class. Group members motivate each other to stick with the program. to the count of eight on each side. It really helps to maintain balance. If people are comfortable, they can let go of the chair. Another one comes from Tai Chi, where we shift our weight from one side to another and move forward until we feel our toes grabbing and then stand up again.”

Participants also practice stepping over imaginary objects.

“That’s good practice for getting into the tub or into a boat or whatever,” she said.

Skinness said she noticed many improvements when she was taking SAIL classes.

“I think all around your body is more in control,” she said. “It improves both muscle, strength and balance.

If you can catch yourself when you start to fall, then you can avoid injuries.

“When I was in the Akeley program, I was walking up some steps at a lake and my grown children were behind me. I stumbled on a step but didn’t get hurt.

One of my kids said that’s the most graceful fall I ever saw. I kept control of my body. I could tell going to SAIL was helping me.”

SAIL is recognized by the Medicare program.

“When the doctors ask people what they do, if the answer is SAIL they are very happy,” she said.

Skinness said the age

range of participants is 50 to 90 years old and most are retired. “Right now, I might be one of the oldest ones and I’m 80,” she said.

Social benefits Skinness said for most people, being part of a group motivates them to exercise. “We always have that dream we will exercise at home but I think most people, even though they have the best intentions, don’t get exercising done at home.”

There is also a social benefit to the program.

“We talk and laugh and have a good time,” she said. “It’s good to get out, especially during the long winter.”

SAIL classes are sponsored by AmeriCorps

Each session is an hour long and includes stretches to warm up.

Seniors, Dancing Sky Area Agency on Aging and MAHUBE-OTWA, so there is no cost to participants.

SAIL exercise videos and zoom classes, along

with more information about the program, are available at www,sailfitness.org.

Classes meet Tuesday and Thursdays from 1-2 pm. at the Park Rap-

ids Church of Christ at 707 North Main. Call 320-905-0481 for more information.

Lorie Skarpness can be reached at lskarpness@ parkrapidsenterprise.com

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June 2022

PHOTOS CONTRIBUTED / RENAE HENDRICKSON

Above: Since moving to the Park Rapids area in 1991, RoseAnn's family has grown. RoseAnn (front second from left) says she will continue to sell Avon as long as she enjoys it and that the money she makes is used to pay for gas and groceries. Right: Being there for her children (from left) Ryan, Renae and Rik was a priority for RoseAnn Langland. Selling Avon gave her the flexibility to be there when they left for school and when they returned home and go to all of their sporting events.

Desire to be a ‘stay at home’ mom led to 46-year job Lorie Skarpness Park Rapids Enterprise When Park Rapids resident RoseAnn Langland was in high school, she already knew the path she wanted her life to take.

“Being a salesperson was at the bottom of the list and staying home and being a mom was at the top of the list,” she said.

She ended up doing both.

Langland started selling Avon because it would give her time with her children before and after school as well as the opportunity to be at all their events and also provide extra income for their growing family.

That was 46 years ago, and she is still selling Avon.

“I love my customers

and I like the job,” she said.

L a n g land was living in Marshall in Langland 1976 when she began selling Avon. She and her husband Roger had three children. Roger was a consultant working full-time and she was staying home with the children. “I was a full-time homemaker,” she said.

A flexible job

“I started selling Avon because a good friend of mine sold Avon and she also worked for Southwest State part-time,” she said. “They wanted her to be there for a month full-time. She asked me if I would take over her

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I did, and she never went back to Avon so I just kept doing it.”

Her youngest child, Ryan, was 5 at the time, and her two older children, Rik and Renae, were in elementary school.

“With Avon you can do it on your time,” she said. “I could be there when they left for school and when they came home from school. That was always important to me. I wanted to see them off to school and greet them when they came home. We baked a lot. We sat down when they got home and talked about their day over fresh-baked cookies. When my kids were older they were in sports and I went to all of their games. I was also involved in Camp-

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fire for 24 years and Scouts for 19.”

She described her first day selling Avon as “scary.”

“When you’re a salesperson, it’s different for everybody,” she said. “You have to do what works for you.

A lot of people selling Avon would meet over coffee and sit and chat.

I never did that. When I was selling, I would do it as a business, not as a hobby. As my kids got older I spent more time growing the Avon business.”

When the children were at home, Langland used the money she made selling Avon to buy some extras for them. Now the money she makes selling Avon

goes to gas and groceries.

Another thing Langland said she started back then, and continues to this day, is calling people before she stops

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4

What is respite care?

The Family Circle

BY LAUREL HED

LSW GCM, SBC Adult Care Management Services

F

amily caregivers spend hours of unpaid time caregiving for their loved one.

This can be exhausting for the family.

My message to all caregivers that I work with is the same: “If you end up worn out and sick, who will take care of your loved one then?”

AVON From Page 3

by. “I make sure it’s a good time for them so I’m not wasting their time,” she said.

A new chapter

Langland and her second husband, Everett Langland, moved to 2nd Crow Wing Lake in 1991 and she started all over again, finding Avon clients in a place where she had no connections. She has been selling Avon in this area for over 30 years.

“When they had districts I was usually the number one person for sales,” she said. “I believe when you really like what you’re doing you’ll do a good job.”

After Everett passed away in 2016, she moved to Park Rapids.

“As I’m getting older I’ve cut back on cus-

tomers,” she said. “I have between 30 and 40 customers now. That’s what I can handle. I have good sales with the customers I have now and don’t go out looking for more.”

She said being involved with Avon helps her stay active and keep up with technology.

Over the years, a lot has changed in the Avon business. Product lines have expanded to include more products for men and more products in general.

COVID brought more changes. Training moved online and in-person visits were limited.

“Since COVID started, I do not deliver much any more,” she said. “I leave orders between the doors at my house and they come in and pick it up when it’s convenient for them.”

When she started

So, what is respite care? Someone who can come in and give the family caregiver breaks. Sometimes the caregiver needs to just take a nap, run errands, get their hair done or just spend time with friends and feel “normal” for a little while.

I had the privilege to spend time with two different caregivers over this past week.

Their message was the same: “I am so tired. I haven’t attended any church groups in so long and I miss it so much.”

The other one said, “My spouse doesn’t visit anymore, and I am so lonely. I love to play games and tell stories and I haven’t been able to do any of that in two years. I just want someone to stay here for a few hours once a week, so I can spend time with friends.” selling Avon in 1976, makeup and fragrance were the most popular items.

