FACETS
APRIL 2019
The magazine for women.
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The magazine for women. Contributors
MARLYS BARKER LYN KEREN ROBBIE SEQUEIRA LEXIE TROUTMAN KYLEE MULLEN LYNN MARR-MOORE RONNA LAWLESS Design
ALEX FELKER Publisher
SCOTT ANDERSON Tribune Editor
MICHAEL CRUMB
ADVERTISERS To advertise in Facets magazine, contact Mary Beth Scott at (515) 663-6951 PHONE (515) 663-6923 ADDRESS 317 Fifth St. Ames, IA, 50010 EMAIL news@amestrib.com ONLINE www.amestrib.com/sections/ special-sections/facets Facets is a monthly publication of GateHouse Media Iowa Holdings.
A NEW DOGGY DAY CARE OPENS IN SLATER see PAGE 13
ON THE COVER
A mother and daughter have teamed up to open a women's clothing boutique in downtown Story City. On March 1, Jessi Kettenacker (left) and Cande Coulter opened Simply Mae’s Boutique, which is located at 618 Broad St., Suite A. PHOTO BY RONNA LAWLESS/GATEHOUSE IOWA
FACETS Table of contents Features 4 6
ISU women’s centers equipping students to handle wage gap, and more
How women are increasing their representation in politics
‘There’s always hope’
Nevada woman shares her story of addiction and overcoming it … for 25 years and counting
10 Women of achievement
Nonprofit recognizes local women of achievement
14 A new shop in downtown Story City
Mother-daughter duo open Simply Mae’s Boutique in Story City
16 A hit commercial
Nevada native in No.1 ranked Super Bowl commercial
In Brief 5 8 9 13 17
Good Company presents spring concert, ‘A Woman’s Place’ Ames Main Street and Chamber announce new event coordinator YSS mentor of 20 years is the 2019 Excellence in Mentoring Award honoree Dog daycare and boarding facility to open in Slater Clothing store for all ages at Huxley’s Style Me Crazy Boutique
Savor 18 20 21 22
Colorful Italian fish dish ready in 10 minutes Microwave lemon curd is a total game-changer Diabetes Quick Fix: Pan Fried Pork with Garlic Greens, Spicy Roast Potatoes Shrimp quesadillas quick, filling
A NEW BOUTIQUE IN HUXLEY see PAGE 17
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In Brief
ISU women’s centers equipping students to handle wage gap, representation in politics By Robbie Sequeira GateHouse Iowa
The Margaret Sloss Center. PHOTO COURTESY IOWA STATE UNIVERSITY
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wo Iowa State University women’s centers used the month of March — Women’s History Month — to not only celebrate significant achievements in women’s history but also as a way to prepare all students for the challenges they may face after college. Directors Sandra Looft and Karen Kedrowski of the Margaret Sloss Center for Women and Gender Equity and Carrie Chapman Catt Center for Women & Politics, respectively, put a focus on the gender wage gap and women in politics through programming and educational events. “Commemorative months like Women’s History Month, Native American Heritage Month, African-American History Month are ways to not only celebrate the achievements and history of marginalized groups but a way for us to provide programming opportunities for students who are curious to learn about different experiences and groups and make significant connections,” said Kedrowski. At the root of The Sloss Center’s work is the goal of eliminating barriers that prohibit gender equity and social justice, and one of the biggest barriers to overcome is the gender wage gap. The gender wage gap is the ratio of female-to-male median income among full-time, yearround workers. “The average wage gap in the nation is about 80 cents to the dollar, but if you break down by category and looking at factors such as race, within that breakdown studies show that gap is even more significant,” Looft said. In 2018, according to data from the US Census Bureau, female workers, on average, earn around 80.7 cents for every dollar a man makes. In Iowa, the gap is lower than the national average at 75 cents, placing the state 46th
nationwide in in terms of pay equity. “In Iowa, not accounting for categories including race and ethnicity, women make 75 cents to the dollar, so we are worse than the national average,” Looft said. “There’s a ton of factors to consider, such as Iowa being an agricultural state and having that be a traditionally male-dominated field and so when women break into those professions their value isn’t quite recognized yet.” Introduced this year, the center has held a series of workshops titled “Start Smart,” to teach female students negotiation skills and give them an opportunity to practice wage negotiation tactics before heading into the workforce. The next event was scheduled for April 18, and one of the driving forces of the program is recognizing how race, class, ethnicity and other factors play into the gender pay barrier. “Whatever profession that our women students end up going into, we know that pay gap is there and we know that first salary sets you up for subsequent salaries and potentially one’s long-term success,” Looft said. “So our goal is this series is giving students the tools such as what questions to ask, (and) advocating the skills and talents they are bringing to a company. These are tools that help graduates get through that first negotiation.” In the past couple of months, visits to Ames from presidential hopefuls Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand D-N.Y, and Sen. Kamala Harris D-Calif., has been a strong source of representations for women in politics, and for Kedrowski it’s a growing sign of women in the national political landscape. “This is an absolutely extraordinary year in terms of the number of women running for president,” Kedrowski said. “And only after having no more than one, we have six major party candidates who’ve announced. … It’s also exciting for representation, having women holding public office and running for the highest office in the land is important for representation.” Kedrowski said that it’s had a permeative effect on curious students looking to be engaged in the political world, and one of their programs, Ready to Run Iowa, which helps provide women student a jumpstart into the political world. The February workshops focused on how to get started in Iowa politics and how to launch a campaign, and three graduates of past Ready to Run Iowa training, Sen. Chris Cournoyer, Rep. Karin Derry and Ames Community School Board member Monic Behnken delivered advice to students. At the February workshops, an event report stated that 78 percent of the participants said they plan to run for office in the near future, and 90 percent say they plan to apply for a government board. ·
In Brief
Good Company presents spring concert, ‘A Woman’s Place’
