New book announced by Gillette Children's Healthcare Press PEOPLE & PLACES

Gillette Children’s Healthcare Press has released Proud To Be Me, a colorful new board book designed to teach toddlers about children of all abilities.

Proud To Be Me was written by Gillette Children’s pediatric hand surgeons Ann Van Heest, MD and Deborah Bohn, MD. It is illustrated by Rick Korab.

Proud To Be Me is a board book that teaches children about physical differences and promotes self-confidence. Whether it's surgery that gave a child a thumb, a guide dog that helps them see or a prosthesis that allows them to run,

Proud To Be Me teaches children to love and accept themselves for who they are. The book uses simple text and easy-tounderstand illustrations to encourage children to be proud of their differences.

It is the fourth book published by Gillette Press, founded by Gillette Children’s Hospital in St. Paul. It is one of the only children’s hospitals in the world that publishes books for children, families and professionals.

Proud To Be Me teaches toddlers about physical differences in multiple different body parts (fingers, hair, eyes, ears, legs, feet) showcasing that our differences make us unique and something to be proud of, the authors said. Advocacy and celebrating differences are vital in fostering a world that embraces inclusivity.

∏∏f In Memoriam f∏∏

Scott-Poole lived by example

Nila Frances Scott-Poole had a long record of community service, including advocacy for people with disabilities. Scott-Poole died this spring. She was 89 and lived in Minneapolis.

As a person of color with a disability, Scott-Poole believed it was important to give back. She successfully completed an early mental health training program for Minneapolis community centers, in the 1960s. She was also involved in the Minnesota Special Olympics.

Yet another interest was having her family host students from abroad, including the countries of Nigeria, South Africa and Kenya. She was a longtime church volunteer and vocalist, and worked at the Star Tribune for more than 23 years.

She is survived by her children, grandchildren, great-grandchildren and other family members. Services have been held.

Runyon helped start outdoors group

Greggory Lynn Runyon considered hunting to be an important part of his life. Runyon died this spring. He was 65 and lived in Elk River.

During his years at Littlefork - Big Falls High School, Runyon sustained an injury and became paraplegic. He graduated from St. Cloud State and worked for Unisys for more than 40 years.

He enjoyed the outdoors and helped found the Capable Partners Hunting Group to share that activity with others who are disabled. Capable Partners is a non-profit organization that provides hunting, fishing and other outdoor trips and activities by bringing together able bodied and disabled people who enjoy outdoor sports.

Runyon is survived by his wife Janie, children, grandchildren, greatgrandchildren, his mother, brothers and their families. Services are to be held in August.

Proud To Be Me was funded by the James House, MD, MS, Fund for Hand and Upper Extremity Excellence at Gillette

Prep Athletes

From page 5 pins to 1,659 for the Titans. Scoring for Lake City were Michael Koontz, Brooklyn Barton, Andrew Hawn and Sydnee Stolzenberg. A second Tartan team placed third.

St. Michael-Albertville’s Jasmine Brutskiy rolled to the girls’ singles championship with a score of 492. Grace French-Miller, Hopkins and Molly Landsteiner, Lake Crystal-Wellcome Memorial, tied for runner-up honors.

Nate Fischer, Zimmerman, won the boys singles competition with a score of 464, 17 pins better than St. MichaelAlbertville’s Seth Wright. St. MichaelAlbertville’s Amari Salkey, placed third. Hopkins’ Clayton Carlson and Nolan Hilson, cruised to the doubles championship with a score of 906.

St. Michael-Albertville’s Carter Patyk and Seth Wright were second. AnokaHennepin’s Gabriel Mueller and Austin Williams placed third.

In the PI Division, North High School-North St. Paul won the team championship with a total of 1,844 pins. Champion Polars are Tashayanna Collins, Lucas Eide, Nardin Izaola and Victoria Kulstad. Wayzata/Minnetonka was runner-up with 1,639. Minneapolis South placed third.

Children’s. All of the proceeds from the book go back to the fund to support ongoing research and care by Gillette’s orthopedic hand and upper extremity team. The book is available on Amazon,. A series of books authored by experts at Gillette Children‘s that provides in-depth understanding of conditions treated at the hospital is coming soon. Gillette Children’s Healthcare Press is dedicated to creating greater understanding of complex medical conditions. Gillette Press was established in March 2020, right before the pandemic, to coincide with the publication of Spastic Diplegia. In June 2021, Pure Grit: Stories of Remarkable People Living with Physical Disability was published. It's Okay to Ask is an earlier publication that was translated to Spanish in 2023. Over the next two years the press will publish further books on conditions treated at Gillette Children's. Gillette Children’s specializes in treating children who have brain, bone and movement conditions.

Bella Angell, Monticello, emerged as state champion in singles competition with a score of 469. St. Paul Humboldt’s Mckenzie Green was second. Lupita Carrion, Austin, and Janesville-WaldorfPemberton/Waseca’s Destiny Woitas tied for third.

New London-Spicer’s McGwire Hatlestad captured the boys singles title with 516 pins. Andrew De Armond, Simley, and Cooper Johnston, St. Peter/ LeSueur-Henderson, placed second and third, respectively.

North St. Paul grabbed the top two spots in doubles as Tashayanna Collins and Victoria Kulstad scored 987 to win the title. Lucas Eide and Nardin Izaola teamed for a runner-up total of 963. Moorhead’s Addie Loerzel and Alex Cannizzaro placed third with.