There is a much wider range of products

available today. Makeup, foundations and face creams. are vegan and they never do testing on animals.

Respite can come in a few different ways.

A family member, a friend, church family, a volunteer from the Living at Home program and a hired caregiver are all sources for respite.

If your loved one isn’t at risk for falling or in need of medical care, volunteers can help with this. If your loved one has higher needs, then a paid, trained caregiver is a good option.

Remember, paying a few dollars a week to keep yourself healthy is much more reasonable than pushing yourself until you become ill and your loved one would need to go into a facility.

Take care of you, so you can take care of your person!

In my next column, I will discuss when you know it is time to start respite care.

“The Avon books are like a department store with cleaning supplies, laundry detergent, clothes and so much more,” she said. “And

everything is guaranteed. If you don’t like it you can return it.”

Lorie Skarpness can be reached at lskarpness@ parkrapidsenterprise.com

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Art Beat

Summer 2022

Heartland Concert Association moves forward

2nd Street Stage has become the great community get-together in downtown Park Rapids.

2nd Street Stage will celebrate 10 years 2nd Street Stage will celebrate a 10th year of summer concerts in downtown Park Rapids June 16 through Aug. 18.

Every year people have said they look forward all year long to these special nights that celebrate summer, time to reconnect with friends and enjoy some great music. Just remember to bring a chair.

The beer garden opens at 5 p.m. for a social hour, time to meet social hour sponsors and buy this year’s collectible button for $2 off all beverages at the beer garden.

The 2nd Street Stage concerts run from 6 to 8 p.m. except on Aug. 11 when the concert will follow Water Wars. Social hour and band sponsors offer a variety of activities and giveaways as well as a prize at the end of the evening to someone with

a lucky ticket.

Bands are chosen for their musicianship and stage presence and to represent various musical genres (Americana, folk rock, bluegrass, progressive jazz, rock ’n roll, soul, indie rock, reggae, funk and country). Many of the bands have played at First Avenue and other venues in the Twin Cities and/or are part of the Duluth music scene.

The 2022 line up is: ► June 16 Farewell Milwaukee ► June 23 Brotherhood of Birds ► June 30 Marbin ► July 7 The 4onthefloor ► July 14 Jon Sullivan Band ► July 21 General B and The Wiz ► July 28 The Hooten Hallers ► Aug. 11 Mae Simpson Music

STAGE: Third Page

To say the 2021-22 Heartland Concert Association (HCA) concert schedule was wacky is a huge understatement.

The normal flow of having two concerts in the fall and three in the spring, was disrupted due to COVID. We are thankful we were able to provide a series, and the 2022-23 season is planned to be back on track.

HCA provides quality entertainment to the Park Rapids community at a reasonable cost.

This remains our goal and focus. HCA just celebrated our 40th anniversary and look forward to 40 more.

The line-up for the 2022-23 season will be Portrait of a Queen (the music of Aretha Franklin) on Sept. 29; Jeeyon Kim, acclaimed pianist

HEARTLAND: Third Page

The 2022-23 Heartland Concert season will open with Portrait of a Queen featuring awardwinning songstress Cece Teneal. She takes music lovers on a trip down memory lane with stellar hits from Aretha Franklin’s 50-years of musical entertainment.

Volunteers needed to help bring ‘Hello, Dolly’ to the stage Auditions have been held, cast has been chosen and you’re in for a treat!

When choosing the production for summer 2022, the oft requested show, “Hello, Dolly,” was chosen because it’s so nice to be back to share our love of theater with you.

Mark your calendars to attend one of the productions July 29 to Aug. 6. Tickets are already available by going online: BrownPaperTickets/profile/731237. Tickets will soon be available at Beagle and Wolf Books.

VOLUNTEERS: Third Page

ARTS CALENDAR JUNE

JULY

June 1-July 2 Yunior Rebollar Exhibit and Youth Art Show at Nemeth Art Center

July 1-July 2 Yunior Rebollar Exhibit and Youth Art Show at Nemeth Art Center

June 9

July 5-Oct.1

Dana Schutz & Ryan Johnson Exhibit at Nemeth Art Center

July 7

2nd Street Stage: the 4onthefloor

July 8

Artists Reception for Dana Schutz, Ryan Johnson and Ginny Sims at Nemeth Art Center

July 14

Noon Hour Concert: Emily Bergeron, mezzo soprano, and Eric Gustafson, piano, at Calvary Lutheran Church

July14

Noon Hour Concert: Timothy Pinkerton, violin, and Sarah Carlson, piano, at Calvary Lutheran Church

June 11

Yunior Rebollar Artist Reception at Nemeth Art Center

June 11-18

Workbench New Play Workshop

June 16

Noon Hour Concert: Sarah Kaufenberg, piano, and Melody Bober, piano, at Calvary Lutheran Church

June 16

2nd Street Stage: Farewell Milwaukee

June 18

Hubbard County Historical Society Antique and Upcycling Show

June 20-July 15

NLOKids Theater Camp

June 23

2nd Street Stage: Brotherhood of Birds

June 25

Northern Light Opera Company 20th Anniversary Show

June 27

Hubbard County Historical Society: Historical Tea

June 30

Noon Hour Concert: North Wind Clarinets at Calvary Lutheran Church

June 30

2nd Street Stage: Marbin

Nemeth Art Center Aug. 3-6

Northern Light Opera Company: “Hello, Dolly”

Aug. 4

Noon Hour Concert: “No Rest for Pickers,” Bluegrass Band at Calvary Lutheran Church

Aug. 4

2nd Street Stage: The Hooten Hallers

Aug. 11

Noon Hour Concert: Kaitlyn Huhta, piano at Hubbard United Methodist Church

Aug. 11

2nd Street Stage: Mae Simpson Music

Aug. 18

Noon Hour Concert: Brass Group at Calvary Lutheran Church

2nd Street Stage: Jon Sullivan Band

Aug. 18

2nd Street Stage: Boxcar

July 21

Noon Hour Concert: Sarah Carlson, organ, at St. Johns Lutheran Church

Aug. 20-21

Art Fair at the Winery at Forestedge Winery

July 21

2nd Street Stage: General B and The WIz

Aug. 25

July 25

Hubbard County Historical Society: Roots of a Ghost Town - Shell City

Noon Hour Concert: Bob Madeson, euphonium, Sarah Carlson, piano, and Tyler Bublitz, drums, at Calvary Lutheran Church