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mes-based women’s choral ensemble Good Company will present its annual spring concert on Sunday, May 5, at 7 p.m. at St. Andrews Church in Ames. Tickets are $12 in advance from Good Company members or $15 at the door. This year’s spring concert celebrates “A Woman’s Place,” exploring the many places in which women have influenced choral music and the world — not only as singers, but as composers, lyricists and poets. Through music spanning several centuries and styles, the group will perform everything from sacred works by 16th century composer Gregor Aichinger to “Warrior,” a piece written in 2012 by Canadian folk trio The Wyrd Sisters. Now in its 26th season, Good Company is directed by Steven Hoifeldt. “This spring, we are exploring subjects related to women — works written by women, from a woman’s perspective and for women’s voices,” said Hoifeldt. “The musical themes range from serious to tongue-in-cheek. As always, our goal is to learn and have fun as a women’s singing group, and to present quality music with wide appeal for our audience.” Several works feature lyrics or poems by women. “Canticle to the Spirit” and “I am the One” use texts by Hildegard von Bingen, an 11th century German Benedictine abbess,
philosopher and writer. Two pieces from “Songs for Women’s Voices” are based on poems by May Swenson, and 3 Nightsongs, a piece commissioned by Good Company in 2005 by composer Joshua Shank, features poems by Hilda Conkling, a child-poet prodigy who composed all of her work between ages 4 and 14 in the early 20th century. The group will also perform works by women composers Nancy Hill Cobb, Eleanor Daley, Mitzi Scott and Gwyneth Walker. Good Company is made up of skilled singers, many of whom sang in high school and college choirs and some who have performed, taught or directed music professionally. The group’s goal is to bring together women with a shared love of choral music and provide uplifting choral programs for the Ames community. Learn more at about the choral group at www.GoodCompanyEnsemble.org and follow them on Facebook at www. facebook.com/GoodCompanyAWomensChoralEnsemble. ·
Good Company, an Ames-based women’s choral ensemble, will perform its annual spring concert on Sunday, May 5. CONTRIBUTED PHOTO
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‘THERE’S ALWAYS HOPE’ Nevada woman shares her story of addiction and overcoming it ... for 25 years and counting By Marlys Barker GateHouse Iowa
Dori and Dave Gass met when they were both in treatment for addiction back in the early 1990s. They married in 1993. CONTRIBUTED PHOTO
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arch was Women’s History Month and making history can be done in many ways. For one Nevada woman, her celebration it isn’t about making history on a national level; it’s about making history on a personal level. Dori Gass’s incredible history-making moment happened just recently, on Feb. 14, when she observed 25 years of sobriety. “When I say sober, that’s from alcohol and drugs,” said Gass, 53, a native of Sioux City, who has lived in Nevada the past 14 years. “I don’t separate the classification (of alcohol and drugs), because to me they go together.” Today, Gass does administrative work — something she loves — for two medical offices in Story County. While she recently shared in a Facebook post that she was grateful for the 25 years that she has been free of drugs and alcohol, she is also quick to point out that these 25 years haven’t been easy. “I struggled with 25 minutes in the beginning,” she said. In explaining how she came to be an alcoholic, Gass prefaces her comments by noting that she comes from a long line of alcoholics. “My mom is in recovery. I have an uncle in recovery. … Drinking was normal in my family. Every (family) event, that’s just what we did.” Her drinking started when she was 11 or 12 years old. “It was a learned behavior. Is it a bad behavior? No. But for me, it was a dangerous behavior.” With so much alcohol around her and in her home, this behavior started by simply tasting or finishing drinks. If someone had a beer can with a little bit of beer still in it,
she’d finish it. Or if someone was drinking something, they’d sometimes offer it to her. “It was ‘Here kid, take a drink.’” All this seemingly innocent and fun interaction with alcohol set into motion, what she didn’t realize at the time, would become a lifestyle. “It (drinking) was fun. I was a party girl,” she said. “I went to a Catholic high school and drinking was accepted among my peers. You drank before football games, before dances … it was a weekend activity.” But, before long, it became a weekday activity, too. While she wasn’t the best student ever, Gass said she also wasn’t a terrible student. But when alcohol took over her life, it became more important than her grades and what she could accomplish in school. “It started to become normal (to drink all the time).” After high school, she went straight into the workforce, learning different trades on the job. And she seemed to do OK. “I was what you call a ‘functioning alcoholic’ for quite a while. I hadn’t lost a job or had any huge repercussions (because of the drinking).” But then, her first marriage ended in divorce because of her drinking. “Then it just unraveled from there. I lost a job… was evicted from an apartment … lost relationships with my family … lost respect for myself … lost my morals,” she said. And drawing lines with her finger on the table in front of her, she explained, “I kept crossing that line that I said I’d never cross — I kept moving the line.” When alcohol stopped working — and by that she explained, it stopped getting her to the euphoric feeling that she needed to experience from whatever substance she was taking — drugs came in. Her drug of choice was cocaine. “It puts you on a high that you can’t really explain unless you’ve done it.” And she did it over and over again, to the point of wanting to end her life. “I really hit bottom … by standing on the edge of a bridge — wanting to jump.” Gass tears up a bit at this point of her story. “It’s been a long time since I’ve told this,” she said. She takes a deep breath and continues. “I wanted to die that day. I was also extremely high (on drugs). It was sunny and warm. And as I stood on that bridge, a little boy named Ben came by on his skateboard. At first, he passed by her, but then, she said, “I caught his eye and he came back.” And as he talked to her, her desire to jump faded. “If I could find that little boy today …,” she said, she would thank him. She believes that the boy was “God presenting himself” to her.