July 28-29

Crazy Days in Downtown Park Rapids

Aug. 29

Hubbard County Historical Society: Mission and History of Heartland Homes

July 28

Noon Hour Concert: Adedayo, trumpet, at Calvary Lutheran Church

July 28

2nd Street Stage: The Limns

July 29-31

Northern Light Opera Company: “Hello, Dolly”

AUGUST Aug.-Oct. 1

Dana Schutz & Ryan Johnson Exhibit at

SEPTEMBER Sep.-Oct. 1

Dana Schutz & Ryan Johnson Exhibit at Nemeth Art Center

Sep. 24-25

Art Leap 2022

Sep. 26

Hubbard County Historical Society: Camp Wilderness Boy Scout Camp

Proud sponsor of Noon Noon Hour Concerts Leap 2022 2021 and Art Leap Many Heartland Arts activities are made possible by the voters of Minnesota, through the Region 2 Arts Council, thanks to legislative appropriations from the Arts and Cultural Heritage Fund and the States General Fund.

www.heartlandarts.org Facebook: parkrapidsarts

Art Beat Grants allow arts learning to continue for DAC artists Grants from the Region 2 Arts Council and Minnesota State Arts Board have allowed Hubbard County Developmental Achievement Center (HCDAC) artists to work with local artists to learn new skills and create art.

These grants will also help keep HCDAC artists busy this summer and broaden opportunities to participate in the arts.

Salvage Depot staff and artist Hannah Spry have plans to add to the sculpture garden by creating a new mural to add to the east wall of the building and create a Japanese style rock garden to create a peaceful place to enjoy the sculptures and paintings. Emily Whittaker has been

planning many ways for participants to explore their own creativity and self-expression and has seen an increase in both self-esteem and confidence. She said, “by giving people the opportunity and the safe space to explore they can achieve amazing things and see the beauty in their handiwork.” The inclusion of Candy Crane, a sculpture created from scrap metal, in the 2022-23 Park Rapids Sculpture Trail has given the artists an opportunity to see their work alongside well-known regional artists.

Plans are being made to work with local ceramic artist and new member of the HCDAC

Hannah Spry works with HCDAC artists to grow their skills in printmaking. staff, Micah Waalen, to teach the artists how to learn to glaze and create custom tiles that can be used for an art installation or to create items for sale. Emily and Hannah have plans to create an Art Gallery in the Salvage Depot to give artists a

place to exhibit and sell their work.

Artist Jill Odegaard will return to Park Rapids in August to continue demonstrating the paper arts. This workshop will explore image making by using a “poured pulp” technique. Images can be designed based on a

common theme or individual interests. During this process. pulp is poured into a frame and collaged elements are incorporated into the wet pulp. After the pulp dries on the screen it is removed from the frame and more collage work, drawing and/or painting may be incorporated. Group images will be made in larger deckle boxes with each person working in a designated area to create one large piece of artwork. Plans are being made to open the workshop to some members of the community.

Hannah Spry will continue to challenge artists to grow their skills in printmaking using

new techniques and materials. These classes have proven to provide technical skills and the opportunity for participants to express themselves through art.

All of these classes give individuals a look at how these artistic skills can be turned into potential jobs at local businesses or as a way to make money selling their artistic creations.

Artists are excited to share their art at the end of summer in Art Leap.

All of these activities are made possible by the voters of Minnesota through a grant from the Region 2 Arts Council, thanks to a legislative appropriation from the Arts and Cultural Heritage Fund.

Nemeth Art Center announces 2022 season of new works The Nemeth Art Center (NAC) is excited to share new work from four emerging and established artists across a range of mediums this season. Audiences in the Park Rapids region will be able to view artwork that is available for the first time. In addition, the NAC is pleased to once again host a juried Youth Art Showcase in collaboration with the Minneapolis College of Art and Design.

Yunior Rebollar is a mixed media artist primarily working in portrait drawing and digital manipulation.

Drawing inspiration from music, cinema, fashion, dance and pop culture, Rebollar has always been concerned with how to position and organize these inspirations from his work and day-to-day life. His creative work focuses on closing gaps and building bridges to both real and futuristic representations of Blackness. His artistic choices have historically been dictated by the ever-changing realities of his life, filtered through the limitations of these imposed realities.

Rebollar is originally from the small municipality of Cotorro in La Habana, Cuba and now lives with his family in Becker County. The NAC is proud to be the first regional institution to present his work in a solo show. The show opened to the public May 5 and runs through July 2. The artist will be present for a reception with visitors on Saturday, June 11, from 4 to 6 p.m. at the NAC galleries.

Also on display May 5 through July 2 will be a variety of new artwork selected from area student submissions. The NAC hosted workshops May 7 for students to meet with representatives from the Minneapolis College of Art and Design (MCAD) for critiques of their work, followed by an awards ceremony to select the outstanding artists. The top prize will be a scholarship for a summer

Dana Schutz’s figurative paintings will be on display at the Nemeth Art Center from July 5 through Oct. 1. semester of study at MCAD. The Nemeth is excited to present a joint show of new work by painter Dana Schutz and sculptor Ryan Johnson together for the first time. The Brooklyn-based couple have established reputations for creativity and expressiveness, with work on display in major galleries across the U.S. and internationally. The NAC show is a unique opportunity for art world audiences in the 2022 season.

Dana Schutz’s vivid, gestural paintings combine figuration and abstraction and often depict subjects in a fluctuating state of invented and realistic scenarios that plumb the emotional complexities of contemporary life. The renowned artist’s work can be found in the Hammer Museum, Metropolitan Museum of Art and San Francisco Museum of Modern Art, among others. Ryan Johnson’s creations rely on a variety of sculptural media to depict dreamlike sub-

jects that convey both stillness and the potential for action. Recurrent themes include family, mortality, frailty and strength.

Dana Schutz hails originally from Livonia, MI, and Ryan Johnson grew up in Jakarta, Indonesia. They maintain family connections here in Hubbard County. Their work will be on display at the NAC galleries July 5 through Oct. 1, and the NAC is hosting a reception with the artists Friday, July 8, from 4 to 6 p.m.

Ceramicist Ginny Sims creates functional and sculptural objects that are highly narrative. For inspiration, she looks to different moments in ceramic history, and incorporates the cultural information she finds with present day social and political experiences. Pottery is a reflective, invisible, critical and - for millennia - necessary material object of culture whose very existence is testament to human beings in their environment.

Ginny Sims was born and raised in Little Rock, AR, and now makes Minneapolis her home. She teaches ceramics and art history at Minneapolis College. Her new work will be at the NAC July 5 through Oct. 1. The NAC will host a reception with the artist Friday, July 8, from 4 to 6 p.m.

The Nemeth Art Center is located at 301 Court Avenue, in the upper floor of the historic Hubbard County Courthouse. Galleries are open and free to the public 10:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Thursdays, Fridays and Saturdays until Oct. 1. More programming information is available at www.nemethartcenter.org. The Nemeth Art Center’s 2022 season is made possible in part by the voters of Minnesota from a grant through the Region 2 Arts Council, thanks to a legislative appropriation from the Arts & Cultural Heritage Fund.

Nemeth Art Center

NLOC will celebrate 20 years of great shows Summer is a busy time here in the North Woods, with fishing, picnics, swimming and, for music and theater-lovers, the return of the Northern Light Opera.

In July 2021, Northern Light Opera Company (NLOC) marked 20 years of producing musical theater, but wasn’t able to celebrate due to the pandemic. So, on Saturday, June 25, there will be a program at the Armory Arts & Events Center to celebrate some highlights of past years, with live music from past performers, video clips highlighting special moments from favorite shows, taped interviews with volunteers who worked behind the scenes and a special tribute to those who contributed to NLOC’s success along the way and are now deceased.

There will be no admission charge, but free-will donation baskets will be available.

We’re inviting you to come and share memories with favorite actors, past and recent, as they reprise scenes, situations and songs that have made you smile. We might even ask you to sing along with some songs that might bring a tear or unforgettable image to mind. Join us on June 25!

Art Beat NLOKids drama camp plans underway NLOKids was created in 2010 for 8-13-year-olds and expanded in 2016 by collaborating with Pine Point.

The goals of NLOKids are to inspire creativity, promote self-confidence, gain new skills, develop new friendships and have fun as they create an original musical, which they present for family and friends.

After 2021’s production, “A Whistle in the Dark,” NLOKids caught the attention of folks at Guthrie

Theater in Minneapolis.

They sponsored tickets for NLOKids and chaperones to attend a production of Shakespeare’s The Tempest in March. Tribal and community supporters funded the bus. A long, but memorable day was enjoyed by all.

This year’s Drama Camp will be June 20 to July 15.

For more information and an application form, go to www.northernlightopera.org.

Young people from Pine Point and Park Rapids, who participated in NLOKids Drama Camp in 2021, and chaperones attended a Guthrie Theater production in Minneapolis this winter. This season’s camp will start June 20.

Noon Hour Concerts will start June 9 The Noon Hour Concert series committee is pleased to open the 2022 summer season Thursday, June 9.

All concerts are from 12:15 to 12:45 p.m.

Thursdays at Calvary Lutheran Church, except for the concerts July 14 at St. Johns and Aug.11 at Hubbard United Methodist Church. Free will donations are accepted.

Timothy Pinkerton, violin, and Sarah Carlson, piano, will be the featured performers at the opening concert June 9.

Pinkerton is a 17-yearold violinist from Bemidji. He began playing at age 6 and currently studies with Dr. Eric Olson.

His orchestra career began at age 10 when he joined the Bemidji Symphony Orchestra (BSO).

He is currently Principal 2nd/Co-Concertmaster of the BSO, and has served as the concertmaster of the Bemidji High School Symphony

Kaufenberg

Bober

and Chamber Orchestras since 2020. In addition, he won the position of concertmaster in the Minnesota Music Educators Association HighSchool All-State Orchestra in 2021-22. His most recent solo performances include Rimsky-Korsakov’s Scheherazade with the BSO, Max Bruch’s Violin Concerto No. 1 with the Bismarck-Mandan Symphony Orchestra and the BSO, and Vivaldi’s Spring with the Bemidji Chamber Orchestra. He was a finalist in the 2022 Schubert Club Scholarship Competition and won grand prize in the 2021 Fargo-Moorhead Symphony Orchestra’s Young Artist Competi-

VOLUNTEERS From First Page

The Armory Arts & Events Center will be the location of the performance.

You will recognize many of your favorite actors, but you will also be introduced to some new faces who will entertain you well.

“Hello, Dolly” is familiar to most folks, so we won’t discuss the plot. Even if you’ve seen the show many times, each director, cast and

tion. He currently teaches violin and piano at Headwaters Music and Arts, Bemidji.

Sarah Carlson received her Master of Music degree in organ performance from the University of Iowa and her Bachelor of Music degree from St. Olaf College.

During the fall of 2009 she performed harpsichord keyboard concertos by J.S. Bach at Bemidji State University. Prior to coming to Bemidji, she was Director of Music at St. Matthew’s Episcopal Church in Darlington, SC. She was also an Adjunct Professor of Music at Coker College in Hartsville, SC, accompanist for the Coker Singers and head of the Piano Division’s Preparatory School of Music. She is currently Director of Music Ministry at First Lutheran Church in Bemidji.

On Thursday, June 16, pianists Sarah Kaufenberg and Melody Bober will be featured at Calva-

crew brings their own inspiration and creativity to the stage and you’ll be entertained anew.

Northern Light Opera Company is looking for volunteers to help build and paint sets, help create costumes, work backstage to help things go smoothly and to help publicize the show. You’ll make new friends, help make the show successful and you can tell your friends, “I helped make that!” Just call or text: 218-252-7095 and we’ll find an opportunity for you.

ry Lutheran Church.

Sarah Kaufenberg grew up in Park Rapids and started taking piano lessons at age seven.

After studying music education at North Dakota State University, Sarah started her own piano and voice studio and has enjoyed teaching for over 20 years. She currently is the musical director at St. Johns Lutheran Church and plays in the bell choir directed by her mother, Vickie Helm.

Sarah has been involved with the Northern Light Opera Company for several years and is currently working on this year’s production of “Hello, Dolly.” She is currently studying piano with Melody Bober. who is also a composer.

Melody Bober enjoys creating motivational piano pieces that foster her students’ understanding and love of music. She graduated summa cum laude from the University of Illi-

HEARTLAND From First Page

on Nov. 15; The Patsy Cline Project on March 7, 2023; Forever Simon and Garfun-

STAGE From First Page

► Aug. 18 Boxcar For more about all the bands, go to www.parkrap-

nois at Champaign-Urbana with a Bachelor’s degree in music education. She later received a Master of Arts degree in piano performance from Minnesota State University, Moorhead.