Feature “We’ve trudged a hell of a road. He’s (husband Dave) always had my back ... he has supported me, helped me with my dreams ... just helped me be the best person I can be.” “That little boy kept me alive and kept me from jumping or letting go. From that life-changing moment, she committed herself to get the help she needed. It’s important to note that she’d tried treatment for her addictions twice before, but this time she self-committed to a treatment facility for a third go-around. And while in treatment, she met her current husband, Dave. Oddly enough, Gass was engaged to be married a second time when she entered treatment following that almost suicidal moment. But it wouldn’t be the man she was engaged to at the time that she would end up marrying. Dave was also struggling with addiction and was in treatment too. “Dave was handsome, funny, kind” and they just clicked. “I didn’t know it would develop into the marriage I have today,” she said. She and Dave have been married since July of 1994. And also in 1994, at the age of 28, Dori became sober and has stayed in that sober state for all these years. “We’ve trudged a hell of a road,” she said about she and her husband. “He’s always had my back…always. And he’s a big part of the person I am today because he has supported me, helped me with my dreams, picked me up when I was hurting and just helped me be the best person I can be.” The two have a son, Jonathan, 23, who graduated from Nevada High School. But to say that life has been a bowl of cherries since they married and she became sober, would be far from truthful.
After saving her butt, she said, “it saved my life and gave me back my life. Between Alcoholics Anonymous, all the people who sit around those tables, my first sponsor and my husband, I’ve been able to trudge the road and become the person I am today.” As time went by, Dori said she had to learn to function outside of the safe walls of AA. “It was hard and uncomfortable… because I was protected and encouraged by those people (in AA meetings), … but I had to learn to function as an adult and a responsible member of society.” While she hasn’t been a regular attendee at AA meetings for some time now, she said she has been “paying her great fortune forward” by taking several others who have reached out to her to an AA meeting. “Because that first meeting can be the hardest to walk into. I am responsible to be that hand… to give it back… whether they take hold is their decision.” Those who have taken hold of her hand and allowed her to help them have, in the end, “afforded me some amazing relationships.” DORI, page 8
THE SOBER TRUTH ABOUT ADDICTION Quite simply, you don’t get over alcoholism and drug abuse. That’s the thing that those who’ve never been addicted to these substances sometimes struggle to understand. “I don’t recover, I’m always recovering,” Dori said. “There’s not a day that goes by that promises I won’t pick up a drug or drink. I have to work at this every day.” Two things that have most impacted her ability to stay sober are her faith and a group called Alcoholics Anonymous. “I’m Catholic. I’ve been Catholic all of my life. But I walked away in high school.” Eventually, “I found the grace of God again and realized that’s what saved me … God. My sobriety isn’t Dori-based; it’s God-based.” She said Alcoholics Anonymous (AA) was an organization that allowed her to utilize her love for God to grow stronger. “We’re taught in the (AA) program, that if we can turn our will over to God, God will get us through it … another human being won’t do it for us … God will.” In the end, she said, “Everybody has to do what works for them.” But AA, for her, has been a unique program “that saves your ass.” FACETS | APRIL 2019 | 7
Feature DORI, continued from page 7
Dori isn’t afraid to speak out about her past or her present. In fact, she drives a car with license plates that proclaim, “Sober94.” Gass She was recently at a car wash when a woman walked up to her after noticing those license plates. “She said that’s a long time,” Dori said, and then the woman shared that she herself had been sober for four years. “I said, keep going. One day at a time.” About doing this story, Dori admitted that her first thought was “this isn’t necessary,” but then she realized that maybe her story could help someone. “I look at how grateful I am to be where I’m at … and (at one point in time) I wasn’t even grateful to be alive.” She wants people who are struggling with addiction now to know, “It can be different. Sometimes you want it to be different and you don’t know how it can be different.” She truly believes that reaching out, attending AA with
others, is a great step toward making life be different. But, even with sobriety, it’s never easy. “Just because I got sober doesn’t make life easy … I’ve had a lot of difficulties in my marriage, in our family, that we’ve had to walk through … but I didn’t drink. Sobriety taught me I could live life and walk through those things and come out on the other side. “It eventually became common for me to live my life,” she said, “but it took a long time for me to get there. “I love my life today … It has its ups and downs, highs and lows, goods and bads. My mom has leukemia, I’ve lost people, my son has had struggles, my husband has had struggles … but I haven’t had to drink to get through them,” she said. “I look back now at everything that has happened to me in 25 years, and I never imagined that I would be the person I am today.” The best thing to her, she said, “I can hold my head high and I have respect for me.” What she wants most for others to know: “There’s always hope.” ·
In Brief
By Lexie Troutman GateHouse Iowa
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Ames Main Street and Chamber announce new event coordinator A
fter a few weeks of searching, Sarah Dvorsky was announced as the new event coordinator for Ames Main Street and Ames Chamber of Commerce. Previously, Dvorsky worked as the event coordinator for the Iowa State University lectures program. She’s also worked as an event manager for Spectra Venue Managment in Seattle and at the Iowa Events Center in Des Moines. “I’m excited to jump right in,” Dvorsky said. “I’m excited about (setting up) events that are community-based and great for Ames, and to just set up some things where everyone can have a lot of fun.” Before Dvorsky was offered the position, she was introduced to all of the employees at the Chamber, and Kristin Roach, president of Ames Main Street and co-owner of Little Woods Herbs and Tea, said that she got to sit down with Dvorsky and discuss the position with her. “We had a one-on-one conversation about the program and how she would be coordinating events, and what that would look like,” Roach said.
Dan Culhane, president and CEO of the Chamber, said that Dvorsky started on March 4 and the excitement and experience she has is easy to see. “I think she will bring a breath of fresh air to this process and be highly successful in this role,” Culhane said. “I think her attitude and her enthusiasm in this position is going to serve her well and serve the investors in the Ames Main Street organization.” The search for this position began after the members of Ames Main Street announced that their board unanimously voted to merge with the Chamber to fill this position after an informational meeting on Jan. 23. The purpose of that meeting was to officially propose the idea to all of the members of Main Street so they could share their thoughts and concerns with the Main Street board and with the members of the Chamber before the official vote took place. The merge is a one-year-trial, and Dvorsky, with help from other Ames Chamber employees, will take on the workload that normally would have only been done by the Ames Main Street executive director, but the Main Street Board will still be in charge of the activities and events it holds. “It’s really nice to have a person dedicated to this,” Roach said. “To (be able to) bring that quality, consistent hand to our events is really exciting.” ·
In Brief
YSS mentor of 20 years is the 2019 Excellence in Mentoring Award honoree
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vy Raes, of Slater, a mentor in the YSS program for 20 years, has been selected as the 2019 Excellence in Mentoring Award honoree. The Excellence in Mentoring Award ceremony will be at 2:30 p.m. on Tuesday, April 26, in the Rotunda Level of the State Capitol in Des Moines. Raes started mentoring at Ballard Community School District in 1999, the same year the program first started, said Kim Weeks, mentoring facilitator at for the Ballard YSS program. “It was very selfish, (why I got into mentoring). I was working full-time with the (National) Guard and they have this award that they put young officers up for, and I wanted it,” Raes said. “They had never submitted a woman’s name. They told me I had to have some volunteer opportunities.” With seven children of her own at home and a husband whose job kept him very busy on the east coast, Raes had to figure out something she could volunteer for during the day when she had time available. One day, Raes said she was at Ballard with one of her kids, and she saw the sign about becoming a mentor with YSS. After that, she never looked back. “I didn’t get the award (for the National Guard), but the mentoring stuck, and I’m glad it did,” Raes said. One of the first mentees that Raes had was a girl in elementary school. Today, Raes said that that girl is now in her 30s, and they are still good friends. “I got to alter her wedding dress,” Raes said. “She spent a lot of time with me and my family, and she truly was just like one of the family.” Raes said that she spent a lot of time with her than what most mentors spend with their mentees because her dad had long working hours. “She just needed an extra hand,” Raes said. The mentors are paired with students in Story County from K-8th grade, and they typically meet with their mentees once a week for 30 to 60 minutes at the child’s school. Raes said that outside of that, the YSS organization offers opportunities to take the kids to volleyball or basketball games at Iowa State University, and sometimes, Raes said that she will set up a craft activity for her kids and for other mentees in the program. Before Thanksgiving, they decorated centerpieces to give to the nursing home, and
before Christmas they had a decorate a cookie night. “I had a deal with one of my mentees, she used to miss a lot of school. I said ‘Well if you are not gone more than four days this semester, I’ll take you to the trampoline place in Grimes,’” Raes said. “She wasn’t gone more than four days, so I took her and her brother up there. That’s on my dime, but that’s not a big deal.” She said that the YSS program is something she sees herself doing for years to come, and that she believes that it is a great opportunity that anyone in the community can take part in. “This is the simplest, least time consuming way that you can make a difference in a child’s life,” Raes said. Weeks started facilitating the program in 2001, and she said that having Raes with her through all of the years has been a huge help. “It’s been a pleasure for me to have a mentor who’s always been there. She’s always been willing,” Weeks said. “I just think that she exemplifies a volunteer. She’s given 20 years of her life while raising a family of her own.” ·
By Lexie Troutman GateHouse Iowa
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Nonprofit recognizes local women of achievement
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local nonprofit recognized 10 Story County women for their work in eliminating racism and empowering women in the community on March 7. The Women of Achievement Awards Ceremony, held by YWCA Ames at Iowa State University at the Ames Golf and Country Club, celebrated achievements in education, student and community activism, youth empowerment, nonprofit and student leaders. “There are so many great women in the Ames community,” said Linda Grinell, YWCA board member, said. “They deserved to be nominated, and they deserved to be recognized for the work that they do.” “This was a great chance for us to recognize the women in our community, and for the women in the community to recognize each other,” she said. Women of Achievement Awards were presented to: Alissa Stoehr, for her work in the ISU sociology department; Edna Clinton, for her work as the president of the Ames NAACP; Mara Spooner, for her work as vice chair of Ames Pride; Monic Behnken, for her work as associate professor in the ISU sociology department; Nancy Gebhart, for her work as curator at the ISU museums; Ruth Buckels, for her work as a foster parent and advocate against human trafficking; Tanvi Rastogi, for her work with youth at the Ames Public Library; Nichelle’Le Carrington, for her work as a student leader at ISU; and Tia Carter, for her work as a student leader at ISU. Spooner, one of the award recipents, said, “It’s really humbling and it also just feels really good to be in a room
full of people who believe in the power of doing good work for good work’s sake, and not good work for the sake of recognition. It’s also really amazing to watch all of these other women speak about the power of their work while being humble and gracious for their award.” ISU student Paige Robinson was presented with a $1,000 scholarship at the event. The scholarship is awarded annually to a female undergraduate or graduate student at ISU. To be eligible, students must demonstrate activity and achievement in YWCA’s mission and be in good academic standing with the university. While accepting the scholarship, Robinson said, “I have gotten so many neat experiences through YWCA and I am just so glad that I went out of my comfort zone and joined this organization, and it’s just helped me with so many amazing things. I cannot say thank you enough.” In addition to presenting the awards, the ceremony raised funds to directly support the YWCA Ames-ISU
By Kylee Mullen GateHouse Iowa
ACHIEVEMENT, page 12
At left TOP LEFT: Edna Clinton receives her Women of Achievement Award for her work in community activism from YWCA Ames-ISU's president Taylor Smith. PHOTO BY KYLEE MULLLEN/GATEHOUSE IOWA
TOP RIGHT: Iowa State University student Paige Robinson receives her $1,000 scholarship from YWCA Ames-ISU’s president Taylor Smith during the Women of Achievement Ceremony at the Ames Golf & Country Club. PHOTO BY KYLEE MULLEN/GATEHOUSE IOWA
BOTTOM LEFT: Awardee Mara Spooner receives the Women of Achievement Award from YWCA Ames-ISU’s president Taylor Smith for her work in community activism. PHOTO BY KYLEE MULLEN/GATEHOUSE IOWA
BOTTOM RIGHT: Tia Carter receives the Women of Achievement Award from YWCA Ames-ISU’s president Taylor Smith for being a student leader. PHOTO BY KYLEE MULLEN/ GATEHOUSE IOWA
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Above, Tia Carter, recipient of the Women of Achievement Award, listens to a fellow awardee’s acceptance speech at the Women of Achievement ceremony at Ames Golf & Country Club. Carter received the award for being a student leader at Iowa State University. PHOTO BY KAYLEE MULLEN/GATEHOUSE IOWA
At right, Edna Clinton receives her Women of Achievement Award for her work in community activism. PHOTO BY KAYLEE MULLEN/ GATEHOUSE IOWA
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ACHIEVEMENT, continued from page 11
programs, which include GIRLS Power Mentoring Program, College Bound Mentoring Program, Stand Against Racism, International Friendship Fair, Week Without Violence, and Engaging International Spouses and Students. Taylor Smith, board president of the YWCA Ames-ISU branch, said, “It was a lot of planning, a lot of extra hours, volunteering hours and a lot of dedication from students and the rest of the board. It was just a fun and great experience for everyone. We had so many inspiring women here, and every speech I heard gave me chills!”