An active church pianist and accompanist, Melody has also held the position of church music director. In addition to teaching piano in her private studio, Melody’s music teaching experience includes 20 years of public school, two years at the university level and currently leading workshops for piano teachers across North America.

She resides in Minnesota with her husband, Jeff.

The third concert in June will be Thursday, June 30 at Calvary Lutheran Church with the North Wind Clarinets - Deane Johnson, Beth Hahn, Vicki Magnuson, Peg Rickert and Sarah Sundeen. The group plays a variety of music, from classical to jazz and

popular music, arranged for a variety of clarinets.

Concerts for the remainder of the summer are: July 14 - Emily Bergeron, mezzo-soprano; July 21 - Sarah Carlson, pipe organ at St. Johns Lutheran Church; July 28 - Adedayo Lawal, trumpet; Aug. 4 - “No Rest for Pickers,” Joel Verschay, guitar and vocals, Aiden Larson, mandolin and vocals, Johnny Fall, bass, Corey Campbell, banjo, and Sawyer Corcoran, fiddle, and mandolin; Aug. 11 Kaitlyn Huhta, piano at Hubbard United Methodist Church; Aug.18 brass players, Kyle Riess, trumpet, Alyssa Konecne, trombone, Jeff Johnson, bass trombone, Eve Sumsky, horn, and Scott Guidry, trumpet; and Aug. 25 - Bob Madeson, euphonium, Sarah Carlson, piano, and Tyler Bublitz, drums.

kel on March 27, 2023; and Copper Street Brass on May 12, 2023.

HCA will again offer reciprocity with the Wadena Concert Association, giving audiences even more entertainment!

We thank our audience and sponsors for making Heartland Concert Association a part of their lives.

Visit our website for more information: www.heartlandconcertassociation.org.

idsdowntown.com/events.

For weekly updates, go to 2nd St Stage on Facebook. In honor of the 10th anniversary season enjoy catching up with bands from past years and learn more about musicians

playing this year at 2nd Street Stage – Musicians.

Weekly major sponsors are Monika’s Quilt and Yarn Shop, R.D. Offutt Farms and TruStar Federal Credit Union.

Art Beat Studio 176 announces new artist and summer exhibits

By Laura Grisamore Studio 176 Co-owners Jeremy Simonson, Dawn Rossbach and Laura Grisamore announce artist Kent Estey joined the studio.

“We are honored to have Kent join us at the studio and are excited to see where the journey will take us,” Grisamore said.

Estey primarily works with oils, acrylic and mixed media bringing a non-traditional voice to light with his bold, brightly colored, abstract works.

Estey (K) shares more about his artwork and inspirations with readers in an interview clip with Grisamore (L).

L: What mediums do you work with?

K: Most times my artwork is painted in an abstract way, with little or no forethought, beyond the colors and direction or movement of the brushes. For most of my life I’ve painted with oils.

It wasn’t until recently that I moved to acrylics. Now that I have used them, I am really enjoying them. I have a fondness for high flow acrylics, inks and metallics. Most recently I’ve added another dimension to my work with copper wire, pieces of hardware and stone. I find these pieces can start a conversation about representation vs it is what it is. I like

when people ask, “What is it”….I usually respond with, “What do you see?”

L: Where does Estey your inspiration come from?

K: I have always been somewhat of a landscape artist. When I was in school my go-to pieces were always landscapes, but I have never done any figurative paintings, they just didn’t appeal to me. I paint reflections of colors and pieces of time, dreams, feelings, calm and sometimes broad motions and movement. I look to the sky, I look across the lake, I peer into the water. Those are the places of inspiration. There will be this flash of light or color in the sky that says, “This needs to be painted.” That is my inspiration. Ultimately, I strive for beauty and simplicity.

Today my work is truly what I see and want to create. I believe when I paint with my heart and vision, I am able to capture and honor my beautiful Ojibwe heritage.

Estey’s work is now available to view in the studio along with the works of Simonson, Rossbach and Grisamore. Original work, artwork printed on metal, canvas, fine art paper, cards and a variety of merchandise are available for purchase.

The studio also announced

a series of summer exhibits, In Tandem. This unique exhibit will be on display June through August featuring work each month of two artists who either work, live or have a strong creative connection to each other.

Kicking off the exhibit series in June are Minneapolis based artists Kay Rossbach and Jay Ross. Jay Ross (American University, 2014) and Kay Rossbach (Minneapolis College of Art and Design, 2014) are artists living and working in Minneapolis. Their work takes inspiration from fantasy aesthetics, with an emphasis on nature and the occult. Whether in illustrative or sequential art, Jay and Kay draw on their love of storytelling to create evocative visuals. Kay has published comic works in multiple anthologies and online, including a long running series called Ingress Adventuring Company. Jay is showcasing works created during a residency at The Future, in South Minneapolis, as well as additional print projects.

The end of June through late July will feature local artists Barry Simonson and Ramona Howey. In late 2001 they moved from NE Minneapolis to Park Rapids, and restored a 1902 farmstead where they raised their two children. In 2017, they sold their farm and bought

the abandoned racquetball courts in Park Rapids with plans to make it a home and studio. Both studied art at Minnesota State University Moorhead with a focus on painting and printmaking.

The pair report their July In Tandem exhibit, titled Relations, “is about our journey about past, present and in between our meditations on those experiences relating to family, time and space.”

Artist Jill Odegaard and Brian Wiggins’ work will be featured through August.

Wiggins lives and works in Eastern Pennsylvania and attended Westark Community College (University of Arkansas, Fort Smith) before transferring to Memphis College of Art, graduating in 1989. In the mid-90s Brian was diagnosed with Pigmentary Dispersion Syndrome.

This rare genetic disorder became fuel to approach abstraction from a different angle where he could approach the experience of color and form as something without any foundation or, as a static experience, but as one that is continually in flux.

Jill Odegaard is an artist who engages the public through her work as she involves communities to participate in dialogue and making of art work. As Professor and Chair of the Art Department at Cedar Crest College she holds a BFA from

Minnesota State University Moorhead and an MFA from the Minneapolis College of Art and Design, Minneapolis.

Her studio practice explores the tactile nature of design through the use of textiles, handmade paper and other mixed media.

Visitors are invited to meet the artists during their opening receptions: Saturday June 4, 4 to 7 p.m. - Kay Rossbach and Jay Ross Thursday, June 30, 4 to 7 p.m. - Barry Simonson and Ramona Howey Friday Aug. 5, 4 to 7 p.m.

- Jill Odegaard and Brian Wiggins.

“Our gallery may be small, but it’s got a little bit of magic in it. It’s hard to describe – it’s that sort of tingly sensation when you start a new adventure. Whether you’re just exploring and wanting a new piece of art that will set the stage of your space or maybe a person to bounce some ideas off of, you’ll always leave with some inspiration or sense of the creative journey,” co-owner Dawn Rosssbach exclaimed.

Studio 176 is located on Culture Street (3rd Street off Main) across from Bella Caffé. Summer hours are Thursday through Saturday, 11a.m. to 3 p.m. June through August.

Region 2 Arts Council makes changes in board activity

By Laura Seter Executive director, Region 2 Arts Council Region 2 Arts Council’s mission is to strengthen the presence of the arts by supporting opportunities for arts creation, promotion and education for the people of Beltrami, Clearwater, Hubbard, Lake of the Woods and Mahnomen counties.

We do this primarily through grant funding to support artists who are expanding their artistic practices and nonprofit organizations in bringing arts activity into our five-county region.

In fall 2021, the Region 2 Arts Council Board of Directors determined that we would begin to engage community

members more fully in the grant r e v i e w process, in large part relieving Board Schmidt members of that duty, unless time in their schedules allowed.

Prior to that, the only grants our Board did not review were the Region 2 Artist Fellowship, and grants that are available to enrolled tribal members and descendants only, which are reviewed

by Anishinaabe Arts Initiative Advisory Council members.

In the past, Region 2 Arts Council Board members conducted business and reviewed grants in

eight out of 10 of their monthly meetings. Our Board members, residing in places like Williams, Park Rapids, Naytahwaush and Shevlin, traveled in all kinds of weather to get to our meetings in Bemidji, and often did not hit the road for home until long past dark. In spring 2020, when all of our meetings had to be conducted via Zoom, travel time was no longer an issue. However, Board meetings ran upwards of five hours, which was too much screen time for one sitting. In our new system, community members have the opportunity to gain deeper insight into our granting processes by serving on a review panel. Board members

who review grants sideby-side with community panelists gain new perspectives into our processes. It’s a win-win!

At the end of June, we say good-bye to Beltrami County Representatives Mike Schlemper and Shannon Lucas-Westrum, Clearwater County Representative Pam Janssen, and Mahnomen County Representative Gayle Gish, each of whom we owe a deep debt of gratitude for steering us through various pandemic-related challenges. Three current members, Anna Larson (Mahnomen County), Katie Larson (Hubbard County) and CT Marhula (LOW County), will continue to serve in the new fiscal year.

Heartland Concert Association DON’T WAIT TO BE ASKED. JOIN NOW!

Newly elected members include Nancy Schmidt (Hubbard County), Nicholas Jackson (Beltrami) and Terri Leinbach (Beltrami). We continue to seek individuals from Lake of the Woods, Clearwater and Mahnomen counties who are interested in joining a creative, hardworking and compassionate Board that values supporting artists and making arts activity available to all. Board applicants must be 18 years or older, have a mindset grounded in fairness and equity, a willingness to learn and a passion for the arts.

On May 4, Region 2 Staff and Board members gathered in-person for our final business meeting of this fiscal

year. We shared a meal, reviewed our finances, made decisions about the future, and celebrated our outgoing members. We left the meeting energized. These are the kinds of in-person and online meetings you’d be a part of if you joined our team.

If you are interested in joining our Region 2 Board, the Anishinaabe Arts Initiative Council or serving on a grant review panel, are 18 years or older, have values grounded in fairness and equity, and you have a passion for the arts, contact staff@r2arts.org now for an application and more information.

We hope to fill our final Board positions by July.

HEARTLAND CONCERT SERIES FOR 2022/2023 THURSDAY, 9/29/22 - Portrait of a Queen (Aretha Franklin) TUESDAY, 11/15/22 - Jeeyoon Kim, pianist TUESDAY, 3/7/23 - The Patsy Cline Project MONDAY, 3/27/23 - Forever Simon and Garfunkel FRIDAY, 5/12/23 - Copper Street Brass VISIT OUR WEBSITE FOR MORE INFORMATION

www.heartlandconcertassociation.org This activity is funded in whole or in part by a Region 2 Arts Council Grant through an appropriation by the MN Legislature, and the Arts and Cultural Heritage Fund passed by MN voters on Nov. 4, 2008

9

June 2022

SOAK UP THE PESTO FLAVOR SARAH NASELLO / FORUM NEWS SERVICE

Sarah's Creamy Pesto Chicken Salad is a delicious update to a classic deli salad, featuring large chunks of juicy chicken breast in a creamy basil pesto dressing.

Creamy chicken salad a delicious addition to your summer table

T

his Creamy Pesto Chicken Salad is the newest addition to my summer repertoire, and it is the perfect recipe for an elegant and delicious summer lunch or light dinner.

Basil pesto is the base for the dressing in this salad and if you have a bunch of fresh basil in your garden, I highly encourage you to make it from scratch. I shared my go-to basil pesto recipe here eight years ago, and I am always amazed by how five simple ingredients can come together to create such a brightly flavored sauce without requiring any cooking.

To make your own basil pesto, you will need a generous amount of fresh basil leaves, good extra virgin olive oil, pine nuts, parmesan cheese and garlic. You can grind these ingredients into a pesto the old-

school way using a mortar and pestle, or you can quickly blitz everything together in a food processor.

The creaminess in this chicken salad comes from a small amount of mayonnaise, and you could use sour cream or Greek yogurt instead, or even a combination of these ingredients, to bind the salad together. Extra flavor comes from the addition of a finely chopped shallot, and a generous sprinkling of toasted pine nuts for a little crunch.

The chicken can be baked up to 24 hours in advance before adding it to the salad, and the salad can be assembled and refrigerated for up to two days before serving.

I like to carve the chicken breasts into hefty, half-inch chunks, but you could cut them into smaller pieces or use two forks to shred

the breasts if you prefer.

Elegant, easy to make and full of flavor, this Creamy Pesto Chicken Salad is a fun twist on an old deli classic and a delicious addition to your summer table.

is a weekly column written

by Sarah Nasello featuring recipes by her husband, Tony Nasello. The couple owned Sarello’s in Moorhead and lives in Fargo with their son, Giovanni. Readers can reach them at sarahnasello@gmail. com.