The YWCA is the oldest and largest multicultural women’s organization in the world. According to the group’s website, it has more than 25 million members in 120 countries. It advocates for women’s rights and civil rights in Congress, while also providing safe spaces to women and girls. The YWCA and the Ames International Women’s Day Coalition also celebrated the empowerment of women in the Ames community at the Ames Public Library. The International Women’s Day event featured an Ames High Step Team performance and a panel discussion facilitated by Karen Kedrowski, director of the Carrie Chapman Catt Center for Women and Politics. ·
In Brief
Dog daycare and boarding facility opens in Slater
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dog day care and boarding facility called Flo + Friends opened in Slater in mid-March. Molly Onken, the founder of Flo + Friends, said the idea for the business not only came from a life-long history of owning dogs, but from her experience moving from city life in Baltimore back to Iowa. As she started a career as a hair stylist in Baltimore, and had recently adopted her puppy, Flo, Onken said she began to realize the crazy hours she would work. “I really started to realize how important it was to have child care for your pet,” she said. “I went on this absolute hunt for a long line of dog walkers.” Onken said finding someone to take care of her dog was difficult because she wanted the caretaker to love her dog like she does. Instead, she took Flo with her to the salon every day and eventually found a doggie day care 30
minutes outside of the city. Now her facility has 600 square feet of fenced, outside area for dogs to play in. The inside of the facility features a large indoor play area and eight to 10 kennels that are currently being built. Although the building is under construction and Onken is continuing to put the final touches together, she said she would be happy to answer questions and give tours to anyone in the area.
By Lyn Keren GateHouse Iowa
To contact Molly about day care, boarding or with any questions, email flo.details@gmail.com or call 515-473-4357. Flo + Friends is located at 52480 Hwy. 210, between Hwy. 69 and Slater.
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Mother-daughter duo open Simply Mae’s Boutique in Story City A
local mom and her daughter have opened an independent women’s clothing boutique in downtown Story City. Simply Mae’s Boutique opened at 618 Broad St., Suite A, on March 1, and the pair says they already feel welcomed by the community. Cande Coulter and her daughter Jessi Kettnacker are passionate about family time and about living simply and comfortably. They’ve focused those interests into their store, which sells modestly priced women’s clothing in simple, comfortable pieces that are also stylish and trendy. “Our whole mindset is that a woman should be confident and comfortable in her everyday clothing,” Kettnacker said. “You don’t have to be miserable and you don’t have to spend a lot of money to have simple and comfortable clothing.” Simply Mae’s carries a range of sizes, with tops from small to 3X and with jeans from size 3 to 22. Prices range from $20 to $40-something, and jeans go for $52 to $54. “We put new things out every week,” Coulter said. “Once we sell out of something, it’s gone. We want our customers to find new things every time they come into the store.” The pair have been in business together before as they worked with a direct-sales company selling clothing. “We severed our ties with that company, and we had talked about opening a store together ever since,” Coulter said. “It was kind of an ongoing conversation.” They had put in an offer to buy a building, but that deal fell through. “That night my husband and I were driving through downtown and this location was all lit up inside and there was a big sign outside that said, ‘For lease,’” Coulter said. She jumped on the chance to look at the space, and it turned out to be perfect. The women redecorated the boutique with industrial-chic décor, which gets a pop of color from the clothing and also from the yellow Billy Ball flowers that make the shop’s logo (and were also the flowers used in Kettnacker’s wedding). The ladies are originally from Indiana, but Coulter moved here in 2010 and Kettnacker followed in 2013. Coulter said she and her husband didn’t plan to stay in Story City longterm, but once they moved here, they were hooked. “Story City a great town — such a welcoming community with such wonderful people,” Coulter said. “It’s a vibrant little city.” People in Story City tend to focus on family, and that’s in keeping with Coulter and Kettnacker’s priorities, too. For
example, the family loves to spend time camping together — especially at Little Wall Lake — when they’re not at the boutique. That focus on family explains the origin of the boutique’s name. Simply Mae’s was named after Kettnacker’s daughter, Finley Mae, and also for Finley’s namesake, her greatgrandma, Brenda Mae. “For us, family is everything,” Coulter said. “And what better way to build a dream than to pay tribute to our past, present and our future — especially Finley’s.” Customers can find Simply Mae’s Boutique on Facebook and Instagram, where new items are posted each week. The boutique is open Thursday 10 a.m. to 6 p.m., Friday 10 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. and Saturday 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. ·
Feature
By Ronna Lawless GateHouse Iowa
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By Lynn Marr-Moore Contributing Writer
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Nevada native in No.1 ranked Super Bowl commercial
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hen Jill Ragee Downing, formerly of Nevada, was a little girl, at the age of 5, she knew what she intended to do when she “grew up.” But little did she know then, she would someday be working with NFL football players. Downing said that while growing up in Iowa she was involved in many local theater productions. “I performed my first show at the age of 5 in a local church holiday show,” she commented from Huntington Beach, Calif. “That is when I knew what I wanted to do with my life.” Over the years, Downing has been featured in many commercials and most recently, after taking a 10-year hiatus, she was booked and cast in a role for the new movie “Lucite Desk,” starring Nicole Kidman and Charlize Theron. Then, Super Bowl 2019 was just around the corner. She found herself booked into a commercial that aired for the Super Bowl. Many watch the Super Bowl to watch the commercials. If you saw the “NFL 100” commercial, a two-minute ad that kicked off the yearlong celebration of 100 years of NFL football, you saw Jill. “I had no idea that the commercial would be such a hit,” she said. “But I did know that it was going to be a popular spot when I filmed it for two days in Los Angeles. The commercial featured over 20 current and retired NFL players.” The 100-Year Game was the number-one ranked Super Bowl commercial that paid homage to past and present players, including four-time quarterback Terry Bradshaw, Jim Brown, Peyton Manning, Joe Montana, Dick Butkus and Tom Brady, among others. Also included in the
commercial were 19 Hall of Famers. The commercial featured the football players at a gala reception, which turned into a pickup game of football. Football jerseys were turned in for tuxedos and the commercial featured a gold football flying through the air. “Witnessing the Jill Ragee Downing can be stunts was an incredible seen in the burgundy dress in experience for me,” said this still from the Super Bowl Downing. “I had never been part of a shoot where commercial. CONTRIBUTED PHOTO stunts were done. I have such respect for the stunt actors in the industry now.” Stunts included actors flying over and smashing elegant tables with broken glasses and dishes, and cake everywhere. “It took three days to shoot the commercial and I call it the messiest and most action-packed commercial I have ever shot,” she said. “NFL player, Jerry Rice, was my favorite to work with,” she added. “He interacted with us actors throughout the long 13-hour shoot on day one when he shot his part. He even let me try on one of his Super Bowl rings and told stories of his career on and off the field. He was great to work with.” Downing can be seen sitting at one of the tables in the gala reception in the 100-Year Game Super Bowl 2019 commercial. She said that one of the parts she had in the commercial was cut and that she loved being part of such an event that will kick off an entire year celebration of football. Downing continues to pursue her acting career while living in California with her husband and two children. She said that 8-year-old London is a current working actor and her daughter Sydney is a current princess in training and wants nothing to do with the entertainment industry. We all now know that the commercial that Jill appeared in was the number-one commercial, but who won the actual game? ·
In Brief
Clothing store for all ages at Huxley’s Style Me Crazy Boutique L
ocated in the heart of the Midwest, Style Me Crazy Boutique in Huxley is bringing big city style to small town Iowa. Kim Northcutt, Amber Linder and Steviee Holt are co-owners, and Northcutt is also the manager of the Huxley boutique, located at 606 N. U.S. Highway 69. They began renting the space at the end of November, and quickly after that, Northcutt’s and Linder’s husbands helped with the construction in the store in order to make the boutique officially ready to open on Dec. 12. “Our husbands pretty much lived here,” Linder said. Northcutt said that the need for a boutique in Huxley was what made this store a possibility. The closest stores for people around the area, she said, were in Ames or Ankeny, both a 15 or 20 minute drive. It doesn’t matter if a person is 10 or 75 years old, both Northcutt and Linder said the boutique offers styles that appeal to all age groups. The store’s clothing options are constantly changing. Linder said that when she buys for the store, each pack she receives contains six pieces of that style, two smalls, two mediums and two larges. “Usually if it’s a really hot item, they’re gone in two to three days. They don’t make it a week,” Linder said. The quality clothing is not all that they offer, though. Northcutt said that they work hard to ensure that their customers have the best shopping experience they can. “We were closed (on Monday), and we had a lady that called my phone, and she had just realized one of her co-workers, it was her birthday, so she was like, ‘can you meet me at the store, so I can get a gift card from you?’” Northcutt said. “So I ran up here and got her a gift card.” Linder said that the sizes of clothes they get run a little bigger most of the time, so they want to encourage people to come in and try them on in the store instead of simply assuming that something won’t fit. If customers do make online purchases through the website, Linder said they work to make sure they know which size they should order.