“Home with the Lost Italian”

ITALIAN: Page 10

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BY SARAH & TONY NASELLO

Columnist

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Super cheap smartphone plans for scrimping seniors The Savvy Senior

BY JIM MILLER Columnist

D

ear Savvy Senior, Can you direct me to some really cheap wireless smartphone plans for seniors who don’t use much data? I use my smartphone primarily for texting and talking but need some data for checking my email and a few other things when I’m away from Wi-Fi. Right now, I pay $30 per month but am looking for a better deal. ~ Senior Scrimper Dear Scrimper, There are several super cheap wireless providers I can recommend for older smartphone users who are looking to save money by paring down their cell phone plan.

Here are three of the cheapest options available that you can switch to without sacrificing the quality of your service.

Cheapest wireless plans

For extremely light smartphone data users,

the very cheapest wireless plan available today is through Tello (Tello.com), which lets you build your own plan based on your needs or budget. For as little as $6 per month you can get unlimited texting, 100 minutes of talk time and 500 megabytes (MB) of high-speed data. Increases in talk time or data can be added in $1 increments.

Tello uses the T-Mobile network and gives you the option to bring your existing phone or purchase a new device, while keeping your same phone number if you wish. If you want to keep your phone, it must be unlocked. Just enter your phone’s ID (press *#06# on your keypad to get it) on Tello’s website to make sure that it’s compatible with the network.

Another super cheap plan to consider is the annual prepaid plan offered through Boost Mobile (BoostMobile.com). For only $100 per year (or $8.33 per month) this plan provides unlimited talk, text and 1 gigabyte (GB) of 5G or 4G data each month. If you need more data, their $150 annual plan (or $12.50/month) gets you 5 GB. Boost Mobile uses the T-Mobile and AT&T networks and lets you use your existing phone (if compatible) or buy a new one.

And a third option to look into is Mint Mobile (MintMobile.com), which is recommended by Consumer Reports and has one of the best values for a cheap plan. Mint offers a $15 per month plan (plus taxes & fees) that provides unlimited talk and

text, and 4 GB of 5G/4G data each month. They too use the T-Mobile network and will let you use your existing phone (if compatible) or buy a new one.

Lifeline program

If your income is low enough, another option you should check into is the Lifeline Assistance Program. This is a federal program that provides a $9.25 monthly subsidy that could go towards your phone or internet service.

To qualify, you’ll need to show that you’re receiving certain types of government benefits such as Medicaid, SNAP (food stamps), SSI, public housing assistance, veterans’ pension and survivors’ benefit, or live on federally recognized Tribal lands. Or, if your annual household income is at or below 135 percent of the Federal Poverty Guidelines – $17,388 for one person, or $23,517 for two – you’re also eligible.

To check your eligibility or apply, visit LifelineSupport.org. If you do qualify, contact a wireless provider in your area that participates in the Lifeline program and sign up for service with them. You can also ask your current company to apply your Lifeline benefit to a service you are already getting, if it offers the benefit.

Send your senior questions to Savvy Senior, P.O. Box 5443, Norman, OK 73070 or visit SavvySenior.org. Jim Miller is a contributor to the NBC Today show and author of “The Savvy Senior” book.

ITALIAN From Page 9

CREAMY PESTO CHICKEN SALAD 1 lb. boneless, skinless chicken breast 1/3 cup basil pesto 1/4 cup good mayonnaise (Greek yogurt or sour cream will also work) 1 small shallot, finely chopped (about 1/4 cup – red onion will also work, very finely chopped) 1/4 cup pine nuts, toasted 1/2 tsp. salt 1/4 tsp. ground pepper 8 butter lettuce leaves, washed and dried (2 per person) 1 pint cherry tomatoes, halved Basil pesto vinaigrette Basil Pesto Vinaigrette: 2 Tbsp. basil pesto 2 Tbsp. extra virgin olive oil 2 tsp. red wine vinegar Salt and pepper to taste Prepare the pesto vinaigrette: In a small bowl, use a whisk to combine the pesto with the olive oil and red wine vinegar.

Taste and add salt and pepper as desired; set aside.

Preheat the oven to 400 degrees and line a baking sheet with aluminum foil.

If the chicken breasts are whole, use a sharp knife to slice them into thinner cutlets, slicing from the top horizontally through the middle. If they are already cut into halves, leave them as they are.

Place the chicken breasts on the prepared baking sheet.

Drizzle lightly with olive oil and a light sprinkling of kosher salt and ground pepper. Bake the chicken in the center of the oven until an internal

SARAH NASELLO / FORUM NEWS SERVICE

Sarah's basil pesto recipe is easy to make in a food processor and only requires five ingredients: fresh basil, pine nuts, garlic, parmesan cheese and good extra virgin olive oil. temperature of 165 degrees is achieved, about 12 to 15 minutes. When done, the juices should run clear on the baking sheet, and the center of each breast should be opaque.

Remove the chicken from the oven and place a piece of foil loosely over the tray. Let rest for 10 minutes before carving into half-inch chunks.

In the meantime, in a medium bowl, add the pesto, mayonnaise and shallots.

Use a wooden spoon or rubber spatula to stir until well combined. Add the chicken

and toss until well coated. Add the pine nuts and toss again until evenly distributed.

Layer each plate with 2 of the butter lettuce leaves, and a scattering of the cherry tomato halves. Drizzle with the pesto vinaigrette and then top with the chicken salad.

To store: Place the chicken salad in an airtight container and refrigerate for up to 3 days. If the salad seems a little dry after the first day, stir in a drizzle of extra virgin olive oil or vegetable oil. Serves 4.

Sarah’s tips ► The chicken breast can

be baked up to 24 hours in advance, wrapped tightly in plastic wrap and refrigerated before carving and adding it to the salad. ► This chicken salad would also be great tucked inside a flaky croissant with bacon, avocado and lettuce. ► Large Romaine or Green Leaf lettuce leaves may be substituted for the Butter lettuce. ► For an even creamier version, add one avocado, small diced or smashed, into the salad at the same time as the mayonnaise and pesto.

► To toast the pine nuts, place them in a small pan over medium-low heat, stirring

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frequently until lightly browned and fragrant, about 5 to 7 minutes.

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11

June 2022

Honeyberries Honeyberry is a winter-hardy fruit that grows on shrubs well-adopted to all soil types.

MICHAEL VOSBURG / FORUM PHOTO EDITOR

The fruiting shrub you didn’t know you needed

By Bethany Anderson Park Rapids Enterprise ou’ve heard of honey, and you’ve heard of berries, but have you heard of honeyberries?

Honeyberries are similar to blueberries in taste, health benefits, uses and color, although they’re not related, instead being in the same family as honeysuckle shrubs. These oblong berries have a slightly different flavor than blueberries, but they’re widely adapted to the varying soil types of the Upper Midwest, and blueberries require a highly acidic soil.

Honeyberries are fully winter hardy far into Canada and can survive summer heat as well. Sometimes used interchangeably, honeyberries are also called haskaps. The two different names resulted from varieties originating in Russia being referred to as honeyberries, and the varieties originating in Japan being called haskaps.

Types originating in Russia and Japan have some key differences.

Most research on

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the Russian varieties has been done at Canada’s University of Saskatchewan, where cultivars have been developed that are much sweeter than the originals. Research on Japanese varieties began in Oregon, and tend to produce larger berries than those from Russian origins, although they ripen two weeks later.

How do we grow honeyberries?

They are fairly low maintenance. Unlike blueberries, they thrive in the alkaline soils common in many parts of the Upper Midwest.

Honeyberry shrubs will fruit best if planted in full, all-day sunshine, or at least six hours of direct sunshine. The shrubs fit into home landscapes well.

Two differently named cultivars of honeyberry are needed that bloom at the same time for pollination and fruiting.

Plant shrubs about five to six feet apart. Mulch is recommended for weed control and for moisture conservation.

Honeyberries grow best with one-to-two inches of moisture per week during the

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growing season, so supplementing rain with additional water might be necessary.

Avoid overhead sprinkling, because leaves staying wet or damp for long periods of time can cause the leaves to develop disease. A drip system that keeps the soil moist and the foliage dry is a better option.

Honeyberry shrubs begin producing berries in two to three years.

Depending on the variety, the shrubs will grow 4 to 6 feet high.

Yellowish-white funnelshaped flowers appear in early spring with berries following in early summer, usually June into early July.

Berries will turn dark blue, appearing to be ripe, but shouldn’t be

picked at that stage, since honeyberries turn color about two to three weeks before they are fully ripe.

A better way to know if berries are fully ripe for picking is how easily they come off the stem.

When ripe, berries will fall from the branches. In fact, a common method of harvesting is to place a tub or tarp underneath the shrub and shake it, allowing the berries to fall and be caught.

Ripening honeyberries are especially susceptible to theft from birds.

Shrubs can be protected by covering with bird netting as the berries begin turning color.

How can berries be used, once the shrubs have started producing?

Honeyberries have a flavor that some people

compare to a cross between a blueberry and a raspberry or black currant.

Like other characteristics of honeyberries, the sweetness largely depends on the cultivars planted. Even if some are slightly tart for fresh eating, they are wonderful in pies, bars, jam, wine, smoothies, ice cream or dried like raisins. Honeyberries can be substituted into nearly any recipes calling for blueberries. The fruits are high in vitamin C, antioxidants and

minerals like potassium.

Now that you know about honeyberries, the next step is to visit your local garden center, looking for potted honeyberry shrubs. You’ll see honeyberry cultivar names like Tundra, Aurora, Borealis, Indigo Gem, Berry Smart, Boreal Beast and Boreal Beauty.

Be sure to check the descriptive tags so the varieties are listed as being good pollinators for each other, and remember that two or more different cultivars are needed for pollination and fruit.

“The grass withers, the flower fades, but the word of God stands forever.”

- Isaiah 40:8

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Husband with early-onset dementia could use company

D

ear Carol: My husband was diagnosed with Alzheimer’s when he was only 57, but he had difficulty with both decision-making and short-term memory for quite a while before that. He eventually had to retire. For now, though it’s not ideal, he can be alone for most of my workday. He can still use a computer, and he enjoys watching some TV. Since I’m working only 15 minutes away from home, we’re holding off on in-home caregivers, partially due to the cost. Most of his friends are in our age group and still working during the day so he feels lost and sometimes depressed. Any ideas about how I can help his days go better while I’m gone? — TG. Dear TG: While dementia at any age is a difficult diagnosis, early-onset dementia such as your husband has must be the most devastating. I’m deeply sorry for him and for your whole family.

You didn’t mention what your husband did for work but apparently, his symptoms interfered with his ability to do his job. Sadly, this is often part of the devastation of a younger diagnosis. Early retirement, of course, creates financial hardships for many, but it also takes people out of society. Even people without dementia sometimes wrestle with the loss of identity that comes from no longer working, but when people are forced out this way, the feeling of loss is

Minding Our Elders

BY CAROL BRADLEY BURSACK Columnist compounded.

Counseling could help your husband work toward accepting his current situation, so if he’s not already seeing a psychologist, I’d suggest that he consider it. Online sessions are now generally offered, which could eliminate transportation issues.

You mentioned that your husband’s not ready for in-home care, but did you know that there are some organizations that offer visitors for people living with health issues as a free service? One is Senior Companions.

Senior Companions is a volunteer organization through the Retired and Senior Volunteer Program (RSVP), which is part of the Senior Corps. The volunteers are all over 55 years old and can assist

Home Care I would get up in the morning, weigh myself, do my blood pressure, take my temperature, and my oxygen.

And if that got too low, then they (Knute Nelson) would call.

My doctor wanted me to be at 90 or above.

And if went to 89 or 88, they would call within a 10 minute period.

- Dale, Remote Health Monitoring Client

somewhat around the house, but probably their most valuable service is to provide a visitor to people like your husband who could benefit from some company.

Now that vaccinations are widespread, you could see if they are restarting in-person visits in your community. Your local Area Agency on Aging should be able to provide you with more information.

An additional idea is Stephen Ministries, which provides care and some companionship to community members who may be homebound. You could inquire through your church or go online to their website.

You’re correct that in-home care can be expensive, but keep the option open if you can find an agency that doesn’t require a large time commitment. Adult day services can be great for socializing as well, though, of course, that too is expensive.

This is hard, TG, but you sound like a strong and capable woman. With the right assistance, you’ll find the best way to handle each stage of your husband’s disease.

Carol Bradley Bursack is a veteran caregiver and an established columnist. She is also a blogger, and the author of “Minding Our Elders: Caregivers Share Their Personal Stories.” Bradley Bursack hosts a website supporting caregivers and elders at www. mindingourelders.com. She can be reached through the contact form on her website.