They do a live video on their Facebook page every time they have new products come in the store, and in the videos, they say what size they are wearing so their customers have an idea of what they would need. Linder also said that they’ve had people directly message their Facebook page to ask what size they should get. The store also has giveaways every Friday, a 20 percent off discount on all purchases for the entire month of someone’s birthday and opportunities for groups to set up a day to come in after hours for private shopping event. The store is open Tuesday through Friday from 10 a.m. until 6 p.m., and on Saturday from 9 a.m. until 5 p.m. “Boutiques are becoming so popular that people just take Saturdays to go boutique shopping because we’re all so unique and different,” Northcutt said. “You can go to one store, like those big box stores and everything’s pretty much the same merchandise, but at a boutique, we offer different styles.” ·
By Lexie Troutman GateHouse Iowa
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Colorful Italian fish dish ready in 10 minutes S avor a taste of Italy in only 10 minutes with fish fillets topped with fresh tomato slices and melted Parmesan cheese. Penne pasta tossed with fresh spinach completes this colorful dinner. Buy whatever white fish looks best from the market. Or, use flash frozen fish fillets which, I’ve found give a true fresh taste when defrosted. The fish in a seafood case can be over a week old before you buy it. Measure the thickness of the fish and count about 10 minutes cooking time for each inch of thickness. Helpful Hints: — Any type of fish fillet can be used, tilapia, sole or flounder. — Any short-cut pasta such as elbow macaroni or rigatoni can be used. — Be sure to thinly slice tomatoes. — Shave the Parmesan with a potato peeler. — Lining a baking tray with foil saves cleanup time. Countdown: — Preheat broiler. — Place water for pasta on to boil. — Prepare fish and place under broiler. — Boil pasta. Shopping List: Here are the ingredients you’ll need for tonight’s Dinner in Minutes. To buy: 3/4 pound snapper filets, 1 medium tomato, 1 small piece Parmesan cheese, 1 package penne pasta, 1package plain breadcrumbs, 1 bottle dried oregano and 1 package washed, ready-to-eat spinach. Staples: olive oil, salt and black peppercorns. ——— SNAPPER PARMESAN 3/4 pound snapper filets 2 teaspoons olive oil Salt and freshly ground black pepper 1 medium tomato, thinly sliced (about 1 cup) 1/4 cup plain breadcrumbs 1/3 cup grated Parmesan cheese 1 teaspoon dried oregano Preheat broiler. Line a baking tray with foil. Rinse fish and pat dry with paper towel. Place on tray skin side down and drizzle with olive oil. Sprinkle with salt and pepper to taste. Broil 7 -8 minutes. Meanwhile, thinly slice tomatoes. Mix bread crumbs, Parmesan cheese and oregano together. Remove tray from oven and arrange tomato slices over fish. Spread breadcrumb mixture evenly over tomatoes. Return to broiler and broil about 6 inches from heat 1 minute. Topping should be golden. Yield 2 servings.
Per serving: 335 calories (31 percent from fat), 11.4 g fat (3.4 g saturated, 3.7 g monounsaturated), 71 mg cholesterol, 41.3 g protein, 15.4 g carbohydrates, 1.9 g fiber, 452 mg sodium. SPINACH PENNE PASTA 1/4 pound penne pasta (about 2 cups) 4 cups washed, ready-to-eat spinach 2 teaspoons olive oil Salt and freshly ground black pepper Bring a large pot filled with 3 to 4 quarts water to a boil. Add the penne pasta and cook 10 minutes or according to package instructions. Add the spinach and drain immediately leaving about 2 tablespoons of water in the pot. Add the olive oil to the water in the pot and return the pasta and spinach. Add salt and pepper to taste. Toss well. Yield 2 servings. Per serving: 265 calories (19 percent from fat), 5.6 g fat (0.8 g saturated, 2.3 g monounsaturated), no cholesterol, 9.2 g protein, 44.7 g carbohydrates, 3.2 g fiber, 51 mg sodium. ·
By Linda Gassenheimer Tribune News Service
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This made-in-minutes microwave lemon curd is a total game-changer Maria Speck The Washington Post
MEYER LEMON AND OLIVE OIL CURD 2 to 3 servings (makes a scant 3/4 cup) This recipe proves that yes, you can cook any citrus curd in the microwave in mere minutes. Best of all, you won’t be stuck with leftover egg whites, because you can use whole eggs. The egg will cook enough to be beyond any danger zone; an instant-read thermometer is helpful here for monitoring the temperature of the curd. Tips from the author: This recipe can easily be doubled (a digital scale makes this effortless). A double batch will take a few minutes longer to cook, about 5 minutes, depending on the strength of your microwave. If only a tablespoon of citrus juice is missing, just use water so you don’t have to cut another fruit. If your honey has hardened, warm it first at 50 PERCENT POWER in the microwave for 10 to 20 seconds until liquid; allow to cool a bit before using. To make tart lemon curd and an orange curd (sweeter than the lemon curd), see the VARIATIONS, below. MAKE AHEAD: The curd can be refrigerated for up to 1 week, and frozen for at least 1 month; defrost in the refrigerator overnight. From cookbook author Maria Speck. Ingredients 2 or 3 Meyer lemons, preferably organic (250 grams) 2 tablespoons plus 1 1/2 teaspoons (50 grams) mild honey 3 tablespoons (40 grams) extra-virgin olive oil, a mild fruity one, such as Trader Joe’s Greek Kalamata 1 large egg, at room temperature 1/4 teaspoon fine sea salt Steps Finely grate the lemons, avoiding the bitter white pith, until you have 1 tablespoon plus 1 1/2 teaspoons of zest.
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Juice the fruits, straining the seeds, until you have 1/3 cup plus 1 tablespoon juice (90 grams). Whisk together the honey and oil in a medium microwave-safe bowl, then whisk in the egg, lemon zest, juice and salt until smooth. Don’t worry if the honey hasn’t completely dissolved at this point. Set your microwave at 50 PERCENT POWER. Heat the mixture for 1 minute, then stop to whisk and scrape around the sides of the bowl. Repeat, then continue heating and checking every 30 seconds, whisking and scraping in between; the mixture will foam and gradually thicken. The custard is done once it coats the back of a wooden spoon and a path remains when you slide your finger across. This should take about 3 minutes total, depending on the power of your microwave. The temperature of the custard should register at least 170 degrees on an instant-read thermometer. (This is hot enough to cook the egg.) Let cool in the bowl for about 15 minutes, whisking a few times. Strain the curd through a fine-mesh strainer for a super-smooth silky spread. (Personally, I love the golden bits of zest and skip this step.) Spoon the curd into an 8-ounce glass jar. Chill, uncovered, until completely cool, then seal the lid. VARIATIONS: To make a tart lemon curd, replace the Meyer lemons in the basic recipe above with 2 medium lemons (250 grams). Use 1 tablespoon more honey for a total of 3 tablespoons plus 1 1/2 teaspoons at the start (70 grams). To make an orange curd, replace the Meyer lemons in the basic recipe above with 1 medium orange plus 1/2 small orange (250 grams). Nutrition (based on 3 servings) Calories: 200; Total Fat: 15 g; Saturated Fat: 3 g; Cholesterol: 60 mg; Sodium: 200 mg; Carbohydrates: 17 g; Dietary Fiber: 0 g; Sugars: 15 g; Protein: 2 g. ·
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Diabetes Quick Fix: Pan Fried Pork with Garlic Greens, Spicy Roast Potatoes PAN-FRIED PORK WITH GARLIC GREENS 3/4 pound boneless pork chops, flattened to 1/2 inch thick Olive oil spray 1 teaspoon minced garlic 2 1/2 cups washed, ready-to-eat baby arugula (2 ounces) 2 tablespoons reduced-fat, vinaigrette dressing* Salt and freshly ground black pepper Remove visible fat from pork. Heat a nonstick skillet over medium-high heat and spray with olive oil spray. When skillet is very hot, add pork. Cook 2 minutes, turn, add garlic and cook 2 more minutes. A meat thermometer should read 145 degrees. Remove to individual plates. Sprinkle with salt and pepper to taste. Remove skillet from heat and add arugula and vinaigrette dressing. Toss well. The leaves should be warmed, but still firm. Spoon over the pork. 2 servings. Per serving: 251 calories, 80 calories from fat, 8.9 g total fat, 2.2 g saturated fat, 3.6 g monounsaturated fat, 121 mg cholesterol, 109 mg sodium, 3 g carbohydrate, 0.5 g dietary fiber, 1.2 g sugars, 38.3 g protein
Exchanges: 5 lean meat, 1/2 fat
SPICY ROAST POTATOES Olive oil spray 1/8 teaspoon cayenne pepper 1 pound red potatoes Salt and freshly ground black pepper Preheat broiler. Line a baking sheet with foil, spray with olive oil and sprinkle with cayenne pepper. Wash potatoes, do not peel, and cut into 1-inch pieces. Add potatoes to the sheet, Spray with olive oil and roll around to coat with the cayenne pepper. Sprinkle with salt and black pepper to taste. Broil 5 inches from heat for 10 minutes. Remove from broiler and turn potatoes over. Return to broiler for 5 more minutes. 2 servings Per serving: 173 calories, 16 calories from fat, 1.7 g total fat, 0.3 g saturated fat, 1 g monounsaturated fat, 0 mg cholesterol, 16 mg sodium, 36.6 g carbohydrate, 3.9 g dietary fiber, 2.3 g sugars, 4.3 g protein Exchanges: 2 1/2 starch ¡
By Linda Gassenheimer Tribune News Service
FACETS | APRIL 2019 | 21
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These shrimp quesadillas are quick and filling F
illed with plump, juicy shrimp, smooth melted cheese and crunchy salsa, this quesadilla makes a quick, Southwestern dinner. Although quesadillas usually are served as an appetizer, these are large and filling enough for supper. Most quesadillas are made by filling tortillas and folding them over. For this dinner, the quesadillas are stacked with the filling placed on one and another tortilla placed over the top. The side dish has a smoky chipotle dressing. Chipotle peppers are a red jalapeno chili pepper that is ripened, dried and smoked. They’re sold dried or canned in adobo sauce. I used powdered chipotle chili pepper found in the spice section to give a quick smoked flavor to bottled dressing. It can be sprinkled on many other ingredients and makes a great condiment when sprinkled on mayonnaise. Helpful Hints: — Fruit and other types of salsa can be used instead of tomato salsa. — Any type of 8-inch tortilla can be used. — Any type of Mexican-style cheese can be used. — Use 2 skillets to speed cooking time and avoid repeating the recipe. Countdown: — Assemble salad. — Make quesadillas. Shopping List: Here are the ingredients you’ll need for tonight’s Dinner in Minutes. To buy: 1 package 8-inch whole wheat tortillas, 1 bottle tomato salsa, 1/2 pound peeled, cooked shrimp, 1 package reduced-fat, shredded Monterey Jack cheese, 1 bottle powdered chipotle chili pepper, 1 bag washed, ready-to-eat shredded lettuce and 1 package frozen corn kernels. Staples: vegetable oil spray and reduced-fat oil and vinegar dressing. ——— SHRIMP QUESADILLA 1/2 pound peeled, cooked shrimp Vegetable oil spray 4 8-inch whole wheat tortillas 1/2 cup drained tomato salsa
1 cup reduced-fat, shredded Monterey jack cheese, divided use Preheat broiler. Slice shrimp in half lengthwise, from tail to head end. Heat a nonstick skillet over medium heat. Spray with vegetable oil spray. Place one tortilla in skillet. Spread half the salsa on the tortilla. Place half the shrimp on the salsa. Set aside 1/4 cup shredded cheese. This cheese will be sprinkled on top of each quesadilla when it is placed under a broiler. Sprinkle half the remaining cheese over the shrimp. Cover with a second tortilla and with a lid. Cook 2 minutes. Remove lid and sprinkle 2 tablespoons of the reserved cheese on top of the tortilla. Place the skillet under the broiler for 1 minute. Remove skillet from oven and transfer the quesadilla to a plate with a spatula. Repeat for second quesadilla. Yield 2 servings. Per serving: 475 calories (33 percent from fat), 17.9 g fat (8.2 g saturated, 4.3 g monounsaturated), 266 mg cholesterol, 48.6 g protein, 35.4 g carbohydrates, 4.7 g fiber, 1,094 mg sodium. CHIPOTLE CORN SALAD 2 tablespoons reduced-fat oil and vinegar dressing 1/8 teaspoon powdered chipotle chili pepper 2 cups washed, ready-to-eat shredded lettuce 1 cup frozen corn kernels, defrosted (1 minute in microwave oven) Mix dressing and chipotle powder together. Divide shredded lettuce between two dinner plates. Sprinkle corn over the lettuce. Drizzle dressing over salad. ·
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By Linda Gassenheimer Tribune News Service
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